the co-star, our official newspapers, and post it on the burrow's website and bulletin board. Take roll call. Councilwoman Donovan >> here. Counciloman Kenny >> here. Council member Moroni >> here. >> Mary Bethco >> here.
>> And Councilman Delasio is absent. >> Please stand for the pledge of >> allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible and justice for all.
>> Please remain standing for a moment of silence for our troops, their families and our first responders. >> Thank you. >> First item on the agenda is the workshop discussion. Any um council members have
uh anything to discuss during the order shop once? >> Well, I've got some questions about one of the ordinances we're going to be going. >> No, we can discuss that now. >> Sure. >> Okay. It's going to involve the redevelopment attorney.
>> Okay. My questions. Um I'm a little bit concerned over the the larger overlay zone um because so many residents seem to be affected by that. When we were first made aware that we were going to need an ordinance to meet
the meet the um requirements of the declaratory judgment. It was always included in um I don't know if this ordinance was specifically included in that first adopted housing element fair share plan back in June.
The bureau adopted a version of the housing element fair share plan and then as the negotiations continued and challenges were filed against the housing element fair share plan. This was part of the negotiations and satisfying the bureau's obligation both as part of uh uh its realistic
development potential but then also as we've discussed at previous meetings it's unmet need. So the first time this ordinance was intro was was brought before specifically before council was when it was introduced um I have that in February 27th I think was the meeting was the first time this
ordinance was specifically introduced with this overlay zone. the ordinance I understand, but when when was it decided with >> the um the judge that he was going to want that or she was going to want that they were going to want that as part of the agreement.
>> Uh Christine Doll, the planner can speak to it as well. >> Okay. So, um, the way the process all worked was we had to adopt a housing element, um, by the end of June and have that on
file, which we did. Um, and then any challengers, interested parties had until the end of August to file their challenge. Um, we did not include this overlay ordinance in the housing element that was adopted in June. Uh but fair
share housing center as well as 7th a and the 4th Avenue developments filed challenges um before the September 1st deadline. So then we had from September 1st till December 31st to negotiate with
them and settle um settle our uh housing plan. Um, and it was through those negotiations, um, as part of our settlement with Fair Share, we had to, uh, adopt, they wanted more overlays
than the one we had as the third brown plan along, um, Main Street. So, that's kind of where this that's where this uh, comes from. It's part of the stat state statutory requirements for the fourth round. you have to um demonstrate that
you can meet 25% of your unmet need um if you take a vacant land adjustment through overlay zoning for redevelopment opportunities. Um we originally anticipated that we could just use that main street overlay,
but they felt that was part of the third round and we needed additional overlay zoning for redevelopment opportunities for this round. So that's when that came to be. >> And how was this overlay zone decided upon? >> You can probably speak to that.
>> Jumping back and forth. >> Yeah, sorry about that. >> So um as Miss Bell mentioned, this was part of the negotiations with both the program judge, which was Judge Bookbinder, and the uh special adjudicator, which was um Frank Banish, and also with Fair Share Housing Center.
Uh this was part of the negotiations to reach that settlement. So, as Miss Bell mentioned, originally some things were put forth as part of a proposal to meet the burough's obligations. That was not um accepted by either the program judge or the special adjudicator. That was not sufficient. So there was some
significant back and forth as to what would be what would what would resolve the outstanding issues the challenge specifically with fair share housing center and be acceptable and uh would be the subject of a recommendation from the special adjudicator to the program judge.
>> So was the delineation of this area um did they work with us on that to decide the fair share people or was this decided here in town? This was decided among the professionals with the administr with the administration as part of a back and forth. You know, we
brought something to the table with the uh with the program judge that was not sufficient. So then we went back and worked with the administration and the planner to come up with what would be sat what would be what would satisfy the buroughs on many what would be acceptable to resolve the challenges.
>> Okay. Okay. Was any attempt to reach out to the people who could be affected by this to let them know there were changes the zoning in there where they now have single family homes and they could be subject to multi-unit affordable housing units. >> There was, you know, the public notice for introduction of an ordinance, the
the notice um of the public hearing tonight and also the notice that it would be reviewed by the planning board. So there would be public hearings and an opportunity for the public to come out as they were notified. And this I think um just to emphasize this is an overlay
zone. So the underlying zoning in this area will still continue to exist. Um it's just uh any anyone who's interested could utilize either the existing underlying zoning or this affordable housing overlay
>> to uh develop a property. >> And I know it's been discussed in the past that if it doesn't pass, we'd be in default. Uh the deadline is the 15th of this >> correct >> month. Okay. Um but when you say we'd be in default, what does that look like? What does that mean?
>> Uh the judge has already issued a decision and an order for the burrow accepting the bureau's housing element and fair share plan, accepting uh a condition on all the bureau uh adopting all the ordinances and resolutions required under the housing element fair
share plan which includes these overlay ordinances. So, as part of, as Miss Bell stated and as we stated at introduction, as part of meeting the bureau's obligation, the bureau needs to adopt these overlay zones. If it does not adopt any of the legislation, which has
been represented in the housing element and fair share plan, which has already been approved by the judge, uh, which is by March, actually it's 16th because the 15th is a Sunday. The judge noted that it can be on the 16th, but if the bar doesn't do it by the 16th, the court will not issue a judgment of compliance
and repose. and under the statute will be immediately stripped of its immunity. Right now, the bureau has temporary immunity because it's participating in the program and it's done everything it said it's going to do. But as of March 16th, if it doesn't adopt all the resolutions, which is what the statutory
requirement is, it will no longer be in compliance with the statute and it will immediately be stripped of its immunity from builder's remedy lawsuits. And there's no way to go back to the judge and say, "Hey, look, we never actually notified the residents in a way that is a little more comprehensive
because even when you you want to put a hot tub in your backyard, you need to get a variance. You need to send out letters to everybody else." But this we're relying on a very passive uh passive mode of communicating to make sure that these people know, and I
guarantee you they don't know that this is potentially a problem. And I'm not really comfortable with that. As a councilman who just last summer was telling people, hey, we're going to be transparent with you. We're going to come up here and we're going to make sure that you're not surprised. This is going to come as a surprise to people who are affected by that in my opinion.
