Public Meeting of Egg Harbor Township Committee 12/17/25

This portion of the scheduled meeting of
the is being technical reasons or topics
for discussion that may be held in close
session pursuant open public meetings
act. There may be interruptions in the
video
tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.
>> Pledge of Allegiance
to the flag of the United States of
America and to the stands one nation
indivisible
and justice for all. Before you all uh
sit down for a minute, uh we had one of
our former mayors pass away, Mr.
Aransen, who was 1968 to 1973, and he
was mayor for 72 and 73. Can we all just
have a moment of silence for him and all
the good work he did for us in Egg
Harbor Township?
Thank you.
Okay, we've got different presentations
tonight, but tonight's a special night
here for a couple different reasons. We
have an employee here who this is her
last official meeting. She's been with
us almost 47 years, 46 and 8 months if I
remember correctly. And this is her last
meeting.
>> SO SO
MR. Watson and Mr. Ellis,
I'm going to hand this to you.
I want them to leave.
>> You can go right.
>> You know what? No, we're not going to do
the official proclamation till she gets
back from her first vacation on
retirement.
>> Go down. Go ahead.
down. You guys come on down. Both of
them.
I don't know how you got chosen to
handle flowers.
However,
congratulations.
We're going to miss you. You've been
here as long as I've been here as
longer. However, um enjoy retirement. I
see your husband's right over there.
Russ people and uh enjoy everybody and I
think we are will be in good hands with
the team below you
speak but I think we'll be good and
certainly if we need you for anything
here right there
because you monitor me you stop me
eating sweet
M
Please
beep.
>> I love coming out of the office and
seeing you love.
>> But the staff is there. They're filming
this. And I actually have a few things I
want to say that I have been writing so
that I don't get to the parking lot
and I forgot to say something.
>> Okay. So this is the mayor of the
committee all my co-workers.
So, um,
so 46 years, 8 months, finishing up my
19th year as Township Clerk, and I can
honestly say that I never imagined how
quickly the years would pass because,
uh, it feels like I blinked somehow,
which I thought kind of emotional, try
to make my way through this. Um, I truly
appreciate the support, patience, and
friendships that have carried me through
the years. And I also want to say a
special thank you to my husband Frank,
my daughter Nicole, and my daughter
Jennifer. My Jennifer's in Tampa, so
she's was unable to make it tonight. Um,
they've put up with many nighttime
meetings, long election days, and times
I was away at conferences. They've
sacrificed a lot over the years, and
their support has made it possible for
me to do this job, and I'm incredibly
grateful for that.
Um, before retiring, I've done my best
to prepare the office for this next
chapter and I am absolutely confident
that things are in good shape and I know
the work continues smoothly. Thank you,
thank thankfully to my staff. Um, and I
especially want to offer my best wishes
to Janice Hughes because she'll be
stepping into the Oral Township Clerk
effective January 1 and she is more than
ready and is going to do a fantastic
job. um together with the support staff
uh Jen Roco and Amber Balis and I'm
proud of both accomplished together and
even though I'm excited for this next
chapter of my life, I will always
remember the township and the time I
spent here. It's been and a lot of fun.
Thank you so much.
I'll tell you I'll have to behave like
I won't be there
to
behave
around the back.
We all appreciate your work here. We all
love this. I know you do too. Your
husband does. He's always out and about
and that's what makes it good. We've
grown a lot for over 45 years. been
here. Um, and we hope to get
>> Miss
Right to the end.
for the next part of the meeting.
Uh, we have a group of individuals.
Where's Roger? I know he's here. Could
we ask the members of the rent review
board to come forward?
state government has changed the way the
rent review and rents are handled here
in the state of New Jersey. And we've
had some incredibly dedicated people
uh sit on this board and support the
tenants, the homeowners, the uh trailer
park, and everybody else. And they've
done an outstanding job. So Paul is
going to read a resolution. Excuse me.
We have a few things to happen now.
>> Township of Aar certificate of
appreciation honoring the collective
service of the rent review board in
sincere appreciation of your exceptional
dedication. Unwavering commitment and
service to our community. Your
collective efforts in providing fair,
impartial, and thoughtful review of
housing matters have helped ensure that
both tenants and property owners are
treated with respect, transparency, and
equity. The board's diligence in
navigating complex cases, upholding
community standards, and fostering
constructive communication has played a
vital role in maintaining stability and
trust within our housing landscape. Your
professionalism, integrity, and
collective spirit serve as an
outstanding example of public service at
its finest. Through your time,
expertise, and compassion, you've
positively impacted the lives of
countless individuals and families. Your
commitment to fairness and community
well-being is deeply valued and truly
commendable. Now therefore be excuse me.
Now therefore be it proclaimed that the
township committee of Egg Harbor hereby
extends its deepest appreciation to all
board members for their dedicated
service on the rent review board and it
commends them for their contributions to
the township and its RESIDENTS
who has been the attorney on that board
for how many years? 38 as of counting
right now.
38 years.
>> Well, it's a long time, but it's been a
wonderful service. I've enjoyed
thoroughly. I've enjoyed working with
the council committee, the current
council committee and all the prior ones
and they've become friends as well as
colleagues in the work.
>> You've done an outstanding job.
>> Outstanding job.
>> Now, I would ask you to please introduce
the members of the board that are here.
They're not on here tonight. The
chairman
is
a serious business
that is
>> well
and she is a newer member couple years
in and she's done a wonderful job. She
is very reliable in being present in
every meeting that we have uh and uh has
done a wonderful job. She's been a
welcome addition. Beverly has been here
many years. Beverly is been uh the right
hand side of the board. We always know
what going to happen, whether it's going
to vote, yes or no, by the time it gets
to Beverly, because she's right there at
the end of the
member, Paul, Paul Kadacio, has been a
member of the board as long as I can
remember, and I've been here 38 years
myself.
So he has been a very valuable member of
the board and has given us the uh
viewpoint of a landlord because he owns
and operates with his father-in-law
um several uh parks parks in the in the
township has done a wonderful job.
It's been my pleasure to serve with all
of you, but I've particularly enjoyed
hearing the the viewpoint of the
landlord, which has a reasonable and
fair viewpoint that deserves to be given
attention. And last but not least is uh
my friend and buddy Ryan Deli.
>> Ryan and I started the board, started to
run the board together.
>> Yeah, exactly. And so when I say I've
been here 38 years, he's been here
except for one pause of a couple of
years in between, he's been here as many
years as I have been here and was a
former chairman and has done a wonderful
job and it's been a pleasure to serve
with him as well. In fact, it's been a
pleasure to serve with each one of them
and I should give a little bit of
attention to Pamela and to Jenna who
have given us great assistance as well
as uh Janice from time to time and thank
you all. It's been a pleasure. It's been
a great privilege.
>> Well, you I think it's well over 100
years experience
>> right now.
>> Which is amazing. and the state of New
Jersey.
But would anybody like to say anything?
Anybody?
>> Well, I had some time as mayor and I
know that the crisis that you dealt
with, you tried your best for whether
wood or wine broke, somebody's fence was
not right. And um it it had to be a
tough job because you really had not
much control. But the thing is um people
live in a trailer park own one and know
and we try to make sure it's safe and
secure for them and and properly ran.
And I don't know what the state of New
Jersey is thinking because they didn't
give you a lot of Roger. I guess you can
expand on it. not a lot of uh leeway for
us to control them and make them do x y
or z, but you tried your best and I can
remember the um I won't mention park
name, but the wood lines and sewer lines
that were always compromised and needed
help. So, thank you all. Roger.
Go Phillies or go Baltimore, whatever
the team is.
Um so,
>> yeah, I have Baltimore tickets. Roger
has fully tickets. So, we used to swap.
But the thing is, um, it's it's, you
know, we need this in local government.
People that will
take an interest and try to help for the
betterment of the community.
That's all right.
>> I serve good. Okay. landlords, okay,
they
have compassion, okay, and look to the
tenants as well as their interest. So
you won't
we're done. So we'll see what the state
see
>> we'll see what the state comes up with.
I really don't have high hopes for the
program.
They've taken everybody. So, we have to
do that.
>> But thank you each and every one of you.
Thank you.
Yep.
Um
I always uh I was a first responder and
people always say thank you for your
service but um when co came I would go
to shop and thank them for the service.
a lot of people who should be thanked
and I asked some of those people today
um for Thanksgiving I always go away
with my family this Thanksgiving I said
I wanted to cook so I got all the food
the turkey and all that stuff I was
going to let you cook it this you so I I
um found it was a family that didn't
have Thanksgiving food so I gave it to
them I said we can have chicken over eat
with time whatever but here's a family a
group of people that feed 6,000 thousand
families a month and they're here today.
Um
people come on up here.
I knew y'all were coming.
Yeah. But I go to the food bank and I
love it. And you have to see the the the
workers and they're there for the heart
from from their heart. Such volunteers
need employees all they love their job.
You have to go see it. Um we don't know
uh the amount of people that in need but
there's a lot. when you go there you see
lines from here to Walmart and that's
far and they stay there with their smile
and all that and I fell in love with the
place so I know sometime I buckle I
don't buckle but I go visit them all the
time um saying that it's just you know
just I just wanted to thank them and I
want you to see some of the workers
there also I have a a guy here a guy him
and his wife he was like the big dad who
I try to be for the kids he's going to
reasons why I am the way I am today. Um,
back in my day growing up, men were men
and men didn't play. You know, we men
will jack you up. Now we got di and all
that other stuff. And we had discipline.
We had respect. We call on Mr. and M. So
I want to introduce Mr. and Ms. Mac. I
want them to come up. Mr. Mr. Mac, Mrs.
Mac, they're real humble, you know. But
I wanted to acknowledge them cuz they
came to the food bank and the guy was
showing him the front office and the guy
said, you know, I said he wanted to make
a donation and and so the guy gave him a
little piece of paper. I said, "Go get
his bike for breakfast. This is not that
kind of donation for our community.
These are the max
city. They donated $50,000
TO
ON THE BACK. THEY do it cuz they love
helping people. But my mother always
said, "Give me my smell." So I wanted to
recognize each and everyone for the
great job we do. Also, I was told that
Tyrone was a place called We Addiction
in Harvard Township that have lunch with
the staff who proudly me. So keep up the
great work there. We love you and no we
can't give you a street name
but we want people to know your and I
would like for you to say I love you all
to do this. Are there things that the
food bank needs more than others? And if
you can let everybody know what are the
things that are most important for the
residents that go there. Well, just one
thing for the public. They represent
Kate May, correct? And Ly County, so
to come into our location on the pipe
across from McCarthy Ford. And um it's a
big big operation.
>> And the food is on.
>> Well, thank you so much, brother. We
really appreciate that. And thank you
everybody for having us here today. Um,
so we are Community Food Bank of New
Jersey. We are right down the road in
EHT. Um, and we serve through our food
bank operations across Atlantic,
Gateman, and Cumberland counties about
6,000 households every single month. But
right in our pantry in EHT, we serve
almost 2,000 households every single
month. Um, and we know that need is
growing, right? Grocery prices are going
up, wages are kind of going up, but not
at the same rate. Um, insurance costs
are going up. So, we're we're just
anticipating that needs gonna rise. Um,
and then there's lots of new ways that
you can support us if that's something
you're looking to do. Um, or maybe
you're sitting here and you're thinking,
"Oh, use some food." You can come check
us out, too. Um, we're open to
everybody. You don't need
identification. You don't have to live
in EHT. Um, you just have to live
somewhere in the state of New Jersey.
Um, and you're able to come once a
month. So, we do take donations um of
all kinds. So, uh you know, an easy
thing for folks to donate to us are
things like canned goods and we could
always use them definitely, but really
extra special things around holidays for
our neighbors are things you might not
think of. coffee, tea, uh things that
are shelf stable, but not things that we
would ever purchase with our budget
because we have to prioritize things
like, you know, proteins and and grains
and things that might make a complete
meal for a family. So, when we get
things like coffee or when we get that
like neighbor, you know, butter that
comes in, those are the things that, you
know, really make people's days even
months really special. So, if you're
thinking about, you know, dropping any
one item off, that would be the thing.
we get requests for the most. Um, but I
just, you know, again, really am
incredibly grateful to Ray, to Paul,
really all of all of EHD who rallied
behind us um for a big project we just
worked on and pushed us through in like
record time with all of the
>> Can you let them know the refrigeration
that you did out there? What the project
actually was? It's a great project.
>> Yes. So, we just installed in October um
16 refrigerated and frozen lockers and
freezers and they're designed for
working families. So, um they are open
24/7 and families can register with us
and then they can come pick up their
food. They order their groceries online
just like you would from Amazon or from
um like all your Shopight, but it's
free. So, there's absolutely no charge
to use the service. The groceries are
free as well. Um, and all that families
need to do to qualify is tell us that
they have the need. Um, so it's
incredibly accessible.
Um, you select your pickup day and then
you have basically from 11:00 a.m. until
7:00 a.m. the next day to come pick up
your grocery order. Um, and it's all
pantry. So most of it is um you know
fresh produce, frozen proteins um and
then some other and shelf stable items
that people ask for like rice um things
like that. Our most popular item
actually I just ran the report before I
came. Our most popular item is um
assorted bakery and bread. And then our
second most popular item is macaroni and
cheese. And that's because so far the
50% of the families that we serve have
an average of about two kids. So they're
typically um like two or three adults in
the household. About 30% are
intergenerational. So their grandparents
living in the house too. Um most of them
have kids that they're supporting and
over 50% are working two or more jobs
and just still aren't making. So if you
know anyone could benefit from the
program, send them away. Uh they can
just stop by and chat with us or they
can visit our website. Um or you know if
you want to support the program, same
thing. Come by, chat with us or or visit
our website.
do an outstanding job. Outstanding job.
But thank you.
Um,
>> Ray's in big trouble.
>> Thank you for inviting us to come over.
This is my opportunity to be with the
staff. Anthony was the one that actually
went into the office. Um, but I'm glad
that uh we he and I came together on
what we should do. a number of
organizations that reached out to us and
told us about what they wanted to do
during the holiday season. And uh as we
talked about it, uh we found out that
they all utilize the uh group uh as
their source uh to u get the products
that they distribute to the people that
come and visit their organizations. So
we thought that rather than give a
little bit to these several
organizations
and so we're glad that
I
also I'd like to say uh again, Mr. uh
Mr. Mac, Mr. Mack, Mr. Mack, I really
appreciate everything you did for myself
and my dolphins and y'all just did
everything. And I looked in the
dictionary uh one day and I was looking
for what who's uh definition of a real
man and I saw Mr. Max's picture and then
I said a real woman. I saw Mrs. Mac and
then when I saw looked in the
dictionary, I saw a couple married
couples. You were in the dictionary.
Paul, you was on the bottom. You was on
the page, too. Good husbands. When I
looked up Good Husbands, then I saw you
on there.
>> McDonald's.
>> He gave me free food.
>> Well, thank you, Mr. Mrs. Matt. Thank
you very much. The food. Enjoy it. And
about the little project that we were
dragged into. I was hoping maybe Ray
Else would help me smooth the concrete,
but other than that,
and and it that was an interesting
project. The state of New Jersey gave
you a grant, correct? And we had to make
sure we could get it. State was very hot
on the trail to get those things in. So,
we made sure it happened.
>> Thank you.
>> I want a picture.
I got some beautiful ladies. Don't get
jealous.
>> Thank you again for everything. Thank
you. You know, and it's actually a good
segue because
>> we're going to have a presentation
tonight from the Atlantic County
Utilities Authority, who also is a big
supporter of the food bank. Matt Dafo,
the chairman, is here. Linda Beemore is
here. Who else is here, guys? Up right
at you.
Before
you start, can you talk a little bit
about the food drive that you do every
December?
>> Yes. Yes.
