##VIDEO ID:w9g1b0oTK4U## us to go there welcome everyone this meeting is called to order would everyone please rise for the flag salute I pleas flag United States of America to the rep for it stands one nation God indivisible with liy and justice for all welcome everyone thank you for being here may I have a roll call please council member G here council member Habor present council member Owen here council member deanis here council member McAn here council member Dill here council president Johnston here also present is Mayor tap administrator Frost city clerk Heath city solicitor Smith and our city engineer Snider pursuant to the open public meetings act adequate notice of this meeting has been provided the agenda for this meeting is posted in City Hall and on the city's website Summers point gov.org okay I'm just going to uh move a couple things around on the agenda uh first of all resolution number 254 we're going to pull that from tonight's agenda and um resolution number 52 we're going to move to the front of the agenda in the interest of everyone's time um could I have a motion to open for public comment on resolu solution number 252 only please I'll make that motion second any comments all in favor I I any opposed Okay resolution number 252 resolution number 252 I'm sorry um I need a motion to close I'll make a motion to close second that as well all in favor I I any opposed now closed for public comment on resolution number 252 now resolution resolution number 252 of 2024 saluting Edward Butch McGrath whereas Edward Butch McGrath is a longtime resident of the city of Summers point and whereas Butch began his career as the Summers Point Fire subcode official on September 9th of 1993 and whereas Butch brought an unparalleled passion for his work to the job and was a real asset to the city bringing happiness to all around him with his constant smile and witticisms whereas Butch has been very involved with the community including his commitment to the Summers Point Historical Society The Good Old Days festival and the horsepower by the bay car and Boat Show whereas in addition to his dedication to his profession and Community but also served as a professional firefighter in the city of Margate for many years now therefore it is hereby resolved that the mayor and city council recognize and thank Edward Butch McGrath for his dedication and service to the city of Summers point and it is further resolved that the mayor and the City Council on behalf of the citizens of Summers Point convey their gratitude and best wishes to Butch in his retirement may I have a motion please I'll make that motion second second any comments man president yes Mr I just wish want to wish you well and obviously you you've been a wonderful asset to the community and and to the city rather and and obviously you're well liked as we can see the entire staff is here so uh congratulations thank you may I sure Butch going into the Construction office I'm definitely going to miss that monotone voice of yours hi how you doing and listen not for nothing at 83 three are you sure you're not rushing into this retirement thing at all I wish you the best of luck Bush thank you butch I got to tell you we've known each other probably 40 years and I started out knowing you as the person that tried to keep my brother out of trouble at the Margate fire department and all the crazy stuff we did hanging out together and being involved in the historical society and you working on everything that we did uh it took me about 20 years before I actually realized your first name was Edward you so but uh I appreciate everything that you did for us I know I'm going to see you just as much so and uh I wish you well in retirement but we're going to keep you busy so thank you okay good um all in favor all any opposed resolution down there yeah sure come on micol give us the chance to clap for yeah there's a photographer over there Mr Mayor right there thank you much okay um we have a uh special presentation tonight we're g to get an update from the chair of Chuck wescot the chair of our Economic Development uh he's going to give us his quarterly report on on the great work they're doing M president Mr Mayor members of the council City Administration um very happy to be here tonight um I wanted to give you a quick update on what edc's working on currently what we've been doing what we're planning on doing um our Focus this year has been uh primarily on two things marketing and uh our participation in the master plan reexamination as far as the marketing goes I think everybody's pretty much familiar with the the do you love Summers Point campaign and if you haven't seen us here there's a QR code it takes you to the city's website you sign up you get eight emails a year it's not sales marketing it's strictly about the activities going on within the city um as of September we had collected approximately 2,000 emails but after some auditing and purging it's it's uh under a ,000 unfortunately those open emails catch a lot of bots there's typographical errors people don't do it right but we're getting consistent um lists of 7 Day 800 that are going out uh on a monthly basis um our open rate which is important is two and a half times the industry average that means people are opening it to see what's in it they're not just deleting it the click rate which means they're actually interacting with it the click rate is more than six times the industry average that means not only do they want to see what's going on but they have questions and they want to know more information so they're clicking through and then that brings them to the city website Facebook is doing very well as as well um we've had increases in both followers as