working on it. >> I'm going to call this meeting to order. >> Thank you. >> Adequate notice of this meeting was provided and published in the Asbury Park Press and the Ocean Star on May 22nd, 2026. Copies of the agenda were provided to the newspaper, posted on
public bulletin boards in the township website. >> Can I get a roll call, please? >> Councilman Albanese here. >> Councilman Mikino, >> here. >> Councilwoman Reena, >> here. >> Councilman Cohen, >> here. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> here. Vice President Amberino >> here. >> President Fineman >> here.
>> Thank you. >> Now I'm going to ask everyone to please rise for a salute to the flag pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Please be seated. >> And can I get a motion and a second to approve the minutes from the May 26, 2026 meeting? >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Copy that. Thank you. Roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yes. >> Councilman Makino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Reena? >> Yes. >> Councilman Cohen? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Travers? >> Yes. >> Vice President Amberino? >> Yes. >> President Feman? >> Yes.
>> Thank you. And now it's my pleasure to invite mayor and acting chief uh to the front for some police promotions. >> Good evening. Thank you all for coming. We're excited to promote four officers to uh ranks in our command staff and
we're very excited to see everyone from the public and uh families, retired officers here to join us tonight. I'll keep it brief since it's 100° in here again. Going to invite up uh Deputy Chief Jason
Matthews, badge number 210. And you guys, too. Come on. Come on. What's up, guys? >> They're my friends. They like to make fun of me, these ones. So, we'll see if they can behave while I uh read Jay's
accomplishments. Deputy Chief Matthews graduated from St. Rose High School in 2000. He attended Ocean County College and graduated in 2002 with an associates degree in criminal justice. He was hired by the Bricktown Police Department in January 2001 as a class one special law
enforcement officer. Deputy Chief Matthews was hired by the Bricktownship Police Department in August 2003 as a police officer. He has spent the majority of his career in patrol working the evening shift. While in patrol, Deputy Chief Matthews served as a field training officer and he worked as a
detective in 2011. Deputy Chief Matthews was promoted to sergeant in December of 2012. He was a supervisor on the evening shift for his entire time as a sergeant. He was promoted to lieutenant in August of 2021 and he was the deputy operations
division commander and evening shift commander. Deputy Chief Matthews was promoted to captain in March of 2025 and assigned as the operations division commander. He was a member of the special emergency response team from 2007 to 2025 and he was a sir commander
from 2021 to 2025. Deputy Chief Matthews was a commander of the Marine unit from 2015 until 2025. He's received four meritorious service awards, two Grand Cordon awards, the patrolman Christa Mark award, the
Lieutenant McNelis award, and numerous chief certificates. Deputy Chief Matthews will remain assigned to the operation division as the commander. Deputy Chief Matthews is accomp accompanied by his wife Darren and their children Jameson, Bailey, Jack, Ryan,
Jason, and Julian. Congratulations. Jason Matthews >> that I will faithfully >> impartially and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office of chief >> of the office of deputy chief >> according to the best of my >> according to the best of my ability >> that I swear
>> that I swear >> I will support the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> that I will bear true fa and allegiance >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the >> government
>> to the government >> established in the United States >> and the people >> the authority of the people Next up is Captain Vincent Coburn, badge number 131. Captain Coburn is a 1985 graduate of
Brick Memorial High School. He was hired as a police officer in Bricktown in September of 1994 and has over 32 years of experience. Captain Coburn worked the midnight shift and 412 shift prior to being promoted to sergeant in December of 2007.
During his time on patrol, Captain Coburn was a field training officer, member of the bicycle unit, and the marine unit. Captain Coburn was a member of the special emergency response team from 1997 until 2020, rising to the rank of sir commander.
In December of 2016, Captain Coburn was promoted from the rank of sergeant to the rank of lieutenant where he served in the administrative service division and the professional standards unit. During his time in the PSU, Captain Coburn oversaw the hiring of over 80 police officers. Captain Coburn earned
the following accommodations during his career. Police officer of the year, the meritorious service award, the grand cordon award, the life-saving award, and numerous chief certificates. Captain Coburn is accomp accompanied by his wife
Elena and his children Vincent and Noel. Congratulations, I Vincyly swear >> and faithfully andly duties >> perform all the duties >> of the office
>> of the office >> according to the best of my ability >> and I swear >> I will the United States of >> the state of New Jersey. >> I will bear
>> I will bear >> true >> established people >> under the authority of the people. Next up is Lieutenant William Vandrrell, badge number 228. I bring it with me this time.
Lieutenant William Vanrell brings 19 years of dedicated law enforcement service to his new role. Lieutenant Lieutenant Vanreal started his law enforcement career with the Bricktownship Police Department in 2006, graduating from the Ocean County Police Academy at the top of his class.
Lieutenant Vanreal has built a distinguished care career through his extensive experience and dedication to the patrol division. He also served as an undercover detective with the Ocean County Narcotic Strike Force where he spent a year performing undercover drug investigations.
Promoted sergeant in 2018, Lutron Vendrell prioritized training and officer development as a cornerstone for patrol and has recently taken on the role of field training coordinator for the department. Throughout his career, Lieutenant Vendrell has earned 17
departmental award citations, including the Thomas McNelis Leadership Award, the Valor Award, meritorious service awards, and life-saving awards. Today, we recognize not only his accomplishments, but also his unwavering dedication to profession and the community he serves.
Lieutenant Vanderel is accompanied by his son, Drake. >> Congratulations, I will faithfully duties >> the United established United States. Our last promotion for the evening is
Sergeant Scott Mezer, number 292. Sergeant Mesmer was raised in Bricktown and graduated from Brick Memorial High School in 2011. After graduating high school, Sergeant Mesmer attended Ocean County College where he obtained his associates degree in criminal justice.
After graduating from OC, he then attended Ruckers University and obtained his bachelor's degree in political science. Sergeant Mezner became of his law enforcement began his law enforcement career as a special officer in Point Pleasant Beach in May of 2014 and worked
there for two summers while he finished college. From there, he then attended the Cape May Police Academy and was hired by New Jersey Transit Police Department in September of 2016. Sergeant Mesner was hired by the Bricktown Police Department in March of
2018 and spent five years in the patrol division on the midnight shift. In January 23, Mesmer was transferred from the patrol division to the traffic safety unit where he led the investigations into many serious and fatal crashes that occurred within Brick Township. During his time with the Brick Township
Police Department, Sergeant Mesmer served as FTO, a drone operator, a crisis negotiator, a humane law enforcement officer, and is also a police boat operator on the department's marine unit. Sergeant Mesmer has been the recipient of notorious service
award, a grand cord and service award, numerous chief certificates, and has received many letters of accommodation. Sergeant Mesmer will be assigned to the patrol division as a midnight shift supervisor. Sergeant Mesmer is accompanied by his wife Jackie and their
children Owen and Madison. Congratulations, Good job. >> Office. that I will support the United States >> that I will support the United States >> the state of >> and the state of New Jersey.
>> I will bear true faith also people. Yes. >> Yeah. Why don't we have the officers back up for a photo? want to stand up and >> switch. Yeah, maybe switch.
Guys, we don't want everybody up here. >> Evening ones and shorts. >> Yeah, everybody. Come on. Yeah. morning with the mayor. >> Sorry. Hey, sir. Love it.
