[Call to Order]
[00:00:10]
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.
CALLED TO ORDER AT 705. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN HERE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER KEENAN HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON 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. I PLEDGE 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. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JOSEPH KANE FOR YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE WITH
[1. Proclamation — Recognizing Joseph Kane for Years of Dedicated Service with the Township of Montgomery Department of Public Works]
THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. WHEREAS RETIREMENT MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE LIFE AND CAREER OF AN INDIVIDUAL DESERVING OF RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE, AND WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE. AND WHEREAS JOSEPH KANE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE TOWNSHIP ON JANUARY 22, 2005 AS FOREMAN IN THE ROADS DEPARTMENT AND WAS THEN PROMOTED IN MARCH 2017 TO ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN OCTOBER 2024. AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, JOSEPH KANE HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL WORK ETHIC, A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP, ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT I, MAYOR SINGH, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AND ITS RESIDENTS AND STAFF HEREBY WISH TO RECOGNIZE JOSEPH KANE FOR HIS OUTSTANDING DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND LEADERSHIP THAT HAS POSITIVELY ENHANCED THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP HEREBY EXPRESSES HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND EXTENDS SINCERE BEST WISHES AND HAPPINESS IN HIS NEW JOURNEY. ON THIS 14TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024. IF WE CAN INVITE JOE KANE TO THE. VERY. VERY LAST CHAIR. THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YO.OKAY. DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? NO, I JUST I JUST WANTED TO. I'M. GOOD EVENING.
I'M LAURIE SAVRAN. I'M THE TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR. I THINK JUST ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE STAFF. AND IF THE BACK ROW WANTS TO STAND UP, OUR MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT ARE HERE. I JUST. THINK THEY CAME OUT. WE HAVE JEFF BERGLUND, YOU KNOW, OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF DPW, RICH DIETRICH, OUR BUILDINGS FOREMAN, MIKE GRECO, OUR EO, EO SENIOR OPERATOR, AND JIM BROWN, OUR ROADS FOREMAN. AND THEY ARE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR PD, WHICH IS THE FINEST IN ALL. THEY WORK A LOT OF TIMES SIDE BY SIDE IN THESE ROUGH CONDITIONS.
OVERNIGHT IN STORMS WITH OUR DPW, THE DPW IS THERE SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR WITH OUR PD
[00:05:03]
HELPING OUT. AND SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING PARTNERSHIP TONIGHT TO SEE BECAUSE THEY DO ALL WORK SO CLOSELY TOGETHER AND I THINK YOU CAN SEE THAT CAMARADERIE THAT THEY ALL HAVE. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR WHOLE DPW FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THE LONG NIGHTS SNOW PLOWING IN, STORMS AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND TO JOE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CAREER HERE. TRUE PROFESSIONAL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU[2. Proclamation — Recognizing Montgomery Township Employees for Years of Dedication and Service]
FOR YOUR NAME. PROCLAMATION. RECOGNIZING MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES FOR YEARS OF DEDICATION AND SERVICE. WHEREAS THE MAYOR AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WISH TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES WHO ATTAIN MILESTONES IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT, AND WHEREAS THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES HAVE ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICE MILESTONES WITH THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY PAULINE CARR, RETIRED PARKS AND REC 25 YEARS JOHN JOHN VILSECK PARKS AND RECREATION 25 YEARS MICHAEL KARPINSKI, JUNIOR, COURT CONSTRUCTION, 25 YEARS LAURIE SAVRAN, TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR AND PLANNING DIRECTOR, 25 YEARS JOSEPH SILLS, FOURTH POLICE OFFICER, 25 YEARS WILLIAM WILKES, POLICE SERGEANT, 20 YEARS BRUCE BENEDICT, RETIRED, PARKS AND REC, 20 YEARS JASON CLIFFORD, POLICE, 20 YEARS RYAN GRAY, RETIRED 20 YEARS JOSEPH KANE, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, 19 YEARS. MARISOL PEREZ, TECHNICAL ASSISTANT TO THE CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL, TEN YEARS COLLEEN O'ROURKE, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, 310 YEARS. DEVANG PATEL, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, TEN YEARS MICHAEL PITTS, FINANCE, TEN YEARS JAMES WARD, JUNIOR, POLICE, TEN YEARS STEVEN AMATO, SEWER. AND THAT'S FIVE YEARS RYAN PANELLA, CODE FIRE PREVENTION FIVE YEARS STEVEN ROCK, ENGINEERING, FIVE YEARS ALEXANDER GUZMAN BECK, PUBLIC WORKS, FIVE YEARS PATRICK VANTAGE, PUBLIC WORKS, FIVE YEARS MICHAEL MURPHY, PUBLIC WORKS, FIVE YEARS. AND WHEREAS THESE EMPLOYEES HAVE SHOWN DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THEIR POSITIONS, PROVIDING OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE AND DEMONSTRATING EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREERS, AND WHEREAS THE SUCCESS OF TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY'S MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS IS DEPENDENT ON THE KNOWLEDGE, PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT OF ITS PERSONNEL. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT I, MAYOR SINGH, AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY ON THIS 14TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, EFFORTS AND DEVOTION THROUGHOUT THEIR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY AND EXTEND GRATITUDE AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF OF ALL CITIZENS OF THE TOWNSHIP. OKAY,[3. Proclamation — Recognizing Kirtan Chintam for Donation to Montgomery Food Pantry]
WE HAVE AN EVENING OF PROCLAMATIONS. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZED KEITH, AN ANTHEM FOR GENEROUS DONATION TO MONTGOMERY FOOD PANTRY. WHEREAS MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP RESIDENT AND STUDENT OF THE HUN SCHOOL, KEITH ANTHEM HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL GENEROSITY AND COMPASSION FOR COMMUNITY THROUGH A MONETARY DONATION TO THE FOOD PANTRY AT THE OTTO KAUFMANN COMMUNITY CENTER. AND WHEREAS KEITH, AN ANTHEM GIFTED $3,000 TO THE MONTGOMERY FOOD PANTRY ON OCTOBER 8TH, 2024. WHEREAS KEITH RAISED THE FUNDS BY TEACHING CHESS TO CHILDREN IN IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM PLAY BETTER, IN ADDITION TO DONATING HIS PROCEEDS FROM WINNING A CHESS TOURNAMENT. WHEREAS KEITH, AN INSPIRING KEITH INSPIRING INITIATIVE, EXEMPLIFIES HIS PASSION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE, VALUES OF KINDNESS, EMPATHY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF HELPING OTHERS IN TIMES OF NEED. AND WHEREAS THIS DONATION WILL ASSIST IN PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND TO THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY AND ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS RESOURCES. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT I, MAYOR SINGH, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AND ITS RESIDENTS HEREBY WISH TO RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO KEITH FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACT OF GENEROSITY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF OTHERS. ON THIS 14TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2024. IF I CAN INVITE KEITH TO ADDRESS. THIS PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. I THINK TO THE COMMENT FROM THE[00:10:07]
SPONSOR OF THE.I'M NOT SURE. LET'S GO. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO I WANT TO BE THANKFUL TO THE MAYOR FOR
[4. Proclamation — Recognizing the Montgomery Township Police Department’s 50" Anniversary]
LETTING ME TO TAKE THIS NEXT ITEM. AND JUST A REALLY BRIEF, SHORT WORDS. I THINK MANY OF US HAVE OUR OUR FIRST EXPOSURE OR RUN IN WITH THE POLICE, YOU KNOW, AT A YOUNG AGE. AND FOR ME, IT WAS AS A TEENAGER IN RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY. MAYBE NOT THE REASON. MAYBE SOME OF YOU ARE THINKING. I WAS VERY BLESSED AND PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF SOMETHING CALLED THE POLICE EXPLORERS, WHICH REALLY GAVE ME FOR I THINK, ABOUT THREE YEARS WHERE I REALLY GOT TO HAVE AN EXPOSURE TO POLICE WORK, POLICE OFFICERS AND THAT AND, YOU KNOW, MY BEST FRIEND, HIS FATHER WAS A POLICE OFFICER. HE'S A STATE TROOPER NOW. HIS BROTHER IS A POLICE OFFICER. AND A LOT OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS ARE POLICE OFFICERS. AND, YOU KNOW, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE HERE, YOU KNOW, REPRESENT YOU KNOW, THAT FRONT LINE THAT WHEN YOU KNOW SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR HELP, YOU'RE THE ONES WHO COME IN AND OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, LOOKS TO FOR THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE. AND YOU DO THAT SELFLESSLY AND TODAY BEING, YOU KNOW, GOING TO BE CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY. IT COMES FROM A LONG LINE OF CULTURE THAT'S THAT'S BUILT OVER TIME, YEARS, DAYS, HARD NIGHTS AS ALSO AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORN THE UNIFORM IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ON THE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND MY FAMILY FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR A LITTLE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, I HAVE A WONDERFUL PHOTO HERE OF THE FIRST POLICE CHIEF SOKE, AND I'M ALSO TOLD THAT WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS, RETIRED OFFICIALS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, KEN CRUZ AND LARRY EMBRY, WHO WERE HIRED BY THE FIRST POLICE CHIEF. IF YOU'RE HERE, CAN YOU MIND PLEASE STANDING UP AND BE RECOGNIZED? ARE THERE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. AND I THINK THAT THAT CHAIN OF, OF EXPERIENCE, I THINK, IS WHAT REALLY DRIVES THE CULTURE THAT I SEE EVERY DAY IN ALL OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, FROM FROM THE TOP TO THE MOST JUNIOR POLICE TRAINEE, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE ACADEMY. WELL, WITH THAT, I'LL GO TO THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY. WHEREAS THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1974 WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF MICHAEL ZORC IN DECEMBER 1974, FOLLOWED BY THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS LAWRENCE EMBRY AND KENNETH CRUZ IN APRIL 1975 AND OFFICER WILLIAM BEECHAM IN JANUARY 1976. WITH THE MISSION TO SERVE, PROTECT AND ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WITH A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 6800. AND WHEREAS, ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL CELEBRATE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY, SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 24,000 RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WITH A FORCE OF 37 OFFICERS. AND WHEREAS IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND HONOR THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WISHES TO CELEBRATE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S REMARKABLE MILESTONE. AND WHEREAS OVER THE LAST FIVE DECADES, THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS EXEMPLIFIED PROFESSIONALISM, COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, CONTINUOUSLY EVOLVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A GROWING AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF ITS OFFICERS, STAFF AND LEADERSHIP, THE DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY AND CONTINUES TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, REDUCE CRIME, BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, WHILE ADAPTING TO THE CHALLENGES OF AN EVER CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND WHEREAS, THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CONTINUED DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVES AS A MODEL FOR OTHER AGENCIES AND REFLECTS THE SHARED VALUES OF JUSTICE, COMMUNITY, AND RESPECT FOR ALL. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIME, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, SAYING ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON THE TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY AND ITS RESIDENTS HEREBY WISH TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND ITS EXTRAORDINARY MILESTONE ON ITS 14TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2024. AND BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP EXTENDS HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO ALL THE OFFICERS OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, PAST AND PRESENT, FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY AND MANY MORE YEARS OF EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY AND SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.[00:15:26]
COULD I PLEASE INVITE A CAPTAIN BET AND OUR LEADERSHIP IN THE PD TO PLEASE COME FOR THE PROCLAMATION? COME AHEAD.OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW I CAN GO. SORRY. GIVE IT A MOMENT. LE. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH
[5. Resolution #24-11-367 — Authorizing the Appointment of Silvio Bet as Police Chief in the Montgomery Township Police Department]
11 367. AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF SILVA-BET AS POLICE CHIEF IN THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THAT.CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE. AND ESPECIALLY CAPTAIN BET. IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE HARD WORKING INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU. PART OF OUR TEAM. THIS PAST YEAR ALONE, I'VE SEEN HOW ALL OF YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL AND TAKEN A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY. LED WITH LED BY CAPTAIN BETTS LEADERSHIP. THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT, WHAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. OUR OFFICERS CAME UP WITH AN INCREDIBLY INNOVATIVE OUTREACH EVENT CALLED WITH THE COP. THEY BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER, INVITING KIDS AND FAMILIES TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGES TODAY CYBER SECURITY.
EVERYONE LEFT LEARNING SOMETHING NEW ABOUT STAYING SAFE IN OUR DIGITAL WORLD. OUR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY EVENTS, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS INITIATIVES, BIKE RODEO. THERE ARE SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY THAT THEY WERE CONSISTENTLY PLANNED AND PROMOTED TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT CAPTAIN BET HAS PIONEERED SO MANY NEW INITIATIVES. THIS YEAR, OF COURSE, WAS THE ARRIVE PROGRAM, WHICH I KNOW THAT A LOT OF OTHER TOWNS ARE TALKING ABOUT, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON HOW THAT HAS HELPED OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND I'M COLLABORATED WITH OTHER TOWNS. A LITTLE HISTORY ON MONTGOMERY, WHICH I THINK THE DEPUTY MAYOR ALREADY MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST IN 50 YEARS AGO WAS THE FIRST TIME MONTGOMERY HAD FULL TIME POLICE OFFICERS. AND, YOU KNOW, TODAY FROM THE 6000 RESIDENTS, WE HAVE GONE TO 24, AS WAS MENTIONED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF ALL THE EFFORTS THAT CAPTAIN BET HAS BROUGHT TO THIS PD, MONTGOMERY IS ONE OF THE SAFEST, SAFEST PLACES TO LIVE, WHICH ALSO MAKES US ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE AND PEOPLE HAVE NOTICED. NICHE RANKED US AMONG THE TOP TOWNS IN NEW JERSEY, AND CRIME STATISTICS WERE A BIG PART OF THOSE RANKINGS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, CAPTAIN BET, FOR ALL THAT YOU BRING TO US. CHIEF BET. CAPTAIN BET ALSO BROUGHT FORTH THE IDEA OF AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE SCANNERS, WHICH WERE A NOVELTY AT THAT TIME. SO A LOT OF OTHER STUFF THAT HAD BEEN DONE. HE HAS DONE MEETINGS WITH OUR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS WHEN THEY HAVE HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE ROBBERIES AND PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED. AND HE CAME AND HE SAID, MAYOR SINGH, LET ME KNOW WHERE AND WHEN WE CAN MEET WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WE ARE THERE FOR THEM. SO I THINK THIS TODAY IS A CULMINATION OF ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, CAPTAIN BET. AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, THANK YOU. AND WE ARE SO GLAD TO BE DOING THIS RESOLUTION. I'D LIKE TO ALSO SAY SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY BUILDING CULTURE IN OUR
[00:20:12]
COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHIEF IN A REALLY LONG TIME AS WELL.WHILE I SAW CAPTAIN BET AND OUR WONDERFUL POLICE DEPARTMENT GROW AND JUST DO SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS HERE IN TOWN. YOU KNOW THAT CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP IS IT COMES DOWN FROM THE TOP. SO I TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN AMAZING PERSON, AMAZING POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT CULTURE. AND YOU, THE DEPARTMENT DESERVES TO HAVE A CHIEF. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SHARE CONGRATULATIONS. AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SITTING IN THE FRONT SO YOU CAN'T SEE EVERYTHING THAT WE SEE, BUT POLICE WORK IS SO IMPORTANT. I'M FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY MYSELF, AND THAT YOUR ENTIRE STAFF AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE HERE TO HONOR YOU. IS A TESTAMENT, FIRST OF ALL, TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALSO TO YOUR REPUTATION AND WHAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO THIS ROLE. SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THE CHIEF TITLE, AND I WILL BE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE HONOR THAT YOU DESERVE. SO I'M GOING TO WAIT. I'M GOING TO WAIT TILL AFTER THE RESOLUTION.
SURE. I'LL DO IT AFTER. OKAY. OH. GO AHEAD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. MY WORDS BRIEF. I THINK IN A LOT OF THE SPIRIT OF WHAT I WAS SAYING, A LOT OF THAT REFLECTS UPON YOU. AND I'VE SEEN YOUR IMPACT ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE NEWLY PROMOTED LIEUTENANTS, SERGEANTS AND OUR NEW HIRES ALL REFLECTS THE LEADERSHIP AND THE CHARACTER THAT YOU EXHIBIT. SO CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S DEFINITELY YOUR DAY AND CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE OUR COMMUNITY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24, DASH 11, DASH 367. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. YES.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.
[ 6. Oath of Office for Police Chief Silvio Bet]
MAYOR. SAYING YES. AND NOW WE'LL DO THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR SYLVI. BUT DID YOU WANT TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS? YOU'LL DO FIRST. YEAH. DO THE AFTER THE OATH. AND THEN? I'LL TRY TO DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR TO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT. THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE. DID YOU SAY ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE, TO THE SOUTH, AND TO THE COUNTY, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE AND THIS STATE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE? UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE. AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY, AND JONATHAN, AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF THE LONDON TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH REGARD TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF.I WENT. TO WORK TO FIND I'M GOOD AT ALL. THAT NOW I KNOW HOW TO DO IT. I JUST WANT TO WALK.
[00:25:58]
ON IT. I WOULD LIKE TO READ EVERYTHING. I'M OVER THERE LOOKING AT MY PICTURES THAT.WHAT DO YOU MEAN? OKAY. THANKS.
BEFORE YOU SAY SOMETHING, I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. AND THAT IS. CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF.
I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO CONGRATULATE YOU. IT IS. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE YEARS.
SERVED WITH NINE COMMITTEE PEOPLE, FOUR CAPTAINS HAVE HAD. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE FOR FOLKS WITH THE TITLE OF CAPTAIN. AND I'M VERY, VERY PROUD AND VERY, VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU AS THE CHIEF IS A GREAT DAY FOR MONTGOMERY. IT IS A GREAT DAY FOR THE MONTGOMERY POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE DID IT NOT JUST FOR YOU. I KNOW YOUR FAMILY IS VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU. WE DID IT FOR OUR OFFICERS, OUR TOWN, OUR FUTURE OFFICERS AND OUR FUTURE LEADERS IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR SERVING. I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY FOR MONTGOMERY.
