So, the April 8th, 2026 council meeting of the Long Range City Council will now come to order. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Assesses, >> here. >> Mr. Vieier is absent. Mrs. Whittis, >> here. >> Mr. Dangler, >> here. >> Dr. Vote, >> here. Uh, please all 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.
>> And 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 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. Could we have the 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. >> Okay. Thank you. Reading and approval of previous minutes. I need a motion to approve the minutes from the April 8th. >> That should be March 25th.
>> Yeah, that should be changed. Um uh Amanda, the date was what? >> It should be March 25th. >> March 25th. >> Okay. I need a motion. um to approve the minutes of the March 25th um 2026
meeting. >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rases? >> Yes. >> Mr. Vieiraa is absent. Mrs. Whittis. >> Mr. Dangler. >> Yes. >> Dr. Vote. >> Yes. >> Motion passed. >> Okay. Thank you. Consideration of
ordinance public hearing and final consideration. And this is ordinance 0-04-26 which is an ordinance amending chapter 300-24 storm water storm water of the code of the city of Long Branch definition of
major development. This ordinance was introduced on March 25th, 2026 and amends the definition of a major development to con to conform with the pro provisions of the state storm water regulations
by defining a major development as one that creates a disturbance of one acre or more. I need a motion to open the public hearing on this ordinance only. >> So move second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> If anyone in 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 will have five minutes and may only speak once on ordinance 0-04-26. And seeing no one come forward, I need a motion to close.
>> So move. Second. >> All in favor? I >> I. This is the second reading of ordinance 04-26. I need a motion to adopt on second and final final reading and advertise according to law >> to move second.
>> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rases, >> yes. >> Mr. Ver is absent. Mrs. Whittis, >> yes. >> Mr. Dangler, >> yes. >> Dr. Vote, >> yes. >> Motion passed. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, uh, ordinance 0-05-26. This is an ordinance amending chapter 78
police department to create section 78-21 extra duty police assignments. This ordinance was introduced on March 25th, 2026 and the purpose of this ordinance is to amend chapter 78 police department
to create section 78-21 extra duty police assignments. I need a motion to open the public hearing on this 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 will have five minutes and may only speak once on ordinance 0-0526. And seeing no one come forward, I need a
motion to close. So move second. >> All in favor? I I. >> This is the second reading of ordinance 05-26. I need a motion to adopt on second and final final reading and advertise according to law.
>> So moved. >> I need a second. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rases, >> yes. >> Mr. Ver is absent. Mrs. Whittis, >> yes. >> Mr. Dangler, >> yes. >> Dr. Vote, >> yes. Motion passed.
>> Thank you. Ordinance for introduction. There are none. Public participation for resolutions and all general comments. I need a motion to open the public portion of the meeting for all comments. >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> 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 do dialogue during the public portion of the meeting. After you have
spoken, any member of the deis authorized to speak on the part of the administration may address your comments, answer your 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 and state your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have five minutes to speak and may only speak once. Good evening, Madame Clerk. Requesting one minute notification. Vincent Leapour
33. Motion Terrace Long Branch. Once again, citizen residents of Long Branch are at a disadvantage. They can't call into a meeting. And yet council members can discriminatory.
This evening I'm presenting a proposal of a resolution for council to consider as is my right. The resolution proposed concerns no tax abatements for the Kushner project on Lower Broadway.
The resolution reads as follows. Whereas the city of Long Branch experienced a major fire at an unoccupied tenement building located in the lower Broadway redevelopment zone. Whereas said fire caused extensive
damage to the tenement building. Whereas the developer owner of said building, Kushner Company has no tax abatement agreement with the city for said tenement project. Whereas the possibility exists that
Kushner companies will now attempt to use this fire incident as an excuse to amend its current developer agreement with the city so as to renegotiate for a developer long-term tax abatement.
Whereas, it is the position of the city council to avoid any attempts at renegotiating that would bring about such long-term tax abatement. >> Now, therefore, be it resolved that
council will negate any attempt by Kushner companies to use the fire damage tenement building as an excuse for a long-term tax abatement. Madame Clerk, you will receive an
electronic copy of this for which I would request a certification in return. I'm also requesting, madame clerk, that you put this before the administration for April 22nd council meeting to be approved by council.
