City of Brigantine's Personal Meeting Room

I'd like to welcome everybody to our
February 4th Brigantine City Council
meeting. Please rise for the flag salute
to the flag of the United States of
America and to the
stand.
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for
the freedom we exercise and the many
blessings of democracy we enjoy in these
United States of America. We ask your
protection and guidance for all those
who devote themselves to the common
good, working for justice and peace at
home and around the world. Heal us from
our differences and unite us with a
common purpose, dedication and
commitment to achieve liberty and
justice in the years ahead for all
people and especially for those who are
most
valuable in our midst. May we pray this
in your name. Amen.
And please remain standing for the
moment of silence for another one of our
long long time Brigantine residents,
Mrs. Rowey Rehill. Mrs. Rehill and her
husband Ed Rehill were very very
involved in our community for many
years. If you realize Ed Rehill, his
name is on our boat house. He was very
instrumental in all the crew programs in
our whole area. Um, Mrs. Rehill is
survived by her son Tom, former police
chief here, Riotine, her son Ed, and her
other son Michael, and her daughter
Teresa, many in-laws, grandchildren, and
they're very, very involved in our
community. So, please moment of silence.
Thank you. Please be seated.
>> Christine, can you read the open public
meetings act announcement?
>> Act
executive session.
>> No executive session. Mayor,
>> uh, first up, we have our approval of
our [snorts] minutes. This is for
January 21st, 2026. We have a motion.
Second move.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, we
have roll call.
>> Stain.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Need our approval of our bill
requisition list. We have a motion.
Second.
>> So moved. Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Uh, at this time we'll open it up for
public comment. Anybody wishing to be
heard on any agenda, any agenda on the I
can talk any item on the agenda, please
come up and state your name and address
for the record. I'll have you come
during the resolution.
>> My name's Ed Blad. I'm from Third Street
South. and an agenda item from a few
years ago can
>> need to be an agenda item
>> has to be this one and it'll be at the
end of this
>> at the end you can speak about anything
you
>> like hour or two from now I guess
>> so you just so you'd have to wait till
the end of the meeting to so this open
is just for things on the agenda if you
want to speak about something other than
something on tonight's agenda at the end
of the meeting we have an open public
and then you can speak about any topic
>> okay I understand it just didn't come
across that way when I looked on the on
the That's okay. No worries.
>> Thank you. All right. If there's no
public comment, we'll close the public
comment. At this time, we have
resolution uh 2026 number 51. And this
is a resolution supporting an amendment
to the Atlantic County solid waste
management plan endorsing the expansion
of the ACA landfill at the Howard Fritz
Honaman Environmental Park. We have a
motion second. So moved. At this time,
I'd like to open the floor up to Janette
Kessler.
I'm Janette Kesler. I'm um the risk
manager at ACUA and um Brigantine
resident. I have with me Greg Ser. He is
the vice president of solid waste at ACA
and he is going to speak on the landfill
project.
>> I was told if I bring Janette, you'll
just do whatever I ask. So [laughter]
you were told correctly.
So, uh, as Jad said, I'm Greg Sarah,
vice president at the ACUA. Um, so
>> Oh, no.
>> Send a bill for that. Thank you, bro.
>> I can hold it.
>> Okay.
>> Can everyone still hear me? Good.
>> Yeah, we can.
>> Uh, so the resolution is for support of
our expansion of our landfill. Uh we've
had about 16 municipalities so far
support this. Um currently our landfill
is permitted through 2029. Um a few
years but not that long. Uh the
expansion will get us to 2040 which is a
significant improvement and gives us
more long-term planning for other
options besides landfilling.
The expan expansions are nothing new at
our landfill. We've been you know we
expand every day as we add more trash.
But we've done several expansions. Uh
we've put walls around to increase
capacity. Um, so it's not anything out
of the ordinary. Every other landfill in
the state is doing expansions as well.
This is not something crazy, not
something that has been done before or
unique to Atlantic County. We're talking
about a vertical expansion and a
horizontal expansion. So in your in your
package, it's very easy to visualize.
