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Ventnor City Commission approves 52-item consent slate, clears sewer, boardwalk and bandshell contracts
Summary
The Ventnor City Commission on Jan. 8 adopted a large consent package of 52 resolutions and introduced an ordinance to establish a municipal cap bank. Major items included design work for a Winchester Avenue sanitary-sewer replacement, a boardwalk lumber purchase, a bandshell construction contract not to exceed $233,000, and a fireworks contract for July 3, 2025.
Ventnor City’s elected officials adopted a 52-item consent agenda at their Jan. 8 meeting, approving routine professional appointments and a series of project contracts while introducing an ordinance to create a municipal “cap bank” to preserve future budget flexibility.
The vote came after staff ran through the consent items, which included confirmations of the city solicitor and labor counsel, appointment of bond and financing advisers, and several consultant contracts. Tom, a city staff member who presented the slate, told commissioners the cap-bank ordinance “does not actually appropriate any money for spending ... it establishes a bank for future years.”
Why it matters: the consent package authorized several capital- and infrastructure-related actions that city staff said are intended to advance long-planned projects. The commission approved (by unanimous roll call) contracts and authorizations that will allow design and funding work to move forward on a major sanitary-sewer trunk line, purchase long-lead boardwalk materials, begin a stormwater rehab, and build a small bandshell.
Key approvals and context - Winchester Avenue sanitary-sewer: The commission approved contracting with DeBlasio & Associates for design and construction-management services and to prepare an i-bank funding application for replacement of a 30-inch sewer trunk line running toward the public-works pump station. Staff described the pipe as old and in need of replacement; the action funds design and the financing application, not the full construction work.
- Boardwalk lumber and materials: Commissioners authorized a purchase from Lumberman Associates for boardwalk decking and steel fasteners. Staff noted the procurement is a long-lead item; the supplier will store materials until installation is scheduled. A public commenter confirmed the city has a roughly $7.5 million state boardwalk grant that must be spent by December 2026.
- Ventnor Gardens Plaza stormwater rehab: The commission awarded a contract to address undersized and broken storm pipes that convey stormwater (including flows from adjacent Margate). Staff said the city will seek Margate’s proportionate share because some flows originate in that neighboring municipality.
- Bandshell: The commission approved a not-to-exceed contract of $233,000 with Masset Building Company for a simplified bandshell design. Commissioners discussed prior, larger estimates (one earlier bid was cited at about $747,000) and said the revised design meets budget constraints.
- Ambulance transfer and training: Staff presented a resolution to transfer a 2006 ambulance to Public Safety Training of South Jersey in exchange for public-safety training. Tom characterized the deal as receiving training value in return for an asset with little residual monetary value: “I think it’s a good deal for the city,” he said.
- Fireworks contract: Added from the bench, the mayor was authorized to sign with Zambelli Fireworks to provide the July 3, 2025 display. Staff said procurement rules prevented locking a multi-year contract now and that the city will rebid for 2026 when allowed by purchasing rules.
Votes and procedure Commissioners voted unanimously on the motions shown on the agenda. A motion to introduce ordinance 2025 D001 (municipal cap bank) was made, seconded and approved by roll call (Commissioner Langra — yes; Commissioner Mento — yes; Mayor — yes). The resolutions in the consent slate were then adopted by the same unanimous roll call.
Public comment and follow-up During the public portion, a resident asked about the boardwalk funding and timetable, saying, “seven and a half million of money we got from the state is for the boardwalk” and confirmed the city’s deadline to spend that grant is December 2026. Staff said they will pursue additional federal grant opportunities to complete more of the boardwalk beyond the current funded segment and will reach out to Margate about proportional costs for pump-station work.
Next steps: The ordinance was introduced and the consent items were adopted; several projects will move to design, bidding or grant-application phases. Subsequent meetings will include additional presentation or bidding steps when design and procurement schedules require further approvals.
