Manasquan Beach Improvement Association
MBIA Trustees
MBIA Trustees Meeting Minutes
November 8, 2025
TRUSTEES PRESENT: John Casey, Janice Gaswind, Lisa Has, Carol Kirkman, Steve Lesichner, Mary Lovely, Bennie O’Grady, John O’Grady, Mary Ryan, Al Sauer, Paul Schofield, Linda Sims, Tom Sims, Jane Swiggett, Helen Young and Bob Young Guest: Sheila Vidreiro.
Mary Ryan opened the meeting at 8:30 am.
The minutes of the 9/13/25 meeting were approved via the internet.
Members were invited to the 11/8/25 Trustee Meeting
Old Business:
•
Thank you to Julie and John Casey for the Beach Sweep table.
Thank you to Julie and John Casey for the Beach Sweep table. •“Endangered” invasive species. DEP was doing a re-evaluation given the storm covered the species with sand. Al stated the DEP rep said the poles could be removed and Carmen was told one section could be taken down to 1’ above grade and the rest could be taken down to the grade.
“Endangered” invasive species. DEP was doing a re-evaluation given the storm covered the species with sand. Al stated the DEP rep said the poles could be removed and Carmen was told one section could be taken down to 1’ above grade and the rest could be taken down to the grade.•Coordinator for soft plastic collection. We were told it would be best if we had a collection space and delivered the soft plastic to the High School Administration building once a month. Lisa will check if it is possible for the MBIA collecting on one Saturday and delivered the day it is picked up at MHS.
Coordinator for soft plastic collection. We were told it would be best if we had a collection space and delivered the soft plastic to the High School Administration building once a month. Lisa will check if it is possible for the MBIA collecting on one Saturday and delivered the day it is picked up at MHS.Reports:
•Cindy – MBIA October Happy Hour at The Committed Pig. Linda said we had 33 at the downstairs bar because there is no elevator to the second floor. Bob said they didn’t hold to the cocktail prices even with well liquor. Cindy is asking that a menu be posted for the specials.
Cindy – MBIA October Happy Hour at The Committed Pig. Linda said we had 33 at the downstairs bar because there is no elevator to the second floor. Bob said they didn’t hold to the cocktail prices even with well liquor. Cindy is asking that a menu be posted for the specials. •Al – Check to SBLSS; late check for MBIA Summer Party. We have $11035 in the bank. There was a check in the MBIA P.O. box for the dues renewal and party in October which was postmarked in July.
Al – Check to SBLSS; late check for MBIA Summer Party. We have $11035 in the bank. There was a check in the MBIA P.O. box for the dues renewal and party in October which was postmarked in July.•Bob- Shirt logo from Rich Leonard. Permission was given to use the 2021 & 2025 volunteer shirt design. We discussed reproducing the shirts for a fundraiser. Al to check to see if his daughter, Lynn, could reproduce hoody sweat shirts. It was decided we would revisit in January.
Bob- Shirt logo from Rich Leonard. Permission was given to use the 2021 & 2025 volunteer shirt design. We discussed reproducing the shirts for a fundraiser. Al to check to see if his daughter, Lynn, could reproduce hoody sweat shirts. It was decided we would revisit in January.•Tom Sims – Tom along with John Gassner will oversee the Volunteer Day in 2025. They will ask for suggestions on projects and how the day is run. Tom hopes that people traveling around town will notice areas in need of beautification and will communicate those to us. Tom and John will author a letter to members to be reviewed but Mary and Bob before distribution.
Tom Sims – Tom along with John Gassner will oversee the Volunteer Day in 2025. They will ask for suggestions on projects and how the day is run. Tom hopes that people traveling around town will notice areas in need of beautification and will communicate those to us. Tom and John will author a letter to members to be reviewed but Mary and Bob before distribution.New Business:
•Wally Wall’ death on October 21
Wally Wall’ death on October 21•Bruce Bresnahan, Gregg Olivera re-elected to Borough Council
Bruce Bresnahan, Gregg Olivera re-elected to Borough Council•Dates for 2026 Trustee Meetings: Helen indicated the meetings will be Jan 10, Mar 14, May 9 Jul 11 Sep 12 and Nov 14. The January and March meetings will be via Zoom.
