Borough of Point Pleasant Beach COUNCIL MINUTES
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach met at 6:33 PM. with Mayor Vogel, Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, and DiCorcia present. The Municipal Clerk read the notice indicating compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.
Mayor Vogel asked if Council had reviewed the proposed fence ordinance; Councilman Dyer: building department asked to hold; Councilman DiCicco: Paul Mueller wanted chance to review.
Clerk was directed to move requests from Bradshaw’s Beach and Ocean Fire Company #1 and professional contracts to agenda for action.
Mayor asked if Council had reviewed RFP on Financial Impact of Tourism; Councilman DiCicco made additions to last page: under ‘scope’ add “and maximize revenues associated with tourism” – under revenue side, ‘other sources’, add “including those currently available to the municipality and those potentially available to the municipality” – under expenses, ‘trash collection’, add “addressing residential and commercial pick-ups” – under ‘results’ add “analyze revenue sources and provide recommendations on how to maximize revenues”; Mayor Vogel: under ‘emergency services’ should add “police” – asked clerk to check about advertising RFP on League of Municipalities’ website.
Mayor Vogel asked for feedback on residential parking pass program; Councilman Corbally: opposed – not fair to taxpayers to limit to full time residents – problem with potential loss of revenue; Councilman DiCicco: in participating in budget process this year, was evident we are squeezing every bit of revenue we can – although in favor of doing something for taxpayers for what they endure, don’t support plan as drafted – think its a good concept – when introduced, was public discussion about putting permit spaces on street – representative form of government and public has some good ideas – rather than jeopardize lot revenue, limit to 3 streets – 100 blocks of Central, Parkway and Niblick – 100 spaces on those blocks, between Ocean and Boston – doesn’t jeopardize our revenues; Mayor: interesting proposition to limit to certain blocks – true value of plan is to leverage vacant spots – on street permit parking, may be detrimental to quality of life; Councilman Loughran: respect opinions of colleagues – concept just brought up has merit – support plan as proposed – don’t know if financial impact will be significant at all – don’t think many people will take advantage of it at the same time and don’t know if a lot of people on east side (of town) will take advantage of it – as long as there is a space open, we are not losing anything – consistent turnover in Silver Lake Lot all day long – idea of exempting Silver Lake Lot on weekends is beneficial – not convinced would have such an impact that we would lose revenue – while Council welcomes tourism, are looking to give back to year-round residents who are negatively impacted throughout the year by tourism industry; Mayor: small give back to our residents – let them be a tourist in their own town a few times a year; Councilman Loughran: on southern end of town, would give residents using Maryland Avenue Beach a place to park, in front of meters without paying – these meters not being used anyway as residents are driving far to find non-metered parking; Mayor: argument could be made if open to all taxpayers, why only residential and not commercial property owners; Councilman Dyer: spoke to Jim Meany, of Metric Parking, on collection – in July and August over $154,000 is collected each month just in the machines in Silver Lake Lot – by excluding weekend parking in that lot, revenue impact should be minute; Councilman Liotta: go to Boardwalk rarely during summer season, but do go to the Maryland Avenue Beach, once or twice a season – residents at south end of town will use and those who like to fish – adding additional pay and display machines at lot and expanding them into the Inlet area – think revenues will be greater – think this is a worthy first step, not a gamble by any means; Mayor: different ideas batted around including putting meters in other places; Councilman Corbally: asked how it would be controlled; Mayor: sticker on car would have license plate affixed – must match license plate on car; Councilman Loughran: don’t know how we’re going to figure out if we’re losing money or not, due to added machines in lot at higher rates – maybe police could keep inventory, one or two days per week, to see what impact it is having; Mayor Vogel: asked about adding a sunset provision; Attorney Gertner: recommend against it; Councilman Loughran: cost is an interesting thing – heard everything from $10 – $75 per decal – need to look at how many people take advantage of it and adjust cost – thinks it’s worth a try for this year; Mayor Vogel: may see ‘treadmill’ effect – people may purchase and may not really use; Councilman DiCicco: think it’s a good idea at Maryland Avenue Beach – still think it shouldn’t be used in lots – suggested including some of the southern streets and 0 -100 block of those three streets in district four, instead of parking lots; Mayor Vogel: higher percentage of seasonal property owners on those streets – would take a double hit; Councilman DiCicco: – willing to compromise on point of full-time residents only; Councilman DiCorcia: don’t want to put revenue in jeopardy with unknown quantity – 50 permits could easily equate to a penny on tax rate.
