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RED BANK: STATE SLAMS PAYOUT CONTROLS

Interim borough Manager Darren McConnell disputed the state’s claim that the borough is not cooperating. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicRed Bank is one of nine New Jersey municipalities that have failed to take action to prevent illegal sick leave and vacation payouts to departing employees, a state agency said Thursday.

In a press release, acting New Jersey Comptroller Kevin Walsh said the borough and eight other towns “are failing in their most basic responsibilities: To act as a fiduciary of taxpayer funds and to be transparent about how these funds are used.” They risk losing state funding if they don’t comply, he said.

But interim borough Manager Darren McConnell pushed back against some of Walsh’s assertions.

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September 29, 2023 - 2:00 pm |

RED BANK: COUNCIL SALARIES UNCHANGED

The council meets twice monthly at borough hall, 90 Monmouth Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicSalaries for Red Bank’s mayor and council, which haven’t risen in at least 15 years, will remain unchanged at least through the remainder of 2023, under an resolution up for a vote Thursday night.

But whomever the governing body selects to fill the new borough manager post will have the latitude to give them specified raises under a related ordinance that’s also up for a vote.

Here’s a quick look at the agenda:

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September 27, 2023 - 8:58 am |

RED BANK: STATION PROJECT GOES TO BOARD

hot topic red bank njAfter months of postponements, the Red Bank zoning board hearing on a plan for a four-story apartment building opposite the train station is scheduled to begin Thursday night.

UPDATE: Yet again, this hearing has been postponed. The borough website says the zoning board meeting has been cancelled and “all applications scheduled for this date will re-notice for a new hearing date.”

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September 20, 2023 - 8:00 am |

RED BANK: HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATED

Dreamers Club executive committee members Selena Martinez-Santiago, Madelyn Sanchez-Berra and Bethzy Vera Varela looked on as president Edith Lozano Zane addressed the RBR board on September 11. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

UPDATE: Because of rain in the forecast, this Saturday’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Riverside Gardens Park has been rescheduled for September 30.

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicKicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, Red Bank’s mayor and council trained a spotlight on four young Latina students at Red Bank Regional High School last week.

The self-styled “Dream 4” were fresh off an emotional revival of a school club that advocates for Hispanic and Latinx students.

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September 19, 2023 - 8:56 am |

RED BANK: ENNIO MENNA DIES

Evelina and Ennio Menna at Red Bank borough hall in January, 2017. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Ennio Menna, father of former Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna, died at Riverview Medical Center Friday. He was 94 years old.

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September 18, 2023 - 8:48 am |

RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS

The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for August, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.

CRIMES

Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft in the area of Shrewsbury Av. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter which was valued between $1100.00 and $1800.00. Ptl Jeffrey Lewandowski.

Theft: In the area of Leighton Av, a patrol unit took a report of theft from a motor vehicle. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter. The catalytic converter was valued at $600.00. Ptl. Jhonatan Quispe.

Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft from a vehicle in the area of Hudson Av. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter that was valued at $600.00. Ptl. Christopher Fuentes.

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September 15, 2023 - 10:50 am |

RED BANK: TREE REMOVALS AT ISSUE

A view down South Street on August 3, above, and a century-old tree being removed Monday. (Photos by John T. Ward, above, and Kenny Katzgrau.  Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

The abrupt removal of nine trees along South Street in Red Bank this week was “unavoidable,” according to interim borough Manager Darren McConnell.

Residents, though, said they were in the dark about the plan until it was too late to change it.

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September 15, 2023 - 8:10 am |

RED BANK: SALARY BUMPS & MORE ON AGENDA

The council meets twice monthly at borough hall, 90 Monmouth Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicRed Bank’s council would clear the way to give itself its first pay bump in at least 15 years under an ordinance up for introduction Thursday night.

It would also reset the maximum salaries for the top three unelected positions at borough hall, one of which is open.

Here’s a quick look at the agenda:

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September 14, 2023 - 8:30 am |

RED BANK: TREES COMING DOWN

As part of a road repaving project, a crew began removing nine trees along South Street in Red Bank amid complaints from residents Wednesday morning.

redbankgreen plans to follow up with a story. (Video by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

September 13, 2023 - 11:25 am |

LITTLE SILVER: RBR DREAMERS REGAIN STATUS

Dreamers Club executive committee member Selena Martinez-Santiago delivers a petition in support of the group to RBR board president Patrick Noble. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicReversing an action that sparked a civil rights complaint and community outrage, Red Bank Regional High School’s board of ed restored funding for an immigrants’ advocacy student group Monday night.

At special session in the Little Silver school’s cafeteria that drew a large crowd – including Red Bank’s entire governing body – speakers voiced support for the Dreamers Club while denouncing a lone board member’s vote that they said imperiled years of progress.

