RED BANK: HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATED

Sep 19, 2023

Dreamers Club executive committee members Selena Martinez-Santiago, Madelyn Sanchez-Berra and Bethzy Vera Varela looked on as president Edith Lozano Zane addressed the RBR board on September 11. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

UPDATE: Because of rain in the forecast, this Saturday’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Riverside Gardens Park has been rescheduled for September 30.

By JOHN T. WARD

Kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, Red Bank’s mayor and council trained a spotlight on four young Latina students at Red Bank Regional High School last week.

The self-styled “Dream 4” were fresh off an emotional revival of a school club that advocates for Hispanic and Latinx students.

September 19, 2023 - 8:56 am |

LITTLE SILVER: RBR DREAMERS REGAIN STATUS

Sep 12, 2023

Dreamers Club executive committee member Selena Martinez-Santiago delivers a petition in support of the group to RBR board president Patrick Noble. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Reversing an action that sparked a civil rights complaint and community outrage, Red Bank Regional High School’s board of ed restored funding for an immigrants’ advocacy student group Monday night.

At special session in the Little Silver school’s cafeteria that drew a large crowd – including Red Bank’s entire governing body – speakers voiced support for the Dreamers Club while denouncing a lone board member’s vote that they said imperiled years of progress.

September 12, 2023 - 11:20 am |

RED BANK: COUNCIL VOWS HPC RESTART

Aug 25, 2023

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.

August 25, 2023 - 8:24 am |

RED BANK: ‘CLINICIAN’ ON COUNCIL AGENDA

Aug 9, 2023

A resolution calls for using grant money to pay for a police department social worker. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

An idea “spitballed” at the new Red Bank council’s first business session last month is up for adoption Thursday night: adding a “clinician” to the police department.

Here’s a quick overview of the agenda.

August 9, 2023 - 8:25 am |

RED BANK: FRAZEE TO BECOME POLICE CHIEF

Jul 28, 2023

Captain Mike Frazee, left, at an incident with Chief Darren McConnell (back to camera) in April. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank-born-and-raised police Captain Mike Frazee will become the borough’s next police chief, succeeding Darren McConnell, Mayor Billy Portman announced Thursday night.

The handoff, however, will be delayed “several weeks” as McConnell’s retirement, previously expected to occur next week, has been postponed, McConnell said.

July 28, 2023 - 8:10 am |

RED BANK: COUNCIL ADDS ACCESS HOURS

Jul 18, 2023

Couuncilmembers Nancy Facey-Blackwood and Ben Forest inaugurated the council access time at the Senior Center last week.

Expanding a program launched last week, Red Bank’s borough council has added evening hours, during which residents can buttonhole an elected official with concerns, questions and suggestions.

July 18, 2023 - 3:50 pm |

RED BANK: NOVEMBER ELECTIONS ADVANCE

Jul 14, 2023

Municipal elections would revert to a November schedule if approved by the council later this month. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Two months after their victory in the May 9 election, Red Bank’s new mayor and council moved to restore future elections to November Thursday night.

At its first regular meeting, the freshly reorganized government also “spitballed” a suggestion to add a social worker to the police department.

July 14, 2023 - 8:45 am |

RED BANK: COUNCIL TO HOST ACCESS HOURS

Jul 10, 2023

Taking a cue from Mayor Billy Portman, members of Red Bank’s council will begin hosting weekly public access sessions this week, Councilwoman Nancy Facey-Blackwood announced last week.

July 10, 2023 - 4:00 am |

RED BANK: LOTTERY SETS NEW COUNCIL TERMS

Jul 7, 2023

Councilwoman and Deputy Mayor Kate Triggiano at Thursday’s meeting. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Two key drivers of the overhaul of Red Bank’s government that began this week will get to serve on the borough council for four years, following a lottery held Thursday night.

Councilmembers Kate Triggiano and Nancy Facey-Blackwood drew terms twice as long as their four council colleagues.

July 7, 2023 - 8:57 am |

RED BANK: NEW GOVERNMENT TAKES OFFICE

Jul 3, 2023

Mayor Billy Portman with Governor Phil Murphy at the ceremony. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy helped launch a new era in Red Bank government, swearing in Billy Portman for his first full term as mayor Saturday.

At an open-air ceremony held outside borough hall, Murphy also mildly roasted Councilwoman Kate Triggiano, the local Democratic party chair who helped engineer the change.

July 3, 2023 - 8:57 am |

RED BANK: A GRACIOUS END TO ‘BOROUGH’ ERA

Jun 29, 2023

Attendees standing for the flag salute at Wednesday’s council session. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank’s 115-year-long “borough” government era came to a muted, low-key end Wednesday night with a council session free of the infighting that marked the last five.

Gracious words, in fact, were exchanged.

June 29, 2023 - 8:30 am |

RED BANK: NO FIREWORKS ON FINAL AGENDA

Jun 26, 2023

Borough hall will host two mayor-and-council meetings within four days this week. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Three days before initiating a new municipal structure, Red Bank mayor’s and council will conduct their final business session under New Jersey’s “borough” form of government Wednesday evening.

Nothing on the agenda suggests indoor fireworks, but as 115 years of history suggests, anything can happen.

June 26, 2023 - 3:30 pm |

RED BANK: COUNCIL MUM ON BODYCAM FEE

Jun 2, 2023

The borough has been “flooded” with requests for bodycam video of DWI arrests, said the police chief. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

The Red Bank council rejected, without comment, a police department request to set fees for providing bodycam videos sought by the public Wednesday night.

