4/9/26 Council Meeting

You got to have
What what did you say was the problem? I
just said
I just said
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United
Pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
Welcome to the April 9th
2026 meeting of the Egg Harbor City
Council.
In compliance with the Open Public
Meetings Act, State of New Jersey,
adequate notice of this meeting of
Common Council was provided in the
following manner. Advance written notice
was posted on our bulletin board.
Advance written notice was posted on the
Egg Harbor City website.
And notice was sent to the Hamilton
Gazette.
Roll call, please.
Mayor Janetti. Here. Dovi. Here.
Gallaway. Here. Heist. Here. Hessy.
Here. Piner. Yes.
>> Ortiz. Here. Santi. Here. Timbers.
Wright. Yeah.
Okay, thank you. Uh number four,
public comment on agenda items only. Is
there anyone wishing to be heard on any
of our agenda items?
Seeing none,
we'll go to number five,
approve the minutes for March 26th. Is
there a motion? Make a motion, second.
Second. Motion made, second. All in
favor? Aye.
Opposed?
Minutes approved.
Uh number six is the mayor's report.
Thanks. This evening I have a um Arbor
Day proclamation and I'm going to read
it. Whereas in 18 or 1982, the Nebraska
Board of Agriculture set aside a special
day for the planting of trees.
And
and whereas Arbor Day is now observed
throughout the nation and the world.
And whereas trees can reduce the erosion
of our precious topsoil by wind and
water, cutting heating and cooling
costs,
moderate temperatures, clean air,
provide life-giving oxygen, and provide
habitat for wildlife. And whereas
trees are a renewable resource, giving
us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for
our fires, and countless other wood
products.
Where at and whereas trees in our
community
increase property value, enhance the
economic vitality of business areas,
and beautify our community. And whereas
trees, whenever they are planted, are a
source of joy and spiritual renewal.
Now, therefore, I, Dr. Lisa Janetti,
Mayor of Egg Harbor City, do hereby
proclaim April 24th, 2026
as Arbor Day in the City of Egg Harbor,
and I urge all citizens to celebrate
Arbor Day and to support efforts to
protect our trees and woodlands. And
further, I urge all citizens to plant
trees to gladden the hearts and promote
the well-being of future generations.
Uh before you go on,
I'll make a motion. I'll make a motion,
second. Motion made and second. All in
favor? Aye.
Opposed?
Proclamation.
I second.
I had emailed City Council about a
request I had from a uh
a aunt of a
young guy who a young child who died uh
recently a couple years ago in our
community. I did hear back from most of
you, but I will read the letter. And
then I would like to um possibly take a
vote whether you're in a favor of it.
To the Mayor and Council Mayor and City
Council of Egg Harbor City, I am writing
to respectfully request an honorary
street day designation in mem- memory of
my nephew, Tristan Cruz, a beloved
member of our community who tragically
passed away at just 5 years old.
Tristan was a student at Sprague
Elementary here in Egg Harbor City and
brought joy, energy, and love to
everyone who knew him. His life, though
short, had a meaningful impact on his
family, classmates, and community.
Tristan suffered from sickle cell
disease, a serious and often
misunderstood condition. His passing has
deeply affected our family, and we hope
to honor his memory while also while
also bringing awareness to the illness
and the importance of proper proper
medical care for children.
We are requesting that the 500 block of
Philadelphia and Camp Street be
designated as Tristan's Way
as a lasting tribute to his life and
legacy.
We chose that specific location because
Tristan's life, although incredibly
meaningful, was very short.
515 Philadelphia Avenue is the only
place he ever truly got to call home.
It is where he was carried, brought home
to on April 12th, 2018 and experienced
all of his first and ultimately last
milestones. Because of that, it holds
deep emotional significance to our
family. Ideally, we would like Tristan's
Way to be placed as close to the home as
possible, but we are open to any
recommendations or adjustments you feel
are appropriate.
Thank you for your time and
consideration. Sincerely, Kayla Moreira.
So, I
would just like to know if everybody's
in agreement. I will write a letter to
the county. I realize it's a county
road, so we'll have to get approval from
them.
Is there a motion? I'll make a motion.
I'll second it.
Is there any questions?
I do.
Same road for the purposes of addresses,
and it's just an additional name?
>> I would think on Google as well.
So, so what stretch of road will
specifically be Tristan's Way?
The 500 block, but The 500 block of
Philadelphia Avenue. Right.
On the 500 closer to
I know we have
city-owned lights there. We cannot put
it on obviously a
electric company light. But we could
put, you know, the signs
That's the block with the senior housing
and the VFW. Mhm. And there will
Okay, but so there will just be a sign,
though?
Tristan's Way. On what? On where?
Probably a light that the city owns or
do it on the street street sign that's
there on the corner.
What is that, Camp Street? I know. Yeah.
That's at Camp Avenue. Okay, okay. The
way I've seen it, they have they'll say
Camp Street and then above that they'll
say another street sign and that'll say
Tristan's Okay, very well.
And was there a motion, someone? Yeah.
We got a motion made and a motion and a
second it. Motion made, second. All in
favor? Aye.
Opposed?
It's approved. And just a reminder, um
New Jersey American Water will be in
this room on 4/14
with utility payment assistance from
10:00 to 2:00.
And also the cleanup is on May 2nd.
And that's all I have.
>> made the call
and told them you would pick it up. Oh,
goody. Thank you.
I'll bet.
Okay, thank you, Mayor. Uh number seven,
Council Committee
uh chairman reports. Uh start with
recreation. Nothing to report. Nothing.
Sustainable? Nothing to report.
Code and rotary and Nothing. Okay.
Mr. Dovi. Uh nothing to report. Okay.
Mr.
As it still stands, uh the school board
still needs assistance. They still have
a position open, so Just one? Uh I'd
have to get with them. I know one for
sure. I'd have to see if
>> Somebody said two the last time. Uh
correct, yeah.
