Joseph Valentino, a junior firefighter of notable merit, was honored at the latest Long Branch City Council meeting for receiving the National Junior Firefighter of the Year award. This award recognized his extensive community service and his role in recruiting volunteer firefighters. Valentino, also an Eagle Scout, expressed his gratitude and stressed the importance of community service.

The council then proceeded with the agenda, turning its attention to ordinance 09-24, which authorized the sale of a property on Belmont Avenue to I AJ Belmont LLC. A resident during the public comment segment raised questions regarding the configuration of the proposed single-family houses. The resident inquired whether the city had considered partnering with Habitat for Humanity to explore affordable housing opportunities. Despite these concerns, the ordinance was approved following a roll call vote.

Another item on the agenda was ordinance 10-24, which involved the purchase of properties from the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The aim was to incorporate these properties into a new pocket park. This ordinance was adopted after a roll call vote.

Ordinance 11-24 was also brought up during the meeting but was pulled from the agenda.

Among the other ordinances discussed, there was a focus on environmental and infrastructure issues. One ordinance looked to establish requirements for the storage of salt and other de-icing materials used on private properties to prevent contamination of storm water.

A resident, during the public comments section, expressed concerns regarding the economic implications of certain city projects. There was particular focus on the tax exemptions for the Pier Village 3 garage and the underassessment of pilot properties. The resident criticized the Chief Financial Officer for not reviewing the garage order and raised questions about the potential impact on the municipal budget. Additionally, the resident discussed how the financial decisions might affect the school board, and criticized state leaders for lifting the municipal cap to cover costs.

The meeting also served as a platform to announce upcoming community events. These included a Pride flag raising, a car show, the Long Branch fund days, and the opening of the Long Branch fire and history museum. The council took the opportunity to express gratitude to public workers and acknowledged the community’s active participation in these local events.