This is >> okay. Good evening. Uh, call to order the city vendor commission meeting February 26, 2026. Few moments behind 5:30. I apologize for that. Uh, may I please have everyone
rise for the flag salute. Pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the states of the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you.
>> Roll call. Lisa. >> Mr. Langrath >> here. >> Mr. Mento >> here. >> Mayor Kel >> here. >> Uh, could you read the open public meeting announcement? Lisa, >> 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. Could you read the live streaming announcement, please? >> The city of Vaner 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. Uh this evening we have one resolution, resolution 2026-079.
and the resolution city of Venner, county of Atlantic, state of New Jersey designating the month of August as Veterans Recognition Month in the city of Venner. In our audience today, we have uh Mr. Edward uh Edward Dixon.
Um the resignation designates the uh month of August as Veterans Appreciation Month. Uh as a member of the armed forces, he's you've uh worked throughout the coast to have this adopted in uh Ocean City, Wildwood, Kate May, Margate, Longport. uh as a as a uh as a as a
month of uh appreciation. We thank you here and we look forward to adopting it as well. >> That was uh looking forward to seeing all of you again and on this special occasion when Mayor Jim Crabel and the council of Venner has approved a
resolution dedicating the month of August to our military veterans, men and women. I am fortunate to meet people who care so much about our military veterans. This is a great tribute to them.
This summer, we will be celebrating our 250th historic anniversary of our great country that I love. I am striving to have this dedication printed on every calendar across our
great country. They deserve this tribute each year to be celebrated with the help of Congressman Jeff Vandrew and the House of Representation. It will come to fruition. He did say it
may take some time for the approval. Thank you and may God bless you all. >> Thank you. >> May I shake your hands? >> Of course. Absolutely. >> Should we vote on the resolution first? Let us vote on it first and then we'll do that. How's that? >> All right.
>> Uh, >> may I have a motion to vote on resolution 2026-079 as described and preeded by Mr. Dixon? >> I will make that motion. >> Uh, >> make the second. Second.
>> Second. Second. >> We're excited. >> That's a first. >> All right. Uh, may I roll call, please? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. Congratulations. >> Absolutely. >> Nice to meet you.
>> Over here conversation. My pleasure. My pleasure. >> Thanks. >> You too. >> Too many boards. I can't. >> I'm sorry. I sit on too many boards. I can't keep it straight. >> Be popular.
>> We all do something different. >> No, we do that. >> We do them when we have we do presentations and stuff early. So now we're going to go into the workshop. Do the workshop. >> Okay.
Um we have no presentations. Right. I can continue down the agenda. Right. >> Yep. >> Um we have no department head reports. Uh capital discussion. Um >> we'll have a detailed one of those coming up. I think we're going to do it in April because Ed and uh Remington and
Vernick put together a report for our master plan and capital expenditures that we kind of hinted at on our newsletter last last month. >> So, we'll have a full report from Ed probably in April. I think he's going to come in and do that. >> Yeah. And I I think we'll also piggyback that with the budget process because you
know that we have to adopt the six-year capital budget plan budget and we'll be doing a bond ordinance this year >> which is settle on which projects are priorities for this year. >> Right. And that'll all happen in April. We >> part of our part of R&B's work is to get some of this stuff into the I bank and
some of those things. It helps us get those grants so to have this plan put together and they were we got grant money to pay for them to do it. So that was helpful. you want to lead that discussion since it's primarily all your stuff. >> Yeah, I'll have Ed Edmatt, right, >> come in and and help us with that. So, >> great.
>> And I wanted to comment and you mentioned it, but I was going to comment that the summary, the capital summary and the newsletter was great. It really is. And I know you do a lot of that. And if you don't get if people don't get our newsletter, you should get our newsletter because it comes out every month and there's information in there and the capital information, I think, is
um revealing. >> Yeah. And um just good information to have what's going on in the city and where the money's getting spent, where it has to get spent. >> Agreed. >> Do we put that on our um Facebook page? The >> newslet. So once it's finalized, this
was a draft that that R&V gave me and Ed when I were going over it when she asked or somebody asked about capital improvements, >> but our newsletter itself, do we put that on our Facebook? >> Website on the website >> Facebook page. Uh the newsletter goes out to a mail
uh chimp it's called you know all the it's got a I think >> right people sign up for it but I'm just thinking maybe we should put it there I don't know >> you could double it yeah >> and at least put a link to it so that you could see it on our website >> okay easy to do
>> I'll tell Sarah >> um thank you >> right uh we have no minutes to adopt correct Lisa >> correct uh we have Three introductions.
Um 2020 2026-00005 is a bond ordinance uh providing general capital improvements and acquisitions of various equipment for the city school by the city of Ventner and county of Atlantic appropriating $900,000 and the
issuance of a $900,000 bond finance. Any other um comments on that? I know it was regarding air conditioning unit, >> HVAC system and sidewalk repairs. >> Okay. >> For for details, most of it is HVAC system in the school.
>> Right. This was planned actually over time. >> We've had it we've had this in the in the >> Is this the last one >> stream? Um did you say is this the last one? >> Yeah. Sorry. >> One can only hope. >> You find that funny?
>> They do find that funny pain. >> There's never a last one. Never last. >> Okay. >> This is the better way to do this. I mean, yes. Our first year in, >> we spread it out across the uh across the users. >> Exactly. And it's and it's an issue where if this was coming in all in one
at one time, >> uh it would have been one big lump sum. It was the budget. >> It was I remember $3 million. >> So, we're we're trying to do the same thing with our own stuff besides the school is to not authorize stuff before we're actually ready to do it. So, uh,
we've got a lot of old ordinances, as you know, that have balances because projects haven't yet been completed. So, we're trying to avoid that. Uh, this is all work that the school plans on doing this summer on school end. So, that's kind of how they plan their things is to do it during the off season.
>> Okay. Well, in the past, we've gotten favorable bond issuances. We've gotten very good rates and Maria, I know you keep track of all that. Mhm. >> Um, next is ordinance 2026-006. This is uh creating this N7 are related.
So, this is um >> I have a whole thing on that. So, >> you want to uh you want to bring both uh 006 and 007 to uh to detail. >> Yeah. So, I think um Nick Carlson is our uh affordable housing attorney. I think he's on Zoom. Tiffany could not be here
tonight. She's actually presenting another affordable housing plan to another community tonight. So, I'll I'll hit the highlights of of what these two ordinances do. Uh, the city's required to adopt affordable housing ordinances relating to the city's uh housing element and fair share plan. This ordinance will create a required
affordable housing set aside ordinance consistent with the proposed 2025 housing element and fair share plan. This is a 20% set aside for new residential development of 10 units or more uh excluding single family units. um the balance of ordinances which are
quite lengthy and mirror uh current state affordable housing regulations. They're attached in that document. Um ordinances create a new chapter of affordable housing in our ordinances which will include regulations governing how affordable units are marketed, monitored, required deed restrictions
and priced with similar it and other similar items. The ordinance follows a state model ordinance and requirements are from the applicable state regulations. The ordinance also creates a section of development fees which regulates affordable housing development fees. This will apply to all non-residential
development. This fee is already required by the state and will now be kept by the city for use towards affordable housing programs permissible under the adopted housing element and fair share plan. So with that when a commercial application comes in non-residential application comes in
there will be a proportionate um fee a developer fee that they will pay to the city. we will put that into an account that will help us either rehab homes and then we would uh dedistrict those homes into uh affordable housing. The county kind of already monitors a plan that we
work through with that. Joe Geralo, well Joe Der used to do that now. He's our county clerk. Um but the county does that for us already. So they will they will probably do the same or we can partner with um folks like the Ark. Um there's another group and the name of
them is is is uh states right now that we can work with to help us do that. Um and that creates the affordable housing incremental spots, not one mass project. So that's how we designed it to be across the city and multiple smaller type projects, not one big we don't have
the room. We have a vacant land adjustment, which means we don't have land to build largecale affordable housing projects, >> right? um like Atlantic City has >> would occur to meet the requirement if someone's building 10 homes
>> 10 or 10 or more multif family. Yes. >> Then we can take these funds and >> so mixing a little bit >> or they have to do it the builder has >> as part of their project. If they're doing 10 or more units >> Yeah. >> say if they do 10 they have to do two of
them 20% as affordable. If someone's doing a commercial project, they will pay a development fee of of a percentage of their assessed value into the city. >> 2% >> 2% into the city. We will put that into an account and then we will use that to
do smaller projects like one-offs, partner with, like I said, ARC does does a lot of that kind of work >> where it might be a home for folks that are mentally challenged or things of that nature where that would they would renovate a home and they would live in that home. that that's how that project
would work. Or you you could actually rent them out. I don't know that we want to get into that, but ARC will do that as well as and I forget the name of the other group and it's driving me crazy um that does that, but we can partner with something. >> This is a requirement. >> Absolutely. >> All a requirement.
>> Absolutely. It's not voluntary. This is all based on court settlements um through the co-op process that's been going on since 1972. >> Right. So, um there's there's more in Tiffany's notes here, but basically, uh the next step, the planning board will
have to um after we introduce this or these ordinances, the planning board will have to look at them and designate them that they are compliant with our master plan, which Tiffany says in her in her opinion as a planner. It will certainly meet those um be consistent with our master plan.
So, that's essentially what these two ordinances do. Um I we just did it in Brigantine last night. Uh she was there to do this very same presentation. >> Um let me ask you something. If we with these funds that we will collect to utilize if there was someone in a um
already if there's an existing let's just say we have existing low-income >> homes. Can we use this money to help them? Let's say they need new windows or >> new ones. This is >> only new ones. Okay. >> This is for new ones. >> You know the ACIA has a program for that. I was thinking >> correct.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Yeah. This is for new affordable units. >> Okay. >> All right. So, that's what those two ordinances are dealing with. >> And the last one though is actually um uh creating a municipal housing liaison
within the city. >> Yes. We spoke with with Danielle. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we'll have that happen in our code office. >> Right. >> Um Danielle Man will sit as that person. We will walk her through it. There there's there's two pieces to the administration of the program. So the
housing liaison which is what the second ordinance creates that position that is required to be an employee of the city >> fulltime >> and correct >> and that well not not necessarily full-time. could be a regular part-time person, but the responsibility is to
oversee and do the reporting for uh whatever goes forward in the future. >> That there's also a requirement in the larger ordinance for a housing agent. The difference there is that you would
typically hire some outside agency to do the marketing and the renting and the or the sales of the >> just triggered the name Triad. Triad Associates is a private company there. It was in there. >> So those there there's a couple of different companies. Triad is one that's
prominent around here that does that kind of stuff >> because the these units that get created have to be afford I'm sorry affirmatively marketed. In other words, you can't just create an affordable unit and rent it to whoever you want. You know, you can't put your mother-in-law
in there. They they would develop a there's an eligibility criteria that has to be met. The agent would be responsible for marketing the units and choosing the eligible person to either rent or purchase the unit depending on whether it's a rental or a sale unit.
Um, and so that'll come down the road where you will need to designate somebody as the housing agent. For now, uh, the housing liaison, uh, Lance just mentioned, we're looking at Danielle Manera in the construction code office to be the person that will serve in that
position. And it makes sense to have someone in that office to do it because they see the permits coming in for different things and right she would be able to track that >> it would trigger. >> All right. I think uh so just to be clear this is the uh the ordinance introduction. So there is no public
hearing. Uh the next meeting would be the public hearing and the adoption. But this in broadstrokes brings us into compliance >> with the municipal code uh being added to it with the fair housing act and other um statutory requirements. Right.
