--------- Good afternoon. Okay. I'd like to call this meeting to order. Roll call. Mr. Dangler here. Mr. Rases here. Mrs. Whittis here. Dr. V here. Mr. Ver, I'm here. I hereby certify that this meeting has been published in the newspaper in accordance with the open public meeting
act and posted as required by law. Thank you. First item, we have the environmental commission presentation. It's all yours. Thank you. So, thank you to everyone for having us. Um, Faith and I would like to just give you a brief update on a couple of things
that we've been working on and focus on just a couple of things that might need some discussion. Can you hear me? Okay. I can't hear. Sorry, it's me. It's not you. Um, so we we've kind of bundled it. Trees is sort of a focal point here. I think we
mentioned that our tree canopy in Long Branch is down about 10% over the last decade and we want to change that. So, we've done tree walks to try to get people interested. We published some awareness documents on the tree new tree ordinance. Um, we're going to continue
that. Um, and we're setting up a seedling nursery in the community garden because now we have to buy our plants that we give away at Arday. Gave away 150 trees this year. We had to buy them. So, we're going to build our own nursery. We're going to raise them ourselves and uh we can actually hopefully give more and we're going to
try to get the community involved in that as well. Um and we've got some potential tree planting. Um faith uh reached out to the Elks Lodge. They're considering um an option to plant four trees along uh the road that would face
the school where they just planted all those trees at the schools. So this would put shade trees on the other side of the street, rebuild the shade canopy. So, we're wait they're going to discuss it at their July meeting and let us know. Um and then we're going to do a
neighborhood tree program. Um we had toyed with the idea of trying to pilot it on 7th Avenue, but I think after multiple discussions, what we really want to do is just put it out to people um with the limited
budget that we have um do you want a tree in your front yard? and we're going to make them small enough like 6 to 8 feet volunteers can plant it and then the people would be responsible for maintaining them. Several other towns do this. Um we want to you know keep it
small because we have a limited budget. Um but that's we're going to try to get people excited about planting trees in the community. So um we're thinking maybe about 20 trees max. Um and we'll see who who responds.
And then ultimately if we get some in interest we want to build it into this captain program where people would kind of tap their neighbors and say hey let's try to put some trees on this street and you know neighbors you know soliciting neighbors but for right now we thought
we'd kind of do a direct to direct to resident project. So um yes, so um I have a question probably to Charlie if um the green team and environmental commission if they weren't doing this
um is there anybody who is kind of responsible for how would this kind of stuff get done? Well, I couldn't hear a question. I said the green team and environmental commission if they weren't doing these things um is there another way? Is there anyone from the city
that's kind of responsible for this or how how would this stuff get done? That was my question. Okay. Well, the trees that look in the plant, there's a grant that comes out every year that we apply for, but the school won it a year and a half, two years ago, and that's why they got all those and put them in. But we
applied I think we asked for just not enough to be honest. I think we asked for 150 and it wasn't enough, wasn't it? The number the trees we asked for in that grant was like, they wanted more. So 150 wasn't enough for them to award us. Um but but we do apply every year and the school ended up getting it. But the school is the one that has the
property. We were trying to find places to put even 150 and it was hard. Yeah. We um friend of mine's a member of the Tom River Elks and because the fire they had several months ago, um they're giving
trees away. Just happened to say if I know anyone that wanted anybody. Uh no, I don't want a tree in my front yard. Okay. I'm old and I'm not breaking leaves, but um if you want me to call, I can.
But they were Yes. Okay. They're giving them away. Great. Um we also um some time ago we had put a proposal together for trees entrapment park. At the time I think you were guys were still figuring out what
to do with annuals there, but that's kind of there and there's probably opportunity to put trees in that park. It's the little triangle on Florence Avenue. Um and we still have the design. It was done by Katherine Ducket. And um so we thought, you know, depending on
what budget we have left over from the neighborhood trees, uh we might um try to put some trees in that park if that's okay. That' be good. Actually, that'd be a great idea because I mean as a caz trees wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
Thank you. Um, excellent. Um, next big item is green infrastructure. Um, you know, last year actually at this time we were all excited about a rain garden we were going to put over in Red Oaks Drive that fell apart because of it was too close
to the sewer lines. So, um, Faith has received two grants about $8,000 worth of money. They're still we we have those grants. We've got a new design now for Avenel Boulevard and this is right next to the elementary schools. It's right by
a a culvert that pushes a lot of muck actually into the park. Jackson Woods. Um friends of Jackson Woods would agree to uh maintain the rain garden. Uh the school is supportive. Um, but the design
came back with a it's got a curb cut and then it's got a pipe that pipes all the overflow that comes in through the curb cut into the into the storm drain. So, whatever the plant roots can't suck up, it goes into the storm drain. And I think Charlie uh you've seen this and
you wanted Laura to take a look at it. She is and so is the school now and their insurance. Oh, okay. Okay. So, we're hopeful that this design will be supported. Um certainly Ruckers Engineers, if you guys want to reach out
to them, Laura wants to reach out to them, we have the contact info. Um and then the the school was going to help us dig it out. Uh but they, you know, their maintenance guys aren't capable of doing the curb cut pipe install. So if we can
do this, we would like to have the support of the city DPW to do those two. So we can't do We have to hire a contractor. Okay. Remember what the price was last time? 1700. No, this is like a 4 foot curve cut. Yeah, but it's
a contractor we have to hire. Okay. Okay. Um, well, you know, let's get it. Okay. Pipe installed. What do you mean? You got a curve cut. What? You got a pipe under
there's a there's a pipe that has perforations in that fortration. Yeah. And then it is attached to the stone to the cement that is on the storm drain. So when the water comes in from
the curb cut, it goes into the garden into that I see. And that's go slowly up. So you know this is our second shot at this. So we are very hopeful. We really would like to use these grants and not
get them back without the curve cut. said it's not a rain garden. So, there you have it. And that street does get a lot of water because I live in that neighborhood. Um, not too far. Well, I live off Patton, but not too far. And I've driven down that street when it's raining and it
gets pretty wet. So, um, we've done a lot on native plants. That's another one of our focus areas. U, we have a speaker program. You know, we do, um, put new native gardens in Ross Lake and
Jackson Woods. All of that is either donated funds um through grants or um in one case it's you know money we've raised through friends of Jackson um I believe watering our gardens in
Jackson for us. Um so and we've done some deer grass planting uh and we've put some raised beds gardens over at the senior center. No there. Um we thank you for your support of the plastic dust ordinance. Um Charlie Glenn really appreciate that
and also the skip the stuff restrictions and um we're looking forward to in terms of plans the community forestry management plan I think is uh Laura and company. Okay. So, uh, at some point
we'd like to see the draft and collaborate. Okay. She applied for a grant. I think her So, there's a certain level of, um, qualification you need to to do this. And her person is doing it. You can't like you need to be a forestry
management professional. They have a whole bunch of whoever. We let her acronyms that are qualified. Correct. So, it's it's due the end of this year. So, I guess it's we're about halfway through the year. So, she'll keep in touch. Yes. Okay. Um,
this is just a little list of some of the other things that we've been working on, um, and continue to work on. Um, I'm really excited that we have nine businesses that were certified through the green business recognition program.
