CITY COUNCIL 12/11/2025

Okay, byebye.
>> [clears throat]
>> What would you do?
They're
not
All right.
Yes. Do all this.
[laughter]
>> Like to call this I' like to call this
meeting to order. All rise for a flag
salute, please.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for it stands one nation under
God indivisible with liberty and justice
for all.
Please be seated.
[clears throat]
>> Thank you for everyone coming out here
on this cold evening. So, uh a lot to do
here. Um madame deputy clerk and have a
roll call, please.
>> Council member Dampis
>> here. Council member Dill
>> here.
>> Council member Gity
>> here.
>> Council member Johnston
>> here.
>> Council member Mcwigan
>> here.
>> Council member Owen
>> here. [snorts]
>> Council President Habercorn
>> present. Also present is Mayor Tap,
Administrator Frost,
Deputy Clerk GM Papa, City Solicitor
Smith, City Engineer Snider, and Council
Member Elect Slaughter.
Pursuant 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
the city's website, summers gov.org.
Pursuant to city code A266-9D
and to afford everyone an opportunity to
address the governing body, the public
may speak only one time and not to
exceed three minutes.
I ask that all council members and
professionals when you're speaking
please speak into the mic as best you
can. Thank you. Any communications?
Not hearing any communications. Uh mayor
for the mayor's report.
>> Yeah. I have a couple things. Uh this
past Saturday we had our Christmas
parade. I just want to take this
opportunity to thank everyone that
helped makes make this a huge success
and it's uh Phil Gula and Wal Gregory
for their outstanding leadership and
dedication. The organization here uh our
announcer and judge Mike Kernan. Uh the
historical society that helps that puts
this event on for us uh was fantastic.
Uh Miss New Jersey Nicholas and Miss T
New Jersey Delaney Higgins. I also want
to thank Robert Summers, our chief, as
well as our police department. Guy
Stevens. Yeah, Guy Martin. I knew what
Guy Stevens, too. Uh, and Steve Hornick
from public works, as well as two big
shout outs for Deon Osler and Brianna
McNair. They worked behind the scenes
and they made city they made council
chambers look as if it was a winter
wonderland having uh everything fixed up
for uh Santa to come in and uh they
definitely deserve a big thank you. Uh
Summers Point Pal in support of Troop
277 is going to have a breakfast with
Santa. It's going to be at Applebee's on
Saturday the 20th from 8 to 10. Uh if
anyone can make that, it's always good.
We help out the troops. We help out the
pal. Uh, Slain Brewery, our favorite
brewery.
Got a little humor out that Okay. Is
ready to launch the Imperial Stout. Um,
inspired by our own naval hero, Richard
Summers. It's going to be called 11
Minute Fuse and it's going to be on uh
Tuesday, December 16th at 6 PM. And the
guest speaker is our own Kirk Bry.
>> I am
[laughter]
I read it in the paper.
>> Okay. Must be true then.
>> Must be true.
>> It must be true if it's in the paper for
sure.
>> Lastly, uh one of our own Summers Point
restaurants,
Squares and Fairs is up for the best
restaurant in the USA Today poll. You
can uh vote at 10 bestustoday.com.
You can vote as many times as you want.
Right now, they list 10 different
restaurants throughout the country. and
we are now ranked number three out of
the 10. Uh so if you can get on there uh
you can you'll see it on Facebook. You
can go to USA Today. Just click on
there. Let's help them out and let's
make Summers Point proud. And with that,
that's it.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh Mr. Frost.
>> Uh nothing.
>> Mr. Smith,
>> nothing. Thank you.
>> You're welcome, Mr. Snider.
>> Uh yeah, I just have a few items. Uh the
city was awarded a New Jersey DOT uh
municipal aid grant for repaving
Broadway for 300 300,000
$330. A lot of threes. Um so that's uh
for repaving. That's a grant. No matches
required. So that's uh the street we
applied for this year.
>> Um
work for South State for the 2025 road
program continues. All the pipe work has
been completed. concrete work is going
on. The um contractor for the safe
routes to school along Shore Road just
has one more block which is uh in front
of Gregory's and uh Josie Kelly's. Um
the county did request the contractor um
that they uh do some pipe work on
Maryland Avenue. So [clears throat]
while they're in town um so that will
require a detour at that whole
intersection. a detour.
>> Yes.
>> Summer's pointage.
There'll
>> be lots of signage.
>> And then uh the water main on New Jersey
Avenue. The work continues between Bay
and Shore Road.
>> Thank you, Mr. Schneider. Committee
reports.
>> Uh council president, I have um we had a
library committee meeting. Uh we met
with the um officials from the county
library system who runs our library
here. Um the reason for the meeting was
after looking at a lot of things with
the library, we felt like we weren't
getting enough of the services that they
do offer in other libraries in the
county. So we sat down with them. It was
a very positive meeting and um
>> I shut that off.
>> They have Janice is three minutes or
what? Yeah, really. Am I done already?
>> Sorry, J.
>> Um, there are a lot of good ideas, a lot
of good things that they can do. We we
we threw a couple ideas at them for
different things that they can do both
for seniors,
uh, and for children, uh, doing them at
the li, not only at the library, but
also at our community center and
possibly bigger, uh, programs they would
do at maybe one of our firehouses. So,
um, they're going to come back to us in
a couple weeks with some ideas and, um,
we're going to put a list together and
most importantly, we need to get it out
so everybody knows what's going on with
them. But, um, we pay a lot of money for
our library here. Um, and they do a
great job. We just felt like, um, also
some of the things that we're doing at
our community community center, they're
also doing or can do. So we just thought
to avoid the duplication uh it would be
much more efficient if we sat down
talked about it. So that's where that's
at.
>> Thank you. [snorts]
>> Any other committee reports?
