LACEY – A group of roughly half a dozen people gathered outside before the most recent Township Committee meeting, brandishing signs in opposition to the proposed municipal complex.
Since the project was initially introduced as a possibility last November, various residents have expressed apprehension regarding its cost and necessity. Accusations have arisen, with some claiming that the governing body has been advancing without seeking input from the broader public.
Mayor Tim McDonald insisted that a definitive decision on the proposal has not been made. He offered a brief overview of a recent meeting with Johnson Controls, the corporation responsible for presenting project options.
Gavin Rozzi, a staunch advocate for government transparency speaks out against the proposal. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
According to McDonald, the meeting occurred on August 24 after a regular caucus meeting and committee members subsequently moved into executive session. It was the first time the entire committee met with Johnson. Among the other attendees were the township attorney, chief financial officer, the recreation director, and auditor.
“During this meeting, many issues were discussed,” shared McDonald. “Some issues we were satisfied with the answer, and some we weren’t satisfied.”
“We said from the beginning we want all the facts in front of us before we make a decision,” McDonald added. “The decision of whether we go forward or not is at least six months away and probably closer to a year.”
McDonald emphasized that no agreements were made during that meeting; no paperwork signed, or contracts signed. He also said no checks were exchanged.
Local resident Steve Bahrle has been one of the more vocal opponents to the proposal. After the mayor said he was not at liberty to supply propriety financial estimates for the project yet, Bahrle provided his own calculations.
“Under the purchase you’re going to do under the private public partnership (PP3),” Bahrle said. “Financial transparency is one of the cornerstones and you’re not giving us financial transparency.”
Bahrle said that the financing arrangement required at least a $50 million expenditure and that he felt with interest, the project would cost $119 million with extra money towards maintenance. Members of the committee expressed shock at the estimation.
“You guys are making history as the only township in the State of New Jersey that’s getting bamboozled into this,” continued Bahrle. “And we’re going to pick up the money.”
Although the state’s PP3 program has been in place since 2018, state records indicate that only the Middlesex Utilities Authority has had any involvement with the program.
Referring to documents obtained through the Open Public Records Act, Bahre also questioned language in a pre-development services agreement that said building a new municipal complex was in the best interests of the residents.
Local resident Steve Bahrle feels Lacey is about to be bamboozled by a state funding initiative. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
“There’s supposed to be sufficient public interest to build the new complex,” Bahrle insisted. “And I know very little people that have interest in that being built. In fact, they don’t even know that it’s being built.”
Local resident Glenn Darwell asked about the possibility of the proposed municipal complex being put to the voters by way of a referendum. Township attorney Chris Connors said it would only be allowable by law as a non-binding referendum.
Gavin Rozzi, who runs the OPRA Machine website and is a staunch advocate for government transparency, expressed his unease with his research findings regarding the project and Johnson Controls.
“They have a bit of a checkered past,” said Rozzi. “For example, in 2016, one of their subsidiaries was forced to pay $14.4 million in fines under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for bribing Chinese Communist Party officials to win more business in connection with government owned shipyards in China.”
“In another instance, they moved their corporate headquarters where they’re domiciled and their legal entity to Ireland in order to dodge paying $150 million in American taxes,” continued Rozzi. “So, you know thinking about all of the people we could choose for a project like this, I’m really not liking what I’m seeing, especially because this is going to involve public funds.”
Another impropriety cited by Rozzi was dismissed by the governing body as not related to the current leadership at Johnson Controls.
Mayor Tim McDonald said no decisions have been made. (Photo by Stephanie Faughnan)
However, what Rozzi found most disconcerting was some of the language in the pre-development services agreement, which he found “egregious, appalling and unconscionable.”
“I see it as signing away the Township’s solemn obligation under OPRA to a private for-profit company,” said Rozzi. “Not only is this clearly at odds with public policy, I believe this language is flatly illegal because it violates the plain language of the statute.”
Rozzi said he was speaking about language in the agreement that he felt would allow Johnson Controls to stop the release of information regarding the project in response to an OPRA request. Rozzi suggested that it might be viewed as a form of intimidation to stop people from attempting to obtain public records.
A number of other residents spoke out against the proposed municipal complex. While some had opinions of what could be done in place of a new build, others were more focused on the cost factor.
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