STOP THE SHADY LACEY DEAL!

Lacey Township is about to try something no other town in New Jersey has done before: teaming up with a publicly traded private corporation to build a new municipal complex in a deal known as a “public-private partnership.” Think of it like being the first person to try a brand-new roller coaster. It might sound exciting, but it's also very risky because we don't know all the twists and turns ahead - and the financing structure is replete with its own unique risks.

It’s not too late: If enough residents speak up, we can lobby the State of New Jersey to not approve the project and pressure our elected officials to stop their absurd spending plan.

A Bad Deal for Taxpayers

The proposed municipal complex deal is a public-private partnership with Johnson Controls. But here's the catch: the terms are heavily skewed in their favor and could leave taxpayers on the hook for millions of dollars.

We Pay, They Own

Even though we, the taxpayers, will be footing the bill, Johnson Controls will own the building. Imagine paying for a house for 30 years but never owning it!

Hidden Costs

The contract terms are dubious. This means we could end up paying much more than anticipated over the years. The predevelopment services agreement signed by your elected officials contains many provisions that require the Township to pay exhorbitant penalty payments to Johnson Controls if they back out of the deal.

Displacing Our Veterans For Real Estate Deals

Recently, the Township Committee has been pushing to evict Vetworks from their building and tear down the historic Worden House. Vetworks, a beacon of hope for our disabled veterans, provides invaluable services like free rides to medical appointments. Why is the committee so eager to displace this vital organization? To fund their extravagant spending plans for the new municipal complex.

The Timeline

• August, 2020: Township Administrator Veronica Laureigh Starts working with Johnson Controls
  
• May 13th, 2021: The Township officially receives the “unsolicited proposal” and officially acknowledges receipt of the proposal in Resolution 2021-137
  
• July 8th, 2021: The Township Committee does a “do-over” and passes Resolution 2021-203 acknowledging the proposal a second time. On the same night, they also approve the required written policy for reviewing proposals
• September, 23rd, 2021: Lacey Township publishes the legally required public notice for the project, omitting any mention of their initial procedural missteps.
  

The Rulebook Says...

There's a rule in New Jersey (N.J.A.C. 17:49-6.4(a)) that says if a town gets an unexpected proposal from a private company (like building a new municipal complex), the town needs to have a clear plan on how they'll review it before they accept the proposal. This ensures everything is above board and transparent.

But here's where things get tricky: Lacey Township accepted the Johnson Controls proposal without having this plan in place.

That's a big no-no.

Rally Held Against Proposed Lacey Municipal Complex

LACEY – A group of roughly half a dozen people gathered outside before the most recent Township Committee meeting, brandishing signs in opposition to the proposed municipal complex.

'A War Is Brewing': Lacey Fights Back Against Proposed Complex

“Residents are making it clear: they do not want Lacey to enter a public private partnership to construct a new municipal complex.”

Proposed New Municipal Complex Draws Ire From Lacey Residents

“Residents criticized the proposed new town hall, police station and indoor rec center as unnecessary during a time of high inflation.”

Residents Continue To Push Against New Municipal Complex In Lacey

“While there still have been no official decisions made, residents continue to ask that the township doesn't go through with a new complex.”

Lacey wants at least $20M to build town hall, police HQ. Are private investors the answer?

“LACEY - An aging townhall and police station in need of millions of dollars of repairs and upgrades have prompted Lacey elected officials to consider what they say would be New Jersey's first municipal public private partnership.”

In 2016, Johnson Controls had to pay $14.4M to settle bribery charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Their subsidiary, China Marine, was found to have used fake vendors to funnel $4.9M in bribes to Chinese government-owned shipyards, securing business deals and personal gains.

In 2016, Johnson Controls merged with Tyco International, relocating to Ireland to significantly lower their corporate taxes—a move known as a tax inversion. This allowed them to dodge US taxes, saving an estimated $150 million annually. This restructuring led to a massive 52% workforce reduction between 2016 and 2022. A similar pattern emerged after their takeover of York International in 2005, resulting in a 76% workforce reduction between 2005 and 2016.

Tyco International, before its merger with Johnson Controls, was embroiled in a major scandal. In 2002, its top executives were accused of stealing over $150 million from the company. After a retrial in 2005, they were convicted on most counts, facing potential jail terms of up to 25 years. Tyco later agreed to a massive $2.92 billion settlement for defrauded shareholders.

Mayor Tim McDonald (R)

tmcdonald@laceytownship.org

Deputy Mayor Steven Kennis (R)

skennis@laceytownship.org

Commiteewoman Peggy Sue Juliano (R)

Up for reelection this year

pjuliano@laceytownship.org

Committeman Mark Dykoff (R)

mdykoff@laceytownship.org

Committeman Peter Curatolo (R)

pcuratolo@laceytownship.org