Somers Point Special City Council Meeting

hello
what's this uh package
oh my
I wish I was a speed reader
I wish I was just a speed reader
yeah
speed reader yeah
that's true too
I repeat everything
I don't remember always
is
Wayne
what is this um
yes please
excited
all right
okay
that sounds like somebody keeps stealing
my chair
um did you sleep in those clothes yes
you want to watch
foreign
um
vacation coming up right
he's going to Virginia
never actually better than I expected
my work with my working you know
my my two sons my two daughter-in-laws
and myself
yeah
right now so I just gotta make sure she
just
yeah
which one are we pulling
um
wow
I have some readers
and
Android
okay yeah
three minutes
yes
foreign
[Music]
it was upside down
except for the fact that you've got my
agenda
which is not good
not much
foreign
take your house
dot award
sure
I just think they targeted yeah some
people are have
discourage us from voting for it yeah
it's fine with me
I don't really care
that I've increased taxes in February
March
yeah
let's go let's go over there
yeah
I'm sure okay
when it's red
um
welcome everyone this meeting is called
to order
please rise for the flag salute
before we start I just want to ask how
is our sound system tonight does it
sound any better we did have repairs
done
okay yeah okay thank you finally
thank you
uh may I have a roll call please
here council member McCary here
councilmember mcquigan here council
member Jill here council president
Johnston here
um also with us tonight is uh mayor
Glasser administrator Frost city clerk
Samuelson city solicitor Smith and city
engineer Schneider
pursuing to the open public meetings act
adequate notice of this meeting has been
provided the agenda for this meeting is
posted in City Hall and on City on the
city's website summerspointgov.org
resolution number 186 we're going to
pull that resolution for tonight that is
a duplicate resolution put on there in
error so number 186 will be pulled
motion
focused I have to
to open for public comment for
resolution number 181 only
I'll make a motion second
all in favor all right any opposed we
are now open for public comment on
resolution
number 181.
resolution number 181 and 2023
congratulating winners of the pride in
the point Garden Club contest whereas
the Somers Point Green Thumb card Garden
Club has been an institution in the city
for over 70 years providing various
Landscaping activities and ideas for
many members of the Community Helping to
increase the awareness of the
Horticultural arts and encouraging
homeowners to continue to beautify their
homes and whereas the holder Garden
contest each year known as pride in the
point and whereas this year's winners of
the contest are as follows best large
flower garden Donna Moore best medium
flower garden Larry Lemieux best large
flower garden
most enthusiastic Gardener azanda Laboy
best pollinator Garden George Wilson
best vegetable garden Josh stroker best
container window box Mary Kate McKenna
best members only Garden Mary Sue Lovett
now therefore be resolved at the city
council the city Summers Point hereby
congratulate the above listed winners
and thanks them for an interview
community and participating in the
contest also be it resolved at the city
council the city Somers Point hereby
conveys their gratitude to the Somers
Point Green Thumb Garden Club for their
continuing to have a positive impact in
the community
we're now open for public comment on
resolution number 181 only if you wish
to speak please step forward and state
your name and address for the record
may I have a motion to close I'll make
that motion second all in favor all
right any opposed
we're now closed for public comment may
I have a motion for resolution number
181. I'll make that motion second
any comments
yes I just wish to uh first off thank
the Green Thumb Garden Club uh an
organization that's been around uh I
don't know gonna miss the years or over
70 years or so so uh and they're still
going rather strong and and I appreciate
all the winners as well as anybody that
participated in this contest and uh you
know
I like the garden but the weeds just
keep overtaking me so I I can appreciate
all the hard work and is appreciated
when you see people taking pride in
their home and and it it becomes uh
infectious throughout the town and uh
again uh congratulations to those
winners and I appreciate that I would
just like to give a special shout out to
dear friend of mine who won the best
large flower garden and Donna Moore and
she's promised to give a little
acceptance speech after if we if we get
enough votes
we'll get back to that
I'm just gonna add one more thing it is
Thomas 50th anniversary tonight and
she's here so congratulations oh well
hey look you're here give us a happy
anniversary
um
I just want to add so much to that
Christopher green always does such an
eloquent job with uh with speaking but
the Garden Club has been so much for
this town and what they do every year
and come back and it means so much and
it's so much better for the town so
thank you all for all your hard work and
what you've done and uh thank you for
all your work you've done in the many
committees that you serve once so but
thank you
okay
um all in favor all right all right any
opposed resolution resolution number 181
is adopted
uh you ready mayor let's go okay
father recipients want to just come
forward for a little photo app
and the mayor will present you with your
congratulations
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anybody else
thank you
yet
um
yeah thank you
[Music]
I'd also like to thank Joe Moore
okay uh moving on does anyone have any
Communications to offer
I have several pieces of uh to
communication
the first is a letter from Walt Gregory
of the Somers Point licensed beverage
Association
dear council president Johnston and all
Council Representatives I'm writing to
inform you that the Somers Point
licensed beverage Association is
strongly opposed to cannabis retail and
distribution stores in Somers Point
there are the points concerning our
position
one the police have no tests except
blood to determine cannabis use and
liability of accidents two the easy
access to cannabis leads to increase
probability of mixing alcohol and
cannabis which increases the liability
exposure for licensed businesses I.E if
a customer consumes a moderate amount of
alcohol then further impairs or driving
ability by taking cannabis the alcohol
is the only easy to easily detectable
product we recognize this could even
this could happen even if a canvas store
is not in Somers Point but we expected
easy access within the town's borders
would increase the probability number
three Insurance costs will rise for
licensed beverage businesses but not
necessarily for cannabis retailers
especially since there is unlikely that
they will have exposure
applying for a license in New Jersey
applicants do not even need to secure
liability insurance policy prior to
obtaining a final license from the
commission therefore the possibility of
the Cannabis increasing the liability
exposure hence liability insurance
expense to Bar owners is great it is
problem number four it is probable that
the black market sales will increase
because the lower cost and no legal risk
to end users number five Revenue numbers
don't add up proponents say the city
will receive four hundred thousand
dollars annually using those examples of
two percent tax revenue one million
dollar sales equals twenty thousand five
million dollar sales equals one hundred
thousand twenty million dollar sales
equals four hundred thousand for an
outlet to make twenty thousand well
excuse me 20 million a year open five
days eight hours it would bring in nine
thousand six hundred fifteen dollars per
hour every hour for the 40 Hour Week
number six there are already three
outlets in neighboring towns with more
