February 26 2026 Ventnor City Commission Meeting

This is
>> okay. Good evening.
Uh, call to order the city vendor
commission meeting February 26, 2026.
Few moments behind 5:30. I apologize for
that. Uh, may I please have everyone
rise for the flag salute.
Pledge
>> allegiance to the flag of the states of
the stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
>> Thank you.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Mr. Langrath
>> here.
>> Mr. Mento
>> here.
>> Mayor Kel
>> here.
>> Uh, could you read the open public
meeting announcement? Lisa,
>> pursuant to the open public meetings
act, adequate notice of this meeting has
been provided. The agenda for this
meeting is posted in city hall and on
the city's website.
>> Thank you. Could you read the live
streaming announcement, please?
>> The city of Vaner 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 have one
resolution, resolution 2026-079.
and the resolution city of Venner,
county of Atlantic, state of New Jersey
designating the month of August as
Veterans Recognition Month in the city
of Venner. In our audience today, we
have uh Mr. Edward uh Edward Dixon.
Um the resignation designates the uh
month of August as Veterans Appreciation
Month. Uh as a member of the armed
forces, he's you've uh worked throughout
the coast to have this adopted in uh
Ocean City, Wildwood, Kate May, Margate,
Longport. uh as a as a uh as a as a
month of uh appreciation. We thank you
here and we look forward to adopting it
as well.
>> That was uh looking forward to seeing
all of you again and on this special
occasion when Mayor Jim Crabel and the
council of Venner has approved a
resolution dedicating the month of
August to our military veterans, men and
women. I am fortunate to meet people who
care so much about our military
veterans. This is a great tribute to
them.
This summer, we will be celebrating our
250th historic anniversary of our great
country that I love.
I am striving to have this dedication
printed on every calendar across our
great country. They deserve this tribute
each year to be celebrated with the help
of Congressman Jeff Vandrew and the
House of Representation.
It will come to fruition. He did say it
may take some time for the approval.
Thank you and may God bless you all.
>> Thank you.
>> May I shake your hands?
>> Of course. Absolutely.
>> Should we vote on the resolution first?
Let us vote on it first and then we'll
do that. How's that?
>> All right.
>> Uh,
>> may I have a motion to vote on
resolution 2026-079
as described and preeded by Mr. Dixon?
>> I will make that motion.
>> Uh,
>> make the second. Second.
>> Second. Second.
>> We're excited.
>> That's a first.
>> All right. Uh, may I roll call, please?
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes. Congratulations.
>> Absolutely.
>> Nice to meet you.
>> Over here conversation.
My pleasure. My pleasure.
>> Thanks.
>> You too.
>> Too many boards. I can't.
>> I'm sorry. I sit on too many boards. I
can't keep it straight.
>> Be popular.
>> We all do something different.
>> No, we do that.
>> We do them when we have we do
presentations and stuff early. So
now we're going to go into the workshop.
Do the workshop.
>> Okay.
Um we have no presentations.
Right. I can continue down the agenda.
Right.
>> Yep.
>> Um we have no department head reports.
Uh capital discussion. Um
>> we'll have a detailed one of those
coming up. I think we're going to do it
in April because Ed and uh Remington and
Vernick put together a report for our
master plan and capital expenditures
that we kind of hinted at on our
newsletter last last month.
>> So, we'll have a full report from Ed
probably in April. I think he's going to
come in and do that.
>> Yeah. And I I think we'll also piggyback
that with the budget process because you
know that we have to adopt the six-year
capital budget plan budget and we'll be
doing a bond ordinance this year
>> which is settle on which projects are
priorities for this year.
>> Right. And that'll all happen in April.
We
>> part of our part of R&B's work is to get
some of this stuff into the I bank and
some of those things. It helps us get
those grants so to have this plan put
together and they were we got grant
money to pay for them to do it. So that
was helpful. you want to lead that
discussion since it's primarily all your
stuff.
>> Yeah, I'll have Ed Edmatt,
right,
>> come in and and help us with that. So,
>> great.
>> And I wanted to comment and you
mentioned it, but I was going to comment
that the summary, the capital summary
and the newsletter was great. It really
is. And I know you do a lot of that. And
if you don't get if people don't get our
newsletter, you should get our
newsletter because it comes out every
month and there's information in there
and the capital information, I think, is
um revealing.
>> Yeah. And um just good information to
have what's going on in the city and
where the money's getting spent, where
it has to get spent.
>> Agreed.
>> Do we put that on our um Facebook page?
The
>> newslet. So once it's finalized, this
was a draft that that R&V gave me and Ed
when I were going over it when she asked
or somebody asked about capital
improvements,
>> but our newsletter itself, do we put
that on our Facebook?
>> Website on the website
>> Facebook page. Uh the newsletter goes
out to a mail
uh chimp it's called you know all the
it's got a I think
>> right people sign up for it but I'm just
thinking maybe we should put it there I
don't know
>> you could double it yeah
>> and at least put a link to it so that
you could see it on our website
>> okay easy to do
>> I'll tell Sarah
>> um thank you
>> right uh we have no minutes to adopt
correct Lisa
>> correct
uh we have Three introductions.
Um
2020 2026-00005
is a bond ordinance uh providing general
capital improvements and acquisitions of
various equipment for the city school by
the city of Ventner and county of
Atlantic appropriating $900,000 and the
issuance of a $900,000 bond finance. Any
other um comments on that? I know it was
regarding air conditioning unit,
>> HVAC system and sidewalk repairs.
>> Okay.
>> For for details, most of it is HVAC
system in the school.
>> Right. This was planned actually over
time.
>> We've had it we've had this in the in
the
>> Is this the last one
>> stream? Um
did you say is this the last one?
>> Yeah. Sorry.
>> One can only hope.
>> You find that funny?
>> They do find that funny pain.
>> There's never a last one. Never last.
>> Okay.
>> This is the better way to do this. I
mean, yes. Our first year in,
>> we spread it out across the uh across
the users.
>> Exactly. And it's and it's an issue
where if this was coming in all in one
at one time,
>> uh it would have been one big lump sum.
It was the budget.
>> It was I remember $3 million.
>> So, we're we're trying to do the same
thing with our own stuff besides the
school is to not authorize stuff before
we're actually ready to do it. So, uh,
we've got a lot of old ordinances, as
you know, that have balances because
projects haven't yet been completed. So,
we're trying to avoid that. Uh, this is
all work that the school plans on doing
this summer on school end. So, that's
kind of how they plan their things is to
do it during the off season.
