All right, let's call to order the council meeting of Thursday, April 23rd, 2026. Start with the pledge of allegiance and moment of silence. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God, indivisible with
all. Please bow your heads for a moment of silence. >> Amen. >> Mr. Madden >> here. Mr. Barnes here, >> Mr. Pchini here, >> Mr. Hartzel here, >> Mr. Lovechuk, >> Mr. Winslow here, >> Mr. Crowley >> here.
>> Adequate notice of this meeting has been given pursuant to public law 1975, chapter 231. I'm going to go to the mayor and administration. I know we have a proclamation declaring April 24th Arbor Day in Ocean City, New Jersey. And I'll turn it over to M Jay. >> Okay, cool. Thanks. Just a couple quick
updates. Um, uh, let's see. We got a $5 million grant by the D yesterday. George drove drove up to Point Pleasant and picked it up. This is uh something we've been working on for a while, too. But it's going to actually go We've been trying to do some thin
layer dredging after Sandy. A lot of the uh marshes in the back got destroyed and have been continue to be destroyed. So, this is going to be able we're going to start shooting island and work our way back. But, it's it's I tell you the different ways of doing dredging. This this is going to be a good one. So it
it'll build a habitat for plants and wildlife and again a buffer against uh the coastal flooding. So everybody wins on this one. Uh so we've raised more than about 15 million in grants since uh 2017. Uh we also had a call Tuesday with the D
about beach replenishment. Uh they are fasttracking it which is unbelievable. Um but uh things are moving fairly well and we should hear within a couple weeks uh when they'll go out to bid and when when it should start. So just keep your eyes on that. Again, I want to thank
everybody for that. Uh the boardwalk reconstruction from 12th to 14th Street is uh completed by tomorrow. Then the crews will move on to replace the ramps and to the street and the beach uh beach blocks. And Jody, I think we're going to do the steps right on 12th Street there. just to give you a heads up there cuz I
was they were Yeah, they were a little shabby there. But >> by the way, >> uh it looks great. >> Those are it. Thank you. But uh yeah, just to let you know that, but they'll let you know in case it affects the business. Um we have a bond ordinance that we're recommending tonight. All the
items are a part of the approved capital plan. They include our share of the upcoming Beachville project, part of the Boro reconstruction projects not covered by the $4.9 million grant and a neighborhood flood mitigation project for 18th Street to 26th Street. And
Frank's here to and he'll provide more detail. Another ordinance we're recommending would prohibit parking any type of trailer and construction vehicles next to playgrounds and recreation fields. This is a safety issue and it was requested by the
families around these areas. Tomorrow is National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. So, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., anybody can drop off an unneeded medication at the library or at the new police substation on the Boro, these drugs can become a great way, a gateway
to addiction. Uh, this weekend we have our sports memorabilia show from 10:00 to 5:00 Saturday and 10:00 to 4 on Sunday. Uh I don't know if what the weather's going to be like so at least that'll be up there on the boral can get everybody up there. Johnlair, Larry Bo will appear on Saturday for a question
and answer and then uh Jiad Campbell will appear on Sunday. On tonight's agenda includes a resolution to introduce the budget. This is a no frrills budget that properly addresses all the services and improvements that our residents, our taxpayers, guests
have come to expect. Frank is here to provide more detail and to answer any questions. I just want to take a moment and you know obviously with the election coming up, the crazy times come up with all the experts on the budget of what we do or don't do or write or you know all the Monday morning quarterbacks. And I
just wanted to tell Frank, I said, I know this is a tough time for you because nobody in this room knows more than Frank does with municipal budgets. And for the last 16 16 years that we've been working together, he's been nothing between him and Lee on his team have
been nothing but classy and have always done the right thing. So I know people always want to talk about cutting and and all these different things, but every day we do that. I mean, the decisions we make on a daily basis, we cut taxes. So, I just uh some, you know, I know when they come after the three of
us that are running or whatever and they talk about how we can save and all these great ideas and all that kind of stuff and sometimes I take that a little personally cuz I know Frank works so hard and actually is doing it dayto-day and sometimes I think you know all you got to do give Frank a call and he'll
tell you anything you need to know. But I mean it seems like everybody likes to go on that keyboard and tell what they can do or what they can't do. And I got to tell you something for the amount of money that we spend here and take care of things here. I just you are you know again I just I want to thank you that
and I know you're uh admired by a lot of other cities that would love to have you. So I you I know you'll get through this too but I just want to thank you. That's all I got Terry. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you Jay. Appreciate it. Um we're going to go to citizen comment. I see some new faces tonight. So just so we understand the ground rules. The
first citizen comment is just on what's on the agenda. The second public comment is free form, whatever you want to talk about. So, with that said, we'll go to the first um first people and Ed is are you on the agenda, Ed? >> They told me it was the other way
around. >> Okay. >> So, what? >> We'll get to you eventually. >> Okay. >> David Pal. >> Yes. Um I'm not sure what I'm saying is on the agenda. >> Okay. You want to wait then? >> I guess so. >> Okay. Dave Hayes,
>> I'm gonna pass. >> Okay. Doug Blackman, >> I'm at the edge as well. >> Okay. >> No, it's fine. >> Greg Siri, >> right here also. >> Okay. >> All right. We'll make sure everyone will get to talk. Um,
go to reports from city council. David, >> no report. >> Jody, >> I'm different. >> Keith, happy birthday. Anything to report? >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY. LIKE 88. >> Don't say um no report. I I think turning 70 is good enough for the day.
>> That's good. Sean, >> nothing to report. Tony, >> nothing to report. >> Peter, >> no reports. >> Uh and I have nothing. Can I have a motion to adopt the regular city council meeting minutes of Thursday, March 26, 2026? >> So move Winslow. Second, >> Mr. Madden. Yes.
>> Mr. Barnes, Mr. Pchini. Mr. Hartzell, yes. >> Mr. Lovechuk, yes. >> Mr. Winslow, >> yes. >> Mr. Crowley, >> yes. >> Okay, we have a couple ordinances for this evening. The first ordinance is ordinance 2604. Can I have a motion to introduce 2604?
>> So move Winslow. >> Second. >> Mr. Madden. Yes. >> Mr. Barnes, yes. Mr. Pchini, Mr. Hartzel. Yes. >> Mr. Lovechuk. Yes. >> Mr. Winslow. Yes. >> Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance 2604, an ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a
CAT bank per NJSA484-45.14 for calendar year 2026. >> Thanks, Melissa. Good evening, council, members of the public. Um, we ask for your support with this ordinance every year uh to preempt the budget which is on the agenda uh later on this evening.
Um, this provides for a cap bank. It also allows us to increase the budget uh from the 2% cost of living that the state has signed this year up to the statutory maximum of three and a half%. Our budget needs a little bit of that wiggle room in order to be compliant with this law this year. Um and any
unused um anything above the cap also gets banked for the benefit of the next couple years budget. So that's another good reason to pass this budget every year or this every year. So appreciate your support on this. But if we don't pass this, we can't take up the budget for introduction later on this evening.
>> Okay, perfect. Thank you, Frank. Uh, any questions from council? >> No. >> Seeing none, can I have a motion to adopt 264 on first reading introduction? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes, >> yes. >> Mr. Pchini, yes. >> Mr. Hartzell, Mr. Lovechuk, yes.
>> Mr. Winslow, yes. >> Mr. Crowley, >> yes. Second reading and public hearing will be held on Thursday, May 21st at 6:00 p.m. and will be published according to the law. Next ordinance. Can I have a motion to introduce ordinance 2605 on first reading? >> So move.
