Sept 11 2025 Ventnor City Commission Meeting

Good evening everybody. I'd like to call
to or Yeah. I'd like I'd like to call to
order the September 11th vendor city
commission. Um before we get started, um
I'd like to ask you all to take a moment
of silence to reflect on the events of
September 11th. Uh we remember nearly
3,000 lives lost, the families forever
changed. uh appropriate the first
responders that showed extraordinary
bravery and sacrifice on that day. Um
and we'd like to also pause to remember
former fire chief uh Bertram Bert Sabbo,
close friend and um dedicated chief for
over uh gave over 30 years to the city
of Vener Fire Department uh serving as
chief from 2005 until his retirement. So
I ask for a moment of silence on all
their behalfs.
Thank you. Um, can we rise for the flag
salute, please?
Pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of Americ.
>> Thank you. Uh roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langrath
>> here.
>> Commissioner Mento
>> here. Mayor Creable
>> here.
Um would you please read the uh can I
I'd also recognize the elected official
our uh uh county commissioner Mr. Refu.
Thank you for for being here for all
your purposes other purpose but nice to
see you here.
>> Thank you Bob. You're welcome.
>> Yeah.
>> And also want to welcome Bob Seri my my
former councilman in Brigant team former
councilman there and retired AC
firefighter. So welcome. Nice to see you
guys here.
>> Thank you. So the roll call all all in.
Uh,
>> come on, Maria. Who do you have here?
>> We'll get to that. That's uh items item
seven. Uh, Lisa, could you read the open
public's meeting announcement for me?
>> So, into 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.
>> Thank you. Would you please read the
live streaming announcement?
>> The city of Vendor offers live streaming
and the option of public comment via
remote access as a convenience to the
public. In the event remote access is
unavailable for any reason beyond the
city's control, the city will not pause
or stop the live meeting. The city
reserves the right to discontinue remote
access at the discretion of the city for
any future meetings.
Thank you. Um we're going to work a
early resolution in here. Resolution
2025-294,
resolution uh authorizing the hiring of
Christopher Hernandez under the state of
New Jerseys alternate route program PL
20.
May I have a uh motion to uh accept that
resolution?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa,
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> So moving Yes.
All in favor. Good job.
>> Uh so uh obviously you're all here for
our oaths of office. We will um uh we
have four oaths to to administer today.
Uh the first being um uh Ryan and would
you pronounce it?
>> Tone.
So
Commissioner Mento would like to
>> You don't mind Ryan. I would like to
swear you in
>> as your deputy mayor.
Would you rather have the mayor?
>> Is this it? Tim.
>> Yeah.
>> So, you should have his name on it.
Which one? There. These are for all of
them. So, fire. That's firefighter
Brahmine.
>> That one.
>> There you go. They're in order.
>> This also means you get to go to Marines
for Thanksgiving.
>> So, there's a little bit of a story
here.
I just met Ryan tonight for the first
time and when I saw his name on the
list, I was looking at it and looking at
it and looking at it and I called his
father up and I said, "Is this your
son?" Because I remember seeing you on
Facebook.
Is there two of them? Ryan is my cousin,
my second cousin. I'm getting emotional.
I don't think I ever met you unless you
were a little kid running around at a
family party, you know, and then we all
went our ways and we moved from where we
grew up and his grandmother, my father
were brother and sister. So, this is a
real honor and privilege for me. Thank
you for allowing me to do this. So, you
will repeat after me and raise your
right hand. Got the B. Okay. And you
know, we're all cousins, too.
>> Yeah.
>> I Ryan Tone do solemnly swear that
>> I will support the Constitution of the
United States
>> I will support the Constitution of the
United States
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey
>> constitution state
>> that I will bear true faith and
allegiance
>> that I will bear true faith allegiance
>> to the same and to the governments
>> to the same to the governments
>> established in the United States
>> and in this state
>> under the authority authority of the
people
>> under the authority of the people
>> and that I will faithfully
>> that I will faithfully
>> impartially and justly
>> partially and justly
>> perform all the duties of the office
>> of firefighter
>> firefighter
>> according to the best of my skill and
ability
>> according to the best of my skill and
ability
>> so help me God
>> congratulations
pictures.
>> Okay,
>> signature of
minute.
>> Welcome to the family.
Family. Okay, we got everything here.
>> Everything else.
>> Do we need his address? High street
address. Okay,
>> you guys got the pictures
you guys.
>> You're welcome.
all the way up right there. You're going
to come into the pictures. Mom and dad
are
hold your shirt down, buddy.
>> Now you're on TV. Now you're on TV, too.
>> We'll have to send this out to Hamilton.
One, two, three.
Don't leave yet.
>> Don't leave yet.
>> Good.
Spider-Man. There we go.
>> All right.
>> Ramy Luke Brahmy.
Yeah. Nice.
>> Yeah.
Right.
>> Sign. Go to Lisa. This is This is next.
>> Good.
You got
move everybody into the middle. So that
right?
>> She's great.
Hi, nice to
>> meet you.
And then if you further say that
do
>> solemnly swearly
>> that I will support the Constitution
that I will support the Constitution
>> of the United States
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey. Constitution of the state of
federal
>> and that I will bear true faith
>> and allegiance to the same
>> and to the governments
>> established in the United States
>> and in this state
>> in this state
>> under the authority of the people
>> and that I will faithfully
>> that I will faithfully
>> and partially
>> partially
>> and justly perform
>> justly perform
>> all the duties
>> of the office of firefighter
>> the office of firefighter
>> according To the best of my skills and
ability.
To the best of my skills and ability. Oh
God. Congratulations. Thank
>> He's got a sign.
Thank you.
>> I know it was video and you don't get to
>> get in there.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
All right.
>> You got the last one. Y
You help me with your the pronunciation
of your last name.
>> It'll pick up better.
>> Yeah.
>> All right. So, um, I'm just going to
read this in phrases and then it's up to
you whether you have a chance to say so.
All
right. So, um, we'll wait till comes
down a little bit, but you ready? You
can raise your right hand.
Wait for the chief to silence the room.
You silence the room. You want to
silence the room?
Thank you.
I, Nicholas Gdera,
>> I, Nicholas Gdara,
>> do solemnly swear
>> that I will support the Constitution
>> That I will support the Constitution
>> of the United States
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey
>> and that I will bear true faith
>> that I will bear true faith
>> and allegiance to the same
>> and to the government
>> established in the United States
>> and in this state
under the authority of
the people.
>> under the authority of the people.
>> And that I will faithfully
>> That I will faithfully
>> impartially
>> and justly perform
>> justly perform
>> all of the duties
>> of the office of firefighter
>> of
>> the office of firefighter
>> according to the best of my skill and
ability. So help me God.
>> according to the best of my skill and
ability. So help me God.
>> Congratulations.
See the rower.
>> He said one was a rower. He said he's
the rower. All right.
I still wrote I wrote in high school,
too.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yeah.
>> I do. Yeah.
>> Yeah. That's good.
>> Oh, here you got a sign.
>> Yeah.
>> SW
in high school, too.
>> Did you?
>> Yeah. Atlantic.
>> Yeah. Carolina.
>> Yeah,
>> that's 89.
>> That's 85.
>> Okay.
>> Oh, okay. Yeah. Okay.
>> We wrote the thumb. Yes.
>> Okay. I visited her in England.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yeah.
>> All set.
>> All right. You're going by now.
