Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

RED BANK: COUNCIL SPARS OVER BROADWALK

red-bank-broad-sidewalk-042222-1-500x375-5672768Curb replacement work underway as part of the Broad Street streetscape project last week. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot-topic_03-220x138-9108919An ongoing split among Red Bank council Democrats played out as a power struggle Wednesday night over who will steer the reopening of the seasonal Broadwalk dining and shopping plaza.

red-bank-council-042722-500x313-8721188Councilman and mayoral candidate Michael Ballard, second row left, said his proposed committee would host a forum for community input on Broadwalk. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

The third annual edition of the car-free zone in the northernmost blocks of Broad Street won’t begin until mid-July at the earliest, officials have said. That’s when a construction project to replace underground utilities and redo the streetscape, months behind schedule, is expected to be completed.

Created in 2020 to help restaurants survive the COVID-19 pandemic, the seasonal Broadwalk opened June 18, 2020, and returned for a second edition on April 30, 2021.

At its regular session Wednesday night, with lame duck Mayor Pasquale Menna absent for the second consecutive meeting, the council had been expected to take up a resolution to appoint council members Michael Ballard, Angela Mirandi and Ed Zipprich to an ad hoc committee to plan the relaunch.

But Council President Kate Triggiano reported that Menna had objected to the appointments, and because the mayor has statutory authority to name committee members, asked that the measure be tabled.

Ballard, who’s running to succeed Menna as mayor, and Zipprich pushed back, contending that Menna had been informed by email of the nominations by the majority faction and had responded “OK.”

“Well, the code states that this is a mayoral appointment,” said Triggiano, leading the Zoom session in Menna’s absence. “It states that the mayor forms committees. He stated very clearly not only to myself but also to the clerk that these are not the appointments he wishes to make.”

In an email read aloud by Triggiano, Menna said the appointments of Ballard, Mirandi and Zipprich had not been mentioned at the April 13 council workshop session. “I strongly believe it should include stakeholders and residents as in the past,” he wrote.

At the council’s April 13 meeting, Ballard called for a comprehensive plan for Broadwalk that addressed trash as well as traffic throughout town, parking, emergency access, impacts on businesses outside the zone and more.

“My vision, because I saw the way that the committees were put together, where specific businesses and specific people were selected, I envisioned a much broader coalition,” Ballard said. “Not just businesses, not just restaurants inside the Broadwalk, but other retail businesses… to get a full impact on what this does to our town.”

Zipprich said Menna had “waffled and changed his mind” about the committee appointments.

After nearly 20 minutes of debate, Ballard said he would agree to tabling the measure until the council next meets, on May 11, but added “once again, we’re dragging our feet.”

“Let’s move on,” said Councilwoman Kathy Horgan, who said earlier this month that she won’t seek a sixth term. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“We can’t get anything done,” said Ballard. “It’s a shame.”

Ballard will face political newcomer Billy Portman in the June 7 Democratic primary. In the Republican primary, Brian Irwin is running unopposed.

If you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen, please become a financial supporter for as little as $1 per month. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
redbankgreen Classics
Partyline
JAY AND SILENT EAGLE
A very loud blue jay squawks at an indiferent bald eagle in a treetop alongside the Swimming River in Red Bank this week. (Partyline photo b ...
PIZZA LOVING SQUIRREL SPOTTED IN RED BANK
Pizza squirrel spotted in Red Bank. (click to read)
GET YOUR MA SOMETHIN’ NICE AT THE RED BANK FARMERS MARKET
It’s a beautiful and sunny Mother’s Day for the first instance of the farmer’s market, held every Sunday, beginning in May ...
SIGN? WHAT SIGN?
Folks in Red Bank Wednesday exercising their riparian rights to access tidal waters first encoded into Roman law in 500 AD and later adopted ...
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Partyline contributor captures photo of backyard fox.
STRIPER RUN AT MARINE PARK
An angler pulls in a striped bass from the Marine Park bulkhead Tuesday evening. (photo by Partyline contributor Boris Kofman)  
COLD AS CANADA? CHECK.
A pair of goose sculptures propped atop an air conditioning unit on River Street in Red Bank.
SUNRISE OVER A GLASSY NAVESINK
Sunrise over the Navesink River, seen from NJ Transit Train 3320. (photo by Partyline contributor Karly Swaim)  
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
NJ Transit "heritage" locomotive makes an appearance at the Red Bank station.
RBFD SNUFFS OUT SMALL APARTMENT FIRE
A small fire that started in a light fixture at the Colony House apartments in Red Bank was quickly put out by members of the Red Band Volun ...
HEAVENLY RED BANK
Rays burst from behind clouds at the sun begins to set over the Navesink River. (photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)
IN THE FLOW STATE AT RIVESIDE GARDENS
Flow artists in Riverside Gardens Park Friday night. ( photo by Partyline Contributor Karly Swaim)
MAILBOXES HEAD TO HISTORY’S SCRAP HEAP
Sign of the digital age: mailboxes hauled away from Red Bank post office to storage.
HOVERING CHOPPER
What’s going on here? Last Sunday. Hovering around for quite a while. (Photo and text by Partyline contributor Rosaleen Perry)   ...
RBMS HOOPS CHAMPS HONORED
The Red Bank Middle School girls basketball team is honored for their championship season. (click for more)
NAVESINK SUNSET
Sunset sunburst over Riverside Gardens Park (photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)
RIVERSIDE SUNSET
Sunday’s sunset shot from Riverside Gardens Park. (Photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus) —
MARINE PARK SUNSET
Stunning sunset from Red Bank's Marine Park.
GULLS AND GRAY OVER MOLLY PITCHER INN
On a cold rainy spring day, bulls soared high above the Navesink River and the golden cupola of Red Bank's Molly Pitcher Inn.
Red Bank Commuters Enjoy Stunning Sunrise Over Navesink River
Thursday morning sunrise over the Navesink River, a commuter view from NJ Transit Train 3320. (photo by Partyline contributor Karly Swaim) & ...