[0:00] Mayor, would you like to proceed? >> Yes, please.

[0:05] » Good evening. This is the meeting of the Bureau of Violence Mayor Council regular

[0:08] meeting on Wednesday, August 19th, 2026. The notice requirements provided for in

[0:13] the open public public meeting have been satisfied. Notice that this meeting was

[0:17] publicly given by transmission to the Asbury Park Press and the Tune River

[0:21] Times by posting at the Burough Highlands Municipal Building and website

[0:24] and final on January 1st, 2026. Items agenda are subject to change. Please

[0:31] stand for the pledge of allegiance.

[0:35] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[0:40] republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[0:46] justice for all. I'll now do the

[0:52] » here [clears throat]

[0:55] » mayor >> here. Thank you. First we have a

[0:59] proclamation for international overdose [laughter] awareness day.

[1:07] » Okay. [clears throat] Whereas on behalf of the Burough

[1:10] Highlands, we wish to extend our sincere condolences over those who have passed

[1:15] from opioid addiction and acknowledge that a deep grief of the families and

[1:20] friends that were left behind. Whereas August 31st is recognized

[1:25] globally as International Overdose Awareness Day. And whereas in Mammoth

[1:30] County, New Jersey, local public health tracking reports 89 fatalities from o op

[1:37] op opiot overdose and 214 reported non-fatal opiot overdoses reflecting

[1:44] ongoing impacts. Whereas we understand that addiction is

[1:49] a chronic disease and that judgmental language and actions prevents people

[1:55] from seeking lifesaving help. And whereas through the good works of the

[2:00] Highlands and Atlantic Highlands municipal Alliance to provide opioid

[2:04] reversal medications like Maxalone, I'm probably pronouncing that wrong, but

[2:11] that's fine. And uh train the public on overdose response signs. And whereas we

[2:18] affirm that long-term recovery recovery is possible and celebrate local health

[2:24] workers, peers, and supportive networks. And now therefore, be it resolved that

[2:29] the mayor and council of the Burough of Highlands do hereby declare August 31

[2:34] International Drug Awareness Day. We urge residents to join public awareness

[2:40] events, wear purple, and learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose and

[2:45] we are committed to supporting evidence-based prevention and harm

[2:50] reduction programs. Um, if you had wondered why the purple flags are

[2:54] outside the municipal building, it is all part of this um, international

[2:59] awareness project. >> Thank you.

[3:06] Next, we have approval of minutes July 15th, 2026 meeting minutes.

[3:11] » I'll second. >> Yes.

[3:15] » Yes. >> Yes.

[3:17] » Chelsea, >> yes.

[3:18] » Mayor Bill, >> yes.

[3:20] » Thank you. Motion approve carries to approve July 15, 2026 meeting minutes

[3:24] next July 15th, [clears throat] 2026 executive session minutes.

[3:29] » I will offer

[3:32] » Cant. Yes.

[3:36] » Yes. >> Yes. Mayor,

[3:38] » yes. >> Thank you. Motion carries to approve

[3:41] July 15, 2026 executive session minutes. Next we have resolution R26163

[3:48] authorizing emergency contract with middle tree service for the removal of a

[3:52] tree located on 218 South Avenue. >> Um this tree removal was from um that

[4:00] freak lightning storm we had about a week ago um at that location 218 Lynen A

[4:07] where the tree was in the road. So we had to get it removed. So, we had to do

[4:10] an emergency uh in order to get that tree taken care of.

[4:17] And with that, do I have a motion? >> I'll offer second.

[4:21] » Council member, >> yes.

[4:24] » Yes. >> Yes.

[4:25] » Councily, >> yes.

[4:26] » Mayor, >> yes.

[4:28] » Thank you. Motion carries to adopt resolution R 263.

[4:34] Next we have R 26 um 164 appointing Steven Winters to

[4:41] serve as parl administrator effective October 1st 2026.