Okay.
>> I know there's at least one, though, so
there's
That's all I have. And nothing for
parks.
Mr. Santi.
Um
From what I understand,
I'm uh part of the cemetery
committee.
Am I?
As chairman of the committee, yes. Okay,
well, that's okay.
Okay, okay. Well, I I received a report
from uh
a woman who frequents the cemetery, and
according to her, she saw somebody
using the dumpster or dumpsters at the
cemetery to unload
a bunch of stuff. Grass clippings. Talk
to the caretaker about it. Okay. It's
grass clippings, but It happens often.
>> You want to call tomorrow, but we um
Okay, so Wayne knows about it. Wayne
>> often. And it's a common occurrence.
Yes. O- okay. So, Thank you.
>> Does the caretaker feel like this is
something that we need to try to remedy?
>> There's nothing we can do. Cameras or
something or or just
Unfortunately, it happens more times
than we would like. They lock Could they
lock the trash?
Did they lock the trash cans?
Well, then he won't be able to dump
there.
Well, isn't it just Wayne that uses
So, it's not a huge one.
No.
We're glad it's not.
>> They do have key access, too. Yeah, it's
just Wayne. And I know there have been
times when people have been caught and
it's been reported. So, it's just one of
those things. Okay. Very well.
Yeah, that's not motor oil.
Okay, and I Okay.
I have nothing at this point, too. So,
um
we'll go to chief of police, police.
You can't see if you're in the
Yes, you are.
Yeah.
You're in the picture.
>> Yes, she is.
Does anybody know why that looks like
that?
It's not a big
It's fine.
I'll uh we'll get it.
As soon as possible. It's fine. It's
fine. I I received the video. So,
I have some numbers for you. Uh
since we last met on
March 26th, we had um seven burglaries,
one reported sexual assault, one simple
assault, six thefts, 11 motor vehicle
accidents, five pedestrian stops, 65
traffic stops for uh with a total of 51
summonses issued,
11 arrests, one of those was a DUI, four
business alarms, one residential alarm,
116 crime prevention activities, three
domestic violence incidents, 20 EMS
incidents,
four firearms ID applications, two
follow-ups, 528 property checks, and
five public service calls.
Um
Additionally,
some initiatives that were taken
specifically regarding issues that were
brought up previously at the last
council meeting. Um I do not remember
the woman's name. Um however, she had
issues with
traffic at Liverpool and Erato. We did
have uh
stationary and roving patrols. I did
direct Sergeant Mangold to come up with
a traffic enforcement enforcement plan
that we did have specifically with a
time frame between 7:30 and 9:30 that
she said were issues. Um
specifically, we utilized patrol
vehicles equipped with radar units, um
documented vehicle speeds. We are
currently compiling all of that
information. From what I've seen um
at a cursory glance, there has not been
an issue with speeding. I don't know
whether that is specifically because we
have been visible. Either way, it is
rectifying the situation that she has
brought up. Um we also had some folks
stationary
um at New York Avenue and Erato. Um we
had some complaints about it being a
raceway and people not stopping at stop
signs. Again, there um I don't know
whether it's because there was just
presence, but um
the numbers that I saw at a cursory
glance did not indicate that people were
running the stop signs. So, we will
continue to keep an eye on that. Um one
of our speed trailers that we were going
to have moved there is glitchy. We um
had an appointment with R&R radar to
have that serviced this upcoming week.
Um
another issue that was brought up to
council was New Orleans um Avenue and
Camp.
We did It's been a little bit
uh difficult to gather intel or data
there because the issues that were
brought up were during uh
peak commuting hours, during school bus
times, so 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. With the school
being out last week, we haven't been
able to gather too much data, but we
will continue to look out there.
Um
we haven't really seen too much
activity, but uh that may change over
the next week once school comes back in.
Um
that's what we have there.
I also wanted to address um something
that was brought up in the last council
meeting. So, in the interest of
maintaining departmental integrity and
providing accurate oversight data,
uh I'd like to formally correct the
account provided last council meeting
regarding an incident involving
juveniles at the pickleball courts on
March 14th, 2026.
Contrary to the report that officers
failed to arrive after an hour-long
wait, our certified dispatch logs and
video footage confirm the following
timeline.
At 6:12:23, a 911 call was received. At
6:13:50,
officers were dispatched. At 6:15:45,
officers were on scene.
The total response time was less than 5
minutes.
I don't know where the disconnect was.
However, body worn camera shows that the
officer was there, did speak to the
juveniles that were not on the court as
was um indicated in the 911 call. They
were waiting outside waiting to get on
the courts, um and they were sent on
their way. I do have to say that with 17
officers, three currently on an injury,
our department does have to priority
prioritize calls involving threats to
life and safety, and expecting an
instantaneous response for non-emergency
complaints is an unrealistic standard
that does not reflect our current
staffing reality.
I'm also concerned that misinformation
regarding our response time
erodes public trust in our hard-working
officers. So, I did want to set that
record straight. I value the working
relationship that I have with council,
and I believe that actual transparency
is essential in keeping our shared goal
of Egg Harbor City keeping Egg Harbor
City Egg Harbor City safe. So, Chief, I
would like to say something since it was
me who said that, and I was there, and I
did I have all the information, and I
will get it to you, right? I have it in
my phone. So, I mean, but the call that
I made and how long I was at the at the
park, and no one had shown. And I have a
name of a gentleman that was there at
the time. So, I can also call him. And
we could we could have a discussion
about this as well. Um I actually have
an email prepared that has the body worn
camera with your vehicle right there,
and all of the calls, the 911 call with
radio dispatch. So, as soon as I get
back to the um then I will send that
information to you, but I have I have
the body worn camera of Officer Smith
right by your car that's parked there.
