Margate City, NJ Workshop & Commission Meeting April 16th, 2026

I'd like to call the meeting to order,
please. Lisa, 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 bulletin 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, [clears throat] with
liberty and justice for all.
Lisa, please take the roll.
Mayor Collins.
>> Here.
Commissioner Blumberg. I am here.
Commissioner Horne. Here.
Welcome everybody. We will begin with
our engineering report.
Ed. Okay.
Thank you Mayor. Good evening everyone.
Uh I'm going to just cover the updates.
I did add some extra bullet points in
and hopefully make it a little easier to
follow along on the items that have been
updated. So the first update is down for
the uh Ventnor Avenue parking lot
project. We have sent out our plans and
specs to multiple contractors um to
negotiate a price for that project. So
that is in progress. Um we're still
working with the contractors on the
pricing. So we'll report back and have
some results before the next meeting.
Turning the page to item I, the Bloom
Pavilion deck renovation project. Plans
and specs are complete. We have sent
those over to the ACIA for review so we
can take a look at scheduling there, get
that project out to bid. Uh the lead
service line replacement project phase
two, plans and specs are also complete.
And we're actually advertising that
project for bids on the 18th of April.
So uh we're on track there to receive
our million dollars in uh grant funding
through that program for this fiscal
year for the next phase of that work,
which is great news.
Uh the lifeguard headquarters expansion
project is scheduled for a kickoff
meeting next week with the beach patrol
to get that project moving.
Um our Gladstone Avenue water tank
painting project, we have our inspection
on the schedule so we can begin to
prepare the bid documents for that
project. The Winchester Avenue road
project, we've completed the survey work
so that'll go into design for a bit.
The Sig Rem walkway lighting project,
plans and specs are already complete
there and we're already out to bid on
that project, which is great. Uh bid
opening be scheduled for is scheduled
for April 30th.
2026 road program
which includes the roads listed there,
the survey work is uh started on that.
They jumped over to the road program
after Winchester.
And then the Brunswick Avenue Beach
Bulkhead Replacement Project will also
complete the survey work on that project
as well.
Flipping the page over to our
construction projects, we have completed
construction on the 2023 Road Program.
So, the contractor is just working on
the punch list there.
Jumping down to our bike lane
painting project on Atlantic Avenue. As
we've discussed,
um
you know, over the course of the
Atlantic Avenue Road project, we have to
coordinate the painting of those bike
lanes with the road work that's going on
out there. And obviously with some of
the winter weather we had, that
contractor is doing the best they can.
So, we just need to coordinate that
schedule um around the upcoming summer
season. So, once we have a little more
um definition there, I can report back
on a more detailed schedule. And then
the last item on the list here is the
2025 Road Program, which given where we
are in the calendar, the contractor will
be starting that work in the fall.
That's my report. Great. Thank you, Ed.
Now, move to our department head
reports. Chief Adams, would you begin,
please?
Thank you, Mayor Commissioners.
Um just start off with the fire
department hired a new firefighter as of
April 6th, 2026. Uh Aliana Melendez was
hired. She will start the career fire
academy on Monday, April 20th.
And that will run through the middle of
June. And uh we hope to have her back
and on a shift somewhere about July 1st.
Um we have two upcoming retirements in
the fire department. Uh Kirk Battles,
after 30 years of service, is set to
retire May 1st, 2026.
And Debbie Boyle, with 25 years of
service, is set to retire June 1st,
2026.
Uh last evening, the fire department had
the honor of hosting the annual Atlantic
County Firefighters uh Association
Harold J. Whitey Schwartz Valor Award
Ceremony, which was held at the Atlantic
County Fire Training Center.
Uh it was a great event that honored
seven recipients from Atlantic County
for valor and seven firefighters were
honored with 50-year service awards. Uh,
one last thing with the fire department
then I have a couple for the beach
patrol.
Uh, we've completed all the motor
vehicle record checks for the fire
department for the spring of 2026 and
everything came back in good standing.
Uh, for the beach patrol, the boat house
uh, work has begun to prepare the
equipment for the 2026 season.
The employees are in the process of on
onboarding to assure that all the proper
documentation is done prior to them
starting work and uh, Chief Graves is
hard at work getting all the equipment,
uniforms, and supplies ordered for the
season as well to assure that we have
everything ready to go. And that's all I
have to report. Thank you. Great. Thank
you, Chief.
Scott.
Mayor, as you know, we have a citywide
dredging
uh, effort underway. I've been in
contact with
I think I don't know if
contacted with with some of the owners
of the lagoons
um,
one of them has been in contact with
many of their neighbors. He would ask
maybe have a meeting set up with them to
try to go over the various
points that you know, are relevant to
dredging out there privately owned which
it is all not owned by the city. Unlike
the other little lagoons, there is some
city ownership in in their little
lagoon, there's not.
And he says there's like overwhelming
support and they're aware might be a
special assessment when when you do
that. Uh,
he says he'll work on a list.
