METUCHEN — Several borough projects will move forward thanks to the governing body’s recent approval of a $1.97 million bond ordinance.
The Borough Council authorized bonds totaling $944,760 and grants with a total of $978,100 from the state Department of Transportation.
“I don’t see us doing any more bonding [this year],” Mayor Thomas Vahalla said.
The bond ordinance will be revised to show that $750,000 of those DOT grants are set aside for the new Pearl Street parking structure .
Thanks to the ordinance, the borough can move ahead with various projects, first by putting them out to bid, an ongoing process that will run through next year, Business Administrator William Boerth said.
The funding will cover a number of acquisitions, including a garbage truck, dump truck and pickup with plow; fire department equipment such as rescue tools and radios; a police sport utility vehicle and police equipment; and audio and video equipment.
The borough’s pickup truck, Vahalla said, caught fire, necessitating replacement, and the needed radios, which are estimated to cost $50,000, are part of a required federal upgrade.
Vahalla said borough officials did not honor every police department request, such as new lights. The requests were reviewed, and in some cases, voted down by the Borough Council.
The bond also encompasses a number of road improvements, including overlay drainage improvement and reconstruction, as well as curb and sidewalk repair, for Linden Avenue, Factory Street, Adam Street and Sharon Court. Also covered are various sewer improvements throughout the borough. DOT grants totaling $200,000 will be used toward the road improvements, Boerth said.
Streamlining recycling pickup
One item Vahalla was especially pleased about is the forthcoming one-armed automated garbage truck that will help streamline waste disposal in the borough. The truck will enable the borough to pick up trash and recycling on the same day.
“Now it’s every other week,” Vahalla said. With the new truck, pickup will be weekly.
“By doing this we will have a greater amount of recycling,” Vahalla said, explaining that the simplified process will encourage more residents to recycle, since they would be putting out trash and recycling containers on the same day. “It’s convenient for our residents and more efficient for us.”
It will also mean that only one man is required for the truck, instead of the current two. As such, when there is a retirement, the borough will not need to replace that person.
He said some areas of the borough are serviced by hand because trucks can’t access certain streets. That will not change with the new truck.
The weekly pickup will start once the borough procures the new vehicle.
The bond ordinance, which also includes $89,978 in issuing costs, has a life of just under 13 years.