Council Meeting 4-16-26

I pledge allegiance 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.
>> Light
absent.
>> Uh, he's supposed to be here. I think
he's just running late.
Parker here. Sykes
>> here. Through
>> here.
>> This is to advise a 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 prominently 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
obsecanj.gov.
Regular meeting agenda 2026 ordinances
for introduction.
Ordinance 06, an ordinance of the city
of to exceed the municipal budget
appropriation limits and to establish a
cash bank. May I hear a motion?
>> Motion. Second. Anybody like to discuss?
Pretty self-explanatory.
Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Artunda,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> 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 May 7th, 2026.
Ordinance 07 amending Ordinance 092025
amending chapter 330 vehicles and
traffic of the code of the city of
Obssein establishing regulations for the
parking of rolloff containers along
roadways. May I hear a motion?
>> Motion
>> second.
>> Anybody like to explain this one?
>> I'll take this uh council president. So
this came out of our code enforcement
meeting uh at the recommendation from
our code enforcement officers. Uh this
is to kind of deter uh folks from
putting uh roll of thumpsters in the
streets. It's obviously a safety hazard
for long-term and it also puts a cap on
the number of days uh you can have the
uh dumpster on your property. Um you
will be allowed to have it on the street
if you have um you know means or no
means to be able to put it on your
property due to the size of your
property or um you know grass or certain
instances. So, a construction officer
will have to come out and uh verify the
um the issue to ensure that you are
allowed to put it in the street.
>> It's to mitigate, you know, people from
having them in there for a long period
of time. Thank you, sir. Anybody have
any questions?
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Zoros,
>> yes. This ordinance will be posted, laid
over, and published according to law. A
public hearing, second and final
reading, will be held on May 7th, 2026.
Ordinance 08, amending ordinance 18,
2025, amending the code of the city of
Epcap 160, uniform construction code,
section 4, fees. May I hear a motion?
>> Motion.
>> Second. Discussion, please. Nick again.
>> I'll defer to
>> Go ahead, JESS. SO, UM, because our
shared service agreement with our
electrical, um, subcontractor is coming
to an end with Galloway Township, we are
having Trinity, who currently does all
our other sub codes, um, continue. So,
we're just aligning with what we've done
for the other sub codes.
>> Perfect. Roll call, please. Thank you.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Parker,
>> 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 May 7th, 2026.
Ordinance 09, repealing and replacing
certain sections of chapter 251, rental
housing of the code of the city of
Obscin. May I hear a motion? Motion.
>> Second.
>> Discussion, please. My throat's so dry.
And this is just to follow state
guidelines for rental. Correct, Jessica?
>> Right. And with insurance requirements.
with insurance requirements for for
rental properties.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Artenda,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Dors,
>> yes. This ordinance will be posted, laid
over, and published according to law. A
public hearing, second, and final
reading will be held on May 7th, 2026.
I have one in.
This allergy shot I got dried up
everything.
Consent agenda. All matters listed under
item consent agenda are considered to be
routine by the city council and will be
enacted by one motion in the form
listed.
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. 73. Authorizing the
acceptance of and when authorized the
release of various street opening permit
security deposits.
74 allowing these parent teacher
organization to hold a citywide yard
sale. 75. Appointing a public works
labor operator named Robert Grahams. 76.
Authorizing the fee for the purchase of
solid waste containers. 77. Authorizing
a donation to underwater forensics and
education foundation. 78. Authorizing
the introduction of the 2026 municipal
budget. Consent agendas only. Do I hear
a motion to open the meeting to the
public?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I I opposed. Would anybody from the
public like to speak on agenda items
only?
Do I hear a motion to close the meeting
to the public?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> opposed.
May I hear a motion to move the consent
agenda?
>> Motion. Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> YES.
>> I think yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Sir,
>> yes. I think you'll laugh. You're acting
like someone's forcing
>> approval of the bill list of 3,23,3598.
May I hear a motion to accept the bill
list?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Adams,
>> yes.
