.
Feedback

Have To Go Up? Learn The Basics At Township Informational Seminar

Berkeley officials are holding a Superstorm Sandy rebuilding seminar at the Berkeley Township Elementary School next week

Residents who have to elevate their homes in the wake of Superstorm Sandy can learn how it's done at an information session on March 20.

The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Berkeley Township Elementary School auditorium at 10 Emory Avenue in Bayville.

"As we continue to voice our objection over the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Advisory Base Flood Elevation maps, it's important as a municipality we continue to provide our residents with as many resources and information as possible to help them begin to rebuild," Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said.

The seminar features a Power Point presentation on techniques used to elevate homes after a natural disaster like Sandy. Roderick Scott from L & R Resources based in Mandeville, Louisiana, will do the presentation. Scott is a hazard mitigation specialist who represents the home elevation industry, the mayor said.

An industry representative will also discuss the Helical Pull-Down Micro piles for home elevation, which is a technique utilized to elevate homes without moving them off of the property.

Representatives from the township's engineering, planning and construction departments will also be on hand, Amato said.

"We are also in the process of lining up additional speakers, along with representatives from many area non-profit groups and foundations that may also be able to provide financial assistance to our residents," he said.

The seminar is the latest in a series of informational sessions township officials have held since Sandy struck on Oct. 29.

Keeping whats mine March 13, 2013 at 10:53 am
You can bet your last dollar, unless this town takes it from you while trying to get approval. They will give you the run around. Just wait and see.
Fight Club March 13, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Make sure you ask Amato about property tax implications.
Would be very sad to put your last penny into upgrading your house , only to realize you cannot afford the increase in property taxes and the increase in flood insurance (yes there still will be increases even if you raise ).
brokeninbayville March 13, 2013 at 12:19 pm
yes, it is scary. We are hoping the township is going to be lenient with "non comforming" properties. Since we have to go up so high, we need a landing at the top of the stairs for turn around movement (not chairs, etc) we are lacking due to the height. From what I understand, the small deck is counted against the size of the house.
Harold Snardelli March 13, 2013 at 01:16 pm
The new Amato elected as Mayor hasn't seen a property tax he didn't want to raise @ ChiefWahoo.
Vincent Patrick March 13, 2013 at 01:32 pm
Several of the seniors want to know why the town paid double for Ashbritt compared to other companies, and are very concerned with the Amato-Gilmore relationship. The Mayor needs to make his own decisions. Based on Gilmore as attorney and his Ashbritt kick back on payroll that doesn't seem to be the case.
brokeninbayville March 13, 2013 at 01:34 pm
I'm not interested in the remarks about taxes and Amato. It is a way of life in our government and he is doing the best he can. I am just interested in getting back into a house. Are you relocated Harold & Chief Wahoo? Do you completely understand the pressure we are under and the hugh inconvenience we are experiencing? It's not fun. The US government, not Amato, are not very cooperative or sympathic.
Jennifer Senson March 13, 2013 at 01:40 pm
If Amato and his band of friends keep influence peddling the money brokeninbayville none of us will be back in our homes. The Mayor approving Ashbritt who is paying Gilmore kick backs is influence peddling. George Gilmore was the Mayor's boss at the board of election. George Gilmore is the chairman of Amato's republican party. Gilmore financed Amato's Mayor campaign. It is called influence peddling.
Rob March 13, 2013 at 05:13 pm
Jennifer well said- Yes Amato needs to explain this to the people at the next meeting or it will hurt him in the next Election, not Gilmore. Gilmore will just go on to his next canidate.
Jean Murray March 13, 2013 at 05:25 pm
Mayor Amato is just another Gilmore puppet! As I have heard quite often around town "One Term Amato".
Living in Reality March 13, 2013 at 05:38 pm
So what are you gonna do now that you've deemed your home at Substantial Damage > 50 % ???? Your choice "Elevate" or "Demo" ????? With an estimate of over$72k.... and that ICC funding which is "UP TO" $30K ... if you see $15K that's alot... Try applying for the GRANTS !!!!! Appears your gonna have a take moneyY our of Pocket ..... Was your Decision Worh it ????? Appears youR in sort of a Pickle now that you only have "2" Choices ....... It's Interesting, I just received my New Flood Policy and it was about $70 more that the previous ........ It's all a HYPE !!!!
JENNY JONES March 13, 2013 at 06:40 pm
yep and now the new sherriff and lacey chief all picked by gilmore..sorry but true..time for a change and some new names out there.. must be qualified people in this area..just same names over and over
One Term Amato March 13, 2013 at 08:54 pm
Mayor Amato failed the test as leader by selling out. The Mayor appointed boss Gilmore to township attorney, and hired Ashbritt who has Gimore on payroll. Ashbritt overcharged our town by double comapred to others. The Mayor raised taxes before the storm, and will now raise them again with storm as an excuse. Mayor Amato worked for Gilmore for years in the board of elections, and the influence peddling should be investigated.
Keeping whats mine March 13, 2013 at 09:36 pm
Sounds like the Varano years all over again.
Bayville Mom March 13, 2013 at 11:56 pm
Broken they are working well with us if we stay in our original footprint. i am told that if you are trying to put on a deck that is not within that footprint you need to get a variance. Stair however, can encroach(go over) your footprint. They are taking into consideration the fact that there will obviously(depending on how high you are going) need to be a break int he stairs so they won't be so steep. The zoning officer is very helpful and available for questions(I have had a MILLION!!) Good Luck to you!
Bayville Mom March 13, 2013 at 11:57 pm
The insurance companies aren't copperative either!
Bayville Mom March 14, 2013 at 12:28 am
REALLY Reality? I did not choose to have my house deemed Substantially Damaged it IS Substantially damaged. The structural damage that the water did to my home while it was receeding is my REALITY. The facts are the facts. If I don't elevate my home or demo and rebuild then I will have to live through this nightmare AGAIN. I am really glad that your flood insurance didn't go up substantially. I don't think that my insurance is only going to go up $70 unless I raise my home. I would rather pay out of pocket then put my family through something like this EVER again. For you to insinuate that people CHOOSE to be away from their homes is REALLY not realistic.
foggyworld March 14, 2013 at 04:44 pm
More than the seniors want the same answer.
foggyworld March 14, 2013 at 04:47 pm
What happened to Christie's 2% cap on property taxes. The dollar value of pilings isn't significant enough to make much of a change in the value of our houses.
foggyworld March 14, 2013 at 04:52 pm
We live on 10' pilings and our house and the few others also jacked up made it through Sandy dry. Now we are supposed to lift this house up 4 more feet but then we will exceed the height limitation in town.
I'm thinking of sealing off the entire first floor and moving up to the second. Not fun but our taxes and flood insurance will go down. These are arbitrary standards proposed by the most inept federal agency and pushed through by those who run this town. We need a two or three party Mayor and Council so that someone, just someone who gives a damn about the people who live here has a shot at rocking this entrenched group that dictates.
foggyworld March 14, 2013 at 04:53 pm
I don't think it's hype. The really new rates won't be seen I don't believe until January of 2014.
foggyworld March 14, 2013 at 04:59 pm
Don't do anything until this fog clears. Even the new FEMA map will not show the change in our zones because the soon to be built 25' dunes on the barriers islands will not be accounted for. I have written to FEMA to point this out but only got a form letter in return. But I do intend at that point to file any forms they have to ask them to reconsider these V zones which more appropriately belong to ocean front properties. It's just not financially viable to do what we are being asked to do and it is quite possible that those maps will be revised once the dunes are up and in place.
Please email the Governor and ask him to worry less about the boardwalk and focus on Island Beach State Park which needs dune building. And we should all boycott the boardwalk until such time as we get equal and speedy attention.
Fight Club March 14, 2013 at 07:55 pm
I'm thinking of sealing off the entire first floor and moving up to the second.....
That is what everyone should be doing and stick it to those TAKERS desperate for your property taxes.......ITS A WAR and people need to start fighting !

