[Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CALLED TO ORDER AND 701 ROLL CALL, PLEASE. HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER HERE, TAYLOR TODD. CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. MANY MEN WERE TAYLOR TODD.
COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU. TELL ME YOUR NUMBER ON. NOTICE WAS THIS MEETING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON JANUARY 12TH 2024 TO THE NEWS AND THE STAR LEDGER POSTED ON THE MUNICIPAL BULLETIN BOARD AND FILED WITH THE TOWNSHIP CLERK. SALUTE TO THE FLAG. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. MAKING UH, WELL. I CAN'T SEE SO. PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON IF COMMENTS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALREADY STATED, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE ASKED TO SELECT A SPOKESPERSON. ANYBODY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY SINCE THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO PRESENTATION. EAGLE SCOUT
[2. Presentation – Eagle Scout Project – Adrian Mascarenhas]
PROJECT ADRIAN MASCARENAS. UM, ADRIAN, IF YOU WANNA COME TO THE PODIUM. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.MY NAME IS ADRIAN MASCARENAS, AND I AM A BOY SCOUT WITH 2850 IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY EAGLE PROJECT THAT I'M PLANNING TO DO IN OUR TOWN. I GO TO VAN HORN PARK QUITE OFTEN FOR BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL. AND ONE DAY WHILE I WAS WALKING THE TRAILS, I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE NO MILE MARKERS. I ALSO REALIZED THAT THE INFORMATION KIOSKS ARE AN EXTREMELY BAD CONDITION AND HAVE LITTLE TO NO INFORMATION ON THEM. SO FOR MY EGO, UH, PROJECT, I'M PROPOSING TO BUILD TWO INFORMATION KIOSKS IN VAN HORN PARK. ONE IS ALONG THE TRAIL AND THE OTHER IS BY THE PRINCETON AVENUE ENTRANCE. THE KIOSK ALONG THE TRAIL IS CURRENTLY IN A VERY BAD STATE AND I WILL BE COMPLETELY TEARING IT DOWN AND REBUILDING IT FROM SCRATCH. MEANWHILE THE OTHER KIOSK AT PRESENT A AT THE PRINCETON AVENUE ENTRANCE WILL BE REFURBISHED, SINCE IT'S IN A MUCH BETTER CONDITION. BOTH KIOSKS WILL HAVE UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARK AND VARIOUS DETAILS ABOUT THINGS SUCH AS, UH, SPOTTED LANTERN FLIES, TICKS, LYME DISEASE AND BEES. IN ADDITION TO THE KIOSKS, I WILL ALSO SET UP MILE MARKERS IN THE PARK. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN EACH MARKER WILL BE A QUARTER MILE FOR A TOTAL OF FIVE MILE MARKERS ALONG THE 1.25 MILE LOOP. ONCE I GET APPROVAL FOR MY PROJECT FROM THIS COMMITTEE, I WILL BE SUBMITTING MY PROPOSAL TO MY BOY SCOUT COUNCIL SERVICE CHAIR FOR THEIR APPROVAL. ONCE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK IS SIGNED. I WILL THEN FILL OUT THE FUNDRAISING APPLICATION AND BEGIN FUNDRAISING FOR MY PROJECT FOR MY PROJECTED EXPENSE OF $730. FOLLOWING THE FUND RAISING . I WILL COMPLETE THE PLANNING DOCUMENT AND BEGIN WORK ON THE PROJECT. UH, MY GOAL IS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT BY FALL OF THIS YEAR. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT MY PROJECT PROPOSAL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. SURE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND NICE PRESENTATION. ANYBODY FROM THE COMMITTEE. ANY QUESTION? UM SO WHO'S GONNA HELP ? IS THERE ANYONE THAT'S FROM THE TOWNSHIP THAT'S GONNA BE HELPING YOU WITH THIS OR THE PARTS? CLARIFY LIKE, UM, WOULD WILL YOU? WILL YOU BE WORKING WITH AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, STAFF MEMBER HERE, UM, FOR THIS OR WHO WOULD YOU BE WORKING WITH? SO FOR THE ACTUAL WORK ON THE PROJECT ITSELF? I'M GOING TO BE ASKING PEOPLE FOR MY TROOP AND FAMILY FRIENDS TO HELP ME WITH THE PROJECT. IS ANYONE PROVIDING ANY GUIDANCE? UH, MY DAD WILL BE HELPING ME ALONG THE WAY AS WELL . OK, GREAT. UM, IS THERE ANYBODY IS THAT? UM, I'M GONNA JUST LOOK OVER BECAUSE, UM, OF IT, PAULINE. HE WAS WORKING WITH YOU WORKING WITH PAUL IN THE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. GREAT.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT. I FIGURED AS MUCH. I WAS JUST CURIOUS. THE WOMAN. KEENAN'S POINT WAS THAT USUALLY IF YOU DO SOMETHING IN OUR PARKS, YOU WOULD WORK FOR SOMEONE. YEAH OK, WHICH WHICH YOU ARE? YES, I GUESS IT CAME OUT. THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION. YEAH. OK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND
[00:05:02]
UM, GO AHEAD. YEAH. SO ADRIAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. I JUST, UH, GENERAL TIMELINE. UH, WHEN DO YOU EXPECT, UH, THE WHOLE PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED? SO I'M AIMING TO FINISH IT BY APPROX BY AROUND SEPTEMBER EARLY SEPTEMBER , UM, AT THE LATEST LATE SEPTEMBER. THAT'S FANTASTIC, PERFECT FOR SOME NICE FALL RUNS.THANK YOU AGAIN, ADRIAN FOR COMING. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND UM , GREAT SPEAKING. I DON'T KNOW IF, UM COMMUNITY WOMAN, UH, THOUGHT HAS ANYTHING TO ADD, BUT, UH, THANKS AGAIN. ALRIGHT.
THANK YOU. OK UH, NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION. GIRL SCOUT GOLD WAR PROJECT. MAYA SHA. UH,
[3. Presentation – Girl Scout Gold Award Project – Maya Shamiyeh]
I IF YOU WOULD COME TO THE PODIUM. HI UM, MY NAME IS MAYA. SHAM UM, I'M IN 11TH GRADE, AND I'M AN I'M A GIRL SCOUT AMBASSADOR. UM AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON MY GOLD ORG PROJECT.UM SO I'M HERE TO UM MM. TAKE YOUR TIME. UM SO I'M HERE TO REQUEST PERMISSION FOR AN ASPECT OF MY GOLD OR PROJECT SO BASICALLY WHAT MY PROJECT IS, IS I'M RAISING AWARENESS ON LIKE LOCAL LITTERING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND UM, HOW IT GETS TO THE STREAMS AND THEN HOW IT GETS TO THE OCEANS AND THEN HOW IT IMPACTS THE ANIMALS AND EVENTUALLY US UM, SO LAST WEEKEND ON APRIL 13TH UM I WORKED WITH THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE, UM, ON THE STREAM CLEANUP. UM AND IT WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL. WE COLLECTED AROUND £900 OF TRASH. UM, I KNOW IT FEELS A LOT. AND SO I TOOK SOME OF THAT TRASH IN HOPES TO CREATE A SCULPTURE AT MONTGOMERY VETERANS PARK. UM IT'S GOING TO BE, UM I LOOKED AROUND. I'M THINKING IT'S GOING TO BE BY THE CONCESSION AREA. UM, IT'S GOING TO BE MADE OUT OF THE TRASH COLLECTED FROM THE STRING CLEANER. UM I'M GONNA CLEAN EVERYTHING UP AND I'M GONNA BE USING LIKE COPPER WIRE TO PUT IT TOGETHER AND THEN SEAL IT WITH EPOXY. UM AND IT'S GONNA BE PUT IN THE GROUND USING REBAR SO LIKE VERY MINIMAL. DA MAGE OR WHATEVER. UM AND I'M ALSO WORKING WITH A LOCAL SCULPTOR.
UM TO WORK OUT LIKE ALL THE LOGISTICS AND IT'S GONNA BE AROUND THREE BY 4 FT. UM AND BASICALLY MY GOAL LIKE WITH THIS SCULPTURE IS TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE THAT, LIKE JUST LIKE TWO MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD IS LIKE WHERE ALL THIS TRASH CAME FROM. AND LIKE THIS TRASH LIKE IT WOULD HAVE ENDED UP IN THE OCEAN LIKE WHETHER IT WOULD BE LIKE IN A YEAR OR LIKE THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND THAT TRASH IS NEVER GONNA BREAK DOWN. UM AND YEAH, I JUST I WANNA USE MY PROJECT TO SPREAD AWARENESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT SOUNDS REALLY INTERESTING. AND UM, I THINK IT'S A GOOD EFFORT. AND, UH, COMMITTEE WOMAN, UM HE DID TO MY BABY. SO HE AND YOU HAVE BECAUSE , YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, COMING TO KENAN, WHO'S PASSIONATE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL STORY? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE THIS WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING AND A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THAT IS THIS SCULPTURE. HOW LONG WILL IT IT'S A PERMANENT FIX. OR HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE THERE FOR? I'M THINKING IT'S GOING TO BE A PERMANENT THING.