Uh, I still remember when we were introducing it, one of the businesses said, "What what people really want is promotion." And, you know, we do a little article when everybody's awarded and we put out pictures. Um, but we're open to
suggestions for how we could further promote our green businesses. I think at Long Branch today we're going to try to do something to highlight those nine businesses. But you guys have any other ideas? They
highlighted and maybe they get to the other business. Yeah. you know, and maybe highlight also what they do, which is unique. Um, so so is there to again I'm looking at
you who does our publicity for stuff like that. So yeah, I mean I was going to say depending on what it is, the Chamber of Commerce would be the place to go. They're they're really um remodeling themselves and this is the kind of stuff they're doing. So do you have like a criteria? Yeah, we have a
criteria. I would say send the Chamber of Commerce your criteria and they'll look through their books of business and see who who they think qualifies. Okay. So, they'd also like to just promote the businesses themselves. They're looking to do that. So, right. So, maybe they could highlight or at least give you the
names and then put it out on their sites as they're looking to do that. Okay. Would it be possible to have a brochure to highlight what they've accomplished so that other businesses have an idea? Yeah, because right now our brochure is sort of about the program. Yeah. But we could do another one that's more about
who the business who they are, what they've done. In fact, I could also talk to the I going I'm going actually to a focus group tomorrow with Ricky. Oh, good. Um so maybe if we did a brochure like that, they could distribute it.
The other we've been doing a couple of times a year is this the polystyrene foam or styrofoam recycling days that people bring and drop it off. I know uh we're going to try to keep doing that like every quarter or so. We get a little bit um residents can take it up
to my to Middletown. I know Jay was looking into uh whether we could get a machine to do it ourselves, but um we'll see where that happens. Um, couple of things we wanted to just hear from you. Uh, I know I guess Phil
has been talking, I think, to the mayor about the water bottle refilling stations at the boardwalk. We really think that would be a great thing, you know. So, you want to I think we have two now, don't we? Yeah. I mean, you know, obviously we're not just going to replace perfectly good
working uh, you know, water stations. So, as they break, we're replacing with them. But we're not going to just replace a perfectly good working one. Um, some bad news that I got today. The water company's grant came out and we're not eligible. Why? And municipalities aren't eligible. I I actually called her. I'm like, "Is
this a Did you leave us out? Is it a misprint?" And she's like, "No, it's just for schools and universities now. So, we're not kidding. Is that New Jersey?" New Jersey course. Yeah. It just came out. It's the same one that you got for two or three. No. Oh, no. I No. This is
they have a um specifically a bottle refilling station. It's a grant just for that and you can apply for them. I was going to apply for every boardwalk thing and try and get a grant but we're not eligible and nonprofits aren't eligible. Nonprofits are but the city is not the municipality. I could apply for under
the public. Okay. We can maybe we can do it in a park that way. I'm not sure if the the boardwalk but maybe the parks. Let's talk about that. You are you're official and have everything. Yes. Okay. Mah is like a really optimal place to have a
lot of people playing. No one I know anyway and all people. Yes. We qualify. Um Elon Station Park because that's a you know where they're supposed to I think it's it's on the back burner
right now with the change of administrations. I think that we haven't heard back yet. So it's a it was a federal grant. I'm not sure we're gonna see that. Oh, you think that might be it? We haven't heard. So, what are you talking about? What? Elbron. So, Elbron is uh Elbron obviously we're doing the
interior and exterior renovation of the library as well as some landscaping that's immediately around it. But, um but the grant that we received was put on hold by the new
administration. So, Everything else prior to that obviously we we were fortunate enough to get in, but that was part of a new appropriation that was uh that was put on hold. Okay. So, we don't know where that is right now. Okay.
Thank you. Um and then the two grants, the community energy planning and the climate vulnerability assessment. Just wanted to know where those stood. We're I mean we've been awarded but um it was a paper application that we won the grant and then they called all the
applicants and said the state wants it online but they didn't develop the system yet. They've developed the system. I had to input all the paper grant stuff into it and now it's going through the process of being approved again. Both of these? No, the the community energy. The community energy. But we got it. It's just a matter of you
know when they can put it out. Even they get that. It's ridiculous. But that's where we are. They do. They the people working on it understand. Wow. We're we're we're caught up. It's not us. We're not we're waiting on them. Wow. And the climate one. Which one was that? Remind me. I don't know. We have gotten
an email. Yeah, that that was something uh CME reached out. Um I think Michael Bryer. Is that the $5,000 one? I'm not sure the amount, but it wasn't a lot. I It might have just been for technical assistance.
Wasn't this one the one to complete the the first assessment you were asking about? I think that's what they were. The only other one I know about is the $5,000 to do the one for Fred Brody. That was the energy planning grant plan. The climate vulnerability they were asking for people to be on a team.
Remember that? Yeah, I have it. Give me one second. I can look tomorrow, but if it's the $5,000 one, it's going to go to that forestry. Um, that's what that was. This was the sustainable Jersey, right? Climate vulnerability assessment technical assistant grant. And so 5,000. It was I
think it was to do that. C what? Say it again. The mouth the forestry management. No, this is the climate vulnerability assessment. Um, which is required
if we're redoing the master plan, we're re-examining the master plan. So that needs to be in place and someone from CMU was reaching out. Okay. To apply for that grant and seeking community input. So we said green TVC would certainly
help out as needed. I'll find out. That's the only one I don't know about. Okay. So that's that's all we have. I would just say, you know, if we can get that rain garden, we would be very grateful. And if you know anybody else, I have one question which actually I was going to
ask since you're all here. So um There's somebody Faith, you're aware of it, who uh and I think you're in support of it. I just wanted to ask council who wants to look for some money to put some trees at Takenassi Lake and put something was
put together, but again that might be minimized depending on on you know on what can be raised. But the idea is that uh this individual would like to see some sort of flowering trees
around Takenassi Lake. Uh and so before he uh pursued getting the funding for it, um I told him that I would, you know, mention it to council. And Faith, I mean, you support it or so long as it's the right tree or whatever. And
again, I don't know if he's able to. I just wanted to get if you guys want to give the okay for that. Yeah. To proceed to proceed looking for the funding. Now, there's the idea when he wouldn't look for the funding unless
there was an interest in doing it. So, if they are planted, someone would need to mortar those trees right in the city. I'm sorry. We would need the water truck, right? The water truck would need to Well, I mean, again, this is all conversations. That's why I'm glad
you're here to to start that. Uh but actually, it's just a question are are we are we all interested in pursuing it in the sense that if he can get the funding for it, right? Just trying to make the point that it's I think he's
just going to get the funding for the initial planting of the trees. That's correct. And the ongoing maintenance would be the city's responsibility. So, we'd have to be able to accommodate that. Okay. which you would need to let us know what that that would be. Certainly watering for the first few
years. So, should we help him make his plan and have his plan include the watering? I'm sorry. Should we help him dissolve? Well, I mean the watering I mean we have there's there's a watering truck that water several water is not
too far all around. So, I don't know if it would be that much of a circle. But that's why maybe it would be less trees that Yeah, we'd have you'd have to decide that. Okay. Okay. Thank you. And what when you
mentioned now you're going to make plant your own trees and community gardens. You have one community garden in mind or different ones? No. So what we're doing in the community garden is baby trees. Yes. So literally this thing like fits on a daily trees in it. They're talking
about 7th Avenue. Yeah, we've talked to Carol, right? Okay. She's fine. I mean, I'm a community garden member. One of the other AC members is a community garden member, so she knows us. Um, and she's given us a spot where we can put little, you know, seedling beds. We're actually going to have tree walk in
Jackson Woods in the fall. We're going to pick up seeds and then we're going to take the seeds and we're going to sort them and plant them and see what grows. So, And the tree bugs will be visible to the community as they walk by on 7th Avenue.