>> Okay. Well, in the past, we've gotten
favorable bond issuances. We've gotten
very good rates and Maria, I know you
keep track of all that. Mhm.
>> Um, next is ordinance 2026-006.
This is uh creating this N7 are related.
So, this is um
>> I have a whole thing on that. So,
>> you want to uh you want to bring both uh
006 and 007 to uh to detail.
>> Yeah. So, I think um Nick Carlson is our
uh affordable housing attorney. I think
he's on Zoom. Tiffany could not be here
tonight. She's actually presenting
another affordable housing plan to
another community tonight. So, I'll I'll
hit the highlights of of what these two
ordinances do. Uh, the city's required
to adopt affordable housing ordinances
relating to the city's uh housing
element and fair share plan. This
ordinance will create a required
affordable housing set aside ordinance
consistent with the proposed 2025
housing element and fair share plan.
This is a 20% set aside for new
residential development of 10 units or
more uh excluding single family units.
um the balance of ordinances which are
quite lengthy and mirror uh current
state affordable housing regulations.
They're attached in that document. Um
ordinances create a new chapter of
affordable housing in our ordinances
which will include regulations governing
how affordable units are marketed,
monitored, required deed restrictions
and priced with similar it and other
similar items. The ordinance follows a
state model ordinance and requirements
are from the applicable state
regulations.
The ordinance also creates a section of
development fees which regulates
affordable housing development fees.
This will apply to all non-residential
development. This fee is already
required by the state and will now be
kept by the city for use towards
affordable housing programs permissible
under the adopted housing element and
fair share plan. So with that when a
commercial application comes in
non-residential application comes in
there will be a proportionate um fee a
developer fee that they will pay to the
city. we will put that into an account
that will help us either rehab homes and
then we would uh dedistrict those homes
into uh affordable housing. The county
kind of already monitors a plan that we
work through with that. Joe Geralo, well
Joe Der used to do that now. He's our
county clerk. Um but the county does
that for us already. So they will they
will probably do the same or we can
partner with um folks like the Ark. Um
there's another group and the name of
them is is is uh states right now that
we can work with to help us do that. Um
and that creates the affordable housing
incremental spots, not one mass project.
So that's how we designed it to be
across the city and multiple smaller
type projects, not one big we don't have
the room. We have a vacant land
adjustment, which means we don't have
land to build largecale affordable
housing projects,
>> right? um like Atlantic City has
>> would occur
to meet the requirement if someone's
building 10 homes
>> 10 or 10 or more multif family. Yes.
>> Then we can take these funds and
>> so mixing a little bit
>> or they have to do it the builder has
>> as part of their project. If they're
doing 10 or more units
>> Yeah.
>> say if they do 10 they have to do two of
them 20% as affordable. If someone's
doing a commercial project, they will
pay a development fee of of a percentage
of their assessed value into the city.
>> 2%
into the city. We will put that into
an account and then we will use that to
do smaller projects like one-offs,
partner with, like I said, ARC does does
a lot of that kind of work
>> where it might be a home for folks that
are mentally challenged or things of
that nature where that would they would
renovate a home and they would live in
that home. that that's how that project
would work. Or you you could actually
rent them out. I don't know that we want
to get into that, but ARC will do that
as well as and I forget the name of the
other group and it's driving me crazy um
that does that, but we can partner with
something.
>> This is a requirement.
>> Absolutely.
>> All a requirement.
>> Absolutely. It's not voluntary. This is
all based on court settlements um
through the co-op process that's been
going on since 1972.
>> Right. So, um there's there's more in
Tiffany's notes here, but basically, uh
the next step, the planning board will
have to um after we introduce this or
these ordinances, the planning board
will have to look at them and designate
them that they are compliant with our
master plan, which Tiffany says in her
in her opinion as a planner. It will
certainly meet those um be consistent
with our master plan.
So, that's essentially what these two
ordinances do. Um I we just did it in
Brigantine last night. Uh she was there
to do this very same presentation.
>> Um let me ask you something. If we with
these funds that we will collect to
utilize if there was someone in a um
already if there's an existing let's
just say we have existing low-income
>> homes. Can we use this money to help
them? Let's say they need new windows or
>> new ones. This is
>> only new ones. Okay.
>> This is for new ones.
>> You know the ACIA has a program for
that. I was thinking
>> correct.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Yep.
>> Yeah. This is for new affordable units.
>> Okay.
>> All right. So, that's what those two
ordinances are dealing with.
>> And the last one though is actually um
uh creating a municipal housing liaison
within the city.
>> Yes. We spoke with with Danielle.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. So, we'll have that happen in our
code office.
>> Right.
>> Um Danielle Man will sit as that person.
We will walk her through it. There
there's there's two pieces to the
administration of the program. So the
housing liaison which is what the second
ordinance creates that position that is
required to be an employee of the city
>> fulltime
>> and correct
>> and that well not not necessarily
full-time. could be a regular part-time
person, but the responsibility is to
oversee and do the reporting for uh
whatever goes forward in the future.
>> That there's also a requirement in the
larger ordinance for a housing agent.
The difference there is that you would
typically hire some outside agency to do
the marketing and the renting and the or
the sales of the
>> just triggered the name Triad. Triad
Associates is a private company there.
It was in there.
>> So those there there's a couple of
different companies. Triad is one that's
prominent around here that does that
kind of stuff
>> because the these units that get created
have to be afford I'm sorry
affirmatively marketed. In other words,
you can't just create an affordable unit
and rent it to whoever you want. You
know, you can't put your mother-in-law
in there. They they would develop a
there's an eligibility criteria that has
to be met. The agent would be
responsible for marketing the units and
choosing the eligible person to either
rent or purchase the unit depending on
whether it's a rental or a sale unit.
Um, and so that'll come down the road
where you will need to designate
somebody as the housing agent. For now,
uh, the housing liaison, uh, Lance just
mentioned, we're looking at Danielle
Manera in the construction code office
to be the person that will serve in that
position. And it makes sense to have
someone in that office to do it because
they see the permits coming in for
different things and right she would be
able to track that
>> it would trigger.
>> All right. I think uh so just to be
clear this is the uh the ordinance
introduction. So there is no public
hearing. Uh the next meeting would be
the public hearing and the adoption. But
this in broadstrokes brings us into
compliance
>> with the municipal code uh being added
to it with the fair housing act and
other um statutory requirements. Right.
>> Correct. There were some minor changes
that came back to us from the fair share
housing group and those were
incorporated into these ordinances.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Thanks for for
wrangling all this and helping decipher
all the
>> exactly why I didn't go into affordable
housing plan in my career.
