SEA BRIGHT — Plans to relocate Sea Bright Fire and Rescue to a temporary site are on hold due to delinquent taxes on the property.
Opposition arose to the proposal to raise tents at a temporary firehouse location on the corner of Peninsula and Ocean avenues during the April 22 Borough Council meeting after it was revealed that taxes on the property at 1 Peninsula Ave. are in arrears by $6,982.
“From my perspective, I find it repugnant to rent on someone’s property that has not paid taxes,” Councilman Marc Leckstein said at the meeting.
“When this originally came up, I thought it was the only viable location in the entire town, and obviously from the view of public safety, you are going to have to do what you have to.”
Leckstein said negotiations are underway for the vacant property, which is owned by Kalaka Realty, a company owned by former Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka- Adams.
According to Tax Collector Patricia Spahr, Kalaka-Adams owes more than $40,000 in back taxes on six properties, three of which are held jointly with her husband.
In addition to the Peninsula Avenue lot, the properties are located at 1042 Ocean Ave., with taxes in arrears by $4,512; 1184 Ocean Ave., Unit B2, $8,872 in arrears; and 1056 Ocean Ave., $5,061 in arrears.
Kalaka-Adams, along with her husband, James R. Adams, is listed as owner of 1184 Ocean Ave., Unit B1, with taxes in arrears by $8,831; and 4 Peninsula Ave., with taxes in arrears by $6,724, according to Spahr.
Kalaka-Adams did not return calls seeking comment.
Back taxes also became an issue in November 2011, when Kalaka-Adams ran for mayor. At that time, the Republican mayoral candidate — individually, with her husband or through the realty company — owed 2010 taxes on four residential rental properties listed for tax sale. Those taxes were subsequently paid.
The council previously authorized Mayor Dina Long to begin negotiations on a lease agreement to locate the temporary firehouse on either of two properties: the Peninsula Avenue property and the Cove property, also located on Ocean Avenue.
Rental for either property would be $4,500 per month. According to Councilman James LoBiondo III, the Cove property is 7,000 square feet, while the Peninsula Avenue property would provide 18,000 square feet.
LoBiondo said a major concern about the Cove property is that its size is too small to allow firetrucks to turn around and would provide insufficient space to wash the trucks.
Borough Engineer Jaclyn Flor said the town would incur an additional $28,000 worth of work toward prepping the grounds on either site.
Some residents objected to the borough paying rent to an entity that owes back taxes.
“It is upsetting that this would go to somebody who owes that much money,” Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Lance Cunningham said.
“I would really request our governing body to consider it seriously, because it is an insult … to me and to anyone who pays taxes on time.”
Resident Butch Hentschel said he feels as though the borough “should not be doing business with someone who owes the township over $40,000.”
Leckstein made a motion to look at the Quay property along Ocean Avenue, but there was no second.
LoBiondo said the Quay property had been deemed too far away from sections of the borough, as opposed to the Peninsula Avenue and Cove’s more central locations.
“If the [fire department] feels that the Peninsula property is the best location, then I just cannot second that motion,” said LoBiondo.
Long said she would be bound by the council’s choice among the properties to negotiate a lease.
“I am 100 percent opposed when there is a public-safety alternative available,” Long said.
“Unfortunately, council authorized the mayor to negotiate the lease terms, so it has already kind of been decided. … If I have no choice but to act, then I will take everything into account I heard tonight in terms of creating a lease.”
No action was taken during the meeting.
Fire officials were notified in March by the Federal Emergency Management Agency that the department would have to vacate headquarters on Ocean Avenue due to damage from superstorm Sandy.
Sea Bright Fire and Rescue temporarily relocated to the Oliver Byron Firehouse at 46 Atlantic Ave. in Long Branch and is continuing to operate out of that firehouse until equipment can be moved to a temporary location.
Firetrucks were also relocated to an Atlantic Highlands firehouse, and a firetruck is parked outside the condemned firehouse.