Brick Mayor's Facebook Live Broadcasts Win Award

BRICK, NJ — Almost twice a month, Brick Township Mayor John G. Ducey takes to Facebook, talking to residents and answering questions.

They may be simple requests such as finding out who they can talk to about a pothole. Some of the questions are more complex, such as what can (or cannot) be done about the flooding on Burrsville Road near Jack Martin Boulevard and Route 70.

The sessions, posted on the township's Facebook page, have gradually grown in popularity; an October session had been watched more than 3,400 times, and residents routinely praise Ducey for holding them and offering information.

The Facebook Live initiative also has gotten the attention of other towns: It was awarded the Best Special/Innovative Media Award in the 2017 Municipal Public Information Contest sponsored by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the Rutgers Center for Government Services and the New Jersey Municipal Management Association. The award was given at the New Jersey League on Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City, the township said in a news release.

"We have worked hard to create an open and transparent town hall. Using Facebook Live to hear directly from residents and engage them in a dialogue about Brick is a continuation of those efforts," Ducey said. "It is an honor to be recognized for our efforts to keep the citizens informed and engaged."

Brick Township’s award was for Class C Municipalities, which for the purpose of the contest are the 130 municipalities with more than 20,000 residents.

Ducey began using Facebook Live in December 2016 and since then has hosted 20 sessions, answering questions submitted during the broadcast by viewers.

"I would like to thank all the residents who watch the Facebook Live and ask questions. These sessions don’t work without you," he said.

Past sessions are available on the Township of Brick, NJ Municipal Government Facebook page. Each session is archived and available for viewing on-demand. The videos of the sessions have been viewed over 59,000 times cumulatively, township officials said.

This is the third time in four years that Brick Township has been named an award recipient in the contest. In 2014, the Township won the Best Special/Innovative Award for Talking Brick with Mayor Ducey and in 2016 the Township was awarded Best Web/Social Media.

The next Facebook Live with Mayor Ducey session will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.

You do not have to be a Facebook user to watch however, if you would like to ask a question, you do have to be a registered Facebook user. Click here to watch.

Brick Mayor John Ducey during the Oct. 24 Facebook Live session, via screenshot