Good evening. I'd like to call uh to order the August 14th, 2025 Benner City Commission meeting. Um can I ask everyone to rise for the flag salute, please? >> Pledge allegiance to the flag, United
States of America, >> to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, justice. >> Thank you. Roll call. Lisa, >> Commissioner Langra >> here. >> Commissioner Mento >> here.
>> Mayor Creable. >> Thank you. Lisa, would you please read the open public meetings announcement? >> 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 website. >> Thank you. Would you please read the live streaming announcement?
>> The city of Vendor offers live streaming and the option of public comment via remote access as a convenience to the public. In the event remote access is unavailable for any reason beyond the city's control, the city will not pause or stop the live meeting. The city reserves the right to discontinue remote
access at the discretion of the city for any future meetings. >> Thank you. Um before we get into the main meeting, we have proclamation here honoring St. James uh Roman Catholic Church. I want to also thank them on behalf of the city and and u and of
course the commissioners if they like uh for um helping us out during the last uh concert right at the um at the uh St. James Meeting Center at the last minute weather dependent change. Um so that was
a really great uh great turnout it looks like. Um and this is uh honoring the St. James Roman Catholic Church their 100th anniversary. Uh whereas St. James Roman Catholic s church has served as spiritual cultural and community cornerstone of this residents of Veterary City for the past
100 years. And whereas since its founding in 1925 St. James has welcomed generations of worshippers provided a place for prayer, faith formation, celebrations and comfort in times of need. And whereas the church has been the beacon of faith and fellowship, offering not only religious services,
but also outreach programs, charitable works and events that have strengthened the board of the community, the bonds of the community. And whereas over the past century, the clergy, staff, parishioners of St. James Roman Catholic Church have worked tirelessly to live out their mission of service, compassion, and
faith, making the lasting and positive impact on the lives of countless individuals. And whereas on the 100th anniversary of the St. James Roman Catholic Church in its his is a historic milestone worthy of recognition and reflects the enduring commitment, unity and faith of its parish and community. I
now I therefore therefore I Tim Creable mayor of the city of Venner alongside with the vener city commissioners Maria Mento and Lance Langrath to hereby recognize and commend St. James Roman Catholic Church on the occasion of its 100th anniversary and expect express deep appreciation for a century of faith
service, moral guidance and community spirit. So thank you very much. Um 100 years is uh is is a big deal. Back then uh the city was uh you know very different and very uh but in a lot of ways the same was a short community as
always. You have anything to add? >> Yeah, I I think we have a nice partnership with them as they also have with us and with the community. Um, they have a lovely community hall that they allow people to use for various reasons or organizations to use and they've allowed the city to use it on certain
occasions and the farmers market uses their property also for the market. So, there's a community spirit there that I think we appreciate and I also believe they're having a an event to recognize. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um,
>> I'm sure there'll be lots of people that went there as a school, one and it's also one from resilience standpoint, I think it's one of our our main meeting places with uh if there's a if there's an emergency. >> Yeah, it's emergency refuge. It's we added um uh generators to it. So, it has
the ability to house people >> right >> in an emergency state. Yeah. I mean, the church >> example of our partners >> St. St. James is just it's a backbone of this community. They participate in a lot of things with us. Um, Maria already mentioned the the farmers market every Friday in the summer. Um, stepping up,
you know, I didn't get to go to the uh the indoor concert, but apparently it was fantastic. Had a whole different crowd that would normally go. They saw it inside and they they jumped on it. And I didn't, you know, >> packed house. >> The videos I saw, everybody was up dancing, which is great. So, thank them
for that. And congratulations on 100 years. That's an accomplishment. >> Yeah. A lot of churches are closing these, you know, and that's the now that's the parish for the the majority of the island, right? For down beach, right? It covers all the the Catholic churches here.
>> Margate as parish also. They're the same parish. >> Gotcha. >> Yeah. >> It's the Holy Trinity, I think, now, right? So, sorry, I'm a Methodist, so I don't know the ins and outs of the Catholic uh religion and churches, but they're a fantastic partner here for us here in the city and and they help us
when almost whenever we need it. So, great to honor them that way. >> Great. Thank you. >> And there is at 2 o'clock, I think they start on Friday with uh some events. There's some um Renee Nacho's son, I think his first name is is um I want I know the
>> Nick. >> Nicholas, he's going to sing. Um he's also a priest or in the process of becoming a priest. I think he was ordained this spring I think. >> I think so >> the day of our block party. So there is a it starts at two o'clock I believe and goes into the evening and then a whole celebration for the weekend. So
encourage people to stop out. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um so moving forward the following items are scheduled for action at the commission portion of the meeting. So uh so now during the workshop meeting we will be approving uh
minutes from April 24th, May 8th, May 22nd uh regular and executive uh May June 30th special meeting and July 10th regular and executive. Um we have no ordinance introductions
this evening and we have no public hearing uh or adoptions. However, we have a pretty good list of resolutions uh 2025-239 through 2025-264. A lot of these are uh infrastructure.
So, I'll be kicking this over as we go down the line if you want to add any any background to these. Sure. Starting with 2020 5-239. Uh this is awarding Remington Remington and Ven Ven Vernick for construction
management services and inspection service of the Venor Avenue signal synchronization project. And not necessarily of note, but I do still get a lot of um contact from the public over um the speed and the traffic uh patterns
on Atlantic Avenue. Um, we've done some uh we've done some studies on our speeding and we liter and we actually have a very good compliance rate on on Atlantic Avenue, although it may not seem that way. Um, on most parts of Atlantic Avenue, we are in the 75 to 80%
compliant. >> You're going to say 75 miles an hour. I was like, that's not compliant. No, >> I've seen some of those ebikes go that fast. the the the the um the speed stop signs that we have that give you a you know that give you a speed as you go by are also places where we can collect
data and in the month the last month we've had uh we collected data and it was about a 75% but I'll this signalization I think is something that we all um we all support. Did you want to add anything? >> This is actually Ventner Avenue. >> Ventner Avenue I'm sorry. >> So that's all right. There's I think
later on we talk about Avenue. Um but this is Ventner Avenue, the project that is mostly finished. >> Yeah. >> Um came out great. This is >> Remington Vernick was doing the inspections on it and the project ran over. So there was more inspections. They had delays in the PL the poles and
things. If you recall, we're waiting for all those poles to come in. >> So these are additional inspection fee services for Remington Vernick. We're still within the project parameters. So we're okay with that number. um they are going through the final punch list of those items now. Okay. A
lot of the punch list items will be landscape related. So, we're waiting till the fall to do that. I know I've had some phone calls from some residents that, hey, my grass isn't growing. It's dirt. So, we're waiting till the fall to do that because it'll it'll just die right now. >> Yeah. So, >> okay, great. Sorry, I got the wrong.
>> Yeah, that's all right. You're >> I'm on that I was on that that synchronization. I was reading that ordinance late. I think it comes up later on. >> It does. So, um, next is 2025-240. This is, uh, uh, last change order numbers for, um, the the band shell.
