Public Meeting of Egg Harbor Township Committee 01/21/26

Thank you. Could you all please stand
for the pledge of allegiance?
I
>> pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
>> Roll, please.
>> Here.
>> Yes. Paul
>> here.
>> Ellis
>> here.
>> I'm here.
>> Well, we can't think of a better way to
start 2026 than having our 2025
champions here.
>> Mayor, before you get started, Mason,
come here.
Come here. Okay. Go ahead, Mayor. Come
here, Mason.
>> Wait till Mason gets down here.
Come up here. Come over here.
I'll stand up. Let him sit down. Is he
sharp or what?
>> You take my spot for the day.
>> Good.
>> He wants to get the trophy.
>> He looks good.
>> You stay right there, Mason. Okay. Go
ahead, man.
>> All right.
>> He's representing the team.
>> You know, we're always proud proud of
the youth organization. You guys have
consistently made this town pride proud.
Your kids have you've gone on to big
things in high school and beyond. And
well, when did the yo start?
>> Back in the 60s.
>> Yeah. It's amazing. And so this
organization has stayed strong
uh due to
Dominic Chassity and all of the
volunteers that have kept this
organization going. It's tough in this
world to get volunteers to step up and
do all this and you all have done that.
So that is something that we are very
proud of and very thankful for and we're
really we're always proud of you but
there's a little special something when
you get a trophy bigger than me and you
did something. So this is awesome guys.
So what we're going to do is Mr.
Castellano would you read this into the
record?
>> Yes mayor. Whereas the EHCt Jersey Shore
Youth Varsity Football Team exemplified
excellence by coming together as a
strong, disciplined, and unified team,
proudly representing their community and
demonstrating what can be accomplished
through collaboration, perseverance, and
shared purpose. And whereas the EHT yo
Jersey Shore Youth Varsity Football Team
earned the championship title by winning
the 2025 Jersey Shore Youth Varsity
Football Championship game played in
Hamilton against the Hamilton Hawks. And
whereas the EHTO Jersey Shore Youth
Varsity Football Team captured
back-to-back championships in 2024 and
2025,
completing the 2024 2025 season
undefeated with an outstanding record of
20 and 0, including 14 shutouts, scoring
an impressive 688 points while allowing
only 48 points. And whereas the EHT yo
Jerseyshore youth football varsity team
made history by becoming the first team
in a Jersey Shore championship game to
successfully kick a field goal. And
whereas the following team members led
by head coach Scott Derbashire,
assistant coaches Tom Crowell, Daryl
Merrill, Tony Savastano, Julio Roblaze,
Cole Raring, and Julius McClendon are
deserving of recognition for their
athletic skills and dedication to the
sport of football, which allowed them to
realize every athlete's dream of
becoming a champion.
Thank you. Thank you. I'd like the
coaches to come forward.
>> Come on.
Congratulations.
>> How are you? Congratulations to you and
the kids. Congratulations.
struggling.
Thank you.
All
right.
Okay.
Thank you.
All right.
You want to say anything?
>> 20 years. This is pretty impressive.
We got a lot of kids that have played
football but really never had a story
football before. So, we really got to
work for that for us. They really they
really bust this year. So, they really
deserve they really deserve this.
>> Awesome.
>> Now, who's going up to high school?
How many
>> how many how many going to nth grade
your own
>> we are very very proud of all of you
keep up the good work get the good
grades happy play ball you got to keep
the grains up by the
My leg just tweaked.
>> It is big.
might have two
false hope.
>> Thank you to the coaches.
What can they get?
>> Congratulations each and every one of
you. Did you all have fun doing it? Yes.
>> Hey, don't forget books first workout
milk and cookies and you're going to be
successful. Good job. Good job.
Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the
mayor and township committee of the
townships of Egg Harbor, County of
Atlantic, and state of New Jersey are
proud to recognize the Egg Harbor
Township Youth Organization, Jersey
Shore Youth, Varsity Football Team for
their prestigious accomplishment and
congratulate the team members and
coaches for their sportsmanship and the
honor they have brought to themselves,
their families, and community through
their combined efforts to achieve
success. Congratulations.
>> Great job, guys.
>> Great job.
>> Let us know what you do next year.
>> Thank you.
Hey Ray, any of these guys do your yard
work.
Yeah.
Come on. Call you.
curly
>> hair.
>> Oh, that's a way to start a meeting.
That's a way to start a meeting.
>> All righty.
Oh, it's
>> I was shocked to hear that.
>> Remember when
they
>> We have no public hearings this evening.
We have no in uh ordinance
introductions.
We do have a few resolutions in the
consent calendar. Does anybody have any
questions on that? If not, can I have a
motion for that? Major
>> mot.
Uh all in favor? No. Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
We have resolution for the bill
list authorizing payment of all bills.
Can I have a motion?
>> I'll make a motion.
>> Can I have a second?
>> Thank you. Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
>> Alice,
>> yes.
>> Yes.
>> Do we want to wait on approvals?
We have the chief here for a minute
before we let him go.
>> Bring him up then.
>> Yeah.
>> Do that chief.
>> Before we get into approve Well,
actually, why don't we just Do you want
to just do the approvals and then we'll
>> Yeah, we might as well.
>> We might as well. All right. We've got a
few approvals. Can I have a motion to
approve the payroll for the month of
December 202?
>> Thank you. Can I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Thank you. All in favor?
>> I. Can I have a motion to approve the
January 7th, 2026 time committee
reorganization meeting minutes?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Can I have a motion to approve myself on
that?
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Can I have a motion to approve the
departmental reports for the month of
December 2025?
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Okay. Now,
chief, would you like to come on
kind of deviating a little bit here, but
I had asked the chief about the ebike
legislation that the governor signed in
on his way out of office. Just give us a
little update on what you know about
that.
>> All right. Um, well, first of all, good
evening everyone and uh congratulations
to
>> Thank you, new committeeman Castellano.
Welcome. Um, basically the ebike legis I
mean we've all been waiting for it. We
know what the dangers and you know what
we've seen locally as far as you know
children getting hurt or killed on
ebikes. So new this new legislation is
basically made New Jersey uh the
strictest in the United States as far as
um ebike law
and it really applies.
