DLC Meeting – December 21st, 2023 – Minutes
DEAL LAKE COMMISSION
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 21, 2023
Due to COVID-19 the Regular Meeting of the Deal Lake Commission was held via teleconference using the Zoom Meeting Platform. The Commission Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. After the Salute to the Flag, the Commission Clerk announced that the notice requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act C.231, P.L. 1975, were met by transmitting the notice to the Commission’s official newspaper on February 2, 2022, posting where required and filing a copy of the notice with the Commission Clerk. The Deal Lake Commission meeting will be audio and video taped and will be shown on APTV, Optimum 77 and throughout Monmouth County on FIOS 28.
ROLL CALL
| PRESENT | ABSENT | |
| Allenhurst (Alt. – T. Mauro) | x | |
| Asbury Park (J. Toher) | x | |
| Deal | x | |
| Interlaken (Alt. – S. Merlin) | x | |
| Loch Arbour (M. Fernicola) | x | |
| Neptune (E. Houghtaling) | x | |
| Ocean (D. Brockel) | x |
OTHERS PRESENT:
Hunt Parry, Esq., Commission Attorney
Dave Howarth, Commission Engineer
Dr. Stephen Souza, Environmental Consultant
Jessie M. Joseph, Commission Clerk
Resolution #23-052 – Resolution to Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting
October 19, 2023
UPON MOTION of Asbury Park, seconded by Neptune, carried that the following Resolution be and the same is hereby adopted:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Deal Lake Commission held on October 19, 2023 be and the same are hereby approved (Deal and Interlaken do not vote).
RECORDED VOTE:
Ayes: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Loch Arbour, Neptune, Ocean
Nays: None
Abstain: Interlaken
Absent: Deal
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 21, 2023
Resolution #23-053 – Resolution to Approve Treasurer’s Report and Pay Bills
UPON MOTION of Asbury Park, seconded by Ocean carried that the Treasurer’s Report for December 21, 2023 be approved and the bills listed authorized for payment.
BALANCE ON HAND PREVIOUS MONTH:
Manasquan Bank $ 34,126.98
NJ Cash Management Fund 44,534.77
TOTAL ON DEPOSIT $ 78,661.75
RECEIPTS:
Interest – NJ Cash Management Fund
October & November 2023 398.50
Interest – Manasquan Bank, October & November 2023 363.36
TOTAL RECEIPTS $ 761.86
TOTAL AVAILABLE $ 79,423.61
DISBURSEMENTS:
2023 Appropriations:
Don Brockel – Storage Unit Rental, November &
December 2023) $ 320.65
JCP&L (9/27/23-10/25/23) &
Estimated (10/26/23-11/25/23 79.62
Verizon (9/24/23-10/23/23) &
Estimated (10/24/23-11/23/23) 80.10
The New Coaster, LLC Legal Advertising
(Invoice #60679 & 60827) 200.27
Clean Waters Consulting, LLC (10/1/23 – 11/30/23) 875.00
Hunt Parry, Esq. (Oct & Dec. Attendance at
DLC Meetings) 500.00
Township of Ocean (Clerk/CFO Interlocal Oct-Dec 2023) 3,125.00
Lake Management Services 3,990.00
Sub-Total $ 9,170.55
319H, WM18-016:
Leon S. Avakian, Inc. – Green Infrastructure Grant,
DLC 17-02 (Invoices 24585 & 25023) $ 2,015.00
LSA, Inc. – Water Quality Improvements
Grant, DLC 22-02 (Invoices 24586 & 25022) $ 4,702.50
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 21, 2023
Sub-Total Grants $ 6,717.50
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS FOR APPROVAL 12/21/2023 $ 15,888.05
TOTAL BALANCES $ 63,535.56
DETAIL OF BALANCES
Manasquan Bank $ 18,602.29
NJ Cash Management Fund 44,933.27
TOTAL ON DEPOSIT $ 63,535.56
RECORDED VOTE:
Ayes: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune, Ocean
Nays: None
Absent: Deal
OLD BUSINESS
- 2017 – 319(H) Grant – Don Brockel, Commission Chairman, said the project is wrapping up and we are tying up some loose ends. We are getting ready to submit the final report.
Dave Howarth, representing the Township Engineer, reported that construction is complete and the last piece of the project was just finished, which is the Flitera Box located by the gazebo in Allenhurst. The final payment was submitted and there is a Change Order. The Change Order is for additional work that was required for the installation of the tree well.
There was a brief discussion on the tree box.
