Council Meeting 11-6-2025

Good evening everybody. Welcome to the
November 6, 2025 regular meeting of the
Obssein City Council. Mayor,
[clears throat] can you lead us in the
flag, please?
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. Uh, councilwoman Evans will be
absent. Miss Larenda is also absent.
Light
>> here.
>> Parker
>> here. Sykes
>> here. Rose
>> 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 permanently
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 also further advise that this
meeting is being recorded electronically
and can be viewed on the city's website
at obsecanj.gov.
Regular meeting agenda 2025 ordinances
for introduction. 17 bond ordinance
providing for drainage management
improvements in the Obssein Estates
neighborhood by and in the city of
Absecin appropriating $2 million
therefore and authorizing the issuance
of a $2 million bonds or notes to
finance the cost thereof.
May I hear a motion? Motion
second.
>> Is there any discussion on this
ordinance? Yeah. Can Can we just have Ed
give suggest
>> so everyone knows that this isn't coming
from Austin.
I'll be real I'll be real brief. So this
is the um this is part of the I bank
funding that we've been discussing
discussing since budget time that the
city qualifies for. It's a new program
that we qualify for. The way that the
program works is it's technically a
principal forgiveness loan, but in all
reality it's a grant. Um so in order to
in order to um access funding for this
program, you have to pass a bond
ordinance. You technically set it up as
a loan. You then um do the project. They
will they will provide the city with the
funds to pay the bills. So you're never
actually borrowing any money. You're
never actually making any payments on
the loan. And then once the project is
done, you close on the loan and then
they forgive it instantly. So it's a
kind of a funky way of getting a grant,
but it's really just a mechanism through
which we're going to access this
funding.
>> Sounds good. Does anybody have any
questions on council?
Roll
>> call, please. Yes.
>> White.
>> 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 November 20th,
2025.
8. Ordinance 18, 2025, an ordinance
amending the code of the city of Epcap
160, uniform construction code fees. May
I hear a motion?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Discussion. Anybody have any questions?
Should we lay out what that's what's
happening?
>> Essentially just changing the fee
structure to be more in line with
present day 2025 and uh ensuring that
the construction office does not lose
money and they're able to sustain
operations. Perfect.
>> Does anybody have any questions,
comments?
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> I'm sorry. White,
>> 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 November 20th, 2025.
2025 ordinances for adoption.
15. [clears throat]
Amending chapter 330 to designate a
multi-way stop intersection at certain
intersections within the city of Epsein.
Do I hear a motion for the second
reading of this ordinance?
>> Motion.
Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Light,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Yes. Ordinance 16, 2022, amending the
code of the city of Epsin, chapter 35.
Wait,
>> amending chapter 330 to designate a
multi-way stop sign intersection uh at
certain intersections within the city of
Obssein. May I hear a motion to open
this meeting to the public for comment
or discussion?
>> Motion. Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> I opposed.
>> Would anybody from the public like to
come up and speak on this agenda item
only?
>> May I hear a motion to close the meeting
to the public?
>> Can I ask the engineer a question on
this?
>> Yes, you can.
>> Ed, I know we just talked about putting
the money into the road program to pay
for this. Can you give us an idea of
when this will be?
>> Yes. So, so we did um direct the
contractor to go ahead and order the
signs. He said it's about a twoe lead
time on receiving the sign material. So,
within the next couple weeks, you should
see these signs go up. And then
separately, they'll send out a crew to
do the stop bars. But once the signs are
up, then this, you know, the four-way
stop is in effect. So, within the next
couple weeks,
>> while they're here doing the lining, can
we get the bar moved or at least look
into the Seaside Highland Boulevard?
>> The one stop bar is way way past the
smoothware of the of the of the stop bar
in question and we'll take a look at it.
Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Anybody else? Thank you, Councilman.
Anybody else?
May I hear a motion to close the public
portion?
>> Motion second.
>> All in favor?