Feel free to disagree with me, but I think that that could be a potential problem. Is there So, there's no plan. There's no ability to go back to the the judge and say, "We'd like a 30-day extension to make sure that people know what's going on." There is no this as we've said in
the past the fourth round is very different from the third round with very very very aggressive timetables and very specific milestones that need to be met and there is no flexibility within those timets >> and it's come to my attention that it
appears we can remove the overlay zone if we meet our I think it's 29 units uh once we've met that if we can remove the overlay zone. >> That's correct. We've I've discussed this in the past that came up at the planning board. While it's not specifically addressed in the statute, it's our interpretation of the statute
because this is again new. The fourth round is new. It's our interpretation of the statute that once the burough's unmet need obligation is met because that's the reason you're adopting this overlay zone, you would be able to rescend the overlay zone. >> And this overlay zone goes to what? To
when? I mean, how long is this effective? Until we meet the when when are we required to meet the 29 units? 10 years. It's a 10-year period from 25 to 35 for the fourth round. >> All right. So, I guess that's part of the concern as well is that 10 years from now, is anybody remember that we
have the ability to remove that um if you know once we met it or should it be codified in some type of an ordinance or adjustments made to the ordinance? I don't even know if there's time to make adjustments to the ordinance, but perhaps a different ordinance that says it will be stripped out once we've met our need. Is there any plan on anything
like that? Well, I mean, I would assume that future administrations will have redevelopment attorneys to advise them. So, those attorneys would be it would be incumbent on them to keep the council apprised of what what's going on in the
redevelopment area and they could easily say, you know, we have this overlay zone and at this point, you know, the council can remove it because we've met, you know, this this is going to be monitored over the next 10 years. It's not like we're going to do it tonight and it's going to just go in a draw and and what
people are going to forget about it. I mean, this is a this is an ongoing process in terms of affordable housing for the next 10 years. So, there will be uh a lot of interaction between in the future between redevelopment attorneys and the council as to as to what's
happening. So, I don't think there's any danger in people forgetting about the fact that there's an overlay zone and that at some point it could be removed. So, I'll conclude my remarks by saying that I'm not comfortable with a couple of things. Uh, I don't think that we've
been transparent with the people who could be affected. Um, I'm not comfortable with the fact that this ordinance was dropped on the council and on the town with no opportunity to really make any substantive changes, ask any questions. This was introduced
so close to the deadline that we have a terrible Sophie's choice. We either vote for the bad thing or we vote for the really bad thing. Um, so I'm concerned about that because it seems like we had enough time that we
could have engaged with the public on this, especially the people who were affected. Um, but we didn't do that. And for the council to be this and these are only my this is only my opinion but I think for the council to have this surprise laid
on them so close on something so substantial is something we need to work on as a burrow to make sure that these things are not happening going forward. I don't think that anybody up here I'm I'm personally a no vote on this. Okay.
Because of the um the the lack of transparency, I don't think I'm going to win that. I don't expect to win that. I don't want to win it this time. I want to win it the next 10 times. Okay? So that we know that at the very least we've made
every attempt to make sure that everybody's informed and then if we have to choose a less bad thing, then we get the ability to do that. At least being informed. I don't feel we were informed on this. Councilman, may I ask you a question? Sure. >> Would your vote still be no if you knew
all of us were voting no? >> Yes. >> So, you would be comfortable with this failing and taking the worst option? >> I would I would be uncomfortable with being put in a position that
we didn't have the right information to make that decision. I think we can all agree that this process has been uncomfortable for years and unfortunately the responsibility of being up here means that we are forced
to make uncomfortable decisions and often the easy political vote is not the responsible one. I'll tell you all something. When this process started, I had someone in town call me and say, "You should vote no. You should vote no
for everything. You're the like just do it." And I said, "What about what happens if it fails?" And he said, "It doesn't matter who cares. It'll look better for you." And I think about that all the time because I just I can't do that. Can you
do that? I can't do that. Um, but I also think that one of the things that we haven't talked about fully up here is that this is not isolated to Belmar. And I don't mean that all the other towns around us are going through that. We all know that. We read the headlines. We see what's happening in
Wall. We see what's happening in Bradley, whatever, Seagurt. Um, what I'm talking about is that this is a law that was created in Trenton by people who do not fundamentally understand what we're working with down here. They're working in Elizabeth.
They're working in Jersey City. They're working even I don't know. Yeah. Jackson, where there's more land, where there's denser buildings, and where they also aren't looking at the full effects of flooding and climate changes that we are. They didn't go through Sandy the
way we did. they're not forced to think about their flood zones that one heavy building goes up. Um, and I think it's part of our responsibility going forward to engage with the League of Municipalities, to engage with all these other organizations to try and change the law to inject a little bit more
nuance into it going forward. So that maybe in 10 years we're not sitting here having the same conversation again. >> I could just add, we're not having any speakers until the public session. >> Okay. Thank you. Um if I could just add
uh a few comments. Number one, but for the the people who objected to our original plan as they said, which had to be done by u the objections had to be done in August uh 31st. Um we would not
have overlays on. But people came in to the court and said, "Oh no, no, no, no. you know, we can we can even provide more affordable housing for you if you let us build, you know, a five-story building on Ocean Avenue with parking underneath or if we could do something
else. And at that point it became a situation where the burrow now had to come up with an alternative because the court basically said and you can correct me if I'm wrong. It's really up to the community to decide how they want to
meet the the ne the goal and you know it's not really up to the developer to come in and say oh we want we want to have you meet your goal by doing this. And so we were kind of like in between a rock and a hard place because we had to come up with something that would be
acceptable to fair share housing basically mostly um and at the same time uh preserve the the look of the town pre preserve you know um the the uh enormous
structures being built to to get to the affordable housing goal. And I think you know the overlay district is not something not something new. I mean if you if you look at the papers and and read what some of the other accommodations are many many uh towns
are using this overlay district to uh meet the goal and meet the requirements of fair share housing. So, uh, we, you know, in that regard, it's not it's not all that unusual to have that done. uh
to look at the other side of the coin. If we if this is not approved tonight, we basically, you know, will the council or the the burrow will look at us and say basically we we haven't done our job because at that point the
floodgates will open and you can you we can have a builder's remedy suit tomorrow in in superior court to say in that in that develop in that area and somebody could say well I own five lots
there. Guess what? I'm going to build a six-story building there in the overlay zone in the projected overlay zone. And guess what? We can't do anything about it. So, if if we don't pass the required uh resolutions and
ordinances tonight, you know, we don't have to worry about the people that are living in the overlay zone. We need to worry about the whole town because the whole town will be open to to builders remedy suits and and and then as we said we will lose
control completely of our zoning. So it's a it's a hard choice but it's the choice that we make when we sit up here. you know, there are no perfect uh answers and you know, as a council person, yeah, it would it would have
been nice to have an extended discussion with people about the overlay zones and have options presented as to what areas could be done and what areas shouldn't be used, whatever. But practically speaking, you know, this fourth round,
as Councilwoman Dunovan said, was all created by the legislature. you know, they set the timetable, they set the short dates. So, we didn't have time to do that. So, as our as the representatives of the people, we had to make that decision. Okay? And that's
