Belmar council hears update on Lake Como outfall valve after nor'easter

Council President Maria Mondaro said Tuesday night that borough staff and emergency responders had worked through the week’s nor’easter and asked for an update on the Lake Como outfall pipe.

Business Administrator Kevin Kane said a check‑valve flap on the outfall is broken and not an off‑the‑shelf part, so the borough must wait for the contractor to ship a manufactured replacement. "There's an issue with the check valve, one of the flaps is broken," Kane said. "It has to be manufactured. We found out over the weekend. It's finished being manufactured. The contractor is just waiting on a ship date."

DPW Superintendent Billy Musto described how crews manually operated the gate during tidal cycles to protect properties. "In anticipation for the storm ... I had our water department come in around the clock on every tide cycle," Musto said. "As the tide was coming in, they closed the gate valve manually. When the tide started going out, they reopened it again to allow the water to drain." He told the council that the manual checks prevented ocean water from entering and let rainwater drain during changing tides. Musto added that actual installation of the manufactured part "usually takes less than a day; it's just getting the part here."

Resident Martha Masalco, who spoke briefly outside the closed session, thanked DPW for the update and asked to be kept informed about the repair schedule because of Superstorm Sandy's impacts on area homes. Council members and staff said they would provide follow‑up when the ship date is known and noted they would continue cleanup of storm debris on Ocean Avenue and the boardwalk.

The council did not set a firm installation date at the meeting; borough staff said the repair is contingent on the contractor's shipping schedule for the manufactured flap.