August 2, 2007 Minutes in Brief Part 2

[OPRA Reporter]

BONNIE WOLF, 127 N Derby keep pier in consideration of future youth.

SONDRA KLINGER, 1 S Oxford why should we pay for 170 members. Requested the issue be tabled until other funding can be found.

KATHY MCFADDEN, 416 N Cambridge said we should keep the pier but it must become an open pier.

JOHN VAN DUYNE, 117 N Dudley, lifelong resident, VC Planning Board Member and builder spoke on the necessity of the pier project, articulating the costs and technicalities involved in the individual maintenance /repair/replacement of damaged piling. He encouraged the Commission and the public to find a way to keep the pier - make it happen!!

There being no one further wishing to be heard, Cmr Schafer moved, seconded by Cmr Vespertino the Public Hearing on Ordinance 2007-09 be closed.

Roll Call Vote:
Yeas: Commissioners Schafer, Vespertino and Mayor Kreischer

…..

FINAL READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 2007-09
BOND ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $450,000, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $427,500, BONDS OR NOTES OF THE CITY FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES AUTHORIZED TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE CITY OF VENTNOR CITY, IN THE COUNTY OF ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY.

Cmr Vespertino moved, seconded by Cmr Schafer that Ordinance 2007-09 be adopted.
Vote:
*Yeas: Commissioners Schafer, Vespertino and Mayor Kreischer

*Voting yes, CMR SCHAFER said he listened to the public and heard their concerns. Ways to improve accessibility to the pier will be looked into and outside funding will be explored. He praised past City Fathers for rebuilding the Boardwalk after storm damages and the Fishing Pier when a barge broke through it. The Commissioner said that plan for the future or live in the past has meant to him… that rather than live in the past and just remember the structures or amenities that weren’t saved, his desire now is to save these amenities for future Ventnor citizens to enjoy in years to come and for Ventnor to continue to be a place where everybody wants to live.

*Voting yes, CMR VESPERTINO, said in listening tonight he took a lot of things into consideration. Public access is more important to him now and definite steps will be taken to make the pier more attainable/cheaper for the public. He heard some good ideas of ways to increase the revenues and we will continue to pursue more grants, get big-time corporate sponsorships and apply that to debt reduction. On comments “there’s no rush on this” he offered that one bid - 6 months later increased $600,000. That, and being up against losing grants & two low interest loans we have right now, is enough to consider the pier in a state of emergency. But we don’t have to lay down, we can still be aggressive in finding other sources of funding & we can increase our revenue. Hopeful that the meeting next week will be very beneficial, CMR VESPERTINO thanked everyone for coming out and complimented both sides of the aisle for the way they handled themselves tonight.

*Voting yes, MAYOR KREISCHER expressed disappointment that many residents left before the final vote. He explained that the pier project has been in the works since 2003 and noted, as stated by Mr. Van Duyne, the impracticability and added costs of replacing damaged pilings one at a time. With everything now in place – funding and contractor ready to start this decision is emergent. To not do the project now, risks our losing everything. The MAYOR expressed confidence that we will be receiving additional Green Acres money in the next grant quarter and beyond and they will continue to look for additional funding sources. He explained his opposition to referenda as a public official elected to make these decisions. He spoke to their campaign platform Restoring Ventnor’s Pride/Ventnor’s Pride is Back as their promise to keep the quality of life and offer the next generation the same opportunities as we enjoyed. Using the mosaic theory, he said the City of Ventnor is made of little pieces just like a mosaic. One little individual piece means nothing – but put them all together and you have a picture that states something. It is all these things that make up Ventnor and the Fishing Pier is one of those pieces important to the overall perception and quality of life in Ventnor.

*8:29PM - CMR VESPERTINO LEFT PODIUM. MAYOR REQUESTED MEETING RESUME W/QUORUM.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMARKS

JOHN FETTER 716 N Burghley - voiced his disappointment and disagreement with the way the Fishing Pier issued was handled tonight – feeling they had not really listened to the people – and asked what the difference would have been if they had put it off for a few more weeks/months. The Mayor explained the time schedule of advertising, receiving bids & 60 days max for contract award – failure to award in 60 days will void these bids and requires the rebid/readvertise/award process to start all over again – which would probably delay the project until next summer and jeopardize the state funding in place and would also mean the pier would be closed CMR. SCHAFER & CMR VESPERTINO explained the age, damage, life and expected maintenance problems with pier pilings as expertly stated by Mr. Van Duyne. The CITY ENGINEER responded to the question of concrete piers vs. Greenheart (50yr)pilings. Mr. FETTER concluded by offering his opinion that as times change and things like the fishing pier become burdensome to the taxpayers to maintain, other choices should be made.

ADJOURNMENT: 8:45PM


[All three Commissioners appeared to be reading from prepared statements.]