There were so many residents at this Council meeting; it must have been the comfortable new chairs that enticed them to come! Their comments: Maryann Wagner hopes something will be done to improve the sidewalk on Ocean Avenue at Herbert Street. It is a disgrace. And heavy growth of bushes impedes pedestrians‚ progress too. Also, the public access walkways to the bay are almost completely overgrown and are choking the walkway. . . Runnie Colie wonders which police department is authorized to ticket vehicles speeding across the bridge. Chief Garon said they all are.

Mayor Dunbar called for a moment of silence for Jack Serrell who died on October 28th. He was a Councilman, the founder‚ and first editor of this publication, and the father of the preservation of our dune system. A resolution was passed by the Mayor and Council in recognition of and appreciation for the services of Jack Serrell.

Mayor Dunbar opened the meeting at 8 pm. All Council members were in attendance.

The Mantoloking Police Department continues to be a busy presence in town.. There have been animal, loitering, disorderly conduct, larceny, drug, non-criminal complaints to be attended to, as well as public service calls and alarms to be answered, along with the ever-present traffic enforcement activity. All totaled, there were 212 incidents in October. Police Chief Garon commended two officers, Michael Dreyer and Eugene Saccone, for their volunteering to assist the NYPD at “ground zero”.

There were 21 new construction permits and eight updates issued in October, of which two were for new single family houses. The rest were for roofing, alterations, plumbing, lawn sprinkler systems, garage heaters, an inground pool and a house demolition.

The Fire Company responded to six calls, had two training drills, one regular business meeting and attended the memorial service for Jack Wagner, a longtime member of the Mantoloking Fire Company. The fire company has a lot of old fire hose. Call 899-6565 if you want any. CFO Bill Crelin attended a meeting of the Joint Insurance Fund and found out there will be a 30% increase in the Borough‚s general insurance because of the events of September 11th. . . Even though many notices have been sent, there are still 2000 tax delinquents. These accounts will be placed in the tax sale in December.

In old business, Ordinance #433, amending Ordinance #413 and providing for paving of Lagoon Lane, authorizing the issuance of bonds and notes in the principal sum of $135,000 and appropriating $6,750 from the capital improvement fund for said purpose was passed.

Ordinance #435, 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 $7,500 from the capital improvement fund for said purpose was passed. Prior to voting on this ordinance, Maryann Wagner asked if the building had handicap access and is concerned about its height, why not a one story building. An elevator can be added if necessary at a later time. And it is only 26 feet , 7 inches high. Alice Stroehle wondered why the building looked like Vermont‚ rather than maybe a boat building. It will have cedar shakes to conform to here. Norbert Oliver liked the height of the building and the siding to the ground. And Connie Pilling corrected Councilman Popaca saying the cedar shake is artificial. It will be painted some shade of gray.

A resolution was passed for the readoption of the Indemnity and Trust Agreement with the New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund.

In new business, the following resolutions were passed: to provide for the award of a contract for emergency storm services; to consider transfer of appropriations in the 2001 municipal budget; to consider approval of Change Order No.1 as submitted by Lucas Bros. for the Lagoon Lane paving project; and to consider approval of payment No. 2 for the Lagoon Lane paving.

Ordinance #436 was introduced by title only. This is a capital ordinance authorizing the expenditure of $30,000, including grant funds of $18,838.77 under the Regional Efficiency Development Incentive Program, for the installation of a computerized fuel dispensing system under interlocal agreement with the Borough of Point Pleasant Beach, and appropriating the sum of $11,161.23 from the capital improvement fund of the Borough of Mantoloking. This will allow the Borough to save money on fuel for all its police, fire and other official vehicles, saving approximately $.30 per gallon of fuel.

Councilman Jones reported the dunes and beaches have recovered since last month’s depletion.

The meeting with the Corps of Engineers has been put off until the beginning of 2002.

Councilman Popaca asks residents to call him if there are handicap-access needs not addressed already by the Borough. He also said that at the next Council meeting, December 17th, Comcast will have a representative who will speak and answer residents‚ questions.

Have you noticed the new signs welcoming you to the Borough of Mantoloking? They are very handsome, and greet you as you drive into town from the bridge and both ends of Route 35.

Several residents are concerned about the lack of observance of one-way signs on Bay Avenue. It is mostly the construction trucks who are ignoring them, and the police will take care of it.

There will be a Flood Strategy Committee question and answer session on Tuesday, December 4th from 11 to noon in the Borough Hall Public Meeting Room. The purpose is to improve citizen knowledge of regulatory requirements for a) substantial improvement and substantial damage, b) permit requirements and procedures, c) promoting the purchase of and/or increase limits of flood insurance coverage, d) procedures in the event of evacuation warnings, and e) enhance the public‚s knowledge of how to live in a coastal environment. This session is open to property owners, contractors, architects, real estate agents and all other interested citizens.

The Office of the Ocean County Engineer has informed the Borough it will begin repairs to the Mantoloking Bridge starting November 26th. It will take about two weeks, closing down only one quarter of the bridge at a time. A single lane traffic will most likely be in effect at night, as a “set-up” time is needed.

Council went into closed session. The meeting was adjourned around 8:55pm

The next meeting: December 17th at 8:00 pm.