Mrs. Lygas asked Council why it would spend taxpayers’ money to challenge the state’s overturning of her successful assessment reduction of a mere $256. Councilman Nebel answered that her’s was not the only assessment challenge and Council is supporting its tax assessor in all cases as a class.

Mayor Dunbar opened the meeting at 8:10. All Council members were present.

The Police Department reported 143 incidents during October, which included one larceny, 13 alarms going off, and one traffic accident investigation.

The Mantoloking Fire Company responded to nine incidents, had three drills and one scheduled meeting. The incidents were six fire alarm activations, two defective smoke detectors and one arcing wires. Four each were in Bay Head and Brick with one in Mantoloking.

Construction Official Wardell issued seven new permits and three updates for alterations, an inground pool and demolitions.

The tax collector reported the December tax sale is canceled! He collected the delinquent taxes and thus averted the costs of advertising for a tax sale.

There was no old business. New business consisted of the following items:

Ordinance # 451 was introduced by title only. It reads “An ordinance amending Bond ordinance # 435 of the Borough of Mantoloking, providing for the construction of a garage/maintenance building, authorizing the issuance of bonds and notes in the principal sum of $150,000 and appropriating the sum of $7,500 from the capital improvement fund for said purpose‚ and providing for re-allocation of available unexpended authorized funds from engineering to project construction.”

Resolutions b.1 and b.2, both Downer Avenue Reconstruction Project change orders were passed.

c. A resolution to appoint Lt. Richard Ortley as acting Chief of Police effective December 1, 2002 was passed.

d. A resolution for the purchase of a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor to Winner Ford of Cherry Hill, the lowest bidder of six bids received, $20,556, was passed.

The following resolutions were also passed:

e. To designate signatories for the MBIA Municipal Investors Service Corporation; f. To consider transfers of budget appropriations in the 2002 Municipal Budget; g. DELETED; h. Consider approval of the application for Œspecial connections‚ water service for the fire protection system to the new Borough garage; i. Consider approval of “2nd Year” provision of the contract for the Emergency Storm Response contractor; j. Consider approval of the contract for professional lobbying services in conjunction with beach renourishment; and l. Consider approval of a revised P.B.A. contract with Police personnel.

k. Consider endorsing the adoption and enforcement of Boat Speed limits on Barnegat Bay and advocating more stringent boating regulations concerning noise, wake and shallow water operation. All residents are urged to write to Roger Brown, chairman, NJ Boat regulation Commission, c/o NJ State Police, Marine services Unit, PO Box 7068, West Trenton NJ 08628, to express their concerns and support.

Councilman Jones reported the beach has been affected by the recent northeast storms. Fortunately the storms have been relatively fast, but this last one did cause spotty damage with the ocean flowing next to the dune. The sand is close by however, and should repair the beach in due time. Weather predictions call for a lot of northeast storms this winter/spring.

Councilman Popaca is working with Point Pleasant Beach for a Œreverse 911‚ system, to contact each homeowner in time of evacuations, etc. More on this in the future. He also said the garage work is finished on the outside and the inside is nearing completion. Curb cuts throughout the Borough are being done, and Downer Avenue is undergoing “highering” at this time.

Comcast is supplying HDTV to those with digital connections.

Councilman Laymon said the Borough really does have garbage and recycling problems. He met with Waste Management and they promise the world but do nothing. More meetings, maybe to result in better service. Residents have to continue to call if their trash is not picked up.

Finance Chairman Nebel will present next year’s budget at the December Council meeting.

Councilman Husted has presented the current status report regarding the Beach Renourishment Program. „Prior to the adjournment of the Senate and Congress there was a dead lock between the Senate and Congress to keep the government funded. Members of Congress are supposed to pass thirteen appropriations bills by the beginning of a fiscal year that begins October 1st. Unfortunately because of a Senate/Congress deadlock only three appropriation bills were passed, and frequently in such cases, what are known as continuing resolutions that fund the government at the previous years‚ level, without any new, additional spending.

“Unfortunately a continuing resolution, instead of an appropriation bill, will not fund our project of Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet Beach Renourishment.

Therefore, our project will be delayed or terminated unless congress passes the FY Œ03 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Additionally, our project needs additional legislation - the Water Resources development Act (WEDA) - to permit sand to be placed on our beach. congress is about to adjourn this year without taking care of either of these bills. We need to make sure they act when they come back to reconvene the 108th Congress in January.”

Contact Senators Corzine and Lautenberg, Representatives Saxton, LoBiono, Smith and Roukema, and NJ Representatives Ciesla, Hozapfel and Wolf.

All of this information and addresses are on the Mantoloking web site, Mantoloking.org. Please use the site frequently. It has lots of information, and residents should check in at least once a month.

The Reporter is being sent this month to many more residents by e-mail. Your editor is culling addresses all the time, so at some time in the future, the Reporter will be e-mail only!

Next meeting: December 16th at 8:00 pm. This meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.