WARREN, NJ – The Township Committee ceremonially cut the ribbon signifying the end of the construction on the new Warren Town Hall on Thursday afternoon.
The Township Committee is proud of the new building and the improved service that will be offered to residents within the facility. “It was time to make a move,” Mayor George Lazo told the crowd after the Township Committee cut the ribbon. “The new building was initially supposed to be a space for the police to replace what was a trailer that was supposed to be used for five years, but ended up being for 25 years, and just wasn’t adequate enough for the guys. And the committee, my great colleagues, and Administrator Mark Krane, we decided we should take the next step and build something for everybody. Because needless to say that building was not sufficient anymore.”
Lazo shared his appreciation with the assembled crowd.
In addition to thanking Krane and Committeeman Michael “Mick” Marion, who served as mayor when the project was first proposed, Lazo thanked committeeman Gary DiNardo who was “critical” to seeing the project through.
“On behalf of the entire Township Committee, we had the guts to advance this to include the entire building and make that decision so that everybody can enjoy it,” Lazo said.
The construction of the 26,500 square foot building with a project budget of $7,560,000 is nearing the completion of the construction phase of the project and will be completed within budget.
All of the current municipal offices will be relocated to the new building.
While the police department’s reception desk will remain in the current building, the lower level of the new Town Hall will provide training and locker room facilities for the officers of the Warren Township Police Department, including space for K-9 Onyx, and the command center for the Office of Emergency Management.
The first floor will provide offices for: Recreation, Planning/Zoning and Board of Adjustment, Engineering, Tax collector and Tax Assessor, and Construction. The second floor will provide offices for the: Township Clerk, Township Administrator/Human Resources, Sewerage Authority, Board of Health, Fire Chief & Fire Prevention, Purchasing and Finance office.Offices have been organized so that offices with common purposes will be located adjacent to each other.
Counters are provided at all offices so that residents can easily be assisted by Township staff. Signage will permit easy identification of offices.
Warren has come a long way since the Township Committee meetings in taverns, hotels and storefronts before moving into Central School in the 1930s. The committee moved into the current Town Hall in 1956.
“When I walked through these doors I was struck by the 21st century,” Marion said. “Our residents deserve this. This is going to improve services and this is just a terrific thing for our town. It’s a model that other townships can look at.”
The final phases of the project will include the interiors of each office, the relocation of all computer and technology equipment, and delivery and installation of a new phone system which will service Town Hall and the Police Department as well as the Public Works Department.
The building was constructed by Bismark Construction, Newark, NJ, at a construction cost of $5,949,000. The construction has only resulted to date in change orders of approximately 3%. The construction is completed with the exception of punch list items and exterior finishes based upon a design by Salustro Partnership Architects, A.I.A., Martinsville, NJ, and under the supervision of Cumming Construction Management, Inc., Cranford, NJ, who assured that the project came in on time and within budget.The last day in the current Municipal Building will be Friday, February 10, 2017.
The current Municipal Building and the new Town Hall will be closed to the public on Monday, February 13, 2017 and Tuesday, February 14, 2017, to allow for staff to assist in the arrangement and relocation of their offices.
The official opening of the new Town Hall for Warren Township residents and employees will be Wednesday, February 15, 2017.
The Warren Township Committee looks forward to serving its residents in the new facility. Mayor-elect Carolann Garafola said that she plans to spend time in the new building to be available to residents.
“This really is a monumental day,” DiNardo said. “Think about it, we’ve been in that building since 1956. We’ve been here for 60 years in that building that had gotten old with the passing of time.
“It took a vision to mark Warren Township in the history book, a new chapter that this will be the new municipal building for Warren Township. I can say that we’re honored after 60 years to welcome all of you to our new home.”