City of Brigantine's Personal Meeting Room

I'd like to welcome everybody to our
October 1st Burgine City Council
meeting. Please rise for the flag
salute.
Heavenly Father, we come to you today
asking for your guidance, wisdom, and
support as we get begin this meeting.
Help us engage in meaningful discussion.
Allow us to grow closer as a group and
nurture the bonds of our community. Many
of our friends and neighbors are
celebrating Yamapour this week. We ask
that you hear their prayers and that you
shower them with beautiful blessings. In
your name we pray. Amen. Thank you.
>> The open public meetings act
announcement.
Thank you.
>> Struggling a little. That's all right,
though. It's got me. We got it. Uh,
first of all, I'd like to welcome the
Msino family here. I'd like to welcome
Chief Emtt, Assistant Chief Murell, all
of our officers, our lifeguards, uh, for
a very, very special day here in
Brigantine. Uh, today we want to honor
Captain Fran Msino for his 46 years of
service to the Brigantine Beach Patrol.
And I will tell you, Fran is probably
one of the most legendary lifeguards to
ever serve on the beach patrol,
honestly. Um,
I even wore my orange for you, friend. I
got my orange tie, orange socks. And uh
something I think is really important,
like we have a huge award on the Beach
Patrol called the Orange Pride Award,
and every time I think of Orange Pride,
I think of Friends, you know. Uh Fran
definitely orange. Uh he is the
cheerleader on the Beach Patrol. He is
the keeper of like the history. And I
think one of the things is he's always
so enthusiastic about everything he
does. Probably one of my earliest
memories of Fran is uh being a rookie.
We're coming up on the South jerseys and
we're at a meeting. I hear this like
music and I'm like, "What is that?" And
it's getting louder and it's getting all
of a sudden this truck drives off the
beach with a full band in the back of
the truck and there's Fran up on top
singing and belting out a song and an
incredible parody of the success that
the Beach Patrol is going to have in the
race. And I think it's something that I
look forward to every single year. Um,
and I know when he talked that song uh,
born to run will forever in my mind be
born to guard, you know, and Fran was
uh, my direct lieutenant uh, when I was
on the beach patrol and he did a great
job with that. I think Fran always made
sure that he took care of the people he
was responsible for and he was really
good, I want to say, with discipline.
Um, I know there was an instance where I
may or may not have crashed a boat on
the beach into a sandbar and there may
or may not have been some damage to that
boat. And um, after I called it in, had
the log happen, Fran came down instead
of being upset or being mad. He's like,
"Tell me what happened. What's the
story?" And I explained to him what was
going on and what what had happened and
how it happened. And he said, "Look,
Vince," he goes, "I appreciate how hard
you train. I appreciate that you want to
be a great racer and you're pushing
these boats to the limit of what they
can do and in this case maybe a little
beyond it. He goes, "But we're not just
here about racing.
We're here to save lives and we need to
take care of our equipment." He's like,
"And you got to have a balance of both.
Push yourself hard, but be smart in what
you do because this job depends on
having good equipment." And he's like,
"Is that understood?" I was like, "Yeah,
absolutely." And he goes, "Now you're
grounded for two weeks. No rowing.
And it's funny how you have those like
key moments that stick with you,
especially when you're young, you know,
and even though that's a conversation
where I expected to get yelled at,
expected to be upset, expected to be in
trouble, how friend handled it taught me
responsibility. And I think that's
something that we do a great job of on
the beach patrol, especially from all
our all of our lieutenants, all of our
officers, because we deal with a lot of
young people in the beach patrol, and
our responsibility is to raise them up
so they make good choices. And I know
Fran did that to for me and I know in
the 20 years I was on the beach patrol,
Fran did that for everyone out there. So
we're very very proud of all of you done
for the city and I know I hope you come
back and visit all the time because I
will miss you and you do need to sing
more songs for us because I miss that
very much.
>> What's up?
>> Beautiful. I love it. So I have a
proclamation on behalf of city council.
It says uh Captain Francis Msino was a
little formal. I felt funny. But Captain
Francis Msino is being honored on the
occasion of his retirement after
completing an extraordinary 46 seasons
of dedicated service with the Brigantine
Beach Patrol. Whereas Fran spent his
childhood summers in Brigantine working
as a mascot before officially joining
the ranks of the lifeguards in 1980.
truly living up to the phrase born to
guard. He was awarded lifeguard of the
year in 1994, promoted to lieutenant in
2000, and earned the title of senior
lieutenant in 2004, which later
transitioned to captain, although many
still affectionately called him by his
nickname, Franny Lane.
Fran has long been an unofficial
historian of the Brigintine Beast
Patrol, sharing stories from its past,
keeping alive its traditions and pride
while also serving as an immense and
countless events and races and bringing
humor, energy, and spirit to the Beach
Patrol community. For 46 years, Fran has
been a constant presence on the
Brigantine Beach Patrol, sharing his
knowledge and stories with um Got to
start wearing glasses. with generations
of guards riding waves of each season
with enthusiasm all while remaining
devoted to the safety of his community
that he served so proudly displaying his
orange pride. Now therefore I Vince
Sarah mayor of the city of Brigantine on
behalf of the Brigantine city beach
patrol and the people of the city of
Brigantine do hereby commend and
recognize Captain Fran Bsino for his
outstanding and exceptional service to
the city of Brigantine. Fran, thank you
very much.
First of all, I want to thank mayor and
council for this. Uh it's been an
incredible 46 years. Uh a lot of people
on council they had a direct connection
to the beach patrol. Mayor Sarah Vince
was I was his direct supervisor. I
didn't ground him for two weeks because
it was too close to the South Jerseys
which I think you guys got second that
year and it was always an honor cheering
for the guys and girls on the beach
patrol. Um but thank you to mayor and
council city manager
Tiger. Thank you. Uh, it's it's great to
see the Chiefs here. Paul was a Seventh
Street Beach guy just like I was. It's
great seeing Rich John always. We always
had great equipment on the beach because
John made sure we had the best. I'd like
to thank a couple people in particular.
Uh, my grandparents who trek down from
South Philly one day to visit friends in
1952 and purchased a house while
everybody else in our family was going
to North Wildwood. We stayed true to uh
to bringing te New Jersey. Best of both
worlds. grew up in South Philly during
the winters bring a team every summer
and it will be every summer for the rest
of my life. Uh my sisters for coming out
my sons for being here my beautiful wife
for always being there for me. It's been
an honor uh my brothers and sisters on
the beach patrol especially uh the three
chiefs captains I served under the
legendary Jim King who exemplified
orange pride and who told me one day
Frank go back to school get your
teachers license. So I did and here I am
I guess that geez that was a long time
ago. Uh Chief Joe Gunther who I always
say was just maybe the nicest guy I ever
met in my life recommended me for
promotion a few times. And of course
Chief Emmy Kip I love you brother. I'm
always honored that the first day you
ever worked as a lifeguard I was your
senior guard and I got there almost on
time. And uh but yeah it's a great job.
What people say it's the best job I'll
ever have. It is. I had the opportunity
of running with Ryan before she was a
runner and I had an opportunity of DJing
some people's weddings in this room
through lifeguarding and they were
blasts. I'm not going to tell too many
stories, but hey, one day, you know, if
I ever see, you can ask me some things
that I can tell you. But thank you to
everyone who truly loves our island, who
truly loves Bring a Team. And uh to
everyone,
I would be remiss if I didn't mention
the legend himself, Assistant Chief
Morell. I was his mascot. And as as as
my current boss during the winter, Phil
Gunther says, Dr. Gunther says, "You
were Morel's mascot, not mine." But
yeah, I was. And I I learned a lot from
Mike, I could say. And I really did.
Thanks for teaching me how to row. I'll
never forget that. And uh all my
brothers and sisters on the beach
patrol, present, past, and future. We're
not going anywhere. I'll be down Seventh
Street Beach and I'll be at the cove and
maybe I'll learn how to surf finally and
go to the jetty. Okay. And of course, I
mean, I wish my parents were here. Uh
they took us to the beach all the time.
And one rule we had, we could never swim
when the lifeguards weren't there. And
that was one thing. I guess I'll go back
to that now, guys. Unless lifeguards are
around, we're not going to the ocean.
But thank you, guys. God bless everyone.
And uh born a guard. Let's bring home
the South Jerseys again. All right.
It'll be great. God bless. Bravo.
Randy, do you mind if we get a picture
with the two? And then I actually want a
picture with the beach patrol as well.
City council, you guys.
Let's
see.
Pleasure.
[Music]
>> Yes. Thank you. Thank you.
Yes,
sucks.
Tag, we have an executive session
tonight.
>> Yes, mayor. We do have an executive
session.
>> Uh, attorney client privilege and uh
contract negotiations.
