Officials Question Report that Fort Monmouth May Remain Open Additional Year

An article on Tuesday in the Asbury Park Press reporting that Fort Monmouth may be one of seven installations whose imminent closing may be allegedly delayed by up to one year gives "false hope" to many who are affected by the base closing, according to Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo.

"I think the momentum for closing Fort Monmouth can't be reversed," said Tarantolo, who has served as mayor for 13 years and is also a member of the Fort Monmouth Econcomic Revitalization Authority (FMERA).

The article cites a published report that includes a statment from the Department of Defense's (DOD) "lead man for carrying out the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decisions" that Fort Monmouth could be among seven possible installation closures for which the DOD seeks an extension.

"To include Fort Monmouth in that group is misleading," said Tarantolo.

Patch was unable to obtain a copy of the report cited in the article.

According to the article, Peter Potochney, the under secretary of defense for installations and environment, "told the Federal Times that some construction projects involved in the BRAC moves 'were not done the way they should have been.'"

FMERA was quick to respond to the alleged extension, releasing a statement on Tuesday that officials were "unaware of circumstances that would result in an extension."

The statement continues:

FMERA has had continuous and explicit dialogue with the Department of Army and Office of Economic Adjustment representatives and it has been made clear that under no foreseeable circumstances would Fort Monmouth stay open beyond Sept. 15, 2011. FMERA continues to work closely with the Army to develop a cooperative and effective transisiton plan, focusing on the Army's environmental responsibilites and the other important issue associated with FMERA eventually taking title to the property.

Tarantolo said he thought it would be more likely that certain "amenities" on the base--like the commissary and golf course--that are actively used by fort retirees  would be kept open past the closing date.

"There's hardly anyone left," noted the mayor, who said he had just come from a honoring departing military families. "All military families are leaving."