Congratulations.
Really is.
>> Thank you. All right.
All right.
>> Yeah.
So, make sure they stay.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Uh, Christopher Christopher Hernandez.
All right.
>> Hi.
>> All right.
>> You have to get your kids to come out of
their shell.
>> Go ahead.
>> Nothing like
>> Oh, it's fun. You guys are fun.
Hello.
>> Yeah.
>> I want to hold it. Watch your head.
>> All right. You hold it right there.
>> Yep.
Here.
You want to hold this?
>> All right. Ready?
>> Ready.
>> I, Christopher Hernandez.
>> Round of applause. And now, please
>> do solemnly swear
>> that I will support the Constitution
>> of the United States
>> and the Constitution
>> of the State of New Jersey
>> of the state of New Jersey. and that I
will bear true faith
>> and I will bear true faith
>> and allegiance to the same.
>> And to the governments established
>> and to the government established
>> in the United States
>> and in this state
>> under the authority of the people
>> and that I will faithfully
>> impartially
>> and justly perform
>> all the duties of the office of police
officer
>> all the duties of the office of police
officer
>> effective September 15, 2025. effective
September 15, 2025.
>> According to the best of my skills and
abilities, so help me God.
>> According to my best abilities, so help
me God.
>> Congratulations.
because I'm future politicians.
>> Yeah.
>> All right.
>> We'll buy you a
>> meeting.
>> All right. You gota do say uh say
meeting a journ.
>> All right. Good job.
>> Picture and then we got to get out of
here.
>> JJ
look
smiling. All
right.
>> All right. We're good.
>> Good enough.
>> You got it. All right. Done. Let's go.
Come on.
We're doing pressure.
Let's go.
>> Let's go.
>> Unifor.
>> Get one with them.
All
right,
>> you take a picture with everybody.
>> If you're done, we get them squeezed in
here.
>> Come on.
standy.
>> Guys, move down.
>> Come on down.
>> You're gonna have to squat a little.
You're a big guy.
>> Stand in between. So it's like a team,
guys.
cuz I'm behind you.
>> Somebody take one for us.
>> Lisa.
>> Lisa has it.
>> Lisa
Lisa.
>> Lace. Lisa.
>> Boom. Sad. Everybody else. Okay.
the perfect.
>> All right.
They got to press
it.
He could add
This is not
Let's
see.
It's very nice.
What if hardly anybody left?
CL a little bit. That was nice.
>> All right. All right. Um,
take this back. That was helpful.
>> That was helpful.
>> Double doubles as a child rattle.
>> Yeah. All right. Um, so we'll move on to
uh item six. We have a presentation
uh this evening. D AJ presentation uh
with uh Jack Placer.
Your
the microphone is on there. It looks
like it's
>> just hit the but that button there to
turn it on.
>> There you go. Good mayor and
commissioners and professionals. Uh may
it please the board. Jack Plector from
Fox Rothschild representing DAG. Um, we
just wanted to, you know, give you a
presentation so you can make a finding
of whether you think our current plans
are consistent with the redevelopment
plan. Um, I have with me Tom Days who's
from Arthur Ponzio's office. He's a
licensed professional engineer and
planner as well as Aaron Smith who's one
of the principles and uh Matt as well
from uh the principles. So the biggest
change I think that we made between you
know we got a lot of input from we got
some input from the commissioners, we
got some input from the planning board.
I think the biggest change that we made
was the architectural elevations and you
know
what we try
and turn it into a really
nice architectural rendering nice
architectural feeling seashore has some
brick has landscaping. We do have three
spaces per unit and uh we did cut down
the density not significantly, but we
cut out a couple units to have more of a
park-like area uh in the center. We've
also filed our site plan application and
um I can we can swear Tom in, but to be
honest with you, the site plan, it's 34
units rather than 36. Each unit has
three parking spaces and that we aren't
requesting any variances or deviations
at all from the approved redevelopment
plan that this council or commission,
excuse me, approved uh recently. So, we
have filed for a formal planning board
application. It's it's in the process of
being reviewed. Um, and we're very
excited about the project. The
commercial, you know, we could show you
the renderings, but the commercial is
really not part of Why don't you put
those up, Tom? you know, we we want to
add uh outdoor patios and lighting, but
that's not really subject,
you know, to the planning board
application at this time. We're waiting
to lock down some tenants. Some of the
commissioners have been very nice to uh
I think refer to us potential tenants
and we're excited about talking to them
and once we get that nailed down, we'll
be back before the board. We don't
really need to take a lot of your time,
but Tom and the principles are here if
you have any particular questions about
our application.
I think the uh the application coming
before the planning board is really the
nuts and bolts will get meed out. I
mean, yep, from a a surface look at it,
it does meet seems to me to meet the the
redevelopment plan goals and objectives
and and the parameters of it. No relief
being requested, which is nice. Means
you followed the plan, which is good,
right?
>> And I do appreciate the the work towards
the uh the architectural. That was
always something that was brought up at
the planning board, was brought up here
a couple of times. The residents have
have raised it. I think looking at the
different If you can pull that back up,
Tom.
>> Sure. Yeah. But
>> just the facades there I think more lend
itself with the outdoor space on those
decks. Before, if you remember, the the
decks really were kind of inset,
>> right?
>> Had roofs over them. I like the fact
that these are open decks um for the
most part. At least the top two are open
decks. Um the first floor certainly is
covered by the second floor deck, but um
I think I like that that design. It's
got the Key West style um uh I don't
know what you call them. You're the
architect
>> on the side side. Yeah. That little
>> overhead roofs over there.
>> They do have a lot of that in the sort
of the cottages in Cuba with the metal
roof. Yeah,
>> I kind of like that.
>> Yeah,
>> I think it has come around a little bit.
I can't see the brick on it. I know you
guys were trying to work some brick into
it from the school facade and try and
work that in. I don't see that, but I'm
not looking at it up close. So is it
along the bottom
>> ground floor? Ground floor. Yeah, we can
you want to go ahead and bring it up for
you or
>> No, that's fine. Well, like I said,
we'll get a more detailed look at it at
the planning board level.
>> Um, but from the from a redevelopment
standpoint, I think that's moving in the
right direction and I think we would be
ready, I think, at our next meeting in
two weeks to do a resolution supporting
this as being consistent with the
redevelopment plan.
>> Right.
>> Yeah. I just want to piggyback on what
Lance said. Um, just to add, um, I like
that there's a red reduction in the
density from some of the original
numbers that we heard. Um, and I think
the site and some of the drawings, um,
you really have to, um, uh, are are a
little aren't don't do that it justice.
I think this the there's there's
setbacks from, um, Troy Avenue and the
opposite street where there's no um,
there's no entrances to those. So, we're
protecting some of the the mass away
from or you are protecting some of the
mass from the streets. And I think
that's a little hard to perceive with
the school is also has green space in
front. You're adding green space in the
middle. And for for for from my point of
view, I think it's it's important
because they're town houses that it
shows that there is some air and space
in between these. And I I it's hard to I
I can see it on the floor plan. It's a
little hard to see it in the renderings,
but those the the the using grass
patches in between the driveways is I
think it looks like what you're
proposing. I think those all those cues
um can combine to make it an a a more
open feeling. And you know, to your
credit, you're not looking for any
deviations or variances here. Correct.
>> There that that So, so some of the you
know, our so opinions are are are open.