expected those in need of medical
marijuana or those seeking it simply for
recreational use don't have to drive
very far you don't need to make it even
more convenient at the exposure of our
account number seven number seven it is
our personal belief that cannabis is a
great way gateway to more extensive and
dangerous drug use
number eight the hospital is against it
number nine the police are against it
number ten most City citizens that own
property in town don't want this number
11 it is against federal law and
therefore marijuana businesses cannot
get major bank loans we have to question
where their Capital comes from sincerely
what Gregory
splba president
I received a uh a letter in my mailbox
today from uh Summers Point Community
First a volunteer organization of
concerned citizens who live and work in
Somers Point to dress to all members of
city council and copy to our state
senator and assembly team as well as our
County Executive County Commissioner
Maureen Kern and our city solicitor
Point City Council we the members of
Somers Point Community First are opposed
to Camp cannabis retail and distribution
sites in Somers points we support our
police chief 100 in his opposition to
the proposed legislation any promised
revenue for the city would quickly be
expended and increase police efforts to
try to maintain control as the town
quickly unravels into a regional mecca
for users drivers on the influence of
marijuana increase a thousand fold not
to mention policing partygoers and those
on the street who get out of hand the
city the city of Cinemas point stands to
lose in every way financially
economically and morally real estate
values would quickly be impacted as
Somers Point becomes samiville
we agree that this legislation is one of
the most important in history of Summers
point that this legislation passed many
years to come it would be a case of the
last one out turn out the lights over
the years we have been proud to see
Summers Point prosper and become the
place to be for family fun and
entertainment allowing cannabis retail
and distribution would be a big mistake
for the future of the city a decision of
no return we are fully opposed to the
proposed cannabis retail and
distribution we believe that the good
good residents of Somers Point
overwhately agree at your next council
meeting on Thursday August 24th at 7 pm
we urge you to vote no to cannabis
retail and distribution
I have a letter from a private citizen
Lois hirschman
Wednesday August 2nd 2023. Fogo you
don't seem to be specifically named I
assume you are one of the five who
supported ordinance
19-2023 allowing for cannabis retail and
distribution to open Somers Point I
respectfully ask that you reconsider
this position at least until further
investigation Implement of its benefits
can be determined the following
organizations has broke out against it
the police chief has broken against the
ordinance for a multitude of reasons in
a letter dated at the Led at the council
meeting of July 27th the Somers Point
Business Association has raised concerns
and cannot support candidates to stores
opening and operating Somers Point at
this time Facebook posts of August 11th
and 18. Summers Point Community First is
opposed to cannabis retail and
distribution in our Fair City Facebook
post of August 9th and 18th has recorded
further study has stated in a sentinel
article the fact that these very
important organizations are in favor
cannabis businesses existing in Somers
Point tell me they recognize the great
potential for negative consequences I
was recently in a state that has these
type of businesses and a strong order
could be detected coming out of their
doors as I walk by is this really what
we want our school children or our
public exposed to as they walk around
town it is also my belief that the need
for additional policing monitoring and
training and its additional costs and
the clientele will bring to my lovely
small town by the bay are just a few of
the potential problems it will cause our
revenue from such a business could be a
benefit to Somers Point I guess that you
look at true numbers I am in agreement
with councilman dill and questioning
Revenue projections even if the city can
collect two percent on retail and one
percent on distribution when businesses
have to bring in a great deal of revenue
for the city to gain enough to make
really make it a difference and dividing
that amount by the number of taxpayers I
calculated my taxes would drop by a very
small amount cannabis and its products
may be popular but it is unrealistic to
think the city will gain that much
income from the kind of small businesses
choice is good and bad have consequences
until you can prove to me and the
citizens of this city the Cannabis
retail and distribution is truly a good
choice
I ask you to change your position about
no for moving forward with ordinance
19-2023 and that's all I have thank you
madam president thank you
uh Mr Mayor yes yes
good evening
listening very intently to uh
the greater than his health so
um just a few things
first of all October 21st is going to be
a very big day for Summers point and I
want to first thank Shore Medical Center
for allowing not only the horsepower by
the bay but Trunk or Treat to be on
their property at Bay and harbor David
thank you appreciate that you know
you've been a great partner with us and
collably properties when many times we
use and again the horsepower by the
Banks when we know it was a great course
Show Portland right on historical
society and uh it brings in you know all
the core enthusiastics enthusiasts from
the area so uh come on down there'll be
from 10 to 10 from four to six I will
have Trunk or Treat which is a great
thing for Summers Point uh kitties get
out and get some candy in a safe
environment but then you know even
though there is have trick or treat
obviously on the 31st about October but
we have a safe environment there where
we're allowed to walk and go to cars and
we have different uh organizations set
up so it's very great for the city
um a veterans advisory committee will be
meeting we're trying to set it up first
first two weeks of September because we
are looking at two events will become of
course Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor day
so
um another thing I had a conversation
with Chief Mike Sweeney from the City
chief of the fire department uh on
September 11th there will be a uh 9 11
service at Patriots park at eight
o'clock so he'll be reaching out to uh
of course City Clerk and where the
agencies that need contact that
a few weeks ago myself
as a council president and Bishop Dale
which make up the Public Safety
Committee met with our counterparts and
they call the township one with a good
City administrator Mr Frost
to discuss uh first the biggest thing is
uh opening up by a lot with them because
they've had a lot of changes over there
we have a new city administrator they
have a new Rescue Squad Chief and the
chief who's been brand new one in the
last say six months to a year so I
wanted to sit down but we're just going
to talk about the Russia Squad and the
problems we've had Etc they are
promising us to try to have an English
stationed here and add or correct me if
I'm on anything here at City Hall
they've been pretty much up on that and
they've been a good partner so far I
know there's always problems because
with any type of emergency response when
you have multiple incidents going on you
have to reach out to other jurisdictions
for Mutual Aid to bring them in to cover
your city and cover your responses so
they are willing to work with it I think
the three of us got a great
um feeling for them new Chief is Chief
Chris Benoit who is the chief in Pearson
City Fire Department and has a long long
history
we've seen uh
Medical Response so we're looking
forward to that I'm working further with
