Borough of Point Pleasant Beach MINUTES
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach met at 6:32PM with Mayor Vogel and Councilmen Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon and DiCorcia present. The Municipal Clerk read the notice indicating compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.
Department Head memos and correspondence were discussed with many items moved to agenda for action; Board of Adjustment fee increase request was remanded back to the Board for their recommendations; Chamber of Commerce request for holiday decoration funding was held for Budget/Finance Committee recommendation; proposed ordinance to establish SF2 Zone was discussed – Attorney Starkey suggested that planner review ordinance to ensure it meets all planning requirements.
Motion by Councilman DiCorcia, to enter closed session to discuss a contractual matter, was seconded by Councilman Corbally and carried by the following roll call vote:
VOTE: Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
Closed session started at 6:52 P.M. and ended at 7:00 P.M.
Mayor Vogel called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. Present were Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon and DiCorcia. The Municipal Clerk again read the notice indicating compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.
Motion by Councilman DiCorcia, to approve minutes of the February 6, 2007 Council meeting, was seconded by Councilman Mercun and carried by the following roll call vote:
VOTE: Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco and DiCorcia …YEA
Councilman Dixon….Abstain
Mayor Vogel opened public discussion on proposed Ordinance 2007-02 (Establish SF2 Zone).
Mr. Landers, 820 Oak Terrace: need to change Section 5 to include all of Oak Terrace.
Vincent Barrella, Niblick Street: asked about amount of time attorney expended to draft ordinance (1-1.5 hours) – if property is 100’ X 100’ it could be sub-divided under existing rules, but not once ordinance is passed (not sub-dividable into two conforming lots – Planning Board has authority to grant variances); property that can be subdivided is more valuable – first thing I would do, as owner of such property, is to have tax assessor revalue it as it would be worth less.
Donna Anderson-Landers, 820 Oak Terrace: paid a premium to buy in this section of town, in order to have that space – ordinance would not lower my property value – people would pay more for more space – once you subdivide those properties, you ruin the integrity of the neighborhood.
Phyllis Thompson, 610 Forman Avenue: asked about the cost of the rezoning and if all taxpayers were absorbing cost – also concerned about cost of lawsuits.
Mayor Vogel: reiterated desire for planner to review ordinance to clean up section 5 and review section 4 – side yard setbacks, in particular
Motion by Councilman DiCicco, to introduce Ordinance 2006-02 on March 6th, after review by Borough Planner, was seconded by Councilman Mercun and carried by the following roll call vote.
VOTE: Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia….YEA
Clerk Ellsworth added several items to Consent Resolution 2.
Motion by Councilman Mercun, seconded by Councilman DiCorcia, resolutions covering the items listed below, were approved by the following roll call vote:
CONSENT RESOLUTION 1:
a) Support of Click-It or Ticket Campaign
b) Authorization to submit ‘Municipal Recycling Tonnage Grant’ application
c) Approval of Amendment to Bingo License 2006-64 for St Peter School PTA
d) Approval of annual Ad on Ocean County Mayor’s Assoc Ad Journal ($175)
e) Payment to Tessco Tech for police communications equipment ($3697.27)
f) Raffles License Applications for Toms River Kiwanis Club on 3/31/07
g) Raffles License Application for Ducks Unlimited on 3/16/07
h) Approval of Payroll #4 ($209,669.78)
i) Award of Contract to Valley Painting for rehab of watershperoid ($286,795)
j) Payment to Brick Utilities for January bulk water usage ($47,078.10)
k) Payment to Galvin Law Firm from Board of Adjustment accounts ($3865.89)
l) P O to Four Point for heating/air conditioning service contract ($3650)
m) Approval of annual ad in PPB Education Foundation Ad Journal ($100)
n) Authorize application to NJ Environmental Infrastructure Finance Program
o) Payments to King, Kitrick & Jackson for Planning Board escrow accts ($2225.50)
p) Authorization to advertise bid for I&I remediation project
q) Authorize Birdsall Engineering to file appeal for permit to dredge Lake Louise
r) Approval of computer generated vouchers ($96,768.72)
