Potential Grant Discarded for American Legion

Rather than seek a grant through Rebuilding Together Bergen County towards renovating the deteoriating American Legion building, the governing body will continue moving forward with seeking cost estimates to tear down the building along with conceptual plans on expanding the nearby library.

"I just don't see the need to keep putting money in it," Councilman Alphonse Bartelloni said. "There is room to add onto the library to house the Recreation Commission offices, the Cultural Center, it could serve as an emergency office location for our DPW and be a community center for our seniors and residents. I think it's time we should have a plan in place with written estimates and stop putting money into an antiquated building with issues form the foundation to the roof."

The grant idea was placed on the agenda by Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo because Rebuilding Together, a Glen Rock-based nonprofit agency, works to bring volunteers from labor, electrical and plumbing unions onsite to perform the renovations.

The organization offers a Community Building Application for non-profit and community buildings that are in need of repair so that it could better serve low-income seniors, veterans, or families with children.

"This organization primarily helps low income families and seniors but also does government projects and community projects," Moscaritolo said. "They don't supply funding but offer technical assistance with skilled laborers. Filing the application would cost us nothing. I'm all for tearing down the building if we have a plan to put something there, but we're lacking a consensus of what to do with the property."

According to architect Peter Pulice, repairing the American Legion could cost the borough anywhere between $300,000 to $1.3 million in renovations so that it could be brought up current ADA and fire safety regulations, mold remediation, new windows and roof, insulation and electrical work and a new HVAC system.

"This building needs major structural work," Councilman Edward Mignone added. "We need a cost estimate to compare between the cost of fixing the building and adding onto the library based on what makes sense in a dollars and cents aspect."

The future of the American Legion will continue to be discussed at a later meeting.