>> Can you read the resolution for
executive session?
All in favor? Any oppos?
Pass. Back. Public.
out of this.
We have a motion.
George.
>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. We discussed
several items.
September 17, 2025 council meeting
minutes.
>> Questions and comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
requisition list.
Questions or comments?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Up next, we have public comment. This is
on agenda items only. Anybody wishing to
be heard about anything on the agenda,
please come up and state your name and
address for the record. Yes.
John Johnson, 36 Coil Beach Drive, and
my question is resolution 219
headline replacement phase 9 and 10.
Would you please tell me what nine and
10 actually is
>> specifications or what it
>> what it actually is? Phase 9 and 10.
>> Yeah. So phase 9 and 10 are areas of the
island that we think built after it's
1985. After 1985, we have to verif. So,
basically what we're going to do is um
we'll have a contractor go out, they
have to dig test pits. They'll randomly
sample in those areas, test pits. If it
shows up that majority of those
properties are compliant with the new
standards, then we can actually
eliminate both of those areas off. And
this is a regulation, I guess, through
the state of New Jersey that we have to
do. So that digging of a pit uh would be
inside the curb line on the owner's
property.
>> Yes. Okay.
I understand that. Thank you.
>> Stand on the public comment. Close the
public portion.
Uh we have resolution 2025-219
and this is a contract with route 24
plumbing lead line replacement bases 9
and10. This is the amount of $997,947.
Have a motion second.
I can see we just talked about this. Uh
just to give a little more follow up on
this. We're in a process now working to
eliminate properties on the island that
are already compliant, don't need to
have the lines replaced. So, we're
working through that. We've done all we
can by going through records and looking
at plans. Now, we're going out and
digging physical test bits to go out and
look at those lines of properties. Uh
once that's completed, we'll have a
better idea of where we are in November.
We're going to be building probably in
November.
this project moves and changes a lot. We
anticipate that sometime in November
meeting at that time we should have more
information on the project and more
specifics on the project. I think one of
the challenging things with this is it
work on this for a few years now but it
continues changes. Um this is something
that's major for every municipality.
We're all kind of learning as we know
it. We anticipate that by November we'll
have a better handle on the project.
Trying to get a better idea of what the
costs are going to be especially for
rateayers. We're hoping to be able to
have that at that meeting. Uh so we'll
be able to share more then once we have
that public meeting and have
information. We anticipate going out to
bid construction on the first phase or
phases of the project. We want to make
sure we have that information. Um, we're
not sure financially how it works out
yet. We're still putting all the numbers
together, especially with high bank
funding. So, there's a lot with the
state of New Jersey that we have to make
sure we have correct. We want to make
sure that that's out there. Uh, we have
a company right now, H2M, is uh helping
us with the educational side of it. Uh,
so they're putting together a website
for us. It's going to have information,
informationational packages. There'll be
an um interactive map. So once this map
is available, you'll be able to go
online. You can click my understanding.
You can click on your property, see
where that falls. And we're trying to
make sure that we get as much
information out to the public as
possible. We felt it was important to
hire a professional company dedicated
towards this so we can make sure that we
get true and accurate information out to
the public. Um, our staff here does a
really good job, but there's only so
much you can do to make sure that we had
someone who's dedicated to get that
information out.
public is fully aware and has full
access to that information as we know
it. What's good with the company is as
information changes or as we learn
things, the company will be able to
update the website and get that accurate
changed information out to the public.
So, we will keep everybody posted as we
go through. Um, the biggest thing is,
you know, it'll be different phases over
a series of years. Um, so we'll keep
people up to date through that process
as we
are there any questions or comments from
council?
>> Seeing none, can we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Rean,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Motion carry.
>> We have resolution 2025-220.
And this is a resolution authorizing
application to hazardous discharge site
remediation fund. This is for our This
is part of the process through Green
Acres for our Eastore playground that
we're working on. We have a motion to
second
questions or comments
that has to be done.
>> It's it's just part of the process to
verify that there's no hazardous
contaminants there. So, this is like
that first step.
We have roll.
>> Yes.
>> Rearen.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2025-221.
and resolutions to affirm the city of
Brigantine civil rights policy with
respect to all officials, appointees,
employees, uh, prospective employees,
volunteers, independent contractors,
members of the public come into contact
with municipal employees, officials, and
volunteers. Have a motion. Second
question or comments. Seeing none, may
have roll.
>> Yes.
Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Motion carries.
>> Resolution 2025-22.
