Call our meeting to order. This is a regular meeting of the mayor and burough council of the burough ces park county state of New Jersey held on Thursday September 18th 2025 advertised to begin at the conclusion of the work session meeting which has just ended moments
ago. Pursuant to the provisions of New Jersey's Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting was properly provided by transmitting the notice of the meeting for publication in the Asbury Park Press and the Ocean Star on January 3rd, 2025. Notice of the meeting of the governing body also has
been posted to the corridor of the municipal building and in the office of the municipal clerk. Roll call. >> Council member Anvil >> here. >> Council member Condos >> here. >> Council member Connor >> here. >> Council member Kra >> here. Council member Rotunda >> here. >> Council President Wilk
>> here. >> Mayor Peterson >> here. >> Thank you. >> Let us all now rise for a moment of silence to be powered by our pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. >> The first item on the agenda is a request for approval of the minutes. September 4th, 2025, a work session.
September 4th, 2025, a regular meeting. >> Is there a motion? >> I'll make that motion, >> motion by Council President Wil. >> Second. >> Second by Council Member Condos. Roll call. >> Council President Wil. >> Yes. Yes. >> Council member Thomas. >> Yes. >> Council member Amfield.
>> Yes. >> Council member Connor. >> Yes. >> Council member Craft. >> Yes. >> Council member Rotunda. >> Yes. >> Next on the agenda are authorizations. There is one. The event Shannon by the Sea Irish Festival. Date September 27th,
2025. Rain Day September 28th, 2025. time 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. location J Street Marina Lawn. If acted upon with approval, there would be a condition, two conditions upon providing an updated
certificate of insurance as well as payment of DPW fees. >> Any questions, comments from council or if not a motion with the two conditions? >> I make the motion. >> Motion by council member Craft. >> I'll second it. Second by council member
Connors. Roll call. >> Council member Craft. >> Yes. >> Council member Connor. >> Yes. >> Council member Anfield. >> Yes. >> Council member Condos. >> Yes. >> Council member Otenda. >> Yes. >> Council President Will. >> Yes. >> Motion approved.
>> Next are the payment of claims. 225314. Those are the itemized claims as set forth in the check registry bill list for the period of time September 5th, 2025 to September 18th, 2025. Any questions, comments from council? If
not, a motion. >> Make the motion by >> motion by council member Craft. >> A second. >> Second by council member Condos. Roll call. >> Council member Craft. >> Yes. >> Council member Condos. >> Yes. >> Council member Amil. >> Yes. >> Council member Connor.
>> Yes. >> Council member Rotunda. >> Yes. >> Council President Wil. >> Yes. >> Motion approve. >> Next are resolutions. I'll read in summary 225315 cancelling taxes for a totally disabled veterans property tax exemption pursuant
to NJSA 54-3.32 316 authorizing the purchase of a scissor lift through source well contract 04924-RI 317 awarding a non-failing open contract to expert automative automotive
equipment Services, Inc. for the purchase of a tire changing machine and wheel balancer. 318 awarding a non-fair and open contract to D Arasmo Utility LLC for storm water pipe and basement
replacement. 319 authorizing the adjustment of designated water and sewer utility accounts block 37 lot 18. 320 authorizing Collier's engineers to provide professional service about the construction of a pole bra.
321 authorizing a contract to Earl Asphalt Company for fiscal year 225 NJ do DOT municipal aid improvement to J Street 322 rather appointing Frank Ponucci of
Passion Consultant as interim qualifying purchasing agent within their ongoing uh agreement with the town at no extra charge. 323 authorizing the bureau of Seaside Park to enter into a cooperative
purchasing agreement and that is with a co-op that we are currently not enrolled in but would be any questions or comments from council or any other statements.
