Clash of opinions on paid parking in Sea Bright

By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

SEA BRIGHT — Strong opinions about whether to implement parking fees in the borough were debated by officials, residents and business owners last week.

“It’s irresponsible to not have paid parking,” said Councilman Charles Rooney III at a Borough Council workshop meeting on Nov. 12. “Sea Bright needs revenue. I talked to a lot of people — even those people that I thought would be negative toward the idea — and they were very positive.”

Rooney said the people in Red Bank that he talked to said they like the paid parking because it keeps people moving.

Paid parking is one of the recommendations from the Management Study and Organizational Review of Sea Bright that was presented at the meeting by Dan Mason of Cranford-based Jersey Professional Management.

He said paid parking would be a revenue enhancement for the borough and recommended the starting fee at 50 cents per hour, a fee that could increase annually.

Mason said a sunset clause could be set for one, two or three years for borough officials to revisit the issue.

Business owner Megan Heath Gilhool, proprietor of ArtSea Gallery, said paid parking would hurt the businesses in the borough, adding that there is a lot of business turnover in Long Branch and Asbury Park, which have metered parking.

“Everyone thinks they are thriving,” she said. “Paid parking does not help the businesses. There has to be better ways to make more money. Paid parking does not solve the problem.”

Mayor Dina Long said at one point the borough did have paid parking in the municipal beach parking lot.

Resident Marianne McKenzie-Morse suggested raising the beach fees and having parking remain free.

“The [daily] beach badge fee has been $8 forever,” she said.

With anticipated construction of the beachfront community center and reconstruction of the sea wall in the coming beach season, borough officials have been discussing if privately owned parking lots that are not currently in use, as well as vacant lots throughout the borough could be used for much-needed additional parking.

Acting Borough Administrator Joseph Verruni has said seasonal permit parking could be implemented at existing parking lots such as at the Cove and the Quay marinas that are not in use and/or vacant lots — after they are properly graded, have proper signage and have adequate ingress and egress.

Long said continued discussion about parking will be led by Councilmen Rooney, John Lamia and Brian Kelly.