>> What does he What does he want? He wants us a resolution >> as I'm expected to be quiet. Mayor, you're supposed to be quiet as well. No cross dialogue. You're not making >> You're not above the rules, the mayor. >> Go ahead.
>> Resolution 73. The shared services agreement, emergency medical services with the county. I'm going to read three parts of it. Being that the Long Branch residents pay county taxes as well,
this MedStar is not a free service to the Long Branch taxpayers, whether direct taxes, grants, LEAP, whatever. It's all taxpayer money. That being said,
Mr. Martin, how much are the county taxpayers subsidizing the MedStar system >> and what is the projected long branch portion of that subsidization >> for the upcoming year? Mr. Martin's not here, Mr. Leaport.
>> Well, somebody's going to have to answer for him. >> Okay, >> Mr. Martin. So, it's going down on record. He's the CFO. Why is the contract from May 1st, 2026 to April 30th, 2031?
Why 5 years instead of yearly so that conformance can be evaluated? Will Long Branch residents be responsible for out-ofpocket fees to the county for EMS services? Now, the three interesting sections of
this are quote >> one minute verification. The county will be designated first due agency for responsibility and providing all EMS and equipment for the city 247 303 section. The city shall provide
adequate space to house two ambulances, appropriate staff and related equipment to main EMS services. I would like to know where this is going to be located.
And finally, the city shall not furnish any payments directly to the county for the provisions of the emergency medical services. I want my questions answered on this because the following resolution 77,
you're doing a $140,000 payout again for budget transfers to first two first aid squads in Long Branch. >> 5 minutes >> that are scandal. >> Thank you, Mr. >> How erroneous council. How erroneous to
double dip the taxpayers locally on us and then the county. Junk government. >> You're leaving, Mr. rapport. You don't want to hear any answers. Correct. >> We'll do answers after. >> Well, if he leaves and I'll destruct. If he leaves, we're not going to answer his question. >> Yeah. >> Okay, that's fair. No, if he stays,
we'll answer his question. >> Mr. I know you're right out there. Come back and we'll answer your question >> after we close the public uh participation portion. >> I guess that was his answer. >> The door being slammed. >> Um would anyone uh else want to step to
the podium? Um, good evening. Uh, my name, uh, my name is JP. Um, there's a lot of things I want to talk about today, but there is one theme I want to underscore. It's, uh, the importance of greater public participation in these city council
meetings. Um, I recently put a Facebook poll, not statistically accurate at all, and ask some Long Branch residents why they don't come out to these meetings. And besides date and time, the main reason they chose is what is the point? They probably won't hear you. I'm not
here to specifically blame um anybody or the council um for not being heard. I however do believe that there is a structural need for us to change the format and the ways that we handle the public comment section. For example, let us look at the last public comment
section. After everything was said and done, the city attorney um he said he's he corrected the record. Although I'm not challenging the substance of the correction, um why does the correction of the record have to be in the city council's hands?