We'll get the people, we'll set up a
meeting. We we publicize it. The three
of you can attend if you want or just
one of you or whatever. However you want
to do that, but the important thing is
there seems to be very strong support to
get their dredging done for their lagoon
with the understanding they might have
they're going to have to go to their
wallets to help us accomplish
so
it's you know, another step in the right
direction.
Also, I understand that he's
working on it, too, trying to get that
permit where the Shelter Island would
be.
If we could hydraulically move dredge
material from Bay Shore to
to Shelter Island, that would probably
be substantial cost savings. That's the
goal. So, that's uh
But, who knows with the DEP.
They move at their own speed.
But, I'd say that's about it. That's
what I have. Okay. Thank you, Scott.
Pat.
Thank you, Mayor. Good, sir.
Uh
meter program started back up this week.
We got about 60 meters installed this
week so far. Uh
We fixed two water leaks.
We added a new bench down at the
Washington Pier this week. Um
We're working on the ground down also.
Ballpark is all finished up with new
fountains. Uh gazebo got a gate and new
gate backs.
We just wrapped up with a hydrant
flushing as of today.
And uh next week we'll start setting up
the
Also on the beach, we're going to start
putting out the new trash enclosures,
too. We got We got uh
I think we got about 14 so far. And
we'll we'll get back to the grant for
the peak period of the season.
Every year we do probably like eight or
10.
Get them all ready.
All right. Thank you, Pat.
Palma.
Um through April 16th, the building
department has issued 253
construction permits and performed 1,372
sub-period inspections year to date.
This includes new construction,
demolitions, alterations, and additions.
Compared to the same period last year,
permits are up 17%
and compared to 2024, we're up nearly
25%.
Activity is strong as we head into the
spring and summer season, and we expect
the
that these to continue.
Um our code enforcement continues to
educate contractors on safe construction
practices and we did receive feedback
from our green team
saying that they've seen some
significant progress from last year. So,
uh, we hope to see that continue.
And that's all that I have. Great. Thank
you.
Roger. Thank you, Mayor and
Commissioners. Uh,
'tis the season for pool construction,
as you know, there is a moratorium this
summer, so we're seeing a lot of
uh, pool applications come in.
Uh,
some get rejected, some don't. And as
you're aware on tonight's, uh,
regular meeting, there's a a resolution
to award the ice cream vending, well,
actually we did the ice cream vending,
so
the city received a bid for $98,000 for
2026 season.
And, uh, we have the right to extend it
for 1 more year if he performs up to the
standards this year for another $98,000.
So, uh, that's pretty much it for now.
Thank you. Oh, one other thing is we
are, since we awarded the master plan
uh, to Jim Rittall Associates, we are
going to get that kickstarted pretty
soon with the plan of board subcommittee
and there'll be public meetings for the,
uh, plan of board and
general public.
Okay. That's it. Thank you.
Chief Hankins.
Thank you, Mayor. Commissioner, just a
few reminders from the police
department. First of all, the police
department has forwarded to city clerk
and our bike auction will be conducted
on Saturday, June 13th, 2026 at 10:00
a.m.
We'll put out all the legal notices,
we'll inform the public. It's a really
good opportunity to get possibly a cheap
bike for the summer. Um, there's
approximately 30 or 40 bikes that we
have in storage. So, again, it's
usually, uh,
it's a laid-back kind of event. You can
bid on the bikes, but again, it's it's a
good way to pick up a bike for the
summer.
Uh, the police department worked with
public works in the city electrician and
we have new lights installed at the K to
Avenue playground. Again, they are solar
portable
lights. Again, we'll see how they work.
We'll see how much illumination we get,
you know, for for nighttime. They're on
They can be on a timer. So, we're going
to see how that works. We might have to
install more. We're not sure, but we
tried to find the most cost-effective
way to put lighting at that that park
behind the police station on K to
Avenue.
We had two recruits begin the police
academy on Monday.
They are replacing officers who retired
and resigned. As of tonight, we are down
to one police officer in the academy as
one of the two decided the police
academy was not for them. So, yeah, we
will start the recruiting process again
to try to stay at our minimums as we
have since 2031 officers. So,
again, we will work on that. The police
department also is going to begin
onboarding three part-time class one
officers for the summer season. Class
one officers supplement full-time
officers. They do things such as parking
enforcement. We have a lot more parking
issues in the summer,
traffic details, along those lines.
Their Their powers are limited, but at
least they are a good supplement.
Two other things is from the crime
prevention standpoint. First of all, I
say it every meeting and I I push it.
It's not just Morristown, but even our
sister communities, Seton Hall and Long
[snorts] Port. This time of year, please
make sure have that nightly routine.
Make sure your car is locked. Make sure
your house is locked because we do have
a lot of car burglaries and 99% of them
come from unlocked cars. That is usually
the first question when someone says,
"My car was broken into."
Was it unlocked? And most of times, it
is. So, I always say, "Please."
They're mostly crimes of opportunity.
We're throwing lots of fire wood. If
it's locked, people will move on. So,
again,
I say that over and over and I will say
it every meeting. Please make sure you
lock your cars and your homes.
And lastly, we've seen an increase in
fraud
uh
incidents over the over the last months.
