Margate City, NJ Workshop and Regular Commission Meetings of June 25, 2026

has to be unchecked. Otherwise, it's
going to send a signal.
>> Okay.
I'll begin again.
>> 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
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.
>> 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 Blumbberg,
>> I am here.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> here.
>> We're going to begin today uh first
welcome. Uh thank you everybody for
coming. We're going to begin uh honoring
two of our residents who participated in
the New Jersey League of Municipalities
Lewis Bay second future municipal
leaders scholarship competition. Um and
uh they they wrote um an essay on what
they like about their hometown. We had a
a committee uh formed in city hall that
voted on the uh scholarship applications
and I want to honor those two uh
residents now. So, we have Daniela
Ritzell and Christian Hornig Finan. If
you could both come up, PLEASE.
>> OH, OKAY.
You're such a GOOD
SO, we will now have some further
recognition. I'd like to hand it over to
our FMBA local 41 uh to hand out their
scholarships.
>> Okay.
>> Yep. Good afternoon, mayor,
commissioners, family, guests.
On behalf of Margate City FBA Local 41,
I am honored to present the 2026
Kevin P. O'Hara Memorial Scholarship.
Our scholarship was established in
memory of Kevin P. Har, who was a
dedicated Margate firefighter, and he
served our community with pride and
courage. Through this scholarship,
we're able to continue his legacy by
supporting outstanding young scholars as
they begin the next chapter of their
lives. The recipients of our
scholarships are selected based on
academic achievements, extracurricular
involvement, and financial need. We are
very proud to recognize these students
and help them pursue their educational
goals. So, congratulations to all of the
recipients and we wish them the very
best in college and future success in
their careers that they have chosen. So,
now we're going to
>> um Caitlyn Grimley.
Wow. Okay. Just go right over to the end
of the
>> Jack Sherban.
>> Thank you. Daniela Ritzell,
Christian Hornik,
Marina Zapone.
Unfortunately, some of these students
aren't here. They're working the beach.
So,
um, Joshua Weintock,
>> Lily Murphy and Calie Murphy.
Callie Duff,
Melindia Rush, Melania Rush,
and Marggo Swift.
>> All right. Uh, just uh want to say
congratulations. Remember this is for
college for uh books not other things
okay? We want you to make sure that you
study hard represent Margate well.
You've already done that and good luck
with everything you do in the future.
All right. Can we take a quick picture?
You want to join us commissioners?
>> Mayor do that.
>> Good job. We try.
>> Hold on.
All right. And now we will hand it over
to Chief Adams and Commissioner Horn for
swearing in of two firefighters.
>> Okay. We're going to give a little
background first on each. Um, we're
going to do them individually, but let
me do the background first and then the
person can come up. And we ask that
someone or multiple people from the
family come up because we're going to
need someone to hold the Bible and then
to do the ceremonial penny of the badge.
So, the first one is Aliana Melendez.
Uh, Aliana came to the Margate City Fire
Department after competing in scoring
high on New Jersey Citizen.
Aliana moved to the city of Margate in
2020. She is a 2021 graduate of Our Lady
Mercy Academy and a 2026 graduate of
Stockton University.
She started her career in public safety
as a Margate City Lifeguard in 2020 and
served six years prior to taking her
appointment as a firefighter. She
received her EMT certification in 2025
and has been working as an EMT for
Atlantic Carry EMS for the past year and
a half. Aliana is currently assigned a
platoon 2 and is one of the primary EMS
personnel handling emergency calls.
Aliana just graduated from the Atlantic
County Career Fire Academy where she
spent nine weeks uh doing vigorous
training uh achieving firefighter one
and firefighter 2 certification. Uh the
training wasn't limited to just
firefighting activities, but also
firefighter safety survival skills. uh
propane fire operations uh rope rescue
to name a few. Aliana comes from a
family of public safety service with her
dad Hyram retiring as a police officer
in Galloway Township, her brother
Bradens who is a current police officer
in that police department and her uncle
Paul Hes who is a batting chief in the
Atlantic City Fire Department. Please
welcome Aliana up here for the OFFICIAL
BIBLE.
>> HEY, Chief Wendy's
>> up here. Come on up.
>> Get ready.
Raise your right hand. for your left
hand.
>> I, Aliana Melendez,
>> do solemnly and sincerely promise and
swear
>> do solemnly and sincerely promise and
swear
>> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States of America
>> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States of America
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey. and that I will faithfully
impartially and justly and that I will
faithfully impartially and justly
perform and discharge all the duties of
the office of firefighter perform and
discharge all the duties of the office
of firefighter
>> in the fire department of the city of
Morgate
>> in the fire department of the city of
Marty
>> to the best of my ability and
understanding to the best of my ability
and understanding.
>> So help me God.
This is something we started many years
ago with the ceremonial traditional
pinning of the badge. And uh since Uncle
Paul is battalion chief in Atlantic
City, he got the honors of doing so here
today.
>> Congratulations.
>> Thank you.
I need you here. I need you to sign
three things real quick. Yeah.
Thank you.
Okay. Our second swearing in today uh is
Harrison Gilman. Harrison Gilman came to
the Margate City Fire Department the
same as Aliana, competing and scoring
high on the New Jersey civil service
exam for firefighter. Harrison attended
the Northfield schools and graduated
from Mainland Regional High School in
2019. Harrison started his career
firefighting as a volunteer for the
Longford Volunteer Fire Department,
graduating from the Atlantic County Fire
Academy, as a firefighter one in 2025
and as firefighter 2 in 2026.
Harrison has a strong public safety
background as a volunteer firefighter
EMT
in Long, but not only in Long, he has
served for three years with Triricare
and Pleasville, handling all the 911
emergency calls. He is currently a
lifeguard on the Atlantic City Beach
Patrol where he has worked for the past
eight years.
Harrison will be assigned or currently
is assigned to platoon 4 of the Margate
City Fire Department as one of the
primary personnel handling emergency
calls. He comes to the Margate City Fire
Department with a wealth of knowledge
and experience. We welcome Harrison
Gilman up front.
Come on.
>> Raise your right hand.
left hand on the Bible.
I, Harrison Gilman,
>> I, Harrison Gilman,
>> do solemnly and sincerely promise and
swear
>> do solemnly and sincerely promise
promise and swear
>> that I will support the Constitution
ution of the United States of America
>> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States of America
>> and and the Constitution of the State of
New Jersey
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey.
>> And that I will faithfully
>> impartially
>> and justly
>> perform and discharge all the duties of
the office of fire.
>> perform and discharge all the duties of
the office of firefighter
>> in the fire department of the city of
Marty. in the fire department of the
city of Miami
>> to the best of my ability and
understanding.
>> To the best of my ability and
understanding.
>> So help me God.
Make sure we get pictures.
Congratulations,
>> Harrison.
Everybody
That's interesting.
>> Um, I just got permission from the mayor
to to come up here real quick. Um, when
we have these scholarships, we we we're
lucky here in this town that we have we
have 12 scholarship winners. And while
we're doing all this, we accidentally
forgot to to call up one of our
students. So, Gian Pepe, come on up
here. I apologize.
Um,
come on up here. We're going to take a
picture with you.
>> You and me, you get the solo one.
>> Thank you,
Thank you.
>> So, what happened, and I'm going to
explain this, was uh our list, we had a
couple kids that that couldn't be here
today because they're working the beach
and you know, it's one of those things
that public safety, they chose to stay
on the beach to protect the city of
Margate. So, as we were giving these,
we're like, oh, they're not here and we
missed. So, I apologize. We just wanted
to make sure that uh you got recognition
for it. So, congratulations. Thank you.
Thank you.
So again, congratulations to all of our
scholarship winners and to Harrison and
Aliana on their swearing in. Uh I now if
if anyone would would like to to leave,
we uh we will allow that as much as we'd
love you to stay for the meeting. So
Good.
>> I got a question.
Good eye to see.
Yeah.
>> Yeah, I know.
>> All right, I'm going to turn the floor
over to Ed, who's got double duty today.
Uh
before the engineering
hold on we'll give it one more second.
>> Mayor, can I can I just bring someone up
before Ed? I apologize. Sure.
>> Once once it's cleared out a little bit.
>> All right.
>> Sorry. Sorry to interrupt. So, um a
couple of things. First is there are uh
three resolutions on the agenda um that
were added that have to be added from
the floor be brought from the floor when
we when we go to make them uh approved.
They were supposed to be on there. They
are necessary uh to get things moving
and um we we will be bringing them from
the floor. They were they were posted on
the agenda a couple day not within the
48 hours. So they have to be presented
from the floor from what I'm I'm being
told. And second, real quick, um we have
a representative from Biz Digital, um
our U provider for the camera system,
the Zoom that we've been using that
we've having so much problems for. Uh
Jim from Biz Digital, if you want to he
wanted to come up and kind of address us
a little bit. Um even after all the
stuff that we've done today, I think
there was an internet outage throughout
the city from I told from the chief
there might be there was a a blackout
here for a short period of time. all big
panic attack. So, uh Jim, thank you.
>> Good evening all. My name is uh Jimmy
Buchcci. I'm the lead uh field
technician manager for BIS Digital. Um
and I just wanted to start by uh first
of all apologizing
for all the technical issues that have
occurred recently with the uh sound
video recording system. Um
some of the glitches were caused by um
IP networking issues and some were
caused by uh connection issues. All
those issues have been resolved. Um I
actually added a new device
proprietary Zoom by itself. So you have
proprietary devices for audio now for
every device here. Everything is
separate. They're not going to interfere
with each other anymore cuz that's what
was happening. We were getting
conflicts. Those conflicts will not
occur anymore.
Um
so there were also some update issues
with uh just Windows and drivers that
caused
other issues. So, we had all kinds of
issues that we had to deal with, but
they're all taken care of. And I just
wanted to let you know, you'll you will
have no further issues with this sound
system, the video or recording.
And again, I apologize.
Thank you, Jimmy. Just wanted to
reiterate, Jim's been great. Um, we
called him up, said, "Listen, we are
continuously having problems here. Um,
you know, we paid for the system. we and
he he immediately responded to us, came
down. They went over everything with a
fine tooth comb and made adjustments,
made, you know, put new stuff in. And I
can't say, you know, that he he's gone
out of his way to help us out. So, I
like to thank him uh as well. Thank you.
>> All right, Ed. We now turn the floor
over to you.
