ON THE GREEN: MEETINGS MOVE ONLINE

Fair Haven Board of Ed members sat well-spaced at a meeting carried live on YouTube last week. (YouTube screen grab. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Fair Haven’s board of ed held its first-ever virtual meeting last Wednesday.

With five members seated well apart from one another in the Knollwood School gym to minimize the possible transmission of the COVID-19 virus, the board had a quorum. Four other members participated via the Zoom conferencing app. And the public, barred from appearing in person, chimed in via the chat function on YouTube, where the meeting was live-streamed.

Among the most frequent comments: “we can’t hear you.”

March 23, 2020 - 12:15 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: BALLARD & ZIPPRICH TO RUN AGAIN

Ed Zipprich, left, won a fourth term, and Michael Ballard, right, won his first in the 2017 election. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Two incumbent Democrats will defend their seats on the Red Bank council in the November election, the party announced Monday.

In an unsurprising move, the municipal and county Democratic committees unanimously endorsed Councilman Ed Zipprich‘s pursuit of a fifth three-year term, and Michael Ballard‘s quest for a second.

March 3, 2020 - 8:11 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: SNACK BAR, SCREENS ON AGENDA

The council won’t renew the lease on the snack stand at Riverside Gardens Park under a measure on Wednesday’s agenda. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

After several years as a seasonal commercial operation, the concession stand in Red Bank’s Riverside Gardens Park has proven to be a fiscal dud.

So suggests a proposal to nix an extension of the soon-to-expire lease on the building. That, along with an ordinance tightening up the property maintenance law governing lawns and window screens, is among the items of interest up for consider at for the council’s regular session Wednesday.

Here’s a quick rundown.

February 25, 2020 - 12:45 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: BALLOONS, TRAFFIC ON AGENDA

The study is to examine traffic and on-street parking downtown. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Expect the Red Bank council to initiate a proposed ban on mass balloon releases at its next regular meeting Wednesday night.

Also on deck: the award of a contract for a traffic study.

February 10, 2020 - 10:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: TRAFFIC STUDY ON AGENDA

A proposed study is expected to track traffic at 19 downtown intersections, including Broad and West Front streets, above. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

A study of downtown traffic is up for discussion at the Red Bank council’s workshop session Wednesday evening.

The data to be gathered is expected to be useful for future parking, pedestrian and other initiatives, borough Business Administrator Ziad Shehady tells redbankgreen.

February 4, 2020 - 4:45 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: GRANT TO FUND SOLAR BOOST

Hot chocolate made with an assist from the sun? The concession stand at Count Basie Fields in Red Bank is set to get a juice boost, thanks to the borough Environmental Commission.

Read More »

January 24, 2020 - 10:00 am | Comments ()

FAIR HAVEN: COUNCIL ADDS TWO DEMOCRATS

Joined by her husband, James, and four children, Meghan Chrisner-Keefe recited her oath of office. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Democrats pulled even with Republicans on Fair Haven’s council council for the first time in memory Monday night.

But Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue, the two newest members of the six-member governing body, both downplayed partisanship in brief interviews with redbankgreen.

January 7, 2020 - 7:00 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: MENNA OFFERS PROTOCOL FIX

New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy with Mayor Pasquale Menna prior to the start of Wednesday’s reorganization meeting. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna proposed a workaround Wednesday to a year-old protocol covering comments and questions at council meetings: he says he’ll show up an hour early to field them.

At the borough government’s annual New Year’s Day reorganization meeting, attendees also heard Menna heap thanks on Governor Phil Murphy, whose wife, Tammy Murphy, attended the ceremonial session.

January 2, 2020 - 7:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: CENSUS COMMITTEE FORMED

By JOHN T. WARD

A quiet final session of 2019 for the Red Bank council included the creation of a Census committee Wednesday night.

The 2020 Complete Count Committee‘s aim is to maximize resident participation in the federal government’s decennial Census and American Community Survey, said Human Relations Advisory Committee Chairman David Pascale, who will lead the effort.

