Councilman Ben Forest (left) listens to questions from attendees at a community meeting organized by West Side advocate Freddie Boynton (at right) (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
Red Bank Borough Councilman Ben Forest wasn’t even supposed to be here today.
Ok, the classic line, “I wasn’t even supposed to be here today” from filmmaker and local hero Kevin Smith’s film “Clerks” was not exactly the same phrase Forest used when he found himself as the only public official facing a crowd of concerned citizens at a community meeting last week.
But it was close. And if he dropped the line, it would have been pretty apt.
Here’s what happened: When West Side neighborhood advocate Freddy Boynton organized a follow-up to an October community meeting with borough officials at Celestial Lodge on Drs. James Parker Boulevard Wednesday evening, he said he expected the same roster of reps who had fielded questions at the previous meeting: Borough Manager Jim Gant, Mayor Billy Portman, Police Chief Mike Frazee and others.
But when they got word of the meeting a few days before, those borough officials said they had already been planning a separate community meeting this Wednesday at the Red Bank Senior Center. Gant says he had prior family commitments. Portman, seemingly hoping to keep things streamlined, encouraged those at the meeting to come to the one this week.
Whether it was a misunderstanding or miscommunication or something else, it left Forest as the only official, elected or otherwise, at the meeting.
He had come expecting to watch from the audience like the rest of his West Side neighbors. But Forest was invited to the front table, and obligingly took a seat.
Over the next two hours, he was the sole target for questions, more questions, comments, and complaints.
There were items he might be able to pass along to the Borough Manager or police for them to address, such as questions about traffic enforcement, or a request to outlaw left turns on certain streets to make them safer.
And there were questions and issues that were far afield from the purview or duties of a borough councilman, such as a a rise in maintenance fees as a condominium complex and local businesses not hiring Red Bank residents.
For two hours, Forest sat at the front of the room taking notes he said he would take back to Borough Hall.
At one point he was asked about a rumor that a local liquor store was seeking to expand and re-open as a dollar store and what he could do to prevent it from happening.
He mentioned he hadn’t heard anything about it but would look into it.
“Keep in mind, I wasn’t entirely expecting to be up front here,” he told the crowd. “But I’m am a councilman and I’m happy to be here.”
The Borough’s scheduled community meeting is Wednesday 6 p.m at the Red Bank Senior Center. See the flyer below.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.
