By: Joseph L. Kuchie

Councilman
Thomas Reilly

SOUTH AMBOY – South Amboy Councilmen Tom Reilly and Brian McLaughlin both spoke out against the Manhattan Beach Project at the November 19th city council meeting.

The Manhattan Beach Project would bring in 291 residential rental units to South Amboy by 2023 and an additional 210 units by 2025.  Reilly was concerned that the PILOT included in the deal would not benefit the city’s taxpayers.

“I would just ask that my colleagues on the council really look long and hard into the pilot as proposed and try to match it up to some of the other pilots, specifically the one in Carteret and the PILOT that was given to the Woodmont Properties,” Reilly said. I think those PILOTS should more resemble the PILOT Manhattan Beach is asking for and that currently is not the case.”

“I wish we’d do our due diligence on those other pilots and determine that Manhattan Beach is low and they’re not, in my opinion and from what I’ve seen, they’re on the low end,” he continued. “I personally don’t think it’s fair to the taxpayers in town, I think the PILOT should be higher.”

Councilman McLaughlin raised concerns about the potential strain the additional units and residents would put on the city’s school system and first responders. He also touched on Manhattan Beach’s construction labor plan, as there is no plan in the project agreement to use union trade labor when construction begins in 2020.  

Councilman
Brian McLaughlin

“We have 164 trades that live in this small town, so I think it’s beneficial for us to do it under that,” McLaughlin said. “It’s been statistically proven that union trade labor gets the job done on time and on budget. The trades also do tremendous donations to people in need, organizations, and events.”

There will be a public hearing on the ordinances regarding Manhattan Beach Project during the city’s December 5th business meeting. Both ordinances were approved on first reading during the city’s November business meeting.

Residents will be able to speak on the project and give their opinion to the council before a vote is held on second reading. If approved by the council, it will be sent to Mayor Fred Henry for final approval. 

All council members were in attendance for the council meeting. The business meeting on December 5th will be held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.