WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=R8dgVH26sww

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: R8dgVH26sww):
- 00:00:00: Microphone Setup and Pre-Meeting Casual Conversation
- 00:01:49: Costa Rica Trip and Passport Expiration Fiasco
- 00:02:54: Clock Outlets, Seat Jumping, and Vacation Plans
- 00:04:19: Extensive Travel Experience in Costa Rica
- 00:05:09: Spain Travel Plans, Jealousy, and Gibraltar Trip
- 00:06:22: Microphone Functionality Testing and Text Message
- 00:07:49: Audio Equipment Quality Check and Headphone Setup
- 00:09:03: Official Meeting Start and Executive Session Roll Call
- 00:10:58: Post-Executive Session Chat and Tree Dissatisfaction
- 00:15:52: Stage Setup and Presentation Preparation Discussion
- 00:20:47: Screens and Projectors: Technology Comparison
- 00:27:41: 7:30 PM Meeting Start, Avoiding Visual Obstruction
- 00:30:32: Elementary School Projectors and Budget Questions
- 00:35:11: Air Conditioning, Trader Joe's and Budget Concerns
- 00:37:04: Streetlights, Audio Equipment, Microphone Reminder
- 00:38:47: Budget Workshop Introduction and Speaker Setup
- 00:39:21: Budget Timeline, Goals, and Tax Levy Overview
- 00:41:01: Tax Levy and Municipal Tax Rate Analysis
- 00:42:12: Tax Allocation, Residential vs. Commercial Valuation
- 00:43:23: Historical Tax Data and Percentage Changes
- 00:44:31: Tax Rate Decrease and Valuation Increase Explained
- 00:46:11: Tax Levy Cap vs. Appropriations Cap Discussion
- 00:47:55: Cap Bank Ordinance and Local Finance Board Waivers
- 00:49:24: Cap Bank Functionality and Funding Source Breakdown
- 00:51:18: Revenue Sources Comparison & Credit Card Fee Savings
- 00:53:53: Credit Card Processing Fee Analysis and Savings
- 00:57:31: Basis Points Explanation and Overall Savings Summary
- 00:58:05: Budget Appropriation Breakdown: Salary, Debt, Capital
- 01:00:17: Debt Service Increase and Printing Presentation Copy
- 01:01:07: Capital Improvement Fund and Deferred Charges Explanation
- 01:03:24: Reserve for Uncollected Taxes and Total Appropriations
- 01:04:32: Employee Health Benefits and Public Works Changes
- 01:05:30: Philadelphia AB Road, Aerial Platform Fire Truck Projects
- 01:07:25: Net Outstanding Debt and State Limit Comparison
- 01:08:41: Water Sewer Debt, Rents, and Utility Budget Overview
- 01:10:06: Budget Presentation Conclusion and Public Questions
- 01:11:23: Public Questions on Street Lighting Appropriations
- 01:12:18: Number of Streetlights and CFO Financial Health Rating
- 01:13:10: CFO Financial Health Rating of Point Pleasant Beach
- 01:16:42: Motion to Formally Close Budget and Meeting Adjournment
- 01:17:17: Call to Order, Flag Salute, and Invocation
- 01:18:24: Approval of Executive Session and Council Meeting Minutes
- 01:20:19: Discussion Item: Reducing the Open Space Tax
- 01:22:59: Reevaluations, Hotel Tax, and Rental Legitimacy Discussion
- 01:26:48: Public Input and Opinion on the Open Space Tax
- 01:28:11: Motion to Draft Ordinance Lowering Open Space Tax
- 01:31:19: Committee Reports: New Employee, Police Meeting Reminder
- 01:34:04: Committee Reports: Successful Grant Proposal and Taichi Sessions
- 01:35:38: Bike Safety Rodeo, eBike Ordinance, and Police Committee
- 01:37:16: Finance, Recreation Events and Committee Report
- 01:38:54: JCPNL, Street Lights, Snow Removal, Board of Ed Discussion
- 01:46:45: Public Property Building and Grounds, New Traffic Light
- 01:52:15: New Fencing and Cameras, Homeland Security Grant Update
- 01:55:54: Flood Plain, Senior Committee, Public Property & Grounds
- 01:59:19: Local Recreation Grant, Route 35, Cyber Security
- 02:01:27: Hometown Security Initiative, Ocean Tourism, Parade
- 02:03:01: Objection to Public Information Officer Covering School Meetings
- 02:07:02: Dr. Smith, State High, Antrum, Board of Education
- 02:08:55: Mayor's Wellness, Plane Air, and Chambert Committee
- 02:10:49: JCPNL, Jinx, Fountain, & Monopole Construction Update
- 02:15:15: Approval of Wording Changes and the Film Ordinances
- 02:17:02: First Public Comment: Construction Debris Discussion
- 02:23:04: Second Public Comment: Planted Trees Along Track
- 02:24:58: Third Public Comment: Borough Hall and Arnold Avenue
- 02:30:55: Fourth Public Comment: Martell's & Special Picnic
- 02:31:56: Motion to Vote, Open Space and State Questions
- 02:36:02: Motion to Adopt Consents and Approve Vote
- 02:37:23: Second Ordinances & Meeting Minutes for Votes
- 02:38:02: Vote on Amendments and a Third Ordinances
- 02:40:17: Public Support of a Vote and Debate on the POI
- 02:42:30: Transparent Discussion & Thoughts on Transparency
- 02:50:47: Motion to Adjourn Meeting


Part: 1

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words were were pre-attached. >> That's if I'm talking. >> So that's why the cords are as long as they are, >> right? >> They can't be cut, >> which is fine. Doesn't look nice, but it's fine. >> So now, yeah, you can walk around.

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>> This should be nice. >> Andrew's in the >> Now we should be able to hear Dave as well. >> Awesome. >> Did you actually test those mics? like try like standing away from them and talking and you could actually hear them in the >> I don't know if they did during the testing. >> Okay.

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>> The planning board has a >> planning board. >> I think you just you got to like just kind of lean into it a little bit >> just so we can pick it up. >> Stopped in when they were doing some explanation explaining all. >> Hey. Hey Kenny. How are you? >> Good to see you. How you been? >> Thank you sir. Good. >> Hey Kenny.

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>> Hi. How are you? >> Thank you. >> How was your dinner the other night? >> Oh it's fantastic. >> Fantastic. Yeah, I know that she's not. >> Come on, Andy. Don't be cheap. All right. Now, come on. I'll throw some I'll throw some in for later.

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>> Like, I'm starting already. I know. Well, if I put three in front of you, you'll have >> He's non-stop. >> All right. >> No matter what, I'm going to complain. You're not giving enough. >> What? >> Got the email. The fire. >> Yes.

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>> Thank you for that. Appreciate it. >> Sorry. I almost forgot. I almost forgot. >> It's all right. >> That might be it. I got to get the cheese, too. >> Oh, by the How many does he go? >> You know how it is when you're like away

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and you get Aren't you here? >> Am I sure? >> Wait a minute. I am. That's right. >> Oh my god, you messed up my uh my order. >> Oh man, >> I sat in the wrong seat. >> Look at this. Look at this. >> So you guys went to uh you know went to

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Costa Rica. Oh, nice. >> We got to the airport 5 in the morning Friday. Um, my passport was expired. >> Oh, no. >> Part of Costa Rica. >> What's wrong with >> going to like the Guana Cast and Oh, so we went to two different >> They let you go. Where'd you fly into? >> No, they didn't let me go. We flew into

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uh San Jose. >> Oh, I I was there a couple weeks ago. >> I know. >> Yeah, I flew into Liberia, though. The other one? >> Oh, yeah. That's what I meant. We flew into Liberia. We flew out of San Jose. Oh, >> okay. >> But I had to do like a don't stop, can't stop uh same day passport. It was a whole fiasco.

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>> I can't even tell you. >> Oh yeah. >> Wait, where do they do? They don't do that at the airport though. You had to leave >> Philadelphia. I had to go to Philadelphia and my passport picture for the next 10 years is now me. >> Incredibly stressed out. >> Stressed out. >> No sleep. >> 623.

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>> Wondering if I'm going on vacation. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Hey, Karen. >> Stressful. >> Oh my goodness. Everyone goes by. >> You know what that is? >> The secret camera. >> That is a clock outlet. They made them

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recess so that it goes right in here and plug in and the clock. >> Every school. Every school has one. >> What will they think of next? >> Yours. >> Yes. It's quite all right. >> Sorry. I just jumped in your seat.

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>> I didn't say that. I was like, >> I don't sit there. >> I know things. >> I was just going to call DVW. >> It's been a week already. I just started. >> Been a week before. >> So, Joe, what area were you in? >> Uh, Tal uh Tel Marindo.

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>> Tamarindo. Tamarind. Yeah, we like drove there for like a day. >> So, we we drove past Liberia airport into like by the volcano. >> Say Siberia or Liberia. >> Liberia. >> Oh, Liberia. We jungle. >> Oh, okay. Yeah, I know. I

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>> close. >> Did you go into like a hot springs at that volcano? >> Yes, we did do a hot. Yeah, we did ziplining, hot springs, >> white water rafting. >> Wow, that's awesome. >> Yeah, it's a great spot for sure.

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>> I got my little red one on. >> And then we spent Where's my >> five days sitting on the beach >> relaxing? Wait a minute. I'd definitely go back. I love it there. It's beautiful. >> Mhm.

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>> And do I used to live there for 20 years part time >> in Costa Rica? >> Mhm. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> Yep. In the Osa Peninsula. >> Totally off the grid. >> Is that on the water? >> It's a southern southoutheast part of the country. Very remote. Okay.

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>> Where I lived was extremely remote. Like you know, infrastructure. We had one dirt road that dead ended. >> Wow. >> Oh, >> that's pretty cool. >> Yeah. I left there sitting there like, I want to put this in my retirement. Like, >> well, they they like retirees with the

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pensions. That's what they want there. They don't want people just like Americans who are looking for work down there. They're like, get out of here. >> I could live there for a few months and then come back up here >> like January, February, March, go down there. >> Yeah.

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Bless you. Excuse me. >> God bless you. >> Thank you. Bless you. >> I'll leave him for Spain in two more week. Two or three more weeks. >> Yeah. You go there every year, don't you? >> Uh, no. I went there two years ago. >> Okay. Going back this was last year already. Wow. >> No, it was last year. Year before. 2024. >> Wow.

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>> Hello, C. >> Excuse me. >> Me's jealous. I'm going for n 18 days. >> That's nice. >> Oh, beautiful. >> Yeah. You need that one. >> B wasn't happy, but I really don't care. >> Right.

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>> Fire me. >> Fat chance. >> Right. >> Going to um Madrid, Gibralar, Seville, Iberia, um Portugal, all through Portugal. >> Oh, nice. up to Galicia and we're going to fly

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back home out of Madrid. >> Portugal would be nice. >> What's that? >> Portugal will be nice. >> Portugal's been nice. >> Never been. All the times I've been to Spain, never been to Portugal. >> Andy, can you just pass that garbage over here?

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>> Thank you. >> Perfect. Thank you. Hey, John. How you doing? I didn't see you sneak in. >> Hello. I mean, we could walk around, you know, walk around the microphone. All that slack. >> This is all

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Doug. >> Is this good? >> Yes. Thank you. Wow, they really this really picks up, huh? >> Hopefully. >> I just got a text. >> They can hear every word >> downstairs. >> So, it's working.

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>> Great. >> That's going to be key, >> right? I put them closer together. >> If people can hear Dave, then we have >> then we know we the money was well spent. Joe, what did they say? Or it comes with

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um out there uh for like Lee Kelly >> headphones. >> Yeah, there's a whole system in the back for that. >> I get up and I'd mess with people. I go, "Yeah, I want go Are we ready for Mike?

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>> We're ready. >> Oh, is Mike coming? >> Yes, he is. >> Maybe hit traffic. >> Adequate notice of the time and place of this meeting was given under the provisions of the open public meetings act and was posted and sent to the officially designated newspapers in compliance with the law. Mayor Vitali

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>> here. >> Council Dixon >> here. >> Councilwoman Burns >> here. Council Ramos here. >> Councilman Gant >> here. Counciloman Silson >> here. Councilman Cortez >> here. >> Can I get a motion to go into executive session, please? >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second.

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>> We're section 8 of the open public meetings act. It's the exclusion from the public of the public from meeting in certain circumstances. And where is it of this governing body's opinion that such circumstances presently exist? Now therefore, be resolved by the mayor and council of the burough point of beach county standing New Jersey as follows. public shall be excluded from

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discussions concerning the here and after specified subject matter. The general nature of the subject matter discussed is as follows. Legal issues litigation um at 637 Arnold Avenue. It is anticipated that the subject matter discussed may be made public upon its conclusion or final

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disposition. >> Councilman Dixon to go into exact >> to go into close session. Councilwoman Councilwoman Burns. >> Yes. >> Council Ramos. >> Yes. >> Council Gant. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Silson. >> Yes. Councilman Cortez.

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>> Yes. >> Fantastic. Amazing. >> That's awesome. Except for that little passport hiccup. >> Was that >> Except for my little passport hiccup? >> No, I told him I got to the airport in the morning.

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>> So do that. >> Oh yeah. Don't forget the microphone. We have to place So I didn't know email. sent email.

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Okay, we're going to very dissatisfied. But it doesn't look uncertain. What do they do with those trees I don't know. >> All right. So then we'll just be talking

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back here. >> We don't even need to be that close. Range. Can you leave this here? I can set the computer. >> I know. So, we'll probably be standing roughly Or would you want your computer?

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and early. I don't know. We're on good Love it. pretty far away. That's not too uh not too bad. I mean, I'm looking at it with my ancient eyes here. >> No, you can absolutely see everything.

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>> I can. >> Yeah. >> Wow. Here we go. Look at that. Look at that. That's what I'm talking >> exactly. probably stand.

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>> Oh yeah, >> exactly. >> Steal those chairs. legitimately computer scroll. just sat in her chair. Had a couple is that it's present.

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That's why I call it Broadway presentation because >> and I like to do the animation because It is showing people doing it like this.

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We can just sit in these two chairs and face them. What time is the main? >> 7:30. >> 7:30. This is Yeah, we are

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session now showing up now. Mhm. >> Sneak across the wall. You should not be able to see I'm surprised that I'm not mad about it, but

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>> yeah. Well, we had Ocean Township, we actually had screens that came out. >> That's like projector screens. >> Projectors will see That's like old school. >> Well, this was new old school.

