Officials plan to reconstruct Beach Haven Borough Hall with partial state funding

Beach Haven Borough Manager Richard Crane announced at the monthly town council meeting Oct. 14 that the borough’s Neighborhood Preservation Program grant application has received “tentative approval” from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The grant, funded through the state, would be used to reconstruct Beach Haven’s borough hall, which has been vacated since suffering 4 feet of floodwater damage from Superstorm Sandy.

“One of the reasons for us waiting is that we had the opportunity to possibly secure some funding to, rather than just slap it together and move back into the building itself, possibly look at tearing the old building down and building something much more modern and appropriate for what we currently do,” Crane explained.

Photos by Ryan Morrill
The building has been closed for two years due
to floodwater damage from Superstorm Sandy.

The application is expected to reach Gov. Christie’s office next.

“If, in fact, he does sign off on this project, we will be able to go ahead and start the architectural plans to be drawn up to create a new borough hall,” said Crane.

The grant would cover 25 percent of the actual construction costs; the remaining 75 percent would be paid by the town via a low-interest loan spaced out over 30 years. Construction would probably be in the $3 to $4 million range, Crane said.

“Stretching it out over 30 years is going to be very affordable, and I think everybody will be pleased with what we finally get,” he added. “... It’s not a done deal yet, but the fact that we made it through the economic development authority this morning with positive results, we can only keep our fingers crossed that the governor looks positively upon that, and we can move ahead on this project.”

It was also announced that the town received four bids on Sept. 17 for the reconstruction of some ocean top streets that were compromised by Sandy. The low bidder was Johnson/Baran Corp. at $87,332.41. The work is expected to begin within the next 30 days.

The town also finally received approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection to go out to bid for the town’s new water plant. Local officials had hoped to get the project started last spring, but it was put off during the summer season. Crane said the bids will be received within the next 30 days. The existing plant is expected to be torn down shortly thereafter.

An ordinance to add two locations with no-parking provisions, including within 50 feet of the west end of the paved portion on both sides of Fifth Street as well as west of Delaware Avenue on both sides of Sixth Street, was adopted.

A code amendment to increase the charge for certified copies of public records from $12 to $15 was passed on first reading. Another code amendment, which disallows drones on the beach between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., was also passed on introduction.

An ordinance amendment to limit the use of crawl space or basement sump pumps, foundation or footing drains to 12 hours on and 12 hours off was passed on first reading.

An ordinance amendment for a collector’s beach badge and gift box, for $50 and $2 respectively, was also passed on introduction. If adopted, the new badge, featuring a unique and limited design to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Beach Haven, would be introduced for the 2015 season. A new design would be implemented probably every few years, Lauren Liquori, deputy borough clerk, told The SandPaper.

During the meeting, Crane revealed the final lifeguard report, which included a total of 331 rescues, 236 first aid calls, 239 preventive measures and 73 EMS responses throughout the 2014 summer season.

It was also mentioned that the new lifeguard headquarters building will be boarded up during the off-season. Other preventive measures to secure the building and to avoid any storm damage or vandalism will be taken care of by members of the public works department.

Also during the meeting, Councilman James White encouraged residents to join officials at Veterans Bicentennial Park for a Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11, at 10:45 a.m. He also urged residents to “exercise their right to vote” on the Nov. 4th election day.

Councilwoman Nancy Taggart Davis encouraged residents to pick up a bundle of dune grass at 815 North Atlantic Ave. She said the town received a shipment of about 240 bundles, which is a total of 24,000 blades of grass – a lot of which still needs to be planted.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.