So they'll be able to see the trees growing and they in the fall or in the spring they took a walk in Jackson Woods and saw all the trees in bloom with leaves. And now when they go back in the fall they'll collect the seeds from the
trees that they liked and then plant them and watch it grow. I think nice know. people hopefully love the trees and take really good care of them. So, I was playing pickle ball this morning and one of the ladies I played with goes, you know, after Sandy, she just happened
to mention they were giving away trees. So, this is, you know, 2012 and she put she goes, I put a couple of trees in my yard. She goes, they're 40 feet tall. Like, well, they grow. So, um, but it's it is kind of amazing.
We're always surprised. Does anybody have any questions for them? No, great work. Keep up the good work so I can say and thanks for coming for the presentation. Thank you. Welcome, John. I forwarded an
email from C on that last. Okay, great. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Cool. Thank you. That would be okay. Do we have anything
on old business? Nope. New business. Review of the regular meeting agenda. You know, I just want to make a comment. Um, new and old on the on the um on the agenda. And this is really for you. Um,
just reading the summary that you wrote this time on the ordinances on um this one and only ordinance was different from what has been done in the past like what has typically been done in the past
and just kind of repeating what was in the ordinance which didn't often didn't help people really understand what the whole thing was about but what you did here really helped I didn't write well take credit
wait a minute I'm getting I was waiting to see if it was a criticism okay I I I did I I thought it was sounding like it was going to be a criticism. I thought, "Oh, what did I do wrong with this?" No, no, no. It It helped because you know, like just
repeating the ordinance. It was so Yeah. It It was so big and covered so much. Yeah. So much appreciated. Oh, you're welcome. Yeah. All right. I need a motion to close the public portion of this meeting. So move.
Second. All in favor? Opposed. Executive session. I need a motion to adopt the following resolution. Resolution R 114-25. Be resolved that city council go into executive session to discuss the following. Attorney client privilege
administrators update administrator Shirley. So moved. Second. All in favor? Oppos? Part: 2
Good evening. The June 25th, 2025 council meeting of the Long Branch City Council will now come to order. Roll call. Mr. Dangler here. Mr. Rases here. Mrs. Whittis here. Dr. Vote here. Mr. Vieier, I'm here. Please stand for
pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
I will now read the mission statement of the city council. The Long Branch mayor, the city council, and administration are committed to cultivating an environment of mutual trust and respect that values the diversity of our community. We will
strive to enhance the quality of life for all who live here by making Long Branch a desirable place in which to live and prosper. We will treat all members of the public with respect and expect the same in return.
Certification. I hereby certify that this meeting has been published in the newspaper in accordance with the open public meeting act and posted as required by law. Thank you. Reading and approval of previous minutes. I need a motion to approve the minutes of June
11th, 2025. So move. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dangler? Yes. Mr. Roses? Yes. Mrs. Whittis? Yes. Dr. Vote? Yes. Mr. Vieiraa? Yes. Motion passed. Consideration of ordinance public hearing and final considerations. None.
Ordinance for introduction. Ordinance 09-25. This is the first reading of ordinance 09-25 entitled an ordinance of the city of Long Ranch creating a chapter 233 entitled the license for commercial and
movie filming. Summary. The purpose of the intent of this chapter is to be supportive of the film industry while at the same time protecting the business and residents of the city from any ne negative impacts resulting from filming.
The requirement for the a filming permit issued by the city will balance the needs and the film industry and the city and its taxpayers and promote safety and welfare. I need a motion to introduce the first
reading advertise and opposed according to law and set the public hearing for July 9th, 2025. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dangler. Yes. Mr. Ras. Yes. Mrs. Whittis? Yes. Dr. Vote? Yes. Mr. Vieira?
Yes. Motion passed. Thank you. Public participation for resolutions and general comments. I need a motion to open the public portion of the meeting for all comments. So moved. Second. Vote in favor. I opposed.
If there's anyone in the audience that has a comment to make, please step to the podium and state your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have five minutes and may only speak once. That wasn't
another issue. Good evening. Evening. Uh, my name is Christy Fernandez. I am a former employee of the city, 26 and a half years as the payroll coordinator here. Um, I had a spotless record for 26
and a half years here. Um, until I resigned and then on my last day I was written up, disciplined and suspended for five days on my last full day of employment with the city. Um, I was originally charged with
processing the white collar retros out of order. Um, and then about 3 months later to the date, additional charges were added for deleting emails that were already sitting in my deleted box.
Um, I had a hearing on April 30th to which no one from the city showed up into the room that I sat in for about an hour. Um, taking off time from my current position at my new job. Um, and
then I had a second hearing on June 12th. Um, where it was pretty much a character assassination by Mr. Martin with the help of the city's labor attorney. Um, I was basically accused of being self a self-s serving individual, um, with the motive to make sure that I
received what I was entitled to before I left employment here. Um, I'm going to read some things that happened over my career here. Um, and please tell me if you feel that this is a self-serving individual.
September 2004, my son was born and I had was entitled to a 12-week maternity leave. During that 12-week maternity leave, I probably spent three to four hours a day a day with my co-worker to get her through processing a payroll on
my maternity leave as well as coming here to process the pension report to ensure that it was processed on time and submitted to the state on time. Does that sound self- serving to all of you?
Then May 2009, my mother passed away. The day she passed away, it was a payroll week. I came here and finished out the payroll week to make sure that this payroll was processed on time and accurately. And then I took the five bereavement
days that I was entitled to. Does that sound like serving to you? December 2009, myself and my c-orker were cursed at by Michael Martin as well as referred to as the C-word. It's four
letters you can all use ends in a T. Um, which to which he was found guilty of by the city's labor council who came in and did an investigation. Okay. Never changed a thing about how I did my job here. never changed my work
eth work ethic or my style of doing my job. Then October 2015, I had to have major surgery for a medical problem. I put that surgery off until October of that year because I didn't want to take the
time off during the busy summer months where the payroll doubled in size. Okay. I took exactly one and a half weeks off. I took I scheduled the surgery on a payroll week. the end of a payroll week to ensure that I processed
the payroll and it was done on time and accurately. And then I took the following week off and I returned to work after that against my doctor's better judgment because he thought I should have been out for six to eight weeks. Again, does that sound self-serving?
