City of Brigantine's Personal Meeting Room

electronics. Thank you.
>> Like to welcome welcome everybody to our
March 18th Brigadine City Council
meeting. Please rise for the flag.
Please stand
in prayer.
>> Heavenly Father, we come to ask you this
hour uh asking for your blessing and
hope and help as we are gathered
together. We pray for guidance in the
matters at hand and ask that you would
clearly show us how to conduct our work
with a spirit of joy and enthusiasm.
Give us the desire to find ways to excel
in our work. Help us to work together
and encourage each other to excellence.
We ask that you would challenge each of
us to reach higher and farther to be the
best we can be. Thank you for watching
over our great community and keeping us
safe in these unsettled times. We ask
this in your name. Amen.
Please be seated.
Mike's sister just passed
the church everybody knows
and also one of our longtime teachers
Karen Karen Karen Ben
>> Karen Benoff's father just passed also
Harry is uh
See, can you read the open public public
meetings act announcement?
>> Notice that this meeting has been
legally provided as required by open
public.
Perfect. At this time, we're going to
depart from the regular agenda. Uh we
actually have a presentation from
Janette Kesler. Janette, welcome.
>> Thank you.
>> Hello, Janette Kesler for Kirby Place.
Um I am here to present today happily to
tell you all and to tell the community
that we have been accredited for the um
time of now until 2028 the urban and
community forestry accreditation for the
city of Burggantine and it really is a
big deal. It is a lot of work. John's
team has done a lot of work on it but
the the most important part of it has
been done by the community. We had over
80 volunteers each accepting a packet
and that packet included a district part
of the town, a couple of blocks,
whatever it may have been. And they
literally went around those blocks,
measured the trees, did the distance
from the ground to breast height, and
measured the circumference of the tree,
checked the health of the tree. We have
a complete inventory of every single
tree on the island. That's amazing.
except the ones on the golf course and
private property. We didn't go on
private property, but every other tree
on the island, we have a complete um
assessment and a hazard assessment and
inventory of. So, that really is a big
deal. The state gives us great points
for that. That'll increase our ability
to get grant money for planting more
trees. So, it really is a a a very good
thing. Very excited about that. Part of
the accreditation was outreach um about
planting and about trees. And with that,
our cherry blossom festival is coming
up. Our cherry blossom festival is the
official welcome to spring. And uh part
of our accreditation for the urban and
community forestry plan is that you
celebrate your canopy, whatever your
canopy may be. We don't grow giant oak
trees here because of our sandy soil,
but we grow a heck of a lot of beautiful
cherry blossoms, so we celebrate that.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is the
weekend of April 24th and 25th. We're
having a run, a 5K run through the
Cherry Blossoms. We have plenty of folks
signed up for that. Still time for
people to sign up for that. We have an
open house on the 25th at the community
garden. We have our annual
cherry blossom tea is the afternoon of
the 25th and we just announced the
cherry blossom princesses for 2026.
Uh seedling is under 12 is Harper Corte.
The annual is Emily Maguire. The
pollinator princess is Shaina Kachinsky.
And the perennial princess is Trisha
Cosgrove. and all of those all the
representing all the different ages and
stages of the trees and the ages and
stages of our princesses. Uh they're
recognized for their volunteerism on the
island. every one of those uh girls to
women uh volunteers shows the spirit of
volunteerism in Burggantine and you know
we're we're really proud to celebrate
them as part of our cherry blossom
festival which is part of our urban and
community forestry plan and we just had
our weekly meeting Monday 66 days until
the farmers market opens um we're ready
we have our meetings weekly carefully
curating an amazing market we're looking
forward to it and brick on blanc is
confirmed for September 26th of 2026. So
that is my green team message. Thank you
so much for allowing me to do the hard
work on behalf of the city of
Burggantine for the green team. Thank
you John for leading us. Thank you.
>> When do tickets go on sale for Brigone
Blanc? Um, they will go on sale probably
the first week of August.
>> Okay, perfect.
>> I think we only have 14 months.
