|
Rink Purchase Negotiations Impacting Senior Center Rental Talks
By Catherine Galioto
Senior developments line the major roads of Brick Township. But its unofficial senior center is located closer to Mantoloking, off Adamston Road, on the outskirts of town.
Officials hope that the purchase of the 13 acres surrounding the Ocean Ice Palace will finally provide a home closer to retirement communities, as well as also upgrading and consolidating services spread throughout the town.
The township council is hoping to revamp the ice rink, its adjacent buildings and acres of surrounding land into a community center. Should the deal go through, it would combine recreation with township services and community activities.
But while it is unclear when purchase-related contracts will be signed and for what amount, the deal is already impacting the township's senior services.
The current senior center is located at the VFW building on Adamston Road. Township Administrator Scott Pezarras said the space is rented, and the contract expires when the new year begins.
Pezarras must now negotiate a contract, which leaves some things up in the air, he said.
He noted that he doesn't expect senior services to be interrupted. What is unclear is what type of contract the township will have with the VFW, largely because it's unclear how long services will remain there if a new spot is being sought. It could be a month to month lease, or a yearly one, Pezarras said.
While senior services are also scattered elsewhere in the township, the VFW houses the nutrition program because the site has a large enough kitchen to accommodate the program. Part of the trouble of finding a new location for senior services is making sure a kitchen comes with it, according to Pezarras.
Pezarras hoped to pursue an upgrade for the VFW building in the next contract, but with it now looking like senior services may only stay there for the short term, instead moving to the Ice Palace, a township-funded upgrade might not happen.
At a recent council meeting, some residents said the township would be greatly served by a senior center located closer to the Route 70 corridor, where many seniors live. The planned spot for the community center is next to an apartment housing complex that has many senior residents, too.
Meanwhile, Pezarras said he's working on the VFW contract now. It's unclear what the new cost may be to rent the VFW space.
"Everything's up in the air," he said.
| 