>> Second. >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pulchini. Yes. >> Mr. Hartzell. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lovechuk. >> Yes. >> Mr. Winslow. >> Yes. >> Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. Ordinance 2605, a bond ordinance appropriating $23,573,600
and authorizing the issuance of 22,394,920 in bonds and notes of the city of Ocean City for the various improvements or purposes authorized to be undertaken by the city of Ocean City, New Jersey. >> Thank you. Me again. Um, tonight we have
a bond ordinance which represents the majority of our 2026 capital plan. uh that we went over in detail at the February 19th meeting. Uh Vince and I gave a presentation on the items that were in the capital plan as well as uh all the debt service components and the
projections and everything else. Um as a reminder, I gave out uh a copy tonight to all of you uh of the capital plan. Um it's probably going to be a little easier to go from the capital plan, but the ordinance itself uh basically has all the legal stuff in the first two
pages. Section three is a list of all the improvements which is in the same exact order as the capital plan. Um so uh pick pick whichever one you want but um basically I'll just go right down. Um roads roads and drainage is a total of
$5 million collectively and that's to uh provide for any paving projects that we have coming up that usually uh go along with DOT grants that we get. but also the next two major neighborhood drainage projects that we're looking to get into is uh 18th to 26 streets and then Ocean
City Homes is now under preliminary design. So those are the two next big projects coming up in the roads and drainage category. As the mayor mentioned, the big ticket item in the beach and bal is our share of the upcoming uh beach project in the north end. Uh that's included in the
ordinance. Um the last phase of uh what'll be the tail end of the DCA boardwalk grant uh will be the 14th to 16th street areas. Uh this will provide some extra funding to finish off those uh those projects and that's 1.2 million for boardwalk. Uh on the next page of
the capital plan you get into all the building projects. Uh the total is um let's see here uh total is 5,245 on building projects. Um, it's pretty much everything in this category except for the FAA hanger, uh, which is in the
airport category. That project is is not ready yet from a grant standpoint, but it's the, uh, the $3 million match on the airport construction of the terminal building, uh, HVAC at the community center, uh, improvements at the fire department headquarters, improvements at
the music pier. If you flick over to page three of your capital plan, some of the bigger ticket items um are the um prep uh prepping the roofs for various buildings for the next phase of the solar project in town. Um and causeway
welcome center causeway HVAC uh round up bottom page three. On page four, we move over to recreation uh facilities. Um some big ticket items here are improvements to the 34 street little egg and the batting cages. um downtown
streetscaping. We're looking to continue those projects. Um the netting of the golf course, which I mentioned at the capital plan presentation, improvements to the 18th Street pickle ball complex. Um and then over to page five. Um we get
into trucks and equipment for various departments. I won't read through them um you know line by line, but we have uh airport and transportation uh vehicles, vehicles for the beach patrol, um fire department, uh one more storm truck and
two pumper trucks there for the fire department, uh replacement of a police boat for the SU police boat for the police department. Public works vehicles are mentioned on page six. Uh they comprise of a couple dump trucks, pickup
truck, and a 9 yard trash truck. And then um page seven is really smaller departmental equipment. Again, I'm not going to read it line by line, but it's um you know, it's operational type of capital equipment for, you know, beach
patrol, community services, police, and fire. Um and then last but not least on page eight, uh communications and IT upgrades. And again, there's a list of those that you can look through. Again, everything in the ordinance is completely consistent with the capital
plan that we presented in February and adopted in March. So, I'm available for any questions on this ordinance. It'll have a second reading at the next meeting. >> Any questions, guys? Okay. Can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 2605 on first reading?
>> So, move Winslow. >> Second. Barnes. >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes. Yes. >> Mr. Pulchini. Yes. Mr. Hartzel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Love Chop. Yes. >> Mr. Winslow. >> Yes. >> Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. Second reading of public hearing will be held on Thursday, May 21st at 6 p.m.
>> May 7th. Oh, I'm sorry. And May 7th and will be published according to law. Sorry about that. Um, next ordinance 2606. Can I have a motion to introduce 2606 on first reading? >> So move Winslow. >> Second. >> Mr. Madden. Yes. >> Mr. Barnes. Yes.
>> Mr. Pulchini. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hartzel. Yes. >> Mr. Lovechuk. Yes. >> Mr. Winslow. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. >> 2606. An ordinance of the city of Ocean City, County of Kate May and state of New Jersey amending the municipal code to prohibit the parking of trailers and
construction vehicles adjacent to municipal playgrounds and recreation fields. >> Good evening, council. This ordinance, as the mayor indicated, was brought at the suggestion of use of some of our playgrounds and recreational areas. And the idea is to keep those parks and and
recreational fields visible from the street. So, this ordinance would prevent these large vehicles, construction vehicles, and any kind of trailer from parking immediately adjacent to a playground or recreation field. And those terms are defined in the ordinance. I do see that there's a misn
numbering of the sections. We'll take care of that before you see this on second reading. >> Thank you, Donnie. Any questions for Donnie? >> Seeing none, can I have a motion to adopt 2606 on first reading? >> So moved. >> Second, >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes,
>> yes. >> Mr. Pulchini, yes. >> Mr. Hartsaw, >> yes. >> Mr. Lovechuk, yes. >> Mr. Winslow, yes. >> Mr. Crowley, yes. Second reading of public hearing will be held on Thursday, May 7th at 6 p.m. and will be published according to law. Ordinance 2602. Can I have a motion to
take up ordinance 2602 on second reading and public hearing? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes. Yes. >> Mr. Pchini. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hartzel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lovech. >> Yes. >> Mr. Winslow. >> Yes. >> Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. >> 2602. An ordinance replacing the entire
contents of the existing affordable housing ordinance of the revised general ordinances of the city of Ocean City, New Jersey, article 2000 of the Ocean City Zoning and Land Development Ordinance and repealing all ordinances hereto for adopted the provisions of
which are inconsistent herewith, including but not limited to article 1900 affordable housing development fees, article 1901, affordable housing housing set aside and article 2100 municipal housing liaison.
>> So that's a long title for a very hefty ordinance. So this ordinance is going to replace all of the sections that Melissa just read off. We're doing this as part of our compliance with the city's obligation to provide affordable housing and to provide mechanisms for the
creation of affordable housing. Since it since this was before you on first hearing, our tax assessor made some suggested changement changes to section 23 which has to do with development fees. Those are fees paid by property
owners or developers before they can receive final approval of their project. Those funds go into the affordable housing trust fund and the affordable housing trust fund in turn is used to fund the creation of affordable housing and the administration of our affordable housing program. So Joe Elliott took a
look at all of this and in focused on section 23. We slightly revised section uh 3A on page 20 32 all the way at the bottom. So that it says these fees are
due um on residential development when an existing structure other than a detached single family dwelling which does doesn't trigger um a fee is constructed, demolished, replaced or expanded. It
didn't say in space or in volume. This is something that he's run into before. If you if somebody is not creating a whole new room, but has lifted the property and created additional habitable space in the term in it could be a foyer, could be storage that should
trigger a fee if a fee is >> um required. So, we're just trying to provide the development community with very clear language so that we're not making interpretations and um calling into question the authority of the ordinance that appears twice. And then on page 35,
Mr. Elliot pointed out that this the model ordinance upon which this is based calls for him to make a determination of the amount of the development fee at the beginning of the project. In Ocean City, we've always done it at the end of the project as a condition of a certificate
of occupancy. He asked me to change the language to do that because until he can walk through the project, he can't really give us a good opinion of assessment and he needs that assessment in order to calculate the fee. So, this is all kind of down in the weeds tax assessor stuff, but I just wanted to
bring those to your attention. >> Thank you, Daddy. Since this is a second reading, we will go out to public comment on ordinance 2602 only. Anyone for 2602? Okay, seeing none. Any questions, guys?
