DLC Meeting – September 21, 2023 – Minutes
DEAL LAKE COMMISSION
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 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 (B. Fromer) | x | |
| Asbury Park (J. Toher) | x | |
| Deal | x | |
| Interlaken (C. Roarty) | x | |
| Loch Arbour (M. Fernicola) | x | |
| Neptune | X | |
| Ocean (D. Brockel) | x |
OTHERS PRESENT:
Hunt Parry, Esq., Commission Attorney
Peter R. Avakian, P.E., Engineering Consultant
Dr. Stephen Souza, Environmental Consultant
Jessie M. Joseph, Commission Clerk
Resolution #23-046 – Resolution to Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting
August 17, 2023
UPON MOTION of Asbury Park, seconded by Loch Arbour, 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 August 17, 2023 be and the same are hereby approved (Deal does not vote).
RECORDED VOTE:
Ayes: Asbury Park, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Ocean
Nays: None
Absent: Allenhurst, Deal, Neptune
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
Resolution #23-047 – Resolution to Approve Treasurer’s Report and Pay Bills
UPON MOTION of Ocean, seconded by Loch Arbour carried that the Treasurer’s Report for September 21, 2023 be approved and the bills listed authorized for payment.
BALANCE ON HAND PREVIOUS MONTH:
Manasquan Bank $ 24,221.30
NJ Cash Management Fund 44,146.61
TOTAL ON DEPOSIT $ 68,367.91
RECEIPTS:
Interest – NJ Cash Management Fund, August, 2023 195.53
Manasquan Bank, August 2023 351.42
TOTAL RECEIPTS $ 546.95
TOTAL AVAILABLE $ 68,914.86
DISBURSEMENTS:
2023 Appropriations:
Don Brockel – Storage Unit Rental, September & Flume Net
$ 329.81
JCP&L (7/27/23-8/25/23) 27.67
Verizon (7/24/23-8/23/23) 40.03
Messinas – Goose Damage Control 6/23-9/23 1,900.00
Leon S. Avakian, Inc. (General Engineering Inv. #23946) 350.00
Clean Waters Consulting, LLC (8/1/23 – 8/31/23) 437.50
Hunt A. Parry, Esq. (July, Aug., Sept. DLC Meetings) 750.00
Sub-Total $ 3,835.01
319H, WM18-016:
Leon S. Avakian, Inc. – Water Quality Improvements
Grant, DLC 22-02 (Invoice 23945) $ 737.50
Sub-Total Grants $ 737.50
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS FOR APPROVAL 9/21/023 $ 4,572.51
TOTAL BALANCES $ 64,342.35
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
DETAIL OF BALANCES
Manasquan Bank $ 20,000.21
NJ Cash Management Fund 44,342.14
TOTAL ON DEPOSIT $ 64,342.35
RECORDED VOTE:
Ayes: Asbury Park, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Ocean
Nays: None
Absent: Allenhurst, Deal, Neptune
*7:10 pm Bruce Fromer, Commissioner for the Borough of Allenhurst arrived at the meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
- 2017 – 319(H) Grant – Don Brockel, Commission Chairman, reported that the rain gardens in Wesley Lake were cut down again, which is a major problem.
Peter Avakian, Commission Engineer, said that he spoke to Buildings and Grounds from Ocean Grove and it was traced back to the Neptune Township Public Works Department that hired a subcontractor to do landscaping and they cut down the rain gardens. This is a very serious problem and he would like the authorization to go to Neptune Township and request they remedy the situation. He suggested giving them eight months to fix the problem along with a maintenance document.
Dr. Stephen Souza, DLC Environmental Consultant, also has serious concerns. He would like to put them on notice and we can than reinspect in the Spring and make sure the renovation is up to our standards.
There was a suggestion to place signs by the rain garden that say “Do Not Mow”.
Mr. Avakian said the Contractor has been on vacation but the Flotera box to be placed in Allenhurst should be installed in the next week to ten days.
- Shoreline Protection/Education – Mr. Brockel said there is nothing to report, we are still waiting to hear back from the State.
- Goose/Carp Remediation – The Commission Clerk reported that the bill has been received and she read the following amounts that each municipality will be responsible for: Allenhurst – $199.37; Asbury Park – $797.45; Deal – $126.87; Interlaken – $724.96; Loch Arbour – $271.86; Neptune – $72.50; Ocean – $1,431.75.
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
- Restoration of 4 lakes/ponds west of Wickapecko – Mr. Brockel reported that Ocean Township is also looking to do some remediation at both Terrace Pond by the Golf Course and Fireman’s Pond this fall.
- Water Testing: Monmouth University – Mr. Brockel said USGS did some extensive water testing all along the lake for the study they are doing with Monmouth University. We hope to have a report in the winter. It was for blue green algae.
Dr. Souza said based on the DEP data it appears did not have an outbreak this year of HAB’s.
- New DEP Stormwater Management Grant – Mr. Brockel said they did a walk through and went over the plans.
Mr. Avakian said there is an updated concept plan but we are not ready to discuss the project yet and he hopes to be able to share more about the project soon. He has concerns about the timing and reporting of the project. It is on a very strict timeline.
- Mr. Brockel reminded everyone that the Deal Lake Fall Clean-Up is Saturday, October 21st at 9:00 AM. Check-in is at the Asbury Park Boat Ramp. Again this year, the clean-up coincides with Monmouth University’s Big Event.
