By Christina Whittington, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — Wednesday’s special meeting of the Borough Council about the future of Borough Hall quickly deteriorated with Mayor Steven Kirson storming out after about a half hour after a heated exchange with Councilman Robert Thibault.
The meeting was scheduled to continue discussing the design for Borough Hall at its original location on North Main Street.
But the mayor left after he and Councilman Thibault debated the loss of tax revenue if the borough purchased the Lucas property on Mercer Street for the location of Borough Hall.
The mayor said the loss of tax revenue would be about $12 per year per taxpayer.
”Twenty-seven dollars may not be a big deal to the mayor, but for some people in the borough, it is the difference between eating hamburger and maybe eating cat food,” Councilman Thibault said.
”It wasn’t $27; I said it was $12 per year,” the mayor retorted.
Mr. Thibault then raised his voice to the mayor after which the mayor stood up and announced he was leaving.
”I am not dealing with it . . . you spin numbers, you have been spinning it for six, seven months for a year. I have had it. I can’t listen to this nonsense,” Mayor Kirson said.
He then directed council President Lawrence Quattrone to run the rest of the meeting.
Council members also questioned parliamentary procedures when it was suggested by Mayor Kirson and Mr. Quattrone to allow Planning Board Chairman Steve Misiura to address the public during the council discussion of the meeting.
”The purpose of our being here tonight is because the council passed a resolution, that resolution stating that we, the majority, feel this (North Main Street) is the site to stay with,” Councilwoman Lynne Woods said. “We can go around in circles or we can all start working together.”
She added, “This is why we asked for a special meeting; to continue that next step . . . which would be what our options would be on that current site, what kind of building, where would we put it, and I think that’s where the focus of this meeting should stay.”
”Yes that horse (changing the location of Borough Hall) has left the barn with the resolution that we passed,” Councilman Thibault said.
At the Sept. 18 meeting, the council passed a resolution 5-1, with Mr. Quattrone voting no, calling for Borough Hall to stay at its original location on the North Main Street municipally owned property.
It also stated that, in addition to administrative offices and the Police Department, there would be an option to include Public Works and Municipal Court.
It is the site where the vacant complex closed since the floodwaters of Hurricane Irene last August still stands, empty and unused.
The administrative offices and police had to relocate due to damages caused by the intense flooding. Police have been operating out of the Lucas property on Mercer Street while administrative offices were moved to the Public Works building on Bank Street.
The Municipal Court has long been operating out of Robbinsville.
Councilwoman Woods presented a diagram of a new Borough Hall that provided access to the Rug Mill from Stockton, Bank or Academy Streets, taking Borough Hall out of the 100-year flood zone and aesthetically lining up the Ely House and extending the downtown area.
”This is good,” Mr. Quattrone said. “This is thinking outside the box; this is moving forward. It’s a good plan that needs to get milled around.”
Before his exit, Mayor Kirson gave his opinion on Borough Hall’s future location.
”I think there is an opportunity, a safe haven going outside downtown, and I think that will allow us to revitalize our downtown, possibly find a developer to come into the mill (property),” Mayor Kirson said “I think there is an opportunity, a safe haven going outside downtown, and I think that will allow us to revitalize our downtown, possible find a developer to come into the mill (property).”
He added, “Regardless of if we are in a 500-year flood zone or a 100-year flood zone, the downtown has been flooded many times in the past, and why would we want to stay here? I don’t get it myself. I think we are giving up an opportunity; we are staying in a flood zone. We are giving up this opportunity to have one of the prime locations in the borough filled with a Borough Hall. I see no value to that myself.”
But he acknowledged it was not his decision; he can only vote in the event there is a tie among council members.
”Ultimately, if we stay downtown, that will be the legacy of the 2012 council,” the mayor said. “The next time it floods, and we are hampered, well, you can look at us and say, thanks a lot.”
”I do favor getting out of the flood zone,” Mr. Quattrone said. “I do not favor putting retail in there. I would like to see parkland there.”
Mr. Quattrone said, as a lifelong resident, he has seen the past floods prior to the flooding of Hurricane Irene in the downtown area.
”I do not want, and I suggest to council and the public, emergency equipment in a flood zone,” he said. “When it floods, I need 911 more than ever. I need my police moving out. I need communications. My communications was down. We were down to using handheld radios. I couldn’t even make phone calls. The lines were down.”
Borough planner Tamara Lee said the uncertainty of the flood line stymied design plans.
”From a planning perspective, one of the first things we do is look at the flood lines,” she said. “ I am a little bit suspect of the FEMA maps and, particularly, the new map that has yet to be approved.”
Ms. Lee also said it is important to know precisely where the flood line is to determine how much buildable space is at the site.
”Until you have that, I don’t know how much more design you can do,” Ms. Lee said.
Borough Engineer Carmella Roberts said the new FEMA flood maps are based on new technology.
”The (flood) line has moved; not that the floods themselves have changed, not based on any data, but based on newer technology,” Ms. Roberts said.
Ms. Roberts said the maps being considered for adoption in 2013 show the anticipated 100-year flood limit line going much closer to the edge of Rocky Brook.
”If you want to build there, (at the existing Borough Hall site), there are engineering ways to make it happen,”” Ms. Roberts said.
Ms. Roberts also said that, after a professional review by an expert, the new construction of the New Jersey Turnpike, with 60 acres of new impervious cover, contributed more water in Hightstown than it had before construction began.
Mr. Misiura, who was not permitted to address the public and the council during the discussion session of the meeting, read aloud the memo sent by Susan Jackson, Planning Board secretary, to the council and Mayor Kirson, explaining the board’s Oct. 9 decision to vote 6-3 against keeping Borough Hall at its original site.
The primary reason was due to the location of the 100-year and 500-year flood limits with the board’s opinion that it was not a wise planning policy to build within the limits of a flood zone nor is it in the borough’s best interest.
”As Mr. Thibault said, based on Ms. Lee’s memo, the governing body can still continue with the project though they would need to articulate in a resolution the reason(s) for proceeding in spite of the Planning Board’s contrary recommendation,” Mr. Misiura said. “Now, here we are already designing a building. I haven’t seen that resolution. I haven’t heard them articulate those reasons. So I think you are getting ahead of yourself.”
Resident Eugene Sarafin agreed.
”I think we should pay attention to the wisdom of the Planning Board,” he said. “These are our fellow citizens; they are not just making this up. They have looked at it, they have examined it, they have professional advice, and they have an overall plan.”
Resident Keith LePrevost added,” I think its important at this juncture that the council take the advice of their professionals. We need to think long and hard about this site and about what you are doing. I like the idea of the borough downtown. But listen to your planners and let them come up with a solution. We have wasted 14 months. In another month or two, we can come up with a plan.”
Resident Scott Caster said,” You made the Planning Board. You appointed the Planning Board. They are your people. I am not saying hook, line and sinker accept whatever they recommend, but I am saying the process needs to be smoother.”
The council agreed to continue the discussion at the next Borough Council meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
