Good afternoon. Welcome to the July 22nd, 2025 meeting of the Puquanic Township Council, Miss Marsh. In accordance with the requirements of New Jerseys Open Public Meetings Act, notice of the special meeting was mailed in the office of the township clerk, posted on the bulletin board of the municipal
building, and on the township website, mailed to all persons requesting notice in accordance with township policy. 48 hour notice of this meeting was also transmitted via fax or email to the suburban trends daily record in the record newspapers. This not notice included the statements that the purpose
of this special meeting is to introduce an ordinance amending the township of a sorry a puana code of ordinances to repeal chapter 171 to adopt a new chapter 171 to adopt flood hazard maps to designate a flood plate administrator and providing for severability and an
effective date and to approve the payment of bills. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance followed by a prayer and a moment of thanks for individuals serving our nation. 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. >> Most gracious providence, we ask that you bless this governing body with an abundance of wisdom and understanding so that every deliberation will result in actions which will promote the common
good and the general welfare for the people of Pquanic Township. Amen. >> Amen. Will the clerk please call the role? Mrs. Florence Lynch >> here. Mr. Cole >> here. Mrs. Russell here.
>> Mr. Syracusa and Mary Drees are absent. The next item on our agenda is public comment. But before we start the public comment, I'd like Mr. Brewer to address today's meeting because I think a lot of you are misunderstood about why we're really here.
>> Possibly. Possibly. Um I'll open with I don't usually get such an interested audience so this is fantastic. Um to begin with the ordinance that is being considered for introduction this afternoon introduction is a ministerial act by the governing body. The public hearing and the potential adoption will
be at a regularly scheduled meeting. So this is just to make a timeline which I'm going to get into in a minute. The FEMA model ordinance was disseminated to the town of Aquanic sometime in March of this year. The ordinance that's being
considered today is a model ordinance which is being imposed by FEMA on every municipality or entity that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. So it is a one-sizefits-all ordinance for anything that potentially could
flood in Wyoming, Texas, South Carolina, or New Jersey. New Jersey has one of the highest regulated areas in terms of development flood. Anybody who's tried to build a house, deal with D, many of you are floodprone or deal with floodprone properties. The challenge we
had with the ordinance was uh it was sent to us and said adopt this and if you fail to adopt this by the 19th of August, you're out of the National Flood Insurance Program. So that's discount on insurance, that's access to home elevation grants, that's
a lot of things which are um the costs would be staggering in the seven figures. So when we got the ordinance, Mr. Arthur Brusso, the township engineer and I sat down and were amazed at how many references there were to sand dunes and coastal flooding and everything else
because it was a one-sizefits-all ordinance for every NFIP entity in the United States of America. uh after a review we pushed back because in order for us governing body to introduce the ordinance NJD has to approve it. So on
May 16th a thorough review was sent to D with comments the likes of which included your definitions conflict with the municipal land use law in New Jersey. Your definitions cons conflict with the uniform construction code in New Jersey.
For the most part, the responses we got back from FEMA were, "We don't care. This is the ordinance. This is the definition. Mr. Russo's memo says as much. If you read it on the on on on fronting the the ordinance, uh we we don't care. Uh it's it's the required
ordinance and if you want to participate in NFIP, this is what is required and this is what you must do." So on most of the issues that we raised, they told us to take a long walk off for a short period. uh where we did achieve one element of victory was the model
ordinance from FEMA includes a permit for development in the flood plane even if the uniform construction code permit is not required and the model ordinance from FEMA wants that to be cumulative and add up to the substantial damage limit substantial damage limit for the house which if you hit it if you may be
aware that requires it to be elevated. What we were able to do is have that not count towards the substantial damage amount which is positive for our residents and we will likely be marrying that application simply with our zoning application. So we comply with what is
required. The bones of the ordinance and the requirements of the ordinance are essentially otherwise the same as the ordinance that is currently on the books. The maps, which is what everybody gets most excited about, following the township's successful scientific
resolution panel appeal, were determined in 2024. They're available online. Those are not changing. The governing body, if this ordinance is adopted, the maps will become effective on August 19th. The current ordinance on
the books says that as soon as the maps are are are current, as soon as they're confirmed by FEMA, there are effective maps. So, this legislation has zero impact, although it says it in the title and although it describes it, has zero impact on the actual maps. So, this
doesn't put anything in. This doesn't take anything out. This is a the federal government has decided something has to be done. They told the state government it's got to be rammed down the throats of the municipalities. It was. We fought the
best battle we could. We won some skirmishes and ultimately if the township would like to continue to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, we have no choice but to adopt the ordinance which has been approved by the NJD. [Music] It's a ministerial act. That's why it
was done at 1:00. It wasn't done to hide anything. It wasn't done to deceive anybody. It wasn't done to be in any way surreptitious. It was simply this is likely a 3minute meeting with the exception of the interest which again I love and then the opportunity to explain it. Um following
>> the other reason it was 1:00 is we June, July and August we only have one meeting a month. >> Right. Um >> we need to get this done so we can approve it at the next meeting. >> Right. So, nothing's being rushed and the public hearing and potential adoption is scheduled for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday the 12th of
