Tilt-Up Concrete Pavilion To Come Down

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By Joseph Sapia
HIGHLANDS – Mayor Frank L. Nolan and the Borough Council are awaiting paper work from bidders before awarding a contract to demolish and remove the controversial Super Storm Sandy memorial.
The concrete, 1,104 square-feet gazebo – dubbed “Shorehenge,” because it could be interpreted as a modern-day Stonehenge – sits on borough property between Sandy Hook Bay and the Robert D. Wilson Memorial Community Center. The memorial has been controversial because of its look and the way it blocks the bay view, despite having borough approval.
“There’s been a huge outcry,” said Council President Carolyn Broullon. “By far, a larger number of people who reached out to me expressed a greater interest in taking it down.”
In May, Nolan and the Council voted 3 to 2 to remove the memorial, erected for free by the Tilt-Up Concrete Association trade group in the fall. Voting in favor were Broullon and council members Doug Card and Claudette D’Arrigo, while voting no were Nolan and Councilwoman Rebecca Kane-Wells.
About four or five contractors submitted bids for the demolition ranging from about $9,600 to $36,500.
In December, the state Department of Environmental Protection notified the borough the memorial needed an OK through the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act, which never happened. The DEP has been working with the town while the matter has been mulled locally.
Getting CAFRA approval to retain the structure would cost at least an estimated $17,500, according to the borough.
Back in 2014, the then Borough Council voted 4 to 0 approving a plan by Tilt-Up, based in Iowa, to build a monument honoring the heavily-hit community for dealing with 2012’s Sandy. The memorial came about because Tilt Up, holding its annual meeting in New Jersey in the fall, was looking to do a local good will gesture.
Tilt-Up built the memorial with donated goods and equipment it valued at $250,000, along with donated labor.
In other Highlands business:
Brian Geoghegan began work last week as borough administrator, replacing Tim Hill who retired May 31 after five years in that job and a total of 37 years for the borough. In May, the mayor and council voted 5 to 0 to appoint Geoghegan.
Geoghegan’s salary is $110,000 annually, comparable with Hill’s, Broullon said.
Highlands is not paying into a state pension or health benefits for Geoghegan, Broullon said.
Geoghegan has been working with Hill for a few weeks, “so there’d be a smooth transition,” Broullon said.
Geoghegan, a retired Jackson police officer, has served as Ship Bottom administrator, on the Board of Fire Commissioners in Toms River, and as a paramedic, according to his LinkedIn.com profile. He also is a businessman.
“We’re very excited to have Mr. Geoghegan join us,” Broullon said.
Broullon said Geoghegan has experience in such things as public safety and applying for grants.
“It’s what this town needs to help us move for ward,” Broullon said.
Highlands did a “thorough” search looking for Hill’s replacement, Broullon said. She said more than 40 applied for the job.