Borough of Point Pleasant Beach MINUTES
The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach met at 6:30 P.M. with Mayor Vogel and Council Members Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco and Dixon present. Councilman DiCorcia arrived at 6:58 P.M. The Municipal Clerk read the notice indicating compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.
Ray Savacool: met with Parking Authority, Beautification, Environmental and Shade Tree Committees on River Avenue Parking lot repairs – proposed re-orienting parking to east/west, closing an entrance, landscaping center island, adding tree cover, bushes and shrubs, installing sprinklers – will lose only 7 spaces, bringing lot to 157 spaces – anticipate beginning after Seafood Festival.
Councilman Mercun: need authorization to move forward and prepare application – all agreed to move to agenda for action.
Department Head memos and correspondence were discussed with items moved to agenda for action; Strand Theatre request for Boardwalk raffle sales denied due to prohibition of new events on Boardwalk; hydrant move would not affect fire department – can be moved at requestors’ expense; Birdsall Engineering should also submit proposal for Sea Coast site remediation; Chief should be alerted that Segway had a recall, in 2006 due to software glitch.
Albert Dweck, Duke Properties, owner of Beacon Hall: despite increases, due to property improvements, rent doesn’t exceed market rates – will offer each resident, who has not received a rent increase in 2007, a lease renewal with an increase of not more than 10%, and a lease extension for 2008 with an increase not to exceed the housing price index, which is typically lower than 7%.
Motion by Councilman Mercun, was seconded by Councilman DiCorcia and carried by the following roll call vote, to enter closed session to discuss personnel (3) and contractual (2) matters.
VOTE: Councilmen Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
Closed session started at 7:11 P.M. and ended at 7:33 P.M.
Mayor Vogel called the regular meeting to order at 7:37 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 DiCicco, to approve minutes of the May 15, 2007 and June 5, 2007 Council meetings, was seconded by Councilman DiCorcia and carried by the following roll call vote:
VOTE: Councilmen Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
Councilman Mercun….ABSTAIN
Ordinance 2007-16 (Non-Union Personnel Salaries) 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 DiCicco, seconded by Councilman DiCorcia and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2007-16 was adopted on second reading.
VOTE: Councilmen Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
Ordinance 2007-17 (Capital Improvement Bond) was introduced on first reading.
Motion by Councilman DiCorcia, seconded by Councilman Corbally and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2007-17 was approved on first reading. Public hearing will be held July 17, 2007.
VOTE: Councilmen Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
Ordinance 2007-18 (Water/Sewer Capital Improvement Bond) was introduced on first reading.
Motion by Councilman Mercun, seconded by Councilman DiCorcia, and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2007-18 was approved on first reading. Public hearing will be held July 17, 2007.
VOTE: Councilmen Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
Ordinance 2007-19 (Removal and Planting of Trees) was introduced on first reading.
Motion by Councilman DiCicco, seconded by Councilman Mercun, and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2007-19 was approved on first reading. Public hearing will be held July 17, 2007.
VOTE: Councilmen Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco*, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
*Councilman DiCicco: put together through work of Shade Tree Committee and Code Enforcement Officer Petrillo.
Ordinance 2007-20 (Expansion of MC-2 Overlay Zone) was introduced on first reading. Motion by Councilman Corbally, seconded by Councilman DiCicco, and carried by the following roll call vote, Ordinance 2007-20 was approved on first reading. Public hearing will be held August 21st.
VOTE: Councilmen Mercun, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia….YEA
Councilman Loughran*…NAY
*Councilman Loughran: this will eliminate motels, which are a valuable asset to this town, in this zone – want to see this area stay as a commercial area and not rezoned.