So, anyone 14 years of age or younger,
they can't ride ebikes. It's it's
against the law. Uh between the ages of
15 and 17, uh you do have to have a a
license to operate an ebike and
registration insurance.
If you're 17 and you have your driver's
license, then that would apply. and
anyone 17 years of age who has their
driver's license and older, um they
they're required to have their license
to operate an ebike as well as
registration insurance. I do know that
there's waiverss I think the first six
months.
See here, I have the law here. I
highlighted certain sections of it,
but I know that the first six months
um enforcement
will be waved.
Yeah, you have six months to come in
compliance. So, ebike riders have six
months to come in compliance. Licensing
and registration fees will be waved for
one year.
So, that's pretty much it. um really
applies to any any aike or any bicycle
that has uh the pedal option and an
electric motor. And
>> so we lost a stronger he was 12 eight
months ago. About 8 months ago now
>> the one at our neighboring community.
>> Yeah. He was an EHT boy in some point.
>> Uh yes he was 12 on the football team.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> So it's a
it's a start and I'm sure
The law will be amended as we go, but um
it's just making hopefully the roadway
safer for for all and that anyone
operating the ebike is still has to
abide by uh title 39 motor vehicle
chapter or motor vehicle law in New
Jersey.
>> We can talk to the school too. Just the
school can put it out.
I do know that why you know that we did
some education with the school um last
year and I'm sure we'll do the same this
year. Our traffic unit went over and
>> so they know that this now they it's
illegal now for them to be on it under
14.
>> I would hope they know. I mean if
they're reading
social media I mean if anyone's on
social media if you don't know it then
then I guess they're not on social media
and they don't get the newspaper. So but
>> Keith, how do they get insurance for
you?
Does the insurance industry understand
this?
>> That I don't know. I would hope so. I
mean, you could put
>> It sounds good. Okay. Every motor
vehicle should have insurance, but these
are 14y olds that have to get an
insurance policy and
>> it's a liability insurance that I think
their their parents would have to
purchase by homeowners. I don't know.
Yeah.
>> Okay. Chief, my concern is uh being in
law enforcement. I heard him say
insurance. First of all, you might
you're not worried about insurance to be
real. Young folks are not worried about
that. Is they putting out officers and
the child in danger? How are we going to
prevent them from like you stop them?
Because now you looking at highspeed
chase, you're looking at chasing a kid,
you know. So, we put out officers, you
know, and risk hurting yourself, hurting
the kid, you know. I just was wondering
how they going to stop it because you
know we have laws in the world but laws
are broken every day and these kids on
these bikes are not going to stop our
police you know and that's going to put
them in a bad situation to chase them
which I doubt chase them but I just want
to know how are we going to handle a
situation like that. Um, I'll say that I
have the utmost confidence and trust in
our people and that they act in
reasonable and prudent when that time
should come on whether or not someone
doesn't stop and whether or not they uh
pursue them. And and that
I I know our officers operate very
consistent to the AG guidelines on the
pursuit policy because the pursuit
policy would apply to ebikes. Um, but
like I said, I I do have
a lot of trust and faith that our
people, our officers will uh respond
accordingly should that occurrence come.
>> Yeah. Yeah. It' be good if they were
tagged and you just read the tags and
they could run all they want and meet
them right at the doorstep. you know,
you know, instead of chase, you know, if
they have legal tags and the tag come
back to the home, I would go right to
the home, you know, because like I said,
that's a really tricky situation. I know
our officers are very professional and
knowledgeable about Title Title 39 and u
I just don't want to see them be in a
situation, you know.
>> Agreed. 100%. And you brought up
something. I mean, I know they say it
needs to be registered and I don't know
what again, I'd have to read the law
more in depth. I don't know if that
means that they have to have a plate on
it to identify it. That's so that's
something
>> I I haven't heard. I don't know if
anyone here has heard that, but I don't
know. I mean, you think of registration,
you would think that, you know, it's
it's plate has a plate on it, so it can
be identified by
>> uh the police. So,
>> I think it's a step in the right
direction. Absolutely.
>> Absolutely. Absolutely. Anything else?
Sure.
>> Uh the other other thing I'll say is um
so one of the things you'll be seeing
and and in 2026 in Egar Township is we
are we have aligned or partnered with
the state of New Jersey and a bunch of
stakeholders. It's called the uh goal
zero um target zero initiative. And I'll
just read this. Um I put this together.
It was part of a press release that uh a
media release that we did last week. And
I'll just so the backstory with target
zero is it's a or it's goal zero is the
state of New Jersey through a lot of uh
stakeholders uh the goal is to eliminate
deaths on our roadways by I believe it's
here 20 2040 but um so in 2026 you'll
see us part partnering and out doing um
targeted enforcement and what's called
high injury
uh network um locations in the town that
have been identified where they've
there's previous uh inj or uh fatalities
or serious injuries and we will target
those locations on certain dates and
those dates are those dates and times
are passed on to us by the state and
we've recently uh started doing those
enforcement details and I think it's
important and one of the things I'll
read is my comments that I I did put out
to the media traffic enforcement efforts
unfortunately cannot stop, pause, or
decline in order to continually reduce
traffic fatalities. For example, in
2024, Egar Township roads road roadways
resulted in 13 deaths due to motor
vehicle crashes. In 2025, we had three
deaths as a result of traffic crashes.
Our messaging and traffic enforcement
efforts were much more aggressive when
compared to 2024. And I I believe that
most of you can attest to that. Um I
mean I would come to the committee
meetings and we would talk about this
and we we were pushing that messaging
through social media and other
platforms. The data supports that
increased traffic enforcement reduces
traffic fatalities thus saving lives.
Our agency is committed to the goal zero
initiative to make our roadway safer for
all and to have no fatalities in 2026.