First is good. Don't worry about it. >> All right, everyone. We're going to continue on here because we have another special event taking place. If I can have the Browns come up. Captain Jack,
Mr. Vagan, come on up. And Judith, >> there's the man of the hour. Dog of the hour. >> And Chris, sorry. I'm sorry about that. >> Thank you everyone for coming this evening. Uh, we have another special
event and I'd like to talk a little bit about it. I have a proclamation here. Ocean swimming. Ocean swimming presents inherent dangers including strong currents, rip currents, changing surf conditions, and unpredictable weather,
which can pose serious risks even to experienced swimmers. Education, awareness, and adherence to water safety practices are essential to preventing accidents and saving lives. Brick Township Beef Chief Rob Brown and
his dog, Captain Jack, have been working to educate people of all ages about water safety through their Captain Jack Water Safety K9 program, also known as the Sandy Paws Patrol. Rob, who went, who has been a Brick
Township lifeguard since 2008, and his wife Renee took Captain Jack in New Finland to train at the American K9 Water Rescue Academy, where the remarkable K9 developed lifesaving water rescue skills. Through the Sandy Paws Patrol Program
and a partnership with the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance, Rob Brown and Captain Jack have expanded water safety education throughout New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic region, teaching life-saving skills and promoting awareness of water related hazards.
Their efforts have been recognized with a National Drowning Prevention Alliance Award for Safety in 2024 and earlier this year when their Sandy Paws Patrol was recognized with the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association's Award for Excellence in Educational
Programming at the organization's annual convention. And I'm proud to say also we have a number of our lifeguards here this evening. So I'd like a round of applause for them as well. They work throughout the season to keep all of us safe and I must say under Rob
Brown's direction and formally um I would like to say that we do have the best lifeguards in New Jersey and I can say that without a question. Uh I spent a lot of time on the beach. You guys do a great job. You
guys do a great job. So thank you so much. So therefore, I, Lisa Crates, mayor of the Township of Brick in the County of Ocean in the state of New Jersey, in honor of there being awarded the NJRPA's award for excellence in educational programming and in appreciation for their efforts in
teaching water safety, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, June 10th, 2026 to be Rob Brown and Captain Jack Day here in Brick Township. It's genuine. It's genuinely an honor. And I know Judith, you wanted to say a few words as well. >> Yes, please. Thank you.
>> Thank you, mayor, and members of council for having me here tonight. My name is Judith Leline Joseph's. I am a very past pass of the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association, but I'm a founding member of the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance. And upon Well, first of all, I
have to say tonight is all about all kinds of heroes. This room was filled with so many heroes and God bless you all as we enter this summer. Heroes take all kinds of shapes and some even have fur. And that's pretty remarkable. I heard somebody I was in the one of the stores in Brick the other day. You have
a few stores here. And I heard somebody say there's two kinds of people. People who are from brick and people who wish they were from brick. Is that true? Yeah, that's what I heard in the store. I did. So, uh, and thank you to Matt and his staff for making this arrangement
today. Upon a visit to, uh, Brick Beach one day. I happen to live in the burrow of Lavallet, and I'm the ADA coordinator there as a volunteer. I'm a former recreation director of many, many years. And Brick Township has been a repeated member uh, and award-winning member of
NJRPA for many, many years, and we really appreciate that, too. But the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance formed during COVID to try to get beaches and pools open again because swimming and water safety is essential. And we are committed to making the life sport of
swimming safe again. And water safety is our main priority, education. And so upon a visit to Brick Beach when the first time, I went to see your mats, you know, the ADA mats. And I met this fellow over here, Donovan. And he said, "What do you do?" when I said I'm on the
New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance and you have to meet Jack. So before you know it, I met Captain Jack and Rob and Renee and was so impressed that on their own they had taken on this program to walk the beaches and to teach children about
how to be safe. And as you can see, Jack is a magnet. Young and old, everybody loves Jack. And when we heard about that, the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance said, "Let's take on Jack as one of our educational programs and help fund it and help it keep it alive." And
now they are coming to different events that we run. Everything from water safety for special needs kids and surfers to senior citizens to beachgoers all over the Garden State. So, we are so proud of them. We nominated them for a National Drowning Prevention Alliance
Award in 2024 as a water safety champion. a huge award and they won it. And then just last year, the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association recognized them for excellence in education, in particular in health. And
we are so very proud. And today we have that. And we have so many generations of lifeguards, not only in the audience, but we have Dad Donovan, we have Renee, we have Rob, we have the captain, and we have Maverick taking a little nap.
though many generations. Rob, congratulations. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. On behalf of the recreation department, I'd like to first thank all of our lifeguards for coming out here today. I'd like to thank Deputy Chief Donovan
Brown for everything he does. And of course, Renee, Maverick, and Rob, thank you for everything you do for our beach. and Captain Jack, we uh we look forward to a lot of great days in the future seeing you as well. So, we look forward
to everything with you, Rob. Congratulations on this award today. Thank you. >> I just want to thank everyone, especially the guards, you guys for coming out. It really really means a lot to me. Um this is something that kind of happened by itself. It kind of just snowballed into what it is today. So,
I'm really glad that I can do all the things we do with the people that support us between the lifeguards, the recreation department, the township, the national uh the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance. Um I'm glad I can represent everyone and try to spread awareness for water safety and water safety education.
Thank you. cards come up >> just out of your way. >> A little tighter. So she's done. We need eight chairs. There's one here. >> I'd like to take this
Grab one more. Yeah, we got it. Wait, >> he's coming. There. Right. >> One more So before we move into the consent agenda, we're going to do things a little bit differently tonight because we do have representatives from the
county. So, at this point, I'd like to invite County Commissioner Bakion um to come up to the lectern and we'll follow that by uh public comment
regarding uh Lanes Mill only if that's okay. >> Yes. And um Commissioner Gorman as well. >> Commissioner Gorman >> and our our our county BA Mike Fury >> and County BA Mike Fury. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Thank you all for being here.
