electronics. Thank you. >> Like to welcome welcome everybody to our March 18th Brigadine City Council meeting. Please rise for the flag. Please stand in prayer. >> Heavenly Father, we come to ask you this
hour uh asking for your blessing and hope and help as we are gathered together. We pray for guidance in the matters at hand and ask that you would clearly show us how to conduct our work with a spirit of joy and enthusiasm.
Give us the desire to find ways to excel in our work. Help us to work together and encourage each other to excellence. We ask that you would challenge each of us to reach higher and farther to be the best we can be. Thank you for watching
over our great community and keeping us safe in these unsettled times. We ask this in your name. Amen. Please be seated. Mike's sister just passed the church everybody knows
and also one of our longtime teachers Karen Karen Karen Ben >> Karen Benoff's father just passed also Harry is uh See, can you read the open public public meetings act announcement?
>> Notice that this meeting has been legally provided as required by open public. Perfect. At this time, we're going to depart from the regular agenda. Uh we actually have a presentation from Janette Kesler. Janette, welcome. >> Thank you.
>> Hello, Janette Kesler for Kirby Place. Um I am here to present today happily to tell you all and to tell the community that we have been accredited for the um time of now until 2028 the urban and
community forestry accreditation for the city of Burggantine and it really is a big deal. It is a lot of work. John's team has done a lot of work on it but the the most important part of it has been done by the community. We had over
80 volunteers each accepting a packet and that packet included a district part of the town, a couple of blocks, whatever it may have been. And they literally went around those blocks, measured the trees, did the distance
from the ground to breast height, and measured the circumference of the tree, checked the health of the tree. We have a complete inventory of every single tree on the island. That's amazing. except the ones on the golf course and private property. We didn't go on private property, but every other tree
on the island, we have a complete um assessment and a hazard assessment and inventory of. So, that really is a big deal. The state gives us great points for that. That'll increase our ability to get grant money for planting more trees. So, it really is a a a very good
thing. Very excited about that. Part of the accreditation was outreach um about planting and about trees. And with that, our cherry blossom festival is coming up. Our cherry blossom festival is the official welcome to spring. And uh part
of our accreditation for the urban and community forestry plan is that you celebrate your canopy, whatever your canopy may be. We don't grow giant oak trees here because of our sandy soil, but we grow a heck of a lot of beautiful cherry blossoms, so we celebrate that.
The Cherry Blossom Festival is the weekend of April 24th and 25th. We're having a run, a 5K run through the Cherry Blossoms. We have plenty of folks signed up for that. Still time for people to sign up for that. We have an open house on the 25th at the community
garden. We have our annual cherry blossom tea is the afternoon of the 25th and we just announced the cherry blossom princesses for 2026.
Uh seedling is under 12 is Harper Corte. The annual is Emily Maguire. The pollinator princess is Shaina Kachinsky. And the perennial princess is Trisha Cosgrove. and all of those all the representing all the different ages and
stages of the trees and the ages and stages of our princesses. Uh they're recognized for their volunteerism on the island. every one of those uh girls to women uh volunteers shows the spirit of volunteerism in Burggantine and you know we're we're really proud to celebrate
them as part of our cherry blossom festival which is part of our urban and community forestry plan and we just had our weekly meeting Monday 66 days until the farmers market opens um we're ready we have our meetings weekly carefully
curating an amazing market we're looking forward to it and brick on blanc is confirmed for September 26th of 2026. So that is my green team message. Thank you so much for allowing me to do the hard
work on behalf of the city of Burggantine for the green team. Thank you John for leading us. Thank you. >> When do tickets go on sale for Brigone Blanc? Um, they will go on sale probably the first week of August. >> Okay, perfect.
>> I think we only have 14 months. >> Yeah, >> definitely a lot of uh popular events. I know it's a lot of work that goes into all the things you do. Great news about the fire street. I know that's been a a huge undertaking and I think it's going to be a great benefit to the city. So
thank you guys very much >> and great job as grand marshall braid last Saturday she made us look good for tiger executive session >> yes mayor contract negotiations should
be pretty quick uh Christine can you read the resolution >> the governing body will enter into its executive session to discuss contract negotiations once the need for confidentiality no longer exists will be made.
>> We have a motion second. >> I'll make that motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? I seeing none. Motion pass back. Just too much. Wait, you're here.
I didn't get Stop. Thank you. It's pretty Thank you. That looks good. So Well, I could see That's right.
Oh my god. All right. Can we have a motion and a second to resume the meeting? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. Any oppose? All right. See none. Motion passed. We're going to resume our meeting. Uh George, can you summarize? Yes, Mayor. Um we did have a
brief executive session regarding contract negotiations. There's no action for this evening, but more more than likely on a future agenda. >> Perfect. All right, we need our approval of minutes. This is for March 4th, 2026 council meeting minutes. We have a
motion and second questions or comments. Seeing none, can we have roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. We have our approval of our bill requisition list. We have a motion and second.
