BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — The public will have its say Wednesday on the township’s plan to bond $2.7 million for the construction of a new township library.
A public hearing will be held at the town hall on the proposed 17,000-square-foot library which will cost an estimated $4.2 million. The library board is putting a $1.5 million down payment on the project, leaving $2.7 million to bond. The library’s share of that bond is $1.4 million, leaving the township with $1.3 million on this joint venture.
Bids will be opened on July 2, according to township Clerk Antoinette Battaglia.
The Finn propertyThe township entered into an agreement with Edna Finn to purchase the 1.5 acre property that is adjacent to the township hall and police station back in 2009 for $500,000. A commercial building and a residential house sit on the property that will be home to this new library. According to Mayor Bettina Bieri, who is also a member of the library board, the house will remain standing at least through the construction of the new library and will act as offices for construction. When the construction is finished, a decision on what to do with the house will be made.
The commercial building, which once housed a general store and most recently a consignment shop, will be torn down during the building project.
Library projectThe library board has been planning to build a larger library for several years. Its current building, located at 1490 Union Valley Road adjacent to the township hall, has 3,000 square feet of space for patrons’ use and another 3,000 square feet in the basement for storage. The state recommends that a township the size of West Milford have a library between 17,000 and 18,000 square feet.
The original plan for the library was a two-story building only for library use. The library board approached the township council to join in with them on the project and build a third floor for use as township offices and meeting rooms. Because the township is fully in the Highlands, building projects are nearly nonexistent. This project would give the township the opportunity to increase its office space, alleviating crowding and taking departments out of the basement of the township hall.
The library board and township council agreed to partner on the project but scaled it back to a two-story building last year. The library will occupy the entire first floor and split the space on the second floor with the township.
According to the West Milford Planning Board minutes from March, the first floor will contain books, periodicals, the mechanical room and offices. The second floor will house the children’s room, conference rooms, meeting rooms and a program/craft room.
The exterior of the building will consist of stone and non-combustible siding attached to steel, with a steel roof, according to Township Engineer Paul Ferriero. The exterior colors will be neutrals and browns, according to Bieri.
Andrew Gargano, treasurer of the library board, said the existing library will be given to the township to use. Bieri said the plan is to move the Health, Planning, Zoning and Building Departments into the old library; the Tax Department would move to the current Health Department offices.
More spaceThe township administration and the council have been reviewing its buildings and departments. There has long been talk of moving all township activities and the Community Services and Recreation Department out of the Hillcrest Community Center, which the township leases from the board of education. The township will have full use of the PAL building on June 30,after the volunteer group fell more than $100,000 behind in its rent to the township.
Already investedThe library board is totally invested in this project, having paid for an architect, engineering plans, buying the property and installing a septic at a cost of more than $1 million, according to Bieri.
Since the library board cannot raise taxes - the amount is set by the state - they have determined that $4 million is the maximum that can be spent going forward. Having spent more than $1 million already, their share of the bond, $1.4 million, is the most they can afford to do.
When might the new library be completed? Bieri estimates at least six months from when they break ground.
Moving forwardThe ordinance for bonding was introduced at the May 20 council meeting. The second reading and public hearing will be held on June 17. The public will be allowed to speak on the issue. The meeting takes place at the township hall, 1480 Union Valley Road, beginning at 6:30 p.m.