By MELISSA BEVERIDGE
Neptune City officials hope to extend the boardwalk at Memorial Park 520 feet and widen it 10 feet as part on an ongoing project to improve the park.
Mary Sapp, Borough Administrator, addressed the Borough Council and the public about the ongoing plan to extend the boardwalk upon the completion of the bulkhead under the Community Development Block Grant.
“The bulkhead and the boardwalk was originally in a two part plan,” Mayor Robert Brown said.
The proposed project would extend the boardwalk 520 feet and widen it to 10 feet. The proposed boardwalk is set to feature aluminum railings, lights, benches, and flowerpots.
Included in the specifications is a plan to use “Trex” as the building product, the same product that Ocean Grove is using to replace their boardwalk. The project will also repair the concrete sidewalk. The estimated cost of the plan is $380,000. The borough will be applying for grants from the DEP.
The bulkhead project in Memorial Park was recently completed with the addition of pilings as recommended by the borough engineer for the construction of the new boardwalk and ramp. The additional pilings cost $2,952. The amount was approved by the council, thereby modifying the contract with Extreme Marine Construction, Inc. from $284,818.80 to $287,770.80.
“The DEP loves it (the project) because it eliminates erosion,” the mayor said.
Brown also said that the permits for the bulkhead project were returned in record time and he hopes the project would also follow suit.
“We want to improve Memorial Park for our fallen soldiers,” stated Mayor Brown.
In other business, the council appointed Joseph M. Kelly, III as a Fire Police officer and William Fitzpatrick as Tax Assessor.
Fitzpatrick is the current tax assessor in Wall Township. He will serve as the Neptune City tax assessor for a four-year term, beginning on July 1, 2014 following J. Stephen Walters retirement on June 30.
During Mayor and Council reports, Brown along with members of the Borough Council shared their condolences to Bill Ryan and Robert Temple’s families.Both men died June 4.
“We’ve had some difficult days in Neptune City,” Brown said.
Ryan died after a long battle with cancer. He served as a coach, volunteer, and President of the Neptune City Bradley Beach Little League for 19 years and was also a member of the Neptune City Alliance to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Neptune City Day Committee.
“Bill Ryan was dedicated to the kids and put all his efforts into the Little League,” Brown said.
Robert Temple, a volunteer firefighter with United Fire Company No.1 in Neptune City for 38 years, died June 4 after a battle with cancer.
“Bobby Temple was irreplaceable. He was everywhere. His middle name should have been ‘can I help you do it?” Brown said. “I want to thank the Department for the procession of honor, which was the largest I’d ever seen. You gave an honorable man an honorable procession.”
“These two gave back to the community more than anyone,” Councilman Joseph Zajack said.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25 instead of Monday, June 23.
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