>> Opposed. May I hear a motion for the
final reading and adoption of ordinance
15205?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> White,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Yes. Ordinance 15, 2022 amending chapter
330 to designate a multi-way stop
intersection at certain intersections
within the city of EPSCN. This ordinance
has been heard and approved.
Ordinance 16 amending the code of the
city of EPSEN chapter 35 fire department
article 235-12
definitions. Do I hear a motion for the
second reading?
>> Motion. Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes. Light,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes. Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Z,
>> yes. Ordinance 16, 2025, amending the
code of the city of Obscin, chapter 35,
fire department, article 2, 35-12,
definitions. May I hear a motion to open
this meeting to the public for comment
on this comment or discussion on this
ordinance only?
>> Motion second.
>> All in favor?
>> I opposed. Would anybody from the public
like to come up and speak on this?
Okay. Then may I hear a motion to close
the meeting to the public? Motion.
>> Second. All in favor? I.
>> Opposed. May I hear a motion for the
final reading and adoption of ordinance
16 2025?
>> Motion. Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Light,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes.
>> Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Doris,
>> yes. Ordinance 16, 2022, amending the
code of the city of chapter 35, fire
department, article 235-12
definitions. This ordinance has been
heard and is finally approved.
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.
189 authorizing the acceptance of and
when authorized the release of various
street opening permit security deposits.
190 appro appointing a zoning official
part-time namely John Farweather. 191
accepting a volunteer firefighter into
the EPS City Fire Department, namely
Griffin Fitzgerald.
192 authorizing the adoption of a
revised personnel policies and
procedures manual. 193 authorizing to
enter into a contract with Remington and
Vver Engineers for planning and design
services for citywide sanitary sewer
improvements.
194 authorizing Remington and Vernick
City Engineers to administer
construction related services for the
2025 road program. 195 authorizing
Remington and Vernick city engineers to
administer construction related services
for the reconstruction of Delaware
Avenue for the year 2025.
Correct that [laughter] on there.
Thanks, Ed. Cuz this is 20256.
NJ DOT municipal aid program. 196
authorizing the chief financial officer
to cancel grant receivables and
appropriations not needed. 197
authorizing a transfer of appropriations
in the 2025 local municipal budget per
NJSA4A
4-58.
198 requesting permission for the
dedication by Ryder for the developers
fee housing trust funds required by the
city of Obssein.
Do I hear a motion to open the meeting
to the public for these agenda items
only?
>> 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?
>> I opposed. Consent agenda. May I hear a
motion to move the consent agenda?
>> Motion.
>> Second. Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Write,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes. Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Yes. Approval of bill list 1,568,9384.
May I hear a motion to accept the bill
list?
>> Motion. Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Clark,
>> yes.
>> Write,
>> yes.
>> Parker,
>> yes. Sykes,
>> yes.
>> Dors,
>> yes. Approval of the minutes. Regular
meeting minutes 10:16 2025. May I hear a
motion to accept the minutes?
>> Motion. Second.
>> Roll call, please. Clark,
>> yes.
>> Write,
>> yes.
>> Parker, um, I have to abstain because I
wasn't at that meeting, but the minutes
do have me as present and absent, so I
don't know if that's a small detail you
want to change on them.
>> Sykes.
>> Yes.
With the council woman's changes
[snorts]
reports, uh, council committee starts.
Steve, would you like to start, please,
sir?
>> Yes. Thank you, Mr. President.
public works did not meet this month
because of the everyone's schedule as
well as um it being election cycle. So
we wanted to give everyone an
opportunity to um take care of any
personal business that they need to take
care of families and friends as well as
residents. Um
I would always like to thank continually
is public works. Uh the level of um care
that they keep to all of our parks, all
of our buildings um and the stellar job
and we're constantly getting compliments
from various other communities and other
residents to other communities on how um
how well-kept our community is. So I
know it's it's redundant, but uh I they
do a great job. Um couple questions that
I had as I spoke to some of the
residents in the last I don't know
several weeks are um any updates and you
can follow up on this Ed. So we'll just
kind of the the shore road uh any of
that stuff from there is you know I know
the the police and the fire department
as well as everyone did a great job with
some of the that nuisance flooding we
get this time of the year. It is the
season. So um that's all I have. We meet
on the uh bear with me.
