Belmar Looks to Revise Old Ordinances

No person in Belmar may hitch their horse to any rock, shrub or tree within the borough limits.

This ordinance is among several outdated laws on the books that Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty and his administration hope to address in the coming months.

The mayor and council hope to take a more common sense approach to the borough's general code and discussed the possibility for future changes during their Feb. 16 meeting.

Among the specific laws that Doherty pointed to— a ban on ball-playing in borough streets, regulation of outdoor dining for restaurants and cafes in commercial zones and an ordinance forbidding the building of sandcastles on Belmar beaches, a law which Doherty confessed to breaking.

"We're going to look to dial back those regulations," he said.

Residents in attendance expressed some concerns over the proposed change to the ball-playing law, one noting that seasonal renters in her neighborhood play large scale football games near her home.

"It sounds petty, but it happens," resident Johanna Corallo said.

Doherty explained that an existing law against impeding traffic would apply in such a situation, but mulled the idea of keeping the restriction in place during the summer months.

Regarding outdoor dining, Doherty explained that the borough's current procedure for eateries looking to have outdoor dining requires the business owner to provide a site plan to the planning board for approval. The mayor's proposed changes would instead allow restaurateurs to simply attain a permit from borough hall. The zoning officer would routinely check for violations. Outdoor dining must allow for a six-foot sidewalk width for pedestrians.

"The idea is to make it easier for businesses to operate the way they'd like to," Doherty said. 

The public portion of the meeting led to discussion of the borough's campaign finance laws.

David Schneck, a libertarian who campaigned independently for a seat on the borough council in 2010 and accepted no donations to fund his run, feels that the borough's disclosure policy on campaign contributions must go.

Currently, Belmar boasts some of the most stringent local campaign laws in New Jersey. 

Candidates running for office are required to disclose the names of all contributors to their campaign and the amount of their donation. State law requires similar filings to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, though the state only requires disclosure of donations of $300 or more.

"It's the kind of stuff that discourages people from getting involved in politics," Schneck said.

"It prevents an independently wealthy person from taking advantage of the system," Councilman Brian Magovern said in defense of the borough's law.

Schneck also pointed to an obscure passage in the borough code, which gives the mayor the power to close gas stations and liquor dispensaries during emergencies.