BRICK – The most newsworthy story of 2023 is likely the election of the township’s first female mayor, Lisa Crate, who won a decisive victory over her Republican opponent in November’s general election.
Crate was appointed as mayor in February 2023 to fill John G. Ducey’s unexpired term after he resigned to become a state superior court judge.
Democratic council members Vince Minischino, Melissa Travers and Derrick Ambrosino were all re-elected along with newcomer Steve Feinman.
Earlier in the year, David Forrester, a 27-year veteran of the Brick Police Department, was named as its new chief, succeeding James Riccio who retired in January 2023 after serving as head of the department for seven years.
Another headline-making story was the successful preservation of some 32 acres of woods after there was a grassroots groundswell of support for saving the property from development.
Residents wearing t-shirts saying “Save Breton Woods” attended multiple Planning Board hearings for the site that was owned by Visitation Roman Catholic Church and the diocese of Trenton, who had the property under contract with Texas-based builder D.R. Horton.
The developer had presented detailed plans for the construction of 59 homes on the property. In January, an $8.55 million deal was struck between the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee, Brick Township and D.R. Horton where the county would pay $6.84 million, and Brick would pay $1.71 million for the land.
Council vice president Lisa Crate being was sworn in by Mayor John G. Ducey. Councilman Art Halloran is holding the Bible for her. (Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn)
The township has applied for reimbursement from Green Acres, and according to the township business administrator Joanne Bergin, the request is in process and she is “not anticipating any issues with the request. Green Acres is a supportive partner with the township on open space acquisition projects,” she wrote in an email.
In school news, the Board of Education adopted a $160.3 million budget for the 2023-24 school year, which included the termination of several staff positions due to the continuation in the reduction of state aid.
For the 2023-24 school year, the total state aid is $14.6 million, down $2.5 million from the previous budget, or about 15 percent, due to S-2, a senate bill that changed the funding formula for schools that they deem are not paying their fair share of property taxes.
There will be a new member on the Board of Education since Mike Mesmer will be serving his first term and incumbent Alison Kennedy got to keep her seat.
In June it was announced that the property that was once owned by Brick’s only Jewish house of worship was sold for the second time in two years.
Temple Beth Or, who ran the synagogue for decades, first sold the 4.6-acre property in March 2021 to David Gluck and the Congregation Kehilos Yisroel of Lakewood, who proceeded to operate an illegal high school for boys at the site without obtaining township permits or safety inspections. The school was subsequently shut down by the county.
The property was then sold to Congregation Anshei Brick Inc. of Lakewood. Plans for the property are unclear.
The land where the self-storage facility was proposed is beyond these houses. (Photo by Judy Smestad-Nunn)
Meanwhile, Brick’s Conservative Congregation, Temple Beth Or, found and moved into a smaller building at 135 Salmon Street, the site of the former Laurelton Funeral Home, which synagogue officials said is much more suitable for their needs.
A new bike, scooter and skate park opened at the Drum Point Sports Complex in October, which had been in the planning stages for two years. The old park needed safety upgrades, and a state funding opportunity became available for the upgrades. The park now includes a half-pipe, flat bar rail, ramps and a pump track.
Cedar Bridge Manor Park also had its ribbon cutting in October after numerous delays, including a state-ordered archaeological survey since the park was located in a geographic area “of high sensitivity” where Native American artifacts might be found (None were found).
The park has a half basketball court, an ADA-compliant playground with age-appropriate equipment, fitness components, a walking trail, picnic tables, a bike rack and kayak launch.
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