>> Correct. There were some minor changes that came back to us from the fair share housing group and those were incorporated into these ordinances. >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Thanks for for wrangling all this and helping decipher all the >> exactly why I didn't go into affordable housing plan in my career. >> They seemed very busy because it was
nationwide. that I guess they're working with. >> No, it's Jersey. >> Just Jersey. >> Jersey. >> Oh, >> yeah. It's I mean other town other states have something similar, but New Jersey is the one that has the council on affordable. Well, >> COA is kind of a p term. Yeah. It's not it's what we still call, but it's
affordable housing program now. It's >> I I didn't stay in that part of planning. I started in it and it just got it was changing too much. Tiffany's been stayed with it all along and she's fantastic at it. She handles a lot of municipalities in the state. >> Yeah, you can tell. Um and does a good
job of it. So, >> great. All right. So, moving on. Um there are no public hearings and we have a number of resolutions that we will adopt by consent starting with uh 2026-074 and I'll combine that in in terms of
discussion with 202-075. This is uh uh hiring two police officers um for our department. These uh two individuals started out they're filling vacancies uh from retirements or attrition in our
in our department. Um these two individuals started out um after a search brought back 40 applicants that was narrowed down to uh 20 and then then narrowed down again to five. uh and then
interviewed. Both of these individuals uh came to the top of that process of interviews and uh so we're looking forward to having them. They both have degrees in criminal justice. One has an associates degree, the other has a bachelor's degree and he also has experience as a class one and class two
officers in different uh summertime communities. They're young and we will be putting them through the uh um to the academy. Um uh the the it's usually a year-long process to have something uh to have a an officer be fully trained
and then another year as a field training officers uh u goes along with them uh until they're and it's it's it's difficult. It's a lot of training uh with all with uh the police um uh different scenarios and all the all the
the uh the things that go into it. So we're very proud to have two more individuals. Tim, is this filling to current vacancies or upcoming vacancies? >> Current. >> Current. Okay. Yes. Okay. And um can we in the future I
don't know if this is Lisa Tom include any any hires their resumes or bios or if it's just an application in our in our package only? >> Yeah. I don't normally get them for the police department. >> Yeah. >> But I for anybody else I could if I have
certain Yeah. I guess we could get them. >> Uh, you gave them to me. >> I I I >> No, >> he might have given them to me to circulate and I didn't circulate. I still have them. So, I'll pass it on. >> Okay. But even if it's in our package,
>> Sure. >> Yeah. I know it can't go out to the public without redacting things, but I would like Okay. Nope. >> No problem. Um, I want to see him fit the second guy's name on a badge. That's going to be hard.
Um, >> a big badge. >> Yeah. Um, any any other comments on uh 074 or 075? >> You're welcome. >> Yes, we will. Um,
>> next is uh 2026-076. Uh, this is authorizing the application for capital preservation grants from for the National Historic Trust. I believe this is this building for solar, right? Uh, no, not solar. This is for historic um preservation grant that we're going
to apply for. Uh, we had a phone call Zoom meeting with Bill Mccle, Jim Rutella, and I'm drawing a blank on her name, but she is a historic architect that actually worked on this building many years ago. Uh, Margaret was her first name. And our application last
year was not looked upon favorably because we didn't have a historic architect. Oh, >> so we met with her via Zoom uh Monday or Tuesday of this week and you know got a plan together. We gave her some information. She's worked with the contractor that that did the estimates
for us, Pullman. That if you recall, we have a lot of water intrusion when we get certain nor easter style storms. Kind of happy that this one was snow instead of rain because that's when it leaks. Um, so this will focus on getting that application and getting it together
and getting it up to um, the state by I believe April. >> So it's kind of a push. >> Yeah, it's quick. >> You come across any of the original drawings from Vivian Smith I think was the architect for this building? >> Yeah, >> I'd like to see. >> I have former mayor here. You probably
have some in the historical society. >> Thank you. >> I have I have a role to all the plans in in my office. >> Oh yeah. They're actually >> Oh, from the >> They're actually black because they made Xerox copies of them. >> Oh, okay. >> It's pretty neat. We tried to use that to find the the sewer lines and we had
the sewer issue a couple months ago. >> Oh gosh. Well, that's, you know, when that those types of drawings were real artwork and they didn't have as much detail as they do now. You can't really >> This has a lot of detail, doesn't it? >> Really cool. Really cool. I I thought I'd showed them to you before. >> I have them in my office. I'll get them to you tonight.
Um, >> commissioner and mayor, I I think we're still waiting on a proposal because you do you need to do a contract with this architect as part of this process. >> Bill should have that to us, >> right? So, we want to get >> by the end of this week for the next agenda. >> Yep. Y
>> Okay. >> Um, so that is 076 regarding the grant for historic trust. Crossing fingers. Uh, next is 2026-077. Uh, there's a refund for tax over
payment. Uh, pretty standard. Um, happens all the time with mortgage companies. Uh, next is zero uh 2026-078. Uh, this is issuance um authorizing the issuance of a revocable license that was
for encroachment on the city's rightway. I believe this was a set of stairs. Was it? We >> uh No, the parking space. the parking space. Oh, that's right. The parking space on the left side of that. >> Gave them two parking spaces so they could stack them >> right >> in the back of the car. The parking space would not go beyond the plantings.
They the planting garden they had >> right >> and into the sidewalk. So, this would stop right at the edge of that still on our property. >> And they've reduced the back building slightly to allow >> they push that first parking space in a little bit. I think >> yeah, >> parking is important. Tom, do you think
we can get a listing of all grants that the city has um successfully received since 2016? >> Yeah, I've asked Jim Ratal. He's something together. We'll probably even see if he could be come through a meeting and do a presentation because >> Yeah, he's done that before, but he did
the last couple years. It's >> been years. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> He He's got good records, so he can put that together. He's He certainly brought us a lot of >> significant. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> it's not something we can pull. I guess not without like from our files,
>> from our from our records. Is it something >> but I know that he's got it at his finger. >> Yeah. >> I think it would be easier to get it from him, right? Yeah. >> Okay, that would be great. I know we've had him here before and he did a great presentation, but it was like he was do
every two years like he would when he would come he would tell us about the last couple years and maybe I didn't get it across to him that I want it back to 2016. >> Okay. Is there something magical about that number? >> I think they should be very proud
and remind themselves of what's been accomplished. Oh, I I can't I smell what you're cooking. Um, next is we will approve bills and payroll. >> We have one more one to add on the bench. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yes, please. Uh, we have one more to add on the bench. 20 m
>> 26-080. That's right. We discussed this. This is uh application for uh Department of Environmental Protection uh for infrastructure tus for the I bank for Winchester Avenue water main replacement phase one. >> Yep. That's we just covered the whole
thing. Is that it? >> That's what we're doing. The sewer line there as well. So, we're trying to get money for the water as well. >> Okay. So, any other discussion on that is basically we're just submitting an application. >> Yep. >> For the I bank. >> Yep. >> As was we did discuss that with sign >> and this helps us look this is we had
design criteria paid for by some preliminary grants and this this applies allows us to apply for the funding. >> Great. And that is uh zero >> 80. >> 80. What is uh >> 79 was the first one. Oh, I see.