>> I have a motion to adopt 2602 on second reading. >> So, move Winslow second. >> Mr. Madden. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barnes. Yes. >> Mr. Pulchini. Yes. >> Mr. Hartzel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Love. Yes. >> Mr. Winslow. >> Yes. >> Mr. Crowley. >> Yes. >> We have uh next or one resolution that's
non-consent tonight, which is a resolution in introducing the 2026 local municipal budget. Um Frank, we'll go to you for this, I'm sure. Sir, thank you, Terry. Um, good evening again, council. Um, tonight is the
formal introduction of the 2026 municipal budget. The first thing I would like to do is, uh, I handed out a new document. Uh, if you brought your mayor's budget with you, that's great. U, but it's going to be replaced by a new document that says budget
introduction at the bottom with tonight's date. Um you'll notice that the bottom line of the budget has increased and I will explain why that is the case. Uh as I when I presented the budget last month, I talked about the importance of
isolating grants and uh so as not to you know to uh skew the bottom line of the budget. I always put last year's grants into the budget to give you the true picture apples to apples of how the budget is increasing uh from one year to the next. grants can often push the
bottom of the line of the budget one way or the other, and that's the case this year. Uh the $118 million mayor's budget is now up to $125 million. However, the tax rate and tax levy are exactly the same as what the mayor proposed. So
grants, like I said, can skew the bottom line. Um now it looks like the budget is up $12 million as opposed to five. So if you read that headline on Facebook tomorrow, it's not true. Okay? spending is not out of control. We're not up $12 million. It's in the grants. All right.
Just wanted to get that out there. Um I will point to you the pages uh where the additional monies has been inserted. If you go to sheet nine on the ver on the budget that says introduced at the bottom,
you're going to see the grants that we have been awarded so far this year. And like I also said, we're also going to get grants throughout the year, even after you adopt the budget next month. Those will be resolutions on your uh council agendas for the rest of the year. So the budget does grow and change
throughout the year. But the ones we know of right now on sheet 9 are uh the body armor fund uh which provides bulletproof vest for the police department. That's a little over $6,000. Our annual allotment of community development block grant 266,000. Uh actually a second bulletproof vest.
Um, one is federal, one is state for 2345. Continuing over the next page nine, uh, the the grant that the mayor announced, the D announced yesterday and the mayor had in his remarks today, uh, the restoration of Shooting Island for $5
million. And then last but not least, uh, we talked about the airport uh, terminal construction, uh, our shares and the bond ordinance that you just adopted on first reading. As you know, it's been announced many times over the years. We received a generous donation
from Mr. Grisbomb uh to match our funds for this. His donation is going in the operating budget and it's on sheet 10. Uh it's called the Leon Grisbomb Airport Terminal Building Donation uh for $3 million. We have those funds already received, but they're not appropriated
until you put them into a bond ordinance or or a a budget. So, uh that's the motion that we're going through tonight. And then all the grants and the donation have a matching expense account in the back of the budget, which I'll spare you the the details of going through all
those pages, but that's they're on both sides of the budget. All they do is increase the bottom line of the budget and they do nothing to taxation. Um, other than that, just a reminder, uh, we're we're, uh, with your passage of ordinance of 2604 earlier, we're
compliant with, uh, both the statutory spending cap and the levy cap with this budget. Um, the budget was first delivered by the mayor first meeting in March. I presented it in full detail, the second meeting in March. Uh, the capital plan, like I said earlier, and the debt service that's incorporated
into this budget was all presented in full detail. uh the meeting of February 19th. Um that brings us to tonight, which is the formal introduction. Um upon successful approval tonight, uh assuming it is um the clerk will advertise the budget for no no less than
28 days and it'll return for you uh for second reading at the May 21st meeting. So still time to deliberate, ask questions, dig into the budget for sure. We have a whole another month. Um, side note, Leon, our auditor, um, who's always obviously a part of this process,
couldn't be with us tonight. I know many of you had a chance to meet with him and reached out to him in the past week. Um, which is always a great idea to get his um, you know, perspective on the budget. Um, he's a wealth of knowledge obviously, but he will be here for for adoption. I just wanted to add that in there. So,
>> thank you. >> Great. Thanks. Any questions for Frank? Now I just want to mention the on not mention but just on the uh >> on the grants we went from 1.3 million to 5.2 almost 5.3 million. That's almost
$4 million additional grants. That's great job. Thank you. >> Yeah, I mean largely obviously to do with the D. I mean the grants come and go. I mean some of them are annual grants like the community development block grant, the bulletproof, some recycling grants, other larger grants uh that you know they're onetime
opportunities usually. I mean, we'll have a budget with $10 million one year and 2 million the next and 20 million the next. It's it depends on when these programs come and go. And like I said, they they do a lot to skew the bottom line of the budget. So, it's important to focus on what the real increase in
spending was without the grants. >> Yeah, I know you administration works very hard to get these grants. So, yes, much appreciated. >> Anyone else before I let Frank sit down? >> All right. Thank you, Frank. Um, can I have a motion to adopt the 2026 local
municipal budget? >> Sorry, hold on. >> Who was it? >> Mr. Madden, >> yes. >> Mr. Barnes, yes. >> Mr. Pini, yes. Mr. Hartzell, yes. >> Mr. Love, >> Mr. Winslow, Mr. Crowley, >> yes. Second reading will be on uh May 21st at 6 p.m. will be advertised
according to law, which moves us into the consent agenda. All resolutions on the consent agenda are considered to be routine in nature and will be acted by one motion. If the mayor or any council person wishes a particular resolution to be considered separately, it will be removed from the consent agenda.
Anything to be removed, gentlemen. Okay. Okay. Um seeing none motion to adopt. Yeah. I'm so used to guys. >> So moved. >> Second.
It's been a long time. >> Mr. Madden, >> yes. >> Mr. Barnes, yes. Mr. Pulchini, Mr. Herzel, >> Mr. Lovech, Mr. Winslow, >> Mr. Crowley, >> yes. >> Pending business, David, >> no pending business. >> Jody, >> nothing. >> Keith, >> yeah, I I voted to move the budget, but
I still have some reservations and things I need to take care of. So, I just want people to know that. >> Okay. Thank you. Sean, >> nothing new. >> Tony, >> nothing. >> Peter, >> no pending business. >> Nothing new. New business, Peter? >> No new business. >> Tony, >> no. Sean, >> no. >> Keith,
>> it's still my birthday. >> Couple more hours. Jody, >> bought your hat. Jody, >> no. Happy birthday, Keith. And thank you to my daughter for coming for uh coming bring your parents. Bring your kid to work day. >> Thank you, Jordan. >> I've never seen her so happy.
>> David, >> whatever you're getting for coming, get twice as much. >> All right, which gets us to citizen comment. So, thank you for your patience. Um, we'll make sure that first. >> What's that? >> No, she's okay. >> Um, we'll just start and we'll go
around. So, we'll start with this side of the room. If anyone wants to come up, just come on, Ed. >> Um, uh, Ed O'Donnell. And um so you have three very articulate people running for mayor. But isn't democracy a wonderful
thing when you get this great discussion of all these uh issues? But the best thing Mayor Gillian ever said was people who get in trouble with the law, give them a second chance. And we need to try
to do that because prison can be the end for a lot of people. Then what are the issues that need more discussion in the campaign for mayor and city council? First, cigarette smoking. Uh it destroys
people physically. They cost the litter. The police will tell you many of those who get in trouble with the law are cigarette smokers. So, we need to hit that hard in the next 20 or so days. In a world like this, let's
talk a little bit about having everybody be friendly. A lot city is a very friendly place. One of the friendliest places in the history of the world. There still are a couple mean people. So, let's get them straightened out the next three weeks. Um, clean up the
litter. Ocean City's very good on litter. But before the election, let's announce and publicize Philadelphia TV news media, national TV news media. We're gonna have a clean up every piece of litter day in Ocean City. Get all the
school kids doing it. And I think you get real good publicity. Philadelphia TV especially. And then the most important need in Ocean City is a hot whirlpool because uh I was at the Colgate University reunion
once and Mark Murphy who played for the uh Packers and I mean owner of the Packers and was on the uh super a Super Bowl winning team. He was the athletic director at Colgate. He played football Colgate. So he was giving a lecture one Saturday morning
and I got there early and another alum got there early and I said I've been pushing Mark and Colgate to get a whirlpool and the other alum got it. He said you put the Arabs and the Israelis in a whirlpool they'll solve it in 10
seconds. And then uh everybody uh visit uh Agape Foods and Goodies Going Wild on the Boardwalk. Heather Neville, who runs it, one of the friendliest people you'll ever meet.