What if they are in fact misrepresenting the record and the public instead needs to correct the record? Once again, as just to make sure, this is not a direct challenge to the council or any individual council member per se, but rather structural and procedural issues
that we need to address regardless of who's in power. Additionally, when I've kind of brought up these concerns about the importance of reconstructing, transforming our public comment section, the responses I kind of received from the council have not really addressed
the root of these concerns. I've been told to call the clerk to set up a meeting, attend a coffee chat, or to request a specific meeting with a mayor or council member. And although I really do appreciate the willingness of every of like the council members um for their
availability, I believe these suggest um suggestions are missing the mark. The importance of the public comment section is that it actually allows individuals to have a voice in the decision-making process of their community. It provides a platform that is public to others and
that is also on the record. Very important. Although one and one and one-on-one meetings should exist potentially for those who might not feel comfortable to express their voices in the public, I believe the public crave having their voices heard more and acted upon as well. Here are a few suggestions
in order to move forward. Changing the public comment section to actually allow for cross dialogue. It can be 10 minutes. Okay, like that's a a 10-minute time frame. creating public town committees that focus on issues such as infrastructure redevelopment development quotation marks that pe that people can
come join and present their findings at every council meeting. Allow people to join these count council meetings virtually so they can have their voices heard because a lot of people might not be able to come here at night or even a public advocate position that can keep track of people's concerns and ask the council whether there's progress on
them. I remember a couple of weeks ago someone asked about uh whether the football field in Lumber should have be built upon. I haven't heard that conversation happen again. How do we ensure accountab account accountability more with these actions? How do we kind of bridge that potential loss of
progress, loss of um accountability over time? These are just ideas. I might not fully agree with every single one of them and we might have to iron out the details of some of them, but we have the capability of changing the public comment section and making it more open
and participatory. There are a lot of topics that people want to talk about. The issues of overdevelopment in Long Branch in the impact in the impact on the infrastructure. We can see that with what happened the recent fire on on Broadway, the affordability struggles that people are facing with rising
property taxes and potentially other factors. These are ongoing issues that require ongoing conversations. This right here, this public comment section is like the main place that we can do this. But we need to make the public comment section better because a lot of people aren't coming out to this. But
this should be a thriving place where we work together. But this little five minutes and then we're done doesn't really solve it. So let us get rid of the silos of communication where some people talk in like this door and people talk here and we try to figure out a way to bring stakeholders, community members
in the same room so that these conversations can happen. For example, one more one more example real quick is that I know there's a lot of conversations regarding like the property taxes and people tell us go talk to go to the board of t the board of education meetings, go to go to the city council meetings and they kind of
make us go back and forth. Why don't we just all come together in the same room and talk about and really iron out like the confusion, the difficulties that are happening. We need to put all the cards in the table. We need to actually ventilate these issues. And sometimes ventilation it requires us talking to each other
one-on-one and then you guys responding back and then us responding. And ideally the people should have the final word not the and doesn't have to be the final decision but the final word because we are at a little disadvantage. You guys have the power. You guys are sitting up there. You guys decide. We at the same time this is the only space that we can
really talk on the record. So we need to continue better this better this platform that we have. >> 5 minutes. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else? >> Um, anyone in the public?
>> Oh, okay. My name is Johnny Morales. I live at 215 Norwood Avenue. I've been living in Long Branch for over 30 years. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Council members, thank you for the opportunity.
>> Could you raise the microphone just a little bit? No, just Yeah, just listen. Thank you. >> I'd like to raise concerns about maintaining neutrality and fairness in our public spaces here in Long Branch. As a diverse community, I believe it's important that the city-owned property
reflects unity and equal represent representation for all residents. This is not about any one group. I fully respect all cultures and religions and I strongly oppose
anti-semitism and any form of discrimination. My concern is about consistency. What cultural and religious symbols are displayed in prominent public areas? It raises question on how we ensure
equal treatment for every community in this city. I respectfully ask the council to consider adopting a clear consistent policy regarding flags and public property. Whether that means limiting displays to
official government flags or creating a structured inclusive program that allows fair representation over time. Our beaches are filled with flags
that are representing a specific community. And although we welcome those communities, I'm just just asking that we bring those flags down. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> When you're done, can I ask? >> Yeah. Um, is there anyone else who would like to comment? Okay, so we're going to officially close the public participation
