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July 30, 2009

Once close to extinction, library nears renovation

Thursday, July 30, 2009
Last updated: Thursday July 30, 2009, 8:06 AM
BY ALEXANDER MACINNES
The Record

PASSAIC — Two years after the Reid Memorial Library was scheduled to close, the city is prepared to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal grant money for its rehabilitation.

On Wednesday, city officials opened 10 bids from contractors interested in retrofitting the 106-year-old building to make it handicapped-accessible.

Although Passaic's purchasing agent will review the proposals to confirm their estimates, the preliminary quotes range from $639,500 to $1.3 million. Those figures do not include seven items, including new light fixtures and façade cleaning.

The scope of work for the Third Street library, which city officials nearly shuttered in 2007, includes building an elevator, wheelchair ramp and making the bathrooms handicapped-accessible.

The investment marks a 180-degree turnaround from when officials said the library was too costly to operate.

"It's very good for the community; don't forget they were going to close that place. More children go there on a regular basis, circulation is increasing," said Walter Porto, chairman of the library board.

Part of the problem with the building was a leaky ceiling, which some said could have cost $150,000 to fix.

The city had also cut or flat-funded the library budget in the past three years, after City Council President Gary Schaer's plan to privatize the library sank under public resistance. In 2007, the city funded the library at $1.1 million, nearly $200,000 below its actual operating costs.

A city spokesman said the new plans surfaced when Schaer took over as acting mayor in 2008. The renovations will be paid for by a Community Development Block Grant, according to Keith Furlong, city spokesman.

The city will cull through the bids, but it appears as if the lowest bid, $639,500, came Salazar & Associates of Union. The highest bid, $1.3 million, came from John O'Hara Inc. of East Orange.

The City Council will vote to approve the bid after the administration certifies the information the contractors included in their bids. State law dictates that the city choose the lowest "responsible" bid.

Library officials said complying with the federal American With Disabilities Act is long overdue and that the capital improvement project will open the building up to those who have long been shut out.

"This is a vital cultural and learning center for that part of the city," said library Director Mario Gonzalez, who took over after the closure controversy. "We have a lot of children who use that library, because there are several public schools nearby."

Posted by tumulty at July 30, 2009 4:08 PM

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