Birdsall tapped for work on municipal projects
BY MARK ROSMAN
Staff Writer

MARLBORO - The Township Council recently awarded a series of contracts to Birdsall Engineering, of Eatontown. The contract covers the following services, according to a resolution approved by the council:

• Engineering services under the title of Redevelopment Project Manager for the Marlboro State Psychiatric Hospital property for an amount not to exceed $25,000.

The township has been pursuing the purchase of the 411-acre hospital property on Route 520 since the facility was closed by the state in 1998.

In a letter to Business Administrator Judith Tiernan outlining its proposal to become the Redevelopment Project Manager (RPM), Township Engineer James Priolo of Birdsall Engineering wrote, "... varied individuals and laypersons have evaluated the feasibility of the purchase, gathered information, and rendered opinions as to how acquisition and redevelopment should proceed. Well-meaning intentions aside, the inefficiencies and costliness of this approach are glaring ... The piece-meal approach attempted to date does not work, and to pursue it strains funding and resources."

According to the proposal from Birdsall, the RPM will provide a number of services, including but not limited to: "act as a conduit through which all information regarding work by the professionals, commissions, individuals etc. is funneled to the mayor and Township Council;" "work with the mayor and council to evaluate debt or equity financing;" and "prepare and oversee property market analysis, marketing initiatives and interface with potential interested developers, non-profits and other interested parties."

Birdsall offered the services of Timothy Kinsella, principal environmental scientist, for the role of RPM.

• Landscape design services for the Union Hill Road commuter parking lot for an amount not to exceed $1,900. Birdsall will provide a layout plan for the landscaping, a plant list and details for installation that will be completed by the Marlboro Department of Public Works staff, according to a memo prepared by Priolo.

• Design and contract documents and construction administration in connection with the 2007 road program for an amount not to exceed $122,000. The following roads are included in this project: Evelyn Lane, Jennifer Court, Kathy Court, Michelle Court and Susan Drive in the Coltsbrook North development, and Ryan Road from Route 79 to Robertsville Road. The scope of improvements includes pavement base repair, pavement milling and resurfacing of all the roads, according to a memo prepared by Priolo. The estimated construction cost for this work is $1 million.

• Structural analysis of the Marlboro library roof for an amount not to exceed $3,700.

According to a memo from Director of Public Works Robert DiMarco to Tiernan, "the existing air handling unit which supplies heating and cooling air to the main part of the library needs a new compressor for the cooling side of the unit. A new compressor is approximately $5,500 while a new air handling unit is $23,000. This unit has been in operation since 1973 and is due for replacement. In order to replace the unit, a structural analysis needs to be performed to ensure that the steel framing is capable of supporting the new unit."

• Engineering services in connection with the preparation of a preliminary assessment and site inspection report of a Tennent Road property for an amount not to exceed $3,500.

The council awarded the professional services contract to Birdsall Engineering without competitive bidding in accordance with the local public contracts law which allows a municipality to do so in certain instances.