David A. Yazdan, MD, chief of staff and of neuro surgery at Pt. Pleasant Hospital, part of the Medical Center of Ocean County which is a
component of Meridian Health System, spoke to Council about his serious concern regarding Meridian‚s corporate structure and financial
practices. Its three officers, Lloyd of Jersey Shore Medical Center and president of Meridian, Mervis of Riverview Medical Center, and Gribbon
of MCOC, have handpicked a five-member board to run, with them, Meridian Health System. Dr. Yazdan is speaking to all communities involved with Meridian to request representation on Meridian's board. This is a multi-million dollar business which operates in part with donations from
local residents and should be represented in the corporate decisions of Meridian.

Council Meeting, November 16, 1998

Mayor Roman and all Council were present at this meeting brought to order at 8:14 pm. Minutes of the September and October meetings were
distributed to Council.

The Police Department was quiet during October. It issued 72 motor vehicle summons and made five arrests, responded to one fire call and
answered three requests for first aid. The Police boat will be stored at the Baywood Marina since it costs less there than to have it brought
here and blocked. The police suggested posting better signs to prohibit vehicles on the beach.

Superintendent Heckman prepared Mantoloking for the winter, picked up 126 yards of fencing from the Ocean County garage and delivered it and
dune grass to ocean-front owners, removed tree stumps from the Bergen Street beach and put a load of compost on same, and made a current
survey of all sidewalks and curbs in the Borough.

The Fire Company had one business meeting, held three training drills and responded to five alarms, two fires, one overturned car and one
arcing wires call during October. Two calls were in Mantoloking, two in Brick and five in Bay Head. Twelve construction permits were issued, nine new and three updates, for two additions and ten alterations, all for private ownership.

CFO Crelin reported he is working on the 1999 budget, reviewing Capital Improvements for 1999 and waiting for the State‚s numbers. He is trying
to contact deliquent-tax individuals to avoid the tax sale on November 20th. And. . . . one of our local banks, Commerce Bank, has offered and has in place credit card acceptance without a fee. This is an astonishing turn of events and I am still verifying the conditions for the account. Once I have all the details I will once again make a presentation to the Borough Council to accept credit cards in payment for all fees and taxes with the exception of the Court. The Courts are still reviewing their participation in any credit card usage.

Bills of $827,583 were presented in October. The major part of this, $550,242, was fourth quarter taxes to Ocean County, $41,500 for
Borough payroll, $96,000 for the Borough capital improvement fund, $11,500 for Marpal and $54,570 for the Board of Education.

Six resolutions were passed by Council:

a. Consider filing an appeal on the proposed Flood Insurance Rate Map;

b. Approve the appointment of a special prosecutor (to take over in
case the other one is unavailable because of other commitments;

c. To consider the return of money in escrow for a Planning Board
application;

d. Transfers of 1998 Budget appropriations;

e. Reapprove a membership application for NJ State Firemen‚s
Association; and

f. Consider the Advancement in Pediatric Autism Research Act.


Resolution (a.) authorizes the Borough to spend $2,300 for a more detailed land study of the area between Route 35 and the ocean from
Lyman Street to the southern boundary of the Borough, and $800 to appeal the proposed revised flood map. Council wants to contain the cost o flood insurance, and if these new zone-hazard areas go into effect, it would cause flood insurance premiums to be substantially increased.

Councilman Husted stated FEMA has measured only three locations in Mantoloking, and made mention of two heights for first-floor
construction levels; thus he feels Mantoloking is in a position to appeal this revised flood map on a technicality, the only condition on
which an appeal can be heard.

In Mantoloking, 98% of properties are covered by flood insurance. If flood damage has occurred and insurance is needed, to receive the maximum
dollar amount, a homeowner must pay the maximum amount for insurance. Otherwise, his "award" is prorated for depreciation.

The dunes are in relatively good shape because sand came in during the summer, and there is sand on the sandbars off shore. But the
renourishment program is in need of funds to do the feasibility study, and the engineering study cannot begin until the feasibility study is
completed. Residents just have to badger their representatives and senators to insist on this study. The need is $400,000; Congress
approved $200,000, the Senate, $100,000. And $100,000 was not approved by the time Congress adjourned.


Councilman Kerr said there should be no drastic changes in property taxes next year, just maybe a small increase.

Some residents may be notified by letter if they are not in compliance with the sidewalk and shrubbery authorities.

Councilman Dunbar is still harassing the County to change those blinking traffic lights to no-blink mode.

The fishing has been spectacular this fall, so much so that it has created a major concentration of vehicles on the beach. Councilman
Husted not only caught a fish, but he counted fourteen vehicles on the beach at one time. Council will place larger "No vehicle" signs in all
the proper places.

The 1999 Council meetings for the Borough of Mantoloking are to be held at 8:00 pm the third Monday of every month except for the
Organizational Meeting on Monday, January 4th, and the Regular Council meetings for Tuesday, January 19th and Tuesday, February 16th. Those
Mondays are holidays.

Monday, December 21st is the next regular meeting at which the Mayor will have his annual Awards Presentation.

The meeting was adjourned a little after 9:00pm

Happy Thanksgiving

The Mantoloking Reporter is compiled and written by Christine Wilder.

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Copyright 1998 Borough of Mantoloking