We want to recognize that many embraced
and this is a this is a kind of a a a
compliment to our our citizens. Um we we
want to recognize that they embrace
safer driving in 2025, but it's not
enough and it won't stop. Everyone must
make a conscious effort to drive safer
in 2026 by slowing down, obeying speed
limits, stopping at the intersections
with traffic control devices,
eliminate distracted driving, and be
more attentive to your surroundings,
other motorists, bicyclists,
pedestrians, and to avoid driving
impaired. In addition, as our roadways
continue to experience an increase in
traffic, we are asking everyone to be
more patient. drive with the mindset
that you want to make our roadway safer
for not only you but for your loved
ones. Um and so that's kind of the same
transitioning right from 2025 to 2026
that that's our message. I will say that
our traffic enforcement meaning the
number of traffic stops and the number
of summones that we issued were higher
in 2025 when compared to 2024 which
again that's why I think that's you know
you look at facts I'd like to think that
that made a big impact on saving lives
and keeping our fatalities low and those
three fatalities that we had in 2025
they were they were pedestrian related
none the I mean none the result of you
know someone in a motor vehicle So,
we're improving, but we're not there
yet. And that's why I impress upon
everyone. I said it before. I mean, that
includes everyone. That includes us. I
know. I I know. I hear the noise, you
know, all the cops do this, the cops do
that. Yeah. Well, guess what? Report it.
Let us know because it's not going to be
tolerated. We all have to make a
conscious effort. Get in that vehicle.
make, you know, put get a mindset that
you're putting your phone down, you
know, and you're not going to look at
your phone until you get from point A to
point B.
>> So, and Chief, another thing real quick,
I want to give a shout out to your
officers being visible, cut down a lot.
I have stats on this past snowstorm or
ice storm or ice in a road and we only
really had like seven accidents and
that's like record breaking. I want to
put you, you know, give shout outs to
public works because it was only three
of those accidents because of ice and
there ain't no same road and um they
recognize that and that won't happen
again. But being the guys are so visible
now, it's you know cut down these
accidents speeding and all that stuff.
So they're doing a great job out there.
>> Thank you. But I will say this and that
you brought up another point in 2024 our
staffing was down. we were we were and
so in 2025 we got our staffing back up
to where we could breathe where we could
have more um resources available to do
the enforcement and so but that needs to
continue um if we're to make to continue
to make this impact in reducing
fatalities and injuries
>> and we're growing
>> and the township's growing
>> and we're growing
>> and as I mentioned before I know our
population is probably right around
50,000 the largest municipality by for
with population in Atlanta county. Um,
and that's not to that's not to add the
surge that we get during the day. I
mean, I think we discussed this before
with people that work here and people
traveling through here. And so that's uh
it takes a lot of resources, takes a lot
of, you know, to get to do the traffic
enforcement with all the other calls for
service that we're dealing with in our
in in a municipality our size and this
busy. Um, so and the other thing I
wanted to say is back to the Z U target
zero. It's not just about enforcement.
It's also the state recognizing
those areas in town that might need
redesign. Uh whether or not it's the
roadways, the intersections, things like
that. That's part of target zero. So,
and you'll see you'll hear that term a
lot in going forward.
>> I think it's a message that we just keep
pushing.
>> We need to
>> we need to
>> and it's it shouldn't stop because it's
it's uh again we have to reduce it. We
have to come to zero and and that's the
way to do it.
>> So,
>> well done. Well done. Thank you.
>> Any questions?
>> Nope.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Chief.
>> Back to this point. I'm seeing more
motor vehicle stops and that that helps
this.
>> Plus, the Black Horse bike, there's
stretches in the Black Pike that it's
not the the Parkway and they're they're
moving pretty good. that road because of
the congestion and the building on it.
It's got to be slowed down. It's just
just too fast.
>> We know, we see it and I I know our
officers are doing their best and like I
said, the enforcement went up in 2025.
We look for it to increase in 2026. Um,
and that's enforce that's not only
traffic stops, that's increased uh
ticketing. And I know that sounds harsh,
but again, facts are when someone has to
pay for a violation, they're more likely
to change their behavior in the future.
And ultimately, that again goes back to
better and safer driving.
>> They tell people, they say, "Hey, go
slow."
>> And that's important.
>> And and and just to point out, I'll
leave you with this. Yesterday morning,
9:00 in the morning, we had a DWI right
here in Agria Township. Person was a 27
9:00 in the morning. So those people are
out there and that's why we need to keep
our foot on the gas on traffic
enforcement and traffic safety.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks G.
>> Thanks.
Okay. Is there anyone in the public that
would like to address the governing
body?
Township.
Thank you for allowing me the
opportunity to speak. Tonight's
presentation with the EHtyO was
absolutely outstanding. I was part of
that organization many years ago uh with
my son. So that brought back a lot of
wonderful memories. I have had my or
been at my share of meetings, various
meetings in my adult life and I attend
the zoning board meetings for the
township on a regular basis. At the last
zoning board meeting,
the um professionals were awarded
contracts.
And my question is, and I'm hoping
someone can answer for me, whether it be
the governing body, mayor, Mr. Dentino
or maybe it's someone from finance.
Why is it that the zoning board would
make a motion with a name of a
professional
without any discussion,
any questions,
any talk of cost?
And we go with the second. Well, let me
back up a little bit here. The first
bidder
was the high the highest bidder did not
meet the bid specs based on the
information that I got through an open
request.
The second highest bidder was awarded
the zoning board planner and the first
alternate engineer and that firm is
almost $100 an hour more than some of
the other biders for the same positions.
The third highest bidder was awarded the
zoning board engineer and the alternate
planner. Now, I won't speak for Mr.
Watkins, but I would think you would be
very upset considering the fact that you
firm was one of the lower biders.
So, I don't understand fiscally how it
is that we are choosing the highest bids
for the positions that we're filling on
the zoning board. Can someone help me
respectfully?
There's a lot of things that go into it
and a lot of it has to do with
experience. A lot has to do with
certifications. A lot has to do with
uh well dollars and cents always come
into it, but on certain contracts it's
not all low bid and sometimes you get
what you pay for. I agree, mayor, but I
can also tell you that there are one,
two, three
out of the six that already do work for
us.
So that would tell me that they're
qualified companies. They're qualified
vendors. And if they have the lowest
responsible bid based on what I'm
looking at here, why would we go with a
higher bidder
and not be more fiscally responsible
when we're talking about over $100 an
hour? An hour. I mean, that's a lot of
money.
>> That's a lot of money. So, can someone
and I I get the whole thing about, you
know, um the criteria or the experience.
I mean, Mr. Watkins firm certainly has
quite a bit of experience and does work
for the township. He was also lower
bidding wise than people that were
selected for the zoning board. And I'm
just asking for an explanation.
Respectful.
>> Mark, do you want to take that?
>> First of all, the zoning board is a
separate independent entity. So, your
questions about actions that they take
should be taken up with them, not with
this governing body, because they're
more likely to be able to offer you an
explanation as to why they selected one
professional over another professional.
>> I can respect that. Um, Mr. Freriedman,
did you I'm sorry. Just just a few
thoughts to answer your question is
>> keep in mind that whatever the bid
number is that ultimately is the
successful bidder those fees are charged
to an escrow account uh that is paid by
the applicant and the developers that
come in before the board. They don't
affect the municipal budget.
>> Did you have anything else?
>> That's all I have. Okay. Thank you, sir.
And I appreciate that. But then that
means that potentially a taxpayer
or someone who wants to do work in our
township would be paying a higher hourly
fee to a professional that doesn't
necessarily need to be paid that amount
of money. Would you agree with that?
Regardless of whether I agree or not,
um, I've given you my answer and I'm not
here to debate the point with you, but
rather given you an explanation to try
to answer your question.
>> Okay. Well, then I respectfully say that
I don't feel as though my question has
been answered, and maybe you're not the
individual who can answer it, but
ultimately the financial aspect of this
township lies with the governing body,
with the business administrator, with
the financing. So what our boards do is
a reflection on and the decisions that
they make are a reflection on what
happens right here.
So when we have volunteers
who are giving their time, coming out to
meetings, zoning, planning, etc. and
they're making decisions
without the conference or the uh
collaboration of our finance department
or our BA or our governing body and
making I don't want to say rogue
decisions because I have a lot of
respect for the individuals that are on
that zoning board. I just don't
understand why it is that it would be a
motion to award without any discussion
on cost on who's doing what. It it it
just makes no sense to me as a taxpayer.
It doesn't. So unless you can tell me
why we go with the second and third
highest bidder for the planner, the
engineer, the alternate engineer, and
the alternate planner.
I I really don't know what else to say.
I mean, are are they making the
decisions for the township as how we
spend our money?
>> They being who?
>> The zoning board.
>> I mean the zoning board.
>> Some things they do. Yeah.
>> So they do that.
>> They don't do that in consult.
>> I don't have this in front of me. So
no, you can keep in front of you. I have
it at my desk. I'll take a look at it. I
don't
>> I mean it's all public information.
Everything we Absolutely. Everything we
do is public.
>> Absolutely.
>> So So that's why I'm bringing it to your
attention. I mean, I don't think it's I
I I don't think it's fiscally
responsible. It's not.
>> I guess that's it. Thank you, Doris
Dilly. Have a good night. All right.
Well, I'll leave it one more. I will
I'll leave you with um just one more
item. Mayor, you gave a perfect segue
into my next comment when you mentioned
at the beginning of the presentation
that it is so difficult to get
volunteers
in all of our various locations. You did
say that. Yes, absolutely said that.
>> Okay. So, and I agree with you. I am
100% in agreement with you. Which is why
although I realize that is it ex it is
acceptable it is uh perhaps statute
state law ordinance driven whatever it
may be that you can choose whoever it is
you want to be part of any board serve
as a volunteer on any of the township's
boards I don't understand as past
practice why we have three alternates
sitting on our zoning board who have
been there for at least a year.
Sat there without voting capabilities
because they're alternates waiting for
an opening to occur
to move them up from an alternate to a
class 4 and be able to vote. and we have
someone who moves to a another board,
makes an opening available and we just
appoint instead of giving those
volunteers that are giving their time
and offering whatever expertise they may
have or um listening when they can't
vote that we just usurp
the alternates and we appoint somebody
out of the clear blue to
jump ahead and take those volunteers
that are so hard to come by and just
kind of let them sit in the wet. Again,
it is per it's your prerogative. You're
allowed to do it. I get that. But I
don't think as far as past practice of
what has occurred that it's fair to
anybody who is sitting there
volunteering waiting to be a voting
member on any board that they get
usurped by an appointment
that individual could have still served
on the zoning board but in an alternate
capacity. I just think it's not right
when you're looking for people to serve
this township. Those kinds of things
should be taken into consideration. So
to your point, volunteers are very hard
to come by and if we don't treat our
volunteers who are on these boards or um
giving their time to us properly,
maybe we won't have so many.
And I guess that'll be it for this
evening. Thank you very much. I
appreciate your time and have a good
night.
>> Anybody else like to address governing
body? I'd just like to comment on that a
little bit because I sat on the zoning
board. Uh zoning board has had a lot of
change in it.
So
when you're talking about putting new
people on there, we probably looked at
putting somebody with a little
experience on that board to shore it up
a little bit. So zoning board is a tough
board. You got to know
>> the toughest
>> and it takes a quite a long time to get
the feel of that
>> and learn everything about it. So if
that's what we did, most likely we did
that.
>> That's true. And we do appreciate every
volunteer that we have here in town.
>> We do have someone else. Come on back
up.
>> We just need your name for the record
and if you're a towned president or not.
>> I'm a township resident. My name is
Cindy Justice and I appreciate the young
reference. That was very kind.
Um,
>> I'm going to miss you.
>> Yeah.
Um, I'm going to tell you right out of
the gate, I I'm not really
>> You just push your mic down. Just There
you go.
>> Is that better?
>> This way it'll get picked up better.
>> Okay. I prefer not to be taped. If you
can the and put it back up.
>> No, I I mean I'm okay to be heard, but
the tape that's it's creepy to me. Um,
so I live at the end of a dead end
street. It's Ivans Avenue. Um, and I
have recently attended a planning board
meeting or two to address a specific
application and the number is PB2025-016
and I believe the name of it is a cover
Estates and it is planned to be placed
between Ivans Avenue which again I live
on and Tmont Avenue which is the street
to the east of Ivans.
>> Could you give me the application number
again?
>> Sure. Um, PD Papa Bravo 2025-016.
And I forgot to say, I'm really sorry. I
got here very late. I I wasn't thinking
there was a meeting. It must be every
two weeks he'll meet. Okay.
>> First and third.
>> I'm out of the the swing. Um, but I have
had some tenure in attending meetings.
