I know. >> Anita. >> Okay. So, good evening everyone. Uh, the August 27th, 2025 council meeting of the Longird City Council will now come to order. Roll call, please.
>> Mr. Rases >> here. >> Mr. Ver is absent. Mrs. Whittis >> here. >> Mr. Dangler is absent. Dr. >> V. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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. if we could all share please um a moment of silence
for uh Jimmy Simonelli who recently passed away. I unfortunately did not have the pleasure of knowing him but here have heard of all the wonderful contributions to that he made to our city and to our kids. So please just a
moment to remember. Thank you. I will now read the mission statement for the city council. The Long Branch mayor, city council, and administration are committed to cultivating an environment of mutual trust and respect
that values the iversity of our community. We will strive to enhance the quality of life for all who live here by making Longrange a desirable place to live and prosper. We will treat all members of the public with respect and
expected safety 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 from the August 13, 2025 meeting. I think I had some moved over there. I didn't >> second. >> Uh roll call, please. >> Misses. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Ver is absent. Mrs. Whittis >> abstain. >> Mr. Dangler is absent. Dr. Vote >> yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Consideration of ordinance ordinances public hearing and final consideration. There are none.
Um ordinance for introduction. This is ordinance 0-10-25. This is the first reading of ordinance 10-25 entitled a bond ordinance providing for various 2025 capital acquisitions and improvements for the
city of Long Branch in the county of Mammoth in the state of New Jersey appropriating 1,870,000 therefore including a state of New Jersey Department of Transportation grant in the amount of $750,000
and authorizing the issuance of 1,95,500 uh $500 bonds for notes to of the city to finance part of the cost thereof. A summary of what this ordinance is all about. The bond ordinance provides for
various capital acquisitions and improvements consisting of one roadway reconstruction on various roads in the city including but not limited to a portion or the entire length of as
applicable Oakwood Avenue and C view avenue in the city. Second, the purchase of IT server equipment. And third, replacement of three intersection traffic lights at various locations within the city.
>> We can't hear you at all. >> Sorry. Better. >> Sorry. Um, I need a motion to introduce on first reading, advertise, and post according to law and set the public hearing for September 10th, 2025.
Second >> roll call. >> Mr. Roses, >> yes. >> Mr. Ver is absent. Mrs. Wiff, >> yes. >> Mr. Dangler's absent. Dr. Vote, >> yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Ordinance 0-11-25.
This is the first reading of ordinance 11-25 entitled an ordinance authorizing sale of city property not needed for public use located on 186 um uh Jolene Avenue
long Branch New Jersey block 398 lot 25 Route 36 section 5 parcel E87 by deed of easement and property located at 181 Jolene Avenue, Long Branch, New
Jersey, block 396, lot 1, Route 36, section 5, parcel 90A, UE uh uh 90B by bargain and sale deed
for the New Jersey Department of Transportation project Route 36 bridge over Troutman's Creek. Um, a summary of this ordinance. The uh New Jersey Department of Transportation
is seeking to acquire in a permanent deed of easement and a partial take uh I'm sorry and a partial taking and permanent utility easement by bargain and sale deed of a portion of a portion
of two parcels owned by the city of Long Branch which are within the proposed site of planned construction by the Department of Transport. transportation of the Route 36 Troutman's Creek Bridge project. This ordinance authorizes the
sale of these parcels by deed of e of easement and a bargain and sale agreement to the state by the city of Long Ranch at a fair market value. I need a motion to introduce on first reading, advertise, and post according
to law, and set the public hearing for September 10th, 2025. >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Rases, >> yes. >> Mr. Ver is absent. Mrs. Whittis, >> yes. >> Mr. Dangler is absent. Dr. Vote,
>> yes. >> Motion passed. >> Thank you. Uh, public participation for resolutions and all general comments. I need a motion to open the public portion of the meeting for all comments. >> So move >> second.
>> All in favor? >> I >> I >> I >> The public portion of the meeting is to allow you the public to state your comments directly to the administration and have a voice in the proceedings of your governing body. There will be no
cross dialogue during the public portion of the meeting. After you have spoken, any member of the deis authorized to speak on the administration's behalf may address your comments, answer questions, and correct any misleading or erroneous
information. If there is anyone in the audience who has a comment to make, please step forward to the podium. State your name and address clearly for the record. You will have five minutes and may only speak once. Requesting one minute notification.
Vincent Leapour 33 Ocean Terrace Long Branch concerning the failed attempt of the city of Long Branch with the West Long Branch Ladder Truck deal.