And a lot of these fraud cases are
getting more and more complex and
they're getting more bold and more
brazen.
We have uh
through mostly telephone conversations,
people think it's a fraud from your
credit card or the fraud department.
They have people coming out to homes
thinking they're giving
uh documents to a fraud investigator
from the bank. So again, I always say if
you get solicitation by phone,
double-check with your actual credit
card company. Double-check with your
local branch of the bank. With AI, they
can even
different voices of of who it might be.
Say somebody from your from your local
bank. So again, I say over and over,
don't give out any information over the
phone. Contact your local branches. In
fact, uh with Detective Aaron Borelli,
we are working with the local also the
FBI. We're looking at doing a seminar
for our seniors that weekend in June
with some of our seniors just about the
level of fraud that's happening right
now and ways to safeguard ourselves.
That's all I have right now.
Thank you, Chief. Pat.
The last couple weeks, um
I helped work on the uh ordinance for uh
pop-ups with the consultants. We want to
uh
just sort of review the ordinance. Yeah,
it's my ex-wife. Outdoor dining Pat,
your microphone's off.
Sorry about that.
I always tend to seem to forget that. Um
So worked on the uh ordinance with the
pop-ups. Um
the outdoor dining, it's all been uh
set up and it's been reviewed by uh
some of our stakeholders to make sure
that um
it's something that addresses uh what we
believe will address our needs. Uh
researched uh areas for reduction in the
budget. I talked to all of our
department heads and our commissioners
as of yet, um we haven't uh been able to
find any significant areas for savings.
Um there has been no suggestions or
alterations at this point.
Um
worked on getting the costs and benefits
of our third party third party for
Trinity
um with our construction office
forward that information
uh
looked at the finance reconfig
reconfiguration
um
website is has been completed for the
most part. It should be on our next
agenda. So, we'll be updating our
website.
Our committee
got together. They actually got quotes
and I think they passed them went
through Roger. I think it's it's going
to be up and running for our
the next meeting is going to be on the
agenda.
Um
had a meeting with Booker's office
regarding grants. One of them would be
Shelter Island.
Um
the associate talked about that earlier.
Um
negotiating contracts with the
lifeguards
and of course uh discussing dredging
with other municipalities trying to get
some ideas on how to go about doing
things making things easier instead of
reinventing the wheel.
That'll be it for now. Great. Thank you,
Pat.
Lisa, anything to add?
Yes, we'd like to remind everyone that
on May 2nd right here at this firehouse
there will be the annual rabies clinic
from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
You will also be able to purchase dog
licenses for Margate.
And also if you are not registered to
vote in the primary, the deadline for
registration is May 12th.
Great. Thank you.
All right. We will now open up public
comment. If anyone has any comment on
any of the items discussed during
workshop, please step forward.
Is there a motion to close public
comment on workshop? Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins. Yes.
Commissioner Blumberg.
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn. Yes.
Is there a motion to adjourn? Motion.
Second.
Mayor Collins? Yes. Commissioner
Blumberg?
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn? Yes.
I'd like to call the meeting to order,
please. Lisa, will you read the
statement of compliance? The notice
requirements of the Open Public Meetings
Act for this meeting have been
satisfied. A copy of the annual meeting
notice was sent to the Atlantic City
Press, Carrier Post, posted on the
bulletin 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, 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.
Lisa, please take the roll. Mayor
Collins? Here. Commissioner Blumberg? I
am here. Commissioner Horn? Here.
Is there a motion for the approval of
the April 2nd, 2026 regular and workshop
meeting minutes? Motion.
Second.
Mayor Collins? Yes. Commissioner
Blumberg?
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn? Yes.
We will now open up public comment on
resolutions and ordinance adoption. So,
if anyone has any comment on any of the
items on today's agenda, please step
forward.
Uh Kathy Heitzman, 22 South Adams
Avenue. Thank God I'm not on South
Washington Avenue. That's all I'll be
saying.
Thankful I moved.
Um I have a question on the resolutions
about the labor agreements. It's 92-2026
to 94-2026.
I wondered if I could get information
about salary increases.
If there were indeed one because I know
we talked about the 18% insurance
increases and as a former employee not
of this city but of another city
we did not get a salary increase because
the medical went up and our medical was
cut.
What would you like to know? I would
like to know what you have proposed in
terms of the increase for salaries.
Sure. So there was a a market
adjustment. Um we went from 16 steps
down two steps.
Um
and
at that point um that was for 2026,
2027
ended up being a three and a half and
then 28 is four and 29 is 4% increases.
Can you translate that into dollars?
As far as what per person per No no no.
Well you can't do it per person. Right.
We would like
Um you know, just in terms of the
overall because I have a couple of
fingers that I have questioned on the
budget. Sure. Um if you want to get
ahold of me tomorrow, um I can I can
easily get that information to you.
You want it for all three unions,
correct? Yeah, all three unions and
individual.
Everybody's salary.
So some of the individuals have not
gotten contracts yet. We've only
negotiated um and the only thing on the
agenda tonight would be for the But you
proposed
>> the unions. I have not as of yet.
