ROXBURY, NJ - The township stands to lose about $215,000 in state money if it doesn’t sign by November a contract to repave part of Eyland Avenue; but going forward with the project might mean giving back to the state about $700,000 in other money.
The strange situation relates to the proposed installation of sidewalks along the same stretch of road that needs paving. After being awarded the $215,000 repaving grant, Roxbury secured a $703,000 grant for the sidewalk project.
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The paving grant came a year ago with a stipulation that the contract for the work be signed within two years, which will be Nov. 1. Although the township is going to try, it’s possible the engineering and design for the sidewalk project will not be done by then.
That would be a problem, because installing the sidewalks will require some roadway modification, and that would mean tearing up the new road surface if the new pavement precedes the new sidewalks.
Cold Shoulder From Trenton?
“We had two years to pave,” said Roxbury Township Engineer Melanie Michetti at the Feb. 4 township council meeting. “We're already one year gone … It has to be awarded by November first of this year in order to not lose the funding.”
Roxbury Township Manager John Shepherd said the township has asked the state for some leeway. “We're trying to get an extension on our paving, because of this (sidewalk) funding," he said. “So far, I'm not so sure we've been successful.”
The council authorized Michetti to go ahead with $20,000 in survey work needed for the sidewalk planning.
“I will get the surveyor out as soon as possible, get that authorized and proceed with that,” she said. “If we can move this quickly through, we can probably be able to award (a contract) in November and then construct it next year.”
She said the survey will take about two weeks and the engineering will take up to two months more.
Tight timing isn't the only hurdle facing the sidewalk project; Shepherd said the $703,000 grant might not be enough.
“It's going to be tight,” he said. “If we're lucky … we'll be able to do it with the grant funding. If we're a little bit short, we're going to have to make a decision. We're either going to have to not do the project - which means that's a lot of money we've left on the table - or we're going to have to look for some capital money and see if we can add a little bit if we run a little bit short.”
Roxbury Councilman Jim Rilee said the township is in a tough position. “That's why these add-ons sometimes get to be a problem,” he said. “Because now we got additional funding, but it requires us to spend additional money.”
What Will the Neighbors Say?
Further complicating the matter is a desire by some council members to hear the opinions of residents who will be impacted by the proposed sidewalk extension, especially because the job will require tree and wall removal.
Almost a year ago, Shepherd said the township “will need to hear from” the approximately 20 property owners in question. That desire was again expressed at this week’s meeting, with some on the council suggesting the project should not proceed unless most of the affected residents give their approval.
Shepherd said he would arrange a community meeting. “Our work's within the right-of-way, but obviously we don't want to have every resident along there unhappy with the decision,” he said.
The sidewalk project between South Hillside Avenue and Alcott Way was first proposed by Roxbury Councilman Mark Crowley, who said it would safeguard people walking on Eyland Avenue en route to Kiwanis Park.
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