>> The community food bank does an
incredible job. I have to echo what
everyone has said about what they do for
the community, whether it's Atlantic
County, Kay County, Cumberland County,
but the ACA participates in that. And
actually, it's not really us, it's it's
the residents. So, the residents of
Atlantic County, uh during your
recycling week, the first two weeks of
December, you're able to put out your
recycling um with some donations that go
directly to the community food bank. And
uh we raised over uh I think it was
10,000 lbs of um donations to the
community food bank. And that's not
possible without every single resident
uh in in the county participating in
that. Uh it's really been a great
program we've done for for a little over
30 years now. So
but very very um important cause when
you start looking at the stats of you
know food security and you know one in
nine adults and I think it's like one in
eight children are you know uh food
source uh scarce. So um certainly a very
very important um initiative for the
county that our neighbors and we're glad
you can join. So now you're here for
business.
>> Yes. Yep. And I'll keep it short cuz I
know you have a long agenda. I don't
think everybody's here for my for my
budget presentation, but um we all get
to to hear what's going on with the
Atlantic County Utilities Authority. Uh
so the first um set of information and
packets here wouldn't be the ACUA if we
weren't talking about, you know,
different things that were kind of
happening. Um capacity at the landfill
has been a topic of conversation for
three or four years now. I've been in
the president for almost three years
now. And before my uh tenure, uh it was
a it was a topic. What's happening? What
are we doing? Where do we have capacity?
We're currently permitted to 2029. Uh
over the last 3 years, we've been
developing plans and specifications to
increase that capacity. Uh we have an
additional 11 years on top of that. So
we're going from 2029 to 2040. And
that's really important when we talk
about affordability. So our rates are
the lowest rate in the uh except for one
in the entire state. Uh Essex County is
the only rate that's a little bit lower
than us. Um our 2026 rate is going up
2%. our 2026 rate is lower than
everybody else's 2025 rate still. Uh the
affordability of that impacts every
single taxpayer. Um the cost of what
we're looking at too is also a big part
of that. So our expansion, we're looking
at two different areas. We're looking at
a little portion towards the parkway uh
and a little bit of a height expansion.
The cost of that is about $25 million.
And that sounds like a lot of money,
right? Um the last expansion or the last
construction phase that we did, we
finished in 2024. It got us three and a
half years, cost us $18 million. So
roughly 5.15.2
million per year of airspace we were
paying for. 11 years 25 million is
roughly 2.2 $2.3 million a year in
airspace. So again, looking at long-term
affordability, the rates that we've
continued to have and continue to enjoy
as far as Atlantic County residents, uh
it's really important that we continue
to stabilize that. Uh the next big thing
is is is what are the other counties
doing? So there are 12 landfills in the
state. 10 of them are all going for some
form of expansion. Uh two have already
gone through the process. Five or six
are actually in the D right now. We're
behind them. We're going through the
process now. Uh we're at the local
level. We just uh had our first SWAC
meeting. We'll have another one in
January and then we'll go to the county
commissioners. Uh so all of the
landfills in the in the state really are
looking for additional capacity. Uh five
of them are looking for additional
heights. Uh we are actually the lowest
landfill not just by price but also by
height uh in the entire state. So we're
looking to kind of gain some capacity
there. Uh the first question you'll hear
is or the first statement you might hear
is you're going to see that landfill
everywhere. You're not going to see it
anywhere you don't already see it now.
There's two places in the county that
you see it right now. Mile marker 38 on
the Parkway uh just to the right. We're
150 ft uh from the parkway there. You
see the side of our landfill. You see it
now. you'll see it in the future. Uh you
also see Mammoth County in the parkway.
You see, uh Burlington County on 295 in
the turnpike if you're ever driving up
that way. Um they put these things
typically in industrial areas. Um the
other spot we look at is uh coming down
Mil Road uh going towards Westcot off of
uh Route 30 and Abseen there where the
McDonald's and uh TD Bank is. You see it
just before the reservoir and then you
get to the reservoir and you don't see
it. um that'll continue but there are no
new areas. You don't see it on Daley.
You don't see it in developments. You
don't see it in EHT, Hamilton,
Brigantine. Uh this is a pretty sec um
secluded site. I'll say they they kind
of uh did a pretty good job when they
the plan for where it was going. Um so
that's what we're working through. Uh
right now we've gotten several letters
of support. We continue. We appreciate
the letters of support we got from EHT
as well uh last month. Um but that's the
biggest thing that that's that's moving
right now. But again, the biggest part
of that is the affordability. Uh if our
landfill closes prematurely, uh it's a
about a $25 million hit to the county
and that gets spread across the entire
municipality. So, not just EHT, but
every municipality from collection costs
to household hazardous waste disposal to
recycling costs and tip fees um and and
several other initiatives that we're
involved with. So really, really
important when it comes to
affordability, which is a big topic
right now, uh, in the state, in the
county, I'm sure in the municipality as
well. Um, as far as the budget, it's a
pretty flat budget. So, we're really
looking at a 2% increase. We've been
trying to kind of hold the line, you
know, behind, I guess, or or low within
inflation. A lot of the counties are
looking at a um um about a 3 to 3 and a
half%. They're looking at the inflation
rate. Some have done 2%, but we're right
in there with that 2%. We would be going
for zero if we if we could. Um the the
problem we're having right now is we
have a lawsuit. We have to actually fund
uh $1.5 million next year. So 65
residents in the county filed a lawsuit
in 2024. Uh their house is 1,500 ft from
our landfill. Uh it's costing us $1.5
million every year uh as we kind of move
through this process uh with them. So it
has an impact on the rate. Uh our our
healthc care benefits is a big issue. Uh
we were actually able to get out of the
state health benefits which kept us at a
flat rate and that's savings gets get
passed on down to the rate payers. Uh
and then the other big project that we
just had that we um cut the ribbon for
was our RNG project. It's a 7-year
project, $60 million of investment from
a private company into our facility
that's now taking the landfill gas,
cleaning it to pipeline quality,
injecting it back into the landfill. And
what it's doing is uh providing revenue
to the ACA, which again keeps our rate
low. So about $1.3 million in revenue is
coming into our um budget next year
that'll help offset our costs. Again,
keeping our rate as stable as possible,
and that'll be every every single year.
We're also seeing a reduction in
emissions at our Flare. So our Flare
does not run anymore because of this
project. So that's a 95% reduction in
total emissions. And then it just so
happens we can use that renewable
natural gas in our collection trucks cuz
all of our collection trucks were
converted over to compressed natural gas
about 10 to 15 years ago. It's a third
of the emissions of diesel. It's a
fraction of the cost. Um and it's really
been a savings for uh the organization.
And like I said, every every penny that
we save goes right down to uh the
rateayer, which happens to be every
taxpayer in Atlantic County.
Uh the last sheet that you a little bit
more the important one is just the
report card. So this really is specific
to Egg Harbor Township. It just kind of
shows you where your trash is. So the
it's the last sheet of that packet
probably. It's the one with the the
fancy graph on it. Um it just shows kind
of the last 10 years and and where your
tip fee has been, where your tonnage has
been. Uh so the top chart we're looking
at, that bottom one, 2025, that's a
projected where you're going to end for
the year. A couple things to note on
there, especially while we have a a
large public in in uh in the room
tonight, is um every piece of recycling
that gets put into the trash can gets
charged at 8119 a ton or next year 8281
a ton. Every piece of material that gets
recycled, it's a zero cost to the
township. We bear that cost, but it's a
zero cost to the township. So, a lot of
towns that we've been meeting with, you
guys are our 24th meeting out of 27.
We're we're almost finishing up and and
people are trying to figure out how do
we get people to recycle. There's a lot
of misinformation out there and I think
people get it. You know, just get
overwhelmed with is the pizza box
recyclable? Is a yogurt container
recyclable? Keep it simple, right? Pizza
box is cardboard. If you got the extra
cheese, it's covered in grease and
cheese. It's trash. Right? If it's
clean, put in recycling cardboard. Don't
overthink it. Uh the peanut butter jar,
just throw it in trash. It's covered in
peanut butter, right? I know it's
plastic. Just throw it in the trash.
Keep it simple. But think about this. We
were just in in Buuna Burrow. Uh and
their recycling rate went down. Their
trash t tonnage went up. It was a $7,000
and for Buun Burough, it's a it's a
significant amount. $7,000 swing from
what they were recycling to what they're
throwing in the trash. And that's going
right to their taxpayer, right? That's
going right to their bill. So looking at
their collection contract, that would be
a three and a half% increase on their
total collection contract. So we're
trying to kind of get the word out and
we we provide um audits for recycling.
But again, don't overthink it. Keep it
simple. Cans, bottles, uh your junk
mail, your newspapers, plastic, uh the
yogurt container. If it doesn't have the
right number on, just throw it in the
trash. If everybody just did the very
simple basics, we'd be in a very very uh
good situation. So
>> put in a plastic bag.
>> Don't put it in a plastic bag. Yes. Yes.
The trash bags are not helpful cuz they
get the machinery all kind of bound up
and that slows down um the processing uh
when that happens. So question real
quick.
>> Sure.
>> You say like if it's a peanut butter jar
just
>> you can but but when you think about
like what the net benefit of that is,
how much water and soap are you using to
clean out that peanut butter jar? If you
want to be a great recycler, look at
every single number. Absolutely. and and
and and we have really great recyclers
and they know what those numbers are.
I'm saying the large majority of people
get so worked up over whether this solo
cup is recyclable or this clamshell
container is recyclable that if they
just kept it simple, they'd be much
better than most people are when it
comes to recycling. The peanut butter
jar is probably using more water. So,
when you look at like a net benefit to
the amount of water we're using to clean
out a peanut butter jar, I mean, I I
can't stand cleaning the peanut butter
off the knife.
It it it is. It is. But if it's stopping
you from doing something else, it's not
worth again that jar, right? It's not
worth that container. So certainly if
you want to be a superstar recycler,
clean it out, right? Look underneath.
Look at those numbers. You're going to
know the rules. If if you're worried
about that peanut butter jar, you're
going to know exactly what those rules
are within your town. But if you're one
of those people that go, "Ah, recycling
doesn't work. I'm just going to throw
everything in the trash because you
think that, you know, the the jam jar or
whatever you have is contaminating
things and they're not recycling anyway.
Don't keep the clean stuff in. Keep
throwing it in and keep moving that
material over to the the recycling. We
keep moving the needle that way. Uh
we'll go from a 20 30 40 30% recycling
rate uh to a 30 40% recycling rate. So
um so I'm not saying don't. I'm saying
that if again this this mentality is
where people get so complicate
things. Humans love to complicate
things. Keep it simple. Keep it simple.
Um
>> don't do it.
>> Yes. Yes. Exactly. It's going to your
tax bill is is really the the bottom
line of it. And then the last um graph
here is just really your projection on
where you're at uh for next year. It's
just a 5-year average. So when we say
projection 5-year average COVID, you'll
see those numbers are usually a little
bit higher. Uh and they bring your
averages up, but you look like you guys
are pretty stable. It's the average is
higher than what it was this year. Um so
so if I were to to be projecting
something, I would say it's probably
going to be pretty flat for next year
when when you're looking at cost. So and
that should be
>> promote this to the schools recycling.
>> Yes. Yeah. So we have a lot of outreach.
uh any of the schools that are looking
for presentations, we bring in Super Can
because that's really where it starts.
You know, the kids forcing the parents
to do it is really where it starts. Um
if you look at your chart, you'll see in
2020 there's a drop off in recycling and
this is a across the town. So for
instance, Egg Harbor Township was
looking at 25 and was 26% actually in in
2015 it was 27% recycling rate. COVID
hits and I don't know if it's a matter
of what was happening at CO or it's due
to there's been so much work on
education on what to recycle and how to
recycle and then if you remember
nationally what was happening is China
was turning away all of our recycling
material and and then it became a a very
big platform um and and a lot of
publicity about recycling going to the
landfill recycling is being burned. It
could have been in other places. It
wasn't here in Atlantic County. uh it
wasn't here in in the state. It was it's
it's a law. Um the problem is that and
I'll say this, Americans are lazy,
right? We we don't want to think about
things too much. We want the
convenience. We want to be able to kind
of throw it out. And we were sending a
lot of our trash to China that was
contaminated. The rules were in place.
We weren't following them and nobody was
enforcing them. All of a sudden, they
said, "We don't want your trash anymore.
This stuff's contaminated." And then we
had to start following the rules. And
then we had to start thinking about what
those rules were. And then we were
frustrated because we were being told we
couldn't do something or we were being
told that this is has too much trash in
or turning these things away. And then
that became the rhetoric of it's getting
thrown into the landfill, it's getting
burned. And there were states that were
doing that because it became a a cost
thing for them. But that wasn't what was
happening locally. And I think that that
really damaged the impression or the the
perspective of what recycling was. Our
recycled material gets recycled. It gets
processed. It gets turned into other
products. It doesn't go into the
landfill. It saves our capacity. It also
saves our towns significant dollars. So,
um, it still works.
>> Well, full disclosure, I'm a CA and I am
very proud of this organization. They're
extremely proactive in how they approach
things. They are the leaders in many
different areas and and the basically
the person that people call when they
want to get into something. So, I'm very
very proud to be a member of that. And
Mr. Rosenberg
prior to me I think was a commissioner
on the board
>> and uh
>> commissioner
>> I think it was also super cam
>> everybody gets into super can right
>> I'm not all
>> but no thank you
>> yes thank you
>> for everything
>> anybody has any questions
>> just one thing I saw an advertisement
>> had the uh compost cans
>> yes
>> how's that going
>> good so uh we do composting lessons so
master
>> composter classes we we host uh at our
site. So, we'll have people come in to
learn how to compost and then they can
buy the composting bins uh right there
from us. Again, just another way to kind
of keep surprising because that's
something my family did
>> years. However, it's interesting that,
you know, I just wanted to make sure the
public was embracing it and maybe doing
it.
>> Yeah.
Especially
>> cuz we we have a lot of leaves in a
township as you see what we pick up. So
if they do some composting on their own
with grass waste and everything else. Um
okay.
>> Yeah. When you really start looking at
the material that's going into your
>> trash can, you can really minimize what
it is, especially if you're getting some
of that food waste out, which is nice if
you have a garden.
>> You hosted us uh a couple months back.
>> Good meeting. Really appreciate taking
us all through everything. Was really
impressed with the sewer plant when you
started throwing numbers out.
>> Just throw the numbers out. what those
windmills produced.
>> Yeah. So, they just turned 20 20 years
old. So, 21 is usually a better
birthday, but but we'll we'll celebrate
20. Um 20 years old. So, December 12th
of 2005, uh those things went online and
and you know, there's a lot of questions
on about offshore. We have nothing to do
with offshore wind. Um this is all about
rate payer savings. This isn't about
affordability and anybody else's
electric bill. This is the electric bill
for the Atlantic County Utilities
Authority. So, uh, in December of 20
2005, um, we were able to go online with
that. We've had a fixed electricity rate
for 20 years. It's been 0.079 cents a
kilowatt. Uh, we we we need a lot of
electricity to uh, run our plant and
treat the wastewater for the 14
municipalities in the county. Uh, we've
saved $8.8 million uh, from that that
project. Uh, it didn't cost the ACOA a
single dollar. The project costs about
$20 million for the private investor.
There was a $5 a $5 million grant. So,
there was a $15 million project cost. 0
came uh from the ACUA. Uh we also get a
rental uh for each one of those parcels
cuz we don't actually own the windmills.
We just buy the electricity. But we've
had a fixed rate 20 years. Uh 60% of our
power comes from there because they
aren't always up all the time. August is
a is a low month for wind. They do
require maintenance. uh and we're
looking at actually extending that
contract now another 5 to 10 years. Uh
so the lifespan of those is a lot longer
than they also initially had thought as
well. But it's been a great project uh
for us. It's been kind of our beacon. Uh
but again it has saved us and I always
say I don't get a bonus at the end of
the year. I don't have a giant boat. I
don't get a fancy car cuz we've saved
money. It goes right to the rateayers.
Uh and that's always been the goal of
this organization is to we have the
lowest sewer rate in the state as well
is to make sure that we continue to do
that. So
>> great job. Yeah, thank you very much.
Appreciate it.
>> All right,
>> anybody else have any questions?
>> Tor is exciting always
>> back there.
