Judge deems Belmar’s post-Sandy beachfront redevelopment plan unreasonable, invalid (via NJ.com)
BELMAR – The borough’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Sandy have been mired in controversy and legal battles. And last week, a Monmouth County Superior Court judge dealt yet another blow to the recovery process. In April 2013, the Borough Council…
Belmar’s Sandy debris removal costs questioned by federal auditors (via NJ.com)
Federal auditors are questioning more than $500,000 in Hurricane Sandy debris removal costs in Belmar, saying the town awarded two contracts that did not comply with federal rules and lacked paperwork to support other expenses. The Department of Homeland…
Belmar scraps redevelopment plans, intends to start over (via NJ.com)
BELMAR – It’s back to the drawing board for the borough’s redevelopment plans. Following up on a campaign promise made by Mayor Matt Doherty, Belmar is scrapping its old redevelopment plan and is convening a committee to draft a new one. “The…
Pallone says legislation is not necessary, regulators can change the rules
Governor Chris Christie listens to a resident’s question in Belmar. March 25, 2014 MMM photo/Art Gallagher. Click for larger view.
Governor Chris Christie told the 650 people in attendance at his Town Hall Meeting in Belmar yesterday that he went to Washington last week to ask HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan to waive the rule that is keeping Sandy victims from rebuilding their homes while they are waiting to find out if they will be approved for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) grants of up to $150,000.
The RREM program will not reimburse homeowners for work done on their homes prior to their acceptance into the program. Over 3000 people are on the RREM waiting list for the second round of HUD funding which is expected to be awarded late this spring. They are in limbo, living in temporary housing, paying rent and mortgages, while their ruined homes are dormant.
Christie said that Donovan told him he could not waive the rule because a specific federal law prohibits grants being used to pay for work performed prior to the federal approval being secured.
Posted: March 26th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Belmar, Chris Christie, Frank Pallone, Keansburg, RREM, Stephen Sweeney | Tags: Belmar, Bob Menendez. Senator Bob Menendez, Chris Christie, Chris Christie Town Hall, Chris Smith, Christie's Belmar Town Hall, Congressman Chris Smith, Congressman Frank Pallone, Frank Pallone, Olivia Nuzzi, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Steve Sweeney | 2 Comments »
Photo Credit: Paul Scharff Photography.
The Governor’s Office has announced that Governor Chris Christie’s Town Hall Meeting in Belmar on Tuesday, March 25 will start at 11:30am, instead of the previously announced 11:00 am.
The mobile cabinet meeting which will include Office of Recovery and Rebuilding Director Marc Ferzan, DEP Commissioner Bob Martin, Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez, EDA CEO Michele Brown and Banking and Insurance Commissioner Ken Kobylowski is scheduled to start at 1PM, immediately following Christie’s Town Hall.
The Cabinet members will meet with affected residents and answer questions related to the available Sandy recovery housing and business assistance programs. Homeowners and business owners interested in attending can expedite the process by bringing relevant documentation related to the issue they are facing.
Christie plans to discuss the Administration’s plan for getting the second round of federal Sandy recovery funds into the hands of New Jersey families. However, the Governor will take questions on any topic.
Residents can RSVP to [email protected]. Doors open at 9:30 am and seating is on a first come, first serve basis and open to the public. No bags of any kind are permitted in the venue and personal items are subject to search. Due to safety requirements, law enforcement officers will be in attendance and will wand all attendees.
Posted: March 24th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie, Christie Administration, Superstorm Sandy | Tags: Belmar, Chris Christie Town Hall, Christie Administration, Sandy, Superstorm Sandy | Comments Off on Christie’s Belmar Town Hall Pushed Back 1/2 hour
Governor Chris Christie is coming back to Monmouth County for a Town Hall Meeting in Belmar next Tuesday, March 25.
The meeting will be held in the Borough Gymnasium, 601 Main Street, at 11:00 AM. Doors will open at 9:30 am and seating is first come first served.
