MIDDLETOWN–The Township Committee approved a resolution authorizing requests for proposals (RFPs) for redevelopment of town hall complex.
In agreement with the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, the township has declared its municipal complex to be an area in need of redevelopment. The current municipal complex is approximately 9.75 acres and is located along State Highway 35 South and Kings Highway.
“This is addressed thoroughly in the redevelopment investigation. Briefly, the current complex is old and non-functional for today’s needs and extremely inefficient,” Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante said. “The costs to renovate and retrofit the existing facilities is not cost efficient and in addition the township would have to lease other office space for up to two years, which would have been very costly and comparable police, jail and court facilities would be virtually impossible to find. This option allows the building of a new structure while we remain in our current location.”
The committee approved the resolution on Oct. 16, during its semi-monthly meeting at the municipal building.
The township is seeking qualified proposals for the redevelopment of the Town Hall Complex that matches the standards and design guidelines set forth by its Township Municipal Complex Redevelopment plan, which was adopted in August 2017.
Redevelopers will have until Dec. 12 to submit their RFPs to the township, according to Mercantante.
The site shall be redeveloped with a combination of municipal, governmental and public uses, and potentially private office or retail uses as part of the public-private partnership between the township with the selected redeveloper. The selected redeveloper is going to be required to plan, design and ultimately develop this project in a turnkey fashion in to match with the township’s redevelopment plan.
The committee also approved a resolution rejecting all bids received for the pavilion structure at Poricy Park.
“The bids were too high so they were rejected,” Mercantante said.
The township is able to pay about $81,000 to get the pavilion fixed. Now that the bids have been rejected, the township will re-bid for the pavilion, according to Mercantante.
Prior to beginning its semi-monthly meeting, the committee went into an executive session to discuss potential property acquisition regarding a potential parking agreement and contract negotiations regarding the town hall redevelopment request for proposal.
No formal action was taken during the executive session, according to Mercantante.
In other action, the committee recognized and honored this year’s Middletown Day Gold sponsors and Silver sponsors.
Mayor Gerald Scharfenberger presented certificates of recognition to Gold Plus sponsor Rob Keady of T&M Associates, Gold sponsor Brian Nelson of Archer & Greiner, and Sliver sponsors Angela Ashley of Care One at King James, Kim Rinaldi of the Middletown Township Public Library, Stephanie Dredger of the Middletown Township Education Association, and Gary Thomson of Century 21 Thomson & Co.
Scharfenberger also presented members of the Veterans Affairs Committee with certificates of recognition for spearheading the restoration of township’s World War I Doughboy Monument.
On behalf of the Veterans Affairs Committee members, Marty Keating, Vice-Chairman Tom Garretson, Chairman Dennis Beauregard and Bill Bouw accepted their certificates as well as a Veterans Day proclamation.
For more information visit www.middletownnj.org/AgendaCenter.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
