Sea Bright voters go to the polls Tuesday for a special election on a series of bonding actions taken by the borough council in June.
At issue: whether to take on $5.3 million in debt to replace every public structure wiped out by Hurricane Sandy.
Two bonds, totaling $1.82 million, must both pass in order for the borough to move ahead with a plan for a new 8,600-square-foot community center, library and beach building, seen in a rendering at top, to be erected on the site at right, at the edge of the municipal beach.
The third bond, for $3.92 million, would apply to a new 14,000-square-foot municipal building to house borough administrative offices, the fire department and police, on the former site of the police and fire facilities. A rendering is shown above.
The referendum was forced by opponents who argue that the plans are too costly, even after accounting for an anticipated $7.4 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, which would reduce the $12.73 million price tag for the projects to $5.3 million.
Polls close at 8 p.m. Here’s the plan: Sea Bright Public Facilities Plan. (Photo by John T. Ward. Renderings by Settembrino Architects. Click to enlarge)
