News
Borough Names Park In Honor Of Shade Tree Chair
By Sherry Conohan
MONMOUTH BEACH - The Shorelands Park has been renamed the Priscilla Ireland Brower Park at Shorelands in honor of Brower, the long-time chairwoman of the borough"s Shade Tree Commission.
The Borough Commission passed a resolution renaming the park at its meeting last Thursday, Dec. 17, and Mayor Sue Howard presented Brower with a copy of it with the borough's appreciation for her service since her appointment to the committee in 1952, more than half a century ago. Howard observed that the Shade Tree Committee had probably planted over 2,000 trees since then.
Howard cited Brower as a "shining example" of volunteer service in town and commended her "tireless devotion and generosity to the community." Brower, whose home is in the Shorelands area, responded that she appreciated the commission's action very much.
"It is quite an honor," she said. "I will enjoy knowing this park has been named for me." In other action, the commission set the dates and hours of operation of the Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion for next summer. The pavilion will open for Memorial Day weekend, May 29-31, and the following two weekends, June 5 and 6 and June 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It will then open for the season on June 19 through Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Its final days of operation are Sept. 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Borough resident Sue McDonald proposed that the pavilion be made non-smoking and had a list of reasons why it should be. But she didn't need to read them as Howard, the mayor, immediately said, "We are going to do that this year." She said the commission may set some designated areas for smoking. When McDonald protested that with designated smoking areas the wind can blow smoke into other beach-goers, Commissioner James Cunniff told her, "You can move."
In other action, the commission awarded a contract for reconstruction of the second floor locker area at the bathing pavilion to Seaport Builders in the amount of $254,864.00. Seaport was the second lowest of five bidders, without the alternate taken into consideration. With the alternate at $29,500 it was the lowest. The highest bid was $545,000 from DNL, Inc., with $135,000 for the alternate. The lowest bid was from Rocon Contracting at $245,000 but with $45,000 for the alternate. The commission also approved change orders No. 1, 2 and 3 for Monteforte Architectural Studio, LLC, for additional architectural and construction costs related to the renovation of the bathing pavilion in the amount of $17,072.
In another matter, the commission authorized T & M Associates to solicit bids for the 2010 road improvement program and authorized $63,000.00 in engineering fees associated with the program. The road program will finance improvements to 13 streets at an estimated cost of $1,176,000.
The commission gave final passage to ordinances setting fees for dog and cat licenses. The fees for dog licenses are $11 for each spayed or neutered dog plus $1 for the registration tag and $14 dollars for each non-spayed or non-neutered dog plus $1 for the registration tag.The commission set the fees for cat licenses at $12 for each neutered or spayed cat and $15 for each non-neutered or non spayed cat.
The commission also gave final passage to an ordinance setting the fees for liquor licenses. A plenary retail consumption license, of which there are two in town, is $300. A plenary retail distribution license, of which there is one in town, also is $300. A club license, of which there is one in town, is $120. Finally, the commission passed an ordinance fixing the membership fees, beach rates and bathhouse and locker charges for the bathing pavilion.
The membership fees for beach and pool for residents are $55 for age 5 to-11, $140 for age 12 to 64 and $50 for age 65 and over.
The membership fees for beach and pool for non-residents are $150 for age 5 to 11, $370 for age 12 to 64 and $125 for age 65 and over.
Seasonal beach only fees for those age 12 and over are $75 for both residents and non-residents. The daily rate for beach only is $9 for both residents and non-residents.
The cost of a bathhouse, which comes with up to five badges, is $1,100 for residents and $2,200 for no-residents. Lockers, which come with up to three badges, will cost $550 for residents and $1,200 for non-residents.
A parking permit, which comes with no guarantee of a parking place, will cost $40 for both residents and non-residents.