And uh I'll be nominating her and David Pal for the Martin Luther King Award this next year. Mike Aliggreta was funny. He said, "Send in your nomination this week and you might have a better ch better chance." and I invited uh
Governor uh Cheryl to speak in Ocean City. Still waiting for response on that. Let's try to do that. I was on two radio talk shows before the Google gubernatorial election and I quizzed the hosts and I said, "Who in the history of
the world has smiled more than any person who ever lived?" And they guessed. I said, "No, it's Mikey Cheryl. Watch her. She she smiled more than any person who's ever lived. And I don't support politicians, but if the Democrats are smart, she should be the
Democratic nominee for president. And she'd probably be the first female president. And um then to uh close it, um well, that's really it. Um so let's work
on all those issues >> and thank you for the comment. Period. Dave, >> the hat >> Dave Hayes, Ocean City. My wife Marie and I have been full-time residents for over 20 years. Um, I do have some
concerns with the budget that again raised their taxes for a total of 22% over the last four years. A year ago in re reviewing the budget, Councilman Winslow completed an analysis focusing on employee pensions and benefits and
came up with a plan that in that included hiring freezes, wage containments, position expirations, and efficiency studies. And on May 22nd of last year, I called on count council to I call on the city to transform Mr.
Winsel's framework into a formal action plan with clear and manageable targets. As with last year's budget, employee pensions and benefits are again one of the biggest drivers constituting 18% of this of this budget. So, I I just want
to know what has been done to implement Council M Winslow's recommendations. Uh over the next month, I'm going to be listening to hear how the city has been working to cut employee pension and benefit costs of the last year and how they continue to plan on cutting costs
in the future. Thank you. Thank you, Dave. >> Thank you. >> I wanted to talk about the title. >> Come on. Come on up. >> Just give just give your name and address and you can >> Jackie Mch on Bay Avenue 3230.
>> We bought that house 20 years ago. It was a single family uh neighborhood, so we paid a premium for that. We were next to the senior center. It was a lovely spot. cute little house. I'm the second owner. Since then,
it's like chaos. I mean, I have affordable housing right next to me. And oh, what's the problem with that? Well, it looks like affordable housing. There's 50 people living in it. It's supposed to be four units. There's cars all down the street. I can't even park
in front of my house anymore. I don't know what's going on with affordable housing. Next to it is a lot. And now they're putting a a tower across the street was ReMax. Now it's a monstrosity. They they uh the the sea spray has fencing around it for three
years. I I live in like skid row now. Like I What are you doing to me? I I had I you changed my zoning. Now I was single. I paid the premium and and now you're just destroying my my beach experience. It's
like new construction everywhere. higher and higher and higher. And I want to know why you would want to put a tower where people live. Like we we live here and you're putting a tower not next to the affordable housing, which by the way
is not very attractive. They say it blends in, but it doesn't blend in. And like I said, there's a problem with it. There's no one's policing it. No one's looking at it. But there's a lot of cars in front of it, the side of it coming in and out all night long. And okay, we
live with that. But now a a a tower and and new construction, a fourstory thing across the street and a condemned building on the corner. And I just want you to reconsider this tower in that spot. It's just not fitting. It's not going to be a
good spot there for that. It's not healthy. It's not good for the environment. It's it's an eyes sore. I already got eyes all around me. And it's like you're killing that end of the street. It's You come in on 34th Street. Why not? Why would you want a tower when
you come in on 34th Street and you make a left to go on Bay Avenue? Why would you want a huge tower there? And that's my problem with it. And you know, you already changed my zoning. I I mean, my property now is is is worth half of what it should be. And you guys keep my own
city keeps destroying and chipping away at it. And and I'm I'm not happy about it. I can't even sell it. So, I just want to know if you can reconsider this tower. Put it somewhere safe. Put it somewhere more open, but not where people not I mean, it's a small area.
That's a small spot. Also, when you turn on to coming in off the bridge, that's just not a thing to look at. It's just nothing anybody should be looking at. So, I'm pleading to please don't put the tower there for all this. Okay. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. My name is Jacob Mack and I live at Sweetwater Court. I'm a former private pilot and I'm concerned about the cell tower placement on the edge of the Ocean City Airport flight path. You got final
approach and takeoff. So my question is, have you notified the FAA? You plan to build a cell phone tower so close to the airfield that I looked up the rules and it says that any significant construction
within 2 miles of the airfield requires FAA approval. We've all had to turn off our cell phones when we fly commercial because the cell phones interfere with the takeoff and landing instruments and
those are commercial airplanes. Now imagine the impact on small Cessna recreational pilots and especially if you're flying in at night and all of a sudden you lose your altimeter. Not to mention the crosswinds.
So you're you're looking at a at a very possible crash. Not only that, it said that this the 5G cell power from those towers would have to be restricted if it's within 2 miles
of an airfield. I drove down to 36th Street and there's a marsh there be, you know, on the south end of the ball field between like Simpson and Haven. Why wouldn't you build it there?
It makes no sense at all to put right in the front of it. You're coming into Ocean City and to be crude is a big giant turd you're going to be hanging there. It's terrible. Um,
when my girls were in high school, I used to tell them the easiest problems to solve are the ones you avoid. And this tower is gonna be a problem. I don't I don't know if you've contacted the FAA, but I would not want to be
flying in and have that tower there. >> My name is Archie Serriani like the Eagles coach and I live at a five waterway road in Ocean City. I want to echo the hazard to aviation
point that was just brought up. I come out of the uh naval aviation community. >> You mentioned crosswinds. >> Yeah. >> It's not like we we have had a plane land on a bridge and I've seen planes crash just off 32nd Street. I have
tremendous concern about it from the hazard to aviation standpoint. If you just go Google NTSB, National Transportation Safety Board, and put in aircraft collisions with
towers, you can read them. >> What's the height that's proposed of this tower? >> Sir, can you address the chair? >> Oh, what's the heights proposed of this tower? >> 125 ft. I can't believe that. >> Is that Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. I don't I don't know. So this building on the corner here is eight stories. So it's going to be >> what? 40 ft taller than that. >> Is that correct? >> Twice.
>> Oh, that's one of my concerns. Um, is this part of a settlement that has to be at this location? Are you guys not able to respond? >> We don't. It's not a Q&A. Okay. So, I don't know if it has to be at this location. Does anybody understand the
reason why? Like if there has to be a tower at this height, it it seems to me that you've got this beautiful visitor center on the Ninth Street Bridge, 120T tower there, especially if you made
it look like a a lighthouse would be much more appealing than putting it at this location. It has to be down because >> is is the purpose of it to cover just Ocean City?
>> No, the south end. >> That's why you put it at 36. >> Okay, that's my point. I think it's a I think it's an isore. U What about the water tower that's down there by 40th Street?
