Please visit the stormwater information booth at the 9th Annual Barnegat Bay Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2005 at Ocean County College from 10 am until 4 pm. Enjoy an entire day of Free Family Fun. The campus will be filled with activities and exhibits for the young and the young at heart to celebrate the natural beauty and uses of the watershed and Barnegat Bay. The day will feature activities that promote good environmental stewardship, including children’s activities, food, music, awards and recreational activities.

Directory corrections: Baran, delete PO Box number; Bowden: 732 892-2918.

If you have water pressure problems,call Borough Hall. The water company advises residents to keep track of dates and times of water-pressure problems.

Mayor Dunbar presented a Certificate of Recognition to Dick Sameth for his many years of service on the planning board.

David Jenkins asked is there a plan to have quiet paving on Route 35. The Mayor said the repaving won't be done until '07 or '08, that quiet paving is very expensive, but the paving near Princeton Avenue will be checked. . .Don Redlinger is concerned about pedestrian safetyon Rte 35. . .Carol Leone is pleased with the stop sign on East Avenue at Lyman; would like a small '4-way stop' plaque under the signs at Bergen and Lyman; is concerned the beach access sign at Lyman is incorrect re dates and hours for dogs on the beach; and are heavy equipment vehicles allowed on private property for months? A resident wonders why high vegetation is allowed at the corner of Arnold and Bay.

Residents were packed into this Council meeting to hear plans about the fire siren. All Council members were present except Councilman Jones who had been excused. The Mayor's first order of business was a resolution to declare June New Jersey month.

Police Chief Ortley reported the 'click it or ticket' program in May was successful; the police boat is in the water and he expects there will be problems and long waits for boats at the bridge this summer; that only six people of the hundreds who signed up for the 'Do Not Knock' stickers have picked them up. They are at Police Head- quarters, so pick one up. This governs door-to-door commercial solicitation.

Fire Chief Gilman reported the Fire Company responded to eleven fire calls (eight were alarms), had three drills and one meeting. He said there will be defibrillators on the fire trucks. The Pancake Brunch will be at the Firehouse Sunday, July 3rd from 8 am to noon. Bring family and friends for all you can eat from a menu of pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, etc. Adults are $10, kids, $5, three and under, free.

And, the PARADE is on Monday, July 4th. The Chrissy and Casie Memorial Mile run is at 8, the flag raising ceremony at 11 am, the parade at noon, followed by food and beverages, the Parade winners' ceremony, the radio-controlled boat races at 2 and canoe races at 2:30. It's really fun.

Construction Official Wardell issued thirteen new permits and seven updates during May for decking, roofing, siding, plumbing and a demolition.

Zoning Officer Guldin had 27 applications of which 21 were approved and one violation notice was issued during May.

The Fire Siren controversey stirred residents to come to a Council meeting! There were close to 75 at this meeting. Many spoke, citing the present siren's sound level is hazardous to health; the pagers could notify firefighters; replace siren with a programmable electronic horn to make different sounds at different volumns; the siren is necessary during the day and it is not used at night; FEMA requires a 70 decibel level throughout town, but it is higher at the source. A siren is necessary during the day, not only to call personnel, but to alert traffic that a situation is pending.

Councilman Gillingham put a resolution to Council to prepare to replace two siren units with programable electronic horns with an option to add three more. Council passed the resolution and will put it out for bids immediately.

Emergency Management: Residents must be aware of the hurricane season and what to do if we have one. Think about it now; where do I go? You will be advised to leave, but it is not mandatory. You will know ahead of time if a storm is coming, so make plans, prepare your house, boats, etc, turn off utilities and get out. Route 34, Bay and East Avenues and Barnegat Lane will be northbound only. EMC personnel will be leaving town once they have done everything possible to protect you. You may want to give one of them the name of your "next of kin."

Ordinance #498 establishing a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency in the Bororgh of Mantoloking pursuant to Chapter 217, Laws of New Jersey 1975, was passed. Chairman Nebel reported on the activities of the finance committee. Four resolutions were passed: Payment of bills, approve the release of cash surety bonds, consider the release of cash bid security and accept the resignation of Municipal Court Administrator, Sandra L. Maidling, effective June 2, 2005.

A resolution to appoint Helen Carver as seasonal part time beach badge sales person was passed.

A resolution to establish mid-block crosswalks along Route 35 was passed. These will be at 1103 Ocean Avenue and 1073 Ocean Avenue and will be an access to the beach from Barnegat Lane. Crosswalks will be painted on the highway.

The Mantoloking Yacht Club has requested that the two-hour limit parking on Bay Avenue on June 25th and July 9th be suspended during the sailing regattas. A resolution was passed to grant this request. Ocean County desires to enter into an Interlocal Services Agreement with Mantoloking to provide additional security services during the reconstruction of the Mantoloking bridge in 2005. The resolution was passed.

Councilman Laymon reported that garbage and recycling is going well. The activities of the drug and alcohol alliance and Ocean County block grant project graduation was a huge success. Another Municipal garage Sale will take place September 24th.

Councilman Popaca said the walkways at the corner of Bay and Arnold Avenues have been completed.

A resolution granting a franchise to New Jersey Natural Gas Company to lay, maintain and operate for a term of fifteen years, its conductors, mains and pipes within the Borough was passed.

There will be a public hearing of the Flood Hazard Mitigation Committee on July 19th at 7 pm at Borough Hall.

Councilman Husted read "On June 16th the Water Resource Development Act was unanimously approved by the Congressional Subcommittee. The House WRDA Bill includes construction authorization for the Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat shore project. The Amount approved was $400,000 for 2006.

"On June 17th US Senators Corzine and Lauten- berg announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee had approved $191 million in funding for projects to preserve New Jersey's shore and beaches, including Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet (planning) $200,000 for 2006."

The two bills have to be reconciled. In the House bill the funds may be spent for construction but the Senate does not approve construction. It is hoped that during the summer the two bills will be reconciled and approved by both Houses in September.

Residents of the area need to apply maximum pressure on the Houses to reconcile the bills to $400,000 and pass the WRDA Bill.

Remember the Fire Company brunch on Sunday July 3rd and the Fourth of July Parade.

The next Council meeting will be on July 18, 2005 at 8 pm.

The Reporter is compiled and edited by Christine Wilder.