Even before Hurricane Irene unloaded its damage on the community, the Township Council was already pondering major repairs to the historic Wetherhill house in Dayton and the Environmental Center on Old Road in Kendall Park.

   ”There is a problem with rain damage at the Environmental Center,” Acting Township Manager and police Chief Raymond Hayducka said at the Aug. 23 Township Council meeting. “It will cost about $68,000 to repair.”

   Mr. Hayducka said there may be some community groups that would get involved with helping fix the building up and that he would also have to find out how much the town could do “in house” through the Public Works Department.

   ”It is a great property,” Mr. Hayducka said.

   Mr. Hayducka said the problems at the Environmental Center were caused by water damage to the building and that the town may have to replace the heating and air conditioning unit in the attic.

   ”There are sheet rock ceilings that have collapsed, some wiring issues, mold and water problems,” Mr. Hayducka said. “That is a real concern.”

   As far as the historic Wetherhill house goes, Mr. Hayducka said repairs there may cost about $10,000 to replace gutters and rotted shutters around the building.

   Because it is protected under the town’s historic preservation ordinance, a special contractor would have to be called in, according to Mr. Hayducka.

   Mayor Frank Gambatese said the issue should be brought up to the town’s Historic Preservation Committee as soon as possible so that repairs could be done in tune with the building’s historic nature.

   ”I don’t want to wait (to repair the building),” Mr. Gambatese said.

   Mr. Gambatese said that any repairs to that property must be as “historically accurate as possible.”

   Mr. Gambatese also said the town bought the entire 17 acres around the Environmental Center to have a place for students to study the natural area.

   ”Somewhere along the line that maintenance fell through the cracks,” Mr. Gambatese said. “We need to straighten that out.”

   Mr. Hayducka said the Environmental Center could not be used by the community at the present time due to the repairs that are needed, but the Wetherhill site is in better shape and just needs minor maintenance work and can still be used by the public.

   ”Wetherhill is fine,” Mr. Hayducka said. “It’s just time to get the upkeep.”

   Mr. Gambatese said he felt the town has failed to keep up the maintenance on the Environmental Center.

   Councilman John O’Sullivan said there should be an ongoing schedule so that there are no more surprises when it comes to repairing township owned properties.

   ”It should be on a list (to be checked out),” Mr. O’Sullivan said.