>> Uh thank you. Um first congratulations to the police and to the uh lifeguards. As was said earlier, it's a hero's night. Um we're here we're here tonight basically to uh there was a
heartbreaking tragic incident that happened here in Brick a few weeks ago. And uh we want to know what we want everyone to know in Brick Township in the residents that Ocean County, our engineer is here as well. I'm sorry,
Mike. Um Mark, you want to come up? Um, Ocean County is deeply um, sorry, is deeply hurt by what has happened with the family and we feel
very bad for your loss. Uh however, right after the incident happened, we did have our county engineer, Mark, reach out to not only the town, one of the township council people, but also to the uh school superintendent to make
sure that we can work together to ensure safety for everyone of our residents in Brick Township. So on behalf of the commissioners, uh myself and and Ray Gormley came up to show that we are here in support of not just everyone in
Brick, but everyone in Ocean County to that they remain safe on our county roads and that we're all working together to ensure safety. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Uh if it's okay with you, we can open up to public comment and
questions while we have you all here. Yeah, this this is our uh county administrator Mike Fury and our county engineer uh Mark Jenkee who'd be able to answer some questions for the audience. >> So, is there anyone from public who'd like to come up with any questions or
comments while we have the team from the county here? Sure. Hi, my name is Lori Cotman. I live at 332 Jerome Street in Brick Township, uh, off of Vanzyle Road, which is also a county road. Um, and, um, I just wanted
to, um, let you know of number one, I was Jackson's third grade teacher. So, this hits very close to my heart. Um, and I'm sitting next to his mother who is here today. So, I would we appreciate anything and everything that you can do to help with the safety of Lanesville
Road. As a teacher on Lansill Road, my students walk to school and it is a concern for me every single day. They're like my own children who have gone through brick schools and graduated and moved on to their own lives. But these children are still very, very important
to me. That's why I changed careers. I left the insurance industry and became an educator because I want to make a difference and be part of this community, not just as a taxpayer, but and a resident, but as someone who makes a difference. Um, couple of things that
are really, really important to me. Um, that those lights that flash in the school zones, I know there's a problem. They're old, parts are probably not available. That no matter what has to be done, if they have to be replaced, they have to be replaced. Those are so
important. One of our teachers just last year the same direction where it's broken was rearended with her blinker on and her brake lights on waiting to turn into the school uh in the morning before school. Car was totaled. She's lucky she wasn't hurt,
but she did take a serious financial loss because her car was totaled. Um and then we had the we had the crossing guard who got hit in the same direction where the blinking light is broken um just a few months ago. again. Fortunately, he was not hurt seriously
and he has returned to work. And then unfortunately, we had the incident a little bit further up the road where Jackson was fatally injured in a crosswalk doing everything that he was supposed to do, going to school in the morning, a time where we should have our children feel safe. Um, I ask that you
really consider the speed limit. I know that it's a thoroughare to get to the hospital. Bridge Avenue is a county road. They have lowered that speed limit to 30 after um several pedestrians have been hit by cars. It's a county road and part of it's a state highway and the
bridge was also lowered to 30 and they added all these beautiful bike lanes. We can do more for our safety for our families and our children. Um Vanzle Road is only 35. It's also a county road that leads to schools. uh has about the
same I would say density of homes along um Vanzyle Road as you have along Lanes Mill Road. So if it has to do with the density of the population and the number of people that uh live on the road, I feel like it is a similar um demographic. So if it can be 35 on
Vanzyle, why can't we get it down to 30 or 35 like other um roads in our area have done? These are all recent changes. So maybe we do need to do a really strong re-evaluation here. I'm I'm begging you to look into that avenue if
you can. People at our last meeting were talking about maybe u making those school zones a little bit larger. I don't know exactly if that's possible, but they literally start at the driveway of the school and end at the opposite driveway. And you go from 40 to 25 to 40. By the time someone sees that the
school zone is approaching, maybe we need a sign that says it's ahead, you know, school zone ahead. By the time a person sees that 25 and hits the brakes to slow down, they're out of it. They never really got to 25. So, it's not really safe. Um, I know I spoke to several police officers and I know
they're doing a fantastic job of patrolling the road and but a lot of the people getting pulled over are parents bringing their kids to school. We need to educate our families that this is something that is not just um one or two people's problem or a problem at a
certain time of the day. It's a problem all the time. We need to be driving more carefully. Um, and we need to be enforcing it and we need the the public can't forget. You know, a couple of weeks have gone by and we can't forget. We cannot forget Jackson. We cannot
forget what happened here and we have to do everything that we can to make sure that we don't have a repeat of something like this. This is his legacy. This is the reason that if you have to look for a positive for why this happened, the positive is going to be we're going to save a lot more children's lives. We're
going to make Brook Township safer. We're going to have assurance that parents can let their children walk and bike to school safely. And we're going to be a safe community. That is the reason people live here. We want to live in the in the suburbs. We want to live in a place where our children can play
outside and enjoy everything that Brick Township has to offer. So, I'm begging you to please consider all of those things very, very strongly for the children and hopefully my grandchildren someday. Thank you.
Thank you. Anyone else from public? Uh, yes sir. >> Sorry. Um, my name is St. Aer and I'm from 604 Caroline Avenue.
Um, I have a letter here, but before I to share. Um, I've known Jackson since my daughter's in kindergarten with him. Um, I drive my daughter to school at the
same high school because she doesn't get bus because we live too close. And that road is ridiculous. It just is. I'm sorry. There's no sidewalk on one side. There's not another. the speeding. There's no
slowing down. Um, also I saw Jackson that morning because Jackson crosses. So my backyard is Ellie, which I've also in the past had to address to the county because a car literally drove through my
backyard, through another backyard, and out. Now we have guardrails there. I did a lot of fighting for that, too. I couldn't let my own kids play in my backyard, which is sad. Um, so that
morning, since I drive her, every morning we would see Jackson ride past. He would go up my block so he can go up Rhode Island the correct way and use the crossro. He was our built-in alarm clock.
She would come in and go, "Mom, we're going to be late." Jackson passed. I saw him. We went up lanes. We went up the street. And it was weird cuz I couldn't go, which I'm usually trying to merge in.
And we're like, "Oh my god, someone's laying in the road." We didn't know what happened. And later she texts me saying, "They're saying it's Jackson. I don't know if it's Jackson." I said, "He rumors have just said it.
It was Jackson. But this shouldn't be. This shouldn't be. We shouldn't be scared for our kids to go to school. We shouldn't be scared for our kids to get to school. It's not okay. I
shouldn't have to, as a taxpayer, worry about making sure I drive and drop my high schooler off at a front door like a preschooler because I don't trust that road. So anyway, on that that was my side
note. Sorry. Um, so I'm here today as a concerned resident of Rick to formally request immediate traffic engineering interventions on Leans Mill Road. The critical roadway serves as three separate educational facilities,
Brick Memorial High School, Leansill Elementary School, and Herbertsville Preschool. creating an incredibly high density environment where children of all ages interact with vehicles on a daily basis.
Our community is currently shattered by a recent heartbreak on May 19th, 2026 when a 15-year-old brick Memorial freshman Jackson Mueller was tragically struck and killed by a speeding vehicle while riding his bicycle through a
marked crosswalk at the intersection of Ways Mill and Rhode Island. This devastating hit and run is a severe escalation of an ongoing history of dangerous speeding and accidents along this roadway.
Leaving this corridor in its current configuration presents an unacceptable risk to our children. To prevent further tragedies and protect our children, I urgently request the county and brick to evaluate and
implement the following proven safety measures on Lans Mill Road. physical traffic coming. Installed raised crosswalks, speed cushions, and changed the speed limit. Intersection visibly
and engineering speed bumps, yellow signal flashing lights, and assigned bicycle lanes and speed cameras and increase active police patrols during these heavy traffic situations. Our community
deserves streets where our children can travel to school without fear and parents can send their children to school without fear. I look forward to your prompt response regarding how they can address this
critical safety crisis. Thank you for your time, leadership, and dedication for our brick family. sincerely, Amy Cabrera. And I also put together a petition. And I
received a 100 signatures just at a softball game where her daughter was also playing against cuz we together as a team and as a community are scared and we
shouldn't feel this way. So >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Good evening. We're Cindy and Andy Patterson, lifelong residents here of the township. I've personally lived on
Lanes Mill for over 50 years. I could tell you about the buses that get passed every day picking up children, our own children when they went to school. It's not unique to Lanes Mill Road, but unfortunately there's a lot of focus on the street now. Um, you know, people
that can't turn and and U-turn through people's front yards and such, it's pretty difficult. It goes on on a daily basis. Just would like to know from you what plans are now to improve upon the current situation.
very sorry for your loss. Started this when our kids were unborn and raised in 42y old school. All during that time
our kids were almost run over by buses being by racing two houses. When schoolers get out of school, they race on the wrong side of the road to
make the right next to us. It would stop driving through our house as yesterday in our home. I had to go out there at the dismissal of her nursery school. my
own attendable Uturns both our driveway friends driveway. He almost got hurt. And we've been battling this since our kids were little and nothing has been
done. Nothing has been done. And the answer at one time was we don't have sidewalks in front of our house. His parents originally bought the property in the 70s and had to dedicate 13 of the front yard for sidewalks. That
There are no sidewalks on survey or whatever. Nothing has ever been done. One of their things that they said for me to do when
I was supposed to cross the county road, walk on the sidewalk and then cross again. I said like I will >> better off the kids got to class with wet shoes by walking across the
neighbor's wall. >> It doesn't make sense. >> So this is from the 70s sidewalks were supposed to be put in and now we have the family going through what they're going through which we were fearful of all these years that would happen to us.
