Frequent notice of this meeting was provided and published in the Asbury Park Press and the Ocean Star on January 17, 2025. Copies of the agenda were provided to the newspaper posted on public bulletin boards in the township website. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilman Albanese, Councilwoman Pontterero, Councilwoman D. Young
>> here, >> Councilman Feman, Councilwoman Travers >> here. >> Vice President Mikino >> here. >> President Amberino >> here. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm going to ask everybody to rise for a salute to the flag and a moment of silence. To the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Madame Clerk, please accept the reports from municipal officers and file them. >> Of course. >> And is there a motion in a second to
approve the minutes from the December 9th, 2025 meeting? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman D. Young, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Manino, >> abstain.
>> President Amberino, >> yes. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. I think we've got some folks in the audience here today uh for a presentation. I'd like to invite uh Mayor Crate to the podium as well as EMS Director Jim Rickio.
7 o' >> Good morning everyone. As EMS director, I have an opportunity to witness the outstanding work our EMS personnel perform on a daily basis. These are some of the most dedicated and talented individuals in the profession. And Brick Township is fortunate to have
them. As talented and as dedicated as they are, there's routinely that individual who each year rises to the top and goes the extra mile. The actions of those individuals do not go unnoticed and we do what we can to acknowledge their accomplishments. Each year at the National EMS conference held
in Atlantic City, EMS professionals are nominated and recognized for their achievements in the field of EMS. As you can imagine, there are many individuals nominated who are experts in their field and the competition is tough. This year, one of those individuals nominated at the National Conference for Paramedic of
the Year was our own Bricktownship paramedic EMT, Ricardo Lopez. And this is what was read by the program host. There are moments in this profession when someone steps forward, not for recognition, but because it's who they
are. In the most critical moments, this paramedic stands as a calm, steady presence, leading with a vision. As a tactical EMS commander, they have built a team that thrives under pressure through tireless training, strategic thinking, and an unwavering commitment to safety. But leadership is only part
of that story. As a field training officer, they have shaped the next generation of EMS professionals with patience and purpose, leaving a lasting mark on countless careers. And in on and in every call, they bring not only clinical excellence, but with compassion, always reassuring their
patients and families are never alone. Because of their dedication, professionalism, and overall epitome of what an EMS professional is and should be, the 2025 Paramedic of the Year award goes to Ricardo Lopez. [Applause]
Come on. So, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Brick EMS paramedic Ricardo Lopez for having been nominated and for having received this prestigious award. He's truly an asset to our department. I'd also like to honor Ricardo today
with a proclamation. The health and safety and overall quality of life within a community are directly dependent upon the availability of skilled, responsive, and welle equipped emergency medical services for residents in times of crisis. For nearly two decades, the Bricktownship Police
Emergency Medical Services Squad has faithfully served the community, providing life-saving care, rapid medical response, and compassionate assistance to residents and visitors alike during their critical moments. Ricardo Lopez has been a committed and
valued member of the Bricktownship Police EMS squad since August 2010, dedicating himself to the demanding and often selfless work of emergency medical response. Throughout the distinguished career with Brook Township Police EMS,
Ricardo Lopez has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism, clinical expertise, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, earning the respect of his colleagues and the trust of the community he serves. Ricardo Lopez's
dedication to the field of emergency medical services and his outstanding performance were recognized on a national level in November when he was named paramedic of the year for at the national conference on em uh of excuse me on EMS in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
An esteemed honor achieved by surpassing seven other finalists for this prestigious award. And I just want to say also um remarkable human being and our EMS crews uh I have said over and
over again, I've never had anyone say anything other than how remarkable they are and how blessed people felt when they were in a true emergency and crisis that our AMS workers were there to help them through that. And these are people who show up on what is arguably most
people's worst day and they somehow work to make it better. So, thank you to everyone uh and especially Carlo uh especially Ricardo. Um so, as mayor of the town of a brick in the county of ocean in the state of New Jersey in honor of being named the paramedic of
the year for 2025 by the national conference on EMS, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, December 30th as Ricardo Lopez Day here in Brick Township. And we hope everyone will celebrate with us. [Applause] I'm so sorry.
