Mayor and Council - Regular Meeting

Okay. Oh, no.

Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided to the co-star, the official newspaper of the Burough, Belmar, and the Asbury Park Press. And notice of this meeting was posted on the bulletin board and the burough's website. Take roll call. Councilman Donovan here. Counciloman McKenna here. Mayor Bafesco here. Councilman Delasio here. Councilman Moroni here. Please stand for the allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for a moment of silence for our troops, their families, and first responders.

Okay, thank you for proclamations. We have three. The first one being public service week. Proclamation for public service recognition week May 3rd through the 9th 2026. Whereas Americans are served every single day by public servants at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels. These unsung heroes do the work that keeps our nation working. And whereas public employees take not only jobs but oaths. And whereas many public servants, including military personnel, police officers, firefighters, border patrol officers, embassy employees, health care professionals, and others risk their lives each day in service to the people of the United States and around the world. And whereas public service include teachers, doctors, scientists, trained conductors, and astronauts, nurses, and safety inspectors, laborers, computer technicians, and social workers, and countless other occupations. Day in and day out, they provide the diverse services demanded by the American people of their government with efficiency and integrity. And whereas these public service at every level can uh continuity would be impossible in a de democracy that regularly changes its leaders and elected officials. Now therefore the mayor and council of the burough of Belmar do hereby announce and proclaim to all citizens that May 3rd through the 9th 2026 is public service recognition week. All citizens are encouraged to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of government employees at all levels federal, state, county, and municipal. April 28th, 2026.

Thank you. Uh let's go to building safety month.

Thank you. Uh building safety month is May 2026. Uh whereas the burrow burrow of the county of state of New Jersey is committed to recognizing our growth and strength depends on the safety and economic value of the homes, buildings, and infrastructure that serve our citizens both in everyday life and in times of natural disaster. And whereas our confidence in theru structural integrity of these buildings that make up our community is achieved through the devotion of vigilant guardians, building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, trades people, design professionals, laborers and other in and others in the construction industry who work year round to ensure the safe construction of buildings. And whereas these guardians are dedicated members of the international code of code code council, a US-based organization that brings together local, state, and federal officials that are experts in the built environment to create and implement the highest quality codes to protect us in the buildings where we live, learn, work, worship, play. And whereas these modern building codes include safeguards to protect the public from hazards such as hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes, wildland fires, floods, and earthquakes. And whereas building safety month is sponsored by the International Code Council to remind the public about the critical role of our community's largely unknown protectors of the public safety, our our local code officials who assure us safe, sustainable, and affordable buildings that are essential to our prosperity. And whereas get in the game and celebrate building safety is the theme to building safety month 2026 encourages us all to raise awareness about planning for safe and sustainable construction. Career opportunity opportunities in building safety,

understanding disaster mitigation, energy conservation, and creating a safe and abundant water supply to all our benefit. And whereas each year in in observance of building safety month, people all over the world are asked to consider the commitment to improve building safety, resilience, and economic investment at home and in the community, and to acknowledge the essential special essential service provided to all of us by local and state building departments, fire prevention bureaus, and federal agencies in protecting lives and property. Now therefore, the mayor and council of the burrow of Belmar, county of Mama, state of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as building safety month dated April 28th, 2026.

Thank you. And I'm going to do the the next one, which is the 57th annual professional municipal clerk's week, which is actually May 3rd through 9th. Whereas the office of the professional municipal clerk, a timehonored and vital part of local government, exists throughout the world. And whereas the office office of the professional municipal clerk is the oldest among public servants. And whereas the office of professional municipal clerk provides the professional link between the citizens, the local governing bodies and agencies of government at other levels. And whereas professional municipal clerks have pledged to be ever mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all. Whereas the professional municipal clerk serves as the information center on functions of local government and community. Whereas professional municipal clerks continually strive to improve the administration of the affairs of the office of the professional municipal clerk through participation in education programs, seminars, workshops, and the annual meetings of their state, provincial, county, and international professional organizations. Whereas it is most appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the office of the professional municipal clerk. Now therefore, the mayor and council of the burough of Belmar recognize the week of May 3rd through 9th, 2026 as professional municipal clerks week and further extend appreciation to our professional municipal clerk, April Clauddio, and to all professional municipal clerks of New Jersey for the vital services they perform and their exemplary dedication to the communities they represent.

I'm going to continue on this vein and I'm going to ask April to join me down in the front along with the rest of the council. We have a very special person in our midst here tonight. on the level. I was able to attend a ceremony along with the Kane on on Friday of the uh Niss Clerks Association of New Jersey. And unfort is not the type that we came up with. We just took it off of April's wall. But um what it says is um April has been appointed or designated the municipal clerk of the year

in recognition of her dedication and professionalism to the office of municipal clerk and I know she worked very very hard to get she takes all kinds of classes and we really do have a star in our midst and I don't know what we would do without So congratulations There we go. Congratulations. And she actually had to say a few words at the event which she was not prepared for. One more time. If you want, you can, but you don't have to. Okay.

And I'll present this to you again. I have to back over there. Congratulations, April. Congratulations. It was in here. agenda. That's true. Take you off of my list.

Okay, we're going to move on to the workshop discussion. The first thing we have is the filming ordinance. New Jersey film ready. Uh we were given a proposed ordinance. We already have an ordinance and April went to uh to a lot of extent to compare our two ordinances and we just have to discuss it and see what it is we want to do in terms of that. Who would like to uh um I'll start. So I know our ordinances go back to when we were worried about reality television shows filming here,

which I don't think is as strong of a worry nowadays. I'm not really worried about real world filming here. Not that I would want that. Um my understanding of the ordinance itself is that it includes not just it's mostly guidelines but it also includes suggested fees and rates that would be then uniform against around all the towns who adopted this ordinance. Um to me that has pluses and minuses. the I don't love that we're being handed guidance with uniform fees across everywhere because I always think Belmar is worth more. But I know if we set our rates too high, we don't get this film ready designation. Uh that being said, there's also things we have to know like I know you have to put in like 10 locations in town to register as film ready. So we would have to agree on what those 10 locations are. Um, and for me as well, anything that would become official, if we were as a town approving filming, I think we would have to be very intentional and particular about where and when. We wouldn't want someone filming on 18th of Ocean in July, right?

Um, and I just wouldn't want to disrupt our quality of life. So, so that to me is really important when we consider all of these things. I also don't want though want Belmar to be left behind. Um when I talk to businesses in town, what they often talk about is how now winter months are worse than summer months are not as good. And if we can have something that's bringing in business, particularly outside of the summer, I think that is a net good for Belmar. That also being said, we there's some things that people in town can do. One is if you want to register your private property for filming, you can go to njrealcottscout.com and those would be subject to anything like any other event as far as orphans permitting. And the other thing is that you businesses can register as film ready which I think is a neat little direct approach to the main street business problem and all of businesses problem because business can register on the NJ film ready site. they who want to provide crew services, vendor services, film support services. So that is already available even if we don't pass the film ready ordinance.

Okay. When I was looking at it, uh the very first thing looking at the uh analysis that April the chart that she the very first item is the reviewing authority and our current reviewing authority is the um what we do for all special events. uh it goes through the burough administrator. We have a special events committee who is who was advised of what's happening uh and any expedited permits obviously require approval from the police chief, public works, superintendent, two council members. sample ordinance only provides that the uh the reviewing authority is the town manager which in our case would be the business administrator and there's no multi-member committee required for any permit type. Now what what it kind of leaves it blank to you know if we if we say that can we still have our our you know our special events committee and and all that kind of stuff. It doesn't say that you can't, but I mean that that was one thing that just stuck out to me because I think we would need to want to continue that in the future for for any of the TV or filming that's that's going on here. Um, some of the other things that I just will point out quickly, um, you know, our permit is $250. The the sample ordinance makes it a 100. um expedited. We we have a $1,000 permit fee. They they make it 250. Um daily filling fee, you know, we have it in our ordinance now for for 500 per day. Theirs is 150 per day at the budget of the I guess whatever the filming organization is, it's under 20 million or 500 a day over 20. So, I mean, I'm

not going to go through them all, but there are differences in some of the fees. Um, I'm trying to see what else might be. Permitted filming hours looks a little different. Right now, ours says 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in residential areas. Uh, May 1st to November 1st, further limited to non-h holiday weekends only. The the stample ordinance says uh Monday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 900 p p.m. uh camera wrap 10 p.m. for the crew wrap night restrictions apply only to exterior residential filming. So it seems a little broader to to me in terms of when when they can film. Um, our ordinance says in terms of the maximum days that that can be filled, uh, we say three consecutive days per location, six days per year per location, which is waveable for major motion pictures. Sample says there's no day provision, day limit provision. Um, we have uh no filming within 200 feet of a licensed establishment, a liquor license establishment while open unless there's an exemption granted by the business administrator. They don't have any equivalent position provision for that. Um, go with insurance the same, you know, it's it's it's different, you know. Um,

ours. Yeah, we have strict insurance requirements. Um, we we require a $500 bond. The ordinance doesn't. Um, we don't have an appeal mechanism. Uh, but apparently the sample ordinance does in terms of appealing to the town council within 10 days. And obviously, I think that's connected to the fact that the very first thing was that the town manager makes the decision. So, obviously, if this appeal if we have everybody on board at the beginning. There should be no appeal needed. Um penalties, uh we have $1,000 a day. The sample ordinance has $2,000 a day. Um in terms of notifying the New Jersey Film Commission, we don't require that, but the the sample ordinance says copies of the permit must be sent to the New Jersey Motion Picture Television Commission. um definition our in our thing the definition of filming um in our ordinance doesn't reference streaming platforms in the sample it says it explicitly covers major linear broadcast networks and streaming platforms um and the the section on TV series private property exemption um we say that TV segments shoots conducted entirely inside a non-residential commercial building not visible from outside are exempt from the permit requirement and they and the uh the sample ordinance does not have that that that similar car. So there's a lot of uh there are a lot of pros and cons as to what what we would want to do. I mean the thing I think to consider and I don't know that I have a good handle on one is what is the benefit to us to be film ready. I mean, I guess I guess the

the answer is when the New Jersey motion picture and film industries, you know, get approached by a a director or somebody and they say, you know, where's a place that we can film if we don't have the the ordinance? They're not going to take more. I guess that's the that's really the ultimate um reason for for adopting the ordinance. So,

I think ready is key word here. You know, if the filling has started. It's been in Asbury. It's been in Redbank. I think we should open the doors for people being in Belmar. I just think we have to do it carefully so that we're maintaining our quality of life. Um I personally would prefer to be um reviewing authority we still have rather than the sample ordinances. Um but I worry the thing that always worries me about any large event is that to make sure that we are as a town not losing money on it. I don't want to have large expenses for DPW and for the police department um that we're not recouping in the name of a 30-cond spot in a TV show. So, I think it has to be balanced that way.

A lot of numbers almost every fee that they proposed or had in the sample was less than what we currently have. So, to second what you said, we're worth it. Um, but what do we actually have to do to become that film running status? Um, and and how do we do it to only benefit our, you know, our businesses and not put that strain on the police and the DPWs? It's a challenge. We have to look at it. Um I think we need a better explanation of what what specifically we have to either completely modify or reduce uh with our um ordinance as it stands because it's it's it then the ordinance right now is made for us to be protected. Uh so we we move it, we open the doors. I think it'll be a great thing. It could help the businesses. It could also not help the businesses. It's a matter of getting it to that right point. Um so I think you know all of all of the things that the mayor brought up I had in an email I could draft in April about some of the, you know, um, fees that that I would say we should really stick with our fee versus their fee, like the $150 a day fee budget under a 5 million, you know, under a 5 million budget. Um, and then there was also a limit that could you you couldn't film between I think it was May 1st and November 1st. And that's where I thought you kind of might lose a little bit. Maybe we should produce that down towards like the middle of September cuz that's probably when, you know, a film would want to use, you know, use our our, you know, beautiful sea uh space. Um, those are some, you know, timing restrictions that maybe we could reduce, but the fees, I don't really see much of a point. The bonds, the insurance, those are things that we need. And I agree the the approving um party should stick with the way we have it as long as we can still get that film ready. I think the way we do it now is the best way for the town. Do we have any idea of what the neighboring towns have for ordinances

and what they they are currently? And one thing I didn't hear, and I apologize if I missed it, was um if the police department's going to be involved, is there going to be overtime involved? And how are we handling those expenses to secure the scene while that goes on?

I was wondering that too. What what is the additional u you know people that we need on the scene in order to create a film ready scenario a safe film ready scenario what it doesn't list anything in that list about what we were responsible for paying cost I do think we also should be inviting people to film in Delaware I think that's a good thing I definitely do you know we should so besides this ordinance also my second question is what else do we have to do to become film ready

right and as I said um part of this is an application process. Um, and like I said, there's those 10 designated spots. So, I think um, our staff would have to be involved in putting that whole package together. But I think the the key component for us when we're thinking about why we would do this, it would be to bolster our businesses more than anything else. And so we would have to do very active outreach to our businesses maybe through the chamber to make sure that they're filling out like and they're in the vendor database that they're they're doing all of those things so that we are getting what we want out of making our cell phone ready. Um to answer your your question about other towns I know other towns have um I think they use the um sample ordinance but I can we can look into that I think.

Yeah. I just don't want to underell us because I do think that we're worth it. And if if everybody else is a little bit above the sample and and people want to film here, I think that we can, you know, if that's the standard around here, I I don't want to underell us at this point. Yeah.

And make sure that we have road closures, DPW overtime, things like that that have to be covered. And I believe are uh based on the process and the permit process and any road closure you have to file with the police department, not not the township direct. Yeah, I think I'll answer that. I think there's a lot of gray areas here and I'm concerned that the um you know, if you get a if you get a motion picture uh person in here and they're shooting for two weeks and you know it's like and we have to provide police and DPW, how can I pay for that? you know, they're giving us um you know, they're giving us what street closure fee of $1,000 a day. That's if they close the street. Um but it it just seems major motion picture daily fee is $500 a day. You know, it just seems very it's nice and clean from their end. You know, oh $500 a day. We're going to do this. We're going to do that. but it doesn't relate to the reality of what the actual cost is going to be to to the burrow. Yeah, I mean that's something we might have to you know think about if we want to go with the uh with the you know the proposed sample ordinance, but um you know it is something that you know and I think you're not going to know until you actually have something done and and you'll see what you know it could be a it could be a 30 minute thing on the beach and you know it's not a big deal but um you know I understand that this is to give the the uh you know the people that are filming some some guidelines as to what's going to cost them to come into a certain town but I would like to like to have a little more flexibility in terms of uh you know covering our expenses. I don't know maybe that's possible. I

don't know you know once you have uh people involved and you start kind of negotiating maybe you know maybe that would uh would be possible but again the bottom line is do we think it's a benefit to the burrow uh having you know more commercial filming within the town and if we want that then we should go with the sample ordinance. seems like what they're proposing to us,

right? And I I mean I think the thing to remember again is that this was originally written with a very different target in mind of, you know, discouraging rowdiness and the Jersey Shore. And like I said, I don't think that is something we need to worry about necessarily anymore. So it's a question of being thinking about we do want to attract and being uh proactive about it. I'd be willing to consider the sample ordinance as long as we are covering costs, especially with the police department and what we're actually uh expending to make sure that they have safe environment to work in.

We need to come with some kind of a consensus or No, there's um a document on their website. It's a little bit it's about 11 pages that kind of goes into a little more detail about the ordinance, what the whole application process is. And so maybe we should go through that a little bit more. Is there someone we can reach out to you to say, well, we we see the points of your sample ordinance, but we want to keep some of our own.

That's exactly what I was going to say. We'll reach out to the film commission and find out exactly, you know, does that have to be used or can we use ours or some kind of negotiation between the two? It What what they really want to know is do you want people to look at this as a as a potential site or not? You know, there's some towns that say no, we're not interested. What's happened is basically the the movie industry is migrating from California to New Jersey

and there's going to be a lot of content locations that are going to be scouted for and uh they just want to know where they can go, where they can point people to them. So, I'll reach out to the film commission tomorrow, get back to you. The other thing that would be I would be curious about is what you know what do they see in the future in terms of the uh the ability to modify this sample ordinance you know like we might start with it and might you know towns may include you know $500 a day is not enough you know and what what would be the process to go to the commission or whoever wrote this up and say oh you know these these certain provisions are not working because you know it's costing us too much whatever how flexible they would be to say, "Yeah, all right." You know, it's a work in progress. We can kind of modify a few things. I'd be just curious to see if they anticipate something like that happening down the road. I mean, obviously, it's the first it's the very first step. So, my concern is that it seems like our ordinance really anticipates what our costs are actually going to be. um the sample ordinance that they're providing obviously is geared towards them having as low a cost of production as possible. So, I do think that there's got to be some place in the middle where we can do that. And just to reiterate my point, I just don't think we should be doing anything in town that the town is paying for this out over and above the expenses of, you know, we need to make sure that the expenses of the town are being covered. If we're going to be paying overtime to police officers to secure the scene, all that money needs to be secured. Couldn't we reach out to Asbury or Red and find out what their to see if there are Yeah. what they have what their expenditures are for additional

staff and resources for I think that's where we should start. I agree with you. All right. Well, I think uh Kevin's going to reach out for them and then April has that other document circulate to us and we'll have to bring up the next meeting again and see if we learned we learned anything. that point. Okay. But it's a great opportunity to have them. We can't pass up on this opportunity for business. Yeah.

I mean, I see I see the need because the film industry doesn't want to have to go to, you know, 20 different towns with 20 different ordinances and every time they want to do something, you know, like they need a lawyer to to go like and check everything out. It's easier for them if they know they have a standard. But it's easier for them, but it's not necessarily easier for us. So, We'll find out more. Okay. The uh what do I do with my uh Okay, we're going to talk about the uh ADP tournament.

Yeah. Why? Why we're on special events? Actually, just to put three on the radar, uh because we're a couple weeks away from the seafood festival, it's going to be Friday, um May 15th, 4 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16th, 11 to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 17th, 11 to 4:00 p.m. Same exact setup as last year. Um same vendors, you know, different band arrangements, but all the exact same setup. Uh, two weeks after that is the AP volleyball tournament. So, if you remember last time AP was in, it was a monster event. Uh, it's not it's that's not it. Uh, they they have what they call heritage events and what they're starting this year is what they're calling uh they're starting a league with eight stops. Belar being the first of the eight and Chicago being the final Labor Day weekend. And um there's going to be two two of those locations that are going to be filmed on TV Saturday and Sunday. Delmare being the first and Chicago being the last. Uh WB Network is filming on Saturday and CBS Sports is filming on Sunday. It's going to be a probably a 4hour play time, you know, like like a 12 to 4 kind of thing of actual events going on. and uh much much smaller than it than you remember in in the past. Um what happened? It got too big for them. So they they actually went bankrupt and and reorganized and have new sponsorships and and they're starting back up. This is always one of their best stops, which is why they reached out.

What was the date? Um Saturday, May 30th, Sunday, May 31st. Right. The weekend after Memorial. Okay. So um Mr. Is there going to be like like stands and like big bleachers and the whole setup that they had on the beach like they had a couple years ago? Is that all happening again or is it going to be just multiple like beach courts?

Smaller smaller than in the past. Uh basically it's going to go from the first first avenue entrance on the beach to the fourth avenue. Um the whole first avenue area is going to be the whole staging, you know, all their equipment and everything. the between second and third is going to be what they're calling their stadium court, but it's not going to be the size of the one that was there in the past. I mean, it's going to be set up for one court and then between sec between third and fourth um is just the standalone courts who everybody plays up and they work towards the final in the what they're calling the stadium area. But we had a meeting on uh uh Monday, Friday, uh one of those days with ADP and and and the special events committee to go through all the logistics, you know, with DPW and PD and EMS and everybody involved.

Um are we recognizing any revenue from this? Um so what we're going to do, um it's it's really designed to bring people to town like like all of our special events, but We're going to have local sponsorship to your point about covering our costs. So, it doesn't cost any money on our end. Uh they're not going to pay to come in like none of our special events pay us to to come into town. But what it does, it's going to bring thousands of people into town. Um and TV coverage and and everything else.

And what's the expected sponsorship uh contribution? probably we won't need more than $10,000 probably because they they provide everything. Um in our meeting the other day, our DPW basically is going to be there to help. Um you know, they maybe put a fence up. That's going to be it. But they provide all that. They provide, you know, the garbage service. You know, they're going to um utilize one of the dumpsters that's right there that we're going to provide. Same thing with with police. Maybe a couple couple officers just to keep an eye on the street, but they provide their own security. It's all going to be fenced in and anybody that wants to utilize the beach will have to buy a wrist beach.

Okay, that was my question. So, they're still going to have to buy badges to get on the beach. Yeah, they're going to sell tickets to their event strictly to be inside that fence. I know it cuts out. Uh strictly be inside that fence. and they know that if anybody wants to go to the beach, they're going to have to buy buy a badge and go down through another entrance to one of the gate checkers. So, just to be clear, the the um the contributions from the sponsors we expect to cover all of our costs, correct? Yes. Yes. Cost us anything.

Are they going to have their own concessions, bathrooms? How bring in these people? We want them to be buying our food or we don't want them using our bathroom using our concessions.

Yes. So, what they've done, they've reached out and asked us for a list of all of our restaurants um and all that. They're going to purchase prepackaged food. They're not going to be any cooking on the beach. So, like say surf taco or burrito or something, you know, they'll they'll order from them and package the food, bring it to the site and sell it there. So, and they're going to try to utilize all all the local like they had they had a scout team in uh Billy I think you met with them a couple weeks ago and um you know they were out here you know talking to vendors and trying to figure out what businesses they can utilize while they're here. Same thing with the hotels and all that.

I like the local support they're providing. Yeah. And what other sponsors are they thinking because there I know I saw something about a Miller Light sponsor is the beer tent thing. Yeah, no alcohol on the beach. Absolutely. This this event will not they will not be serving alcohol at this event. Uh we were pretty adamant that no alcohol on the beach. It's just taken a long time to make sure that alcohol is not on the beach and we're not going to allow for one because once you start with one

there's thousand more behind it. So, uh the chief was pretty adamant about that. So, they've accepted that you this is this is a priority stop for them. So, but most of their probably nate, you know, heritage events are probably, you know, companies, alcohol companies. But, uh, so that's that's so so we're going to have the seafood fest, then you have Memorial Day weekend, then you can have the AV AP volleyball tournament. And just want to put on the radar the Independence Day celebration. It's going to be Friday, July 3rd. um light show, fireworks, same as last year, but the raising four that does the light show in celebration of 250th want to do uh an advanced. So, we're probably going to go like a 4:00 start. They want to utilize Silver Lake Park to do maybe a couple food trucks and a beer tent uh in conjunction with with McCann's restaurant uh the tavern in Lakeo. And that's going to lead up until the light show. So you figure probably 4 to 8 8:30 I think whatever time you know it starts to get dark they'll run the light show and the fireworks will go right after the light show. So that's Friday July 3rd.

Mr. King, can we request a little Bruce in the next fair instead of straight country this year? Last year's music blues was all country music which has a time and place but I think we're on the Jersey Shore and we should throw some local into the mix. You submit some songs and I and I'll be up on that. Submit submit some songs and we'll make sure it gets into the playlist. So that's it. I just want to get those on your radar. Thank you.

Okay. Um, one other thing we have is the uh we have a sign ordinance on for tonight and uh planning board has made some recommendations and I think we need to discuss whether we want to move forward with that or or not. Did we um April, you probably have a better handle on this than any of us being at all meetings. Um in in a nutshell, the big difference what the planning board want

uh one of the differences was the political signs. Um right now it says I believe it's one um per a property unless it's a quarter lot then you can have two and the board discussed that it should be one per uh a race a political race that way you could have local county state federal more than one.

So there was that change and then there was discussion about the flutter flags. Um the proposed ordinance limited them to Friday, Saturday and Sunday only and they wanted to delete that part of it. Um so that would make it available every day. Every day but with um special events only for special events only for special like grand opening sales, sidewalk sales, things like that. And the other one was the fluorescent,

right? There was a section under prohibited signs that prohibited fluorescent colors and they just wanted to take out the word fluorescent. So I reviewed the changes with Mr. McIll and he agreed that if the council wants to make all these changes, we would have to reintroduce the ordinance. Sounds reasonable. Sounds reasonable to me. Yes, I did discuss that. So we we all think we should re can reintroduce it to consensus of everyone else. Okay, that was easy. We'll do that. Um, anything else for for workshop at this point?

Actually, I wanted to ask because we had a pretty rapid discussion in the last meeting about the water utility if anyone had any additional thoughts on that. My biggest concern is I'm not big on social media. So if we went out on social media, I apologize if I missed it, but did information go out to the public that this was going to be that this was required in order to maintain the um uh what do we call it again? Viability. Yeah, the viability or the um selfquidating selfquidating

part of it. So did that information go out? No, because I was in the process of doing that and I said, you know, I didn't want to put out something if I didn't know that it was going to pass. You know what I mean? So, I I you know, we need to pass that ordinance or not tonight. And once that passes, then we'll know what what actually, you know, we can inform the residents of. I got to be honest, I actually disagree with that whole process. I don't see I don't feel comfortable passing an ordinance no matter how important it is if the public has not been made aware that this is going to happen to them. We're talking about a 13% increase. It was a 12% increase last year. That's 25% increase over 2 years. I'm not comfortable passing this regardless of the deadline if the public has not been made made aware. I don't want anybody getting a bill that they don't understand where it goes up significantly. And I I thought it was clear on our last meeting that we were going to send it out just so that they were aware of it. Well, I understand your concern, but I'm just going to back up for a second. Every ordinance has a process that we have to follow and that process is designed to give the public awareness, right? That's why we have a first reading. That's why it's put in the newspaper. That's why we have a second reading. Okay. Um it seemed to me it wouldn't be practical if we put something out to the public and say you're going to get a 13% increase in your order rate. Okay. And then we come here and we say, "Oh, no, no, no, no. We're changing that. We're going to make it a a 5% increase." Okay. I think that's a disservice to the public. Mr. Mayor, I just want I just want to point out that

Excuse me. Last week, hang on. Last week, you said that this was just a matter of process. We could pass it this last meeting and then we could get it out to the people so that they knew so that when it came down to actually passing the ordinance, you said that. That was what you suggested we do. Everybody here agreed with you. There were people in disagreement with you. And now here I'm hearing that we did not do that. We did not do what you said we were going to do. And now we have a transparency problem where people are going to get a bill that raises their rate because there's some May 2nd deadline. So I've got a I've got an issue with the fact that you convinced us all to vote for the first reading based on sending out this information. We didn't send it out and now you're asking us to pass it and then tell them it's going to happen. I'm not okay with that. No, I'm what I'm asking you to do is what we do for every ordinance. Okay, we're not going to make exceptions for ordinances now where we're going to do a third notice. We're not going to do a first reading and then a notice to the public and then uh then another notice uh for the second reading. It it it just doesn't work that way.

Then my question is then my question is why did you say that that's what we were going to do in the last meeting? If you didn't intend to send that information out, you should have never told us that we were going to just pass it based on process, follow through, and then we would have transparency before we had to make this vote. Well, that that's exactly what you said, not what we asked for. And I changed my mind because I realized that that people in this might not pass. So that was you going to tell us that you changed your mind cuz you never told anybody on the council.

No, I won't. You never told anybody on the council that you changed your mind. You're out of order. I am out of order. Yes. But you How many times are you going to say that? How many times are you going to be not transparent? You know what? If there must be ordinance, the solution is to vote against it. That's as simple as that. Okay. I'm against I'm against the lack of transparency. That's what I'm against. That transparency is a lot of crap because you know Wait, are you saying that transparency is a lack of saying what you're saying is we are transparent.

Okay. It's just that you want you want to make extra uh notices to the public when it's not needed. I'm not asking for anything that you didn't say you were going to do. You said you were going to do it. How many times you going to say that? Gentlemen, hi. I have to say I understand Council Member Moron's point. I think transparency is important and that when we say we're going to do something, we should do it. However, we've also seen the long-term effects of people sitting up here and making short-term decisions, whether for political reasons, campaign reasons, or other reasons, instead of making the difficult decisions that were for the long-term benefit of Belmar. We've seen it with our roads. We've seen it with our taxes. And we've seen it with affordable housing. And then we wind up in these situations. And now we're looking at it with the water utility bill again. And so it's very easy to take the out the exit ramp with transparency because you're right. The mayor did say that last time and it should have been done. But I think the harder decision and the more important decision is whether we're making the difficult decision with their water utility, making sure our residents are getting all the information they need need to get the assistance they may need and moving forward in the right direction.

I just want to make a point to tell you why I didn't send it out. Okay? If you want to bash me for the next hour about that, fine. Okay? But I changed my mind. All right? You can say it a 100 times. I told you. I told you. I told you. Okay. But I changed my mind and I have that prerogative. You have a responsibility to these people. Do not talk when I'm talking. You have a responsibility to these people out here that when you say something, it happens.

Wait. We have to maintain some decorum here. The mayor runs the meeting. People can't shout over him. He directs who speaks. That's how it goes in our ordinances. So, I understand that you're passionate about it, but we do have to maintain some control. We need to take a 5m minute break.

What's that? That's

April, do you need to do another um Oh, no. We We kept the recording on. We're good. Uh first, I'd like to apologize to everyone in the public, right? Uh that was not me. It was not necessary, but every once in a while, you know, something goes off and uh it's uh something that uh I regret. Okay. So, we're going to move on with the meeting. Um I don't know where we're at on the I just like to ask if it's okay.

We still have a couple issues with the with the ordinance and I just thought that it would be wise if we could reiterate why we need the increase. So not to the extent that Moren went to two weeks ago, but maybe just to clarify why we need the percentage increase and with our order. So if I could just hand it over to you guys so you can just clarify again for us why this ordinance is on the docket.

As we discussed last at last meeting, um the wor is facing a uh situation where we're not bringing in enough revenue to offset our expenses. Compounding that fact is this year we're under state review. The state review mandates requires us to provide a balanced budget and to pro provide certifications of all the revenues that we're bringing in and advising council that we are raising adequate revenue in order to offset our expenses which is what we're required to do. Um, absent this ordinance passing tonight, we will not be able to adopt our budget because we will not be in a position where we can certify that the revenue is coming in that we've already basically told them. We have made accommodation within our budget. Um, accounting for the increase in fees. We are facing uh significant requirements, capital requirements, significant operational requirements that and basically our expenses in the water sewer utility are somewhat fixed and um are there is no wiggle room at this point in time. So the our situation has somewhat changed and as the the final straw that's going to break the camel's back is that any shortfall in the utility has to be raised in the current fund budget. So, we're we're basically facing um competing issues. We need to raise revenue in order not to affect our farmer fund budget. It's not a pleasant pleasant situation to be in. Um we have

uh attempted to uh address it by the rate increase last year but unfortunately that was not sufficient. So hence the need for the rate increase this year and I I totally understand that council was not happy about this. I would not be recommending this if there were if there was any other alternative. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that.

Thank you. And I think that that point has been across last week as we kind of just got it last minute and now we've had some more time to review. Um, and you know, we already gone back and forth on some ideas and you know it it's there's no doubt that we believe in you and that this increase currently is mandatory ultimately in order to keep us alive, right? Keep the water utility alive and and above water. However, you know what I made the point of last meeting was we have a lot more users coming to this town whether we like it or not. Um, and there are certainly ways we can adjust ordinances and fees for larger scale users. So, with that said, I was really not keen on the mandatory increase year after year. And that's something I would really like to see removed in order to vote on it comfortably. Yes. Saying this is mandatory. This is not a political vote. This is not a I ran on this, so I'm gonna vote no because I said I was going to vote no. I see it. I get it. This is something, you know, I'm I'm one of the new guys here. Uh but we understand that we're in this predicament and everything's going up. Everything, you know, everything we buy goes up. Everybody we pay, the prices are going up, insurance is going up, every chemicals, you name it. Um, so I understand the need for it now, but I think to make a better long-term plan would be to realize the the usage we're about to get and see if we can possibly limit the full-time resident or the single single family homeowners rates versus an automatic increase every year. I think um and this is a suggestion if you wanted to offer an amendment to the ordinance to remove that that particular section where the automatic increase would go into effect on January 1, 2027 and then every year thereafter. That's certainly something that that you can

offer. um which might make you more comfortable and and I understand that we we have future revenues that we can expect but because they're not coming online until probably mid sometime mid 2027 at the earliest we have to do something now. So

exactly which is why you know I I can understand the the current immediate need for the increase. Uh but hopefully we can reassess this next April uh when we see you know we if there's other items we can address or maybe we have uh some some added units and and some more income coming in otherwise who knows maybe price come down by then who knows so my my question just to follow I would like to offer that as a suggestion a formal suggestion to amend the ordinance and with eliminating the 2 and 12% increase so we're not hitting residents right now with 4% and then again in January with another two and a half. Let's push that off a year or to the next to the next um you know review.

We need a second on that amendment. We're in workshop now, aren't we? Yes.

All right. So, we're going to have this on on the agenda. If if you want to make an amendment, a motion for an amendment. the amendments adopted, then we'll vote on the um the the ordinance as amended. I took a look at at the ordinance and I knew I knew of this issue before um we came here tonight. So I'm comfortable with the um I'm comfortable with proceeding without having to reintro introduce because the two things are really independent of each other. um one does not affect the other. Uh the calculations for our need this year have not been influenced by the prospect of having or the prospect of having a an increase in the future year after year. So the two things are independent. So if we get rid of one um it's not going to substantially affect the other. So we can proceed

as long as we're not pushing this to affect the the budget adoption. So this is the first time I'm hearing about this. Has there been any financial projection made based on that type of change? No, that that 2 and a half% did not factor into the calculation of of selfquidation selfquidating status for 2026 because it was was not plan to come on board until 2027. So I did not include it in my calculations.

Yes. In addition, like you said, the the state is looking for the number that you have the increase, not the 2% 2% going forward. So it's not going to affect the budget for this year. Certification based upon that part of the ordinance. Okay? Because they're two separate things will still stand. So you can make that amendment in my eyes and still get through state review with the budget as it stands. So my question would be, we did 12% last year. We expected that to fix the problem. It didn't. Now we're 13% this year. Are we confident that that 13% this year will put us in a position where the 2 and 12% will be adequate next year or we are just is there an expectation that we are going to continue to do these double digit increases going forward

based on past past history and our current status I would say this should be sufficient to carry us at least a couple years and understanding that there will be some additional users coming on board. There will be additional revenue to the utility based on on the greater level of of sale if you will of water. Um I believe this is this will put us on the path that we need to be on in order to make to to revive the water civil utility. So based on that, if we pass this tonight, do we actually think that a 2.5% increase, which can be voted on, I'm actually in favor of of Councilman Delasio's um amendment that we don't include the 2.5% automatically. Do we think that a 2.5% um increase based on on expense increase and everything else will be an adequate increase next year?

I believe it it should be enough. I have a question. Um, with the water utility, one of the reasons we are in this predicament is because of the poor shape of our water man. Correct. That's that's a good that's a good part of it. We are faced with significant capital capital cost going forward because we have to comply with the requirements of the WQAA which calls for us to have a capital plan that where where we are replacing the water manes and and laterals and getting rid of lead line pipes in in the burrow. So we have significant expenses coming on in in future years that hopefully will be offset by number one some connection fees that as they now it's in effect and we should be collecting it on new developments not necessarily the developments that were in the pipeline before. And we are um we are looking at the alternative funding sources such as the I bank which offers not just a lower interest rate but also in certain cases for certain projects principal forgiveness which again is not an immediate we won't have an immediate effect but going forward we are stabilizing the war sewer utility.

Question thank you. Um, I guess my question to you guys, because I like the idea of the amendment, um, but if we're thinking about our massive infrastructure problem, do you guys think that it is more responsible to keep it in place for that or to go forward? And that's a real question. I I think we have to assess it again like we did this year. We have to assess the utility next year at the beginning of the year to see if that was enough or we really did need another increase. It's not forbidding us from increasing again. It's just not making it automatic,

of course. But we already know that we are looking at massive expenses to address those that infrastructure. So do you think do we think it's more responsible to have that revenue coming in that we can put towards that or or to be assessing as we go? Because if we're being honest, we know that we will have that need that we have to do all those projects. It's a real question.

No, I agree. You know, I think it should be assessed again again as these new developments are coming in and as we figure out how much we're really making from them. And I said it's going to be probably like you said beginning to middle of next year. It's going to be 2027. Uh but they're also doing a lot of infrastructure improvements in their projects too. So you know kind of optimistic as far as having water. I don't think so. No, I think it's real. At least on Well, one's underway. So there I don't know the others. Yeah.

I guess the point that we need to recognize is if if we think it's going to be a 2.5% increase as Lena said, what's the difference if we take it out now and vote on it again next year at 2.5% or 3% or 10% whatever it is. I don't think that we're I don't think we're changing the dynamic at all by doing that. Um, I I I just think that people want to see that we're protecting their their um their finances and everything else.

I agree. I think that this should be something that we should consider every year. I don't know if it should be an automatic. I kind of like the idea of assessing maybe we need a 3% or maybe a 3.5 next year instead of 2.5. when more buildings and projects and people come to town and we our water bills might change. You know, I think it's an idea that we should keep in the public's mind and that it probably will be a 2.5% increase, but might be more, might be less. But maybe we should assess year after year.

And I think our goal and some things had to creative ways of getting money without raising it on, you know, our residents is looking at the multif family three units and up, looking at um, you know, summer rentals, looking at obviously big developers. So looking at those as where we can possibly increase without affecting our residents.

Any more discussion? So George, should we do the amendment at the time of the ordinance? All right. Thank you. Anything else for workshop? We'll move on to petitions. Mayor, I did not receive any petitions reports of council. Council Dunan and I apologize that we didn't do this earlier, but I would like to have a small moment of silence for Betty McKinn who was a long time Delmar resident who family owned and operated in the camp. So,

all right, we have a lot going on. Um, in very good news, the Belmar Environmental Commission's new website is up and running. You can find it at belmare environmental commission.org. Please take a look. You'll find a lot of information on there, some beautiful photos, and including the event this weekend on May 2nd, which is our First Avenue beach cleanup from 10 to 2. Please come out. There's a lot going on that weekend, but what is a better way to start your weekend than putting on your worst clothes, a pair of plastic gloves, grabbing a garbage, waiting through all of that. It sounds so you'll leave with a sense of accomplishment. You will

10 to two. And if you know any high school students too who are looking for um service hours, please let them know. Do they have to go to the school for that or can they come and just get a certain certificate or something at the event? Oh, that's a good question. We can ask um our expert Charlie. He is well versed in that 10 to two on Saturday. Yes. All right. Because St. Louis always does. Yeah.

