Ventnor commission adopts package of consent resolutions; water agreement with Margate held for more detail

Ventnor City held its Oct. 23, 2025, commission meeting and adopted a package of consent resolutions covering personnel policy updates, a pension corrective action plan, a new hire in public works, financial best-practice submittal, a liquor-license transfer and a county streetscape license. The commission voted by roll call to approve resolutions 2025-323 through 2025-329 and to approve bills and payroll.

The meeting recorded payroll for the period at $649,387.14 and payables of $532,253.56; both were approved by the commissioners. Resolution 2025-322, an intermunicipal potable-water agreement with the City of Margate that would formalize reimbursement for certain properties served from Ventnor infrastructure, was discussed in detail but tabled to allow staff to gather rate and billing mechanics information before adoption.

Staff said the Margate arrangement affects a relatively small number of properties (discussants cited about 12 addresses) and that Margate has already remitted funds covering roughly five years, which officials said amounted to about $13,000. Commissioners raised concerns that Margate’s customer billing rates may differ from Ventnor’s rates going forward and requested an analysis of reimbursement mechanics and whether Margate can bill to Ventnor’s rate or whether alternate meter-reading arrangements would be necessary.

Nicole, a city staff member presenting the personnel item, said the Joint Insurance Fund requires an updated personnel policy manual by Nov. 1; changes are limited and largely codify practices already in place. "Every two years they update their policy manual for all the municipalities that participate in their program," Nicole said, and noted additions including Pregnant Worker Fairness Act language, an expanded hostile-work-environment definition for off-duty conduct that affects the workplace, a clarification on vacation carryover consistent with state guidance, and an employee acknowledgement receipt.

Officials also reviewed a corrective action plan addressing findings in the state controller’s audit of the lifeguard pension program; the plan calls for appointment of a new local pension board, revision of the plan document for statutory compliance, submission to the local pension commission for approval and eventual adoption by ordinance.

The commission approved hiring Leaden Singleton as a laborer in the Public Works Department and authorized a person-to-person liquor-license transfer on Ventnor Avenue. The mayor was authorized to sign a license agreement with the county for streetscape improvements, including tree and planting-bed work in the county right-of-way.

Next steps: the clerk will finalize adoption paperwork and staff will return with the detailed rate/reimbursement analysis for the Margate water agreement; the personnel manual will be submitted to the joint insurance fund, and the pension corrective action plan will be routed to the local pension commission and then adopted by ordinance as required.