I I I would ask if you could keep us
posted on what your your plans are for
the commercial. I think that's something
that we as a city are always trying to
to keep the momentum going. We'd love to
see that uh the vacancies um Sure.
>> Um you know, we'd love to see those
vacancies occupied and and it matters
from a uh the lighting plan from an from
an from an in the evening. The city
seems a little dark in that part. So
having the outdoor lighting plan for the
school and the potent and the future
commercial, we we you know, we just
encourage you to do it as quickly as
possible because
>> we may we may be able to uh perhaps
implement the lighting plan, you know,
as as you know, when we do the
residential development as well while
we're waiting. I think that'll help with
the marketability of the building as
well.
>> Yeah, I agree. I think that if you could
have had the lighting plan with the
uplit the building to give it some of
the charact the architectural character
while that's happening and developing I
think that is would only benefit the
city and you for to have I would
appreciate I would appreciate that. Um
but the I I like how the the how you
took uh some of our comments to bring in
the brick from the school itself and
bring in some of those the current you
know the current tastes for for coastal
finishes. Uh, you know, there's a lot of
blacks and blues and and grays, but
that's that's what people like right
now,
>> right? I
>> also noticed, and Maria, forgive me
before you get a chance, they do have
the one-way street going. Looks like
it's going to go towards Troy Avenue, I
think, is where.
>> Yep.
>> Yeah.
So, as long as there's, you know,
I think all the green space you can, I
would, you know, pay play that forward
as you get into the planning board. But,
Commissioner Mento, if you had any
comment. Um, I think you both pretty
much said it all other than, um, this is
a big change from what was first
presented. So, uh, it's much more
appealing at least to me.
>> The applicant did listen to their
credit. So, thank you guys.
>> Yeah.
>> And thank you for we met and thank you
for um, taking our suggestions and
comments into consideration.
>> Well, a redevelopment agreement is a
partnership between the governing body
and the redeveloper. So, you know, we
have to take those things into account
and it actually made our development, I
think, better to be honest with you,
your suggestions.
>> Good.
Well, it's it's a it's an underused
piece of property in the city. It's the
last big um vacant space really the
largest vacant space in the proper town
of Bner City and having um and you know,
bringing more population allows us to do
more with you know, events and and the
businesses do better. Um so, we're we're
looking forward to your success. Your
success is our success. So,
>> thank you.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> And the three parking spaces is huge in
my opinion.
>> Well, plus by um not fronting them on,
you know, on the streets, in other
words, by flipping them so that most of
the fronts are on the inside road, we
were able to save a tremendous number of
the those angled parking spaces, which
is good for the neighborhood as well.
>> Yeah.
>> Because originally we were going to put
the town homes along uh Troy Avenue and
New Haven, and that, you know, would
have taken up a lot of the angled
parking spaces.
>> So now, show the plan again. the plan
view.
>> The site plan
>> site plan.
>> Yeah.
So,
>> I think that actually creates a its own
you don't want to say its own little
neighborhood, but it kind of does.
>> Sure.
>> You know, you have the existing older
homes on Troy
and excuse me in New Haven, but this
will create its own little, you know,
the little townhouse development in in
the core of our community down in our
downtown business area. So,
>> I think it's it's right for pedestrian
circulation and all of that that it
brings with it.
>> You don't lose any street parking or
minimal street parking at the curb cut.
You you you push that commercial parking
towards the the the the re, you know,
the redeveloped school building and it
left that green space in between that. I
think I heard I think I remember hearing
that the the the commercial side will
will take care of that that space,
right? So, um, so th those are, uh, it's
hard to, it's hard to pick to pick holes
at it at this point, especially because
there's no variances required here. This
is all, you know, three three parking
places, three bedrooms, appropriate
size, reduced from, I think it was in
the '60s original plan was. So, this is
a great, this is a I think this is a
better fit in my opinion.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. All right. And you're close to the
firehouse.
>> So, very close.
>> We heard that.
>> Very close.
>> Well, we thank you very much. John, if
there's any other questions, we'll
>> I think so. And I think we'd be in a
position for next our next meeting on
the 25th, I think it is.
>> 25th
>> to to have a resolution prepared to to
show that that's, you know,
substantially with the redevelopment
plan.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yeah. We're also hoping to get the
redevelopment agreement finalized then
too as well and be named the redeveloper
if we could.
>> Okay. Yeah.
>> I think we got all the changes.
>> I saw some drafts of it today. Yeah.
>> Um I think
>> I was fine with what what Mike had
suggested. We'll circulate it now with
the rest of the
>> Okay, great.
>> and and move that forward as well.
>> And if there's any questions on that,
we're more than happy to speak with you
about the redevelopment agreement.
>> Sure.
>> Okay, great.
>> Well, thank you very much.
>> Thanks, John. Always a pleasure. Have a
good one.
>> There he is. Move behind there. Good to
see you guys again.
>> So, David had the closest commute and
he's not here.
Ah,
>> there you go.
>> Thank you.
apples and orange.
>> So, so um we're going to um adjust the
agenda a little bit just so that we can
have um uh some con uh we can we can um
have our uh our guests here. Um and so
Lisa, we have uh we have to read the um
>> we do we have executive session.
>> Executive session.
>> Yes. So, we just ask that the um Zoom
platform um puts people in waiting room
and
>> that was um I'm sorry. Did you
>> And one of the attorneys might be on
Zoom.
>> Oh, I see.
>> David Weinstein from uh I don't see him
on there, though.
>> No, there's nobody on here.
>> He's trying to get here, so we might
have to go back into it later.
>> Okay.
>> David Weinstein from Archer. It's on the
um the other redevelopment plan.
>> Oh, okay. So,
>> all right.
>> Is that is that on the
>> It was for the
>> No, we're just having two executives to
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, it's not executive. It was
just going to be here to be for
discussion. Yeah.
>> For that discussion and I don't think
we're
>> Sorry, that's We can get to that later.
>> Yeah.
>> All right.
>> So, can I have a motion uh for uh to
enter into executive session?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Can I roll call, please?
>> Commissioner Langra,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Mento,
>> yes. Mayor Creel.
>> Yes.
>> The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act
permits the discussion of certain
matters within an executive session as
an exception to certain provisions of
said law. The Vendor City Board of
Commissioners wishes to discuss certain
matters which qualify as exceptions in
executive session. No binding upon no
action binding upon the board of
commissioners will be taken within
executive session and the discussion
conducted in close session will be
disclosed to the public when excuse me
when legally permitted and when the
public interest will no longer be served
by keeping such matters confidential.
The two matters to discussed are
litigation matters attorney client
privilege and contract negotiations.
>> Anybody in the waiting room?
>> Okay.
So, we're back after the close
session. During the close session, we
discussed two items. One was a
litigation involving Carisbrook Inn. Um,
so to address that, we're going to take
a motion to proceed as discussed in that
closed session.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second,
>> please. We're going to have roll call.
>> Commissioner Langria.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> And with the second item, we discussed
the negotiations with the PBA. That's
the police union for the city. And there
will be a resolution addressing um that
during the body of the meeting.
>> Okay.
All right.
Um so moving forward, we have
um we are at item nine, correct?
>> Yep. So um we have minutes of the June
12th regular session. Uh we I think we
were all were we all here for that,
right?
Um, so no one's everyone's good there.
Uh, then we'll have uh we have no
ordinance introductions and we have no
public hearings and adoptions. We do
have uh A through double A of
resolutions and uh contracts uh for cons
on our consent agenda starting with 267.
