January 29, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Midland Park Municipal building upgrades planned in 2014 Midland Park town hall is getting some upgrades this year, with the scope of the project to be determined by the available funds. As the borough council works on its 2014 capital budget, it has tentatively set aside $20,000 for the work. But the council already has $50,000 in reserve from pre- vious unspent appropriations as well as a $44,000 Com- munity Development grant earmarked to upgrade the handicap-accessible bathroom on the first floor of the building. The existing bathroom, upgraded in the early ‘90s, is not compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act current standards, according to Borough Clerk/Admin- istrator Addie Hanna. Hanna said other proposed improvements include the reconstruction of the original front porch, new fascia on the original building, and the replacement of the tile floor on the entrance hallway. She explained that the his- toric look of the rotting porch will remain, but it will be rebuilt with maintenance-free materials. The access doorway now there will continue to serve as a fire exit, as per the fire official. The building main’s entrance is from the parking lot at the rear of the building. Councilwoman Nancy Peet said the building would be more aesthetically appealing if the front entrance were reinstated. She said a ramp could be constructed for handicap accessibility. Hanna said the ramp would be costly, because it would have to be very long to keep within the allowable incline. Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan said it was better for security reasons to have only one public entrance into the building, which could be better monitored. The ceramic tile floor, whose uneven and slippery surface is considered a hazard, will be taken up and replaced with a wood-looking slip-free tile, Hanna said. Other projects will include replacing the shutters, which are rotting, and upgrading the outdoor lighting. The administrator said she hopes the project can be started in early spring and finished by the end of summer. “We’ll do the work one project at a time and see how much we can do with what we have on hand this year,” she said. “We can do the rest the following year.” Previous work at town hall included converting the conference room and clerk’s office on the second floor two years ago into the building/zoning department for easier accessibility, and providing a conference room on the third floor adjacent to the courtroom so the prosecu- tor could meet with violators. The meetings previously took place in the hallway.