>> Yeah. >> Tim and I are on the same team today. >> Both missed. >> We both missed that, right? Same team. I don't think our team's winning. >> You're going to rally hockey team. They were trailing in all the games.
>> All right. Uh that uh any discussion items for this evening? None is listed on the agenda. Anybody have a discussion? >> Have stuff that's commissioner reports. >> Okay, same. >> We'll save that for commissioner reports
then. Um, following the agenda public portion. Next is um may I open the meeting uh a motion to open the meeting for public portion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> We have a roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes.
>> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. So, anyone on the Zoom platform or here in the chambers would like to participate in anything that we've discussed so far uh on the agenda, any specific items are open for public comment. Uh we ask that you limit your
comments to three minutes per person on issues. If you wish to address the commission, please step up to the microphone at the and state your name and address. Nothing on the Seeing none in this com in the commission chambers. Anyone in the Zoom
platform? I see none that >> anybody on Zoom wish to comment or speak on any of the items that have been discussed so far, please make yourself known by raising your hand or within the chat feature and you will be recognized. >> No.
>> No. Seeing none, I have a motion to close a public portion on the workshop meeting. >> So moved. >> Second. I have a roll call. Lisa, >> Commissioner Langra, >> yes. >> Commissioner Mento, yes. Mayor Creable, >> yes. A motion to close the workshop
portion of the meeting and call to order the regular portion of this evening's meeting. >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> A roll call, L. >> Commissioner Langra, >> yes. >> Commissioner Mento, >> yes. >> Mayor Creable, >> yes. Uh, no approval of minutes required. Next item is ordinance introduction. Can
I have a motion to introduce ordinance 2026-00005 bond ordinance for various equipment of the city's schools as described in the workshop? >> I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Roll call. Lisa.
>> Commissioner Lang Grant. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. Um, may I have a motion to open for introduction ordinance 2026-00006? Uh, creating an article for chapter 102.
I'm skipping the uh, anybody want to know my call my daughter for the Greek number there. Is that 20 >> 29 >> 29 29 chapter 102 of the city's code entitled affordable housing. May I have a motion to >> make a motion to introduce ordinance
2026- 006? >> Second. >> Second. A roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. May I have um I have ordinance introduction 2026-007.
Uh this is uh regarding municipal housing liaison as described in the workshop. May I have a motion to introduce? >> Make a motion to introduce ordinance 2026-007. Second. >> I have a roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. Mayor >> Creable.
>> Yes. We have no ordinance public no public hearings, no adoptions. Uh I have a motion to adopt resolutions 2026-074 through 2026-080 excluding the one that we've already voted on um 079 as described in the
workshop meeting. >> I'll make that motion. Second. >> A roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Cleville? >> Yes. Lisa, you have bills and payroll duty this evening. >> We have payroll from 21 to 214 in the
amount of $639,1469. Bills in the amount of $9,236,243.12. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to approve bills and payroll? >> So moved. >> Second. >> I have a roll call, Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. Yes. Mayor Creel. >> Yes. We have no announcements or safety reports. Uh Commissioner comments or
reports. Uh Commissioner Mento, would you like to go first? >> Okay. Um regarding events, there's nothing really new that I didn't already say at the last meeting. We're planning, we're getting things ready for the summer that's coming quickly, I hope, for the season. Um we had a new event I
talked about last uh meeting of a food truck fest. And then tomorrow I meet with our auditor on the budget. And um I don't know how far along he is, Leon. Yeah. But we don't have we don't have
the school yet or the county, right? We don't have the school or the county. >> We have half of the school from last year. So that's always estimated and the county will be estimated as well. But >> you know Yeah. So we're ready to go.
Okay. >> Okay, that's it. Commissioner, >> that's it. >> All right. Uh, uh, Commissioner Langraph, do you have any comments for Commissioner reports? >> Anybody else tired of snow? >> Did it snow? I didn't notice. >> Tired of snow. I used to love snow. Used
to love the snow storms. I'm tired of them. It needs to go away. Um, couple things on on some of the storms, some other things as well. But um first thing was morning of the storm 5:00 a.m. I get a call from Ernie. Ernie
Gratz, our super of water and sewer. It's never a good phone call. Usually when he calls it's bad news. This was potentially terrible news. Lily Park, which is one of our main pump stations here on the island, was down. It had experienced a power surge. Both pumps
did not restart. A pump operator could not get it going. Uh we had to get a truck over to Ernie's house to get him to the pump station because he couldn't get out. We had already 12 inches of snow on the ground at that point. Um so we got him over there and I tell you
what, he whatever he did, whatever magic he did, he got both of those pumps fired back up and and going. So we had no issues. Um that's a problem when that pump goes down. That's why we have two pumps there and they were both down. >> Um so we got them both running within the next couple of hours. So kudos to to
Ernie for getting that done. Um second we'll go into I'll skip the the storm, come back to that boardwalk is work continues. Those guys were out there that day after the storm banging had a what they call a dingo, a small little walkbehind um bucket plow kind of thing,
pushed snow off the boardwalk so they could continue to work on it. >> Um they've been they were down past Derby with the decking. If you haven't been down there to see it, you can't really see it now. It was covered in snow, but it it's pretty it looks pretty impressive when you get to live some photographs. I should I'll share with
everybody. Uh I went out there the day before the storm and took those photographs. Piling is all the way down almost to Suri. So, they're almost caught up to where their their yard is. So, they will probably be ripping up more boardwalk going towards Atlantic City before the spring and then putting
that back in. Boardwalk will be fully open. We'll have the rails up, the lighting up, all that done to reopen the boardwalk. The entire boardwalk will not be finished up to Atlantic City up to Jackson Avenue, but uh it will be reopened um with with everything moving forward. So,
um >> glad to hear >> water tower. Obviously, that work got slowed down with the the last couple storms, but it's moving along. It's all, you know, scaffolded in. We'll start doing the repair work um inside and out on that, and that'll take another couple of months to get that finished,
repainted. um new logo up on top. We did talk about trying to put the city logo on there and it was cumbersome. >> Yeah. >> You wouldn't really see it that high up. So, we're just going to do Veter City on it. >> Probably distort it, too. >> Exactly. Ex. That was that was the response we got back from the sign guys. >> Yeah. >> That it would be little little weird to
see that up there. Looked like a blob. >> It would. Yeah. Yeah. >> You're not seeing it straight on. >> No, like the bat signal or something up there. >> So, >> um Yeah. Getting to the storm, the latest storm from uh February 21st to the 26th. Um just touch on some of the
highlights. Road salt we used 92 tons, three applications on our main corridors hit the firehouse, city hall, DPW, recreational parking lots, municipal parking lots, things of that nature. Um basically three 25 ton deliveries received and transferred in the garage.
