During the public comment section, Maria Lee Carvalo, a resident of Beach Haven, brought forward her concerns over a broken water meter at her vacant property. Carvalo detailed that she was unaware of the issue until she received a hefty water bill, despite the property being unoccupied. She attempted to contact the town on May 14th but only received a response after personally following up on May 26th. Carvalo expressed her frustration with the lack of communication and the delayed response, noting that a report eventually showed water consumption at a rate of 20 gallons per hour since February due to the malfunctioning meter.

Carvalo emphasized the inconvenience and expense incurred, as she had to travel two hours to address the issue and hire a plumber to shut off the water. The town informed her that she needed to purchase and arrange the installation of a new water meter independently. She voiced her dissatisfaction with the town’s handling of her situation and questioned the potential for reimbursement of the additional costs. Her experience highlighted a need for improved communication and procedures in addressing water management issues and consumer concerns.

Another resident echoed similar sentiments during the public comment session, raising concerns about a water leak at their property. The resident argued that the leak did not enter the town’s sewer system but expelled water into their driveway, challenging the appropriateness of being charged a sewer fee for the quarter. The resident pointed out that both their plumber and a town representative confirmed the leak’s location and requested consideration for forgiveness of the sewer charges. They suggested the automatic enrollment of Aqua Hawk monitoring when a home is purchased to alert residents to leaks more promptly.

In response, a council member acknowledged the resident’s concerns and thanked them for bringing the issue to the council’s attention. The council member also extended condolences to a family affected by a tragic boating accident on Memorial Day, highlighting the council’s engagement with community issues beyond infrastructure.

In the same meeting, the council considered proposed ordinance 9C, which aims to eliminate the second alternate position on the historic preservation advisory commission. This position had been vacant for an extended period, and its removal was recommended following a state-level audit. The council discussed the benefits of streamlining the commission and aligning with audit recommendations, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve governance and efficiency within the borough.

The council also reviewed a consent agenda, which included routine resolutions such as approving Monica Johnson’s appointment as a provisional technical assistant to the construction office and multiple change orders related to the 2025 emergency operations center renovations project. Concerns were raised about the frequency and financial impact of these change orders, with one council member expressing a hope that the council would not see five change orders at every meeting. Another member reassured that the change orders were being closely monitored and remained a low percentage of the total project cost.

Additional discussions during the council meeting included the approval of a bill list totaling $540,767.97 and upcoming ordinances regarding rental registrations and fire inspections. The council acknowledged the challenges faced by residents with new rental agreements, particularly concerning the electronic portal, but noted that future submissions would be easier once initial data was entered.

The meeting also featured a report from Chief Finneather of the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Company, who expressed gratitude for the use of Veterans Park for their beer fest fundraiser. The event was noted to have a successful outcome, and Chief Finneather commended the police department and public works for their efforts during the Memorial Day parade.

Council members shared updates on community events, including the anticipated improvements on Bay Avenue and the town-wide yard sale scheduled for June 17, with registration required by June 10. A student from the local elementary school, Harlo Romanowski, was recognized for her exceptional reading skills in the “Philly Fanatic about Reading” program, earning accolades during a pregame ceremony at Citizens Bank Park.