May 14 2026 Ventnor City Commission Meeting

call to order the May 14th, 2026 Benner
City Board of Commissioners meeting to
order. Uh we'll rise for the flag
salute, please.
Pledge
>> allegiance to the flag
of America to the stands
indivisibley
and justice for all.
>> Thank you. Roll call. Lisa,
>> Commissioner Langra
>> here. Commissioner Mento is absent.
Mayor Creville
>> here.
>> Thank you. Lisa, you want to read the
open public meetings announcement?
>> Pursuant to 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.
The the city of Ventner 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, Lisa. Um, tonight we're going
a little bit out of order because we
have some swearing in to happen this
evening. Some of our lifeguards here in
the city are being promoted tonight. So,
we're going to go with resolutions uh
2026-148.
That is a resolution in the city of
Ventner, County of Atlantic, state of
New Jersey, authorizing the promotion of
Megan Holland to captain of the Ventner
City Beach Patrol. Have a motion for
that resolution, please.
>> Uh, I enthusiastically motion that
resolution. Congratulations, Megan.
>> I second.
>> I'll second that. Roll call, please.
>> Mr. Langri,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Cable,
>> yes.
>> Okay. Next one is resolution 2026149
resolution of the city of Ventner,
county of Atlantic, state of New Jersey,
authorizing the promotion of Daniel
Shaw, the senior lieutenant of the
Veterary City Beach Patrol. Could I have
a motion, please?
>> Equally enthusiastic motion to uh
promote Daniel Shaw.
>> I second. Roll call. Lisa,
>> Commissioner Langrav.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> All right. Next in line is 2026-150
resolution the city of Vener County of
Atlantic State of New Jersey authorizing
the promotion of Vincent Mahoney to
Lieutenant of the Ventner City Beach
Patrol.
>> Congratul.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> And last but not least, we have
resolution 2026-151,
resolution of the city of Ventner,
County of Atlantic, state of New Jersey,
the promotion of Padrick Milligan.
Everybody knows him as Patty. Uh to
lieutenant of the Venor City Beast
Patrol. Need a motion, please.
>> Make that motion.
>> I second. Roll call, please.
>> Mr. Langri.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> All right. Thank you guys very much.
If uh Captain Holl could come forward
first, we'll do it in order.
was going to hold the Bible for you.
>> Right here on the
left hand on the Bible and your right
hand up
there.
Okay. Repeat after me. I Megan Hall.
>> I Megan Hall. You solemnly swear or
affirm
>> You do solemnly swear and affirm
>> that I will support
>> Constitution of the United States
>> constitution of the state of New Jersey
>> that I will bear true faith and
allegiance
>> I will bear true faith and allegiance
>> to the same
>> to the governments established in
>> the governments established in
>> the United States and in this state
>> under the authority of the people
>> that I will faithfully
>> I will faithfully
>> impartially
>> and impartially and justly perform
>> justly perform
>> all the duties of
>> Venor City Beach Patrol captain
effective April 23rd, 2026.
>> Ventor City Beach Patrol captain
effective April 23rd.
>> Yeah. 226.
>> According to the best of my skill and
abilities according to the best of my
skills and abilities. So I'll be done.
>> Congratulations.
>> Thank you.
>> It's not fair and all that.
need a date. Good.
>> We're good. We'll get it
picture.
Next up, Dan Shaw.
>> No,
>> I just made a rescue actually for
everybody's wondering.
>> Been nervous.
>> Left hand on the bottom, right hand up.
Step one, step back right there. That's
so I can see his eyes. So I don't and a
prayer.
I Daniel Shaw
>> I Daniel Shaw
>> do solemnly swear or affirm
>> do solemnly swear affirm
>> that I will support
the
>> Constitution of the United States
>> the const the state of New Jersey
>> constitution state of New Jersey
>> that I will bear true faith
>> I'll bear true faith
>> and allegiance to the saint
>> the allegiance to the saint
>> in the governance established in
>> the governments established in
>> the United States and in this state
>> under the authority of the people
>> that I will faithfully
>> impartially
and justly
>> and justly
>> perform all the duties of
>> Better City Beach Patrol Senior
Lieutenant
>> Better City Beach Patrol Senior
Lieutenant
>> effective April 23rd 2026 effective
April 23rd 2026
>> wearing the best of my skill ability to
the best of my skill and ability sorry
helping God
>> congratulations
I sign
your address in here real quick. Next
up, we have Vincent M.
Get a picture
right in front of the flag. It'll be
Take this off now.
>> Congratulations.
>> Thank you.
>> Who's going to hold the Bible for him?
>> Right in the air. Right. So you can get
So our camera's right in the middle.
>> Left hand of the Bible. Right hand up.
