The announcement comes amid talks with another neighboring township.
Until further notice, anyone summoned to a Phillipsburg municipal court hearing should head to Alpha, according to an alert Saturday posted on the town's website.
That came as a surprise to Phillipsburg Council President Todd Tersigni and Pohatcong Township Mayor James Kern III, who a day earlier had announced they had started their own talks for the same temporary service.
Phillipsburg Council President Todd Tersigni (lehighvalleylive.com file photo) Either way, municipal court cannot be held in Phillipsburg until mold in the municipal building is dealt with. Town council meetings are held in the same chamber.
Saturday's announcement says Phillipsburg municipal court will be in Alpha's borough hall at 1001 East Blvd., and town council and land use board meetings will be held at the Phillipsburg Elementary School, 525 Warren Street.
Phillipsburg Mayor Stephen Ellis on Saturday said he had begun making arrangements early in the week with the Phillipsburg School District and Alpha, which has shared Phillipsburg's court for four years.
The mayor also said that Tersigni was advised of the developments. Tersigni said he was not told of any other talks going on.
P'burg town offices may need to move
Ellis said the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts was OK with the temporary move to Alpha. Phillipsburg did not appear on a list of relocated municipal courts, and an office spokeswoman could not be reached Saturday for confirmation.
Alpha Mayor Craig Dunwell said he met Friday with Phillipsburg court staff to review the space available in his borough. He said it was likely court would resume Feb. 8 after certain equipment needs to be installed.
In Pohatcong, Kern said the offer to host Phillipsburg's court is still on the table.
"I'm not sure what their internal discussions are over there," Kern said, "but I got a call from a neighboring town and said yeah, we'd be willing to help."
Phillipsburg Mayor Stephen Ellis (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) Ellis acknowledged that the decision of where to host town council meetings does fall to Tersigni, the council president. Tersigni said the Phillipsburg Senior Center is willing to host meetings, too.
A recently completed environmental analysis found mold in the Phillipsburg municipal building, 675 Corliss Ave., that could pose a risk to anyone with respiratory issues or other ailments, like allergies or lung disease, the town said in a news release Wednesday. The release advised that anyone with such conditions should "exercise judgement when entering the building."
Mold was reportedly found in the court/council chambers on the second floor and in the basement. Most of the town offices are on the building's first floor.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.