News
Sea Bright Considers Relocating Recycling Center, Dumpsters
By Ryan Fennell
SEA BRIGHT - As a result of the recent settlement between the Borough of Sea Bright, several Sea Bright Beach Clubs, and the State of New Jersey regarding public beach access, the Borough is moving forward with a number of improvements that had been stalled because of the lawsuit.
Council President William "Jack" Keeler said that the focus is now on Phase One of the Smart Growth initiative. Phase One includes making necessary improvements to the municipal parking lot and traffic flow within the parking lot.
The plans call for widening the entrance/exit to the municipal parking lot to expedite exiting the lot.
Currently, the lot is wide enough for two lanes, one in and one out. This leads to a back up of traffic exiting the lot because motorists wishing to travel south out of the lot must wait for the traffic light preventing motorists wishing to travel north from making the right on red.
Discussions with Jersey Central Power and Light, which owns a utility pole in the vicinity, are ongoing regarding the best way to make the improvements. Plans also include removing the fence separating the municipal lot from the Peninsula House lot to create more parking spaces.
The Borough is also considering relocating the recycling center, however, Keeler called the recycling center a misnomer because it also houses the municipal garbage facility.
"It's also the town garbage collection point so that complicates the move," Keeler said.
Keeler said that there are several options regarding the garbage dumpsters, one being purchasing covered dumpsters with sliding access doors. However, the borough recently purchased new garbage dumpsters.
"We bought new ones recently so there is a cost factor involved," Keeler said.
A possible relocation for the dumpsters was the northern end of the municipal lot Keeler said.
Councilman C. Read Murphy suggested moving the garbage and recycling to the area where JCP&L has located its equipment.
"It's high and dry," Murphy said.
Keeler said that discussions have been held and more are scheduled to determine whether an increased frequency of garbage pickup to alleviate odor, insects, and rodents would be a viable option.
Councilman James LoBiondo suggested possibly placing the dumpsters in separate locations with one or more situated near the municipal beach entrance dedicated solely to beach refuse.
LoBiondo pointed out that placing a garbage receptacle near the beach would be in line with the route the garbage pickup currently takes.
Keeler noted that the discussions are still ongoing and that no decisions have been made final.
"No matter where we put them, someone will be unhappy," Mayor Maria Fernandes said with regard to relocating the recycling center and garbage facility.