Not hearing any other committee reports.
I'm going to move on to approval of the
minutes. The regular meeting minutes of
uh November 13, 2025 and executive
session minutes of November 13, 2025.
I need a motion and a second for content
only and on the approval of those.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> I have a second.
>> Second.
>> Any comments?
>> All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
The above um uh mentioned meeting
minutes are approved.
>> May for proclamations, please.
>> Proclamation number 10 of 2025, honoring
the Mainland Regional High School
Marching Band. Whereas the Mainland
Regional High School marching band has
had an outstanding 2025 season
performing unbreakable under the skilled
direction of band director Kevin Flity.
And whereas Mainland Regional High
School marching band achieved a
remarkable winning streak, culminating
in winning the group 1A state
championships while also earning awards
for best music and best overall effort.
Effect, not effort, effect. Sorry about
that. And taking second place in both
color guard and percussion,
demonstrating the band's allaround
excellence and artistry. And whereas
Mainland Regional High School marching
band represented the communities of
Northfield, Lynwood, and Summers Point
with distinction at the US National
Bands Competition in Allentown,
Pennsylvania, where they competed
against top bands from across the
country, earning fourth place overall
and where the color guard was recognized
with the prestigious Best Color Guard
Caption Award. And whereas the
dedication,
discipline, and spirit of the Mainland
Regional High School marching band
reflects the highest standards of
musicianship, teamwork, and community
pride. And whereas these remarkable
achievements have brought honor and
recognition to Mainland Regional High
School and ascending districts of
Northfield, Lynwood, and Summers Point,
whose students together form an
outstanding musical organization. Now
therefore
be it proclaimed that I, Dennis Tap,
mayor of the city of Summers Point, does
hereby recognize and commend the
Mainland Regional High School Marching
Band for its exceptional
accomplishments, musical excellence, and
unbreakable spirit, and does hereby
proclaim December 12th, tomorrow, 2025,
as Mainland Regional High School
Marching Band Day in the city of Summers
Point in honor of its talents,
determination, and contribution to our
community's proud tradition. of
education and artistic achievement.
All right.
>> I just want to congratulate uh the folks
from the uh the band that are here. Um
it does take a lot of dedication and you
guys spend a lot of time I know
practicing not having any musical
ability. I have such respect for anybody
that's willing to put themselves out
there [snorts] as you folks did in a
competition. I think that just speaks so
highly of of the young people as well as
the people that are uh educating and
leading the band. So, thank you very
much. Appreciate that. All right.
>> Any other council members have comments,
please? Um, I would like to just comment
that uh my brother played in the band
many years ago and uh I know how much
work it is and how much practice and how
much time you put in and you should all
be very very proud of yourself. Thank
you.
>> All right,
[applause]
Mr. President, if I may, congratulations
to everybody. Clearly, it's a strong uh
organization over there and and each one
of you should be very proud of you.
yourselves and uh in honor of uh what
tomorrow is mainland marching band day.
There'll be no detours in the city some
[laughter]
congratulations.
>> All right.
>> Any anybody else?
>> Uh council president as an alumnist
class of 86 uh mainland regional. We're
very proud of you. Um you know the
program is fantastic. My daughter was in
marching band back in uh 2014 took
states also. So, it's it's great to keep
everything up and going 100%. Thank you
very much.
>> You guys come down and we have a little
>> for you.
I'll be sure
graduation day.
>> I know.
>> Mhm.
I only signed one of them.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Oh, what did we sign?
>> You can sign that when you're mayor
next. Yeah, that's for you. We're going
to talk about that.
>> The next time I read [laughter]
>> Oh, okay.
[snorts]
I was going to say I'd have to be here
by 3:00 to sign orbit.
See,
she's one of the ones using the
ambulance.
>> I'd like to have one. I was never
>> Yes, I believe so.
>> I get out of here.
>> All right. Thank you very much. We
really do appreciate you guys coming
out. It's I know it's a it's an effort
to come out especially when it's this
cold, but thanks for everybody that came
out today. We really appreciate you
being here.
>> And there's another there's two hours
worth of meeting. So, [laughter]
>> you know, if you get comfortable
>> that's his point of view. Mine is uh if
you would like to, you know, you don't
have to leave, but if you'd like to,
that's okay with us. You're not hurting
anybody's feelings. So, thank you.
We all got
you. I'll see you in the next meeting.
You weren't in the band. [laughter]
>> All right. All right. Let's uh give that
a moment to clear and then we'll uh
we'll start back up. Got
no ordinance today. Not bad.
>> Now the regulars have to take their
normal seats. Is that the idea here?
Okay.
All right. Um we don't have any
ordinances tonight, so we're going to
move on to uh resolutions. This is the
uh public portion. I need a motion to
open up for public comment. So move.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second. [snorts]
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed? No one's opposed. So we're
now open for public comment on
resolutions only.
>> Let's see.
>> Motion to close.
>> Second.
>> All right. All in favor?
>> I opposed. Any opposed? We are now close
for public session on resolutions only.
Madam Deputy Clerk, number 247, please.
>> Resolution number 247 of 2025,
recognizing and thanking Council Member
Mike Owen. Whereas on January 1st, 2020,
Mike Owen was sworn in as the W 2
council member of the city of Summers
Point to serve a three-year term. And
whereas on January 1st, 2023, Mike Owen
was sworn in for a second three-year
term as the War 2 council member of the
city of Summers Point. And whereas
council member Mike Owen has been a
resident of Summers Point for over 30
years. And whereas Council Member Owen
faithfully attended numerous citywide
events throughout his tenure while
maintaining a near-perfect attendance
record at city council meetings,
demonstrating his dedication and
commitment to serving the city. And
whereas council member Owens served as
the liaison to the arts commission and
the recreation commission and is a
long-standing and proud member of
Lawson's pride. And whereas council
member Owen's insight, enthusiasm, and
steady presence will be missed on the
city council deis by all who had the
opportunity to work with him. Now
therefore, be it resolved that the mayor
and city council on behalf of themselves
and the residents of the city of Summers
Point express their appreciation and
gratitude the council member Owen for
his six years of service for the
betterment of Summers Point. And be it
further resolved that the mayor and city
council extend their best wishes to him
and to his family.