>> All right. I
>> I
>> Vincent Mahoney
>> do solemnly swear or affirm
>> do solemnly swear affirm
>> that I will support the Constitution
>> of the United States
>> the United States
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey. Constitution Constitution
of the State of New Jersey. that I will
bear true faith
>> That I will bear true faith
>> and allegiance to saint
>> to the governments established
>> the governments established
>> in the United States
>> the United States
>> and in this state
>> in this state
>> under the authority of the people
>> that I will faithfully
>> and I will faithfully
>> impartially
>> partially
>> and justly perform
>> justly perform
>> all the duties of
>> Ventner City Beach patrol lieutenant
>> ventner city beach patrol lieutenant
>> effective April 23rd 2026
>> effective April 23rd
>> according to the best of skill and
ability according to the best of my
skill and ability.
>> Still helping God.
>> Congratulations.
>> Thank you.
So name, address,
No, not at all. Come on.
>> Got everybody.
>> Y
>> All right, last. Patty Milligan.
Here
he is. There you go. Let's see.
>> All right.
Left hand above, right hand up.
>> All right. Repeat after me.
>> I Patrick Milligan.
>> I do solemnly swear.
>> Swear or
>> affirm that affirm that
>> I will support the Constitution of the
United States. I support the
Constitution of the United States
>> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey.
>> Constitution of the State of New Jersey.
>> And I will bear true faith
>> I will bear true faith
>> and allegiance
>> allegiance
>> to the same
>> and to the governments
>> governments
>> established in
the United States
>> United States
>> and in the state
>> and the state
>> under the authority of the people
>> the authority of the people
>> and I will faithfully
>> I will faithfully
>> impartially
>> and justly
>> justly
>> perform all the duties of
Inner city
beach patrol lieutenant
>> inner city beach patrol lieutenant
>> effective April 23rd 2026
>> April 23rd 26
>> the best of my skill and ability to the
best of my skill and ability.
>> So help me
>> uh you got to sign doesn't count to
sign.
So before we you guys all take off, I
want to sit right here with these board
meetings. First of all, I want to
welcome Frank Finity. Everyone knows
family.
We got we got some legends in this room
tonight. Stan Bergman's here, Chuck
Bergman.
We all love our lifeguards and it's nice
to see these young guys come up through
the ranks and take over from legends
that we've had. You guys got big fields
shoes to fill. Dave knows that. um you
guys are moving up the ranks, fill in
their shoes. So, it's a really great
progression, see these young folks come
up from, you know, starting out at 16
years old, you know, running cans for
the older guards. So, it's it's really
good to see these guys come up the
ranks. We appreciate what they do and
keeping us safe all summer. So, thank
you all for being out.
There's more
on it. It doesn't look like he got on.
Yeah, go ahead. Sure. Yeah.
You don't understand.
Multi
Mr.
Okay.
Yeah, it was
flying some missiles here.
>> I didn't know I doubt
it.
Thanks guys.
>> We got to continue with our meeting
guys.
>> Thanks, Frank. Great seeing you.
Room's almost cleared out.
All right, we're going to continue with
our agenda. Um, we're on item H right
now. Presentations. We have none. Uh,
department have reports. Uh, nothing at
this time. I'll give some reports on
some of the public works items that I
have from Ernie and Rick. Capital
discussion not at this time. Uh
following items are scheduled for action
at at our uh formal action on the 514
2026 portion of our meeting. Uh the
minutes will be approved from our
regular meeting January 22nd, 2026. Um
we have two ordinance introductions. One
2026-009.
It's an ordinance in the city of
Ventner, county of Atlantic, uh,
amending chapter 220 of the code, city
of Ventner, as it same relates to water
usage. It is a rate increase. Um, we're
starting to build up funds to handle
this leadline service replacement that
we're going to be having to do over the
next 5 to 10 years. Um, it is a looks
like it's a $35 increase on the flat
fee. None of the the hour or gallon
rates are changing. Um, any questions on
that for now from you guys? We're good.
Tim,
>> he's got to unmute him.
>> Yeah, I think he was asking to be
unmuted.
>> Oh, if you muted, he's got you got to
go. There you go.
>> There you go. All right. Thanks, Jim.
>> No, no questions. I I reviewed this with
uh with Tom and uh with um Lisa earlier.
Thank you.
>> Okay. Uh the next one is ordinance
2026-010
and that's amending chapter 186 of the
code of city of Ventner as the same
relates to sewers. Very similar. This is
a $40 increase to the flat rate. No
changes to the the per gallon fees or
anything of that nature. Again, these
are fees that are needed to maintain our
sewer and water systems and prepare us
for the um leadline service. Even though
that's sewer, it still goes into the
same coffers to help us with those
funds. Dom, you have anything else on
that? No, just just to point out that
the the combined increase is $75
annually and since it won't go into
effect until the second quarter, so for
2026, people will only see the increase
for the three quarters.