We meet December 1st here at 5:00. The
public is welcome. And then one last
thing is I'd like to thank everyone that
took the time to vote, take the time to
vote, and exercise the right that we
have as citizens of this country. Um
whether you voted for us or not, I do
appreciate everybody taking the time to
vote because it's definitely something
valued and an I value. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Councilman.
>> Thank you, President. We have not met
since the last meeting. We are in a
budget process for 2026. We're meeting
with all the departments right now to
get their budgets together and we'll
also be working with uh Enterprise to do
some reviews about possibly redoing our
uh car fleet for the police department.
and we have a meeting scheduled with
them. So, that'll be for the next
meeting. We have no finance meeting in
November since we're meeting with all
the departments.
>> Excellent. Thank you, Councilwoman.
>> Um I'll touch on community affairs first
since Linda is not here. Um we are
having we did not meet this month. Um
but we are having a November cleanup,
shredding, and electronics drop off day
on Saturday, uh November 22nd from 9
till noon. Uh we will be having our
annual tree lighting Tuesday, December
2nd at 6 PM. Um and I also talked to the
commander from the Legion yesterday and
they will have their Veterans Day uh
ceremony at Veterans Park Tuesday,
November 11th at 11:11 a.m. Um for
public safety, we also did not meet this
month. Um but the firehouse did uh host
their fire prevention open house um
which was a very nice night. They also
hosted the prek classes from Abseen. Um
they had field trips over there this
past month. Um also very nice and
successful. And I'd like to thank the
police department for tonight um posting
their monthly bladder to keep us all
aware of the happenings in Abigans.
Chief, do you have anything to add?
>> I sure do. Um if you have never attended
haunted hallways over at the school
during trunk or treat, I strongly urge
you to come out. I really want to thank
um all the men and women of the police
department who put in the effort and um
dedicate the time to spend with the
children in the community. It's it's
it's really a fantastic event as well as
the whole trunk or treat. It's it's it's
become uh quite a quite a night out. Um
I'd like to personally thank the public.
Um trick-or-treating this year I thought
was a very big success. Um, so many
people were so kind to all of us. Uh, I
know we inconvenienced so many people
with with closing partial roadways and
things like that, but um, everybody
seemed to be out and about having a good
time and, uh, it was a a safe and and
great night. Uh, with that said, I want
to talk about reminder of daylight
savings time. Um, you know, it's dark at
5:00 practically now. Um, so please take
your time uh navigating through town.
Um, you [clears throat] know, one of the
important things you have to remember is
is is your some of the best security
around your properties is lighting. So,
if you haven't adjusted your lighting uh
to the to the clocks and the earlier
darkness, please do so. Uh, and you
know, if you have no lighting at all,
maybe uh, you know, in the future look
into some of the newer LED lighting is
is fairly cheap to to operate and and
keep on. And I know our electric bills
are through the roof, but uh, these are
things that could prevent you from
becoming a uh a victim. Uh again,
doors locked not only on your homes and
your outside dwellings, sheds, garages,
but also your cars. See something, say
something. Um you know, going into the
new year, I strongly stress the public
to um you know, reach a hand out and um
talk to your neighbors. Make sure you
know who's living next door, who's
living across the street, even down the
street. um because um you know it helps
us in preventing crime. Uh it also helps
us in identifying uh you know victims of
crime and um you know a little bit of
kindness goes a long way. I think um you
know in the state of our economy we may
have a a
a resident or or or a neighbor who may
need something or need a little help.