Um Harbor Commission, we are planning an outdoor meeting this May. We're going to be walking the marina as we meet um and looking at all the different spots to the the new work, things that need work um and familiarizing our newest member with the whole marina down there. So, um always come out for an exciting harbor commission meeting. Uh speaking of exciting, we had a beautiful event this weekend, this past weekend in Taylor Pavilion grounded in Belmar. Massive congratulations to the entire environmental commission all of our um different uh participants. It was a beautiful event. Um so uh last meeting we had some residents come from River Road. I wanted to follow up on that. Um I met with a liazison from the governor's office to talk about the issues that they raised about um speeding right there. Um the desire for a sign about who has jurisdiction. And so we are moving forward trying to address their concerns. Um and the environmental commission is also looking to start to look over in that area for what we can do to um make it more beautiful for everyone. Um our Verizon update, we held a meeting with the FCC, Council President Kenny and I were on the call um and included Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Seagurt, uh Avon, Bradley. Um and we talked about all of our different concerns um including the need for um more local control when we feel like we have so little to begin with. They are assessing whether or not to eliminate things like the shot clock um and aesthetic uh concerns when they're putting up new polls uh that we are pushing back against. At the same time, I actually spoke with Chris Smith's office today. he has put up another piece of legislation um similar to what he had in previous sessions of Congress that would take away that shot clock requirement that we don't like um along with other you know pros municipality

um statutes. So all of that is really great. Um Arbor Day I'll pass talk about that. And finally, um, this Thursday, if you're a poetry lover, come out to the Taylor Pavilion at 6 PM. We will have professional poets along with one very precocious fourth grader who will be reading her favorite patriotic poem. So, I will be dying slowly in the background. So, thank you. That's all. Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh just a reminder, graduation banners are going to be going up. If you have a high school senior in Belmar and would like to have your senior's banner on Main Street, please reach out to Jenna Van Nest in tourism. There is a form that you will uh need to just fill out with your graduates photo and please um let's have all the graduates up on Main Street as soon as we can possibly do that. Um St. grammar school would like to know that they are adding an outdoor classroom to their grounds and there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for that on May 27th at 9:00 a.m. So, they're going to be doing a little outdoor area where students can can learn and and just have a different environment for learning. Belare Elementary School is having their Mother's Day jewelry sale May 5th in school. It's one of K's favorites. And the PTO fashion show is Friday, May 8th at uh Belmar Pavilion. the shoe tree commission. We did have our Arbor Day celebration this past Friday at Delmare Elementary. Planted a bunch of trees with the fourth graders. Castlewoman Donovan was at the St. Rose fourth grade planting at the library. They loved it. Took pictures, their own little shovels. It was great. It was It was real good. It's always a good event. Um Sha Tree uh Commission's next meeting is actually the first Thursday of the month in May, not the second. So, if anybody is interested, it will be May 7th um at 6:30 and there will be a new member added to our commission which I believe we're approving the resolution this evening to have a new member on sheet tree. Uh finally, we like um uh business administrator Kane mentioned, the seafood festival is in two weeks, May 15, 16, 17th, and the skate park committee will also be having a tent there as well. So, stop by, make a donation, learn more about what's happening with the skate park, and we'll be selling t-shirts and stuff also. And

um that is all I have.

Thank you, Councilman. There we Thank you, Mayor. Uh planning board at our meeting uh we discussed the signage was one of the topics, but we're also starting a new uh committee reviewing awnings. So, we have two of our lovely members, Johanna and Lind Linda Sharis, working on different presentations and how awnings can become more uh consistent throughout the town and how to uh possibly change their orders to make it work that way. Um, Harbor Commission next meeting is May 19th and Councilwoman um Donovan covered that. uh the on Saturday, April 18th, FSOS had their third annual Shillerly um plunge for autism and they raised over $100,000 for five uh different charities uh for a specializing autism support support for autism children. Um and that is uh really a huge undertaking. Um so I really want to congratulate them and thank them for running such an amazing event. Um, and then as just to piggy back on the Route 35, we did reach out also to the DOT file formal complaints about lack of safety, speed signs, and clean up on that Route 35. I believe they said they're going to look into it. It's going to be a priority since it's a main road. Uh, that's all I have.

Thank you, Councilman Moroni. Um, all I have is that volunteer hook and ladder, uh, 11th Avenue is going to be having a fundraiser at, um, Boat House this Sunday. It's $20 entry fee. Uh gets you a free drink and free buffet. And we'd love to have everybody there. That's it. What's that? 12 to 5. Thanks, Kevin. Patale. Okay. Okay. That's kind of important. Okay. Let's move on to our reports of council. I mean on the public session on the consent agenda number one

if anyone I'm sorry I jumped ahead.

Can I have a motion to approve the minutes of the April 14th meeting? Motion. Second. Councilwoman Donovan. Yes. Council McKenna. Yes. Yes. Councilman Delasio, yes. Council yes. Mayor McBusk, yes. Now go back to public session. If anyone would like to speak or make a comment on the resolutions listed on the agenda, please step forward, state your name and address. Just the resolutions. Resolutions. First part.

Can I have a motion to close the public session? Motion. Second. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the resolutions as listed on the consent agenda? Motion. Second. Councilman Donovan. Yes. Councilman Kenny, yes. Councilman Delasio, yes. Councilman yes. Mayor Buska, yes. Uh, next we have the 2026 municipal budget hearing. I think Lorine has a presentation. Should we move down there or stay here?

Someone hit the light on the other side. Okay. Our um 2026 budget has been um challenging to say the least to get through this budget season. Um we are under state review which adds another layer of um bureaucracy to our usual process which is as I say challenging at best. Um the current our total municipal budget this year is 26,303 62428. We have that uh categorized broken down into current fund water sewer utility, beach utility and parking utility. And we have listed all of the budgets for each one of those separate funds within our um within our operation. Uh the current fund is generally operations that uh affect our daily daily operations. The 25 the 26 budget is under the 2.5% appropriations cap utilizing exceptions and under the 2% levy cap. The proposed municipal tax rate is 60 60.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Um that represents an annual increase of $2547

on the average assessment of 596870. And obviously inflation is still an issue with um year-over-year increase of 2.4% at the time this was prepared. May be different today. I'm not sure. Um our budget is is based on revenues and expenditures that balance. Um our certain categories of of uh expenditure, debt service, uh public employee retirement and police and fire retirement systems and health insurance costs. And by creating cap exceptions, the state allows temporary increases in appropriations for health insurance um and above the 2 and a half% appropriations cap. However, there is an associated increase in the tax rate to fund these increased appropriations which is incorporated into the the increase that I mentioned. Um our current funds we have a list of of uh categories within which we spend money. Other expenses covers everything other than salary and wages with the exception of the few that the few others that are listed here on the slide. um revenue as introduced. The budget proposes to the burrow proposes to apply 3,530,000 from fund balance or surplus for the 2026 budget. This is a slight increase from last year, but we replaced uh more than the 293,000. So, we're in good financial shape in this particular instance. Um we are anticipating 428,549 state aid which is no different from our figures in 24 and 25. So the state is

not helping us in the long run. Um the current fund provides the revenue is broken down into various categories. The leader of that obviously is the amount to be raised by taxation which includes the municipal tax, the municipal amount and the library tax and then all of the other revenues uh flow from that order. order to balance our budget. The municipal tax rate, as I said, is 60 was proposed to be 60.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which is a 4% a 4 cent increase over last year. The average average residential assess assessment is 596870 and the average municipal tax is 3 mill 3,65180. The water sewer utility um Obviously, we're not in great shape in our water sewer utility because the revenue is based on the amount of rents that we collect. Um, our expenses are basically fixed and increase on an annual basis. It also includes treatment for the uh sewage through the smurs. So we have significant expenses that need to be covered by by our revenue which in this case primarily is water sewer billings. The beach utility is basically operates the same way as the water sewer utility. The beach utility and the water sewer utility have to be what they call selfquidating. That is the revenue is sufficient to cover all of our expenses. Uh Our beach utility is uh doing fairly well. We are not in danger of being not selfquidating for beach utility and we

are covering our expenses. Obviously the revenue we collect is dependent on the weather. Rainy season and we collect less. So, we're always very conservative in anticipating revenue, trying to manage our expectations so that we are um we're not creating a situation where we're creating a deficit. Uh again, revenue is based in is broken down into several categories. Primarily, we use fund balance and beach sales. and beach badge sales cons are um considered our rents in the in the beach utility. Um we also have a parking utility which costs us a nominal amount of money to operate and which we generate a a decent amount of revenue from. And so this is is the slides up to this point show us where we stand with the introduced budget. However, because we are under state review, we have to amend the budget. So, there will be a resolution on tonight's agenda as well to uh amend the introduced budget and there will be a public hearing on the amendment at the next meeting. So, at this point, we would it council would open the meeting for comments on the municipal budget as introduced. We would close the public hearing. We would uh consider council will consider the the budget amendment. Then we would schedule we have scheduled the public hearing on the amendment for May 12th. And then at that point we would assuming the amendment passes we would be able to adopt the budget on May 12th.

Okay, now's the opportunity for the council to have comments, questions.

So, I asked you this earlier, but if you could just in the way, Mr. Just tell us the percent increase on the average person with this budget with the tax increase is going to be percentage wise. It's just under um 9%. It's 4 cents on the budget. The um tax rate last year was 56.4 cents. Sorry. Yeah, I actually didn't calculate the percentage exactly. No, I understand that. But just a general just so people can get an idea. Sometimes that 4% I bet so much on the dollar doesn't equate to what people

about 9%. It's 4 cents on the on the rate. So 9% increase in taxes based on this and that's municipal only the municipal part of your taxes. Correct. Yes. And in your opinion you would say the largest majority of that is based on what? Say that again. In your opinion the largest Reason for the increase is based on what exactly? Oh, primarily yes

the uh increase in health insurance premiums for employees and retirees. I mean we've health insurance premiums on in the state health benefits plan increased uh 20% last year. This year they went up 36%. The burrow left the state health benefits plan at the end of 25 and joined a and enrolled in a joint insurance fund for health uh for health insurance. Those increases were somewhat less at 22%. But it's still significantly more than than what we can absorb in the budget in in any given year without raising without raising the rate. I mean this is um it's I can jump in real quick. Thank you. So, a couple things. Number one, it's 9.27% and that's for the municipal tax. We know the exact number, the increase.

It's sorry, what you said?

9.27%. Okay. And so, we're seeing as I have a lot of clients in the state of New Jersey, everybody, every municipality is dealing with this and you know, you have your 2% levy cap. They give you an exception. Line said that earlier for increases above that and that's what kind of gets pushed outside of your cap, but it still affects taxes, right? So they they allow they understand that they said they were going to have a cap on the taxes, but the insurance is going through the roof and the state comes up with rules every year and they they change them every year in terms of what can be inside and outside of the cap. But regardless, it's still an appropriation has to be covered by revenue. And of course, we know taxes is our largest revenue. So the point being that across the board in New Jersey, people are running out of the state health benefits program which they call is in a death spiral. That's their word is not mine. And so everybody's jumping out into a GIF or deprived insurance and you guys are no different than that. And the increase even though it's not 36%. Still 22%.