And now with the old people on the block. So I have the younger neighbors coming to us saying, "What did you do when your kids were younger?" I said, "We've been battling it since then." And now grand kids going to school there and nothing is done. Nothing.
So something has to get done. This is ridiculous. Not only are there schools on that road, there's four balls, there's a park, there's like so many things that scream
out that something needs to be done. I can tell you yesterday alone after when I went out was directing traffic, there was someone I would that was a high school that was
probably doing 80 miles hour. It happens all the time. You can hear them coming. Please do something. Please do something. It's horrible. And we live there.
And honestly, you know, it it's a a lot of the traffic that comes off of Herbertsville onto Lanes Mill and the rapid acceleration from that point. Cars, trucks, you name it. It's two county roads that intersect. People are trying to get where they're going, but
it is a a dangerous corner. >> This seems not as important and we will just keep fixing them and fixing them. Sprinkler heads in the front yard. He's had cement around them because people,
now this isn't in the driveway, this is in our front yard. People pulling all the way onto our front yard running our sprinkler heads. And I'm telling you, it's like feedback. We now have, they've been there for quite a while. Two reflectors in this
shape out by our mailbox because our mailbox has been taken out multiple times by people speeding down the road. A lot of has happened because I lost school. There's a line down our road around the
corner. Somebody else is going to get killed in a car because they're backed up Herbertville Road trying to drop their kids off to Herbertville school. That's nursery kids. Nursery school kids.
It's unacceptable. It really is unacceptable. Something else. >> Thank you for giving us some time. >> Thank you. >> My name is Brent Swanson. I live on Lanesmill Road 2296. I'm Cindy and
Andy's neighbor. Um I have the pleasure of having this the Herbertsville ele stops. So for the LA since it's become a preschool, my kids have to play Frogger between the cars that are lining up to get onto their bus. The bus doesn't even
feel like it's safe to stop there. So that's that's something we've been dealing with. They literally block our driveway and move up in line to get to the preschool while kids are getting picked up at that stop.
It's been happening. The bus even got into it felt like it was not safe to drop off there. So, they got in the line and they were in the line because they were like, "We can't drop off when somebody can pull in front."
They also run the reds on a weekly basis. I've been to the town council meeting last time. I've been to the board of ed because I'm trying to dot these eyes and cross these tees. It's a lot of people's responsibility to come
together. This morning I met with the assemblymen um Kenetra and at their offices. They're more than happy to help. We spoke about in New Jersey there's a law that you if you live two and a half miles you don't have to be
bust but in New Jersey you also don't have to provide a sidewalk. So he's willing to go and lobby the fact that it has to be one or the other. We understand that it would be billions of dollars in infrastructure in order to put sidewalks
on all of these streets, but you can't have both. So either bust them or or have sidewalks. They can't go like this. It's unsafe. And everybody is driving their kids because it's not safe because
they're running the reds. I spoke at the board of ed meeting. It happens on a weekly basis. They run right through the red the bus stop. the that is stopped clearly there and the only thing the buses is doing is beeping the horn which p makes the children that are getting on
the bus panic and they run toward the traffic which is making it even worse. So right now the board of ed has said and transportation has said they're going to take tally of how many and I said it's probably not just happening in front of my house of all of the reds
being run in this town. And I look forward to going back to the board of ed meeting and getting those statistics as well. It it has to stop. And it's also that everyone has a different it's it's not my job. It's a county road or it's not my So we it can't be past the buck
anymore. It has to be let's have a solution. So the lights need to get changed. The blinking lights going south do not work. The two 25 mph zones are being blocked by bushes right now by trees that are in the way of the 25
miles an hour zone. And I also beg of you to not have it be 40 2525 when all of the parallel roads which is Maple and Sally Ike are 35. Why does it need to be a 40 when you're coming to a 25 any second? It literally says as soon as you
make a left out of Brick Memorial and you head towards Lanes Mill, 40. When you're practically like not even a second away, you're in a 25 m an hour school zone. Safety, it needs to be addressed. The
sidewalks need to be addressed. the snow that was here this winter and having the kids having to walk with the snow. The neighbors, they they got a warning for not shoveling their sidewalk. Guess what? There's no sidewalks. The only person that has a sidewalk is
in front of my house. It's just from here to to next door. Everywhere else there's no sidewalks. So, how are the kids walking with all of the snow that accumulated this winter? All things that really need to be addressed. and I plead that you will actually do something
before there's another fat fatality. Um, I think that's it. But that's quite a lot. So hopefully you help. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay.
>> I invite you to come sit in my driveway. >> We have plenty of room. You can fit like cars in our driveway. I'll give you coffee, breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks. Come see for yourself.
Please, you would not want your child, no less your grandchild, no less somebody I didn't even know till this horrible tragedy go through this. It's terrible.
Open invitation. just knock on my door. You're welcome to come. >> Thank you. Anyone else from >> there's that that Assembly discussed? We discussed with him today. There's one
that we as a public we can apply for, but it just passed. There's one that you as a county and as a district can apply for. It's and that's how and that's how pleasant got their bike lanes. So that that
really that really should happen. The the one is $165 million worth of bike and safe transit just specifically for kids to get safe ways to school. Why is no one tapping into that money? I don't want to hear
that it's a budget issue. >> Okay. Thank you. Is there anyone else from public who'd like to come up to the lectern? >> Hello, my name is Victoria Pala. I grew up in a small town, one square mile of happiness. It was called Miltown, New
Jersey by New Brunswick. I lived on the residential street that was where the elementary school was. And there were solutions to these problems. And the majority of moms in
those days walked us to school down, but this is my name and my phone number. And I would like to see um our school children be um safer. I think it's really important. I thank everybody who came out here
tonight to support Jackson's family. and I asked that um I I I I tune in to the mayor's minutes. That's how I knew to come tonight. Uh I know our mayor is addressing this, but she needs the
cooperation from the county and real action. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else from the public would like to come up at this point? >> Yes.
No sidewalks, no accessibility to be able to walk. And it was scary cuz I would have to like go onto the road and then get off of the road and then go back on the road. And um sorry I don't really have anything prepared but I um just wanted you guys to know like from
like see from um high school's eyes schooler's eyes and I would like if it would be possible to like again like lower it because when I'm walking and I have to cross on the um when I would
have to cross it would just be cars flying down and I would be waiting there for five t minutes for a car to like stop or for there to be no cars for me to be able to cross cuz I would go to cross and then a car would just fly right down. And that is also an issue.
And I would and then I started going just across and then walk on the other side and then I realized that there was no sidewalk. So I was on the side of the road again. So either way, it was like kind of like a lose-lose situation because I would be waiting 5 to 10
minutes to cross because cars would be speeding or nobody would stop or I would be on the side of the road. So, if it would be any like it would if it would be possible to get like just lower the speed limit, have a bike lane or just
add sidewalk to the other side of Lane's Mill cuz that would make it 10 times easier walking to and from school and I know it would make all the high schoolers feel safe and thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Haley.
Anyone else from public would like to come up? U Bob, I think we have one more comment. >> Yeah, I think we just have one more comment though and then we could turn the lecture around if that's all right. >> I'll be I'll be real quick
from brick. Um Malokan Road. Everybody familiar with Malokan Road? Okay. Where's Malokan Road? Goes right to the ocean. Correct. Is there anywhere there's a bike road there or people can walk on there? Not at all. There's no sidewalks.