>> They seemed very busy because it was
nationwide. that I guess they're working
with.
>> No, it's Jersey.
>> Just Jersey.
>> Jersey.
>> Oh,
>> yeah. It's I mean other town other
states have something similar, but New
Jersey is the one that has the council
on affordable. Well,
>> COA is kind of a p term. Yeah. It's not
it's what we still call, but it's
affordable housing program now. It's
>> I I didn't stay in that part of
planning. I started in it and it just
got it was changing too much. Tiffany's
been stayed with it all along and she's
fantastic at it. She handles a lot of
municipalities in the state.
>> Yeah, you can tell. Um and does a good
job of it. So,
>> great. All right. So, moving on. Um
there are no public hearings
and we have a number of resolutions that
we will adopt by consent starting with
uh 2026-074
and I'll combine that in in terms of
discussion with 202-075.
This is uh uh hiring two police officers
um for our department. These uh two
individuals started out they're filling
vacancies
uh from retirements or attrition in our
in our department. Um these two
individuals started out um after a
search brought back 40 applicants that
was narrowed down to uh 20 and then then
narrowed down again to five. uh and then
interviewed. Both of these individuals
uh came to the top of that process of
interviews and uh so we're looking
forward to having them. They both have
degrees in criminal justice. One has an
associates degree, the other has a
bachelor's degree and he also has
experience as a class one and class two
officers in different uh summertime
communities. They're young and we will
be putting them through the uh um to the
academy. Um uh the the it's usually a
year-long process to have something uh
to have a an officer be fully trained
and then another year as a field
training officers uh u goes along with
them uh until they're and it's it's it's
difficult. It's a lot of training uh
with all with uh the police um uh
different scenarios and all the all the
the uh the things that go into it. So
we're very proud to have two more
individuals. Tim, is this filling to
current vacancies or upcoming vacancies?
>> Current.
Okay.
Yes. Okay. And um can we in the future I
don't know if this is Lisa Tom include
any any hires their resumes or bios or
if it's just an application in our in
our package only?
>> Yeah. I don't normally get them for the
police department.
>> Yeah.
>> But I for anybody else I could if I have
certain Yeah. I guess we could get them.
>> Uh, you gave them to me.
>> I I I
>> No,
>> he might have given them to me to
circulate and I didn't circulate. I
still have them. So, I'll pass it on.
>> Okay. But even if it's in our package,
>> Sure.
>> Yeah.
I know it can't go out to the public
without redacting things, but I would
like Okay. Nope.
>> No problem.
Um, I want to see him fit the second
guy's name on a badge. That's going to
be hard.
Um,
>> a big badge.
>> Yeah.
Um, any any other comments on uh 074 or
075?
>> You're welcome.
>> Yes, we will. Um,
>> next is uh 2026-076.
Uh, this is authorizing the application
for capital preservation grants from for
the National Historic Trust. I believe
this is this building for solar, right?
Uh, no, not solar. This is for historic
um preservation grant that we're going
to apply for. Uh, we had a phone call
Zoom meeting with Bill Mccle, Jim
Rutella, and I'm drawing a blank on her
name, but she is a historic architect
that actually worked on this building
many years ago. Uh, Margaret was her
first name. And our application last
year was not looked upon favorably
because we didn't have a historic
architect. Oh,
>> so we met with her via Zoom uh Monday or
Tuesday of this week and you know got a
plan together. We gave her some
information. She's worked with the
contractor that that did the estimates
for us, Pullman. That if you recall, we
have a lot of water intrusion when we
get certain nor easter style storms.
Kind of happy that this one was snow
instead of rain because that's when it
leaks. Um, so this will focus on getting
that application and getting it together
and getting it up to um, the state by I
believe April.
>> So it's kind of a push.
>> Yeah, it's quick.
>> You come across any of the original
drawings from Vivian Smith I think was
the architect for this building?
>> Yeah,
>> I'd like to see.
>> I have former mayor here. You probably
have some in the historical society.
>> Thank you.
>> I have I have a role to all the plans in
in my office.
>> Oh yeah. They're actually
>> Oh, from the
>> They're actually black because they made
Xerox copies of them.
>> Oh, okay.
>> It's pretty neat. We tried to use that
to find the the sewer lines and we had
the sewer issue a couple months ago.
>> Oh gosh. Well, that's, you know, when
that those types of drawings were real
artwork and they didn't have as much
detail as they do now. You can't really
>> This has a lot of detail, doesn't it?
>> Really cool. Really cool. I I thought
I'd showed them to you before.
>> I have them in my office. I'll get them
to you tonight.
Um,
>> commissioner and mayor, I I think we're
still waiting on a proposal because you
do you need to do a contract with this
architect as part of this process.
>> Bill should have that to us,
>> right? So, we want to get
>> by the end of this week for the next
agenda.
>> Yep. Y
>> Okay.
>> Um, so that is 076
regarding the grant for historic trust.
Crossing fingers. Uh, next is 2026-077.
Uh, there's a refund for tax over
payment. Uh, pretty standard. Um,
happens all the time with mortgage
companies. Uh, next is zero uh 2026-078.
Uh, this is issuance um authorizing the
issuance of a revocable license that was
for encroachment on the city's rightway.
I believe this was a set of stairs. Was
it? We
>> uh No, the parking space. the parking
space. Oh, that's right. The parking
space on the left side of that.
>> Gave them two parking spaces so they
could stack them
>> right
>> in the back of the car. The parking
space would not go beyond the plantings.
They the planting garden they had
>> right
>> and into the sidewalk. So, this would
stop right at the edge of that still on
our property.
>> And they've reduced the back building
slightly to allow
>> they push that first parking space in a
little bit. I think
>> yeah,
>> parking is important. Tom, do you think
we can get a listing of all grants that
the city has um successfully received
since 2016?
>> Yeah, I've asked Jim Ratal. He's
something together. We'll probably even
see if he could be come through a
meeting and do a presentation because
>> Yeah, he's done that before, but he did
the last couple years. It's
>> been years. Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> He He's got good records, so he can put
that together. He's He certainly brought
us a lot of
>> significant. Yeah.
>> Yeah. So,
>> it's not something we can pull. I guess
not without like from our files,
>> from our from our records. Is it
something
>> but I know that he's got it at his
finger.
>> Yeah.
>> I think it would be easier to get it
from him, right? Yeah.
>> Okay, that would be great. I know we've
had him here before and he did a great
presentation, but it was like he was do
every two years like he would when he
would come he would tell us about the
last couple years and maybe I didn't get
it across to him that I want it back to
2016.
