At the last meeting several residents objected to the resolution to advertise for bids for the stand up paddle board lease. They informed the Council that the outfit that has been winning the lease for the past couple of years has been violating those leases by, among other things, using the L Street beach for their lessons instead of the south end of Maclearie Park as the leases have stipulated. These residents were concerned that visitors to the beach were being squeezed out, both on the beach and in the water, by the paddle boarding activities. They also expressed concern for the safety of children in the same water as people learning to paddle board.
The resident who spoke the longest, George Skudera, also pointed out that at $500/year Summertime Surf is only paying the Borough 31 cents an hour for the use of the property. He thought that, considering all the revenue the company generates there, that $10,000 would be a more appropriate figure.
At Brian Magovern’s suggestion the Council pulled the resolution for further review. It is back on the agenda with these changes:
The Council responded to the residents’ concerns by simply giving Summertime Surf permission to be on L Street beach and by raising the minimum bid to 93 cents an hour.
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Also on Tuesday’s agenda….public hearing and adoption of ordinance 2016-01, the pay to play conflict of interest.
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37 Comments
Thank God, Petitions come before Consent Agenda, so we can get home early on Tuesday.
“a portion of L Street Beach” There isn’t enough of that beach to share. Always see families with little children there. This governing body is selling this town out to business. They certainly don’t seem to care about families. Like we need another restaurant..plus to put it at the marina. Forget about the parking. Just overbuilding.
It seems the new borough attorney did nothing to advise the council on how to proceed. It is apparent he does not take this job seriously. Also the borough administrator does not do his job either. Let me speak slowly, so they understand. Y o u c a n n o t l e a s e G r e e n A c r e f u n d e d p a r k l a n d t o a f o r p r o f I t c o m p a n y
#3 Just watch them do it. Where is the state/county government?
I would speculate that the new borough attorney can keep his job as long as he lets the mayor do what he wants. Interesting gig. Not sure he can defend the indefensible, though. One down, another one to go.
Hello all. Please don’t pick on Summertime Surf Camp for trying to make a living. If you have a problem with the mayor and council that’s another story. The mayor and council is leasing a small portion of the L st beach out. They probably use 20 feet of beach. And they are almost zero threat to any swimmers and probably make it safer for everyone since the instructors are trained and extremely capable swimmers.
The owners and staff of SSC are really nice local people who run a very professional operation. I wish the council would charge more money for the stupid Zumba class on the boardwalk early in the morning!
And if you want to troll this post please have the cojones to use your real name.
Thanks for the input Ed. Good to hear from you.
#6. Ed , get your facts straight. No one is picking on Summertime Surf LLC. No one has been attempting to keep them from making a living. No matter what the principals of said LLC have been saying. The mayor and Council are the elected representatives of the people of Belmar. Belmar Borough does not have the permission to lease to those “nice local people” unless our representatives ,acting in our best interest as Belmar Borough get the lease permitted under N.J. DEP Green Acres Rules , N.J.A.C.7:36 -25.13 (a). This applies to their surf camp, ZUMBA, miniature golf…. any questions call N.J. DEP, Jessica Patterson who is more than familiar with the issue.
What seems to be more than apparent is folks close to the mayor are spreading yet another conspiracy theory. This time involving a misinformed but dutiful member of the environmental commission. You know environmental as in N.J. Department of ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. of course environmental protection is secondary in Belmar. One resident stands up exercising free speech and his civic duty and WHAM- he is picking on the nice guys, anti free enterprise. Don’t get me started.
Perhaps Ed would like to tell all just where he got his facts: probably “20 feet of beach”. Considering that Belmar Atlantic Beach is 33 acres, sure that’s nothing until people want to use the area and cannot be restricted from access. L-Street Beach is.4 Acres and a busy class or camp consumes the beach and the bathing area. Just ask the folks that travel from all over to use the free beach. If you have facebook; check out the BelmarBay Beach facebook page.
I am glad I don’t love near that Zumba noise, and if I did I would out bid them for the space. I would then just enjoy the quiet with no Zumba.
Everything about Belmar is corrupt. How many towns around here does the Public Works Director makes as much as the Chief of Police.
The sticky stands that comprise a web of lies will catch the spinners of that web. Or, layers of cover-up will eventually collapse upon the architects of the ruse. Blind arrogance can cause one to trip in the darkness of myopia. Don’t get ME going.
#6 FYI This is still the USA we get to choose what we express and where. It Is interesting that the first time you write it is to inform us there is something wrong that we do not have the courage to use our names. Maybe if you used yours and would get the flack that went with it you wouldn’t. In the mean time I will remain nameless until I decide not to. Thank You.
Ed-I don’t have a problem with SSC, we actually share the same concern, the lack of the administration to repair the bathrooms at L Street Beach even after SSC donated $500 towards bathroom repairs. These bathrooms were operational after Sandy. The town chooses to not spend $40,000.00 to repair the bathrooms but instead wants to spend over $300,000.00 for a portable bathroom that would be located next to the tennis courts. The tennis courts would have special gates to pull the trailer through in case of storms. The bottom line is the existing bathroom building is in the way of the new parking lot and traffic pattern for Chef’s Intl. As far as cojones, there are several reasons people use aliases on this site. Unfortunately, some people do it to be vicious. Most people want to express their feelings without retribution-and it does exist, trust me!
