SOMERS POINT — “I feel like this is just another Band-Aid that we’re putting on something that needs major surgery, and it’s costing us thousands and thousands of dollars every single year to maintain this building,” Councilwoman Janice Johnston said July 10.
Johnston cast the sole no vote on a resolution to solicit bids for new flooring in the main hallway on the ground floor at City Hall, which opened in 1973.
Johnston, who was appointed to a Ward I seat in July 2019, said there have been many conversations about renovating or replacing City Hall during her time on council.
“This building is old, it’s too small. We just keep putting money into it every single year,” she said.
City Council has discussed researching its options, such as adding a second floor on the existing building or constructing a new one.
“We were supposed to get estimates on a public-private partnership maybe to build a new building. Can we get an architect to tell us or an engineer to tell us if this building is still structurally sound? Can it be added onto? Can we put a second floor on?” she said.
Johnston noted that the administration is in the basement and the construction office is in a separate building.
“I just think it’s past due time to stop putting Band-Aids on this and let’s at least find out what our other options are and if there’s another way that we can make major improvements to this building so we can use it for many more years,” she said.
Council President Charlie Haberkorn said the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee — Haberkorn, Councilman Howard Dill, Councilman Sean McGuigan — is getting ideas together on the public-private partnership.
He said a lot of research was done about four or five years ago toward replacing the building but nothing ever happened.
“From what I’ve been told, it fizzled out and died,” Haberkorn said, noting he agrees something needs to be considered.
In the meantime, though, he said he put the resolution on the agenda because he believes the employees and residents “need to have an atmosphere that is aesthetically pleasing.”
“I feel like the floor needs to be replaced. If we get the bids in and (City Administrator Jason) Frost can find money within the budget to do it, I think we should move forward because there is no guarantee, as evidenced by our past history, that we can get a consensus to get a new building either built or redo this building,” Haberkorn said.
McGuigan said he also agreed with Johnston.
“We really need to drive in some sort of direction, get something really going here and figure out what our future is. I’ll continue to work with the committee and we’ll redouble those efforts and get that going,” he said.
McGuigan added that the resolution seeks bids but does not lock the city into doing the project.
“Let’s see what it’s going to cost and whether it’s worth doing,” he said.
Dill also agreed that it’s time to do something.
“We need to move forward with a new building. I know that the committee is working hard to do that now again, and to make the building aesthetically pleasing to the public and to our employees,” he said.
Dill said the project would take three to five years after funding was secured.
“I don’t think our employees and the public should be looking at a floor in that condition and probably even worse condition over the next three to five years, so I’m in favor of at least in getting a price on it,” he said. “There’s just things that we’re going to have to do in order to survive in this building until such time we have something better,” Dill said.
Resident Patricia Pierson said if the city sent its court services to the countywide system in Mays Landing, it could use that office space at City Hall and clean up the basement, improving the area for five to 10 more years.
“With the taxes we pay, I don’t care how much grants you’re getting, people aren’t going to go for a new City Hall and you know it,” she said.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff