Brant Beach Bulletin
April 19th, 2025
Thank you for renewing your membership for 2025.
This issue covers the upcoming June membership meeting, the municipal tax increase, beach umbrella safety, beach badge information, the April Township Commissioners’ Public Meeting, and more.
❖ Save the Date – June 14 BBTA’s Spring Membership Meeting will be held at 10am on June 14, with guest speaker Mayor Mancini. Our mayor will provide useful information and hear homeowners’ questions and concerns. All members and prospective members are invited. Coffee and bakery goods will be served.
❖ The 2025 municipal tax increase was unveiled as part of the proposed LBT 2025 Municipal Budget, which is available for viewing here as a link to the Revenue & Finance section of the LBT website. Commissioner Joe Lattanzi announced that the LBT municipal tax is set at 21 cents per $100 of assessed property value, an increase of about 3.4% over the current rate of 20.3 cents. In practical terms, homeowners will pay an additional $70.00 for each million dollars of assessed value, starting in August 2025. Keep in mind that local municipal tax is only one of seven components of your total property tax bill. To view a breakdown of your tax bill, click here and enter your last name.
❖ Send Us your Views on Sidewalks and Safety The Mayor remains concerned (as we all are) about safety on Ocean Blvd, and has asked BBTA and others for feedback. Are you in favor of adding more sidewalks on the west side of the road? Should sidewalks should be required whenever a home on the west side of Ocean Blvd is rebuilt, substantially renovated, or sold? Please send your thoughts to BBTA at info@brantbeachta.org.
❖ Water main replacement is underway from 44th to 55th Street along the ocean side of the Boulevard, and along West 55th Street. The crew has completed the section from 44th to 51st Street and is moving southward. If you are here in Brant Beach, you’ve noticed the frequent detours on the Boulevard, but few traffic backups. Completion is expected before Memorial Day weekend, but final paving will occur 60-90 days after the work is finished, to allow time for the ground to settle.
❖ Beach umbrella safety was highlighted at the April Commissioners Meeting by Ed Quigley, an out of state resident who suffered a pierced eye and severe brain injury while visiting Bethany Beach. He has since worked with the US Consumer Products Safety Commission to improve safety standards. Mr. Quigley asked our commissioners to post public safety signs at each beach entrance, and asked the public to buy umbrellas and anchors with a label indicating “MEETS ASTM F3681-24 FOR WIND SPEEDS UP TO 30 MPH.”
❖ 2025 Beach Badges are available for purchase at the outdoor shack on 68th Street starting Friday, April 18. Hours are 9am-3pm seven days a week, except 9am-12pm on Easter Sunday. Season badges for residents are $40 until June 14, and $50 thereafter. (If you’re not here to get the discount, you may order online at the mybeachmobile.com website or app.) Badges for age 65+ are $5. Veterans/active military are free. Badges are not required for ages 11 and under. Badge checking begins on June 14.
❖ Pickleball and tennis on Township courts will require a recreation badge from May 24 to September 9. The season cost is $40 for residents, $80 for nonresidents, and free for 65+ and veterans/active military. Go to the 68th Street shack or the mybeachmobile.com website or app.
❖ The BBTA Winter Speaker Series wrapped up last week with a presentation on “LBI during the Prohibition Era” given by Ron Marr of the LBI Museum. BBTA organized six events on various topics starting last October. BBYC graciously hosted the gatherings at their bayfront sailing center.
❖ The Family Chalk Art Contest will be held on May 3 (rain date May 4) from 10am to 4pm in front of the Haymarket between 21st and 22nd Street in Ship Bottom. $5 per family registration includes chalk. Prizes will be awarded!
❖ Shrub removal at 68th Street You may have noticed the heavy equipment removing the dead or dying foliage near the new restroom. This is just a cleanup effort. There is no construction associated with the job.
COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING
Representatives from the Brant Beach Taxpayers Association including Pete Potochney, Rusty Johnson, Janis Metz, Donn O’Brien, Joe Pahlow, and Ben Tonti attended the April 7 Long Beach Township Commissioners’ Meeting.
