[0:00] You're good.

[0:13] We're good. This meeting has been advertised in the Asbury Park Press and posted on a

[0:18] municipal voting board. Please stand.

[0:22] Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the

[0:26] things I can and wisdom to know the difference.

[0:29] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, the student

[0:34] republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, for liberty and justice for all.

[0:42] Roll call.

[0:44] Councilperson's gracious.

[0:45] Here.

[0:46] Tomkin.

[0:47] Here.

[0:48] Smith.

[0:49] Here.

[0:50] Paul Hemis.

[0:51] Here.

[0:52] Brown.

[0:53] Brown.

[0:54] Here.

[0:55] Vito, I'm glad the surgery. We all wish you good luck in speedy recovery. I'm glad your

[0:57] decision was very successful.

[0:59] Thank you.

[1:00] Thank you very much.

[1:02] Approval of the minutes from July 5th.

[1:06] Motion.

[1:07] Make a motion.

[1:08] Second.

[1:09] Roll call.

[1:10] Councilperson's gracious.

[1:11] Yes.

[1:12] Tomkin.

[1:13] Yes.

[1:14] Smith.

[1:15] Yes.

[1:16] Paul Hemis.

[1:17] Yes.

[1:18] Brown.

[1:19] Yes.

[1:20] Harbone.

[1:21] Yes.

[1:22] Resolutions and ordinances for consent and consideration.

[1:23] Resolution number 23-196 is a resolution authorizing the payment of bills and

[1:26] payments of $2,252,393.30.

[1:33] 23-197 is a resolution amending the 2023 temporary operating budget pursuant to

[1:39] NJSA 48-4-20.

[1:43] 23-198, this is a resolution appointing temporary seasonal employees.

[1:50] Resolution 23-199, this is a resolution appointing a permanent part time

[1:55] food enforcement officer trainee.

[1:57] And it's Dan Patterson.

[2:00] He's a local resident.

[2:01] Lives up on Carney Avenue.

[2:02] He's been working for us throughout the summer.

[2:06] He was actually offered a full-time position, but he was only interested in part-time.

[2:12] There are four ordinances on for introduction tonight.

[2:16] The first one is ordinance 2023-23.

[2:19] This is an ordinance of the borough of Seaside Heights County,

[2:22] a resolution state of New Jersey amending the borough code of the borough of Seaside Heights.

[2:26] So it was to amend chapter 110 entitled hotel and motel occupancy tax.

[2:31] This would basically establish a 3% tax on short-term rentals in Seaside Heights.

[2:36] So if you're running through Airbnb or VRBO, this would set up a mechanism to charge the same tax that the motels in town have to buy.

[2:46] And now we'll have second reading on August 16th.

[2:52] Ordinance 2023-2024.

[2:57] This is an ordinance of the borough of Seaside Heights County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending the borough code of the borough of Seaside Heights.

[3:03] So it was to amend chapter 179 entitled rental property.

[3:07] So this ordinance and the next two that are on for introduction tonight, they're basically all doing the same thing.

[3:14] It's just that we have it in different parts of the borough code.

[3:17] But this basically says that between April 15th and June 30th of each year in the hotels and motels, they can't rent anybody under the age of 21.

[3:30] And then from July 1 to April 14th, it resorts back to the current ordinance basically, which is 18 is the minimum.

[3:38] This applies to hotels and motels.

[3:40] The ordinances that have second reading tonight in public hearing have to do with the short-term rental aspect of it.

[3:46] So this is covering a different part of the same issue.

[3:50] Ordinance 2023-25.

[3:54] Ordinance of the borough of Seaside Heights County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending the borough code of the borough of Seaside Heights.

[3:59] So it's to amend chapter 55 entitled Certificates of Occupancy.

[4:05] Ordinance number 2023-26.

[4:07] This is an ordinance of the borough of Seaside Heights County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending the borough code of the borough of Seaside Heights.

[4:12] So it's to amend chapter 122 entitled Mercantile Establishments.

[4:17] Keeping in mind, this is the first reading for 23, 24, 25 and 26.

[4:23] August 16th will be a vote from the council remembering that if this passes or if the other passes tonight,

[4:32] none of this goes into effect until January 1, 2024.

[4:37] Public comment.

[4:40] Hearing no public comment, motion?

[4:42] Make a motion.

[4:44] Second.

[4:45] Roll call.

[4:46] Councilperson's duration.

[4:47] Yes.

[4:48] Tomkin.

[4:49] Yes.

[4:50] Smith.

[4:51] Yes.

[4:52] Clemus.

[4:53] Farron.

[4:54] Yes.

[4:55] Resolution 23-200.

