To quote the Sandpaper: “Responding to complaints from resident and visitors, Harvey Cedars officials wanted to turn the four lane BLVD in to a 2 lane roadway” with a center turning lane and wider shoulders to more safely accommodate other traffic in Harvey Cedars, namely pedestrians and cyclists. Barnegat Light officials worried the configuration would impede evacuation ( did not happen during Irene), first aid responders (the County traffic model says it won’t) and turn shoppers away from BL businesses (huh?).  Here’s the kicker: No other issue resulted in as many Letters to the Editor in the Sandpaper- ALL year long!

WE NEED TO KEEP THIS ISSUE IN THE PAPER!  And, we need to stagger these letters and keep the flow steady. Please, even if you have already written a letter, take 5 minutes to sit down and email another letter to the Sandpaper. OR- mark your calendar to write a letter to the editor next week or next month. The point is,  if we want to see change, we have to keep this issue out there and we need all the help we can get!

The Sandpaper letters/editor email address is: letters@thesandpaper.net.

Thank you.

Fall/Winter Update

Dear Fellow HCTA Members,

I hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving and took the opportunity to enjoy the incredible weather we had over the holiday weekend. I want  to take a moment and let you know what is going on with the HCTA and Harvey Cedars in general. If you were not able to attend the annual meeting in August, the minutes are posted on the HCTA website http://www.harveycedarstax.org under the “Recent Posts” heading. The meeting minutes cover what was presented and discussed at the annual meeting as well as follow up information.

One topic that has been discussed year after year is the less than safe conditions along Long Beach Boulevard through Harvey Cedars. Providing a safer boulevard remains an ongoing battle with Ocean County. Please visit http://www.harveycedarstax.org to show your support for a safer boulevard by signing the online petition. Select the 3 in HC/Boulevard heading and scroll down towards the bottom of the page and select “Signing Our Petition”. At the time of this letter we have only 27 signees and 7 of those are HCTA board members. Please ask your friends and neighbors to sign the petition as well. Whether they live in Harvey Cedars or elsewhere,  we need more people to speak up and sign up if we want a safer boulevard in Harvey Cedars. Please remember that our police department would like reports of any incident involving pedestrians and vehicles along the boulevard. A record of problems and occurrences may help in our effort to have the County provide a safer boulevard.

A related point of discussion from the Q & A portion of our annual meeting was the need for pedestrians to follow the rules of the road. The emphasis of this topic was the importance of pedestrians traveling in the proper direction relative to vehicular traffic and obeying traffic signals and signs. The HCTA will investigate how we might help the Borough with reinforcing pedestrian road safety.

Also from the meeting Q & A session was the request for the HCTA to address changing Harvey Cedars current “no dogs on the beach” ordinance. The outcome of a show of hands indicated an equal number fore and against a change. At this time without a majority in favor, the HCTA is not challenging the Borough’s existing ordinance. This topic lead into a lengthy discussion about owners not curbing their pets and not properly disposing of their waste. In short the outcome seemed to be for all to respect the private property of others and not use somebody else’s yard or trash cans as a toilet for pets. Since we are discussing animals, I would like to note that with the recent donation of four live animal traps the HCTA is assisting the Borough in the effort to control and manage the ongoing problem of feral cats. Arrangements for use of the traps can be made through the HCPD. Please make sure you receive an informational sheet when you borrow a trap.

Other than some beach erosion at both ends of town, trash and recycling containers needing to be returned to their proper places, and debris clean up, our replenished beaches survived Hurricane Irene. In an event like a hurricane, communication between the Borough and the community is very important.  If you have not signed up for the free Nixle Community Information Service I would encourage you to do so by going to http://www.nixle.com . The system will provide you with the latest emergency information affecting your community. This along with the reverse 911 system the Borough utilizes will provide you useful information and instruction.

The Borough has received some reimbursement from the County for work Harvey Cedars performed related to the beach replenishment project. The Borough has also received from the State significant reimbursement for legal fees and settlement cost related to beach front easements needed for the replenishment project. This is money that had adversely affected the Borough’s budget and it nice to see it coming back especially as we are approaching that time of year when next year’s budget has to be addressed. This year as in years past, the Mayor and Commissioners have asked the HCTA to participate in the budget process. The HCTA and the Borough will take advantage of those same meetings to plan what the next steps might be in the quest for the Boulevard reconfiguration.

Borough Hall will soon be getting a new roof and some needed repair to the clock tower. Additionally, if you have been in Harvey Cedars lately you have no doubt seen the new, taller, and imposing utility poles being installed along the Boulevard. The electric company told the Mayor the taller poles are required due to the increased electrical power they will be supplying.

With winter approaching you may want to take advantage of a free house check program provided by our own Harvey Cedars Police Department. Visit http://www.hcpolice.moonfruit.com to learn more and sign up for this valuable service. The program is active between October 15th and May 30th. During this time officers are randomly checking unoccupied residences. The HCPD encourages all residents that are away during the winter months to register. Please note that home owners need to sign up each fall to be included in the program.

