South River hires firm to renovate town hall

Officials express concerns about timely completion of project

By jennifer dome
Staff Writer

By jennifer dome
Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER — Renovations at the borough’s municipal building will soon be under way.

The Borough Council recently hired a contractor to handle the $829,700 in renovations at the Gordon Street municipal offices. The South Plainfield-based Tri-Form Construction Inc. is expected to begin work at the site as soon as possible, Business Administrator Michael Jacobs said.

"We’re very happy to get another project under way," Mayor Robert Szegeti said.

The borough has allocated $900,000 toward the renovations, which will be expanded to incorporate a lobby. The lobby will house the borough clerk’s office, a public rest room, an ATM and windows for making payments. The remaining space will be used for municipal offices and will be secured for municipal employees only. Employees will "buzz" residents into the secured area when they need to meet with the business administrator, mayor or other officials.

Outside, the building will be improved with landscaping, benches and possibly a flag pole.

Szegeti said the construction schedule calls for completion in six months. While the offices are being renovated, borough employees will be housed in trailers on William Street, where the police department was headquartered when the criminal justice building was being renovated.

Borough officials said they had problems with renovations to the police headquarters.

Those renovations began in November 2000 and cost $1.746 million. The renovations were started by one contractor, Emara Contracting Co. of Colts Neck, and a second contractor, John Patrick & Sons, was called in for additional work.

On Nov. 7, 2001, the council terminated its contract with Emara Contracting due to delays in completion of the renovations. The project was supposed to be finished in June 2001, but the company was behind by at least six months, borough officials said.

In March, the council authorized the bonding company to take over the project and hire a contractor to finish the renovations. Luberman’s Mutual Casualty Co. appointed John Patrick & Sons, William Street, to finish the renovations, accord­ing to former borough Business Administrator Brian Valentino.

Renovations to the 100-year-old build­ing included adding 7,025 square feet to the existing 5,734 square feet of floor space, with additions to the front and back of the building. The renovations have made the building handicap acces­sible, according to architect Mario J. Barone of MJ Barone & Associates.