The lawsuit specifically names a dozen current and former high-ranking Belmar officials.
BELMAR - A pair of long-time bar owners have filed a lawsuit against Belmar officials, accusing them of extortion and racketeering related to the officials' blocking of a new waterfront bar.
Brothers Timothy and Matthew Harmon - owners of The Boathouse Bar and Grill, and former owners of 507 Main - filed a lawsuit in federal court in Trenton on April 10 for the damages.
They claimed borough officials conspired to block their new outdoor waterfront bar, Salt, from opening.
According to the complaint, the Harmons entered into two-phase redevelopment agreement with the owner of a property across the street from 507 Main in 2013.
The newly constructed outdoor bars and other amenities at Salt in Belmar are still sitting unused along the Shark River after the borough denied its liquor license transfer from 507 Main. (Rob Spahr | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) The first phase allowed for the construction and operation of an outdoor cafe and bar along the Shark River for three years. After that time they would construct a mixed-use building with residential condominium units above commercial space, including a restaurant and bar.
Under the agreement - which the suit claims initially received approval from the borough council, as well as site approval from the planning board - the Harmons would transfer their liquor license from 507 Main to the new property in order to open an outdoor bar and restaurant named Salt.
However, the suit alleges that beginning in early 2014 borough officials, under the direction of Mayor Matt Doherty and Borough Administrator Colleen Connolly, began a "concerted effort to prevent the (Harmons) from constructing and opening the Salt facility."
Borough employees, including members of the police department and construction department, "interfered with and harass(ed)" the Harmons in the construction of Salt and also their operation of The Boathouse to ensure the redevelopment project stalled, the suit claims.
The borough council eventually voted in June 2016 to deny the liquor license transfer to Salt from 507 Main, which the Harmons ceased operating in advance of the planned Salt opening. Meanwhile, Salt's newly constructed outdoor bars and other amenities are still sitting unused along the riverfront property.
The complaint alleges the borough officials wanted to kill the Salt project in favor of an opportunity for a larger project in the redevelopment zone with a "preferred developer," as well as a means of political retaliation.
Doherty told NJ Advance Media via email that the lawsuit was "frivolous and baseless" and "lacks any merit."
Doherty said he was disturbed by the "vicious attacks" on the Belmar Police Department by the Harmon brothers.
"Their police bashing is clearly a way to undermine our police department. We have an outstanding police department that serve and protect our residents and deserve the support of our community," Doherty said in the emailed statement.
"The way Tim Harmon and Matt Harmon defame our police is over the line, and based on their own lawsuit, it is all because they allege the town caused them emotional distress and hurt their feelings," Doherty said. "We will aggressively defend our police against Tim Harmon's and Matt Harmon's attacks."
The suit specifically names Doherty, Connolly, current Police Chief Andrew Huisman, former Police Chief Thomas Brennan, police captains Thomas Cox and Tina Scott, council members Jennifer Nicolay, Janis Keown-Blackburn, Thomas Brennan, Brian MaGovern, Construction Officer Ted Bianchi and Code Enforcement Officer Robert Poff.
The five-count complaint accuses the officials of multiple violations of the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the 14th Amendment of U.S. Constitution, extortion under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
According to the suit, the Harmons are seeking a minimum of $10 million in compensatory and consequential damages, including revenue losses, legal fees, engineering and architectural fees.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.