August at 7:00 p.m. I am happy at the conclusion of this meeting to hang out and chat with anybody about whatever questions you might have to try to get ahead of them or address them in the interim. Um, and unless there's any questions from the mayor or deputy mayor or anybody else on the day, so I will
happily turn the meeting back to you. >> Awesome. Thank you. No problem. >> You're going to have public comment though. I'm going to do it now. That's what I said. Okay. The next item on the agenda is public comment. This comment period will be limited to a total of 30 minutes. Additional time is reserved later in the meeting. We welcome comments, suggestions, and question
during this comment period. However, the purpose of this is to allow public comment, not to engage in a dialogue. If you have specific question, please feel free to pose it and then follow up with staff via telephone or email. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. If anyone wishes to address the council, please
wait to be recognized to come to the microphone and provide your name for the record. Next, uh Nicholas 28. Um yeah, the obvious question is really
um us adopting this one sizefits all uh what what is like the clear negatives you know besides you know where there's references to v zones which we obviously
don't have and uh is there any any clarification on any of that. Adam, any >> we're going to ask we're going to have everybody do their public comment then if he wants to address >> Yeah. Yeah. Cuz that you know right off the bat that's what you know what's the
>> negative of us not signing it but >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. >> Anyone else? >> Hi Anna Lee 6 or Rundle Road. Um, my question might be a little bit further down the road, but I was wondering what the status is going to be on existing
atlas, letters of map amendment and letters of map, what is it? LMA and Lar, right? Um, are they they I received a letter of map amendment on my property and I'm wondering based on the new maps,
is that still going to be resed or am I going to have to do that again? Have a seat. We'll answer all the questions when we're done here. Jim, I saw your hand raised before. >> Jim H 13 place. My question is is if I'm going to do construction in my property,
I'm going to redo a kitchen renovation. According to what this ordinance is saying, I need to pull a permit where in the past I haven't. That's my first question. My second question is is you're going to hire a new administrator. Where is that money coming from and who's paying for it?
>> Okay, have a seat. >> Thank you. >> Are there any other questions? >> Uh, is there anything you want to respond to? >> Please come down one more then I can make an address. I'm Rich Michaels on 57 Village Road in the village. Um, is
there going to be an additional charge for the additional permit? cuz right now permits to do anything is a charge. I went through that when I rebuilt for the flood. All right. A couple other things. But is there an additional charge for that additional permit?
And if there is, who's paying for it? Thank you. >> Any other? At this time, we're going to close the public comment. And Adam, do you have any? >> Sure. I'll do my best to take him in order. Um, Mr. just Stephano references
to zones that don't exist have no effect because the zones don't exist and it's FEMA's ordinance so deal with it is basically what they told us. So, um there were lots of references again like I said to sand dunes and other coastal elements that we just don't have. Uh but if it's not it doesn't apply, it just
doesn't apply. Uh, as far as downsides go, the permit, uh, based upon my inclusion in the process, the additional intrusion of government in your opportunity to improve your private property is really the only downside. Um, kind of touching on that, what was brought up now, um, if there is a fee,
my recommendation to the governing body will be dimminimus, one of those $5 jobs. Um, but that's ultimately up to them, but that would be the recommendation. um the township engineer and I fought hard against this and we're told it's required. So I understand the
frustration with it but unfortunately in order to participate in NFIP which is really important we're going to have to deal with it. Um lars and llas my understanding and that's an italics is they will proceed as they were granted.
The best thing to do is call the flood resilience officer Kevin Nelson. We are one of, I think, three municipalities in the state of New Jersey that have someone that fulfills that role. Take advantage of it. Give Mr. Nelson a call, ask him the question. If he can't answer it, he will definitely get you a definitive answer. Okay?
>> And and you can hang your hat on. Um, again, the permit, dimminimus, um, there already is a flood plane administrator. It's the township engineer. So much like the maps which would have been adopted and effective on the 19th of August anyway, the flood plane administrator is
the township engineer. will continue to be the trans engineer and no no real change there. So there's there's nothing there other than the language that makes it seem exciting in a document that for the seventh time we don't have a choice on I think that's everything.
Just a quick question if you don't mind. So you said it's up to them. You mean it's up to us for the permit fee? >> FEMA can't say to us this is the permit fee that we are proposing. >> Correct. So it's up to us. >> Correct. Perfect. as as with fence permits, zoning permits, any other fees
are the prerogative legislative to leave the fence. >> Perfect. >> Right. So, um I just want to reiterate so what Nick said, the only bad thing is you actually have to get another permit, but I think Adam had stated that he's adding that to an existing. Correct.
>> It's going to come in as one. >> Yeah. The challenge is you wouldn't need a zoning permit if you need to do a kitchen renovation. If you're doing like for like the UCCC doesn't require you to do that. So Beth, right? >> Candidly, how that's policed if we don't know you're doing it, I don't know. >> Right. But if we don't approve this, you
lose access to the grants we've been getting along with the discount on insurance. So >> the carrot's big. >> Um, and I can assure everyone that the township of engineer is not driving around. Uh, he's got a lot of things on his plate looking for renovated kitchen
to stay as good. >> Okay. Any other questions? Good. Next on the agenda is the introduction of ordinances. Miss Marsh, this is ordinance number 202509.