Engineering

Description of Department:

The Engineering Department handles all road projects, engineering issues, public development projects, and Planning Board and Board of Adjustment matters.

The Engineering Department is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for designated Township holidays.

Mission Statement:

The Engineering Department of Maplewood Township is responsible for a broad spectrum of duties Town wide.  Whether it’s responding to an emergency steam pipe leak, building a new storm drain, upgrading a traffic signal or evaluating a Township policy, the Engineering Department is at the core of the project.  Headed up by the Acting Township Engineer the Department avails itself of the services of necessary consulting engineers and other design professionals, a consulting engineer & attorney that services both the Planning and Zoning Boards and two administrative personnel including the secretary of the two Boards.  Together the personnel function as a team to address a multitude of issues that arise daily.  The team maintains the integrity, public safety and welfare of the Townships population through infrastructure maintenance and improvements. 

 In addition to the regular personnel the Township Engineer supervises the work of the Facility Manager of the new Police & Court Building.  This individual operates the facility for part of his time and then commits the remainder of time to overseeing engineering construction projects; particularly building improvements.  This individual is also responsible for overseeing the Townships Indoor Air Quality Program.  This new State requirement requires the initiation of a plan and monitoring of all public buildings for air quality. 

 The Engineering Department also oversees the work of numerous outside consultants.  These for hire firms provide services including architecture, environmental remediation, surveying, engineering design and planning.   

 Capital improvements are the main focus of the Department.  The improvements include the maintenance and reconstruction of roads, sewer, parks, ball fields, buildings, traffic systems and the remediation of environmental hazards town wide.  In addition to administering these improvements the Engineering Department is also responsible for budgeting and planning, tax map maintenance, grant writing, surveying, construction inspection, design and administration of capital projects and reviewing site plans or other improvements throughout the Municipality for conformity with federal, state, and municipal regulations. 

 The Township Engineer reports directly to the Township Administrator and reports on a regular basis to the Planning and Engineering Committee.  The Committee is comprised of three members of the Township Committee, the Township Administrator, and the Township Engineer.  The Engineering Department and Planning and Engineering Committee are responsible for planning and evaluating projects town wide to satisfy the needs of the community. 

2010 Department Goals

• Continue the initiatives and programs of the prior Township Engineer with respect to compliance with the state adopted Municipal Storm Water Regulations, rehabilitation of the Township’s sanitary sewer system and the implementation of a Township-wide Bicycle Facility Plan  . 
• Continue with and further develop the database information that comprises the Townships Geographical Information System (GIS).  This work may involve the population of the database to include information relevant to Planning Board or Zoning Board applications and the initiation of a program to introduce Township officials and board members to GIS-related information. 
• Re-examine the current policies with respect to the processing of requests for traffic signage, pavement marking and traffic-calming measures with the objective of streamlining the public participation element of the decision-making process.
• Create and implement a “quick response” protocol for citizen complaints regarding sanitary sewer backups.
• Continue to seek grant funding to fund the final three phases of Springfield Avenue Streetscape and the continuing repairs/upgrades of Township buildings including its Library and Township Hall.  This effort will be coordinated with Ms. DePalma, the Township’s grant-writer.

  Services Provided:
Board of Adjustment and Zoning
Environmental Advisory Committee
Maps, City and Zoning
Planning Board
Subdivision Information 
Transportation Committee
Variances

 Recent Studies:

Essex County All-Hazard Mitigation Plan July 2008

Natural Resource Inventory Final Report 2006.pdf

Department Contacts:
Call 973-762-8120 for the Engineering Office.  The following extensions will help you direct your call to the staff who can best address your specific question:

x 3200 for the secretary of the Planning Board and Board of Adjustments

x 3200 for general questions about a road project or engineering issue

x 3300 for the Township Engineer

Or via email you may reach the Interim Township Engineer as follows:

Robert E. Bratt, P.E.,P.P., InterimTownship Engineer
engineer@twp.maplewood.nj.us

Effective Monday, September 21, 2009, the Acting Township Engineer will have the following office hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday -10 am -12 pm

Tuesday, Thursday - 1 pm -3 pm

Location:
Maplewood Municipal Building
574 Valley Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040