❖ Resident Input A resident asked for help regarding the very loud gurgling noises from inside the storm drain that empties into the bay next to his home. Commissioner Lattanzi replied that check valves are being installed that should solve the issue.
Ordinances
❖ Proposed On First Reading: First reading ordinances are available by visiting, emailing or telephoning the Township. They are no longer available on the LBT website.
25-09: Authorizes the expenditure and appropriation of $810,000 in Open Space Funds to purchase a lot on 6 Delaware Avenue at the southern end of the Township (behind an ice cream shop). The lot will be striped to create seven new parking spaces to help ease parking in this neighborhood which includes pickleball courts, Veterans’ Park and access to public beaches. On April 15, the Mayor called for a special meeting to be held at 10am on April 17 to expedite the second reading and final consideration of this ordinance. It was approved at this meeting.
❖ Passed On Second Reading: At second readings, the floor is open for public comments. When that exchange concludes, the commissioners and mayor vote to accept or reject the ordinance.
25-06: Long Beach Township plans to buy the building at 2119 Long Beach Boulevard, Ship Bottom. It is currently owned by Katharine Shackleton, and it houses the LBI Health Department and several professional services firms. You may recall that it had a major fire after Sandy and was newly rebuilt about ten years ago. This ordinance is for the issuance of a $1,520,000 bond toward a $1,600,000 appropriation. The LBI Health Department is a shared service among all six Island municipalities (Long Beach Township, Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom, and Beach Haven.) Even though LBT is making the purchase, other LBI towns will be sharing the cost of the building’s expenses, as per the towns’ shared services agreement.
25-07: Updates the ordinance passed last December with the current list of all Township employee salary ranges.
25-08C: Brant Beach Bulletin
April 19, 2025
Thank you for renewing your membership for 2025.
This issue covers the upcoming June membership meeting, the municipal tax increase, beach umbrella safety, beach badge information, the April Township Commissioners’ Public Meeting, and more.
❖ Save the Date – June 14 BBTA’s Spring Membership Meeting will be held at 10am on June 14, with guest speaker Mayor Mancini. Our mayor will provide useful information and hear homeowners’ questions and concerns. All members and prospective members are invited. Coffee and bakery goods will be served.
❖ The 2025 municipal tax increase was unveiled as part of the proposed LBT 2025 Municipal Budget, which is available for viewing here as a link to the Revenue & Finance section of the LBT website. Commissioner Joe Lattanzi announced that the LBT municipal tax is set at 21 cents per $100 of assessed property value, an increase of about 3.4% over the current rate of 20.3 cents. In practical terms, homeowners will pay an additional $70.00 for each million dollars of assessed value, starting in August 2025. Keep in mind that local municipal tax is only one of seven components of your total property tax bill. To view a breakdown of your tax bill, click here and enter your last name.
❖ Send Us your Views on Sidewalks and Safety The Mayor remains concerned (as we all are) about safety on Ocean Blvd, and has asked BBTA and others for feedback. Are you in favor of adding more sidewalks on the west side of the road? Should sidewalks should be required whenever a home on the west side of Ocean Blvd is rebuilt, substantially renovated, or sold? Please send your thoughts to BBTA at info@brantbeachta.org.
❖ Water main replacement is underway from 44th to 55th Street along the ocean side of the Boulevard, and along West 55th Street. The crew has completed the section from 44th to 51st Street and is moving southward. If you are here in Brant Beach, you’ve noticed the frequent detours on the Boulevard, but few traffic backups. Completion is expected before Memorial Day weekend, but final paving will occur 60-90 days after the work is finished, to allow time for the ground to settle.
❖ Beach umbrella safety was highlighted at the April Commissioners Meeting by Ed Quigley, an out of state resident who suffered a pierced eye and severe brain injury while visiting Bethany Beach. He has since worked with the US Consumer Products Safety Commission to improve safety standards. Mr. Quigley asked our commissioners to post public safety signs at each beach entrance, and asked the public to buy umbrellas and anchors with a label indicating “MEETS ASTM F3681-24 FOR WIND SPEEDS UP TO 30 MPH.”
