Good evening. The May 28th, 2025 council meeting of the Long Branch City Council will now come to order. Roll call. Mr. Dangler here. Mr. Rases here. Mrs. Wittis here. Dr. Vote here. Mr. Vieira here. Please stand for the M pledge of
allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which it for which it stands one nation under God indivisible and liberty and justice for all. Would you please stay standing for
a moment of silence from Mr. A Grant, please? Thank you. I will now read the mission statement of the city council. The Long Branch mayor, the city council and administration are committed to cultivating the
environmental and mutual trust and respect that values, the diversity of our community. We will strive to enhance the quality of life 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, please. 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 May 14th, 2025. So move. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dangler. Yes. Mr. Rases? Yes. Mrs. Whittis? Yes. Dr. Vote?
Yes. Mr. Vera? Yes. Motion pass. Consideration of ordinance public hearing and final consideration. Ordinance 000825 calendar year ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation
limits and establish a cap bank NJSA 4A 40-4514. This ordinance was introduced on May 14, 2025 and establishes a cap bank on NJS
4A 4-451 ET squire provides that in the appropriation of its annual budget the municipality should limit any increase in said budget to 2.5 unless authorized
by ordinance and increased to a 3.5 over the previous year years. Final appropriations subject to certain exceptions NJSA4A 4-4515A provides that the municipality
may when authorized B ordinance by ordinance appropriate the difference between the amount of its actual and final appropriation and the 3.5%age rates as expectation to its final appropriations
in either by the next two succeeding years. This ordinance allows to appropriation increases above 2.5%. I need a motion to open the public hearing on the ordinance only. So move
second. All in favor? I. If any member of the public has any comments to make on this ordinance only, please come to the podium. State your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have five minutes and may only speak once on ordinance 0
0825. Seeing there's none, I need a motion to close. So move. Second. All in favor? I oppose. This is the second reading of ordinance 08-25. I need a motion to adopt on the
second and the final reading and advertise according to law. So move. Second. Ro Mr. Dangler. Yes. Mr. Ras, yes. Mrs. Whittis, yes. Dr. Vote, yes. Mr. Vieira, yes. Motion passed.
Ordinance for introduction is none. Public participation for resolutions and general comments. I need a motion to open the public portion of the meeting for all comments. So move. Second. All in favor?
Oppos. If there's anyone in the audience that has a comment to make, please state to the podium and state your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have five minutes and may only speak once. Requesting one minute notification. Vincent Leapour, 33 Ocean
Terrace, Long Branch. I have announcement to make. On November, this November 4th, 2025, an election will be held for a council seat formerly held by
Councilwoman Sy, who passed and is currently being held by appointed replacement Councilman Glenn Rases. Petitions, which are like applications to run for this council seat, will be
available at the city clerk's office on June 12th, 2025. Those interested in running for council can contact the city clerk for further details. Councilman Rasis, as an appointed
councilman, will you be running for the elected council seat you currently hold as an appointee? Yes or no? It's up to you to answer a good question, Mr. Assis. You don't have to answer it. Uh, I'm going to withhold uh my answer at this moment. You're not going to answer
the question being directed by Council President Pie. Do you think Merritt, you should be running for counsel? You couldn't even answer the credentials you had for council because Vieira told you not to say it the night you were sworn in. I'd rather not comment to to your Yeah, you'd rather
not comment. Go through me, Mr. Yeah. Be nice if we had independent-minded people who could think in this council rather than those that follow Vieiraa. That's your council president Vieiraa. Have you and council made a deal for a 10-year 1,200,000 lease for
the newly purchased $1,200,000 West Long Branch ladder fire truck? Yes or no? I'm going to answer that question. Council President Vieira, do you have an answer? Yes or no? No. No. Because you don't know what's going on. Council President Vieira, why isn't any of this
on the public record? Any what? Not on the public record. Council President Vieira, since you don't know why the ladder truck's not on public record and you're negotiating, Council President Vieiraa, will there be additional personnel hired by the Long Branch Fire
