MARGATE – In an effort to be more transparent, the Board of Commissioners Thursday, March 6 announced changes to its meeting format, which includes a work session at 5 p.m. followed by the regular action meeting immediately afterward. It also awarded two contracts for improvements to the recreation fields on Jerome Avenue.
During the work session, the board usually hears reports from department heads, administrator and the solicitor but discussions about decisions that need to be made are held outside of the meeting, with the administrator as mediary. Because there are only three commissioners on the governing body, and two make a quorum, they are prohibited from discussing business outside of public meetings.
Administrator Patrick Moran said the work sessions could be revised to provide an open forum to promote transparency and provide the public with information about the direction commissioners want employees to take on issues.
“This would be more productive if we had that discussion here, so nothing gets lost in translation and were all hearing the same things and allows us to move forward better,” Mayor Michael Collins said.
The board might consider bringing back the 3-minute clock which controlled the amount of back-and-forth questioning and discussions with the public, Blumberg said.
Collins said he discontinued the practice when he was elected mayor to allow the public to have more of a dialogue with commissioners.
“I personally would like us to not limit people,” he said.
Commissioner Cathy Horn said she likes answering questions when they can, but when seven people get up and say the same thing, “it can be a little testy.”
The board proceeded to discuss numerous issues before the commission, such as revising the fines imposed on contractors who work past the 5 p.m. time limit or conduct landscaping on Sundays, which Commissioner Maury Blumberg said would improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.
“We’re getting a lot of complaints and the best way to mitigate some of the activity is to increase the fines we levy,” he said.
Blumberg said 5 p.m. should be a “hard stop” with contractors off-site by then. Fines should be graduated at $500 for the first offense, $750 for the second offense and $1,000 thereafter. The city currently collects about $18,000-20,000 a year in fines related to working after hours.
“We’re giving them from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. That’s a long day,” Blumberg said. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say at 4:30 start cleaning up and be gone by 5 o’clock when people are getting home from work.”
Blumberg said the city has a lot of repeat offenders who rush to complete building projects by working past 5 p.m. and are disturbing residents during the dinner hour.
“It’s six or seven and it’s every night,” Blumberg said. "It’s not the neighbor’s job to complain and call the police.”
“Projects will take longer,” Collins said. “A project that took three months could be a nuisance to that neighborhood for four months because we are reducing hours.”
Police Chief Matthew Hankinson, whose department fields after-hours complaints brought by neighbors, said property owners and the neighbors just want the construction projects to be completed as soon as possible.
The board is considering increasing to full-time status a part-time code enforcement officer or hiring a part-time code enforcement officer who can work evening hours to enforce the law. The board also agreed to check fines charged in other local communities.
Blumberg also suggested the board adopt a plastics containment ordinance to replace a resolution suggested by Sustainable Margate green team and adopted last year. Since the green team brought the issue to light, other cities and towns across the state have adopted ordinances requiring contractors to use containment devices.
“We were the first to pass the balloon ordinance to keep balloons out of the water and one of the first to pass a plastic bag ordinances and the state followed suit,” he said.
Zoning Officer Roger McLarnon said the city did the right thing conducting an educational campaign and that builders are complying with recommendations. Building Department Manager Palma Shiles said builders are amicable to adopting safe building practices.
Environmental Advocate Sherri Lilienfeld said the green team brought the ordinance proposal to the board in October 2023.
“We are excited to see this as an ordinance,” she said. "We have a coalition of organizations such as Surfrider Foundation, Clean Ocean Action and Sustainable Jersey backing us up. To date nine municipalities have adopted ordinances and two others have introduced it.”
The board also discussed the possibility of adding coffee service to the beach vending license, which will be put out to bid at the next meeting.
In other business, the board awarded two contracts for improvements to the Sigmund Rimm Recreational Complex.
The board awarded a $427,000 contract to R. Maxwell Construction Co. Inc. of Pleasantville for repairs to the restrooms at the complex. Maxwell was the lowest of five bids received.
Think Pavers Hardscaping, LLC of Mt. Royal was awarded a $195,475 contract to replace the walkway around the complex. Think Pavers was the lower of two bids received for the project.
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