UM I MUST SAY IT GETS, LIKE DESTROYED OR SOMETHING. UM BUT I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO KEEP IT LIKE STRUCTURALLY SOUND, UM WITH COVER WIRE AND THE EPOXY. IS THAT OK? KEEP IT AS LONG AS I CAN. AND THEN THE SIGNAGE FOR IT, AND THE DESCRIPTION IS RIGHT . IS IT LIKE PART OF THE ART? YOU DO? YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE, LIKE A LITTLE PLAQUE WITH, LIKE, ALSO A QR CODE THAT, UM IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A FLYER THAT I MADE ON THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE'S WEBSITE. IT'S ALREADY UP ON THERE, BUT, UM IT'S GONNA BE LIKE A QR CODE TO THAT. AND THEN, JUST LIKE A DESCRIPTION OF MY PROJECT. I THINK IT'S GREAT. I WAS EXCITED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT. THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION SO I'M ALL FOR IT. I THINK IT'S GREAT TO BRING SOME, UH FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE BRINGING INTO THE PARKS OR JUST THROWING OUT OF THEIR WINDOWS IS REALLY WORD ENDS UP SO I THINK IT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. SO FIRST OF ALL, I THINK AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND UH, WHEN I COME IN BOTH YOU AND ADRIAN FOR YOUR FOR YOUR CO TO COME IN IN FRONT OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, I KNOW PUBLIC SPEAKING IS LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE REALLY SCARED OF. AND UH I WISH. UH, I'VE SAID THIS LIKE 100
[00:10:05]
TIMES, BUT I REALLY WISH A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, SHOW THAT MUCH POISE, YOU KNOW, COME IN AND SPEAK. UM I JUST VERY SUPPORTIVE AND I'M ALSO THINKING THERE'S SO MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE 1000 YEAR PLASTIC POLLUTANTS THAT YOU KNOW WE'RE DRINKING. IT'S IN OUR BODIES. IT'S CAUSING, YOU KNOW HIGHER RATES OF CANCER. THERE'S JUST SUCH A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, PULL FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL BUT ALSO HEALTH PERSPECTIVES TO REALLY EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY. UM THE ONE THING I'LL ASK, AND I YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHO WHO YOU MIGHT BE WORKING WITH. BUT UH, SINCE THE THAT CONCESSION AREA IS VERY CLOSE TO THE VETERANS MEMORIAL, MAYBE IT'D BE GOOD, JUST DEPENDING WHERE YOU WANT TO PUT IN. IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO, UM TO JUST LET'S DO A LITTLE CHECK OFF WITH THE VETER VETERANS COMMITTEE. WHO I KNOW WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT AREA FOR EVERYONE. IT JUST IT JUST BE FOR EVERYONE TO BE SUPPORTIVE ON ON THE LOCATION, ETCETERA, BUT BUT TAKE IT THAT IS I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. TO KIND OF GET THIS DREAM. I JUST THINK GO TO CHECK OFF. YEAH. MAYA I'M ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE AND OF, OF COURSE OF ADRIAN AS WELL. THE ONLY THING I'M ASKING THE BOY SCOUTS AND THE GIRL SCOUTS IN MONTGOMERY, UH, WE LOVE THAT, UH, YOU ALL DO THE PROJECTS, AND WE'RE ALL VERY SUPPORTIVE. IT'S JUST WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE PROJECTS WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE. WHAT IS HAPPENING IS MANY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY, ALL OF YOU GO TO COLLEGE AND THEN UM, THINGS FALL APART. SO THAT'S A REQUEST AND I THINK WILL MAKE MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UH, FROM THE TOWNSHIP AS WELL TO THE BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS, BUT WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT YOU GUYS PUT IN. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE. AND YOU HAVE OUR SUPPORT BOTH OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OK?[4. Ordinance #24-1726 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery in Somerset County, New Jersey Amending Subsection 9-9.e of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984) Pertaining to Permit Requirements for Deer Management in Parks and Open Space – Introduction/First Reading]
ORDINANCES INTRODUCTION AND POST READING ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1726. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, AMENDING SUBSECTION 9-9. E OF THE CODE OF TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984 PERTAINING TO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR DEER MANAGEMENT IN PARKS AND OPEN SPACE. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 2ND 2024 MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1726. SO MOVED ONE. SECOND IT ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD.YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN MAYOR S YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1727
[5. Ordinance #24-1727 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery in Somerset County, New Jersey Providing for the Acquisition of Block 34001, Lot 40 Located on Cherry Valley Road in the Township of Montgomery (“Jefferson”) – Introduction/First Reading]
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF BLOCK 34001 LORD 40, LOCATED ON CHERRY VALLEY ROAD IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY. UH, JEFFERSON BEAT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE WE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING AND THAT IN THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 2ND 2024 MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1727. SO MOVE. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN. YES DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN MAYOR SING YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1729 AN[6. Ordinance #24-1729 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 5, Entitled “Animal Control,” and Chapter 9, Entitled, “Parks and Recreation Areas,” of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984), County of Somerset, New Jersey, Updating Regulations Concerning Dogs in Veterans Memorial – Introduction/First Reading]
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER FIVE, ENTITLED ANIMAL CONTROL AND CHAPTER NINE, ENTITLED PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984 COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, UPDATING REGULATIONS CONCERNING DOGS IN VETERANS MEMORIAL. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 2ND 2024 MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1729 JUST BEFORE IF I COULD JUST BEFORE WE JUST SO THAT I DON'T I WAS DISCUSSING THE MORAL COMMITTEE A FEW MONTHS AGO TO REALLY, UH, HAVE CONSISTENCY ON SERVICE ANIMALS, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO BE AROUND THE VETERANS MEMORIAL. THAT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT, YOU KNOW, I DID SOME BENCHMARKING THE NEW JERSEY VIETNAM'S VETERANS MEMORIAL HAS A SIMILAR POLICIES. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSISTENT AND WE'RE KEEPING THE YOU KNOW THIS PROPER DECORUM AND TREATMENT FOR THE FOR THOSE AREAS. NO, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THE RESPECT FOR MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1729 SO NO, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON[00:15:02]
COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN. DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN. YES,[7. Ordinance #24-1730 - Bond Ordinance Providing for Various Capital Improvements in and by the Township of Montgomery, in the County of Somerset, New Jersey, Appropriating $2,556,800 Therefor and Authorizing the Issuance of $2,433,000 Bonds or Notes of the Township to Finance Part of the Cost Thereof – Introduction/First Reading]
MAYOR SING? YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1730 BOUGHT OR WANT ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN BY THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, APPLE FEEDING 2,500,000 800, THEREFORE, AND AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF 2,433,000 BONDS OF BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HERE BY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND AT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 2ND 2024. YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THIS IS OUR ANNUAL BOND ORDINANCE WE DO RELATED TO OUR CAPITAL. THIS IS FOR OUR 2024, BUDGETED CAPITAL.ASSUMING EVERYTHING IS ADOPTED NEXT MEETING. IF SO, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE HEARING. AND UH, THE MAY 2ND MEETING. I BELIEVE THE FIRST MEETING IN IN MAY, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS JUST OUR ANNUAL UH, CAPITAL ITEMS, INCLUDING ROADS. UM WE HAVE IT EQUIPMENT IN THERE PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT IN THERE SOME POLICE EQUIPMENT EVERYTHING WE SPOKE ABOUT AT THE BUDGET PRESENTATION LAST WEEK.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? NOT FOR ME. OK? BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HELD BY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 2ND 2024 MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1730. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD.
YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN? YES DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN MAYOR S? YES. ORDINANCES PUBLIC HEARING
[8. Ordinance #24-1721 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 16, “Land Development,” of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984), County of Somerset, State of New Jersey, Adding the Requirements for Privately Owned Salt Storage for Compliance with the Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program Requirements Set Forth by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
FINAL ADOPTION ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-172 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16 LAND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984 COUNTY OF SOMERSET STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ADDING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED SALT STORAGE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE MUNICIPAL STORMWATER REGULATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? OK? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO MOVED SECOND OH! SALT STORAGE, SALT STORAGE. OK? OKAY UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED SECOND. OK? BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HERE BY ADOPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2024 AND THAT THE ORDINANCE SUMMARY BE PUBLISHED IN AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, AS REQUIRED BY LAW. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1721. I MOVED SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN.DEPUTY MAYOR BERIGAN MAYOR SINGH YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1722 IN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 16
[9. Ordinance #24-1722 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 16, “Land Development,” of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984), County of Somerset, State of New Jersey, Updating and Amending the Requirements for Stormwater Management for Development Within the Township – Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
LAND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COURT OF TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984 COUNTY OF SOMERSET STATE OF NEW JERSEY, UPDATING AND AMENDING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR STONE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? MM. OKAY? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED SECOND. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY ADOPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2024 AND THAT THE ORDINANCE SUMMARY BE PUBLISHED IN AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, AS REQUIRED BY LAW.MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1722 SO MOVED SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN BEFORE I SAY YES, MARK. THANK YOU. I KNOW THIS WAS A LOT OF WORK, SO YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BEGAN. YES. MAYOR
[10. Ordinance #24-1723 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, “Administration,” Chapter 14, “Soil and Soil Removal,” and Chapter 16, “Land Development,” of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984), County of Somerset, State of New Jersey, Updating and Amending the Requirements for Soil Disturbance, Soil Hauling, and Tree Removal Within the Township (Tree Ordinance) – Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
SINGH? YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1723 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION CHAPTER, 14 SOIL AND SOIL REMOVAL AND CHAPTER 16 LAND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CORE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984 COUNTY OF SOMERSET STATE OF NEW JERSEY, UPDATING AND AMENDING[00:20:06]
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SOIL DISTURBANCE, SOIL HAULING AND TREE REMOVAL WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP TREE ORDINANCE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR THE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? SOME NO SURE. PLEASE COME ON DOWN. THANK YOU. MARY ANNE COUCH BERKELEY AVENUE IN BELLE MEADE. COULD YOU PLEASE SPELL YOUR LAST NAME? COUCH LIKE SOFA? FEEL OUCH GO AHEAD. I AM GLAD THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WERE WERE HEARD AND THE MORE EXORBITANT IF YOU CAN USE THE MIC A LITTLE BIT MORE. I'M SO SORRY. YEAH, GO AHEAD LIKE THAT, OK? UM GLAD THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE HEARD, AND THE MORE EXORBITANT PREVIOUS FIGURES WERE REDUCED. I CAME BECAUSE SO MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS AND HOMEOWNERS COULD NOT THERE. MANY BUSY LIVES. THEY'RE RELYING ON THEIR REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEIR LIVES, BE BETTER AND KEEP THEIR COMMUNITIES SAFE. UM HERE WHERE WE PAY THE HIGHEST TAXES IN SOMERSET COUNTY. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHY THIS IS NECESSARY. IT IT I DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE, UM THE WAY THAT IT IT'S, UH, THE PREMISES. UM AND MY NEIGHBORS DON'T DISCRIMINATELY CUT DOWN TREES THERE. THEY, UM, VERY APPRECIATIVE THERE. UM GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAND AND THEIR HOMES, AND THEY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS. I'M I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS ORDINANCE PUTS INTO IT. IT DELAYS WHAT YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY, AND YOU HAVE TO GET A PERMIT. YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. YOU HAVE TO SHOW THEM THE TREE. YOU HAVE TO TAKE PICTURES. IF THERE'S EMERGENCIES, IT IF THERE'S DEAD TREES, YOU STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO SHOW THEM TWO YEARS LATER THAT THE TREE IS STILL GROWING. UM IT'S HARD ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET TO GET THE LAND AND ALSO IT HAS TO BE A BALD TREE. AND I I'M USED TO DOING THINGS MORE ECONOMICALLY WITH THROUGH THE UM SHADE TREE COMMITTEE. GOD BLESS THEM THAT THE ARBOR DAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO AN AWFUL LOT WITH THEIR LAND. AND I HATE TO SEE PEOPLE'S OWN. RESOURCES. UM, DISPERSED AND I. I JUST I OK, THE QUESTIONS I HAD IS, IS THERE SOMETHING TO SHOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO THAT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUAL HOMES ARE GUILTY OF DOING WHATEVER THIS IS TARGETING . AND WILL THIS REALLY CHANGE THINGS? IS THERE IS THERE SOMETHING TO SHOW THAT THAT THAT HAS BEEN UM, THE TREES THAT HAD DISAPPEARED THAT I'M AWARE OF ARE MORE FROM DISEASE AND ASHBURN AND INSECTS. AND I WANNA SEE THAT CURED SURE, BUT I DON'T SEE THIS. THE ADDRESSING IT AND, UH, THEY THERE ARE PLACES WHERE I'VE SEEN THE TOWNSHIP AT FAULT, TOO, FOR NOT CARING FOR TREES THAT OTHER SCOUTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ALREADY PLANTED SO I'M CONCERNED AND DOUBT THAT THIS WILL ACCOMPLISH DESIRED RESULTS AND I THINK THAT MORE COULD BE DONE. BY ENCOURAGING UH , HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS WITH EDUCATION TO GUIDE THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. THANK YOU. MM. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MIKE PESARO. I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE. IF YOU DON'T MIND SPELLING YOUR LAST NAME, SAURO. UH I'D LIKE TO THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR INTRODUCING THIS ORDINANCE GOING THROUGH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION. I THINK THAT WAS EXTREMELY VALUABLE. UH WE HIGHLY SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE, AS THEY SAID LAST TIME TREES ARE SO IMPORTANT. WE WOULD ALL OH, UP IN ARMS. IF ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS TOOK ALL OF THE WATER FROM THEIR LAND AND PIPED IT TO THE NEIGHBOR AND FLOODED THEM OUT.WE WOULD BE UP IN ARMS WE WOULD BE SUING OR WE WOULD DEMAND OUR TOWNSHIP TO COME UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BUT WHEN WE CHOP DOWN TREES IN MANY WAYS, WE'RE DOING THE SAME EXACT THING. WE'RE TAKING WATER THAT NEVER WENT ON TO OUR NEIGHBORS. AND PIPING IT THERE BECAUSE WE TOOK AROUND TREES. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF SIGNS. UH, DEALING WITH THE UPTAKE OF WATER AND STORM WATER, AND WE DICTION AND FLOODING AND REDUCTION IN EROSION DUE TO TREES, SO DOING THIS AUDIENCE DOING IT AS QUICKLY AS YOU HAVE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. THE STATE MINIMUMS
[00:25:02]
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AND WE SUPPORT THIS AND THANK YOU VERY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OK, WELL, UM UH, ANYBODY IN THE COMPANY IF YOU WANT WELL, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO THE TRIO IN THIS TOWN HALL. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO IS CONCERNED, AND I FEEL THAT WE HAVE COME TO A COMPROMISE, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT PERFECT, I THINK WE CAN COLLECT DATA AND READJUST THE ORDINANCE IF NECESSARY. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE ARBOR DAY FESTIVAL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TREE PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE ON APRIL 27TH. THANK YOU. UM I'M PROBABLY I THINK I'M IN THE MINORITY HERE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE WENT FAR ENOUGH BECAUSE IT'S UM A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM THEIR OWN PROPERTY, AND I WAS JUST THINKING BACK TO AS A RESIDENT OF 26 YEARS HERE, UH, OWNING TWO ACRES OF LAND. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I CUT DOWN A HEALTHY TREE? AND THE ANSWER IS ZERO. DEBT TREES. YES THERE'S A LOT OF THEM AROUND US. SO WE'VE HAD THIS FIXATION OF PEOPLE CUTTING DOWN LIVE TREES THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT OFTEN WHERE HOMEOWNERS DO IT, HOWEVER, SOMETIMES HOMEOWNERS COME IN AND CLEAR CUT, AND WE ALSO HAVE A BIGGER ISSUE WITH DEVELOPERS. AND I DON'T THINK THIS GOES FAR ENOUGH. WE HAVE TO PUT IT IN PLACE, FOLKS. THIS IS A STATE MANDATE WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE AND WE HAVE A DEADLINE, SO I'M VERY GLAD WE'RE MEETING THAT DEADLINE, AND THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING. UM, BUT AND I HOPE THAT WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE US. ALSO REMOVE THAT OF THAT. 50 FT EXCEPTION. UM, AREA I READ ABOUT 20 OF THESE FROM DIFFERENT TOWNS. NOW MANY OF THEM ARE QUITE OLD. UM, BUT MOST OF THE TOWNS AROUND HERE IN NEW JERSEY HAVE ALREADY HAVE A TREE ORDINANCE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO APPLY TO KATE DOWN A TREE. SO MONTGOMERY IS A LAGGARD IN THIS, UM OUR NEIGHBORS PRINCETON HOPEWELL. THEY'VE HAD IT FOR YEARS, SO SOME OF THE ORDINANCE I READ WERE A LITTLE DATED, BUT ALL OF THEM DID HAVE THAT. AND NOBODY HAD ANYTHING ABOUT THESE.THE 50 FT RADIUS, SO I WOULD HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT MAYBE WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT IN THE FUTURE THAT MAKES A COUPLE OF TREES AND ALSO LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF LIMITING THE NUMBER THAT WE CAN CUT. THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS. I THINK WE CAN DO THIS TO MAKE IT BETTER. AND IT REALLY THE HOMEOWNER IS NOT NECESSARILY THE TARGET ON THIS SO I. I WANNA ECHO. UM MANY PERSONS, UH COMMENTS ON I THINK YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR PROVIDING ALL THEIR FEEDBACK. I WOULD SAY IN THE OVER THE TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN UH, BEING ABLE TO SERVE HONORABLY ON THIS TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. THIS IS THE ONE THAT HAS REALLY GOTTEN THE MOST. UM ATTENTION. UH, SOME, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY VERSUS THINGS LIKE BUDGETS. UM I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I. I HOPE, UH, IT'S COMING OUT AND YOU KNOW , WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE. UH, FIRST OF ALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WITH THE MANDATES, WHICH WE NEED TO GO INTO. AND I NEED TO FIND A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND I DO WANT TO. THANK UM SINCERELY THANK OUR OUR TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF FOR TIRELESSLY WITH REVISIONS, CHANGES REVISIONS TO GET US TO THIS POINT AND ULTIMATELY WILL BE THE ONES WHO WILL BE. UH EXECUTING THIS AND WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE THIS IS AS SEAMLESS AS AS POSSIBLE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW ALL THOSE EXCEPTIONS ARE ARE SUPPORTED, AND WE REALLY TRY TO FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, CUTTING DOWN LIVE TREES AND TRYING TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LIKE A DEAD TREE OR HAVE AN ISSUE, SO THAT'S AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE. SO YOU COULD DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS. SO JUST ONE. THANK YOU. THANK EVERYONE FOR GETTING US TO THIS POINT. THANK YOU. UH, WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE. UH, WOMAN, UH, TODD ON THE PHONE. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS ANY COMMENT. ON THE UH, YES, JUST VERY BRIEFLY. UM I JUST WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR FEEDBACK AND FOR THEIR INPUT ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. UM I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN, UM YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT, UH, CONTROVERSIAL, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT I, I WANT TO, UM, ENSURE THAT WELL UNDERSTANDS THATHING THAT WE NEED. IT'S KIND OF IRONIC BECAUSE THE REASON THAT I MOVED TO MONTGOMERY WAS BECAUSE OF THE STORM WATER ISSUE BECAUSE I LIVED IN A LOT WITHOUT TREES AND MY BASEMENT USED TO FLOOD. SO I HAVE, UH EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, AND EVEN SOME OF THE PUBLIC INPUT THAT WE RECEIVE, UM, FROM THOSE WHO HAVE WOODED LOTS REFLECTED THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING MORE FLOODING DUE TO THE TREES DYING, SO I'M HOPING THAT, UM, WE CAN GET GOOD COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ORDINANCE. AND UM, THAT IF, UH, WE FIND OVER TIME THAT IT NEEDS TO BE RE EXAMINED. WE CERTAINLY WILLING TO DO THAT. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND UM, UH, JUST A FEW COMMENTS FROM ME. UM I DEFINITELY WANT TO ADDRESS MRS
[00:30:05]
COUCH AND HER COMMENT AND I WANT TO LET HER KNOW THAT, UH, A LOT OF EFFORT WENT INTO THIS AS THE MAYOR. I FELT DISRES RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE PEOPLE MOVE TO MONTGOMERY FOR THIS GREEN CANOPY , PLUS MAKING SURE THAT IT'S NOT TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS. SO IF YOU LOOK THROUGH IT, THERE IS A LOT OF EDUCATION IN THIS. THE OUR PROFESSIONALS WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTOOD WHERE THIS WAS COMING FROM. AS COMMITTEE WOMAN, KEENAN SAID. IT IS A STATE MANDATE AND WE HAD TO WORK WITH THAT. AND I THINK WE TRIED ALL OF US THE ENTIRE COUNCIL. I'LL BE VERY FRANK WITH THE RESIDENTS. I TALKED TO A FEW MAYORS AND PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNCILS, AND I HEARD FROM THEM THAT THEY DID NOT GO INTO THE DEPTH WE WENT INTO. I WAS TOLD. OH, YOU'RE TAKING ALL THIS TIME, WHICH HOPE THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME WE HAD A TOWN HALL. WE HEARD THE PEOPLE THAT THE COMMITTEE THENAT S ANDRIED T GO THTOUGH AROLL THEOMMENT C SOPLE HPEAD ATHE TOT WN HALL, AN BUTADEWE SURE THAWET EARD HOU Y, UNDEE A SAME TIMYOUE HAVE TO TAND TRSRE AREHEERTAIN C INGS TTHT WE HAVEHAO DO T T OOTECTPRUR ENV OONMENTIR. WESO , BUTATE WALANCE B IT. SDO , I HAVE TTHANK O ERYBODEVYN O YOUEE.MMT TOO IK THEM ALL KW, MANNOYOURS T HOO ALL OFH THIS D, OFAN COSE.UR ADMISTRATINOR ARETAFF S THAT IS HEREODAY T AS LLWE. UM , YOU KNOW, SPENT HOURS GOG OVERIN WITH, YOU KWNO, O, GOINNGIC DIFFENTRE TNGSHI AND GHROUGH T CALIB AER A T WOCHIN TO 51.THERE. WER ESCUSSIDISONSO, I JT WANTUSO DENTSSI KNOW THA THIST D IDTNO HPEN JAPTUSECAUSE B WE DHA TICKTO MARK SOMETNG AHIOT LF WENTT INTOT. AND I UH, AIN,AG M THANKYS TO ERYBODEVYN OMMITT CEE, MYHANKS TTO O URAFF, AST INDOPE OU HRESIDER ST AT WETHRE TRY AGINO BALA TENC WITHVIROR ENTALNMESPONS RILITYIB HE TAX TURDEN B ON OU RSIDENTRE SOS. TNK YOUHA. UH, BT OH, OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVE SECOND. OKAY, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HELD BY ADOPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2024 AND THAT THE ORDINANCE SUMMARY BE PUBLISHED IN AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, AS REQUIRED BY LAW.MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1723. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN.
