City of Brigantine's Personal Meeting Room

What's happening?
Guys, ready? I'd like to welcome
everybody to our March 4th city council
meeting. Please rise for the flag
salute.
remaining
prayer.
>> Heavenly Father, we come together
longing for peace in our world. Where
there is hatred, bring love. Where there
is violence, bring healing. Where there
is division, bring understanding.
Comfort those who suffer. Guide our
leaders with wisdom. Make us instruments
of peace in our homes, our communities,
and across the world. In your name we
pray. Amen.
>> Please be seated.
>> And can you read the open public
meetings act announcement?
>> Notice that this meeting has been
provided as required by the open public
meetings act.
Up down.
Sorry, technical difficulties.
All right. Well, they're figuring that
out. We're good. I'd like to welcome all
of our students and all of our families
here tonight to Bridgetine City Council
meeting uh to honor our Noodle Mania
team. I can tell you I know the kids
work very very hard for this and study
and it's an incredible competition. Uh
you see the kids competing against 24
different teams and the depth of
knowledge that they need to know to be
successful is really impressive. I know
over the last few years they've been
successful in getting this best
sportsmanship uh best dance team and uh
most school spirit and I think this year
they were able to take third place
overall which is an incredible comp uh
accomplishment in that competition. So
on behalf of the city we're very proud
of you. I think you guys need a big
round of applause.
I think it's an incredible example of um
all the great things that are going on
within our school. There's a lot of good
things going on there. There's a lot of
teachers who really care about our
students and I think probably the number
one most important thing is the
families. You can't find success,
especially as a young person. It makes
it very challenging if you don't have
the love and support of your family. So
for all the families out there, thank
you for all you do. And for uh Miss Amy
Seaman, I know how hard you work over at
the school and especially with the team.
I know one of my daughter's favorite
things at school is being on the think
day team. And um so many kids that I
hear talk about how much fun that you
make class what an incredible teacher
you are. So we're very proud of you and
all you do for the students. So Andy,
thank you.
So, when I call your names, if you guys
could come up and um stay up here for a
picture or two, but we're going to
present you with your certificate from
the city. We have uh Dalton Palmer,
Isa,
she's very sweet. She was going to give
it back.
Nell Kennedy,
Adam Har,
Claire Cooker,
Luca Anton
and Miss Amy Se.
>> Actually, council, if you guys don't
mind, can we come take a picture with
all the students?
>> Absolutely.
That's
great.
Terrorist
take a Five minute recess motion.
Second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Any oppos? See none. We're going to take
a fiveminute recess. People want to take
pictures, come hang out. We'll give you
guys some time.
Likewise, you don't
Hey, get up there.
>> Got the dab.
You can do it. Do it.
>> Doing the microphone.
>> Does it work?
>> Yes.
>> Wait, does it
>> Do it. Do it.
>> Order in the court.
>> Order.
>> Thomas, my daughter
>> is accused of being.
>> If anybody, please say I.
>> Off with his head.
>> Yeah. All in favor? All in favor of
going HOME RIGHT NOW?
>> YEAH. LET'S DO IT.
>> CLOSER TO A TURN. OKAY.
>> On to the cold. Let's go.
>> Yeah.
>> Let's go. Ice cream.
>> That was great.
>> That is
fun forever.
>> That was right here.
>> That was worth that. We'll get that on
the front page of the times.
>> Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Get these pictures.
worked on 65. So, six
Oh my god. Okay. Hi, Tiger. How are you?
We're getting a picture.
How are you? Good. How are you?
Oh, it's good.
>> Come on, drag this one out.
>> Great job.
>> Thanks,
I'm getting ready.
>> Is that
All
right. Do we have a motion and second to
resume the meeting? I'll make that
motion.
>> All in favor? I. Any opposed? Seeing
none, we're going to resume the meeting.
Tiger, executive session.
>> No executive session there.
>> We need approval for our February 18th,
2026 Burggantine City Council meeting
minutes. Motion
>> second.
>> I got a motion second. Uh questions or
comments? Seeing none, can we have roll
call?
Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Kane,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Approval of our bill requisition list.
We have a motion. Second.
>> So, I'll make the motion.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have a roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> This time we'll open it up for public
comment. This is on any agenda item.
Anybody wishing to be heard from the
public, please come up. State your name
and address for the record. Seeing no
public comment, we're going to close the
public comment.
Uh first up, we have our public hearing
and adoption for the following
ordinances. We have uh ordinance number
two of 2026. This is an ordinance of the
city of Brigantine, County of Atlantic,
state of New Jersey, repealing and
replacing article 1, chapter 85-1
through 85-22, title affordable housing
in the code of the city of Brigantine.
We have a motion and second move.
>> Second. This time we'll open it up for a
public hearing. Anybody wishing to be
heard from the public? Seeing no public
participation, close the public portion.
Any council comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Amy,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Ordinance number three of 2026. This is
an ordinance of the city of Brigantine
County Atlantic State of New Jersey
amending article 6 chapter 85 through 24
85-25 and 85-26 title affordable housing
overlay in the code of the city of
Brigantine. Have a motion and second.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> At this time we'll open it up for a
public hearing. Anybody wishing to be
heard, please come up. State your name
and address for the record.
Seeing no public participation, we're
going to close the public portion. Any
council comments?
Seeing none, can we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Ordinance number four of 2026. This is
an ordinance of the city of Brigantine
Council, City of Brigantine, County of
Atlantic, State of New Jersey, amending
chapter 198, article 6, section 198-50.1
titled affordable housing overlay B1
zone, section 198-51.3
titled affordable housing overlay B1A
and section 198-54
titled affordable housing overlay P3
zone home in the code of the city of
Brigant team. We have a motion and
second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> At this time, we'll open it up for
public hearing. Anybody wishing to be
heard of this ordinance, please come up.
State your name and address for the
record. Seeing no public participation,
we're going to close the public portion.
Any council comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
Ordinance number five of 2026. This is
an ordinance of the city of Brigantine
County of Atlantic stated New Jersey
repealing and replacing chapter 150
sections 150-1 through 150-10
development fees in the code of the city
of Brigantine. You have a motion and
second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> This time we'll open it up for a public
hearing. Anybody wishing to be heard,
uh, please state come up and state your
name and address for the record. Seeing
no public participation, we're going to
close the public portion. Any council
comments? Seeing none, can we have roll
call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> All right. We have resolution
2026-74.
This is a resolution adopting the
spending plan pursuant to the fourth
round affordable housing compliance. We
have a motion and second move.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Julia,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes.
>> We have resolution 2026-75.
This is a resolution endorsing the
amended fourth round housing element
fair share plan. The motion second.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Julia,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-76.
This is a resolution adopting the
affirmative market manual pursuant to
the fourth round affordable housing
compliance with a motion. Second
>> second.
>> Questions or comments?
>> Seeing none, we have roll call.
>> Yes.
>> Julio,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-77.
This is a resolution authorizing the
implementation and expenditures for
affordable housing assistance program.
Have a motion and second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-78.
This is a resolution authorizing the
board of contract for professional
property appraisals, Inc. for tax appeal
and consulting. This is the amount of
not to exceed 19,000. Have a motion.
Second move.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments?
>> Seeing none, can we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Julio,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-79.
This is a resolution authorizing a
contract with Knox company for security
for security safe and system for the
fire department. This is the amount of
$13,641.
Motion second.
>> So move second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Julio,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-80.
This is a resolution authorizing the tax
collector to issue refunds. We have a
motion second.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes.
>> Terry,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Julio,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> She carried.
>> Resolution 2026-81.
This is a resolution authorizing the
board of contract to Fred Habone
Construction, Inc. for check valve
insulation at six storm water outfall
pipes not to exceed 79,350.
Motion second. So move.
>> Second.
>> Uh big part of this is our flood
resiliency. Uh public works has been
working really hard at keeping water off
the island. These check valves will
definitely add to that. It's been a
great program that we've had in place.
Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes. Terry?
>> Yes.
