Mayor Bulan reports on redevelopment, infrastructure projects and warns of steep health-benefit premium increase

Mayor Bulan summarized several active projects and municipal matters at the July 16 meeting, including redevelopment negotiations, recent business openings, project completions and upcoming construction schedules.

Bul an said negotiations continue on a developers agreement for Shadowon and that the borough is still in talks with a property owner at 289 Bay Avenue but no party has yet begun site work. She noted recent openings and grand openings (Honorable Plant; Gems Bagels). Public-works updates included completed punch-list work at Central Beach and Ocean (completed June 18), drainage work on Portland Road with a planned mill-and-pave before the school year, Shore Drive pedestrian improvements funded through a DOT grant, and the start of ADA work for the Marine Place elevated walkway and Washington Avenue mill-and-pave operations which began June 12. The borough has put Frank Hall Park and Overlook Park improvements out to bid and expected awards to be made by the next council meeting.

Bulan said one floodplain-mitigation grant had been submitted in partnership with the state; grant status remained pending in the transcript. She reported routine departmental figures (first aid 37 incidents; fire 33; police 922; building-inspection counts and permit issuance) and said several projects await state approvals before bidding. On personnel costs, Bulan warned council that municipal health benefits rates were expected to rise by approximately 36.5% and asked staff to meet with unions and research alternative options.

The mayor closed by noting that most other items remain in permitting and that staff will continue to report back as projects progress.