Readington officials are willing to continue negotiating with the owners of Solberg Airport, but the owners "should come prepared to present a counter proposal that is in line with the township's goals," Mayor Gerard Shamey said at a meeting of the township committee this week.
The uncertain future of Solberg Airport came up several times at the meeting. Shamey reiterated the township's position that the airport's main runway not be lengthened beyond its current 3,735 feet and gave an abbreviated version of a presentation made on Feb. 21, the night the committee approved borrowing $22 million to acquire or preserve the airport and 650 acres of surrounding land.
Shamey also announced a correction to a letter dated Feb. 27 that was sent out from his office to residents. The letter states "The Township Committee wants to make clear that we are not proponents of utilizing the tool of eminent domain. Such action would require a new ordinance and a separate public vote, and is almost certain to entail litigation."
An eminent domain action would require a new ordinance, but would not require a public vote, Shamey said Monday.
"That was an error on my part and I wanted to clarify that," he said.
Readington resident Don Baldwin said in a public comment portion of the meeting the information in the letter "was very confusing and almost misleading." He suggested Shamey send out a retraction in the mail. He also suggested Shamey "ease the apprehension" of residents by agreeing to put any eminent domain proceeding, if considered for this property in the future, before voters in the form of a ballot question.
"At some time in the future, it might be appropriate," Shamey responded.
Committeeman Thomas Auriemma announced at the meeting that he would run with Committeewoman Beatrice Muir for another term on the township committee. In his remarks, he said he and Muir "will stand firmly against any expansion at the airport."
Resident Ed Dudzinski, who also announced his candidacy at the meeting, said he was investigating the airport issue by meeting with the Solbergs and state and federal transportation officials.
He also said he would "never be bought or unduly influenced" and plans to self-finance his campaign without accepting any third-party monetary donations.
James Hunter, who beat Committeewoman Julia Allen in the primary only to lose to her in the general election, was accused by Allen of being funded by Thor Solberg or his associates. Hunter still has not filed financial disclosure reports required by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Thor Solberg, reached via telephone prior to Monday's meeting, said he hoped to commence a negotiation process with the township "where there wasn't any threat of condemnation."
"I'm very hopeful that something can be done because to go into the process of bonding and condemnation is going to be expensive to the taxpayers, and it's not necessary because there's no emergent situation that requires that kind of action," said Solberg, who owns the property with sisters Lorraine Solberg and Suzanne Solberg Nagle.
Readington officials initiated eminent-domain proceedings in 2001, but in 2002, the state Department of Transportation stepped in with a $22 million offer of its own. That deal fell apart last summer.
A bond ordinance similar to the one adopted Feb. 21 was introduced by the committee last summer and then abandoned as a series of negotiations began. Those negotiations fell apart in January.
Lawrence Berger of Morristown, a business partner and legal adviser to the Solbergs, took part in the negotiations. Thor Solberg said after the Feb. 21 meeting that Berger would probably not be included in future negotiations.
The Solbergs and several volunteers are trying to force a vote on the bond ordinance by assembling a petition. The petition needs a number of signatures equal to 15 percent of the votes cast in the last general election. With 10,232 votes cast in Readington in the November election, according to the Hunterdon County Election Board, the petition would need 1,535 signatures.
Thor Solberg said those who want to sign the petition can come to the entrance of Bishop's Supermarket on Route 22 this weekend. Nagle said she would be available at the airport all week to collect signatures, and said she would personally drive to the home of anyone who wished to add their signature.
Jennifer Weiss works in the Hunterdon County bureau. She may be reached at jweiss@starledger.com or (908) 782-8326.
Copyright © 2006 NJ.com
Date: March 8, 2006 Source: NJ.com
URL: http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-0/114179859946100.xml?starledger?nso&coll=1
