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Council Meeting Of August 6, 2019

74 Comments

  1. Anonymous wrote:

    Mark shot a 96, Tom B a 102, and Tom C a 109. Tom C really has to work on his swing. It keeps slicing to the right. Glad they can get some holes in before the meeting. They do cut it close going right from the links to the dais. Hope they don’t hit traffic one day and the entire council is late for a meeting. Except Ms Wann. She doesn’t seem to play.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:23 am | Permalink
  2. Guest wrote:

    Those costumes that we paid for are nauseating.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 7:08 am | Permalink
  3. anonymous wrote:

    Who cares how they dress!! It’s hot and it’s summertime and they aren’t showing in bathing suits!!!

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 7:20 am | Permalink
  4. Anonymous wrote:

    I care, especially when we probably foot the bill. I don’t remember other administrations buying clothes after a big tax increase. Still waiting for McCracken’s answers to his 27 budget questions.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 8:23 am | Permalink
  5. Anonymous wrote:

    Constant negativity. Get a life people.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 8:45 am | Permalink
  6. Resident wrote:

    I am pretty negative when I see on the bills paid list that we paid $1,500 for the shirts they wear to council meetings, especially when our taxes are going up because we are broke! Flaunting irresponsible spending before they even open their mouths!

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 10:12 am | Permalink
  7. anonymous wrote:

    The former administration were the devil in sheeps clothing……the whole reason this town is in the financial mess it’s in. So again rant about the more important things than what they wear to a council meeting. Do people not have better things to do than constantly nitpick the minor issues. Was Rome built in a day? The messes the former admin left are probably still being uncovered. You cannot undo or fix 7 years in just 8 months

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 10:28 am | Permalink
  8. Guest wrote:

    #6 I agree, they treat residents like fools.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 10:34 am | Permalink
  9. Guest wrote:

    4 – Don’t hold your breath. This guy McCraken will avoid everything of substance through the November election, except he will continue to drone on and on about the feel-good meetings that he attends.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 11:00 am | Permalink
  10. Guest wrote:

    #5, Yeah I’m also pretty negative when you spend MY money to cloth these people.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 11:01 am | Permalink
  11. Guest wrote:

    Hey 7 – But they can at least try! Where are the cuts?

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 11:02 am | Permalink
  12. Guest wrote:

    Ms. Wann finally asks a reasonable question of Mr. Campbell regarding the street sweepers coming down the streets after most cars are removed (maybe after 9am), and she get a authoritative response that the street sweepers come in at 3-4am everyday. Well, lets have them come in a little latter Mr. DPW dictator! What a moron of a man this guy is.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 11:05 am | Permalink
  13. Guest wrote:

    12. Pat Wann quickly was shot down and learned not to question Campbell’s authority. She should have cleared this question through King Walsifer and Sir Campbell before the meeting. She’ll learn.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 11:27 am | Permalink
  14. Dpw trash wrote:

    This town thinks writing street sweeper tickets to homeowners is a money maker.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 11:31 am | Permalink
  15. AreYaKiddin? wrote:

    Hahaha the Dems on this blog complaining about council meeting attire in August. Really picking from the bottom on the bin. They must be tired from the years and years of justifiable criticism of the former administration and are trying to get their licks in. Grow up. You lost. And you are the reason we are in the situation we are in. 36 MILLION in debt!!!

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 12:09 pm | Permalink
  16. Anonymous wrote:

    #14 That’s seen as a feature, not a bug.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 12:43 pm | Permalink
  17. Anonymous wrote:

    #7- To continue to blame the prior administration for everything is a cop out. These new people in office are responsible for the HUGE TAX INCREASE. Cuts could have, and should have been made. Vote them out again.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 12:50 pm | Permalink
  18. Dems? wrote:

    #15 why do you think it’s the Dems?

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 12:54 pm | Permalink
  19. Anonymous wrote:

    Man those ATM’s on the boardwalk are ugly as hell.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 1:24 pm | Permalink
  20. AreYaKiddin? wrote:

    #18 The characteristic pettiness.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 2:06 pm | Permalink
  21. anonymous wrote:

    #17 The HUGE tax increase is because the former mayor never increased property taxes!!! Did anyone complain then and the debt was incurred from them. So yes I will continue to blame them

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 2:32 pm | Permalink
  22. Guest wrote:

    15 – Questioning why they are spending MY money on shirts for the Mayor and Council is petty? Keeping a DPW Director on the job when he was caught using borough employees, facilities, and equipment for his own personal gain is petty? Continuing the charade of an “Acting Police Chief” at almost $200,000 per year for a person who cannot pass the police chiefs test is petty? Sorry then, I’m petty!