Uh this is to reappoint Summer Renzi as
the uh CRS coordinator. Yep.
>> Correct. any worked here. Now she
jointly works with us in Longport.
>> Right. So this is a a reappointment of
summer rent.
>> Yes.
>> Uh 268 is um
uh this is uh payout for um funds for
Tom Halpin under his uh for vacation and
sick time as as described in his
contract. Correct.
Um item 269.
This is um revenue and appro special
revenue and appreciations. This is uh um
a u management assistance grant for
$10,000 from uh uh PLPS
Lance. Is that um a part of
>> emergency management
>> emergency? Yeah. Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> So, it's for supplies basically.
>> For supplies.
>> Okay. Um uh 270 is uh refunding a
merchant license and fee and fire
inspection fee for a total of $100.
Um pretty straightforward there that the
the um the building did not go forward.
Um 271 is uh accepting the resignation
of Zachary Calhoun.
>> Okay. Um, resolution 272
is salary adjustment for Michael
Milenberg and public works effective May
um, uh, 1st of 2025.
>> Yeah, this was supposed to be on earlier
in the summer. We just it never got on
the agenda. So,
>> yep, understood.
>> Can I go back to the grant? It's cold
weather gear.
>> Cold weather gear
>> for divers
>> and barricades and generators.
>> Barricades. We always need more
barricades.
Um
uh this is
for uh um changing our uh professional
services uh limit for Blaine Donahghue
in Weineberg not to exceed $9,600.
$96,000
>> 100 that would be
>> 100 many a few hundreds um and um and uh
next is 274 resolution
um this is a authorizing a tax refund.
and it was a duplication um of payment.
Um 275 is um awarding a forestry uh
consulting needs um to Dave Resources
Group. This was uh uh tree inventory um
not to exceed uh our $5,000 from the
city for a $25,000 cost. So, we have
$20,000
grant for that, which will help us um
with getting grants and improving this
the the treecape in the city. Uh 276 is
um this is our uh um our agreement to
oppose the proposed protecting against
climate threat pact um and the real
rules for resilient um environment and
landscape rules. We've discussed this a
number of times, but if you wanted to
reiterate anything,
>> yeah, it's just again renewing our
objection. We've probably passed five
resolutions opposing this over the last
three years.
>> Um, the D is just not listening to
anyone.
>> Commissioner Lretet continues to push
this forward, even with legislators
asking him to hold it
>> um and let the new governor, whoever he
or she may be, decide if that's the way
they want to move forward. So, all the
municipalities along the coastline are
are passing this resolution to oppose
that
>> as we should. I I met with uh um an
architect working on a municipal project
that says it's just, you know, it's kind
of puts everything at hold.
>> Yep. Going to shut down development on
the barrier islands and if it is built,
it's going to push it up another five
feet in the air.
>> Five feet.
Okay. Um
so, uh
>> oh, let me correct myself. They re they
changed the rule to lower it to four
feet.
>> Okay.
>> All right.
>> Thinking that was the olive branch that
was going to get us all to say, "Oh,
yay."
>> So, how many feet is it total? Four feet
that with the four
>> on top of the 12 we already had
>> 12.
>> Yeah.
It's
>> So, if you raised your home post Sandy
and you're all compliant with FEMA,
paying very little flood insurance,
that's going to change because
>> you got to charge.
>> Exactly. Exactly.
Yeah, it was done without and even the
people that wrote the
>> Yeah, the Ruter study, the the
professors and engineers that wrote the
the the um flood elevation change study
have reigged on their own study. They've
said we used we forecasted it too far
out. Nobody knows how far that that's
going to be, right?
>> We should look at much smaller
increments. They're looking at 80 to 100
years out.
>> So, what's it course if this does pass?
Can can then the towns do a class action
suit like we were talking about earlier?
legislation.
>> You can't legislation,
>> but it's not legislatively. This was not
done through legislation. This was done
through rulemaking process at the D.
This that's that's the biggest problem.
It didn't go to our legislators, right?
Never went to the assembly. Never went
to the Senate. It's the governor saying
we're going to do this and he told Larat
to write new rules and he did it. It's
extremely frustrating. that step of open
and open government and yep the debate.
>> So that could be a possibility for
litigation.
>> Yeah. So there's there's a lot of
support in the legislative body both
assembly and and h and the senate to
squash this. So I'm hopeful that's why
it's been delayed. They're pushing to
try and adopt this literally in
December. What the real reason that if
every the people that did the studies
are no longer supporting it and
>> insurance companies
>> studies against it.
>> It's the insurance companies.
>> It's flat out the insurance companies.
>> Right. Okay. So
>> that's the lobby group. That's why we
can't get their liquor license because
the lobbyists
>> insurance.
>> Exactly.
>> Are catering to the insurance company.
>> Exactly. The lobbyist groups. That's why
we can't get the liquor license changed
because the lobbyist groups for the
restaurants don't want it to change
because they have a monopoly on it.
Right.
>> So, it's frustrating.
>> Okay. So, I guess we're all in agreement
there.
>> Yep.
>> Um 277
is
um
277 is refunding of a basketball camp
fees. Um
278
is refunding of volleyball fees. 279 is
uh refunding partial soccer camp fees.
Uh 280 is duplicate payment um for an
event permit. Uh 281
uh is uh city var approving the interimm
appointment of uh Gabriel Hano for a
police interim sergeant. So this is an
interimm seat for um to fill a vacancy.
So it is uh and and potentially uh so he
would be an acting sergeant to fill a
officer on that on that on that uh
shift. Um 28 any questions there?
>> Nope. No, I know Gabriel good guy.
>> 282 is uh authorizing this is something
we do every quarter. This is uh
enforcement for no parking within the
city of Ventner from October 1st to
December 31st.
Um and the following 283 is um
authorizing non- enforcement from the
holiday season. So from Thanksgiving
uh through New Year's Day of
non-inforcement, something we do every
year and
>> it goes to May 31st
>> uh in some areas.
So there's two separate um time times
here. One is there's no parking
throughout the entire city from New
Year's to
>> Thanksgiving
>> from Thanksgiving to New Year's and
certain areas in the off season from
October 1st uh municipal lots. That's
>> I I I was suggesting maybe we should add
Dorset Avenue to the October
one through May 31st. I don't know if
you guys saw my little note on that.
>> I didn't see that one.
>> I wouldn't have an issue with that. It's
it's a very short little section there.
>> Two blocks.
>> Can we amend that on the fly here? All
right. We would add Dorset Avenue to
that.
>> So to be clear, we're going to we'll
take it out. So the one whereas in the
resolution indicates which ones would be
fully enforced.
>> So we just take it out.
>> So we'll take out both sides of Dorset
Avenue. Okay. Correct.
>> And 100 blocks.
>> Yeah. Okay.
Okay.
>> And
and say uh it's 283
>> 283.
>> Okay.
Um
going forward, uh 284 is bidding for the
tennis court project. So this allows us
to set the purchasing agent out to
public bid for the uh tennis court
project. anything you want to add to
that?
>> I met with um Palestina Associates and
Ed Stinson and Rick and I think it was
CJ and then Snake was there too to talk
about, you know, potential layout
changes. Not a whole lot for the tennis
and pickle ball court areas. We did
decide that at least one of the tennis
courts would be striped out as a
alternate pickle ball. Um we may
rearrange that a little bit so we can
get three courts out of it instead of
just two. Um, we're talking about that.