January 2021, my father became ill. He came to my home on hospice care. I went to Michael Martin and I said to him, "I may need to take family leave to take care of my father while he's in my
home actively passing away." Mr. Martin turned to me and said, "Will you work from home? You'll work from home for us, right? You'll get the payroll done for us, right?" To which I didn't even know how to reply because I felt it was such a lack of empathy that
I didn't even know what to say. But I did it anyhow. M I took care of my father as well as contracting COVID myself for the first time and I can't even tell you how I processed the payroll in that time because I was so sick and so exhausted from taking care of my father and my trying to take care
of myself that I don't even know how I did it. But does that sound self- serving? March 2022, I had shoulder surgery. I was supposed to recover for six weeks again. And I was asked to work from home to which I did do it. Trying to work
from home trying to recover and going to physical therapy. I worked from home for six weeks and found rides up here. I think that my son was five minutes. Sorry,
Christine. That's your five minutes. Thank you. Hi, my name is Katherine Puller. I worked here for 17 and a half years. I lived on Patton Avenue. I've grown up in this town. I am Long Branch. I left here April 10th of 23. I worked underneath
Mike Martin. He also went after me when my mother was dying. I got suspended for three days for excessive sick time with doctor's note for each and everyone. He also changed a sick day that I had to
a no a vacation day to a sick day so he could suspend me and I had personal time whereas he would let his people that he had no problems with do whatever. However, I've watched this lady go through hell. Excuse my French. He has
sat in front of her desk and stared her down for six hours. She has gone through constant harassment and discrimination under Mike Martin for well over 17 years that I've been here. She had shoulder surgery. He made her bring home a
printer, a laptop, and her son had to drive her here several days a week to get the payroll done. You tell me why. Because he took her sick time. So, not only did she have to work for this city, but she had to pay to work for this city. He took away overtime so that she
could do all our payroll. And she sat in this building until 8 and 9:00 at night by herself not getting paid so that the city's payroll went done. I personally was going to have a conversation with somebody in another town over a job that
I did not apply for. That man while while healing himself on a life-threatening disorder thought that it was nice enough that he call her the business administrator before she put her coffee down that morning to tell him tell her not to hire me that for a job I
didn't even apply for this man's work environment if he does not like you is toxic. I love Long Branch. I could no longer work under this. If you are not liked by this man, you are put through tortures, constant harassment, constant
discrimination. It is appalling. Besides the fact that his office looks like a hoarding situation from the TV show Hoarders that you can see on the outside of this building at night. So, I hope the Long Branch residents come and
look because it's horrible. I apologize. this. I was not going to stand up here, but I didn't want to come back. But this man, what he's putting her through because he doesn't want to pay her out her vacation that she deserves is
horrible. And you should all be horrified for what she's doing. And I am here to tell you I have no problem standing up in the court of law and testifying against the harassment and the constant behavior that we've, me, her, and a lot of others have gone through. Just saying. The city of Long
Branch should be appalled. Thank you, K. My name is Craig Dilture. I'm the lady's brother. I'd like to let you know numerous times she's came home crying when she worked for the city of Long Branch because of the that she had to go through for Mr. Mike Martin. And
you guys know what he's done because he was found guilty of calling them a Okay, I'm not afraid to say that word word. And any woman that sits here and on the board should be disgusted that a man still works for a town after being
found guilty of saying that word and being found guilty of it. Okay. I think he should have been fired immediately. What did he get? had to go to a sensitivity training course for one day. Does that sound like it? And now because
she decides to get a better job and better herself on her last day of employment, this man decides to come up with some bull crap charge to make it look bad on her civil service record. After 26 and 12 years of spotless
record, doing numerous things for this town, off the books, not getting paid for it, being told by a man that's in her direct supervisor that he doesn't know how to do her job. How do you
people have a supervisor? Cuz I work for a government agency. My supervisors all know how to do the jobs that the people that work under them do. He did not and still doesn't doesn't Can you if you asked him to borrow the process payroll,
he would tell you he don't know how to do the job. And this is a man that you have as your payroll department head. God's sakes. You It's a joke. Now I will finish what she had to say. In March
2022, she had shoulder surgery that was supposed to be a minimum of 6 weeks recovery and was asked to work from home. While trying to recover and go to physical therapist therapy twice a day during the week, she worked from home for 6 weeks and had to find rides to
come to this town to pick up paperwork that Mr. Martin, who lives very close to me, would not bring me. and another a finance employee who also lived very close to me would not bring to me that's a self-serving person right in 2020
until the time I left the employment I worked with many hours without compensation to ensure the payroll was processed without any errors because it was easier for me to do it that way than than to ask Mr. Martin for overtime that which would have been denied anyway way
and many times I did not get paid for doing the payroll payroll after hours but because I'm not such not a such self-s serving person I got the payroll done and also my coworker was out of work or ill for other reasons and Mr.
Martin never offered me any assistance to help with the payroll or Mrs. Antonushi who were my direct supervisors again. Does this sound like the actions of a self-s serving person then this year a payroll job opened up and was
offered to me very close to my house and for a significantly higher salary salary and Long Branch would not even try to make an offer to keep me which if they did I probably would have stayed. I gave my resignation not with a twoe notice
but a 3-week notice. I'm asked by Mr. Martin to try to get the retropays done before the three union groups who all settled at the end of the year 2024. I did my best and so did my fellow employee and got two of these these done
before my leaving. I was also asked to train a new new person for my job and my co-worker to do my job job after I left which not my job again management's job.
Okay. And also at this time my coworker was out sick for over a week week. But then again, we were able to get two of the three three retros done. And I'm disciplined for doing that. Does this sound like a self-s serving person to
anyone on this board? Please make this all make sense to me and anyone in this room. how I'm still after four months of not even working for this town be five days of my vacation bay are being held from me me
two union meetings probably $9,000 of a representative lawyer from the town coming to these meetings and representing the town which I think the the people of this town should be disgusted that after two meetings they couldn't find some kind of settlement to
this because they're grabbing for straws to try to find something against her to to stick. It's like throwing darts at a wall and seeing what will stick. I think the union in this town's disgusting for not getting this settled already because I work for a union and ambass shop and
believe me, this wouldn't be going on where I work in a government agency. Okay. Um the five days being held for me to satisfy a vendetta that Mr. Martin and Mrs. Anastasi have against me was worth
about $1,500. How much has it cost the city already? Thanks, Greg. Vincent Leapour 33 Ocean Terrace Long Ranch requesting one minute notification on the matter of finance director Mr. Martin.
The budget at the last council meeting speaks for itself about what Mr. Martin's about. It was a sham on the residents of this city. A complete sham. Resolution 127, the health and tech center requesting a no vote.
