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Brigantine mayor urges Atlantic County to finish promenade repairs; county says work will proceed without signing MOU
Summary
Brigantine Mayor Vince Saruk and residents pressed Atlantic County commissioners to complete outstanding promenade repairs funded by a $1.2 million Boardwalk Preservation Fund grant, citing eroded ADA ramps, nonworking lights and public-safety risks. County administration said finishing work is not conditioned on Brigantine signing an MOU and pledged follow-up.
Brigantine Mayor Vince Saruk told the Atlantic County Board that the Brigantine Promenade — which he said is county property under a 1997 50-year agreement — still has substantial punch-list items after a county-led renovation funded in part by a $1.2 million Boardwalk Preservation Fund (American Rescue Plan) grant.
"The promenade is county property," Saruk said, and described repeated correspondence and a June 11 county walk-through that, in his view, showed unresolved issues including nonworking LED light poles, railing gaps that left visible holes, and three ADA-access ramps that are damaged, half-built or already washed out. "It's unreasonable to expect the taxpayers of Brigantine to pay that much in county taxes and then expect us to take on the maintenance and financial responsibilities of that promenade." (Mayor Vince Saruk)
County administration responded that finishing the work is not conditioned on Brigantine signing a new MOU or amendment. "No," a county administration representative said when asked if signing the draft agreement was required before completing repairs, and added the county plans to meet with Brigantine to negotiate any amendment fairly and to continue work identified on the punch list.
County staff and the county engineer described ongoing steps: gaskets from the lighting manufacturer have been sent to the contractor, engineering design work is under way to extend the north-end ramp, and the county said it will develop a clearer timeline and communicate public updates. The county also said an insurance claim was filed after the storm that washed out one ramp but that no insurance payout was received and grant funds were used for removal of the damaged structure.
Brigantine officials and residents pressed for clearer public communications and faster fixes, noting safety and economic impacts for elderly and disabled residents who use the promenade and for rental-property owners whose customers find beach access blocked. Paul Littery, Brigantine 2nd Ward councilman, described the promenade's users: "The promenade is basically used by the elderly, the infirm, handicapped wheelchair people who can't make it to the beach." (Paul Littery)
The board did not vote on the MOU or transfer of maintenance at the meeting; county administrators said a design timetable and further public updates would be provided after internal follow-up and coordination with the city of Brigantine.
