Um, I'd like to call to order like to call to order the vendor city commission meeting October 23, 2025. Can I have everyone rise for the flag salute, please? >> Pledge allegiance to the flag, United States of America, and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Cindy. May I have roll call, please? >> Commissioner Langra, absent. Commissioner Mento, >> here.
>> Mayor Kel >> here. 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 website at www.venorcity.org. and the live streaming announcement that
the city of Venner offers live streaming and the option of the public 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 direction of the city for any future meetings. Okay. All right. Um, we have no presentations this evening and the following items are
scheduled for action at the 10:23 commission meeting. We are uh within the workshop meeting. Uh we have no minutes to adopt. We have no ordinances to introduce and we have no public hearing
adoptions. So we have a number of resolutions um by consent this evening starting with 322. 322 is resolution of the city of Ventner. This is authorizing an agreement between the
city of Ventner and the city of Margate to supply potable water for certain properties on Fredericksburg and Mammoth Avenue. Um this was something that was discovered that um uh that there are some connections going to from uh to
Margaret residences from Ventner and this alleviates that and creates the um the way in which it will be um renumerated to the Ventner city. Correct. >> Any questions? >> Yeah. So Margate will pay us based on what they bill their people.
>> Correct. Any funds they receive will be sent to us >> based on what they bill for what? Not on what we built for water. >> Correct. >> Okay. Probably the one is >> okay. Is there is there an I don't know
what the difference is. >> Is there a difference? >> Is it more or les >> right >> then? There's a difference. >> Right. Okay. >> Shortfall or I'm not aware. Is it? There's only It's
like two houses, I think. >> Is that it? Two houses? >> No. >> I think it's a total of 12 properties. >> Okay. They're listed in the resolution. >> They're listed in the resolution. >> So, in the agreement, >> do we think Margate should be paying us based on what it cost us, what we
charge, or is there not a really clean way to do that? >> I have I'm not sure. I have to think about that some more. So it's it's metered I guess a >> meter and a rate. We have a rate. >> They have their meters there. So they
read them, they bill them and they and that's been going on for a number of years. It was discovered and we've entered into discussions with them to get reimbursed for the past five years and then moving forward. That's
the way we're doing it. If you want to suggest a change to have make sure that our rates are applied, if there's a difference, we'll look at that. I I don't frankly know what their rates are. >> Would you prefer? >> I I think it >> I think
I I think whoever's buying our water should pay what everybody else is paying to buy our water if that's possible. >> Now, they are on the Margate side of the >> But it's our water, >> right? Okay. Do you want the table?
>> And you know if Margates's rate is higher then they're paying more than what our and vetner people are paying and if Margate's rate is lower then they're paying less than what veterary people are paying. Am I correct? Is that a good summary? >> Yeah. I I think that's correct. Yeah.
>> All right. I mean, it's not a is it I don't think it's a problem to table it and then and get that information and No, we've already discussed this with Margate. I guess >> Margate's already paid us. >> Already paid. >> The issue might be that Margate can't
who's who's billing these people? Margate? >> Yes. >> So, can they bill them based on what our rate is? Maybe they can't. >> I don't I don't frankly know. I mean, they they we would have to give them the rate >> or we would have to go read the meters.
I'm not sure. I'd have to I said, I'd have to think through the mechanics of that. >> Just seemed the easiest thing to do was to have them do an audit of those accounts, give us all the money that they've collected for the past five years, which they now have done, and then moving forward, whatever they bill and collect, give it to us.
>> Okay. So, I guess what I'm my concern is moving forward. I'm I'm not concerned about suggesting we adjust backwards for our rate, but I just think moving forward whatever our rate is is what everyone should pay,
including the Margate P. >> I'll do that analysis and if we need to revisit it, we will. >> And I don't know if it's more or less. I just think it should be the same. >> Well, either if it's if it's less, I'm not telling them. Yeah, I'm sure it's going to be a there's going to be something to unravel with the
>> neighbors if some if they're paying more or less than their neighbors as well. If our rate is higher or lower, there's going to be a >> I think that that's a discussion that going to have to >> I do, but I I don't think it's going to be a significant amount of money. >> I don't think so either. >> We're we're talking here for these 12
properties, it came to like $13,000 for five years. >> So, moving forward, how much per year is it going to be? It's not not much. 13. >> And so the difference between theirs and ours is >> definely not my issue. I just >> understand your issue. I get it. I get it.
