Council majority OKs purchase on Reid St.
Cost of land, work on new parking lot estimated at $550K
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

South River will purchase a residential property next to its new Human Resources building and turn it into a parking lot for the facility.

Completed in 2006, the Human Resources building at 55 Reid St. has been a controversial topic for years, as Republicans on the Borough Council have opposed the project for reasons related to inadequate parking and costs that were not in the original plan.

The Borough Council voted 4-2 on Monday to buy the adjacent property at 51 Reid St. in order to add to the 14 parking spaces currently at the Human Resources building. The residential property is currently vacant and recently went up for sale.

"It is a difficult situation on both sides of the fence, dealing with the fact that we have to spend the additional money, but it's a building that is thriving," said Democratic Mayor Robert Szegeti.

The Human Resources building opened in November and currently houses the Office on Aging and borough recreation offices. The South River Food Bank and TV 35 are in the process of moving into the building, Szegeti said.

The total cost to buy the adjacent residential property, demolish the building and build the parking lot is estimated at $550,000. The acquisition will cost $290,000, while more than $250,000 is projected for demolition and construction costs, according to Szegeti.

"It is only an estimate," Szegeti said. "We have not gone out to bid yet."

The council is evenly split among Democrats and Republicans, but Republican John Krenzel broke from his partymates Monday to support the purchase. He told the Sentinel that his vote does not mean he agrees with the way the project has been handled. However, he believes the parking is needed now that the Human Resources building is up and running.

"The problem is that you have to bond for it," Krenzel said. "It will cost $600,000 to buy the house, tear it down and put in the parking lot. It is 24 [additional] spaces at $22,000-plus per space."

Szegeti said the project will result in 24 new parking spaces, plus two stalls for the Office on Aging buses that transport seniors to the facility, Szegeti said.

"To have the opportunity to expand the parking in that area [is rare], when it is the newest borough building and you want to bring it into the fold and space is at a premium in South River," Szegeti said. "The cost [of acquisition] and the demolition of the building does add up to an expense, but it is something that will only be an attribute to the area."

Szegeti cited the proposed sale of the nearby Lincoln School property as another reason the town should act now to ensure that there is enough parking for the Human Resources building.

"We had been counting on the use of the Lincoln School and that parking area over there," Szegeti said. "We won't have the ability to have that property as a supplement. Once it is sold, you can't count on it."

Krenzel said the borough and the owner of the adjacent residential property both had appraisals conducted and reached an agreement on the purchase price. That enabled the council to vote on the acquisition Monday. He said the council has been discussing the matter in closed session for the past few months.

"Underneath all of this is the galling factor," Krenzel added. "For years, the Democrats have said that there is plenty of parking there. All of a sudden, they just turn 180 degrees."

Republican Councilman Ray Eppinger expressed frustration at the rising cost associated with the Human Resources building, which he estimated to be several million dollars over budget.

"This is the never-ending renovation plan," Eppinger said. "We were told eight years ago that the total cost for renovation would be $2.2 million for the plan that the Democrats came up with. The Reid Street portion is over $3 million, and the total is over $7 million."

Eppinger said he derived the $7 million figure by including the loss that the borough incurred from purchasing, demolishing and then selling the Obert Street property that was originally planned for the Human Resources building.

He noted that he believes the addition of 24 parking spaces is still inadequate for the building.

"We knew there was nowhere near enough parking," Eppinger said. "We have to stop this incessant spending after the fact."

Democratic Councilman Anthony Razzano told the Sentinel that there were no alternatives to this course of action.

"I asked Mr. Eppinger twice for alternatives," Razzano said. "In fact, I asked all of my colleagues, and both times there was silence."

He said the complaints on this issue amount to "grandstanding" and referred to statements made by Democratic Council President David Sliker that there were several other projects in town "with little or no parking. Republicans are criticizing this project because it was planned by the Democrats, he said.

"We can't just let it go and not spend a cent," Razzano said. "We have to make choices."

Krenzel said his vote in support was necessary because even though the mayor could have broken a 3-3 tie and pushed the bond through, a council majority is needed to protect the borough from any potential legal challenges.

"All these years you've told us everything is OK and now you come back and say that's the way it is," Krenzel said of the Democrats. "That is the galling factor. If I don't vote for it, we don't have enough parking. If I do vote for it, I'm committed to the bonding ordinance."

Krenzel said that he voted in the interest of providing more parking for those who use the facility, since elderly residents may otherwise have to park in the street and cross Reid Street to get to the facility.

"I could also see [Eppinger's] point of view that this is just outrageous. The cost of this thing is just going up and up and up," Krenzel said.

Szegeti acknowledged that the additional cost is unfortunate, but said the purchase will enhance safety for residents and provide the necessary parking. He added that he is grateful to Krenzel for his vote.

"I appreciate the vote that got us the majority to purchase the property, and he pledged his support of the future of the parking lot," Szegeti said.