Okay. The the the the contracts have
been proposed for tonight.
But individual contracts for people um
unless they're actually listed on here,
they're not. There's there's been any
proposals at this point done.
There have been not been any proposals
uh for individuals as of this time. The
unions are on for tonight.
Will that be decided before this is
approved?
We've we've made estimates for the
budget itself, but um the contracts are
still being negotiated at this time.
Yep. Thank you, Kathy.
A motion to close public comment on
resolutions and ordinance adoption.
Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins? Yes.
Commissioner Blumberg?
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn? Yes.
Lisa, will you proceed, please?
May I have a motion for the introduction
of ordinance number
05-2026,
bond ordinance providing for phase two
of the lead water service lines
replacement project by the city of
Margate in the county of Atlantic, New
Jersey, appropriating $2,500,000
therefore, and authorizing the issuance
of up to $2,500,000
aggregate principal amount bonds or
notes for the city of Margate, county of
Atlantic, New Jersey, to finance the
cost thereof. Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins? Yes.
Commissioner Blumberg? Yes. Commissioner
Horn? Yes.
May I have a motion for the adoption of
ordinance number 04-2026,
calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed
the municipal budget appropriation
limits and to establish a cap bank.
Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins? Yes. Commissioner
Blumberg?
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn? Yes.
May I have a motion for the
reintroduction of resolution number
63-2026,
authorize payment Colemar Home Center.
Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins? I abstain.
Commissioner Blumberg?
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn? Yes.
May I have a motion for the authorizing
of I'm sorry. May I have a motion for
resolution number 83-2026,
authorizing bill payment and claims.
Motion.
Second.
Mayor Collins?
>> Yes. Commissioner Blumberg? Yes.
Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes.
May I have a motion for resolution
number 84-2026
authorizing payment to Colmar Home
Center.
Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins?
>> I abstain. Commissioner Blumberg?
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn? Yes.
May I have a motion for resolution
number 85-2026
authorizing self-examination of 2026
municipal budget.
>> Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins?
>> Yes. Commissioner Blumberg? Yes.
Commissioner Horn? Yes.
May I have a motion for the consent
agenda which consists of resolution
number 28 86-2026
through resolution number 95-2026.
Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins? Yes. Commissioner
Blumberg? Yes. Commissioner Horn? Yes.
Thank you, Lisa.
We will now open up public comment. If
anyone has any comment on any topic at
all, please step forward.
Jeff Hoffner, 5 South Monroe.
Sunrise to Gullah Bar.
It's great they got windows.
Like I said, like I told you Scott, I
don't care if they spend a million
dollars.
I don't care if they spend a million
dollars on windows. Sounds coming up to
the ceiling.
What are you guys going to do about it?
No answer? Anybody have question what
what you going to do here? I mean, I I
Our approach is always been to find
>> house. 10:00, 9:00, whenever.
You'll see what we're going through.
See how fast it gets you know fixed.
I'm not come to these meetings just to
about music. I love music. I don't
want to hear it in my porch. I don't
want to hear it in my bedroom. I don't
want to hear it in my kitchen.
Yeah, I know. And at the at the last
meeting Scott had set up a meeting. I
don't know if those meetings still took
place or Hey, Scott. He knows where we
live. Come on. He walked by me the other
day.
Yeah.
We can only do so much. The reality of
that is is a commercial zone. You live
directly across the street from the bar.
And there's going to be noise there.
Understood. Understood. I I understand.
We they've spent a hundred and seventy
something
>> I don't care how much they spent.
in the last, I believe, month. It makes
no difference to me. I don't The fine
and I believe he over twenty thousand. I
don't know I forget exactly now. About
fifteen thousand. Fifteen thousand.
And our police are there. If you're
going to complain, I I think one of the
best moves would be
parties met together. But there's really
only so much we can do. A lot of that
noise comes from patrons out there.
>> No, it's music, Scott. I'm not
complaining about patrons. There's not a
lot of patrons in there. Music.
I agree with you that the louvers with
Bruce Correct.
Yeah, it's louvers. It's like I have
windows. I think they have
>> I have a three-story house. It's coming
in through the louvers. Second and third
floor were affected by it.
But you have to understand
>> I can walk by Johnny's.
Hey, I can walk by Johnny's and Johnny's
pumping music in there.
You don't want to hear it across the
street?
I know I'm right about it.
You don't hear it.
Memories Memories, too. They're They did
a good job over there.
Greenhouse, they shut off at eight
o'clock.
Eight o'clock in the summer, they're
done. They go past Island House is going
and you guys shut them down.
What's the solution?
Don't be a wise guy. Maybe the solution
is don't go to the grocery store at
night. Come on. It's got to be in there
30 years.
I've been there 30 years. You guys
approved it.
I do know a part of the problem which is
because of the crowds that are outside
of the cycle. It's not the crowd. It's
What about February?
There's no crowd in
February. Come on.
There's people outside.
No. I'll send you a couple videos.
Well, come over to my house. You'll see
what we're going through.