[4:47] Um as Mr. Michello is leaving us on September 30th. We have, we the council

[4:53] have uh decided to bring Steve Winters, our construction official in um to no

[5:00] longer be the part-time construction official, but to also serve as the

[5:04] burough administrator. Um and we are happy to welcome him tonight and I would

[5:10] gladly offer this resolution. I'll second.

[5:15] » Council member, >> yes. Council,

[5:18] » yes. Council me, >> yes. Council passes.

[5:20] » Yes. >> Mayor Brun.

[5:22] » Yes. >> Thank you. Motion carries to adopt

[5:24] resolution R26164. >> Next we have consent agenda. May I would

[5:30] like to read the resolution to the title?

[5:32] » Yes, please. R 26165 approving the bylaws of the Newman

[5:38] Municipal Joint Insurance Fund R26166 authorizing the award of a non-fpair and

[5:44] open contract to Kier's engineering and design for professional engineering

[5:48] services in connection with park improvements at Nut Harbor Park and

[5:53] Rings Park. R 26167 authorizing the execution of

[5:57] municipality agreement with Ocean First Bank NA for the performance of trans

[6:02] fact of banking transactions. R 26168 awarding the bare and open contract for

[6:07] the safe use for all action all safety action plan project. R 26169 approving

[6:14] PPA local number 48 snapper derby fishing on borrow property. R26170

[6:22] acknowledging receipt and review of the land use port consistency report for

[6:25] ordinance 02620. R26171

[6:29] amending cash management plan to designate men's fun bank as an official

[6:34] depository of the boral highlands. R26172

[6:38] authorizing the boral highs to execute an educational alliance participant

[6:42] agreement with Grand Canyon University. R 26173 authorizing the refund of cancel

[6:48] summer camp trip fees. R 26174 authorizing payment bills. R 26175

[6:55] authorizing temporary street closures. R 26176

[6:59] authorizing the cancellation of sale dated outstanding checks. R 26177

[7:05] change order park and park including >> Are there any questions on the consent

[7:13] agenda? I have two quick ones. Sure. >> One is the are the tennis courts part of

[7:18] the picture because I started tennis court.

[7:20] » Tennis. Yeah. The basketball and tennis courts

[7:24] » and and not the same company. >> No, we're not the same company. We're

[7:27] going through the the co-op. >> Okay, good. And my second question is is

[7:32] the movement of the the bank the bank. >> It's all better interest rates.

[7:36] » Okay, that makes sense. >> Say to someone

[7:40] Pat, he's very good at that. Okay. >> Yeah.

[7:44] » I have a quick question about the uh the cancellation of outstanding checks.

[7:48] Those are checks that were issued and never attached.

[7:51] » Correct. >> It was quite a list too.

[7:55] » It was quite a list. Absolutely. Um and just also for anybody's edification that

[7:59] the um the agreement with Grand Canyon University is um we the bureau uh all

[8:06] and its employees will get 10% off all of the regular um costs of

[8:14] um taking courses. >> Nice.

[8:16] » So that's a good um and the street closures for the American Legion for

[8:21] their um towers uh tunnel to towers event. So, we're going to close that

[8:26] back of South Second Street just for safety sake. Leo will be there um

[8:32] providing food so it'll keep Leo safe. So, that's what that's all about.

[8:37] » All right.

[8:42] » Yep. And that uh that had to we needed to add to that because um over at Frank

[8:50] Hall Park um I'm sure Walt will remember that used to be the old waterworks. So

[8:54] what they did is they just covered everything with earth and then made it

[8:59] into the park. And then so when we were making improvements to the park, we

[9:06] found a ton of just debris buried um in the earth. So, we had to have the

[9:13] contractors uh properly dispose of everything that

[9:17] they dug up. >> So, do I have a motion?

[9:22] » Just one last question regarding 172 with Grand Canyon. So, definitely

[9:27] awesome. 10% off is fantastic. What are they getting?

[9:31] » They're getting our name on their list of um of municipalities that participate

[9:38] in this uh program. Okay. No, no, no advertising,

[9:43] » no thing if you want. That's awesome.

[9:47] » Where are they? Are they out in >> out west?

[9:49] » Yes, they are. >> And they've got a great basketball team.

[9:51] They've just gone up to division one.

[9:58] » Do I have a motion? >> Yeah, I'll

[10:02] second it. >> Yes.

[10:05] » Yes. >> Yes.

[10:08] » Yes. Mayor, >> yes. Thank you. Motion carries to adopt

[10:11] resolutions R26165 through R2617.

[10:16] Next, we have public hearing on proposed ordinance 02617

[10:20] ordinance providing for various capital improvements and acquisition of various

[10:24] capital equipment appropriating 2,513,635.

[10:30] Therefore, it authorizes the issuance of 1,920,129

[10:36] bonds and notes to finance a portion of cost thereof authorized in and by the

[10:40] islands in the county futures. Do we have any questions regarding this

[10:46] bond ordinance?

[10:50] If not, I will open it to the public. Does anyone have any questions regarding

[10:54] the ordinance? No. Okay. Um just to run through what

[11:01] what we're bonding for. It's for um uh Grand Tour improvements from South

[11:09] Peak Highland to uh Twin Light Terrace. Uh we are going to get cameras for our

[11:16] parks because there's been some vandalism going on. Uh there's going to

[11:22] be a small police shed. Uh as approved at the last council

[11:27] meeting, there is a storm water watershed plan.

[11:32] We are also looking to make improvements at Kouchon Field.

[11:36] Um the what we just approved for the um for the courts is uh improvements at

[11:43] both vets I should say all three vets and the community center improvements.

[11:49] uh the purchase of property next door and uh a fire department pumper truck

[11:56] that we've been putting money into a fund to get them a new truck because

[12:00] it's uh the current truck is very old. So we're making that upgrades.

[12:06] So I will make this offer.

[12:12] » I'll close in public portion and I will make the offer. Second council

[12:17] » Johnson. >> Yes. Council.

[12:19] » Yes. >> Yes. Council president.

[12:21] » Yes. >> Mayor.

[12:23] » Yes. >> Motion carries. O2617

[12:26] pass on second and final reading. Next we have O2618 designating the parking in

[12:32] front of occupied by persons with disabilities.

[12:38] » I'll second. Well, hang on. Hang on. Is there any is are any comments for this

[12:43] designation of a handicap spot? >> Usually one of our tougher things.

[12:49] » Yes, exactly. Um, okay. Then I'll close the public hearing.

[12:55] » You offered. >> Second.

[12:57] » Don seconded. >> Council member.

[13:00] » Yes. >> Yes.

[13:02] » Yes. Council. >> Yes.

[13:04] » Mayor. >> Yes.

[13:05] » Motion carries. 02618 pass on second of final reading. Next we have 02619

[13:11] removing restricted parking space in front of residence previously requested

[13:15] by a person with disabilities. >> In this manner um the the resident uh

[13:21] that had this restricted space u does no longer drives so she got rid of her car

[13:28] so she no longer needs the restricted spot. Um are there any questions from

[13:32] the public? [snorts] Then I'll close the public hearing and

[13:37] offer this ordinance. >> I'll second member.

[13:42] » Yes. >> Yes.

[13:44] » Yes. Councily, >> yes.

[13:45] » Mayor, >> yes.

[13:47] » Motion carries. O2619 pass on second and final reading. Next we have O 2620

[13:53] ordinance of the borrows in the county of Mammoth, New Jersey amending the

[13:57] amended central business district. Um for this one uh this is uh we made

[14:08] very minor um changes wording changes where uh such as the ground floor and

[14:14] the first floor were made um the distinction was made because of FEMA

[14:21] standards when you have an elevated floor they

[14:25] call it the first floor but it's not the floor that's on the actual ground

[14:29] because you don't measure from the ground or when you're in the flood

[14:32] plane, you measure from the design flood elevation. Um so it's just a bunch of

[14:38] semantics um that we had and the land use board um

[14:45] has said that is substantially consistent with the comprehensive goals,

[14:50] land use goals and economic development goals as set forth in the master plan um

[14:55] and is designed to effectuate such plan elements for the reasons expressed on

[15:00] the record by the board and its professionals and both um the land use

[15:05] board attorney and the land use board planner have reviewed the ordinance and

[15:10] found that it is um I hate the double negative but they said that it is not

[15:17] substantially inconsistent which means it is consistent with the master plan um

[15:22] but semantics but that's what it's all about. Does anyone have any questions

[15:26] regarding um this ordinance? Seeing none, I will close the public

[15:31] portion

[15:35] and I will offer this. >> I'll say

[15:40] yes. >> Yes.

