Residents, check this out: Anne Benedict, Mantoloking's reknowned historian, has a new display in the Borough Council room. She has collected photos from 1929-1992 which show local houses after storms. Other items of interest are things found on the beach such as Indian tools, artifacts and Betsy Colie's little 'head' which was profiled on WNTV.

Mayor Dunbar asks residents to contact the building department before doing any construction on their properties. And if you would like to receive The Mantoloking Reporter by e-mail, let this editor know, ccwilder@comcast.net.

At a special meeting of Council on August 30th, Council passed the following Resolutions:

a. to award the contract for the Downer Avenue Replacement Bulkhead Project to the lowest bidder, Albert Marine of Waretown whose bid was $31,051;

b. to award a contract of $139,416 for Roadway and Storm Drainage Improvements on Barnegat Lane from Bergen Avenue to Lyman Street, to F&P Contractors of Sayreville;

c. to approve a Revised Schedule of Municipal Court fines;

d. to authorize placement of a Geological Water Level Monitoring Station on the south end of the Old Bridge Street bulkhead as requested by the US Dept. of Interior;

e. to request the appointment of an Ocean County resident to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to fill the vacated position; and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Society of Municipal Engineers.

The Council Meeting, on October 20th was opened by Mayor Dunbar promptly at 4pm. Questions from Donald Redlinger: What is the status of getting bids for a new siren system. Mr. O'Malley said he was working on the wording of the bids which should be ready this week; The traffic light at 35 and Downer? It is a dangerous timeline for crossing, particularly for children during the summer. Mayor Dunbar is having a meeting with the DOT to address this problem and that of the light at 35 and Bergen. Both lights are not resident-friendly, whether for pedestrians to cross or cars waiting to turn onto 35; and what about the litigation vs. Fitzgerald? Mr. O'Malley could not really comment on the ongoing case. . . . .Mrs. Francesca Ring asked for information about beach renourishment, why are new studies necessary, who is holding up the process in Washington, it is time for all communities to make noise and get the process started. Councilman Husted told her the situation is worse, that there is a new policy and the Army Corps may not continue with renourishment. If that happens, two areas along the east coast might sue the Corps. The whole thing is being held up in the Congress and the Senate.

All Council members attended this meeting which started at 4:28pm.

Police Chief Ortley said all was quiet now that summer is history. There were 244 incidents during August, one of them that Peter Strohm found a litter of kittens in his yard. Patrolman William Shewan successfully completed a course entitled "Driving While Intoxicated/Standardized Field Sobriety Testing" conducted by the New Jersey State Police.

Construction Official Wardell issued sixteen new permits and twelve updated ones during August. They included plumbing changes, siding, roofing, an irrigation system and two new single-family houses.

Councilman Nebel presented the following resolutions which were passed by Council:

a. Acceptance of the Report of the Municipal Finance Officer for July 31,2004; b. Payment of bills totaling $235,343 for September, 2004; c. Release of unused escrow for completed variance applications and the return of said funds to the escrow applicant; d. Release of cash surety for a completed de- molition; e. Release of 2003 unused vacation and comp time for Borough Superintendent Heckman; f. Request a refund of Social Security taxes for overpayment of same for Police Officer Shewan; g. Request approval of items of revenue and appropriation; and h. Refund of real property tax overpayment to two residents.

Councilman Laymon reported the garbage and recycling activities have been the best in many years, that it was a good summer and M&S has done a really good job with garbage and recycling collections. Once in a while a resident calls to complain, but the problem is soon rectified.

A very innovative activity in Mantoloking's recycling system is coming on Wednesday, October 13th, so mark your recycling calendar for this date:

A one-time only collection of all things electronic will be picked up from your curb. Included are computers, monitors, fax machines, scanners, key boards, mice, speakers, mainframes, TVs, VCRs, stereos, DVDs, radios, printers and other stuff in this category. It is truly a one-time only collection. If you miss this, you have to take your electronics to the Ocean County Northern Recycling Center, New Hampshire Avenue, Lakewood (use Oberlin Avenue entrance Gate #2), open Monday through Saturday, 7:30am-3pm.

Councilman Laymon also congratulated his beautification committee for doing a great job.

Councilman Popaca, chairman of the Regionalization and Shared Services Committee, said he is working on a program to work with the County and Point Pleasant Beach to purchase large quantities of 'ice melter.' Buying large amounts is considerably cheaper for all concerned, and if last winter is an example of what is to come, it well be needed.

Councilman Jones said the Dune Walk Committee's activities are posted on the website, mantoloking.org. And though we have been spared so far from major damage, the turbulent weather in the south has stirred the ocean and our beaches have had erosion from northeast winds.

With so much attention and federal money going to hurricane-battered states, beach renourishment may not be a project our representatives care to address at this time. But continue to write to them, keep them informed that beaches attract tourists who spend lots of money which produce taxes so their other pet projects can be funded, their salaries paid and their pensions enhanced.

DUNE GRASS AND FENCING: The Borough will receive dune grass from Ocean County on November 5, 2004. All beach front property owners may call the Borough Hall at 732-899-6600 to reserve their allotment. If you have not received dune fencing in 2004, you may reserve that at the same time. If your landscaper, caretaker or other is picking up your dune grass or fencing, please let the Borough Hall Offices know that when you call.

Councilman Jones foresees more changes in the National Flood Insurance Program which will result in upping the requirements for flood insurance.

A special caucus meeting of Council will be held Monday, September 27, 2004 at 8pm

The next regular Council meeting will be Monday, October 18, 2004 at 8pm.