>> Can we Can we deal with this
in Absolutely. I just wanted to I just
needed to clear clarify that
our response times are not what was
represented. We do respond to 911 calls
as efficiently as possible. Um
and so,
I don't want the public trust to be
eroded. We were there.
Um
>> too.
Okay. But you guys can work this out.
Okay.
I hope we can. All right. Good.
Anything else, Chief? No, no, sir.
Unless anybody has any questions or
concerns, that's all I have this week.
Thank you.
Thank you, Chief. Thank you, Chief.
Uh number nine is CFO report, and the
CFO is on vacation.
Uh number 10, city clerk. I do have an
add-on for a motion for use of uh the
Lincoln Park for
Reverend Cheryl Hurt, she hex she has a
uh Breaking Bread Ministries. Uh every
It's probably the fifth year, but she
didn't get it in time to make the
agenda, but they come out They are
partner with Coalition for a Safe
Community, which is part of
pretty much part of the city as well.
But they give out serve serve
sandwiches, sell um
water, and they have other services they
offer that day.
And they anticipate It's from 10:30 to
about 1:00. What's the date?
April 18th. Okay. So, I just need a
motion to approve
Like I said, it's probably the fifth
year they've been doing it. Second.
Motion made and seconded. All in favor?
Aye. Opposed?
And wait, you have to wait to be Well,
that's what this is.
Okay.
Anything else, ma'am?
No, that's all. Okay.
City attorney.
Uh yeah, as I said before the meeting,
um with uh SKDAC,
um we've got a lot of the the uh my
office providing them the MOU to
SKDAC, which um
they asked uh for legal center review
the MOU, have their attorneys comment,
and get back to us. There's a resolution
on tonight to approve the MOU. I would
uh ask the council to table that
resolution, and hopefully by uh early
next week we'll have their comments
back, and it'll be in final form for
council to uh review and uh
and make a decision with that.
Okay.
And uh we have a question on number
Well, that's the same. Should we table
it? We need a motion. Yeah, is there a
motion? Can we at least get the lot
number in the folder?
Uh Ryan's working on it. Yeah, Give me a
minute. Yeah, no problem. But I'll make
a motion that we table it.
Second. It'll be It'll be tabled for the
23rd, then?
>> Yes.
Motion made and seconded. All in favor?
Aye. Opposed?
Motion passes.
Okay.
Our administrator is also missing, and
our engineer report.
Sure.
Um
construction started on Buffalo Avenue.
Mhm. You know exactly where that is, but
that's moving along pretty well so far.
Um there'll be some curb work, sidewalk
work,
all that'll have to happen first. Once
all of that's done, they'll be ready to
pave the road.
Um
the campground we're just about done uh
majority of the sewer design or the uh
the utility design, rather. Um I got to
get the electrical stuff in there, too,
to contact the people.
We're getting moving. Um city hall
improvements, um we've been going
through material selections, colors,
materials, all that stuff. Um so, once
everything's ordered and we have our
final lead times, we'll figure out the
spacing. Um some of the work's in here,
so we'll we'll have that We're trying to
work it out to happen between the
council meetings so we don't disrupt
anything there.
Um
Ryan, I have a request on that.
>> Sure. Can we
There's five of us here, there's four of
us outside.
Can we try to extend like a little bit?
Just a A bit. Like a little bit more
elbow room on this side, somehow.
So, it might not work because the Well,
so this side is actually going to be
ramped.
>> Right. Um so that it's ADA accessible.
Um and then you'll there the new desktop
and like front trim piece.
Um but I
>> Wheelchair. I I'll have to look. I don't
remember exactly what we did.
>> Either that or every other meeting we
got to do five board five.
Yeah. Yeah, that's
I mean
If the new
>> I feel crammed.
>> But the same size.
I like Scott. Similar to this. I'm not
going to say that. Sorry.
There'll be a little room there.
Ryan Yeah. We're trying What do you
think? We picked out the Come on over.
Problem solved. And the women in the
opposite
But we can't remember which lady we have
to email to. Yeah, cuz there's two.
Megan
Yeah, Megan and Megan St. Clair and I
don't know if I remember. It's St.
Clair, right? Yes. It's St. Clair. So,
there you go. And then what about the
bathroom countertop? I didn't Is it the
same? There should be a material
selection for that, too. We didn't get a
re-fresh
>> for that. Yeah, they're they're still
working on that stuff.
>> I got the tile and I got the stalls.
>> We got like 13 similar so far, they'll
probably be about 20.
Okay. So, there's still more to come.
Okay.
That's good. But a lot a lot of times
they'll make you
pick through a couple of things. It's
like, all right, pick the bathroom
colors, pick the partitions, pick the
floor, and then pick the other stuff.
Okay.
>> Cuz they they want you to pick them with
some context. Okay. So.
I I expect it to all be nice.
Um
what else? Um the one that we submitted
we're trying to work through some
language with the county. They want some
kind of crazy indemnification clause
with the water by all means, so we're
trying to work through that.
Um Chris's office has been the lead on
that, but um we just got that feedback
about a week last week or so.
So, trying to trying to sort that out.
Uh the I-Bank storm water project we've
been talking about for a long time now.
We are looking to advertise that April
21st. We just got authorization to set
up our schedule
uh and get that advertised. So, Good. Uh
just to recap, that'll be about a two
and a half million dollar construction
project. Um replacing a whole bunch of
storm water infrastructure in
specifically Vates Avenue Street, uh a
couple of the terraces, and then uh
Arbutus Street, a small portion there,
probably.
Um and then fully re-paving the streets
when we're done.
And the other utilities have been
notified? Yes, and Jersey American
actually replaced all of the water main
in that section already. And I know that
they have an RFP out right now uh for
the rehabilitation of the sewer in that
same area.