>> Okay. A little disappoint. I thought
everyone was here to hear about the
watershed improvement plan, but I guess
not. Um, all right. So, I do have one
item before our regular engineering
report on the agenda, the wershed
improvement plan. This is a
statemandated process that we're going
through. It's related to our storm water
management regulations. And as part of
that mandate, we're required to hold a
public meeting where we just describe
what it is we've been up to and allow
the public to comment or ask questions.
So I'm going to be pretty brief on just
a highle summary of what this is and
then if anyone from the public has any
comments or questions I'm happy to hear
them during the public comment portion
of the workshop meeting. So what this is
um as background the city of Margate
maintains what's called a municipal
separate storm sewer system permit or an
MS4 permit. You hear that acronym
sometimes in some of my reports. And
that permit requires us to comply with
certain storm water management
regulations.
the storm water or the permit is coming
up for renewal in 2028 and the DP um has
implemented a series of new requirements
under that permit um that are rather
stringent and somewhat ownorous. Um one
of those requirements is that we
complete what's called a watershed
improvement plan by the time we renew in
2028. And they've broken that watershed
improvement plan into three phases.
We're here to talk about the phase one
of that project which we completed last
year. So the purpose of this plan is to
reduce localized flooding and reduce
storm water carrying pollutants into the
waterways. The three phases of this plan
are what they call the wershed inventory
report which is what we completed last
year, the wershed assessment report
which will be completed this year and
the wershed improvement plan which will
be completed next year. So phase one
which was completed and filed prior to
the January 1st deadline was basically
an inventory of all our drainage assets
in the city. Um, fun facts on our
drainage system. Uh, for those that have
always wondered, we have 392 uh, storm
manholes in the city, 705 inlets, 40
outfalls, 108,000
uh, linear feet of pipe. We have no
storm basins. We have no private
drainage systems. And as far as
interconnections, we have 18
interconnections going out. So basically
where pipes are tying into systems
outside of the city, Ventner and
Atlantic County systems. and we have 22
interconnections coming in. Those are
where we might have the county or
ventner tying into some of our drainage
pipes to get to where it needs to go. Um
the report also inventories certain
demographic environmental information in
Margate such as land use trends,
frequent flooding areas, social
demographics, and water quality
impairments. A copy of the uh draft plan
is on the city's website on the
stormwater web page if anybody wanted to
read it. And this information will be
used to basically uh prepare the next
piece of the puzzle uh phase two um
during the second half of the year. So
that's basically what the watershed
improvement plan um has entailed over
this first phase. And again, if anyone
from the public or if anyone uh anyone
from the governing body has any
questions or comments, I'm happy to
field them. Would you like me to move on
to the report or did you guys have
>> prefer the qu any questions from the
public comment?
>> However you want to handle it. Y
>> why don't we just open it up for the
water? No problem. So Mr. Mayor, one
other thing. So today we have uh the
ability with Zoom for them to raise
their anybody who's online to raise
their hand if they have any questions.
Um our IT person Mike is ready to
if they raise their hand to address
them. But I just want to make sure that
you're aware that that that process is
>> Thank you. So if anyone has any uh
comments or questions on the watershed
improvement plan, uh we welcome you to
come forward.
>> Hi Lisa Ferin uh 217 North Handover. Um
so the waterershed is this just for
drainage or is this for the water that
comes to our houses?
>> Drainage.
>> Just drainage.
>> Not drinking water.
>> Okay. because my drink and water was
like a little bleachy, but I think I
wrote you a letter and you gave me like
an email back and I appreciated that.
>> You're welcome.
>> So, okay. Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
>> Good. Okay. So, now we'll move forward
with our engineering report.
>> Very good.
>> All right. So, we have a lot of good
progress to report um today. Uh first
item under our citywide dredging permit.
We have an item on the agenda today for
the introduction of an ordinance to
establish fees for our municipal
dredging permit. This will establish the
process for private property owners to
dredge under our citywide permit. We're
already kind of in formally processing
some of those requests just to keep
everyone moving. There's a lot of um
excitement around being able to finally
dredge in town. So, uh, this will just
formalize the process, set up the
application, and, um, once that's ready
to go, you know, we can share some of
that more detailed information, um, at
at a meeting, uh, commission future
commission meeting. So, that's a good
update on the dredging front. Uh,
there's also an item on the agenda today
to authorize the advertisement of our
new public works building. So, we're
just about ready to go out to bid with
that project. Uh, we just had our public
meeting for the watershed improvement
plan. Uh, another item on the agenda
today to advertise for the Bloom
Pavilion deck renovations, which I know
we've all been looking forward to. So,
that project will be going out to bid.
We were able to secure grant funding for
that project through the CDBG program.
There's an item on the agenda today to
award phase two of the lead service line
replacement project to South State, uh,
who is our current contractor for phase
one. And once again, this project, uh,
we were able to complete in time to
secure that $1 million in principal
forgiveness through the eye banks. We're
basically paying 50 cents on the dollar
for this work, which is um obviously
great for the city of Margate. The
Gladstone Avenue water tank project,
we're pulling those specs together to
put that project out to bid. Same for
the 2026 RO program for phase one of the
uh citywide dredging project. We have an
item on the agenda today to advertise
that project for bid. So, we're going to
be going out to bid for phase one of
dredging. And um phase one will include
the area from the Margate Bridge uh to
the Orient Canal which is just beyond
Nassau Avenue and then a small area near
the city pier at Amherst in Washington.