That might take some extra effort. We're
looking at that. Um, we did talk about a
a shade structure in that center patio
area um to kind of give people some
respit from the shade. Um, new water
fountains, things like that. Spruce up
the whole thing. So, that's the that's
the concept at this point. I have not
seen a final concept on it, but
>> I think bathrooms are they're fine.
>> Bathrooms are fine. Um, we do want to
get that signage up that we've talked
about. We want to get the signage out
there. So,
>> Yep. I saw that.
>> Yep.
>> Um bike racks are and there's some
weekends where that
>> that's the other thing
>> covered with
>> more bike racks in there.
>> The landscaping that's around that
courtyard is all coming out.
>> Good
>> because it's had its and replaced. It
won't we're going to go back to kind of
dune grass kind of stuff and make it
more
>> manageable there. I like the sound of
it. Great.
Um so the then the next two uh items are
abandoned vehicle auctions for our two
separate uh towing services. Um that's
resolution for setting a date for those.
That's uh 285 and 286. Something we do
very often.
>> That's crazy. The cars are towed. Nobody
ever comes.
>> It's not a nice car.
>> So
>> yeah.
>> Yeah. I checked. Yeah.
>> 287
is uh cancellation of tax uh for uh this
is for North Buffalo Avenue. Um I think
that was they b there was just an error
there. Um 288 is uh authorizing fees for
tax sales. So this sets the fees for all
of our um tax sales. And then the and
then 289 sets the fees for the
electronic version of uh which are seems
like all they we have z we have a full
compliance on all that.
>> We do this every year.
>> Every year. Uh 290. This is um revocable
license. So Lance, do you have anything
to add to this? This is on Derby or
Dudley.
>> Dudley. We talked about it last meeting.
We got a description of it. Um, it's
basically some landscape. They're
putting in a pool in it's right behind
the Weni Wine Bars, those units that are
there. So, they're putting in a pool
there and they're just putting in some
additional landscaping outside of their
fence, which is on the property line,
but it's in our right of way.
>> So, anytime you put anything in our
right ofway like that, they've asked to.
So, some fencing and landscaping in that
area.
>> Yep.
>> And if it we ever need the space, that's
why it's revocable,
>> right?
>> We can pull it back.
>> That street's looking really good now. I
mean I'm I see that from both the bay
and the street and it that that whole
edgewater has become a really uh really
nice street it really
>> lot of lot of building
>> a lot y
>> um so 29 291 is
>> that
>> is we're pulling 291
>> and 292 and 293
>> and 292
and 293
we are pulling from this evening.
>> Yeah.
>> So, we're we're pulling 292 and 293. Um,
but we are asking for a motion to
authorize the administrator to go out to
get an appraisal on those two
properties. So, it's 6512
Ventner A and 4803 Ventner. They're two
vacant lots that we've been trying to
sell for couple years now. So, we'd like
to get a proper appraisal on them so
that we can put them out for for bid for
auction.
>> Do you want that motion now?
>> Yeah.
>> Yep. I'd make that motion to go out to
an appra get an appraisal of those two
properties.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Commissioner Langria.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> So, the last three are pulled.
>> Correct.
add
>> and we had to add
>> we do have to add I believe it's 2976
>> which would be a resolution authorizing
the execution of a memorandum of
agreement with um between the city and
the PBA for a term of a new agreement um
for four years starting January 1 of
2025.
with that motion. Now
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> We have a roll calls.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Kel.
>> Yes.
>> Did we need one for Christopher
Hernandez as well?
>> No. You voted on 94 in the
>> Oh, at the beginning. That's right. I'm
sorry.
>> Got it.
>> We just have to say that 283 as amended
when we get to uh Gotcha.
and just add 296 to the consent agenda.
So that's captured in the actual
resolutions in the regular meeting
because this is still the work session
portion.
>> 267 to 282 and then 284 to 290. And then
we'll
>> say that again.
>> So I have 267 to 282.
>> So 282.
>> Yep. And then 283 we're pulling. We're
going to vote on that separate. Then
we're going to go from 284 to 290. We'll
vote as in consent.
and add in 296.
And then when we're done that, we'll
come and vote on 283.
>> Got it.
Okay.
>> Uh and that comes to the end of our
works session in um for the uh for the
resolutions by consent. Uh we'll have
approval of bills and payroll and we
have one discussion item for tax
abatement. You want to cover that now?
>> Sure. Um tax payment is the Oh, no. You
don't have it.
Uh it was uh uh Tom uh just said that uh
he his recommendation is that we it's
been uh popular it it's coming up for
renewal. So, uh, it's been a popular and
successful program and our, if we're an
agreement, we would continue it.
>> An ordinance. I believe everybody should
have gotten a copy of it. I have one on
the bench if anybody would like to just
refresh. When is this coming up? When is
this expired?
>> Um, think you have to.
>> Yeah, but I'm not sure.
>> It's before the next meeting.
>> I don't know if it's actually says it
when it's up. I'm sorry. Just I know we
had really really brief not even a
discussion maybe comments that maybe
>> a couple months back we had a
>> did a
>> um yeah so the the the we did and I was
kind of um I banged heads a little not
banged heads but I kind of asked some
questions of the tax assessor if we
could sculpt it in ways that improved
other areas some areas more than others
take away some of the beach block but it
But it was kind of like you really can't
you really have to treat everybody the
same.
>> Got it.
>> So, um
>> took care of that. Okay.
>> Yeah. That was my only
that was my only you know ask was to
discuss it and that's what uh that's
what we came back with.
>> We need to do this tonight.
>> No. So if you guys all okay with this
and you think this is what you want to
do, we'll introduce it at the next
meeting.
>> Okay. You would have you would pass it.
Right. Okay.
>> All right. Good.
>> So that's the discussion.
>> Yeah. As long as you Tom was going to be
here and I guess he was going to work
with you if you saw any changes.
>> Yeah.
>> But if you think of anything, I guess
you could get back to him before the
next meeting.
>> Yeah. I mean, I was like looking to I
wasn't looking to do anything radical to
it because I think the the the community
of of uh of house the temperature is
not, you know, I think it's it's well
thought of in uh in the city for and by
realators and by purchasers. um it gets
us a little bit of an edge and it ends
up paying for itself in the long run.
I asked what it did cost the city and um
about $130,000, but in in a on a yearly
basis, but in in the long run, it repays
it in in multiples of that.
So, I'm in favor of it.
>> So, we'll include that on the September
25th Yes. meeting for introduction.
>> Right.
Um so we have a public portion. Um
uh
um if uh we have a a motion to open the
disc the uh workshop for um for the
public. If anybody in the chambers or on
the Zoom platform wishes to comment
about anything that we've talked about
so far in the workshop session, there
will be time at the end of the
commission meeting to talk about general
topics.
>> Make that motion. Second. Roll call.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> Seeing none in the You're good. Tom,
>> anybody uh Jim, anyone in the Zoom
platform that wishes to make a comment
about anything we discussed so far?
>> No, there isn't anybody on the Zoom
platform.
>> No one there. Okay. Um I have a motion
to close workshop portion of the
meeting.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
Have a roll call. Lisa,
>> Commissioner Langra,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Mento, yes. Mayor Creel,
>> yes. So, with that, I'll call to order
the regular session of the meeting.