Dates for 2026 Trustee Meetings: Helen indicated the meetings will be Jan 10, Mar 14, May 9 Jul 11 Sep 12 and Nov 14. The January and March meetings will be via Zoom.•Access to Third Ave parking Lot - Helen. When the Borough failed to reopen the Third Avenue parking lot entrance onto Riddle Way, Helen contacted Carmen and was told that the entrance will be blocked year round. She then contacted Councilman Holly and mentioned that there is a process in order to make this change since there was an agreement with the DEP to block it for the period of May 1 to October 30 each year. Bob said when the town applied to the DEP there had to be a public hearing and comment period before the decision was made. We were told a permanent barrier was to be installed. Following the initial agreement, the Borough redesigned the lot for added parking during the summer season. Carol said the Beautification Committee wants to put concrete planters there. Third Ave gets flooded first and with the barrier people with cars in the lot cannot get their cars out before Second Avenue floods. Bob added this sometimes is the only egress during runs. Tom said it is a street where they are letting people park and suggested that since there is no longer a need for the little guard house it should be removed and create two separate parking areas with the street in the center.
Access to Third Ave parking Lot - Helen. When the Borough failed to reopen the Third Avenue parking lot entrance onto Riddle Way, Helen contacted Carmen and was told that the entrance will be blocked year round. She then contacted Councilman Holly and mentioned that there is a process in order to make this change since there was an agreement with the DEP to block it for the period of May 1 to October 30 each year. Bob said when the town applied to the DEP there had to be a public hearing and comment period before the decision was made. We were told a permanent barrier was to be installed. Following the initial agreement, the Borough redesigned the lot for added parking during the summer season. Carol said the Beautification Committee wants to put concrete planters there. Third Ave gets flooded first and with the barrier people with cars in the lot cannot get their cars out before Second Avenue floods. Bob added this sometimes is the only egress during runs. Tom said it is a street where they are letting people park and suggested that since there is no longer a need for the little guard house it should be removed and create two separate parking areas with the street in the center. •MBIA Happy Hour – new location at The Committed Pig. We are committed to this location for the time being.
MBIA Happy Hour – new location at The Committed Pig. We are committed to this location for the time being. •Christmas decoration on beachfront. Al said we are thinking putting the wreaths up sometime this coming week. Al, Tom, Linda, Halen and Bob will assist. Steve and Carol will assist if available. Linda replaced the lights on one of the wreaths. We will see if the MBIA signs need to be replaced after the wreaths are installed since they would have to be ordered.
Christmas decoration on beachfront. Al said we are thinking putting the wreaths up sometime this coming week. Al, Tom, Linda, Halen and Bob will assist. Steve and Carol will assist if available. Linda replaced the lights on one of the wreaths. We will see if the MBIA signs need to be replaced after the wreaths are installed since they would have to be ordered. •Beach badge donations for holiday giving. It was decided we will collect again this year. A letter will be sent to the membership and we will collect donations at the Happy Hours. Jane will contact the MHS guidance counselor to see if we can provide badges for the older students and families as well. We would want to keep the donations to Manasquan residents. Mary will send a message on this topic to the membership and we will collect via mail or at the Happy Hours. For our information, Sheila said that badges and parking passes will be sold in December. December 6-7 for parking passes and December 13-14 for badges and parking passes. There is no plan to raise the cost of the badges next year.
Beach badge donations for holiday giving. It was decided we will collect again this year. A letter will be sent to the membership and we will collect donations at the Happy Hours. Jane will contact the MHS guidance counselor to see if we can provide badges for the older students and families as well. We would want to keep the donations to Manasquan residents. Mary will send a message on this topic to the membership and we will collect via mail or at the Happy Hours. For our information, Sheila said that badges and parking passes will be sold in December. December 6-7 for parking passes and December 13-14 for badges and parking passes. There is no plan to raise the cost of the badges next year.•$300 donation for the Chamber Candy Cane Hunt on 12/5/25. The Board approved this donation.
