Township’s plans on track

Senior Center plans are on schedule

By: Stephanie Brown
   MONROE — Township officials say plans for a new senior center, and expanded library and community center are on schedule.
   The township picked a site for the senior center, and anticipates going to bid early next year for the expansions.
   The projects are funded by a $20 million bond the Township Council approved in March. The council designated $7.5 million each for the senior center and library, and $5 million for the community center.
   The Township Council introduced an ordinance Wednesday to accept property on the corner of Applegarth and Halsey Reed roads earmarked for a larger, stand-alone senior center to house the township Office on Aging and Transportation Division Center. The existing senior center occupies about 6,500 square feet on the Municipal Building’s lower level. It has approximately 9,500 residents registered.
   Stratford Developers, LLC dedicated the 20-acre parcel to the township for municipal use as part of its general development plan approval for Stratford at Monroe, said township Engineer Ernie Feist.
   He said the township considered other parcels, but believes the Stratford parcel is the best site for the senior center. He said it has existing water and sewer, is close to the township’s planned retirement communities, and will have a traffic light in the near future.
   "And best of all we don’t have to pay for it," he said Wednesday
   The township had considered land behind the Municipal Complex, which Mr. Feist said wasn’t large enough, and two areas at the intersection of Schoolhouse Road and Route 522 — one behind the Fire District 3 Firehouse and the other across the street, just south of the Board of Education offices. Mr. Feist said he didn’t want to attract traffic to either location, because they are prone to congestion.
   The Community Center expansion, which will double the size of the existing 15,224-square-foot building, will include a gymnasium, weight room, an exercise room and two meeting rooms.
   Mr. Feist said the project’s architect, Mario J. Barone, Jr. of AXIS D.I. Architecture, LLC, in Newark, met with Mayor Richard Pucci and the council. He anticipates going out to bid in January.
   The library expansion will double the existing 19,461-square-foot facility and add a drive-through window. Anthony Iovino of Arcari + Iovino Architects PC in Little Ferry designed the project.
   Business Administrator Wayne Hamilton said the township also expects to go to bid for the project in January. He said the contract would most likely be awarded by early April.
   "Everything is moving along according to plan," Mr. Hamilton said.