well as reach um the gold standard with Facebook is views of the page that would be the bronze uh the silver would be an interaction with the page that's a like it's a comment it's a whatever the gold stand is shares so our push is to share uh I would encourage all of you as well as all of you present if you're not visiting the Facebook page please do it but do more than just look at it interact with it like it and if you really see something that's interesting share it the whole idea is to get the word out there and the more we increase the reach um the more effective it becomes um new followers our high month was this past April we added 279 followers that month which which is really good our Peak reach was April which was over 61,000 people so that meant 61,000 unique eyes looked at that web page that's that's significant that's really good um obviously our activity varies with the season higher in the spring summer a little bit lower in the shoulder season in the offseason but we're seeing continuing to see numbers that support the the expectations based on peak season trough season and our boosting plan which is um limited to $150 a month that's for Facebook um that is continue to be very effective and it produces pretty much what we expected it should it's getting Beyond um just the native uh followers it's it's pushing to like everyone within Summers point or if we boost Beyond Summers point we're getting a whole lot more eyes on it um so we're we're looking at that and hopefully we'll be able to expand that uh we also met with um Performance Marketing uh last week uh Janice and the other member of the subcommittee from edac and we began talking about well we reviewed our successes from 24 which I've just shared with you and we began planning for 25 um what we'd like to do is to see if we can come up with some more funding so that we can boost more posts maybe take it to the next level we're fine if we continue where we are but we're going to see things level off and the goal is not to level off the goal is to continue to to continue the momentum so but we're working on a couple of plans with that um as for the master plan reexamination we've been working with Triad and Associates um to identify some potential items for inclusion into the master plan reexamination so on August 26 we hosted members of Triad um Carolyn Zano who is the president as well as two of our senior Associates joined us in our meeting we had great discussions lot a lot of talk a lot of talk a lot of sharing um I think they were a bit overwhelmed when they left but um I think they got a pretty good sense of what our intent was as far as using their services they're a nationally known firm so they come well equipped to be able to handle our needs um we discussed some timelines we also discussed a potential deliverable is that's honestly what we're looking for we're looking for something that we can include in the master plan reexamination and if it isn't appropriate to include it we want it to be there as a reference document to go along with the master plan and then on Friday October 24th we had a follow-up visit with uh Mike epifano who had joined us at the meeting and we did a little ride around town Janice and Adam Marilyn and I and Mike uh hit all four corners of Summers Point um we were in places that most people never go back to fo Lane we were all the way down to drag Island you know we we looked and and poked and prodded and and showed him all the issues that we would love to be able to address and we realized we're not going to be able to hit all of it but we're we're showing them the whole thing in the in the hopes that they can come up with a plan that will provide us with some legitimate Economic Development any questions thank you thank you hey Chuck I just want to thank you for all the effort and work that you put into this as well as the rest of the members of the economic development for years when I was on Council I used to think what do they really do there's no question now what you people are doing and what you're achieving and I just want to take this opportunity to thank you and the economic development team for uh your efforts I appreciate that we we do have a really good committee people are really seriously interested in what's happening um it's not that they say it's my way up Highway they're there for the right reasons and they really do want to see good things happening and I did provide um a brief of the client update for yes thank you anyone have any Communications to offer hearing none Mr Mayor I just have a couple things uh this Saturday as probably everyone here knows we got trunk Retreat this is put on by our uh Sumer Point Police Department is from 4:30 to 6:30 on the corner of bay and uh Harbor Lane that's there uh so I believe everyone who's going to take part has already registered but if you got kids grandkids bring them by it's a great event uh once again another reminder our Christmas parade is December 7th it's not the 6th like it's been mailed out to everyone it's December 7th it's Saturday um and it starts at 6 o'clock goes down Shore Road starts at dolls Avenue ends up at City Hall uh something else coming up on November 2nd Saturday uh is the Trail of Two Cities it's the uh 5K run uh we do this every year uh so if you want to um you probably got on the website to register it starts in Ocean City the buses leave Summers Point Kennedy Park at 7:30 8:00 start uh and there'll be buses going actually in both directions to either bring Summers point to Ocean City they run back or to bring the Ocean City ones that run and then we bring them back uh and then Veterans Day of course is uh 1111 our ceremony will be at 11:00 at Patriots park hopefully