June 11 2026 Ventnor City Commission Meeting

Good evening.
>> Welcome everybody
to the June 11th, 2026 Vendor City
Commission meeting. Uh just call to
order. Can I have everybody stand for
the flag salute, please?
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.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you everybody. Uh may I have roll
call please?
>> Commissioner Langra
>> here.
>> Commissioner Mento
>> here.
>> Mayor Creable
>> here.
>> Thank you.
>> Lisa,
may I have the open public meeting
announcement, please?
>> 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 Ventner city's website.
>> Thank you. May I have the live streaming
announcement, please?
>> The city of Venner 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. Uh this evening we we do have
a presentation. Can I ask the officers
to come up to the the front and we'll we
have a presentation for um Jerry
Schaefer is here tonight with his
family. Um if you could just open up
that uh plaque
and we have we have a lot of some other
honored guests here. So former former
Chief Mike Miller, you're invited.
[laughter]
I see former mayor Chryser is here as
well. Um
Jerry, if you would like to come up.
So, I'll just read the I'll I'll read
the plaque and and I just want to say
from myself, Jerry, I know that the the
the job of dispatch is something that is
um it's it's a behind the scenes and
it's it's sometimes something that uh I
don't think the general public really
understands. When I first started 10
years ago, I sat with some of your men
for a few hours just to see what it was
like. And um it happens it it's it
happens seamlessly because
because [clears throat] you all work
together and because you make sure that
uh the men are where they need to be.
You're resource you're you're you've got
a and I you know what the resources are
and and you know your experience is
something you can't put a really can't
put into words in a dollar amount. you
know the city like the back of your hand
and you know the top you know and and uh
and I think the whole the whole
community wants to thank you for the the
the the years that you've put in and I'm
sure that the entire police force does.
So I personally want to thank you in
recognition of your over 50 years of
dedicated service this is uh the to the
city of Vendor and its citizens and vi
and visitors.
Gerald Schaefer began his lifetime of
service as a special patrolman in 1974,
he said, before becoming a full-time
patrolman in 1978.
Throughout your career in law
enforcement, you rose through the ranks
of police department, becoming a
sergeant in 1983 and a lieutenant in
1989. In March of 1991, he's promoted to
the head of the Ventner Police
Department as chief of police. Chief
Schaefer remained at the helm of the
department for over nine years before
retiring as chief in October 30 on
October 31st of 2000. Beginning in 2001,
not taking any time off there.
[laughter]
Uh Gerald Schaefer became back to public
service when he was hired as a
communications operator. During the next
25 years of service as dispatcher, Jerry
Schaefer gave a calming voice to those
who contacted the police department in
need of help. Venner City Police
Department is eternally grateful for the
long-standing commitment to public
service you have given the department
and the city of Venner. We all wish you
a joyful retirement and thank you for
your service.
>> Thank you. You're here.
empty
also has a couple
dispatch. I think it's going to be
a good one more.
Yeah, I can't let him get it.
I can get
a busy job.
This was great.
July
plates.
Oh yeah.
Yeah,
but I'm thinking about when I've had to
call them
>> do the negotiation.
Oh, I don't know what it is.
Have you ever gone in the room?
>> So Jerry, if you want to stay, we're
going to do a resolution accepting your
retirement if you want to. And you might
you might enjoy that.
[laughter]
>> Do that now.
>> What's that?
>> If we might Yeah, we might vote. It
might might be a no vote.
>> So um we're going to pull out of um out
of consent. We're going to pull
resolution 2026-172.
Resolution City of Ventner, County of
Atlantic, State of New Jersey, accepting
the retirement of Gerald J. Schaefer
effective June 30th, 2026. May I have a
motion, please?
>> Reluctantly, I will make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Have a roll call. Lisa,
>> Commissioner Langraph,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Mento, yes. Mayor Creable,
>> yes.
>> Thank you again, Chief
It's an easy
>> three years here.
>> No, they all worked on this.
>> Yeah, I was here when I worked for Cory
as chief for the last two years I worked
for him.
Didn't have much dealing with him.
>> Okay.
You still got it.
>> Oh,
>> why didn't
Which one do I look this serious? Look
at those fine daddies.
or this
>> cat now on is on our
>> Yeah, she was on Zoom.
>> She's on start. Yeah.
>> All right, we'll pick up um we'll pick
up on the next item. Department head
reports. We have none today. Capital
discussion.
Um we do not have capital discussion
today. Um minutes there are none. We
have one ordinance introduction.
Uh that bond ordinance will be uh
2026-011.
bodance providing the acquisition of
various equipment vehicles for the fire
department and the city of Venner County
of Atlantic State of New Jersey
appropriating 1,270,000
authorizing the issuance of 1,29,523
bonds for notes to finance part of the
cost thereof. This is for um command
vehicle, a new
um engine which we need to get in to
replace a 30 plus year old engine uh
that is no longer maintainable
>> and
>> a pump truck and um and some other
various uh PPE. I believe there's some
other uh it's all based on the fire
department's uh operating. All right. Uh
any questions on that? We
>> Chief gave us a good update on it.