So we're back stocked up with that. We did not dis dispense brine this storm because it rained first. If you would have put brine down, it would have just washed it off. So, we did not use any brine. Um sidewalk ice melt, almost just a little over 4,000 lbs of uh of ice
melt, mainly on walkways and ramps around public buildings. Uh 22 meters. We had break from that last storm and it was real cold. So, we had 22 water meters around town broken and replaced with new. um overtime hours just from
the 21st to the 26th. 745 hours of overtime. This is 16 guys doing this work. It It's a lot of work to move that much snow with just the amount of equipment. Tom, you know this from where you're working. Um guys are tired. They're
they're they're worn out. We need we need a couple days of good weather. Um resident/ business assist, driveway access, cars stuck, snow removals. We had 32 of those medical need assistant, resident assists where they had to get
to a doctor's appointment, something like that. We will go help you get out. Uh we had eight of those. Um so we lost our phones at some point during the storm connectivity with the phone system. Storm drain cleanouts, we've done that around town. We're ready
for any rain we might get now. Most of those are cleared off. Um 102 dump load truck loads picked up and moved out of intersections. We we've been storing that out at the old driving range for now. Um if you saw um Atlantic City
yesterday was able to use they hired Ferazzi concrete to come in with their dump trucks and their loaders clearing Atlantic Avenue and Benter Avenue. That's just an expense that we just don't have the ability to to to pull that in. >> They were filled with snow cresting over the top front end loaders putting up
>> shutting down the street and then just >> with loaders. I mean, we do that with our loader and our small dump trucks and we do it on at our scale >> constantly growing. >> Yeah. So, it it's I've asked Rick to get a price on what that costs just so I know it because I know it's going to be
more than we can afford, but um you don't have an $80 million surplus like the city of Atlantic City does. You know, the state pays their bills basically. So, they have a lot of other access to different things than we do. Um although the the governor did reach out to us and what we asked for help us
pay for this stuff, >> right? >> So we'll see what happens with that. Um only two broken side view mirrors, which is a pretty good um thing and two snowstorms from from plows potentially hitting those those vehicles. Uh we do have cameras on a lot of those vehicles,
so we'll check and see if it was us hitting those those mirrors, but only two was not bad. Um had a lot of downed wires, nine different instances. We had a broken pole back by Shalom House um that did not affect um electric power.
It was still running power through it. I showed you guys some of the pictures of it was snapped up about twothirds of the way up. Lance Electric came in. Fire department um called it in to AC. I think you called them too. Yep. >> Um I was on the call the last two days and they were very appreciative of that
because they didn't with the power not being out, they didn't know about it. So they they thanked us for for letting them uh know about it. They were able to fix the pole, replace the pole. I don't know if they removed the other one yet, Maria. I'll find that out. >> Um without any power uh outage. So, that
was that was really great being able to do that. It's a tandem line. There's two if you go out there, there's two lines, and that's how they were able to keep power going. They didn't they just switched over to the other line on the other run. Um down trees, branches, and roadway. We fixed a lot of that. Home
station issues I talked about. Um, a lot of stuck vehicles. 18 times our vehicles got stuck. We were able to get them out with our loader. Uh, secondary roads and beach blocks were plowed two to four times. Other main corridors definitely four times at least. Um, we we had a
better effort this time without the freezing. That was that was a hard thing with the last storm. This one was a lot of material, a lot of snow to move. You know, the guys did the best they could. I think they did a great job with with the equipment and the time allotted for them. Um, you know, the roads were were
passable. The main roads are passable by that afternoon. Side streets, they're always a struggle. We can only get small plows down there. You can't get the big vehicles down. So, um, ask for patience with the residents trying to get get to these things, doing the best we can with the equipment and manpower we have. So,
it's like I said, it's it's a lot of work for just 16 guys to do that work that they've pulled off. So, I thank them as much as I can. Um, want to bring them in here. They're not guys that want to come into this meeting. >> I've asked them to come in one time. I think last time we had a storm asked
them to come in. They don't they're resting. >> Yeah. >> So that's uh that's all I have. That's a lot. But that's all I have. >> It's a big effort. I'll just piggyback on it. >> Maybe we can do a lunchon for them personally. You not from the city, but
>> yeah. I mean I I've Kathy's in these storms. She bakes. Yeah. So, they've had enough um >> enough food, enough calories, >> banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, uh some other things that that she's baked and and I'll send it I bring it over to them when they're when they're getting
done for the day. So, >> yeah. >> Yeah, I'll do something. I I'll take care of >> We can we can all of us. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Um >> or I can, but I'm happy to do it. So, it was a big effort and nothing I think that we would ever be prepared for
that kind of that kind of uh um that kind of volume of snow. The fire department as well had a full recall. So, that means um every every person that was available that was in town. That means that the building that's meant to hold eight overnight was holding 30 overnight. Um
>> wow. The one of the reasons why um that we had to do that is that the state issued a uh a a a state of emergency, but it also means that we can't move out of our jurisdiction. So, if someone was come, there's no one coming to help us and we
weren't going to help others. So, um that's part of that um that dynamic. Um it was a um uh I think we uh we had it it created um we were lucky there were no injuries. I don't know if did your department have any injuries?
>> Um couple couple guys little little hurt bangs up here and there. Rick slipped yesterday, banged his hip up pretty good. So he's resting tonight. Mhm. We were dispatched to um
uh 40 uh uh roughly 40 different calls for service during the um the general emergencies as well. The snap pole, medical emergencies, minor flooding. Uh they uh it was a good training point for some of the newer officers. We have uh
firefighters. We have 18 to 20 new firefighters. they had they uh adopted a policy of rotating them off the ambulance so they had a little bit more time to recover since the ambulances are typically busier and putting them on the engines. But um and for instance in one case there was they had to deploy 10 men
um for an hour just to get access to a home to get somebody to the hospital. So we had 10 men shoveling just to get um people out when the in the height of the storm when it happened. those kinds of things uh were happening all over the city. Um
uh the police department also um uh had uh restricted its time off during the storm. Um authorized additional manpower all the shifts in the storm as needed. Um the uh uh I was happy to to uh see also police and public works working
together to divert traffic off Ventner Avenue to get the plowing. They were working one side to the other. >> Really good. um to really kind of uh sort of like leaprog down Ventner Avenue. Um uh the um
uh we were lucky I think in the forecast of flooding uh over the evening the severity of the flooding was mitigated by the wind direction change at the end middle of the night uh lessening the surge at the bay. So, we weren't getting
um that sort of double whammy sandwich of uh flooding. And there was flooding, but it wasn't the 8 ft that was 7 to 8 ft that was predicted. >> Um and then again, I was also I I have to say the uh the new governor has been very proactive in contacting us uh even
during the transition uh the first storm and this storm. Contacted us twice during both storms to uh see if there's anything urgent that we needed. I'll be getting back to them with the summary of our overtimes >> um in the various departments and anything else that we can uh we can uh
muster but they were very very proactive uh and and we we have a dedicated uh liaison which is good to see. Um, I think that's all I have other than before the storm hit, >> Lance and I attended the lead pipe uh um
public meeting which was a great turnout that I probably conservatively say there was 200 people there. >> Yeah. Um pleased >> and they were and the and the the uh the person giving the presentation was not only he was just really a uh he he
really has a stand-up comedian uh future ahead of him but he kept people engaged and he got uh he got great and the and we we sat there for probably about an an hour or 20 minute 20 I guess a half an hour maybe >> minutes or so >> uh answering questions from that were
not the subject of the presentation you a full PowerPoint presentation and he came up with probably a dozen or so other questions that just weren't foreseen about people living in highrises. How do they how does it affect them? Uh people with different access, different types of uh landscaping, how it affects them. I
think everybody left feeling uh uh with at least with a little bit of knowledge and places to find knowledge. He handed out um access agreements. So of those 200 people um they're all given the access agreement that's needed for the lead pipe access. So, it was really
productive um well well well well thought out PowerPoint meeting. We'll we'll get the we'll get the PowerPoint and put it out on our website with a link along with the FAQs that came up in that event. And um and we're and I and again I appreciate it. You were way ahead of that to get us sort of the
first one of the first cities to get the in the in line for some of this >> for the forgiveness. Yeah. >> For the forgiveness. We're hoping to get a majority of the the first phase at least, >> right, >> loan that we're going to get forgiven >> and the grant in order to do the analysis. >> Yep. >> So, we're kind of um we're in the right
we're in a early put early dates of another, you know, mandated >> change it. >> Position. We're in position A right now to get these funds. >> That's a thing. Position A. >> I'm calling it that. >> Okay. All right. >> So, um we talked about this a little
bit. The cost to the homeowner is zero. Right. Right. Zero cost to do this >> direct cost. >> Direct cost. >> Right. I understand. >> If we don't get the funds we're hoping to get down the road, like the funding we've asked for is only for phase one and two. >> If we don't get that funds and we don't
get more funds after that, then Bentner's going to have to pay for it, >> right? >> Out of our we're borrowing money. >> Borrow money and then have our our rates. >> We have debt service rate. >> Debt service. >> Again, this is a requirement, >> right? of choice. >> Um, and also the estimated year for when
your home was built that this will not affect you. >> Uh, if your home was built after the mid 80s, most likely you have copper or or newer materials where it will affect almost every property is in the street. The line that comes off of the water
man, they call them gooseenecks. Um, corporations are gooseenecks. That's most likely lead because when those original lines were put in, they used lead. Um, that's what we're going to >> every street. >> Pretty much every street. >> And so the mid 80s, how do you how do you know?
>> That's when the the codes require different materials. >> Why do you know when your house was built? >> Yeah. >> By the go the construction office will know. You can go in the construction office. They have a um building record card. >> Tell you when your home was built. >> Thank you.
>> But that won't be up to the homeowner. That's going to be up to the city. >> Well, that's that's some of the documentation we're using to create that map. Well, you weren't there. >> There's a map that is red and green of all this. Every single house, 7,000 houses, I think it was 7,000 individual >> something like that. Yeah. >> And then there's a website to go on
where you can check your house to see if it's green or red. And >> somebody's already done that. >> Yeah, >> that's we we got a grant to have um >> the Trident is the name of the It's a New York based engineering company, right? It's doing all this behind the scenes work for us >> and they're going to double check it.