In his response at the July 23rd meeting of the Long Branch City Council concerning the West Long Branch Ladder Truck matter, Mr. Shirley made many disparaging comments. Mr. Shirley referred, quote, "A bunch of
social media trolls trashing the deal." end quote. The quote trolls he is referring to were mostly West Long Branch residents who had every right to comment on the matter
concerning their taxpayer bought fire truck. The initial post on the ladder truck matter on the West Long Branch residents page was done by a former West Long Branch and West Long Branch fire chief
who is also currently a West Long Branch firefighter, a very credible individual. That post was followed by numerous comments, including those of both Long Branch and West Long Branch firefighters.
Afterwards, both Long Branch and West Long Branch firefighters made additional posts, highlighting the flaws of the ladder truck proposal. Mr. Shirley then continued that he had
quote a sitdown end quote with the Long Branch Fire Department and then made an insult by saying quote, "We cannot sink to the level of these trolls on the internet." End quote.
Mr. Charlie sink to the level of good concerned firefighters and residents about the West Long Branch volunteer fire company's future. Both West Long Branch and Long Branch residents should take note of the
following. Long Branch had no business doing any ventures to West Long Branch for the use of their ladder truck. How could Long Branch operate and maintain the West Long Branch ladder truck when West when Long Branch's
history Long Branch's history with its ladder trucks has not been stellar. particularly on one incident where a ranking member of the Long Branch Fire Department in responding to a fire crashed the ladder through the side of a
house in a misuse that rendered the ladder truck workless and shooting water for three years. No one in the city cared. The people of West Long Branch, who you, Mr. Shirley,
referred to as trolls, have every right to be concerned. sink to their level, Mr. Shirley. But the history of the Long Branch Fire Department and Long Branch Police Department in many cases has not been stellar. Some cases good,
many cases bad. Sink to their level, Mr. Shirley. What about the Long Branch Fire Department arson for hire crew in the 70s and 80s? Sink to their level, Mr. Shirley. What about the Long Branch Fire
Department's infamous luring of a mentally handicapped woman into a Long Branch firehouse and brutally gang raping and sexually mutilating her and being criminally convicted of such?
Why isn't that incident in the Long Branch Fire History Museum sinking to their level? Mr. Surely, I suggest Long Branch Fire Department look in the mirror. I could go on and on for hours about the
current and past misconduct of the Long Branch Fire Department. >> One minute notification. >> Mr. Shirley, I've been around too long and seen too much and will not tolerate your comments
when they're flawed lies, misstatements, and disinformation. Fact is, the Long Branch Fire Department has been an integral part of this city's ongoing
job government. >> Anyone else care to make a comment? Hi, my name's Harry Delane. I live uh at 448 Ocean Avenue behind Maxis. Um I hadn't planned on coming up, but uh after that I I feel like um two pieces
came together at a meeting in um at the end of July, Anita, you spoke about um wanting to hear ideas about how the city communicates with people broadly. um I reach out to you um so hopefully we can
connect on that but I think you know absent all the the vitriol there's an opportunity around communication because there's a lot of stuff that goes on um that disparages the city in public in um social media and the city doesn't have a very good uh approach in my opinion to
managing that and to having a voice not just responding to it but communicating um its position its reasoning and stuff like that I think that I'm uh a savvy consumer of information around um my communities and uh I think there's
enormous opportunity to improve it. Let's put it put it that way. Um and so not to engage with people that are um venting uh without fact, but putting information out there that's factual and
creates an interaction. So there's a big opportunity there. um to do something about that. I just want to bring that up. >> But I and um I know I have your email. I will we'll respond to you. Yeah. >> Super. >> Yeah. Good. Thank you. >> Sure.
Anyone else? >> Okay. So, um, uh, anyone from the, um, from the public who wants to further discuss any other comments or concerns, please call the city clerk's office at 732-571-5686 to schedule a time for uh, uh, the
public council at the public uh, council hours that are held the first Wednesday of every month. I now need a motion to close the public participation portion of the meeting. >> So move. >> Second. All in favor? >> I >> I
>> I will now ask our city clerk if there were any changes to the list of resolutions. >> No changes have been made. >> Okay. Thank you. We can take the listed resolutions as a consent agenda. I need a motion. >> Second.
