Township Committee Delays Riverwalk Funding

The Township Committee has put off voting on funding for Downtown Millburn's riverwalk project until it receives answers to its questions on repayment.

The item to authorize spending $600,000 on the riverwalk was tabled Tuesday night after a lengthy discussion about how Downtown Millburn would repay the money with its federal grant for the project. There were no representatives from Downtown Millburn at Tuesday's meeting to answer the questions.

Downtown Millburn has proposed to construct a "riverwalk" along Main Street leading to the Paper Mill Playhouse. The walkway, which is an enhanced sidewalk with pavers and lighting, would not actually follow the river. Downtown Millburn secured a federal grant money to cover the cost of construction, but township officials had to pay for the designs and engineering.

The issue was raised by Deputy Mayor Sandra Haimoff who had questions ranging from what are the other costs associated with the project, when does the grant money come to local officials and what happens if the grant money doesn't come to Millburn.

"We're dealing with taxpayer dollars now," she said.

The township needs a contract with Downtown Millburn, formerly known as Downtown Millburn Development Alliance, that is in place before the committee authorizes the funding, she said.

Township Administrator Tim Gordon said there was a conversation at a public meeting where officials agreed to provide the initial funding and Downtown Millburn would reimburse it. The township's attorney has been working on an agreement with Downtown Millburn.

If the federal grant money was diverted away from Downtown Millburn or there were cost overruns, he said, he would recommend some sort of assessment on its member downtown properties.

"I need to see all of that in writing before the next step," Haimoff said.

Gordon also cautioned it takes time to get the funding in place, which is why the matter was on Tuesday's agenda. He said with the proper timeline, the earliest the funding could be authorized is May 6.

Rob Tillotson, a committee member, said the project would not go to construction until August, so he didn't see the need to rush approving the funding. "There's still the rest of May, June and July," he said.

Mayor Tom McDermott said he has been critical of the project, but he's always known the deal and the township needing to front the money. He was more concerned years ago than he is now. He said the committee can wait until the contract is designed before approving the funding.

The matter is to be on the March 16 agenda, and McDermott said he expects Downtown Millburn officials to be in attendance.