Um, you see an aerial photo of our
landfill. There's a little notch that
kind of cuts in there, right? Looks like
wasted space. That's essentially what it
is. I don't know why years ago
[clears throat] when we permitted it as
we did we designed it that way but it's
just area adjacent to our landfill that
is not being used by capturing that
space that gets us about six years it's
five acres gets us six years we're also
talking a vertical expansion currently
we're at 145 ft we're asking to go up to
185 ft that gets us another five years
on top of that um the important part
about the vertical expansion is this it
is free air space there's no
infrastructure cost to build that the
most recent expansion we did cost about
18 million got us four years. This
proposed expansion will cost about $25
million get us 11 years. So you're
seeing significant savings on your per
year basis. So that is really big for us
and the most important thing is big for
all of our rate payers to keep our costs
low. We're currently the lowest landfill
cost in New Jersey. Um so you know
that's our goal to maintain those low
cost. Um height expansion you you might
hear, oh my gosh, you're going higher.
You're going to see it from all over the
place, right? I live in Abseen. I can
see it two spots on um Mil Road driving
uh or towards Westcot towards the
airport and then you kind of see it um
in Callaway a little bit. You only see
it if you know what you're looking for.
Um so in your packet here there's a
picture of
this last page right here. A picture we
did had our engineering analysis do
visuals of what you would see. So you
won't see it from anywhere you don't
already see it. So we're going up 40 ft
is not some astronomical amount. There's
also a
handout here of current landfill
heights. So we are currently the lowest
landfill in the state, not just rate,
but in height. So when we talk about
going up 40 feet, uh Kay County is
already 200 feet. We're at 140 feet. So
Kate May County, same terrain as us.
We're not going astronomically high.
We're basically doing what every other
landfill the state is doing. Um what
I'll reiterate to is the cost, right? So
if this expansion doesn't happen and we
have to ship waste out, it's about $25
million a year per year to county
rateayers. So it's a little bit
different for every municipality, but
$25 million over the course of the
entire county. That is a lot of money.
Um everyone know budgets are tight. Our
goal is to keep those numbers low for
you. So that's the quick presentation.
If you have more questions, I'm happy to
answer them for you. Wanted to keep it
quick for you, but I can answer any
questions you have. And I can tell you
personally, I'm glad to see that BCA is
doing the expansion. I know uh with the
mayor's association, we had met a couple
years ago with concern about what
happens once you get to capacity. So,
I'm glad that you guys have a good plan
to extend that and hopefully in the next
11 years, there's some um evolution of
technology that will help us down the
road. So, thank you.
>> And we are actually in the process of
that, too. We are currently in an RFP.
We have three companies shortlisted that
will propose us different technologies.
We'll see how that plays out. That's
something I've been at the ACUA for
almost 20 years now. was something I've
been chasing when I started there. They
said, "Greg, you'll be the only one here
when the landfill closes." And they are
they all retired now and I'm still here.
So, yes. Um, but we are looking for
solutions and even beyond that stuff
like food waste recycling, there's
things that we can do and we will slowly
transition as we move forward, but this
gives us much more time to find those
solutions.
>> Absolutely. No, I think it's a great
plan. Appreciate you guys coming out
tonight to present. Craig, I know you
had problems last year with the with the
odor coming out of there. Yeah. That has
been rectified, though.
>> Yeah. Yes. So, I'll tell you, I live in
Abseen and that's where the complaints
were coming from. Um, so, you know, it's
it's a landfill, right? It's not a
bakery or anything that smells good.
There will always be some motors there.
And, you know, we are being sued by our
neighbors who live closer to the to the
landfill than my office is to the
landfill, right? So, I cannot control
when someone buys a house and doesn't do
their due diligence. It's 60 residents
out of 250,000 in Atlanta County that
are suing us for that. There was
increased odors 2023 going into 2024
that was affecting more of AppScan that
has been rectified. Um, our complaints
have gone down significantly. Um, you
know, the data is all there and
essentially again having lived in
AppScin, the elected officials there
know how to find me and they tell me
when something's wrong and I I got a
call from them in over a year about
anything. So, you know, I think we've
proven the situation significantly. I
did see they're building a tremendous
amount of units.
