The Township Council of the Township of Washington on Nov. 17 introduced ordinance 25‑25, authorizing an 18‑month lease with Bethany Church to store and operate township Department of Public Works (DPW) vehicles from a church parking lot while a new DPW facility is built. The motion to introduce the ordinance passed on a roll-call vote; the council scheduled an evidentiary public hearing and second reading for Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.

Residents filled the meeting to press elected officials on site improvements already made—about $58,000 in paving, a new gate and driveway—before a signed lease was on file. Bob Stickel, a longtime volunteer EMT, asked why taxpayer money was spent on improvements without a signed contract and called for a meeting with the township’s volunteer ambulance corps to address separate emergency-response concerns. “A 34‑minute response time for an unconscious 3‑year‑old … is a complete system failure,” Stickel said.

Neighbors concentrated critique on traffic and safety. Multiple speakers said the Bethany lot abuts Woodfield Road and a heavily used pedestrian path near schools and ball fields; they urged moving the lease entrance to Pascack Road or using an alternate site to avoid daily truck traffic on narrow residential streets. “The trucks leave at 7 and come back at 3,” one resident said, noting that those hours coincide with school and recreational activity.

Environmental and regulatory questions centered on the site’s proximity to Moose Sink Brook. Kevin Janos told the council that the brook is a Category 1 waterway under New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection standards and warned about hydraulic fluid, oil, salt and runoff. The mayor and attorney said the town engineer conducted a proximity review and that DEP contacts and any supporting materials will be available at the Dec. 2 evidentiary hearing.

Council and administration said the lease term is 18 months (a 12‑month construction estimate plus a six‑month cushion). The mayor said the town has no automatic lease extensions written in and that rent and commencement dates will be determined; he acknowledged the possibility of negotiating short extensions if construction is near completion. Officials also said the lease contains language requiring restoration of driveways and curb cuts to their original condition, but several residents stated they have not seen the lease and asked for written proof.

Speakers pressed for published copies of studies and more technical staff at the next meeting. The attorney and mayor repeatedly told residents that detailed technical answers—traffic routing, environmental permitting, written engineer findings and DPW operational plans—will be provided at the Dec. 2 evidentiary hearing, when the ordinance is open for public comment and the council may vote again.

The council’s motion to introduce ordinance 25‑25 carried on a roll call that recorded a majority of yes votes and at least one no; the council also passed resolution 25‑348 to publish the ordinance and set the Dec. 2 hearing. The meeting adjourned after the votes.

The evidentiary hearing on Dec. 2 is expected to include the town engineer, DPW representatives and the township administrator to answer technical and operational questions raised by residents.