LACEY, NJ — Continued discussions over a potential new municipal complex got heated at a recent Township Committee meeting when officials accused a resident of being “disrespectful.”
Lacey officials have been mulling whether to utilize a public-private partnership with Johnson Controls Industries to construct a new complex that would house town hall, the police department and an indoor recreation center. This would make Lacey the first municipality in the state to use the “P3 law” since Gov. Phil Murphy signed it in 2018.
READ MORE: ‘A War Is Brewing’: Lacey Fights Back Against Proposed Complex
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Residents like Steve Barhle, who calls himself a “spokesperson for the taxpayers,” have been arguing against this partnership for months, claiming the project would be too expensive for taxpayers and saying there has been a lack of transparency from the governing body.
Things boiled over at the latest meeting, though, when Mayor Tim McDonald shouting at Bahrle that he was being disrespectful.
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“I’m tired of you being rude to us! Enough!” McDonald yelled after Bahrle had talked over him.
Committeewoman Peggysue Juliano also accused him of being “disrespectful” and said it was particularly geared at the women on the dais.
“It’s disgraceful,” she said.
McDonald’s outburst drew criticism from Richard Bidnick, another resident who has been outspoken against the proposed complex.
“You’re supposed to be the adult in the room,” Bidnick said, reminding him that it’s his job to be an employee of the people.
“We talk about respect. You’re not going to get any respect by screaming at somebody,” Bidnick said. “In fact, you lost respect from a lot of people tonight by doing that.”
Deputy Mayor Steve Kennis also addressed how, at a previous meeting, he apparently accused Barhle and other opponents of the project Gavin Rozzi and Bidnick of telling “half-truths.”
“You’re misrepresenting some of things,” Kennis said, saying the committee never said the complex would cost $100 million as opponents have said and that they never said there would be a swimming pool.
Township officials continued to insist that no decisions had been made and that the process will take a long time.
“Mr. Bahrle keeps on wanting answers to questions. We don’t have them,” said Committeeman Mark Dykoff. “We’re not breaking ground tomorrow. We’re talking about several years before we even get near that point.”
Kennis mentioned that a new traffic light at Haines Street was started with an engineering study in 2015 and only completed this year.
“We never stopped working on it,” he said.
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