>> Tumba,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Flakes,
>> yes.
>> Z,
>> yes. Approval of the minutes 352026.
May I hear a motion to accept the
minutes?
>> Motion. Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Evans,
>> yes.
>> Larreta,
>> yes. Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Council reports, we will start with
Council Launda.
>> Uh code enforcement quiet for this
evening. Our next uh code enforcement
meeting will be April 21st at 4 p.m.
Welcome.
>> Thank you, sir.
Councilman, um we met on what was it?
The last form we had was I believe 317.
Um we did get a lot accomplished. We
have been trying to get these new lights
up um over at the baseball field. So,
with that finally happened, all the
lights have been replaced. Um it's kind
of been an ongoing for the last few
years just trying to find the the bulbs
themselves, the Musco to come out to get
the certain brand. So, uh with the help
of Lloyd, Steve Light, um Alex as well,
uh it was able to get done last week and
lights are up and running, especially on
the one main main field that we have, uh
where the older kids play. We had quite
a few out. So, now everything's up and
going. Um,
what else? That the concerts again,
there go that list will come out. Make
sure everybody gets a a view at that in
the community affairs page uh so that
way everybody can attend those. And
right now, we're still looking on maybe
to have some kind of a better fix for uh
the bathrooms during the concerts. It's
still an ongoing discussion and that's
all. Excellent. council.
>> Um, public safety did not meet in April.
We will meet again on May 4th at 6:00
p.m. The only thing I'd like to report
is ASAC and Marshm Manis would like to
thank the police for being out every day
during the tournament um and helping
with the parking in the loop and just
being present at the tournament. So,
thank you for being there. Chief, do you
have anything to add?
>> Yeah, I have a couple things. Um, one of
the big things this time of year is
solicitors. Uh, I see a lot of people
talking online saying, "Solicitors are
coming to my house. You have to call
us." In order to have a solicitor's
permit in a state I'm seeking, they have
to come here, fill out the paperwork.
They get a ID badge that they're
supposed to be wearing. Um, right now we
don't have anyone that has permission to
be going door to door and have seeking.
So, over the last several weeks, we've
gotten several calls from residents that
have actually called us, and we have
been issuing our our local ordinance to
those individuals who are going door to
door. So, please call us. Uh try to
refrain from calling council members or
the mayor or anybody else. Call the
police when it happens, not 3 days after
it happens, when it happens. And we will
certainly uh take care of that problem.
Um, next thing is is um, you hear me say
it forever now. See something, say
something. So, two incidents in the last
week, week and a half. See something,
say something. Uh, somebody saw somebody
uh, crawling into a backyard. Uh,
midday,
uh, called the police. Uh, patrol went
to the area, located the subject. Um,
and he was probably up to something no
good. Uh, we were able to take him into
custody. um and and and take care of
that. The other thing is is over the
weekend um you know, you hear me say it
every year too is uh lock your keep your
valuables out of your cars. Lock your
cars, lock your your sheds and your
belongings. Um the other morning, see
something, say something again. Uh
somebody saw somebody pulling on car
door handles, uh notified us. Patrol
went to the area, located the subject.
Um, we uh actually he actually had a lot
of people's property on his person when
we took him into custody and brought him
back here. In the time we brought him
back here, we had about seven or eight
other people call about vehicle
burglaries. So, again, see something,
say something. It worked out in those
two incidents. Look out for your
neighbors. Um, you know, the the weather
is nice. If you don't know your
neighbors, uh, at least say hello and,
um, you know, maybe get to know them.
Last thing is is, uh, last Sunday and
it's part of the consent agenda
authorizing a donation underwater
forensics and educational foundation.
When we had the the creek dredged a few
years ago, we were aware of uh we had
one car that was was taken out, but we
were aware of another one that was not
in the waterway. Um we reached out to
several people. Uh nobody wanted to be
bothered with it because it wasn't a
hazard to the boater boating um the
boers. So in looking into trying to to
retract get that vehicle out of the
creek, it would have cost us several
thousand.
