Council Meeting 10-16-2025

The October 18, 2025 city council
meeting. Mayor Celius in the flag.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> here. Evans here. Clarenda here. Light
>> here.
>> Uh, Councilwoman Parker will be absent.
Sykes
>> here.
>> D Rose
>> here. This is to advise that certain
advanced notice has been given to the
date, time, location, and to the extent
known the agenda of this meeting in
accordance with the provision of the
open public meeting act. And notice of
this meeting has been posted primarily
at the bulletin board in the municipal
complex lobby on the city's website and
communicated through the newspaper
designated by the governing body. This
is to further advise that this meeting
is being recorded electronically and can
be viewed on the city's website at
seeknj.gov.
[Applause]
Regular meeting agenda 2025 ordinances
for introduction 15 amending chapter 330
to designate a multi-way stop
intersection at certain intersections.
May I hear a motion?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Does anybody have any questions?
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes. Fireenda,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Yes. This ordinance will be posted, laid
over, and published according to law. A
public hearing, second, and final
reading will be held on November 6th,
2025.
16. Amending the code of the city of
Epsein, chapter 35, fire department,
article 235-12,
definitions. May I hear a motion?
>> Motion. Second.
>> Discussion. This is essentially just
changing um
>> the the percentage of what constitutes a
a full-time fire volunteer firefighter
in the city of Epicin. Um we're changing
the or the percentage to be more in line
with the national average.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Abstain.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Yes. This ordinance will be posted, laid
over, and published according to law. A
public hearing, second and final reading
will be held on November 6th, 2025.
Ordinances for adoption 13, an ordinance
establishing salary ranges for the city
of Obin. Do I hear a motion for the
second reading of this ordinance?
>> Motion second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Laurenda,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Dro,
>> yes. Ordinance 13-2025, an ordinance
establishing salary ranges for the city
of Obsecin. May I hear a motion to open
this meeting to the public for comment
or discussion on this ordinance only?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Opposed.
>> Would anybody from the public like to
speak on this specific ordinance?
May I hear a motion to close the public
portion?
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I opposed. May I hear a motion for the
final reading and adoption of ordinance
13-2025?
>> Motion. Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Laura,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Zoros,
>> yes. Ordinance 13, 2022, an ordinance
establishing salary arranges for the
city of Epcant. This ordinance has been
heard and is finally approved.
Ordinance 2025 ordinance number 14 bond
ordinance providing for 2024 road
improvement program appropriating 1
million therefore and authorizing the
issuance of $950,000
bonds or notes of the city to finance
part of the cost thereof. Do I hear a
motion for the second reading of this
ordinance?
>> Motion second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Fireenda,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes. Rose.
>> Yes. Ordinance 14-2025,
bond ordinance providing for the 2024
road improvement program appropriating
$1 million therefore and authorizing the
issuance of $950,000 bonds or notes of
the city to finance part of the cost
thereof. May I hear a motion to open
this meeting to the public for comment
or discussion on this ordinance only?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> opposed. Would anybody from the public
like to speak on this matter?
May I hear a motion to close uh the
public portion?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> opposed.
May I hear a motion for the final
reading and adoption of ordinance
14-2025?
>> Motion. Motion.
>> I need a second.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Bartenda,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Dro,
>> yes. Ordinance 132025 bond ordinance
providing for the 2024 road improvement
program appropriating $1 million
therefore and authorizing the issuance
of $950,000 bonds or notes for of the
city to finance part of the cost
thereof. This ordinance has been heard
and is finally approved.
>> 14202 14 2025. Yes,
I got to correct it here too.
14 2025.
[Applause]
Uh okay. Resolution added consent. Um we
have to do this in two steps. Um or
resolution 187 which is authorizing the
city of obscin to award a contract for
the 2025 road program. John, do you want
to
>> Yeah. So just just quickly um so
typically as I'm sure all of you know um
open public meetings act would typically
require you guys to publish uh a copy of
your agenda to the extent that it's
known at least 48 hours in advance of
the meeting. Right? Uh that was done
here. But the two resolutions that we're
looking to act on out of consent, 187
and 188, weren't included uh in the 48
hour notice. And the reason for that was
there was some internal discussion going
on as to whether or not we could
actually introduce those and act on them
tonight. Uh we didn't get the consensus
on that until earlier today. So given
the fact that we did have that prior to
the meeting and the fact that um they're
of urgency and importance to the city of
Abssein
uh we can act on them tonight pursuant
to the open public meetings act as long
as the uh 75% or 3/4ers of the
membership present uh is agreeable to
proceeding tonight with acting on those
two things. So we'll need to conduct
first a roll call vote to see if there
is at least threequarters of you that
wish to have these added to the agenda.