>> There there's a lot to see and it's
always one of those things when people
get it. You know, we're the we're the
sewer when you know you flush the toilet
and it works, you're good. When the
trash disappears the end of your
driveway, it's you guys, but it comes to
us, it's good. Uh it's when there's
problems with that and and there's a lot
that goes involved with making sure that
happens uh for the county. And it's
always nice when we have officials that
are engaged that want to come in, see
what we're doing, and then really kind
of understand what the full operation of
that uh organization is. So, I'm I'm
proud to be a part of that.
>> And the public can have a tour your
public tours.
>> Yep. So, we do tours all the time. You
can go right on our website and schedule
a tour if you want to do something in
wastewater or solid waste. Uh in the
summertime, we do, you know, open houses
on Wednesdays. So, if you need a break
from the beach or it's a cloudy day, we
we open our our doors up. And then
certainly Earth Day is a is a kind of
flagship time for us where uh April 27th
and mark it on your calendar. Sunday,
April 27th.
>> It's coming quick.
>> All right.
>> Yes, it is.
>> Thank you.
>> Great. And all your staff.
>> Thank you very much. Have a nice
holiday. All right. Thank you.
>> All righty.
It's been a busy meeting already, hasn't
it? Well, we're going to move into our
ordinances and public hearings.
Leo, you're up.
>> All right.
>> Ordinance number 27, an ordinance
amending the code of the township of egg
harbor to repeal chapter 180 entitled
rent review in its entirety. The purpose
of this ordinance is to repeal chapter
180 rent review in its entirety due to
preeemption by state law establishing a
statewide CAT and regulatory framework
for rent increases in manufactured home
communities.
>> Is there anyone in the public that would
like to speak on the uh ordinance 27?
Seeing none, can I have a motion to
close the public portion?
Second
can
up to ordinance number 27.
>> Make a motion.
>> I need to do a roll call.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Can we have a roll call
on closing the public?
>> Yes.
>> Rosenberg, yes.
>> And Fer,
>> yes.
>> Thank you.
>> Open ahead here. Can I have a motion to
adopt ordinance number 27?
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
And to the people that are still
here, I'm looking right at Ruth. Um,
again, thank you for all the hard work
you did on that.
That's a tough board.
Who else is here? There's There's Roger.
>> It's done. Roger.
>> All righty. Ordinance 28.
>> Ordinance 28. Department or amending
various section of chapter 6 of the code
of the township of egg harbor entitled
administration of government
specifically section 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-9
6-35 6-36
6-39 and 6-60 through and including
6-62.7.
The purpose of this ordinance is to
remove obsolete references, modernize
administrative language, and co codify
established procedures ensuring
consistency with current practice, state
law, and organizational structure.
>> Is there anyone in the audience who
would like to address governing body on
ordinance 28?
Seeing none, can I have a motion to
close the public portion?
>> Moved second.
>> Rollson.
>> Yes.
>> Paul,
>> yes.
Yes.
>> And Fmer.
>> Yes. Can I have a motion to adopt
ordinance number 28?
>> Make a motion.
>> Roll.
>> Yes.
Or is this 29?
>> 29.
to amend the code of the township of egg
harbor chapter 1 entitled general
provisions by establishing new sections
specifically sections 1 through 15
entitled general penalties provision and
section 1-16 entitled special penalties
provision. The purpose of this ordinance
is to create a general penalties
provision within the township code so
that violations of municipal ordinances
can be enforced uniformally even in
cases where a specific penalty is not
otherwise stated in a particular chapter
or section.
>> Thank you. Is there anyone in the
audience like to address governing body
on ordinance 29?
>> Seeing none, can I have a motion to
close the public portion? Thank you.
>> Thank you. Can I have a second? I'll
>> second.
Thank you. Roll call, please.
>> Ellen,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
Can I have a motion to adopt
ordinance number 29?
>> Make a motion.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Alice,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
Ordinance 30.
>> Ordinance 30. An ordinance to amend the
term
>> of Egg Harbor. Chapter twapter 94
entitled design performance and
improvement standards and chapter 195
entitled streets and sidewalks
specifically by amending amending
sections 94-11A
94-11H
94-38A
94-38G94-38G10
and 94-38h
of chapter 94 and
195- 19A and 195-24B
of chapter 195. The purpose of this
ordinance is to update curbon sidewalk
requirements to ensure consistency with
current engineering standards, improve
pedestrian safety, and modernize inlue
contribution provisions.
>> Is there anyone in the that would like
to address governing body on ordinance
number 30?
>> Seeing none, could I have a motion to
close the public portion?
Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Alex,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
Can I have a motion to adopt
ordinance number three?
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
>> Paul,
>> yes.
>> Yes. Ordinance number 31.
>> Ordinarance number 31. An ordinance
amending
>> chapter 94 of the code of the township
of Egg Harbor entitled design
performance and improvement standards
specifically section 94-21
grading top soil and seating. The
purpose of this ordinance is to update
grading top soil and seating
requirements for residential development
including submission standards,
performance criteria, inspection
procedures, and compliance with
Pinelands and NJD regulations.
>> Thank you. Is there anyone in the public
that would like to address
>> body on ordinance 31?
>> Seeing none, can I have a motion to
close the public portion?
>> Motion.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Ellis,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
Can I have a motion to adopt
ordinance number 31?
>> I'll second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Ellis,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
Ordinance 32.
>> Ordinance 32, an ordinance amending
chapter 225 of the code of the township
of Egg Harbor entitled zoning,
specifically section 225-61,
general requirements, and section
225-91B2A
fees and permits. The purpose of this
ordinance is to amend chapter 225 of the
township code by adding uniform address
display requirements for commercial
properties and revising zoning and
engineering fees applicable to new
single family dwellings.
>> Thank you. Is there anyone in the public
that would address the governing body on
ordinance 32?
Seeing none, could I have a motion to
close the public portion?
>> Make a motion.
>> Second.
>> Thank you.
>> Roll call, please. Ellis,
>> yes.
Yes.
>> Yes.
>> And yes. Can I have a motion to adopt
ordinance number 32?
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
Ordinance 33.
>> Ordinance 33. An ordinance. Chapter 225
of the code of the township of Egg
Harbor entitled zoning specifically
section 225-99
Timber Ridge redevelopment area. The
purpose of this ordinance is to amend
chapter 225, section 225-99 of the
township code to adopt the revised
redevelopment plan for the Timber Ridge
redevelopment area block one block 1223
lots 56 and 8 and block 1305 lot 7 by
updating permitted residential
development and authorizing transmitt of
the amended redevelopment plan to the
planning board. pursuant pursuant to
NJSA 40A
12A-7E.
>> Thank you. Anyone in the public like to
address the governing body and ordinance
33?
>> Mr. Castellano, just state your name for
the record.
>> Castellano, Egg Harbor Township. Um,
thank you everyone. I appreciate uh the
opportunity to speak to you. I I really
hadn't anticipated speaking uh before
the body before I was sworn in. Um but
there are two ordinances tonight that I
really felt that uh I needed to to
express my views and I I hope uh you
know in this in the spirit of trying to
work with you. I hope you'll accept my
views in that spirit as well. Um
ordinance on Timber Ridge. I I'd like to
recommend that this ordinance be held
and modified. This ordinance allows 215
homes to be built and we can't afford
that.
Residents want us to slow residential
growth. We're now at 48,000
residents. How much more can we grow?
Overdevelopment drives the need for
schools, municipal services such as
first responders, roads and traffic,
utilities. That in turn drives up our
property taxes.
Residents want affordability,
and they don't want overcrowding.
I understand there are laws in place,
particularly the Pinelands laws. I've
been working with them since I was first
elected to the board in 2001.
But I think it's time that we take a
fresh look at that law and its
requirements.
Let's hold this ordinance and let's
evaluate what homes are we required to
build now. What homes can we hold and
what homes are we not required to build
at all? What can we deal with through
the use of our own zoning and planning?
And beyond that, what reforms may we
need from the state, both in terms of
administrative or legislative uh relief?
Um, I'm no stranger to Trenton. I've
lobbied there before on behalf of our
township. I've had our funding laws
changed for the schools, and I'm ready,
willing, and able to go back again.
I'd like to throw out um
a few notions. F first of all um we have
a new administration that's about to
take over uh in Trenton as you all know
and uh let's hope that that's going to
be a clean slate and a blank slate in
terms of the the Pinelands. You know,
we've done our part for the Pinelands.
Um, a couple other ideas, just notions
related to this this this ordinance. As
I look at it, I don't see impact fees
from the developer. Those would be fees
to help offset schools, municipal
services, roads, etc. We have to think
about that going forward. Um,
another thought, can we allow the
commercial portion to go through? We'd c
I'd love to see us have good quality
ratables up up in in the front portion
on on the Blackhorse Pike. Can we think
about making the entire thing commercial
again? Is that viable? There's no homes,
but yet good commercial ratables that
help our township. A final thought as I
look at it. It's right almost across the
street from the Davenport
school complex.
Why don't we ask the school district if
they may have use for it? So then you
could imagine possibly part of that
parcel could be an extension to the
Davenport campus. We know they need
space. They need space for right now.
Even without any more homes, they need
space right now for for preschool. Uh I
was at planning. Many of uh you here
were there on Monday night. Um they're
building just to house house the
preschoolers. So there's another thought
and a possibility. Um you know that I
just wanted to to throw out um as ideas.
Again, I'm here to work with you. I look
forward to being sworn in next month.
I'll be able to do more. And um again uh
you know we have got to slow residential
growth. I think that's something that
we're all in agreement on.
>> 100%.
>> Thank you. Thank you for your time.
I think one thing I would like to say is
if you don't mind me saying this is uh
Paul Hodson is on the transition team.
So we have we are going to have a voice
from Ed Harper Township with the
governor the new governor when she comes
in. So I think I'm not sure what is
going to be asked of him but he knows
this area very well. He understands the
issues at the school. I think it's an
incredibly good pick for the governor to
put him on there. So,
>> Peter's you're right on. You're right
on. We've all been here and watched it.
The Pinelands is out of control.
>> I don't want to say anything that I
should be quoted for and not not say,
but they're out of control. Um, we we we
are 60some square miles township and if
you look at it from the aerial or from
when you drive around, it's been not
it's been pieced together with no real
thoughts. Our zoning may have a problem,
but again, we have to answer to the
pinelands. And you know, we've been sued
by the builder's remedy, okay, with with
some phenomenal amount of lowincome
housing. That blows my mind because I
don't know where it is in Lynwood, and I
certainly don't know where it is
offshore in Longor, but they singled out
Egg Harbor Township because of our
space. So, I know we went to Trenton
many times. I think we met Mr. Greenbald
when I was on the school board. Uh, I
champion the cause and believe me, I
don't have a quiet mouth. I will speak.
And the Pineland's DP,
uh, CAFRA needs to get down here, see
what we live with, see what they force
on us, and make a common sense approach
to what they're doing. I think people
forget the word common sense because
let's look at it and what's fair. So
Pete, you got a good point. I mean,
look, our schools are bulging. We just
sat here at planning board with the
expansion for the prek that the state
forced on us. Now we have to pay for.
Okay. So, um this is it's a very good
point. Um uh the pike is we've always
tried to develop the pike with ratables.
There's no question about it. One of the
things that's really sticking in my mind
is is clear cutting the woods that we
do. Where I live, I got plenty of trees
I've never touched, but you just uh we
clearcut. And I guess the pilings don't
care about that. But the thing is, Pete,
I I appreciate what you said. Believe
me, I believe exactly what you said. And
how I got on the governor's transition
team, I won't go there. I don't know
how, but I got a call and I answered the
call, which I answer all my calls and it
was invited me as a representative from
Lena County.
>> So help you.
>> Yeah, Pete way.
>> Yeah.
>> We got to get him to look at what's
going on. I just want to say a couple
things on this. When I was sitting on
zoning board, there was a project that
came up on Ocean Heights. Same type
project. We're taking commercial
property and changing it to residential.
I'll speak for this project. I'm not for
it for one reason. We're taking good
commercial property, turn it into
residential. So, that's where I stand
with that.
>> Thank you. and and certainly Pete I
think I have to agree with what Will
says but I think a condo project is
better than apartments and I mean
everybody that knows my history I spent
seven 15 years in Summers Point we were
loaded with apartments as a police
officer so with condos you're invested
in the home or the product and you take
care of it you don't let it go down and
apartments sometimes don't stay that way
>> we're going to use your experience trust
Trust me.
>> Thank you.
>> Keep the numbers handy for Trenton,
Pete. So, pick up.
>> You got it.
>> All right. Thank you again.
>> Is there anyone else that would like to
>> We have your name for the
>> My name is Den.
I am across the street
from the development area. Okay.
Okay.
>> Thank you. Um I have to concur with Mr.
Castellano. I don't necessarily agree
with this development just for the sheer
fact we have water issues. Uh 21 years
ago, I made settlement on my house, but
my settlement was delayed because of a
hydraological drought that take took
place in New Jersey. And basically, they
stopped construction in my area for a
while.
Because of you doing your construction,
you are basically preventing a lot of
groundwater
from going into our drainage systems.
Naturally, when rain when it rains, it
goes into it seeps into the ground, goes
into our aquifers, it is filtered, and
then it goes into our drainage systems.
When you start doing construction,
you basically
start paving and all of that water that
accumulates gets pollutants and
everything like that and it goes into
our drainage systems unfiltered.
We need to worry about our water. We
need to worry about the quality of our
water. So, please think about that
before you even consider constructing.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Good evening. Dor still at Harbor
Township.
I'd like the uh governing body as well
as the members of the public to indulge
me because I'd like to only be up here
at one time for the sake of time and the
other people that are here that may like
to speak. So the statement that I'm
about to read that I'd like to be put
into the record is regarding ordinance
number 33 which is Timber Ridge and also
ordinance number 35 which is Anchorage
Point. So for the sake of time I just
want to be here once and I appreciate
the audience indulging me as long as
well as the township committee.
I have serious concerns about the
process currently being used to
redevelop and reszone areas of our
township.
Specifically, when the current township
planner,
who plays a significant role in guiding
or recommending redevelopment
actions, is receiving campaign
contributions
from a developer who stands to benefit
from those decisions, as in the case
with Anchorage Point development and the
Timber Ridge development.
The developer for Anchorage Point
contributed significantly to the current
planner.
The developer for Timber Ridge
contributed to the current planner
as well as a current member of the Egg
Harbor Township elected officials.
I just want to say that again.
The developer
for Anchorage Point
contributed
to the current planner.
The developer for Timber Ridge
contributed to the current planner as
well as a current Egg Harbor Township
elected official.
The developer in Timber Ridge is also a
current elected official in another
municipality.
This creates a troubling appearance of a
conflict of interest.
Even if all actions comply
with campaign finance and ethics laws,
the perception of influence
undermines public confidence
in the fairness and independence of the
planning process.
Redevelopment and resoning decisions
have longlasting
impacts on residents, neighborhoods,
infrastructure, and property values.
These decisions must be made
transparently
and solely in the best interest of our
community, free from political or
financial influence.
Whether it be real or perceived,
public trust depends not only on
legality but on integrity and
accountability.
For this reason, it is appropriate to
ask for greater disclosure,
clarification of roles,
and consideration of safeguards such as
a recusal,
independent review,
or engagement of an impartial thirdparty
planner.
Our township deserves a redevelopment
process that is transparent,
ethical, and guided by sound planning
principles.
Not one that raises reasonable questions
about undue influence
or more importantly and probably most
importantly divided loyalties.
In closing, I would ask that you deny
this project for Timber Ridge
development on all of the reasons that
have been spoken for prior to this
evening, as well as anything that has
been spoken about it tonight. And I also
encourage you to deny the development
that is going to occur or would like to
occur at Anchorage Point for the sake of
the people that have lived there, for
the p sake of the people who have
retired there,
and for the reasons that I have spoken
about this evening. I thank you very
much for giving me the opportunity to
speak. I wish you a merry Christmas and
a happy new year. Thank you very much.