>> Yeah,
>> definitely a lot of uh popular events. I
know it's a lot of work that goes into
all the things you do. Great news about
the fire street. I know that's been a a
huge undertaking and I think it's going
to be a great benefit to the city. So
thank you guys very much
>> and great job as grand marshall braid
last Saturday
she made us look good
for tiger executive session
>> yes mayor contract negotiations should
be pretty quick
uh Christine can you read the resolution
>> the governing body will enter into its
executive session to discuss contract
negotiations once the need for
confidentiality no longer exists will be
made.
>> We have a motion second.
>> I'll make that motion. Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Any opposed? I seeing none. Motion pass
back.
Just
too much.
Wait, you're here.
I didn't get
Stop.
Thank you.
It's
pretty
Thank you.
That looks good. So
Well, I could see
That's right.
Oh my god.
All right. Can we have a motion and a
second to resume the meeting?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor? I. Any oppose? All right.
See none. Motion passed. We're going to
resume our meeting. Uh George, can you
summarize? Yes, Mayor. Um we did have a
brief executive session regarding
contract negotiations. There's no action
for this evening, but more more than
likely on a future agenda.
>> Perfect. All right, we need our approval
of minutes. This is for March 4th, 2026
council meeting minutes. We have a
motion and second
questions or comments. Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> All right. We have our approval of our
bill requisition list. We have a motion
and second.
>> That motion.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have a roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes. Motion carries.
>> At this time, we'll open it up for
public comment. This is public comment
on agenda items only.
Seeing no public participation, we're
going to close the public portion. Uh
first up, we have resolution 2026-86.
This is a resolution authorizing a
contract with multiple vendors for
herbicides, fungicides, insecticides,
fertilizers, seed, and golf course
supplies.
>> A motion second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-87.
This is a resolution authorizing a
contract with Finch Turf Incorporated
for mowers for the Brigintine Golf
Links, Brigentine, New Jersey. Uh this
will be leased in a total of $8,74210.
We have a motion and second.
>> Second. Questions or comments? Seeing
none, can we have roll call?
>> Yes.
Mayor Sarah,
>> yes. Resolution
2026-88.
This is a resolution authorizing a
contract with Fitch Turf Incorporated
for a grinder for the Brigantine Golf
Links, Brigintine, New Jersey. Uh this
is a monthly cost of $1,831.91.
A motion second.
>> Make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes. Resolution
2026-89.
This is a resolution authorizing a
contract with Lawn and Golf Supply Co.
Inc. for a top dresser tractor for the
Brigintine Golf Links, Brigintine, New
Jersey. And this will be purchased in
total of $13,25.
Motion second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments?
>> Seeing none, can we have roll call?
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> Yes. Mayor
>> Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-90.
This is a resolution authorizing a
contract with Side Pony Print Shop for
Beach Patrol uniforms. This is in the
amount of $25,428.50.
Have a motion and second.
>> So move. Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have a roll call?
>> Yes.
Resolution
2026-91.
This is a resolution by the city of
Brigantine for uh state of New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection
Green Acres Grant Program. This is for
the Green Acres uh grant for Eastshore
Drive inclusive Playground. We have a
motion and second.
>> I'll make that motion. Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, we
have roll call.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes. She carries.
>> Resolution 2026-92.
This is a resolution authorizing the
award of contract to Polyino and
Associates for design, permitting,
construction, management, and inspection
for the replacement of the elevated
boardwalk at Ross Drive, Frigotine, New
Jersey. This is in the amount of 47,000.
We have a motion. Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
Yes,
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> I'm glad to see this moving forward.
This has been a big request of the
people who live in that area. So, I know
they'll be happy to see this project
moves forward. So, I vote yes.
>> Resolution 2026-93.
This is a resolution authorizing the
mayor to sign and execute any documents
necessary for the reconstruction of a
dock located adjacent to 4125 Atlantic
Brigintine Boulevard. Motion second.
>> I'll make that motion. Second. questions
or comments? Seeing none, can we have
roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Uh resolution 2026-94.
This is a resolution supporting the
community project funding application
for the north end seaw wall expansion.
We have a motion second.
>> So I'll make that motion.
>> Second. Uh for this, this is part of the
process um that we're going through. One
of the things we're working with on
Congressman Vanrew is an extension of
the seaw wall portion of the prominant.