[15:42] » Yes. >> Mayor,

[15:45] » yes. >> Motion carries. 02620 pass on second and

[15:49] final reading. Next we have introduction proposed ordinance 02621

[15:53] authorizing purchase of property located at 179 Avenue and known as block 37 L.

[16:04] This is the aforementioned property next door um that we are looking to relocate

[16:09] our first aid squad out of the flood zone and put them up here next to the

[16:13] municipal building. Um there's also uh some room on the property that we are

[16:18] looking to put in a uh some sort of a structure hasn't been decided as of yet

[16:24] where we can house DPW vehicles so that they're number one out of the flood zone

[16:29] and number two in a building and not left outside in the salt air which will

[16:34] make our all of those vehicles uh more viable because they won't be in the salt

[16:41] air getting corroded. Um, so I will make that offer.

[16:46] » You got it. >> Council President, you should.

[16:50] » You gave it away. I'll take it. >> Okay.

[16:54] So, seconded by Oshvski. >> And who first? Who?

[16:59] » That was me. I did. >> Okay. Thank you. Council member.

[17:03] » Yes. >> Yes.

[17:05] » Yes. Council. >> Yes.

[17:06] » Mayor Blu. >> Yes.

[17:08] » Thank you. Motion carries to pass 02621 with first meeting. on first reading for

[17:13] the public hearings be held on September 16, 2026. Next, we have mayor's report.

[17:19] » Yes. Um okay. So the burough updates for the month of July

[17:25] [clears throat] for emergency services we had um the number of incidents first

[17:30] aid squad 29, fire 23, police 899. >> Uh code enforcement we had nine summons,

[17:40] 19 warnings. 19 reports, 25 inspections, 18 permits,

[17:46] and six OPRA requests. Building department had 42 inspections

[17:53] where 36 passed, one failed, four not ready. Uh 14 construction permits and 11

[18:00] zoning permits. Uh for regionalization with Sebrite, I I

[18:06] we have no more legal issues. Sebrite is uh supposed to be working with the HH RS

[18:12] board uh to be included in our schools. Is there any timeline on that at all?

[18:19] » No, it's it just depends on getting them together and talking and figuring out a

[18:24] formula and all those other good things. >> Okay. Um for the land use board on July

[18:31] 9th uh we had a resolution that was approved for done at 26 seed drift with

[18:37] restrictions um seed street application the third

[18:41] hearing it has here is carried to a further date but that date is September

[18:46] 30th so if you're interested in finding out what's going on with sea streak and

[18:52] their site plan evaluation that's going to be September 30th over at the high

[18:56] school in the capito Victorian um

[19:01] Satalon, they are still um going through their environmental and geotechnical

[19:07] studies before any construction starts.

[19:12] Captain Cooves is no update. Bay Avenue, we have a couple of meetings with the D

[19:19] um for Bay Avenue and for DCA as well, the Department of Community Affairs. um

[19:27] just to fine-tune some state uh statutes that were passed and how it will affect

[19:33] um that redevelopment area. Uh current projects, Overlook Park, that

[19:40] was largely completed uh by the 4th of this month. We're just looking for some

[19:45] um lowprofile solar lights that face down um to be on those um those really

[19:52] nice archways. Uh but we should be uh scheduling a

[19:58] ribbon cutting for that very soon. For Frank Hall Park, it's been um it has

[20:05] been a lot especially after we found the waterworks was still intact. Um but

[20:11] still we are hoping to have that largely completed uh before Labor Day.

[20:19] And for South Peak which uh I spoke about earlier,

[20:24] South Peak Gran tour um the design is ongoing.