VOTE: Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally (Items ‘a-p’ & ‘r’), DiCicco, Dixon,
DiCorcia….YEA
Councilman Corbally (Item ‘q’)….Abstain
CONSENT RESOLUTION 2:
a) Amendment to PPB Fire Co #2 Raffles License 2006-66
b) Approval of annual ad in PPB Little League ad journal ($100)
c) Permission for PPB MAC to use Pleasure Park for Easter Egg Hunt of 3/31/07
d) Payment of 1st Quarter installment to OCUA ($185,500.70)
e) Payment to Pitney Bowes for prepaid postage ($8019.31)
f) Payment to J R Henderson for water sampling ($970.00)
g) Payments to Schulmann, Wiegmann from Bd of Adjustment escrow accts ($300)
h) Water/Sewer bill adjustments (2 accts)
i) Authorization for records disposal in various departments
j) Appointments to Shade Tree Committee
k) Authorization for Borough Attorney to draft ordinance amending Vital Statistic Fees to include Civil Union Certificates
l) Authorization for Borough Attorney to draft ordinance increasing dog and cat licensing fees
m) Approval of Alzheimer’s Association special event application for ‘Memory Walk’ on 9/29/07, parking fee waiver request and Ocean County road use application
n) Approval of American Heart Association special event application for ‘Heart Walk’ on 10/7/07 and parking fee waiver request
o) Approval of Jersey Shore Running Club special event application for relay race on 4/21/07 and Ocean County road use application
p) Approval of special event application for Memorial Day Bike Parade on 5/26/07, with fee waiver, and Ocean County road use application
q) Approval of PPB Girl Scout Troop#298 special event application to sell Girl Scout cookies on the Boardwalk on 4/7/07 and fee waiver request
VOTE: Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia….YEA
Mayor Vogel: Ocean County Board of Health will conduct a telephone survey from February 26 to March 30; met with Ocean County Engineer – expressed concerns with traffic calming along Bay Avenue corridor, eastern side of Arnold Avenue, Baltimore and Chicago Avenues between Broadway and Arnold Avenue, intersection of Harvard and Baltimore; asked about speed humps on River Avenue – County does not want to allow – have requested they begin paperwork to transfer that street over to municipal control, so we can install speed humps and traffic control devices; voiced concern on outflow, from Sea Avenue pump station, onto beach; hit snag on Baltimore Avenue project – issue with gas main – waiting for final survey work and clearance with utilities; would like feedback from residents and Beautification Committee on areas or properties in town that are an eyesore – would like something on web to solicit feedback – can possibly work with Chamber to improve businesses – Beautification Committee can work with property owners; thanked those who attended last ‘Meet the Mayor’ session; have openings on Planning Board, Environmental Commission and Shade Tree Committee – should send letter if you have interest in serving; got LTA Planning Grant for bike/pedestrian planning assistance for Broadway/Ocean Avenue corridor; received grant from Barnegat Bay Estuary Program to address lake water quality improvement along with pet waste and other runoff into lakes.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Mercun: will be a public meeting at Borough Hall on March 14th about traffic, especially speeding on municipal streets – will announce in “Ocean Star”, web-site and 1630AM; met with Chief and Deputy Emergency Management Coordinators – residents expressed concerns about evacuation routes – will be broadcast during emergency over 1630 AM – will acquire signs that say “Please tune to radio station 1630 AM, if you see lights flashing” – can also make announcement from First Aid siren – at direction of County OEM, must prepare mitigation survey – will survey residents, east of tracks, to see if there are specific needs to address in that section, regarding evacuation – also putting together information packet for residents in case of emergency; Mr. Szafranski is going to arrange meeting at Senator Ciesla’s office about tourism revenues.
Councilman Loughran: going to pay-by-number system at Inlet – have until April 1st to get ready; thanked Sabrina Fioretti from First Aid Squad for recertifying several Borough employees on CPR and defibrillator use; congratulated Chamber of Commerce on 60th Anniversary; approved contract to have water tower painted – would like to see insignia on it, such as ‘Home of the Garnet Gulls’ or ‘Top of the Inland Waterway’ – maybe run contest in schools; asked if County addressed no left turn off River onto Arnold Avenue (will support).