We have a library and a senior center. We don't need to dump the money into that. Resolution 20 128 appointing Mario Vieira to the planning board. No. I'll tell you to your face. Vier, you're corrupt. No. And it doesn't say much for
this council with the litigation we incurred from him and the way he's made some decisions on the planning board and the way he tainted some applications before they even went to the planning board. You're a crook, Vieira.
Talking about corruption, requesting a no vote on Vieira. On the note of corruption, during the term of a former Long Branch fire chief, as well as member of the Long Branch Fire Department, Contraband firefighting equipment, which has allegedly been
illegally taken from a federal US Army base, wound up on the shelves of the Long Branch Fire Department. that former fire chief and member of the Long Branch Fire Department, who had been recently charged by the Mammoth County Prosecutor's Office with the
falsification and destruction of public records, had also been an employee of that US Army base from which the contraband firefighting equipment came from. As an employee of that US Army base, he
also faced disciplinary charges for the falsification of federal records. During that time of the contraband activity, once again, the city and its auditors completely failed in monitoring
what was taking place. Not that that should surprise anybody. the failed financial accountability by the city of the impact of this contraband firefighting equipment, especially as it relates to the city
budget is very troubling. Council President Vieiraa, will you and council hire a forensic auditor to assess the economic impact to the city of this contraband firefighting
equipment found on the shelves of the Long Branch Fire Department? Yes or no? I haven't answered any of your questions since I became council president. Today's my last You're incompetent. You're incompetent. That's why we're corruption. Corruption leads to
corruption. Council President Vieiraa, will you and council cooperate with federal authorities in the investigation of this Long Branch Fire Department matter? Yes or no? Corruption continues via Vario Vieiraa.
Council President Vieiraa, separate from cooperating with federal authorities, how do you and council plan on dealing with the former Long Branch Fire Chief and member of the Long Branch Fire Department, allegedly responsible for
the alleged controversial contraband firefighting equipment found on the Long Branch Fire Department shelves. Mr. Vieier, how are you going to deal with it? you're not going to do anything typical of corruption. What's further troubling
in this matter is that other than the proven record of incompetence by the Long Branch City government is that there were members of the Long Branch Fire Department one minute notification that were aware that were aware of this
contraband firefighting equipment on the shelves of the Long Branch Fire Department. This was wholly owned US Army equipment, not depreciated expired Army equipment. And by the way, there's no statute of
limitations on this matter. Members of the Long Branch Fire Department should be aware that Team America's Eagle has landed on the Long Branch Fire Department, not only on this matter, but other matters related to this as well.
Council President Vieiraa. Thank you. Jump government. Good evening all. Nick Delemo, 580 Patton Avenue, Long Ranch. Um I'm here for my two major issues as I have uh
broached in the past several months. They simply are one the budget slashtaxes and secondly the u safe streets in in the honor of transparency. I know that the mayor and council had uh
been elected on on complete transparency and I and unfortunately I missed the last meeting but in getting the bits of it regarding the budget I find it a little difficult. I know that there was that little video thing, but
it's really not clear. If you need to have people understand the budget, let's just do simple bullets, the numbers, per se. Uh, additionally, if indeed there may be a surplus, whatever that might
be, 9 million, it doesn't matter. Mr. Rimmon's not here to give me issues as he usually does. Um, so if we do have a surplus, wouldn't it be intuitive that those monies be applied to lower the
municipal taxes of the residents of Long Branch? Or or is it just being hushed up somewhere? It's unfortunate that Mr. Martin isn't here tonight. He's got obvious other reasons on his plate, but
I I would I would urge everyone to come forward and give us a great synopsis about that. But specifically, a surplus means that you've got to redistribute the funds. I mean, you know, as I mentioned at the last
meeting, if all the valuations of the homes have gone up tremendously and with all the damn theory that Mr. Ryan mentioned, and he was totally offtarget because in theory, we can all spout lots of things, but those did not apply. And
then, Mayor Palone, I know that you said that I'm going to get a $34 uh cut. I mean, I c I can't even go to McDonald's to wind up getting a meal for that little cut. Whereas the year prior, my my taxes increased by 24%.
Now, if if the valuation had been so high, I the the tax rate should have decreased, but despite what Mr. Ryone has read in his archives, that doesn't that doesn't float. So I I urge all of
you up there to fess up. Let's give some specific numbers and generalities and let's return the monies back to the people that pay taxes, not the crap of payment in lie of taxes that all the
high rent people on Pure Village are getting because they're afraid enough as is. That's the end of the tax issue. And then secondly, and and Mr. Shelley, don't take it the wrong way. I know that you kind of wearing a double hat right
now, but uh if we could somehow I I've read a couple of of uh documents, I know Mayor Palone had mentioned one and you know, in terms of what's happening on the streets and Mr. Dangler, you and I,
we will proudly walk on Broadway, but not after midnight. Uh h how can how can how can we restore the faith of the general public? And and I'm not talking about the yuppies and pure village. I'm
talking about the base core of of Long Branch people. Help us out. We we'd like to hear some statements. What what new things are being implemented to help us out? I know as uh Mario Vera said,
"Well, we we can't control stabbings and anything like that." Of course we can. Come on. That's a logical thing. But what can we do to be proactive to be able to say, "Hey, we're going to have street patrol guys. We're going to wind
up having the patrolman on the block." I grew up in this town where my brother-in-law's father, Carmen Roach, was a cop on the corner of Memorial Parkway and Broadway and he stood his buns there all the
time. We don't see those things anymore. Everybody's in the air conditioned car rolling around. You know, it's a different ballgame. We would love to see something if we could get some statements both about the safety of the streets. Secondly, some kind of
budgetary cuts. Let's restore that millions of dollars of surplus back to the taxpayers and not to the pilot project. I thank all of you. Thank you. Hey, pretty good timing. Yeah, right.
