Beach Haven Council Applauds Officer’s Dedication and Addresses Financial Adjustments

At the recent Beach Haven Borough Council meeting, Patrolman Michael McCaffrey was honored as the 2023 recipient of the Beach Haven Police Department Officer of the Year award. His recognition for dedication and positive community interactions was notable item of discussion. In financial matters, extensive work by Treasurer Sherie Bowler was noted, leading to an adjustment of approximately $114,000 in sewer charges due to incorrect billing for secondary meters. The meeting also saw discussions on maintaining current meeting times despite concerns raised about public accessibility and transparency.

Patrolman McCaffrey’s recognition came after a summer incident where he sustained injuries while apprehending a burglary suspect. Chief Marosi commended McCaffrey’s consistent positive attitude and his willingness to go above and beyond in his service. The council and public joined in expressing their gratitude and congratulations to Patrolman McCaffrey for his perseverance and dedication.

Financially, Treasurer Sherie Bowler’s diligence came to the forefront as she identified billing errors in the sewer utility accounts. Over 90 accounts had been affected by incorrect application of credits for outdoor water use via secondary meters. The resolution passed by the council to adjust the billing discrepancies amounted to financial adjustments for the borough.

In other discussions, Council member Jaime Baumiller and Mayor Colleen Lambert met with representatives concerning ongoing litigation involving Beach Haven Auto vs. Borough of Beach Haven. Although details were reserved for executive session, the council shared that the meeting was productive and that communication lines were open.

Regarding the council’s meeting schedule, a proposal to change meeting times to enhance public access and transparency sparked debate. However, after deliberation, it was decided to maintain the existing schedule, with agenda meetings at 4 pm and regular meetings at 6 pm. The decision was influenced by the current convenience for council members and the availability of a Zoom option for public attendance. The council emphasized that meeting times did not affect attendance as much as the agenda’s content and that legal requirements sometimes dictated scheduling.

The council also approved various consent agenda items and budget transfers to cover municipal expenses, including a mailer set to be distributed in January. There was a suggestion to consider digital dissemination for future communications to save costs.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly: