I can attest to that. >> So, >> yes, I am. I will do the >> All right. Just in case. >> Got it. I guess >> I guess he >> I don't know. He didn't sign.
659 >> 59. >> They'll correct me if I'm wrong. >> Let's call this meeting order. will rise for a full to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it
stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all deputy clerk may we have a roll call please >> council member deanilis >> here >> council member Dill. >> Council member Gerity >> here.
>> Council member Johnston here. Council member Mcwigan >> here. >> Council member Owen >> here. >> Council President Habercorn >> present. Also present is Mayor Tap, Administrator Frost, Deputy City Clerk Jim Papa, City Solicitor Smith, and City
Engineer Snider. Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided. The agenda for this meeting is posted in city hall and on the city's websiteggov.org. Pursuant to city code A2669-9D and to afford everyone an opportunity to
address the governing body, the public may speak only one time and not to exceed three minutes. Do we have any communications? Not hearing any communications. Uh let's
go to the mayor's report. Mr. Mayor, >> here we go. I have there few things. Uh uh October 25th, 4 to 6 is a Saturday. We have trunk or treat. They do this every year now. Uh it's on the corner of Harbor Lane and Bay Avenue. So take your
kiddies and dress them up and walk through and it's uh actually it's a very nice event. Uh trick-or- treat is October 31st, 6:00 to 8. and the Summers Point Police Department will have extra patrols out there. If you're driving around, just keep your eyes out, you know, cuz these little kids throw all
over the place as we already know. Uh, I want to, uh, take this opportunity to congratulate two employees of the month over at Shore Medical. Uh, one of them is the emergency department health unit coordinator. Her name is Deborah Alman,
as well as endoscopy nurse Christina Stifler. uh she was September, the other one was August. Um you know, and they're great employees and I think I can speak for everyone. We're very thankful to have Shore Medical Center here. Uh and then lastly, I'd like to wish uh we have
two employees at birthdays today. Shelby Heath is one. Shelby's not here. She's celebrating her birthday. That's why we have the lovely Alison Gioa here as well as Tanya Tanya Hancock in the clerk's office. uh want to be able to wish them
both a happy birthday from all of us. And then lastly, we had a uh little meeting uh with President Habercorn, uh Council Mcwigan, myself, we met with Ken Wallace, we had our city engineer,
and we were taking a look at the intersection of Broadway and Maze Landing, Summers Point Road and seeing what we can do. Jason Frost was No, you were not there. That's right. Yeah, >> but we're looking to see what we can do to try to alleviate some of the traffic and congestion that is there. Uh, you
know, it's only going to build up, as you know, in the summertime. It's it's it's terrible trying to get out there. So, we're trying to work something out, and it was very receptive. Um, we do have some grant money that came in for uh Broadway to make some of these improvements. Uh, we're uh kicking
around some different ideas. is the engineer is going to come back to us and then we'll probably meet again and hopefully we'll be able to do something to fix that problem. And that is all I have. >> Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, if I may remind you, there is a grand reopening of Shore Hardware.
>> That's right. Saturday and two, the ribbon cutting will be at 11. So, that's correct. And all the elected officials are uh invited to partake in. >> How did I forget? I was just there today buying the nuts and bolts. >> How did I forget that? Son of >> there. Anybody else have anything else
for the mayor to report? >> No, I'm good. Thanks. >> Uh Mr. Frost, administrator's report. >> Nothing, Tom. >> Nothing. >> Greg, >> uh just two things. The uh showroom
pedestrian project continues. And then the other item is uh I have an update on the Route 9 paving specifically where the water company um has all the uh trenches along Route 9. Um the water company's supposed to come back next
week during the night and pave the one lane where the trench is and anywhere it crosses. They're not doing curb to curb because the state is coming back and repaving Route 9 from Summersport Meline Road to Chapman. Uh that's going to not happen until fall of next year, but in
the meantime, this will, you know, help alleviate some of the ridability concerns and um at least it should be a lot smoother once that they'll mill and repave just the one lane, so it shouldn't be, you know, bumps and uh settlement issues. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Sweet. >> Anything else, Mr. >> Uh committee reports? >> Go ahead. Go ahead, Janice. >> Okay. Um, the historical commission met uh last night on uh three different
properties. 920 Shore Road, they had a uh unanimous um resolution to designate it as a landmark property in the historical district. So, um that's the old shoe store. >> So, um that'll open up some doors for
the owners to hopefully make those improvements really soon. Uh they also discussed 122 Gibbs and um three and 435 Bay Avenue. Um they were existing certificate of
appropriateness applications. So the um 435 Bay Avenue is the brewery. They did have to make some significant changes and um I I guess they'll have to come back again, but um Gibbs Avenue was uh
approved. So >> So the brewery was design changes. >> Yes. Mhm. >> Anything else? >> They changed the name of the brewery. >> Yeah, it's a Bay. What is it? >> New brewery. >> Bay. Oh, I thought it was Bay Venue.
Bay. >> Wait a minute. So they did change the name of the >> They had to change the name. >> Yeah. >> From secret spot to I thought it was Bay Avenue Brewery. >> Bay Avenue Brewery >> is what I was council. >> That's all I have right now. Thank you.
>> Council member >> uh just wanted to give you an update. I went to the rec board the other night to talk to them about uh the Fourth of July weekend for next year. We were talking about doing a big celebration with the historical society and the city as
partners. Uh 250th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence and it's also the 140th anniversary of the city of the burrow of Summers Point, not the city of Summers Point. So, uh the rec board loved the
idea. We had talked about this at EDAC. Uh EDAC loved the idea. We talked about this at council. What I'm going to look for right now is I'm going to make a motion that we go all in on this. Uh I have the makings of the start of a
committee, uh some sponsorship and everything else. But before, you know, I want the council's blessing to do this for the Fourth of July weekend and we'll develop this as we go along and I can make a formal uh application to the rec
board to use the facility. No. Uh, so I make a motion that, uh, we do the 250th anniversary, uh, July 4th weekend at the beach. >> So, it's going to be the whole weekend then. >> Well, we're going to do a whole bunch of
events for the entire weekend and we're going to try and make it. Years ago, uh, several of the bars in town used to do scavenger hunts >> and we put a program together that we were going to do and then COVID happened and we were never able to do it. But
it's kind of like a history scavenger hunt that goes through the whole entire weekend and it involves the business association, a lot of the businesses and everything and trying to get everybody in town interactive uh on something and it will end at a
certain spot in town to be determined by figuring out what the uh answers to the questions are that we put in the scavenger hunt and everybody hopefully shows up there and they get a t-shirt. Yeah, for doing that. But we're working on that. And I got Mr. Mcwigan has
volunteered to do that. I got Lynn Mchuan uh is on board and we're starting to put some other people and everybody's welcome to to join in and help us, >> you know, the more help we get. But, uh, you know, we want to do a lot of different stuff.
>> I just have a question. >> Sure. >> I might be the only one doesn't know the answer, but what's the difference between the city of Summers Point and the Burrow? Well, originally Summers Point was part of Egg Harbor Township and then 140 years ago they became their
own burrow and then the next year they reinccorporated as a burrow for who knows what reason and then in 1902 they incorporated as a city. So I guess we'd have to Google burrow and city to find
out what the difference is in that and it could be could be the form of government. Somebody raised their hand right there. Does he know the answer? >> I think good trivia. Yeah. courts of burn. >> Yeah.
All right. So, with that, I make a motion. >> Can I get a second? Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. >> All right. We'll uh we'll keep you up to date, but we're going to we're going to start on this probably next week and uh
get back to the rec board at the next meeting and do a formal application and >> yeah, roll with it. >> Cool. >> All right. Thank you. >> I think last year was we signed up with the re Yeah, the revolution and the 250th
anniversary of the country in the state of New Jersey. We actually formally joined that through the summer's point by a motion. So, we're staying true to the fact that we want to celebrate the uh 250th. So, anyway, any other committee reports? >> Uh, council president. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Nolan.