Mayor Vogel explained that leveraging some grant monies will take care of a quarter of the cost of the back-up generator that Public Works Director Meany is requesting permission to purchase – during snowstorm public works garage was without electricity causing problem with the fuel pumps; Administrator Riehl: will take difference from current bond ordinance. Clerk Ellsworth was directed to add Mr. Meany’s request and Alzheimer’s Special Event Application to the agenda for action.
Councilman DiCorcia: need accident count at Forman and Route 35 North – need light there.
Motion by Councilman Liotta, to enter closed session to discuss litigation (1) and personnel (2) matters, was seconded by Councilman DiCorcia and carried by the following roll call vote:
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, DiCorcia.…YEA
Closed session started at 7:09 P.M. and ended at 7:33 P.M.
Mayor Vogel called the regular meeting to order at 7:42 P.M. Present were Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer and DiCorcia. The Municipal Clerk again read the notice indicating compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.
Motion by Councilman DiCorcia, to approve the minutes of the December 20, 2005 Council meeting, was seconded by Councilman DiCicco and carried by the following roll call vote.
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, DiCorcia.…YEA
Ordinance 2006-03 (Authorize Board of Adjustment membership to include 4 Alternate Members) was considered on second reading. Public hearing was opened, held and closed with no member of the public wishing to be heard.
Motion by Councilman Liotta, seconded by Councilman Dyer and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2006-03 was adopted on second reading.
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, DiCorcia.…YEA
Ordinance 2006-04 (Licensing – Amend Fine) was considered on second reading. Public hearing was opened, held and closed with no member of the public wishing to be heard.
Motion by Councilman Corbally, seconded by Councilman DiCicco and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2006-04 was adopted on second reading.
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco*, Dyer, DiCorcia.…YEA
*Councilman DiCicco: thanked Attorney Gertner and Clerk Ellsworth for proactively bringing matter to Council’s attention.
Ordinance 2006-06 (Establish Open Space Committee) was considered on second reading. Attorney Gertner: needs a slight ministerial change, before adoption, at 2.2 g, student council appointment – ‘appointed by student council and approved by the school administration.’
Public hearing was opened, held and closed with no member of the public wishing to be heard.
Motion by Councilman Liotta, seconded by Councilman Corbally and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2006-06 was adopted on second reading.
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, DiCorcia.…YEA
Ordinance 2006-05 (Police Regulations – Amend Fine) was considered on second reading. Public hearing was opened, held and closed with no member of the public wishing to be heard.
Motion by Councilman Dyer, seconded by Councilman Loughran and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2006-05 was adopted on second reading.
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, DiCorcia.…YEA
Ordinance 2006-07 (Amend Vital Statistics Fees) was introduced on first reading.
Motion by Councilman Liotta, seconded by Councilman DiCicco and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2006-07 was approved on first reading. The public hearing will be held on March 7, 2006.
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, DiCorcia.…YEA
Ben Dispoto asked if there was a back-up generator at the Borough Hall (yes).
