No Final Security Plan for Fort; Mayors Question Redevelopment Authority

Local mayors have received assurances but no concrete plan as to how the is to be kept secure and where the financing will come from.

"We are beyond the point where we need to have a briefing with the local police chiefs," said Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon on Wednesday night at the meeting of the

Mahon was responding to the update given by Frank Cosentino, director of plans and programs for FMERA. Cosentino gave his update on , saying only that the authority continues to work with the New Jersey State Police and the Department of Homeland Security. 

Cosentino said, "There remains no more important aspect to us than ensuring this property is safe." However he didn't provide any details about what kind of police presence citizens could expect there.

FMERA's Executive Director Bruce Steadman said he and his staff meet with members of the state police "almost daily" to finalize the plan for the sprawling 1,100-plus acre property that spans three towns and has multiple gates and roadways that run through it.

Steadman said to Mahon, "I believe we will begin to get to that point by next week where 90 percent of your questions can be answered and we will be at a point to sit down with the mayors and the police chiefs."

Steadman had said previously that he expected to have the state policing plan in July and then pushed it back to August. Getting the plan to the final stage to present to the public, however, has proved complicated.

questioned . Steadman reiterated the plan to split proceeds of sales and leases with the Army. These funds would be set aside for a list of , which include police protection for the fort.

Tarantolo pointed out that as of now there have been no sales or leases to profit from and the closing of the fort is fast approaching. He said he worried that in the interim the state police would look to the boroughs for a paycheck. "They're going to come to Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls," he said.

"With all due respect, I can assure you, that is not going to happen," Steadman said.

The executive director said that the state police are "fully aware of our situation of cash flow." The plan being drafted, he said, will "include their expectation for payment."

The is five days before FMERA's next scheduled public meeting on Sept. 20 when the policing plan could be made public.

But that doesn't mean that there will be no policing plan until Sept. 20.

"The state police will be geared and powered and ready on 12:01 a.m. Sept. 15. I'm sorry I can't give you more details. I expected to," Steadman said, adding that he had 100 state police officers and officials on the job, working toward a secure plan.

"You've allayed my concerns," Tarantolo told Steadman of the timing and financing of security issues.