>> Chief gave us an update on it last time
last time.
>> Maria, you
>> No, I He gave me an update also.
>> He g He did. That's right.
>> Um moving forward, we have no public
hearing or adoptions. We do have a
number of resolutions
uh for consent. Um we have uh resolution
169. Uh this is for an overpayment for
uh uh Jonathan Wooten for firearms
refunding. Um we have 170.
Uh this is uh amending parking u within
the city from July 1st through September
30th. Um uh for no parking. This is uh
something we do every year
>> for our summer events.
>> For our summer events. Correct. And we
have 171. Uh this is uh contract to
Gemini General Contracting for
Winchester Avenue water mane replacement
phase one not to exceed 1.2. You want to
>> Sure. So it's basically what it says.
Water man replacement that includes the
laterals and street re reconstruction
and all that. Um we had three biders and
I say this all the time. You know when
you have bids that are this tight
together that means your specs and your
designs were really good. Um the first
two bids were literally
uh not even 15 about $10,000 apart. So
the third one was a little higher, but
you had 1.267
1.272.
So $4,000 there. And then the other one
was 1.8
1.876 million. So, um I give that credit
to our design team on those um and our
city engineer getting those specs out
and our our RFQ with um Q what is it?
QPR
>> QPA
>> QI [clears throat] QPA Roger McLaren and
getting those specs together
>> so they're easy to bid on, right?
>> And you get good bids, we get good
numbers. So
>> So when it's too early to say when it's
going to happen?
>> Yeah, we'll have precon meetings once we
get these guys on board and and um we'll
we'll let the public know. It will not
happen before the end of the summer, I'm
pretty sure.
>> Think so.
>> Moving down, skipping 172. We We've
already voted on 173 is 173,
174, 175, 176, 177,
178,
179, and 180
are all renewals of existing liquor
licenses. either uh planner or retail of
our existing
>> all the paperwork
came in in time.
>> Yes. All
>> was done. So we're good. They'll have
their licenses for July 1st.
>> That's good to know. All right. So
that's 100%.
That is uh that is ordinances 173
through 180.
Picking up on 181. Uh this is a uh
language change uh conform with
amendments to the New Jersey Family
Leave Act in the per personnel policy
manual. Um we we discussed this via Tom
through some emails. Any questions or
comments or color you want to put on
that? It's self-explanatory.
>> Yeah, it's adding time based on the
state requirements.
>> Right. Family leave act.
>> Yep.
>> Uh 182. Um this is authorizing the hire
hiring of a William Towns and part-time
code enforcement in trainee. Lance, do
you want to make an
>> Yeah, sure. So, Bill comes to us as a
retired Camden County um prosecutor's
office chief of detectives. Um having a
secondary zoning officer will help us
keep track of property maintenance,
things of that nature. Um keep on top of
folks maintaining their properties,
including commercial and residential
pieces. Um, I've always said this and I
learned it firsthand in in Brigantine.
Having a retired police officer as a
zoning officer is very helpful. They see
things other people don't. They're very
observant. Um, and they see things in
black and white, which is pretty much
what zoning code violations are. So,
I've met Bill a few times. U, he's a
resident here in Bentner. Um, full-time
resident now. He was a second homeowner.
Now he's a full-time. So, I've seen him,
met him. Um, very outstanding gentleman.
And I think, you know, he'll be
part-time uh for for the next 12 months
or so and then hopefully move into that
position after the the trainee is done.
>> I've met him, too. And if you could
judge a person by what you see when you
meet him, I think he's going to be great
for he's very nice.
>> Yes.
>> Calm calm demeanor, which is perfect for
the zoning officer.
>> Good. Well, I think it's something that
we can all uh appreciate that, you know,
good good good enforcement is good for
everybody.
>> Um, so moving next to 183.
This is uh design construction
management uh resolution with uh change
order with Remington and Vernick
engineers for the services on the um
Siri Avenue water tower to repaint
project. So there was a there was a
change order uh I think we talked about
that last. Yeah, there was a structural
change needed to the plans. The interior
some of the interior support structures
of the the bowl were in poor shape. They
had to be redone. So, there was a change
to that contract. We also have to change
the inspection. So, it's about $5,500 in
additional inspection fees for Remington
Vernick.
>> It's getting uh good reviews from the
boat house. It looks great.
>> Yeah. And it went back online last
Friday, I think, Ernie.
>> So, we're back online full full of water
and right
>> providing good pressure for the heights.
>> Great.
That's great. Any other questions?
Uh 184. Um this is uh state of New
Jersey authorizing change order number
one final for the delivery of the
boardwalk lumber.
>> Yep.
>> This is the last batch
>> last batch of of lumber for the
boardwalk. Um we're storing it here in
the city. We had to take possession of
it in order to finalize the billing on
it to complete our requirements with the
state for the for the grant they gave
us. Right. Right. Uh so it's another
almost $17,000 in lumber. Um just
additional pieces that we needed to
complete not just this phase but phase
two.