NEW BUSINESS
- Resolution #23-048 – Authorizing the Commission to advertise the 2023 Deal Lake Fall Clean-Up in an amount not to exceed $400.00
UPON MOTION of Interlaken, seconded by Allenhurst, carried that the following Resolution be and the same is hereby adopted:
WHEREAS, the Deal Lake Commission sponsors an annual fall clean-up to remove accumulated debris and trash from the watershed; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 2023 Fall Clean-Up be scheduled for October 21, 2023 from 9:00 AM to Noon and the Commission Clerk, be and she is hereby directed to place ads in The Coaster to include information noted above and alerting the residents
of the lake lowering with regard to the October 21, 2023 Clean-Up and the blowing of leaves in the lake in an amount not to exceed $400.00
RECORDED VOTE:
Ayes: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Ocean
Nays: None
Absent: Deal, Neptune
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
- 2. Resolution #23-049 Authorizing the Commission Chairman to purchase supplies for the 2023 Deal Lake Clean-Up in an amount not to exceed $400.00
UPON MOTION of Interlaken, seconded by Allenhurst, carried that the following Resolution be and the same is hereby adopted:
WHEREAS, there exists a need to purchase supplies, from time to time, for the clean-ups that are sponsored by the Deal Lake Commission; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Deal Lake Commission that it hereby authorizes the Chairman of the Deal Lake Commission or his designee, to purchase supplies for the 2023 Deal Lake Fall Clean-Up in an amount not to exceed $400.00.
RECORDED VOTE:
Ayes: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Ocean
Nays: None
Absent: Deal, Neptune
- Dr. Souza shared pictures of signs that could be placed by the rain gardens to warn landscapers not to cut the grass. He also provided a link for the DEP site that lists where the HAB’s were this year.
Mr. Brockel said we may be able to pay for the signs from the grant money we received.
- Mr. Brockel would like to test doing a hybrid meeting from Interlaken Borough Hall for next months meeting. He would like to see us do our December meeting in person.
Jeannie Toher, City of Asbury Park Commissioner, said our webmaster offered to meet with Mr. Brockel to go over the logistics of the hybrid meetings.
There was a brief discussion on the hybrid meetings.
- Mr. Brockel said with the upcoming storm he is looking to open the flume tomorrow.
- Mr. Brockel announced the Deal Lake Watershed Alliance is having their kayaking event on September 24th
- Ms. Toher asked again if it was too late to send a letter to the Attorney General to enforce the clean water act against Nobility Crest.
Hunt Parry, Commission Attorney, researched it and there is a five-year statute of limitations on the clean water act.
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
Ms. Toher remembers the Commission wanting to send the letter.
Mr. Brockel stated they sat down collectively as a commission and decided not to send the letter to enforce the clean water act. There was no way to determine what amount of sediment was put into the lake and the amount of the damage.
Ms. Toher proceeded to read from a prepared statement.
There was more discussion on the letter to the Attorney General.
Dr. Souza said Nobility Crest put in sediment control measures pretty quickly after the event. He gave a brief explanation of what they installed and how it works.
Mr. Brockel wanted to remind everyone to keep their eyes open on the lake and if they see something, say something, especially with the storm coming.
- Dr. Souza announced the annual meeting of NALMS in Erie, PA on October 23, 24 and 25th. He is making a presentation about Deal Lake on October 23rd. After the presentation he will pass it on to the Commission to post on our website.
- Mr. Brockel wanted to discuss two e-mails that he received. One concerned dredging of Harvey Brook and the other was Arbour Manor looking for support.
- Webmaster Ken suggested the DLC getting a domain-based e-mail. He will get an estimate of the cost for the next meeting.
There was a discussion on domain-based e-mail.
PUBLIC HEARING
UPON MOTION of Interlaken, seconded by Asbury Park, moved that the meeting be opened to the public.
Bob J., said the DLWA paddle will probably be rained out and the rain date is October 1st.
Pat Hartman, is a lake tester and she asked if they test through the winter.
Ms. Toher said it goes once a month through the winter.
There being no further comments and UPON MOTION of Asbury Park, seconded by Interlaken, that the public hearing be closed
MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
COMMISSIONER’S LAST WORD
Margot Fernicola, Village of Loch Arbour Commissioner –
- Jim Thomas, groundskeeper from Deal Golf & Country Club would like to come and be a speaker at one of the DLC meetings in the winter.
- Garbage cans were cleaner this weekend.
Bruce Fromer, Borough of Allenhurst Commissioner –
- East end of the lake a giant stick is jutting out towards Loch Arbour and it appears the lake is very low in that area, maybe it’s time to start looking into dredging that area of the lake again .
Jeannie Toher, City of Asbury Park –
- Glad to see Wickapecko bridge was paved.
Pat Hartman asked what happens when a tree from someone’s property falls into the lake.
Mr. Brockel said it stays there unless it’s a navigational hazard. It’s the homeowner’s responsibility.
Jeanane McFadden, said when she has reached out to tree companies they have told her they will not touch any trees that have fallen in the lake.
Carolyn Roarty, Borough of Interlaken Commissioner –
- Information for the kayak access is posted on the Interlaken website.
- No monofilament station update.
- Clean-up October 21st –
- Asked Ms. Toher to share the QR code so it can be placed in the Interlaken newsletter.
Jeannie Toher, City of Asbury Park Commissioner, would like to see all of the Commissioners give the QR code to their respective municipalities for their newsletters.
There being no further business and UPON MOTION Allenhurst, seconded by Loch Arbour, carried that the meeting be finally adjourned at 8:17 PM.
_______________________
Jessie M. Joseph, RMC
Commission Clerk