Um Underwater Forensics is a um
nonprofit organization that was willing
to come down here, volunteers, and dive
on that car. and we were able to get
what was left of the car out of the
creek. Um we felt it was important to
get it out of there um and and do it um
you know sensibly for the taxpayer. So
that's why we were down there. We tried
to do it before founder season. Uh we
actually got lucky because it was dead
low tide and it was quite windy Sunday
so there wasn't many voters even um
willing to go out on the bay that day.
So, thank you to um the Underwater
Forensics Foundation and um you know,
several officers that were here to uh
assist with that as well as the Coast
Guard and um citywide towing.
>> Any questions?
>> Oh, great work. Thank you.
>> Yeah, thanks, Chief.
>> I have a question for you, Chief. Uh in
January, I asked you about the new ebike
law that um went into effect. Do you
have any update on where that stands?
So, there's a grace period before um
that can be enforced. Um
we're the the Division of Highway
Traffic Safety is starting to put out
bulletins, so you'll probably see us put
some stuff out on Facebook. Um you know,
if you could share it with community
affairs and everything else. Um, you
know, I think we'll take a a
you know, a sensible approach with
people uh as far as discretion and
warnings, but eventually um you know, if
if people aren't going to abide by the
new laws, then um you know, we will be
enforcing them uh
more strict.
>> Thank you.
>> Anything else?
>> That's it for me.
>> Chief, I got a question.
>> Oh, sorry. just for the good of the
order. Um, like because we see a lot of
people that you say they they they do we
get a lot of phone calls. Um, and you
see it a lot on the internet. I know
it's a really long number. Would you
take a quick second to remind people of
the phone number when they see an
emergency so they know?
>> Well, it's 911 91 or you can call you
can call the the 6410667.
>> That's the number I thought you were
talking about.
quick.
>> If it's an emergency, it's 911. If it's
a non-emergency, there's no clog up the
911.
>> We're happy to talk to everybody, but uh
there's we're not we're not cops. We
don't have badges.
>> Thank you, sir. It's exactly what I say
all the time. Like, you know, if if
someone's reaching out to uh us 3 days
later or a week later uh about an
incident, um the likelihood of us
solving the problem or solving the crime
or being able to um make you satisfied
is is is
greatly diminished. If you call us when
you see it or h and it's happening to
you or you're a victim or whatever right
at the time then then we'll be able to
assist you much better and and
proficiently. So please call us.
>> Thank you. Councilwoman
>> Steve, did you have a question?
>> Yeah, I just uh excuse my tardiness, but
also I just wanted to just make a
comment to the chief is uh your staff is
like what what I see the activity and
your younger guys as well as your whole
entire staff is you know their presence
is unparalleled in our community. So, I
thank you and your staff for what they
do every day, but especially, you know,
your younger guys. I mean, I see your
presence as well as your older, but I
mean, I know the community appreciates
it as well as I. Thank you.
>> And I discussed uh one final thing, and
I'm sorry. Uh I discussed with um
Councilman Clark, um you know, we're
going to be looking at um getting some
of our new guys trained on the bicycle.
So, they'll be around the AC as you'll
start seeing them around the ASAC games
uh hopefully this summer and uh the
concerts uh you know hopefully for the
Memorial Day parade and definitely for
uh the fall for for football games and
stuff like that.
>> Excellent. Thank you.
>> Excellent.
>> So, if you do need a bicycle mechanic,
my husband, that's what he used to do.
So, seriously, he can true any wheel or
anything like that. I volunteer my
husband's services. He is retired, but
um he'd be more than happy to do it for
you.
>> That's fantastic to know. Thank you.
>> Yeah, absolutely.
>> Go ahead.