Um so it'll be a significant project uh
that'll be phase one. Um and we'll be
going out to bid on that project soon.
So we're really looking forward to that.
The Brunswick Avenue Beach bulkhead
project uh is in design. our EPA risk
and resiliency plan uh was was uh
finished in time for the June 30th
deadline. And then jumping over to our
construction projects, just a couple
updates. We've moved our Atlantic Avenue
project into closeout. Uh lead service
line phase one contractor is on pause
and has some punch list items that
they're addressing and we are going to
have our pre-construction meeting for
the Ventner Avenue parking lot um this
month so that way we can get that
contractor uh scheduled for that work.
And those are my updates.
>> Great. Thank you, Ed.
We'll now move to our department head
reports. Chief Adams, would you like to
begin, please?
>> Thank you, mayor, commissioners. Uh I'm
going to start off with uh over the past
couple of weeks, uh we have 16 active
right to know surveys in the city of
Margate for our buildings and
properties. And uh during the first two
weeks of June, all these survey surveys
were updated and completed uh by the due
date of the compliance by July 1st. So,
uh, we are up to compliance with our
right to know surveys for 2026.
Um, being this time of year, I always
like to talk about, uh, a little bit
about fireworks safety and discuss that,
uh, briefly. Um, July 4th weekend will
be upon us before we know it. Uh, we're
basically a week away from the big
weekend or what I say is the beginning
and the end of the summer. it, you know,
highlights July 4th weekend and then
it's basically all downhill from there.
But, um, fireworks are often used to
mark special events and holidays.
However, they're not safe in the hands
of consumers. Fireworks cause thousands
of burns and eye injuries each year.
People can enjoy fireworks safely if
they follow a few simple tips. One, be
careful. If you want to see fireworks,
go to a public show put on by experts.
Do not use consumer fireworks. In the
state of New Jersey, they only allow
handheld sparklers and groundbased
fireworks. There is no actual aerial
fireworks allowed in the state of New
Jersey by consumers. Um, keep a close
eye on children at events where
fireworks are used. Fireworks cause an
estimated 18,500 fires per year. Um,
sparklers account for more than one
quarter of emergency room fireworks
injuries. And when we talk about burns
accounted for uh 44% of the fireworks
injuries seen in the month around July
4th are dealing with burns. And we talk
about the areas of injury on the body
part. Eye injuries is 19%, arm injuries
4%, hand or figure 28%, head, face or
ear is 15%, trunk or other body part is
10% and leg injuries are 24%.
Uh
about 28% of fires started by fireworks
each year reported on Independence Day
alone. So if you have to use some sort
of groundbased and handheld fireworks,
do it in a safe manner and make sure
that the children are around or they're
safely protected from this area. And I
have there's actually a fireworks safety
handout up here. And just to recap what
we talked about last meeting was
grilling safety. It's grilling season.
Make sure your grill is cleaned. Make
sure you have a distance between your
grill and your your property, you know,
or items on your property to asssure
that there's no issues. And have a great
summer and happy Independence Day and
happy birthday to the USA 250 years.
Thank you.
>> Thank you, Chief Scott.
>> Yeah, I just wanted to comment.
I wanted to comment. It was very
exciting to see these young people
getting on the fire department. I think
we're really fortunate. What great
candidates they are, Dan. So, that's
really something. Uh, with regard to
dredging now, as I understand, at least
three, if not more of the properties
along Amhurst Avenue, our commercial
district, are going to commence dredging
after July 1. I actually saw the dredge
truck company down there. I believe it
was this morning. So, I think they're
getting ready. Of course, they can't
start till July 1 pursuant to the D
permit. I'd like to ask Ed though if uh
do we have a website? I've had a number
of people ask me, can they look at the
plans? Can they see what's going on?
Eddie, you want to take over?
>> Yes.
>> So, we we are we are developing a
website. It's not launched yet. It's
very close. Obviously, we're about to go
out to bid on our project and we have
this ordinance that's going through
today. So, we didn't want to launch the
website until everything was kind of
finalized as far as what is the permit
process, what is the application
involved, what are the fees, that kind
of thing. But, it'll kind of line up
once with once this um ordinance is
adopted. Uh and and what the website
will include, as Scott said, is it'll
include you'll you'll easily be able to
access the permit plans. You'll easily
be able to access the permits themselves
that have the conditions in them and the
timing restrictions. Those documents can
be a little technical. So, we're also
going to have more userfriendly exhibits
on the website. There will be a phasing
plan um that will show our current
phases of citywide dredging. And what
will be even more beneficial to the
public is there will be a plan that
shows areas that the city will be
dredging versus areas that are
completely privately owned that are part
of our permit that the city will have no
dredging in that area. And the
implication of that is if there was
someone who was kind of waiting for the
city to do their dredging before be do
our dredging before they do their
dredging, they will be able to see that
their property is not in an area where
we will be doing any dredging. So if
they want to move forward, they don't we
don't want them waiting for something
that's not going to happen. Um you will
also be able to complete the application
online. Um so the application to receive
the municipal dredging permit can be
completed online. Um, so there'll be,
you know, all the information that you
would need to understand the city's
dredging program, permits, areas are
going to be dredged, timing. Um, so
we're really looking forward to
launching that. Um, once it's launched,
obviously, I'll let everybody know how
to get it'll be linked to the city's
website, but it'll be an excellent
resource for, um, you know, everyone
that's interested in this.
