City Council Meeting 7/10/25

We did in Pleasantville. Oh, no kidding.
>> Yeah, for a good hour. Really? For
>> I think somebody hit a pole or
something. Whole plan went.
>> Parking lot's full. I thought everybody
was
>> Huh?
>> The parking lot's full. I thought there
was something. A room would be full.
>> Who knows?
>> I think there might be something going
on across the firehouse. It look like a
lot of people.
>> Hey, Mr.
look busy for some reason.
>> I know Jos's has the uh
hero campaign thing going on.
>> Yes. Hello, Howard.
>> Hi. How you doing?
>> I'm okay.
>> Long time. What's this afternoon, right?
>> That was yesterday. Yesterday.
>> Time flies when you're having fun.
>> It sure does. Yesterday it was. Yep.
>> That's okay.
[Music]
I got so much stuff going on I didn't
realize. Howard, are you up?
>> Yeah, I hear you.
>> Are you up for doing the flag tonight?
>> Let's call the meeting to order. All
rise for a flag.
>> Thanks. I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America and to
the republic for which it stands, one
nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
>> Madame clerk, may I have a roll call,
please?
>> Council member Deamplis,
>> here.
>> Council member Dill,
>> here.
>> Council member Gity.
>> Council member Johnston,
>> here. Council member Mcwigan
>> here.
>> Council member Owen
>> here.
>> Council President Habercorn
>> present. Also present is Mayor Tap,
Administrator Frost, City Clerk Heath,
City Solicitor Smith, and City Engineer
Snider. 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
gov.org.
Pursuant to city code A266-8P
and tofford everyone an opportunity to
address the governing body, the public
may speak only one time and not to
exceed 3 minutes. We do have a special
presentation tonight. It's the Atlantic
County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund
Renewal presentation. If you'd like to
come up and present, please.
>> Thank you. Um, I appreciate you setting
some time on your agenda for us today.
Just want to give you a quick update on
what's going on with your Jeff. Um, I'm
sure many of you know that we've seen a
really hard insurance market for the
past couple years. Um it was impacting
mo all lines including property
liability, cyber and work comp. Um well
the rest of the lines are starting to
come down and we're they're starting to
settle out. We continue to see increases
in property. Um we face a lot of
challenges. Part of it is natural
disasters. The number has been
increasing the last several years. Um
last year alone we had 27 separate $1
billion events. Um, couple that with the
cost of rebuilding and the increasing in
materials cost.
Um, and since Summers Point is a coastal
exposure, we also have that unique risk.
Um, the Atlantic GIF is uniquely
positioned to provide coverage to
coastal towns and we have programs to
help mitigate the risk associated with
coastal towns such as uh boardwalk
management programs, lifeguard training,
and beach sign guidance.
Um, as a member of the Atlantic GIF, you
are also a member of the municipal
excess liability insurance joint
insurance fund which is known as the
MEL. Um, the MEL is the biggest player
in the country. So, when we go out to
purchase insurance, we get a very
reduced rate and that helps and shows in
our premiums. Um, we're also being faced
with regulatory and statutory changes.
And again, since we're you're part of
the MEL, we have the MEL lobbyists that
meet with legislators before the bills
are passed to help amend some of the
wording to help reduce impact to member
towns. We're also being faced with a
medical inflation. In the past three
years, this has gone up by 7%.
Um, additional exposures that we're
facing are cyber
threats as well as storm water. And I'll
talk a little bit about those as well.
Um, a lot of times we hear that the GIF
requires so much training. Um, I just
want you to be aware the GIF does not
require any training. We help you uh
fulfill federal, state, and
courtmandated training as well as PIOSHA
regulations and directives. Because
we're part of the MEL system, we're able
to offer over 500 municipalities in New
Jersey training at a reduced cost. And
this is all included with your
membership.
Some of the training that we offer is
managers and supervisors training,
police command staff training, and
elected officials training. I'm sure
many of you seen the financial
incentives associated with that training
once you complete it. Um, we also have a
safety director that comes out and does
loss control visits of municipally owned
facilities. Uh, they also issue safety
bulletins and messages. And we have a
platform that provides uh training to
our municipal employees virtually uh
which is online and streaming. And the
reason why we encourage our our member
towns to take participate in the
training is because if you look on page
eight of your slides stack, you'll see
that there's a direct correlation
between the number of employees trained
and how severe they're how severely
they're injured and out of work. For
example, in 2003, we had 14 employees
train 14,000 employees trained and they
were uh we had a lost time accident
frequency rate of 2.96.