>> Okay. Is there something magical about
that number?
>> I think they should be very proud
and remind themselves of what's been
accomplished. Oh, I I can't I smell what
you're cooking. Um, next is we will
approve bills and payroll.
>> We have one more one to add on the
bench.
>> Oh, I'm sorry.
>> Yes, please. Uh, we have one more to add
on the bench. 20 m
>> 26-080.
That's right. We discussed this. This is
uh application for uh Department of
Environmental Protection uh for
infrastructure tus for the I bank for
Winchester Avenue water main replacement
phase one.
>> Yep. That's we just covered the whole
thing. Is that it?
>> That's what we're doing. The sewer line
there as well. So, we're trying to get
money for the water as well.
>> Okay. So, any other discussion on that
is basically we're just submitting an
application.
>> Yep.
>> For the I bank.
>> Yep.
>> As was we did discuss that with sign
>> and this helps us look this is we had
design criteria paid for by some
preliminary grants and this this applies
allows us to apply for the funding.
>> Great. And that is uh zero
>> 80.
What is uh
>> 79 was the first one. Oh, I see.
>> Yeah.
>> Tim and I are on the same team today.
>> Both missed.
>> We both missed that, right? Same team. I
don't think our team's winning.
>> You're going to rally hockey team. They
were trailing in all the games.
>> All right. Uh that uh any discussion
items for this evening? None is listed
on the agenda. Anybody have a
discussion?
>> Have stuff that's commissioner reports.
>> Okay, same.
>> We'll save that for commissioner reports
then. Um, following the agenda public
portion. Next is um may I open the
meeting uh a motion to open the meeting
for public portion.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> We have a roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes. So, anyone on the Zoom platform or
here in the chambers would like to
participate in anything that we've
discussed so far uh on the agenda, any
specific items are open for public
comment. Uh we ask that you limit your
comments to three minutes per person on
issues. If you wish to address the
commission, please step up to the
microphone at the and state your name
and address.
Nothing on the
Seeing none in this com in the
commission chambers. Anyone in the Zoom
platform? I see none that
>> anybody on Zoom wish to comment or speak
on any of the items that have been
discussed so far, please make yourself
known by raising your hand or within the
chat feature and you will be recognized.
>> No.
Seeing none, I have a motion to
close a public portion on the workshop
meeting.
>> So moved.
>> Second.
I have a roll call. Lisa,
>> Commissioner Langra,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Mento, yes. Mayor Creable,
>> yes. A motion to close the workshop
portion of the meeting and call to order
the regular portion of this evening's
meeting.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> A roll call, L.
>> Commissioner Langra,
>> yes.
>> Commissioner Mento,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Creable,
>> yes.
Uh, no approval of minutes required.
Next item is ordinance introduction. Can
I have a motion to introduce ordinance
2026-00005
bond ordinance for various equipment of
the city's schools as described in the
workshop?
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Lang Grant.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
Um, may I have a motion to
open for introduction ordinance
2026-00006?
Uh, creating an article for chapter 102.
I'm skipping the uh, anybody want to
know my call my daughter for the Greek
number there. Is that 20
>> 29
29 chapter 102 of the city's code
entitled affordable housing. May I have
a motion to
>> make a motion to introduce ordinance
2026- 006?
>> Second.
A roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
May I have um I have ordinance
introduction 2026-007.
Uh this is uh regarding municipal
housing liaison as described in the
workshop. May I have a motion to
introduce?
>> Make a motion to introduce ordinance
2026-007.
Second.
>> I have a roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes. Mayor
>> Creable.
>> Yes. We have no ordinance public no
public hearings, no adoptions. Uh I have
a motion to adopt resolutions 2026-074
through 2026-080
excluding the one that we've already
voted on um 079 as described in the
workshop meeting.
>> I'll make that motion. Second.
>> A roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Cleville?
>> Yes. Lisa, you have bills and payroll
duty this evening.
>> We have payroll from 21 to 214 in the
amount of $639,1469.
Bills in the amount of $9,236,243.12.
>> Thank you. May I have a motion to
approve bills and payroll?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> I have a roll call, Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento. Yes. Mayor Creel.
>> Yes. We have no announcements or safety
reports. Uh Commissioner comments or
reports. Uh Commissioner Mento, would
you like to go first?
>> Okay. Um regarding events, there's
nothing really new that I didn't already
say at the last meeting. We're planning,
we're getting things ready for the
summer that's coming quickly, I hope,
for the season. Um we had a new event I
talked about last uh meeting of a food
truck fest. And then tomorrow I meet
with our auditor on the budget. And um I
don't know how far along he is,
Leon.
Yeah. But we don't have we don't have
the school yet or the county, right? We
don't have the school or the county.
>> We have half of the school from last
year. So that's always estimated and the
county will be estimated as well. But
>> you know Yeah. So we're ready to go.
Okay.
>> Okay,
that's it. Commissioner,
>> that's it.
>> All right. Uh, uh, Commissioner
Langraph, do you have any comments for
Commissioner reports?
>> Anybody else tired of snow?
>> Did it snow? I didn't notice.
>> Tired of snow. I used to love snow. Used
to love the snow storms.
I'm tired of them. It needs to go away.
Um, couple things on on some of the
storms, some other things as well. But
um first thing was morning of the storm
5:00 a.m. I get a call from Ernie. Ernie
Gratz, our super of water and sewer.
It's never a good phone call. Usually
when he calls it's bad news. This was
potentially terrible news. Lily Park,
which is one of our main pump stations
here on the island, was down. It had
experienced a power surge. Both pumps
did not restart. A pump operator could
not get it going. Uh we had to get a
truck over to Ernie's house to get him
to the pump station because he couldn't
get out. We had already 12 inches of
snow on the ground at that point. Um so
we got him over there and I tell you
what, he whatever he did, whatever magic
he did, he got both of those pumps fired
back up and and going. So we had no
issues. Um that's a problem when that
pump goes down. That's why we have two
pumps there and they were both down.
>> Um so we got them both running within
the next couple of hours. So kudos to to
Ernie for getting that done. Um second
we'll go into I'll skip the the storm,
come back to that boardwalk is work
continues. Those guys were out there
that day after the storm banging had a
what they call a dingo, a small little
walkbehind um bucket plow kind of thing,
pushed snow off the boardwalk so they
could continue to work on it.
>> Um they've been they were down past
Derby with the decking. If you haven't
been down there to see it, you can't
really see it now. It was covered in
snow, but it it's pretty it looks pretty
impressive when you get to live some
photographs. I should I'll share with
everybody. Uh I went out there the day
before the storm and took those
photographs. Piling is all the way down
almost to Suri. So, they're almost
caught up to where their their yard is.