MAYOR S YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1724, AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF
[11. Ordinance #24-1724 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery, County of Somerset, State of New Jersey, Adding Chapter 8-9 Lead-Based Paint Inspections, to the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984) – Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
SOMERSET STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ADDING CHAPTER EIGHT. NINE LEAD BASED PAINT INSPECTIONS TO THE COURT OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY 9 1984. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR COMMITTEE OR THE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? REMOVED. SECOND BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY ADOPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2024 AND THAT THE ORDINANCE SUMMARY BE PUBLISHED IN AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, AS REQUIRED BY LAW. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1724. ROLL CALL, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN? YES DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN MAYOR SING YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-1725 IN ORDINANCE RE APPROPRIATING.[12. Ordinance #24-1725 – An Ordinance Reappropriating $1,759,536 Proceeds of Obligations not Needed for Their Original Purpose in Order to Provide for the Township’s Obligation Under its Redevelopment Agreement by and Between the Township and RPM Development, LLC to Provide for Costs Related to Construction of Affordable Housing in and by the Township of Montgomery, in the County of Somerset, New Jersey – Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
1,759,530 P PROCEEDS OF OBLIGATIONS NOT NEEDED FOR THEIR ORIGINAL PURPOSE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THE TOWNSHIP'S OBLIGATION UNDER ITS REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND R PM DEVELOPMENT LLC TO PROVIDE FOR COST RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AND BY THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, SO MOVED SECOND BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY ADOPTED THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2024 AND THAT THE ORDINANCE SUMMARY WE PUBLISHED IN AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER, AS REQUIRED BY LAW. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT[00:35:01]
ORDINANCE? NUMBER 24-1725 SO MOVED. I ROLL CALL. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN, THE DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN YES. MAYOR SING. YES[Consent Agenda]
CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS. ITEMS IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE? NO QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST DO WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE, UH 2024 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN FOR THE TOWNSHIP I. I KNOW THAT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME TO PUT TOGETHER AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OUR OEM FOR TAKING ONE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.YEAH, AND IT'S SIMILAR FOR RESOLUTION. 24-4 DASH 150 REGARDING THE ARRIVE PROGRAM. UM CONSISTENT TO SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD, UH, I HAD MENTIONED DURING THE BUDGET. YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN MENTAL HEALTH. UH, CALL TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND IT IS A HUGE BIG STEP TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN IN A VERY HOLISTIC FASHION. 01 2ND. I THINK THERE IS JUST ONE ON CONSENT. THE ONLY RESOLUTION THAT'S ON CONSENT IS 1444. THE OTHERS ARE ON AN OPEN. OK SORRY ABOUT THAT. OH, THERE'S ONLY ONE. YES, IT'S OK. THERE'S ONLY ONE YES, WHICH IS FINE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. OK NO WORRIES. COMMENTS STILL STAND THE COMMON STAND, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT WITH US. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SEPARATE, OK? OK, THEY LISTED SEPARATE USED TO DO A LOT OF CONSENT AGENDA. SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. OK MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT A CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 144 SO MOVE. SECOND LOCAL COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN. DEPUTY MAYOR
[14. Resolution #24-4-145 – Authorizing Montgomery Township to Conduct a Self-Examination of the 2024 Budget]
BARRAGAN MAYOR SING. YES, OK. RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 145 AUTHORIZING MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP TO CONDUCT A SELF EXAMINATION OF THE 2024 BUDGET. YES, THANK YOU. MAYOR.THIS IS A RESOLUTION WE DO. TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE YEARS, SO THE STATE REVIEWS EVERY MUNICIPALITY'S BUDGET. UM EVERY THIRD YEAR, THE OTHER TWO YEARS IT LETS THE FISCALLY SOUND MUNICIPALITIES HAVE THEIR CFO REVIEW THE BUDGET, MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT. UM OH, THE LEVY CAPS ARE MET. UM AND EVERYTHING IS IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH. PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND DEBT. REDEMPTION CHARGES DEFERRED CHARGES. STATUTORY EXPENDITURES CAST DEFICIT IF WE HAD ANY, SO, UM WE NEED A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW US TO DO A SELF EXAMINATION AS OPPOSED TO THE STATE DOING IT. UH, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE STATE DOESN'T RECEIVE THE BUDGET. THEY DO STILL RECEIVE THE BUDGET. THEY STILL DO. REVIEW IT, BUT NOT AT THE IN DEPTH. THAT THEY WOULD WHEN WE ARE UNDER STATE REVIEW. WHERE WHEN YOU'RE UNDER STATE REVIEW, THEY'LL ASK FOR UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY GRANTS IN YOUR BUDGET, THEY'LL ASK FOR ALL THE AWARD LETTERS THEY WILL ASK FOR.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SHARED SERVICES, THEY'LL ASK FOR ALL THE SHARED SERVICES CONTRACTS TO REVIEW THEM. UM BUT WE'RE NOT IN THE STATE REVIEW THIS YEAR. UM SO WE'RE ELIGIBLE FOR A SELF EXAMINATION. SO THIS IS WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS REQUESTING OR AUTHORIZING. OKAY THANK YOU.
YEAH I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, PUT MY ENDORSEMENT ON THIS. UH UH, ESPECIALLY IF, UH, MICHAEL FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF, YOU KNOW, FANTASTIC, YOU KNOW, ANNUAL AUDIT RESULTS AS WELL AS OUR AAA BOND RATING THAT THEY SHOULD, YOU KNOW, GIVE THE RESIDENTS THE FULL CONFIDENCE, UH, FOR THIS PROCESS TO GO THE WAY IT SHOULD. YOU'RE YOU'RE REQUESTING THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I SECOND THAT, UH, BEING KNOWN AS A FINANCIALLY SOUND? UH UH, COMMUNITY OR A TOWN SEEMS REALLY GOOD. AND, UM, WE THANK GARCIA FOR MICHAEL PITTS FOR THAT. I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 145, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN? YES DEPUTY MAYOR, BARRAGAN, MAYORS. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 146
[15. Resolution #24-4-146 – Amending Resolution #22-9-204 Authorizing Contract for Submersible Pump Repair Services for Contract Amount]
AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 22-9 DASH 204 AUTHORIZING CONTRACT FOR SUBMERSIBLE PUMP REPAIR SERVICES FOR CONTRACT AMOUNT. MAYOR THIS IS, UM IN RELATION TO THE CHERRY VALLEY SEWER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH, UM, AS WE KNOW, AS PART OF OUR SEWER CONSOLIDATION PLAN WILL EVENTUALLY BE DECOMMISSIONED, TURNED INTO A PUMP STATION AND THAT EFFLUENT FROM THAT SEWER SERVICE AREA WILL BE PUMPED TO THE SKILLMAN VILLAGE PLANT. UM THAT IS A FEW YEARS OUT FROM THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT HAPPENING. UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING STAGE TWO FLOOD WALL[00:40:05]
AND, UM, AND IMPROVEMENTS. AT STAGE TWO. WE HAVE PIKE BROOK UP NEXT AND THEN CHERRY VALLEY WILL PLANT WILL FOLLOW. AND SO DURING THAT TIME, THIS IS, UM NORMAL MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS, AND THE COST IS COVERED BY THE SEWER OPERATING BUDGET. THANK YOU. QUESTION AND SO THE INCREASE IS DUE TO THE WHAT DELAY. UM THE INCREASE IS DUE TO THE NEED TO UPGRADE THE BACKUP PUMP. OK, SO IT'S ADDING THIS? YES. YEAH. GREAT. THANK YOU. OK UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 146 ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN MAYOR SINGH. YES.[16. Resolution #24-4-147 – Authorizing Grant Agreement Between the Township of Montgomery and State of New Jersey (Grant Identifier: WM-2022-Mont Twp-00078)]
RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 147 AUTHORIZING GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY GRANT IDENTIFIER SWM DASH 20 2022 DASH MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP DASH 00078. MAYOR THIS IS ONE PIECE TO OUR STORM, WATER AND FLOOD RESILIENCY. UM UH, PROGRAM AND SO IF YOU REMEMBER IN 2021, THE TOWNSHIP RECEIVED A SUSTAINABLE JERSEY GRANT TO DO A BASIN RETROFIT FEASIBILITY STUDIES WE STUDIED 40 PLUS MUNICIPAL, UM, OWNED BASINS, AND WE THEN TOOK THAT STUDY AND TURNED IT AROUND AND WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT FOR THIS MUCH LARGER DEP GRANT. IT'S A I BELIEVE IT'S 431. 1001 $120. THE PROJECT IS FOR RETROFITTING TWO BASINS.IT'S THE CAT BRIER, UH, COURT BASIN, OFF OF RIVER ROAD AND THE RED FOX COURT BASIN, WHICH IS JUST ADJACENT TO US, WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD A RESIDENT. COME AND SPEAK TO US ABOUT IT. I THINK, UM AT THE TOWN TREE TOWN HALL. OR MAYBE I MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT A DOWN TO COMMITTEE. UM AND MARK HERMAN, OUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THAT WITH THAT NEIGHBOR. BUT IT IS AN OLDER BASIN. IT IS REFLECTIVE OF A BASIN. THAT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT. SO WE'RE WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO GET THIS THIS GOING. GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? WHEN DO YOU THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO START? MARK. GONNA HOLD YOU TO IT MARK SO. YEAH, WE HAVE TO GET TO A MICROPHONE. SORRY. IT WON'T GET, UH IN THE, UH YOU MIGHT NOTICE. THIS IS A 2022 GRANT. WE'VE BEEN WAITING OVER A YEAR FOR THIS GRANT AGREEMENT, SO HOPEFULLY NOW THAT WE HAVE IT, WE CAN MOVE ALONG A LITTLE MORE QUICKLY, BUT IT'S THE INAUGURAL, UH, GRANT PROGRAM FOR THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF GRANT OR DEP HAS BEEN A LITTLE MORE SLOW IN DEVELOPING THE PAPERWORK BY SURPRISE. UM SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET STARTED PRETTY QUICKLY. ONCE THEY GET DOT ALL THEIR I'S CROSS ALL THEIR T AND TELL US GO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I GUESS IT'S SLOW, BUT SURELY IT WILL HAPPEN.
BETTER COST YOU GOING UP TO. THIS IS GREAT. THANK YOU. OK MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 24-4 DASH 147 2ND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN, DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN MAYOR SAYING YES.