>> So, um community affairs. I just want to
report that this s um this Saturday,
April 18th, from 9 to 12, we're having
our shredding and electronics collection
here at city hall. Um anybody who has
anything, please feel free to come. Uh,
also, um,
the Memorial Day parade will be before
us before you know that. I am having a
meeting April 27th at 7 p.m. at the
American Legion Hall. Anybody that could
would like to, um, get involved. Uh, the
Legion Hall, the VFW are basically they
always take a hand in that. So, uh, but
we are looking for nominations for our
grand marshal. So, if anybody would like
to make a uh suggestion, we're open for
that. That would be great. Also, um
Saturday, May 2nd is our senior brunch.
That's going to be held from 10:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m. Sandy Hickerson is our
contact. You can find her contact
information on the website. If not,
community affairs. Um please feel free
if you didn't sign up to sign up. Uh
it's a great event and it's getting
bigger every year. and our next meeting
will be uh for community affairs will be
May 7th at 5:00 pm here in the council
chambers.
>> Thank you, Councilman.
>> Thanks, Mr. President. Uh finance met
this evening before our meeting and we
went over our budget as well as some of
the stuff that led to our debt and how
we acrewed to where we got to. We are
planning for our presentation which will
be 30 days out from now to show our
PowerPoint slide and where we are and
what costs we're looking to acrue and
how we can show how we got there. the
road map there and the road map going
forward. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilman.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Our meeting was on the 6th. It was
cancelled because of um the the holiday
and people's schedules and try to be
respectful respectful of our committee
and our our families. So, we do meet our
next month. we meet on the um the 4th at
5:00 here and that is public works.
Something that may have already been
mentioned. I just kind of reiterate um
you can is that the uh Lloyd had
arranged for the lights to be repaired.
So if uh Councilman Sykes already
touched base on that, I won't be
redundant. So
>> just briefly, but yes.
>> And then uh most important as always,
our fields, our parks, everything look
outstanding as always. So, thank you to
public works um and the whole crew
because you know it is a season. Thank
you.
>> Thank you. Councilman Carrie, do you
have anything?
>> Uh these are the monthly reports for
March for the court was $10,481.68.
Construction office was $13,897
and the tax office was $694,7568.
>> Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor,
>> I think it's important. It may not be
completely what we're discussing here,
but in the world that we live in today
and the political climates and all all
the drama, I I need to remind people
that there's almost two different states
here in New Jersey. And we often say
that South Jersey is the ignored part of
the state. Uh which is very true, but
that line represents something far more
different in my opinion. When you have
your your North Jersey and your South
Jersey line and people from all over the
country who don't know about New Jersey,
they don't understand this one thing.
We have faith.
We have faith amongst faith against all
the odds.
When there's small percentages,
we lead to success. What we need to
understand here in this meeting right
now is that South Jersey is Friars's
territory and it is time for them to
bring home.
And I want it on the record. Mayor
Marone says I'm seeking is flyers
country. Let's go flyers.
I mean at this point I'm just going to
say
who are they playing IN THE FIRST WHO
DEVILS playing in the first round? I
have no idea. I just
All right. Engineer
and I was so passionate. Can you guys
with that? Um, sure.
>> I
do have I do have a big update. So, not
to bury the lead, but the uh the Shore
Road construction project is on the
agenda for the county commissioners
meeting on Cinco de Mayo to be awarded
to South State Construction finally.
Um, that is
drop. Uh, and uh, no, that's awesome
news. I don't even I was trying to think
cuz I was sitting here when we started
that project and I honestly don't even
remember.
>> Well, your commissioners don't know. Um,
other than that, just a couple quick
updates. The uh, 25 program is in
construction. Um, concrete work is is in
progress over there on Wood Crest Court
and Burning Tree. Um, the Del Avenue
project will be starting shortly after
that. Uh Nick from my office was on a
call with the county engineer today
about possibly doing some repairs on
Pennsylvania Avenue up near Pittney and
they seem to be on board with that. Um
and they seem to be willing to
streamline that and expedite that for us
without a lengthy approval and review
process. So um we're going to get some
pricing from our contractor that's in
town to do that work. And then the next
project that'll be going out to bid will
be the RA crosswall project. We're going
to get those plans up to DOT and then
once they authorize us we can go out to
bid. So uh good stuff. And obviously the
big news is Shore Road um finally going
into construction.
