CALDWELL, NJ -- During last Tuesday’s Borough Council meeting, Councilman Henderson Cole presented his perspective of responses to questions that have been raised from residents and business owners regarding the current council’s pending plans for redevelopment.

Cole’s presentation was structured by two areas of concern. The first is how the municipal building, Caldwell Community Center, parking deck and the Caldwell Library experienced “such rapid and unexpected decay” and the second are the facilities “really as bad as people say?”

Regarding water damage, Cole confirmed that the borough hall was subject to water infiltration through the roof and exterior walls and ceilings leaked “during every rain.” Cole presented pictures of the interior of the borough hall that showed extensive water damage and confirmed that an estimate was entertained for $600,000 that was for repairs, but that proposal did not include bringing the building up to code or affect areas of concern for the police department and court proceedings.

SIGNUPSCRIPT

The library was an add-on to the original design plans for a new borough hall. In addition to damage in the basement from flooding that affected the integrity of the foundation, basic services such as plumbing, electrical, sewer, heating and cooling, internet access and insulation need to be repaired or re-routed. It was mentioned that if a second floor were to have been considered then the entire structure would then need to be reinforced.

The police department’s headquarters has repeatedly failed the state inspection and currently any person detained is transferred to a facility in North Caldwell. Electronic equipment was kept under plastic sheeting to protect it from water seeping into the building and there is no “sally port” that provides for a detainee to be brought in directly to the building. Cole said that the floor is sinking and that “an engineer may have already or could confirm this.”

“I’m not an engineer, but if an engineer looked at this, they may conclude that there are so many structural deficiencies of the building that it would be much more expensive to try and repair than it would be to demolish and rebuild a new building," Cole said.**BULLSEYE

Regarding the parking deck he noted that the deck was slightly over 20 years old before it was demolished. He stated that the structure’s supports needed to be built around a 6-foot culvert and the design led to a low surface parking area that didn’t allow for standard equipment to enter in order to be repaved. Since the upper tier was uncovered and plowing and de-icing were required this led to decay of the steel and cement.

Although demolitions contracts have been awarded, a 45-day temporary halt to demolition was approved by the council on Dec 6, so incoming Mayor-elect Jones and councilmen Darrin Daniolowicz and Kris Brown may become privy to data regarding the pending projects. Cole concluded his remarks stating that he was “confident that the project proposed, should go ahead and that this long-term investment in the borough is the best option for all concerned.”

Agenda items that passed by majority provided for increases to the law firm of Maraziti Falcon in an amount not to exceed $400,000, the latest increase for the firm was an additional $100,000. The firm represents the borough in litigation with West Caldwell and Roseland regarding the Sewer Utility. Business administrator Tom Banker stated the increase was due to the amount of depositions being conducted by litigants Roseland and West Caldwell. Banker confirmed that Caldwell has taken the position that all users of the utility will be required to pay their apportioned share of the legal fees borne by the utility.**STANDARD

Additional funding were approved to the borough’s in-house counsel, Cleary, Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs LLC in an amount not to exceed $65,000 and Beckmeyer Engineering PC was awarded an amount not to exceed $149,000 for design services for the Caldwell Community Center.

Approved unanimously was the 2022 connection charge for all Sewer Utility users in the amount of $331.062245 per equivalent connection. According to data from 2021 West Caldwell has 4,637.96 connections; Caldwell - 2673.78; North Caldwell - 2,416.07; Essex Fells - 876.26; Fairfield - 109.81 and Roseland - 2,715.33.

Councilman Jonathan Lace raised an issue prior to the vote regarding authorization for an agreement between the borough and Fairview Insurance for risk management consulting services from Jan 1 through Dec 31, 2025. Lace was concerned because normally a form is presented regarding political contributions made by vendors however in this case the document was not included for the council’s review. The resolution passed by a vote of 5:1 with Lace abstaining. **BULLSEYE

Lace as he has done repeatedly throughout recent years expressed his frustration that resolutions with attachments were presented to him at 4:30 the day of the meeting and that he did not have time to read them prior to the start of the meeting. Therefore, Lace abstained on multiple resolutions.

The swearing in ceremony for the Mayor-elect Garret Jones and new council members Kris Jones and Darrin Daniolowicz will be held on Jan. 1, 2023 at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.