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 3:04 pm | Permalink
  23. AreYaKiddin? wrote:

    #22 Did you condone the prior administrations actions that got us into this mess or just drink the Kool-Aid and come out of the weeds when the new admin had to make a tax increase? And while I agree some cuts need to be made its not exactly easy to just lay off department heads and a sizable amount of employees and expect the town to function competently. Hopefully there’s a plan and cuts are phased in. But I’m not going to jump to conclusions and say “Vote Them Out! They bought shirts!”

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 4:22 pm | Permalink
  24. Anonymous wrote:

    Blaming the prior administration ?
    I believe Jim Bean voted NO on all of Doherty’s budgets. How did Walsifer or Brennum vote when Doherty put a budget in front of them ? I’ll give you 2 guesses.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 4:55 pm | Permalink
  25. Anonymous wrote:

    #17- You can blame and blame and blame the prior admin. all you want. I will guarantee you it will not change a thing. They are no longer in power and can not do a thing about it. I challenge you to compare our budget to that of similar neighboring towns. Your jaw will drop. AND tazes in those neighboring towns have only increased minimally in the past several years compared to our “no increase”. Spending was, is and will continue to be out of control. These people were voted in to make the hard decisions and stabilize this town, NOT hand you a 27% increase in budget. And when they tell you the hard choices were to not spend $17k on movies for the children, however waste money on purchasing matching costumes for the clowns, I need to throw up. I am not that stupid and will not fall for the crap.
    #23- Hopefully????? Good luck with that. Expect another 10% tax increase next year and again hear them blame the prior admin. It will never stop. Vote them out. Cut the budget. Lay off if needed.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 5:02 pm | Permalink
  26. Mr Smith goes to Bel wrote:

    #25 yes there should be cuts. And yes the prior administration put us in critical debt. When you say ‘vote them out’, who do you recommend voting in? Jim Bean is one person. So who else do we vote in? One of the two women on the democratic ticket? They are just Matt’s proxies. They will be no help.
    I think that maybe going to meetings and making your voice heard and applying political pressure is the way to go. We were able to clean house with the last administration by doing that and spreading the good word. The current admin reads this blog. But the toothless threats and complaints made here are not going to scare them. It’s not hard to make the cuts needed, there is just no will to do so.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 6:37 pm | Permalink
  27. Anonymous wrote:

    26, best bet is to just vote for one person, Jim Bean.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 7:14 pm | Permalink
  28. Guest wrote:

    26, No scaring anyone, my families votes in November will speak with teeth.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 7:28 pm | Permalink
  29. AreYaKiddin? wrote:

    #25 How can you not “blame blame blame the prior administration?” They ran this town into the ground!! You are naive to hope there wouldn’t be a tax increase after the BS they pulled for 8 years. Yes, cuts need to be made and phased in but saying again saying “vote them out” because of a few shirts sounds like someone is looking for political excuses to get their friends in office.

    Otherwise, I overheard this past weekend that if the town were to lay off two police positions it is state law that we would be eligible to lose half of our Specials in the summer. Not sure if this is true or not, and i could be completely wrong, but probably something to consider. Maybe someone else can chime in on this?

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 7:52 pm | Permalink
  30. Beans wrote:

    I am only voting for one person Jim Bean.

    Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 8:58 pm | Permalink
  31. Belmartian wrote:

    #22. What do you mean when you say Acting chief Hiseman didn’t pass the chiefs test? If that’s true he should be demoted immediately! Hes an incompetent thief! Can anyone confirm this, Admin?

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 6:29 am | Permalink
  32. Anonymous wrote:

    #29- Police law offs/specials??? You heard wrong. Either produce the State Law you cite or stop spreading wrong information. Can you spell “scare tactic”??? The PD budget is way out of control. Two Police Captains/25 Officer Department??? Wasteful.

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 7:00 am | Permalink
  33. Anonymous wrote:

    From top to bottom this administration has done ZERO to cut spending. You can blame the previous administration all you want but it seems to me that Walsifer is doing the same crap.

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 8:10 am | Permalink
  34. Resident wrote:

    Has anyone checked the police overtime costs this summer? Is it still out of control? Because if it is there is no one to blame than the present mayor, council, administrator and cfo. Is the acting chief, captains, lieutenant still making $200k plus? If so then they all must go. Belmar taxpayers were lied to about the costs of policing Lake Como. While their taxes went down Belmars are going up 21 %!

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 8:13 am | Permalink
  35. Aileen wrote:

    I did hear the PBA takes away specials if municipalities lay off an officer.