>> I guess you guys can't respond. Yeah. >> I just don't understand. Is this a done deal? Is this is something that's going to happen? >> No, it's not. >> All right. Okay. >> Must be done. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> That's it. Thanks for your time. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And let's hope there's not any plane
accidents. I've done aviation mishap as a flight surgeon. Um it's an ugly thing. You don't want to see it. Yeah. Good evening. My name is Rick Flounders. I live at 3305 Bayand and I've got several concerns. Most of the
people over here tonight, I don't think you usually have a this kind of a crowd. They're here because of the cell tower. My property line is 50 ft from where this is supposed to be put according to what I've read. And I am
not an attorney. I'm not a land use attorney. I was supposed to be notified. My neighbors here all all within 50 to 100 250 ft. None of them were notified. When I put a fence up around my house, I had
to send letters out to my neighbors and say there's going to be a you know 5ft fence. Today I got a notice about blocking the driveway. So my my complaint is that this is a 125 ft tower. My property line is 50 feet. I am
well within the fall zone of a tower. Okay. Uh there you know there there are there are so many things that I looked at besides the fact if you get into uh I watched your uh the planning board meeting when they had the guys talking about um radio frequency waves. I'm not
a scientist. I don't understand all that. They were assuring there's no problem. But if you look at a lot of other studies, you see there are issues with that. You know, the reason it was moved off the compass building was too low and it was on private building. Now, what happened with council? What changed
that allowed that to be put in? Obviously, what was allowed that put in where it is? >> When you're done, I'll have Doy go through the history of uh >> Okay. Uh I I watched, you know, watched the whole whole thing and all seems like all the witnesses were there for Verizon
and Selka, whoever it is. But I say my home is 50 feet away from it. Would you want that tower be 50 feet from your home? All right. From your home that I have 10 grandchildren. They're there all summer. Now I'm a summer resident and I hope
that doesn't negate my importance. Uh but my neighbors are too and they all have kids there. And if that's an issue, and we're not sure 100% that it's not an issue, and there's different sides of it, but those kinds of things, uh, I
heard all the planning about should it be black vinyl fencing around the cyclone fence and all that's that's kind of important because more important is that there shouldn't be at that location. And as I was looking at, you know, Google map of the whole city of Ocean City and it seems to me there be
should be a lot of places on on the island where you could put it where it wouldn't impinge on, you know, a lot of a neighborhood. And it also has a a factor and I read a couple places where it'll reduce your property value up to 30%. And again, I'm 50 ft.
So I appreciate your time. I hope you consider this. I hope this is not a done deal because it wasn't done right. I should have been noticed. I should have had noticed and so did most of the people behind me. They're all my neighbors. Nobody got anything.
>> Thank you. >> Hold on. Hold on one second. >> We're going to just just to clarify because I'm not on on every detail here. Die, can you just give an explanation of where we are >> with or how we got here? >> Sure. Um so first of all the what the
main question I'm hearing why here why in this location council you'll recall that there's a need for coverage in this area and the the dead center of the circle within which coverage is needed is sort of the northerly end of the
crossings right behind the wall. Then they draw a circle around it and that's where they need coverage for these cell phones um for safety, for convenience, for all the reasons that we use cell phones. Um as the gentleman
indicated, there was a proposal to put a lower tower, a lower set of antenna on the back of the Compass building right on 34th Street. And city council heard from the neighbors in that area Um, and
their research indicated from what they told council that their concern with that location was the fact that the antenna were going to be horizontal from their kids' bedrooms. They had no problem with it being on a
tall tower, but there was no room for a tower there. But their problem was it was at the residential level of the second floor bedrooms in that neighborhood. When the planning board denied site plan approval for their application to put it
on the compass building, we were sued in federal court for violation of the federal telecommunications act. Council appointed by the joint insurance fund assured us that they had a strong case and urged urged city council
through me to try to find another location in order to resolve the issue because Verizon was open to another location if they could provide the needed coverage. The city took I don't know if it was a
year but it was 6 to9 months to look at every location within >> this red circle. Um, some of the problems that were run we ran into were it was too close to the wetlands or one site that we thought was
perfect >> is right next to the wetland >> was part of the >> Hold on. Excuse me. >> Let her finish. >> Let her finish please. >> What looks like wetlands and what's delineated as wetlands by the D are two
different technical lines. So, it's not as easy as saying it looks kind of swampy. Yes, you can't build near that. It might not technically be wetlands. Not my rules, New Jersey DE rules. So, we would pick a site and investigate it.
And every site got shut down for green acres, encumbrance, proximity to the wetlands within the wetlands buffer. Those were the challenges that we had to overcome. It came down to this site. We're we still don't have the wetlands delineation
and it's my understanding from the planning board presentation that the FAA approval which is the applicant's responsibility to obtain has not been finalized. >> What this council did what in an effort to settle the federal lawsuit is search
I would say high and low but mostly high I guess for a place to put a tower that would provide the coverage that was needed. I understand the frustration about not receiving notice. The applicant complied with the law in presenting its application to the
planning board because no variance request uh relief was required. That's why you didn't get a notice. City council was not happy about this location. City council had no other options other than to put it back on the compass building
at the same level as the second floor bedrooms. Can we look at and come up with an idea? We're the res, >> Mr. President. >> So, if for some reason the applicant does not require all of the approvals that it needs to to construct this
tower, then we'll be back in court. And it's most likely, you never know what's going to happen in court. It's most likely that it will be on the Compass building at that lower elevation close to the and much closer to those those homes. So, this was not a decision
taken lightly. City council really struggled with this and this was the last location that they were able to locate. I understand that this is not making anyone happy, but I'm just trying to tell you the process by which we ended up where we are.
>> That's all I have. Mr. Con, >> thank you. >> Could you also just remind of the um legislation that we passed shortly after this regarding future towers and all that that we did? >> Thank you, Councilman. But it was actually before this. So as soon as the
issue regarding the compass building became um known to city council, they immediately took action and adopted an ordinance to make sure that could not happen again. That these facilities could only be put on city property or
properties in the public zone. It would it limits the places where this can occur and puts it in the control of city council which is look there's got to be coverage according to the federal telecom communications act. They will be
allowed to put this somewhere. It is the lesser of several evils but city council has done what they could legislatively to limit the locations where this can occur. >> Okay. Thank you, Donnie.
>> Yeah, sure. Come on up. >> That's okay. Just name and address, please. Sure. My name is Greg Serriani. I live at 3208 Simpson Avenue. And thank you for having this council meeting. I do appreciate it. And there's a lot of things about Ocean City I just
love. And there's some things about Ocean City that I don't love, but it's done for good reason. uh recently building a home some years ago. There was a point where we had pebbles and we liked pebbles and then we weren't able to do that. We had to put in grass because of the
aesthetics, the look. Trees sometimes can be a little bit annoying. We had to put in trees for the look. Some of them have since died. They weren't appropriately matched to the environment here. So, there's some
things about this town that I think are really good rules. I do like the greenery. I think that's a good thing. I look at it now, I'm like, it makes some sense. So, when I heard about this, and maybe I wasn't involved soon enough, it really did string a a hardcore with me.
I've been in this area since 1971. I've owned three homes, two single family, one rental property, a duplex, and today I live at 3208 Simpson. So over those 30 years um is the time that I actually had a phone and I can't
really think of a time where I was unable and it prevented me from doing work or prevented me from doing anything social. Maybe I dropped a signal and then but I dropped them anywhere I travel to. It's not something that
obstructed the way I live and the way a lot of people live. I'm not worried about a person taking a selfie on the beach. And if the distance is an issue, there are some options and I'm going to share them today even though I saw the circle. I didn't get a good look at it, but it's I did recognize there's
something there. But the big impact that I think most of us in this audience, I won't speak for anybody, but I will speak for 2905. I have a brother that has a house there. I have 3213 Bay Avenue, a brother that has a house there, and my brother Archie's in the audience here today.
property values. It's cited over and over again that if you buy a home and then there's a tower put up, your property value drops. Taxes won't drop. Property values go
away. It's a fact. Anywhere between 2.46% and up to almost 9% 9.4746% 47 46% change in real estate value. That's monumental.