Um, and I'm not asking anybody to to uh,
you know, be that person of help, but
you could reach out to the police
department or here at city hall and and
we may be able to help you or or your
neighbor get the the necessary things
that they need. So, that's all I have.
If you have any questions.
>> Thanks, Chief. Does anybody have
questions for the chief?
>> Councilwoman, anything else?
>> Um, just a reminder, we had daylight
savings. the um clocks changed this
weekend, so it's also a good time to
change the batteries in your smoke
detectors. That is all.
>> Councilman, thank you, President. Uh we
met late last month, so we are possibly
scheduled to meet this month. We got to
see because it's for Veterans Day, so we
may not meet that night. Um but as per
the last meeting, uh again, another
kudos to public works. We talked a lot
about, you know, especially with the
football fields and the home games that
we've recently had, what a great job
they did with lining everything. Um,
personally, I've been in a lot of
playgrounds lately with my kids. Uh,
been in fantastic shape still, you know,
with the mulching at the divert levels
and things like that. Um, things have
been clean. So, you know, and then kudos
to public works for taking care of that
stuff. Uh, at the committee meeting, we
talked about some of the um lighting
issues that we've been having um kind of
around the Field of Dreams and that
walkway now in the John Gorman way. They
were all fixed. Um, they were not all
part of the Atlantic City Electric or
what was valuable by them. So the ones
that were, we contacted them and they
were replaced. The uh other F of Dreams
lights were also fixed. So right now
everything is lit up going down that
that path and that drive, which is
great. Um especially with football
season coming to an end. It's it's still
pretty heavy traffic over there in that
area. And then we talked about some some
of the things that maybe possibly um
updating some things. We do have quite a
few bulbs out right now at the field
itself on the field lights. Um they're a
project to replace. Uh you've got to get
a lift, a crane, things like that. So um
in doing so, we're going to try and get
all of them done at once if we can and
then possibly redoing the ones. We don't
want to go up there and replace the ones
and then a couple burn out a few months
later. So I'm looking into a couple
grants. I'm going to uh speak with Ed
and then we're thinking of possibly
trying to convert these over to LED so
that they're not an issue in the future.
>> Excellent. Thank you. Um on behalf of
Councilman Launda, uh economic
development, uh he welcomed and I
believe with the mayor and another
council member, um
>> Councilwoman Evans,
um the the new
dispensary in town. It was a huge hit, a
huge event. Um he also wanted to
highlight that we will be decorating um
the newer section of New Jersey Avenue
uh with Christmas decorations and also
looking at possible ways of decorating
further down on New Jersey Avenue. So
this year during the holiday season
there'll be a little extra holiday flare
to it. Um that's all from Nick uh
wearing a Blue Devils t-shirt in order
to support the Blue Devils who are in
the playoffs this coming weekend JV and
varsity. So, we wish them well and good
luck uh in their game. Mayor, do you
have a report?
>> Uh,
EXCELLENT. [laughter]
>> EXCELLENT. I like that. Quick and easy.
real quick.
As the holiday season's approaching, as
we're out and about with our families
and everything's very busy,
everything in your power in this
community to support the local small
businesses, especially down on New
Jersey Avenue, our restaurants, our
shops, it's extremely important. That's
it.
>> Thank you, sir. Engineering report.
>> Yep. A few brief updates. Uh a couple
resolutions on the agenda today. Uh, one
was for the citywide sanitary sewer
improvements. I just want to note that
that's essentially another grant
application through the IBK. We're
applying for a total of $2 million
through that grant program in addition
to the $2 million I spoke about in the
beginning of the meeting. So, we're
looking at a $4 million in funding
through the IBANK for the city, which is
essentially grant funding. Alex
mentioned the budget coming up. So,
these will be projects that really will
come to fruition next year. We'll be
able to do a lot. And these are projects
honestly that have been sitting around
looking for funding for years. These are
big drainage projects that are just kind
of too big to bite off with our budget.
