Police Headquarters Expansion Gets Go Ahead

The Warren Township municipal complex includes the main township offices building, the refurbished library and courtroom/police buildings—and two rather aged trailers.

"They were a five-year solution 25 years ago," Chief of Police Russell Leffert said Thursday at the Township Committee meeting, where he presented rough drafts of a proposed expansion of the annex building housing the courtroom and police heaquarters. 

The trailers are currently used for storage, but Chief Leffert said a plan to extend the existing building toward Bardy Road to replace the trailers could be an economical way to replace the trailers, and add meeting space for the township.

"From a square footage standpoint, we get a lot of bang for the buck," Chief Leffert said.

Estimated costs of constructing the building were not discussed at the meeting. Mayor Vic Sordillo said the committee may be prepared to vote on a contract for architectural services at the next committee meeting.

Committee members endorsed the plan, praising the plan's inclusion of an expanded police lobby area that would be connected to the existing courtroom level.

Committeeman Mick Marion said the plan made sense from safety standpoint, as well as a practical one.

"This is something that I think we need to do," he said, adding the added space for municipal use would be helpful not only for meetings but in the event of emergencies. "Especially in light of the OEM situation, we need places were people can come...it's important."

Twonship Administrator Mark Krane said $400,000 is included in the proposed budget for this year to pay for the initial costs of the project, including the architectural services.

"We've got to retain the architect, that's number one," he said. "Number two, you've got to do a bond ordinance for the full build-out."