>> Like eight people shouldn't be paying something different than than >> right >> the 35,000 people that we I mean we do have different categories of rates though, you know, commercial versus residential, etc. So there are differences, >> but I understand your point. I'll look
at that >> and we should know before we adopt it, I guess. And that and and the other unintended consequence is that that those eight 14 12 people might be paying more or less than their Margate neighbors. >> Yeah, >> that's going to >> Yeah. Either way, whether it's more or
less, I think it should be the same. >> It's not though. Mar I mean for compared to other Margate residents, they may not be. >> Oh, yeah. They they would be pay Well, but they're not getting Margate water, >> right? >> Right. the residences in Margate. So, it's gonna it's gonna
>> well, you know, there's a certain I I don't want I guess with this we can be more precise with it. I was just thinking of the agreement that's in existence for their participation in that Ventner Gardens uh sewer pump station. So, they're going to pay there's a longstanding agreement that
they pay 35% of the cost. How that 35% was arrived at, I don't know. Do they contribute 35% of the of the wastewater? I don't know. >> Yeah, way back in the day it was a a third, a third, and a third, but the
county was in kind. >> All right. >> So, when we reread this for adoption, we'll pull it out and and get some more information. >> Okay. >> I I would like you to just go ahead and approve this since it's already in
place. They said they Margate has already approved it, signed it, you've already signed it, they've already paid us, right, >> which I didn't expect them to do so quickly, but they did. Um, and then we'll look to revisit this going forward if we find there's a difference in the rates. We'll make an addendum to it.
>> Yes, we'll just modify it or do >> There may not be a difference in the rates today, but there could be a difference in the rates over the course of this track. >> Yeah, I get it. >> And that's what could be added >> that that >> if we do it. You mean you know I don't want it to get lost and >> well yeah
>> once it's approved it's done >> and can say no >> fine they already >> I know they've already paid us for the past >> right >> but that now we're talking about changing it for going forward >> it's fine you can vote on it then it
next month it okay all right so we'll table 32 322 2. Um item 323 is revising personnel policies and procedure manual. Do you want to talk about this um Nicole or?
>> Yeah. So um good evening. This is a requirement of the GIF. Every two years they update their policy manual for um all the municipalities that participate in their program. we have to update the manual and distribute it and um provide
them by November 1st um with our resolution that's shows that we've adopted this manual. Uh there were very little changes for this year. Um the first was the additions to the Americans with Disabilities Policy to include language relating to
the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act. Um that passed in 2023, but there were regulations issued in 2024. Um so we have added that to our uh disability policy. Uh another addition was a language to include um under the hostile
work environment uh definition that even work even activity that occurs outside of the workplace if it bleeds into the workplace that is something that you could potentially be on the hook for in terms of being a harasser or violating city policy. Um, just for your
information, we do include that in presentations that we do to employees. So, that was something that the employees should have already been aware of. Um, this is just an abundance of caution that it's now actually in the policy manual. Um, change to the vacation leave policy. Um this isn't
really a change to our policy necessarily, but it's more of uh codifying and making sure that everybody's aware and on the same page um with regards to the ability to carry vacation from one year into the next. Uh there's a state statute um in civil
service and also for non-Ivil service municipalities that the state controllers's office has really kind of um looked at more severely over the last several years. Um, so that is now uh in our contract in our policy manual. I do believe it's already in several of our
contracts with our uh units. But um and then the last piece was just an acknowledgement of receipt page at the end of the manual just um showing that all employees had received it. Um so they would now get that piece of paper, sign it, and then that paper will go in their file saying that they've gotten
it. Other than that, that was it. So, we'd recommend that you approve these changes and we'll submit that to the GIF so we can um be in compliance and have this done by November 1st. >> That's great that there's so few. >> Yes. >> They did a major overhaul a couple years
ago. >> So, um >> did this come in in a whole different order or was it in the same order this time? >> Remember a few years ago they just changed the whole order? >> They literally changed like Yeah, the whole man. No, this was just very simple. Just a few changes and Yeah. Um
most of them we or all of them we were already abiding by anyway. So it's really just uh making sure it's written down in the manual. >> Yeah. A few years ago what page five became page 15. What was page 15 became seven. What was page 12 became page
four. It was massive under Yeah. >> Um all right. So when does that and then so this is the the adoption and then um the manual will be updated and employees will get their signature sheet. >> Yeah, it's already been updated. Um so the clerk's office does have that. So if you're inclined to approve it at the
meeting, then it'll be able to be distributed to the employees shortly. >> All right, great. And it's all um predicated on what the Jeff has asked for the joint insurance fund. All right. Um, next is uh four, I'm sorry, 324.