>> Yep. >> We added some additional lighting, some dimmers to those lights. Uh, the color upgrade that we did on the the rooftop. >> Um, so we picked, of course, we picked more expensive color. Um, and the skirting was actually the most um the
most costly that we had to when we raised it, we had to skirt it down a little bit further. So, keeps folks from going underneath it and things. So, >> exactly. >> $12,800 and $71. So, that's um that's the additional work there. And there's still some punch list items there. Very minor items.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Some some boards, things >> out there with Rick today and there was two ladies that must have been babysitting a group of kids and they were all just playing on it. >> It's become a, you know, great little spot for people to hang out. >> You know, the little things like that I think people eventually take ownership on. It was there were some people that
um you know, that might have been controversial. So I think but in the for the majority of people that the design I think has really um kind of become part of our our street our streetscape our our visual landscape. >> What did our mothers tell us? Can please some of the people some of the time that whole >> That's right. So I think it looks great.
>> It does. It does. >> Uh 2025-241 is um change order regarding Vner Gardens Plaza storm water rehabilitation. >> Yes. So that's out Vetner Gardens Plaza which is out kind of Vetner west a
little bit as you going on the way to the school. So that is an overall decrease in the contract. Um we were up at over $700,000. Um and the uh total now is down to $648,000. So we look pretty good on that
project. It seems to be working a lot better than it was um before. the pipes that we replaced, the conflicts that we found in the underground piping to get things to that storm pipe or the pump station at the end of Ventner Gardens
Plaza seems to be working. I've gotten phone calls from several residents out there >> really. >> Geanne Ross and Ken Ross, they've called a couple times, great >> saying it's working a lot better. >> Really >> still not perfect, but we're still not we're not done. We still have a few more things to do there. Add another um we're
going to add a bigger wet well there. Some more things to make it better. So, tweaking it. >> tweaking it. Yeah. >> Um 2025-242 is approving um uh submitt for agreement with New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection uh National Climate Solutions Grant. Can you um can you put some some background on this? This is the is this the Yeah, it's a tree grant. Grant B Avenue. >> Okay. under the that so this is um something we spoke about actually last
night at the planning board briefly we have a we do have a tree inventory >> so the potentially this could be a grant that helps fund uh street trees um in the cross uh cross vendor avenue and maybe even some other areas
>> they're ventner endorse it I think >> endorse it >> yep um 2025-243 um this is uh uh increasing the city's public bidding threshold. This is a this is really just a um a yearly um
record sort of a housekeeping item. Correct. >> So the governor stood out a directive in Jul for July and um if you have a QPA, your new bid threshold will be 53,000, right? >> And the quote threshold is 79.50. >> Great. Okay. Keep the keep the wheels
rolling. Um resolution uh 2025244 is awarding a contract for city hall maintenance to action janitorial. They were the previous supplier and uh remained the low bidder. Um any and in 2025
245 is uh refund of a peer membership to Matthew Greenberg. Um there's a few uh membership fees here. 2025. Have to check that in the It says >> 28
>> 28. Um 246 is a resolution of the city of Ventner. This is uh refunding partial soccer camp fee for various reasons. That and the second one 2025 the next one 2025247 is another refund of fishing pier membership.
Um and in Amy's court it looks like 2025248. Um this is uh third quarter taxes and grace period correct. >> So this is uh setting that um uh grace period.
>> Yeah. Because we got the numbers later. >> We got the numbers late. >> Yeah. >> Right. Right. Um 2020. >> Oh, okay. uh 2025-249
uh is authorizing green green acres open space diversion application at the uh vendor community center. >> This should have been item one. >> No. And I'm going to take this from you because you head headed this up and really took the bull by the horns. This is something that that the city has had
on its back and I'll say a monkey on its back since several prior administrations ago. And if we can get this done, this is huge. Yeah. >> Because this this restricts us from getting any future Greenacres fund funds. We don't get any more money until we resolve this. And this is when they
tore down the ice rink without Greenacres approval. And you know, you have to do swaps. You have to do all that stuff. And you put together a plan that >> you know, really if if they'll accept it. I mean, this is putting it out there to them, right? >> Uh yes. >> Not finalized.
>> No. No. But this is if we can get this done, this is huge for our city moving forward. >> Yeah. Thanks. Thanks. It hasn't gone without a deep dive that >> Sure. I know it's Ed worked on it when he was our engineer the first time. We've worked on it. >> Met with them. They said this was the
best meeting they've ever had with the city of Edner, >> right? >> They felt we were sincere. >> And it's taken nine years. >> So taken >> Yeah. 10 years. >> All sides. >> On all sides. Yeah. >> People change and they move and they retire and then you're like starting all over again. on their end. It was a couple folks retired,
>> right? >> And then somebody new would pick up a file. But if we can get this done and and it's really at no out-ofpocket cost. It's more of a land >> and land or money that we would have gotten, >> right? >> Just turning it back to them, I guess. Is that the That's how I read it.
>> And I remember they released significant money to us because of the level of comfort, >> right? >> First came in office. >> But they're still holding money that they're that >> from the peer house. >> This gets resolved. >> Yeah. Yeah. So hopefully this is a a great step and I didn't mean to step on your but I wanted to give you kudos for
getting that done. I think that was >> thanks. That makes that makes reading the um the minutes from all the meetings a little bit better >> honestly appreciate it. Um and Tom as well. Thank you. Um >> good work by everybody there. 2025250
is uh accepting resignation of Juan Feliz effective July 15 uh 2025. One of our um our officers 2025251 is a provisional appointment of Robert
Newcomeumber to sewer repair from one from labor one. Um >> this is getting him in line to eventually get to supervisor role. >> Right. If if I could just add to that the the first draft of this uh did not
make it clear that this is also a promotion to the title of senior pumping operator. He holds two titles currently as a laborer and as a pump operator. He's getting promoted from the the laborer position to the sewer repairer
and he's being promoted from the pump operator to senior pumping operator. >> Right. So, job one and job two at the same time. >> Yep. >> Great. >> I remember interviewing him and he was one of a few candidates. >> Nope. This is This is senior.
>> This is senior. >> This is senior. >> Oh, that's not the sun. >> No. >> Oh, >> okay. >> You would have moved up that fast. >> But he's good. >> Is the sun at the pump? Goes to the pump stations?
>> I don't think so. Yeah. Robert is the one you're talking about now. There's a junior now that is a summertime trash. >> I have I have the wrong person. >> I completely have the wrong person. >> Yeah, you I think you have the
>> But you have a really good guy over there that I interviewed. >> Good. It's good. We need we need um we need good people. Um and we need to improve. They need to to move to move up when it's right when the time is right. Um 2025-252.
This is uh tax abatement agreement for 19 South Troy. Uh part of our tax abatement program as is 2025253. This is tax abatement for 28 South Rosar Avenue. Uh we have a number of them
here. 2025254 is 26 South Rosar. Uh 255 is to North Cambridge and 20 25256
is 419 North Somerset Avenue. All tax abatements uh according to our program. Um 2025-257 is a authorizing a tax refund >> for an overpayment.
uh 2025-258 um is uh an agreement with uh Blackjack Construction for repair on Sophomore Avenue, Wellington Avenue, and Burke Avenue not to exceed 18,720. Is there anything to add to that? >> Just that it's it's a significant depression out there.
>> Um that road, Swathmore Avenue was built on the old dump, so it's lasted 30 plus years without significant issues. So, we have to go back in. We're going to not just going to patch the little hole. We're going to actually take a distance on either side of it, excavate it out,
find out why it's collapsing, and fix it and and reconstruct that portion of the road. >> Great. Great. Um 2025-259 is authorizing payout funds for the retirement of Joseph Daniels, firefighter within the parameters. Um
2025-260 is um this is uh Delasio Associates professional engineering services for the replacement of the portion of the vendor city boardwalk additional service for boardwalk lighting analysis and alternate design not to exceed $20,000.
So this is the design phase of the placement of lighting and the selection of lighting. Is that what that is? So, we got into looking at the lighting on the boardwalk, and right now the lights are at 35 ft in height above the boardwalk. Um, they do not meet like the minimum light you would have in a parking lot. Under our ordinance, we
have you're supposed to have.3 uh foot candles hitting on any on certain areas and then you have to have an average of 0.5 foot candles. We don't meet that requirement. There's no real standard for a boardwalk. Um, but Ed and as well as Mark Delasio thought we
should increase the lighting there a little bit. What I didn't want to do is keep those lights at 35 feet and just up the wattage, >> right? >> Um because then it's light pollution. It's on the beach. You don't really want that there. It's glaring in the folks windows.
>> So, we're what we're having them do is do a study to see if we can bring those lights down, increase the wattage, >> or even keep the same wattage, but maybe a couple more lights. >> Right? >> Instead of having them on every street end, we might have one mid block then, >> right? brighten up the boardwalk just enough that it meets the minimum safety
standards for a parking lot and then you're walking there. So, you want to have it that that well lit, but again, you don't want those bright lights um in people's windows because at 25 ft you're right at that second floor window. So, that's what I'm having these guys look at. >> So, would it be the entire boardwalk?
>> Um design Well, we design it for the new section, but that'll we'll use we won't have to study it for the next section because we're going to know what what we're going to do, >> right? Once we get that study, we'll bring it to us three and we'll decide what we want to do with those. >> So that that's the reason for the study
and it's a it's a pretty it's you know it's a mile >> along the boardwalk. So we want to >> that's why it's it's 20,000 hours. So >> yeah, it seems like we lose a pole or two a season. >> Well, >> from the age of them. I mean >> So it's not even the poles. It's
actually the board. It's the boardwalk. >> It's the boardwalk. >> Yeah. the the wood is is and the the mounting mechanism that has been used for years, >> right, >> just fails over time because it's in a very rough environment. >> So, we we actually had horn before we
got the grant to replace the whole boardwalk replacing them, replacing the brackets. You'll see one is down. I think I want to say Swathmore right here. One is down. We're not going to put it back up until we decide what we're going to do. >> Um with the that's not part of the boardwalk. It's going to be redone, but
we want to see what we're going to do. We might put a new pole up there as we do the rest of the boardwalk, >> right? Just to because we won't have money for the rest of the boardwalk for a little time. >> Aesthetically, boardwalk have something going on.
>> Yep. The from the pier to Jackson Avenue will be totally reconstructed from the piling underneath all the way up through new railings and everything. So, no matter what, you're going to have a new look from the pier to to Jackson. new railings as well. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. >> Okay. >> We're going to keep the old ones. We're
kind of designing the same ones, >> right? >> Keep the old ones to because people run into them. >> Yeah. >> With whatever. >> Yeah. >> So, >> there's some there there's been issues from the joints in some cases. >> So, we we keep the old stuff and and we uh repair it. >> Right.
>> So, big project >> at least at this point. I haven't seen a rail design. So, >> and we're getting ready to bid it out. So, we should be finally looking at all those fine-tuned parts. And what I'm going to what I suggested to Ed is to have the more lights as an alternate
bid, >> right? >> Get it out the way it is, >> right? >> See how we we like that bid and then if we if it's not too much money to add these lights, >> Yeah. >> then we would do that. >> All right. I don't disagree with having it well lit. Um it's, you know, it's a it's a it's a it's a walkway. So, um
>> but not to the point where it's daylight out there. >> No. No. That would be a So, so look forward to seeing that. When what would just as a as a as an an idea, what what would the second phase happen? Is there any anticipation of that or is that too far and too big? >> Neither. Well, there's there's no more
funding out from the state. I don't know that the feds are going to be putting out any money. They've already pulled the beach funding. So, I don't see that happening anytime soon. So, it's going to be up to us to come up with another at the time probably it'll be 15 to $20 million to do the rest.
>> Right. So, we'll have to see. The worst section was that section when we looked at the piling. Would have been ideal if we could have hopscotched around and, you know, fix the roots, >> but we really can't. You got, if you're going to build the whole thing, you got to do it take it out and and they'll do
it by section. They'll rip out a couple of a block or so, >> right? >> Come in and start building that as the next section is ripped out. So, over the winter, this this project's going to happen this winter. >> Yeah. So we have to spend the 7 and a half million from the state
>> by December 2026. >> So one of the things we did and it was our city engineer's suggestion was to purchase the lumber with that money first. >> Right. >> So we used quite a bit of that money already just to purchase the lumber and the fasteners. >> Right. >> So >> the the eay the decking, >> right?
>> So we purchased all that and that's actually in the >> contractor holding >> the contractor's holding it for us. Yeah. We're not We don't have a place to put That's a lot of lumber. >> Yeah. >> So, and we got it in before all the pricing of all the other boardwalks being built. >> Great. >> So,
>> great big project and I'm sure you'll keep us updated. >> Yep. Yep. >> Um, next are three uh new firefighters here. So, this is uh resolution 2025 261, 262, and 263.
Um, we are hiring uh three firefighters uh effective September 1st. Uh, they'll be back for uh swearing in later, but Ryan Tacion, uh, Luke Brahmy Tassone, and Nichol That's right. That's a
and Nicholas Gadier. Do you have any um any comment, Chief? Or you're we went through a long process, a long discussion, a long uh, you know, interview period. Um, one is a one is a veteran >> motivated guy. They're replacing three members
that died since May left July August 1. >> Right. >> Refilling the ranks. >> Refilling the ranks. Appreciate that. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Um,
next is uh 2025264. Uh more more infrastructure. This is awarding Arthur Henry uh deteriorating sewer worm pipe across Ventner Avenue at the intersection of Austin not to exceed 44,942.
So this is more infrastructure work. >> Yes, this is a collapsed storm water pipe that crosses Ventner Avenue. Um probably today that flooded because the water can't get from the oceanside to the bayside where it drains out. So it's collapsed pipe. We have to repair that.
>> Great. There's some residents there that'll be pretty happy when that's done. >> Great. >> It floods up into their yards. >> Yeah. Austin Austin Avenue, right? >> Y >> Okay. Uh next then, uh during the regular meeting, we'll have uh bills and payroll. Uh we'll have discussion items
and um uh public portion. So any items that have been discussed so far, the veterary commission welcomes participation of interested organizations or individuals during this workshop session. Uh if you there's anybody in the
would you like to do this discussion items now prior that's fine. So we'll back up to item 12. We have two discussion items. One is uh um unfortunately longer than I you might like the PowerPoint presentation on the Dollar General and the commercial
businesses and then a revocable license. So uh Jim if you could just pop that up and we'll go through these pretty quickly. You don't mind? Um, I may have to log on in order to see it. Um,
>> which Dollar General. >> So, this is Dollar General in Ventner on Veterary Avenue. I'm going to stand up because I I recently found out that my site is 2015. >> So, Dollar General is the overall
message here, but it really falls under saw an idea that I I think I shared with you through emails about um creating a a blanket exemption for local property taxes for improvement of construction and commercial industrial site. So there's there's there's there's
groundwork for this in a lot of cities. The idea is that we would create uh an ordinance that allows us to give uh a tax abatement similar to what we do in new construction but focused on facades in two different ways. So focused on on
potentially uh larger that you'll see and then larger facade improvements and then I would like to propose that we do something in a smaller venue for smaller store owners for uh break more more like a awning a signage or maintenance. And
there's there's a lot of background and I really just wanted to set the stage by going through the city a little bit because there's a couple things that I think that make this the right time to do it. So next slide. Next slide. Uh there's a lot of sample language out there. So I'll give you all that stuff
from other cities. Facade appearance standards, the things that kind of, you know, the the the the bureaucratic sort of descriptions of them. And um but the idea next slide is that we have some standards. nothing that's really written in stone, but something that gives
businesses guidelines of uh of how much of where signage goes, uh things like awnings, things like maintaining. Uh we can even go so far as to suggest uh pallets of paint. Um I don't know that we want to go that far, but we just want
to encourage improvement because next slide. Um, you know, this is, as I said in the past, this is our this is our handshake to anybody that wants to live or or visit Ventner. Next slide. And it's done throughout the city. So, we have and our I just want to go through some of our
business to make to drive this home. Next, that there are some good there are some very, very attractive appearances, but there's also some that I think that with a little bit of a nudge and a little bit of help from the
city, we can uh keep going. Next slide. These are all, you know, very they're in a lot of ways these are very nice. Next slide. But you can look at this is an old one from Waterdog. It's been it's been changed. Next.
Uh next. These are all uh next. I just want to get a feel for the our downtowns. Uh next. There's one that maybe could use a little cleanup. Next. Um, next. You see, we have a vibrant
downtown during the day. Um, next slide. That's a very attractive one. Next slide. But one of the things that I think that we're missing out on also is that the tree our tree grant will help uh our trees. We have a we have a real problem with trees in our downtown. Most most of them are are either uh dead or
dying. And I think that'll also improve. Um, next slide. A lot of the bigger companies they take and and this development next will be uh you know I think will be a great um improvement to the area. Next slide.
Next slide. Uh so the Dollar General is one that caught a lot of people's eyes. It it uh it you know they're making an investment in this uh space. We talked to um the ownership and the corporation. Uh I did
a quick rendering of what it could look like. Next slide. Taking the across the street view. And then um we uh also I want to shout out to um Shellyley and the uh beautifification committee. It
was really part of their uh encouragement that this conversation came up. Um and then we we focused in on more of the facades rather than some murals that they had in mind. But uh next slide. We came up with this design,
something very simple. It's uh it's a it's adding some uh some uh some uh uh some siding uh adding a beauty line across the what you call Wayne's coat area right above those window right below those windows. It gives a shape
more of the building itself and then and then uh some awnings and some lighting. Um so the idea behind this is that if somebody if a b if an ownership on this of this building makes that kind of investment in it uh up to a certain level that we can decide they would get
a tax abatement on that just like in our tax abatement for building new construction that would be then be graduated over time to get that to get a portion of that money back not all of it but something like this could be fairly expensive um so just go back to the other one go back one if you would Jim
and then back ne next slide you can see it's the same or uh forward go you can go forward to the rendering. Yeah. So um so this really I think is one that we could it would be if we have something like this it could be a potential for uh
a starting point uh if you go through next slide please. But I think all of the businesses when they see something like this happening um more businesses might take part. Next slide. Uh that building is going to be hopefully rehabbed. Next slide.
>> That needs to be demoed. >> It does. Uh, next slide. Um, next slide. You know, um, next slide. I'm point pointing out some of these facads that I don't think we always look at. I think
some of them are under the radar and really, um, even with an awning and a new coat of paint, you get a better and a better signage application, you might get you'll get a better walking appearance in downtown. Next slide. Next slide.
Next slide. I put some nighttime. That's a It's a rough corner right there. Next slide. Um, next slide. Put some evening shots in here. Um, this one in particular uh has some uh we may might even want to
consider enforcing more of our lighting codes around windows. There's a lot of LEDs, a lot of flashing lights that get through, a lot of chasing lights still that you know the difference between uh a walkable city is also at night and a lot of these businesses, their facades
don't incorporate some of that down downward lighting that make the street feel safe. So, uh, next slide. So, I'd like to include lighting into the next slide. Some trees. Next slide. Uh, next slide.
So like uh next slide like that chase lighting. You see how it's you know what happens is they put up this lighting and it sometimes falls and sometimes it's chasing. I think something like that we could also codify.
Next slide. Uh clearing the windows. That's part of what other cities do. They don't have as much clo windows that are that are um that are o that are covered with uh signage. It's part of what um uh what what you know studies have shown that
that's not really something that people stop and want to go into when the when the windows themselves are are covered. You can't see beyond them. Next. Next. This I think this particular street would be the biggest makeover. This particular section of town from one
from one to the other. If th if this block was redone, this would be my next target to do a rendering for this. the the actual architecture underneath these buildings is really attractive. It's just not been taken care of. It's been >> it's forbid certain color.
>> It's we could we could you could encourage certain colors. We're not you know in places like uh Nantucket. I think Lance Lint mentioned something last night. They will put a gauge on the size of your shingle and put a color swatch up against it. They're that you know
dogmatic about how how much control they have. I don't think we necessarily need to go there, but some maybe somewhere in between. Next, that section could be a, you know, with awnings and signage and new trees and new trash cans and new sidewalks. That
would be a downtown people could be proud of and would want to go visit even if they didn't have to go there for some particular reason. They're all great businesses, the ones that are open, but uh but it just it just lacks the destination that I think Ventner needs to get it to the next level. And I think
this little bit of help could encourage businesses to do more. Next slide. Uh, next slide. You can go through them with a a slight pause and then pause at the at the last. You can keep going, Jim. >> Wait for the tumble weave to come.
>> Yeah. Next. >> Next slide. I want to show next slide. um you know at night time um there's another one at night time some of these lighting uh you can go back to that um I think there's also
some codes that encourage that discourage certain amounts of light and I think we have to be careful of that at night some of these are some of these are are are uh like there's a that are are pushing light out onto the street there's almost too much so if you see this versus uh what the theater has done
the theater is a was a professionally designed lighting plan on the outside. A lot of these are are not that to put it nicely. Next slide. Next slide. And I'm not picking on anyone business. I'm just saying we can raise the bar as a city in general. Next
slide. There's another one. This one changes from color to color over time at night. Next slide. Next slide. Next slide. Keep going. They do a really nice job at that. Uh actually, you know, Waw Wa and the and that area has a at
night has a fairly well nicely lit, but if you go down the block a little further, next slide. At night time, that looks fantastic and it's a great u business. But this next few blocks, next slide. Next slide.
Next slide. Um is where we're into I guess I missed it, but And Dorset Avenue as well. I think I think from in my opinion the the the building on the right has set a great standard for that block. I think uh the other businesses um need to sort
of follow their lead in some ways and I think that's how neighborhoods change and maybe this giving them a little bit I'm not saying that uh we're we're we're doing all of it but maybe we can find the right number for a major improvement and a minor improvement and incorporate
a tax abatement that in that that encourages it. Next slide. Next slide. Next. Next. Next. You can see I think we can also do
more uh with our streetscapes. Next. Next. We've got a really diverse group of designs here. And and that's not a bad thing. It's just that they I think that um there's like this is an old slide. They've actually improved quite a bit, but I think uh but I think they
don't none of them all have um uh easy start trees and trash cans. Next slide. And there are uh and and then we can leave it at that. There are uh there's a lot of data out there. We're not on new territory here. This is done in other cities for the same reasons. Um cities
that are in more need than we are, but um I think we owe it to the uh and we owe it to the city itself just to make it more of a destination. and the the next um the next group the next wave of improvements are are you know as we gain more people they expect to have
downtowns that ser that have these kinds of um this kind of care and taking to it. So I I I'd ask to just start to hash through an ordinance if you guys would support it. Um, >> I'm wondering
>> of the businesses what what how many of them are like they don't own the building. Does that have an impact at all? I mean I know the business the the owner would have the benefit of the um tax abatement or um
>> that's their building. >> Not only the business. >> Yeah. Yeah. it's their building and and and it also improves the the value. Here's some uh here's some other cities and you can see that um that even at night, you know, the the the lighting is t is is shown. There's a a little bit
more unified. These are some cities and this is a uh uh up in in upstate New York um that have you know that have that kind of a and then I'll just leave it at the at this rendering. So yeah, it's definitely improvement for the
ownership, but it's also improvement for uh the tenant. So, you know, there may that's between the ownership and the tenant, I guess, is whether they would, >> right? They would have >> still that benefit there. >> Yeah. >> And it's a win-win, >> right? Some long-term tenants might want to put some of that, you might want to
share in that investment with their ownership. I had a storefront for seven years and we did a, you know, we did new signage, we did, you know, new air conditioning, we fitted out the interior. um those are things that tenants do and in um you know to improve
their their their their salailability of their product or service that they're selling. So, >> so do you think whether if the building is owned by the business or not owned by the business will change anything like the success of this
or >> I think we have to write it into the ordinance in some ways, right? I mean, I think there's um I think there's a way to I think it's the primary um beneficiary is going to be the owner. >> I think that's the only way to do it. You you really can't you can't give money to the tenants.
>> Yeah. So the only the only way we can do this is through a tax abatement. >> Be proof it would benefit the tenant. >> Yeah. >> Definitely benefit them. >> Yeah. If I own a building, I also want to see that that tenant um you know um it's also going to it's like a a b like
a remodel like that improves the the quality of the building and potentially the value of the building, but it but it also I think it it it it sets the the tenant up for success as well, no matter what the business is. So, um I
>> think I think I don't think it will happen everywhere, but I'd like the I'd like the capacity to have the option. And I think the more likely thing would be a smaller amount, say five to 10,000 or 7,000 somewhere in there. that would
that would be specifically for awnings, signage, and um maybe painting, you know, and that would be something that the ownership would also benefit from, but it would be something that you might see a faster uh
cycle of improvement happening, you know, and then a larger scale, something that had something like this that has more more construction, replacement of windows, replacement of uh rem redesign of facades. I mean, you've seen it in Atlantic City, I'm sure, that they, you know, for to I think we could do it
better and I think we can have more success. >> Do you think it would be maybe helpful for the smaller improvements if we had renderings or >> like a shopping list of for these businesses?
>> Yeah. what you do what Tim did in his pre you know you almost do form based code for it which I can't believe I'm even saying that because that's a terrible way to do land use but it gives you ideas in images >> right >> of what you want to see in like that you
you don't put colors you can put colors to it but you say look this is the awning type we're looking at right >> this is the window style we're looking at this is the facade styles we're looking at and you give them a couple examples >> and that's how you >> I'm asking for I mean, we don't need to talk about this
now, but >> it can be part of the the document. >> Yeah. But I don't want us telling people what they want to do. >> No. And and we have no interest in that. >> I'm thinking you don't want it all different either. Want some symmetry on the block. >> No, I think you have to walk the line of >> I'm not
We don't We We can't We can't be the I don't I don't >> that pink building. >> Yeah. >> It's It's their building. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. No one tells you what color to paint your house. I'm not telling somebody what color to paint their building. I'm not a fan of that. >> Yeah. And I have to agree with Lance on that. I I I don't
>> But it's not my call. I don't pay the taxes on that property. You know, it's unless you're going to go in and you're going to do a historic district like Hadenfield where they're going to tell you what size windows, what mullions, what type of window you're going to put in. I have no desire to do that. I've
been in front of those boards. I have no desire to make people spend that money. >> Yeah. because it's thousands of extra dollars to put to do new windows in your house. But >> we don't have to make people spend money. We can tell them, "Look, we can't." >> No, no, no. If you create a historic district like the the way you were the
only way to do what you're asking to do is to create a historic district and when you do that, you set up you set up an architectural review board and those folks are going to tell you what color your house is going to be. Like the Nantucket example that that Tim gave. I have no interest in that.
>> Yeah. They make a the McDonald's in Nantucket looks like an old fishing village house and that there there's I don't know that there's any in between space there. I think that what all all I'm saying is that give people a little a little bit more tool to get them to the next step.
