Borough of Point Pleasant Beach Council Meeting Minutes
October 4, 2022
Held in-person at Borough Hall Council Chambers, 416 New Jersey Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach.
Live streamed via https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCflODKbSFakXUEKiyxSYdUA/live
The Governing Body reserves its right to amend and supplement the purposes of executive session by motion at the public meeting.
Mayor Kanitra called the regular meeting to order at 7:31PM. The Municipal Clerk read the notice indicating compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act: “Adequate notice of the time and place of this meeting was given under the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act and was posted and sent to the officially designated newspapers in compliance with the law.” Present were Councilmembers Vitale, Testa, Byrnes, Ramos, Crowley and Migut.
FLAG SALUTE, INVOCATION
APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MINUTES:
Motion by Councilwoman Testa to approve the September 20, 2022 Council meeting minutes was seconded by Councilman Vitale and carried by roll call vote.
VOTE: Councilmembers Vitale, Testa, Byrnes, Ramos, Crowley, Migut….YEA
PROCLAMATIONS:
Mayor Kanitra presented a proclamation to James Wiater of Friends of Solo, a non-profit organization, that generously donated a ballistic vest for Canine Officer Bolt, who was in attendance.
Mayor Kanitra presented a proclamation to Patricia Sullivan of the Woman’s Club of Point Pleasant, in recognition of United Nations Day (October 24, 2022).
Mayor Kanitra presented a proclamation in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, noting that Point Pleasant Beach hosts the 4th largest breast cancer walk in the nation.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Vitale: recognized October Employee Anniversaries – Kellie Parody 5 years, Art Gant 4, Paul Brundage 23, Alexander Zubikowski 4, Karen Mills 18, Nancy Ruiz 9; wished Councilman Migut a belated Happy Birthday; gave the Chief’s report since last meeting – training included Mandatory In-service Training, review Use of Force, Vehicle Pursuit and Domestic Violence guidelines, Mandatory Canine In-service Training for Patrol & Scent Work, NJTR1 Refresher Webinar for Accident Reporting – on October 14th, Police will be at Station 43 on Laurel Ave., 11AM-2PM, conducting a Car Seat Safety Check & Installation – if you are unavailable at that time, you can call and make an appointment for assistance – PD will conduct daily house checks for those on vacation for an extended period of time – fill out the Home Security Check form online or in the PD – PD continues to interact with the youth of the community, promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety – recently passed out 7-Eleven gift certificates to cyclists who demonstrated bicycle safety – will continue these interactions throughout the school year; the Locals Only Bonfire on September 24th was a huge success – recognized DPW Super. Trout and his crew for the bringing the pallets to the beach, digging the pit and helping out throughout the day, as well as Ryan Simunovich and Recreation volunteers, including the Mayor, who worked tirelessly to build and feed the fire and hand out pizzas – the Manasquan Inlet Tug of War was postponed until this Sunday, 11AM-4PM, at the Inlet Parking Lot – the Drive-by Holiday Light Show, a new event, is open to the public this year for cars will come to the Silver Lake Lot, check in, get hot cocoa and a snack and an app, so they can drive around town and vote on house decorations, with categories including the Most Griswold House, Patriotic, etc.; due to a conflict on his part, the Homeland Security meeting was rescheduled to next Tuesday or Wednesday (Mayor Kanitra: Bonfire was an incredible night – got a lot of feedback – congratulated the Recreation Committee).
Councilwoman Testa: Building & Code Committee (she and Councilman Ramos) met with CO Thulen last week – proud of that department and how hard they work to get all the paperwork in – had a FEMA review and staying at a Level 6, so we get to keep our 20% flood insurance discount – there are more than 30 new homes being built; gave a heads up that all seasonal rentals expire on December 22nd; after October 21st, Antrim will display their scarecrows at the gazebo – will be 3 prizes, voted on by the Beautification Committee; the Arts Committee is also having Scarecrow Contest – can register online at pointbeacharts.com to put a scarecrow on a lamppost downtown – Joan Tozzi, a local artist who specializes in seascapes, beach scenes, nautical life and landscapes, is on display at Borough Hall and you can follow her on Facebook for information, classes or to purchase her work (Mayor Kanitra: the artwork has been incredible) – are getting closer to the October Harvest Fair, during which Bay Ave. will be shut down and she will oversee a pie contest with great prizes – can email her if interested or to judge.