>> I have a couple comments mayor. >> Yes. um on resolution 316 and 317 for the scissor lift tire changing machine and wheel balancer that is out of the capital account that we uh approved in
the budget and um the J street of course is an NJOT improvement so that's reimburseable some of that may I just like to add to what Bill just that the um scissor lift we could borrow
at this present time does not borrow one. We borrowed the um electric utility truck in the past from Seaside Heights. The assist will be used for um exterior building repairs and also for putting in the lining on the Christmas trees for
the safety of the men. Um it's it's a much better piece of equipment. Had a 29 ft reach, 50 ft high. It's a battery powered unit. um does have a self-contained generator. Um it's it's towed by a vehicle. It's it's it's a
great piece. And the tire machine is to replace one that is outdated and unsafe at public works at this time. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Anything else from council on any of the resolutions? >> Hearing none, it's all practice to allow
any public comments on resolutions if there are any. They're not required by law. If anyone has any comment on any resolution, if you could give your name and address into the record. Yes, Michelle. >> Michelle Miller, 1500 Lake Avenue. I
just have a question for clarification about us using the Pashia Consulting. Um there's no additional fee for service other than the monthly fee. Um, so if it was a big project, they still would or
if if we're looking for a bid on a large project, they're not going to charge us anything extra. And what is the monthly fee we pay them? >> It's $1,000 a month, I believe. And it's really for as a consultant basis.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> It's not really working on bids, per se. and Joyce who was our um >> who we had before had that title. Is that correct? >> Right. So if they're leaving we have other people who are currently getting
certified to take over that role. So then you wouldn't have to do it's an interim kind of using that license >> by having a QPA. It raises the bid threshold and the quote threshold. Whereas if you don't have a QPA those thresholds are much lower where you have
to go out bids. Any other comments on any resolutions? Hearing none, I would close the public portion and I would entertain a motion from council for the resolutions of the consent agenda. >> Make the motion. >> Motion by council member Condos. >> I'll second.
>> Second by council president Wil. Roll call. >> Council member Condos. >> Yes. >> Council President Wil. >> Yes. >> Council member Amfield. >> Yes. >> Council member Connor. >> Yes. >> Council member K. >> Yes. >> Council member Rotunda. Yes.
>> And that concludes the resolution agenda. Is there anything else from council further at this juncture? >> I had one comment. I just wanted to share um I know I've said it at prior sessions that we were waiting for. Um
this is in relation to the board of education and the elementary school which we had been given a proposal by the board of ed. I want to say it was almost now the end of last year actually. Um, and we had had multiple conversations with them about that and
they needed to go back until they had their meeting which they don't have every month anymore. So I think it's every other month. Their meeting was August 18th. We had a meeting with them yesterday or at least a subset of the meeting including June Porzeneeski, their um school administrator and um
their superintendent or our superintendent as well for that matter. And I think it was a very productive and cooperative session with them. I think some of the feedback we have given they heard. So the next steps now is for the board of ed attorney to send our council
and our you know our legal counsel as well as the council um a revised proposal and our hope would be that we'd get that soon and we can make a decision about how to move forward on that so that we can uh plan accordingly for 2026.
So, we have that one. >> Thank you, Jay. >> You're welcome. >> Council council. Yes, Bill. >> Yes. I wanted to mention that the um give you an update on the parking revenues. Parking revenue is uh down as this is as of September 15th compared to
last year. At this very same time, we were down 58,661 or uh 6.16%. Um, also want to give you an update on our website. um they've been u the company that's
been doing it uh revise has been um slow to complete and right now our even our deputy clerk is doing much of the work but right now the best estimate we have is midocctober to where we have a completed updated uh website
and uh the as you may have seen that the marina we're doing the north bulkhead repairs So that should be done in. So I guess that's all I have. May there may >> Thank you, Bill. Anything else from council?
>> Mayor, I have um >> Yes. >> Um this Saturday is Battle of the Badges. Okay. This Saturday at Mo Levinefield, which which pits the Seaside Park Police Department against the Seaside Park
volunteer fire company in a charity softball game. um that is known to benefit uh cancer. So um please it's from uh 1 to 4 down there. So if you can stop by and check it out and and uh
watch the game and it's uh it's our first uh one of these and hopefully it'll be a tradition that we have every year. It'll be nice to keep doing something like this every year. So um just want to pass that on there. >> Very good. It's supposed to be good weather.
>> Yes, supposed to be good weather. Don't bounce. >> We We'll be pinch hitting maybe. Not really. Thank you. Anything else from the council? Just we certainly wanted to thank
everyone and all the members, the various organizations in the town that participated. Once again, as we do every year in the September 11th ceremony, thank all the members of the council. to thank our police department, our public
works department, our front office, and of course tribal first aid squad, and the fire department. Uh, and everyone who came together and I think it's something our town can be very, uh, proud of that we take note of September
11th each and every year. uh and hopefully other towns if they aren't having similar type ceremonies at the very least they too are joined together as one and thinking of what September 11th means to each and every one of us.
So I know the governing body is to be congratulated as are everyone in the burough family all the various organizations who contributed and participated as well. Anything else from the governing body?
