Freeholders to Vote on $7.1M RVCC Funding

A $7.1 million bond ordinance to fund improvements to Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) is up for a vote and final adoption at Tuesday’s meeting of the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The state will reimburse half of the total ordinance, explained the county’s Director of Financial Services Brian Newman.

It is also expected that the college’s capital campaign will generate about $2.75 million toward the total, Newman added. The balance will be split between Somerset County and Hunterdon County, based on equalized property value of the two counties. While that value can fluctuate, he noted that it is typically in the 72.5 percent range for Somerset County.

Of the $7.1 million, $5.1 million is slated for the construction of a 24,000-square-foot, three-story Center for Student Life and Leadership, with work scheduled to begin by September. It could be open as early as September 2012.

John Trojan, the college’s vice president for finance and facilities, explained that the student center project is part of the college’s strategic plan.

“We don’t have a center like this anywhere on campus," he said. "We tried to carve out space here and there but most of the buildings didn’t have lobby areas where students can gather between classes."

That situation became more problematic with the 45 percent enrollment growth–particularly in full-time students–the school has seen over the last five years. School officials were also aware of changes in technology and the increase in the collaborative learning networks often utilized by today’s employers.

The main floor of the center, which will be named for former State Senator and College Chairman Ray Bateman, will house a collaborative networking lounge. The ground floor will include dedicated space for major student clubs and the 3,500-square-foot top story will house large conference facilities and two additional classrooms.

The environmentally friendly structure will be added on to the back of the existing physical education building and will include an outside plaza.

“It will make the physical education building a much more functional building in terms of usage,” Trojan said, and will provide elevator access for students with disabilities.

Almost a dozen other projects are also covered in the ordinance, including the following:

• $500,000 to replace plazas and walkways, many of which are 35-40 years old.
• The addition of an observatory (with four telescopes) and two support buildings; 3M Corp. has provided $100,000, a county resident has contributed $250,000 and Somerset County 4-H is donating a telescope, bringing the cost to under $300,000.  
• $125,000 for additional parking (working with the county’s Public Works Department on design engineering to keep costs down).
• $100,000 for a telephone system upgrade.
• Replacing roofs at the child care centers, renovating several classrooms and the West Building ground floor.

“The county has been very much involved in this; it is a true partnership,” Trojan said. “Between the college’s capital campaign and the Chapter 12 Act (which allows the county to fund projects for ultimately half price), it would almost be a net zero cost for the county.”

A public hearing on the proposed bond ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Freeholders Meeting Room of the Somerset County Administration Building, 20 Grove St., Somerville.