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

like to call the meeting to order,
please.
>> Lisa, will you read the statement of
compliance?
>> The notice requirements of the open
public's meeting act for this meeting
have been satisfied. A copy of the
annual meeting notice was sent to the
press of Atlantic City carrier 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.
>> Pension 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.
>> Alicia, please take the role.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> here.
>> Commissioner Blumb,
>> I am here.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> 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 to 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 Ventner 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,
inspects are complete. We have sent
those over to the ACIA for review so we
could 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 Rim 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 will 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. We're also
uh 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 contractors just
working on the punch list there. Jumping
down to our bike lane um 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. We'll 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 6, 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 Bole 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 Schwarz Valor Awards
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 years 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 asssure 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
asssure 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
contact with some of the owners on Bay
Shore Lagoon. um one of them has been in
contact with many of their neighbors.
You could ask maybe have a meeting set
up with them to try to go over the
various points that you know relevance
of dredging out their private lagoon. It
is all not owned by the city. Unlike the
other there is some city ownership in
there lagoon there's not and he says
there's like overwhelming support and
there are aware might be a special
assessment when you do that. uh he said
they'll work on the list we get people
we'll set up a meeting we we publicize
the three of you can attend if you want
just want to be however you want to do
that but the important thing is there
seems to be very strong support to get
their dredging dump with the
understanding they might they're going
to have to go to the wilds to help us
accomplish so it's you know another step
in the right direction also I understand
Eddie's working wanted to trying to get
that permit where the shelter island
would
hydraulically move dre material make
sure to shelter that would probably be
substantial
>> that's
but who knows
mov
>> great thank you Scott Pat
uh program started back up this They got
about 60 meters installed this week. So
far we fixed two water leaks. We added a
new bench down at the Washington Pier
this week.
Wires are going up around town. Also
ballpark is all finished up with new
gazebo and gate gate. We just wrapped up
the hydro flushing that was today and
next week we'll start setting up the
beach. Also on the beach I'll start
putting up new trash enclosures too. We
got we got I think we got about 14 so
far. We get back
every year probably like eight or 10.
>> Thank you, Pat.
>> Through April 16th, the building
department has issued 283
construction permits and performed 1,372
sub inspections year to date. Thiscl 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 piece 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. That's all I have.
>> Great. Thank you. Roger.
>> Thank you, mayor and commissioners. Uh,
is the season for pool construction. As
you know, there is a moratorum this
summer. So, we're seeing a lot of 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. We're
actually we did the ice cream vending.
So, the city received a bid for $98,000
for 2026 season, and we have the right
to extend it for one more year if it
performs up to the standards this year
for another $98,000.
So, uh, that's pretty much it for now.
Thank you. Oh, and one other thing is we
are since wewarded the master plan, uh,
to Jim Ratalo Associates, we are going
to get that kickstarted pretty soon with
the planning board subcommittee and
there'll be public meetings for the uh,
planning board and general public.
>> Great.
>> That's it. Thank you, Chief Henson.
>> Thank you, Mayor Commissioner. Just a
few items from the police department.
First of all, the police department has
coordinated the city clerk and a bike
auction will be conducted on Saturday,
June 13th, 2026 at 10 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. There approximately 30 to 40
bikes that we have in storage. So again,
it's usually a it's a laidback kind of
event. we can fit on the bikes. But
again, it's it's a good way to pick up a
a bike for the summer.
Uh the police department worked with
public works and the city electrician
and we have new lights installed at the
Cater 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 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. We tried to find the
most cost effective way to put lighting
at that that park behind the police
station on Decator Avenue.
We had two recruits begin the police
academy on Monday. They were replacing
officers who retired and resigned. As of
tonight, we are down to one police
officer in the academy as uh 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.
So again, we'll 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 pay 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 at every meeting and I I push it.
It's not just Marty but even our sister
community and Longport this time of
year, please make sure have that
routine. Make sure your car is locked.
Make sure your house is locked because
we 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 the times it is.
So I always say please. They're mostly
crimes of opportunity. Worth our
unlocks. The fight is worth. If it's
locked, people will move on. So again, I
say that over and over and I will say
every meeting, please make sure you lock
your cars in 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 incidents 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,
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 companies, 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, with Detective Aaron
Belli, we are working with the local
also the FBI. We're looking to do a
little seminar first or second weekend
in June, some of our seniors just about
the level of parole that's happening
right now with the state. So that's all
I have.
>> Thank you, Chief Pat.
>> Couple weeks, um, help work on the, uh,
ordinance for
outdoor dining.
>> Pat, your microphone's off.
