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Residents press Beach Haven council on flood response, reentry placards and e-bike enforcement
Summary
Public commenters urged stricter street closures during floods, broader reentry access for condo owners, and stronger action on fast e-bikes; police and emergency staff described limits on manpower, floating cones and state restrictions on pursuits.
Multiple residents used the public‑comment portion of the Sept. 8 council meeting to press officials about repeated summer flooding, the borough's reentry‑placard policy and what they described as dangerous e‑bike behavior.
Scott Cunningham (6th Street) said vehicle wakes from motorists who drive through floodwater caused property damage and urged the borough to close Beach Haven Boulevard during high water. "We need to close the boulevard under these circumstances," he said, noting that large vehicles and monster trucks worsened flooding impacts on sidewalks and garage entrances.
Police and emergency‑management speakers described operational constraints. The police chief said officers try to staff opposite ends of problem areas and issue summonses after incidents, but limited manpower and rapidly changing conditions make continuous street closures difficult. He also said that cones and temporary signboards can float away during high water, reducing their effectiveness.
On reentry placards, Bob Acker (Station Plaza) and Joel Sklar (Renaissance Condos) told the council the current policy — which, per council comments, historically limited placards for multiunit buildings and typically assigns a single placard to a manager or association representative — prevents individual condo owners from checking and protecting their properties after evacuations. "As a homeowner, I would like to be able to get back into my property," Acker said. Council members said the borough's emergency coordinator will meet with other island coordinators in November to revisit the policy and consider staggered or expanded access.
Residents also raised e‑bike speeding and wrong‑way riding. The police chief said state guidance limits pursuits of motorized devices and that some e‑bikes exceed registration thresholds; enforcement is therefore constrained and officers prioritize safety and later follow-up when possible.
Council members repeatedly acknowledged the concerns and said they will pursue options including increased public education, more signboards and coordination with county emergency management. The borough said it will revisit placard policy and consider staggered reentry plans; no policy change was adopted at the meeting.
