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Jul 14, 2023

Entire HVAC System At Bridgewater Library In Need Of Replacement

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Cooler weather has allowed the Bridgewater Library to remain open. However, its malfunctioning HVAC system remains an ongoing issue and is in need of replacement. "With milder

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Cooler weather has allowed the Bridgewater Library to remain open. However, its malfunctioning HVAC system remains an ongoing issue and is in need of replacement.

"With milder temperatures in the forecast (especially cooler temperatures overnight), we anticipate cooler temperatures inside the library for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, this means no further disruption to service," Bridgewater Branch Manager Lynn Mazur said to Patch.

The library branch at 1 Vogt Dr. in Bridgewater, which is part of the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey(SCLSNJ), has previously been forced to close due to high temperatures and a non-working HVAC system.

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

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 Council meeting.

"I as a resident of this Township and I as a user of the public library system am disappointed that this sort of fell off," said Cathy Franco. "We applied for a grant and apparently we didn’t get it and then nothing was done after that. So I would hope that when we apply for grants in the future we keep our eye on the ball and pay attention to those things."

Pappas said that the township has since been determining the cost estimates that are necessary to then at some point come back to this council for funding.

In the meantime, Pappas said he told Library Director Brian K. Auger that the Township has ordered parts to repair the HVAC system.

"He was informed of the details plan for the parts that have been ordered and the expectation that they will arrive shortly and repairs will be undertaken," said Pappas.

He noted that the township has "not ignored this. This is a large system."

"It is a complex system and finding the right vendor to assess and make appropriate repairs can be a challenge but we are on top of it," said Pappas.

The township confirmed to Patch on Friday that the parts did come in, and repairs are scheduled to begin next week.

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