Meeting Recap
June 20, 2026
The BBTA holds two member meetings each year, generally in June and September. Besides providing updated information, these meetings serve to connect our members personally with the officials who support our community. Here’s a recap of our June 6 meeting.
BBTA President Pete Potochney opened the meeting. He outlined how BBTA’s financial and membership levels remain solid.
Copies of BBTA’s History Panels were on display. The outdoor panels are in production and will be installed near the 68th Street bocce courts in late summer. Copies are below.
A State-funded feasibility study to look at school district regionalization options to better utilize education tax dollars, reduce school taxes, and align curriculums is not moving forward. Currently, our mayor is the only one of the six LBI mayors who supports advancing the feasibility study. This effort was outlined in the February BBTA Bulletin.
An attendee asked if beach replenishment was scheduled. Pete Potochney replied that no Federal money has been budgeted.
“Cooler streets” were proposed by homeowner Hubert Streep of 56th Street, who urged the Township to return to paving the side streets using asphalt mixed with particulates rather than the jet-black asphalt now being used. Mr. Streep cited benefits including cooler air temperatures, safer conditions for people and pets, and lower costs for air conditioning.
Our first guest speaker was Police Chief Ed Bernhard, who lives and works in Long Beach Township. Highlights include:
❖ Our newest police dog, Zero, was introduced. He is trained to detect certain illegal drugs. Cocaine and crystal meth are now the most common illicit drugs, mostly brought in by vacationers.
❖ Attendees watched a live flight video from our new drone, which is housed in Brant Beach. It can drop a floatation device to a distressed swimmer and will also aid in traffic enforcement among other uses.
❖ The Chief stated that all Township police officers are EMT certified, which greatly improves response time.
❖ “Be a nosy neighbor!” Chief Bernhard stressed that the best way to prevent crime and house break-ins is to be alert and report suspicious observations.
❖ Our curfew laws mandate that all juveniles must be off the beach by 9pm and off the streets by 10pm.
❖ In the summer, LBI has one of the highest concentrations of e-bikes in the country. NJ’s strict new legislation takes effect on July 19, although there could be some minor changes. For up-to-date information, see NJMVC | E-bike Requirements.
❖ “Bumblebees“ is the term fondly applied to our Class 1 officers in yellow T-shirts. This summer, we will have more of them, and they will be in patrol cars as well as on bikes.
Our second guest speaker was Mike Clark, the Township Water & Sewer Superintendent
❖ In Brant Beach, our public water supply is well water taken from the very large Atlantic City aquifer deep below Long Beach Island. It is treated at the West 56th Street plant with only chlorine and dehydrated lime to adjust the pH, and stored in the Brant Beach water tower.
❖ Mike Clark explained that pinhole leaks are generally due to poor quality copper pipes, improper grounding (especially where plastic pipes like “pex” are used to repair leaks and interrupt the grounding), or newer appliances that generate low level electrical currents that may cause pipe corrosion. He indicated that an electrician could check for proper grounding. Mike suggested that residents who discover a leak should first call the Township water department. When a homeowner asked why pinhole leaks are so prevalent here and not in her North Jersey town, the reply was that he does not know the characteristics of that water supply.
Our next meeting will be in September. Thanks to those who attended!
Enjoy the preview below of BBTA’s history panels that will be installed near the 68th Street bocce courts.