$300 donation for the Chamber Candy Cane Hunt on 12/5/25. The Board approved this donation. •$100 donation to MBIA “in memory of” a surfer’s mom. We let them know it was not a tax deductible contribution.
$100 donation to MBIA “in memory of” a surfer’s mom. We let them know it was not a tax deductible contribution.•Carlson’s Corner. Katherine Kehoe would like to do an MBIA day or night, Mary will explore in greater detail.
Carlson’s Corner. Katherine Kehoe would like to do an MBIA day or night, Mary will explore in greater detail.•Volunteer to learn Membership Data Recording process. Helen suggested Art provide his password(s) and he will attempt to do an outline of how he interfaces before the January meeting.
Volunteer to learn Membership Data Recording process. Helen suggested Art provide his password(s) and he will attempt to do an outline of how he interfaces before the January meeting.Items from the Floor:
•Al – The Glimmer Glass Bridge. The County Engineer’s office advised the historical consultants are working on their report to satisfy the State’s requirement of preserving the memory of the bridge. They expect to submit by the end of February. Once the State approves the submission, the County will engage a firm to design the project. They think the design phase will take about 18 months. Once everything is in place to start construction, they anticipate starting after Labor Day that year and expect the area to be closed through the following summer and be completed by the spring after that. If all goes according to plan they hope to be done in 5 years.
Al – The Glimmer Glass Bridge. The County Engineer’s office advised the historical consultants are working on their report to satisfy the State’s requirement of preserving the memory of the bridge. They expect to submit by the end of February. Once the State approves the submission, the County will engage a firm to design the project. They think the design phase will take about 18 months. Once everything is in place to start construction, they anticipate starting after Labor Day that year and expect the area to be closed through the following summer and be completed by the spring after that. If all goes according to plan they hope to be done in 5 years. •John asked who is not on Facebook. He asked if those on Facebook look at our Facebook page John posts pictures of the Happy Hour, etc. John said he would like feedback on events and suggestions for posts. We currently have 192 followers.
John asked who is not on Facebook. He asked if those on Facebook look at our Facebook page John posts pictures of the Happy Hour, etc. John said he would like feedback on events and suggestions for posts. We currently have 192 followers.•Carol gave an update on the plans of the Beautification Committee for Christmas, as well as, planters ant trees throughout the year.
Carol gave an update on the plans of the Beautification Committee for Christmas, as well as, planters ant trees throughout the year.The meeting was adjourned.
MBIA Happy Hour on 11/11/25 at The Committed Pig
The next Trustee’s Meeting will be on January 10, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. via Zoom.
MBIA Bridge Committee Presentation to Manasquan Borough Council - 10/01/12
GLIMMER GLASS BRIDGE REPORT
BY MANASQUAN BEACH IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
Council Presentation October 1, 2012
- Studies show bridge falling apart and MUST be replaced; Childs independent? study; Cycle 14 draft report.
- HISTORIC REGISTRY DOES NOT MEAN BRIDGE CAN'T BE REPLACED.
- Originally built as a wooden trestle bridge (without a draw) over 100 years ago before cars; 16 feet wide, 585 feet long.
- Draw span (20 feet wide) built over 100 years ago for spanning Pt. Pleasant Canal (before cars).
- Draw span installed in wooden trestle in 1938; originally hand operated.
- Completely rebuilt in 1950; entire bridge raised 5 feet; shortened to 279 feet; motorized; more counterweights added.
- Numerous repairs and replacements to date; only original parts are two sheaves (wheels at to
- Placed on State and Federal Historic Registers in 2008.
- Historic significance is technology (rolling counterweight design) and aesthetics being preserved by County compromise.
- Bridge is in such bad condition, none of the structure can be salvaged; all piles, supports, bridge deck will be thrown away.
- Estimated life of a new wooden bridge is 35-50 years; estimated life of the proposed bridge is 75 years.
- County traffic count July 9-15, 2007: 6,480 average daily vehicles; 5,905 average weekday vehicles; 7,726 average weekend vehicles.
