Police, Fire & Courts

Seaside Park Authorizes Potential Purchase of Tri-Boro Building, Holds Off on EMS Agreement

by
Daniel Nee
December 10, 2025

The Tri-Boro First Aid building on J Street in Seaside Park. (Photo: Tri-Boro First Aid)

Seaside Park officials have voted to adopt an ordinance that would allow the borough to purchase the Tri-Boro First Aid building on J Street pending the outcome of negotiations over a lease agreement. The borough council unanimously voted in favor of moving forward with the purchase, notwithstanding some pushback from residents who said there should have been more discussion prior to the vote.

The ordinance does not complete the sale of the property, but instead authorizes the sale should the borough, Seaside Heights and Berkeley Township come to an agreement on the terms of a lease that would govern its future operations. Tri-Boro submitted the only bid to provide EMS services to the three communities earlier this fall. Seaside Heights officials voted last week in favor of a shared services agreement with Seaside Park and Berkeley to fund the service, however Seaside Park officials tabled the measure.

The building, located at 61 J Street, just east of NE Central Avenue, would be sold by the squad to the borough for $1, however the sale will only be effectuated if officials hammer out a lease agreement. The building was first conveyed to Tri-Boro in 1966, however the deed contained a reverter clause that would return it to borough ownership if the squad ceased using it for first aid purposes. Though officials said they were unable to give details as to what language a future lease may contain, the building would still be used to house the squad’s vehicles and operations. Residents questioned what would come of an open mortgage on the building; county records indicate a loan in the amount of $192,000 was granted in 2018, held by a local bank.

“Mortgages are part of negotiations,” said Borough Attorney Steven Zabarsky, speaking in generalities since the negotiations are subject to confidentiality.

The ordinance caused a stir among some residents who opined that a public discussion should have been held before its passage.

“As we all know, this building is not in great shape,” said resident Edie Klink. “It needs work, and it’s another piece of property the town is buying. It could end up, potentially, costing the town a lot of money.”

The purchase, according to the ordinance, is subject to “a separate lease agreement and shared service agreement between the Borough o f Seaside Park, the Borough of Seaside Heights, and Berkeley Township.”

The Tri-Boro First Aid building hosts a party at its building on J Street in Seaside Park. (Photo: Tri-Boro First Aid)

“The purpose of the ordinance is twofold,” said Mayor John Peterson. “First and foremost, to maintain the current level of EMS services being provided by Tri-Boro First Aid Squad, and secondly, to maintain the Tri-Boro building at its current location so they can maintain services at the site.”

The squad, which has long consisted of both paid and volunteer members, has run into financial troubles in recent years. Meanwhile, municipalities in New Jersey are limited in the amount of funding they can provide to volunteer squads, meaning Tri-Boro would have to reorganize to some extent in order to become the appointed EMS provider for the three towns. Earlier this year, they submitted the sole bid received to provide EMS services to Seaside Heights, Seaside Park and South Seaside Park – a five-year proposal that called for $4.2 million divided between the three communities, in which they would be charged $800,000 annually for the first three years and $900,000 annually for the final two years, which would be optional.

Seaside Heights officials voted to enter into a shared services agreement with Seaside Park and Berkeley Township. Seaside Park was set to consider the same agreement last Thursday, but tabled the measure. Berkeley Township has not yet considered the agreement at a council meeting.