>> Thank you. >> Mr. Roses. >> Mr. Ver is absent. Mrs. Whittis. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dangler's absent. Dr. V. >> Yes. >> Motion passed. Um applications, we have none tonight and so we're going to be moving to
miscellaneous business for the good of the order and we're going to start off with Councilman Ras. >> Thank you, Council President Vote. I would like to thank everyone for coming out this evening. As we recognize overdose Awareness Day, my thoughts go out to those who face the challenges of
addiction as well as those who have been affected by it. My deepest sympathies to the Simmonelli family upon the passing of James Simonelli. Sib gave all gave his all to his beloved law branch as an educator, coach, and member of the Long
Branch Ocean Rescue. Sib was a member to all was a mentor to all and will be sorely missed. I would like to express my appreciation to the lifeguards, firemen, and police who participated in an after hours rescue while Seven
Presidents Park. Uh these first responders are often taken for granted and go through extensive training to deal with uh challenging situations. Their preparedness was proved in that evening. Uh I had the opportunity to volunteer the morning of surfing
provision. It was a beautiful it was beautiful to see the smiles on the faces of the children who participated in the program. I would like to extend a big thanks to David Kwood for coordinating the event and also to the crew he assembled to make this event a big
success. My best wishes to everyone uh for a happy and safe Labor Day weekend. If you're planning to go to the beach, remember to swim where there's a lifeguard. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Ras. Uh Councilman Vieira is absent and so Councilwoman
Wittas. >> Um I too would like to extend my condolences to the Simonelli family. I've known Jimmy all my life and he's truly going to be missed. Um, also, um, this evening, Councilwoman Vote was
recognized by the HERS committee, and I'd like to congratulate you and it was welld deserved for all your effort that you've put into here's committee. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And, um, also like to thank everyone for coming out this evening and
um, wishing everyone a great Labor Day weekend and please be safe. Thank you. Thank Thank you, Councilwoman uh Whittist and Mayor Plone. >> Thank you, Council President. Yeah, I would also um like to offer my
condolences to Jim. I've known Jim uh from watching him in high school football games when I was about 8 years old. And he is truly um an iconic individual, was an iconic individual here in the city. uh from a beautiful family on both sides of his family and
um uh I just want to express that um I there's a couple events that uh I'd like to mention that are upcoming on Labor Day or before as we approach the end of the summer. So the Long Branch Fire and History Museum is open this Sunday uh
August 31st from 1 to 4 p.m. Mission is free. come and see uh many of the unique pieces that we have that go back to the 1880s. The Springsteen and Long Branch exhibit is up and running through November 14th at the Long Branch Arts and Cultural
Center. It's open every day from 8:30 to 4:30. Admission is free. We're also having some um evening uh um lectures and things in the next two months with that exhibit as well as some evening nights that it will be open. But uh
we've had like an overwhelming response from and we've had people from Europe and South America and uh it's it's really a very interesting exhibit. And finally, the Cliffs will be playing Labor Day at 7:00 on the beach in West
End with fireworks to end the summer concert series. They're a great group and um you know, it was funny. We never had anything on Labor Day before except last year we had a rain day rained out day during this uh evening during the summer and they performed on Labor Day
and it was the cliffs and it was a great show and uh it was packed. So I think uh we're looking we doing a repeat of that. Hopefully the weather will be good and uh it's a great sort of end to the summer. So thank you all for coming this
evening and have a great week. >> Thank you Mayor Palone. I endorse his invitation to come to uh that concert. I remember it from last year and it was really wonderful. Um I'm going to be actually be repeating a few things that
my fellow council members have mentioned. First of all, most certainly my regards to the Simonelli family. Uh the earlier this evening, um our hearers group had an event um to honor those who
we have lost from overdoses. It's overdose awareness day August um 31st and our HERS committee if you're not familiar with it is actually the mayor's task force on substance use disorders
and it has been in existence since we first came into office office. So now it's o over seven years that it has been in existence and um it's important uh in so many ways uh as an opportunity
opportunity for people to share their love and their concern and their heartbreak um in terms of the opio opioid ep epidemic or um epidemic I'm sorry. And it's also very important for
Long Branch to be present on the county level, at the state level, um, when resources are made available to help battle this addiction. And so, um, my my hat off to to hear for all the fine work
that they do. It's an honor to be part of that group. I also, um, share thanks to uh, Dana and her husband Dave. surfing for vision is just an amazing, wonderful, heartwarming event. Um, and
one other thing, and this also mentioned, um, it's coincidental. He talked about a rescue that he saw. And I was walking on the beach the other day and um just happened to see one of our
guards running down to the water and making a rescue. And it was so um impactful to see that happen, to see how well our guards um worked together and
how it was just such a really beautiful coordinated effort um to save this young man who the the surf was still very rough rough and who knows if he should have been in the water, but in any case, he couldn't get back in. And um so you
know when you think about what our guards do and our first responders to keep us safe, it was a very impressive, heartwarming event. So again, my my tremendous thanks to um to the whole team. And with that, um I thank you all
for coming out tonight. Wish you uh all the best for the next two weeks and hope that we will see you at the next meeting. Um, I now need a motion um to adjourn this meeting. >> So, move. >> Second. All in favor? >> I.
>> Thank you. Good night, everybody. [Applause]