[4:59] Resolution of the borough of Seaside Heights County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing and approving the person-to-person transfer of plenary retail distribution license number 1526.

[5:09] 4400-4006 to Tom's River Liquor LLC.

[5:15] So this is Sir Flickr's license going to the new owner.

[5:19] Any comments from the public reference to transfer of the license?

[5:23] Hearing none, a motion?

[5:24] Make a motion.

[5:25] Second.

[5:26] Roll call.

[5:27] Councilperson's duration.

[5:28] Yes.

[5:29] Tomkin.

[5:30] Yes.

[5:31] Smith.

[5:32] Yes.

[5:33] Clemus.

[5:34] Farron.

[5:35] Carbone.

[5:36] Yes.

[5:37] Abstain.

[5:38] This is an ordinance of the borough of Seaside Heights County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending the borough code of the borough of Seaside Heights.

[5:44] It was to amend Chapter 219 entitled Utilities.

[5:47] And this sets up service fees in the water and sewer utility for connections.

[5:53] Any public comment?

[5:55] Hearing none, a motion?

[5:56] Make a motion.

[5:57] Second.

[5:58] Roll call.

[5:59] Councilperson's duration.

[6:00] Yes.

[6:01] Tomkin.

[6:02] Yes.

[6:03] Smith.

[6:04] Yes.

[6:05] Clemus.

[6:06] Farron.

[6:07] Yes.

[6:08] We have had a motion to amend the borough of Seaside Heights County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending the borough code of the borough of Seaside Heights.

[6:14] This was to amend Chapter 72 entitled Curfew.

[6:17] This basically sets up a curfew for individuals under the age of 18.

[6:24] Any questions from the public comment?

[6:28] Please come up to the microphone, set your name and address.

[6:38] All right, I'm balling 216 Grand Avenue.

[6:40] Now this curfew.

[6:41] Does it go to effect immediately?

[6:44] Or is it going to be effected?

[6:46] Effect immediately.

[6:49] All right, thank you.

[6:50] You're welcome.

[6:51] Any other comment?

[6:52] Hearing none, motion?

[6:53] Take a motion.

[6:54] Second.

[6:55] Roll call.

[6:56] Councilperson Gratian.

[6:57] Yes.

[6:58] Tompkins.

[6:59] Yes.

[7:00] Smith.

[7:01] Yes.

[7:02] Marrone.

[7:03] Yes.

[7:04] Orbonne.

[7:05] Yes.

[7:06] Ornance 2023-19.

[7:07] And Ornance of the Borough Seaside Heights, County of Ocean State of New Jersey, amending

[7:10] the Borough Code of the Borough Seaside Heights, it was to amend Chapter 166 entitled Police Department.

[7:15] This has to do with the off-duty work that police officers are generally permitted to do.

[7:21] So they have not been able to do work at the bars in town.

[7:25] They will also preclude them from doing off-duty security work at the motels and apartment complexes

[7:30] and things like that.

[7:33] Any comments from the public?

[7:36] Hearing none, motion?

[7:37] Take a motion.

[7:38] Second.

[7:39] Roll call.

[7:40] Councilperson Gratian.

[7:41] Yes.

[7:42] Tompkins.

[7:43] Yes.

[7:44] Smith.

[7:45] Yes.

[7:46] Ohemus.

[7:47] Yes.

[7:48] Marrone.

[7:49] Yes.

[7:50] Ornance 2023-20.

[7:51] All right.

[7:52] Just to mention, these Ornance, that Ornance doesn't go into effect until January as well.

[7:57] Some of the motels would already have a contract for us to provide the off-duty.

[8:03] So the idea is to give everybody a chance to find a new source of off-duty police officers moving into 2024.

[8:12] Okay.

[8:13] 2023-20.

[8:14] Ornance of the Borough of Seaside Heights, County of Ocean State of New Jersey, amending

[8:19] the Borough Code of the Borough of Seaside Heights, which was to mention Chapter 179 entitled

[8:23] Rental Property.

[8:24] So it's kind of the long Ornance, but it's basically the short-term rental Ornance.

[8:28] This applies generally speaking to your VRBOs and Airbnb rentals in town.

[8:38] Any comments from the public?

[8:40] Hearing none, motion?

[8:42] Off-duty.

[8:43] Roll call.

[8:44] Councilperson Gratian.

[8:45] Yes.

[8:46] Tompkins.

[8:47] Smith.

[8:48] Yes.

[8:49] Ohemus.

[8:50] Yes.

[8:51] Farone.

[8:52] Yes.

[8:53] Carbone.

[8:54] Yes.

[8:55] 2023-21.

[8:56] Ornance of the Borough of Seaside Heights, County of Ocean State of New Jersey, amending

[8:58] the Borough of Code of the Borough of Seaside Heights to amend Chapter 33 entitled Boardwalk

[9:06] and Beach.