So, Nick, let me um try to address a couple of your points and then I will uh ask the public safety director if he had any anything to add. Yeah. Yeah, you did miss it last week with with um with the budget. Um remember this is an $80
million budget. We spent a lot of time putting that um little presentation together. And um I I mean personally I think most of us all think that we tried to simplify it as much as possible. But to to answer your question directly,
what I can tell you because I mean I can't get into the specifics of you know line by line. But what I can tell you is that basically there was about 46 million $46 million that needed to be uh
get by the you know get by the taxpayers of Long Branch or the levy, right? And so the levy this year remained exactly as it was last year. So there's been no increase whatsoever. So yes, the the uh
tax rate has still gone down, but basically what we need to collect from the taxpayers of Long Branch has not increased from last year. Now take into consideration that there's been a $1.25
million increase in health insurance, pensions, cost of goods, contracts, everything else. And we kept the budget absolutely flat. So that's you know that's my answer to you. Of course you know this becomes a lot more complicated
in terms of assessments in terms of overall valuation etc etc. So again I'll repeat that fact and the other thing to always consider which I've mentioned to you on several times is that remember that what every taxpayer or homeowner
pays the municipal portion of that is 37%. The board of education is 48%. The county is 13 or 14% and the uh library is about 2 or 3%. The library is based
strictly on the overall valuation of the city. So that's a formula that the state um that the state determines. So we have no control over that. Um so you know I hope I hope that helps answer your question. As far as uh I'm
going to ask the public safety director um uh to chime in here, but I will tell you my father was a police officer with I'm sorry, you said it was your uncle. No, my my brother-in-law's father. Okay. Whoever I mean obviously, right? And I
always felt that you need police officers walking on the street. Um which we have for the last several years, pretty much since I came into office. We have a business quarterly business meeting. Everybody appreciates that we
have uh officers uh uptown downtown train station and not only are they walking the street, but they're going inside and and uh talking with the business owners. We just put a
$25,000 camera system right down on uh Lower Broadway, which should address a lot of the issues that you're talking about as well. Also remember that back in the '9s, and and uh Mr. Shirley can
can attest to that if I'm wrong, um the uh police department, Mr. Beas here as well, was at one point up to 105 police officers. when we got de when we came into office we were in the low 80s
and we are now um I I mean we're 93 to 93 so that uh firemen fire uh paid firemen as well we've increased too um so those are some of the things that you know big things that you know we are in
fact doing I don't know did you want to no just I mean we're working on new programs adding officers to quality of life things but we've got to get the numbers back up to where they were to assign to these units. The problem is the units you're talking about is the first things that are scaled down. Patrol is the primary. They got to
respond to, you know, life safety issues. But as the police department builds, we'll get those units back. Thank you. Anyone else? Scott Bieber, 434 Long Branch Avenue. Um, something came to light to me. Mr.
Ver, are you part of the planning board? Yes, I am. Okay. I have a question. I don't have the street number, but Ace Pharmacy and La Valentinis, there was apparently approval for eight apartments above that. Is that correct? I'm not recalling that. Okay. Well, I
believe it has been approved for eight apartments and the Old Daily Record building was approved for six. So, two cars per apartment. and you have 16, 12, let's round up say 30 cars, where are they going to park? Well, these are
questions you got to come to the planning board when that's being approved. Well, well, you can't improve anything with that because Broadway has no parking overnight. The city lot behind the buildings are no parking overnight. As a matter of fact,
two-hour parking and uh Mr. to show you could look into that cuz there's got to be at least 20 cars parking there overnight in the corner again behind the PAX building which is the corner of Third and Belmont. Go alongside of that building, take a
look at the gas meters and tell me where they're all going to park. You can't you can't blink your eyes and you can't pay your way into a spot that doesn't exist. I know they paid to the city money for spots, but they don't exist. Are you
going to give up the city lot? No. Is that a a thought? These uh planning board questions, you got to come to the planning board and when applications Well, Mr. Mayor, I have a question. Are we going to do away with a city lot? I mean, it's the the one to the rear
between Belmont Avenue and the rear of the stores. Do do away with it. Yeah. I mean, well, you have no place to park these cars that are going to be in these potential apartments. Where are they going to park? Where where are they parking in the PAX building? I mean, I know he has underground parking, but
again, count the meters. I I can't even believe there's that many apartments or at least places uh for stores or whatever it could be in that structure. It's insane. I I I just don't know where these people are going to park. And I don't know if these people are being sold a a false
bill of goods to say, "Look, you can you can pay extra and somehow we'll miraculously find parking." That doesn't make any sense to me. And it it it shouldn't make any sense to anybody else here. And it just
seems to me we're allowed to just keep building, screw the park, and we'll figure it out later. That doesn't work that way because you don't have any more lots. As a matter of fact, every lot that can be built in is being built in the the
it's it's out of control. It is out of control. And then don't even get into what has been built, the abatements, I know pre here, but um it's insane. And they're probably not going to begin paying taxes. I'll be dead. So what's the I you
know, it just it baffles me. Well, Scott, we haven't this administration hasn't given any abatements. Well, that's I think I just said that, but we took the We took the ones away from Lower Broadway. No, that's fine. But I mean, I I get that. I'm not I'm just saying in the previous administration,
by the time they're paying, I'm going to be dead. Yeah. You know, I know a good number of us are talking about the the tax bill and all that that was all approved years ago again before we got involved. But again, it's where are they going to park? Well, I go ahead. I'm sorry. Sorry, I don't want to take your
time. So, um I mean, let me try to address some of the things because you know, some of the parking again maybe maybe Charlie or Mario can address that specifically, but uh but let me just say, I mean, in terms of development, in terms of abatements, you know, we have
people who come to the council meetings who just say that everything is abated and and and the reality is that that's that's not true. So, as Mario pointed out, let's just start with Lower Broadway. And bear with me a minute, right? So, that was approved by the
prior administration for 600 units with a 30-year abatement. We took the abatement away altogether and it's down to 299 units. Uh, again, some people think, well, that's maybe too big, but the reality is again, it was it was cut
in half. So, we're trying to really manage uh development. If you look at the um the next door to the wave hotel that was approved for 107 hotel units. We now got a significant amount of money
for a 7 foot height variance and it's down to 46 units. We have adjusted on Third Avenue. Uh there was part of the transit village getting a transit village uh designation
uh was was uh 40 units per acre. We then took that down to 30 units per acre with a new with a new ordinance in in in in parts of that. And again, Mr. Beaver. If you look at what we're doing today with the Health and Technology Center, that
was a four that was that's a 4 acre site that probably was assessed or could be sold for somewhere between 25 and $30 million and you could probably if you build 300 condo units. We worked very
hard or one new city hall. We we worked very hard with the um with the hospital and they donated that and now that will be a twoacre park and a health and technology center recreation center for the city needs a new city hall versus a
health and technology center. I can assure you if you'd like to go downstairs now I can drill a hole I can drill a hole in the wall and show you where the black mold is downstairs. Would you like to see it? Is anybody here aware of that? Okay, there's some here. Okay. So, you want to talk about
city hall. Remember, we acquired the Santander Bank building, which also uh could have been condo units, who knows how many. And we worked with Santander Bank to get that property there, which
will ultimately be the municipal court and some of the some of the functions that we have here. So, we're waiting. We're in the design phase for that as well. So, again, I don't have all the answers. I don't disagree with you on a lot of what you're saying which is one
of the reasons why we've hired a planner nine months ago and one of the things we're looking at is in fact you know the parking situation. So again, I don't have all the answers. I just want to say that we are um we are working diligently to manage development, provide a lot of
things for um for our residents of our community, senior center, community pool, arts and cultural center, I mean the list, renovated library, Elbron, health and tech center. I mean it can go on. So we're trying to manage it. I don't, like I said, I don't disagree with a lot of what you're saying, but
we're very aware of it. We're trying to do the best that we can. I have one question for you. You brought it up. The community pool, great idea. Wouldn't a pool with swimming lanes for maybe a swim team that you could have developed in the town been a little better than a waiting pool?