And I I'll maybe start there. My
history. Um, well, I'll tell you this. I
grew up in Illinois and I moved here in
' 88. Um, I worked for the government
and I came here to work at the tech
center and I first lived in Smithville,
which I didn't know at the time what a I
think it was called a putt or a HUD or
something like that. It's like a a lot
of rules about what you can have, you
know, in your home or around for your
property. So, I I um acquired a dog
pretty quick and they wanted to tell me
what kind of fence I could put up and it
wasn't sufficient to keep the dog in.
So, I went looking for another place to
live and I found Eggbert Township and I
loved the openness. Well, I won't say
openness because it's not open like
Illinois flat and you can see for miles
and miles and miles, but it was um not
as restrictive. It it just kind of gave
me a feeling of home.
And it's been that way for most of the
time that I've been here. I have faced
some tremendous challenges though,
living at the end of a dead end street.
And it started in the mid '9s after I
had my first son.
And um he was two or three and we had to
use a porta potty andor go outside to
relieve ourselves because we had a
septic and we couldn't flush because the
water table was that high.
Some probably you may have been there
then. I can't I know John Carmen was
here. I know Sunny was here. I know Jim
Mans
>> the dead end side over West Jersey.
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> South of West Jersey.
>> Um I've looked at I've looked at the
zoning maps and tax maps and I can see
that there's a lot of I wouldn't call
them vacant streets but abandoned
streets or paper streets. And rightly so
because we're a swamp. We literally are
a swamp. And I heard I think it was the
December 15th meeting. My husband was
here and he spoke to this and I think
there was some questioning going on um
you know about our location and the
history was discussed what what I just
shared. Um
that's when I I first was exposed to
attending these meetings and then
eventually was directed to the MUA. The
MUA was able to um bring sewage down the
street for which I I truly am grateful.
I truly am grateful. But it didn't come
without a cost that most people who have
sewage, you know, they don't have. We
have to have grinder pumps on on my end.
There's at least 10, maybe 12 of us that
collectively make a forced main, I
guess. Excuse me. I'm really kind of
nervous about this. Um to get up a
little hill that's on Ivans Avenue and
then eventually it's gravity after that.
And I believe that we drain or from the
MUA. Then we go to um the sewer site on
I guess it's still on Jersey further
down by the where the wall was. So um
it's very costly when those grinder
pumps fail. They're very difficult to
get parts for. Uh my neighbor just south
of me has spent I think 20 grand. He's
had two of them fail and and that is
costly. Also, electricity is costly to
run the grinder pumps. I have set pumps
that just run all the time. Um I've been
to committee meetings since the
installation of the sewage to let
everybody know the water table that
didn't change just because we got
sewage. That's still very high. I found
a tape of myself actually online. Um I
think it was in 2021 something like
that. I know passed on so it was kind of
time frame but um I was talking then
about how how draining it is to live
there because of the challenges that
continue to be directed our way with the
water. And the water doesn't only bring
a high water table. From my perspective
it's bringing invasive plants. I mean I
had I've had an attack. I've been
fighting for six, seven years now to
eradicate wisteria from my yard. And
there are just north of me two solid
blocks on the other side of Black Forest
Pike loaded with stuff. And because
we're surrounded, and this is where I
could give you these handouts. I just
want to show you like the pictures of
where I am in relation to the Mill
Branch, the Blackburn branch, and all
the DOT water that comes off the Black
Horse Pike. Everything makes its way to
my backyard. I remember you too, Mr.
Freriedman. Thank you for your continued
service. This has been a long time. Um,
anyway, if you want these, I can let you
look at them. Um,
>> I think you have we have our engineer
here this evening and I know he has to
leave. Um, if there's questions you
might want to ask him while he's here.
Jazz, I want to give you you these so
then you can mark them in for us.
>> But if you if you just look at the first
The first long page, the red line is
Black Pike. I'm way down here. I think
I'm number six. On the right hand side
are the elevations of various plots on
this map. And um there's at least a 25
ft difference. Everything north and
after it comes my way, then it goes
eastbound. And to the east on page
number two, there's more streams.
There's the cedar branch over here.
Eventually, Mill branch is connected
with Blackman branch that comes up from
the south.
They circle around Ivans
and eventually make their way to Pat
Concrete and often times just sit there
stagnated. I have so many pictures of
various times that I've been here to
tell you all about the flooding. I mean,
I get moss growing on top of the on top
of the water. It stays that long. I've
had full flocks of ducks in my backyard
swimming, literally swimming. I have
buckles in my drywall. I'm concerned
about the foundation. There's all kinds
of stuff, all kinds of damage that's
being caused by this additional
water that comes from all these
developments. I mean, one of these
hopefully soon I'm going to be able to
put all this together and and present it
in a more complete, not so disjointed
way.
>> You're doing a very good job.
>> Well, thanks. But it's it's so
>> there's a lot of water that we all know
comes from the pike.
>> Yes. Goes out down toward your way. We
had talked prior about the year we had
62 inches of rain.
>> Yes.
>> And that was a brutal year.
>> Yes.
And the grinder pumps are operated by
you to to hit our main,
>> right?
>> Correct.
>> So they're failing rarely because
they're used heavily.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> And they're very costly.
>> Yeah.
>> Um what is your question to the board
right now and concerns of what what
you're presenting? I believe you're
you're presenting an issue. Yes.
>> What you feel is concerning this stuff.
Are you concerned about the development
that's coming in to the planning board
application?
>> Yes, I'm concerned about that.
>> This board has no jurisdiction
whatsoever to vote on that project. So,
if you're concerned about the drainage
improvements and how that project is
going to function, you have to present
your case to the planning group. I just
want to make sure
>> this board cannot vote, cannot change,
cannot do anything in regards to that
site. Um, if you're concerned overall of
the development of the township and how
that's increasing,
the board, the council or committee can
take that into consideration, meet with
um the administrator and planner
>> and discuss that at some point. So, if
that's the other concern,
I'm trying I'm not taking words out of
her mouth, but I think that's where
we're getting to that she's concerned
about the development overall in this
area and how we can control that
development.
>> Well, the one that's coming in,
>> and again, that's that's planning board.
We have no jurisdiction on this council.