I have a motion.
>> I'll gladly make that motion.
>> Ily second that motion.
>> Any comments? I'd like to comment, Mike.
Uh appreciated working with you in the
last few years. I also uh you're always
out there in the community whenever
there's events. Always helping. So, you
know, I appreciate your community uh
spirit too also. So, thank you for all
you've done.
>> Appreciate that. Council President,
>> Mr. Dill. Yeah, I would also echo those
thoughts. Um, I was fortunate enough to
work with you for all six years that you
were on council, right? And uh, you were
dedicated and you did a very good job
for any test that came along and uh,
you'll be missed and I appreciate what
you did for the city.
>> Thank you, Mr. President.
>> Mr. McG.
>> Yeah. Uh,
it's only been six. It seems like 12.
Seems like longer than that.
>> No, you got a lot of work done in that
in that time. So, uh, yeah. like like
Howard just said there, you know, uh I'm
going to miss sitting next to you and
and uh uh I don't think your story's
over. So,
>> right,
>> you know, thank you so much for your
service to the city.
>> Council President,
>> yes.
>> Uh Ditto on everything. I've really
enjoyed working with you. I loved
campaigning with you. We had a lot of
fun and uh I certainly hope you're not
going to be a stranger.
>> No, not at all.
>> Okay, good.
>> Mr.
Mike, uh,
most of what I was going to say has been
said already, so I'll just say it was
very, very nice, uh, working with you
for these last, I think, four years now.
And, uh, he was one of the first, uh,
help me and we ran together, I think,
the first time.
>> Sure.
>> And, uh,
good luck to you. Thanks. Any other
comments?
>> What are you going to do with all your
free time? [laughter]
>> I Mike, thanks. You know, um, thank you
for six years of service, your
dedication. Uh, more importantly is your
personal sacrifices.
You know, when you become elected
official, you're uh, your family suffers
because you're not there all the time
because a lot of times your head is
wrapped around the city. Uh, and Mike,
your head was definitely wrapped around
the city. you know, you made and helped
Summers Point thrive. Um, we're very
grateful for all you've done.
>> Thank you.
>> All right, you're done with the
comments. All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
Resolution number 247 is approved. mic.
All right. Item deputy court number 248,
please. Resolution number 248 of 2025,
authorization of purchase through the
use of state contract vendor York
Telecom Corporation aka Gov Pilot
pursuant to NJSA 4A2-12A
and NJAC 534-
729C for the use of computer reseller
services for the city of Summers Point
municipal offices.
>> Have a motion.
So moved.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Any comments? Any any comments? All in
favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed?
>> Any any opposed? Resolution 248 is
approved. Madam clerk 249.
>> Resolution number 249 of 2025 cancelling
outstanding checks and bank
reconciliation items.
>> I have a motion. I'll make that motion.
Have a second.
>> Any comments?
>> Hearing any comments? All in favor? I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
Resolution 249 is approved. Number 250,
please. Resolution number 250 of 2025
authorizing the acceptance, execution,
and delivery of an escrow agreement
between the city of Summers Point and
901 Maze Landing Road LLC.
>> Have a second.
>> Second. Any comments? Not hearing any
comments. All in favor? I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
Resolution number 250 is approved. 251,
please. Resolution number 251 of 2025
awarding contract for professional
engineering services for the design and
construction management of the Ocean
Avenue storm water repairs.
>> Have a motion. I'll make that motion. I
have a second. Any comments? Not hearing
any comments. All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
251 is approved. Number 252, please.
Resolution number 252 of 2025 awarding
contract for professional engineering
services for the design and construction
management of the Pacific Avenue storm
water pump station replacement.
>> Have a motion. I'll make that motion.
Second.
>> Any comments? Not hearing. Any comments?
All in favor? Any opposed? Any opposed?
Number 252 is approved. Number 253,
please.
>> Resolution number 253 of 2025.
Resolution authorizing agreement with
NJD planning and design grant program.
>> Have a motion.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
Any comments? No comments. All
in favor? Any opposed? I hear anyone
opposed. Number 253 is approved. 254,
please.
>> Resolution number 254 of 2025
authorizing executive session advice of
council regarding contractual
negotiations with the New Jersey State
Health Benefit Program.
>> Motion. So moved. Second. Second. All in
favor?
>> I.
>> Anybody else in favor? [laughter]
>> How about we do that again? All in
favor? I.
>> Any oppose? Any opposed? Resolution
number two. I don't want to go into
executive session.
>> Number 255.
>> Resolution number 255 of 2025.
Authorizing executive session advice of
council and attorney client privilege
communication regarding the status of
potential development negotiations
involving contract purchases of 90
Broadway in the city of Summers Point.
>> Have a motion. I make that motion. I
have a second. Second. All in favor?
>> Charles.
>> Yes, sir.
>> I am recusing myself from that vote
because of a conflict.
>> Yes. We will do that at the end then of
our executive session so that you know
>> so I can go get a Big Mac.
>> Well, I know you've been traveling so
good.
>> Any all in favor? I
>> Any opposed? Are there any appro
opposed? Resolution 255 is approved. May
I have a motion for the consent agenda,
please?
>> So moved.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Any comments?
>> Not hearing any comments. All in favor?
>> I
little bit more enthusiasm. All right.