But with these grant funds, we can
finally uh move some of these items. Our
two road projects, the road program in
Delaware Avenue that were awarded, we
had our pre-construction meetings today.
Um in in discussion with the contractor,
I think we wisely decided that you're
really not going to see shovels in the
ground on those projects probably till
the beginning part of the year. We don't
want to dig up everyone's streets, run
into some weather, and then people have
um roads dug up in front of their houses
through the holidays. So, um you know,
once we have a better schedule, uh we'll
we'll pass that along to everyone.
However, we do have our lobby project
that is going to start within the next
couple weeks. Um here at city hall,
we're putting together some public
information that we can share on social
media just so the public knows what to
expect when they come to city hall, you
know, as far as the construction taking
place right at the front entrance. So,
that project will
>> Can you just say what the project is?
>> The project is basically to make the
front entrance more ADA compliant. And
so we'll be doing some work on the
sidewalk in front of the entrance and
then that vestibule inside the lobby
will be eliminated. So that way when you
walk in the front doors, you'll just
walk into the lobby and there'll be a
push button outside for the automate,
you know, the electronic doors, uh, door
openers.
>> Um, so that project will be starting
very soon and Shore Road. So on Shore
Road, um, we have sent over our final
sign and sealed plans and specifications
to the county for them to bid the
project. We're really just um down to
the minute details of the updated
interlocal agreement. I know the mayor's
been talking to the county administrator
to iron out some of those details. Chief
of police has been real helpful working
out the traffic control. So, we're
really into the weeds on just a real
couple minor items. But from an
engineering standpoint, they have in
their hands the final plans and specs.
They can bid the project. You'll see an
interlocal coming through, you know, at
an upcoming meeting. But, um our
expectation is that project should be
advertised for bid sometimes this month,
which is great news. So,
>> I spoke with a couple of our county
commissioners about this just to make
sure that everything was we were all on
the same page and they're extremely
supportive of of this project. They
realized the urgency and the need um
nuisance is a public safety hazard.
Thank you, Ed. Uh the only two comments
I have is one I want to thank the
professionals and council. Um over the
past, you know, 12 14 months, we've made
a a strategic to decision to
aggressively go after grants. And I
think it it's working. Um knock on wood.
You know, we're uh we're we're getting
the grants that we're going after. We're
able to do more with less taxpayer
dollars by chasing these grants. And
we're going to continue to pursue as
many grants as we can because it's
working and um it's delivering results.
And I just want to say uh especially as
somebody that volunteers a lot of time
at the Field of Dreams, it is unreal
that our own building is not ADA
compliant. And I want to thank
Councilwoman Parker for uh really
driving home the need to invest in city
hall to be open to every resident
regardless of their ability to get in
the door. So, thank you, Councilwoman,
for pushing that. Um so, yeah, those are
my two comments. Uh administrator report
Uh just a reminder, the fourth quarter
property taxes are due and the grace
period ends on Monday, November the
10th. And then city hall will be closed
in honor of Veterans Day on November the
11th. Um keep an eye out for your 2026
sewer bills. We're going to be sending
them in the mail the week of November
the 17th. Um our fall curbside leaf
pickup has started. Make sure there's no
branches or other debris um at the curb
line. I also wanted to mention the city
hall lobby project. They said that
they'd be commencing on November the
17th and during that time we're going to
have to close the um drive-thru. So,
please look for appropriate signage. Um
and we thank every one for their
cooperation during our construction
period. And finally, tonight we hired
our new zoning official, John
Farweather. Um he is a resident of
Epsecin and I'm sure he'll be an asset
to the municipality.
>> Excellent. Thank you, Jessica. May 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? What you can't see on camera is
there's like 4550 people here.
[laughter]
>> May I hear a motion to close the meeting
to the public?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> opposed. May I hear a motion to adjourn
the meeting?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor? I
>> opposed. Meeting adjourned. Thank you
everybody for coming.