News
AH Introduces Bond Ordinance To Fund Borough Hall Renovations, Road Improvements
By John Burton
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS - The Borough Council stands poised to move forward with its plans for a new borough hall and library, as well as doing some repairs to some area roadways.
At a regular meeting Wednesday, May 27, the council introduced a bond ordinance, which, if approved, would allow the governing body to borrow $6.65 million for the planned projects.
According to the ordinance, the total cost of the projects is expected to be $7 million, which the borough intends to repay over a 20- year period.
The funds would be allocated to completely reconstruct the municipal complex and public library, 100 First Avenue. The aging structure has been plagued with issues, including an ongoing moisture and mold problem, and inadequate space, especially for the library, That project is expected to cost approximately $6 million in total.
The remaining $1 million of the bond ordinance will be used for improvements to roads, including Second and Sixth avenues, Cameron Circle, Avenue C, Ballingswood Road and East Highland Avenue.
That would involve drainage improvements, concrete curbing and milling, according to the ordinance.
The council will hold a public hearing and vote on the ordinance on June 10, where it is likely to be approved, given the comments council members and Mayor Frederick J. Rast III have made previously in support of the project.
Borough officials would like to put the municipal complex renovation project out to bid later this summer with construction to begin in the fall, council members have said.
The entire project is expected to take approximately two years.