This will extend another 275 ft north.
We are working on something called a
tiger dam. It's named after our city
man. No, I'm just kidding. It's a uh
he's actually just going to stand out
there and hold the water back. Uh we are
working on a a tiger dam out there as a
temporary because when the federal
government moves, it moves big but it
moves slow. Uh what this will do is this
will fund the CAP 103 study in order for
the Army Corps of Engineers to do
anything. They have to do a study. The
study has to show one that there's a
benefit, two that it's needed and that
helps to guide the designs as things
move forward. This is the uh first phase
of that. Uh once this is done, we'll
actually go back. I've had conversations
with the congressman. He's committed to
this project and seeing it through all
the way to the end. But once that study
is done, he's going to go back in to
work on funding for the full extension
of the seaw wall. Uh he's been very
successful in other shore communities
within his district. And uh this is a
good starting point for us. So I'm very
very happy to see this moving forward.
And we're also working with the state of
New Jersey as um our non-federal
sponsor. So they'll be uh helping us
with this project as well. So it's good
to have uh good relationships.
Questions or comments? Seeing none, we
have roll call.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-95.
And this is a resolution authorizing the
city of Brigantine to enter into a
two-year agreement with my beach mobile
with an option to extend for two
additional years. Have a motion. Second.
>> Uh basically this is a a digital this is
for digital beach tags. So, it's the
app, the program, all that stuff to run.
That's all it is. Questions or comments?
Seeing none, can we have a roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Uh, next up, we have our consent agenda.
We have our beach soccer and Brigantine,
August 8th. American Legion raffle
license number 1146 and Elks raffle
licenses number 1147 and 1148.
We have a motion. Second. I'll make that
motion.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> All right. Next up, we have our council
manager, Tiger. Anything for us?
>> Uh, nothing, Mayor. Thank you.
>> Go over to all our department heads.
Over to our deputy mayor.
>> I'm sorry. I'm sorry I missed the shake
your shamrock weekend. It looked like it
was a huge success. And I'm sorry I
missed seeing Councilman King wearing a
skirt.
>> Killed a kill.
>> And sounds like Mike Reen had a good
time DJing.
>> Let's just hope for some nicer weather.
Saturday.
>> Paul,
>> work continues on the prominade, but the
lights were blinking last night again.
>> We We are aware that they're blinking
again. The contractor has been notified.
>> The lights close to 10th Street.
>> Yeah, it's the southernmost one. So, we
we reported it two days ago. Yeah,
>> they don't expect
>> and they were uh
>> Yeah,
>> they've been for the last three days or
so tearing out the
>> the ramp of a uh handicap ramp that was
there that collapsed after the first
storm. They were knocking that apart.
So hopefully they'll have that open and
ready for season. I believe they're
replacing it with the original stairs.
They had
>> I'm sorry. They tried something there.
did work.
Right on.
>> I don't have a whole lot. Uh just that
it was a great week.
Patrick's Day weekend pray was amazing.
It was an absolute honor to be one of
the grand mares with a great group of
people. So,
Mike,
>> thank you, mayor.
Let's start out with the uh cultural
arts commission. We have a big uh big
event coming up
Frank Sinatra dinner dinner dinner
dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner
dinner dinner dinner dinner show and all
coming up next month there'll be more
details at next uh first meeting in
April uh economic development committee
met last week talking discussing a lot
of things about uh 250th anniversary of
the country country what we're doing
here in Brigantine the 100th anniversary
of brigantine what's going on after
Labor Day and several other items
uh as details get released and uh we'll
talk some more about that. Really want
to thank the Chamber of Commerce for the
fabulous job they did with Shake the
Shamrock and then the department heads
police and fire, John Doran public
works, just everybody else. It was a
great team effort on last Saturday's
parade at wonderful grand marshals. Uh
that was a site I never thought I'd see,
but uh you know, well done.
Uh but no, we really appreciate it. The
your security and safety and the job the
police department did was was uh just
wonderful. Fire department right there.
John, you're you're fabulous as always.