>> Right. And is that all the lumber we'll
need for phase two?
>> Fingers crossed.
It's hard to get.
>> Gotcha. Um
we are adding one resolution on the
bench. Resolution 185. This is
authorizing uh seasonal part-time
employment for the
>> This says uh recreational aid but in the
department of revenue and finance but
it's a this is for initial court
attendant
>> tennis court pickle ball. Yeah,
>> tennis court pickle ball attendant
part-time. Uh start date of June 29th.
All right. That's a busy court.
Um
any that's the last resolution by
consent which we will bring in a regular
meeting. Are there any other questions?
>> No.
Uh we have no discussion. We have no
we have approval and bills and payroll.
Do you have that Tom?
>> I have them.
>> You have those Lisa. Okay. And so I'll
call on you when we get there. No
discussion items in my on my list for
today. No.
Um
so moving forward we have uh time for
public portion on any items that have
been discussed so far in the workshop
portion of the meeting. not general
comments about the city in general, but
if there's anything about any of the uh
resolutions or the ordinances that we've
talked about so far, uh please come up
to the mic or make yourself known on the
Zoom platform where raise your hand and
state your name and address and you'll
be recognized by the
>> Tim Cer ventner city. The traininee that
you talked about earlier, is that
additional to staff or is that a
replacement
>> training? the traininee person that you
>> It's new for now. We're preparing for
someone to be retiring.
>> Okay. Great.
>> Well, I agree that we need to maintain
the code enforcement and having an ex
law enforcement person is very valuable.
So, it sounds like a real good choice.
However, I'm a little bit surprised
because several years ago I I raised the
issue of in the housing budget that
there was a drastic cut
uh in the budget amount and I was told
that's because some of that work was
subcontracted out. Is that work still
being subcontract contracted out or
question?
>> Uh yeah. So I think you're referring to
inspections, not code enforcement.
>> I was specifically talking about code
enforcement at that time.
>> Yeah,
>> that was a housing budget, right? that
the the building is in the another line
item
>> that that hasn't been cut since I've
been here. So, the last three years it
is not the the the change was for a
third party to do the inspections during
construction.
>> Yeah. If you have something in housing
that you're referring to, it doesn't
sound like it's something we're familiar
with.
>> I'll go back and check my notes, but
very good. It sounds like a very good
hire if it's a law enforcement person,
somebody code enforcement.
Um,
moving forward, anybody else have public
comments for anything that we've talked
about so far?
Anybody on the Zoom platform?
>> Anybody on Zoom have any questions or
comments on the agenda that you've heard
so far?
>> No.
>> Okay. Hearing none. Can I have a motion
to close public portion?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Thank you. Can I have a motion to close
public portion of the meeting?
>> Close workshop. Motion to close
workshop.
>> The workshop. I'm sorry. I said I said
public portion. May I have a motion to
close the workshop portion of the
meeting and call to order the regular
portion of the meeting?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> A roll call. Lisa.
>> Mr. Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Mento. Yes.
>> Mayor Creable. Yes. So, we have uh
approval of minutes. May I have a motion
to introduce uh ordinance number
2026-011?
>> Make a motion to introduce ordinance
2026-011,
a bond ordinance providing for the
acquisition of various equipment fire
department for the fire department.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langrath.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes. No ordinance public hearings. No
ordinance adoptions.
>> Before you move on from that, can I just
give everybody a heads up that in all
likelihood sometime over the next couple
of months, we'll be presenting to you
two more bond ordinances. One for
general capital improvements and
equipment purchases for public works and
infrastructure and one for some things
that Ernie needs in the water and sewer
utility. So, those will be two separate
to this one.
>> Okay. Thank you.
Great. Uh resolutions. May I have a
motion to adopt resolutions 2026-169
through 171 and 173 through 185 which
was added on the bench as described
earlier in the workshop portion.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langria.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento. Yes. Mayor
>> Creable.
>> Yes.
>> Lisa, may I have uh bills and payroll,
please?
>> Certainly. So, we have payroll May 30th
through June 12th of 2026 in the amount
of $696,477.73
and move bills in the amount of
1,399,37516.
>> Thank you.
I have a motion to approve bills and
payroll, please.
>> I'll make that motion. I
>> have a second.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes. Mayor Creable. you. Uh, no safety
reports. Uh, any commissioner comments
or reports? Lance, you want to start?
>> Yeah, sure. Thank you, mayor. Um,
just getting some updated numbers from
from Ernie today on our drinking water.
March production was just under 36
million gallons. U
1.1 million gallons per day. Um,
continuing replacement of outdated Corey
hydrants throughout the city. Fire
hydrants, hydrant flushing in progress
with Ventner Water and Fire Department
in separate areas. We typically notify
folks in those neighborhoods when we're
doing that so they know you not have to
park there unless they want their car
wash that day and then they can park it
right in front of the fire hacker. Um
compliance and water quality annual safe
drinking act sampling quarter two uh
that'll be starting through throughout
the city. Um let's see what else we got.
