North Caldwell Mulls Outsourcing Lawn Maintenance

Rather than purchase a new lawn mower, North Caldwell is looking to outsource grass cutting again.

Borough Engineer/Director of Public Works (DPW) Director Frank Zichelli recommended Tuesday the borough reject a BID of $21,000 for replacing a lawn mower and return to outsourcing lawn maintenance. He said in the past the borough paid between $600 and $790 a week for the service.

The borough stopped paying outside landscapers to maintain lawns about three years ago to help close a budget gap, Zichelli said.

It takes two to three DPW employees about a day-and-a-half to cut grass around the hilly suburban town, Zichelli said. Cutting grass takes the workers away from other duties, such as maintaining fields, the pool and potholes, he said.

The DPW also recently took over , Borough Administrator Mel Levine added.

“I would suggest if we are going to do it, let’s do it 100 percent,” Zichelli said.

The North Caldwell DPW would finish out the 2012 season and put out an RFP early next year for services for the approximately 25-week season.