Margate City, NJ Workshop & Commission Meeting March 19th, 2026

She said, "You get a haircut."
>> I'd like to call the meeting to order,
please. Johanna, will you read the
statement of compliance?
>> The notice requirements of the Open
Public Meeting Act for this meeting have
been satisfied. A copy of the annual
meeting notice was sent to the press of
Atlantic City Courier Post, posted on
the Bolton board in the municipal
building, the municipal website, and
filed in the office of the municipal
clerk. Please turn off all cell phones.
Please stand for the pledge of
allegiance.
>> Attention salute. 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.
>> Johanna, please take the role.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> here.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg,
Commissioner Horn,
>> here.
>> Welcome everybody. We will begin as
always with our engineering report. Ed,
>> thank you mayor. Good good afternoon
everyone. Um so just updates uh citywide
dredging project. We did have a dredging
committee meeting last week. We are
developing um and honing in on the scope
of work for phase one of the citywide
dredging project and uh we will also be
rolling out some public outreach um
items uh website you know city
permitting process things like that. So
everything is picking up momentum now
obviously with our permits in place um
as we prepare for the the opening of the
dredging window uh next season. Uh
jumping down to item D, new public works
building. Uh we're in the process of
preparing the final revisions to those
plans to prepare that project to go out
to bid. Item E, the Venter Avenue
parking lot project. There is a
resolution on the agenda today, I
believe, to reject the bids for the
Venet Avenue parking lot. That will
allow us, now that we've bid the project
twice, to negotiate a contract directly
with contractors um to get the hopefully
get the the project cost more in line
with our estimate. Uh so that once we
reject bids, we can then begin that
negotiation process.
Item F, there are a couple additional
items that we need to complete to stay
in compliance with the D MS4 storm water
um permit. So we are working on an
updated stormwater management plan as
well as an updated storm water control
ordinance. So that work is in progress.
Item J, the next phase of lead service
line work. We've submitted our plans and
specs up to the I bank. They've reviewed
them. They provided us some comments
this week which we've more or less
already addressed. So, we are on target
to bid that project and award that
project in time to secure another
million dollars in principal forgiveness
grant funding towards the lead service
line program in Margate, which is great.
Um, so that is on schedule. Under our
pending grant applications, we did
submit or we are in the process of
submitting a couple grant and
applications, funding requests for uh
the Shelter Island long-term restoration
site as part of our dredge operation.
So, we are applying to uh the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation as well as
submitting a congressional directed
spending request to help fund some of
the engineering and permitting uh for
that future um dredge disposal site.
Miscellaneous, we do have some work we
need to do to stay in compliance with
EPA for our water utility. We have to
update our risk and resiliency plan. So,
that is in progress. On the construction
side, the 2023 road program will be
wrapping up by the end of the month. Uh
Beayshore Drive, Fredericksburg Avenue,
and Argyle Court will be paved.
Over to page three. I don't think we
have any updates on these projects.
That's my report. Great.
>> Thank you, Ed. All right, we'll move to
our department head reports. Chief
Adams, would you like to begin, please?
>> Yes. Thank you, Mayor Commissioner. Uh
to start off with, we have a positive
event coming up. Uh on Saturday, March
28th at 12:00 p.m. The fire department
along with Margate Mothers Association
will be hosting the annual Easter egg
hunt at fire station number two. Um
there's five age categories ranging from
0 to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 plus.
And we'll have approximately 500 eggs
for each age group. Um the rain day for
that is Sunday the 29th. Uh this past
weekend on Sunday early morning hours
the fire department assisted Egg Harbor
Township in Longport with a boat fire at
CU Harbor Marina. Um it was
approximately a 40ft vessel that was
pretty much fully involved from front to
back upon arrival. So uh pretty quick
operation within 35 minutes the fire was
out. Uh but we were there to assist our
mutual aid partners. Uh lastly, I just
want to touch on uh myself, Pat, and
Kelly have been working on the
uh required fire department cancer
screening program that we're going to be
required to do. Um the good thing is we
finally got through with the state and
we have the whole claim reimbursement
system set up through the New Jersey
Department of Treasury. Um we were a
little misinformed. We had a good Zoom
meeting uh about a week and a half ago
concerning this. Um we thought it was
every hire and then every three years
that you had to do it, but it's we have
to do it you have to have three years on
in order to be considered for it. How it
works is it's totally refunded through
the state department of treasury. Uh we
would set the the the company up as a
vendor that's doing the testing and then
we would get full reimbursement. We got
the reimbursement. the company will get
paid after we get reimbursed. So there's
no cost to the city of Margie. The
approximate cost for each test is
approximately $1,245
and it consists of a comprehensive blood
work your analysis
um where they go over one, two, three,
four, five, six different things that
they're testing at blood. Then they do a
physical exam for skin and oral cancer
screening. They will then do an
ultrasound cancer screening, thyroid,
liver, kidney, and testicular. And then
they'll send us off site when we can
schedule it for a CT scan, basically a
chest X-ray to assure that, you know,
nobody has lung cancer or something to
that. So, I think it's a really positive
thing. You know, I'm sure we're going to
have some reservations, some of the
people. It's not mandatory, but we have
to offer it. And uh we did discuss
having a declination form. So if someone
decides not to do it, we at least have
it documented that they chose not to do
it. And then if they change their mind,
we just try and get them rescheduled
later. They're going to come to the city
of Margate approximately 3 days. It'll
be April 29th, 30th, and May 1st that
we're tenatively looking to schedule to
have this testing done. So it's a
positive thing. And if we find out
something is wrong with someone before
it becomes a problem, that's that's
definitely a good thing. So, and uh
that's all I have to report right now.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Chief Scott.