We should have a meeting and you will
find them.
Probably bring them back in here for
more meetings. Matter of fact, come over
It is a problem. I I told you that last
meeting.
But I would love you to
Hey, they know where we live. They know
where they live we live.
What do I have to end up suing
personally or what do you know?
Okay.
I am not going to give any answer that's
going to satisfy
I don't have the ability. Why does
everybody's
um Roberts
outside 10:00.
Yeah, but they're they're not at 10:00.
I get it.
You don't go to 1:00, 2:00 in the
morning.
You're just going to
Okay.
I'm just going to piggyback on um Jeff.
I'm Janine Di Pertoro, 6 South Monroe.
I'm two two doors down from the Sunrise
Tacqueria. So, my question really is
more about um accountability
and enforcement. So, when this was first
approved by the planning board, I just
want to know who enforces what was
decided at that time. So, it was decided
they were only going to be open till
10:00. There's so many other things that
our attorney put in that letter that
they are not adhering to any of those.
Besides the noise, the noise is
horrible. Uh but they're not adhering.
So, who is
what entity in the city is responsible
to make sure they're adhering to these
everything they said they were going to
do in the very beginning.
So, the conditions of their approval are
enforced by the zoning board. Okay. And
then So, how like when does the zoning
board go out and check, you know, what's
going on there?
And if there's any zoning complaints,
they go out and check and verify and if
um
you know, as they have gotten their
approvals going through the temporary CO
process. Okay, well, what about the
complaints now? Like who's who's
enforcing that they're not compliant?
>> I think what we've seen again from the
public as far as
um things that the public thinks should
be enforced are things that they may
have said on the record we're going to
do this, but they were not conditions of
their approval. Okay.
>> the zoning board has no ability to
enforce that. That's correct, Roger,
isn't that
Okay, what about the 10:00 p.m. no music
and So, So, 10:00 p.m. is a ordinance
for outdoor music. So, it's
>> Okay. Well, it is an open air. It is
open air. So,
do that count for that?
>> It's considered indoor space, so they're
not held by the 10:00 p.m. So, I'll give
you an example, Robert's was brought up.
Robert's has indoor space and outdoor
space. Mhm. They keep their music going
indoors. They They shut it off outdoors.
And that's that's uh uh And they also
play music outside, too. They have
speakers on the outside of the building,
as well. So, just so you're aware of
that. It's not only the indoor music,
but it is piped all the time. 10:00 a.m.
till 10:00 p.m. Well, till whenever they
close. It's always on. And there's
nobody even outside, so it is kind of
ridiculous that they have that. So, my
other question So, there is no
enforcement. Basically, you're telling
me it just happens after it's built.
Like because I feel like we are being
the enforcers now. Like I We have to
call and complain to the police, and
we're getting nowhere with that,
obviously. Um So, you know, we're all
taxpayers here. I pay a fortune for my
property that is now two doors down from
a bar. And the fact that, you know, we
live next to a bar. Well, we've always
lived next to a
a package good store and a pizza place,
and they were fine neighbors. We live
across the street from a gas station.
Great neighbors. Have never had a
complaint. Lived here for 50 years. So,
it's the taxes we pay here. We're
supposed to feel safe in this
environment. We're supposed to be
protected by you guys. And I just feel
like that's not happening in this
situation. Um you know, somebody had
said, you know, maybe you guys should
move. Okay, well, if I move, I sell my
house, which is now depreciated because
I'm living next door to a loud bar.
Uh go Where am I going to go?
Where can I go for the amount of money
I'm going to get for my house? There's
nowhere I can go. I can't get in
anywhere. It's so expensive. So, I would
like to stay in the house that we've had
for 50 years. However, I would just like
a little help with this from the city to
help us with this. And you know, that
you you had um said that maybe they'll
meet with us. Well, nobody has reached
out. So,
that's ludicrous. They don't want to
meet with us, and they don't want to be
better neighbors cuz they've only paid
$15,000 in fines. So, my last question
is how Is there any way we can tie
compliance with the things that they
said they were going to do with maybe
their licensing or something like that?
Well, so I think
and there was uh a letter sent to the
city by an attorney representing, you
know, many of the residents in the area.
And
you know, our solicitor
has reviewed that, in process of
reviewing it, try Again, there's Okay,
well, he obviously didn't see any of the
videos that we've sent cuz we sent about
150 videos.
>> between, you know, other city
departments trying trying to resolve
this. And again, I think
what our solicitor has to determine is,
again, what
of those alleged violations are zoning
violations, or are they just um things
again that people thought they were
going to do, but that they failed to do
based on the the testimony given during
the hearing. Okay.
Okay, so so you'll be reviewing that. I
mean, I the letter we did send you a lot
of videos of the noise and everything.
It's not fair to say they haven't done
anything.
You're You're still off, Scott. There
you go.
>> 170, 180,000 dollars of new windows.
Mhm. They're open.
I don't think so. I don't think so. I
don't think so.
I don't No, no, I didn't say I don't
care. I said I don't think that's why
they installed the windows. I think they
installed the windows because when it
rains, it's a hazard, and it rains all
the time, and the rain comes in.
