Senate stalls bill to sell off surplus land Critics fault bidding process Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/5/07 BY MICHAEL RISPOLI GANNETT STATE BUREAU
Post Comment TRENTON Lost in the shuffle of budget talk and subpoenas, a seemingly inconspicuous bill authorizing the sale of surplus land stalled in the Senate recently after previously passing the state Assembly unanimously. The sale of the former State Police barracks on Route 130 South in Edgewater Park, Burlington County, found itself at the center of an unexpected debate, after which the bill deadlocked in a 17-17 vote. The bill was pulled back and will be voted on again. Critics said the sale of the 3 1/2 acres of land went for too low a price $1,028,000 especially for a state looking to sell assets to raise cash, and that the auction in which it was bid was flawed. Those upset with the way the land was auctioned said the state used a "candle auction," in which bidders call a recording where they learn of the highest offer and can place a higher bid until time expires. The state Treasury Department, however, has not used candle auctions since the fall of 2005, said Treasury spokesman Mark Perkiss. The barracks auction, conducted from Jan. 24 to Feb. 3 2006, took place on the Internet similar to an eBay auction. Some say the method is similar, just online. Sen. Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon, said it did not matter whether it was a candle or online auction, the process used is still not the way to go when selling state property. "The highest price is traditionally achieved through a sealed-bid process," Lance said. The outspoken critics of the transaction, mostly Republicans, did not seem to have a problem with the decision to sell the land but wanted the bill to be held and amended to require another appraisal. "I am not an appraiser . . . but a million dollars for nearly 4 acres of land on Route 130 is a tad low," Sen. Peter Inverso, R- Mercer, said. The land was appraised at $545,000 by P.B. Sopenhoff and Associates after the state declared the land "surplus" in March 2004. Mark Remsa, director of Burlington County's Department of Economic and Regional Planning, said the land hasn't been used for at least 10 years and that a high bid for nearly double the appraised value was fair. "Sounds like the state is getting a great deal," Remsa said. "Three acres for a million bucks. . . . That's a fair price." The land was initially offered to Edgewater Park, but the township passed on purchasing the land. The highest bidder on the land, Joseph Lieberman, is expected to put up retail stores or maybe a strip mall, according to Remsa. Linda Dougherty, municipal clerk and township administrator for Edgewater Park, said local officials were "a little taken aback" by the reaction the authorization got in the Senate. Since the land was taken off the township's tax roll in 1955, Dougherty said the township has lost an estimated $350,000 in revenue from the land and that because of its location, it could generate some money. "When you have an area that's blighted . . . anything that comes along to start improving those properties certainly affects and stimulates economic growth around those properties," Dougherty said. Dougherty added the property needs to be improved not only for economic purposes, but because its location acts as a gateway on a main corridor into the town. "It's an eyesore right now," Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington, said. She co-sponsored the bill along with Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer. During Gov. Corzine's annual budget address, he repeatedly spoke of the state's financial troubles, urging others to think outside the box. As lawmakers try to come up with ways to garner money for the state, Turner said this can help aid the state's financial woes. "We need the money in our treasury, and this is money we can use now to stabilize property taxes, school aid and also help us with the budget," Turner said. Turner added that the bill is expected to be posted again at the next voting session on March 12 without any changes made, but with the hopes of more Democrats in her caucus voting in support of the sale. CARE TO COMMENT? Visit our Web site, www.app.com, and click on this story to join the online conversation about this topic in Story Chat. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Great things are happening at Yahoo! Groups. See the new email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/lOt0.A/hOaOAA/yQLSAA/Y2tolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
