Belmar and Sea Bright voters have decisions to make on Tuesday, September 27

The big one is not until November 8, but for Belmar and Sea Bright residents, Tuesday September 27 is also election day as both borough’s are holding special elections with a public question.

In Belmar, voters are asked to approve or reject “Matt’s Law”, an amendment to the borough’s pay to play and ethics ordinance which significantly loosens to reporting requirements of campaign contributions and allows borough officials to act in their official capacities in matters involving campaign donors like liquor license holders, developers and other borough vendors.   The ordinance is nicknamed for Mayor “Lawless Matt” Doherty because it was passed by the council at roughly the same time Doherty became a Democrat candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder.  Doherty said the ordinance had nothing to do with his candidacy, but was designed to make it easier for Belmar Republicans to raise campaign funds.

Monmouth County Judge Katie Gummer ordered and scheduled the referendum after Doherty and the Council rejected residents petition calling for the referendum in accordance with the Faulkner Act.  Gummer also rule that Doherty and the Council violated Belmar voters’ civil rights in the way they handled the petition.

A no vote keeps the current restrictive pay to play ordinance in place.  A yes vote loosens the pay to play rules.

In Sea Bright, voters are asked to approve or reject three bonding ordinances authorizing the borough to borrow a total of $5.8 million to fiance the construction of a new community center and police/fire station/borough hall to replace the structures destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.  The total cost of the construction is projected to be $12.7 million with the balance funded by Insurance, FEMA and the Beach Utility.