SOUTH RIVER – The South River Borough Council has rejected the two bids the borough received for proposed Main Street/downtown streetscape improvements.
The borough received the bids on July 11 and the council rejected those bids on July 16. Officials said both bids exceeded the amount of money that has been budgeted for the project.
Borough Administrator Jack Layne Jr. said the project is estimated at $220,000. The bids received were from S. Brothers, for $642,765, and from Seacoast Construction, for $440,920.
After rejecting the bids, council members authorized the borough clerk to re-advertise and re-bid the project. The second round of bids are due on Aug. 7.
“The scope of the project will be revised into two phases, with basically one-half of the project area being bid in the bids that will be opened on Aug. 7, which should significantly reduce the bid amount,” council President Shawn Haussermann said.
“The borough did the original streetscape project in phases also in order to be able to complete it with grant money instead of taxpayer funds,” he said.
Layne said the streetscape project will consist of the removal of concrete paver blocks and concrete sidewalks, the installation of electrical conduits, wiring and electric devices, the installation of concrete sidewalks and stamped concrete walks, furnishing and installing refuse/recycling containers, planters and trees, on the south side of Main Street.
Layne said the Main Street/downtown streetscape improvements will be scheduled for the fall and only relate to Main Street.
In other business, council members waived electric consumption demand charges for not-for-profit organizations and the South River Public Schools.
“Electric demand recovers a portion of the cost for the borough providing the capacity and equipment needed for particular customers. It is based on the maximum flow of electricity used at one time during the month,” Layne said.
The following not-for-profit organizations, institutions and South River Public Schools electric consumption demand charges are waived from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30: the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, American Legion Post 214, Byelorussian Community Center, Universal Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Garden State Christian Church, St. Mary’s of Ostrabrama Church.
Also, St. Mary’s of Ostrabrama C.Y.O, St. Mary’s of Ostrabrama School, St. Mary’s of Ostrabrama Community Center, Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Corpus Christi Church, Union Baptist Church, Church Jesus Christ Is Lord, Imperial Music Center, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Holy Trinity Episcopal, the World of Worship Center.
And, Conklin Methodist, South River Portuguese Club, Redentor Presbyterian Church, South River Primary School, South River Elementary School, South River Middle School and South River High School.
According to Layne, the not-for-profit organizations and the schools’ monthly electric bill will have the credit on its monthly electric bill.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].