>> So, near future.
>> Yes. Yep.
>> Great. And also for Pat's benefit, I
know you put many hours trying to get
this website or the Zoom working. My
wife has texted me and said she can see
us. So, it is working. So, there you
are. Thank you very much. I know it's
been a long struggle. That's all I have.
Thank you, Scott. Pat,
>> good afternoon. Um, the brand works. We
started our 7day lead operation couple
weeks ago. The meter program meter
replace the program. We're at 75%
complete so far. We almost had 200 so
far this month alone this uh we had a
couple deals auction uh a couple weeks
ago and sold seven vehicles for a total
of 87,000 follow
>> good evening I'll keep it brief the
building department continues to stay
busy with permits inspections and
several commercial projects nearing
completion we've been working closely
with zoning public works and other city
departments and I appreciate appciate
the teamwork that helps keep projects
moving. I'd also like to thank our staff
and inspectors for all of their hard
work. And that concludes my report
tonight.
>> Okay. Thank you, Chief Henson.
>> Thank you, mayor, commissioners. First
of all, like to say the police
department is coming off another busy
twoe period. We're already seeing
midsummer call volume this early in the
season. So, postmemorial day, we we've
had a really a large uptick in calls for
service. Since June 4th, the police
department has responded to 1652 calls
for service. Various arrests for for
offenses including shoplifting,
trespassing, disorderly conduct, and
warrant arrest. 216 motor vehicle stops
have been conducted. 84 summones issued.
402 parking summones have been issued
since June 1st. So, we are in a busy
part of the season already. I'd like to
thank everyone that came out for the
elder abuse seminar on June 15th. A lot
of great information was provided by the
presenters and we hope if we could
prevent one person from being a victim
of fraud, then it was a success. So, it
was a great event. I know Steve was
there. I appreciate everybody that came
out. You'll also see on the agenda
there's ordinance 08 2026. This is an
ordinance that Commissioner Horn and I
talked about and worked on for a while,
and it's going to be effectively banning
ebikes on all city property. and that's
ebikes, motorized bikes, electric
scooters at all city properties. This
includes a Jerome Avenue baseball fields
and recreational facilities, school
playgrounds, and other city- owned
property. This is going to be in conjun
conjunction with the July 19th
moratorium on ebikes. And actually, the
state unveiled the procedures for ebike
licensing and registration this past
Tuesday. My recommendation is to go to
the website njmbbc.org
for the most up-to-date information. The
police department Facebook page also has
some most up-to-date information. I also
have some flyers out with information
about the ebikes. It's a little a little
confusing with less than 20 m an hour
just registered over 25 mph registered
insured. There's going to be a sticker
on the fork of the bicycle which might
be hard. So again, there's going to be a
lot of growing pains I can see already
from this. So again, to stay up to date
for all that as we are. Just another
reminder that paid parking regulations
are currently in effect until September
30th. To date, we have collected $16,977
in parking fees. A breakdown by zone
will be available at the end of the
month, kind of when the period closes,
so we'll know which parking lots which
revenue came from which parking lots.
So, it's uh we're moving along there.
And also, as we get into the summer
season, we're seeing an increase in car
burglaries. I say it at every meeting.
Almost all of these incidents involved
unlocked, unsecured motor vehicles. As
always, I say lock your cars, lock your
homes, put away your bikes. Again, a lot
of these are crimes of opportunity of
people walking by, grabbing a bike,
going in a car, seeing what's in it. As
I said, you know, just lock your door,
lock your house. We have a flyer we made
up. There's another flyer here for just
some safety tips for the summer. So,
again, please just lock your car, lock
your house. We can prevent probably 99%
if not 100% of the car burglaries and
motor vehicle thefts. We have one last
announcement. I know the city website
and we've been in touch with the MBA
that Beach Dock has been moved from
Saturday the 27th to Sunday the 28th. So
if you were planning to attend, just
everybody know because of weather,
inclement weather, it has been changed
until Sunday. That's all I have. Thank
you, Chief Pat.
>> Good evening. In addition to the
oversight of all the aforementioned
reports and assistance uh to those
department heads, um as proof of the
agenda, you'll see numerous contract
negotiations were completed. U
assembling of a capital fund um for the
capital projects and a capital ordinance
that's going to be out there tonight. Uh
discussions and presentations related to
healthc care costs, insurance, and uh
some personnel matters. Uh,
additionally, um, as per the
commissioner of revenue and finance, a
monthly, uh, financial report was
created. Um, I'll read that to everyone
right now,
um, as part of my report.
Um,
the current cash investments, current
fund will be 11,945,91357.
Capital fund 688,49055.
Water sewer fund 4,177,8210.
And our trust funds will be1,931
9,931,
$638. Um year interest earned current
fund will be $212,423.
Water sewer fund 28,908.
Um our revenue highlights the beach fees
year-to- date collected will be
$36,523.50.
Um it's a little bit of a decrease um
from last year. Actually pretty good
decrease from last year. It's a 5,70
previous year. for ambulance transport
year to year year-to- date collected be
155,49.
