Asbury Park council approves consent agenda and multiple contracts; mortgage discharge passes with one abstention

The Asbury Park City Council on March 1 approved a slate of routine resolutions and several professional-service contracts and ordinances, with one recorded abstention on a mortgage-discharge measure.

The council voted to approve the consent agenda (Resolutions 2026-140 through 2026-149) in a single collective vote. Among specific actions the council approved were:

- Resolution 2026-151: discharge of mortgage for Calvin and Angela Anderson (405 First Avenue). Vote recorded: four yes, one abstain (Councilwoman Bazan-Anderson abstained).

- Resolution 2026-152: payment to S Brothers Inc. for snow removal (approved).

- Resolution 2026-153: application to the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority for $50,000 in zone assistance funds to sponsor a 4th of July fireworks program (approved).

- Resolution 2026-154: professional services contract with CDM Smith for engineering services for phase-one wastewater treatment plant improvements (approved).

- Resolution 2026-155: professional services contract with Archer & Greiner PC for independent special counsel services related to redevelopment agreements (approved).

- Resolution 2026-156: award of the Asbury Park beach shower station project (approved); council amended the record to indicate funding will come from the beach utility rather than capital and the amendment was recorded on the motion.

- Resolution 2026-157: amendment to temporary 2026 budget appropriations (approved).

On ordinances, the council introduced Ordinance 2026-7 (cap rate ordinance) and Ordinance 2026-8 (moving the tree removal and replacement rules into a new chapter 23) with public hearings set for March 25, 2026. The council also held second reading and adopted Ordinance 2026-6 to establish a restricted handicapped parking space at 9 Avenue A; that adoption was unanimous.

The council's votes were recorded in the meeting transcript by roll call for each item; when roll-call tallies were shown the five members present voted as indicated above. Several items were carried as routine business on the consent calendar and were approved without separate discussion.

What's next: Items tied to redevelopment and the Paramount were deferred pending additional materials from the developer; the council expects to act on those when the outstanding documents are received and reviewed.