BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS
June 24, 2010
OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS
ACT STATEMENT
A meeting of the Board of Commissioners
of the Borough of Cape May Point was called to order on Thursday, June 24, 2010
at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room at the municipal building located at 215
Lighthouse Avenue. Mayor Schupp
announced that this meeting having been properly posted and advertised, was
being held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings of 1975 (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6)
also known as the Sunshine Law. The
Municipal Clerk took the following roll call vote:
Commissioner Nietubicz PRESENT
Commissioner vanHeewsyk PRESENT
Commissioner Schupp PRESENT
The Mayor
asked that all public comments be held to the end during the public portion.
Commissioner vanHeeswyk made a motion to approve the
vouchers as presented for payment. (Bill list attached) Commissioner Nietubicz seconded the motion and the Clerk took a roll call
vote as follows:
Commissioner Nietubicz PRESENT
Commissioner vanHeewsyk PRESENT
Commissioner Schupp PRESENT
Commissioner
Nietubicz
announced that Lake Lily’s weed spraying will be completed when Ed Grant is
able to do it. Commissioner van Heeswyk stated
that she would speak with Francine Springer about the check. He announced that the fertilizer ordinance is
completed. Commissioner Nietubicz stated that the server will not be updated
until September.
Commissioner
van Heeswyk reminded him that according to his own information we will have had
no support for the service since June 13.
Mayor Schupp referred to past PARIS
Grant funding. He stated that the County
has not fulfilled an obligation to the borough to provide backup or borough
data even though they used our grant money for the program. He stated that the borough would be
requesting accountability from the county.
Commissioner
Nietubicz
reported on the COOP & COG program for disaster recovery. He stated that Constance A. Mahon, Municipal
Clerk/Registrar and Administrator did the format several years ago. He stated that no one at the state wanted it at
that time so it is used just for the Borough of Cape May Point in the case of a
disaster in order to recover. He
explained that one part of the document defines how to transport pertinent
documents in case of an evacuation for an impending storm. He stated that the Borough must decide what
documents must be transported and a plan as to the transporting of files and
all necessary data. He added that the timeline is crucial. He anticipates that Bill
Gibson, Public Works Supervisor will have a lot to do.
Commissioner
van Heeswyk responded that the Borough needs a long term strategic planning
with emergency procedure in mind. She
cited an example: when new computers are needed laptops should be purchased as
they would be more easily transported than towers, keyboards, mouse, wiring and
screens. She suggested that rather than using dump truck for our documents, we
should plan for an appropriate sized U-Haul. Commissioner Nietubicz stated that
it might be possible to borrow an 18-wheeler from the National Guard.
Commissioner van
Heeswyk
stated that the Planning Board Attorney Dean Marcolongo would be moving forward
with drafting a plan for a checklist ordinance.
She stated that 2010 Census figures are out and the borough’s population
number is 222. She stated that the
borough would be doing a resolution to extend the contract for architectural
services with spg3 at the next meeting. She stated that re-write of Chapter 150
will not be ready until August or September. Commissioner vanHeeswyk announced that a
closed meeting with labor attorney Bill Blaney is scheduled for July 12, 2010
at 10:00 am. She reported that a new
Printer/Fax will be leased from Allister Solutions. She stated that it would be
faster, have more memory and the cost to the Borough will be less than the
current printer.
Commissioner
vanHeeswyk reported on recent COAH updates.
She stated that the Senate has voted to abolish, but Assembly is slowing
down the process. She stated that this
new legislation is not a solution for Cape May Point although being COAH
certified until 2018 should give us some protection.
Commissioner
vanHeeswyk stated that an elevator inspection was done and resulted in some
findings. She stated that materials not
related to elevator should be removed from elevator utility room, the phone is
not working in the elevator and that the public works department should be
maintaining it. Commissioner vanHeeswyk questioned the number
of Beach Tags reported in a recent newspaper article as 80,000 sold thus
far. This was a typo according to Commissioner
Nietubicz.
Mayor Schupp stated that the
Governor’s proposed Tax Levy, 2.5% appears to moving ahead. He stated that he feels this CAP needs work
before its passage. Commissioner van
Heeswyk, Commissioner Nietubicz and Mayor Schupp are all in agreement. Mayor Schupp asked when the finance
department would get P- card system operating as Bill Gibson is having trouble
purchasing. Commissioner van Heeswyk explained the use of the system and stated
that Francine Springer would be ordering the cards from the County. He asked that the chart of Capital
Expenditures be updated by Glen Ortman adding new purchases – Fire Truck, etc. He stated that there has been no word to date
on New Jersey Natural Gas installation. Mayor Schupp stated that because the public
can post signs and advertisements at the Post Office, the new bulletin boards
at the beaches should only be used for borough business. He stated that both Bill Gibson and
Commissioner Nietubicz have the keys for the bulletin boards. He stated that signs at beach entrances
should not have any commercial ads. Commissioner Schupp announced that he would
be attending Cape May’s 4th of July Parade on Saturday, July 3, 2010. He stated that July 3, 2010 is the Cape May
Point Civic Club Bazaar at the Firehouse.