    I know when Brian Wilton merged/layed off (I believe only one officer – others retired or moved to Belmar?) he was really intimidated by the PBA.

    Lake Como’s taxes went down.

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 9:34 am | Permalink
  36. Anonymous wrote:

    #35—I wouldn’t call it a merger if only one officer went to Belmar.

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 11:21 am | Permalink
  37. MM wrote:

    Jim Bean better run for Mayor the first chance he gets when he wins in November!!! And I hope Jim is recruiting candidates to join him in finally answering to the tax payers! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…Mark Walsifer only cares about Mark Walsifer!

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 11:52 am | Permalink
  38. Aileen wrote:

    I believe only one officer was out of a job after the dust fell.

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 4:14 pm | Permalink
  39. Belle wrote:

    It’s so frustrating to listen to Ed and the Mayor on the issue of playing football on the beach. They have to rewrite an ordinance in order to stop the ball from being thrown. It’s just ridiculous. Just tell the lifeguards to blow their whistle and stop it!
    The poor woman who keeps bringing this to their attention sure has a lot of patience, and another summer has gone by and it hasn’t been stopped. Pathetic

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 9:09 pm | Permalink
  40. anon wrote:

    I could only hope there would be more objectivity here but that is not reality. Just the facts, we have a 36 mil or so debt. The current m&c started with that and they also took over a number of leftover lawsuits and engineering messes. The budget from the prior year was not close to’lean and mean’. The prior crowd had borrowed from tomorrow [now]to look good by not allowing taxes to increase[heaven forbid they cut costs]. So it was known that there problems. The new crowd came in with much to deal with but failed miserably to cut anything meaningfully and they will pay a price politically as a result. Very stupid in my view not to have done so. But to lay all the past problems on them is also stupid. They have to deal with what they were dealt. Having said all that I support Jim Bean[spare me the complaints about taxes of the youg ladies] and hope he will find a running mate of his own views and fortitude.

    Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 10:08 pm | Permalink
  41. Guest wrote:

    39, It’s called leadership and they both, along with the actor police chief, obviously have failed at delivering the message regarding ball playing.

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 6:42 am | Permalink
  42. Anonymous wrote:

    39 Belle. I think we should let our lifeguards focus on protecting the swimmers from drowning and let the beach cops focus on enforcing the ordinances and stop the dangerous ball playing.

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 6:47 am | Permalink
  43. Anonymous wrote:

    37-Mark Walsifer cares about Belmar. Why else would he spend almost 20 years on our Board of Education?

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 10:21 am | Permalink
  44. Anonymous wrote:

    #38 I ‘BELIEVE’ you are wrong.

    They were all out of a job!

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 11:29 am | Permalink
  45. Anonymous wrote:

    Where are the police enforcing traffic laws in town? Speeding, running red lights, illegal u turns, and failing to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks!How many near hits before another horrible accident like the one on July 1st?
    Public safety for residents should be a top priority until it is lawlessness reigns.

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 11:40 am | Permalink
  46. MM wrote:

    #43, so his wife could circle the town telling everyone how much disabled kids cost the taxpayers….especial Jim Bean’s kid, because they don’t like that Jim and Tracey tell the truth!

    That’s why he put up a councilman, to fill his seat that not one Republican in town who participated in the Republican club or the campaigns of any Republican candidate for the past 10+ years, even knew! He needed someone that would answer to him! That seat should have been Mike Seebeck’s, Vicki Renner’s, Greg Dempsey’s, John Yannuzzi, Maria Florio’s (who’s house the R club met at for years!), hell even a Republican committee member should have filled it till the election! He’s Matt Doherty 2.0! He has zero experience in running anything, and his own repeated lawsuits of Belmar bought him that Ocean Ave house!

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 11:56 am | Permalink
  47. anonymous wrote:

    #45 Yet people on here want the PD cut so then what would happen? Can’t have it both ways. And for the record it was an elderly male who wasn’t paying attention when that woman was hit on 8th.

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 12:38 pm | Permalink
  48. Anonymous wrote:

    Mark has run several businesses and also was a long-standing member of the Belmar Board of Ed. He’s a good man. He’s had a great deal of experience running things. People in our neighborhood like him a lot.

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 2:25 pm | Permalink
  49. OLD MAN wrote:

    #46 First vote Jim Bean then we go from there

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 2:34 pm | Permalink
  50. Anonymous wrote:

    #47..What are you drinking! I made no reference to the driver who hit the
    woman on 8th Ave. Reckless and distracted driving are not defined by age or gender. For the record, I never aid anything about cutting PD, just that they can spare one officer a few hours a day during the summer at the easement on 8th Ave. How would you feel if someone you loved got thrown 22 feet by a reckless driver? Mayor/council/BPD rejected suggestion of speed bumps at that death trap of a road 8th Ave between Main Street and the railroad tracks. You question me, you question Jim Bean, too!