>> Yeah, it's a recreational arts. Uh, Summers Point Recreation is hosting the arts class for seniors. Uh, shout out to uh Summers Point Arts Commission as well as the noise museum for the grant to assist with making this possible for recreation. Seniors are encouraged to
register beforehand. The space is limited. 20 participants. Registration can be made um through the summers parade wreck uhgmail.com or 6099279088 extension 105.
Um classes will be held on the following uh Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30 at the senior uh center on North Amber Road. Uh basically they just have on uh yesterday but uh the other three dates are um
coming up on October 15th, October 22nd and October 29th. October 15th will be still life pastels. October 22nd will be natural watercolors. At the end of the month, abstract mixed media collage.
Um, so that's uh what's what's what's going on with the uh in town as well as um on October 25th as well as from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Uh there's going to it's
going to cost $20 per person. Uh same location, the senior uh community center. Um it's going to be a uh full collage of uh colors. Uh the instructor is Christine O'Brien. So, you know, if
you're into painting and whatnot, uh we welcome you to join. That's it. Lots going on with that following town. If you have a chance to look, there's a lot going on there. There's uh any creativity you have in
anything, you can sign up there and they have a lot of opportunities. Anybody else have a committee report? All right. Not hearing any committee reports. Um, I'm going to need a motion in a second to uh approve the regular meeting
minutes of September 25th, 2025 and the executive session minutes of September 25th, 2025 as to content only. May I have a motion? >> I'll make that motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> Any comments? >> All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. the above mentioned meeting minutes are approved. Back to the mayor here for a proclamation. >> Uh proclamation number nine of 2025, breast cancer awareness month. Uh
whereas breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States with one in eight women expected to develop the disease in her lifetime. And whereas early detection and prompt treatment can significantly increase the survival rate of those uh diagnosed with breast
cancer. And whereas the city of Summers Point recognizes the importance of raising awareness about breast cancer, supporting those affected by the disease and promoting research into this cause, prevention, and treatment. And whereas during breast
cancer awareness month, we honor the memories of those we have lost to this devastating disease. support the survivors and stand with the families and caregivers who provide unwavering support. And whereas the city of Summers Point encourages all citizens to
participate in activities and initiatives that promote breast cancer awareness, education, and support for those affected by the disease. Now therefore, I, Dennis Tap, mayor of the city of Summers Point, do hereby proclaim October 25th October 2025 as
breast cancer awareness month in Summers Point and urge all citizens to join in this observance by wearing pink pink participating in local events and supporting efforts I saw uh to find a cure for uh breast cancer. Um,
as I said before, you know, on a personal note, I have two friends that uh two women that probably within the last 3 weeks found out that they have breast cancer. Uh, and these are people that went through early detection. And sometimes it just they got checked last
year and they go back for a recheck again this year and it's there and it's it's devastating. Uh, everybody, you know, and males can get it too, but stay on top of this. It's it can happen fast and the faster you get to it, the faster
is your survival rate. So that's keep that in mind. Thank you. Thank you, mayor. Um, moving on to ordinances. We have one ordinance on for tonight. Uh, Madame Deputy Clerk, would you please read >> ordinance number 17 of 2025, an
ordinance of the city of Summers Point, County of Atlantic, State of New Jersey, regulating the operation of electric bicycles on municipal bike paths and public sidewalks, amending chapter 250, vehicles, and traffic, article 8, bicycles, skateboards, skates, and
scooters of the municipal code. >> Council President, >> do I do that now? Okay, just to make I'm going to make one comment. >> Under legal advice, I'm asking for a motion to table this ordinance in order to better define and refine it.
>> I'll second I'll make that motion. >> Make the motion. I can >> Okay, I'll make the motion to table ordinance number 17 so we have time to do some further research and hopefully tonight maybe hear some opinions from the residents as well.
>> I'll second that. >> Okay. Um, based on having a person a second, can we have a vote, please? >> Council member Depampilis, >> yes. >> Council member Gity, >> yes. >> Council member Johnston, >> yes.