No. No. No. Because again, that was that you I I understand there was a swap and they made out far more than the city did. I understand. Thank you. Yeah. Although um I I mean I tend to disagree
with you there because you do but uh Okay, that's my opinion. Okay. Anyone else see there is Good evening everyone. Good evening. My name is Megan Tomlinson. I live at 597
Woodgate Avenue. I'm here tonight to uh discuss a serious public safety concern that I have and ask um that the city implement measures to support law enforcement in its efforts to um better
enforce the laws uh as they pertain to this issue. So, the issue in particular that I'm speaking about is um a an excessive speeding and pedestrian safety issue that is occurring at the intersections of Woodgate and Cedar
Avenue. Uh it's a very residential area. There's a lot of families that live around there. My household in particular consists of my other half, my 8-year-old stepson, and our dog. And we're a very active family. We like to be outside a
lot. uh not only enjoying our own property but also taking in some of the recreation in the area which includes Vancort Park as well as Lake Takenassie. As you all know, especially in the summer, uh Long Branch in particular
becomes very congested. So, our preferred means of getting around is on foot or by bike. And in order to get to either Vancort Park or Lake Takenassie, um we do have to cross over Cedar Avenue. They're both pretty close to us,
but we we have to cross over Cedar Avenue. Cedar Avenue at Woodgate is four lanes wide. There are measures um for pedestrian crossing, which includes a painted crosswalk and pedestrian signs,
but nonetheless, it's it's an incredibly dangerous intersection to get through. Um, most of the cars just do not stop. On top of that, most of the cars are speeding. And I myself have had
experiences where I'm well into the intersection and a car sees me, switches lanes, and accelerates to go around me rather than stop. Um, I've also had the experience perhaps even more dangerous a couple of times where um, one car does
stop to allow the pedestrian to proceed safely through the intersection, but the car in the next lane does not stop. Um, I I've had that happen to me numerous times, and in fact, I just learned today that that very scenario resulted in a child being struck one or one
intersection over on Cedar at Hoey um, some time ago. And the remedy to that was to install a pedestrian activated light at that intersection. And while that's of course a welcome um
deterrent and safety measure, I can also say that that's not enough to make these intersections safe because I've uh taken myself one block down to cross over at Hoey on a number of occasions, used that pedestrian light, and still had the
scenario where I'm almost hit by a car because one car stops and the next car does not. Um I am aware that the county has a road diet planned um whereby they they do
plan to narrow Cedar Avenue. Um as far as I'm aware, there is no firm date fixed for that. Uh I've been fortunate enough to have a couple of good conversations today with both Mr. Shirley and Captain Sylio at the police department, both of whom have assured me
that they will step up enforcement in this area. Um, but it also sounds like there are some limitations to what the police department can feasibly do to make this area more safe. Uh, I I do want to thank Mr. Shirley for taking the time to have that conversation with me.
Um, I also want to make it clear that I I firmly believe that added police presence in that area will have a strong deterrent effect. I think we can all relate to situations where we're driving on the road and we see a police car, we
slow down, we maintain lane, um, make sure the phone's not in our hand, come to a complete stop at the stop sign, all of those things. Um, so I I I know from that experience having police present deters um law
violations. I also know from my own experience this morning where I decided to start recording what's going on every time I proceed through the intersection that um drivers simply being aware that that they're being watched has a deterrent
effect because I proceeded into the intersection and openly and obviously with my cell phone was recording and I was amazed at the cars that stopped. Um, now obviously I don't think the solution is that a pedestrian should have to do
that in order to proceed safely through the intersection, especially keeping in mind five minutes. Sorry, your five minutes. I'm sorry I didn't ask for one minute warning. Can I Can I I'm going to sum up if if you don't mind. Will you stick to the five minutes? I'm sorry. If
I have break it for you, I have to break it for everybody else and I can't do that. Understood. I I'm just asking for support for law enforcement and um and answers as to as to these safety problems for the residents. Thank you. Thank you. So, I'll just I mean I'll just respond while you're here, which I
can do. Um so, first off, I'm glad you talked to uh Mr. Shirley. The uh I mean, look, I have experience on Woodgate and Vancort people's speed, especially in the summer. You're you're absolutely right. It becomes more of a problem. you know, periodically. Well, I'm not on those streets that often, but I have
occasionally, and maybe Mr. Shirley can talk about it, we see a police officer who I'm sure is there deliberately maybe doing his paperwork or whatever, and just that presence alone, right, certainly slows things down. And sometimes I actually have um you know,
see them actually enforce enforce. I don't know um if Mr. surely uh has any more information than me, but I think u or more up to date because Zo is in contact with the county, but uh yes, I think they're calling it a diet
something or other which will sort of shrink uh and and cause everything to slow down on Cedar Avenue. So, I think ultimately that would be a big help because a lot of times I think it starts on Cedar with the speeding, right? and then they continue
because they're in that speeding mode one way or the other. So hopefully that would help certainly um at that intersection. I will tell you though that that was from a federal grant if I'm not mistaken that the county received. It's
been approved. The money is in place but and there's a big butt there that you know it it takes time. So, for example, on Ocean Avenue in Brighton, that intersection, you know, we did that was done last summer, but I mean, between the engineering and everything else, it
was it was four years. So, I don't know. Is there a new projected I told her I was I'd look it up and follow up. I'll send you Yeah. I'm just asking in the meantime if the city can support law enforcement to to uh make sure that pedestrians can be safe around there,
especially in the summer with all the added cars. Well, can we put that over there as well? Um, when we get them. Yeah, they're out they're out getting calibrated. Okay. Yep. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Hi, my name is Matthew
McCrinos. I reside with Megan at 597 Woodgate Avenue. Um, I wasn't going to speak, but as I heard the the Certainly. Can you hear me better? Yes. Thank you. I wasn't going to speak, but when I heard that the solution is to put the
street on the diet, that sounds good in theory, but I think there's a culture of just rampant crazy speeding. because right on Woodgate Avenue on Hoey, there are particular times during the week where it's worse. Um, going into
sundown on Friday, it is particularly crazy. Um, and that's not limited to Cedar. I have had confrontations personally cuz no one's there to police it and my kid's sitting there on his training wheels uh with people who have
even threatened me with their car revving the engine while I'm standing in the middle of an intersection in front of my kid's bicycle and won't roll down the window cuz they know what they're doing is wrong. Um and I really just want to say to them, hey, this is a
neighborhood. We have kids. You probably have kids. like let's let's take it down. And um it's it's not tenable. Like I don't think there's only going to be one kid that's struck. It's an inevitability that you know and I'm glad
that whoever that was is supposedly okay. Somebody's going to die there. And there's I don't know what else could be done besides a police presence because those residential streets aren't going to go on a diet. And since then, we've
changed the parking laws there where people can park overnight. So those streets actually, they got narrow, but now they're blind and now cars are parked up into the intersection. So to to even be able to see around the corner is very very difficult. And you have kids that are on these e- scooters
flying around. It it's it's a powder keg. It's like that's going to happen at some point. So, anything that the council could do to help empower the the enforcement would be so welcome. And that's really all I wanted to say. Thank you, man. Thank you. Thank you for the
time. I appreciate you all. Anyone else? I need a motion to close the public participation portion of this meeting. So move. All in favor? I opposed. I will now ask madame clerk if there's
any changes to the resolutions. No changes have been made. We could take the list of resolutions to the consent agenda. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dangler. Yes. Mr. Rases. Yes. Mrs. Whittis. Yes. Dr. Vote. Yes. Mr. Vieira.
