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Residents urge council to oppose NESE pipeline and press state climate action; speakers raise housing and contamination concerns
Summary
During public comment, residents and advocates urged the council to reaffirm opposition to the NESE pipeline, promoted Climate Superfund advocacy, praised local infrastructure work and raised concerns about affordable housing and possible contamination from trenching operations.
During the public-comment periods at the Red Bank Borough Council meeting, several residents and advocacy representatives urged municipal support for environmental campaigns, pressed housing concerns and thanked the borough for recent infrastructure work.
Amy Goldsmith (16 Locust Ave) thanked the council for placing a construction dust ordinance on the agenda and urged renewed council support for a resolution opposing the NESE pipeline; she announced a Sept. 9 rally and reminded residents that written comments for the listed pipeline proceeding close Sept. 15. Amy and other climate advocates also updated the council on progress behind a state Climate Superfund initiative and an upcoming press event they hoped the mayor would help promote.
Speakers including Marta Young of Clean Water Action and Bella and Brian Thompson praised the dust ordinance and stressed potential environmental harms from major construction, with one resident citing the Transco report and warning that trenching could disturb legacy contaminants (PCBs and industrial residues) in river sediments. Council staff and the manager said environmental permitting and planning-board review would address contamination and remediation requirements should a project proceed.
Multiple resident commenters thanked the borough for recent drainage and sidewalk projects at Boat Club Lane and Maple Avenue and raised concerns about Marine Park amenities, crosswalk safety, and trash-service arrangements for incoming developments. A public commenter (William Poco) spoke about housing affordability and urged the council to prioritize affordable units in future proposals.
Council members acknowledged the comments, noted prior action on a NESE resolution from 2019, and recorded that a similar updated resolution appeared as a late add on the consent agenda for council consideration.