In the event that you do, you can then
act on each of them as well.
So with that, we need a roll call first.
>> Let's do a roll call.
>> Okay.
>> Roll call to introduce
>> to add to the agenda. Yes. Correct.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes. Lenda,
>> yes.
>> Light,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> So now I can just proceed forward.
>> You can.
>> Item 187, authorizing the city of
seeking to award a contract for the 2025
road program. May I hear a motion to
move resolution number 187-2025?
>> Motion.
>> Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Larretenda,
>> yes.
>> Light,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> 188. Authorizing the city of obsein to
award a contract for the 2025 New Jersey
DOT reconstruction at Delaware Avenue
project. May I hear a motion to move
resolution number 188-2025?
>> Motion. Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
Wait. Sorry.
>> That was really funny.
>> Yes.
Consent agenda. All matters listed under
item consent agenda are considered to be
routine by the city council and will be
enacted in one motion in the form list.
There will be no separate discussion of
these items. If discussion is desired,
that item will be removed from the
consent agenda and will be discussed
separately.
>> We are pulling uh just for everyone's
edification, we are pulling 182,
appointing a zoning official part-time
for the city of Epsin. That is being
removed from this consent agenda.
177 authorizing the tax collector to
prorate and cancel property taxes for
the third and fourth quarter of 2025 and
cancel the preliminary for 2026 on the
properties listed. 178 authorizing the
tax collector to prorate cancel re and
refund the property taxes for 77 days of
the third quarter of 2025 and cancel
fourth quarter 2025 and preliminary of
2026.
79 authorizing to cancel the property
taxes for the first and second quarter
of 2026 on the property located at one
uh 1109 New York Avenue, block 45, lot
7. 180, authorizing a refund of an
overpayment of taxes for the property
located at 637 Wheeler Lane, block 96,
lot 26.
181 authorizing the increase of
resolution number 161-2025
by $1,66622
to purchase one 2025 Ford F550 cab and
chassis crew cab.
183 authorizing to enter into a contract
with Remington and burning engineers for
planning and design services for Epcates
draining drainage improvements. 184
authorizing to enter into contract with
Remington and Verdic Engineers for
planning and design services for OAR
Avenue drainage improvements. 185
authorizing the payout of accumulated
time for an employee who retired from
the city of EBSin during the year 2025.
186 an amended resolution of the city
council of the city council of the city
of Ebsecin authorizing the sale of
certain landowned lands. Wow, that is
city owned lands.
Agenda items only. Do I hear a motion to
open the meeting to the public?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> opposed. Would anybody from the public
like to speak on these agenda items
only?
>> Do I hear a motion to close the meeting
to the public?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Opposed? May I hear a motion to move
this consent agenda?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes. Evans,
>> yes.
>> Lauratunda,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Duros,
>> yes. Approval of the bill list, 1
million $147,53.16.
May I hear a motion to accept the bill
list?
>> Motion.
>> Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Duros,
>> yes. Approval of the minutes. Regular
meeting minutes 102 2025. May I hear a
motion to accept these minutes?
>> Motion. Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Abstain.
>> Light,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Rose,
>> yes.
Council committee reports. We start with
Nick.
Um, just want to give everybody an
update. Um, Red Oak, um, dispensary is
going to be having their grand opening
on November 1st at Give me one moment
here. uh at noon they're going to have
food trucks and a live band and all are
welcome to uh join and looks like
Wendy's is making some progress uh at
the redevelopment site so looking
forward to that opening up its doors uh
in the coming weeks so should should
open quickly
>> thank you sir is it
>> Mike
>> um parks and recck we have not met yet
we're going to meet actually next week
on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Um just some things
to discuss coming up with a lot of
things that we got in the near future
with the parks. Um as well as just a
reminder that we have uh trunk or treat
tomorrow. I believe it starts 6:00 a.m.
with the hay ride. 6:30 8:00 is going to
be all of the I'm sorry. PM
don't show up then. Um so 6 6:00 p.m. um
with the hay rides and the food trucks
in the back. 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. would be
the actual trunk or treat. So we hope
everybody can make it out. Thank you,
sir. Um, Captain, you got anything
public safety wise?