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>> That reminds me of like elementary school when you have like the teacher wheel out the projector and you'd have the thing come down. >> They're very loud. You know from here I can read these things. Maybe

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not too tough. >> Yeah. I know absolutely no stealing. They do. Hello. How you doing? It's been kind of cold. We had that house back.

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My wife wanted me to turn on the air like >> we did something. >> Yeah, it was warm in the house. >> We're not even done with the gas. >> I'm pretty sure we turned it off.

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last night. >> Was cold yesterday. >> It was cold. >> And then I left I was >> of course had to run over to

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Trader Joe What's that? >> The other day. >> Oh, you should have got me one. I would have paid you back. >> Dave, you're the only one here budgeting. Nobody cares about the budget. >> Hey guys, >> how are you?

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>> Hello. >> Mike, do we need a motion to come out of exact too? >> Usually. >> We know we don't usually. >> Oh, because we're doing >> now because we're doing this. >> Um, >> I guess we did it by acclamation there. So, yeah, we're okay. >> No, you're good.

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>> Are you going to talk about uh street lights? I have just >> And I guess we have to wait till seven, right? >> Yeah, I have a miniature blur. >> Withholding payment. >> We are withholding payment. >> Yes. >> Yeah, we have been.

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>> And you got all fancy audio equipment, too. So, >> this is like I live in here. >> We knew you were coming. We put out the best stuff in the world. >> Mine goes on, but everybody else stay on.

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>> Thank you. >> I think everybody does know. Just uh >> Well, just for everyone's benefit, I was just chatting with Eileen. Apparently, everyone's microphone is always on. Yep. So, just bear that in mind. >> We are watching. >> Thank you for the reminder.

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>> Yep. I can hear myself actually now. So, >> keep going. Steve, you're doing my uh committee report. So, >> I said you're doing my committee report tonight for finance. So, don't mess this up. >> Don't want the wheels.

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>> All right. 7 o'clock we could start the budget workshop. >> Okay. >> This is it. Two people from the public. any announcements or we'll just go right in. >> Go right in. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Go ahead. >> I don't know if we need to address who

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we are. I'm Chrissy. I'm the assistant fiscal officer. >> Steve, >> can I hear her? >> This is Steve who is the CFO. >> Yes. Please talk into the mics. I don't >> Yeah. Why don't you take the other mic? >> You take each take a mic. Put it in front of you.

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>> Okay. Go ahead. Let her rip. All right, the budget timeline in October and November, we had all the department heads send us to their budget requests. Then in January, we compiled all the salary and wages based on the

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contractual increases. Also in January and February, we had weekly meetings with the burough administrator to go over the budget status and budget process. We had the meetings with the department heads in March to go over any questions we may have had about their requests.

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Also in March we started with the capital budget meetings. Um in March and April we had meetings with the finance committee to go over any of their recommendations that may have had. On April 7th we introduced. Tonight we

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are presenting and on May 5th we will be adopting the budget. Some of our budget goals was the use of zerobased budgeting. We also wanted to provide cost-effective highquality services to the residents. We invested in long-term capital

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improvements to maintain facilities, replace capital assets as needed, and improve the municipalities road infrastructure. We also wanted to preserve the bureau's excellent credit rating and maintain financial flexibility during inflationary times.

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>> Christie and I are doing a little uh tradeoff back and forth. >> Yep. back and forth. I got to give her a little break. You know, she gives me a little break. >> Learning here. >> Exactly. >> So, um the total tax levy uh for 2026, and a lot of this is estimated because

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we don't have all of the uh final taxes from the county or the school board. Um those were uh anticipated with a 2% increase um for each. Uh the municipal tax rate uh that we're anticipating with

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this budget is 10,376 689.71. Um as you can see uh from these slides, last year's uh municipal tax rate was 10,080.19. Um the percentages you see there, the

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school taxes were 40 are 41% at that's estimated of the total tax levy. Um the municipal tax levy is about 27%. Uh and that stands true for last year as well as this year. County taxes are

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about 31%. Um and in the municipal taxes, they stay at 1%. Um although it's kind of crowded out because of the uh um the change in the assessed valuation

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and the uh tax levy um is basically allocated over the assessed valuation of the town. The county itself does a calculation for the county tax allocation based on the average um of the uh what they call the equalized

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valuation. And that's where they bring up every town to 100% and then allocate the money based on that. Now, we're going to be pretty much at 100% of valuation because of the reval we did last year and is being completed at

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beginning of this year. Okay. So, um as you can see the residential is the biggest piece of this. Okay. Uh this year residential makes up 84% of the assessed valuation whereas last year it was 81%.

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Um then commercial uh makes up 13% for this year. It was 16% last year. Apartments are kind of stay the same. We have some vacant land if you can believe that. >> Um and uh that's pretty much the entire

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allocation. This is a chart uh with the u amount to be raised by taxes. It goes from 2022 to current. So in 22 our um municipal taxes

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were uh 9 million 316997 and it goes all the way to 2026 where we're at 10 million uh 376 68971 to support the budget. Okay. So these

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are the changes on the second line from year to year. Uh and these are the percentage changes. Um this year's change is 296,000. Um that that's right in line with the way it's been actually probably a little

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bit less um over the past five years. Uh the percentage is the same. Um we're at 2.94% uh of an increase from last year to this year. Um and as you can see, you know,

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we're right in line with that as well. Um the municipal tax rate um because it's an assessed valuation revalure um the overall um tax rate has decreased

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substantially but that's because the value that's used to calculate that rate has increased by a substantial amount. I think our overall assessed uh valuation increased by 102%.

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Okay. Um and so our tax rate for this year for municipal taxes is uh 0.247 per 100. And you can see over here in the assessment value uh the municipal assess

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valuation. This is still a preliminary number. We haven't gotten the final numbers yet from all the appeals and things like that, but this is as of January 9th when they finally pulled everything together. So we're at uh 4 bill199,000

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million sorry uh 795500 and that compares to last year where we were at 2 million81 or 2 billion 081 um and the assessed valuation of a residential property the average has

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changed from 578,000 to $1.2 $2 million. Quite a jump. So, I'm sure nobody could sell the would would even take that number for a for a house here in in the lovely burrow of

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Point Pleasant Beach. 2010. >> So, two things we want to talk about here and and I like um the this slide here and Christian and I talked about this one because um this really shows

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uh the two uh caps that we're subject to. There's two. The first one is the uh tax levy cap and we all know that one. That's more recent. um that restricts most appropriations to 2% increase over

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the prior year with some exceptions for things like debt service um health insurance costs and and some other uh other items as well. Now

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the top number here there's uh 10,78150. That's the what we could have raised in taxes this year. Okay. We're raising 10,37689. We're 331 um,000 less than what we could have

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taken. Okay. Great thing right there. Okay. we are not going up to our statutory allowed limit for taxes. The second thing is the appropriations cap. Now, the appropriations cap was passed into law in 1977.

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And um this is a cap on our uh operating appropriations with some exclusions for debt service uh capital improvements and um certain grants that are outside of

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caps and certain operations as well. Um there's a calculation done for health insurance that puts that outside of caps. Um and uh you know but most of the operating uh appropriations are under the appropriations cap. So the max we

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could have gone to this year was 15 million uh 745694. We actually came in at 15,297 27046. So, we're under the appropriations cap by 400 almost $450,000,

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which is like an awesome thing. Now, there's a ordinance on tonight for the appropriations cap. Many people get this confused with, oh, we're authorizing more spending. Um, that's a reason for

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that particular ordinance, but it's not the reason why we do it. We do it because there's another provision in there which allows for appropriation cap banking. Now that $448,000 that's going to go to a bank for future

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appropriations in case we need it. The reason this is important is because sometimes you have an emergency or there's something out that you can't control that's going to push you over the amount that you normally can raise.

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And having that bank allows you to use that to satisfy your legal obligation to stay under the caps. Without that ordinance, without passing that ordinance, okay, you're going to wind up like my second job, Bridgewater, where

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for years they had to go to local finance board to ask for a waiver of the cap bank cap exceptions. And it it's time consuming. It's a drag on the town. It's not a good policy. Um, one of the other towns that I'm working for, their

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governing body said that uh they weren't going to approve the cap bank um ordinance and subsequent years they've been over the cap bank and they have to go again to the local finance board and

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you don't really want to go there. You want to do this ordinance so that we have that cap bank and in case of emergencies, a rainy day type of thing, you got it. >> And are you just a question, are you forced to use it or if it's there if you need it, if you don't need it, it's not

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a it's not >> So the way the cap bank works is they allow up to two years worth of uh uh accesses to be banked and every year one of them falls off when you come into the new budget year. Um, so it's there and

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it's available. So you got two years. >> Um, now this is Christiey's part here. >> All right. So this slide shows the breakdown of the total makeup of where our funding is going to come from as you can see and everybody knows that the

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taxes make up most of the revenue. Um, but that's why the bureau works so diligently to budget as responsibly responsibly to make sure that taxes do not increase drastically. And as you can see from 2025 to 2026, the percentage

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that is actually used went down by 4% for the taxes. >> Where is that shown in there? Where did you say right here? So 56% was what we used last year. We're at 52% this year.

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This is another chart as a comparison of what was what we're budgeting for 2026 versus 2025 and the change that has happened. Um to do the revenues, you have to anticipate or the anticipated budget revenue cannot exceed the prior

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year realized revenue. So we had to analyze the prior year's revenue trends to determine what we'd be able to anticipate. You do see an increase in the surplus that we use, but it still remains within our surplus policy and is approximately only 35% of our current balance.

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We have dedicated ourselves to improving processes within our office to ensure the miscellaneous fees are categorized correctly. So then we can keep the tax revenue as low as possible. We also were able to increase the local revenues because we have a change in our credit

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card processing fees which is going to allow us to increase the amount we're anticipating. >> I I have a question about that. It's 2026. The grant says 48,000, >> but it's only April of 2026. So, are we

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>> That's all we have as of right now. >> As of right now. Okay. So, it's not like an anticipated for the year. It's the real number for right now. >> Yeah. The um thing is is that we only can put in the budget what we know at the time. So, one of the things that we do in the

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year when we get grants and things like that is we do what's called the chapter 159. 159 amends the um budget to provide for those grants. We have two grants right now that we've just received some

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notification on that we're going to get. one for $64,000, another one for $10,000, which we'll be doing a chapter 159 most likely at the next meeting to amend the budget that we're going to currently in that we got currently introduced. So, um that's the

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process for adding that grant revenue. So, you'll see that 70 48,000, but we'll end the year with much more than that. Mhm. >> And I just I just would like to step back just to point out on the local revenues >> of 2025 being 6 million and change. I

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don't have my glasses on. >> And for 2026 being uh 6,441,000 that's a sizable difference in revenue. And I think what you pointed out was a big part of that was finding the why don't you can you explain that a little

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more? >> Okay. Yeah. So the um >> credit card processing fee >> credit card processing fees. So >> it should be on the record. >> Okay. So um last year uh I was in the process

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of getting access to the various uh stuff we do online. One of which is the credit card processing fees. And so I went online, I got access and everything like that. And I'm looking at the statements and I I don't even have to do the math in my head. It's it was

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so blatant how overcharged we were being. It was almost 10 11% for every dollar that we u run through the parking through those credit cards. So, um one of the things I've been doing

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really ever since was uh I had uh contacted vendors. Um, I had gotten quotes from them uh and they ranged all over the place and um, you know, our current credit card processor,

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you know, out of the kindness of their heart was offering uh, 1% on the dollar amounts and 10 cents on the um, per per transaction charge. Okay, they were

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charging us 2.79% for the uh dollar amount charge and a 36 cent per transaction. And they said that to me, I thought, well, you know, geez, they're they're

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just they're just throwing me a bone here. They're not, you know, they're not doing anything really great for me. And even with that, the credit card charges were still about almost 6% of the overall transaction.

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Now, a lot of you guys, you know, have businesses and things like that, your credit card processing charges are probably closer to 3%, maybe even lower, right? Edmonds who does our transactions for um

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the uh tax uh payments and sewer payments through whip their fee is 2.95%. So my objective was to get it as close to 3% as possible. So we are now with a company called Card

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Connect. They're part of FServe. Um, we are getting five basis points per transaction or per uh the dollar amount and a five cent per transaction fee for each transaction.

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the the net result is that we're at about uh I think 3.5 or 3.75 somewhere around there for what our transaction processing costs are going to cost us for this year. the savings that we're

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going to realize, and this is based on um my analysis of our credit card bills from March of last year to November of last year, is going to be $165,000. >> What did you start points? You said that there's basis points.

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>> Basis points. Basis point is uh 100th of a percent. Okay. So five basis points would be like if you had a dollar bill, five cents, right? So kind of works the same way except it's in percentages. So if you had a dollar transaction, five

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cents of that would go to the credit card processing company and then the rest would come to us. >> How much did you say we're going to save with that new credit card processing? >> 165,000. >> Thank you. >> All right. So that's the credit card story.

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>> To put it in to put it in easy terms too, Kitty, it's like when you go to a restaurant now, they charge you three or four percent if you're using a credit card, >> right? >> We don't have the ability to do that, right? >> If you want to pay, >> use a credit card. Our our machines in town, take a credit card. You're not charging a fee on top of that,

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>> right? >> Okay. This is a graphic representation of our budget, our major uh line items of appropriation. Um so salary and wage is always pretty much

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the premier appropriation that we have. Um we're at 39% for this year and if you notice last year we were at 41%. Now, this is actually a very good blessing in

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disguise because we had a lot of people who retired last year. It's one of the reasons why we had to do that emergency appropriation for the accumulated leave payouts. >> Um, we lost a lot of high salaries last

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year when these people retired. Subsequently, you know, we've been able to save on the salary wage. Okay. other expenses. Um those make up the regular operating expenses you know for software

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licenses like for admins for our financial system uh for you know u business cards and paper and all the things that you need to run the business. Um statutory expense is this

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number here that represents the um the employer share of uh uh Medicare and FICA. It also uh represents the employer's share of pension costs. That would be for PFRS, the uh police and

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fire as well as Pers, the public employees uh pension system. Um then we have debt service over here and you can see that one pretty much stayed the same. We had an increase this

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year of around 100,000 for the debt service principal payments on some of the notes that we have outstanding. Um and and that number is probably going to increase. Um >> I can't see that. What is the debt

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service for 2026? For 26 it's 2 million uh 768944. >> Is that 14%. >> Uh yeah 14%. >> Wait 2,768. What was it? 94 94

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>> 944 944. Yes. Okay. Thank you. >> And and we're going to print out a copy of this presentation and put it on the website for you all. >> Excellent. Thank you for doing that. >> What's the number for capital improvement? that >> the capital improvement fund. >> What What's the dollar amount?