>> Not too much to report. We did have a
fruitful meeting regarding dredging.
We're making progress there. How am I
getting it? Am I on?
>> You're good.
>> And um basically that's it. Also want to
congratulate Die McClen and Roger for
their excellent work. I don't know if I
need to get an autograph. I understand
news cameras were here today, but uh on
our lawsuit with Mr. Baglivio, he's
being ordered to deconvert. I'm sure
that'll be another struggle, but uh the
court ruling was overwhelmingly in favor
of Margate. So, it's unfortunate it took
the time that it took, but that's our
legal system. People have to several
people asked me about that. Said, "You
have to understand everybody has their
rights. Everybody has a right to
discovery and their attorneys, but there
it is. We got a good result. We're
moving forward." And uh congratulations
and job well done.
>> That's it.
>> Thank you, Scott. Pat,
>> good afternoon. Um just been getting bus
uh busy getting ready for the spring. Uh
we finalized our flower order today. Um
cleaning up the city properties. We'll
be doing mulch in the next couple weeks.
Street sweeper been out for two weeks
now. Uh streets are starting to look
good and uh the beach rake is also out.
So beach is starting to look good. So
everything's coming around good. Thank
you.
>> Great. Thank you, Patma.
>> Good evening, mayor and commissioner.
Uh,
as we head into the summer season, we're
starting to see an increase in
renovation permit applications. With
that in mind, it's a good time to remind
our residents to really do their
homework when hiring contractors.
our office can't recommend or even
comment on any contractor. So, that's
why the responsibility really falls on
the homeowner uh to do their due
diligence and vet their contractor.
We recently asked our social media team
to post about this, which you may have
seen. If you go on the city's Facebook
page, there's a brief from the Division
of Consumer Affairs with some helpful
tips on this, such as confirming your
contractor is properly registered and
always have a written contract and do
not make final payment until all of your
required inspections and approvals have
been completed. I printed some copies of
that brief. They're up here in the front
if anyone's interested. And that's all I
have.
>> Great. Thank you, Roger.
>> Thank you, Mayor Commissioner Scott. I
will autograph my zoning jersey just for
you.
>> I use the the black marker on the black
shirt so you won't see it.
>> Black on black. Got it.
>> So, in regard to what uh Chief Adams was
saying about the cancer screening, as a
recent cancer survivor myself,
definitely take advantage of it. It's
well worth it to anyone. Uh you may have
it and not even know it. So any help you
can get early on, I I recommend it.
Also, the uh proposal for the master
plan re-examination is we received the
proposal for the master plan
re-examination.
Uh we're going to sh I share it with the
subcommittee. We're going to meet and
make a presentation to the planning
board for a recommendation at which time
the planning board will make a
recommendation to the governing body
who's a hiring authority to enter into a
contract possibly with the uh the one
who proposed the master plan. So that's
it for now.
>> Great. Thank you, Roger. Sure.
>> Chief Henson.
>> Thank you, Mayor Commissioner. Uh first
of all, I'd like to uh
make notice that on there's a resolution
on the agenda for the appointment of two
new police officers. These two
candidates are for the recent retirement
of Captain Jeff Lee and a recent res
resignation we had. This will bring us
back to full staffing. They'll start the
police academy uh April 13th. It's a
six-month police academy, which means
mid September 10-week FTO program. Very
long exhaustive exhaustive process to
get new police officers, but we have two
very good viable candidates. Uh again,
this is the first step in in their
career. I'm sure we'll have them sworn
in soon, but the resolution is the first
step. Just the only other thing I have
is just uh traffic maintenance is going
to start uh painting the yellow curbs,
doing some street painting again,
getting in preparation for the summer.
Uh it's right around the corner.
