Residents press borough on delayed county boulevard and lighting work; council says county contractor will restore trenches

Beach Haven — Residents and council members pressed borough officials on Monday over delays in county-run boulevard and lighting work that has left multiple cut sites and temporary trenches along the boulevard.

A council member told the meeting that public works crews are moving sand at vulnerable beach entrances and that heavy equipment would be visible as the borough attempts to reopen entrances at locations including Belvoir, Berkeley, Norwood and Leeward. The council member said the county engineer, Mark Jenke, informed borough officials that trenches and disturbed areas "will be restored" and that while some curbs and sidewalks will be completed, not all work — including final light installation — will be finished before Memorial Day; lights are expected to be installed in the fall.

During public comment, Scott Cunningham, who identified himself as a Beach Haven resident and business owner at 515 North Bay Avenue, said crews "ripped up the corners at 9th Street and Taylor Avenue" about 12 days earlier and that many cut sites along the boulevard showed no contractor presence. Cunningham said the exposed conditions posed hazards to cyclists and pedestrians and warned the town could face liability if people are injured. He added he planned to bring topsoil and sod to make one dug-out corner presentable for the summer.

Cunningham said: "We need to light a fire under the county engineer's *** and the company," and urged the borough to press the county for more immediate action. Mayor Lambert responded that the borough had referred the concerns, taken Cunningham's contact information and encouraged residents to call the county as well, saying it "can't hurt" to register complaints.

Council members noted a disconnect between the county engineer and the company doing the work and asked for more frequent follow-up; the borough reported it had authorized the contractor to work after hours but said it had not observed contractor crews in the affected boulevard areas. Officials described temporary paving and later permanent repairs, and said the borough expects to coordinate with county and utility schedules for a final repair and payment process.

The council made no formal direction that night to withhold payments or terminate contracts; members urged residents to report issues to the county and said borough staff would continue outreach to the county engineer.