Motion by Councilman DiCicco, seconded by Councilman Corbally, resolutions covering the items listed below, were approved by the following roll call vote:
CONSENT RESOLUTION 1:
a) Appointment of Howard Carpenter as part-time tax assessor
b) Designation of tax assessor as Borough’s agent for tax appeals
c) Approval of non-union personnel salaries as per Ordinance
d) Payment to Brick Utilities for May bulk water usage ($70,423.48)
e) Payment to Hecht Trailers for storage trailer ($2015)
f) Approval of March, April and May hand checks ($2,338,807.69)
g) Payment to Metric Group multi-space parking terminals ($77,684)
h) Payment to CAL Inc for A/C units for police substation ($5400)
i) Payment to Riggins for diesel fuel ($5192.50)
j) Payment to Pedroni Fuel for no-lead gasoline ($20,348.93)
k) Payment to Motorola for police communications equipment ($4326)
l) Payment to Tire Craft for winch and installation ($2982)
m) Approval of Payroll #11 ($245,372.40) and Payroll #12 ($253,024.29)
o) Payment to United Computer for computer upgrades ($2367)
p) Payment to Ray’s Sport Shop for ammunition ($2905.50)
q) Payment to CME Associates from escrow accounts ($2910.66)
r) Payment to Schulman, Wiegmann from Board of Adjustment escrow acct ($225)
s) Refund Kinon dumpster bond ($250)
t) Payment to Schoor Depalma from Planning Bd and Bd of Adjustment accts ($10,662.45)
u) Scheduled Payment to PPB Board of Education ($724,124)
v) Salary Adjustment for James Broyles for passage of courses leading to certification
w) Authorization for issue of general improvement and water-sewer utility bonds
x) Authorization for sale of bonds to NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust
y) Authorize execution of loan agreement with NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust
z) Authorization to apply for 2007 SHARE Program Grant
CONSENT RESOLUTION 2:
a) Payments to American Uniform for special officer uniforms ($5561.90)
b) Payment to the Parking Block Store for parking blocks ($3820)
c) Appointment of Seasonal Public Works employees (1)
d) Payment to the Galvin Law Firm from Board of Adjustment accts ($2757.50)
e) Raffles License Applications (2) for Antrim School PTO on 12/1/07
f) Appointment of CME Associates to provide professional tree expert services
g) Memorialize payment authorization to Certified Valuations for reval ($44,503.60)
h) P O to TGM Masonry for replacement of District II doors thru grant ($7500)
i) Payment to Horizon BCBS for employee health benefits ($88,949.82)
j) Raffles License Application for CRAB on 9/15/07
k) Approval of computer generated vouchers ($622,990.10)
l) Payment to F&P for work completed on Downtown revitalization ($134,729.55)
m) Payment to Four Point for A/C installation in council chambers ($3450)
n) P O to Motorola, Inc. for Fire Dept communications equipment ($3097.80)
o) Approve salary range for part-time comfort station employees
p) Performance Bond reduction – Ocean Ventures
q) Renewal of ABC Licenses (21)
r) Renewal of Dedreux, Inc ABC License with extension to Administratrix for the
current licensing period
s) Certify that Keldu, Inc. has met all requirements for application to ABC for temporary permit to operate
t) HELD for meeting on July 17, 2007
u) Adoption of National Incident Mgt. System
v) Authorization to advertise RFP for lawn cutting services
w) Payment to the Institute for Tourism for Tourism Economic Study ($4000)
CONSENT RESOLUTION 3:
a) Payments to Schoor Depalma from Planning Bd escrow accts ($2664.39)
b) W/S billing adjustments (13 accts)
c) Authorize Bicycle/Miscellaneous items auction on 7/7/07
d) Approval of Antrim PTO special event application for Boardwalk raffle sales
e) Appointment of Princeton Hydro as lake specialist
f) Appointment of Kevin Starkey as Labor Counsel for PBA contract arbitration
g) Refund dumpster bond – Massaro
h) Payment to Selective Ins for police substation flood insurance ($3305)
i) Approval of Payroll #13 ($243,062.60)
j) Raffles License Application for First Aid & Emergency Squad on 9/22/07
with waiver of municipal fee
k) P O to R Molner General Contractor for repairs to police substation ($3928)
l) P O to Warnock Fleet for 2007 police interceptor ($20,512.79)
m) Authorize acceptance of hazardous discharge grant for Sea Coast site remediation
n) Establish 2007 Recreation summer program salaries
o) Payment to McKeon Electric for installation of pipe and valve box ($825)
p) Progress payment #1 to Earle Asphalt for roadway improvements to Newark
Ave. ($140,047.95)
q) Payment to Marlin Leasing Corp for water cooler/purifier ($1475.71)
r) Payment to McKeon Electric for installation of flood light ($441.63)
s) Appointment of Sal Farrugia to the position of plumbing sub-code official