I have a motion to approve minutes of
June 12th, 2025.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento. Yes.
>> Mayor Cable.
>> Yes. No. We have no introductions. Uh no
public hearing. No ordinance adoptions.
So fingers crossed I get this right.
Motion to adopt resolutions 267 to 282
excluding 283
and mot and resolutions 284 to 290 and
adding
296.
>> Correct.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> May have a roll call.
>> Commissioner Langria.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Cable.
>> Yes. patting myself on the back that I
got that
>> or it was like
>> now we got to do the the amendes.
>> So now we do uh can I have a motion to
not get too cocky? Can I have a motion
to approve uh resolution 283 as
described in the workshop session?
>> Make a motion to as amended. I was going
to say with my motion to approve
resolution 283 as amended.
>> Second.
>> Commissioner Langrio.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes. With uh out patting myself on the
back there.
>> Um item 19 is approving bills of
payroll. Do you have that? Yes.
>> For your uh Amy since she's no longer
>> I have bills in the amount of
8,373,8818.
I have two payrolls. The first being
832025 to816 2025 in the amount of
$84,85.70
and 817 to830 2025711,123.38.
>> Did I hear that correctly? So two months
in a row we had zero cents on one of the
bills.
>> Yeah, the bills. Yes.
>> Yes.
>> 8 million 3738.
>> Happiness comes to those who wait,
right? That's a Powerball number you got
to play for.
>> I'm telling you, it's a power ball.
>> Are no coincidence.
>> Um, announcements and and uh safety
report. Go ahead. I'm sorry. Can we have
a roll? May I have a motion to accept uh
bill?
>> Second.
>> Commissioner Langria?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento?
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable?
>> Yes.
>> Um, and no announcements uh or safety
reports? Uh, Commissioner, comments or
reports? Commissioner Langraph, do you
have anything? I've got a list.
>> All right. Um, so I'll start with public
works. Thanks, Rick, for for my list of
stuff. So, Titusfield Press Box. We did
a rebuild out there. That's complete.
There's some photographs. I'll pass that
around. Let's shoot that out to you
guys. Um, Titus Field sign. I have to
thank both Rick and former Commissioner
Sandy Respino. Um, Sandy came out. We
were Rick and I were talking about
finally finishing that brick sign right
by the the boat house there, that one
entrance. um ran into or Patty Patty and
I were talking. She said, "Well, Sandy
had started that um years ago, 20 plus
years ago." So, reached out to him. Took
us a while to get the right brick. Um
but Sandy and his team have been working
on that for, you know, on his days where
you can fit it in and it's coming
around. Um there's going to be some
plaques on there. He's working with that
sign was originally designed to thank
the folks that originally started the
work on Titus Field. Um the volunteers
that keep those programs going. So, he's
got a list that he's putting a plaque
together to thank and to put on that
that sign. Uh, we are also going to
have, you know, the the name Titus Field
on there as well in raised kind of um
metal letters. Um, so that's moving
forward. And I've already heard some
comments about people walking around
while I was out there um talking with
Rick and Sandy about, you know, man, it
took a while, but it's really starting
to look good. If you go by there, it
still looks like a work under
construction, but brick looks good. Um,
North Swathmore Swathmore Road
resurfacing has been completed out there
by Shalom House. Um, that's been done.
We had an issue with that road.
Pedestrian crossing. You've seen them on
Atlantic Avenue. We're going to look to
add some of those to some of the other
intersections on uh Veter Avenue as
well. And you'll see them around town.
We added them on Lafayette and Calvert.
think that intersection is a resident
had reached out there and and public
works and PD jumped on it right before
school started and got an officer out
there which was nice for the start of
school. Um please thank the chief for
his work there. Um
we're going to look to talk to the
county in the coming for the for next
summer about Ventner Avenue crosswalk
striping. There's some intersections
that are not striped um but are also not
signaled. Last time I remember having
that conversation with they don't like
striping
>> intersect non-s signalized. They want to
encourage everybody to go to the
signals. Nobody's walking a block or two
blocks to go to a signal. They want to
cross where their street is. So we're
we're going to reinitiate that
conversation. We can do it on our
streets where we own Dorset
from Dorset to not Dorset from on
Ventner from Dorset to Jackson.
>> Yeah.
>> So we'll look at doing some of that at
some of those main intersections that
have that need crosswalks. the business
section especially in um around
>> I think most 311 it doesn't and that's a
business
>> that's a county
>> yeah we can talk
>> we I have and that was the answer before
but we're going to have to re reiterate
it so
um Winchester Avenue sewer main
commercial cleaning to Oxford Suri
Oceanside is complete Bayside it's
taking place uh this week let's see skip
some of those stuff the uh veter gardens
pro plaza project is 50% % uh complete
concrete, sidewalks, curbs. It's after
some of the the stormwater work we've
done. Gotten another call from some
residents out there. It seems to be
working. When it's just a rain event,
it's working a ton better. When it's
title, we're still struggling there. Um
that's kind of all I have on the public
works end. We've been working I'm sure
Marie's going to talk about Seafood
Fest, but we've been working with them
getting set up out there. John Henderson
and his team have moved into their
residency for the for the five days that
they'll be here. We're going to have to
prorate his taxes for those five days.
Um if you get out there, he's got a new
puppy called Hondao. It's a cool dog.
>> Um go out and say hello there in Soul.
And I thought somebody's living here.
>> Yeah.
>> Cole. It's John.
>> There's a trailer.
>> Yeah. John sign it over to him for the
period of time.
>> Yeah.
>> He runs his own security program there.
>> Yeah.
>> Um some news with Grant. um more
engineering side of of of
infrastructure. We got a bunch of money
for uh design and um planning for these
projects. North Surrey Avenue water
tower improvements. Got 65,000 in grant
funds for engineering and design for the
repair and painting of that tower. Uh
Fulton Avenue, Fremont Avenue storm
water pump station improvements. Um
440,000 in grant funds. Grant covers
engineering, planning, permitting,
design costs of $440,000
of the construction of new storm water
pump station to be located at the
intersection of Fulton and Little Rock.
That's the street that floods all the
time. So, we're we're upgrading that. Uh
Lafayette Avenue sanitary sewer pump
station improvements, 185,000 in grant
funds for that. Covers grant or
engineering design costs up to that
number. um emergency generator, new
rails, piping, new pumps, um 500year
flood. It's going to be flood proof for
500-year flood elevations. And then
lastly, Ventner Heights sanitary uh
lateral replacement. This coincides with
the lead line service replacements. This
would be the sewer laterals as we're
going through. We don't want to dig up
the road as the sewer lines fail, so
we're going to replace all that at the
same time. This allows us to design and
and do that work at the same time. So
1,300 sanitary sewer laterals in Vent
Heights.
>> It's a lot. So in total, it's like just
over a million dollars in grant funds
>> for four projects. So
>> So it's all the designs going to be
covered.
>> Yeah.
>> Which is good. And that sets us up for I
bank funding for all these projects,
>> right? We
>> should get another summary from Jim back
to 2016
that we will definitely access the
time's coming.
That time's coming.
>> So, but that's it. I know that was a
lot, but I didn't really do a big report
last month. So, thanks to Rick and his
team and Ed and his team for getting me
this stuff together. Ed and his team.
It's Ed.
>> That is the team.
>> Revenue and finance here and events. And
revenue and finance is typically
usually, you know, the same old thing
every day doing what they need to do.