Department to accommodate the subject ladder fire truck? Yes or no? You don't want to You don't want to answer. Every time I try to answer something, you just start. All right, let's hear the answer. Yes or no? I'll let you know. I'll let Laur You can't speak for yourself. Nobody else will speak for you. No, you're the elected official. Let me tell
you right now, Mr. Rainon is nobody. He's not an elected official. He is not a voter in Long Branch because he's not a resident in Long Branch. You were elected and you haven't a clue what's going on. Now, do you want me to Council President Vieira, can you and council
confirm on Friday, April 25th, the authorities served the city fire department subpoenas and see files and records? Yes or no? Let me go back to the old question. I Council President Vieira, will you and council cooperate
with the authorities on an investigation involving a former city fire chief and firefighter who while affiliated with the city fire department was in full knowledge of contracts being awarded to a firm he was associated with to do
inspection of city fire equipment? Yes or no, Mr. Vieiraa? The the You still don't know what's going on. Don't waste my breath. You're not council president Vieiraa. Will you and council also cooperate and provide all information necessary to the
authorities and take whatever action is necessary concern concerning the mayor as a public official in his role as then part of the governing body in approving these conflict of interest
fire department contracts? Yes or no? I don't you still haven't a clue what's going on, do you? President Vieira, not a question. I try to answer. Council President Vieira, one minute notification. Resolution 101 states the current public
safety director has approved a $500,000 no bid contract for equipment for the police department. Council President Vieiera, name the public safety director. Charles
Shirley. Mr. Shirley's the acting. You finally answered one question. Very good. Makes you feel good. Okay. Council President Vieiraa. Can you explain the catastrophe
on the ocean front with Surfside Beach Bar? No. where every department in this city had a catastrophic failure in monitoring the illegal permanent foundation put in the beach by Charles Kushner of Avenue L Club. No, you can't explain it. No, I'm not going to answer.
So then you would know that this city is junk government. Complete junk government across the board. Thank you. Anyone else? Good evening all. I'm here to uh discuss my two pet
issues, taxes and the safety of our streets. First of all, I w I wasn't here at the prior meeting two weeks ago, but I did listen to it and uh regarding the the
municipal taxes, uh it was conveniently articulated that there was no increase. Now, I'm not an accountant. I'm not a politician. I'm none none of the above,
but I'm like all of you taxpayers. If indeed the tax rate is asis and certainly has not risen as the CFO mentioned in the last meeting, but
the valuations of the households have gone through the roof. I mean it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you multiply the tax rate by the valuations. Now if that but
that's that's not what the CFO you're you would be right if that was true but that's not the case. Okay this is my time. You can speak later. Oh I don't you want an answer to your question. I apologize. Well let let me finish. I mean as you can have your time. So if indeed that's
the case. I mean, that's the way my taxes had gone up by 24% the year prior, and it had been articulated to me that it was because the valuation had been so high. But the point
is, no one has had the decency to to explain this to the average taxpayer. You know, you're an attorney, sir. you probably have better grasp of those things, but your average your average taxpayer doesn't. And I think it would
behoove everyone to sit down and say, "Hey, we're taking in this amount of money. We're expending this amount. Let's explain why. It seems, as someone had mentioned in one of the prior meetings, that the the electric bills
were going up by 18%." Well, have the taxes gone up 18% to ac accommodate for that or not? But the bottom line is simply this, sir and ma'am. Um taxes are continuing
to mount without any explanation. No cuts are being made. Nothing is communicated to the average taxpayers. And and I think that's the lease that we're all owed, especially in
light of the fact that I I I don't feel safe on these streets. Mr. Dangler has no problem walking on on on Broadway, and I respect you, sir. However, the majority of the taxpayers are not that way. Speak to the
owner of Porto Dol. His business has decreased tremendously since the murder in March on Broadway. It's not on account of the business. The the overall economy has nothing to do with that.