t) P O to Stalker Radar for radar units ($16,770)
u) Appointment of William Reilly as Trustee of the PPB Community Endowment Fund
v) Appointments to the PPB Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee
w) Authorize salary increases (2)
x) Authorize Schoor DePalma to go out to bid and procure DOT permits for
“Borden’s” parking lot project
y) Approval of Disabled American Vets special event application for ‘Forget
Me Not’ drive on Boardwalk
z) Approval of Marcia Avenue block party special event application for 6/30/07
CONSENT RESOLUTION 4:
a) Approval of request for handicap parking space
b) Approval of H S Music Dept special event application to use band shell on 8/9/07
c) Torsi request – approve removal of one parking space on temporary basis
d) Approval of purchase of Segway for police use on Boardwalk through donated funds
e) Approval of School Crossing Guard salary increase
f) Authorization for Borough Attorney to draft ordinance increasing road
opening bond requirements
g) Appoint CME Associates to provide professional services for roadway
improvement project for Water Street and Delaware Avenue
h) Approval of request to locate fire hydrant, as per Fire Chief’s
recommendation, at requestor’s expense
i) Approval of curb cut at 1007 Gowdy Avenue
j) Approval of curb cut at 1005 Gowdy Avenue
k) Approval of curb cut at 203 Philadelphia Avenue with denial of request to
park on grass
l) Approval of curb cut at 113 Chicago Avenue
m) Denial of Strand Theatre request to sell motorcycle raffle tickets on Boardwalk
n) Permission for PPB Chamber of Commerce to use public meeting room
o) Approval of American Cancer Society request for parking passes during
‘Christmas in July’ event
p) Authorization for Recycling Task Force to purchase recycling and refuse bins
q) Approval of CRAB request to clean-up beach
r) Approval of Autism Speaks request for parking fee waiver, in section of
Silver Lake lot, during fund-raising walk on 9/30/07
s) Accept Beautification Committee’s Adopt-A-Spot recommendations with sign
size limitations and barring all signs from barrel planters
t) Approval of Street Light Ministries special event application for
Boardwalk ministry during summer
u) Approval of Ocean Fire Company #1 special event application for Christmas
in July on 7/22/07
v) Approval of JT Foundation for Autism Awareness special event application
for Boardwalk run 8/24/07 thru 8/26/07
w) Approval of First Aid Squad coin toss on 8/18/07 and approval of County
road use application
x) Support of Duke Properties revised plan of rent increases for Residences
at Bay Point
VOTE: Consent Resolutions 1, 2, 3 and 4, items ‘a-v’ and ‘x’:
Councilmen Mercun, Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
Consent Resolution 4, item ‘w’:
Councilmen Loughran, Corbally, DiCicco, Dixon, DiCorcia…YEA
Councilman Mercun…ABSTAIN
Mayor Vogel: had meeting with DOT Engineers, Administrator Riehl, Council Members, and NPP Coordinator Cadalzo regarding LTA Planning Grant – came up with ideas to make community more bicycle and pedestrian friendly; met with Chief DePolo, Administrator Riehl, and DOT Chief of Staff about traffic issues with Route 35 turnaround and Arnold Avenue/Route 35 intersection, during train crossings; Chief DePolo will host meeting about shared services; thanked those who took part in tourism study report meeting on June 18th; have upcoming meeting with DEP Deputy Commissioner about waterfront access on Inlet and Channel Drives; hopefully Assembly and Senate will act to remove sales tax on parking systems – thanked NJ State League of Municipalities and members of the 10th Legislative District for support – thanked Municipal Clerk Ellsworth for continuing to send follow up messages expressing our strong stance that this should be rescinded.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Mercun: remembered the 9 firefighters who lost their lives in South Carolina; on July 9, will meet with Mayor and Local Government Services representatives about ethics ordinance and plans for the board; asked Chief DePolo for status of Operation Erase (over 300 vehicles, 150 summons issued as of June 1st, 80% compliance for surveys); foreclosing on Sea Coast Oil Property – agreed to accept $66,000 grant for site remediation – will accept proposals from engineering firms – would like to clean up and use to station Emergency Management Team; commended Police on recent burglary arrest – assault weapon found in local motel led to a second degree armed burglary offense; parking lot behind Valentine house has a 6 foot mound of trash and dirt – asked Administrator Riehl to contact Parking Authority to get someone there to clean-up.
