Councilman wants more options for factory site BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer "It just seemed that I struck a raw nerve. I haven't seen that kind of behavior in the council before." - Joseph Sheridan Councilman KEYPORT - Plans to build multi-family housing at an old factory site are causing a rift on the Borough Council. On May 1, Councilman Joseph Sheridan said he was not pleased with the developer's "love it or leave it" approach to the Manchaster Avenue project, as the proposal to build 47 housing units or nothing at all could be considered a threat. At present, the building's roof has already been removed. Built in 1895, the warehouse was originally owned by the American Cutlery Factory. Later, it was sold to the Galbraith family and used to build lifeboats for the armed services during WWII, according to local historian Timothy Regan's book about the borough, "Images of America: Keyport." "They didn't want to call it a threat, but if the people didn't like what the current plan was, they wouldn't shift to a plan B," Sheridan said, referring to events he witnessed at an April 26 neighborhood meeting. "There didn't seem to be a lot of two-way, which is what I thought this process was going to be." On Thursday, Sheridan said he believed there may be more than 47 units because the developer, a company based in Brooklyn, is currently "in the midst of buying more properties in the area." Along with Mayor Robert Bergen, Sheridan, Councilman Richard Hassmiller and Councilwoman Christian Bolte each attended the April 26 neighborhood gathering. The three council members make up the group's redevelopment subcommittee. The meeting was not legally advertised, no recording was made and no notes were taken, according to the council. "To me, it looked very much like a sell," Sheridan said. "It looked like, this is what we have to offer. If you don't like it, walk. I didn't think that was the intent of our redevelopment process." Both Bergen and Bolte defended the developer's actions and blasted Sheridan for leaving the informal gathering early. "Well, first thing, Councilman Sheridan, I would like to ask that you stay for the entire meeting," Bolte said. "Because about an hour after you left, when we actually completed the meeting, there was actually a turn of the tables to a slightly different state than you recall." The neighborhood meeting was not the time or place for suggestions from the public, Bolte explained, adding, "These residents were in no way given the impression that they were coming to a brainstorming session." Bolte was also critical of Sheridan for not making himself more available to work with the redevelopment subcommittee. "Just in terms of how we handle the redevelopment process on our end, I'm having trouble getting the three of us together," Bolte said. "I'm not sure, when you keep leaving an hour before it's over, how we're going to get the right interpretation of how the meeting went. I don't know what to do with that." Bolte said by the end of the meeting, residents were happy with the plan. "But you know, if it looks like a sell, it's a sell, I guess," Bolte said. "There's people at these meetings all the time, talking with people, telling them what they should want or don't want. So who's selling who?" Bergen agreed with Bolte, saying the crowd was won over by the plan after Sheridan left. Bergen also chided Sheridan several times for leaving early, at one point, repeatedly asking if Sheridan recalled specific moments that occurred at the very end, after he had left. "I think everyone knows that I left early," Sheridan replied. On Thursday, Sheridan said he was not expecting such a reaction. "I was just asking about the process," Sheridan said. "It just seemed that I struck a raw nerve. I haven't seen that kind of behavior in the council before. I think it got in the way of actually answering my question." "They said in the end, when I wasn't there, the people said they'd rather have that than nothing," Sheridan said. "But that's not the way to go about it. We want what's best for the town, not what's better than nothing. ... It seems like they're rushing into this. I don't want to get in the way, but on the other hand, why are you saying it's this or nothing? Can't we modify it a little bit?"