Palisades Park Paid $1M for a Police Trailer—Then Didn’t Use It. Now, a $37,000 Investigation Report is Being Withheld
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
PALISADES PARK, NJ – Taxpayers in Palisades Park are demanding answers after the borough spent over $37,000 on a legal investigation into the infamous $1 million police trailer debacle. Despite the investigation being completed, the findings remain hidden from the public, fueling frustration over the massive waste of public funds.
The $1 Million Trailer Debacle
The controversy stems from a two-story trailer that was leased by the Borough Council in 2023. It was intended to temporarily house the Police Department during necessary mold remediation at Borough Hall.
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Cost: The two-year lease was valued at $1.149 million, which included an initial $333,988 for delivery and installation, plus monthly payments of over $30,000.
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The Problem: The trailer sat unused on Depot Place for nearly two years. It was finally disassembled and returned in October, but not before costing taxpayers close to $1 million, not counting the legal fees for the subsequent investigation.
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The Reason for Non-Use: Documents obtained via an OPRA request suggest the mobile building was never utilized because the cost to connect it to essential utilities (water and sewer) exceeded $300,000—a figure deemed too high.
Three Law Firms, $37,101, and Still No Answers
The unanswered questions—Why was the trailer never used? Who approved the move without utility cost estimates? Who is to blame?—led the Borough to launch an investigation last year.
However, the path to accountability has been fraught with delays and complications:
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Original Counsel: Greg Cannon was hired to investigate “potential improper or unlawful actions.”
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Conflict of Interest: A second firm, Kim, Lim & Partners, was brought on but later withdrew after the attorney for the suspended former Borough Administrator David Lorenzo cited a direct conflict of interest, alleging the firm represented Mayor Chong “Paul” Kim personally.
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Final Counsel: The third special counsel, Scarinci Hollenbeck, was hired in June to complete the probe.
According to documents, the borough has spent a total of $37,101 on these three firms.
Investigation Complete, Findings Withheld
A borough spokesperson confirmed that the investigation is complete, but the public release of the report is being delayed.
“The Investigation Committee is still reviewing the report and considering potential actions to take based on its conclusions,” the committee said through a spokesperson. “At this time, the necessary legal steps that would allow the report to be released publicly have not been completed.”
In a small nod to transparency, the committee revealed one key finding: the investigation concluded that the Borough Council “was not provided with sufficient information at the time the police trailers were leased.”
Palisades Park officials are still negotiating with the mobile storage provider, WillScot, to reach a final settlement and “minimize any further costs” to the taxpayers for the unused lease.
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