Committee Meeting Highlights

The Township Committee's Feb. 7 drew a large crowd Monday night, and led to some heated discussions between residents and elected officials. Here's what you missed if you weren't there.

• Mayor Jeffery Melchiondo issued proclamations regarding the recognition of Black History Month and declaring May “Poppy Month” in recognition of veterans.

• Committeeman Al Bille said in his report that he recently visited the Barnegat Food Pantry and found the need for some improvements. The roof of the structure on Main Street will be resealed to stop a leak, he said, a new overhang would be built for the front door and a police patrol would cruise by several times each morning. "I’m going to work hard to see that that continues to be a success," he said.

• In his report, Committeeman Martin Lisella said he’s still seeking quotes for a hospitalization insurance plan for township employees.

• In his report, Deputy Mayor Alfonso Cirulli said he had spent much of January reviewing “all segments of the way the township does business” ahead of the annual budgeting process, and announced that contract negotiations with the police department would soon begin.

• Committeeman Len Morano reported that he received numerous complaints from residents regarding residents’ courtroom meetings with members of the firm that conducted the recent property tax reassessments in the township. The reassessment firm representatives were unhelpful, he said, and the Committee should look into a refund of the $150,000 it paid for the service. "People walked out of here shaking their heads," Morano said.

• Township Administrator David Breeden addressed the property tax reassessments as well, noting that all residents should have received a letter explaining the changes. For the most part, the reassessments reflected a decrease in property values in Barnegat, and the township’s ratables base would be decreasing. Breeden said that if residents still have concerns about their reassessments, they should contact the township.

• Barnegat Police Chief Art Drexler gave a presentation on various cost-saving measures introduced by the police department in recent years, and joined the mayor and residents in a discussion of the new K-9 unit, which Drexler said was necessary and would cost the township little. See the full story .

• During public comments, a shouting match erupted between resident Phil Checchia and Committee members over the Committee’s past statements on payments to the Four Seasons at Mirage development, which Checchia claimed were off by nearly $1 million.

• Mayor Jeffrey Melchiondo fielded complaints from several people regarding the scheduling of two bay boat races this summer. According to permits granted by thte Committee at the meeting, East Coast Boat Racing Club will hold its garvey race August 13, instead of the traditional Fourth of July weekend. A new club, Jersey Outlaws Racing Association, will hold races July 3 and Sept. 4.

• The Committee passed a resolution granting a lease of property at 979 W. Bay Avenue to Quality Medical Transport, Inc. for three years for a cost of $1,125.28 the first year with 4 percent increases yearly. Township Administrator David Breeden said the company has been providing EMS services to Barnegat since 2006, and that the agreement is contingent on that partnership continuing.

• The Committee also approved emergency appropriations to cover the costs of cleanup following several winter storms.

• Included in the consent agenda for the meeting were numerous denials of the release of performance guarantees to contractors for work at the Four Seasons at Mirage. Breeden said the denials were “mainly based upon numerous drainage complaints that have gone unanswered.” The guarantees will be denied until the developer addresses the issues, Breeden said.