City Council

February 7, 2023 Keyport, NJ Page 1 of 5 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council, Borough of Keyport, held on the above date in Borough Hall Council Chambers, Keyport, NJ, pursuant to the Annual Notice on file with the Borough Clerk forwarded to the Asbury Park Press, The Independent, and Newark Star Ledger and posted on the Bulletin Board in accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, P.L. 1975, Ch. 231. Mayor Araneo called the Meeting to Order at 7:00PM. The Borough Clerk read the Sunshine Law Notice. ROLL CALL On roll call the following were present: Councilmembers Demarest, Reilly, Vecchio, Peperoni, McNamara and Mayor Araneo. Council President Davidson was absent. Also present were Borough Attorney Victoria Flynn, Police Chief Shannon Torres and Borough Engineer Derek Jordan. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/MOMENT OF SILENCE Mayor Araneo held a moment of silence for Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour and for NYPD Officer Adeed Fayaz. MAYOR’S UPDATES Mayor Araneo attended the New Jersey Conference of Mayors where one of the main discussions was about the State health insurance benefits 23% increase and how it will affect our budgets for 2023. She will recommend to the new Business Administrator to explore whether private insurance is feasible. She mentioned the recent water main break and Mr. Jordan provided an update. PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION The Meeting was opened to the public at 7:05PM for comments on Resolutions and Communications moved by Peperoni, carried by Reilly with ayes by all present. John Merla, 34 Broad Street, asked if feedback has been received from the chiefs regarding their experience with the interlocal agreement authorized by R2023-68 Authorizing the Borough of Keyport to Enter into Shared Services Agreement with the County of Monmouth and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office for the Provision of Emergency Dispatch Services. Chief Torres said the department has a great relationship with the County and the service alleviates a lot of issues. Mayor Araneo said we can address this with the fire chief and first aid chief. He said regarding R2023-70 Declaring Surplus Property and Providing for Its Disposition and R2023-71 Authorizing the Disposition of Surplus Property, he applauds the efforts of Councilman Demarest for taking the lead to get this stuff cleaned up. Regarding R2023-73 Appointing Kimberly Humphrey as the Business Administrator for the Borough of Keyport, he has some questions and will wait on that. He asked for an explanation of Communications #7 and #8 which Councilmember McNamara provided. Michael Lane, 51 First Street, said 4-way stops on Green Grove is fantastic. He urged the Borough to press for 4-way stops at Broad and First. He said Atlantic and First by the Yacht Club needs to get a 4-way stop. Mayor Araneo asked Mr. Jordan to reach out to the County. Mr. Lane spoke about the online auction. Elmer J. Graham, Jr., 22 St. Peters Place, asked for an explanation of R2023-72 Authorizing Sewer Relief Due to Leaking Outside Spigot and asked if R2023-68 Authorizing the Borough of Keyport to Enter into Shared Services Agreement with the County of Monmouth and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office for the Provision of Emergency Dispatch Services will benefit the taxpayers. George Walling, 54 Second Street, asked what the salary range is for the Borough Administrator being hired tonight. Ms. Flynn said a contract has been drafted and Ms. Humphrey will be paid $145,500 per year. Mr. Walling suggested a 6-month review. 1  February 7, 2023 Keyport, NJ Page 2 of 5 There being no further comments or questions the Meeting was closed to public at 7:14PM moved by Pepperoni, carried by Vecchio with ayes by all present. CONSENT AGENDA (All resolutions listed hereunder are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one motion. Any person may request that an item be removed for separate consideration.) R2023-66 Payment of Bills Listed on the January 23, 2023 Bills List R2023-67 Payment of Bills Listed on the February 7, 2023 Bills List R2023-68 Authorizing the Borough of Keyport to Enter into Shared Services Agreement with the County of Monmouth and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office for the Provision of Emergency Dispatch Services R2023-69 Authorizing the Execution of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Borough of Keyport and the Keyport PBA Local 223 R2023-70 Declaring Surplus Property and Providing for Its Disposition R2023-71 Authorizing the Disposition of Surplus Property R2023-72 Authorizing Sewer Relief Due to Leaking Outside Spigot R2023-73 Appointing Kimberly Humphrey as the Business Administrator for the Borough of Keyport APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS Motion to approve items on the Consent Agenda moved by Peperoni, carried by Reilly with ayes by all