Resident opposes study of shared fire services with West Long Branch, cites abatements

At the June 11 meeting, resident Vincent Lepore addressed a possible study of shared fire services between Long Branch and West Long Branch and said he would oppose any consolidation that he said would burden West Long Branch taxpayers.

Lepore said signs reading "Save your ladder truck and your West Long Branch Fire Department" had appeared in both municipalities and that the West Long Branch council had publicly discussed only a study of a possible shared-services arrangement. He told the Long Branch council he and other Long Branch residents would "continue to assist West Long Branch residents in their fight to maintain the municipal sovereignty of West Long Branch and the sovereignty of West Long Branch's fire department."

Lepore also asserted that a proposed 30-year tax abatement tied to Pier Village Phase 3 would shift costs. Reading a statement he attributed to a developer, he said that the abatement was "estimated to save the owner of a $1,700,000 4 bedroom condo $782,460 in taxes over the life of an abatement." He said West Long Branch benefits from state-mandated mutual aid and that Ocean Township Fire Department maintains a full response record to calls in West Long Branch.

The remarks were presented as public comment; the transcript records no formal proposal or vote by the Long Branch council on shared fire services during the meeting. Lepore framed his remarks as a civic pledge to support West Long Branch residents and to oppose moves he called "unconscionable" if they would result in higher taxes or reduced local control for West Long Branch.