Yes. Motion passed. Resolution. I need a motion to adopt resolution R208-25. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dangler, yes. Mr. Rases, yes. Mrs. Whittis, yes. Dr. Vote, yes. Mr. Vieiraa, abstain. Motion passed.
Applications and none. Miscellaneous for business for good of the order. Councilman Danggram. Yes. Thank you. Uh first um the former and employee that got up and spoke um
not sure if I'm out of line, but I do uh hope that at least whatever the issue is in regards to their vacation time that they um occurred during time here uh is rectified. Um so both both parties are
are satisfied. I can't speak on um employees and discipline and some things like that but certainly vacation that has been already acred um again I hope that that is taken care of um in a positive way. Uh then also last council
meeting it was stated that we get a paycheck. I want to just make my personal statement. I have not spoken to the council in regards to this. Um, but we
don't do this for a paycheck. Trust me, it's it's not even close. But this administration, meaning the city of Long Branch, is the lowest stipen because it's not to
me it's not a paycheck. The lowest stipen council in Mammoth County, the lowest in Ocean County, Union County, Mercer County, Middle Sex County, Essex County. We haven't asked
for a raise or and we're not asking for one now. So, no anyone put out in the street that which that I'm saying this because we should get a raise since 1974. So us answering or not answering um we
try to have some decorum when we are uh sitting up here representing the city of Long Branch and if there's the the the president or if um he's a chair he or she is a chair. So we again we don't do this for um
to go into another tax bracket because it's it's just um I just want just wanted to make sure that the public knows that we I don't know anything about further than Ocean County but the research that was that that I did um
those counties that I did mention that's a fact. We are We have not gotten a raise since I graduated from high school in 1974. It's a long time. But again, we're not asking for a raise. We're not trying to put a more burden on the taxpayers. I
just want to make sure we, you know, say that publicly. And again, the the Fourth of July is coming. I don't think we meet before then again. Um, so I want to just say enjoy the holiday happens to be on a Friday, so it'll be a nice hopefully a nice weekend. Be safe and God bless you
all. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Dangler. Councilman Rases. Thank you, Council President Vieira. Um, I do want to echo what uh Council Councilman Dangler said. Uh, we do this out of the good of our heart. We, you know, Long Branch is in our hearts and we want to
do what's best for Long Branch. Um, we appreciate everyone coming out expressing their feelings and concerns that we can make Long Branch a better town for everyone. Um, July 4th is coming up. Want to wish everyone a safe holiday and looking forward to seeing everyone in two weeks. Thank you,
Councilman Dangram. Councilwoman Witt, hi. Good evening. Um, I would like to also thank everyone for coming out this evening and, you know, be assured that we are listening to all your concerns and we do discuss them and we try to
address as many concerns as we possibly can. Um the other thing is I want to say is thank you to um Mario Vera for serving as president this year and u you know we know it's not easy and we appreciate everything you've done and we
wish uh Dr. Vote good luck in her next term and have a good evening and happy 4th of July. Thank you. Thank you Councilwoman Whittis Councilwoman Vote. Thank you Council President President. Thank you, Councilwoman Whittis for the good luck in the next uh
term which will be starting at our our next meeting and also you know congratulations and thanks to uh to our colleague uh Mario Viera. Um the it you know it was so encouraging tonight really to walk into the room and see so
many people who have come out um that that's what this is all about. Um there were a lot of thoughtful comments and um just like councilwoman Whittist was saying in um our meetings we did talk
about what's the best way to keep people informed um when we hear the comments so that you know from one meeting to the next um how what have we done what are we trying to do um in terms of
responding the particularly to the safety concerns. We did have that conversation today and uh we'll see where where that takes us, but um as all of us have said, we take all of this um
very seriously. So, um thank you for coming out. Um thank you for sharing your thoughts. Um stay cool. I think we're in for I think the weather's going to help us out a little bit. have a wonderful Fourth of July and um we will
see you in two weeks. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Mayor Palone. Thank you, Council President. Um I just had a few events that I wanted to talk about. I also want to thank everybody for coming this evening and for your comments. Um you know, this this summer
speeding and uh obviously is a big issue. I must say at the last meeting we had a few people and uh I'd like to thank uh uh business administrator Shirley because the next day I just came into city hall and he was sitting down with the three captains ordering signs
and discussing you know how we can uh address this. So it's something that we take very seriously and uh and we're working and we're working on and we know it's difficult. Um so a few things I just wanted to mention. So two resolutions were approved by council
tonight. Uh I've mentioned we mentioned them awarding the contracts for our new health, wellness and technology center which is at the old Ronald McDonald House. So um and also the renovations of the um Elbron lab library. As you know
in the winter we completed the renovation of the main library and it's just beautiful and the Elbron Library will look great as well. So construction is projected to start in two months. That's just, you know, we're awarding it tonight and it just takes that to get it together. Uh, and completion of health
and technology project will be about 12 to 18 months. Elbron Library will take about 6 to 8 months. Um, second, Ocean Fest is next Friday, July 4th, from 1 to 9:00 p.m. at the uh oceanfront. A lot of
most of the activity will take place at the Great Lawn and Prominade. Bands start at 3 p.m. and fireworks will start at dusk. Uh the next funday is Wednesday, July 16th from 5 to 8 at the Long Branch Community Pool. Uh join us
for free event with free admission to the pool uh that evening. Food and music uh will be provided as well. Again, that's Wednesday, July 16th. And um the cruise to the Jersey Shore car show uh which was on Father's scheduled for
Father's Day, but if you remember it poured all day, that's been rescheduled for uh Sunday, August 10th from 9 to 3. And that's uh I think that's like our 30th year that we've been doing that. So that's that's always a nice event. And finally, I just want to thank uh Council
President Vieier for doing a great job for the last year. And um thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you, mayor. And I also want to thank everybody for coming out. It's nice to have people and somebody. And um I want to
address what my colleagues said that we don't do this for the money. Uh we do this for the love of the city. Um what I do is, you know, we sit up here and we do the best we can. And uh we discuss everything you know between the among
amongst us and a lot of people don't agree what our decisions are to be and we get sit up here we get called names as you be witnessed and what I do is I do take a scale you know I do have a lot of negativity that comes to our room and
when I go out in the field and speak to the people speak to the residents at long range they uplift me and they put me in a different higher scale so That's why I do what I do here. And um I also want to thank my colleagues for letting
me represent them for a year. I have a great group of people up here with my colleagues right here and administration, the mayor. And let's not forget our clerk over there doing an amazing job as usual. And thanks for giving me the opportunity. I'm blessed
to be in a town like this and to serve it. With that, I will say good night. Thank you. I need a motion to close. Some move. Second. All in favor? I post.