them and the last thing
um or a good city solicitor asked me to
read this letter
um so the city of Summer's point was
awarded the New Jersey Department of
Transportation that's njdot fiscal year
2023 Safe Streets to Transit programs
for Somers Point City Shore Road
pedestrian improvements in a man of
861
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000 it's a lot of change
um the njdot is committed to principles
to promote Safe Streets to Transit a
program utilizes Transportation trust
fund buyers to improve safety and
accessibility for restrooms and ordered
riders in the vicinity of Transit
facilities These funds serve to Reeds
Transportation initiatives without
burdening local property taxpayers the
city of Summers Point Elena County are
seeking public input at a forum
scheduled for September 14
2023 at six o'clock P.M to be here held
here at city council chambers
um is anticipated that this room should
last an hour and would provide the
public with an opportunity to have a
dialogue with the city and county
leadership and professionals regarding
the perspective this prospective project
the new of funds for pedestrian
improvements along Shore Road
I first of all I'm going to thank our
city engineer Greg Schneider and our
city administrator Jason Force are
working so strongly to move us along and
get us that morning that's a lot of
money that the city will run out to dish
it out and to pay that we're getting
from the state so thank you and with
that council president that's all I have
tonight
thank you
Mr Frost uh good evening
um nothing to report other than I do
want to follow up with uh the mayor's
comment about the Public Safety
Committee um Mr brunick was in today
meeting with uh please Chief myself to
discuss some of the scheduling and
logistical challenges that we talked
about at that meeting so we are
continuing that dialogue and moving in a
positive direction it seems right thank
you
Mr Smith
yes thank you
um you all have in your passion for
tonight
a memorandum from the planning board
why don't you move your microphone up
since they work now
[Music]
I know I know it is
yeah and not all of you have seen it the
part of the last couple of days
there is nothing on the agenda tonight
relative to ordinance
[Music]
during your future the reason is that
the uh
this one's it's about as loud as it's
going to get as far just put the
microphone up a little bit they are
working this maybe it'll be better thank
you you are so stupid now and
the basis for their opposition on this
uh that the uh
ordinance number 19 was not consistent
with the city's master plan
could have given us a little bit more
input
it says many comments or recommendations
made by the board of large ordinance
number
and I included 7 News just not not all
the following uh one canvas sales not
feasible through dying between Groveland
and Pennsylvania Avenue
I should have been
deleted two traffic impact studies
three parking requirements should we do
um
uh but
it was determining
board we could actually make any
applications
uh consider limiting cannabis businesses
to Outer areas traffic
question
by noting that it's included the
following left with asking what else
were they also discussing
I'm not really sure and that's something
we could follow along
um
it indicated additional analysis should
be performed for adoption again
wide open area so I just wanted to
report to counselor but at this point I
don't know
how
consider the ordinance
in violation of our master plan based
upon my life
zoning applications being made for other
properties
yeah I just wanted
just say
um I I agree that we cannot move forward
with this uh just the fact that
with the planning board's opinion and
also all the other information that has
come to light in the past month all of
our professionals have and our
organizations have stepped forward and
given us a lot of input as well as
residents so um I I don't I agree that
we can't move forward with this way
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okay I'm going to read I'll read this
this is from the planning board I'm just
going to read what their conclusion was
uh cannabis sales not feasible for Route
9 between Groveland Avenue and
Pennsylvania Avenue this area should be
deleted from the proposed sales area a
traffic impact study should be conducted
to see how many how the retail location
will potentially impact traffic parking
requirements should be reviewed to
ensure that a significant minimum
parking space requirement is included in
ordinance number 19.
consider limiting cannabis businesses to
Outer areas of the city to avoid traffic
congestion and in conclusion the board
has found that the proposed ordinance
number 19 is not consistent with the
city's master plan and additional
analysis should be performed before
adoption
foreign
I may ask a procedural question we have
an ordinance that's been introduced
well yeah I'd like to throw you a
softball every once in a while so
and it was and it was introduced you
know voted on by a majority of the
council and now the council is not
interested
so what we did
procedure to kill this off
you and I have this debate
last year relative to an issue planning
board yes and sending down matters to
the planning board and I took the
position that uh did one of our prior
Solutions
resolution and you're setting down an
ordinance for reviewing consideration
um
you relied upon another
entire cities from a certainly was not
important by the city line for the
contrary to the events
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statutes and it's not really quite clear
so yes we have an ordinance out of first
reading it was introduced uh
it would not be the first time
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do nothing
procedurally this Council to
specifically take a vote at the table
that uh but it was never advertised for
second reading so that was a difference
between why I believe the resolution
first sure and it comes back you get a
first reading you know where you ride
wasting the time of
counselor looking at something
I mean the second reading that you're
going to make amendments to that then
become a postponement and get
re-advertised for another date so
the answer is uh
procedurally
you could do nothing
to payroll
[Music]
I would just can I just say as president
of council I have no intention of
putting this back on the agenda so is
that enough to
can't vote it's not only it's it has to
be advertised in order for us to vote on
it so we can't vote on it but
like we do a straw boot does anybody
have any objection to us
does anybody want to keep beating this
to death
no no well it certainly this is a
softball question uh if nothing were to
be done it it would die uh in the first
of the year because return reorganizing
you recall that what had happened before
with uh
um
[Music]
waiting from August through December
like procedure we thought that we ought
to have a resolution yeah acknowledging
that we never got a full response I
don't think that's the case here we
definitely got a definitive response so
I I respectfully disagree because I
didn't want to tell you I don't know
what
my job as a lawyer is to read something
the latest Rick and
and I'll say
the comments and recommendations
included
now if you've just taken me the d off of
it would include that would have meant
there that's it that's all they were
discussing I don't know if they
discussed any difference
well the paragraph that says that it
it's not consistent with our City's
master plan how can we even move forward
with it based on that that's what I had
indicate I felt that that was uh
yeah I believe the uh
but I like I believe that it would be
Reckless and passion
right
okay I think that you know
returning okay so why can I do a
strawberry does anybody have anything Mr
Smith one question if if and when I
