Long Branch councilors consider expanding Hometown Heroes banners to retired first responders and veterans

Long Branch City Councilmembers discussed expanding the city's Hometown Heroes banner program to include retired police officers, firefighters and other first responders, and agreed to pursue follow-up work on how to implement the change.

Councilmember Rose told fellow councilmembers she could coordinate with organizers: "I'll follow-up," she said, after council members debated whether the program should include active employees or be limited to retirees. The discussion came during the meeting's old-business segment.

Councilmembers raised concerns about including active employees because of personnel and union considerations. "It's just safer to do it with retired employees," one councilmember said, arguing that use of employees' names while they are active could create complications if an incident occurred. Other members suggested the city could use Broadway and the oceanfront for campaign placement and that veterans and first responders could be honored together or separately.

Councilmember Rose was asked specifically by another member to work with the group that organized the initial banners; the council agreed. One councilmember noted that other municipalities have broadened similar programs to include graduating students and other honorees but said the schools would handle graduate banners separately.

The council did not adopt an ordinance or vote on a formal change during this meeting. Instead, members agreed to pursue logistics, advertising and scheduling similar to the city's existing veterans banners (for example, display around Memorial Day and Veterans Day). Councilmember Rose agreed to follow up with organizers and city staff.

The topic surfaced only as discussion and referral; no formal motion to amend the program was adopted at the public meeting.

Looking ahead, councilmembers said staff would prepare details for a formal proposal if needed, including placement, eligibility (retired vs. active), and scheduling for display ceremonies.