By Amy Batista, Special Writer
The Borough Council has decided to pursue a joint effort with a resident to enhance curbs and sidewalks along Etra Road from Orchard Avenue to Meadow Lakes.
During the Aug. 17 meeting, Mayor Larry Quattrone said the resident would like the borough and the county to help with the surveying and the site design and the resident would do the actual construction.
Borough Engineer Carmela Roberts estimated the cost of the project at approximately $60,000 including an estimated $4,500 for surveying and $7,500 for design as well as preparation of plans and permits and $7,000 for construction inspection.
Councilman Steven Misiura said that her engineering fees are “like a third of the construction costs.”
“That’s high,” he said.
Ms. Roberts said, “You still have to do all the surveying, you still have to do the design and small projects always end up in the higher percentage fee,” she said. “It’s because of everything else you have to do regardless.”
She said the engineers have to design grading to make sure the borough doesn’t end up with puddles in yards or along the whole length of the roadway.
“So that part takes time,” she said.
Mayor Quattrone said that Ms. Roberts would be inspecting “the whole thing.”
When the mayor asked about a maintenance guarantee, Ms. Roberts said that the borough can ask whoever does the work to provide a two-year maintenance guarantee.
“We typically do ask for a guarantee,” she said.
Mayor Quattrone said the bottom line is the borough spending $19,000 to improve Etra Road from South Main Street all the way down to the Meadow Lakes driveway.
“Do we want to enter into this joint effort and make the town a little bit nicer,” he said. “Or do we just want to say sorry?”
Mayor Quattrone and Ms. Roberts alleviated council members’ concerns with the project costing the borough more than $19,000.
“The cost of construction and materials will be paid for by somebody else not by the borough,” Ms. Roberts said.
Mayor Quattrone said the borough would only have to pay for surveying, design and permits.
“That adds up to $19,000,” he said. “So I don’t know if you guys want to venture down this road and pursue it, ignore it or send a letter of regret.”
Council President Denise “Denny” Hansen questioned how the project would impact the borough’s capital improvement budget.
Borough Administrator Henry Underhill said the borough would have to find $19,000 in the capital improvement budget.
Chief Financial Officer George Lang said, “I mean $19,000, sure we can find something.”
He added that the council may have to modify some ordinances to come up with the funding.
Councilman Seth Kurs said he thinks the project is something worth pursuing.
“We have a partner willing to share in the bulk of the cost and work,” he said. “We have a statedintent to make Hightstown more walkable for the public and putting in sidewalks on that road would certainly be better for the municipality.”
Mayor Quattrone also said it’s a great opportunity to provide handicap accessibility.
“It’s a great opportunity for the people in Meadow Lakes to walk; they don’t have to cross the road until they get to the corner,” he said.
“We have teachers (and) we have staff from Peddie School who cross the road there. I think it is good for the borough,” he added.
