TIME TO AIR CONDITION THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CHAMBERS?

We recently wrote about the difficulties faced by residents seeking to find out about the Planning Board's ongoing review of the former Maplewood Village Post Office redevelopment plan, from a lack of televised hearings to the sweatbox that was the un-airconditioned Township Committee chambers.

We wanted to find out if there had ever been an estimate done of what it would cost to air condition the chambers, which get so hot in the summer that the TC meetings are relocated to the police and courts building. Most recently, this past Tuesday.

A request to the Township for this information revealed that the Township Committee had looked into the issue in 2006 and found that installing AC would run about $109,000. Likely up near $200,000 today.

Here is the 2006 estimate and request below:



 

At a time when the Township has recently spent $135,000 for a new skate park and just went over $200,000 to renovate the Memorial Park tennis courts, it would seem that $200,000 or so to air condition the most important room at Town Hall would make sense. 

Granted those other projects utilized Open Space Trust Fund money, but with an annual municipal budget of about $39 million, the AC cost would seem feasible. 

Especially when, just this week, the TC approved spending $29,000 for De Hart light replacement, $58,000 for road salt, and $32,000 to pay off severance and vacation for a retiring police captain. The Township also was ready to spend $400,000 to buy the former Maplewood Baptist Church across from De Hart Park, but was outbid. 

It is worth revisiting this issue and at least finding out what the AC installation would cost in 2015 dollars.