Public will have final say in Ice Palace offerings BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer BRICK TOWNSHIP - The public, not township officials, will decide what should be included on the Ocean Ice Palace property if the purchase goes through, Council President Stephen C. Acropolis said. "Before we spend any money to build anything on-site, we will hold town hall meetings and meet with the Brick Recreation Advisory Committee," he said. But as of press time Monday night, Democratic Mayor Daniel J. Kelly continued his push for a referendum question on the $5.4 million purchase of the ice rink and 13.34 acres of property on Chambers Bridge Road. Aug. 24 is the last day the township has to put a referendum question on the ballot, Township Attorney Jean Cipriani said at the Aug. 7 Township Council meeting. "Before the council spends $5.4 million on an ice hockey rink, the public should be heard," said Kelly, who faces Republican Acropolis in the mayoral race for the two-year unexpired term of former Democratic Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli. "Just because the council previously spent $8 million to buy the Traders Cove site and $6.1 million to buy the Foodtown site without a referendum does not make those purchases a good idea," the mayor said. "It's time to do things differently." Both the Foodtown and Traders Cove purchases were made when Scarpelli was mayor. The Planning Board recently voted to declare both sites as areas "in need of redevelopment." Township Planner Tara Paxton was slated to discuss the Ice Palace purchase at the Aug. 11 Township Council meeting. Township Council members voted 6-1 at the July 24 meeting to introduce an ordinance that appropriates $5,450,000 in bonds or bond anticipation notes to purchase the landmark at 167 Chambers Bridge Road. Democratic Councilwoman Kathy Russell cast the dissenting vote. The sale would also include an inground outdoor swimming pool, a dormitory that could be revamped and used as a senior citizen center, and a number of open fields. The council also voted 6-1 at the July 24 meeting to ask the state Local Finance Board to waive the down payment needed for the property, since the money was not appropriated in the 2007 budget. But the board cannot rule on the request until the township audit is completed sometime in late September, Acropolis said Monday. Township officials hope to pay down much of the purchase price through the sale of the township-owned Civic Center property across the street from the rink. The Civic Center property has been appraised at $2.8 million to $3 million. The township recreation department, which is currently housed in the Civic Center, would be relocated to offices inside the Ice Palace, Acropolis has said. Township officials have met with 10 redevelopers who are interested in the defunct Foodtown site on Route 70, he said. Kelly scoffed at those who suggest he doesn't support recreation because he wants a ballot question on the Ice Palace purchase. "I was a basketball coach in the St. Dominic's recreation league for 20 years and have been a longtime supporter of youth recreation in town," the mayor said. "This is not about recreation, it's about property taxes." Kelly should rely on the experience of Township Administrator Scott M. Pezarras and Paxton, Acropolis said. "I believe that Dan Kelly knows in his heart that this is a good idea," Acropolis said. "It's only for purely political reasons he has to come out against this. He is being told by his people." Acropolis said he met with Rep. Christopher Smith (R-4) last week to discuss possible grants for the facility. "Chris Smith pledged to work with the town to get some type of grant to build a community center or to at least retrofit what you have," he said. "Things are moving along." Acropolis is worried that negative comments about the state of the Ice Rink property could cause owner Joan Dwulet to have second thoughts about the sale. "I hope that the owner of the site doesn't read too much into this and say 'I'm not going to sell it to the township anymore,' " he said. ""If somebody starts saying the building is falling down or is in disrepair … her attorney is not happy with those comments. It could end up costing her money."