Council Weighs Sale of Municipal Garage

The sale of the village's shoddy, poorly-arranged central garage could return the funds necessary to construct a new fleet maintenance facility.

In recent months, Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli has pressed his colleagues to investigate the merits of selling the Central Municipal Garage on Chestnut Street to prospective developers. The proceeds from the sale would go toward the relocation of the facility.

The garage's director, Joe Loprieno, concedes the current facility is not configured to meet the village's demands.

The building lacks back doors to the main area, often requiring work to be performed outdoors. New hydraulic lifts were approved last year but had to be specially fit due to space issues. The ceiling still restricts larger vehicles from being placed on lifts. Further, the salt stock is located next to the fuel tanks, causing corrosion.

Because of it's rectangular configuration next to a wall, the fundamental problems will remain regardless of minor changes to the facility.

"It's a big and clumsy maintenance facility that drags down the area," Pucciarelli said.

Developers have targeted the area of late. There is a proposal to construct a 114-unit housing development at the Ken Smith site, as well as the 62-unit Chestnut Village development.

The potential plan ties into a greater consideration for the village; the planning board determining if all of Chestnut Street should be declared a redevelopment zone.

On Wednesday, Pucciarelli said the council could consider two different properties for relocation. The first he suggested is the signal division headquarters on Prospect Street in Glen Rock; the other being the state's DOT land on Route 17.

"If that property were sold, the resulting revenue could be used to build a smaller, more efficient facility to meet 21st century needs," Pucciarelli said.  Not sure where it would be built. Want council to study this.

Mayor Paul Aronsohn said the council should consider whether it's worth doing vehicle maintenance in house at all.

"We should look at whole picture," he said. "Is it effective and efficient?"