If you have a line of sight within 74 kilometers, which is about a half a mile, which a lot of homes sitting in this room will have, some within feet, it's horrible. If the average value is $1.6 million and just 500 homes are
impacted, you're staring down the barrel of $72 million drop in property value. It's $144,000 per home. It's insane. The folks that live on Waterway and the houses that are being constructed on some of these new roads like Bay Avenue and Simpson, they're selling for $2
million. Well over Beachfront or Bayfront, you probably can't get on for under four. Now, if the average was 1.8 million, you're $81 million of drop value. It's $162,000 in dropped in ownership of folks that
live in this community. Neighbors, neighbors, like we have to say no to this in terms of fairness. This isn't something for the entire area. I realize the folks in the garden don't have to look at this, but let's drop it there and see what happens. See how many
people show up. Let's do that. Why not? I understand that the towers, but we're using extenders right now. And you know what, Daddy? I appreciate what you do for a living because I've worked with you many times. But you know what? Those extenders work. >> Some of them were probably put in 20
years ago. We don't think that extenders in 2026 have a stronger range. They do. Fight for that for us. Just upgrade the extenders. Nobody will notice. Is it fair? Really? like when some folks have to look at it and we're getting
along fine without them now. I brought some pictures that I took yesterday. These were taken yesterday. This is what a a cell tower looks like. They start at the top with a little porcupine and then they turn into this
when they say they want broader and broader coverage. That's going to be pretty. Guess what you notice? Side of a highway. Here's two more. I got arrows cuz they're far away. But you know what? They're sitting next to train tracks. Why? No neighborhoods.
Here's another one that sits off another highway. Billboards. Guess what? You don't see houses. No houses. Here's another one that started small and got big. This is what we're up against. 33rd Street. >> Thank you. I appreciate I'm not done.
>> Well, we have a time limit. So, >> well, you can tell me that. >> I have to I I'll give you one more minute then. All right. You know what the comment is? >> Thank you very much. Just have someone else take the pictures. Just finish one last thought then the common theme here is that >> highway 3213 Tom Sriani I'm going to
hand my five minutes. >> I'm not going to I won't take I won't take >> I'll give you my three minutes. >> All right. Three. >> So I guess the last you come up we have to you come up. >> The last thing was the health perception. And I know that there's a lot of debate on whether they're safe or
not. I know we don't want cell phones near our newborn's heads. Why? like that's we we're conscious of that. Most people are using earbuds now because they don't want to hold a phone to their head. I know there's a lot of debate on that, but the real thing
that's not up for debate is the perceived risk. The perception of risk is that it's there and a home like that would be reduced in value. So, are there alternatives? I do believe there are. I think it was cited earlier. What about what about the power plant? What about
the top of the bridge? What about like an Avalon? You know where they put them? top of the water tower. Brilliant. Thank you. And I do have 36 Bay and 36 Simpson also that was noted. So in closing, I would just say that does affect our homes. It does affect
property value. It does affect of you. And if there's one thought you can just sit with when you go home tonight, if you pull in your driveway and two doors down you saw the tower, how would you feel? Please fight for us. We appreciate your time. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Okay. Anyone else? All right. Just so everyone knows what the rules are, there's a there's a timer up here. It's 5 minutes. You give your name and address and you address the chair, not anyone else. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Doug Blackman, 48 Waterway. I've had a house there since 73. Um, absolutely
object to the 125 ft tower. Um, and frankly 125 foot tower doesn't make sense anywhere in Ocean City. You should be doing repeaters in shorter towers, using the water tower, using Verizon's had a site over by the U
Humane Society during the summer for years. It's insane to put this this close in a residential area. I know something has to be done. I apologize for my throat. um you know in response to the neighborhood suit and suit and the
Verizon pressure. But this is exchanging one neighborhood issue for another as you've obviously seen. It's creating an eyesore for the facil the city and it's going to have to be lit. It's going to be almost as tall as the ferris wheel at
uh Wonderland that's going away. Uh and it it's going to be the entrance to 3 on 34th Street. It's going to look like [ __ ] Um, I acknowledge you do have to get FAA approval was noted in the planning meeting. County approval of some sort
and was cited as well as D approval. Um, the planning uh 34th Street already has the stupid 50ft electric towers. This is going to be more than twice as tall. To say I've had numerous people including city officials say it's not going to be
that noticeable. That's bold. you know, 125 foot with light on the top. It's going to be what you see when you come over the bridge just like you see the ferris wheel when you come over the ninth street bridge except it's going to be ugly. It's going to be and it is going to be an issue for the airport
even if you get FAA approval. God help us that planes crash because of it. Sell towers are known health risks. It was acknowledged in the planning commission meeting. They uh but and it was if you listen to the planning commission
meeting the technical study was only for one the Verizon cell antenna when he was specifically asked about collocation he did not have any evidence to present and said that wasn't part of my study and you are
going to get collocation as the pictures show you know every other provider is going to ask to be on that tower and it's which is going to make it uglier and create more radio waves and affect everybody that much more. Um,
alternatives have to be investigated including I hate to say it the city buying property so that it could only be on if it only can be on city property. Talk to the acne, talk to CVS. They're in that straight corridor
commercial buildings like cell towers for the extra revenue. um multiple shorter towers will be a hell of a lot better in my opinion than 125 ft tower. You also have an equity issue that's been reported to the state and they're
considering investigating at the same meeting that you approve your fair housing act redo. You put a cell tower next to your affordable housing. That's not in accordance with state guidelines.
You've got land at 46th Street. You've got land at the airport that could be utilized. The tower is absurd and should not go there. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. I'm uh Jenny Angelone
Alay. I'm at 3208 Bay Avenue. Um I first heard about the cell tower earlier this week. Uh, I mistakenly heard it was only going to be 35 ft and I thought, "All right, it's not going to be pretty, but what the heck? It's not a big deal." Well, now it's a big deal. 120. I just found out tonight it's 125 ft. I mean,
that's crazy. And again, just want to repeat, you know, it's a beautiful 9inth Street Bridge coming over here. It's amazing. You know, it draws people in when they people are coming in here to rent and they're coming over 34th Street Bridge and they see that it's just I
feel like it's just definitely going to drive property values down. It's going to drive renters away. People aren't going to rent for the people who have condos in that area and there are a few. They're not going to want to rent in that area. Um, so I think you're going to have a problem there as well. And I
really think there should be another alternative. I am also worried. and have grandchildren who come stay with me. It's only like four or five houses from my home. Um again, property values, health issues. I I am very concerned over this and also the point that was
just made regarding the uh affordable housing. I mean, what if these people 10 years from now claim that it affected their health and they sue the city? I mean, and they say they put it there just because it's affordable housing. And who would care about them? and we
should care about them, right? We went to the trouble of giving them affordable housing and now we're going to give them this eyesore to look at every day and I'm going to sit on my back porch and look at this thing at night. I do like to watch the planes go up and down. Um,
but that's that's my that's my opinion and I hope that it can be reconsidered. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello everybody. It's good to be back. >> Yep. >> Um Al Romer 3331 Haven since 1997.
Um two doors down from the Compass building. Um just a little refresher, we uh we've been fighting this for two years last March. So this would be basically a third year. Um, I want to thank the council planning board, Dy
Mcrossen, the mayor. Um, the the first year or so was against Verizon and and the city and then the second year it was us and the city against Verizon.