>> Sorry about that. Always tend to seem to
forget that. Um, so we worked on the uh
ordinance with the pop-ups. Um, the
outdoor dining, it's all been uh set up
and it's being reviewed by uh some of
our stakeholders to make sure that um
it's something that addresses what we
believe address our needs. uh research
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 uh on getting the cost and
benefits of our third party third party
for Trinity um with our uh construction
office for that information.
uh looked at the finance reconi
reconfiguration
um
website is has been completed um for the
most part it should be on our next
agenda. So we'll be updating our website
um our committee uh got together they
actually got quotes and I think they
passed went through Roger and I think
it's it's going to be up and running for
um 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
solicitor 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 would 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. 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 adjurnn?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes.
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 role.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> here.
>> Commissioner Blumbber,
>> 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 Heightsman, 22 South Adams
Avenue. Thank god I'm not on South
Washington Avenue. That's all at least.
Thankful I move.
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.
>> Okay.
>> 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 um a market
adjustment. Um we went from uh 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 per
person,
>> right?
>> What would you do?
>> Um, you know, just in terms of the
overall because I have a couple figures
that I questioned on the budget.
>> Sure. Um, if you want to get a hold of
me tomorrow, um, I can can easily get
that information to you.
>> You went for all three unions, correct?
>> Yeah, all three unions and individual.
Everybody's out.
>> 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
>> 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. There's been any proposals at
this point that there have been not not
been any proposals uh for individuals as
of this time. The unions are on for
tonight.
>> Will that be decided budget 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.
There a motion to close public comment
on resolutions and ordinance adoption.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbber.
>> 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 2 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 Blumbberg,
>> 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 Blumbberg.
>> Yes,
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> May I have a motion for the
reintroduction of resolution number
63-2026,
authorized payment home center?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> I abstain.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> 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 Blumbber?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes.
>> May I have a motion for resolution
number 84-2026
authorizing payment to Colemar 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 Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
May I have a motion for the consent
agenda which consists of resolution
number 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 five South Monroe
Sunrise to Gillibar. That'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. Sound's coming out
the ceiling. What are you guys going to
do about it?
No answer. Anybody have a question?
What? What are we going to do here?
>> I mean, I I our approach by my house
10:00, 9:00, whenever. You'll see what
we're going through.
See how fast it gets, you know, fixed.
I'm I don't come to these meet just to
about musical. I love music. I
don't want to hear my porch. I don't
want to hear my bedroom. I don't want to
hear 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 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
the fact is it's a commercial zone. You
live directly across the street from a
bar and there's going to be noise there.
>> Understood. Understood. I understand
understood.
>> Complain. We they spent $17. I don't
care how much they spend
>> on windows in the last I believe month
>> that makes no difference to me. the fine
I believe over 20,000 I forget exactly
the amount about 15,000 15,000
and our police are there if you're going
to complain I I think one of the best
moves would be the parties met together
but there's really only so much we can
do a lot of that noise comes from
patrons out
>> 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 louvered window
to do something more.
>> Yeah, it's louvers. It's like
>> windows. I think they have
>> a three story house. It's come right
through the louvers. Second and third
floor. We're 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 hear
it across the street.
I know I'm right about it.
>> You don't hear it. You don't hear it.
Memories. Memories, too. They're They
did a good job over there.
>> Greenhouse. They shut off at 8 o'clock.
>> I don't think so.
>> 8:00 in the summer. They're done. They
go past Island Houses. Co. And you guys
shut them down.
>> What's the solution?
solutions.
>> Come on. It's got to been there 30
years. I've been there 30 years. You
guys approved it.
>> I do know part of the problem is because
the crowds that are outside.
>> It's not the crowd. It's What about
February?
>> What about February? There's no crowd of
February. Come on.
>> Is people outside?
>> No.
I'll send you a couple videos.
Well, come over to my house. See what
we're going
>> through.
Probably bring them back in here for
more.
>> Come over.
>> It is a problem. I I told you that last
meeting,
>> but I would love 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? Well, you know,
>> okay.
>> Can't give you I'm not going to give you
an answer.
>> I don't have the ability.
>> Why does every Why does
uh Roberts Health Side 10 o'clock?
>> Yeah, but they're they're not 10
o'clock. I get it.
You don't go to one two o'clock in the
morning. your pistol.
>> Okay,
>> I'm just going to piggy back on um Jeff
um Janine Duro, 6 South Monroe. I'm two
two doors down from the Sunrise Tequila.
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. Um 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?
>> 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 complying?
>> I think I think what we've seen again
from the public as far as um things that
the public think 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. Okay.
>> So that the zoning board has no ability
to enforce that. That's correct, Roger.
Isn't that
>> okay? What about the 10 p.m. No music?
And
>> so so 10 p.m. is a ordinance for outdoor
music. So
>> well, it is an open air. It is open air.
So does that count?
>> Considered indoor space. So they're not
held by the 10 p.m. So I'll give you an
example. Roberts was brought up. Roberts
has indoor space and outdoor space.