what happens from time to time. You know, they elect us to make the tough decisions for them. And I think the process that we've been through um for the third round and now for the fourth round, I think everyone here has done
the best they could. Again, you have to remember that it's not just our decision. We have to satisfy fair share housing. We have to satisfy the uh the special master who's basically an agent of the court and then we have to satisfy
the court. So uh you know it's not a matter of us having a lot of leverage in terms of what what we do. So I I think the thing to keep in mind though is that could there have been more transparency
probably if we had another 3 or 4 months to to do it. But I think we have to you have to be very very aware of what you'll be unleashing in the town if we vote tonight to say no, we're not going to do this. Everything from the last 6 8
months will just basically be be gone and we will have uh we could potentially have builder remedy suits in different areas of the town. And you know that will be because um you know we didn't
want to approve an overlay zone which no one might ever use you know because there is an option to to not use it. So I mean I think we have to keep that in mind when um when we come to that. The other thing you also have to remember too, developers get property to build
because people sell it to them, you know, and you know, we put a lot of onus on developers say, "Oh, they shouldn't have done that. They shouldn't have done that." But a lot of the developments we have that are going up are developments because people who live and reside in
Delmare sold their property to those developers. So, you can't blame the developers 100%. You know, everybody wants to make money. I understand it. But, you know, they're they're in business and, you know, if you're willing to sell them your property and
you have three lots, you know, or four lots and you say, "Yeah, I guess go ahead." You know, uh, give me what you can. Then the developer steps in and now he has a foothold in in in the uh in in the town. So, you got to remember all of
these developments that are going to be going up over the next two years, someone the developers didn't own that property for 10 or 20 or 15 years. They just recently owned it. And they own it because someone in town decided to sell
that property to them. Right? Whether that's good or bad, I'm not making that judgment, you know, but but we all have to realize that it's a process. you know, somebody sells the property, the developers come in, they say, "Oh, it's a great deal." They try to build what
they want. Uh we file our DJ action. We get them through the whole affordable housing process. Uh we don't want this type of development throughout the whole town. So we developed these uh overlay districts to to be our uh way of
satisfying the fair share housing in the court without necessarily uh bringing uh unwanted properties you know through building remedy suits into different areas. So that that's really the process and you know I think it's important for people to understand that
too none of this is perfect. You know I think I said at one of the council meetings it's not perfect. The developers want to make money and they want to build as much as they can and they want to profit as much as they can. But if they're in if there's an overlay zone and they don't own any property in
that overlay zone, then they can't build in that overlay zone. But if you know, if property gets sold in that overlay zone, you know, and it's enough for a developer to build a, you know, a a multif family house, then they're going
to do it. So, I mean, that's really the that's really the the only risk we take, you know, if those homeowners remain homeowners for the next 10 years and nothing's going to get built, you know, if if they if but if uh you know, those
10 homeowners say, you know what, we can sell our lots to you know, ABC Corporation, we'll make a bundle, you know, then then they're going to use the overlay zone, which is okay because it's much better than saying we don't have an overlay zone and they're going to come
in and build, you know, whatever they want because we've we've abandoned our affordable housing, fourth round affordable housing plan. And now they're going to just be able to go to the court and say court, we want to this is what we want to do. We can give Belmore 30
affordable housing units, but we have to build an eight-story building. So that that's the that's the risk that we take if we don't if we don't um pass this. And I think quickly just to add to the comments in terms of timeliness, um I
don't think there's anyone in the state of New Jersey that is happy with the expedited schedule this fourth round has been on. Um but the you know the March 15th 16th deadline is like a hard statutory deadline. Uh the judge did not
issue his order granting us temporary immunity until February 24th. Um, so it really, you know, there wasn't a ton of time. >> Okay. Any other comments from the council
workshop council? >> Okay. If not, we will then move on to petitions. April, >> may I have not received any petitions? >> Approval of minutes. I have a motion to approve the minutes
of the February 27th meeting. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Counciloman Donovan. >> Yes. >> Councilman Kenny, >> yes. >> Council member Rooney, >> yes. >> Mayor Busco, >> yes. Reports of council. Councilwoman Donovan.
>> Thank you, Mayor. >> Um, I'd like to pay a minute to pay my respects to Nan Corey. Uh she's a longtime Belmar resident with a very large and family family who loved her very much. Uh she worked at the cafeteria in Belmar Elementary School for a long time and her husband Jean is
a former beach director and SMRA representative. Um so I believe her wake is on Thursday at O'Brien's funeral home. So we honor your memory. The next Belar Environmental Commission meeting is on Thursday. Um, I wanted to
take a minute and point out that this is the high time for geese. We do this every year. Um, we have a um, a dog who comes every day at least except Sundays I believe. Um, they have they send
reports into me. We still have our resident geese population geese from between 12 and 16 I believe which is down from that high of 60 to 100 when we started this program. But I do want to let you guys know because we've said it before and people um aren't aware of
this. There are other geese there. They're the brands. They're slightly smaller. They have a full black hood. Those are migratory and they are protected by federal law, which means we cannot do the same mitigation program with them as we can with the Canadian geese. And unfortunately, they also don't seem to care about the dog as
much, which means the dog comes, they fly up in the air, they do around, they come back. The good news is that since they are migratory, they head up to the Arctic actually. Um, they should be gone in about another month or so once the weather the warm weather holds. Um, so I
never thought I would be up here talking about geese or know so much about geese, but happy to answer questions for you anytime you would like. Um, so um, the next tourism commission is tomorrow and harbor commission is on
March 17th. I would have scheduled that differently. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Kenny. >> Thank you. Um, okay. So, next tree commission meeting is actually
this Thursday, uh, March 12th at 6:30 p.m. Couple things, sorry, around recreation. The Easter egg hunt, March 21st. That's for ages 1 through nine. Hunt starts at 11:00 a.m. We have 5th
Avenue Beach. Rain date is going to be March 29th. Summer camp signups are tomorrow for Belmar residents. Uh if there are spots still available after tomorrow, you can sign up on the 12th. You can find all information about summer camp on the website. And
let's see. Oh, Thmer Elementary School is having their Spongebob musical musical March 20th. Uh that's a Friday at 7:00 p.m. The matinea is this Saturday the 21st at 2 p.m. And St. Rose High School is doing their production of
Mary Poppins. That's uh the 26th and 27th at 700 p.m. at the high school. And that's all I have. >> Thank you, Councilman Baron. >> Uh just very quickly, um Council Person Kenny um has arranged an ADA meeting for
us towards the end of the month. So um I've been tasked with that. So, I'll be um attending that. I don't even think it'll be in time for the next meeting. So, there'll be more to come on that once uh once we've had that first meeting. No. No. >> Okay. Um Okay. Why don't we move on to
the public session? >> Anyone has a comment or question about a resolution on the agenda, please step forward. State your name and address first. Just like to remind everyone we have a five limit five minute limit on
on comments. So um if you'd like to comment as April just said on the resolutions please stand give your name and address >> Sean Karens 284th Avenue. Um I guess first just to address your comments Councilman
>> what resolution are you commenting on? >> Pretty specific. Yes, this is the >> ordinances. >> That comes later. >> Okay. Or you can wait till the end which is just the general public session. >> Well, before or was that before or after
the vote? >> All the comments are before on the ordinances or before the vote. >> Thank you. >> Any comments on the resolutions? >> Okay. Well, I don't see any. >> I have a motion to close the public session. >> I'll make the motion.
>> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Can I have a motion to approve the resolutions as listed on the consent agenda? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Councilwoman Donovan? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Kenny? >> Yes.