>> Gotcha.
>> So, it's not even $75 this year. It's
three quarters left.
>> Good.
>> All right. Thank you. All right. Um,
we'll then have a public hearing on
adoption of ordinance 2026-008.
That is a bond ordinance looking for
$1.5 million. You'll see some of that
coming in. This is water improvements um
for Portland Avenue. Portland
Winchester, I'm sorry. Winchester
Avenue. Portland is the storm water. Um
you'll see some of that. This is funding
we're going to use through the I bank.
You'll see some resolutions coming
through on that as well. So, just
tonight we'll introduce we'll have the
public hearing on that ordinance that we
introduced at our last meeting. Then
we'll go through resolutions 133 to 147
under consent. Um we're going to add 152
here on the bench and that's to add to a
drainage pro or a project that we need
to do drainage on and that's the
Portland Avenue project that we're we're
working through I believe. Um
the 148 149 50 and 51 we've already done
because they were the the promotions for
the lifeguards.
First resolution is 133 and that is the
sale via public auction of property
located at 4803 Ventner Avenue
identified on Vent City Municipal Tax
Map as lot 2 block 87 is a vacant lot.
The minimum bid being proposed is
$152,000
and that auction will occur on June 9th.
Any questions there, Tim?
>> No, that's uh also like I said that was
reviewed. I looked at the the um
appraisal.
Hopefully we'll get some biders on this
one. Agreed.
Next item is 134 resolution 134
authorizing similar authorizing a sale
by a public auction. The property
located 6512 Ventner Avenue identified
on the tax map as lot 15 block 71 that
is also vacant land and its minimum bid
is being set at $138,000.
Also being bid out on June 9th.
>> No questions.
>> No no questions. Same. Uh the next one
is uh 135 resolution 135 authoring
authorizing a water and sewer refund.
That was for overpayment or double
payment by their um by the the resident.
So that'll be refunded. Resolution 136
authorizing refund of tax overpayment.
137 authorizing payout of funds to to
Bradford Cook uh in his retirement.
>> Yes.
>> No questions there. Um, resolution 138
authorizing the hiring of Morgan Visco,
public safety telecommunicator.
>> Assuming that's dispatch.
>> Yes.
>> Technical terms.
My my note was dispatch. So, it's good.
I know we're looking for somebody there
for a bit.
>> Yes.
>> All right.
Resolution 139 authorizing Roth
contributions to deferred compensation
plan through equitable and authorizing
execution of same questions there.
That's just kind of typical business,
right?
>> Yeah. Adding it to our availability to
the employees.
>> Yep.
Um resolution 140, library lease
agreement with the county of Atlantic
authorizing exe execution of same. My
understanding is we didn't increase the
the rate the monthly rate that they pay
for that.
>> We've got a good tenant there.
>> Yeah. This just a renewal of the lease
would expire,
>> but it was before, right? Yes. I thought
>> resolution 141. uh determining the form
and other details of note relating to
the construction of financing
construction financing program New
Jersey Water Bank to be issued in the
principal amount of $ 1.5 million
providing for the issuance and sale of
such note New Jersey infrastructure bank
and authorizing execution and delivery
of such note by the city of Ventner in
favor of the New Jersey Infrastructure
Bank all pursuant to the water bank uh
construction financing program of the
state of New Jersey infrastructure bank.
So, this is the funding for the project
that we're talking for, the bonding that
we're doing for water improvements. Uh,
Winchester Avenue, I think that one is
>> uh 142 is filing of an application for a
short-term construction loan.
Similar to the last application, this is
the following through with that from
from the I bank, New Jersey I bank under
the construction financing program
authorizing issues of the construction
loan note in connection there with the
Winchester Avenue water mane replacement
project phase one. So kind of the three
we did tonight dealing with that $1.5
million is is those three items.
143 uh authorizing seasonal part-time
employment for the for Ventner city. Um,
these are returning summer summer folks
to our summer camp and our our tennis
court and pickle ball courts staff
there. Most of these guys are returning.
Couple new folks, but most of the ones
are coming back, which is good.
>> Yep. Three camp counselors and four
court attendants.
>> Yep.
Uh, resolution 144 appointing Robert
Newcomer to a sewer repair one to and to
senior plumbing station operator job
two. Um, we finally went through the
civil service rules and got these guys
the promotions and titles that they
needed to get into to move up. So, we're
starting to do that. This is one of the
first few that that's starting to
happen. So, congratulation
congratulations to Robert, good worker
for us in public works and uh happy to
have them.