The HCTA board continues to meet throughout the year working to make Harvey Cedars a better place for all. We appreciate your support. On behalf of the HCTA I hope that everybody enjoys a safe and pleasant holiday season.

Phil Kunz - President

The Nixle Community Information Service allows the police department to create and publish messages to bedelivered to subscribed residents instantly via cell phone text message and/or email. Notifications canalso be accessed online at Nixle’s web site at www.nixle.com.   Messages may include emergency notifications as well as other relevant safety and community event information.

There is NO spam and no hidden cost. Standard text messaging rates do apply.  Residents of Harvey Cedars and those in neighboring communities can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email and web by registering at www.nixle.com.   The HCPD is very excited to have you experience this service for yourself.

In addition, the HCPD offers an off season house check program.  We  encourage HCTA members to take advantage of this free of charge service from our hardworking police department. To sign up for the Winter house check program , please visit  http://www.hcpolice.moonfruit.com/.   Remember, they offer this service to homeowners at no cost to the homeowner but you must sign up to receive it.

This program is active between October 15th and May 30th. During this time officers are randomly checking unoccupied residences even if they are not on the list. The HCPD encourages  all residents that are away during the winter months to register.

IMPORTANT!!  The registration must be updated every year in the fall- there is no carry over from year to year.

Stay safe!

Attendees:

Steve Rabbit              Barnegat Light        Bill Kunz                         Brant  Beach

Barbara Lehman     Harvey Cedars         John Cadmus                 Harvey Cedars

Pat Moran                 North Beach             Dawn Kennedy-Little   Long Beach Township

Ken Martell               Seaview Beach

Burt Nemroff             Loveladies H.O.

Meeting was called to order at 7:09 PM, President Pat Moran presiding.

The Pledge of Allegiance followed.

There being a quorum present; the minutes of the June meeting were presented and approved.

Bob Monaco reported we have a balance of $5173.32.

The following Taxpayer Association dues have not been received:

Barnegat Light        Beach Haven         Brant Beach          Seaview Beach        Surf City LBT-10.

Old Business:

LBI Consolidated:

The school board has hired a new superintendent, Karen McKeon, and a temporary business administrator. They have also hired an architect, Dicara Rubio, of Wayne for the design and expansion of EJ. In addition, all the “choice slots” (slots available for tuition paying students who choose to attend the LBI district) were filled for the 2011-2012 school year. (Some slots were taken by Beach Haven Residents). The school district also authorized the sale of the Long Beach Island Grade School property in Ship Bottom.

Southern Regional:

There is still an on-going discussion about having Attorney Vito Gagliardi come and speak to the group regarding the feasibility of a lawsuit which would change the LBI school tax burden at SR.

The BEACH PROJECT will begin this winter in Long Beach Township. Great Lakes Dredge received the contract.  The project is scheduled to be completed by June 15, 2012.

Since the JCT would like more involvement and participation from the community taxpayer organizations, elections will be held on November 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the library. Please send a representative from your association to the next meeting as community involvement is necessary to make the JCT a success!

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Albu Lehman

Members of the State Legislature are up for re-election as well as County Freeholder positions. For more information on times, locations, candidates, etc. please go to the Ocean County Elections website at : http://www.oceancountyclerk.com/election/default.htm.

If you are not registered to vote in Harvey Cedars, but are a resident of New Jersey, please consider switching the voter registration of one or more members of your household to Harvey Cedars. The school budget will be up for vote in the spring. There is not much the HCTA or the Boro can do to help keep our school taxes down if we don’t have registered voters who VOTE in Harvey Cedars. Did you know that Harvey Cedars residents pay over $320,000.00 per Harvey Cedars pupil that attends Southern Regional High School? Let’s have a say in this- register to vote!

Welcome to the 2011 Annual Meeting:

Thanks to our outgoing Trustees Barbara Frank and Charlie Gaver.  Both served on the HCTA Board since the resurgence of the HCTA. Thanks also to Andrew Shaffer who volunteers his technical expertise to assist with our website. Andrew has been invaluable and we appreciate his time.

Bryan Lewis concludes three years as President. Phil Kunz is installed at the 3^rd President of the HCTA.

What we’ve accomplished this year:

The HCTA  made a ‘community donation’ of new beach umbrellas for the HC Beach Patrol.

We hosted the Community Yard Sale again this year. One addition for next year: we’re working to enlist Goodwill to pick up unsold items after next year’s sale. Tentatively, we hope to have a central drop off at Sunset Park the Sunday after the sale.

Pertinent community information is on our website. Additionally, we will ad reverse 911 sign-up info you members and family members ( in case you are not available ).

Board Reports:

Treasurer Jim Loudon: Acct Balance:  2010 Meeting:  $9000.00/ 2011 Meeting:   $13180.00

Major expenses since the beginning of 2011:  Membership mailing-$710.00. 3inHC Campaign-$1225.00 (does not include unpaid $215 for ads). Dog Day Race-$250.00.  Lifeguard Umbrellas-$1418.00. Annual Meeting Costs-$380.00

Membership Chair Saul Ellman: We added a significant number of members during our spring membership drive.   If you have yet to renew your membership or would like to join the HCTA please send in your $25.00 dues to us at P O Box 3065, HC, NJ 08008.

