The Surf City Borough Council made quick work on a variety of issues during its monthly meeting last week, including repealing an ordinance permitting amplified music in the business zone as no one from the public addressed the governing body at a hearing on the measure.
Under Ordinance 2024-03, the council reserves “the right to establish a process and determine permitted and prohibited noises for business establishments in the business zone by resolution.”
Borough officials first lifted restrictions on amplified and live music outdoors in August 2020, citing the continuing public health emergency declared in March of that year. They sought to help businesses hurt by months-long closures, limited operating abilities once they were permitted to reopen and consumer confidence in being indoors.
The council extended its temporary relief monthly, hearing the pros and cons from those in favor of continuing it and those who believe boosted, live music should be moved back to where it belongs: indoors. In February 2023, the council unanimously approved guidelines that permitted amplified music outdoors from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and boosted background music, such as from a radio or wireless speaker, from noon until 9 p.m., seven days a week.
Prior to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, Surf City had a procedure in place for businesses that wanted to offer outdoor dining, according to Councilman Peter Hartney, who also chairs the borough’s land use board. Hartney has said a majority of food establishments in the borough had already received permission to relocate a percentage of their indoor seats outside for customers who wished to dine al fresco. The number of seats inside and outside the establishment cannot exceed the total number of seats permitted by the land use board. Officials relaxed the latter limitation during the pandemic, understanding some customers wouldn’t be comfortable eating indoors even after restrictions were lifted.
Also at the meeting, the council also approved a bond ordinance, in which they borrow money from themselves for road reconstruction projects. The 100 blocks of North First, Second and Third streets are slated as the next project. Councilwoman Jacqueline Siciliano, who oversees the borough’s streets and roads committee, said more information would be available after the project has been put to bid and awarded. The project will be paid for, in part, by a state transportation grant, she added.
No member of the public spoke during a hearing on the road work bond ordinance.
The council introduced two other bond ordinances at its Feb. 14 meeting, including one for a new ambulance for the Surf City Volunteer Fire Co./EMS and another measure allocating monies for a truck for the beach patrol.
Public hearings on those two ordinances are expected to take place at the council’s March 13 meeting.
— Gina G. Scala