Don't I'm not being a lawyer, but I'm
just saying it's in front of planning
board. This board does not vote on that
or even look at drainage calculations or
do the design of the project at all.
>> So,
>> but
the town the black horse pike is feeding
that way that started way back before
us.
>> Yes.
>> Is there any improvements to cut that
water off before it gets to Ivans and
about makes her problem worse? Because
she gets water regardless of the pipe.
You shut the pipe off. She still has
water problems because of those streams.
>> We can't touch anything I ditch because
it's a DOT. It's an easement.
>> Yeah. I mean, I don't know if they can
make a a different system to hold her
water than sending it down to her
because that's what's happened. And
she's getting her own because of the
streams and the pipe. If this if the
state widens the roadway and does
additional impervious coverage, they're
required to do drainage improvements.
But overall, I don't believe they try to
do that because there's no room or area
they own to do such improvements. So
really, they're only doing resurfacing
as well roadways that are already
impervious.
>> I may add to it. About 101 15 years ago,
I sat with Miss Justice and a number of
property owners uh and and our
professionals to address the the
habitual flooding of Ivans Avenue. And
the only solution we were made aware of
all of these uh uh issues about the
flood and waters coming from various
directions including the pike and the
solution that was came up with at that
time is the trenching that was done by
DOT. Now it is possible that that
trenching was not been uh not been
maintained over 101 15 years and
therefore is uh hurting the uh uh the
dissipation of the water. Uh and that's
something that perhaps this committee
can look into and seek to have that
improved. Beyond that obviously there if
you have a question if you want this
committee to particularly try to address
uh then please state so
>> um I'm not quite sure what to ask for. I
need education to really kind of
understand how how y'all work together.
I just remember starting here with a
committee back in the the mid 90s to to
bring forward the issue I was having
with not being able to flush and that
you know then we we ended up actually
the time Vince was on the MUA or somehow
I ended up in a room with Vince. I
remember that with a with a newborn.
>> I think all we can do is first we can
check that the DOT has checked and
cleaned those and done what they're
supposed to do. We can we can start
there.
>> Okay.
>> The project that you have great concern
that's going to affect you and everybody
on Ivans Avenue is at definitely at the
planning board.
>> Yes.
>> Now, two of us sit on the planning
board. Mr. Watkins is on the planning
board.
>> Mhm.
>> I know that Mr. Watkins office, I'm not
going to just say it out loud, but I
know you will. If you've got questions,
he can, you know, give you
generalizations as to what your
questions are, maybe some answers. Um
because your concern I think has to do
with the water. If you have more
impervious surface coming from a
development, where's that water going to
go? How is it going to affect you?
Because it's so wet there to start with
because there's so many underground the
streams are there, you know? So I think
that's a lot of what your concern is if
I'm not mistaken.
>> You have my phone number, right?
>> I believe so.
>> I'll give you my card anyway. Why don't
you call me tomorrow and we'll try to
set up a time frame to go over some
>> fundamentals of all what's going Okay,
>> that sounds good.
>> I remember back that I referenced being
at a meeting in 21 or whenever and I
spoke at that time of maybe making, you
know, a concrete passage because it it's
true. I hate to say this, but the the
township is not maintaining all that
exempted land there that that is the
stream. And I and I can I can show you
picture after picture of garbage that
gets dumped back there that would help
to to clear it out. But in hindsight, I
recognize they can't really put
something concrete in there cuz it's
wetlands. That's that's a wetlands area.
And that's what this second picture is
about. Whoops. It's upside down that I'm
showing you. But um the dot is where I'm
at down here. If you look at the at the
mill at the mill branch and um the soil
itself, I believe, and I'll probably
mess it up. I don't have my glasses on
properly, but um I don't have them. But
it's um
it's a soil that frequently
floods. I mean, it's it's a it's a bog.
>> I'll go over that with you.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. We actually I found a clip of
during our clip but somehow I found an
email that you wrote me back in that
time about you know yeah this is this
it's real it's it's real because at that
time I was at hacking away at wisteria
and it literally is impacting my health
I I mean it's taken years from my life I
have decided that it was good to be
outside in nature because I love nature
I mean I I've tried desperately to look
at the positivity of is. But in honesty,
when I caught wind of this PB 016, my
heart went into my feet, I broke out in
hives. I, you know, it's just like, oh,
God, help us because it's
>> it's not going to help me in the least.
And I I don't think it will help anybody
further south in particular like the
plants and the wildlife and and things
like that because they're native there
are native plants back there. There
there may be some that are on a list, a
list. I don't know what the list would
be, but anyway, I I understand that you
need to go and
>> Well, I can tell you this. If you have
in regards to garbage being dumped back
there, if there's garbage dumped back
there, call us.
>> We can have our people clean it up. We
can absolutely do that.
>> Much of it is is even fallen because
it's so
>> Well, yeah, that's the story. There's
things we can and cannot do.
>> But I would talk to Mr. walkins
tomorrow. We We will
>> He's a wealth of knowledge when it comes
to this. So,
>> that's good.
>> One question then for you as a planning
board. Do you know for sure it's not
going to be heard tomorrow or I'm sorry,
on Monday on the 26th?
>> Tell you that I'm not the one who makes
decisions. So, that'll be
>> the agenda's online.
>> Well, not yet. Not yet. I've called I
called on the 16th at Danielle's
encouragement. Go ahead and call because
they should probably know 10 days out.
And here's my classes. the mic.
>> Sorry about that. Um, yeah, but uh gosh,
I don't think it's an absolute, but I do
believe it's going to be at least deemed
incomplete for a hearing on Monday. I'll
be there regardless, but I I want to get
something together and come prepared
because it's not just me that doesn't
really want this stuff to happen.
There's traffic, there's X and Y and
Z's, you know, to be considered, too.
But I just want to say thank you for
your time tonight. Okay, guys. Thank
you.
>> And we will Yeah, we will check the
agenda. I don't think it's on, but I
don't want to say that 100%.
>> It's okay.
>> Either way, I'll
>> Okay, very good.
>> Tomorrow. Okay, you got it.
>> Can I have a motion to close the public
portion?
>> Have a second. We got a first and a
second here. So,
>> all in favor? Hi.
>> Hi.
>> Bob, you have to leave.