Motion by Councilman Loughran, seconded by Councilman DiCorcia, resolutions, covering the items listed below, were approved by the following roll call vote:
CONSENT RESOLUTION 1:
a) Appointment of Stanley Slachetka, David Roberts, Thomas Planning Associates and Thomas J. Scangarello & Assoc. as Professional Planners
b) Permission for members of the PPB Little League to solicit local merchants for door prizes for annual dinner
c) Raffles License Application for PPB Little League on 3/24/06
d) Raffles License Application for PPB Little League – various dates in 2006
e) Authorization for Schoor DePalma to proceed with CDBG handicap ramp improvement project ($49,900 – Grant amount $40,000)
f) Authorization for Schoor DePalma to proceed with CDBG Riverside Place project ($85,950 – Grant amount $50,000)
g) Purchase Order to North American Video for surveillance equipment ($6,336)
h) Raffles License Application for St Peter School PTA on 9/25/06
i) Approval of membership in Ocean Fire Company #1 (5)
j) Approval of membership in Point Pleasant Beach Fire Company #2
k) Approval of Payroll #4 ($213,274.86)
l) P O to Lawmen Supply for safety vests ($4523.75)
m) Payment of 1st Quarter installment to OCUA ($266,771.88)
n) Payment to VanWickle for vehicle maintenance parts & supplies ($2798.53)
o) Emergency Appropriation to 2006 Temporary Budget
p) Transfer between 2005 budget accounts
q) Payment to Ray’s Sport Shop for ammunition ($5953.07)
r) Payment to Major Police Supply for emergency lights & safety equip ($6378.77)
s) Payment to Whirl Construction for playground equip installation ($2000)
t) P O to Clifford of Vermont for telephone & other equip. for police communications project ($13,504.20)
u) Raffles License Applications for Cystic Fibrosis Fdn on 5/21/06
v) Raffles License Application for UNICO Point Pleasant Beach on 4/7/06
6 – CONSENT RESOLUTION 2:
a) Payments to Schulman, Wiegmann and Associates from escrow acct ($225)
b) Approval of computer generated vouchers ($493,340.42)
c) Payment to Bollinger for March premium ($33,997.78)
d) Payment to Horizon BCBS for March premium ($58,796.82)
e) Payment to Brick Utilities for January bulk water usage ($47,004.36)
f) Payments to Schoor DePalma from Planning Board escrow accts ($1395.39)
g) Payments to the Galvin Law Firm from Bd of Adjustment accts ($2807.31)
h) Dedication by Riders – ‘Municipal Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and
Historic Preservation Trust Fund’ & ‘Accumulated Absence Liability Trust Fund’
i) Payment to CME Associates from developer escrow
CONSENT RESOLUTION 3:
a) Establish non-union matron pay at same rate as TWU matron pay rate
b) Approval for Environmental Commission’s Shade Tree Committee to plant a tree on Silver Lake by the outfall at Boston Avenue
c) P O to Soden Electric to replace damaged decorative light pole($7035 – insurance payment of $4294) and to install covers to the electric receptacles on poles in the downtown area ($1365)
d) Approval of Deborah Flea Market in Railroad Station Lot on 6/17/06
e) Permission for Ocean Fire Company #1 to display motorcycle and sell raffle tickets on the Boardwalk
f) Permission for Bradshaw’s Beach to place ticket booth/shed at street end
g) Authorization for Mayor and Municipal Clerk to execute contracts with Animal House Magistrate, Conflict Prosecutor, Public Defender, Conflict Public Defender and Back-up Conflict Public Defender
h) Approval of RFP, and authorization to advertise same, for professional services to provide study on ‘Financial Impact of Tourism’
i) P O to McKeon Electrical Svc for back up generator at public works garage ($19,842)
j) Approval of Alzheimer’s Assoc. Special Event Application for Memory Walk on 9/30/06 including waiver of parking meter fees in portion of lot until 1:00 pm
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, DiCorcia….YEA
Mayor Vogel: Next ‘Meet the Mayor’ session will be on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. – met with DEP representatives and Councilmen DiCicco and Liotta, regarding dredging of Lake Louise – concerns on what is to be done with dredge spoils – making progress – will be reaching out to impacted residents on status; met with Ocean County Engineer to discuss engineering projects on county streets, particularly with flooding and traffic – looking forward to their cooperation, especially with finances; just approved Open Space Ordinance, creating Open Space Committee – looking for members of the public to serve – interested parties should submit their names for consideration – Governing Body needs to select two council members to serve; will be a capital budget workshop on next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. to discuss capital projects.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Liotta: will be meeting with Freeholder Bartlett, next week, for further discussion on designating Gull Island as a recreation area someday; Budget Committee has had three good meetings with department heads – will hold a public meeting on March 28th at 7:30 p.m. – will also have a workshop meeting and will advise when; Third, Fourth and Fifth graders from elementary school participated in contest for cover of town calendar – winners will be present at 2nd Council meeting in March; County responded quickly, at Inlet, with replacing sand and fabric to slow down egress of sand away from beach wall – doing stone today and will run sand tomorrow; will drop fill at Silver Lake Lot and public works will spread.
