Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Vincent Barrella urged borough officials to show restraint in complaining to the federal government about post-Sandy dune and beach replenishment, saying he believes "there are forces looking to kill" efforts to improve the beachfront.
During Tuesday's council meeting, Barella noted the borough wants Point Beach property owners to sign easements for a project that is designed to create dunes to protect private and public property from the impact of future storms.
The borough's largest businesses, however, "have no intention of signing an easement," suggesting they have "powerful friends" who could somehow influence the federal government and other potential supporters to stop the replenishment project from happening.
Councilman Thomas Toohey and other officials considered sending a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers "expressing concerns" regarding the impact of the beach replenishment project on the Manasquan Inlet.
But Barrella once again urged restraint. "I don't want anything to get in its way," he said.
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