Bill Would Allow County Control of Towns' Beach Operations

A senate subcommittee is discussing a bill that would give county control of municipal beach operations, having counties assume administration of beach badges, dune replenishment and more.

The bill is being strongly opposed by Manasquan, said Borough Business Administrator Joe DeIorio, who attended a state senate Environment and Energy committee meeting Monday to provide public comments.

Sponsored by Middlesex County State Senator Bob Smith (D), the bill refers specifically to beaches bordering the Atlantic Ocean, and here would give Monmouth County the power to administer municipal beach utilities. The proposed legislation is attached as a .pdf to this article.

DeIorio said some environmentalists were on hand to support the proposal, under the thinking that the county could blanketly rebuild dunes.

"Environmentals were advocating beach operations for the county," DeIorio said. "Besides myself a Spring Lake councilman was there in opposition."

If approved, counties would not assume control over beaches. Instead, the municipality would give the county control.

"The legislation is written to make it permissible, not required," DeIorio said. "I don’t know what municipality would want to give up their beach."

Legislation is just being heard by committee, he said. "We are on record opposing the legislation."

Mary Ryan, of the Manasquan Beach Improvement Association, said it was disappointing to learn of the senate discussion after the fact, because she would like to express her opposition and she believes many other beach association members would, too.

"I'm astounded to hear about beach proposal handing beaches over to the county," she said, thanking DeIorio for attending the senate subcommittee.