>> Councilman >> Yes. >> Mayor Busco, you take. >> Yes. >> All right. Uh, first ordinance we have is ordinance 2062. This is an ordinance amending chapter 39 affordable housing
to address the requirements of the fair housing act and uniform housing affordability controls and to comply with the bureau's round four affordable housing obligations. This ordinance is open for public hearing. If anyone would like to comment on this ordinance,
please step forward and remember to state your name and address. That's not >> now when I can speak about that ordinance. >> And that that this ordinance does not contain the the uh the
>> Yeah. Well, that's >> maybe you could signal to me when when that >> I think it's the next I don't know what these are. This is the >> ordinance three and four are the overlay zones because there's two overlay zones.
>> Thank you. >> Thanks too. Anyone wish to comment on that? >> If not. >> Can I have a motion to close the public hearing? >> I'll make the motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> And a motion to adopt ordinance 20262. Second. >> Councilman Donovan, >> yes. >> Council McKenna, >> yes. >> Council member Moroni, >> yes. >> Mayco, >> yes. >> Okay. Next, we have ordinance 20263.
This is an ordinance amending chapter 40, article 5, zoning districts, creating a route 35 overlay zone. This is open for public comment if anyone would like to speak on this ordinance. >> Okay. This is the Route 35 overlay zone.
If anyone likes to make a comment on that, >> I'll try again. Uh I guess more generally, I just wanted clarification on >> the name 208th Avenue. >> Uh just to better understand the
process. I mean, it's understood Councilman Moron's concerns around the transparency and the timing. I mean, I've been following this since the December meeting, December 25. Uh, I think there was already a lawsuit
involved in the fourth round in terms of negotiation if I'm not correct. So, I just I guess from my perspective, if we don't approve the overlay zones, at least in the overlay zones, we maintain some control of zoning, whereas if we vote no, as you said, you're no, we lose
complete control of zoning. You may not have to answer to the people in the overlay zones, but wherever there's a building builder remedy lawsuit, anybody that lives in that area could suffer, you know, a building four or five stories tall versus multifamilies in the
overlay zones. Am I correct in that statement? >> Yes, that's correct. If there if this settlement doesn't go through and the burough doesn't adopt all the resolutions as it's been already approved by the court, then the entire burrow, including the overlay zone,
would be exposed to builder's remedy lawsuits. >> And there's already been one lawsuit to build a fivetory, four, five story building on fourth in Ocean Avenue. >> Yeah, there were multiple lawsuits. There was one brought by 7th Avenue which was was resolved and uh and withdrawn. There was a law a challenge
brought by Fair Share Housing Center which was negotiated and resolved in part through these overlay zones. And then there was the uh lawsuit that was bought by 101 uh 4th on Ocean Avenue, the Ocean Avenue project by Dolce Vida. And that lawsuit
after being litigated through the program was dismissed by the court as part of its order and decision conditioned on the bureau doing everything it said it was going to do in its housing element fair share plan. So the court has dismissed that challenge by Lulchce Vita. >> But if we don't approve the overlay
zones that comes right can come right back. >> Everything comes back including the burough's original obligation. The bureau as we've discussed in the past took a vacant land adjustment to reduce its obligation from 43 affordable units to 14 and that was creating the unmet
need which was met through the overlay zone. So if this settlement does not go through, if these if these uh if the bureau does not adopt this this evening, then the burrow is back at square one which with its 43 units, >> right? So I just from someone that's been following this, there's been many
posts on Facebook on the BMAR local page. If you know, if you're a resident, you should be following this. You should, you know, have an interest in it to to say you're going to vote no because those people didn't get enough notice. Well, there's I'm here, right? I've been following it.
I would be really unhappy if we don't approve it and there's a fivetory or fourstory building on Ocean 4th Avenue because we didn't want multifamily in the old basement. I don't know the last Friday when we talked about this you made the point how many areas of Belmar don't have multifamily approved. So is
that really out of character? No. But a fourstory building on Ocean Avenue with 30 parking spaces is absolutely out of character. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Me. >> I have uh Anita. >> Sorry.
>> No, Anita. >> Sorry. Oh, sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. >> Anita Buckley, First Avenue. >> Um I am not on the council. Never been on the council. Have no desire to be on the council. And I'm not a lawyer. Have no desire to be a lawyer, but I believe
I can do this whole presentation myself because I've sat through so much of it and I think I understand it. And I did that all on my own time. So when you say there's no transparency, that's just on you. Democracy is transparent if you
look and that's the way it's made up. The two former administrations ignored their affordable housing. They kicked it to the curb. There was a letter from the lawyer that said, "You are not doing your affordable housing. I am worried." And then that last
administration was stuck up against the wall with all these big buildings. So all that 35 development is on the last two administrations. Former mayor Walsifer, former mayor Dar. So don't blame that on us. Now we're trying to go
forward and follow the law and put the put the town in a position for the next 10 years and be the right way. And it's an overlay zone. Like we said, there's 10 years that they may or may not use it. Things may change tomorrow with the courts. I mean, for you to sit there and
show up, I'm, you know, two days on the council and say you don't know what's going on. I I I can't stand that. And here, just for the sake of the fact that I am believe in affordable housing, is Mr. Bruce Springsteen when he was 25.
Look at him. long hair, ripped shirt, and look at his friends, people of color. But he would have been okay with affordable housing. He would have qualified if if this was the 70s. He would have qualified with his income if this was the 70s. And I'd be damned if
this wasn't my neighbor or actually him if he was my neighbor. So I think it's disgusting that this is how far we've come. Goodbye. >> Okay. Um Harry. Harry Luben, 15th Avenue. Uh, just a
little of clarification of what I've learned over time, and correct me if I'm wrong. Uh I think um it's not always going to be builder's
remedies uh lawsuits may not be four or five or even six stories if Trenton gets their hands on it. Uh because we don't do this. I've read
articles in some of the zoning things that I get uh because I am on the zoning board, but I'm talking as a resident right now. But what I've read over the years is towns
I think Milbour where they didn't do it and all of a sudden they got 10 and 15 story buildings. Okay. So that's what I'm remembering. So you're not talking about what
anything that would stay within our zoning and our planning boards. You're talking builder remedies where from what I've been told, what I've read is that
the judges favor the builder and give them everything we don't want. Okay, thank you. Anyone else? >> Yes. Uh, my name is Drew Frankin. I'm on South Lake Drive. Um, I didn't come here
tonight with any agenda and actually didn't even know what was on the agenda. So, u, this is very educational for me. I don't know what's going on in this place, but it looks like they're almost paid actors with some of these props and grandstanding.
