Project to stabilize stream bank moves forward

By Dana Casadei

After some discussion about a 15 percent versus a 10 percent contingency, the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees approved a motion to award Catskill Remedial Contracting Services, Inc., the Watercliff Stream bank stabilization project at their meeting on Monday, July 24.

The project is to work on the stream bank located at the rear of the property at 1266 Water Cliff Drive, which is part of the overall storm water system after a strong storm caused it to erode. The development is owned by Bloomfield Township, making it fall under its responsibility to maintain and repair. It was affected by heavy rain and runoff from a storm in June 2021.

The storm caused the stream bank to erode, and it’s now encroaching on the private property and patio support post that is connected to the house on the property.

Normally, Hubbell, Roth, and Clark (HRC) – consulting engineers for Bloomfield Township – sets a contingency of only 10 percent, but for this project it was increased to 15, totaling at $18,000. When asked why the need for the increase, Noah Mehalski, director of public works, said HRC sets those contingencies, and it could be due to the project’s green infrastructure.

Despite some questions and discussion about the contingency, the trustees decided to still vote on the motion to award the contract for up to $138,154.65.

Mehalski said he was confident the project would not exceed its projected – which does not include the $18,000 contingency – and while Catskill was the only company to bid, HRC vetted them and was satisfied with its findings. 

Paul Horen, township public works superintendent, said the project would consist of stabilizing about 180 feet of the stream bank, as well as reshaping and relocating the stream away from the existing patio structure. 

Horen said on the off-chance that they have an emergency and something comes up during the project, or the project is varied from the permit in any way, they would have to have modifications done to that permit. “There’s really no wiggle room on this project, and it’s been studied extensively.” 

“Knock on wood, we aren’t going to have anything pop up,” Mehalski said. “It’s a pretty canned project.”