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>> It's $250,000. >> Okay. >> So, originally we were putting in $75,000, but we had to increase the appropriation because we got a big ticket item that we're having to provide for. Now, capital improvement fund money

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is what we use for the 5% down payment on um general obligations. So, um, what we're anticipating here is enough to provide bonding for about $5.5 million worth of funds,

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>> right, >> or worth of borrowing. So, um, we're not going to hit that number and anything that's left over in capital improvement fund will be used for future years because there's right now $28,000 that's sitting in general capital

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improvement fund. So, this augments that um deferred charges. Uh last year we had a $50,000 deferred charge and that was for an emergency. Um and this year we have two deferred charges that we're

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paying back. One was for the revaluation that we did. That's usually a pretty big number. It was $410,000 and to hit the taxpayers all at once for that is kind of like egregious. So what

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this does is we're allowed to take that appropriation and spread it out over five years. And the same thing goes with all of the retirees we had last year. So the accumulated leave balances that we had to pay out that were covered under

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the other one for $400,000 and or $500,000 on that one. And um we get to spread that one out over five years as well. Now here are the changes of uh inappropriations from year to year and

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the dollar amounts. Um we had some reduction uh some reductions in the statutory expenses. Um deferred charges went up a lot but that's small dollar amounts. um

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and the capital improvement fund, you know, we already tal talked about those um reserve fund collected taxes. Uh I don't know if everybody understands this particular appropriation.

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Um, but just to recap on that, um, we would love it if everybody paid their taxes all at once, all on time because we have to do that same thing to the schools and to the county. They want they get they got their hand out on the

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15th after we collect the money on the first. Um, so what this reserve for uncollected taxes allows us to do is to do that. Okay? because that percentage is added on to the amount that we have

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to raise in taxes. Okay? So that we have the money available to pay the county and the school. They thought of everything in the law. Let me tell you everything. So the total appropriations uh you know we're at 1984614970.

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Last year was uh 9,05435. So, we're up about 791,000. >> And just so you guys know, we have five minutes left. >> Okay, five minutes. All right. So, at the end of the day, um here's the movers and shakers. We got employee group health benefits. Um we did address a lot

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of this um by providing that incentive program which really helped out what we have two groups. we have active which we've pretty much came in flat from last year to this year despite the uh state health benefits going up 30ome percent.

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And then we've got the retirees which we really can't do much about. So the increase in here is pretty much all them. Um then we have an increase in the waiver because we had several people

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actually drop off uh take different health insurance and just get the waiver payment which is a great savings for the town. Just as you may know from previous meetings uh a family uh under direct 10

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in state health benefits paying $68,000 in premiums. That's a That's a huge amount of money. Okay. Then we got um public works souring wage. The the increase in that really is just because I reallocated

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things differently. Um we have uh the phone expense. I moved money uh for the um cell phone service for the police and for the u um parking

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pay stations uh to that line instead of credit card charges where it was. I didn't like that there. Um capital improvement fund, we've already talked about that. Debt service, we've talked about that, too. That's all the notes. Uh and deferred

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charges, we talked about that as well. All right, guys. I'll go quick. I know we only have three minutes. All right, so these are some of the projects that we have coming up. We have the Philadelphia AB road paving for the sidewalks curbs. We do have an NJ DOT

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grant for this. We also have the Randall A NJ DOT rotating project, which is the expanded drainage. This is the big ticket item, which would be the aerial platform fire truck for the fire company. Number two,

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the water department is in need of a new jetback truck. Burough hall needed of improvements. They they are requesting an Arnold AB flashing firehouse sign. The replacement of public works police

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and building department vehicles and some various equipment for the departments. All right, this slide focuses on the net outstanding debt for 2026 and where we stand in relation to the state limit. The key thing to keep in mind is that the municipalities are capped at 3 and a

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half% of the average equalized property valuation over the past three years. And that's the red line that you see up top. As you can see from the trend line, we are nowhere near that limit. Um, in fact, our debt ratio is currently at 0868% which is a decrease from the prior

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years. Our current debt is $29.5 million and this has been managed carefully to balance the infrastructure needs without overburdening the taxpayers and our maximum allowable debt would actually be 118,757,000

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>> Christie does that 29464 reflect the 9 million for the water main project is that part of that >> no the uh the water sewer utility debt is um excluded from our net debt

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calculations because it's selfquidating which means that the sewer has positive balance. >> Okay. >> All right. And this chart just shows a balance of where we stand. And we kind of did a projection of where

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we'll be in the future. We've been pretty much on trend with our outstanding debt. It was at $29.5 million. I'll go quicker. And then here is another chart which shows our debt service throughout the

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years. Um, Steve did already talk about the that service, but we only had a slight increase from 2020 to now, which is just due to our investment in infrastructure and the road improvements. While it has risen, we still are in good standing with that

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8.68%. >> And this is just a recap of the water sewer. So, um you know, most of our water sewer is is covered through the uh the rents. Uh we have miscellaneous revenues and we also use a little at a

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surplus to help uh fund the budget overall. Um salary and wages, we have 565 here. Um again, that that's due to some reallocations that I did to streamline that whole mess. Um other expenses

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uh this is uh the water or the sewage and this is the water that we receive from the county and from brick. Um debt service it's 419,000. Uh we use New Jersey infrastructure bank loans which are uh actually like the

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best financing ever because part of it is a zero interest loan. Part of it is a market rate loan. So the the net really comes down to like about 2% we're paying for this. >> They also have sometimes have some debt

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forgiveness and uh other goodies that help the town out. And and that's pretty much it. And we're we got we're over by two minutes, so we can't take any questions. >> Uh I want I do want to thank you, Steve, Christie, and the finance committee for

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putting together a really great budget this year. So, thank you for all your hard work >> in that. Mike, do we take questions now from the public or >> that would be up to the governing body's discretion. >> Are we okay taking questions now this way? >> Sure, let's take them now. >> Okay. Does anybody in the public have any questions on the budget?

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>> Dave. >> Dave. >> Steve, can you pass him a mic? >> Yeah, pass them away. See if it works. >> Dave, now's your time to share. Moment of truth. >> You may not need to. >> Well, we hear them or not. >> It's a true test

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>> on the street lighting. That was one of a few. >> How do you come up with the appropriations for street lighting? >> So street lighting really it doesn't vary too much from

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year to year. Um the only cost that increases is the the electricity portion of it, but we're charged based on the number of of uh lights and the type of fixture in those lights. >> Okay.

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>> Um so it's it's pretty baked in. It's just the >> And because the town has a number for the number of street lights, >> um that item I have to get I'd have to >> 734. What?

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>> 734 street lights in town. >> 79 >> 34. >> Thank you. >> Out. >> No. No. Total. >> That's what I thought. >> The other one. >> It's for the council, not for you. So,

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thank you very much. >> Any other questions for Steen Christie on the budget? >> All right. Hearing none. >> Just a general question. Can I ask a quick question? Um, just Stephen, in your professional opinion, since you are CFO, but you're also an outside

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consultant, how would you how would you rate the financial health of Point Pleasant Beach? >> I think it's um I mean that that's a that's a tough question because you know like >> that's why I asked it. >> Yeah. I mean,

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you know, as as I was crafting the budget, um, you know, there was like a lot of good stuff here. Um, you know, we tightened up on a bunch of stuff. We did some things that really saved us budget wise for this year, you know, including

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the, uh, the incentive plan as well as the credit card fees. Um, you know, I'm thinking that maybe we should take a look at our fees overall. I know that we currently operate a deficit in the UCCC area. We really should look at those

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fees because it's supposed to be at least break even. >> Yeah. >> Um and we might want to look at some other fees as well. Um, and and that was going to be a discussion that I was going to have with uh Joe, but uh since

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you brought it up, you know, I I think, you know, we need to look at the fees to make sure that they're keeping up with the actual costs of of doing business. Um, the debt service, I mean, you can't

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get any better than under 1%. I mean, that is truly a good number. I know that uh Christine had actually gotten the um notes paid off for the uh water sewer

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utility. Um and that's a tremendous thing, you know, but we've got some projects that are coming on. We've got the Route 35 project and we have the water tank um painting. We also have a jetpack. You know, those things are not cheap. It's about a $600,000 piece of

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equipment which both water and sewer need. Um and so um we're also going to have to take a look I think at at sewer rates, sewer and water rates because um you know 3.7

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3.8 8 million, which is what we're billing, um, isn't going to cut it when we're having to pack on the actual debt service, even if it is from New Jersey Infrastructure Trust. Um, it it's still we have to pay money back for that. So,

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you're talking what um $10 million is what we have projected for that Route 35 project. And, you know, you got another two or so million for the water tank. So that's 11 million we're going to have to take into consideration

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uh for future um uh future needs. Now it's not coming today or tomorrow, but it's going to come once the projects are done. So I anticipate probably next year it's going to come on. So we're going to have to

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talk about this probably in the in the months coming. Um but overall I mean you do you know you do a great job and you know I you know having looked at uh the salary and wages you know you you you know

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they're they're not overly oppressive I don't think um you know so I it seems to me that you know things are are are coming along pretty nice. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you.

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>> Any other questions? All right. Hearing none, do we have to make a motion to formally close budget? >> No, I don't think so. Just I would note for the public the next meeting is when the official public hearing is on on the budget. >> On the budget, the statuto hearing and then final adoption would be considered at that meeting.

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>> Okay. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you guys so much. >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. >> Eileen, do you want to open the meeting and >> Yeah. discussion? Yes. The time and place of this meeting was given under the provisions of the open public meetings act and was posted and

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sent to the officially designated newspapers in compliance with the law. Everybody >> here. >> Councilman Dixon, Councilwoman Burns here, Councilman Ramos >> here, >> Councilman G here, >> Councilwoman Silson here, and Councilman Cortez >> here. Please rise for the flag salute. Remain standing for invocation

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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. >> It is most appropriate that in this country which was founded on the bedrock of religious freedom for all people that

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we take this opportunity to ask for guidance. First, we give thanks for the freedoms that we share. In particular, we appreciate our freedom of speech. Second, we ask for guidance in the decisions that we deliberate on this evening. We all do not share the same opinion on each topic to be considered, but we must evaluate the views of

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others. Therefore, we ask for guidance so that the people of Point Pleasant Beach benefit from our decisions. Third, we ask blessings for those assembled here this evening as well as all the residents of Point Pleasant Beach. >> All right. Good evening everybody and to all watching at home. Hopefully you

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could hear everybody loud and clear. Uh, can I get an approval of minutes for the March 17th executive session? >> Make that motion. >> I'll second. >> Councilman Dixon, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Burns, >> yes. Council Ramos,

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>> abstain. >> Councilman Gant, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Sillison, >> yes. Councilman Cortez, >> yes. >> Thank you. Can I get a a motion for approval of the March 17th council meeting minutes?

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>> A motion. >> I'll second. I'll second. >> Councilman Dixon. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Burns, >> I have to abstain. I forgot I wasn't here. >> Wait, did we do >> Did we just do March 17th? >> 17. Council, do you want to abstain from

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the executive as well? >> Yes. Seventh, right? >> We'll note that, Eileen. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Council Ramos, >> abstain. >> Council Gant, >> yes. >> Counciloman Silison, yes. Council

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Cortez, >> yes. >> Thank you. Can I get approval for the April 7th executive session minutes? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Council Dixon, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Burns, >> yes. >> Councilman Ramos, yes.

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>> Council Gant, >> yes. Councilwoman Silson >> abstain. >> And Council Cortez, >> yes. >> And then finally, approval of minutes for the April 7th council meeting minutes. >> I'll make that motion. Second. >> Council Dixon,

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>> yes. >> Counciloman Burns, yes. >> Council Ramos, >> yes. >> Council Gant, >> yes. >> Counciloman Silson, >> abstain. And Council Cortez, >> yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Moving on to the discussion item tonight is the open space tax. Uh, Councilman Dixon, since you brought this up, I'll let you kick

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this off. >> Okay. >> Good evening everybody. Hopefully everyone could hear everyone tonight. >> Um, a month or so ago, a couple maybe two months ago, I brought up the um idea of reducing the open space tax to a half cent.

