Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff announced at a council meeting Monday that the town will seek bids this month from a construction company to build a long-awaited park along the waterfront. The successful bidder will likely be awarded a contract in October, with construction beginning before the end of the year, according to Drasheff.
Both Guttenberg and North Bergen plan to share construction costs of the proposed park.
Drasheff mentioned that the park likely will be ready by next summer.
“We’re going to get as much done before the cold weather sets in and then we will complete the job in the spring,” said Drasheff.
Drasheff also unveiled the town’s plans to construct a multi-purpose recreational center to be located on three vacant lots next to the Anna L. Klein School at 301 69th St. The recreational center will be a three-story building used for extra classrooms during the school year, as well as community rooms during the summer and evening.
Drasheff added that a date for construction had not yet been set.
“We’re still working out the details,” said Drasheff.
To view the waterfront park site plans, visit www.guttenbergnj.org/Projects/.
Tax deadline
The council also passed a resolution Monday to extend the deadline to submit third quarter tax payments by one month. Residents had expressed concern at the Aug. 22 council meeting over an apparent increase in property taxes for both the third and fourth quarters as the result of a recent revaluation of their homes.
During a special meeting on Sept. 12, Mayor Gerald Drasheff and the Town Council passed a resolution to extend the deadline for real estate payments from Aug. 31 to Sept. 30.
“Some taxpayers have seen significant changes in their taxes as a result of the reval,” said Drasheff. “We’re trying to provide a little bit of flexibility, a bit more time for people to put together their third quarter tax payment.”
Municipalities periodically reassess properties to raise their taxable value to current market rate. Some residents are forced to pay much more, while others get to pay less.
Although towns sometimes conduct revaluations every five years, many towns go 15 to 20 years without the process. Guttenberg’s revaluation, which took place in December of last year, was the first to be done in 15 years.
With the passing of the resolution, residents are now permitted to submit their third quarter real estate tax payments without interest by Sept. 30 of this year.
According to town clerk Alberto Cabrera, an 8 percent interest rate will apply on any late payments under $1,500. If property tax payments of $1,500 or greater are owed, an 18 percent interest rate will apply on payments submitted after the new deadline.
Town awards bid for repaving
The town had called Monday’s special meeting in order to speed up the process of repaving 68th street from Polk Street to Palisade Avenue.
“We want to get it done before the cold weather sets in,” said Drasheff.
The resolution awarded a contract to A.J.M. Contractors of Clifton. The amount of the bid was nearly $173,000.
“For us that’s a pretty good sized job,” added Drasheff.
The town also passed a resolution to award a contract of approximately $3,800 to Bergen Overhead Door, LLC, of Hackensack. The contract calls for the construction of a garage door within the Department of Public Works Building at 217 71st St.
Stephen LaMarca may be reached at slamarca@hudsonreporter.com.