RED BANK: RIVERVIEW DROPS MASK MANDATE
Reversing a policy revived a month ago, Red Bank’s Riverview Medical Center has dropped a mandate for mask-wearing to impede the spread of COVID-19, according to a published report.
RED BANK: WHAT’S ON COUNCIL AGENDA
Leaving an unhitched trailer on the street “at any time” would be prohibited by ordinance. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
At its semimonthly meeting Thursday night, the Red Bank council is expected to finalize its ban on “unhitched” trailers parked curbside throughout town.
RED BANK: THREE INJURED SLIGHTLY IN CRASH
Three people suffered minor injuries in a three-vehicle crash in Red Bank Thursday morning, police said.
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for September, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Criminal Mischief: On 09/06/2023 a patrol unit reported graffiti. In the area of Shrewsbury Av., a building was tagged with black in color spray paint. Ptl. Preston Mellaci.
Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft from a motor vehicle in the area of Leighton Av. On 09/09/2023 the victim reported a TD Bank Visa debit card and a black and white in color umbrella were stolen from a vehicle. Ptl. Grace Maggiulli.
RED BANK: THREE CANNABIS SHOPS LICENSED
Among the three is Monteverde NJ, planning to open at 45 North Bridge Avenue. (redbankgreen photo. Click to enlarge.)
See UPDATE below
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s new Cannabis Review Board has completed scrutiny of its first three applications, and was like totally cool with all of them.
That means three pot shops have cleared all the local licensing requirements, borough officials said Thursday night.
RED BANK: COUNCIL TO TARGET IDLE TRAILERS
Unhitched trailers, like this one in front of the house at 90 Bank Street, have been the subject of complaints. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Responding to complaints, the Red Bank council plans to strengthen its law on work trailers left curbside.
RED BANK: NEW HPC EXPECTED ON AGENDA
The borough’s Washington Street Historic District, the location of many applications the HPC reviews, was created in 2009. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
See UPDATE below
By JOHN T. WARD
After three months of inactivity, Red Bank’s Historic Preservation Commission is expected to get a re-start this week.
At its semimonthly meeting scheduled for Thursday night, the council plans to appoint new and returning members to the commission, Councilperson Kristina Bonatakis, said last week.
The council will also begin workshopping a revised historic preservation ordinance, she said.
RED BANK: MODERN HOME PLAN APPROVED
The house at 211 River Street, above, is to be demolished and replaced with the structure below. (Photo by John T. Ward; rendering by Catherine Franco. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
A Red Bank bungalow would be replaced by a modern three-story home overlooking the Swimming River under a plan approved by the zoning board Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the owner of a postage-stamp-sized lot will have to wait to find out if a neighbor makes a purchase offer before he can proceed with his plans for a new house.
RED BANK: TWO HOMES ON AGENDA
See CORRECTION below
Plans for two single-family homes, both needing variances, are scheduled for review by the Red Bank zoning board Thursday night.
RED BANK: POLICE CHASE & NAB SUSPECTS
The incident began with a report of car burglaries in the parking lot at Grandville Towers, police said. ( Archive photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank police arrested three men on car-burglary charges after hot pursuits on foot early Monday morning, Captain Mike Frazee said Tuesday.
At about 2:38 a.m., police responded to a report by a witness of “multiple males” wearing all black clothing and face masks burglarizing cars parked in the lot outside the Grandville Towers apartment high-rise on Morford Place, Frazee told redbankgreen in a statement.
RED BANK: STATE SLAMS PAYOUT CONTROLS
Interim borough Manager Darren McConnell disputed the state’s claim that the borough is not cooperating. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank is one of nine New Jersey municipalities that have failed to take action to prevent illegal sick leave and vacation payouts to departing employees, a state agency said Thursday.
In a press release, acting New Jersey Comptroller Kevin Walsh said the borough and eight other towns “are failing in their most basic responsibilities: To act as a fiduciary of taxpayer funds and to be transparent about how these funds are used.” They risk losing state funding if they don’t comply, he said.
But interim borough Manager Darren McConnell pushed back against some of Walsh’s assertions.
RED BANK: RIVERVIEW REMANDATES MASKS
Red Bank’s Riverview Medical Center has revived its pandemic-era mask mandate for all staff and visitors “due to an increase in COVID-19 prevalence,” its owner announced Wednesday.
RED BANK: COUNCIL SALARIES UNCHANGED
The council meets twice monthly at borough hall, 90 Monmouth Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Salaries for Red Bank’s mayor and council, which haven’t risen in at least 15 years, will remain unchanged at least through the remainder of 2023, under an resolution up for a vote Thursday night.
But whomever the governing body selects to fill the new borough manager post will have the latitude to give them specified raises under a related ordinance that’s also up for a vote.
Here’s a quick look at the agenda:
RED BANK: FILM SHOT HERE TO SCREEN
The trailer for “Miranda’s Victim,” which includes scenes shot in at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, below. (Click to enlarge.)
