HARVEY CEDARS, NJ April 4, 2008
The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Borough of Harvey Cedars, NJ was called to order by Mayor Oldham at 4:30pm who stated to the best of his knowledge all requirements of the State Sunshine Law had been met. Commissioners Gerkens and Garofalo were present.
The Mayor asked all to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, March 18, 2008, was made by
Commissioner Gerkens, seconded by Commissioner Garofalo.
The Mayor read the following ordinance by title and number and asked for a motion to introduce.
A copy of the full ordinance as introduced is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Motion to adopt: Commissioner Garofalo
Second: Commissioner Gerkens
Vote: Ayes – Oldham, Gerkens, Garofalo
The Mayor read the following resolution by title only and asked for a motion to adopt.
AUTHORIZE CONTRACT TO INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS COMPANY
A copy of the resolution is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Motion to adopt: Commissioner Gerkens
Second: Commissioner Garofalo
The Mayor read the following resolution by title only and asked for a motion to adopt.
A copy of the resolution is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Motion to adopt: Commissioner Gerkens
Second: Commissioner Garofalo
The Mayor read the following resolution by title only and asked for a motion to adopt.
A copy of the resolution is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Motion to adopt: Commissioner Garofalo
Second: Commissioner Gerkens
The Mayor read the following resolution by title only and asked for a motion to adopt.
A copy of the resolution is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Motion to adopt: Commissioner Gerkens
Second: Commissioner Garofalo
The Mayor read the following resolution by title only and asked for a motion to adopt.
A copy of the resolution is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Motion to approve the bills for payment was made by Commissioner Gerkens, seconded by Commissioner Garofalo.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gerkens, seconded by Commissioner Garofalo, to approve the request to use Sunset Park for a wedding rehearsal and ceremony for Janine Caffrey on Friday, August 1, 2008 and Saturday, August 2, 2008 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm.
A motion was made by Commissioner Gerkens, seconded by Commissioner Garofalo, to approve the request to use Hudson Avenue beach to Freedom Surf Shop for the annual Youth Surfing Contest on Saturday, June 28, 2008 from 8am – 1pm.
PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR –
Mayor Oldham introduced Craig Henry, Superintendent of Southern Regional High School, and Lynn Shugars, Business Administrator. Mr. Henry and Ms. Shugars presented the proposed school budget and gave handouts for reference. The total amount to be raised by taxation is $37.1 million, an increase of $410,000 from last year. Three of the seven towns will see a decrease in taxes, but Harvey Cedars will increase approximately $16.00/year on the average assessed home. Mr. Henry said the average cost per student at Southern Regional is $13,400, which is $600 more than the state average. He said 84% of the graduates continue to college. The school election for the budget will be April 15th.
Lena Nerrie, 9 Olsen Ave., stated that according to the State of New Jersey Board of Education Report Card, the Southern Regional cost per student is $14,800 and only 38% went to a 4-year college, a drop of 3% from the previous year. She asked Mr. Henry to clarify the differences.
Mr. Henry and Ms. Shugars stated that they used the Comparative Spending Guide, also issued by the State of Department of Education, and cannot speak for NJ Report Card. They explained that the Comparative Spending Guide takes all the districts across the state and puts like groups together; Southern Regional is included in the group of grades 7 to 12 and grades 9 to 12. There are 47 districts in that category that are used to calculate a state average for that type of school district. There are currently 3088 students total; about 2020 in high school and the remaining in the middle school.
Mr. Henry explained there has been no study to determine the actual percentage of high school graduates that obtain a 4-year college degree. He stated 84% continue on to college, but the decline in graduates going to a 4-year college is because most of the top 100 are going for 2 years at Ocean County College for free through the STARS program, and then continuing to another university to obtain their degree.
Mayor Oldham thanked Mr. Henry and Ms. Shugars for their presentation and introduced Robert Garguilo, Superintendent, and Kevin O’Shea, Business Administrator, of the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District.
Mr. Garguilo played an informative video of the programs and events that take place at the LBI schools. After the video, they discussed and gave handouts on the LBI school budget. The general fund budget has been reduced this year by 1%. Approximately 5% of property taxes go to the LBICSD. For the average assessed home valued at $1,113,000 in Harvey Cedars, the local elementary school tax would be $434 per year; a $22.00 increase from last year, which is less than 2/10th of a penny.
Al Wright, 3 Cedars Ave., asked if there was any news on the beach. The Mayor said the Army Corps of Engineers is attempting to use the beach project money to fund the clean up of the Surf City beach. He said he was in Washington, DC a few weeks ago to get the verbiage changed to not use this money for anything but replenishment. He said that the army dumped the munitions, and the money should be used for the replenishment project.
Richard LeSchander, 35 Cedars Ave., asked the status of the easements. Mayor Oldham said the Borough is still working with a few homeowners. There are new rules that state easements are needed only where the project is going, not for 100% of the town. However, this still does not help Harvey Cedars since the easements needed are spread throughout the whole town.
Motion to adjourn: Commissioner Gerkens
Second: Commissioner Garofalo
Meeting adjourned at 5:38pm.