By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The council introduced a bond ordinance Monday for $3,375,000 for financing a new Borough Hall, which means the engineer and project manager can continue to work on the plans.
The financing provided by the bond ordinance includes the construction of a new municipal building — empty for the past 18 months because of damage from Hurricane Irene.
In a 5-1 vote, the council introduced the ordinance. Councilwoman Susan Bluth voted against it. The final reading and public hearing will be held April 1.
Dawson Bloom of Roberts Engineering Group, the project manager, provided the council with an update on Borough Hall.
According to Mr. Bloom, he spoke with the insurance adjuster through email on several occasions in which he specifically addressed costs for interim facilities in addition to reiterating the borough was committed to reconstructing the property at its current location.
He recommended the council work with a professional with expertise in interpreting insurance policy language after reviewing the documents and the borough’s policy.
”I would recommend at this point that it is in the best interest of the borough to have somebody that has experience in interpreting insurance policies to give us their interpretation of what the coverage limits are, the limits of liability and what coverages fall under what limits of liability,” Mr. Bloom said. ““It is not clear as I read the policy, and we certainly need to understand that as we move forward to try and resolve this claim with the insurance carrier.”
Lexington Insurance has sent the borough an estimate of $1.9 million to rebuild or refurbish the Borough Hall. Temporary facilities for employees is part of the borough’s claim.
According to Mr. Bloom, the borough again advertised for bids for a temporary modular police facility. Those bids as well as associated site improvements are scheduled to be received today (Friday).
”We hope it will garner more bids from site contractors,” Mr. Bloom said of making the bids two separate pieces.
Eighteen months since Hurricane Irene struck the downtown as a tropical storm, the Borough Hall complex at 148 N. Main St. has remained closed. The police station, which was part of the complex, was destroyed by the storm’s floodwaters. The department relocated to rented space on Mercer Street, known as the Lucas property.
Mr. Bloom reviewed New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection permit requirements with Carmela Roberts’ engineers in relation to the interim facilities site to make sure there were no issues.
According to Mr. Bloom, site improvements can be completed in accordance with the Flood Hazard Control Act, allows for “constructing at or below grade in a flood hazard area.”
He also told the council Mobilease Modular has agreed to hold its bid price for modular units.
”We did receive confirmation from the low bidder that they will hold their bid price for another 60 days on the modular units,” Mr. Bloom said.
Feb. 4, the council tabled its decision to accept the lone qualified bid it received for temporary modular facilities. The borough received two bids with the only viable one from Mobilease Modular Space Inc. at $159,200 for an temporary administrative facility and $275,100 for a modular police unit.
Mr. Bloom met with Mel Adlerman, landlord of the properties at 100A and 102 Mercer St., where the modulars would be placed.
”He provided me with a standard lease agreement, which I have forwarded to Mr. (Frederick) Raffetto’s (borough attorney) office,” Mr. Bloom said. “They are in the process of reviewing that now.”
March 15, Mr. Bloom met with Mr. Adlerman’s contractor to review the modifications the borough would want to make in the two spaces.
”He is going to get back to me with a price or an estimate after concurring with the construction official (George Chin) to ensure that we are covering all of the concerns and to be able to get a CO (certificate of occupancy) as well,” Mr. Bloom said.
The monthly rent for both properties would total $3,310 — $1,110 per month for 100A Mercer St. and $2,200 per month for 102 Mercer St.
Mr. Bloom reviewed a schedule of timeline for the project and tasks that needed to be completed to keep the project moving forward.
If approved, money from the bond ordinance would be available April 26.
”That’s a key date because it really drives everything else that we are going to try to do,” Mr. Bloom said. “Any later than that, and we will be pushing back the project by every two weeks.”
Mr. Bloom said site work is expected to be completed by June 22.
The police modular cannot be installed until after the site work is completed, he noted.
Fabrication and delivery setup for the police modular is projected for Sept. 29. A move-in date of Oct. 21 is being projected.
”We are looking at probably the earliest or most reasonable timeline would be some time in October where we would have the police into their new facility,” Mr. Bloom said.
Councilman Rob Thibault inquired about code violations at the current Police Department facility and plumbing and air circulation issues.
”We contacted the landlord in regards to the plumbing issues, and we got confirmation from them that would be the responsibility of the landlord,” Borough Administrator Michael Theokas said.
The landlord is First Constitution Bank.
According to Mr. Theokas, in regard to air circulation ductwork, he contacted the contractor who did the initial work, who came back to see what needed to be done to fix the problem in the processing room.
”He told me it’s an electric issue; that he would have to hook it up electrically,” Mr. Theokas said.
Mr. Theokas is waiting for the estimate on this.
He also said the issue of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance in the bathrooms will be the landlord’s responsibility.
Seven special council meetings, focusing only on Borough Hall, will be held the last Thursday of each month from March until September.
The first is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 28 inside the Hightstown First Aid Building at 168 Bank St.