[17. Resolution #24-4-148 – Accepting the 2024 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for the Township of Montgomery]
RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 148 ACCEPTING THE 2024 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN OP FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY. MAYOR THE EO WAS PREPARED BY OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.UM IT'S REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY SOMERSET COUNTY, AND, UM, IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT THAT OUTLINES HOW WE WILL RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS. IT INVOLVES COORDINATIONS WITH MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE MUNICIPALITY. UM POLICE HEALTH ENGINEERING, PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE GROUPS LIKE OUR VOLUNTEER EMS AND VOL. PURE FIRE . THEY ARE ALL PRETTY MUCH THE PRIMARY ONES THAT, UH FROM WILL RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES. AND SO THIS PLAN DETAILS HOW WE MANAGE OUR RESOURCES. HOW WE ALLOCATE AND RECEIVE RESOURCES FROM THE OUTSIDE. THERE'S A COMMUNICATION COMPONENT THAT'S VERY CRITICAL AND HOW WE RELAY INFORMATION OUT TO THE RESIDENTS. UM AND SO IT IT KIND OF ENCOMPASSES ALL OF OUR STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES. AND UM, WE LIKE TO CALL IT A LIVING DOCUMENT BECAUSE IT'S NOT STALE. THAT INFORMATION. UM, IS CONSTANTLY BEING AND UPDATED TO REFLECT, UM ANY NEW PROTOCOLS THAT MIGHT BE THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE'VE HAD WHAT ONE EARTHQUAKE AND STORMS AND, UH, SO I. I THINK WE DO APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT'S GOING INTO IT. ANY QUESTIONS? NO. BUT AGAIN, I MY SI STILL STANDS THAT I, UM, I
[00:45:06]
KNOW, OFFICER DEVLIN HAD PUT IN A LOT OF WORK ON THIS, AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE LATER WORK WAS PICKED UP BY OFFICER BEUC. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GETTING THIS DONE. IT'S A REALLY CRITICAL DOCUMENT AND AGAIN, YES, NOT SHELF ART. WE NEED TO KEEP USING IT AND THANK YOU.THEY HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 148. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN? YES DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN MAYOR SING YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 149 AUTHORIZING 2024 NEW HIRES
[18. Resolution #24-4-149 – Authorizing 2024 New Hires/Promotions]
PROMOTIONS. SO MAYOR. THESE WERE ALL, UM, EXISTING POSITIONS IN THE TOWNSHIP. SO WE, UM, HAD VACANCIES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FILL. UM A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS . I WANTED TO, UM, TO NOTE THAT OUR ZONING OFFICER POSITION HAS BEEN MOVED BACK TO FULL TIME. SO WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND WE'VE ADDED A BUSINESS ADVOCATE. UM UH, UH, DUTIES TO THAT TITLE, SO IT'S ZONING OFFICER SLASH BUSINESS ADVOCATE AND THE ZONING OFFICER IN IS INVOLVED IN, UH, REVIEWING ZONING PERMITS. BUILDING PERMITS , UM, AND ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS AND THEN ALSO THE BUSINESS ADVOCACY AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO NOTE THAT UM, THE SENIOR ENGINEERING AIDE POSITION THE PERSON THAT WE, UM WE HIRED HAS STORMWATER EXPERTISE, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. AND SO, UM WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FILL THE POSITIONS WITH SOME REALLY GREAT CANDIDATES. THANK YOU ANY QUESTIONS? JUST CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO TRAVIS GUERRERA FOR HIS PROMOTION. YEAH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 149. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN DEPUTY MAYOR BEGAN YES. S YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 150. OH, NO, NO, NO. APPROVING I'M[19. Resolution #24-4-150 – Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the Township of Montgomery and Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services to Establish Joint Participation in the ARRIVE Together Program to Enhance and Support Response to Certain Behavioral Health Crisis Calls]
GOING LIKE A MACHINE. I THINK APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY AND BRIDGEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO ESTABLISH JOINT PARTICIPATION IN THE ARRIVE TOGETHER PROGRAM TO ENHANCE AND SUPPORT RESPONSE TO CERTAIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS CALLS AND I'M GOING TO ASK CAPTAIN BETT IF HE WOULD COME AND GIVE US A LITTLE. GOOD EVENING MAYOR COMMITTEE. SO UH, I'D LIKE TO JUST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE ARRIVE TOGETHER PROGRAM. UH, THE ARRIVED GATHER PROGRAM IS AN ATTORNEY, UH, GENERAL INITIATIVE , UH, IN RESPONSE TO THE STATEWIDE INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ACROSS THE STATE. INITIALLY ROLLED OUT IN THE NORTHERN COUNTIES AND HAS BEEN MAKING ITS WAY DOWN THROUGH THE STATE. THIS MOU ESTABLISHES A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND BRIDGEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, WHICH IS GOING TO HELP ENHANCE AND SUPPORT OUR RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CALLS. PROGRAM IS A CORE RESPONSE PROGRAM. CONSISTING OF A CLINICIAN FROM BRIDGEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, ALONG WITH THE CIT SPECIALIZED TRAINED OFFICER. BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, WE WILL HAVE FOUR OFFICERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THIS WEEK LONG TRAINING. UH AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE. THE TRAINING IS ONLY CONDUCTED TWICE A YEAR AND WE ARE REACHING OUT TO THE COUNTY TO TRY TO HOST ONE OF THOSE TRAINING SESSIONS HERE AT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP SO THAT WE CAN FURTHER GET MORE OF OUR OFFICERS, UH, THROUGH THE PROGRAM THROUGH THE TRAINING.SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. WAS IT A CHIEF'S MEETING? UH COUNTY CHIEFS MEETING AND BRIDGEWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. NICOLE CROWLEY, WHO IS THE POLICE LIAISON OF THE PROGRAM? DID A BRIEF PRESENTATION, UH, ON THE PROGRAM AND THE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITIES, UH, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. A WEEK LATER, I FOLLOWED UP WITH NICOLE CROWLEY TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS AND HOW WE CAN ESTABLISH THAT PROGRAM HERE IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. UH WE MET WITH HER THE REST OF THE COMMAND STAFF AND WE LOOKED AT THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM. UH, HOWEVER, OUR STAFFING WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR US TO ROLL THE PROGRAM OUT. SO WITH THAT, I DECIDED TO PILOT A MUTUAL AID. PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, INQUIRED IF THERE WAS INTEREST I
[00:50:04]
REACHED OUT TO HILLSBORO, UH, CHIEF MIKE MCMAHON, BRANCHBURG CHIEF, RICHARD BUCK AND MANVILLE CHIEF, UM CRAIG, JEREMIAH. THERE WAS MUTUAL INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM. HOWEVER THEIR STAFFING DID NOT ALLOW FOR IT, EITHER. THEY DID EXPRESS INTEREST. SO WITH THAT WE HAD A MEETING WITH NICOLE CROWLEY. WE FIGURED BETWEEN, UH FOUR DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT. UH, THE PROGRAM . WE'RE WORKING ON THE OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONING AS FAR AS SCHEDULING THE PROGRAM AT THIS TIME, UM, BETWEEN THE FOUR AGENCIES. WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY 550 CALLS A YEAR. I THINK THAT THIS PILOT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE A MODEL FOR OTHER AGENCIES TO, UH USE AND PERHAPS DO SOME REGIONALIZED. UH STAFFING PARTNERSHIPS. UH, AS WE KNOWING, UH, I THINK THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP IS DEFINITELY GOING TO, UH, BE A MODEL FOR OTHER, UH , POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO IS GONNA ALLOW FOR THE ALIGNMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY POLICING PHILOSOPHY, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS PROGRAM. UH, I'VE HAD A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MAYOR SINGH ON THIS. THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE ENDEAVOR, TRYING TO BRING THIS HERE TO MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. I RECEIVED THE UTMOST AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH AND APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON IT. I THINK THIS WELLNESS IS A MENTAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY THE AMOUNT OF CALLS WE ARE GETTING. SOMETIMES WE DON'T REALISE, BUT I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMITTEE IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UH, SPEARHEADING THIS. UH, IT'S A GREAT INITIATIVE AND YOU KNOW, WITH THIS MODEL, WE CAN BE A MODEL FOR OTHER, UM SMALLER TOWNS THAT CAN'T SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. SO UH, IT IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH AS IT IS ON THE RISE, AND YOU KNOW, IT DOES TAKE AWAY A LOT OF CALLS AND OFFICERS TIME TO BE ON THESE MENTAL HEALTH CALLS. SO, UM, AMAZING, AND I APPRECIATE THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YEAH AND THEY WANTED REALLY COMMEND YOU CAP AND BED ON LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP BUT ACROSS THE COUNTY. UM I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE FOR RE SITE BUT THIS IS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE START. SO UH, I THINK WE I WANNA SPEAK FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES. BUT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART FOR US, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO EXUDE. YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME, BUT ALSO POLITICAL TO TRY TO SEE WHAT OTHER RESOURCES WE CAN BRING BACK TO MONTGOMERY. MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS NEEDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEARHEADING. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 150 2ND ROLL CALL, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR TODD. YES, COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN. DEPUTY MAYOR BEGAN. YES, MAYOR SAYING YES.
[Additional Item]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH, 21 2024. ALL IN FAVOUR. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 151 PAYMENT OF BILLS[20. Resolution #24-4-151 – Payment of Bills – Posted]
POSTED YES, MAYOR. IF YOU TURN TO THE F, YOU STAY ON THE FIRST PAGE, UM, OR THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A LARGE LIABILITY INSURANCE $158,480 THAT'S FOR THE MID JERSEY MISS J INSURANCE FUND.BOARD OF EDUCATION, OF COURSE, IS ABOUT 70% OF THE TAXES. WE COLLECT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION $7,105,608. PAGE SIX. THIS IS JUST PAGE FIVE. SORRY, THIS IS JUST AN INNER FUND FROM CAPITAL FUND TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND FOR REIMBURSEMENT 347,500. $35 AND THERE'S ONE ON PAGE EIGHT. THIS IS RELATED TO THE STAGE TWO BLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT. I LIKE CONSTRUCTION GROUP 440. $2375 AND 46 CENTS. OK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 151. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES.
TAYLOR TODD. YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN. DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN MAYOR SING YES.
