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August 3, 2010

South Plainfield library idea draws cool reception

http://www.mycentraljersey.com

By JEFF GRANT • STAFF WRITER • August 2, 2010

SOUTH PLAINFIELD — A panel of Board of Education and Borough Council members is seeking a meeting Public Library representatives to discuss a proposal for relocating the crowded library from its present location about a mile away to the school district's administration building.

The Shared Services Committee met on June 30 to discuss the Roosevelt administration building site on Jackson Avenue, but made no recommendation, according to panelist and Councilman Ray Rusnak.

"We thought it was relatively centrally located, plenty of room, plenty of parking, already has an elevator; there's a lot of good things. It's just a matter of going into more detail to learn if it's a viable solution or not," Rusnak said.

The meeting came followed the borough Zoning Board of Adjustment's rejection May 27 of a use variance that would have enabled the library to move to an office park in a light industrial neighborhood on the south side of town, about 2 1/2 miles away from the present library on Plainfield Avenue next to the Municipal Building. That idea had met with some community opposition concerning the lack of sidewalks along Montrose Avenue, where the facility would have gone, and the distance from the high school and middle school.
Rusnak said an invitation is being sent to library board of trustees President Eric Aronowitz for Aronowitz and one other trustee to meet with the shared-services panel on Aug. 11, and that Aronowitz should receive it by Wednesday.

Aronowitz, meanwhile, said he hadn't seen the actual Jackson Avenue idea, but said the Roosevelt building might not be the best place.

"The building's a little old," he said. "It's clearly not wired for 21st-century technology capability. I think there may be an asbestos problem when you begin to knock down the walls. We really need a one-story facility because we're a small staff. That parking lot (outside Roosevelt) is very crowded. I don't know how many spaces would be dedicated. There are a lot of things to consider. It's two years older than the current building. You're probably talking about major, major expense rehabilitation. The funds we get are clearly marked for library purposes only. Would the trustees pay for renovations for parts of the building that would be used exclusively by the board of education?" Aronowitz continued.

Still, the library trustee head said he was heartened that officials were taking a more active interest in the issue.

The library has been seeking to relocate for nearly a decade. In a 2008 nonbinding public referendum, voters rejected the idea of building a new $4.5 million facility on the present site. However, turnout in that vote was less than 12 percent, prompting residents and some officials to question whether it accurately reflected the public's wishes.

Rusnak said the Roosevelt site also would offer easy access to a library and its resources by parents of those in the school district's Future Stars preschool program located next door.
Meanwhile, a special panel to be headed by Mayor Charles Butrico still is being formed to address the library matter. Aronowitz said he'd be inclined to meet that group, since he hadn't been approached earlier by the shared-services panel. But he didn't rule out a meeting with the shared-services group, either.

The mayoral panel also would consist of council members, library trustees and two public representatives.

Jeff Grant: 908-243-6612; jgrant@

Posted by tumulty at August 3, 2010 11:05 AM

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