By PETE WALTON
Bradley Beach residents are invited to apply for a vacancy on the borough’s Quality of Life Committee.
The committee was restructured last fall when six citizen members were appointed to the panel.
Mayor Gary Engelstad said at this week’s Borough Council meeting that a desire to work would be an important factor in filling the vacancy.
“We need a doer, not a talker,” said Juliann Nutaitis, who chairs the committee.
In September, the council confirmed the appointments of George Bachar and former councilman Thomas Volante to serve through 2019, Harvey Rosenberg and Richard Despins through 2018, and Nutaitis and Ron Schlag through 2017.
The committee works with the council and borough employees to resolve issues reported by residents and items suggested by members of the group.
The mayor asked Nutaitis to have the committee consider participation by Bradley Beach in the annual Make A Difference Day sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, started by former President George H.W. Bush.
Engelstad, who worked in the first Bush administration, suggested that volunteers may be able to help a struggling homeowner improve their property. He said borough merchants would be likely to help with supplies.
This year’s Make A Difference Day will take place on Sat., Oct. 28.
Assemblyman Dave Rible (R-30th) attended this week’s council meeting and reported that a representative of the state Department of Transportation would be in the borough this week to discuss long-delayed improvements to crosswalks on Main Street, which is also state Route 71.
“We have a good problem, with more foot traffic downtown,” the mayor told Rible. He asked for the assemblyman’s help in coordinating with U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) about the need to dredge Sylvan Lake between Bradley Beach and Avon.
Following 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studied the storm’s impact on New Jersey’s coastal lakes, including Sylvan Lake. A subsequent report by the corps detailed the need for dredging in a number of locations.
Engelstad noted that Avon and Bradley Beach could not afford to do the Sylvan Lake work themselves. Rible said he would speak with Smith’s office and continue to discuss the need for dredging with Commissioner Bob Martin of the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Councilman Harold Cotler said that the borough’s First Aid Squad was looking for new members. Training will be provided. He said that the fire department’s annual spring fish fry will take place on Fri., April 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the fire house banquet hall, 815 Main St.
A borough-wide yard sale April 22 and 23 will benefit the ladies auxiliary of the fire department, Cotler said.