The loss time accident frequency rate
equates to employees that are out of
work for more than seven days. But if
you fast forward to 2024, we trained
over 80,000 employees and our lost time
accident frequency rate came down to
1.47.
definition.
>> Some of the other programs that we offer
you is our EPL risk management program.
This is a program where we provide you
model policies and procedures for your
employees. Um, this program is updated
every two years. We ask that you um read
it making the changes to help com
compliance with the new laws that come
out in the two-year period. It also
helps lower your deductible and co
insurance. In addition to that, we have
the EPL helpline which is staffed with
three attorneys that give real-time
advice for employee related matters. We
ask that you call them prior to taking
any action. Um the Atlantic GIF is also
member driven. Uh Miss Heath is part of
our safety committee. She is actively
engaged and the safety committee has
jurisdiction over all the safety
programs and policies that are adopted
by the fund.
As a part of the Atlantic GIF, you are
also a member of the EGIF. So, we
provide environmental coverage uh for
all our member towns. Now, we have uh
which includes storage tank system
coverage, on-site cleanup cost. Um also
public officials pollution liability
coverage. Um I'm sure many of you have
heard about the Amos versus Hadenfield.
This is where a 200year storm occurred
in Hadenfield and four homeowners had
damage to their homes. The jury awarded
the homeowners $21.5 million for
damages. Um, this case is currently
under appeal. Uh, however, no realizing
that we had multiple cases similar to
this, uh, the Mel created a storm water
guidance program where you have access
to an engineering firm as well as legal
services for three hours for each. It is
totally free to you.
Um and in order to um address some of
the cyber concerns, the Atlantic GIF
along with it sister GIFs in the
Burlington County, Gloucester, Salem and
Cumberland counties went out to the RFP
process to provide internal and external
penetration testing to its members.
These three GIFs are the only three GIFs
in the state that provides this service
to their members. Uh what it is is
certified tester simulating realw world
attacks to identify uh vulnerabilities
in your IT infrastructure
and you also have access to a technology
service director who's able to help you
come into compliance with the various
cyber initiatives.
Things that we're doing to control some
of the workers compensation costs. We
recognize we will have claims but
there's ways to mitigate them. Um we
have a transitional duty program in
2024. 83% of these days were used by the
ACM GIF members and it saved just under
a million dollars. Um we also have a
network pro um exclusive provider
network for medical providers and it
helps reduce our costs when our
employees are injured. We've saved about
70% last year.
Uh in order to manage liability claims,
we have a specialized defense panel. Um
it is inclusive of local attorneys that
specialize in defending public entities
in southern New Jersey. We also have a
certificate of insurance program and a
model indemnification guidelines which
were recently updated last year and it
provides you with um insurance
guidelines for when you're entering into
contracts and agreements with third
parties.
While we offer all this, we also
recognize that sometimes there's a need
to look at alternatives. Um, we ask that
you look at an alternative GIF's
financials. You want to make sure that
you're going to a financially stable
GIF. Some of the things that you want to
look for is uh supplemental
contributions associated with that GIF.
Uh discounting of reserves, recoverables
from excess insurers. Just like a
municipal budget, the GIF is required to
remove any recurables after one year.
We also want to look at what the cost is
for running that GIF and how much money
is returned to their members and their
finding uh their net surplus or deficit
position. Looking at the ACM GIF, we
have over $13 million in cash. We have,
I'm sorry, $13 million in surplus, $48
million in cash, and we've returned
$55.7 million to our members. Last year,
we've returned 2 million. Uh, the city
of Summers Point has received a little
over $1.5 million since coming into the
um dividend stream.
So, we ask that you encourage your
employees to participate in GIF programs
as they reduce risk and save taxpayer
dollars.
To keep elected officials connected to
the GIF, we've developed a quarterly
newsletter. It gives you a quick update
on what's going on with your GIF.
And then at the back of your
presentation, you'll see a little report
card and it just gives you a brief um it
gives you some information on how you're
doing among in the GIF amongst your
peers.
I hope you look favorably towards
renewing your membership in Atlantic
GIF. If you have any questions, I'll
take them now.
>> Any questions?
Not hearing any questions. It must be uh
cleared up everything.
>> Great. Thank you. I appreciate it.
>> Thank you for coming out tonight and
thank you for all you do while I'm
working with the town. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
>> All right. Um, communications.