“Miranda’s Victim,” a Hollywood period film with scenes shot in and around Red Bank in 2022, is set for a special screening with the director and actors Saturday night.
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for August, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft in the area of Shrewsbury Av. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter which was valued between $1100.00 and $1800.00. Ptl Jeffrey Lewandowski.
Theft: In the area of Leighton Av, a patrol unit took a report of theft from a motor vehicle. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter. The catalytic converter was valued at $600.00. Ptl. Jhonatan Quispe.
Theft: A patrol unit took a report of theft from a vehicle in the area of Hudson Av. On 08/02/2023 the owner of a vehicle reported the theft of a catalytic converter that was valued at $600.00. Ptl. Christopher Fuentes.
RED BANK: ‘PEDESTRIAN’ COPS NAB 30
Red Bank cops posing as pedestrians issued summonses to 30 motorists for safety violations earlier this week, Captain Mike Frazee announced Thursday.
RED BANK: SALARY BUMPS & MORE ON AGENDA
The council meets twice monthly at borough hall, 90 Monmouth Street. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s council would clear the way to give itself its first pay bump in at least 15 years under an ordinance up for introduction Thursday night.
It would also reset the maximum salaries for the top three unelected positions at borough hall, one of which is open.
Here’s a quick look at the agenda:
RED BANK: TREES COMING DOWN
As part of a road repaving project, a crew began removing nine trees along South Street in Red Bank amid complaints from residents Wednesday morning.
redbankgreen plans to follow up with a story. (Video by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
RED BANK: DIVERSION PROGRAM LAUNCHED
Law enforcement and other officials gathered in the municipal courtroom to mark the debut of the program in Red Bank. (MCPONJ photo. Click to enlarge.)
Press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office
By the end of next month, nearly one in every five Monmouth County residents will live in a municipality participating in an innovative program designed to shepherd individuals battling substance abuse and mental health disorders into recovery – and that ratio will only continue to grow in the years to come, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday.
RED BANK: SUSPECT CHARGED IN SHOOTING
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank police arrested a 24-year-old suspect wanted in a shooting at a hair salon in which no one was injured three months ago, they said Thursday.
According to a statement by Captain Mike Frazee, police arrested Oliver Romero-Nava Wednesday in Long Branch and charged him with aggravated assault and weapons charges stemming from an incident that occurred May 19.
RED BANK: COUNCIL VOWS HPC RESTART
Historic Preservation Commission attorney Michele Donato addressing the council Thursday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
Red Bank’s Historic Preservation Commission will be reconstituted, Mayor Billy Portman and other council members informally agreed Thursday night.
But the council will first have to adopt design standards to establish which types of renovation work require HPC perusal and which can be fast-tracked, Portman said.
RED BANK: SETTLEMENT FORCES LOT RE-DO
Workers laying the sidewalk that blocked access to White Street from the Better Housekeeping Shop, the beige building visible at far right, in October, 2020. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
See UPDATE below
By JOHN T. WARD
Less than three years after a complete makeover, downtown Red Bank’s main parking lot would be reconfigured to comply with the terms of a lawsuit settlement up for approval Thursday night.
At issue: an 84-year-old appliance shop’s truck access to the street.
RED BANK: PRESERVATION PANEL ON AGENDA
Historic Preservation Commission attorney Michele Donato, left, with Chairman Chris Fabricant in March. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)
By JOHN T. WARD
The future of Red Bank’s Historic Preservation Commission may come into focus when the borough council meets Thursday night.
Also on the agenda: proposed height limits on new construction along the Navesink River waterfront, and the settlement of a lawsuit over a parking lot issue. More →
RED BANK: MCPO WEIGHS IN ON PBA CLAIM
Chief Darren McConnell speaking at an event in 2021. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)
By JOHN T. WARD
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office amended its policy on internal-affairs investigations into matters involving relatives of local police chiefs in February, the agency told redbankgreen Monday.
But the changes were “not formulated as a reaction to any one specific matter,” the MCPO said in a statement that appeared to contradict an assertion made last week by Red Bank’s police union about borough police Chief Darren McConnell.
McConnell said the statement bares “another misrepresentation of the facts by the PBA.”
RED BANK: CRIME & ARREST REPORTS
The crime and arrest reports below were provided by the Red Bank Police Department for July, 2023. This information is unedited; see below for additional information.
CRIMES
Criminal Mischief: On 07/03/2023, a patrol unit took a report of graffiti. In the area of Locust Av., the caller reported a fence, a slide and other parts of the property were tagged with purple in color spray paint. Ptl. Luke Cahill.
Criminal Mischief: A patrol unit took a report of criminal mischief to a motor vehicle in the area of Globe Ct. On 07/07/2023 the owner reported damage to the hood and front driver side fender of a vehicle. Ptl. Frank Metta. More →