Deputy mayor urges quick move to hire architect for Lebanon Township Museum roof; committee to consider open-space funds

Deputy Mayor Tom said the Lebanon Township Museum in New Hampton Village needs a new slate-and-copper roof and showed the committee three architectural proposals for design and bid documents. "The Lebanon Township Museum, is in need of a roof," Tom said, noting one nationwide firm—stimated about $51,000 and another local firm bout $27,950, while a third architect offered a design-only proposal for $7,550.

Tom recommended Pickell/Patel Architects for the design phase because that firm met with the committee onsite and proposed a modest fee and hourly rate. "Pickell Architects fits the bill," Tom said, adding that their proposal breaks the fee into existing-condition documentation ($1,800), construction documents ($3,500), bidding support ($750) and a construction administration allotment ($1,500) for a total of $7,550.

Tom told the committee he believes the work can be funded from the township's open-space trust fund under the preservation/maintenance apportionment. He said the fund brings in roughly $92,000 a year and that the trust balance is "north of $1,300,000" in his estimate, though he said those figures were approximate and offered to provide precise numbers. He described the roof repair as "phase 1," with grant-funded facade, stone and window work to follow.

Committee members expressed general support for moving forward and asked staff to prepare a resolution authorizing a contract award and use of open-space trust money for design/soft costs. No final contract was signed at the meeting; members directed the clerk to place a resolution on the next regular meeting agenda for formal adoption.

The item will return for a formal resolution and award vote; the committee also discussed the need to follow New Jersey Historic Preservation Office guidelines for work on contributing buildings in a historic district.