Renovate or rebuild, that is the question

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Friday, January 27, 2006

By EVONNE COUTROS

STAFF WRITER

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NorthJersey.com

GLEN ROCK -- Borough officials plan a public forum in the coming

weeks to determine the fate of the aging municipal building, which

is plagued with mold, leaks and inadequate utilities.

" It's time to take major steps to renovate, " Mayor van Keuren

said. " The flat roof leaks, the heating and air conditioning are

marginally functioning, and the layout of the building isn't

resident- or employee-friendly. "

Van Keuren said the quarters of the Police Department in the

basement are too small and have improper ventilation. Other areas of

the 1920s-era building are unusable.

" We can't keep the computers cool enough, " van Keuren said. " We must

be careful that they're not going to be exposed to leaks. If that

happens, the Police Department will shut down. We also have portions

of the building we can't use because of mold and dampness in the

basement.

" The services the residents use the most -- such as the Building

Department -- are the most difficult to access in the building on

the second floor. Some things require difficult navigation through

the building. "

The issue of renovating or rebuilding Borough Hall has been before

the council for about three years.

" Part of the process has been educating the mayor and council about

redesign and the realities of what it costs, " van Keuren said. " This

time around we're saying, 'Let's take a look at function, location,

appearance and cost.' We're tackling this again and determined to

see it through. "

The borough is considering several alternatives, including knocking

down the building and reconstructing at the same location or

elsewhere on the property. Another option may be to preserve some of

the old structure, van Keuren said.

" Alternatively we could keep the central core of the building, knock

off the wings and build new ones, " he said. " The cost is an

important consideration and we're determined to get public opinion

and keep the public informed as we go along. "

Borough officials are also conscious of the peripheral costs such as

housing the police and building departments, tax offices and

administrative personnel if construction begins, the mayor said.

" We have to move on, " Van Keuren said. " I'm sure we're going to come

up with something that serves the borough well. "