Resolution 145 authorizing seasonal
part-time employment for the city. These
are recreational aids. Again, these are
some folks coming back. A lot of them,
some of them are new as well. I saw some
names on there I recognized and some
that I didn't. So, um, good to have
those folks back. These are the more of
the pickle ball people, I think.
>> If I could, um, these are the camp aids
are going to help.
>> Okay. So, I had it backwards. I'm sorry.
>> Also, um, one gentleman is new and he's
going to be a court attendant.
>> Okay.
>> And then, um, three are beach checkers
that we didn't get on the first round.
>> Okay. We added grabbed a couple extra
ones. Great.
>> All right. Resolution 146 authorizing
refund of another tax overpayment. Um
147 is authorizing re another refund. Um
and then we're adding on the bench. This
is resolution 152
authorizing change order number one for
engineering service to design and permit
the proposed drainage system including
outfall of pipe at Portland Avenue and
the bay. Um, so we're adding 175 to this
contract for Delasio Engineering to uh
design and and inspect that that
project. So we're adding storm water
management that was needed once we
started the rest of the project. Any
questions on that one?
>> Nope. I see the change order here.
That's 152.
>> Yes, resolution 152. Yes.
>> Okay. was the previous resolution was 20
290 of 2021 for in the amount of 23,900.
So we're adding 175 to that.
>> Got it.
>> For a total amount of 41,400 not to
exceed.
>> All right.
>> Newport Avenue. Thank you.
>> Uh Portland Avenue.
>> Okay.
>> Same area.
>> Right.
>> Black.
All right. That's all we have for
resolutions. Next, we would do our bill
our approval of bills and payroll uh
discussion items. I don't have any
listed here, so we'll open up the public
um for items that were on our agenda
this evening or items that we've talked
about tonight. So, for anyone in the
public or I'll ask for a motion to open
public.
>> Uh I'll make that motion.
>> Second. All in favor? I
>> I
um open to the public. So, this is all
items we that are on our agenda.
So, I I'll give an update on that. We've
maybe the mayor can give an update on
that. Um,
>> I didn't hear the question.
>> Yeah, we had to move it and I will I
will take blame for the moving it to
4:30. It's normally a 5:30 meeting. Um,
we'll talk about that in our o the
regular session of public. We can talk
about anything. Um, I have a hearing
down in Middle Township tonight that I'm
trying to get out of here for, but no,
no, no. Stay. We're gonna we're gonna
have a public portion for you. Um, I
just moved it to 4:30 because we had all
these swearing ins. So, that's all.
>> Could you just repeat on um, Mayor Pel
couldn't hear what the question was?
Could you just let them know what you're
going to discuss?
>> Yeah, Mayor, it was regards the boats
out um, behind Alb's house,
>> right?
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, we know. We've Captain CBO's been
working on it. I think Tim had we got an
email today I think with an update.
>> Yes,
>> Tim can give it when we get to you want
to do it now so Albby can leave.
>> Okay. Um we have a timeline of uh um of
contact that we've made uh with the
various organizations in order to
achieve the we have to uh have title of
those boats before we can remove them.
Um, so we've we've been pursuing that.
Uh, we've and along with that parallel,
we've been pursuing the ability to have
them paid for by grants that are
available for this sort of thing. So,
um, we are working on it diligently. It
is one of those, um, things that is a
bit of a bureaucratic tangle. Um but I
would say that uh so the the certified
title search um uh Captain CBO has been
very diligent in his response um to all
of the um to all the paperwork that
needs to be done starting from October
of 25, January, February, March, May. Uh
and here we are now. Uh we did receive a
rejection letter requesting additional
information. So he's following up with
that. Um, but the goal is to have them
uh removed with no additional fee to the
taxpayer. They are approximately $5,000
per vote to remove them. So, we're
trying to make that um not an additional
uh burden to the taxpayer uh and
pursuing these grants, but that doesn't
hold up the fact that we are still
pursuing the the the titles, which we
would need to remove them anyway. So, um
it's a work. It's a it's it's something
that we hope to have done uh as as soon
as we're allowed.
>> Yeah. Basically,
the emails we got today from Captain
Kos, they gave us a a denial basically
and asked for more information and I saw
today, mayor, that he's he submitted
that back to them already. So,
>> correct.
>> Every time they give us something,
Captain Cable keeps us all in the loop.
So, he sends it out. He responds
immediately to them. This is the state
police we're dealing with and some other
entities that manage all this and it's
it's a managerie.
>> Yeah. The uh in order for us to legally
dispose of the vehicles, we first have
to establish the ownership and that
requires the documentation which we're
pursuing
>> as we're working through. So, um I know
>> we all want to be good stewards of the
neighborhood and the and the
environment. Um uh and um and that's
kind of where we stand.
>> Yep.
