Still No Date on Town Hall Demolition

The wrecking ball has been delayed again for demolition of the shuttered town hall, according to Rick Ragan, president of Ragan Design Group, during a special joint workshop meeting this morning between Town Council and the Town Hall/Library Project Task Force at the temporary quarters off Executive Drive.

The contract between PSE&G and the township has not been completely executed, and the electric needs to be isolated before demolition. The library and town hall share utilities, said Ragan, whose architectural company holds the contract for the project.

“If we shut down the electricity, we could have utility problems throughout the township,” said Ragan who anticipates an additional three weeks before demolition can begin, with no specific date set.

At the meeting, Town Council supported the latest municipal complex plan, as part one of a two-phase project outlined by Ragan and his team, to replace the town hall and adjacent library along Washington Avenue. Factors considered were a uniform government center and the use of shared services.

During construction, the present library would remain open.

“We now have a more clear direction on where to go,” said Ragan Design Group Partner E. Michael Wisnosky, of the project, which may have building costs hovering at $220 per square foot and totaling nearly $10 million for the library and administration building.

Deputy Mayor Greg Gallo concurred with the team that this plan in the long run would force a synergy between municipal agencies in town.

“We need to look at ways that we can share services,” said Gallo, who appeared sympathetic about the need for strategic cutbacks.

Discussion over the size of the library continued with Ragan citing that the Friends of the Library’s recent proposal of nearly 36,000 square feet was an “overextension of space.” He said a first floor plan of 24,400 square feet and a mezzanine occupying nearly 2,000 square feet was more realistic.

Ragan was to meet with representatives from the library later today.

A modern recreation center would be part of phase two. Debate continued whether to demolish the existing rec center or add on 4,000 square feet of space housing new meeting rooms, bathrooms, a senior center and updated handicapped ramps. The task force estimated spending about $1.2 million on the addition alone.

“We have to build the best of what we can in this town,” said Mayor John Button. “We have got to move forward.”

The buildings for the police and Moorestown’s Municipal Court were briefly covered and will be discussed at the next council meeting on Monday, August 8.

Previous advisory panels had unveiled a 66,000-square-foot municipal complex. Wisnosky indicated that may change as new sketches are drawn.

“This is the closest we have come to some major decisions,” said Councilwoman Stacey Jordan, as the group adjourned.

But concern lingered for Sandra McGuire, a representative of the Library Trustees, who voiced apprehension about scaling back the size of the library.

“We have one of the biggest collections in the state, which totals 150,000,” said McGuire. “It will be hard to house our volumes in a smaller library."