The Oakland Public Events Committee has matched the Brotherton Grant recently awarded to the Ramapough Conservancy, and repairs to the Van Allen House roof are set to begin as soon as possible.
Brought forward by committee member Caron McCormick who originally suggested a donation of $10,000 from the committee’s $100,000+ trust account, the public events committee voted to fully match the Brotherton grant with $15,000 – allowing work on the roof to start immediately. Many Public Events are held at the Van Allen House and it was discussed at the meeting with Ms. Sullivan that the Public Events Committee be allowed to hold events there. One event brought up was a craft show.
Judith Sullivan, speaking on on behalf of the Ramapough Conservancy, explained during the meeting’s open session the project plans. The immediate plans are to make long needed repairs to the roof before the winter weather to ensure no further damage is done to the building. The matching donation from the public events committee means repairs could begin at any point within the next two weeks, and the Ramapough Conservancy simply needs a nod and a check from borough hall to begin work.
The committee was almost unanimous in their desire to see the project begin work as soon as possible, and voted 10-to-1 in favor of it with one abstention.