Hearing any communications. Uh, Mr.
Mayor.
>> Yeah, I just have a couple things. I
just want to take the opportunity to
thank Guy Martin and uh, Steve Hornick.
As everyone knows, uh, you drive down
Shore Road, you'll see the hometown hero
banner campaign. Uh, that was headed up
by Larry Lemieux. We just got a last uh,
batch in and we were uh, and we had just
gotten them up this week. Uh, public
works puts them up. I know that uh Steve
Hornick uh painstakingly made sure that
the banners go into the right locations
and I just want to be able to thank
them. Um and then the second thing I
have is I just want to take a moment to
talk about someone who's given so much
to the community and his name is Keith
Mchuan. Keith served uh as a Summers
Point police officer with honor and uh
dedication for 25 years. He protected
our streets, supported our families, and
he was a pillar of strength and service.
Now, Keith is faced with one of the
toughest battles of his life. He's got
stage 4 prostate cancer. So, there's a
fundraising event. It's called Together
for Keith and it's going to be held on
uh July 27th. It's a Sunday, 2 to 6.
It's at Fire Company number two, which
is just right here across the street.
Tickets are $35. Um, it really it's when
you think about when you try to put
everything in perspective, at least for
me, you know, and you get hung up on on
certain things and then all of a sudden
life throws you a curveball and then you
got stage four, you know, it's like, oh
my god, it's you really it's
heartbreaking. But if anyone would like
to contribute like a basket or an item
or something, you can contact Jen and
her phone number is 609-4328710.
[Music]
And I just encourage everybody to
attend.
Thanks.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr.
>> Frost, nothing.
>> Mr. Smith,
>> thank you,
>> Mr. Snider.
>> Uh, just like the Shore Road pedestrian
project is continuing. Um, right now
we're focusing on areas where schools
are in Dolls Avenue and um, next will be
one of the St. Joe's schools closed. Um,
also I'm looking to get the line
stripers back for one more day. They
still have to do the There's a couple
more roads that the police department
requested for no parking boxes and then
they have to come back with the blue
paint for some handicap spots. But um
they did already do full five days of
restriping areas that were um requested
by public works and the uh police
department. So majority of the work is
done.
>> Thank you. What's the completion date
for the short road project?
>> Short road project.
>> Yeah.
>> Well,
half of the neighborhood.
>> Half of the
>> Okay, that's actually done.
>> I'll let you go.
>> Just let me know when you get a chance.
>> And any day now.
>> Yeah.
>> All work weather permitting, too. I
mean, got some rain.
>> Do we have any uh committee reports?
Not hearing any committee reports. Um I
get a motion um to accept the uh regular
meeting minutes of June 26, 2020
and the executive session minutes of
June 26, 2025
as to content only. May I have a motion
for that, please?
>> I'll make that motion. I
>> have a second.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Not hearing. Any opposed?
the meeting minutes for those date that
date is accepted. We have three
ordinances on tonight. The first one is
a second reading. Uh the other two are
are first readings. Um Madame Clerk, if
you would like to start with number 11,
please.
>> Ordinance number 11 of 2025, an
ordinance adopting the 90 Broadway
redevelopment plan within block 2018
lots 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04,
4, 1.05, 1.08, 2.02, 1.06, and 1.07
in an area in need of rehabilitation
within the city of Summers Point, county
of Atlantic, state of New Jersey.
>> May I have a motion to open for public
comment, please?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Um, any comments at this point from up
here? No, not any comments. All in
favor?
>> I opposed.
>> Nobody opposed. We are now open for
public comment on ordinance number 11
only.
>> You please state your name and address.
Thank you.
Good evening, council members. My name
is Levi Fox and I continue to live at 90
Broadway. I'm here this evening to speak
against the redevelopment plan for 90
Broadway that the city seems on the
verge of passing. I want to make clear
from the outset that I am not here to
say anything negative about the
redeveloper the city has picked for this
project nor the current owner of the
property. Rather, I am here to point out
the ways that I believe the city has
mismanaged this process from the
beginning and the consequences.
Moreover, while there are many aspects
of the redevelopment plan that I believe
could legitimately be challenged, I want
to focus primarily on its impact on our
community. I will therefore not be
discussing the fact that the plan is
based on a more than decade old
designation of the entire city of
Summers Point as being an area in need
of rehabilitation.
