Excessive Heat, Malfunctioning HVAC Unit Continues To Close Bridgewater Library

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Excessive heat and a malfunctioning HVAC system remain an ongoing issue for the Bridgewater Library, which was forced to close multiple days this week due to rising temperatures.

"The Bridgewater branch air conditioning system has been malfunctioning for several summers now. Sadly, the system is unable to keep the building at an appropriate temperature for customers - especially in the midst of this heat wave," said Lynn Mazur, Bridgewater branch manager.

The library branch at 1 Vogt Dr. in Bridgewater, which is part of the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey(SCLSNJ), was also forced to close on select hot days in the summer of 2023. Read More: Malfunctioning HVAC Unit Is To Blame For Bridgewater Library Closures

All SCLSNJ buildings are owned and maintained by its hosting town.

The library has been in contact with Bridgewater Township on an ongoing basis to discuss the situation, said Mazur.

"We understand that closing the facility is inconvenient and disappointing to our residents. The Township is working on the necessary steps to remediate the situation in the short term and there is a contractor on site [Thursday] working on the issue," said Bridgewater Deputy Township Administrator Wells Winegar. "A more complete scope of work is being updated for a permanent fix, but a firm timeline has not been established. The Township continues to actively seek funding sources for what will be a costly replacement. We are hopeful that the repairs being carried out now will allow for comfortable use of this important facility. We apologize to our residents for any inconvenience that may have occurred as a result of this situation."

The Township had previously applied for a grant in 2020 and 2021 with the New Jersey State Library Construction Bond Act to cover phase 1 and phase 2 of the HVAC system replacement project at the Bridgewater Library for $2,517,000.

Phase 1 would include the replacement of four individual air handlers at a cost of $2,240,286 and Phase 2 the replacement of hot water and chilled water pumps at a cost of $276,750, according to the application.

Both of those applications were denied, confirmed Township Administrator Michael Pappas at the Aug. 17, 2023 Council meeting. Read More: Entire HVAC System At Bridgewater Library In Need Of Replacement

The Township has since been working on a solution to cover the costs for repairs.

"To our customers we say a heartfelt, 'I'm sorry.' We regret the inconvenience these closures are causing our community members. In the interim, we recommend users visit one of our other locations or use our online resources," said Mazur.

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