By Liz Sheehan
SEA BRIGHT – Citing the concerns of residents about the cost of replacing facilities lost in Super Storm Sandy and the existing Borough Hall, the Borough Council at its meeting on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution that if the bond issue on the Sept. 27 referendum to finance the proposal passes, the town will “immediately engage a review architect to assess the current plans for the facilities and make recommendations for cost savings and economies.”
The resolution also said that the mayor and council will establish a “not to exceed” amount to be spent on the proposed facilities that would be based on what the review architect recommends and “continued input from the Mayor, Council and professional staff.”
The resolution said that “after a number of public meetings, the Mayor and Council have heard and considered the valid concerns regarding the cost of the proposed facilities and wish to acknowledge those concerns.”
Last month, residents packed the former gym in the Borough Hall for a meeting that lasted almost four hours to argue both for and against the bond issue, which is part of a package that includes insurance payments and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds that will pay to replace the firehouse, police headquarters and library that were destroyed in Sandy and the existing Borough Hall, which borough officials say should also be replaced.
SEA BRIGHT – Citing the concerns of residents about the cost of replacing facilities lost in Super Storm Sandy and the existing Borough Hall, the Borough Council at its meeting on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution that if the bond issue on the Sept. 27 referendum to finance the proposal passes, the town will “immediately engage a review architect to assess the current plans for the facilities and make recommendations for cost savings and economies.”
The resolution also said that the mayor and council will establish a “not to exceed” amount to be spent on the proposed facilities that would be based on what the review architect recommends and “continued input from the Mayor, Council and professional staff.”
The resolution said that “after a number of public meetings, the Mayor and Council have heard and considered the valid concerns regarding the cost of the proposed facilities and wish to acknowledge those concerns.”
Last month, residents packed the former gym in the Borough Hall for a meeting that lasted almost four hours to argue both for and against the bond issue, which is part of a package that includes insurance payments and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds that will pay to replace the firehouse, police headquarters and library that were destroyed in Sandy and the existing Borough Hall, which borough officials say should also be replaced.
At that meeting Councilman John Lamia, Jr., who voted against the bond issues, said “the cap was too high” and before approving a project you “first figure how much money you have.”
But Councilman Charles Rooney, III, said the plan was a chance to make history in the town. He reminded the crowd that four years ago after Sandy, residents had met at the Rumson-Fair Haven High School “trying to figure out when we were going to come home.”
The bond issue was approved by the council in June with Lamia and Jack Keeler, who also said the cost was too high, voting against it.
But Councilman Charles Rooney, III, said the plan was a chance to make history in the town. He reminded the crowd that four years ago after Sandy, residents had met at the Rumson-Fair Haven High School “trying to figure out when we were going to come home.”
The bond issue was approved by the council in June with Lamia and Jack Keeler, who also said the cost was too high, voting against it.
A referendum on the bonds was required because a petition was signed by more than 15 percent of the registered voters who had voted in the last election in which candidates for the state Assembly were on the ballot.
There will be three questions on the referendum ballot, although only two buildings will be constructed.
One building will replace the library and beach building and the other will be a municipal complex for the fire house, police department/first aid and borough administrative functions and records.
The maximum to be bonded as listed on the ballot is $5,761,750, with $1,486,750 to be paid for from the beach facility funds, and the rest by taxes.
In a previous meeting, Councilman Brian Kelly said that the repayment of the bonds would amount to a tax increase of around a two cents per hundred dollar valuation to residents, after factoring in revenues from the new metered parking in town and the savings from not having to pay for rented space.
There will be three questions on the referendum ballot, although only two buildings will be constructed.
One building will replace the library and beach building and the other will be a municipal complex for the fire house, police department/first aid and borough administrative functions and records.
The maximum to be bonded as listed on the ballot is $5,761,750, with $1,486,750 to be paid for from the beach facility funds, and the rest by taxes.
In a previous meeting, Councilman Brian Kelly said that the repayment of the bonds would amount to a tax increase of around a two cents per hundred dollar valuation to residents, after factoring in revenues from the new metered parking in town and the savings from not having to pay for rented space.
