Lower Makefield Township police detectives will have a lot more room fairly soon after the board of supervisors voted 4-1 at its Dec. 21 meeting to approve a $211,966 renovation at the township building on Edgewood Road.
The contract awarded to low bidder S.J. Thomas will involve work on a large part of the building’s second floor resulting in space for offices, interviews, storage and other functions for detectives, who are squeezed in the space they have now. The contract with S.J. Thomas also allows for an amount not to exceed $5,000 for potential changes.
The contract price is above the $200,000 budgeted for the work but well below bids received several weeks ago in the mid-$300,000s, township Engineer Andy Pockl said.
Supervisor Daniel Grenier was the lone no vote after suggesting the township should instead do a comprehensive study of the space and other needs of all departments.
Police Chief-Interim Manager Ken Coluzzi said he agreed such an analysis is “long overdue” but would take a long time.
“In the meantime, this is a great fix for a great price,” Coluzzi added.
In other news from the Dec. 21 meeting, several residents strongly encouraged the township to consider purchasing 6.4 acres near the Delaware Canal and the border with Yardley Borough. The parcel, if acquired, would combine with 3 adjacent acres Lower Makefield already owns to form 9.4 acres of continuous open space.
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