Middletown Twp. Council Discusses Plans For Smedley Barn

At regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 14, council discussed plans for the stabilization and use of Smedley Barn and voted to replace the playground equipment at Lenni Park with brand new equipment following its damage in a storm.

Plans In Works For Stabilization, Township Use of Smedley Barn

Earlier this year due to weather factors and the age of the building, part of Smedley Barn's roof collapsed, and since, has collapsed even further, Township Manager Bruce Clark said.

"It's been partially collapsed now for a number of months," Clark said.

The township solicited bids for the partial demolition of the barn, which entails removing the wood roof and wood walls, and stabilizing the stone walls. The building's stone walls could be stabilized at a height of 18 feet to preserve the look and character of the barn, or brought down to about 4 feet, Clark said. Bids were solicited for the price of both heights.

JMC Contractors, Inc., submitted the lowest bids for both the 4-foot walls ($62,450) and the 18-foot walls ($65,740).

The question, then, was whether to keep the height of the stone walls at 18 feet or bring them down to 4 feet—a question that depends on what the township will eventually do with the building.

"It might be premature, but we have thoughts that we might build a new library or community center on the Smedley track," Middletown Library Vice President Gary Grove said. "[We'd like] the new building to have strong architectural elements of the barn."

Council Vice Chairwoman Lorraine Bradshaw pointed out that if the walls were kept to a height of 18 feet, no natural light would reach the first floor without a costly retrofit window installation.

"If we do 15 feet, we can always make it lower, since we don't know what it's going to be used for," Council Member Russ Carlton said.

Given the disagreement, council voted unanimously to table the decision until the next council meeting on Nov. 28.

"I'd like to think more and get some feedback—because once it's done, it's done," Council Chairman Scott Galloway said.

Lenni Park To Get New Playground Equipment

Earlier this year, a large tree fell on a piece of playground equipment at Lenni Park, and the township received an insurance settlement of $11,000 for the damage. Township council voted unanimously to replace the playground equipment with a new piece of equipment from Little Tykes, for $8,633, rather than replacing the damaged parts of the equipment, which would cost approximately the same, Clark said. The playground equipment has an estimated installation cost of $3,200.

Skycrest Zoning Amendment Reintroduced

Joseph Riper, representing Elwyn, Inc., told council that given the changes to the on Oct. 25, the zoning amendment should likely be changed and re-advertised. The changes—a decrease in density from 4.25 units per acre to 4 units per acre, and an increase from 3.25 parking spaces per unit to 5.25—were substantive in nature, council agreed. Following Solicitor Joe D'Amico's recommendation, the board voted unanimously to authorize the zoning amendment's reintroduction and readvertisement.

Bond Refinancing Saves $228,000 In Debt Service

Brian Bradley of RBC Capital Markets presented to the board the savings they acquired due to the refinancing of the township's 2007 bonds. With the refinancing, "most of the savings are going to occur in 2012," Bradley said.

In 2012, about $505,258 would have been needed to be paid out under the old debt service. Instead, about $277,032 is what will be paid out under the new debt service: a savings of about $228,226 for the fiscal year.