Town Hall repairs and the office move, explained

The pipe failure

On Feb. 8, 2026 a sprinkler-system pipe failed and broke at the Warren Township Municipal Building, 46 Mountain Boulevard. Resolution 2026-090, adopted Feb. 19, 2026, records that the building “sustained significant water damage due to a failure and break in a sprinkler system pipe” and was “unusable for the foreseeable future.”

At the February 19 meeting, Township Attorney William Willard told the Committee the damage was expected to require “approximately six to twelve months for repairs.” Administrator Mark Krane said he was searching for temporary office space. Committeeman Blick reported on the burst he saw the night it happened. The OEM office was unavailable because of the damage, and operations continued. Krane thanked the Fire Department, noting “the water was shut off within 20 minutes.” Resident Joe Faro of Sage Drive commended the Township “for quickly establishing operations in the Court Room.”

Before opening business that evening, Mayor Shaun Fine discussed the burst. He thanked staff for restoring operations. Committeeman McCarey summarized the insurance claim and subrogation process. Courtroom audio and visual upgrades were reported delayed because employees were using the courtroom.

On March 12, 2026 McCarey reported that “the insurance company’s subrogation team toured Town Hall and appears to be actively investigating potential claims against third parties related to the flooding.” Blick reported the courtroom AV upgrades “remain on hold pending relocation of Township staff to temporary space.”

Where offices moved

The Township posted “Temporary Relocation of Municipal Offices Following Building Damage” on March 16, 2026, with a three-date schedule. On March 18, Engineering, the Fire Department and Fire Prevention, Human Resources, Land Use, the Township Clerk, and the Tax Assessor moved. On March 23, the Township Administrator, Finance, the Health Department, Purchasing, Recreation, Sewer, the Tax Collector, and Zoning moved. On March 24, the Construction Department moved.

The temporary site is the first floor of 3 Mountainview Road, Suites 100 and 102, Warren, NJ 07059. Suite 100 houses Engineering, Fire and Fire Prevention, Land Use, Recreation, Sewer, the Tax Assessor, the Township Clerk, and Zoning. Suite 102 houses Construction, Finance, Health, Human Resources, Purchasing, the Tax Collector, and the Township Administrator.

Municipal Court and Police remained at the Municipal Complex, 44 Mountain Boulevard. Public Works remained at 1 Bardy Road. The notice lists parking at the north and south entrances. It mentions signage on the doors. Mail delivery will continue to 46 Mountain Boulevard. Staff can be reached by email. Voicemail will be returned within 24 hours.

As of November 2, 2026, the Township homepage still showed “Temporary In-Person Location, Warren Township Municipal Complex, 3 Mountainview Road,” with the mailing address at 46 Mountain Boulevard.

Lease costs and extensions

Resolution 2026-090, adopted 5–0 on Feb. 19, 2026, authorized the Administrator to execute temporary leases and certified $166,050 for six months’ rent. The roll call was McCarey, Blick, Croson, Kian and Fine, all yes.

On July 16, 2026 Krane reported that furnishings and extensions of the temporary-space leases would be on the August agenda. On Aug. 20, 2026 the Committee adopted Resolution 2026-229, extending the 3 Mountainview Road leases “through December 31, 2026,” with $82,000 certified in account 6-01-286-55-2811.

The records reviewed do not name the landlord. They do not give the rent per square foot. They do not describe lease terms beyond the two certified totals. No further extension appears in the records reviewed through November 2, 2026.

The October 22, 2026 Committee agenda lists an executive session item, “Litigation: Township of Warren/Garden State Joint Insurance Fund, NIP Group, et al.” The agenda gives no public detail. LocalWhy has not reviewed the October 22 minutes.

Repair schedule and insurance gaps

The February 19, 2026 estimate was six to twelve months for repairs. On July 16, 2026, Krane reported Town Hall restoration “scheduled for completion by November 25, 2026.” That date falls within the earlier range and is the only completion date in the records reviewed.

Courtroom audio and visual work tracked the move. It was delayed in February. This was while staff used the courtroom. It was reported on hold on March 12. It was reported resuming on May 14. It was described as nearing completion and in the programming phase on June 18. On July 16, the vendor was expected back the next week to finish programming. Krane also reported that additional microphones had been purchased to comply with New Jersey court requirements.

Minutes from April 16, 2026, state that the Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund issued a $495,000 check for remediation. Travelers approved a $383,416.63 statement of loss for remediation. A separate restoration contract was authorized for up to $1,444,388.88. The minutes do not state a total loss. They do not include a separate remediation or engineering report. The March 12 subrogation report describes an investigation. It looked into potential claims against third parties. The report states no outcome. The October 22 executive session is the only later reference to insurance in the records reviewed. LocalWhy has not reviewed its minutes.