[20:30] Uh there has been no update for grants. Um not yet. We have a we had a flurry of

[20:39] grant submissions in July and then we don't hear back from various state and

[20:44] county people until November. So, in November, we'll have updates there.

[20:50] Um, I put this out on the 1st or the 2nd, so

[20:55] there's things that have already passed, but

[21:00] after today, things to look forward to are

[21:03] August 26th, which is 7th grade orientation. That's at the high school

[21:08] from 10 to 2:00 p.m. and 8:29 the as I mentioned earlier the American Legion is

[21:15] doing a fundraiser for Tunnel to Towers and that's going to be from 300 p.m.

[21:20] till 11:00. And then on August 30th, the PBA will be doing a snapper derby

[21:27] snapper derby at Marine Place. And that'll be from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

[21:32] So, it's been about 10 years since we've had a snapper derby and so it's finally

[21:37] back. Okay. >> And we're very The BBA was happy to to

[21:40] put it on and we were happy to see them do it.

[21:43] » Wonderful. >> And that is my report for the month.

[21:51] Does anyone else have anything they want to address before we go to public

[21:56] portion? No. Okay, then we're at public portion.

[22:01] » Public portion. Individuals wishing to address the council shall be recognized

[22:05] by the presiding officer and subject them in name, address, and the group of

[22:09] any they represent. Although the council encourages public participation, it

[22:13] reserves the right through presiding officer to terminate remarks to and or

[22:16] by any individual not in keeping with the conduct of a proper efficient. Any

[22:21] individual refuses to conduct themselves in the proper manner, they will be

[22:25] removed from the meeting. The council will not during the public portion of

[22:28] the meeting discuss matters involving employment, appointments, termination of

[22:32] employment, terminations, terms and conditions of employment, evaluations of

[22:37] performance of promotion or discipline of any specific or prospective or

[22:40] current employee. There's a threeminut time limit.

[22:46] I think what you said and I was supposed to say my name and address. Walt Gunther

[22:50] from Two Marine Place in Highlands, summer resident. Um,

[22:56] and we have uh two of us here from or three of us here uh from our

[23:02] neighborhood. And we've had an issue related to the boat rides that are being

[23:07] run out of uh I'm going to call it Captain's Cove or the old Highlands boat

[23:12] basin in July and August. And and you had a copy of this earlier. July and

[23:17] August, a boat docked in Captain's Cove Marina has been selling boat rides to

[23:22] take groups of people out uh tubing out in the bay which is fine. Uh but the

[23:29] problem is it's created a nuisance a bunch of nuisance issues in the

[23:32] residential neighborhood which is right adjacent to and surrounds the boat

[23:37] basin. The boats is is an approximately 22t donsy a speedboat. Uh customers and

[23:43] the issues come about because of this. The customers arrive by vehicle for a

[23:47] three-hour uh afternoon cruise. Uh the groups are usually 20 to 30 young

[23:53] people, young teenage boys uh with one or two adults, not a whole lot of

[23:57] supervision. Uh they usually split them into two groups and they take uh 12 or

[24:02] 15 out at a time while the other group stays back and does whatever it wants to

[24:08] do on the shore area. The issues are one, they they're changing in public.

[24:14] They come uh in street clothes, but then they've got to get into a bathing suit

[24:19] and there's no facilities for that. Uh since there's no changing area, they've

[24:23] been going all along the boat the uh the um walkway with the benches and changing

[24:30] right in front of all the houses that are that are sitting right there. Uh

[24:34] they're also wandering onto the private property. So the group that isn't out on

[24:38] the boat, they've got nothing to do for a couple hours and they're wandering

[24:42] around properties. I think every one of the properties around has had issues. Uh

[24:46] I've heard from the police that they they get called out to, hey, somebody's

[24:51] in my backyard and they're changing and they're uh I'll get to the urinating in

[24:56] public in a minute. Uh and they ignore the no trespassing signs which are

[25:00] clear. And I'm going to offer you a a number of pictures. This passenger is