[21. Correspondence]
CORRESPONDENCE. UH, LETTER COMMENDING A MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP FAMILY AND OFFICER SALVATORE. IS THAT THE LETTER SO WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A PERSON TRAVELING THROUGH MONTGOMERY, WHO ON A[00:55:09]
COLD WINTER NIGHT IN JANUARY STALLED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SKILLMAN ROAD AND FAIRVIEW ROAD.UM AND DURING THIS DISTRESS SITUATION, UM, OFFICER TILLY WAS RE RESPONDED. UM AND HE BASICALLY TRIED TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND HE WIND UP I'M GOING TO READ A PORTION OF THE LETTER JUST SO YOU GET A IDEA. IT SAYS HE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO PROBLEM SOLVING MODE RESEARCHING HOW TO ACTIVATE NEUTRAL IN MY VEHICLE SO HE COULD MOVE IT SINCE HE COULDN'T DRIVE HIS CRUISER AROUND MY CAR. HE WALKED A QUARTER MILE TO THE NEAREST HIGHWAY TO ASK THE RESIDENTS WHETHER HE COULD PUSH MY CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. DESPITE THE ICY CONDITIONS AND INCLINE OF SOME PORTIONS OF THE ROAD OFFICER, HE PUSHED MY CAR. TO SAFETY SINGLE HANDEDLY. AND SHE GOES ON TO SAVE A SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HIS ASSISTANCE. UM AND DURING THIS TIME WHILE OFFICER THE OFFICER WAS ASSISTING HER, THIS FAMILY, THIS WOMAN, UM MRS SHORE, DROVE BY AND OFFERED TO BRING HER TO HER HOME TO KEEP HER WARM UNTIL THE SITUATION WAS RESOLVED. SO THIS PERSON WANTED TO COMMEND THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS HERE FOR THEIR GRACIOUSNESS AND GOODNESS. UM UM IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SHE ALSO SAID SHE OFFICER TILLY'S ACTIONS DISSIPATED MY FEARS AND MADE ME FEEL LESS VULNERABLE AND LOST. SO I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT UM SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OF COURSE WE, UH YOU KNOW, COMMEND, UH OFFICE OF INTEL, FOR HE DID. AND OF COURSE, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT SHE'S ALSO THANKING MONTGOMERY COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. SO I THINK THAT IS LANGHORNE, PENNSYLVANIA. OKAY WELL, THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR , AND I HOPE RESIDENTS WILL REALIZE THEY LIVE IN A REALLY WONDERFUL PLACE. A GREAT STORY TO BE PUBLISHED AND PEOPLE TO HEAR FROM IT. YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT'S WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE IT IN OUR NEWSPAPER? YEAH. SHOWS HOW MUCH UH, MONTGOMERY. WE REALLY CARE, UH, FROM OUR OFFICERS TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S THAT'S WAS THE AMAZING THING ABOUT MONTGOMERY AND OUR PEOPLE. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. UH, NEW BUSINESS AND OLD BUSINESS. UH,
[22. New Business and Old Business]
DANCE FOR THE CURE. TIE THE TOWN THING. SO, UM, DANCE FOR THE CURE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN MIDDLESEX, UM, SOMERSET AND HUNT AND COUNTIES. WE DID PARTICIPATE LAST YEAR WHERE THEY, UH, PROVIDE RIBBONS AND DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN OCTOBER, WE PROVIDE WE TRIED RIBBONS AROUND THE TREES AND IN SUPPORT OF, UM, RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS. AND ONCE AGAIN, THE ORGANIZATION IS, UM INQUIRING IF WE WOULD PARTICIPATE AGAIN SO UM, JUST BRINGING IT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR APPROVAL. I THINK WE WOULD, UM WANT TO PARTICIPATE, AND I'M SURE THE COMMITTEE IS WITH ME TO SAY YES. THANK YOU. UM, WE HAVE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE[23. Township Committee Reports]
REPORTS. UM THE, UH E DC. HAS THE FARMERS MARKET COMING ON THE 27TH. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON RESTAURANT WEEK FOR SEPTEMBER. UM BOARD OF HEALTH. YOU KNOW, WE REALLY ARE FOCUSED ON GETTING FULLY STAFFED. WE ARE STILL UH, MISSING FROM OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE WITH EVERYBODY ON THAT. UM AND THEN AT COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, WE MEET AND WE'RE YOU KNOW OUR FARMERS. I REALLY WANT TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON ALL THE FARMS IN MONTGOMERY. UM AND TRY TO SOMEHOW BRIDGE THE COMMITTEE WITH THE FARMERS MARKET AND TRY, UH, GET SOME INFORMATION OUT THERE. FOR OUR LOCAL FARMERS. KIND OF LIKE A SMALL PARAGRAPH WHERE WE CAN HAVE A BOOTH AND SHOW OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY ON ALL THE FARMS THAT ARE ARE IN OUR TOWN, AND POSSIBLY EVEN WORK WITH THEM TO, UM, TO VISIT THEM ON CERTAIN DAYS, SO HOPEFULLY THAT THAT SOUNDS NICE. I THINK I'M THE WOMAN. KEENAN HAD A FARM CRAWL IN THE IN THE WOODS. NEVER. YOU NEVER KNOW IT MAY HAPPEN NOW. IT'S A VERY SLOW CRAWL. YEAH. OK? UH, COME TALK MANY MEMBER TAYLOR TODD, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS? YES I DO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I HAVE A FEW, UH, UPDATES AND HIGHLIGHTS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE THAT I, UM WORK WITH FIRST. THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION HAD ITS REGULAR MEETING ON MARCH 27TH. AND IN ADDITION TO HIS REGULAR[01:00:02]
BUSINESS, I'D JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TO YOU A COUPLE OF, UM, EVENTS THAT THE COMMISSION IS TALKING ABOUT BRINGING TO THE PUBLIC. UH, ONE OF THOSE IS A POTENTIAL, UH, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WILL BE HELPING THE LIBRARY TO EDUCATE MONTGOMERY RESIDENT MONTGOMERY HISTORY.ALSO THE COMMISSION IS TALKING ABOUT PLANNING SOME POTENTIAL COLLABORATIVE EVENTS, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS PROGRAMS. ONE OF THOSE COULD BE A JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY, WHICH SHOULD BE HELD IN THE LIBRARY AND PRESENTED BY AN EXPERT IN JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY. I THINK THAT'S REALLY EXCITING, AND ANOTHER EVENT MIGHT BE A HISTORY HIKE OR STROLL, WHICH WOULD COLLATE THE HISTORICAL SIGNAGE, UH, ON THE PATHWAY IN ONE OF OUR PARKS. UH AND WE WILL MAKE THAT BEST FIT WITH MUSIC AND TABLES, ET CETERA. SO I ASKED THE PUBLIC TO LOOK OUT FOR THOSE, UH, EVENTS AND TO SUPPORT THEM, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE, UH, THEY EACH TOUCH ON, YOU KNOW, MENTAL MENTAL WELLNESS AS WELL AS PHYSICAL WELLNESS AND THEN CONTINUING IN THAT VEIN, ANDIC ALLIANCE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT GOING INTO MAY THAT MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND THERE'LL BE A COUPLE OF OTHER EVENTS. UM, ALONG THOSE LINE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SCREENING A DOCUMENTARY CALLED LIKE UM, AND THEN IT'S ABOUT, UM, WHY WE FIND SOCIAL MEDIA SO IRRESISTIBLE AND EXAMINES WHO'S CONTROLLING WHO, UH, THAT IS GOING TO BE, UM AT 7 P.M. ACTUALLY, I CANNOT TELL FROM WHAT I HAVE HERE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT THEY WILL BE REGISTRATION LINK AVAILABLE, UM, IN OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, THE, UH OTHER THING THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IS ANOTHER SCREENING CALLED SCREENS AND STRESS, UNDERSTANDING THE DIGITAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN'S WELL BEING, UM, AND THAT WILL BE SCREENED AT THE UPPER MIDDLE SCHOOL ON THURSDAY, MAY 2ND SO, UH, ONE IS VIRTUAL ONE OF FEW SCREENS IS VIRTUAL AND ONE IS IN PERSON. AND THEN FINALLY THE, UH INCLUSION EQUITY COMMITTEE DID NOT MEET IN, UM APRIL DUE TO THE REGULAR MEETING BEING SCHEDULED DURING SPRING BREAK AND TOO MANY ABSENCES TO COMMIT US TO HAVE A MEETING. SO OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING WILL OCCUR ON MAY 1ST, UH AND THEN, FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE ARRIVE TOGETHER PROGRAM, UH, THE CAP THAT IS PRESENTED ON I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT SINCE I WAS APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY ELECTED AND BEING, UH, WORKING WITH THE INCLUSION AND EQUITY MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP IN THE INCLUSION AND EQUITY COMMITTEE QUITE A BIT. IT'S COME UP QUITE A BIT ACROSS FUNCTIONS. UM BUT, UH, I'M GLAD THAT EVERYTHING IS COALESCED. NOW THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. UM BASICALLY JUST A REPORT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION. UM, IT WAS AN ACTION PACKED MEETING. I WOULD SAY FOR A VERY LONG ONE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO BRING TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION. UM WE'VE WE ALWAYS START THE MEETINGS WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT UH LENE LENAPE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, AND WE HAD DISCUSSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND ARE STARTING TO TAKE MORE OF AN ACTIVE, UM GONNA START WORKING ON IT THIS YEAR FOR HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR, AN INSTALLATION AND DO IT A INSTALLATION HERE AND SOME KIND OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT HERE. UM WE TALKED ABOUT THAT MANY OF THE OTHER FORMER COMMITTEE PEOPLE, SO I THINK, UH, WE'LL STILL WORK WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, UM, TO HELP THEM KIND OF PUSH THAT FORWARD, SO THAT'S ONE. ALSO THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LIGHTS AT THE MILL POND PARK. AND UM, I KNOW THE RECREATION COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT, AND IT WAS GOOD TO GET A PRESENTATION ON THAT. OF COURSE, WE DISCUSSED THE TREE ORDINANCE.
UM AND OF COURSE, A BIG REPORT ON THE VERY COLD, VERY WET STREAM CLEAN UP AND IT WAS THE BIGGEST HAUL. THIS YEAR £886 OF TRASH. GOOD AND BAD, I GUESS TO HEAR, BUT, UM V THE THEY THEY WERE ABOUT 80 PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING. THANK YOU. MARY FOR REPRESENTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION. WE HAVE EARTH DAY COMING UP ON MAY 5TH SO PLEASE, MARK YOUR CALENDARS. IT'LL BE HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING. WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING. IN ADDITION TO OUR NORMAL THINGS THAT WE DO IS, UM, INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING THE ELECTRONICS TOSS AND THROW AWAY, WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING OUT SOME TABLES. SO IF PE BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE BRING UP STUFF THEY DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE. BUT IT STILL WORKS, SO WE'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE THEM PUT ON THE TABLE. IT'S FREE. YOU CAN COME IN. PEOPLE CAN TAKE WHATEVER THEY WANT FROM THE FREE TABLE. RIGHT THE WHOLE THE IDEA IS NOT TO THROW IT AWAY. IF IT'S STILL USEFUL, SO WE'LL TRY THIS YEAR. SEE HOW IT GOES, SO AND I'M GONNA BE I'LL BE THE PERSON ON THAT TABLE. SO UM, WE ALSO, UM, GOT A WE'VE ALSO DECIDED THAT THIS YEAR UH, WE'RE GONNA CHANGE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL WARDS FOR, UM TO A BIANNUAL THING. IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY. SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS A MUCH BETTER USE OF EVERYONE'S RESOURCES TO SWITCH IT TO, UM, TO MAKE IT A BANGLE ONE, AND THAT'S PRE. THAT'S KIND OF THOSE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS. OH, ALTHOUGH TODAY THERE WAS A GOOD HIGHLIGHT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, UM, ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, UM, HAS GOTTEN THE HIGH SCHOOL RIVER FRIENDLY CERTIFIED. THAT'S GREAT . SO THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT, UM THANK YOU. AND, UM THANK YOU.