everybody can show up and I say the best for last all right so if anyone's been at shop right lately and looked at the shopping carts you know and there's a little sign on there that says shopping carts may stop unexpectedly at the exit doors and the carts will stop if taken beyond the perimeter of the parking lot so that is a big step and I encourage I think we take a look at that we see how well that works out and then I'm going to encourage Council to uh and Tom Smith to put an ordinance together and make that somehow mandatory for different shopping areas here in town you know we have the new Aldi coming in it would be an excellent place to have that start also because those shopping carts are just all over the place and uh I want to thank uh shoppr for taking this big step I want to thank Don dun Ley for putting enough pressure on shopright for the constant calling of get your shopping carts off our street and I do appreciate that thanks Don and that is all I have thank you Mr Frost Mr Mr Smith thank you Mr Snyder uh just one item the originally we were going to receive bids for Ocean Avenue phase two today but there was a slight delay because of the dot um approving doing the final sign off so bids will be received next Friday instead and should be awarded next council meeting thank you anyone have any committee reports Madam president may I bring up some health and wellness stuff working on um relax G flow uh yoga it's on Tuesday and Thursday at the senior center thank Moren for leading that group uh if you want to join at 9:45 is the arrival time it starts promptly at 10 o'clock we also have continue our we walk Summers Point meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays Monday behind City Hall Wednesdays at Kern field uh the group is looking at possibly adding Fridays um because they want to get another day in during the week uh on Monday that just passed we actually had a gentleman by name of Scott Warren from Shore Physicians Group he was here and he presented on vaccines and flu shots it was a very interactive presentation uh it was 15 people here so we're going to look at with working with Shore Medical uh starting in January to see if we can get some other uh topics to be presented uh here for our residents we do have an upcoming class which starts on on um the 11th of November it's going to be at 9:30 here in uh City Hall it's called Wise It's a wellness Initiative for senior education um if anybody would like to uh sign up for that please let me know we do have 15 people already signed up for it which is uh what they look for so we can uh we can squeeze a few more in if we need to and that's it I just wanted to post everybody on the opportunities here in town that we're trying to build for health and wellness so thank you thank you um just a quick note from the steering committee um where you know we've been working on the master plan reexamination as a part of that we will be meeting with the Summers Point Business Association on November 7th to um meet with our business owners in the in town and get their input and uh explain to them what the process is and we'll just keep getting getting more input from them so from the business Community uh Madame President yes Mr Owen the uh Summers Point Arts Commission of the talent showcase uh that they normally have every year down at the theaters being moved to January 12th um and also uh this coming month uh summmer Point Arts commission uh Dan Myers is going to have a 3-day photography session uh it's going to be $30 per person if they want to sign up learn how to uh you know take better pictures and whatnot over at the senior building uh starting on Saturday November 9th then the 16th and they'll wrap up on the 30th so that's basically 10 hours per per class from 10 to 12 so looking forward to it got lots of things they do yeah okay thank you everyone uh could I have a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes from October 10th and executive session meetings also October 10th as in as content only I'll make that motion second uh any comments all in favor I any opposed the minutes are approved I have a motion to open for public comment on resolutions only please I'll make that motion second all in favor I any opposed we're now open for public comment on resolutions only anyone wishing to speak please stop up to the microphone and state your name well good evening council members I am Levi Fox and I live at 90 Broadway and uh sorry to have to be back here again um I am here tonight representing the high Bank tenant association really happy to see so many of my neighbors here uh and the Summers Point rener Rights Movement uh still seeking answers to some of the same questions that we posed at the meeting two weeks ago to the city council president uh and while the complete silence that I received in response to my question uh as well as the fact that we are back here again for what looks like the very same resolution is evidence of the council president's answer but I will give you another chance Madam council president if you want to respond to the question which I'll remind you of uh whether you endorse the illegal eviction of 17 families over the holidays so that you can use a shady Redevelopment process in order to give tax breaks to multi-millionaires do you work for the voters of Summers point two weeks out from election day or do you work for developers and I'll add a couple more uh can you promise the people of Summer's point that as part of this Shady Redevelopment deer you won't be giving up any public land in addition to tax breaks and and could we get you to stop wasting the people's tax money on r development lawyers would you like to answer any of those I'm sorry Mr Fox I'm not permitted to answer I don't think you're not permitted I think you're choosing not to but I appreciate you having the opportunity I'll I'll direct it away from you now I'm not talking to you anymore Madam council president you ask me to answer you I'm trying to answer okay I thought I thought your non- answer was your answer go ahead that is my answer but I want to tell you why because you have mentioned litigation and attorneys and therefore I'm not permitted to answer so okay well I appreciate that uh my my mention of I don't know where I came up with litigation or attorneys anywhere in there but that's the same fever dream that's bringing us back here over and over again all right so I will PR the council councilman gity I got to tell you how happy many of us longtime locals were to see that you consent it one more time to serve on Council and I just hope that uh you I feel like I don't really need to ask this I know the answer but I have to ask how would you respond to that that question about this particular Redevelopment deal I would just say that was about five questions it was it was a prompt I'm I'm an educator I do that oh all right you want me to break it down I think from what the if I miss one of the the five uh number one is I think Summers Point's the hottest real estate market in New Jersey if not the East Coast I wouldn't be in favor of any uh tax deals or Pilot programs or anything like that I appreciate that very much all right the the other I'm thinking of two you got to stay with me here because okay I got a good memory it's just short uh are we are we at excuse me just a minute are we okay with discussing this even though it's an executive session resolution we're talking about well I mean why is it behind closed doors that's the question three minutes up it's an ex session cont Rel answer okay just answering some Brad questions answer yeah I'm just what was proposed I will try to ask General Redevelopment related questions thank you for that okay now you got me totally confused what were the other four I think I think I've got the answer we're all looking for oh okay that works for me cool uh councilman Dill yes I was very pleased to receive your mailer highlighting the importance of tenant protections and reasonable rent stabilization which don't you love that term rent stabilization is not a good term I I absolutely do but that's beside the point uh and uh so can that's a personal opinion can I can I assume that you're not in favor of these kinds of Redevelopment schemes I'm in favor of Redevelopment if it's done in the proper way and it protects the citizens of the community that are affected thank you councilman mcgoran yes sir it was really good to see you at the car show always a pleasure to see you there it is and and one I thing I like about that is it's an event that brings together you know really highlights the wide range of people who call Summers Point home very true uh and so I would assume I would like to and you know I would like to know once again that you support the local residents as you have so often previously uh that has not changed in in the 16 plus years I've been here thank you yes councilman neighbor yes sir I was going to tell you that I thought you would uh you deserve to be Rookie of the Year on Council this year but I also want to add Best Rest say that again I missed that oh I said I also want to add best rest to that so so two Awards um and I know a lot more is expected we expect big things in year to and I'd like to start by hoping that you can publicly come out against these kinds of Redevelopment plans that seemly are not good for the community especially the residents of Ward I I would uh echo down there with Kurt was saying U this is a hot Market here it's not the market it was 10 years ago when I moved into town uh you served on edak with me you know I'm for growth in the town but it's got to be smart and it's got to be done right I love that idea of smart growth thank you sir councilman Owen I know that many people appreciated your offer to be on that committee exploring rent stabilization especially ahead of your potential W to re-election Run next year absolutely believe I appr appreciate you coming forward tonight and I hope that you might be the fifth member of council to give us a super majority against this kind of Redevelopment scheme that seems to be affecting the town as a whole I don't see it being as as a scheme as a whole uh Mr Fox so are you coming out on the side of landlords we're we're we're here to represent the city the people of the city the people of the city that's what I hope you hear I I really appreciate you coming forward tonight than and uh maybe possibly somewhere down the road you might be more of interest you know sitting up here with us oh you know 50 votes away I'd be sitting in councilman G's seat right now still right okay if you all recall oh wait a minute wait clarify that we didn't run against each other oh and and nor would we ever in the interest of anyone ever uh last one councilman to panthus how are you tonight can you confirm that we have not spoken about this issue previously I literally have no idea what you might say well uh I Am pro Redevelopment and even though it is the constituents of Ward one that are affected I'm not going to be interrogated by you I I apologize for you feeling like you were interrogated by being asked a single question sorry a handful of related questions excuse me but you're way over your three minutes so can well I appreciate the council being so so patient you have the patience of saints and uh I thank you all in the audience for your patience I do love Summer's point and I hope you all love it too thank you thank you thank you