No, >> it's I saw [Applause] Yes. Today. I know it's early. Maybe we should do it at 11 next year. Good.
>> Oh, it is. >> Okay. So exciting. >> Okay, at this moment we on here. >> Yep. >> I'm going to ask the other council people to uh accompany me here at the lectern,
including Mayor Crate. I'd like to invite down Councilwoman Heather D. Young as well. [Applause] For some of you that know, uh, Councilwoman D. Young has been a member of our family and a part of the township
team for well over a decade at this point. Yes. No, half >> half. You're 24 years old. How could it be a quarter of your life? Uh but for over 12 years, she has faithfully and diligently served this town, each and
every one of us, you, me, and your neighbors, in her role as council person. Uh and she's taken that job to heart. I've seen it firsthand over the past several years, many of the people up here have been with her, some of them for that entire time, and they know that
Heather is truly one of the best residents that we have in Brick Township. uh whether it's serving on multiple committees throughout her tenure as council president multiple times, uh rolling up her sleeves and picking up trash on pickup brick
weekends or attending many many uh ribbon cutings for the businesses that have opened up. uh she's taken it to heart to uh spearhead a lot of our senior activities and senior initiatives and programs and she's been a phenomenal
advocate for that community in town uh just like she continues to be for everybody else in Brick as well. And so in recognition of that incredible service that she's provided to our township, the town council wanted to appreciate uh and show her our appreciation with this plaque
commemorating her years of service as a council woman. So Miss Young, please come up. Congratulations. >> That's up to you. >> Yes. >> Fantastic. Well, these flowers are for you.
>> Thank you. We're not done. >> We're not done. Nobody's going anywhere. >> So, I also wanted to take a moment to honor Councilwoman D. Young. Uh, I met her for the first time when I first had a meeting with uh her and Mayor Ducey
about um being on council and what that meant and the time that it would take. And since then, she has been a mentor, someone that I could look to. She's exceptionally involved. Uh, I believe she has served on every single committee
that we've had at some point over her tenure. And she's always someone that I know that I could turn to to ask a question or get um uh some advice or input about every different area here in town, whether it be land use or uh
recreation or our seniors. And it's been an honor to work with her for me for the last 10 years. Uh, and I'm very excited for her new adventures and some freedom that she's now going to be able to experience. Uh, you know, so I just want
to say congratulations to you for well job well done over 12 years. And with that, I would like to present you a key to our little city here. You can do whatever you want. Correct.
Oh, we're not done. >> Oh, sneaking it in. >> So, it's the last meeting of the year. It's also time to honor our council president for his year of dedicated service as president here at the
council. Uh, Council President Ambersino has been a fabulous president. Someone who is again very involved. A is great at not just listening but also asking
questions and uh is definitely a student of uh how well you can do and learn in the throughout this entire process of being a council member and as council president. And I want to really just thank you from the bottom of my heart.
You ran uh really well-run meetings. They were uh you know, you were calm and patient and caring uh and listened to everyone's questions. And I felt very respectful as people came up to ask
questions that um you know the public is sometimes you know uh difficult [Laughter] but we love that. and uh it's always a challenge and I'm just so proud of how well you did this year and you really led the council in such a fabulous way.
So I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and I would like to present this plaque to you as the ga the official gavvel >> even though you didn't really use the gavl this year. [Applause] contious.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Now uh with all that done, we can now proceed 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 very much. Item 41, >> authorized budget transfer. >> Uh Council Member Mino, >> thank you. This resolution authorizes budget appropriation transfers as needed
for year end. These transfers do not increase our overall municipal budget in any way. We are moving funds from one account to another. Thank you. >> Thank you. Item 42, >> authorized writer account transfers. >> Uh again, Vice President Makino.