Julio.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Tiger was no there.
>> 2020. Uh, so we have resolution 2026-82.
This is a resolution authorizing the
award of contract to Lexia Concrete LLC
for the CDBG pedestrian improvements to
West Beach Avenue and Roosevelt
Boulevard. This is in a not to exceed
amount of $197,525.
We have a motion and second.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes. Terry,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Julio,
>> yes.
>> Kay,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-83.
This is a resolution authorizing the
board of contract to Fred Shabone
Construction, Inc. for parking lot
repair and line striping in various
locations not to exceed $54,950.
Motion second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Questions or comments?
>> Seeing none, we have roll call.
>> Yes.
>> Resolution 2026-8.
Sorry. Resolution number 84 of 2026.
This is a resolution supporting the
Senate resolution number 106
uh to determine that the NJ's proposed
coastal regulations are inconsistent
with legislative intent. Have a motion
and second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> And for people who aren't familiar, this
has to do with NJPAC New Jersey real
regulations. And this is where the
state's coming in and trying to change
the flood elevations for the homes. Put
a bunch of regulations in place. This
was signed into law by Murphy on
literally his last day of office. One of
the major issues with these regulations
that they didn't follow the proper
legislative path. There's a number of
counties that have filed litigation
against the state. Uh this is a
bipartisan bill sponsored by both
Republicans and Democrats calling on the
governor, our new governor to recall
this and either take it through the
proper pro process or move in a
different direction.
All right. Uh questions or comments?
Seeing none, can we have roll call?
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> Yes.
>> All right. Next up, we have our consent
agenda. This is for the women's surf
fishing tournament. June 6, 2026. The
2026 opening day parade for Brigantine
baseball and softball on April 18, 2026.
St. Patrick's Day parade, March 14th,
2026. Elks raffle license number 1142.
Temple Beth Shalom raffle license
numbers 1143 and 1144 and Elks raffle
license number 1145. We have a motion
second.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can
we have roll call?
>> Yes. Terry,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Julio,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Sarah,
>> yes.
>> All right. So, we're going to open up
for uh public um sorry, our council
manager committee discussions. turn.
>> Hi, Mayor. Um, I'd like to uh recognize
um some crews and some teams and some
individuals for what they did with this
past storm, this blizzard that we had.
Um haven't had a storm like this in a
long time. And our public works, fire
department, police department, they
really all came together as a unified
group to make sure that the island was
was kept safe. Um could have been a lot
worse. I know our public works crews
when I met with them on Tuesday around
lunchtime at the community center, some
of those guys were going on 30 plus
hours straight of uh working and in the
plow trucks and uh trying to keep the
streets as clear as possible. Um
obviously this was a wind driven event
as uh we have frequently but not with
that much snow. Um, so they were very
busy keeping the main arteries open so
our police and fire could, you know, get
off the island if the fire need to go to
the uh take patients to the hospital and
uh as they clear turn around, they have
to do it again because it was already
covered up again. Um,
uh, Kristen down CER along with Jen Zuba
uh, getting that opened up as a warming
center because it was a lot of
properties without power. Um, and of
course, police and fire who were out
responding. And, uh, but I really want
to highlight uh, Jen Zuba, who is here.
Uh, this she just became our emergency
management coordinator uh, as as the
lead. She was our deputy for a while.
Now, she's our our lead uh, on January
1. And, uh, in in the last two months of
hers, we've had multiple events that
where we've relied on emergency
management. And I have to say, uh, she
did an amazing job. Absolutely
phenomenal job. So, I'd like to publicly
thank you for all the hard work you're
doing down there. You're doing great.
>> And I know she's going to give uh she
asked to come to the meeting tonight
just to give a couple minutes. What you
said 30 minutes with the presentation
you had. Uh, you know, a couple minutes
just to go over uh what she saw from her
end. Uh, so when we get down there, I'm
looking forward to hearing what she has
to say, but thank you again.
>> Again, I just want to echo Tiger's uh
comments, too. I think uh public works
did an outstanding job with the storm.
