By John Tredrea, Special Writer
Emergency generators for Lambertville’s Justice Center and library are a step closer to being purchased.
A bond ordinance was introduced at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. The adoption vote could come as soon as council’s September meeting.
Under the proposed ordinance, the city could spend $150,000 for the generators. Grants from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management would reimburse the city a total of $103,942.
City Clerk Cindy Ege said Monday that the library generator project would be done first and that, barring unforeseen problems in the work, the Justice Center would be done next. The generators would provide electricity in the event of a power outage caused by extreme weather or other emergencies.
ALSO ON TUESDAY, council OK’d a $120,000 bond ordinance that will fund the resurfacing of Wilson Street.
Two resolutions pertaining to Cavallo Park, which is closed for renovations, were addressed by council.
— One resolution, which was approved, authorizes the city to sign a 20-year lease, at $1 a year, for the park. The park is owned by the state.
— The other approved resolution, which was on the agenda at the state’s request, authorizes to city to investigate assuming ownership of the park.
The park, which the city has closed until contaminated soil near the surface has been removed and new construction in the park is complete, is expected to remain closed until mid-May of next year, city officials said.
In 2012, the city’s recreation commission began a review of the equipment and uses of the park. The commission applied to the state’s Green Acres agency for funding to help pay for park renovations. Green Acres awarded the city a low-interest loan of $300,000. As required by the Green Acres program and the DEP, investigations were conducted on the three areas of environmental concern in the park. That work was completed in August of last year.
The city then requested that the DEP, which owns the park and leases it to the city, conduct additional testing. The DEP conducted an investigation in November of 2013 and presented its findings a month ago.
Based on an agreement between the DEP and Lambertville, remedial action will involve the removal of the top 12-18 inches of material, and replacement of the material with certified clean fill.
The cost of the work has been estimated at $310,000, with the city entitled to be reimbursed for 75 percent of it.