There's part of Manalop Road that has the people's backyard, fence, people's backyard, fence, and the road where the kids that ride the bikes because there's three rental uh places now that people can rent bikes. There's nothing there
for the people to go down. So, they drive on the shoulder. What happens when a car is making a left turn? What's the guy behind him going to do? He goes on the shoulder where he's going to end up hitting somebody. It's going to happen. There's a lot of kids on bikes, especially when now they have bike
rentals there. That's a situation where I think the county should put a bike trail on the side of the road where they can go down and ride their bike safely. I don't know what the law is, but it's something that should be addressed where
it's a safety for at least have it in their mind. You know what I mean? Because these people around here, not everybody, but I'm saying a lot of people like to pass on the on the right side, and it's a very dangerous situation. All right. Thanks.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. Let's turn that around. >> Thank you, Bob. >> So, my name is Mike Fury. I'm the Ocean County Administrator and um it's not easy to talk about things like this. I'm
very sorry for your loss. I'm very sorry for everyone who was here who experienced that loss, who were friends with the family, had had children and were friends with the with the boy. Um, I want to let you know that immediately after this happened, our commissioner Bakion was in touch with your mayor. Um, your mayor was uh quick to act and
reached out to the county right away. Uh, we have a meeting coming up on the 25th. Uh, we are not just going to include the county and the town. We are going to talk with law enforcement. We're going to talk with the schools. We are going to talk with anyone who's involved that could help out with the situation on that road. Our county
engineer has already acted independently and has put some uh you might see some boxes out on the street. Those are to monitor how many vehicles come down that street and what the speed of those vehicles are. So, we're not going to wait until we have that meeting to start collecting data. This will take a little time for us to figure out what one is
legally possible, what is uh able to be engineered, what is the town would like us to do. But we are going to work with the town and all parties involved to make sure that road becomes safer. Um some of the issues that we heard are the engineering aspect of it. Some were enforcement action and I think we could
only solve this by having a collaborative effort. So we will communicate the county's positions through the through the mayor and her staff. Uh so if you have any questions, uh the mayor will be updated with everything that we are doing. Um part of the solution is good communication and we're going to we're going to make sure
we have good communication with both the residents of Brick Township and with the mayor and council. Um so we'll be back to another meeting uh to let you know what we're we're going to be doing on that road and uh the township can talk about some of the things that we're doing in collaboration with them. So again, I'm very very sorry that this has
occurred uh but we're going to try to make it better out there for the residents. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you all for coming tonight. >> Thank you so much. Council President, if I may, I just wanted Yeah. I just wanted to point out, I know you
mentioned grants available. I don't know if that person's still here. Uh, I do want to let you know with regard to grants, one of the things that we've been very proactive with here in Brook Township is the Safe Roots to School grants, which we've received several.
Uh, and if you live along Lanes Mill Road, you'll note that um, since 2018, the improvements that have been made on that road so far have been due to those safe routes to school. So, sidewalks that were put in, all of the um
pedestrian crosswalks that were put in, all the signage that was put in leading up to the schools, including the high school was through those grants. Uh and it wasn't just Lanes Mill. We've done that through Midstreams, Drum Point. We've we've worked very hard with our
township planner. Uh and through those grants, we were able to get what is there now. Uh but as you heard from um the county administrator, we will continue to work together with the county and with any other officials that want to work with us to make all the
streets, all of the county streets and streets throughout our township safer. So, thank you. >> Thank you. And again, I want to thank the county representatives for coming tonight. Um and now we can move on to the consent agenda.
All matters listed under item consent agenda will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. If discussion is desired on any item, this item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered separately. >> Thank you. 51. >> Author authorization to cancel grants
appropriated reserves and receivables. >> Councilman Cohen. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Council President. The resolution authorizes um unexpanded amounts in a grant receivable for various grants with balances that cannot be applied to the programs.
>> Thank you. 52. >> Authorize an emergency appropriation to fund a down payment in connection with bond ordinance. >> Councilman Mikino. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes an American emergency appropriation to fund a down payment bond for the ordinance
needed to acquisition of a property for open space. The parcel being acquired is block 1420.16 lot one, an undersized lot on Pennsylvania. The brick open space saver committee has recommended the acquisition of the location and size of
the lot makes it ideal for preservation as opposed to residential development. Thank you. >> Thank you. 53. >> Authorize receipt of bids 2026 capital improvement road program Milbrook section. >> Councilwoman Travers.
>> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes the receipt of bids for the Millbrook section roadway improvement project. The streets to be paved in this project include Milbrook Road, Heather Lane, Clover Road, and Allwood Road. This the project generally consists of milling, base repair,
asphalt paving, ADA compliant ramps, sidewalk repairs, striping, tree trimming, and other miscellaneous work. This project is funded in the 2026 capital budget. Thank you. >> Thank you. 54. >> Authorized receipt of bids improvements to Malard Point Roads.
>> Council Vice President Ambersino. >> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes the receipt of bids for improvements to the Malard Park roads. This project will generally consist of the milling and overlay of streets in Malard Point. It's going to
include Drake Road, Mandarin Road, Teal Road, Crane Road, Heron Road, Penguin Road, Swan Road, Havens Drive, Kettle Creek Drive, and Dough Court. This project is also funded in the 2026 capital budget. Thank you.
>> Thank you. 55, please. Authoriza authorized donation to board of education various vehicles. >> Councilman Cohen. >> This resolution authorizes the donation of six retired vehicles to the board of education. These vehicles are surplus property no longer needed for township
use. Thank you. 56. >> Authorize award of contract purchase and delivery of one 2027 Ford E250 Elorado Advantage. >> Councilwoman Rea. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes an award of contract in the amount of
$135,540 to Roar Enterprises Trenton for the purchase and delivery of a Ford E450 Elorado Advantage mini bus for the Township Senior Services Transportation Program. This purchase is being made
through the Ocean County Cooperative Pricing System. Thank you. >> Thank you. 57. Authorize award of contract purchase and delivery of two labor right-handed automizer garbage trucks. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes an
award of contract in the total amount of $661,2414 with two vendors Grant Turk Equipment Bridgeport Pennsylvania and Hunter Jersey Peterbuilt for two sidearm garbage trucks as needed by Department of Public Works. This purchase is being made through the Sourceville National
Cooperative. >> Thank you. 58. >> Authorize award of contract purchase and delivery of one leech rear loader garbage truck. >> Councilman Mikino. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes an award of contract in the amount of $291,1464
with two vendors, Grand Turk Equipment, Bridgeport, PA and Hunter Jersey Peter Belt for the two rear loaders as needed for the Department of Public Works. This purchase is being made through the Source Well National Cooperative. Thank you. >> Thank you. 59. >> Authorize change order number one
multilocation roadway resurfacing. >> Councilwoman Travers. Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes a change order increasing the contract with Miko, Inc. of Clarksburg by $26,714 for the multilocation roadway reservicing project currently underway.