You know, John, thank you for everything
that you've done, everything that your
department did. It's not easy dealing
with a storm like this. You guys did a
great job. Um, same thing I know with uh
police, fire, OEM, outstanding job here
in the island. Very, very proud of
everyone. And I know I heard from a lot
of people who actually ended up using
the community center as a warming
station. Uh power was out on the island.
I think at one point we had over 1,600
homes without power and um some people
were out for more than 48 hours and
having the community center open. I know
that all of you guys worked to
coordinate that especially with our um
staff down at the community center. It
was a lifesaver. And uh a couple of
emails and some good stuff up on uh
social media about how grateful people
were and how incredible our staff was
just making people feel comfortable
having place to go while they waited for
the electricity to come back on. So
thank you all very much.
Turn it over.
Absolutely.
>> So from the OEM side, you guys basically
touched on most of my talking points. Um
but from the OEM standpoint, we were the
coordination hub um to especially where
it came with the situational needs where
it extended beyond the capabilities of
what the typical response was for
police, fire, public works. OEM was
basically the catchall. Um our focus was
maintaining continuity of operations,
the situational awareness. um putting
that out to all the department heads and
the officers in charge and just that
continuous interdep departmental
communications making sure we were all
on the same page. Uh in addition to the
warming center, our EOC was open um from
1:00 p.m. Sunday through 900 p.m.
Wednesday night and during that time we
addressed also residential concerns for
the snow removal and power outages. In
total, uh OEM has 110 manh hours in
counting. Uh because now that we're in
the recovery phase, we just finished
submitting our public disaster uh
assessment for the damage during the
storm for the uh what they call the
category B for snow removal uh to see if
we can get a disaster declaration. Uh
and other than that, we coordinated with
police fire to have residents come out
of their houses where they couldn't
because of the snow. And we partnered
with Acme, Wawa North, and Lassana. uh
they supported our logistical needs um
through the storm. So just thank you to
John Doring Chiefs. Um you guys are
great. So thank you Tiger.
>> Jen again thank you for all you did. I
think this storm really kind of showed
two things like one how important that
OEM position is and two I think it
really was a incredible opportunity to
see the leadership that you had through
that storm too. So thank you very much.
Um, I'd like to just uh add on to all
these comments. Thank you to John Doran
and his crew PD for helping us out. Um,
we had to respond and get into these
houses. Um, we responded to in 24 hours
responded to dozens of calls. Um,
several EMS calls, uh, many wire related
calls and, uh, those due to the power
outages that we had. So um and many
times
two or three calls at a time we were
going out. So this was many many calls
in in just a short amount of time. Um
but it was uh thanks to special thanks
to John and his guys in the plows
because they're the ones that if they
can't get us through, we can't get there
to do our job. Um, and thanks to Chief
Ward and and his guys because once we do
get to the call, we need help getting in
the houses. These these places are
heavy, wet snow, you know, talking feet
uh up to your knees. So, just being able
to get in the houses was was was a a
feat unto itself. So we would send crews
in on the ambulance and fire, PD, public
works, radios and the plows would then
meet there and help us just make a path
and so we can get the patients out, get
our our vehicles out. Uh we had plows
getting stuck in this now. So it was it
was a project in just a short amount of
time. So I want to thank them. We had
one heavy call on the golf course. for
the CPR progress and if it wasn't for
their assistance and help um we were
able to give this patient the best
possible outcome um and as far as I know
to this day uh still fighting. So um
it's because of your guys help that able
to give this patient the best chance
they could. So thank you to them
definitely Jen Zuba and her team Chief
Daily and Ser
Yeah. So, just want to send my thanks
all that.
>> I'll just re Chief Fuller said, I mean,
it was a great opportunity to work with
these guys in the situation that we were
all tested and kind of utilized all the
uh options and equipment that we had to
make sure that we were successful
through this period. We're able to
respond to 86 calls during that, you
know, operational period. And without,
you know, the assistance of these guys,
it wouldn't have been possible. I mean,
anything from domestics to, like I said,
the CPR progress call blizzard is is
quite uh challenging. So to be able to
to operate is great. And I think one
group of people that were forgetting is
uh you know the citizens. I was out
driving around all night through the
storm two o'clock in the morning.
