MOUNT OLIVE (11/30/06) - Still straightening out what recalled Mayor Richard DeLaRoche left undone, newly elected Mayor David Scapicchio has told the Township Council that the cost to complete the new DPW garage will be at least $500,000 more than the $1.9 million approved by voters in a referendum last year. The garage is under construction at the municipal complex on Flanders-Drakestown Road.

DeLaRoche and Township Council President Rob Greenbaum had a running controversy over the final cost….Greenbaum, very skeptical; DeLaRoche, adamant that the construction was on target and on budget. DeLaRoche was backed by former Business Administrator Rick Prill. DeLaRoche was recalled earlier this month and Prill stayed on an additional week to assist the newly named administrator William Sohl.

Scapicchio told the Council he and Sohl had gone over the costs and needs carefully and there was no way the job would be completed for less than the additional $500,000. He added that there was no question the building was needed and should be occupied in the early part of next year. He added that there never was any way that the building would have been completed for the $1.9 million.

The referendum originally authorized the construction of a $38,000 square foot facility and after considerable debate and the taking of bids, the cost was much too high and DeLaRoche relented and agreed to cut the building size to 20,000 square feet.

The Council authorized Scapicchio to enter into agreement with the SMAC Corp of Paterson to build the office and locker room facilities and to re-bid the electrical, heating and ventilation work for the building.