Residents raise concerns about flag displays, Superfund resolution and fire museum at Long Branch meeting

Several residents used the public-comment period at the Long Branch City Council meeting on April 9, 2025, to press the council on distinct issues ranging from flag displays at the beach to environmental legislation and questions about a fire-museum building sale.

Phil Falcone, a Long Branch resident and member of the city’s green team, thanked the council for work to reduce single-use plastics and asked the city to identify priority locations for refillable water-bottle stations at the beach, promenade and parks. Falcone also raised concerns about six Israeli flags displayed on private property that are highly visible from public beach space, saying some residents find the display “unnecessarily provocative.” He cited New Jersey statute 52:3-4, which he said requires that a collocated American flag be at least equal in dimensions to a foreign flag flown, and urged the city to review its code (he referenced a provision transcribed as 247-4) for clarity on public display rules and permit processes.

Falcone asked whether organizers of upcoming town beach sweeps (he referenced April 12) must obtain insurance. He said promotional images used for beach-sweep fundraising show outdated levels of litter and asked the city to consider updating permit language and public-safety descriptions in code section 247-4; the transcript did not record a staff determination on insurance requirements during the public comment period.

Susan Makaitis, representing Food and Water Watch, asked whether Long Branch would formally support the Superfund Act. City staff and elected officials present said a form resolution would be prepared for the next council meeting for the council to consider; the transcript indicates staff will draft a sample resolution but does not record a formal council vote on the item at the April 9 meeting.

Vincent Lepore, a resident of 33 Ocean Terrace, made several allegations about the city’s handling of a building used by a fire museum and a volunteer fire company. Lepore said the building sale is “under active investigation” and that an officer of the fire company had been charged by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office with falsifying and destroying public records. Lepore further alleged that an individual continued in a role distributing relief money after a criminal-court order dated Dec. 4, 2024. Council President Viera and other officials replied that the individual has been separated from the fire department for more than a year and that the Long Branch Firemen’s Relief Association is a not-for-profit entity separate from city government; the council stated the city does not make appointments to that organization. Those replies were presented as the council’s account; the meeting transcript does not record any sworn findings or official investigation results.

Lepore also questioned a bill listed on the meeting’s payout list (identified in the transcript as bill payout R63) for approximately $3,700 for the purchase of a religious symbol. Council officials said the item was for a menorah purchased by the Lubavitch organization as part of seasonal holiday displays and characterized purchase of holiday symbols as part of longstanding city tradition; the transcript includes exchanges in which Lepore pressed for the location of the menorah and an answer that it would be placed on public property, with a council comment referencing a crypt outside City Hall. The meeting record does not include a formal city action to authorize the purchase at the April 9 session beyond discussion during public comment and references to the bill-payout list.

Mayor Pallone used his remarks near the end of the meeting to announce city programs and upcoming events: a paid youth internship program accepting applications for Long Branch residents aged roughly 15–18 and college students; a disability resource fair set for May 3 from noon to 2 p.m.; an arts exhibit (the burlap project) running through early May featuring locally created art from donated Rook Coffee burlap bags; and a free classical evening of opera and piano at the Lundgren Senior Center on April 22 at 6 p.m.

The council closed the public-participation portion of the meeting after the exchanges; staff said they will prepare a form resolution for consideration at the next meeting regarding the Superfund Act.