The following actions were taken at the June 28 Board of Commissioners meeting.
- City to hold Open Pier nights
The Board of Commissioners approved open pier nights for three dates this summer. The pier will be open without admission fees 6-8:30 p.m. Saturdays, July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15.
Although last year the open pier nights prohibited fishing, the commissioners agreed to allow fishing this year.
- Commissioners to select Citizens Advisory Committee members
Each of the three city commissioners will have the opportunity to select three members to sit on a newly formed ad hoc Citizens Advisory Committee. The committee, which was approved by ordinance, will include nine members including full and part-time residents. One commissioner will serve on a rotating basis as an ex-officio member at meetings to be held monthly throughout the year.
The committee will advise the commission on finance, budget, public works, public safety, economic development, code and construction and recreation matters.
Several residents have sent emails to the commissioners requesting they be appointed, Mayor Beth Holtzman said.
They are all quality candidates with great backgrounds, she said. It's going to be difficult to pick.
Commissioner Lance Landgraf said he hopes to cull ideas from committee members and find new ways to do things.
We want them to bring ideas to us, he said.
Anyone interested in serving should contact the Mayor's Office.
- Noise, nuisance ordinance revisions accommodate Public Works
The board introduced two ordinance revisions that will accommodate emergency work being done by the Public Works Department. The board revised the city's Noise and Peace and Good Order ordinances to exclude noise generated by Public Works employees performing work on behalf of the city.
A public hearing on both ordinances will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12.
- Commission amends land use ordinance
The commissioners held a public hearing and voted to approve an ordinance amending the city's Land Use Ordinance. The ordinance revision includes new regulations for building heights, location of decks, dormers, pitched roofs and flat roofs.
According to Landgraf, the ordinance does not include proposed changes for the required size of certain oceanfront lots.
Landgraf said the Planning Board would hold a special meeting July 30 to discuss proposed changes to the lots size of properties located in a one-block area along the boardwalk in the St. Leonard's Tract.
Landgraf previously said the lots are not in conformance with the rest of the properties in the zoning district. Several members of the St. Leonard's Tract Homeowners Association have objected to the change.
- City hires public safety communicator
The city hired a public safety communicator who will supervise activities in the Police Department's dispatch center. Police Chief Doug Biagi selected Gerry Schaffer Jr. to serve until a Civil Service procedure generates an eligibility list and a regular appointment can be made.
- City awards contract to service HVAC systems at public buildings
The city awarded two, one-year contracts totaling $33,672 for CM3 Building Solutions to regulate HVAC systems at the Ventnor Community Center, Fire Station No. 1 and City Hall. According to Landgraf, the company started working on April 1 and has already regulated the heating and air conditioning at the library, which was problematic in the past.
- City to pave street near Shirat Hayam, Shalom House
The city awarded a $351,091 contract to Mathis Construction Company, Inc. of Little Egg Harbor to pave Burk Avenue and Swarthmore Avenue leading to Shirat Hayam synagogue and Shalom House senior housing development.
Holtzman said she was pleased to see that the bumpy road would finally be paved.
- City provides payment incentive to non-union employees
The commissioners approved a resolution authorizing an incentive payment for several employees not covered under a union contract. The incentives, which will cost the city a total of $6,200 over a two-year period, will be awarded to those employees who do not use their sick time in a single year.
Holtzman called it a nominal amount that's good for morale.
Union employee already receive the incentive, she said.
- City to replace boardwalk joists
They can't say for sure if the joists holding up the boardwalk between Frankfurt and Weymouth avenues were damaged when a tractor-trailer drove the entire length of the boardwalk last year, but it's going to cost the city $8,900 to replace them, commissioners said.
City Public Works Director Ed Stinson, who is also an engineer, solicited proposals and recommended awarding the contract to Arthur Henry Company. Walters Marine also bid on the project but was $700 higher, Stinson said.
It was probably the tractor-trailer, but we can't prove it, Landgraf said.
The work will be done in sections, so the boardwalk remains passable, Stinson said.
It is safe for bicycles and pedestrians, but city vehicles should not be using the boardwalk, he said.
- Mayor approves Rec Board appointments
The mayor appointed two new members to the Recreation Board to fill vacancies caused by an expired term and an early resignation. Klaudia Advena will fill the unexpired term of Lori Noland until July 21, 2019, and Joe Calvi Jr. will fill the seat formerly held by Bart Beck until July 21, 2021.