Hearing nothing. I'll go into the audience if there's any public comments. If anyone has them, if they could give their name and address into the record. Yes, Edie. Edie Plink, 481th Avenue. Um, I thought
the 911 ceremony was right on point. I think it's uh wonderful that we u commemorate that event. Um I liked having the fire truck on the lawn behind the clock. I mean it's always been on
the street at least. I think that's what it's always been. Um, and although it was a tad disruptive, I thought the fact that the siren went off, that all their beepers went off,
the fact that the fire men, I don't know if there was a woman there or something, that the fire people um, ran to the truck, got their stuff, never mind, they had on their dress uniforms, they pulled on the boots and pulled off the p and off they went. And
I think that just shows um you know the commitment that our squad has for this community and I think it was good for people to see what that involves. So I I I really I really um like I said it might have been a tad disruptive but I
think it was a good thing to see. Um what exact and I know you've probably said this but I've forgotten. What exactly is going to be done to J Street? Are they just is it just a repave? >> No, the case street would be curb,
sidewalk, street reconstruction and drainage. >> Okay. Yeah, I did you said that. >> Yes. Between central and the green. >> Okay. Um, Paul, after the engineers do do their thing, then I assume we have to
hire a uh somebody to construct it. Am I correct in thinking that's not an internal job? >> We have to go out to bid. We have to go out to bid. Okay. >> Um, the last thing I want to bring up, um, and I'm I'm really a little disappointed that I have to bring this up that it wasn't announced from, um,
from the deis, is the fact that the town has received notice that the state supreme court is going to hear the case of the desert palm. Um, I know Allan before he left on his vacation said, "Please make sure that
you ask at the next council meeting, um, if it was going to be on the docket." And I know I don't know if it was Steve or Karen, somebody said that they were going to contact, um, the law firm. Um, my question is, I mean, I'm sorry that
they've agreed to hear it because I'm assuming what that means is that the Supreme Court has found some merit in the case. We didn't we didn't bring the case, did we? Aren't we the defendant? >> It was the uh previous owner.
>> Previous owner brought the case. Okay. Um when this do we have a date yet as to when this is going to be on the docket or is that too much to hope for from the >> Way too much to hope. >> Okay. All right. So, we'll wait for that. But does that mean it'll be within
this year? Not >> doesn't mean anything. There's no knowing when the Supreme Court will actually establish a date for the matter to be heard for oral argument, let alone a decision. >> Correct. I get I get that. Okay. Um when
that happens, would a council member or the mayor go to the um the hearing as well as the town being represented by um legal counsel? How does that work? >> Supreme Court is a public courtroom.
Anybody can go. There's no witnesses or testimony. It's based purely, I'm sure, on the record below. So, I think Miss Cyprani's firm is handling that. So, someone from her office, if not her, will be there to argue it. Uh the owner of the Desert Palms attorney be to argue
it, right? >> And then the Supreme Court is open to the public for anybody else. I don't do they I don't think they live stream their arguments, do they? They might. I don't know. They have in the past sometimes. >> I don't know if they actually live stream an argument.
>> I think they record them though and then you can pull them up at some point. >> But I'm not positive if they live stream. Um can go on MJ courts and see if they live stream. >> Well, then I guess it's too premature to to see if anybody is going to go. >> Well, you don't even know the date and
when. So, I guess >> could be 5 years. It could all be somewhere else. >> No way to know. >> Let's hope it's not that long. But anyway, I think it's I think it's important for um the residents to know that this case has been accepted
because, you know, we it's it's it's moving on. I mean, at least we know that they're going to hear it. Not that that's necessarily good news, but at least we know that it's going to be heard. So, um that's why I brought it up. Thank you.
>> Any other public comments? Yes. Uh Tom? Tom Joseph, 704 South Bay View Avenue. Uh over the last few months, we've had a few incidents of minor flooding on Bay View. Flooding sufficient to cover the road. Um in fact, several of them
sufficient to cover all the road at least as far as I could see up and down from where I am. Um, but I have been able to notice that as as the waters recede or sometimes as they don't come up all that high, the area from 8th
Avenue to 14th, at least in the middle, stays high and dry. So raising the center of that and doing the things you did seems to have had some result. That leads to the obvious question.
When are you going to do any of the blocks north of 8th Avenue? Does anybody have any indication? U certainly it would seem like we should have a plan for doing the entire length
of Bay View. >> But I don't understand the question. Are you talking about the road? Are you talking about >> I'm talking about the road. We raised the pavement between 8th and 14th and it's reduced the amount of flooding that happens there.