Water supply status as I talked about
the tower over on Siri Avenue has been
put back into service since last Friday.
Um, well number five is still out of
service. We're looking at new
construction of that well in fall of
2026.
Uh, lead service line project. We will
have a a second meeting on June 27th for
that outreach to be conducted by our
friends at um, um, I'm trying to think
of the name of the group that
>> Thank you. New Jersey F. I knew it was
futures. I couldn't think where they
were from. Our state, New Jersey
Futures. They're helping us with the
public output uh for information as well
as that qualifies us for the forgivable
loans from the iBank. So, we're we're
kind of following their lead on it. Uh
they will lead it. I'll be there and
Commissioner Cre or Mayor Cream was
there last time. Mar they last about two
hours. Got a lot of good information.
>> So, good.
>> Yeah, I was away last time.
>> Yeah, I remember that. So,
>> it was really really wellrun. Well, a
lot of uh a lot of great information. It
made the presenter I think was really
clear and concise.
>> Have to make sure he spells Ernie's name
right this time. He had Ernie's name
wrong in That's important.
>> Uh wastewater side um continue
maintenance of the lines, jetting and
vacuums collection system. U cleaned up
our pump stations, Lily Park public
works in Lafayette. So those are all
running well. Um a lot of other updates.
We had an issue out of Fusion Church if
you remember on Easter.
>> Yes, I do.
>> The Easter Eve I guess it was. that's
been completely repaired. Uh we're still
discussing that with uh South Jersey Gas
who actually caused the issue. Um
they're claiming they were told they
could cut a sewer lateral
by someone at the city. I'm like that's
probably not something that we would
have done.
>> It was 20 plus years ago. So maybe not
that long, but it was it was quite a
while ago.
>> Um so we're negotiating them to
reimburse us on that. That's going to be
a little bit of a battle. Nicole and and
Cat are working on that for us. um
priority projects, Lily Park pump
station, railing and repair and stair
replacement, well recoding, things of
that nature. So, there's a lot of stuff
coming up coming in the winter.
Uh public works, um finalizing, continue
to summer prep, beach mats have been
going out. Um trash enclosures on the
beach, they're bigger. If you notice, if
you get to see them, they're much bigger
this year.
>> Um hold more bigger cans and more trash.
on the tennis courts. Windscreens are
up. Uh cable was installed. I believe
Jim's was there. I think they're meeting
tomorrow with Comcast to get internet so
we can have our the other cameras that
might that we're going to add out there,
right?
>> As well as the one the pickle ball folks
put up themselves. We're looking at
security cameras. The pickle ball group
themselves had their own little cameras
so they could see if the courts were
open or
how big they were. Yeah. Right. So
that's all I know. That was a lot. So
>> yeah. No, it's good.
Well,
>> thank you. I actually met with one of
the women from pickle ball today and she
wanted to go over some of her
suggestions and we'll go over them and
you were aware I was meeting with her.
So, um Kim came um Santo who works
uh there in the summer and uh she was
very helpful also to kind of I don't
play so she kind of like was explaining
things to me and um [clears throat]
how some things work. You should explain
how to score the game because that's
that's the whole mess. I can't even
figure that out.
>> Um, so regarding my uh department's
revenue and finance and special events,
um, finance, you know, pretty much is
business as usual. Amy's been onboarding
the summer employees, which takes a
little bit of time in the new payroll
system. And I think our auditors left,
so they're done with their fieldwork, I
guess. And
okay. Oh, yeah, they did. But I don't
know why that was in her summary. Um
maybe she just wanted to remind me of
that. And um we had some tax appeals
that amounted to not like the old days,
$850 of return taxes. So um yeah, I I
mean I remember when I first came here,
it was
>> hundreds of thousands of dollars
>> as a result of a thousand people their
taxes
>> and they were north of 100,000. Hundreds
of thousands of them. Yeah. Yeah. So,
that was always a very ch uh challenging
for us to handle. Um, regarding events,
uh, I'll just give you some of them
coming up for anybody that's listening
or looks at this later. And, um, I think
I need new glasses. Uh, May, let's see,
we're not in May. Where are we?
Um, June 27th and 28th is a citywide
yard sale. June 27th is a school's out
for summer concert at Newport Avenue. Um
I missed June 13th which is the Dean
Randazzo Cancer Foundation fundraiser at
Ski Beach.
June 29th is movie night at Ski Beach at
5:30.
We will have Independence Celebration
coming up at Newport Beach at 6 PM on
July 3rd, I think. What day of the week
is that? Let's look at that.
>> Uh
the Friday. Yeah, I think it's a Yeah,
it's a Friday. Um,
the concert series will be ongoing
Wednesdays and Saturdays. Our schedule
is on the Veterary City special events
page as well as um I think you can get
to it from our page. Also, the farmers
market, which uh we love and is all done
by volunteers, is ongoing every Friday.
