Fort panel hires three, leases office space
Accountant resigns next day, citing pay-to-play ban
BY SUE MORGAN
Staff Writer

EATONTOWN - One of three new employees hired by the agency planning for Fort Monmouth's future quit last week to avoid running afoul of state rules governing the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority (FMERPA).

Less than one day after accepting his new state accounting job, John Tully resigned, citing the fact that he had contributed more than $300 to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee prior to Thursday night's unanimous vote to hire him.

Tully, who is presently employed by the state Department of the Treasury, would have drawn $85,000 yearly in his new post.

His resignation was prompted by a clause in the state legislation that created FMERPA that sets the guidelines for political contributions by employees or those seeking employment with the 10-member authority, which has been set up to oversee Fort Monmouth's future uses after its shutdown in 2011.

By the same Nov. 16 vote at Eatontown Borough Hall, Richard Harrison landed a new job as deputy director of FMERPA effective Nov. 30.

The Oceanport resident will have a short commute to his workplace - to be located on Christopher Way in Eatontown - when he assumes his new duties. Harrison will earn $80,000 annually plus state benefits.

Each of the new employees was hired at the recommendation of Frank Cosentino, the authority's executive director.

Kathryn Verrochi of Point Pleasant was hired as the authority's executive assistant at an annual salary of $55,000 plus state benefits, also effective Nov. 30.

Verrochi's position will serve as "the hub of this operation," Cosentino said as he recommended his candidate.

As deputy director, Harrison, a lifelong area resident, will be second in command to Cosentino, who was hired by the authority in late September.

Harrison, who last worked at Telcordia and its predecessors, Bell Atlantic and Bellcore, has an extensive background in telecommunications and engineering, Cosentino said prior to his official hiring.

Both FMERPA Chairman Robert Lucky and panel member Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo are retired from Telcordia and its associated companies.

After the authority's vote, Harrison stood up, thanked the public-private panel for its support, and described how living in close proximity to the 88-year-old Fort Monmouth has affected him personally.

"I have always had a passion for Fort Monmouth," Harrison said. "I can't wait to hit the ground running."

Since its first meeting in July, authority members have fielded suggestions from local and county public officials, military veterans' groups, nonprofit organizations, corporate entities, housing advocates, and others about how to best use the U.S. Army base's buildings and 1,126 acres after it is shuttered by the Pentagon in 2011.

Harrison alluded to those suggestions in his brief remarks.

"I have a vision that we're going to make this a whole [that is] better than the sum of its parts," he said.

At Cosentino's recommendation, the authority unanimously agreed to sign a lease for temporary - and eventually permanent - office space at 12 Christopher Way in Eatontown.

Monthly rents on both spaces that the authority expects to occupy over a lease period of five years and five months will be mailed to the landlord identified as ARG Holdings I LLC in care of The Richter Organization of Corbett Way, Eatontown, according to a copy of the approved resolution.

"I knew that we would have to be in close proximity to the fort," Cosentino said of the selected office building situated off Industrial Way East and state Route 35.

Because he could not initially find space "where I would ask people to come to work," Cosentino opted for the interim offices at 12 Christopher Way.

That two-story facility, which was identified for the authority by the state Department of the Treasury, will house the four employees in a smaller interim work space upstairs while a permanent 2,800-square-foot location on the first floor is prepared for occupancy.

The authority will also pay a proportionate share of increased annual operating expenses over the period of the lease, the resolution states. No security deposit will be required.

The five-year, five-month lease covers the expected life of the authority and coincides with Fort Monmouth's anticipated closing date.

The building landlord is paying for the renovations that are being done according to the authority's specifications, Cosentino said.

According to the approved resolution, the authority will be charged $4,000 for each month it occupies the interim space and a one-time fee of $900 to set up telephones, fax lines, and other office communications.

Base rent at the authority's permanent location is set at $26 per square foot gross, or $72,800 monthly, plus electric, according to the approved resolution. The net effective base rent is $24 per square foot based on a specified period of five months' free rent, the resolution states.