Belmar's mayor urges seasonal residents to observe quality-of-life

 

Belmar's mayor urges seasonal residents to observe quality-of-life
rules
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 05/25/07
BY ERIK LARSEN
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

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BELMAR — Police and Borough Council members will be canvassing
neighborhoods home to summer rentals this evening, armed with
letters from Mayor Kenneth E. Pringle about the town's strict
quality-of-life rules.

Pringle released the text of that letter today:

Dear Summer Visitor:

I want to personally welcome you to Belmar and the Summer of 2007.
Our community has a lot to offer -- from sun and surf, to kayaking,
fishing and diving, to great shops, restaurants and bars. We hope
you make the most of your summer rental here.

If you've been here before, you can see that Belmar is changing.
Every year, more and more rentals are replaced by owner-occupied
homes. But while the number of rentals goes down each year, the
number of complaints from residents keeps going up. That means our
Police and Code Enforcement Departments must work harder to keep our
neighborhoods quiet and clean. So, if it seems like Belmar just
keeps getting more strict, it's not your imagination.

To make sure you have an enjoyable summer, please take a few minutes
to read the list of "Dos and Don'ts'' posted on the wall of your
rental. Your realtor should also have given you a handout with a
helpful list of things that are against the law in Belmar and the
fines associated with them. This list is posted at
http://www.belmar. com/Summer_ List. Please read these lists
carefully, because they are the only warnings you will receive.

You should also check http://www.belmar. com/Animal_ House to see if
your property has been designated an Animal House. These are
properties that have had two or more proven quality of life
violations in any 12-month period over the past 4 years. Even if
your rental receives just one violation this summer and you have
never been involved in previous violations, YOU MAY BE LIABLE FOR
ENHANCED ANIMAL HOUSE PENALTIES AS A RESULT.

If so, we will post a uniformed Sheriff's Officer outside your
rental on each Friday and Saturday night for the rest of the summer.
We charge your landlord $1,000 per weekend for that officer. Most
landlords hold their tenants liable for that cost, so check your
lease. Starting this weekend, our Police and Code Enforcement
departments will be focusing on existing Animal Houses and will also
be on the lookout for new Animal Houses. You definitely don't want
to make this list.

I hope your summer in Belmar will be a great one. If you are
respectful of our community, and considerate of your neighbors, I'm
sure it will be.

Sincerely,
Mayor Kenneth E. Pringle