Please Note, the link to Housing Authority Audit has been fixed. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Click for Housing Authority Audit - APHA is Operating at a deficit of $2,538,113, according to an auditors' report covering budgets of past two years.
Startling 94% expense increase during one fiscal year said due to salary and benefit increases.
HUD had ordered Authority to reimburse capital fund $692,990 for periods '03,'04', and '05.
One long-term loan made with TD Bank in August 2009, for $3,732, 840. as per 3/31/10 report.
Note Pg 3, point #5, and Pg 25. But all 54 pgs should be taken in context as well.
Click for City's Audit -- City Paying more than $2 million a year to service its debt, more...
or click for Synopsis of City Audit
- The Voice of Asbury Park ~ matters vital to justice, environment, equality, culture and pursuit of happiness.
Showing posts with label City budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City budget. Show all posts
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Blue Bishops & Volunteers Lauded, New/More Parking Meters for City
Asbury Park Council meeting – April 6, 2011 AsburyRadio’s Reporter’s Notebook – Comments, corrections, spellings, clarifications are one way you can participate in this process. Just send me your message as a comment and I’ll post it. We don’t entertain anons though.
Council Present: Susan Henderson, John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, Kevin Sanders, and James Bruno – Steve Kay, city clerk
Blue Bishops Hailed – Named April 8th for the basket ball team
Citizen Angels - Volunteers - Lauded by Mayor and Council
State Coughs Up $10, 372,000 This Year
City Looking to Cut $1.6M from Budget
Meeting Ends in Discourse over Meter Contract Going to Solo Bidder – Bruno is sole objector
Audience Faults City for Health Premium Awards
6:40 pm – Late Arrival Workshop Meeting
In Progress Brian Grant, city engineer dir. Of Public Works –
Presenting option for new pkg meters to council.
2 yr service contract, asked extended warranty of 5 yrs price/ in ans to Bruno.
Bruno – we asked last time if it’ll take tokens
Mayor – no cash, credit card, set up via cell phone.
BG – can hv temp cards for limited time use/ advertisements for local merchants on receipts/
KS – can it be programmed to a specific address? For residential use.
BG – no
200 block of waterfront so more meters/ cbd w/ be 40 meters. 135 meters altogether/
JB – do ? know about it? How did they find us, this co trying to brk into nj?
BG – they knew we were going to advertise/
JB – we hv to adv in something that will span more than jst tinton falls…when we’re lkg for something like this
We hv appox $80k leftover from trans ctr project/ painting of canopies abround trans ctr/ we hv to sandblast old paint to get it right the first time/ open to all contractors, intend to adv in coaster / try to save money adg in coaster than app.
JB – pkg – thought we’d get mor of selection than jst one
Mayor – can we post on city web site?
Gilmour – can’t hear him
Mayor – yes we should – to Gilmour
JB – lst yr we jst missed out on grant…transportation, wondered if we cd apply real qk this yr.
Mayor – terry jst got a nocie requesting an app.
Terry Reidy, city mgr – there’s been a lot of conversation/ everyone knows first yr muni of nj hav req’d adopt budgets of 2% cap or hold referendum to exceed it/ this eveing gov body w/ hv resolution that we’re not going to referendum/
People refer to it as 2% cap…but there are variety of exceptions to cap, re AP certain pension costs…exceptions, in 2011 budget w/ be april 20th introduction/ city of ap cd incrs taxes by 19.5% and still be w/in 2% cap/ so jst to put guidelines in perspective/ res tonight w/ say if city wanted to go ref wd be eligible/
Gilmour – Tom, city commerce dir and head of UEZ/
Hsekppg issue/ 09 bid for mktg svcs/ 2yr time/ prof contracts s/be issued for only 12 mos at time/ so renewing now for M studio and Synergy productions/ some spec event pol recommended don’t apprve/ sandblast asked to hold on south side instd of north side of CH asked if council wd consider/
JL – there’s no agreement w/ Madison Marquette to do that
Mayor – at some pt we hv to decide about mv events to an event bch/
JB – something about putting a curtain up
Mayor – can’t hv significant portion of it closed for an event, when so many people want to use beach.
JL – well alrdy hav permission for north side, don’t want them to be hardship///
JB – won’t need lifeguards jst put sign up no swimming. That bch hasn’t even been open since 69.
Mayor – fence will run all way to water…
TG – Monmouth Med wants to use ? for raising $
JB – all these events coming to city to raise money, can’t they contribute some to the city, say for 4th of July or our other celebrations?
Mayor – seemed to agree it should be explored.
TR – 3 items on pkg agenda/ when some of us wnt to Trenton to local finance bd, lk’d at our self-help efforts.
City Atty Fred Raffetto: So 3 items from the executive session for gov body to lk at/ towing rates , second is hote
TR - l tax/ allowed by statute/ LBrnch has tax in, greater close to $400k from hotels/ state runs entire program, CFO says/
JB – sure they’ll take that away too
TR – city gives state state gives back….Flase Arlarm ordinance, startled by number of false alarms our dept…1,782 false alarms, Fire dpt responded to ….581? procedure this is to track false alarms and pay penalty if caught. Costs us firemen being somewhere else.
JB – alarms in bad weather go off all time/ I know which ones we get false alarms
TR – jimmy that’s a very good pt.
JB – older buildings trying to upgrade but they go off/
TR – matters to be introduced by city council
SH – dep mayor jl and myself are on waterfront advisory comm.. we met once, last mtg cancelled due to death. A rep from Mad Marquette and from state were there. Next mtg is next wk/ Dog licenses or w/ be fined/
JB – pooper scooper bags…sunset av dog stations bond st to atlantic park on sunset on 5th not one/ 602 5th ave. ??/
JB – 4th of july parade, we may hav money for fireworks but won’t be like last yr/ we need sponsors
Mayor – congratulate the Roots Harmonies exhibit, if not gone to library shd get there. Excellent exhibit/
TR – pol chif announcement
Chief – atty gen’l’s office we’ll be recg a $250k tech grant for tech projects, submit to state for app’l. on top of list for consideration w/ be surveillance cameras.
Fred Raffetto – asked whether who can use beach passes…muni can chg fees but not discrimate against nonresidents
2 items from exec session/ res shared svcs cty mon and ap fire dispatch svcs. Mofunderstanding antennas on top of Monroe towers, for video surveillance projct.
End of Wkshop – 7:20 pm
Public Portion –
April 15th, Alzheimer’s observance, representive of assn present/ Mayor reads resolution – Bdwlk gala at historic …in AP Music Memories in AP
Mayor - Champions in the room – APHS Blue Bishop Varsity Basketball Team 64-50 beat…established itself as power to be reckoned with/
Mayor – so often in press and media we’re told what they’re not doing and not achieving, we are very proud of your achievement/ you made this one town so very proud/ members of bd of ed w/ uspls stand/ pls join us up front/ basketball coaches to join us Hereby encourage citizens of ap to recognize the outstanding achievements of these young men, april 8th to be the Day of Champions in AP
Standing ovation – some taking photos/ School’s Supt.Denise Lowe “One City One Asbury Park” Connie Breach was able to arrange a dinner on april 19th at the Adriatic on Kinglsey St. for the student athletes.
Holiday Tour Drive – ask AP Police officer Connie Breach to come forward to distribute awards – special recognition tonight for individuals and companies who’ve gone beyond
Amsel Aaron & Grimm, company in Brick BJ Dowling, Eckland Recycling, Dennis Buckley on behalf of AP Elks, (Bruno jst as long as he doesn’t have his ruler out – Buckley says Thanks Jim) Buckley says Elks have charity events to raise money for scholarships for different groups, Rita Hoffman and MaryBeth McBride, freezing temps sorting toys in garage for ten yrs of undaunting devotion Beth Fodero…, Charles Guerara, retired teacher and owner of Georgies wanted to give back, despite the economy supporting every year… Danny Mckee, president of AP Little League $450 to kids baseball camp this summer/ box of bats and balls for the league…21 kids sent each summer to camp in PA, exper mst wd not have w/out generosity of Police Dept and others who hv an interest in seeing AP and children succeed.
Public Session –
Beth – Cookman Ave – what did u find out about all the graffiti in downtown
Chief – have some leads, sev’l members dept wkg on/ pos results
Beth – been doing own investigation, web stie of coalition art tank, hav may 14th final graffiti class w/ be outside on the wall. Don’t know what’s going on w/ all liaquor going on down town, who approves all that going on down there.
Mayor – come may 14th they better not be out there writing on the walls.
Beth – distritubuting copies of signs to council.
Jerry Scarano – Long Brnch / town wide garage sale apr 30th/ people think of cleaning/ may 1 house tour/ instead of 6 or 8, trying to get cluster of homes, ex. Buckley Funeral home and others by it/ cluster on Central Ave need volunteer homes, contact jim McGlynn 732- 610- 5470 / problems getting names requested thru OPRA fnd out did hv people opt out of health program, not one pub official opted out of the refund for not takg health benefit/ w/ $21k for health benefits could save a job for city employee/ putting
Myra Campbell – Mattison Ave, AP
Speeding down streets. I hv doc in front of me public engineering 12/25/11, I talked about strs and lack of progress, they said were on schedule, my doc says wd’ve been finished by march 25 on my street and dewitt, hvn’t event started on my street. Mentioned woman fell during last council mtg, and next day cones went up. And Construction company started at 7 am on Saturday. Ministers mtg too.
Chief – Speeding,
BG – schedules notes always say subject to weather, but overall constru endate is still intact, or on track. If heavy prolonged rain he won’t show up.
Mayor – I can def agree on the 7 in morning.he’s told 7is legal.
JB – but they’re wkg for us we can say 8 am.
Rita Marano – 2 wks ago asked what atty fees were befor judge Lawson.
TR – number we have now is…? Numbers associated with the litigation$50k covers pretrial, hearing in court of Lawson, post.
JB – we can’t use the escrow acct we hv w/ them…
TR - $51k paid out as result of litigation/ includes the arbitration too.
RM – what about Aaron’s bills $36k and $36
CFO - For variety of different cases, nothing for redev.
Vernice McGriff – and not rly being controversial
North beach, we shd start using it/ cultivating, whoever’s on that committee we need to start using north beach/ we’re one of the top beaches in area/ we could use the money/ That’s a dead end/ people coming into town we don’t wnt to lose them
Denise Richardson – Ridge Av
Commend whoever tk bushes down in front of trans ctr/ Brian stood up waved his hand – cameras already in place and those buying, if doing shared svcs w/ Neptune will they wk w/ Neptune?
Chf – intial instinct is prob won’t / they have quite a few cameras…something to lk at yes/
TR – who di that at trans
BG – thank you wnted to do for yrs/ landscaping w/ cost $4k so for now we’ll jst seed it. But I thank the resident for mentioning it.
End of public comment
Council Resolutions –
$1, 400,000 bill resolution
Raffles – social affair permits catering permits – all yes
Liquor license 400 main st. to 644 Cookman Av, app’d by zoning – all yes
Coral Bay llc rescheulded
Nominate bruno for insurance commission – loffredo’s nom
Loffredo – nom. for planning board - inaudible – believe this was Cerise Grillo
Refund over payment – bangs ave and other prop taxes sev’l
Multifunctional copiers, contracts not to exceed $25k
City mgr to adv for bids concrete pavers decorative, for downtown
Authorize surveillance cameras – all yes
Shared svcs dispatch fire dept w/ monmouth btyy\ Bruno absolutely not/ all others yes
Authorize sanding and painting at Trans Ctr/ got 3 quotes/ this is $55k to be paid from existing grant from DOT
Rescinding plan to hold referendum/ not trapped into budget..ref w/ allow us to / in ap only reason wd need ref if I wnt’d to raise taxes by 20% or more/ until we rec’d the state aid number don’t know/ in brick residents chose to pay their own garbage instead of raise taxes. For us it wd save $1.2 million if we did that/
20th of april w/ be hrgon budget introduced already/ next amendment to add in the $10,375,000 from state exceptional aid. Won’t be asking council to pass. w/ be figuring How to close $1.6 million gap and balance the city budget. $1/4million savings per yr fr cuts in police and fire/ on 20th hrg w be on the reduced budget/
All yes/
MStudio and Synergy prod for video – $100,000 not to exceed for mstudio, which is not expected to really exceed $50k because UEZ doesn’t hav more than that / and synergy also not to exceed $50k / These were originally proposed for two yrs, but Gilmour learned that they couldn’t be approved for more than 12 mo. Contract.
Salary for p/time employee – not raising current pay
Public hrgs on grease trap ordinance/ TR – regulates rests and putting grease into our sanitary sewers/ not evry restau is diligent about it/
Ordiance Financial agreement abv Asbury urban renewal –
This is on the griffin – allows city to modify pilot agreement it has w/ griffin/
RM – how many pilot prograsms do we have? [Payment in Lieu of Taxes – tax reduction programs used in development zones to attract construction. The city usually gets its share, but county tax is nil or nominal and no school tax is taken.]
CFO – I believe 5
TR – more revenue comes into city/ does go into general fund/ helps pay for services/ pilot agreement provides more revenue to city because not divided w/ cty and schools tax
RM – do you keep it separate so you can track it?
Yes
Oh, good how much is it?
Laughter –
TR – I can show it to you
JB – would only get half if went to conventional taxes
TR – pilot revenue goes to same plc as rest of property taxes.
RCA Project – 314 7th ave/ $33, 850.
JB – something wrong on meters if only one company bid on it…here we go again/ you have no clue sue henderson at all.
SH – I wasn’t here
JB – something smells again…bruno is tring to speak and the others are closing the meeting…I hv emails/ I hav the one you sent too
EJ – good night Irene
JB - - don’t good night me…
Council Present: Susan Henderson, John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, Kevin Sanders, and James Bruno – Steve Kay, city clerk
Blue Bishops Hailed – Named April 8th for the basket ball team
Citizen Angels - Volunteers - Lauded by Mayor and Council
State Coughs Up $10, 372,000 This Year
City Looking to Cut $1.6M from Budget
Meeting Ends in Discourse over Meter Contract Going to Solo Bidder – Bruno is sole objector
Audience Faults City for Health Premium Awards
6:40 pm – Late Arrival Workshop Meeting
In Progress Brian Grant, city engineer dir. Of Public Works –
Presenting option for new pkg meters to council.
2 yr service contract, asked extended warranty of 5 yrs price/ in ans to Bruno.
Bruno – we asked last time if it’ll take tokens
Mayor – no cash, credit card, set up via cell phone.
BG – can hv temp cards for limited time use/ advertisements for local merchants on receipts/
KS – can it be programmed to a specific address? For residential use.
BG – no
200 block of waterfront so more meters/ cbd w/ be 40 meters. 135 meters altogether/
JB – do ? know about it? How did they find us, this co trying to brk into nj?
BG – they knew we were going to advertise/
JB – we hv to adv in something that will span more than jst tinton falls…when we’re lkg for something like this
We hv appox $80k leftover from trans ctr project/ painting of canopies abround trans ctr/ we hv to sandblast old paint to get it right the first time/ open to all contractors, intend to adv in coaster / try to save money adg in coaster than app.
JB – pkg – thought we’d get mor of selection than jst one
Mayor – can we post on city web site?
Gilmour – can’t hear him
Mayor – yes we should – to Gilmour
JB – lst yr we jst missed out on grant…transportation, wondered if we cd apply real qk this yr.
Mayor – terry jst got a nocie requesting an app.
Terry Reidy, city mgr – there’s been a lot of conversation/ everyone knows first yr muni of nj hav req’d adopt budgets of 2% cap or hold referendum to exceed it/ this eveing gov body w/ hv resolution that we’re not going to referendum/
People refer to it as 2% cap…but there are variety of exceptions to cap, re AP certain pension costs…exceptions, in 2011 budget w/ be april 20th introduction/ city of ap cd incrs taxes by 19.5% and still be w/in 2% cap/ so jst to put guidelines in perspective/ res tonight w/ say if city wanted to go ref wd be eligible/
Gilmour – Tom, city commerce dir and head of UEZ/
Hsekppg issue/ 09 bid for mktg svcs/ 2yr time/ prof contracts s/be issued for only 12 mos at time/ so renewing now for M studio and Synergy productions/ some spec event pol recommended don’t apprve/ sandblast asked to hold on south side instd of north side of CH asked if council wd consider/
JL – there’s no agreement w/ Madison Marquette to do that
Mayor – at some pt we hv to decide about mv events to an event bch/
JB – something about putting a curtain up
Mayor – can’t hv significant portion of it closed for an event, when so many people want to use beach.
JL – well alrdy hav permission for north side, don’t want them to be hardship///
JB – won’t need lifeguards jst put sign up no swimming. That bch hasn’t even been open since 69.
Mayor – fence will run all way to water…
TG – Monmouth Med wants to use ? for raising $
JB – all these events coming to city to raise money, can’t they contribute some to the city, say for 4th of July or our other celebrations?
Mayor – seemed to agree it should be explored.
TR – 3 items on pkg agenda/ when some of us wnt to Trenton to local finance bd, lk’d at our self-help efforts.
City Atty Fred Raffetto: So 3 items from the executive session for gov body to lk at/ towing rates , second is hote
TR - l tax/ allowed by statute/ LBrnch has tax in, greater close to $400k from hotels/ state runs entire program, CFO says/
JB – sure they’ll take that away too
TR – city gives state state gives back….Flase Arlarm ordinance, startled by number of false alarms our dept…1,782 false alarms, Fire dpt responded to ….581? procedure this is to track false alarms and pay penalty if caught. Costs us firemen being somewhere else.
JB – alarms in bad weather go off all time/ I know which ones we get false alarms
TR – jimmy that’s a very good pt.
JB – older buildings trying to upgrade but they go off/
TR – matters to be introduced by city council
SH – dep mayor jl and myself are on waterfront advisory comm.. we met once, last mtg cancelled due to death. A rep from Mad Marquette and from state were there. Next mtg is next wk/ Dog licenses or w/ be fined/
JB – pooper scooper bags…sunset av dog stations bond st to atlantic park on sunset on 5th not one/ 602 5th ave. ??/
JB – 4th of july parade, we may hav money for fireworks but won’t be like last yr/ we need sponsors
Mayor – congratulate the Roots Harmonies exhibit, if not gone to library shd get there. Excellent exhibit/
TR – pol chif announcement
Chief – atty gen’l’s office we’ll be recg a $250k tech grant for tech projects, submit to state for app’l. on top of list for consideration w/ be surveillance cameras.
Fred Raffetto – asked whether who can use beach passes…muni can chg fees but not discrimate against nonresidents
2 items from exec session/ res shared svcs cty mon and ap fire dispatch svcs. Mofunderstanding antennas on top of Monroe towers, for video surveillance projct.
End of Wkshop – 7:20 pm
Public Portion –
April 15th, Alzheimer’s observance, representive of assn present/ Mayor reads resolution – Bdwlk gala at historic …in AP Music Memories in AP
Mayor - Champions in the room – APHS Blue Bishop Varsity Basketball Team 64-50 beat…established itself as power to be reckoned with/
Mayor – so often in press and media we’re told what they’re not doing and not achieving, we are very proud of your achievement/ you made this one town so very proud/ members of bd of ed w/ uspls stand/ pls join us up front/ basketball coaches to join us Hereby encourage citizens of ap to recognize the outstanding achievements of these young men, april 8th to be the Day of Champions in AP
Standing ovation – some taking photos/ School’s Supt.Denise Lowe “One City One Asbury Park” Connie Breach was able to arrange a dinner on april 19th at the Adriatic on Kinglsey St. for the student athletes.