Nobody's out on the roads which is great
because it just lowered the call load
for us. We weren't worried about being
stranded. Let uh you know public works
to to do their job. So I want to thank
the citizens you know team for really
cooperating and helping us get through
this really trying period and allowing
us to be have the emergency services do
their jobs and we're actually you know
required instead of some of the stuff
that gets clums.
I appreciate
>> it down to our deputy there.
>> All right. And I just want to echo what
they've all said. Thank you very very
much. Roads were great. Even our back
roads. It was very, very good. Jen, let
me just ask you one question. Um, I saw
a lot several comments on Facebook or on
social media. Oh, my my elderly mother
is down in Brigantine. She can't get
out. doesn't have power. Were they able
to just call the police non-emergency
number and was somebody available to
pick them up?
>> Yes. So, we actually had several on
Monday. I was also in dispatch, so I had
two hats that day. Um, but I either
answered their call in dispatch or in
OEM tried to coordinate whether they
were going to shelter in place uh or if
we were going to take them to the
community center. And with public works,
police, and fire, we actually did have
to plow through, get some of those
residents out of the houses. A couple
required a lift assist, but we either
got them over to the community center or
we monitored them. I checked in uh
usually through the phone if they just
did not want to leave their house. We
had a few uh in my head, there was at
least seven that were like, you know
what, we'll just stay home. But we
checked in with them, made sure that
they had what they needed.
>> Okay. But if they just call the police
non-emergency number, they can
>> either Yeah, they called the
non-emergency police number or they
dialed OEM directly.
>> Oh, okay. Great. Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
>> All right. Just one quick thing. The
Brigantine Golf Links posted today that
they are open for play. The Greens have
all been mowed and they're looking
forward to a great spring with their
full staff on board. So, we're looking
for some nice weather to get everybody
out there playing.
That's it.
>> Works
fire department
management director
and for the outstanding job that
everyone did and also to bring families
and their cooperation in a lot of
respects. I know that got a little short
at times with driveways being clouded,
but for the most part, everybody
understood.
Thank you, Mayor. Congratulations once
again to the fourth grade day team.
That's very nice to see. Great ceremony.
Always good to see uh our kids doing so
well. Uh and they're very good at it.
They're consistent.
never gets old. Uh I'd also like to echo
that same comments from our city manager
to all our public works or public
service personnel rather right here at
the table in front of us. Great job. uh
some heavy wet snow that definitely must
comp not must of definitely did
complicate things and uh I know once
they got done with the emergency roads
there were people that needed medical
assistance and uh there was medical
personnel as well to that end and uh
some surgeons that needed to get out and
uh get out of the
little a little mess they were in just
trying to get just to get out of their
properties for surgeries and whatnot.
And I really tip a cap to you John in
particular for uh assisting with that.
So great job. Outstanding job.
Congratulations to uh on a larger uh
national note, congratulations to the
men's and the women's team uh ice hockey
teams. Incredibly uh great uh feel-good
story. Uh not just for the country, but
obviously the vibe here locally and
regionally. It's really something to
see. uh in the dramatic fashion which
they they pulled it off. I mean the
women's was the women's team actually
was more dramatic than the men's. They
they pulled a goalie with like two
minutes left. They're down a goal. They
tie it up and then the move that that uh
was that Megan Keller put on that
defenseman and scored that winning goal
was incredible. Jack Hughes he put a
cherry on top of the uh top of the cake
as well with his with the men's team. So
great great thing. And I'm sure a lot of
people up early 6:30 I was up to watch
that game. I think kicked off at about 8
Sunday morning.
So with that uh just uh that's it for
me. I'd love very interested to hear
what Mike's got to say regarding St.
Patty's Day parade. So thank you
Mark.
>> I got to dodge the storm this time. So
um but I know you all did a great job
because I got zero constituent
complaints. So the roads must have been
plowed. Everyone got their their calls
in and picked up and Jen,
congratulations on a job.