present. Roll Call: Ayes: Demarest, Reilly, Vecchio, Peperoni, McNamara Nays: Absent: Davidson Abstain: INTRODUCTION OF 2023 KEYPORT BID, INC. BUDGET 1. RESOLUTION #2023-74 Introducing the 2023 Keyport Business Improvement District (KBBC) Budget The Clerk read the Budget by Title: KEYPORT BAYFRONT BUSINESS COOPERATIVE 2023 BUDGET 1a. Motion to adopt Resolution #2023-74 Business Improvement District 2023 Budget Notice moved by Peperoni, carried by Reilly Roll Call: Ayes: Demarest, Reilly, Vecchio, Peperoni, McNamara Nays: Absent: Davidson Abstain: 1b. Motion authorizing the Clerk to publish the Budget Summary as introduced in the Asbury Park Press for a public hearing on March 7, 2023, moved by Peperoni and carried by Reilly with ayes by all present. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 1. Ordinance – Revising Occupancy Limitations in the Borough’s Housing Code The Clerk read the Ordinance by Title: ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF KEYPORT, COUNTY OF MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY, AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 12 “BUILDING AND HOUSING”, ARTICLE 2 “HOUSING CODE”, SECTION 3 “AMENDMENTS” OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE BOROUGH OF KEYPORT 1a. Motion to introduce moved by Peperoni, carried by Reilly 2  February 7, 2023 Keyport, NJ Page 3 of 5 Roll Call: Ayes: Demarest, Reilly, Vecchio, Peperoni, McNamara Nays: Absent: Davidson Abstain 1b. Motion authorizing the Clerk to publish the Ordinance as introduced in the Asbury Park Press for a public hearing moved by McNamara, carried by Reilly with ayes by all present. COMMUNICATIONS BY CONSENT (For Approval) 1. Email request from Keyport High School Faculty Advisor regarding placing an ad in the High School 2023 Yearbook 2. Application for a Social Affair Permit from Our Lady of Fatima Parish for an event to be held on March 11, 2023 from 5PM to 9PM at 376 Maple Place 3. Application for a Social Affair Permit from Raritan Post 23-American Legion for an event to be held on March 25, 2023 from 9AM to 11:59PM at 81 W. Front Street 4. Letter from Keyport Fire Department Secretary received January 12, 2023 providing clarification/corrections to the following applications which were tabled at the December 20, 2022 Council meeting (1) Application for Membership in Hook & Ladder Co. from Donald Longo, III (subject to State approval) and notification that at the October 3, 2019 meeting the membership accepted the resignation of Mark McTernan as an active member; and (2) Application for Membership in Eagle Hose Co. from Jake Staeger (subject to State approval) and notification that at the December 12, 2022 meeting the membership accepted the resignation of Henry Rinkewich as an active member. 5. Flyer from the Bayshore Chief’s Association promoting the Bulletproof Your Heart event at Fireman’s lot on February 10, 2023 from 8AM-6PM (To Receive and File) 6. Letter dated January 23, 2023 from Mayor Araneo confirming the appointment of Donald J. Pacheco to the Environmental Commission for a three-year term ending December 31, 2025 7. Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners Resolution No. 2023-0090 Establishing Revised Traffic Control at the Intersection of County Route 516 (Green Grove Avenue) and Second Street in the Borough of Keyport 8. Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners Resolution No. 2023-0091 Establishing Revised Traffic Control at the Intersection of County Route 516 (Green Grove Avenue) and Third Street in the Borough of Keyport Councilmember McNamara asked regarding Communication #1 if we did a half page ad last year. Mayor Araneo asked if everyone is good with that. Councilmember McNamara asked about Communication #6 and asked if somebody resigned. Mayor Araneo said someone didn’t renew. APPROVAL and/or RECEIPT AND FILE OF COMMUNICATIONS Motion to approve items listed for Communications by Consent moved by Peperoni, carried by Reilly Roll Call: Ayes: Demarest, Reilly, Vecchio, Peperoni, McNamara Nays: Absent: Davidson Abstain NEW BUSINESS Charter Boat Lease Agenda Packet 3  February 7, 2023 Keyport, NJ Page 4 of 5 With regard to the Charter Boat Lease, Councilmember Vecchio relayed the thoughts from the Harbor Commission which the recommendation is to renew the lease which expires on April 30, 2023 and extend it through December 31, 2023 at the current rate of $750 per month, A new bid package will be put together to go out in the fourth quarter of this year. With regard to the Agenda Packet, Mayor Araneo said she spoke with Council President Davidson and it has been decided that they will attach the backups to the agenda starting with the next council meeting. It will not be everything that is in the packet but will be enough to give you the transparency of what is happening with the resolutions and the ordinances. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Mayor Araneo stated going forward there will be Unfinished Business items listed by the new Borough Administrator DAIS UPDATES Chief Torres said February is Heart Health Month. She has a flyer promoting a heart exam on February 10th at Fireman’s lot. You can scan the flyer to make an appointment. The flyer will be posted on social media. PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION The Meeting was opened to the public at 7:25PM for comments moved by Peperoni, carried by Reilly Donna Purcell said she heard the State health benefits increase doesn’t apply to the State workers, just County and Municipal. She asked if there was any discussion regarding that being fair to the municipalities. Mayor Araneo said every mayor had the same concern because it is going to affect everyone. She said some employees get a double hit because they are an employee as well as a tax payer and if we have to raise taxes they’re going to get hit twice. Ms. Flynn said the response by the State has been to just raise taxes which is not a really good answer. Ms. Purcell said she wished someone had put out a phone blast regarding the water main break. Patrick Maroney, 313 Main Street, brought up issue of water flooding the street corners. Low points were created that weren’t there previously. He said it’s not just rain but also sump pumps. He said kids are going out into the street to get around puddles. He stated they did mitigate the issue at Broad and Jackson. The County came out and took out a strip of asphalt there and put in concrete so it drains off the corner a little better. He asked if there are any plans to fix any of the other bad ones. Mr. Jordan said the engineers are going to take a look at it. Mayor Araneo asked Mr. Jordan to check with Trevor [Taylor] because he has been working on this as well. Andrew Kelsey, 29 St. Peters Place, said the corner of Main and Pershing also needs to be addressed. He said we spent all this money to fix existing ramps and now they are worse. John Merla, 34 Broad Street, said most depressed corners were put in during new road construction. Need to look at this in the future on new projects. He spoke regarding the light timing at the site of the bridge construction going on at Broadway and W. 4th. They should also look at the light at Maple and Broad. He said that there are many poorly lit streets in town. We need a meeting with JCP&L. Michael Lane, 51 First Street, said there has to be an inflation factor built into the Charter Boat lease contract. He said he looked at Holmdel’s website and saw they post all resolutions going back many years, they live broadcast their meetings and the Borough Administrator gives a monthly status report. He also spoke about having items listed under Unfinished Business, specifically the MOD IV database zoning data, Bethany Manor, and the Pedestrian Safety Improvement Program. Caly Gallopo asked if there were any updates regarding the cannabis process. Councilmember McNamara stated we are not ready to move forward due to ongoing litigation and needing to review our forms and processes. Elmer J. Graham, Jr., said he noticed the condition of some of the Borough sidewalks and asked if something would be done. Mayor Araneo said sidewalks are the responsibility of the 4  February 7, 2023 Keyport, NJ Page 5 of 5 homeowner. Code Enforcement needs to take a look at that. He asked about the Veterans Committee meetings. Andrew Kelsey said the response that the sidewalks are the responsibility of the homeowner is really unacceptable. Sidewalks are often replaced at the expense of the Borough when certain streets are paved . He said there is a liability to the Borough for broken sidewalks. Please take action. Robert Aumack, 67 W. Front Street, thank you for moving forward on the lease for the charter boat. He said next two Harbor Commission meetings will be Zoom; Fireman’s inspection will be May 20th at 4PM. He spoke about making some changes to the area of the Fireman’s monument at Fireman’s Park and is looking for some work to be done by the Borough on the curbs and sidewalks. He said there is a law you can’t put a storm drain directly in a crosswalk with openings due to wheels of wheelchairs and scooters, etc. He said to go to the free screening that the Chief was talking about because he did six years ago and it saved his life. Jack Straub, 235 Main Street, said maybe we can look into doing live streams for the meetings rather than Zoom. I want to thank you for finally addressing the agenda packet and putting the information online. George Walling asked if everyone got a resume for the new Borough Administrator and he asked when they received it. He asked how many applicants we had. Mayor Araneo said there were four. Mayor Araneo introduced new Borough Administrator Kimberly Humphrey. There being no further comments or questions the Meeting was closed to the public at 7:57PM moved by Peperoni, carried by Vecchio with ayes by all present. ADJOURNMENT Motion to Adjourn at 7:58PM moved by Peperoni and carried with ayes by all present. 5