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Long Branch council approves purchase of Brookdale building at 195 Broadway amid public objections
Summary
On May 13 the Long Branch City Council adopted ordinances authorizing purchase of 195 Broadway from Brookdale Community College and related capital and bond amendments; a public commenter alleged lack of appraisal and possible pay-to-play, and one council member recused from the votes.
The Long Branch City Council on May 13 voted to acquire the Brookdale Community College building at 195 Broadway and to amend the city's capital and bond ordinances to record the property for municipal purposes.
Vice President Bill Dangler presented Ordinance O-06-26, authorizing the city to enter into a contract to buy Block 275, Lots 10 and 11 (195 Broadway) with standard due-diligence protections and a closing date no later than June 30, 2026. The record includes two different price figures mentioned during discussion; the motion was presented and the council opened a public hearing on the ordinance.
During the public hearing Vincent Lepore, a resident of 33 Ocean Terrace, told the council he opposed the purchase and asked members to vote no, saying "there's no appraisal available" and alleging the acquisition resembled a "pay to play gravy train" involving county actors. Lepore also raised concerns about prior trustee executive sessions and potential conflicts connected to county contracts for EMS services.
After closing the public hearing the council moved to adopt O-06-26 on its second and final reading. The roll call recorded four yes votes and one recusal; the motion carried. The council immediately considered and adopted related measures: O-07-26, a capital-ordinance amendment adding 195 Broadway to the capital program (no new funds, $2,000,000 remaining unchanged), and O-09-26, a bond-ordinance amendment to include the property with a 25-year period of usefulness. Each of those ordinances also passed in recorded roll-call votes in which one member recused and the motions passed.
Council members did not provide further detail in the meeting record about planned uses for the building beyond indicating the city will enter into a lease with Brookdale for a portion of a facility so the college's presence continues in Long Branch. The record shows the president recused earlier in the meeting from Brookdale-related business, and a recusal was recorded during roll-call votes; the minutes do not show a named council member abstaining aside from the recusal statements recorded.
Vincent Lepore's objections and the council's vote were the principal public developments on the Brookdale items at the May 13 meeting. The ordinances adopt the property into municipal planning and financing documents and authorize the acquisition; next steps shown on the record are typical contract and closing activities and any permitted due-diligence actions.
What happens next: the ordinances were adopted, and the city will proceed with contract/closing processes and customary due diligence; public hearings for any related development, leasing or capital spending would be separate actions not taken tonight.