Nor the air impropriy one could argue
surrounded a process in which multiple
members of council spoke privately with
parties to the project which has gotten
past plans thrown out. Instead, there is
one specific aspect of this
redevelopment plan that I want to focus
on. The section on the top of page 24
titled relocation plan that perpetuates
the convenient lie, no removal of low or
moderate income households will occur
with the implementation of this
redevelopment plan.
While my family might have an agreeable
deal in place, the same cannot be said
for those lowincome households that have
already been displaced with the
implementation of this plan. And as I
learned and previously shared with
council, it was always the ultimate
responsibility of the city under the
local housing and redevelopment law to
make sure that all residents being
displaced through this process were
relocated.
Assuming they are not one in the same
entity, the ultimate responsibility to
ensure tenant relocation is thus a joint
one between the redeveloper and the
municipality. Rather than taking
accountability for its actions, the city
throughout this process has attempted to
ignore its state level legal
responsibility.
If this process had been better managed
from the start, then 16 apartments would
still be available while more affordable
housing units are being constructed.
Throughout this process, some have said
that displaced tenants did not have
lights or were squatters. And council
has willfully ignored the plight of the
neediest residents of our town. One
person even said to me that since we
were renters, we were just transients.
I will say our next door neighbors for
14 years are doing okay woodbine even
though one works at shore. Our
downstairs neighbors found an apartment
in town, but the rent is higher. I think
Debbie and Wes who lived in building D
for a dozen years were able to find a
place locally. Charlie was my neighbor
for over a decade. He found a place in
EHT could afford to stay with his son.
Leah moved in with her boyfriend. Joe
moved back with his mom. I'm not sure
what happened to the young couple with a
child and another on the way. But I was
told they may have been eligible for
veterans housing after they were forced
out in January.
From building B next door, one person is
renting a room in someone's house, and
another got her son to help her pay for
a spot in a trailer park. Lisa, the
crossing guard from building A, had to
go on disability so she would be
eligible for a place in vent she could
afford. And then there are Bob, the
veteran, and Allison, his caretaker, who
I told you about in spring, but was
later informed may not be the most
sympathetic pair since Bob panhandles.
My wife ran into Allison this past week
and was told they are now unhoused,
adding to the growing issue of
homelessness in our community. These are
the consequences of the plan.
Thank you.
>> Not seeing any other make a motion to
close public
>> make a motion to close public portion on
this ordinance.
>> I have a second.
>> Second. All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. We
are now closed for president.
>> Yes.
>> Yes, sir.
>> I'd like to have a roll call vote on
this and and everyone should have in
your packet a copy 2022 2025 memorandum
of the planning board and part and
parcel of being sent down to ensure that
the development plan was consistent with
the master plan. The planning board
issued a a resolution, but it also
issued this memorandum about
consistency. And I just want to make
sure everyone has read it and and agrees
with the consistency of the master plan.
Uh when you vote
for vote for it,
>> I will follow
anyone's voting.
>> Okay. So, we we're going to do a roll
call, but I need a motion to adopt.
>> I make that motion.
>> I'll second it. All in favor?
>> I
>> Any opposed?
>> You need a roll call.
>> Oh, so I'm sorry. Let's clerk. Let's do
the roll call.
>> Council member Owen.
>> Yes.
>> Council member DeFilis.
>> Yes.
>> Hold on. You're supposed to
>> You have to tell me you read this.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Okay. Mr. uh Owen, did you read the
memorandum? Do you agree with it?
>> Yes.
>> Okay. That was the only person who
support.
>> Yes.
Council member Depampilis.
>> Yes, I read it.
>> Thank you.
>> Council member Johnston.
>> Yes. And I also read it and agree with
it.
>> Council member Dill.
>> Uh yes. And I have read it and I also
sit on the planning board so I'm well
aware of it.
>> Council member McGuigan.
Uh, I did have a chance to review and uh
agree with the memorandum from the
planning board and I vote yes for the
project.
>> Council President Habercorn.
>> Yes, I did read it and I am voting in
the affirmative.
So based on that roll call vote and the
comments made, ordinance number 11 is
adopted.
Ordinance number 15, please. Ordinance
number 15 of 2025, an ordinance amending
and supplementing chapter 114
development regulations article 28,
Summers Point Historic Preservation
Commission.
>> May I have a motion?
>> So move.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Any comments?
Not hearing any comments. All in favor?
>> Any opposed?
>> Not hearing any opposed. Ordinance
number 15 is introduced.