All in
>> favor, please. Okay. Any opposed? Not
any opposed. The consent agenda is
approved.
All right. We're going to go on to old
business. Okay. Uh under old business,
we have a discussion of Dr. Troy's
proposed development plan for the
property located at 939 Bay Avenue. I
put this on here because uh last time we
heard the presentation from Dr. Troy and
his team. Um, what I took from that is a
100 unit condo hotel with a yetnamed
flagship partner with a pool and a
restaurant and uh that they would be
looking for potentially a pilot and or a
tax abatement. So, I open it up to uh
city council for your comments, please.
I'd like to get some direction from
council on where you would like to go
with this.
Anybody have any comments? You
>> want to start?
>> Yes. Um
the project that he proposes
um we met.
I think we liked it what we saw
and uh he did say that he was looking
for one of the
swanky uh hotels for a partner. And uh
if that happens, I I think it it'll be a
great thing for the city of Summers
Point.
>> Most
>> uh yes. Um I would love to just see that
property developed and I do think the
concept is a good idea. My only issue is
parking. I just don't think there's
enough parking there for 100 rooms plus
a restaurant. Um, and I am also not in
favor of a pilot.
>> Mr. D.
>> Yeah, [clears throat] Council President,
uh, I'm concerned about the density.
I've been straightforward with this. I
think 100 units is too dense for that,
uh, area. I would like to see it lower,
somewhere in the area of 70 to 75 units.
Uh [snorts] I'm opposed to any type of
uh pilot program or tax incentive
program because we've stopped that with
other developers who have come and asked
us over at least the last couple years.
And uh I think it would uh it would
create a problem and uh I just think
that the uh the pilot programs and
things that were instituted when we had
uh foreclosures on homes and things of
that nature, not meant for these type of
developments. And the final one, I agree
with uh Councilwoman Johnson that uh the
parking could be an issue because of
cross agreements between uh that
property and another property. Thank
you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Gity. Would you like to
weigh in on this property?
>> Uh I'm going to have to recuse myself on
anything Dr. Rocky does because in 50
years of construction that I've been
involved in, I have done work for him,
his father, Kinjun and Troy. And in all
fairness to the applicant, her future
applicant, I'll recuse myself.
>> Thank you. To start with,
>> I'd have to uh agree with Councilman
Dill and Councilwoman Johnson. if you
can be scaled back, get through all the
loopholes and basically
downsize [snorts]
and figure out parking and whatnot.
That's that's where I am with this.
>> Okay,
>> Mr. Mcwigan, sir.
>> Uh yeah, I you know, the the the history
of that property and so forth. I mean,
we've been looking at it uh an
underutilized and and uh you know, I
don't want to call it a derelict
property, but it hasn't it hasn't looked
great in a a long time, over a decade,
15 years, whatever it is. Uh I think
this is an opportunity to get something
there and spur some further development,
you know, that we've all talked about
over the years along Bay Avenue. Is is
the project too large? Uh no. uh you
know what we've been presented with and
and and the discussions we've had in the
subcommittee with Dr. Troy I believe
that it can fit there and it can work
there. Uh what I would like to see the
next steps are is that you know we we
begin the process obviously is going to
have to go into redevelopment. We begin
that process by setting up an agreement
and setting up an escrow where our
planner can take a look at it and say,
"Okay, this is going to work or this is
not going to work or or the traffic's
not going to flow correctly here." What
whatever that is. I I'd like our
professionals to look at that. I I do
support the idea and and and that, you
know, Dr. truck. He has represented that
he is going to get a a flag, you know,
some sim some uh high-end [snorts] or or
some very common like Marriott or
whoever high-end whatever it is to
manage the property. So I think we we we
have an opportunity to get something
here that that this could be very
valuable to the city and I want to
continue exploring that and you know as
I laid out there I think that's our next
step but you know that's uh kind of up
to the will council
but that's where I sit and and you know
listen I'm very far away from any kind
of tax abatement or any kind of pilot
like that and I've kind of communicated
that to to Dr. Trump.
Okay. I [clears throat] from my
perspective I I the 100 U room. I just
don't know how that's going to fit on
the property. I' I've tried to get that
in my mind. I just can't see how that's
going to fit. But I'm sure our engineers
and our professionals and our planners
could [clears throat] look at it and
make the determination better than I
could. The thing I'd like to have before
we move forward is some type of
assurance that that easement is going to
in fact go away. Um, that is something
that really concerns me that we could
get far down the road and and all of a
sudden find ourselves potentially in
litigation because we don't have that
worked out. That's my my opinion.
>> Well, that if I may that, you know, and
and that that as you will recall, we've
had those discussions with him and and
obviously he's ensured us that that that
easement will be dealt with. The
easement is not going to go away unless
I I don't know how it would go away. but
he's ensured us uh that he's going to uh
meet those requirements. So that that
would also be fleshed out by our our
planner uh as well. And and if that were
to if he were to further on that, you
know, deals off or whatever wherever
we're at, that's
>> So may I?
>> Yes. because I did get correspondence
from the neighbor's council which I
would never be able to find on my but
just wanted to remind council of the
crossment that is an existing issue that
does need to be resolved
my daughter
administrator. So um you know based on
all the comments we had here u one of
the things that Mr. Mcwigan has brought
up is the fact that if it moved forward
uh to some degree that we would uh have
to have an escrow agreement to allow um
our our planners and our engineers to
look at this u before it moved any
further uh to make sure that it fit with
all the heavy lifting as you talked
about and and everybody else. Um, I'm
going to ask this question as an
open-ended question. I hope I get some
type of straw vote out of it. Would the
council be up to allowing us to go into
an escrow agreement and then go into and
move it forward in that way just so that
the investigation could be done by both
sides and to see if this is something to
go forward with? So, that's my question.