- Shoreline Protection/Education – Mr. Brockel has still not heard from the State on the violations. He hopes to hear from them after the holidays.
Jeannie Toher, City of Asbury Park Commissioner, will follow-up again with them.
- Goose/Carp Remediation – Mr. Brockel said he sent the report out to the Commissioners that was received from USDA on the goose remediation. Thirteen nests were found and 34 eggs were treated. We will have a discussion at the re-organization meeting about the DLC continuing being the lead agency for the program. The bills for each municipality’s portion of the total cost of the project were sent out. 100% participation/payment is crucial to the DLC continuing to be the lead agency, otherwise each municipality will go back to paying individually and some municipalities have not participated in the past.
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 21, 2023
- Restoration of 4 lakes/ponds west of Wickapecko – Mr. Brockel said Ocean Township is looking to dredge Fireman’s Pond and parts of Terrace Pond. There is no other update.
- New DEP Stormwater Management Grant – Mr. Howarth gave an update on the project as follows:
* Design plans are being drafted
* Design calculations are being worked on
* Two permits will need to be submitted – Freehold Soil Permit and a Monmouth County
Permit
He went on to say the basic idea of the project is to bring the two basins at the Mall into compliance with today’s design standards.
Mr. Brockel shared a map of the location of the project and what will be done in each section.
There was more discussion on the project.
NEW BUSINESS
- Ken McGee, DLC Webmaster, discussed the advantages of having a domain based e-mail for the DLC and the various options that are available. Mr. McGee explained a few problems that have arisen with the flume update/status on the website.
Resolution #23-055 – Authorizing the Deal Lake Commission Webmaster to Update the
Deal Lake Commission E-Mail Server
UPON MOTION of Ocean, seconded by Interlaken, carried that the following Resolution be and the same is hereby adopted:
WHEREAS, the Deal Lake Commission is in need of updating the Commission e-mail server; and
WHEREAS, the Deal Lake Commission would like to use one domain based e-mail address;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Deal Lake Commission that it hereby authorizes the Ken McGee, Deal Lake Commission Webmaster, to file all of the necessary paperwork on behalf of the Deal Lake Commission for a domain based e-mail address at a cost not to exceed $200.00 annually.
RECORDED VOTE:
Ayes: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune, Ocean
Nays: None
Absent: Deal
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 21, 2023
- Renewal of DLC Agreement – Mr. Brockel reminded everyone that the Agreement for the Reestablishment of a Joint Meeting known as the Deal Lake Commission expires on December 31, 2024. The current Agreement is on the website. Read it and if you have any suggested changes, e-mail them to everyone. He hopes to have it ready to be sent to each municipality in January or February.
- Support for Recycling Bottle Deposit – Mr. Brockel said Jeff Gold sent an e-mail requesting the DLC’s support of a bottle deposit return bill. He suggested we hold off on the discussion and have Jeff Gold come to the January meeting to discuss this issue. All were in agreement.
- Hybrid Meetings 2024 – Mr. Brockel would like to test out having hybrid meetings starting in January on a small basis. Everyone that was in attendance was in favor of trying it out.
There was more discussion on the logistics of having hybrid meetings.
- Begin Review of Master Plan – Mr. Brockel said our Master Plan is on the website. It’s basically a list of our goals for the lake over the years. Please review it to see what we can remove and what we should add.
- Goals for 2024 – Mr. Brockel said some of the goals include the Seaview Mall Plan, close out the 2017 Project, we have a great newsletter, finish up working with Clean Ocean Action to identify sewer leaks. The Commissioners should put together some goals for the February meeting.
- Update on recent storms – Mr. Brockel said we had two big storms in the past two weeks. He wanted to thank the Alternate Asbury Park Commissioner Ed for his help. The Township of Ocean and City of Asbury Park OEM’s both have keys to the Flume They also give us insight on the weather, which is a tremendous help.
- Ocean OEM help – Mr. Brockel shared the Facebook presentation that the Township of Ocean’s OEM Manager, Tom Reu posted entitled “Deal Lake Flume Operation.”
Tom Reu joined the meeting and explained that he originally did it keep his staff informed. Once Don saw the video he thought it would be perfect to post on the DLC website so residents can better understand how the flume works.
Ms. Toher said she and Dr. Souza recently attended the CLONet meeting and the discussion was of the recurring problem of all coastal lakes and flooding. She proceeded to read from a prepared statement about a suggestion that was made by Dr. Jason Adolf of Monmouth University that the CLONet lake community’s band together to create a regional plan.
Dr. Souza said there is potential funding available from the Department of Defense. The DOD is focused on areas near a Base. They are concerned about people not being able to get to the
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 21, 2023
Base if the roads are flooded and closed. Since Earle is nearby and Deal Lake is in the watershed we are in a good position to apply for funding if it becomes available.
- Backyard collapse during September 29th storm – Mr. Brockel reported that a backyard collapsed during the storm. The homeowner lost most of his backyard and almost lost his house.
Mr. Brockel thanked Ms. Toher and Dr. Souza for the great presentations they each gave at the CLONet meeting.
Dr. Souza said the DLC is head and shoulders above the rest of the coastal lakes in terms of what we’re doing and how we’ve addressed problems.
The Commission Clerk announced that the Deal Lake Commission has received the New Jersey Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for 2022 Watershed Management and Water Resources.
The Commission Clerk also said the 2024 Water Lowering permit has been received.
Mr. Brockel said we received a Violation Notice for not letting DEP know when we started to refill the lake after the clean-up. He reached out to DEP and resolved the issue.
- Resolution #23-054 – Approve the Proposed Budget and Assessments for 2024
UPON MOTION of Ocean, seconded by Asbury Park, carried, that the following Budget for the year 2024 be and the same is hereby approved as proposed and the Clerk be directed to notify the constituent municipalities of their 2024 assessments (no change in assessments from 2023):
| REVENUES: | 2024 |
| Allenhurst | $ 2,750.00 |
| Asbury Park | 11,000.00 |
| Deal | 1,750.00 |
| Interlaken | 10,000.00 |
| Loch Arbour | 3,750.00 |
| Neptune | 1,000.00 |
| Ocean | 19,750.00 |
| Surplus Applied | 29,000.00 |
| TOTAL REVENUES ANTICIPATED FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS | $79,000.00 |
| EXPENDITURES: | |
| 401- Administration (Clerk and CFO) | $16,000.00 |
| 402 – Postage | 300.00 |
| 403 – Supplies | 750.00 |
| 404 – Advertising | 1,500.00 |
| 411 – Legal Fees | 3,000.00 |
| 413 – Insurance | 4,000.00 |
| 420 – Engineering | 8,000.00 |
| 430 – Audit Fees | 2,250.00 |
| LAKE MAINTENANCE: | |
| 442 – Environmental Consultant | 7,000.00 |
| 443 – General Lake Maintenance | 29,700.00 |
| OTHER: | |
| 450 – Special Projects including website hosting/maintenance/virtual meeting expense | 4,500.00 |
| 470 Utility Expenses | 2,000.00 |
| Sub-total Operating Expenditures | $79,000.00 |
| TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES | $79,000.00 |
RECORDED VOTE:
Ayes: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Neptune, Ocean
Nays: None
Absent: Deal
**7:55PM – Eric Houghtaling, Township of Neptune Commissioner, left the meeting.
COMMISSIONER’S LAST WORD
Don Brockel, Township of Ocean Commissioner announced that Eric Houghtaling, Neptune’s representative to the DLC will not be returning next year.
Jeannie Toher, City of Asbury Park Commissioner, again brought up each Commissioner getting the advisory out to lakefront homeowners about doing work at their property.
Tony Mauro, Borough of Allenhurst Alternate Commissioner, said he has seen a lot of great progress overall from the DLC since he started on the Commission a few years ago.
Steve Merlin, Borough of Interlaken Alternate, said as a lifelong resident he has seen a lot of improvements along the lake these past few years.
Ms. Toher announced that we need two volunteers to do lake testing.
Margot Fernicola, Village of Loch Arbour Commissioner, reported on the following:
- The bulkhead was fixed
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 21, 2023
- Suggested having an open house at the flume so residents can understand how the flume works.
- Thanked Don for all of his help.
PUBLIC HEARING:
UPON MOTION of Ocean, seconded by Interlaken, moved that the meeting be opened to the public.
Peter Hughes, said asked if the Deal Lake Commission qualifies and gets the necessary CEU’s to get State designation. He had some suggestions on where to get the CEU’s.
Mr. Brockel said we are not required to have CEU’s.
There being no further comments and UPON MOTION of Ocean, seconded by Allenhurst, carried that the public hearing be closed. There being no further business and UPON MOTION Asbury Park, seconded by Loch Arbour, carried that the meeting be finally adjourned at 8:24 PM.
_______________________
Jessie M. Joseph, RMC
Commission Clerk