[01:05:03]
IT'S ELIZABETH. IS IT? SHE GOES BY ISABEL. LEONARD. THE YOUNG WOMAN RATHER, WHO WAS VICTORIA.VICTORIA LEONARD. YEAH VICTORIA. THANK YOU. YEAH, I. I SAW THAT POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND I WAS LIKE, REALLY PROUD OF YOU. SOMEONE TAKING THAT INITIATIVE AND GETTING IT? YES. AND I SAW MARIE THERE TOO. YES SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD THINGS COMING UP, AND LAUREN GAVE A GOOD REPORT ON OUR, UH, ANNUAL SUBMISSION TO, UM FOR SUSTAINABLE JERSEY, WHICH WE'VE GOT A LOT OF POINTS OVER WHAT WE NORMALLY HAVE. SO WE'RE LOOKING A T SILVER AGAIN. SO THANK YOU, LAUREN. THAT'S IT. UH, THANK YOU . UM SO THE BUDGET RIGHTS COMMITTEE HAS, UH, HAS NOT MET OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. UH, WHICH HAS BEEN A NICE BREAK AFTER ME EVERY WEEK SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO HELP PUT TOGETHER. THE BUDGET OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. UM YEAH, WE DID TALK ABOUT AS WE NORMALLY DO DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROPERTIES.
WE ALSO, UH, DISCUSS MAYBE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF APPROACH FOR A SPECIFIC PROPERTY. THAT'S UH, IT'S GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION HERE IN MONTGOMERY. AND SO WE'RE GONNA YOU KNOW, LOOK AND SEE HOW WE DO THE DIFFERENT. JUST MAKE SURE UM YOU KNOW, I WANNA MAKE SURE I READ AND KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE WORKING, AND WE'RE LISTENING TO THEM. UH, BUT WE'RE ALSO DOING A YOU KNOW, MATCHING THE OPEN SPACE FRONT APPROPRIATELY AND IN THE BEST FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE OWE TO THE TOWNSHIP. UH I. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE SHADE TREE COMMITTEE WHICH WAS, UH, LAST NIGHT. UM BUT I DID COMMUNICATE TO THE COMMITTEE THAT IN THE BUDGET THAT WE THAT WE SUBMITTED . WE ARE INCREASING AT A REALLY BASE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HEARD DURING THE THEY THE TOWN HALL FOR A TREE ORDINANCE. YOU KNOW, I HEARD A LOT OF CLEAR RESIDENTS WANTING US TO PLANT MORE TREES. AND SO WE PUT IN A PROPOSAL FOR AN INCREASE IN THE COMMITTEE FOR 10% AND I'M HOPING THAT'S NOT THE LAST INCREASE THAT WE DO. YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM AND THE INITIATIVE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE ALSO MET. SOME MEMORIAL DAY IS COMING UP, AND IT'S GONNA BE A MONTH FROM NOW. ON MAY 27TH AT NINE. IN THE MORNING. WE WILL HOLD OUR OUR ANNUAL MORE DAY CEREMONY. UH, SO HOPEFULLY IF, UH IF YOU'RE NOT AT THE BEACH, OR IF YOU'RE AROUND TOWN, I WOULD LOVE TO KIND OF HAVE YOU. IT'S A IT'S A NICE, UH, COLUMN. UH, YOU KNOW, UH, CEREMONY TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE HOLIDAYS TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN IN AND THEY MADE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN BATTLE. UM, AND THE LAST THING COMING UP REALLY SOON, ROTARY RUN. UH, ON APRIL 28TH YOU KNOW THE MAYOR AS WELL AS CAMPAIGN. I KNOW THE MAYOR IS GONNA BE DOING, UH, THE 11 MILE. I WILL RETURN TO DO THE FIVE K RUN. HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT AS WET AS IT WAS LAST YEAR. THE TORRENTIAL RAIN, BUT HOPEFULLY, UH, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. I'D HOPE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE ROTARY CLUB IS TRULY AN ALTRUISTIC ORGANIZATION. SO UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM OK, WELL, FIRST I WANTED TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP WAS RECOGNIZED AMONG NISH'S 2024 BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN. NOT JUST NEW JERSEY AND AMERICA. SO I DO WANT TO BRING THAT UP TO THE RESIDENTS. AND AFTER LISTENING TO THE, UH, THE YOUNG WOMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA WHO WROTE ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE IN MONTGOMERY, GETTING STUCK IN THAT SNOW AND, UM NOT ONLY THE, UM, OFFICE OF INTELLI HELPING HER, BUT ALSO THE RESIDENTS SAYING, IF THEY CAN TAKE THEIR KIDS INSIDE SINCE IT'S YOU KNOW, COLD AND KEEP THEM WARM I, I THINK MONTGOMERY GETS RECOGNIZED NOT JUST BECAUSE OF COURSE, WE ARE A GREAT TOWN TO LIVE IN A GREAT SCHOOLS. PARKS UM, BUT IT'S ALSO THE PEOPLE AND, UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL RESIDENTS ON THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT , AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY THERE'S DIFFERENT WAY NICHES, UH, LOOKED AT, BUT TO ME GETTING RECOGNIZED, UM, AS A BEST PLACE IN ALL OF AMERICA.
IT'S A HUGE THING AND CONGRATULATION TO ALL THE RESIDENTS ON THIS. AND UM THEN WE HAD OUR RECREATION COMMITTEE MEET. AND UM, I'M THE LIAISON FOR THAT, UH, WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THE DEP ON JAKE'S LAW FOR THE PLAYGROUND INCLUSIVE ON JUST OUTSIDE THE BUILDING HERE, UM AS COMMITTEE WOMAN, KEENAN SAID. WE ALSO HAVE A SUBCOMITTEE IN THE, UM RECREATION THAT IS MEETING FOR THE POTENTIAL OF THE LIGHTS. UH, THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD COME HERE WHO PLAYS SOCCER AND WHO HAD REQUESTED THAT IN THE FALL SEASON. UH, THEY'RE NOT. ABLE TO PLAY SOCCER IN THE PARK. THEY HAVE TO GO TO BRIDGEWATER, APPARENTLY BECAUSE THERE'S NO LIGHTS. UH AND, UM, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A REASON WHY WE DON'T HAVE LIGHTS IN SOME OF THE PARKS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS ALSO LOOKING AT, BECAUSE THERE WAS THESE DARK SKIES, SO THE DIRECT COMMITTEE AND THE, UM ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION ARE WORKING ON THIS SO WE WILL HAVE I UNDERSTAND THE YOUNG MAN AGAIN BROUGHT BROUGHT TO US AND TO REC COMMITTEE. UM YOU KNOW, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HE'S WAITING FOR US FOR AN ANSWER. BUT UH, I WOULD
[01:10:04]
LIKE TO TELL HIM WE A RE LISTENING. IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE LONGER AND, UM, ALSO WE, UH WE HAVE A SUBCOMITTEE ON THE, UM AT THE WRECK, WHICH, UH, IS TALKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF FUNDRAISING FOR THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND AS EVERYBODY KNOWS WE ARE GETTING A GRANT. WE ARE HOPEFULLY GETTING A GRANT AND, UH, THERE IS STILL GOING TO BE SOME SHORTFALL, AND THE COMMITTEE HAS A SUBCOMMITTEE'S WHO ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT RAISING FUNDS WITHIN THE TOWN, SO I'LL HAVE MORE REPORT ON THAT. UM AND, UM UH, ABOUT THE FALLEN TREES, WHICH WE HEARD IN THE, UM TOWN HALL. UH, THIS REC STAFF IS, UH, LOOKING AT EACH OF OUR PARTS FOR ANY TREES THAT HAVE FALLEN AND NOT BEEN REMOVED UNLESS THEY ARE, OF COURSE, FALLEN IN THE FOREST AREA. THEN THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW WE WOULDN'T DISTURB. AND UH, ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TALK ABOUT, UH, THE EVENT THAT THE RECREATION UH UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, IS PARTICIPATING IN THE TOWNSHIP SPRING FLING. THIS IS ON MAY 4TH. IT WOULD BE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S 2 TO 4. IT'S OUR COLOR FEST. SO BASICALLY SAVE COLORED POWDER IS, UM, THROWN AT EACH OTHER TO JUST WELCOME SPRING AND, UM, HAVE A GOOD TIME AND IT FALLS UNDER THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS OF BUILDING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND JUST SPENDING AFTERNOON. UH, HOPEFULLY A SUNNY AFTERNOON OUTSIDE, SO I'M INVITING ALL OF, UH, MONTGOMERY RESIDENTS TO PLEASE JOIN US ON MAY 4TH 2 P.M.TO 4 P.M. THE VENUE WOULD BE THE , UH, HIGH SCHOOL, UM, AT THE LAWN OUTSIDE THE HOUSE HIGH SCHOOL AND PLEASE WEAR WHITE AND COME READY TO HAVE SOME FUN. AND UH, ONE MORE. YES UM, ON APRIL 10TH. I WANT TO COMMEND OUR, UH, MONTGOMERY PD. THEY MET WITH, UH , WITH ME AND, UH, COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES RESIDENTS WHO HAD CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UM, POLICE STUDENT ANDREW PARRY, UH, PRESENTED INFORMATION TO TELL THEM HOW TO SAFEGUARD THE PROPERTY. WE SHARED INFORMATION. UM, THEY SHARED INFORMATION WITH THEM. TIPS ABOUT LOCK YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS. LOCK YOUR CARS REMOVE VALUABLE FROM YOUR VEHICLES, SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.
YOU KNOW HOW TO LOOK FOR THAT. SO THAT WAS THAT WAS A GREAT MEETING, AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO COMMEND THE PD FOR MAKING TIME WE HAD ABOUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT 12 RESIDENTS WHO CAME TO, UM, THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING AND I THINK WE HAD ANOTHER 10 ON ZOOM. THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE ALL ARE.