>> Council member Owen, >> yes. >> Council member Dill. Council member Mcwigan, >> yes. >> Council President Havorn, >> yes. So, it is the uh ordinance is tabled. Let's move on to
resolutions. I have a motion to open for public comment on resolutions only. So moved. I have a second, please. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I.
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. We are now open for public comment on resolutions only. That would be uh unless it's specific to a resolution, there'll be an opportunity later to talk about at public session on
other topics. Okay. Not seeing anybody that's up for public comment. Um may I have a motion to close? >> So move second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Not hearing any excuse me.
Any opposed? We are closed to the public. Madame Deputy Clerk, resolution number 223, please. >> Resolution number 223 of 2025, authorization of purchase through the use of state contract vendor Rubber
Cycle LLC pursuant to NJSA482-12A and NJAC 534-7.29C for the JFK park playground resurfacing project for the city of Summers Point. >> Have a motion. So move. I have a second. >> Any comments? >> Um, I just have a question. I know we've
been working on getting a grant for an all ex inclusive playground. Is this >> part of that? >> Part of that. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other comments? Not hearing any other comments. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed.
Resolution number 223 is approved. Resolution number 224. Resolution number 224 of 2025 authorizing executive session advice of council and attorney client privileged communication regarding anticipated contractual
negotiations with Brandy Wine Financial relative to the potential construction of a new city hall by way of a public private partnership. >> I have a motion moved. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Hearing any opposed
resolution number 224 is approved. May I have a motion and a second um to open uh to for the consent agenda. >> So moved. Have a second. >> Second. >> Any comments? >> Not hearing any comments. All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. The consent agenda is approved. Does it? Um let's see here. We have um those two there. So now we go to old business. Do you have Okay. Old business. Anybody have any old business?
Not hearing any old business. Uh there are two things on for new business. It's an approval of a social affair permit application for Grace Lutheran Church for an event on November 8th, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There's also a
another um social affair permit for St. Joseph's Church for an event on the 24th of October, 2025 uh from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. I'm assuming all the paperwork is in with the police chief and everything's good. Yep.
>> Uh can I get a uh approval for those two? All in favor? >> I any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. Those two are approved. Do we have any other new business? Not hearing any new business. Um Mr. Frost, would you like to discuss the
bills, please? >> Certainly. Uh, this evening we have a bill, 14. In addition to that, we have 1,673. >> Okay. Okay. Um, I have a motion open for
public comment, please. >> So move. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Not hearing any. We are now open for public session comments. Uh, we ask that you state your name, your
address, and is three minutes. Thank you. Rob Hopkins, Summers Point. Let's start with something we can all agree on. Safety matters. Nobody wants to see anyone wheeling down the bike path at 30 m an hour, weaving through families or pedestrians. That's a real issue. But
your ordinance doesn't solve that. Instead, it creates a vague, uninforcable law that burdens our police department with yet another impossible task. Did the public safety committee review this ordinance in the past two weeks? >> Not in the past two weeks? No. >> Did the Did the police department review
this ordinance >> in the last two weeks? Yes. Where are the recommendations for that and why are they not publicly available? >> At its introduction, at its introduction, Councilman Dill asked if the police department had reviewed this ordinance
that you and Councilman McGwigan had put forward. Councilman Dill then specifically requested that that police department review this ordinance and provide the recommendations before tonight's meeting. That was smart and responsible of Mr. Dill. Yet here we are
again, cart before the horse horse, moving ahead without that input, without those recommendations, no transparency, and it's certainly not respect for our police department. It's disrespect. And yet, despite that lack of review or
communication, Councilman McGrigan actually commented to you, Mr. President Haborn and commended you for getting it on the agenda. To blindly push forward an unreviewed ordinance that impacts children's safety, public accessibility, and law enforcement, and then praise it
for simply being fasttracked could not be more anti-safety and anti- police. Mr. Habercorn, you told the public this ordinance was similar to Lynwood's and a continuation. That was a false statement and a lie. Lynwood does not have a ban on electric bicycles. What is They
adopted a reasonable common sense regulations, speed limits, signage, and more police presence, not an all-out ban. It's a lie and a gaslight to the public, just like Ordinance 13 of 2025. To call the regulations misleading, it's
a prohibition. Anyone who has seen children going to school, Jordan Road, Mainland High School, who rely on electric bikes for transportation to school and athletic activities, know that they need somewhere to ride safely, not in the street. Your proposed ban
would push those children off a safe path and into traffic, detours, and road construction. That's not safety, that's a liability. Beside the fact of the disregard of the dwindling number of our children left in this community, it also pushes many of our older residents who
use electric pedal assist bikes for exercise and mobility, oftentimes recommended by their physicians. Now, back like 2020, they will be threatened with a fine for trying to stay active and healthy. Lastly, I would like to ask this respectfully but directly since Council
President Habercorn is the sole founder, organizer, and weekly participant of the walking group that often uses the city's bike path, park, and recreational facilities that would ban electric bicycles. Would it not be appropriate for him to recuse himself from voting on
this ordinance to avoid a biased look of either way? I urge the council to reject this ordinance and instead work with the police department firstly the schools the residents to create a balanced regulation that provides and promotes
both safety and accessibility for everyone. >> Thank you. If I may just for the record reserve any comments to when it's good for the order. Um, Teresa McCormick, 29 Gibbs. I have
an issue with the tax department and I'm trying to understand what your control and compliance is for that department. Mainly because >> Yeah. >> 29 Gibbs. >> That's right. So, mainly because there
was information put into my property records that is not accurate. So, is it randomly that anybody can put information in there? And I'm going to start with the whole story. I could not wait to buy a house down the shore. I bought my house in March of 2023.
The first two months I'm in there, I received a notice saying that I did not obtain an permit for an EV outlet on the side of the house. I didn't put it in. I don't know how the COO got put through, but suddenly it's my problem. So, I called the tax office
or the whoever I'm supposed to call and they said, "Oh, don't worry about it." I said, "You have to go after the prior owner." So, that was done. Foolishly, I did not get that in writing from anybody. Okay, that's the first thing. Then, the second thing was a few months
later, I received a notice that my taxes were increased effective the date of my settlement. So, now I owe back taxes and forward taxes for the full year. I called Sean Gaskill and he told me that it was because I put
an addition on without a permit. I haven't even been in there months. That was there. It was in the ad that I purchased it on, etc. So, he said, "Well, you can go fight it, but you have to pay this tax right now." I said, "Well, it's through my mortgage company,
so my mortgage would be getting build." He said, "No, you will be fined and you will also um pay interest, etc." I wrote a check, went over, dropped it off, paid it, went
up, filed an appeal. I went to the appeals court, sat there all day. So, I go in, I had listings back to 2016 showing nothing was done to this property. Nothing. Okay. I couldn't go back any further. That was as far as I
could find. So, in the meantime, I'm upset because I'm going to sue the prior owners thinking I'm living in an unsafe house with work that was unpermanent work. I owned a house for 20 years. I always had a permit. I know how this works. I have
a permit now for the HVAC that's going in. I put a new roof on. I haven't even been there that long. And I care about my house and the community that I live in. So anyway, I go to court and I bring all of this documentation and they tell me they
don't want to hear it. It has nothing to do with everything that Sean told me in person and over the phone while other people were in that office. So flat out lied. So they said it's based on the assessment. So apparently the day I
bought the home, the property value increased immensely. So now fast forward, I'm looking at my mortgage statements and I see that my mortgage company paid Summer's Point because they also build them.
>> So now I call Summer's Point and I said, "I'm having a hard time because now I've paid you. I was threatened with late fees, t you know, everything." and they turned around and they said, "Okay, we sent it back, but you have a whole thing
here about where you had property work done without permits." I said to her, "I have already been through this. I have not done a thing to my house other than paint it, put on the roof, and like I said, I had to get a zoning permit and a
HVAC permit to get this work done, which I'm still waiting on approval for. So, thank God I still have heat and air before this goes. and hopefully I get the permit before then. So, here is a house that I could not wait to move
into. So excited. And this is what I'm dealing with with the city. And then furthermore, I see an article in Margate where somebody sold a house and they're out $1.5 million because they did they sold the house without the proper permits. And that's what's on my record
in your office. So, I need to understand how we resolve this and what are your controls in compliance that you just allow somebody to put false documents in somebody's property that could financially break me. >> Mr. Smith, you knew with this?