Councilwoman Byrnes: BA/CFO Riehl ordered 30 spools of 4-inch-wide orange ribbon for the corn stalks on downtown lampposts – thanked the residents who helped make them; thanked the Mayor and Council for the activities; complimented all involved in the Bonfire, one of the events that makes living in this seashore community enchanting; Fire Companies, EMS and PD will participate in a Tesla Crash Course for First Responders on October 15th at 9AM in the Antrim auditorium, with a presentation, Q&A and Tesla models on display for attendees to familiarize themselves with the mechanics of these electric vehicles – next week is Fire Prevention Week and the Fire Company has a full schedule of school activities and presentations; Shade Tree met last night – the Big Beautiful Tree Program has received 12 tree requests and the Nominate Your Block has received 6 new nominations for street tree coverage – they will offer suggestions for the Christmas tree, to which BA/CFO Riehl gave that a lot of attention; the Golden Gulls will host a Halloween Party on October 11th from 1PM-3PM, with costumes and lunch served – on November 10th Bingo will be held at the Elks, 1PM-3PM – will be finalizing a calendar of regular-scheduled Tuesday afternoon events – Zumba Gold and Chair Yoga will be introduced on October 18th – asked all to share information and reach out to her with questions, interests or ideas.
Councilman Ramos: met with the Building & Code Enforcement – terrific that they kept the rating – went over some things that will require additional follow-up.
Councilwoman Crowley thanked all for coming out in the crazy weather; the Bonfire was a big success – had a lot of fun – looks forward to it every year – great turnout – thanked the Recreation Committee, Councilman Vitale for spearheading it, and DPW for doing a great job and making it a successful event; DPW will address post-storm clean-up from Hurricane Ian, including debris from trees, brush on the street, the Inlet and lake overflow – are getting prepped for the Tug-of-War at the Inlet, and their usual daily operations to keep the town clean (Mayor Kanitra: they’ve been doing a great job).
Councilman Migut: the Parking Authority will meet Thursday night – assuming all paperwork and responses are in, they will be awarding bids for the Bank Kiosk in the Borden’s lot and Snowplowing & Landscaping Services for the coming year; the Animal Welfare Committee is enthused to receive new member, Cindy Kells – asked that they get contact information, when a new member is appointed; he won’t be at the next Council meeting as it’s election season and he will be working overtime.
MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Kanitra: congratulated QOL Dir. O’Rourke for bringing in a $72K Historic Management Grant for downtown – his approach is to be aggressive with grants and was told we request more letters of support than everyone else combined – that’s why we have so many to report and it’s making a big difference with our Budget – will help create a story, layout, walk for downtown, a historic attraction that will complement our plaques, which will be going up soon; our new in-house Borough Engineer, started this week – everything going well – Engineer Mele told him he is able to get to 3 times as many applications than before – that will help clear up the COVID backlog and unprecedented building, at a savings to residents; October 16th is the Breast Cancer Walk – can get a team, donate, raise awareness by sharing on social media – the more people that come, the better for the town and for the cause; clean-up efforts are ongoing after the storm – there is a lot to be done at Inlet – fill has been dug out, rocks are strewn all over, and parking bollards are moved – shows need for the Inlet revisions that are close to the pre-engineering stages; the newsletter is going out this week or next.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
BA/CFO Riehl: have a completion date of October 28th for the Ocean Ave. Water Main Project it was erroneously reported at the last meeting that the County was dropping a storm pipe the entire length – it’s only at the intersection of Ocean & Water and won’t delay the timeline – was a pre-construction meeting with the County on that – moving forward – won’t be paved this year; is getting proposals for repainting the three water tanks – looking for additional proposals, to see if we can save money by way of engineering; has interviews tomorrow for Laborer position – are down 2 – hopes to have an appointment at the next Council meeting; have started 2023 Budget preparation; downtown signs have been delivered – they look great – as an “I’m sorry” for taking so long, they replaced the gold paint with 24K gold leaf, at no additional cost to the Borough – hopes to have them installed fairly soon (Councilwoman Testa: asked the design/color of the water tower; Mayor Kanitra: has some ideas – will discuss – nothing is final – will get renderings; he asked the new County Administrator Mike Fiure to tour PPB with him, QOL Dir. O’Rourke, BA/CFO Riehl, and DPW Super. Trout, to see the different initiatives, help we need from the County and things that may be stagnating or coming in the future – he will come at the end of the month – a good opportunity to bring the County in line with our goals and make sure we are all on the same page and moving forward together.
