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Residents press Long Branch council on parking, garbage pickup and short-term rentals
Summary
Multiple residents at the June 10 meeting urged the council to address Park Avenue traffic and parking hazards, narrow-street garbage pickup, and confusion over a proposed 90-day rental rule; one resident also accused an outside law firm of drafting suppressive ordinances elsewhere.
Long Branch residents used the June 10 public-comment period to press the council on neighborhood safety, municipal services and the proposed 90-day minimum rental ordinance.
Vincent Leapour (33 Ocean Terrace) accused an outside law firm by name of drafting ordinances in other municipalities that he described as suppressive of public speech, citing their alleged involvement with flag and singing bans and saying those firms had attracted ACLU and FIRE attention. He urged the council to terminate the firm’s contract; no response from the named firm appears in the meeting transcript.
Resident Susan Hidea described chronic safety problems on Park Avenue, saying large vehicles and parked trucks make the street dangerous for children and cyclists and asking the city to remove north-side parking and provide improved neighborhood amenities. "Someone's going to get killed," she said aloud as she urged action and better responsiveness from city offices.
Neighbor David Bailey said narrow local streets prevent garbage trucks from collecting at every house; he said neighbors must place bags near his property, creating odors, and that he was told alternative pickup equipment was "too expensive." Several speakers linked their complaints to high property taxes and asked what services taxpayers were receiving in return.
Multiple residents also raised concerns about Ordinance 015-26's 90-day rental minimum, asking whether routine summer-season rentals would become illegal. City staff clarified the rule applies to one- to four-family houses and does not automatically affect larger multifamily buildings, but residents said the proposal could meaningfully reduce summer rental options.
At the close of public comment, councilors encouraged residents to stay after the meeting, to use council office hours, or to bring questions to staff for follow-up. The council also reiterated it follows Robert's Rules of Order for meeting procedure and declined calls to change the meeting format, saying office hours and post-meeting follow-ups are available for detailed discussions.