>> Yes, I did. And I went to court. >> I I don't know. I can go through my papers right here, but we could spend all day on that. >> Oh, I I remembered you. You were with Sean, right? >> Y >> standing next to him. >> So, I'm going to call you. You listen to
my story that day. what you're telling the faculty may not understand. >> What What do you mean? I have I have the >> Yeah. Go ahead. [Music]
I'm not worried about the taxes. I paid them. They're on my record. What I'm worried about is that you said that I did not get permits for work and I have records going back to 2016 right here showing that there was
>> I bought it in 2023. We don't know that. >> I have the I have all the pictures from the house. I did a video of it to bring to court that day because that's what Sean told me my taxes were based on.
>> So he lied. Write it down. >> Sure. >> And I will put something in writing either way. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Take your time. No rush. I'm Jim Smley. 901 Pennsylvania Avenue, Summers Point. lived in this town for 80 years. I know I look good for my age, but I'm not I'm not going to be combative in any
form. What I do want to do is uh express to not ban ebikes and scooters and whatnot on on the bike path for city property because it's unfair to the kids to have the have the scooters and whatnot.
My my proposal is to educate them and the way to do that is public officer >> when the when the police not as uh uh Anthony Dustachio was before
>> he had a great rapport with the kids they would pay attention they would he would be able to teach them plus probably get public safety funding from the state but we have a prime opportunity to educate regulate and create good citizens. The proliferation
of ebikes is not the fault of the youngsters, so let's not punish them for it. We don't send soldiers to battle without proper training or police officers per performing their duty without training. So why do you assume kids should know how to safely operate e
e vehicles when handed their devices? We have two schools in town where they are cath audiences. So each let's teach them the rules of the road, safety and judgment, courtesy to others and kindness and helmets required for all uh
e e vehicles. We used to have a public safety officer at join road school in Thors Avenue, Anthony Dustachio, who had a great report with the kids. So let's get a a couple of safety officers to school with the proper on proper handling and
respect. You'll build a wonderful relationship between cop and kid and great memories for both of them. The bike path uh road through Kennedy Park and the recreational fields are the safest places in the entire city. So if
sidewalks are off limit also that puts them in the streets and traffic. I hope that that would be totally unacceptable. Our streets are not wide enough for a bike lane. Shore Road, no road or main arteries with heavy traffic and higher speed limits. That makes the bike path
the only north south corridor to travel safely. The bike path at Ocean Heights Avenue has a split rail fence to create awareness for traffic. So add more split rail fences, especially to the blind corners. The southeast corner of
Maryland Avenue uh and Connecticut Avenue also has a blind entrance that will reduce the speed to approach to the intersection. Other hazardous uh crossings could be similarly addressed. Uh resend your use of field required
permit only on the recreation fields. Kids need open spaces to burn up excess energy. Uh, as a president of 30 80 years, I grew up on the on the ball fields here. The, uh, you could still keep a couple of the fields for
organized sports, would open up the rest, put in some exercise equipment, a handball wall, uh, bike path or whatever else that and let them form their own teams and just play one-on-one basketball. I have great memories of those fields and the kids from all over
town would drift in for an impromptu game of fetch football, basketball, and just play on the swings or just let them go to their computers and cell phones and get their electronic mind melt. Uh next, let me address your fines and
community service. Uh $250 andor 7 days community service. Uh $500 or 10 days community service. 1515 days community service. Serious, we're talking recreation, not major crime. Uh
let me I would favor hours of uh three four hours of community service. Uh since monetary farms are paid by mommy and daddy and the job learns nothing but where a couple hours washing windows at city hall, mopping the floor at the
firehouse or planting some crepe myrtles when our shadeless bike path would deliver a clear message of don't mess up and be a better resident community. Lastly, many adults and seniors use their ebikes uh and and vehicles to get
to work and give some civility. Go to the store or exercise. So, don't impede them. Do not ban e vehicles. Teach them to be better citizens and address this head on instead of blowing it off to wash your hands of a problem, a solvable
problem. Thank you for your time and I have a copy for each of you. Thank you, council member. >> Thank you. >> That was perfect. >> Thank you for your time. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My My name is Jim Oswald. I live at 500
Pennsylvania Avenue in Summers Point. And you know what? I was back I was here back February of 2023 which is 32 months ago and some of you were here some of you may not have been here but asking you to be proactive on
ebikes and now you're being reactive. I'm somewhat disappointed it took a July tragedy to make you become reactive. You should have been proactive 32 months ago. And I was told back then that until
the state legislates ebikes, you can't do anything. Well, as far as I know, and Tony Smith, I'm I'm not criticizing anyone. It's still held up in committee in the state, but it is what it is. You know, I am an ebike owner and on top of
that, I'm an e-car owner and I've learned a lot of things since I bought our ecard. And that's that myself with my ebike. And as a kid bicycling or whatever you do, you rely on sound. As you're going to an intersection, if you don't hear a car coming, you can blow
right through the intersection. We all did it. We all do it. But with my car, you can't hear my car. I cannot tell you how many times I've had people walking right in front of my car because the engine doesn't work. It's electric.
Makes no sound. Maybe I hit a stone in the road. But you I I tell you what, right now you stand in front of my car. Just the other day, my wife and I had a guy in front of us walking 10 feet in front of us. Never heard me behind it. So that's that's a consideration that
you know there's there's many e e-cars on the road with ebikes but ne nonetheless um the main issue I have that I witnessed over the past several years is that the overwhelming concern is the issue of minors.
It is minor who don't understand the rules of the road andor do not have the brain maturity. In addition my concern also includes insurance. a minor runs into a parked car and I get dinged with an insurance claim. When I bought my ebikes, the first thing I did is call my insurance company to find out who's
who's insured. If my car if my ebike hits a car, am I insured? And I got insurance on that. I don't know that a 15 or 12 year old kid on a scooter can get insurance. That's a huge concern. I had a deer run into my car in Pennsylvania, 120 pound deer, did
$13,000 worth of damage. an ebike with one person on 150 pounds at 20 miles an hour. I don't know what the damage is, but that's catastrophic. I believe what should be also included in this ordinance is, and this is big, is one rider per bike unless it's
equipped to hold more. My daughter lived in Switzerland many several years ago and they ebikes were all over the place and they had ebikes that had two riders for a bike. I have never seen one here in the United States. I know they're they're manufactured. I've never seen an
ebike with two seats on it, but I see many kids riding with two and three kids on it, which is really scary. There's no way a 12, you know, just the other this summer, my wife and I saw three girls, young girls probably 12 years old. Three
kids, three girls on a bike. Ebikes weigh 50 lbs. My weight, mine weighs, ours weigh 55 lbs. So imagine three girls probably 55 50 lbs. and an ebike weighing 50 that's 200 pounds. There's no way in this world a 12 year old girl
can balance that kind of bike. So, you know what I ask you to put in your ordinance? It's if they're designed for one, they must be written by law. And I know it's enforcement. Also, I think helmets, you know, I think, you know, solicitor Smith, you know, I think in in
New Jersey, 17 years old and under must wear helmets. Enforce that because they don't write, they don't wear them. You know, I think the key to all is enforcement. Can you engage the local schools to assist? in the school board resource officer crossing cars and PTO
will help simple registration of bikes parking their bikes at school they should have a registration and a helmet I cannot I can tell you 95% of the miners riding past my house do not wear a helmet blows my
mind that parents don't see kids leaving or arriving back home without helmets parents are not enforcing New Jersey laws a 16 in addition a 16-year-old driving a car and they run a stop sign has the same fine as me, but driving an
ebike just needs to attend school. Why is that? 16 year olds. I'm I'm a senior. He can go, they can go, she can go to a school and I get a $250 fine. Minors aren't given an easy out and seniors get fined. I know the rules and on top of
that, I know the rules of the road. I don't think 16, 15, 14 year old kids know the rules of the road. >> That's true. Three minutes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Parents must be held accountable. >> Thank you. Amen to that. >> Amen. >> Good evening everyone. My name is
Leticia Nunes and I'm a parent that live in the Summers Point Apartments on Miss Landing Road and we are here to um talk about a concern that we already have our from our kids going to school
every morning. And I got Soila over here. She's the one that is very concerned about it. We want to express our deep concern for the safety of our children where we live in the summers point apartment complex on mandland road
who must walk to school every morning due to a lack of transportation for some children's some children's according to the board of education there is not enough funding to provide transportation for all childrens as a single model I feel that the rights of all childrens
are not being considerate while we understand that the distance between their home or homes and school Jordan Road may be considered too short for bus service. The reality is that the street they must walk on are extremely dangerous.