Uh, this is um submission of uh approving the uh corrective action plan to the state of New Jersey. This is for the lifeguard um pension program. Correct. So, um we discussed this last um last meeting when we had um
uh our uh the entire board on and this is the actual action plan that was written uh to correct it if you have anything to add. >> No, this is going to be again somewhat of a multi-step process. The corrective action plan is telling the office of the
state controller what we're going to do right >> in response to the recommendations contained in their audit report. So the one of the things was to appoint a new board. That's been done. The next step is to revise the uh the actual plan
document. I've distributed a draft of that to you and to Nicole. and Nicole is satisfied that it uh complies with the statute and with the uh state comprollers report then the uh pension commission will be asked that is the local pension commission will be asked
to approve that and we'll send that up and you'll adopt it by ordinance. So >> okay >> so this is something that was on the back burner for one reason or another for years. So thank you for getting it done. >> Yeah. Well, I I would still like to see
the state legislature step up and repeal that stupid law. >> Yeah. >> At least perspectively. You know, the people that are already vested and in the system should remain in the system, but going forward. And that that was the conclusion that that the office of the comproller reached as well and made that
same recommendation to the legislature that they really should get rid of this that it does not compare well with the other state administered pension plans and fire public employees. It's much more generous and stupid. No other
part-time employees are eligible for a pension. >> Right? That's the main distinction there is the part-time, right? >> Okay. Thank you. Um so we'll be in compliance. Uh next is is uh 325.
Um this is authorizing the hiring of Leaden Singleton as laborer for the public works department. Correct. Um and uh he'll be right there in the first to sign the new lab new employee manual.
Does this is this as a result of somebody leaving or retiring? >> Um >> yeah. Okay. >> Someone from street department has worical tweets that
>> now. Okay. triple. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh 2025 326 is the next item. Um this is confirming the review and
completion of CY2025-SFY2026 best practice inventory. So was this falls under >> finance. >> This is this is part of the budget process. It's one of the first things that that happens as we get into the new cycle. There's a an inventory that the
state changes every year and sends out with their their uh best practices and it's a questionnaire that is completed by the CFO and the clerk. And I guess there's some pieces for the administrator as well. Uh, and it's a a
series of yes and no questions to a variety of topics. You know, are you doing this? Are you not doing it? Is it is it not applicable? Uh, so Amy uh completed that document. It's been posted and we just need a resolution that uh proves the submittal.
>> Okay, great. Thank you. >> And the the consequence is it's also scored. So you Yes. If you don't hit it certain scores, your state aid gets reduced by certain amounts depending on what your score is. So our score reaches
the level where we'll get a 100% of our state aid. >> Okay, great. And this is the first step. Thank you. Um next is 2025 327. Um this is uh terminating the
prescription uh the participation in the prescription drug and dental coverage. So this is another this is regarding our healthcare >> including prescription drug and >> including >> under state health benefit program. >> Yeah the key here this is this is big.
This is terminating our participation in state health benefits plan which includes prescription. Does it include dental? >> I'm sorry. >> No it doesn't include dental. So, it's health and dent and and prescription. Uh, and we had the gentleman here at the last
meeting to explain right where where we're going effective January 1st. >> So, this is a terminating that um the in anticipation of a 36% increase versus an alternative that we have for a roughly 15% increase. >> Correct.
>> And again, I think Terry, Tom, and and Amy did an excellent >> Yeah. job with getting this to to happen. >> Yeah. Yeah. In the in the long in the long run, it's it's going to benefit um the city, the the employees, and the and the taxpayers.
