Myers stated in his response to Lloyd's complaints that between June 17 and Aug. 14 there were only nine days without coverage by three lifeguards per stand.

The North Shore Lifesaving Association, which responded to reports from the township about the safety of the beaches, wrote that their guidelines call for a minimum of three lifeguards per stand - rain or shine.

North Shore also suggested using Dolphin Lifesaving, a nonprofit organization, to find and train underprivileged, low-income students or any students whose families were involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"I think our beaches are safe and I think the North Shore Lifesaving Association says it all when they say we have the safest beaches on the East Coast," Commissioner Ralph Bayard said during the meeting. Bayard has been defensive of Myers since the allegations of unsafe beaches were brought up by Lloyd last fall.

In December, the North Shore Lifesaving Association of Oceanport released a response to reports that the borough sent them.

Training officer and chief executive officer Dick Martin said in his response that an inspection completed on the Beach Patrol by his wife showed the township's patrol is an impressive setup. Martin also wrote that based on the inspections and reports submitted to North Shore Lifesaving each year, the township's Beach Patrol is the most organized and best run lifeguard service he had ever seen.

"It should serve as an example to other beach patrols on the East Coast," Martin wrote.

"I think our beaches were truly safe in 2007," Gove said. "Dick Martin says it, 'the safest on the East Coast.' I think when people come to Long Beach Township they do feel safe, and I feel very confident with our Beach Patrol."

Martin did suggest that the Beach Patrol implement some of North Shore's guidelines into their operation, including communication through the issued radios and not cell phones and all lifeguards being certified in lifesaving, CPR and first aid procedure.

Brothers and township lifeguards Andrew and Kevin O' Such shook their heads and snickered while Shackleton read Lloyd's list of complaints. The brothers said after the meeting that without a doubt the beaches are safe.

Andrew O' Such, 19, has been a Beach Patrol lifeguard for three years under the supervision of Myers.

"The conditions are not even close to being abusive," Andrew O'Such said of his experience working under Myers.

Kevin O' Such, eager to begin his second season this summer, agreed with his brother.

"He's a boss," Kevin O' Such said of Myers. "He runs a strict department, but his management has no effect on the beaches being safe."

Commissioner Robert Palmer said that he believes the beaches are safe - depending on what degree of safety you want to speak to.

"The beaches are safe to the most degree, but they can be improved. This department is the most important, and when there is an error it can cost a life," Palmer said. "I still think there are some issues that the Beach Patrol supervisor needs to speak to. They're not monumental issues at this point, but they could be."

To e-mail Donna Weaver at The Press:

DWeaver@pressofac.com