>> Thank you. This resolution authorizes a transfer of funds as needed for year end into dedicated writer accounts. These transfers do not increase our overall municipal budget in any way. We are moving funds from one account to another. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Item 43,
>> authorize acceptance of Title 3E, Senior Caregiver Grant, Title 3B Senior Outreach Grant, and Title 3 C1 Congregate Nutrition Grant for 2026. >> Councilwoman D Young. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes the acceptance of funds available
through the Ocean County Office of Senior Services in an amount up to $170,500 for the programs and services by Brick Senior Services. And I just want to say working with our senior services, they are
exceptional. They always go above and beyond for our residents. So I just want to thank them. >> Thank you very much. Item 44, >> authorize award of contract St. Lawrence Boulevard Improvements.
>> Councilwoman Travers. >> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes the award of contract in the amount of $467,653.30 to Mo Inc. Clarksburg for the roadway improvements to St. Lawrence Boulevard project. The project generally consists of the mill and overlay of St. Lawrence
Boulevard between Catalina Drive and the Easterly Terminus. Bid notices were mailed to 78 prospective biders and 10 requested bid packages. Three bids were received with MIGO, Inc. being the lowest responsive responsible bidder. Thank you. >> Thank you. Item 45,
>> authorize award of contract, vaccon, parts, supplies, and repairs. >> Councilwoman De Young, can I ask you to read this? >> This resolution authorizes the award of contract in an amount not to exceed $125,000 to Vaccon Services of Branchburg for
supplies and repairs for the township's jetack equipment used by the road crew at Department of Public Works. This is a two-year contract. Two biders requested bid packages and one responded. >> Thank you very much. Item 46.
>> Authorize award of contract HVAC parts and supplies. >> Vice President Mikino. >> Thank you. This resolution authorized the award of contract in the amount of $100,000 per year with FW web company Tinton Falls for HVAC parts and
supplies. This contract will be used to purchase parts and supplies needed for the in-house repairs, maintenance, and in new installation as needed. This two-year contract bid notices were provided to five prospective biders. Three respect three requested bid
packages. One bid was received. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Item 47, >> authorized change order number two, 2024 2025 temporary sand fencing. >> Councilwoman Travers. >> Thank you, Council President. This resolution authorizes change order
number two for the 2024 2025 temporary sand fencing project awarded to Capella Construction Medford. The approval of the second and closeout change order increased the amended contract by $10 as a result of final as build quantities. Thank you. >> Thank you. Item 48
>> authorized motor vehicle selling licenses 2026. >> Vice President Mako. >> Thank you. This resolution authorizes renewal of a motor vehicle sales licenses for 2026 to brick auto body manaloken road and a car for your you
yours route 88 zoning code enforcements and the fire bureau have inspected the license and have found them to be compliant. Thank you. >> Thank you. Item 49 >> authorized fourth round affordable housing plan settlement agreement. >> I'm going to cover this one. This
resolution authorizes the affordable housing dispute resolution mediation agreements with Fairshare Housing Center and 975 Burnt Tavern Road LLC. Item 410 >> authorized shared services agreement with Manaloking Municipal Court
Services. >> Lastly, Councilwoman Dio. >> This resolution authorizes a shared service agreement with the Burrow of Manaloking for municipal court services. In this agreement, Manaloi Municipal Court will continue as its own entity, but will be processed and adjudicated
you using Brick Township employees and professionals. Brick will be fully reimbursed for these services. >> I like those words. Item 411 >> for Okay. >> Well, it's usually Lynette that goes first, but there's no bond releases, so
that's what threw me off. >> Fair. Uh 11 A 100% DAV widow of veteran deduction for block 9002.10 lot 12. 11 B is 100% DAV widow of veteran deduction of block 1058.01 lot 15. 11 C is
veterans deductions at block 119230 lot 12 and block 324.39 lot 8. 11d are tax overpayments in the year 2025 at block 1052 lot 8. 11E is making a tax exemption at block 400.05 lot 5. and 11F
is making a tax exemption at block 702.03 lot one. >> Thank you very much, Miss Bergen. This now brings us to the end of the consent agenda. Is there a motion and a second on the consent agenda? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Thank you. Open to council for questions
on the consent agenda. Seeing none, close council. Open a public for questions on these resolutions only. Seeing none, close public. Roll call. Councilwoman D. Young. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Mikino,
>> yes. >> President Amberino, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we can move on to item 412. >> 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 $1,217,129.38. >> Thank you. Is there a motion and a second on the computer bill resolution? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Open to council for questions.
