Schuylkill Township supervisors weigh meeting-room expansion, police upgrades and costs for near-complete renovation plans

Schuylkill Township supervisors on March 26 debated whether to proceed with near-complete architectural plans for a municipal complex renovation that would reconstruct the public meeting room and add expanded police facilities, with differing views on cost, financing and alternatives.

Vice-Chairperson Devin Hager said the Township’s Municipal Complex Fund holds about $2.5 million but warned that spending the balance outright would eliminate interest earnings. “Bonding would allow the Township to retain and invest funds while using them toward debt service,” Hager said, adding he doubts a full project of administration, police and public works could be completed under $5 million without the meeting-room expansion.

Alloy5 project manager James Margotta told the Board the construction documents are roughly 90% complete and that the revised scope—approved previously by the Board—adds demolition and reconstruction of the meeting room to square the building footprint. That change required excavation and foundation work that produced additional first-floor square footage allocated to Police Department improvements, including supervisory offices, an expanded patrol room, locker rooms, a training room, a break room, a secure vestibule (mantrap) and temporary evidence storage.

Supervisor Bob Cooney said he opposes reconstructing the meeting room and prefers retaining the current space, citing cost and limited public need: “I oppose the addition and reconstruction of the meeting room,” he said, and asked for a comprehensive long-term financial plan before supporting the present scope. Cooney also requested that staff obtain a quote from Alloy5 for a bid option that excludes meeting-room changes and an estimate of redesign costs.

Supervisor Danielle Jouenne urged the Board to finish the design work already in progress. “It would not be a sound financial decision to halt the project at approximately 90% completion of construction documents,” she said, noting the remaining work has been contracted and budgeted and that stopping now would waste prior investments.

Township Manager Laurie Getz said the plans include provisions to be solar-ready but do not include purchasing or installing panels in this phase. She also confirmed the Township has received $350,000 in state funding and is awaiting the award of a $1.25 million RACP grant.

Residents raised concerns at the workshop. Ellen Jantzen said the original building was inadequate and stressed safety and functionality for staff, while Anita Schmit asked for greater transparency and a multi-year financial plan. Resident Karen Guerrero objected to the proposed mantrap, saying it gives an unsafe impression; Lieutenant McCarthy responded that the mantrap is a required delayed-entry security system needed for accreditation and for temporary holding prior to transport to the county facility, and clarified the Township does not house individuals overnight.

Alloy5 estimated that preparing an alternate (no-expansion) design would require additional redesign work, with a redesign cost estimate of roughly $60,000–$100,000. Hager said the difference in annual bond payments associated with the meeting-room expansion was about $70,000 per year compared with plans that do not include the expansion.

Several speakers—including former Supervisor Mark Donovan—urged completing the design phase so the Township can obtain real bid numbers rather than stop short and incur future cost increases. Opponents cautioned that phasing or redesigning could increase costs and prolong the timeline.

Before adjourning, Jouenne asked that a vote on the current project scope, including the meeting-room expansion, be placed on the next business meeting agenda; Cooney asked staff to obtain an Alloy5 quote for an option excluding meeting-room changes and an estimate of redesign costs for presentation at that meeting. The workshop adjourned at 9:57 PM.