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 4:24 pm | Permalink
  51. Tom Dilberger wrote:

    #47 – Not that I want anyone of any age to be run down by anyone of any age, but I take offense at your post. you insinuate that just because someone is eldurly, they aren’t able to run someone down as well as anyone else ov another age group- I consider that elder abuse. We’re very much able to run peopul ovur on our own. Lastly, your mention that it was an elderly male who did it. I don’t like that either. I want to on record and say, we elderly males can run people down better than elderly female women. You unnerstand of course, I have to stand up for my sex.

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 6:45 pm | Permalink
  52. SANDRA CAPUTO wrote:

    #39 BELLE
    Yes, all they have to do is tell the lifeguards to blow the whistle to stop the footballs.

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 8:11 pm | Permalink
  53. MM wrote:

    I never said he was a bad man. My point is he isn’t a good mayor, and so far hasn’t represented me, or my neighbors! A few business is not a qualification to run government! They aren’t one in the same…business produce or they close, government produces nothing!

    Friday, August 9, 2019 at 8:33 pm | Permalink
  54. Katrina wrote:

    #29- state statute on limitations of specials. Take note of paragraph B.

    40A:14-146.16 Limitation on hours.
    9. a. Except as provided in subsection c. of this section, a special law enforcement officer shall not be employed for more than 20 hours per week by the local unit except that special law enforcement officers may be employed by the local unit for those hours as the governing body may determine necessary in accordance with the limits prescribed below:

    (1) In resort municipalities not to exceed 48 hours per week during any seasonal period.

    (2) In all municipalities or counties without limitation as to hours during periods of emergency.

    (3) In all municipalities or counties in addition to not more than 20 hours per week including duties assigned pursuant to the provisions of section 7 of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.14) a special law enforcement officer may be assigned for not more than 20 hours per week to provide public safety and law enforcement services to a public entity.

    (4) In municipalities or counties, as provided in subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.14), for hours to be determined at the discretion of the director of the municipal or county police force.

    (5) A Class Three special law enforcement officer in all municipalities without limitation.

    b. Notwithstanding any provision of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.8 et seq.) to the contrary, special law enforcement officers may be employed only to assist the local law enforcement unit but may not be employed to replace or substitute for full-time, regular police officers or in any way diminish the number of full-time officers employed by the local unit or a school or county college. A Class Three special law enforcement officer may be employed only to assist the local law enforcement unit with security duties and shall not supplant a law enforcement officer employed pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.18A:17-43 or a safe schools resource officer employed pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of P.L.2005, c.276 (C.18A:17-43.1). A Class Three special law enforcement officer shall not be assigned to an extra-curricular or after-school function at a school or county college unless the assignment has first been made available to full-time members employed by the local unit or school or county college.

    Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 7:59 am | Permalink
  55. Anonymous wrote:

    53-Mark Walsifer is a perfect fit as mayor. When a person runs/owns a business, he/she develops leadership skils as head honcho. To say that he’s never run anything, and that heading a business doesn’t enter into his role as mayor isn’t so. Mayor Walsifer brings a great deal to his position as Belmar Mayor. Many residents have great confidence in him.

    Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 1:38 pm | Permalink
  56. Anonymous wrote:

    55, what business has Walsifer run ?

    Monday, August 12, 2019 at 12:01 am | Permalink
  57. Anonymous wrote:

    56-Mark Walsifer owned a trucking business for 16 years with 100 employees as well as a real estate development business. He was also involved in business with his father, who owned and restored rooming houses.

    Monday, August 12, 2019 at 1:17 pm | Permalink
  58. Footballs? wrote:

    Making lifeguards stop every tom, dick and harry that plays with balls on the beach is overkill. They have an actual important job to focus on, making sure people don’t drown! You want them watching people playing with balls? Or watching people who may get into life-threatening danger? The specials should be able to handle the ball playing.

    Monday, August 12, 2019 at 2:20 pm | Permalink
  59. Resident wrote:

    #56 DUH! He was so good and successful at these businesses no one ever heard of them! Or of him having anything to do with them! Too bad, they must have gone bankrupt

    Monday, August 12, 2019 at 2:53 pm | Permalink
  60. Anonymous wrote:

    59-Actually Mark’s businesses were quite successful. His trucking business did local,and national hauling , and his business was also involved with some international accounts.