would assume this Council will or the
committee will amend a ordinance as it
exists right now uh well that amended
part or the entire world is go back to
the planning board again for a review or
would it just an action of the council
yeah
what do you required under the law to do
is to review
the
issues addressed by the planning board
you either agree or you disagree so here
if you agree you're voting it down and
that's not simply the degree it's not
consistent with the master plan that's
really to change it and say we disagree
you have to set forth in the garage now
and
I think that's more of an expert
analysis from
an engineer or a planner office to come
forward with
whether it does or does not fit the
master plan and why we do that override
the planning board's determination
so your question is
if we came back with changes I would say
you'd have to be submit it back to the
planning board that's the whole intent
of this
right
okay Madam president
yes I would just like to say that the
Cannabis committee has worked on this
for some time and now seems like it was
in vain
um as far as as far as I'm concerned
it's not going to be brought back to put
be put on any agenda anytime soon as far
as I'm concerned if the residents don't
want it I don't want it so it's a dead
issue as far as I'm concerned
if no one disagrees with that can we
move forward and
if uh because if we didn't do anything
before the end of the year
you have to reintroduce it again anyway
I would certainly hope that the uh this
Council would not bring it back before
the end of the year uh because it could
appear I'm not saying it is but it could
appear that we brought it back
after the first Tuesday in November it
would be political rather than uh
circumstantial based on the uh the
policies and the decisions that have
been made on this uh this ordinance so
uh I just hope that
this Castle does not bring it back and
uh I would hope that uh this would be
the final nail in the coffin and it we
just let this ordinance go and be done
with it there's too many organizations
that are opposed to this uh there are
members the council that are opposed to
it now there's a member of the committee
who feels that it should be uh the
ordinance should be done away with them
if I'm interpreting it correctly here we
are and I think that uh
I just I just think that just the people
out here that have come out I would say
that 99 of the people that are sitting
in this audience are opposed to it and
uh how can we uh how can we say their
feelings or these various organizations
in the city's feelings don't count I
think it should be a debt issue and be
over and done with for the city of
Somers Point thank you
okay
can we move on it's a done issue thank
you
okay Mr Schneider oh yes I just wanted
to add a few uh more some more
information about the meeting that uh
mayor Glasser talked about
um September 14th six o'clock about the
proposed pedestrian improvements we're
looking from input from the public on
how to spend the grant money this is all
that money has to be spent along Shore
Avenue for pedestrian improvements it's
going to be an informal meeting
officials from the county are also going
to be there because it is a county road
so anything that the city proposes is
going to have to be approved by the
county first
um
since it is informal there's going to be
comment cards and poster boards where
people can you know Circle areas that
they have concerns about
and talk with officials from the county
or myself but uh I just want everybody
to know it's not an official meeting
where you have to come up and state your
name so it's very informal so don't be
afraid to come to the meeting
if I could just add to that that
um
Mr Snyder and the county has been
working on this for several months we've
met several times with the county and
there are engineers and um I think
there's a lot of really good ideas on
the plan that we have right now and but
of course we and we're open to any other
suggestions and this would be the time
to make those suggestions
it'll be a mass Improvement to Shore
Road so uh
anything else uh just the uh the bike
path enhancements project is complete
the Department of Transportation is
coming out tomorrow doing final
inspection
that's it thank you great thank you
anyone have any committee reports Madam
president the Somers Point Arts
commission is having a photography
exhibit reception next Tuesday August
29th from 5 30 to 7 in The Shore
Memorial
The Shore Medical Center on the second
floor of the surgical Tower
and there are also still working toward
a talent by the bay showcase October
15th and it's it'll be the hopefully the
first of many but the um having trouble
with like it's not on the Somers Point
calendar they want to have it on the
calendar
we had a request
for a parking permit in front of
uh 43 East New Jersey Avenue the parking
committee met and it's recommending that
we do not issue
this parking permit
um
it's for residents it does not have all
street parking but we didn't want to set
a precedence and have to
give a parking permit for everyone that
does not have
off street parking
it's been mad present yes the Somers
Point Historical Society they uh once
again this is the second year they're
going to be sponsoring The Good Old Days
festival coming up September 9th which
is a good thing as well as uh sharing
part of the park with the uh the Arts
Commission because they uh they I guess
they got rained out on the park
this past summer and uh combined which
is going to be a really good event
also they're going to have the summer
the historical society's going to have
Grace Kelly movie coming up uh third
Friday of the month in September
thank you
no other committee reports
okay council president yes uh being
sitters a large number of people in the
audience or on the audience that more
than likely want to speak and rather to
go through this lengthy uh
calendar of events and ordinances and
things of that nature would it be
possible for uh just to open the meeting
up to discuss
cannabis or discuss anything uh and make
sure that it's short term so that we can
so these people don't have to sit here
all night waiting for the open public
portion of the meeting
have any problem doing that my only
hesitation with doing that is is that I
was asked by several people what time
they thought the Public Presentation
would be and I wouldn't want it
doesn't mean it wouldn't be a second
opportunity they could still do it at
the public portion again I uh I just I
just feel that these people came out and
wanted to wanted to speak they should at
least have the opportunity to speak
without having to sitting maybe for
another half hour or 45 minutes
no I agree with Mr Bill does anybody
have any objections I have a mission to
open for public comments
yeah if we could please open the public
comment for just the Cannabis issue and
we'll have another session towards the
end after we get through the resolutions
for any other comments three minutes and
also please
um just so everybody does get an
opportunity to speak the ordinances that
uh each one each person can speak one
time and not exceed three minutes so
we'd appreciate if you'd respect that as
well
so um we're now open for public comment
on the issue of cannabis only please
state your name and address for the
record
mayor and Council mayor and Council Rich
Croft
um I attended the meeting last week at
the planning board and as I saw it was a
completely
101 blue Meadow Lane
Winslow Township New Jersey Richard
Croft c-r-o-f-t
IE but anyway but anyway I was at the
meeting
most the members here were not
councilman mcguigan was in the audience
of course the mayor who's on the counts
on the planning board and councilman
bill was there but it was a complete
shambles the professional planner said
you know the Cannabis is consistent with