So, they're they're doing everything
they can to get everything replaced in
that area.
>> Um we notified them, but uh what they're
doing, yeah, they're a little less
transparent, so.
Um from what I understand, the gas
utility through that area is is newer.
It's all plastic mains, so I I don't
expect that to be a problem. Okay.
Usually is though after it's paved.
Yeah, right. They'll they'll have
something else they need to replace it
with the next week or
Um what else?
Uh senior center ADA, you guys
authorized on that. We're doing going
through the design of that right now.
I feel like the only improvements
I got to check. I'm I'm hoping we
already submitted that. If not, we'll be
submitting that next week.
Um
and then you guys there's a proposal on
for tonight uh for the reconstruction of
Camp Street uh from Bremen to Antwerp,
which I believe is an area the city
received a letter about uh vehicle
striking home in that area. Um so we had
already we had already identified that
that was a problem. We applied for it in
November of last year. Um so we're we're
moving toward uh design. If we can get
moving on that, we should be able to
rebuild it this fall. And I know our
highway crew has tried to work on that
spot.
>> Yes, they just spent a bunch of of time
and attention to try and clean that up
in the interim. And it needs a little
bit more attention as we speak.
>> Mhm. There's been a couple of uh
Well, they're they're they're pretty
nice size potholes that either weren't
filled in there or if they were filled
in a few weeks ago, they're back again.
So, uh
All right, I'll I'll relay that to
public works.
>> Cuz I mean really even if we get
authorized now, we'll we wouldn't start
construction until
September or October at the earliest,
so.
>> Um so yeah, you'll you'll need to do
some maintenance in the interim. All
right.
>> But the other section is uh Burger
Street from Buffalo to Cincinnati, which
is another pretty, you know, terrible
section. I thought that was going to
Chicago, not
Um You said Buffalo to Cincinnati. It
might be Chicago. I think you're right.
Okay. I think I Is that going to be done
with
>> it's two blocks, not not one.
>> Right. Is that going to be done with
Buffalo Avenue?
Or is is that
>> No, that's
>> totally separate. That's part of this
project that the current proposal is
for. Later in the year. So, yeah, it
should get done September, October.
Um
so yeah, that's that's really all I have
at the moment.
Mr. Ryan, I didn't hear what you said
about the leaking bathrooms. Did I miss
that?
Uh
no, we have um we incorporated all the
changes that we were waiting for Triad
to get authorization to do that.
Okay. So.
Cuz we we added the epoxy floor we
talked about, and um
we got clarification that we couldn't do
the
Oh, you can't use a rubber We have to
put a flat roof on? Well, I mean you we
can do You can do whatever you want, but
we can't do it as part of the funding
through DCA.
They they would not consider that to be
a meeting
requirement.
So. What does council think about that?
Is that an important
thing? Flat roofs really stink, but
A flat roof on what? The bathroom with
the leak.
So, there's a flat roof on the bathrooms
now.
>> is it leaking?
Is it a problem?
>> Well, It's always been. I had it fixed
once when I I don't know. Flat roofs
need to be coated every year. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah, they leak a lot.
>> get the eighth grade, you really don't
have to worry about it.
Or maybe maybe we can get a price from
Trading Neck or somebody to do it. Yeah,
it doesn't it doesn't necessarily need
to be part of this project. It's a small
it's a small roof, so you may be able to
just quote it directly.
Yep.
Um
Anything else? No, no other any
questions. Okay. Uh that was number 13.
Number 14 we already did. Uh number 15
is a resolution to authorize award of
contract for the E Commerce City Lake
and Campground water and sewer project
for pipes and related
supplies
uh from Katterina Supply Incorporated.
I'll make the motion. I'll second.
Motion made and seconded. Questions?
Roll call, please.
>> Dobie. Yes.
>> Galloway. Yes.
>> Heist. Yes. Hessie. Yes.
>> Keener. Yes.
>> Ortiz.
>> Yes. Sen. Yes.
Newton. Yes.
>> Timbers. Sorry. Did you say your name?
>> No. Uh Wright. Yes.
Okay. Motion passes. Resolution passes.
Uh number 16 was requested to be tabled.
Is there a motion? We need to We did it.
Okay.
All right, number 17, resolution to
authorize Remington and Vernick
Engineers to provide professional
services for the 2026 Municipal Aid
reconstruction of Camp Street from
Bremen Avenue to Antwerp and Burger
Street from Cincinnati to Chicago.
I'll move.
Second.
Motion made and seconded. Are there any
questions?
I just have one question.
Ryan, could you tell me what the city
obligation would be
for if we go through with both? And and
we are also getting Yeah, so um the cost
estimate that we submitted as part of
the grant application was for I did send
it. $389,216.
This received $323,432.
So, the the construction 66 difference
is yeah, about 66,000.
Plus design inspection. You. And the
Pinelands, is there anything that we
need to do in Pinelands? Is it
reconstruction of legal existing sewers?
Perfect.
Thank you.
Okay, roll call, please. Dobie. Yes.
>> Galloway. Yes.
>> Heist. Yes. Hessie. Yes. Keener. Yes.
Ortiz. Yes. Sen. Yes. Wright. Yes.
Resolution passes. Number 18, resolution
to refund
property taxes for 2025
due to a 100% disabled veteran status
case number 2026-103.
Second.
Motion made and seconded. Roll call,
please.
Dobie. Yes. Galloway. Yes.
>> Heist. Yes.
Hessie. Yes.
>> Keener. Yes.
>> Ortiz. Yes. Sen. Yes. Wright. Yes.
Resolution passes. Number 19,
authorizing
the 2026 municipal aerial mosquito
control agreement.
>> Make a motion. Second.
Motion made and seconded. Are there any
questions?
All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed?
Resolution passes. Is that a no? I don't
know.