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME, FAMILY, FRIENDS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FELLOW CHIEFS, SHERIFF AND THE RETIRED OFFICERS OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE THIS MILESTONE IN OUR DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY. YOUR PRESENCE MEANS SO MUCH, AND WE ARE HONORED TO CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT TOGETHER WITH YOU. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK OUR COUNTY PROSECUTOR, JOHN MCDONNELL, AND EXECUTIVE CHIEF ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR MICHAEL ROGERS, WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE HERE. THIS EVENING.
YOUR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION ARE INVALUABLE TO OUR COUNTY'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES. A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE. YOUR CONTINUED GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT HELP US NAVIGATE THE EVOLVING LANDSCAPE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RISES TO MEET TODAY'S CHALLENGES. YOUR LEADERSHIP INSPIRES AND STRENGTHENS THE LEADERS OF TODAY AND OF TOMORROW. TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE TITLE, AN HONOR THAT HAS NOT BEEN HELD IN ALMOST 25 YEARS. THIS COMES AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT COINCIDING WITH THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOUNDED ON NOVEMBER 21ST, 1974. IT IS A FITTING TIME TO HONOR OUR PAST AND ADVANCE INTO A FUTURE ROOTED IN SERVICE AND IN INTEGRITY. WHILE I MAY WEAR THE TITLE. OF CHIEF OF POLICE, THIS ACHIEVEMENT BELONGS TO EACH AND EVERY OFFICER AND STAFF MEMBER OF OUR DEPARTMENT. YOUR TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE HAS EARNED THE TRUST OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. THIS REINSTATEMENT SYMBOLIZES A COMMITMENT TO ELEVATING OUR DEPARTMENT'S CULTURE FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. TO OUR DEDICATED POLICE OFFICERS AND CIVILIAN STAFF, ALL OF YOU IN ATTENDANCE HERE TONIGHT, THIS MILESTONE REFLECTS YOUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE, YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND TO THE VALUES AND MISSION OF THIS DEPARTMENT HAS MADE THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE. TOGETHER, WE HAVE GAINED THE CONFIDENCE OF
[00:30:02]
REINSTATING THIS TITLE, AND I AM HUMBLED TO LEAD A TEAM THAT RISES BY LIFTING EACH OTHER. YOU ARE MY DAILY INSPIRATION TO BEING A BETTER LEADER TOMORROW THAN I WAS TODAY. AND STANDING HERE TONIGHT. I AM IMMENSELY PROUD TO BE ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU. TO OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, BOTH CURRENT AND PAST, WHO HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, SUPPORT AND FOR BEING VISIONARIES IN YOUR DECISION IN REINSTATING THIS TITLE. REFLECTING ON THE PAST TWO YEARS, I AM REMINDED OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE TOGETHER, THE MILESTONES WE HAVE REACHED WITH OUR COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, AND THE INVALUABLE LESSONS WE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK TO BUILD A HEALTHIER AND SAFER MONTGOMERY FOR ALL WHO CALL IT HOME. FINALLY, TO MY FAMILY. YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATION OF MY MOTIVATION TO MY WIFE, KELLY. THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY ME AND BELIEVING IN OUR DEPARTMENT'S MISSION FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS. I COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT. AS WE REFLECT ON TONIGHT'S MILESTONE, I LEAVE YOU WITH THE WORDS OF JOHN F KENNEDY. LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING ARE INDISPENSABLE TO EACH OTHER. LET US LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, LEARN WITH HUMILITY AND STRIVE FOR A FUTURE OF SERVICE AND EXCELLENCE. THANK YOU.THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. WE HAVE SOME REFRESHMENTS OUT IN THE LOBBY, AND WE'D BE HONORED IF EVERYBODY HERE JOINED US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUST A MOTION. OKAY. OKAY.
ARE WE GOOD? YEAH. OKAY. MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 807. PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
[7. Public Comment]
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. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE? OKAY. YEAH. COME ON DOWN. CHRIS.NEWMAN. SKILLMAN. SO I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DINNER EVERY TIME. THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. COFFEE.
SO WHAT? I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS LAST WEEK, I WENT TO THE EMS RECEPTION. THAT THEY HAVE EVERY YEAR. AND I DIDN'T PLAY IN THE AMBULANCE THIS YEAR, BUT SOME YEARS I DO THAT. BUT ANYWAY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCES AND FUNDRAISING, AND THE NEW AMBULANCE IS GOING TO COST $303,000. AND IT WAS MENTIONED THAT TOWNSHIPS CAN GIVE FUND AMBULANCE VOLUNTEER EMS TO THE TUNE OF $125,000, WHICH IS AN INCREASE FROM $70,000 THAT IT USED TO BE BEFORE. AROUND. SADAF JAFFER HELPED PASS A LAW IN 2022 THAT RAISED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE COULD WE COULD SUPPLY TO THE ALL VOLUNTEER EMS. SO I KIND OF ASKED SADAF TO SEND ME THE LAW AND LOOKED IT UP AND SURE ENOUGH, THAT'S WHAT IT IS. IN ADDITION TO THAT MONEY, THE TOWN COULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $70,000. IT LOOKS LIKE IF THE EMS EMS ASKS FOR IT, AS WELL AS PROVIDING EMERGENCY VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT, THINGS LIKE THAT IF IT'S NEEDED. SO I LOOKED AT OUR BUDGET AND I REMEMBERED A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM THE MEETING IN APRIL, WHICH WAS THAT THERE IS A MASSIVE SURPLUS AND I WANTED TO SEE HOW MUCH WE GAVE TO THE EMS. AND IT LOOKS LIKE IN 2021 IT WAS 32, FIVE, 22, 23, OR MAYBE IT WAS 22. IT WENT TO 70,000 AND NOW IT'S BEEN 70,000 FOR 2023 AND 2024. SO MY QUESTION IS WHY AREN'T WE SUPPLYING THEM WITH $125,000? THEY'RE AN ALL VOLUNTEER SQUAD. THEY PUT IN, ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE, 34,000 PLUS VOLUNTEER HOURS IN 2023. THEY HAD A BAKE SALE RECENTLY, AND YOU GOT TO SELL A LOT OF BROWNIES TO MAKE $303,000, SO IT KIND OF KILLS ME A LITTLE BIT THAT THEY'RE ALL VOLUNTEER SQUAD, AND THEN THEY
[00:35:05]
HAVE TO SORT OF BEG FOR MONEY TO VOLUNTEER. SO I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LOOK INTO INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THEY GET BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 24,000 PEOPLE IN TOWN, $70,000 IS A COUPLE BUCKS PER PERSON. SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD DEAL. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD GIVE THEM UP TO 200,000 PLUS BUY THEM AN AMBULANCE. AND THERE'S 5.3 MILLION IN THE SURPLUS. SO WE'VE GOT A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE GOT A NEW POLICE CHIEF. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A NEW AMBULANCE. COME GET ME. IF I GET SICK. SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT BEARS LOOKING INTO. AND GIVEN THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS CAMPAIGN, IT WOULD BE AWESOME IF WE KIND OF GAVE THEM SOME MORE MONEY AND PART OF THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS CAMPAIGN, WHICH I MEAN, WE CAN DO IT ANYWAY, RIGHT? THE LAW WAS CHANGED AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY IN OUR OWN TOWN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HAVING THAT CHANGE. SO THAT'S ONE THING. SECOND THING IS, I THINK I SPOKE HERE, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT THE BOARD OF HEALTH ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S VERY SAD OFFICE SPACE, HOW TINY IT IS. NOW THEY HAVE LUCKILY HIRED ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN TIGHTER. AND IT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING REALLY HAS CHANGED OR IMPROVED. THEY'RE STORING EQUIPMENT AND THEIR FILE CABINETS. SOME OF THEIR PEOPLE HAVE TO GO DOWN TO THE LIBRARY TO WORK. I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT HAS TO GO TO THE LIBRARY TO DO THEIR JOB. SO SOMETHING THAT'S STILL ON MY MIND AND JUST WONDERING ABOUT THAT, AND I SHOULD HAVE SAID AT THE BEGINNING THAT THIS IS ALL ME. I HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED TO SAY THIS BY ANYBODY AT THE EMS OR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. OKAY. I'M STEVE KNOWLTON. THAT'S K N O W L T O N. I'M A VOLUNTEER WRITER FOR THE MONTGOMERY NEWS. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ORDINANCE 24 1741 TO PURCHASE OPEN LAND ON MILL POND LANE ROAD, RATHER, AND IT APPEARS THAT THAT IS ADJACENT TO MILL POND PARK. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THAT WILL LAND WILL BE ADDED TO THE PARK OR USED FOR SOME OTHER PURPOSE. THANKS. OKA.THANK YOU. WE WILL GET TO THAT. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. GOING TO GO TO THE ORDINANCES FIRST. SO. I GUESS WHEN WE GET TO THE ORDINANCE, WE CAN HAVE LAUREN SAY A FEW WORDS ON THAT. OKAY.