So, I really appreciate it. Everyone
else helped down. Thank you so much.
businesses. I mean, I was in the beast
beast show this morning and they said
that they were jammed over there in the
diner in the beastro and Girl Scout sold
uh I don't know 150 box of cookies and
stuff. So, you know, every everyone uh
made out for itself and that's what it's
all about.
It's all got
>> I say Mike, I think definitely this is
one of the best St. Patrick's Day
parades we've ever had. I know uh
Chamber of Commerce work real hard. All
of our city departments, the chamber
actually wanted me to thank everyone.
They said this is the most important the
city's ever been. But what I was said
told is the city's always been there for
us, but this year was just over the top.
So, thank you for everything that you
guys did. Uh businesses were real happy.
I mean, that's one of the things we
really work with the chamber on is uh
what we can do to really benefit those
businesses in the shoulder season and
this has really grown into uh one of the
best events that we do. Mike, thank you
for all the work that you do.
Put a lot of effort and energy. I think
uh you're definitely the best parade
master we've ever had.
>> What I do?
>> No, but it was good. I think you bring a
good energy and excitement and it's it's
awesome. So, thank you very much.
>> Uh give a quick update on South Jersey
Gas. As everybody knows, um, you know,
bills are hitting everybody really hard
and we're trying to get answers to
understand, you know, what's happening
because the actual cost of gas, the gas
itself, the material that you use, that
price has gone down, but what's going up
is the delivery fees and the rider
rates. And we're trying to get
clarification from South Jersey Gas as
to what makes up those rates and what's
driving the increase. Working with
Senator Polyina on this. Uh we're
getting information from South Jersey
Gas, getting information from the BPU,
and really what the hopes is is if we
can understand what's driving the cost,
we can work together with South Jersey
Gas and work together with the governor
to come up with some type of plan for
relief. Uh so we'll keep people posted.
South Jersey Gas did share some
information. uh we asked them for some
clarification and asked them instead of
percentages to give us like real numbers
because you know percentages sometimes
doesn't mean anything. So we want to
know what those real numbers are. We're
also asking too to kind of give a
breakdown of what all this means for the
average rate picker. You can give all
kinds of crazy numbers but at the end of
the day we want to know what it means
for us. A lot of people have reached out
with requests um for us to do the same
thing with Atlantic City Electric. I
think we're going to go through the
process with South Jersey Gas to
understand what's happening there
because I think there might be some
similarities and I think once we
understand one we'll be able to have be
in a better position to work with the
other. We will keep everybody posted but
um and I want to let people know South
Jersey Gas has been very open, willing
to work with us. I don't believe they're
trying to hide anything. So it it's good
that they're being transparent with
their information. Uh the other thing
too I just you know want to say like you
know when you look at the agenda like
we're making a lot of big investments in
the city and uh very very proud of that.
You know you look at like how beautiful
things are look at what's going on with
the country club down there and you know
we have a whole new team that I think
it's going to be an incredible time down
at the golf course. And obviously we
have the changes we need to bring in
some equipment. We were sharing
equipment with the um green tree. You
know we no longer are doing that. We're
going out on our own. So you see some of
that equipment coming in here. But I
tell you, anybody who has an
opportunity, go down to the golf course,
meet our new team. Um they just
excellent, excellent people. And um
we're going to continue to invest in the
city, continue to make it beautiful. Uh
we're paving a ton of roads on the
island and I think that's really
important. I saw John, I saw you guys uh
patched a couple of the spots on
Beayshore. So thank you. I was I saw the
one the comb was up there yesterday. I
was going to talk to you today was
already taken care of. So, thank you
very much. I appreciate that. All right.
With that being said, we're going to
open it up for public comment. Anybody
wishing to be heard, please come up and
state your name and address for the
record. Not going to yell at me today,
Dad. No. Okay.
Go ahead, Frank.
>> Good evening, council staff members. Um
name is Frank Glee, 433 Lafia Boulevard.
Um got three quick items. Um first two
personal ones. Councilman Kane looking
good at the St. Patrick's party uh
parade the other day and thank you for
staying to the end of parade and welcome
everybody. I know some of the other
people had a lead for personal reasons,
but appreciate it. Very nice. Um
Councilman Reen, I appreciate you
appointing me to the economic
development council. It was a great
meeting last week. Um seems like a very
dynamic group. I'm very happy and
interested to uh to be involved in that.