I'd like to I'm not going to ask Mr.
Gity, but I would like to get a head nod
or a yes or no from each one. And I want
to start with you, Rick.
>> I say yes. Let's move forward. Council
member Johnson.
>> I think it's premature. I think the
parking the cross easement is a big
issue and without an agreement from the
other property owner in writing, I don't
see how this project could happen.
>> So, I think it's premature to waste
people's time.
>> Mr. I have a tendency to to uh agree
with uh Councilwoman Johnson that uh it
is a little premature. We need to make
sure we get a commitment from Mr.
Tracking, the developer, about uh the
easement situation as well as what kind
of escrow he's willing to put up uh for
our professionals to be able to do this.
But if that can all be set aside and
resolved, I don't have a problem with
moving forward.
>> Okay, Mr.
>> Well, it's a real coin toss, ain't it?
If we can
work out all the bugs with the easement
and everything else, uh be worth looking
into.
>> Yes, sir.
>> I I'm you know, I already stated my what
I what I want to do. I don't know.
There's a
Does the Does the council elect want to
weigh in or what's your opinion? I mean,
she's going to live with whatever we're
going to do.
I don't know the ch
I'm sorry to put you on the spot. I
don't I don't you just did
I said I was sorry I did that
>> as far
>> do it again.
>> My opinion is council president on that.
Mr. Smith, you're our attorney. I don't
believe that um we [snorts] should ask
Miss Slaughter for that at this point. I
think I just uh responded to it.
>> I think you don't put her on the right.
He doesn't even know anything about it.
>> All right.
>> So So b so based on the comments I heard
I'm going to ask the redevelopment
excuse me the affordable housing and
development subcommittee to meet one
more time with Mr. Troy and excuse me
Dr. Rocky and find out if we can come to
some type of agreement and start some
conversation to uh work out the easement
issue and other issues. So, I'm going to
leave it at that.
>> Mr. Smith,
>> send everyone the uh
IP.
>> That's okay. So, we all have it. Y
>> and that was a from who?
>> Representing
>> to to the easement
>> representing who?
>> Oh, from the other
>> Yes. From the other.
>> So, I stated that I believe that the
affordable housing and development
[clears throat] committee needs to meet
again with Dr. talking to go through
this uh try to work out some of that
type of agreement and bring that back to
council. Is that do I get enough head
nods for that?
>> I I just want to clarify that I'm not
against I just feel it's premature until
those issues are clarified.
>> I understand.
>> Thank you.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
All right. That's
>> we're going to move on from there.
That's the action we're going to take.
Okay. Moving to new business. Um,
approval of a uh waiver raffle fee for
pull tabs for Clark Elias American
Legion 352.
Do we have all the information that we
need? And it's all there. Okay. Is
everybody for that?
>> Yes. Okay. No objections to that. Okay.
Um, Mr. Gity had brought up to me
discussion of an issuance of request for
quotations for ADA compliant counter at
the uh the court office here and the ADA
compliant bathrooms at city hall. I
think it's great that Mr. G brought that
up because this city has worked so hard
to be inclusive and having accessibility
is as evidenced by what's going on with
all the curbs in town, what's going on
with the uh access to the beach and and
the playground that's coming to Kennedy
Park. Timing of it being brought
forward, I talked to Mr. Frost. We
didn't feel like we had enough timing to
put the resolution on now and get the
action to be taken in this year. So, why
I put it on for new business is I think
it has merit and I think the council
needs to take this on uh next year as an
item uh to look at and and go out for
quotations at this point. That's that's
my opinion on that. That's why it was on
the agenda. I thank Mr. Gar for bringing
that forward. Any comments?
No problems. Okay.
All right. Mr. Mcwigan has brought up um
in our redevelopment and affordable
housing discussion of potential new
construction on Bay Avenue and Gibbs
Avenue. Uh Mr. Mcwigan, I do first on if
you could please [snorts] the rest of
the council.
>> Sure. So I I I have given everyone a
site plan as well as an elevation
metering of this proposed project on the
corner of Bay and Gibbs that was
presented at the CRC. Uh and uh I just
want to clarify that this is not a
redevelopment uh project or even uh
that's never discussion. This will go to
either planning board or zoning board.
I'm not quite sure which one. But the
question why why I bring it here is the
question if you look at that site plant
and where I put a smoke bubble at the
the the the building is on the corner of
Gibson and uh Bay next door to the
parking lot uh which is directly across
from the theater. They're proposing to
uh they're asking uh to get a cut
through as you can see on the diagram uh
so that people in their parking lot can
exit and enter into our parking lot and
utilize our parking lot if there are
spaces available uh at that time. Uh the
this the building itself is uh has three
retail spaces, proposed retail spaces on
the first floor, office space on the
second floor and there is a a uh owner
occupied uh apartment on the third floor
and you can see uh it's in my opinion
attractive building and I really would
uh think that this is a great use for uh
Bay Avenue will increase the walkability
and all all the other sales pitches and
and get us a little bit of retail that
that I think uh [clears throat] will
help uh Bay Avenue develop. Uh
the question is do we want to provide a
cut through? Do we want to how do we how
would we handle that? Uh
would it be you know we just talked
about it and I know it's a tough a cost
easement of some sort. How would we uh
facilitate sharing the parking? Uh I
guess the option are is give them the
cutout, not give them the cutout and
they could utilize the parking anyway.
There's no way preventing them from
utilizing a public parking space.
But what their their sales pitch is that
after hours uh overflow parking, the
public could utilize their parking uh
you know during a beach concert or or
whatever event would be going on along
Bay Avenue. So, uh I'm not sure what the
next steps are, but I can have the
lawyer for the developer come in here uh
at our next meeting and make a uh you
know, make a presentation. Um,
>> can I ask
>> Can I ask a question?