You got to come up to the mic, Albby, if
you if you wouldn't mind. And just hit
>> No, you have. Just hit that button so we
can hear you.
>> Just sit hit that green. Hit that button
so it turns green for us.
>> Gotcha.
>> Here we go.
>> Thank you. Uh, are we working to get
some kind of ordinance together to
prevent people from being able to leave
boats anchored off shore, you know, off
the meadows? So the issue as I
understand it and Kat you can maybe
comment on this is we don't control the
waters. They're state waters.
>> Well behind my house it isn't.
>> We've been told that it is
>> brand from my house all the way to Daffy
Duck is city because Pedrick lost it in
19 in the depression after he had gotten
that land. He was going to fill that
originally all the way to Newport
Avenue. But once once it's flowed by
mean high water,
>> it's the states.
>> And and there's also problem we're
running into. If it was our property, we
could take the boats.
>> And there and there's also an issue of
navigation. It has to you have to have
it uh you know be impeding navigation,
which in that ca in some of those cases,
it's it's not. So
>> we've tried that. We had um one of your
neighbors came into us and actually gave
us a draft ordinance that they used in
another municipality and it's from from
the research we've been told and we'll
look at it again. We'll have our our
solicitor take another look at it, but
from what we've been told, it's not
uh doesn't have any teeth.
>> Okay. So, I appreciate the effort you
guys are putting forth. You know, I live
there 50 years and and it's a beautiful
vicinity.
>> You got to look at that all the time.
>> And I got to look out my back window and
see that trash
>> and now somebody's tied a floating dock
off it.
We'll have the police go out and because
>> Oh, we appreciate it very much.
>> Take a look at it again if we could,
Tim. If have the officers go out and
just take a peek at it again because
there's apparently something tied up to
it now.
>> Yeah. Thank you very much. I appreciate
>> you coming out, Alvin. Good seeing you.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Tim.
>> You bet. Looking good, Alvin.
>> Jim, anybody on Zoom with any comments?
>> Anybody on Zoom wish to make question
any comments on any of the items that
have been discussed so far? Please make
yourself known by by raising your hand
or within the chat feature and you will
be recognized.
>> See none, I'll ask for a motion to close
public portion.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second. All in favor? I
>> um need a motion to close. We already
got that. We don't need to. Just going
to call to order the uh the regular
portion of our meeting.
>> Yep.
>> So the first item on that agenda is the
minutes from January 22nd, 2026. And a
motion to approve, please.
>> Motion to approve minutes January 22.
>> I second. Roll call.
>> Mr. Langrif.
>> Yes.
>> Creable.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. We'll have uh ordinance
introduction of ordinance 2026-009.
Motion, please.
>> Motion as a second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Mr. Lang Grant.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Second ordinance introduction of
ordinance 2026 6-0.
Um motion please.
>> Motion to introduct ordinance 010.
>> I second. Roll call please.
>> Mr. Langria.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> I will need a motion to open public
hearing on ordinance 2026-008.
It's a bond ordinance for $1.5 million
with regard to Winchester Avenue's water
main replacement phase 1. Need a motion.
>> Motion to open public hearing ordinance
008 as described.
>> I second. Roll call, please.
>> Commissioner Langraph,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Creable,
>> yes.
>> Okay. This meeting is now open to the
public on ordinance 2026- 008. Anyone
wishing to comment, please step forward
or make yourself known in the Zoom
platform.
Seeing none in either, motion to close,
please.
>> Make a motion to close.
>> Second. All in favor? I.
Um, okay. Next one is ordinance adoption
of ordinance 2026- 008 as previously
stated.
>> Motion to adopt.
>> Second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Mr. Langraph.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creel.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Need a motion to adopt resolutions
2026, 133 through 147, and 152.
>> I'll make make that motion.
>> Second. Roll call. Lisa. Commissioner
Lang.
>> Yes. Mayor Cable.
>> Yes.
All right, bills and payroll.
>> So, we have two payrolls. Payroll from
412 to 425 in the amount of $674,78129.
And we have payroll from 426 to 515 in
the amount of $538,665.
And we have bills in the amount of
2,212,366.98.
>> Okay. Motion to approve bills and
payroll as stated.
I'll make that motion.
>> Second. Roll call, please.
>> Commissioner Langrif.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Next item is announcements and
safety report. Safety reports in our
records and I don't have any
announcements. Uh, mayor, you have any
commissioner comments report?
>> Um, I have um not myself, but I I was
given a list from Commissioner Mento to
read. That's okay. I I'll read that.
Um she uh this time of year uh of course
it is the um time of year for special
events. She asked me to uh read into
some of the events that have just taken
place. Okay.
