By PETE WALTON
The Bradley Beach Borough Council has introduced an ordinance allowing for a commission to study changing the form of government.
A public hearing on the ordinance will take place at a future meeting.
The borough currently operates using the Small Municipality Plan under the state’s Faulkner Act, which establishes various forms of government which communities can adopt.
According to the proposed ordinance, council members “believe that it is in the best interests of the borough’s residents to review the current charter of the borough through the establishment of a five-member Charter Commission, which would be charged with the responsibility and be authorized to hold hearings and public forums, to take evidence and to make recommendations in order to determine whether or not, in comparison with other forms of government in this State, the current form of government is the most appropriate for the borough.”
The ordinance, if approved, calls for a public question be placed on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, asking the following:
“Shall a charter commission be elected to study the charter of the Borough of Bradley Beach and to consider a new charter or improvements in the present charter and to make recommendations thereon?”
Under state law, members of the charter commission would be elected at the same time. They would serve if the commission question is approved.
The proposed ordinance does not call for a change in government, only for a commission to study the idea.
The vote to introduce the ordinance was 2 to 1. Councilman John Weber and Councilwoman Kristin Mahoney voted in favor while Mayor Larry Fox voted no.
“I’m not sure that’s what we need right now,” Fox said of the commission idea. “What we need, I think, is to focus on the community. We have any number of things going on right now and I want to focus our energy there, so I will vote no.”
Bradley Beach began to operate under the Small Municipality Plan on July 1, 1992, after a previous charter study commission recommended it. The so-called “strong mayor” form of government is only available to municipalities with a population which is less than 12,000.
Beginning in 1915 and until the 1992 change, the borough had a five-member commission form of government with the members choosing a mayor among themselves.
Under the present form of government, a mayor is elected to a four-year term of office and four council members are chosen to serve concurrent three-year terms.
Fox’s current term as mayor expires at the end of the year. Terms of the four council members expire at the end of 2025.