>> Hello everyone. My name is Darra Brlin
uh EHT
resident. Um much like Mr. Costella,
and I'm sorry I missed her name, but I
agree with them 1,000% mostly uh for
reasons I'm sure most of you guys all
already know. There is very very little
space or ability for Ed Harper Township
to actually
be able to handle the mass amount of
homes that are being built continuously
have already been built and are
continuing to be built.
uh we have
very few schools available for enough of
these, you know, families that are
eventually going to end up with kids. Uh
we have less and less school bus drivers
every year. Um that are not going to be
able to bring any of these kids to what
little schools there are.
This money can be used for
better opportunities. this land can be
used in better ways. Uh, I just wanted
to kind of give my opinion and I hope
you guys understand
what this township really cares about.
Uh, and it is not just about constantly
building homes, but more so about
building a community. Thank you.
Jill Campbell at Carber Township. Um, I
am a teacher in the district and I can
tell you we are busting at the seams.
Where are we putting all these kids? The
scenario is going to be, well, we have
to build new schools. The school tax is
going to go up. It's not the township,
it's the schools. Then all of the
residents blame the schools. You have to
stop the building. Stop moratorum it. I
don't care what you have to do. You have
to stop it. We don't have the room.
Period. End your story. We don't have
the room. We are busting at the seams.
And I echo what Mr. Castellano said. I
echo what Dora said and that other
gentleman said, we've got to stop the
building. Bring some commercial people
in. Bring some businesses in. Like I had
s suggested before. We would love to
have Costos, WGMs, love to have any of
those places. Stop the building. Thank
you.
Anyone
else? Seeing none, can I have a motion
to close the public?
>> Oneita Hyman, a Harper Township
resident.
And I just want to echo what everyone
else just said. We don't have the room
for more kids. Um, we're getting less
money from the state. We don't know if
we're going to continue to get federal
funding and what's going to happen is
we're going to have to uh increase taxes
for the local, you know, the taxpayers.
So, they're going to fill it and like I
said, we like the lady says, we're
busting at the seams. We don't have we
don't have the space and
you know, the taxes are just going to
increase.
Hi, I'm sorry,
>> Edward Riel. Uh, I live on Ivan's
Avenue. Um, and I was going to wait till
the end till the open public, but some
of what everybody was saying
applies to
uh other developments that are in
progress. Um, there's one Egg Harbor
Estates that's going to put 63 homes.
um between
uh Tmont and Ivans Avenue on West
Jersey. Um there's the one at Franklin
and Ridge. I think that's 23 homes. Um
and I specifically wanted to talk about
water. Also,
I'm at the dead end of Ivans Avenue
south of West Jersey and every
development that's gone in
the Shers, even Shopright,
all that water and any other development
uh I guess south of the Blackhorse Pike,
they all that water gets dumped into the
mill branch, which goes right by my
house
and
it it's it's impossible. I I don't know
how they can keep doing this.
And I want uh the committee to
you know really Paul when you're up
there
you got to really step up cuz
the Pinelands Commission I don't Does
anybody know if they gave us anything?
They didn't they make promises?
>> They didn't give us anything. They
mandated this growth. But I thought they
said they were going to give us
something else.
>> And I'm familiar with Ivans Avenue. You
have the water coming through there.
>> Different times of the year, you're
flooded out pretty good. Correct. Okay.
So, I understand it. That's the sad part
about it is we look at these aerial maps
and I remember when we went up to um it
skips me now um up north with the
Pinelands. Um
>> oh,
>> where was it?
>> The Highlands area.
>> The Highlands. and they thought we were
had leprosy when we walked in there. But
Frank Sutton at the time was a committee
person and he showed an aerial map of
Aar Township and the retention ponds
like something that happened in Baghdad.
Okay, we can't just rely on these
designs to handle the water. Mother
nature handles the water. She works it
pretty well on her own. And we got to
think of that when we do these
developments. And and like I said be
earlier, clear cutting, it doesn't cut
it because trees use water.
>> Well, and everybody
people may think that the retention
ponds are just going to hold the water
until it evaporates. And that's not the
way it works. It goes
it flows underground and eventually gets
into one of the the middle branch, the
cedar run branch, the you know
>> I think you have drainage come down
towards you
>> the pike correct from yeah the bike the
sires um and
the worst part is
um I wasn't living there at the time but
my now wife was and um when she was
pregnant.
It was so bad she couldn't even flush
her toilet. She had septic. She couldn't
even flush her toilet.
And thank thank goodness that the
township came through and put sewage in.
But it's like
with with the increase in like other
people said the number of students.
But
the other main thing I want to talk
about is the traffic. First, I want to
apologize for being late to the meeting
cuz I was waiting 10 minutes to get out
of Ivans Avenue, make a right turn on
Ivans Avenue because of the traffic. And
now there's going to be two or three
more streets between Tmont and Ivans
pouring into onto West Jersey.
it. So, I would appreciate anything that
the township committee and mayor you can
do and um because it's like I think
everybody agrees it's it's bad. It's
bad. So, anyway, THANK YOU
James Baresh. Um, I've been a Egart
Township president for more than 40
years and I remember the Pine Lands
mandate when it came in and the truth of
the matter is that Pineelands has zero
authority to enforce this mandate. We've
ignored it for 30 years.
And if you're truly concerned with
overbuilding,
all you have to do is stop reszoning.
It's really just that simple.
Thank you. ANYONE
ELSE?
>> A motion to close the public portion. So
move.
>> Can I just one quick question?
>> But you have to come back. Yeah. And
just one, please. Cuz
>> you were already up. I'm trying to keep
it to one bite at the apple tonight.
>> Is it the state of New Jersey that is
requesting that we build in our area?
>> Mandate.
>> It's not really a request. So they are
mandating that we build here.
>> We were designated a high growth
>> that's been back since 198.
>> Every single mayor
has fought this all the way through
governing bodies. Sunny McCulla I know
for decades tried to fight this where we
need to go. Do we not?
>> Well the only place we can go is
Trenton.
>> Well I guess we
>> and and so you know the township is
divided in sections. what's controlled
by Pinelands are controlled by calf and
just the basic concept ocean heights
avenue is the boundary line anything
north of ocean heights is highlands
anything south ocean heights is caffa
and it goes all through the township of
areas that are highlands controlled or
caffa controlled
>> one thing that surprises me is that you
have some light because of all of these
buildings that have become vacant why
aren't we just rebuilding on them.
>> It's up to
>> Yeah, just in general because why do we
have the blades? It's not making our
township look better.
>> No, but it has to do with that has to go
through the court system. We can sue
people for not taking care of their
business when they close down and it
happens. But if they get a judgment in
their favor,
>> then we need to pursue that a little
bit.
>> We do. I know we do because
>> but thank you.
>> It's eyesore. Thank you.
>> All right. Can I have a motion to close
the public portion?
>> So move.
>> Have a second, please.
>> Uh roll call, please.
>> Oh,
>> yes.
>> Falls.
>> Yes.
>> Rosenberg. Yes.
>> And Forever.
>> Yes.
>> Thank you, Tommy.
>> Take a vote in regards to the Timber
Ridge development, which is I want to
take the overdevelopment in the township
off the table for a minute because we
have to focus on this particular
ordinance.
Could you please explain to the audience
what this ordinance does and what's
already been done on this property? So,
where this stands?
>> So, this has already been approved back
in 2023.
We set to have 215 unit garden
apartments and eight affordable housing.
Developer came in and requested to
change the garden apartments to market
rate units attached dwellings with 10
affordable units. So
this is amending
an already approved plan. So it's either
by a no vote it's going to go back to
the garden apartments 215 by a yes vote
it's going to approve 215 market rate
units. It's already in existence.
>> So basically,
>> is that right, Jen?
>> Yeah.
>> Explain the affordable units.
>> Yeah. I'm going to Jen Helers, if you
don't mind, I'm going to make sure I say
it right. The professional in the house.
>> I'll come to the mic, please.
>> Dan Heler of Palestina and Associates. I
authored this redevelopment plan and to
um to go with what Tom is explaining,
this project was approved in 23. Same
process, the redevelopment plan and then
it goes to the planning board for site
plan. This is the same thing that's
going to happen. We if it's approved
tonight, the developer enters into a
redevelopment agreement with the
township that handles the 10 affordable
units that we receive credit for and
then they come back to the planning
board for site plan approval. So,
there's another bite at the apple with
the zoning that's set forth in this
redevelopment plan. All this zoning does
is add in the use to allow single family
attached town houses essentially. So,
the garden apartments is still within
the zoning ordinance, but this gives the
developer the opportunity to build
townous a different product and they
would be for sale and we gain 10
affordable units rather than eight
rental units. Right. And that's I know
no one wants to see the development
there, but this particular project has
already been approved. So what it's
doing is taking what this ordinance is
it would do is changing it from rent
rental units to home ownership
>> and they still have to go to the site.
They still have to do
>> plan approval with the planning board.
>> Right.
>> And we're getting additional affordable
housing units which is another thing
that we're mandated by the state.
What's the number of affordable units
that the state thinks we have to build?
>> So in round three it was 1,000 units and
in round four it's 142.
>> So that's together.
>> Yes, we
>> So it's 1100 for the public there's,00
affordable housing homes. Like I said
earlier I don't know where they are in
Lynwood and I don't know where they are
in Lport but in Echover Township because
we have bro we have property.
>> Correct. Okay. They look at things like
economy. They look at your land,
available land and
>> um and that's how they determine and
also because we're in a regional growth
area. So we have higher densities in
those Pinelands areas and that's where
they expect the affordable housing
>> and that's only by the state of New
Jersey.
>> Correct.
>> Been a 354year fight.
>> It's been long.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I guess it has been. Thank
you. Thank you. So, I just wanted
everybody to understand what that
actually means. This project is
approved. So, we're voting either for
rental units, apartments, or home
ownership. That's what this one, this
particular vote is about. So, can I have
a motion for what is where are we here?
For ordinance 33. Can I have a motion to
adopt it?
>> Moved.
Second.
>> Roll call, please. Alice
>> reluctantly. Yes.
>> Paul,
>> no.
>> As much as I love being told what to do
by Trenton
>> and for the reason that we stated
tonight and Mr. Mr. Castellano, just so
you know and everybody else on here
knows, we have already started a
redevelopment committee to look at the
zoning laws and try to coordinate with
the what we can do here with the state
because this is not just an Egg Harbor
Township fight. This is a fight every
municipality has to deal with. And
unfortunately, the state designated
Hamilton Township, Galloway Township,
and Egg Harbor Township high growth
zones. And that put us at a significant
disadvantage. So, we are on this and
have been on it for a long time. Pete,
we're going to use you for whatever
knowledge you have. Um,
it's an uncomfortable situation for each
and every one of us, but I do believe
that home ownership is better than
rental units. You want to have people
invested in their property. They're
going to hopefully they will take care
of it and it'll be a better product. So,
I vote yes.
And and to everyone here, our state
assemblyman, you can call him. Our our
state senator, you can call him, too.
I'm sure he knows a lot about this as
much as he does. So, call and tell him
what your what your thoughts are. Mark,
we'd like to have some control, but we
don't have a whole lot when it's pine
lands.
>> Ordinance 34.
Ordinance
>> authorizing execution of a tax abatement
agreement with TGT 3324 LLC for the
property located at 3 3324 Bargaintown
Road block 550
lot 20 and additional lots 1921 222 23
and 24. The purpose of this ordinance is
to authorize execution of a tax
abavement agreement with TGT3 3324 LLC
for the approximately 43,050q
ft indoor sports facility and related
site improvements approved on the final
site plan and to establish payments in
lie of taxes in accordance with the
5-year exemption and abatement law.
>> Thank you. Is there anyone in the public
that would like to speak on ordinance
number 34?
Seeing none, can I have a motion to
close the public portion?
>> Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
Can I have a motion to adopt
ordinance 34?
>> Have a second.
>> I'll second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Alex,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
Ordinance 35.
>> Ordinance 35. ordinance to adopt the
redevelopment plan for the Route 152
redevelopment area. The purpose of this
ordinance is to adopt the Route 152
redevelopment plan for block 9 401 lot,
block 9 402, lot one, and block 9603
lot 2.
>> Thank you. Anyone in the public that
would like to speak on ordinance number
35?
Hello president again.
>> This was actually the reason why I came
in here today. Um,
I grew up in this area. I've been born
and raised in this area. Um,
and much like I said before,
there is there's a lot to be there's a
lot to be said about what we decide to
redevelop, where we decide to redevelop,
and what we are actually planning on
doing with this development plan. Um,
if I'm correct, this is this is out on
the Longport Causeway.
This is this is a proposal of adding
more boat slips, reconstruction to
marinas,
uh, moving people out of homes that are
already there. You sure about that?
Appreciate that, Paul.
I know from working in the marina
industry just what happens
when you have,
you know, an additional hundred
something boats floating around in the
water. You're getting oil. You're
getting antifreeze.
You're getting a lot of waste. You're
also talking about an area that is
mostly habited by ospreys, striper fish,
different type of wildlife out there.
This is developing a wetland property.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
They're not that's not a place to be
looking at. There's absolutely zero
reason to be developing any property out
there. What's already there is we've
already seen it get ripped apart by
Sandy and left more trash and waste out
into the ocean. We've just built an
entire marina right there on Bay
reconstructed. There's another massive
marina down the road still on Bay. We
have marinas all over the place. We have
We have I've never seen so many boats in
the water and I have in the last 5
years. It is insane. It's dangerous.
It's absolutely dangerous. We're talking
about creating a massive traffic problem
in an area that's already inhabited by a
wildlife that is trying to thrive. It's
been doing great over the last couple of
years, but we are introducing more
fishermen. you're introducing
again like I said more waste.
This is a poor use of property. We
already have other properties that could
be developed that should be developed.
They're being overlooked.
Uh pretty sure Doc's Marina has been
Dolphin Dock has been taken out. There's
room there.
If you guys don't like what I have to
say, that's understandable. Um,
I've never seen anything positive come
from
massive projects like this developing on
a wetland. It's dangerous.
Very, very dangerous. I think Sandy was
the last storm where it was see it's
not. So, don't waste your money. Thank
you.
Before
we start, if anybody would like to
speak, because this is the hot chopper
for tonight. So, if anybody wants, can
we just have a line form here? Or
actually, we probably go this way
because most of you are sitting over
there. So,
>> yeah, this way. If you're all in line,
we'll call you up as as you are in line.
And could you please keep your comments
to five minutes? Some of you we've
already heard, but I'd like to hear you
again. We'd like to get it on the
record.
>> You can do it. You can do it.
>> I've been here before. So, hello to
everyone.
>> Good to see you again. And thank you for
uh
>> We need your name.
>> Thank you for listening to me. John
Gresco, uh 12b born in Anchorage Point.
Um my wife and I have been in the area
for 15 years. Uh we were over in Ocean
City when my family was younger. Um,
we're lucky to have uh two two children
who are started having children. So, now
we have grandchildren. Um, I a couple
years ago I wanted to make sure I spent
enough time with my grandkids. So, I
started to plan retirement. Um, Ocean
City was a little too busy and too
packed and too noisy in the summer and
too dead in the winter. So, we started
looking where would we want to retire.
Certainly looked at Florida and
different things. Um went up to the
Poconos, checked a bunch of stuff.
Ultimately went up and down Jersey coast
cuz this is the area we like and we're
lucky enough to f find a a home uh in
Anchorage Point uh built in 2005.
Um very good, perfect for us and our
family um as they continue to grow. Um
we moved in and we've been very happy.
Um it's a great neighborhood, great
people. Um bunch of retirees, uh law
enforcement personnel, union
professionals. Um about 50% live there
full-time. Um but everybody uses their
homes. Um everybody's down in the
summer. We have gettogethers and
different things. Um the biggest thing
is for especially for me, um when I have
all seven of the grandkids down, it's
it's quiet and safe. Um, the older ones
can jump on a bike and go ride around
the neighborhood. I'm not too concerned.
