Road Projects to be Launched
The administration is heeding citizen outcry on the condition of city roads, but a plan to borrow $1 million for road-related engineering costs left some council members fretting.
At Monday's agenda-fixing session, the council agreed to vote July 21 on contracts for two road repair projects. Jenicar Builders Contractors Co. of Kearny won bids on two phases of a multi-year road repair program, one for $747,591 and the other for $1,636,151.
But since the original assessment of road conditions occurred in 2004, the administration wants the council to approve a $1 million bond ordinance to pay for an update of road repair needs by the city engineering firm, Remington & Vernick. Councilman Cory Storch said he felt "very strongly" that the contract should have been put out for bids.
"It's not a competitive process," he said.
Councilman Don Davis asked for more details on the overall program, saying he wanted to see more of a plan than "just borrowing." He likened the bond issue to use of a credit card.
Residents have complained bitterly about potholes and crumbling roads all over the city. The five-year road program was launched in 2005, but fell behind its timetable after the current administration took over in 2006. The whole program is outlined in detail on Councilman Rashid Burney's web site (no longer available).
Instead of years, the program's schedule is now divided into "phases." At present, early phases will adhere to the streets deemed in very poor condition in the 2004 study, but the Remington & Vernick update will identify roads that have slipped to that status in the meantime.
Davis asked the administration to provide a breakdown soon of how much of the original bonding has been spent and how much is left.
--Bernice Paglia
At Monday's agenda-fixing session, the council agreed to vote July 21 on contracts for two road repair projects. Jenicar Builders Contractors Co. of Kearny won bids on two phases of a multi-year road repair program, one for $747,591 and the other for $1,636,151.
But since the original assessment of road conditions occurred in 2004, the administration wants the council to approve a $1 million bond ordinance to pay for an update of road repair needs by the city engineering firm, Remington & Vernick. Councilman Cory Storch said he felt "very strongly" that the contract should have been put out for bids.
"It's not a competitive process," he said.
Councilman Don Davis asked for more details on the overall program, saying he wanted to see more of a plan than "just borrowing." He likened the bond issue to use of a credit card.
Residents have complained bitterly about potholes and crumbling roads all over the city. The five-year road program was launched in 2005, but fell behind its timetable after the current administration took over in 2006. The whole program is outlined in detail on Councilman Rashid Burney's web site (no longer available).
Instead of years, the program's schedule is now divided into "phases." At present, early phases will adhere to the streets deemed in very poor condition in the 2004 study, but the Remington & Vernick update will identify roads that have slipped to that status in the meantime.
Davis asked the administration to provide a breakdown soon of how much of the original bonding has been spent and how much is left.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 4:01 AM
2 Comments:
I am concerned about the administration wanting to give Remington and Vernick $1 million for a "study"--2004 is not that long ago and why does it take $1 million dollars? It becomes clear that the council should NOT grant this pay-to-play contract. Here is a partial list of Remington and Vernick's political contributions to Jerry Green:
10/20-2005 - $2,600.00
4/6/2006 - $500.00
9/21/2007 - $1,000.00
11/6/2007 - $1,600.00
Check out what they have given to the mayor as well. NJ.com's New Jersey by the Numbers has the list of political contributors, contruction firms, concrete companies, consulting firms who give this pay-to-play money to Green. $1 million dollars for "consulting" while we pay for mayoral bodyguards and astronomical property taxes. Pathetic.I am sure that Storch and the rest of the city council see this sham for what it is.
It is time to throw the rascals out!! If anyone has doubts as to who that may be, I suggest the following: Assemblyman Jerry Green, Mayor Briggs and their cohorts that together are systimatically extracting tax dollars for frivolous expenditures such as another road study. A blind person could prioritise the roads that need repair -they all do. The Green/Briggs team have no shame.
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