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Absecon council adds Housing Trust Fund bank account, approves consent items and moves to closed session on land sale and firehouse contract
Summary
Council added Resolution 77 to establish a Housing Trust Fund bank account, approved the consent agenda (including Crestview pedestrian improvements and a $333,200 bill list), accepted minutes with recorded abstentions, and voted to enter closed session to discuss a firehouse contract and a possible sale of city land.
The Absecon City Council voted to add Resolution 77 to its consent agenda and approved the consent agenda and related routine business items during the meeting.
Councilman Clark requested adding Resolution 77, described as "authorizing the establishment of a new bank account for the Housing Trust Fund," explaining that Absecon had not been operating with a local Housing Trust Fund account and needed the account to retain developer-fee payments and to meet state affordable-housing compliance. Public commenter Greg S (625 Yarmouth Avenue) asked, "Can you explain what the Housing Trust Bank is?" Council members explained that developer fees are placed into such an account to pay professionals and support municipal obligations under Mount Laurel–related affordable-housing requirements.
The consent agenda listed several routine matters, including authorizing the city to award a contract for Crestview Avenue pedestrian safety improvements (phase two), release of escrow funds posted by Premier Outdoor Media for property on Absecon Boulevard (Block 225, Lot 1), and authorization to cancel and refund a first-quarter 2025 tax payment on a property at 141 East F Landing Road (Block 164, Lot 8.01). A motion to adopt the consent agenda passed in a roll-call vote recorded in the transcript as favorable.
Council approved a bill list totaling $333,200 by roll call following a motion and second. The council then voted to accept budget meeting minutes from Feb. 13, 2025; the roll call recorded several 'yes' votes and at least two abstentions (the transcript records two members as 'abstain' on the minutes vote).
During public comment, residents asked procedural questions about closed-session practice and whether action could be taken immediately after a closed session. Council explained that while confidential discussion may occur during closed session, any formal action would need to be taken in open session when the public is present. A resident also asked about the growing number of veterans' property-tax exemptions and the budgetary implications; council said it would provide a report at a future meeting.
Near the end of the open session the council voted to enter closed session under the Open Public Meetings Act (citing section 12b) to discuss two confidential matters: contract negotiations related to the firehouse and a potential sale of city-owned land. The city attorney stated the exceptions supporting the closed session and the governing body proceeded to close the public portion of the meeting.
No final public actions on the closed-session matters were reported in the open portion of the meeting; the council invited members of the public to remain and rejoin after the closed session.