Memorial Day will be here before we know
it. We try to freshen things up so
people when they park, they know if
they're in a yellow zone. We've had
complaints over the years about it not
being that uh noticeable. So again, it's
one of those things we try to spruce up
as the summer season occur uh comes upon
us. That's all I have. Thank you, Chief
Pat.
Good afternoon. Um over the last course
of course course last couple weeks um
met with uh attorneys et personnel
issues um put some finishing touches on
the contracts for all the three major
unions that we have. Um we did uh come
up the um Jesse was part of it. Um they
have like kind of a website picked out
ready to go. Um it's been being reviewed
by um purchasing. We sent a copy over
purchasing to take a look at it and and
see what we have to do from this point
forward. Um
new employee started finance um on the
9th. She's been welcome. She's great. Um
utility billing has been sent out. It
includes the uh additional ticket that
we spoke about in order to bring it to
uh yearly the uh the yearly billing. Um
I know there's been a little bit of
confusion. There's been a lot of phone
calls uh with reference to that. Um some
people are confused or maybe aren't
weren't aware for some reason. Um but um
just wanted to remind everybody that's
out there. Um I attend the meeting with
dredging uh with Ed and uh Scott.
Everything has been moving forward at a
pretty decent pace. Um we just got
payment from the county for the snow
removal on county roads. Um the annual
payment to pension was just submitted.
Um the quarterly reports to pension are
going to be filed. The auditors were
here. They started um we had a safety
meeting staff meeting. Um and uh one of
the things we are looking to just want
to expand a little bit on uh the fire
chief's um cancer screenings. Um we do
have uh our HR person Kelly. She's she's
actually looking to see if we can get
our health care um provider or our
insurance carrier to see about possibly
doing it for all of our employees if
it's a possibility.
We don't know that that's that's going
to be the case. We're going to try and
see if we can come up I think it's a
good program and you know obviously make
it optional for anybody who wants to but
it would be a nice uh thing for our
insurance carrier for the amount of
money that we spend on insurance. you
know, the least they could do is, you
know, try to help us out with that
aspect of it. And that's what I have for
now.
>> Okay. Thank you, Pat. Johanna,
>> I have nothing to report.
>> Thank you. We will now open up public
comment. If anyone has any comment on
items discussed during workshop, please
step forward.
Is there a motion to close public
comment on workshop?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes.
Is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> Thank you. Just give us one minute
before we move to commission.
>> Like to call the meeting to order,
please. Johanna, will you read the
statement of compliance?
>> The notice requirements of the Open
Public Meeting Act for this meeting have
been satisfied. A copy of the annual
meeting notice was sent to the Atlantic
City Press carrier posted on the Bolton
board in the municipal building, the
municipal website, and filed in the
office of the municipal clerk. Please
turn off all electronic devices.
>> Please stand for the pledge of
allegiance.
Attention to I pledge algiance 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.
>> Johanna, please take the role.
>> Mayor Collins
>> here.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
Commissioner Horn
>> here.
>> Is there a motion for the approval of
the March 5th, 2026 regular and workshop
meeting minutes?
>> Motion. Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> Johanna, be before you begin, I'd just
like to make a motion to add resolution
number 70-2026
to the agenda authorizing a change order
for Washington Avenue streetscape. And
just for the public uh information, this
is um we received the details of this
change order last week. There was an
error uh that was resolved this morning,
I believe. Pat, is that correct? Was
resolved this morning. So, we want to
add this on so that it doesn't further
delay any any of the project. So, like
to add that to the to the agenda.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> All right. At this time, we will open up
public comment on resolutions. So, if
anyone has any comment on the
resolutions on today's agenda, please
step forward.
Is there a motion to close public
comment on resolutions?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes.
>> All right. Johanna, would you proceed,
please?
>> Okay. May I have a motion for resolution
number 62 2026 authorizing bill payment
and claims?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes. I'd like a motion to table
resolution number 63 2023 due to not
having a quarrel. Motion
>> second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> I have a motion for the consent agenda
which consists of reg resolution number
64 2026 through resolution number 69206.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> May I have a motion for the resolution
that was just added to our agenda?
Resolution number 70, 2026.
Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> Thank you, Johanna. We will now open up
public comment. If anyone has any
comment on any topic, please step
forward.
>> Mr. Mayor, if I could just add one
thing. Um, come on. Um, I did forget
earlier, uh, we have been going over the
budget, um, the annual budget that's
going to be, uh, on the agenda for the
next meeting. I just wanted to make sure
that, uh, that that we put that out
there. We've been working hard and
trying to get, you know, that that
completed and, uh, it'll be introduced
at the next meeting.
>> Great. Thank you, Pat.
Any public comment?
Is there a motion to close public
comment?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
Mayor Collins, yes.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> yes.
>> Is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> yes.
>> Thank you all for coming.
>> Enjoy your evening.
You win.