So, they will probably be ripping up
more boardwalk going towards Atlantic
City before the spring and then putting
that back in. Boardwalk will be fully
open. We'll have the rails up, the
lighting up, all that done to reopen the
boardwalk. The entire boardwalk will not
be finished up to Atlantic City up to
Jackson Avenue, but uh it will be
reopened um with with everything moving
forward. So,
um
>> glad to hear
>> water tower. Obviously, that work got
slowed down with the the last couple
storms, but it's moving along. It's all,
you know, scaffolded in. We'll start
doing the repair work um inside and out
on that, and that'll take another couple
of months to get that finished,
repainted. um new logo up on top. We did
talk about trying to put the city logo
on there and it was cumbersome.
>> Yeah.
>> You wouldn't really see it that high up.
So, we're just going to do Veter City on
it.
>> Probably distort it, too.
>> Exactly. Ex. That was that was the
response we got back from the sign guys.
>> Yeah.
>> That it would be little little weird to
see that up there. Looked like a blob.
>> It would. Yeah. Yeah.
>> You're not seeing it straight on.
>> No, like the bat signal or something up
there.
>> So,
>> um Yeah. Getting to the storm, the
latest storm from uh February 21st to
the 26th. Um just touch on some of the
highlights. Road salt we used 92 tons,
three applications on our main corridors
hit the firehouse, city hall, DPW,
recreational parking lots, municipal
parking lots, things of that nature. Um
basically three 25 ton deliveries
received and transferred in the garage.
So we're back stocked up with that. We
did not dis dispense brine this storm
because it rained first. If you would
have put brine down, it would have just
washed it off. So, we did not use any
brine. Um sidewalk ice melt, almost just
a little over 4,000 lbs of uh of ice
melt, mainly on walkways and ramps
around public buildings. Uh 22 meters.
We had break from that last storm and it
was real cold. So, we had 22 water
meters around town broken and replaced
with new. um overtime hours just from
the 21st to the 26th. 745 hours of
overtime. This is 16 guys doing this
work.
It It's a lot of work to move that much
snow with just the amount of equipment.
Tom, you know this from where you're
working. Um guys are tired. They're
they're they're worn out. We need we
need a couple days of good weather. Um
resident/ business assist, driveway
access, cars stuck, snow removals. We
had 32 of those medical need assistant,
resident assists where they had to get
to a doctor's appointment, something
like that. We will go help you get out.
Uh we had eight of those. Um
so we lost our phones at some point
during the storm connectivity with the
phone system. Storm drain cleanouts,
we've done that around town. We're ready
for any rain we might get now. Most of
those are cleared off. Um 102 dump load
truck loads picked up and moved out of
intersections. We we've been storing
that out at the old driving range for
now. Um if you saw um Atlantic City
yesterday was able to use they hired
Ferazzi concrete to come in with their
dump trucks and their loaders clearing
Atlantic Avenue and Benter Avenue.
That's just an expense that we just
don't have the ability to to to pull
that in.
>> They were filled with snow cresting over
the top front end loaders putting up
>> shutting down the street and then just
>> with loaders. I mean, we do that with
our loader and our small dump trucks and
we do it on at our scale
>> constantly growing.
>> Yeah. So, it it's I've asked Rick to get
a price on what that costs just so I
know it because I know it's going to be
more than we can afford, but um you
don't have an $80 million surplus like
the city of Atlantic City does. You
know, the state pays their bills
basically. So, they have a lot of other
access to different things than we do.
Um although the the governor did reach
out to us and what we asked for help us
pay for this stuff,
>> right?
>> So we'll see what happens with that. Um
only two broken side view mirrors, which
is a pretty good um thing and two
snowstorms from from plows potentially
hitting those those vehicles. Uh we do
have cameras on a lot of those vehicles,
so we'll check and see if it was us
hitting those those mirrors, but only
two was not bad. Um had a lot of downed
wires, nine different instances. We had
a broken pole back by Shalom House um
that did not affect um electric power.
It was still running power through it. I
showed you guys some of the pictures of
it was snapped up about twothirds of the
way up. Lance Electric came in. Fire
department um called it in to AC. I
think you called them too. Yep.
>> Um I was on the call the last two days
and they were very appreciative of that
because they didn't with the power not
being out, they didn't know about it. So
they they thanked us for for letting
them uh know about it. They were able to
fix the pole, replace the pole. I don't
know if they removed the other one yet,
Maria. I'll find that out.
>> Um without any power uh outage. So, that
was that was really great being able to
do that. It's a tandem line. There's two
if you go out there, there's two lines,
and that's how they were able to keep
power going. They didn't they just
switched over to the other line on the
other run. Um down trees, branches, and
roadway. We fixed a lot of that. Home
station issues I talked about. Um, a lot
of stuck vehicles. 18 times our vehicles
got stuck. We were able to get them out
with our loader. Uh, secondary roads and
beach blocks were plowed two to four
times. Other main corridors definitely
four times at least. Um, we we had a
better effort this time without the
freezing. That was that was a hard thing
with the last storm. This one was a lot
of material, a lot of snow to move. You
know, the guys did the best they could.
I think they did a great job with with
the equipment and the time allotted for
them. Um, you know, the roads were were
passable. The main roads are passable by
that afternoon. Side streets, they're
always a struggle. We can only get small
plows down there. You can't get the big
vehicles down. So, um, ask for patience
with the residents trying to get get to
these things, doing the best we can with
the equipment and manpower we have. So,
it's like I said, it's it's a lot of
work for just 16 guys to do that work
that they've pulled off. So, I thank
them as much as I can. Um,
want to bring them in here. They're not
guys that want to come into this
meeting.
>> I've asked them to come in one time. I
think last time we had a storm asked
them to come in. They don't they're
resting.
>> Yeah.
>> So that's uh that's all I have. That's a
lot. But that's all I have.
>> It's a big effort. I'll just piggyback
on it.
>> Maybe we can do a lunchon for them
personally. You not from the city, but
>> yeah. I mean I I've Kathy's in these
storms. She bakes. Yeah. So, they've had
enough um
>> enough food, enough calories,
>> banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, uh
some other things that that she's baked
and and I'll send it I bring it over to
them when they're when they're getting
done for the day. So,
>> yeah.
>> Yeah, I'll do something. I I'll take
care of
>> We can we can all of us.
>> Yeah.
>> Um
>> or I can, but I'm happy to do it.
So, it was a big effort and nothing I
think that we would ever be prepared for
that kind of that kind of uh um that
kind of volume of snow. The fire
department as well had a full recall.
So, that means um every every person
that was available that was in town.
That means that the building that's
meant to hold eight overnight was
holding 30 overnight. Um
>> wow.
The one of the reasons why um that we
had to do that is that the state issued
a uh a a a state of emergency, but it
also means that we can't move out of our
jurisdiction. So, if someone was come,
there's no one coming to help us and we
weren't going to help others. So, um
that's part of that um that dynamic. Um
it was a um uh I think we uh we had it
it created um we were lucky there were
no injuries. I don't know if did your
department have any injuries?
>> Um couple couple guys little little hurt
bangs up here and there. Rick slipped
yesterday, banged his hip up pretty
good. So he's resting tonight. Mhm. We
were dispatched to um
uh 40 uh uh roughly 40 different calls
for service during the um the general
emergencies as well. The snap pole,
medical emergencies, minor flooding. Uh
they uh it was a good training point for
some of the newer officers. We have uh
firefighters. We have 18 to 20 new
firefighters. they had they uh adopted a
policy of rotating them off the
ambulance so they had a little bit more
time to recover since the ambulances are
typically busier and putting them on the
engines. But um and for instance in one
case there was they had to deploy 10 men
um for an hour just to get access to a
home to get somebody to the hospital. So
we had 10 men shoveling just to get um
people out when the in the height of the
storm when it happened. those kinds of
things uh were happening all over the
city. Um
uh the police department also um uh had
uh restricted its time off during the
storm. Um authorized additional manpower
all the shifts in the storm as needed.
Um the uh uh I was happy to to uh see
also police and public works working
together to divert traffic off Ventner
Avenue to get the plowing. They were
working one side to the other.
>> Really good. um to really kind of uh
sort of like leaprog down Ventner
Avenue. Um
uh the um
uh we were lucky I think in the forecast
of flooding uh over the evening the
severity of the flooding was mitigated
by the wind direction change at the end
middle of the night uh lessening the
surge at the bay. So, we weren't getting
um that sort of double whammy sandwich
of uh flooding. And there was flooding,
but it wasn't the 8 ft that was 7 to 8
ft that was predicted.
>> Um and then again, I was also I I have
to say the uh the new governor has been
very proactive in contacting us uh even
during the transition uh the first storm
and this storm. Contacted us twice
during both storms to uh see if there's
anything urgent that we needed. I'll be
getting back to them with the summary of
our overtimes
>> um in the various departments and
anything else that we can uh we can uh
muster but they were very very proactive
uh and and we we have a dedicated uh
liaison which is good to see. Um, I
think that's all I have other than
before the storm hit,
>> Lance and I attended the lead pipe uh um
public meeting which was a great turnout
that I probably conservatively say there
was 200 people there.
>> Yeah. Um pleased
>> and they were and the and the the uh the
person giving the presentation was not
only he was just really a uh he he
really has a stand-up comedian uh future
ahead of him but he kept people engaged
and he got uh he got great and the and
we we sat there for probably about an an
hour or 20 minute 20 I guess a half an
hour maybe
>> minutes or so
>> uh answering questions from that were
not the subject of the presentation you
a full PowerPoint presentation and he
came up with probably a dozen or so
other questions that just weren't
foreseen about people living in
highrises. How do they how does it
affect them? Uh people with different
access, different types of uh
landscaping, how it affects them. I
think everybody left feeling uh uh with
at least with a little bit of knowledge
and places to find knowledge. He handed
out um access agreements. So of those
200 people um they're all given the
access agreement that's needed for the
lead pipe access. So, it was really
productive um well well well well
thought out PowerPoint meeting. We'll
we'll get the we'll get the PowerPoint
and put it out on our website with a
link along with the FAQs that came up in
that event. And um and we're and I and
again I appreciate it. You were way
ahead of that to get us sort of the
first one of the first cities to get the
in the in line for some of this
>> for the forgiveness. Yeah.
>> For the forgiveness. We're hoping to get
a majority of the the first phase at
least,
>> right,
>> loan that we're going to get forgiven
>> and the grant in order to do the
analysis.
>> Yep.
>> So, we're kind of um we're in the right
we're in a early put early dates of
another, you know, mandated
>> change it.
>> Position. We're in position A right now
to get these funds.
>> That's a thing. Position A.
>> I'm calling it that.
>> Okay. All right.
>> So, um we talked about this a little
bit. The cost to the homeowner is zero.
Right. Right. Zero cost to do this
>> direct cost.
>> Direct cost.
>> Right. I understand.
>> If we don't get the funds we're hoping
to get down the road, like the funding
we've asked for is only for phase one
and two.
>> If we don't get that funds and we don't
get more funds after that, then
Bentner's going to have to pay for it,
>> right?
>> Out of our we're borrowing money.
>> Borrow money and then have our our
rates.
>> We have debt service rate.
>> Debt service.
>> Again, this is a requirement,
>> right? of choice.
>> Um, and also the estimated year for when
your home was built that this will not
affect you.
>> Uh, if your home was built after the mid
80s, most likely you have copper or or
newer materials where it will affect
almost every property is in the street.
The line that comes off of the water
man, they call them gooseenecks. Um,
corporations are gooseenecks. That's
most likely lead because when those
original lines were put in, they used
lead. Um, that's what we're going to
>> every street.
>> Pretty much every street.
>> And so the mid 80s, how do you how do
you know?
>> That's when the the codes require
different materials.
>> Why do you know when your house was
built?
>> Yeah.
>> By the go the construction office will
know. You can go in the construction
office. They have a um building record
card.
>> Tell you when your home was built.
>> Thank you.
>> But that won't be up to the homeowner.
That's going to be up to the city.
>> Well, that's that's some of the
documentation we're using to create that
map. Well, you weren't there.
>> There's a map that is red and green of
all this. Every single house, 7,000
houses, I think it was 7,000 individual
>> something like that. Yeah.
>> And then there's a website to go on
where you can check your house to see if
it's green or red. And
>> somebody's already done that.
>> Yeah,
>> that's we we got a grant to have um
>> the
Trident is the name of the It's a New
York based engineering company, right?
It's doing all this behind the scenes
work for us
>> and they're going to double check it.
So, they're not going to leave it to
that.
>> Yeah, that was that's just kind of an
idea here. These green ones we think are
good, right?
>> Wasn't very many. These orange ones are
problematic. We're going to have to go
out and verify. Even the green ones they
have to verify.
>> Okay.
>> Like go look in the house. There was
there was directions that go look where
the where the pipe comes into your home.
Go look what that pipe looks like. And
it had pictures.
>> Yes.
>> If it's lead, it looks like this. If
it's galvanized, look like this. If it's
copper or PEX, it PEX is plastic. looks
like this
>> FAQs.
>> We'll say that. Okay.
>> And because everything you're asking was
asked
>> and the site you're referring us to, is
that something we can post? N
>> I have it. It's already on our website.
>> Yep.
>> Oh, the website, not Facebook.
>> Yeah.
>> Not it can go on Facebook, but it's on
our website. I encourage people to use
our website over social media.
>> Let people go on Facebook though, not
our website.
>> Trying to change their habits.
>> It's better. You can't really put an
entire document like that on it. You can
put a link.
>> The link. Yeah. And we're going to do a
couple there's there's doing they're
doing a really a lot of outreach and
there and um and there's a but that the
and like I said in this once we get the
the PDF we'll put on the next
newsletter.
>> Yeah.
>> And the PowerPoint we'll have uh was
really well done. The slides were all
very um very answered all the questions
that you just asked and some more that
we didn't expect.
>> Yeah. Some good questions. They they
came up good and it had some ones that
they've gotten at previous
>> right
>> Newark's already done been doing this
for a while so they they have so what
those questions pop up.
>> All right.
>> Um our attorney our affordable housing
attorney posted in here asked me to make
sure we make note that the public
hearing and adoption for the affordable
housing ordinances will be March 12th.
>> Okay. So
>> he asked me to
>> send him a note in the in the Zoom.
>> Okay. Is that uh enough commissioner
reporting?
>> I think so.
>> Um, moving on to public comment. May I
have a motion to open the meeting to
public comment?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> I have a roll call. L.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Kel.
>> Yes. So at this point, we uh welcome
participation of interest organizations
and individuals. Uh to con um to be as
productive uh as possible. Uh please um
come up to the microphone, state your
name and address. Uh we ask to limit the
comments to three minutes if you wish to
address the commission on any item
regarding Ventner uh at all.
>> Hi uh Mark Nadder, former Ventner
resident, currently a Margate resident.
Um, I I showed up because I thought that
it was going to be on the agenda. Some
of my buddies who surf at Vanter Pier
said that there was going to be a
discussion about opening up the south
side of the pier to make that surfing
area to complement the surfing area on
the north side to spread the congestion
out a little bit since surfing's, you
know, pretty popular and summertime we
we we see a lot of people on the water.
So, I don't know if it was on the agenda
or not.
>> No, it's just beginning and I'll just
take that. We It's started out as a
conversation with some surfers and the
beach patrol. We're still kind of
gathering information what the impacts
might be, but um it might intend moving
the Sacramento stand down a little bit.
>> Yeah.
>> And it might also something that I think
the city's been lacking over time is
proper signage and uh on the beach. But
there's other unforeseen, you know, poss
possible uh conflicts that we're trying
to work out to make sure that when it if
we when and if we do launch some uh
surfing on both sides that it um that it
goes smoothly. We don't want people to
say uh for instance start thinking it's
a bathing beach if we put a lifeguard
there. So we're trying to work through
that. We're still waiting to hear a
little bit more from the uh beach patrol
and um and the the the um the fishing
personnel. Right.
>> Yeah. So, uh, just to give you, um, you
know, Margate,
um, never really had surfing at the pier
at all. And then they had the surfing
beach on the north side. And then, I
don't know, maybe 10, 15 years ago, they
opened up this the beach on the south
side
>> and then they just moved the stand down
a little bit and it seems to be working
out fine and everybody's
happy.
>> So, it it can be done. And uh I would
encourage to strongly look at it. Uh of
course I know Dave, you know, he's the
chief now. And um but
>> he What's that?
>> He surfs.
>> Yeah. And his brother surfs amazing.
Andrew.
>> Yep.
>> You know, those guys are like
>> natural athletes.
>> Yeah. They're legends. So anyway, um
just thought I'd stop by and uh bring it
up.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure it'll um if you
know Reed Wear and some of those guys,
they'll all they'll all get the word.
Yeah, you have Frank Sarno and Reed and
all those guys. So, when do you think
the the next it will it come up in a in
a meeting or it'll be something most
likely?
>> Uh, most likely. I don't know we need an
ordinance or if it's a just a policy
that will
>> probably be an ordinance to designate
the beach. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, will come up.
>> So, yeah.
>> All right. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it.
>> See you, Mark.
>> Yeah.
>> Thanks for making us stand.
>> I need some refreshers on a stand up
paddle board.
>> Anytime.
>> It's tough.
>> I can't do it in the ocean. All right.
Only on the bank.
>> Any uh anyone else in the com in the
commission chambers? Mayor Ker, please
state your name. And
>> before I start, I'd like to defer to
anybody that may be on Zoom.
>> Sure.
>> Would like to speak?
>> Uh does anyone on the Zoom platform wish
to speak about anything regarding Vetner
and any comments of any kind? Anybody on
Zoom wish to comment, please make
yourself known in the chat feature by
raising your hand on Zoom and you'll be
recognized.
>> Nope. No.
>> Give him one more sec.
>> All right. So,
>> all right.
>> Good evening. Uh, keyboard warrior
ventner city. I understand there may be
plenty of us keyboard warriors out
there. So, I'll clarify that it's
keyboard warrior Tim Chryser, Venture
City. First, I want to apologize for not
attending the last commission meeting to
address my social media post in person.
That evening marked my 43rd wedding
anniversary. I decided that if I wanted
to see year 44, it would be wise to
spend the night with my wife.
Now, to the substance, spec specifically
what has been labeled a catastrophic
error. replacing the IKE rink with a
library expansion and allegedly
jeopardizing Green Acres funding. Before
using the words like catastrophic, let's
revisit the full context. The ice rink
was built with Greenacre funds in the
1970s.
Because of those rest green acre
restrictions, it could not be fully
enclosed. The original design left it
open to the elements in an oceanfront
environment with salt air that was a
structural and operational challenge
from day one. The sides were eventually
added but left partially open to comply
with restrictions. The rink required an
expensive chiller maintenance and
eventually replacement. Meanwhile, the
state funded the skate zone in laying
city which pulled away most group
business, the steady revenue source that
kept the rank viable. The city began
losing roughly $30,000 annually. So, we
had an antiquated ice rink draining tax
dollars and serving a limited few. Let
me be clear. I never cut recreation over
30,000, but real leadership requires
assessing whether a facility is serving
the greatest number of residents in a
fiscally responsible way. At that at
that same time, the library built in
1964
after the uh after the March storm
destroyed the prior facility near the
fishing pier was outdated and undized.
no dedicated children's areas, so
children's activities had to be had to
coexist with those trying to read or do
research.