And um again, there's still sponsorship
opportunities available for events in
the city of Ventner. And there's a whole
package that um we can go over with you
for various levels.
And um that's pretty much it.
>> A couple of things. Rick had sent me a
note and I I didn't look at it before I
spoke. So there's a couple things on the
boardwalk. We've uh started replacing
some of the showers again. So we four of
the newer ones uh were installed. Um,
new welcome to ventner signs are
arriving next week. So, we should have
them installed over the next couple of
weeks. And let's see, what else did it
give me? Beach mats at 20 29 beach
crossovers installed. This is four
additional streets from last year. Uh,
beach crossover rails post added at 14
locations. Beach is being ragged daily.
We know about that. Uh, traffic closures
I talked about. And lastly, we welcomed
about 2500 bicycle riders from the
American Cancer Society ride last
Sunday.
>> Um they keep asking us to get involved
and ride.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
>> And they keep saying, "Well, there's
short sections of it. You can like start
in Pleasantville." I'm like, "Yeah,
we're going to get laughed at if we do
that." But um you can also go up and
ride just the bridge.
>> There's a lot of folks that ride over
the Ben Franklin bridge. Yeah.
>> Ben,
>> um they are thrilled to be at Ski Beach.
Um they they the riders really like
coming into our that that Well, this
year they didn't because there was a
headwind for that two miles
>> coming down um Wellington Avenue. But um
>> it must be an early start because they
were done by
>> Yeah. Yeah. They're they leave up there
at 6:30, 7:00, something like that.
>> Um two of my oldest friends from college
road, one of them is a cancer survivor.
So I embarrassed him, which is our right
as elected official to embarrass our old
friends. So I brought him up on stage
and and got to say a few things about
him and all four of them. They I met
them all in college. They all
>> ended up in college together and married
and still together. So they all come
down for for that ride. So it was fun.
It was a great event, great day um out
there on Ski Beach. It was breezy. So it
was very nice for everybody. They have
music, uh food trucks and all that
stuff. And
>> they look well organized.
>> Yeah, they they do a nice job. They they
do everything. I'm pretty sure they left
Ski Beach probably fairly pristine. We
don't do anything.
>> Wow.
>> They they pay for our police officers.
They cover all the overtime and and do a
nice job with cleanup. So,
>> they're and they come to support our
events. They were at the block party.
>> Yeah.
>> They set up a booth there. So, just
wanted to get that in. I'm sorry.
>> No, they've been a great partner ever
since they started.
>> And they want to keep coming back. So,
>> we also had Lour to Down Beach.
>> Yes, we did. That's right. Yep. Um we
had uh it's three communities Vetner,
Margate and Longport where um down Lord
down beach rides from Vetner up into
Atlantic City and then to Longport and
they end up at Tomatoes um and that's a
fundraiser ride as well like Weezen and
the Vendor Business Association and
Market Business Association put that
together and it went off great. I think
I didn't see a number on riders.
>> No, but it was uh
>> very well attended. Yeah.
>> It doesn't look like it looked like it
was about the typical Yeah. They they
stretch from from like Newport to New
Haven.
>> Yeah.
>> And and three or four wide. I think
people were a little surprised to see so
many riders there at that hour. But they
they it it was
>> we pushed it back because they had the
boardwalk um bungalow run
>> at the Atlantic City section of the
boardwalk. So they they pushed this ride
back so it didn't clash.
>> So and they actually lost a few riders
because I heard a couple people couldn't
make it.
>> Right. But
>> did anybody do the Phillies tailgate?
>> Uh, I was out there. Yeah. Okay. Um,
>> I had a lot of people telling
>> it was fun. Yeah, it was great. Great
weather. A lot of people there. Um,
everybody brought lawn chairs. You know,
Billy's lost, but you know,
>> it was it was a good time. It was well
wellrun. Again, Benner Business
Association done a nice job with it.
>> Jackie and her team, uh, Rory, where's
Joe Schaefer was here? But, um, yeah, it
was it was a nice job.
>> It's a good start to those events.
They're And there's a lot of complicated
events. first starting with you know the
the the Kenny Whan run that whole that
you know the first and now that we're
getting into the the you know the heat
of the summer starts with our um our
beaches are going to be open um you know
the but I think all those events people
are if they're if they hear hear us
they'll be uh the best place to to look
is our different our different uh social
media outlets because that's where all
the all the dates and times and the
details are
>> right Mhm.
>> Um I just have my uh I'll have a second
um uh um a second um public safety uh
forum on the 20th coming up at the
library in the community room at 10:00.
That's a Saturday. If uh and that one is
focused on the North Beach area. Um, so
others are welcome, but it the idea is
to get the people in their neighborhoods
to talk about their specific issues. Um,
so if uh if uh if anyone's available on
the 20th at 10 a.m. I'll be at the
library community room on the Atlantic
City side of the library. Uh we'll put
that out as well. Um
and that's all I had. Anybody else?