>> Go ahead.
>> Just can you just clarify what you mean
by a cutout? They would be designated
spots for this property.
>> No, if you look on the if you look on
the diagram right now there's, you know,
there's a curve that separates the
properties.
They're doing a cut out, a driveway, so
to speak, so that you could drive from
our parking lot into their parking lot
and back. So that if you were if you
pulled into their park if you're going
to do business and all their spaces were
filled, you could fall into the
municipal parking lot and find a space.
If you pull into the municipal parking
lot and you're going to a beach concert
or whatever or to the beach and all the
spaces are filled, you could pull into
their parking lot and utilize their
spaces.
>> So either way they can utilize this.
Well, they can utilize our spaces, but
this gives us a uh a uh uh the advantage
of being able to utilize their space.
Now, I I don't work for the don't work
for the developer, but I like the idea.
Uh if we don't do it and they just
utilize our spaces, I don't know how
that's going to work because they're
they're under parking spaces relative
the calculation for parking spaces on
the building use. they don't have, you
know, parking is a a constant problem
and and and suppresses development down
there and and I don't want to see this
being suppressed. I I also think it's a
great thing. But so my question is
though, if you have a retail store in
this building and it's Friday night
concert and you're open till 9:00 and
not no but nobody can come to your store
and park because
because the beach people can
>> I mean I guess that there is a danger
that but you know in any kind
[clears throat] of uh retail district
and so forth you know parking is a
struggle no matter where you go. Uh this
sort of helps out a little bit, but I
don't
>> that that area is has parking issues all
the time anyway. Yeah. Okay. It's
nothing new.
>> No, it isn't. And you know, and we're
going to continue if if you know, I
don't know what the solution is. This is
a mini solution. Uh but you know,
parking is like I said, it's going to
spur or or or suppress rather uh any
kind of development of retail or any
kind of you know.
what what what's going to happen on B. I
mean, you know, we all look at what the
paddle club is and the salt house and of
course [snorts] the brewery down there.
You know, everyone's theory is that now
that Bay Avenue's just going to become
more walkable and uh you know, a little
retail stop would help.
>> Sean, do we know how many spots we're
going to have to lose in our parking
lot?
>> There is one.
>> It's just one.
>> Great. If you if you look at if you take
this and superimpose it over Google
Earth, it's three.
>> Okay.
>> Somewhere in here, they uh and and maybe
this is on the other site plan. They uh
they gave us they gave a calculation
that there was 38 spaces in our parking
lot and they claim it would be 37 after
reconfiguring it.
There's 10 spaces in that row actual and
they're showing seven spaces on their
plan. So my math comes up with three
spaces and there's no way you're going
to do a two-way where the arrows cut
through
>> in a 12t wide parking space.
>> Yeah.
>> Well, this has this has to come before
the the zoning board.
>> Oh, yeah. No,
>> and they they will probably absolutely
>> our engineers will question that. Okay.
It's I correct me if I'm wrong. Uh,
Councilman Mcwigan, you're just asking
us to just to take a look at it and
maybe you would have their attorney or
our representative come to council and
explain it to them.
>> Yeah, we hear them out. I mean, like you
just said there that uh you know, we
can't rule on we're not the ruling uh
thing here, but if we're offering if
that cutout uh you know, helps this get
approved,
>> then I'd be for
or if it has to be an easement. I I
don't know. I'm not the lawyer in the
room. Off the off the top, my only
concern is that if we went into some
type of an agreement, we'd have to uh be
sure that the developer of this project
would be willing to wave any liability
if our uh people coming into uh for the
uh beach concerts parks there uh that
they they wouldn't have a problem with
the liability associated with it. And I
think unfortunately everything comes
down to insurance and lawsuits. And I I
just think that we not only the planning
board but anyone else would have to
consider whether or not the developer
would be willing to wave that uh that
clause in the liability. I seriously
doubt they would but that's just a a
question that I have as far as liability
is concerned.
>> Yeah.
>> How many spaces are they short for it to
be within
>> requirements?
over 10.
>> Oh, yeah. Okay.
>> Um,
>> you also have to weigh in on the people
that attend the theater,
>> right?
>> The parking lot,
>> right?
>> They do they intend to tear down the
building and build new. Yes.
>> Yeah.
>> As you look at the as you look at,
>> huh?
Uh,
>> it's in pretty
not such great shape.
It's definitely worth exploring.
>> Okay. So, sure.
>> If I could be as bold as to say that I
would you think it would be okay to have
the develop come in and speak to the
council. Obviously, they're going to
have to go before the planning board to
make any decision, but we could
certainly listen to him.
>> Are we are we getting ahead of ourselves
by having him come in rather than before
he comes to the goes to the planning
board?
>> But we we have to come up with what the
solution would be. Is it a cross season?
Was it a you know that it
>> I'm not commenting right now.
>> Okay.
>> I think we have a lot more research to
do.
>> Yeah.
>> This is conversation.
>> Leave it at that right now.
>> I think our professionals have to weigh
in.
>> I suggest you
let people first before you planning
because right now the way the ordinance
is written they cannot present the case
to the planning board that they have
sufficient.
>> Okay. Right. So, so you have to figure
out whether you want to modify an
ordinance or not. You have to figure out
what else you want to do.
>> We've had a situation in the past where
a certain business was using
alongside the beach before for parking.
Probably why this work came around.
[snorts]
>> Okay. Again, we need a head nod here. Uh
do we have uh the this person
[clears throat] come in and talk to
council ahead of time or do we have go
to the Mr. President? I still have I
still have a question on this. Sean, you
said the first floor be retail.
>> Yes, sir.
>> What kind of retail?
>> Okay. Because in their rendering in
their rendering it has something med
harbor on it. Is this a medical use?
