Belmar First Aid Squad, Borough Butt Heads Over Building Purchase

BELMAR, NJ – The borough of Belmar looks to be the winner in the bidding for the right to purchase the former Belmar First Aid Squad (BFAS) building and the property it sits on, but there are still areas of contention that are keeping the purchase from being finalized.

The borough was one of two bidders for the property, the other being Down to Earth Construction out of Jackson. The construction company actually outbid the borough before pulling their offer for the building.

In a letter to the borough dated June 7, which is posted on the BFAS’ website, Kenneth Pringle, the BFAS’ attorney and former mayor of Belmar, said that the BFAS would agree to sell to the borough for what Down To Earth offered of $1.143 million, but with “deed restrictions.”

The first deed restriction calls for no additions to the existing building, and if a new building were built, it must fit within the envelope of the original building, and no additional parking can be created.

The second deed restriction calls for the cornerstone dedication to Frank Mihlon Jr. and the plaque dedicated to Daniel C. Traverso donated to the Belmar Historical Society if the items are no longer displayed on the property.

The final deed restriction calls for removing all kitchen appliances, vehicles, and generators belonging to the BFAS as they are not part of the sale.

Borough attorney Jerry Dasti responded via email the following day, saying that the borough rejects the deed restrictions as they would not have been enforced if the Down To Earth bid was accepted since the building would most likely have been torn down for the building of new single-family homes on the property.

Dasti went on to say that the borough would consider adopting an ordinance that would condemn the building if the deed restrictions aren’t lifted.

Pringle responded via email to the objections made by Dasti, saying that the deed restriction on expansion of the building was put in place as a good-faith gesture to neighboring properties as the BFAS has proven that the current building serves Belmar’s emergency service needs.

As for the deed restriction regarding the memorials, the BFAS will soon be disbanding, according to Pringle, and that the borough’s historical society would be the best suited to make sure that deed restriction would be followed.