Borough to move its offices, EMS, police force

Civic center, former dairy chosen as sites

In 2012, Brentwood council considered several options for its aging borough building, including one that called for renovating its civic center building at Brentwood Park and moving its administrative offices there.

The borough never acted on that plan.

But five years later, borough officials dusted off the idea and now they have approved a similar plan, which calls for remodeling the civic center to house administrative offices and council chambers. The police department and emergency medical services will be moved to the former Snee Dairy property on Brownsville Road, which the borough purchased earlier this year.

The total project cost would be about $6.4 million.

Council on Monday authorized the borough architect to proceed with final design documents associated with what has been called Option 3. The vote was 6-0, with Councilwoman Stephanie Fox absent.

“The civic center needs close to $1 million in renovations. This will take care of that and give the administration a site,” council President John Frombach said.

The one-story civic center, built in the 1970s, consists of a hall with seating for up to 100 people and two meeting rooms.

It needs a new roof and foundation; exterior improvements, including painting; new lighting; handicapped accessibility for the restrooms and doors; and other items.

Under the tentative plan, borough administration would occupy 3,600 square feet, and council chambers would occupy about 1,600 square feet. The estimated renovation costs would be $1.77 million, and the “soft” costs, such as architectural and engineering fees, would be $486,000, for a total of