>> Yes, that's so that's an EHT on the
other side of the parkway. Yeah, the
good news for that is um well, I don't
know if they'll read it, but in their
deed, it does require them to
acknowledge they're
>> living next to a landfill and an airport
at an airport shooting range. So, I had
someone call me actually asked me. I
said, "Look, if it was me, I would not
buy a house next to landfill. That's my
recommendation, but they're being built
there. They have to acknowledge next to
landfill and
Well, I just want to say thanks, Greg,
for you coming out tonight. And uh
Janette, uh when you did your
presentation at the League of
Municipalities recently, it's just great
news for Atlantic County that we're
going to be good until 2040 now,
compared to worrying about what's going
to happen over the next couple years.
And the cost would be much more
expensive if we had to start shipping uh
our waste out. So, this is this is
fabulous news. And you know, we're we're
glad to support it.
>> Thank you. Appreciate it. And it gets me
to retirement, too. So, that's good.
>> Well, that's good. That's good.
>> There's no other questions.
>> Can we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Thank you guys. We appreciate it.
>> And Janette, thank you again for
everything you do for us.
And if anybody hasn't heard yet, Janette
is one of the grand marshals of uh the
St. Patrick's parade this year with Neil
Kaine. So that's why she wore her green
shirt tonight with John Doran. He's
getting ready for uh prepping for St.
Patrick's month also. Thank you, John.
We have resolution 2026-52
and this is a resolution authorizing a
property tax exemption for a permanently
disabled veteran block 6902 lot 41. A
motion second.
>> I'll make that motion second.
>> Questions or comments? Can we have roll
call?
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-53.
This is a resolution authorizing the
final change order for number one for
the wellhouse entry and site elements
rehab rehabilitation project. And this
is a net increase of $19,496.99.
We have a motion. Second.
>> Second.
Uh John or Tiger, can you give us an
update what the additional work was?
>> That was for the wellouses
at the north end. The front porch was
sinking. The
wellhouse next to the museum was capped.
We're turning that into storage and
maybe bathroom in the museum.
a few other big projects that we did.
>> Thank you, Ch. All right, if there's no
questions or comments, can we have roll
call?
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-54.
This is a resolution authorizing a
contract with Pen Power Systems for a
generator
uh preventative maintenance services.
And this is a total amount of $12,74344.
Motion second.
>> So second
>> questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll file?
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-55.
This is a resolution authorizing a
5-year contract with rich fire
protective uh protection for fire
suppression system inspection and
testing. This is the amount of $9,000.
We have a motion second.
>> So move second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none. Can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-56.
This is a resolution authorizing the
award of contract to Charles Marendino,
Inc. for water system improvements and
roadway reconstruction of Beayhore
Avenue from 38th Street South to the
Lighthouse Circle. Uh this is in the
amount of uh 1,581,937.
We have a motion second.
>> I'll make that motion. Second.
>> Uh one of the big things we're working
on in the city of Brigantine is uh road
improvements. Uh we've had a lot of
requests for this area, Beayshore Avenue
to be repaved. What it needs is actually
a full reconstruction. Before we can do
that, we have to actually um address the
um storm system and the pipes that are
basically under the road. We're doing
that now. Once that's done, we'll be
able to come back and do the
reconstruction of the road. If there's
no questions or comments, can we have
roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah, yes. Resolution
2026-57.
This is a resolution authorizing the tax
collector to issue overpayment refunds.
We have a motion second. So move
>> second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-58.
This is a resolution granting a re a
revocable license at 1312 West Beach
Avenue for an encroachment on the city's
property. We have a motion to second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-59.
This is a resolution authorizing an
agreement with Mark Kimal, general
manager of the Brigitine Golf.
We have a motion second. I'll make that
motion. Second.
>> Any questions or comments? Seeing none
from call.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-60.
Uh this is a resolution appointing a
municipal housing liaison and that will
be Rachel Beckner. We have a motion
second. So
>> move second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah.
>> Uh Rachel does a great job and I'm proud
to reappoint her. Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-61.
This is a resolution authorizing the
city of Brigantine um to enter into a
cooperative pricing agreement. Motion
second.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Up next, we have our consent agenda. We
have Elk's raffle license number 1139.