Christie’s office asks that you RSVP at [email protected] to ensure adequate seating.
Following the Town Hall, a Christie Administration Mobile Cabinet will remain on site to meet with affected residents and answer questions related to the available Sandy recovery housing and business assistance programs.
No bags of any kind are permitted in the venue and all personal items are subject to search. Due to safety requirements, law enforcement officers will be in attendance and will wand all attendees.
Posted: March 18th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Belmar, Chris Christie, Christie Administration | Tags: Belmar, Belmar Town Hall Meeting, Chris Christie, Christie Administration, Mobile Cabinet, Town Hall Meeting | 1 Comment »
Belmar Mayor Doherty Testifies At Senate Hearing On Superstorm Sandy Recovery (via Manasquan-Belmar Patch)
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty testified Wednesday at the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development hearing “Superstorm Sandy Recovery: Ensuring Strong Coordination among Federal, State and Local Stakeholders.” According…
St. Patrick’s Day parade provides Belmar with off-season boost (via NJ.com)
St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Belmar 41st St. Patrick’s Day Parade held in Belmar Though the less-than-stellar weather today may have tamped down turnout for Belmar’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, the annual event still provided a welcome bump to businesses…
Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer on MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki, January 18, 2014
Monmouth County mayors and other municipal officials are reacting to Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s allegations that her city is not receiving Sandy Relief funds because she hasn’t pushed through a redevelopment approval coveted by Governor Chris Christie with a high degree of skepticism, because their storm ravaged communities have yet to see significant money yet either.
One elected official who asked not to be quoted said, “If Hoboken had approved that Rockefeller project, Zimmer would still be standing on her head at a Hoboken street corner looking for her Sandy money. The money hasn’t started to flow yet.”
“Is it believable that Guadagno (Lt. Governor Kim Guadango) or Constable (DCA Commissioner Richard Constable) encouraged Zimmer to expedite an project? Yes. As a quid pro quo for Sandy dollars? No way,” another official said.
Zimmer alleged on MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki this morning that Guadagno pulled her aside at a Hoboken ribbon cutting and warned that Sandy Relief money to Hoboken was contingent on a development application by the Rockefeller Group being approved by the city. Zimmer said that Constable told her at a Monmouth University symposium on Sandy recovery that relief dollars would flow if the Rockefeller application was approved.
After talking to local and state officials today, MMM understands that the federal money for Sandy Relief is flowing dripping through four sources; FEMA, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) which administers relief for homeowners, the New Jersey Economic Development Agency(EDA) and County Governments which are administering Hazard Mitigation Grants. The Hazard Mitigation Grants are funded by FEMA and distributed to the counties by the State Office of Emergency Management.
Congressman Chris Smith and Monmouth County Shaun Golden prepared to survey Hurricane Sandy damage. file photo
Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ4) announced that FEMA will be reimbursing the Borough of Belmar and the South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority (SMRSA) 90%, instead of the standard 75%, of the cost of repairs to infrastructure damaged by Superstorm Sandy. Belmar is slated to receive $1.74 million for repairs to marina buildings, bridges, docks and other facilities, in addition to the $9 million already granted for their boardwalk replacement. SMRSA will receive $2.083 million to relocate and replace a pump station.
“As someone who has been going to Belmar since I was a young boy, I can easily envision how these improvements will change the Belmar waterfront which was nearly unrecognizable to me when I first saw it days after Superstorm Sandy hit,” said Smith. “Boardwalks and marina facilities are the critical for many Jersey Shore towns and rebuilding them and restoring them is essential to recovery.”
The Belmar grant will help fund nine construction sites, four of which are completed and the others underway.
Posted: November 28th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Belmar, Chris Smith, FEMA, Superstorm Sandy | Tags: Belmar, Congressman Chris Smith, FEMA, SMRSA, Southern Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority, Superstorm Sandy | 7 Comments »© Copyright 2024 | MoreMonmouthMusings | All Rights Reserved