Everybody passed. I just had a question.
What are they doing for the mosquito the
aerial mosquito control?
They
Right. I was going to say
They
target areas where the problems are. I
like like little water reservoirs and
stuff like that. Okay.
Okay. Uh number 20 is a public hearing
for ordinance number 8-2026
amending portions of chapter
170-58
of the city code titled fast food
restaurants.
Is there a motion to hold a public
hearing? I'll make a motion. Second.
Motion made and seconded. All in favor?
Aye. Opposed? Okay, public hearing is
open for
item number 20, uh which is our
um
fast food restaurants
uh
amending ordinance.
Anyone wish to be heard?
Seeing none, is there a motion to close
the public hearing?
Second.
Motion made and seconded. All in favor
close public hearing? Aye.
Opposed?
The public hearing closed. Is there a
motion to adopt?
>> Make a motion.
Second.
Motion to adopt a
Roll call, please.
Dobie? Yes. Galloway? Yes. Heist? Yes.
Hessie? Yes. Kinnear? Yes. Ortiz?
>> Yes. Sen? Yes. Wright? Yes.
And that will be posted on our city
website.
Number 21, public hearing ordinance
number 9-2026
amending the redevelopment plan for 801
Philadelphia Avenue rehabilitation area
to permit outdoor cultivation.
Is there a motion to hold a public
hearing? I'll make a motion. Second.
Motion made, second, all in favor? Aye.
Opposed? Public hearing open on
ordinance number 9. Does anyone wish to
be heard?
Seeing none, is there a motion to close
the public hearing?
>> a motion. Second.
Motion made, second, all in favor? Aye.
Aye. Opposed?
Public hearing closed. Is there a motion
to adopt?
>> a motion. Second.
Roll call, please.
Dobie? Yes.
>> Galloway? Yes. Heist? Yes. Hessie? No.
Kinnear? Yes. Ortiz? Yes. Sen? Yes.
Wright?
>> Yes.
Okay, that will also be
noticed on our city website.
Okay, number 22 is our bill list. I'll
make a motion. Second. Motion made,
second, are there any questions on the
bills?
Roll call, please. Dobie? Yes. Galloway?
Yes. Heist? Yes. Hessie? Yes. Kinnear?
Yes. Ortiz? Yes. Sen? Yes. Wright? Yes.
Those are paid.
Okay, number 23 is public comment. Um
one thing we want to do before anybody
comes up is to limit, as we had it some
situations in the past where uh
it went pretty long. So, we want to
limit people to 3 minutes.
Uh and I would ask city council and the
mayor to not comment while the person is
speaking.
So, let them speak. We'll have our
chance to respond during our time or our
time. So, if anyone wish to be heard?
Yes.
Good night, South Council. I'm
Councilman formerly from Mullica, and
this is
Welcome. Welcome here. We're just we got
bombarded by the Department of City
Residents that wanted us to close down
Long Way Streets from the theater. I
mean, it's a great renewable. You did a
good job getting it here. So, hopefully
you can push it through.
It's
an asset to both sides, but they're
worried about blocking their doors,
sidewalks. There's money, there's I
guess a million dollars or a couple
million dollars for sidewalks, and
they're worried about what side of the
street it's coming from. And
Mr. Kinnear did
me check this right before the meeting.
He said it'd just be advised a little
bit cuz
I mean, you're on board, you're the
You you got a good thing going here.
It's a great renewable. No impact on
schools.
I mean, you're the You developed a
proper pretty good.
So, and
We just want to have quite, you know,
answers when they they hit us again.
And and I, you know, I asked everybody
not to comment, but I will on this. Uh
I do welcome you to we set up a meeting
where we can review the project with you
and let you know what's going on. Yeah.
Okay. Just so we know what's uh Sure.
And most of the people that were here
were Mullica residents. Yes. Oh, yeah,
we had all Egg Harbor. Really? And then
from Mullica, you know, that's right
there, but And some dollars here They're
worried about losing their land and both
sides of the street. We know it's not
going to be a four-lane highway. I'll
tell you that right now. That's the
Yeah, they were the roads are not
getting straight. And they must have
said a thousand times that oh, it's
Mullica's problem now.
No.
But thank you so much for Thank you.
Thank you for coming.
And waiting for the comment.
Anyone else wish to be heard?
Please.
Please come up and state your names and
address.
Maryann Rogers, 606 Philadelphia Avenue.
I'm here to try to get some information
about the housing situation with college
students, frat houses.
It's been getting worse. There's uh
one person in town has
six properties that I'm aware of, and I
believe there's more. And I know there's
other properties that are owned by other
LLCs or individuals. They're getting out
of hand.
Um we called police. We keep reporting
repeatedly. They come.
They tell us that we can't do anything.
You have to change the code.
They can't go on the property. They
can't ask the kids if they're drinking.
The kids then party all night
and drive leaving.
Okay. They also one of the houses on St.
Patrick's Day had a party that they were
drinking
orange,
green, and yellow drinks out of half
gallon and full gallon jugs.
I don't think it was Tang. They were
walking down the street filling up the
houses with
What can we do? Other towns have
um animal house ordinances. This is what
we need. It's not just a summer issue,
it's a full year issue. We've got them
all year.
Can I answer a question? Sure. Go. Um
I'll let Chris talk about the animal
house thing cuz I believe that that was
struck down in court at some point. I
don't know if you can talk about that.
Um but the chief's not here. So, um
I can tell you on her behalf that we do
deal with this all the time. Oh, I know.
And she has an address at Stockton. And
it's on Mullica. And it should have been
reported to them. It was. And then
Stockton then has to take care of it.
So, the chief is the one who really has
to that would be able to help you more
than we can. Yeah, I'm not complaining
about that. No, I I had one right by my
house, too. Yeah. And I called them And
we also have what's called a nuisance
ordinance.
