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MARGATE - Members of the group called Sink Their Ship didn't get their say Thursday.

The group is fighting a miniature-golf course the Planning Board approved last month at the corner of Ventnor and Franklin avenues. But with the Pirate Island Golf Course opponents packed into the board's meeting Thursday night, board members voted 4-3 not to open the meeting to public comments.

The crowd didn't start a mutiny, but the formal silencing didn't stop people from protesting - loudly. A few went up to the public microphone anyway and objected to the board not listening to them.

"I came here from Bucks County, Pa.," said Nancy Hyman, who has a home near the proposed pirate-ship-themed course. "I spoke personally to the mayor, and I was under the impression I would be allowed to address my concerns."

Mayor Mike Becker was one of three board members to vote to let the crowd speak; he was joined by Gil Katz and Clem Wasleski. Chairman William Gottschall and members Dan Campbell - who is also a city commissioner - Mike Richmond and Jim Galantino voted against having public comments.

Other people in the crowd called out loudly from their seats, saying the board's move was "disgusting" and "a disgrace."

The mini-golf opponents said before the meeting that they hoped to get the board to reconsider its September vote for the project, but city officials have argued that the right way to challenge the board's decision is by fighting it in court.

Board members also voted Thursday to formally approve their decision from that earlier meeting, a move that, in part, starts a legal clock running for opponents to sue to stop the project.

Doug Donato, a Sink Their Ship member, spoke up to the crowd after the meeting ended, saying they needed to "lawyer up" in their battle against the course.

In another move, the board voted to recommend that the city get rid of its land-use administrator position and have just a zoning officer. Roger Rubin currently holds both jobs, but he admits that he let his state license as a professional planner lapse - a license the city requires of a land-use administrator.

The golf-course opponents have objected to Rubin not having a planner's license, and had hoped to make an issue of Rubin's credentials to get the board to reconsider the Pirate Island project. City officials argue that the town needs a zoning officer by state law, but doesn't need a land-use administrator. The board's vote was 7-0 to recommend a change in job titles to the City Commission, which would have the final vote on the move.

Contact Martin DeAngelis:

609-272-7237

MDeangelis@pressofac.com

2 comments:

• tomahawk (1) posts 3:42 pm

  Sumarak is right on. Unfortuantely, most Margate residents have not neen paying attention to what their elected officials are doing. Slimmy deals are done in in the dark of night (Pirates, Dog Park, Spending millions on already fine playgrounds...) to financially benefit their cronies. When called on points like "you can't do that , it's violates your own Ordinance" they simply change the Ordinance. Start organizing now to vote them OUT in the next election!

• Sumarak (0) posts 1:51 pm

  The planned miniature golf facility is totally out of character with the rest of the neighborhood. It is unimaginable that this project was even approved. This is not the kind of business this area of Margate needs. Put it somewhere else if you think Margate will die without it (by the bay for example). What are the priorities of the current administration in these high property tax, recessionary times? A dog park and miniature golf? This is a let them eat cake mentality. The Planning board approved the project without any thought or consideration for the residents. I am actually shocked they are still moving along with the project. I have been speaking to many of my neighbors. From their comments, none of them will get reelected in 18 months. Political suicide for sure.

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