[25:07] only one. Um that that's the four bus that many of them

[25:13] » in one set which >> which could be a problem. You all know

[25:17] better than I do but uh could be a problem. They just paved Washington and

[25:23] when you see the size of that bus that's a that's an interstate highway bus. Uh

[25:29] I'm not sure that's great for the new but you all you all know that. I'm no

[25:32] expert on that. Um uh when we when I've yelled at them,

[25:38] hey, don't you know, don't go in the yards, don't go, you know, in the

[25:42] properties, uh they say, "Oh, nobody lives here." That's their answer. Um and

[25:47] then urinating in public since there is no uh u toilet facility, although one

[25:54] showed up 3 days ago. Time was up.

[25:59] » Is it finished? >> Okay. If you'll give me a couple more,

[26:02] please continue. >> Uh several groups have uh I'm sorry, the

[26:06] um they go in the yards. Uh they go along the bulkhead. The last picture

[26:11] there maybe isn't the clearest uh but that's and I didn't want to get a

[26:15] clearer picture of of them using the bulkhead corner uh to take a peek. Um

[26:22] most of the the as far as the vehicles, most of them come in transit. I'm going

[26:26] to call it a transit van. I think you know what that is. Sort of a half size

[26:30] » bus, but several have come in. I'm going to call them interstate highway tour

[26:34] buses. 50 passengers. And there's a very good picture there of

[26:39] » parked right in front almost of your house carrier.

[26:42] » Oh, they blocked our driveway. >> And um and I understand that may be a

[26:47] problem, but I'm no expert. You you all know better. Um, and then there are

[26:52] things that don't really relate to the residents, and that's safety and

[26:55] licensing, and is are the boats inspected, uh, life preservers,

[26:59] occupancy, all that kind of stuff. That's something for the Coast Guard to

[27:03] deal with, and that's probably an outside the service of this room. So,

[27:06] what what we'd like is that the boat owner should be held responsible.

[27:11] Someone should, I believe, the town should speak to them and just, hey,

[27:16] prevent your customers from becoming a nuisance. provide a toilet facility for

[27:21] them. They need supervising adults responsible for customer uh behavior,

[27:26] preventing changing in public, so they're not out on the on the bulkhead

[27:30] doing that. Trespassing in the neighborhood, private property,

[27:34] littering, and if it's a if it is an actual issue, which you all know better

[27:39] than I do, uh enforce the vehicle size issues. So, that's that's our that's my

[27:46] issue. Well, can I answer of what we've been

[27:50] doing um on on this side is that uh we've told the operator that he needs a

[27:56] mercantile license from the burrow which includes a full criminal background

[28:01] check fingerprinting and that's done by the police department. Uh we've told him

[28:05] he needs a charter license. He needs charter insurance because they're

[28:09] different than just a regular boating license. Like he has his captain's

[28:13] license, but he needs to get the charter license. needs to get the that in that

[28:19] specific charter insurance. Um we made the property owner at Cove uh

[28:26] uh pay for the Porter John so that there is privacy and no more of these um

[28:32] sanitary issues. I will put it. Um

[28:38] and uh I from what I understand the uh Coast Guard did um stop them on a on a

[28:46] couple of days ago. I want to say it was >> Marine State Police.

[28:50] » Yeah, Marine State Police. And then the Coast Guard came out as well because the

[28:54] Marine State Police alerted the Coast Guard. the Coast Guard came down uh to

[28:58] the marina with Chief Burton and um let the gentleman know that all of these

[29:06] things need to get complied with ASAP. Um and then they also I'm sure that

[29:11] you've realized that how they posted the signs at the bulkhead from the from the

[29:16] Coast Guard. >> It's on the railing. You seen that sign?

[29:19] Yeah. Um, so and we are going to be cracking down on not just that marina

[29:25] but all of the marinas where people are offering these rides but they don't have

[29:31] the insurance. I shouldn't say that we are not when you

[29:36] have a mercantile license you have to fill out all of this paperwork get your

[29:39] criminal background check and then you also have to provide proof of insurance.