And um I'm not for the for the tower. I'm not for towers. Most people are. I've never heard anybody say, "Hey, I I'm for a tower." But you can only fight it so far. It's going to happen. They have the laws on their side. Um
I'm basically my back deck is 35 ft from where the tower is going to be. My neighbor who has four children under seven, 19 ft away from their bedrooms. So the city stepped up, did a great job
and I know painstakingly take took them everywhere everywhere they could possibly do it and uh there's complications, there's legal factors and and Verizon is a royal pain and you know what, but um
if they can find another spot, if this is the spot, all our research is 125 ft may not be But it's the safest and there's no no disputing that evidence. But we know the
powerful one they were going to put in at the Compass building was going to shoot right into our homes. And you can't put one on 25 ft. And I'm not positive about this, but if it doesn't go somewhere else where Verizon likes it, they're I'm sure they negotiated in
their legal contract that is coming back to the Compass building. And the 18 families that we fought with for two to three years are all going to be in danger because that thing is way too powerful. It's not those little pods are
putting on telephone poles. This is a a big setup and uh it's just not me, my family, my grandchildren, but everybody in that area and speaking with Daddy McCross and many of times I know what
they went through. Um so like I said, I'm not for it there, but it's it's got to go somewhere and it's got to be high and that's just safe for for everybody. Uh there's there's never been a cell tower that looked nice. I've never seen one look nice. They're popping up
everywhere. But uh uh I never got the chance. I want to thank you guys. The planning board um and like I said, Die, the mayor, uh Dave, George, Terry, they uh they were always there to answer questions. Uh we did everything we
could. Uh alls I'm asking is somehow we come. Now, this has been passed. It went through. We thought this was done. Um, we're just hoping they put it somewhere where it's going to be high and people won't get affected and
that's all we can hope for. We just can't have it 19 ft 20 ft 25 ft off the ground and 19 ft away from our families. Now, we thought we put that to rest. Hopefully um they could we could come with a
resolution and have it in a spot where everybody nobody's ever you're never going to please everybody but at least it'll be safer. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Uh hello Marky 3303 Bayand. Thank you. This has to be trying for all of you I'm
sure. Um so I've been at 3303 since 2008. I've watched many changes. I've watched the senior center get knocked down. I've watched you consciously put things in its place. I am not offended. I think you've done it with Ocean City's
theme in mind. Family to drop a cell tower here in a neighborhood with kids that run around and play. It's like I'm getting choked up thinking about it. It's not the right thing to do. I hear them all summer long playing tag, playing hideand- seek. You know, there's
not a parent here that's going to be like, "Oh, don't worry about the cell tower. It's fine." We wouldn't We wouldn't do that. Even a fence isn't going to protect them. These are little kids, 6 8 10 years old, running around. Think about what you're doing. This
isn't the right spot for it. You can do better. I know you can. There's other places. I know you have to do it. >> There's other places. Thank you. >> Thank you. How's it going? Matt Diggins, uh 3301 Bayand. I'm a full-time resident. Uh have been for almost 10 years in Ocean
City now. Um not going to add much to what's already been said tonight. I do think important thing to note is the aesthetics. I know you're doing all this work on 34th Street Bridge on the way coming in and now we're going to get a look at the big tower. That is
beyond stupid. Um, as far as uh location safety, this I am I am also within the fall zone of this tower. So if it gets clipped by a plane or something happens, it's coming into my bedroom. Um, so um I I was notified. I missed the first meeting, but I'm here to let you know
that I am totally opposed to this. Um, the one thing I will add that no one has said so far is I I get that your hands are tied. I can't see the circle that you there's lots of other locations. Let's put it in the wetlands. I'd rather a defect a turtle than um one of us. But
um what I what I would just ask of the committee and I don't know how you can get back to us is what can we do? We're put we're all here putting pressure on you tonight. What pressure can we put on Verizon? So I would appreciate a response to that. >> Thank you.
Anyone else for public comment? >> I just have one simple question. I don't know if you can answer or not. Kyle Johnson on 3209 Simpson. >> Um, one quick question about a statement that was made earlier about that they did not need to notify anybody that there was because there was no variance
needed. Um, if we all need a variance when we build a house that's 36 ft, how did they not need a variance to build a tower that's 125? >> Okay, we'll get back to you. >> Hi, I'm Ann Donley, 3228 Bay. I don't
have a whole lot of information. I just found out about this recently, but as I drove here tonight, I tried to find cell towers and the last one I saw was on the Parkway. I think we saw a couple of them coming and I was trying to look at the scenery as I came in and other than the
ferris wheel, the water tower. I looked up and down the coast. I didn't see anything even close to that height. I have no idea why it has to be that height. I mean, it there's got to be other options. And if there's not another one on the island, then why why is it so important for it to just be in
that one circle area? I don't understand that either. What what's everyone else doing for self-s service if if I don't see them all over the island or surrounding islands? I that part I don't understand. So, thank you for your time. >> Oh, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Hello. I'm Gabby O'Hara. I'm at 3207 Bayand Drive and I've just recently found out about the cell tower situation. I have two babies. Um, as a young mom, very excited to live and move to Ocean City. I've only been here for 4
years. Um, I'm very concerned of the children. This is a family town. Uh, I take pride in living here so far because of how family oriented everything is. I'm concerned for the safety of the children and the safety of everyone else that lives here.
I know this is a bigger issue than an Ocean City issue. I know that you your hands are probably tied in a lot of ways, but I think that collectively we can take a stand and look at this again and see what Ocean City stands for and um really bring it back to our hometown,
you know, values and take a stand against these big corporations. I really truly believe this should be looked at again. >> That's all I have to say. >> You can give the chair please. 1
2 3 4. Five. Lord of all, may your will be done. Amen. I'm uh Jonathan Dice, 12th Street. You
can call me John. Spelled J O N D I C E. Seven letters. According to the county clerk, any resident can write in another resident for mayor. And also you can, which I didn't know,
you can actually uh put a nickname or it the the deal is it's the intent of the name that you write in on the uh form in the election. Tip O'Neal said, uh, all politics are
local. All government is local. It affects everyone that is a resident in Ocean City. When when bad government is here, right? Good government's here. Pretty simple.
Very simple. I gave you a uh I gave you some uh a public document to read. It's out of uh it's filed with the Superior Court in
Kate May County. The numbers, the letter starts CPM for Kate May, L for law-0000 293 dash25 for 2025.
It was filed uh on behalf of a plaintiff uh prosay which was me. Unfortunately, it's an example of bad government. It's a it's an example of bad government when
you can't do the simplest thing which is what we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. That's not how it runs here in Ocean City. No kings rally draws thousands in Ocean City. It feels like
we have a king right here and a queen. Everyone is for transparency but so few practice it. There should have been a meeting with this cell phone. You should have addressed the cell tower. You should have addressed it. Private agendas, the battle for
government transparency, New Jersey self-inflicted uh energy crisis. Ocean City had Why did you think it took so long to do the 34th Street Causeway coming in? Because we were going to put wires from the from the windmills.
uh running for office in Ocean City, Gillian won, as did three at large candidates, all backed by the same organizing forces that have helped determine winners for decades in the resort.
An uphill fight for anyone challenging the status quo in Ocean City. John Dice J. You can write it in. There's groups that can uh v vote in or write in in blocks
and uh we can go ahead and get transparency in Ocean City. We can do it. We you them we Ocean City sells settles dispute uh over
former car dealership site for 20 million. Ocean City approves 30 million for public safety. Council approves 6.0 contract. Consider separate solicitors for city council and the administration.
