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Resident urges Ventnor City to tackle 'homeless harbor' of live‑aboard and derelict boats; commission to research ordinance options
Summary
During public comment, Ventnor resident Mary Samberg presented photos and an ordinance draft asking the city to address live‑aboard and abandoned boats in the bay, citing property damage and safety concerns. The commission asked the solicitor and staff to research legal options including anchoring‑duration limits and gray‑water/trash rules.
Mary Samberg, a Ventnor resident, used the public‑comment period on Dec. 19 to urge the commission to address what she described as an emerging “homeless harbor” of live‑aboard and derelict boats in the Back Bay.
Samberg presented numbered photographs and an ordinance she said she had drafted, and described recent personal property damage she attributed to a person living on a boat, saying the damage to her car is being repaired and she estimated costs at about $3,700. She said some boats appear abandoned, some have sunk or are at risk of sinking, and she expressed concern about gray‑water and trash disposal into the bay. Samberg cited ordinances used by neighboring municipalities (Long Beach, Stone Harbor and Cape May County were mentioned) and encouraged Ventnor to adopt similar rules covering anchoring duration, sanitation and enforcement.
City officials said the issue had been raised with police and that the solicitor and administration would review existing ordinances and legal options. The mayor and commissioners acknowledged the safety and environmental concerns and said staff would research best practices, including whether an ordinance limiting continuous anchoring or requiring gray‑water and trash plans is legally feasible within Ventnor’s jurisdiction and consistent with state law and marine enforcement authorities.
The commission did not vote on an ordinance that night but directed staff and the solicitor to review the materials Samberg submitted and to return with recommendations. Commissioners encouraged Samberg to follow up with staff and said the matter would be considered for discussion and formal introduction at a future agenda if the solicitor determines a draft ordinance is appropriate.
Samberg’s remarks were among the more extensive public comments at the meeting; commissioners noted that police had responded to incidents she reported and that further legal and procedural review is necessary before any enforcement regime could be implemented.