Media Rep Kathy Ries: If you are interested in serving on the HCTA Board of Trustees, please let us know after the meeting. Additionally, please be sure to sign our petitions in support of a safer Blvd. – Either on line or in person here after the meeting.

JCTA  Rep Barbara Lehman: The JCTA is a group the represents the interests of all taxpayer groups on the whole Island. The most pressing issue currently is the school taxes the island pays. We are looking into paying tuition instead of the current formula. If you would like to help the HCTA by attending JCTA meeting with our Rep, please let Barbara know.

Corresponding Sec Susan Lewis: I’m touching on Voter Registration. In order to keep our school and County taxes down, we need to vote on the budgets. The way to do that is to split your votes in your household. If you are an NJ resident, we urge one of you to register to vote in Harvey Cedars. It’s easy to do online and you will find the voter registration link on our website at harveycedarstax.org. Pay a lot of taxes into the school budget pot and until we register and start voting here we can’t do much about it.

Blvd Safety -Bryan Lewis (outgoing pres), Phil Kunz (incoming pres):  We ran a 5 week ‘advitorial’ campaign in the Sandpaper to inform residents and visitors about the BLVD safety issues where we partnered with the Borough and received funding from them. In addition to 3inHC signage and car magnets, we have pushed a letter writing blitz by our members to the paper and County Freeholder Jack Kelly as well as sending an ‘open letter’ to BL Mayor Kirk Larson and LBT Mayor Joe Mancini urging them to meet and discuss a safe resolution to these issues. At our next Trustees meeting, we will discuss how to move this issue forward.

HCTA Trustee Q & A.

What is Freeholder Kelly’s phone number?  Answer: 732-929-2003

Road signage: Can we post which way to walk/ride/etc?  The County can provide road stencils. Boro can look into this or possibly the HCTA can ‘sponsor’.

Residents requested stepped up police enforcement of walking/biking in correct direction. Another resident asked for BLVD safety statistics. She thinks if would help to put out the ‘near misses’. We said there is not much info on this-people don’t or are embarrassed to report it.

Additionally, it was suggested that we research lawsuit potential for the Co/Kelly/ BL/LBT if someone is hit/hurt and publish that info to pressure them. Another suggestion was that we leverage our water supply and cut them off if they do not agree to safer BLVD.

‘No Parking’ Signs in front of old video store on Blvd next to the Shellfish Co. – These signs are tacky, look ugly and they make town look ‘unfriendly’. Can Boro/HCTA can approach the property owner?

I support the safer 3 lane configuration. When the road repaving happens, can town look into ‘quiet asphalt’? JO said ‘yes’.

Beach Badge Checkers get push back and harassment from those who don’t have beach badges. Can we (HCTA) provide them with walkie-talkies to call for Beach Patrol management back-up? Great idea. We did not know they had ‘push back’. We’ll follow up on this.

How much do we pay per Harvey Cedars student to attend Southern Regional HS?  around 324K per HC student!

Dogs on the beach: A resident wants this after hours similar to Ship Bottom. He asked for a hand count. Many feel he did not count correctly. Previously, the HCTA Board as agreed w/ the Boro- no dogs on the beach. Boro stance has not changes on this and the majority of the HCTA Trustees support the Boro.

Resident  suggested recepticals for dog poop. She is tired of people leaving it in her yard or in her trashcans.

Needs Action Items: Listed in Trustee correspondence. These will be followed up and discussed at the Oct Trustee meeting.

As Hurricane Irene approaches NJ, in anticipation of the HCTA  Annual Meeting, we are watching the storm track and are in communication with the Borough/County. We expect that Harvey Cedars will experience extremely high winds on Sunday, possibly starting Saturday night – all dependant on the storm path. Currently, Irene is expected to pass 100 miles offshore  of Harvey Cedars during the day on Sunday.

What can you do?

Make sure that anything you have outside your house is secure. Bring inside or tie down your outdoor furniture. Anything that could fly around in high winds is a hazard to people and property. Please secure yard ornaments, shower house supplies, bikes, garbage cans, potted plants, etc. If your neighbors are away, please check outside their home as you would your own.

If you are out today, consider picking up extra water and staples. Be sure you have a working flashlight.

If you go to the beach-check the color of the guard stand flag. Red means danger- NO swimming.

For up to date information:

TV: The Weather Channel- 39, LBI Public TV-22

Radio: 1650 am or 92.7 fm

Online: www.hcpolice.org.

At this point we plan to  still hold our Annual Member Meeting on Saturday morning. However we will continue to evaluate the situation and will follow the lead of the Borough officials in making our decision whether to hold the meeting.  If the decision is made to cancel the meeting, we will email you of the cancellation and the rain-date.

The HCTA Trustees