May I have number 16, please?
>> Ordinance number 16 of 2025, an
ordinance enacting a continuing
education incentive program for the city
of Summers Point Fire Department's
firefighters.
>> May I have a motion?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Any comments? U council president I'll
save my comments till the second reading
but I do have
>> anybody else have any comments for at
this time not hearing any comments all
in favor
>> I
>> any opposed hearing any opposed
ordinance number 16 is introduced
um and we're going to move on to
resolutions
may have a motion to open for public
comment
>> I'll make that motion
>> I have a second
>> second All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. We
are now open for public comment.
>> Please state your name and your address.
Thank you.
>> Sure. My name is John Hillbig, 106 East
Avenue. I just had a couple questions on
resolution 169. Can I just confirm that
agreement does not contain any
provisions for tax abatements, tax
reductions, any type of tax breaks for
either the redeveloper or the potential
purchasers of these residential units?
>> I'll confirm that. Yes,
>> that's correct.
>> It does not
>> does not have any.
>> Okay. Number 175. What are what
provisions of that Senate bill are we
objecting to or are we objecting to the
whole thing?
May I? So that is uh is requiring a an
addition of a housing element into
master plans
>> and we're well if if we vote in the
affirmative for this resolution, we're
objecting to that and you know it's it's
creating a burden on municipalities. We
just happen to be in the midst of
creating our master plan as you very
well know, but if we were say five years
in, we'd have to reopen it. There's no
uh provisions within that bill for
timing or or a grace period of anything.
You we'd have to react if that becomes
uh law as it is written now. We'd have
to react to that right now. So,
>> and it's sort of a it's it's forcing you
to create a housing element that that we
may or may not be ready to do.
>> So, most of the provisions, it seemed to
me that reading that bill um are part of
a housing plan anyway.
>> Yes.
>> Um so, I guess what they're what they're
suggesting or what they're requiring
through this statute if it passes would
be the incorporation of that into your
land use element in the master plan.
Yes.
>> Okay. All right. So,
>> yes. I mean, it's another way of of
entangling the I see, you know, the the
the burden
>> on the municipal,
>> not necessarily against affordable
housing, but the burden that's been
created for all every New Jersey
municipality and one that this community
has,
>> for lack of a better term, suffered
under for quite some time. Yeah, thank
you.
>> Patricia Pearson, 587 Marks Road,
Summers Point. Um,
what what floor needs to be fixed in
city hall?
>> Right now, we're going out. If this was
to be accepted, it would be going out
for bid for the flooring right out here
as you come into city hall.
>> The hallway. Yes. The hallway that goes
in all directions
>> from here to the tax office and back.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. So, you're going to put a new
floor in there maybe. Right.
>> I couldn't I couldn't
>> You're taking bids for it, right?
>> Yes, we're taking bids for it.
>> All right. Um
Well, 901 Maze Landing Road. Is that the
new boat building that's being built or
what is it?
>> 901 Maze Landing Road. Great Bay. Great.
That's the Great Bay area.
>> Oh, Great Bay.
>> Mhm.
>> So, this is all for Great Bay.
>> Yes.
>> I trust Great Bay. I don't trust any
What is this rejection of the bids for
2025, the road bids? What does that
mean?
>> Mr. Schneider, would you want to go into
the detail on that, please?
>> Yeah, we just went out to bid for paving
and there was a clerical error because
we received bids on Junth even though
city hall was open. So we're by law
we're not permitted to receive bids that
date. So we have to reject.
>> So it's like a technicality. Okay. And
uh
>> city hall replacement.
>> What is the municipal aid? What does
that mean? The the one um uh 179.
>> That's just that's just another I'm
sorry.
>> Yeah, that's another paving. We get
money from the state to do paving.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
>> Not seeing anyone else for public
comment.
>> Motion to close the public portion on
the resolutions.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing. Any opposed?
We are now closed for public comment on
resolutions
only. Number 169, please.
>> Resolution number 169 of 2025, a
resolution authorizing the execution and
delivery of a redevelopment agreement
between the city of Summers Point and
Excellar Building Solutions LLC for the
proposed development of block 2018 lots
1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.08,
2.02, 1.06, and 1.07. 07.
>> May I have a motion?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Any comments?
Not hearing any comments. Mr. Smith,
would you think I should do a roll call
in this case or is this just one we can
do as a body?
>> You don't need to do a roll.
>> Okay. Thank you. All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing anyone opposed.
