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78 Comments
So what’s the real story, for going in a new direction?
So long cousin Harry Harsin
Isn’t it wonderful how a ‘search committee’ is established in Belmar?
Who in management didn’t vote for the regime candidate last November? My guess is all if them didn’t.
So Colleen Connolly is now known as a Search Committee? Jeez!
If you don’t live and vote in Belmar do not apply! Every vote counts and is counted!
Thought we had the best in our lifeguards and management. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Joan, naivety be thy name.
Maybe they weren’t in the “inner circle”?
Belmar had a proud history of operating a safe beachfront …. until 2017, when there were 2 tragic drowning fatalities.
After working hours drowning
Gene.#10. Belmar has a very proud history when it comes to our lifeguards. Those tragic drownings happened before the season got started and after beach hours. Last years beach season was non stop rescues and our men and women stepped up to the challenge. I cannot believe we are throwing them under the bus. Where is the loyalty to an excellent crew?
Harsin must have voted for Walsifer and Vallario. How dare he express his right to vote against this totalarian regime. More votes against Dirty Doherty and his clown show. Unemployment will fit his skill set nicely.
I’ve been to many beaches along the Jersey shore. Never observed better lifeguards anywhere. Belmar has the best lifeguards.
Jim Bean for Mayor
Joan #12. You said it all and if Drew stated in his letter that our rank and.file lifeguards are the best working along the Jersey Shore why change it.
Except for management the guys working on the beach were students and teachers working when the schools were closed. Management was older and locals working for the same reasons money to survive. We have had very few incidents on our beaches most occurred after beach closings(after hours)when the guards were off duty. The beach manager
was a life guard as a student trained
and familiar with the rules and regulations. If you people now in management feel these same people are
not competent what took so long to do something about it. They were sued and won their case on appeal for an issue
that was not their fault. What happens
before and after hours is also not their fault. When the water is that dangerous beaches should be closed to prevent another event when no one is
on duty or off duty.
Most of the year round people raised their kids on the beach and
enjoyed what we had. Some of the kids
were working because they wanted to.
This makes the town look like they feel the guards and management were at
fault for the incidents that have occurred. NOT TRUE.
I smell another lawsuit
Admin
Do you think they operated with a contract ?
From what I understand contracts were renewed yearly and were from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Colleen and Drew don’t live in Belmar. They don’t care.
#15 I agree! He has my vote
Colleen Connolly got her nose out of joint because she wasn’t kowtowed to. Plain and simple, she needs to go! Along with Doherty. Won’t be soon enough. If she gets the CFO job we are all screwed.
SeasonalBeach Attendents are paid rain or shine, smoking or not, warming the boards or not, collecting unemployment and pension credits at how much per hour?
Having been a Belmar beach girl all my life, we should thank the lifeguard crew and be commending them on how professional they have run our beaches instead of rejecting them! Matt what are you thinking????? HUGE disappointment to the whole community, you should really rethink this !!!!
The most important thing of picking the life guardette is measurements. Always bare that in mind. Nothing else matters, not even the ability to swim. Well, of course she should be gudd looking and answer the questions of the judges – “I want two save the little childrun of all nations such as Idaho.” The talent portion of the selection process is also very important. I here accordion playing while tap dancing is coming back very big this year on guardette selecshuns.
The best is the rumor going around saying that Charlie would be in charge of the beach. Lol ! He can’t even run the marina with 100 boats let alone saving lives on the beach like our awesome beach crew has been doing for years. Guess you should post signs “ no swimming”! Lol
Next thing you now the attendants won’t be able to collect unemployment anymore. Who would thought the seasonal employees won’t be able to collect unemployment next thing you know they will have to pay taxes on there tips.
Maybe our “savior” mayoral candidate Mr Walsifer could inform his constituents of what’s going on, so we are not here guessing?
Just a thought
Next town meeting all guards should be there demanding answers- and bring the press. It’s the only way to let people know how disgraceful this is!
Maybe the Belmar Police Department should do the same thing from the top down. 3 Seperate Times I picked up food on Main Street between 16th and 17th Ave. The first time my wife and daughter were sitting in the car and witnessed a drug transaction right in front of them. One time I saw it happen right in front of me as I was walking by. Then last night a parked car right under a street light with the windows cracked and fogged up 2 subjects sitting in the car smoking marijuana. Thanks for the patrol of Lake Como. Maybe Lake Como Police should have taken over Belmar.
#12 …. I used “operating a safe beachfront” which is a 24/7-365 day job.
The Beach & Boardwalk is a 1.3 mile attractive nuisance that we are blessed with.
