Continued welcome to 2024!  The winter weather has finally caught up to us.  We’ll talk about that more later.  

In this newsletter, we will cover:

- Recognition of one our most valued volunteers- Roy Christensen

- The Mayor’s Wellness Campaign- our “Winter/ Spring Zooms” kicked off     

 - A big fundraiser this Saturday- join us!!

- Winter precautions and procedures- please read and participate

- Our Preliminary 2024 thoughts on our Borough Objectives

- Our Borough Council Meeting format for 2024- something new! / hopefully improved! 

Roy Christensen hits a milestone, has a final drive-around, and commits to continued service to Bradley Beach! 

It’s not too often you can recognize 52-years (and counting) service to the community, and have that volunteer continue to serve.  Roy hit his 8oth birthday on January 11th, which precludes him from “active duty” to the Fire Company that he joined in 1972.  So, to mark the occasion, Roy took a “final drive” around town on his birthday; and was given his gear from the Fire Company.  Roy will continue to work in other areas of the Fire Company and continue to serve the community.  Roy is the model of a servant-leader; and we congratulate and thank him!

In this newsletter, we will cover:

- A new, exciting “coming event” for the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign- our “Winter/ Spring Zooms”

- The annual swearing in of our Fire and First Aid officers

- Our Preliminary 2024 thoughts on our Borough Objectives

- Our Borough Council Meeting format for 2024- something new! / hopefully improved!

The next three topics promise to be as valuable and interesting. These topics were chosen based on a townwide survey conducted by the MWC last year.  

Pre-registration, which is required, can be made at bradleybeachnj.gov/mayors-wellness-campaign.  You will be sent a zoom link and calendar invite prior to the meeting. 

Sign up and join us for these three remaining programs in the series: 

·      The Principles of Acupuncture, on Thursday, March 14 at 6 p.m. 

·      Coping with Stress, on Thursday, March 28 at 6 p.m. 

·      Protecting Yourself Against Scammers, on Thursday, April 4 at 6 p.m.

Support a fundraiser for First Aid and Fire Company- THIS SATURDAY!

Please support our key public safety volunteers with this fundraiser- great winter event!  Space is limited!

Back to Winter Precautions- Rules of the Road and sign-up for Automated Notifications!!!

Please use off-street parking if available during all snow emergencies.

REGULATIONS FOR SNOW PLOWING – ALTERNATE SIDE OF THE STREET PARKING

If your street runs EAST TO WEST: While snowing and prior to being plowed, parking is prohibited on the South Side of the street until the plowing of the South Side is complete. Once completed, parking is prohibited on the North Side of the street until the snow is plowed off the North Side. If the street runs NORTH to SOUTH: While snowing and prior to being plowed, parking is prohibited on the East Side of the street until the snow is plowed off the East Side. Parking is prohibited on the West Side of the street until the snow is plowed off the West Side.

SNOW REMOVAL

Sidewalks and Parking Lots: Snow and ice shall be removed from sidewalks and private parking lots within 24 hours after cessation of precipitation.

TRASH

Trash and Recycling should not be placed curbside during a snow emergency.

PLACING SNOW OR ICE INTO THE STREET (S) IS PROHIBITED

No person or other entity shall throw, place or deposit any snow or ice into or on any street in the Borough, and no owner, tenant or occupant shall cause or allow such throwing, placing or depositing or any snow or ice to remain in the street, being the intent and purpose of this provision to prohibit all such persons and entities from throwing, placing or depositing snow or ice which accumulated on the private property of adjoining sidewalks into the streets of the Borough.

PLEASE CLEAR FIRE HYDRANTS OF SNOW FOR EMERGENCIES

SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION

You may receive alerts about emergencies and other important community news by signing up to the Bradley Beach Emergency Alert System above. You may also sign up for alerts through the Bradley Beach Police Department at any time (open 24/7). The emergency notification system enables us to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuation of buildings or neighborhoods. You will receive time-sensitive information by text message, cell phone and/or email.

Borough Objectives- Our Direction for 2024!

I have been meeting with my Council counterparts and our Acting Business Administrator assessing our opportunities for 2024 and beyond.  Here is a pretty good sample/ summary to-date:

Main Street- We started a comprehensive look at Main Street in 2023, we need to complete this and finalize an approach and implementation plan

The 319 LaReine Avenue Church- Progress was made here, although not enough and too slow.  We are progressing now and will keep a focus on this.  Targeting a ‘Q-1 resolution.

Infrastructure- A number of opportunities: 

• Lake Terrace Park- complete renovation
• Recreation area- complete renovation
• Sylvan Lake
• Short term – outfall gate - repair
• Long-Term-  outfall pipe replacement to the ocean
• Park Place 
• Fifth Avenue/ Park Place Road and sewer repairs
• Additional Sewer work- to be defined Grants (Promenade)
• Sump pumps- continue project to affected blocks
• Biase in full operational state-319 LaReine- final disposition-

Affordability- After “holding the line” literally in 2021 and 2022, we had a tough 2023 relative to municipal tax.  Our 3-year average is a little below 5%; but we are and will be working hard to keep 2024 at the lowest possible level. 

Ordinances (revise/ clean-up)

• Tourism
• Recreation
• Others

Facilities Management-Long-term 

Beach Concessions- Food Trucks-strategic plan

This is a good start- we’ll keep you posted on 2024!

Our  Boards, Commissions, and Committees will be busy developing their objectives in January, also!

Borough Council Meeting- format for 2024- something new! /hopefully improved!

Just as we are looking at WHAT we will be doing in 2024, HOW we do things can improve, too.  With that we are assessing two different meeting formats for 2024.  “Meeting 1” each month would be a combination of Workshops and Departmental report-outs”.  This would keep a good focus on improvements and initiatives.

Meeting 2” each month would be the “business meeting”- resolutions, ordinance introductions and adoptions, approval of bill lists, etc.

We will be working together (Council members, Acting Business Administrator, Clerk, Department Heads) to make these changes.  We would begin this in February.  January 24th will be a regular business meeting.

I hope everyone continues to have a positive experience here in Bradley Beach.  We are blessed in many ways.  Stay safe!

We will continue to focus on Service and Progress as a Municipal Team.

Thanks, and see you around town.          

Mayor Larry Fox