It's an increase of 57,755.
Construction fees year-to- date
collected was $75,986.50.
Um, again, it's an increase of almost
the entire entire amount because we
started last year with the third party.
Uh, recreation fees, $168,96527.
It's an increase of $12,000 and8 and
$80. Municipal court fees year to date
collected 17,944
a decrease of 13,249
from the previous year. the current
budget um the paid charges to the
current budget would be 21,000
I'm sorry 21 million65,911
leaves us with a balance of $21,599.71.
Our utility started off with 6,855,000
and we paid 2,634
uh 85 out of it. So, we've got
$4,220,914
left.
There was um
the summary budget accounts for
um the regular budget and utilities. Um
it's a an account, it's a report that
shows uh the percentages that are used,
um what was budgeted, what was spent. Um
everything is pretty much on track. Um
there's almost 200 categories and I
think I'd bore everybody if I went over
it. Um so I think at this point um if
there are any specific questions about
that, see me after the meeting, but the
reality of it is everybody is tracking
right on time. Um we're very close. Um
there were a couple questions I had um
because due to encumbering money and um
some other things that came up um
according to our CFO, none of it is
anything of of concern at this point.
Thank you.
Oh, one one last thing. Sorry. Um,
tonight we started off with the with the
new Zoom procedures. Um, it's going to
be they're going to have the ability to
raise their hand now off of Zoom and
actually appear on video and and make
comments during public comment. So, um,
tonight's kind of a trial run. Um,
wasn't really well announced and we
didn't really put the procedures in
place just yet. Um, so it's kind of like
a trial run at this point. If anybody is
online, they have a comment, they want
to raise their hand, um, our IT uh,
person, Mike Morris, will grab it and,
um, make it so that they can make a
public comment. So, thank you. That's
great. Thank you, Pat. Lisa,
>> uh, nothing to add from the city clerk's
office.
>> All right. Effective this Saturday, June
27th, all 12 Margate City beaches will
be guarded for the summer season.
>> Anything to add, Commissioner Blumbberg?
>> No.
>> All good.
>> All right. So, now we will open up
public comment. If anyone has any
comment on any of the items discussed
during this workshop meeting, uh, please
step forward.
Dennis Gornoski
for the information. I had sent an email
to our business administrator asking
about a finance report. I no one
responded except Mr. Blumbberg. So thank
you very much for that update since we
have not had one since February. If I
could ask um one thing is that could we
add the amount of the debt that we have
currently here in Margate to the report.
The other question I have as to Mr.
Dennis here um the since we now started
phase one and I've been asking this
question for the last two years. What's
the cost for phase one?
>> So the in the bond ordinance there's
$5.2 million for dredging.
>> For dredging,
>> correct?
>> But that's only phase one.
>> Yes. What do you predict for phase? How
many phases are we looking at? Two,
three, four.
>> We don't know yet. Um, it uh it could be
it could be I honestly can't answer that
question. I'm not going to speculate. So
>> So right now it's 5 million to do what
you're telling me is part of um Amherst
where the Lambertes to Washington
Bridge. The
>> No.
>> Okay. So phase one is from the Margate
Bridge to Orient Canal. That's the
majority of the project. There is a
small area that we're dredging waterward
of the of the Margate City Pier at
Washington Avenue. Um that's also
included in phase one. That's just a
small isolated area. The majority of the
project is from the bridge to Orient
Canal which is just around where Nassau
Avenue is.
>> Okay.
Thank you. So we don't just to say
something. I was told that we needed an
open public report for information for
financing, which I thought was kind of
ridiculous, but it finds out we don't
need that in the future. So, thank you
very much for that.
And just one thing to add on dredging
the uh the portion from Washington to
Kage Avenue, there is no other than what
is included in this phase one, there is
no city uh dredging. The city's not
responsible for any dredging there.
That's all private. So there are areas
again if when when Ed puts this website
together and and publishes the phases
and what does need to be dredged what's
private and what is the city everybody
will be able to see that the vast
majority of it will be done by private
uh bayfront homeowners and and
businesses. So
>> yep that's a great example of what I was
referring to. Yep.
>> Any other public comment on workshop?
Do we have anyone in Zoom with public
comment? like
>> no.
>> No. All right. Is there a motion to
close public comment for workshop?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumb?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes.
>> Is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn?
>> Yes.
>> All right. We will move forward with the
commission meeting momentarily.
Oh,
>> here.
>> 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 algiance to
the flag of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
Lisa, please take the role.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> here.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg,
>> I am here.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> here.
>> Is there a motion for the approval of
the June 4th, 2026 regular and workshop
meeting minutes?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> yes.
>> At this at this time, we'll open up
public comment for resolutions only. So,
if anyone has a comment on any of the
resolutions on today's agenda, I invite
you to step forward.
Mike, anyone online? No. Is there a
motion to close public comment on
resolutions?
>> 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 8-2026
and ordinance amending chapter 257
vehicles and traffic of the code of the
city of Margate City County of Atlantic
State of New Jersey. Motion
>> second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbber.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
May I have a motion for the introduction
of ordinance number 9-2026
an ordinance amending chapter 257
vehicles and traffic of the code of the
city of Margate city county of Atlantic
state of New Jersey.