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Berkeley Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
gerald laquay June 16, 2013 at 04:25 pm
Great story hope he is doing good,i just went through a bone marrow tranplant well actuallyi amRead More doing good it is 100 percent of the new stem cell an 92 percent which leavesme with 8 percent of myself the new stem cells will take over my whole body once the 8 percent is gone so godbless you an your family hope everything works out
proud June 17, 2013 at 02:03 pm
Best of luck you @Patricia.
Judy Sobko June 17, 2013 at 04:24 pm
Good luck- you will be missed!!! -JS
barb June 17, 2013 at 11:00 pm
guess it will be awhile before we get patch stories up? all that we have now are observer and app,Read More blah.
Trish June 8, 2013 at 01:26 am
I'm glad you are home. We are still repairing in LBI but, hopefully, we will back by the 4th ofRead More July. This was not our "primary" home but it still was our home. We will never forget Oct. 29, 2012.
foggyworld June 8, 2013 at 02:24 am
This has been one heck of a learning experience and yes, it has exhausted so many of us. The onlyRead More way to keep going really is to take it one day at a time and know if you wake up tomorrow something you never dreamed of is bound to happen.
answertwoit June 5, 2013 at 10:52 pm
all three siddons lost. Kukla Fran and Ollie... you ran for revenge and not for the people. itRead More showed and you lost.
Brian Wilson June 6, 2013 at 02:12 pm
Quit whining, Fran. You were always just in it for yourself. You wanted to be "CouncilwomanRead More Fran Siddons." Most people saw right through you. You biggest mistake was believing your inflated sense of self.
Terry LiCausi June 7, 2013 at 02:43 pm
Why couldn't you just write a classy speech, you chose to look like a sore loser once again. YouRead More listed reasons for losing and you and I both, know you tried to talk to the board workers and the Republican Challenger had to ask you to stop. You stood right outside the doors and tried to talk to voters also, you did this at all the polling places. You had 3 challengers to 1 republican challenger at the polls, so how could all that you say get done. Why didn't they call the election board? Come on Fran, just admit the people DO REMEMBER and that is why you lost.