North of 8th, at least as far as I can see from my perch on on the balcony between 7th and 8th, it floods. It's clearly lower. So my question is, when's the next phase of that project? When are we going to see some pavement
improvement north of 8th Avenue? Well, first of all, it's a county road, and there would make no sense of doing a repavement in that area until the work for the other project would take place because why would you dig up the road to put in the drainage system?
>> Why' we do it between 8th and 14th? >> We did because that project was on the drawing board for years before we made the change, what the pipe said, in preparation for a pump station. pump. >> And then we did a change of contract
>> to uh to make the changes necessary to interface with the uh the pump station that we're putting in. >> You don't seem understanding my question. Yes, I agree. You made a change at the 11th hour to add some
extra plumbing and I'm fine with that. I think that's wonderful. It's it's a good economy on the part of the town. But the basic project to raise the pavement, there should have been a plan for all of Bay View. There should be a plan for all
of Bay View. And I'm asking when the next phase is, and you're telling me there isn't a plan. >> There is a plan. >> There's a plan for the entire Bay View Avenue. It's a $23 million project. >> I mean, it's really great to hear. When
is the public briefing to tell all of us residents about this wonderful plan? >> We have we have one component missing yet. >> Excuse me. >> We have one component missing. >> Sure. >> We have one we have one component
missing to that equation. >> We need an answer of what the yacht club is doing. >> We can't complete this. >> We can't complete it without knowing what their plans are. That's that's the answer. >> I Well, I still come back to my basic
question. If you got this wonderful plan, the town should know about it. >> It shouldn't be a secret. >> But we shared it. The plan hasn't changed. >> The last public meeting, several plans were well, at least two, at least two plans were presented. They were a surprise to many people including the
members of the of the Bayfront Flood Mitigation Committee and it was presented as here's a couple of plans we're considering. There was no statement of this is the plan even between those plans that were presented.
So, it seems to me that there's an opportunity to inform the residents of the town what's going on and we keep asking and you keep giving excuses as to why you can't tell us. It's just like you can't tell me when we're going to
raise the pavement in front of my house. >> There's no dates with all due respect. That crown that was raised at 2.5. Most of Babu Avenue is pretty close to 245 already. >> We can't re have the county repitcher road when we don't have the drainage in.
The project will be done entirely for the drains. Everything where we're at is all on our website. The plan is very similar. There's nothing written in stone. When the time comes, there is no decision written in stone what the plan is.
>> Okay. Then it comes to a public meeting just like every other project. We're still trying to decipher the yach club. There's versions on how to get egress. We need to be able to get a garbage truck in there. Need to be able to get sailboats in there, trailers or
they will be raised in the parking lot. We don't have that answer. That's the missing component at this point. Everything else is very simple. The road will be raised to 2.5. the the high curve bulkhead road curvy whatever you
want to call it we raised the five elevation five that is written in snow we came up with elevation five it's it's a straight line there's no argument with any of this all right I think I understand the problem here two things first of all you guys sit and discuss
this stuff at length but you don't do it in front of us so to you this is all obvious to us it's secret nothing I said It wasn't said at a public meeting. That has not changed. Those words are the same. 2.5 for the
road, elevation 5. That has been in multiple meetings. I have been in every public meeting in this council chamber to discuss this in the last 6 years. No, that wasn't said. It may have been buried in the details of some drawing that was up on the wall. But be that as
it may, what I heard on the website, >> it's on the website. Unfortunately, this area opens up categories because there was open request on items that have been discussed at multiple meetings. >> Right. So, if it's on the website, correct? >> Yes. >> I don't know how we're hiding anything.
So, I I just don't So, you don't understand? I don't understand that. >> I have said I heard a lot of stuff isn't set in stone. What I learned in my career is when it's not set in stone, that means there's no plan.
>> Tell me when you're going to resolve the issue with the yacht club. >> I don't have that answer yet. >> Okay. >> Yach club that has to decide what they're going to be doing.
>> Any other public comments? Hearing none, I would close the public portion and I'd entertain a motion to adjurnn from council. >> I'll make my motion. >> Motion by council member Ammerville. >> Second. >> Second by council member Connor. Roll
call. >> Council member Amfield. >> Yes. >> Council member Connor. >> Yes. >> Council member Condos. >> Yes. >> Council member Craft. >> Yes. >> Council member Otenda. >> Yes. >> Council President Wolf. >> Yes. >> Thank everyone for coming out this
evening.