Welcome to the Borough of Caldwell Quarterly Newsletter
ISSUE 1 • Winter 2025
Borough Project Updates 2025
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1
Purchase of New Fire Department Ladder Truck- $1.67 Million completed in the first 2 months of 2023. Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department enrollment has increased tremendously and the department is thriving due to new equipment and technology upgrades.
An addition to the firehouse is planned in 2025 from a grant received from the NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness in the amount of just over $200,000.00.
2
Settled Sewer Litigation with West Caldwell and Roseland. (This enabled us to fully fund the anticipated revenue in the sewer budget putting the Borough in the "Black" for the first time in years). Removed Mott McDonald at end of contract with new Operator, NSU (Natural System Utilities). We have seen a large savings in the process with respect to operational costs.
3
Resolved budget issues by receiving the outstanding municipal sewer user fees from the sending towns while maintaining small increase in overall Municipal Budget. Caldwell is now in the “Black” in all three accounts, Operations, Water, and Sewer funds. We have approximately $10.5 million dollars of borrowing capacity as of now…this has not been the case for years. Caldwell now has bonding capacity once again to fix roadways, and utility infrastructure systems. This doesn't mean we are looking to spend additional funds, however, the Borough has the capability to borrow once again.
4
With the ending of the NJ Transit Bus commuter route, this administration contacted and assisted with the new DeCamp Blue" bus service route along Bloomfield Ave to NY Port Authority supplement the commuters in the Borough.
5
Purchased the Building at 80 Bloomfield Ave. for Municipal purposes, which will eliminate 2/3 of the trailers at Smull Avenue Lot. The cost of $2.7 Million was a huge cost savings for the Borough vs. having to construct a new building. In addition to Municipal offices, this building will house the Borough Library and our Court Office. 80 Bloomfield Avenue is out to bid. Bids will be opened on February 19, 2025.
6
Upon relocation of Borough Hall and Library, Smull Avenue Lot will be restored with approx. 40 more parking spaces for the business community with additional landscaping. We completed the renovations at 14 Park Avenue and named the facility the Irene Gibbons Health and Human Services Building (Named after the first female Mayor of Caldwell).
7
Old Borough Hall at Provost was demolished, and a new parking lot was created, adding 31 additional parking spaces for use by businesses and sports activities at the Oval. Last year, we also removed the rock stockpile on the lower lot by the firehouse and added approximately 12 additional parking spaces.
8
Improvements to "The Green" were made, including a new retaining wall, aluminum fencing, plantings, automatic sprinkler system, etc...at no cost to the Borough. We completed the resurfacing and painting of the flagpole on "The Green".
9
The Police Department personnel is at capacity with the recent hiring of a new police officer, Mr. Willy Figueroa. This will allow us to have full 4-person squads to reduce the current overtime expense and the stress on our officers.
10
FEMA Grants are scheduled to be received in 2025 for flood relief from Hurricane IDA. If the demolition of the existing Library building on Bloomfield Avenue was not stopped by former Councilman Alonso, the day the contractor was on site, we would have lost $1.47 Million dollars in FEMA Grants to reconstruct and rehabilitate the building. ($510,879 received plus $960,625.89 pending... for replacing flood-proof doors, windows, stormwater detention system, generator, site grading, etc...)
11
As a result of the Sewer Litigation Settlement, remediation work to reduce infiltration in the Borough's sewer system is being performed to increase sewer capacity and relieve any potential future flooding.
12
The first phase of the Borough’s improvements has begun. In order for the businesses and residents on Smull Avenue to have their neighborhood returned to its former state, the objective is to populate 80 Bloomfield swiftly so the trailers can be removed as soon as possible and to put 22 Smull Avenue up for sale.
13
The Borough has caught up with lingering NJDOT funded Roadway Improvements Projects. We will continue to apply for this annual grant in the upcoming year 2025.
14
The Borough in 2023 hired Michael DeCarlo as the Borough Assistant Engineer to oversee all of the infrastructure projects and grants associated with said projects at an annual salary of approximately $98,000.00. The prior administration used the consulting engineering firm, Beckmeyer Engineering where in 2021, this firm was paid $500,519.01 and $579,484.68 in 2022 for all of their engineering services. Our current use of outside engineering consultants for design and preparation of plans and specifications for our roadway projects, would add only an additional $25-$35K per year...resulting in a large savings for our residents.
15
The Borough recently signed a "Shared Services" agreement to purchase fuel from West Caldwell instead of paying retail prices at the local Sunoco Service Station. We will see a large savings with this. Caldwell will pay .25 cents above the fuel purchase price from the Morris County Cooperative. The fuel pricing is based upon the "RAC" price delivered at the port.
Upcoming Events/Projects
New Jersey Mobile DMV
New Jersey Mobile DMV will be onsite at the firehouse once again this year to provide motor vehicle services to our residents. REAL ID’s appointments are full and no longer available.
Apply for: Registration renewals, and more. When: February 3, 2025 - February 7, 2025 Time: 9 am - 2 pm Where: Firehouse Parking Lot on Roseland Avenue Appointment: There is a link on the Borough website to schedule an appointment and for more information.
Affordable Housing Update
An explanation of how Caldwell is complying with its affordable housing obligation
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Official Newsletter of Borough of Caldwell, New Jersey © Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved 24 Smull Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006 | (973) 226-6100 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am–4:30 pm