Councilman Loughran: commended public works on fine job with snow removal last weekend – too many cars on streets during snow events which makes job difficult and dangerous for both County and town plows – makes streets look terrible after snow event – urge residents, if at all possible, to get cars off the streets and in driveways – could send out a notice to homeowners in November – been talk about a reverse 911 system – with that system, could notify residents and ask them to remove cars from street (Councilman DiCorcia: chunks of curb are once again missing – County plows doing the damage – can we get County to fix them) trying to do too good a job, coming too close to the curb and hitting trees; January status report from public works: weekly, daily jobs being performed such as street sweeping, garbage and recycling collection, maintaining public vehicles and brush pick-up – repaired some storm water basins on Channel Drive and St. Louis Avenue – removed sand from Boardwalk two times in last four weeks; asked about CAFRA permit to remove sand (in works); public works also installed silt fencing on Boardwalk and geese fencing at Lake of the Lillies – need to get working on some of the street signs in town, just a matter of finding the time and manpower; took an inventory of trash receptacles in town – plenty of receptacles on Arnold Avenue, between 35 South and Cramer Avenue but none between Route 35 North and South and none on Bay Avenue, between Arnold and Trenton Avenues; asked status of 3rd round of downtown revitalization (Administrator Riehl: funding in place – work pushed off to fall because of need for additional paperwork requested by new State administration) – asked that we put out green barrels for now on Bay and Arnold Avenues; with smoking ban in place, as of April, imagine there will be restaurants where people will be outside smoking before entering – don’t know if its up to restaurant owners or town to provide receptacles for cigarette butts – need them or otherwise will have cigarette butts on sidewalks and street (Mayor – send courtesy letter to those establishments reminding them they need receptacles; Councilman DiCorcia: asked about signs were on municipal building regarding no smoking; Administrator Riehl: they are posted there and at the park).
Councilman Corbally: during same snowstorm, fireman did fantastic job – had 10 calls in 6 hours, 3 at same time – in wind storm, the following week, took 5 calls over a 2 hour time frame; regarding Farmers’ Market, met with Chief in Borden’s lot and figured where stands would be set up and where cars would park; new fire truck should be here in mid-April.
Councilman DiCicco: will hold inaugural meeting of FEMA Committee, next Tuesday – designed to get us back in community rating system and save residents money on flood insurance; approved bond ordinance, last August, to begin process of studying infiltration and inflow and rectifying that problem – phase 1 involved data gathering, engineers developed priority list of locations – studied manholes to see where some infiltration coming from and mass balancing study – study will be filed with Governing Body shortly – showed expenses of $200,000 to $530,000 annually due to extra costs of increased flows, of putting out more than we’re buying – now need to understand hot spots – proposal will be to do a flow metering study (data analysis), which will be followed up by construction – will discuss at capital improvement meeting on Tuesday; public works charged with cleaning out 595 catch basins each year, as per new DEP regulations – water often accumulates in street and can’t go anywhere, causing water to sit longer and causing more infiltration into the pipes that are part of the flow being sent to OCUA for treatment – need to make sure public works has ability and funding to do that; need to address floor area ratio problem – construction of monster houses that are too big for the lot – critical issue that needs to be addressed – need planner to give us some input- appointed planners tonight; met with Court Administrator regarding municipal court – revenues good this year – Court Administrator Sargent recommended amending ordinance on ticket display to read “printed side up with date and time of expiration to be clearly visible”.