The increase order is to account for the extension of paving limits on Ridge Road and I'm sorry, excuse me, and as built quantities. Thank you. >> Thank you. 510. >> Authorize award of contract demolition of 982 Falconberg Road. Council Vice
President Amcino. >> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes the award of a contract in the amount of $22,222 to Messorcola Excavating, Inc. of Planefield. This is for the demolition
of 982 Falenberg Road. This demolition has been authorized by the township's property maintenance board. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh 511, please. Authorize 2026 2027 liquor license renewals without restrictions consumption
consumpt consumption distribution and club licenses. >> Councilman Alvenuse. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes 2026 2027 liquor license renewals without restrictions to certain plinary retail consumption licenses and certain
plinary retail distribution licenses. >> Thank you. 512 >> 512 is authorized 2026 2027 plenary retail consumption liquor license renewals with restrictions for Applebees, Barnagate Bayside Services, Bonefish Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings,
Kuraba's Italian Grills, Frit Hulahans, JSM at Brick for LLC, Manalo Road A House, Outback Steakhouse, Quaker Steak and Lube, Red Robin, and Urban Coal House. >> Thank you. 513, please. It's a bond release, an inspection fund release for
block 646, lot 31. >> Thank you. 514. >> 14A is 100% DAV widow of veteran deduction at block 902.33, lot 3. 14B 100% DAV widow of veteran deduction at block 1052, lot 19. 14 C is a tax
overpayment for 2026 at block 313, lot 13. >> Thank you. That brings us to the end of the consent agenda. Can I get a motion and a second on the consent agenda? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Copy that. Thank you. Open to councel. Council president. Um I just have a
couple of questions on number 12. >> Um can anyone tell us please uh first what the restrictions are? What is Barnet Bayside? Who who is FRIT? Who is JSM at brick? And Quaker Steak and Lube um is being
torn down. So, I know the liquid license was being transferred, but I don't see the transfer here. I see the license still under the name of Quick Riston Loop. >> I can go over I can go over them. Yes, please. I mean, you did say it fast. So, >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, the first one is uh B uh
Barnagate Bayside Services. >> Okay. That's at the end of Manalooking Road at the Bay Barnet Bayside Marina. >> Okay. >> And that one's in pocket. >> Um FITF >> is Federal Realy. They own the brick plaza. >> Who's there liquor license with?
>> That one's also in pocket. That's not an active liquor license. It's in pocket. >> JSM. >> JSM at Brick is the owner of the the food town site where the Sports Dome is. >> We're going to be serving alcohol at Sports Dome.
>> They do have they do own a liquor license. Yes. >> I don't know that that's where they're going to put it, but they do own a liquor license. I mean, isn't that a facility for >> They also own the shopping center where Costco is. >> Okay. Um, Quaker Steak and Lube is being
torn down as we speak. >> Quaker Steak and Lube still owns the liquor license and it is up for renewal. >> Okay. So, how long do these sit in active where they aren't turned back in? We can sell resell them.
>> Yeah. >> Well, that's they don't they don't get turned back in. They well they they they conceivably could. There's a new law that was adopted I think about a year or two ago when they do put a limit on how long it's a pocket license. It used to be unlimited. Now it's either two or
three years and they either have to transfer it or put it into active use. Um it's it's almost unheard of that they don't do that and they forfeit it back to the town. It is private property they own. So it's to get it back. I mean these I think the last one sold for about $800,000. So they don't just sort
of revert back to us >> and make quicker state lube has got to be closed three years. >> It it may well be they might >> they apply for a special ruling each time after two after two years. Every two years they do have to apply to the state ABC for a special ruling to renew
again in pocket. >> So we can't pull these licenses back and resell them. >> No, that's you can't I wouldn't >> What are the restrictions? It says with restrictions. >> I have the restrictions in all the resolutions. I can read them if you'd like. >> Um, just give me the synopsis of
>> it's generally the the amount of seats that they have in the restaurant that has to have family be a family style menu. Um, limited seats at the bar so that it's a restaurant with a bar and not a bar with a restaurant. >> Those restrictions are typically placed
at the time that the township sells them because the township then designates them for a particular type of use. In other words, not a bar, but a family style restaurant on many occasions. >> All right. So, the what on Quaker Stick and Loop the restrictions. So, that liquid license is going to be
transferred. If I remember, we did something on this um couple council meetings ago. So, that's going to be transferred. And again, the restriction on that what they're transferring it to has got to be within that restriction. They can't have more seats. >> Correct. The the restriction travels
with the license. So even though the license may not be at the actual site, the quicker stick of lube, it could be across town somewhere. It still falls within they're allowed 100 seats. >> Correct. They they can transfer it to any site in Brick. Um but it will have those restrictions associated with it. >> Okay, I'm good. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Uh anyone else from council? >> I do. Yes. Thank you. Um my questions are related to item number two and so I want to be crystal clear um and asking questions that our residents and taxpayers are are seeking answers to. Um
first question, what is the criteria used to justify taking on additional debt to purchase this property? Second question, why does this get prioritized over other properties where residents that residents want preserved from overdevelopment?
Going forward, what are our standards? How do we avoid setting precedent here tonight for properties when there is opposition to proposed development? Uh so those are my questions related to number two. >> Okay. Um
>> take the first shot. It's always within this is within the discretion of the governing body whether to acquire it or not. So discretion is you you can um exercise that in any manner you choose. I know the brick open space savers committee uh has some parameters. I
think I think the mayor is more familiar with them than I. But ultimately it's it's going to be your your choice whether to acquire and what to acquire. >> And I'll add to that there was significant public request that this be um acquired. They did not want to see residential development there. So it is
part and parcel with lots of other requests. What's different is that you have to have a willing seller and that seller has to be willing to sell it to a municipality who is set by finite amounts of what they can spend on property. We can't negotiate. You have to go by appraised value. So you don't
always have you have people that want a parcel acquired, but without a willing seller, it's a non-starter. And if that willing seller wants to negotiate for the best price, then it's not the township that you should be dealing with. And so is that the criteria that you're saying is in place for all others
going forward um in order to avoid the setting a precedent when there are strong public opinions about the acquisition of um properties such as this. >> So boss I would imagine maybe the mayor's going to talk about boss a
little bit. So they they look at every parcel. So, the parcels that come to us are always from brick open space savers because that's what they're tasked to do. Look at if it makes sense to buy it for acquisition. Of course, the public requests to to
purchase a property and a willing seller help put it higher on the priority list because you have all of the pieces that you need to make it a potential acquisition. This came up um recently, so it wasn't part of their long-term acquisition plan. Uh but the willing
seller presented himself um and it was was an opportunity they wanted us to pursue. >> Okay. I I'm just I was caught off guard by this and I am a member of the committee so I just wanted to raise those questions. Thank you for answering them. >> Okay. Um, council president, can I sure
>> just on top of um I'm I've got a lot to say about this and I will on my closing statement, but one of the things that concerned me here is um I was taken off guard by this being even on the agenda because we were unaware that um we were even the possibility that we could even
purchase this property and here we're just finding out about it the night of a council meeting and that very much upsets me. That is not transparent government. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Um, anyone else from council?
No. Seeing none, close. Council, open to the public for questions on the resolutions already. Seeing none, closed. Public roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mikino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Reena, >> yes. >> Councilman Cohen,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. Vice President Ambercino. >> Yes. >> President Fineman. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Number uh item number 515. >> Be it resolved by the Township Council of the Township of Brick that the
following bills be paid and that the mayor and clerk be and are hereby authorized to draw orders on the treasurer for the amounts of the same computer bill resolution in the amount of $2,88,645.81. >> Can I get a motion and a second on the computer bill resolution? Motion.
>> Copy that. Thank you both. Open to councel. Seeing none, close council. Open to the public for questions on the computer bill resolution only. Seeing none, close. Public roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yes. >> Councilman Mikino. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Reena? >> Yes. >> Councilman Cohen? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Travers? >> Yes. >> Vice President Amberino? >> Yes. >> President Fineman, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Item number 516, please. Be it resolved by the township council of the township of brick that the following
bills be paid and that the mayor and clerk be and are hereby authorized to draw orders on the treasurer for the amounts of the same manual bill resolution in the amount of 2,176,57244. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion and a second of the manual bill resolution? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Copy that. Thank you both. Open to councel. Seeing none. Close council. Open to public for questions on the manual bill resolution only. Seeing none, closed. Public roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yes. >> Councilman Makino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Reena?