[29:44] So, because some of these operators are not regulated because they don't have a

[29:49] mercantile license, but some do, um, we just have to make sure that all of them

[29:53] are compliant.

[29:57] » Thank you very much. And I will put in a plug that walkway along both sides of

[30:01] the meeting place is the best thing that happened to the year.

[30:05] » It's beautiful. Yeah, it'll be great for the snapper derby.

[30:09] » Carol, can I Yeah, go ahead. Sure. Go ahead.

[30:12] » Go ahead. Just yes just just so that the clerk can get a good reading for the

[30:16] minutes. >> So

[30:18] » I just need your name. >> Your name and address.

[30:22] » Um they're breaking four laws. They're lettering.

[30:27] They're trespassing. What's the other two? They're changing

[30:31] in public. And uh they're urinating. All of those

[30:35] are laws that you can confirm in this looked at. Um

[30:42] would it be that other people just come they come and visit our town and they're

[30:45] dis you know disgracing us? Um why couldn't they change in the bus that

[30:51] wall gave you the picture? Urinade in the bus respect our town and pick up the

[30:58] stuff and we got five beautiful garbage cans on that new wall. And that's all I

[31:03] have to say. >> Thank you.

[31:06] » And they're trying to get in my yard. It's okay. They're pushing them towards

[31:10] us, but they see them on the >> Have you called the police?

[31:14] » We didn't realize what was going on. Now we will.

[31:16] » Okay. Well, I'm just saying when you call the police, I'm not trying to push

[31:20] any responsibility on to anybody else, but when you call the police, they make

[31:24] record of it and they have their body cam on and then then there's a record

[31:29] and then we can actually Yes, please. Um, and then we once we have a record,

[31:33] that's evidence that we can use in the future.

[31:39] Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, this is the end.

[31:44] » My name is Gerard Scorano. I live at 1C. Uh first of all, I want to uh thank the

[31:51] the whole town council and everybody here for the great job that you did at

[31:56] uh the walkway. It came out beautiful. It's another tribute to everything that

[32:00] you guys do. And thanks again. And like Walt said, it's one of the nicest things

[32:06] that been done in a long time that we appreciate. But u just to go over some

[32:12] of the stuff that's happening, you heard Walter explain all the issues, but uh

[32:18] our issue specifically my property on the end. And

[32:24] when this first came forward at the meeting, uh, before you even got the

[32:30] grant, uh, I said, "If you raise the elevation of that sidewalk, I'm going to

[32:35] have an issue with people jumping over a wall going on my property."

[32:39] » Now, it's been an issue. I haven't recorded it and I haven't called the

[32:46] police, but people come down there and jump over on my property all the time.

[32:53] Not only did they jump on my property as a signing, it says private doc, no

[32:59] trespass. And if you can't read that, I don't know what's wrong with you. And

[33:04] what bothers me even more than that is they get up and they walk on that wall.

[33:08] That wall is 15 in wide and they walk up and down the thing. If they fall on my

[33:15] side and get hurt, I'm the one that's responsible for it. they fall on your

[33:19] side, the town's going to be paying a big lawsuit that's going on. There's no

[33:24] way we should allow any children, any grownup, anybody to get on top of that

[33:30] wall and be walking up and down on it. That's a danger to them. But that's

[33:36] another issue that someone has to look into the the really the aesthetics of

[33:42] it. It's beautiful. Why put something up on it to stop people, you know? It's uh

[33:48] but that's my issue with the what's going on. And again, if we can stop the

[33:55] nuisance that that's going on with the uh with the business that it's a legal

[34:01] business that they have down there. Hey, everybody's entitled to have their own

[34:05] business and do their thing, but just do it the right way.

[34:09] » Absolutely. And and I would ask you again, you know, as [clears throat] I

[34:13] did with your wife, please call the police because the more evidence that we

[34:18] can gather when these people are doing these illegal things or potentially

[34:24] harmful things, um we don't want you to get sued. We don't want to get sued. And

[34:29] they're being they're not acting in a manner that is

[34:34] consistent with common sense. >> Do you think we could get a sign that

[34:38] says no? I want to destroy a vehicle area

[34:42] no walking on the wall. >> We can

[34:47] » No, I wouldn't have a problem with that. >> Walking on the wall.