AND UM YOU KNOW, YOUNG KIDS WERE IN THE HOUSE AND THEY WERE WORRIED BECAUSE SOMEONE TRIED TO BREAK IN SO UM, AGAIN, COMMENDING THE PD ON THAT, AND OF COURSE, THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND THAT'S IT. OH AND THEN MAY 29TH WE HAVE OUR CONSTITUENTS HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR THAT IS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN. WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. BUT THAT IS , UM YOU KNOW, TO WHAT THE WHOLE POINT OF THAT IS TO BRING WELLNESS AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND VETERANS. UM, HEALTH, UH, SERVICES RIGHT HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING, AND, UM CONGRESSWOMAN BARNEY WATSON COLEMAN WILL HAVE A TOWN HALL 6 P.M. TO 7 P.M. ON THE 29TH OF MAY. SO WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO SHARE. BUT JUST PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND THAT'S ALL FROM MY THANK YOU.
YEAH, I. YES. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM SOME GOOD NEWS AND I'M
[24. Administrator’s Reports]
GLAD MARK HERMAN. OUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER IS HERE. SO UM, TO HELP , UH, SHARE THIS GREAT NEWS. WE ARE READY TO OPEN UP BRECKEL WAY , WHICH IS THE INNER LOOP ROAD MARKET, CLAPPING FROM THE SEATS AND I CAN SEE COMMITTEE WOMAN KEENAN IS CLAPPING TOO. OH, YES. THIS IS, UM, PART OF A PLAN THAT IS DATES 20 PLUS YEARS AGO. UM AND IT'S 100% FUNDED BY DEVELOPERS. IT'S UH, IMPORTANT PIECE TO OUR TRAFFIC RELIEF EFFORTS AT THE 5 18 +206 INTERSECTION. UM IT'S ONE OF TWO LOOP ROADS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OPEN OPENING VILLAGE DRIVE BEING THE SECOND THAT'S NOT YET COMPLETED. BUT, UM TUESDAY AT 11 A.M. WE'VE PLANNED A VERY SHORT, UH, RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY. UM HOPE THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND AND WE'VE INVITED SOME OTHERS TO JOIN US AS WELL. UM AND MAR IS COORDINATING EFFORTS WITH WITH THE PD TO GET THAT ROAD, YOU KNOW? OPENED AS WELL AS, UM SO FINAL COORDINATIONS WITH THE DEVELOP TWO DEVELOPERS THAT THAT, UM, THAT CONSTRUCTED THAT UM, THE ROADWAY BRACKNELL WAY IS , UM, IN HONOR OF URSULA BREN,[01:15:04]
WHO WAS OUR LONG TIME? MONTGOMERY HISTORIAN. UM URSULA HAS PASSED AWAY. BUT HER DAUGHTER, LESLIE, STILL LIVES IN TOWN. LESLIE'S NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE RIBBON CUTTING, BUT WHAT WE, UM WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY WAS, UH, MAYBE WE COULD DO SOMETHING AT THE MAY 16TH TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE LESLIE WOULD BE ABLE TO COME TALK A LITTLE ABOUT HER MOTHER, SO WE'LL HAVE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. UM SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, UM, HERE IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE LOBBY. WE ARE DOING SOME ADDITIONAL TWEAKING TO OUR SIGNAGE. YOU KNOW, WE INHERITED WHEN WE MOVED IN SOME OF THE SIGNAGE THAT'S THERE, AND SOME ARE A LITTLE BIT AN AWKWARD POSITION. SO FOR INSTANCE, UM, THE POLICE STATION, UH, THOSE WORDS OVER THEIR THEIR MAIN DOORS ARE HIDDEN FROM VIEW WHEN YOU ACTUALLY ENTER THE BUILDING, AND SO, UM, RICH DIETRICH BUILDINGS IN FOUR BROWNS FOREMAN HAS BEEN WORKING WITH. I THINK, LIEUTENANT PERRY, UM TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO PROBABLY SHIFT THE WORDS POLICE AND MAYBE ADD POLICE HEADQUARTERS, SO IT'S CENTERED. BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THE WORKS ON HOW TO SO, AS YOU ENTER, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WE MAY ALSO MOVE THE WORDS TOWN HALL FROM THEIR LOCATION TO THE SECOND FLOOR, SO PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT THE PD IS THE TOWN HALL. SO THERE'S SOME SOME MOVING AROUND OF SOME OF THE SIGNAGE. IT'S UM IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE SOME MORE INFORMATION , I'M HAPPY TO SHARE. WHAT WHAT WERE OUR THOUGHTS ARE AND SOME ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE ON ORCHARD ROAD TO IDENTIFY THE POLICE. THE LIBRARY. THERE'S A FEW FEW MISSING GAPS ON ORCHARD ROAD FOR WAYFINDING INTO THE PROPERTY AND THEN AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE, CLEARLY IDENTIFYING THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE MAIN ENTRANCE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE ENTRANCE FOR THE PD VERY IMPORTANT FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE AND ALSO THAT THE 24 7 PHONE INSIDE THE VESTIBULE, WHICH IS OPEN. ALSO 24 7 HAS IS CLEARLY MARKED SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW IN AN EMERGENCY , YOU CAN COME TO THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, AND IT'S SIMILAR TO HOW IT OPERATED AT THE OLD BUILDING, BUT WE NEED TO. WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE SO THERE'S A GROUP THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THAT JUST ON THE TOPIC. I SIGNED IT JUST CAUSE UH, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. THANKS FOR STAFF FOR DOING THAT, UM I THINK ALSO MAYBE THE A LITTLE SIGNAGE, UH, IN THE FRONT OF THE OF THE POLICE AREA WHERE YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COULD PICK UP THE PHONE CALL AFTER NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS. I THINK IF WE CAN LOOK AT MAYBE IMPROVING SOME OF THE SIGNAGE, UM I THINK IT WAS TUESDAY. I WAS HERE AND THERE WAS A THERE'S A RESIDENT AND HIS CHILD, AND THEY WEREN'T REALLY SURE HOW YOU KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD PICK IT UP OR NOT. MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR. IT CAN PICK UP AND WHETHER YOU KNOW THAT WHO'S WORDS WHERE THE CALL IS GONNA GO GO AND JUST KNOWING THAT IT WILL CONNECT. OF A POLICE OFFICER INSIDE BECAUSE THEY WERE THEY WEREN'T SURE. LIKE WHAT SOMEONE GONNA BE THERE OR NOT, AND I I'M GLAD I WAS THERE TO HELP OUT, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE. YEAH, THANK YOU. THAT'S GOOD FEEDBACK. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE'LL HAVE A UPDATE ON THE STAGE TWO PLANT AND ALSO, UM, THE WORK AT PIKE BROOK PLANT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A WHILE AGO. AND SO WE'LL HAVE, UM JIM COSGROVE, OUR CONSULTANT. CHRIS LATO, OUR SEWER DIRECTOR. I THINK MARK WILL BE HERE AS WELL. UM AND MICHAEL MICHAEL PITTS, OUR CFO. SO THEY'LL BE A NICE UPDATE FOR YOU AT THAT MEETING. UM IF YOU RECALL, WE GOT A 75. SINCE WE'RE ON TREES STILL. $75,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE TO PLANT TREES. SO THERE IS A SUBCOMITTEE. THAT'S UM, HAVING A MEETING NEXT WEEK. I BELIEVE UH, UM, TO JUST BEGIN KIND OF GOING OVER THE PARAMETERS OF THE GRANT WHAT WE'LL BE DOING HOW WE YOU KNOW WHAT THE TIME FRAME OF THAT ALL IS, AND SO WE'LL HAVE A KICK OFF MEETING NEXT NEXT WEDNESDAY. I BELIEVE UM AND WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP THAT WILL PROBABLY GET WHITTLED DOWN. BUT THIS WAY EVERYBODY CAN KIND OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WEIGH SO YOU CAN GET SOMETHING DONE TOO. UM WE ARE ALSO, UH, WORKING ON THE GETTING THE OUTDOORS FARMERS MARKET MOVED HERE. AND WE, UM, STILL NEED TO JUST NAIL DOWN THE LOCATION OF THE SHED. SO I DO HAVE A PHOTO OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. AND WE DO NEED TO, UH, FIGURE THAT OUT. SO IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING THAT OFFLINE OR HAS ANY COMMENTS, BUT , UM, IT'S UNDERSIZED WHERE WE DON'T NEED A BUILDING PERMIT, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY VISIBLE, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. UM AND JUST ON BLUE ACRES. THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT DOES BUYOUTS OF THE FLOOD PROPERTIES FROM ESPECIALLY IN MONTGOMERY AND IDA. UM STAFF HAVE BEEN CONNECTED WITH AN A[01:20:03]
NEW UPDATE AND SOME GREAT NEWS THAT SOME OF THE FUNDING IS NOW FINALLY GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF THAT THAT WORKED ON THAT, UM, AND KEEP THAT MOVING FORWARD. IMPORTANT THAT'S IT. OK? UM, FOR THE BREX WE WANT THE RIBBON IS CUT ARE REOPENING IT THEN OR IS THERE GOING TO BE A LITTLE GAP? DO WE KNOW REALLY SHOULDN'T BE A GAP OTHER THAN UM, MOVING AROUND SOME OF THE BARRICADES THAT ARE THERE, THEY'LL THEY'LL COORDINATING THAT RIGHT NOW WITH THE DEVELOPERS. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S IT WILL BE READY TO BE SERVICED. THERE WOULD NOT BE A LONG DELAY. OK SO ONCE THAT HAVE BEEN OK, JUST JUST UNDERSTANDING OK, ANY QUESTIONS? UH, I DON'T SEE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UM OK? I GUESS WE HAVE THE FUTURE[25. Future Agenda Items]
AGENDA IS THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT MEETING. SO UM, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-4 DASH 152 EXECUTIVE[26. Resolution #24-4-152 – Executive Session]
SESSION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AS FOLLOWS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WILL NOW CONVENE IN A CLOSED SESSION THAT WILL BE LIMITED ONLY. TO CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY BE EXCLUDED PURSUANT TO THE SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION, RECREATION OR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES. AND PERSONNEL POLICE LIEUTENANT INTERVIEWS. IT IS UNKNOWN PRECISELY WHEN THE MATTER DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION WILL BE DISCLOSED TO PUBLIC ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION SHALL ONLY BE APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IN A PUBLIC SESSION.THE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY WILL RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION AND MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION. THIS RESOLUTION TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER? 24 4-152 2ND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. HOW MANY MEMBER COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD? YES COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN, DEPUTY MAYOR BEGAN. YES, YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. GOOD TO GO. UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN THE REGULAR SESSION. SECOND ALL IN FAVOR.
OKAY, UM MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? OH, MAY I HAVE? I DID THE OPEN, RIGHT? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? UH, ALL IN FAVOUR, RIGHT? THANK YOU, MONTGOMERY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.