Still worry. I'm a grandfather. I'm
going to worry, but I'm comfortable them
doing that. They go and uh grab their
fishing rods and go anywhere on the on
the point to where they want to fish or
crab or anything. Um, right out front of
our house, we can go they can jump in
the kayaks or the paddle boards and go
out into the lagoon or back into the
wetlands and fish or do whatever they
want there. So, it's it's worked out
very well. Um, most importantly, the
people have been good. We know we look
out for each other. Um, we're there
helping each other. We keep an eye on
each other's homes and different things,
and it's a very safe thing. This
proposed development plan, the way it's
planned right now, will significantly
change the neighbor. It won't be the
same again. Um, there will be, you know,
and some um docks for boats coming down
the thing. There'll be parking along
Ourn Drive. Um I believe during I heard
during the planning meeting there, you
know, there's typically when somebody's
building something, there's a
requirement for how many parking spaces
they must have in order to support the
number of people. Um I've been in front
of you guys many times and I've uh been
concerned about how fast this thing has
been moving. Um certainly I want to
thank the three of you who actually came
physically out to Anchorage Point and
visited and walked around and saw what's
going on. Um but nobody's engaged with
us on anything. I mean, we've had to
fight to get here and fight to get our
names, our concerns heard, and um
haven't seen anything that we've said or
done come in in any of the resolutions
and stuff. Most of the pictures we see
are from 20 years ago. doesn't even
represent what the place is right now.
So, I'm hoping you can do something to
to change this because it will not be
the same development. It's just there
will be too many people. Won't be safe.
Certainly wouldn't be able to let my
kids ride their bikes around the
neighborhood when there's people pulling
boats in and everything else that they
got to worry about. Um, so I I really
hope you think about this and going back
to the I guess uh Paul what you said
earlier, common sense. This does not
there's this is not common sense. I mean
you're supposed to be representing the
community, representing the people and I
am not against development. I mean,
there is a commercial property there
that could be a restaurant. That could
be anything, but this what's going in
isn't working with the community and the
people that live there to maintain some
semblance of a good community. It's
going to become all rentals and it's
just not going to be the same. So,
anyway, thank you. Um, I really hope you
think about this because this is a huge
change, let alone with the other things
that people
Hello again. Good evening. Um, my name
is Jennifer Kerwin. I am sorry I can't
really my glasses are for strictly
reading. Um, I'm from Egarper Township
of Anchorage Point. So, thank you. Good
evening, Mayor Fromer and the members of
the committee. Township, my name, as I
mentioned, Jennifer Kerwin. Um, on
December 10th, I sent a letter to each
one of you on behalf of the Met
neighbors, myself and the neighbors of
Anchorage Point respectfully requesting
ordinance 35, the Route 152 development
redevelopment plan be removed from
tonight's agenda. I want to reiterate
and I will also hand a copy at the end
of the my speech um to expand and
reiterate on those concerns here. First
outlined in my letter, there are
multiple court rulings including the
McAdams dagot holding corpse from
appellet division 2010 and judge judge
judge Nelson Johnson 2008 decision
reaffirming that upl property owners of
Obern drive retain enforceable rights
prohibiting commercial marina
development. These rights run with the
land and remain with the binding of the
current developer and remain binding on
the current developer. Advancing
ordinance 35 disregards this this
judgment. Second, um parking adequacy.
The redevelopment plan rely relies on
outdated visuals as John uh mentioned um
in inaccurate claims. The pictures that
were included in redevelopment plan are
over 20 years. If you see the house, his
house was rebuilt in 2025. It is not in
any of those pictures. Um
the
as I mentioned in reality every home in
Anchorage Point has sufficient parking
for the residents guests and offer also
has parking for visitors even during
peak season. Throughout the year there's
ample parking parking for visitors as
they will park their cars of fish. They
will paint. They will um kayak as well
as park to see the fireworks during
night in Venice, Fourth of July or other
holidays within where there's fireworks.
the parking demand would stem solely for
the proposed private development and
frankly additional parking is
unnecessary.
Third, the public trust doctrine and
ecosystem impacts. The plan restricts
public access to the waterfront. As of
right now and as John mentioned and and
as I mentioned, our children play in the
area. They can run around. They can go
fishing. They have access and views to
the water and our visitors also have
access to the water.
the the current plans propose a bulkhead
and parking along Oburn Drive completely
blocking access to the water. Um the
plan
which also violates the public trust
doctrine. The proposed alternate for our
access as I mentioned before is a
14minute walk down Route 152 down
towards Summers Point walking with five
uh children under eight and seven
grandchildren with kayaks boats and
fishing rod. And you see how fast the
cars go on that road and how fa and how
little walking space there is in in
certain parts is completely dangerous
and unsafe for families.
Furthermore, on the traffic, Route 152
already suffers congestion during peak
hours, especially during the summer.
Marina traffic and potential trailers.
alcohol service will increase the
ability or potential for accidents and
with the additional potential parking
rate that's being discussed in this
redevelopment plan block access to
emergency vehicles and prevent emergency
vehicles from getting in due to overflow
of traffic and also while within the
neighborhood.
Furthermore, Anchorage Point is a oneway
oneway in one way out area. So every
point if you miss the restaurant you
will be going forcing all that traffic
through the neighborhood again
increasing and being a threat to public
safety both on the outside of on Route
152 and within our neighborhood.
Community opposition
is not is not only limit to the few
voices as 13 Anchorage Point residents
signed a letter that I will be sending
to you and I sharing with you and that
you've already have in your inbox.
If you take a tour in our neighborhood,
there are signs throughout the community
demonstrating widespread neighborhood
opposition. And as well, you'll hear
tonight further um opposition. So, as
this redevelopment in this redevelopment
plan advances interests of only one
person, not the residents here today,
and we ask for representation from the
residents of Harvard Township.
Finally, um as noted, inconsistency with
state planning policy. This area lies
within planning area five which is
environmentally sensitive zone where
development is discouraged. Ordinance 35
conflicts with New Jersey state plan and
undermines the conservation goals. This
plan will overload the area and be
harmful to the environment as well as
the ecosystem. In closing, I urge you
honor the law, protect the public trust
rights, and prior prioritize resident
safety, environmental stewardship.
Ordinance Shive 35 should not be passed
and rejected outright. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> I appreciate that.
I read your letter
>> and I'll make sure they get to everybody
>> and mayor
>> that's been entered. I don't know if you
call it Kerwin one or anything like that
or you just note that it's been been
submitted.
>> We'll just note that that it's been that
we receeded. Okay, fair enough.
name is Michelle McGlaclin and I'm also
an Anchorage Point resident. I have
lived there for 28 years and I just love
Anchorage Point.
Our wetlands are are home to such a
diverse amount of wildlife. We have
great blue herands, snowy egrets, mau
ducks, cranes along with crab, muscles,
oyster, clown beds. We are also a
nesting ground for diamond back
turppins. We're a nesting ground for
geese like our pollinators. We um
through the years were blessed with
visits from seals, stingrays, otter, and
swans. This isn't just our backyard.
It's a vital ecosystem that supports
species that's that depend on the
protected waters for survival.
construction and increased boat traffic
would pollute the water. And when I
think about the pollution of the water,
I think about that commercial we see
about dawn. When you see the the little
duck taken out of the water and clean
with um with the dawn, that is what our
if you allow this massive 111
boat marine into our area, that is
what's going to happen. kind of slick of
the the fuel from the boats. We're going
to have noise pollution. And the noise
pollution, the vibrations from the
building, the constructions, the
docking, the filings, they're going to
send our birds away. They're we're not
going to see them. They're going to
destroy their nesting um and breeding
patterns. And I don't know about you,
but I I don't want to live with that. I
don't want to destroy our wetlands. And
and you're taking that from our
children, too. You're robbing them of
the future because, as everybody said,
our kids are kaying. They're um paddle
boarding, swimming. I mean, I I swam for
years in that water and enjoy it. I I
swam in college, so I I continue to swim
in that water. that you're going to make
that impossible because even co even if
you allow this to happen, if someone's
trying to to kayak, they're going to run
you right over with all the all the
boats because again, there's only as
like our street, there's only one way in
on the water and one way out. So all day
long you're it's just going to go back
and forth, back and forth. So I was also
here in 2008. It took us six years to
get that decision. So, this is the
second time for me. And you really need
to put this project on hold until you
really understand that 2008
decision. It's a very strong and it said
exactly what Judge Nelson want for that
area. So, I'm I'm begging you to put
this on hold until you really understand
what's what this is all about. Thank
you.
Hello.
So I do I am speaking on behalf of two
people. So I will start first with
myself. So good evening. My name is Joy
Kerwin. You just heard from my sister. I
live um also on O'Brien Drive and yeah
look very similar. Um and so but I did
want to share like I am speaking on
behalf of residents of Anchorage Point
and many of the community members who
have signed our petition in opposition
to the marina development. Anchorage
Point as you know is a small waterfront
neighborhood that has been existed
peacefully alongside a protected
wetlands for more than 60 years. These
wetlands are not incidental. They are a
foundation of our community
and they support the wildlife to pro
protect our shoreline and provide a safe
natural environment for our families,
children and generations of the reg
residents who live here. As you know,
many of these residents have lived here
a long time. Many are making this their
retirement and many are starting
families that hope to share this house
with their children in the future. Um,
but they choose to live here because of
our ecosystem.
Recently, an article in the um the Press
of Atlantic City quoted saying that only
five or six people were in opposition to
this marina. That statement is simply
unaccurate. As of today, our petition
has over a thousand signatures opposing
this project and calling um calling to
protect these wetlands and oppose this
marina. 82% are from the tri-state
region, which which are many are
residents of Anchorage Point, work and
raise families, and have long-standing
ties to this area. Over 63% of the
siners are right within this area. This
is not just a handful of voices. This is
a broad regional opposition.
The wetlands of Anchorage Point protect
sensitive protected white wildlife. As
Michelle said, a marina bringing
dredging, boat traffic, fuel runoff,
noise. As you have heard, constant
disruption would permanently permanently
damage this environment. As many of us
are, we are not opposed to progress. But
the progress must be responsible,
transparent, and aligned with the values
of the community. We are asking the
township committee recognize the true
level of public opposition and reject
this development and consider
alternatives that respect the
environmental protection and the
residents of Anchorage Point homes and
and community that they have in these
wetlands. These wetlands define our
neighborhood and at a loss would be felt
for generations and our families to
come. I thank you for your time.
And then I just did want to speak on
behalf of um Stephen and Susan Mc Mone.
We are unable to attend the township
committee meeting this evening and would
like to go on record opposing ordinance
35 um route route 152 redevelopment
plan. We would also like to go on record
that we agree with all testimonies of
our neighbors on Anchorage Point as well
as the legal council of any professional
speaking on the behalf. And I've also
have a copy of the petition and all the
signatures to go.
I will make
>> the minutes that we received that
>> God every time I come up here it's this
thing is okay.
Uh I live in Anchorage Point with the
other residents.
Uh I'd just like to say that I echo what
Doris said about the transparency and
ethics and I echo and agree with the
other testimony of the residents uh that
spoke tonight already. Um I'd like to
just point out um a procedural problem
that I found relative to resolution 489
and ordinance 35. Um,
resolution 49 dated October 15th, 2025
included Ourn Drive um on it. Uh,
there's a big red mark uh that outlines
Ourn Drive within that um within that uh
uh resolution.
Um
there is a DCA letter dated November.
Okay. Yeah. Okay. This is a this is a
big one. Uh DCA letter um uh November
19th, 2025
um Department of Community Affairs
letter uh that did not approve Ourn
Drive in the the redevelopment. Um my
understanding is anything not approved
by the DCA um would legally be um cannot
legally be in the redevelopment plan.
So, I'd like to submit
uh a couple exhibits. Uh exhibit one is
resolution 489. That's just for context.
So, you guys have the full resolution
and the outlines. I'm not going to bring
it up quite yet.
Um I'd all
you can turn it.
>> Yeah, I'll turn it at the end. Yeah, I
think it's important that it's on the
record though. Um Yeah. Is there Oh,
thank you. That's that is super helpful.
Somebody's water's here too. Um okay,
make sure I don't forget that. Um uh my
understanding is uh uh that um state
authority controls the scope right of
what can be done within that that
redevelopment plan. Um the DCA re review
is um a state check um a mandatory state
check uh which was signed by the
commissioner uh Jacqueline Suarez.
Um the township within that letter the
township uh redevelopment area cannot
expand based on what the the DCA
approved. Um they also reference the PA5
area. Um
uh once the DCA declined to approve Ourn
Drive, um it it appears that the
township should have no authority to
include it in the redevelopment plan. Um
a procedural error or additional pro or
procedural error I would like to point
out is that the DCA letter was received
on 102425.
I have the date and timestamp. Um, that
will be one of my exhibits. Um, in the
resolution 489, it states that the DCA
received that letter on 102125.
I think it's important that we have the
stamped date that the DCA actually
received that letter because, of course,
there's a time constraint, right? I
think a 30-day time con. We want to make
sure on the record that that's um that
this was received within that 30-day
time frame. I believe it was based on my
count. Um, I formally request that the
township amend the record to reflect the
correct receipt date of ordinance um 35.
Um, ironically enough, the redevelopment
plan was issued on 1120 almost
immediately after 1119 2025 where the
letter from the DCA was was received by
Egg Harbor Township or at least sent to
Egg Harbor Township. I'm kind of
surprised that we were able to to create
a redevelopment plan so quickly um and
also have a public comment on 112025
um you know with with a little time that
I would have thought uh people had had
time to to write that. Uh I'd like to
read the DCA letter and I don't know who
does or doesn't have accessibility or
copy.
Well, I think I think this is really
highlighted in that letter.
>> I think it's really important and and
actually um
it says the honorable Laura Farmer dated
November 19th, 2025. Resolution 489
determining block 9401,
block 942, block 9603. We all know the
lots and blocks. Um, the Department of
Community Affairs received the above
reference resolution on October 24th,
2024. The determination area is located
in the PA5, environmentally sensitive
planning area, which is not an area in
which development or redevelopment is to
be encouraged pursuant to state law or
regulation. The determination therefore
requires review pursuant to NJSA4812A65C
based on our review which recognizes
existing development and sewer service
availability on a small portion of the
highway frontage part of this area. only
that portion um of of that area
previously developed and or located
within an existing sewer service area is
approved. Please ensure that any
resulting redevelopment plan gives
proper consideration to the
environmental sensitivity and floodprone
nature of the area. The municipality or
redevelopers may find the New Jersey
Business Access Center, etc. It says
that I think it's really important that
you guys pass this around and have a
copy of it. I think probably do is we'll
get a copy of everything that's been
submitted tonight.
I also would like to submit the
redevelopment
uh the community asset map um that Keith
Henderson and I discussed and he updated
at the DCA reflecting exactly the area
that is to be developed.
There's two pages of it, but it shows
clear
drive is not highlighted
to as quickly as possible here.
Okay.
Gay letter explicitly referenced PA5. It
limits based on intensity and
infrastructure expansion. Um I'd like to
make one last point. I I'll submit the
other documentation as well. Um
residents are not opposed residents of
Anchorage Point are not opposed to
bulkhead
or rip wrap protection of a burn drive.
Um we are opposed to public
infrastructure being tied to a private
marina.
fixes that serve a developer instead of
the entire peninsula.
Township interest in bulkheads only
appeared when a marina was proposed
after the 2008 judgment and previous to
the 2008 judgment. And then 17 years
later, the only time that Egg Harbor
Township seemed to be interested in
improving this bulkhead is with a marina
project.
Building marina affects wetlands.
Wetlands provide velocity wave buffering
and flood protection from inlet surge.
We do have a velocity coming from the
east to the west because there is an
inlet and there's a there's obviously
ocean out there. Marina construction
causes wetland loss,
dredging related erosion and ongoing
maintenance impacts.
My requested my request for this this
committee tonight is to uh redo
ordinance 35 to omit Ourn Drive. Um
revise the plan, the redevelopment plan
to be um congruent with what the DCA
approved in this PA5 area. Uh submit a
revised plan for proper review. Um and
uh I would really like this township to
set some time aside with the burn drive
residents so we can discuss what we can
do uh to help that bulkhead. Um the
township should be working with the
residents, not a private developer to
resolve a matter that doesn't really
affect a private developer with the
exception of him putting his stats on
the Oberurn drive right of way to be
able to access his private arena.