Resolution number 169 is approved.
173. Resolution number 173 of 2025
authorizing executive session advice of
council and attorney client privilege
communication regarding the status of
potential contract negotiations between
the city and the Atlanta County
Improvement Authority relative to its
housing rehabilitation program.
>> Have a motion.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Any comments? Not hearing any comments.
All in favor? Any opposed?
>> Not hearing any opposed. Resolution
number 173 is approved and again that's
going to be an executive session which
will follow up later in the meeting.
Number 174, I'm sorry.
>> Resolution number 174 of 2025
authorizing executive session advice of
council and attorney client privilege
communication regarding the status of
litigation involving the city entitled
GH Restaurant Holdings LLC GH Restaurant
Enterprises Gary M. Holloway versus the
city of Summers Point having a docket
number of ATL- C-37-25.
We
>> have a motion.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Any comments? Not hearing any comments.
All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
Resolution number 174 is approved.
Again, that is an executive session
number 175. Resolution number 175 of
2025 opposing New Jersey Senate Bill
S4451
modifying requirements for land use plan
element and housing plan element of
municipal master plans.
>> We have a motion.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Any comments? Not hearing any comments.
All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
Resolution number 175 is approved.
number 176, please.
>> Resolution number 176 of 2025, go
governing body certification of the
annual audit.
>> I have a motion.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> Any comments?
Just like to make a comment set closing
uh meeting it was well done. Like the
order flew through pretty seamlessly. I
thank Shaina and her team and Jason for
doing that. Uh, anyone else have any
comments?
>> I also congratulate the staff because
our audits are good every year. So, they
do a great job. So,
>> it was a lot of detail work.
>> Absolutely.
>> I would suggest we won't.
>> Thank you.
>> Council member Deampilis,
>> yes.
>> Council member Dill,
>> yes.
>> Council member Johnston,
>> yes.
>> Council member Mcwigan,
>> yes. Council member Owen,
>> yes.
>> Council President Habberghorn,
>> yes. Resolution number 176 is approved.
Council member Johnston, do you are you
okay with where I have that one um
resolution here expressed that we want
to move that?
>> Yeah, I would like to request that we
take that out of the consent agenda so
that we could have some further
discussion.
>> Okay. You want to do that right now
then, right?
>> Yes, please. Okay.
>> It would be resolution number 178,
correct?
Yes.
>> Okay. Um, you do me a favor and read
178, please.
>> Resolution number 178 of 2025
authorizing RFPs for city hall floor
replacements.
>> Okay. May I have a motion?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> I have a second.
>> Second. Any comments?
>> Yes, I have a comment. Um, so I've been
here on council
uh it's either six or seven years, I'm
not sure. But but um in that time there
have been several several conversations
about this building. Um this building is
old. It's too small. It doesn't We just
keep putting money into it every single
year. We've discussed researching our
other options. We were supposed to get
estimates on a private partner ship
maybe to build a new building. We get
get an architect to tell us or an
engineer to tell us if this building is
still structurally sound. Can it be
added on to? Can it can we put a second
floor on? I mean, there's been so many
discussions. And I feel like this is
just another band-aid that we're putting
on something that needs major surgery
and it's costing us thousands and
thousands of dollars every single year
to maintain this building. Uh it's not
big enough. Our administration is in the
basement. Our construction office is in
a separate building.
Um, I just think it's past due the time
to to stop putting band-aids on this and
let's let's do let's find out what our
other at least find out what our other
options are and if there's another way
that we can make major improvements to
this building so we can use it for many
more years.
>> Um, I'm going to comment if I may. I
know our our buildings and grounds uh
subcommittee which I'm a part of and Mr.
Bill and Mr. Mcwigan are also there is
some work being done right now to get
some uh ideas together on the public uh
private partnership as Mr. Mcwigan had
made reference to in a earlier meeting
uh a couple meetings back. So that work
is ongoing. Uh, the reason why I I chose
to put this on there is about four or
five years, I might have the dates a
little wrong, but about four or five
years ago, this endeavor of trying to do
a new building uh was undertaken. Um,
and I I believe a lot of research was
done. Uh, Sean gets mad at me say this,
but I wasn't on city council at the
time, so uh maybe I have the dates a
little wrong, but a lot of work was
done, and from what I've been told, it
fizzled out and died. Um, and I want to
go out for a bid because I believe
employees and our residents that come in
this building need to have an atmosphere
that is aesthetically pleasing. I know
when I worked, I'd like to go into an
office that was aesthetically pleasing.
