By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Changes will be coming for those business owners who want to do business in the city.
The City Council discussed vendor fees, both seasonal and annual at it’s meeting Mon., Nov. 9.
Regarding the seasonal vendors, Mayor John Moor suggested authorizing a minimum bid and collecting one year’s payment in escrow on five year contracts for summer businesses. Those include beach chairs and umbrellas concenssions, pedal boats on Wesley Lake and stand up paddle rentals.
Moor said the city was burned this year when some vendors did not pay their full contracted amount.
The mayor also said vendors who do not fulfill their contracts should be responsible for legal fees associated with collecting the fees. He also expressed frustration at the fact that vendors using the transportation center to operate their businesses do not pay their own utility fees.
“They operate a 24/7 business and the taxpayers are paying for their electricity and heat,” he said.
Moor seemed at a loss as to why the practice continues and pointed out that this has been happening for 12 years. He asked for the public’s help in working to implement changes.
Councilwoman Amy Quinn agreed and said the city should call JCP&L, ask what the payments are and divide them up among all vendors using the facility.
Council is also expected to vote tonight to increase and add to certain fees for special events in the city.
New fees include rental of the Transportation Center, Council Chambers, Springwood Park and Merchants Park, which will now require a $100 rental fee plus maintenance.
Council will also be exploring whether beach revenue can be used for improvements to Wesley Lake.
Councilman Joe Woerner, said because the water from the lake runs into the ocean it could impact the ocean water and beach revenues.
“We will investigate,” he said.
Moor agreed saying the lake commission would only be given a small amount of the beach fund if needed.
“We’re not going to take a million dollars from it, but maybe $25,000,” Moor said.
Council also discussed completing a new dog census after the first of the year saying the number of dog licenses in the city does not equal the number of dogs.
During a discussion about the ordinance governing one way streets in the city Moor said there are so many inaccuracies in the ordinance the entire documents needs to be corrected.
City Attorney Frederick Raffetto said he will go over the document with city officials and correct those streets which are no longer one way or have become one way. He said he would remove all but two new amendments regarding one way streets so council could vote at tonight’s meeting.
One involves a small area North of 1701 Ocean Avenue which will now be a one way heading east only and Park Hall Place from Summerfield Avenue to Monroe Avenue, which will now head north only.
Moor also reported that Millennium Communications trucks are now in the city parking lot and working on installing cameras.
“We will soon have cameras up and running in the city,” he said.
Council also set the 2016 reorganization meeting for Tues. Jan. 5, 2016 at 7 p.m. There will be no workshop prior to the meeting.