Councilman Loughran: have sold 336 residential parking passes, to date; parking meter revenue is $350,000, on par with last year; court revenue up about $30,000 from last year; white lines on Beacon lane need to be addressed; no regard for pedestrian crosswalks on Ocean and Arnold Avenues – people are oblivious to the signs – time to institute zero tolerance policy.
Councilman Corbally: 3 topics came out of meeting with Planning Board 1) Master Plan Review – planner coming to July 9 meeting, 2) Boardwalk properties not numbered – 1984 ordinance states that all properties must display street number – tax assessor responsible for setting them, 3) Planning Board has been stiffed on fees – Administrator Riehl will follow up; Farmer’s Market, will be in Borden’s lot, noon-4PM, July-September until the Seafood Festival – starting July 15th, Farmer’s Market Committee will sell jellies and dressings, with profits going to the Monmouth/Ocean Food Bank; Railroad lot scheduled to be lined and numbered – spent time there explaining change to commuters – 80% were very open to it – expect to issue 60 to 70 commuter parking passes by July 1st; River Road ‘No Left Turn’ sign will be installed by end of week; street sweeper to be out of service for at least 3 weeks.
Councilman Loughran: drainage grates on Bay Ave are filled to top with dirt – asked Administrator Riehl to call County to clear.
Mayor Vogel: appointed Alyssa Miksis to Shade Tree Commission and Kathy Sogorka to Environmental Commission.
Councilman DiCicco: Council was approached by seniors from Beacon Hall about rent increases – 17% last year, 20% this year – afraid owner trying to accomplish through back door what he couldn’t through front – reached out to Public Advocate Ron Kent and Albert Dweck of Duke Properties, the owner, about this drastic raise – Mr. Dweck indicated a desire to work with us and assured us that seniors will not be displaced – rent increases this year being scaled back by 10% and next year will be tied into housing price index – renters pleased with result – thanked Council, for support and swift action, and Public Advocate and Attorney Starkey, for shepherding through; state aid is flat – been successful in obtaining grants over last few years – thanked Administrator Riehl and NPP Coordinator Cadalzo, who will be taking a grant writer certification course through Rutgers – applying for shared services grant to assess feasibility of future recreation center; continuing public meetings on FEMA – in position to adopt Food Plain Management Plan; will hand out County’s Household Natural Hazards Preparedness questionnaire – posted on our website and available in Clerk, Finance and Building Departments; appointed Princeton Hydro as lake specialist, on Environmental Commission’s recommendation – waiting for hearing date on our appeal on Lake Louise – per Birdsall Engineering, need to establish that this is a maintenance dredge and has been done in the past – were not able to establish this, to their satisfaction, based on lack of records – they reviewed all of our historical records and uncovered a newspaper article in “The Leader,” dated March 22, 1935, which states “…Lake Louise, which lies within the track, was dredged and otherwise improved by the developers for the convenience of the owners with small craft…” – hope this is good evidence – thanked Birdsall for their due diligence and finding this article.
Councilman Dixon: met last Wednesday with store owners and Chamber of Commerce about sign problems – lot of A-frame signs popping up – will be removed shortly – a safety issue for pedestrians – spoke about space on storefronts covered by signs – gave copy of ordinance to Chamber of Commerce and store owners; checked on contractor licensing, brought up at last meeting by Ed Sirchio – Building Department does not issue permits unless registered with state – their vehicles, if commercial, must have business names on side; put up four-way stop signs on Niblick, Parkway, Central, and Sanborn; Mike Gardner out for surgery – others picked up slack; 259 rental CO’s done in last month – couple of summonses issued for over-crowding – several for working without permit, including those for interior renovations.
Councilman DiCorcia: thanked Attorney Starkey for guidance on placement of news racks – asked that Code Department check them for permits; thanked Vincent Capra for donating park space for the Veterans at the Elks; on July 25, Elks will host a picnic for handicap children from Camp Moore – thanked Police, Fire, and First Aid for their help with event – children have boat rides, picnic, and get to ride on the fire truck; asked if bikes must have lights at night (yes).
