Belmar Continuing Existing Projects With Birdsall Despite Firm's Legal Issues

Monmouth firm worked on Belmar boardwalk plans, but is under investigation for alleged Pay-to-Play violations

Re-examing Belmar's relationship with Birdsall Engineering Group, the firm where several current and former employees face alleged Pay-to-Play violations, won't come until some projects underway are finished, officials discussed tonight. But Belmar council members said the borough administration should discuss whether it should use Birdsall for future projects. Open projects now underway with Birdsall are the boardwalk rebuild and other beachfront projects. Councilman Jim Beam brought up the issue in tonight's council workshop session, after hearing news of an indictment yesterday of seven Birdsall employees and shareholders, including one who previously worked as Brick Township administrator. Birdsall has been under investigation for …

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Hurricane Sandy

Manasquan Advances Plan For $306K in Beachfront Buildings: Restrooms, Lifeguard Station, Gazebos

Contract to repair to existing buildings, plus another $75,000 to oversee construction

Manasquan is advancing plans to repair existing beachfront buildings damaged in Hurricane Sandy for a cost estimated at $306,000. The borough recently opened bids for the project, which would rebuild the inlet comfort station and gazebo improvements on Riverside Drive, the restroom and lifeguard building on Ocean Avenue, and the beach department building on Second Avenue. Manasquan is also planning to add a new gazebo at Riddle Way but did not award the contract for the work, though bids were opened for the project. Three bids were received for the project, with the lowest bid at $316,000 when adding in the alternate gazebo. The borough engineer estimated the work would come in at $437,000. McAuley Construction was awarded the contract as …

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Local Connections to Belmar's Use of AshBritt Questioned

Mayor's wife working with Conti firm who marketed AshBritt for Hurricane Sandy contracts

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty's wife, Maggie Moran, has ties to the company that the borough contracted to clean-up after Hurricane Sandy, according to a Star-Ledger article. The company, AshBritt, has dozens of contracts throughout the state to haul debris from the devastating storm, and Belmar is one of them. The borough will also decide at its Wednesday meeting whether to approve $2.6 million to AshBritt's contract for Belmar's garbage and debris removal. According to the proposed agenda, the council will decide a contract for the purpose of Garbage and Debris Removal from an authorized vendor under the State of New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Program I-NJCP. The widespread use of AshBritt and the political ties of those recently …

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