By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
LONGPORT – The Board of Commissioners Wednesday, Oct. 21 approved five contracts totaling $1,471,939 to pay for a police vehicle, building, well and sidewalk improvements, and beach renourishment. Four of the five contracts were approved unanimously, with one commissioner voting against one of the contracts.
According to Solicitor Michael Affanato, the borough’s share of the cost of the first round of renourishment since the sand dune was built in 2016 is between $164,412 and $285,162, depending on the amount of sand needed to restore the beach to post-dune construction status.
The federal government is covering 65% of the cost of renourishment and dune repairs across all of Absecon Island as part of the NJ Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction project. This will be the first renourishment cycle for Longport. The original contract for dune construction included a 50-year commitment to maintain the statewide dune system. The remaining 35% of the cost of renourishment of Longport’s beach will be split between the municipality and the state, with the state covering 75% of the remaining cost and Longport paying 25%.
Affanato said several beachfront homeowners indicated sand has collected above the approved dune height in some areas and sand has eroded in other areas.
Additional work to repair high and low spots can be done by the contractor hired to renourish the beach and funded by the 75%/25% cost sharing agreement with the State of New Jersey, and additional permits would not be required, he said.
If the cost of renourishment comes in lower than the $285,162 maximum amount cited in the contract, part or all of the cost of the work to adjust the height of the dune could be covered, he said.
The borough is negotiating with the state on developing a Fish and Wildlife plan.
The commissioners also agreed to spend $50,847 to purchase a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe with accessories for the Police Department. According to Administrator A. Scott Porter, the borough purchases a new police vehicle on an annual basis.
The SUV that was totaled in a recent rear end collision will also be replaced at a later date, but most of the cost will be covered by insurance, Porter said.
The commissioners also awarded a $681,450 contract to AC Shultes, Inc. of Woodbury for the construction of Well No. 4 at the Longport Public Works complex on 31st and Devon avenues. Shultes was the lower of two bids received and the price was within budget. The other bid was significantly higher at approximately $943,000, Porter said.
Falasca Mechanical of Vineland was awarded a $323,960 contract for HVAC improvements in the Police Department at the rear of Borough Hall. Falasca was the lowest responsible bidder of five proposals received on Sept. 22. The contract includes a base bid of $287,960 and an alternate bid of $36,000 to cover the cost of installing new ceiling tiles and electrical fixtures. The next lowest bid amount was $362,200, and the highest bid amount was approximately $446,000, Porter said.
Additionally, Hackney Concrete, Inc. of Atlantic City was awarded a $130,520 contract for a sidewalk infill project in various locations within the borough. Hackney offered the lower of two bids received on Sept. 22. The other bid amount was significantly higher at $199,625, Porter said.
The sidewalks will improve pedestrian safety in areas where there are no sidewalks, officials said. Commissioner Jim Leeds voted against approving the contract.
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