>> Uh, just to piggyback on that would just
be Hornet Hallways, which is with the
trick-or- treat event at 6:30 p.m. as
well.
>> Excellent. Thank you, sir. Council
Evans, um, community affairs has has not
met since the last uh, meeting, but we
are having a uh, Halloween decoration
um, contest. Um, so feel free to
decorate your home. we will have uh
volunteers that are coming around in
order to um judge them and there will be
uh prizes for second and third prize. Uh
other than that we um meet the first of
next month, first Thursday next month.
>> Thank you.
Finance met this meet earlier this uh
today and we went over a couple things.
Uh first thing is we looked at some
planning for 2026. We're trying to get
ahead of it. So, we are starting stuff
in October, which is great. So, we asked
for budget requests to all the
departments. They're due back on 11:7.
We will also meet with all departments,
myself and finance team in December. And
we are currently on a spending freeze.
All purchases must be approved by the
township administrator, which is
something new that we implemented this
year to try to keep things in line to
make us better suited going forward next
year.
>> Thank you, sir. Steve. Thank you, Mr.
President.
We met this month at on the 6th at 5:00.
I was unable to attend, but I can make
comments um as I was updated by my team.
Um as once as always, I'd like to thank
public works for the outstanding job
that they always do and I'll never stop
saying thank you. Um some of the items
that we went over is um stop signs,
speed humps, and actually looking to do
a citywide survey and just kind of
nailing down some of the some of the
street lights that are not working, some
of the areas that could actually use
improved lighting. So, we're working on
that. And then I've also received um
several phone calls from residents with
questions and concerns on the repaving
of Ohio Avenue as some of the utility
companies have been on ongoing doing
replacement and repairs. So I had one
particular resident ask me again as
status where they're repaving in front
of their house. There was a water line
fire hydrant was all replaced as well as
the curbing was removed. So there was
just questioning in in anticipation that
uh maybe that could be resolved um or at
least an answer before they repave it um
as the new paving is going to go up and
meet a temporary patch curve. So I
already me reached out to our
engineering staff. So they were working
on getting us an answer. Um as well as
there are two other residents in the
past. I didn't mention it out loud, but
I will tonight is um coming out of
Atlantic City on Route 30. There's uh
the actual lighting on Route 30 has been
out. I don't know if they lost I don't
I'm an electrician. I don't know if they
lost a feed. I don't know what it is,
but and that comes into the outseeking
border. So, um I had one concerned
resident uh had asked uh how long is
that going to have been out? It's been
out for months now for also public
safety. So, um that's all that I have.
We meet the 3rd of November. Um, the
public is welcome. So, we meet the 3rd
of November at 5:00 here. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Uh, I'd just like to commend
Carrie, John, Ed, and Jessica. Um, a lot
a lot of moving parts and we were able
to accomplish a lot on behalf of the
city of EPS in a very very condensed
time frame. So, thank you to the four of
you um for your attention through this
and well, Kristen as well. I guess I was
just doing the people in the room, but
uh it was a a major team lift and I
appreciate everybody um dropping what
they were doing so that we could get
this done and I think the the the
taxpayers I'm seeking are very
appreciative that we were able to get
this done before the cold season starts.
So, thank you all. Uh Mayor, thank you,
Council President. Uh,
guess we can all say, "Wow, that was uh
quite a weekend worth of flooding and
rain." Um, few comments on that. Number
one,
we have to be a little more cognizant.
The roadblocks, when there's a
roadblock, says road closed, it truly
means road closed. the amount of people,
myself, Captain Maser, and I were out
there watching the road, driving through
the floods. Please don't drive through
the floods. You're doing forever damage
to your vehicle, and it's a miracle if
any of you make it through. I would like
to commend our our PD for being out
there with the barricades, the cones,
and making sure that nobody was driving
through our flooded waters. Again,
Captain Mer, our number two guy in the
police department's out there moving
cones, observing the traffic with
myself. Uh thank you guys very very much
for all the great work you do. Um and
the the next thing is I'm not sure if
our administrator is going to speak
about this. Uh the mayoral homeless task
force uh in the month of November will
be doing a sock and canned good drive.