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And the reason why I brought it up was because of the re-evaluation that was done in the town. For most people, the reevaluation of your home caused it to double and some people probably close to triple. So your tax rate went down

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because of that, but the open space tax remained the same at 1%. So just for an example, just for argument sake, let's just say you were paying $100. If your property doubled, you're now going to pay 200. If it more than

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doubled, you'll pay even more. So by lowering it to the half cent which I'd like to do uh it will maintain basically the amount of money that we bring in now for open space. I'm not it's not eliminating it. It's not cutting

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anything. But the difference will be is that the average right now if we don't do this and it goes to 1 cent will be 400. How much the town would bring in? $419,980. If we go to the half cent, it'll be

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$29,990. Right now, we bring in $28,181. So, basically, it stays the same. We also have a situation where we get affected by the county, too. The county has it probably about the same that we pay So that's going to go up, if I use

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the$1 $100 uh example, it's going to go up to $200. So if we don't do anything, ours will go up $100. The county will go up $100. And I read recently that the county is looking to add another penny to their open space tax, which would be

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another $100. So, before we even get into any municipal increase, any school increase, or possibly any county increase, even though I think the county said there'd be no increase this year, you you could look at up to $300 just

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increase just in your open space tax before you even get any of the rest of your tax bill that's going to go up. So, by lowering by half, we maintain what we're bringing in and you're not going to get hit with double. So, I let other a lot of people have other

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ideas and talk about it. So, let let hear what everyone else has to say, but I think it' be a great thing for the town. I mean, everyone just got hammered. Not everyone, but quite a few people just got hammered with the reevaluation. I know people whose taxes went up $4,000, three, four, $5,000,

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they went up. Some people went down, but a lot of people went up quite a bit and they're sticker shocked by it. So, I know it's not a lot of money, but like I said the last time I brought this up, I'd rather see on the average it's like around $60. I'd rather see the

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$60 in your pocket than in our pocket. Meaning the government and like I said, every little bit helps. It's tank full of gas, pay for something else. And it's, you know, one's enough. I mean, every little, like I said, every little bit helps. And hopefully everyone will agree with me that we should lower it to

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half a percent. Who else wants to comment? >> Um, I could I could piggy back on what John's saying. I mean, look, I I've kind of played with the numbers, too. I mean, the the uh the budget that we've introduced and the budget that we've

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discussed tonight, um, the end result is for the average home at $1.2 million, the tax increase is going to be about 80 bucks. So, if we're able to counter that with giving you back 60 bucks, that makes that pretty much washes out that

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increase and knocks it down to 20. And I think that the the main stabilization factor for me on this is that we are not we're not cutting any of the funding. We're maintaining the funding that we've been getting. Um to increase that funding to me is, you know, I I think we

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we live within our means. uh that that that that penny that we were doing that would equal a half a penny now has served this town well from the open from an open space standpoint and acquiring properties and maintaining properties. Um I think too I and just my own

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thinking outside the box something I'm very familiar with is you know we have a hotel we have a hotel tax um and this town uh gets it gets it as well. Uh, it's been expanded over the last few years to include Airbnbs and other other residential properties that get that

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that that rent. And I mean, the number today, I just I looked at it and I confirmed it with our CFO. It generates $626,000 for this town. And the thing I love about that tax, it's not on the back, it's not on the burden in the back of the taxpayer. It's paid for by the by

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the tourists that come into this town. So, I don't know if it's a possibility, but that might be something to look at. I mean, if we have the ability, is it maxed out? I mean, I mean, I know I have a hotel in Lakewood. We charge 6.625% New Jersey state tax and we charge a 7%

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occupancy tax. Now, 7% doesn't go to the town of Lakewood. I'm sure probably 2 to 3%, I'm guessing, goes to the town of Lakewood. Uh, the state takes its cut and the county takes its cut, but, you know, there's there's significant funding there. And I mean, we got a lot

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of houses that are uh being built, a lot of houses that are going up in this town that are going to be Airbnbs potentially. They're going to be rental uh properties. So, it behooves us as a town to crack down and make sure that we're making sure that all those rental properties are legit. They're real rental properties because there's

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potential that it's additional revenue for this town. So, I think that there's areas we could look at as well if we want to enhance that. Uh, but I think the real result of that fund was made to allow you to maintain properties, to acquire properties. Um, and we have a

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healthy balance in that account right now. And I think that we we work within our means. That's my two cents on it. >> Anybody else? >> Yeah, I'd like to say something. This was an idea that was brought to us from a member of the public at this very meeting and we took it seriously. We

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really looked into it. I spoke with some um longtime members of the open space and they were also in agreement with this cut back right now and like they were saying there's sticker shock with the reassessment. Um I'm glad that you brought out brought up the uh the rental

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and the hotel motel and the bed and breakfast tax. I looked into the same thing. We get approximately $51,000 a month from that right into our pockets. That's a fantastic source of revenue. we are so lucky to have that

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people want to come and spend overnight evenings in Point Pleasant Beach. Um, and I'm a big proponent of open space. I really feel like in a hundred years or so, the only open space we're going to see is that which people like us now

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have the foresight to protect. That being said, um, this is a minor roll back. It's going to maintain it. I believe right now there's almost a million dollars in the open space fund. Um, so I think that this is something that's relevant and timely and that it

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makes sense for us to do. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> I agree. >> Does everybody agree? >> I'm good. >> Steve, do you you don't have to say anything. I just didn't know if you

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wanted to add anything on this. >> Um, no, not really. I mean, >> okay. >> The uh the open space, >> you know, I had sent out a email to Joe at his request about >> you know, some of the positives for the

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open space. Um, you know, one of the things that, uh, I look at the financial statement that >> may maybe want to come up to the microphone. Yeah, sorry. >> So, one of the things that I did was I

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wanted to see, you know, kind of where we stood. Now, in according to the annual financial statement for 2025, u the appropriations that we used um from Open Space Trust and the revenues

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that we received were kind of the equal. Now, open space not only takes in the taxes, it also has um u we have rental lease property that that we deposit money in there for and it also has

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interest on it as well. Um so the thing is is that uh we have the basically equal money coming in and going out. Uh in addition, I had noted

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that uh we have two um uh two separate debt services. Uh one for the dredging of Lily's uh Lake of the Lilies and the second one for the Little Silver Lake uh dredging. Okay. Both of those

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are under NJIB which is you know great financing but you know the net of those is about 12 000 a year currently. Um they're not included in the amount we're taking out of open space. Those are going right to

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the current fund budget. Okay. They are eligible for open space. Um and uh the I'm I'm not certain, but I believe when we were working on the um the analysis

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earlier in the year on the county part, um the county equalizes the assessed valuation before they put on their 1%. So that that charge they put for open space I believe has already

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been you know taken into uh bringing the valuation to 100%. So that really shouldn't change the county part that much. Um so that that's all I got is I'm basically reiterating the stuff that that you guys kind of already know. So

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and you're the governing body. You make these decisions. So >> all right. We just wanted your input. Thank Thank you, Steve. >> All right. So, are we're all in agreement >> to go to 0.5? >> Yeah, we're not eliminating it. We're just lowering it right now.

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>> Mike, do we have to make a motion? >> Yeah, I was going to ask for suggest if you make a motion to have me draft a simple ordinance to make that revision and I'll have that for the next meeting. >> I'll make that motion. >> So, wait a second. Is this in with our policy we're discussing first? Now we

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have a motion for Mike to draft or change the ordinance >> to to reflect. >> I think there's a motion >> there. So do we have a second? >> Second. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. >> Council Dixon. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Burns.

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>> Yes. >> Councilman Ramos. >> Yes. >> Council Gant. >> Yes. >> Council Silson. >> Yes. Councilman Cortez. >> Yes. Okay. Uh moving on to committee reports. Councilman Dixon. I don't have too much this uh this meeting. Um I had a meeting uh it was

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last week I guess for new employees for the building department. Uh the girl that was the receptionist there had left and resigned and they needed a new person. Uh we interviewed I think it was five people Mike or six five people. >> Five. >> And the lady's name is on the agenda

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today to make her a new hireer. Apparent I missed that one. I saw all the others but I missed that one. and supposedly she was a everyone was raving about her that she's going to be a nice fit for the building department. So >> she was she was a great candidate great candidate. >> That's that's on the agenda for tonight. >> Nice.

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>> Uh on Thursday we have a meeting with the uh uh police department with the police committee. So I can't really report too much on that right now. And one other thing I just want to make a reminder. I know I said it a few times but I want to keep reminding so we don't miss out on it. Uh, with the Route 35

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sewer thing being almost done, they're going to start paving again. And I guess this is for Joe and Doug. I I talked to Andy about it already. Um, if you got coordinate between the county and the state, that area that's goes over the railroad tracks on Broadway heading

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west, it's a disaster. And there's always apparently there's been a long-term whose property is it state or county. Maybe guys before they when they have all the machinery around. It's not a big area they could take care of that and fight out who who belongs to

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whatever. But it needs to be done. It's it's bad and it's been bad for a long time. So if we can just give them a call and well, you know, mend the minds together and get it work get it done. >> We're meeting with the county next week. So uh on Monday so we could put that in.

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>> Okay. Thanks. That's it. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Barren. >> Thank you, mayor. Good evening everybody. Um well, I would love to have something really captivating to say with our new audio, but it's um I've got I've got really nothing nothing too much. But

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I'd like to take a minute to um thank Kristen Oro for another successful grant proposal. Um as always, I'd like to thank our first responders. Um I appreciate that, you know, all that you do for us. Um thank you for everybody that worked on preparing that budget. They went, you

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know, above and beyond. That took takes a lot. Our dancers and yogis are always showing up and it brings everybody that participates great joy. Um I just wanted to thank Maryanne and Cornelia for help keeping it keeping it running smoothly. Um on another note, I'd like to add a

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Taichi session and I put a few feelers out for um for the um perfect instructors with a blessing from you, mayor. Sure. >> I think that it may um draw in some of our um active older adults and gentlemen. You know, a couple men might really enjoy that. So that's something

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that I'm working on. Um, tickets are available now for the beautifification committee's garden tour, which will be held on June 25th, um, from 10:00 to 3. That's a wonderful, wonderful morning in town. I think we've only done one before and it was really a success and it's and it was just, um, it was beautiful.

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Everybody's backyard and what they the talent that they have. And then, um, just one more note on the motor vehicle appointments. They were filled in just a few hours and I was really surprised at the overwhelming interest still. So, I'm working with the state to plan another. So, that will be soon as I have another

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date, I'll release that. And that's all I have. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilman Ramos. >> Thank you, Mayor. Excuse me. Um, we will be having a police committee meeting uh next week as Councilman Dixon said, so stay tuned for that. Uh, Chief gave me

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uh community policing report. Uh, save the date for the Point Pleasant Beach Bike Bash, which is a bike safety rodeo for all beach residents, grades kindergarten through 8th, as well as St. Peter students. This is a free event that will be held on Saturday, May 9th from 12 to 3 in the SH Silver Lake

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parking lot. We will have bike safety information, bike skills course, bike repair, BMX demonstration, food, ice cream, prizes, and more. First aid, fire departments, and dive team will also be at the event. Registration and permission slips will be required to attend and have been distributed in the

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schools. So, encourage your children to come. It's a great event. Um, I know the chief and his uh his team have put a lot of time and effort into this. So, um it's great that uh we support that. Uh one last note of uh housekeeping. I would like to ask the council to um I

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know an email went out um from uh our attorney Mike Collins regarding the ebike ordinance and some changes that need to be reflected in the ordinance because of the changes now within the state of New Jersey. uh chief and I had a discussion about it and he had mentioned that he went on the state of

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New Jersey website and there now is additional information um on that. So I would ask this council if we could move forward with making the proposed changes that the um council uh recommended um that we make to the uh ebike ordinance

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to bring it into line with the state uh regulations. Um and I'd ask if we could get that on the agenda for the next council meeting. So >> do we need a motion for that? Can I get a motion? I'd make that motion. Thank you. >> I'll second that. >> And this is this is also going to get

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get it in place in time for the summer season. >> Would this be a authorization to draft the ordinance? >> Yeah. Or >> Council Dixon? >> Yes. >> Counciloman Burns? >> Yes. >> Council Ramos? Yes. >> Council Gant? >> Yes. >> Council Silson? Yes. Council >> Cortez? Yes.

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>> And that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council President Gant. Good evening everybody. Seems like winner is back. Everybody's uh got their jackets on tonight. The mics are working. >> You don't have to yell. >> I know. Now I don't have to yell. Doug

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finally fixed my mic. Uh just real quick, I have a couple things. The finance committee, obviously, we just had our presentation about the budget, so there's nothing to report on that. Recreation is looking into um ideas for funding fall events to replace the mana squan tug. I guess that's not happening.

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skateboarding is going very well and there's a great article on the Ocean Star if anybody wants to read that. And they also are looking for new members to help place some of the members that had to unfortunately unfortunately resign for other committees. Open space uh

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continuing to look at doing minor projects in town and they were also for reducing the uh percentage for open space as well. if anybody wanted to know about that. That was their recommendation was to lower that as well. Nothing on the uh

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endowment fund to report. That's all I have. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Stson. >> Okay. Um hello everybody for the finance. Uh we just had our budget meeting and our CFO Steven Gallagher um is available for questions and he's going to put the slideshow that he

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presented on our burrow website. um public property, buildings and grounds. Um per our burough administrator, we are currently withholding payment to JCPNL, right? As per a resident's >> suggestion. >> Streets, right? Street lights.

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>> Street lights for street lights. Yes, we're currently withholding payment specifically for street lights and um we have provided JCPNL with an updated list of street light outages. So working on that and um we may or may not have a

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timeline update right now. I'm gonna ask the bur administrator with that. >> I have report for it. >> Okay. So we'll get to that. Okay. Um meeting with various members of the community. I have people um asking about the monipole. I really don't have a lot of information on that because studies

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are like varied about it. But if anybody from the public would like to reach out to me with their concerns or what information they have, I'm happy to listen to that. Um, we're still dealing with snow removal tickets. Um, Art Gant and I met with members of the bid and we

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discussed some long-term goals for the downtown. Um, these projects are just in the conversation stage. They're too early to really mention, but it does feel like a positive trajectory. Um I asked the bid at their next meeting if they could please discuss their um opinion on the parking policies since

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there was some buzz about that on social media pros and cons and if they can give us their feedback and we can address it accordingly. The shade tree commission um there is a sustainable Jersey annual convention on May 15th. I'm going to be

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attending that along with some other members from the environmental commission and shade tree. lots of seminars including building better streets, energy efficiency for municipalities and schools, and sustainable landscaping for municipalities.

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Um the Shade Tree Commission has a big beautiful tree program. It's closed now for the spring, but they were able to get um purchased from the public 24 trees and also seven give out seven free street trees. So that's going to really

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help our urban canopy. They are working with the parking authority to plant trees at 800 Arnold Avenue. That's at the parking lot next to Rudy's Restaurant and also along the railroad tracks. Pleasure Park. There has um

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identified hazard trees. There's four that will be removed and five that are going to be pruned. The shade tree is also doing public outreach. This um Friday they're going to be doing an Arbor Day event at the Antrum School. And then this Saturday, the Point Pleasant Bureau has their annual Earth

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Day event at their um River Park. It's an all day event. It's always fun and it's free, open to the public. And our Shade Tree Commission and Environmental Commission usually have a table there. Um let's see, county trees, working with the county to see if they can come out

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and prune or remove identified trees on county streets. And hopefully that might also include any trees on somebody's like right ofway in front of their house. So that won't cost the homeowner that. And um at this Thursday's environmental commission meeting, we're

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going to have a guest speaker via Zoom, a 20-minute presentation to discuss long-term um planning and goals for the lakes. So that's something we're working on. Fire department busy month. Um this is all volunteer run. They had a boat fire in

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Point Pleasant Beach and the same night a structure fire in Seaside that they attended and that was a multiple dwelling fire. They've um attended uh incident reports for numerous car accidents and alarm calls. They went to training. They conducted a live fire

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training at Mom at the at Academy and approximately 20 members have become state certified in firefighter rescue. Um and they're always looking for volunteers. So, let's see. Shout out to my mom and dad, their 60th wedding anniversary.