I think uh Councilman Moroni has every right to say what he said. Now, we may not agree with it. It may not be the appropriate vote, but I do believe that when you have a level of responsibility that the council has and the administration has, you have to build a
culture, okay, that you're proud of. I love uh Katie's response only from the perspective of going forward, she wouldn't do it the same way, okay? I wasn't really happy with the result, but I understand that. And to the extent that there are people out there that
should be monitoring, should be reading the rags, it doesn't happen. People have day jobs, some people aren't even capable of understanding some of that. Some people are and they don't have the time. I believe it's incumbent upon any good council and any good administration
to make sure that their constituents are aware of things that are going to impact them. So, while I understand and I'm not making a judgment about what everybody was up against, this does happen to be a Trenton issue mostly and there have been other administrations that may not have
handled things perfectly. But going forward, and even in this moment, I'd like to see the council do what Kevin just did and speak to what Katie just said, which is we're not going forward as a town going to take advantage of
assuming people understand what's going on and we'll be proactive. Mayor, you did a great job prior to being mayor of being highly uh critical about transparency. And I think it's important and I'd ask you to stand up and say again that
you're for transparency and even if there was a dilemma or a situation which didn't allow that culturally I'd like to see this administration and any council going forward push for that for our township. So that's that's all I wanted
to say. I'm not judging what went on. It's highly complex matter many years in the making. But to feel like one individual and maybe the no vote is not the right vote in this instance. We don't know. But I do uh commend you for at least saying that there are people out there that need better information
and as a council you should work harder for that to occur. So that's all I wanted to say. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Don Griffin 817 13th Avenue. So, in regards to the Route 35 project,
um how many units are being proposed or agreed upon for that project? >> You talking about the Vermela project where the um the old hotel was and all that >> in the Waterview Pavilion. >> I I don't I think it was 189 off the top
of my head. >> I have those numbers, but that's not applicable to the to the >> but I I certainly can provide those numbers. Thomas, >> how many residential properties are part of that? >> This is not a question and answer, unfortunately, but we'll try to answer. >> I'm just trying to
>> Yeah, because we don't have all the information right at our fingertips here. >> I've read in the papers, so I would think that if we're about to vote on it that this for this fourth round, you're approving the number of units being built there. And there >> I think you're I think you're misinterpreting. >> I'm sorry, but aren't there aren't there
affordable housing units in that development? that's already passed. That all was approved as part of the third round. We're talking about an overlay district which does not include the project that you're talking about. >> This Route 35 project
>> is that is not from Belar Motor Lodge to Riverview Pavilion. >> Yes, it is. But that project was part of the afford our affordable housing third round plan. And that project was approved by by the council and by the
court and it is it's it's moving as you can see if you've driven by you'll see that there are that's a done deal basically. >> That's okay. So it's a done deal. So the numbers are known. We we should know >> but that's not what this ordinance is about. >> Okay. if you would like.
>> I'm actually asking a question about Route 35 so that I don't ask it when I when we get to the overlay in 04. >> We're at 04 overlay right now. That's this ordinance. >> No, we're on 03.
>> We're not. >> Yeah, we are. >> I'm sorry. I'm talking about 03. >> Sorry. >> Yeah, we're talking about ordinance 03. >> Yes. So with ordinance 03 Route 35 189
units being Route the overlay. Do we have a picture that we could show him of the overlay district? >> It's in the ordinance. >> This is what we're talking about. The overlay district which does not include the project that's already being built. >> Okay. All right.
>> So the um >> here you can take this. This is the one. >> Yeah, that's that's >> 35. The Route 35 one is between 11th and 12th Avenue. >> Yeah, that's the district that we're
>> Okay. Sorry, I was unaware of that. >> So, it's the block with like 711 >> and it's not authorizing any specific project. The project you're referencing on Route 35 is what's called the Repetti Rouso project that was approved as part of the third round for 198 units. That was already approved.
>> Yeah, I'm aware that I voted in the paper. I was just trying to >> Yeah, there it's two separate things. Granted, it's in the general the same general vicinity, but there is a redevelopment project going on that was part of the third round. And then there's this Route 35 overlay zone, which is an ordinance which is separate
and apart from that perenni project that's being built >> and not the same properties. >> Not the same properties. Those properties are not part of the overlay because they're already part of a redevelopment project. The Route 35 overlay zone is limited uh to I think three lots. Do you have that?
>> It's uh it's four lots. It's >> two blocks south >> fronting on 35 between 11th and 12th. So it's um from the north end this the block the 7-Eleven is on. >> So
>> 7-Eleven is to the car dealership on 35. That's the property that they're talking about. It's totally understandable. This is all very confusing. So, don't you know it's it's it's very understandable. >> I didn't see anything about that one either, so caught me off guard. I'll >> I'll wait for 04. Thank you.
>> Any other comments on ordinance 20263? >> Okay, >> and I have a motion to close the public hearing. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> And can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 20263?
I'll make the motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Donovan, >> yes. >> Councilman McKenna, >> yes. >> Councilman Moroni, >> yes. >> Mayor Becca Fusco, >> yes. >> Okay. Next is ordinance 202064.
This is an ordinance amending chapter 40 article 5 zoning districts creating a mixeduse overlay zone two. This is open for public comment if anyone would like to speak on this ordinance. Do you want to see this one too before
you? >> This is ordinance number four and it's another overlay zone. >> That's the one. >> Thanks. All right. All right. Now that I know I'm talking about the right overlay zone, uh it's important to understand um
we've had several major projects in town. Uh just that Route 35 project has 189 total units. How many of those are affordable? >> Is it 20%. >> I'm going to guess 20 if you see if I'm right. And then they're making a $2
million correct >> uh >> donation to our affordable housing trust payment in le of >> that was yeah so I don't have right if I make oh 20 units
right mayor 20 units of affordables 5% payment in l for 10 units at $2 million. Okay. So, if my math's correct, we're talking about maybe 12% of those were affordable housing. Yet, the overlay zone that we
just that was just approved and the one that we're discussing right now are 20%. >> That was to resolve the third round. I think what um is a unique situation for the burrow is that the bureau is doing the third and fourth round so close in
time. Not many very few other municipalities were in this situation. Most municipalities have resolved their third round within the past you know 101 15 years. So the fact that the burough is doing this so close in time is is why this is creating issues. But under the
uh third round which was a different law I mean it was still the fair housing act but it wasn't amended. The burrow was permitted to negotiate the amount of affordable units. And in order to resolve that, in order to resolve its obligation, originally these projects came in with zero affordable units. The
developers didn't want would build any affordable units. So it was uh part of negotiations to get them to agree and get to a number that fair housing would accept and the court would accept to resolve the third round declaratory judgment action. And yes, that was below
20%. Moving forward, the bureau is obligated to uh for all affordable housing for all development projects over five units, the set aside will be 20%. I want to make a point to that. We have an ordinance that actually goes beyond
the affordable housing. Anyone in town who builds a un property that has five or more units in it will need to uh designate 20% of those as affordable housing. it doesn't matter where it is.
So that's just an ordinance that we passed uh a number of months ago and that so that applies everywhere in the burrow. >> Help you understand uh whether it's round three or round four, the burrow
doesn't actually interact with the fair housing folks. We hire subject matter experts or attorneys to do that. Is that correct? >> Well, no. What what the way you have to look at it is it's a the way it was set
up is a lawsuit and the the way we set it up is we're we're the plaintiffs. In other words, we we brought the lawsuit but the court the Supreme Court way back when designated the this fair share housing group as a entity to represent
the defendants and the defendants being all the people in the state of New Jersey that need affordable housing. So they're not so they're a party to the action per the court's permission. So the court said to them, "Oh, fair share housing, you can go and and you know and
advocate for the rights of all the people who uh will benefit by fair share housing." So they're involved in every lawsuit throughout the state, all the declaratory judgments and everything else because they're speaking for the people who need the affordable housing.
