Elm Street Rec Complex Bond Law to Have Hearing

A public hearing and final vote on a proposed law that would have Florham Park borrow money to build the Elm Street Recreation Complex was scheduled at the last Borough Council meeting, though there might have been confusion over the amount to be borrowed.

The bond amount was referred to as $5 million by officials during the meeting Thursday, but the Florham Park Eagle, citing Borough Clerk Sheila Williams, reported the next day that number was incorrect and was based on an old ordinance.

The current proposal calls for $4.1 million being appropriated for the project, with $2 million borrowed and $2.1 million coming from the borough's capital improvement and open space funds, the newspaper reported.

The Council voted 5-1 to introduce the ordinance. It was not immediately known if the apparent mix up would affect the schedule for the public hearing.

Mayor R. Scott Eveland was not at the meeting because he was representing the Jersey City Board of Education, which he serves as its attorney, Council President Mark Taylor said.

Councilman Charles Germershausen cast the lone vote against introducing the Elm Street Recreation Complex ordinance. He also voted against some other items on the agenda. In voting against a series of resolutions later in the meeting, he said he was not presented with information before the meeting.

"I have to vote no and the only reason why I'm voting no is I wasn't presented with the information to read prior to this meeting," he said. "I don't want to vote on something I haven't reviewed yet."

The public hearing on the Elm Street Recreation Complex ordinance was scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 7.

Addressing the governing body and borough officials during the meeting, resident John Winters said he understood the anticipated price range for the Elm Street  Recreation Complex project was between $3.5 million and $5 million. He said there were indications it would come in under budget, so he wondered why, based on the $5 million number used at the meeting, the bond amount did not seem under budget at all.

Borough Administrator William Huyler said the bids were under budget, but the bond amount included contingencies.

"The bids were less than $5 million," Huyler said. "We're bonding $5 million, but that includes contingencies above and beyond what the bids were."

Winters also suggested that a planned project at a water facility in the area of the recreation complex ought to be completed before the recreation complex. Officials said the water project is progressing and will be completed even if the recreation complex is built first.

Huyler said the nine bids Florham Park received for the Elm Street Recreation Complex project are being vetted and the contract is expected to be awarded soon.