>> It's a uh the the company is a medical
uh involved in medical billing.
>> Medical billing.
>> Yeah. So I don't
>> So I assume that's what would probably
be upstairs.
>> That that's the second floor. Yeah.
>> Is this is this the company that's
presently on
Shore Road or that's No. Uh
>> no.
I think it's a I think the one I'm
thinking of is in building it's calling.
>> So, okay. I have no problem with anybody
coming in and showing us.
>> I I would just like to hear from when
whether it's when they come in at the
same time our professionals to look at
tell us what direction to go. I mean,
>> so ultimately though the the the plan
the planning board could wave the
parking requirements. Well, that yeah,
they could offer they could
pretty
>> I don't know whether they would or they
up a can of worms with sharing it.
>> Well, I mean a lot can of worms for his
potential business coming down by the
old uh Dolphin Dock clan bar with the
other city parking lot we have.
>> They already use it. So,
>> we Yeah, they use it,
>> but they're not dedicated spaces for
their approval. So, you're kind of
opening up that Pandora's box of, you
know, and I'm saying, you know, I know
other municipalities
do that, lease spaces on city- owned
property to businesses to meet their
requirements and stuff, and I'm not
opposed to that. I'm just stating the
fact that that's what we might be
opening the door for. And are we willing
to go down?
>> What's the square footage of this
building? Do we know?
>> Uh,
>> and it is a nice building. like an asset
on Bay Avenue.
>> Uh total square. No, that can't be
right.
>> I'm trying to
>> Why is it like 100,000?
>> It's too short.
>> 6500
>> 32 and 12.
>> That's a big building for that corner.
>> 32
come in.
>> Hang on a second. One conversation. Can
I get agreement to have the person come
in and what to do to speak to council,
see what they have to say, and then we
can go from there.
>> Yeah, Charlie, anybody can come in,
request to be on the agenda. And
>> I just want I just want to get everybody
up there. That's what we're going to do.
>> That's what we're going to do with that.
>> Could we get a better representative
than Sean want to explain?
[laughter]
>> Listen, I I mean, I could have just came
in here. I was hoping to get some sort
of solution
>> to present to them as they came in here.
Okay.
>> Tell them to buy another property around
it. Make their own.
>> We will do that. We will have them come
in. Mr. McGuigan, please reach out to
them. See if they want to come on
agenda.
>> Yeah.
>> All right. I need there is one thing I
was remiss in putting in new business
after talking to uh madam clerk. We need
to verify the reorganization date and
the first Friday of January.
>> Is everybody okay? I'm agree with the
>> I think we have to. It's an ordinance.
We have to
be
>> I'm just saying we don't have we don't
have enough
or not.
>> It's an ordinance.
>> Perfect.
Good. Second. What time?
>> Good.
>> What time?
>> Seven.
>> Yeah.
>> I thought we started them earlier.
>> It's in the ordinance started.
>> Seven.
>> The clerk wanted me to make sure that I
got everybody's agreement.
>> I'm going to look at that next year and
change it.
>> I thought we started one year.
>> Do we ask the council? Oh, no.
>> All right.
>> Let's try to get back to business here.
Um, discussion of the bills, Mr. Frost.
This evening we have a bill list the
amount of 1,420,192.91
as well as uh three additional uh
billless bill runs in the amount of
$452,3232.
Okay. Okay. May I get a motion to open
for public comment?
>> I have a second. All right. Okay. All in
favor?
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. We
are now open for public comment.
You can come up.
>> That's okay. If you could please state
your name and your address and we have a
rule of three minutes of speaking. Okay.
>> Yes. Thank you.
>> City clerk told me. My name is Brook
Silverstein. I live at 613 Sunny Avenue
right by the hospital.
>> Um, good evening council members. I
appreciate the opportunity to speak with
you tonight about an issue that has
become serious and ongoing and an
ongoing concern for our neighborhood.
For months now, many of us have
witnessed individuals driving through
our community as if they are
participating in a NASCAR race, speeding
up and down Shore Road and cutting
through residential neighborhoods with
little regard for the safety of others.
As you know, our residential areas are
clearly marked as 25 mileph zones and
Shore Road is limited to 35 mph. Yet day
after day, these limits are ignored.
Families, parents, and children are left
feeling unsafe in a very in the very
place where they feel most protected.
And despite repeated complaints from
residents, it appears that little
meaningful action has been taken to
address the situation. Many of us in the
community are beginning to feel as
though this issue is being brushed
aside. Much like the concerns that were
raised when ebikes first became a
problem, we all remember the tragic
consequences that followed a lack of
early intervention. We do not want to
repeat that history and we do not want
to see another young life lost. We do
not want to see another person seriously
injured because of the reckless behavior
that could have been prevented. I want
to acknowledge that I understand police
department the police department is
facing staffing shortages and I know
that comes with significant challenges.
But respectfully those challenges cannot
continue to be the reason nothing
changes. Ensuring public safety is one
of the most fundamental responsibilities
of leadership. When residents cannot
feel safe driving their own streets or
even walking with their child, something
has gone wrong. And when people who
ignore the law face no consequences, the
danger only grows. As a parent, this
issue is especially personal. When I
drive with my child in the car and see
vehicles speeding past me, swerving, or
refusing to maintain a safe distance,
even even when there is a baby on sign
clearly displayed, it is frightening. No
family should feel the level of fear in
the community.
No parent should have to wonder whether
their child is in danger simply because
someone else refuses to follow basic
traffic laws. Tonight, I'm asking on
behalf of myself and many others for the
city to take this matter seriously, and
to take action now. I'm not here to
blame. I'm here to push for solutions.
