Municipal Building work leads Lawrence capital plan

Improvement plan proposed for $2 million.

By: Lea Kahn
   Architect’s fees to design renovations to the Municipal Building plus money for the township’s road program are the highlights of the proposed 2003 capital improvement plan, which was unveiled before Township Council on Tuesday night.
   Municipal Manager William Guhl walked the council through the $2 million capital improvement plan, which is part of the proposed 2003 municipal budget. However, Township Council must adopt a bond ordinance to spend the money in the capital budget.
   Now that the Police Department and the Municipal Court have moved into the new building across the parking lot, it is time to consider renovations to the Municipal Building, Mr. Guhl said. That’s why $230,000 has been included in the capital plan for architect’s fees, he said. The final cost of the renovations won’t be known until after the design specifications have been drawn up.
   "We need to reorganize the offices, so that departments that work with each other are close (by)," Mr. Guhl said. "It’s not the best configuration. Visitors should not have to meander all over the building. We need a sensible building plan."
   For example, the Engineering Department is located in the north wing of the building, and the Construction Department is located in a temporary trailer on the south side of the building. The two departments should be located close together because people may need the services of both, he said.
   The manager said he would recommend hiring architect John Clarke for the Municipal Building renovation project. Mr. Clarke is a partner in Clarke Caton & Hintz of Trenton. He designed the Police Department and Municipal Court building. The firm also serves as the planning consultant for the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.
   Mr. Guhl said the Municipal Building, which was built in 1965 and added onto in 1977, would be open while the renovations are taking place. But that means the project likely would take an extra 9 to 12 months to complete than it would if the building was empty, because municipal offices would be shifted around while the work is under way, he said.
   The architect "cringed" when he was told that the work would be done while the building is occupied, Mr. Guhl said. The entire project could take close to three years — from start to finish, he said. This includes 8 to 12 months to design the project, and the remainder to accomplish the renovation work.
   Mr. Guhl said he expects that it would take all of this year to prepare the architectural and engineering design work. The plumbing system may not need to be improved, but it is possible that the electrical system and telephone lines should be upgraded, he said. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems must be replaced, he added.
   The capital improvement budget also includes $760,000 for the road program. The plan calls for putting down a thin layer of asphalt, or overlay, on various streets in the Nassau Estates neighborhood, on the eastern side of Princeton Pike. The overlay program also includes streets in the north and south ends of town.
   It also earmarks $15,400 for four bulletproof vests, 10 reinforced plates for the new and existing bulletproof vests that would be capable of stopping a rifle bullet and four new helmets for the Police Department’s tactical response team. The team is sent out when a suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
   The capital spending plan also calls for spending $125,000 to purchase a house next door to the former Trent Motel site on Brunswick Pike. The township hopes to construct age-restricted affordable housing on the Trent Motel site, and the additional land would provide more options for the plan.