So that's uh everything I have for
tonight. I will provide these exhibits
for you and I appreciate your
consideration. Have a very merry
Christmas.
>> Hello Nick Giannis. I'm a resident of
Anchorage Point. spoken before uh here.
Um
many of us have been coming and speaking
here for 6 months now. Uh I've spoken
several times. Uh everybody else has
too. Uh we don't like to come here. We
don't like to spend the night, you know,
spend a whole evening here. We don't
enjoy it, but we have to because we're
trying to protect our neighborhood that
we love. Uh I've been an Anchorage Point
resident since 2019. I retired there. Uh
it's a great neighborhood. Uh please
don't hurt it. Um we did not choose to
live next to a huge marina.
Uh we were there first. There's reasons
we chose Anchorage Point. We love it. Um
people have already talked about the
traffic, parking, public safety. Uh you
know, I'm not going to get into that.
the irreversible e uh ecological dam
ecological damage. I have a vision of a
100 boats pumping out their billages
into the lagoon. Uh I own a boat. I know
how it is. It's inevitable.
Um
another thing that I find that bothers
me about this, it doesn't benefit us. It
doesn't benefit EHT.
uh
the developer is most likely going to
get property tax relief. I I don't know
what the correct term is for x number of
years. We don't know
>> how many.
>> Is it 30?
>> I don't know.
>> Yeah. Regardless of what the number is,
regardless of what the number is, this
person comes in, builds a marina, and
gets property tax breaks. Who has to
make that up? All the rest of us EHT
taxpayers, not just Anchorage Point, but
across the board. That's not fair. Um,
given the magnitude of this proposal, we
residents deserve confidence that it is
being evaluated independently,
deliberately,
and without pressure to accelerate
approval.
Uh, I was listening before when uh, Ms.
Billy's
made the statement about political
contributions
that the de the proposed developer for
Anchorage Point has made significant
contributions to the planner and an
elected official.
That's eye opening. It's very
disturbing. It might not be illegal, but
just cuz it's not illegal doesn't mean
it's right. It's
Whether it's improper or not, it has the
appearance of impropriy, which is just
as bad and we lose faith in you guys.
Um, what I want to say to all of you
committee members is please imagine that
you and your families live in Anchorage
Point while you are making decisions and
casting votes.
uh put yourselves in our shoes. We're
not against development. We're not
against a restaurant and bar up there.
But this huge marina being forced on us,
most of us are against that. We don't
want that. Uh yes, the area could be
improved. There's other ways to do it.
Sit down, work with us. We can get
creative. Uh there's a lot of brain
power in this room. We could come up
with other ways to repair that bulkhead
or do whatever. But
shoving a marina in there that
magnitude, no. Uh,
in light of all this, including the
letter from DCA that is not giving
approval for the marina, if I understand
it correctly,
I implore you to vote no tonight. Send
this back to the planning board and to
the developer and come back with a
compromise that we can all live with.
You know, we're not we're not
hardliners. We just we want something
fair. Thank you.
>> I'm back up again. Pete Castellano
Harper Township. And I I'll be brief. I
I'd like to recommend also that this
ordinance be held and reworked. Um
because as you've heard I I I don't
believe it benefits Egg Harbor Township.
I visited the area. A marina is not
going to fit in there without doing
damage to the water and the land. And as
you've heard the environmental concerns
that go with that. The residents clearly
don't want it. Uh I mean this is their
homes and I think we have to respect
that. Uh, I reread it again today just
to be sure I had it accurately. The plan
allows for up to a 30-year tax
abatement. So, that's a concern for me.
>> Understood. You know, I'm just I'm just
pointing out that that that's, you know,
it's there.
>> It's right in there. Yes. So, and I also
just want to briefly reference the the
legal issues that were talked about that
were decided back in '08 were that the
folks who live on ourn drive have what's
known as repairarian rights to access
that water without having something come
in between them. Um, so that's a
significant issue as well. So, uh, I
always like to approach things if you're
going to point out a problem to have a
solution. Again, I'm here to help. So, I
I want to, um, make a suggestion,
uh, that this be reworked to really
concentrate on doing two two very
important things. The first is to repair
that bulkhead. We all agree that
bulkhead needs to be repaired. I
understand it may require a seaw wall,
but in the context of a redevelopment
plan, we could apply for grants and get
assistance to get that done. We need to
do that to to protect the residents
there, the infrastructure that's there,
the the water, the sewer, and all of it.
And and the second focus, the the second
focus area is let's try to attract a
quality ratable property to replace the
barbecue. um uh you know and and and
something without you know a long-term
sort of an abatement and I think that's
something we would all get behind. No,
no one wants to see an empty uh business
sitting there. So I my my suggestion
would be let's focus it down on those
two issues which have to be done and we
could all agree on. And uh with that, I
want to wish everyone merry Christmas,
happy holidays, and happy new year. And
thank you for listening to me twice.
>> Hi, my name is Melody Lapatina.
I am actually a neighbor. I live in
Summers Point.
I'm here because of the marina that they
choose to put in over at Anchorage
Point. I'm also a boater that has been
at Grace Marina for 21 years going into
my 22 year at the marina is now called
Boat Marina. At one time, the gentleman
across the canal from me, he was trying
to buy the marina.
He didn't buy the marina. Someone else
bought the marina.
This past year, I have seen so many
things with wildlife that has come to
the corner of the canal coming in that
has never been there before. If
everybody knows Ocean City, they have
the wildlife over there in the trees.
Well, now they're starting to populate
in the corner over there. So, what I see
in the paper of this approved for this
marina,
it's not going to be good for the
environment. It's not going to be good
for the turtles and for everything else
that goes in the Martians. As a casino
employee of 41 years driving that road
is extremely extremely bad road for a
lot of reasons and it's become worse to
where there's bumperto-bumper traffic
last summer all the way past up to C
view. That's how bad it is. So, I'm
hoping that you all consider what
everybody else wants in Anchorage Point
and that you can put a restaurant there.
The marina is a big thing and there's
places over in Summer's Point that
haven't even been rebuilt yet, which
used to be Bayshore. If he wanted to put
a marina, he could put one over there.
So, to put one in a point, I think it's
a very bad thing to do. And I appreciate
you hearing me. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING. MY name is Robin Bow and I
live on Neptune Drive in Anchorage
Point. I've been a full-time resident
there for six years, but we've owned
this property for 10. If any of you
haven't been there, please take a ride.
We have the most gorgeous sunsets, the
most beautiful sunrises, and snow on the
Back Bay is breathtaking.
My concerns with this project are the
size and magnitude of the plans and the
space we have to give. If it goes
through as is, it will totally change
the climate of our little piece of
heaven here on Earth. The traffic at the
intersection to pull in and out is
already difficult and treacherous in the
summer without a light. So that will be
magnified not only by car traffic but
probably some boat and trailer traffic
as well. The challenges of emergency
vehicles entering because the as I read
the plans the restaurant is to seat 175
guests both inside and out and there are
slated to be 79 marina slips. So when
you do the math of even one or two cars
um per marina slip and do the math for
the restaurant, there is not anywhere
near adequate parking with the 39 slots
that are slated on the lot to the right
when you pull in on Anchorage Drive.
So that's 39. I believe there were
another 16 or 17 in front of the
restaurant and then the additional ones
that were slated for Ourn Drive.
Um you can just imagine then the
overflow
onto the other Point Drive um it's going
to be a traffic nightmare. The ability
for emergency vehicles to enter and god
forbid a fire truck would need to get
through. You're going to have people who
are going to park their cars, get on a
boat, and leave. It's not like someone
can come out and move a car. Um, we are
far from the main property of Egg Carver
Township, so we feel a little isolated
anyway. Um, so my concerns are safety,
the safety of our residents, and the
fact that this will totally change the
climate of a community that drew all of
us that are here tonight there for its
pristine waters, its wildlife, and just
a very calm, serene
beach and bay environment that really
soothes the soul. So, I ask you to
please put a hold on this project as
it's currently slated and um work your
magic to do some sort of a rework. I
mean, the the schematics are beautiful.
The restaurant schematic of the jetty
looks great. We're not opposed to
improving the property, which will
increase our property value, but it has
to be in proportion to what we have to
offer. So, thank you all VERY MUCH.
CHAD BUYERS, UH, Forest Viewport, EHT.
Uh, thank you for your service,
everybody. Uh, I would like to request
that as you consider any tax abatements,
whether it's 5 years or 30 years. Our
schools need funding. We need to have
some of that support to the students and
the community as opposed to just helping
subsidize developers. Thank you very
much.
I'M JOHN MAY. UH, I live in Anchorage
Point. I've lived there for My aunt
originally bought the house in 1960,
brand new. So, I've been in this house
for 60 years, 50 years.
I've seen the township do some pretty
strange things.
They broke the bulkhead because it was
starting to wash out and they decided
they were going to drop curb to keep it
in and they broke the bulkhead. The
bulkhead
there was money I think in the late
late 60s early 70s there was money for a
bulkhead to be put out there. Instead
council built a baseball field in
Cardiff.
This project is too big. And like
everybody else has said, it's it's too
big. I mean, it's a beautiful project,
but it's going to destroy that
neighborhood.
And you're not going to and it's going
to destroy the wildlife. We have seals.
I've seen dolphin come in the lagoon. My
wife crabs. We eat the crabs. We catch
the fish in the bay. We stuff the crabs
into the fish. She says, "You want to
get some clams?" I walk out front, step
over to rip rock, I go clam, and I come
back. Hey, we got clams for dinner.
The boats are going to pollute it.
Especially the little jet skis that
don't pay attention to anything like a
no wake sign.
And you know, you mix a little alcohol
with a jet ski or a powerful boat, you
got big problems.
That's all I have to say.
HI, good evening. My name is Allison
Burau. I am a Summers Point resident. I
live within walking distance of the
Anchorage Point community um and EHT's
boundaries.
Uh forgive me for looking at my phone.
My talking points are on my device. So,
um I want to point out that um one
concern I have is that there are several
other developments that are happening
within the same uh stretch of coastline
um that would have been um overseen
through the neighboring uh municipality,
Summers Point, a pool club on Bay A, as
well as single family homes that are
along um Maryland A as it connects to
Route 152. I'm concerned that these uh
projects are all being reviewed in silos
and not um collective consideration to
how they will all together impact the
marina um the marshland there. So I'm
going to underscore in a way a lot of
the points that my neighbors made. So um
one thing to consider is that this type
of marshland is considered one of the
most valuable types of marshland um in
the eastern um United States. It's
partly because it specifically supports
specific species that are on the federal
um wildlife endangerment list and some
of those plant and animal species can
only exist in this specific type of
tidal marsh.
Uh putting a marina in will make
pollution levels sore in this water. Um
this will have an immediate impact on
the folks who fish and crab there and
the people who eat their fish and crabs.
It will also have a cascading impact on
residents and visitors as um and their
health and wellness because over time um
that pollution will have an impact on
our water systems and other public
utilities as one of my neighbors
described earlier for different
development projects. So um the
specifics of that impact on our h on
human life and our health and wellness
will not will likely not be realized or
apparent to us for many many years as
often those um the impact of natural
resources uh you know aren't seen in our
um own symptoms for some time.
I'm also concerned about the flood risk
that this project would uh create for
the nearby neighbors in Anchorage Point
and also along Summers Point um nearby
roads. Um this is an important
throughway for both economic purposes
with the tourist season and also for
safety purposes. It needs to we need to
make sure that um our public safety uh
first responders have access to this
community. Um the marshland is a sponge
that literally soaks up flaw flood water
and destroying it will potentially lead
to more localized flooding.
Um, also in relation to the flooding,
um, creating this type of project will
require dredging to occur regularly
every likely every few years for the
rest of time just to maintain the
facility. Depending on the hydroponics
and the final construction design, that
could be even more frequent. This is a
huge recurring expense to taxpayers. It
would also have an immediate impact on
the nearby neighbors as that work would
um, you know, affect their day-to-day
lives.
I'm also concerned about the accessory
needs that these facilities would bring
like the parking lots and signage and
the increase in traffic as the beautiful
waterfront view could potentially be
reshaped into a strip mall.
Um,
I am also want to implore the committee
to um take a close review of this
project to make sure that it is in align
and in compliance with all laws that
govern development in the wetlands in
New Jersey.
And I also want to um underscore that
many of the redevelopment goals that
were listed in the actual Route 152
redevelopment plan um included um things
that should be listed as preeeminent the
most important goals of this project.
that is protecting the safety of the
nearby public residents, their
properties in the community, protecting
the public utilities that service those
residents and um taking action to reduce
flood risk on the roadways to maintain
safe access for the community. Thanks.
Happy holidays.
We need to take a break for about three
minutes.
>> I know, three minutes. I'm sorry, but we
do. We'll be right back in three
minutes.
>> We have to We need to take just three
minutes
>> with apologies.
>> I'm gonna run out of time to keep this
up.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh my god.
>> It's called old age.
>> Is that four years?
>> That's what 40 years.
>> I think we need to have Tom weigh in.
Mrs.
is I mean what's the rest of you don't
take a photo and bring it up again
the same
>> I know but
>> I think we send it to the board and
fight it down there
>> she can fight it
>> any issues that they're bringing up that
are they clear precise
>> that's a question
>> and I know there's I know there's
lawsuits out there
Oh, I know. They don't understand that.
They think this is going to stop. They
ain't stopping I'm going to say
that when I build stop nothing.
>> No, no. Let me um
>> I'm going to double check.
>> Maybe a half 8:30.
Huge was asleep.
>> These are insects.
>> Huge.
>> Oh, I know.
>> Ray had called a timeout.
>> He called a timeout. He said, "I got to
use a bathroom."
She got your leg out.
She should have paused
hopefully.
in the retreat.
>> The educational
very educational
learning.
>> Yeah.
>> AI thing. It's an AI data center.
>> 32.
>> Yeah, it's huge. Two 300 people supposed
to be there.
>> 337.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> It's going to be too.
You know where it should go.
>> Hamilton Mall. Everything's there. You
didn't even have to. It's got all the
freaking cooling. The cooling system is
is the cooler out there.
>> Is this guy's back?
>> Ready.
>> Comes
Manny. He might have to come and see.
>> He's been there.
volume
sliding in there on the real quietly.
Everybody woke up to it.
>> No, they're out there.
>> Yep.
>> Talking about the AI.
>> Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your
patience.
Sometimes time takes over. So sir,
you're up.
>> Brief, I promise.
My name is Al Muri. I'm the vice
president, South Jersey Yacht Sales.
We're headquartered in Summers Point.
We also have a uh fairly large facility
on Ocean Heights Avenue uh marine
service storage. We operate Chart House
Marine Electronics out of that property
as well.
I had no intentions of attending the
meeting. I have no affiliation to the
developer whatsoever.
Um, he is a neighbor in Summers Point.
This I could tell you as far as marina
operators go, they operate some of the
finest, cleanest facilities
in the state.
When I look at the project and you know
you hear this is an overwhelming marina
and it's huge and it's massive. 110 slip
marina is not. And it's not 110
permanent slips. They're transient slips
as part of that count from what I've
read. And actually I'll be honest with
you I only looked at the project over
the last couple days.
No one asked me to come here tonight but
I thought at least I could perhaps
educate people on, you know, what an
operation like that looks like.
By example, our marina in Summer's
Point, although it is smaller than that,
on an average weekend,
not not even an average day, but an
average weekend, just say a nice sunny
Sunday in June or July, at best, we may
have 50% of our clients in the marina at
any given time. Generally, it's less
than that. And keep in mind, it's only
for half a year.
So, you know,
we did a project on Summers Point
recently, uh, where we tore down what we
considered to be an eyesore after
acquiring the property.
And, uh, we went in for a major site
plan,
uh, proposal. And of course, like any
project like that, we had neighbors that
were concerned
and weren't necessarily happy.
We worked to address all the concerns
that the neighbors had. And today, I'm
sure if you pulled our neighbors,
they would all tell you, hey, it was a
good thing that, you know, they took not
unlike what we're dealing with tonight,
a dilapid, excuse me, dilapidated
facility and converted it into something
beautiful.
