Ventnor City Development News

Vendor City Considers UPF Clothing for Employees, Reviews Boardwalk Banner Placement

During the public comment period, David Frank addressed the commission regarding sun protection for city employees and potentially citizens. He highlighted the dangers of melanoma and the effectiveness of UPF 50+ clothing in blocking UV rays. Frank urged the city to fund protective gear for beach taggers, similar to what is provided for beach patrols, and questioned if the city could offer protective gear for sale alongside beach tags. Commissioner Creable responded that while the city is aware of sun dangers and provides safety gear for employees, offering merchandise for sale alongside beach tags is not appropriate. However, the commission expressed openness to exploring the purchase of UPF shirts for beach checkers and public works employees, noting it could fall under safety gear and possibly be procured through informal vendor pricing if below the bid threshold. [cite: 244-297, 302-321, 323-330, 336-357]. Another public comment from Alan Laterer concerned banners placed on new light poles at the base of boardwalk ramps. Laterer stated that on three streets, these banners block the view of residents and are an unwelcome advertisement. While acknowledging the banner program's general aesthetic appeal and revenue generation for the boardwalk, he requested the commission review the placement on ramp bases where residents have direct views. Commissioner Creable indicated they would review the issue for future consideration, noting that only three banners had been sold and the rest were blank, but acknowledged a current contract with the banner purchaser for the season. [cite: 406-454, 483-501, 506-508, 516-520, 525-529].