December 12, 2019 - 8:25 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: COUNCIL WRAP

Footings are ready for the installation of a prefab restroom building at Eastside Park. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

A bond to fund parking improvements and the swearing-in of a new police officer headlined a relatively quiet session of the Red Bank council Wednesday night.

Here’s a wrap-up of the highlights:

November 27, 2019 - 8:05 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: COMMENTING POLICY UNDER FIRE

Business Administrator Ziad Shehady has allowed little deviation from the council’s commenting protocol since his arrival in 2018. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

The Red Bank council moved to eliminate a citizenship requirement for business licensing and approved a debt refinancing Wednesday night.

And once again, the protocol for comments at council meetings was put to the test. Here’s a recap of what went down at the semimonthly session.

November 14, 2019 - 9:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: DEMOCRATS MAINTAIN LOCK

By JOHN T. WARD

ELECTION 2019 Democrats will maintain their lock on the Red Bank government in 2020.

Incumbent council member Kathy Horgan, seeking her fifth three-year council term, and council president Erik Yngstrom, seeking his second, easily topped Republican challengers Allison Gregory and Jonathan Maciel Penney in Tuesday’s election.

November 5, 2019 - 11:30 pm | Comments ()

FAIR HAVEN: DEMOCRATS WIN TWO SEATS

By JOHN T. WARD

Two Democratic challengers won seats on the Fair Haven council in Tuesday’s election.

The victories by Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue against Republicans Jon Peters and Jacquie Rice mean the governing body will be split 3-3 along party lines in 2020.

November 5, 2019 - 10:00 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: GOP CLAIMS WEST SIDE ADVOCACY

Jonathan Maciel Penney speaking at last week’s West Side Community Group forum. (Photo by Ben Forest. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

ELECTION 2019 In an effort to break the Democratic lock on the Red Bank council, this year’s Republican candidates have set their sights squarely on a Democratic stronghold: the West Side.

At events and in campaign literature, Allison Gregory and Jonathan Maciel Penney have sought to align themselves with minority groups and residents threatened with displacement from the West Side as a result of gentrification.

October 29, 2019 - 6:30 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: HORGAN Q&A

Councilwoman Kathy Horgan. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

, ELECTION 2019

Red Bank voters will choose two council members for three-year terms in the November 5 election.

On the ballot are incumbent Democrats Kathy Horgan and Erik Yngstrom and Republican challengers Allison Gregory and Jonathan Maciel Penney.

redbankgreen sent all candidates written questions. Here are Horgan’s responses.

October 24, 2019 - 6:59 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: PENNEY Q&A

Jonathan Maciel Penney. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

, ELECTION 2019

Red Bank voters will choose two council members for three-year terms in the November 5 election.

On the ballot are incumbent Democrats Kathy Horgan and Erik Yngstrom and Republican challengers Allison Gregory and Jonathan Maciel Penney.

redbankgreen sent all candidates written questions. Here are Penney’s responses.

October 24, 2019 - 6:59 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: YNGSTROM Q&A

Councilman Erik Yngstrom. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

, ELECTION 2019

Red Bank voters will choose two council members for three-year terms in the November 5 election.

On the ballot are incumbent Democrats Kathy Horgan and Erik Yngstrom and Republican challengers Allison Gregory and Jonathan Maciel Penney.

redbankgreen sent all candidates written questions. Here are Yngstrom’s responses.

October 24, 2019 - 6:59 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: GREGORY Q&A

Allison Gregory. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

, ELECTION 2019

Red Bank voters will choose two council members for three-year terms in the November 5 election.

On the ballot are incumbent Democrats Kathy Horgan and Erik Yngstrom and Republican challengers Allison Gregory and Jonathan Maciel Penney.

redbankgreen sent all candidates written questions. Here are Gregory’s responses.

October 24, 2019 - 6:59 am | Comments ()

FAIR HAVEN: McCUE Q&A

Mike McCue. (Click to enlarge.)

, ELECTION 2019 Two borough council seats are up for grabs in Fair Haven’s November 5 election.

On the ballot are incumbent incumbents Jon Peters and Jacquie Rice, both Republicans, and Democratic challengers Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue.

Here are McCue’s written responses to questions posed to all Fair Haven candidates recently by redbankgreen.