Motion by Councilman DiCicco, to authorize Borough Attorney to draft ordinance regarding proper display of ‘pay and display’ ticket, was seconded by Councilman DiCorcia and carried by the following roll call vote.
VOTE: Council Members Liotta, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dyer, DiCorcia….YEA
Councilman Dyer: Municipal Alliance Committee pancake breakfast for Project Graduation is March 12th, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon – thanked Masonic Lodge for hosting breakfast – Clerk’s office has tickets; thanked Mayor for directing each department to do monthly status report – gives great insight to Council Members; building department had 72 permits and updates in January – fees collected cover all expenses in that department; Lynne Aber, Administrator’s secretary, wrote a letter thanking Susan Dardanello, in Building Department for going out of her way to help with the town calendar project – “Susan Dardanello provided me with the help I needed to complete my calendar project. She devised time saving techniques for my computer and donated her valuable time when she had her own work to do” – want to personally and publicly thank Susan; regarding parking passes: council had a good discussion and some real good points were brought out – would like to continue to discuss and hone – asked to table action until next meeting.
Councilman DiCorcia: Shock Radio 101.5 lambasted Governing Body and Point Pleasant Beach this afternoon for Polar Bear Plunge – reported 3 different Council Presidents – threatened to have Special Olympians appear at former Councilwoman Walsh’s house – called us names – reported we’re all corrupt because we were not in support of Special Olympics and Polar Bear Plunge – misinformed – will call them and let them know we welcome the event but will not tolerate the behavior that has gone on at this event – drunk driver backed into a police car last year – another hit Superintendent of Schools – don’t think shock radio has all those details – got phone calls from as far away as Ramsey.
Mayor Vogel: received many phone calls as well – so off base, wonder if it even warrants a reply.
Councilman Loughran: so much misinformation on their part, like town is going to lose ticket revenue – not loosing parking ticket revenue, because meters are not in effect – said restaurants and hotels are going to lose $1,000,000 – compared it to any day in the summer – can’t understand it unless they live it – tough for our police officers to enforce their own – Chief took a hit on radio, too.
Mayor Vogel: many organizations come to Point Pleasant Beach and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for many worthy causes – some have more impact than others on the residents – spoke with Kimberly Ames Smith’s father – she was pregnant and killed by drunk driver – we took the appropriate action.
Councilman DiCorcia: mentioned to one of the Plunge organizers that we have special needs program right here in Point Pleasant Beach – Polar Bear Plunge gave $5000 to first aid but nothing to Elk’s Handicapped Children’s Fund – have they ever paid for all police (not before this year).
Councilman Liotta: determined something had to be done after last year – been an ongoing dialog since last year’s plunge – been afraid for safety of residents and children – have had plenty of chances, this year decided couldn’t remain status quo – this Governing Body did the right thing for Point Pleasant Beach.
Councilman DiCorcia: lights on the Boardwalk all repaired – will match last month’s report with this month’s for a running account of what’s out and how long – thanked Lynne who faxes lists over to JCP&L and speaks with Mr. Johner.
