Barnegat Light Borough Council denied a request from the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science (MATES) for a donation of two seasonal beach badges for its upcoming school fundraising auction. The decision followed some discussion at the regular council meeting of Feb. 12.

The same request was granted last year, according to Borough Clerk Brenda Kuhn, but this time Mayor Kirk Larson and others pushed back, citing concerns that the borough would become “inundated” with similar…