Organization Meeting January 5, 2004

Rusty Husted and Steve Gillingham each read his oath of office and were sworn in for three more years as Councilmen of Mantoloking. Gerry P. Little, recently appointed a Freeholder of Ocean County was introduced by Mayor Dunbar. Mr. Little had previously served in local government in Surf City.

Mayor Dunbar reiterated the accomplishments of 2003: The new garage, renovating Downer Avenue, planting the Memorial Garden and the Freedom tree, the land use ordinance, to mention a few.

And for 2004, plans are underway to eliminate the flooding on Barnegat and Runyon Lanes, to renovate the old Borough garage, to get on with the Route 35 project, to continue to pressure the Feds for beach renourishment and to be ready for what ever has to be done to keep Mantoloking special.

In new business, Councilman Gillingham was appointed Council President. Officials, committees and boards for 2004 were appointed by the Mayor and Council as were official depositories, official newspapers, the 2004 emergency management council and tax appeal agents. Council designated a procedure for payment of bills, a petty ash fund and the custodians, the procedure for delinquent tax collection. It adopted a 2004 temporary budget, a cash management plan and a roster of meetings for 2004.

Councilman Husted reported General Flowers of the Army Corps of Engineers has recommended to the Secretary of the Army his approval of the feasibility study for beach renourishment Now we wait for Congress and the Senate. Councilmen Husted and Jones have worked diligently on this and deserve our hearty congratulations. Keep after your representatives!

It has been observed around town that construction projects by residents are being undertaken without permits. Permits must be acquired or work will be stopped.

The Mantoloking Directory will go to press early in May. Please write, call 732 899-2386 or e-mail ccwilder@comcast.net with additions (your e-mail address), corrections or subtractions. The Reporter is on the mantoloking.org web site, and can be, and is, e-mailed to a long list of residents. E-mailing eliminates some costs, and you get the news quicker.

Regular Council Meeting, January 20, 2004

This meeting was called promptly at 8:00 with all members present. Mayor Dunbar remarked that Police Chief Ortley and Patrolman Wright were attending a meeting at the Coast Guard Station to ascertain how the bridge construction will affect boat traffic during the summer months.

Ordinance #471 fixing the salary and compensation of certain officers, positions and employees in the Borough of Mantoloking was passed by title only.

Ordinance #470 amending Ordinance #465 providing for land use regulations in Borough was passed by title only. "1. Proposed Ordinance #470 is hereby amended by the amendment of Exhibit B, Article VI, Section 6.4C (proposed 6.5C), Restoration, by deletion of the amending Addendum concerning the involuntary destruction of non-conforming structures. 2. The Joint Board's recommendation that the "grandfather" clause of Ordinance #465, Section 8.2, be amended is hereby endorsed and proposed Ordinance #470 is now amended as follows: Except as otherwise provided in this Ordinance, any lot which conformed to the bulk requirements (i.e., lot area, width and depth) of any Land Use Ordinance in effect prior to the adoption of this Ordinance, or was validly pre-existing, may be used as a lot for any purpose permitted in the zone without the necessity of variance relief, if (1) at the time of and since the adoption of this Ordinance neither the lot owner nor any successor owners owned adjoining property which, if combined with the subject lot, would allow the combined lots to conform with the bulk requirements of this Ordinance, and (2) the lot otherwise conforms with all requirements of its zone."

Copies of all Ordinances and Resolutions are maintained on file for public examination at the Borough office and are published on the website, www.mantoloking.org. The following resolutions were passed: Accept the report of the Municipal Finance Officer for November, 2003; Transfer of 2003 Budget Appropriation Reserves; payment of bills for the month of January, 2004; establish employee salaries for 2004; accept the resignation of Patricia Wojcik, temporary Chief Financial Officer; establish employee salaries for 2004; appoint Michelle A. Swisher Chief Financial Officer as of January 26th for the unexpired term of Roger Pribush (expires December 31, 2005) and administer the oath of office to her; authorize professional service contracts for 2004; award miscellaneous service and maintenance contracts for 2004; and approve the proposed budget for 2004. Finance Chairman Nebel said the municipal tax rate would probably increase by 3 1/2 percent.

The Mayor and Council approved the following appointments: Michael Dreyer, Lieutenant of Police, and Mark Wright, Sergeant of Police, effective March 1, 2004, and Jeff Henba, Police Patrolman, effective April 1, 2004 to temporarily replace John Barcus who will be going to Quantanimo Bay on active duty for a year.

Sergeant Dreyer, reporting for Chief Ortley, said the Police Department had 169 incidents during December, which included four accidents, three first aid calls, many building checks and open doors. Residents, whether careless about closing doors or not, must be aware that strong winds are apt to open doors if they are not properly secured, so secure them. And with this very cold weather and strong northwest winds, pipes freeze. If you are going away for the winter, TURN OFF THE WATER TO YOUR HOUSE, and give the Borough a phone number where you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

During December, the Fire Company responded to fifteen fire calls and held two drills. The calls included six fire alarms, a car fire, a debris fire, a house fire, a furnace fire and a pole fire, one electrical hazards call and three wires down incidents. During one drill, snow stakes were installed at all fire hydrants in the Borough, and the other drill took Santa Claus to the Greywell home to distribute presents to the youngsters and to sing carols. Fire Chief Gilman thanks all residents for helping make the year a safe one. And the whole Fire Company thanks you for your response to the annual Fund Drive.

Superintendent Heckman has been busy, particularly during this cold spell, plowing streets and spreading sand and salt. He also has been cleaning the storm-drain inlets, and finds extraneous stuff in the drains. Water from snow and rain run off into the drains which go into the bay. They are NOT receptacles for trash, garbage, dog poop or anything other than water. Please respect our Barnegat Bay.

Councilman Laymon reported Council is waiting for bids for garbage and recycling, and said two new companies have inquired.

Councilman Popaca announced the contract for the roadway and storm drainage improvements for Barnegat Lane north of Bergen Avenue was awarded to F and P Contractors of Sayreville, NJ. He also said there will be very tall power poles installed from south of the Mantoloking line to Seaside. This should alleviate the power problems along that stretch.

Councilman Laymon stated the "Welcome to Mantoloking" sign stolen last year will be replaced, and another one will be added at the north end of Barnegat Lane.

Councilman Jones said there is not much new damage to the beach but the dunes have not recovered. We will wait until early March when the Stockton report on the beach is due.

And Mr. Jones reported the flood insurance rates have been raised nine percent, the maximum, for beach front properties.

The Construction Official Wardell reported five new and eight updated permits were issued during December, mostly for plumbing, alterations and roofing.

Councilman Husted again spoke at this meeting that the feasibility study for beach renourishment has been signed, that when and if the Senate and Congress pass a new WRDA Bill it could include the $50 million needed. Congress has passed a WRDA Bill and appropriated $200,000 for the project, but the Senate has not passed their version of the WRDA Bill. It is hoped they will pass it now that they have reconvened. The Corps has sufficient funding to allow continuation of the Preliminary Engineering Development.

The Clinton and Bush Administrations have reduced funding every year and are expected to further reduce spending on Coast programs. But "they will spend $125 million on a highway intersection effecting a limited number of people and are unwilling to spend $50 million to protect the second biggest source of revenue in the State". Again, contact your representatives and urge them to pass this bill. Do you know there are 47 coastal states?

This meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm. The next Council meeting is February 17, 2004 at 8:00 pm.