Holiday Tour Drive – ask AP Police officer Connie Breach to come forward to distribute awards – special recognition tonight for individuals and companies who’ve gone beyond
Amsel Aaron & Grimm, company in Brick BJ Dowling, Eckland Recycling, Dennis Buckley on behalf of AP Elks, (Bruno jst as long as he doesn’t have his ruler out – Buckley says Thanks Jim) Buckley says Elks have charity events to raise money for scholarships for different groups, Rita Hoffman and MaryBeth McBride, freezing temps sorting toys in garage for ten yrs of undaunting devotion Beth Fodero…, Charles Guerara, retired teacher and owner of Georgies wanted to give back, despite the economy supporting every year… Danny Mckee, president of AP Little League $450 to kids baseball camp this summer/ box of bats and balls for the league…21 kids sent each summer to camp in PA, exper mst wd not have w/out generosity of Police Dept and others who hv an interest in seeing AP and children succeed.
Public Session –
Beth – Cookman Ave – what did u find out about all the graffiti in downtown
Chief – have some leads, sev’l members dept wkg on/ pos results
Beth – been doing own investigation, web stie of coalition art tank, hav may 14th final graffiti class w/ be outside on the wall. Don’t know what’s going on w/ all liaquor going on down town, who approves all that going on down there.
Mayor – come may 14th they better not be out there writing on the walls.
Beth – distritubuting copies of signs to council.
Jerry Scarano – Long Brnch / town wide garage sale apr 30th/ people think of cleaning/ may 1 house tour/ instead of 6 or 8, trying to get cluster of homes, ex. Buckley Funeral home and others by it/ cluster on Central Ave need volunteer homes, contact jim McGlynn 732- 610- 5470 / problems getting names requested thru OPRA fnd out did hv people opt out of health program, not one pub official opted out of the refund for not takg health benefit/ w/ $21k for health benefits could save a job for city employee/ putting
Myra Campbell – Mattison Ave, AP
Speeding down streets. I hv doc in front of me public engineering 12/25/11, I talked about strs and lack of progress, they said were on schedule, my doc says wd’ve been finished by march 25 on my street and dewitt, hvn’t event started on my street. Mentioned woman fell during last council mtg, and next day cones went up. And Construction company started at 7 am on Saturday. Ministers mtg too.
Chief – Speeding,
BG – schedules notes always say subject to weather, but overall constru endate is still intact, or on track. If heavy prolonged rain he won’t show up.
Mayor – I can def agree on the 7 in morning.he’s told 7is legal.
JB – but they’re wkg for us we can say 8 am.
Rita Marano – 2 wks ago asked what atty fees were befor judge Lawson.
TR – number we have now is…? Numbers associated with the litigation$50k covers pretrial, hearing in court of Lawson, post.
JB – we can’t use the escrow acct we hv w/ them…
TR - $51k paid out as result of litigation/ includes the arbitration too.
RM – what about Aaron’s bills $36k and $36
CFO - For variety of different cases, nothing for redev.
Vernice McGriff – and not rly being controversial
North beach, we shd start using it/ cultivating, whoever’s on that committee we need to start using north beach/ we’re one of the top beaches in area/ we could use the money/ That’s a dead end/ people coming into town we don’t wnt to lose them
Denise Richardson – Ridge Av
Commend whoever tk bushes down in front of trans ctr/ Brian stood up waved his hand – cameras already in place and those buying, if doing shared svcs w/ Neptune will they wk w/ Neptune?
Chf – intial instinct is prob won’t / they have quite a few cameras…something to lk at yes/
TR – who di that at trans
BG – thank you wnted to do for yrs/ landscaping w/ cost $4k so for now we’ll jst seed it. But I thank the resident for mentioning it.
End of public comment
Council Resolutions –
$1, 400,000 bill resolution
Raffles – social affair permits catering permits – all yes
Liquor license 400 main st. to 644 Cookman Av, app’d by zoning – all yes
Coral Bay llc rescheulded
Nominate bruno for insurance commission – loffredo’s nom
Loffredo – nom. for planning board - inaudible – believe this was Cerise Grillo
Refund over payment – bangs ave and other prop taxes sev’l
Multifunctional copiers, contracts not to exceed $25k
City mgr to adv for bids concrete pavers decorative, for downtown
Authorize surveillance cameras – all yes
Shared svcs dispatch fire dept w/ monmouth btyy\ Bruno absolutely not/ all others yes
Authorize sanding and painting at Trans Ctr/ got 3 quotes/ this is $55k to be paid from existing grant from DOT
Rescinding plan to hold referendum/ not trapped into budget..ref w/ allow us to / in ap only reason wd need ref if I wnt’d to raise taxes by 20% or more/ until we rec’d the state aid number don’t know/ in brick residents chose to pay their own garbage instead of raise taxes. For us it wd save $1.2 million if we did that/
20th of april w/ be hrgon budget introduced already/ next amendment to add in the $10,375,000 from state exceptional aid. Won’t be asking council to pass. w/ be figuring How to close $1.6 million gap and balance the city budget. $1/4million savings per yr fr cuts in police and fire/ on 20th hrg w be on the reduced budget/
All yes/
MStudio and Synergy prod for video – $100,000 not to exceed for mstudio, which is not expected to really exceed $50k because UEZ doesn’t hav more than that / and synergy also not to exceed $50k / These were originally proposed for two yrs, but Gilmour learned that they couldn’t be approved for more than 12 mo. Contract.
Salary for p/time employee – not raising current pay
Public hrgs on grease trap ordinance/ TR – regulates rests and putting grease into our sanitary sewers/ not evry restau is diligent about it/
Ordiance Financial agreement abv Asbury urban renewal –
This is on the griffin – allows city to modify pilot agreement it has w/ griffin/
RM – how many pilot prograsms do we have? [Payment in Lieu of Taxes – tax reduction programs used in development zones to attract construction. The city usually gets its share, but county tax is nil or nominal and no school tax is taken.]
CFO – I believe 5
TR – more revenue comes into city/ does go into general fund/ helps pay for services/ pilot agreement provides more revenue to city because not divided w/ cty and schools tax
RM – do you keep it separate so you can track it?
Yes
Oh, good how much is it?
Laughter –
TR – I can show it to you
JB – would only get half if went to conventional taxes
TR – pilot revenue goes to same plc as rest of property taxes.
RCA Project – 314 7th ave/ $33, 850.
JB – something wrong on meters if only one company bid on it…here we go again/ you have no clue sue henderson at all.
SH – I wasn’t here
JB – something smells again…bruno is tring to speak and the others are closing the meeting…I hv emails/ I hav the one you sent too
EJ – good night Irene
JB - - don’t good night me…
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Quick Posts on Last Night's Council Meeting
My work schedule is interfering with my time to post my Reporter's Notebook. But here's a couple of nuggets from last night's meeting. April 6, 2011
On Budgets and Property Taxes in Asbury Park
City Manager Terry Reidy: the council was about to vote to rescind an earlier resolution to allow the city to hold a referendum - a public vote - to ask the public if it wants to raise the spending limit on the city's budget beyond the state mandated 2%. Reidy explained that the City doesn't need a referendum to raise taxes, since it could raise them by 19% and still be within the 2% budget cap.
How can that be right? The City has many expenses that don't come under the cap limit: pension contributions, debt service on bond debt - long term loans the city takes out to pay for capital improvements, like roads and sewer improvements - don't have a 2% limit. This is why decisions to borrow money need to be really considered very carefully, because property owners have to pay it back with interest, no matter how high the amount owed gets up to. So the tax money going to those payments doesn't get counted in the part of the budget subject to a cap.
How much is the State giving us in aid this year?
About $10, 375,000.
How much more do we need?
$1.6 million But the City can still look for more cuts to reduce that, otherwise it gets spread over the taxpayers. Oops, back to work...
More later.
On Budgets and Property Taxes in Asbury Park
City Manager Terry Reidy: the council was about to vote to rescind an earlier resolution to allow the city to hold a referendum - a public vote - to ask the public if it wants to raise the spending limit on the city's budget beyond the state mandated 2%. Reidy explained that the City doesn't need a referendum to raise taxes, since it could raise them by 19% and still be within the 2% budget cap.
How can that be right? The City has many expenses that don't come under the cap limit: pension contributions, debt service on bond debt - long term loans the city takes out to pay for capital improvements, like roads and sewer improvements - don't have a 2% limit. This is why decisions to borrow money need to be really considered very carefully, because property owners have to pay it back with interest, no matter how high the amount owed gets up to. So the tax money going to those payments doesn't get counted in the part of the budget subject to a cap.
How much is the State giving us in aid this year?
About $10, 375,000.
How much more do we need?
$1.6 million But the City can still look for more cuts to reduce that, otherwise it gets spread over the taxpayers. Oops, back to work...
More later.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
City Passes Temporary Budget Awaits Transitional Aid Number
City of Asbury Park Council Mtg March 16, 2011
Welcome to Asbury Radio's Reporter's Notebook
Swan Boats Return to Wesley Lake
Asbury Park Considers Exceeding 2% Cap
Tentative Budget Prior to State Aid Requires 101% Tax Rise
Reidy Vows Transitional Aid Will Lower Need to Hike Taxes
But Cap Rise Above State Mandated 2% Still On Table
Attending:
Councilmembers Kevin Sanders, Sue Henderson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, – Councilmember James Bruno absent – Deputy Clerk Kiki Tomek for Clerk Steve Kay
Workshop –
Start
Don Sammet, Director of Redevelopment and Planning - \resolution 2011 menu items:
Confirming items you wanted and last min suggestion/ repair of ramp leads up to bdwk at 6th, construction of roll mats at each access for wheelchrs/ message boards, w/ come bk to. Jst com out of engineering install of railing at new ramp eastern side of boardwalk, estimates $10k to 15k$ between 6th and 7th, closer to Asbury Tower/
For record Madison marquette’s objections/ not quality as capital improvement/
Ej – what’s concern
DS – mobile sign is not a capital project/ cd be placed elsewhere not in WRA/ cd be used for traffic / think it’s realistice that if emerg elsewhere in city cd be moved for that.
Other item/ heads up for u at this pt/ cls to summer season, need redopt bdwk vending ord sunset on it/ needs to be app’d again/
Ej – how do we enforce this/ vending on the bdwlk/ we hv musicians, guitar cases set up/ blanket jewelry, we have (inaudible) don’t wnt to chase people away/
DS- req’d to get vending permit fr city clk or don’t belong out there/ imagine As Prtners has right to vending permits on bdwlk / imagine Partners play a strong role, they’ll probably go after anyone not allowed out there/
EJ – something about bkstage pass
DS – analogy to a fishing license/ when buy hv to provide own sleeve for display
Will bring up next mtg
Fred Raffetto – first item/ pedal boats on Wesley lake/ city sought RFPs, oper concession on lake/ not nec on competitive bidding basis, but contractor best suited, one bidder, AP pedal boats out of Toms River/ $600 a yr with future options to share revenue. 2 people ½ hr $18/ 3 persons $20, 4 persons $22/ staff 2 – 3 wkrs at all time size of boats 8' x 5'/ 6 to 8 boats, 3 person capacity/ letters of recommendation Linda Occhipintic and Joseph Gambarony, of Toms River, 732-684-2944 …principals of business/ mtg in Neptune already held/ they've made substantial capital outlay:
Avail mid to late may, boats run thru October
Council - Perhaps offer discounts for AP kids grps/ senior discount??
SH – lk forward to swans…
Kevin Sanders – senior citizen and chilren’s group discount amenable to?
Boat people – yes
James Famularo –
Championship …inaudible…state playoffs in basketball/ Dayton h.s. Springfield NJ / tonite we play Plfld HS in Toms River/ we see results on court, support we give…
FR – alcohol license fee increase He passes out info to council and CM Terry Reidy/ old code was outdated/ two types consumptiona dn distribution/ consumption $239/ Dis $739 – lst incrs 2008/ 250 is min/ 20% incrs wd be 448., wd go above $2500 cap. Dist can go up 358 more / cd go over $2k/ ??? Rapid fire speech…
EJ – do we need to take it…
FR – policy decision/
EJ – thnk shd be a rise but not go to max/ times are hard everyone struggling
FR – june deadline when they come due. Wd req to mtgs to pass ordinance
Gen’l mercantile license, construction dept req identification from mercantile / form not in accordance w/ code/ hardship to businesses/ shd throw out ord if you’re in agreement, for upgrade
Garrett Giberson – beach closing schedules / GG is passing them out to council and CM/
GG is retired head of DPW. He is now in chg of beach responsibilities. Beach clothing, closing schedule/ weather permitting…fee increases for beach badges, recommending $1, now $5, weekends wd be $6/ other communities are listed on handouts. We’re still w/in the low fees. Look at Allenhurst, Belmar, deal/ fees all over/ increase $5 to $20 and $65 to…inaudible
EJ – anything we can do for AP…raise wd be for non AP residents/ if wanted to hold at $65 for residents
FR – think there’s been problems in past where it’s been done/
GG – commenting…inaudible…
EJ – is winter sale over?
GG – Easter, actually first wk of May, something about 2nd Ave bdwlk…inaudible
New amenities, storage lockers, 9 units $2k, if rent $150 a wk/ $3500 profit…inaudible…can bring chr down…lock it/ respons for own lock…patterned on Belmar gets $75?
JL – where is town of Love Ladies?
TR – Ocean County, fiff parts of Long Beach Island sprinkled…
GG – something about a badge u can change for another badge? $1200…????...promote APk…specific code on it…can’t hear
EJ – hv we inquired other towns…inaudible
GG – inaudible…we hv super beach…
Tom Gilmour – commerce dir. Some exchanges with council inaudible
EJ - Special events fundraiser, relief effort for Japan who suffered terrible tragedy over past days and weeks, compares to our snow how we felt/ earthquake, tsumani and now meltdown threat/ fam and frinds Monmouth county/ help we can provide our friends and neighbors.
TG – Taka Rest spec march 27th event in planning stages, clos mattison bet bond and emory, erect tent, serve food noon to 6, lite fair, all money go toward relief effort, plus donations. Teamed up w/ red cross and w/ be others partnering/ he reads from taka statement, bamboo tree…ask everyone who comes fill out tags and put on tree/ trad’ly japan do same and send bk to us/ ask permission to cls st…app’l keep garage open/
EJ – express concerns w/ Taka other day, he shared that individuals in community first to reach out were from Haitian community/ members of our Haitian comm. still rebldgin suffering to reach outside themselves to our jap friends, allies and neighbors is jst tremendous.
Chief Kinmon – handicapped pkg space 1507 ? Street, at intersection Bangs and Dewitt
EJ – about 12 children from the Boys n Girls Club – he call sthem up to dais/ to introduce themselves / ej reads from proclamation: 25 B & G’s clubs in NJ/ March 20 – 26 Bys and Girls Club week in city of Asbury Park. Hope all citizens w/ join us in honoring and supporting our young people
Matters from Council
SH – soon sign on main st w/ say dog licensing, free rabies clinic at Fire house/ be remiss if didn’t congratulate Wesley lake comm. for dredging lake/ import roles by Neptune and AP, espec PWs, 50 yrs of silt, put in Neptune/ mosquito comm.. Vicki Thompson corrodianted, peter Avakian engineer/ tee lesinski, kerry butch, garrett giberson, James Henry…got done quickly/ lake much cleaner, and very happy swan boats w/ be on there now/ priviledged to attend ribbon cutting at Smithsonian event/ frank d’alessandro asked her to announce…ever since brian grant been in city hall and espec dpw we appreciate all he’s done pleasure to wk w/ pwks The full text from D'Alessandro:
March 14, 2011
Mr. Brian Grant, City Engineer
and Supervisor of the Dept. Of Public Works,
City of Asbury Park
Dear Mr. Grant:
On behalf of the trustees of the Asbury Park Public Library and Mr. Robert Stewart, our Library Director, I want to thank you sincerely for the excellent and expert help that you and your staff have provided to us in assisting us in preparing for the Smithsonian music exhibit. Your help with the access ramp and various other projects has been invaluable. Patty, our own “secret weapon” when it comes to maintaining our beautiful and historic 130 year old building, has let us know about the assistance you and your staff have provided. Patty has been tireless in her Herculean efforts over the years, and I know she as well as the Library Director and all of our staff members are grateful to you. Your support and that of the Mayor have been very gratifying to us in these difficult times. Thank you, again!
Frank D'Alessandro,
for the Trustees
EJ – open house in council chambers March 24 – 5 – 7 pmFair Housing
AP fishing club, james bruno’s efforts to help and showcase AP, more names to be recognized, more than 100 members of club volunteered their time/ $3000 to 4th of july parade, $200 pop warner/ $200 AP fire Dept for Jason Fazio ( there are other monetary awards not listed here) see Smithsonian event at AP Library/ Sunday evening event was great as well, mk sure you see it/ every vein of musicical grps/ remember to buy beach badges
FR – fr executive session – or auth city council enter into agreement with financial grp ABB …re Griffin Bldg, Griffin’s Financial Modification Agreement
PUBLIC PORTION –
3 MINS 1 TIME
Vernice McGriff –
Considering going above tax cap? I’ve a prob if we’re putting it on the bd of ed/
TR – explain that this yr for first time gov Christie new mech 1/ a 2% cap on al lmuni budgets/ if muni wnts to exceed hav to hold referendum vote up or down whether to exceed/ state said it wd be on same day as bd of ed/
VmcG – problem w/ that I wk the board/ we hv lowest turnout for bd of ed/ not representative of the tax paying public. Not saying don’t do it, but if do not on this voting day/
TR – if council decidees to do the only day we can is on that date/
Kerry turner – Madison Marquette / beach badges, spec the lockers/ how esthetics and placement w/ be done/ wnt put on record some concern, what lk like, people dining/ the view, etc/
TR – at least prelim design addressed that very issue/ no one wants something impede anyone’s views. Suggestion was wd be below that line
Mollar – professional magician – trying to talk to anyone to re. licensing to be done/ he’s a busker/
EJ – imagine jst like other performers
MM – I was told you’d never require permit to perform on bdwlk
Police gave me a ticket for panhandling/ I perform my show w/ hat and tip bucket/ do my whole show for kerry turner and she was very pleased/
EJ – why can’t this gentlman get an ans.
TR – this wd fall w/in city and Madison Marquette/ don sammet must have something on this/
EJ – pls lv name and phone number
TR – and if u cd mk the deficit go away
MM – I’m a magician not a miracle worker
Rita marano – 8th av
Terry asked you for number we spent on lawsuit, 6 attys.
TR – asked before and told there are two/
RM – I can name them, Fred, Shapeiro, Aaron…someone else.
TR – we don’t hv the bills in yet
FR – I can say I didn’t charge for my time. I was there to observe the proceedings but didn’t charge the city.
RM – wording for the ballot, how get ready
TR - Transitional aid applic to DCA today in Trenton, still some concerns in filling out, but language is provided by state for the referendum. So that’s std.
RM – Howell, Wall, Spring Lake, Bradley Beach not doing it and I think we shd follow our neighbors and not exceed the cap.
Todd Bergman – 4th Ave/ traffic lites on Kingsley Ave/ Jersey Shore Mission is a done deal/ forced on us/ wd like city to make arrangements for people after the 7 days are up for how they’re going to be treated/ can we require anyone who provides over night and ord to provide some kind of daytime program so they won’t be forced to be on the street during the day.
How can we allow anybody to be on the street w/ no access to water or sanitary services.
FR – we can only address future…not mission since already been thru app’l process, so can’t put those regs on them.
TB – broadly applied not spec to mission ordinance to my mind
FR – Given fact appr’l thru ZBA, nothing we can do to regulate them. I know nothing to internal operations. But to hv people out on street 11 hrs, no plc to get warm.
Werner Baumgartner – 402 5th Ave/ recent press status of redev statute prompted me to attend/ I’ve seen 6 councils come and go and ½ doz city mgrs, 4 redev plans come and gone and all failed/ seems to hav missed in process is supposed tolearn from experience/ I’ve attended meetings, acquired wealth of knowledge about what has and hasn’t wked; yet city hasn’t any interest in letting me share my knowledge of this City of historic theory, my engineering backgrd, so I stand before you again, somewhat humbled by the treatment I've been given in the past offer my servcs again to the council/[Baumgartner was the victim of an anonymous 911 call that there was a dead body in his basement. Police and fire officials responded and gained access to his house due to the call. Baumgartner ended up with numerous home maintenance code violations, which eventually ended up with court ordered incarcerations of weeks and over a month in another sentencing - all pertaining to the maintenance of his own home.] I don’t know anyone else who was certified by state to be this city's historian/ Here he listed other qualifications. He ended by explaining that his love for the City was the only reason that he's offering again his expertise.
Pedal boats - concerned about that strip of Wesley Lake gravel/ don’g see how can happen w/ out paving or sidewalk/
Placque Arthur Pryor – 3 x 4 foot bronze placque put there by the public and it’s vanished, wd like to see it retrieved and replaced there as part of Smithsonian event/
EJ – thank you next pls. [Asbury Radio interview Mayor Johnson later for his reactions to Baumgartner's offer. "It's something to seriously consider," said Johnson. "I'm certainly going to think about it. I was UEZ chair when we sent him on those seminars, making him an official representative to the conferences. And he sat on the UEZ facade committee," he added. "Will we reinstitute him as city historian? Probably not," said Johnson, who alluded to personality conflicts. "Alwas agree that Werner can have some very valuable information - sometimes it's on base, other times off base. To me it's always about the best ideas. If I can have that -- if we can that's even better." AR asked why he cut off Baumgartner without the customary follow through, for example please call or let's have a meeting that other offers of help elicit, to which Johnson said he considered himself very "even handed", especially compared to others' treatment of Baumgartner in previous years. ]
Jerry Scarano – Waterpark – wd like to keep place repaired, security cameras on property, when gone over there water was running 8 or 9 clock at night/ Wake of what happened in Japan need to make clr about evacuation routes.
I asked for a list of who is getting health benefits or compensation for not taking them. Pls explain the OPRA laws for us.
FR: Open Public Records Act - a gov't or Pub entity when req’d mst supply docs w/in 7 days/ with exceptions -- pension, personnel, atty client records, all set forth in state law/
JS – ok I put in a request/ can u tell me what I did wrong that I didn’t get the information...
EJ – hammering / atty w/ finish and then your time is up
FR – if you felt response by city wasn't approp for rquest you can appeal.../
EJ – your time is up if you’d like to stay after the mtg…
Myra Campbell – lst mtg questioned about construc on Westside/ also elderly lady fell yesterday on Springwood Ave/ ambulance took her to JSMC, what is procedure when someone is hurt in that area/ also seems to be a wk slow down or stoppage, in Dec city council mtg it was mentioned wk wd stop for awhile/ sometimes when go home to own countries sometimes spend 3 months. But like to know when constru w/ resume?
Also concerned about Japan / some of businesses suffered immensely by infras wk, but didn’t seem to be anyone coming to aid of busineses and churches. Bill Gray is on leave, we know has 2 jobs/ but is he getting paid sep from BB and when he was here was he spending time in BB that should be / If we had a clock for 3 mins, so everyone can see.
TR – there is a case B Gray’s personnel matter, is a case in BB, but not going to talk about it. Construction schedule to talk about it he calls man named Kay (?)/
Mr. Kay -Weather changed on us too cold to resume concrete wk, lst cpl days weather allowed, w/ start sidewks on dwitt in next few days/ storm drain on de witt bet mattison and bands/ after that sanitary sewer/ planned on paving this morning but rains came
TR – so are we on schedule to meet deadline
M. K – oh yes/ contractor is here, whenever able to get some wk done he did/
Lou Parisi – VFW Catholic war veterans to honor last WWI Frank Bugles/ VFW here trained WWI, WWII, and Korean war, plan to hav a museum there…and extend our mem’l park on 5th ave. Asbury Pk fishing club very generous gave post $200.They meet at our post once a month. Want to publicly acknowledge that gift.
Minutes –
Temporary budget -- emergency voucher to cover temporary appropriations of $20,297, 398 to run government until the final budget is struck.
Workers Comp – 2 cases $45,000 and $11,000
Raffles – approved
Social Affair – Ninos Sin Fronteras Fdn – all yes
Taka request – all yes
Synaxis moved to 4/6/11 – all app’d
Appts/Reapp Plng and Zone Bd and Housing Commission need members – More names from Waterfront Redev Committee - Ansel Fusco, Brian Teripka, State of NJ Tom Niff, AP Peter Siegel
Jim Henry won’t be able to serve on WRC, JL has appointed someone else. Unclear who.
Budget -- Hearing - April 20, 2011
TR – state has a lot of new aspects to grant applic process every state that presents app to DCA, for transitional aid/ all must present their budget w/out transitional aid and the budget if adopted in that form wd’ve caused 110% tax increase/ taxpayers pay $12.4million or 31% of budget/ trans aid is almost a match for that. Must introduce budget before state aid is calculated/ this budget wd require 101% increase in taxes/
All yes/
RM – How much is it?
EJ – Hammer
FR – ordinances – establish a cap bank// April 20th
2nd ordinance, authorize revised finan agreement ABB Asbury renewal Griffin Block 119, lots 1 and 2 – this is a pilot agreement to be hears April 6, in lieu of taxes bldg owner w/ pay a PILOT, which will be better for city, TR said.
Award the pedal boat bid – all yes
Welcome to Asbury Radio's Reporter's Notebook
Swan Boats Return to Wesley Lake
Asbury Park Considers Exceeding 2% Cap
Tentative Budget Prior to State Aid Requires 101% Tax Rise
Reidy Vows Transitional Aid Will Lower Need to Hike Taxes
But Cap Rise Above State Mandated 2% Still On Table
Attending:
Councilmembers Kevin Sanders, Sue Henderson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, – Councilmember James Bruno absent – Deputy Clerk Kiki Tomek for Clerk Steve Kay
Workshop –
Start
Don Sammet, Director of Redevelopment and Planning - \resolution 2011 menu items:
Confirming items you wanted and last min suggestion/ repair of ramp leads up to bdwk at 6th, construction of roll mats at each access for wheelchrs/ message boards, w/ come bk to. Jst com out of engineering install of railing at new ramp eastern side of boardwalk, estimates $10k to 15k$ between 6th and 7th, closer to Asbury Tower/
For record Madison marquette’s objections/ not quality as capital improvement/
Ej – what’s concern
DS – mobile sign is not a capital project/ cd be placed elsewhere not in WRA/ cd be used for traffic / think it’s realistice that if emerg elsewhere in city cd be moved for that.
Other item/ heads up for u at this pt/ cls to summer season, need redopt bdwk vending ord sunset on it/ needs to be app’d again/
Ej – how do we enforce this/ vending on the bdwlk/ we hv musicians, guitar cases set up/ blanket jewelry, we have (inaudible) don’t wnt to chase people away/
DS- req’d to get vending permit fr city clk or don’t belong out there/ imagine As Prtners has right to vending permits on bdwlk / imagine Partners play a strong role, they’ll probably go after anyone not allowed out there/
EJ – something about bkstage pass
DS – analogy to a fishing license/ when buy hv to provide own sleeve for display
Will bring up next mtg
Fred Raffetto – first item/ pedal boats on Wesley lake/ city sought RFPs, oper concession on lake/ not nec on competitive bidding basis, but contractor best suited, one bidder, AP pedal boats out of Toms River/ $600 a yr with future options to share revenue. 2 people ½ hr $18/ 3 persons $20, 4 persons $22/ staff 2 – 3 wkrs at all time size of boats 8' x 5'/ 6 to 8 boats, 3 person capacity/ letters of recommendation Linda Occhipintic and Joseph Gambarony, of Toms River, 732-684-2944 …principals of business/ mtg in Neptune already held/ they've made substantial capital outlay:
Avail mid to late may, boats run thru October
Council - Perhaps offer discounts for AP kids grps/ senior discount??
SH – lk forward to swans…
Kevin Sanders – senior citizen and chilren’s group discount amenable to?
Boat people – yes
James Famularo –
Championship …inaudible…state playoffs in basketball/ Dayton h.s. Springfield NJ / tonite we play Plfld HS in Toms River/ we see results on court, support we give…
FR – alcohol license fee increase He passes out info to council and CM Terry Reidy/ old code was outdated/ two types consumptiona dn distribution/ consumption $239/ Dis $739 – lst incrs 2008/ 250 is min/ 20% incrs wd be 448., wd go above $2500 cap. Dist can go up 358 more / cd go over $2k/ ??? Rapid fire speech…
EJ – do we need to take it…
FR – policy decision/
EJ – thnk shd be a rise but not go to max/ times are hard everyone struggling
FR – june deadline when they come due. Wd req to mtgs to pass ordinance
Gen’l mercantile license, construction dept req identification from mercantile / form not in accordance w/ code/ hardship to businesses/ shd throw out ord if you’re in agreement, for upgrade
Garrett Giberson – beach closing schedules / GG is passing them out to council and CM/
GG is retired head of DPW. He is now in chg of beach responsibilities. Beach clothing, closing schedule/ weather permitting…fee increases for beach badges, recommending $1, now $5, weekends wd be $6/ other communities are listed on handouts. We’re still w/in the low fees. Look at Allenhurst, Belmar, deal/ fees all over/ increase $5 to $20 and $65 to…inaudible
EJ – anything we can do for AP…raise wd be for non AP residents/ if wanted to hold at $65 for residents
FR – think there’s been problems in past where it’s been done/
GG – commenting…inaudible…
EJ – is winter sale over?
GG – Easter, actually first wk of May, something about 2nd Ave bdwlk…inaudible
New amenities, storage lockers, 9 units $2k, if rent $150 a wk/ $3500 profit…inaudible…can bring chr down…lock it/ respons for own lock…patterned on Belmar gets $75?
JL – where is town of Love Ladies?
TR – Ocean County, fiff parts of Long Beach Island sprinkled…
GG – something about a badge u can change for another badge? $1200…????...promote APk…specific code on it…can’t hear
EJ – hv we inquired other towns…inaudible
GG – inaudible…we hv super beach…
Tom Gilmour – commerce dir. Some exchanges with council inaudible
EJ - Special events fundraiser, relief effort for Japan who suffered terrible tragedy over past days and weeks, compares to our snow how we felt/ earthquake, tsumani and now meltdown threat/ fam and frinds Monmouth county/ help we can provide our friends and neighbors.
TG – Taka Rest spec march 27th event in planning stages, clos mattison bet bond and emory, erect tent, serve food noon to 6, lite fair, all money go toward relief effort, plus donations. Teamed up w/ red cross and w/ be others partnering/ he reads from taka statement, bamboo tree…ask everyone who comes fill out tags and put on tree/ trad’ly japan do same and send bk to us/ ask permission to cls st…app’l keep garage open/
EJ – express concerns w/ Taka other day, he shared that individuals in community first to reach out were from Haitian community/ members of our Haitian comm. still rebldgin suffering to reach outside themselves to our jap friends, allies and neighbors is jst tremendous.
Chief Kinmon – handicapped pkg space 1507 ? Street, at intersection Bangs and Dewitt
EJ – about 12 children from the Boys n Girls Club – he call sthem up to dais/ to introduce themselves / ej reads from proclamation: 25 B & G’s clubs in NJ/ March 20 – 26 Bys and Girls Club week in city of Asbury Park. Hope all citizens w/ join us in honoring and supporting our young people
Matters from Council
SH – soon sign on main st w/ say dog licensing, free rabies clinic at Fire house/ be remiss if didn’t congratulate Wesley lake comm. for dredging lake/ import roles by Neptune and AP, espec PWs, 50 yrs of silt, put in Neptune/ mosquito comm.. Vicki Thompson corrodianted, peter Avakian engineer/ tee lesinski, kerry butch, garrett giberson, James Henry…got done quickly/ lake much cleaner, and very happy swan boats w/ be on there now/ priviledged to attend ribbon cutting at Smithsonian event/ frank d’alessandro asked her to announce…ever since brian grant been in city hall and espec dpw we appreciate all he’s done pleasure to wk w/ pwks The full text from D'Alessandro:
March 14, 2011
Mr. Brian Grant, City Engineer
and Supervisor of the Dept. Of Public Works,
City of Asbury Park
Dear Mr. Grant:
On behalf of the trustees of the Asbury Park Public Library and Mr. Robert Stewart, our Library Director, I want to thank you sincerely for the excellent and expert help that you and your staff have provided to us in assisting us in preparing for the Smithsonian music exhibit. Your help with the access ramp and various other projects has been invaluable. Patty, our own “secret weapon” when it comes to maintaining our beautiful and historic 130 year old building, has let us know about the assistance you and your staff have provided. Patty has been tireless in her Herculean efforts over the years, and I know she as well as the Library Director and all of our staff members are grateful to you. Your support and that of the Mayor have been very gratifying to us in these difficult times. Thank you, again!
Frank D'Alessandro,
for the Trustees
EJ – open house in council chambers March 24 – 5 – 7 pmFair Housing
AP fishing club, james bruno’s efforts to help and showcase AP, more names to be recognized, more than 100 members of club volunteered their time/ $3000 to 4th of july parade, $200 pop warner/ $200 AP fire Dept for Jason Fazio ( there are other monetary awards not listed here) see Smithsonian event at AP Library/ Sunday evening event was great as well, mk sure you see it/ every vein of musicical grps/ remember to buy beach badges
FR – fr executive session – or auth city council enter into agreement with financial grp ABB …re Griffin Bldg, Griffin’s Financial Modification Agreement
PUBLIC PORTION –
3 MINS 1 TIME
Vernice McGriff –
Considering going above tax cap? I’ve a prob if we’re putting it on the bd of ed/
TR – explain that this yr for first time gov Christie new mech 1/ a 2% cap on al lmuni budgets/ if muni wnts to exceed hav to hold referendum vote up or down whether to exceed/ state said it wd be on same day as bd of ed/
VmcG – problem w/ that I wk the board/ we hv lowest turnout for bd of ed/ not representative of the tax paying public. Not saying don’t do it, but if do not on this voting day/
TR – if council decidees to do the only day we can is on that date/
Kerry turner – Madison Marquette / beach badges, spec the lockers/ how esthetics and placement w/ be done/ wnt put on record some concern, what lk like, people dining/ the view, etc/
TR – at least prelim design addressed that very issue/ no one wants something impede anyone’s views. Suggestion was wd be below that line
Mollar – professional magician – trying to talk to anyone to re. licensing to be done/ he’s a busker/
EJ – imagine jst like other performers
MM – I was told you’d never require permit to perform on bdwlk
Police gave me a ticket for panhandling/ I perform my show w/ hat and tip bucket/ do my whole show for kerry turner and she was very pleased/
EJ – why can’t this gentlman get an ans.
TR – this wd fall w/in city and Madison Marquette/ don sammet must have something on this/
EJ – pls lv name and phone number
TR – and if u cd mk the deficit go away
MM – I’m a magician not a miracle worker
Rita marano – 8th av
Terry asked you for number we spent on lawsuit, 6 attys.
TR – asked before and told there are two/
RM – I can name them, Fred, Shapeiro, Aaron…someone else.
TR – we don’t hv the bills in yet
FR – I can say I didn’t charge for my time. I was there to observe the proceedings but didn’t charge the city.
RM – wording for the ballot, how get ready
TR - Transitional aid applic to DCA today in Trenton, still some concerns in filling out, but language is provided by state for the referendum. So that’s std.
RM – Howell, Wall, Spring Lake, Bradley Beach not doing it and I think we shd follow our neighbors and not exceed the cap.
Todd Bergman – 4th Ave/ traffic lites on Kingsley Ave/ Jersey Shore Mission is a done deal/ forced on us/ wd like city to make arrangements for people after the 7 days are up for how they’re going to be treated/ can we require anyone who provides over night and ord to provide some kind of daytime program so they won’t be forced to be on the street during the day.
How can we allow anybody to be on the street w/ no access to water or sanitary services.
FR – we can only address future…not mission since already been thru app’l process, so can’t put those regs on them.
TB – broadly applied not spec to mission ordinance to my mind
FR – Given fact appr’l thru ZBA, nothing we can do to regulate them. I know nothing to internal operations. But to hv people out on street 11 hrs, no plc to get warm.
Werner Baumgartner – 402 5th Ave/ recent press status of redev statute prompted me to attend/ I’ve seen 6 councils come and go and ½ doz city mgrs, 4 redev plans come and gone and all failed/ seems to hav missed in process is supposed tolearn from experience/ I’ve attended meetings, acquired wealth of knowledge about what has and hasn’t wked; yet city hasn’t any interest in letting me share my knowledge of this City of historic theory, my engineering backgrd, so I stand before you again, somewhat humbled by the treatment I've been given in the past offer my servcs again to the council/[Baumgartner was the victim of an anonymous 911 call that there was a dead body in his basement. Police and fire officials responded and gained access to his house due to the call. Baumgartner ended up with numerous home maintenance code violations, which eventually ended up with court ordered incarcerations of weeks and over a month in another sentencing - all pertaining to the maintenance of his own home.] I don’t know anyone else who was certified by state to be this city's historian/ Here he listed other qualifications. He ended by explaining that his love for the City was the only reason that he's offering again his expertise.
Pedal boats - concerned about that strip of Wesley Lake gravel/ don’g see how can happen w/ out paving or sidewalk/
Placque Arthur Pryor – 3 x 4 foot bronze placque put there by the public and it’s vanished, wd like to see it retrieved and replaced there as part of Smithsonian event/
EJ – thank you next pls. [Asbury Radio interview Mayor Johnson later for his reactions to Baumgartner's offer. "It's something to seriously consider," said Johnson. "I'm certainly going to think about it. I was UEZ chair when we sent him on those seminars, making him an official representative to the conferences. And he sat on the UEZ facade committee," he added. "Will we reinstitute him as city historian? Probably not," said Johnson, who alluded to personality conflicts. "Alwas agree that Werner can have some very valuable information - sometimes it's on base, other times off base. To me it's always about the best ideas. If I can have that -- if we can that's even better." AR asked why he cut off Baumgartner without the customary follow through, for example please call or let's have a meeting that other offers of help elicit, to which Johnson said he considered himself very "even handed", especially compared to others' treatment of Baumgartner in previous years. ]
Jerry Scarano – Waterpark – wd like to keep place repaired, security cameras on property, when gone over there water was running 8 or 9 clock at night/ Wake of what happened in Japan need to make clr about evacuation routes.
I asked for a list of who is getting health benefits or compensation for not taking them. Pls explain the OPRA laws for us.
FR: Open Public Records Act - a gov't or Pub entity when req’d mst supply docs w/in 7 days/ with exceptions -- pension, personnel, atty client records, all set forth in state law/
JS – ok I put in a request/ can u tell me what I did wrong that I didn’t get the information...
EJ – hammering / atty w/ finish and then your time is up
FR – if you felt response by city wasn't approp for rquest you can appeal.../
EJ – your time is up if you’d like to stay after the mtg…
Myra Campbell – lst mtg questioned about construc on Westside/ also elderly lady fell yesterday on Springwood Ave/ ambulance took her to JSMC, what is procedure when someone is hurt in that area/ also seems to be a wk slow down or stoppage, in Dec city council mtg it was mentioned wk wd stop for awhile/ sometimes when go home to own countries sometimes spend 3 months. But like to know when constru w/ resume?
Also concerned about Japan / some of businesses suffered immensely by infras wk, but didn’t seem to be anyone coming to aid of busineses and churches. Bill Gray is on leave, we know has 2 jobs/ but is he getting paid sep from BB and when he was here was he spending time in BB that should be / If we had a clock for 3 mins, so everyone can see.
TR – there is a case B Gray’s personnel matter, is a case in BB, but not going to talk about it. Construction schedule to talk about it he calls man named Kay (?)/
Mr. Kay -Weather changed on us too cold to resume concrete wk, lst cpl days weather allowed, w/ start sidewks on dwitt in next few days/ storm drain on de witt bet mattison and bands/ after that sanitary sewer/ planned on paving this morning but rains came
TR – so are we on schedule to meet deadline
M. K – oh yes/ contractor is here, whenever able to get some wk done he did/
Lou Parisi – VFW Catholic war veterans to honor last WWI Frank Bugles/ VFW here trained WWI, WWII, and Korean war, plan to hav a museum there…and extend our mem’l park on 5th ave. Asbury Pk fishing club very generous gave post $200.They meet at our post once a month. Want to publicly acknowledge that gift.
Minutes –
Temporary budget -- emergency voucher to cover temporary appropriations of $20,297, 398 to run government until the final budget is struck.
Workers Comp – 2 cases $45,000 and $11,000
Raffles – approved
Social Affair – Ninos Sin Fronteras Fdn – all yes
Taka request – all yes
Synaxis moved to 4/6/11 – all app’d
Appts/Reapp Plng and Zone Bd and Housing Commission need members – More names from Waterfront Redev Committee - Ansel Fusco, Brian Teripka, State of NJ Tom Niff, AP Peter Siegel
Jim Henry won’t be able to serve on WRC, JL has appointed someone else. Unclear who.
Budget -- Hearing - April 20, 2011
TR – state has a lot of new aspects to grant applic process every state that presents app to DCA, for transitional aid/ all must present their budget w/out transitional aid and the budget if adopted in that form wd’ve caused 110% tax increase/ taxpayers pay $12.4million or 31% of budget/ trans aid is almost a match for that. Must introduce budget before state aid is calculated/ this budget wd require 101% increase in taxes/
All yes/
RM – How much is it?
EJ – Hammer
FR – ordinances – establish a cap bank// April 20th
2nd ordinance, authorize revised finan agreement ABB Asbury renewal Griffin Block 119, lots 1 and 2 – this is a pilot agreement to be hears April 6, in lieu of taxes bldg owner w/ pay a PILOT, which will be better for city, TR said.
Award the pedal boat bid – all yes
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Debt Story Emerges in City's Financials Filed with EMMA
Despite market analysts' claims to the contrary, deciphering a municipality's true debt picture is in some ways tougher than explaining how derivatives crashed the global economy. It's the opaqueness. Towns use a variety of different vehicles to place a bond issue, underwriters, government entities. So it makes it difficult to search on the name of a municipality and come up with a single number.
Not even rating agencies have a full picture. They only analyze the municipal bond issue they're asked to rate. Most of the financials are prepared and provided by the municipality itself. The rating agencies don't make those documents public. But the municipalities do have to file them with the Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA), which is run by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), at http://http://www.emma.msrb.org/
Asbury Park's files are over 200 pages long. Here are some pages, which give a glimpse of some of the debt obligations of the City. We're not attempting to analyze this data, which like other municipalities is not the most recent. The time lag is one of the points under review as part of the new financial reform act. But there are probably other visitors to this site who can reach some conclusions from the excerpts here. For the full file, please visit the link above.
Not even rating agencies have a full picture. They only analyze the municipal bond issue they're asked to rate. Most of the financials are prepared and provided by the municipality itself. The rating agencies don't make those documents public. But the municipalities do have to file them with the Electronic Municipal Market Access (EMMA), which is run by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), at http://http://www.emma.msrb.org/
Asbury Park's files are over 200 pages long. Here are some pages, which give a glimpse of some of the debt obligations of the City. We're not attempting to analyze this data, which like other municipalities is not the most recent. The time lag is one of the points under review as part of the new financial reform act. But there are probably other visitors to this site who can reach some conclusions from the excerpts here. For the full file, please visit the link above.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Council Agrees to MOU with State, Merges Sewer, DPW & Engineering
Asbury Park Council Meeting
November 3, 2010 Welcome to the Reporter's Notebook
All clarifications, corrections encouraged... AsburyRadio@AOL.com
WorkShop Session - Click Here for Asbury's Memorandum of Understanding with NJ- READ IT NOW
Councilmembers: Sue Henderson, Mayor
Ed Johnson, Kevin Sanders, Jim Bruno
John Loffredo, absent/ family illness
AsburyRadio arrived 6:25 pm
City Engineer Brian Grant was giving report on street repaving, etc. Double sided Sheet available to public with status of all streets, also a Springwood Ave update and full report from the engineering dept on various projects. Grant is making personal visits to West Side to meet with community officials and hear their needs. He’ll be meeting with the ministerial alliance also.
Mayor – resident contacted him re. new sidewalk caved in and water is collecting, ponding.
Grant - has spoken to the person already. Contractor has insured the city, so a contractor to come in and repair.
Mayor – don’t want any puddling as enter winter months.
Grant – explains details of mitigating ponding problem.
SH – pile of documents has gone down considerably.
Gilmour, UEZ requests: 2 of city’s dates at
Paramount, May 2, bring military band for free concert.
March 13, Madison Marq researching, w/ be opening wkend when Smithsonian coming, ticket prices w/ be reasonable – no more than $20. Have to raise money to pay for library and other venues to remain open late.
Special events: AP relay, pls table that, have researched and hv Allapalooza too close to other date. Taste of Asbury, Passion grp to run, April 30th on Cookman Ave
Mayor – we’ve moved event sev’l times, dif problems / are we going to jump ar’d with it?
TG – only blk to be closed is 600 blk, merchants w/ benefit becz it’s a smaller event.
Mayor – concerned we’re clsg a street/ over Wesley Lake we hv lots of giant oopen fields, to we consider doing it there?
TG_ that’s all possible, MM wd hv to be involved in that since it’s their property. Only tkg one blk, traf can get thru on Bond, etc.
Something on Apr 30th, cdn’t hear.
AP triathalon – August / good event, attracts top athletes, usually done by 10 am
Sandblast – trad’l event w/ Sat. Roadtrip, ask move to north side of Conv Hall, comm. Is in favor of hvg on that side/ MM wd like to hav on 5th Av side/ App is for 6th av side
SH – did we set record for most zombies… never saw so many zombie brides in my life/
TG – irony is even if did brk record, part of criteria to be counted was needed to hav white faces and darkened eyes…
Matters to be intro’d by city council:
SH – attended contemp art exhibit and fundraiser/ very successful, rly hope that comes true/ w/ bring lots of people to Asbury – that’s south end of Asbury, a great bldg/
Mayor – like to recognize Bishop soccer team, game at APHS, 0-0, but amazing game,
Transportation Ctr renovations finishing up, like to put together a re-grand opening event, artists hv donated pieces, heating has rely transformed ctr/ w hv more info.
City Atty, Fred Raffetto – council w/ not be tkg action on any matters from exec session tonight.
Public Portion –
Myra Campbell – 314 mattison av / plans to merge public wks, engineering and sewer dept/ Article in Coaster City’s Pledge to do Better on West Side/ Grant said wd put out schedule of streets to be done on West Side/ Many of same things we saw bk in oct, tho some corrections, still mnythings need to be addressed/ prog not gone as expected/ scope of influence, job responsibility/ to merge depts. Wd be a mistake, mr grant and others hv only acted when residents brought to attention of council. Consider all things we’ve brought here befor decide to allow
Transgender female – lives in the Bradley … 4 ft hole, stepped in wet cement, workers yelled at him, ridiculed him as “a freak”, has an appt in ny w/ lawyer for ACLU, I’ve asked u to lk into this attitude of lucas, this springwd ave is damnation alley/ what take to change it? Class action lawsuit?
Judy Parker – 2 children go to Obama School on Bangs Av, every morning when kids going to school trucks are moving…going on ever since first day of school, s/b no trks, no movement. In afternoon, trks shdn’t be on sts when kids are coming home/ my kids live 1 blk from school and I have to walk them /unless get hit by truck
Lou Parisi – the end of the WWI, war to end all wars, armistice day on that date, 11th hr, of 11th day of the 11th month/ when it was Armistice Day/ Now it’s Veterans day next week honoring all of Thurs, 11 am at Mem’l Park, join all our citizens / VFW post on Lake Ave invite all to have refreshments/ also honor our fire heroes at that time. Like u to be present for that.
Steve Wider – AP –
Hear city is going against the homeless shelter, disgusting…Harry Chapin started all the Hunger crusade, w/ be civil rights lawsuit against city if city throws out mission. Some people froze, went to hospital…to say u jst don’t wnt it to be open/ people can’t afford th rents they wnt up 80% between 2000 – and 2006 (?) pls stop hurting homeless and do something to help them. Where the plan for homeless people? I want to know the official plan right now. Time is up/
Mayor – happy ot tlk to you after.
Michael D Fornino – feel like days of rome , here not to kill ceasar but to praise him/ Hear two sets of stories on construction/ too slow/ too fast/ if we had a problem chk w/ contractor or engineering dept/ ex of Dr. Brantley’s bldg wd’ve caved into if not for reinforcement by thre contractor/ think plan to put in all new drainage, lighting, smaller trees, etc., done a marvelous job/ fact engineer is right here is great/ don’t hv to wait 2 days for engineer to come down/ engine dept doing more than you cd even expect
Leo Clark – fitness lifestyles, Cookman
Wnt to comment on Lake and Cookman construction/ a monumental job like this is never easy/ business owner, no good time to do something like this
Valerie Roberts – thes two prev gentlemen / we don’t have no path like he said they made for him/
Leo – no I said they lft a path
Valerie – same thing
Tim Johnson – AP / prop on west side/ issues folks are raising is real, has been progress…urge keep open mind…is large project…seen lot of news reports on infrastructure not jst a prob here it’s ll over country…prob cd’ve done differently/ my concern is watched elections/ don’t know who respons for getting the funding…other cities haven’t gotten/ jst wonder if w/ the changes are we at risk of losing any of the funding.
TR – a) we’re not at risk and b) got low loan (bond) rate thru the Environmental Trust Dept/ 'stimulus' is being subsidized thru EIT money. 75% is % free/ 25% is 3+%
Edward Young – AP resident/ importance of issue incident where it is alleged a city employee threatened a citizen of our community for mkg a legitimate complaint against contractors/ if this is true, to hv a city employee against citizen for mkg legitimate complaint, if that employee was in a position to be somehow promoted to another position, I wd hv q’s about whether that employee was fit to serve citizens of ap// is issue I believe mr grant owns or is in partnership w/ a construction firm, if true I’m wondering if any wk is given out to that particular firm wd it not create a conflict of interest.
Am I going to get aresponse.
TR – yes. First w/ allegations and innuendo. due respect hv problem w/ mr grant does hv construction company he consults for but has no assoc w/ AP
EY: Serious situation someone bringing power of the state against a citizen
Rve Dr. Charles E Mitchell – True__ Baptist Church, on DeWitt Ave
Know this is big project/ holes in street jst tremendous, hav parishioners w/ disabilities who can’t get to church, impedes our congreg to come and participate we need some spec dates, we can’t go on w/out contributions, torn up sidewalks right up to our building/ I’d like to tlk to someone who can help me.
Denise Richardson – ridge av, u started Ridge Av in April, not on list, I understand it won’t be done until next year…what was purpose of tearing up ridge av/ tore up mattison ave and the next week it ws closed up again, good job over there, sure/ as far as infrastructure for , she reads from ordinance referencing various bureaus/ what’s going to happen when it snows? When I came bk from vacation had sewer backing up in basement/ sure came out / went to springwood and it was cleared…but comes back each time/ why tear up Ridge over and over…what kind of planning is this? Pleaser don’t do it.
Paul McEvely – like to giv update on sprwd building project tk title to land today, 3 story mixed use bldg, 27kSF, police dept, permanent home for senior center, third flr 8 affordable rental units. Had kick off mtg today w/ contractor who w/ start next few wks, confined to northwest corner of springwd and atkins av, Hope to have completed early
2012.
Lester Corbo –
Hv to show admiration for council and crew for what undertaking/ I’m sure this infrastructure is diff for accessing businesses, etc. but hav to commend…gets cell ph call… mark apostolou I wd’ve taken it out for that…I’ve got pizza overns and 10 ft deli cases, you’ve got small businesses, but the infrastructure of depth has to be tkn care of now, snow is a concern, everyone is overreacting, maybe don’t have knowledge of brian grant…
Dwayne Smalls – AP – whoever was behind pitting east against west side is a a shame, hv elderly and young babies suffering thru this/ way this thing is going down is sad it really is/ and all of you who’s tring to divide up, everyone in this town knows everybody. I’ve got to pay for a drivers license in nj - $24 for drivers licnese…registration $, everyone in nj has to/ after 30 days everyone has to register their vehicle/ saw young man go to court other day had a ticket for jaywalking/ they’ve got two license plates, some contractors letting them drive their vehicles with N.C. license plates
Julian Purvus - Vida Gardens – tk picture of dewitt last wk when coming home, like jumping over a lake, had to go maybe distance of all these chairs, and no path was made for these people/
Chester Gordon – Gordon Construction – lot of people down on brian grant and don’t think it’s fair. There’s not a lot of money, treat him like he’s digging the holes, unfair to blame one man for a whole city’s worth of problems, think to hv engineer in chg of DPW is good idea…shn’t be using false info…don’t care if you’re white black gay or whatever, don’t mk statements about someone w/ no proof. If hv proof that’s a dif matter.
Telesha Crane – 51 Ridge Ave member NAACP Neptune, Ridge Av is horrible, flooding is horrible when it rains, drains not working/ hv children, hop over puddles, pk on opposite side so daughter can get out of car/ very small st for 2 cars at a time, hv to pk way down and walk every time it rains. Been like this 5 mos at a time/ I go to community ctr, big dip in middle of DeWitt/ had to get tires fixed on more than 4 occasions. Lot of people upset and tired lkg for qk results, first frost this morning/ is something needs to be corrected sooner rather than later/ someone came down to assess but jst one.
Rita Marano –
Have u started budget for 2011 -90$ - $60k for sick time when they retire/ you’re going to have to limit am’t of money they get when they leave/ hv u prepared or r u lkg at how to meet later
TR – yes are, labor contract that gave them that money, now $15k maximum.
RM – good, what about health plan?
TR = yes wkg on that as well
Mohammed’s Barber Shop – Mr Mohammed – when are the businesses of ap going to be compensated for what’s going on? I
TR – businesses not being compensated on the west side, east side, been in this business 30 yrs, no business been compensated, no mechanism nor is there money to compensate businsess for it/
M. – our businesses going out because of this.
TR – no money being paid for loss of business.
M – I have a big machine right in front of my door. I know you hv to change things in the city, but a trk crashing into the bldg it’s like the same thing…we need some type of compensation…how are we going to function…waive the mercantile fee…it’s only $50.
Public portion closed –
$905, 318.52 payroll for 2 wks
Resolution approving MOU involving $11,750,000 for 2010 transitional aid - exceptional aid.
TR – DCA of nj requires any muni to comply with certain thingsl
Had to do this before w/ the other aid. This is more strict than corzine admin, but basic tenet – explain your transitional plan/ when add personnel must report/ Christie even if hiring special counsel, or expanding services has to be app’d by state – been doing this for 5 yrs, and ap has great reputation w/ state, run everything by them, they mk recommendations, it’s really more than a partnership…we’ve been mkg recommendations to state on even more ways to save money. Even in MOU where says may not do this or that, if city believes can make a case for it w/ state.
Audit was under dif grant program, MOU doesn’t req an audit, but in tlkg to DCA we always tk the offer of assistance…all yes…
Resolution parts and eq’t $27,000. all yes
Resolution recommending properties to Planning Board for scattered sites. All yes
Contract brilliant environmental services $2,500, $3,000, $3,000 for three different lots for site remediation
ABC Control – IDs for employees of liquor establishments / changed way process liquor licenses and IDs for employees, asked city to do it as 3 yr program. Others said may not be here for 3 yrs…this ord is flexible, can pay fee for either time frame. No public wants to comment…All yes
Ordinance to - Restructuring/ and/or deleting positions – engineering and public wks/ puts city engineer as head of Pub Wks, engineering is w/in that dept. I’ve wk’d in munic, my exper is that when both dpts go hand in hadn much mor effective approach, better communication/ w/ best input when separate brkdowns in commun/ w/ be better served w/ merged dpts. Opps for add’l training for both depts.. bk in day pub wks did a lot more but today lot of tasks given to outsource contracts. But lot of exper people retired. See op to max skills in both areas, bring together for…
Denise Richardson – Ridge Av, re. training, mst of gentlemen in PW hv been there for yrs/ so I don’t know what kind of training you’re talking aobut/ don’t know how u cd think of doing this w/ problems going on in city, and you’re going to put him in charge of the signage, where was it in the beginning, no detour signs, no unpaved rd sign/ now u tell me when the snow comes we’ll move to another street/ why don’t u hire someone who’s been in DPW? What understand there’s been a secr hired, and then got rid of 10 employees, one has been here a resident for 20 yrs, bt the person brought in doesn’t live in AP. Council member Henderson know you can’t do much about this because it’s going to happen whether you like it or not. it lks like he’s doing so much for city of Asbury, but I can see my garbage and my recycling w/ be sitting in front of my house, you’ve already gotten rid of people who’ve been here for years and brought in new people.
TR – that’s a temp position and is an APk resident. The previous woman retired. In crse of reorg brian felt shdn’t hire until pass this and decide if positon is still needed.
I’m not expecting any erosion of city services/ w/ be just as good a job. Bobby Bannchini a man w/ extensive construction experience is being brought over.
DR – that’s just another bone into the dog’s mouth. I don’t know why you can’t hire from within. Are you saying none of these gentlemen are good enough to be promoted to higher post?
TR – in no way a reflection on any of these employees. Some of them hav thanked me, because see opp – can we get training in this area or that area. I respect you and know you’re coming to the microphone sincerely. In few months if it’s not what I say it will be, I’ll be right here, I take responsibility for it.
DR – who’s being held accountable for what’s going on on the West Side?
TR – Brian Grant is. Everyone…prob biggest mistake brian made was being to ambitious about the project. Residents have come to these meetings and we’ve done best to …dirt pile reduced from 32’ to about 14’ – everyone deserves a chance to learn. Mistakes hv been makde admit that. So what do you do when you make mistakes, you don’t cut the head off. I don’t believe in doing that. Brian has taken responsibility…people hv ben serviously inconvenienced.
DR – But this started in April. Peoople were complaining in April and May about the dust when did hey jst start spraying the streets, because when you drive away from this mtg, you drive out of Asbury Park. I have to decide which street I shd drive to get to the west side. I commended the PDW when the snow came last yr. But I’m sorry. I see it as a bad move. Asked u to delay it, wk w/ gentlemen in pub wks. Sure send them to training – Brian has enuf on his plate, and who
Anna Hill – Springwood ave, thoroughly agree shouldn’t punish brian grant/ I’m graduate student at Monmouth Univ. Because I didn’t communicate correctly with a professor I was put on academnic notice …PhD will be delayed accordingly, you shouldn’t promote Brian Grant until he’s corrected his situation…
Dwayne Smalls – 1304 Mattison Ave
w/ anyoe be losing their job?
TR – no plan for anyone ot lose their job. I say but though because polic, fire, every dept in town…we’re working on budget for 2011, last conversation had w/ dca someone said don’t count on that much money next yr. be a liar if I sat here and said everyone w/ keep job/ I don’t know who’s going to keep their job in 2011. There is no secret hit list.
DS – These are hard times. When I got laid off it was tough. But now I’ve got my own business. I don’t have to work for nobody. Will the kids still get to work w/ DPW?
TR – is a commitment in this city to train and hire…one of priorities since took over community dev.
DS – number one problem in this town. We’ve got to have that program
Pam Lamberton – beach not included in reorg?
TR – Garrett Giberson will be brought back on limited schedule to supervise beach operation. Coordination goes on between PWD.
PL – Is that a new position?
TR – Garrett is doing that now
PL – Didn’t government say you can’t do that?
TR – this is minimal $15k
Ridge Av resident – how are positions advertised?
TR – all open positions are advertised for f/t positions, ad in paper, posting in city hall
Myra Campbell – thnk mst people on WSide agree constr has to tk place, but we havne’t seen any plan on how progression of wk w/ take place. As for consolidation, engineer now gets $115k, will he get more pay? Will asst engineer get more pay? What type of cost anlysis has been done? Individuals who do wk for PWD proba so uptight because they don’t see their…
Edward Young – suggestion jst brought up is an excellent one involving mr grant. Think u should allow job currently underway to be finished, then review performance and if it’s satisfactory then…put him to the test before giving him add’l responsibilities.
Jim Bruno has ques – million $ we saved on downtown utilities.’
TR – It wasn’t $1mn it ws $1.5million we saved.
BG – when did budget on CBD, bid as an add on to project, low bid was $6.5mn. We said it wd be ridiculous to do sidewalks and not do street lights – started kicking ar’d some numbers, bought own conduit wire, stocked it, bought wire ties, - $100k - $150k for the materials, lights are A$4000 a pc- or total $960k for lights…Tom made appli thru state gov’t to get funding for the lights – cover CBD and 85 lights for Springwood Ave. The 1.1 mn strictly for …bills, If we had contractor do wk $2.6mn, by doing ourselves $1.1 mn/ Doing inlets ourselves at $500 vs $1500 a piece has saved more.
Can now allocate manpower w/out communications breakdowns.
JB – last yr the plan was to reduce staff and not hire summer help.
BG – intend to go thru /w Garrett, time sheets, what are you doing, how long… I asked my bosses to take 2 mos to make that really seamless transition.
JB – I’m not going to do it.
BG – I told you I’ll come to your house and go over it w/ you.
JB – When did you make that offer…laughter…Why are you hiring three people?
BG – objective was to get that new engineer for zoning and…right now we bill at $110/hr for my services. Junior engineer, Doug Knowles, City needs long term is good maps. If we can get one person a principal drafting technician…
JB – shouldn’t there be a salary provision with this.
Vote: JB – for months dealing with this issue, lost sleep, loyalty trust respect issues/ now …I don’t like the move, it is what it is, we hv to keep an eye on it so our residents and our employees aren’t disrespected. And I vote no.
SH – when elected talked w/ terry, I wk in ocean twp and can talk to politicians tell me how theirs operates…I hva control over whether I vote or not and I’m voting yes.
KS – if brian isn’t wkg for us, he’ll do it for someone else/ because he’s very professional/ to make it a smooth trasntiton, regardless of bob or brian in position, regardless who’s in positon, it’s to mk engineering and DPW smoothly / so I vote yes.
Mayor – I don’t tk these comments or issues stated tonight lightly at all – I don’t judge u how you fall but how u stand up when you’re done. I was not the biggest brian grant fan, we wk’d thru our diff/ wk’d for the right idea…what’s best for the city. This is a nt’l match engineering DPW, diff personalities and other issues, which tinge this restructure , but how it w/ better serv city save money, budget this yr is nothing compared to what’s to come. We are going to wk together as one community, gt this done as one gov’t and that’s why I vote yes.
November 3, 2010 Welcome to the Reporter's Notebook
All clarifications, corrections encouraged... AsburyRadio@AOL.com
WorkShop Session - Click Here for Asbury's Memorandum of Understanding with NJ- READ IT NOW
Councilmembers: Sue Henderson, Mayor
Ed Johnson, Kevin Sanders, Jim Bruno
John Loffredo, absent/ family illness
AsburyRadio arrived 6:25 pm
City Engineer Brian Grant was giving report on street repaving, etc. Double sided Sheet available to public with status of all streets, also a Springwood Ave update and full report from the engineering dept on various projects. Grant is making personal visits to West Side to meet with community officials and hear their needs. He’ll be meeting with the ministerial alliance also.
Mayor – resident contacted him re. new sidewalk caved in and water is collecting, ponding.
Grant - has spoken to the person already. Contractor has insured the city, so a contractor to come in and repair.
Mayor – don’t want any puddling as enter winter months.
Grant – explains details of mitigating ponding problem.
SH – pile of documents has gone down considerably.
Gilmour, UEZ requests: 2 of city’s dates at
Paramount, May 2, bring military band for free concert.
March 13, Madison Marq researching, w/ be opening wkend when Smithsonian coming, ticket prices w/ be reasonable – no more than $20. Have to raise money to pay for library and other venues to remain open late.
Special events: AP relay, pls table that, have researched and hv Allapalooza too close to other date. Taste of Asbury, Passion grp to run, April 30th on Cookman Ave
Mayor – we’ve moved event sev’l times, dif problems / are we going to jump ar’d with it?
TG – only blk to be closed is 600 blk, merchants w/ benefit becz it’s a smaller event.
Mayor – concerned we’re clsg a street/ over Wesley Lake we hv lots of giant oopen fields, to we consider doing it there?
TG_ that’s all possible, MM wd hv to be involved in that since it’s their property. Only tkg one blk, traf can get thru on Bond, etc.
Something on Apr 30th, cdn’t hear.
AP triathalon – August / good event, attracts top athletes, usually done by 10 am
Sandblast – trad’l event w/ Sat. Roadtrip, ask move to north side of Conv Hall, comm. Is in favor of hvg on that side/ MM wd like to hav on 5th Av side/ App is for 6th av side
SH – did we set record for most zombies… never saw so many zombie brides in my life/
TG – irony is even if did brk record, part of criteria to be counted was needed to hav white faces and darkened eyes…
Matters to be intro’d by city council:
SH – attended contemp art exhibit and fundraiser/ very successful, rly hope that comes true/ w/ bring lots of people to Asbury – that’s south end of Asbury, a great bldg/
Mayor – like to recognize Bishop soccer team, game at APHS, 0-0, but amazing game,
Transportation Ctr renovations finishing up, like to put together a re-grand opening event, artists hv donated pieces, heating has rely transformed ctr/ w hv more info.
City Atty, Fred Raffetto – council w/ not be tkg action on any matters from exec session tonight.
Public Portion –
Myra Campbell – 314 mattison av / plans to merge public wks, engineering and sewer dept/ Article in Coaster City’s Pledge to do Better on West Side/ Grant said wd put out schedule of streets to be done on West Side/ Many of same things we saw bk in oct, tho some corrections, still mnythings need to be addressed/ prog not gone as expected/ scope of influence, job responsibility/ to merge depts. Wd be a mistake, mr grant and others hv only acted when residents brought to attention of council. Consider all things we’ve brought here befor decide to allow
Transgender female – lives in the Bradley … 4 ft hole, stepped in wet cement, workers yelled at him, ridiculed him as “a freak”, has an appt in ny w/ lawyer for ACLU, I’ve asked u to lk into this attitude of lucas, this springwd ave is damnation alley/ what take to change it? Class action lawsuit?
Judy Parker – 2 children go to Obama School on Bangs Av, every morning when kids going to school trucks are moving…going on ever since first day of school, s/b no trks, no movement. In afternoon, trks shdn’t be on sts when kids are coming home/ my kids live 1 blk from school and I have to walk them /unless get hit by truck
Lou Parisi – the end of the WWI, war to end all wars, armistice day on that date, 11th hr, of 11th day of the 11th month/ when it was Armistice Day/ Now it’s Veterans day next week honoring all of Thurs, 11 am at Mem’l Park, join all our citizens / VFW post on Lake Ave invite all to have refreshments/ also honor our fire heroes at that time. Like u to be present for that.
Steve Wider – AP –
Hear city is going against the homeless shelter, disgusting…Harry Chapin started all the Hunger crusade, w/ be civil rights lawsuit against city if city throws out mission. Some people froze, went to hospital…to say u jst don’t wnt it to be open/ people can’t afford th rents they wnt up 80% between 2000 – and 2006 (?) pls stop hurting homeless and do something to help them. Where the plan for homeless people? I want to know the official plan right now. Time is up/
Mayor – happy ot tlk to you after.
Michael D Fornino – feel like days of rome , here not to kill ceasar but to praise him/ Hear two sets of stories on construction/ too slow/ too fast/ if we had a problem chk w/ contractor or engineering dept/ ex of Dr. Brantley’s bldg wd’ve caved into if not for reinforcement by thre contractor/ think plan to put in all new drainage, lighting, smaller trees, etc., done a marvelous job/ fact engineer is right here is great/ don’t hv to wait 2 days for engineer to come down/ engine dept doing more than you cd even expect
Leo Clark – fitness lifestyles, Cookman
Wnt to comment on Lake and Cookman construction/ a monumental job like this is never easy/ business owner, no good time to do something like this
Valerie Roberts – thes two prev gentlemen / we don’t have no path like he said they made for him/
Leo – no I said they lft a path
Valerie – same thing
Tim Johnson – AP / prop on west side/ issues folks are raising is real, has been progress…urge keep open mind…is large project…seen lot of news reports on infrastructure not jst a prob here it’s ll over country…prob cd’ve done differently/ my concern is watched elections/ don’t know who respons for getting the funding…other cities haven’t gotten/ jst wonder if w/ the changes are we at risk of losing any of the funding.
TR – a) we’re not at risk and b) got low loan (bond) rate thru the Environmental Trust Dept/ 'stimulus' is being subsidized thru EIT money. 75% is % free/ 25% is 3+%
Edward Young – AP resident/ importance of issue incident where it is alleged a city employee threatened a citizen of our community for mkg a legitimate complaint against contractors/ if this is true, to hv a city employee against citizen for mkg legitimate complaint, if that employee was in a position to be somehow promoted to another position, I wd hv q’s about whether that employee was fit to serve citizens of ap// is issue I believe mr grant owns or is in partnership w/ a construction firm, if true I’m wondering if any wk is given out to that particular firm wd it not create a conflict of interest.
Am I going to get aresponse.
TR – yes. First w/ allegations and innuendo. due respect hv problem w/ mr grant does hv construction company he consults for but has no assoc w/ AP
EY: Serious situation someone bringing power of the state against a citizen
Rve Dr. Charles E Mitchell – True__ Baptist Church, on DeWitt Ave
Know this is big project/ holes in street jst tremendous, hav parishioners w/ disabilities who can’t get to church, impedes our congreg to come and participate we need some spec dates, we can’t go on w/out contributions, torn up sidewalks right up to our building/ I’d like to tlk to someone who can help me.
Denise Richardson – ridge av, u started Ridge Av in April, not on list, I understand it won’t be done until next year…what was purpose of tearing up ridge av/ tore up mattison ave and the next week it ws closed up again, good job over there, sure/ as far as infrastructure for , she reads from ordinance referencing various bureaus/ what’s going to happen when it snows? When I came bk from vacation had sewer backing up in basement/ sure came out / went to springwood and it was cleared…but comes back each time/ why tear up Ridge over and over…what kind of planning is this? Pleaser don’t do it.
Paul McEvely – like to giv update on sprwd building project tk title to land today, 3 story mixed use bldg, 27kSF, police dept, permanent home for senior center, third flr 8 affordable rental units. Had kick off mtg today w/ contractor who w/ start next few wks, confined to northwest corner of springwd and atkins av, Hope to have completed early
2012.
Lester Corbo –
Hv to show admiration for council and crew for what undertaking/ I’m sure this infrastructure is diff for accessing businesses, etc. but hav to commend…gets cell ph call… mark apostolou I wd’ve taken it out for that…I’ve got pizza overns and 10 ft deli cases, you’ve got small businesses, but the infrastructure of depth has to be tkn care of now, snow is a concern, everyone is overreacting, maybe don’t have knowledge of brian grant…
Dwayne Smalls – AP – whoever was behind pitting east against west side is a a shame, hv elderly and young babies suffering thru this/ way this thing is going down is sad it really is/ and all of you who’s tring to divide up, everyone in this town knows everybody. I’ve got to pay for a drivers license in nj - $24 for drivers licnese…registration $, everyone in nj has to/ after 30 days everyone has to register their vehicle/ saw young man go to court other day had a ticket for jaywalking/ they’ve got two license plates, some contractors letting them drive their vehicles with N.C. license plates
Julian Purvus - Vida Gardens – tk picture of dewitt last wk when coming home, like jumping over a lake, had to go maybe distance of all these chairs, and no path was made for these people/
Chester Gordon – Gordon Construction – lot of people down on brian grant and don’t think it’s fair. There’s not a lot of money, treat him like he’s digging the holes, unfair to blame one man for a whole city’s worth of problems, think to hv engineer in chg of DPW is good idea…shn’t be using false info…don’t care if you’re white black gay or whatever, don’t mk statements about someone w/ no proof. If hv proof that’s a dif matter.
Telesha Crane – 51 Ridge Ave member NAACP Neptune, Ridge Av is horrible, flooding is horrible when it rains, drains not working/ hv children, hop over puddles, pk on opposite side so daughter can get out of car/ very small st for 2 cars at a time, hv to pk way down and walk every time it rains. Been like this 5 mos at a time/ I go to community ctr, big dip in middle of DeWitt/ had to get tires fixed on more than 4 occasions. Lot of people upset and tired lkg for qk results, first frost this morning/ is something needs to be corrected sooner rather than later/ someone came down to assess but jst one.
Rita Marano –
Have u started budget for 2011 -90$ - $60k for sick time when they retire/ you’re going to have to limit am’t of money they get when they leave/ hv u prepared or r u lkg at how to meet later
TR – yes are, labor contract that gave them that money, now $15k maximum.
RM – good, what about health plan?
TR = yes wkg on that as well
Mohammed’s Barber Shop – Mr Mohammed – when are the businesses of ap going to be compensated for what’s going on? I
TR – businesses not being compensated on the west side, east side, been in this business 30 yrs, no business been compensated, no mechanism nor is there money to compensate businsess for it/
M. – our businesses going out because of this.
TR – no money being paid for loss of business.
M – I have a big machine right in front of my door. I know you hv to change things in the city, but a trk crashing into the bldg it’s like the same thing…we need some type of compensation…how are we going to function…waive the mercantile fee…it’s only $50.
Public portion closed –
$905, 318.52 payroll for 2 wks
Resolution approving MOU involving $11,750,000 for 2010 transitional aid - exceptional aid.
TR – DCA of nj requires any muni to comply with certain thingsl
Had to do this before w/ the other aid. This is more strict than corzine admin, but basic tenet – explain your transitional plan/ when add personnel must report/ Christie even if hiring special counsel, or expanding services has to be app’d by state – been doing this for 5 yrs, and ap has great reputation w/ state, run everything by them, they mk recommendations, it’s really more than a partnership…we’ve been mkg recommendations to state on even more ways to save money. Even in MOU where says may not do this or that, if city believes can make a case for it w/ state.
Audit was under dif grant program, MOU doesn’t req an audit, but in tlkg to DCA we always tk the offer of assistance…all yes…
Resolution parts and eq’t $27,000. all yes
Resolution recommending properties to Planning Board for scattered sites. All yes
Contract brilliant environmental services $2,500, $3,000, $3,000 for three different lots for site remediation
ABC Control – IDs for employees of liquor establishments / changed way process liquor licenses and IDs for employees, asked city to do it as 3 yr program. Others said may not be here for 3 yrs…this ord is flexible, can pay fee for either time frame. No public wants to comment…All yes
Ordinance to - Restructuring/ and/or deleting positions – engineering and public wks/ puts city engineer as head of Pub Wks, engineering is w/in that dept. I’ve wk’d in munic, my exper is that when both dpts go hand in hadn much mor effective approach, better communication/ w/ best input when separate brkdowns in commun/ w/ be better served w/ merged dpts. Opps for add’l training for both depts.. bk in day pub wks did a lot more but today lot of tasks given to outsource contracts. But lot of exper people retired. See op to max skills in both areas, bring together for…
Denise Richardson – Ridge Av, re. training, mst of gentlemen in PW hv been there for yrs/ so I don’t know what kind of training you’re talking aobut/ don’t know how u cd think of doing this w/ problems going on in city, and you’re going to put him in charge of the signage, where was it in the beginning, no detour signs, no unpaved rd sign/ now u tell me when the snow comes we’ll move to another street/ why don’t u hire someone who’s been in DPW? What understand there’s been a secr hired, and then got rid of 10 employees, one has been here a resident for 20 yrs, bt the person brought in doesn’t live in AP. Council member Henderson know you can’t do much about this because it’s going to happen whether you like it or not. it lks like he’s doing so much for city of Asbury, but I can see my garbage and my recycling w/ be sitting in front of my house, you’ve already gotten rid of people who’ve been here for years and brought in new people.
TR – that’s a temp position and is an APk resident. The previous woman retired. In crse of reorg brian felt shdn’t hire until pass this and decide if positon is still needed.
I’m not expecting any erosion of city services/ w/ be just as good a job. Bobby Bannchini a man w/ extensive construction experience is being brought over.
DR – that’s just another bone into the dog’s mouth. I don’t know why you can’t hire from within. Are you saying none of these gentlemen are good enough to be promoted to higher post?
TR – in no way a reflection on any of these employees. Some of them hav thanked me, because see opp – can we get training in this area or that area. I respect you and know you’re coming to the microphone sincerely. In few months if it’s not what I say it will be, I’ll be right here, I take responsibility for it.
DR – who’s being held accountable for what’s going on on the West Side?
TR – Brian Grant is. Everyone…prob biggest mistake brian made was being to ambitious about the project. Residents have come to these meetings and we’ve done best to …dirt pile reduced from 32’ to about 14’ – everyone deserves a chance to learn. Mistakes hv been makde admit that. So what do you do when you make mistakes, you don’t cut the head off. I don’t believe in doing that. Brian has taken responsibility…people hv ben serviously inconvenienced.
DR – But this started in April. Peoople were complaining in April and May about the dust when did hey jst start spraying the streets, because when you drive away from this mtg, you drive out of Asbury Park. I have to decide which street I shd drive to get to the west side. I commended the PDW when the snow came last yr. But I’m sorry. I see it as a bad move. Asked u to delay it, wk w/ gentlemen in pub wks. Sure send them to training – Brian has enuf on his plate, and who
Anna Hill – Springwood ave, thoroughly agree shouldn’t punish brian grant/ I’m graduate student at Monmouth Univ. Because I didn’t communicate correctly with a professor I was put on academnic notice …PhD will be delayed accordingly, you shouldn’t promote Brian Grant until he’s corrected his situation…
Dwayne Smalls – 1304 Mattison Ave
w/ anyoe be losing their job?
TR – no plan for anyone ot lose their job. I say but though because polic, fire, every dept in town…we’re working on budget for 2011, last conversation had w/ dca someone said don’t count on that much money next yr. be a liar if I sat here and said everyone w/ keep job/ I don’t know who’s going to keep their job in 2011. There is no secret hit list.
DS – These are hard times. When I got laid off it was tough. But now I’ve got my own business. I don’t have to work for nobody. Will the kids still get to work w/ DPW?
TR – is a commitment in this city to train and hire…one of priorities since took over community dev.
DS – number one problem in this town. We’ve got to have that program
Pam Lamberton – beach not included in reorg?
TR – Garrett Giberson will be brought back on limited schedule to supervise beach operation. Coordination goes on between PWD.
PL – Is that a new position?
TR – Garrett is doing that now
PL – Didn’t government say you can’t do that?
TR – this is minimal $15k
Ridge Av resident – how are positions advertised?