yes thank you motion to close I'll make that motion he's trying to move up who Pat are you coming up Pat I was yeah okay yeah me too tough tough act to follow that was the idea uh number uh 247 uh what is she being hired for Jason theer's office an assistant in the clerk's office she's a replacement had people in the clerk's office one of okay so she's needed them right and um uh 251 what's he being hired for she is a secretary so two these both are going to the clerk's office and two have left and two are being replac is that it okay and the other one is um uh 246 what's that the B just give me an overview Mr Smith you want to Executive session to discuss obligations and operational issues each what's what's there to discuss I dis okay so when are we going to hear the result may never be a result maybe just a discussion oh okay all right I like to go on record is saying you know for 30 years the Beach concert look what it went to number one in the country in the country okay you tried doing something to being number one in the country or me or anybody else in this place that Beach concert is just a jewel for this town and I don't want you messing around with it so I mean so that's what I have to say thank you very much thank you thank you motion to close I'll make that motion I'll second all in favor I I any opposed we're now closed for a public comment uh resolution number 240 please resolution number 240 of 2024 authorizing executive session advice of councel an attorney client communication regarding the status of litigation involving the city and its zoning board entitled Garden State outdoor LLC vers city of Summers Point City of Summers Point zoning board having a docket number of at l- l-1 43-23 may I have a motion please please I'll make that motion second all in favor I all in favor I'm the only one hi hi hi any opposed oh resolution number 240 is adopted number 241 please resolution number 241 of 2024 authorizing executive session advice of councel an attorney client privilege communication regarding the status of potential Redevelopment negotiations involving contract purchasers of of 90 Broadway in the city of Summers Point may I have a motion please so moved may I have a second second really uh all in favor I all right I I any opposed no resolution number resolution number 241 is adopted number 24 wait wait a second um I didn't know that we were going to uh adopted I have some concerns with some of the issues that were brought up it's to go into executive session to discuss it I I have the floor okay I'm sorry um I have some concerns with going into executive session uh even discussing this at this point I have concerns about the citizens out there that are being potentially being displaced and uh personally I'd like to see this resolution tabled do I have a second to table it second uh could I have a I guess we'll do a roll call vot the Roll Call vote is going to be on table if you want to table I just want on Clarity okay council member G yes council member deanis yes council member Owen yes council member Habor yes council member mcgan yes council member Dill yes council president Johnston I'm going to say no because I don't know how we're going to get any of this done if we don't have the discussions and the information in front of us so Okay resolution number 241 I guess we're removing that number 242 please resolution number 242 of 2024 authorizing executive session advice of counil and attorney client privilege communication regarding the status of a potential Redevelopment agreement for Block 107 Lots 1 2 and 3 and block 108 lot 3 In the ah-1 Zone Bay and Maryland Avenues may have a motion please so moved second any comments all in favor I I I any opposed resolution number 242 is adopted number 243 resolution number 243 of 2024 authorizing executive session advice of Council and attorney client communication regarding the status of property assessment litigation in the tax Court involving the city entitled Atlantic Synergy group versus city of Summers Point having a docket number of 00298 7-20 21 and 00 5268 d222 may I have ation please SM moov second any comments all in favor I I any opposed resolution number 243 is adopted number 244 resolution number 244 of 2024 authorizing executive session advice of councel and attorney client communication regarding the status of property assessment litigation in the tax Court involving the city entitled Power Sports Holdings LLC vers city of Summers point and gmh restaurant Holdings LLC having a docket number of at- c-78 d24 may I have a motion please I'll make that motion a second any comments all in favor I I any opposed resolution number 244 is adopted number 245 resolution number 245 chapter 15 n resolution local Arts Grant Summers Point Arts commission special project support may I have a motion please so moved second any comments all in favor I I any opposed resolution number 245 is adopted number 246 resolution number 246 of 2024 authorizing executive session advice of council and attorney client privilege communication regarding the city contractual obligations and operational issues with the Beach concert series may I have a motion please I'll make that motion second any comments all in favor I I any opposed resolution number 246 is adopted number 247 resolution number 247 of 2024 full-time hiring of Tiffany Hans may I have a motion please I'll make that motion second any comments all in favor I any opposed resolution number 247 is adopted number 248 resolution number 248 of 2024 resolution authorizing the city of Summers point to enter into a shared services agreement with the township of Galloway for the purpose of sharing electrical subcode official Services may I have a motion please do I