>> Yes. >> Councilman Cohen? >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Travers? >> Yes. >> Vice President Amberino? >> Yes. >> President Feman? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on to item number 61. bond ordinance providing for the acquisition and purchase of real
property for open space preservation purposes by and in the township of brick in the county of ocean state of New Jersey appropriating $125,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $118,750 in bonds or notes of the township to
finance part of the cost thereof. >> Council Vice President Amberino. >> Thank you, Council President. Uh, as was stated previously, the brick open space savers committee has recommended the acquisition at the location block 1420.16
lot 1. This is an undersized lot on Pennsylvania. The size of the lot makes it ideal for preservation as opposed to the residential development. Uh, I think this was stated a little earlier. I know that there was some history here. I believe it was one of our boards that
had actually rejected the variances necessary to develop on this lot. there was significant public opposition especially to the neighborhood. Uh it was clear that the proposed development would be a hardship for those that lived
immediately in its vicinity. I believe this is the case. Please keep me honest here, Attorney Starky. But that decision was appealed, ultimately overruled, and I think what we have is an opportunity to
accommodate our residences and actually deliver on what do you think is best for their neighborhood by passing this. Thank you. >> Thank you. And can I get a motion and a second on this ordinance?
>> I'll make that motion. Second. >> Copy that. Thank you. Open to council. >> Seeing none, close. Council, roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yes. >> Councilman Makino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Reena. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cohen. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Travers. >> Yes. >> Vice President Amberino. >> Yes. >> President Fineman. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on. Item number 71. An ordinance of the township of brick county of ocean state of New Jersey amending the township code in section
288-50 schedule 20 speed limits to limit the speed along the entire length of Lynwood Avenue to 25 m hour. >> Thank you. So I spoke about this last meeting, but this ordinance extends the 25 mileph speed limit along the full length of Lynwood Avenue. It was
introduced in response to concerns raised by residents in that neighborhood, and we appreciate those who took the time to provide feedback. As part of the process, the township conducted a formal traffic study using an established point-based system to
ensure that any traffic control changes meet legal and safety standards. Based on the results of that study, four-way stop signs at this location were not warranted. However, we were able to implement a speed reduction and we'll also be installing two flashing
LED speed uh speed signs. These signs will help alert drivers to their speed while allowing the township to continue monitoring traffic patterns and driving behavior over time. We want residents to know that their concerns have been heard and the township remains
committed to improving safety wherever legally and practically possible. Thank you. Can I get a motion and a second on this ordinance? Make a motion. >> Second. >> Copy that. Thank you both. Open to councel.
>> Seeing none, close counsel. Open to public on just this ordinance. >> Seeing none, close public. Roll call. >> Councilman Albanese. >> Yes. >> Councilman Makino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Marina, >> yes. >> Councilman Cohen, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes.
>> Vice President Amberino, >> yes. >> President Feman, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on to item number eight, uh, public comments. >> Please note that each person addressing the council during any section of the meeting during which public comment is
permitted shall limit his or her remarks to 5 minutes pursuant to Brick Township Administrative Code section 2-33B. >> Thank you. Is there anyone from public? Seeing none, close public.
Moving on to council administration comments starting with Mr. Starky. >> Uh thank you council president. I do not have anything for tonight. >> Okay. Thank you madame uh mayor. >> Thank you. Uh I'll just talk about the brick open space savers briefly. So
anyone that is interested in how the brick open space savers make their decision. They actually over almost a two-year period um starting I want to say I became mayor in 2023. So the process started at that point and I
think we finalized the process somewhere around mid 2024 for evaluating properties. Um and it's a pretty rigorous point system and there are different uh portions of the evaluation that take a look at every single
property. Some properties do drop in our laps. Uh I say our um I am not the head of the committee. we have a a resident that heads that committee, but um it's quite rigorous and I believe we have it uh I will double check, but I believe we
have that online so the public can see how those points are um are you know created for each of the different um pieces of land that we look for. One of the things that we decided to do about a
year ago was after reaching out to people who own different portions of land throughout the township, uh sometimes we would get, you know, responses, sometimes we wouldn't. Uh we also decided to start looking at landlocked pieces of properties that no
long that have no access points. Uh there's no there's no water and sewage. There's no access points. There's no there's not even like paper roads leading to those properties that have likely been in families since I don't want to say the 40s or 50s that are just
sitting there and uh while we love to collect taxes on them, we also like to to be able to provide those spaces for open space. So, we reached out to those um community members as well that own those properties to see if we could get land donations as well. So, it's not always property purchases that uh the
boss does. We have had some luck with some land donations as well, which has been great for us. But the number one priority for looking at properties is a willing seller. We there are a lot of properties around town that we have reached out to on multiple occasions
and a they have to the seller wants to sell or the the owner wants to sell and b uh as Miss Bergen said they cannot negotiate the price. All right. It has the price is what is set by uh when we do the um what's that called? The
appraisal thing. I always want to say evaluation. That's not right. When we do the appraisal. So um and a lot of times once the appraisal comes back uh you know the owner decides they think they can get a better deal and um they understand that we can't negotiate. Sometimes owners will come back to us
after a while and say you know what I do want to sell. Uh and other times they don't. So the I will say for the brick open space saver committee they are a committed group of residents uh who really work very hard to try to get as
many properties as possible each year that we can add to our open space. So um I'm am delighted to always work with them and I want to commend them on the hard work that they do uh when we get together. It's not a short meeting. You know, we go through every property. We
discuss every possibility. And Miss Reena, um, Councilwoman Reena, you've been at some of those meetings. So, you know, they're they're they are a dedicated group. So, I just want to do a shout out to them. I appreciate the work that they do. And that's all I have for this evening. >> Thank you, Miss Bergen.
>> Nothing for me. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. I did just I did just want to clarify that the um liquor licenses for the Barnagate Bay side for Frit and JSM those are all
inpocket licenses. So there's no cited premise. So even though the owners of the property may own the Barnagate Marina or the Brick Plaza or the Sports Dome site, it's not necessarily that those liquor license are going to be
activated at those sites. They can transfer the they could do the place to when they activate it they can establish the location. >> Got a quick question. The the sports dome site you mentioned the the owner. >> That property has changed hands like four or five times since it started
being built. >> Who owns the license? The original owner or the current owner? >> I'm sorry. The the property owner of this JSM um actually has owned the site for 20 years. Um there was a settlement
of litigation and what happened in that settlement was the back part of the site was sold was separated and sold to the sports dome people. The JSM owns the front portion of the site where the where >> so the sports dome has anything doesn't have anything to do with it. >> Correct. They're totally separate. They
you wouldn't know looking at it but they're totally separate. Separately owned separately run. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you for the further clarification. >> Okay. Thank you. That was I didn't have anything else. >> Okay. Thank you, Madam Secretary. >> No, thank you, >> Councilman Albanese.
>> Uh, yeah, I just appreciate everybody coming out. Um, I'll continue to pray for the Muller family, everybody affected in this terrible tragedy. I'm going to congratulate the police officers that that got um promoted um and lifeguards Rob Brown. And um on a lighter note, Brick Memorial
won the Shore Conference semi the state semi-final group three yesterday in a heroic fashion. Came down to the last out. Um I forget the kid's name. got a hit. They're going on to the final, group three state final, Sunday 10:00 at um Ruckers University. So,
congratulations boys and good luck. >> Barry, just add that's the first time in Brook Memorial history that the baseball team is going this far. >> Oh, the they won a sectional title, which is the furthest that they've ever went and they won the semis and so >> they're going to win this on Sunday. No,
no doubt they're going to win this on Sunday. >> All right. Excellent. Thank you, Councilman Minino. >> Thank you. Uh, I'd like to congratulate the officers um and also Captain Jack and the lifeguards. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Raina.
>> Yes. My congratulations to our promoted officers. Also, thank you to the folks that were here this evening. Their grief is palpable and heartbreaking, and I'm glad that they were here to to share their stories. And I also want to thank our Ocean County Commissioners, our
county VA and engineer. Um I do want to have share a final thought with respect to resolution number two. So I also commend the dedication of boss Maryanne Gulada leads that committee and she is tireless and her enthusiasm is palpable.
