'A War Is Brewing': Lacey Fights Back Against Proposed Municipal Complex

LACEY, NJ — While the Lacey Township Committee continues to say they haven't made a formal decision yet, residents have made their feelings clear: they do not want a new municipal complex.

Last November, the township held a special meeting to explain that they had been considering a new complex that would combine town hall, the police department and an indoor recreation center.

This would be done through a public private partnership with Johnson Controls Industries, which would make Lacey the first municipality in the state to use the "P3 law" since Gov. Phil Murphy signed it in 2018.

Under the partnership, Johnson Controls Industries, along with Gilbane, would be responsible for building and maintaining the complex for the next 30 years, after which Lacey would take over as owners. Read more: Proposed New Municipal Complex Draws Ire From Lacey Residents

At the time, it was slammed by Lacey residents. And they haven't grown keener on it since. Several held a protest outside Town Hall prior to Thursday's committee meeting to voice their dissatisfaction with the project.

"A war is brewing in this community," said community activist Richard Bidnick, who noted that the committee seemed to be a "narcissistic body" for a number of reasons, including that they want to push what they want even if it has no public support.

"Who determined that it's in our best interest?" asked longtime Forked River resident Steve Bahrle, who has been questioning the committee about the project for several months.

He called for greater transparency, but township officials said they are still deciding if they should go through with the project or not.

There was no information on what the project would cost as it is proprietary, but opponents estimate it would be at least $50 million, and possibly more than $100 million. The estimations came from P3 regulations about projects less than $50 million and calculated with inflation in mind, Bahrle said.

Mayor Tim McDonald said that in executive session of a special meeting on Aug. 24, the township met with Johnson Controls. This was the first time the entire committee met with the company, along with several others.

"We said from the beginning we want all the facts in front of us before a decision is made," McDonald said. "That's exactly what we're going to do."

The township is at least six months away from a decision, and probably closer to a year, he said.

"I think it's the wrong project. I think it's the wrong company. And I think it's at the wrong time," said Gavin Rozzi, a local government transparency advocate. "And I think it's not too late for this committee and this governing body to right the course before we dig this hole any deeper with Johnson Controls."

Rozzi mentioned the company's "checkered past," such as how they moved their corporate headquarters from America to Ireland to lower the taxes they paid.

Bahrle said the township should just terminate the deal right now.

"You are the only township in the state of New Jersey in four or five years that are actually going to get bamboozled into this," Bahrle said.