Mayor & Council

Firehouse No. 1Restroom Renovations & Project Status Dear Netcong Community Members: The Borough of Netcong has reviewed Fire Company No. 1's recent letter to the community regarding the ongoing restroom renovation project at Firehouse No. 1. We recognize the frustration, inconvenience, and concerns expressed by the members, particularly given the length of time that the facility has been under construction. We want to assure them and the residents of Netcong that the Borough has been working continuously to resolve this matter and complete the necessary improvements. We believe it is important, however, that the community have a complete and accurate understanding of the circumstances surrounding this project, the challenges encountered, and the steps the Borough has taken to move it forward. Project Background and Chronology The original restroom renovation project was developed through the Borough’s normal public works contracting process. The project specifications were prepared by the Borough’s then-designated professional engineer, and the Borough was required to follow applicable New Jersey public contracting laws and procurement procedures. When the original contractor was awarded the project, he represented to the Borough that the renovations could be completed within approximately one week to ten days. He further assured the Borough that he had the personnel and resources necessary to renovate both restrooms simultaneously, thereby minimizing the disruption to the Fire Company. Before beginning the project, the Borough held a preconstruction meeting on August 21, 2025 with the contractor that was also attended by the Borough engineer at the time as well as a member of Fire Company No. 1. There were no concerns with the design at the time of the meeting. The project commenced, but work was subsequently stopped after questions were raised by members of Fire Company No. 1 concerning certain design elements and aspects of the proposed renovations. While those questions were being addressed, the contractor reported the possible presence of asbestos floor tiles to the New Jersey Department of Labor. The Department of Labor responded by inspecting the firehouse, collecting samples, and ultimately issuing a stop-work order. The Borough also retained its own environmental testing firm, which independently confirmed the presence of asbestos materials. At that point, the Borough had no choice but to address the environmental health and safety issue before any further construction could proceed. The Borough worked with the appropriate state authorities, and once the Department of Labor lifted its stop-work order, the Borough retained a qualified asbestos mitigation contractor to perform the necessary remediation. The cost of asbestos testing, mitigation, and related work was $24,726.25. During this period, the Borough also engaged in discussions and negotiations with the original contractor in an effort to resolve the outstanding project issues and determine how the work could proceed. Those discussions ultimately resulted in the termination of the original contract. Redesign and Re-Bidding of the Project Following these events, the Borough retained a new Borough Engineer, who assumed responsibility for moving the project forward. Based on the new engineer’s professional recommendations, the Borough engaged an architect to review and revise the original plans. This additional professional involvement was necessary to address the design concerns identified earlier in the project and to ensure that the proposed renovations were properly designed in accordance with the Fire Company’s requests before proceeding with another construction contract. New plans and specifications were subsequently prepared, and the project was advertised and competitively bid in accordance with applicable New Jersey public works contracting requirements. The Borough recently completed that bidding process and awarded the contract to a new contractor in accordance with the State’s public procurement requirements. The new contractor has previously performed work for the Borough, and that work was completed satisfactorily. The Borough has confidence in the contractor’s ability to perform the work required under the newly awarded contract. The new contract was awarded in the amount of $116,000 on October 1, 2026. A pre-construction meeting has already been conducted, and the contractor has approached the Byram Township Construction Office to obtain the necessary building permits. This is an important step toward getting the project physically underway. The contractor has previously indicated to the Borough that he has targeted the week of November 9, 2026 as his intended start date for construction. Temporary Restroom Accommodations The Borough also recognizes the difficulties created by the lack of permanent restroom facilities during this period. In response, the Borough provided portable restroom facilities (porta-potties) for the use of Fire Company members. These facilities are ADA Compliant. The cost of providing these temporary facilities has been $3,311.63, covering the period from August 2025 through the Present. We recognize that portable facilities are not an acceptable long-term substitute for properly functioning restroom facilities, particularly in a public safety facility that serves both male and female firefighters and must accommodate individuals with disabilities. They were provided as an interim measure while the Borough worked through the construction and environmental issues. The Borough’s Commitment to Completing This Project We want to be very clear: The Borough does not consider the existing situation acceptable, nor does it consider the lack of functioning restroom facilities at Firehouse No. 1 a minor inconvenience. Our volunteer firefighters dedicate their time and energy to protecting this community, and they deserve safe, sanitary, and appropriate facilities. The Borough has not been idle during this process. It has dealt with an unexpected asbestos condition, complied with a State-issued stop-work order, retained environmental professionals, completed asbestos mitigation, addressed contractual issues with the original contractor, engaged new engineering and architectural professionals, redesigned the project, and completed a new public bidding process. Each of these steps required time, professional involvement, and the expenditure of additional public funds. As of November 4, 2026 the total project funds expended have reached $234,638.44. Including the new contract the project will have cost the Borough of Netcong approximately $350,000. While we understand that these explanations do not eliminate the frustration associated with the delay, they demonstrate that the Borough has been actively pursuing a permanent solution rather than allowing the matter to remain unresolved. The Borough also understands the concerns expressed regarding accessibility, including accommodations for firefighters with disabilities and appropriate facilities for our female firefighters. These concerns are being addressed through the revised project plans and specifications, and the completed improvements will be subject to the applicable construction and accessibility requirements. We are equally concerned by the suggestion that the Borough has not taken this matter seriously or has failed to demonstrate meaningful action. Our actions, including the additional professional services, environmental remediation, redesign, and rebidding of the project, reflect our commitment to getting this work completed properly. We appreciate the service and dedication of the members of Fire Company No. 1 and recognize the important role the organization plays in the Netcong community. The Borough and the Fire Company share the same objective: ensuring that our firefighters have the facilities and resources necessary to perform their duties safely and effectively. The Borough’s support of Fire Company No. 1 The Borough has continuously worked with and supported Fire Company No. 1. Just in the last few years the Borough has completed the following projects / purchases at the fire house: Garage Door Sensor Replacement - $9,500 in 2024Elevator Maintenance - $11,497.55 since 2024Parking Lot Expansion and Resurfacing - $480,738.25 in 2025 / 2026Boiler Replacement - $28,542.00 in 2026New Fire Truck Purchase - $958,968.38The Borough has also applied for and received two grants in excess of $150,000 in the last few years to help purchase personal protective equipment, breathing apparatuses, and gear washing equipment for the Fire Department as a whole. Our focus now is on completing this project. It is unfortunate that this project has not been as smooth as most of our projects, but with a new contractor under contract, a pre-construction meeting completed, and the building permit process underway, the project is coming close to an end. The Borough will continue to work with the engineer, architect, contractor, and construction officials to move the project forward as expeditiously as possible. We will continue to provide updates as the construction schedule is finalized and work progresses. The members of Fire Company No. 1 deserve functioning restroom facilities, and the Borough is committed to seeing that this long-standing issue is finally resolved. Ralph Blakeslee III, RMC, MPA, CMCBorough Administrator, Zoning Officer, Affordable Housing OfficerBorough of Netcong