Administrator Riehl: pet waste stations installed at Silver Lake and Lake of the Lillies through grant; curb stops will be installed at Inlet by July 4th weekend; called DEP for update on our General Permit application for cutting of vegetation – woman handling case is on maternity leave – will continue to try to get update; reissued RFP for placement of ATM machines – only response was Provident Bank, and they have no interest at this time.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD OPENED AT 8:27 P.M.
Ed Sirchio, 722 McLean Ave: need to require safety course for drivers; asked Mayor and Council to write to EPA asking why they are stopping helicopter monitoring off our shores; asked about outfall testing and remedies (County working with Smart Sponge manufacturer); ‘Residential Parking Only’ signs at The Ark for 12 years – supposed to be a temporary fix – feel sorry for those in the ocean districts, no quality of life – barriers put up blocking Maryland Avenue, as part of Boylan case, which was never settled – no parking on Delaware Avenue.
Vince Castin, 15 Trenton Avenue: electricity had run from band shell to veterans memorial – hazardous when running 150-foot wire (will have Administrator Riehl look into); 2-foot snow fence has become mired in the muck at Lake Little Silver by band shell; asked what Princeton Hydro will be doing (action plan for restoration of lakes’ health); don’t see logic in numbering Boardwalk properties (requirement of 911); our town is a tourist town and residents need to be tolerant in the summer.
Dave Cavagnaro, 118 Parkway: brought up issue of emergency management shelter that will take pets (being addressed – appointed Flo Melo as Pet Shelter Coordinator – meeting here in mid-July with Rosemary Chisholm-Cohen, Ocean County Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management); geese problem a health issue – getting worse in spite of best efforts; cars on sidewalks and front lawns during Memorial Day weekend; meeting on tourism report was interesting – depends on how Council views it – got the impression the Boardwalk is projected as the main attraction, but they considered property taxes of summer homes as tourist revenue – believe most people come to this town for the beach and ocean – amount of services Boardwalk needs, versus what they pay, is a detriment to the town.
Joe Lemma, 203 St. Louis Ave: said he was misquoted in the April 3 minutes – asked how many parking tickets were issued for overtime parking in 4 hour spaces, not overtime parking during the summer.
Paul DePasquale, 209 Trenton Ave: constant problem with speeders on Trenton Avenue, between Arnold and Chicago – an overflow road for the municipal lot – concerned with pedestrian and child safety – blind view from driveway – during special events, illegal parking on other side of road is ignored – tow signs or speed bumps need to be installed (Project Erase in force – will not tolerate speeding – Chief asked to institute zero tolerance policy).
Ben Dispoto, 311 Parkway: thanked Councilman Loughran for comments on pedestrian crossing signs – enforcement is key; thanked Mayor and Council for approval to order recycle cans for Arnold and Bay Avenues – thanked Administrator Riehl and Public Works Director Meany for help – thanked Curt Leach for technical research; has copy of tourism report – questioned how someone can attribute $8.6 million of tax revenue to tourism base –questioned methodology – if you claim to have 1.8 million visitors, to survey only 800 is extremely disproportionate – report states 85% of people that come here spend less than $50 – that being said, asked if we really need to encourage tourists to come in volume.
Marilyn Burke, 118 Central Avenue: complained about people depositing trash on street and sidewalks – how is it being picked up with no street sweeper? (Boardwalk business used to provide someone to pick up trash) – need more trash cans on streets (Lakehurst has small garbage receptacles tacked to utility poles – cheap and should explore – could, possibly, get County inmates to clean on Monday and Tuesdays); was grossly disappointed at tourism meeting – did a good job gathering, but not analyzing and interpreting data.
Max Gagnon, 304 Parkway: should pay more attention to Planning and Zoning Boards – according to Municipal Land Use Law, Planning Board can’t grant variances under Section D-57 – Planning Board granted parking lot at south end where building was torn down, and it became a non-conforming situation because the lot size was reduced – so Planning Board had no jurisdiction, should have been taken to Zoning Board – application for candy store on oceanfront, if it falls under the use variance of the floor ratio, should be handled by Zoning, not Planning Board – if corporation or partnership, they have to declare owners of 10% or more, and this was not on the application for the south end of town – thereby, both are illegal applications (will have legal counsel from Planning Board respond to Mr. Gagnon).
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PERIOD CLOSED AT 9:06 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 P.M.