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September 12, 2023 - 11:20 am |

RED BANK: REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

Red Bank Charter School third-graders sang “Remember You,” and Father John Lock, right, of Trinity Baptist Church spoke about remembering those lost as Red Bank marked the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks that killed nearly 3,000. More →

September 12, 2023 - 7:00 am |

LITTLE SILVER: DREAMERS FILE BIAS CLAIM

Three of the four members of the Dreamers Club executive committee volunteering at Dog Days on Saturday: from left, Madelyn Sanchez-Berra, Selena Martinez-Santiago and Bethzy Vera-Varela. Below, club president Edith Lozano Zane. (Top photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

The Dreamers Club at Red Bank Regional High School has filed a complaint with the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights alleging it has been “singled out for nine years” of discrimination, the group announced Friday.

The allegations of bias are expected to be in the spotlight when the RBR board of education meets in a special session Monday night. Meantime, Superintendent Lou Moore said he’s “hopeful” the board will reinstate the club by reappointing its advisor.

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September 11, 2023 - 8:37 am |

RED BANK: THRIVE PLAN GETS BOARD OK

A rendering of the proposed Thrive Red Bank project, as seen from Shrewsbury Avenue. (Rendering by CPA Architecture. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicA proposed apartment building for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities won approval from the Red Bank zoning board Thursday night.

Advocates called the approval historic, and said it would allow them to create a model for desperately needed housing for neuro-diverse adults.

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September 8, 2023 - 8:37 am |

RED BANK: BRUSH PICKUP REMINDER

With summer 2023 nearing its end, Red Bank’s public utilities department is reminding residents that there are only two remaining brush pickups scheduled for the year. More →

August 31, 2023 - 7:40 am |

RED BANK: COUNCIL VOWS HPC RESTART

Historic Preservation Commission attorney Michele Donato addressing the council Thursday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicRed Bank’s Historic Preservation Commission will be reconstituted, Mayor Billy Portman and other council members informally agreed Thursday night.

But the council will first have to adopt design standards to establish which types of renovation work require HPC perusal and which can be fast-tracked, Portman said.

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August 25, 2023 - 8:24 am |

RED BANK: SETTLEMENT FORCES LOT RE-DO

Workers laying the sidewalk that blocked access to White Street from the Better Housekeeping Shop, the beige building visible at far right, in October, 2020. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

See UPDATE below

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank nj

Less than three years after a complete makeover, downtown Red Bank’s main parking lot would be reconfigured to comply with the terms of a lawsuit settlement up for approval Thursday night.

At issue: an 84-year-old appliance shop’s truck access to the street.

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August 24, 2023 - 8:45 am |

RED BANK: PRESERVATION PANEL ON AGENDA

Historic Preservation Commission attorney Michele Donato, left, with Chairman Chris Fabricant in March. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicThe future of Red Bank’s Historic Preservation Commission may come into focus when the borough council meets Thursday night.

Also on the agenda: proposed height limits on new construction along the Navesink River waterfront, and the settlement of a lawsuit over a parking lot issue. More →

August 23, 2023 - 8:45 am |

RED BANK: NEW HOUSE LOT APPROVED

Red Bank’s planning board approved a subdivision at 27 Locust Avenue Monday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

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August 22, 2023 - 8:40 am |

RED BANK: THRIVE PARKING PLAN QUESTIONED

Seen on a monitor, an architect discusses the design of the proposed Shrewsbury Avenue project. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicA proposed apartment project for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities would be the first of its kind in New Jersey, which has a critical need for it, sponsors told the Red Bank zoning board Thursday night.

Board members had questions about parking and unit size, but showed no immediate sign of opposition.

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August 18, 2023 - 8:00 am |

RED BANK: SPECIAL-NEEDS HOUSING PLANNED

Rendering shows the Shrewsbury Avenue side of the proposed building. Access to an interior garage would be at the far left. (Rendering by CPA Architecture.Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicWhen Karen Fluharty moved her special-needs adult son to a neuro-diverse housing complex in Phoenix two years ago, she was both relieved and devastated. There simply was nothing anywhere near her Rumson home that would allow young Ryan to live an independent life with an overlay of needed support, she said.

“I had to make the choice as a parent, to leave my 19-year-old son, my only child, in Arizona,” she said. “I had to make the choice between the right program and being near family. And no parent should have to make that choice.”

On Thursday night, a nonprofit entity Fluharty created will go before the Red Bank zoning board with an alternative.

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August 16, 2023 - 8:50 am |

RED BANK: MCPO WEIGHS IN ON PBA CLAIM

Chief Darren McConnell speaking at an event in 2021. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topicThe Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office amended its policy on internal-affairs investigations into matters involving relatives of local police chiefs in February, the agency told redbankgreen Monday.

But the changes were “not formulated as a reaction to any one specific matter,” the MCPO said in a statement that appeared to contradict an assertion made last week by Red Bank’s police union about borough police Chief Darren McConnell.

McConnell said the statement bares “another misrepresentation of the facts by the PBA.”

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August 14, 2023 - 5:00 pm |
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