Municipal Complex Will Combine Library, Administration

A new plan for the Moorestown municipal complex combines the and town administrative offices in a 40,000-square-foot building that will occupy the space where the fire-damaged town hall now stands.

There will be separate entrances for the library and town offices, but once inside, visitors will be able to move easily between the two, according to township architect Rick Ragan, who presented his plan at last night’s council meeting.

 The library will occupy the majority of the building and the two functions will share space, including a 2,240-square foot meeting room.  Library administrative and technical support offices will be housed on the second floor.

Demolition of the old building will take place soon, said Township Manager Tom Merchel. Fencing around the site should be up by the end of the week, he said.

A second building, the Justice Center, will be located where the library now stands, and will house the police and municipal court.

The plan proposes to make use of the existing recreation building, but the future of that building is still very much up in the air.

“It’s solid, but a very inefficient use of space,” said Ragan, adding that the 25,000-square-foot building has only 17,000 square feet of usable space.

Council will weigh its options at a special meeting with the Town Hall-Library Task Force scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the municipal offices at 2 Executive Drive.