#31 – Your post reminds me of a job I was on. I was walking around in the parking lot in the early morning and I saw the car of one of our guys with the motor running. So I went over and brushed the film of snow off the windshield to say good morning and there was my friend and another guy snorting coke off the dashboard. What could I do, I put on a happy face and said good morning and went my way. Very embarrassing for everyone involved – I’m always the last to know.
So can the regime explain why the need to “go in a new direction”? Mr. Walsifer, please explain if the ruling opposition party will not.
Who is on the search committee?
Huisman, Connolly and Magovern
Can we all just acknowledge that this is some kind of political agenda / vendetta ? Please ? Not doing so is simply offensive and juvenile.
This crew has been effective, professional and have personal relationships with many of the folks they protect.
Unfortunately this political buffoonery will have real consequences. The tragedy laying in wait, is if the eventual rescue is botched by a new and inexperienceed crew. What then? I hope the Mayor, Town Council and Chief of Police entered that notion into their ridiculous and transparent calculus and are prepared to live with their experiment.
I would like to think that changes are being made in response to the Borough’s insurer.
Me thinks there might be a mitigation attempt in the works.
Also weren’t the Harmon family members very much involved in Life Guarding careers over many, many yearz in Monmouth County?
We need a man like Tim Harmon to operate the Belmar Beachfront. Him and his father did a terrific job for many years. No doubt with his experience in Sea Girt he would be the most qualified candidate in he applied. What say you Mr. Doherty?
Our lifeguards on 20th Avenue are the best. They know all the neighbors and families that come to the beach. I hope they don’t change them.
Don’t get your hopes up on Walsifer asking anything.
Wimpifer has been a total disappointment to say the least. CAN NOT be supported in any bid for mayor.
Bill Mack available?
Belmar has one of the busiest beaches on the Jersey shore. Managing a large lifeguard crew while continuing to do a great job is not easy. The current management crew has done a terrific job for many, many years. They have worked with all the local Surfers and thanks to them, they aren’t any kind of confrontations as in past years. I think they do a fantastic job. There are plenty of other problems in Belmar to take care of. Leave the Lifeguards alone!
Well said guru !
I have seen first hand many of times how professional the management team works. Whether it was the elder, youngers,they are ALWAYS polite and extremely helpful when asked questions that do not necessary pertain to them. I have seen many rescues that show their team work and determination. These guys live and breathe for Belmar beach, I can’t imagine that you could possibly find a new team that would ever sure pass their professionalism that they show day in and day out! Leave them alone !
Well said Don. Did anyone ask the question as to why this is being done ? I guess Walsifer didn’t but did anybody else ?
Not sure about any of the comments about beach badge crew are true. they do not get paid when it rains ,they do not get overtime, they do not collect unemployment. This is news to me.On another note BEWARE many parked cars on D street had their side mirrors smashed sometime between last night and this morning. Great way to start the day with a 800 dollar bill for all our vehicles. IF ANYONE SAW OR HEARD ANYTHING PLEASE CALL BELMAR POLICE TO CATCH THE JERKS! thanks
What is being done to prevent after hours drownings?
#50: Big Zero.
Could they be trying to hire Union Guards only? Would be interesting if every single returning guard applied to Avon and Spring Lake and Sara Girt (any other town really). Now what Colleen?
Many are going to jump to Sandy Hook. Fed job with benefits. Belmar guards are wanted there to fill current vacancies
Meanwhile whack jobs MM and MD actively pushing apprentice wages should have been commsurate with journeyman wages. Nuts, unskilled should start at $15 ph but skilled lifeguards pay start at $11 ph. Doesn’t make sense. They have to prove themselves with all those certifications to qualify for an application (good thing) and then be subjected to Cooleen’s medeling by making Belmar Guards seem like as second class beggars despite their proven histories of true lifesavers.
Life quards get paid out of Beach utility. Not municipal. There should be plenty of money to pay our guards a living wage ( Matt after all is supposed to be the guy who demands that right?)
Its all the DEBT!! Where DID they spend that 4.5 million Community Disaster LOAN??? When is the start date of repayment?? Panic starting to set in at city hall.
Interesting subject here. But I’m a bit confused. I always thought lifeguarding was something a young guy did for a year or two as a summer job in HS or college. Reading these posts, they’re professionals? This is thought of as a “profession?” They don’t do real, productive work? As usual, I’m always the last to know.
#56. Please get to know a guard or two. Would you like only HS men to hold that job? Seasoned lifeguards bring years of rescue experience. Many get to know those that frequent the beach they guard. Those with other careers allow them to provide this lifesaving service seasonally. I’m surprised you never noticed. Don’t get to the beach much huh?