>> Nope.
Um so may I have a motion to open the
meeting to public comment?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> So at this time we welcome participated
in anyone uh interested organizations or
individuals
uh to speak on any topic regarding
anything in Ventner. Um, in order to
keep the commission, conduct and the
business of the city in the most
productive manner, uh, please come up to
the microphone, give your name and
address. Uh, we typically ask, uh,
everyone to limit your comments to three
minutes. Um,
>> having trouble hearing.
>> So, if you have something to say, you
come up to the microphone. We need your
full name and address for the record.
And you can speak on anything uh,
regarding anything in the city. We ask
uh during the workshop, no, right in
front of you there, the green green
button.
>> All right. Um
>> we ask you to limit your comments.
>> Thank you.
>> We ask you to limit your comments to
three minutes.
>> Okay. Uh my name is Beverly Goldberg. Uh
I live at 107 South Baton Rouge and I've
been there since 1966 when my father
bought the house. He bought the only
house on the street without off- street
parking. But the house was built in 1898
when I think they didn't have
automobiles. I'm not sure. But uh at any
rate, I'm here to talk about parking on
my street. Uh I inherited the house
along with my three sons uh in 1981.
And if you recognize my name, my
youngest son, Adam F. Goldberg, created
the TV show The Goldbergs, kind of a
celebrity on the street. And he actually
of many filmed many episodes here at the
shore and he shows them on the show if
you watch the show. and one of them
involved parking. Um I since I've been
there, it's 1980 is when I inherited.
There's always a problem on the street
and we have limited I have no off street
parking. Uh so we depend on the street
parking. I kind of resent um that I pay
taxes and uh Vassor Square uses our
street as a parking lot and they allow
their employees to park there. people
that do not they don't live in Vetner.
They come in and they they can get a
parking pass to park there because they
work there. I had a fight last summer
with some young lady who's a waitress
there. And she said, "Oh, I'm in
Margate. I live in a fancy street, but
here in Venner, I can park wherever you
I want. I'm entitled." I said, "You
don't live here. Why are you?" She said,
"Well, I work at Vasser." I don't think
that that should be I don't know what I
have to do to eliminate that. We also
have renters on the street that come in
and they park they one couple they they
take up two spots each of them. So they
park their cars so nobody's on either
side of them. And you know on a street
where there's limited parking uh Vassor
has no parking on their street at all
because I understand I went into the
police and they said well we have to get
a fire truck down there. Well what if a
fire truck has to come down our street?
it wouldn't be able to. The trash trucks
just about make it down. And I don't
think it's right. If you are not a
resident paying taxes, you should not be
allowed to park there.
>> And uh you know uh it's crazy today.
Somebody came, they parked there for
eight hours. I had to call the police
twice. I you know, they must be tired of
hearing my voice already about this, but
I've just reached the boiling point with
it. And the clip that my son showed on
the Goldbergs, by the way, has in 1980
has me jumping on a car. Very bad
behavior on my part. And everybody
always says, "Is that true? Did you
really jump on the car?" Yes, I did. I
was so angry. My son filmed it upstairs
with his camera. It's like very
embarrassing. Everybody should have
their child write a TV show about
everything bad that you did when you
were raising them, okay? And then you
can really be embarrassed. But uh he
wrote the six years of the Goldbergs and
I am guilty of everything uh including
misbehaving in restaurants, you know,
and stuff like that that uh happened in
those six years. So, but at any rate,
what do I have to do? What can we do to
get like just those passes given out to
only people that pay taxes on the
street? Not to like, oh, I work over at
Vassor. I I work on the parking lot, so
therefore I can park all over the
street.
>> So, a couple things. First of all, uh my
favorite part of the show is when your
son has the videos.
>> Has the what?
>> Has the actual videos that shows the
actual videos at the end.
>> So many of the my raised my kids here.
Adam used to go up on the boardwalk at
four years old with the video camera and
he would say to people, "I'm doing a
documentary for CNN. Would you talk to
me?"
>> Funny.
>> Doesn't every fouryear-old do a
documentary?
>> Let me ask you a question. You're uh are
you what is your address again?
>> 107
you have a you have you have a a a
garage but it's inoperable. Is it too
small for a car?
>> It was built the house was built in
1898. You know what I could get in the
garage? A golf cart,
>> right?
>> It's minute. Um I don't know. Maybe they
parked the horse on the side of the
house and there was a carriage in there.
I have no idea. But we are we are
actually declared um uh
um what do they call it? You know when
historical somebody on the street had
our street declared historical because
we were the first street I've looked up
I've looked up the history of our street
and we were um the house behind us
facing Vassor was built by Stanford
White and that had the ordinance for all
Ventner.
>> I think the answer is right in what you
just said. What?
>> So the house was built in what year?
>> 1898.
So there was no provision in this
town in the home that you owned and you
lived in for so long.