TR – all open positions are advertised for f/t positions, ad in paper, posting in city hall
Myra Campbell – thnk mst people on WSide agree constr has to tk place, but we havne’t seen any plan on how progression of wk w/ take place. As for consolidation, engineer now gets $115k, will he get more pay? Will asst engineer get more pay? What type of cost anlysis has been done? Individuals who do wk for PWD proba so uptight because they don’t see their…
Edward Young – suggestion jst brought up is an excellent one involving mr grant. Think u should allow job currently underway to be finished, then review performance and if it’s satisfactory then…put him to the test before giving him add’l responsibilities.
Jim Bruno has ques – million $ we saved on downtown utilities.’
TR – It wasn’t $1mn it ws $1.5million we saved.
BG – when did budget on CBD, bid as an add on to project, low bid was $6.5mn. We said it wd be ridiculous to do sidewalks and not do street lights – started kicking ar’d some numbers, bought own conduit wire, stocked it, bought wire ties, - $100k - $150k for the materials, lights are A$4000 a pc- or total $960k for lights…Tom made appli thru state gov’t to get funding for the lights – cover CBD and 85 lights for Springwood Ave. The 1.1 mn strictly for …bills, If we had contractor do wk $2.6mn, by doing ourselves $1.1 mn/ Doing inlets ourselves at $500 vs $1500 a piece has saved more.
Can now allocate manpower w/out communications breakdowns.
JB – last yr the plan was to reduce staff and not hire summer help.
BG – intend to go thru /w Garrett, time sheets, what are you doing, how long… I asked my bosses to take 2 mos to make that really seamless transition.
JB – I’m not going to do it.
BG – I told you I’ll come to your house and go over it w/ you.
JB – When did you make that offer…laughter…Why are you hiring three people?
BG – objective was to get that new engineer for zoning and…right now we bill at $110/hr for my services. Junior engineer, Doug Knowles, City needs long term is good maps. If we can get one person a principal drafting technician…
JB – shouldn’t there be a salary provision with this.
Vote: JB – for months dealing with this issue, lost sleep, loyalty trust respect issues/ now …I don’t like the move, it is what it is, we hv to keep an eye on it so our residents and our employees aren’t disrespected. And I vote no.
SH – when elected talked w/ terry, I wk in ocean twp and can talk to politicians tell me how theirs operates…I hva control over whether I vote or not and I’m voting yes.
KS – if brian isn’t wkg for us, he’ll do it for someone else/ because he’s very professional/ to make it a smooth trasntiton, regardless of bob or brian in position, regardless who’s in positon, it’s to mk engineering and DPW smoothly / so I vote yes.
Mayor – I don’t tk these comments or issues stated tonight lightly at all – I don’t judge u how you fall but how u stand up when you’re done. I was not the biggest brian grant fan, we wk’d thru our diff/ wk’d for the right idea…what’s best for the city. This is a nt’l match engineering DPW, diff personalities and other issues, which tinge this restructure , but how it w/ better serv city save money, budget this yr is nothing compared to what’s to come. We are going to wk together as one community, gt this done as one gov’t and that’s why I vote yes.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Follow up: No Pay Increases for City Manager Reidy
As we wrote in our Reporter's Notebook from the Wednesday night Asbury Park Council meeting, no one on the City payroll has received a raise since 2007. We want to confirm here that City Manager Terence Reidy verified with us that he is still paid under a contract and despite this, declined to take his periodic raises as per that contract. So his salary has stayed frozen at $145,000 since 2007.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Reporters' Notebook: Council Meeting May 19th, 2010
Addition: Paul Fried responded to our request (see below). Paul and his wife live on 7th Avenue and have a food catering service. Check out the menu at http://www.chowhaultruck.com/ He is out of the real estate business for now and has no current business relations with Metro Homes' Geibel. Let's try this with the new planning board member...
Reporter's Notebook - Corrections, Additions, Clarifications Welcome - AsburyRadio@aol.com
AP Council Meeting -- May 19, 2010
City Still Faces Doubling Property Tax
Waterfront Boardwalk Agreement Approved
Washington Avenue Redevelopment Plan Proposed
Budget Cuts Reviewed
Dog Licenses Go Up
Parking Fee Revenue is Up
One-Way Streets Proposed
Break on Sewer Fees
Whole council present: Susan Henderson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, former Mayor Kevin Sanders, former Deputy Mayor James Bruno
Clerk Steve Kay
Board Appointments:
Zoning Board of Adjustment -- David Otley, Aternate #1 and Paul Fried, Alternate #2. Otley is a financial officer for YMCA, in Red Bank. He lives on Third Ave. According to Asbury Radio’s records Fried had a business relationship with Metro Homes in 2005. Metro Homes is owned by Dean Geibel, developer of the stalled Esperanza. We are told Fried is no longer working with Geibel. We’d like confirm this and additional information directly with Fried, if he will contact us. AsburyRadio@aol.com
Planning Board: Glenn Wilson - please contact us with your details.
Workshop –
Will be followed by open comment on waterfront MM retail agreement.
Couple asking permission for fence: approved.
Items from City Engineer – Brian Grant
City Mgr Terry Reidy -
Trial agreement for new parking meters –
Evaluating diff meter mfrs, second generation of meters…met w/ sev’l mfrs, like permission from gov body to try alternative digital parking systems, integrated technical systems ITS, they’re confident we’ll want to go ahead once we do pilot for 6 mos.
Mayor – this will address issues of dollar bills
Grant – not a trigger mech on the bill, which causes jams on a lot of bills, hoping from mech stndpt w/ represent solution to that
Mayor – machine at shop rite snaps up the dollar bill
Grant – also credit card processing, we hv real/time processing/ sometimes uses a cell based signal, which tks sev’l minutes to authorize/ newer model can appr’ve right away and chk later, wherein some payment risk is introduced which we’d hv to absorb loss
Mayor – what’s timeframe?
Grant – run on diff oper system/ w/ try out in pkg lot so they’ll serv whole pkg lot/
Bruno – how much?
Grant- $11,500 to $13,500 Smaller footprint. Lkg to hv solar panels, higher speed modem, wd req 110 elec. Hookup
We’ve lost revenue on parking…How Much?
[Explanation from Grant 5/24/10] So far this year we’ve made over $48,000 in receipts versus $4,500 in 2009 when we turned meters off for the winter and part of spring. All fees are reported weekly and are available from the city.
A.R. Note: In 2010, the City turned meters back on shortly after Christmas holidays. We noticed though that the parking lots, which belong to Madison Marquette, were not staffed and so allowed free parking throughout the winter. Opinion: While we’d like to see an end to the city having to compete against free parking. Paying $10 to a lot attendant to park in order to have lunch discourages us and maybe tourists as well.
Commerce Dir. Tom Gilmour – on lost rev for pkg authority…street vending during large events in city/ trying to figure out how to structure pkg regulations to mk avail pkg to large vehicles and get more revenue in bargain/ we’d rent pkg spaces to vendors/ wd designate certain areas, prob side streets to the west -- first, second, third avenues/
Mayor – concern I have is…
Grant – vendors with more history with city wd get premium spots
Mayor –new pizza plc opening up can jst see where pkg cd cost him customers…(?)
Off mic
Reidy – not getting a warm welcome let’s move on
Grant – next item cabanas and storage lockers on beach, for future if potential for offering
Reidy – this is something we’ve talked about over the last 4 or 5 yrs, jimmy you said this is something we’ve had in past
Bruno – don’t understand why it doesn’t go before the committee first/
Reidy – with more and more people coming to the beach, something not in conflict w/ Madison Marquette
Bruno – ques we can’t we hv popups on beach and sell stuff on the beach/ we used to sell hotdogs on the beach – not clr whether they said you still can or can’t
Mayor – I’ve heard it would be grt to hv showers on beach…baby steps
Grant – streets on West Side improvements to on southwest/ putting streets back online, not wide enough to accommodate current traffic/ wd council be opposed to changing streets to one way?
John Loffredo – I think it’s a very good idea
Grant – we’ve been shifting curb line, like on Monroe street, to save the trees
Bruno – was there a traf study done?
Grant – this is my recommendation on it.
Reidy – police, etc. studied it
Bruno – can I see the report on it.
Grant –
Bruno – so we’re going to do this w/out a traffic study from a traffic engineer
Mayor – we shd check w/ residents to see if they want it
Grant – there’s no traf study when change street signs, no req’t/
Grant – I put in a change order for add’l $1k, from EIT money for Major consultant
Sewer connection fee ordinance/ anyone hav q’s on it? Shd city be charging add’l fees for existing bldgs w/ set fees on them/ need to ck case law thru City Atty Fred Raffetto.
Mayor – why mvg curbs for trees, is this something applicable to downtown?
Grant – Not really, we have more flex in residential areas…
Redev Dir Don Sammet – Washington Ave designated redev area in 2000, plan never adopted / hired michilain group…content of draft plan presented to council to review and pass to planning bd. Man and woman introduced by Sammett off mic/ cdn’t get names/ Names: George Williams and Michele (sounds like) Delasport – joined w/ another firm edgecomb grp for architectural work/
Read comments by staff planner/ comfortable w/ everything read, mny chgs w/ be made aft PB hrg, but wnted your opinions
Hsg auth bd members gave input as well as residents and stakeholders, then did a mini charette / Council is referred to handouts they’ve been given. Audience has none.
Stakeholders felt investment in community not made over time and impediments to walking in community. Did demographic analysis:
Lower income levels compared to rest of city
Lower owner occupancy
Higher single mother families
Supported residents’ concerns
Plan formed based on their input/ plan is to move from simple to more aggressive steps
Need for infrastructure improvements
Area includes hsg auth prop, some not included in redev area/
PB instructed to investigate jug at prospect av, but it didn’t meet qual for redev area
Areas along Monroe and… not in redev area/
Census data used is from 2000
Recommend use of more owner occupied communities
Townhouse style cd be replicated throughout where there is room for deve.
He describes the housing styles in the area/ some lk like single but on entering multi units inside/
Area is Prospect on one end and ridge on the other.
Existing multi-fam struc can be rehabbed
In redev area or not housing auth who is his client/ recommendations are to clean up what already exists, all in R1a district/ people wanting to fix wd need to gain appr’ls from city
Mixed use comm’l district/ each district to hve set of standards
3 phases – 1. preservation, rehab and infill
2. vacant lots/ no eminent domain is required/ priv sector dev.
Each schema in plan gives some overview of what is expected so that readers can get a sense…
Approp density, sustainable amenities,
Bruno – prices?
Spkr – going to provide some price pts for hsg auth.
Bruno – can they get $ help
Michelle – w/ be affordable hsg eligible
Bruno – and mixed income that’s good
Michelle – Tower building w/ be used to address affordable hsg/
DS – do need PB review and comment so unless severe objections I’d suggest you do that.
Apprv’d by council to pass on to PB.
Dog license $11.20 if spayed or neutered and $14.20 if not. To increase $2.
Mayor – can we make the dif steeper?
Bruno – how many licenses do we have
Clerk – about 180 licenses issued
Bruno – can we do something thru code enforcement, a box when person gets CO if person has a dog they ck box?
Any place in town, can we ticket them if they don’t have a license? Asked of City Pol Chief Kinmon – no can’t ticket for lack of an out of town license.
Kinmon – req second and Langford no stopping and standing/ $30 identification card fee for bars/
Bruno - did police dept appr’v those one way streets?
CK -Yes
Bruno- Did you chek it w/ traffie expert
CK -No
Bruno - Report issued?
CK- No
Bruno - Any issues raised
CK- No
Bruno – don’t know why we get a 3 pg report on a single req for a handicapped spot and nothing to change these streets.
Mayor – when are we going to see atten for people flying thru traffic lights and stop signs/
Chief – fines hv been increased for littering, traffic violations, been in plc cpl of months
Last yr close 20k pkg and moving violations / 12 more spec police for summer so will be doing more/
Bruno – pedestrian signs for 5th and Kingsley?
Chief – I’ll ck w/ our traffic officer.
Christine – interim CFO
Wesley and Sunset Lake boat rental renewal / rehab on Wesley so water levels too low/ perhaps sunset lake, w/ see which sign is allowable there.
DS – no specific sign restrictions…
CFO – sunset is deep enough
City Atty FRaffetto: sewer fee question / our existing ord not consistent w/ state law/ new language w/ clarify that existing user w/ not hv to pay add’l fee automatically, a dec to be based on a add’l flo and only then if larger pipe is req’d wd an add’l fee be applied.
Gilmour: events// handed out sheets on add’l events
Berkeley hotel – Carnival for terminally ill children/ close street from sunset to kingsley in front of hotel for an event 5/23
RFK Events 7/10 bradley and atlantic park, up to 7000 people
Alice In Wonderland – wnt to create large sand castle on our beach to promote movie, this weekend.
Bruno – should be app’d pending events mtg on Tuesday
Ride is called Euro Bobble Madison Marquette’s event.– set up and run 5/29 thru July on second av green acre space, where the second av beach club eventually goes//
SHenderson – AIDS Walk – on Sunday, had entertainers here and there, are they special events?
Gilmour – I think they are, it’s nice to have music on beach/boardwalk but shd file for special events permit.
One item, freedom of speech - individual cd come to bdwlk evry Tues, north of 6th ave or sunset pav and if individ wanted amplification equip’t would have to bring and use special area, if not not nec.
Matters to be introduced by council -
Mayor – inaudible –
Reidy – something about drains…
Interfaith neighbors, artscap, city, bruce arbit brought grant opp from ford fdn - $400k – a planning grant for artists’ facility or space/ perfect opp to used on West Side maybe in…
ArtsCAP will be applying for but helps to include support from council w/ application.
Fred drafted grant application.
Public Comment on Proposed between City and Madison Marquette for Boardwalk Retail and Pavilion Development and Maintenance–
Following is a special comment period in response to citizen requests...
Duanne Small,1304 Mattison Av, –
Jobs and training component?
Tom Hastie, Esq – agreement for construction projects req local labor (thru hsg dept, 20% local employees is goal) and bldg supplies.
DS – will you ck to see if American citizens.
TH – no
DS – needs to be, that creates poverty and poverty creates crime
TH – obligation
Mike Ferguson –
Month ago you explained reconstruction of west side, at public session here in ten mins can ask that q, right now it’s just the agreement bet madison Marquette.
(Didn’t get gentleman’s name. He had been taking movies of proceedings )
I’m OSHA qualified $110Mn
Asbury Tower, I built that building…yrs ago and they didn’t hire one person from community. I talked to mayor and nothing gotten done/ When we’re doing something again in community/ I’d like to see jobs in community…he’s going to build 10mn 7mn we’ll get nothing, you know, fireman, I’m keeping it real/ mk sure they hav union qualified contractors.
Marano – Rita –
Going to knock down sunset pavilion
TH can do
RM -And 5 yrs to bld on it
TH – yes
RM – can bld pkg lot
TH – no has to be recreation
TR – absolutely not a pkg lot
Werner Baumgartner – 402 5th Av
Bruno – welcome back
WB – thank you, helluva document got here /
270 pgs?
WB – Asbury partners went into bankruptcy
TH – Asbury Partners llc still in good standing, membership has been taken over
WB – means easements held by city on behalf of public…my knowledge of plan was there were no easements over the …maybe you meant over the green acres
TH – no it is actually over the pavilions, the ramps, over the pavilion prop
WB – the building boundaries define the actual parcels. I’m suggesting shd be looked a little closer
TH – shakes head no
WB – building at south end of boardwalk is the central steam heating plant – not a power plant
Pg 22, encroachments, anticipated elevator and stair structure on 5th ave pavilion, surprised and dismayed being added to it/ currently is a stair case and elevator on the property, no need to build outside the bldg when can envelop within the building.
In orig agreement was deal that new lighting fixtures wd be put up.
TH – that’s in section 2
WB – ugly cobra lights w/ be used?
TH – supplemented or replaced
WB -- Sunset av pav pg 31, Demolition for recr / Berkkely is struggling to survive/ pavilion was build to be connected to the hotel. Success of Berkeley is tied to success of city/ there was a bridge on the second floor to g over the ave and onto the boardwalk, wd behoove city to demand negotiation to demand link from second flr to pav because that is the linchpin for bringing commerce to both/
TR – Madison m and Berkeley ownerw dicussed w/ city 3 times/ to werner’s pt don’t disagree w/ bus pt, but it’s a business pt now between both developers/ and think both realize it wd benfit both but matter of them coming to gether to see how wd wok
Mayor – is this something that cd still happen with the sunset pavilion.
WB – it’s a design pt not an historic pt. I’d like to see an insert in plan it shd be encouraged/ not say oh well it can be a recreational /
City is stating on CH city is relieving mm from further responsiblility for restoration and repairs to CH, anyone can see, I’m shocked, that it is far from repaired/ the owner bought for great discount from city in order for city to get landmarks to be resotred.
TH – don’t think anyone’s walking away…old agreement dint’ put on Asbury partners and now MM to completely rehab that building/ see Werner
Bruno – Shipo have any guidelines?
DS – that was for all the exterior wk that had to be done/ there was a list / reviewed every improvement done in that bldg, as well as the historic trust/
WB – all they do is approve and document the wk that’s been done, doesn’t mean there isn’t more needed to be done/ terracotta is falling off and cracks in walls
TH – gazebo survives becz agreementw/ Partners, but reserved it/
WB – I strongly recommend give up on that, gazebo no room for…
Section 2 – easement encroachment agreement for CH. I’m happy you followed my advice and did include…but they can close the arcade completely during and after shows. Before and after shows is exactly when people are wkg thru… it’s not in the public’s interest/
Bruno – it’s for safety purposes
WB – Demised premises – a purchase option of $10,
TH – existing lease w/ Asbury partners was deficient for green acres/ no other biz terms in that lease are changed/
WB – that’s how much they pay/ purchase price $10
TH – it’s a lease
WB – no it says purchase
TH – (goes to his copy is looking up that section)
WB – there are 3 exhibits missing from the report, since this is a legally binding doc I think u should probably fix it.
My biggest disturbing factor – the casino is nowhere to be mentioned here/ what is the adaptive reuse
TH – our goal was to hv a tight enforceable agreement. With casino, bcz is such great bldg and requires so much investment, any agreement that says snap your fingers and improve this bldg…w/ not be approved. You saw that w/ the partners, it became so illusionary… better way is wait til they hav a plan, does refer to sev’l come bak when you have a plan…instead of creating a situation which we knew wd never be performed.
WB - …I know wv’l people in ocean grove and overriding q is when r u going to fix the casino, study showed linchpin to whole recovery is the millions of tourists to south of us, who come up the og bdwk and see main impediment , boarded windows, puddles on the terrazzo floor, arcade is a front dr to ap’s beachfront to millions of dollars/ put windows back, fix terrazzo flr and then sure a grand plan for later/ main entrance is a deterrent…applause!!!
5 minute Break—
Open Session –
Public Portion –
Joyce Stolaroff – cookman ave re. tables outside restaurants, wlking my city licenses dogs the other day and so much taken up by tables had to wlk in street. Like to know when be start being addressing again.
Chief – plans to address shortly. Usually instruct the businesses about the restrictions and …
Bruno – Grand Av bridge six of 8 are out.
Duanne Small – saw mention of a garden…
287 G Status – sheriff has now authority to check for immigration status
Mayor – want to place pots on tennis court and wk w/ young people to grow them and sell at farmers’ mkt/
DS – opp here is spec funding of garden is to hire young people to wk on garden
Also, out of state registration…
Rita Marano 8th ave –
Budget w/ be introduced tonight, can you tell us about it?
Mayor - Has been all over newspapers and will tk about it tonight.
RM - $41k to Scotland, what did he do that’s worth that?
TR – mst fes paid to Scotland is reimbursed thru developer agreement.
RM – but its’ not in that part of the bill, this was included in ours.