October 23, 2019 - 6:57 am | Comments ()

FAIR HAVEN: RICE Q&A

Jacquie Rice. (Click to enlarge.)

, ELECTION 2019 Two borough council seats are up for grabs in Fair Haven’s November 5 election.

On the ballot are incumbent incumbents Jon Peters and Jacquie Rice, both Republicans, and Democratic challengers Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue.

Here are Rice’s written responses to questions posed to all Fair Haven candidates recently by redbankgreen.

October 23, 2019 - 6:57 am | Comments ()

FAIR HAVEN: CHRISNER-KEEFE Q&A

Meg Chrisner-Keefe. (Click to enlarge.)

, ELECTION 2019 Two borough council seats are up for grabs in Fair Haven’s November 5 election.

On the ballot are incumbent incumbents Jon Peters and Jacquie Rice, both Republicans, and Democratic challengers Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue.

Here are Chrisner-Keefe’s written responses to questions posed to all Fair Haven candidates recently by redbankgreen.

October 23, 2019 - 6:57 am | Comments ()

FAIR HAVEN: PETERS Q&A

Jonathan Peters. (Click to enlarge.)

, ELECTION 2019 Two borough council seats are up for grabs in Fair Haven’s November 5 election.

On the ballot are incumbent incumbents Jon Peters and Jacquie Rice, both Republicans, and Democratic challengers Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue.

Here are Peters’ written responses to questions posed to all Fair Haven candidates recently by redbankgreen.

October 23, 2019 - 6:57 am | Comments ()

RED BANK: COUNCIL CANDIDATES TO FACE OFF

Continuing a tradition now in its 23rd year, the candidates on the November 5 ballot for two three-year terms on the Red Bank council are scheduled to face off and answer audience audience questions Thursday night.

Read More »

October 18, 2019 - 4:00 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: YOM KIPPUR SESSION CANCELLED

By JOHN T. WARD

Less than 48 hours after a divided Red Bank council voted to hold a public session on Yom Kippur, the meeting was cancelled late Thursday.

In addition, the three councilmen who voted to hold the meeting walked back from their positions Friday.

October 4, 2019 - 2:25 pm | Comments ()

RED BANK: COUNCIL TAKES AIM AT BALLOONS

Campaign balloons given out at the 2014 Halloween Parade prompted complaints that the event was being politicized. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

hot topic red bank nj The Red Bank council may soon take up a proposed ban on mass balloon releases, its members agreed at their workshop meeting Wednesday night.

October 4, 2019 - 8:18 am | Comments ()

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Red Bank Green

Serving Red Bank and Greater Red Bank, NJ

ON THE GREEN: MEETINGS MOVE ONLINE

RED BANK: BALLARD & ZIPPRICH TO RUN AGAIN

RED BANK: SNACK BAR, SCREENS ON AGENDA

RED BANK: BALLOONS, TRAFFIC ON AGENDA

RED BANK: TRAFFIC STUDY ON AGENDA

RED BANK: GRANT TO FUND SOLAR BOOST

FAIR HAVEN: COUNCIL ADDS TWO DEMOCRATS

RED BANK: MENNA OFFERS PROTOCOL FIX

RED BANK: CENSUS COMMITTEE FORMED

RED BANK: COUNCIL WRAP

RED BANK: COMMENTING POLICY UNDER FIRE

RED BANK: DEMOCRATS MAINTAIN LOCK

FAIR HAVEN: DEMOCRATS WIN TWO SEATS

RED BANK: GOP CLAIMS WEST SIDE ADVOCACY

RED BANK: HORGAN Q&A

RED BANK: PENNEY Q&A

RED BANK: YNGSTROM Q&A

RED BANK: GREGORY Q&A

FAIR HAVEN: McCUE Q&A

FAIR HAVEN: RICE Q&A

FAIR HAVEN: CHRISNER-KEEFE Q&A

FAIR HAVEN: PETERS Q&A

RED BANK: COUNCIL CANDIDATES TO FACE OFF

RED BANK: YOM KIPPUR SESSION CANCELLED

RED BANK: COUNCIL TAKES AIM AT BALLOONS