Commissioner
Nietubicz
stated that the noisy compressor at the Lake is within regulations and added
that bushes might suppress the sound. Mayor
Schupp stated there have been no additional complaints. Commissioner Nietubicz
stated that the rain garden at the triangle park is now complete. He stated
that some of the stop signs in town are in need of repair. He also added that not all of the “STOP”
stenciling on roads has been completed.
PUBLIC PORTION
Joan D’Avanzo asked about beach boxes. She asked who and what determines who gets a
box and how many boxes per beach area. Commissioner
Nietubicz stated that there are 3 boxes on St. Pete’s and 2 on the entrance at
Coral Avenue. He added that beach tagger
boxes would always be there. She stated that she does not like the idea of the beach
boxes and added that she feels that they are visually not attractive. She stated that she feels that she speaks for
a lot of people and is ready to get a petition started to have them removed. Commissioner Nietubicz explained that there
will be a survey at the end of the season to determine if he will add more
beach boxes. Commissioner Nietubicz also stated that wheeled vehicles at the
entrances of the beaches creates a problem with emergency response and hopes
that the beach boxes would eliminate the congestion. A short discussion about
no sidewalks ensued. He mentioned that a
while back a child was nearly hit by a car because he forced to walk in the
road on his way to the beach because the sidewalk was overgrown. Bob D’Avanzo suggested that the water-ice man
move over one beach to alleviate congestion.
Commissioner Nietubicz stated that parking is better at St. Pete’s beach.
Irene Schreiner stated that kids
will go where other kids go. She agreed
that Harvard Avenue parking is not very good.
Bob D’Avanzo is very concerned
about the borough incurring more debt at this time. He stated that an increasing number of
experts are expecting another recession type “dip” in the economy. He added that bad times are coming and would
like the Commissioners to make sure all new debt is carefully considered. Commissioner van Heeswyk agreed that the economy
is not coming out of bad times yet from information she has gathered.
Irene Schreiner mentioned a tax
solution from the past and to support bond issues. She stated that bond anticipation
notes (BANS) are a ramification of bonds.
Mayor
Schupp stated that he is working with
Glen Ortman on plans to get bonds paid at the end of 2009 and 1 more is due in
2013.
Bob D’Avanzo questioned the
purpose and the need of the proposed surveillance monitoring system.
Mayor
Schupp and Commissioner Nietubicz responded about the recent thefts that
occurred.
Mr.
D’Avanzo asked who would monitor the system.
Commissioner Nietubicz responded that no one will monitor the system and
added that it is only for viewing only if it is needed.
Emelia Oleson asked why
Commissioner van Heeswyk wasn’t included in the discussion between the surveillance
system company with Mayor Schupp and Commissioner Nietubicz. Commissioner Schupp stated that it was not an
official meeting it was just a discussion with a state contract vendor.
Ann Brecker stated that the Planning
Board reviewed Ordinance # 584-10 and informed the Commissioners of many
comments about needing time to review requests for purchases of equipment and
vehicles, etc. Commissioner van Heeswyk responded with meeting procedures of
the Planning Board.
Mayor
Schupp responded that the Planning Board only deals with land use.
Commissioner
van Heeswyk reminded that there is a Capital Plan component for the Planning
Board to do and that the Planning Board Solicitor is drafting a letter
acknowledging such.
Ms.
Brecker stated that Board members are frustrated about not being aware of the
purchases of beach vehicles and the public works department purchase of various
equipment. She stated that the members
need more clarification of same and need information before the Commissioners
Meetings. She asked how anyone can have any input on items purchased. Mayor Schupp stated that the Borough
officials will try to advise the Planning Board in a more timely fashion.
Bob
D’Avanzo asked what the Beach Director does with the golf cart. Commissioner Nietubicz stated that the golf
carts are all used for the taggers to be transported back and forth between the
beaches and the municipal building. He
agrees that the figure of 80,000 beach goers is the number that is used by the
lifeguards.
Commissioner
vanHeeswyk suggests “the count” methodology is flawed regarding the number of
beach goers. She stated that a count on
one July 4th weekend day is the maximum number of persons that we
need to make plans for equipment and staff, not the sum of all the days the
beach is open.
Bob
D’Avanzo agreed with Commissioner vanHeeswyk.
Tom Maye questioned the
requirements of license plates on golf carts and their use on county roads.
Commissioner
Nietubicz stated that golf carts do not require license plates on any road in Cape
May Point and they are insured by JIF.
Emelia Oleson asked if the new
cart gas powered and asked if it was for the Beach Director.
Commissioner
Nietubicz responded in the affirmative to both questions.
Bob D’Avanzo asked why the Beach
Director would need to get to the beach in a hurry.
Commissioner
Nietubicz answered “Taggers”.
Commissioner
vanHeeswyk commented that although many other towns provide a car for Code
Enforcement (who works all year), she doesn’t feel it is necessary for a town
our size.
Mayor
Schupp closed the public portion of the meeting.
Mayor
Schupp mentioned that we received brochures from the County Office of
Disability. He showed them to those
present.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Commissioner vanHeeswyk, seconded by
Commissioner Schupp the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 pm.
_________________________________
Joe
Nietubicz, Commissioner
__________________________________
Anita vanHeeswyk, Commissioner
__________________________________
Carl
F. Schupp, Commissioner