Richard Gartz

The Board of Commissioners discussed various legislative matters, focusing primarily on affordable housing obligations and ordinances. Key items included the authorization of an affordable housing deed restriction for a specific property, amendments to the Main Street Commercial District Inclusionary Overlay Zone to encourage mixed-use development, and a budget ordinance to establish a cap bank for the 2026 fiscal year. Additionally, the Board moved to adopt a comprehensive affordable housing ordinance to comply with state requirements and the fourth round of fair share housing obligations.

The board discussed the repeal of Ordinance 2026-01 regarding beach regulations and introduced Ordinance 2026-09 to maintain 2025 Beach Club rates while exploring future improvements. Public comments addressed concerns regarding the affordability of beach club rate increases, the lack of transparency regarding future repairs and funding, the discontinuation of the recreation program, and general community relations. The board also noted the availability of the upcoming budget for public review and discussed logistics for future public meetings.

This Master Plan Reexamination Report for the Borough of Allenhurst reviews and evaluates the 2008 Master Plan and its development regulations. The report identifies significant changes since 2008 and provides recommendations for updating the Master Plan and development regulations. Key focus areas for recommendations include the Housing Element, Circulation Element, Recreation & Conservation Element, Economic Element, Resiliency & Sustainability, and the Stormwater Management Plan. The report also addresses the incorporation of redevelopment plans.

The reorganization meeting commenced with a statement regarding the manner of notification and the announcement of the official election results from November 4, 2025, indicating Lawrence J. O'Rourke and Anthony Mauro were elected to the Board of Education. The agenda proceeded with the administration of the Oath of Office to the newly elected members. Key actions included the election of Lawrence J. O'Rourke as President and Anthony Mauro as Vice President. Furthermore, the Board approved several appointments for the period January 6, 2026, through January 4, 2027, including the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary/Treasurer, School Attorney, and School Auditor, as well as the annual fee for audit services ($5,500). The Board also designated official board depositories and signers, designated Anthony Sciarrillo as the School Funds Investor, and designated "The Coaster" and the Asbury Park Press as official newspapers. Finally, delegates and representatives for various roles and committees were approved, and the schedule for monthly meetings was confirmed.

The primary focus of the meeting involved the final reading and adoption of several ordinances. Ordinance #2026-01 revised Chapter X of the Borough Code concerning Beach Regulations, including amendments to resident and nonresident service fees and facility use charges, which one Commissioner noted represented a 56 percent increase in beach club fees. Ordinance #2026-02 amended Chapter XXVI regarding Developmental Regulations, specifically updating fees and escrow amounts for various applications such as site plan review and variance relief. Ordinance #2026-03 revised Chapter VI concerning Alcoholic Beverage Control by updating the annual license fee for Plenary Retail Distribution Licenses. Ordinance #2026-04 created a new subsection in Chapter I to establish fees and special service charges pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, detailing costs for routine requests, special services, and camera footage review. The Board also moved to the first reading for two ordinances related to affordable housing: Ordinance #2026-05 authorizing the execution of an Affordable Housing Deed Restriction for a specific property, and Ordinance #2026-06 amending the Main Street Commercial District Inclusionary Overlay Zone regulations. Resolutions passed included dispensing with the reading of the previous minutes, ratifying the previous minutes, hiring seasonal employees for the 2026 Summer Season, authorizing budget transfers for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, approving an executive session for legal/contractual matters, and approving consolidated bills covering the period of January 13, 2026, to February 3, 2026. During public comments, a resident voiced support for the Board's recent decisions, and a local organization requested permission to place a bronze marker honoring patriots, with two residents pledging donations toward the project.