124-22 Authorizing Execution of Purchae and Sale Agreement re New Library Site.pdf

124-22 April 26, 2022 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Township owns certain property located Block 68, Lot 1 on the Tax Map of the Township of West Orange, County of Essex, State of New Jersey which is commonly known as 46 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, West Orange, New Jersey, a portion of which contains the existing library (the “Property”); and WHEREAS, the Township has been the successful recipient of a grant from the State of New Jersey, through the Library Bond Grant Act in the amount of approximately $3.2 million; and WHEREAS, the Township has acquired the property located at 10 Rooney Circle located in the Township of West Orange (the “New Library Site”); and WHEREAS, the Township has begun the procurement process through public bidding to obtain a qualified and responsible contractor to construct the new, state of the art and improved library at the New Library Site; and WHEREAS, the Township desires to meet its commitment to affordable housing which is mandated by New Jersey law and the subject of a court settlement approved by the Honorable Robert S. Gardner, Judge of the Superior Court, in certain litigation captioned In the Matter of the Application of the Township of West Orange, Docket No.: ESX-L-4697-15. WHEREAS, the Renna House is a longstanding and well-established senior housing project which is contiguous to the existing library site; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the New Jersey Local Lands and Buildings Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:12-21(l), the Township is permitted to fulfill the mandate for low- and moderate-income housing through the transaction proposed herein; and

2 WHEREAS, as a result of this transaction, sixty-five (65) apartments for age restricted low- and moderate-income housing shall be accessible and available within the Township of West Orange; and WHEREAS, as part of the proposed transaction, the Township will receive $1 million from the sale of the property which will be used to fit out and move the existing library to the New Library Site; and WHERAS, in addition, the Purchaser has agreed that the Property shall perpetually contain a 7,500 square foot area for a community room/satellite library which will remain available for the Township; and WHEREAS, the Property shall be subject to a subdivision whereby the existing library site shall be conveyed to the Purchaser and will remain contiguous to the Municipal Building, the Renna House, and the West Orange Police Department; NOW, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Township Council of the Township of West Orange that the Mayor be and is hereby authorized to execute and the Municipal Clerk be and is hereby authorized to attest to the proposed Agreement of Sale and Purchase annexed hereto in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:12-21(l) of the New Jersey Local Lands and Buildings law and other applicable powers. Karen J. Carnevale, R.M.C. Susan McCartney Municipal Clerk Council President Adopted: April 26, 2022