Red Bank council awards contract for White Street improvements

RED BANK – The Red Bank Borough Council has awarded a contract to Lima Charlie Construction, Freehold Borough, for improvements to White Street.

Council members awarded the $975,975 contract to the firm during a meeting on April 22.

Lima Charlie Construction was the low bidder among six bids that were received by the borough from firms seeking the contract.

The other bids were submitted by James Lentile Inc., Marlboro, ($1.18 million); Earle Asphalt Company, Farmingdale, ($1.25 million); Black Rock Enterprises, LLC, Old Bridge, ($1.33 million); S. Brothers Inc., South River, ($1.34 million); and Berto Construction Inc., Rahway, ($1.87 million).

According to a resolution, the Borough Engineer recommended awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Lima Charlie Construction, and the borough attorney reviewed the award and found it to be legally acceptable and appropriate.

Council President Erik Yngstrom, Councilwoman Kathleen Horgan, Councilman Edward Zipprich, Councilman Michael Ballard and Councilwoman Kate L. Triggiano voted “yes” on a motion to award the contract to Lima Charlie Construction.

Counciman Hazim Yassin was absent from the meeting.

Borough Administrator Ziad A. Shehady provided a document to the Atlantic Hub that describes the project as consisting of the in-kind replacement of sanitary sewer main, with partial road reconstruction of White Street between Broad Street and Maple Avenue (Route 35).

Water improvements are expected to include three fire hydrants and 20 water service connections. Road improvements are expected to include excavation, milling, base course, concrete curb, concrete sidewalk, brick paver sidewalk, Americans with Disabilities Act curb ramps, traffic striping and storm drainage.

Borough Engineer Greg Valesi of CME Associates wrote that the contract “is expected to be funded in part with funds from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.”

The successful bidder was required to comply with all provisions of state law “for the participation of small business enterprises owned and controlled by social and economically disadvantaged individuals,” Valesi wrote in the document.

In other business at the meeting, council members appointed James K. Courtney and Andrew J. Todd to the position of Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II with the Red Bank Police Department effective May 1 at a rate of $20 per hour. The appointments were recommended by the police chief.

Class II special officers are authorized to exercise full police powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer, according to www.oceancountypoliceacademy.org

Class II special officers may only carry a firearm while engaged in the actual performance of their official duties and when specifically authorized by the police chief, according to the website.

Yngstrom, Horgan, Zipprich, Ballard and Triggiano voted “yes” on the motions to appoint the Class II special officers.