Mantoloking Reporter

Coming up-The Fourth of July Celebration will include the Casie and Chrissy Memorial Mile Run at 1 pm followed by the Parade at 2 pm. There will be children's games after the parade....The Reporter is pleased with the response to the Fund Drive and we are still accepting contributions... Now that summer is upon us and lots more people and dogs are in town, please, please, please pick up after your four-footed best friends. That stuff is messy, squishy and squashy between little toes, to say nothing about smelly and unsanitary... Mayor Dunbar opened the meeting promptly at eight oÇclock. Councilman Husted had been excused; all other members were in their seats and attentive.

The Police Department reported 229 incidents during May including one for malicious mischief and 92 for traffic enforcement actions. Three warrants were issued.

The Fire Department responded to thirteen calls, had five training drills and one business meeting. There were five alarms sounding, two wire-related calls, one person in the bay near the Mantoloking bridge, a smoke condition, a pole fire, a structure fire, a possible fire and a standby for Point Pleasant Beach. Chief Downes reminded residents that fireworks on the Fourth of July, and any other time, are illegal.

MantolokingÇs Construction Official, V. John Wardell, issued ten new building permits and eight updates which ran the gamut from plumbing, decks, siding, pools, to repairs and replacements of everything else.

Superintendent Heckman is getting ready for the onslaught of summer as well as overseeing the repaving of Lagoon Lane which has started, sort of.

CFO Crelin commented there are still delinquents out there who have not paid taxes and sewer charges for 2000. And there are many for 2001, too...The selling of beach badges started twelve days ago and so far the amount sold is 51% of what was sold last year in the same time period. The weekends have not cooperated in the weather department.

In old business, Ordinance # 431 amending Beach Access Ordinance # 403, was passed.

A resolution to provide for the hiring of seasonal employees was passed. Five badge checkers and two crossing guards for Lyman and Albertson Streets have been hired.

A resolution authorizing the sale of Municipal personal property was passed. The Mantoloking Fire Company has certain items of equipment (personal property) that are surplus, redundant or unnecessary, i.e. 2600 feet of 4" hose, nine low pressure air bottles and one remote control water nozzle. These items will be advertised for sale and will be sold to offset the cost of new hose to be purchased with Fire Company dollars.

The governing body of Point Pleasant Beach is concerned that the reconfiguration of Route 35 just south of the Manasquan Bridge will cause major traffic disruptions, impose hardship on the local economy and be a burden to public safety. Therefore, it has adopted a resolution to ask the New Jersey Department of Transportation to restore the U-Turns to their original configuration, and since safe traffic flow on Route 35 is of great concern to the Borough of Mantoloking, its governing body wishes to support Point Pleasant Beach by issuing a resolution to do so. It passed.

A resolution to consider support of a November election ballot referendum question allowing Ocean County voters to recommend up to two additional cents on top of the current 1.2 cents per $100 of assessed value to be charged on the county real property tax bill to provide additional funding to purchase undeveloped acres in Ocean County was tabled until Council can discuss it further. Save Barnegat Bay has petitioned The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders to authorize the referendum.

A resolution to approve the applications of Michael V. Monica and James S. Wieissenborn to become members of the Mantoloking Fire Company was passed.

A resolution providing for submission of a Municipal Aid Application to NJDOT to repave and correct and/or install various other features such as adjustment in elevation and grade on Barnegat Lane north of Bergen Avenue was passed. This is not to exceed $200,000 and will be done in 2002.

Councilman Gillingham stated the beaches are open and staffed and the water is warm. He said the whole of Mantoloking owes a debt of gratitude to Councilmen Husted and Jones for all the effort they have given for beach renourishment... Councilman Jones attended a meeting in Avalon and heard testimony of the Beach Erosion Committee that it will act to try to reverse the change in funding for beach renourishment back to 65% federal. Residents: inundate your representatives with letters. Maybe they will do something if you annoy them enough. He also said Mantoloking will get an additional 5% discount on flood insurance.. Councilman Popaca says Bay Head has not yet decided to use the Police Patrol boat. And he has had a few complaints re recycling. Waste Management's contract states it can use its discretion on how to "get rid of" newspapers, so they may be trashed or recycled... Councilman Laymon is overseeing the beautification of Borough property.