Lets be honest, this move by Doherty is pure politics. Apparently someone hasn’t kissed his or Colleens ring. I sit on 7th Ave. beach with my family often. I am always impressed by how the lifeguards are so professional when conducting rescues and preventing them before they occur. This comes from training and experience. The leadership of the Belmar beach is by far second to none. You can tell that by the way all the guards conduct themselves. I believe the leaders are teachers and a retired cop, perfect! Lets leave them alone to do the job the do so well! If anyone should be let go its Dirty Doherty and Nasty Colleen!
How do you stop this proposal from going through? Do not understand where this would be an improvement to what we have.
Matt, Colleen & the “acting” police chief Huisman, You kicked a sleeping dog now it’s gonna bite. You’ve lost in the voice of public opinion and that’s tantamount. Why don’t you try to do the job that they do? you can’t because you can’t handle the thruth ! You may have won the battle but you won’t win the war that you’ve started. GAME ON….have a nice Summer…..
“Acting” chief huisman is a puppet. He makes tens of thousands of dollars on the backs of the taxpayers. He doesn’t want the chief title because he loses overtime. One hand washes the other, it’s sickening! If he’s a serious “public safety director” he’ll leave the beach in the good hands of the experienced leaders that have been down there for years! Let’s see if he will stand up to Doherty and Connelly or is the almighty dollar too important to him. God help them if someone drowns!
Profits before safety.
#61- You hit the nail on the head. Captain(s) and a Chief of a Department of their size do not belong working overtime. It proves dis-function. It harbors resentment and low moral among the rank and file. It also causes inefficiency in that, as a lowly patrolman observes the greed brought on by Matt’s blank check going to the upper echelon , they too may tend to “milk” the cow. And I’m certain this is not the only department in town behaving this way, WASTING your money.
inasmuch as this topic involves the Beach Utility, there are Public Trust Doctrine money issues…
all good reasons for the Gov to reinstate the Department of the Public Advocate
Absolutely need PUBLIC ADVOCATE Governor Murphy!.
Doherty says “too many empty stands”? What? Have you been to the Belmar beach? Great idea though Matt “fire everyone in February” and hope you get a full replacement management and staff. Oh wait did Chef’s or MerriMakers offer to take over the beach too?
Scrimping on Beach Utility Trust monies to pay full contingents of Lifeguards to handle the hordes is probably actionable. The advertising budget for Belmar far exceeds in terms of Lifeguard budget. Divide the beach badget revenue by Lifeguards. You do the math. Ask the current CFO.
Smells like another lawsuit for the moronic Team Doherty to defend against. Good luck to the Belmar Tax payer, you’re gonna need it. Glad I left this town years ago. This Doherty guy couldn’t run a lemonade stand.
Seasonal employees are at will employees
As everyone here knows, I’m not a Doherty fan, but I don’t see the big deal here (but I am sure he’s up to some nasty business – he’s probably got another loser in mind to be the big boss of the lifeguards at a nice fat six figure salary). It’s a summer job. You can get pretty much any kid to pass a swim test and a first aid course. Young people are supposed to do this type of work for a summer or two while they’re in school and then move onto real work once they become adults. It’s a warped idea thinking of lifeguarding as a “career.” As to law suits, I’m sure there will be. Everything’s a lawsuit nowadays.
Matthew Doherty once again is lacking in integrity and honesty. Lifeguard starting salary last year was already at $10.05 per hour and has not been $8.50 for over three years. At times, the beach management had a hard time manning 16 oceanfront stands and one River Beach stand on days with less than 35 lifeguards on duty. Police headquarters and the borough hall administration were always notified which stands for not going to open. Red flags were posted on those beaches and bathers were directed to swim at the manned stands where lifeguards were on duty. The tragic drownings occurred when lifeguards were not on duty. To place blame on the lifeguard administration is wrong. These accusations by the mayor are misleading, defamatory and libelous.
Channel 12 is relating another Belmar fiasco. Nice spin showing the shade canopies on the 6th Avenue beach.
Teddy may be on to something. Free Jersey City day visitors may be applying for Chief Lifeguard post?
How did Colleen Connolly get her job?
Oh that’s right..I heard she was college roomates with Doherty’s wife..
Correct me if I’m wrong.
What kind of experience did she have?
We need Howard Rowland back on the beach…too bad he isn’t with us anymore.
Of course you idiots wouldn’t even know who he is. He trained many of the senior guards and that was true training that they have continued to use through the years.
He was a true legend. You’ll never have that kind of training again. Good luck.
#75 …. Yep! …. Howard Rowland was the ‘missing link’
It’s all about Age Discrimination. Skin Cancers too.
Will Belmar have lifeguards this year?
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