>> Um specifically wanted to thank everyone
for their work on the successful block
party on May 9th. Um thousands of
residents and visitors attended
throughout the day. Food vendors craft
uh was great uh great way to start this
the uh the spring season. uh continued f
positive uh feedback. There were also a
number of community um uh highlights
there with uh public safety departments,
uh sponsors, vendors, entertainers. Um
it was a great event. U and she also
wanted to note that we are as we move
into the following uh summer season, we
have May Memorial Day weekend from May
22nd to 25th from that Friday to Monday.
Um, I encourage you to visit our
Facebook page and read our recent and
log on to our newsletter which went out
today that gives all the times of the uh
the openings over the weekend starting
with the farmers market on Friday, May
2nd at 8:30. Uh then the opening of the
beach on Saturday, May 23rd and the
kickoff summer concert ski beach. I
think we added another uh possible uh
ribbon cutting that weekend um at the
tennis courts. Is that right?
>> I'll talk about that. Yep.
>> Um and then May 24th, the annual Whan
Run
um is uh of course a well attended
event. That's Sunday, May 24th. Monday,
May 25th, the Memorial Day celebration
uh ceremony at city hall, weather
permitting, at 9:00 a.m. Again, all
these items are available on our uh our
website and on our Facebook page and
follow um uh Venner City special events
on um on their website and our shared uh
email page which we put out. We also,
this also kicks off the concert series
um and a number of events all the way
through May and June. Um and she want to
thank uh there are sponsor request
letters uh that have been distributed
and outreach efforts continue for
returning sponsors and new community
sponsors. There's still room for
sponsorship I believe uh for some of
those concerts. Gives a high visibility
especially in a a hyper local way for
all of these events. That's all I have.
>> Okay. Thanks, Mayor. Yeah, the uh we got
lucky with the weather. I know it rained
a little bit in the afternoon on the
block party, but the morning was great.
Great turnout. Lots of people there
having fun joining the vendors and and
the the great shops there on on Ventner
Avenue. Um just a couple things for me.
Tennis and pickle ball courts are just
about there. I think they just have to
restripe um the courts, put up the nets,
put up the post, then the nets. Um so
that we anticipate being complete this
coming week. Um, we will do a ribbon
cutting. I think we decided, mayor,
we're gonna try and do it the same day
as the beach opening.
>> We'll be right there complex. It seems
>> I think we do the beach ribbon cutting
at 9:00 a.m. We do this at 10.
>> If we can keep people off the courts
because they're probably going to want
to be on there.
>> Yeah, they're going to be playing.
They're going to be playing. That's not
going to happen. We had people walking
the boardwalk before we ribbon cut that.
>> Yeah, I I get it. I get it. It's all
good.
>> Yep. So, it'll be fun. They came out
really good. Um, you'll notice the color
change of the courts. We try to get some
of the the veterary burgundy color into
into the the courts there. So, try to do
that. Um, water tower, uh, Siri Avenue
water tower. The work there is just
about complete. Uh, they're going to
start filling it this coming week. Um,
and see how it we have to fill it
several times, empty it, empty it, fill
it. It's a cycle and test the water each
time. And then that final test, the D
will sign off on it and we will refill
that for the last for the final time and
then turn that that water tower back
online. Um you'll notice if you saw
around the city this week, you saw
landscaping spruce up. They did here at
city hall trim the bushes uh weeded and
um uh did some mulching through those
areas. Uh same the tennis courts are are
probably next. They didn't want to work
while the other guys were there. Uh they
als they did North Beach today. They did
all those little cutouts in the islands
there. So we got new plantings in there.
Uh the library will also be included in
this this cleanup as well as some of the
other city properties. Um things of that
nature. So sprucing up for spring.
Everybody's doing spring cleaning
including the city.
>> So that's all I have. You have anything
on your end? I know you gave Maria's
kind of report, but
>> yeah. No, I mean, um, I had a, um, uh,
it's just nice to see we had a couple of
trees that, uh, a particular type of
tree in the planning that I was
spearheading earlier this in the fall,
uh, that didn't make it through the
winter, but, they've been replaced with
beautiful new tall trees. I don't know
if anyone saw those. Um, uh, the, uh,
the city itself is, uh, like you said,
we're in that process of putting up
banners, putting up new signs, all those
types of things. The city's looking at
um doing the same kind of spring
cleaning that everybody's doing this
time of year. It's looking It's going to
be uh another great summer.
>> Yeah, it was a rough winter on all of
us. We're all lucky we survived the
winter.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Um all right, with that, um we'll open
it up to public comment on any item that
someone wants to bring up and talk
about. So, I need a motion to open
public comment.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second. All in favor? I
>> I
>> All right. Anyone with any comments
about anything in general? Yes, sir.
Step up. State your name. Hit the button
on the microphone there. And this one on
this side, sir. Yep.
