MANSFIELD: Funds still needed for municipal complex relocation

By David Kilby, Special Writer
   MANSFIELD — The township plans to introduce another bond ordinance to cover expenses for moving into the new municipal building on Route 206 South early next year.
   Since 2005, the Mansfield Township Committee has passed about $8.1 million in bond ordinances to cover the costs of moving into the building, which is called the Millennial Building and used to be a construction business headquarters.
   At the committee meeting Oct. 24, Joseph Monzo, Mansfield’s chief financial officer, requested a new bond ordinance be introduced for about $20,000 to cover unanticipated costs for wiring for the building, and the committee agreed — but committee members conveyed a bit more of a sense of urgency in getting the ordinance passed due to time constraints.
   The entire new municipal building 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 plan is to move into the new building by the first quarter of next year, but since the wiring project can’t be started until the money is allotted, the committee had concerns that plan would be delayed if the bond ordinance wasn’t passed as soon as possible.
   ”The residents are paying for us to move in there. Not having it done in time is not the way to go,” said Committeeman Robert Higgins, liaison to the finance department.
   Mr. Monzo offered some reassurance in saying all proceeds from the sale of the current municipal building will be put toward the debt service for the new building so the financial burden isn’t completely on residents.
   Mr. Higgins said he was disappointed a new ordinance had to be passed.
   Mr. Monzo originally recommended waiting until Wednesday of this week — Nov. 7 — to pass the ordinance, but a discussion ensued as the committee looked for a way to get the ordinance passed more quickly.
   The wiring and cable work will cost between $16,000 and $20,000, Mr. Monzo said.
   Mayor Arthur Puglia, liaison to the construction department, said he agrees with the rest of the committee, saying they have to get the wiring done as soon as possible, especially before the new ceiling is built.
   ”It’ll cost us a lot of money to remove the ceiling and get people in there (to do the wiring work),” he said.
   But that was one of the situations that caused hesitation for Mr. Monzo.
   ”I just wanted to make sure the committee is okay with running the wires before the ceiling is up,” he said. “My advice is not to do it. You’re gonna get in trouble.”
   He continued to recommend introducing the bond ordinance at the Nov. 7 meeting, but Michael Magee, township attorney, recommended holding a special meeting this week.
    In the end, the committee went with Mr. Monzo’s suggestion to introduce the bond ordinance at the next Mansfield meeting.
  The Nov. 7 meeting was later postponed due to weather conditions on Wednesday.