We will have bins here in city hall
where you can drop off new socks, canned
goods sealed within the expiration date.
Um, I would ask there's a flyer that uh
Jessica will send. If everybody,
anybody watching, anybody sitting here
would share on social media to get the
word out, that would be excellent. Um,
I'm sure speaking of the floods, maybe
Mr. Dennis will have something in his
engineers report. Maybe some good news,
maybe some great news. I don't know.
>> Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you for
good news.
>> Netflix drama.
These are the monthly reports for
September. The municipal court was
$10,4594.
Clerk's office was $2,265.
Construction office was $10,719
and the tax office was $53,9049.
>> Thank you, Carrie. Administrative
report.
>> We have leaf pickup beginning on
November the 3rd. because of the storm,
we've had a lot of people putting their
um leaves and yard waste out at the curb
already, but we will not start picking
up until November 3rd. So, prior to that
date, um if you could please use proper
waste receptacles. Um we have recycling
coordinator Stan Colby heading around
trying to reach out to residents about
that. We also have a shredding event
coming up on November 22nd. It's from 9
to 12. We're looking for community
cleanup volunteers. So, if anyone's
interested in volunteering, if they
could reach out to, uh, Stan KBY in
recycling or myself, um, and we'd be
happy to get some people together. And
as it gets darker, we've been having a
lot of residents reach out about street
light outages. Um, you can report them
directly at atlantic cityelectric.com.
Um, if you need assistance, we'd be
happy to help.
>> Excellent. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Engineer report.
>> Okay. Uh so just to close the loop on a
good discussion we had at the last
council meeting and then at the public
works committee. Um we introduced an
ordinance tonight for the four-way
stops. I just want to read off the the
locations where those four-way stops um
would be located. This was recommended
uh by the public works committee. We
talked about at the last council meeting
the process we need to follow and this
is the end result of that process. So uh
we're looking at four-way stops at
Bayiew Drive and Hobart Avenue, Kage
Avenue and Oakhurst Avenue, Highland
Boulevard and Blenheim Avenue and New
York Avenue and 15th Street. So, um,
obviously we need to, um, adopt the
ordinance first. I spoke with Lloyd
about getting the actual signage and
striping done. We're going to talk to
our road program program contractor.
They might be able to get it done
quicker. Um, and so we'll we'll take a
look at that and um, hopefully have
those up um, shortly after the ordinance
is adopted. Um, the road program in
Delaware Avenue were awarded, so we'll
get those projects moving into
construction. There were a couple items
on the uh res on the consent agenda for
the way that they were worded is to
enter into contracts with my firm for a
couple drainage projects. What those
really are are grant applications. Think
about them that way. Um we have to enter
into a contract before we can apply for
the grant. This is the IBANK funding
I've been referring to throughout the
year. Um the city qualifies for up to $2
million in planning and design funding
as a grant. These are two projects that
we're going to be applying for. There
will be a third uh coming up probably on
the next agenda. These are big projects,
projects that have been on our list, but
are just too big to really attack. And
this is an opportunity for us to finally
get at least the engineering done. And
then you will also see at future
meetings, um, there's another pot of
money that pays for construction. And
and the city qualifies for an additional
$2 million per year, at least for the
next two years for drainage projects and
sanitary sewer projects. So, really good
timing um to get these projects, you
know, finally into design and hopefully
into construction over the next couple
years. So, exciting stuff. And then last
but not least, we had a meeting last
week with the county uh engineers
office, the county administrator. The
mayor attended regarding Shore Road. Um
prior to that, we submitted a final plan
and specification package to the county
engineers office, and I'm pleased to
report that the county engineer had one
sole comment on one item. Um, and he was
going to get us his final recommendation
on that item by the end of this week. He
just sent it to me on my drive here, so
I haven't looked at it yet. Um, but once
we take a look at that item and
incorporate that into the plans, um, the
plans are done. Uh, what will happen
next is there will be a update to the
interlocal agreement between the city
and the county. So that'll be coming up
on one of the, you know, upcoming
agendas. And we have a verbal um
schedule of bidding the project in
November,
receiving bids in November. And then um
it would be a county contract. So it
would be a with the county board of
commissioners and they would need to
award that contract at one of their
meetings. But we are finally at a point
where um we're ready to bid this
project. And then um
>> can you say what the project is, Ed?
