A Special Meeting of the Mayor and Council was held on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 8:00 p.m.The Mayor and all councilmen were present. They passed a Resolution to award the contract for an emergency warning system to Federal Signal Corporation.

"The public interest of the residents and property owners of the Borough of Mantoloking is best served by continued reliance upon utilization of an audible emergency warning system, both for fire and life-safety emergencies and to warn of other dangers in compliance with FEMA requirements. The abandonment of the now antiquated mechanical sirens and replacement, by two (2) electronic signal devices, at approximately the same locations as existing will, to a significant degree, reduce the nuisance perceived by residents proximate to signal sites caused by the existing mechanical sirens.The bid of Federal Signal to supply a new system for the sum of $37,452.10 is the lowest responsive responsible bid; all conditions for legal compliance having been deemed satisfied upon review of counsel. Additionally, the signal demonstration of August 24, 2005, has been considered and the proposed signal is deemed acceptable. The award of the contract to Federal Signal Corporation to supply a new emergency warning system, pursuant to bid specifications of August, 2005 and bid of August 15, 2005 is hereby confirmed and ratified."

No comments were made from the audience. The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

"DUNE GRASS AND FENCING:The Borough will receive dune grass from Ocean County on November 4, 2005. 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 2005, 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. Those who are not using a landscaper or caretaker for their grass planting will have their dune grass delivered by the Public Works Department. Leave a large pail with water, to cover the roots of the plants out near your garage."

Emergency Management Coordinator Sgt. Mark Wright: If you hear a steady siren blast of 3 to 5 minutes, turn your radio to 1160 WOBM-AM, 92.7 WOBM-FM,95.9 WADB-FM, 1310 WJLK-AM, 98.5 WJLK-FM, or 100.1 WJRZFM. Or call 800 792-8314 for the New Jersey State Police Emergency Management Hotline. A FORMAL NOTICE TO EVACUATE HAS THE FORCE OF LAW. IT MUST BE OBEYED. If you are unable to evacuate, call the Mantoloking Police at 892-0832 to arrange transportation to an inland shelter.

Mayor Dunbar opened this Council meeting promptly at 8 pm. All Council members were present. A resolution to appoint Elizabeth Boettger as Deputy Court Administrator and also as Court Violations Clerk, and to appoint Edwin C. O'Mal-leyas a member of the 2011 Centennial Celebration committee, was passed In August, the Mantoloking Fire Company responded to fourteen fire calls, had three drills and one monthly business meeting. There were six fires; a pole fire in Bay Head, a brush fire near Curtis Point, a structure fire in Pt. Pleasant, an assist to Company #40, a fire on the Mantoloking Bridge and an oven fire in Bay Head, two CO alarms and a water leak in Brick. The rest were alarms. Stan Witkowski reported on the siren test, and said the Fire Company had a joint exercise with Wall to gather all kinds of supplies for hurricane relief to be sent to New Orleans. It was highly successful.

Emergency Management attended two mock drills which were informative and productive.

In August, the Land Use Officer reported there were twenty-eight applications received and twenty-three were approved. One first floor survey and one roof ridge surveywere approved. The applications were for fences, tents, alterations,a new house, a garage, an AC unit and temporary facilities.

Councilman Nebel announced the Borough is on budget and he accepted the report of the Municipal Finance Officer thru July 31st.

Ordinance No. 500 amending Ordinance No. 471, the Mantoloking Salary Ordinance, revising salaries for the Deputy Municipal Court Administraor, Court personnel call-out time (hourly) and creating the position of Municipal Court Violations Clerk and the salary for said office, was passed by title only.

Councilman Nebel moved the following resolutions: Payment of bills of $101,949.93 for the month of September, 2005; Objection to the diversion of PARIS Grant Program dedicated funds; Refund of overpayment of property taxes to three property owners; and Designation of salaries for Borough employees.

A resolution to ratify a suspension of enforcement of two-hour time limit parking on Bay Avenue on Augus 26, 2005 was approved for the World Duck Boat Regatta. It was also suggested that since the Mantoloking Yacht Club has several regattas during summers, the Borough should remit special regatta forms for all of 2006.

A resolution to approve the application of Courtney B. Bixby to be a member of the Mantoloking Fire Company was approved.

A resolution to object to the award of State Homeland Security Grant funds to certain politically- favored legislative districts was passed. It is true that in the three years of the program's operation, towns in Democratic legislative districts have received 93% of the $23 million which were available, while towns in Republican legislative districts received just 7%, a mere $1,647,642. Some call this 'shoveling smoke.'

The Garden Club has suggested that the west end of Lyman Street is unsightly, it needs major attention. It is being taken under advisement.

A resolution to award a contract for hydrogen sulfide control system conversion at the Sanitary Sewer pump House (Herbert Street) was passed. This will replace the chlorine with bioxide, a much safer product.

A resolution to make payment number one for storm drainage improvements for Barnegat Lane (Herbert Street to Lyman Street) was passed. All drainage work from Lyman to Herbert will be done this fall. After all conflicts are found and fixed by the gas company, the final covering will be laid in the spring from Bergen to Herbert.

Councilman Popaca was concerned why it took the electric company two and a half hours to clear Route 35 of downed wires after a car hit a pole.

The Corps of Engineers has decried the lack of funding on water resouorces as Katrina damaged the Gulf coast. Had the WRDA bill been passed, the funding could have been used to maitain the structures in that region. The Senate and Congress have been awakened to the necessity of flood protection, navigation and water habitat enhancemant projects, and possibly beach renourishment. The Mantoloking web site has details, and names and addresses of Senators to contact. They really need to be prodded to act on our interests.

The Dune Walk will be Thursday, October 20th, if rain, October 25th or, if rain, October 27th. The beach at low tide now is what it should be at high tide--with renourishment that will be possible. Work on it. Write your representatives. The more prodding they get, the more likely they will take up the cause.

Remember the towns-wide garage sale this Saturday, September 24th.

The meeting adjourned at 8:17 pm. The next Council meeting will be Monday, October 17th at 8:00 pm.

The Reporter is compiled and edited by Christine Wilder.