Manager, Contractor Selected for Library Expansion

The principals are just about in place to get the long-planned Wyckoff Public Library project off the ground.

The facility's Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday night to hire WG Project Management of Hoboken as the more than $4 million project's construction managers. WG, which was represented by principal Gene Gleason and project manager Chris Romney Wednesday, will oversee the day-to-day progress of the expansion, which will last at least a year.

WG will most likely be working with contractors UniMak LLC, which was the lowest responsible bidder when 27 bids were opened in June. The board unanimously passed a resolution giving Chairman Henry Shotmeyer the authority to enter into a contract with the firm, which estimated it could complete the project at a $3.3 million cost.

WG will be paid $8,000 a month for 12 months to guide construction, having been charged with providing "adequate oversight... and (to) control and limit any cost over-runs."

Romney said three references were provided on prior work by UniMak, although contact has only been made with one facility that worked with the firm. That reference judged the contractor's work as "adequate," with Romney saying WG may have to "ride herd" on them.

"That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement," Mayor Rudy Boonstra said.

The entire expansion could cost the library board more than $4.5 million, according to a draft budget prepared by WG. Treasurer Alma Mader said the board does have sufficient funds to cover such an expense.

However, the final price tag will be dependent in part upon which elective, non-essential components are included in the construction. Two projects were eliminated from the list of project alternates after some debate, and others were not included in the resolution to pick a contractor.

Trustee Vince Antonacci said "we knew we'd have to pick and choose... between what is essential and what we would like."

That conversation could be revisited at a later date, depending on construction costs going forward.

"There are still things floating in the air," Antonacci said, "but the necessities are there."

WG's budget shows construction costs to run $2,834,000, which covers the vital elements: plumbing, HVAC system, utilities, concrete, steel, carpentry, electrical, etc. However, a list of alternate projects carries a $356,000 cost, bringing total construction to $3,190,000.

Adding in $655,000 in ancillary costs (permits, phone equipment, servers, etc.), $247,250 in professional fees (architect, engineer, landscape consultant, WG's compensation, etc.) and $419,825 in planned contingency costs brings the total project to $4,512,075, which Boonstra said "exceeds some comfort levels."

However, WG's budget and originally drafted resolution giving Shotmeyer the authority to contract with UniMak were more costly, before the two alternates were taken out for a savings of $106,000.

A building management system for the HVAC units was eliminated, for a $100,000 savings, although the board could consider its implementation should funds be available. The system controls all mechanical and electrical equipment, perhaps remotely, and "can provide certain efficiencies," Gleason said.

"There's no question there's a real benefit in the long run" on saved utility costs, the WG representative said.

The list of alternates also includes $160,000 for solar panel installation, which members and Township Committee liaison Brian Scanlan indicated is a priority for inclusion should funds be available.

The board aims to get the contract with UniMak signed and attain building permits in the near future, with hopes of getting the project going at least before the weather starts to get cold. However, the board still needs to figure out where the library will go while the contractors are working.

Trustee Tony Donato, a real estate agent, has been working on the board's behalf for several months in trying to find an alternate, smaller location for library services. Donato said trustees continue to explore possibilities at Boulder Run after a deal could not be reached on a site in Mahwah, just over the township border.

A special meeting could be called in the near future, should the board find a suitable location. Donato said the idea of trailers on the existing library property has been discussed and rejected.

Moving the library will allow for shorter construction time, although not all services are expected to make the trip to an alternate site. The board hopes to provide essential services while the expansion project is ongoing and will have to address the issue of whether any employees would be furloughed or temporarily transferred to another local library, depending on the space of the temporary site.

When completed, the library will see the addition of , consisting of a greatly enlarged children's library, a community meeting room and greater space for virtually all library users, including teens and adults.

The entire project is being funded out of library board surplus.