Thanks again, Barbara Susinno: Greetings Lavallettians ! I know you know what that means; a council meeting was held this evening and there was an unusually thin agenda. There was a resolution accepted that requires our governing body (and every governing body in municipalities in NJ), to have an annual audit , by the Local Finance Board of the State of NJ, of accounts, books and financial transactions. This is the first time in several years , that we have been required to have this audit and all members of our governing body must sign an affadavit that they have reviewed, at a minimum, the sections of this annual audit entitled “Comments and Recommendations”. Since the last audit we have experienced post Sandy complications, retirements, a resignation and have gained a new CFO, Chrissa Sierfeld, CMFO who has been on track to bring our books up to date and normalized and this audit will be fully certified with no problems. The Federal Beachfill Project, also knows as the Beach Replenishment and Dune Reconstruction, was discussed and updated. No, no date has been mentioned as of yet for the beginning of the project, no firm date yet announced. However there had been a meeting with the DEP, Department of Environmental Protection (NJ),in august ,during which time members present at the meeting, including our Borough Administrator, Chris Parlow, requested that Lavallette be granted, during the restoration project, 4 handicap walkovers. The problem arose that the DEP claimed we were only due 3 handicap walkovers for our specific area. The request was that each of the widest streets; President, Philadelphia, New York and Trenton avenues, be destined for the handicap walkovers. The one on Trenton was the one in question and denied as part of the restoration .However, although rejected, we may be able to get a bid privately to create one or ask what the price would be to add on to the restoration to be done by the Army Corps of Engineers. There are different and varied prices that need to be sought as bids and sorted out as to which is doable for us. A few ideas were offered by council members, one being that we wait and see what the first three are like before deciding what kind we want for the fourth that they are not offering to do as part of the project. Another idea was that we just accept the regular walkover on Trenton and see if it is handicap accessible enough . I say this because it was mentioned that the ADA crossovers in some beach towns,were noted to be zig zagged in construction while the regular walkovers were straighter in design and therefore a shorter distance to the beach. Another suggestion was finding out what it would take to create a handicap walkover from a regular walkover. It was also mentioned that due to the zig zag configurations, some people with disabilities might actually prefer the regular walkovers as opposed to the other design. Council members decided they would travel to LBI to view some of the designs of these walkovers and obtain different prices for work as private bids might actually be cheaper than asking for a government bid for work not included in the project. The subsurfaces of all types of crossovers will be crushed stone as a base that will most likely be covered by sand rather quickly but easy to maintain. The concept of using only the Mobi Mats with no crushed stone base , was discussed. If you arent aware of their name , Mobi Mats are the blue mats you see in access points in Lavallette. obi-Mat® RecPath™ is a portable and removable rollout ADA Beach Access Mat for pedestrians, Mobi-Chair® floating beach wheelchair, wheelchair users, strollers, bicycles and ATVs. Mobi-Mat® RecPath is now offered in 60” or 78” wide to respectively meet or exceed the ADA guidelines. The problem , however , with using only the Mobi Mats with no base, is that the maintenance would be continual and too much sand would cover such an area so quickly, their use would be negated so the council unanimously voted no on their use over the subsurface crushed stone, if given the choice. Team Mobile, aka T-Mobile, requested an approval to update some of their equipment on our water tower, that supports its wireless telecommunication network. They will need to remove 3 antennae and upgrade them before replacing them on the water tower. However, it was pointed out that our town engineer would need to oversee this project to ensure the integrity of our water tower and tank , at all times ,and that the cost of the overseeing of this project by T-Mobile would need to be addressed. T-Mobile assured us that they would pay the cost of overseeing the project so our engineer can assure safety and integrity of our tank. Some rusting and rust bleeding had been noted by a resident who voiced his concern and offered that the reason for this rust bleeding had to do with the original improper placement of the antennae, and also having to do with rust prevention methods such as specific primers, not having been used most likely. Our engineer will address this with the next placement of antennae. To obtain flood insurance for our borough buildings, Lavallette needs to have our engineer prepare flood elevation certificates as flood insurance companies request elevation certificates before a certificate of occupancy, or CO, is granted. A question arose as to whether or not the