Cedar Grove Company Bids for Belleville Lots

A Cedar Grove construction company submitted a bid for some township-owned empty lots on William Street in Belleville this week, a sale that would provide additional revenue to the township as Belleville officials ponder austerity measures like police and firefighter layoffs.

The bid was received at municipal council chambers at town hall around 1:25 pm, a few minutes before a 1:30 deadline. Township attorney Thomas Murphy oversaw the process.

The four parcels -- Block 8605, Lots 1.01-1.04 on the tax map -- are located between Valley and Cortlandt streets in the Valley section of Belleville. The properties are zoned for two two-family houses.

JVS Builders submitted the minimum bid of $280,000 for the parcels.

The Belleville Township Council has not yet finalized a budget for the year, as officials try to get waivers from new state requirements keeping overall budget increases at 2 percent. The township was also counting on the sale of this property to help meet its budget goals, which include avoiding layoffs. The township faces a deadline later this month to introduce a budget.