The Borough Council on Wednesday unanimously scrapped $7 million in bond ordinances aimed at paying for the construction of two boardwalk pavilions after learning that the federal government has agreed to pony up more than half the cost.
During the council’s last meeting of the year, Mayor Matt Doherty announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to pay about $4.1 million toward the cost of building boardwalk pavilions to replace the 5th Avenue and 10th Avenue structures lost during Superstorm Sandy.
The borough also is investigating the possibility that the state, through a Community Development Block Grant, may pick up some or the rest of the tab for the construction, Doherty said.
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The borough is entering discussions with state officials on next week to explore whether the pavilion construction would fall within the parameters of that grant.
“It looks more and more likely that we’re going to get additional dollars on top of the FEMA dollars to help us cover the expense of those pavilions,’’ Doherty said. “If we have to delay it, but it’s worth it in the end, we have good, solid buildings and keep the cost to a minimum for our beach-goers and our taxpayers, then it’s well worth it.”
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The council voted unanimously to scuttle the two bond ordinances it had scheduled for public hearing Wednesday.
In a related matter, the borough and a citizens group were scheduled for a conference with Superior Court Judge Lawrence Lawson to discuss the a trio of lawsuits brought by the group in objection to the borough’s pavilion plans.
It was unclear late Wednesday what occurred at that conference or how the council’s removal of the pavilion bond ordinances would affect the cases.
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