>> Right. And I think it's five times in a
month the landlord gets charged a
thousand dollars. Are they doing it now?
Are we doing it now? If if Yeah, if it
meets the five in a month.
>> Does it have to be different days or No,
it could be it's just a call for
service. If you call three times in one
day, that counts for three.
>> more than Yeah. So, we need to
We need to just wait for the chief to
come back, and she can talk about it a
little more.
But did you want to address the animal
house ordinance? Um
specifically, um I might have to look at
that a little bit deeper, but I'll happy
to review the code for council and see
what we can do with some other
municipalities that have colleges in or
around them do to try to limit
house parties and things like that. So,
I'll happy to take a look at that and
make some recommendations to council.
It's NJSA 40 colon 48-2.
12 N.
So, we had a situation on St. Louis
Avenue, also.
And that's a that's a very congested,
highly residential area. And um
the police It did go into the house and
made arrests for underage drinking.
I thought they weren't allowed to do
that. Well, that's what the chief's
going to have to talk to you about, but
I know I know they did it cuz the chief
was on site.
And I saw it with my own eyes. And uh
so, she'll be able to tell you more
about that. Yeah. Somebody said they
killed them. They didn't hear It's just
Somebody said they killed driving or
walking, you know, they're they're
skipping across Philadelphia Avenue at
12:30. Well, the the worst part is is
that you're a resident and you deserve
to enjoy your property and your life.
>> Yeah. And it makes it very difficult
when s- a situation like that arises,
and I do feel for you. Yeah. Cuz we had
one on New Orleans Avenue. We had one on
San Francisco, and then we had one on
St. Louis, which is right around my
house. And we could hear my party and
now there's new ones down the street.
They were going on Chicago Avenue. The
same guy owns Yeah, we know. Atlantic,
Cincinnati, Philadelphia have had a lot
of them. And Atlantic Avenue the worst.
There there was a report last week
that there's trash everywhere. Yeah,
well. Everywhere. My house, too.
And so,
we have to do something. Yeah. Hey, but
did I
Did Did I hear you say though that um
because these are Stockton University
sanctioned
fraternities or sororities, They can
close them down. that ultimately
somebody from Stockton should get
involved.
>> Yeah, they're supposed to shut them down
with them. But I don't know if they're
sanctioned or they're just kids who are
living there with all the fraternity
things up. It could be the landlord or
the house like the Alpha Phi, whatever
like some of them are
with Stockton like that one on
Philadelphia, I believe it is. Both of
them are. 95% of them are Stockton.
Yeah, they And I also contacted Stockton
police and said, "Can we you come out?
These are your students. Will you come
out and help?" And they said, "No."
Well, that's the chief will tell you
about that cuz she She She O'Manion, is
that your contact, too?
Um I'm My daughter is the one who was
dealing back with her. Yeah. Well, she
She knows the If these fraternities or
sororities are officially affiliated
with stock,
and they're not just sprung up on their
own and kids putting letters on the
door, but if they're actual
camp- campus Yeah. organizations, if you
will,
then it would seem like somebody from
Stockton
should have some sort of oversight over
those organizations. And whoever that
person is or those people are should
should get involved.
Yeah, the chief can talk to you all
about that. She's She really does work
hard to try to I know. help it. I tried
to You got to do something
more in our code, I think, to give them
the power. We definitely will. I mean,
we did do the nuisance order ordinance.
But you can use disturbance of the peace
cuz what they used to tell them was
Oh, if it's not past 11:00, we can't do
anything. Well, that's not true. If it's
in the morning, if it's in the
afternoon, the evening,
disturbance of the peace goes anytime.
So, don't
don't be afraid to call anytime
authorities. Thank you for Thank you for
bringing that to our attention.
We have seen it ourselves. So.
Anyone else wish to be heard?
Just state your name and address,
please. My name is Andrew Warren.
Um
some of you guys might recognize me
here.
No?
I grew up with your sons, Mikey and
Matty. Played basketball with them every
day at Mark's house. Jordan Hostetler?
Andrew Warren.
>> And what's your address? 834 Hamburg
Avenue.
What block they're from?
>> I've been inside your house, ate dinner
with you and all that.
Mr. DeVeaux, I was raised next to your
son. You were at my wedding. Your son
was my best man.
I recognize you.
I also recognize you. I grew up with our
son.
Who's that? Jordan Hostetler. Jordan I
corrupted Jordan Hostetler? Yeah, Jordan
Hostetler. I just played hockey with
him.
He lives in the town, do you? Play
hockey? You played hockey with Jordan
Hostetler. I don't think I corrupted him
though. That's a Okay.
All right, let's move on. What is your
Sorry. Sorry, I know.
Um I live on 834 Hamburg um where the
whole entertainment center thing is
going.
Um
my house is sandwiched in between them.
There's a maintenance field to the left
of me. There's the whole other complex
to the right of me.
This uproots me from my home.
Would any of you want to live there?
Would any of you want your kids to live
there?
In between all of that. A nice, quiet,
tucked-in little house. I've been there
for 10 years. Mind you, I've grown up
here. Every single breath I've taken has
been
in Egg Harbor City.
33 years, 34.
I'm disappointed
because I feel like none of you
have ever brought this to our attention
in the town. Into a forefront effort.
Yeah, you had meetings and things like
that, but we're we're working. We're
living. Not all of us can pay attention
until all of a sudden it's actually
happening.
So, just to put that out there, I'm
disappointed.
Please. I I In November, I see faces in
my And I see and I see tags on my house.
None of you have ever brought this to my
attention or my parents' attention who
own the home.
The ecological impact of it or
the uh
the the species I see. The when it was
frozen over this winter, there is
red-winged
blackbirds. There's blue
jays. There's so many species out there.