Clerk announced additions to the agenda.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION BEGAN AT 8:03PM
Dave Cavagnaro, 118 Parkway, PPB: asked about the increase in the bond ordinance and contracts signed with town (BA/CFO Riehl: there were some issues with time, materials, deliveries, fuel prices – also incorporates the $398K change order from the last meeting, as well as additional labor – it’s to be able to complete the project) asked what if they come back again (Mayor Kanitra: they have assured us they will not – there was not data as to what was underground; Atty. Riordan: maybe shouldn’t go down this – thinks maybe these folks will spend time with him – not sure yet).
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ENDED AT 8:05PM
Motion by Councilman Vitale to close public participation and approve the items listed below was seconded by Councilman Ramos and carried by roll call vote.
CONSENT RESOLUTION 1:
1a Approval of payment of Payroll #19 ($327,589.55)
1b Approval of payment to Downs Ford for transmission repair in 42 ($6,002.65)
1c Approval of amended S/E app/res 2022-0621/1Y for St. Peter PTA 5K, 10/22, adding a DJ at band shell
1d Approval of payment to Floatie Kings for 3D inflatable garnet seagull ($2,500)
1e Approval of payment to MyRec.com for Rec Management Software ($3,295)
1f Approval of S/E app for Board Dash/PPB Surf Team Beach & Bdwlk Sweep 11/12
1g Approval of S/E app for PPB Rec Cmte Drive-by Holiday Light Show at band shell 12/17 (rain 12/18)
1h Amendment to Res 2022-0920/1Y-2 (amending C. Kells’ term on Env. Com. through 2022, not 2024)
1i Approval of PPBHS S/E app for Homecoming Parade on Trenton, Bay, Arnold, Chicago & Yale, 10/14
1j Appointment of T. Schultz & R. Morrisey to the Recreation Committee
1k Appointment of V. Rivera to the Green Team & Beautification Committee
1l Approval of St. Peter PTA Banner Permit App for Craft Fair banner on Arnold Ave, 11/1-11/13
1m Approval of payment to Janitor Supply Corp for bathroom supplies ($2,639.81)
1n Auth for Mayor to execute the FY 2022 CDBG Subrecipient Agreement
1o Auth for Mayor to execute FY 2023 Div. of Mental Health & Addiction Services Youth Grant for MAC
1p Rescheduling of the Chamber Intracoastal Tug of War S/E at the Inlet to from 10/1 (rain 10/2) to 10/9/22
1q Rescheduling of Chamber ABC Social Affair at the Inlet lot from 10/1 (rain 10/2) to 10/9/22
1r Replacement of 2021/2022 Recreation Wrestling Program coach with Michael McGee
1s Approval of ABC SA app for PPB Public Ed. Fdn Sips, Dips, Dinner & Gifts at Lobster Shanty, 10/21
1t Authorization for Mayor to execute Trust Agreement for membership renewal in OC JIF, 2023-25
CONSENT RESOLUTION 2:
2a Approval of payment of computer-generated vouchers ($1,209,528.25)
VOTE: Councilmembers Vitale, Testa, Byrnes, Ramos, Crowley, Migut (except 2a)….YEA
Councilman Migut (2a)….ABSTAIN
ORDINANCE:
Bond Ordinance 2022-25 (Amending Ordinance 2020-06, as Amended by Ordinance 2020-20 and Ordinance 2021-18, Providing for Replacement of Water Mains – $3,100,000) was introduced on first reading. Motion by Councilman Vitale to approve Bond Ordinance 2022-25 on first reading was seconded by Councilman Migut and carried by roll call vote. The public hearing will be held on October 18, 2022.
