$1 Million Trailer Flop: NJ Town Disassembles Police HQ That Sat Empty for Two Years—Investigation Concluded
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Palisades Park NJ, The Million-Dollar Mistake is Being Taken Down .In a saga that has cost Palisades Park taxpayers nearly $1 million for absolutely zero use, the infamous temporary trailer meant to house the Police Department has finally been disassembled and is ready to be returned.
The mobile facility, leased for an estimated $1.149 million over two years, was approved in 2023 as a critical temporary solution to relocate police staff while Borough Hall underwent remediation for a serious black mold problem.
Now, two years later, the disassembled parts of the structure—located near the local ShopRite on Depot Place—are awaiting off-site transport by the mobile storage provider, WillScot.
The Core Problem: Who Approved a Trailer That Couldn’t be Used?
The most critical question remains: Why was the trailer, designed to meet Attorney General’s guidelines, never connected and never used?
Documents obtained through public records requests revealed the startling reason: the cost to connect the trailer to essential utilities like water and sewer was estimated to be over $300,000—a cost apparently not factored into the initial plans, deeming the entire setup unusable.
The total expenditures for the unused structure have already soared past $1 million, including:
- Monthly Payments: Over $30,000 per bill cycle (with at least 19 cycles completed).
- Delivery/Installation: $333,988.
- Final Cost: Still being calculated, with officials negotiating a “financial settlement to minimize any further costs” with the leasing company.
The Blame Game and the Scarfed Investigation
The massive financial blunder sparked an immediate internal investigation last year to determine who was responsible for the waste and “potential improper or unlawful actions.” This investigation has itself been a convoluted and expensive process:
- Original Delay: Officials initially claimed the investigation was delayed by “deliberate stonewalling” from former borough employees, including the former Borough Administrator, David Lorenzo, who was later terminated.
- Attorney Turnover: Three separate special attorneys were hired to spearhead the probe. One firm was forced to withdraw due to a potential conflict of interest involving the Mayor.
- Conclusion Reached: The third special counsel, Scarinci Hollenbeck, has now concluded the investigation. The firm was retained at a cost of up to $25,000 for their work.
What Happens Next?
While the investigation has wrapped up, the findings are not yet public.
“The investigation into the matter has concluded and the findings are currently under legal review,” a borough spokesperson stated. “Additional information regarding the investigation’s findings will be released at an appropriate time after the internal review process has been completed.”
This saga serves as a sharp reminder of the financial consequences when municipal planning fails. As the physical structure is removed, Palisades Park residents await answers on who will be held accountable for the nearly $1 million spent on a police department that never moved in.
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We spent far more than $1 million on a house with no public purpose.
I’m not even including all the money that is being wasted trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
Evan says no problem, we’ll just bond it.