READINGTON TWP. | Township officials are working to resolve necessary paperwork as they prepare to make an offer for the land surrounding Solberg Airport and its development rights.

An ordinance must be passed before the committee can prepare the documents necessary before extending an offer to the Solberg family, who own the airport, Township Mayor Gerard Shamey said.

A public hearing and possible vote is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the municipal building.

"This authorizes us to make on the basis we approve (an appraisal), an offer," Shamey said.

Officials expect to have two appraisals in about a week, he said.

The ordinance was discussed in a closed session during a special meeting June 28 and was publicly introduced later in the meeting, Shamey said.

In May, voters granted officials the right to borrow up to $22 million for the potential purchase.

Suzy Solberg Nagle fears this is the start of the township’s "land grab" attempt to seize it through eminent domain, although Shamey denied that is the case.

Officials worry the family wants to enlarge the airport into a regional jetport, but the family maintains it has no immediate plans for expansion.

"They’ve used the jet issue as the scare tactic to win people over to vote (for the bond referendum)," Nagle said. "I don’t think it has anything to do with jets."

The ordinance doesn’t initiate eminent domain, and officials are intent on arriving at a "voluntary conveyance at an appropriate price," Shamey wrote in a news release.

"Eminent domain could only be employed, by law, should bona fide negotiations fail," he wrote.

He said officials have sent the family two letters and made a few phone calls, but the family hasn’t responded with dates they are available to begin discussions. Nagle said Thor Solberg, her brother and co-owner, sent them a letter saying he’d be unavailable until after June 28.

The airport debate has plagued the township for decades, and the most recent talks broke down in January with the sides at odds over runway length. Officials want to limit the runway to 3,735 feet, which is slightly longer than it is now but would include necessary upgrades.

Shortly before May’s bond vote, Solberg said he’d be willing to consider limiting it to that length but offered no official proposal. On Thursday, Nagle couldn’t say whether the family would do so, but she said, "I think it’s something we can discuss."

She has wanted to bring a facilitator into the negotiation sessions, and the family intended to propose bringing a retired judge or the Blaustein School of Rutgers University into the sessions, she said.

The township’s special counsel, Jay Rhatican, did not return a message seeking comment Thursday.

Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.

© 2006 The Express-Times.

Date: July 7, 2006 Source: PennLive.com
URL: http://www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/nj/index.ssf?/base/news-2/115224674622520.xml&coll=2