>> That motion. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have a roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mayor Sarah, >> yes. Motion carries. >> At this time, we'll open it up for public comment. This is public comment on agenda items only.
Seeing no public participation, we're going to close the public portion. Uh first up, we have resolution 2026-86. This is a resolution authorizing a contract with multiple vendors for herbicides, fungicides, insecticides,
fertilizers, seed, and golf course supplies. >> A motion second. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mayor Sarah, >> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-87. This is a resolution authorizing a contract with Finch Turf Incorporated for mowers for the Brigintine Golf Links, Brigentine, New Jersey. Uh this will be leased in a total of $8,74210.
We have a motion and second. >> Second. Questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Mayor Sarah, >> yes. Resolution 2026-88. This is a resolution authorizing a
contract with Fitch Turf Incorporated for a grinder for the Brigantine Golf Links, Brigintine, New Jersey. Uh this is a monthly cost of $1,831.91. A motion second. >> Make that motion. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have roll call?
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mayor Sarah, >> yes. Resolution 2026-89. This is a resolution authorizing a contract with Lawn and Golf Supply Co. Inc. for a top dresser tractor for the
Brigintine Golf Links, Brigintine, New Jersey. And this will be purchased in total of $13,25. Motion second. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? >> Seeing none, can we have roll call? >> Yes.
>> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. Mayor >> Sarah. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-90. This is a resolution authorizing a contract with Side Pony Print Shop for Beach Patrol uniforms. This is in the
amount of $25,428.50. Have a motion and second. >> So move. Second. >> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have a roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Resolution
2026-91. This is a resolution by the city of Brigantine for uh state of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Grant Program. This is for the Green Acres uh grant for Eastshore Drive inclusive Playground. We have a
motion and second. >> I'll make that motion. Second. >> Questions or comments? Seeing none, we have roll call. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mayor Sarah. >> Yes. She carries. >> Resolution 2026-92.
This is a resolution authorizing the award of contract to Polyino and Associates for design, permitting, construction, management, and inspection for the replacement of the elevated boardwalk at Ross Drive, Frigotine, New Jersey. This is in the amount of 47,000.
We have a motion. Second. >> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes, >> Mayor Sarah, >> I'm glad to see this moving forward. This has been a big request of the people who live in that area. So, I know
they'll be happy to see this project moves forward. So, I vote yes. >> Resolution 2026-93. This is a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign and execute any documents necessary for the reconstruction of a dock located adjacent to 4125 Atlantic
Brigintine Boulevard. Motion second. >> I'll make that motion. Second. questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Uh resolution 2026-94. This is a resolution supporting the
community project funding application for the north end seaw wall expansion. We have a motion second. >> So I'll make that motion. >> Second. Uh for this, this is part of the process um that we're going through. One of the things we're working with on Congressman Vanrew is an extension of
the seaw wall portion of the prominant. This will extend another 275 ft north. We are working on something called a tiger dam. It's named after our city man. No, I'm just kidding. It's a uh he's actually just going to stand out there and hold the water back. Uh we are
working on a a tiger dam out there as a temporary because when the federal government moves, it moves big but it moves slow. Uh what this will do is this will fund the CAP 103 study in order for the Army Corps of Engineers to do anything. They have to do a study. The study has to show one that there's a
benefit, two that it's needed and that helps to guide the designs as things move forward. This is the uh first phase of that. Uh once this is done, we'll actually go back. I've had conversations with the congressman. He's committed to this project and seeing it through all the way to the end. But once that study
is done, he's going to go back in to work on funding for the full extension of the seaw wall. Uh he's been very successful in other shore communities within his district. And uh this is a good starting point for us. So I'm very very happy to see this moving forward. And we're also working with the state of
New Jersey as um our non-federal sponsor. So they'll be uh helping us with this project as well. So it's good to have uh good relationships. Questions or comments? Seeing none, we have roll call. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-95. And this is a resolution authorizing the city of Brigantine to enter into a two-year agreement with my beach mobile with an option to extend for two
additional years. Have a motion. Second. >> Uh basically this is a a digital this is for digital beach tags. So, it's the app, the program, all that stuff to run. That's all it is. Questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have a roll call? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Uh, next up, we have our consent agenda. We have our beach soccer and Brigantine, August 8th. American Legion raffle license number 1146 and Elks raffle
licenses number 1147 and 1148. We have a motion. Second. I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Questions or comments? Seeing none, can we have roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mayor Sarah.
>> Yes. >> All right. Next up, we have our council manager, Tiger. Anything for us? >> Uh, nothing, Mayor. Thank you. >> Go over to all our department heads. Over to our deputy mayor. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry I missed the shake your shamrock weekend. It looked like it
was a huge success. And I'm sorry I missed seeing Councilman King wearing a skirt. >> Killed a kill. >> And sounds like Mike Reen had a good time DJing. >> Let's just hope for some nicer weather.
