Last week, Brick Mayor John Ducey spent his morning in Lakewood, meeting with local religious, educational and community leaders. Joining Ducey, were Brick’s Chief of Police, James Riccio, and Brick Business Administrator Joanne Bergin.

They met with Lakewood Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein, Rabbi Avi Schnall of Agudath Israel of NJ, Rabbis Aaron and Shneur Kotler of BMG, Rabbi Bentzion Treisser, Mr. Eli Liberman and other community leaders. Instrumental in setting up the meeting was Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer, and his Chief of Detectives Vincent Petrecca, who both participated.

The group discussed how to ensure neighborly relations between Lakewood and Brick. Topics covered were Brick and Lakewood parks, mutual aid support between Brick and Lakewood, and more.

Ducey noted how Brick does not desire to go down the road that some Jackson and Toms River elected politicians did, and that Brick is an open, diverse, friendly, and caring town which is a real warm and welcoming community. He shared that Brick is mostly built out and therefore not facing development pressures, unlike Toms River and Jackson, and that this makes his job a bit easier. He also noted that his style of governance is to respond to each and every person, and with respect.

Topics discussed included building a strong cooperative relationship between the towns and ensuring that all are treated fairly and equally. Part of the meeting was devoted to Parks and life safety.

Ducey and Business Administrator Joanne Bergin shared that with many miles of shoreline in Brick, they face more life safety issues related to boating and swimming, and their lifeguards and police have more experience in this area than Lakewood does. An illustration of that relates to swimming – sometimes someone who is not familiar with ocean currents might go boating in Brick – if the boat tips and they are fully dressed they will be unable to swim to shore due to their clothes becoming waterlogged. Sometimes a visitor goes to a beach and is fully clothed and is intrigued and wades in a bit, and then a bit more – thinking they will only in up to their knees and before they know it they might be up to their waist and having fun. That can turn into a life danger if the underwater bank drops off. As such, Brick beaches require appropriate beach attire that do not infringe on safety.

He also noted that Brick parks have seen large groups at times and they have not always had advance notice of such. When larger groups visit, the parks need more cleaning personnel and such. They are happy to provide that – and would love more notice.

Committeeman Lichtenstein pledged to have Lakewood’s OEM include Brick in his regular Holiday and other updates. With this, Brick might be better prepared for a Chol Hamoed time, when their parks and beaches might see many more visitors. The group also discussed how visitors might be more sensitive to cleaning up after themselves – sometimes kids drop wrappers and such – and that the right thing to do is to always check before you leave that your group has not inadvertently left any trash, wrappers, cups, etc.

“The general spirit of the meeting was open and friendly and intended to build relationships and ensure that information is better shared,” said an attendee. “Ducey expressed that he should have spoken up strongly when a racist asked Brick to keep Jews out – he noted that he is a fast tweeter and an even faster learner.”