So, you know, I just wanted to share
that. If anyone had any questions, I'd
be happy to answer them. Uh but uh I
just thought, you know, obviously I'm in
the minority here tonight, so um I just
wanted to share that with everyone.
Thank you.
>> Hello, sir. Good evening,
>> Craig Basil. I've been here before. I
talk with you and I see that we're at
the point now where we have not
considered all the factors with this
regards to this marina and restaurant
and as I stated originally
a restaurant can't get around that it's
there. It's been there. There's never
been a marina on that property. If
anybody here sitting here on this board
thinks that there was a marina there
sometime in the past, it was not. wasn't
there. Lived there since 1963,
a year after 62 storm, so I've kind of
seen all the storms.
I mean, I live on the point, so I get
the brunt of the storms. And I had told
you people before
that when you got the money for the
Sandy, you put most of it up at at CU
Harbor and you came down and I know this
because M Mr. Miller was the engineer on
the job. He's your He was your township
engineer at that time. Cut the road down
one foot in front of my house.
How does that stop flooding? Do you know
what it does now? It floods faster now.
But that's just that. I guess my main
concern as it was before when we were
fighting the project with Mr. Dagot, the
Daget brothers, was the safety of the
community, which has been expounded many
times here tonight. And the traffic, the
traffic is no going to be no getting
away from the traffic. If you don't come
out to that neighborhood, and if only
three of you came out, every one of you
should be out there. Walk around the
neighborhood. Look at what's going on.
Then you'll understand it. can't sit in
a chair and not and say, "Oh, well,
Anchor's Point. I'm going to vote to
have a marina." Doesn't work that way.
The people there have a way of life that
is very nice, peaceful, and they don't
want to be bothered.
They're inside themselves. Almost
everybody knows everybody. There's
really no hard cases. So, we have a good
time. I mean, we used to sponsor a party
on the end of our on our on our yard and
Memorial Day and Labor Day would get
permission from the township to block
off the end of the street and everybody
in the neighborhood would come down and
horseshoes, volleyball, whatever went
on, cooking.
I can't do that anymore.
I'm not expecting that. What I'm
expecting is to be able to when I go
pull into my area, not have cars and
people walking around trying to get on
boats, get off boats. It's just going to
be a mess. The 152 route, that's a real
concern.
Even today, going out today in the
middle of the day to go out to the store
to the to the post office.
12 cars. I had to wait for
three this way.
Take that to the summertime.
Take that when the cars are backed up
from Bay Avenue all the way to the
bridge.
>> The bridge that burnt down. Remember
when it was a made of wood and the car
the lady with the the Yeah.
Yeah.
>> Well, I got the pilings around my house
>> cuz I knew Bud's tire.
>> But they were welding them, weren't
they?
>> They were welding.
>> Okay.
>> And and the son and the and the mother
drove on the bridge. He got somehow he
got off.
>> Take his mother with him. But you know,
>> but anyway, so that's what I'm concerned
about. And I would really ask you to
consider that fact. I mean, uh, we did
just a little survey.
30 people out of the 40 houses there
are not for a marina.
The majority of the people that spoke
tonight, I don't think you heard any of
them say anything about not having a
restaurant. I think that might be a good
addition to that. And I would think that
it's also be a good idea to explore this
just a little bit more. You got barges
sitting out in the in the middle of that
lagoon.
Who the heck wants that? really are they
are they going to start dredging right
away? I sort of seems like it sort of
seems like we we're moving along
but you're not doing anything right the
people by having that marina put in
there. I don't care what anybody says
person in Summers Point on Bay Avenue.
We've always live with marinas on Bay
Avenue. I'm familiar with that. And
guess what? when they pull the boat out
and you got to stop and then you got to
wait for them to pack the boat out with
Yeah. Well, just just take that over to
the residential area. Take Think about
boats on trailers pulling into that into
that area and they say that they're
going to allow for a ramp there. So,
that means boats with trailers are going
to pull into this area. Well, you're
coming off of Longport Boulevard.
It's going to be fun, especially if
there's no traffic light.
So, I thank you very much and we all
have a good holidays and a happy new
year.
>> Hi, my name is Chrissy Hawks. I don't
live at Anchorage Point. I do spend time
in the water. I've been a a volunteer
with an environmental group for I guess
20 years now.
I find it difficult to believe that the
environment would not be severely
impacted by this project.
I
hate the thought of what would happen to
the creatures, the water, um the
pollution just from the added marine
craft would be devastating.
So, I ask you to please not not let this
happen, especially for those people that
live there.
>> THANKS.
Name's Chuck Weamer. I'm also an
Anchorage Point resident. I word um
basically at the risk of my safety. Uh I
am not opposed to the project. Uh maybe
it needs to be tweaked a little. I do
understand the concerns of Oberurn Drive
residents certainly impacted harder on
Point Drive. Uh but the blight out front
is is an issue. Um I've lived there long
enough to see boat trailers, broken down
boats, construction equipment.
um old jet skis all out there. Um
barbecue pit. Um they even had a
campground there at one point and you
know even a Mississippi paddle boat. Uh
so you know I've seen that it's been
cleaned up to some extent. So to have
that entrance look nice when you arrive
in the point it's a beautiful community
would be a priority to me anyway and I
know a lot of residents. Um there's a
lot of people here tonight, but keep in
mind that there's probably over 50
residents in Anchorage Point. Uh when
you put the town homes, they are part of
Anchorage Point. Uh so there is a bigger
community. So when people refer to the
residents of Anchorage Point, it can't
be limited to everybody. It can't be
open to everybody. So I just want to
make that a point. The one thing I did
want to bring up though, and I heard a
lot of it tonight, and it's a real
problem. As everybody said, it could be
on a, you know, Saturday in July, it
could take you 15 minutes to make a left
onto the causeway. You know, I I don't
know. Peter years ago tried to uh get a
light there. Unfortunately, the state
did the uh the traffic test at March.
So, so it didn't work very well for us.
So, I think you can't do all that until
you have a solution. We'll never get out
of there. They won't be safe. As many
people said, you know, uh emergency
vehicles won't be able to get in. We
won't be able to get out if something
happens. And uh I don't know what it
would take to get a light, but I know CV
Harbor has a great situation and uh it
would be something like that that I
would encourage. But that's about all I
had. I just want to say something. So,
thank you.
Anybody else?
You're all neighbors in here, right?
>> No, he's really my neighbor.
>> Point PhD.
>> Just to jump on what Chuck just said,
I'm for the project. I know there's plus
pros and cons to everything, but uh
clean up the front end coming in and
we're all looking forward to that. I
would say traffic is horrendous.
They have to look at it in the
summertime, not the the winter time or
the spring.
And um I guess that's about it. Thank
you.
Hi, Christian Delo
14oint Drive Anchorage Point. I listen
to everyone's commentary. I don't think
anyone has more children or more boats
than I um or drives a firetruck around
that neighborhood like me. Um
I support the marina. Um,
I knew also when I purch my wife and I
purchased the property in Anchorage
Point, who owned that land and I knew
something would happen in the future.
Um, whether it be Dagot or anyone else.
So, I did the research, but I also
learned um through my experience on
Point Drive that dredging revitalizes
the ecosystem.
And that's kind of important. So when we
first visited and we moved in, there was
very little crabbing, very little
minnows, bait fish, and then we dredged.
I'm not interested and and I know the
plan doesn't call for wetland
redevelopment. It's redeveloping what's
there that's already been developed at
one point in time. Um, in fact, the
water runoff from the highway into the
asphalt and concrete millings that is
the ramp now does more damage to the
ecosystem than what's proposed. So, I
think maybe more education
needs to happen. But when we dredge our
lagoon, we could crab. We're still
crabbing. We're still fishing. So, I
think there may need to be more
education, but I'm in support of it.
Good luck. It's going to be tough.
>> Thank you.
a nice fire truck I sold in the
neighborhood.
>> You want to ride?
>> Hi, how are you? My name is Jim McKenna.
Um, I represent the condominium portion
of Anchorage Point. Um, I've got uh nine
uh letters from homeowners. There's 16
units. I got nine who are in favor of
the project. Uh,
I've listened to tonight to what people
say and so many good points have been
made. So so many good points and so many
valid points and and I agree with and I
agree with Chuck too. Things maybe re
maybe need to be tweaked a little bit.
Take a look at it. But first of all,
before I forget to say it, whether this
is approved or not, a traffic light
needs to go in. Period. End the story. I
know it's a state thing, but we need
your help to get a traffic light there
because on like I said in July, you
can't even get out of there. It took me
10 minutes to get out of there tonight.
So we need your help with that. Um, but
as far as uh I've heard a lot of what
people said and I agree with a lot of
what people say, but I do think the
project is good. There's a couple things
that weren't said though tonight about
about this. First of all, this is a
man-made lagoon that we're talking
about. This is not something that it's
there by nature. It's man-made. And at 2
hours before low tide, you can literally
walk across it. Okay. So, that's to your
point, you're not getting the wildlife
in in the lagoon because you can't be in
it. you have no there's no water in it.
There's a sunken 40ft vessel that's been
sucked in there for about 12 years from
I understand. Um, nobody's ever
complained talked about that. Nobody's
ever complained about how much fuel is
in the tank of that vessel. Nobody's
ever talked about how much septic is in
that vessel. Nobody's ever talked about
how much oil is in the crank case of
that vessel. It's just it stays there.
Nobody's nobody brought that up. The
bulkhead there is deplorable, but I
can't see a public funding of $1,000 a
foot to replace the bulkhead. I don't
think that's I wish it could. I wish you
guys say you'll make that happen. It's
not going to happen. So, it has to be
done. It has to be done privately and
somebody mentioned the lagoons too that
it's a taxpayer thing.
You do not pay for the lagoon to be
dredged. Okay? We own the lagoon on our
side and the developer is going to own
the lagoon on his side. He just happens
to own a dredging company. So, he's
going to make sure it's dredged. So,
there's no worries about that. Okay. But
again, I just want to represent the rest
of the condo. And this is the letters
from Elizabeth with letters office.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Anyone else?
>> Say n come on down.
>> I'm J M. I got home yesterday from
college. I don't know much about the
topic, but I grew up with Sean Scarbor's
son. I know him very well. Great family.
A lot of good points. I agree. Like the
traffic is horrible. Like even coming
out of here today was terrible.
um like the poison of crabbing and all
that stuff. Yeah, it's great. And it's
very two-sided though. One of our
neighbors just got called in for
crabbing the other day. So, it's like
kind of hypocritical if you ask me. Um
the build pump point is not bad. I
worked for Sean's Carro for so long. Uh
at his other marina and nobody's ever
dumped their waste in the water, so
that's not true at all. It's also
illegal to do that. I've never want to
see that happen. So, the restaurant's
good. I like that. But there's going to
be a lot of traffic coming with that and
parking is an issue. There should be
parking from these people's homes
without a doubt. Um
I don't know about the town breaking the
bulkhead. I heard somebody say earlier.
I don't know anything about that. But
nobody's done anything in the past to
fix that. So I don't know why you're
concerned about it now. Uh the taxes
probably would go up if you wanted a new
bulkhead anyway. So I don't know why
you're concerned about that too.
Um, and there's the whole ping ping pier
down the road that is also like a really
bad part, too. So, nobody's concerned
about that either. I don't really know
why it's not a concern now if everything
else is. So, thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Anybody else?
>> Say none. I have a motion to close the
public portion.
>> We have a second, right? Uh, roll call,
please.
Sister close. Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Before we do the motion to adopt, Tom,
can you give us what we need to know on
this?
>> Call Jen down.
>> Jen, you might as well come on down.
and Heler Palestina and Associates.
>> Thank you. Do you want to start, Tom?
Okay. All right. So, I do want to
clarify a couple things and a couple
statements that were made tonight. The
redevelopment plan includes the standard
language from the local housing and
redevelopment law in regards to the
tools that could be used for
redevelopment. It is in no way setting
forth any kind of tax abatement for
anybody through this redevelopment plan.
That gets done through the redevelopment
agreement which is the next step for any
redevelopment project. It's not the
plan's purpose to set forth the tax
breaks, incentives, pilots, anything
like that. That's going to be the
redevelopment agreement that's between
the governing body and the developer.
Any development in this area is subject
to D review and that is also part of the
with the
DCA's letter. It identifies the area
that's that is a PA5. The entire
neighborhood is in a PA5 and development
is subject to a caffer permit. The
redevelopment plan cannot change or
supersede any D rules. The the
redevelopment plan is just that. It's
just zoning. Um, and with regard to the
DCA letter, in the event that a CAPER
permit is obtained, that's that's why
those areas, the sensitive areas are not
included in the redevelopment area
because they are still subject to Capra
rules and regulations.
A burn drive is a public right ofway. So
something to keep in mind. And your
infrastructure is located within the
public right ofway. The bulkhead is
there that's deteriorating, but it is
intended to be reconstructed as part of
this plan. and that will protect
properties along Ourn Drive as well as
um the rest of the neighborhood. Also,
another statement that was made tonight,
there are no boat ramps and as part of
this project, so no one's bringing in a
boat on a trailer and dropping it there
and then parking their trailer on a
public street. There are no boat ramps.
This is you pull up, you bring your boat
from somewhere else that you've put it
in the water. And that is
those are some of the statements that I
just wanted to put on the record to
clarify.
So, as with any redevelopment plan, um
the first step is approving the
redevelopment plan, entering into a
redevelopment agreement with the
developer, and then they come back in
for site plan approval. So, at the time
of site plan approval, things like all
of those listed permitted uses and the
parking will have been worked out by
then. They have to come in with a
compliant site plan based on the zoning
set forth in the redevelopment plan. So,
this is not an approval of any site
plan. It is not an approval of the
conceptual plan that is contained within
the redevelopment plan. It is just
setting forth the zoning for a developer
who enters into a redevelopment
agreement with the township to utilize.
>> Clarify something for me. This property
is already zoned for marina. Correct.
>> Correct. This property, this whole area
is in CRW. Marinas are permitted use in
this zoning district subject to the
marine commercial zoning standards.
So this developer would meet all
standards that are on the books for
right now for zoning standards. He could
do this marina and restaurant.
>> Correct.
>> Okay, that's what I thought.
>> So the the redevelopment plan, the
purpose of the redevelopment plan is to
require the shared parking analysis for
the uses and it also um
it will set forth the setbacks for the
existing structure. So then in this case
it would be they would come in with no
variances but if they came in tomorrow
submitted an application to the planning
board it would be required for the
existing nonconformities for the
restaurant and for the other
improvements and they could construct a
marina per our ordinance
>> and during the planning process
the plan can be dissected
at the planning board level. So that's
when the site plan
>> right the site plan approval
>> right will still review by the planning
board again this redevelopment plan is
not approval of any plan
>> for the zoning that a developer has to
follow in order to make their project
work
>> from there the next step is the
redevelopment agreement with a developer
>> potential development and just for the
public's knowledge the vote tonight
>> on what the zoning basically
>> just on the zoning No tax abatements, no
pilots, just
>> the zoning.
>> Just the zoning for the property.
>> Correct.
>> That's it.
>> Right.
>> No approvals for a marina. None of that.
It's just on the zoning.
>> Right.
>> Anybody else have any questions?
>> So, Jen, this is part of the
redevelopment plan that was created in
2017 which included CB Harbor, West
Atlantic City, and Anchorage Point. You
mean
>> the master plan? The master plan. Excuse
me. So, what are the components of the
master plan?
describe
>> um
the resiliency for areas such as
Anchorage Point, CB Harbor and Right. So
one of the goals of the master plan is
>> new for that this has been out there
since 17 of redevelopments of these
three areas.
>> Right. So that and improving the
resiliency through bulkheads, other
means to protect your shoreline and to
protect your properties.
Anybody
else?
>> I have a few questions if you don't
mind. I
>> bulkhead that we've been talking about.
Infrastructure on this board interests
me more than the details of the
bulkhead fails and the integrity of a
burn drive is compromised.
How much would that roughly cost us as a
municipality to fix
>> roadway or the sewer infrastructure
that's contained within it? You're
you're over millions of dollars,
correct, Bob?
