Eatontown Residents pressed the Mayor and Council Wednesday for details about a proposed new municipal building, asking about size, parking, whether the library would be closed, a basement gym and a shooting range. Council and staff said the project is still in the design and pre-bid phase and that financing and final design details will be presented publicly before any binding vote.

"This building is a necessity," the mayor said during public comment, but added that the council and administration will present final plans and cost estimates before voters would be asked to approve significant borrowing.

Why the project is being discussed

Officials said the existing municipal building has serious space and condition problems: records piled in office areas, cramped dispatch space, aging jail cells that require Department of Corrections compliance, and limited storage. Staff and council members told residents that prior assessments concluded repair would not be feasible or cost-effective and that new construction is the recommended path.

What is and is not decided

Council members said the council has authorized architects to develop concepts and that department heads are finalizing internal layouts; those layouts are expected to return to the council in a public presentation that staff said could happen in July.

On specifics raised by residents:
- Gym and wellness: The mayor said a gym is planned in the basement to support officer fitness. "In shape police department is a good thing for the community," he said. Officials noted donated equipment and that some maintenance costs will be required.
- Shooting range: The council said a training/qualification range is being planned that would reduce officers time leaving town for qualification and could provide shared-service training income from other municipalities; staff said it would not be a "full-size" range in the sense some residents feared.
- Library: Council members stated they are not in favor of closing the library, and that any decision about library space would require a majority council vote and further public discussion.
- Size and parking: Officials said precise building dimensions and traffic plans depend on the final layout and bid-ready drawings; they said a traffic/site plan would be developed as part of the bid and site-securement process once a final design exists.

Process and next steps

Staff described a two-contract approach: separate contracts for architect and construction manager. The council said the construction manager will be an independent contract and will help secure the site and oversee bid-ready steps. Once design and bid-ready documents are complete, the council will have cost estimates and can determine financing and whether to put borrowing to voters.

Residents concerns and administration response

Multiple residents requested greater early transparency. The mayor acknowledged that municipal discussions have occurred over several years and said the information is available in agendas and prior public meetings, but he agreed the borough will provide clearer public updates when the council reviews final plans.

Why it matters

A new municipal building would be a major capital project with long-term budget implications and potential ballot or bonding questions. Officials emphasized that the project is not included as an executed capital outlay in the 2025 operating budget and that debt, timing and public review remain to be determined.