Byram Township Council shelves ordinance for new municipal building

BY LIAM DONOVAN
BYRAM — Byram Township Council on Tuesday night repealed an ordinance for a new multi-million dollar municipal complex after residents presented a petition calling for the ordinance to be put to public vote.
The ordinance had proposed the township bond for $11 million, from which to draw down sums to meet various costs as the municipal complex project moved forwards. Township officials had estimated that the actual cost of the project would be about $8 million. But the price tag roused residents.
“None of the plans on the website are under $8 million, and that freaks me out. Let’s start low, and really think this through,” Aline Griffith said during the public portion of the meeting.
“Let’s build something we’re proud of, something we can brag about to other towns, but not $11 million,” Enrique Ortega said.
Ecological and logistical concerns were brought up at the meeting, but the main issue was the money. It's estimated that, if the full $11 million were expended in this township of 8,000 residents, the average tax increase would be $260.
The petitioners, many of whom called the bond ordinance a “blank check” from taxpayers to municipal officials, were successful because their signatures amounted to more than 15 percent of Byram residents who voted in the last statewide election. Once a valid petition was presented to the governing body, the council had the option of repealing the ordinance or putting it up for public vote. The council opted for repeal. The council still may propose another ordinance or ordinances to address the need for a new building.
Residents made suggestions for possible alternatives to help the town reduce the cost of the proposed building. These included hiring contractors from within the town to construct the new building and using the building as a dual-space, such as for emergency purposes as well as municipal functions.
Harvey Roseff spearheaded the petition drive.
“We blew past signature thresholds for a Byram referendum," he said. "Another weekend and we would have gotten more signatures than 3 of the 5 councilpersons got votes.”
“It’s our firm belief that debt accumulated for this use should be put to public vote,” Roseff added.
Despite repealing the ordinance, the township council expressed opposing viewpoints to the tax-conscious public.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware of it, but this building is trailers. It’s all trailers,” Mayor James Oscovitch said. “This building is in dire straits.”
Township Manager Joe Sabatini said that after inspection, one of the buildings of the municipal complex was considered for high-intensity rehabilitation and the other was considered for tear-down.
“The largest increase is in the police department and making the building ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliant,” Sabatini said.
The current municipal complex houses 32 full-time employees and 14 part-time employees. These include the police force, the Department of Public Works, a recreation worker, secretaries, and other part-time employees.
The ordinance is now null and void, but a new ordinance may see the light within the next month.
“There are multiple ways to get funding," Councilman David Gray said, explaining that the governing body may decide to pursue the project in a piecemeal fashion as phases and costs arise, rather than through one bond ordinance. When asked what a different municipal complex ordinance might look like, Gray said:
“I’m not sure, the council will determine which way to go and most likely in the next couple of meetings make a decision.”