I feel like the floor uh needs to be
replaced. Um, if we get the um if we get
the bids in and and Mr. Frost can find
money within the budget to to do it. I I
think we should move forward because
there's no guarantee
as evidenced by our past history that we
can get a consensus to get a new
building either built or redo this
building. So that is why I put it on uh
the agenda at this time. Um because I I
just don't have I think it needs to be
this building needs to be cleaner. When
you just look at the entrance way in
today, I think most of you probably
noticed you no longer have those two big
bushes when you come in over here. It
looks a little more aesthetically
pleasing and a little bit more
welcoming. I think more of that we can
do. And I agree with you 100%. Uh,
Council Member Johnston, we need to do
something, but our past history has been
at it fizzled out. So, that's
>> Could I weigh in on that? And I agree
and I agree with what uh councilwoman uh
said there that you know we we really
need to drive in some sort of direction,
get something really going here and uh
and figure out what our future is and
you know and I've had private
discussions and I probably discussions
that you know I I think we need a a new
building how we get there. Uh you know I
continue to work on that with the
committee and uh you know we'll redouble
those efforts and get that going. I just
want to point out that this resolution
is only to put out an RFP to gather
quotes. We'll have an opportunity to
reject those quotes and not spend the
money at at that time once we get those
quotes. So, uh I'm advocating let's see
what it's what's going to cost and and
you know, like anything you buy, is it
worth doing? Uh and then we'll we'll go
from there. Thank you.
>> Any other comments?
>> Yeah, Council President.
Um, I agree with Councilwoman Johnson.
Uh, the, uh,
we need to move forward with a new
building. I know that the committee is
working hard to do that now again. and
um
to make the building aesthetically
pleasing to the public and to our
employees. Uh I feel that we need to
move forward because
when we make the decision
to go into a private public partnership
and we move forward, you're probably
talking 3 to 5 years before the building
would be completed. And I don't think we
should be look, our employees and the
public should be looking at a floor in
that condition and probably even worse
condition over the next 3 to 5 years.
So, I'm in favor of going out at least
in getting a price on it and uh if it's
affordable and Mr. uh the business
administrator can uh find the money to
do it, uh I think we should move forward
with it. Uh there's just things that
we're going to have to do in order to
survive in this building until such time
we have something better. Any
other comments?
>> Wait, do you get the price for a new
roof?
>> Um, any other constructive comments at
this
>> knew you?
>> Listen, I'm just uh you know that
before I lose control.
>> All in favor?
>> I I'm a no.
>> Okay. Uh hearing one. No.
>> We're okay to move forward. Consent
agenda.
>> Let me go back to consent agenda here.
Hang on a second.
>> May I have a motion for the consent
agenda, please?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> May I have a second?
>> Second.
>> Any comments? Not hearing. Any comments?
All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
The consent agenda
is approved.
Okay. Does anyone have any old business
to discuss?
Not hearing any old business. We have a
um
a
large large laundry list of approvals
for social affairs. There is one typo in
here. Under approval for social affairs
permit application for Robert Johnson
post 28 2189. It says November 1st. It
is supposed to read November 11th.
>> Okay. So, with that change, may I get a
motion to accept because I'm assuming
that the chief has cleared all this.
Yes. May I get a motion to accept uh the
um under new business all of these
social affair permits?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> I'll second.
>> All in favor?
>> Second. Sorry,
>> President. I just need to recuse myself
from the Okay. uh third one down the or
excuse me the second one down the
summers historical society event
>> uh which is the good old days festival
which I'm a part of as well as a part of
the historical society so I'd like to
recuse myself from consideration on that
>> okay
>> thank you
>> so all in favor
>> I
>> any opposed not hearing any opposed the
social affair permits on the new
business are accept
let's see here let's see we go down here
we want to discuss the bills
Certainly. Uh this evening we have a
record of payments in the amount of $258
and we have a bill list in the amount of
$1,619
68567.
>> Okay. I have a motion and a second to
open for public comment. Please
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Have a second.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I
>> opposed. Hearing any opposed. We are now
open for public comment. Again, we need
your name stated as well as your
address.
>> Um, Patricia Pearson, 587 Marks Road.
