New Municipal Complex to Open

It has been two and half years since Livingston's Township Council could truly call a building its home.

Since March of 2008, the Council has been holding meetings at the Senior and Community Center while a new municipal building was under construction. Many township employees have also been working out of the Senior and Community Center in temporary offices.

But come September 20, all will move into the new, state-of-the-art Municipal Complex on S. Livingston Avenue.  At this week's Township Council meeting on Tuesday, it was announced that a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new complex will be held on September 20, before the council's next scheduled public meeting. 

As of last week, the first bits of office equipment were going into the new $27 million municipal complex, which is across the street from the township library and high school.

"This is a bittersweet moment," said Mayor Johnson at the council meeting. "Hats off to the township manager and all the staff who made it work and all that they wrestled with."

The opening is a little later than anticipated.  Last year the township was looking to complete the move into the new complex by August 1. Various minor delays pushed it to September.

Mayor Johnson said the move in September will be speedy.

"We were looking to have a quick switchover," said Mayor Johnson.

At Tuesday's meeting, many officials praised the space in the Senior and Community Center. 

"We really enjoyed being in this building," said Michele Meade, Township Manager. "It was a great bonding experience."

The Senior and Community Center offered space, but still tight quarters for the temporary office.

"I congratulate the township manager and the staff for getting things done in not the most terrific conditions," said Councilman Stephen Santola.

In addition to moving municipal offices to the new building,  the police department will also transition into the new complex The old police department will then be demolished and become a parking lot for the township hall.

"It looks like a doll house and how they worked with it, I never know," said Mayor Johnson about the old police building, which sits in the shadows of the new complex.

Councilman Charles 'Buddy' August said his hope is that the new complex will be used by the township for the next century.

"I'm glad and hope that we will be in here for 60, 70, 80 years and more and that people will say that it adequately serves the citizens. This building will be used for the next century," said Councilman August.