OCEANPORT — The Borough Council has decided to demolish the former municipal building on Monmouth Boulevard that was severely damaged by superstorm Sandy.
During the June 18 Borough Council meeting, Mayor Michael Mahon said the demolition of the Monmouth Boulevard building would go forward while the council decides on one of five locations for a new borough hall.
“Another piece of that puzzle is the disposition of the existing borough hall property,” Mahon said. “Regardless of what we do, we need to demolish that structure.
“That is part of the allocation of funds that have already been allocated to us by FEMA.”
Mahon said Borough Engineer William White would now begin to write the bid specifications to enable the borough to move forward with the demolition.
“I would like to begin to move the process forward to determine what that property would become,” he said, “to allow the planning for that property to take place for its highest and best use and recoup the greatest amount possible to offset our expenses for a new borough hall.”
In April, options for a new borough hall were presented at a town hall meeting.
The brief presentation reviewed just four options: the Village Center complex on East Main Street; Maria Gatta Park on Port au Peck Avenue; a building at Fort Monmouth; or rebuilding on the current site on Monmouth Boulevard.
The Village Center complex came out as the unofficial winner of the informal survey, with more than half the 92 residents surveyed making it their first choice.
During the executive session, the council discussed contract negotiations and property acquisition for the Village Center site.
Mahon also said the Department of Public Works, the last remaining department still operating out of the municipal complex, would soon be moving to Fort Monmouth.
“Once we complete our relocation, that facility is going to be at the point where we can do the demolition,” he said.
Mahon also explained why the borough is opting to demolish the building and not leave that to a potential developer.
“As vacant land the value is slightly higher because that is a cost that a developer would have to incur,” Mahon said. “The other thing is it allows us to rezone the property and effectively parcel it and create the subdivision and reap the best value.”
The borough hall property was also added to an ongoing study by borough planners, Clark, Canton and Hintz, to determine whether or not the property should be considered an area in need of redevelopment.
If it is decided that the property meets the criteria, it would give the council an additional layer of control over the future of borough hall.
The cost of the entire project is estimated at approximately $10 million, with $3.6 million expected to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
During the superstorm, an estimated 4 feet of water swept through the former borough hall meeting room, while up to 18 inches of water flooded the rest of the complex at 222 Monmouth Blvd., which was built in 1965. The council has been meeting at Maple Place Elementary School.