Council Considers Streamlining of Construction Process

Moorestown is spending more than it needs to on municipal construction, township officials say.

Town council is considering steps to streamline future construction projects by cutting out some of the red tape. Council was presented with an ordinance Tuesday that would allow the township to bypass the planning and/or zoning board for municipal building projects. Township manager Scott Carew and solicitor Anthony Drollas explained the proposed ordinance isn't intended to skirt codes or construction guidelines, but rather to eliminate redundancies and save taxpayer money. Community development director Tom Ford said certain elements of the review phase of a project—i.e. the town hall complex—are duplicated elsewhere in the review process. The ordinance before council, which was recommended by the planning board, would solve that. The …

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Township Seeks Answers to Two Big Questions

What should be done with the existing library? Where should the police and municipal court go? The township is turning to experts for advice.

With the help of its architect, Moorestown is hoping to soon put two unanswered questions to rest: What should it do with the existing library once the new one is built? Where should the police department and municipal court be located? Ragan Design Group, which has shepherded the town hall project, will investigate those two questions on behalf of the township for a $25,000 fee. Township manager Scott Carew said the work, and the associated fee, falls under the scope of the township’s original contract with Ragan. “We have this money, because of how much we bonded (for the town hall project), and how far below budget it came in at,” Carew said. Carew personally thinks the library—given its age and the amount of work that would be needed …

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Council Takes Big Step Forward on Municipal Complex

Township council voted unanimously to bond nearly $12 million for the construction of the new municipal complex. Bids are due next month.

Just slightly more than five years after fire damaged the old town hall building, township council finally approved Monday an $11.9 million bond to build a new municipal complex. “It took us a long time to get to this, didn’t it?” Mayor John Button said to his fellow council members before the vote was taken. Though council would ultimately vote 5-0 to bond the money, a couple residents tried to halt their momentum. One man questioned the necessity of building a new municipal complex, suggesting the township would be in better financial shape continuing to rent. “You’re about to commit 10s of millions of dollars to something this town doesn’t need,” he said. “We can rent for far less than the interest on the bonds (will cost) … forget the …

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Under the Radar

What Makes Victoria Run

Patch columnist Marsia Mason sits down for a conversation with Moorestown Republican candidate Victoria Napolitano.

The only positive thing that can be said about the ongoing battle to turf the town is the fact that this has NOT been a partisan fight, Democrats against Republicans, but a tussle between citizens for how they think the Open Space funds should be used. In this insanely polarized world we now live in, how refreshing to know Mo’town is bucking that trend. To be sure, both sides of the argument are angry and absolutely positive they're right and the other side is wrong, but it is not a donkey/elephant thing. Into this fray comes a sweet young lass by the name of Victoria Napolitano, a Republican candidate for town council who, at 24 years old, believes she has what it takes to make this town a better place. I don’t know whether to laugh or …

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Under the Radar

Another Dead End (or The Library Saga, Part II)

Revisiting the middle years of an ongoing quest for a new and improved library (and town hall).

Those of us of a certain age remember Saturdays filled with TV cowboys: Gene Autry ridin’ and a singin’, Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and lots of shifting quicksand that seemed to consume at least two cowpokes per episode. The heroes wore white hats, the baddies wore black, and there was always a long-suffering widow lady who had lost her ranch to a sneering cattle rustler and a good-hearted saloon singer named Belle carrying a torch for the sheriff. From the hats, we were able to tell who was good and who was pure evil. With the ongoing library mess, it’s much harder to tell the good guys from the bad, since nobody wears a hat anymore. Is the current town council to blame, or is the library issue a hot potato that gets …

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Ed Nice

10:01 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Poor Fred has his panties all twisted. My solution is do things when you have the money and live within your means. We don't have the cash now do we? Can't you grasp that? Should we build a town mahal for employees before we fix the library or clean up main street? Should the library or town mahal be built without supporters fundraising? What is your solution there Freddie? It's easy to call …   more ›

Under the Radar

The Long and Winding Road (to Nowhere)

The Moorestown Library renovation project has been going on for how long?

For those of you with your long-term memory intact, I applaud you and would also like to pinch you. My long-term memory consists of theme songs to every kid's show and numerous commercials from the '50s and '60s. Fodder for another column, for sure, but not particularly helpful with regards to Mo’town’s civic projects. After yet another town council meeting where the township complex and the fields project were pitted against each other like gladiators, the husband asked me when all the hoo-ha with the library began. I had to admit to having some vague recollection of a contractor-induced debacle, but I had to consult my library gurus, Joe Galbraith and the lovely Maria Esche, for the low-down on what happened and when. Let’s go back in …

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JustWondering

1:03 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Thanks for the smack in the head, Smogge. You are correct, this is not about library vs. fields, and I've deleted my ill-conceived comment. I'll just hang my hat on your well-reasoned comments.   more ›

What You Missed from This Week's Council Meeting ...

Township manager Scott Carew tries to speed up the budget process, the township pays down its affordable housing debt, and council plans for an update on revaluation.

For those who couldn’t make it to Monday night’s council meeting, there were a few items on the agenda that didn’t make it into a full story, but were nonetheless noteworthy. Here a few leftover tidbits from the meeting:

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Letters to the Editor

Mayor Talks Municipal Complex, Budget, Business Community

Moorestown Mayor John Button addresses the township's priorities for the year in his latest letter to the editor.

As we approach the end of our first quarter, I want to provide another update, given the number of key items council and our township manager see as priorities. Scott Carew is off to a great start, exerting some genuine leadership in helping us drive issue management and we’re optimistic much will be accomplished this year. We take our responsibility very seriously to address issues that impact residents of all ages, while managing our finances prudently. This is a very important balance that helps keep Moorestown such a special place to live, work and play—now and in the future.    Budget, Economic Development and our Business Community: We continue to look for cost efficiencies that minimize any negative impact on services, while we put …

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Township Defends Planning, Spending on Town Hall Project

Residents are getting antsy for tangible progress on the project, which the township has already spent north of $2 million on to date.

The township was tasked yet again Monday with defending its record on the municipal complex project after a citizen questioned a recently approved $330,000 contract for construction consulting services. Earlier this month, council approved a contract with Greyhawk—a construction/program management and consulting firm with offices across the country, including Moorestown—for consultation services related to the town hall project. Resident Roger Boyell questioned why council needed Greyhawk’s services, especially after the firm’s involvement with the previous incarnation of the project, which the current council killed last year. “We need a construction consultant who has done this kind of building, multiple times, with success,” said …

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Leftover News & Notes from Monday's Council Meeting

Another $1.5 million for municipal complex planning approved and residents express concerns over possible plans to place the new police department building outside downtown.

Township council had a lot to talk about Monday night, with more discussion regarding the municipal complex, revaluation, and meeting schedules for 2012. They also heard from residents concerned about the possibility the police department could be placed outside the downtown in the latest incarnation of the municipal complex project. Not everything on the agenda can make it into a full story though, so here are a few tidbits from Monday’s meeting:

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