>> Sure. So the project is uh in the
onshore road in the area of Ohio Avenue
and it is to raise Shore Road I would
say anywhere from a foot to two feet um
in various areas. Shore Road will become
one of our it will go from being one of
our lowest flooding roads to probably
one of our more passable roads during a
flood event which is hard to even fathom
you know um having dealt with all the
closures we've dealt with over there um
over all these years. So, uh, it's
really exciting project. In addition to
that, I mean, that's the main thrust of
it. There's a ton of drainage work that
has to get done because of the changes
we're making to the elevations. So, what
what what residents should expect is
over the winter, you will see a lot of
pipe work happening, and you'll be
wondering when are they raising the
road? Um, that'll happen in the spring.
So, they're going to put the pipe work
in. They'll allow that trenches to
settle over the winter and then, you
know, as the weather gets a little
warmer, that's when you'll start to see
the road to get built up um and raised.
So,
>> our county commissioner, sir, I'm sorry.
>> I just want to say that
what we're talking about right right
now,
we and every person in the city of Epcad
and gentlemen, it can be done and it
will be done. So kudos to every single
one of you professionals, everybody um
that refuse to take no and that's just
the way it is for an answer. And uh I
just want to congratulate every person
in this room because
I know every resident in the city has
been told that it's impossible, but it's
not impossible if you refuse to quit. So
kudos to this governing body, our
professionals, um Ed, your team, and
everybody. So and the and the county and
the state. This is not an obsecant
thing. This is a everybody come together
and and work towards the right goal. So
I'm extremely proud and honored of of
this governing body and the county for
for doing something that everybody's
been told is impossible. So
congratulations to everybody. Would you
have mayor
>> very quickly the in the meeting the
county administrator was his goal and
I'm not going to hold him to it was the
commissioner's meeting for the awarding
of the bid either the 2nd of December or
the 16th of December which puts us on a
great timeline to do exactly what Ed
said. That's it.
>> That's awesome. I'm
>> Thank you, Ed.
>> I'd like to ask you something, Ed. Sure,
please. is um I know uh a couple years
ago the state the New Jersey state do
DOT I said mentioned something about
Route 9 and and uh they were saying that
at some point down the the line they
were going to do some improvements on
Route 9. Don't hold me to it. from
Summers Point to whatever route 30. Um I
made a suggestion or a recommendation
that we reach out to them because they
redided the bridge. Obviously the basis
of both of those if the base I'm not an
engineer if that base was expanded a
little bit more it would be passable. So
I know, you know, it might be a request
that might take some time, several
years, but I think that really this day
and age, this whole town shouldn't be
completely shut down where every artery
uh knowing that that bridge, all the
hard work was done at that bridge. So
again, if that base of Route 9 in my
mind, if it was expanded out, it would
be more passable than it flooding at the
base. So, it's out of our control, but
if we could get on a list with New
Jersey DOT um to have that put on their
list when they're already scheduled to
do some improvements, I think that would
be great for our community.
>> I'll follow up with DOT.
>> Thank you.
>> Y
>> Hey, can I ask one question?
>> Mhm.
>> Flashing yellow in Jersey Avenue.
>> You were going to ask that question. One
I don't have an answer to. I tried to
get an update before I got here, but I
don't have an update. I know we were
waiting for a county road opening permit
and I think that's still where we are.
>> So, yeah.
>> Anything else?
>> That's it. Anybody else on council on
anything?
>> Do I hear a motion to open this meeting
to the public?
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I opposed. Anybody from the park like to
speak on anything at all? Um, please
just come up, state your name and your
address.
Don't knock me over all at once, guys.
Going once.
Going twice.
Do I hear a motion to close this meeting
to the public? Motion. Second.
I opposed. May I hear a motion to
adjourn this meeting? Second. All in
favor? I opposed. Meeting adjourned.
Thank you everybody for coming