The only other thing I'd like to say is
uh please support our charities on the
island.
It's it's that time of year through the
winter that they all kind of struggle.
So, if you can, please support our
charities. Mayor, thank you.
uh
got to acknowledge public works and fire
for emergency management for the
absolutely outstanding job that did
absolutely fantastic not just over this
last one the previous storm in the weeks
that follow freezing temperatures pipes
amazing problems that you had. So, you
guys were fantastic.
Um,
if you folks don't mind, I'd like to
take a minute to address the numerous
concerns that brought to my attention
regarding increased sales and gas
billing,
specifically the delivery charges.
Folks have uh grown increasingly
concerned over the exorbitant charges
levied upon billings. Some of these
monthly billings have increased hundreds
of dollars.
To establish such an increase upon
customers with little to no notice was
certainly unexpected.
I understand it's how Jersey Gas has
spent a substantial amount of money in
upgrading their services and their
ability to deliver their product in a
safe and effective manner. This includes
the gas lines, gas meters, road paving,
concrete sidewalks and curves.
But the utility companies are well aware
of these continuing costs with non-stop
repairs and upgrades.
These future costs are analyzed and
added and are supposed to be budgeted as
all companies do. These repairs and
upgrades should be absorbed into their
cost analysis every year reflected in
their billing responsibly over time.
RT consist of folks with varying
incomes, many of whom are fixed budgets,
including the elderly, folks with
disabilities, and those with lower
incomes, some of whom are already
working two or three jobs just to make
ends meet.
Even residents with more median incomes
had no way of budgeting for such an
increase.
Families when doing a budget for their
home can usually calculate and
approximate what their bills will be
throughout the year,
especially their utility bills, their
summer bills, and their winter ones.
Some families can handle small increase.
In life, we expect some type of rate
increase over time andor every couple
years. But to double, triple, and in
some cases quadruple the monthly cost
overnight,
it's not only unsustainable,
but slowly force some of our members of
our community.
I understand that these increases were
evaluated, approved by the state board
of utilities. My concern is that instead
of the state addressing the issues with
current power supply and increasing
power demand, it seems that the issues
are only exacerbated
by the recent campaign for the
governor's office which prompted
candidates to promising to stabilize
utility costs.
This could have been prompted by South
Jersey Gas
anticipating such a large and immediate
increase before the board of utilities
due to the impending possibility of a
rate freeze.
Please know that we don't hate South
Jersey Gas. Their workers are a part of
our community. We greatly appreciate the
services they provide. Mayor Sarah,
Senator Vince Palina have requested you
received information from South Jersey
Gas which is now being evaluated.
We greatly appreciate the cooperation.
We ask that representatives of South
Jersey Gas to please sit down and in
good faith work with Mayor Sarah and
Senator Palestina and hopefully coming
up with some type of mutual agreement
that will help ease the pain and
frustration of our community. still
allow South Jersey gas the ability to
effectively provide much needed services
in a financially responsible way. Any
consideration?
Thank you
everybody.
>> Thank you mayor.
Yeah, it's just so wonderful to see that
young group of kids on the think day
team. It brings us brings us back.
Dennis and I were talking about when the
kids were younger and we've all been
through it and to see a team have
success and like that. It's just brings
back such good memories and the
traditions that we keep here on the
island which are are a good thing to
keep, right? Uh like everybody else
said, I mean, Mother Nature threw
everything she had at us over the last
six weeks. deep breezes, huge amounts of
snow, and and all you guys, all the
department heads, and and the members of
the public works, police and fire. It's
a just a huge thank you to all of you
because and and Jen, thank you. Um, so
yeah, that's that's uh really really
good. So, uh, while we were sitting
inside watching the snow come out, these
guys were out there pushing it out of
the way and you know, we we all thank
you. So, the roads were fabulous. That's
that. Um, Dennis mentioned about the St.
Patrick's Day parade that's coming up in
two Saturdays. Uh, 1:00 at St. Thomas
here starts at 1 1 p.m. goes right down
to Veterans Triangle, 32nd Street. And,
uh, it's going to be another fabulous
day. The sunshine. Weather looked great.