So, they're not going to leave it to that. >> Yeah, that was that's just kind of an idea here. These green ones we think are good, right? >> Wasn't very many. These orange ones are problematic. We're going to have to go out and verify. Even the green ones they have to verify. >> Okay. >> Like go look in the house. There was there was directions that go look where
the where the pipe comes into your home. Go look what that pipe looks like. And it had pictures. >> Yes. >> If it's lead, it looks like this. If it's galvanized, look like this. If it's copper or PEX, it PEX is plastic. looks like this >> FAQs. >> We'll say that. Okay. >> And because everything you're asking was asked
>> and the site you're referring us to, is that something we can post? N >> I have it. It's already on our website. >> Yep. >> Oh, the website, not Facebook. >> Yeah. >> Not it can go on Facebook, but it's on our website. I encourage people to use our website over social media. >> Let people go on Facebook though, not our website.
>> Trying to change their habits. >> It's better. You can't really put an entire document like that on it. You can put a link. >> The link. Yeah. And we're going to do a couple there's there's doing they're doing a really a lot of outreach and there and um and there's a but that the and like I said in this once we get the
the PDF we'll put on the next newsletter. >> Yeah. >> And the PowerPoint we'll have uh was really well done. The slides were all very um very answered all the questions that you just asked and some more that we didn't expect. >> Yeah. Some good questions. They they came up good and it had some ones that
they've gotten at previous >> right >> Newark's already done been doing this for a while so they they have so what those questions pop up. >> All right. >> Um our attorney our affordable housing attorney posted in here asked me to make sure we make note that the public hearing and adoption for the affordable
housing ordinances will be March 12th. >> Okay. So >> he asked me to >> send him a note in the in the Zoom. >> Okay. Is that uh enough commissioner reporting? >> I think so. >> Um, moving on to public comment. May I
have a motion to open the meeting to public comment? >> So moved. >> Second. >> I have a roll call. L. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kel. >> Yes. So at this point, we uh welcome participation of interest organizations
and individuals. Uh to con um to be as productive uh as possible. Uh please um come up to the microphone, state your name and address. Uh we ask to limit the comments to three minutes if you wish to
address the commission on any item regarding Ventner uh at all. >> Hi uh Mark Nadder, former Ventner resident, currently a Margate resident. Um, I I showed up because I thought that
it was going to be on the agenda. Some of my buddies who surf at Vanter Pier said that there was going to be a discussion about opening up the south side of the pier to make that surfing area to complement the surfing area on the north side to spread the congestion
out a little bit since surfing's, you know, pretty popular and summertime we we we see a lot of people on the water. So, I don't know if it was on the agenda or not. >> No, it's just beginning and I'll just take that. We It's started out as a conversation with some surfers and the
beach patrol. We're still kind of gathering information what the impacts might be, but um it might intend moving the Sacramento stand down a little bit. >> Yeah. >> And it might also something that I think the city's been lacking over time is proper signage and uh on the beach. But
there's other unforeseen, you know, poss possible uh conflicts that we're trying to work out to make sure that when it if we when and if we do launch some uh surfing on both sides that it um that it goes smoothly. We don't want people to say uh for instance start thinking it's
a bathing beach if we put a lifeguard there. So we're trying to work through that. We're still waiting to hear a little bit more from the uh beach patrol and um and the the the um the fishing personnel. Right. >> Yeah. So, uh, just to give you, um, you
know, Margate, um, never really had surfing at the pier at all. And then they had the surfing beach on the north side. And then, I don't know, maybe 10, 15 years ago, they opened up this the beach on the south side >> and then they just moved the stand down
a little bit and it seems to be working out fine and everybody's happy. >> So, it it can be done. And uh I would encourage to strongly look at it. Uh of course I know Dave, you know, he's the chief now. And um but
>> he What's that? >> He surfs. >> Yeah. And his brother surfs amazing. Andrew. >> Yep. >> You know, those guys are like >> natural athletes. >> Yeah. They're legends. So anyway, um just thought I'd stop by and uh bring it up. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure it'll um if you
know Reed Wear and some of those guys, they'll all they'll all get the word. Yeah, you have Frank Sarno and Reed and all those guys. So, when do you think the the next it will it come up in a in a meeting or it'll be something most likely? >> Uh, most likely. I don't know we need an
ordinance or if it's a just a policy that will >> probably be an ordinance to designate the beach. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, will come up. >> So, yeah. >> All right. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. >> See you, Mark. >> Yeah. >> Thanks for making us stand. >> I need some refreshers on a stand up paddle board. >> Anytime. >> It's tough.
>> I can't do it in the ocean. All right. Only on the bank. >> Any uh anyone else in the com in the commission chambers? Mayor Ker, please state your name. And >> before I start, I'd like to defer to anybody that may be on Zoom. >> Sure.
>> Would like to speak? >> Uh does anyone on the Zoom platform wish to speak about anything regarding Vetner and any comments of any kind? Anybody on Zoom wish to comment, please make yourself known in the chat feature by raising your hand on Zoom and you'll be
recognized. >> Nope. No. >> Give him one more sec. >> All right. So, >> all right. >> Good evening. Uh, keyboard warrior ventner city. I understand there may be plenty of us keyboard warriors out there. So, I'll clarify that it's
keyboard warrior Tim Chryser, Venture City. First, I want to apologize for not attending the last commission meeting to address my social media post in person. That evening marked my 43rd wedding anniversary. I decided that if I wanted to see year 44, it would be wise to
spend the night with my wife. Now, to the substance, spec specifically what has been labeled a catastrophic error. replacing the IKE rink with a library expansion and allegedly jeopardizing Green Acres funding. Before using the words like catastrophic, let's
revisit the full context. The ice rink was built with Greenacre funds in the 1970s. Because of those rest green acre restrictions, it could not be fully enclosed. The original design left it open to the elements in an oceanfront environment with salt air that was a
structural and operational challenge from day one. The sides were eventually added but left partially open to comply with restrictions. The rink required an expensive chiller maintenance and eventually replacement. Meanwhile, the state funded the skate zone in laying
city which pulled away most group business, the steady revenue source that kept the rank viable. The city began losing roughly $30,000 annually. So, we had an antiquated ice rink draining tax dollars and serving a limited few. Let
me be clear. I never cut recreation over 30,000, but real leadership requires assessing whether a facility is serving the greatest number of residents in a fiscally responsible way. At that at that same time, the library built in 1964
after the uh after the March storm destroyed the prior facility near the fishing pier was outdated and undized. no dedicated children's areas, so children's activities had to be had to coexist with those trying to read or do research.