Um, I think by now everybody's paid
their tax bill. When those those bills
went out, there was a delayed um a later
payment date because we couldn't get
them out until we got the information
from the county and as soon as we
plugged them in, we got them out. Uh,
finance is um we're transitioning to a
new payroll system and
that's never pleasant, something like
that, but uh they're moving along with
it and everything seems to be going
okay. And then um the fun stuff of this
job is the events. And as Lance
mentioned, the seafood fest is this
weekend at Ski Beach. It's Saturday and
Sunday, so come on out. Um
every restaurant you can imagine is
there offering the best of what they do.
>> It's amazing.
>> Yeah, it really is amazing. It's a great
event.
>> They added a wine tent this year.
>> A wine tent.
>> Wine tent. They have craft beer. They
have uh wine, oyster tents, all that
kind of stuff.
>> Like 13 breweries there. Yep.
>> And there's a
>> the chowder
>> chowder.
>> Yeah. The uh uh food bank.
>> Yeah. One thing that was not seafoody.
It was like a bacon on a stick.
>> Bacon on a stick was fantastic last
year.
>> Amazing.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh yeah. It's like the It's like as big
as this gavvel
>> slab of bacon.
>> And then they dip it in honey or
whatever. Yeah. It's crazy good.
>> Sounds all
>> No, it's not.
>> Well, that's what I mean. It's not good
for you, but
>> very good.
>> It's only one or two dates.
>> Yeah, it goes good with the lobster.
>> Next September event is sold out. It's
Ma at Red Room.
>> It's September 27th. That's sold out
rather quickly. We might be uh upping it
next year to another 25 people.
>> Wow.
>> So, from 125 to 150.
>> Run that tent all the way down to Siri
Avenue.
>> Yeah.
>> Um we have wounded warrior. Please come
out and um honor our uh our veteran at
Ski Beach on September 17th at 5:15. It
starts at Ski Beach, it runs down Dorset
Avenue. Usually people are out there
cheering uh the individual on and then
it turns up to Atlantic Avenue and goes
all the way to Longport. And you know,
various sections get a lot of people and
we always want to have the most people
in Vetner. So please come on out. and
that's 9:17 beginning at Ski Beach at
5:15.
And then we do have a date for the
Eagles tailgate. That's October 19th.
And um there are some other October
dates, but I guess I can go over them at
the next meeting, the next September
meeting. But there's there's some fun
stuff coming up. We got Fall Funfest and
uh we got some good stuff coming up. So
that's it.
>> And the weather's going to be good for
this weekend, it sounds like.
>> Yeah. So it look like it is. And oh, we
do have a veter city employee health
fair and appreciation day on October
10th.
>> And um
>> Great.
>> It'll be good.
>> That's it for me.
>> Great. I just have two things. Uh I just
want to circle back to Fire Station 2
and Vendor Heights is now uh fully
operational for the police department as
well. So kudos to Chief Cahill and Chief
Wooten for working together and the two
forces for sharing cohabitating there.
So we have two uh up and running full uh
workstations with um that are basically
mirror images of workstations here. So
um they have access with uh fourdigit
code. They have uh all the systems and
resources that they would here in their
office uh that a patrol would need. Um
and they are uh uh working together uh
in that office. It it sets us up to be
more uh resilient if there's ever any
problem with the with the bridge which
sometimes happens and also uh just uh in
bad weather for the for the added
activity at the plaza where you know we
have more uh we have a presence out
there and a place for our our team to
be. So yeah, it's a good thing and it
was really virtually um very painless
from a financial side. It was just the
kind of thing where you need we we
worked with resources we had and bought
some furniture and ironed out the
logistics of it. So, it was a I think a
good win-win.
>> But we have somebody there or only if we
need to have
>> only if you need to have someone there.
The patrols have access to it if they uh
if they need to do paperwork or have a
break of some kind. They've got a um
What's that?
>> Bridge.
>> The bridge.
not stand up there.
>> Yeah. So, it's a good example. We had
this uh we always had the idea that they
would need it. So, we have a link to the
the police department's uh uh mainframe
there already. So, it was already wired
for that
>> being built.
>> Yeah, it was kind of one of the things
that we added on our wish list that is
now there. So, it's really um it's like
creating a substation within an existing
structure that we have and um and
they've all been um you know they're
they're being respectful of it. They
have a printer, the phone, uh uh
computer workstations, desk and file
cabinets there for for everything they
need,
>> right? U for a very low low cost. Um uh
I I want to just uh touch base on this
and get your reactions. I did meet with
uh I was at the planning board last
night and I sent you guys an email about
adding some um some language to the
e-codes regarding two things. The um
there's the appearance and and
maintenance and appearance for
storefronts. Um these are all things
that are taken from codes in other
cities. uh namely 60% ground floor
window remaining unobstructed um
prohibiting uh you know reflective film
and and plywood on windows uh really
just uh vacancy standards. So if there's
a vacant building that they are required
to upkeep it and make it look at least
presentable in a lot of ways and not
just have u uh empty the appearance of
abandonment.
um uh signage requirements um uh uh
things that are um limiting temporary
banners. We have that already in our our
code. Facade maintenance
uh prohibiting mismatched unfinished
materials. uh on adding awning standards
and lighting provisions like uh like the
box lights with fluorescents or dis are
are uh um are are um discouraged. So
these are things that could be that if
we have them in the code now new
construction that happens throughout the
city the architects and designers would
look at these and incorporate them. uh
it's a little harder to do a look back
and tell people to do what they have but
um that uh and change what they have but
this is the way um that I think that and
adding some violations and penalties
that directly impact the business
environment when they're when they're
when they're overlooked. Um so the uh
and and then also the signage is really
again they're not really ownorous.
They're just things that going forward
new businesses as they arrive uh would
take a closer look at and have some more
consistency in their uh in their in
their design. Going forward with the
master plan that could you could put
some real definitions on that but as we
all know things take time to get
that to get actually executed and
codified. This is something that we
could easily just amend our ordinances
to have and that we could have. For
instance, if there's, you know,
something if one of these future empty
lots or a big renovation, they would be
in the code um right away. So, I'm
looking for your support on that. Um the
planning board was 100% there was a
small group, but it was 100% in
agreement with it. So, they all um
agreed.
>> I can resend it.
>> And I sent I can send it again to you.
um with notes about some of the things
>> Monday I think you sent.
>> Yeah. So some of the things are not uh
applicable to code, but they would go
into the master plan. So Roman Abex did
a pretty thorough reading of it and made
suggestions on which parts of the code
it could go into. So I'll send that
along.
>> Okay.
>> If you guys are in agreement, I don't
think it's really I'll I'll talk to the
business association about it as well.
Um,
you know, I think the the the city's
made some great strides, but things like
lighting, especially my pet peeve of
chasing LEDs around windows that
>> that's already in the ordinance.
>> Yeah.
>> They can't be turned on.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> They can have neon, they can have the
lights, but they can't turn them as
they're chasing them. They can't flash.
>> Right.
>> So, that's already there. If you see it,
we violation those. They have to turn
them on. But
>> I think you mentioned too like something
to cover like buildings that are empty.
And I always remember,
>> I don't know if it was in their code or
they just did this, the old Sears
building in Hamilton. I think it was
Sears.
>> It was empty for the longest time and it
had it was blueberries.
>> The one downtown still empty. It still
has blueberries.