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Um, and then board of ed. So, board of ed is uh 41% of our taxes. And um I would just like to preface what I'm going to say by saying that I have nothing but praise for our board of education and I'm not looking to

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micromanage or get involved in their decisions. I think we have an excellent school system. Um, anybody who knows me personally, I took my daughter from the Princeton Day School, one of the top private schools in New Jersey, and brought her into the Point Pleasant Beach School system because I was a

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substitute teacher here. That's how I actually became a teacher, and I really saw what a wonderful district this is. Um, however, this is 2026 and we do need more um, transparency. That was a big thing that we're all talking about here.

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So, I'm in this uncomfortable and uh awkward position now of trying to get the board of education meetings livereamed and then posted to uh our websites so everybody can see it. It's 41% of our our budget. Um, so I've

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offered them like multiple options, you know. I said they can come here and use our auditory that was no. Use their own auditory that was no. I asked if they could have a member of the board of education come to our meetings and we can carve out a time like a committee report. They can give us an update. They

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can answer questions and leave. That was a no. Um, so now I'm at kind of like, okay, what do we do? Well, we have a public information officer that we pay and this is indeed public information.

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Um, so we're using her for a variety of other things, but really this public information about the board of education in my opinion trumps all of that other things. So, I'm not sure like how to proceed, but I'm basically insisting

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that we use the public information officer to go to the board of education meetings to film them to post them. And here's the best news. It won't cost us a dime extra because while the officer is there, they can be doing their other

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work, which from what I gleaned from the last meeting was that they're putting together um flyers for committees, doing things for mayor's wellness, etc. Well, they can still do that while they're filming the board of education meetings. And by the way, the last council

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meeting, I wasn't here. I was out of the country, but I was still able to watch the meeting and listen to it because we record it and post it. So, this is a norm in Point Pleasant Beach now. We have the board of adjustment doing this, the um planning board doing this, the

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town council doing this. This is an expectation. 50% of the board of education meetings are the same day and time as the council meetings. I looked on the board of education website today. their most recent minutes are from the

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beginning of January. So if us up here on the council, we really have no idea what's going on there. And again, there is no criticism what the board of education is doing. This is a matter of public access and

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trans transparency. If we don't know what they're doing, we are negligent in our jobs. And it's unfortunate that I'm in this like awkward position now where I have to be like insistent upon this. So, I'd like some direction as to how to proceed to get our public information

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officer to go to their meetings and live stream them and post them. >> Is that it? >> Yes. >> Okay. Councilman Cortez, >> thank you. >> Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a second. >> I'm going to address that in my report.

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>> Okay. We're good. >> Yeah. >> Good evening everybody. Nice to have some uh new speakers and microphones. I got to be careful if I'm whispering. Uh I have quite a bit public property

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buildings and grounds. Uh the water main project out here on Route 35. They are finished from Washington Avenue northbound to Laurel Avenue. Uh the main does not cross Arnold. They picked back up uh by McClean and they're already up

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to Dunkin Donuts, so they have a little bit farther to go. A little bit more work on C Avenue, but they're they're right on schedule. Um there was some uh posts about on Facebook, you know, I I

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read the post, but about the the traveling on the highway, you know, it's terrible. It's horrible. Well, they just dug it up. They just temporarily repaved it. The state will pave Route 35 north and south when we're done. Um, probably

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not going to be this year. We're hoping it's next year by the, you know, it'll either be in the spring or the fall. So, please, and there was a comment made about the parking lot, the railroad parking lot where the under, you know, our utility company doing the water main

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project, you know, that looks horrible. they will make it and return make it good and return it back to pre-staging of their equipment uh uh form and I also talked to Jack Johnston if they have any

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leftover patch hot patch they will patch some of the holes that are in there as well so it that'll be taken care of um downtown there was a a vehicle accident right there on 30 35 South right by uh

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Sunen uh sunshine daydream that took out one of our green uh light poles. You know, it was down on the sidewalk. You know, I went by and saw it. I hope nobody was injured in that accident. Uh DPW retrieved it. Uh have it. They can't

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use it. Uh they're going to take some of the parts uh off of it. uh DPW Jack Jack's trying to find to see if uh the company still makes that particular style or something close, you know, up there. Um the water plant over

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here, uh courtesy of the Homeland Security Grant, new fencing has been put up and cameras all the way around. And the last piece would be an automatic uh key card gate that faces uh New York Avenue. Um again, all funded by Homeland

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Security because it's our our water. Got to be safe. Um both tanks are complete. Um as far as you touched on that, the the um Monopole people uh are still waiting on a final approval

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from one of our boards uh before they get moving. And I'm hoping they I haven't spoke with our administrator. We both hope that there are no delays because of that uh with the project of building the monopole, moving the

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antennas off so that we can paint the uh elevated tank. Uh on the agenda 2H uh summer help, our DPW typically hires two summer uh part-time help uh in the

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summer. We have one. We're still looking for another one. Hopefully they'll get them before the summer. Uh if not, I'm going to do what I had done quite a few years ago. Monday is the busiest day in the summer for uh garbage pickup. And quite a few years

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ago, I gave uh our former supervisor all five Mondays in July on the back of the garbage truck. So I I made that same offer to Jack, especially if we don't get the extra summer help. So you might see me out there on the back of a garbage truck in District 4 on Mondays.

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Not a problem. >> Pretty cool, Andy. >> Okay. Do what you have to do to help. >> Pretty cool. >> Um, >> keep things >> after, you know, at the last meeting. I know um there was quick quick talk about the traffic light. That's project that

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started in 2010 out here on Route 35 North and New Jersey Avenue. Uh the mayor had mentioned it had didn't have too much luck calling the uh state or even Congressman Smith's office. Um that following day, uh that Wednesday, I

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actually reached out to our assemblyman Kenitra and I spoke with him and he got back to me later that day and set up a uh Zoom meeting, so to speak, uh different platform, but a FaceTime

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meeting uh on that Thursday the 9th with uh Megan and Natalie from the DPW. And um we had a very productive meeting. Uh I went over and I met the resident

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who is on the northwest corner over here, Diane. >> And she shared some pictures of all the vehicles that have crashed through her fence up onto her porch in her neighbor's yard. And I shared those with our assemblymen who in turn shared them

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with the uh state. And I think that kind of helped solidify how dangerous this intersection is. Uh there were some emails back and forth. And we also met with uh I'm I'll just

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read one uh Natalie Natalie uh and Megan, the DOT people we met with, they met with their operations team to discuss efforts to install the signal in the spring summer season of this year. We believe we're we're presently on track to accomp accomplish this in the

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next few months. At present, our expectation is with the FIFA lockout and that explaining, you know, with the World Cup coming, Metife Stadium, uh they're going to lock out any contractor work up around by the stadium and when

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that that their contractors now are focusing on all the work up there. Once that lockout happens, they're going to be the contractors will be free to work in other areas and we down here are not in that lockout area. Uh they're going to have more details in May. Uh but

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they're they saw the safety concerns in the pictures and uh they want to resolve that this year whether it's hopefully in the spring uh before Memorial Day or after. So we got to push. I have to

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thank uh the assemblymen for setting up that call and you know they they listened to me. Um you know it was when I gave them some statistics just share these from May of

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2023 through February of this year 23 accidents at this intersection. >> That's a lot. >> Okay. Um there were four in 23, nine in 24, nine in 25 and one this year. Uh

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they were spread out. Um there were seven um between uh you know 7 uh before noon from 7:00 a.m. to noon. Five between 3 and 5 in the afternoon. Five and seven there were

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six. And uh 7 to 10 I counted five. and they were spread out in different months, December, May, July, August. Um, you know, so it it's not just I guess all late night, early morning. And when

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you shared some of those statistics with them on the, you know, in a FaceTime meeting, um, it I think it hit home. So hopefully that will be resolved sooner than later. Um, sorry, Meredith, there was a, you know,

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a you had a a good reply to something online about, you know, downtown uh closing maybe Arnold and Bay, you know, in the summer. >> I think that's great. You know, I know >> somebody else that had replied said they do it in Manisqua and Redbank. >> Um,

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I think we're a little unique because it's a county road and it's not just a straight road. We have Bay Avenue as well. Um, I can only reference Redbank. Uh, they closed down Broad Street and and this ties in. I had spoken to the chief and I actually spoke to the, uh,

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Terrence Walton. He's the superintendent of the Redbank DPW about the automatic ballards that come out of the pavement, you know. Okay. I called him. I asked him and, you know, they they footed the whole bill because

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Broad Street up in Redbank is a municipal road, you know. I said, "Okay, we have county roads. Yeah, maybe they would share the cost. Maybe they wouldn't want them." Um, he said he had a a company overseas that uh where they got theirs and he suggested finding someone in a vendor in the US because

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it's hard to get parts, but they're very functional. I had brought that up to the chief and he said, "My gosh, that that would make your life what? 100% easier. Wouldn't have to barricades out, get the DPW trucks. Um, it's it's something to

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pursue. I'm sure they're expensive. I haven't priced them out. Haven't priced them, but >> something that, you know, maybe uh when the federal government reopens, there might be a homeland security grant that you could, you know, tweak, maybe the

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county would share something because that, you know, we'd have to get three sets, you know, one one at Bay and Laurel and one at each end of Barnold. And you know, good idea. You know, you know, open it up for downtown.

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I don't know if Thursday I know you said th >> and I just right. >> I don't know the a big crowd's going to be here, but a big crowd's going to try to get out of town after fireworks. I I didn't know what time >> when we meet with the county. I'm going to ask for blanket approval to do it one day a month.

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>> I didn't know what you're in your response. you didn't put what time you were thinking, >> you know, and I'm thinking, >> well, good idea, but Thursday, we have five roads out of town, right? >> But yeah. Um, so I I'll do some more homework on on these ballards and see

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what the price is. I'm sure it's out of our budget >> for now. >> And then maybe the county, you know, if you go and meet with them, maybe mention it, see if they'd be interested because that would >> that would help everything all the way around. Yeah. and it is safety% seafood

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festival everything like that. So that's all for public property, buildings and grounds. Flood plane uh committee we met met last Wednesday. Uh first meeting of the year just getting organized. Uh we're clarifying the role of the

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committee. Uh planning on public outreach and education at like the farmers markets and uh any of the other events. Um get a table set up. Uh, one of the concerns is the real uh guidelines that are going to be uh

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coming down midsummer. Um, you know, the they want deep uh FEMA wants 5 foot of freeboard. We already require three foot. So, it's only another two foot up, but it's still questionable and a lot of the uh seashore towns are uh opposing

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that. So, there'll be more on that at our next meeting. um senior committee and I'll start that because on the agenda there's some approvals finally for members of the senior committee. Uh so the first event

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was run with senior volunteers. Let me put it that way. Uh it was in March 35 residents uh senior residents from town attended it. It was a um a Price is Right Lunchon and and game and it was uh

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coordinated and partnered with Homewell Care and uh Bratton State Elder Care law offices and they did a great job. Uh I showed up in the beginning and just said great, you know, I'm the liazison senior committee's back. Looks, you know, big

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crowd here. It was it was a good time. U so next uh be looking at some of the next events u look for them in in the newsletter. Um that's going to be online. So we'll put that and uh that's it for me.

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>> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Uh so I think Councilwoman Burns touched on this but the rec the um local recreation grant uh I just want to thank Kristen Oor for that. Uh we got $64,200 that's going to be uh go towards

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improvements to a little league field which has been uh needing improvements for a while. So great news on that front. >> Uh I want to just give a quick update on 35 Arnold. That's the burned out house. Uh I am working with New Jersey Natural Gas and the county uh to expedite the uh

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road opening permit. So they still need to disconnect from the road. Um, a permit was placed with the county back in uh the middle of May or middle of March and they haven't heard back. So, I'm now trying to be the liazison between those two so that we could get that permit issued, get that gas

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disconnected and get that house down. I did talk to the new homeowner today um who said that they're just waiting for this. Uh that's their last step and then the house could come down. So, good news on that part. Um on April 13th, uh myself, uh Chief Colesi and Detective

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Latchaw attended and presented uh cyber security talk to about 30 residents at the library. Uh we all three of us thought it was a fantastic event. Uh very engaging uh crowd, asked a lot of really good questions. I've gotten a lot of feedback afterwards. Uh so we talked

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about it and we said we should probably do another one in the fall. Uh so we'll work to plan that together. Uh we've talked about the meeting with the county that's going to be on Monday with the burough administrator and Ray Savicole. We're going there to talk uh about a bunch of things and we'll add the

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Broadway train tracks uh to the agenda as well. Uh.gov uh we've been uh transitioned over now for two weeks from uh.org to.gov and there's no issues. It was a seamless transition which is great. Uh the hometown security

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initiative registration is open now. Uh flyers are posted on social media and the town website. I urge all residents and business owners to attend that. Uh we're doing uh an unlock the ocean event with Ocean County Tourism at the Jensen

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Inlet on May 15th at 10 a.m. Um not quite sure what that's going to be. We have a meeting on Thursday to talk logistics. I know the Blue Claws are involved. They're going to bring uh their mascot, so that'll be kind of fun. Uh America 250, uh the committee's been hard at work planning a bunch of events.

