New Estimates Price Town Hall Project at $12 Million

The latest estimates for the town hall project peg the cost at roughly $12-12.5 million, according to township manager Scott Carew.

Those projections, prepared by consulting firm Jois Construction Management System, are somewhat higher than the estimates provided by township engineers the Alaimo Group, Carew said. But the $12 million figure is only a “60 percent estimate,” he explained.

The project cost breaks down like this:

• $9.9 million for construction of the town hall/library building, plus $400,000 for “tech data, security and furnishings,” explained Carew.
• $2 million for site work, including $300,000 for demolition of the . Carew said there “really are no bells and whistles” in the site work, just parking, minimal landscaping and irrigation.

The township manager gave an updated timeline for the project at Monday’s council meeting. He said the township will advertise for bids on July 23, and award them four weeks later.

The timeline is slightly pushed back from . The township planning board approved the project last week.

The township is also waiting on the results of the latest tests of the groundwater at the town hall site. The most recent testing showed benzine levels—from oil tanks stored in the old township maintenance garage—just above the state Department of Environmental Protection’s threshold.

“If the (latest) ratings come in below critical, we’re basically home free,” said Carew. The results of the most recent tests should be in by next week.

Carew also told council he would have an ordinance ready for their next meeting (June 25) to put the project out to bid.

The approximately $550,000 project involves several improvements, including replacement of the gym floor and installation of a new ceiling and windows, as well as the addition of office space for the .