Commissioners Still Undecided on New Library Plans

The Haddonfield Board of Commissioners are still undecided about the feasibility of a quartet of concept plans for a new library.

The three commissioners met with library board President Gene Kain last week for nearly an hour but were not able to reach agreement on whether the library board should fund further research on the feasibility of the plans.

The total costs for the projects range from $6.1 million to $8.5 million. The public funding ranges from $3.6 million to $5.9 million. Three of the four concepts would be located in a borough-owned lot on Clement Street. The fourth concept, one favored by the library board, would be located on private land at the corner of Wilkins and Allen avenues.

"Three of the concepts envision a traditional approach: the borough would award a contract for the construction of a building that houses a public library," a statement from the library board said.

"The fourth concept envisions a public/private partnership under which an independent entity would facilitate the construction—on private property and by a private developer—of a multi-use building that includes not only a modern public library but also some other highly desirable community facilities. All four concepts call for financial contributions from private sources."

The current , at the corner of Haddon Avenue and Tanner Street, is 92 years old. It is not compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act which mandates handicapped accessible entrances and facilities in public buildings. Proponents of a new building argue it would cost almost as much to renovate the old building as build a new one.

Commissioner Ed Borden said the concept plans were "imaginative and thoughtful," but wrestled with how much the project will cost taxpayers yearly.

"Whoever builds it will have to borrow money at a higher rate than the town could," Borden said of the public-private option. "Then if we rent it back from them, that cost will be included in the rent. I wouldn't want to mislead you in to thinking that's not a major factor."

Kain, a former borough commissioner and mayor, said he understood the concerns.

"We have some of the same questions," he said. "If this is a viable idea, we'll spend some money. If you think this is a pie in the sky, we won't. Nobody wants to throw money away."

The commissioners agreed to take up the matter in their next work session on Aug. 23.