Committee OKs bonding for soil remediation

Although no date for going to bid on the project was announced, the Manalapan Township Committee has approved the issuance of bonds or notes to cover the remediation of contaminated soil that was found on township-owned property.

The committee on Sept. 5 approved the issuance of $712,000 in bonds or notes to cover a variety of municipal improvements.

Township Administrator Tara Lovrich said $50,000 will cover the costs associated with soil remediation work Manalapan will undertake on land that was purchased in order to expand the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522.

Property on Route 522 that the township purchased in 2005 was found to have sustained heating oil contamination in the area immediately surrounding an empty house on the property. The oil had leaked from a heating oil tank. In a related matter, historic pesticide contamination was found in a former farm field on the property.

Manalapan's purchase of the property, which was found to be contaminated after officials closed on the purchase, is now the subject of ongoing litigation. Municipal officials have filed a malpractice action against Stuart Moskovitz, who was Manalapan's municipal attorney in 2005, regarding his preparation of the contract of sale for the Route 522 property.

Although the soil remediation work at the property that is adjacent to the recreation center is imminent, township engineer Greg Valesi has said that project will not affect a planned expansion of the recreation center. The expansion will include new playing fields, rest rooms, parking lots and a fitness trail.

Lovrich said officials expect to break ground on the first phase of the recreation center project (the new fields, etc.) in about two weeks.

In addition to the soil remediation project that will be paid for through the issuance of $712,000 in bonds and notes, other projects covered by the funding include: the acquisition of various equipment; various park and recreation improvements, including electrical upgrades at the Manalapan Recreation Center, repairs and rehabilitation to the Kuschick Pavilion at the Manalapan Recreation Center; township-wide road improvements, Oakleaf Section 3, (Canvassback, Elizabeth, Richard, Jared), Tennent Manor and Amberly East and West; improvements to township property, including paving of the police department parking lot; acquisition of new computers and improvements to the township server and computer software; and various improvements, including the aerating and dredging of Holiday Lake, according to information provided by the township.