Evans Optomistic on Future of Roche Property
• Existing Building Should Be Attractive to New Owners
Jul 4, 2012 – No one in Nutley government over the past decade has maintained a closer professional relationship with Roche than Finance Commissioner Tom Evans who last night expressed optimism that the several acre campus with its several multi-level structures might well continue to be the town's largest tax payers for years to come.
"One of the benefits we enjoy is that all those relatively new modern buildings are located on the Nutley side of the Roche property and while I'm not a real estate specialist, I can easily see the value in those buildings alone ans not only being able to support a future owner of that entire property, but able to continue paying tax revenues to Nutley as well," Evans said.
He cautioned, however, that it's too early in the process "to even begin to comment on what the future ratables might look like." But he's optimistic.
Evans expressed his optimism after he and other commissioners left a two-hour meeting with Roche officials yesterday followed by an 90-minute Board of Commissioners session last night attended by 30 persons including many who feared the Roche decision will result in unbearable tax increases.
Evans confirmed the decision by Roche to terminate its operations in Nutley was a closely guarded secret. He himself was informed of the Roche plan only 20 minutes before the public announcement was made.
Up until Monday evening, Roche had been expected to address its plans to the public as part of last night's Board of Commissioners session at Town Hall. Instead, Roche chose to host yesterday's two-hour briefing with the Nutley Commissioners.
"We met and the remediation process has started," Mayor Alphonse Petracco told last night's session at Town Hall. Commissioner Mauro Tucci said he came away from the Roche session with information that was "very sketchy." And Commissioner Steve Rogers urged townspeople not to be alarmed by rumors. "Please, help us calm down the nerves of a lot of Nutley people whose futures are at stake. Direct the rumors to any one of us on the board," was Rogers' advice.
Mayor Petracco said he has also has engaged in discussions with officials in Trenton. "The state is very concerned about the Roche move," Petracco said. "But I am very optimistic. Hopefully we can come out of this with even more (of a stronger future.")
