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Council meeting – August 3, 2011
City Manager: City Has Had to Borrow & Spend to Grow & Attract Business
Spending continues tonight w/ $1.12million Borrowed for leasing equipment
City Tax Assessor, Marylou Hartmann, Replaced by Neptune Twp Share Agreement
Neptune assessor will take on Asbury Park on top of the Twp's needs
Parking Ordinance for Central Business District
Salary Ordinance for Fire Dept – 7.5% over 2008 – 2012
Fire-eaters gave up retro-pay for 08, 09 and 10
Curfew Ordinance – raises questions on ability to enforce
7:07 PM We’re late... –
Missed Commerce Dir’s presentation – see workshop agenda posted earlier today on this site.
Councilmember Jim Bruno asks about complaint of state of boardwalk boards in north end.
Bryan Grant – inch and qtr boards are drying up /(layer applied last summer) always a cosmetic measure, decking under bdwlk is worn out/ cupping is drying of wood/
[Jim Bruno started this discussion, as per complaint from Asbury tower, He is concerned and has asked what can be done by city…]
JB – asks about audit, can we interview the auditor?
Terry Reidy MCity mgr – yes, way to do it is read it, put ques together…
If council wants to go into detail on any aspect we’ll schedule it/
JB – I asked for brkdwn had to do w/ infrastrucutr wk / /we didn’t submit bills to EIT but paid vendors anyway. Can u help me out chris [CFO]
TR – I can... EIT didn’t pay city bk w/in fiscal yr/ so money came in late, but technicality from auditing $3mn shortfall
JB – so EIT’s fault not ours
TR – you wnt to tlk fault
Money didn’t get from …so when close out books cdn’t account for $3mn…
JB – so didn’t cost us, ok
Does council wnt to discuss audit –
John Lofrredo, Mayor Ed Johnson, and Sue Henderson say yes(Sanders absent) want to review audit.
John Loffredo (JL) – asking about some kind of a T at beachfront/ if someone has wheelchair/
TR – this is first yr we’ve had this / put there as an amenity/ unclear what they’re talking about
Mayor – can u in your comments mention the effort on the west side and partners in hsg/ national night out was grt event/ s/b every single day, not just one night. Everyone knows wats going on in that neighborhood, we hv to get involved can’t be afraid/ school – bk to, annual party aug 13 11- 3 pm
Fred Raffetto, city atty:
Council may tk action from exec session: possible ord amending titles for salaries / city eng and asst pub wks supt. Aswfsme union
Shared svcs w/ Neptune for assessing svcs, not be oct 1st, 2011/ This means city tax assessor will replaced by resolution tonight by Bernard Haney, Tax Assessor for Neptune Twp in a shared services agreement. The matter will not be discussed w/ the public because it is not being approved by ordinance.
FR: said he believes the savings being estimated is $30k to $40k/yr
TR – beach revenue – 688, 749. or $156k more than last yr
Parking revenues $532k from pkg, goal is $60k w/
Public Portion – at mic
Rita Marano –
Agreement w/ Neptune re tax assessor, why did this come up now? How much w/ we save? Woman has yr and qtr to go. Why pk on a one man office to eliminate people?
TR – thnk be more effic to enter into…w/ save money and achieve more efficiency
RM – how can that be more effic – sharing? More exper 25 yrs/ we know savings is not going to happen
TR – u don’t know that/ #2 w/ save money and w/ be...
RM – going to hv to pay her for another yr and half, lawsuit on your hands, what’s the rush?
TR – I gave u reason
RM – not good enough for me
And when u give parkg and beach proceeds it’s gross not net/ u shd say that/ bk to mary Hartmann important/ everyone in rm knows wk she does/ excellent wkr/ don’t know why u don’t let her finish out her time …
GAVEL –
WS Resident Lakeyva Jones- Summnerfield Av flooding agin
TR – u hav a car that was damaged in water on summerfield, insur co is chkg/ it’s a matter of whether insur co determines if city liable. /
Tim Harris - Atkins Av & Springwd Av improvement area/ residnts apprec. Once blk is updated… W interfaith’s wk wd suggest council revisit whole issue of pkg in that area / w/ park w/ hv w/ be shortage of pkg/ may wnt some type of resolution…
Joyce Grant –
Appreciate field day and your endorsement of open park for Bradley Cove area/ reads from quote from Brian of iStar/ we are open to hvg conversations in respect to oopen spc and conservation but at this time townhouses plan is in place/ however, he is oopen to discussions w/ council. Ques since you’re on record agreeing with this w/ you discuss w/ cty freeholders to hv..
Mayor – it’s already begun
JG- The discussions? Really?
Mayor – yes
JG - Thank you very much
Joe Woerner – is there any time line? Spkn to pk employees…process is hey tlk to iStar and key appraisal, $ to agree to/ process that is started ? what ecxacly
Mayor – I’ve had mtgs or contact w/ rec comm., all freeholders, w/ APartners/ I’m really on the outside right now, I know [to Sue Henderson[ you’re getting ready to dicuss plans for north/ as far as timelines…I’ve learned in this bizness/
JL – I’ll be honest they indicated to us, it’s money and everyone’s lkg for money w/ theis be the project…I think we hv to convince them [county] that is this is the best place for park.
JW – should be sep from what committee doing t’w nite, but…BEEP
Bond street hairdressing shop owner – problems pkg/ traffic tickets no where to pk/
Mayor – city engineer and dep mayor just down there going over plans/ designated pkg for businesses and residents/ trying to identify spaces for residents, biz owners and emoployees so others w/ be for employees. Roll out after labor day
Aug 9th pub rel pc from pkg auth be ready, says Brian Grant. 5:30 pm Tues mtg if you’d like to attend – mayor
Woman - City pkg lot?
Mayor Lkg at all those spaces…
Louise Murray - former councilperson
- on bdwk few times in evening – signs no dogs or bikes how are u enforcing? See violations #2 read or heard, AP not being best dressed town ar’d/ it’s so true/ wd be wonderful if u cd ensure no bchwear/ nothing worse than to see someone who thinks hey lk good in a bathingsuit slither up to a bar/ u gotta get drunk really fast to put up w/ that/ Jimmy your dad wd never let anyone like that on bdwlk here/
Mayor – u know you’re right. I’ll ask mgr to address dogs and bikes in minute, but in this day and age ltd resources wd love to chase down everyone not dressed right but this ord is our opp to chg, how we deal w/ gangs, truancy, if hv to push for all it w/ be for that ordinance – curfew, etc. – bez hv to save our young people/
JL – don’t u think we shd instrut by example?
Mayor – asking can we also address dogs and bikes
TR – louise is absolutely accurate turns to Chief police
CKinmon – spkn to people issued summons, not every time
Jerry Scarano – LB
Health benfits/ I know u get pat on back and stipend, but don’t know anyone who doesn’t wk f/time who gets benefits/ if u wnt higher stipend s/ req it/ but healthcare is benefit/ how can u hold bk on city wkrs benfits/ or jst wait for state to tell u not going to get anymore as tied to extraordinary aid
How much is city going to save if combine
TR – initially $30k
RM – [Questions is this best time to share assessor in light of state-ordered revaluation] Did we sign off on that yet?
JS - [On borrowing] understanding where she [Rita] was coming from since 10 yrs ago city only owed $5 mn now $58 mn at least
Myra Campbell – DEP did mandate atkins place be dismantled/ my complaint has been who’s been overseeing this project/ asphalt brik and forget other material, it was clrly being recycled on our street/ When city engineer was asked who gave app’l or when, he said he didn’t know/ Lucas construc donated $24k, as per Coaster, did any of that come from AP? WSide Citizens united is an active part of back to school day/
TR – brian went thru explanation…sev’l times named certain mat’ls as illegal …DEP says not illeal/ mistake was made was allowing mat’l brought in to be crushed/ dep was aware when visited site. It was the mat’l fr outside that req’d the permit/
BG – this is an EIT project administered by the state/ w hv dep come down for bimonthly inspections/ progress of job. They sign off as well as brian/ aware of crushing operations/ once outside the zone became violation/no penalties issued, situation been abated.
End of public comment portion
Minutes – app’d by bruno, mayor, Henderson –
Bill resolution $2mn current vouchers, $510k for bd of ed/ total over $3mn
Raffles - appd
Tax officer for city of Asbury park – appd
Panosonic computers not to exceed $40k
Personal propo to Bradley bch /canine cage sold for $10
Sewer plant 503 sunset ave to ? didn’t get am’t
Shared svcs Neptune for assessing svcs / final vote tonight
All yes/
Auth city mgr MOA w/ city youth corp
Salary ord for titles city engineer an asst pw supt/ sept 7th mtg/ state w/ review all labor contracts/
Jb – when we hv the pub hrg on it w/ it show 2011/ 2012, or w/ it jst show the maximums?
Jb, no – others yes on those salaries / Kevin Sanders will vote via phone/ Sue H calls him
$1, 050,000 leasing capital equip’t/
Open to audience
RM – 4 affirm votes are needed
Pls explain ord again
TR – this is a leased eq’t / all partic in mon cty invited to partic in lease agreement/ if wnt to partic ask them what their number is, once submit number becomes overall bonding number/ u only pay on what actually bond for, regardless of what amount you say uo want to bond for// invited *on-site computer to do analysis of the computers, they’re the ones who service them. All were 3 to 5 yrs old/ $25k for office furn for sen ctra/ social svcs and city mgr/
RM – weren’t there two electric cars in there
No
RM – there are new cars
SH – hybrids
TR – 5 vehicles
sev’l 2 for code dept, 2 for construction, van for sen citiz, minivan for sen center/ and hybrid for city mgr
RM – why is that? Why do you need a new car?
You’re going to say it’s over the yrs but no one asks about the debt svc
It’s not fair yur borrowing when you can’t afford/equip't only last a few yrs but pay for 30 yrs
TR – in order to run city hv to have things, personnel, doesn’t happen w/out spending/ equip’t in we need/ we auctioned off our fleet 27 cars, we’re being strategic in buying what need to provide the svcs. Everyone/ u included/ wd be asking why don’t we hv svcs/
RM – we’re over our head in debt/
TR – city has to keep mvg forward…when I came in city was stagnant/ we’re much better now/
RM – u jst raised our taxes 18c and now you’re borrowing again.
TR- taxes don’t get reduced
LM – how many towns jumped on this program? 12 jumped on it out of 52? Are they in bad shape too?
JB – asked how much bonding for…how does the public know what those vehicles are? Public has no idea what getting?
Ordinance states can go to $1,120,000 and up to 5.50% interest
VOTES -JB – no on bond ordinance, SH, Kevin Sanders – by phone, JL, Mayor, all yes
JB – had asked how public willknow if substitutions in list are made/ FR suggested it be posted on the web
Don Sammett, City Redev Dir -Amend CDB plan pay fee equal to a structured pokg stall/ dev havn’t pad into that fund they’ve fnd ways of getting around/ cost equal to impact lk of pkg has on CBD as a whole. So w/ be asked to pay into fund instead for improving pkg all over downtown. All yes
Ordinance on Curfew –
JB que –
Fire Dept
Chief Keddy – academy training, steps salaries range from an academy fireman at $38, 127 to start, one in his 7th yr wd make in 2011 $88, 350
TR - Isn’t retroactive for 08 and 09, dept gave that up, so retroactive kicks bk in this yr 2011/ this is ex how wer’e trying to save money/ they’re tkg comp instead of OT pay, reduced health benefits/ pay 1.5% of salary to health benefits/ part of this yr and 2012/ all yes
8:35 pm adjourned
- The Voice of Asbury Park ~ matters vital to justice, environment, equality, culture and pursuit of happiness.
Showing posts with label Asbury Park City Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asbury Park City Council. Show all posts
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
What the Waterfront Redev Arbitrator Decided...
Asbury Park City Council – July 20, 2011
City's Atty Presents Waterfront Arbitrator's findings -
Hostage property owners may get relief...
City Makes Housing Authority Audit Available on Request
The City's Audit Results
James Bruno, Mayor Ed Johnson, Kevin Sanders, Sue Henderson
Deputy Mayor John Loffredo is absent
Redevelopment litigation Atty James Aaron is present
City Atty Fred Raffetto (FR), also of the Aaron firm, present
Add to wk session audit, pos designate john kaplow as official city videographer, consultant for arbitration, there’s one more missed it
Exclusive Vodka reps here – to promote idea of city having its own vodka brand/ suffic enuf interest among consumers, profit center for city/ music history of city, beach presence of city possible themes. Proceeds from sales benefit municipal…no mic - combined promotion expanding pop of the drink and city as destination. A percentage goes to city? Yes, anybody have any questions? [ can’t hear whether said what %] one of ideas is absolute book, flavor, exclusive Asbury pk, something about flavors but he’s not on mic. [During break AR learned Apk theme proposed – or floated – by Exclusive was Asbury Park Salt Water Taffy Vodka. The percentage offered by the company for the use of the City's name is 0.50%, which might come to $6 or $12 on a case. FR said the City would counter with its own % of sales if it goes forward with any vendor.]
FR – licensing name of city for this type of vodka, under public contracts law, you’d hv to put out RFP to see if anyone wants to pitch a better deal to city/ go from there… w/ city’s app’l we can proceed.
Terry Reidy – if someone had a rum or wine wanted to do that wouldn’t compete with this Vodka, I'm just asking is that’s a q?
FR – rather unprecedented for a government entity, except for Brooklyn …certainly think cd go out in a broad sense and see if anyone interested in proposing/
TR – Can't be heard.
JB – that wd be $2 mn a year..[in response to some sidebar talk w/ TR]
[Rep talking now to mayor…can’t be heard, his back is to audience and he’s not on mic]…neutral spirit such as vodka, more cases of vodka being sold across, we hv other products, moscato wine,
KS or SH asks if they have anything nonalcoholic, as of now no, [I think he said] laughter, [inaudible]
Mayor - Next
Don Sammet – city redv dir and planner
Hazardous discharge site, accept $ from grants rec’d, resolutions allow formal acceptance of grants, remedial investigation/ preliminary assessments or intial assessments, atkins av to first ave. third resolution w/ …environtal svcs, grant req contracts to hv done/ fully grant funded no cost to city/
Mayor any q’s
Nope
Curfew ordinance – FR – proposed ord revise existing curfew for minors, copy of ord for Newark, relating to minors not being where s/be during school day/ realized what we had was more detailed and stringent than newark’s. lv in tact with insertion of 2 details from newark’s. thnk that’s route u shoud go, consider introducing tonight in reg session for adoption in aug, before school yr starts.
Mayor – talked aobut rewriting the book mk sure kids stay in schools, wkg w/ supt and school bd, neighbors in ocean and neptune, mirror ordinances/ if not in school w/ parent or guardian, businesses reminder s/not be serving minors during school day monetary fines against parents other violaters.,
Appr’d for introduction
TR – followup on outdoor café fees/
FR – names other communities whose info he consulted compare fees/
Mayor – like to leave be for now
Annual license fee $50 plus $2 /per sf of public space used/ Red Bank is $75 and freehold also/ LB is $50 annual fee/
JB – somebody has 30 table another has 5…
TR – bef 2012 we should revaluate it
Spec event applications – tom Gilmour, commerce dir
Nj friends of Clearwater – one day only Aug 20th, Sat.
Black Box anniversary vigil on 9/11 8 pm to 9 pm fireman’s park
JB – theiry not doing anything there are they garrett? [Giberson, fire dept]
Sierra club coastal cleanup 9/17
Latino festival 9/17 and 18, sunset park – comm. not review it at this time
Wedding app oct 9th, beach
Summer camp for kids – laura bruetti’s – mayor says fully funded it’s for ap kids, multiple dates
Family day at beach, 30th of? / beach surfer fdn’ – surfrider fdn’?
Movie on beach 1989 bat man movies…3rd av beach..
Wedding app 9/24
App lst mtg, salvation army/ music on bdwlk, oopen spc bet 4th and 5th av, brass band, 20 mins of music, expressions of faith and testimony for remaining time/ felt it was more approp under performer’s guidelines/
Items added to wksession
Fire ordinance – garrett giberson and FR/ was based on a toms river ordinance, followinginto tho GG contacted concerned inconsistent w/ fire code, pending ord be tabled until can review fire codes, now feel process is complete/ new ord cleans up certain provisions in prior version, inconsistencies been resolved/ false alarms from dwlellings/ is better product for you.
GG – allows multi fam and other bldgs other than single fam owner occupied, so others can assess penalties for those others…fire code didn’t allow prior. Mst false alarms com’l and multi dwelling units
\first time warning, second not less than 100 up to $5000 / false alarm cd mean not being maintained properly mst people wd then fix it
Jb – we know who they are/
sue H – how many sing fams have fire alarms
GG – a lot// penalties up to $5k – it’s a judgment call [as to how much to fine] depending on severity of brkdwn in alarm sys can be 24 hrs to repair/ lot of discussion…
w/ introduce revised version tonight
John Kaplow - don’t know the procedure
TR – explains, state what offer is
JK – I am not…ap…laughter, in city that has such large professional base, wd be... to its best/ to name jst one person as official videographer, but I’ve been tlkg to city about a public access channel for cable coverage, marvelous mech way to do that/ wd like to explain my bkgrnd and why I’d be apprp to do this/ wd like to see if is a concensus voiced as whether city like to do that/ certainly lot of publ access stations, so not a new activity, can oper to everyone’s benefit/ handled by design upfront, not by objections later to counter functions…
Jb – who wd provide verizon, cable or both?
JK – I hv asked to be app’td to hd a citizens advisory bd and like to tlk to city mgr about franchising fees, Verizon/ cable as well as other options, city’s option to franchise, equipment, channel, spkg to Supt Lowe at Bd of Ed also to faciliatate that/ aware mst of those efforts are to faciliatate dove tail to bld a …model he uses combine munic and bd of ed/ obv more difficult, ltd resources / told cm w/out such appt I’m reluctant to spend time and resources and someone might come in and supercede him and he wd've wasted his time and resources.
Mayor – I’m def in favor of the idea, bdcasting is afld.l.???.that’s my interest / so you’re lkg to be in chg of this?
JK – yes, bd of ed has said we need to know you’re official…
SH – obv costs involved, but like fred to lk into this/ pay them and get access
FR – also off mic, we’d hav to lk into….?
JK – cd do….at no cost to city
Mayor -- lets start this proc w/ the deputy major right away. – DEP mayor not present
Judge __? has issued arbitrator’s opinion …atty jim aaron advises city of the decision
JA – arb who wz assigned by judge Lawson to arb disput brought bef Lawson, if apartners …arb did find faults on behalf of developers and he arrived at list of defaults same as we argued bef judge, failure to dev properties apartners bought in terms of blks/ why did we go thru exercise?
From our perspective in dlg w/ apartners send of frustration over full yr/ arb didn’t giv u a home run but bal equities on both side in much btr pos before arb bd than in 2010/ say for sev’l reasons:
When read dec of judge politane – action to compel apartners to being project townhouse proj blk 146 kingsley and Asbury / timeframes def for design, perm construction and sale, under judge order dev sought and given right to dev blk/lot 132, which is old charms bldg blk, corner Monroe and cookman, dev same lines of dev. Procedure starts when 50% sale of first project/ from there dev to dev 130, 130A and 144, may require plan amendments based on what city wnts dev there and what partners wnt dev there, in this dec judge says if can’t get together on plan amendments in 6 mos you come back bef me and I’ll decide/
Other benefits #1 last yr apartners saying didn’t want to perform infrastructure obligations, arb didn’t obviate the obligations, but asked city to find funds to help offset some of cost for developers/
Third – uncertainty as to what dev d /w hostages, mostly or fully acquired properties, arb said you’ve got a yr to tell us what u want, so y hv finally a timeframe/ Lots 193, 206, 219, all north of conv hall, bordering on kingsley and ocean
Was it costly and time consuming – ans objectively and subjectively yes
Now can hv dialogue w/ property owners either devlopers has to take the prop or face never being able to tk them/ \
Now mst Deal w/ amendments to plan, can’t bld 20 story bdlgs anymore anyway - can’t get financing
Did we get everything? did we get to 2nd and 3rd, I’d say lot of wk, City is ready w/ waterfront advisory comm., tech rev comm. w/ now be involved.
Mayor – hostages one yr from now w be freed one way or another. Argument that nobody’s dev in this economny doesn’t hold water, redev com wkg together to mk a 2001 plan into 2011 and 2020 plan/ certain things worth fighting for, delay tactics w/ not be tolerated/ vision for 2020, yes it’s a happy day, I like homruns but also like..inaudible.
TR- City independt audit rec’d from dave Kaplan/ certify that you’ve freviewed at least the comments of the auditor, tha’t purpose of that resolution/
JB – can we get recommendations broken down first? Doesn’t go into detail on what generated recommendations/
TR - 4 some had to do w/ ? controls? Better controls
JB – nothing serious
TR – no – next step meet w/ council/ action plan for few recommedations in there/ let me know if more detail re’td
FR – one add’l matter to be presented, no action w/ be taken on exec session
But njsa – housing authority investigation/ members were re’td by couneil to be here to night to discuss charges hld…under exec agenda/ as city atty sent letr to hg auth atty on jun 13th, also city mgr letr to incdivid members of auth. Atty for auth since members hv’t accepted audit therfor none wd attend tonight/ hsg auth not mkg audit report pub until accepted by them, antic by mond eveing next wk / city has auth to remove members of auth/ that report w/ be made avail to pub if city rec’ves req under FOIA. [that’s a 10/4]
SH – iStar’s presentation and mmarquette’s presentation, considering corrisfors on cookman av/ comm. realizes too many mtgs on southside, not gone north of CH, thenw/ move on to all the way to end of bdwlk in north and w/ invite public in, erd or 4th wk of august, w/ let joe know so he can mk it official
Jb – Asbury tower and ? you guys are wkg on that?
TR – also wkg on services to residents of tower and…
JB – qus to TR inaudible
TR – exactly
\JB – more of same/ inaud.
Mayor – thank everyone made lst Saturday possible/ AP Field day, espec Aleisha who is not here today/ make one halthy chg in life, exercise or diet, mental phys, nutrition/ cpl hundred people in bech activites, volley ball, massage etc on bdwk.
Pkg unfinished on bangs, owner in default, bank owns
Mayor at min can they cln up
TR – just foreclosed on by bank so …
Mayor – atm machine?
TR – missed ans.
Mayor – as part of emrg preparedness plan, can we hv PA sys runs length of beach / for event then thought, how wd we clr the area/ communi /in case of god forbid disaster/
JB – no offense, I’ve been saying this for how long and people lk at me like nuts/ used to be one or two bk in day/
Mayor – we’ve been awfully lucky when I saw what happened in places like japan, terrible loss of life but not as bad as cd’ve been becz prepared.
TR – nods
TR’s report – q’s re crushing mat’l on springwood av/ go thru ea succinct way. Issue raised as to whether crushing mat’l was illegal operation was there a fine by dep?
ANS – purpose was to grind it and reuse it, rather than hv it shipped out and pay to tk away then buy material to bring in/ also a longer oper, 6 – 9 mos longer to do job/ mor dangerous/ more noise
Trks transporting mat’l w/in city…95% of mat’l crushed was from and for AP/ envi co was onbd to eval safety of mat’l bef reused/ bef proj started at preconstruction mtgDOT guidelines/ What is req’d procedure for trkg? Dumping fees for trks… was this illegal dumping? No howver when city asked lucas to bring add’l concrete to mix there wa add’l permit req’d which wasn’t. DEP violation. He reads def of illegal dumping – not applicable here. Decibel rating not able to get ans on that. Did springwd av start w/out the permit, yes. DEP said don’t know longterm effects of exposure to the mat’l. Officer Rein wrote tickets, no one called pol to hv summonses dismissed/ some supporting documentation available …12 loads of mat’l brought to springwood av, from sea bright Holmdel and Neptune / it was concrete, lucas says didn’t get violation yet/
Adjourn – resume 7:45
Public Portion –
Recognition of the police explorers – 14 – 17 no criminal record, at least C avg in school/ shelter from negative influences…crowd control, traffic posts, survelliance of motor vehicles. In conjunction with the police dpt. 2 reps of eagle scouts, present charter to post 187 and Patrol officer Jessie Dovila, who was once member of 187 before becoming policewoman/ 13th law enforcement post in mon cty/ share/w/ other posts, grow in experience w/ others/ good luckin your exploring adventure/
Mayor hoping both news orgs onight w/ have large photo of the explorers.
Public Comment – 3 mins one time around
Steve Wider 602 5th av
Saw you mr mayor on bdwlk if you’d blt affordable units in city but u said no rm to bld, but second blk from ocean for wkfrc cd/ but u say only rich people can live on oceanfront/ u said landlords s/ fix their bldgs, one is here so u can discuss w/ him right now/ but that’s not same as rent control w/ we still need/ trouble w/ loud neighbor not getting action from policie dept/ ended up in hosp from sleep deprivation
Bring the soldiers home peace bill/ if mayors and ogvernors sign on maybe fed’l gov w/ act on it sooner/
Ria Marano-
That little speech he gave was that $250k worth? I’d expect a home run for that not 2nd or 3rd base/ was that on bill resolution tonith?
TR – yes/ beach revenue and pkg about $60k/wk
RM – was $4k motor for car was that your carTR – I don’t know
RM -Arb on
TR – entire waterfront and pkg lots are included in arb awards
Joyce Grant – come to my atten again, poorer residents are waiting to go on beach after lifegds are gone, terribly dangerous/ socio economic demographics for ap, African American 62.1% Hispanic pop grew by 72% since…, higher prop of one parent hsholds, per cap income half of cty or state/ 1/5th of pop is under 10 yrs of age/ in light of this, it wd appr mny families in ap , inspit of under 12 being free and seniors discounted, cannot pay for bch in this area/ hope this would be
Mayor – it is being addressed, as u know under 12 fee on bch/ mayor’s ball and out of my own pocket $200 be/z wnt beach supervision, so give the adults money to be there
Bill Sprattly – called city for ambulance, told no private ambulance svc here/ few wks ago got a bill/ what’s the big deal them sending me a bill?
TR – one of issue we faced to bal budget as residents if u can submit it to insuarance otherwise we don’t go after it/ if liv in city we can mk that distinction between residents and nonresidents/
George Kary – when mr aaron talking – who’s the captive? Am I is Adriatic everyone in redev zone
TR people who own own prop liv under redev plan/ so Adriatic is a good ex. Other prop / master dev has right under existing agreement/ that’s def of hostage/
GK – so if I don’t hear from them in a year I’m off the hook?
TR – anyone on watfront perop hasn’t been taken is under threat of em domain unless a partners said not going to take I wd define as hostage/
GK – if they send me a letter and I say no thanks, we’re right back where we started/
TR – apartners – there was no deadline bef/ jst out there waiting and waiting/ yr started yesterday wh this arb / but juge also put deadline on it/
GK – that’s what I mean doesn’t that get them off the hook?
TR – I’ll follow up w/ you
GK – sounds like a foul ball to me
Frank – event stop the violende at 2nd Baptist on Atkins Av, wnt find solutions…west side citizens united, other orgs, Asbury and Neptune together / 6 pm
Northside of springwd av lights out bet borden and springwd av/ like to hank for p9lice presence on bikes today.
Myra Campbell – dep defines illegal dumping manmade mat’ls contret brik and asphalt/ day after last council mtg was violation served on lucas / don’t let Katrina happen on west side due to pop over there/ q re flooding don’t know if it’s intensity of rain or sreets not bein repaired on west side/ not plsed w/ answers/ see that press gets answers and lks into them instead of jus printing them/ I don’t hv health or dental but som of u hav option of two polans/
Mayor – no Katrina response in this city, we will reach out to every citizen…I had same q about flooding coming from LB flooding everywhere, system water being ejected out of system/ so intensity of rain/ more coming this way I understand/ health benefits were answered and w/ repat, when I started I took it because had none elswewhere/ I wk at brookdale college it’s a cty based tax too I put in 40 hrs a wek and money out of pocket, go to league of municipalities to lrn about health initiatives I pay my own way/ time w/ dpw in 13 cities throughout nj/ city does cover me and my partner for health insur, I think compensation well deserved/ as we begin to budget I may hv to choose a different plan/ we wk very hrd for this city/ not like dan fr tricity he laughed about it, I know u wk harder than that/
SHenderson – I don’t take it
RMarano – But you take the money
Mayor – gaveling I tell u same thing every week / you’re not going to shout out
TR – blacktopping completion is sept – so w/ be finished w/in that timeframe/ flooding – all of this infrastructure is bein done under new DEP guidelines, valuts water runs thru, solids drop out to prevent them from floating in lakes/ but w/ intensity of rain laely that chamber can back up/ so lkg at way to redesign mkg larger/ on eis at end of avenue a/ need another catch basin down there/ more rain, more water down there/
Denise Richards –
Need to know also, what w/ happen between curb and sidewalk, ar they coming bk w/ topsoil?
TR – I met w/ them yesterday on that new sched coming out next wek w/ address to end of project
Gerry scarano – thnks for brining up mary johnson’s passing – she was a good activist
Affordable hsg important puts more hsg stk in to use/ lst wek news tlkg aobut extroadinary aid/ concerned about debt service I think $2.2mn a year in debt service/ do you hav any plans to cut the debt service are u lkg at rat3ables/
Mayor – lkg at everything
GS – thank u a slap in face when employees and officials take the insurance…
Angelino – AP
Illegal cab companies come into town solicit and drive ar’d can’t do anything
TR – we had brf conversation about this last wek, we spk w/ police / think certain companies not licensed in AP/ unless licensed can’t cruise ar’d, pol have been alerted about and legitmate complaint if you’re licensed by city u hv right…if any ideas how to assist pol in catching these guys, thnk it’s going to tk that kind of cooperation.
End of public portion
Council business – minutes approved
Payroll resolution
Quality claims – one case $1, 340,000. 27 cases...
Extension of Rafferty’s liquor license into new restaurant BACA/
Appts – holding off on finance officer
Resolution cash drawer of $250 for tax collector
Scott air packs, Greenville nj
Extend 3rd qtr tax liens –
All yes for above
Hazardous discharge/ $10K+
Hrg on false alarms Sept 7th
Aug 3rd hrg on curfew for minors
All yes all above
Leasing capital eq’t carried to aug 3rd
Contractors for Bids rca project Monroe – yes
Ridge av - yes
Adjourned
City's Atty Presents Waterfront Arbitrator's findings -
Hostage property owners may get relief...
City Makes Housing Authority Audit Available on Request
The City's Audit Results
James Bruno, Mayor Ed Johnson, Kevin Sanders, Sue Henderson
Deputy Mayor John Loffredo is absent
Redevelopment litigation Atty James Aaron is present
City Atty Fred Raffetto (FR), also of the Aaron firm, present
Add to wk session audit, pos designate john kaplow as official city videographer, consultant for arbitration, there’s one more missed it
Exclusive Vodka reps here – to promote idea of city having its own vodka brand/ suffic enuf interest among consumers, profit center for city/ music history of city, beach presence of city possible themes. Proceeds from sales benefit municipal…no mic - combined promotion expanding pop of the drink and city as destination. A percentage goes to city? Yes, anybody have any questions? [ can’t hear whether said what %] one of ideas is absolute book, flavor, exclusive Asbury pk, something about flavors but he’s not on mic. [During break AR learned Apk theme proposed – or floated – by Exclusive was Asbury Park Salt Water Taffy Vodka. The percentage offered by the company for the use of the City's name is 0.50%, which might come to $6 or $12 on a case. FR said the City would counter with its own % of sales if it goes forward with any vendor.]
FR – licensing name of city for this type of vodka, under public contracts law, you’d hv to put out RFP to see if anyone wants to pitch a better deal to city/ go from there… w/ city’s app’l we can proceed.
Terry Reidy – if someone had a rum or wine wanted to do that wouldn’t compete with this Vodka, I'm just asking is that’s a q?
FR – rather unprecedented for a government entity, except for Brooklyn …certainly think cd go out in a broad sense and see if anyone interested in proposing/
TR – Can't be heard.
JB – that wd be $2 mn a year..[in response to some sidebar talk w/ TR]
[Rep talking now to mayor…can’t be heard, his back is to audience and he’s not on mic]…neutral spirit such as vodka, more cases of vodka being sold across, we hv other products, moscato wine,
KS or SH asks if they have anything nonalcoholic, as of now no, [I think he said] laughter, [inaudible]
Mayor - Next
Don Sammet – city redv dir and planner
Hazardous discharge site, accept $ from grants rec’d, resolutions allow formal acceptance of grants, remedial investigation/ preliminary assessments or intial assessments, atkins av to first ave. third resolution w/ …environtal svcs, grant req contracts to hv done/ fully grant funded no cost to city/
Mayor any q’s
Nope
Curfew ordinance – FR – proposed ord revise existing curfew for minors, copy of ord for Newark, relating to minors not being where s/be during school day/ realized what we had was more detailed and stringent than newark’s. lv in tact with insertion of 2 details from newark’s. thnk that’s route u shoud go, consider introducing tonight in reg session for adoption in aug, before school yr starts.
Mayor – talked aobut rewriting the book mk sure kids stay in schools, wkg w/ supt and school bd, neighbors in ocean and neptune, mirror ordinances/ if not in school w/ parent or guardian, businesses reminder s/not be serving minors during school day monetary fines against parents other violaters.,
Appr’d for introduction
TR – followup on outdoor café fees/
FR – names other communities whose info he consulted compare fees/
Mayor – like to leave be for now
Annual license fee $50 plus $2 /per sf of public space used/ Red Bank is $75 and freehold also/ LB is $50 annual fee/
JB – somebody has 30 table another has 5…
TR – bef 2012 we should revaluate it
Spec event applications – tom Gilmour, commerce dir
Nj friends of Clearwater – one day only Aug 20th, Sat.
Black Box anniversary vigil on 9/11 8 pm to 9 pm fireman’s park
JB – theiry not doing anything there are they garrett? [Giberson, fire dept]
Sierra club coastal cleanup 9/17
Latino festival 9/17 and 18, sunset park – comm. not review it at this time
Wedding app oct 9th, beach
Summer camp for kids – laura bruetti’s – mayor says fully funded it’s for ap kids, multiple dates
Family day at beach, 30th of? / beach surfer fdn’ – surfrider fdn’?
Movie on beach 1989 bat man movies…3rd av beach..
Wedding app 9/24
App lst mtg, salvation army/ music on bdwlk, oopen spc bet 4th and 5th av, brass band, 20 mins of music, expressions of faith and testimony for remaining time/ felt it was more approp under performer’s guidelines/
Items added to wksession
Fire ordinance – garrett giberson and FR/ was based on a toms river ordinance, followinginto tho GG contacted concerned inconsistent w/ fire code, pending ord be tabled until can review fire codes, now feel process is complete/ new ord cleans up certain provisions in prior version, inconsistencies been resolved/ false alarms from dwlellings/ is better product for you.
GG – allows multi fam and other bldgs other than single fam owner occupied, so others can assess penalties for those others…fire code didn’t allow prior. Mst false alarms com’l and multi dwelling units
\first time warning, second not less than 100 up to $5000 / false alarm cd mean not being maintained properly mst people wd then fix it
Jb – we know who they are/
sue H – how many sing fams have fire alarms
GG – a lot// penalties up to $5k – it’s a judgment call [as to how much to fine] depending on severity of brkdwn in alarm sys can be 24 hrs to repair/ lot of discussion…
w/ introduce revised version tonight
John Kaplow - don’t know the procedure
TR – explains, state what offer is
JK – I am not…ap…laughter, in city that has such large professional base, wd be... to its best/ to name jst one person as official videographer, but I’ve been tlkg to city about a public access channel for cable coverage, marvelous mech way to do that/ wd like to explain my bkgrnd and why I’d be apprp to do this/ wd like to see if is a concensus voiced as whether city like to do that/ certainly lot of publ access stations, so not a new activity, can oper to everyone’s benefit/ handled by design upfront, not by objections later to counter functions…
Jb – who wd provide verizon, cable or both?
JK – I hv asked to be app’td to hd a citizens advisory bd and like to tlk to city mgr about franchising fees, Verizon/ cable as well as other options, city’s option to franchise, equipment, channel, spkg to Supt Lowe at Bd of Ed also to faciliatate that/ aware mst of those efforts are to faciliatate dove tail to bld a …model he uses combine munic and bd of ed/ obv more difficult, ltd resources / told cm w/out such appt I’m reluctant to spend time and resources and someone might come in and supercede him and he wd've wasted his time and resources.
Mayor – I’m def in favor of the idea, bdcasting is afld.l.???.that’s my interest / so you’re lkg to be in chg of this?
JK – yes, bd of ed has said we need to know you’re official…
SH – obv costs involved, but like fred to lk into this/ pay them and get access
FR – also off mic, we’d hav to lk into….?
JK – cd do….at no cost to city
Mayor -- lets start this proc w/ the deputy major right away. – DEP mayor not present
Judge __? has issued arbitrator’s opinion …atty jim aaron advises city of the decision
JA – arb who wz assigned by judge Lawson to arb disput brought bef Lawson, if apartners …arb did find faults on behalf of developers and he arrived at list of defaults same as we argued bef judge, failure to dev properties apartners bought in terms of blks/ why did we go thru exercise?
From our perspective in dlg w/ apartners send of frustration over full yr/ arb didn’t giv u a home run but bal equities on both side in much btr pos before arb bd than in 2010/ say for sev’l reasons:
When read dec of judge politane – action to compel apartners to being project townhouse proj blk 146 kingsley and Asbury / timeframes def for design, perm construction and sale, under judge order dev sought and given right to dev blk/lot 132, which is old charms bldg blk, corner Monroe and cookman, dev same lines of dev. Procedure starts when 50% sale of first project/ from there dev to dev 130, 130A and 144, may require plan amendments based on what city wnts dev there and what partners wnt dev there, in this dec judge says if can’t get together on plan amendments in 6 mos you come back bef me and I’ll decide/
Other benefits #1 last yr apartners saying didn’t want to perform infrastructure obligations, arb didn’t obviate the obligations, but asked city to find funds to help offset some of cost for developers/
Third – uncertainty as to what dev d /w hostages, mostly or fully acquired properties, arb said you’ve got a yr to tell us what u want, so y hv finally a timeframe/ Lots 193, 206, 219, all north of conv hall, bordering on kingsley and ocean
Was it costly and time consuming – ans objectively and subjectively yes
Now can hv dialogue w/ property owners either devlopers has to take the prop or face never being able to tk them/ \
Now mst Deal w/ amendments to plan, can’t bld 20 story bdlgs anymore anyway - can’t get financing
Did we get everything? did we get to 2nd and 3rd, I’d say lot of wk, City is ready w/ waterfront advisory comm., tech rev comm. w/ now be involved.
Mayor – hostages one yr from now w be freed one way or another. Argument that nobody’s dev in this economny doesn’t hold water, redev com wkg together to mk a 2001 plan into 2011 and 2020 plan/ certain things worth fighting for, delay tactics w/ not be tolerated/ vision for 2020, yes it’s a happy day, I like homruns but also like..inaudible.
TR- City independt audit rec’d from dave Kaplan/ certify that you’ve freviewed at least the comments of the auditor, tha’t purpose of that resolution/
JB – can we get recommendations broken down first? Doesn’t go into detail on what generated recommendations/
TR - 4 some had to do w/ ? controls? Better controls
JB – nothing serious
TR – no – next step meet w/ council/ action plan for few recommedations in there/ let me know if more detail re’td
FR – one add’l matter to be presented, no action w/ be taken on exec session
But njsa – housing authority investigation/ members were re’td by couneil to be here to night to discuss charges hld…under exec agenda/ as city atty sent letr to hg auth atty on jun 13th, also city mgr letr to incdivid members of auth. Atty for auth since members hv’t accepted audit therfor none wd attend tonight/ hsg auth not mkg audit report pub until accepted by them, antic by mond eveing next wk / city has auth to remove members of auth/ that report w/ be made avail to pub if city rec’ves req under FOIA. [that’s a 10/4]
SH – iStar’s presentation and mmarquette’s presentation, considering corrisfors on cookman av/ comm. realizes too many mtgs on southside, not gone north of CH, thenw/ move on to all the way to end of bdwlk in north and w/ invite public in, erd or 4th wk of august, w/ let joe know so he can mk it official
Jb – Asbury tower and ? you guys are wkg on that?
TR – also wkg on services to residents of tower and…
JB – qus to TR inaudible
TR – exactly
\JB – more of same/ inaud.
Mayor – thank everyone made lst Saturday possible/ AP Field day, espec Aleisha who is not here today/ make one halthy chg in life, exercise or diet, mental phys, nutrition/ cpl hundred people in bech activites, volley ball, massage etc on bdwk.
Pkg unfinished on bangs, owner in default, bank owns
Mayor at min can they cln up
TR – just foreclosed on by bank so …
Mayor – atm machine?
TR – missed ans.
Mayor – as part of emrg preparedness plan, can we hv PA sys runs length of beach / for event then thought, how wd we clr the area/ communi /in case of god forbid disaster/
JB – no offense, I’ve been saying this for how long and people lk at me like nuts/ used to be one or two bk in day/
Mayor – we’ve been awfully lucky when I saw what happened in places like japan, terrible loss of life but not as bad as cd’ve been becz prepared.
TR – nods
TR’s report – q’s re crushing mat’l on springwood av/ go thru ea succinct way. Issue raised as to whether crushing mat’l was illegal operation was there a fine by dep?
ANS – purpose was to grind it and reuse it, rather than hv it shipped out and pay to tk away then buy material to bring in/ also a longer oper, 6 – 9 mos longer to do job/ mor dangerous/ more noise
Trks transporting mat’l w/in city…95% of mat’l crushed was from and for AP/ envi co was onbd to eval safety of mat’l bef reused/ bef proj started at preconstruction mtgDOT guidelines/ What is req’d procedure for trkg? Dumping fees for trks… was this illegal dumping? No howver when city asked lucas to bring add’l concrete to mix there wa add’l permit req’d which wasn’t. DEP violation. He reads def of illegal dumping – not applicable here. Decibel rating not able to get ans on that. Did springwd av start w/out the permit, yes. DEP said don’t know longterm effects of exposure to the mat’l. Officer Rein wrote tickets, no one called pol to hv summonses dismissed/ some supporting documentation available …12 loads of mat’l brought to springwood av, from sea bright Holmdel and Neptune / it was concrete, lucas says didn’t get violation yet/
Adjourn – resume 7:45
Public Portion –
Recognition of the police explorers – 14 – 17 no criminal record, at least C avg in school/ shelter from negative influences…crowd control, traffic posts, survelliance of motor vehicles. In conjunction with the police dpt. 2 reps of eagle scouts, present charter to post 187 and Patrol officer Jessie Dovila, who was once member of 187 before becoming policewoman/ 13th law enforcement post in mon cty/ share/w/ other posts, grow in experience w/ others/ good luckin your exploring adventure/
Mayor hoping both news orgs onight w/ have large photo of the explorers.
Public Comment – 3 mins one time around
Steve Wider 602 5th av
Saw you mr mayor on bdwlk if you’d blt affordable units in city but u said no rm to bld, but second blk from ocean for wkfrc cd/ but u say only rich people can live on oceanfront/ u said landlords s/ fix their bldgs, one is here so u can discuss w/ him right now/ but that’s not same as rent control w/ we still need/ trouble w/ loud neighbor not getting action from policie dept/ ended up in hosp from sleep deprivation
Bring the soldiers home peace bill/ if mayors and ogvernors sign on maybe fed’l gov w/ act on it sooner/
Ria Marano-
That little speech he gave was that $250k worth? I’d expect a home run for that not 2nd or 3rd base/ was that on bill resolution tonith?
TR – yes/ beach revenue and pkg about $60k/wk
RM – was $4k motor for car was that your carTR – I don’t know
RM -Arb on
TR – entire waterfront and pkg lots are included in arb awards
Joyce Grant – come to my atten again, poorer residents are waiting to go on beach after lifegds are gone, terribly dangerous/ socio economic demographics for ap, African American 62.1% Hispanic pop grew by 72% since…, higher prop of one parent hsholds, per cap income half of cty or state/ 1/5th of pop is under 10 yrs of age/ in light of this, it wd appr mny families in ap , inspit of under 12 being free and seniors discounted, cannot pay for bch in this area/ hope this would be
Mayor – it is being addressed, as u know under 12 fee on bch/ mayor’s ball and out of my own pocket $200 be/z wnt beach supervision, so give the adults money to be there
Bill Sprattly – called city for ambulance, told no private ambulance svc here/ few wks ago got a bill/ what’s the big deal them sending me a bill?
TR – one of issue we faced to bal budget as residents if u can submit it to insuarance otherwise we don’t go after it/ if liv in city we can mk that distinction between residents and nonresidents/
George Kary – when mr aaron talking – who’s the captive? Am I is Adriatic everyone in redev zone
TR people who own own prop liv under redev plan/ so Adriatic is a good ex. Other prop / master dev has right under existing agreement/ that’s def of hostage/
GK – so if I don’t hear from them in a year I’m off the hook?
TR – anyone on watfront perop hasn’t been taken is under threat of em domain unless a partners said not going to take I wd define as hostage/
GK – if they send me a letter and I say no thanks, we’re right back where we started/
TR – apartners – there was no deadline bef/ jst out there waiting and waiting/ yr started yesterday wh this arb / but juge also put deadline on it/
GK – that’s what I mean doesn’t that get them off the hook?
TR – I’ll follow up w/ you
GK – sounds like a foul ball to me
Frank – event stop the violende at 2nd Baptist on Atkins Av, wnt find solutions…west side citizens united, other orgs, Asbury and Neptune together / 6 pm
Northside of springwd av lights out bet borden and springwd av/ like to hank for p9lice presence on bikes today.
Myra Campbell – dep defines illegal dumping manmade mat’ls contret brik and asphalt/ day after last council mtg was violation served on lucas / don’t let Katrina happen on west side due to pop over there/ q re flooding don’t know if it’s intensity of rain or sreets not bein repaired on west side/ not plsed w/ answers/ see that press gets answers and lks into them instead of jus printing them/ I don’t hv health or dental but som of u hav option of two polans/
Mayor – no Katrina response in this city, we will reach out to every citizen…I had same q about flooding coming from LB flooding everywhere, system water being ejected out of system/ so intensity of rain/ more coming this way I understand/ health benefits were answered and w/ repat, when I started I took it because had none elswewhere/ I wk at brookdale college it’s a cty based tax too I put in 40 hrs a wek and money out of pocket, go to league of municipalities to lrn about health initiatives I pay my own way/ time w/ dpw in 13 cities throughout nj/ city does cover me and my partner for health insur, I think compensation well deserved/ as we begin to budget I may hv to choose a different plan/ we wk very hrd for this city/ not like dan fr tricity he laughed about it, I know u wk harder than that/
SHenderson – I don’t take it
RMarano – But you take the money
Mayor – gaveling I tell u same thing every week / you’re not going to shout out
TR – blacktopping completion is sept – so w/ be finished w/in that timeframe/ flooding – all of this infrastructure is bein done under new DEP guidelines, valuts water runs thru, solids drop out to prevent them from floating in lakes/ but w/ intensity of rain laely that chamber can back up/ so lkg at way to redesign mkg larger/ on eis at end of avenue a/ need another catch basin down there/ more rain, more water down there/
Denise Richards –
Need to know also, what w/ happen between curb and sidewalk, ar they coming bk w/ topsoil?
TR – I met w/ them yesterday on that new sched coming out next wek w/ address to end of project
Gerry scarano – thnks for brining up mary johnson’s passing – she was a good activist
Affordable hsg important puts more hsg stk in to use/ lst wek news tlkg aobut extroadinary aid/ concerned about debt service I think $2.2mn a year in debt service/ do you hav any plans to cut the debt service are u lkg at rat3ables/
Mayor – lkg at everything
GS – thank u a slap in face when employees and officials take the insurance…
Angelino – AP
Illegal cab companies come into town solicit and drive ar’d can’t do anything
TR – we had brf conversation about this last wek, we spk w/ police / think certain companies not licensed in AP/ unless licensed can’t cruise ar’d, pol have been alerted about and legitmate complaint if you’re licensed by city u hv right…if any ideas how to assist pol in catching these guys, thnk it’s going to tk that kind of cooperation.
End of public portion
Council business – minutes approved
Payroll resolution
Quality claims – one case $1, 340,000. 27 cases...
Extension of Rafferty’s liquor license into new restaurant BACA/
Appts – holding off on finance officer
Resolution cash drawer of $250 for tax collector
Scott air packs, Greenville nj
Extend 3rd qtr tax liens –
All yes for above
Hazardous discharge/ $10K+
Hrg on false alarms Sept 7th
Aug 3rd hrg on curfew for minors
All yes all above
Leasing capital eq’t carried to aug 3rd
Contractors for Bids rca project Monroe – yes
Ridge av - yes
Adjourned
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
No Reporters' Notebook Tonight - Sorry
If you have notes from tonight's council meeting, please send and I'll post them here.
Short publishing week due to holidays, which meant I had to work late tonight.
Sorry.
Short publishing week due to holidays, which meant I had to work late tonight.
Sorry.
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.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
City Terminates iStar's Waterfront Redevelopment Rights
From the City Attorney for Asbury Park, Fred Raffetto:
The City has sent a letter to ISTAR terminating its redevelopment rights under the Waterfront Redevelopment Agreement. The letter was signed by the City Manager and is a public document, should you wish to obtain a copy of same. Whether the termination will be upheld, however, is an issue that will be determined through the litigation proceedings.
Asbury Radio is told a similar letter was sent to Metro Homes, regarding its waterfront property, initially sited for the Esperanza Project.
Agenda for tonight's meeting follows:
Date: 02/02/2011
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Asbury Park Description
AGENDA FOR REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011
7:00 PM
SILENT PRAYER / MOMENT OF REFLECTION
SALUTE TO FLAG
ANNOUNCEMENT BY MAYOR JOHNSON – as to compliance with the
“Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, PL 1975” adequate notice of this
Meeting had been provided in the following manner:
The Annual Notice was forwarded to the Asbury Park Press, The Coaster
and Star Ledger on December 22, 2009 and posted on the bulletin board
the same date. All notices on file with the City Clerk.
1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: RM 1/19/11(DM Loffredo absent)
3. PAYROLL RESOLUTION:
4. BILL RESOLUTION + INSERVCO:
5. APPLICATIONS: BINGO/RAFFLE/LIQUOR/SPECIAL EVENTS, etc.
Social Affair Permit – Red Cross.
Raffle – Red Cross.
Raffle – Red Cross.
6. RESOLUTIONS:
Appointments / Re-appointments.
Open Space Grant
Refund overpayment – 633 Cookman, Unit 201.
Hold Hramless – Mon. Cty. Mosquito Commission.
Right of Entry – “ “ “ “
7. ORDINANCES: Introduction –
Revised Ordinances Regarding Pay to Play Regulation for a First Reading
Submitted By
Stephen M. Kay
City Clerk – 732-502-5718
City of Asbury Park
Council Meeting
Workshop Session
February 2, 2011
6:00 pm
Agenda
I. Review of Regular Agenda Items
“Waterfront Redevelopment Area Update.”
II. Items Presented by Brian Grant, City Engineer
Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Agreement
Snow Removal Plan and Snow Emergencies matters
Multi-Space Parking Authorization
III. Items Presented by James Famularo, Assistant City Manager/Recreation Director
Request to use City’s free date for Convention for Urban Wrestling High School championship by the Recreation Department
Proposal to perform a geophysical subsurface survey and site assessment for Field behind Middle School
IV. Special Event Applications:
No. Name Description
Location Date
Alexandra DeManco Fireworks Display Sweet 16 2nd Avenue Beach 03/19
V. Matters to be introduced by City Counci
VI. Matters to be introduced by City Attorney
VII. Matters to be introduced by City Manager - NOTE: an item has been moved from Executive to the Workshop
VIII. Matters to be introduced by Assistant City Manager
City of Asbury Park
City Council Meeting
Executive Session [Closed Mtg-Titles are the legal exemptions underwhich the discussion is being held out of public sight.]
February 2, 2011
5:00 PM
I. Potential Litigation [Revised to Litigation 2/2/11]
I-Star/Asbury Partners Default Update (Aaron/Scotland) [The matter is now before the Court]
Waterfront Redevelopment Area Update
II. Contract Negotiation
Asbury Park Middle School Field Update
(Agreement with Board of Education)
III. Labor Negotiation
PBA/SOA Update
IV. Investigation/Potential Negotiation [Changed to Investigation/Potential Litigation 2/2/11]
A. Police/Liquor License Update (Raffetto/Kinmon)
Venue: Council Chambers
Street: One Municipal Plaza
ZIP: 07712
City: Asbury Park
State: New Jersey
The City has sent a letter to ISTAR terminating its redevelopment rights under the Waterfront Redevelopment Agreement. The letter was signed by the City Manager and is a public document, should you wish to obtain a copy of same. Whether the termination will be upheld, however, is an issue that will be determined through the litigation proceedings.
Asbury Radio is told a similar letter was sent to Metro Homes, regarding its waterfront property, initially sited for the Esperanza Project.
Agenda for tonight's meeting follows:
Date: 02/02/2011
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Asbury Park Description
AGENDA FOR REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011
7:00 PM
SILENT PRAYER / MOMENT OF REFLECTION
SALUTE TO FLAG
ANNOUNCEMENT BY MAYOR JOHNSON – as to compliance with the
“Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, PL 1975” adequate notice of this
Meeting had been provided in the following manner:
The Annual Notice was forwarded to the Asbury Park Press, The Coaster
and Star Ledger on December 22, 2009 and posted on the bulletin board
the same date. All notices on file with the City Clerk.
1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: RM 1/19/11(DM Loffredo absent)
3. PAYROLL RESOLUTION:
4. BILL RESOLUTION + INSERVCO:
5. APPLICATIONS: BINGO/RAFFLE/LIQUOR/SPECIAL EVENTS, etc.
Social Affair Permit – Red Cross.
Raffle – Red Cross.
Raffle – Red Cross.
6. RESOLUTIONS:
Appointments / Re-appointments.
Open Space Grant
Refund overpayment – 633 Cookman, Unit 201.
Hold Hramless – Mon. Cty. Mosquito Commission.
Right of Entry – “ “ “ “
7. ORDINANCES: Introduction –
Revised Ordinances Regarding Pay to Play Regulation for a First Reading
Submitted By
Stephen M. Kay
City Clerk – 732-502-5718
City of Asbury Park
Council Meeting
Workshop Session
February 2, 2011
6:00 pm
Agenda
I. Review of Regular Agenda Items
“Waterfront Redevelopment Area Update.”
II. Items Presented by Brian Grant, City Engineer
Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Agreement
Snow Removal Plan and Snow Emergencies matters
Multi-Space Parking Authorization
III. Items Presented by James Famularo, Assistant City Manager/Recreation Director
Request to use City’s free date for Convention for Urban Wrestling High School championship by the Recreation Department
Proposal to perform a geophysical subsurface survey and site assessment for Field behind Middle School
IV. Special Event Applications:
No. Name Description
Location Date
Alexandra DeManco Fireworks Display Sweet 16 2nd Avenue Beach 03/19
V. Matters to be introduced by City Counci
VI. Matters to be introduced by City Attorney
VII. Matters to be introduced by City Manager - NOTE: an item has been moved from Executive to the Workshop
VIII. Matters to be introduced by Assistant City Manager
City of Asbury Park
City Council Meeting
Executive Session [Closed Mtg-Titles are the legal exemptions underwhich the discussion is being held out of public sight.]
February 2, 2011
5:00 PM
I. Potential Litigation [Revised to Litigation 2/2/11]
I-Star/Asbury Partners Default Update (Aaron/Scotland) [The matter is now before the Court]
Waterfront Redevelopment Area Update
II. Contract Negotiation
Asbury Park Middle School Field Update
(Agreement with Board of Education)
III. Labor Negotiation
PBA/SOA Update
IV. Investigation/Potential Negotiation [Changed to Investigation/Potential Litigation 2/2/11]
A. Police/Liquor License Update (Raffetto/Kinmon)
Venue: Council Chambers
Street: One Municipal Plaza
ZIP: 07712
City: Asbury Park
State: New Jersey
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
$3 million+ in Bond Issues Move Forward, Health Benefit Cuts, Cookman Merchant Restrictions Challenged, Recycling & Garbage for Pick up Tomorrow
Welcome to the Reporters' Notebook brought to you by Asbury Radio
as always corrections, correct spellings, facts, all extremely welcome...
Council Meeting January 19, 2011
Council members Susan Henderson, Mayor Johnson, Kevin Sanders, James Bruno –
Council member John Loffredo out for his birthday
Workshop
Garrett Giberson –
Pst sev’l mos. Research on munis in area, tinton falls, red bank, etc/ our fees hvan’t increased since 19??, mercantile fees $25 now, mst towns set fees by am’t of Sfootage, multiple dwellings…go by num of units ea bldg houses/ non owner occupied one and two unit homes - $50, we never collected a fee for these units, never inspected. Needs to be addressed, this is how we’re addressing it/ #2, mercantile SFootage, re inspection fee, never had one/ first reinspection is on us, second if violations not abated wd cost $25, if go out on another he’d issue fines based on state rule, so that’d be another revenue to come in / variance fee, duplicate certif. of inspection wd be charged a fee/ idea is to reflect what other munis are doing/
Mayor Johnson – when effective?
GG – send invoices once they go into effect.
City Atty – Fred Raffetto - Not adequately reimbursing dept.
If council satisfied we can mv forward w/ introduction
Kevin Sanders – ques, when come bk for reinspection…
GG – if find something else on return visit, I’ll usually give them time, 10 days, but if it’s safety problem I may ask them to do right away. If next yr same violations, I don’t hv to giv them any time, I can issue penalties right then/
KS – Is the second one $25 or more?
GG – That’s up to my judgment.
CFO – Christine Pawlin –
Resolution to reduce am’t of insurance costs to any employee who? Fill out app to opt out of our health insur. Now being paid 50c on dollar/ this reduces to 25% of the premium, w/ cap of $5k, 2010 spnt $272k on those/ this w/ bring down to save almost $130k.
Mayor – how much does it cost per person?
CP - Single cov’g is little over $12k…
City Mgr – family is close to $20,000.
Big advantage for city if employee says don’t need since spouse has. So city instituted policy says if don’t tk city cov’ge w’l reimburse you 50%, city also gains on your medical exp, bills etc.
What state is doing now reduce to 25% and cap at $5k
25 employees now who are opting/
Save $140k every yr
FR- w/ put forth for action at tonight’s mtg
One of req in MOU for w/in 3 mos of mou city sign pay to play ord same as city of JC, we have one, we were one of first to pass/ restricts granting contracts to contirubtors to city elections/ 04 ord adjusted since then/ JC is more stringent, he’s provided the examples to the council. Mou 90days expires Feb 3rd/ as long as we introduce on Feb 2, state says ok.
I’ve been wkg w/ james famularo and my office concessions – ATMs on city prop, cred cd processing accepted, beach umbrellas, pedal boats on lake/ public contracts law to initiate the process/ dif from competitive bid process, not obligated to go w/ lowest bidder, RF w/ come up w/ a ranking system, and recommend/ We did contact local gov’t svcs, agreed this is the best process/ wd like permission to issue bids…
Asst City Mgr James Famularo – design etc for basketball court / 8 tele poles and 8 flood lites not in operation, need to be replaced. Lights we wnt the type we can control, 35 foot candles/
EJ – want to complicate you on wk on courts. Inaudible…
Matters for introduction by council
JB – on his cousin Jason Fazio, fireman seriously injured in fighting fire on main st. he’s had no setbacks, Jason has facebook page, thoughts and support for go there, fundraiser info w/ be up there.
4th of July parade only $5k in bank now, usually have tens of thousands. Not coming in like in past years, developers nowt…I don’t want to even go there. I don’t know how much time I or my family can spend on this, with Jason up there at St. Barnabas in rehab. Even before this I wanted to take a step back. Hamilton did it/ I thought…wd take over.
SH – congratulate James Famularo on grand opening of boxing on top of PWks, lks like a whole dif plc/ actually talked to some kids, saying “I want to thank my supporters”… 4 – 8 pm/ Mon – Fri who’s in charge?
EJ – thank everyone / here we are preparing for our third storm t’w night. Did notice is everybody really mkg conscience efforts to mv cars other to mk clrg easier/ recycling to start t’w and Friday/ starting next mon. bak on reg schedule. On Fri Asbury Lanes I dare anyone/ mayor’s bowl is Friday and I can beat anyone…actually I’m not that good/ 7 pm, til? For a good cause/ $25.
TR – The fitness cr opened last night, long time coming, Interfaith Neighbors, Patrick Durkin is here, alrdy see lot of young people gravitating to this facility/ golden gloves gravitating out of this facility.
Firefighter Fazio if any one can pull thru it’s Jason, amazing personality, what a character he is/ doesn’t surprise me the outpouring of support and love that keeps coming/ keep him in hearts and prayers, it’ll be a long time
FR – council w/ not be tkg action tonight on anything from executive session.
EJ – recycling and garbage pick up tomorrow
Public Participation
John mccarthy 701 – 703 cookman ave following up ltr sent to council/ merchants limited to…trying to get response to ltr for over a month. Want to find out where we stand, two applicants wanted to rent that space and told they don’t fit retail svc business, plenty of businesses on cookman Ave – at least 9 – that don’t meet criteria yet allowed.
TR – knw u had a conversation w/ our city planner. Planning bd tok up request and rejected it, req’t was to change downtown bus area/ longstanding issue/ PB sends recommendation bk to council/ cd amend downtown CBD plan, but wd hv to giv reasons why think it’s wrong headed/
John – then how do you address those 9 properties
TR – mr mc carthy didn’tyou get a call from ?? today
John – yes, but…
TR – this has been a very active dialogue, philosophy, what mks down twon viable, been debated sev’l bus owners asked to hv it changed, it’s an economic dev issue/ wd town be better off if broken up retail business ctr? Hasn’t been ignored.
JMC- Why cdn’t someone tell me the PB rejected it? I want a formal response to that letter and I will meet w/ you because something’s not right.
Jim Henry – 6th Ave, couple of articles in paper concerning iStar and waterfront, understand discussed in executive session wonder if you cd tell us a little someint/ what’s the true story. Another matter mr famularo going out tonight for bids for lighting for basketball courts, think it’s a great idea, but can we afford it? Ask u to tk a good hard lk at that. Are we takg about $30k or $300k ? something to be considered by council.
TR – start/w lighting…then iStar – ballpk number estimate $60,000 w/ be paid for w/ community dev blk grant money, dedicated for certain uses/ court itself was improvedw/ CBG money/ Since James tkn over done capital improvement progrms.
iStar’s concerned…thnk prob the most direct ans is that editorial in APP today, so lv that pc alone, city’s taking action to preserve its rights, it’s been since 2004 since master dev brought forth a designated redeveloper for… city holding APartners in default, persue strategy so we can restore our dev rights. City’s legal strategy, seen some of it in legal documents, nancy gave very detailed report on that on Sat., you’ll see it soon.
Bob Stevens – 515 third av – snow removal, don’t know if repeating or beating dead horse, did real good job in snow removal for such a storm havn’t seen in my time, but is there a plan for proactive removal and how / will it be initiated? Seemed spontaneous, everyone expected to be out,..,did grt job w/ emergency alert/ lot of public not aware of it/ lot of cars still not out, people asked to remove them, but not digging out/ alternate side, we hv for st cleaning, but no signs out for snow emergency…think that cd be part of the process.
TR – sorry you weren’t here for last mtg, some comments were addressed at that mtg. at our nxt wk session/ here’s some of recommendations…way ord is not no pkg but alternate side approach, giv plows nice full swath/
RS – within budget may be somewhere donw the road in my opinion, Emergency response is so important, know everyone’s got to cut back, but if there can be any slight exception don’t see how …1/3 police dept…
TR – PBA, SOA, progress being made, our polic dept gets it, no desire on either side to call your bluff, etc. all negotiating in good faith, sickouts, try to embarrass admin this pol dept not done that.
RS – I’d be willing to put my garbage out once a wk and take my own recycling.
RMarano – guess you’r not going to discuss istar any further, litigators won’t they be the same ones who drafted the plan are being used to litigate the plkan.
TR – yes
RM - IsnT it time to think outside the box. Same thing as when carabetta was here…we can’t afford another 29c increase in our taxes. Btw, Christmas is over and lights are still on. When I read Nancy’s article we’re going to pay comp time to city employees who do mentoring…comp time if wk one day get paid for two…lot of things need to be changed in that union contract.
TR
Ferrari, pres of SICA – came to introduce everyone to the mayor’s bowl Fri night/ hv signed a lease for space next to Chico’s, we expect to be in some time in 2011/ anxious to mv to Asbury /
Jerry Scarano – do we hv policy to snd out notices when sidewalks not cleaned. As good neighbor policy maybe cd volunteer to help each other. Went to trade show w/ about 100 vendors, cd’ve been held at convention hall instead of Brookdale, sorry Ed, nothing to do in Lincroft. Here they cd be using our restauants and shopping here.
Denise Richardson, Ridge Ave – wnt to commend James for grand opening, chaz witherspoon gave positive message.. as far as snow removal, Neptune on last snow posted temporary signs on side of ridge av., might be good idea w/out hvg go thru ordinance.
Myra Campbell, 1403 madison av
We mentioned Jason here, polic officer in
Lakewood, can’t not mention those hurt in Tucson Ariz/ there w/ times
I come before w/ say positive, but tonight my socks are wet, surprised Brian and Bianchini aren’t here tonight/ when rain started never subsided, on 1402, 3, 4 on Madison, hope press gets up early and sees it. My understanding that lucas constr only went down half the blk on dewitt bet Madison and springwood and sewer pipe was not connected, called dpw sev’l times/ when dept chair says we’ll hv someone else call her back. Everyone knows snowfall was jst unbelievable, a plow trk pushed the snow to end of first hse and that sat there for 2 days, hospice wkr on street cdn’t lv for wk, didn’t mention because of gravity of snow storm, but when I’m told we can’t do…av because negotiating w/ Neptune/ asking what is status of this condition, pure mud outside allan chapel church – Go Steelers Go!!!
TR – Myra’s right about ponding, really is a mess over there/ my understanding not sewer but storm drain not connected. Brian said was one person in charge of handling the matter wanted to come and talk to you/ we got hold of lucas, lucas absolutely misrepretned that, forman was terminated/ a major screw up.
Part of DPW is to mk sure storm drains are free, there w/ be pumps out there t’w to pump that out.
Re budget, not been that hvy a snow to justify having snow budget/ gov appealed to pres for emergtency relief/ day before report due/ request put in for 48 hr period highest expenditure, we put in for that/ $208k we put in for/ police, fire, included in that. OEM mtg of fire dept, ron in chg of putting together for us/ so we got that report submitted.
JB – did we stop w/ outside contractors?
TR – yes, also some lessons we learned from that
End public session
Minutes appr’d
$2m bill resolution, all yes
Inservco wkrs comp dec 23 to dec 29 $17k+
Inservco wkrs comp claims paid – perod dec 30 to jan 5, $9,000
+
Bingo raffle The Center – all yes
Bingo mt carmel for Thursday dates – all yes
Raffle for little league – all yes
Resolution –
Over payment, $323.71 all yes
Refund over payment in assed value, susan scudder, $6k+ all yes
Refund veteran citizen tax reduction, john semeta – all yes
Refund sen citizen - $250 Drummand Av, Anthony Ralpizzo
Sale of $2, 905,000 bonds to Monmouth cty improvement authority
Generated thru cty, city gets more favorable rate thru cty auth. We’re one of many munis who put them in thru auth. In 2010 cty made adjustment, some muni fell out of acctg. Every muni that’s part of that funding has to adopt a res approving what’s cty done/ all yes
2010 – budget transfers –
Employee to waive medical.. all yes
Resolution auth contracting process for consessions in ap – all yes
Auth for bids for sports lighting on bb crts --- all yes
Ordinance supplementing fire fees – as per G Giberson – pub hrg adopt Feb 16th
Ordinance pub hrg – bond ordinance $250k issuance of $250k to finance part of cost thereof. Public to e heard…
TR – this is the ordinance to fund the action we’re involved in as per iStar / this was on for adoption last mtg, cdn’t go forward becz as part of MOU w/ NJ, had to report to local finance bd, unan appr’d and offered assistance in pursuing this matter. These are qualified bonds, so state does co-sign the bonds.
EJ – copies for press of this statement/ Mayor reading from it now…no longer wait thru delays and unfulfilled commitments/ ..wait is over…only situation worst than litigation is continued stagnation/ intend to persue every legal avenue for pursuit of this.
RMarano – I read the complaint but it doesn’t sound like a very strong complaint. Can you explain what we didn’t do as per the response from iStar?
TR – we expected number one, when tk pos to stnd up for Asbury, they’d come back with everything had and try to tk position against city/ but as far as being substantive mvg city off its position, not done/ our legal position is very strong.
RM - $250k is jst a drop in the bucket we’ve been thru this before.
TR – we don’t know though.
RM – the litigator who did this 30 yrs for the plan, even the one sitting up there now is going to be old by that time…Isn’t it time to think outside the box?
TR – given agreement we have now/ given action and lk of action by Asbury
Partners pre and post iStar, we’re basing our strategy on what we hv. Strong position/ facts, history, given obligations in agreement as it was written and stands now we hv strong position in the matter/
RM – you didn’t hav any timetable in there for them to develop
Lot of people suffering through this especially those in redev area
You spent a lot of time on Salvation army bldg, that cd’ve been done by now. Lvg house out that were in the plan
TR – tells me it’s hell to deal w/ litigation in some of these matters. When city dev plan was carved out because was intenede to be used by Salvation Army, not throw it into mix. Did city realize 2 yrs later SA wd sell it to someone else/ AP’s position was if knew that wouldn’t hv excluded/ was a lot of crazy litigation but tonight it’s enough, we’re not going to sit by and watch this any longer, we tnnk we hv good case/ this body is tkg right action to fight for our rights. Expect to be successful in this and when bk in control of destinty, hp got keep legal fees low as possible.
George Kary – 6th Av
Ask city mgr and lawyer/ is there anything residents can do? Support city in this manner/
TR – there very well maybe. Part of process may be certification from residents/ businesses been adversely affected. I’ll ask the litigaters…
Adjourned.
as always corrections, correct spellings, facts, all extremely welcome...
Council Meeting January 19, 2011
Council members Susan Henderson, Mayor Johnson, Kevin Sanders, James Bruno –
Council member John Loffredo out for his birthday
Workshop
Garrett Giberson –
Pst sev’l mos. Research on munis in area, tinton falls, red bank, etc/ our fees hvan’t increased since 19??, mercantile fees $25 now, mst towns set fees by am’t of Sfootage, multiple dwellings…go by num of units ea bldg houses/ non owner occupied one and two unit homes - $50, we never collected a fee for these units, never inspected. Needs to be addressed, this is how we’re addressing it/ #2, mercantile SFootage, re inspection fee, never had one/ first reinspection is on us, second if violations not abated wd cost $25, if go out on another he’d issue fines based on state rule, so that’d be another revenue to come in / variance fee, duplicate certif. of inspection wd be charged a fee/ idea is to reflect what other munis are doing/
Mayor Johnson – when effective?
GG – send invoices once they go into effect.
City Atty – Fred Raffetto - Not adequately reimbursing dept.
If council satisfied we can mv forward w/ introduction
Kevin Sanders – ques, when come bk for reinspection…
GG – if find something else on return visit, I’ll usually give them time, 10 days, but if it’s safety problem I may ask them to do right away. If next yr same violations, I don’t hv to giv them any time, I can issue penalties right then/
KS – Is the second one $25 or more?
GG – That’s up to my judgment.
CFO – Christine Pawlin –
Resolution to reduce am’t of insurance costs to any employee who? Fill out app to opt out of our health insur. Now being paid 50c on dollar/ this reduces to 25% of the premium, w/ cap of $5k, 2010 spnt $272k on those/ this w/ bring down to save almost $130k.
Mayor – how much does it cost per person?
CP - Single cov’g is little over $12k…
City Mgr – family is close to $20,000.
Big advantage for city if employee says don’t need since spouse has. So city instituted policy says if don’t tk city cov’ge w’l reimburse you 50%, city also gains on your medical exp, bills etc.
What state is doing now reduce to 25% and cap at $5k
25 employees now who are opting/
Save $140k every yr
FR- w/ put forth for action at tonight’s mtg
One of req in MOU for w/in 3 mos of mou city sign pay to play ord same as city of JC, we have one, we were one of first to pass/ restricts granting contracts to contirubtors to city elections/ 04 ord adjusted since then/ JC is more stringent, he’s provided the examples to the council. Mou 90days expires Feb 3rd/ as long as we introduce on Feb 2, state says ok.
I’ve been wkg w/ james famularo and my office concessions – ATMs on city prop, cred cd processing accepted, beach umbrellas, pedal boats on lake/ public contracts law to initiate the process/ dif from competitive bid process, not obligated to go w/ lowest bidder, RF w/ come up w/ a ranking system, and recommend/ We did contact local gov’t svcs, agreed this is the best process/ wd like permission to issue bids…
Asst City Mgr James Famularo – design etc for basketball court / 8 tele poles and 8 flood lites not in operation, need to be replaced. Lights we wnt the type we can control, 35 foot candles/
EJ – want to complicate you on wk on courts. Inaudible…
Matters for introduction by council
JB – on his cousin Jason Fazio, fireman seriously injured in fighting fire on main st. he’s had no setbacks, Jason has facebook page, thoughts and support for go there, fundraiser info w/ be up there.
4th of July parade only $5k in bank now, usually have tens of thousands. Not coming in like in past years, developers nowt…I don’t want to even go there. I don’t know how much time I or my family can spend on this, with Jason up there at St. Barnabas in rehab. Even before this I wanted to take a step back. Hamilton did it/ I thought…wd take over.
SH – congratulate James Famularo on grand opening of boxing on top of PWks, lks like a whole dif plc/ actually talked to some kids, saying “I want to thank my supporters”… 4 – 8 pm/ Mon – Fri who’s in charge?
EJ – thank everyone / here we are preparing for our third storm t’w night. Did notice is everybody really mkg conscience efforts to mv cars other to mk clrg easier/ recycling to start t’w and Friday/ starting next mon. bak on reg schedule. On Fri Asbury Lanes I dare anyone/ mayor’s bowl is Friday and I can beat anyone…actually I’m not that good/ 7 pm, til? For a good cause/ $25.
TR – The fitness cr opened last night, long time coming, Interfaith Neighbors, Patrick Durkin is here, alrdy see lot of young people gravitating to this facility/ golden gloves gravitating out of this facility.
Firefighter Fazio if any one can pull thru it’s Jason, amazing personality, what a character he is/ doesn’t surprise me the outpouring of support and love that keeps coming/ keep him in hearts and prayers, it’ll be a long time
FR – council w/ not be tkg action tonight on anything from executive session.
EJ – recycling and garbage pick up tomorrow
Public Participation
John mccarthy 701 – 703 cookman ave following up ltr sent to council/ merchants limited to…trying to get response to ltr for over a month. Want to find out where we stand, two applicants wanted to rent that space and told they don’t fit retail svc business, plenty of businesses on cookman Ave – at least 9 – that don’t meet criteria yet allowed.
TR – knw u had a conversation w/ our city planner. Planning bd tok up request and rejected it, req’t was to change downtown bus area/ longstanding issue/ PB sends recommendation bk to council/ cd amend downtown CBD plan, but wd hv to giv reasons why think it’s wrong headed/
John – then how do you address those 9 properties
TR – mr mc carthy didn’tyou get a call from ?? today
John – yes, but…
TR – this has been a very active dialogue, philosophy, what mks down twon viable, been debated sev’l bus owners asked to hv it changed, it’s an economic dev issue/ wd town be better off if broken up retail business ctr? Hasn’t been ignored.
JMC- Why cdn’t someone tell me the PB rejected it? I want a formal response to that letter and I will meet w/ you because something’s not right.
Jim Henry – 6th Ave, couple of articles in paper concerning iStar and waterfront, understand discussed in executive session wonder if you cd tell us a little someint/ what’s the true story. Another matter mr famularo going out tonight for bids for lighting for basketball courts, think it’s a great idea, but can we afford it? Ask u to tk a good hard lk at that. Are we takg about $30k or $300k ? something to be considered by council.
TR – start/w lighting…then iStar – ballpk number estimate $60,000 w/ be paid for w/ community dev blk grant money, dedicated for certain uses/ court itself was improvedw/ CBG money/ Since James tkn over done capital improvement progrms.
iStar’s concerned…thnk prob the most direct ans is that editorial in APP today, so lv that pc alone, city’s taking action to preserve its rights, it’s been since 2004 since master dev brought forth a designated redeveloper for… city holding APartners in default, persue strategy so we can restore our dev rights. City’s legal strategy, seen some of it in legal documents, nancy gave very detailed report on that on Sat., you’ll see it soon.
Bob Stevens – 515 third av – snow removal, don’t know if repeating or beating dead horse, did real good job in snow removal for such a storm havn’t seen in my time, but is there a plan for proactive removal and how / will it be initiated? Seemed spontaneous, everyone expected to be out,..,did grt job w/ emergency alert/ lot of public not aware of it/ lot of cars still not out, people asked to remove them, but not digging out/ alternate side, we hv for st cleaning, but no signs out for snow emergency…think that cd be part of the process.
TR – sorry you weren’t here for last mtg, some comments were addressed at that mtg. at our nxt wk session/ here’s some of recommendations…way ord is not no pkg but alternate side approach, giv plows nice full swath/
RS – within budget may be somewhere donw the road in my opinion, Emergency response is so important, know everyone’s got to cut back, but if there can be any slight exception don’t see how …1/3 police dept…
TR – PBA, SOA, progress being made, our polic dept gets it, no desire on either side to call your bluff, etc. all negotiating in good faith, sickouts, try to embarrass admin this pol dept not done that.
RS – I’d be willing to put my garbage out once a wk and take my own recycling.
RMarano – guess you’r not going to discuss istar any further, litigators won’t they be the same ones who drafted the plan are being used to litigate the plkan.
TR – yes
RM - IsnT it time to think outside the box. Same thing as when carabetta was here…we can’t afford another 29c increase in our taxes. Btw, Christmas is over and lights are still on. When I read Nancy’s article we’re going to pay comp time to city employees who do mentoring…comp time if wk one day get paid for two…lot of things need to be changed in that union contract.