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So, we nailed down the dates to be uh Thursday, June 25th to Saturday, June 27th. Sunday is going to be a rain date if needed. Um Thursday night, we're going to have a concert at the Bandshell with Kyle Jennings, who is a uh a

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Nashville country artist, uh who's coming up for the weekend. Um we'll have some food, uh there as well. Friday, we're going to be uh doing a documentary on the Bud Lamel uh that we've shown elsewhere in town, but we're going to do that at the band shell, followed by uh Yankee Doodle Dandy, the film. And

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again, I think we're going to have some popcorn and ice cream that night. And then Saturday will be a parade and block party at the band shell. Uh the chief and I are going to meet this week to uh map out the exact parade route. Uh but we're looking for all residents,

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businesses, uh civic organizations to sponsor. Once I have the exact route laid out, um I will be reaching out to all of our emergency services, all of our civic uh institutions, our committees, everybody to uh to gather up

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for for the parade. Um so I'll address the uh public information officer at the school. Uh this was brought up at the last meeting and I know you missed it. Um I personally said that I would feel uncomfortable to send uh the public information officer to videotape the

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meeting. um a it's going to come out of all the work that she does. She's only 20 hours a week and I know you missed it last last week but or last time but we talked about all that she's doing and she's she's working on all the flyers on she's working on the social media. She's working a lot on behind the scenes with

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the website. Um we kind of uh threw away the idea of having an app. So she is heavily engaged in uh building up the website to increase transparency. The downtown kiosk she's working on that. So, she's doing a ton of things. Um, I I disagree. I think her videotaping

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meeting, she's not gonna be able to do both. Um, depending on what resources she has. So, I just think, you know, it's two separate entities. And I get we conflict. And I get, you know, they're set in their ways, we're set in our ways. Um, but what I did say at the last

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meeting is for all those residents that want to go to the board of ed meeting, they should, knowing that they could come back and watch our meeting, now new and improved. um they could watch our meeting and then reach out to the governing body, myself or Joe with any

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questions they have. So I think that would be the route I would take is urge residents that to to go to their meeting and then to watch ours and you know because ours is going to be taped uh every time. Uh and then always reach out to us for questions. I I just think you

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know it's it's just a bad idea to merge the two. Um, I think it's, you know, separate entities and we should just, you know, uh, keep it at that. >> Well, you know, unfortunately, it's kind of like this. Hey, you guys are spending our money. Can you please let us know how you're doing it? That's what it

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feels like. They are unwilling to do it themselves. And because, like I said, it's an awkward position that we're in. But we are paying from taxpayer dollars a public information officer. Now, like I said, I was out of the country. I was

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still able to watch and listen to this meeting. I heard that she's making flyers for our committees. That's a oneh hour training on an app called Canva. Honestly, like they can they can do it. They can learn how to do that. I heard it was for Mayor's Wellness. I heard it

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was for like our website. You know, these are these are good things, but again, the budget and what's happening at the school trumps all of that. And there was like an issue about like the I don't know like the Washington DC trip. I'm not even going to appine on that or

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whatever, but we really have no idea what happened. Their minutes are from the first meeting in January. I asked them to come here and give us a report. No. So it's veiled in like secrecy and I hate to like use that kind of like derogatory terminology, but it's true.

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So we >> and I will interrupt and and I'm still going through my report, but I I don't think it's veiled in secrecy. Again, they're separate organization. I understand we all pay into that, but there's ways of people to to to learn from them what they're doing, and that's

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by attending a meeting. That's by reaching out to Dr. Smith or Brian Savage or any of the board of education members. I just think I I would not feel comfortable sending our public information officer there to videotape when it's already been you know the

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connotation of videotaping has been very negative from this deis. So you know they feel like the day is here is attacking them conspiracy theories stuff like that. I don't want to blur those lines anymore. So I would feel uncomfortable. I'm going to continue my

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report because I actually did reach out to Dr. Smith today and got a update on the school because I think it's important that we do give these uh school briefs uh at our council meetings. Um so I'll just run through what he sent me today. High school

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student Landon Hobberman is heading to Atlantic to compete in the Deckan Nationals. He finished top three in New Jersey and earned his place to compete against the best in this business and enter and uh inter uh sorry best in this business program high school students.

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Dante Pazello, Tyler Morgan, Max Carlock, and David Visser qualified for the top 10 competition round of the sink or swim competition at OC. Ancham hosted a career day for middle school students last week and heard from several members of the beach business community. Board

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member Steve Shiai was given the 2026 NJSIAA award of honor at a recent banquet in Princeton. Antrram punctuated its one book, one school program with a virtual author visit by fish in a tree and wish

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in a tree author Linda Hunt. The Antrum Gymnasium suffered a sprinkler break which has resulted in the need to replace the gym floor. The space will be unavailable as we work through the insurance process. The Point Pleasant Beach High School uh public education

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foundation will distribute its grants to winning faculty members on Friday. And I thought this was very important. The high school's Gulf Light Flight School program is poised to graduate nine high school students from Ocean County College this May. They will be college graduate graduates one month before

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receiving their high school diploma. We've crunched the data and found that this year alone, families saved over $795,000 versus an equivalent amount of credits taken at Ruckers. Our students have taken 2,246 credits at OC this year, and

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their discounted tuition through Golf Flight School saved families roughly $180,000 versus regular OC tuition. On average, each high school student is taking 7.56 college credits this year, which I think is amazing. Moving on to Mayor's

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Wellness, um I'll be doing my first walk with the mayor on Saturday, April 25th, weather permitting. Uh we're going to meet at 10 a.m. at the River Avenue/Borton's parking lot and walk to the library to uh get a tour of the library and to hear about all the services they provide. On May 5th at 3

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p.m. the library in conjunction with Mayor's Wellness is holding a talk titled Aphasia verse dementia. What's the difference? Someone from the Adler Aphasia Center will provide a comparison of dementia and aphasia, tips for communicating with someone with aphasia,

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and information on programs and services offered through the Adler Aphasia Center. Registration is required to that. On Thursday, May 28th from 12 to 3, we will be holding our tips event at Point Beach High School. This is where members of the community can sit with

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high school students to get tech support uh or learn new technology. Registration is open and residents can RSVP directly to me. Moving on to downtown Point Beach, known as the bid. Uh the plane air art competition hosted by downtown

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Point Beach and the Jim and Zero Gallery is this Saturday. Uh artists will be on the street anywhere from 7:30 to 3 p.m. painting. Again, that's weather permitting. Uh we have about a dozen artists um stationed around town. Uh we're very lucky to have the support of many local businesses. And a special

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thank you to Jim and Zero for hosting and coordinating. And we will post uh if there's a cancellation on that. And then finally, the Chamber of Commerce is doing a beach bar crawl bartending competition on April 26th uh from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. That's this Sunday at

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Boatyard. And they're working on several upcoming events for this spring and summer. And that's all I have. I will turn over to you, Joe. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh JCPNL update. Uh after the last meeting when we decided that we're not paying the uh electric

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bill for the street lights, I uh sent an email to the chief asking if his officers could do a a uh street light outage report for me so we can have a current um up-to-date outage. Uh he he took care of it. I got 86 uh documented

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street lights that are out. I sent it to JCPNL and as of today, 12 have already been uh fixed. 12 are on schedule to be repaired this week. Um and he is following up with uh with those outages. Um I also

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invited um the JCPNL rep uh Bob Rice to come to a future meeting. He actually offered to come tonight. However, it was not on the agenda and I felt in order to uh get it out there to the entire public, we would have it scheduled. And um so >> Joe, who is that?

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>> It's Bob Bryce. he's the regional uh representative uh that our contact here in PBO Beach. >> So, um we're going to work out u based on his schedule when he can get here. Um but I'm pretty confident he'd be here probably at the next meeting or or the

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one um in May, the second one in May. And also he just asked that uh people in the public that are are out looking uh and have street lights that they see out um certainly uh they can bring it to our attention but they have an avenue to go

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online themselves and report the outages uh that might expedite the repairs uh being that there's no delay in getting it reported through the uh municipality. Um so that's that. Hopefully we get them here to answer any questions and kind of give an update on JCPNL and uh their uh

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where they're at. Uh fountain update, we are still waiting. I talked to JCPNL about this today as well. JCPNL all the electric work is done by on our part. Now JCPNL has to come in, install a meter and connect the service. that has

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been scheduled. Um, and it should be completed within the next week and then the only thing left to do is DPW has to float the fountains out, anchor them, hook it up and operational. So, uh, progress there. We'll be seeing the water flowing soon.

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>> Beautiful. >> Uh, monopole update. I know Councilman Cortez gave us an update. Uh, I'll just expand on it a little bit more. I did speak with Declan Oscan today in reference to the Monopole project and projected time frame for completion. They are working on getting in front of

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the planning board for a courtesy review for the May 11th planning board meeting. Uh some of the issues that kind of been holding things up is we're waiting on environmental studies are still being conducted and they need to be completed prior to the installation process and they assured us that he's pushing uh

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everybody involved to keep this project on track to avoid any future delays. Um again our main concern is after the monopole is installed then we can resume painting the large water tower uh and fix that so that nothing can be done

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because all the antennas and are on the huge tower. So um monopole has to be completed first. >> Joe, real quick, did we ever get a quote for the designs that we talked about? So, I sent it to uh Jack Barren, who is our uh project manager, and he sent it

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to the painting company that's doing the contract, >> and he's just going to submit it, and hopefully they just do it based on the price that they quoted. >> Okay. >> So, we're not asking questions. I'm not asking for a quote. >> And I haven't heard back from them since we sent it. So, that's a good sign. >> So, may maybe no additional charge for

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that. >> We're the less we talk about it, the better chance we have. So, uh, meeting with the Ocean County engineer, like the mayor said, is Monday. Myself, the mayor, and the bar engineer are meeting with Ocean County engineer Mark Jenkee to discuss several

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topics um that we're looking to address in Beach. I made notes on the Ballards and the uh pavement. Um, and we have a list of uh speed reduction issues, traffic safety, parking improvements. The there's some grant opportunities.

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So, we're going to have a hopefully a a pretty good meeting and have a lot more information to report back to you, the pruning of the county, the uh the tree pruning. So, um that's Monday and that's all I have. >> Thank you, Eileen.

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>> There wasn't a updated agenda posted today. >> Let's see. Let's see. There was just a couple of um uh wording to some of the resolutions changed. The ordinance 202613 was

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removed. There was an amended uh ordinance 202612 which has been posted to the website and the um the updated agenda and the updated ordinance are on the table. Why was the film ordinance removed?

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>> Mike said we need Yeah, Councilman, we I the one thing I identified was that the impetus of the ordinance was the uh the film >> ready film ready groups that are statewide >> and I inquired >> how close our ordinance needs to be to

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their model ordinance for grant purposes. Um Kristen Oor indicated that it basically needs to be an adoption of the model ordinance. I had originally crafted it as uh kind of a revision to our current ordinance because that's you know usually the less changes the better. But it seems as though we got to

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do a repeal and replace. So we're going to do that. But make sure that any terms that are in your current ordinance that are more stringent than the bottle ordinance we'll make sure are in there. So we just need a little more time and we'll get that to you at the next meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Sure. And just uh some the changes were

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2G was went from two lead counselors to three. Um and then uh 3D uh was changed from Ocean Fire Company number one to Ocean Fire Company number two. And I think that is it.

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>> Okay. We will open it up to first public. Anything on the agenda or any ordinances? Five minute time frame. and please use the the mics. >> Thank you, Mayor Council. My name is Brian Thompson. Some of you may remember

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me. I used to work at uh NBC until I retired a few years ago and made many trips to Jinx and otherwise to uh Point Beach as well. Uh now I'm an environmental commissioner in my shore town of Mammoth Beach and I'm here to

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support 2026-11 as it's introduced and uh given first reading. Uh I really came uh to support Councilman uh Stillson uh who's the uh liaison to the environmental commission

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and Landon Hobberman who is on your uh environmental commission. uh he could not be here tonight and I wanted to bring news to you that is breaking today. I guess that is appropriate for this newscaster.

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Um we I was able to obtain a uh a $20,000 grant from the Trump administration to actually study how many uh microplastics are created when you cut plastic

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construction materials. Today uh this is uh being done at Ruters uh including nationally known uh scientist Dr. Phoebe Stapleton. And today was our first cutting of manufactured plastic lumber uh commonly

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known as uh commercially as tracks or ASAC of which uh I admit is on our deck at our house. I'm sorry. Uh, I wish I'd known that a few years ago.

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So, we cut our did our first cut today and it blew away Dr. Stapleton and it blew away me and they measured uh the measurement and and the final details are still being worked on. Uh but the

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initial count of nanoplastics which you probably know are smaller than a typical microplastic but still fall in that category was over a trillion. One cut one 2x6 board that you would typically

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use on a deck line. Uh more than a trillion nanoplastics were created by that one cut. She'll have a more exact number later. Um but but I can say this

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that it was a very scary number. The size of the nanoplastics range from the largest being approximately 10 times smaller than a red blood cell to the smallest that they could measure which

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is the size of a virus. All of which can penetrate therefore uh when we breathe it through the air sacks in our lungs uh and get into the bloodstream uh through our stomachs by eating,

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drinking water that is filled with with these microplastics. I call this issue instant microplastics. instead of waiting for a a thrown out bottle to degrade uh over a period of

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time or any other plastic debris, a big gulp cup, and don't mean to single out any merchants here, but uh something of that equivalency that you might see in the street that somebody recklessly and just rudely threw into the street or let

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drop. Uh those take time. They still degrade sun, wind, roughing against the street, whatever. But these are instant microplastics that are created by contractors or their subs usually in a front yard.

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My town of Mammoth Beach became the first in the nation to pass this ordinance roughly two years ago. Um it uh was inspired by the folks down in Margate down the shore >> uh by the folks down there who actually

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identified the problem and identified a solution and it has now been adopted by nearly 20 municipalities. Uh you might you would either be the 19th or 20th when you get to second reading if you'd be uh so kind to do it.

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But we're trying to send a message to contractors. Just keep it clean. That's it. You don't allow them to throw a a 2x4 piece into the street. They have to have a dumpster. Same thing with sheetrock. I

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can't, if I'm a contractor, I can't throw it into the street and let your uh uh your DPW clean it up. Microplastics are solid waste also. And uh it's the production of plastic is huge and I just

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wanted to thank you all for considering this and I hope you give it final approvement approval. Councilwoman, thank you for bringing it to the attention of the council through the environmental commission and um as somebody who comes from a shore town

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um would love to see you folks pass this at your next meeting and thank you for the time. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thanks for coming. I just >> Good evening, Dave Cavaniro, 118 Parkway. Uh, can I ask a question about a committee report?

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>> Sure. >> Okay. Uh, the trees that you mentioned are going to be planted along the train tracks. Will they be a longer hall? I believe that the space has already been cleared, Dave, and it would be on Arnold's Avenue. >> Okay. But up our hall, >> not where?

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>> No, it's on the railroad the railroad track uh station along Arnold where those uh >> those houses were the little houses. >> Yeah, at the Yeah, the parking lot. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh can't read my own handwriting.