>> That's messed up, Nick. He takes over.
That's messed up.
>> I think that's announced when they
officially approve
here when they put shovels in the
ground. I guess question.
>> No, thank you. Uh Ed, but one thing I do
want to say because I I got stopped at
Waw Wa earlier and I wanted to bring it
up like dealing with government takes a
long time. like things move slow. But
one thing I am confident in is that Nick
on behalf of the city of Epsein emails
the county constantly because he CC sees
a bunch of us and is always asking for
updates. So although projects move slow,
thank you Nick for being the pain on our
behalf.
>> My pleasure.
>> Thank you, M.
>> Anything else? That's it. Quick
question,
>> Nick. Uh I saw the email about the
Pittney about trying to get those little
dividers in there right where that light
is. We got no response. Correct.
>> Uh well, actually Doug called me today
about that.
>> So yeah, so they so they and they could
jump in here. I'm just talking because
I'm on the mic. Um I believe the answer
was that they were willing to to go
along with that. There would need to be
a shared services uh agreement put in
place and there at least their position
was that the city would need to cover
the cost of that and the maintenance I
believe as well, Nick.
>> Um but that they would be willing to you
know consider us doing that, you know,
installing those there.
>> Is that Pney in Pennsylvania?
>> Yes. I think last time we spoke with
them, they said that they would install
them and we would then maintain them.
God forbid they get torn down cuz
originally they didn't want to do them
and we kind of pushed them on it. So
>> let's see if the county will pay for
that.
>> Say that cuz they said that they were
going to handle the the the upfront.
>> Yeah. And then in there if it gets
knocked over, damaged then it would be
the city's responsibility.
>> So Nick, you hear that's our
>> our counter proposal.
>> Yeah, we'll negotiate.
>> Okay. And any word on doing the same
thing by uh the McDonald's that we
talked about?
>> I sent a note or an email to the DOT and
asset for that site meeting. I don't
think we've heard back from them.
>> We have not got anything back cuz I'm
wondering if you guys I haven't got
anything back.
>> No, we'll get the pain. We'll get the
pain.
Go ahead.
>> That's all I got. Anything else, guys?
>> Excellent. Jessica, administrator
report.
>> Sure. Um to add to Councilwoman Evans
report about shred day, um our recycling
coordinator lost some of the volunteers
that he had set aside for Saturday. So,
we're still looking for more volunteers.
If anyone has um an opportunity, we'd
love for you to come out and help. We
had a retirement in public works and as
he finalizes his career, we wish him the
best of luck. Um and we welcome our new
employee who will start the first Monday
of May. We also have the city's tax
assessor completing a veterans deduction
audit which is requiring updated photo
ID or an alternate form of ID um as of
May the 11th. We've tried to put the
word out there that this is a true and
real request that's being made by city
hall. Um and May 1st, property taxes are
due. So it' be a perfect time for you to
bring your photo ID in for your
deduction.
>> Excellent. Thank you, Jessica. May I
hear a motion to open this meeting to
the public?
>> Motion. Second. All in favor?
>> I opposed. Would anybody from the public
like to come up and speak?
>> Captain, I thought you were about to
psych me out.
May I hear a motion to close the meeting
to the public? Motion second. All in
favor? I opposed.
>> Okay. At this time, I will turn it over
to John close session.
>> Yes, sir.
>> All right. So,
>> yeah. So, pursuant to section 12V of the
open public meetings act, uh, city
council is now looking to move into
close session. uh the particular
subsection and reason is for uh potent
potential litigation related to the city
hall ADA project. So I'll need a motion,
a second, and then a vote in order to go
into close.
>> Motion second.
>> All in favor?
>> I think opposed.
>> All right. All right.
>> At this time, we're going to go into
close session. Um it shouldn't take too
long if you want to come back in. Um if
not, thank you so much for coming. If if
you