>> Yep. >> Um last item is we're adding to the bench is 2025-2 328. Um this is transfer of vendor Avenue
pizza such to vendor Avenue Social LLC uh for persontoperson liquor license and um and which is uh something that happens from time to time. Any questions on that?
That's that's 328 and uh 329 was added uh just brief just quickly before I got between the time we met and now this is the um authorizing the mayor to execute license agreement between the city of Ventner and the county of Atlanta
concerning streetscape improvements within the county right away. So, this is the um uh hold harmless and uh the uh uh license agreement for those uh trees and beds on Vener Avenue. >> Any questions on that?
>> Yep. >> Good. Um so then we'll have um bills and payroll. Uh I don't have any discussion items listed. >> No. >> No. Um and at this point um we can open
the um open the floor to public portion on any items that have been discussed so far in the uh commission meeting. So may I have a motion to open for public portion? >> I will make the motion to open. >> I'll second
Cindy. Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Creable. >> Yes. So at this time any uh any comments on anything that we've discussed so far in the workshop meeting there's a moment now there's no one in the uh except employees here in the in the um in the
commission chambers. Anybody on Zoom that wishes to discuss anything that we've discussed so far there will be time at the end of the meeting to discuss any other topics. >> Anybody on Zoom wish to comment on any of the items that have been discussed so far. Please make yourself known within the chat feature by raising your hand
and you will be recognized. No. Nope. Okay. Hearing none. May I have a motion to close public portion of the workshop? >> Motion to close. >> A second. Can have a roll call. >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. Mayor >> Creable.
>> Yes. A call to order the regular portion of the meeting. Um may I have uh we have no approval of minutes. We have no ordinance as described. We have no ordinance introduction. We have no public hearing. And we have no ordinance adoptions. May I have a motion to adopt
the following resolutions 20 25-322 >> 323. Both said no at the same time. Excuse me. three to adopt mo resolutions 2025-323 through 2025-329.
>> I'll make the motion as described. >> I'll second the motion. May roll call. Cindy, >> Commissioner Mento. >> Yes. >> Mayor Cable. >> Yes. Uh can we have the reading of uh bills and payroll, please? >> Payrolls for this period is $649,387.14.
>> Thank you. Payables for this period 532 $253.56. >> Great. Thank you. I have a motion to approve bills and payroll. >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. Have a roll call. Cindy. >> Commissioner Mento. Yes. Mayor >> Creable. >> Yes. Uh no one any announcements or
safety reports. We can go right. I seeing none. Can I go directly to your commissioner comments? >> Sure. Um, well, finance, congratulations on getting the payroll converted, right? We're we're doing good. I think it was
the fastest uh conversion I've ever seen. So, uh, great job everybody. And, um, a reminder from our tax office to get your applications into the state for the anchor and the state New Jersey. The deadline is 10:31, so there's not much
time left. And then in regards to events, um, what do we have coming up is the Halloween Fest on October 26 at Ski Beach from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There
is a parade at 12:30 p.m. And um, we have a pumpkin patch sponsored by Farley and Ferry and a costume contest and parade. Then December, which is coming fast, we have the parade weekend starting with the um tree lighting on December 5th, the parade. On December
6th, and additional uh festivities on December 7th, we have the New York City bus trip. On December 10th, we have the city hall lighting on December 15th, and I can't believe I'm saying December. >> And we have Santa on the fire truck.
December 19. And um the BBA had a successful tailgate um party and game um this past weekend uh for the Eagles game and there were quite a few people there and it looked
like a really good success. Um we're still waiting to hear how we did on Best of the Press and uh we're planning now for the 2026 uh season.
