By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The Borough Council is reviewing downtown sites to relocate its municipal employees.
It has been 18 months since Hurricane Irene struck Hightstown as a tropical storm and damaged the Borough Hall complex.
Properties reviewed by Dawson Bloom, borough project manager, were 402 Mercer St., 157A Broad St. and 100A and 102 Mercer St.
”I would recommend to council to move forward with the combination of 100 and 102 (Mercer St.) for the borough’s administrative facilities,” Mr. Bloom said. “Honestly, this is a realistic space as an option to consider and to continue to move forward with. This is the most viable space.”
According to Mr. Bloom, 402 Mercer St. was “limited in parking” for employees and the public.
The next property, 157A Broad St. , had adequate floor space, but the surrounding use “was a bit much,” he said. It was surrounded by an active body shop, had limited parking and was directly across from a residential area.
The last two properties are adjacent to one another.
”When I looked at those,” Mr. Bloom said. “there did not seem to be an overabundance of ADA issues or other code issues to overcome. The renovations appear to be minimal in terms of what I call ‘move-in ready.’”
According to Mr. Bloom, it would be more than “adequate” for the borough’s administrative services.
The property at 100A Mercer St. is approximately 2,220 square feet while 102 is around 1,000 square feet. Mel Adlerman is the landlord of the properties and is “very interested” in renting to the borough, Mr. Bloom said.
The space would be available for a minimum of a two-year lease. Mr. Bloom was unable to speak to Mr. Adlerman regarding rent as Mr. Adlerman was leaving for vacation, but at the last council meeting, the discussion was that the rent was $1,000 for each property, according to Mr. Bloom.
Mr. Bloom said he would talk with Mr. Adlerman.
Mr. Bloom asked if minor renovations could be done to bring the space up to code.
And, before the borough moves forward with renting the space, the second-floor tenant, a Zumba class, would need to be considered, Mr. Bloom said.
”It is loud, and I brought that to the attention of the property manager,” Mr. Bloom said.
He also said the space is network and cable ready.
”This pair sounds like a very good, timely solution to the issue,” Councilwoman Gail Doran said.
But Councilwoman Susan Bluth did not agree.
”You’re talking about taking away two stores,” Ms. Bluth said. “There aren’t that many stores in Hightstown, now you are going to take away two potential businesses and occupy and use them for the borough. How’s that going to grow business in Hightstown?”
”Well, they have been vacant for a long time, and I frankly see having the presence of the employees downtown as a way to energize the downtown,” Ms. Doran said.
Councilwoman Lynne Woods saw it as a “priority” to get the borough employees out of the Public Works Department.
”It certainly sounds like it is economically feasible and that it can be done in a short amount of time,” Ms. Woods said.
It also was brought to Mr. Bloom’s attention that the Hightstown First Aid building banquet hall and 160 Stockton St. properties also were available.
Last month, council members, in a 4-2 vote, introduced an ordinance authorizing the borough to lease the properties behind the Ely House to place two modular structures for municipal staff and the Hightstown Police Department. This week, council unanimously voted to table the ordinance to the next meeting March 18.
The council rejected all bids for temporary police facilities and associated site work and authorized the project to be re-bid during its meeting Monday.
According to Mr. Bloom, he spoke with the First Constitution Bank, which owns the 415 Mercer St. property in regard to extending the lease for the interim police facilities with the understanding improvements and additions would need to be made. Mr. Bloom is waiting for a confirmation on the extension period.
In a unanimous vote, the council voted 5-0 to reject all bids for the temporary police facilities and associated site work and authorized engineer Carmela Roberts to re-bid the project at her recommendation.
All of the bids received for temporary police facilities and associated site work exceeded the engineer’s estimate and the appropriation for this project.
Feb. 4, the council also tabled its decision to accept the lone qualified bid it received for temporary modular facilities. The borough received two bids. The only viable bid came in from Mobilease Modular Space Inc. at $159,200 for an administrative temporary facility and $275,100 for a modular police unit, officials said.
Mr. Bloom requested the council appoint one council member or a committee so he could provide information on Borough Hall to help with the flow of information on a regular basis.
”I think it’s critical that we, as a group, a team, develop a method of communication whereby I can communicate with council, council can communicate back to me through an individual, rather than through many different paths,” Mr. Bloom said. “It’s mostly for my benefit so that I can stay focused on where I need to be going and to keep the project moving ahead in a similar fashion, and it also able to allow a dissemination of information to council and to the borough staff as necessary.”
Councilwoman Selena Bibens felt it should be a “single point of contact” or possibly a small committee.
”It needs to be council people,” Councilwoman Doran said. “It can’t be something that is done by the administration. The administration has a full-time job running the borough.”
She added, “I think for consistency, that’s a very reasonable request. No one on council would have the authority to make any decision for council.”
It was recommended the contact person be Councilwoman Lynne Woods, who has been involved with negotiations with the insurance company.
Mr. Bloom said he “expects” all the information will be provided to the rest of the council members with feedback to him coming through that same way.
Mr. Bloom requested the council hold special meetings just on Borough Hall.
Seven special council meetings, focusing only on Borough Hall, will be held the last Thursday of each month from March until September. The first is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 28 inside the Hightstown First Aid Building, 168 Bank St.