There is a heavy traffic on the morning, limited sidewalks and the absent of crossing guards in some areas creating serious safety risks for childrens. As parents, we are deeply concerned that something tragic could happen while they are trying to get to school. We order
the city and the board of education to reconsider the transportation policy or offer an alternative solution such as superbide pedestrian routes, crossing guards or expanded bus service to ensure the safety of our children's. The lives
and well-being of our children must always come before any distancing. Thank you for your attention and commitment to keeping the children of our community safe. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Mr. Schneider. There's some work, I believe, that's going to we're trying to
get some money for for the sidewalk over there. Is that correct? >> Yes. Uh we did apply for a grant from the state for that um for pedestrian improvements for the uh the south side of SS Park means landing road um that we
applied for 350,000 for that because um because of the grades of that section there you have to do a fairly large retaining wall along majority of the walkway. So it's not as easy as just you know installing sidewalks as typically is the case. Um so we have to do a
retaining wall but we are looking at different funding opportunities. Um our grant consultant Mr. Rattella also said he believes we should hear back within the next 30 days or so if we got that grant or not. Um depending if we do or not we could pursue other opportunities.
There's other grants available. >> Um it is a county road so ultimately the county is going to have to approve anything we do also. >> Okay. Thank you. What about to get to try to get the transportation for all of them? >> So that would have to be through the
school board. >> Um that would be something you talked to the school board about. >> I already talked with them. They saying they keep saying the same. Oh the distance is 1.7. It's like I say already it's not the distance it's the safety of our children. >> Correct.
>> And I'm single mother. I don't have a good card. I have some illness in my feet. I can walk my daughter. I can leave my daughter walk from some point apartment to Jordan road even it's not crossing guard anywhere and sometimes when I had to pick it up she had to take
my daughter or I had to take this kids because it's not any safety >> okay >> so I want that all of you guys put on feet like a single parents >> thank you >> thank you so much >> thank you >> not seeing anyone else that wants to
speak. May I get a motion to close public portion? >> Have a second. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. We're now closed for public session. Um payments of the payment of the bills.
May I have a motion? >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Not hearing any opposed. Do we have any comments from the governing body? [Music] I I I do. Council President, go
>> ahead, Mr. >> Uh last night I attended both uh open house fire department one and two. I appreciate all our volunteers out there here at Summers Point. Um basically, you know, the call of duty. I mean, it's never easy to, you know, we leave your
loved ones and go out middle of the night, 3:00 in the morning, 4 in the morning. first responders. I appreciate everything they do as well as our local Summers Point Police Department as well as OEM. >> Thank you. Anybody else have any
comments? >> All right. Not hearing any comments on that. We all good? >> We're good. >> All right. Um let's see. We're going to be going into executive session. um be a brief recess before we go into executive
session. And anybody that would like to stay and uh hang out in the lobby, that's okay with me. >> We're not looking to take any action. >> We're not looking to take any action coming out. So, thank you for everybody coming out. Thank you for your comments. Uh there was a friend of mine that just
passed something along to me and I I probably shouldn't share this, but I'm going to do it anyway. He said, "There'll be people that are going to throw stones at you. You don't have to throw them back. pick up the stones and build something positive. Thank you. Have a good night. All right.