Assembly backing expected following 34-2 vote
By: Jake Uitti
MONTGOMERY By a vote of 34-2, the New Jersey Senate approved a bill Thursday authorizing the sale of the state’s 256.5-acre former North Princeton Developmental Center, the sewage treatment plant and various easements to the township.
Sens. Leonard Connors (R-Forked River) and Henry McNamara (R-Wyckoff) voted against the bill, though there was no floor discussion regarding their reasons for voting no.
"This was a big step forward," Mayor Louise Wilson said. "This was very important because it was in the Senate that questions arose about the details of the terms, so there were a lot of people working hard to make sure those questions were answered before the bill was voted on."
The next step for the bill, Mayor Wilson said, is a vote in the state Assembly, slated for June 8. If approved, the bill will go to Gov. Jon Corzine for his signature and final approval of the transfer of the property to the township.
Montgomery will close on the property as soon as possible after the governor signs the bill into law, Mayor Wilson said.
"The bill sailed through the Assembly State Government Committee, and we know the (state) treasurer’s office is comfortable with the bill and terms of sale," Mayor Wilson said. "So we have no reason to believe there will be any delays either in the Assembly or with the governor’s signature. That being said, we’ll certainly be keeping a close watch and any questions that arise we’ll try to answer quickly and thoroughly."
On May 15, the bills authorizing the sale were approved by committees in both houses of the Legislature.
The Assembly State Government Committee approved the bill unanimously, and the Senate State Government Committee voted to release the bill 3-1 with one abstention.
Mayor Wilson noted, "We’re still on target for closing and starting the cleanup and selected demolition this summer."
The township is in the final stages of negotiating a contract with Weston Solutions Inc. for conducting the environmental cleanup of the NPDC property, as well as obtaining the insurance that needs to be in place before the transfer can occur.
The township hopes and expects to begin cleanup and selected demolition or mothballing of buildings this summer, immediately after it takes title to the property, the mayor said.
The township is also refining a draft request for qualifications to begin the process of selecting a redevelopment team in order to recover costs associated with the cleanup, demolition, dam repair and insurance, the mayor said.
Copies of the draft of the RFQ should be available for public review and comment after the Township Committee has given its initial comments to the staff.
"We anticipate issuing the RFQ in June after the governor signs the legislation approving the sale," the mayor said.