MANSFIELD: Final phase afoot

Meanwhile, a new redevelopment idea takes root

BY Charley Falkenburg, Special Writer
MANSFIELD — Roughly eight years, three bond ordinances and $10 million later, the new municipal complex on Route 206 is just two departments shy of completion.
But not for long.
With the administrative offices and courtroom nearing the finish line, the Township Committee is steamrolling right along into the final phase of the New Millennium building: Police and Public Works. Just last week on Jan. 9, three committee members agreed to bypass the requesting bids or qualifications and stick with Remington and Vernick Engineers for the police and Public Works concept designs.
Committeewoman Janice DiGiuseppe was absent that evening.
The engineers were the same ones who created the plans for the countertops in the clerk, land use and construction offices, which drew criticism at the Dec. 27 meeting for being the wrong height. Since then, John McDonnell, the supervisor for Fasolino Contractors, of Sewell, said the issue abated once town employees saw the counters in person.
The committee initially expressed interest in going out to request for qualifications for the job, but once it found out Remington and Vernick offered not to exceed $10,000, it was pretty much a done deal.
”I think that’s reasonable,” said Deputy Mayor Bob Higgins, who is also one of the liaisons for the new Millennium Building.
Chief Financial Officer Joseph Monzo confirmed the figure was well below the bid threshold, and the design, along with the rest of the major work to complete the remaining two departments, would be covered by the last bond ordinance.
While Remington and Vernick go forward with its police and Public Works concepts, it appears Networks Plus will continue hooking up the building with wiring and information-technology services. After meeting with the engineers, Fasolino Contracting and the subcontractor, Networks Plus, Mr. Higgins said Networks Plus not only would be the most beneficial for Mansfield, but would save the town money.
”The electrician doing the work thought some of this (additional wires and drops) were his responsibility and ended up giving the town a credit for $3,545,” Mr. Higgens told the committee. “It worked out very well for the township.”
Jan. 8, Mr. Higgens estimated the administrative and courtroom portion, which spans about 15,000 square feet on the first floor, should be ready to go by the end of February. Once finished, the administration will move right in and join the volunteer Franklin Fire Company, which already occupies the north side of the 60,000 square feet two-story building.
The police and Public Works departments are expected to follow suit near the end of the year. Once they join the rest, Mansfield will have officially united its fire, police and municipal departments under one roof — a first in the township’s history.
It also will render the old municipal complex on Main Street vacant.
With the new municipal complex in the home stretch, Mansfield now is taking time to explore how to get the most bang for its buck in regard to its old headquarters.
With the economy in a slump, Township Solicitor Michael Magee thought the best route would be to make the complex part of a redevelopment-rehabilitation area. This would allow the township to decide on the seller and set the tone for how it would be redeveloped.
The other option would be to sell it as a government complex by auction.
Currently, the committee is uncertain of the value of the properties.
”I don’t think there’s any doubt that to get the most out of this complex is to go through the redevelopment-rehabilitation procedure,” Mr. Magee said.
He said Burlington County already has offered to assume a good portion of the redevelopment costs and would provide many services in the process at virtually no cost.
If Mansfield goes with the redevelopment idea, it also would give the town the opportunity to identify and include other properties, such as Columbus Inn, in the redevelopment package.
”It’s a very good thing from the municipality’s perspective, and if we can do it at virtually no cost to our residents, I’d certainly encourage it,” Mr. Magee said. “This will benefit all of us.”