THANK YOU. LAUREN. OKAY. ORDINANCES. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING. ORDINANCE NUMBER
[8. Ordinance #24-1743 — An Ordinance Amending Schedule I “No Parking”, Schedule VIII “Stop Intersections,” and Schedule XVII “Speed Limits,” of Chapter VII, of The Code of the Township Of Montgomery (1984) to Establish or Amend No Parking Locations, Stop Sign Locations, and Speed Limits on Buttonwood Court, Cairns Place, Dehart Drive, Kingswood Drive, Liberty Belle Court, Marian Drive, and Mill Street — Introduction/First Reading]
24, DASH 1743. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SCHEDULE ONE. NO PARKING. SCHEDULE EIGHT, STOP INTERSECTIONS AND SCHEDULE 17. SPEED LIMITS OF CHAPTER SEVEN OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984. TO ESTABLISH OR AMEND NO PARKING LOCATIONS. STOP SIGN LOCATIONS, AND SPEED LIMITS ON BUTTONWOOD COAT CANES PLACE, DEHART DRIVE, KINGSWOOD DRIVE, LIBERTY BELL COURT, MARION DRIVE AND MILL STREET. 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 DECEMBER 5TH. 2020 4TH MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE 20 4-1743. SO MOVED.SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.
[9. Ordinance #24-1744 — An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery in Somerset County Providing for the Acceptance of Right-of-Way Dedication of Waverly Court — Introduction/First Reading]
MAYOR. SAYING YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24, DASH 1744. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN SOMERSET COUNTY PROVIDING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHT OF WAY, DEDICATION OF WAVERLY COURT. 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 DECEMBER 5TH, 2024. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE 20 4-1744. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.[10. Ordinance #24-1745 — An Ordinance Amending Schedule VIII “Stop Intersections,” and Schedule XVII “Speed Limits,”of Chapter VII of The Code oft he Township of Montgomery(1984) to Establish Stop Sign Locations and Speed Limits on Waverly Court — Introduction/First Reading]
MAYOR. SINGH. YES. ORDINANCE 20 4-1745. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SCHEDULE EIGHT. STOP. DID I NOT DO THAT? OH, NO. THIS IS DIFFERENT. SORRY. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SCHEDULE EIGHT. STOP INTERSECTIONS AND SCHEDULE 17 SPEED LIMITS OF CHAPTER SEVEN OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF[00:40:02]
MONTGOMERY, 1984 TO ESTABLISH STOP SIGN LOCATIONS AND SPEED LIMITS ON WAVERLY COURT. 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 DECEMBER 5TH, 2024. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 4-1745. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.COMMITTEE MEMBER ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.
[11. Ordinance #24-1746 — An Ordinance Replacing Section 16-6.4, “Critical Areas,” in Chapter 16 of The Code of the Township of Montgomery(1984), County of Somerset, State of New Jersey, with Section 16- 15 Floodplain Management Regulations and Section 16-16 Critical Areas — Introduction/First Reading]
MAYOR SINGH. YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24, DASH 1746. AN ORDINANCE REPLACING SECTION 16, DASH 6.4. CRITICAL AREAS IN CHAPTER 16 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984.COUNTY OF SOMERSET. STATE OF NEW JERSEY WITH SECTION 1615, FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS AND SECTION 1616 CRITICAL AREAS. 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 DECEMBER 19TH, 2024. CAN I JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION? YEAH. SURE. MAYBE TO OUR ATTORNEY OR TO LORI OR TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR. IS THERE A REASON WHY IT'S. IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE THAT A WHOLE MONTH VERSUS LIKE, IT COULD BE VOTED ON IN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO? IT NEEDS TO GO TO THE PLANNING BOARD FOR MASTER PLANNING CONSISTENCY REVIEW. OKAY. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE 20 4-1746. SO MOVED.
SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES.
DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL
[Additional Item]
ADOPTION ORDINANCE 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. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 20 4-1740. SO MOVED.SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES.
DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24, DASH 1741, AN
[12. Ordinance #24-1741 — An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery in Somerset County, New Jersey, Providing for the Acquisition of Block 17001, Lot 17.01 Located on Mill Pond Road in the Township — Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF BLOCK 17 001, LOT 17.01, LOCATED ON MILL POND ROAD IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, HARDESTY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THIS ORDINANCE IS FOR ACQUISITION OF A PROPERTY THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 2.4 ACRES ON MILL POND ROAD. IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MILL POND PARK. IT BORDERS THE PRESERVE JOHNSON FARM AND IS ALONG PIKE BROOK BECAUSE IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET AS THE MAIN MILL POND PARK PROPERTY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR PLANS AT THIS TIME TO DEVELOP IT FOR ACTIVE RECREATION. THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE HAS SUGGESTED THAT WE KIND OF CREATE A BEATEN PATH DOWN TO THE BROOK IF PEOPLE WANT TO ACCESS IT FOR FISHING, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO DEVELOP IT AS OF YET. FOR ANY ACTIVE RECREATION PURPOSE. IT'S MOSTLY FOR CONSERVATION TO PROTECT THE WOODLAND THAT'S THERE, PROTECT THE STREAM QUALITY AND SERVE FOR SOME FLOOD PROTECTION. HOPEFULLY AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU. SURE.OKAY. OKAY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY IN THIS? ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC? NO. OKAY. OKAY.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 4-1741. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR.
[13. Ordinance #24-1742 — An Ordinance Amending Schedule XXI, Traffic Regulations on Private Property of Chapter VIIA, Traffic Schedules, Section 10.2 of Chapter III, Police Regulations; and Section 11.3 of Chapter III, Police Regulations of the Code of the Township of Montgomery(1984) to Add the Private Property of the Somerset at Montgomery (Block 29002, Lot 45) — Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
SAYING YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 24, DASH 1742. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SCHEDULE 21, TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OF CHAPTER SEVEN, A TRAFFIC SCHEDULES. SECTION 10.2 OF CHAPTER THREE POLICE REGULATIONS AND SECTION 11.3 OF CHAPTER THREE POLICE REGULATIONS OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984. TO ADD THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OF THE OF THE SOMERSET AT MONTGOMERY BLOCK 29002, LOT 45. OKAY. ANY ANY COMMENTS? NO. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 20 4-1742. SO MOVED. SECOND.ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS LISTED ON THE CONSENT
[Consent Agenda]
[00:45:05]
AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSIONS OF THESE 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. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTION 24 DASH 11 368 TO RESOLUTION 24. DASH 11. DASH 379. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.
[26. Resolution #24-11-380 — Authorizing Award of Bid for Snow Removal Services on Township Roadways]
RESOLUTIONS. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH 11. DASH 380. AUTHORIZING AWARD OF BID FOR SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES ON TOWNSHIP ROADWAYS TO GROSSO HOLMES. OH, YES. MAYOR. WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS AND THE LOWEST QUALIFIED BIDDER WAS GROSSO HOLMES AT $280 PER HOUR. THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO OUR DPW SEWER AND PARKS DEPARTMENT WHO ARE ALL OUT DURING SNOW EVENTS AS NEEDE, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE STORM. OKAY. AND IF WE DO NOT GET SNOW, THEN WHAT HAPPENS? JUST A QUESTION THERE, BILL. WE ARE BILLED AS AS IT'S USED. OH, OKAY. SO IT'S BILLING AS AS WE NEED THEM. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 DASH 11 380. SO MOVED.SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. AN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES.
DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 2411 DASH 381 AUTHORIZING
[27. Resolution #24-11-381 —Authorizing Change Order #1 (Final) for BID #B10-2024 — 2024 Inlet, Manhole, Curb Repairs and ADA Ramps (Decrease) and Time Extension]
CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER ONE. FINAL FOR BID B TEN DASH 2024. DASH 2020 FOR INLET MANHOLE CURB REPAIRS AND ADA RAMPS DECREASE AND TIME EXTENSION. MAYOR, THIS IS IN THE BELLE GLADES NEIGHBORHOOD OF MONTGOMERY, AND IT WAS VARIOUS. AS YOU CAN SEE, THOSE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE. OKAY. AND IT'S A AS WE LIKE TO MENTION THAT IT WAS A DECREASE IN THE CONTRACT AMOUNT. YES. BY YES. BY $19,470. OKAY. THAT'S GREAT FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO HEAR THAT THERE WAS A DECREASE OF 19,004 470. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH 11 381. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER O. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN.YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. RESOLUTION 2411 DASH 382, AUTHORIZING
[28. Resolution #24-11-382—AuthorizingAgreementBetweenthe Township of Montgomery and the Township of Hillsborough for the Township Line Road Improvements Project]
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY AND THE TOWNSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH FOR THE TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. SO, MAYOR, WE SHARE A COMMON BOUNDARY WITH HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP ALONG TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD. AND SO OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HILLSBOROUGH TO WORK COOPERATIVELY TO USE A PORTION OF THE STATE GRANT MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO LEVERAGE THAT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL WORK DONE. IN COMBINATION WITH HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT, WENDY OR. RIGHT. SO THIS AGREEMENT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE TWO TOWNSHIP ENGINEERS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE DESIGN, AND THEN MONTGOMERY WOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON THE BIDDING AND OVERSIGHT, WITH HILLSBOROUGH PAYING FOR THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE PARTS OF THE ROADWAY THAT ARE LOCATED IN HILLSBOROUGH.OKAY. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO COLLABORATE. OKAY. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS, OBVIOUSLY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24, DASH 11 382. SO MOVED. SECOND.
ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY
[29. Approval of Minutes]
MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SING. YES. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 10TH. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 10TH. SO MOVED. SECOND.ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 21ST? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. YES. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH 11. DASH 383.
[30. Resolution #24-11-383 - Payment of Bills]
PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. MAYOR. THE THREE HIGHEST BILLS APPEAR ON PAGE THREE 600. I'M SORRY, $68,993.20. TRANSDEV FLEET SERVICES. THIS IS OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE CONTRACT. PAGE SIX $191,560.60 TO AN R CONSTRUCTIO, LLC. THAT'S THE 2024 ROAD IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE TALKED[00:50:06]
ABOUT EARLIER IN THE BELLE GLADE SECTION. AND PAGE NINE, ALLIED CONSTRUCTION STAGE TWO SEWER PLANT UPGRADES AND THE FLOOD PROTECTION WALL THAT IS IN THE AMOUNT OF 812 $812,000, 661 CENTS $661.70. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24, DASH 11, DASH 383. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. YES.DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. CORRESPONDENCE. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO CORRESPONDENCE. NEW BUSINESS AND OLD BUSINESS. THERE IS NO MATTERS OF BUSINESS.
[31. Township Committee Reports]
TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS. SO IN REFERENCE TO EMS, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED THAT SUPPORT. IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, I THINK I MENTIONED LAST TIME, BUT THE EMS GOT A GOT AWARD THIS YEAR FOR SQUAD OF THE YEAR BY THE COUNCIL OF NEW JERSEY. SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE EXCEPTIONAL IN THE WAY THEY'RE DOING THINGS RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM EVEN FURTHER. SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS YEAR THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT LESS FUNDING FROM DONATIONS, DROUGHT TOWNS. SO HAVE TO TRY TO SUPPORT THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. CAN WE JUST DECIDE TO DO IT? CAN WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO INCREASE THAT? WE HAVE SURPLUS. SO DO WE JUST NEED TO MAKE A MOTION IN ORDER TO FUND IT? WHAT WOULD WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS? THE PROCESS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ALLOCATED AS SUCH. DURING YOUR 2025 BUDGETING PROCESS. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. BUT SO WE HAVE SO IF WE HAVE EXTRA LEFTOVER EVERYTHING GOES INTO SURPLUS. WE CAN NEVER USE IT FOR ANYTHING ELSE. EVEN IF WE PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING ELSE A CHANGE. NO, NO NO CHANGE. IT'S JUST WOULD IT BE IT WOULD BE ADOPTED THROUGH YOUR YOUR BUDGET ADOPTION SO THAT THE SURPLUS CAN GET PUT BACK IN THROUGH THAT PROCESS. BUT CERTAINLY SHOULD SPEAK WITH WITH MICHAEL, WITH THE CFO, WHETHER THERE IS ANY REMAINING LINE ITEMS FOR TRANSFERS, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE TRANSFERS CAN BE MADE IN YOUR BUDGET, BUT YOU ALREADY ADOPTED YOUR 2024 BUDGET WITH THE LINE ITEM TO EMS. SO FOR A NEW LINE ITEM THAT WOULD GO TO 2025 TO SEE WHETHER THERE'S AVAILABILITY FROM OTHER LINE ITEMS ON BUDGET TRANSFERS THAT YOU'D HAVE TO CHECK WITH MICHAEL ON. OKAY, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TOGETHER WITH MICHAEL AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP, CHRISTINE. SO WE'LL GET BACK ON THAT. AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR EDC OR AG. OKAY. SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, I JUST WANTED TO JUST BRING UP THE ON 12 FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION IS SPONSORING A MOVIE OVER THERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIME IS ON THIS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS? LAUREN I'M JUST REACHING OUT. THERE'S. THERE'LL BE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE FOR THIS, AND THIS IS THE BEYOND PLASTICS. SO IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING AND PROBABLY DEPRESSING MOVIE, BUT I THINK WE'LL BE HAVING SOME GOOD PEOPLE TALKING AS WELL AND LEARNING WHAT WE CAN DO AS INDIVIDUALS. FOR THAT. SO THAT IS ON 12 FOUR. AND ONE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEMBERS, KATHY LYNCH, HAS PUT THAT TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU, KATHY, FOR DOING THAT. I TOO IS AT THE EMS RECEPTION. AND EARLIER THAT DAY I HAD BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH TO ALSO AND ON ANOTHER PIECE FOR THE FIRE AND I FOUND OUT THAT AS A TOWNSHIP, WE CAN ACTUALLY BE COVERING OTHER THINGS, NOT DIRECTLY, JUST IN ADDITION TO GIVING THEM MONEY, BUT WE CAN COVER THEIR INSURANCE. SO THEY AND I WAS TALKING TO SID AND I ASKED, THEY SPEND 43, $43,000 A YEAR ON JUST INSURING THEIR EQUIPMENT AND THE BUILDING AND SO FORTH. THAT IS A LINE ITEM THAT WE AS A TOWN SHOULD DO. IN MY OPINION, IS TO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP, YOU KNOW, PROTECT THE EMS. THEY SERVE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY IT IS NEVER A SERVICE THAT WE COULD EVER REPLICATE. WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING. SO THAT IS ONE THING. WE CAN ALSO PICK UP MAINTENANCE ON THEIR VEHICLES AS WELL. AND THEN WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE COMMITTEE, WE HAD $1 MILLION SET ASIDE TO BUY AN AMBULANCE FOR THEM. FIVE YEARS AGO. SO THAT MONEY WAS THEN PUT INTO SURPLUS. SO THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN BE DOING AS OPPOSED TO HAVING, BECAUSE THE FIRE HAS THE FIRE DISTRICTS. THAT DOES HELP. BUT WITH EMS NOT GETTING ANYTHING BUT $70,000, WE SHOULD INCREASE IT. BUT ALSO THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THEM. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD POINT. AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER AS A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. AND, YOU KNOW, FIGURE THIS OUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THE 2025 BUDGET SEASON. SO THAT'S THE INFORMATION ON HOW WE CAN DO IT. OH, THAT'LL BE GREAT. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND I AGREE WITH[00:55:02]
EVERYONE. EMS DOES A GREAT JOB. WE WERE THERE AS WELL AT THE AT THE RECEPTION. AND IT'S JUST YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER LORI AND I WERE SEEING ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING WAS THOUSAND DOLLAR THIS AND $20,000 FOR THIS. AND IT'S, IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE AND ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. AS DOCTOR NEWMAN SAID, THEY ARE THERE TO HELP US. ALL OF US RESIDENTS. AND THEY'RE ALL VOLUNTEER SQUAD.SO YES, DEFINITELY. THAT'S SOMETHING ON OUR GREAT AND CONGRATULATIONS ON VOLUNTEER SQUAD OF THE YEAR. THAT'S AN AWESOME THING. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL, WELL DESERVED THEN. AND I ALSO JUST HADUESTION BECAUSE THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA. ON REDEVELOPMENTS OR DID I HEAR WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT IN ONE FELL SWOOP SOMEWHERE ELSE? WE WERE GOING TO HAVE GO AHEAD OR DID YOU? SO WE'RE SETTING UP A KIND OF PRIMER AND OVERALL DISCUSSION FOR FUTURE MEETING. SO WITH OUR PLANNER TO COME IN AND THE IDEA IS TO HOLD OFF ON ANY OF THAT UNTIL WE CAN HAVE THAT MEETING FIRST. OKAY. OKAY, GREAT. THANKS. OH, AND FINALLY, I HAD ASKED A QUESTION AT ONE OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE SPREAD OUT ALL OVER. AND I KNOW, LORI, YOU HAD SENT US SOME INFORMATION, SO IF YOU COULD, I'D LIKE THAT THE PUBLIC TO ALSO KNOW ABOUT THAT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE ABOUT $40,000 A YEAR THAT WE SPEND JUST RENTING SPACE FOR THEM. 20,000 OF IT IN HILLSBOROUGH. SO YOU KNOW, DPW IS SITTING IN A FLOOD ZONE IN HARLINGEN. SO WE WANT TO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MOVING THEM TO THE SPACE BEHIND THE OLD BUILDING. WE'VE DONE FEASIBILITY STUDIES.
THEY FIT. AND SO FORTH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THIS AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE'RE SPENDING $40,000 A YEAR, IT'D BE GREAT TO BE KEEPING THAT MONEY, MAYBE GIVING IT TO EMS, BUT SO THAT'S A GOOD WAY WE CAN GET THE COUNTY TO HELP FUND THAT. THAT'S THE PLAN.
