Russel Hall No Longer Envisioned as Future Oceanport Borough Hall

By Christopher Sheldon

Oceanport is no longer considering Fort Monmouth's Russel Hall as the future home of its borough hall, which was flooded by Hurricane Sandy.

"What I would ask council to do is withdraw interest in that building and instead authorize us to enter in discussions with FMERA (Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority) to obtain visits to other buildings within the fort with in the Oceanport municipal parameters that might be better suited to our purposes at least on a temporary basis if not a permanent basis," Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon said during Thursday night's council meeting.

Mahon said the building would be of better use to the borough as a ratable.

"As the process goes forward with Russel Hall, I think it will return greater value to the borough as a ratable and as a location for jobs," Mahon said.
Mahon is a voting member of the FMERA board and abstained from voting during this week's meeting.

"I abstained in consideration of the letter this council had authorized to be sent to FMERPA back in 2008, indicating we were interested in Russel Hall for municipal purposes," he said "Post Sandy, our interest was a little bit stronger, but that building seems to be very attractive as a ratable for private purchasers."

He said the building was too large for borough and that it would have to be in a landlord-tenant arrangement if it chose to pursue it to fill the extra space.

The council had no objections to Oceanport removing its notice of interest for the property.