Various states. We have the 2026 food
truck uh summer series. We have the
cherry blossom 5K April 24th and the pup
strut October 10th. We have a motion
second.
>> So move second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have a roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Uh up next we have our council manager
committee discussions. Time for
Mayor, the only thing I want to uh bring
up is um like to thank the men and women
of public works for the hard work that
they did with this unusual event that
occurred with heavy snow followed by
heavy rain followed by heavy temperature
drop that created a major ice problem on
the island. Uh their crews worked
tirelessly around the clock getting as
many roads as they could cleared. uh
getting we only had to close one day um
uh city hall because they had the uh the
whole area I know some employees were
hoping they taking their time a little
bit more on city hall so John thank you
um they've also dealt with 57 broken
pipe calls three water main breaks uh so
they've been really really uh plugging
away and doing great as well as the
police and fire department who also um
had to deal with numerous calls during
those uh those you know the last week
with all the ice and uh so I just want
to say thank you uh from manager to the
other employees for just doing a great
job.
>> John, I want to thank you too. I by the
night of the storm by 10 o'clock at
night just take a ride around the island
and I will tell you that all the
emergency routes completely clear. Like
it was very very impressive. I had a
couple people who had to come onto the
island during the storm from other
municipalities and um they were really
impressed with uh the work that public
works did getting those roads open. They
said it was a mess everywhere else they
got here and couldn't move.
I know that uh your crews are still
working on some of the back alleys. You
know, we appreciate that work. And I
think the storm was very challenging
because no sooner did it snow. It
started raining and then it froze. But I
I think public works did a really great
job. I please thank everyone in your
department for the outstanding work.
>> I gotta tell you though, I do have one
complaint. It's from my daughter. She
was very upset that school was open.
She saw the big equipment from public
works down there. All her friends in
other towns were out of school, but you
guys had the school open. So, I know
many of the parents were happy, but many
of the children were sad. So, it was
good. Thank you, J.
and go over to our department heads for
us. No, over to our deputy mayor.
>> Again, thank you to all three
departments for all the awesome awesome
work you did. Even though I missed it
all, I didn't mind.
Steve, welcome. Look forward to many
years of you sitting here
representing the police department. Um,
just quickly, are you going to talk
about the Beach Office? So, I see that
the HV office is now accepting credit
cards. That's an exciting exciting move.
Um, keeping uh it's just a great
customer satisfaction thing that we're
offering now. People don't have to bring
either cash or a check in the beach for
the office. They just come in with their
credit card. Don't have to go back to TD
Bank.
>> And they uh are open on Wednesdays now,
Wednesday through Saturday. So, they
expanded.
>> Yep.
>> Awesome. Very good. Even though it
doesn't look like it out there, uh,
spring and summer will be here
eventually.
Um,
we're very excited to have our new GM
that we just approved his contract
tonight at the at the lengths, Mr. Mark
Mark Kimog. Uh, he is going to do an
awesome job and, uh, he is now here
fulltime. We're excited to get things
moving. He called me today, had a couple
questions and uh I'm looking forward to
working very closely with him.
Unfortunately, the links has uh been
unplayable thanks to mother nature, but
hopefully in the next few weeks
back out flight. That's it.
>> [laughter]
>> Everything that you said as far as how
the situation is
Why is it always a weekend?
That's Thank you, Mayor. I just only
thought it was maybe done with this cold
weather on Saturday and Sunday. I think
it's gone down at 9 and 11 those two
nights. So, uh
I think that echo a nice warm spell did
all the previous remarks. uh does a
great job with everything. still saying
please all the people some of the time
some of the people all the time please
all the people all the time so you know
things happen but great job I mean all
the side streets and everything getting
done I mean excellent and uh Steve you
look good in that seat acting acting
chief
the best of luck to you for
thank you
>> I'll have to say the same uh
course word is
frozen solid and
that's it's I haven't seen that in quite
a long time. So, but John, great job.
Your guys were out.
Some guys were pushing 100 hours. So,
that's it's just the dedication.
Welcome, Steve. Chief, look forward to
working with you. Sure.
And then finally, big
big [snorts] weekend. Uh, ask everyone
to go out and support your charities on
the island Super Bowl parties at the
Elks, at the BFW, the American Legion.