Okay. My name is Howard Keats. I live at
the Oxford. I walk in the boardwalk
every day, almost every day. And I
happen to look out and want to thank you
for the beautiful boardwalk that we now
have in front of the Oxford. uh from the
tennis courts right to the Fentner pier.
Uh I also enjoy the Ventner pier. So I
have a lot of things that I'm thankful
for, but at the same time as I look
towards the ocean, obviously since I was
born and raised here, I can remember
seeing the ocean. And half the time you
can't because of the dunes. Nobody's
fault, but it's just something I miss.
When I look at the ocean and look at the
dunes, I happen to see a snow fence. The
snow fence looks like I mean,
sorry, doesn't look Well, you're not
wrong. You're not wrong. And they want
to know, go ahead. What is planned and
when you plan to remove that snow fence?
Well, we won't remove it. One, this Army
Corps of Engineers put it in. Um, so we
can't remove it. U, we can replace
pieces of it that are in poor shape. So,
we actually tried to include that in the
boardwalk project. Um, the price that
that contractor gave us was exorbitant.
So, we are looking at other ways to to
fund that. Um, and and maybe have our
guys do it. Have our public works guys
reinstall that snow fence at the and
both the side towards the ocean is in
better shape. The back side is the one
that hasn't been touched in years since
the June.
>> So, I understand my understanding was
that you do need the snow fence um on
the ocean side.
>> You do? Yes.
>> Um because it prevents the uh dunes from
flowing back into the ocean. I don't
know if you need it on the bay side.
Yes. When you built it, it was because
you're trying to stabilize the dunes and
planting dune grass. You've now
stabilize the dunes and uh you know and
on the st the the beach grass, whatever
it's called, dune grass.
>> So, I don't I personally don't see the
same reason for the for the dunes the
the snow fence on the dune side facing
the bay. I don't see that as being
necessary. The other thing I you know um
would like to comment about besides the
dunes
>> sure and you know our street department
I think should be able to put up a snow
fence where it's needed and where it
looks like it's falling down or it has
fallen down. Um I see no reason why the
city can't do that. Besides that, if you
look on the other side of the boardwalk,
uh, as I walk up and down, I notice that
some
people who own property, uh, have placed
a beautiful grass or what do you call
>> landscaping
uh, and others have not and
some have doomed grass, some don't um,
and of course I don't know whether
there's any ordinance or any way in
which you can find out who owns that
space. Sometimes I understand from what
I've heard that the U property owners
own to a foot of the boardwalk and other
people don't have that same right.
>> That's correct.
>> So is there any way of policing that or
encouraging people who do own that space
to clean it up, pick up the models, the
glass?
>> Right. So we try and do that with our
public works. We go out there, we start
in the season, we'll start now to try
and do that and and clean up as much as
we can. We just hired our summer crews,
summer workers, and that's their job.
So, they will be starting at one end,
and they'll be cleaning both sides of
the boardwalk on in the in the sand and
the street ends. Um, they will be
starting, they've already started doing
some of it, but that's something that
they will be doing on a daily basis. Um,
getting back to the the the landscaping
that some folks do, you're correct. Some
folks, actually, some right by the pier,
they have easements that go all the way
out in the ocean. Um, so our boardwalk
is through there, but in other cases,
they own back to that old bulkhead
that's there and then it's city property
in there.
>> Yes.
>> Um, now that we've got that boardwalk
there, we're going to probably wait
until they do the other section in the
fall through next winter where we'll
start at Surrey or SuffK and go all the
way up to Jackson with the new
boardwalk. um look at doing some things
on the city's dollar because the state
grant was only for the boardwalk itself.
That's why we couldn't include the snow
fence on the on the back side of that
dune. Um
>> I I think
>> we do need to put that back because that
slows the creep of that dune under the
boardwalk. When they replaced the
boardwalk, they dug out 3 ft underneath
it.
>> I'm aware of that. I watched it being
>> to to allow that boardwalk to breathe
more and allow it to last longer. Um, so
we will be putting that back and that's
why we didn't hire. Um, look, Siobhan
did a fantastic job on the boardwalk and
finished it way ahead of schedule, but
the number was just a little too much
for us to pay. So, we're going to look
from funds to buy the fence and have
public works install that snow fence on
the back side. Um,
>> now as a taxpayer, you know, uh, I've
lived here most of my life and, uh, I
lived at the Oxford the past 35 years,
so I've been around a long time.
But I've noticed an inordinate amount of
new homes
>> all through Ventner. I assume the tax
base has doubled.
>> It's It's certainly gotten better. Our
ratables have increased significantly.
>> Oh my god. Yes. Okay. From what it was.
So when you tell me you have trouble
buying snow fence, I smile. Okay.
