By MELISSA BEVERIDGE
The Bradley Beach Memorial Day Weekend Festival Committee has donated $9,000 for a new Global Electric Motor Car police vehicle to the borough.
Festival Committee member Harvey Rosenberg suggested that the vehicle could be used for traffic and parking enforcement along Main Street and the beachfront.
“Over the past seven years, the committee has raised a total of $133,600, $26,600.00 in 2015 alone and donated a total of $142,600,” Rosenberg said.
The committee announced that they are currently working on two new projects, which will be presented at a future date.
Mayor Gary Engelstad suggested that since there are a number of big-ticket items for discussion including sewer replacement, retirements, and recruitment for a new tourism director, he suggested adding on work sessions for the Borough Council. Council members would meet at the table and the media and the public would be invited. The “blue sky” issues would be discussed without anything being passed or resolved.
Councilman Thomas Volante suggested that the council meet for work sessions monthly instead of every other month. Starting in January, the council will meet for a work session the second session since most bills are due by the 15th.
In addition, the council set season beach pass prices for 2016, voting to keep the price of $70 for adult season pass, $30 for 65 years and up and $25 for 15-5 years. The ouncil also decided to extend the $10 discount, which will now be available from Nov. 30 to Jan. 29.
“We had a phenomenal summer,” Engelstad said. “We’re looking at a surplus of close to half a million dollars. Before setting daily badge prices I just need to have a better picture of, number one, where we’ll be with the beach budget and what’s our competition doing.”
The council also discussed the beachfront concessions, deciding to remove the pushcarts to the beach due to feedback on their effectiveness and adherence to what is wanted on the boardwalk. The Brinley Avenue trailer contract currently ends on Oct. 31 with the minimum bid set at $25,000 and the actual bid at $33,000. The council asked the borough attorney to add language reflecting that should there be an “Act of God,” the borough would not be held responsible for damages should the concession continue to remain open.
