Beacon Loses ‘Legal’ Status

(Reprinted from Amboy Beacon, Jan. 12, 2011)

SOUTH AMBOY — Without fanfare, the City Council voted unanimously at its

Reorganization last week to take-away the Amboy Beacon’s legal status as an

“Official Newspaper.”

The Resolution — adopted as part of a consent-agenda of 18 Resolutions —

was moved by Councilman Mark Noble, seconded by Councilman William Schwarick

and adopted 5-0.

Under NJSA 40:53-1. the Amboy Beacon had been designated as an “Official

Newspaper” by both the City of South Amboy and the City of Perth Amboy in 2009.

“The governing body of every municipality may designate an Official

Newspaper or Newspapers for the publication of all advertisements and notices

required by law to be published by the municipality,” according to NJSA 40:53-1.

NJSA 35:1-2 goes-on to say, “All newspapers printed and published in the

English language within the state at least once a week for at least one year

continuously shall be deemed legal newspapers for the publication of Official

Advertisements.”

Four attorneys — including City Law Director John Lanza — have informed

the city that the Amboy Beacon qualifies to be designated as an “Official

Newspaper.”

Under NJSA 35:2-1, the governing body votes on a Resolution to adopt Offici

al Newspapers, even-though the City Clerk is designated as “the

properly-authorized officer ... placing Official Advertising in such newspaper.”

Without the Council’s action, the Clerk cannot publish Official Notices in any

newspaper.

Even-though both South Amboy and Perth Amboy had saved substantial money in

Official Advertising expenses while the Amboy Beacon was being utilized,

the Councils in both cities are refusing to allow that advertising to be

placed in the weekly, the only qualified newspaper published in Middlesex County,

for whatever reason.