IF SOMERSET COUNTY IS LISTENING, WE HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR YOU. YE, WE HAVE A SALT DOME THAT NEEDS TO BE UPSIZED. AND THEY THEY USE IT OFTEN. SO THEY COULD PROBABLY DO A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON THAT. SO THEY'RE USING OUR SALT DOME. THEY JUST GIVE US THAT $20,000 THAT WE'RE OR THAT'S FOR HILLSBOROUGH. NO THAT'S HILLSBOROUGH. THAT'S YEAH. WE'RE JUST RENTING SPACE THERE. BUT THEY'RE KIND OF SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO BUT LET THE TOWNSHIP KNOW THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON TRYING TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES. BUT YES, SOME GOOD IDEAS ON THE DAIS. EXCUSE ME. SO LET'S YES, LET'S GET THESE THINGS DON. SO BECAUSE OF THE SCHEDULING, I'D SAY IT'S THE SAME TIME AS THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE. SO I'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE AT THE NEXT MEETING MONDAY. THIS PAST MONDAY WAS VETERANS DAY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S ABLE TO ATTEND THE WONDERFUL CEREMONY. WE HAVE DO WANT TO FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK DEMETRIA, OUR CHAIR OF OUR VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE, JUST FOR I MEAN, I REALLY FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE CEREMONIES ARE REALLY WELL, I MEAN, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. IT WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY, REALLY NICE. AND I GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, PARENTS OF THOSE FIFTH GRADERS TO DO JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB OF PRESENTING IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, AT THEIR AGE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE AS ADULTS. ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAD OUR BOTH OF OUR ASSEMBLY PEOPLE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ASSEMBLY, ROY FREEMAN AND MICHELLE DRULIS IN ATTENDANCE AND WE DID FOR THOSE WHO COULDN'T ATTEND, WE DID DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT, AS WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHO TO COME IN AS A GUEST SPEAKER. WE DECIDED TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, AS WE THINK ABOUT VETERANS, WE ALSO WANTED TO THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN OF VETERANS, YOU KNOW, MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO REALLY DON'T VOLUNTEER. AND SO SHE I THINK SHE REALLY BROUGHT UP A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP IN A MILITARY COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT I REALLY FELT THAT RESONATED WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE THERE IN ATTENDANCE. AGAIN, A WONDERFUL EVENT. I KNOW MAYOR KEEPS SAYING THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD CHANGE OUR PROCESSION TO A PARADE. AND SO WE'LL TAKE THAT UP WITH THE COMMITTEE FOR 2025. YEAH, I THINK MEMORIAL DAY PARADE IS WHAT THE TOWNSHIP. BUT I WAS TOLD THAT A LOT OF MONTGOMERY PEOPLE GO TO OTHER PARADES AROUND TOWN. SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL GET EVERYBODY, BUT I THINK THE COMMUNITY WILL APPRECIATE I, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN. SO IS THAT IS THAT IT? OKAY. SO WE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WHO WAS HERE TUESDAY AFTERNOON, AND THEY WERE DISCUSSING AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE ALSO HAD JESSICA PALLONE FROM THE SOMERSET COUNTY AND THE EDA PERSON WAS TALKING ABOUT LOAN PROGRAMS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. ALEXIS AND MATT, FROM OUR FROM OUR OUR BUSINESS ADVOCATE HAD SENT THIS INFORMATION OUT TO EDC AND TO
[01:00:02]
MBA, BUT WE KNEW THAT IT WAS TOUGH TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THE AFTERNOON. WE JUST HAD ABOUT 36 HOURS TO BRING THIS AROUND. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE STATE WAS SENDING HER TO GO AND VISIT BUSINESSES AND SEE WHAT BUSINESSES NEED, AND THEY HAVE, I BELIEVE, MONEY THAT CAN GO TO BUSINESSES, DIFFERENT BUSINESSES. THERE WERE CHECKS FOR 5000, 50,000, WHICH I FOUND AMAZING, BUT THEY WENT AND MET WITH PEOPLE AT PRINCETON NORTH AND THEY MET PEOPLE AT THE SHOPRITE PLAZA. AND THEN WE HAD A LITTLE SESSION AT 2:00, WHICH IS WHICH WAS RECORDED. IT'S ON IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE PROGRAMS. SO AND THIS WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO NEW AND EXISTING MONTGOMERY BUSINESSES. SO IF EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE, PLEASE GO TO MONTGOMERY WEBSITE AND LISTEN IN TO WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY VERY ENLIGHTENING FOR ALL OF US AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE I HAD WAS THE RECREATION MEETING THAT WE HAD. WE THEY WE GOT TWO NEW EMPLOYEES, WILLIAM CASGRAIN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, AND ADRIANA CORTEZ. SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NOW. AND OF COURSE, AGAIN, THE DISCUSSION WAS PICKLEBALL COURTS AND FLOODLIGHT PROPOSAL. MR. RAJAN TRIPATHI, HE'S AN EMT AND PART OF THE EMS, PROPOSED ADDING FLOODLIGHTS TO THE NEWLY RESURFACED PICKLEBALL COURTS AND HIS HIS POINT WAS THAT WITHOUT LIGHTS, MANY OF THE RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM 9 TO 5 JOBS, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE COURTS. AND HE ESTIMATED THE COST TO INSTALL FLOODLIGHTS. AND HE HAD A PETITION WITH 130 SIGNATURES. AND OF COURSE, WE DID DISCUSS AND I BROUGHT UP TO HIM ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WOULD ALSO BE ONE OF THE COMMITTEES THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO BESIDES REC. AND OF COURSE, THERE IS THE CONCERN ABOUT NOISE POLLUTION AS WELL. AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AND WE WOULD BE WE WOULD HAVE LIKE A COMMITTEE WITHIN A SMALL COMMITTEE WITHIN THE RECREATION TO LOOK INTO THIS AND DECIDE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND THE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS NEEDS TO GO THROUGH A FORMAL PROCESS. AND ALSO THE FACT THAT WE DON'T CONTROL THE LAND DIRECTLY. THIS IS A SCHOOL BOARD LAND. AND AS I MENTIONED, SUBCOMMITTEE WILL BE FORMED TO LOOK INTO THIS AND SEE HOW WE CAN ENGAGE THE SCHOOL BOARD. THE COMMITTEE ALSO RECREATION COMMITTEE, ALSO DISCUSSED BROADER IDEAS FOR EXPANDING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE TOWNSHIP. THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS TO EXPLORE OTHER LOCATIONS OR BUILD NEW FACILITIES TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR YEAR ROUND RECREATIONAL SPACE AND THE OTHER UPDATE WAS THE PLAYGROUND CONSTRUCTION. THE COMMITTEE HAS FACED DELAYS IN STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION DUE TO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FROM DEP. DESPITE ALREADY HAVING EQUIPMENT AND TURF PURCHASED. SO NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PLAYGROUND IN SPRING. AND THEN OF COURSE, AS WAS DISCUSSED, I THINK IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THERE IS A FUNDRAISING PLAN BY THE RECREATION COMMITTEE. THE TOWNSHIP IS ABOUT $100,000 SHORT FOR THE FULL COST OF THE PLAYGROUND AND IS EXPLORING FUNDRAISING OPTIONS. THEY ARE CONSIDERING USING A PLATFORM CALLED SEE MY LEGACY, WHICH HELPS MUNICIPALITIES RAISE FUNDS AND OFFER THE OPTION FOR PERSONALIZED, PERSONALIZED QR CODES AND DONATIONS FOR EXAMPLE ON BENCHES OR PLAQUES. RECREATION COMMITTEE MET AFTER TWO MONTHS, SO THERE'S A BIG REPORT. TENNIS COURTS AND PRIVATE LESSON ISSUE ALSO WAS BROUGHT UP BY ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO WROTE TO ME. AND THEN I FORWARDED IT TO OUR RECREATION DIRECTOR AND SAYING THAT PRIVATE LESSONS WERE PRIVATE, TENNIS LESSONS WERE GETTING WERE BEING HOSTED IN OUR TOWNSHIP. TENNIS COURTS. AND I WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE TOWNSHIP RECREATION DEPARTMENT THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE STAFF TO MONITOR THE COURTS REGULARLY. SO ENFORCEMENT IS DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE DISPUTES AND WE HAVE TO GET OUR PD INVOLVED. BUT AGAIN, TO REMIND EVERYBODY, ALL RESIDENTS, THAT THE TENNIS COURTS ARE FOR RESIDENTS USE AND NOT TO RUN LESSONS FOR PROFIT. THERE WAS ANOTHER DISCUSSION ON THE CRICKET PITCH UPGRADE. THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE CRICKET PITCH AT BROADWAY PARK TO TRY AND GET THAT TO BE A CONCRETE SERVICE. THE CLAY SERVICE SURFACE GETS WATERLOGGED AND THERE'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE ISSUES. AND THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ON THE UPGRADE PLAN, AND THE COST AND CHALLENGES WERE ALSO DISCUSSED, WHICH IS WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT $18,000, 16 PLUS SOME OTHER OTHER THINGS THAT THE CRICKET PITCH WOULD NEED. AND THE RECREATION COMMITTEE IS LOOKING TO GET MULTIPLE BIDS AND ONE GOOD THING TO TALK ABOUT THE RECREATION AREA. WE HAD A NEW WALKING PATH[01:05:06]
THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED AND OF COURSE, OPEN SPACE, LAWN, AND WE WERE ALL THERE PROVIDING A SAFE WALKING SPACE FOR OUR SENIORS WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD TO WALK IN THE PARKING LOT. AND THIS PATH EXTENDS TO POST OFFICE AND CONNECTS THE SKILLMAN AREA, OFFERING A CONVENIENT AND SAFER ROUTE. THIS PROJECT WAS SPEARHEADED BY LAUREN WESOLOWSKI, THE OPEN SPACE COORDINATOR, AND HAS BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT FOR YEARS. AND LAST POINT THAT WAS DISCUSSED, IT WAS A LONG MEETING. VAN HORN PARK LEASE RENEWAL. THE LEASE FOR VAN HORN PARK WITH THE COUNTY IS 25 YEARS AND EXPIRED LAST YEAR, AND THE TOWNSHIP IS REVIEWING ITS RENEWAL AND VAN HORN PARK IS PRIMARILY MAINTAINED AND MANAGED BY US BY THE TOWNSHIP, THOUGH ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF IT FALLS WITHIN MONTGOMERY. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN RECREATION COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE HOPE TO BRING YOU SOME POSITIVE NEWS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND OF COURSE, THEN ONCE THESE DISCUSSIONS HAPPEN IN OUR VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE IT COMES TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. SO THAT'S MY REPORT, AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO ALSO CONGRATULATE LORI ON ATTAINING HER CERTIFIED PUBLIC MANAGER CERTIFICATION. CONGRATULATIONS, LORI. OKAY. VERY PROUD OF THAT. AND I GUESS WE'LL GO INTO THE[32. Administrator’s Report]
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT AFTER THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT. THANK YOU. I DID WANT TO SAY THAT I, I FAILED TO MENTION MICHELLE MISTRETTA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. SHE'S THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. SHE WAS HERE TONIGHT AS WELL. SHE'S ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT STOOD. AND MICHELLE IS THE GLUE THAT KEEPS IT ALL TOGETHER. WE'LL MAKE SURE SHE WORKS ALL THE SNOWSTORMS WITH THE CREW.SHE MANAGES THE ROUTES. VERY CRITICAL, INTEGRAL PART OF THAT. SO I DEFINITELY WANTED TO MENTION MICHELLE AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT OVERSIGHT. THE COUPLE OF THINGS WITH THE FOOD, FOOD, OUR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY, WE ARE PROMOTING THREE, THREE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE FOOD PANTRY. WE PREPARE FOR OUR 18TH YEAR IN DECEMBER, HOLIDAY BASKETS FOR OUR 45 FAMILIES AND SO WE ARE ACCEPTING GIFT CARD DONATIONS BY FROM NOW UNTIL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16TH.
AND THEN THEY PREPARE THESE AND GIVE THEM TO OUR FAMILIES AT AT THE HOLIDAYS. ALSO, THE PANTRY IS IN NEED OF TOILETRIES, LAUNDRY DETERGENT AND PAPER GOODS. SO THAT WOULD BE TOILET PAPER, TISSUES, PAPER TOWELS, NAPKINS. AND THOSE CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THE SENIOR CENTER VESTIBULE. IT'S THANKSGIVING TIME, SO WE DO A FREE SHOPRITE TURKEY IF YOU WISH TO DONATE IT.
SO RATHER, IF YOU'RE NOT PLANNING ON USING YOUR YOUR FREE SHOPRITE TURKEY THAT POSSIBLY YOU'VE EARNED, YOU CAN GO TO THE SHOPRITE SERVICE DESK BEFORE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH AND YOU DONATE THOSE POINTS. AND THEN WE ARRANGE WITH SHOPRITE FOR ONE OF OUR FOR 45 FAMILIES TO GO GO PICK UP THAT TURKEY. SO THAT THAT'S JUST ALL HAPPENS THROUGH THROUGH SHOPRITE. THE HOLIDAY MEAL BASKETS THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. AND FOR THANKSGIVING, YOU CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE.
THERE'S A NEWS LISTING ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO. WE MENTIONED THE TURKEYS, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE WHERE PEOPLE COULD GO TO GET THAT INFORMATION. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THAT OUT. THE WEBSITE. SO I THINK I HAD MENTIONED THAT OUR WEBSITE, OUR, OUR FORMER PROVIDER MUNICODE, WAS PURCHASED BY CIVICPLUS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CIVICPLUS TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM THAT WE HAD WITH THE PLATFORM, OUR WEB WEB CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. IT WAS OLD AND OUTDATED AND WE WERE HAVING INTERMITTENT OUTAGES THAT WERE BECOMING REALLY EXTREMELY UNACCEPTABLE. UNACCEPTABLE. OUR WEBSITE IS, AS I'VE DESCRIBED IT, TO THE COMPANY, WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THIS ISSUE. IT'S AS IF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING IS CLOSED. WHEN OUR WEBSITE IS DOWN, IT'S 24 OVER SEVEN. WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. THEY CAN DO PERMITTING, LICENSING, ALL JUST IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION THE REPORT A CONCERN ALL OF OUR GOVT PILOT STUFF. SO MYSELF AND THE IT DIRECTOR WERE ON MANY CALLS AND ZOOMS WITH THE COMPANY SO THAT THEY CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THE SEVERITY OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SO WHAT THEY ARE MOVING US TO A DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT SERVER SERVICE. WE ARE UPGRADING THE
[01:10:02]
WEBSITE IN THE MEANTIME, THEY HAVE MOVED US TO A DIFFERENT PLATFORM TEMPORARILY AND THE OUTAGES HAVE BASICALLY STOPPED ALTOGETHER. SO WE'RE WE'RE HAPPY THAT THEY FINALLY CIVICPLUS THEY'RE A MUCH BIGGER COMPANY. WE WERE A SMALL FISH. WE HAD TO REALLY MAKE SOME NOISE, WHICH WE DID. AND SO WE WERE HEARD. THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ON THE UPGRADE. WE THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES YOU COULD SEE. THERE ARE THERE ARE A FEW DESIGN CHOICES. WE'RE BASICALLY WE'RE NOT CHANGING CONTENT. WE ARE MOVING THINGS OVER. BECAUSE IF YOU RECALL WE DID A MAJOR UPDATE TO OUR WEBSITE. SO WE'RE WE'RE SATISFIED WITH THE CONTENT, HOW IT'S YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING CAN BE SLIGHTLY TWEAKED AND IMPROVED. BUT WE HAD A KICKOFF MEETING TODAY. WE REALLY JUST TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INTRODUCING ALL OF THE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE, WHAT THE TIMELINE WOULD BE. IT'S ABOUT A 6 TO 8 MONTH TIMELINE FOR THE FULL THE MIGRATION ITSELF OF THE DATA. IT KIND OF CHURNS A LITTLE A LITTLE BIT. THERE. AND WE DO SOME CLEANUP ALONG THE WAY. SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ABOUT FIVE DESIGN CHOICES. SO THERE'S A WE KIND OF NARROWED IT DOWN TO THREE THAT SEEM TO WORK BEST WITH THE LAYOUT THAT WE HAVE NOW WORK WELL WITH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE USING IT ON THEIR CELL PHONES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IF ANYONE IS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED, I THINK MAYOR, YOU HAD WANTED TO MAYBE SIT IN ON A MEETING IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO JUST PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. AND WE DEFINITELY CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND THEN OR IF ALL IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO COME TO A TOWN COMMITTEE MEETING AND YOU COULD SORT OF SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, WE COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN TOO. OKAY. SO THAT IS THE WEBSITE UPDATE. I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION AN UPDATE ON MONTGOMERY PROMENADE. SO MONTGOMERY PROMENADE HAS SUBMITTED THEIR FOOTING AND FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING 100, WHICH IS THE WHOLE FOODS. AND THAT PERMIT WAS ISSUED. AND THAT WORK I BELIEVE HAS BEEN COMPLETED. AND THE REVIEW FOR THE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION HAS ALSO BEEN COMPLETED. THAT PERMIT HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED. WE'RE KIND OF WORKING OUT THE DEVELOPER'S SEQUENCING AGREEMENT ITEMS. SO THAT THAT IS READY WHEN IT WILL BE ABLE TO BE RELEASED. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY ALSO, PER THE DEVELOPER SEQUENCE AGREEMENT, WERE ABLE TO PUT IN THE BUILDING 600 AND BUILDING 400. THOSE ARE THE TWO, IF YOU WILL, FRONT PAD SITES THAT ARE ON 206 ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE. THE FOOTING AND FOUNDATION FOR 600 WAS REVIEWED AND HAS BEEN RELEASED. SO YOU'LL START TO SEE THAT HAS BEEN ISSUED. YOU'LL START TO SEE WORK ON THAT FOR THE FOUNDATION. AND BUILDING 400 WAS SUBMITTED TODAY FOR THE FOUNDATION. IS THIS THE PANERA OR WHAT IS THE PANERA? IS BUILDING 600 SORRY, BUILDING 400. SO THAT WAS SUBMITTED TODAY OKAY. FOR THAT WE'LL START THE REVIEW PROCESS. THE CURBING, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE THEY'RE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS CALLED, BUT IT'S KIND OF STATE OF THE ART WHERE IT'S A MACHINE THAT JUST SORT OF PUTS THE CURBING IN IN ONE, INSTEAD OF PUTTING IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS. IT KIND OF DOES IT IN ONE LONG STRING. CONTINUOUS STRING. SO IT'S KIND OF MOVING ALONG, PROGRESSING PRETTY QUICKLY. SO THE LOOP ROAD CURBING IS ALL COMPLETE. THEY'RE ALMOST COMPLETE WITH ALL OF THE REST OF THE, THE CURBING. SO THAT IS GREAT ENGINEERING. OUR INSPECTOR DID WANT US TO KNOW THAT IF YOU SEE WORK HALTED, THERE IS A POINT IN TIME WHERE THE WATER COMPANY, IT'S NOT ON THE DEVELOPER OR US. THE WATER COMPANY HAS TO COME OUT TO PUT IN THE WATER MAIN THAT IS, THAT HAS BEEN BEING COORDINATED. IF YOU SEE A HALT IN WORK, IT'S RELATED TO THAT. AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE MIGHT BE SOME STARTS AND STOPS AS IT'S A VERY BIG PROJECT. THERE'S DIFFERENT SEQUENCING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN FOR THE OTHER THING. SO THAT SORT OF WE WANTED TO CALL ATTENTION, BECAUSE I KNOW THE COMMUNITY SOMETIMES WHEN THEY SEE THE WORK NOT HAPPENING, THEY THINK, WHAT'S GOING ON. SO I DID WANT TO KIND OF BE PROACTIVE, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS THIS MAY BE WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND ON THE DPW, I DID SEND THAT EMAIL AROUND THAT SUMMARIZED SO THE REQUEST HAD BEEN MADE FOR THE OFFSITE STORAGE UNITS. AND SO IN ADDITION TO OUR DPW FACILITY IN HARLINGEN, PUBLIC WORKS HAS EQUIPMENT SCATTERED AT MULTIPLE SITES. WE STORE EQUIPMENT AT TWO OF OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, SKILLMAN AND PIKE BROOK,[01:15:03]
AND TWO OF OUR FORMER TREATMENT PLANTS, WHICH ARE NOW PUMP STATIONS CONVERTED DURING EARLIER PHASES OF OUR SEWER CONSOLIDATION PLAN. THAT'S OXBRIDGE, WHICH IS THE KINGS CROSSING DEVELOPMENT AND RIVERSIDE, WHICH IS RIVER ROAD NORTH OF THE GRIGGSTOWN BRIDGE.THE SEWER DEPARTMENT, THEY DO A GREAT JOB HELPING DPW SORT OF FIND SPACES TO STORE THESE ON OUR PROPERTIES. IN ADDITION TO THOSE TOWNSHIP FACILITIES. WE DO STILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SPACE.
