WEST MILFORD — The West Milford Public Library Board of Trustees is moving forward with its plan to build a new library. The board decided at its April meeting to move forward with their new building and not wait any longer to hear whether the township wants to go in on it with them.
"We put our architect on hold but at the last library board of trustees meeting, the board decided we will direct our architect to come up with the entire set of plans for the building. We are not waiting for anyone," said Andy Gargano, treasurer of the library board
The library has gotten all of its approvals from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Highlands. They've been approved to build a 25,500 square foot building, according to Gargano, which is the state recommendation for a township of this size.
"We don't need all that space and knew the township had ADA issues with their building," he said. "Most likely no other building of that size could be built here (in the Highlands). We feel it would be opportune for everyone if everyone joined in this project."
And they've had discussions with the township about getting in on the ground floor with them. But after over a year of waiting, they made the decision this month to build what they need and rough out the additional floor if the township decides to use the space.
"We've directed our engineer to proceed with bids for a septic system," Gargano said. "We need to get the septic in the ground."
Costs
The library board has $2.3 million saved in their New Building Fund, most of it from prior years' surpluses. The library gets just over $1 million a year in tax money to run the library. Library taxes for the average homeowner in the township will be about $87 in 2013, down from the 2012 average of $94. The amount is determined by a state formula.
The library board has an agreement with the township council where the township will bond whatever money is needed for the building and the library board will pay it from the tax money it receives. Gargano stressed that no additional money would be asked for from the taxpayers for the building. They would only bond what they could afford to pay with the current taxes received.
Gargano said he couldn't estimate what a final cost would be for the building just yet, but he said in a down economy, bids are usually lower than in a booming economy.
Hoping for a joint venture
The town hall has offices in the basement of the building that are not accessible to people with disabilities. Anyone needing to do business with the departments located in the lower level, including the building department, are met upstairs.
Last year, Tim Ligus of the Building Department and the Facilities Assessment Committee, recommended that the township get on board with the library project and be part of the new building. In his report, Ligus said it would be most advantageous and cost effective for the township to work with the library, getting a full floor of space that would be ADA accessible in the new building.
Gargano said in their decision to move forward without a commitment from the township, the library board agreed to build a three story building, finishing two stories and leaving one with roughed out plumbing in case the township later decides to join in. The space is needed for a sprinkler system anyway, he said.
Is Hillcrest another option?
Two weeks ago, Councilman Lou Signorino reported that as part of the joint committee between the township council and board of education, a school board member recommended that the library be moved to the Hillcrest Community Center. On Wednesday night, representatives from the library board met with the joint committee to discuss the proposal. Signorino said the library representatives weren't interested in the idea.
"There didn't seem to be much interest from the library board," Signorino said.
According to Mayor Bettina Bieri, a member of the library board, that option had been discussed and rejected a long time ago. The cost to renovate the Hillcrest building was prohibitive. Gargano said the cost to make Hillcrest a functional library was not feasible. And, he added, the library board is deep into this new project. They've already spent about $700,000 on the property, engineering and architectural costs.
Some history
The current library has 3,000 square feet of space, far below the state-recommended 16,000 square feet for a township this size. The library board has squirreled away about $2.3 million into its building fund. In 2011, they bought the 1.5 acre Finn property adjacent to the township hall property for $500,000. Edna Finn, owner of the property, may stay in her home for the rest of her life, according to the agreement.
What do you think about the library board's latest decision? How about the idea of having Hillcrest become a new library? Go to WestMilfordMessenger.com and tell us your thoughts.