MantolokingOctober 19, 2009 No. 422

This Reporter will include portions of the September meeting as well as last night's Council meeting. This editor was not present at either meeting.

Mayor Nebel opened the meeting promptly at 4:30 p.m. with all Council members in attendance.

Councilman Wtikowski introduced MFO Swisher who presented the monthly finance report, the first of five resolutions which were all passed. resolutions to pay bills of $104,887.26 for October, (last month's bills totalled $268,571.46), designating signatories on borough bank accounts with three signatures required (Mayor or Council President, borough clerk or Councilman Ness and the CFO or Councilman Gillingham), transferring current year appropriations, and approve the release of the surety bond in conjunction with the demolition of a single family home at 937 Lagoon Lane. A surety bond was released last month for the demolition of a single family home at 209 Channel Lane.

Councilman Gillingham presented the reports of the Police Department: total incidents for the September reporting period were 196 which included 56 'time card' incidents and 47 building checks. A resolution to accept Chris M. Szczgiel and John M. Strich for membership in the Mantoloking Fire Company was accepted.

A resolution urging the FCC to take action to mitigate ongoing interference with radio communications effecting first responders serving Ocean County was passed.

A public hearing on Ordinance #574 providing for the regulation of peddlers was held, then the ordinance was passed. Also, a public hearing was held on Ordinance #575, to amend the Land Use Ordinance. It was subsequently passed.

In September, The Mantoloking Fire Company responded to 20 fire calls, held three training drills and had a scheduled business meeting. Thirteen calls were alarms, three were wires down, a boater in distress, a PD assist, a standby and a pole fire. During August there were 25 fire calls, three training drills and a business meeting. Eighteen were alarms, one car fire, a smell of smoke, a structure fire, an odor investigation two wires arcing and an electrical hazard.

In August, five construction permits and two updates were issued. In September, ten construction permits and three updates were issued.

Land Use Officer Marinaccio received fifteen applications in September and sixteen were approved (one for hardscaping from August.)

A resolution for a miscellaneous supply, service and maintenance contract to Verizon Business Network Services Inc. on behalf of Verizon New Jersey, Inc.was passed.

In September Public Works Chair, Councilwoman Nelson moved a resolution authorizing the purchase of a surplus vehicle from Ocean County, a 2000 Ford F150 pickup truck for $1.00. Yesterday, she moved a resolution authorizing the sale of surplus property, a 2000 Ford Ranger pickup no longer needed for public purposes. Both resolutions were passed.

A resolution confirming the nomination and appointment of Vito M. Marinaccio as Land Use Officer, a term expiring 12/31/2009.

Councilman Brown, chair of the Municipal Services Committee moved a resolution confirming the appointment of Lawrence Plevier, P.E., Borough Engineer and Frank X.Bruton as NFIP Flood Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Members, term expiring 12/31/2009.

A resolution to provide for separation and recycling of designated solid waste components and duly approved by the NJDEP to comply with requirements of the law and may generate income based upon volume of recyclables delivered and it is deemed necessary and appropriate for the borough to participate in the County recycling program for the contract period, January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2014. It was passed.

The following is a truncated report of the Status of the Beach and Dune System, October 15 - 19, 2009 as reported to Councilman Strohm from Robert C. Mainberger of hatch Mott MacDonald: "The borough withstood northeasterly winds for the entire duration of the event which caused an erosive type wave activity across the borough. Due to the storm low pressure system, the borough experienced higher tidal conditions and significant waves which removed the beach berm into the surf zone allowing severe erosion and scarping of the dune system. The damage was exacerbated due to the limited amount of beach berm protection as the bulk of the summer berm was lost in the previous September storm event.". . . . . . The borough has experienced erosion well in excess of the cy/lf paramenter to initiate bulldozing activities, therefore it would be detrimental to proceed with bulldozing at this time. . . . . A good amount of sand remains off shore just at the toe of the remaining dune system in some areas. This will help in the build-up of the berm, but it will take some time to recover. "It is highly unlikely that the beach berm will recover to a point to conduct bulldozing operations prior to the winter season. It is anticipated that a mandatory dune bulldozing effort will be required and be conducted in late spring of 2010 and the initial summer berm builds wnough to allow this activity."

Here are the comments that were made at last night’s Council Meeting, thanks to Borough Clerk Irene Ryan.

Councilman Strohm commented on the post storm assessment report as written by Robert C. Mainberger of Hatch, Mott, MacDonald. Bulldozing to reinforce the dune structure will take place in late spring when there is more sand deposited in the berm area of the beach. Mrs. Dee Ring of 1119 Ocean Avenue questioned the Mayor and Council on the effort to have all towns in our reach to collaborate a beach replenishment project without Federal involvement. Mr. Strohm stated that Ocean County Freeholder Director Bartlett has recently held a meeting with the Mayors from Bay Head through Lavallette. An alternate draft of an acceptable property easement agreement was presented to Mark Mauriello of the NJ State DEP for his consideration. A follow-up meeting is being sought by the Freeholder office with Mr. Mauriello and the interested Mayors. Councilman Strohm’s final remarks were to remind all beach front property owners to reserve their dune grass that will be delivered to Mantoloking on November 5, 2009. He announced that the Fall Dune Walk will take place on October 30, 2009. This assessment dune walk will be more detailed as to what damage was experienced by each individual property owner.

Councilman Ness announced that due to the unavailability of our local team captain, the Fall Beach Sweep set for Saturday, October 24 has been cancelled in Mantoloking. We will look for participants in Spring of 2010 for a clean up before the summer beach season.

Councilwoman Nelson announced that the repaving of East Avenue will commence on Tuesday, October 20th. She also informed us about the pending plans by the N.J. Natural Gas Company to install a new 12” diameter steel gas main within the NJDOT right-of-way along Route 35 from Bay Head to Brick. This work will commence this month.

Mrs. Marianne Buck of 121 Curtis Point Drive and a member of the Seaweeders Garden Club of Bay Head and Mantoloking, announced that they will sponsor the commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of the Blue Star Drive on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. The Blue Star Drive was started in 1944 to honor all veterans. The ceremony will take place at the Blue Star Memorial Marker located in Scow Ditch Park, Bridge Avenue, Bay Head. Mrs. Buck stated that veterans Mayor Bill Curtis of Bay Head and Councilman Stan Witkowski of Mantoloking will participate in the ceremony. On behalf of the Seaweeders Garden Club, Mrs. Buck invited the Mayor and Council and all residents of Mantoloking to attend.

The next Council meeting will take place November 23, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.

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The Reporter is written and edited by Christine Wilder.