There are no computer stations because computers didn't exist when it was built in 1964. There is limited shelving space re uh restricting access to materials causing our residents having to wait for books to be delivered from the main library in Maze Landing. So we had an antiquated
ice rink draining tax dollars and serving few and an inadequate library. Do you know the history of the original cultural arts buildings? I didn't think so. The cultural arts center consisted of temporary modeled units originally associated with the
development of the Regency condominiums donated, relocated, and reassembled. They were never intended for long-term heavy public use. Dance programs were literally operating in buildings not engineered for that activity. So now we had an antiquated money lose an ice
rink, inadequate library, and a dilapidated cultural arts center. Do you know where the treasure trove of Vetner's history was originally stored? Okay. Dr. James Mason, a true steward of Vetner's history, was preserving priceless documents and artifacts in his
own home. Twice a year, he would bring pieces out of for display. an extraordinary act of dedication, but not a permanent solution. So now we had an antiquated money losing rice rink, an inadequate library, a dilapidated cultural arts center, and no historical
museum to preserve and display our rich history. And we discovered that our adjacent community building needed a new roof, new windows, and HVAC repairs. Our response was thoughtful and strategic. We applied for and received more than $450,000
in state funding to expand the library. >> I'm sorry, how much? >> I think it was $450,000 plus. A proper children's section, a modern computer access, study rooms for private research, an additional meeting room to accommodate veterary groups and library
programs, dedicated cultural art space with dance studio and a kiln for pottery, a permanent historical museum. expanding program serving significantly more residents than the rink ever did. Now, let's address that timeline because I think it's critical. Why did this
suddenly become an initial an issue only after my administration left office years after the ice rink was replaced? Let me provide my thoughts. I do not recall every detail from that time. I know do know this. Libraries were considered and encouraged diversionary
use. The state awarded us funds to expand the library into the ice rink. No longtime employees raised any green acres concerns. A state representative was invited to and attended the library dedication. My memory serves me right. No
restriction surfaced during the title search. No green acre objection was raised for years afterwards. And our administration after the ice rink was done away with secured over se $700,000 in green acre funding for the fishing
pier. All of this may have led us to believe we're >> certain of which they're still holding on us. We can't get 300k of that because >> let's get to that commissioner. >> So you got you're done. Your three minutes are up. >> Okay. Thank you very much. So you invited me here to have a dialogue. You
go on a tirade against me for how many minutes last meeting I come to respond and participate and you give me three minutes when you had more than 20 minutes to attack me at the last meeting. This is democracy in action. And everybody on the zoom, I hope you hear this. I come here to give
responses. I come here to give my opinion. You limit me to three minutes. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> You didn't get D approval for the green acres to remove the the ranch. interrupted. Respond to me. >> I can respond as long as I want to, man. >> Don't respond to me.
>> I can say whatever I want. I'm I'm sitting up here. I can respond to >> I'm the employer. I'm the employer. I pay your salaries and to limit me to three minutes. >> Please. >> Please. What? Commissioner, go ahead. Please. What? Commissioner,
>> you went through a thoughtful process and >> I'm limited to three minutes while you get to sit up there and test me. >> That's right. >> And give misinformation about me. >> No. No. You're the one who gave misinformation. >> I didn't I would have if I had an opportunity to speak, >> sir. >> What?
>> Sir, >> I'm sorry. What? >> You're going to interrupt. >> Yeah, but he can go on and attack me and I'm not allowed to defend myself. Is that your opinion, Mr. Solicitor? Is that your opinion, Mr. Solicitor? >> You're not going to answer me. I pay
your salary as well. Not your salary because you're not on the payroll, but you're a vendor. So, if I had an opportunity, I'd show you. And I'd ask you to give me the post where I gave misinformation. >> Three minutes. And you're accessible.
>> Yeah. As long as you can say what you want to say in 3 minutes. >> I've had personal conversation with multiple people that last longer than 3 minutes. Our process here is the public gets three minutes. You have something else, we'll talk about it outside the meeting. That's been our policy. That's been the
city's policy since I've been coming to meetings. And >> I agree. We uh Mr. Mr. Chryer, I'm going to ask I'm going to ask you to sit down. >> Defer to anybody in the public, so they didn't have to listen to me. But you guys can't sit here and listen to my response. You limit me to three minutes.
You won't sit there and listen to my response. I asked you to we I I sent you a couple of emails to sit down in person heard my response. Your comments were on the record. I want my comments on the record. And as a taxpayer, as somebody who has donated
probably close to $100,000 of volunteer hours in this community, who has served in public office and whose hours downstairs in that office is legendary. To be limited to three minutes is a disgrace. But that's your palace. and
your policy, Mr. >> And any other public comments? Hearing none. Uh, close the I have a motion to close the public comment section of this evening. >> So moved. I have a second. >> Second. >> Roll call. Lisa. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes.
>> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. Uh, do we have a need for executive session this evening? >> We didn't really talk about that. We wanted to discuss some potential litigation. Do we want to still do that tonight or No.
>> I'd like to to discuss it briefly if we could. Five minute discussion, that's all. >> Okay. You have the >> I do. >> Lisa, would you read the executive session comment, please? The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act permits the discussion of certain matters within an
executive session. As an exception to certain provisions of said law, the Veteror 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. The matters to be discussed are potential litigation and no action will be taken.
>> So we are in the moment of executive session. >> Not yet. >> Motion to go into executive session. So moved. >> Second. Commissioner Langraph. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Mento. >> All right. You're good to go. All right. Um
motion >> field. So basically no formal action was taken with respect to the closed session. A brief discussion was discussed with respect to potential projects uh involving Baderfield. Okay.
Um I have a motion to adjurnn. So moved. >> Roll call. L. >> Commissioner Langra. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mento. Yes. Mayor Cville. >> Yes. B.