It's a wetlands for a reason. There's
beaver. There's birds. There's
everything. I filled my bee bird feeders
and it's it's beautiful.
And you're taking that away for nothing.
For a just a another lot of pavement
that's probably destined to fail.
No one watches movies anymore. The movie
industry isn't exactly booming. I think
you're a little too late behind the ball
on the movie industry.
Uh it's going to turn into an AI
warehouse eventually. Think we all see
that coming. And if it does, what's the
plan if it does fall out? What's the
plan for the construction and the noise
and the rumbling and all of it?
What's the plan for me as someone in the
worst economy to buy a house ever? As a
young person just getting their feet,
trying to start a family.
And now I have this happening around me.
I know it's 3 minutes and my time is up.
But you know, I I'm going to ask our
engineer to make a
>> There needs to be some more clarity,
man. Well, let let him speak because um
he has a he has some comments about this
project right now cuz we're not in a
position to answer those questions at
this point. Good. But you're in position
to start construction within the year.
So, that puts me in a spot where I have
to move. Let's hear what the engineer
has to say.
The plans certainly haven't been
finalized yet. The city hasn't even
formally received plans developer. We
engaged with the redeveloper probably 2
and 1/2 years ago at this point. Um he's
been working with the planning
commission. That site has a 6-plus acre
landfill and former landfill site.
>> Yep. Um and it's the whole site is about
100 acres. Only about 34 of it, I
believe, are upland areas. So, all of
the wetlands and 300-ft buffer or 400-ft
wetlands will be preserved. Um
and it won't be touched as part of this
project.
So, the developer has the
>> other areas would. Yeah. Where animals
also reside.
>> All of the The upland areas would would
be cleared and developed. Correct. Um
so, the
the project plans have been submitted to
the planning commission. You've been
working through finding a permit in
there.
Um the developer, when he gets uh what's
called certificate of filing from the
commission, which is essentially
permission to be able to come to the
local board with his plans. When he
submits that application, I'll have to
get a 200-ft property owner list and
send notices to anyone within 200 ft of
the entire redevelopment.
So, at that point, you'll get a notice
in the mail or meeting a public meeting
where the applicant um and his
professionals present the plan to the
planning
So, that that's the point where the city
has an opportunity And and what effect
would I have there? So, you there's
there's a public comment portion. The
board there's board members that vote on
the plan and and Who are here today? No,
it's The planning board is a different
>> Understood. Understood. But they're
they're appointed people. So,
um but they're they're all people who
live in town.
So, those people have to sit and listen
to the entire presentation and
comment back and and and request
revisions and request changes.
Um some that are related to the
ordinance, some that are not. Um there's
there's always a public comment portion
and I I can tell you that the um the the
board members do weigh public comment
and they they care about uh as council
does
what what the impact to the community
is. So, that's that's the that's the
forum for people to voice their concerns
about the development. I I'll be honest.
I mean, we we shared the plans as a
courtesy, but I I'm pretty sure that
most of the council members haven't seen
the actual project plans. We we saw the
concept plan some time ago.
Right. So, those those are the most
recent plans that were submitted to the
planning commission. But they've been
working through the commission. We've
had discussions with them to say like,
"Look, we we don't really need plans
until you get through the commission
process." They had to do the threatened
endangered species studies. They had to
look for uh certain state species that
you know, barred owl. Uh they had to
look for or I want to say four or five
different plant species. Um so, they So,
we are doing some sort of ecological
research. Oh, yeah. They The applicant
has spent several years doing that.
>> people in my backyard about a year ago
dipping sticks and I chased them out cuz
I didn't want them in my backyard. They
were probably doing studies. What did
they find?
Those samples were never shared for me
that were on my actual property. So, is
it my yard contaminated?
>> So, ideally they didn't go on your
property. Ideally
>> They did. They were in my backyard.
100%. I If they were related to the
property within my boundaries.
And that's why I kicked them out. They
moved and they just went to 10 ft away
from my edge of my property.
>> I'm from the side of Robert Shaw. So,
did they ever find contaminants in that
area? Uh so, the the the people doing
the threatened endangered species
studies, they're not looking for
contaminants. They're looking for
>> No, no, no. They were They were testing
the soil. I asked them what they were
doing. They said they were testing the
soil for contaminants. There was two
young people. They wouldn't tell me who
they were working for. They were in the
red, you know, orange vests and stuff.
So, I think if they were testing for
contaminants, did they ever get Because
as I understand if it's contaminated You
should follow up with them. I mean, Who?
They didn't tell me who they worked for.
They were hired by the city to do the
testing.
>> get you the answer though. I mean, but
right now it doesn't You're asking for
an answer that I don't think we can
Yeah, we don't we don't know this
answer. Well, it's a grant for
contaminated land.
>> No, but you're talking about them
testing soil in your backyard. I'm
saying how about you follow up with them
cuz we don't have the answer for you
today. Okay. Hear me clearly. I hear
you. Yeah. I asked them who they worked
for. All right. And they told me they
they don't need to tell me that. So, how
should I follow That's wrong. Yeah, they
should have at least if they're testing
>> suggest I do that? Well, let's get you
the answer. I don't know I don't know
who that would We'll work with you. So,
the city The applicant The version is
the developer has to submit
I'm just curious. I want to know if my
backyard They were in my backyard, sir.
So, when they Not trying to be
combative. I'm just trying to be neutral
and get answers. Understood. So, so when
they come into the board, they have to
submit all of that information. All of
that becomes public record. Let me make
that clear. Understood. Um there there
are various grants associated with the
property. There's the NJ SRF grant for
the purposes to investigate the
contamination. There's an EDA grant for
infrastructure improvements related to
the movie production facility.
Um and and and please like understand
that when you research this project,
what comes up because again, this is my
first time learning this and this has
been in the works since 2018, I suppose.