>> There's some responsibility. I think I I
mean I'm not trying to decipher this,
but the house just wasn't built for off-
streetet parking.
>> Well, my
>> because there was because the town at
the time
>> my father didn't think his neighbors
would ever drive cars.
>> No. I I live in a 100 year. I have the
same size garage and I could only fit a
a sports car in it. So the the there's
not there's there's a limitation on what
the city can can do
>> with Let me let me just finish.
>> Yeah, go ahead.
>> Because you asked a couple questions, so
I'm going to try to answer them for you.
You asked about what we can do about
parking permits in the zone, and you
also asked about what we can do about
taxpayers or non- taxpayers. Well, I'll
kick that to our attorney, but it
doesn't sound like something you can do
legally because the the street itself
>> is considered a public right of way. So,
you can't park there with impunity and
neither can anyone else whether they're
taxpayers or not. They can come from
anywhere and park on a public street
just like you would if you were to go to
Philadelphia or to Cherry Hill,
>> right? So, it would be the same it's
would be the same thing. So, and and the
the parking permits. Um, I think there's
a little bit of dis maybe a disparity on
what we as a governing body think about
them. I I think we we could look at
whether there are things that need to be
updated with the parking permits. If we
remove them, the parking permit does not
give those people that you're saying
that does not give them a parking place.
It just gives them the ability to
>> get a handicap sign. My husband is
turning at 89.
>> Handicap signs are not are not a thing.
They won't. I even ordered online. They
told me I couldn't put them in my
garden.
>> Cannot.
>> No.
>> Yeah. I was told that.
>> Yeah. So,
>> I mean, I just two weeks ago we had a
park three blocks away. That was
ridiculous. I had groceries and you
know, my husband's 88. He does play
pickle ball, by the way.
>> Okay.
>> Talking about pickle ball.
>> But his back is out now. And you know,
it's hard. It's very hard to park so far
away. And the uh episode that Adam
showed on TV. They were people from
Atlantic City. Yeah. Who came up to
Ventner to park in Bentner, she saved
the spot, the wife
>> and he was pulling out of the spot and I
was pulling my car forward and that was
the fight. We called the police. My
husband called the police and and the
the cop said to the guy, he said, "I
wouldn't leave my car here. This lady's
pretty angry." So what happens now in
this city is that houses that were
around that age are obsolete for a
couple of other reasons. Not just
because there's no off- streetet
parking, but because there's uh they
don't fit the lifestyles of today. They
don't they're not they don't fit the the
the flood the flood uh the flood planes
of today. And
>> street on the island. So, but what what
happens is that when those houses have
li have decayed to non to the point
where they can't be helped, they get
torn down and they and people
incorporate parking into them because
that's the lifestyle of today. Got
>> on their own property. So, there's not
Well, what I could recommend you do is
if you see someone parked illegally in
front of your driveway,
>> cool. you call or what is considered
what's considered most uh you have a you
have a split driveway between you and
the neighbor closer to the ocean.
>> Um you no one's going to call you
>> on your blocking your own driveway.
>> We share the driveway.
>> You're on the corner, aren't you?
>> You're 10, correct?
>> You're 107 South.
>> Not on the corner. We're on the parking
lot. that wonderful
>> parking lot is on is if you're facing
your house, it's on the left and then
you have a blue awning, blue and white
awnings and then there's a house on the
right.
>> So you have a driveway that and
>> that gets one car only and I share it
with my neighbors. So if they need it,
you know, we're very friendly with them
so that's fine, right? But I just
>> So you could block your own park. What
I'm getting at is you could block your
own driveway putting the tail of putting
one side of your car halfway through. So
there's your one parking spot. I know.
>> More than most more than a lot of people
have.
>> Why are these people that work at Vasser
allowed to get parking permits? They
don't live in Ventner. None of them live
in Ventner that work there. They live in
Margate or along from waitress job.
>> I don't know how I could I could I could
comment on that.
>> What can we do about that?
>> Well, a lot
issued. So, they're issued through uh
code office and you have to show an ID
that has a ventner address to get those
parking permits. Now, what may be
happening, they got it.
>> Ma'am, here here's how we have to work
this. If you're going to continue to
interrupt us, we're going to ask you to
sit down and then we'll answer your
questions.
>> Yeah, we're trying to we can't go back
and forth because you're not
>> You tell me. Thank you.
>> We're not trying to debate or win an
argument here. We're just trying to
we're trying to answer your questions.
>> Exactly. So, they have to show an ID to
get the parking space to get the parking
permit. What's most likely it seems to
be happening is folks from Vassor are
giving those to employees which should
not be happening. So, what I guess we
can maybe do is is have to ask PD to
look at it is if they see and it's going
to have to just random checks, just
check the numbers on the permits,
>> right?
