Long Branch Budget to Stay Within Cap Limit

The initial look at the 2011 Long Branch municipal budget shows that it will fall under the state-mandated 2 percent budget cap by about $3.8 million.

During Tuesday night's council meeting, an ordinance was passed to establish a municipal appropriation to provide for future unforeseeable and unexpected events.  A cap bank credit set-aside is underway for that purpose. The action will not increase local taxes for the coming year.

Long Branch Chief Financial Officer Ron Melhorn has been preparing the budget worksheets and gathering data for the upcoming year. Melhorn explained the major scheduled events and will provide the data sheets and related materials for the council's review and decision making to meet the state's submission deadline of mid-April.

The plan is to introduce the budget at the next council meeting on March 22. Council and department heads will meet before in order to iron out details and make some decisions across the total budget.

The council members are going through the exercise for their first time, with the exception of Council President Dr. Mary Jane Celli. Mayor Adam Schneider and Business Administrator Howard Woolley have been through the budget process for many years, and will continue to support methods that have worked in the past. The mayor said the first time will be tough, and that it is a complex undertaking.

Melhorn and the staff will remain available to answer questions and to help with the logistics of managing a foot-thick document.  Some explanatory questions were raised at Tuesday's meeting, however, it was clear that the mayor and city staff will expect decisions to be left to the council on behalf of the residents.

• In other Long Branch Council news, City Attorney James Aaron discussed the disposition of the Ocean Place Resort, a pending bankruptcy proceeding before the U. S. Bankruptcy Court in Trenton, scheduled for March 9.

It was opined that the owners will continue operations as it also asks for more time to negotiate financial arrangements, including finding other interested investors.

Give and take negotiations are continuing with the court outcome in the backdrop of the overall matter.  Hotel operations will continue, it is expected, as the parties work their way through the complexities.

Mayor Adam Schneider, an attorney as well, said the economic conditions impact those actions as the downturn also impacts development matters in the Lower Broadway District in the city and elsewhere in the state and nation.

• An ordinance establishing fees for non-resident youth groups for use of parks and pavilions was adopted by the council.

• A pesticide reduction practice was introduced to help minimize the impact of these chemicals on quality of health issues. It was said that the action is aiding the Environmental Commission's efforts to move toward a greener environment in the city.

• Resident Michele Barbrow reminded the council that March is National Women’s History Month.

Barbrow recalled several accomplishments made by woman here and around the world. It is 100 years since the horrible Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, March 25, 1911. She said it has been called the most horrible event in women’s history in this country.

More than 140 women and children were lost to that fire.  It led to safety and work place improvements. Barbrow said there are still women’s issues today, and more must be accomplished.

National Women’s Day is celebrated on March 9.