Council Approves Request to Begin Designs to Move Court Personnel

Moorestown Council approved a resolution to allow Ragan Design Group to begin design plans that would place court personnel in the new police headquarters at its meeting Monday night at the high school.

The resolution wasn’t listed on the agenda, but Ragan Design Group President Richard Ragan appeared before council to request approval so the court personnel could move in May.

The plan provides space in police headquarters for a judge and two clerks. Bulletproof glass, access to an ATM machine and access to a bathroom are included in the plans. Total cost for the project is about $74,700, including $14,700 for design and about $60,000 for construction.

Business Administrator Scott Carew has spoken of the need for court personnel to be included with the police department for security reasons, adding there is no room in the new town hall for the extra personnel.

“I’d rather be able to take a little more time to analyze the proposal,” Councilman Phil Garwood said.

“We need the plans before we can do anything else,” Carew said, adding that due to the security needs involved, it’s not an ordinary office space and Ragan is qualified to handle the project. “I understand erring on the side of caution, but I don’t see another path.”

Council voted unanimously to add the resolution to the consent agenda, and then passed the resolution unanimously.