This is a resolution by the city of New
Jersey authorizing contract for LP for
the purchase of residential heater pits,
lids, and curb stop boxes. This is the
amount of 17,950.
Second.
Questions or comments? Seeing none.
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> Rear.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2025-223.
This is tax overpayment refunds. Have a
motion. Second.
>> Questions or comments. Seeing none.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 220. Sorry. Resolution
2025-24
second
>> question comments seeing none we have
roll call
>> yes
>> mayor
>> yes
>> car
>> resolution 2025-225
this is a resolution by the city of
brickine jersey of authorizing board of
contract middle town sprinklers company
for irrigation at Briglinks for holes 10
through 18 New Jersey. This is in the
amount of 1,839,450
motion second.
Questions or comments?
I think one of the important things is
uh this is a project that definitely
needs to get done. did the front nine
this year,
finish up the back nine. Now, uh to put
this in perspective, back in 2024, we
had 15 breaks in our irrigation system.
Um the irrigation system is probably 20
years past life expectancy. It's more
than anything. Uh as PCB pipe gets old,
it gets brittle. When the pressure comes
up, it blasts the pipes. I believe we
witnessed it happen. It's becoming more
expensive to
had just put system for any golf course.
Probably one of the most important
things you need is a good functioning
irrigation system to make sure grass
nice. So, um we're continuing with that
investment. Some of the parts they don't
even
>> Yeah, some of the parts
work out.
Thank you. Yeah.
So we don't
there's no questions or comments. We
have roll callig
that's no retrofitting like essentially
no retrofitting of any sorts going on.
It's all new equipment all old all new
equipment everything is getting replaced
everything and regularly these things
they're they're seven figures whether it
be a 9hole course 18ole B. So,
thank you.
>> Yeah, we we split it up over two tax
years.
So, that's we split it up over two tax
years to keep the expenses under
control. So that's why we did um
recommendations for people in the
industry says that it makes sense to
other questions and comments.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2025-226.
And this is a resolution authorizing the
contract with hydro design incorporated
for construction management. This is
phase two of the golf course irrigation
system and this is the amount not to
exceed 29,5
questions or comments. at the same time.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2025-227.
This is a resolution authorizing the
mayor and city manager to execute
application Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection. And I believe
this is this is for the Washington Drive
sanitary sewer extension.
We have a motion second.
questions and comments. Seeing none, we
have roll.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes.
>> We have our consent agenda. We have our
St. Thomas raffle license numbers 1126
and number 127
Veteran State.
We have a motion second.
Question, comments. See? Do we have roll
call? Yes,
>> except we have our council council
manager committee discussions.
>> I just have one thing I'd like to bring
up. Uh I'd like to publicly congratulate
my deputy manager Ryan Hurst. She
graduated on Friday through Ruckers
University uh the certified public
managers course which she has been
attending in Atlantic City for over nine
months 10 months. Uh she completed the
course in August and uh got her
certificate. So that's a very very
demanding course and uh super proud of
her and could not do this job without
her. So
>> I know Tiger Uh we both got to watch her
do her final presentation for her course
and very very impressive. Outstanding
job.
public
Sunday, Thursday.
Thanks. Uh Johnny, correct me if I'm
wrong. I believe this is last week for
our dirt pick up.
>> Good.
last
season. Um, on Thursday, October 16th, I
will be hosting a local session to
assist seniors in filling out their
property tax applications. This will
cover the New Jersey anchor program and
the senior tax freeze. Representatives
from the office of Senator Vitz
Palestina, Assemblyman Don Guardian, and
Assemblywoman Claire Swift will be at
CER from 10 to 2 on the 16th to help
this complicated process. Please, if you
come and join us, it's going to be paper
and it's all over social media. You'll
have to bring your photo ID, your social
security card, your 2023 and 24 tax
return, and your 2023 and 24 property
tax bill. This is the form that was
mailed out by the state back in the
spring, late spring. If you do not have
it, they will have extra books for them.
uh they will these representatives will
be bringing laptops with them. They will
help you to fill it out on online or if
you still want to just do it by paper
and you can do the forms are in the
booklet. This is due by Halloween.
This is on 16 at the CPR.
Also, bring on block was a huge success.
I want to thank the green team for
having this vision and organizing 300
people seated at a one long table down
the middle of uh 15th Street. It was
absolutely awesome to see everybody
there
all dressed completely white head to
toe. It was a great event. weather.
They're cooperative for us and they they
are promising.