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One P. I presume this is that they're going to be serving on the beach again for Martell's. >> Yes, >> I believe it. Yeah, it's their I think it's their tiki bar that's down on the on the >> on the sand. Okay. >> What they always have

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>> and one X. Thank you. And >> yeah, define older. >> I'm sorry. >> Define define older. >> I'm one Y too, right? >> I won't insult you. I will readily admit that I am way past. So, yes.

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>> And one Y too, right Dave? >> I'm sorry. >> And one Y too, right? >> Mincible clerk suite. >> Oh, yeah. Well, that's coming. So, okay. I think that was it. Uh, was there any update from close session since I think that was supposed to be this month

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Arnold Avenue or parking resolutions? >> No update from Nope. >> No updates yet. Okay. In that case, I shall return next. >> Thank you, >> Rob. Rob Rob Clayton 109 Chicago

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2 I what what is what is that for or what are they for >> so they're to do an appraisal for a potential open space purchase in town >> okay um

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can I ask uh couple questions related to the to the budget >> yeah you didn't want to do when they were there. >> Well, they were more for Oh, >> yeah. For for you guys. Um, they uh put up on the screen or they mentioned um

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burrow hall improvements. >> Can you elaborate on what what those are? >> I think that's just general maintenance, right, Joe? I don't think we have anything major. >> Nothing specific. >> No, not building any addition. >> Yeah, nothing major. Just improvements to Burough Hall. >> Um, yeah, there's like a fire alarm

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system repair, >> stuff like that. There's no structural >> nothing >> nothing major just additional considered capital expense has listed >> um Arnold Avenue sign >> uh the fire department wanted a blinking

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light so when they back up the fire trucks into the bays there they want some sort of notification >> um >> can we get the county to county road >> I mean we could we could add that to our agenda >> we're talking about that

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>> yeah Um, somebody mentioned UCCC fees. Am I saying >> uniform construction code? Yep. >> Okay. >> Uniform construction code. >> So, you guys had um passed something, you know, already as far as to to raise the fees.

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>> Yep. >> And now they're already, I guess, again, saying that the fees could be higher. >> So, I mean, it's a conversation that we need to have. Uh, we raised some fees. I don't know if it was specific to UCCC, but we will have a conversation with the building department.

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>> Okay. So, you know, uh raising building and code, possibly any rental, you know, fees or anything like that. >> Again, I think we just have to look at the fee structure in general and just see where we need to improve. Also too,

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uh, because it the rental, um, conversation came up. Will you guys be looking into redoing anything about the rental ordinance to strengthen that? >> Uh, we always talk about just trying to plug up those loopholes. Um, but that is

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on the on the list to potentially do. >> Okay. >> But no major changes to that. >> Okay. Um the DBW um is there uh there's only two seasonal employees that are hired every uh every

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summer. >> Typically just two >> three >> three. >> How long uh how long has that been you know the you know the number? >> Just just curious. >> Well, let me see. 2013 when I first took office. Yeah. >> Okay. All right. I thought I thought it

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would be more. That's that's why I'm actually asking when when I when I did, you know, summers, it was >> I don't even know how many >> cuz my friends and I all, you know, all work there. So, I I just was curious as far as, >> you know, I thought that was kind of low, >> you know, as far as being,

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>> you know, with the summer and and extra help. >> Fully staffed, but but the extra two and they're usually throwers on the back of the truck. So that that'll free up uh someone else who can be a driver, you know, get a a second truck out there.

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That's why I volunteer. >> You can go back and help Andy on Mondays. >> Um you won't you won't be covered under OJI, right? >> Can't get paid. I'm kidding. >> I know. I'm a freebie out there.

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>> Uh >> what uh what night was the the band shell with um Mr. L. >> That's going to be Friday night. So that's the 26th of June. >> Okay. And uh what kind of ice cream? >> To be determined. Okay.

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>> But I'll take suggestions. >> What's your favorite flavor? Rob, >> who's next? >> Rob. >> Rob Marcato, 102 Chicago. Uh item 1W is the approval of uh special event application for the St. Peter Parish

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Picnic in Pleasure Park on June 28th. Uh somebody who serves on this committee, I just thought I'd like I that it would be nice to give you guys a little bit of color and background on the event itself so it's not just a line item on an agenda. >> Uh the parish picney is something that

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we're excited about and um uh it is uh on this date specifically because it coincides with the um feast date of St. Peter and St. And uh it'll be able to kind of bring uh together the community in town and um just you know just uh sharing some

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camaraderie. But I what's what's important to me as well uh that that the the the purpose that this uh picnic is going to serve is that we're also using it as a fundraiser for uh uh a trip to Springfield, Massachusetts for 11 of our

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um of our high school students in the youth group. And um you know it's it's a a group that I helped found last year. I'm excited to to say that in in one year we've found and kept 11 kids who are willing to do this kind of thing. So

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we're going to spend a weekend up there uh at a at a conference and uh the fundraiser is going to is going to help support the cost that's incurred by sending these these kids there. But they're worth every penny. And uh I just thought that um you know I' I'd like to

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share that with you and um and uh hope to get your support in the uh in the approval of such and uh assuming the right outcome extend an invite to mayor and council to attend and um and that's it. So just thought I'd give you a little bit something different uh

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tonight on that particular agenda item and I appreciate all the efforts. >> How are you fun how are you fundraising at this event? How is how is it? >> Uh there's there is there a fee or charge yet? >> We're just going to use it. We're going to we're just going to ask for, you know, any any donations that any >> is this the first one?

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>> The is this the first time? >> There have been picnics in the past to my understanding. Not that I've been, you know, as a parishioner. So, I think this is an effort to sort of re-engage and and bring that back and maybe it's the first annual. We'll see. >> Great. >> All right. Great, Rob. Some of my best

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memories in my childhood were my youth church group retreats. So, yeah, it was >> super fun. and the American 250 committee moved their parade and block party so that we can accom No, I don't need to thank you, but we did that to to accommodate the

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>> I meant to thank you for that as well. I know that there was a little bit of, you know, there was some discussion about it, but it that happened the way that it was supposed to happen, right? There's there's discussion. We try and figure it out and it happened to work. >> Yep. So, so perfect. >> Who's next? >> Hearing none, can I get a motion to

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close first public? >> Some moved. I'll second all. >> Can I get a motion to >> I have a question first. Uh one V >> as in Victor the $15 per registrant.

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>> Yes. >> Is that >> per kid? >> Yeah. Does that >> I figured that out, right? >> Uh does that come out of the >> registrant or is that paid that >> the registrant? >> Okay. I I just didn't know if the bureau, you know, compensated him per

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registrant. >> Wait. Is it? Just correct me if I'm wrong. >> Oh, charge and then >> 15 goes to the coach. >> So, okay. >> Right. So, but it's not coming out of the book. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Can I get a motion to uh adopt consent resolution one?

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>> I I have a quick question for 1 M. The denial to hand out Jersey fresh fruit on the boardwalk. Why was that denied? >> I don't understand that one >> in the packet. >> Yeah, I'm not sure where that that I I was briefed on the event. Um, they

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wanted to hand out I mean I don't know me personally I don't know how sanitary that is but people wanted to hand out fresh fruit out on the boardwalk in the summer months. I don't know chief for Joe if you guys want to weigh in. >> In the past it was denied and I I also denied it for they wanted to set up an

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umbrella >> prizes a little too much for our >> boardwalk. Okay. >> Yeah. Is that it? Good. Good. >> Yeah. But I want to get back to the discussion about the uh public information officer. Is it time to do it now?

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>> No, I think we have to do that the next meeting. >> Why? >> Because we're we're moving through the agenda. I have we have an open uh we have to adopt consent resolution one, two, and three. >> Well, when's the time for me to make a motion on things? >> Right now.

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>> Well, we should have it at the next meeting. >> Why? >> We can have a discussion item for that. >> Can I just make a motion right now >> to have what? Well, let's let's take care of the consent resolution. >> No, no, no, no, no. Can I make a motion right now? >> Kitty, I'm the mayor, so I'm making a

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stance now that we're because we already closed public. Let's do consent resolution one, two, and three. >> Are you telling me I cannot make a motion right now? >> Can I get a motion? If you want to do consent resolution one, two, and three. >> Yes. >> Are you telling me I can't make a motion right now? >> I am telling you that I am the mayor. We

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are following the protocol. So, no, you cannot make a motion now. I am asking for a motion for consent resolution one, two, and three. >> Anyone can make a motion at any given time. The mayor certainly as the presiding officer has the right to call for a motion to adopt the consent agenda. If the council wants to make

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that motion, you certainly can. If there's some alternative motion that needs to come before somebody can make that motion if >> Okay. Would you like to go first or shall I make a motion? >> I'm trying to go first >> and I'm going to go after you because I'm definitely going to make a motion before this meeting is done tonight.

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>> Okay. So again, can I get a con a motion for to adopt consent resolution 1, two, and three? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Dixon, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Burns, >> yes. >> Councilman Ramos, >> yes.

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>> Counc, 3 C, 3 F, 3 H, and 3 I. Okay, that's 1 P 3 C 3F 3H3I. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, Councilwoman Stillison. >> Yes. And I I'm a little remiss that um there's approval of two new fire

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department um volunteers, Oliviera Santana and M. Normile. So, thank you and congratulations to them. >> Okay. And Councilman Cortez. >> Yes. Okay,

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>> let us run through the ordinances and then council, you could have the floor. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so there's three ordinances on tonight. First ordinance is on for second reading 2006, I'm sorry, 2026-10, an ordinance the burrow of Point Pleasant Beach,

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Ocean County, New Jersey to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank. >> Uh we'll open that up to public for any comments. Dave >> Dave Cavanero 118 Parkway just a quick question is the spending from the open

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space trust fund outside of cap >> yes it is >> yes the cap is on general appropriations I'm sorry >> the cap is on general appropriations >> anybody Hearing none. Can I get a motion to close and

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adopt? >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second. >> Councilman Dixon, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Burns, >> yes. >> Councilman Ramos, yes. >> Councilman Gant, >> yes. Counciloman Silson, >> yes. >> Councilman Cortez, >> yes. >> Okay, so that ordinance has been

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adopted. Then there's ordinance 202611. That ordinance is on for first reading. Ordinance establishing chapter 12-5 of the burough code title construction debris. >> Can I get a motion to introduce?

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>> Uh, I'll I'll make that motion. >> I'll second that. >> Councilman Dixon, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Burns, >> yes. >> Council Ramos, >> yes. >> Council man, yes. Council >> Silison, yes. Councilman Cortez. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the public hearing will be on

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May 5th. >> And then there's one more on for first reading and that is ordinance 2026-12 ordinance amending chapter 3-39 of the bureau code titled smoking prohibited.

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>> Motion issues. I have a question on this one cuz there's like exhibit A where it's shown like it looks like from the boardwalk to Ocean Avenue, but I didn't see that listed in like the places where you can't smoke. Uh, sure, Councilwoman.

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I can address that. So, we um I worked with um the council members that were appointed as well as the administrator and the chief uh to try and clarify the ordinance. The one thing that we found was the language um in the former language of all public property

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including all sidewalks and street ends east of the westerly edge of Ocean Avenue including all of Ocean Avenue and sidewalks to be somewhat overroad and ambiguous. So when we were talking about it and describing the areas where there was a consensus smoking should be banned, it was very hard to put it into

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words. So, the ordinance now says the areas east of Ocean Avenue between Trenton Avenue and Central Avenue as depicted in exhibit A to the ordinance. And that incorporates the um the rendering that the police department put together is attached to the ordinance. >> Um

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>> okay. So, so that's >> Wait, where's Jenson's? >> Oh, I see. >> Okay. So, there's this. >> You want You want color copy? I have a color copy. This will this will explain it better. >> So if people are at like Martels and

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they want to come out and smoke like where where would they can they just go on the street by the miniature golf? >> No, they got to go all the way down the steps prohibited. >> Okay, I see. >> Got it. Thank you. >> All right. Can I get a motion to

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introduce? >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second that. Councilman Dixon. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Burns. Yes. Council >> Ramos. >> Yes. Council Gant. >> Yes. >> Silison.

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>> I'm going to vote no on this only because I have to give it a little bit more thought. >> And Council Cortez. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, the public hearing will be on May 5th. >> Okay. Katie, uh, you have the floor if you want to make a motion.

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>> Okay. Well, unfortunately, because it seems like I'm getting a lot of push back for using this public information officer to indeed bring the public information, uh, I would like to make a motion to eliminate that position of from the public information officer

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>> to eliminate that position. >> Correct. Do you before we vote on this, do you understand all of the work that this person is doing and all of the work that is now going to be thrown onto committee members, burough hall staff? This is a lot of work that this person

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is taking on. Our website is getting new and approved because of this person. The downtown kiosk, she does all of that. Put all the flyers, including your daughter's school play on there. There's a lot I I I would caution you to sit and talk with Joe, myself, the public

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information officer herself, and learn more about what she does on the dayto-day before you start randomly throwing out an elimination of a burrow position. >> Well, it's not random. I mean, this is something that >> and all because I push back on saying

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I'm not comfortable with her going there. I mean, do you even do you even know what she does? Um, first of all, it's not just because of push back. It's because >> what other reasons are there? Well, the main reason is that the board of education is over 40% of our taxes and

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we have no idea how they're spending our money and they're refusing to do any of the um options I gave them to share information with us to do with our public information because she is a paid position in this town and her position

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is a public information officer and our budget and our money trumps all this other stuff in my opinion and I don't I know if the governing body will agree with me or not on this, >> but I don't really see why we're paying a public information officer.

