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Beach Haven council approves first readings of several ordinances and a bond ordinance to buy fire and police equipment
Summary
At its Feb. 10 meeting the Beach Haven Borough Council held first readings and approved by unanimous vote multiple ordinances — including proposals to change appeals for mercantile licenses, clarify zoning definitions and allow two police captains — and introduced a bond ordinance allocating $830,000 (authorizing $790,000 in bonds) to acquire a Quint fire truck and upgrade police radios; the consent agenda and bill list were also approved.
Beach Haven Borough Council on Feb. 10 conducted first readings and unanimous approvals on a slate of ordinances and resolutions, and moved forward with bonding to secure critical public‑safety equipment.
Council members read and approved Ordinance 2025‑1C to transfer appeals of denied mercantile (mercantile) license decisions to the governing body rather than the land use board, a change proposed by the land‑use board attorney Eric Riso and supported by the council attorney Bruce Badul.
Two zoning‑related ordinances advanced on first reading. Ordinance 2025‑2C will amend Chapter 212 to clarify definitions for accessory buildings and add a definition for retaining walls, removing accessory buildings from floor‑area‑ratio calculations in some cases. Ordinance 2025‑3C would amend the borough code to allow employment of two police captains; council members said the change would help administrative operations. Ordinance 2025‑4C would designate restricted areas in borough hall to control unauthorized access.
The council introduced a bond ordinance (Ordinance 2025‑5) appropriating $830,000 and authorizing issuance of $790,000 in bonds or notes to finance acquisition of police and fire equipment, including funding to complete a new Quint fire apparatus purchase and to upgrade/replace police radios. Officials said the borough applied for grants to offset radio costs but did not receive funding.
The consent agenda (resolutions 38–66) — covering items such as approval of a certified list of eligibles for the first aid squad, various bond returns and refunds, sidewalk‑sale permitting, authorizations for the volunteer fire company, and agreements for HRA services — was approved in one motion. The evening’s bills list was also approved as presented.
Votes on motions recorded during the meeting were unanimous in favor on the ordinances and consent items as shown in the public record; no roll‑call opposition was recorded. Several items were noted as first readings and therefore subject to subsequent hearings or publication procedures prior to final adoption.
Next steps: ordinances advanced on first reading proceed through required notice and any additional hearings; the bond ordinance and other items will appear for subsequent adoption steps per New Jersey municipal procedures.