>> Motion
>> second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes. May I have a motion for the
introduction of ordinance number 10-2026
an ordinance amending chapter 132 fees
of the code of the city of Margate city
county of Atlantic and state of New
Jersey.
>> Motion
>> second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes. May I have a motion for the
introduction of ordinance number 11-2026
bond ordinance appropriating 7,169,500
and authorizing the issuance of $6
million81,25
in bonds and notes of the city of
Margate city for various capital
improvements or purposes authorized to
be undertaken by the city of Margate
city in the county of Atlantic, New
Jersey.
>> Motion
>> second.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> yes. May I have a motion for the
introduction of ordinance number 12-2026
bond ordinance appropriating 5,580,000
and authorizing the issuance of
$5,580,000
in bonds and notes of the city of
Margate City for various capital
improvements or purposes authorized to
be undertaken by the city of Margate
City in the county of Atlantic, New
Jersey. Motion
>> second.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> yes. May I have a motion for the
introduction of ordinance number 13-2026
bond ordinance providing for various
water and sewer utility capital
improvements in and by the city of
Margate city in the county of Atlantic
New Jersey appropriating $2,622,500
therefore and authorizing the issuance
of $2,622,500
bonds or notes of the city for financing
the cost thereof. Motion
>> second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> May I have a motion for resolution
number 139 2026 authorizing bill payment
and claims.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes. May I have a motion for resolution
number 140-2026
resolution authorizing the issuance of
an amount not to exceed
15,200,000
in aggregate principal amount of bond
anticipation notes of the city of
Margate in the county of Atlantic state
of New Jersey to pay the costs of
various capital improvements and water
sewer utility improvements and making
certain authoriz authorizations,
determinations, and covenants in
connection with the foregoing.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> yes.
May I have a motion to amend the agenda
to include resolutions number
164-20265-2026
and 166206
which were added to the agenda and
posted on the municipal website as an
update on June 24th, 2025.
>> 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 1412026
through resolution 166-2026.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbber.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Warren.
>> Yes.
>> Thank you, Lisa. Uh we will now open up
public comment. If anyone has any any
comment on any topic at all, please step
forward.
Donatasa 301 North Claremont Avenue. I'd
just like to know if there was any
progress with the speed control on
Amherst Street.
>> I have a speed report for you. I'll be
happy to give you
>> Okay. Also, was any did anything happen
on from last Friday night at 1:20 a.m.
in the morning when myself cuz I caught
it on Ring camera and Dennis who called
the police first. We called the perpetr
we saw the perpetrators who were
breaking into the car as they ran right
across. They were walking nonchilantly
right across my uh garage and my front
door. I had them on camera and gave them
to the police department.
I can I I do this for you. I can let him
I'll give you update on the incident.
>> Okay. Because we h you know if they
pursued it, they might have caught them
because they're they have to be parking
a car on Clarin or Winchester.
They're they're breaking into the cars
on Art Rock and then going uh across my
lawn and down Amherst and down Clarin.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Donna.
Dennis Gornoski, 7702 Amherst Avenue,
Mark Gates City. Uh, just a question.
Um, when we close a street for building
purposes like pouring cement or
whatever,
do come who does that? Who authorizes
the street closing? is the police
department
zoning or whatever.
>> So, it's a conjunction. The the
engineer, you know, working on the
project, they consult with police zone.
>> But if it's a house, I'm I'm saying like
a house. It's being built on a block.
The only reason I'm asking it, this is
the second time on our block where they
were doing construction like pouring
cement this time on a Thursday.
It's our trash collection day and
they're not able to get down the street.
So, we have to call the builder to tell
his builders, you know, his um workers
out there to open up the streets so we
can get trash trucks down there and
recycle.
So, I don't know whoever coordinates
that would know that, you know, pickups
on Thursday. You won't schedule pouring
of cement on a Thursday.
>> Yeah. So, that would be different. What
I was referring to is if the city was
running a project like the
reconstruction of a home. So the home
the homeowners and builders um you know
they would be required to reach out to
the city and the police department.
>> Okay. I'm not so sure that they do. Uh
but okay. I'm just saying this is the
second time because I called the first
time the builder's given me his number
where I can call him. It's just a
problem on Thursdays. From what I was
told the second time he was given the
authorization by the city. So, I'm just
asking what the procedure is on that
one. Okay. Um, and that's it. Thank you
very much.
>> Thank you, Dennis.
>> All right. My name is Barry Sherman. I
live at 9510 Amherst Avenue in the
Margate Mariner. Um, I've lived in
Margate for 20 years and there's always
been a lot of bars on Amherst Avenue.
how it is. But they've always been
respectful. Um the two every bar on
especially Memories they allow way too
many people to go into the bar. There's
only supposed to be an occupancy. I
think it was 200 people. But I'm not
100% sure of occupancy. But you know
that when you can't walk in the place,
you can't even move because my friend my
friend has a band and we went to hear
him and you can't even move. There's
more people than are supposed to be in
there. They leave the doors and the
window is open and you can't even sit on
your porch because the noise is so
intense. The band is the music, the DJ
is just way too loud. On top of which
the hundreds of kids and I mean kids are
hanging out on the corner and you can't
even walk through. It's a destruction of
our privacy and our peace of mind. You
just can't live like that. It's wrong.
