Vote yes on pavilion bond referendum
Since the early 1920s, Monmouth Beach has enjoyed a community beach pavilion. The current building was built in 1962. Deterioration from moisture, corrosive salt air and heavy winds has taken its toll on the facility. The time has come to give the pavilion a lasting facelift and to upgrade electrical and plumbing that are at the end of their useful life.

The pavilion, along with being the center of our beach community, is also the only revenue-generating asset we have in town. After expenses, it brings in more than $200,000.

An extensive study was conducted to access the most cost effective solution to fix the facility and bring it up to code. A community group and numerous community meetings were held to obtain input about the project. Now there is a referendum vote to secure a bond for the repairs. All expenses will be paid for by member fees - it is confusing that this is a voter's issue but be assured it is not a tax issue, it is a self-funding project.

Taxpayers, even if they don't use the facility, should support the project because it improves our greatest asset - the pavilion and protects our property taxes. For those who have expressed concern over the risk of hurricane damage, the pavilion will be fully insured at its assessed value.

In preparation for the bond, the decision was made to raise the pavilion fees charged to residents and non-residents for the 2007 season. Fees were raised to rates in line with other public pool facilities in our area. Resident fees are half of non-resident fees. The good news is that after expenses, $530,000 was earned in beach revenue this year and at least $311,000 will be set aside for the repair costs - $200,000 back to the town.

The project is estimated to cost $2.8 million dollars, although the referendum vote will note that amount, we will actually need less than $2.2 million in bonds because the 2007 and projected 2008 beach revenue will be used to lower the bond amount needed.

So what will we get? New bathrooms, modern kitchen facility, larger hallways, new lockers and composite material rather than wood will be used to ensure longer life and we will be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.

It is important that we get the votes we need to pass the bond referendum. When it passes in November, work will begin in the fall of 2008 (after the beach season). By requiring this nontaxpayer issue to go to a vote…we already lost a year. And it's been almost two years since the original study was conducted.

Almost everyone agrees that work has to be done on the facility, but many want to scale back the project. A highly regarded local architectural firm, Kaplan Gaunt DeSantis, Red Bank, prepared the proposal with input from a community committee and our commissioners.

We don't need to scale back the project. With no additional growth in membership…we can carry the cost of the project - with no tax impact. A "yes" vote is guaranteeing a tax saving since the facility will continue to contribute to the boro general fund. If you don't go to the pavilion it won't cost you anything.

If you go to the pavilion you are already paying for the renovation with your membership. It's time to enjoy a new pavilion; we need you and your friends to vote yes on Nov. 6.

Mary Kay Wedel Monmouth Beach