Motion by Councilman Loughran, seconded by Councilman DiCorcia and carried by the following roll call vote, to authorize attorney to draft ordinance prohibiting left turns from River Avenue onto Arnold Avenue.
VOTE: Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia….YEA
Councilman Loughran: trees on Arnold Avenue are beginning to swallow storefronts and growing into wires – last trimmed ten years ago – need to include funds in Budget to address.
Councilman Corbally: asked Attorney Starkey to draft ordinance including all taxpayers, both residential and commercial, in parking pass program; asked Attorney to draft ordinance, for first reading, on installing parking boxes in railroad lot – need boxes up by July 1st – need 12 week lead time to order – parking free to resident pass holders – $2/day Monday through Friday for commuters or $266 for season pass- $1/hour Saturday and Sunday in summer – will post ‘No Commuter Parking’ signs on first two blocks of Central, on St. Louis south from Parkway to Arnold, in Post Office lot and in front of Jaeger Lumber; thanked Mayor for great job at County meeting and follow-up on River Avenue; thanked Vince Castin for continuing to send him goose dropping information; contact him if interested in becoming involved in Farmers Market.
Councilman DiCicco: residents bring things up at meetings and don’t know that we’ve followed up – asked Administrator Riehl to add report at end of committee reports, so residents know what’s being done; had two Finance Committee meetings on budget – will continue over next 4 to 6 weeks; question arose about what tax rate would be with new revaluation figures – using very rough numbers, if valuation went up 4.5 times, taxes will not go up – Ocean County is decreasing tax rate to lowest level ever; Recycling Task Force provided recommendations and asked that life of committee be extended.
Motion by Councilman DiCicco, to extend the life of the Recycling Task Force until December 31, 2008, was seconded by Councilman DiCorcia and carried by the following roll call vote:
VOTE: Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia….YEA
Councilman DiCicco: Recycling Task Force suggested mandatory recycling at Borough Hall and placing of receptacles on Arnold Avenue; in 2005, voters approved a 1 cent Open Space tax – 1 cent has gone from $66,000 to $280,000 with new valuation – asked Borough Engineer to look at issue so a question dealing with it can be presented on the ballot – Open Space Committee will discuss, as well; Open Space Committee will prioritize properties that it would like converted to public space – will have public meeting on Thursday at 6:30 pm.
Councilman Dixon: met with Chief about having patrol units report code violations on CAD system – asked Chief to have some special officers concentrate on code violations this season; asked Code Department to check on old Garden State Seafood building on Channel Drive – an eyesore and dangerous; had calls from concerned citizens regarding construction at south end of Ocean Avenue – concern that land is extremely high – was approved by Planning Board and Engineer to fit sanitary sewer systems; during a debris follow-up, Code Officer Petrillo noticed an air conditioning unit, two beds, extension cords and refrigerator in basement, but no access except from first floor and no safety precautions – 3 summonses were issued to owner and he was fined in municipal court – issued two other violations for working without a permit and another 25 written warning notices – still need public to call in violations; MAC will have yard sale shortly; Point Pleasant Beach has the County’s highest SAT scores – both High School and Antrim scored very high in proficiency and advanced proficiency tests – congratulated teachers, staff and parents; congratulated Pauline Robinson and Eric Lenahan for each scoring more than 1,000 points this year on the High School basketball teams.
Councilman DiCorcia: thanked those who got American flag lit out front; anyone who receives calls from Fraternal Order of Police should, instead, consider donating to PBA Local 106;Finance Committee looking into funding for building maintenance – there are mold spores, space and other major considerations concerning building itself – need to decide what’s in taxpayers’ best interest.
Administrator Riehl: bid opening on February 27th for Newark Avenue reconstruction; pre-construction meeting for Downtown Revitalization Phase III on February 28th; received safety award, plaque and #300.00 through Ocean County Joint Insurance Fund – Borough employees proactively reduced workplace accidents by 15% over the last three years – received plaque and $300; actively seeking applications for open NPP Coordinator position; Tax Assessor spoke with Certified Revaluations – approximately 21 properties waiting to be heard at County Tax Board – letters will be mailed this week or early next week; have solicited price quotes for hydroseeding at Band Shell; Building Department is researching crack in sidewalk by Medicap on Arnold Avenue; flag coming into town was returned to full mast; at Borough Hall, light was replaced at flag pole and both the missing globe and burned out light were replaced at entrance; pot holes at Recycling Center have been patched again; Board of Education trailer will be moved by this Friday; (Councilman DiCorcia: Governor Corzine issued executive order to fly flags at half staff to honor Toms River marine killed in Baghdad).