Can I get an amen to that, please? Ocean City needs independent review of finances. Can I get an amen to that? Big hotel, big mistake. Grand hotel proposal moves from Kate May to Ocean City. Isn't that great? So now we have Kate May's
problem. lower to uh uh to Diamond Beach charging for parking. Maybe that has to do with Iconana. I don't know. Here's here's a an ad for Icon uh uh winter wonderland. It's a Christmas tree
of beer kegs. Protecting Ocean City's future. Need for action is urgent. Letter to the editor. Hold the line at six in the boardwalk. Groups joined to ops. These are the groups I need. Write me in. OCJ,
>> thank you. >> History and culture. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> Anyone else for public comment? >> Hold on. Get right. >> Good evening. Uh John Bonvetti, 3203 Bayand Drive. Uh, thank you for
everything you do. Uh, thanks for listening. I know it's sure not an easy job. Uh, you're stuck in the middle. We get that. We've been doing a lot of research. We kind of put a lot of the pieces together. Um, thanks for the chart. It would have been nice to share that earlier, but we we kind of get it. Um, a few quick things. You've heard
most of what I was going to say has already been said. Um, you know, number one, I live a few houses down, never received notice. You've heard that a lot tonight. I hope you're interested in that. We are. It's very curious uh that one site would be uh notified. We wouldn't. I'm not sure about that. You
heard about the the zoning, how that could just be changed. Very interesting. A lot of interesting things our lawyers are looking at. Um we're going to continue to do that. We absolutely oppose it. Um I even had a councilman come to my house in the last few weeks, ask how I was going to vote. Didn't
mention it. It's in my backyard. Very, very interesting stuff. So, we've been doing a lot of work. We're going to continue doing a lot of work. Uh thanks for all your help. Hopefully we can partner together. Either way, we're going to keep doing work. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anthony Capello, 7 Waterway Road. I've
been a homeowner in Ocean City since uh 1999 and full-time resident for the past few years. Uh my impression is council has always been fully open with residents providing detailed plans visualizations of what
they're planning to do. Coincidentally, it turns out that uh a home modular home is being constructed on Bay Avenue. I happened to see the crane there uh just the other day as it was raising the modules. So, I took a few pictures of
what a crane not at 125 ft, not a tower, but just a single bar might look like. >> Yep. Thank you. >> In the neighborhood. >> Thank you. I'll pass it down. >> Consider it, please. >> Thank you. >> Liz, come on up.
Liz Nicoleti, South End. Um the most of the majority of people that just spoke, I'm just going to piggyback. Um I agree with um most of the people in the room or mo I think majority um I'm on the south end. I'm wondering why and and I
agree with whoever said put it in the north end and what what this room would look like. Um so I would opt out. I would opt to put it in the north end if you're going to put it anywhere because I'm on the south end. We don't want it. Um, and I think it's also a really bad
look. I went to Upper Township um, city council a couple times to oppose the cannabis dispensary that's going across from yesterday's. I don't know when, but I just think it's a bad look. They're coming into a family resort. You're
going to have the cannabis. You're going to have a gigantic 100 and 125. I just can't even imagine. I am not a fan of the pods on top of the even the uh telephone poles that my boys are on
the third floor and I would say they're like 50 ft away from that. So I'm not even a fan of that. So I would 100% sacrifice, you know, not getting the information on my phone to keep that out
of our our little town. Um our our wonderful little town and um you know, it's a family resort and it breaks my heart to hear people talking about little kids playing around that and we have so much information on the technology that's, you know, destroying
our our kids regardless of the radiation. Um, it's in our schools. And I'm going to just bring up the schools right now. So, um, when I know we're in campaign season, I was on the school board. I am very much against policy 5756. I hope you guys all know what that
is. I don't think it belongs in our um family town. Any of you um people running um that are can influence that at our school, which we seem to take pride in at our school, um you'll have my vote. So, thanks.
>> THANKS. >> Anyone else? Hey. Hey, Terry. Just between us here and all that kind of stuff. Um We can't make any promises, but one, you know, between council and I, we'll look, you know, we'll try one more thing, you know, look, see what we can do. I mean,
you know, it's anytime, uh, we all know when the neighbors come out, you know, just like the neighbors did before, we try to figure it out. And, you know, we know Verizon's a monster, but the one thing I think if we're all working together, you know, I don't know if we can do anything. The one thing we can't do is promise anything. And and I get
hesitant to even to to say this cuz I don't want to give people hope and all that kind of stuff, but I just think there's seven of you up there got to be thinking the same thing I am is, you know, is there something else we can do? So, um to me is, you know, just again like we did last time, I think between Terry and and the administration, we'll
reach out to a couple you guys. What would be nice if he could get one person that could be speak for all of you and that we could uh we could get together but um you know it's you know you talk about where the tower could go and you know we've talked about this you know could it go by the ball fields the
marshes and all that kind of stuff so where any you can see the giant wheel I'll use that for an example you can see a giant wheel from anywhere um so to me you know the 125 ft tower I guess the reason they were doing it was it was the higher the healthier um my dad was a
pilot So, I understand the crosswinds and I understand uh the the thing that keeps hitting me is everybody talking is the FAA and that cell tower because if you do hit a nasty uh crosswind, you can end up on the beach. So, I just um again I I
yeah, I don't want to go on and on all that kind of stuff, but if the council wants to work, we all work together and you know, just think of something because I know sometimes this is a tough job and when Verizon comes in and says, hey, this is where it's going because they don't have coverage and then all of a sudden they always hit us, well,
public safety is somebody's on the beach and they and their phone doesn't work. Um but um it that's been the biggest thing what we've been as the council and the and the administration it's you know calls are dropping uh during co a lot of people moved down here so it was it was
a dead zone as they would I guess uh describe that but I um you know it's you know everybody's probably got a cell phone in here so these are one of these again this is a tough decision and I I hate saying anything because a lot of times you say something and give people
hope and all that kind of stuff. But I just believe if uh if again if you guys all want to do it together, we can uh you know I don't again I don't want to step on toes and I don't want to you know but I I cuz we got to do it together. >> No, we're in again if you can get
>> again this is Listen the guys this is not just me and this has nothing to do with the mayor and all that kind of stuff cuz you know all three of us are up here tonight. So this has nothing to do with that. We've we've done this since we've all been together. And I and I know like I said, the two guys were or the three of us are running together,
but uh you know, I mean, I just think uh we give it a shot. We get you guys together. I mean, you're going to get lawyers involved and all that kind of stuff. And let's see what we can do cuz the last thing we want is to send it back to the Compass building and and go that way. And uh but with today's
technology um you know so again saying too much but Terry the rest of the council you guys >> just to speak on behalf of the council I mean I I agree with what the mayor is saying and you know I don't want this to be a relationship where you guys think we're against you because we're very much for representing you. How we've
gotten to this spot was we said no and no and no and then we got sued in federal court and they came back to us and we had to do something to avoid further litigation. So, we're all open to going back and and seeing what we can do for you. Uh, like Jay said, I can't
we can't guarantee anything because it's a utility. It's a big corporation and sometimes, you know, city council can't override uh the the will of that sort of thing. But, we'll certainly go back, explore our options. Um, I would echo
what Jay said as far as um having a point of contact with you guys where you can then disseminate whatever Jay or I come back to you with. um to make sure that everybody is aware of it and we're more than willing to work with you guys. We're more than willing to listen and um
we'll explore any and all options. Um but I I don't want this to be you think that we're not all up here um with your best interest. None of us went to Verizon and said please come put another tower on the island. Um and somebody would have said something to us. >> Yep. Well, this has been going on for a
couple years. It's been very well publicized >> but to inform the neighborhood. Okay. And now that you want to owe a you know >> ma'am ma'am I'll take responsibility. I'm the mayor. I take responsibility for that. So the council it's me you know to me you know when you talk about you know
the different things wide zoning and all that kind of stuff. But >> there's two councilmen that live in the neighborhood. >> I know >> and they could have said set up a meeting. How hard would have that been? All right.
>> All right. Anyone else for public comment? >> Thank you. >> I'm going to motion to adjurnn. Please move. Second.