By PETE WALTON
Parking will be the subject of the Bradley Beach Borough Council’s May 23 work session.
Mayor Gary Engelstad said there are a number of “pressure points” along Main Street where parking is often at a premium, and he wants the council to explore what might be done to address the situation.
The mayor thanked Councilman Randy Bonnell, who serves on the public works and quality of life committees, for presenting at this week’s council meeting a number of photographic renderings indicating where the borough might be able to provide additional parking.
Also at the May 23 meeting, the mayor and council plan to honor library director Janet Torsney, who is returning to Montclair after overseeing the opening of the Bradley Beach library’s new handicapped accessible addition.
The council adopted a $500,000 bond ordinance to cover the costs of new railings on the beachfront. Engelstad said the borough expected to receive a 90 percent reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“FEMA came to us and urged us to apply for the grant to repair the railings,” the mayor said.
An ordinance prohibiting the sale of tobacco products in the borough to persons under the age of 21 was introduced by a 4-0 vote.
Also introduced were four ordinances addressing the borough’s obligations under the state’s afffordable housing guidelines. Councilman Harold Cotler abstained on the introductions pending the receipt of more information concerning questions he had about state building code requirements.
The council hired Jennifer Beahm as borough planner for 2017. The vote was 3-1 with Bonnell voting no.
Engelstad said that Monmouth County officials will hold their annual summer tourism kickoff Saturday morning in Bradley Beach.
“They chose us because they know we are a great summer town,” the mayor said.
Freeholder Thomas Arnone, former mayor of nearby Neptune City, said the kickoff will take place at the Bradley Beach gazebo at Fifth and Ocean avenues. The event begins at 9 a.m. and will be held rain or shine.
A cleanup will take place at Sylvan Lake beginning at 9 a.m. on Sat., May 20.
After resident Gerald McAtee thanked the police department for their rapid response to issues he reports while serving as a crossing guard, Engelstad announced that McAtee will be the grand marshal of the borough’s 2019 Memorial Day parade.