It's because people are afraid. And it seems like we we we currently have a new public safety director. Is that correct? So I I I I I welcome and then hopefully there can be some
communication some kind of directive something out there to try and restore some of the some of the confidence because the confidence is lacking and and as I had mentioned on
other situations take a pulse you know some of you may not take a pulse of that perhaps this is my medicine that's coming out about taking a pulse, but I want to make sure that there is a pulse and that there isn't a dead person that
has no pulse. I I beg of all of you address those two issues. Help the tax situation number one. Number two, help to restore the confidence. So that way people in
base paying Long Branch, I'm not talking about payment in lie of tax garbage that has no valuation increase. Those people don't give a damn. They're not going to come marching down Broadway. They don't go to Porto Soul. They they go directly
on Galine Avenue. When when people are directed to go to Pier Village, what is the mode of transport? They're either directed down Cedar Avenue or down Galine Avenue. None of them go down Broadway, sir. Mr. Dangler, and I can
attest to that. Five minutes. Thank you. I can want to address that. Yeah. I just maybe in what I was trying to explain, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Is what Mr. Martin said was that the amount of money that we raised by
taxation stayed the same. So our our part of the budget is that that amount that's raised by taxation. Now what what affects an individual property owner is your valuation in some respects. But what happens when the rate stays the
same and the valuations go up is that the rate goes the rate goes down actually when our when our when our budget stays the same. It's huge. No, no, it actually does because what happens is if just I'm just saying this. If if the valuation is a billion dollars and we're raising
$10 and next year the evaluation is $2 billion and we're still raising $10, the rate gets cut in half. So that's that's the way it works. What you're talking about is that not all properties go up the same value. But if some properties
go up a lot and some go up a little, some will see tax decreases and some will see tax increases. But our part of the world, the part that we control here in the city government is the amount of money that when we strike our budget gets raised by taxation. And what Mr.
Martin said was not that the rate was the same, but that the amount of money that we raised from year to year was the same. So we controlled our budget. So there might have been an 18% increase in the electric bill, but the amount of money that the taxpayers are paying in
total stayed the same. So that's what we control. And in that scenario, as I said to you, if the evaluation of the city went up and the amount we raised by taxation stayed the same, the tax rate actually goes down. But that doesn't necessarily we don't really control that. That's just a math exercise. But
in the end, what happens the the di divergence between whether your taxes go up or down and your neighbors taxes go up and down has something to do with the fact that the county we don't control it. The county re-evaluates everybody's property every year. So that that's that
kind of causes uh some changes. But from our point of view, the only thing that we can do, the only point that we can control is how much in the budget we raise in total. that number and that's what Mr. Martin said stayed the same
from year to year. So that's what happened. So I I I'd have to sit with all of your tax bills and explain to you how that how it affects you individually, but that's a factor of it. If if we reduced our budget, you know,
by 10%, your taxes might still go up if your property value went up 50%. because it's just your piece of the pie got bigger because of the valuations. That that's all it is. So there's not necessarily an equal correlation that there's a 0% increase in the amount of
money we raise and a 0% increase in your taxes. But because it's a closed loop, the total amount is the same. So if somebody goes up, somebody goes down. That's that's that's the answer. I can't explain it any I don't think easier than
that. Um Council President, thank you. So, so let me be even a little more specific, Nick. And again, uh, you know, I know this has been a concern of yours, so if you want me to say it now, I certainly can. In your particular case,
what your situation is, you're okay with that? I have. Okay. So, so again, I'm just going to sort of piggyback on what Mr. Rayon said. So, just be clear, there's a couple of things. One that I just want to I know I mentioned to you before. So first off you have to
understand of what anybody's property tax bill is. The municipal portion of it is about 38%. Okay. The municipal portion of the uh school board is about 47%. County 13% library somewhere