>> Great. Excellent. >> That's it. That's it. Y >> um I just have two things. One, uh this resolution um 329, I appreciate the support with this. It was became much more detailed and um uh on the county side of it, but the we should be
starting in about two weeks to uh to replace any dead or dying trees with trees that have been um discussed with our uh tree inventory and our green team. Um there'll be about um 12 trees
in the area between um uh uh Dunkin Donuts to uh to uh Sundays. Sundays will get two that that block will get two trees first and then uh all the beds from the entire city will be cleaned out
uh and bordered with um block flush with the sidewalk and filled with um native plantings. And the same goes for the theater district area. There'll be about uh there's there's fewer trees there because there's a lot of um a lot of
difficulty with the um the Wawa and the theater being larger, but as you get closer to Nashville, all those beds will be replaced and refitted with new beds, cleaned out, and the trees will be replaced where they're where they're in need where they're in distress and in need of there's a handful of trees that
are still um in good shape, and they will be cleaned up and um and pruned and we have a year's worth of uh um of maintenance on that with those trees. So, the trees should go into dormcancy and then and spring should be uh really
um really beautiful because there's a real wide variety of trees to create like a um uh a difference of species there. So, uh a lot a lot more meetings than I expected, but there's um it and then uh the sidewalk it itself will be
um repaired where some trees are are dead or die. So that's exciting. >> So are we working with a contractor? >> Yes, Bay View is the contractor. >> Okay. >> And they've been very easy to and and um uh we've been out there walked the all the areas with public works and uh with
um with Rick and um can't make tried to make them as symmetrical as you'd think. Uh and the trees are are all meant to grow straight down and not too large so they don't interfere with lighting. I think we had a lot of a lot of input from and the county was very helpful in
getting the the um the the approvals and uh the paperwork we needed to do their side as well. So, I'm looking forward to that starting. Um, >> I've said this before though. You sit in that office, your door's shut, you're quietly churning something, you got
paper, a pen to paper, and then the next thing you know there's like a building and there's this and there's that and now there's going to be trees and um so uh >> little >> Thank you. >> I think it'll I think it'll make a big >> part and and it's quiet and then and
>> thank you. >> And then the next thing you know there's something great and grand. So Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> kind of cool. >> It is. It is. City's going to look I think it's going to be a big improvement that's going to take shape over time when those plings um really take shape >> and you do your research
>> sometimes. I >> you really do you do and you look at other cities. I know you do. >> Thank you. >> Not always that quiet. So, yeah, I know you >> appreciate it. Um, so the the other thing I have is just to
um make everybody aware that the um the boardwalk project had their first construction meeting today and it's going to happen a lot faster than I think I was ready to discuss yet. But we're going to have uh it's probably in about two weeks we're going to start to see things mobilize uh on the boardwalk.
And after that, um, we should have, but before that, we'll have some more information on how, um, how that affects the access to the boardwalk and the overall time frame for it. The main thing that we're trying to do is to make sure that we use utilize all of our, uh,
grant money in time. Uh, and and I don't want to speak for Commissioner Langraph. He's really been the one spearheading that. He's not here tonight. >> So, that's all I have to say. >> He's another one that has projects to work on and you see see good things come out of it. I get to send out tax bills, you know.
>> Yeah, >> maybe I should change the color of the paper or something. I don't know. >> You know, it's it's all it's all it's it's it's um it's all part of making the city run more efficiently, be more just transparent, be more communicative um better with the residents. I think
that's all the stuff that we wanted to do and the city itself, I think, is looking better and better. >> Um that's all I have unless you had something you wanted to add. >> Yep. So um so um if so seeing that there is one
more item here public comment so um can I this would be for any topic on anything as long as it's ventner related um can I have a motion to open the meeting for public comment >> make the motion to open to public comment >> I'll second the motion
>> roll call Cindy >> Commission Aventa >> yes Mayor Ka >> yes so this This is a point where every anyone uh can discuss any uh specific agenda items or questions or comments uh during the regular meeting. Is there anyone in the Zoom platform that wishes
to make any comments? >> Anybody in Zoom wish to make any comments? Please make yourself known and be recognized. >> Nope. Seeing none, may I have a motion to close public comment? >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. Can I have a roll call?
Cindy. >> Commissioner Mento. >> I'm sorry. Um, what are we going to >> Closing public health? >> Yes. Yes. I'm sorry. I I got a text. It It distracted me. >> Yes. >> Yes. Mayor.
>> Yes. >> Um, >> I totally got hang in there. Um, executive session we have none. So, may I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. Have a roll call. >> Commissioner Mento,
>> yes. Mayor Craig, >> yes. 60.