Moorestown Council approved change orders for the town hall and library project and the North Church Street Recreation Center renovations totaling approximately $45,000.
According to Greyhawk construction manager Rob Notley, the changes to the town hall and library would cost the township an additional $27,179, having no affect on the budget.
The cost of the total project is $11.9 million with a built-in contingency of approximately $555,000. Change orders to date on the project total $75,668, Notley said.
“We are currently within the budget of this project,” Notley said.
Per request of a code official, an additional sink and plumbing had to be added to the women’s bathroom at a cost of $3,400. Notley said a majority of the cost is labor. Since the project is public construction, it’s required to pay prevailing wages set at $90 per hour.
“It’s fairly reasonable given the market,” Notley said.
The highest cost change for the town hall project is the UV treatment on a 25-ton roof unit, which would cost approximately $14,072, slightly more than what it would cost to treat the smaller unit planned for installation.
Notley said the library board was concerned that if treatment were not applied, the new facility might run into mold formation and odor caused by microbial contamination.
“This is essentially an insurance policy,” he said, adding the treatment will be performed but there is no guarantee it would be successful.
The remaining change orders include $2,366 to change the size of steel angles supporting windows, $696 to install seven higher-rated doors and $6,629 to increase the slope of solar panels for the hot water heater, which would pay itself off in the next four to five years due to savings in utility costs.
Architect Rick Ragan said change orders for the recreation center improvements include $13,000 to paint the gym, $3,239 to change door locks, $2,129 for hand dryers in bathrooms and a deduct of $125 for demolishing a portion of the basement wall.
In other news:
• Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that limits political contributions by professional business entities.
According to township solicitor Anthony Drollas, the ordinance would increase the reporting requirements so any contribution must be reported.
The maximum contribution for professional business entities to council candidates would be changed from $300 to $2,600, from $300 to $7,200 made to township party committees, and from $500 to $7,200 made to political action committees.
Mayor Stacey Jordan said this move is an attempt to create more political transparency in the township and make the regulations more in line with what might appear statewide.
After witnessing inconsistencies in Birdsall Service Group, a Monmouth County-based engineering firm that disguised political contributions as personal contributions made by the firm’s employees, Drollas said state Sen. President Stephen Sweeney and Gov. Christie settled on a bipartisan agreement saying that political contributions are “haphazard” and should be regulated statewide.
Councilman Greg Newcomer abstained from the vote and said he did not have enough time to review the ordinance changes.
The second reading of the ordinance will take place at the next meeting on Monday, Aug. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Moorestown High School’s IT Room.
• Council also discussed the possibility of installing a right turn lane at the intersection of West Second and North Church streets.
According to engineer Jim Ruddiman, a turn lane could be installed but it’s recommended to be done after the town hall and library is completed and the plans for the old library are finalized.
The approximate cost of the project is $172,000 for construction of the lane, removal of sidewalk and concrete, storm drainage modification and relocation of the turn signal.
Although the turn lane is possible, there are “gridlock” issues in that area, which may cause the traffic to be only slightly improved, Ruddiman said.
Jordan questioned whether installing a left turn lane was explored.
Ruddiman said the possibility of installing a left turn lane is not an option — the opposite side of West Second Street can’t be expanded to line up for a left turn installation.
Jordan suggested to look further into the right turn installation after the town hall project is complete.
• Newcomer suggested council investigate solar power, distributing an executive summary of benefits in solar power and state solar programs.
• Councilwoman Victoria Napolitano updated council on the recent technology assessment. She said the Telecommunications and Technology Committee would meet again to discuss hiring someone to handle technology in the township.
According to township manager Scott Carew, the committee will develop a recommendation to council and provide requests of parameters to hire.