between 2 and 3%. So again we're talking about that 37% of of what you're paying. So it's our budget last year was $46 million and change. This year it is exactly that,
not a penny more. Okay. So take into consideration again what that's that's what we need to raise from the from the uh uh from from the property tax uh who are paying property taxes. So it is
flat. Consider, if you will, that we had an increase of $1.2 million in health insurance alone. Add pension, cost of guil goods, contractual, and so forth. I mean, in your household, my household,
everyone's household, I think everything has gone up from last year to this year. So again, understand that our municipal budget has stayed the same and is absolutely flat. Now the average increase of an assessment a average home
and correct me if I'm the average home has gone up in the city $85,000 right the a that's average in your particular case so to Mr. Renown's point that means that some people will
be paying more municipal portion some people will be paying less in your case you'll be paying less so for example in your case municipal portion because I'm not speaking for the board of ed or you know I have no idea where they are or
the county um in your in your case like I said the average home went up $85,000 your home your assessment went up $64,000. So basically based on that information, you would have a reduction
or you should have a reduction and again don't hold me to it exactly of about $32 because again your assessment went up 64 to the average going up 85 and then you have the municipal what the taxpayers
have to pay is the same at $46 million. So I don't know if that's you know that if that you know sort of helps what Mr. Ray known say but again now you also have to consider I can't speak for 48% of the of of what the board of ed did
the 13% for the county or the 2% for the li the library library and by the way the library is fixed it's based on the valuation of the city which has gone up significantly as well so I mean there's but that's just by state formula so I don't know does that make anything a
little more clear as as Mr. Mr. Rayon said the tax rate has actually gone down. Correct. Um but but but again you know the number I gave you I'll be repetitious now. Your your assessment went up went down compared to the
average homeowner which why municipal portion you should be paying about $32 less. Thank you mayor. I does anybody have anything to add to that? No we're good. All right. I need a motion to close the particip participation portion of the
meeting. So move second. All in favor? I oppose. I want to ask madame clerk if there is any changes to the res list of resolutions. No changes have been made. Thank you. We can take the list of resolutions of the consent agenda. Some move. Second. Roll call. Mr. Dangler.
Yes. Mr. Rases? Yes. Mrs. Whittis? Yes. Dr. Vote? Yes. Mr. Vera? Yes. Motion pass. Thank you. Miscellaneous business for the good of the order. Councilman Dangler. Uh yes. As the u weather changes the
summer is here. Not officially, but certainly we open up the sum the summer uh uh beaches and so on are active. just please be safe uh as far as enjoying yourself and allow everyone else to enjoy their time in the city here of
Long Branch. And I just want to say that Long Branch is a good city. It's a safe city. Um in regards to being afraid to, you know, to walk up and down uh Broadway, if you will, not if you will,
but walk up and down Broadway. No, I'm not afraid to walk up and down Broadway. This is my town. Uh, but I'm gonna be honest with you. At 11, 12, 1, 2 o'clock in the morning, I'm not walking anywhere. I don't care. I don't care
where it is. So, um, it's just uh unfortunate of with the two the lives that was was taken on that night in March. Um, but it's not a reflection of what the city of Long Branch is and who we are. Thank you, sir. Thank not just you, sir. Just just want to let people
know that we we are doing doing a a a good job trying to make sure that everyone is safe. Thank you and God bless you all. Thanks, Councilman Dangler. Councilman Rases. Thank you, Council President Vieira. I'd like to thank everyone for coming out tonight. It's always nice to hear everyone's concerns. Uh want to thank the
Department of Public Works for doing a great job getting the oceanfront ready for the summer. It's beautiful. Um I also encourage everyone to go down. Uh the banners are hanging up for the hometown heroes. Uh it's a great program that was spearheaded by Councilwoman
Whittis several years ago and each year it's become more and more successful. So try to get out and see the banners. It's beautiful. And I just want to wish everyone um have a great uh spring, enjoy the summer, and um stay safe. Thank you. Thank you,
