Township Finalizes Bond Ordinance for Woman's Club Purchase

The Maplewood Township Committee voted 4-0 on Tuesday night to approve on final passage a bond ordinance providing for the acquisition of the Maplewood Woman’s Club. Committeewoman India Larrier was absent. 

The ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $1,100,000 and the issuance of $1,045,000 in bonds to finance the cost of the purchase and related improvements. 

No one spoke during the public comment period. Once the ordinance is published on April 11, there is a 20-day period during which residents can challenge it by filing a petition, after which the bond ordinance is final. 

Committeeman Jerry Ryan gave an update on the recently formed Woman’s Club Task Force, which is currently working to develop specifications on partners. Ryan said a partner should serve as the building's property manager and be responsible for custodial services and maintenance, with the township acting as landlord and maintaining the building's major systems. He said there are many local models for such a partnership, including the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn. 

Ryan said it was important that the township maintain ownership and control of the property’s parking. 

The task force discussed what it thought were proper usages for the building, including non-profit offices, concerts, shows, classes, educational programs, private events, non-profit events, community meetings and club spaces (such as the VFW). 

“We don’t want there to be just one use for the building,” said Ryan. The township was currently determining the building’s carrying and repair costs, and will receive an architect’s report by April 20. 

Ryan said potential partners might include St. George’s Church or other religious institutions, the VFW, HK Project, South Mountain YMCA, the Union Boys and Girls Club, and the Achieve Foundation.

Deputy Mayor Kathy Leventhal discussed various ways the Task Force might include the public in the process, going forward.  

Township Attorney Roger Desiderio said the township was conducting searches for abandoned oil tanks and evaluating heating, electrical, ventilation and asbestos issues in the building. He said the issue of bringing the club up to ADA compliance was "significant."

Desiderio said the lawsuit a group of neighbors brought against the Maplewood Zoning Board of Adjustment had a scheduled court date of May 28. The suit has been dragging through the courts since it was filed in October, 2011.

Ryan also read a letter from the Maplewood Historic Preservation Commission that stated the commission's desire to recommend a historic landmark designation for the Woman's Club. 

In other business, the committee passed 4-0 a bond ordinance appropriating just over $3 million (issuing just over $2 million in financing) for various capital improvements in the township. 

The committee also voted 4-0 to introduce an ordinance to eliminate twelve lottery parking spots in Parking Area #12 on Dunnell Road. The spots were lost as a result of the sale of the property at 125 Dunnell Road to J.G. Petrucci, which is currently developing the building (the former police station) into luxury rental apartments.