the master plan everybody not everybody
some of the members disregarded that
even though the solicitor had said this
is not a meeting to approve or
disapprove cannabis however the members
took it or some of the members did at
least five of them said you know we're
going to vote no to cannabis and for
whatever reason I don't know why they
would go against the planner when he
said it was completely consistent with
the master plan so you can take that for
what you know whatever but it was kind
of railroad to just you know cut the
legs off everything so that this council
could not have a second reading
and obviously obviously everybody we're
getting towards November whoever's up
for election they don't want to cause
any waves I'm sure they want to get
reelected so I think it's a bad thing
that the town's doing it's a you know it
generates Revenue you guys have been
spending this whole year proving that it
does make sense
but you know unfortunately the planning
board chop your legs off and now you
know it looks like a no which is fine I
mean there's other places in this state
to uh you know get licenses but it's a
shame because the town could use the
revenue everybody comes here to every
meeting and says why do they why do we
raise property taxes you know because
costs go up there was a revenue
generator with cannabis but nobody wants
to stand up anymore and say this is the
direction we should take
thank you thank you
thank you yes uh Ed O'Donnell 21
MacArthur Boulevard
I am from Delaware on Easter Sunday in a
Catholic Church in Ocean City I saw the
governor of Delaware John Carney he had
recently recently vetoed a bill
to make marijuana illegal
in uh I mean legal in Delaware and I uh
he played football Dartmouth and I said
John marijuana destroys the body and the
mind I want to really thank you for that
veto and then 10 days later he signed a
bill making allowing marijuana to be
legal in Delaware so I guess my comment
didn't do too much good but marijuana
does destroy the body and the mind
cannabis whatever you want to call it
all drugs do a lot of these shootings
stabbings fightings in Philadelphia
these big cities these people are on
drugs so I want to thank you for uh you
know working against this and a lot of
this violence
anti-social behavior problems in the
world it's drugs I'm telling you if you
get people to practice healthy lifestyle
Lifestyles people will get along with
each other with each other much better
so I I think you're right to not
have it thank you thank you
good evening everyone
my name is Elizabeth um and I live on
Wisteria walk in Somers Point and I had
already spoken with mayor Glasser I
think it was last week
the reason I'm against the Cannabis
sales in Somers Point is the safety
um we sell alcohol we have many
restaurants in different venues
our standing as as a diamond in the
rough you'll start to have a downward
slide let's face it everybody I talked
to says oh you live in Somerset Point
that's great you know that it's so
expensive in Ocean City I know but
anyway
not only that
um you have to watch the people driving
they're going to leave wherever this
place is depending where you want to put
this in town and let's face it there are
places in town that would attract more
problems if it were that close
um also
sit in regards to the tax that it would
bring I don't really believe also the
taxes would it would bring in that much
of an increase in any kind of revenues
um let's put it this way
all the medical groups that we have in
town all of them
sure with all their Holdings and
properties pen or occupying this uh all
these different buildings that have been
built
I understand that this is considered a
not-for-profit I would like to know does
Penn pay sure rent or some kind of taxes
to use their facilities to do all these
medical facilities that are cropping up
in the town left right and center and
it's ridiculous I know that this has
been since what 1942 but since 1942 too
many things have changed and we need to
have revenue from the Medicals from the
medical facilities from EMTs that use
our emergency rooms from all the
different areas
um you know when they use the helicopter
who's paying for this wait are we I mean
I mean I mean a granite if I ever needed
the helicopter I would say yes
excuse me uh we need to pay for that but
I just think that the people at Summers
Point are getting a little bit of a real
deal in regard it's not even in regards
to who's paying for what
and I just think that it just seems with
all these beautiful things that are
happening with the hospital expanding
and parking garages and this and that
and everything else and Pen seems like
they're moving in and I mean I'm I'm not
knocking that I love all the ability but
is that my three minutes yeah okay all
right thank you very nicely I never did
this before all right thank you very
much thank you
[Music]
good evening city council Bob Albertson
representing Shore Medical Center 100
Medical Center way I just wanted to
respond to the previous person I
personally against the cannabis
yeah because just who we are we're a
healthcare organization but I also
wanted to state that we we do pay the
bad tax
and uh Penn and all the individual
Physicians offices in summers point to
pay taxes and what one of the key
initiatives that we've been doing is
selling off our off-site properties just
to give the city back rateables
we support the city and we love the city
thank you thank you
foreign
I'm Kathy cibaldi I live at 15 Bay
Avenue in Somers Point um I appreciate
you reconsidering the Cannabis but I
would still like to express my opinion
and put it on the record for the future
um in the 70 years my family's lived in
Somers Point we've watched the culture
of the city develop into a community
which promotes family traditions and a
safe place to enjoy our community and
our events the taxpayers of the
community have invested in the city
infrastructure through both their
personal homes and their businesses as
well as the recreation facilities for
our children and our community Summers
Point provides a safe environment for
entertainment and recreational
activities and I do not want to see us
move in the wrong direction in uh in a
cultural Direction I therefore strongly
oppose recreational marijuana dispense
rate let's talk safety I recently went
to the Atlantic City Air Show both days
when I stepped onto the boardwalk I
could smell was marijuana when I was a
peach all I could smell was marijuana it
was not just a couple hours it was all
day it was Waffle the public use of
marijuana is something the police force
in Atlantic City cannot control so how
are we going to control this I fully
support the Somers Point chief of police
in his statement regarding additional
cost and policing issues associated with
recreational marijuana
culturally the current perception of
Somers Point is a community where people
want to come to enjoy their time with
their family and friends the restaurants
the shopping the bike paths the parks
and the community neighborhoods
on a regular basis I have people tell me
how much they want to live in Somers
Point how much they love our city why
should we change that according to a
study quoted in the article in Forbes
Magazine January of 2021 our home values
will be reduced with the addition of
this the dispensaries while the storage
facilities and the businesses will
increase
how many people here own a storage
facility or a business
um the old real estate quote location
location location I don't want Somers
Point to be known as the location for
individuals from other communities to
come to purchase their pot there are
dispensaries less than 10-minute ride
from Somers Point in an industrial park
on Delilah Road in Atlantic City what if
your home was a block from a dispensary
would you want your home value to drop
would you want the smell of pot from