Saturday. >> Paul, >> work continues on the prominade, but the lights were blinking last night again. >> We We are aware that they're blinking again. The contractor has been notified. >> The lights close to 10th Street. >> Yeah, it's the southernmost one. So, we
we reported it two days ago. Yeah, >> they don't expect >> and they were uh >> Yeah, >> they've been for the last three days or so tearing out the >> the ramp of a uh handicap ramp that was there that collapsed after the first
storm. They were knocking that apart. So hopefully they'll have that open and ready for season. I believe they're replacing it with the original stairs. They had >> I'm sorry. They tried something there. did work. Right on.
>> I don't have a whole lot. Uh just that it was a great week. Patrick's Day weekend pray was amazing. It was an absolute honor to be one of the grand mares with a great group of people. So, Mike, >> thank you, mayor.
Let's start out with the uh cultural arts commission. We have a big uh big event coming up Frank Sinatra dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner dinner show and all coming up next month there'll be more details at next uh first meeting in April uh economic development committee
met last week talking discussing a lot of things about uh 250th anniversary of the country country what we're doing here in Brigantine the 100th anniversary of brigantine what's going on after Labor Day and several other items
uh as details get released and uh we'll talk some more about that. Really want to thank the Chamber of Commerce for the fabulous job they did with Shake the Shamrock and then the department heads police and fire, John Doran public works, just everybody else. It was a
great team effort on last Saturday's parade at wonderful grand marshals. Uh that was a site I never thought I'd see, but uh you know, well done. Uh but no, we really appreciate it. The
your security and safety and the job the police department did was was uh just wonderful. Fire department right there. John, you're you're fabulous as always. So, I really appreciate it. Everyone else helped down. Thank you so much.
businesses. I mean, I was in the beast beast show this morning and they said that they were jammed over there in the diner in the beastro and Girl Scout sold uh I don't know 150 box of cookies and stuff. So, you know, every everyone uh
made out for itself and that's what it's all about. It's all got >> I say Mike, I think definitely this is one of the best St. Patrick's Day parades we've ever had. I know uh Chamber of Commerce work real hard. All of our city departments, the chamber
actually wanted me to thank everyone. They said this is the most important the city's ever been. But what I was said told is the city's always been there for us, but this year was just over the top. So, thank you for everything that you guys did. Uh businesses were real happy. I mean, that's one of the things we
really work with the chamber on is uh what we can do to really benefit those businesses in the shoulder season and this has really grown into uh one of the best events that we do. Mike, thank you for all the work that you do. Put a lot of effort and energy. I think uh you're definitely the best parade
master we've ever had. >> What I do? >> No, but it was good. I think you bring a good energy and excitement and it's it's awesome. So, thank you very much. >> Uh give a quick update on South Jersey Gas. As everybody knows, um, you know,
bills are hitting everybody really hard and we're trying to get answers to understand, you know, what's happening because the actual cost of gas, the gas itself, the material that you use, that price has gone down, but what's going up is the delivery fees and the rider
rates. And we're trying to get clarification from South Jersey Gas as to what makes up those rates and what's driving the increase. Working with Senator Polyina on this. Uh we're getting information from South Jersey Gas, getting information from the BPU,
and really what the hopes is is if we can understand what's driving the cost, we can work together with South Jersey Gas and work together with the governor to come up with some type of plan for relief. Uh so we'll keep people posted. South Jersey Gas did share some
information. uh we asked them for some clarification and asked them instead of percentages to give us like real numbers because you know percentages sometimes doesn't mean anything. So we want to know what those real numbers are. We're also asking too to kind of give a breakdown of what all this means for the
average rate picker. You can give all kinds of crazy numbers but at the end of the day we want to know what it means for us. A lot of people have reached out with requests um for us to do the same thing with Atlantic City Electric. I think we're going to go through the process with South Jersey Gas to understand what's happening there
because I think there might be some similarities and I think once we understand one we'll be able to have be in a better position to work with the other. We will keep everybody posted but um and I want to let people know South Jersey Gas has been very open, willing to work with us. I don't believe they're trying to hide anything. So it it's good
that they're being transparent with their information. Uh the other thing too I just you know want to say like you know when you look at the agenda like we're making a lot of big investments in the city and uh very very proud of that. You know you look at like how beautiful things are look at what's going on with
the country club down there and you know we have a whole new team that I think it's going to be an incredible time down at the golf course. And obviously we have the changes we need to bring in some equipment. We were sharing equipment with the um green tree. You know we no longer are doing that. We're
going out on our own. So you see some of that equipment coming in here. But I tell you, anybody who has an opportunity, go down to the golf course, meet our new team. Um they just excellent, excellent people. And um we're going to continue to invest in the city, continue to make it beautiful. Uh
we're paving a ton of roads on the island and I think that's really important. I saw John, I saw you guys uh patched a couple of the spots on Beayshore. So thank you. I was I saw the one the comb was up there yesterday. I was going to talk to you today was already taken care of. So, thank you very much. I appreciate that. All right.