So they're there. We we can't get rid of them. We can't actually we have to pay them believe it or not amongst all the other insults that we had to have to do during this process. So that's their role. So I'm just trying to understand who who
negotiates the amount of units on behalf of the burrow, its elected representatives and its citizens who negotiates something for on our behalf. It's a little confusing, but there is a number that is that is calculated by
tables and charts and things that the court has designated. Tell me if I'm wrong and and they come up with this number uh the the powers that be and they say, "All right, Belmmore needs, you know, 41 units." And then at that
point, we have to say, you know, we say, "Well, we can't we can't fit 41 units in Bilmore." And that's what they call the vacant land adjustment because if we we only have so much vacant land. So they go through all these calculations and they find out that we we can only
accommodate I'm making this up so don't hold me to we can only accommodate 10 units. Okay? And then that has to be approved by fair share housing. They have to look at all your calculations and and the court has to look at them all and they all have to we all have to agree that yes that's a fair number. So
that's where we that's where we start with with the number. We don't create that number. The the uh it comes from uh the court from the the process of designating each municipality having a certain number and then uh and then we
take it from there and then we negotiate on how we're going to meet that number whether it's 10 or 20 or whatever. >> And so those negotiations are something that council's aware of makes the public aware of. I mean I'm just trying to understand why 20 is acceptable now. 20%
is acceptable now in these new overlay zones, but 20% wasn't something a year or so ago that we brought to a giant development that didn't take existing single single family residences
and convert them into mixed use. Is there an explanation for why we didn't do a better job negotiating? >> It's it's it's negotiating. >> It was such a long process. It was always 20%, but we had individual units that we were back and forth for
years. Like how many years, guys? Like this has been going on. And I I I totally understand. It's very very confusing. But these went kind of one by one. So some got a pilot and some didn't have to do 20%. And but the law moving forward, correct?
>> Yes. >> Is that they have to be 20%. this what happened these past three years all in New Jersey the >> developers would be very happy to give us 20% in the past but what they wanted in addition to that was then well we
can't we can't build this fivetory building that we're proposing because we can only give you you know uh 11 units in here we'll gladly give you the 20 but we need another two floors on this building to to do that which means now
it's going to be a sevenstory building on Main Street and you know we again representing the the town and what we heard from people was that you know we didn't want to have extreme heights on Main Street. So we start negotiating
that down, you know, like how can we get it keep it at four, how can we keep it at, you know, it's a process that that goes on. It involves parking, you know, because you have, you know, the more units they have, the more parking, the more they don't want to provide the parking because, you know, then that
builds it up too. Well, we can't we need a parking garage. So, we need to have two levels of parking, which is going to add to the seven units that we the seven levels that we need to give you the 20%, which means now we're up to nine nine stories, you know, two sto. So, that's
that's how it goes. They'll give you anything you want. It's what we want or don't want. And and you know, the court says we're not really here to, you know, change the character of the community, you know, that they're supposed to do
that. But, you know, who decides that, you know, it's in it's in the court's hand at some point. So, we have to negotiate. And quite frankly, we we did not have a lot of leverage in in order to because like I said once before, it's like negotiating with three people.
You're negotiating with the developer, you're negotiating with Fisher Housing, and you're negotiating with the court. >> Yes. >> And they all have different interests. It would seem that a uh an additional story with some affordable units built in there would be fine next to a 10story
existing building. And by the way, I mean that motor lodge property there, there's no residences next to it. Stop throwing shade on anyone. >> Do you want it on the corner of 8th Avenue and Main Street and the property that the church that the church? Because there are no 10-story buildings
on Main Street. There's fours. But there's a 10story building right next to directly across from the Belmar Motor Lodge and there are no residences next to this new project. So why not go up that extra floor and take some extra ones? >> You know, hindsight is is 2020, but we
were involved in negotiation. As Councilwoman Kenny said, this this took a a long time going back and forth. >> And each of these projects, it was an individual negotiation process. Each one of them back and forth. That project actually they proposed at one point two
towers of 21 stories. >> I'm not lying. That was the they said, "You know what? We'll give you that." And we were like, "Well, you know, like come on, you know, give us a break. We're not negotiating." They start at 21 cuz they want to end. >> Well, they didn't start at 21. They
started at like eight, but then they, you know, >> we started we started 25% affordable housing. They get to 20. >> Yeah. That's uh that's negotiations. But getting back to the transparency, I mean, just being a resident, reading the paper, reading the minutes, trying to
keep my ear, you know, I'm just a dad. I don't have time to to really a lot of time to to dedicate to this. When was the official notice first made to the burrow or the public about the overlay zone between 11th and
16th between railroad and 714? We answered that question I think already. That was done at the very end of the at the end end of the process when we had interveners come on August 31st and we had to match uh developers
who wanted to come in and give us uh affordable housing on like Ocean Avenue and that we had to come up with a an alternative to do that. As far as the specific ordinance, it was first introduced on February 27th >> on the uh you know on the agenda and then notice of the introduction was
published >> and the and the map and the site plan were available in August. >> No, >> no, no, no. The map and the site plan were probably first available as part of the housing element fair share plan. I think probably in sometime in February. I don't have a specific date. >> It was the 27th was when
>> I mean not site plan, I'm sorry, the the uh the attachment with the mapping out the overlay. So there's no site plan >> in August. And you and the the folks that are the the burrow, the burrow's representatives at affordable housing,
they're aware of what this means to the residents that live in that in that community. >> There was no settlement in August. They received challenges. The settlement was not finalized really accepted by the court until February. the judge. Uh we
had multiple sessions with the judge through December. I think it was finally wrapped up with a program judge in December 31st. We didn't reach agreement with Fair Share Housing till sometime in January. >> Look, I I'll an analogy. You're served with papers for a divorce. You're not
divorced, but you know about it. So my question is why did the burrow not reach out to the residents in August when they knew what the impact of this was going to be on both the businesses and the
single family residences in that area. >> Two things I want to make it clear. Our plan was made before August and there were there was a deadline of August 31st for people to object. If no one had objected, the plan would have went
through. >> We don't have a plan. >> No, we had a plan. We had our fourth round plan all written up without the overlay zone and we were ready to we presented it to the court. Okay. And the rules that the state applied said if
you're going to object to the any municipality's fourth round plan, you have to do it by August 31st. So now we have a developer from 4th and Ocean Avenue who says I object. Okay. So now we're basically our plan is now like you
know out of the water cuz now the court's like well you know now you have an objector. Now let's see what's what's going to happen. So now the objector is saying well I can provide I don't know how many units it was six units or whatever. If you adopt my plan, you
know, I can I can give the town six affordable housing units right now, but we have to build a five-story building on Ocean Avenue with ground level parking. Okay? And quite frankly, that was not acceptable to to the council.