uh part of the meeting so that comment comments can be answered. So, just anyone 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 at the public council hours that are held the first Wednesday of every month. Right now, I need a motion to close the public participation portion of the meeting. >> So, move second. >> All in favor? I
>> I and now would anyone from the deis want to respond to any of the comments made? >> If if I can, Council President, thank you Mr. Morales for your comments. This is an ongoing question that comes up at the council meetings and it starts with a false premise. The flags aren't
on public property. They're on private property. So, this is no different than if you decided that you wanted to fly a flag from a different country on your home. We we can't regulate whether you do that or not. Those flags are not on public property. We do control what
flags are on public property and they're believe it or not there, you know, the rules are kind of arcane, but there are rules with regards to, you know, if we fly a an American flag in the state of New Jersey flag and a PL KIA flag, when we fly them and where they are and where
they are in relationship to each other. So, we do have those those rules. You'll see there's other flags in the flag of the city, the flag of the state of New Jersey are here in this in this chamber. But what we can't do because there's a first amendment in this country is we can't tell people to take flags down
that have a point of view that are on their private property. And I can the city can no more do that than we can tell you not to do that on your property. And you know, we're the government is the government, but it's also restrained by the constitution. And
that's that's the way the Constitution operates. And I know that we get those things that get said in these chambers all the time. And I know that I've said this before and obviously that message doesn't get out because you're here. Um
it's been 6 months now that we've been or maybe more than that we've been going through this issue and we say the same thing every time which is the city's not flying those flags and we're not allowing people to fly them on our property. So that's the that's the answer to the question and you know
unfortunately the way the first amendment works is and I want I don't want to say me because I don't do it but I have a right to put a flag on my house that offends you. The first amendment protects my right to do that just like that it would protect your right to do
it. So I'm I'm sorry that it's offensive. Um there's not anything we can do it. You know we've had people stand at that podium and scream at us that we should go take the flags down. we couldn't do that. So, um you know, we have a you I think you hit the right tone, which is that we have an
obligation to protect everybody's diversity. And everybody's diversity means that sometimes there's people in town who are going to say things or or uh display things that maybe you don't agree with or you find offensive even.
Unfortunately, um there's not a whole lot we can do about it. So, I'm I I don't think there's anything else I can say, Council President. >> Yeah. >> Um, any other comments? >> Yeah. Uh, Council President, thank you. Like, as far as um the interruption, you
know, it's it's very difficult to listen to Mr. Leapor just make stuff up. And that's not the first time that he's done that. So, let me just simply go on the record, but you know, he likes everybody to go on the record. So, I'm going to go on the record just to let everyone know
who might have been watching listening to what he said before that there is not going to be any abatement because of a fire or for any reason whatsoever uh with the lower Broadway project. So, uh that's for whatever it's worth that's me
going on the record. And again, this is it gets very frustrating when uh Mr. to the poor comes in here and uh makes just talks about erroneous statements all the time. I mean it's just ridiculous. And then of course as you see I asked him to stay for the
response and for those of you who can see at home he never stays for any response. So he makes all these accusations all these comments and then walks out of the room. So today I specifically asked him to stay and you see that he's not interested in any response. So I'm putting it on the
record for him. Uh, and for everyone else um who's watching at home. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, anyone else for any comments? Um JP, I just want to acknowledge your very thoughtful um
thoughts um that that you presented um and the idea of how we allow how we create a forum for um broader discussion and you know council meetings have a
certain function, committees have a certain function and and you know you could sense by your comments that the idea of having council hours, you know, you feel is is inadequate. Um, but
maybe if we talk at a council hour, the, you know, the first Wednesday of of every month, and and you come and we talk about some of these ideas in greater detail, what could be done, what couldn't be be done. Even for example,
what if a topic came up and there were several people that wanted to talk about that particular topic and so we say what are we in uh the you know April so the May council hours will be to discuss
this particular issue and people who are interested in that particular issue that maybe that's one way of doing it But if we do, like what you said, continue to talk because I agree with you, that's how we figure things out. Um maybe we
can come up with that greater forum that would be, you know, satisfactory all all around. But I wanted to acknowledge your very thoughtful comments. And uh with that, I will now um ask
madame clerk if there were any changes to the list of resolutions. >> No changes have been made. >> We can take the listed resolutions as a consent agenda. I need a motion. >> So move second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Ras, >> yes.