With that being said, we're going to open it up for public comment. Anybody wishing to be heard, please come up and state your name and address for the record. Not going to yell at me today, Dad. No. Okay. Go ahead, Frank.
>> Good evening, council staff members. Um name is Frank Glee, 433 Lafia Boulevard. Um got three quick items. Um first two personal ones. Councilman Kane looking good at the St. Patrick's party uh parade the other day and thank you for staying to the end of parade and welcome
everybody. I know some of the other people had a lead for personal reasons, but appreciate it. Very nice. Um Councilman Reen, I appreciate you appointing me to the economic development council. It was a great meeting last week. Um seems like a very dynamic group. I'm very happy and interested to uh to be involved in that.
Thank you. Um last sort of two meetings ago or last meeting um I made a proposal shout to the council about what I collectly called um adopt the hydro program. Um after the meeting a few of the council people came up to me said that it seemed like a good idea and you know kind of take the ball and run with
it. So, um, I sat down a few nights and I put together what I call perspective and with your permission like to pass it out for maybe a quick discussion. I will simply that prior to meeting deputy mayor you did come up to me and apparently 10 11 years ago there was a
program of that nature. So, this without stepping on anyone's toes, whether it's to the fire department or DPW or anyone else, um maybe to finesse it a little bit, maybe you could get a ball rolling. Um couple quick things that I wanted to um
just discuss without taking up the time. I know time limit. Um, I just chose the implementation time as as the fall mainly because if we if you decide to go with it and you'll start it in the spring or summer months, most of the people worried about their businesses making sales, getting the beach ready,
getting a suntan, things like that, and it's going to kind of go by the wayside. So, once the summer rush, for lack of a better word, is over perhaps tied in with the um fire department, Chamber of Commerce, and all the other um groups
that I've mentioned here. Um my concerns um the costs again should be nominal. Some data entry printing of certificates. I know the city gives out certificates for various other causes. So maybe just a little tweak with the paperwork. Um liability again is this
voluntary program. Um so there should be none. But I will defer to the corporation council. And my concern with that is if Mrs. Jones decides to adopt a hydro from her house and she's out there shoveling it and she slips and falls. She's not going to come back and sue the city and say, "Hey, you know, I tied up
with this program. It's a city program. Uh, I want to be reimbured, etc., etc." Um, culpability, same thing. Back to the um corporation council, same thing. Mrs. Jones doesn't doesn't uh shovel her hydro and clean it, and the FD has to go there and establish a water source. I
don't want anybody to say, "Oh, well, you know, we're going to hold you responsible because you signed up for the program, but you didn't fulfill your obligation, so to speak." It is a voluntary thing, and possible violation of the collecting bargain agreements, i.e. the unions,
whether it's fire, police, DPW, OEM. Um, I'm still not sure who's responsible for what, and again, I don't want to step on anyone's toes. Um, to have u Mr. Mr. taxpayer do it and then get a grievance to the council to the city manager for um doing something that's quote unquote
under the contract. So, um that's my little proposal. Um I'd be happy to answer any questions and if you decide to go with it, um be happy to help out in any way possible. Chief, this is something. >> Yeah, it's Perfect.
You guys work together. Thank you so much. >> No, thank you for entertaining. You know how to get a hold of me. Phone call away. Take two minutes over to the firehouse. Yeah, I made >> I made a couple of suggestions. Um, I'm not very good at art, but I have a
problem with drawing a stick figure, but um something like maybe a set of arms holding the hydrant. Um, incorporate bug gear fox. if that's a trademark or something along those lines, but anything maybe get some of the artists to come up with an idea and accept it
and away we go. >> Okay. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Frank. >> It was funny. The day after Frank was here and spoke after the last meeting in my Facebook memories came up from 2015
from our Brigine Fire Department. It said, "Help us. Help you and your neighbors adopt the hydrant. Dig out three feet each direction." And it showed, you know, this was just a little informal thing. It wasn't anybody pointed or anything, but if you saw one
in your neighborhood to do it, it was it was quite ironic that it was the next day. >> It's great. And especially if there's middle school children or high school children there too in the neighborhood like I know I have in my neighborhood. Uh getting children involved is also a
good thing and some pride in the neighborhood. Yeah. >> I think too like certificates or little thank you letters to volunteers. I think that's a good suggestion. So thank you very much. >> If there's no other public comment we
close the public portion. Any final council comments? Seeing none, we have a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Seeing none, motion passed. Thank you for coming out, watching your council team at work.
It's