[9:07] And this basically implements a boardwalk closure for the beach, I mean, from between

[9:14] 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day.

[9:17] All the issues are covered.

[9:19] And the exempts, like fishermen and surfers, and the normal.

[9:22] Chris, does that exempt medical detectors also?

[9:24] I had a question about that.

[9:27] Well, we didn't put that, it's not in there.

[9:30] But I mean.

[9:31] Can that be put in there?

[9:32] Yeah.

[9:33] Substantial change.

[9:34] All right.

[9:35] Ah, that would be a substantial change?

[9:37] So we do amend time a little while.

[9:39] We would.

[9:40] At the next meeting?

[9:41] Sure.

[9:42] that we're going to put in no minute.

[9:45] Let's pass this tonight.

[9:46] Yes, yes.

[9:47] We'll pass it tonight since there's

[9:49] been no objection from the public so far.

[9:52] And then we'll amend it to allow, what do you call it?

[9:55] That will be checked.

[9:57] Each covers.

[9:58] Each covers.

[9:59] I can draft that.

[10:00] Do draft this over the next day.

[10:02] Any questions from the public as far as the boardwalk

[10:04] closures from 8 PM to 5 AM?

[10:08] Hearing none, motion?

[10:10] I'll make it.

[10:11] Second.

[10:12] Oh, call.

[10:13] Council person's gracious.

[10:15] Yes.

[10:15] Tompkins.

[10:16] Yes.

[10:16] Smith.

[10:17] Yes.

[10:17] Hamas.

[10:18] Yeah.

[10:18] Moron.

[10:19] Corbons.

[10:20] Yes.

[10:22] Approvals.

[10:24] There's a bunch of them.

[10:25] You have Lucky Leo's Christmas in July.

[10:28] That's actually ongoing right now.

[10:30] They've done that event for a number of years

[10:32] in front of their business on the boardwalk.

[10:34] Kids' Crabbing Day on July 22nd.

[10:37] Heavy Reel Brewing put in a request with the ABC

[10:41] to do another event in the parking lot of their premises.

[10:45] This one they're calling Heavy Reel Tiki Fest.

[10:53] August 22nd, there's a request to do a wedding on the Sampson

[10:56] Carterette Avenue Beach.

[10:59] And on the 24th of August, the Berkeley Striper Clubs,

[11:02] they've done this before.

[11:04] It's a clubs.

[11:06] It's a kids' day down on the dock at the Bayfront.

[11:09] And lastly, American Angler Fish Tournament and Fishing Show

[11:13] between September 3rd and October 1st.

[11:16] You've heard the approvals for the events.

[11:19] Any questions from the public?

[11:21] Having none?

[11:22] Motion.

[11:23] Make a motion.

[11:24] Second.

[11:25] Council person's gracious.

[11:26] Yes.

[11:27] Tompkins.

[11:28] Yes.

[11:29] Smith.

[11:30] Yes.

[11:31] Hamas.

[11:32] Yeah.

[11:33] Okay.

[11:34] It's that time in the evening where the public has an opportunity

[11:36] to talk to the council.

[11:38] If you'd like to, just come up to the mics.

[11:40] Say your name and address.

[11:42] And, Rich.

[11:44] Oh, God.

[11:49] Rich, that's O245 County Avenue.

[11:51] Just a comment about the beach.

[11:53] You guys did a wonderful job this season

[11:56] on patrolling the beach and everything.

[11:58] The garbage cans that you have set up so people can play ball.

[12:01] I think if you adjust them on the weekend,

[12:03] because you're shorting the beach and it's really packed up,

[12:06] during the week it doesn't matter,

[12:08] but on the weekends it kind of shortens up the beach

[12:10] when the garbage cans are all the way up

[12:12] and the play area is almost a third of the beach.

[12:16] I think, you know, when you know it's going to be a busy weekend,

[12:19] if you can move those back, that gives everybody...

[12:21] You mean back towards the doer?

[12:23] Towards the boardwalk.

[12:24] Right.

[12:25] Because you have them cordoned off, you have them left there.

[12:27] So that's the only thing.

[12:29] But the police have done a good job.

[12:31] Everybody's done a good job.

[12:32] After four o'clock you do smell the marijuana,

[12:34] so what are you going to do?

[12:35] But that's the way it is.

[12:37] But other than that, good job, Agnes.

[12:41] Anyone else like to speak tonight?

[12:44] No one.

[12:45] Okay.

[12:46] The only thing I have to say is...

[12:47] Hold on, Tom.

[12:48] I'm sorry.

[12:49] I apologize.

[12:50] I didn't see you.

[12:51] Okay.