Adoption would have helped cops reduce a “flood” of demands from requesters who simply want to monetize footage on social media, said Chief Darren McConnell. More →

June 2, 2023 - 12:00 pm |

RED BANK: PORTMAN ‘LISTENING’ TO MANDATE

May 23, 2023

Mayor Billy Portman meeting with a borough resident during his weekly open hours Monday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Coming off a slam-dunk win in the May 9 election, Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman says he and his council running mates are gearing up to use the ‘mandate’ given them by voters.

That includes setting new priorities, he told redbankgreen in an interview Monday night.

May 23, 2023 - 8:57 am |

RED BANK: PORTMAN SLATE’S WIN OFFICIAL

May 18, 2023

Incumbents Billy Portman and Kate Triggiano led a slate that swept all seven offices on the ballot. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

It’s official: incumbent mayor Billy Portman won re-election with nearly 61 percent of the vote in Red Bank’s May 9 election.

Borough Clerk Laura Reinertsen certified the win by Portman and his Red Bank’s Ready slate of council candidates Wednesday.

Riverview Medical Center President Tim Hogan garnered just 38.5 percent of the vote, marking Portman’s third consecutive victory since getting into politics 13 months ago.

May 18, 2023 - 11:30 am |

RED BANK: PORTMAN SLATE SWEEPS RACES

May 10, 2023

Billy Portman, with mic, and the Red Bank’s Ready slate celebrating victory at Triumph Brewing Company. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Incumbent mayor Billy Portman and his slate of council candidates sailed to victory in Red Bank’s history-making election Tuesday.

Portman’s “Red Bank’s Ready” team met little resistance, crushing a lineup led by Riverview Medical Center President Tim Hogan, as well as a council bid by independent candidate Suzanne Viscomi.

May 10, 2023 - 12:00 am |

RED BANK: BEAT THE RUSH WITH EARLY VOTING

May 5, 2023

For Red Bank’s historic, government-changing election May 9, voters have an added option in the ways to cast ballots: early, in-person voting at a single polling station throughout the weekend. More →

May 5, 2023 - 1:00 pm |

RED BANK: TAX INCREASE HELD TO ONE PERCENT

May 5, 2023

Parking revenue has been strong since the pandemic and an increase in enforcement hours, officials said. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Local taxes on the typical Red Bank home will increase by one percent this year, officials said at a walk-thru of the 2023 municipal budget Thursday night.

That’s about $25 for the owner of a home assessed at the new townwide average of $505,244, Chief Financial Officer Thomas Seaman said at the one-hour forum, held in the council chamber at borough hall.

May 5, 2023 - 3:45 am |

RED BANK: BUDGET WALK-THRU SLATED

May 4, 2023

Red Bank officials are scheduled to hold an informal walk-thru of the 2023 municipal budget Thursday night.

The $25.911 million spending plan calls for $14.47 million to be raised by taxes, Chief Financial Officer Thomas Seaman told the borough council last week.

May 4, 2023 - 8:20 am |

RED BANK: WHO TO VOTE FOR? THIS MAY HELP

May 3, 2023

Thirteen candidates for Red Bank council, and two for mayor, crowd the May 9 ballot. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

See UPDATE below

With a record 15 candidates to select for seven seats in the historic May 9 election, Red Bank voters may feel a bit like they’re looking at the menu of a Jersey diner: overwhelmed.

So to help voters decide who they want to establish a new form of government July 1, redbankgreen invited all 13 council candidates and both mayoral contenders to offer information about themselves and their positions in written Q&As.

May 3, 2023 - 7:45 am |

RED BANK: VISCOMI Q&A

May 3, 2023

On the ballot May 9: Red Bank council candidate Suzanne Viscomi. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

Red Bank voters will have 13 candidates to choose from when they elect six council members May 9.

Here’s what candidate Suzanne Viscomi said in response to a questionnaire sent to all by redbankgreen.

May 3, 2023 - 6:38 am |

RED BANK: FACEY-BLACKWOOD Q&A

May 3, 2023

On the ballot May 9: Red Bank council candidate Nancy Facey-Blackwood. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

Red Bank voters will have 13 candidates to choose from when they elect six council members May 9.

Here’s what candidate Nancy Facey-Blackwood said in response to a questionnaire sent to all by redbankgreen.

May 3, 2023 - 6:37 am |

RED BANK: MURPHY Q&A

May 3, 2023

On the ballot May 9: Red Bank council candidate Sean Murphy. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

Red Bank voters will have 13 candidates to choose from when they elect six council members May 9.

Here’s what candidate Sean Murphy said in response to a questionnaire sent to all by redbankgreen.

May 3, 2023 - 6:35 am |

RED BANK: HOGAN Q&A

May 3, 2023

On the ballot May 9: Red Bank mayoral candidate Tim Hogan. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

Red Bank voters will have two candidates to choose from when they elect a new mayor May 9.

Here’s what candidate Tim Hogan said in response to a questionnaire sent to all by redbankgreen.

May 3, 2023 - 6:34 am |

RED BANK: JACKSON Q&A

May 3, 2023

On the ballot May 9: Red Bank council candidate John Jackson. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

Red Bank voters will have 13 candidates to choose from when they elect six council members May 9.

Here’s what candidate John Jackson said in response to a questionnaire sent to all by redbankgreen.

May 3, 2023 - 6:33 am |

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