TR
Ferrari, pres of SICA – came to introduce everyone to the mayor’s bowl Fri night/ hv signed a lease for space next to Chico’s, we expect to be in some time in 2011/ anxious to mv to Asbury /
Jerry Scarano – do we hv policy to snd out notices when sidewalks not cleaned. As good neighbor policy maybe cd volunteer to help each other. Went to trade show w/ about 100 vendors, cd’ve been held at convention hall instead of Brookdale, sorry Ed, nothing to do in Lincroft. Here they cd be using our restauants and shopping here.
Denise Richardson, Ridge Ave – wnt to commend James for grand opening, chaz witherspoon gave positive message.. as far as snow removal, Neptune on last snow posted temporary signs on side of ridge av., might be good idea w/out hvg go thru ordinance.
Myra Campbell, 1403 madison av
We mentioned Jason here, polic officer in
Lakewood, can’t not mention those hurt in Tucson Ariz/ there w/ times
I come before w/ say positive, but tonight my socks are wet, surprised Brian and Bianchini aren’t here tonight/ when rain started never subsided, on 1402, 3, 4 on Madison, hope press gets up early and sees it. My understanding that lucas constr only went down half the blk on dewitt bet Madison and springwood and sewer pipe was not connected, called dpw sev’l times/ when dept chair says we’ll hv someone else call her back. Everyone knows snowfall was jst unbelievable, a plow trk pushed the snow to end of first hse and that sat there for 2 days, hospice wkr on street cdn’t lv for wk, didn’t mention because of gravity of snow storm, but when I’m told we can’t do…av because negotiating w/ Neptune/ asking what is status of this condition, pure mud outside allan chapel church – Go Steelers Go!!!
TR – Myra’s right about ponding, really is a mess over there/ my understanding not sewer but storm drain not connected. Brian said was one person in charge of handling the matter wanted to come and talk to you/ we got hold of lucas, lucas absolutely misrepretned that, forman was terminated/ a major screw up.
Part of DPW is to mk sure storm drains are free, there w/ be pumps out there t’w to pump that out.
Re budget, not been that hvy a snow to justify having snow budget/ gov appealed to pres for emergtency relief/ day before report due/ request put in for 48 hr period highest expenditure, we put in for that/ $208k we put in for/ police, fire, included in that. OEM mtg of fire dept, ron in chg of putting together for us/ so we got that report submitted.
JB – did we stop w/ outside contractors?
TR – yes, also some lessons we learned from that
End public session
Minutes appr’d
$2m bill resolution, all yes
Inservco wkrs comp dec 23 to dec 29 $17k+
Inservco wkrs comp claims paid – perod dec 30 to jan 5, $9,000
+
Bingo raffle The Center – all yes
Bingo mt carmel for Thursday dates – all yes
Raffle for little league – all yes
Resolution –
Over payment, $323.71 all yes
Refund over payment in assed value, susan scudder, $6k+ all yes
Refund veteran citizen tax reduction, john semeta – all yes
Refund sen citizen - $250 Drummand Av, Anthony Ralpizzo
Sale of $2, 905,000 bonds to Monmouth cty improvement authority
Generated thru cty, city gets more favorable rate thru cty auth. We’re one of many munis who put them in thru auth. In 2010 cty made adjustment, some muni fell out of acctg. Every muni that’s part of that funding has to adopt a res approving what’s cty done/ all yes
2010 – budget transfers –
Employee to waive medical.. all yes
Resolution auth contracting process for consessions in ap – all yes
Auth for bids for sports lighting on bb crts --- all yes
Ordinance supplementing fire fees – as per G Giberson – pub hrg adopt Feb 16th
Ordinance pub hrg – bond ordinance $250k issuance of $250k to finance part of cost thereof. Public to e heard…
TR – this is the ordinance to fund the action we’re involved in as per iStar / this was on for adoption last mtg, cdn’t go forward becz as part of MOU w/ NJ, had to report to local finance bd, unan appr’d and offered assistance in pursuing this matter. These are qualified bonds, so state does co-sign the bonds.
EJ – copies for press of this statement/ Mayor reading from it now…no longer wait thru delays and unfulfilled commitments/ ..wait is over…only situation worst than litigation is continued stagnation/ intend to persue every legal avenue for pursuit of this.
RMarano – I read the complaint but it doesn’t sound like a very strong complaint. Can you explain what we didn’t do as per the response from iStar?
TR – we expected number one, when tk pos to stnd up for Asbury, they’d come back with everything had and try to tk position against city/ but as far as being substantive mvg city off its position, not done/ our legal position is very strong.
RM - $250k is jst a drop in the bucket we’ve been thru this before.
TR – we don’t know though.
RM – the litigator who did this 30 yrs for the plan, even the one sitting up there now is going to be old by that time…Isn’t it time to think outside the box?
TR – given agreement we have now/ given action and lk of action by Asbury
Partners pre and post iStar, we’re basing our strategy on what we hv. Strong position/ facts, history, given obligations in agreement as it was written and stands now we hv strong position in the matter/
RM – you didn’t hav any timetable in there for them to develop
Lot of people suffering through this especially those in redev area
You spent a lot of time on Salvation army bldg, that cd’ve been done by now. Lvg house out that were in the plan
TR – tells me it’s hell to deal w/ litigation in some of these matters. When city dev plan was carved out because was intenede to be used by Salvation Army, not throw it into mix. Did city realize 2 yrs later SA wd sell it to someone else/ AP’s position was if knew that wouldn’t hv excluded/ was a lot of crazy litigation but tonight it’s enough, we’re not going to sit by and watch this any longer, we tnnk we hv good case/ this body is tkg right action to fight for our rights. Expect to be successful in this and when bk in control of destinty, hp got keep legal fees low as possible.
George Kary – 6th Av
Ask city mgr and lawyer/ is there anything residents can do? Support city in this manner/
TR – there very well maybe. Part of process may be certification from residents/ businesses been adversely affected. I’ll ask the litigaters…
Adjourned.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Asbury Park Council Meeting tomorrow night - January 19, 2011
Event: City Council Meeting Agenda
[See official decisions affecting over $3 million in city loans - municipal debt to be borrowed in bonds.]
[Note workshop begins at 6 pm, open to public/ see agenda below]
Date: 01/19/2011
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Asbury Park Description
AGENDA FOR REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2011
7:00 PM
SILENT PRAYER / MOMENT OF REFLECTION
SALUTE TO FLAG
ANNOUNCEMENT BY MAYOR JOHNSON – as to compliance with the
“Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, PL 1975” adequate notice of this
Meeting had been provided in the following manner:
The Annual Notice was forwarded to the Asbury Park Press, The Coaster
and Star Ledger on December 22, 2009 and posted on the bulletin board
the same date. All notices on file with the City Clerk.
1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: RM January 5, 2011.
3. PAYROLL RESOLUTION:
4. BILL RESOLUTION + INSERVCO:
5. APPLICATIONS: BINGO/RAFFLE/LIQUOR/SPECIAL EVENTS, etc.
Social Affair Permit – The Center of AP.
Amend Bingo Licenses of Mt. Carmel Church and Mt. Carmel P.T.A. – Adding Thursday dates
6. RESOLUTIONS:
Appointments / Re-appointments.
Refund overpayment – 402 4th Ave., Unit 303.
Refund overpayment – 1309 Comstock, 408 4th and 305 3rd Ave.
Refund Veterans deduction – 1006 5th Avenue.
Refund Senior Citizen Deduction – 817 Drummond.
Re: Sale of $2,905,000 Bond ordinance.
2010 Budget Transfers.
7. ORDINANCES: Introduction –
7B. ORDINANCES: Public Hearing –
Adv. 12/9/10 – Carried from 1/5/11 - $250k bond ord.
Submitted By
Stephen M. Kay
City Clerk – 732-502-5718
City of Asbury Park
Council Meeting
Workshop Session
January 19, 2011
6:00 pm
Agenda
I. Review of Regular Agenda Items
II. Increase Fire Protection Fees
Ø Garrett Giberson, Jr., Acting Fire Official
III. Amending Health Benefit Payment Policy
Ø Christine Paulin, Acting Chief Finance Officer
IV. Items Presented by Frederick Raffetto, City Attorney
Amendment to Pay To Play Ordinance
Competitive Contracting for Beach Chairs, ATM Machines, & Pedal Boats
V. Snow Cover Street Ordinance
Ø Brian Grant, City Engineer
VI. Request to Seek Bids for Design, Supply, and Installation of Sports Lighting of Prospect Basketball Courts
Ø James Famularo, Assistant City Manager
VII. Matters to be introduced by City Council
VIII. Matters to be introduced by City Attorney
IX. Matters to be introduced by City Manager
XI. Matters to be introduced by Assistant City Manager
City of Asbury Park
City Council Meeting
Executive Session
January 19, 2011
5:00 PM
I. Potential Litigation [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
I-Star/Asbury Partners Default Update (Aaron/Scotland)
II. Litigation [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
Anita Erich vs. City of Asbury Park
III. Contract Negotiation[Exemption under Sunshine Law]
Asbury Park Middle School Field
IV. Personnel [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
Public Works Salary Ordinance
V. Investigation [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
A. Police/Liquor License [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
Venue: Council Chambers
Street: One Municipal Plaza
ZIP: 07712
City: Asbury Park
State: New Jersey
[See official decisions affecting over $3 million in city loans - municipal debt to be borrowed in bonds.]
[Note workshop begins at 6 pm, open to public/ see agenda below]
Date: 01/19/2011
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Asbury Park Description
AGENDA FOR REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2011
7:00 PM
SILENT PRAYER / MOMENT OF REFLECTION
SALUTE TO FLAG
ANNOUNCEMENT BY MAYOR JOHNSON – as to compliance with the
“Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, PL 1975” adequate notice of this
Meeting had been provided in the following manner:
The Annual Notice was forwarded to the Asbury Park Press, The Coaster
and Star Ledger on December 22, 2009 and posted on the bulletin board
the same date. All notices on file with the City Clerk.
1. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: RM January 5, 2011.
3. PAYROLL RESOLUTION:
4. BILL RESOLUTION + INSERVCO:
5. APPLICATIONS: BINGO/RAFFLE/LIQUOR/SPECIAL EVENTS, etc.
Social Affair Permit – The Center of AP.
Amend Bingo Licenses of Mt. Carmel Church and Mt. Carmel P.T.A. – Adding Thursday dates
6. RESOLUTIONS:
Appointments / Re-appointments.
Refund overpayment – 402 4th Ave., Unit 303.
Refund overpayment – 1309 Comstock, 408 4th and 305 3rd Ave.
Refund Veterans deduction – 1006 5th Avenue.
Refund Senior Citizen Deduction – 817 Drummond.
Re: Sale of $2,905,000 Bond ordinance.
2010 Budget Transfers.
7. ORDINANCES: Introduction –
7B. ORDINANCES: Public Hearing –
Adv. 12/9/10 – Carried from 1/5/11 - $250k bond ord.
Submitted By
Stephen M. Kay
City Clerk – 732-502-5718
City of Asbury Park
Council Meeting
Workshop Session
January 19, 2011
6:00 pm
Agenda
I. Review of Regular Agenda Items
II. Increase Fire Protection Fees
Ø Garrett Giberson, Jr., Acting Fire Official
III. Amending Health Benefit Payment Policy
Ø Christine Paulin, Acting Chief Finance Officer
IV. Items Presented by Frederick Raffetto, City Attorney
Amendment to Pay To Play Ordinance
Competitive Contracting for Beach Chairs, ATM Machines, & Pedal Boats
V. Snow Cover Street Ordinance
Ø Brian Grant, City Engineer
VI. Request to Seek Bids for Design, Supply, and Installation of Sports Lighting of Prospect Basketball Courts
Ø James Famularo, Assistant City Manager
VII. Matters to be introduced by City Council
VIII. Matters to be introduced by City Attorney
IX. Matters to be introduced by City Manager
XI. Matters to be introduced by Assistant City Manager
City of Asbury Park
City Council Meeting
Executive Session
January 19, 2011
5:00 PM
I. Potential Litigation [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
I-Star/Asbury Partners Default Update (Aaron/Scotland)
II. Litigation [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
Anita Erich vs. City of Asbury Park
III. Contract Negotiation[Exemption under Sunshine Law]
Asbury Park Middle School Field
IV. Personnel [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
Public Works Salary Ordinance
V. Investigation [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
A. Police/Liquor License [Exemption under Sunshine Law]
Venue: Council Chambers
Street: One Municipal Plaza
ZIP: 07712
City: Asbury Park
State: New Jersey
Friday, January 7, 2011
Mayor Ed Johnson's Post to Public
Asbury Radio was asked to post this for our readers. Scroll down for important contact information:
Greetings!
Thank you to the residents of Asbury Park for your perseverance and ability to reach out and assist each other during last week’s Blizzard. Together, we faced many challenges and experienced several frustrations. However, the spirit of cooperation and concern for each other was nothing less than remarkable.
I would also like to thank the residents who attended last evening’s Council Meeting. They shared their experiences, concerns, frustrations and ideas for improving our city’s emergency response operations. There are indeed many lessons to be learned and improvements to be made. Their proactive involvement was very helpful and their ideas will most certainly be incorporated as we move forward.
The following activities are currently underway:
1) We are continuing our snow plowing and removal efforts along major streets and avenues. This includes widening as well as actually removing the snow. We ask your patience and assistance as this may require street closures and redirecting traffic;
2) Reviewing and implementing lessons learned from the previous Blizzard. There are some immediate actions which have been taken and some long term solutions that we are working on implementing. We are updating our comprehensive plan (with suggested improvements) which will be communicated to residents very soon;
3) Preparing for the upcoming storm on Friday/Saturday. The weather service has predicted a new winter storm which will arrive in our area on Friday. We have been working on repairs to our plowing vehicles, restocking supplies, and preparing crews for activation. The city will continue to provide updated information through CODE RED ALERTS, City Website, Email, Facebook & local Media outlets. Please refer to the contact information below to access these information avenues.
This week trash pick-up has returned to the regular schedule. Recycling will be picked-up today and tomorrow and will return to regular schedule next week. This week, both have been occurring later in the day as our DPW crews are working on both snow operations and trash/recycling pick-up.
This past week, residents played an important role in information sharing throughout the community. I ask for your assistance again, with sharing this information with your neighbors and e-groups. Improving communications was at the top of everyone’s list and we need your help to ensure that everyone has access to the information resources listed below.
Thank You!
Mayor Ed Johnson
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION:
CALL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES
City Hall – (732) 775-2100
City Website – http://www.cityofasburypark.com/
Department of Public Works – (732) 775-0900
Fire Department – (732) 775-6300
Monmouth County “Get Prepared” Guide - http://co.monmouth.nj.us/pressdetail.aspx?id=739
Police Department (non emergency) – (732) 774-1300
NJ Department of Transportation / Central Region Operations – (732)625-4340
NJ Road Information Website – www.511nj.org
Greetings!
Thank you to the residents of Asbury Park for your perseverance and ability to reach out and assist each other during last week’s Blizzard. Together, we faced many challenges and experienced several frustrations. However, the spirit of cooperation and concern for each other was nothing less than remarkable.
I would also like to thank the residents who attended last evening’s Council Meeting. They shared their experiences, concerns, frustrations and ideas for improving our city’s emergency response operations. There are indeed many lessons to be learned and improvements to be made. Their proactive involvement was very helpful and their ideas will most certainly be incorporated as we move forward.
The following activities are currently underway:
1) We are continuing our snow plowing and removal efforts along major streets and avenues. This includes widening as well as actually removing the snow. We ask your patience and assistance as this may require street closures and redirecting traffic;
2) Reviewing and implementing lessons learned from the previous Blizzard. There are some immediate actions which have been taken and some long term solutions that we are working on implementing. We are updating our comprehensive plan (with suggested improvements) which will be communicated to residents very soon;
3) Preparing for the upcoming storm on Friday/Saturday. The weather service has predicted a new winter storm which will arrive in our area on Friday. We have been working on repairs to our plowing vehicles, restocking supplies, and preparing crews for activation. The city will continue to provide updated information through CODE RED ALERTS, City Website, Email, Facebook & local Media outlets. Please refer to the contact information below to access these information avenues.
This week trash pick-up has returned to the regular schedule. Recycling will be picked-up today and tomorrow and will return to regular schedule next week. This week, both have been occurring later in the day as our DPW crews are working on both snow operations and trash/recycling pick-up.
This past week, residents played an important role in information sharing throughout the community. I ask for your assistance again, with sharing this information with your neighbors and e-groups. Improving communications was at the top of everyone’s list and we need your help to ensure that everyone has access to the information resources listed below.
Thank You!
Mayor Ed Johnson
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION:
CALL 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES
City Hall – (732) 775-2100
City Website – http://www.cityofasburypark.com/
Department of Public Works – (732) 775-0900
Fire Department – (732) 775-6300
Monmouth County “Get Prepared” Guide - http://co.monmouth.nj.us/pressdetail.aspx?id=739
Police Department (non emergency) – (732) 774-1300
NJ Department of Transportation / Central Region Operations – (732)625-4340
NJ Road Information Website – www.511nj.org
Monday, December 27, 2010
Controversy Swirls Around Engineering Dept's Merger with Public Works
What's the story behind the city's plan to combine Public Works with Engineering?
We asked City Engineers Brian Grant and Bob Bianchini to answer the charges anonymous sources have leveled -- and they did.
Watch this space for their replies...Coming soon.
We asked City Engineers Brian Grant and Bob Bianchini to answer the charges anonymous sources have leveled -- and they did.
Watch this space for their replies...Coming soon.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
City Auditor Warns State Has Tough Rules for New Budget Game
City Introduces Bond Ordinances for Millions More
Auditor Warns of Governor's Wishes for No Exceptions 2% Cap
Debt Service Would Have to be Met from Taxes or Cuts
35 Cops Could Go from Payroll
Reporters' Notebook - Corrections, spellings, clarifications welcome
Asbury Park Council meeting Dec 15, 2010 – Henderson, John Loffredo, Ed Johnson, Kevin Sanders, Jim Bruno, Steve Kay, Clerk all present
Workshop - (Executive Session ran past 6 pm - www.cityofasburypark.com , click calendar date 12/15/10 for agendas)
City Manager Terry Reidy introducing David Kaplan, city's auditor:
Lot still to be ironed out in Trenton with state budget matters in flux. Sent layoff plan down to Trenton this wk as you know req’d us to pass $804k emergency approp last yr
Primer on what we see happening in 2011
David will take us through a slide presentation/ what laws are how it concerns city
Kaplan -
First slide, cap laws – were two kinds: relevant to appropriations and levy cap laws – approp one still in effect/ tried to limit appropriations that are in control of city – such as supplies – capital improvements etc outside control/items funded by grants are outside the cap. Don’t know if w/ hav changes to approp-type cap / levy cap limits & approp in tax levy/ was 4% last yr, 2% this yr/ as per Gov Christie wanted no exceptions. legislature said too hard to do that/ are some exceptions in the law now, not been changed yet/ best guess w/ their interpretation…debt svc and costs will remain outside the levy cap for now/ health ins costs over 4% are included - / 16.7% inrs this yr, not all if increases are as much as 30% w/ be outside cap
TR - City gov had discretion before/ not now, each town’s voters w/ have the say now/ so if the 2% levy cap means hv to lay off 20 cops and fireman, if they exceed the levy cap, can only save half the jobs. Now we need referendum/ ask pub if appv exceeding cap for this reason…Much necessary to do this - Really an education process, residents say don’t wnt to vote for that because taxes w/ go up/ you have to explain that police protection may reduce crime may imprv public safety, values go up, etc.
Kaplan – referendum process still proceeding, so stay tuned for that one/ we’re $2mn over levy cap now/ 2% levy cap impos to deal w/ unless …changes…applied for $13.3 or more last yr/ shortage on cops has to be made up this yr/ 1.4 in bank, used 1.3 this yr w/ be lucky to hv $300k, pensions and health costs risen again/ no way state w/ provide what is in 2011/ so what do we do...
First is to raise revenue, is possibility from major sources – 2 are being investigated as we spk and w/ be in plc next yr/--Kaplan doesn't name these two --
Second: cut costs, reductions in staffing levels, outsource functions done in hse/ extend benefit reductions thru contract negotiations/ shared svc agreements, long term plan for debt reduction.
As of now inaction is not an option, need to act whether referencum or not/ formalize and implement cost reduction plan immediately, wait for DCA to formalize their rules/ every town facing the same things. Old Game over stuck w/ some tough rules in new game.
TReidy – regionalizing expenses dramatically reduce costs, still on table, we’re still advocating for , shared svcs too,
Giv u sense of whats ahead for us/ bigger policy issues need to present to gov body, police chgs on reduction/ incrs revenue – bring bk to you jan or feb/ we’ve been really on this/ everything’s in motion/ read the stories every day/ lot of this is like being on the inside and waiting for the dust to settle/ as soon as anone…inaudi ble, off mic
Brian Grant – pavers in CBD
Primarily the weather, street trees, try to complete before spring 11, concrete if we pour now, rock salt for street would totally destroy concrete for sidewlks, recommending , street lites prob // use ? as a fill in meantime/ haven’t graded off yet/ instead of completing option, paver colors originally gray, but so much concrete now wd rather some contrast, new autumn, a reddish paver, muted color blnd in w/ what hv now. After install fdns and street lights// present to PBd mon nite, like color, and recommendations
$2 sf/ concrete is $4 sf, but if hv contractor install 6 – 8$ SF/ cdn’t hear what the substitute was/
Pour bases in concrete…
Next item – springwd av constructions/ met w/ ms Campbell lst thurs nite, sim concerns raised at prev council mtgs, revised format from legal to letr size/ first pt of contact, second pt w/ be…??
We also cited maintenance item/ left few holes open/ safety concern, addressed following dwy/ today paved dewitt to sprinwd, mckinly place – applying blankets to keep ground from freezing/ any improvement do for contractor/ get area buttoned up/ met w/ sisters academy, come to accommodations for Christmas concert/ close spwd ave bet dewitt and ridge, major storm damage/ sister Marylou not completely happy but reached accommodation. Hoping to resume next Wedn.
Focusing on concrete curb and paving…wd like to immobilize Christmas thru jan. if don’t hv concrete sidewks like to stabilize/ school by Ridge, apt bldg on ridge, come bk mid jan finish off/ final grading and landscaping on borden av, sched for t’w grade and fix up landscaping/ everything currently working on w/ be based.
Sanders says too long a break..
Grant invites Sanders to come out and see we’ll discuss there.
Housing authority presentation:
Mark Holmes Exec Dir of the AP Housing Auth, introduces Carl Accettola (CA), former supv for HUD in NYC/ asset to the APHA / very excited about the Boston Way plan, sev’l mtgs w/ staff and residents, everyone very excited about this/ phones are inundated w/ calls / pop very excited about all constru sp’wd etc. Key is communication w/ residents, answered all q’s / everyone very happy, said first time anyone ever came and spk to them/ PNC Bank discussed budget and banking, opening up ckg accounts/ write a ck instead of money orders/ said 5% of amer w/ never buy home or want to buy a home/ bring residents info options on home ownership/ vouchers pay mortgage for 15 yrs/ they can establish credit – thru payments of gas and elec bills/ prop sits in midsts of transportation center/ everyone s/hv safe healthy envir w/ services / can share more details w/ hsg process/
CA: I'm Monmouth county resident self, colts neck, pleased to be in Asbury, wonderful plc, falls in line w/ overall plan of sustainable dev/ HUD realizes not efecctive to put money in …recently had park study done, code and prop stds, cost w/ be $17mn, total dev cost $27mn/ key component of process / giv everyone …process, after demo app’d, no one left out in cold, vouchers to go anywhere in the country for 30% of their income// costs city of ap nothing/ all applic process comes from fed’l grant $/ in no way going to impact city of ap budget/
Ed Johnson – when? …demo permits
Carl Accettola (a former HUD employee, is no longer affiliated with HUD, he is a consultant to APHA)
– ASAP \applic 4 mos, like to see it start in summer, however, demo not going to tk plc until adoption…???... places to move…
MH – section 8 vouchers / some vouchers w/ go to residents right away/ setaside some for early residents to mv process along.
EJ – what in plc if resident chooses to stay in AP
MH – there are a small numb who hv asked if they can stay in public hsg. We said sure/ voucher is good for 60 days we can extend to 120 days…I’m a licensed realtor myself/ we’re going to do everything we can ourselves. Whether it’s second av or Montana/
AC – one of my grt passions in life, is to mk sure all amer get fair hsg, include din that wd be that disabled people hv same accessibility, 5 story wk ups in boston way just didn’t afford that/
MH – you really can help us/ city mgr been really helpful in discussing various possibilities, I’ll be mtg w/ james famularo…some residents relocating to wash av, so / I get a little aggressive, I mov a little fast, but I’m not going to be satisfied unless everyone has hsg.
EJ – how many people
MH – 96 households/ hv to pay the rent, be a good resident, if you’re not, not going to live here/ still hv to obey rules of HUD.
Tom Gilmour – next yr we will hv an acctg of how much is made in spec events fees.
Interfaith Neighbors Team presentation –
Paul McEvely, Heather….,
Announce new program conceived by and run by youth corp members /
youth member Quahmel McMillian is spkg, not on mic/ something about soup and coffee for people sleeping rough... We came up with this to help community/ (He refers also to Karim Berry, another youth corps member in the chambers and Brendan Ward, an intern from Monmouth University working on the project.)
McMillian - we will set up on sprwd and atkins in that area/ I’d like to thank Wachovia regional fdn, for grant to help us get started. After I graduated the youth prog I went to culinary school so …/ like to thank frank’s deli, marilyn schlossbach, Harvey construction Mon thru Thurs 4:30 to 6:30/
Paul - by the new home of the future senior center/ w/ be interfaith van there, temp lighting, apprec help from tony nuccio/ cdn’t do this if not for passion of youth to help people in neighborhood.
EJ – asked for email version hat we can put out/
SH – asked if cd put it on the big sign on the Main St.
Steve K – do we want to keep mtg sched/ so wk session wd go directly into pulbic instead of waiting until 7.
JL – I think people shd attend the work session.
4 – 6 exec, 6 – 7 worksession/ 7 public session
SH – after listening to depressing report on everything going to occur next yr, I’d like to thank the youth corp for picking up my spirits for the holiday
JBruno – merry Christmas, kwanza, everthing, happy holidays and happy new year and what I wnt for Christmas I want..
KS - jst like to wish everyone happy holiday
EJ – congratulate everyone who partook in kwanza/ wish everone happy holidays
TR – want to thnk everyone who comes to these mtgs, to keep gov honest/ all staff who get up everyday to mk
3 items will be brought from exective session so that council can vote on them:
Resolution to submit ordinance introduced at special mtg this wk, 12/7, $250k, for possible litigation costs in connection with iStar, to finance board of DCA to review bond ordinance
$3 million for senior center
Another Bond Ordinance for $1,465,635 Mn introduced: $247,635 to cover severance liabilities in retiring employees, $394,000 workers comp cases, and $824,000 for police arbitration.
Ordinances will be heard on the bonds at Jan. 5th meeting.
Resolution to allow Extension of option and sale agreement lake Group AP LLC, strip of land on lake adjacent to kennedy park.
Mayor Ed Johnson called several people to the front of the chamber to be honored:
Honorees, Lorraine Stone
Gertrude Fay Hudson,
Tyrone McAllister
Tora Jordan,
Atilla …
Ebony Towns
Akeen Robbins
(names came too fast, missed quite a few)
Loffredo announces Mayor Johnson is also on the list
Students of AP academic achievement.
Public Comment Portion:
Bernard Gorsey – long branch plus many addresses in Asbury park
Been in Asbury before all you gentleman…wnt to congratulate you very pleased w/ the progress you’ve been getting since I haven’t been around. (laughs) I hv several projects, will keep under hat so competition doesn't hear, wnt to meet w/ city to share my ideas/ let’s get to wk on and mk some taxes for the city/ next yr the chanuka bush
Steve weider – 602 5th
Like to wish everyone happy holidays…despite fact my landlords hv’nt been maintainin bdgl properly/ cpl police officers, one S. McCarthy, been nasty and harassing to me/ McCarthey called me a racist after yrs of trying to help poor people…then came out to complain I was too loud when had a meg of 8 people…when he complained of loud tv, neighbor turned tv off before officer came/ Lost 150 hrs of sleep since summer/ why is police officer protecting a man know…bez he’s been there sev’l time for drugs…chief k
Timothy Jones – commuty svc leader/ need to know who to spk w/ doc procedure/ legal proceedings concerning the city? plans to sue city...
TR- Start w/ city mgr
Rita Marano – 8th ave
Few wks ago u had emergency appropriation $650k to pay for the retirees. Tonight going to do again? is it the same appropriation?
TR – yes, is same am’t, bonding allows us to spread out the payments so doesn’t boost tax up in one yr
RM - What's $3 mn for?
TR – same am’t of money jst financing it thru county so get better rate/ the $3m is for senior ctr building/
RM – how much is budget for next yr
TR – not discussed/ jst new laws, caps, guidelines hv to live w/ terms of presenting budget/
RM – hope next yr will hv balanced budget
TR – we’d love that
Jerry Scarano – LB
We hv tow truck fees, etc. when we hv drug raids is there some way to pass off fees on landlords/ think they shd hv to pk up the fees…Instead of having to layoff police officers
NOTE – Chief Kinmon confirmed 35 layoffs of police have been proposed to Trenton tocut budget costs out of 93 officers.
TR – Chf Kinmon wks closely w/ county when prop is confiscated portion comes bk to city/ if u could link fact that I’m a landlord and facilitating drug use in bldg can take the bldg/ but don’t know if they’re complicit.
Denise Richardson – ridge av
Jst listened to Lucas closing for 3 wks, big company, can’t believe…Weather? I’m sure will be better in Dec than Jan.
EJ – think that’s why this wedn they’re going to poor final layer and w’re going to meet and get involved in this.
DR – after what went thru
BG – lucas has contract to wk 566 days, lot of employees immigrants go home to families. They intend to finish job in those days or early
JB – incentive to finish early
BG – no incentive to do that/ fixed price contract
Duanne Small – 1304 mattison
Do w hv policy that when someone bids on contract their status is checked / majority of wk is being done by people who don’t live here and undoc wkrs. I’m a contractor myself, if I hire someone illegal, it is taking place here/ city shdn’t allow it/ serious prob in this city/ we need to do something about it/ as brian jst mentioned they give them weeks to go back to their own countries. What’s going on w/ these license plates, 8 cars over there w/ out of state tags. Landscape company trk registered in nj, but when he gets off wk his veh is registered in md. Understand it has to be done immediately, Johnson.
TR – we’ve had this conversation, chif discussed w/ you/ when someone is pulled over officer notes it/ pt is fact still see plates out there doesn’t mean our pol dept isn’t doing its job/ one thing to come to mic and make accusations/ we do go after people who live here and hvan’t changed registration. Illegal aliens…saying city is engaging contractos who have illegal workers…u say u know that is going on, in private you tell me who is doing that and we will investigate.
Pam Lamberton – happy holidays everyone
At last metg lots of people clamoring for city pol review bd anyone signed up for it?
EJ – got list here w/ one name on it. People who stood at mic and hav not signed up for it. Be a part of this process and be on board.
PL – other part of it is to be part of the solution…wd encourage people if open to it, take second step in civic participation,
EJ – how do you spell your name
LAmberton
Myra Campbell – ap
We had a mtg w/ city, hope we mv forward w/ some of suggestions brought up/ I present pictures that a full bus went down Eliz Ave, not realizing street cut off at Springwood, disappointed w/ that becz I was told there wd be some notice/ point people assigned to tk care of this problem/ want to ensure that as we go along w/ wk has to be done concerned about hlth and safety of people involved in …I enjoy coming here and talking to you and want to wish all of you a happy holidays.
