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MANSFIELD: Township to move municipal offices, police

By David Kilby, Special Writer
   MANSFIELD — The township plans to move all of its offices into a new and larger facility on Route 206 the beginning of next year.
   The entire building, which is across from the Valero gas station, is 60,000 square feet, and 18,000 square feet on the first floor will be for municipal offices.
   The building will be a joint occupancy with municipal offices, Fire Department and Police Department all moving their bases there. The Fire Department, in fact, already has moved in.
   The township is moving into the building in three phases. The Fire Department moved in three years ago, municipal offices will move in early next year, and police will move in soon after.
   The building used to house offices for a construction company that also rented out space to a bank, and Mansfield bought the building in 2005.
   The township passed a bond ordinance in 2005 for $7.5 million to cover appraisals, inspections and improvements for the new facility.
   Since then another $1.121 million has been appropriated for the building, making the total about $8.5 million, said Joe Monzo, Mansfield’s chief financial officer.
   The township will pay off the bond for the facility over 20 years. This year, $330,000 of Mansfield’s $1,524,000 in debt service will go toward paying off the bond, and starting next year, the township will pay between $600,000 and $700,000 a year until the bond is paid off in 2025, Mr. Monzo said.
   The township has decided to move its offices because the current building is “all cramped,” Mr. Monzo said, adding the township, for one thing, now has bigger court sessions after merging courts with Springfield Township this year.
   Committeeman Alfred Clark said moving into the new municipal building will be a big step, and making the transition one of his main concerns as he begins his second term next year. He and Deputy Mayor Robert Higgins, both Republicans, are running unopposed in the November election.
   ”We hope to move the township employees in by Jan. 1,” he said. “Everything will be in the same building,” including the construction and Public Works departments.