There are no computer stations because
computers didn't exist when it was built
in 1964.
There is limited shelving space re uh
restricting access to materials causing
our residents having to wait for books
to be delivered from the main library in
Maze Landing. So we had an antiquated
ice rink draining tax dollars and
serving few and an inadequate library.
Do you know the history of the original
cultural arts buildings?
I didn't think so. The cultural arts
center consisted of temporary modeled
units originally associated with the
development of the Regency condominiums
donated, relocated, and reassembled.
They were never intended for long-term
heavy public use. Dance programs were
literally operating in buildings not
engineered for that activity. So now we
had an antiquated money lose an ice
rink, inadequate library, and a
dilapidated cultural arts center. Do you
know where the treasure trove of
Vetner's history was originally stored?
Okay. Dr. James Mason, a true steward of
Vetner's history, was preserving
priceless documents and artifacts in his
own home. Twice a year, he would bring
pieces out of for display. an
extraordinary act of dedication, but not
a permanent solution. So now we had an
antiquated money losing rice rink, an
inadequate library, a dilapidated
cultural arts center, and no historical
museum to preserve and display our rich
history.
And we discovered that our adjacent
community building needed a new roof,
new windows, and HVAC repairs. Our
response was thoughtful and strategic.
We applied for and received more than
$450,000
in state funding to expand the library.
>> I'm sorry, how much?
>> I think it was $450,000 plus.
A proper children's section, a modern
computer access, study rooms for private
research, an additional meeting room to
accommodate veterary groups and library
programs, dedicated cultural art space
with dance studio and a kiln for
pottery, a permanent historical museum.
expanding program serving significantly
more residents than the rink ever did.
Now, let's address that timeline because
I think it's critical. Why did this
suddenly become an initial an issue only
after my administration left office
years after the ice rink was replaced?
Let me provide my thoughts. I do not
recall every detail from that time. I
know do know this. Libraries were
considered and encouraged diversionary
use. The state awarded us funds to
expand the library into the ice rink. No
longtime employees raised any green
acres concerns. A state representative
was invited to and attended the library
dedication.
My memory serves me right. No
restriction surfaced during the title
search. No green acre objection was
raised for years afterwards. And our
administration after the ice rink was
done away with secured over se $700,000
in green acre funding for the fishing
pier.
All of this may have led us to believe
we're
>> certain of which they're still holding
on us. We can't get 300k of that because
>> let's get to that commissioner.
>> So you got you're done. Your three
minutes are up.
>> Okay. Thank you very much. So you
invited me here to have a dialogue. You
go on a tirade against me for how many
minutes last meeting I come to respond
and participate and you give me three
minutes when you had more than 20
minutes to attack me at the last
meeting. This is democracy in action.
And everybody on the zoom, I hope you
hear this. I come here to give
responses. I come here to give my
opinion. You limit me to three minutes.
Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
>> You didn't get D approval for the green
acres to remove the the ranch.
interrupted. Respond to me.
>> I can respond as long as I want to, man.
>> Don't respond to me.
>> I can say whatever I want. I'm I'm
sitting up here. I can respond to
>> I'm the employer. I'm the employer. I
pay your salaries and to limit me to
three minutes.
>> Please.
What? Commissioner, go ahead.
Please. What? Commissioner,
>> you went through a thoughtful process
and
>> I'm limited to three minutes while you
get to sit up there and test me.
>> That's right.
>> And give misinformation about me.
>> No. No. You're the one who gave
misinformation.
>> I didn't I would have if I had an
opportunity to speak,
>> sir.
>> What?
>> Sir,
>> I'm sorry. What?
>> You're going to interrupt.
>> Yeah, but he can go on and attack me and
I'm not allowed to defend myself. Is
that your opinion, Mr. Solicitor? Is
that your opinion, Mr. Solicitor?
>> You're not going to answer me. I pay
your salary as well. Not your salary
because you're not on the payroll, but
you're a vendor.
So, if I had an opportunity, I'd show
you. And I'd ask you to give me the post
where I gave misinformation.
>> Three minutes. And you're accessible.
>> Yeah. As long as you can say what you
want to say in 3 minutes.
>> I've had personal conversation with
multiple people that last longer than 3
minutes. Our process here is the public
gets three minutes. You have something
else, we'll talk about it outside the
meeting.
That's been our policy. That's been the
city's policy since I've been coming to
meetings. And
>> I agree. We uh Mr. Mr. Chryer, I'm going
to ask I'm going to ask you to sit down.
>> Defer to anybody in the public, so they
didn't have to listen to me. But you
guys can't sit here and listen to my
response. You limit me to three minutes.
You won't sit there and listen to my
response. I asked you to we I I sent you
a couple of emails to sit down in person
heard my response.
Your comments were on the record. I want
my comments on the record. And as a
taxpayer, as somebody who has donated
probably close to $100,000 of volunteer
hours in this community, who has served
in public office and whose hours
downstairs in that office is legendary.
To be limited to three minutes is a
disgrace. But that's your palace. and
your policy, Mr.
>> And any other public comments?
Hearing none. Uh, close the I have a
motion to close the public comment
section of this evening.
>> So moved. I have a second.
>> Second.
>> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
Uh, do we have a need for executive
session this evening?
>> We didn't really talk about that. We
wanted to discuss some potential
litigation. Do we want to still do that
tonight or No.
>> I'd like to to discuss it briefly if we
could. Five minute discussion, that's
all.
>> Okay. You have the
>> I do.
>> Lisa, would you read the executive
session comment, please? 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
Veteror City Board of Commissioners
wishes to discuss certain matters which
qualify as exceptions in executive
session. 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
legally permitted and when the public
interest will no longer be served by
keeping such matters confidential. The
matters to be discussed are potential
litigation and no action will be taken.
>> So we are in the moment of executive
session.
>> Not yet.
>> Motion to go into executive session. So
moved.
>> Second. Commissioner Langraph.
>> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento.
>> All right. You're good to go. All right.
Um
motion
>> field. So basically no formal action was
taken with respect to the closed
session. A brief discussion was
discussed with respect to potential
projects uh involving Baderfield.
Okay.
Um I have a motion to adjurnn. So moved.
>> Roll call. L.
>> Commissioner Langra.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Mento. Yes. Mayor Cville.
>> Yes.
B.