>> That's what I like. >> I do I do uh professionally I design uh hundreds of you know hundreds thou I've done thousands of kitchens. I don't like all of them because some people have personal you have to you have to bend to their personal taste. You do it's the best I do the best kitchen for that
person or the best make the best choices for that person. But there's you can't I don't think we want to be that I don't think we want to look at look at the peace pie. I was really didn't like the idea of how that looked. It's kind of appropriate for a bike for you know I
mean look at if you go to I think you know and we don't have to get into a you know a discussion about who what Ventner is because I think I think that's what the what the business owners need to decide really um I don't think that we're going to be the arbiters of
what what is good design or good color because that's different to everybody. It's there's no there's no really good answer to that. But I I like the idea of putting the carrot out there. >> Yeah. >> The stick can be the window stuff that we don't like right now. Like too much stuff in the windows and the chasing lights and all that. That can be the
stick. But carrot can be if you guys are going to spend 50 grand on your your building facade, then you're going to get a tax abatement over the next 5 to 10 years, whatever that whatever we decide to be. That I think is the is the carrot to get those folks to do this work. >> And I think there's probably a place
where uh where there's a review of that. I think in a lot of these a lot of these ordinances they that are existing they have to submit um an estimate and a drawing. >> Yeah. >> Um and and in some cases, you know, then some cases there's pallets that um that
that cities offer as a suggestion, you know, and that and I think you could look at I um personally I would go to like the historic society. I would look at what the, you know, we have a we have some really attractive buildings that are still around from the 20s and 30s and 40s here that could be you could
bring some of that back, but you could give them guidelines and then and then allow them because, you know, there are certain, you know, there's certain things that the ownership wants to do. If I I I wanted, you know, certain colors on my storefront and my my sign
design, I, you know, I I was, you know, I was adamant about what I wanted to do, and I'm sure these folks are, too. So anyway, I just think there's a way to get uh to encourage businesses to do two sizes. A small, you know, signage and
and awnings large a real improvement on facade that might include things like um window trims, siding, siding, roof. You know, there's a lot of >> a dollar threshold. >> You're doing a dollar threshold. Yeah. Yeah. Like 20. >> You spend 10 grand, you can get this
much of an abatement. You spend >> 20 grand, you get this much. you the higher you go up the more longer you get right >> longer and more you get get off >> and it's finite you don't we're not giving them 100% of it giving them 50 to 75% >> allows them to pay that investment off getting money off their taxes >> right
>> that that's how I would see it going >> all right well let's >> you had something sketchy >> I was just going to say with regards to the improve the improvement it the idea is as I read the statute that it has to improve the value of the building so you would have the tax assessor involved with that with what the value was before the improvement and then after the
improvement So it it depends on what they're proposing to do, but it would have to >> it's not just their contractor's dollar amount because they can get somebody to >> No, it's improving the value of the the property itself. >> And given our very low tax rates, you have to make a very substantial improvement to really see an assessment
go up that raises your taxes very much. >> Right. >> Get it there. Well, I'm saying I mean if you do if you spend $10,000 putting up awnings, that's not going to add a lot of taxable value to the property that you can then give
an abatement for. I mean, what's the taxes on $10,000? Not very much. >> Right. So, that's better. So, it's favors again favors the business owner. >> Um, correct. And and and I think if you get one or two, you start to see the I think hopefully something like this
grows organically and one business owner talks to another. The VBA would be involved, I'm sure, in promoting it and un and and understanding it and pitching it to their >> I think we take that >> Yeah. >> on the road. >> Yeah. >> To them. >> Yeah. >> One of their one of their events. We host it somewhere here. We can do it here. Wherever they want.
>> I don't know if they have a spot where we can do it. >> The other the other mechanism to possibly look at is to do a special improvement district. And I don't know whether you want to get into that, Lance. you familiar with the way life >> we raised that or I raised that with um
before we had a business association business yeah before the VBA was around our first year in I met with probably seven or eight of the the larger businesses I don't say larger some of the the historic businesses here and I raised that and it did not a couple of
businesses were were were for it they understood it so what a special improvement district is is what they have in Atlantic City >> so it's the SID or Rick right? >> He was he's very familiar with it. Um what you do is you you assess the properties that are in that district based on the frontage of their street,
their property frontage on that street. You you put a dollar amount on that on that street frontage and you assess them an amount of money to do improvements and then we do the improvements. We we can hire folks to clean the streets more detailed like under the private property
even like right up to the front door. We don't do that here. We allow the the property owners to do that. But Sid does that in Atlantic City, right? >> They clean the streets, but they're that money is is also it's another tax basically. So that's another tax.
>> Oh yeah. And and it's it can be significant. I mean, we wouldn't be anywhere near what Atlantic City charges folks, but um and we would probably have to splinter off or create a a maintenance group out of public works, I would think, >> to do that work.
>> Probably have to hire. >> We could we could outsource it. Yeah. Yep. >> But then you had some property owners willing do it and stuff not was like job. >> Yeah. But there and the SID didn't
really soon as you know there's a fee for it and it's they typically go up like everything else. So >> yeah, I think we can I think this is a good >> I I would agree. I like the options and and work it through a little bit, massage it, come up with some some levels. And you're right, you can, you
know, in the, and I'll use the example of the the green zone redevelopment plan in Atlantic City, >> they have facade requirements. When you improve a building, >> they have requirements. >> So, and there's the CRDA reviews the plans, but we don't review the the
architecturals. The city brought in an architect to review them, and they do a report saying, "Yes, you meet that requirement." We could do the same thing, >> right? >> You'd have to hire the architect to do that, but >> Yeah. I mean, I think that the the business own as a small business owner,
you get to be very resourceful. But there when you have a good year or a bad year, you don't want to have the last thing you want to hear is another tax. But I I I think we could do it even in the terms of a micro version like a few thousand dollars like you could have stages where if somebody just needed to
get it wanted to get a new awning or wanted to get a new sign and it helps them out in a small way that's something that that you might find a tenant uh you know a a side arrangement with a tenant and a and an owner >> I think that might even be I I get that we could include that in
here. I think that might be cumbersome for how little benefit they're going to get they're going to get. >> So that I think we we need to keep focusing on having Jim Rattella look for grants for that and then we can facilitate those grants that way. >> They're hard they're hard to get. >> Yeah. I just feel like if we can give it
a little bit of a a boost here. >> I I agree. And and if for the larger ones like the Dollar General design there that would be something that would be worthwhile doing a significant >> lengthy tax. You won't have right you won't have a lot of takers on some of the the on on some of the the small ones
but you but you might get a little bit of improvement and that's what keeps the motivation going from business to business. We have a lot of those round s uh awnings which tend to have a odd look in my opinion. Again this is opinion but those rounded awnings tend to are are
things that some cities >> they were a big thing in the 80s. They were a big thing in the 80s, but they in some of these facade ordinances that I've looked at, they discourage them because they they they overpower the facade. You know, the the roll out awnings or the more um or the canvas ones that have signage that have
lettering across the front edge, those tend to be more appealing for people that are uh for a walkable space. >> You can discourage certain things. >> You can discourage c same thing. Yeah, you can discourage certain things and encourage certain things. >> Yeah. >> Pink and purple. >> Like pink and purple. Trust me, I I
didn't >> I understand that's going to be a new business going in there. >> I thought so. I heard >> heard small batch bakery. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Everybody loves a bakery. All right. Anyway, that was longer than I expected. I appreciate your time, but we can if I can get your agreement, we can
start to Yeah. start to flesh something out and circulate. >> Dr. D came in and they said, "Do you have to make it orange?" >> Yeah. >> You're like, Maria, what's their colors? >> Their colors. Yeah. >> They're down the shore. And >> that was the that was their protocol prototype. Now all their Dunkin Donuts
look like that. >> Yeah. >> I think it looks great. Same with the Burger King. That was their prototype. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> This could be this could be easy and it could be benefit. >> Mayor, one last piece. I would just encourage you to have the assessor involved in all of that because
according to the statute, it really does >> it's based on the assessed value. So he may have some ideas as to what may increase the assessed value of a property that you could incorporate. >> Tom said >> I'll start with him. >> Including him in the conversation would be critical. >> Say again.
>> Your comments are concerning. >> Yeah. Well, I I have looped Bill in on this already. So he's looking at this. >> No, but your comment in regards to it has to be of substance >> for it to be worthwhile to the owner. I think so. to this
>> that will would make a big difference in the look of something. But >> that's what I'm saying. We have to find another way to help the smaller improvements because I don't think they're going to get any benefit out of this. >> It has to be significant enough to get a tax. You know, if you're getting 50 bucks a year off your taxes, that's not
worth you spending that much money, >> right? >> Right. It's got to be a significant >> saying there there might there's some other way to >> to get those things in this. Yep. >> All right. All right. Let's keep it going. >> Yeah.
>> Um are we going to um do we involve the public in that or do we want to just keep moving if anybody wants >> keep moving up? So the next one is the revocable license. >> So Maria, you had a question today. What if they did a hedge row? It is behind the sidewalk. >> So it's it's it's city rightway, but we
did it over here for the corner of Cambridge where they built the pool >> and we allowed them to do a 4ft high fence with vegetation on top. We capped it at six feet. That would be my recommendation here, too. Be just like a fence there. >> It's a corner. >> It's a corner. Yeah. It's actually
behind one of the facades you had here. It's behind u fishing. It's not fish and whistle anymore. It's >> They changed it wine bar. >> It's different now. It's >> Yeah, it's a it's a Baybuzz. >> Bay buzz. So, it's the housing behind that. I believe that's where it is,
right? >> Okay. >> That's Dudley there. >> Yeah. that second develop developed lot. >> So I think they're putting a pool back there and they're trying to >> cover it in. So if we need the rightway, we can that's why it's for a revocable license. If we ever need it, we can come
back in and take it. >> So Ed recommended it. It didn't create any issues for him. So we would move it on to as a as a resolution next meeting >> if you guys are okay with that. Yeah. Um so that is the two discussion items.
Um moving moving moving forward >> portion >> we have uh sorry >> public portion >> public portion sorry get caught back up >> one guy leave. >> Yep.
>> Bored him to death >> discussion items. So yeah, we I'd already briefed on uh like described this uh anybody in the Zoom platform that would like to speak about anything that we've uh uh discussed uh so far. Um
uh motion >> motion to open the public portion. I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Lang Graham. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. Anybody in Zoom who wishes to question or
comment on any of the items or resolutions that have been discussed so far, please make yourself known in either in the chat feature or by raising your hand and you'll be recognized. >> No. No. Thank you. A motion to close public portion of the workshop meeting.
>> So moved. Second. >> A motion to call to order the regular portion of our meeting this evening. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. Um roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable.
>> Yes. All right. Um I have a motion to approve minutes A through G, April 24th. Uh May 8th regular. May 22nd regular. May 22nd uh executive June 30th special.
and July 10th regular and executive uh approval those minutes. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kville. >> Yes. We have no ordinance introductions,
no public hearing. Uh ordinance adoption. U I have a motion to adopt resolutions 2025-239 through 2025-264 by consent. I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> I have a roll call. Lisa,
>> Commissioner Langra, >> yes. >> Commissioner Mento, >> yes. >> Mayor Creable, >> yes. >> Amy, can I have uh bills and payroll, please? >> Payables for this period is $4,185,237.3. >> Really? >> For this period is $1,579,940
and for you, Lance, 0. >> There we go. First time in 10 years we've had a had a zero cent bill. >> Yep. >> We'll happily make that motion to approve those bills to payroll. >> I have we have a second. >> Second. >> Have a roll call.
>> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. Congratulations. >> Now the goal is to get both of them. >> Almost had a double. >> Uh we have no announcements and safety reports. Uh Commissioner uh comments or reports. Commissioner Mento, do you have
any um I got a whole list of them. They're in the >> business as usual and revenue and finance. We are embarking on a new payroll system. So Amy's um in the throws of that right now. Correct. Always a little scary. Um
as far as events, I'll just list a few um that are coming up. Um of course we have the concerts every Wednesday and Saturday. We got rained out. Um, Wednesday we did get to hear the fan was great for about maybe 40 minutes. Um,
and lightning, so that was tough. Um, we have the farmers market that is that is really handled by a committee of wonderful people. That's every Friday at 8:30 to about 12, I believe. >> Yes. >> Um, August 15th is the lifeguard set
week. We'll pass. Are we pass the gies? >> 15th. Yep. Yi races at Sulk Avenue at headquarters. We have movie night coming up on August 25th at Ski Beach. And then on August 30th, we have a goodbye to summer concert um at Ski Beach. It's the
Party Wave Fin Band ending the summer. And um that's in addition to in between the Wednesday and Saturday concerts um August 16th, August 23rd. And uh that's a Saturdays and August
20th and August 27th it's Wednesdays. That's everything for the events. That's a lot to read off for >> Yeah. >> people to get. But go to our website. Go to the veterary special events website. You'll you'll find everything I just said
>> or the city's web page also. >> And all my stuff sitting down on my desk. I left it on the old agenda. So, but just from memory, um we're out to design for some new infrastructure projects. One, we got a grant up to $2 million in design costs for multiple
different projects. So, we've added some sewer lines, some water line uh design work to that, as well as I think the water towers on that as well. Um to try and get that the the renovation of those things designed uh for free. Um that
puts us in line for funding for um those items under grants and and low interest loans. >> Speaking of that, we will >> Yes, we're actually ready to go out to bid on the water tower project >> and uh going to close on the financing through the eye bank
>> in the near future. >> Good. Thank you. Also with that is the uh lead service line. You'll start to see some things coming up in the next couple weeks both at our events and online. um public information as part of
the funding we're going to get and the design help we got through um a technical assistance program. We have to have a lot of public output um public input, public output, but so we're going to have um tents set up at all of our
events. We're going to have a public hearing probably sometime in September on a Saturday um over at the school so we can have a lot of people there. Um information set up where it'll talk about the project, how it's being funded and how it's going to be constructed. So
um moving forward with that. You may have seen Margate move theirs forward a little bit. They're not getting the same funding we are. So we have a little bit of heavier lift with our public output. Um, that's kind of it. Winding down the summer. Yeah.