I don't think so.
Okay. So, all I'm asking as a resident
here for 50 years is a little help from
the city to try to come to a reasonable
solution.
For 50 years, it's a liquor store,
basically a liquor store. Yeah. Not a
bar. Yeah. Now they come in, that
commercial zone allows that type of use.
And it was a broad C license, and they
go with the bar. Right.
>> And now we're all stuck. Right, but you
guys approved the bar, which wasn't a
great idea. No, you're not suffering as
much as we are. Yeah, cuz we this
And you can work with them
I do
get them to make this wide as possible.
Okay. Well, I I do appreciate that
because I you know, we're all tired. I
don't want to come down here.
They have.
They're very responsive. However, I
would like to see them find every time
we call. So, that's you know, so that
maybe they feel it in their pocketbook a
little more. All right, well, thank you.
Thank you for your time.
All right, Liz O'Brien for South Monroe.
I wasn't actually going to talk tonight.
I was just coming to support.
But a few things that you said and also
mayor that you said um
So, at the planning board meeting where
this was conditionally approved this
bar.
Um I was here with my husband. We had
pages and pages of questions because we
went to city hall and looked at the
plans before the meeting so we'd be
prepared.
And then we got here the plans that were
here were different and they said, "Oh
yeah, we just printed them out this
morning." So, that was nothing that we
could have looked at until we got to the
meeting.
>> [snorts]
>> And then the architect when I asked
about you know, the garbage area and the
couple things he got a new plan and he
was scribbling with a pen on plans and I
said,
"Okay, so where like are there plans at
this meeting that you can vote on?"
Because I worked for municipal engineers
um and I've been to lots of planning
board and zoning meetings and I have
never been to one until that one where
there were not signed and sealed
plans by
a professional engineer
and
it got voted on.
And I I asked the question that night. I
said, "Are
So,
a couple of the
board members said, "Oh, well, there's
going to be a condition you know,
there's going to be a list of conditions
that we're voting on." And I said,
"Well, is that going to be ready and
but before the end of this meeting,
before you vote?"
And they kind of laughed at me
and brushed it away and didn't answer
the question. So, that's exactly what
happened. There were plans here that
were not complete, they were not
finished, they were not sealed and
signed as they should be. And there was
not a list of conditions that the public
or anybody else could see and yet the
board voted to approve it.
How do you explain that? So, Lizzie, it
actually happens probably more
frequently than you think. Um,
the zoning board gets a gets plans and
then they will ask for a modification
for approval. Um, I don't know if if
there's specific termin- terminology.
Pam and Roger, maybe you can add
something, but I I hear often
we don't sit on the planning board, we
will you know, we get copies of the
cases that are coming up. I'll review
them. The next day I might call Roger
and say, "What happened? What got
approved? What didn't?" And he'll say,
"This one got approved with this change
and this modification. This one" So, it
it it actually is more common than not
that there will be changes
>> In this city, maybe. Not a lot of other
Most places you need a you need a a
final set of plans or a list of
contingencies and conditions before
you're How do you vote on something if
they're not it's not determined yet? So,
they they bring the plans. There are
modifications. They have to have the
final sealed plans in before they get
their construction permit. But yet you
voted to approve that. You already It
was already approved. With those
conditions. So, how does that help the
public? What was the point of having the
public here?
So, a lot of times the public feedback
is why those conditions are imposed. So,
the public may be concerned about a
trash enclosure and the trash
overflowing. So, the board will say,
"Modify that trash enclosure to
accommodate
X, Y, and Z and we will we will give
approval. So, do you remember me talking
about the trash enclosure and that it
wasn't big enough? And that the
volume and their engineer Arthur Chu
stood over there and said
the architect stood here and said
there's no way to know how much trash
they're going to have. I said there
absolutely is. They already know how
many people they have. They know how
much trash they generated this summer.
So, they're adding 89 people.
It's an That's what engineers do. You
can figure these things out. You model
and you estimate.
And
the trash enclosure isn't big enough.
They have to empty it They have people
running down the street to their real
estate office to throw away bags of
trash because it's overflowing. And I've
sent pictures. You've all seen my
pictures with trash blocking the whole
fire exit emergency egress area. It's a
fire hazard.
And they do it They're still doing it.
Just this past spring I on my ring
camera, there's bags of trash
in the egress, the emergency egress. So,
if if there's a fire or an emergency and
people have to run out of there,
people could get hurt and that's on you
guys.
And that's okay. You're shaking your
head. That's okay with you?
>> when those notifications were sent to
us, I know maybe a month or maybe 6
months ago, whatever it was, fire chief
notified all of us, "Hey, I got an
issue." Went down there and it was
cleared by the time he got there. So, is
that accurate, Chief? It was something
Yes, Mayor, that is accurate and and
Liz, you sent it to me and I act on it
immediately.
>> were very quick.