Um,
number one, if you would uh send the
court to Maze Landing, you could use
that nice court office to clean up the
basement
and it would improve the uh area for
about another five or 10 years because
with the taxes we pay, I don't care how
much grants you're getting or this or
that. People aren't going to go for a
new city hall. and you know it. I mean,
this is insane. And also, even getting
things for the hockey field and things
like that, you have a lot of nerve when
you the the schools up four cents. Don't
you read the newspapers? I'm telling
you. And also, did you read the article
on page three of the Sentinel this week
about when you don't we don't know who
we are, what we're doing.
What are we? Are we a beach town? Are we
a or are we a family res? What are we?
Let's figure that out. The other thing
is the banners are excellent. They are
the nicest thing that have hit this town
all year. They are absolutely excellent.
I can't believe whoever did that
deserves a a medal. Um
the road from the bridge coming up by to
Josie's is so perfect. Everybody loves
that. The curbs are beautiful. So these
are the good things that are happening.
the hero um hero organization just had a
big uh event today 5 to7 at Josie
Kelly's. Nobody was there but the bottom
line is that's a really good
organization. You should support it. You
say I have counsel. You could have run
in there said a little speech or
something. Show your face. I mean that
that deserves a little more support.
Uh, do you know how many vendors
licenses are at the beach?
>> Does anybody know?
>> No.
>> There's still two.
>> There's two.
>> Two.
>> Do you know who they are?
>> It's a uh uh ice cream gentleman and a
coffee company. Uh,
>> they were the coffee company was down
there last week. I asked them.
>> Are there any gray areas? Any what?
>> Gray areas. Gray. Gray. Color. Gray.
Gray areas means that uh not black or
not white. It's gray. Are there any gray
areas?
>> Depending
gray areas
>> for for any kind of a charity or
anything at the beach. Is there a gray
area?
>> This isn't real hard to get a vendor's
license. $80. You go in, you fill out an
application. You then get yourself
cleared by police department and you get
a vendor's license. that part. I agree.
But what about what about the volunteers
of a charity that want to give it and
you have to have three forms of
identification? Like it's almost like a
terrorist thing. You're trying not to
have terrorists. I mean, I want to go
and give pretzels out at the beach. I
have to give you three forms of
identification. Does that make any sense
at all?
>> We we do have a process, Mr. Smith, for
the render license and we apply that to
all. That's the
>> What law are we following with that one?
city ordinances.
Send me an email. I'll send you the
ordinance. This isn't a real hard
>> I believe. Yeah, I believe there's an
ordinance, but at the diner, I said to a
lot of people and said,
>> I'm going to ask you a question because
I do know a lot of people at the diner.
Why don't you give me their names?
>> Bill Riker is one of them. He said,
"Doesn't they have a gray area?" Then we
start going down the line.
>> Either we either we adhere to the law or
we don't.
>> Okay.
>> All right. You got that? I put that on
the record because I'm going to bring us
some things next week. Okay, that's
parts good. Good. I like that. Okay, now
the Oprah request. Is there a delay in
city hall or what's going on? If you
Oprah something, can't you get it?
>> Yeah, we we you submit it goes to
business.
>> How long does it take?
>> Seven business days.
>> Are you sure?
>> Just talked to the uh clerk who's
sitting right next to me, the
>> Okay. Well, somebody called me today and
told me they didn't get the roper. Say
that again.
>> They called me.
>> Were they at the diner?
>> So I said, "What's wrong with you?"
>> Seven days.
>> Tell them to call the city clerk.
>> That person should be here complaining,
not her.
>> So everything is so great, but when it
comes up to ask questions about what?
What? What?
>> Seven business days.
>> Everybody, nobody knows what they're
doing.
>> I'm answering the question. Seven
business days.
>> Okay. I'll get you the name. Okay. Thank
you. Thank you. All right. Thanks.
May I get a motion to close public
comment, please?
>> A motion to close public comment on open
session.
>> Public portion.
Yes.
>> Have a second, please.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> I.
>> Any opposed? We now close for public
comment. May I have a motion to pay the
bills?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> A second.
>> Second there, Mr. D.
>> Second.
>> Absolutely.
>> Second. Thank you. Couldn't hear over
here. All
>> in favor?
>> I can't hear you. All right. Any
opposed? Not hearing any opposed to pay
the bills, Mr. Frost. Um, comments from
the governing body. Any comments?
All right. Uh, we're going to be going
No, hearing no comments. We're going to
be going into executive session after a
brief recess. Anyone that wants to wait
out there, you're more than welcome to
wait and then we will reach out and have
you come in. Thank you.