Township council has plans for a new municipal building and library.
Medford Township is prepared to acquire a site for a new municipal building and library through eminent domain.
At last Tuesday’s meeting, township council approved an agreement to purchase the property at 51 Union St. through eminent domain. According to the resolution, the township will pay the owner, Union Street 51 LLC, $580,000 for the property after appraisals were done.
The property includes a historic house, the Jonathan Haines Home. Mayor Chuck Watson said at the meeting the township has no plans to tear down the house and it would be repurposed.
Multiple community members had concerns about the project and the purchase. Carol Panara said, “The traffic on the street here is bad enough as it is. We have Allen School right across the street.”
Watson stated there was a lot of time spent looking into other potential locations to purchase; however, they all exceeded what the township could afford.
“It’s very important to us as council, not only to us but by advice from our planner, that our municipal building and our library stay in the downtown area,” Watson said.
Councilman Chris Buoni mentioned how this has been listed as a discussion item for the past four years and wants to continue to listen to public comments on any future matters of consequence before a decision is made.
“We know we need a new township building. The township building we have right now is not a long-term asset for the township.” Buoni said. “It’s rundown, it’s inefficient, and there’s no real way to rehab that building and make it useful.”
Buoni expressed that creating “foot traffic” near Main Street is something Medford residents have been hoping would happen.
“The №1 priority that was articulated to me was Main Street. I cannot think of a more vital improvement to Main Street than something that serves the community,” Buoni said.
Other community members praised the council for trying to make a more efficient use of space. Lynda Baloche of Medford said, “I applaud you for working on it because it’s long overdue.”
The next meeting will be held on May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Public Safety Building.
In other news:
- Council adopted its 2018 municipal budget at last Tuesday’s meeting. There will be no increase in municipal taxes this year. The total budget is approximately $20.6 million.
There are a number of additions, the township plans to hire one new police officer and another police officer later in the year with funding from the school district for a school resource officer, and one new public works employee. New fire trucks have been factored into the budget as well.
- Volunteers at the National Grassroots Organization, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, proposed Medford go forth with a proclamation in support of gun awareness day on June 1, otherwise known as the Wear Orange campaign.
- Police Officers Christopher Sentell and Kendall Kiernan were sworn in.
- The Neighborhood Services Advisory Committee presented multiple names for the e-newsletter. “The Medford Messenger” was the chosen name.