>> Tom,
I don't really have any engineering
expertise in close session.
>> Okay, very good. Very good.
>> Thank you.
>> Which leads me to we have a need for a
close session.
>> Yeah, let's do that. Town committee
reports.
>> I'm going to start with Mr. Castellano
to have his first official
>> Thank you, mayor. appreciate it. And I
want to thank you, the committee
members, the staff for a very warm
welcome. Uh I did ask to to uh get right
to work. You've put me right to work. So
I I appreciate that very much. Uh I want
to thank everyone involved with the um
reorganization and the swearing in. It
was a very very nice ceremony. Um a
number of our fire companies had their
installations uh this past week. I had
the uh great honor of attending two of
them. Uh they were very beautiful
ceremonies. Um this was my first regular
meeting and I I had a I had a couple of
questions about bills and Tom was very
good in working with me and getting me
answers to those. Um uh I I do want to
um state that I think that and I think
we would all agree that going forward um
all other things being equal uh when we
can uh utilize a a township business for
goods and services. I would certainly
like to do that. I think we'd all like
to see that happen. Um, and then, uh,
finally, I want to, uh, thank, uh, Chief
Espano, who, um, took the time to meet
with me today. Uh, back on the, uh, 15th
of October, we had, um, uh,
representatives from a group called
Atlantic Prevention Resources were here.
Kim Burns and Michelle Costello were
here and they brought some students from
the high school who spoke very
eloquently about the dangers of vaping.
Um and and specifically how the uh while
tobacco use is going down, vaping use is
going up and up and up and we see it in
the schools. Um and so their their
concern uh even more specifically was
that of the flavored vapes which are
designed to
entice younger people to start to vape.
Now those flavored vapes have been
outlawed in the state of New Jersey. Uh
however, they're still available. Um so
um they asked you know what our efforts
were to uh try to curtail that. I was
very happy to hear today that uh we are
uh that that is in progress. Uh we are
working uh working on that diligently
and looking at uh putting a few more
tools in our toolbox to be able to
combat that. Uh, I know from my time on
the school board that our our police
department does a fantastic job of
working with our students in the
schools, trying to address the the
demand side of that issue and educating
our our students. And uh uh the folks
that came to see us had an excellent
point and just I was very happy to hear
that you know we are uh moving out on
trying to uh eliminate these uh illegal
flavored vapes from our marketplace.
Thank thank you again chief for all uh
for for your hard work in your
department and uh again I look forward
to uh to uh getting to work. So thank
you all very much.
a year from now. I'm going to see if you
say the same thing,
>> Mr. Pauls.
>> Okay.
Going to catch up on a couple reports
because the last couple meetings we had
full houses. Uh attended the county
dispatch meeting for 9 911
and about eight years ago I was chairman
of that committee on the free older
board. So I was a little interested in
seeing what changed from eight years
ago. And as the meeting went on, you
found out that a lot of different towns
and I knew it from our town that were
starting to do dispatch for smaller
towns
and
very proud of the way our chief handled
himself in that meeting. Very
educational to the members of that
meeting. And also we found out that you
know the bigger towns were actually
doing dispatch Galloway in Carver
Township for a lot of the smaller towns
and just good to hear how dispatch has
come over the last eight years because
it's like light years ahead from where
we were from eight years ago. Uh the
following day I came to town hall to
pick up something and ran into the chief
over the other side and u he had the
head of dispatch with him. So I was
asking him a couple questions and he
said this is the guy you want to talk
to. So he gave me to the head of
dispatch and we talked for about a half
hour and it was really good meeting.
Really educated me where dispatch is
right now. Just want to thank you for
all your help there, chief. Did a good
job. Also, the next thing I had was uh
want to thank Tom brought it to his
attention on High School Drive coming
past the high school towards the senior
housing. There's a pedestrian walkway
that nobody ever stops for. And if you
got an older person walking across there
and they're coming around there
sometimes at 50 60 m an hour, you ain't
getting out of way. So Tom got me two
lights for the pedestrian signs and they
actually are work working quite good. So
people of the town there really
appreciate that and thanks to the
million.
>> I got one more thing. I want to thank
everybody that attended my brother's
funeral.
Uh just want to recognize him and I
don't know why I'm doing this because
I'm starting to break up. Uh my brother
Bob
was a chairman of the planning board for
quite a few years. Did a great job with
that. uh over the years he took the
youth organization away from my mother
and father that created that and he did
the second phase of fields and baseball.
He was uh led the baseball side of the
youth organization for over 10 years and
that was all volunteering on his part.
He built the PMX bike trail back there
and uh anytime you would stop by his
house during the week during baseball
season, he probably wasn't home because
back then we didn't pay umpires. It was
all volunteers and somebody would never
show up and he was always umpire in the
game. Uh he dedicated a lot of years to
this township publicly. want to thank
him for that and uh going to miss him.
>> He's a good contingent out for that. A
lot of old EHT there.
>> Paul,
>> uh just a couple things. Not knowing
your brother that well, his artistic
ability with his cartoons and what he
used to do with the various
I know it was Hammock and Gazette and
other papers, but really priceless. He
had a gift from God to be able to draw
like he did in illustrate which some of
better than others but it was at the
funeral was good looking at his somebody
has kept I guess a portfolio of all his
work
>> couple politicians like
I think Frank was figured many times but
um he was gifted a couple things is I'm
glad to see we're buying fire gear um
That's a minor expense. That stuff is
very, very expensive. And we're lucky to
have our firemen and uh like Pete spoke
about, I attended the firehouse dinners
and they're always a good time. We're
blessed with the spirit of volunteerism
in our five companies. Uh I do listen to
them like Will spoke about the dispatch.
Um we get a good bang for our buck. And
this morning we had a bad accident at
Pine and Ocean Heights and Chief's been
talking about traffic. Um yeah, we're
exploding with traffic at times and our
skull and bargain town were right there
within minutes of that turnover job.
They had to pop a couple doors or
whatever they had to do to get the
people out. But um we got to stay on top
of the highways if we can get
improvements because our roads are
loaded. I I I I can't believe as long as
I've lived 40ome years in the township,
how Ocean Heights can back up, Zion can
back up, time can back up, and it's
because of the people in this community.