And of course we got
Marshall Neil Kane
from Sandy Jack Deli Janette Kesler head
of the degree team in the farmers market
and a teacher of the year uh Carrie
Hazer. So got a good uh got a good crew
of grand marshals this year. Uh Atlantic
City's parade if you want to warm up get
tuned up before before our parade is
this Sunday at one o'clock. So it's
always a good time. Uh, I want to thank
the Chamber of Commerce for getting so
involved and helping with Shake the
Shamrock Week. And like I mentioned last
meeting, they've just taken this parade
of ours to a whole new level. And I
certainly appreciate everything they're
doing. Um, we have so many things going
on with the Economic Development
Committee. We have a meeting coming up
next week. This year we have the 250th
anniversary of the country. We have the
100th anniversary of the city. So we're
planning big things for those days and
besides everything else that we talk
about that you know a lot of things will
be discussed about new businesses and
existing businesses and what's going on
there and then the cultural arts
commission they're always uh doing a
great job uh getting things set up.
So other than that
Oh yeah, the food truck festival. Thanks
Neil. the food truck festival. It turned
out so well last year over here in in
Hanman Park that we're doing it three
times this year, June, July, and August.
So, that's uh that's awesome also. So,
and it's always good having the Morgans
around and Blake and Mike and Sandy.
Other than that, that's about all I got.
You know where to find my number, right?
Run of the Bricky Times, Jen, just in
case you didn't know. Okay.
Um, so we need to appoint our board of
school estimates again this year. Uh,
like to have a motion and second to have
Pauli, Mel Kane, and myself, Vinc on the
board of school estimates. Motion
>> make that motion.
>> Second.
All in favor?
>> Any oppos?
>> Seeing none. Welcome back to the
committee, guys.
Uh, one of the things we're starting to
pay attention to, I guess we found out
about two weeks ago that Atlantic City
High School is raising their tuition
rate 38%.
It's an insane number. I talked with the
school to get some numbers on how many
students we actually have at Atlantic
City High School. I mean, a 38% increase
that that could have major impacts to
your taxes. Uh, right now we currently
have somewhere between 12 and 15
students at Atlantic City High School.
There's some other towns that send
students there that send a lot more.
They're going to have major impacts to
their school taxes. So, this is
something that we're monitoring and
paying attention to. Um, still waiting
from the state on numbers. So, we'll
have some more information at our next
port of school estimates. Uh, we'll
share that information once we have it.
Uh, kind of following up on what Neil
talked about with South Jersey Gas. Uh
we're working with Senator Palestina to
try to understand these uh bills and
what's going on. Um we made a request to
South Jersey Gas to get a fiveyear
history of the bill. Specifically, what
we want to look at is the delivery
charges. Natural gas prices, the the
product itself, because technology has
gotten so good at getting natural gas
out of the ground, the commodity prices
have actually gone down. What we're
seeing is a a major increase in the what
they call the delivery charges and what
we requested is what is the specific
breakdown of those delivery charges.
South Jersey Gas sent us some
information. Senator Palina was able to
get some information from the New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities. We're looking
through that information, but we had
more questions for South Jersey Gas
because one, we want to make sure that
we understand that the the data that
they gave us and we want some
clarifications. Some of the numbers were
given in percentages and we want to know
what this means for the average
household. Sometimes percentages are
very abstract. What does this mean for
the average payer? Um, once we have that
information, we're going to share that
publicly. I will tell you, South Jersey
Gas has been very responsive. that they
are working in good faith with us to try
to get us the information. And the whole
goal of this is that if we can
understand the bill and what's really
driving the cost, it could lead to some
opportunities to create some real
relief. I know there's a lot of people
who are very frustrated, you know, they
want us to kind of yell and scream and
stomp our feet. There's a lot of
politicians that are great at yelling
and screaming and stomping their feet.
One of the things I want to throw out
there is uh how effective are those
people at actually delivering results.