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Mayor Vogel: appointed four different planning professional firms tonight – had an open RFP and interview process – lot of challenges ahead – when we made recent zoning changes said we’d bring planners on board quickly – picked several different firms – feel they all bring something special and unique to the table – Council can move forward and do what’s best for the residents of Point Pleasant Beach and leverage off their unique capabilities and talents.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD OPENED AT 8:27 PM
Ed Conklin, Carter Avenue: family moved here when I was seven – friend had a rowboat and used to catch bass and sunfish in lake, when twelve – was a lot of fish life in there – don’t know where it got its name, but about a third of the lake was lily pads – borrowed a canoe from friends to see how deep it is now- no place in lake is more than 36 inches deep – 10 feet offshore, almost all of it was not more than 8 – 10 inches deep – don’t think it can support fish life anymore – haven’t seen anyone catch fish since that big fish kill a couple of years ago – felt then that there was not enough oxygen to support fish life – going back to storm of 1992, lake overflowed greatly, there were a lot of big fish in there that were killed – 40 years ago taught all five of my kids how to fish in that lake, always caught something – have been hearing Governing Bodies say for 20 years that they are going to study and nothing has been done (Mayor Vogel: one of the problems is what to do with the dredge materials – that’s where it gets to be very costly – realize lakes do need to be addressed and working in logical progression).
David Cavagnaro, 118 Parkway: taking position on Polar Bear Plunge was difficult – thanked Governing Body for their concern for the residents and taking such a courageous stand; thanked public works for snow removal – town roads were cleared 3 hours before County roads; thanked Clerk Ellsworth for getting Master Plan Review report up on-line so quickly; asked if capital budget workshop would allow for public input; regarding I & I problems, with flooding that occurs on some of the streets, with high tide and low elevations, nothing’s going to move the water off the streets – adding a pump at Silver Lake to move water from Silver Lake to Lake Louise would prevent a lot of that flooding; asked if engineering report on lakes included Lake Louise (already has a project underway); using permits for residents on side streets would inconvenience me but would rather be inconvenienced than lose revenue – if vacant meters, think we should get people into them that will pay to use them instead of those that are not paying – will place more pressure and additional burden on the Police Department.
Rosa Crowley, 1401 St. Louis Avenue: questioned fencing at Lake of the Lillies – vegetation in front of it and behind it – how can they clean (Councilman Loughran: low enough to step over – only for geese) will not control totally because they fly – should have waited until after study – can’t move paddleboat onto lake (Councilman Loughran: decided on last year as part of geese control problem – will deter them from walking out of the water across the street – flying might send them somewhere else – could create a gate that could open and close behind you; Mayor Vogel: part of the solution – going to start addling the eggs); commended Council on Polar Bear Plunge stand.
Joe Lemma, 203 St. Louis Avenue: understand going to get ATM machines (Mayor Vogel: advertised to look for different firms and competitive bids) – to get more money need to get more parking meters in the town – 43 meters on Chicago could have made $60,000 – $70,000 – should put into Borden and Railroad lots – could pick up another $300,000 – $400,000 and put it into fund so that when you get projects like the lake you will have money there; making money on parking meters, now you want to put town people into lots – suggest putting them in the streets which wouldn’t cost a dime.
Vincent Barrella, Niblick Street: heard 101.5 broadcast – seems like former Councilwoman Walsh took the heat for the whole thing – at the end, they referred to her as having no heart, she has more in her little pinkie than those morons have in their whole bodies – don’t understand why can’t make money for charity without it turning into a drunken fest; regarding parking – agree with Mr. Lemma, need to raise revenue – how long will tourism study take (2-3 months) – asked to include in RFP alternate revenue sources – feel considerable portions of District 4 should be outfitted with parking boxes with numbered spots – believe $50,000 – $80,000 can be raised each week in portions of District 4 – going to find ourselves in a dramatic hole when some expenses, like pension, come home; regarding budget, like to see a written explanation for any change of 10% in either direction, or $10,000 in dollar amount – more transparency we have in the budget process the less politicized it will become
Max Gagnon, 304 Parkway: thanked Council for acting on generator for DPW – should have done it a long time ago; several months ago, spoke about emergency management and talked about a truck and boat at water plant that were going to be pulled out and reconstituted so they could be used – still sitting there – don’t have a place to put supplies (Mayor Vogel: some stored off site – some require capital expenditures) lived through hurricane of ’38 and Katrina was a real shock back to that era; said you would be in rough financial situation in 5 years – need to bring extra revenue in town – however, don’t know what new parking permit plan will cost the town – suggest giving people 45 days to register for the plan to see how many will do so – would still have time to implement plan or scrap it before warm weather.
