Oceanport Still Weighing Options on Borough Hall's Future

By Christopher Sheldon

Oceanport officials are still exploring several possibilities for the the future of borough hall after a large portion of the existing building was damaged by Hurricane Sandy floodwaters. 

Oceanport Deputy Clerk Jeanne Smith said the borough council passed an resolution during Thursday night's meeting that will renew the borough's agreement with Millennium Strategies to seek out state funding to help rebuild or relocate borough hall.

Millennium Strategies is a grant consulting firm, originally hired by the borough in 2012, to help secure grants for moving or raising borough hall and homes in Oceanport.  

Smith said the council also authorized Interim Borough Administrator Phil Huhn to look at the different options for either moving or repairing borough hall and the costs associated with each choice.

Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon went over the choices during the council meeting.

Mahon said the options are either improving and elevating the existing borough, relocating elsewhere in the borough outside the flood plain or purchasing and occupying a building at Fort Monmouth.

"We are going to examine those options, information has been collected will be shared with the council in executive session," Mahon said. "(Millennium Strategies) will be providing advice as to financial considerations and how they play into the negotiations with the purchase or improvement or acquisition of these properties related to borough hall."

The borough has been holding its municipal meetings at Maple Place School since the storm hit and many of the borough departments are operating out of trailers in the rear of borough hall. 

Mahon recently said Fort Monmouth's Russel Hall is no longer being looked at as possible borough hall, because the building would be better served as a ratable for Oceanport. He has said there could be other buildings at Fort Monmouth that could serve as a borough hall, but did not name any specifically.