Everyone's doing something.
Yours truly will be cooking at the Elks
this weekend. So, like to stop in here
all day
strongly.
Thanks, Mayor. Thanks for everybody
coming out tonight on this freezing cold
night. Appreciate your support, John. Uh
what everybody else has said about you,
you guys at public works. I had to go
down to Bentner, Margate, different
places down there, and uh none of them
could compare to the way you cleaned up
Brrigantine after the storm. So, you
know, thanks so much. Uh, Chief,
welcome. Know you have big shoes to
fill, but you know, you're you're the
right man to do it. So, you know, uh,
wishing you
good however long, however many years
you're going to be here. Best of best
wishes on that. And
other than that, I really don't have too
much. I'll uh I'll
say thanks.
>> Where do we find?
>> Yeah. Front page of the Brickine Times.
If you have any questions or issues, my
number's on the front page of Breitig
Times. [laughter]
Thanks for reminding me.
>> It's not a meeting unless you say it.
>> Yeah,
>> Steve would like to welcome you. Looking
forward to working with you. You know,
as we said, you got big shoes to go, but
uh I know you're going to do a great
job. So, welcome.
>> Uh just quick update on the south end.
DOT has begun dredging the Brigantine
Channel around Sunflower Island. That's
going to be a huge improvement for the
residents down there. Uh we're still
working on other areas of the island. Uh
but they decided to move on that area
first and we're going to continue to
work on dredging on the rest of the
island. We'll keep people posted as that
moves forward. I've been working with
Senator Palestina to get information on
people's uh basically South Jersey gas
bills. The delivery charges, what's
being reported by most residents, excuse
me, the delivery charges are about three
times the rate of the actual gas. and
people are very concerned because
they've seen a dramatic increase in
that. Uh, working with the senator, we
have requested from South Jersey Gas a
five-year history of the delivery
charges as well as a breakdown of what
those delivery charges consist of. Uh,
we've had conversations with a
representative from South Jersey Gas and
with the New Jersey Board of Public
Utilities. As soon as we have that
information, we're going to share it
with the public and then um we're going
to start to look for ways to try to get
the gas bills under control. I know a
lot of people have talked about Atlantic
City Electric. I believe Congressman Van
Drew has been working on that as well.
Senator Palestinian is working on South
Jersey Gas and we're going to see what
we can do to try to bring relief uh to,
you know, I guess all the people being
impacted by this. I know the new
governor has taken a strong position on
utility prices. So, we're looking to
work together with her to try to get
something done in the state of New
Jersey. We'll keep people posted. I've
got some good news for the residents up
around the prominade. Uh we're dealing
with uh beach erosion up there. Uh we
have reached out to the governor about
doing some type of emergency
declaration. It's under review. So,
we're hoping to hear back from the
governor soon that will allow us to move
federal money that Congressman Ban Drew
has ready to come in for an emergency
beach replenishment. Uh we're also
working with the Army Corps and D on
long-term solutions down there. But we
do have some good news. We think we have
a good short-term solution. Um and this
is something that was researched by our
city manager as well as our engineer.
It's something called a tiger dam.
Basically a tiger dam. This has been
used in other coastal communities and
has been pretty successful when it comes
to um it's not named after tiger. It's
called a tiger dam. [laughter]
But I do think the fire department needs
to do something with that.
Yeah. So, it's called a tiger dam
and um basically it's these huge um
tubes. They're made out of like adorable
flexible material, but you fill water in
it. I don't know if you know realize,
but every gallon of water is 8 pounds.
So, it's pretty heavy. And you stack
three tubes together. So, two go next to
each other, one goes on top. It creates
um a temporary seaw wall. And that's how
I'm going to call it as a temporary seaw
wall. And this will add some protection.
So it would start at the end of the
prominade and then extend 275 ft north
and then the top layer of it will wrap
around back into the 4x4 access road
there which will try to give um a layer
of protection um from erosion and from
some of the storms that come through for
one of the properties that's there.
Basically the only thing holding back
the high tide storms right now is is a
property owner's retention wall. That's
not going to hold up much longer. So,
we're looking to move this forward.