Thank you. Um last sort of two meetings
ago or last meeting um I made a proposal
shout to the council about what I
collectly called um adopt the hydro
program. Um after the meeting a few of
the council people came up to me said
that it seemed like a good idea and you
know kind of take the ball and run with
it. So, um, I sat down a few nights and
I put together what I call perspective
and with your permission like to pass it
out for maybe a quick discussion.
I will simply that prior to meeting
deputy mayor you did come up to me and
apparently 10 11 years ago there was a
program of that nature. So, this without
stepping on anyone's toes, whether it's
to the fire department or DPW or anyone
else, um maybe to finesse it a little
bit, maybe you could get a ball rolling.
Um
couple quick things that I wanted to um
just discuss without taking up the time.
I know time limit. Um, I just chose the
implementation time as as the fall
mainly because if we if you decide to go
with it and you'll start it in the
spring or summer months, most of the
people worried about their businesses
making sales, getting the beach ready,
getting a suntan, things like that, and
it's going to kind of go by the wayside.
So, once the summer rush, for lack of a
better word, is over perhaps tied in
with the um fire department, Chamber of
Commerce, and all the other um groups
that I've mentioned here. Um my concerns
um the costs again should be nominal.
Some data entry printing of
certificates. I know the city gives out
certificates for various other causes.
So maybe just a little tweak with the
paperwork. Um liability again is this
voluntary program. Um so there should be
none. But I will defer to the
corporation council. And my concern with
that is if Mrs. Jones decides to adopt a
hydro from her house and she's out there
shoveling it and she slips and falls.
She's not going to come back and sue the
city and say, "Hey, you know, I tied up
with this program. It's a city program.
Uh, I want to be reimbured, etc., etc."
Um, culpability, same thing. Back to the
um corporation council, same thing. Mrs.
Jones doesn't doesn't uh shovel her
hydro and clean it, and the FD has to go
there and establish a water source. I
don't want anybody to say, "Oh, well,
you know, we're going to hold you
responsible because you signed up for
the program, but you didn't fulfill your
obligation, so to speak." It is a
voluntary thing,
and possible violation of the collecting
bargain agreements, i.e. the unions,
whether it's fire, police, DPW, OEM. Um,
I'm still not sure who's responsible for
what, and again, I don't want to step on
anyone's toes. Um, to have u Mr. Mr.
taxpayer do it and then get a grievance
to the council to the city manager for
um doing something that's quote unquote
under the contract. So, um that's my
little proposal. Um I'd be happy to
answer any questions and if you decide
to go with it, um be happy to help out
in any way possible.
Chief, this is something.
>> Yeah, it's
Perfect.
You guys work together.
Thank you so much.
>> No, thank you for entertaining. You know
how to get a hold of me. Phone call
away. Take two minutes over to the
firehouse.
Yeah, I made
>> I made a couple of suggestions. Um, I'm
not very good at art, but I have a
problem with drawing a stick figure, but
um something like maybe a set of arms
holding the hydrant. Um, incorporate bug
gear fox. if that's a trademark or
something along those lines, but
anything maybe get some of the artists
to come up with an idea and accept it
and away we go.
>> Okay. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you, Frank.
>> It was funny. The day after Frank was
here and spoke after the last meeting in
my Facebook memories came up from 2015
from our Brigine Fire Department. It
said, "Help us. Help you and your
neighbors adopt the hydrant. Dig out
three feet each direction." And it
showed, you know, this was just a little
informal thing. It wasn't anybody
pointed or anything, but if you saw one
in your neighborhood to do it, it was it
was quite ironic that it was the next
day.
>> It's great. And especially if there's
middle school children or high school
children there too in the neighborhood
like I know I have in my neighborhood.
Uh getting children involved is also a
good thing and some pride in the
neighborhood. Yeah.
>> I think too like certificates or little
thank you letters to volunteers. I think
that's a good suggestion. So thank you
very much.
>> If there's no other public comment we
close the public portion. Any final
council comments?
Seeing none, we have a motion to
adjurnn.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Seeing none, motion passed.
Thank you for coming out, watching your
council team at work.
It's