With the bill that would create the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority approved by the state Senate and Assembly on June 28, 12th District legislators look toward the next steps in the property’s rebirth.

Sen. Jennifer Beck The revitalization authority is the entity that would oversee the transfer of the fort property from federal to local hands.

“Now we really begin the hard work of re-creating jobs and redeveloping that property,” said Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-12th District).

“One of the first things that needs to be done, once the governor signs the bill, is to get the members appointed and begin negotiating for that property [with the Department of Defense (DOD)].”

Although the legislation, S-917, is approved, the legislators’ job is not over.

“We have some ownership of this now,” said Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-12th District), “As we promised our local officials in discussions with them, we’re not going away; we’re going to be here to fight right by their side to make sure this is implemented the way we all envision it and that their voices continue to be heard.”

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon O’Scanlon also emphasized the local autonomy built into the bill.

“We designed this so that they [local officials] are in control. They don’t need us meddling on a regular basis; they just need us if they need us, and we’ll be here for them if they do.”

Beck agreed with the legislators’ new supporting role.

“The authority will take the lead o n

[negotiations with DOD], but we will obviously be interested participants and we’ll be an advocate as well.”

Beck said passage of the bill before the June 30 legislative recess was critical and that the authority’s creation was already long overdue.

“Really, the bill should have been done in 2008. The planning authority’s mission was fulfilled in December 2008, and the planning authority should have been dissolved and replaced by the revitalization authority at that time.”

Both Beck and O’Scanlon, who cosponsored the Senate and Assembly versions of the bill, said they are satisfied with the final outcome of the bill. Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-13th District) also was a cosponsor.

“It’s a really good bill,” O’Scanlon said, “It’s the best solution to an unfortunate situation that we could ask for. A ton of work went in by various locals, each of the legislators; it really was a good productive, group effort and it was a bipartisan effort.

“It’s an example of how government should work,” he added.

Beck said that the bill had an unprecedented number of amendments, approximately 40, many of which she advocated for to address concerns about maintaining local control over implementation of the fort reuse plan.

“Those were all ideas that came either from ourselves or from municipal officials or county officials, so it was truly a collaborative effort and we arrived at an excellent product.”

Oceanport residents and council members were the harshest critics of the bill. Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon pledged to work on behalf of Oceanport through his position on the authority.

“I’m certain that Oceanport will continue to play a vital role in this process. Our residents have been vocal advocates for a strong local influence on reuse decisions. This approach will continue to guide the actions of their elected officials and planning board members for years to come,” he said.

“As mayor and Oceanport’s representative to the authority, I will continue to advocate the positions of the governing body and ensure an informed community. We will continue to advocate for a balanced redevelopment that limits the burden on local taxpayers, stays true to the Oceanport Vision Plan today and preserves the quality of life for this and future generations,” he said.

The mayors of Eatontown and Tinton Falls will join Mahon as local voting members on the authority.

The bill would also require the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders to submit a list to the governor of five Monmouth County residents, one of whom the governor would appoint to the authority.

One freeholder would also represent Monmouth County with a vote.

Two additional gubernatorial appointments, plus a member of the governor’s staff and the chairman of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority hold the four voting positions not native to Monmouth County.

The authority would also have nonvoting members, consisting of the commissioners of the departments of Transportation, Labor, Environmental Protection, and Community Affairs.

The legislators fought to put five votes in the hands of Monmouth residents. Another amendment added by Beck requires a supermajority of seven of the nine voting members of the authority on any significant modification to the plan.

Additionally, an amendment also requires all issues of density and the construction of a train station to be approved by local land use boards.

One resident-suggested amendment would require the authority to establish advisory committees, traditionally made up of residents.

“The [original] language was permissive,” Beck explained in a June 4 interview. “It said they ‘may establish’ advisory committees. [Residents] asked me to change that to ‘will establish.’ ”

The bill would also impose a franchise fee within the infrastructure district composed of any lands within the project area as adopted by resolution of authority. Through this franchise fee, the infrastructure district would generate fees from businesses in the district to pay for infrastructure improvements.

The authority would keep half of the 7 percent sales tax in the infrastructure district to fund redevelopment projects.

“We still believe that the Department of Defense made a wrong-headed decision in closing the base. We will always hold that position,” Beck said, adding that, going forward, it is important to use the 1,100 acres of property constructively to make up for the job losses and to bolster the local economy.