>> That Yeah. Well, well, Asbury Park has a
number of empty buildings and they had
like a art they had like a an art
committee put in u you know, in the
windows they made paintings and put them
in the
>> Oh, that's nice. and the of beach
scenes, that kind of thing.
>> So, Asbury Park is another town that's
got some revitalization, but I you know,
we're not in a bad position, but it I I
just don't I I I could see the the that
if we don't have some of these things in
place and the city is let is not
codified, then you could get people just
putting up whatever they like without
any, you know, without too much
organization.
>> Do you have anyations?
>> I've said this before. I don't like
telling people what to do with their
property. So, I agree with with certain
restrictions and putting things out
there for to make sure they're doing the
right and proper thing. I'm not going to
tell them what to do with the facade of
their building. I have not supported
that at all. So, setting up codes that
set standards, yes. Architectural design
features, I'm not telling someone to do
with their what to do with their
property.
>> It's it's not my opinion that we should
be doing that. Um,
what I said in the email to you was
we're doing the master plan now. So,
these things that you talked about
should go into the master plan because
in order to change an ordinance, we have
to get a report from our planning board
that says those ordinances are
consistent with our master plan. So,
kill two birds with one stone, put these
things into the ordin
work, and then work through that
process. If there's ones that we have to
add in now, we can do that certainly.
Um, but putting in you're gonna have to
go back to the planning board and say is
it consistent with our current master
plan and they may not be. So that's why
I was saying put them in the master plan
coming forward and then we already have
it as you know this is coming out of
that master plan document that we can
adopt these ordinances. So work work
through it. I just I just don't it's
like flat roofs. Folks don't like flat
roofs. I don't like flat roofs. I don't
own the house. I'm not going to tell you
you can't have a flat roof on your home.
Colors.
>> I'm not Yeah. And I'm not I I draw the
line at things like colors. I'm just
saying I think so like things like
transparency of the windows. Uh
>> that's fine. That's already in our
ordinance. We can just update that from
whatever it is now. I think it's at 40%.
>> Right.
>> Might even be 33. We can increase that.
That's fine.
>> Yeah. I would limit it to things like
I'm not saying that there's I don't
think and I even said that last night.
We're not going to be uh I gave the
example of businesses in Nantucket where
they'll come out and measure the side of
your the size of your uh shingle, you
know, make sure you have the right
window,
>> the right reveal of your
>> the number of lights in your window and
um we're not going there. I'm just
saying that there's uh the maintenance
um
>> maintenance is that's that's in the
ordinances now so that we can enforce
that. It's we've we've been a little
easy on businesses um because some of
them were struggling for a while.
They're they're still doing they're
doing better, but we can we can right if
if we see issues with businesses. My pet
peeve is they're not taking care of the
sidewalks in front of them and letting
grass grow in there,
>> right?
>> So, that's one of the conversations I'm
going to have with Dino. We're going to
send out a letter to all these folks.
You got to clean up your sidewalks. you
know, e those little plant boxes, they
were put out there, but you guys are
responsible to maintain them. Um, if we
want to take that over and have Sid do
it, not Sid, listen to me. I'm looking,
I'm talking to Rick and I say, "Sid
public works." That's what Sid does in
Atlantic City. That's a special
improvement district. When we first got
in office, I met with a lot of the
business owners and asked if they wanted
to do something like that. There's a
couple that said yes, but it's a tax to
create that special improvement
district. you're those business owners
pay into that
>> and I wasn't super in favor of it
because it's it's more money for those
businesses to pay. So we we can
certainly work with the current
ordinances we have and write violations
for property maintenance.
We have not harped on that too too much
because we're trying to work with the
VBA and get them to do it internally.
That's not working. So, we can either go
back to them and say, "Hey guys, you
want to talk to your members and even if
they're not members, talk to them or
we're going to start have to writing
violations and that follows up with
fines."
>> Yeah. I don't know how else to do it. I
mean, there's the things that I pointed
out are are are examples of differences
in what the code says. So, we'll I'll
look through it again to see if there's
something
>> and what you put in there is good stuff.
Don't don't get me wrong.
>> Yeah. But I I agree. I would draw the
line if I were coming to town and I was
going to redo a a building. If they if
these things were in place, lighting,
awnings, you know, maintenance, signage
requirements, I I would work around that
or work within my existing structure to
make them in compliance. But I don't
know what else we can do other than
enforce u is to have the code written
well and then to enforce it.
>> Agreed.
And then the signage thing does add some
things, but we've talked about in the
past blade signage and um discouraging
>> add a blade sign.
>> You did
>> ordinance. We should add that.
>> So you objective having that those
things that added to ordinance that we
could do.
>> Yeah, way.
>> I'm fine with that. And then I I still
think the the committee on at the
planning board wants to uh wants to have
more broadstroke language in the in the
um in the in the master plan if there is
anything
>> and that gives us the ability to write
regs into that around those master plan
recommendations.
>> And I know you don't want to add do
anything with colors, but that pink
building on Met Avenue looked ridiculous
from day one.
And and you get people who do that
sometimes.
>> There there was a pink house on the bay
forever. Nobody complained about that.
>> It's it's
>> we can't we Well, that's different.
>> That business never went into place.
>> Yeah, that was a it was never opened.
>> Well, I guess the I guess where it
becomes debatable is is you're right is
that that particular building is has
been vacant for quite a while because
that was activated and we wouldn't
>> you see that sometimes in neighborhoods
where like somebody
out of spite or fighting, you know, with
the neighborhood or something and they
they paint their house like bright
purple or black or neon this or like
>> that could happen,
>> right? And you can't write ordinances
around that. I don't think you can. I
don't think you should. So, I I don't I
don't So, you know where I stand on on
telling people what to do with their
priorities. So, that was my that was my
uh think disc I guess it's more of a
discussion item than a comment. I do
want to add one,
>> but I did bring it I bring it up.
>> I neglected to mention that yesterday
um I participated in interviews for
selecting a judge for the central court,
Atlanta County Court, municipal court
and there were seven candidates, seven
good candidates and um
trying to see how many along with that
there were maybe four or five other um
cities there participating in the
interviews. So, um, now we have to
decide who there's two positions
open. Um,
>> so possibly three and this
>> possibly
three. Yeah.
>> If the decision is to um realign some
things, I left you like the ranking.
>> Um, so I I don't know if you want to
talk about it or you want to just go
with how I ranked it and um
>> take a look at it again.
>> Yeah. And I have all their resumes if
you decide you want them.
>> Yeah, I'd like to see that.
>> Okay. Yeah. Okay.
>> I have it in an email so that'll be easy
to send.
>> Perfect.
>> All right.
>> Um I'll put your ranking back in your
bin.
>> Okay.
>> Um so that if that ends our commissioner
comments, right?
>> Yes.
>> Y
>> um we have a kind of a motion to open
the meeting for public comment.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Please roll.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Kel.
>> Yes. So, this is a point where anybody
can comment about anything. It looks
like uh we don't have anybody in the
room or in the Zoom.
So, can I have a motion to close public
comment?
>> So, moved.
>> Second.
>> So, roll call.
>> Commissioner Langria.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes. So, we've already uh gone through
executive session. So, may I have a
motion to adjurnn?
>> Moved.
>> Roll call.
>> Commissioner Langri.
>> Yes.
>> Mr.
Yes.
>> Mayor
>> Creable.
>> Yes. Being adjourned.
>> Okay.