Hightstown Residents Divided on Future Location of Borough Hall

Residents voiced opinions on the ultimate location of Hightstown’s borough hall and police department at Wednesday’s special council meeting.

Local organizations, including Downtown Hightstown, Greater Hightstown East Windsor Improvement Project (GHEWIP) and the Historic Preservation Committee, along with several residents, urged the council to move forward with relocating borough hall from its current location. 

“The time is now and the opportunity is now,” said Jay Zimmer, GHEWIP chairperson and executive director at Meadow Lakes. 

Zimmer said GHEWIP did a study, weighing the strengths and weaknesses of moving borough hall verse keeping it in the current location. The strengths included aligning it with the , removing the building from a flood zone and making the Rug Mill property more attractive.

The Historic Preservation Committee determined there is no “intrinsic value” to keeping Borough Hall in its current location, and said it detracts from the town’s image, HPC Chair Dan Buriak said on behalf of the committee. 

Many proposed the Lucas Electric building as a new location, which is .8 miles from where it currently stands. Others opposed the location, questioning why so many people were pushing for the move to Lucas Electric.

“There is no direction for Lucas Electric that I know of,” said Council President Larry Quattrone. He said the police department’s move there was done in an emergency situation and everything is a temporary status.

Some residents disagreed with the idea to move Borough Hall, and instead said it should remain in its current location. Councilwoman Gail Doran said she likes Borough Hall where it is, in the center of the downtown.

“You can say .8 miles isn’t far away, we are a 1.2 square mile town - that is as far away as you can get,” Doran said.

Hightstown resident J.P. Gibbons said he is “outraged” and questioned why borough hall has not been rehabilitated.

“I am convinced at this particular point in time that it was a deliberate effort to destroy the building by allowing it to elapse into a mold problem,” Gibbons said.

Mayor Steven Kirson refuted this statement, saying the borough put money into the building after the storm to help save it. 

Council members said they have been asking for specific costs, but have yet to received them, and Kirson said he hopes to have more numbers by the end of June. The council also asked the discussion be continued at the next meeting.

More than 30 people attended Wednesday's meeting, compared to the where around 10 people showed up. 

GHEWIP’s study can be found at the right. 

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