Because
>> Well, it's budgeting
>> with Aldi. But we just don't go out and
buy stuff. We have to go through a
process. We have to get it priced. The
first price we got from the contractor
was too high.
>> Okay,
>> that was a month ago. So, we've had our
city engineer look into doing that as a
project and he'll give us a price to
purchase the material. We'll go out and
bid on that, get that bid um and then
we'll try and install it ourselves.
>> Okay. And the other thing was that are
as I'm looking at the ends of the street
in which the uh gutter is supposed to
flow on the into the into the beach
side. A lot of that is blocked
>> is I'm sorry.
>> Blocked.
>> It's blocked. Well, you don't see the
exit coming
>> on the on the beach side. Yes, sir.
>> That's one of the things they do when
they go in in the spring. We try and
clean those out to allow that water.
What I would like to do, and it's again
it's a dollar's number and a budget
number, is to do rip wrap of some sort
on that backside to allow that water to
come through there without eroding the
sand. So that's if you look at
Cambridge, you'll see it's done there.
Um the neighbor, the owner of the
property next door really did a nice
job. We certainly can't compete with
that, but we will try and do a rip wrap
kind of stone in there to try and soften
that water getting to the beach because
that's the drainage from Atlantic to the
ocean. all that water goes.
>> I I'm I'm aware of that. Y Okay. Thank
you.
>> Thanks for coming out tonight.
>> I made a point of coming here just to
complain about the snow fence
and I don't want to complain about my
taxes because you can't do that. But I
do think that uh you know we do have a
very beautiful town here. I've you know
I was born and raised in Ventner.
>> Thank you. I'm still here. So
>> glad to hear that.
>> I have a uh
>> And you have a new neighbor, Mr. Sykes
there in the Oxford.
>> Is he behind me?
>> Uh he's on one of the floors. I'm not
sure. I know Tom.
>> It's on the ninth floor. I'm on the
eighth.
>> Okay.
>> And believe it or not,
>> I was the person who encouraged him to
come because his father was there at one
point.
>> Okay.
>> And had a had a condominium on the 10th
floor.
>> Nice.
>> He's only on the ninth, but he has a
gorgeous view.
>> And I we kind of I've known him for many
many years. And I leaned on him for
almost a year to purchase that condo.
>> Good. Oh, I'm familiar with I have a
great deal of respect for Mr. Sykes.
>> Me as well. Me as well. Again, thanks
for coming out.
>> Okay. I The rest of your time is up to
you. I'm thankful for taking the time to
say hello
>> and I'm going to leave out the front
door because there's nothing else that I
have to say or I assume you're going to
run the
>> We're just We're finishing. You're the
last thing on the agenda.
>> We actually So, we had to start the
meeting a little early tonight. We
started at 4:30. Yeah, I 5:30 was what I
read on the
>> It's normal for 5:30, but we had
swearing in of of five of our um
lifeguards who got promoted this
evening. Four, not five. Four of them.
>> What did the lifeguards get promoted to?
>> Uh so one was promoted to captain.
>> Who was that?
>> Then Megan Holland. Uh Dan Shaw was
moved up to senior senior lieutenant.
Vince Mayon was lieutenant and Patty
Milligan
was also a lieutenant. So they all moved
up.
>> Okay. Uh, I hate to say when I was a
lifeguard, but you know, was, you know,
>> Stan Bergman was here tonight. He was
here.
>> Uh, was before Stan Bergman. Okay. Was
that
>> Chief Paluti?
>> Well, I knew his father. I don't know.
Lou Paluti wasn't here tonight, but
probably his son was here.
>> Coach Paluti passed away a few years
ago, but yeah,
>> Lou was uh on the beach force when I was
here in 1952.
>> And Puduty was your was on there with
you probably.
>> Yeah. Well, it was Bill Howards was down
at beach 8.
>> Yep.
>> And I can give you most of the people um
you know who were on the beach.
>> I wish you would have come earlier
tonight because they were all here. You
had Ward Holland. You had the whole
Holland family was here. So, it was
nice.
>> Yeah. Well, at one point uh you know, I
was there when they when Ward, you know,
started the ski resort up in
>> Yes. Y
>> and he encouraged everybody to buy a a
property up there.
>> A lot of them up there.
>> Good job.
>> So, we're going to we're going to move
on with our agenda. love to chat with
you, but we're going to thank you for
coming out.
>> All right, anybody on Zoom? Any
comments?
>> All right, seeing none. Motion to close,
please.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second. All in favor? I
>> I
>> All right. Uh, no executive session,
I'll look for a motion to adjurnn.
>> I'll make that motion.
>> Second. All in favor?
>> I.
>> All right. Thank you all.
>> Have a good evening. In base of