Press Release
March 8, 2013

The Mayor and Commissioners of Long Beach Township are pleased to announce the grant of the Kaufman easement. With this final easement in place, the Township can now move forward with an application for the Storm Damage Reduction Project through the Army Corps of Engineers for the Holgate section. We thank the Kaufman Family, along with all the oceanfront owners in Holgate for signing their easements and thereby allowing this vital project to move forward. As with all the other easements which the Township has received, this easement was granted without the payment of any money on the part of the Township. The Kaufmans and all other oceanfront owners who granted easements will be permitted to build a dune walkover to access the beach without disrupting the new dune.

The Kaufmans recently engaged a new attorney who communicated that his clients never intended to obtain compensation for the granting of the easement. Apparently, there was a misunderstanding of the Kaufmans’ previous position. The Kaufmans sought only to be allowed to construct a dune overwalk structure at their own expense. This misunderstanding resulted in personal attacks on the Kaufmans. The Township is saddened that the Kaufmans suffered personally as a result of this misunderstanding. The Township in no way condones personal attacks of any sort.

The Mayor and Commissioners hope this press release helps to set the record straight and begin the healing process In our southern-most neighborhood. The Board of Commissioners shall continue the task of securing all of the necessary beachfront easements and do everything within their power to secure necessary funding for the beach replenishment and storm reduction project.

Also, the Hike to Holgate Event that is being sponsored by the LBI Business Alliance to help raise the spirits of Holgate residents that was scheduled for March 30th has been postponed. Due to the current road condition in Holgate, it has been determined that it would be safer to hold this event at a later date when the road is in better condition. When the new date is announced, we will let you all know. The HTA Trustees are still scheduled to meet at 9:30 am on March 30th.

Another date to keep in mind is June 14th. Instead of LBI Fest in June, we are having a “LBI Thank You” for all of the volunteers who helped us back on our feet. They have all been invited back. More to come on this, but keep the weekend of June 14th open.

I understand that the Township has sea grass available for planting. When we know what the plans are in this regard, we will let you all know.

Finally, please plan on attending the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Commissioners on Friday, April 5th at 4:00 PM. It is very important that we express our collective concern for getting Holgate back to normal and assist the Township in any way we can to make it happen.