Politics & Government

New Info on Municipal Complex to Be Presented

Mayor John Button says he hopes council can move forward on the project Monday night.

Prior to the start of its regular meeting Monday night, town council will hold a special workshop to discuss developments in the municipal complex plan.

Mayor John Button said council had previously asked the project’s architects, Ragan Design Group, to finalize certain details, namely the square footage of the municipal court—which is to be located in the proposed Justice Center with the police department—and a cost-benefit analysis of renovating the township’s recreation building vs. building a new structure.

Ragan was to have brought that information to council at its last meeting on Aug. 22, but they couldn’t meet the deadline, Button said. The design group is scheduled to give a presentation Monday night.

“We’re trying to get to a point where council can move forward with at least part of this complex,” he said. “We need to decide what we’re building, where and when.”

The calls for the library and township administrative offices to share a 40,000-square foot building that will occupy the space where the fire-damaged town hall now stands. The library will occupy most of the building and the two functions will share space, including a 2,240-square-foot meeting room.

The Justice Center will be located where the library now stands.

The total gross cost of the project is $19.3 million. However, there is the possibility of using $1.2 million from insurance and $250,000 from the Friends of the Library, which would lower the net cost to approximately $17.9 million.

The current estimates would mean a yearly tax increase of $147 per average assessed home. The current average assessed home in Moorestown is $533,800.

Button said it’s very possible council will take action at the workshop to move forward, in some fashion, with the project.

“I’m hoping we can move forward after this new batch of information,” he said. “I would be very happy if we can make a decision, at least part of it.”

Button has said previously the township plans to begin demolishing the old town hall this fall.

The workshop will be held at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at . Council’s regular action meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m. at the same location.

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