Weeks before Gov. Murphy announced New Jersey would firmly move into stage two of his reopen and recovery plan by mid-June, Ship Bottom officials began the process of surveying restaurant owners to better understand their needs.  

“We’re ahead of him,” Mayor William Huelsenbeck said when asked about Murphy’s June 1 declaration that restaurants can welcome diners to outdoor spaces beginning June 15, about 10 days after state health department officials provide guidance on what that should look…