>> Seeing none, close counsel. Open to the public for questions on the computer bill resolution. Seeing none, close public. Roll call. >> Councilwoman D. Young, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Makino, >> yes. >> President Ambersino, >> yes.
>> Thank you. Item 413. >> 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
2,698,98311. >> Is there a motion and a second on the manual bill resolution? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Open to council for questions. Seeing none, close council. Open to the public for questions on the manual bill
resolution. Seeing none, close public. Roll call. >> Councilwoman D. Young, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Travers, >> yes. >> Vice President Mikino, >> yes. >> President Amberino, >> yes. >> Okay, this brings us to agenda item
number five, 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 five minutes pursuant to Brick Township Administrative Code section 2-33b. >> Thank you. Are there any questions or
comments from the public? Yes. Yes. Absolutely. >> Uh come to the lectern, please. Okay. >> Hi, my name is Victoria Bala. Uh, I live at 759 Manet Drive.
>> Perfect. Thank you. >> I moved to brick um right before Sandy and so that's 12 13 years ago. And one of the first pe people I met when I moved to brick was
um Miss D. young and um I have always admired her enthusiasm, her commitment, her dedication, her sense of humor, and all the ways that she has been such
a positive representative of this council and and is in the community. And I I'm going to miss you, Heather. I think I think you're great and um you really impacted how I felt about moving
to Ocean County and starting my public service here. And um uh the last thing I'd like to say is my husband Joe and I have become um very friendly with a couple business owners
in town. And when they talk about anything that has to do with their property or their business, they they quote Heather and they they said that they feel very backed up and
represented in community because of he heather's commitment to our small businesses in this town. And that's another thing that Heather has done to make brick special. and I appreciate that and I thank you
very much. >> Thank you for your comments. Are there any other questions or comments from the public? Seeing none, close public, Miss Bergen. >> I have nothing further. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Yeah, I just would like to again uh thank Heather for her 12 years of service and I will miss you. Uh I could always no matter what was going on uh I could always count on Heather being
there whether it be a pickup rick or uh something at senior services or ribbon cutting or meeting new business members or going to uh chamber meetings. Uh Heather has been on call and available
and she shows up for everything and that's something there's something to be said for that because showing up is really important. Uh it's important to all of us sitting here but it's important mostly to the public uh to see that the people who are serving them
care enough to show up for all the things that are important to them as well. So I want to thank Heather for all of that and uh I'll miss you. I always look like, "Oh, Heather's cars here." I know. I'm like, you know, I will not always alone. You know, I always have somebody that I know that I can talk to
and be with. So, I I do thank you for all of that. And I would be remiss um Councilwoman Pontterero is not here today. She wasn't feeling well, but today would have been her la or is her last day of uh serving on the council as
well. And uh had she been here, we would have been able to honor her as well. But I do want to at least recognize and acknowledge her hard work over the last 12 years as well and her commitment to the community and how much she loves this town and loved serving this town.
So I want to thank her as well and I hope that we get to celebrate with her when she's feeling better. So thank you and happy new year. >> Thank you very much. Mr. Starky. >> Uh yes. I just like to say word a word about Heather. Um,
uh, I started as township attorney this the same day she started on the council, which was also the same day that former mayor Dussy started as mayor. We sort of came in together not quite knowing what we were getting into. But, um, over the years, I've watched Heather, seen her,
worked with her, and I I think it's easy for me to say she's probably the hardest working member of council that I've ever been associated with. Um, John Ducey would um was always very knowledgeable about what was going on in town and also very hardworking, but Heather would uh often outwork him and sometimes correct
him on things that he got wrong about the town, which was impressive to me. >> Um, but I I just want to say that you are a true asset to this town. I'm sure you will continue to be in whatever role you choose. Um, I'll I'll miss you sitting up here. you were uh you're
always a a fond of immense knowledge and I know that the residents um appreciate everything you've done for them, especially the business people and the seniors. I know those were your two areas that you really excelled in. Um and I just want to say um thank you and I um you'll you'll be missed.