Before we can do anything, we have to
get support, I believe, from both the D
as well as the Army Corps. We're a
managed beach. They have to approve
whatever actions we do out there. So,
we're going to work together on that to
make sure that we can get this done. Uh
if we can, it'll be good. Uh relatively,
it it's pretty reasonable. We believe
we'll be able to do it for less than
200,000. And that'll add some good
protection out there. The good thing
about this system is once we get a
long-term system in place there, we
actually can deflate it, take everything
out. We can actually use it on other
areas of the island if we run into
issues. So, this way it'll be something
that will help us long term on the
island. We'll keep people posted as that
moves forward. I did send a a letter out
to the residents who live down there to
make sure that they know that this is
happening, had some pictures and stuff,
and we'll make sure we keep people
posted. So, it's great that we're able
to do something to to try to help people
because a lot of the residents are
asking what can be done while we work
with the federal government on a
long-term solution. We'll keep people
posted.
All right. At this time, um, we're going
to open it up to the public. Anybody
wishing to be heard on any issue, please
come up and state your name and address
for the record.
>> Head Black Third Street South. I was
here a few years ago.
>> What was your address?
>> At uh 218 Third Street South.
>> I was here a few years ago and it was
during a presentation.
Uh I believe the two gentlemen that did
the presentation were retired judges. It
had to do with the the court systems in
Atlantic County and how we would be
involved. I asked them at the time would
they be in favor or would they please
not hire and I quoted
um catch and release prosecutors
and I presume that that was done I don't
know for sure but it comes to mind now
because
this past week we heard from the New
Jersey governor saying that New Jersey
is a sanctuary state
that uh is is as far as I'm concerned
unacceptable. But then a day or two
later, we heard from Mayor or Governor
Josh Shapiro
saying on at least three different
occasions that Pennsylvania
is not a sanctuary state. Two Democrat
governors, one says
they are not and one says that we are.
I asked or then I saw a uh a video clip
that was shown to the governor of
Pennsylvania of Larry Kraner, the
district attorney for Philadelphia.
The only
sanctuary city is Larry Kraner's city.
I would like to be sure that that is not
going to be the case here in Atlantic
City or Atlantic um our our city here in
Brien.
I would I would ask
to be on record this council make a
motion seconded that we in Atlant or we
in Brickantine City are not a sanctuary
city. and if you could do that um open
up to the public for a comment and then
vote or and if it was necessary u at the
next meeting ratify what was done. So my
uh request is that you uh have a motion
on the floor to make u city a non
sanctuary city.
So, I would say first and foremost, uh,
one of the things I've been on council
probably about 12 years now. One of the
things we've really worked to do is not
make this a political forum. I will tell
you that this
our entire city will always respect the
laws of this land and I don't think that
we would do anything to circumvent
federal or state laws. Um,
I will tell you one of the major
problems when you have sanctuary cities
is that you all of those people who come
in for sanctuary cities and sanctuary
states, you actually rob them of their
constitutional rights. They're in a
situation where they're half in, half
out and never guaranteed any promises.
And if you look at a lot of the chaos
that's going on in this country today,
it is because of the sanctuary policies.
And I am on record and this council is
on record that if and at that time it
was the Biden administration before that
it was the Obama administration. If they
wish to have people come into this
country then they should have a legal
process for people to come in here and
you can't let people come in and then
not guarantee them rights. When people
are here undocumented and when people
are here illegally, um they're in a
situation where they're living in fear
and they're never fully infranchised or
guaranteed the protection of this
country because they have nowhere to
turn and that is wrong. This council has
passed re resolutions in opposition to
that those policies. So if someone has a
desire to come here, then it really is
up to the federal government to create a
policy that allows people to come here
and not create policies that encourage
people to circumvent the system. And
that's how we end up today. So this
council is on record. We've opposed um
policies that allow people to come here
illegally, but we also advocate that
there needs to be an easier process for
people to come here so it doesn't drag
out year in and year out. I think the
process now could take seven to 10
years. That's something that needs to be
changed. I think one of the problems is
is that a lot of people um who were in
our country illegally are being used as
political pawns and it is wrong.
