After more than eight months of exhaustive studies of the Borough's needs in respect to a replacement of the old Municipal Building on Hamilton Avenue that was almost totally destroyed by fire last December, the Mayor and Council presented an initial plan for a new Municipal Complex to be located on the site formerly intended for the Library/Senior Center and additional property would be acquired on the east side of the Boulevard between Central and Madison Avenues.

The first presentation was made at a special meeting of the Mayor and Council on Aug. 8, 2000, with owners of property in the immediate neighborhood to enable them to have the first chance to offer their own input.

Based upon voluminous reports analyzing all of the various possible sites in the Borough and documenting the specific present and future needs of all of the Municipal Departments, the Mayor and Council chose the proposed site for a Municipal Complex to include not only the previously planned Library/Senior Center, but also the Borough's Administrative Offices, the Police Department and the Municipal Court to achieve the greatest possible degree of efficiency through centralization and to minimize construction costs.

A further presentation of the proposal to the general public was planned for Aug. 15, 2000. However, as reported last week, the Mayor and Council decided to postpone the presentation for the general public until all of the comments could be taken into consideration and the architect and the planner could be directed accordingly.

A new presentation to the public will be scheduled and all residents will be notified.