>> They keep their music going indoors.
Yeah. They they shut it off outdoors and
that's that's uh
>> and they also pipe 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 p.m. Well, to
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 packaged goods 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 because 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 a 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 because we
sent about 15
>> meetings between, you know, other city
departments 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 They haven't done any
>> You're still off Scott
180,000 of new
>> that 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. I don't think so.
>> 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 plus liquor store
basically.
>> Yeah.
>> Not a bar.
>> Yeah. Now they come in that commercial
zone allows that type of use and it was
a broad sea license and they go with the
bar
>> right
>> and now we're all suffer
>> right but you guys approved the bar
which wasn't a great idea. No you're not
suffering as much as we are. Yeah
because we this
get them to make it as quiet as
possible.
>> Okay. Well I I do appreciate that
because you know we're all tired. I
don't want to come down here.
>> They have they're
>> 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.
>> Hi, 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 when 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. And then the
architect when I asked about, you know,
the garbage area and a 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 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 Liz, it actually happens probably
more frequently than you think. Um the
zoning board gets it gets plans and then
they will ask for a modification for
approval. Um I don't know if there's
specific termin ter terminology. Palma
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
in this modification this one. So 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 a 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
>> match 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 E.
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.
>> I mean, when those notifications were
sent to us, I know maybe a month or
maybe six months ago, whatever it was,
fire chief notified all of us, hey, I
got an issue. It went down there and it
was cleared by the time you 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.
>> You did. You were very quick.
>> And it's taken care of right away. And
we sent the onduty personnel down there
to asssure that it was taken care of.
And we sent them back later to make sure
it didn't come back 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 has [clears throat] to be
like everybody has to get involved and
there's unless I call or one of us calls
nobody will know that the 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 reinspection 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 next to a bar. I mean,
it's a very different bar. You guys
approve 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
>> like my boat three 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
because they're going to be You see how
they are? They're It's like an
accordion.
>> Well,
but he is a voting. We weren't there to
things.
We weren't We weren't there.
>> 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
Margaret, I'm not saying you personally,
but the city of Mar, the planning board
approved something that was not final,
that wasn't
we couldn't ask questions.
>> They come in today. I believe they had
two full public, right? But two full
public hearing. How many hours? six
hours.
>> So, it's not like, oh, somebody rubber
stamped it and just pushed it.
>> It absolutely got rubber stamped.
>> Well, five or six hours,
>> but we made all the points that we made
and nothing was done about them.
>> There's still no windows. There's still
>> Yeah. finally impressed.
>> 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,
>> right?
>> So, upstairs they need to not have a DJ
going on at 8:00 every single night that
goes till 2 o'clock in the morning. So,
why can't we say no more music upstairs
after 10 o'clock?
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 the planning
board meeting. Is there going to be a
list 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.
>> Again, I I wish I could give you a
better answer as far as the conditions
and how that works.
>> So, they stood here. You're agreeing.
They stood here and said they were going
to not turn off the music.
>> That what I'm saying is when a couple
meetings ago when a group group of you
came and were 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 here at the meeting. They stood
right there. We're going to have the
music off. Oh, and we're not going to
differentiate between
>> cuz that's disgusting. Mr. Gold. Uh,
>> we have the ability to listen to the
testimony. I'm sure that we
>> 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 to be able to listen to the
testimony and then to hold them to what
it is that they testify to and what and
agreed the board voted on 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 DNR.
>> 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 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 two 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. As they say, they spent over
170,000.
>> I I understand everything that Scott 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 something has to be done.
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
I for for me we just we shouldn't have
to they shouldn't have to live with it.
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
>> for me? The easy fix is turn off the
music at 10 o'clock. You're done. Thank
you. It's over.
No more music. And they because they
>> Well, they don't.
>> No, they don't.
>> They don't come over Saturday.
>> They're getting fine, Scott.
>> Yes.
>> So, they don't we've had
>> Commissioner Commission Mayor, if I may
>> 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 because I get
involved on 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 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
>> Okay. Thanks.
>> I just want to make sure I was clear.
>> Perfect.
>> All the meetings everything in that.
Hello, Mary and Clemer, 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 spend
on those windows. They keep them open.
They're not stationary windows. I
I'm just piggybacking on everything they
said. So, if they keep the windows open,
the noise I hear 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.
Kathy Heitzman, 22 South Adams Avenue.
I'm a nonpartisan 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 Blumbberg, 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 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'd come, you'd
pick up a pizza, get your six-ack 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, Kathy.
>> There 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 Wawwa. We have no
problem. What's the problem with this?
Can you explain that to me?
We had police 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,
10:15, 10:30 to make sure they're
complying and raise the fines. Explain
to them because of all this.
first time 500 a thousand 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 opened.
>> There a motion to close public comment.
Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> Is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.