Long Branch Council OKs Extending Beach Season By A Week

By Christopher Sheldon

Long Branch's guarded beach season usually ends on Labor Day, but the city council has decided to extend it another week.

"This year school in Long Branch does not start until (Sept.) 9 because of Rosh Hashanah and it was suggested that there is enough money in the salary account to operate for (extra) four weekday and the two weekend days," Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley said.

Woolley said the beaches would not be staffed at full capacity, mainly because many of the younger staff members would be going back to school, but that there would be enough to safely operate the beaches.

City Beach Manager Dan George said beach staff will still be on hand as first responders in case of an emergency. 

"I think people will definitely be safe on the beaches," George said. "They'll be safer with us there. The worst case scenario is that we're not there and it's beautiful, you're still going to have thousands of people at the beach."

George said said the staffs' schedule will depend on beach attendance and the weather.

"We do have the ability to monitor (the schedule) and change it on a daily basis," George said. "We can shut down a day or two in the middle and just have the weekends. It all depends on the weather."

He said not every beach will be staffed and those that are not will not allow swimming.

George said most of the city's busier beaches will be open including Chelsea Avenue, Morris Avenue, West End Avenue, Laird Street, Madison Avenue and the Great Lawn.