John Szafranski, Yale Avenue: there are no signs regarding bikes and skateboards on Boardwalk – skateboards are prevalent now (Councilman Loughran: just got new sign machine – have to be trained on it – will talk to public works about signage on the Boardwalk – there are 245 signs that need to be fixed throughout town); complained about removal of sand on Boardwalk – town bobcats came by and took fence down – why can’t sand be put on east side of fence (can’t move sand down there until town gets CAFRA permit it applied for); asked if this year’s target was for a zero or less budget increase (committed to putting a responsible budget together this year) – is Council looking for other sources of revenues – other towns have their own beaches and generate revenue to pay for tourism; town did a good job of snowplowing streets – many homes still had snow on sidewalks two or three days later (challenge due to number of seasonal homes and seniors – enforcement must be unilateral).
Ben Dispoto, 311 Parkway: asked how much surplus was being carried from last year to this year (round $800,000) – is budget committee anticipating scenario of rainy summer with both parking and ticket revenues down (Councilman DiCicco: committed to building surplus each year) take in $1.6 to $1.8 million dollars in parking and ticket revenue – if major blow comes to that source of revenue we’re in deep trouble (Councilman DiCicco: challenge to keep surplus up and taxes stable – daunting task but working very hard at it; Mayor Vogel: there are some safety nets from the State such as extraordinary aid – goal is to manage and plan accordingly) – future is coming towards us with time off accumulations and pensions, etc – $93,000 per month going out for insurance payments – have to start making difficult choices (have negotiated that and savings have been realized; Councilman Liotta: Council is united in its efforts to control those costs – reviewing and looking at everything – know the consequences of our actions) – excess monies that were coming into water and sewer were supposed to go into escrow so that we didn’t have to bond (Councilman DiCicco: not fiscally prudent to pay for improvements that will last 20, 30 of 40 years out of cash – future people moving into Point Pleasant Beach should bear part of the costs of those improvements – that’s why they can be capitalized; Mayor Vogel having fund balance allows us to bond without meeting certain requirements and allows us to address emergency needs without having to bond) this year is going to set a tone as to where we are going in the future with our employees, benefits and expenditures – this stuff doesn’t go away, only getting worse – don’t see people leaving these positions so longevity builds up, days accrued goes up – getting more expensive with every raise they get.
Ann Marie Rossi, 12 Inlet Drive: expressed concern with wording of Ordinance 2006-02 – more concerned after Master Plan Review was posted – asked about timeline with the four planning firms (Councilman DiCicco: current residential use is grand-fathered as permitted uses) – says no residential uses will be allowed in MC1 zone (Councilman DiCicco: that’s future building, doesn’t affect what’s currently there) – did archive search of Ocean Star and there was no mention of Master Plan Review or Committee; just found out about town web-site – minutes and agenda are good resource for me going forward; suggested printing time and date on both sides of parking tickets
Vincent Barrella, Niblick Street: believes Ms. Rossi may reside in the MC2 zone, not the MC1 zone.
Bob Solt, Ocean Avenue: key word in MC1 zone is adjacent – if you are living adjacent to the water, from Broadway north on Inlet Drive to Loughran Point, you are in the MC1 zone.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD CLOSED AT 9:21 P.M.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:22 PM
Transcribed by: Maryann Ellsworth
Attest: Maryann Ellsworth, Municipal Clerk