Tut tut, wtf is going on in Belmar with the Public works head making as much as the chief of police? Ridiculous
#6 – extremely capable swimmers
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For anyone to drown at L St. beach, they’d have to be totally drunk. They’d be latter day Ira Hayes who drowned in a puddle of water. The paddle board outfit seems to have violated their contract and the mayor and town enforcement didn’t do their jobs (nothing new there) but I think we can drop the “safety” issue. No one was put in danger by them.
Ed Lippincott of the Belmar Environmental Commission put his finger right on it. Summertime Surf LLC is trying to make a living. What Ed, Summertime Surf, the Mayor and Council and now, residents posting here fail to understand ( easy because all are too lazy to read Green Acre Rules N.J.A. C. 7:36 ) is that only two descriptors are used in all the rues.
NJ DEP refers to local government units or nonprofits. That is because the Green Acres is for ” recreation and or “conservation”. All fees collected after expenses go back into the parkland!!!
Why is that so hard for people to understand?
Maybe we should try to get out of Green Acres. The money comes with too many strings.
Dear Admin.
I got your Libertarian solution, but I don’t agree. First the program is a state program. State’s rights. Legislating like Green Acres could be compared to legislating human behavior/morality. So yes 100% of state regulations impose on our freedoms. BUT PRACTICALLY, the entire Belmar beach is Green Acres encumbered 33 acres worth. As soon as you remove those acres from the encumbering-they will ( since its N.J. be totally developed and private access denied. Those paying for the beach properties will have rights and entitlements as they do in other areas and states. Look before you leap.
The M&C is the local TRUSTEE of Belmar beaches …. to whom property is legally committed to be administered for the benefit of the public …. not for the sale of privileges.
#8 Great polite response.
Just out of curiosity, and maybe someone can help answer this question, there is a business operating along the river walk that provides locals and tourists with the opportunity to Parasail. It’s located just north of the charter boats and fishing fleets. They seem to be operating a very nice business. They have setup and operate out of a permanent prefab storefront that is located just under the Rt. 35 Bridge. This storefront has electric and is operated 7 days a week during the season. As I fully support small businesses, I question why this business is allowed to set up shop and others not. I did speak with April who stated, “They lost their location do to “Sandy” so we allowed them to go there. RENT FREE!
#23 First thing that comes to my mind is that someone associated with the parasail company must have donated to a local Democrat’s campaign. Quid pro quo. Am I cynical?
Dempsey aka 3 Acre Park in Belmar stands today for an administration that cares little about fair play and the needs of the average citizen for safe, clean recreation. 3 Acre Park is a totally funded partially finished free public park. Go there today. never was shoved out. Permanent bathrooms paid for by Green Acres Money locked for years. Yes, there is a port-a-potty. Can’t use skateboard park. Can’t use basketball courts. Huge pile of snow, military vehicles and all the boardwalk bathroom trailers. Why? because it doesn’t bring in money to the borough. Non paying, freeloading residents, well let them eat cake.
Some of us, are celebrating the third anniversary of the birth of the element. As the local historian on counter-movements in Belmar post-Super Storm Sandy, it all began when a very unassuming long-time resident addressed the council. SEE Jan. 16., 2013 , hour 2, 11 minutes. This short. disabled but big and strong in my book, looked at the Mayor and brought up the “appearance of impropriety” regarding his wife’s contracts with AshBritt. This Belmar Titan’s remarks sparked the ears of Jarrett Renshaw, a reporter for the Star Ledger. SEE this Blog Feb. 3, 2013. This same outspoken resident called a meeting of like minds at the Turnstile Coffee and the “element” was born. Gee, I wonder what this brave David will do with Goliath tomorrow night?
“Power to the People, Right On!”
Aim that stone well, David.
Parasail is there fent free???? He is a pal of the Mayor..they did not loose previous location to Sandy, they lost it because property was sold..
The beauty of a small town is at one point
or another some one knows the story and the
whole truth and eventually it is out in the
open. Hooray for the residents and locals.
#23, 28 Careful you cannot attack for profit businesses milking the system. Craig N. Prothers and his wife Michelle Brand Prothers are doing what every smart business people from Tom’s River would do. When offered zero rent, you take it. Stop picking on nice locals trying to make a living. Esecially locals that live elsewhere, that makes you attacks even worse. Opps, let the cat out of the bag about the paddleboard guys. )What is wrong with both of you?
The truth is considered an attack? Besides they don’t even live in one of the 50 states.. never mind Toms River or anywhere in NJ..
hey #30 are you freakin kidding,the charter boats are in business and they pay storage 7 to 10 k for the summer
Jax?
Rincon
Question is if to a look at the Parasail the same way as a party boat , could a competing company come and set up shop on the same dock ? Would this company also be allowed free electric and office shack, signage for free ?Hey I think this a great fit for Belmar but if they are the only ones allowed to offer it, should be put out to bid. That would be the question I would ask .
Also commercial boats i.e. party and charter pay a higher slip fee. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Para Sail is just paying a slip fee as if they were a 35ft private boat. Just Saying I would be surprised if they are giving them free electric along with space for an office signage and reduced ( non commercial ) slip rate. And a no bid contract
Party boat slip pay xxx and preferred parasailing pays 0000. That’s your property they are now receiving unearned in co.e. call the IRS
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