And I think that if you have a desire to
have people come here, then you find a
way to make them leave. And that has
been our position all along and that has
been our position on record and it's
been well documented.
So, Brigantine City then will adhere to
federal law that has to do with turning
over any illegal, especially crime,
people involved with crimes, turn them
over to the federal officials as is
required by federal law. Are is that
being done here in Atlanta County?
>> So, I will tell you that I can't speak
on behalf of the police department
because I can't make them do anything.
That is something that is up to the
chief. What I will come back to say is
what this council says is that when it
comes to the federal government, they
need to have a clear policy on having
people come to this country legally and
we are on record for that and I've said
that many times. We still stand behind
that behind we still stand behind that
position.
So I understand what we're trying to do
but we're not going to get into the
middle of political battles right now.
We are focused on Brigantine and what
Brigantine does. our position on the
federal government. They should have a
clear policy on how people legally come
into this country so that when people
come here, they can be fully
infranchised and enjoy everything that
Brigantine has to offer.
>> That clear policy then I do believe that
Governor Shapiro is following that.
>> Sorry, I can't speak for other states.
So, I I understand. So, I want to say I
understand and respect where you're
coming from, but I'm going to say I
can't speak on behalf of other states. I
don't know what's happening in
Pennsylvania. I don't know what's
happening in New York. I can tell you
that our policy and our statement here
is that on the federal level, they need
to come up with some plan or some policy
so people are able to come here legally
so we don't end up in the exact
situation that you're concerned about.
So, that's something that needs to
change on the federal level. We do not
deal with immigration policy at the
local level. I will tell you that our
police will always follow the law. I
know they do a great job, but I can't
order them to do things. That is the job
of the chief.
Larry Krasner has specifically said that
Philadelphia is not going to go
according to the federal laws. I hope
that that's being done here in Atlantic
County and Brigantine City. Um anyway,
someone has to speak up. I speak for
myself. That's my concern and I'm sure I
speak for many people that want to make
sure that we here in Rickine City are
not a sanctuary city.
>> Right.
>> Thank you.
>> Yep.
John Johnson.
>> Thank you, Ed.
All said,
>> John Johnson, 36 Cokeill Beach Drive. Uh
number one, congratulations to Chief
Ward. many successful years. John During
and your crew, I was out early Monday
morning. Major Roads and Briotine were
excellent. Thank you and your crew for
doing such a great job. Karen, you just
said that credit cards will be accepted
at the community center. Is there a
premium price added to using a credit
card?
Yeah. So, like all credit card vendors,
there is a small fee. I couldn't tell
you what the fee is off top of my head,
but there is a processing fee that the
uh that the city doesn't charge, but the
vendor that we the credit card company
charges.
>> Okay.
And regarding our new governor, Mikey
Cheryl, she campaigned to freeze the
utility bills the first day,
but I've been involved. And the reality
is she didn't go far enough. So, she
froze utility companies from raising the
rate.
myself and many of my friends buy
electricity through a third party at a
discounted rate to Atlantic City.
However, all third parties are not
affected by not raising your rate. If
you are a true utility, you are
restricted. But if you are a third
party, the sky's the limit. So, poor job
on her part. another Democratic bad
decision with a lot of talk involved but
doesn't affect the majority.
My next thing is I know we're in
Briotine
but for over a month when I'm outside of
Brigotine and coming home on the White
Horse Pike Route 30 once you get to the
Home Depot
the overhead lighting on both sides of
the road is blacked out. So I think I
don't know who the right person to
contact is, what state agency, what
senator. So I'm asking city council to
take action in behalf of the safety of
the people that come back home at night
on Route 30 because from the Home Depot,
it's unsafe. No lights are lit. I was
there again last night and from before
Christmas till now, whenever I'm off,
it's no lighting. So in public safety,
please reach out to who the right person
would be. Thank you.
>> Yeah, I believe our acting chief ward is
going to reach out.
Thank you.
If there's no other public comment, I
close the public portion.
Uh any final council comments?
All right, seeing none, can we have a
motion and second to adjurnn?
>> Like that motion?
>> All in favor? I. Any oppos? Seeing none,
motion pass. Thank you for coming out,
watching your council team at work.