State grant will cover roughly 40 percent of project’s cost

State grant will cover roughly 40 percent
of project’s cost
By Sherry conohan
Staff Writer

SEA BRIGHT — A 2003 road program, which includes bulkhead construction at the end of Island View Way and repaving of that street and two others that run off of it — Garden Way and Long View Way, was outlined for the Borough Council by Councilwoman Maria Fernandes.

The road work will include some improvements to East Church Street and Henry Lane to correct severe "ponding," she said.

Fernandes, who oversees public works, told the council at its Dec. 17 meeting that the bulkhead project will cost $29,905 and the road work would cost $330,620 for a total of $360,525. A state grant of $150,000 that the borough received from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the application of $71,670 left over from an old ordinance leaves $138,855 the borough needs to finance.

The amount to be financed will be covered by a bond issue, she said.

Fernandes said engineering for the road projects will cost $62,500 and construction is expected to cost $268,120 for the total of $330,620 for the road work. She said both the state DOT grant and the money from the old ordinance would be applied against that, reducing the cost of the road portion to $108,950.

Fernandes said engineering for the bulkhead will cost $11,700 and construction is expected to cost $18,205, for a total of $29,905.

The council just recently approved the engineering work for bulkhead construction from South Way to Via Ripa, which is being paid for by a combination of funds from this year’s capital projects budget and bonding.

In other action, Councilwoman Elizabeth Smith, noting that Ocean Avenue becomes "highly decorated" around election time, led a discussion of how to control political signage. She suggested limiting signs to no more than 16 square feet, but in any configuration the candidate wishes, such as 4-by-4 feet or 8-by-2 feet, and said political banners, now banned, should be permitted. She asked how long after the election the council feels candidates and political parties should be given to take their signs and banners down.

Smith proposed seven days so as to give those who put them up a weekend to take them down. Mayor Gregory Harquail urged five days, which also would include a weekend. The council favored the suggested seven days.

In a discussion of beach cleaning, Fernandes said there are no recycling receptacles on the beach. She proposed that at least 15 garbage receptacles and 15 recycling receptacles be placed on the beach, with one each at 15 different locations. She suggested the council may want to double that number to 60 to cover 30 areas on the beach, from Sandy Hook to the Monmouth Beach line.

The public beach had five receptacles this year, she said.

Fernandes also called for strict enforcement of the littering ban on the beach.

The council passed an ordinance rezoning a section of beachfront from the midpoint of the Sea Bright Beach Club to the fence north of the public library.

The area had been zoned B1, which allowed for retail stores, offices, government services and single-family homes, among various other uses.

The ordinance changes the zoning to B3, an oceanfront business zone, which allows only beach clubs. The northern half of the Sea Bright Beach Club property already is zoned B3. The measure was approved 5-0.