VOTE: Councilmembers Vitale, Testa, Byrnes, Ramos, Crowley, Migut….YEA
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION BEGAN AT 8:06PM
Dave Cavagnaro, 118 Parkway, PPB: spoke about Arnold Ave. flooding – have had a tremendous amount of rain – the valve at Niblick and Boston solved the flooding, when the lake level was dropped – noticed tonight that it was badly flooded on streets, sidewalks, front lawns – asked if, next time, the level of the lake could be dropped a little more (Mayor Kanitra: there is a misconception that we can just raise and lower the lakes and mitigate flooding – it’s a small correlation – had Engineer Savacool look into it a lot – makes a very minimal difference – the town is a bowl and when there is so much rain, there is nowhere for it to go; BA/CFO Riehl: with Silver being connected to Louise, vs. Lake of the Lillies which is stand-alone and can be drained with no flow back and forth, it would take time – since the dredge, it doesn’t flood nearly as much; Mayor Kanitra: another component, before coming into office, was the tremendous sediment – it hadn’t been cleaned in about 5 years – now, it is removed every 6 months, so it flows much better, which is a help – Arnold and Ocean are getting repaved – adjustments can be made with drainage: BA/CFO Riehl: with storm drains) asked about a pump to pull water from Silver Lake into Lake Louise (Mayor Kanitra: asked John to look into; BA/CFO Riehl: had looked into a pumping station – cost was $4M-$5M and the question was where we would put it; Mayor Kanitra: couldn’t find a location); wished Councilman Migut a Happy Birthday.
John Longfield, 103 Makin Ave., PPB: this is a wonderful community – thanked all for doing a terrific job; is looking for allies, not adversaries – is concerned about the gate at Washington Ave. that blocks the beach entrance – thinks it is illegal and restricts his and other residents from having beach access – has been communicating with the NJ DEP for about 2 years and they agree – they told him the gate violates the Dune and Beach Replenishment Agreement of 2019 – as a result, the Attorney General’s Office issued a letter on May 20th requesting the gate be removed by June 17th – the letter went to the Borough and to Bradshaw’s Beach Association – as of a couple days ago, the DEP said they’ve had no response and the gate is still there – believes collectively, as a community, we have failed – that is not directed at anyone – there are a lot of evil-doers with folks that come to the beach at 4 o’clock, stay until 7 o’clock, and trash it, and the trash goes into the ocean – and there are parties that are out of control – but fear of those evil-doers has driven our community into failure – the burden has been shifted from those folks onto the good people of the community – as an example, in the middle of August, he wants to see the moon over the ocean – gate is locked, so he climbs over it – he shouldn’t have to climb over the gate – he doesn’t want the community to fail – need to do a better job – he is a huge fan of the 7PM ordinance and thinks it’s done a great job of minimizing beach trash, but putting up a gate is not the way to support it – need people there instead – asked that the gate be reconsidered doesn’t know if Mayor & Council has seen the DEP’s 36-page letter, with backup documentation and easements that the Borough signed – if they haven’t seen the letter, he will come back on the 18th and ask for support – if a decision has been made, he would like to know what that is (Atty. Riordan: that letter is something we have discussed on a number of occasions – his office is handling it – that’s end of the story – thank you) so there is no decision four months later (Atty. Riordan: advised the Governing Body that there is no comment whatsoever) appreciates all listening to him (Mayor Kanitra: the Maryland Ave. Beach, which the town owns, has no gate, no restrictions, and is open; Atty. Riordan: and three are a number of other places where you can access the beach in PPB, other than the place the gentleman was referencing; Councilwoman Testa: he has a right to express how he feels – thanked him) doesn’t think there is a permit for the fence either – it didn’t go through the town or the DEP – thanked all for listening.
Mayor Kanitra asked if anyone else wished to speak – there was no one.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ENDED AT 8:17PM
Motion by Councilman Vitale to adjourn was seconded by Councilwoman Testa and carried by consent of Council.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:17PM.
ATTEST: ______________________
Eileen A. Farrell, RMC
Municipal Clerk