So, we have to come up with a plan B. And the plan B is the overlay zone. That's the plan B. And then it took time to negotiate that. It's not like we just come out and said this is the this is it and and we can present that to the
burrow and present it to the people. We can't because we don't even know if that's going to be accepted. So we have to negotiate that. And at some point they said yes. And that was very very recently that they that they said we that they
approved of that. So we didn't even know that they were going to approve of of the overlay zone until the court said, "Okay, we approve it." And as a result of that, we are conditionally approved. I'll use the word conditionally, but and
we need to pass these ordinances tonight. So the court will say, you've done everything you need to do because the court's not going to approve the plan unless we include the overlays zone. So that's that's really the way it works. >> It's not I mean it's not the
responsibility of 4th Avenue to provide the house affordable housing units for for the town. It's not. >> No, it's not. It's >> not the responsibility and let terror >> they wanted to >> and it's not the responsibility of you know 18th a or fifth a or six. It's all
of us. >> You got to remember though the the zoning for Ocean Avenue does not permit the that level of building. So what they wanted to do is they wanted to become part of the process so that they could get in on the on the zoning for
affordable housing. In other words, they can negotiate with the court and say, "This is what we want to do." And the court would turn around and say, "You know what? Yes." They would order the town then at that point to change our zoning so that we could meet what the builder wants to do on Ocean Avenue.
That's the way it works. All right? The zoning doesn't permit it, but if you can get in as a developer into the affordable housing and convince the court, then the court will order the municipality will order us to pass an ordinance that says, you know what, on
Ocean Avenue, you're going to permit a five-story building with parking on the bottom. And that's what we didn't want. We didn't want to be ordered to do that. So, we came up with what many uh municipalities have used, and that's an overlay zone. And as I explained before,
the overlay zone is an option. And it really only will come into effect if the homeowners in those areas decide they're going to sell their properties or if one owner owns a massive piece of property, then then, you know, a purchaser might
consider using the overlay zone. But if for the next 10 years, if the property is not sold, then there's there's no way that anybody can can, you know, use the overlay zone as their form of zoning. And I'm I'm going to have to cut you
short because we're we're well beyond the five minutes. >> Right. I haven't spoke for 5 minutes, but uh you said it several times in the last meeting that you chose the path of least resistance, and I really want to know why that path of least resistance didn't land on your block or any of the
other council people's blocks. >> I I mean, we we left those things up to our planners, you know, they they know the town, they know the the various things. >> You never came to us. You knew you said it was a draft. I didn't know, but you never came and you never asked us what
we felt. And so with the burrow owning a large chunk of property on in that overlay zone, can the burrow promise us that they will not sell that to a developer in the next 10 years? >> I can't promise anything because I'm not going to be here in the next 10 years.
Right. >> That's all I need to hear. >> Any other comments? >> I have a motion to close the public hearing. I'll make the motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> Can I have a motion to adopt ordinance
20264? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Donovan, >> yes. >> Councilman Kenny, >> yes. >> Councilman Moroni, >> no. >> Mayor McFusco,
>> yes. >> Next, we have ordinance 20265. This is an ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank. Do we have a motion to offer this ordinance for first reading and introduction? >> I'll make a motion. Second.
>> Councilman Donovan. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Kenny, >> yes. >> Councilman >> yes. >> Mayor Busco, >> yes. Okay. And now we're on to the regular public session. If anyone has any comments, please step forward and remember to state your name and address.
kind of keep it there for me. >> Kyle Rosatello, 14th Avenue, Belmont. Um, first I want to say that I think the barrel guys and girls in the DPW did an outstanding job plowing considering we had two buttkicking snowstorms one right
after another. So you need to be commended for the long hours long long hours that they worked through the night. So, you know, thank you for being out there. The building that's ON the building that's on 12th Avenue and
Main Street, can we uh knock it down and pave it and make it a paid parking lot just like you have meters that or not meters, but you have the little things up at the beachfront so that when you park, you know, you have to pay. Is there any way we could do that with that
building? Uh at the present time we are we're looking at uh eventually eventually it will be it will be knocked down but we cannot put anything on that property because that property is contaminated. >> So it has to stay the way it is for the time being. We're actively
uh moving towards that. You should hear something within the next what is today that probably within the next like month and a half whatever we'll have more to say about that. >> Okay. Um, I might be bouncing around, but when it comes to like all these buildings that are going up and everybody's griping
about the affordable housing, I personally happen to have a friend that lives in Wall Township in the in an affordable housing development. It's a very small percent of that development is affordable housing. She has to pay
rent. She has to pay utilities. They can knock on her door at any time, any month, and knock on the door and say, "I want to see the status of this apartment. You're in affordable housing. You need to keep it up." So, that's something I don't think people are aware
of that I'm not for or against. I'm just being kind of neutral giving information that I know when it comes to affordable housing. They're not getting these apartments for free. They're not getting for free at all. They have to pay a percent of rent. That was always the
case. I think it it it's statutory that you know there are designation of of different levels low income low low income and they all all have to pay a rent. I don't know what the calculation is or how it's done but that is the the rules of the of the state.
>> I think I think some people are under the assumption that oh they're getting affordable housing they're going to get it for free. They don't get it for free. They have to pay. >> Free housing is called free housing. Affordable housing is affordable. Um, let me
brought this up before. Um, and I've done everything I could. On the east side of my property, there's the Westport town houses where they're on the east on the west on the east side and they're on the south side of me. They have these trees and I've gone through this constantly. I have
contacted Bob Brennan. that's a rep of the development area and said to him there something's got to be done with those the tops of the trees because when the wind blows and this I contacted Jersey Central a couple years ago saying my lights are flickering when the wind's
blowing. They said, "It's not your power lines, it's those trees are coming up and hitting the wires and if they don't get trimmed back as a firefighter, you know, wires can come off a house and a house can catch on fire." I have
contacted Bob Brennan multiple times. He sent me a picture saying, "Oh, look, the trees are three feet from your wires." I said, "When the wind's not blowing." Now, we had two windy snow ice storms. Those trees had a lot of ice on them and did a lot of bending.
I said to him, I will pay out of my pocket just to get the tops of those trees below my wires and no cost to them. They're not getting back to me. What do I do now? I want to prevent my house from catching on fire.
>> I would send him a letter. This is not legal advice, but you said you told him. I assume he just told >> the text message to him and from >> I would I would send him a certified letter saying what you want done. Leave it at that. See what happens >> cuz I got >> that is not legal advice, right, George?
That that that's just my advice as a as an uninformed mayor. >> The Route 35 is going to have 189 units. just said 198 >> 298. Okay. And that's about 20 units are
affordable. What about the 6th Avenue and Main Street project that's going to be going on? >> The one one by Robin's Nest. >> Yes. >> That was prior to our um that was all approved prior to our coming in. I don't think that has any affordables in it. >> No.