people that can't help but light up
before they leave the property I know I
don't all right we all know people don't
want people don't always make sensible
choices I don't want those choices to
cause Somers Point to have to deal with
increased traffic additional police
enforcement lower property values mostly
I don't want to have to explain to our
children why we encourage them not to
drink or do drugs but the city of Somers
Point Embraces recreational marijuana
uh the recreational dispensary is just
not a good fit for our city thank you
thank you
good evening good evening members of
city council my name is Patricia Hughes
I live at Warwick Avenue in Somers Point
I've been a long-term resident here born
and raised love the city as you do I
would like to take exception at the
gentleman that spoke earlier and said
that um there was some railroading going
on at the planning meeting on the 16th I
attended the meeting at the 16th there
was no railroading going on
the planning board was very professional
yes the city planner made his
recommendation but he may forget there
was another New Jersey license planner
that was here giving his opinion he
spoke and he had some serious questions
as a licensed planner whether this would
make City sense for the city to move
forward and with that that's when the
discussion took place among the members
of the board the members of the board
decided that it was not in accordance
with the master plan and the meeting
adjourned with the vote five to two so I
just want to take exception of what the
gentleman said earlier
as far as being on the record I again I
want to thank Janice Johnston for going
public and saying you're not going to
bring this issue again to our city thank
you Mr de pamplis for going on record
saying your opposition Mr Dill your
opposition from the beginning and Mr
mcgloyd in your opposition thank you so
much
for the members that may uh be thinking
to myself you know what if this would
have happened what if this would happen
what's our crystal ball what if this
would have happened
and guess what I talked to a city and
Minister administrator today in the city
of
um sitting in Oregon who they they
passed cannabis in 2018 and guess what
they regret it they're living with
regrets they said
um they had to increase the police force
25 percent
um due to the increased calls due to
cannabis due to Unreal unruly Behavior
domestic violence
um they they had nothing but regrets and
I think we would too and I just want to
I had a lot more to say but I think the
issue is tabled and I want to thank city
council for going on public record we're
going to hold you to it but you never
bring us up again thank you
thank you
first of all first of all that's what I
like about Summer's point and I
appreciate city council and again
um
uh David use work Avenue Somers Point
and uh long-term resident I also want to
Echo thank the commissioner for changing
his opinion as well and reaching out
actually asking of us about the math
begin realizing that the math doesn't
work and then thank you
madam president of the city council for
also and Mr dill and Mr mcquigan hats
off to you and the rest of you I hope
you reach down and realize that there's
a better way so first of all one plus
one doesn't equal three the math it
doesn't work it's yes BS
the city would be embroiled in
litigation heck even the drug dealers
would sue you property values would
absolutely decline you'd be overrun with
tax appeals multiple organizations may
pull support from the town by the way it
is a legal drug under federal law so you
can be prosecuted under federal law one
could argue that just voting for it is a
group could be an indebtable federal
crime and perhaps even a RICO Act
violation by the way a Civil War was
fought on determining State versus
Federal rights so federal law does Trump
state rights and it could be enforced in
the future
he's not allowed in banking you could be
filing federal banking laws by the way
also talking to the individual they
talked about the cash issue think about
all this cash sitting in the building
because they're not allowed to process
in the banks and how are these
administrators have to deal with the
fees probably assuming the state doesn't
just take the fees away eventually do
you think they'll do that
[Music]
yeah
be quiet by the way you may be
ineligible for federal grants
because you broke the law
you bankrupt the city and expose
yourself if you voted on this in my
opinion the personal litigation and
perhaps even criminal investigation
your insurance company I've seen this in
the corporate world could deny you and
so you're not indemnified so they're not
going to cover your insurance so you'll
be on the hook for all the lawsuits that
could file personally and you would not
be able to be reimbursed by the
taxpayers
by the way what happens next does New
Jersey decide because there's
conversation because of prostitution
with Route 9 Shore Road Bay Avenue be a
wonderful place for prostitution
I hope not
you know what happens we know what
happens in cities When leaders fail to
lead or look out but about public today
you looked out for the public and I
congratulate you for that
gee the pharmacy company did such a
wonderful job addicting millions of
people Millions have died and millions
continue to be addicted to drugs
children children we're told hey you
should Vape hey give up smoking vaping
is great we only burned after lungs and
just besides making them addicted to
opioids who now destroyed another
generation through vaping remember all
the vaping shops and how great it was
what happened there
as Patricia said
well again by the way are you so it's
Colorado and they're also against it how
many kids have to die to fulfill the
thirst for profit I apologize and I just
want to conclude then law enforcement
police chief playing boards School
princess teachers doctors nurses
Business Association restaurant Bar
Association summersport members of
Economic Development Somers Point
committee first majority decisions we
all said no thank you
motion to close the public portion
I'm sorry okay
hmm
[Music]
hi Harry Stites Rhode Island Avenue I've
been in Somers Point for about 26 years
so I'm opposed to the Cannabis and uh I
just I have a question is this tabled or
is this dead that's my question is this
is this thing can kick down the road or
is it open I think for this Council
that's sitting here right now it's it's
dead I can't tell you there's another
Council up here right here
for the record I agree with everything
that Mr mcguigan read with I agree with
these with the police with the hospital
with all the businesses that this thing
should not be in our town
anybody else no motion to close the
public portion on the Cannabis okay
second
all in favor
opposed
we're now closed for public comment
thank you all very much for coming in
thank you
foreign
ourselves by changing out the Bible
okay
[Applause]
no because during 2020 none of us
we weren't all sworn in
I was born in 2020. she was born in a
zoo I'll come up
okay
scorpion thanks
thank you thanks
okay
let's keep moving here
could I have a motion please to
um
wow
all in favor
any opposed 22. uh the minutes are
approved
ordinance number 20.
it's born December 20th 2023 Bond
ordinance providing for various storm
water utility Capital Improvements in
and by the city of Somers Point in the
county of Atlantic New Jersey
appropriating four million 300 000
therefore an authorizing the issuance of
up to four million three hundred
thousand dollars aggregate principal
amount bonds or notes of the city of
Somers Point County of Atlantic New
Jersey to finance the cost thereof
may I have this is the second reading
for this ordinance I might have a motion
to open for public comment please so
moved chapter all in favor
any opposed we're now open for public
comment on ordinance number 20.