❖ 2025 Beach Badges are available for purchase at the outdoor shack on 68th Street starting Friday, April 18. Hours are 9am-3pm seven days a week, except 9am-12pm on Easter Sunday. Season badges for residents are $40 until June 14, and $50 thereafter. (If you’re not here to get the discount, you may order online at the mybeachmobile.com website or app.) Badges for age 65+ are $5. Veterans/active military are free. Badges are not required for ages 11 and under. Badge checking begins on June 14.
❖ Pickleball and tennis on Township courts will require a recreation badge from May 24 to September 9. The season cost is $40 for residents, $80 for nonresidents, and free for 65+ and veterans/active military. Go to the 68th Street shack or the mybeachmobile.com website or app.
❖ The BBTA Winter Speaker Series wrapped up last week with a presentation on “LBI during the Prohibition Era” given by Ron Marr of the LBI Museum. BBTA organized six events on various topics starting last October. BBYC graciously hosted the gatherings at their bayfront sailing center.
❖ The Family Chalk Art Contest will be held on May 3 (rain date May 4) from 10am to 4pm in front of the Haymarket between 21st and 22nd Street in Ship Bottom. $5 per family registration includes chalk. Prizes will be awarded!
❖ Shrub removal at 68th Street You may have noticed the heavy equipment removing the dead or dying foliage near the new restroom. This is just a cleanup effort. There is no construction associated with the job.
COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING
Representatives from the Brant Beach Taxpayers Association including Pete Potochney, Rusty Johnson, Janis Metz, Donn O’Brien, Joe Pahlow, and Ben Tonti attended the April 7 Long Beach Township Commissioners’ Meeting.
❖ Resident Input A resident asked for help regarding the very loud gurgling noises from inside the storm drain that empties into the bay next to his home. Commissioner Lattanzi replied that check valves are being installed that should solve the issue.
ORDINANCES
❖ Proposed on First Reading. First reading ordinances are available by visiting, emailing or telephoning the Township. They are no longer available on the LBT website.
25-09. Authorizes the expenditure and appropriation of $810,000 in Open Space Funds to purchase a lot on 6 Delaware Avenue at the southern end of the Township (behind an ice cream shop). The lot will be striped to create seven new parking spaces to help ease parking in this neighborhood which includes pickleball courts, Veterans’ Park and access to public beaches. On April 15, the Mayor called for a special meeting to be held at 10am on April 17 to expedite the second reading and final consideration of this ordinance. It was approved at this meeting.
❖ Passed on Second Reading. At second readings, the floor is open for public comments. When that exchange concludes, the commissioners and mayor vote to accept or reject the ordinance.
25-06. Long Beach Township plans to buy the building at 2119 Long Beach Boulevard, Ship Bottom. It is currently owned by Katharine Shackleton, and it houses the LBI Health Department and several professional services firms. You may recall that it had a major fire after Sandy and was newly rebuilt about ten years ago. This ordinance is for the issuance of a $1,520,000 bond toward a $1,600,000 appropriation. The LBI Health Department is a shared service among all six Island municipalities (Long Beach Township, Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom, and Beach Haven.) Even though LBT is making the purchase, other LBI towns will be sharing the cost of the building’s expenses, as per the towns’ shared services agreement.
25-07. Updates the ordinance passed last December with the current list of all Township employee salary ranges.
25-08C. Reinstates the zoning ordinance that regulates how much outdoor seating a restaurant may have, rolling back that number to pre-COVID levels. A restaurant’s combined indoor and outdoor seating capacity may not exceed the permitted indoor occupancy. It details requirements including six feet of clear sidewalk, the use of tents, the use of parking lots, and additional requirements if alcohol is served. Restaurants must apply each year.
Thank you for your continued support of the Brant Beach Taxpayers Association.