>> And it's taken care of right away and we
sent the on-duty personnel down there to
assure that it was taken care of. And we
sent them back later to make sure it
didn't come back or or was not a
reoccurring problem that day. Um you
know, if there is a problem, you notify
me regularly. You have my cell. You send
me pictures. You send me notice and we
act on it immediately. I totally
appreciate that and you did a great job.
My point that I'm making right now is
that I stood here at that planning board
meeting before it was approved and
explained to everybody that it was not
big enough.
And yet you approved it.
And so now people are running down the
street and yes, the fire chief has to
come out and you know, it it has to be
like everybody has to get involved and
there's unless I call or one of us
calls, nobody will know that
the egress is blocked. So
like Janine said, we're policing.
Mayor, I I I can I can just interject
here. I can make sure we're we're due
for a re-inspection of that facility for
the uniform fire code inspection. I will
make sure when we do that inspection
that it's clearly advised to them that
they have to leave the exit path clear
and if there is a violation, we will
inform that there will be penalties
associated with that violation. So how
much is that penalty? I'd have to look
it up the code. It varies depending on
what it is, um but I'd have to look the
code up directly. It's not in front of
me right now. But there could be
penalties instituted through the uniform
fire code that we can do and I will make
that clear to the owners of the property
upon the inspection of that facility.
That's great.
Um my other point is about you live in
next to a bar. I mean, it's a very
different bar.
You guys approved or the planning board
approved
something that should have never been
put there. It was until now now there
are windows, but we all know it's not
air conditioned in there and besides the
fact that it has an open roof, all the
windows are going to be open when
there's people in there in the summer
because it's not air conditioned. They
can't keep the windows closed. It'll be
boiling hot.
Right? So we all know. So
how do you not consider that an outdoor
bar? And before it had windows last
summer, how did you not consider that an
outdoor bar?
Is there a definition?
Think like I told you all
3 years ago. You're you're saying that
you shouldn't live next to a bar but we
didn't live next to this thing. This was
approved by the planning board and it
should not have been.
It's not.
So the windows are just going to be
open.
So the fact that they spent all that
money doesn't really matter cuz they're
going to be you see how they are there
it's like an accordion.
So you still have to take
responsibility. You're the city
solicitor. You're you're the mayor. You
you have to
Well, I'm saying you the city of
Margate. I'm not saying you personally
but the city of Margate the planning
board approved something that was not
final that wasn't
we couldn't ask questions.
It absolutely got rubber stamped.
But we made all the points that we made
and nothing was done about them.
There's still no windows. There's still
Yeah.
So what are
Right. So they need air conditioning and
they need a solid surface roof or they
need to shut off the music at 10:00 like
every other bar in town.
So upstairs they need to not have a DJ
going on at 8:00 every single night that
goes till 2:00 in the morning.
So why can't we say no more music
upstairs
after 10:00?
Can anybody?
How do we get that done? That that's
what they said they were going to do and
that was why I asked at that planning
board meeting is there going to be be of
conditions here because had there been,
and we could see what everybody's voting
on, it would have been written down. But
you're saying they just basically stood
here and lied to us, lied to you, lied
to the board, lied to everybody, the
town.
And that so but because they said it
but because it's not written down and
it's not in the conditions which we
weren't allowed to see, which we
couldn't see, that weren't available
that night
even though it was voted on and approved
so they can't be held to that.
I get I I wish I could give you a better
answer as far as the conditions and how
that works. Yeah. So they stood here
you're agreeing they stood here and said
they were going to not
>> agreeing with that. What I'm saying is
when
a couple meetings ago when a group of
you group of you came and we're talking
about this it was
it was brought up that there's
conditions of approval and then there's
testimony and they're different. So
all I'm saying is there is a there is a
difference. I did not hear any of the
testimony that says they were going to
do X, Y, and Z. I did not hear the
>> I was there at the meeting they stood
right there
>> So I can't have the music off. off. Oh,
and we're not going to look at that.
between Cuz that's disgusting, Mr. Gold.
Mike, explain. We have the ability to
listen to the testimony. I'm sure that
we do, right? It's our lawyer. It's in
the letter. They they went through they
scoured it, they made a transcript, they
wrote down every single thing they said.
And it's in the letter that you have.
Everybody should have it.
So we have the ability to
listen to the testimony and then
to hold them to what it is that they
testified to. And what So we agree
>> voted on. We have done what they said.
When the board when the board votes the
at the following meeting
it is then
uh
memorialized, right?
>> Memorialized. And the conditions would
be in that report? The conditions are
yes, they're in the right so D&R.
Leo reads the conditions at the
at the hearing.
So the board knows what they're voting.
So Pat, could you could you do me a
favor and review this um
situation? From from where I sit here,
um
it's it's not fair to the to the
residents.
They've been there, they've lived there,
they shouldn't have to come in here
meeting after meeting
uh with no resolution. The letter that
their lawyer wrote, in my opinion, needs
to be addressed and replied to in
writing.
It's been almost 2 months, I think,
since we've got the letter. Four. The
the
So
it was official Did we officially reply?
Meetings, numerous meetings, met with
them. We imposed, as I said, they spent
over $170,000. I I understand everything
that Scott, I I understand everything
that they've done. There's still a
problem. There There's still a problem.
