[Call to Order]
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GOOD EVENING. MEETING. CALL TO ORDER. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. CALLED TO ORDER AT 702. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR TODD. I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME. HERE. MAYOR SINGH. HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON HERE. NOTICE OF MEETING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON JANUARY 12TH, 2024 TO THE COURIER 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. TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN. DASH 344. AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF PROBATIONARY
[1. Resolution #24-10-344 — Authorizing the Appointment of Probationary Patrol Officer Jordan Kalan in the Montgomery Township Police Department ]
PATROL OFFICER JORDAN CAPLAN IN THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH TEN, DASH 344. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. I WILL NOW INVITE CAPTAIN BETTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I'M GLAD YOU REMEMBERED. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE BOTH OF THE PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICERS BEFORE THEY GET SWORN IN. I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF HISTORY ON EACH. FIRST IS JORDAN CAPLAN. HE CURRENTLY RESIDES IN BRANCHBURG, NEW JERSEY. JORDAN ATTENDED RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHERE HE EARNED AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION. JORDAN ATTENDED MERCER COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY, WHERE HE HAS COMPLETED HIS BASIC COURSE FOR POLICE OFFICERS, EARNING A PTC CERTIFICATION IN JULY OF 2021. JORDAN SERVED AS A SOMERSET COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICER FROM DECEMBER 2020 TO SEPTEMBER 2024. JORDAN BRINGS A LOT OF VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING TO MONTGOMERY, INCLUDING BEING A CPR AND AED AND FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR. HE CERTIFIED IN STANDARD FIELD SOBRIETY TESTING AS WELL AS ALCO TEST. HE'S A CERTIFIED FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, CAR SEAT INSTALLATION TECHNICIAN, AND A CRASH INVESTIGATION TRAINING. JORDAN ALSO SERVES AS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER FOR READINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE COMPANY, AND IS THE PRESIDENT OF BRANCHBURG RESCUE SQUAD, WHERE HE HAS EARNED CERTIFICATIONS AS A FIREFIGHTER, RESCUE TECH, AND SWIFTWATER RESCUE. OUR SECOND PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICER IS AUSTIN VAN NESS, RESIDES IN SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY. HE ATTENDED UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS, WHERE HE EARNED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CYBERSECURITY AND MINORED IN COMPUTER SCIENCE. AUSTIN IS A US MARINE CORPS VETERAN AND HAS SERVED AS A MILITARY POLICE OFFICER WITH THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IN OKINAWA, JAPAN FROM 2019 TO 2023, WHERE HE ASSISTED WITH NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE UNITS. HIS PRIOR EXPERIENCE AS A MILITARY POLICE OFFICER HAS PROVIDED HIM WITH VALUABLE TRAINING, WHICH HE BRINGS TO OUR ORGANIZATION. AUSTIN VOLUNTEERS WITH THE SOMERVILLE RESCUE SQUAD AND HE WILL BE ATTENDING THE PASSAIC COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY BASIC COURSE FOR POLICE OFFICERS NEXT WEEK. BOTH AUSTIN AND JORDAN BRING UNIQUE SKILL SETS, EXPERIENCE, AND DIVERSIFIED BACKGROUNDS IN POLICING, WHICH WILL BE A GREAT ASSET TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I WANT TO WELCOME JORDAN AND AUSTIN TO THE POLICE FAMILY. I'LL ASK OFFICER JORDAN KAPLAN TO COME FORWARD FOR THE OATH OF OFFICE. I KEEP IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY I DID THAT. YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE
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CONSTITUTION OF THE CONTAINS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAM, AND TO THE STATE AND TO THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. I WILL DISPLAY UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE, UNDER THE GOVERNOR OF THE PEOPLE, AND IMPARTIALLY JUDGE FAITHFULLY, HARSHLY, AND JUSTLY. PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES TO PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE TO THE BEST OF MY REGIONAL POLICE OFFICER. SO HELP ME GOD.THANK YOU. WOULD YOU? LIKE TO GIVE.
OKAY. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN. DASH 345. AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF
[2. Resolution #24-10-345 — Authorizing the Appointment of Probationary Patrol Officer Austin Van Ness in the Montgomery Township Police Department ]
PROBATIONARY PATROL OFFICER AUSTIN VENICE IN THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH TEN, DASH 345. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER O. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH? YES. I'M GOING TO INVITE OFFICER. PROBATIONARY PATROL OFFICER AUSTIN VAN NESS FOR THE OATH OF OFFICE. THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THEIR FAMILIES. THAT. I CALL THEM. I ALSO DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SONGS. SWEAR TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE. NEW JERSEY THAT I THEIR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE, SO BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME. THE SAME, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE STATE. AND IN THIS CASE IN THIS STATE, UNDER THE EQUALITY OF PEOPLE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE. AND I WILL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY JUDGE, AND I WILL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTICE PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL POLICE OFFICER AND ALL THE DUTIES OF OPERATION OFFICER TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. SO HELP AND BEST MY ABILITIES THAT ONLY GOD.OKAY, NOW WE'VE GOT THE NEXT ONE'S OKAY. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN, DASH 346.
[3. Resolution #24-10-346 — Authorizing the Appointment of Officer John Colucci to Sergeant in the Montgomery Township Police Department ]
AUTHORIZING THE PROMOTION OF OFFICER JOHN CARLUCCI TO SERGEANT IN THE MONTGOMERY[00:10:05]
TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH TEN, DASH 346. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER.KEENAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES AND I WOULD INVITE CAPTAIN BETTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS. JOHN CARLUCCI ATTENDED CENTENARY UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE EARNED A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WITH A MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. IN 2012, JOHN WAS HIRED BY THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN JUNE OF 2013, WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PATROL DIVISION.
FROM 2013 TO 2020. IN AUGUST OF 2020, JOHN WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE DETECTIVE BUREAU. IN MAY OF 21, HE WAS TRANSFERRED BACK TO PATROL, WHERE JOHN ACTED AS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE ON MANY OCCASIONS. JOHN SERVES AS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, A HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, CPR AND FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR FOR THE AGENCY. IN MAY OF 2024, JOHN WAS ASSIGNED ACTING SERGEANT OF THE PATROL DIVISION, WHERE HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISION OF A PATROL SQUAD OF FOUR OFFICERS SUPERVISING THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF THE PATROL FUNCTION AND RESPONDING TO SCENES THAT REQUIRE SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE. DURING HIS ROLE AS ACTING SERGEANT, JOHN HAS DEMONSTRATED PROFICIENCY IN ALL THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PATROL SERGEANT, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR COMMAND STAFF. JOHN HAS BECOME A VALUABLE PART OF OUR TEAM OF FIRST LINE SUPERVISORS. JOHN CONTINUES TO BE A ROLE MODEL TO HIS PEERS AND IS COMMITTED TO REPRESENTING MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH JOHN FROM 2013 TO 2019. DURING MY TENURE AS A ROAD SERGEANT, WHEN HE WAS A NEW OFFICER. TONIGHT, I FEEL TRULY HONORED AND BLESSED FOR HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH JOHN AND WATCH HIM GROW AND DEVELOP, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. JOHN, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS PROMOTION, WHICH IS WELL EARNED AND WELL DESERVED. I WILL NOW INVITE SERGEANT CARLUCCI TO THE PODIUM FOR THE OATH OF OFFICE.
OFFICER I, JOHN I JOHN CARLUCCI, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS STATE. UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE. AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE, PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND. THANK YOU. I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT JUST TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I'M NOT BIG ON PUBLIC
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SPEAKING, SO THIS SHOULD ONLY TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE THAT HAVE MADE THIS MOMENT HAPPEN. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE WHO HAS HER HANDS FULL.WE HAVE ANOTHER ON THE WAY, BUT WITHOUT HER HOLDING EVERYTHING TOGETHER, TONIGHT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE COMMAND STAFF WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THE YEARS. IT FEELS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY THAT I WAS HERE INTERVIEWING FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER, AND DURING MY INTERVIEW, I EXPRESSED THE MOMENTS THAT EVENTUALLY DAWN MY CAREER. AS THEY ASK YOU, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN A FEW YEARS? I TOLD THEM, I'D LIKE TO SEE MYSELF PROGRESS AS A POLICE OFFICER. AS THOSE ABOVE ME HAVE. I DIDN'T PUT A TIMELINE ON THAT, AND THAT MOMENT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY, AND IT GOES BY QUICK. BUT IT'S THANKS TO THE COMMAND STAFF WHO ARE MY BOSSES, AND I'VE WATCHED LEAD THIS DEPARTMENT FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
IT'S DUE TO THEM THAT I'M HERE TODAY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY FELLOW PEERS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THIS CAREER. IT'S NOT EASY. AND ALONG THE WAYS I'VE HAD MY TOUGH POINTS IN MY CAREER, AS WE ALL HAVE, BUT KNOWING THAT THEY WERE THERE TO SUPPORT ME MEANT A LOT AND GOT ME THROUGH. AND I JUST HOPE THAT AS A SUPERVISOR IN THIS DEPARTMENT THAT I COULD DO THE SAME AND SUPPORT YOU GUYS IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. I DON'T WANT TO NAME NAMES TO FORGET ANYBODY, BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO YOU ARE AND THE TIME THAT YOU'VE SERVED AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME IN MY CAREER. SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN,
[4. Resolution #24-10-347 — Authorizing the Appointment of Timothy Giaccone to Sergeant in the Montgomery Township Police Department ]
DASH 347 AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICER TIMOTHY JACKSON TO SERGEANT IN THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH TEN, DASH 347. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES.COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES, I WOULD INVITE CAPTAIN BECK TO SAY A FEW WORDS. TIM GIACCONE BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER IN 2004 AS A CLASS TWO OFFICER IN POINT PLEASANT BEACH. TIM WAS HIRED BY MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP IN 2006, AND HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE PATROL DIVISION FROM 2006 TO 2018. IN 2018, TIM WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE TRAFFIC BUREAU, WHERE HE HAS TAKEN ON LEADERSHIP ROLES IN NUMEROUS TRAFFIC RELATED EMERGENCIES AND INVESTIGATIONS.
WITHIN HIS TIME, THE TRAFFIC BUREAU. TIM HAS ACHIEVED MANY TRAFFIC CERTIFICATIONS TO INCLUDE TRAFFIC COLLISION RECONSTRUCTION, AND CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE SOMERSET COUNTY COLLISION ANALYSIS RECONSTRUCTION TEAM. IN 2021, HE EARNED THE DESIGNATION OF TRAFFIC SAFETY SPECIALIST, LEVEL ONE IN RECOGNITION OF HIS TRAFFIC SAFETY AND CRASH INVESTIGATION. TRAINING EXPERIENCE AND CURRENTLY WORKING ON HIS LEVEL TWO TRAFFIC SAFETY CERTIFICATION. TIM HAS COMPLETED BASIC AND ADVANCED LEVELS OF CRASH, COLLISION INVESTIGATION, RECONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC INCIDENT MANAGEMENT. HE'S CERTIFIED CHILD SEAT TECHNICIAN, WORK ZONE SAFETY TRAINER, AND RADAR INSTRUCTOR. TIM IS VALUED BY HIS PEERS FOR HIS TRAFFIC EXPERTISE AND IS COMMITTED TO REPRESENTING MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL. AGAIN, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH TIM OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS, AND TONIGHT I'M HONORED AND BLESSED FOR HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY AND BEING ABLE TO WATCH HIM GROW PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS. TIM, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS. PROMOTION, WHICH IS WELL EARNED AND DESERVED. I'D LIKE TO INVITE SERGEANT TIM GIACCONE TO THE PODIUM FOR HIS OATH OF OFFICE.
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I DIDN'T FORGET WHEN I ACCEPTED YOU DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, AND I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FUTURE, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THAT OF THE TWO STATE COMMISSIONS. AND THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, TO THE SAME, AND TO THE DOCUMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED THE UNITED STATES. AND IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS STATE, I WILL GIVE TO THE PEOPLE FROM THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE, AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL OF THE OFFICE OF SERGEANT, KNOW ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF SERGEANT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.THE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK COUPLE MINUTES TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE. THANK YOU TO OUR TOWN OFFICIALS AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. THANK YOU TO OUR COMMAND STAFF. THANK YOU TO THE OFFICERS THAT I WORK WITH. WE ARE A FAMILY THAT IS FORGED TOGETHER THROUGH THE TOUGH CALLS, AND WE BUILD EACH OTHER UP AND WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER. AND WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, I WOULDN'T BE STANDING UP HERE. THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY. THANK YOU TO MY DAD FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE AND BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT PHONE FOR ADVICE.
AND THANK YOU TO MY WIFE TIFFANY, AND MY BOYS, DECLAN AND COLLIN. YOU GUYS ARE MY MOTIVATION TO PUT ON THIS UNIFORM EVERY DAY. I KNOW HOW TOUGH IT IS SOMETIMES WHEN THAT PHONE RINGS AT ANY HOUR AND I GOT TO DROP EVERYTHING AND RUN. SO FOR THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT. BEING PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT IS DEFINITELY A TRUE HONOR, AND I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. I PROMISE TO DO MY BEST FOR MY OFFICERS AND FOR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE HAVE A HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORT, ANIMAL
[5. Health Department — Animal Control Solutions Mid-year Report ]
CONTROL SOLUTIONS, MEDIA REPORT. HEALTH OFFICER DEVEN PATEL. WE ARE. OH, DID CAPTAIN BED HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? OH, YOU'RE JUST FLIPPING IT. OKAY, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THAT WAS PART OF THEIR DEAL WITH THE POLICE. THANKS, GUYS. THANKS. YOU CAN GO NOW. HI, EVERYONE. I'M JUST HERE TO PROVIDE THE ANIMAL CONTROL UPDATE. SO WE CONTRACTED OUT OUR SERVICE LAST YEAR. LATE FALL.AND WE HAVE ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS WHO HAS BEEN PROVIDING ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES FOR US.
THE TOWNSHIP IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE 24 OVER SEVEN ANIMAL CONTROL COVERAGE. AND OUR BEST OPTION WAS TO CONTRACT OUT SO IT HAS BEEN A LEARNING CURVE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHALLENGES. YOU KNOW, THE MAIN THING IS THAT THE PROCESS HAS BECOME VERY FRAGMENTED. SO YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE HAD ONE PERSON WHO HELD EVERYTHING TOGETHER. NOW IT'S REALLY BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IMPACTED. THE MOST WITH THE ANIMAL CONTROL CHANGES AND THEN WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEN THE CLERK'S DEPARTMENT TAKING OVER THE PET LICENSING. BUT ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT HAS REALLY HELD TOGETHER IS JUST COMMUNICATION AND WORKING THROUGH ANY ISSUES THAT COME UP. THE OTHER THING IS JUST IN THE CHANGES IN LEVELS OF
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SERVICE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE HAD OUR IN-HOUSE PERSON THAT WAS SOLELY DEDICATED TO MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND THAT WAS RESPONSIVE AT ALL TIMES AND THE RESPONSE TIMES WERE QUICKER. NOW WITH THE CONTRACTED SERVICE, THEY COVER A WIDER AREA THAN WHAT OUR IN-HOUSE PERSONS COVERED. SO THERE THERE ARE NO LONGER WAIT TIMES. AND SO FROM THE RESIDENT PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THERE THERE'S A CHANGE IN EXPECTATIONS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TRYING TO LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW AS ISSUES COME UP. BUT COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN THE KEY IN HELPING US REALLY WORK, WORK THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. AND THE GOAL REALLY IS TO HAVE TIGHT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CLERK'S OFFICE. AS YOU KNOW, AS ISSUES COME UP MAINLY FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SIDE. NOW IT'S REALLY RABIES PREVENTION, RABIES CONTROL AND BITE INVESTIGATIONS. SO THOSE WERE THE KEY. YOU KNOW, UPDATES REGARDING ANIMAL CONTROL, ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES. THEY THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT, BUT THEY THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND A FUTURE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING. IF YOU'D LIKE TO IF YOU'D LIKE FOR THEM TO ATTEND. AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH TIME IS ALLOCATED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO USE FOR THIS THIS TASK. AND WHAT TASKS ARE THEY? I COULDN'T GIVE YOU LIKE A TIME FOR THAT. I THINK IT'S MORE ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME THEY ARE HAVING TO SPEND ON SCENE IN, IN TERMS OF LIKE RESPONSE TIMES AND WAITING FOR THE ACO TO ARRIVE. BUT THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER IS COMING FROM. IS THAT WHAT I REQUEST? NO, I UNDERSTAND, I JUST I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT TIME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEIR TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, FINDING OUT THOSE NUMBERS WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US. OKAY. AS WELL AS YOUR TIME THAT YOU SPEND ON DOING THE RABIES AND, YOU KNOW, THE BITE INVESTIGATIONS, I'D LIKE TO CALCULATE ALL THAT. OKAY. SO LIKE LIKE OUR BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN BY HOUR. SURE. OKAY. WE CAN DO THAT. YEAH. I CAN REACH OUT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GET SOME STATS FOR YOU. ALL FOR YOU GUYS. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY.AND WE HAD HAD A MEETING WITH SERGEANT CARLUCCI. NOW WHO'S OUR HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
AND WE HAD A MEETING WITH ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS AND OFFICER SERGEANT CARLUCCI AND DEEWANGI TO TALK ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES AND IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNICATION THAT DEEWANGI WAS TALKING ABOUT, ONE PIECE WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE POLICE IN THE FIELD HAVE THE RIGHT BEST NUMBER TO REACH AND GET A SUPERVISOR'S THERE WERE SE ADDITIONAL PHONE NUMBERS EXCHANGED SO THAT IF THE RESPONSE IS NOT WHAT WE THINK IT SHOULD BE, WHEN A POLICE OFFICER IS WAITING FOR A SITUATION THAT HAS ARISEN, THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT CONTACTS TO HELP MAKE THAT FAST TRACK IT. OKAY, SO WE SHOULD DEFINITELY KIND OF SEE BEFORE AND AFTER THAT EXCHANGE HAPPENED TO SEE IF IT IMPROVED AT ALL. SO THIS WAS THIS WAS A RECENT MEETING. SO YOU'RE YOU'RE LOOKING INTO WHAT WHAT CAN BE DONE. AND I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHERE COMMITTEEMAN ON IS COMING FROM IS JUST MAYBE HAVING THE POLICE OFFICERS THERE WAITING WHEN THEY COULD BE DOING SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SOME OTHER NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. RIGHT. SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE HE'S TRYING TO SEE HOW LONG THEY WOULD BE STANDING THERE WAITING FOR THEM. AND USUALLY WOULD YOU SAY THAT THEY RESPOND IN AN HOUR OR HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THEM TO. DO WE HAVE ANY STATS ON THAT? I MEAN, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON EACH CALL, BUT ON AVERAGE, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR POLICE, BUT JUST FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD ANECDOTALLY, IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY ANYWHERE FROM A HALF HOUR TO TWO HOURS. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S BEEN ANY ANY LONGER THAN THAT, BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY CALL. BUT AGAIN, I CAN FIND OUT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GET GET YOU GUYS AN ACCURATE NUMBER. YEAH, OKAY. YEAH, THAT'D BE HELPFUL. I KNOW THIS WAS NOT A THIS WAS NOT LIKE A DECISION BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIG CAN YOU JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT LED US TO THE DECISION TO GO TO THIS KIND OF OUTSOURCED MODEL? I THINK IT WAS COVERAGE, YOU KNOW, COVERAGE ISSUES, THE WAY OUR POSITIONS ARE STRUCTURED, WERE STRUCTURED, WERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BOTH THE UNION POSITIONS ONE FULL TIME, ONE PART TIME. AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL THE PART TIME POSITION. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE FULL TIME ACO WAS ON CALL 24 OVER SEVEN. AND IT WAS VERY WE WERE FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL THE PART TIME POSITION.
SO IT WAS IT WAS JUST NOT WORKING OUT. AND EVEN WHEN BOTH POSITIONS WERE VACANT, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO FILL IT. SO AND HAVING TALKED TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WITH THEIR LONG
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AS A LONG TIME ACOS AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DEDICATED THEIR THEIR LIFE TO THIS CAREER, YOU DON'T SEE NEW ACOS WANTING TO GET INTO THIS FIELD. THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN ANIMAL SAFETY, ANIMAL SHELTER, THAT KIND OF THING. AND SO AS A LONG TIME ACOS ARE RETIRING, MUNICIPALITIES ARE FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL THESE POSITIONS BECAUSE OF JUST THE LEVEL OF RESPONSE AND DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT THAT'S REQUIRED. AND YOU'RE JUST NOT FINDING THAT ANYMORE. AND SO MORE MUNICIPALITIES ARE REACHING OUT AND INQUIRING ABOUT OUR MODEL.AND YOU KNOW, WHAT LED US TO PRIVATIZE AND WHAT OUR IF WE HAD ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS AND UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE GOING TO BE IN THE SAME SITUATION AS US. SO, YOU KNOW, OUR BEST OPTION HAS BEEN TO CONTRACT OUT THIS, THIS RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING A 24 OVER SEVEN. RIGHT. YEAH. THAT'S AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. COULD POSSIBLY WE DO A SHARED SERVICE WITH LIKE A SURROUNDING TOWN. WE TRY NOT THAT I DON'T KNOW OF ANY TOWN THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SHARED SERVICE WITH US FOR THIS FOR THIS POSITION. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT. WELL MY IDEA IS IF THEY HAD A FULL TIME STAFF AND WE HAD A FULL TIME STAFF AND YOU KNOW, THEY SHARED, YOU KNOW, THEIR, YOU KNOW, TIMES THAT WAY SO THAT WHEN THERE WOULD THEY WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTIES COVERING THAT TIME, OUR STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT VICE VERSA. YEAH.
I YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY AN OPTION. BUT WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT BACKUP. SO IT'S IT HAS TO BE MORE THAN JUST TWO PEOPLE. WE WOULD WE WOULD NEED MULTIPLE PEOPLE TRAINED AND LICENSED AS AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. SO THERE'S SUFFICIENT BACKUP AND COVERAGE BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE MAIN ISSUE. YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE, THEY JUST THEY YOU KNOW, THERE'S THEY PLACE A HIGH REGARD, A HIGH VALUE FOR WORK LIFE BALANCE THAT DOESN'T EXIST WITH THE WAY OUR POSITIONS AND MUNICIPALITIES ARE STRUCTURED. UNLESS YOU YOU CREATE A MODEL THAT'S SHARED. BUT WITH YOU KNOW, A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAINED IN THIS, WHICH IS WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO BE CHALLENGING FOR MUNICIPALITIES, AND YOU COULDN'T FIND A FULL TIME ANYWAYS, YOU SAID YOU WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FULL TIME AND A PART TIME. YEAH. SO THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH ONE TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN IN. I GUESS WE NEED TO TELL THE YOUNG PEOPLE THERE IS A JOB OUT THERE. PLEASE GO AND STUDY AND TRAIN FOR IT.
YEAH, THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE, YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, I THINK THEY'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, OUR STRUCTURE TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE TO BE A AOC. YEAH. THERE ARE MANY WAYS YOU CAN INCENTIVIZE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU YOU KNOW, IT'S A UNION POSITION. SO THAT'S REALLY BETWEEN YOU KNOW, I THINK I WOULD SAY ADMINISTRATION AND I KNOW MANY OF THE ADMINISTRATORS AND MYSELF INCLUDED IN SOMERSET COUNTY HAVE HAVE BEEN ASKING SOMERSET COUNTY TO TAKE ON SORT OF WHAT DENNIS IS TALKING ABOUT. COMMITTEEMAN ON TO DO A LARGER SHARED SERVICE AMONGST THE TOWNS AND THAT THEY COULD THEY COULD RUN THAT. SO BUT THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TAKEN THAT AS AS DEVAKI HAD MENTIONED, IT'S A CHALLENGING, CHALLENGING PROGRAM TO START UP. JUST BECAUSE OF THE LABOR POOL IS VERY SMALL FOR THAT. SO BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AT THAT LEVEL BECAUSE AS DEVON HAD MENTIONED, MANY TOWNS ARE IN OUR POSITION RIGHT NOW AND IN SOMERSET COUNTY AS WELL. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE USING ANIMAL CONTROL. IS THAT THE ONLY OPTION OUT THERE? MANY TOWNS IN SOMERSET. AND YEAH, THERE ARE ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS. IT HAS A LARGER POOL OF OFFICERS WHICH MAKES IT MORE SUSTAINABLE FOR THEIR BUSINESS MODEL COMPARED TO OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE OUT THERE. THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE COMPANIES THAT ARE RUN BY JUST 1 OR 2 PEOPLE, WHICH IS NOT YOU KNOW, A SUITABLE FOR US, BUT I WOULD LOVE A COUNTY RUN ANIMAL CONTROL. YES, I CAN TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT. AND I'M JUST THINKING IF THERE IS ONLY 1 OR 2 PEOPLE, THAT 1 OR 2 COMPANY, THEN WE WON'T SEE THEM FOR SEVEN HOURS. AT LEAST YOU'RE SEEING SOMEONE IN TWO HOURS NOW, RIGHT? SO IT'S LIKE, I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS THAT IT'S SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY. SO YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY ON THE WEEKENDS FINDING COVERAGE. AND PEOPLE NO ONE WANTS TO COMMIT FOR THE FULL WEEKEND. EVERY WEEKEND, RIGHT, 24 OVER SEVEN.
SO AND THE UNFORTUNATELY THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES.
SO YEAH THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. YEP. WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THE HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE THERE. BUT AT THIS POINT WE'LL GO WITH SORRY THE PUN WITH ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS I GUESS. YEAH. AND IF YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN KEEP COUNTY RUN ANIMAL CONTROL UNITS, YOU KNOW, IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD AND IN TERMS OF ADVOCATING THAT, BE VERY
[00:35:05]
HELPFUL TOO. ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL. THANK YOU. YEAH. IF YOU CAN JUST GET THOSE NUMBERS, BECAUSE I REALLY DO WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH OF OUR OFFICER'S TIME IS ALLOCATED TO YOU KNOW, ANIMAL CONTROL. YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, GETTING GETTING IT. WHAT TIME OF THE DAY TOO OR LIKE IS IT ON THE WEEKENDS OR SOMETHING. SO JUST WE CAN SEE I THINK PATTERNS. AND THEN FIGURE OUT FROM KNOWING PATTERNS AND STUFF. ARE THERE OTHER WAYS WE COULD MAYBE CREATIVELY SOLVE IT? I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN. HOW MUCH ARE WE PAYING OFFICERS TO JUST STAND THERE? OH YEAH. WELL, YEAH.THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN. MAYBE WE CAN CHARGE THE STATE BACK FOR THAT OR SOMETHING. YEAH, I LIKE
[6. Township Clerk — Pet Licensing ]
THAT COMMITTEE. KEENAN IS GOING TO SEND AN INVOICE TO THE STATE. OKAY. TOWNSHIP CLERK IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT PET LICENSING. SO TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT DEVANG WAS JUST SPEAKING ABOUT, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT PET LICENSING AND COMMUNICATING TO OUR RESIDENTS, INFORMING THEM OF THE REQUIREMENT THAT NEW JERSEY STATE LAW REQUIRES MUNICIPALITIES TO ANNUALLY LICENSE DOGS SEVEN MONTHS OR OLDER, AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO GET SOME INFORMATION OUT TO OUR RESIDENTS. IF ANYONE IS WATCHING, OR YOU CAN PASS IT ALONG. SO DOG LICENSING IS REQUIRED, BASICALLY TO PREVENT HELP, TO PREVENT OF DISEASE BY ENFORCING REGULATIONS REGARDING PROPER VACCINATIONS, RABIES CONTROL, AND SPAYING AND NEUTERING FOR POPULATION CONTROL OF DOGS AS WELL IT THE FEES THAT WE COLLECT, SOME OF THEM ARE DISPERSED TO THE STATE FOR STATE RUN PROGRAMS, INCLUDING RABIES AND POPULATION CONTROL. THE STATE DOES HAVE SOME FREE PROGRAMS FOR SPAY AND NEUTERING, AND ALSO SOME RABIES SERVICES AS WELL. AND THEY ALSO ENSURE THAT THE DOGS CAN BE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS IF THEY ARE STRAY OR LOST. THE DOGS MUST BE LICENSED IN THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE OWNER LIVES. PROOF OF RABIES VACCINATION MUST BE PROVIDED WHERE THE IMMUNITY EXTENDS THROUGH AT LEAST THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF THE LICENSING PERIOD, AND THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, OUR LICENSING IS JANUARY 1ST TO OCTOBER 31ST, SO THAT RABIES MUST BE GOOD THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST. LICENSING FEES ARE ESTABLISHED BY MUNICIPAL ORDINANCE. OUR PET LICENSING FEE FOR A SPAYED OR NEUTERED DOG IS $20 FOR NON SPAYED. NON NEUTERED IS $23 FEE. LET'S SEE. THERE IS A ONE TIME LATE FEE FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT LICENSE ANNUALLY.AFTER I GIVE UP, THERE'S A GRACE PERIOD TILL FEBRUARY 15TH. MONTGOMERY LOCAL ORDINANCE ALSO REQUIRES THE LICENSING OF CATS FOR THE SAME REASONS. IT ALSO HELPS WITH POPULATION CONTROL WITH THE FERAL COLONIES. CATS TYPICALLY ARE INDOOR, BUT IF THEY DO GET OUT, RABIES IS SPREAD BY SALIVA. SO IF THAT ANIMAL GETS OUT, IT'S DEADLY TO HUMAN BEINGS AND IT OBVIOUSLY DEADLY TO THE ANIMALS AS WELL. SO ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE PET LICENSING PROGRAM, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AT MY OFFICE OR STOP IN AND VISIT. I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION. WE WILL.
THE LAST DAY OF LICENSING THIS YEAR IS OCTOBER 31ST, AS WE WILL GEAR UP FOR THE NEW LICENSING PERIOD IN JANUARY. THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THAT WILL BE COMING FORTHCOMING IN OUR E-BULLETIN.
WATCH FOR US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. AS MANY PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY NEW TO THIS OR UNAWARE OF THIS REQUIREMENT. THANK YOU.
THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OF COURSE, LISA, OUR TOWNSHIP CLERK, IS AVAILABLE. IF PEOPLE WANTED TO FIND OUT MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. OKAY, PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
[Additional item]
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 YOUR OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE ASKED TO SELECT A SPOKESPERSON. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE? CHRIS NEWMAN SKILLMAN AND I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF HEALTH, AND THAT'S SORT OF WHERE I'M COMING FROM. MY COMMENTS TONIGHT REGARDING THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND EVERYTHING THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THAT. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS MULTIPLE TIMES AT THE BOARD OF HEALTH. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS I THINK REALISTICALLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. I THINK IT'S A REALLY HARD JOB. MY MEMORY HAS IT AND I JUST CONFIRMED THAT WITH DEEWANGI AS IT PAID UNDER $50,000 FOR 24 OVER SEVEN WORK WEEK WITH MAYBE A WEEK OR TWO OF VACATION. I DON'T KNOW, THE VACATION PART. I'M LOOKING AT A PROBATIONARY OFFICER STARTS AT $80,000. I MEAN, WHY WOULD YOU BECOME AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICE? IT'S A HARD JOB DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC, DEALING WITH ANIMALS, BEING ON CALL. I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. AND UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO START IT SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING[00:40:03]
TO HAPPEN. AND I THINK YOU'D NEED 2 OR 3 TO REALISTICALLY HAVE SOMEONE HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE. SO I THINK IT SEEMS TO ME ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS HAS GOTTEN BETTER. OR MAYBE WE'VE JUST GOTTEN USED TO THEM. SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE IN THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF FINDING OUT HOW MUCH TIME THE POLICE SPEND ON THIS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I THINK MAYBE THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE POLICE. SEEMS TO ME WE HAVE A WAY BIGGER POLICE DEPARTMENT THAN A HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO IS UNDERSTAFFED AND OVERWORKED AND MAYBE JUST GOING DIRECTLY TO THEM AND FINDING OUT. AND THEN ALSO MAYBE HOW MUCH TIME DOES THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPEND ON THIS AS WELL? BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO. SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE ANIMAL CONTROL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MY QUESTION FOR THE FOR DEEWANGI AND THE POLICE IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCIAL RIGHT. SO IF IT'S ONLY $50,000, MAYBE IT'S WORTH IT TO DO $80,000. I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND THOSE NUMBERS TO MAKE IT, POSSIBLY TO HAVE A ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER ON STAFF. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU'RE 80,000 FOR 24 OVER SEVEN.LIKE NO ONE'S GOING TO DO THAT. WHO'S GOING TO DO THAT? YOU KNO, UNDER THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT CALLED. I MEAN, MAYBE HE'S ON CALL 24 OVER SEVEN, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET CALLED.
THERE'S AN ENTIRE HUGE POLICE FORCE. IT SEEMS LIKE WE SAW IT TONIGHT. SO YEAH, I JUST REALISTICALLY SPEAKING, I MEAN, ONE AND A HALF PROBABLY WASN'T ENOUGH. I MEAN, WE LOST THEM, RIGHT? SO IT WASN'T ENOUGH. THEY WEREN'T HAVING ANY QUALITY OF LIFE AND GOING OUT AND CRAWLING AFTER ANIMALS AND GOING INTO SEWER PIPES OR GOING UP TREES OR LISTENING TO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE SQUIRRELS IN THEIR ATTIC OR WHATEVER IT INVOLVES. YOU KNOW, IT'S A HARD JOB. YEAH. AND I AGREE. SO BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LESS PRESSURE ON THE BOARD OF HEALTH IF WE FIND, IF WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY RIGHT. OR THE DEPARTMENT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK YOU MAKE A REALLY GOOD POINTS. AND I THINK ALSO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE EVEN GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS. RIGHT. AND THE ONES THAT THAT'S THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST PROBLEM. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THE NEW GENERATION IS LOOKING FOR WORK LIFE BALANCE, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I HEAR ALL THE TIME. I'M LIKE, WHAT IS THA. BUT BUT YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO GO INTO ANIMAL RESCUE OR WORK IN A SHELTER OR BECOME A VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. NO, BUT THERE SHOULD BE A COUPLE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE TRAINED IN THIS. I MEAN, THEY'RE OUT THERE ANYWAY. AND YOU KNOW, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A HUMANE OFFICER. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS, BUT MAYBE WE NEED MORE OF THAT. SO. YEAH, BUT THANK YOU. THAT'S THAT'S VERY HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR BACKGROUND. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. I GUESS ORDINANCES.
[7. Ordinance #24-1740 — An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery, County of Somerset, New Jersey, Amending Police Department Membership within Chapter Two — Police Department of the Code of the Township of Montgomery, 1984 ]
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 4-1740. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AMENDING POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBERSHIP WITHIN CHAPTER TWO, POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE HAS HERE BE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 14, 2024. IS THERE ARE THE DOING ANY EXPLANATION ON THIS, OR ARE WE JUST. I'D BE HAPPY TO UNLESS I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY CAPTAIN DIRECTOR THAT WANTED TO GIVE THE EXPLANATION. THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PROPOSED THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, ALONG WITH THE LEADERSHIP FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE THIS EXPLAINED AT A PUBLIC MEETING SO RESIDENTS HAVE AN IDEA. GOOD EVENING, CAPTAIN. SO WE GOT THE IDEA FROM BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, WHERE IT ALLOWS US TO IF WE HAVE A SCHEDULED RETIREMENT COMING UP, INSTEAD, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR STAFFING, WE'RE ABLE TO HIRE AN INDIVIDUAL AS THAT REPLACEMENT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE TRAINING AS FAR AS IF WE'RE RECRUITING ENTRY LEVEL, IT'S PROBABLY 2 TO 3 MONTHS THAT THE VETTING PROCESS, THEN IT'S SIX MONTHS OF POLICE ACADEMY TIME AND THEN FOUR MONTHS IN A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER PROGRAM. SO WHAT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO IF WE HAVE A SCHEDULED CERTIFIED RETIREMENT COMING UP, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO OVER THE 37 FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS. I BELIEVE IT IS. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, YES. OKAY. SO LIKE I SAID, IT'S TO MAINTAIN STAFFING LEVELS THAT THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU. SO MUCH. AND I THINK THAT'S I KNOW THAT WE PROBABLY HAVE A RETIREMENT COMING UP IN FEBRUAR. THE COUNTY IS GOING TO PUT OUT THEIR DIVERSITY RECRUITMENT SCHOLARSHIP JANUARY 1ST. SO IT WILL ALLOW ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM FROM THE[00:45:01]
COMMENCEMENT INSTEAD OF WE HAD THE UNEXPECTED RETIREMENTS LAST YEAR. SO WHEN THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DID AVAIL ITSELF, WE WERE UNABLE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OPENINGS AT THAT TIME.THIS WILL ALLOW US TO PARTICIPATE IN IT. WELL THANK YOU. THAT'S A VERY PROACTIVE APPROACH. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHTY. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 24 DASH 1740. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION.
[Consent Agenda]
OH, THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION 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 OF THESE ITEMS. IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATEL. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE? NO. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 24. DASH TEN, DASH 348 TO 24. DASH TEN. DASH 350. SO MOVE. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES, MAYOR SAYING YES. RESOLUTION.
[11. Resolution #24-10-351 — Governing Body Certification of Annual Audit for 2023 ]
RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN. DASH 351. GOVERNING BODY CERTIFICATION OF ANNUAL AUDIT FOR 2023. YES, MAYOR. THIS IS RELATED TO OUR 2023 AUDIT. IT WAS CONDUCTED CONCLUDED NOT TOO LONG AGO. IT'S ON THE WEBSITE FOR THE RESIDENTS AS WELL. YOU'VE ALL RECEIVED A COPY OF IT AS WELL TO REVIEW JUST REAL QUICK. THE AUDITOR'S MAIN RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THEY COME IN HERE IS TO OBTAIN REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT THERE'S NO FINANCIAL, MATERIAL, FINANCIAL MISSTATEMENTS IN THE AUDIT. I'M PLEASED TO SAY ONCE AGAIN, THIS YEAR THERE WAS NO NONE OF THAT, NO, NO MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS IN THE AUDIT AS WELL AS THERE'S NO RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE AUDIT. SO THE AUDITORS COME IN HERE. THEY'RE HERE FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS, ALMOST A MONTH. THEY LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THEN THEY AUDIT OUR SOURCE DOCUMENTS. THEY LOOK AT OUR TAX STUBS, THEY LOOK GO TO EACH DEPARTMENT, LOOK AT THEIR THEIR RECORDS TO MAKE SURE THAT, RIGHT, WHAT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE STATING ARE ACCURATE BASED ON THE BACKUP WE HAVE. SO AFTER ALL THAT THEY COME TO A CONCLUSION. THEY FORM THEIR OPINION, COME UP WITH THE AUDIT, AND ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CLEAN AUDIT. DEPARTMENT HEADS DID A GREAT JOB. SO THANK YOU TO ALL YOU ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO'VE BEEN FOLLOWING OUR INTERNAL CONTROLS AND OUR PROCEDURES. AND ONCE AGAIN, YEAH, I'M JUST I'M PLEASED THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO AUDIT PURPOSES. OH THAT'S THAT'S GREAT. KUDOS TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND KUDOS TO OUR CFO MIKE PITTS. THANK YOU. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN. DASH 351. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR SAYING YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN.[12. Resolution #24-10-352 — Rejecting Bids for Snow Removal Services at the Township Municipal Center and Authorizing Township to Re-solicit Bids ]
DASH 352. REJECTING BIDS FOR SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES AT THE TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL CENTER AND AUTHORIZING TOWNSHIP TO RE SOLICIT BIDS. YES, MAYOR. WE WENT OUT TO BID SEPTEMBER 28TH 20TH FOR A THIRD PARTY TO COME AND SNOWPLOW, THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX. THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WHAT WE EXPECTED, WHAT WAS BUDGETED. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO REJECT THESE BIDS. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH TEN 352. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES.[13. Resolution #24-10-353 — Rejecting Bids for Snow Removal Services on Township Roadways and Authorizing Township to Re-solicit Bids ]
MAYOR SAYING YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN. DASH 353. REJECTING BIDS FOR SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES ON TOWNSHIP ROADWAYS AND AUTHORIZING TOWNSHIP TO SOLICIT BIDS. SAME. THIS WAS ACTUALLY FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD TO ASSIST DPW WITH TOWNSHIP ROADWAYS WHEN THEY'RE BACKED UP.BUT AGAIN, BIDS RECEIVED WERE EITHER OVER THE OUR BUDGETED YOU KNOW EXPECTATIONS OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN. DASH 353. SO MOVED SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR. SING. YES.
[14. Resolution #24-10-354 - Authorizing Temporary Road Closure — Harlingen Road and Devon Drive — Montgomery Township’s Veterans Day Ceremony ]
RESOLUTION NUMBER 2410 DASH 354, AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE. HARLINGEN ROAD AND DEVON DRIVE, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. VETERANS DAY CEREMONY. SO THIS IS JUST CONSISTENT WITH THE RESOLUTIONS THAT WE DO FOR ROAD CLOSURE, ROAD CLOSING EVENTS. THERE WILL BE A PROCESSION STARTING FROM HARLINGEN ROAD AND DEVON DRIVE TO MONTGOMERY'S VETERANS PARK.AND THIS IS JUST AUTHORIZING THE ROAD CLOSURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH TEN 354. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.
[15. Resolution #24-10-355 — Authorizing the Municipal Clerk to Certify that the Governing Body has Reviewed the Completed Best Practices Inventory at a Public Meeting ]
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES, MAYOR. SING. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24, DASH TEN.[00:50:06]
DASH 355. AUTHORIZING THE MUNICIPAL CLERK TO CERTIFY THAT THE GOVERNING BODY HAS REVIEWED THE COMPLETED BEST PRACTICES INVENTORY AT A PUBLIC MEETING. YES, MAYOR. AGAIN, THIS IS RELATED TO OUR ANNUAL BEST PRACTICES INVENTORY THAT THE STATE PUTS OUT EVERY YEAR JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. BASICALLY, THESE ARE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS THAT THE STATE PUTS OUT AND ENCOURAGES MUNICIPALITIES TO EMBRACE PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE SOUND MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. THERE WERE 69 QUESTIONS THIS YEAR. YOU NEEDED A SCORE OF AT LEAST 35 TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON'T LOSE ANY OF YOUR STATE AID. THE MAX AMOUNT OF POINTS YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN WAS 46.5, AND WE RECEIVED 42.5. THIS YEAR, THE QUESTIONS RANGE FROM FINANCIAL QUESTIONS SUCH AS YOU KNOW, DID DID YOU ADOPT YOUR BUDGET IN TIME? OTHER QUESTIONS WERE RELATED TO SOME HUMAN RESOURCE QUESTIONS RELATED TO LEAD REMEDIATION. SO AGAIN, THROUGH ALL THOSE QUESTIONS, 69 QUESTIONS, WHEN IT CAME TO THE SCORED ONES, WE HAD 42.4, 42.5 POINTS OUT OF 46.50. WONDERFUL. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH TEN 355. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR. SING. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN.[16. Resolution #24-10-356 — Authorizing Execution of Stormwater Deed Restriction with Sharbell Cranbury, Inc., and Sharbell Plainsboro, Inc. ]
DASH 356. AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF STORMWATER DEED RESTRICTION WITH CRANBERRY, INC. AND CHEVELLE PLAINSBORO, INC. MAYOR. THE CHARBEL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IS BUILDING THEIR LAST BUILDING AT HILLSIDE, MONTGOMERY CROSSING. THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT THE TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENT BEHIND WHERE JERSEY MIKE'S AND STARBUCKS IS. THEY ORIGINALLY HAD APPROVAL FOR 40 MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS, AND THEY CAME BACK TO THE PLANNING BOARD TO AMEND THAT TO 20 STACKED CONDOMINIUMS OR TOWNHOMES. AND SO WITH THAT MODIFICATION TO THE APPROVAL OF THE PLANNING BOARD, THEY NEEDED TO REFILE AND EXECUTE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO THE STORMWATER. SO THIS IS THE ACTION THAT THE GOVERNING BODY TAKES FOLLOWING THAT. OH, OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 DASH TEN 356. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.COMMITTEE MEMBER. ALLEN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. RESOLUTION
[17. Resolution #24-10-357 — Authorizing Change Order #1 (Final) for Bid #B03-2024 — Skillman Road Pathway Phase 2 (Decrease) ]
NUMBER 24, DASH TEN 357, AUTHORIZING CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER ONE, FINAL FOR BID B03 DASH 2024 SKILLMAN ROAD PATHWAY. PHASE TWO DECREASE. THIS WAS ACTUALLY A CHANGE ORDER, BUT IT WAS A DECREASE OF 3%. JUST OVER 3%. SO IT DECREASES THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $8,625. AND $0.05. OH THAT'S NICE DECREASE. GOOD CHANGE ORDER. YES, THAT'S A GOOD ONE. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN. DASH 357. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. APPROVAL OF MINUTES.[18. Approval of Minutes ]
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 19TH? SO MOVED.SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE SPECIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 19TH. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 19TH. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. JUST ONE SECOND. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24, DASH TEN, DASH 358. PAYMENT
[19. Resolution #24-10-358 — Payment of Bills Posted]
OF BILLS POSTED. YES, MAYOR. THE THREE HIGHEST BILLS ON THIS BILL LIST ON PAGE ONE, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE WAY DOWN ARE CENTRAL JERSEY HEALTH INSURANCE FUND FOR OCTOBER HEALTH BENEFITS BILL $155,539. ON THE NEXT PAGE, THERE'S TRANSDEV FLEET SERVICE. THIS IS OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE MONTHLY BILL. IT'S. $76,795.11. THAT'S A LITTLE HIGHER THAN OUR MONTHLY BILL, BUT WE HAD SOME OUT OF CONTRACT COSTS OF ABOUT $10,000. SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. AND FINALLY, AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE TWO, NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER FOR $55,454.79. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24, DASH NINE, DASH 358. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.AN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES, MAYOR. SAYING YES. THERE'S NO CORRESPONDENCE IN
[20. New Business and Old Business ]
THIS MEETING. NEW BUSINESS AND OLD BUSINESS ESTABLISHING A DATE FOR JANUARY 2025. TOWNSHIP[00:55:06]
COMMITTEE REORG MEETING. LISA. SO THE REORGANIZATION MEETING MUST TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS OF THE NEW YEAR OR BY JANUARY 7TH. SO I'M SUGGESTING THAT THE REORG BE THE FIRST.THURSDAY, JANUARY 2ND IN 2025. I'M JUST LOOKING FOR A CONSENSUS FROM THE COMMITTEE. I WE DON'T HAVE TWO COMMITTEE PEOPLE, BUT I'M IF THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT, I'M SURE EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE TO BE BY THE 7TH JANUARY SECOND. YES. THAT'S OUR FIRST THURSDAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. TOWNSHIP
[21. Township Committee Reports ]
COMMITTEE REPORTS WITH THE COMMITTEEMAN ON. SURE. THE BOARD OF HEALTH HAS UPCOMING FLU CLINICS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER. SO PLEASE CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE FOR THE DATES AND TIMES THEY'RE ALSO DOING. RED RED RIBBON WEEK. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL JOIN RED RIBBON WEEK DURING THE LAST WEEK OF OCTOBER, AND WILL PARTICIPATE AT THE TRUNK OR TREAT EVENT ON OCTOBER 26TH. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CONGRATULATE ALL THE RESTAURANTS WHO WHO VOLUNTEERED FOR RESTAURANT WEEK. IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS AND I THANK EVERYBODY FOR HELPING OUT AND HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE'RE DOING A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA, SO HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR CAN BE BIGGER. YEAH, NO, I THINK THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DID A REALLY WONDERFUL JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DONE. OKAY. GREAT. SO THERE WAS THE SOMERSET PLANNING PARTNERS MEETING THAT HAPPENED THIS SEPTEMBER 24TH, WHICH WAS A GREAT MEETING ACROSS SOMERSET TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING FROM THE CIRCULATION PLAN AND SO FORTH. IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED, IT IS ON THEIR WEBSITE. I THINK THEY NEEDED SOME PUBLIC COMMENT ON SOME OF THE ISSUES, BUT IT'S GOOD TO BE WORKING WITH ACROSS THE COUNTY ON SOME OF THE PLANNING ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE. I WANT TO THANK THE MONTGOMERY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR HAVING WHAT WAS CALLED SAVE A LIFE DAY ON SEPTEMBER 26TH. THEY JOINED HUNDREDS OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN DISTRIBUTING THE LARGEST DAY OF KNOCKS LOAN, ALSO KNOWN AS NARCAN AND TO DATE. AND I WAS I PICKED UP TWO OF THEM AND I GOT SOME INFORMATION ON CARRIER CLINIC AND IF ANYBODY EVER NEEDS ANY WE HAVE PLENTY OF THIS AT OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. SO KEEP IT AROUND. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT. FRIENDS, FAMILY, STRANGERS. IT'S JUST REALLY A VERY EASY THING TO DO. THE TRAINING IS SIMPLE, BUT EVEN WITHOUT THE TRAINING, IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IT'S NOTHING. IT'S JUST SOME PUFF STUFF. YOU HAVE TO PUFF UP THE NOSE SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND, FOLKS. I WANT TO THE JUST POINT OUT THAT IT WAS A VERY, VERY PROUD OF MONTGOMERY FOR OUR MONTGOMERY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE SOMERSET COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT'S PINK CAR UNVEILING. THEY WERE ONE OF SIX CARS THEY WERE SPONSORED BY HUNTERDON, WHICH WAS KIND OF A NICE ONE. I WENT UP THERE TO HAVE MY MAMMOGRAM. I WAS ABLE TO KIND OF THANK THEM FOR SPONSORING US, SO THAT WAS QUITE NICE TOO. SO NICE JOB EVERYONE, AND REMEMBER TO GO OUT AND GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM. AND THEN FINALLY WE HAD A ON OCTOBER THE SECOND WE HAD A PRESENTATION HERE ON PUTTING SOLAR. WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT PUTTING SOLAR HERE ON THE TOWN ON THE BUILDING OR SOMEWHERE WE MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY PUT ON THE BUILDING, BUT HERE. BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THE WASTEWATER FACILITY TREATMENT. SO THE DOING A REALLY NICE JOB GOING OUT THERE AND FINDING OUT HOW MUCH LIGHT CAN WE GET, HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO BE 100%. WHAT WHAT SO FORTH. SO WE MADE A HUGE AMOUNT OF PROGRESS AND THIS TIME BRINGING THE POLICE TO LOOK AGAIN AT MAYBE DOING SOME OF THE, THE, THE CANOPY PARKING. SO FOR THE POLICE WERE INTERESTED IN THAT. SO IT'S EASY THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE SNOW AND SO FORTH. AND SO THAT'S IT'S STILL GOING ON. BUT I'M THINKING WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT PROGRESS AS WEL. AND THIS WEEKEND THERE'S THE SOMERSET COUNTY JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAST HERE IN MONTGOMERY. THERE WERE THREE PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS. SO WE HAVE THE BLOOMBERG CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME. OF COURSE, WE HAVE SAM ON HOLLOW ROAD AND VAN HARLINGEN.IT'S FROM 10 TO 5 ON SATURDAY AND 12 TO 4 ON SUNDAY. AND THEN UPCOMING, WE HAVE A PLANNING BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY. THIS COMING MONDAY AT SEVEN. THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETING IS ON THE 15TH. AND WE ALSO SPEAKING OF THAT, WE WERE THE RECIPIENT OF A GRANT FOR $10,000 TO DO A COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN. SO THAT'S EXCITING. AND THEN ON WEDNESDAY, I HOPE SOME OF YOU GUYS JOINED TO ON THIS GATHERING OF THE LOWER MILLSTONE RIVER TOWNS. WE ARE HOSTING IT HERE.
IT IS REALLY TO DISCUSS THE FLOODING PROBLEMS AND LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS ON A REGIONAL BASIS.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING HERE IN RIGHT HERE IN THIS BUILDING. SO IT'S A GREAT THING. I'M VERY GLAD THAT WE'RE THE ONES HOSTING THE FIRST ONES TO JUST KIND OF KICK THIS OFF AND START TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THESE ISSUES AS BEST WE CAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL START WITH WHAT IS UPCOMING. WE HAVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY EVENT, WHICH IS COMING UP ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 430 TO 630. THIS WILL BE
[01:00:06]
OUTSIDE OF PLAYA BOWLS WHERE WE'LL HAVE THE TOWNSHIP'S HEALTH EDUCATOR AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TRAFFIC SAFETY DIVISION. THEY WILL BE PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CROSSING ROADWAYS AT CROSSWALKS AND DRIVER AWARENESS OF PEDESTRIANS. WE HAD DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR AT STARBUCKS AND IT WAS WELL APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY. OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL STUDENTS WILL BE THERE AS WELL, HANDING OUT INFORMATION AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT. AND 206 IS A HIGHWAY AND NOT A BACK STREET. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY RIGHT HERE ACROSS FROM THE BUILDING FOR THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND THAT'S GOING TO BE ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, 430 AT THE OF COURSE, AT THE MUNICIPAL CENTER RIGHT HERE. AND WE ARE QUITE EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT THAT PARK IS A LONG TIME IN COMING AND IT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF ITS KIND IN SOMERSET COUNTY.AND I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT PLACE FOR, YOU KNOW, KIDS AND ADULTS OF ALL ABILITIES TO GET TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, ENJOY SUCH AN AMAZING PARK THAT, I MEAN, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME PLANS FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK AT WHEN THEY COME. I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL HAVE THEM SOME, YOU KNOW, STANDS TO PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT WHAT IS UPCOMING. AND THIS WOULD BE THE GROUNDBREAKING. SO I INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND SEE AND THEN AS COMMITTEE WOMAN KEENAN SAID OCTOBER THIS MONTH IS THE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. AND THAT'S THE REASON YOU SEE THAT PINK POLICE CAR OUTSIDE NEAR THE MONTGOMERY SIGN, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAD ASKED, WHY IS THERE A PINK CAR OUTSIDE? THEY THOUGHT WE WERE DOING A BARBIE EVENT AND I WAS LIKE, NO, NO, NO, THAT'S A BREAST CANCER AWARENESS. SO AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE. WE HAD ACTUALLY A COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE RIGHT HERE ON SEPTEMBER 29TH. AND OUR VERY OWN COMMITTEEMAN, DENNIS ARNDT, DONATED BLOOD AS WELL, AND WHICH WAS GREAT. AND THERE WERE 61 DONORS, INCLUDING 41ST TIME DONORS. AND THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EVENT WAS VERY WELL APPRECIATED. AND THIS WAS BETWEEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND ANOTHER NONPROFIT IN MONTGOMERY, IN MONTGOMERY, WHO CAME OUT AND WANTED TO HELP.
AND I THINK IT'S GREAT WHEN WE CAN COLLABORATE WITH NONPROFITS IN TOWN AND GET WORK DONE.
SOMETIMES AS MUNICIPALITIES, WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES, AND IF OUR NONPROFITS AND OUR RESIDENTS WANT TO HELP, WE ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR SKILLMAN ROAD PATHWAY, PHASE TWO, WHICH IS COMPLETED, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL. NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE, AS WE'VE ALL BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG, AND COMMITTEE WOMAN KEENAN HAS BEEN SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PATHWAYS AND LINKAGES ARE SO IMPORTANT SO PEOPLE CAN WALK OR BIKE. SO THIS RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE SKILLMAN ROAD PATHWAY IS GOING TO BE OCTOBER 16TH AT 11 A.M. SO THESE ARE ALL THAT ARE COMING ABOUT. AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MONTH IS GOING TO BE ON THE 22ND. WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. WE YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL COME OUT OF IT. AND AT THIS POINT I'LL GO INTO A FEW THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE JUST TO CATCH UP. PEOPLE. THERE WAS A BIG LIFE SCIENCES MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 25TH. MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP PARTICIPATED WITH VENTURE X, WHICH IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION OUT OF MONTGOMERY AND IT WAS A SUMMIT FOR VISIONARIES IN LIFE SCIENCES, AND IT WAS HELD ACROSS THE STREET AT 23 ORCHARD. WE ALSO ADDITIONALLY ATTENDED A PRESENTATION BY THE OWNERS OF 23 ORCHARD OFFICE PARK TO NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A DESIGNATION AS AN INNOVATION CENTER, WHICH WOULD BE A BIG DEAL BECAUSE WE HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PROMOTE HAVING OUR VACANT SPACES, YOU KNOW, GET PEOPLE WHO ARE IN STEM TO RENT OR LEASE THEM AT THIS POINT. SO THAT THAT INITIATIVE WAS VERY WELL APPRECIATED BY US AS WELL. OUR PARTICIPATION IN THESE EVENTS PROVIDES A PLATFORM TO DEMONSTRATE OUR SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES BUSINESSES IN OUR EXISTING VACANT OFFICE PARKS, AND WE PROUDLY ARE CHAMPIONING OUR TAGLINE, MONTGOMERY WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS INNOVATION. AS WE ARE STRIVING TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PIONEERING IDEAS CAN FLOURISH IN OUR TOWNSHIP, AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME FRUITS OF OUR EFFORTS. WORD HAS BEEN GETTING AROUND AND WE ARE HEARING EVEN SOME OTHER LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES ARE CONSIDERING MOVING INTO 23 ORCHARD. OUR PARTNERS IN SOMERSET COUNTY, ESPECIALLY JESSICA PALLONE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AT SOMERSET COUNTY, HAS HELPED US MAKE THAT IMPORTANT CONNECTION WITH NJEDA AND AT NJDA, WE WANT TO THANK ALL WHO CAME. THIS WAS TIM ROLANDER SENIOR ADVISORY STRATEGIC INNOVATION INITIATIVES. LUCY PARKMAN, SENIOR PROJECT OFFICER, TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS. GAIL FELTHAM, DIRECTOR OF LIFE SCIENCES PARTNERSHIP. JOHN KOLAHI, SENIOR ADVISOR, LIFE SCIENCES. SO I THINK THIS IS GREAT. AND I KNOW RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING ME WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS INNOVATION AND STARTUP. SO WE HOPE THAT THIS CATCHES SOME MOMENTUM AND THIS,
[01:05:04]
THIS INITIATIVE WILL HOPEFULLY GET US, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE NADIA TO ASK US TO HOST SOMETHING WHICH WOULD MORE MAYBE BE A CHAT WHERE WE CAN HAVE OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY IN INNOVATION IN STARTUP, TO SIT DOWN AND LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAMING AND JADA DOES, SUCH AS ANGEL INVESTOR TAX CREDIT AND NJ IGNITE. NJ ACCELERATOR. AND THEY ALSO HAVE MINORITY BUSINESS INITIATIVES THAT THEY DO. AND I THERE'S SOME HIGHLIGHTS QUICKLY FROM VENTURE X EVENT. THERE WERE KEYNOTE SPEECHES, SPEECHES. THERE WERE INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS. THERE WERE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.AND WE ALSO GOT A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP SUPPORT FOR THE GROWTH OF LIFE SCIENCES. AND THERE WAS A GUEST VISIT BY SENATOR ZWICKER AS HE'S A FELLOW LIFE SCIENTIST FOR LIKE, THE OTHER SCIENTISTS THERE. AND I'M NOT A LIFE SCIENTIST, I CAN'T SAY MY FELLO.
BUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE, COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT AND PUBLICATION WAS PROVIDED BY NJ EDA, AND WE ARE REALLY GLAD TO BE WORKING WITH THEM ON THIS INITIATIVE. AND I THINK THAT IS IT FOR TODAY. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S PLENTY. AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR LISTENING TO THIS.
AND AS AGAIN, PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE WHERE WE DO HAVE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT AND FOLLOW OUR E-BULLETIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OH, OKAY. I'M GOING TO ASK DEPUTY MAYOR VINCE BARRAGAN IF HE HAS ANY UPDATE AND MAYBE FOR THE VETERANS COMMITTEE, I'LL JUST MAKE A VERY SHORT AND I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE NOVEMBER 11TH IS VETERANS DAY.
WE'RE HOLDING OUR VETERANS DAY CEREMONY. OUR GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE OUR OWN ASSEMBLYWOMAN MICHELLE DRULIS, AND IT WILL BE THE CEREMONY WILL START AT 4 P.M, BUT WE WILL START THE PROCESSION THAT WE DO AT VETERANS PARK AT 330. HOPE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY THERE. THANK
[22. Administrator’s Report ]
YOU. AND ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT, I WILL I WILL KEEP IT BRIEF. OKAY. I DID JUST WANT TO READ AN EMAIL THAT ACTUALLY MAYOR SINGH RECEIVED THAT I DID PASS ALONG TO THE STAFF. IT'S FROM NEIGHBORS IN BELLE MEADE, AND THEY WANTED TO EXPRESS THEIR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ONE OF OUR BUILDING INSPECTORS, BOB VAN BENSCHOTEN, FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION DURING RECENT INSPECTIONS. BOB'S THOROUGH APPROACH AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF EXEMPLARY. HE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED A STRONG COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT ALL REGULATIONS WERE FOLLOWED, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BEING COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL.HIS KNOWLEDGE AND WILLINGNESS TO GUIDE US THROUGH THE PROCESS MADE AN OTHERWISE CHALLENGING TASK MUCH EASIER TO NAVIGATE. PLEASE CONVEY OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO BOB FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE. HIS WORK REFLECTS HIGHLY ON MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND ITS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR FOSTERING SUCH A DEDICATED TEAM. SO I JUST WANTED TO PASS THAT ALONG BECAUSE WE DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THE STAFF DO AND HOW DEDICATED THEY ARE AND HOW THEY GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR THE RESIDENTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO PASS THAT ALONG. THAT'S IT
[23. Future Agenda Items ]
FOR TONIGHT. OH, OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, UPCOMING TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE OCTOBER 21ST, NOVEMBER 14TH, DECEMBER 5TH AND DECEMBER 19TH. AND I THINK, LISA, DID YOU WANT TO MENTION I DID THE JANUARY MEETING TOO, BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK, PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION WITH REGARDS TO VOTING. SO THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER 5TH ELECTION IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH. EARLY VOTING BEGINS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH THROUGH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER THIRD. HOURS ARE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 10 A.M. TO 8 P.M. AND SUNDAY 10 TO 6. IT'S RIGHT HERE, RIGHT? CORRECT. RIGHT. EARLY VOTING IS HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 100 COMMUNITY DRIVE. IN THE MEETING ROOM. THE BALLOT BOX IS NOW OPEN, HAS BEEN OPENED AND IS LOCATED AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING. FOR ANY OF THOSE WHO ARE VOTING OR HAVE RECEIVED A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DOES PICK THOSE BALLOTS UP ON A DAILY BASIS. SO FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE VOTING PROCESS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT MY OFFICE. THANK YOU. LISA. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 DASH[24. Resolution #24-10-359 — Executive Session ]
TEN DASH 359 EXECUTIVE 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 FOR ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY BE EXCLUDED PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS.ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE. FINANCIAL AGREEMENT. PERSONNEL. POLICE INTERVIEW. POLICE DIRECTOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT. BOARD OF EDUCATION. IT IS UNKNOWN
[01:10:01]
PRECISELY WHEN THE MATTER DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION WILL BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION SHALL ONLY BE APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IN A PUBLIC SESSION. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WILL RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION AND MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION. THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH TEN. DASH 359. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.
MAYOR SINGH. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BACK. OKAY. WE'RE READY TO GO.
YEP. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN THE REGULAR SESSION? SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ADJOURNMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OH. GOOD NIGHT. GOOD
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.