Okay. So that's really really the main driver of what's going on here. Now I know because you've now entered into what I to what I do but I know marketplace plans premiums and this is on per plan not on the um for the group plan are going up by that like 20some percent but an employer sponsored plan you're really seeing only like six to 7% increases which is still too much. So why is there a reason why our JIF is going up? We're getting charged a 25% increase that way. Do you are you familiar? %

based on the the guidance that they've issued, it's the um over overuse of GLP medications which are driving huge drivers of the cost. Believe it or not, that's not the only reason, but it's a very big it's a very big portion. Wow. Wow. That's going to be the headline now. kidding. Weight loss drive tax increases. Well, it's driving health insurance premiums which are driving tax increases. Okay.

Wow. Wasn't I guess nationally? I have questions about that. Is that like a driver nationally? Have you seen? Yes, it is. It is absolutely. But wow. Um Okay.

And that's why As an aside, some um insurers these days require you also to have a um associated illness um specifically diabetes. And if you don't have a diabetes diagnosis, they won't prescribe the GLP medication for you because there's not a because of of the cosmetic aspect of of um prescribing these medications. I know that there is also a big problem with um as we have one generation aging and retiring those costs are going up too. Both retirement costs and healthcare costs. Is that part of our budget too?

Yes. Yes, it is. And

well that's a conversation for another day but yes it is. Any other comments, questions? I'd like to point out every year when we do this, the um the total amount of money that we need to budget is $26,33,624. And we're very fortunate here in Belmar because of that $26 million only 12,231 uh846 is raised by the residents by local taxes which means when when I figure out the percentage basically um we're paying we meaning the residents when we pay our tax bills or municipal tax we're paying 46.5% % of of the budget, which means the other 54 or 53% is being paid by all of the other miscellaneous income that we have plus the surplus that we that we kick in. So, we're very fortunate in that sense because many towns don't have that much additional revenue. So, it's just something to keep in mind. Uh the other thing I'd like to point out and it has nothing to do with our budget but it always you know when we pay our taxes you know we're paying a county tax and we're paying a school tax and we're paying a municipal tax. Well you know I was going through the budget things and you know I don't know how many people realize that our the the levy amount for the for the county for Belmont is 55,536,767. That's just the uh the county tax that Elmore residents have to give to the county. U I don't know what to use that money for, but I think there's going to

come a day when people need to start looking at that. The health uh county health tax is $96,000. That went up and the open space tax went up by $20,000. It's now 835,889. So, the total of all county taxes is $6,469,122. And I just point that out because uh it's it's a pretty big chunk of our tax bill. And I would love to have um maybe somebody from the county come down here and explain what are we getting for that $6,469,122 because I don't I don't know. I mean, maybe once I retire from this job, I'll I'll start looking into what what we're, you know, what they're doing with all this money, but um that is a large part of our tax bill also. So, uh you know, I just bring that to your attention because on the one hand, we're lucky we have that revenue and on the other hand, you know, I think if we want to start reducing our tax bill, we need to start looking at what the county is doing with the money that we're giving them. That's all I have to say at this point. What's the next step?

You would need to um h have a vote to well open the meeting for comments.

Yeah, we're opening it up to the public on the budget. You have questions, comments. Now's the time to ask. We have the experts here and uh once they leave, come on up. Give your name and your address. Uh Chuck Peters, 2021 19th Avenue for 40 years. Uh I was concerned about the water bills. I see that there's a lot of meters that aren't being read. And just in my neighborhood alone, there's a fellow that has a uh hotel, I guess, two considered two units, who's just been for the last nine months paying the minimum, the same as me and my wife. I My wife and I use about 6,000 gallons a quarter, maybe a little more, 7,000. But I noticed someone moved into the house next to me and they've been there a month and a half and they use 10 gallons.

He has a 10 gallons is on his reading. So he qualifies for the minimum.

There was a house built across the street from me that's been there six years and the last four years he was getting minimum of 89 or whatever it was. Now he's getting a regular bill. I guess it's in reading and he's paying four or 500 bucks. So my concern is why are these meters malfunctioning or nobody's look nobody's auditing it? I'll do a I'll do all the queries in the world if I had the information and I could give you a list of people that are paying nothing.

Well, we would have to look into that. Um, you know, this is actually also, but I'm I'm allowing you to finish. This is actually the hearing on the budget. Not not necessarily the water, but since you're there, you know, we understand your message. If you can let us know, you know, the address or I don't I'm not I'm not here to squeal, but that's that's up to the town to run these pies. You know what I mean? Mhm. I have mentioned to April and I have mentioned it to Westerfield, what's that her name? Lucy Kelly.

So if the town is consistently giving quarterly estimated bills, that means the meter is either not connected properly or the meter reader itself is damaged.

So at that time would be when we send a notice to that resident saying, "We're not reading the meter. We need to get into your home or we need to access your your property." Correct me if I'm wrong, but I know I've been through this process before. Um, so that is the process that we go through. So, it's a matter of uh the meter readers coming back saying we're estimated we're estimated for three or four months in a row, four months in a row. Then the notice were to go out that we have to get in. we need permission to go in or I mean I don't know the jurisdiction that you know go someone could ignore us completely and consider and eventually they're going to get hit with a couple thousand bill still running even if it's not being read but you're right we should be trying to get as many red as possible

that's all I'm saying there is a process that we go through is what I'm saying maybe there's a couple addresses we have to look into Any other comments or questions about the uh budget?

Chief, Fourth Avenue. I just have a quick question and this is more on the revenue side of money coming in. U with all these redevelopment projects, not all of them. I think that one of them there. They're not going to go with a payment in L with taxes. But are we re with with the projects that have been entered into a pilot agreement? Are we receiving that money? I mean, this is one of the advantages of of a pilot is you don't have to wait for a certificate of occupancy. Um, are we receiving that money and is it significant? Yes, we we have been receiving the money based on the pilot agreements. Um, we are there is currently litigation on a couple of the projects, but for the most part, we are collecting what we're supposed to be collecting from the pilot agreements.

Is it substantive? In other words, we do we do anticipate that as a revenue in our budget and that is a category of revenue that that we include. Yeah. I'm speaking just personally going through that trouble and granting or entering into these agreements. Did the rest of us benefit from that or was it just something that enticed the developer to develop?

Well, there there is a benefit to the burrow from collecting that that revenue. That revenue goes solely to well it used to go solely to the to the municipality. Um we owe 5% of what we collect to the county and I know they they are considering the further legislation that would make a portion of those funds that we collect payable to the school. But yes, in general the the residents do benefit from the fact that we have pilot agreements.

Okay. Thank you very much. Uh the other I had hadn't looked at this in a number of years, but I believe the assessed value of Belmar is somewhere in in the $5 billion range. In other words, what's the assessed value uh for the rest of us that aren't involved in? It's 1.8 billion 1.8 1.8 billion. Okay. I I knew it was a big number and the largest percentage of that is residential. Yes. In other words, not all.

You would think that the commercial district would be paying high taxes, but they're not. The um the residential districts are really what's carries this town. Well, because we can't have a a we have to tax everyone equally. We can't we can't create a tiered property half system. It's it's not permitted.

It's not something that we could enable. So we can't have commercial properties paying more. They they would pay more based on their assessments which would be based on the commercial activity that that occurs. But we the rate is the same for everyone.

Yeah, I understand that. But when they do commercial properties, u it's not local. In other words, they a commercial property can use a comparable from Wall Township or Neptune. Um whereas here in in Belmar, when you talk about residential, you're comparable has to be in the neighborhood. Uh, I'm just bringing that up is that we all talk about doing things for raising business and so on, but the business aren't really paying that much. That's all. Thank you. Anyone else?

Okay. Can I have a motion to close the public hearing? Motion. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Uh, next we have resolution 202690, a resolution authorizing amendment to the 2026 municipal budget. We have a motion to adopt the resolution. I'll make a motion. Second. Did you want to see something? You need a vote on Yeah. They want to say something. We need to vote on this. Yeah. You're introducing the You're introduc You're introduc.

You're introducing the amendment right now. And Lorraine explained earlier, you'll introduce the amendment and then the amendment will be advertised and then you'll have a public hearing just on the amendment. We've had the public hearing on the budget as introduced. At the next meeting, you'll have a a hearing just on the amendment. And again, the amendment, as Loren point out earlier, you're in state review. Once every three years, the state has to look at your budget and approve it. And they it's been very ownorous this year. They've changed some people down there and they're asking for everything, which is fine. And we're making these subtle adjustments in the budget that they're requiring. And so that's what the the amendment basically consists of. The taxes do not change as a result of the amendment. That's important to note. So tonight you guys are going to introduce the amendment. Okay? Then you you're stopped for tonight. You're not going to have to adopt the budget and there'll be an advertisement and the next week you'll have a hearing on the amendment and then adopt the budget as amended if you proceed forward with this.

Councilman Donovan, yes. Council McKini, yes. Councilman Delasio, yes. Councilman Moroni, yes. Mayor McFus, yes. All right. So next, I'm sorry. And just to reiterate that the public hearing on the amendment will be held on May 12th.

All right. Next we have um ordinance 20266. This is an ordinance amending chapter 40 development regulations um specifically section 7.24 signs. Um, does someone want to make the motion to table this ordinance? I'll make a motion. Second. Okay. Councilman Donovan? Yes. Council McKini? Yes. Councilman Delasio? Yes. Council Yes. Mayor Mcusco?

Yes. Uh next we have a second reading and public hearing ordinance 20267 an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 29 water sewer utility department and specifically section 7.1 water sewer range. This is open for public hearing. If anyone would like to comment on the ordinance please step forward. State your name and address.