We We're listening to it every meeting.
We shouldn't listen to it anymore.
We shouldn't have to, and they shouldn't
be subject to it anymore. We,
in my opinion, we need to do something.
We can't keep going on and on and on.
There's something has to be done. But
but and then and then my last and final
question is
um for Mike and Kathy, have you guys had
any conversations related to the
situation with the owners? I I know I
know we know them.
Has there been any conversation related
to that with the owners? Do they know
that do we know? Do they know that
there's a serious concern here? And do
we have the ability to, like they've
asked, can we impose restrictions? Uh
and if they don't comply, we don't renew
their license.
I I think it's come to that for me. I
know they are aware. I have not had any
conversations directly with them.
I've only spoken with Scott and Pat and
the chief and whenever we have our
meetings, that's that's
I for for me we just we shouldn't have
to they shouldn't have to live with it.
Uh uh for me it's an easy fix.
And maybe Pat can uh
address the the concerns and the
uh
testimony.
And then we can try and move forward.
What's the easy fix?
Uh for me the easy fix is turn off the
music at 10:00. You're done.
>> Thank you. That's a
>> No more music.
And they because
they
Well, they don't.
>> No, they don't.
Go till 10:00 in the morning.
>> Come over to Pat's and
>> They're getting fined, Scott. Yes. So,
they don't. Yeah. We we've had
Yeah.
And I have been involved in this from
the beginning. I have had more meetings.
My police department responds to all the
calls. I have had more headaches
all the way around with this cuz I get
involved in all this. There is
an issue that we need to define and we
need to define if that is outdoor space
or not.
We need a clarification. I've asked for
that clarification. And if we can define
it, it will move us on from this. I have
had so many conversations with everybody
in this room, the attorneys, the owners.
And I think that would clarify some
things. Is it indoor space? Is it not
indoor space? Is it outdoor space?
And I think that will clarify some
issues.
Can we vote now? It's outdoor space.
>> Outdoor space, obviously.
Okay. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Liz.
Commissioner, I just want to be clear.
You want me to review
>> Listen to the testimony that they are
referring to. There's a tape from the
planning board where they agreed to
certain to certain conditions.
>> Okay. So that we can have an idea
whether or not there are things that we
can or cannot enforce.
>> There are two meetings you have to
listen to.
And and Roger can help you with that.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> I just want to make sure I was clear.
Thank you.
>> All the meetings, everything is in that
letter.
Hello, Mary Ann Plummer, 25 North
Madison.
Thank you for uh your help with this.
And I just wanted to say that
I don't care how much money they spent
on those windows. They keep them open.
They're not stationary windows. I I
I'm just piggybacking on everything they
said. So, if they keep the windows open
and the noise, I hear it two two and a
half blocks away. So, I wouldn't even
want to be them because every time we
come here, we pledge allegiance to the
flag for liberty and justice for all.
And it doesn't seem like the people that
live there forever have the liberty that
they used to have. So, I just thank you
for your help with this.
Cathy Eisenmann, 22 South Adams Avenue.
I'm a non-partisan person in this issue.
I live on South Adams.
I can hear the music as this lady just
said. However, as a citizen of this
community, as most of us are, and as
thank you so much, Commissioner
Bloomberg, go back to the letters. Look
at what it says. I was at that meeting
with Liz. I walked out there and I
couldn't even speak. I was so furious
at the way they spoke condescendingly, a
little like you were today to Liz.
They had
I was here. They had a bar.
They had a pizza place. There were
apartments upstairs.
Apartments.
Correct?
Yeah.
This changed the whole focus of the
neighborhood.
And I mean, I have friends in Longport
who complain about it. They complain
about the parking. We talked about the
parking.
29 parking spaces, there are none. In
the old days, you come, you pick up a
pizza, get your six-pack of beer, and
leave.
Right or wrong?
It has changed the entire community. It
breaks my heart.
And I don't want to prolong this meeting
anymore, but you need to think about
your people that are paying your
salaries, which I will get tomorrow
morning.
Thank you, Cathy.
I have a motion to
I do have one more thing to say, and I'm
sorry. I'm sorry, everyone. But this is
really important. You have a 10:00
curfew here in the summer with those
teenagers that made me move
because they were hanging at Wawa.
We have no problem. What's the problem
with this?
Can you explain that to me?
We had When we had the problem with
Memories, the new man that opened up
Memories, you stationed police people
down there in the corner. Can't we do
that? Can't you have a couple people
there, or even just rotating around?
10:00, 10:15, 10:30 to make sure they're
complying. And raise the fines. Explain
to them, because of all this,
first time, 500, 1,000. Third time that
night, shut them down.
I mean, we need to, as community people,
think about other people
and what they're living through
because it's not fun,
especially in the summer when all these
windows will be open.
There a motion to close public comment?
Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins?
>> Yes. Commissioner Blumberg?
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn? Yes. Is there a
motion to adjourn? Motion. Second.
Mayor Collins?
>> Yes. Commissioner Blumberg?
>> Yes. Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes.