Bradley Beach Faces Scrutiny Over Financial Management Amid Budget and Housing Discussions

The recent Bradley Beach Borough Council meeting grappled with pressing fiscal management issues, an amended 2025 municipal budget, and an affordable housing plan, while also touching on community and infrastructure projects. These topics, particularly the financial discrepancies and housing obligations, dominated the discussions.

01:03:27A primary concern raised during the meeting was the borough’s financial management, highlighted by a presentation detailing significant discrepancies in financial records. Mr. Fred Eveno, tasked with reviewing the borough’s finances, identified inconsistencies among general ledgers, financial statements, and audit reports, describing the situation as having inconsistencies totaling millions of dollars. He noted that bank reconciliations had not been performed for over a year, and there were instances of missing entries and overdrafts, which raised alarms about potential financial mismanagement. The borough’s practice of inter-fund borrowing, while legal, had not adhered to the requirement of repayment by fiscal year-end, impacting the surplus fund balance. Eveno’s findings emphasized the need for heightened internal controls and management oversight to rectify these financial discrepancies.

24:06Public comments echoed these concerns, with residents expressing dissatisfaction over financial misallocation within the borough. One resident referenced a petition for an investigation by the attorney general into suspected corruption, drawing parallels between the borough’s financial management and organized crime. The call for accountability and proper oversight was a recurring theme, with residents urging for transparency and corrective actions.

09:47Compounding the financial issues, the council discussed a contentious 2025 municipal budget amendment. A resident questioned the completion of a fund balance analysis, revealing a lack of data integrity and discrepancies in the budget from previous years. The council faced scrutiny over the projected increase in surplus use for the upcoming budget year. The debate centered on the portrayal of the budget, which the resident argued was misleading without acknowledging the full financial picture, including the anticipated $4 million sale of a church property.

28:42The discussion also touched on the borough’s affordable housing obligations. The council’s planner outlined a plan to address a 64-unit rehabilitation requirement and 30 new construction units mandated by the Department of Community Affairs. The borough’s strategy involved negotiations with property owners to satisfy unmet housing needs and earn bonus credits for developments near mass transportation. However, challenges were anticipated due to high property values in coastal communities, complicating the identification of qualifying units for rehabilitation.

52:17Further complicating the affordable housing efforts, two Oxford houses were now eligible for credits under new legislation, adding 16 beds to the borough’s housing credits. The plan included drafting an overlay zone along Main Street to comply with legal deadlines and maintain immunity from certain housing obligations. The council discussed a mandatory set-aside ordinance requiring developments of five or more units to include affordable housing.

01:51:33Infrastructure projects were another focal point, as the council addressed the Fifth Avenue sewer replacement project. Given the condition of the existing sewer, a full replacement was deemed necessary. The council emphasized timely communication with residents regarding the project’s impact. Additionally, a grant application for improvements to Ocean Park Avenue was approved, reflecting ongoing efforts to upgrade sewer infrastructure.

02:16:58Community engagement and environmental efforts were highlighted through various initiatives, including a cleanup at Fletcher Lake, yielding significant waste removal. Upcoming recreational activities and arts events were announced, fostering community participation. Public comments addressed quality-of-life concerns, such as beach storage box assignments and the resurfacing of courts at the recreation center.

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.

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