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>> Um, and then I have other concerns about the public information officer. >> If I could interject because it's a it's a no because it's a good it's a good idea. She is funneling information to the public. However, that >> Katie, listen to the public. Listen,

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listen listen. I just want to protect you and the burrow and just say that if you want to talk about the position in the context of of budgetary considerations, I don't see an issue. If you are going to discuss what is essentially the terms and conditions of a current person's employment, I would

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encourage us to do that in close session to out of respect for that person's employment and out of their rights notice rights under the open public meetings act. And I would just ask that we not politicize a person's job who's doing a great job because for whatever

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political ideas everybody has. I think we're doing the wrong thing by going after >> I think you're kind of covering the same territory just on the counterpoint. So I mean if the governing body wants to discuss this position um you're going to have to issue that person a notice if

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they they are an employee. If you want to do that for the next meeting you certainly could. But I would if we're going to talk about the merits of the employment, I would just leave it there. >> We're done talking about that now. >> Well, the bigger is wait a second. >> The bigger issue here is that we're all

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about transparency, but we have no idea what's going on at that board of education meetings. And I know that you got that report tonight. That was a lot of like do good stuff. We want to hear the money, how it's being spent. And it's unfortunate that I'm in this position where I have to be like pushy

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and bossy about this. You know, that's it's actually absurd that they are not filming, live streaming, and recording their meetings. >> I will get a report from uh the business administrator at the school for every

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council report. >> Would that satisfy you on what they're spending the money on? >> They can't even post their minutes on their website. then you could go back to them. >> I mean, you're confusing the two entities, right? They're they're very separated and I get what you're saying, but but they choose to do things their

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way. We choose to do things our way. We're not going to we're not going to be able to convince either way, >> right? And the idea of putting the their live streams on our website, I think, is a bad idea, too, because it's our burough website, right? And again, I had a solution. If a resident wants to go

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there, they could always watch our live stream later and ask questions. Councilman Ramos, do you want to say something? >> Yeah, I would. Um, you know, I this was discussed at the last meeting and and again, I I'm the only person sitting up on this deis that has set up on that

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deis as well. And you know, we talk about transparency, Kitty, but you know what? I just sat through three council meetings and there's been no report at all of anything going on in the school district other than complaining about the fact that they don't stream and it's, you know, a percentage of our taxes that go through. It's a totally

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separate entity. Their their taxes are approved separately. We have nothing to do with their taxes. We have nothing to do with that. And and you know, I'm sorry. The talk tonight about elimination of positions and everything else seems like a very knee-jerk reaction to me. And I think it's

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something that you really should should think about. Um I also I also think that uh you know the we are not we are not the police of the board of education. They are an independent entity. They have uh requirements that they're required to do as far as reporting their

509
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revenues, reporting their expenses. Um they have things they file with at the state. They have things they file with the county. Um, and you know, I get that you're not happy with the fact that they're not going to live stream for whatever reason they're going to do. I've been away from it for a while. But I will say every count I

510
02:46:02.080 --> 02:46:16.640
every meeting that I had presided over or was involved with uh with the board of education, the attendance was dismal. Okay. And if your theory holds correct, then it would be it would mean that on nights that we have our council meeting,

511
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their meeting has has has has nobody at it. And the nights that they don't conflict, it should be packed. >> That's not my theory. I never tell you I'm just telling you that you you're you're you are you are you are you are

512
02:46:32.880 --> 02:46:49.200
pandering to a handful of people that that this is an issue for. Um, I I think that I think that the that the board of education does an excellent job and the board of education is very transparent in what they do. Uh, the superintendent is very transparent in what he does. The

513
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burough the b the bur the uh the business the business administrator for the district is very transparent, takes phone calls, answers questions, they do the same presentation of their budget like we do with ours. Um, they they follow all the regulations. And I think

514
02:47:03.680 --> 02:47:20.720
that us hiring or or having our employee that's paid for by the town, which is a separate payroll and a separate entity, attending another meeting and putting it on and putting it on on on media is an overreach. My opinion. >> Can I just make one comment on all this? >> Sure.

515
02:47:20.720 --> 02:47:36.800
>> I brought this up at the last meeting because for years, not just recently, for years, I've had people come to me and say, "What is what does what's going on at the board education? We only hear anything about after everything's said and done. And it's not about telling the

516
02:47:36.800 --> 02:47:52.880
board education what they should do or not do. It falls back on what Kitty said about transparency. I don't see why they're so reluctant not to broadcast their meetings. I mean, they don't have to be live. Have them tap. Put them out

517
02:47:52.880 --> 02:48:09.200
later that night. Put them on the next day. Like she said, the last minutes they had from January. I got a few phone calls and I bumped into a few people and they wholeheartedly agreed that it's 2026. Like she said, we are on tape. The board

518
02:48:09.200 --> 02:48:25.760
of adjustments on tape. The planning board's on tape. They have every modern mechanical thing over at that school to do it very easily. And it's not about micromanaging what they do. I don't I don't really care what they do whatever

519
02:48:25.760 --> 02:48:40.800
they want to do. It's their that's their business. Like you said, make that's their they're a separate entity. But there are people who >> agree with that, but there's also people who are afraid to say anything because they have kids in the school system and

520
02:48:40.800 --> 02:48:55.920
they feel they could be possibly targeted or left out of something or maybe not get a uh school scholarship if they speak up. So, and I've had people come to me and say, I've gone to board education meetings and we try to ask questions and they refuse to answer. And

521
02:48:55.920 --> 02:49:11.920
over the last few months, it's been a giant rumor mill over there. And instead of hearing all this stuff, if it was just taped and put on a you could go watch it, see if it was true or not. So, I don't know what the reluctance is over there. I mean, would I like not to be

522
02:49:11.920 --> 02:49:26.399
taped here? I would love that, but that ain't happening. But we're getting But, you know, what's the big deal? I don't see what the big deal is. Now, I'm I'm not for removing the public safety. I mean the uh public information officer

523
02:49:26.399 --> 02:49:43.520
at all. That's going too far. But I don't see why they're so reluctant and hesitant to just tape their meetings. What's the big deal? It's you set up a camera on a tripod, you put it on, you sit down, do what you got to do, it gets taped, and you put it on. A 12y old

524
02:49:43.520 --> 02:49:58.560
could put it on YouTube for everyone to watch later on that day. So to Kitty's defense and they put a blast, I don't see why they're so reluctant. I I don't understand it. I don't know what the reason is behind it. I'm not saying they're doing anything bad. Doug just

525
02:49:58.560 --> 02:50:15.279
Mary just wrote read a whole big thing about the school about all the wonderful things going on. This would be the perfect opportunity for them to tell everybody what's going on instead of We always get to think, oh, call Dr. Call Mr. Savage. What do you think they're going to tell you? That the school's terrible? They could have fluffed it up

526
02:50:15.279 --> 02:50:31.040
as much as they could and maybe by right it should be fluffed up. But if we could just watch it, you wouldn't have to give a report like that. You would have people question the thing. >> Actually, I think man squan board of ed broadcast. >> So that that's that's what I see. I I

527
02:50:31.040 --> 02:50:47.680
just don't I don't honestly said I said it a few times already. I don't understand their hesitation about not doing it. >> Yeah. Many schools have their board of education meetings. So what's the what's the what's the solution? >> I mean there's no we can't come up with a solution. It's a separate entity, right? So, we cannot decide anything on

528
02:50:47.680 --> 02:51:01.920
behalf of the board of education. >> I'd like to hear from the public at some point. You know, contact me during the week. Contact me during the week. I would like to hear from the public because I'm in full support of sending our public information officer over there and getting this information to

529
02:51:01.920 --> 02:51:18.560
the public. I don't care if one person watches it. It's available and it's transparency and it's 2026. >> All right. Moving on to second public uh participation. Anything you'd like to talk about? If you want to make a

530
02:51:18.560 --> 02:51:35.520
comment about the board of ed uh three minutes, please state your name and address. Rob Marcato, 102 Chicago Avenue. Uh thank you for adopting. And now I'll officially offer the uh the uh invite to

531
02:51:35.520 --> 02:51:52.240
the um to the uh picnic. >> Kind of quit proquo there. >> Just saying, you know, I had to wait until it was official. Uh I do have a comment about uh all this discussion about the public information officer and um you know can can they comment without rice can say whatever.

532
02:51:52.240 --> 02:52:08.000
>> Okay. Okay. >> Councilwoman Stillison and Councilman Dixon I while I do appreciate exactly what you're saying. I think accountability and transparency is something that's very important. >> But I think your gripes belong in front of the board of education and not here. Um I would have preferred not to have this discussion here because I don't

533
02:52:08.000 --> 02:52:25.279
know that it belongs here. I think if you wanted to tell people that they should go to the board of education and demand accountability and transparency, then that's what they should do. And if there are people that feel that way, that's what they should do and that's going to be their forum to do it. I don't know. I don't see how this body has any uh has has any governance on

534
02:52:25.279 --> 02:52:50.720
that body. And if there is, then by all means, but if there isn't, the place to do that is at the board of ed meetings. >> Thank you. If Dave Keanero 18 Parkway uh the administrator. Thank you for the update

535
02:52:50.720 --> 02:53:08.319
on the lights and are we being compensated for the lights that have been out for the past six months? >> I don't know what your conversation was with Bob today. I'm working on getting the lights fixed at this point and I'm working on getting the lights fixed and that's a

536
02:53:08.319 --> 02:53:27.600
conversation for another day, but we are not paying the bill as per the council's uh direction at the last meeting. >> Okay. For the record, in the past, we did get compensated. We're paying $95,000 a year based on the

537
02:53:27.600 --> 02:53:42.960
number of lights that are out. Each light is between three and $400 a year out for half a year is 150 times an awful lot of lights. So, I think that is compensation that the town should be getting. But I'll continue to nag you if

538
02:53:42.960 --> 02:53:58.640
you can't decide tonight. And at the band shell across the street, there was a garden in the shape of a horseshoe spreading use evergreens. I know that they were given permission to remove it

539
02:53:58.640 --> 02:54:16.560
and DPW removed it. My question is why? >> Where is this? The bandell gazebo you're talking about? >> Um >> along Arnold Avenue in the railroad or the bandell? >> Yeah, that was the gazebo. I'm sorry. It was from what I understand joint parking

540
02:54:16.560 --> 02:54:33.279
authority shade tree and beautifification. Uh the trees were getting a little overgrown. Uh like a like a hedge row and they took them down. Hey, there's a sprinkler system there. They're going to plant it and there's some new trees being planted.

541
02:54:33.279 --> 02:54:50.720
I'm not sure who's is it Shade Tree or the parking authority? >> They're working like with conjunction with them. They're like >> My question is first off, curb 11 ft in is town right ofway. So it's not parking authority. That's town.

542
02:54:50.720 --> 02:55:07.760
If it was the parking authority, you can't grant it as an open space area to be taken care of by a group. And if they're going to incur the cost of public work stripping shrubs out and removing all of that, who picks up the tail? The committee or the taxpayer?

543
02:55:07.760 --> 02:55:24.960
that I can't give you an answer. I saw him removed. Yes. So, I caught a hold of Jack Johnston and he said, >> "Yep, we went over there and I understand >> what they were told and I'm not arguing that. >> I accept that that decision was made. My concern is that for the expense and what

544
02:55:24.960 --> 02:55:40.640
was ripped out that was 12 months of evergreen and it gets trimmed every year because I got the same kind of strips at my house, then I think it should have been discussed at the council because I've seen other gardens that have been redone. They look very nice, but they are summer gardens. In the winter time,

545
02:55:40.640 --> 02:55:55.120
there is no evergreen. There was there, now there's not. I'm sure what's there is going to be very pretty, but I will bet anything is going to be a summer garden. And I think that's a shame and a loss for the town. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Dave.

546
02:55:55.120 --> 02:56:17.760
>> Who's next? Joe. >> Good evening, everybody. Joe Sickle, 2011 New York Avenue. >> Question. Who is our representative from this body to the board of education? >> That That's me. >> Kitty. >> Yes.

547
02:56:17.760 --> 02:56:33.120
>> We elect members of the board of education >> as a voting public. Why not reach out to the board of education and ask them to send a representative to this meeting to

548
02:56:33.120 --> 02:56:50.640
explain their reluctance in not putting the information out to the public? Is that that difficult? >> Joe, I I asked them. I said, "Could you possibly send a member of the board of education to come to our meetings? Not even to wait till like the end. We could carve out time for them if that was okay

549
02:56:50.640 --> 02:57:08.240
with the governing body. Give us an update. and we can ask them questions and they could be on their way and they said no. >> Okay. Is there can you reach out to us with a list that as the public we can start a petition possibly or something

550
02:57:08.240 --> 02:57:24.319
to get out to the board of education saying that as the voting public we would like a little more transparency on their part and ask them to come to a council meeting to explain why we can't get a public viewing of their meetings. That's all.

551
02:57:24.319 --> 02:57:42.359
>> Sure. Sure. PT ptbe.com is the board of ed's website. Okay. All their names, all their phone numbers, all their email addresses are on it. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Who's next? >> Glenn

552
02:57:44.960 --> 02:58:00.880
11 Parkway. I think the board of ed does a good job and it's a perfect opportunity for them to to show that. I don't understand why it has to be all or nothing. Why can't we do a three-month trial and and either carve out time with existing personnel

553
02:58:00.880 --> 02:58:17.120
or add a couple hours to that personnel to be able to achieve that? If you post it on a website, you could actually see if it's successful or not, how many people are looking at it for how long or how many people don't look at it. So, if you carve it out with the short-term trial and monitor it that way, what

554
02:58:17.120 --> 02:58:34.319
would be the detriment of of appeasing everyone? If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't. Just make a motion to do that and carve out that extra time or or add that time and as a trial. >> Well, Glenn, it's weird because there's such a block. Like, it's just not

555
02:58:34.319 --> 02:58:49.760
wanted. >> It does. That's the problem. >> I don't understand why it has to be all or nothing. Do it as a trial and >> Well, the board is resistant. They do not want this >> and that is the there's a lot of solutions, you know. Of course, there are solutions like, you know, that's an

556
02:58:49.760 --> 02:59:15.680
excellent suggestion, but they do not want it. >> Anybody else? >> Rob. >> Rob Clayton, 109 Chicago. I might have missed it, but um is there any update on the Coast Guard station?

557
02:59:15.680 --> 02:59:31.120
>> None. Right. You haven't reported on anything and I didn't? Not yet. >> Okay. So, nothing as far as the the debt, the note, anything? >> No. >> Okay. Uh, Nicholas Crearyy Peanut Butter Palooa. >> Got it.

558
02:59:31.120 --> 02:59:49.080
>> Anybody else? >> Hearing none. Can I get a motion to close second public? >> Motion. >> I'll second that. >> All in favor? >> I >> motion. >> Can I get a motion? >> Thank you. Second

559
02:59:51.279 --> 03:00:11.600
>> motion to adjurnn. >> I did. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All in favor? >> Nay. Work it.