Building’s fate still uncertain
By David Kilby, Special Writer
CHESTERFIELD — The old Chesterfield School on Bordentown-Chesterfield Road was sold by the Chesterfield Board of Education to the township Monday night.
However, this appears to be only the start of a lengthy process to determine the property’s ultimate fate.
After about an hour and a half of discussion, the Township Committee guaranteed $300,000 to the district for the property. School officials had sought $400,000, but, nevertheless, accepted the deal provided it receives the money within six months of release, and the property is closed within 60 days.
School officials noted the $400,000 figure has nothing to do with the appraisal of the property at $2.1 million — and the board only set that amount since it’s what is needed to smooth out the debt service payments it will have to pay over the next few years.
Recently, with an increase in debt service for the new school, the board has made getting the old school off its books a top priority. The new school was constructed on Saddle Way in 2007.
At a special joint meeting between the board and the Township Committee on Feb. 10, Ronald Ianoale, attorney for the board, said his client believes the township is in a better position to market and sell the property.
Mr. Ianoale also said the district is anticipating a tax increase next year and could utilize proceeds from the sale of the school to defray the cost of that increase.
He said if the district doesn’t get the then-requested $400,000, taxpayers would be looking at a 5-cent increase on their school tax dollar over the next few years.
He also noted if the taxpayers pay the tax cost through the township, however, the increase could be spread over a longer period of time.
”Several years out, the hope is there will be a larger tax base,” he said. “For us, it’s coming in the next couple years. You can delay that.”
Mr. Ianoale also noted that any changes to the property, such as planning or zoning changes, would have to come through the township anyway.
”It’s probably better that any buyers come directly to you, not to us,” Mr. Ianoale told the committee.
Deputy Mayor Michael Hlubik said his biggest concern is the asbestos in the building, but added, “We are anxious to make this work.”
He added, “What we’re trying to figure out is what the total cost would be and what that means to the township and taxpayers.”
”We’re gonna make it work,” Mayor Jeremy Liedka concurred.
Mayor Liedka said the township is looking to redevelop the property while also seeing what buyers are out there. The township also could demolish the school, potentially paving the way for a new municipal complex at the site, the mayor said.
However, John Gillespie, township attorney, said the township can’t use the property for a new complex because it’s on the roster of open space inventory and restricted against further development.
”We definitely need to get this property off of our records,” Mr. Ianoale said, adding it costs the district almost $34,000 a year to maintain the old school, and the district only has a $140,000 tax levy.
While acknowledging the need to take the property off the district’s hands, the mayor mentioned asbestos removal and demolition of the building, “in the long run . . . is probably a $5 to $6 million project.”
Residents also offered input on the deal during the meeting.
Marty Cohen, of Tudor Court, said, regardless of who owns the property, the district or the township, it, ultimately, would end up being the same amount in taxes for residents.
Mr. Cohen also encouraged the idea of using the property to build a new municipal complex because “that piece of property defines Chesterfield. This is the image of our town.”
James Shea, of Bordentown-Chesterfield Road, said the school is the district’s problem, not the township’s, so let the district deal with it.
”The township already owns property next to the firehouse right by town hall. Put the new municipal complex there,” Mr. Shea said.
”People were saying they want the township to have control over what happens with (the old school) property,” Deputy Mayor Hlubik noted, adding that buying the property is the township’s way of keeping that control.