>> Correct.
>> Agree. I saw it. More than three of us
were out there just to address some of
the other folks. But
>> for the purposes of of tonight, I want
to understand what it would cost me as a
township.
>> The existing
road out there right now has water,
sewer. I don't believe they maybe gas as
well. So, every utility is inside that
rightway, that roadway. So, you know,
Sandy did damage the roadway
considerably out on the point more than
the lagoon due to the wave action and
everything. Um, will another storm make
it worse along there? It possibly could.
>> Impassable essentially.
>> Correct. And if the road starts to cave
in, we have to build back the road,
which could be, you know, hundreds of
thousands of dollars. And to put in a
new bulkhead, it's roughly about $1,000
of a foot.
>> That's what I said earlier. You're
talking about a $4 million project to go
bulkhead all the way around to the point
>> versus private developer
>> for us up to a certain point. It would
be roughly half.
>> It's approximately 700 ft of bulkhead
>> and
>> you're talking about the road and the
bulkhead. We lose utilities, sewer lines
and everything. You're talking way more
than
>> Yeah. It all depends how deep and how
much caves in. You can't speculate that.
>> I'm saying rebuilding the roadway
itself, but I know you were trying to,
but I to say everything fails is like
cash like you're talking then you're
looking at FEMA money and it's it's it's
a whole different story. Like I can't
say that. But if the road is
>> So how do we pay for project?
>> You put uh coffers away every year
through your capital improvement
projects to pay for this, which is
taxpayer money.
So, if you want to start putting money
away to build this bulkhead and get the
funding, get the permitting, it's going
to take about a four-year project to put
out $500,000 for every for every year.
>> So, okay, one of the other things that I
was curious about, what is the
roughly again what what percentage of
the overall property is being proposed
to be developed?
existing parking lot.
>> My No, no. My understanding is this
property extends
a out to the water in protected
unbuildable not going to touch it ever
and I don't know are we talking 10% of
the property? We talking 1%. We talking
>> Yeah. So that that large block 9 603 lot
2 is the 244 acre parcel. You can't
build on wetlands. The D is never going
to allow a developer or anybody to
construct anything on those wetlands.
There is no development proposed on the
wetlands. The development that is
proposed is on the existing restaurant
site, on the existing parking lot across
Anchorage Drive site and the bulkhead
and within the water lagoon area.
>> Right. And last thing, am I correct in
thinking
is gone. It's gone.
>> Um,
>> the sailboat. Yeah.
>> Right. So, the developer would be
responsible for cleaning up the
property. Again, they're they're
proposing to do to renovate that
restaurant building. They're not going
to leave trash and old boats within
their property.
appreciate it. Again,
>> there is no plan yet to be voted on in
regards to recycling.
>> So, with all those details
and apologies, you're all going to have
to come back out to the planning board
meeting to really see the details of
this project because right now it's just
a concept plan. I know people said
there's stuff at New Jersey D. It's
still not in front of the site plan for
planning board approval yet. um if it
gets approved at this meeting. So just
want everybody to know it's not getting
developed yet and there's another
approval process that's very detailed
again
>> approvals zoning only.
>> Correct.
>> Right. And the redevelopment plan
concept plan
>> is included in this plan is just that a
concept plan. So the anybody who enters
into a redevelopment agreement with the
township is going to have to construct
something similar to not it doesn't have
to be exact but has to be similar to
meaning they can't come in and put a
hotel up. They can't deviate much from
that concept plan. Otherwise, we're back
here again amending the redevelopment
plan to allow other uses.
All right.
So,
the next step is we have a motion to
adopt ordinance number 35. Do I have a
motion for that? So, moved. Do
>> I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
No,
>> I'm reluctant to vote yes because of all
the issues that were brought up. I think
have to be thoroughly decided whether
it's D lawsuits that were filed before
and I'm a no.
>> That's a no.
>> Yes.
>> Paul,
>> yes.
>> Sorry, that's your supposed to do that.
Rosenberg.
>> Yes. And for
>> I am a yes on this because this is not
the final product here. What we need to
do is I have to look out. We have to
look out for a lot of things including
all the residents of Vancouver Township.
Our concern is a $5 million storm could
come through to this area and hurt it
bad. We need to make sure that our
infrastructure is strong. We have a
bulkhead there. But we also need to know
that this developer is going to do
things right by the people of that
neighborhood. And I think that's our
next step. This is not approving
anything other than the zoning, but I
think our next step, each step is
critically important. And I have a list
of everybody's concerns tonight. And
there's quite a few, especially some of
the environmental ones that we need
answers to. So I think we're going to go
from there. But I vote yes.
>> So
So, we have a resolution and consent
calendar.
Now, we're going to do something.
>> Oh, we have separate from
>> Oh, it is. We have uh resolution 557
authorizing the release of the executive
session minutes.
Can I have a motion, please?
>> Thank you. Roll call, please.
Yes.
Yeah. Now, resolution 558
>> appoints a new clerk. Now, we will honor
her on the reorg night. However, Miss
Janice Hughes, please stand up. Janice
has done an outstanding job for this
town.
He told me. He told me. But I I you have
been here most of your life and you know
this township inside and out
>> from a high school student.
>> From a high school student and we all
know that you are going to be an
outstanding clerk
and just can't wait to see what good you
do and that office does. It's been in
good stewardship and it's being handed
over to you and we are so looking
forward to what you do. I know you're
going to yell at me for doing this, but
I know ladies and gentlemen that are
here, Miss Janice Hughes is outstanding
and we are very proud of her and very
proud that she works for Red Harbor
Township
>> if she passes vote.
>> All right, that's true. We do have to
take We're going to take that vote
separate.
So, can we have resolution 558
authorizing or I'm sorry, appointing
Janice Hughes as the municipal court
clerk for the township of egg harbor for
a three-year term effective January 1,
2026? Can I have a motion?
>> I'll make a motion. Second.
>> Roll call. Can we do a roll call on this
one just for the fun of it?
>> Ellis, yes or no?
>> No.
Yes.
>> Yes.
>> And
>> absolutely. YES.
>> Can I say something?
>> Absolutely.
>> Okay. I I haven't.
So anyway, uh Janice and I have worked
together for more than 30 years. Um but
part of those years she was uh deputy my
deputy and um you know during that time
Janice has been my right hand, my
sounding board, my keeper of secrets, my
calm voice reminding me that everything
was going to be okay even when I
definitely didn't feel that way. Please
bring me down off that shelf, Janice.
Talk me down. Um, after all these years,
we've reached the point where we can
look at each other across the room and
know exactly what the other is thinking,
sometimes without wanting to say it out
loud.
Um, Janice knows this job inside and out
and leaving the office in incredibly
capable hands. Capable hands and better.
Um, so Dennis, thank you for your
friendship, your loyalty, and for always
being there professionally and
personally. And the township is lucky to
have you, and I'm lucky to call you my
friend.
>> A
TISSUE.
>> I bet you said that to all your friends.
>> Change is hard, but you know, this one
actually.
So
congratulations
and that was really good. I
>> chip cookie
>> was like
>> oh
>> that's a heck of a night.
>> Okay. So we have the rest of our
resolution and consent calendar
resolutions. And just for the record we
have three amended which is uh 562,
578 and 579. They have been amended and
they're on the the uh online it's
already changed. Correct. All right.
Very good. Can I have a motion for 559
through and including 580?
>> I make a motion.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
With the exception
>> 563. Would you please mark my
abstension?
>> Okay.
Over.
>> Yes.
So,
>> we have um
resolution. We have the bill list for
581 authorizing payment of all bills
pursuant to the attached. Can I have a
motion to pay the bills?
>> Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
We've got some approvals. Can I
have a motion to approve the payroll for
the month of November 2025 in the amount
of $1,684,56.79?
So moved.
Uh, all in favor?
>> I.
>> Can I have a motion to approve the
departmental reports for the month of
November 2025?
>> So move.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Can I have a motion to approve the
November 25th, 2025 township committee
meeting minutes?
>> Thank you.
All in favor? I. Can I have a
motion to approve the township committee
November 25th colo 2025 close session
meeting minutes?
>> Can I have a motion? Thank you. Can I
have a second?
>> Thank you. All in favor?
>> I. All right. Is there anyone else in
the public that would like to address
the governing body on anything?
Good.
Jill Campbell, Egg Harbor Township. I
don't need this.
Um,
>> okay. No problem. So, um, I'm just going
to reiterate, every time you guys
approve something, you're making more
students come into the schools. The
schools are overwhelmed. So, I'm going
to say that. The other thing that I have
a question about, I was looking at your
um, uh, advertisements. So, you're
definitely going to need more police
with all this this redevelopment and
everything that you guys are approving.
And I just am curious why police
starting salaries are lower than EMTs.
I don't understand why. I'm going to
tell you that the government their main
concern and main main job is to make
sure that we are protected and that
starts with police. I understand about
collective bargaining. I'm a teacher.
I'm in collective bargaining, too. Do
the research. figure it out then next
meeting let me know.
>> Okay, even better. You have my number.
>> Thank you.
>> Happy holidays.
>> Anyone else?
>> Seeing none, I have a motion to close a
couple portion.
>> Thank you.
>> Committee reports. And before we do
that, I would like to say something to
Mr. Rosenberg.
>> Oh,
>> I kept my mouth shut this week.
>> He's been really good this week. But,
you know, it's been an honor and a
privilege to work with you, Paul. Um,
your your planning and zoning zoning
knowledge has been invaluable to so many
of us up here because you've been doing
this for so many years. So, you
understand the law, you understand
strategy, you understand why things
happen the way they do. Doesn't mean you
agree with them all, but it but you
understand it, and that is invaluable to
us, and I appreciate that. I also
appreciate um your support on things
that we need when we need to push
different things or explain to the
public what's going on. You've been
outstanding with that
and I appreciate your friendship more
than any of it. So, thank you for
everything you've done for us. I greatly
appreciate every bit of it.
>> That last part meant the most.
>> Else
work.
Now,
thanks for working with us. Good luck,
Paul. You know how I feel about you. Um,
and I'm really in a jam with D.
>> I I got to get home.
>> Yeah.
>> Thank you for serving. Did a great job.
>> Good campaign.
>> Thank you.
>> Uh, but your knowledge is unbelievable.
Like I said, plan in his own.
>> Thank you. So, Mr. Rosenberg,
it's your turn.
>> Sometimes going first, not the most fun,
but sometimes going first. That means
you get to say what everybody else is
going to say. Merry Christmas, happy
Hanukkah, happy holidays to everybody
that's here. Um, mayor, that umh what
you said there was um very touching. and
everybody be safe, everybody be merry,
and thank you very much for allowing me
the honor to have been part of this
governing body and the uh township that
I love so much. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Collins.
>> I had a list, but I'm going to cut it
short. I wanted to talk about 911
dispatch meeting I went to with the
county. That was very interesting. I
will say something the next meeting.
attended the uh planning board meeting
for you that was very interested and we
had good conversations with people that
were here.
Just want to clear for the record, you
know, we're hearing that a lot of people
didn't from this bench didn't go out
there. There was a lot of us that went
out there. I think every one of us
>> and we spent a lot of time out there
looking at this and there's a lot of
pieces to that puzzle
>> when you look at it. So just for the
record, we did attend out there many
times.
That's my report.
>> Very good. Mr. Hudson,
>> um I look at what Will said, I went out
there with Ray. I know the place fairly
well from my days at Summers Point. Um
there's a lot of pieces like Will said,
this has got to be thought out and made
right when it happens. And um I voted no
for a reason is there's so much history
with Marinas preparing rights for my
days in Summers Point that I hope it's
thought out correctly before decisions
are made and that's what the planning
board has to do. Um
you know and Anchorage Point has been
neglected over the years. I shouldn't
say neglected, but that bulkhead needs
to be fixed. It should have been fixed
years ago. In the old days of being a
cop in Simmers Point where a road was 3
ft lower, you couldn't get in. You
couldn't get out there. Okay. So, those
people have suffered with the water and
maybe dredging will help them ultimately
that they realize that they dredge the
lagoon to hold back some of that water.
So, getting off that soap up. Merry
Christmas to everybody. Happy New Year.
Uh, I hope everybody has a safe new year
and I hope that this country realizes
next year, the first quarter, second
quarter, when you listen to all these
financial people that things get better
for all of us. So, happy new year.
>> Happy new year,
>> Mr. Al.
>> Yeah, my thing with the court situation
is
>> I learned more in five minutes with the
lady uh explaining than, you know, what
I knew in the past. So, we'd like to get
a better understanding of what's going
on and for the two parties to come
together. Um, also it was uh please
enjoy, you know, the holidays with your
family. Please enjoy the holidays with
whoever you're going to be with. And um,
Mrs. Hughes, if you baking cakes or
anything, I'm coming by. And I had to uh
say this real quick. You know, I've been
in the business for a long time. I
coached football for 45 years, over 45
years. And I see one of my little kids
now.
He's a man now. I That was high school.
I was just coaching high school. Um I
was his his coaching.
>> Yeah, I was his coach. No, he he was
good. I was good. And I'm looking at him
now. I'm like, look at my little baby.
He's a man now. So it doesn't show.
Right.
>> That's right. That's right. But one,
like I said, it was so good seeing him.
I got happy as soon as I walked in. His
family was beautiful. He's beautiful.
They were teachers at the high school.
And his dad was a karate expert. You
know, people
like we were real rough in high school
back then. We didn't have all these laws
and rules and you only got suspended uh
for two days. And his dad didn't play.
He was scared of his dad cuz he was
like, "Oh yeah."
And his mom was just the sweetest woman
in the whole school. Uh Mrs. Man of she
beautiful, beautiful family. But Miss
Eileene,
who's going to call you Miss Eileene?
When you're going, who am I going to
call? Mrs. Hughes.
Miss Alen has really been a pleasure.
Beautiful person, beautiful family. And
and I guess I could still come past the
office and visit them ladies. The them
ladies.
>> Yeah. No, tell them tell them to let me
in the back the side door as I leave.
Before you leave, say that's your last
wish. Before you leave, let me in that
door. Have me walking all around. Y'all
know my back hurts.
>> Happy holidays to everyone.
>> Very good.
>> You too.
>> But um couple things. Every one of us up
here has been out to Anchorage Point
numerous times very tight the various
title levels because it gets bad out
there. So I think meetings like this are
good for dialogue. I think there's a lot
of points that were brought up tonight
that as it goes to the planning board
stage are going to have to be discussed
and actually good answers given to all
of us. So I think that's critical for
all of us. So I just wanted to say that.
I also wanted to uh say a big thank you
to the recreation department since she's
right back there that we had a tree
light. We had a tree lighting ceremony
this month. We had um I judged some
lights, Christmas lights. There were
some beautiful lights in the township.
We had a lighting contest which they
will announce announce the winner later
on this week, Friday. Um and it's
beautiful out here. So
Eileen,
I know where you live.
So, I'm going to miss you, but I do know
where you live. So, I just want to wish
you all the best in your retirement. You
know, when you get to keep your head on
that pillow when that alarm goes Oh,
wait. What alarm? You won't need it
anymore. So,
but thank you for all that you did for
the township. It was outstanding. And
just enjoy every minute of retirement.
You earned it.
>> And put your flowers in wood.
>> You earned it. Yeah, please. Absolutely.
And I just want to wish everybody else a
very merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah.
Um, happy new year and we will see you
all in 2026.
>> Tom, anything for you?
>> Yes.
>> Thank Rosenberg for working with you
this past year. It's been a pleasure.
Um, I want to apologize to Miss Eileen
and the clerk staff for such a doozy of
an agenda. But I also want to and Chief
Hughes too. Sorry, Mike.
And also congratulations Eileen. It's
been a pleasure the last three years
working with you. You helped me a lot
through the ways and uh good luck in
retirement. I know you're going to like
it.
>> Thank you.
>> Merry Christmas.
>> Anything else?
>> Can I motion to adjurnn? That's a
motion.
>> Can I I guess we had a second and a
third. All in favor? I. No close session
tonight. Thank you. Merry Christmas
everybody.