Lacey Patch, Nov. 18, 2022
LACEY, NJ — Dozens of Lacey residents gathered at Thursday’s special Township Committee meeting to criticize a potential new municipal complex, slamming the project as unnecessary during the current poor economy and high inflation.
Township officials explained that they have been considering building a new municipal complex, combining town hall, the police station and an indoor recreation center all in one.
The current municipal building was built in 1969, when the township’s population was 4,600, explained Township Clerk and Business Administrator Veronica Laureigh.
To fix the issues with the municipal building and police station, expand and bring to code, it would cost a minimum of $20 to $25 million, Laureigh said.
There is not enough space for township employees, she said. The police station was built when the township had eight officer; now, there are 45, and they hope to grow.
To build a new complex, the township is considering a public private partnership. If they go through with it, Lacey would be the first municipality in the state to use the “P3 law” since it was signed in 2018 by Gov. Phil MurphUnder the partnership, Johnson Controls Industries, along with Gilbane, would be responsible for building and maintaining the complex for the next 30 years, after which Lacey would take over as owners.
The partnership would allow for the complex to be built quickly and with less impact to taxpayers than a normal bidding process would, officials said.
The township would sell the property the current municipal building is one, as well as selling or leasing existing parcels to offset the costs.
While the Township Committee made it clear that there had been nothing signed; no decisions made as of yet, residents spoke up to voice their opposition.
“Why is this an absolute dire necessity?” asked resident Richard Bidnick.
Kevin Flynn, a frequent meeting attendee, said that he always hears how tight money is from the governing body. “How all of a sudden are we going to pay for this building?” he asked.
Mayor Mark Dykoff said that since no formal decisions have been made, no cost has been estimated, so there was no answer on how much it could cost.
Flynn said that since the township did not replace equipment when needed and instead waited to get to this bad point, they were not saving taxpayers money.
“You’re behind the times,” Flynn said.
Other residents repeated that they felt the project was not a necessity, including construction manager Steve Post, who cited inflation and supply chain issues as making now a bad time to build.
Dykoff said that even if the township decides to not go ahead with it, the project was still worth looking at.
“I can sleep at night knowing that I did the very best for the township,” Dykoff said. “And the other members of the committee did the very best they can for this township, given the circumstances we’re subject to.”
Veronica Flesher 