For release at your earliest convenience

For further information, please contact Stephen Mountain at 543-4555 or Katie Porter at 543-4003

The Mendham Township Committee held the first of two scheduled public meetings Tuesday night on a proposal to expand the municipal building complex in Brookside.

The meeting was highlighted by a presentation by Township officials, Library Board representatives and Township consultant, Michael Shatken of Kehrt, Shatken and Sharon Architects. The presentation outlined a concept plan for the project’s design, the need for the project, and a financial impact analysis.

The concept plan for the project proposes the renovation of the Township municipal building to allow the expansion of municipal offices to both floors of the two story building. To address the displacement of the library from its present home on the first floor of the municipal building, the plan also proposes the construction of a new 8,000 square foot library building on Township owned property adjacent to the municipal building on West Main Street.

The need for the project, according to the presentation at the public meeting, is documented in two separate need studies conducted by the Township over the past few years. The first study, conducted by an appointed citizen committee in 1996-97, concluded that both facilities were inadequate for their current use and recommended options for addressing the space problem. The second study conducted by the Township’s consultant, Kehrt, Shatken and Sharon confirmed the findings of the earlier study and recommended the concept plan presented at the meeting.

The cost of the proposed project is estimated by Township officials to be $3,207,782. The estimated total project cost is comprised of three primary sub-parts, $970,205 for the municipal building renovation, $1,655,577 for the library construction and $582,000 for exterior site work. The cost estimates assume the project would be financed over 20 years at an interest rate of 5% and a library capital contribution to the project of $300,000. The cumulative financial impact of the proposed project on the Township’s future operating budgets is projected to be $0.03 per $100 assessed value or $120 annually on the average Township homeowner.

The second public meeting on the project is scheduled for Monday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. Residents interested in learning more about the proposed project, or offering public comment should plan on attending this meeting.