>> Mr. Ver is absent. Mrs. Whittis, >> yes. >> Mr. Dangler, >> yes. >> Dr. Vote, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. Um applications there are none and so we will move to miscellaneous business for the good of the order and we will start off with
Councilman Ras. >> Thank you Council President. Um like to thank everyone for coming out this evening. Really appreciate hearing your concerns and suggestions. Um, also, uh, there was a bad fire last week and want to thank all the first responders and
all the departments that were, um, involved helping out. Um, and also first responders who came in from Mammoth County and Ocean County to assist the Long Branch Fire Department. Um, and on that like to uh, wish everyone a safe
week and see everyone in two weeks. Thank you. >> Good. Thank you, Councilwoman Rouses. And uh Councilman Vieira is not here tonight and so we will go to Councilwoman Whittis. >> Hi, good evening. I just want to thank everyone for coming out this evening and
watching. Um I also hope everyone had a good holiday, enjoyed their families, and I would like to thank the first responders for all that they do every day in protecting the citizens of Long Branch. and I will see you in two weeks.
Thank you and have a good night. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Witness and Vice President Dangler. >> Yes. Also, I thank the first responders um for all the hard work that they uh did on last week with the fire and
public uh service announcement. Second Baptist Church of Liberty Street uh 93 Liberty Street will be having a expungement uh workshop. So any everyone is welcome. It's free. Um Saturday, April 16th and I
will have the uh exact time. Um I'll send it to the um administration here so they could put it on. We could put it on the website. Thank you and have a blessed blessed evening. See you in two weeks. >> Would you like to give any details of um
the picture? >> Love you, man. Thank you, Vice President Dangler. And now we will move to Mayor Palone. >> Thank you, Council President. Yes, I just have to sort of reiterate what a lot of the council members had said regarding the fire that took place last
week. Um uh I was down there with um public safety director Shirley uh for quite some time. He was down there for actually for two days straight. But uh you really um appreciate our first responders and um you know when you hear
that that uh line, you know, they're putting their life on the line, they that was clearly on display with that fire last last week. uh not only put their own safety uh at risk uh but there to protect the citizens and that fire
would have been a lot um worse uh if we didn't have um our our fire department as well as companies from uh many other uh municipalities. So, thank you for that. And again, to all our first responders, police, fire, first aers, um
it was firsthand experience for me to to thank you for for all that you do. I had a uh just a few uh upcoming events that I want to mention. So, our the Earthmont exhibition at the Long Branch Arts and Cultural Center showcases
a new two exhibits actually, how discarded materials can be transformed into imaginative work of arts. So one uh exhibit, this particular exhibit will run to the end of April. Um the first is still in play and the second is creative
change makers sustainable arts. The exhibits highlight artists and students who repurpose items like game pieces, beach debris, old clothing into creative expressions that emphasize sustainability. It's really going to be a very interesting uh exhibit. And
alongside the artwork, visitors can participate all this month in workshops, demonstrations, and some special events that are going to be taking place. The reception is, I believe it's next Thursday, the 16th of April. All are welcome. That's between 6 and 8. You'll
see some great uh art. We're going to have a nice reception and uh learn a lot about sustainability. Uh, second thing I'd like to mention is we're we're hiring now for summer of 26 for positions on the beach, at the pool, and at the Department of Public Works.
So, please go to our website for more information and to fill out an application. And finally, um, I mentioned this last meeting, our summer internship program is back. Online applications are now o open and available. Please visit our website at
longbranch.org to find out uh, more information about that. Thank you all for coming this evening and thank you for your comments. >> Thank you, mayor. Um I think you have some more details to have. >> Yes, Madam President. Thank you. Um in regards to the expungement program, the
time was just sent to me. It is from 3, excuse me, from 11 a.m. to 300 p.m. uh at again at Second Baptist Church. And I will get a copy of the flyer and have it put on the website. Thank you. >> Excellent. Thank you. Um and I certainly
join everyone in the comments of um tremendous thanks to our uh first responders until you live through an experience like that and know what people go through. Um we're all saying, you know, you truly put your life on the line and
and we benefit from all of their efforts because they're protecting us and they're protecting uh our city. Um so tremendous thanks to all of them. Um tremendous um thanks to our speakers tonight and again I I think um that your
comments were very thoughtful and JP I would again encourage you to come talk. Let's see where it takes us. Let's see where we how we can move this forward. And with that um everyone have a good
two weeks. We will see you back again um shortly. And I need a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I thank you. Good night.