I have nothing but um praise for the work of that committee. What I'm calling out here is a lack of transparency or perhaps of lack of communication in terms of um I did not hear any discussion of this at any committee
meetings. Nor was uh to my knowledge there any uh documentation in minutes of said meetings. So again surprised to see this on the agenda and as a committee member to not have known about it beforehand. But thank you very much. Have a great night.
>> Thank you. Excuse me, Councilman Cohen. >> Um, well, first, you know, congratulations to you, Brook Memorial Baseball. Hard win. Watched them uh progress as my son played with them and now now they're hitting the state
finals. He's not there anymore. But, um, you know, congratulations to them, to to Coach Ryz, an amazing team. Um, Brick should be proud as we always are of all of our sports teams. Um like to touch
quickly. Um, you know, the tragedy with Jackson is just I said last meeting, um, as a father of seven children, um, as a transportation coordinator, um, running public school busy the state of New
Jersey and having been, um, a supervisor here in Brick Township for, um, almost six of the 10 years that I've worked in brick in the school district in the transportation department. Um it's a bunch of de very dedicated people who are concerned about the safety of your children.
Um our primary goal, the first thing we do day in and day out is safety and the safety of the children. It's the first thing we think about. It doesn't matter whether that child is a walker or getting on a school bus. It is about the safety of the children. The laws in New Jersey in my opinion are screwed up as
is everything else in this state. But it's two and a half mile walk for a high school student. It's two-mile walk for preschool through 8th grade. Sidewalks not required. Crossing guards
not required. This is an issue that we need to talk to our state legislators about and you guys did a great job in in getting in touch with with Paul Kadichra. Um he's going to if he takes this um issue knowing him
and I know him well, he's going to run with it. One other thing I want to say about transportation part of this is that we need to reduce the amount of cars that are on Lanesville Road. Lanesville Road has been crazy. My kids went to at one point in time went to Lanesville Elementary School. I went to
Brook Memorial High School. And I want parents to understand that um children are more like more likely to arrive to school safely on a school bus than in a passenger car. 70 times more likely to
arrive to school safely on a school bus than in a passenger car. If you have busing available to you, you need to put your children on the bus. You need to reduce the amount of cars that are going up and down Lanesville Road for the safety of the people living on that road for the safety of the children and for
the safety of three schools that are sitting on Lanesville Road along with brick American baseball. Um the congratulations to all the police officers that came out tonight. We're promoted. Um we've got one of the best police departments um I think in the
state of New Jersey and most definitely right here in Ocean County. We have a lot to be proud of. I'd also like to um thank the uh lifeguards for coming out now. The statements that I actually had
if I can get this to open for me. Um, before we close, I want to address the purchase of the triangular lot in Pennsylvania, Illinois. And I'm not going to sugarcoat a single word of this. I support buying this property. It protects the neighborhood. It stops court-ordered development that never
should have been on the table in the first place. But let's call the situation what it is, a failure of the system that left brick taxpayers holding a six-figure bill for a lot that sold for $22,500 just two years ago. Here's some facts.
The lot was undersized and unbuildable. The zoning board did the right thing and voted it down. A superior court judge overturned them and ordered the board to work with the applicant anyway. The ruling forced the township into a corner um accept a court mandated uh mandated
home or buy the property for 125,000. This is not normal. This is not fair and it's not something taxpayers should ever have to expect to swallow quietly at its money that wasn't budgeted. And let me be clear about something. Residents deserve to understand the mayor appoints
every member of the planning board and the zoning board, not this council, not the minority party on this council and not you, the voters. And naturally, those boards reflect the mayor's political ideology, a liberal democrat-driven approach to land use and density that does not match the values
of many of brick residents. These appointments shape decisions long before it ever reaches this dis. And when those decisions get overturned in court, the taxpayers pay the price. So yes, I support the purchase because at this point it's the only responsible option left to protect the neighborhood. But I
will not pretend that this is acceptable. I will not pretend that this is good governance. And I will not pretend that paying five times the original value of the property is something residents should just shrug off. This is what happens when Trenton mandates collide with judicial overreach and land use boards do not reflect the
priorities of the people who live here. My job, the job of the Republicans on this council and our promise is simple. Protect neighborhoods. protect taxpayers and speak the truth even when it makes people uncomfortable. >> Council President, thank you.
>> Thank you, >> Councilwoman Travers. >> I just wanted to congratulate all the police officers on the promotions and um thank Rob Brown and the lifeguards and of course Captain Jack for coming out as well as the county office including the commissioner and the engineer. I think something we can all agree on up here is
that we want to work on making that road and um the safest it can be for the our students and our kids. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Vice President Amberino. >> Thank you, Council President. I do want to congratulate all of the police officers that were promoted this evening
and to thank every member of our brick PD for keeping us all safe. I'd also like to congratulate uh Rob Brown and Captain Jack and show my appreciation to all of the lifeguards that keep me, my family, my kids, and everybody in town
safe at the beaches. I think it's also worth, just like you mentioned, Councilman Cohen, uh recognizing the dedication of our bus drivers and our crossing guards, right? This is a group of individuals that uh do touch our children's lives every day and I know
that they do take that very seriously and I appreciate them for that. Uh, I'd also like to extend uh my sincere gratitude uh to Commissioner Bakone and Commissioner Gordon uh Gorman and our county administrator and our county engineer for showing up here tonight. I
do know that immediately in the wake of this horrific tragedy, uh, the requests that had come from our mayor and from our traffic safety officers and from this council, uh, were met, um, and responded to immediately by the county. And I know that our school board has
been involved in that as well. I I think it is laudable that, uh, everyone puts politics aside for sure and does what is right and necessary to best serve our community. Uh, and I will say again that
uh my prayers uh and the prayers of the entire Ammerino family remain uh with Jackson Muller's family and his friends. Uh for a couple of items that you had brought up, Councilman Cohen, I just want to say that uh on many things we we
very much agree. Uh I do just want to point out for clarification that it it was actually our board uh that made the same decision that we've made here tonight, right, to uh not allow this property to be developed. I think that's
the right decision. Um, I also agree with you wholeheartedly uh that there's nothing I hate more than uh a judicial uh uh ruling that overturns the decision that is either made by this governing body or or one of our boards. It's why I
view it as imperative that the authority of those boards is something that we maintain as a governing body. Uh so that they have a say and those representatives from our town and those representatives of our town have a say in what is developed and uh what can be
built here in our town. Uh that's it for this evening. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Uh I also want to recognize and thank all of the um police officers in regards to their promotions. Um I believe he's the deputy chief Matthews
now. Uh but both he and his dad, Coach Al were my son's first baseball coach um x number of years ago. Um so it really is awesome. It's such a strong sense of community. Um and uh it just it really
is awesome to be part of this community. Um, in terms of the the the tragic event, I remember, you know, last meeting we talked about emotions and anger is still with me because what happened was it just should not have
happened. And ever since then, I'm paying more attention to uh not just drivers on the road, but kids and adults who are riding bikes, scooters, and ebikes
inappropriately. They're on the wrong side of the road and they're not wearing helmets. And this is this is an issue where it's all hands on deck. So, we need everyone out there to participate in safety. So, if you know anyone who's riding a bike
or ebike or a scooter, uh just please remind them to follow the the traffic safety rules, be on the same road the same way as traffic and and wear a helmet. Um and if we all stick together, we can we can all stay safe
and have fun. Thank you. Uh the next scheduled uh public meeting will be Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026 at 7 p.m. Can I get a motion and a second to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? Hi I.