Hello everybody. Hi, my name is Anne Peters. I'm at 2021 19th Avenue. Uh, this is my first time ever coming to a meeting and I want to say thank you. It was very interesting and I'd love to go to your Thanksgiving party then. How's that? Okay. My question I have this is um in regards to the border situation. Um, Caitlyn Donovan, I take notice so don't mind me. Caitlyn Donovan just mentioned the long-term benefit of Belmar residents. He made a comment. So my take is the benefit should be to the town doing their homework prior to a rate increase. As my husband Charles Peters just mentioned, it did not take him a long time. Go on the computer, do a little homework, blah blah blah. And guess what? We found out so many neighbors are paying way less in in water charges than other neighbors. And I'm saying to myself, well, how can the town just go and do an increase without doing your homework? We should be going out doing an audit, getting out there, reviewing the meters. If the meters are broke, guess what? Get them fixed. They don't want you in their house, turn off the water. Give them a 30-day notice. Play hard ball. Save the residents money by doing your homework and getting everyone to have their invoice build correctly, have the proper equipment, and have everything working because guess what? If you do that, you take the time. I think someone mentioned something to do with a capital plan. Did you mention the capital plan? Maybe if we did our homework and got the right billing, maybe everybody here, if

you're a resident of Belmar, maybe your water bills would be lower and the proper houses that need to have their increases would contribute to the capital plan. That way, the money is flowing in and maybe we can justify a 2 and 12% increase. We all know increases with inflation, it happens. So, it's my suggestion you just do your homework first before you just say a large increase. I don't know if anybody else agrees, but I think that's the key. You have any comments? This is a public comment section, but do you have any questions for me? No.

Okay. All right. Just wondering I do have a question in regards to the budget. Um I don't your name. I'm sorry. Actually, we'll we'll allow it, but the to make it was when we were talking about the budget. Oh, but you can you can go ahead but we just want to have to this is just a quick question. I know some towns have this and I don't know if Belmar participates in this. If you're an employee within Belmar and your spouse is employed with Belmar, do you get paid extra if you decline the benefits, the health insurance benefits because your spouse takes it?

Because there's many towns that do that.

There is a um there is a stipened offer to a an employee who declines health coverage. However, they are not eligible for the the uh stipend if their spouse also works for the state or is covered by the the same health benefits plan. So, it it it won't um you're not double dipping another reason why I know that I have a family member who declined the benefits because she was already getting it for the state and didn't need it and she actually got it was like a bonus money every month and I was like, "Wow." And I realized that local towns also participate in that. I was not sure if Belgar

Well, there there's a benefit to the bureau to offering that for the employee who chooses to decline health benefits plans because a health benefit plan even for a um single uh single coverage employee is somewhere around $12,000. The uh stipend would is limited to less than $5,000 or um 50% of what we save in the long run. So it it it turns out to be savings to the borrow. Okay. Question. I didn't know we participated in that. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments?

Can I have a motion to close the public hearing? Motion. Second. Second. All in favor? I can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 20267? Hold on. Oh, the amendment. This is where I'd like to offer uh vote for the amendment to eliminate the automatic 2 and 1 half% increase. I'd like to second. Okay, we need a vote. Yep. Counciloman Donovan. Yes. Councilman Kenny, yes. Councilman Delasio, yes. Council member yes. Mayor Musco, yes. Now you have to vote on the Can I have a motion to adopt the ordinance as amended?

Motion. Second. Okay. Councilman Donovan, yes. Councilman Kenny, yes. Councilman Delasio, yes. Councilman Moroni, yes. Mayor Mcuska, yes. Last ordinance is second reading and public hearing on ordinance 2026. This is an ordinance amending and supplementing chapter 3 department of administration specifically section 3-6 tourist development commission. This is open for public hearing. If anyone would like to speak on the ordinance, please step forward. Can I have a motion to close the public hearing? Motion. Second.

All in favor? I. And can I have a motion to adopt ordinance 20268? Motion. Second. Okay. Councilman Donovan. Yes. Counciloman McKenna. Yes. Councilman Delasio. Yes. Councilman Moroni? Yes. Mayfield? Yes.

Uh, now we're on to the regular public session. If anyone has a comment, please step forward. State your name and address. My name is John Judge 51 58 11th Avenue and Parkinson Park don't talk well uh my neighbors landscape business that's supposed to be went to town he said it's fine It's an R75. I don't understand.

You You say keep it out of his front yard. All equipment. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I see pictures. Sorry.

Sorry about that. So am I. Thank you for if I call you I called you on the phone. You think I was drunk. I'm sorry. Could you just repeat your your concern because the equipment is he runs his business out of his house. Okay. And charge his lawn mower or any hour every day of the week

and I have tenants at my front house and he's just a nosy neighbor. His name is Manny. I'm sure you heard him. All right, that that's it. Yeah, I know. terrible.

What are you doing? Just tell me. Have we had any any complaints or anything? Have any on that? I believe he spoke to Bob Hoff and code enforcement about it and my understanding is that Bob explained to him that home businesses are permitted. Um but if it's a noise violation that they should notify the police department. Okay. Is it the noise that's that's the issue? That's a draw. Well, here this machine isn't even there. John, I don't know what pictures you took.

I took pictures. I like along. This is my house. That's his yard. He's a landscaper. That's not my stuff. But it looks like it's part of my yard. One day is all garbage. All garbage everywhere. It's like a junk next to it. I went to I went to the town and the guy said, "Oh, he can do that. He can do whatever he wants." Yeah. And that's I've been 28 years because nobody knows me because I don't bother.

That's that. Miss Claudio had uh commented that they did review code enforcement did review it and you are allowed to run a business out of your home. However, there are noise ordinances that we have to follow also and also commercial vehicle parking ordinances we have to follow. What how you I know you an office right? Uh not vehicles. No. No. Can I can he commercial in his driveway? There's some driveway parks in front of the house. He yells at me if I park in front of his house. That's his house. He tells everybody tells everybody he goes to my house.

Parking on the street is the public. Anyway, he tell he's a bully. I never my wife I haven't gone to this for 20 years. My wife's coming. The other day there two people. I said that's it. I'm done. put up with this for 25 years. 26 years ain't I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I apologize. But this is the side of That's the side of his house.

We get cold to look at it. I came yesterday. I came the other day. I sort of got caught. He goes He goes he going over the house after the driveways. He never came by. He say green can right in the thing. Pick up. They pick up all his garbage from a landscape of business. He feared them out every day. I've been there for years. I go to I go to town. I say, "Don't worry about it. I've been paying taxes like 2003,000 in taxes in the last five years. It's ridiculous. Nobody knows me in town because I don't bother nobody." And I made a business I made a business out of my house 25 years and bother nobody.

Same. I had a trucking business. when I paid try pay my truck somewhere my house not in front of my house that's what you're supposed to do well that's something you know the council well he he gave the pop guy pull me off everybody never came by never know never even at all like nobody you're not nobody I know that I thought that's what you my wife I've been doing this for 25 years my wife the right to do it yeah Our our council is going to step in also, sir. Yeah, we'll have some. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. What What was the address again? 50811. You're at 508. I'm at 510. You're 5108.

There's a truck right next to the truck full of equipment right now in front of the house. You're 508. I don't think just to think I don't think our parking has any restrictions on commercial vehicles. streets. I believe it's overnight on the side streets because I was not happy when I saw it coming to play. No offense, but it's overnight on the side streets in the back of the house and this person lives in the front of the house. Is that No, I I live in the back house. I have two houses. I have two houses, right? And my tenants in the front house. I live in the back house. Tenants in the front house. You're in the back house. Yeah.

Okay. Gotcha. But I mean I still know about it. Yeah. Yeah. I understand. I've been frustrated for 25 years retired. Thank you. Any other comments 14th Avenue? You're good. That's good.

Okay. They didn't know again along the same line of commercial trucks on the park on the street overnight. We have a lot on block. It's a very narrow street and um they park there all the time. Hard to get through the streets. A lot of people come zipping around the corner and there's going to be somebody's going to get hit. So I don't know what the burden ordinance is. Is there anybody following up on it to make sure that they're either parked appropriately, not supposed to park on the street, or what? Because it's dangerous right on that corner because they come zipping around 14th Avenue.

Well, as I said, we need to review the ordinance to see exactly what is prohibited and what isn't. And uh we can only enforce what the ordinance says that we have to we have to change the ordinance if we want. The ordinance says Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

I think Mr. Somebody else want to go? No, it's all right. Okay. You creamer 4th Avenue. Um, by the way, I I see two proclamations tonight. Uh, of course, April got got the big one for uh municipal clerk, but she's also the administrator for the construction code department right here in town. So, the second proclamation about building safety is uh she actually gets both of those. Congratulations.

Uh actually, I have a question about the construction that's taking place down at Ocean and 16th Avenue down there. And um I don't I went there yesterday uh and I think I was last week I had stopped by their also. Um hasn't a construction permit been issued for that construction that's currently going on. Sorry, what was the construction issued for the bathroom? Yes. bathrooms.

It's supposed Isn't there supposed to be a placard uh posted at where the construction is taking place? Uh, no. They're not required to post it anymore until a certificate has been issued, I believe. In other words, I'm just a member of the public and I go down or I take a look at the site and there's no placard there that a construction permit has been issued. Thank you. They're not required. They're not required to do that anymore. And we know we have the clerk of the year telling us that. You mean

they changed they changed the regulation obviously does not require that this form is no longer required. No.

Gee, this is kind of interesting because here we are having to uh issue a proclamation at uh at a public meeting recognizing uh the good work that the building inspectors do. However, isn't it much would the public be much better informed when they see construction going on in their neighborhood that actually the town is inspecting the work? We use the STL portal where you can look up uh by address what permits have been issued. Uh of course you can call or file an open report. Um and you know any construction that requires a permit needs to be permitted and you can make a report even through the SCL portal. Now we opened up a uh is called a complaint portal uh that you can uh let notify us via the SCL portal um that there's construction going on. permit

and that's uh the public has access to any property in town. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you.

14th Avenue. First, congratulations to April. She's one heck of an employee here. really gets a lot of things done and I want to congratulate her on all those accomplishments that she's been doing since she's been working for the barrel. Thank you.

Thank you to mayor and the brow of Belmar for allowing the Belmar Cares group to use the Taylor Pavilion for your event two weeks ago. It was one of the best fundraisers we ever had. We had an awesome turnout. most amount of people that were there. Um, the band that played are professional entertainers and one of the entertainers in that group performed in Vegas and postponed one of his gigs just to do this fundraiser for us. You did a wonderful job. Congratulations to you and thank you for everything you do. A lot of lot of work.

