Many Barnegat Lane residents either wrote, e-mailed or appeared at this Council meeting to strenuously object to raising their road grade. Dr. Lygas has lived here 25 years and has never encountered a flooding problem. Jim Brown, George Davey and Peter Flihan asked Council to cease and desist, there is no problem. The Mayor‚s answer: “We are not going to raise the road.” . . . .Walter Bray again asked Council when will the hazardous site triangles‚ be cut back? There are nine in Mantoloking, but three, Barnegat Lane at Bergen, Herbert Street at Barnegat and Lyman at Ocean are notorious view blockers.

This Council meeting was called to order at 8:18 with all members present. Minutes of previous meetings were approved.

The Police handled more than 196 incidents during October. It is apparent residents should lock their houses. Suspicious people and cars are being reported more frequently. Be safe, lock up.

Fire Chief Gilman asked residents to please let the Borough know where they can be reached. The Directory has most listings, but not all. Your numbers will not be published if you wish, but the Police and Fire departments should be able to reach you or a representative if they deem it necessary. Also, drain your water pipes if you will be away all winter. . . .There were 12 fire calls, four drills and one meeting in October. Of the calls, nine were alarms, one pole fire, one car accident and one wires down.

Superintendent Heckman is doing a great job, along with the Seaweeders and the Beautification Committee to make the Borough Hall area a delight to behold. The new landscaping is really attractive. A blue spruce will be planted at the parking lot in time for the holidays.

In September, eleven new building permits and four updates were issued, and in October, fifteen new and 4 updates were issued for reroofing, alterations, raising and demolishing houses, building five new dwellings, renovating, etc.

David Loughran, Emergency Management, said the County and State is implementing a new operational plan to deal with terrorism, WMD and other hazards which might be encountered in the Borough.

The following ordinances were passed after an opportunity for public hearings (there were none): No. 467, the construction department fee schedule; No. 468, maximum fines for violation of the handicap parking law; and No. 469, the fire sprinkler system increase of expenditure ($2,000) for the new garage. (In July the State changed the rules to demand a licensed sprinkler person must install the system).

Bills totaling $172,250.17 were approved for payment. These were routine with payroll, utilities and health insurance the major items.

In new business, the following resolutions were passed:

a. Approve the 2003 budget transfers; b. return the cash surety for a demolition permit; and c. return the escrow balance for a Planning Board variance matter.

d. Authorize the execution of the renewal agreement with the Ocean County Energy Cooperative pricing system for the purchase of energy services; e. approve the application of Richard J. Orlando to become a member of the Mantoloking Fire Company; f. and approve adopting the corrective action plan as submitted by the temporary Chief Financial Officer.

g. Authorize the Borough Engineer to solicit bids for the Barnegat Lane paving projects, from Bergen Avenue to the Bay Head line and Lyman Street to Bergen Avenue (just for paving); h. provide for the appointment of a NFIP Flood Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee for the Borough which will consist of Councilman John Jones, Borough Engineer Thomas S. Guldin, Superintendent Bill Heckman, Deputy EMC Coordinator Richard Laird, Borough Dune Inspector Robert Mainberger, Borough Construction Official V. John Wardell, and residents Craig Symons and Stanley Witkowski. And i. approve the change orders Nos. 4 and 5 for the roadway and storm drainage improvements on Downer Avenue (this job is completed).

Committee reports: Councilman Nebel said the budget process for next year has begun.

Councilman Husted said the beach renourishment problem is both good and bad. There is a standoff in Congress on the Werner bill with a compromise reached to spend $150,000 on the preliminary engineering design. Ocean County plans to get the feasibility study approved, but the whole thing will be dragged into 2006-2007, not 2004 as we had hoped.

Councilman Jones said the ocean front residents will get a report on the dune walk and a copy of the activities for the past four to five years about how the dune is doing. The fall bulldozing was a great help for keeping the dune/beach in good shape during recent heavy winds.

The Mantoloking Bridge is getting ready to be replaced. Councilman Popaca said the equipment is being barged in now and work will start in two weeks. The existing bridge will never be closed until the job is completed on November 17, 2005! Pile driving will take place in December and January and will continue every day, six or seven days a week until January 31st when they have to stop pounding because the flounder will be back.

Councilman Laymon told Council the Colorado Blue Spruce to be planted will be called ŒThe Freedom Tree‚ to honor the 9/11 victims, and it would include those fighting now for our freedom.

Councilman Jones told of our flood insurance rates which have increased as of May 2003. The FEMA newsletter details the increases.

Post-FIRM V Zones: Rates are up 9%, almost the maximum allowed. These are ocean front houses built after 1974.

Pre-FIRM V Zones: Rates are up 4.9%. These are ocean front houses built before 1975.

AO Zones: Rates are up 0.2%. This is the area generally close to Rt 35 and includes East Ave to Rt 35.

AE Zones: Rates are up 1.8% This is most of the rest of Mantoloking and includes the bay front and lagoon areas.

These rate changes are a direct result of the FEMA requested Heinz Center‚s Erosion Study which stated previous studies seriously underestimated the increasing hazard presented by steadily eroding coastlines. Many coastal experts question the validity of this study because of the sites selected for data sources. Most were in historic erosion areas.

Mantoloking is very active in the CRS program and is currently rated as Class 7 which rewards us with a 15% discount in flood insurance rates. We are currently working to achieve Class 6 status by the next compliance review in 2005. This would give us a 20% discount.‰

The meeting was adjourned at 8:53pm whereupon Council went into closed session.

Next Meeting: December 15th at 8:00. This is the Mayor's awards night.