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

Overview: 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.

Sparta Planning Board Advances Affordable Housing Plan Amid Environmental Constraints

Overview: The recent Sparta Planning Board meeting focused primarily on the township’s obligations to affordable housing under state mandates, with the board approving a detailed housing element and fair share plan. The plan aims to meet the fourth round of affordable housing requirements while considering Sparta’s environmental limitations due to its location within the Highlands Preservation Area. The board also deliberated on a minor subdivision application and discussed sustainability initiatives.

Bradley Beach Faces Financial Management Concerns Amid Housing and Infrastructure Challenges

Overview: The Bradley Beach Borough Council meeting revealed concerns over fiscal management, as discrepancies in financial records came to light. The council also faced challenges related to affordable housing obligations and ongoing infrastructure projects. Financial expert Fred Ebono, hired by the borough, presented a ten-page report outlining substantial discrepancies within the municipality’s financial records, which have persisted for seven years. Ebono highlighted issues such as misaligned general ledgers, annual financial statements, and audit reports, noting discrepancies totaling millions of dollars and a concerning lack of internal controls.

Egg Harbor Land Use Board Approves Driveway Waiver for Lago Construction, Discusses Redevelopment Plan Updates

Overview: The Egg Harbor Land Use Board meeting on June 17, 2025, saw discussions surrounding the approval of a driveway waiver for Lago Construction and the need for updates to a redevelopment plan for the Creek subdivision project. The board ultimately approved the waiver request for Lago Construction, allowing for a driveway on San Francisco Avenue, and discussed necessary amendments to the aging redevelopment plan.

Kingston Board of Selectmen Discuss Overhaul of Public Works Structure

Overview: A recent meeting of the Kingston Board of Selectmen saw discussions centered around the potential establishment of a Department of Public Works (DPW), aimed at improving coordination across various town services. This proposal emerges as part of an effort to address inefficiencies in service delivery, emergency responses, road maintenance, and the management of water and sewer systems. The conversation became a focal point of the meeting, with both residents and board members weighing in on the potential benefits and challenges of consolidating departmental operations under a single director.