THOSE ARE BEING PROVIDED IN TWO STORAGE UNITS THAT THE TOWNSHIP RENTS YEAR ROUND FOR THESE OFF SITE FROM THE HARLINGEN FACILITY, REDDING BOULEVARD HERE IN MONTGOMERY. THAT UNIT HOUSES MOST OF OUR PAVING EQUIPMENT IN THE WINTER, ALONG WITH EXTRA CONES, BARRICADES, SOME THE EQUIPMENT THAT ISN'T USED AS OFTEN IN THE SPRING. THEY SORT OF SWAP THAT OUT, THEN, SO IT'S ROTATING. WE BRING BACK THE PAVING EQUIPMENT, AND WE PUT AS MANY OF THE SALT SPREADERS AS WE CAN INTO THAT MONTGOMERY UNIT, AND IT'S A CONVENIENT UNIT DUE TO ITS CLOSE LOCATION TO HARLINGEN GARAGE. AND THAT'S $1,650 PER MONTH. THE EILEEN COURT IN THE HILLSBOROUGH PARK.
THIS UNIT IS MOSTLY USED TO STORE OUR SWEEPER TRUCK, OUR JET TRAILER, OUR POWER WASHER.
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THESE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT NEED TO BE STORED IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED AREA DUE TO THEM HAVING WATER TANKS AND PUMPS, SO THE SMALLER EQUIPMENT THAT'S NOT UTILIZED WILL OFTEN GET STORED THERE, SORT OF IN BETWEEN THE BIGGER PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. THAT $1,750 PER MONTH. SO THAT IS THE UPDATE ON COULDN'T WE PARK IN LIKE A ON THE STATE PROPERTY ACROSS FROM, YOU KNOW, SKILLMAN PARK. I MEAN THERE'S A HUGE SPOT THAT THE STATE OWNS. WHY CAN'T WE USE THAT PROPERTY? I KNOW WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TRYING TO OBTAIN THAT PROPERTY, POTENTIALLY FOR A USE LIKE THAT, BUT WE YES, WE'VE INITIATED THOSE CONVERSATIONS WORKING WITH THE STATE WHO, YOU KNOW, AT TIMES MIGHT NOT EVEN REALIZE THAT THEY OWN SOMETHING THAT, YES, GIVING IT TO US IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL. BUT CAN'T WE JUST LET THEM LIKE GET PERMISSION TO USE THAT LOT? I MEAN, I KNOW THE COUNTY USES IT. YOU MEAN FOR STORAGE, RIGHT? FOR PARKING AND STORAGE AND. WELL, THERE AREN'T ANY BUILDINGS THAT OUR EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE STORED IN INSIDE. NOT TO STICK AND FIGURE IT OUT. YEAH. WE AS AS LORI MENTIONED, THE STATE IN IN FACT HAD NO IDEA WHEN WE ASKED THEM ABOUT THE LAND TREASURY HAD TO FIND THAT THEY OWNED THE LAND. WE ASKED THEM EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEY GO BACK AND FIND OUT THAT, YES, THEY DO OWN IT UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. YEAH. EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. WELL, SOMEONE NEEDS TO REALLY FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT YES. GOOD POINT. JUST QUICK. TWO MORE THINGS. THE EV CHARGING STATIONS HAVE THEIR FINAL INSPECTION TOMORROW, AND WE'LL BE UP AND RUNNING AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TOMORROW. YOU'LL SEE. THAT'S THAT'S GREAT NEWS. I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THAT. PEOPLE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND OUR IT LOOKS LIKE OUR HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING FROM RECREATION WILL BE HERE AT THE NEW MUNICIPAL NEW. WE CALL IT THE MUSEUM COMPLEX ON DECEMBER 3RD, WHICH IS THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, I BELIEVE, AS WE HAVE HAD IT, AND IT WILL BE IN THE EDGE OF THE WILD OF THE MEADOW THERE, AND WE'LL HAVE CONTROLLED ACCESS AND RECREATION. WAS WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE HOW THAT WILL BE, BUT THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF PARKING FOR EVERYONE. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL IT'LL BE A NICE. YEAH. AND AS AS COMMITTEE. WOMAN. KEENAN MENTIONED THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL SPOT. IT JUST CIRCLED BACK TO THAT OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH I JUST ACTUALLY WANTED TO QUICKLY MENTION THAT WE DID GET I DON'T KNOW I GUESS I CAN TAKE THIS. WE DID GET THIS FROM BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, OUR CONGRESSWOMAN. DEAR FRIENDS IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, I'M PLEASED TO EXTEND MY THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO COME TO THE GROUNDBREAKING EXTEND MY SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL ON YOUR GROUNDBREAKING NEW INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND. THIS THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT IS A REFLECTION OF YOUR DEDICATION TO EQUAL REPRESENTATION. AND I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO SERVING ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, CREATING SPACES THAT PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY WILL WILL HELP BRING TOGETHER RESIDENTS AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. YOUR DEVELOPMENT OF AN ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND, INCLUDING WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, ACCESSIBLE PLAY STRUCTURES, SMOOTH SURFACES FOR MOBILITY DEVICES AND SPECIALLY DESIGNED SWINGS WILL POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS YOUNG CHILDREN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WORK AS THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW JERSEY'S 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. I HOPE YOU TAKE PRIDE IN THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. IT IS AN
[01:20:03]
HONOR TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POSITIVE IMPACT ON THOSE WITHIN OUR STATE. PLEASE ACCEPT MY SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS AND GOD BLESS. SINCERELY, CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN. SO THIS IS CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE TOWNSHIP. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO[33. Future Agenda Items]
HEAR FROM HER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UPCOMING TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETINGS DECEMBER 5TH DECEMBER 19TH JANUARY 2ND REORG REORGANIZATION RESOLUTION NUMBER 24. DASH 11. DASH 384. EXECUTIVE BEFORE WE BREAK, CAN I JUST ASK ONE OF THOSE FUTURE MEETINGS? LORI, CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE REMOVAL OF THE OLD BUILDING, LIKE WHERE THINGS ARE AT? I'M SORRY, ON THE WHAT THE REMOVAL OF THE OLD BUILDING. OH, YES. YEAH, THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING. YEAH. OH, GREAT. YEAH.[34. Resolution #24-11-384 — Executive Session]
OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 24, DASH 11, DASH 384 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 OF 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. POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION. RECREATION AND MUNICIPAL PURPOSES. BLOCK 13 001, LOT 21, FORBES RAIDER. RAIDER BLOCK 1501 5015. LOTS 12, 13, 14, 15, 2930, 31.01 32, ZERO ONE, 33, ZERO ONE, 34.01. BARB BARBER DONATION. IT IS UNKNOWN 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 11 384. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER AND YES COMMITTEE MEMBER.
KEENAN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES, MAYOR I HAVE A MOTION TO IS IT ON? YEP. WE'RE GOOD. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN THE REGULAR SESSION? SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ADJOURNMENT.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.