I have a motion to close please
second all in favor
aye any opposed we're now closed for
public comment
[Music]
uh motion for ordinance number 20. make
that motion a second
do we need a roll call boot for this one
yes yes could I have a roll call back
please council member council member
Ellen yes council member Bruno yes
council member to pamphlets yes yes
council member Jill yes councilmember
mcwiggins
council member McCary yes yes council
president Johnston yes
ordinance number 20 is adopted
should I have a mission to open for
public comment for Resolutions only
please I'll make that motion second all
in favor
any opposed we're now open for public
comment on resolutions only
foreign
resolution number 180 knowing
in full-time labor is that replacing
somebody or hiring a new one
somebody is retired and you've got
everyone okay
um
in the Municipal Court employees that
the same thing
uh yeah replacement yes okay
the uh
the lights on Bay Avenue is that a grant
yes
major portion of it right yeah okay and
um
the lawyer for the affordable housing
um
can you tell me a little bit about that
that is it's a person hired on a
temporary it's strictly for just the one
developer one developer development okay
because we had wrapped so burned by this
before
okay what is Avia
which one is that yeah 197. that's
semester um okay Sonesta Suites Avia
is what
it's an entity
it's the entity that owns Sonesta suites
so that's the sweets on Mays Landing
Road
okay
we're entering I got it yeah okay and um
the paddle Club
explain this one to me they're just
asking for an extension they've done
everything they're supposed to do
applied for all their permits they're
waiting for approval from the state for
their Club liquor license and they have
not gotten that yet they need more time
they're waiting for the approval so the
club license yes that's what I was
wondering now okay okay and then uh the
rest of it is the is it is it probably
that's the major part the club license
or is it of course doing the project no
that's the only that's the only part of
it
all right
okay thank you very much thank you
[Music]
in the clues I'll make that motion
second all in favor all right
now we're now closed for probably
comment
resolution number 182.
resolution number 182 of 2023 chapter
159 National opioid settlement
Nation please submute
any comments
all in favor any opposed resolution
number 182 is adopted number 189
resolution number 189 at 2023
acknowledging and approving the hiring
of full-time labor we have a nation
please I'll make that motion a second
any comments all in favor all in favor
any opposed
resolution number 189 is adopted number
190. resolution number 190th 2023
authorizing the Chief Financial Officer
to cancel Grant balances
they have a mission please I'll make
that motion
any comments all in favor
aye any opposed resolution number 190 is
adopted number 192.
mission number 19
2023 appointing Municipal Court
Administrator namely Tanya Hancock may I
have a motion please I'll make that
motion second
any comments
all in favor all right any opposed
resolution number 192 is adopted number
193 resolution number 193 of 2023 change
order number two contract number 122 Bay
Avenue replacement lights rebid we have
a nation please I'll make that motion
second any comments
all in favor
any opposed resolution number 193 is
adopted number 194 resolution number 194
2023 change order number one contract 16
Cedar Avenue sanitary main extension may
I have a motion please
resolution number 194 is adopted number
195. resolution number 195 of 2023
amending technical sub code fee set
forth within section 103 B15 of chapter
100 construction codes uniform of the
Somers Point Municipal Code may I have a
motion please
I'll make the motion second
any comments can you council president
just uh a question about the fees uh are
they in line with other municipalities
fees that uh that's a simple question
yeah as you know um our construction
official is awesome
construction Michelin Galloway where we
took a lot of the fees associated with
it various things similar commensurers
with what other municipalities are
charging yeah and if you remember this
was uh
[Music]
okay thank you
all in favor all in favor all right any
opposed resolution number 195 is adopted
number 196. resolution number 196 of
2023 appointing attorney Michael J
malinski to represent the city of Somers
Point and a matter involving New Jersey
Council on affordable housing and Fair
Housing Act magners regulations and
compliance regarding block 525 lot 2.01
navigation please
because if I have a question
first and then you can
have a motion please make a motion a
second
any comments
okay sorry
um I understand the lawyer but where is
this the block and lots what it's it's
specifically for the one developer The
Waters Group and they're looking at
defeo Lane but it's true to failing not
exclusively to failing it could be
wherever it works but the first one
they're looking at is defeo Lane
resolution is specifically says to
Fairlane on it yes it does but I'm
giving you additional information that
they are
open to any other suggestions in case if
this one does not work for the city
I think this is just to hire the
attorney to start the process to
investigate whether or not it would work
and the Builder has agreed to pay all
the expenses for this attorney it will
not cost us any anything to research
this
thank you
we'll do a roll call Boot I I do have
one question now I
to receive today information or from
that if we approve the failure and we go
through with this project it'll actually
according to Darlene green and Tim
Kernan that our affordable housing uh
unit responsibilities would increase
from 13 to 22. is that true she said
that is a possibility
however part of the goal of this project
is to get the the
26 that are on Bay Avenue transferred
over to this project and get credit for
60 uh senior senior affordable units
which those 26 would be transferred so I
guess we really have a couple open
questions number one is is it going to
increase from 13 to 22 and the uh and
the second one is are the units going to
be transferred from Bay Avenue to either
deferral lane or some other location
that is the goal but we don't we won't
know
right all right and I'm considerably
getting credit or will they be built
even
if those factors can happen they will
build them yes 60 one bedroom age
restricted
affordable apartments and one of the
positive of course is the fact that they
are age restricted they are one bedroom
so we don't have any increased expenses
as far as the schools and things of that
nature concerned if you build the 26 on
Bay Avenue that's they have their family
units and that's the average two
children for each unit so you're talking
about 52 new students potentially
if they stay there so okay
thank you
Madam president just want to thank Mr
mention of the report that he saw today
and I I also saw that just today
um and I don't believe
the rest of city council has seen that
is that true correct
I think it's kind of unfair to uh ask
them to vote on that at this point so
with that uh
in mind I make a motion to table
a second a second
um roll call please
okay I I I I I I can't speak right
because the motion's already been made
okay okay I was gonna say hello
speak I I delighted and
for more information on this subject
table
council member council member Carrie put
it on the table
remember mcwigan yes
council member Dill
no matter how I vote it's going to be
tabled so I'll vote the table and all
set Council President Johnson I will do
the same
Okay resolution number 196 is tabled
mission number 197.