It was it was a lot of work. A lot of work. A lot of hours. And the next day I was so tired I couldn't even relax. Um, just a question reference. It's kind of a twoin one question. Skate park and the girls basketball field or baseball field on 13th on the souththeast corner. Which one are we supposed to get this skate park done or we supposed to work on this ball field for donations? It seems like we're bouncing back and forth. I want to see that skate park get done. It's been going two separate two separate fundraisers, two separate projects. Um, yeah, the skate park is is we're in we're in kind of in a regrouping kind of phase to see if we can like scale it down to either be something smaller or something we can phase out in several different phases as opposed to one big grand gigantic park. So, we're kind of figuring things out with that. Now, the softball fields are, I believe, moving forward with grant funding and

Yeah. And those are I don't think those are in competition at all. They're actually two fairly different audiences as we found. No, I'm not I'm not saying competition. I'm just saying which one are we going to We started with the vault with the skate park. Let's just get that done. I I agree. Let's just get that done. It's It's not up to me. Wait, I'm confused. In In what sense do you mean? What do you miss the skate park? Oh, never mind. Thank you. It's they're they're They're all plowing straight ahead. I mean, I'd like to see them both done, but I'd like to see since the skate park was started so long ago, I'd like to see that get done. It's also dramatically different amounts that we're fundraising for. Mine is a much much smaller project.

Oh, definitely. Yeah. Yes. So, I mean, I don't think there's any reason to put them up against each other any more than any other two projects in the bureau. Okay. I'd just like to see one of you get done. Oh, I think you will. I think we like to see both. Thank you. And you will. Yes. Any other comments?

Clair hanger 18. Um, April, congratulations. Thank you.

Um, a phrase that I've heard several times. You're the glue that holds Belar together. Thank you. She is. Um, I hate to go back to butterflies. Such a big topic, but um I attended planning meeting. Okay. And Councilman Blaz, if you remember, we we did say that we went with um per race for the signs and then we switched to per candidate because she came up and and so it was it's per candidate. Okay. Uh one sign per candidate um and two on a corner. It went from lot to um race which you had suggested to candidate. I go through the minutes. I thought we went back to race.

No, we went back to you. You're very happy. I think I think they mean the same thing ultimately because it's candidate running for a race. Yeah. So there were I think it's we talked about that. All right. Whatever. um per candidate. The the formal, just so you know, the formal letter from our planning board attorney was or is going to be sent for the amendments. So, if I misspoke on the race for candidate, what our attorney took the notes of what the planning board suggested is going to get here and then it's going to get back to us.

That's how we voted to push it aside and take the planning board suggestion. So, if I had one word wrong, it's going to be correct with the legal terms. Okay? including flood flags and wearables. We discussed the final wording of that.

All right. Flood flags are mentioned in three different spots. Um one saying that they are permitted and then we have them in section four under temporary signs. Um 4 D which falls into the category of the um Friday, Saturday, Sunday only, you know, for special events. But go down two lines and you have a complete definition of butterflies, which is why the whole thing started that they're not going to be um torn and this and that and they have to be removed at night. So, in my own opinion, I think from section 4D, the word flutter flag should be removed because you're talking about two different flutter flags in two different areas. That's the same thing. So, just FYI, I'll go to the next planning board meeting too. And another question I had is how are we doing with the um non- handicap or ADA compliant curbs on Mr. Kmer's corner? Have they been corrected?

No. Oh, by the way, before we give up on that, Fifth Avenue is now completely paved. It's done. The only thing all the way to Main Street, Main Street to to sea street. I do. The only thing left to do that I see is they have to paint lines so crosswalk stops and all that kind of stuff. Great to have a touch football game. Anybody wants to all my skateboarding friends, Fifth Avenue now open. Council president here is going to teach me to skateboard. Mr. is going to let you know what

there's issues with with the height of the road and and the curb settings and there's there's some drainage issues. So if if they were to change those curbs, there'd be puddles because it has to be re-engineered a little bit. So it wasn't a quick fix like we had anticipated. So it's going to be looked at in the future. The next road project, we're going to take a harder look at that. So, it's not going to be done with the Fifth Avenue project, but it will be done with a future project. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions, comments,

Leila Mark 605 motion. I did come to the planning board meeting specifically because of the political science and I did make the comment about per candidate because we do have vote for two races. You guys run vote for two. Um, but I also did some more research to kind of try to look at state law and federal law, um, constitutional law. And I really think that you need to take a look at that political sign as a temporary sign. Maybe some of you remember, probably all of you were here in Mammoth County 10 years ago. There was a controversy in West Long Branch over a flag. Under federal law, under the constitution, a flag is a sign. As far I'm not a lawyer, but as far as I understand it, that's the case. They put a limitation in West Long Branch saying that you could only have the sign up, I think in their case it was 30 days. You're saying 45 days. They challenged the ACLU actually represented this guy and challenged it and a judge threw the ticket out and they repealed their ordinance based on that. So, this is like a temporal thing, right? Time that you can have. I appreciate where you guys are coming from about the signs, but I also think that we're in an environment right now where we shouldn't be limiting political speech that's civil and putting a sign in your yard, putting a sign in your window. I live in a condo. I face the dumpster. Nobody's going to see a sign if I put it out. But I appreciate that other people do put signs out because it's a it's a physical representation in our community of people's support for something. And I appreciate that people have a right to not put up signs, maybe

don't seal out for certain candidates, but I think that based on that and also based on there was a Supreme Court decision 2015. It was out in Arizona, but my again I'm not a a constitutional scholar, but my reading and understanding from just reading some legal stuff, legal journal is that when you make certain types of determinations about how you're going to treat different signs that if it's going to be content based, which if it's a if it's a political sign for a candidate, it's based on the content of the sign. If you're trying to regulate it based on regulating it like that, it has to go under strict scrutiny. And I think that the way that you wrote the ordinance and maybe the way that you're going to rewrite it is not going to be something you can enforce. And I just caution you, don't pass ordinances with pieces that you can't enforce. Even if we're not going to deal with it now, maybe years from now somebody else is going to have to deal with it. It's going to cost the town money. And frankly, nobody wants to be associated with uh, you know, violating constitutional rights. None of you none of you represent that from what I know of you, from what I've observed. And so, you know, on one hand, like I came to the planning board last week and I even said, "Hey, I appreciate it." In other parts of the state, you know, sometimes you'll see signs that are up for months and months and months, but again, the we're talking about private property. And just one last thing about that. If you were to adopt the language that you have, by restricting it to one sign per lot, you're putting people like these people

that were here that have a tenant, you're putting them in a bad situation because unless they put that in their lease with their tenant, then there's going to be there's going to be some kind of conflict. If both of them wanted to put up a sign, say they they support different candidates. They both want to put a sign. Again, I I mean, maybe this kind of stuff doesn't come up most of the time, but I think that it's something you really need to think about. And it's something eventually New Jersey is going to have to think about because we have a whole town that's a land lease town in Ocean Grove. And if if the landlord is the person who can make determinations and put it in the lease to restrict your political speech, then it's just creating more I mean, I guess it's hypothetical, but it's creating more animosity on political speech that I mean, it's just my opinion, but I don't think that that's the kind of thing that we want to do. So that's As much as I have to say about the sign, which is a lot, I apologize, but it was it was eye opening to me to read some of the legal stuff on it.

That's why we rely on that gentleman right there, right? Tell us what we can. I'm not going to debate the constitution tonight, but I will take a look at it. If there are any issues, I'll talk to Doug Kovass, who's the planning board attorney, and we'll make sure that our ordinance is uh constitutionally sound. Okay, great. Just one other thing, a positive thing. I was here for the last council meeting. You guys did a resolution to honor George. Everybody in town knows George. Everybody appreciates what he does. I don't know if any of you know about this, but I mentioned to somebody during the break earlier. There's actually a patriotism award that the county is giving out. Did anybody nominate George for that? He would be such a great candidate for that.

So, I pulled it up because I have it. There's uh there are three categories, but I think that he certainly is a first responder. There's a the actual title of it is patriotic American Hero Award. And uh the deadline is May 1st, so it's kind of a late date, but if somebody's interested in nominating him, I'm Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like he's such a great candidate and even if he didn't win, he should be recognized as a nominee. So, thank you for pointing that. Thank you. American for making an exception tonight. Thank you.

Since there's no big crowd here, none of us want to go home. Line 14th Avenue. One question. Who do I talk to about the burrow ordinance regarding commercial trucks on the street? Who would I talk to? Who would I ask to find out about that? It depends on what it is you're you're you're asking. just to find out what the burrow ordinance is regarding commercial trucks parked parked in a residential. You can look it up on the e- code 360 uh website and type in commercial trucks parking ordinances like that after the meeting and then yeah, no problem. All right. Thank you. I can guide you to the right site.

Okay. I think we did a whole workshop on that one.

The number of days cars were parked on the street, too. I would have to look it up to read it and see exactly what it says. We're all on it. Any other comments? Sure. real real quick. Barry, it's not even 15th Avenue. Uh it's nice to be I think two days now, maybe even three to sit in my backyard and listen to the pound pound. Finally, they're working again. It should be over very soon. The

pound by the end of this week. Yes. I have a motion to close the public session. Second. All in favor? I You guys are going to be here when we get back. Lucky you guys.

Our last item is resolution 202691, a resolution of the council permitting to go into an executive session. Whereas it has been determined by the council that it is necessary to discuss the following specific matter at its regular meeting in the absence of the public pending litigation and contract negotiations. And whereas the open public meetings act permits the burough council to exclude the public from that portion of a public meeting during which such matters are discussed. Now therefore be resolved by the council as follows. that the council shall recess into a private executive session from which the public shall be excluded. That the scope of the forces said executive session shall be limited to the matter as stated. That those matters discussed in executive session shall remain confidential until such time as a need for confidentiality no longer exist as determined by the burough attorney. and that minutes of the close session shall be taken and kept free from public review until such time that the need for confidentiality no longer exists and that the regular meeting of the council shall resume after the private executive session at which time the burough council may take action in reference to the topic discussed. Do we have a motion to offer the resolution?

Motion. Second. Councilwoman Donovan. Yes. Councilman Kenny. Yes. Councilman Delasio, yes. Council yes. Mayor Magasco, yes. I want to say no. That's what I'm going to say no. See what happens. Some people just want to see the world. All right.

back on. We need a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion second. All in favor? I know. I die.