>> You know, we we had hoped to have this room a little bit redone, the carpeting this summer, but with the summertime, it's our guys are just too busy. So, we're going to probably do that over the winter where that carpet, that red or orange, what I think it was red, but now it's orange. Uh, that's going to be
replaced. Um, do some clean up in here a little bit. Curtains I think we're going to take down and just leave the blinds. We did have an issue in here. If you smell a little dampness in here, we had a HVAC system leak at that back wall. Amy was
involved in that today. Her room got a little damp, but uh it's fixed. So, we just have to do the repairs now. >> Great. >> Had some other things, but they're I'll I'll shoot an email to everyone just so you can see what they are. >> Great. Great. I um I I talked enough. Um
but I will just put a couple uh thank yous. um out uh again um uh to Shelley and her uh the the beautifification committee. Uh Barbara Cassell also she was part of that um that kind of helped
me push this facade thing your way. And I also want to uh there's plenty of summer left. Um our beach patrol had a fantastic I don't think we've met since then, but the the Bill Howorth South Jersey Lifeguard Championships at home. Um they're having a great summer. um you
know the the uh that's why we're I mean it's a lot of reasons why we're here. You know the beaches have just been fantastic this summer. That's been a great been a great season and um u so look there's still plenty of August and September's the one of the best months here. So um at that I will say uh
>> I'm going to interrupt you. >> Yeah, >> you you mentioned the Howard, but you didn't mention that BNER's women won that. >> That's why I meant to mention South Jersey Championship. >> South Jersey Championship. We had doubles row Sam Kho and Charlotte Thomas uh in the third place. The swim Ryan
Lowry at fifth place and the singles row Sam Kho in the first place. But all of them um you know it's nice to see uh that particular event that local event uh at our home beach and and they also ran it in some of the worst weather. Uh
you were you might have been there but Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, those are the kinds of days that they make you test to be a lifeguard and they, you know, and there are some some of those boats were launched in the air over some of the that rough surf and the very low. It was
a really really tough day and uh home homefield advantage to them and and and to Megan Holland and uh and and our chief for putting something like that on and the way they had it rotated and the way they made work through it. Everybody was very proud um of that. Um
or you're allowed to talk about it. >> So, what >> today's story? >> Oh, yeah. I don't know. Well, there's always uh there's there's there's life out there in the beach. So, uh um yeah, there's always uh the be actually I took some guests out on the pier when the
spots were running and you know, there were just literally one over the other hand over fist pulling spots and and sand sharks out of the um off the off the pier. It's really inactive at night uh the last few weeks. Um but that's all I had.
>> I want to add one more thing and that is to congratulate Nicole Curio because her family also had an outstanding seasoned uh but unfortunately not for the Ventner Beach Patrol yet for the upper township beach patrol. and her 16-year-old son uh
was very successful swimmer uh actually took fourth place in the South Jerseys, but he won some of the other races. Um and I'm pushing Nicole to get him here next year. >> Yeah, right. He has shared service. >> Shared service, nothing. We want 100%.
>> Just for the season. Rick, uh do you have a comment? >> I I just want to say one thing. I want to remind everyone, we we entered into a great partnership with our local Girl Scouts troop. >> They stepped up. They stepped to use it. They stepped up using their cookie revenue money to uh help landscape the
lifeguard boat out by the recreation field. They're looking for additional projects. We're going to support them with um to do they they they're talking to us about a new flag pole there, maybe an evergreen tree to provide landscaping. the lifeguard boat. We did
uh add uh drip lines into it so it can be irrigated. And they've also uh guilted the Boy Scouts into stepping up. Now, the Boy Scouts have knocked on the door. They're looking to help us refurbish benches and refurbish and plant some of the um other planters that
are there. So, the girls had a a great time and they're very excited to get their hands in the dirt and work with us. And it was outstanding effort. And the the most resonating comment they meant was that the uh uh our workers, our cops, our firemen, our public works
people, our governing body bought a ton of uh Girl Scout cookies and um they put that money right back into the >> Yeah. right back into the community to help us. So, that was an outstanding effort and now it's starting to steamroll into other uh micro projects.
So, we uh really appreciate them. And these girls were little. They're little kids, seven, eight. The oldest one, I think, was nine. >> So, uh, but they're into community service. And now we're going to see some competition between them and the Boy Scouts to do some stuff projects. >> Is literally on the Girl Scouts in the
form of Thin Mints. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But I I thought it was cute that they wanted to put their money back right into the community. >> Yeah. I don't This might not I'm not casting any shade on the fire department because you guys keep a you're squared away there, but I did notice that the mailbox that's used for
Um, uh, retired flags. Maybe you could get them to repaint that. I mean, that I don't know. It's up to you. >> Project geared up for the summer with the the guy that was supposed to do it. >> Okay.
>> We'll help with that. We have paint and we could maybe prime it first and get it ready. And uh the one thing the uh Boy Scouts were considering was helping paint fire hydrants, paint the caps, and redo hydrants. So that's something, you know,
we we could talk to them about, but >> as long as the chief approves the colors. >> Yeah. >> You see the one at um it's where they do the 911 ceremony. It's red, white, and blue. >> It is. It is. Yeah.
>> Right. I know. Yep. Yeah. No, it's great. That's a really It was a really great I think and it also it happened very quickly. It was like one or two emails. Everybody jumped on it. I appreciate what you did to get them get them uh started there and and it and it was they really found the need and and it looks great.
>> It does. Thanks, Rick. >> Yeah, maybe that maybe focus on that park. There's other things, I'm sure. >> Um uh can I have a mot any uh public comment on the Zoom platform? I have a motion to open. I we are we're
in we're in public comment. Correct. >> That was commissioner comment. So motion to close commissioner comments. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> We have roll call, please. Please. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. Uh can I have a motion to open
public comment? >> So moved. >> I have second. >> Roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kriebel. >> Yes. So, anyone in the on the Zoom platform uh that would like to make a comment on anything Vetner city related
um you would have if you keep your uh comments to three minutes if possible. >> Anybody on Zoom wish to make any comments on any items? Please make yourself known by raising your hand during the chat feature and you'll be recognized. >> Please state your name and address.
5 43. No. Okay. Hearing none. May I have a motion to close public comment? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Lisa, may I have a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creel.
>> Yes. Um, at this time we have an executive session. If you could uh read the prologue, please. And Jim, I would ask you to close the Zoom session for executive session after the prologue. >> New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act
permits the discussion of certain matters within executive session as an exception to certain provisions of said law. The Vendor City Board of Commissioners wishes to discuss certain matters which qualify as exceptions in executive session. No action binding upon the board of commissioners will be
taken within executive session and the discussion conducted in close session will be disclosed to the public when legally permitted and when the public interest will no longer be served by keeping such matters confidential. M >> right. Um and during executive session, we discussed a personnel matter um with
regards to the city filing involuntary disability um retirement application as an accidental disability for an individual firefighter Daniel Karu. Um so before you um commissioners is a resolution authorizing the city administration to process an individual
an involuntary excuse me disability and an involuntary accidental disability retirement application for firefighter Daniel Karu. So if there's a motion that >> can I have a motion to approve that resolution as described? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Lisa, may I roll call?
>> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. >> Our last item on the agenda is adjournment. May I have a motion to adjurnn? So moved. >> Lisa. May I have a roll call? >> Commissioner Langria? >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento? >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable? >> Yes. Meeting jerk. Meeting jerk.