Berkeley Council Mulls Over Roof Replacement Of Original Town Hall In Bayville

The Township Council plans to eventually upgrade the old Berkeley Township Historical Society Building, one project at a time, Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said.

The Historical Society building sits next to the Berkeley Township Recreation Building on Route 9 South in Bayville. And it badly needs a facelift.

"It's very old," the mayor said. "Original roof, original wood siding and original windows."

The township-owned building was the original Town Hall many years ago. The Historical Society maintains the building. And Berkeley Township Historical Society members are looking forward to receiving funds to get started with repairs, because they've been waiting a long time, Society President James Fosbre said.

The structural portion of the wood frame house is in good shape, he said.

The Township Council earlier this week tabled a resolution that would have appropriated $50,000 for the a three-phase project to enhance the exterior of the building, Amato said.

"We're going to do the repair work in three phases, to spread the cost over three budget cycles," the mayor said. "Our concern is the exterior. This year the roof, next year windows and in 2018, the siding."

The building was also once the township police department before the new Town Hall complex was built on Pinewald-Keswick Road.

Image: Mark Lynch