Readington Township residents will have the opportunity to comment on a proposed $22 million bond ordinance that could fund either the outright purchase or preservation of Solberg Airport at a public hearing Tuesday.

The Township Committee meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Holland Brook School. A similar ordinance introduced last August was abandoned a month later after many residents objected to what they viewed as the first step in a condemnation process.

Committee members, including Mayor Gerard Shamey, have maintained hope that an amicable settlement can still be reached, but have made it clear that they will not allow any expansion of the airport's runway beyond its licensed length of 3,735 feet. It is currently paved to 3,000 feet.

The ordinance "puts us in a position to make a contingency-free cash offer, and lets the Solbergs know we're serious and want to reach a resolution," Shamey said. "For any negotiation to have any chance of success, the starting point has to be 3,735 feet."

The committee introduced the ordinance on Feb. 6. Also that night it also authorized the law firm Connell Foley to obtain appraisals for 726 acres of the 750-acre tract. In August, the township hired eminent domain and land use attorney Jay Rhatican of Connell Foley as special counsel for the airport project, at $250 per hour.

Shamey said a specific procedure must be followed if the township decides to condemn the property. The committee would obtain and approve an appraisal, make a formal offer based on that value and then engage in negotiations. "This marks the beginning of a new round of negotiations, which would be more formalized in a legal setting," he said. While condemnation proceedings haven't begun, the recent committee actions "puts us in position," the mayor said.

Concerning Rhatican's role, Shamey said "It's no coincidence that (eminent domain) is his specialty." The mayor didn't know how much the appraisals will cost the township. Although public comments will be heard before the board votes on the proposed ordinance, Shamey said that "unless something miraculous occurs, I'll be voting in favor. However, I'm going to listen to all the public comment (which) I would take into consideration as we move forward."

Owners of Solberg Aviation -- siblings Thor and Lorraine Solberg and Suzy Solberg Nagle -- continue to express disappointment that the township is moving forward with the bond measure. Ms. Solberg said Tuesday that she will probably attend the meeting, but declined to comment further.

Nagle urged residents to show up. "It's important that the public attend and let the township know their feelings on this," she said.

According to her, "it's a hardship to pay property taxes in Readington as it is; if they don't have the (funding) resources that they say they do, it's going to be very expensive."

Mr. Solberg also said he will be at the meeting, and thinks that the majority of residents are against a takeover by the township. Calling himself "really disappointed" that the township seems determined to buy the airport," he said he's encouraging the township "to participate in talks, especially with a mediator. The idea of spending tens of millions would be really disappointing."

If the committee votes to move forward with the condemnation of the property, Mr. Solberg wants the final decision to be made by residents through a referendum. "I'm hopeful it won't have to go down that path, and I encourage residents to speak up," he said. "I believe the majority of the town opposes condemnation because it's fundamentally wrong and very expensive."

The township has told residents that a purchase would be supported by funding from state agencies including the Department of Transportation. However, members of the Solberg family and some residents have questioned whether money would be available if the property was condemned.

In a letter sent to the township in August, the DOT warns that it "will not financially underwrite any airport purchase done by condemnation."

Copyright © 2006 NJ.com

Date: February 23, 2006 Source: NJ.com
URL: http://www.nj.com/news/hunterdon/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1140121862185870.xml&coll=12