>> Thank you, Madame Clerk. >> Yes. I would also like to thank Councilwoman D. Young for her years of service. I've enjoyed working with her for the past 12 years and Councilwoman Pontterero as well. and we're missing her today, but we'll miss her moving forward as well. >> Thank you very much, Madam Secretary.
>> Yes. I'd like to wish and visit us. >> Thank you. All right, we're going to switch it up a little bit. Councilwoman Travers, >> we're saving you for last. I also, you know, would just like to thank you for your dedicated service to the town um
and for the last few years that I've had the pleasure of spending with you. Um, I know I haven't had the same extensive history um with you as many of the other council um members, but the lessons I've learned have definitely been invaluable. You're truly a fountain of knowledge. Um, and I'm just really going to miss
having you up here. So, thank you and happy new year. >> Thank you, Vice President Mikina. >> It's hard to follow all that. Um, >> you're going to have to. >> Yeah, I know. Um, we spoke yesterday. I told you you're a wealth of knowledge.
You've helped teach everybody up here what they know, what they're going to need going forward. Trust me, keep your phone on because we're going to be calling. Um, yeah. Um, again, thank you for everything you did. It was a long time and I don't know if we'll ever have
somebody else that long, but congratulations to future endeavors for you and Marian. Okay. Thank you again. Okay. >> Last but not least, the honorable council woman D. Young. Okay. Gonna try to keep it together.
As Kev said, I've been and everybody here, I've been up here 12 years. I never wanted to be up here. You know, John John Ducey came up to me and he's like, "You're going, we need you. we
need you to be a placeholder. Don't worry, I'll find someone to come off the ticket for you. John lied. Um, obviously 12 years ago, I never came off
the ticket and I will always be grateful for that. I will be grateful for the opportunity that John gave me to serve this community. You know, we always talk about everything that we've been able to
do for brick, better financial footing, bringing businesses into brick and becoming the destination as you know shown by me and Lisa always going to every single ribbon cutting because we are supporting those businesses. We have
tremendous parks, great land use, and being able to figure out how brick needs to move forward in the future. We have the best police force in the nation. We really do. Our EMS, they go, it both
police and EMS respond to so many emergencies and they are there, like the mayor said earlier, on people's worst days and they are a tremendous asset. DPW is always out there. They are doing
what we need to do to make sure that our town stays clean. We have our great parks. Our recreation programs are top. We really are a great town. And of course, our administration. We
have Joanne Bergen who is a tremendous force for this town. I just want to take the opportunity to thank my family. They've allowed me to serve often either missing family things or
being late because they understood my commitment sorry to service and make making I showed up for everything that I possibly could have.
Lastly, I just want to thank the voters of brick for reelecting Mayor Curry because of her reelection. It is a testament to everything that we have been doing right in this town. So, for
me, it's a win and for me it understands that voters do of what we're trying to accomplish in this town. So, thank you to this council and thank
you to the voters of Brick and everybody that I serve, all of the residents for allowing me and giving these me these 12 years. It truly has been a privilege and it has absolutely changed me for good.
So, thank you. Happy New Year. Sorry I'm a mess. >> Thank you very much, Councilwoman Heather. By every objective measure, for the past 12 years,
this town has been on the right track and has been wellrun. and you have been an exceedingly central part of that. I appreciate that you thank the voters, but each and every one of us
owes you a debt of gratitude for how you've served our town. And I promise you that your legacy of good stewardship will carry on in this council and this administration.
Thank you for your service. And to everybody else, I wish you all a very safe and happy new year. Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 6th at 7 p.m. I will now
entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> All in favor? Meeting adjourned.