Financial clock ticking as negotiations drag on

BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Patience is wearing thin for some, as redevelopment negotiations concerning the Golden Triangle area drag on.

April 4 saw another Township Council meeting, another feisty public forum, and another night where officials had not much new to report on negotiations surrounding what officials call the Golden Triangle, the township-owned Route 18 location of Sam’s Club and other stores as well as a municipal park-and-ride.

The township has been in negotiations with Toll Brothers, who would purchase the property and redevelop with age-restricted housing, offices, retail and commuter parking, for nearly a year.

Most who speak on the topic during public sessions have been critical of the Democrats in power for their handling of the redevelopment effort, especially since a deal was supposed to be finished by the end of last year. The April 4 Township Council meeting saw much of the same anger and confusion that has permeated other recent meetings.

Resident Robert Lennon asked if the township’s redevelopment attorney, Frank Regan, was receiving a lump sum payment of $50,000 for his work on the negotiations.

Township Attorney Michael Baker responded that Regan is being paid by the hour, not in a lump sum, and that if a deal is struck, the developer would reimburse the town for those attorney fees.

Lennon said Toll Brothers has figured that cost into its offers to the township, so it is the taxpayer who is actually bearing the brunt of the attorney costs.

“It’s the cost of doing business,” Baker said.

Council Vice President Catherine Diem, who chaired the meeting in President David Stahl’s absence, said Regan was told by the council to go back to Toll Brothers “with our feelings” and continue trying to hammer out a deal.

Regan had been scheduled to talk to the council in a closed session April 4, but that was called off because both Stahl and Councilwoman Christi Calvano were not at the meeting, Diem said.

Diem, like Stahl, has voiced frustration with the situation.

“I agree that this process is dragging on,” she said.

Diem said Regan did report to the council during a closed session a few weeks earlier. She said there was “a lot of give and take,” but would not elaborate further.

Critics are quick to note that time is running out on negotiations, as the township used about $4 million in county funds to cover a deficit in last year’s municipal budget. That money, which was earmarked for the purchase of the Heavenly Farms land, will be needed this year. Officials had hoped to use money made from the sale of the Golden Triangle to cover the budget gap.

The lack of details on the redevelopment matter has been a sore spot for some council meeting attendees.

One resident, Hyam Merson, asked if the minutes from recent closed sessions about the negotiations are available to the public. Baker said that just because the council approves the minutes, does not make them public. They will not be released until the negotiations are complete.

At the April 4 meeting, Merson, as usual, criticized officials for not releasing information.

“Why don’t you just play music and we can all dance?” he said.

Mayor William Neary said he is satisfied with the situation.

“We are confident it’s going to work out and work out fine,” he said.

The mayor said the township wants to close a deal, provide the necessary budget funding and avoid having to raise taxes.