By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
NORTHFIELD — City Council continues to work on drainage issues around the city and took a step during its meeting Jan. 19 to fix a sewer main break that is causing road settlement near Little Italy restaurant at Burton Avenue and Tilton Road.
The governing body passed a resolution authorizing Schaeffer, Nassar, Scheidegg Consulting Engineers to prepare bid documents for slip-lining the sewer line on Tilton Road from the manhole at Burton Avenue to the manholes at Maple Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue at a cost of $6,500.
According to the engineer’s report, North American Pipe inspected the sewer main via video and found “a major sewer main break at the intersection of Tilton and Burton causing major roadway settlement” last year. Slip-lining involves feeding a smaller pipe through the existing sewer line to eliminate leakage.
The report also detailed the progress of a list of ongoing projects. Part of last year’s paving program included part of Second Street, part of Franklin Avenue, part of Fairbanks Avenue, part of Bates Avenue, part of Maple Avenue (including drainage), half-width of Haddon Avenue, part of Wabash Avenue, half-width of part of Ridgewood Avenue, half-width of part of Glencove Avenue, as well as part of Cedar Bridge, Cedar Spring Court and the re-alignment of Birch Grove Park Road.
The city received six bids, the lowest — $527,756 — was from South State, which was awarded the contract and is tentatively set to start the drainage component of the project in February.
Reconstruction of Fuae Avenue is also in the works. According to the report, the city was approved for $290,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation for the work, which will take place from Zion Road to Dolphin Avenue.
Hackney Concrete submitted the lowest bid and was awarded a $302,112 contract and began work in November. All concrete and drainage work have been completed and the paving portion of the project is on hold until this spring to ensure proper paving.
The city is in the process of adding an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp to the rear of City Hall. It is anticipated that the project would be complete by the end of January. Part of the project involved removal of a cell tower on the property, which was completed Jan. 15.
Another project in the works is the reconstruction of Merritt Drive and part of Ridgewood Drive between Route 9 and Wabash Avenue. The city received a $310,000 grant from the NJDOT on Nov. 16 that will fund the project. The engineer has started the project design.
City Council also hired Michael Testa Jr. of Testa, Heck, Testa & White as an alternate/conflict solicitor at a rate of $135 per hour. Testa is the state senator representing Cape May County, parts of Cumberland County and Corbin City in Atlantic County.
The city also appointed members to its Senior Committee — Karen Haymaker, Josie Hornberger, Eleanor Webb, Joan McCord, Justine O’Brien and Dee Gannon — as well as its Cultural Committee — Museum curator Roy Clark, David Goldstein, Tery Moran-Lever, Robert Patrick, Joan Pullan Brennan, Eleanor Webb, Linda Braverman, Steve Vain and Emily Shenkus, website developer.