Solutions that protect our families,
restore a sense of safety, and show us
that our voices matter. This issue can
be fixed, and it needs to be fixed
immediately. Thank you for your time,
your attention, and your commitment to
the well-being of the residents you
serve. I hope you have a good evening
and a happy holiday. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
>> I'll have I'll have a conversation with
the chief. We'll take a look at this
street, the intersection, and see if
something needs to get done. Can
>> What What intersection of Sunny are we
talking about? Sunny
>> 13 where she lives. So, it's the whole
street.
>> Okay.
U Moren Hellbig, 106 East Dolls Avenue.
Um that with this discussion of the
condo hotel came up and it just brought
some thoughts to mind that I wonder if
will be part of uh the research or
discussions. But, you know, there's
condo living and then there's a hotel.
And combining them both is a concept
that I'm going to look into, I don't
know much about, but things that came to
mind were um I imagine there would be
bylaws written as to what percentage of
the units are occupied by the owners
during the peak season. We're talking
about a hotel. We're talking about we're
a tourist community. We're talking about
the fact that we have don't have enough
hotel units for people. So, if someone's
buying a condo in a seashore community
as an investment, you know, you tend to
think, well, they want to be here during
the summer. So, are they will there be
rules as to how long they can stay in
the unit? How much time during the peak
season that they will make it available
for hotel units? Um, you know, so what
percentage of the units are available
for the general public to reserve during
the peak season is thoughts I have. How
does the management company control um
who's occupying when the owner doesn't
make the unit available for the general
public? Oh, but they their neighbor
wants to go and here's $1,000. I'm going
to go. You know, I mean, how is that
controlled? So, if we're going to even
think about pilot program or tax
abatements and we're giving something
away for something that we need, our
city is a tourist community. We need to
have rooms available for people to go.
So to me, I see it as a conflict. You
know, buying it as investment property,
wanting to use it for yourself during
the peak time. To me, that's a condo.
It's not a hotel or it's an Airbnb or
whatever. So, just some thoughts that
popped into my head as I'm thinking
about it that I wanted to mention.
>> Thank you.
>> Motion to close public portion.
>> Second.
>> I hope
Take it back.
That one back.
>> Reverse. Reverse.
>> Stacy and to Violet Lena. Uh my Summers
Point affiliations
uh include uh the board of education.
Uh the Summers Point Garden Club. I'm a
Girl and Boy Scout leader. I'm on the
education foundation and I'm the
secretary. and I'm also the secretary of
the Summers Point Hockey Association.
I'm here this evening to discuss with
the full governing body and to have
known on the record concerns with the
complex at uh our hockey courts. Uh, I
want to
make sure that you're all aware that
earlier this year in the springtime,
um,
when my husband, who is the president of
the league, was here for a record board
meeting, um, it was told to him by Shawn
McGregan and Jason Frost that the
governing body will be issuing a check
for $170,000
for the completion and installation of
new boards. [snorts]
Decks have always been the primary
concern because not having decks
prohibits us from being able to play
with other leagues because that is a
requirement. Now,
he had multiple conversations
uh and contacts with Mr. McGuan, Mr.
Frost, and even Mr. TAP and proposed a
solution that instead of that money,
that full expenditure being utilized on
the construction of the boards that if
the boards were ordered, he would donate
his professional services to install
them and the money that will left be
left over will be able to to pay for the
decks on both courts. This is a winwin
for everybody for the city whose
property it is because the entire
complex would then be completely
upgraded and it was a win for our
association and 150 plus families that
were a part of it.
He began working on that because the the
agreement was made.
While he was working on it,
Mr. The Union came down to the courts as
he was about 85% done and asked how much
money Summers Point Hockey was going to
put up even though there was a previous
arrangement that had been made.
He took off two weeks of work unpaid to
be able to provide this service.
He continued to try to complete it and
speak to other other members
uh to address this terrible discrepancy.
Sorry about that. And we finally had a
meeting on November 18th with Mr.
Huborn, Mr. Top and Mr. McGrigan where
Mr. The meeting proceeded to lie through
with teeth that to the entire meeting
that this arrangement had ever been
made.
We were able to um discuss it further. I
am told that there is a meeting on
Monday to address this situation. But I
want the rest of the governing body to
be aware of exactly what has happened
and
make it a priority to make light right
this terrible wrong that has been
committed not only against our youth but
against my family personally because I
want you guys to think if you've ever
donated 25% of your monthly earnings to
a good cause and if you haven't that's
okay cuz it's not an easy task but if
you have you know just how hard it is
and to find out after that work was
always complete that the deal would be
the magma is beyond egregious.
So, I'm hoping that this governing body
will make this wrong a right and will
make it a priority to address this
concern and
recognize that the services have been
rendered and now it is the city's job to
put forth what you had said that was
going to be done. And so again, I I ask
you to take that in consideration. I'm
hopeful that this meeting that you have
on Monday will be productive and hoping
for a positive outcome.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
Please do what's right.
>> Motion to close public comment. Please.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed?
>> I don't.
>> That's right.
Any opposed? No one's opposed. Um, we
are now closed for public comment. Uh,
payment of the bills. May I have a
motion to pay the bills?
>> Second.
All in favor?
>> Any opposed?
>> Not hearing. Any opposed? Mr. Forest,
you can go ahead and pay the bills. Um,
comments from the governing body.
None.
>> I I do.
I'd like to thank the uh incumbent being
here tonight. I wish you all the best.
Uh Susanna Morgan Saw, I wish you the
very best up here sitting up here at
council. And uh that's that's and I wish
everybody else everybody in this room
very merry Christmas.
>> That's good.
>> Thank you.
>> Triple words. Anybody else?
>> Y
>> Anybody else have any comments? Well,
all right. We're going to
take a break here to go into executive
session. You're more than welcome to
wait outside. I don't think we're going
to be taking any action after executive
session, but