Township Mayor Will Not Agree to 56-Foot Wide Intersection

The Washington Township mayor and council continued discussions Monday about an agreement with the county to make improvements at the intersection of Pascack Road and Washington Avenue that councilmen approved but Mayor Janet Sobkowicz .

Sobkowicz said she wants a cost estimate before signing any agreement and also said she will not agree to make the intersection 56 feet wide, which is part of the improvement plan.

"I think it will change the entire character of this community," she said, adding that a wider intersection might encourage more motorists to use Garden State Parkway exit 168.

Councilman Joseph D'Urso said action needs to be taken to improve the intersection, which causes major backups during the morning and evening rush hours.

"Here's an opportunity to improve that disaster of a corner right now," he said. "At this point, you've stopped it."

But Sobkowicz said she is continuing to talk with county representatives about the plan.

To help figure out a total price, Councilman Richard Hrbek said he would break the agreement down into a spreadsheet to show who is responsible for each item and provide a cost estimate. That way, he said, officials will have a better idea of what the final cost might be.

Township Attorney Kenneth Poller explained that if the mayor signs the agreement, the township will be contractually obligated to pay for the items listed, no matter what the cost.

Sobkowicz said she didn't consider the plan to be a shared services agreement because the township was responsible for many of the items.

"They're going to ask you to pick up as much as they possibly can," Poller said. "Part of this is the art of negotiation. The county wants this project, we want the project. They might give a little bit."

He suggested officials might want to set a maximum amount the township would have to spend if there isn't a hard cost estimate.

Sobkowicz said she would set up a meeting so officials could discuss the issue at length and would inform the council.

The next township council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 17.