| Author | Message | ||
     Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2444 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jeffl: Contrary to any rumors you may have heard, there are four additional members of the TC. Even if what you posted is true, a personal commitment by one would not necessarily rule out at least three of the others taking a different action. Fruitcake: The TC could have (1) thought things out more clearly/completely before taking each of the various and costly actions they have taken to date regarding the location of the police station and (2) once a reasonable decision was reached, they could have moved ahead with plans for construction of the new police building before conditions in the old building get any worse. By the way, what do the rest of you think of Vic's proposal in last week's N-R to save most of the threatened structures (and the viable businesses and homes they contain) by building the police station on one side of SA and putting needed additional parking on the other side of the street? | ||
| jeffl Citizen Username: Jeffl Post Number: 353 Registered: 8-2001 |
The thing that I don't get, and someone please correct me if I'm wrong (as if I have to give permission!)...the TC, when first evaluating the library site, proposed building a new library on that plot of land, which would face the park and be brand spanking new. The TC decided not to pursue using the library site because of the objections of residents who didn't want to lose the library. It seems to me that an anti-PD-at-the-library group mobilized rapidly and continued to protest even after they were reassured that there would still be a library. The TC continued to listen to their protests in spite of the fact that there were assurances that a new library would be built. Was there some other issue that took the library site off the agenda? Was there inadequate space? Was there a green acres issue? Art, can you fill in the gaps? Now we're talkig about taking over land that houses ratable properties, possible litigation, site surveys, safety surveys...all of which wouldn't be necessary if we just stuck with the library site. Wouldn't that site have saved a ton of money too? | ||
| anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 979 Registered: 6-2002 |
Let's have an MOL pool on when ground will be broken for the new police station. Everyone put in a dollar and pick a month and year. Since I thought of it, I get first pick: September, 2010. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2446 Registered: 5-2001 |
The Police Station at the end of the Universe?  | ||
| Fruitcake Citizen Username: Fruitcake Post Number: 70 Registered: 9-2003 |
Joan, My question to Boozy was about the Mormon church, not the police station. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2449 Registered: 5-2001 |
Fruitcake: Whether we are talking about the Mormon Church taking over the site of the former funeral home or the location of the proposed new police station, the same general factors still apply. If the Township had been more aware of these emerging developments (pending sale of the funeral home site vs pending sale of the office building next to the present police station), had a well thought out plan in hand to take advantage of the opportunity presented and then moved ahead in a cost-effective manner, both problems could have been circumvented with far less cost, time, and angst than resulted. It is the difference between having a pro-active administration as opposed to one which constantly appears to be in a state of playing catch-up. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2440 Registered: 9-2001 |
"Was there some other issue that took the library site off the agenda? Was there inadequate space? Was there a green acres issue? Jeffl, IMO, all the decisions against the library were based on the protestors. You’re correct, the TC just continued to listen to their protests in spite of the fact that there were assurances that a new library would be built. They could have put up a fight against the protesters, but didn’t. All the time, planning, and money spent on the library site was for nothing. Well, maybe not? Tonight, the township committee and the Site Steering Committee will meet at the Maplewood Memorial Library at 7:30 PM. They have stated that they may take action on a site for the new police station. Be there or be square. Mr. Goldstein will present his new January 20th Report, which is not much more than a multiple choice quiz for the all stars. As I previously stated, I will be requesting that the TC put the branch library site back on the agenda, along with the Verizon property and the present police station site on Dunnell Road. Lets see now if all the NIMBY’S come out again to protect their properties against the bad people who want to save the town some tax money. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2442 Registered: 9-2001 |
FWIW, the town and the train station is just about empty. I suspect a lot of people are home, or will be coming home sometime today. There have been a number of other posts this morning on different threads, but none on this subject. Why? The township meeting tonight could be about as important as any we'll have for many years to come... Who's planning to be at this meeting tonight? | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 299 Registered: 11-2001 |
Joan - I thought that Vic's proposal was a good one. It will not displace any residents or businesses that have been there for 30 years. Nor will it take over and Green Acers issues. If the TC is to look at any possible sights then they would be smart to look at that proposal however I do not think that the TC will act on such a recommendation b/c it came from the former Mayor. Which is a shame. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2456 Registered: 5-2001 |
Growler, I think you are being unfair to our present TC members. Vic's idea is a good one and I would hope the TC will consider it on its own merits. The fact that Vic is now able to speak on behalf of the SA Partnership should give his suggestion more weight, not less. | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 1974 Registered: 5-2001  |
Sorry, Art, can't make it, I have a rehearsal in the city. I kind of like that idea of the new police station and new library sharing the existing space, extending the park across Tuscan to Springfield. Just so we don't get snookered on the library building. | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 300 Registered: 11-2001 |
Joan - I agree whole heartily. We'll have to see what transpires. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 2460 Registered: 5-2001 |
Someone must be pushing really hard for use of the Verizon site for the new police building. Most of last evening's site selection committee meeting was devoted to a presentation of the latest Verizon proposal which would combine a police station with a recreation center complete with the town's own gymnasium. The cost of that recreation center was estimated at 2 million to 2.5 million dollars over the cost of the police station but at least it would use all of the space. A considerable amount of that cost results from the need to remove numerous structural supports to accomodate a space large enough for a gym, the need to cut through much of the second floor to make the gym walls high enough for the sports which would be played there, and the need to re-design the roof over that space. Since when did the town demonstrate a chronic lack of gym space with the middle school and high school gyms' availability to accomodate our indoor sports program? Can't we just admit that the Verizon site is too big for the police department's needs and move on. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2463 Registered: 9-2001 |
"Can't we just admit that the Verizon site is too big for the police department's needs and move on." Joan, as always, it was nice to see you guys at the meeting. Although I agree with you that the gymnasium is not the best way to spend money we don't have at this time, IMO, the building and property is not too big for our town. Listen, just because the police department only needs half the building, that's not reason enough to remove it from consideration. There are many other uses for the space which would not require the $2.5 million dollar additional costs of the gymnasium. Move on? Where else would you go Joan? Before we move on to any other locations, we need a cost comparison to show what the acquisition costs are of the properties in question. I know you've heard this before, but it's worth repeating... FWIW, lets not forget that the branch library site could be used to more than pay for the purchase of the Verizon site, including the costs to replace the library at the Verizon location, plus still have plenty of room left over for the after school program, a town operated day care service, a teen center, a senior center, an indoor track, and several other recreational services including the storage of all their equipment... | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 1980 Registered: 5-2001 |
town-operated day care? What are you, some kind of Democrat?  | ||
| Boozy the Clown Citizen Username: Boozy Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2003 |
Does the Verizon building have any windows? | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4684 Registered: 5-2001 |
Things get more and more bizzare, not to mention expensive. I am coming around to Ken Pettis' pov: Renovate and expand the current station on Dunnel Road. | ||
| growler Citizen Username: Growler Post Number: 301 Registered: 11-2001 |
Or consider the plan that Vic outlined. | ||
| Mummite Citizen Username: Mummite Post Number: 51 Registered: 6-2003 |
ajc, I like that. A bit of common sense combining all we need instead of the over-emotional rants I often read on this site. Nice list of stuff there too but can you add full day kindergarden to it...... The Verizon building is too big? FWIW It seems like we need a pretty big building to give this town all it needs and deserves. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4690 Registered: 5-2001 |
Have the Green Acres problem with the Hilton Library been resolved? I thought that was one of the stumbling blocks with that location. I don't think we want to have the type of problems South Orange is having with the animal shelter. |