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD OPENED AT 8:18 P.M.
David Cavagnaro, 118 Parkway: thanked Councilman Corbally, on behalf of Beautification Committee, for looking at sprinkler sites; asked if there is any other recourse for residents while waiting for Certified Valuation’s letters (can talk to Assessor Rowe, but must file appeal at County – Assessor can only file an appeal on residents’ behalf, if there is a gross mistake); asked if County will coordinate Baltimore and Niblick Avenue bubble-up project (yes); asked if special event applicants will put ads in newspapers (two, approved tonight, are on the Boardwalk – only residential area affected is Arnold Avenue, east of Band Shell – will not block off any streets – relay race will not disturb residential traffic).
Max Gagnon, 304 Parkway: if we go below 1/2 cent for Open Space, will lose matching funds; presented page from 1963 planning book, showing River Avenue as cul-de-sac – issue has come up several times in past– always gets put aside – speed humps won’t solve traffic problem (traffic patterns have changed in past 44 years – diverting River Avenue traffic would have domino effect – will try speed humps and no left turn) suggested feasibility study and barricading River Avenue to see if it helps (County said “no”– first step is getting local control).
Joe Lemma, 203 St. Louis Avenue: thanked Councilmen Loughran and Corbally for doing something with railroad lot; asked about getting ATM machines on Boardwalk and in center of town – could gain revenue from transaction fees (put out RFP for ATM’s and received no response – should let Administrator Riehl know of anyone that might be interested).
John Szafranski, 319 Yale Avenue: thanked Councilman Mercun for investigating tourism revenue like the Wildwood Tourist Development Fee; likes idea of Administrator’s Report; Freehold passed ordinance on code enforcement relative to housing; Brick formed an ethics commission (ours will be more stringent); 16 municipalities in State have their own Pay To Play – think we should; problems with boats on lawns which are protruding in front of houses – Code Enforcement says its allowed; asked about tourist cost study (Governing Body has draft – final copy will be available to public – will advertise and bring firm in to answer questions); would like signage about unlawful idling of buses by Aquarium (concern was passed along to Chief); asked about regulations on Boardwalk repair (Engineer is drafting specs – Governing Body will pass along to current Borough Engineer and Attorney).
Frank Carey, 806 Briarcliff Avenue: asked for clarification on Open Space money (1 cent on tax rate was roughly $67,000 under old valuation formula, would be 4 times that now – Open Space Committee will bring recommendation to Council as to whether that tax should be reduced – Council will decide whether to put question on ballot); asked if change in Parking Pass ordinance would be on for first reading at next meeting (no – open for public discussion).
Vince Castin, 15 Trenton Avenue: asked if DPW personnel could put garbage receptacles in yard or behind hedges when it’s windy, so they’re not all over the street (will pass along suggestion – there is a liability issue if they are obstructing traffic).
Vincent Barrella, 116 Niblick Street: asked Councilman Corbally for definition of “taxpayer” for parking pass ordinance (must be permanent resident or taxpayer – seasonal renters do not qualify) asked about commercial taxpayer (property owner, not employees) eligibility could jump from 1800 to 6400.
Ben Dispoto, 311 Parkway: thanked Mayor and Council for extending life of Recycling Task Force; initiated work with Borough Engineer and DPW on alternative site set-up – should have something by second Council Meeting in March; thanked Councilman Corbally for response to situation on Broadway; thanked Councilmen Loughran and Corbally for work on parking at railroad lot, especially signage on Parkway, Central and St. Louis Avenues.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD CLOSED AT 8:43 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
Transcribed By:
Eileen Farrell and Maryann Ellsworth
Attest: Maryann Ellsworth, Municipal Clerk