You know, one of the things that we need
is a is a real partnership. One,
understand the issue. Two, how do we
work with South Jersey Gas and how do we
work with the state? How do we work with
BPU to come up with something
meaningful? Because at the end of the
day, it really comes down to how much
each person has to pay in their bill.
This isn't just a South Jersey gas
issue. I've been talking to people
across the tri-state area. This is all
the utility companies a lot between
electric and between gas. There is a lot
of issues where those prices are rising.
We need to start to look at why. What is
the real driving cost? So, we're
starting with South Jersey gas. Once we
kind of get a better handle on this, we
will reach out to Atlantic City Electric
and try to work with them. But I I think
you got to start off by understanding
it, coming up with real proposals and
real solutions of how we move this
forward, and then that's how we get
meaningful results. So, we'll keep
people posted as we move through this
process.
At this time, we'll open it up uh for
public comment. Anybody wishing to be
heard, please come up, state your name
and address for the record.
Thank you, mayor, council, staff
members. Uh, for the record, Frank Kle,
433 Lafayette Boulevard here in
Brigantine. Um, I'd like to add my voice
to the course of congratulations to all
the various departments, fire, EMS,
police, and especially DPW. Um, for one
who did it for many years back in New
York, it's it's blood money. Been there,
done that, and it's it's it's it's a
thankless job no matter how good of a
job you do. So again, my kudos to all
the departments um and especially you
know my background with fire to the fire
department. I was talking to one of the
brothers a couple days ago on the street
have the meeting or chitchat the amount
of calls for service that you went out
240 250 if I'm correct that's a lot
especially under the conditions um see
how the big trucks got changed this and
that I worked on a ladder company for
many years and it's a terrible feeling
to have the back end of that truck go
out and spin 300 or 180 degrees face the
opposite direction so again compliments
to all the guys it's also a little bit
of a segue
I'm glad the director here of OEM um was
traveling the streets a couple days
after the storm and again you know my
background fire safety and all that and
I got a little bit torqued um couple
different streets people went shoveling
their driveways that big yellow thing in
front of their house they were throwing
snow on it the fire hydrants and you
know what first thing is to stop and say
hey what are you doing it's okay mind my
business you know you don't want to get
into confrontation but um I recollect
something we used to do so some
municipalities back in New York to have
what they called a um adopt a hydrant
program. Uh it was a voluntary thing. If
you had a hydrant within so many feet of
your house, you could take one, two,
three. You would sign up with the
municipality and you would actually
agree to shovel the hydrant after each
and every storm. Three or four feet side
to side, three feet in the back and
especially in the front, you know, on
the curb line. This way boys have to
come up and do a hookup. They don't have
to waste any time shoveling it out. And
it was a pilot program and it worked for
a couple years to be honest. It didn't
they didn't follow through as it did.
But what happened was um once a taxpayer
homeowner registered you came and then
you did the uh the shoveling and at the
end of the year they had a little
recognition ceremony. So the person got
a little certificate for you know 123
Main Street. You know thank you for
helping keep our municipality safe. It
was signed by the mayor and the council,
the fire chief, that type of thing. So,
I'm just throwing that out there.
Hopefully, we won't see another
snowstorm until whenever next December,
but maybe something to think about just
again a public safety thing uh for the
guys. Um been there, done that. You
know, you wasted two or three minutes
trying to shovel out a hydrant and poor
person's home with cars burning to the
ground. So, it might be something
worthwhile to look into, you know,
between the chief OEM and and the
council. Um very inexpensive plan,
voluntary thing, and might get a little
more community involvement. So,
>> that's a good idea. Thank you. Thank
you. Great idea.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> At this time, we're going to close the
public portion. Any
>> Sorry, I was just going to say after our
last meeting, I stole your idea and I
did throw it out there on Facebook, the
adopt a hydrant thing. So, I started
throwing it out there.
You're
>> in charge. You're in charge.
Any
final council comments? All right,
seeing none, we have a motion second to
adjurnn.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Motion.
>> All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Seeing none. Motion passed.
Thank you for coming out, watching your
council see the work.