Budget Hearing Announced For Berkeley

BERKELEY – The 2024 budget for the town will have a public hearing during the Township Council meeting on June 24.

Although towns have a fiscal year the same as a calendar year, the state government’s fiscal year starts July 1. Therefore, towns usually put their budgets together around this time every year, once they get confirmation of how much aid they will get from the state.

The budget was introduced during the Township Council’s May meeting. The total budget on this document is $61,450,458.49. Of this, $39,904,099.72 was coming from taxes. These figures could change between the introduction and the final vote on June 24.

Meetings start at 6 p.m. in the town hall at 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road.

Lead Paint Law

The Township Council awarded a contract for certified lead paint inspection services to Gotham Realty Management, LLC in the amount of $375 per inspection.

The ordinances in town were also changed to create rules for when property owners need to get their buildings inspected for lead paint. It matters the most for rental properties or properties when they change hands.

Rules were created that explain how someone would go about getting their house tested, and fees if they are found in violation.

Officials said that the cost for inspection, plus an administrative fee, would be paid by the property owner.

Properties built after 1978, when lead paint was banned, are mostly free from having to worry about this.

Open Space

The Township Council supported the purchase of property on Dorrance Drive to be preserved for open space.

This land, Block 1215, Lots 5-19, is in the Good Luck Point section of town. Superstorm Sandy devastated this area, and a lot of homeowners didn’t bother rebuilding.

These are considered repetitive loss properties. They flood easily, and are dangerous places to be in a hurricane. Therefore, the federal flood insurance program encourages towns to preserve them as an open space buffer for other properties. To further encourage this, the program offers discounts on all flood insurance policies in a town that has done a number of changes to protect against flooding.

The purchase would be made by the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund, which is fueled by a tax on every property in the county. Many other Good Luck Point properties have already been purchased by this fund for preservation.

Appointments

In other news, the following appointments were made to the Zoning Board of Adjustment: Heather Walsh (four-year unexpired term, ending December 31, 2025); Richard Bombardier (alternate, two-year unexpired term, ending December 31, 2025); Ray Sager (alternate, two-year unexpired term, ending December 31, 2024); Shawn Hyland (alternate, two-year unexpired term, ending December 31, 2025); and James Coffey (alternate, two-year unexpired term, ending December 31, 2025).

When a developer has a plan for a piece of land that doesn’t fit all the rules, they usually go before the Zoning Board first.

James Coffey was also appointed to the Golf Advisory Committee for a term that expires at the end of this year. This committee of volunteers gives their advice to the governing body about the conditions of the Cedar Creek Golf Course, which is owned by the town but managed by a third party.

The Waterways Advisory Committee is another volunteer board that gives feedback to the town about what is going on in the waterfront communities. Bob Nunn and Mary Nuziale were appointed to terms ending December 31, 2026.