03/19/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brielle Officials Outline Reasons New Borough Hall and Police Headquarters Remain the Most Practical Long-Term Solution
Brielle, NJ — Borough officials continue to emphasize that the need for improved municipal and police facilities is no longer in dispute. The question now is not whether action must be taken, but whether it is more responsible to continue investing in a 100-plus-year-old building with significant building-wide deficiencies, or to move forward with a new facility designed to serve the Borough’s needs for decades to come.
According to Borough officials, the existing Borough Hall faces a range of problems that extend well beyond the Police Department and affect the building as a whole. Among the most serious concerns are persistent water intrusion in the basement, mold issues in the lower level, traces of mold elsewhere in the building, asbestos, lead-based paint, rodent infestation in the attic, and multiple fire safety deficiencies identified through state inspections.
A PEOSH inspection identified asbestos, lead-based paint, and rodent infestation in the attic, all of which require remediation. Failure to address the PEOSH-identified deficiencies could expose the Borough to daily fines until the necessary corrective work is completed. In addition, an inspection by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety found several major deficiencies, including the lack of sprinkler systems and adequate fire alarm monitoring in portions of Borough Hall.
“The reality is that the concerns with Borough Hall are not isolated to one room or one department,” said Council President Timothy Shaak. “The building is showing serious deficiencies in multiple areas, and those problems affect not only the Police Department, but the broader functioning of Borough Hall as a whole.”
Officials also note that the existing Borough Hall was never designed to serve as a municipal complex or police headquarters. The structure was originally built as a school and later converted for Borough use in the early 1950s. While it has served the community for many years, it was not purpose-built for modern municipal operations, public meetings, or the specialized needs of law enforcement.
“The building has served Brielle for a long time, but it was adapted for a purpose it was never originally designed to fulfill,” Shaak said. “At some point, we have to recognize that continuing to retrofit a 100-year-old structure is not the same as providing the Borough with a facility that truly meets present and future needs.”
The building’s last major renovation took place in 1990. Since then, building codes, accessibility requirements, fire safety expectations, technology demands, and police operational requirements have all changed substantially. Borough officials say the ongoing repairs and maintenance associated with the building have been a longstanding issue for years.
Officials also stress that modern police operations require secure evidence storage, interview rooms, controlled access, records space, locker facilities, updated communications systems, and a
layout that supports both officer safety and public safety. Retrofitting those specialized needs into an old building not designed for law enforcement is difficult, costly, and uncertain.
Compounding the issue, officials say renovation of a building of this age comes with significant unknowns. Once walls, ceilings, and floors are opened, hidden structural problems, obsolete systems, water damage, and other environmental or construction-related issues can quickly increase project costs. In many cases, renovation costs can approach — or even exceed — the cost of new construction.
In response to public suggestions regarding alternative locations, Borough officials said those options have also been carefully considered and found to be impractical.
The Board of Education has indicated it is not interested in hosting the Borough’s regular monthly meetings, including Borough Council, Planning Board, Recreation Committee, and Environmental Commission meetings. As a result, school facilities do not present a realistic long-term solution for municipal operations.
Likewise, the Curtis House has been determined not to be a viable option for Borough administrative offices. In addition to being used almost daily by the Brielle Women’s Club, the Bayberry Garden Club, and the Union Landing Historical Society, the property is located on Green Acres land, where government administrative operations are not a permitted recreational use. Any attempt to change that use would require a formal diversion or disposal application through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, including agency review, public hearings, compensation requirements, and approval by both the DEP Commissioner and the State House Commission. Borough officials further note that Brielle does not have additional vacant land to offer as compensation.
“We understand that residents want alternatives explored, and that is entirely fair,” Shaak said. “But it is equally important to be honest about whether those alternatives are actually feasible. In the case of the school and the Curtis House, they are not practical long-term solutions for Borough operations.”
By contrast, Borough officials say new construction provides the opportunity to address both current operational demands and future anticipated needs in a single comprehensive solution. The architect retained by the Borough has designed a facility intended to meet current requirements while also accommodating the Borough’s future needs. A new facility would allow for full code compliance from the outset and would include ADA accessibility, modern fire safety systems, improved public meeting space, updated technology infrastructure, energy-efficient systems, and a more functional working environment for Borough staff and police personnel.
According to officials, delay also comes with a cost. If the current proposal were defeated by public referendum, the Borough would likely be left with no practical choice but to proceed with the less desirable and potentially more expensive option of renovating the existing building. The planning and ex*****on of that approach could delay a satisfactory long-term solution by two years or more, while inflation and rising construction costs continue to increase the price of any future project.
“Deferring this decision will not make the problem go away, and it will not make the solution less expensive,” Shaak said. “Most likely, it will mean more delay, more cost, and more money invested in a building that already has significant limitations throughout.”
Borough officials maintain that the decision ultimately comes down to making a responsible long-term investment in a safe, functional, and dependable municipal facility that can serve residents well into the future.
“This is about doing what makes the most sense for Brielle over the long term,” Shaak added. “Our responsibility is to look beyond the immediate debate and make sure residents are served by a facility that is safe, efficient, and capable of meeting the Borough’s needs for decades to come.”
