Manasquan's Squan Beach Life Saving Station Preservation Committee on Monday pitched the Borough Council and mayor their plan to build a maritime shipwreck museum inside the historic building and U.S. Coast Guard station built in 1856.

Committee representative Daniel Lieb presented a plan to convert the building's boathouse into a museum that would feature artifacts and photographs from shipwrecks that took place just off the Manasquan coastline.

The plan has been in the works for some time but the committee to date has been unable to secure funds from the borough to open shop, according to committee President Lia Trench.

The two sides have a draft lease agreement in which the committee would pay the borough $12,500 per year for 10 years, but officials on Monday said that a portion of the rent should go toward funding the museum.

The council voted 5-0 to authorize the Public Parks and Property Committee to meet with Trench and other officials to hammer out an agreement.

Trench said that she estimated the museum would need $7300 in start-up capital to purchase chairs, tables, display cases and cleaning and maintenance supplies.

Several council members and Mayor George Dempsey said that they wanted to see the museum up and running as soon as possible.