By PETE WALTON
The Bradley Beach Borough Council has approved an arrangement with a Red Bank-based marketing firm to produce the borough’s annual Memorial Day Festival.
Harvey Rosenberg, who chairs the committee which oversees the festival, said that the borough’s First Aid Squad has agreed to take over sponsorship of the event. Rosenberg said the committee planned to contract with Spark Market Solutions to put on the festival. At this week’s council meeting, Rosenberg requested that a resolution approving the arrangement be added to the agenda.
Resident Thomas J. Coan immediately objected, saying that the public should have advance notice of such a proposal before it is voted on.
Mayor Gary Engelstad asked borough attorney Michael DuPont if the item could be added to the agenda, and DuPont responded that it could.
The council approved the proposal by a 4-0 vote.
Spark Market Solutions produces a number of popular events including the highly successful New Jersey Seafood Festival in Belmar and the Food Truck Showdown at Monmouth Park.
Kelly Barrett was appointed as municipal clerk through December of 2019. She had been the acting clerk.
The meeting was held in the senior citizens building as the council chambers are being renovated for additional use as a municipal court. The council approved the appointment of Dorothy Reibrich as acting court administrator and Patricia White as deputy administrator. Neighboring Avon took similar action the night before as the two towns combine court operations after terminating a similar arrangement with Neptune City.
Engelstad praised Barrett, who served as court administrator in Neptune City before coming to Bradley Beach, for her leadership in implementing the changes needed for the new court operation. The mayor also thanked members of the public works department, who hope to complete the renovations by Jan. 1.
Councilman-elect John Weber, who chairs the borough’s Environmental Commission, announced that Bradley Beach has been certified as a “Sustainable Jersey” community by the Sustainability Institute at the College of New Jersey in Ewing. Weber thanked the council and members of the committee for their work in meeting the requirements for the designation.
Weber and Randy Bonnell are scheduled to be sworn into office at noon on Jan. 1 when the council holds its reorganization meeting. Bonnell defeated Planning Board Chairman William Psiuk by one vote in the Nov. 8 election, according to the latest official totals released by Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon. A recount was conducted following a court petition by Psiuk, who still has legal options if he wishes to pursue the matter further.
Councilmen Harold Cotler, who was not present at this week’s meeting, and Norman Goldfarb were re-elected. The mayor and Goldfarb paid tribute at this week’s meeting to outgoing council members Salvatore Galassetti and Thomas Volante, who chose not to seek reelection.
Volante said he would continue to be involved with the borough’s revitalized quality of life committee. Galassetti said he would remain a familiar face around town, though maybe not as much during the colder months of the year.
