Abbottstown plans to build new borough office

Abbottstown officials voted Feb. 19 to begin designing a new borough office, potentially ending a months-long debate on how the borough should respond to a rent increase at its current building.

Council approved the decision to start planning a new office on municipal land on High Street in a 3-1 vote. Council members April Trivitt, Mark Heisey and Hugh Wellen voted in favor of the project, and councilman Travus Brown dissented. Councilman Dale Reichert was absent from the meeting.

Borough officials believe grading, construction and utilities at the new building will cost the borough between $200,000 and $250,000. Council had previously earmarked $300,000 under general government for the building's construction in its 2015 budget.

Borough engineers from C.S. Davidson will provide professional engineering and architectural services for the new structure.

The quest to find new space for offices and town meetings began early in 2014 when council received correspondence from its landlord stating that the rent for the borough's current location was going to double in 2015, from its previous $695 per month to about $1,400 per month. The borough also pays all the utilities at its current site.

The landlord ultimately allowed the borough to stay at its current location until November at a rate of $737.50 per month starting in 2015.

Borough council has considered leaving its current office at 4 W. Water St. for years, according to a letter sent to residents in January. Although the office is near the town's square, it has little room for public meetings and limited parking.

Council previously proposed renting space from United Hook and Ladder Fire Co. 33, but the majority of residents at a January town hall meeting on the subject favored building a new office, council members said.

Borough officials will visit the proposed building site Feb. 24 around 4:45 p.m., Trivitt said. Borough solicitor Guy Beneventano said the meeting can legally be attended by all the borough council members as no official action is proposed for the meeting.

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Abbottstown plans to build new borough office