    Monday, August 12, 2019 at 4:58 pm | Permalink
  61. Anonymous wrote:

    59-No bankruptcy with Mark’s businesses. He did great with his trucking business. He was able to employ 100 workers! That says it all.

    Monday, August 12, 2019 at 5:03 pm | Permalink
  62. Hello Sam caputo wrote:

    the lifeguards are the first line of response at the beach. From missing kids, first aid calls, complaints from patrons and not to mention what is getting forgotten about, watching the thousands of people in the water ensuring their safety. Focus should be on the water not on the balls. They have enough to worry about already with limited assets as the guards in college are starting to head back to school. So to the dumb dumbs complaining about the balls, the water is the priority. This isn’t spring lake. Make the specials deal with it. Leave the guards alone. If you stretch a rubber band too far it will break. Same goes for the guards. They’re doing their best.

    Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 8:04 am | Permalink
  63. Anonymous wrote:

    #62- Correct. Cone man is responsible to ensure the specials enforce ball playing on the beach. Apparently not doing his job. Speaking of jobs. It’s been told Cone man failed the chief’s test. I was under the impression that the two captains were also allowed to take this test. Did either of them pass? If so, when are they going to be made Chief or do I see another lawsuit in the making. Push cone man out the door, promote a chief, and do away with the un-needed second Captain’s position. DO NOT hire another officer and you just saved $200k. Easy. Now cut more and lower my taxes.

    Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 9:07 am | Permalink
  64. Ball is Life wrote:

    As a former Baller I have to say that I am REPULSED by such a ridiculous rule. I mean c’mon!

    -PLAY BALL!

    Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 7:38 pm | Permalink
  65. shirley u. guest wrote:

    #64 that’s what baseball fields are for. Be repulsed until someone gets hit on a crowded beach and we get sued.Or play ball close to the boardwalk if you are so into it. Or is it your ego needs to be seen playing on top of others near the water. Another ignorant conversation. I’m surprised you engage on the common sense website when you seem to lack common sense. Grow a pair a come back and come back as an adult.

    Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 9:06 am | Permalink
  66. Footballs? wrote:

    #65 Ironic to call someone ignorant and to “grow a pair a come back and come back as an adult” in the same statement. Whatever that means. Your ego is laughable. You are #fakenews

    Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 9:31 am | Permalink
  67. Mike Seebeck wrote:

    Sorry to post this again but I know there are much smarter people out there than me. In reading the RFP for Municipal Bldg I came across on page 18 PROPOSED PROJECT COST AND FINANCIALCAPABOROUGH can someone please explain what a financial capabouough is?
    Thanks to all

    Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 10:01 am | Permalink
  68. Ball is Life wrote:

    #64 I apologize, seems that my general fun loving attitude and positive outlook has struck a nerve. Now that we got that out of the way you can go back to yelling at the neighborhood kids for getting too close to what I can only imagine is an overly maintained collection of landscaping.

    Mic drop

    Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 3:03 pm | Permalink
  69. nadine lepore wrote:

    Mike …I think it means any outstanding bills and or invoices that a borough may have can qualify for some sort of financing to help pay them off.

    Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 4:27 pm | Permalink
  70. shirley u. guest wrote:

    #68 you just apologized to yourself! Now pick up the mic and try again.All people are saying is to have common sense and ball playing ,diving for footballs etc.on a crowded beach is not good. Designate an area you can all play with each other and keep the rest of the people who payed 9.00 each to go and relax for a few hours out of it.You are not the only person on the beach. Have consideration for others in your fun loving positive attitude.

    Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 9:14 pm | Permalink
  71. Footballs? wrote:

    #70 – The world doesn’t revolve around you just because you have a chair sitting on the sand. The beach is for recreating. No need to designate areas/have more rules on the beach. Keep your head on a swivel and have some self awareness. This goes both ways of course. Ball playing should be Special Officer Discretion.

    Friday, August 16, 2019 at 9:21 am | Permalink
  72. Ball is Life wrote:

    #70 this must really have been festering inside of you! In all of my years I’ve never seen such a passionate anti ball playing advocate ( “I know how “serious” this issue is).

    Sorry for ruining your day…yes I am serious and don’t call me Shirley

    Friday, August 16, 2019 at 9:24 am | Permalink
  73. eugene creamer wrote:

    #67 & #69 … capaBorough … not part of my vocabulary … but, note that the ‘B’ is capitalized in the text.

    ‘capa’ is often used for ‘Corrective And Protective Action’

    Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 11:27 am | Permalink
  74. #noballs wrote:

    #72, C’mon man, let’s not stoop to her level

    Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 9:28 pm | Permalink

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