>> 14 town homes if I remember correctly. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> And 8th Avenue in Maine. Are they doing are they going to do something with that? >> I don't know what the status is that they have to I mean that's uh >> they'll be doing they put in the plans. >> Yeah.
>> The 8th Avenue main project is going through a planning board review >> through the engineer and the planner and then it'll be going before the planning board sometime in the next few months. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So I just want to say thanks for giving
me the tip of sending him a certified letter. I got a price. I'm I'm willing to pay for this out of my pocket. I'm not even asking them for anything. >> That's what I >> Any other comments?
>> Please don't be shy. >> I'm going to move the meeting along. >> Pretty soon I'm going to have people line up if they want. >> Yeah. Uh, first I wanted to say is this one. Okay. Uh, Dine and Discover was phenomenal. We had the best weather I can ever remember. Um, I was so happy
about that and I think everyone was really enjoying. Um, the only bone of contention I had were having to deal with the shuttles. Um, I know that there were only a couple of them, but um, I was with an elderly resident that day and we were stuck at Flyables for 1
hour. There were three shuttles that came by. Each one was busy. I said, "Can I get her on?" And they were like, "Nope, we're full." And I'm like, you know, I was ready to call an Uber to get her home. It was just really sad. So, I just thought maybe in the future we could somehow make accommodations for mobility issues, elderly, something like
that, but nobody was getting up. Uh, second thing, um, with so many construction sites being taken place throughout our entire town, sidewalks and streets are really in constant disarray. And I know that that's going to be going on for a while, but do we have a time schedule? folks. I know at
some point we were talking about different streets that were going to be paved. My street is like a hot mess, but um and sidewalks are just, you know, because of all the construction going on. So, I don't know if there's maybe a timet or something that can be letting residents know just kind of
>> I think we're going to have an update soon from uh I know Fifth Avenue is going to be done in the spring because it's a it's horrendous because of all the digging that was done. >> Next meeting. Next meeting. Project update. >> Okay. The next meeting the the engineer will be here with a project update and
he's more in in uh tune as to what the paving schedule will be like. It's not just paving though. We it'll be you know upgrading the lines, sewer lines or relining them and water lines and whatever. So he'll give us the details on that sidewalk.
>> Sharon, just so you know, sidewalks are technically on the homeowner. So, one of the things I was actually brought up with the ADA and we tried to get going again was that sidewalk initiative, which was something I think happened in 2015 or 16, April, was a while ago,
where residents could work with the town to get a better price on replacing your own sidewalks, but it's on your dime. You know what I mean? So, whether you work it out through your taxes or something, it would be something that's on >> a list that came out was on there.
nature, >> something that beyond the homeowner. And you're right, that is a project and maybe we'll we'll talk with the ADA at the next meeting about somehow seeing if we can resurrect that project again because you're right, there are a lot of sidewalks that really need a lot of help. >> I tore two tendons in my foot last summer because of a wonderful sidewalk.
But anyway, all right, last thing is um fire safety in town. Um there was a hazmat incident that took place in a neighborhood and uh I was just wondering what the protocol might be. I check the website under the fire department to kind of see, you know, what do you do if something is going on in your
neighborhood? Do you just I I don't think we need 5 million calls going to the fire department, but if something is going on and there's seven vehicles in front of your house, including a hazmat machine, I mean, hazmat vehicle and so on, why aren't we notified? So, I didn't
know what the the proper one was. So, I' I've spoken to other people about it. Um, we just had wanted to be notified just to let us know what was going on and uh hopefully that'll >> I would imagine they could call the police department. They would know this was specifically an incident where there
was a leak leaks on propane tanks >> and they and they had to um basically open them up and and you know light them up so in a in a safe manner. They had everyone there. Yeah. >> 11th
>> Yeah. Yeah. That was on 11th. But I that would be my starting point starting point is to to do that. As I said to you, if it was a if it was a hazardous matter, you would have been evacuated >> because that's what happened on Fifth Avenue during the day when they they hit an un unmarked gas line
>> and go back to what it was. >> Yeah. No. Yeah. But but I understand your concern >> because there's so many new buildings taking, you know, and there were tanks that were out right outside and so, you know, we didn't know what was going on. We we do have the notification system, but by the time we get somebody on the
phone, hey, can you put this out and get it out? >> Yeah, cuz I was there for two hours. There was a police officer there. I just watched, took pictures. So, all right. Thank you. >> Any other comments? >> Hi, Maria Rondaro, 1246 Pine Treeway.
>> Did you say could you say your name again? >> 1246 Pine Treeway. It's great to see everyone. Um I just wanted to make you aware that the Belmar's um library the trustee meeting is March 16th at 6 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend. The
strategic um committee will be presenting as well. Um also we had wonderful living history with Juliet Low um from the library uh performing Taylor at Taylor Pavilion. Um it was fantastic. If you haven't gone to one of these
living history uh presentations, please take advantage of them. Uh the next one we have is Bessie Coleman American Pilot and that's this Saturday at noon at the Taylor Pavilion. Uh it's going to be wonderful. And then March 19th is our
soda bread contest. So that it's closed for the white traditional bread, but if you still have a good brown bread recipe, please bring it in. Um we we'd love to hear you. contact Lewis at the library. Um we'll get you set up. It's always a great event. The Darcy um
School of Music performs. Um it'll it'll be fantastic. So, we hope to see you there. Please register uh online or call the library and they can help you. Uh finally, I just wanted to say thank you so much um to the mayor and council and the administration for the integrity and
the hard work that you put in to finalizing this fourth round. This third round was a beast. And I can say this not being on the council anymore. It royally sucked for every single one of us. It was awful. We came in thinking we
were going to fight over development because there were all these projects being said that were going to happen and then we were told we didn't have a leg to stand on. They're happening because it's been neglected for 15 years and we were up against a deadline. So, thank
you. Thank you. It royally sucked. It was awful. And as someone who is just a mom, just a social worker who wanted to represent our town, the amount of crap that we have to deal with because of what the prior administrations did not
was overwhelming. Overwhelming. And so, I thank you all for being up there having the courage to serve. and I thank you for finalizing this fourth round so no other administration has to put up with what we had to. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Do we have any other comments? >> I want people to start timing their their you know when you know the person is finishing just stop walking up. >> They had 20 minutes to the council
meeting just by waiting people coming. Go ahead. Clare hanger 18th and date. Um the fourth round gives us 10 years, right? >> Yes. >> Yes. 10 years. >> Can we have a fiveyear reprieve? Like at least that we don't mention it before another council meeting.
>> Okay. Last but not least, with March being designated as Women's History Month, I'm quite confident that the three women sitting up on Adis, this woman sitting over here will continue to keep Belmar's history going. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> I got up before she left. >> That's not good enough. >> Yeah. TWW bill. What is the status on the uh sign out in Highway 35 at the marina? >> It hasn't been working in >> a few months.
>> Getting a new one. >> It's dead as you know. >> It's shot. Yes. >> Just wanted to know. All right. Thank you. >> Any other comments, questions? >> Okay. >> Have a motion to close the public session and adjourn.
>> I'll make a motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I