That's it.
Congrats again to Ryan. It's great news.
Great to hear. Also to Cena 26 years. My
goodness.
Good for him, good for his family, and
he'll be around, but he'll be missing a
lot just the same.
So, basically, just a couple notes on
the fall. Uh, our
local businesses been kind of, uh, busy,
I guess, with the Phillies and the
Eagles and, uh, just good luck to our
regional teams.
your talent.
Thank you.
I participated in
after dark glow
Saturday night and it was even though it
was rain
but to you tiger as well.
It was the first time I played on it
decorations that she wrote in
spectacular. We really have something
there
like you got to come down. So great job
and it's uh this is going to be
something I think
This is one.
want to thank everybody for coming out
tonight, spend some time here
concerns.
So,
cultural arts commission had their arts
uh arts festival last month. fabulous
local artists.
The economic development
see
But uh Chamber of Commerce been doing
great stuff. This Sunday is the last
tailgate on the beach at one o'clock.
Eagles playing the Denver. So it should
be a good win for us J. But uh you know
it's uh that's that.
So I suppose
they had a community prayer vigil this
past week. All religious organizations
came together on the island.
the leaders wants
appreciation to public works and police
for
park
being told
and then
about 50 or Right.
I guess also if you haven't heard it's
horseback riding season again
for sale and so if you got your horses
and ponies ready saddle up
>> mayor, can I just clarify because I did
get a text uh season starts November 1.
So just because I did get a text today
somebody was adverts
the island to help businesses and our
chambers great job. Mark touched on this
a little bit
like we're investing back in this
community and a lot of that work getting
done
and I think it's a good
lot of governing bodies that fight over
politics over
gain.
It's something that's very very special
and I think very
people that are care about this. So, I
just want to say it's beautiful. Proud
of the work we're getting done. It's
just the beginning.
At this time, I'd like to open it up for
public comment. Anybody wishing to be
heard, please come up and state your
name. Just for the record,
John Johnson, 36 Coil Beach Drive.
And I just wanted to publicly thank
John Doring for his aid to me and
others. I live in Cokeill Beach and
behind all the houses, it's a fire
access and concrete walkways and
probably every 50 feet there's Atlantic
City electric light pole. Over a year
I've called, complained, emailed
countless times. Three or four of my
other neighbors have done the same.
Everybody reached out to someone they
thought could help. And about five weeks
ago, I go, "Hey, why don't you call up
John?" I called him up. He investigated
the situation. And last week, it got
fixed. So, John, you did something no
one else. And it was loads of people
that were requested to help us. Thank
you. You're the best.
Proud to be in Brigity. The whole city
operates with We want to help you and
I'm be here. Thank you.
>> Hi, William 43 Road. Uh just uh I was
here last week and just wanted to make a
public comment and I haven't been paying
attention to these these meetings for
probably over 15 years now. Um but I
noticed that there was probably less
people than there are here tonight uh
here last week and I was just wondering
because I got that feeling when I have
to say my house number. Does anybody get
discouraged with coming in to make a
public comment because they have to give
their house address? With today's
climate with the the politics and all
that, the violence that's associated in
Atlantic City when they do their um word
meetings for the um the school board,
they have a signin sheet for anybody
that wants to do a public comment. They
just sign it, put their name, other
information they require. Is that
something that could happen here? And
then just when they come up to make a
comment at the microphone, maybe just
their first name and the street that
they live on, just
might be a little bit anxious about
coming down and getting their address on
because this is going online, right?
>> Yeah.
So I don't
>> even do public
>> but then someone could someone could
come in or at least then they got to
make an over public records request and
then you can at least track and see if
anyone's doing anything nefarious. I
kind of got worried I didn't see Mrs.
Phillips here last week saw her
throughout the week and that's what kind
of got me thinking that people might get
discouraged.
>> Yeah, something
>> it's no big deal but just the just
assistant psychology
treasure here.
That's all I
handicap ramp down at the seaw wall.
They said they weren't going to redo the
concrete one if they did it out of wood.
If it does, if there was any kind of
settling or anything, would the wood
flex or at least go with the
disruption or settlement down there?
>> I don't know. You guys had said
something last week about eliminating
that ramp down there cuz the concrete
crack uh cracked.
>> If they were doing wood steps, could
they do a wood ramp?
Any
final council comments?
>> Seeing none, we have a motion and second
to adjurnn.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Seeing none. Motion pass. Thank you for
coming out.