resolution number 197 to 2023
authorizing the extension of the
negotiation period pursuant to a
memorandum of understanding between the
cities search point and Avia New Jersey
Landing LLC
um doing business as Sonesta Suites you
may have a motion please so moved second
any comments
all in favor all in favor all right any
opposed
resolution number 198 is a I mean 197 is
adopted number 198 please
resolution number 198 of 2023
authorizing exit exhibition and delivery
of amendment one to a Redevelopment
agreement between Summers Point paddle
Club LLC and the City of Somers Point to
extend the time frames for commencement
and completion of the Redevelopment
project may I have a motion please
consumers
second
any comments
all in favor aye hi any opposed number
198 is adopted resolution number 199.
resolution number 199 of 2023 resolution
authorizing execution and delivery of a
Fourth Amendment to the May 3rd 2016
Redevelopment agreements between city of
Somers Point and Bayview Court urban
renewal LLC
uh may I have a motion please I'll make
that motion
any comments
oh I just want to make everyone aware
that Mr Leonard is here with us tonight
if anyone has any questions about this
resolution
oh yes I'm sorry
okay hearing none
uh all in favor
any opposed
resolution number 199 is adopted thank
you thank you
[Music]
thank you
I'm sorry
um okay my apology
uh consent uh consent agenda anyone on
Council feel the need for us to pull any
of these resolutions for further
discussion
hearing nine could I have a motion for
the consent agenda please make a motion
to adopt the consent agenda circuit any
comment oh no
um all in favor all right any opposed
the consent agenda is adopted
anyone have any old business to discuss
hearing none uh new business we meet
council president uh island mother falls
under new business or not but my
understanding is that we're having
issues with
um
campers in town either parking on the
street parking it
oh please do then I spoke to the police
chief
precludes people from sleeping in
vehicles now the problem is how can you
tell if someone's sleeping in a camper
on the vehicle
history
is the police department's
recommendation that I put together an
ordinance that we bar the parking of the
campers
camper trailers and
vehicles on the street I can tell you
that
in one specifically uh
parked at the park
for at least three or four weeks on the
weekends and then some of them learned
about it and it was removed but they
immediately camped outside the park
well it's a great camping spot
it was free and it
is obviously
made a business
program
apparently they were parking also on the
City Beach
and I'm sure
a couple questions okay uh sorry first
first of all very
real soft okay
what about Trail uh campers being parked
on the Residential Properties and I'm
using the residential electricity to
sleep in those uh those Trails can we
restrict that or limit that
that that goes to a
uh
um
enforcement would be extremely difficult
a lot of people want to know a lot of
people have embarked on their properties
and how do you know if they're sleeping
in their problem or not
a little more intrusive on new people
for the police to be shown sure
[Music]
did I've lived across the street for 35
years three years and um
people sleep in their cars at the park
occasionally maybe they're out during
Lake they just can't make it home I
don't know but years ago we used to
close the park with Gates yeah but
please go through and you can move them
along these people out and sort of you
know especially occasionally
they don't go with one night and
it could happen so yes the answer is I'm
sorry for the long-term response
Mr Smith I was waiting for that end of
that response sir they asked a question
um what about
um
I only have one more question okay I
know reinforce
regulations parking regulations is
exactly here in shopping centers such as
ShopRite and the Acme shopping center
things of that nature uh can we can we
address that too because I understand
they're parking there also
yes right okay you want me to expand on
it
yes yes it's fine I've discussed all of
this it just answered my questions mine
too yeah
you know uh
I'll tell you what Mr Dylan and I think
a lot alike I was going to ask you the
question about ShopRite and Acme in the
parking lots there because I've seen
people parking there
um early in the morning and leaving so
thank you
you don't have to answer anything else
you're done
at the end of Broadway
yes I know
and we kick them out all the time
okay any other new business we have a
approval for a social Affair Affair
permit for Grace Lutheran Church for
September 29th from six to nine at 11
East stalls Avenue for Oktoberfest
anybody have any objection to that okay
that's approved
uh discussion of the bills Mr Frost yes
this evening we have uh two of the lists
one amount of uh one million 655
343.56 additional bill is the amount of
uh 157 945 in 1910
and we have a record of payments an
email of fifty dollars
thank you
um may I have a motion to open to pup
for public comment please
all in favor all right all right any
opposed we're now open for a public
comment if you wish to speak please step
forward state your name and address for
the record
most of the closest public portion
second all in favor um
we're now closed for a public comment
uh could I have a motion to pay the
bills please
second
all in favor all right any opposed
or comments from the governing body yes
uh Madam president uh next Tuesday at
the VFW from three to five it was
supposed to be a meet and greet uh
non-political it's supposed to be
whether they go over the benefits that
veterans are entitled to it's supposed
to be uh
Menendez I think Senator Palestina
there's a specifically big meet and
greet there this coming Tuesday three
o'clock
uh Madam president just uh if I could
help Mr Owen it's
not Menendez okay
yeah yeah sure I would have Senator
Walker management
okay motion to adjourning I'll make that
motion all in favor all right all right
any opposed thank you everyone thank you