Arts center contract OK'd amid questions
Theater troupe members urged council to award bid
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

The East Brunswick Township Council has decided to award a contract for construction of the community arts center, part of which will be the replacement theater for Playhouse 22.

But the decision was made as some council members, notably David Stahl and Catherine Diem, raised questions about the project's eventual costs and expressed dismay about the lack of an answer.

Though Mayor William Neary, who proposed the facility, was not present at the meeting, Township Finance Director L. Mason Neely was on hand to answer questions. He urged the council to pass the funding resolution, saying that without it, the community center plan would be in jeopardy.

"We need to award it or abandon it," he said.

The council had rejected both the first and second rounds of bids for the project as being too high. But Neely said the township can afford the latest bid of about $1.23 million, and could not reject it without the prospect of a lawsuit for damages from the low bidder, Intermark Building and Design, Hackettstown.

Stahl suggested tabling the ordinance until more information could be presented by the administration, but Neely said such a move would cause the township to miss the construction season and could result in Intermark raising the price.

Stahl still voted against the contract award, saying the administration had three years to provide answers to important questions about how much the project would cost.

Funding for the project has been a point of contention since Neary first proposed the sale of the township-owned property on Dunhams Corner Road, which was home to Playhouse 22, to a developer.

Meanwhile, the East Brunswick Community Players have been without a theater since 2004. The new facility would not only give them a new home, but also provide meeting space for township groups, and include an outdoor amphitheater.

Members of the theater troupe were on hand Monday night to urge the council to approve the resolution awarding the contract.

Douglas Brautigam said the players want to "keep community in the community theater," noting that Playhouse 22 has historically opened its doors to township groups such as the Youth Council, Camp Daisy and the Arts Commission.

Ray Dobrovolski said the meeting wasn't about worrying about "nuances," but about "moving forward on the facility."

Neely acknowledged there were numerous aspects of the facility not included in the $1.23 million contract price. Upon questioning from Stahl, he said there is no money budgeted for lighting, a sound system, equipment for the kitchen, carpeting, seating or numerous other items.

Neely said the bid does include the heating and air conditioning system, interior walls, plumbing and a sprinkler system, among other expenses. The building would be rectangular in shape and 100 by 200 feet in size.

Neely said he had no estimate on what the next phase of the project would cost.

Stahl said he is in favor of the project, but could not vote for something that represents a blank check.

"How do I know how much this will cost us?" he asked. "I don't."

There is no written agreement regarding use of the facility, he said. The township will share the building with the private nonprofit theater company.

Diem said she also wants to know the terms of that agreement before the next phase begins.

Neely told Stahl that the council could have abandoned the project at any time over the past few years.

Stahl felt that the administration put the council in a difficult position.

"It's unfair for council to be in this predicament," he said.

Council members Diem, Nancy Pinkin, Ed Luster and Donald Klemp voted in favor of the contract award, with Klemp echoing the sentiments expressed by members of the theater troupe.