[34:52] » I've seen Yeah, I have seen not your own of course you know where our house is,

[34:56] but uh Yeah, and they're usually younger. They're fishing. I don't know

[35:00] why.

[35:04] » Right. Right. >> Oh, yeah. Well, they were, you know, on

[35:06] the the uh what used to be the uh what was it called? The cafe.

[35:11] » Yeah. >> Uh and Pini had just put those boards

[35:14] there. The kids were going there and jumping into the into the river off of

[35:18] there. Even after he put, you know, no trespassing, stay away and these big

[35:22] boards, they were still climbing over it. And this past week, they cleaned all

[35:25] that up, which is good. >> I d way past my time. But yeah, there

[35:29] used to be ladders on the back side of that wall.

[35:32] » Okay. Was there Walter tell you there used to be ladders down there. Someone

[35:37] falls off that wall into the water. They got to go to one end or the other

[35:43] » to get back. Sure. >> But that's another issue.

[35:48] » All right. We will explore signage though. Definitely.

[35:50] » Can I just add ahead? >> Thank you, sir.

[35:54] » Let me close public portion. >> Oh, okay.

[35:56] » And then >> I actually would like to say this as a

[35:59] public person. [laughter] Go ahead. What is it?

[36:07] » Do you have a portion? Yeah. >> Oh. Oh, okay.

[36:09] » It's all you. >> Um, you said the three of you, but the

[36:13] four there's four of us here tonight that that this has become a terrible

[36:17] issue. Uh, as far as the uh the charter boat that he's been running, to be a

[36:23] charter boat captain, you have to have a charter boat license. And you cannot

[36:27] take more than six people on a boat if you, you know, don't have a charter boat

[36:32] license. Now, we know we've seen the worst part was, and this is just last

[36:37] week, seeing children, little children, two, three years old, without any life

[36:42] preservers on, the boats overcrowded, and then of course that terrible

[36:46] incident that happened off the Statue of Liberty with a young mother and her

[36:51] five-month old baby. I mean, who would take a baby on a boat?

[36:54] In any case, u [clears throat] so we're with you. We have interacted, my husband

[36:59] and I interacted a lot with those people when I saw this little girl urinating,

[37:05] you know, right on the street and whoever was in charge there look saw me.

[37:11] I'm on my deck and he's like, you know, what am I supposed to do? And I and he

[37:16] said, you know, what what what can we do? She's little. She has to go take her

[37:21] to a public facility. Oh. Oh. You know, I I said I'm going to

[37:25] report it anyway, which I did. We've had issues where they've parked in our

[37:29] driveway and arguing with us. They were like 3 feet in our driveway. Oh, no. You

[37:34] can still get around, you know. And then of course the changing in public.

[37:39] » Has the Porter John changed any of this? >> Uh yeah. Well, the a lot has changed

[37:46] since the Coast Guard went there because I have noticed that he has only taken

[37:50] out small families, three, four, five people and that's it. And the week

[37:56] before, every single day of the week, they, you know, like you said, those big

[38:01] black vans, buses, whatever they are, and these young men coming out changing,

[38:06] and I yelled at them a bunch of times. So it you know I am very happy that this

[38:11] is coming down to a conclusion and I will keep certainly to keep an eye on

[38:16] him to make sure that uh those laws aren't broken anymore. But that sign I

[38:21] mean those are the fines for what he's been doing are astronomical. So I think

[38:26] you might have gotten the message. I hope so. Anyway, I'm glad you guys came

[38:30] to to talk about it. So >> does anyone have anything else they'd

[38:35] like to add? [clears throat] >> Nope. Would you like to make a motion to

[38:39] adjourn? All right. Would you want us to make a motion to adjourn?

[38:42] » I will second it. All in favor? >> I meeting a [laughter] 10:39.

[38:47] » Okay. kids today.

August 19, 2026 Council Meeting

Transcript