>> And you know, if a slow night, we don't
have any of those this summer, but in
the winter time, maybe
>> we can check the numbers on them and
verify that they're to a a legal
resident of Ventner. I'm sorry, but part
of living at the shore, and I've lived
here all my life, is is, you know, since
my greatgrandfather would drop us off on
Texas Avenue and start circling the
streets for parking. It's he's been
doing it since I was a child and I do it
now. I have to walk and on Fourth of
July and Memorial Day weekend, I
sometimes have to walk
>> four blocks to get to my house. It's
part of it's part of the it's part of
the it it's unfortunately part of the re
the the reality of living in an island
that grow that triples in size and we
all want to be here at the same time and
your house doesn't your house isn't
designed for anything but a but a but a
a single a single parking place for a
Model T.
>> Listen, when my father bought the house,
there was no Vassor Square.
>> It was not a problem. No, okay. So, and
there was no parking lot, right? And my
parents came one year. They they putting
the building up. They didn't know about
it when they bought the house. And then
they knocked down four houses to build
that parking lot for Vassor. They
>> have you asked Vassor to to rent that
parking place next to your house.
There's ones you could rent. You could
you could rent parking inside their lot.
>> I already inquired.
>> That's as much as I can help you with. I
I appreciate you coming out. I do think
I would like somehow that they not give
it that they're be told that they can't
give this to their employees. That would
cut down a lot.
>> Our administrator is going to come.
>> I'll I'll take care of that. I'll I'll
get with code and see how many permits
they're issuing there, what the
requirements are. Uh those are
condominium apartments, right? So,
>> uh I'm not sure how many each unit gets.
I think you get more than one. I think
you can get probably at least two if I'm
not mistaken. two for two for your own
vehicles and then I think two for
guests. They're copying them.
>> So, um we'll take a look at that and see
what's going on.
>> If there's anybody if there's anybody
copying them, that's easy to find out.
But if there's if, uh
>> I appreciate that. Listen, I'm not the
only one up and down the street. They're
all complaining. They said we can't get
our we can't park our own.
>> Well, aware it starts in April. We start
getting the complaint.
>> And compiled with that, we have an
Airbnb across the street. He's got off
street parking for six cars, but he
rents it and he has like eight and 10
cars and they're all every year when I
at the end of the season my car is
bashed because they back out of his
driveway right into my car. I mean, you
know, that's like a whole another issue.
But
>> that that is a whole other issue and I
don't mean to cut you off either, but
I've taken notes here. I think we're
going to start with seeing what's going
on with Vassor Square. If the permits
are being used by employees and not
residents or guests, then there's
potentially a problem that we can fix.
Uh, but until I investigate that, I
don't really know the answer.
>> I have one other gripe with VA Vassor.
They they're supposed to maintain the
ground, the grass and everything on our
street.
>> So, you should take that up with Vasser,
I guess.
>> I mean, they're it's all dead. There's
dogs being walked there and stuff and
they do it on the side facing Basser,
but on our side it's not wellmaintained
and every summer
>> on the governor's strip just on
yesterday.
>> Yeah. The grass is all dead. I spoke to
the gardener today. They were there and
he said, "Well, they didn't they told us
not to do anything about it." Well,
doesn't look very nice that it's, you
know, dog duty all over there
>> on the on the street side, not on the
fence side,
>> on Baton Rouge side.
I'll take that upper with code also.
That that is also their jurisdiction. So
>> Bill's first
>> it might be Bill's first assignment.
>> All right.
>> Yeah.
>> So they need to be I mean I go over I
talk to the the gentleman at the desk
and I say, "Hey, you know, how about
putting some grass or sod down there? It
looks terrible on our side of the
street." He said, "Well, we only see the
side on Vassor, so we don't really
care." Nice. Very nice. Okay.
>> All right. Well, thank you. I send
notes.
>> Thank you
>> for new stuff that my son is doing. He's
writing a TV show for Peter Jackson,
Lord of the Rings, right now about
vampires, and they're going to film it
in New Zealand.
>> Oh, wow.
>> So, now we got a schle in New Zealand
[laughter]
because I tried to I said to him,
>> if he's going to use any of if he's
going to use any of this footage, I want
royalties.
>> Thanks, guys.
>> Thank you.
I can't understand who.
>> Where's my Zoom?
>> Tim Cryer, Vaner City. Any success uh
with the land sale on Tuesday?
>> Yep. Both of them sold.
>> Yes. Glad you asked. They they both
sold. The first one that's uh the one
closer to Atlantic City near Jackson
Avenue. The minimum bid was 138 and we
received a bid for that amount. There
was only only that one bid. Uh the other
property had some competition. There
were actually three biders. The uh
minimum bid began at 1582 and we sold it
for 211,000.
>> Oh, very good. I guess wishes do come
true.
>> Anybody on the Zoom platform
have any comments for the general for
the general order? Anybody on Zoom wish
to question or comment on any items,
please make yourself known by raising
your hand or with the chat feature and
you'll be recognized.
[snorts]
>> No hearing none.
>> A motion to close public comment.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langria.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes. Uh we have no uh no indication of
executive session today. So I will ask
for a motion to adjurnn.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langrath.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes. Meeting adjourned.