So, and like Ray always says, it, you
know, just give it a chance. And one
last thing is I want to thank Tom. We
finally got these flashers
and I got several text messages. They
are working. Uh so many stop signs. They
are not noticed and there's flashers
that we're putting on them. This is
schoolhouse in Zion and it's working at
one section of Z schoolhouse. People
just fly right out of there. They are
stopping for the stop signs. But the uh
solar is working. They're flashing. They
got to stop. And that's another bad
intersection we have out there because
there is on the turn. It's a bit blind
when you come around. That's all I got.
>> That's good. director.
>> I got a text message from my main
complainer and she
>> she's happy. That's good.
>> Mr. Ellis,
>> like I said, thanks again to public
works. They did a great job with the ice
situation.
Hopefully and blessfully we won't get
hit this weekend like we supposed to.
But I also want to talk about uh real
quick Atlantic Care. Atlantic Care have
seminars at their facility in air
carship that's unbelievable. They have
all kind of subjects uh from
breastfeeding to urology to you name it.
And I met with the IT guy here in the
township. Our residents need to know the
the workshop that they offer in Atlantic
Care. They even give you a little lunch.
And I always say that like I said
before, you know, men we go and buy a
car. It might be a new car, used car. We
need tires, we'll go get new tires. It's
not running right, we'll get a tuneup.
And out of gas, we make sure we put gas
clean in, but we don't take care of
ourselves. So, we got to be conscious
and go to the doctors and visit the
doctors. I want to make sure we get
together with Atlantic Care and put the
information out of the services that
they offer right here in our old town.
It is unbelievable. So, we got to work
on that and get our men, our women, our
children all in better health.
>> Very good.
>> How was the lunch?
>> Oh, good.
>> You went there just for lunch.
>> I want to echo what basically everybody
said regarding the fire dinners. Um, I
want to first start by thanking uh Chief
Rob Winkler and Chief Gene Sharp. They
were the chief and assistant chiefs for
the last few years. Pat Flynn from the
Scoville Fire Company and Bill Dans from
the Cardiff Fire Company are now the new
chief and the assistant chief. Um they
have a tough job and they do a good job.
So I want to thank all of the fire
department for everything they do for
each and every one of us here in Edward
Township. I want to thank the old
leadership and the new leadership for
stepping up and uh it's a tough job they
do and like anything else here, we're
all volunteers. So, I always say when
they when you get the solicitation in
your mailbox, put a few dollars in it.
They are all volunteer and they truly do
leave their kitchen tables, their beds
at work to go to a fire 24/7 and we
can't thank them enough for what they
do. Now, that being said, snow removal
is this weekend and there's a chance of
and Ed, you know this, you don't have to
deal with it anymore. So,
Uh just to remind people that if we do
have a snow event, which it looks like
we're going to, vehicles are not
supposed to be parked on the roadway. If
you have a way to get the car off the
street, put it in the driveway, your
neighbor's driveway, if you can get it
up somehow off the road. It helps the
plows, they can get through. When they
have to bob and weave through traffic to
get through, it takes them so long. They
do not move fast. And again, we only
push snow. We don't remove it. So
driveways do get blocked in. So just try
to move your cars and do what you have
to do because it is usually uh it's a
tough day on everybody, especially on
our public works and they're out there.
I just wanted to give everybody the
order of streets that they do. I'm not
going to name all the streets, but the
first order is all the main arteries and
the emergency facilities. That's the
first round for public works. The second
round is the secondary roads. The third
round is the residential streets and the
culde-sacs.
Now, that's not usually all in one day
if it's a big storm. So, they're going
to work on the main roads and the
emergency people first. Um, if you have
an emergency at your house and you're on
a culde-sac, put a call in. Call our 911
system, call our public works, but it's
not to go to Wawa to get coffee. It's to
go to the hospital. It's for something
that is a true emergency. So, just try
to move your cars off the road. Check on
your neighbors. It's also going to be 5
degrees, I think, this weekend,
something like that. So, please check on
your neighbors to make sure that they're
okay. I just wanted to remind everybody
that because
snowstorms are stressful for everybody.
The kids are having a great time and the
grown-ups are getting pretty stressed.
So, we just want to make sure we make it
as easy on our public works and our
police department. Chief, I don't know
if you want to add anything to that.
covered it all.
>> Very good.
>> Get the car off the road.
>> One additional point I've come to learn,
they don't start plowing generally until
the snow stops.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
And we just push it.
>> And we push it. So, just want to remind
everybody of that. But again, I want to
thank the uh the fire department for
everything they do. And I also want to
give a shout out to Wanita Hyman from
the school board who was at our rework.
I didn't see her and I forgot to mention
that she was there. So, shout out to
Anita to say thank you very much for
coming out and supporting all of us. And
that's pretty much what I have. Tom,
>> man.
>> Mark, is Slting Hill ready?
>> Slim
Nature Reserve.
>> Yes, it is. Do we we do have a close
session this evening?
>> Yes, ma'am. Resolution 87 authorizing
the township committee to convene in a
closed executive session to discuss
matters which may involve personnel and
illegal matters. Whereas the open
public's meeting act permits the
exclusion of the public from a meeting
in certain circumstances. And whereas
this public body is of the opinion that
such circumstances presently exist. And
whereas the township committee may enter
may need to enter into a closed
executive session at one or more times
during this meeting to discuss matters
permitted under New Jersey statute
including but not limited to the
following three legal matters. We have a
redevelopers agreement regarding the
Route 152 redevelopment plan. We have
Atlanta County Improvement Authority
pilot for building two and an update on
EHTMS
contract. Um all anticipated disclosures
of one year. Um whereas the minutes of
said closed executive sessions will be
kept in which the matter involving the
confidentiality of the above no longer
requires that confidentiality and the
minutes shall be made available to the
public in accordance with law. Now,
therefore, be it resolved by the
township committee, township of Egg
Harbor, County of Atlantic, and the
state of New Jersey, that the public be
excluded from this meeting during such
portions of the meeting as a governor
body may be necessary to discuss matters
set forth above
and there will be no formal action taken
after the session.
>> Very good. Thank you. Could I have a
motion to go into close session?
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Yes.
>> Ellis,
>> yes. Power?
>> Yes.