TR – they handle bond counsel, developer agreements, excellent law firm, guide us thru mst dif decisions and saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars.
RM - You sound like their pr person
Louise Murray –
Are tables on our right of way? If anything ever happened, who’s going to be responsible for that? If they’re falling down on our property.
Clerk – submit an insurance policy and rent the space from us.
Mike Ferguson – Washington Ave. – redevelopment efforts going on in AP, when are people of AP going to get involved in the work. They’re tearing apart AP st by st. when are we the citizens , me a union wkr, qualified, certified to rebld my community.
Mayor – we are involved, had SRO jst few wks ago, council app’d $250,000 thru Asbury Wks to wk w/ community to help them get training program for Asbury residents. Our residents involved in training and building new bldgs and infrastructure, end up w/ people licensed and trains to go forward and work in those trades.
MF – are you calling this Lukus group to be sure they’re hiring?
Mayor – I can’t tell them to hire you individually
MF – there’s bunch of Portuguese people doing the work, not anyone from AP.
Mayor – There’s not one sir.
MF – DS agrees the union job is the sewer work being done by the Lukos group. You’re blowin smoke up my ass right now.
Mayor – I’m not going to sit here and let you disrespect me. We’re doing more than any other council has ever done to be sure AP residents get jobs in this town.
MF - union was based here. We were trained by them only 7 or 8 of us, none of us are getting any.
TR – Lukos job, you say you’re qualified I don’t doubt that. DS made challenge months ago what are you going to do for young brothers and we got $250k to …
MF – hold on you’re taking me some place I don’t need to go.
TR – I’ll check this job tomorrow and if there’s a violation of fed’l law I’ll follow up on it.
MF had about 10 minutes to talk.
(Another Man) I went thru the union, he’s holding his union card, I’ve got 18 hrs of video, those workers came out of Staten Island, with Blade out of Jersey City, They’ve got a big problem, you don’t want to get me fired up. I built the Senior Tower 40 yrs ago. Now I’ll see you there tomorrow.
Steve Wider –
Problems on Cookman, should offer deal to swap condos with one end of Cookman so people who want the quiet can go to the quiet end. Make one end 3 ½ blocks all commercial. Like to see AP become city of entertainment.
Duanne Small - June 28 cousin is in major game, would you like to buy tickets I’d like to see council there.
Werner B - - right of way, I don’t hv a prob with that, you should have. One of public assets you’re charged with is protecting public space. Point is it’s illegal, there’s no personal right for a private property owner to build outside his property line. For you to allow that to happen is a disservice to the community. Part of beauty of AP is its design. Everytime allow bld outside property line encroaching on the public neighborhood’s value. Bell goes off, keeps beeping unlike with the union workers.
Small is back w/ the tickets.
Gerry Scarano –
Thinking about greeters at the train station cd be handing out emails / cd hv [“Charlie”? Trolley?] Take people from train to beach/ those people could get emails about events.
Council business
Reidy:
Liquor license transfer fast lane to 208 bond st, app’d by police dept. ---all yes
700 Emory St. Teretha Jones to 700 cookman, Richard Yorkowitz/ 75% for food service.
$39, 800,000 Budget introduced – State gov not announcing yet any of monies to special “Transitional Aid” to municipalities, we have to back into that, 2009 we got $10,500,000. But haven’t heard from Trenton so in this budget no aid is anticipated.
Some communities hav furloughed employees, we’ve had no raises in 3 yrs in AP
A.R. checked with payroll. No one has received a raise in AP since 2007. This includes City Manager Terry Reidy. AR is checking with Reidy to see if he declined contractually agreed to increases over these years.
Public Comment June meeting following mtg passage.
Working w/ people who wanted to retire but couldn’t, $350k of people retiring now. Is included in this budget and w/ be felt next yr.
Aggressive generating add’l revenue/ million more in combo of rev and cost savings.
Estab pkg ulity - it made in receipts $275k for 2009
Beach rev in 2009? [ Waiting response from Giberson.]
Revenue from Police dep and court, over $1mn, represents a half million jump
According to governor, Effective May 22, any muni that doen’t hv contracts where employees pay their benefits, employees w/ be req’d to pay 2.5% toward benefits
Ambulance billing up $400k over prior year.
O/T gone down/ depending on state aid w/ hv to lk at more cuts.
Horizon gave us 31% increase for employee health benefits next yr/ retirees, too, there’s already $1.5mn increase in 2010
Pension 2009 – deferred contribution to pension plan, $1.7m, is back in budget this yr. So that’s somewhat out of city’s control.
Revenues have gone down from all other state aid, energy aid, homeland security, utility aid decreased by $1.2Mn.
UEZ aid gone down
Pilot (abatements) adjusted down so payments down in 2010.
Just a snapshot of what city is facing and what we’ve tried to do.
One thing is clr isn’t one city in state of NJ that can solve rev shortages by themselves. Seriously considering consolidating services. AP appears to be only city going to Trenton to decide how this is being considered.
Impact of not having $10 mn means tax rate w/ double, but that won’t happen, because w/ likely get some State aid. If we fail to introduce the budget then we can’t be eligible for state aid.
All voted to introduce.
Agreement between city and MM –
John Loffredto - Q – wk needed to be done on CH, who signs off on that? I was part of all of that going to Trenton, when do we say this is enough?
TR – nothing in original agreement MM is required to complete. Hv to meet all the codes allow bldg to open/ restoring to what it was in 30s not a requirement.
Bruno – apologized to Werner B/ taken 2 yrs to get this done, times are tough we have to get this done/ I vote yes.
All yes
Resolution to approve grant from Ford Fdn – all yes
Move boat rentals to Sunset lake – all yes
Sewer - appr’d,
Budget – resolution – state req’d City to introduce city budget on April 30th. The state appr’d extension but needed this resolution stating we didn’t introduce it on time.
Taylor Bros - $18,000. A.R. waiting for clarification from City on purpose of payment.
Adjourned
Reporter's Notebook - Corrections, Additions, Clarifications Welcome - AsburyRadio@aol.com
AP Council Meeting -- May 19, 2010
City Still Faces Doubling Property Tax
Waterfront Boardwalk Agreement Approved
Washington Avenue Redevelopment Plan Proposed
Budget Cuts Reviewed
Dog Licenses Go Up
Parking Fee Revenue is Up
One-Way Streets Proposed
Break on Sewer Fees
Whole council present: Susan Henderson, Deputy Mayor John Loffredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, former Mayor Kevin Sanders, former Deputy Mayor James Bruno
Clerk Steve Kay
Board Appointments:
Zoning Board of Adjustment -- David Otley, Aternate #1 and Paul Fried, Alternate #2. Otley is a financial officer for YMCA, in Red Bank. He lives on Third Ave. According to Asbury Radio’s records Fried had a business relationship with Metro Homes in 2005. Metro Homes is owned by Dean Geibel, developer of the stalled Esperanza. We are told Fried is no longer working with Geibel. We’d like confirm this and additional information directly with Fried, if he will contact us. AsburyRadio@aol.com
Planning Board: Glenn Wilson - please contact us with your details.
Workshop –
Will be followed by open comment on waterfront MM retail agreement.
Couple asking permission for fence: approved.
Items from City Engineer – Brian Grant
City Mgr Terry Reidy -
Trial agreement for new parking meters –
Evaluating diff meter mfrs, second generation of meters…met w/ sev’l mfrs, like permission from gov body to try alternative digital parking systems, integrated technical systems ITS, they’re confident we’ll want to go ahead once we do pilot for 6 mos.
Mayor – this will address issues of dollar bills
Grant – not a trigger mech on the bill, which causes jams on a lot of bills, hoping from mech stndpt w/ represent solution to that
Mayor – machine at shop rite snaps up the dollar bill
Grant – also credit card processing, we hv real/time processing/ sometimes uses a cell based signal, which tks sev’l minutes to authorize/ newer model can appr’ve right away and chk later, wherein some payment risk is introduced which we’d hv to absorb loss
Mayor – what’s timeframe?
Grant – run on diff oper system/ w/ try out in pkg lot so they’ll serv whole pkg lot/
Bruno – how much?
Grant- $11,500 to $13,500 Smaller footprint. Lkg to hv solar panels, higher speed modem, wd req 110 elec. Hookup
We’ve lost revenue on parking…How Much?
[Explanation from Grant 5/24/10] So far this year we’ve made over $48,000 in receipts versus $4,500 in 2009 when we turned meters off for the winter and part of spring. All fees are reported weekly and are available from the city.
A.R. Note: In 2010, the City turned meters back on shortly after Christmas holidays. We noticed though that the parking lots, which belong to Madison Marquette, were not staffed and so allowed free parking throughout the winter. Opinion: While we’d like to see an end to the city having to compete against free parking. Paying $10 to a lot attendant to park in order to have lunch discourages us and maybe tourists as well.
Commerce Dir. Tom Gilmour – on lost rev for pkg authority…street vending during large events in city/ trying to figure out how to structure pkg regulations to mk avail pkg to large vehicles and get more revenue in bargain/ we’d rent pkg spaces to vendors/ wd designate certain areas, prob side streets to the west -- first, second, third avenues/
Mayor – concern I have is…
Grant – vendors with more history with city wd get premium spots
Mayor –new pizza plc opening up can jst see where pkg cd cost him customers…(?)
Off mic
Reidy – not getting a warm welcome let’s move on
Grant – next item cabanas and storage lockers on beach, for future if potential for offering
Reidy – this is something we’ve talked about over the last 4 or 5 yrs, jimmy you said this is something we’ve had in past
Bruno – don’t understand why it doesn’t go before the committee first/
Reidy – with more and more people coming to the beach, something not in conflict w/ Madison Marquette
Bruno – ques we can’t we hv popups on beach and sell stuff on the beach/ we used to sell hotdogs on the beach – not clr whether they said you still can or can’t
Mayor – I’ve heard it would be grt to hv showers on beach…baby steps
Grant – streets on West Side improvements to on southwest/ putting streets back online, not wide enough to accommodate current traffic/ wd council be opposed to changing streets to one way?
John Loffredo – I think it’s a very good idea
Grant – we’ve been shifting curb line, like on Monroe street, to save the trees
Bruno – was there a traf study done?
Grant – this is my recommendation on it.
Reidy – police, etc. studied it
Bruno – can I see the report on it.
Grant –
Bruno – so we’re going to do this w/out a traffic study from a traffic engineer
Mayor – we shd check w/ residents to see if they want it
Grant – there’s no traf study when change street signs, no req’t/
Grant – I put in a change order for add’l $1k, from EIT money for Major consultant
Sewer connection fee ordinance/ anyone hav q’s on it? Shd city be charging add’l fees for existing bldgs w/ set fees on them/ need to ck case law thru City Atty Fred Raffetto.
Mayor – why mvg curbs for trees, is this something applicable to downtown?
Grant – Not really, we have more flex in residential areas…
Redev Dir Don Sammet – Washington Ave designated redev area in 2000, plan never adopted / hired michilain group…content of draft plan presented to council to review and pass to planning bd. Man and woman introduced by Sammett off mic/ cdn’t get names/ Names: George Williams and Michele (sounds like) Delasport – joined w/ another firm edgecomb grp for architectural work/
Read comments by staff planner/ comfortable w/ everything read, mny chgs w/ be made aft PB hrg, but wnted your opinions
Hsg auth bd members gave input as well as residents and stakeholders, then did a mini charette / Council is referred to handouts they’ve been given. Audience has none.
Stakeholders felt investment in community not made over time and impediments to walking in community. Did demographic analysis:
Lower income levels compared to rest of city
Lower owner occupancy
Higher single mother families
Supported residents’ concerns
Plan formed based on their input/ plan is to move from simple to more aggressive steps
Need for infrastructure improvements
Area includes hsg auth prop, some not included in redev area/
PB instructed to investigate jug at prospect av, but it didn’t meet qual for redev area
Areas along Monroe and… not in redev area/
Census data used is from 2000
Recommend use of more owner occupied communities
Townhouse style cd be replicated throughout where there is room for deve.
He describes the housing styles in the area/ some lk like single but on entering multi units inside/
Area is Prospect on one end and ridge on the other.
Existing multi-fam struc can be rehabbed
In redev area or not housing auth who is his client/ recommendations are to clean up what already exists, all in R1a district/ people wanting to fix wd need to gain appr’ls from city
Mixed use comm’l district/ each district to hve set of standards
3 phases – 1. preservation, rehab and infill
2. vacant lots/ no eminent domain is required/ priv sector dev.
Each schema in plan gives some overview of what is expected so that readers can get a sense…
Approp density, sustainable amenities,
Bruno – prices?
Spkr – going to provide some price pts for hsg auth.
Bruno – can they get $ help
Michelle – w/ be affordable hsg eligible
Bruno – and mixed income that’s good
Michelle – Tower building w/ be used to address affordable hsg/
DS – do need PB review and comment so unless severe objections I’d suggest you do that.
Apprv’d by council to pass on to PB.
Dog license $11.20 if spayed or neutered and $14.20 if not. To increase $2.
Mayor – can we make the dif steeper?
Bruno – how many licenses do we have
Clerk – about 180 licenses issued
Bruno – can we do something thru code enforcement, a box when person gets CO if person has a dog they ck box?
Any place in town, can we ticket them if they don’t have a license? Asked of City Pol Chief Kinmon – no can’t ticket for lack of an out of town license.
Kinmon – req second and Langford no stopping and standing/ $30 identification card fee for bars/
Bruno - did police dept appr’v those one way streets?
CK -Yes
Bruno- Did you chek it w/ traffie expert
CK -No
Bruno - Report issued?
CK- No
Bruno - Any issues raised
CK- No
Bruno – don’t know why we get a 3 pg report on a single req for a handicapped spot and nothing to change these streets.
Mayor – when are we going to see atten for people flying thru traffic lights and stop signs/
Chief – fines hv been increased for littering, traffic violations, been in plc cpl of months
Last yr close 20k pkg and moving violations / 12 more spec police for summer so will be doing more/
Bruno – pedestrian signs for 5th and Kingsley?
Chief – I’ll ck w/ our traffic officer.
Christine – interim CFO
Wesley and Sunset Lake boat rental renewal / rehab on Wesley so water levels too low/ perhaps sunset lake, w/ see which sign is allowable there.
DS – no specific sign restrictions…
CFO – sunset is deep enough
City Atty FRaffetto: sewer fee question / our existing ord not consistent w/ state law/ new language w/ clarify that existing user w/ not hv to pay add’l fee automatically, a dec to be based on a add’l flo and only then if larger pipe is req’d wd an add’l fee be applied.
Gilmour: events// handed out sheets on add’l events
Berkeley hotel – Carnival for terminally ill children/ close street from sunset to kingsley in front of hotel for an event 5/23
RFK Events 7/10 bradley and atlantic park, up to 7000 people
Alice In Wonderland – wnt to create large sand castle on our beach to promote movie, this weekend.
Bruno – should be app’d pending events mtg on Tuesday
Ride is called Euro Bobble Madison Marquette’s event.– set up and run 5/29 thru July on second av green acre space, where the second av beach club eventually goes//
SHenderson – AIDS Walk – on Sunday, had entertainers here and there, are they special events?
Gilmour – I think they are, it’s nice to have music on beach/boardwalk but shd file for special events permit.
One item, freedom of speech - individual cd come to bdwlk evry Tues, north of 6th ave or sunset pav and if individ wanted amplification equip’t would have to bring and use special area, if not not nec.
Matters to be introduced by council -
Mayor – inaudible –
Reidy – something about drains…
Interfaith neighbors, artscap, city, bruce arbit brought grant opp from ford fdn - $400k – a planning grant for artists’ facility or space/ perfect opp to used on West Side maybe in…
ArtsCAP will be applying for but helps to include support from council w/ application.
Fred drafted grant application.
Public Comment on Proposed between City and Madison Marquette for Boardwalk Retail and Pavilion Development and Maintenance–
Following is a special comment period in response to citizen requests...
Duanne Small,1304 Mattison Av, –
Jobs and training component?
Tom Hastie, Esq – agreement for construction projects req local labor (thru hsg dept, 20% local employees is goal) and bldg supplies.
DS – will you ck to see if American citizens.
TH – no
DS – needs to be, that creates poverty and poverty creates crime
TH – obligation
Mike Ferguson –
Month ago you explained reconstruction of west side, at public session here in ten mins can ask that q, right now it’s just the agreement bet madison Marquette.
(Didn’t get gentleman’s name. He had been taking movies of proceedings )
I’m OSHA qualified $110Mn
Asbury Tower, I built that building…yrs ago and they didn’t hire one person from community. I talked to mayor and nothing gotten done/ When we’re doing something again in community/ I’d like to see jobs in community…he’s going to build 10mn 7mn we’ll get nothing, you know, fireman, I’m keeping it real/ mk sure they hav union qualified contractors.
Marano – Rita –
Going to knock down sunset pavilion
TH can do
RM -And 5 yrs to bld on it
TH – yes
RM – can bld pkg lot
TH – no has to be recreation
TR – absolutely not a pkg lot
Werner Baumgartner – 402 5th Av
Bruno – welcome back
WB – thank you, helluva document got here /
270 pgs?
WB – Asbury partners went into bankruptcy
TH – Asbury Partners llc still in good standing, membership has been taken over
WB – means easements held by city on behalf of public…my knowledge of plan was there were no easements over the …maybe you meant over the green acres
TH – no it is actually over the pavilions, the ramps, over the pavilion prop
WB – the building boundaries define the actual parcels. I’m suggesting shd be looked a little closer
TH – shakes head no
WB – building at south end of boardwalk is the central steam heating plant – not a power plant
Pg 22, encroachments, anticipated elevator and stair structure on 5th ave pavilion, surprised and dismayed being added to it/ currently is a stair case and elevator on the property, no need to build outside the bldg when can envelop within the building.
In orig agreement was deal that new lighting fixtures wd be put up.
TH – that’s in section 2
WB – ugly cobra lights w/ be used?
TH – supplemented or replaced
WB -- Sunset av pav pg 31, Demolition for recr / Berkkely is struggling to survive/ pavilion was build to be connected to the hotel. Success of Berkeley is tied to success of city/ there was a bridge on the second floor to g over the ave and onto the boardwalk, wd behoove city to demand negotiation to demand link from second flr to pav because that is the linchpin for bringing commerce to both/
TR – Madison m and Berkeley ownerw dicussed w/ city 3 times/ to werner’s pt don’t disagree w/ bus pt, but it’s a business pt now between both developers/ and think both realize it wd benfit both but matter of them coming to gether to see how wd wok
Mayor – is this something that cd still happen with the sunset pavilion.
WB – it’s a design pt not an historic pt. I’d like to see an insert in plan it shd be encouraged/ not say oh well it can be a recreational /
City is stating on CH city is relieving mm from further responsiblility for restoration and repairs to CH, anyone can see, I’m shocked, that it is far from repaired/ the owner bought for great discount from city in order for city to get landmarks to be resotred.
TH – don’t think anyone’s walking away…old agreement dint’ put on Asbury partners and now MM to completely rehab that building/ see Werner
Bruno – Shipo have any guidelines?
DS – that was for all the exterior wk that had to be done/ there was a list / reviewed every improvement done in that bldg, as well as the historic trust/
WB – all they do is approve and document the wk that’s been done, doesn’t mean there isn’t more needed to be done/ terracotta is falling off and cracks in walls
TH – gazebo survives becz agreementw/ Partners, but reserved it/
WB – I strongly recommend give up on that, gazebo no room for…
Section 2 – easement encroachment agreement for CH. I’m happy you followed my advice and did include…but they can close the arcade completely during and after shows. Before and after shows is exactly when people are wkg thru… it’s not in the public’s interest/
Bruno – it’s for safety purposes
WB – Demised premises – a purchase option of $10,
TH – existing lease w/ Asbury partners was deficient for green acres/ no other biz terms in that lease are changed/
WB – that’s how much they pay/ purchase price $10
TH – it’s a lease
WB – no it says purchase
TH – (goes to his copy is looking up that section)
WB – there are 3 exhibits missing from the report, since this is a legally binding doc I think u should probably fix it.