You also need speed bumps on on Amherst,
at least the temporary ones. People come
up flying up that street 45, 55 miles an
hour. I drive that street every single
day at 25 m hour. It's pretty quick at
times because there's so many kids on
that street because of the the the water
park and there's all these other
attractions that the kids come to and
they can't walk across the street
because people are flying up and down
the street. I need a cop to come around
once in a while just to check and break
up them big mobs on the corner. There
there shouldn't be a 100 people standing
on the street corner. It's just not
right. It's wrong. Go to walk your dog,
you can't even walk the dog. You can't
walk your kids. It's a shame. Thank you
very much.
>> Thank you, Barry.
>> Good. Good evening everybody. Um, my
name is Joe Welkey. Um, here today um,
regarding a pool installation on Mammoth
Avenue. Um, pardon my notes. There's
just some specific dates in here that I
want to reference in my letter. Um, I
understand that the city has an
ordinance restricting pool installations
from June 15th to September 15th. Um,
and I understand the reason behind that
ordinance is to limit disruption,
debris, um, impacting neighboring
properties, runoff, um, and a few other
items.
In our case, our permit was mailed and
submitted on March 20th, 2026, so nearly
3 months before the ordinance comes into
play. We submitted it early specifically
to avoid this issue and to make sure the
work could be handled in a timely
manner. The first response we received
was on April 8th, which is 18 days
later, notifying us that zoning denied
the application because the pool
equipment was not shown on the
architectural plans. After further
review, the pool equipment was on the
architectural plans. We responded back
highlighting where the where it was
located on those plans and re and
replied back to the thread.
On May 21st, we received another denial
letter because the building inspector
said the size of the pool was missing
even though the size of the pool was
shown on the survey that zoning had
approved previously. Again, we worked to
address the item quickly, responded
respectfully, and let them know and
pointed out where it was located.
We're not trying to come in late now
asking, "Hey, we didn't know about this
ordinance and we're looking to put in a
pool." We started this process 3 months
earlier. Um the repeated review process
and even some of those items being, you
know, already presented wasted two to
three weeks. We were hearing back in
time, which ate up a lot of our
timeline. Um we spoke to both adjoining
neighbors. Um I actually lived in the
house. I bought it last year and I lived
in it first with my family, my grandma,
my brothers. We're from Trenton, New
Jersey. We've actually never been to
Margate. So, I moved to Vorhees, looked
for a new beach town and chose Margate
because a lot of my neighbors in Vorhees
lived here. Um, so prior to knocking
down the house, we got really close with
the neighbors. We spoke with them. Um, I
have a letter signed by both those
neighbors saying that they are okay with
the pool installation taking place. We
confirmed with the pool company today
that they could start on June 29th and
that it would be a two-eek window. Um,
and we are willing to abide by any rules
and regulations around cleanup
timelines, restricted days to work or
hours to make sure that we could keep
the process going while still doing it
in a timely manner and reducing as much
of, you know, the noise um, the dirt,
the debris as possible just to keep the
project moving. Um we just finished up
framing, plumbing and inst and
electricity got approved on Tuesday. So
we're just at the point of um
installation which is happening this
week and that inspection scheduled for
Tuesday and then we'll be at drywall and
really getting ready to complete the
project. Um so we're here today to
reconsider the opportunity to allow us
to do it and again do it in a timely
manner with any needs that you guys
request us to do to make sure we remain
compliant.
>> Thank you Joe. Um, I do know I mean an
email came across all of our desks. I
know Commissioner Blumberg had had
handled that within his departments. My
recommendation, I'm sure they have your
contact information. My recommendation
would be that Pat reach out to you,
maybe explain and, you know, take take
further um action within those those
things. That wouldn't be a governing
body decision. It would be done within
those departments. So, okay.
>> Um, so I don't know if you want to give
your number to Pat or do we do we have
Joe's number on file by any chance?
>> You don't really email it. So also
>> I thank you. Thank you, Joe.
>> Do we have any other public comment?
>> Is there any online public? No. Is there
a motion to close public comment?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Warren?
>> Yes.
May I have a motion for resolution
number 167-2026
declaring close session?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> Can we just state what the purpose of
that is?
>> Scott.
>> Pat, will you uh
>> or Pat?
>> Purpose of the closed session?
>> We just passed the motion for close
session. Can you
>> go into close session? We have some one
of the insurance representatives here. I
see them sitting in the back row. It's
part of negotiations for uh health
insurance benefits and I think they
should present it to you in a closed
session because it is a part of the
negotiation process.
>> Okay.
>> So, at this point, we would ask uh the
public to leave the room. When we
conclude the closed session, if anyone's
still around, we will invite you back
for uh for the end.
Thank you everybody for coming.
>> We're good. Okay. So, we're going to
make a motion to come out of close
session. We just had a review with an
insurance consultant who presented a uh
possible alternate insurance health
insurance plan. Um and there's really no
action to be taken at this time. The
elected officials will consider it.
That's it. Okay.
Is there a motion to come out of close
session?
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Um,
Mayor Collins,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Horn,
>> yes.
>> Is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> Yes.
>> Motion.
>> Second.
>> Mayor Collins.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Blumbberg.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Horn.
>> Yes.
>> All right. Thank you everybody. Have a
great night. She wants
>> What do you