beach replenishment and subsequent new dune structures, will affect any of our flood insurance rates for the better but the answer was “no” and that flood insurance rates are strictly based on each structures elevation certificate only. Councilwoman Filippone mentioned that she would soon be bringing up some issues at a november Ordinance Committee. The Ordinance Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Council, regarding proposed changes to the codes already existing and/or proposes changes to the Committee in the form of new ordinance proposals,or proposes amendments to existing ordinances, or proposes repeal of existing ordinances. One such issue mentioned was the undersize lots , specifically mentioned on route 35, who face a set back that was intended for regular sized lots in the town. If adhered to, the houses would be tiny being set back so far on an undersized lot and as it is, Lavallette does not penalize homeowners on undersized lots so the ordinance may as well be changed and on the books as such. Another ordinance change mentioned that needed to be corrected, was the alignment of dates for parking stickers at the bayfront areas, with the start of the season. That would then mean that stickers for bay parking and beach badges would be required starting on the same day. Those dates so far, have never matched up ,but will soon so there is less confusion for everyone . At the last meeting, it was mentioned that Seaside Park would like to be able to send their students to Lavallette Elementary, as tuition students, but there was a concern that any special needs student being sent to our school system would need special and extra care and the cost would need to be addressed. Councilwoman Filippone said that she and Councilwoman Zalom , recently found out that any special needs student sent to our school from Seaside Park , would be financed by Seaside Park School . Flu shots will be offered and administered today, from 10 am to 12 pm, at the Fire Department. Friday is the Halloween Harvest Hoedown starting at 2 30 pm and ending at 9 30 pm but check Lavallette.org for specific events as there are so many events and many are age related events.. This amazing fun filled day and night is jointly sponsored by the Lavallette Mayor and Council, the Municipal Alliance, Recreation Committee, School Community , Upper Shores Library and Lavallette Community Partners for People with Disabilities and of course we shout out many thanks to our Lavallette Police department and Department of Public Works and Lavallette Firemen with all the help they always offer. Saturday, from 9 am to 12noon, please come out to take part in our Lavallette Beach Sweep, sponsored by Clean Ocean Action, meeting at the oceanfront of Philadelphia avenue. This event, as Councilwoman Zalom mentioned, is not just about the cleaning of our beaches, but mostly about the gathering of data and tabulation of that data, as to what items are found on the beaches. Will you find plastic bottles, caps, nails, cigarette /cigar butts, wood, glass etc (no sea glass doesnt count)! As you find the varied items that dont belong on the beach, you will have a sheet to tally your finds as you collect them, bag them, and return the filled bag with the tally sheet to be sent to the State for a master tabulation of the items found. When that event is over , there will be a 12 noon costume party on Philadelphia avenue, sponsored by the Lavallette Business Association, which will include a costume parade, prizes, face painting pumpkin decorating and refreshments! On november 5th Lavallette is planting dune grass with the Devils Hockey Team...100 volunteers! Come join the Devils and our School Children for breakfast and planting at 10 am on oceanfront Philadelphia avenue . The Devils have donated the dune grass and volunteered to help us plant to make our Lavallette a safer place to live and visit.! And, on Dune Grass Planting Day, our annual event , join us on november 8th , again meeting at Philadelphia avenue to pick up your supplies of grass , planting tools and gloves. The County always donates dune grass every year and this year we were offered 100, 000 plants!!! And, please know that your efforts will not be lost when the Dune Restoration occurs because the plant roots will rise up wherever they are placed, and however much they are covered up so all planting is part and parcel of the entire restoration to come as well as a benefit to protect our smaller dune system currently. Lavallette is offering a free Rabies clinic to all, sponsored by Donations of Love, a non -profit charity, and Coastal Veterinary will be onsite to adminster the vaccines, on wednesday, november 12th, from 6 pm to 7 pm only, on a first come , first served basis, at the First Aid Building. This service is for cats and dogs both and make sure your pet is either on a leash or in a carrier please. If you have a prior rabies vaccine certificate, please bring whatever you have along because if you dont , your pet will possibly only be able to get the one year vaccine as opposed to the 3 year vaccine. Before I say goodnight , or should I say good morning, I would like to remind you all that Memorial Day 2015 is in a mere 260 days!
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:34:46 +0000
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