[12:52] Not a resident, but a new representative.

[12:54] Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the board.

[12:56] I'm going to introduce our chief, RC Shane Associates,

[12:58] a group of concerned citizens who prefer not to be identified

[13:01] at this time.

[13:02] However, they are asking me to come to speak to you about a...

[13:06] Their concerns about a recent ordinance that was passed

[13:08] tonight, specifically the ordinance that prevents individuals

[13:11] from under the age of 21 being able to rent within the

[13:14] borough of Seaside Heights.

[13:17] They're actually coming here asking me to ask the board

[13:21] to reconsider it and voluntarily rescind that ordinance.

[13:25] As you're aware, there's a thing called log in discrimination

[13:28] within the state of New Jersey.

[13:30] That prevents people from the age of 18, 19, and 20 adults

[13:35] in the United States from actually being discriminated against.

[13:39] Actually, in this modern age, you can go to fight to...

[13:43] You can go fight for a war for the United States,

[13:45] but the borough of Seaside Heights right now is saying

[13:47] you can't rent a short-term rental within its borough.

[13:51] We're leaving here with two options,

[13:53] and this is just for public comment and your own consideration.

[13:56] Either you voluntarily rescind the ordinance

[13:59] or a lawsuit will be filed.

[14:02] Thank you for your time.

[14:04] Thank you for your comment.

[14:06] I already have two things to talk about tonight.

[14:09] First, no one else, right?

[14:13] I'm sorry.

[14:14] No one else?

[14:15] Okay.

[14:16] One is that there's a lot of scams going on in the country,

[14:19] but particularly properties.

[14:22] You'll notice on television, media,

[14:24] telling us about the alert if you own property,

[14:27] watch your deeds, and so forth.

[14:29] Our county of Ocean, along with the Office of County Clerk

[14:32] and the Board of Commissioners, have a program.

[14:35] You can go online, and you can register.

[14:39] That means anybody that looks at your property,

[14:41] you're not knowing it.

[14:43] You're not knowing it, but the county knows it.

[14:45] They will notify you first that your property deed

[14:48] is being looked at,

[14:50] either through a credit agency or an individual.

[14:53] So I suggest strongly, I did it last week.

[14:56] So I suggest strongly that you do it.

[14:58] I think it's a protection.

[15:00] In a second, let's root for sun because the rain is killing us. With that, I'll start

[15:06] off this end tonight, Rich.

[15:07] Well, I agree with you, Mr. Mayor. We need some sun, that's for sure. I think everything

[15:12] we tried to do here tonight with the ordinances, as we've said from the beginning, we always

[15:16] say the same thing, is we're trying to make this a family town. I saw the other day on

[15:20] Newsbreak, which is one of the online services. They had a real nice article about seaside

[15:25] heights, really trying to become a family town, all the efforts that we put in. And

[15:29] I think that that's what this is all about, is trying to make things better in this town.

[15:34] Quality of life, as the mayor always talks about. And these ordinances tonight, I think,

[15:37] will help to do that for the seaside heights. So, hopefully, let's pray for some good weather

[15:41] and everybody have a good evening.

[15:43] I hope it will get some good weather soon. I'm shooting. It's a bad beach time right

[15:51] now, so I look forward to this. I'm coming out and everybody enjoying the best this week.

[16:00] Harry, it's like to thank everybody for coming. We do listen to everybody in town, so keep

[16:04] your comments coming to us. And pray for good weather.

[16:07] Like Harry said, I thank everybody for coming. It seems like our attendance is growing

[16:12] more and more. We're happy to see people come out. And this is a resort town, so

[16:16] we do need good weather. And that's all we could say.

[16:20] I'm going to say, dido to everyone. I'm good to see everyone here. Hope we can solve your

[16:25] problems. And we're doing the best we can. We just don't like being called sleet side.

[16:31] And with all these kids, it's scary. And that's all we're trying to do.

[16:37] Vito, I have you. I'm putting up the phone so they can hear you.

[16:42] I just want to thank everybody for all their prayers, thoughts and support as I went through my surgery.

[16:48] It was very successful. Now I would say, throw your prayers for good weather because we really need God.

[16:54] And I want to second what Rich said and what Penny said is the quality of life and making this town a family town

[17:01] didn't happen overnight. And we have to continue to work at it as we are.

[17:06] And the evidence of that is these ordinances that we just passed.

[17:10] So that's the mantra of the town. That's where we're headed.

[17:14] And I want to thank everyone for coming.

[17:17] Okay. With that, I'll ask for a motion to adjourn.

[17:20] I'll make it on favor.

[17:21] Aye.

[17:22] Aye.

Jul 19, 2023 Borough Council Meeting (trimmed)

Transcript