Good News For Oceanport!

Merry Christmas in Oceanport...

By Councilman Joe Irace

Today Oceanport Taxpayers received an early Christmas gift in the form of a check for $195,723.19.

This check represents a reimbursement for extraordinary planning expenses already paid by the Borough associated with the reuse of Fort Monmouth. The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) within the Department of Defense approved this reimbursement after a year long process of documentation and justification undertaken by the Borough in conjunction with the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitilization and Planning Authority (FMERPA).

In 2008, Mayor Michael J. Mahon discovered that planning expenses as a result of a BRAC base closure were eligible for reimbursement. Unfortunately, Oceanport had hired a planner back in 2006 and paid for it with local tax dollars. Undaunted, the Borough initiated the process through FMERPA and OEA Project Manager John Leigh.

Borough Administrator Kim Jungfer and Planner Michael Sullivan of Clarke Caton Hintz, assembled the supporting documentation and met with FMERPA and federal officials intent on explaining the expenses. The untimely death of Mr. John Leigh in 2008 slowed the process. Ultimately, similar expenses, but much smaller amounts, from the host communities of Eatontown and Tinton Falls were added to a resolution supporting the reimbursement and adopted by FMERPA in October of this year.

The Borough is pursuing reimbursement for other expenses associated with the closure of Fort Monmouth including infrastructure, property acquisition and development, public safety (in particular police), as this process continues.

Congratulations to the Borough. Thanks to those that played a leading role and Merry Christmas to Oceanport Taxpayers.