My biggest disturbing factor – the casino is nowhere to be mentioned here/ what is the adaptive reuse
TH – our goal was to hv a tight enforceable agreement. With casino, bcz is such great bldg and requires so much investment, any agreement that says snap your fingers and improve this bldg…w/ not be approved. You saw that w/ the partners, it became so illusionary… better way is wait til they hav a plan, does refer to sev’l come bak when you have a plan…instead of creating a situation which we knew wd never be performed.
WB - …I know wv’l people in ocean grove and overriding q is when r u going to fix the casino, study showed linchpin to whole recovery is the millions of tourists to south of us, who come up the og bdwk and see main impediment , boarded windows, puddles on the terrazzo floor, arcade is a front dr to ap’s beachfront to millions of dollars/ put windows back, fix terrazzo flr and then sure a grand plan for later/ main entrance is a deterrent…applause!!!
5 minute Break—
Open Session –
Public Portion –
Joyce Stolaroff – cookman ave re. tables outside restaurants, wlking my city licenses dogs the other day and so much taken up by tables had to wlk in street. Like to know when be start being addressing again.
Chief – plans to address shortly. Usually instruct the businesses about the restrictions and …
Bruno – Grand Av bridge six of 8 are out.
Duanne Small – saw mention of a garden…
287 G Status – sheriff has now authority to check for immigration status
Mayor – want to place pots on tennis court and wk w/ young people to grow them and sell at farmers’ mkt/
DS – opp here is spec funding of garden is to hire young people to wk on garden
Also, out of state registration…
Rita Marano 8th ave –
Budget w/ be introduced tonight, can you tell us about it?
Mayor - Has been all over newspapers and will tk about it tonight.
RM - $41k to Scotland, what did he do that’s worth that?
TR – mst fes paid to Scotland is reimbursed thru developer agreement.
RM – but its’ not in that part of the bill, this was included in ours.
TR – they handle bond counsel, developer agreements, excellent law firm, guide us thru mst dif decisions and saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars.
RM - You sound like their pr person
Louise Murray –
Are tables on our right of way? If anything ever happened, who’s going to be responsible for that? If they’re falling down on our property.
Clerk – submit an insurance policy and rent the space from us.
Mike Ferguson – Washington Ave. – redevelopment efforts going on in AP, when are people of AP going to get involved in the work. They’re tearing apart AP st by st. when are we the citizens , me a union wkr, qualified, certified to rebld my community.
Mayor – we are involved, had SRO jst few wks ago, council app’d $250,000 thru Asbury Wks to wk w/ community to help them get training program for Asbury residents. Our residents involved in training and building new bldgs and infrastructure, end up w/ people licensed and trains to go forward and work in those trades.
MF – are you calling this Lukus group to be sure they’re hiring?
Mayor – I can’t tell them to hire you individually
MF – there’s bunch of Portuguese people doing the work, not anyone from AP.
Mayor – There’s not one sir.
MF – DS agrees the union job is the sewer work being done by the Lukos group. You’re blowin smoke up my ass right now.
Mayor – I’m not going to sit here and let you disrespect me. We’re doing more than any other council has ever done to be sure AP residents get jobs in this town.
MF - union was based here. We were trained by them only 7 or 8 of us, none of us are getting any.
TR – Lukos job, you say you’re qualified I don’t doubt that. DS made challenge months ago what are you going to do for young brothers and we got $250k to …
MF – hold on you’re taking me some place I don’t need to go.
TR – I’ll check this job tomorrow and if there’s a violation of fed’l law I’ll follow up on it.
MF had about 10 minutes to talk.
(Another Man) I went thru the union, he’s holding his union card, I’ve got 18 hrs of video, those workers came out of Staten Island, with Blade out of Jersey City, They’ve got a big problem, you don’t want to get me fired up. I built the Senior Tower 40 yrs ago. Now I’ll see you there tomorrow.
Steve Wider –
Problems on Cookman, should offer deal to swap condos with one end of Cookman so people who want the quiet can go to the quiet end. Make one end 3 ½ blocks all commercial. Like to see AP become city of entertainment.
Duanne Small - June 28 cousin is in major game, would you like to buy tickets I’d like to see council there.
Werner B - - right of way, I don’t hv a prob with that, you should have. One of public assets you’re charged with is protecting public space. Point is it’s illegal, there’s no personal right for a private property owner to build outside his property line. For you to allow that to happen is a disservice to the community. Part of beauty of AP is its design. Everytime allow bld outside property line encroaching on the public neighborhood’s value. Bell goes off, keeps beeping unlike with the union workers.
Small is back w/ the tickets.
Gerry Scarano –
Thinking about greeters at the train station cd be handing out emails / cd hv [“Charlie”? Trolley?] Take people from train to beach/ those people could get emails about events.
Council business
Reidy:
Liquor license transfer fast lane to 208 bond st, app’d by police dept. ---all yes
700 Emory St. Teretha Jones to 700 cookman, Richard Yorkowitz/ 75% for food service.
$39, 800,000 Budget introduced – State gov not announcing yet any of monies to special “Transitional Aid” to municipalities, we have to back into that, 2009 we got $10,500,000. But haven’t heard from Trenton so in this budget no aid is anticipated.
Some communities hav furloughed employees, we’ve had no raises in 3 yrs in AP
A.R. checked with payroll. No one has received a raise in AP since 2007. This includes City Manager Terry Reidy. AR is checking with Reidy to see if he declined contractually agreed to increases over these years.
Public Comment June meeting following mtg passage.
Working w/ people who wanted to retire but couldn’t, $350k of people retiring now. Is included in this budget and w/ be felt next yr.
Aggressive generating add’l revenue/ million more in combo of rev and cost savings.
Estab pkg ulity - it made in receipts $275k for 2009
Beach rev in 2009? [ Waiting response from Giberson.]
Revenue from Police dep and court, over $1mn, represents a half million jump
According to governor, Effective May 22, any muni that doen’t hv contracts where employees pay their benefits, employees w/ be req’d to pay 2.5% toward benefits
Ambulance billing up $400k over prior year.
O/T gone down/ depending on state aid w/ hv to lk at more cuts.
Horizon gave us 31% increase for employee health benefits next yr/ retirees, too, there’s already $1.5mn increase in 2010
Pension 2009 – deferred contribution to pension plan, $1.7m, is back in budget this yr. So that’s somewhat out of city’s control.
Revenues have gone down from all other state aid, energy aid, homeland security, utility aid decreased by $1.2Mn.
UEZ aid gone down
Pilot (abatements) adjusted down so payments down in 2010.
Just a snapshot of what city is facing and what we’ve tried to do.
One thing is clr isn’t one city in state of NJ that can solve rev shortages by themselves. Seriously considering consolidating services. AP appears to be only city going to Trenton to decide how this is being considered.
Impact of not having $10 mn means tax rate w/ double, but that won’t happen, because w/ likely get some State aid. If we fail to introduce the budget then we can’t be eligible for state aid.
All voted to introduce.
Agreement between city and MM –
John Loffredto - Q – wk needed to be done on CH, who signs off on that? I was part of all of that going to Trenton, when do we say this is enough?
TR – nothing in original agreement MM is required to complete. Hv to meet all the codes allow bldg to open/ restoring to what it was in 30s not a requirement.
Bruno – apologized to Werner B/ taken 2 yrs to get this done, times are tough we have to get this done/ I vote yes.
All yes
Resolution to approve grant from Ford Fdn – all yes
Move boat rentals to Sunset lake – all yes
Sewer - appr’d,
Budget – resolution – state req’d City to introduce city budget on April 30th. The state appr’d extension but needed this resolution stating we didn’t introduce it on time.
Taylor Bros - $18,000. A.R. waiting for clarification from City on purpose of payment.
Adjourned
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
AP Council Reappoints Zaro Firm other Professionals
January 20, 2010 City of Asbury Park Council Meeting
Begin 6:12 pm – all council is present - Corrections/Comments: AsburyRadio@aol.com
Zaro Law Firm Renews Contract With City Worth $400,000 / McManimon & Scotland Firm Renews Contract with City Worth $400,000 / Plans Continue for Haiti Relief After 40 Years / City Reclaims Westside Tracts Once Owned by Phil Konvitz for $700,000 /
Fees rising for Traffic and Ordinance Violations /
Jobs for Census Workers -$15/hr, 20 – 40 hrs a week /
Noise Problem at Brick Wall Postponed again, this time to Feb. 15 / Avenue A Lots Go to West Side Project Developers/
Terry Reidy - Two projects = CBD and Springwood Av mvg forward
City Engineer, Brian Grant – svcs req’d for city to complete/ 2 contracts to Brilliant Lewis for environmental inspection; when dig up pipes have to ck soil. $81,130. for the Central Business District (CBD), and for Springwood Av Development, $107,005. Questions?
Deputy Mayor John Loffredo - Let’s do it.
BG -When backfill need compaction svcs at least 95% compaction. Using same contractor Keegan Technology for $25k to each project.
His dept has been operating as 3 man team/ now using consultant $110/hr, project mgmt inspection services
Last resolution req’d, parking utility – 2 lots in CBD, Maletek site and VFW site/ interested in hvg city manage the lot in exchange for something on revenue side/ we wnt from longterm perspective use for employee and residential pkg so onsite can be used for customers, etc. [Q:What about the unfinished pkg lot appr’d earlier as temp use on Bond St and Bangs?]
TReidy - Right a way request 1001 Second Av, request to plc real estate sign/ duration to be tied to occupancy.
JL – aren’t they afraid the signs w/ lk better than the buildings at this point? (laughter)
Stars update-
Fred Raffetto, city atty, 3 city owned parcels on Ave A, deadline passed lst fri at 4 pm, city hadn’t received any response, recommend forward to …for ultimate disposition of those lots. There are protestors w/ signs in the audience regarding this.
TReidy – usage of city cars, prepared to present plan for use.
Council member Jimmy Bruno wd like all cars to hv GPS on them, definitely on all cars that lv town
TR – excellent suggestion, agree s/ hv GPS on all. Diff systems according to how you want to track – min by min, end of day, etc./ For now end of day report wd be good track where car was all day.
Ed Johnson, Mayor – he travels for work for Brookdale College business, keeps sign in and sign out sheets, toll rec’ts, done as savings. Maybe emergencies but they’d be coming bk to AP, added benefit of providing trans to and from wk, should limit use if we’re lkg to extend life of cars and control expenses/
Bruno – more wear and tear from wk to home than jst using on the streets.
TR – I’ll put def of approp use in writing and respond to Mayor’s comments tonight.
EJ – realize private industry controls are very tight/ but each has area to control costs, reserve resources.
Sue Henderson – invites Eve Silverman to table/ very sorry Hazel Samuels can’t be here, still in hosp very sick/
Month ago Betty Rob from US census gave presentation, Sue attended League’s wksp in AC/ wants Hazel to be in chg of / examples of reasons why collect data:
Fed’l gov uses to award $
Title 1 grants
Head start
WIC
Public trans
Emerg food shelter
Jobs and jbo programs
Homeowners res on prop values and capital income
Mkt res comm’l
Essential svcs for city
First did complete count committee – all volunteer – Eve S. part of that comm., wksp tlked about hard to count communities – where undocumented residents, by title 13 sec 9 all protected by law. Not even president of us can get.
Fr. Kagan, Bob Keading, Danny Weiss (an immigration atty) all on comm..
Plan includes publicize thru schools / in some cases foreign spkg students w/ go home and translate the info for parents.
ES – Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this NY based bi-partisan org w/ giv us info and mat’ls for free. Shows poster in Spanish. Did a train-the-trainer session. The org is “2010 Complete Team” – she gives names of more members…
There is a disinformation campaign saying people participating will be exposed to repercussions later – Untrue – Anyone abusing the information faces strict jail times and fine. People need to understand in multiple households who needs to fill out.
There are only 10 questions, which don’t have ss # or other identifier, but where you are in the community. Last census was 2000 – 15% latinos then in AP.
EJ – 2 areas really concerned that wd get out this is not a search. Second is employment question.
SH - Robb came back. We had q’s about centers where people can go and be counted. w/ be job opp $15/hr 20 – 40 hr/wk no info on that for tonight, it’s all online. We’ll organize testing centers here so don’t hv to go to freehold. Rev. Akins, of Triumphant Life Church may run training and The Center of AP. If fail can re-take test.
ES – important to have locals; people less afraid when see you coming. Read and write, spk English, be US citizen or hv visa. Need bi-lingual. Valid SS#, take basic skills test, commit for 4 days of training and are paid while training. Testing begins next month, census starts April 1. Committee meets again in Feb.
JL – hv to stress not to be afraid to say how many people in house.
ES – if fill out the cards at a center no one is going to the house. Ex. Father Miguel will do census for his own church to demonstrate.
Tom Gilmour – Commerce Dir – Marketing campaign postponed until next mtg.
Special Events – 2/19 Black history luncheon, 6/13 Dance Recital Paramount theater for AP Technical Academy of Dance, Sand Blast beach dance on 7/17 5th Av beach. Fee structure determined to be not equitable, plans to have recommendations for changes. Great information to share – ans’d and RFP from nj council of humanities, which was lkg for cities to be host of Smithsonian musical heritage exhibit/ artscap, library and UEZ put together proposal, 6 cities w/ host and we’ve been chosen first to host, April 2011.
Police Chief Mark Kinmon – w/ meet this wk w/ court clk to increase ordinance violation fees. Checked w/ sev’l towns to compare fine scales, we were a little below avg in some/ some set a limit on all traffic violations, in line w/ state statute of $55. Some lo 30s, some 70$. Council has final say.
Interlaken – Council said wanted to hear about Interlaken but wasn’t discussed.
EJ – like to see us hv reasonable parity, so we can have similar level w/ towns down the shore/ same time wd like to see max ceiling – running stop signs, double parking, block traffic/
Chief – those are state violations, can’t change.
SH – like to see more speeding tkts in residential areas.
EJ – vandalism, burglary concerns
Chief - Yes northwestern part of town, made quite a few arrests, doing things wd rather not reveal at this time, def on our radar screen
ES – activities in community in response to disaster in Haiti. Amsel Fusco in audience, MMarquette donated Paramount theater for events Mon and another Sat. and designated CH for collection center. This is what a community does. Very impor insightful thing to say.
ES – been a beautiful thing to observe, agree MM has helped quite a bit to let parties use those large spaces. Paramount event Sat is cancelled, w/ be moved to first sat Feb. push at restaurants etc to get things out to Haiti, urging give to Red Cross and other agencies…got team together to get web site going/ brought in $3,830.60 this afternoon. Need to move things out of CH. Marilyn Schlossbach “has been everywhere. Just no other way to say it.” She’s been reaching out to comm’l sponsors for help. Tripp Brooks stepped up w/ his two buildings that can be used for storing articles to be shipped. W/ prob stop collections Friday because volunteers w/ be sorting out on Sat. Clothing, water, Pepsi w/ send a plane of water. Need clean clothes in good repair. Anything that requires water don’t send, like toothpaste. First Aid kits good, too. No meds or drugs. Meridian system spk with her about mkg their professionals available at the hospital for longterm counseling. Pastor Sony Augustine is changing use of his upcoming fundraiser to divert to Haiti.
EJ - School board directed efforts of schools to the cause/ Danny Weiss, bd member, has donated his expertise.
Matters from Council
JL- Individual whse driveway was torn up, has it been taken care of.
TR – Yes.
EJ – thanks council for jumping into action. New Stimulus program, grnt, for munic bldgs.
SH – apprec sign re dog licensing, deadline end of jan. Hope to offer free rabies in spring.
EJ – Sat 2 pm in chambers MLK
FR – from exec session – resolution auth settlement of Asbury shores litigation.
JL- Longest docket number in trenton
EJ Properties on springwd av 40 yrs have come to a close…take possession of the prop on Spingwd av, we now have the land and the plan. Past 40 yrs hv been way too long.
Public Portion –
Linda Bradley, Rev. bradley’s daughter, on behalf of Miss Eva – 1215 Springwood Ave, put up w/ landlords that aren’t landlords, lst 5 days no heat, threatened when that when Section 8 inspector comes she better tell them nothing is wrong with the apartment, part of Bradley Sales, or he’ll evict me… Really want a plc that’s rent to own / lkg for decent home to live in. Help us help her to get project going
Eva Horvath – not enough time to put together forms, trying to get county, state and balanced home grant together, hv to go from one office to another, wk w/ priv financing as well. Takes lot longer than two weeks…[she was given from Dec 8th to Jan 15th]
Please give us an extension.
Joyce Skolaroff – thank you for addressing the noise ordinance tonight apprec your lkg at that. Sign on brick wall annex that comes out, her elderly neighbor fell into the sign and hit his head on it. Market in Middle closed about 3 wks ago, no one is picking up garbage left in back.
Minutes approved –
Payroll for Jan 15th includes ss and health insurance, $1,335,000
$441,688.65 bills resolution for the two wk period.
Quality claims $5, 609, and second for $11k….
Entry to NJ fireman’s assoc appr’d for chief keddy
Mike Sadano – appointed to Urban Enterprise Zone committee –
Matt Berman resigned from PB while back, replacement should be appt’d–
Professionals app’d – Lawyers Raffetto up to $200k, Aaron up to $200k, McManimon Scotland up to $400k, CPA auditor $80k, tax foreclosure $10k, Harry Hausholter $?k,
Yvonne Adams Recycling Coordinator
Supporting Home Program
ATV - $12k grant for one. 6 wheel w/ space for patients – this does not require a matching grant
6 contracts by city engineer see above Brilliant Lewis, nearly $200k total
$25k Keegan, again CBD $25k
BRB appraisal Svcs, related to pkg utility up to $9k
G. Kane Hoefling – proj mgmt springwd and cbd $125k cap
All approved
Authorize Mayor and clk settlement agreement for Asbury Shores – city paid them $700k
Key proposal for 3 prop to affordable hsg committee, -- all yes.
Special events all yes.
Introduction – hrg Feb 17th / ordinance rates and svc charges sewer, fees emerg med svc, police and fire dept --- all yes
Noise Ordinance carr it forward?
Rafetto finalizing ord for city deal w/ noise, nuisance ord instead of noise ord , provide to TR then noise committee for approval. Carry to Feb 17th.
Jan 7th ord revised financial agreement w/ St. James LLC – tax abatement –
Public
Rita Marano – pls explain
TReidy – same as we do w/ Paramount Homes
Tom Hastie – try to create some equity, payments in excess of what wd be paying conventional taxes, exacerbated by drop in value and inability to appeal as per agreement/ this agreement deals w/ certain payments that were due and owing by developer, another payment w/ be made under this agreement, methodology w/ be same going forward;
How much money are we losing
Don’t thnk losing idea her eis to gernate sales, pay less than 20% less than paying now, less than wd be paying in regular taxes, city w/ keep 95% versus 45% for others. $4100 v $7500. Construction payments, in lieu of a sales price…when sold w/ be windfall for the city.
TR – conventional taxes vs pilot agreemt is option for assn to opt out of agreement, then city wd get less. So city is benefiting in every way.
RM – do leased units pay taxes?
Hastie says They’ll pay on basis of list prices – whatever unit lists for rental unit will pay tax on.
Michael Brim – number of jpotential buyers haven’t bought due to uncertainty about tax structure. So hope you will pass this.
Transmission repair contract $69/hr plus parts discount –
Clayton Press gets printing contract not to exceed $50k – app’d
Comments/Corrections - email AsburyRadio@aol.com
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