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County and city grants to aid Bridgeton Library expansion

Greg Adomaitis | For NJ.com By Greg Adomaitis | For NJ.com The News of Cumberland County
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on September 15, 2011 at 7:14 PM, updated September 15, 2011 at 8:55 PM
9526538-small.jpgBridgeton Public Library
BRIDGETON — The city is looking for ways to “expand and improve” their library and two recent grants, plus another at the county level, may pave the way.

A resolution heard at a county freeholder meeting this week would authorize submitting a $400,000 grant application to the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

That total would go toward an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant elevator in the “Bridgeton city hall for a public library,” according to the resolution.

“We are exploring and looking for funding to expand and improve,” said Mayor Albert Kelly of projects at the city hall annex building.

Kelly was unaware the $400,000 resolution had been passed but said it did not mean the historic library would be relocating across Commerce Street.

Though he has not yet spoken with the Bridgeton Public Library’s board of trustees, Kelly got in touch with Freeholder Director Bill Whelan soon after their meeting to discuss the resolution.

County Deputy Administrator Kim Wood said the application to the DCA would be made through the South Jersey Economic Development committee, as Cumberland County is a member.

Two resolutions heard at last week’s Bridgeton city council meeting would accept a total of $165,000 from the New Jersey Historic Preservation Trust.

The $15,000 grant is for preservation efforts at the city hall annex building. Kelly said the money would go towards research at the city hall building, while noting a library with combined education center at that location. He felt such a facility may be a way for local colleges to host classes at the building.

Kevin Rabago, from the city’s Office of Planning and Development, said the total could go
toward a “historical architect to come in and set out the appropriate scope for remediation.”

As for the $150,000 grant for preservation efforts at the building, “It’s brick and mortar money for actual work,” Rabago said.

The former Cumberland National Bank now houses the city library and a group of concerned patrons have been working toward restoration efforts for some time now.

Save the Library! (STL) and Friends of the Bridgeton Library have been in pursuit of a two-thirds match for a $150,000 New Jersey Historic Trust grant. Penny Watson, of STL!, said her group heard last March that the library was on a list to receive the grant.

However, as the city owns the bank building that houses the library, they had to approve the grants.
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