just want to record that I had a conflict this I also did not invol okay may I have a motion please I'll make that motion second any comments all in favor I I any opposed resolution number 248 is adopted number 249 resolution number 249 of 2024 authorizing purchase through Omnia Partners purchasing cooperative for multifunction devices printers managed print services and IT solutions for the city's Police Department we I have a motion please so moved second any comments all in favor I any opposed sorry any opposed number 249 is adopted number 250 please resolution number number 250 of 2024 authorizing purchase through Educational Services Commission of New Jersey purchasing cooperative for concrete repair systems for City Hall I have a motion please so moved can I have a second I'll second it any comments all in favor any opposed resolution number 250 is adopted number 251 resolution number 251 of 2024 full-time hiring of Alexandra friend I have a motion please I'll make that motion I'll second any comments yeah council president uh the public did speak on these uh two resolutions 247 and 251 uh I want the public to know that they are budgeted okay they've been budgeted the Staffing for several years has been four we unfortunately lost two people one through resignation and one through retirement uh so therefore the the burden of the city clerk's uh Department hasn't changed a matter of fact over the years it's increased and I just want the public to know that we're not hiring new employees we're hiring replacement employees who that have been budgeted for thank you Madame President yes sir uh Madam city clerk you're going to have a full staff now uh I just hope these two folks have The Smiling Faces the rest of your team has there and the way they deal with the public I have to commend them when I'm every time I'm in here no matter what's going on at that window very professional so I'm hoping that these two match up to that thank you uh all in favor I any opposed resolution number 251 is adopted number 253 resolution number 253 of 2024 extending contract for 2023 emergency storm water repairs and M miscellaneous maintenance contract may I have a motion please so moved second any comments yeah council president just quickly uh this is a contract that allows the city in an emergent situation to do repairs so that the taxpayers of this community are well taken care of when it comes to storm water and any other type of Maintenance repairs associated with public works and with the services of this town thank you all in favor I any opposed resolution number 253 is adopted okay moving on anyone have any old business to discuss hearing none anyone have any new business to discuss okay Mr Frost would you like to discuss the bills 15,750 the other one the amount of 975 thank you uh may I have a motion to open for uh public comment please I'll make that motion I'll second that all in favor any opposed we're now open for a public comment anyone wishing to speak please step up to the microphone and state your name for the record members of council mayor my name is Mary fondi I live at 28 Delaware Avenue um I just want to ask if because this resolution 241 was tabled does that mean that when it's disced it will be discussed publicly as opposed to an executive behind closed doors not really me to answer yeah please if you can does it back committee who knows who knows is the answer may never come back up it was so I don't know what council will they want to bring it up where does that leave the residents of uh of the the apartments well that's a issue right is so the Redevelopment is tabled for now the the use of Redevelopment the discussion of the Redevelopment is the discussion of the Redevelopment is postponed at this point talking about it now right okay when you do talk about it are you going to talk about it in public you don't know may I request that you talk about it in public may may I do that at least you can do that thank you very much so on the record I would request that you would talk about it in public thank you so much motion to close I'll make that motion second all in favor I I any opposed we're now closed for public comment uh could I have a motion to pay the bills please so moved second all in favor I I any opposed Mr Frost and pay the bills um any further comments from the governing body yeah council president I just want to address uh something that Mr Fox had said uh it just so happened this was brought to council's attention in particular my attention uh it's not political just happened to be at a political time I would have made that decision next year I would have made that decision six months ago okay based on what I what what has been brought to my attention know okay my my my only concern was the fact that when you questioned and you said when you'll be running for a second term and I just want to make sure not all counil people with the wind as some do well okay uh I just you know and I just think that delaying this and the reason why I delayed this that is on the record is that uh maybe the residents and the current owner can work their differences out it's not something that the city can be involved in uh but it also gives us an opportunity for the city to work on other Redevelopment projects we currently going on we need to just slow it down a little bit and this was a good opportunity to slow it down based on the fact that it does affect many citizens in that uh in that area so thank you thank you further comments hearing none uh we'll now go into executive session we'll take a five minute recess if I don't believe we'll be taking any action after but if anyone wishes to stay you're more than welcome to wait in the lobby and we'll come get you when