Councilman Res, Councilwoman Wittis. Um, I too would like to thank everyone for coming and for your comments and your concerns and um, we hope everyone has a good next two weeks and we'll see you then. Thank you. Thank you, Council
Woman Vogue. Thank you, Council President. Um, I just want to say that I uh, appreciate your comments about um, first of all those two issues. Certainly safety and taxes are huge issues and I think you know I mean the council has
the amount of time and thought dedicated to that is is tremendous. So so it certainly um is a priority for us but the point that you made I think is an important one that the public generally
doesn't understand the dynamics and even as Mr. known was explaining it and the mayor was explaining it. There are a lot of pieces to it to be able to understand globally what's happening and then to kind of
say, well, wait a second, how does my situation fit fit in there? Um, more recently, you know, we have moved to where the CFO does a a budget presentation, which he will do again,
um, you know, when the when the budget is on the agenda. Um, but I would also encourage anyone who has questions about the budget and um, you know, really wants to take a particular look at it in terms of your situation, you know, that
council hours are the first Wednesday of every month. And if you call the uh the city clerk and just request to have um a time, you know, at that that Wednesday meeting and say, you know, this is what
you would like to talk about specifically and then, you know, the the clerk and the uh council president will put together the right people to be there so that we can have a full discussion. But so that's one way, you know,
individually. But I also want to say I think the point that you're making more generally of how we inform the public and help them understand is an important thing for us to to look at. So I appreciate I appreciate your your um your comment
um and appreciate you coming out. you're reg regular you come out regularly and as as do you and um so we appreciate you being here and uh hope that you have a good next two weeks. We'll see you in two weeks. Thank you, Mayor Palone.
Thank you, Council President. I just have three events that I'd like well that I'd like to mention. So, uh Councilman Ras talked about the hometown heroes banners that are up on the boardwalk. Um they run the length of the boardwalk. We had a total of 112 banners
this year which is um you know it just keeps growing each year and uh we want to thank uh everyone who participated and again I always like to thank uh councilwoman uh Whittis because she you know she brought that to our attention.
Um we have uh several fun days coming up. These are free events planned this summer for families uh to enjoy including a free barbecue and movie night. So check our website for all the uh the full SC schedule of events and things. And the last thing I just wanted
to mention was there's a very uh important and impactful uh exhibit at the um at the library that just began yesterday. It's called Americans and the Holocaust. Uh it's now at the library will run for the next 30 days or till
the end of June. Uh please uh check out this traveling exhibit that was chosen um as one of just a 100 locations throughout the United States by the National Holocaust Museum uh in Washington. It's their traveling exhibit. Um the library um has more
information about the exhibit, the hours, it's in the basement of the library, so it's whatever their hours are, you can go and visit the exhibit. But it's uh like I said, it's really uh an important uh exhibit and congratulations to the library because
it was a competitive uh grant to um to get that exhibit. So um thank you all for being here and have a great week. Thank you, Mayor Palone. And uh I just want to thank you for coming out tonight and I have um my fellow councilman mentioned most of the stuff I was going
to mention, but I got one really important that um you're very true. what the counciloman ves has most of the resident doesn't know about how things work with the taxes and that's why Lou will try to explain the best of the mayor and the other one is the banners where we got to thank u our councilwoman
Rose with us the for that is this weekend I know I walk the boardwalk a lot and I saw something that really impressed us was the families under that banner showing that listen that was your great-grandparent or that was your grandfather that's up there and that really touched my heart a little bit
when I saw those families underneath those banners. So that that was really nice. And Councilwoman Was thank you for bringing that idea. It was a great idea. And with that, I want to like close then. Thanks for coming out tonight. And uh thank you. I'll see you in a couple weeks. I need a motion to close. So move.
Second. All in favor? I close. Thank you.