A long damn time. And I'm just learning
about it. Everything comes up about this
contamination grant. That is why I'm
pressing this.
>> That's from the landfill. Yeah. They
could They had to do the Right. But they
were also testing my land. So,
I just would like to know if that land
is contaminated. However, Well, we don't
we don't really have the answer
>> all information that eventually will
become public? So, you don't So, you
don't know if it's contaminated or not.
So, we'll leave it there. You're free to
ask about the
contamination. Do we know if this
company is going to pay taxes to the
city? Of course. They must. Okay. They
were testing the water, remember, Ryan?
Because of the landfill. They wanted
Well, they Yeah, they
They have to do all kinds of But again,
we'll we'll get copies of all of all of
the reports that I'm just trying to make
sure that when I lose my home, the city
benefits. That's all. When I lose my
privacy, when I lose my comfort, when I
lose my you know, cuz this isn't
happening to you. It's happening to me.
Sure. So, you So, I have a reason to You
can voice those concerns to the board as
it gets presented today. Well, again,
there's a development board. That's the
proper board that
I should look out for when that is.
Yeah, like I said, you'll get a notice.
There'll be a public meeting date.
There'll be meetings in this room. Is
the construction being bid out to anyone
in a Harvard city or local It's a
private
I said it's not that far yet. I was
Yeah, it's it's important. That's why
I'm trying to get ahead of things. I'm
trying to gather information so I
understand what is happening around me.
Yeah, it's it's a private developer. The
city owns the land but we have a
redevelopment agreement with a private
developer. He's the one moving forward
with the project so he'll be So is
anyone public theater
So But we in conversation we've had with
them, he does intend I was just hoping
that it was at least Atlanta County
developers or builders and whatnot would
at least make some dough off of it, too.
Yeah, it's it's not all bid it out. It's
not national
It's not like a giant national
multinational company or anything. A guy
from Cape May County and our discussion
with him, he intends to use local
contractors. Good. I see. That's Well,
thank you, Mr. Ward. Thank Thank you.
And please please try to be a little
more transparent when you're destroying
half of the god damn wetlands. Please
Please don't talk that way. Thank you.
Dale who's spent 59 through the year
I want to apologize to the mayor for uh
we had a misunderstanding about
constituents the last meeting and
I'm sorry that I accused her of
something that probably wasn't right so
I just want everybody to know I mean I
understand it was a big eye-opener for
me to come to the first Bay Harbor City
meeting and
realize the amount of rooftops you have
and you're limited on your taxes and
and I think that
uh the lottery was hit here with this
guy
and um
I don't know what to say but I don't
know whether everybody out there knows
that Mr. Sat uh Satcher Jonathan Satcher
uh is a disbarred attorney
uh and guess what for? Real estate
fraud. So I've been a developer for 40
years.
You better be back up a little bit.
>> Okay. Yeah, stop right here. Uh and we
wouldn't even listen to this guy.
Anybody a disbarred attorney is a very
hard thing to get.
And you know this guy who is financing
this guy? Where's the money's coming
from? Not
what's going on with the land The land
is atrocious what it's doing to Hamburg
Avenue. Uh they want to put a 9,000
square foot
uh luxury apartment building across from
me
and I assume I don't even know what the
zoning is. Do you know what the zoning
is on this property? Is it commercial?
Is it residential? It's part of
redevelopment plans. So it can be
anything. Multi-purpose, okay. Uh that's
outrageous. So I can And then uh Mr. I
don't see him here tonight
kept going on and on about street
lights, traffic lights. We're going to
put traffic lights.
Well, this is a residential street. We
don't need traffic lights. A 525 car
parking lot so we have a traffic light
that's going to stop 400 cars
for 30 seconds or whatever. I don't know
how traffic lights work. That's
ridiculous. It Having We don't I I
represent the Hamburg Hill Group
uh that is opposed to this most A lot of
us in Malika, Warren happens to be in
Bay Harbor City, a few other people.
We don't want anything on Hamburg Avenue
and we prefer to even if it's on Moss
Mill
for uh Hamburg to be one way
so when the traffic when you get your
GPS, you don't come up Hamburg to go to
this property. You go up Philadelphia
Avenue to Moss Mill. But that's what I
think the city wants is to go through
the town
look at all the stores. Here's an
opportunity for a coffee shop.
Not Hamburg Avenue where there's a bunch
of deer crossings and
you know I can just imagine the golf
carts with the movie stores up and down
the street all the time. We don't really
want that. I mean
I hope you hit the lottery here. I I
assume
my my feeling is it's going to be a
disaster in a few years. I would really
in my opinion and with my experience
check this guy out. Where's the money
coming from? My time is up. I got that.
I apologize, mayor.
Thank you, Mr. Heston.
Anyone wish to be heard? Anyone else?
Would anybody like a plan of the power
of attorney or a number of them?
Seeing none
uh mayor comments?
Um I just want to thank uh Councilwoman
and Councilman Fast for organizing the
uh Easter
>> Please, Mr. Heston.
the Easter egg um
and the Easter egg hunt it was very
nice. There was an awful lot of kids
there and it was chilly but they all
hung in there and got their eggs and a
lot of good prizes. Thank you. You're
welcome.
My pleasure.
Anything I want to add. Thank you. Okay.
Mr. Wright? No.
Nothing.
Mr. Galloway? Nothing tonight.
Sessoms? Nothing. Good.
Sessoms? Nothing. Thank you.
Mr. Sessoms?
Uh no. I have no time to add anything.
Shortis? No comment.
Mr. Davis? Nothing. Nothing to add.
Okay. Sessoms?
And I will also have nothing to add. So
is there a motion to adjourn? Make a
motion.
Motion made and second. All in favor?
Aye. Opposed?
Any opposed?
Okay, speak for yourself.
You know who the culprit was.
Who was the culprit?