Approvval of minutes from prev mtgs – all yes
Dec 1, minutes, yes
Spec mtg sanders out/ all expect absent yes
Raffles – Mt. Carmel Churchurch and PTA yes
Institutionalizing the 4 – 6 pm hours every council meeting w/ be for executive sessions…
Budget transfers for current fund…$308,000
Items of revenue : mmarquette $175k contrib. to police
Special Police $16,482
$3mn for cap budget for senior center
Monmouth county improvement authority
Extenstion of option
$1, 465,000 spec emerg notes for city of AP
Bond ord of $250k approved
Bus driver…introduction
Trash Hauling Contract -Low bidder 2 yrs, 3 yr option, DeLisa Disposal $420k a yr
TR - Great price, lower...
Auditor Warns of Governor's Wishes for No Exceptions 2% Cap
Debt Service Would Have to be Met from Taxes or Cuts
35 Cops Could Go from Payroll
Reporters' Notebook - Corrections, spellings, clarifications welcome
Asbury Park Council meeting Dec 15, 2010 – Henderson, John Loffredo, Ed Johnson, Kevin Sanders, Jim Bruno, Steve Kay, Clerk all present
Workshop - (Executive Session ran past 6 pm - www.cityofasburypark.com , click calendar date 12/15/10 for agendas)
City Manager Terry Reidy introducing David Kaplan, city's auditor:
Lot still to be ironed out in Trenton with state budget matters in flux. Sent layoff plan down to Trenton this wk as you know req’d us to pass $804k emergency approp last yr
Primer on what we see happening in 2011
David will take us through a slide presentation/ what laws are how it concerns city
Kaplan -
First slide, cap laws – were two kinds: relevant to appropriations and levy cap laws – approp one still in effect/ tried to limit appropriations that are in control of city – such as supplies – capital improvements etc outside control/items funded by grants are outside the cap. Don’t know if w/ hav changes to approp-type cap / levy cap limits & approp in tax levy/ was 4% last yr, 2% this yr/ as per Gov Christie wanted no exceptions. legislature said too hard to do that/ are some exceptions in the law now, not been changed yet/ best guess w/ their interpretation…debt svc and costs will remain outside the levy cap for now/ health ins costs over 4% are included - / 16.7% inrs this yr, not all if increases are as much as 30% w/ be outside cap
TR - City gov had discretion before/ not now, each town’s voters w/ have the say now/ so if the 2% levy cap means hv to lay off 20 cops and fireman, if they exceed the levy cap, can only save half the jobs. Now we need referendum/ ask pub if appv exceeding cap for this reason…Much necessary to do this - Really an education process, residents say don’t wnt to vote for that because taxes w/ go up/ you have to explain that police protection may reduce crime may imprv public safety, values go up, etc.
Kaplan – referendum process still proceeding, so stay tuned for that one/ we’re $2mn over levy cap now/ 2% levy cap impos to deal w/ unless …changes…applied for $13.3 or more last yr/ shortage on cops has to be made up this yr/ 1.4 in bank, used 1.3 this yr w/ be lucky to hv $300k, pensions and health costs risen again/ no way state w/ provide what is in 2011/ so what do we do...
First is to raise revenue, is possibility from major sources – 2 are being investigated as we spk and w/ be in plc next yr/--Kaplan doesn't name these two --
Second: cut costs, reductions in staffing levels, outsource functions done in hse/ extend benefit reductions thru contract negotiations/ shared svc agreements, long term plan for debt reduction.
As of now inaction is not an option, need to act whether referencum or not/ formalize and implement cost reduction plan immediately, wait for DCA to formalize their rules/ every town facing the same things. Old Game over stuck w/ some tough rules in new game.
TReidy – regionalizing expenses dramatically reduce costs, still on table, we’re still advocating for , shared svcs too,
Giv u sense of whats ahead for us/ bigger policy issues need to present to gov body, police chgs on reduction/ incrs revenue – bring bk to you jan or feb/ we’ve been really on this/ everything’s in motion/ read the stories every day/ lot of this is like being on the inside and waiting for the dust to settle/ as soon as anone…inaudi ble, off mic
Brian Grant – pavers in CBD
Primarily the weather, street trees, try to complete before spring 11, concrete if we pour now, rock salt for street would totally destroy concrete for sidewlks, recommending , street lites prob // use ? as a fill in meantime/ haven’t graded off yet/ instead of completing option, paver colors originally gray, but so much concrete now wd rather some contrast, new autumn, a reddish paver, muted color blnd in w/ what hv now. After install fdns and street lights// present to PBd mon nite, like color, and recommendations
$2 sf/ concrete is $4 sf, but if hv contractor install 6 – 8$ SF/ cdn’t hear what the substitute was/
Pour bases in concrete…
Next item – springwd av constructions/ met w/ ms Campbell lst thurs nite, sim concerns raised at prev council mtgs, revised format from legal to letr size/ first pt of contact, second pt w/ be…??
We also cited maintenance item/ left few holes open/ safety concern, addressed following dwy/ today paved dewitt to sprinwd, mckinly place – applying blankets to keep ground from freezing/ any improvement do for contractor/ get area buttoned up/ met w/ sisters academy, come to accommodations for Christmas concert/ close spwd ave bet dewitt and ridge, major storm damage/ sister Marylou not completely happy but reached accommodation. Hoping to resume next Wedn.
Focusing on concrete curb and paving…wd like to immobilize Christmas thru jan. if don’t hv concrete sidewks like to stabilize/ school by Ridge, apt bldg on ridge, come bk mid jan finish off/ final grading and landscaping on borden av, sched for t’w grade and fix up landscaping/ everything currently working on w/ be based.
Sanders says too long a break..
Grant invites Sanders to come out and see we’ll discuss there.
Housing authority presentation:
Mark Holmes Exec Dir of the AP Housing Auth, introduces Carl Accettola (CA), former supv for HUD in NYC/ asset to the APHA / very excited about the Boston Way plan, sev’l mtgs w/ staff and residents, everyone very excited about this/ phones are inundated w/ calls / pop very excited about all constru sp’wd etc. Key is communication w/ residents, answered all q’s / everyone very happy, said first time anyone ever came and spk to them/ PNC Bank discussed budget and banking, opening up ckg accounts/ write a ck instead of money orders/ said 5% of amer w/ never buy home or want to buy a home/ bring residents info options on home ownership/ vouchers pay mortgage for 15 yrs/ they can establish credit – thru payments of gas and elec bills/ prop sits in midsts of transportation center/ everyone s/hv safe healthy envir w/ services / can share more details w/ hsg process/
CA: I'm Monmouth county resident self, colts neck, pleased to be in Asbury, wonderful plc, falls in line w/ overall plan of sustainable dev/ HUD realizes not efecctive to put money in …recently had park study done, code and prop stds, cost w/ be $17mn, total dev cost $27mn/ key component of process / giv everyone …process, after demo app’d, no one left out in cold, vouchers to go anywhere in the country for 30% of their income// costs city of ap nothing/ all applic process comes from fed’l grant $/ in no way going to impact city of ap budget/
Ed Johnson – when? …demo permits
Carl Accettola (a former HUD employee, is no longer affiliated with HUD, he is a consultant to APHA)
– ASAP \applic 4 mos, like to see it start in summer, however, demo not going to tk plc until adoption…???... places to move…
MH – section 8 vouchers / some vouchers w/ go to residents right away/ setaside some for early residents to mv process along.
EJ – what in plc if resident chooses to stay in AP
MH – there are a small numb who hv asked if they can stay in public hsg. We said sure/ voucher is good for 60 days we can extend to 120 days…I’m a licensed realtor myself/ we’re going to do everything we can ourselves. Whether it’s second av or Montana/
AC – one of my grt passions in life, is to mk sure all amer get fair hsg, include din that wd be that disabled people hv same accessibility, 5 story wk ups in boston way just didn’t afford that/
MH – you really can help us/ city mgr been really helpful in discussing various possibilities, I’ll be mtg w/ james famularo…some residents relocating to wash av, so / I get a little aggressive, I mov a little fast, but I’m not going to be satisfied unless everyone has hsg.
EJ – how many people
MH – 96 households/ hv to pay the rent, be a good resident, if you’re not, not going to live here/ still hv to obey rules of HUD.
Tom Gilmour – next yr we will hv an acctg of how much is made in spec events fees.
Interfaith Neighbors Team presentation –
Paul McEvely, Heather….,
Announce new program conceived by and run by youth corp members /
youth member Quahmel McMillian is spkg, not on mic/ something about soup and coffee for people sleeping rough... We came up with this to help community/ (He refers also to Karim Berry, another youth corps member in the chambers and Brendan Ward, an intern from Monmouth University working on the project.)
McMillian - we will set up on sprwd and atkins in that area/ I’d like to thank Wachovia regional fdn, for grant to help us get started. After I graduated the youth prog I went to culinary school so …/ like to thank frank’s deli, marilyn schlossbach, Harvey construction Mon thru Thurs 4:30 to 6:30/
Paul - by the new home of the future senior center/ w/ be interfaith van there, temp lighting, apprec help from tony nuccio/ cdn’t do this if not for passion of youth to help people in neighborhood.
EJ – asked for email version hat we can put out/
SH – asked if cd put it on the big sign on the Main St.
Steve K – do we want to keep mtg sched/ so wk session wd go directly into pulbic instead of waiting until 7.
JL – I think people shd attend the work session.
4 – 6 exec, 6 – 7 worksession/ 7 public session
SH – after listening to depressing report on everything going to occur next yr, I’d like to thank the youth corp for picking up my spirits for the holiday
JBruno – merry Christmas, kwanza, everthing, happy holidays and happy new year and what I wnt for Christmas I want..
KS - jst like to wish everyone happy holiday
EJ – congratulate everyone who partook in kwanza/ wish everone happy holidays
TR – want to thnk everyone who comes to these mtgs, to keep gov honest/ all staff who get up everyday to mk
3 items will be brought from exective session so that council can vote on them:
Resolution to submit ordinance introduced at special mtg this wk, 12/7, $250k, for possible litigation costs in connection with iStar, to finance board of DCA to review bond ordinance
$3 million for senior center
Another Bond Ordinance for $1,465,635 Mn introduced: $247,635 to cover severance liabilities in retiring employees, $394,000 workers comp cases, and $824,000 for police arbitration.
Ordinances will be heard on the bonds at Jan. 5th meeting.
Resolution to allow Extension of option and sale agreement lake Group AP LLC, strip of land on lake adjacent to kennedy park.
Mayor Ed Johnson called several people to the front of the chamber to be honored:
Honorees, Lorraine Stone
Gertrude Fay Hudson,
Tyrone McAllister
Tora Jordan,
Atilla …
Ebony Towns
Akeen Robbins
(names came too fast, missed quite a few)
Loffredo announces Mayor Johnson is also on the list
Students of AP academic achievement.
Public Comment Portion:
Bernard Gorsey – long branch plus many addresses in Asbury park
Been in Asbury before all you gentleman…wnt to congratulate you very pleased w/ the progress you’ve been getting since I haven’t been around. (laughs) I hv several projects, will keep under hat so competition doesn't hear, wnt to meet w/ city to share my ideas/ let’s get to wk on and mk some taxes for the city/ next yr the chanuka bush
Steve weider – 602 5th
Like to wish everyone happy holidays…despite fact my landlords hv’nt been maintainin bdgl properly/ cpl police officers, one S. McCarthy, been nasty and harassing to me/ McCarthey called me a racist after yrs of trying to help poor people…then came out to complain I was too loud when had a meg of 8 people…when he complained of loud tv, neighbor turned tv off before officer came/ Lost 150 hrs of sleep since summer/ why is police officer protecting a man know…bez he’s been there sev’l time for drugs…chief k
Timothy Jones – commuty svc leader/ need to know who to spk w/ doc procedure/ legal proceedings concerning the city? plans to sue city...
TR- Start w/ city mgr
Rita Marano – 8th ave
Few wks ago u had emergency appropriation $650k to pay for the retirees. Tonight going to do again? is it the same appropriation?
TR – yes, is same am’t, bonding allows us to spread out the payments so doesn’t boost tax up in one yr
RM - What's $3 mn for?
TR – same am’t of money jst financing it thru county so get better rate/ the $3m is for senior ctr building/
RM – how much is budget for next yr
TR – not discussed/ jst new laws, caps, guidelines hv to live w/ terms of presenting budget/
RM – hope next yr will hv balanced budget
TR – we’d love that
Jerry Scarano – LB
We hv tow truck fees, etc. when we hv drug raids is there some way to pass off fees on landlords/ think they shd hv to pk up the fees…Instead of having to layoff police officers
NOTE – Chief Kinmon confirmed 35 layoffs of police have been proposed to Trenton tocut budget costs out of 93 officers.
TR – Chf Kinmon wks closely w/ county when prop is confiscated portion comes bk to city/ if u could link fact that I’m a landlord and facilitating drug use in bldg can take the bldg/ but don’t know if they’re complicit.
Denise Richardson – ridge av
Jst listened to Lucas closing for 3 wks, big company, can’t believe…Weather? I’m sure will be better in Dec than Jan.
EJ – think that’s why this wedn they’re going to poor final layer and w’re going to meet and get involved in this.
DR – after what went thru
BG – lucas has contract to wk 566 days, lot of employees immigrants go home to families. They intend to finish job in those days or early
JB – incentive to finish early
BG – no incentive to do that/ fixed price contract
Duanne Small – 1304 mattison
Do w hv policy that when someone bids on contract their status is checked / majority of wk is being done by people who don’t live here and undoc wkrs. I’m a contractor myself, if I hire someone illegal, it is taking place here/ city shdn’t allow it/ serious prob in this city/ we need to do something about it/ as brian jst mentioned they give them weeks to go back to their own countries. What’s going on w/ these license plates, 8 cars over there w/ out of state tags. Landscape company trk registered in nj, but when he gets off wk his veh is registered in md. Understand it has to be done immediately, Johnson.
TR – we’ve had this conversation, chif discussed w/ you/ when someone is pulled over officer notes it/ pt is fact still see plates out there doesn’t mean our pol dept isn’t doing its job/ one thing to come to mic and make accusations/ we do go after people who live here and hvan’t changed registration. Illegal aliens…saying city is engaging contractos who have illegal workers…u say u know that is going on, in private you tell me who is doing that and we will investigate.
Pam Lamberton – happy holidays everyone
At last metg lots of people clamoring for city pol review bd anyone signed up for it?
EJ – got list here w/ one name on it. People who stood at mic and hav not signed up for it. Be a part of this process and be on board.
PL – other part of it is to be part of the solution…wd encourage people if open to it, take second step in civic participation,
EJ – how do you spell your name
LAmberton
Myra Campbell – ap
We had a mtg w/ city, hope we mv forward w/ some of suggestions brought up/ I present pictures that a full bus went down Eliz Ave, not realizing street cut off at Springwood, disappointed w/ that becz I was told there wd be some notice/ point people assigned to tk care of this problem/ want to ensure that as we go along w/ wk has to be done concerned about hlth and safety of people involved in …I enjoy coming here and talking to you and want to wish all of you a happy holidays.
Approvval of minutes from prev mtgs – all yes
Dec 1, minutes, yes
Spec mtg sanders out/ all expect absent yes
Raffles – Mt. Carmel Churchurch and PTA yes
Institutionalizing the 4 – 6 pm hours every council meeting w/ be for executive sessions…
Budget transfers for current fund…$308,000
Items of revenue : mmarquette $175k contrib. to police
Special Police $16,482
$3mn for cap budget for senior center
Monmouth county improvement authority
Extenstion of option
$1, 465,000 spec emerg notes for city of AP
Bond ord of $250k approved
Bus driver…introduction
Trash Hauling Contract -Low bidder 2 yrs, 3 yr option, DeLisa Disposal $420k a yr
TR - Great price, lower...
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