North Street Pump Station Contract Awarded

The Madison Borough Council has awarded a $330,264.72 contract to Matina & Son Inc. of Hackensack to perform the North Street Pumping Station Force Main Rehabilitation project.

Odors, backups and flooding are among the problems that have been attributed to the pump station, and residents have urged the governing body to make the project a priority.

Matina, the second-lowest of five bidders, was awarded the contact at the council's Monday meeting at .

A lower bid from Underground Utilities Corporation was rejected because reports showed "a large number of judgments and litigation" involving Underground, and the company didn't come in for a "responsibility hearing," according to a council resolution. Underground's bid was about $36,000 lower.

The North Street Pump Station serves about 1,000 residents. A major overhaul of the station has been planned for years, and after a contract for the project was rescinded after issues were raised about the company that was awarded the contract at the time.

Councilman Rob Catalanello at a February budget hearing said the North Street Pump Station is