- MBIA traffic count May 26, 2012 8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.: 4,138 vehicles; 688 bicycles; 21 skateboards; 372 pedestrians; traffic stopped 4:24 hours; open 5:36 hours; 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m., traffic stopped 3:30 hours; open 2:30 hours.
- Road is almost becoming impassable in summer due to opening/closing taking so long; long lines of cars.
- Safety is most important issue for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. Complete Streets.
- Current standards: two 12 foot width lanes; two 4 foot wide shoulders.
- Main access for residents living south of Brielle Road and for Brielle and Point Pleasant emergency response.
- The County has been working out a plan for the bridge since the early 1990 Asbury Park Press, 8-17-07.
- Project authorized 4-14-94 for $1,000,000.00; studies to date over $700,000.00.
- Wooden bridge would have CCA and AZCA (arsenic).
- Brielle Resolution 8-18-03 (#111-03) and Manasquan Resolution 9-8-03 (#03-70-A) call for complete replacement of bridge.
- Manasquan Resolution 5-19-08 (#69-08) to repair, rehabilitate or replace bridge ASAP; provide for pedestrians and bicycles; preserve character;
- Issues of public safety should be treated as paramount to other considerations.
- No more delays; we must act NOW.
Please see the MBIA Bridge Committee Presentation to Manasquan Borough Counctil on below
Left to Right: Julie Cocozza, Janice Gaswind, Bob Young, Al Sauer, Helen Young, Jane Swiggett, Linda Sims, Lisa Haas, Carol Kirkman, Mary Ryan, John O'Graady, Cindy Weaver. Not pictured: John Casey, Mary Lovely, Bennie O'Grady, Paul Schofield
Report on North Beach Ramp
Mary was previously given surveys by Tom Flarity of the properties on both sides of the North Beach Ramp. Upon review of them, they were not in agreement as to the location of the improvements along and on the 4 foot ramp. However, actual measurements between improvements on each side of the ramp indicated that the useable area was mostly 42 inches but in some places as narrow as 38 inches.Consequently we were asked to set-up a meeting with Tom Flarity and to try to get the Borough to order its own survey to determine who was encroaching on the 4 foot width and by how much. Bob Young and I attended a meeting on September 7, 2018 with Tom Flarity, Councilman Jim Walsh, and Frank DeRomo from the Building Department. We were surprised to see that the Borough had done a survey of the ramp property in 2017. In addition to the 4 foot width of the Borough property for the ramp, in 1968 the Borough was granted an easement by the owner of the property on the north side of the ramp to build an 8 inch wide masonry wall on that owner’s property. Therefore, we had always assumed that the wall was properly located and that would meant that the owner on the south was the one that was encroaching into the easement. However, this survey showed that most of the wall was built within the 4 foot ramp area and not where it was supposed to have been built. Therefore, when the owner on the south fenced in his property, his fence was put mostly on his own property. The survey did show that the fence, at one point, encroaches at most .13 of a foot (which is about an inch and a half) into the ramp area. Consequently, there is no gripe as to the owner on the south. This was pointed out to the Borough in 2017 by the attorney for the owner on the north. The attorney also pointed out that it was the Borough’s obligation to maintain that wall but that the Borough had not done so since it has many cracks and deficiencies in it. The Borough advised that once they were aware of this and of what sort of cost the Borough would have to expend in order to remove and replace the wall in its proper location, they did not feel it was economically feasible for them to take any further action.The Borough’s 2017 survey was too large for them to make a copy for us at the meeting. However, they did agree to send it out for copying and would send us a copy of it.We did point out that the painted crosswalk at the corner of Stockton Lake Boulevard and First Avenue goes directly across the street at right angles to First Avenue and ends up misleading pedestrians that this is the place where the public ramp is located. In fact, the public ramp is several doors to the south. While MBIA has previously requested the Borough on several occasions to relocate the painted crosswalk, the Borough has never done anything about it. However, this time they agreed that they should either angle the crosswalk from the corner to the public ramp or move the crosswalk south so that it goes from the west side of First Avenue directly to the public ramp.Alfred H. Sauer
Ci/MBIA-091218Reprt
MBIA Report - Potter's Beach Access (9/12/18)
