[Call to Order]
          [00:00:07]
          OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MEETING. CALL TO ORDER. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH HERE. 
          DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. KEENAN. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. 
          HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HAHN. HERE. NOTICE OF MEETING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON JANUARY 10TH, 2025 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 AND 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. THANK 
          [1. Proclamation – Recognizing the Month of January as Radon Action Month]
YOU. PROCLAMATION. RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JANUARY AS RADON ACTION MONTH. WHEREAS RADON IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE GAS THAT IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF LUNG CANCER. AND WHEREAS PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO RADON CAN KILL AS MANY AS 500 PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY EACH YEAR. 
          AND WHEREAS FAMILIES WHO RESIDE IN HOMES WITH ELEVATED RADON LEVELS ARE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. AND WHEREAS ANY HOME COULD HAVE HIGH LEVELS, EVEN WHEN NEIGHBORING HOMES DO NOT. AND WHEREAS RADON TESTING CAN BE DONE WITH GREAT EASE AT A RELATIVELY LOW EXPENSE TO THE HOMEOWNER, WITH THE COST OF REDUCING RADON CONCENTRATIONS BEING COMPARABLE TO A HOME REPAIR. AND WHEREAS THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ARE COLLABORATING DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY TO PROMOTE THE NEED FOR RADON TESTING IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF OUR STATE RESIDENTS. NOW, THEREFORE, I, NEENA SINGH, MAYOR OF TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2025 AS RADON ACTION MONTH IN THE TOWNSHIP AND CALL UPON ALL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT YET TESTED TO TEST THEIR HOMES FOR RADON AND TO REDUCE LEVELS IF ELEVATED LEVELS ARE FOUND TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILIES FROM THE SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS OF RADON. OKAY. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING 
          [2. Proclamation – Recognizing Michelle Mistretta, Department of Public Works for Years of Service]
MICHELLE. MISS TERADA, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, FOR YEARS OF HER SERVICE. 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 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE. AND WHEREAS MICHELLE ESTRADA'S CAREER BEGAN BEGAN IN MARCH 2003 AS SECRETARY, ONE IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WAS THEN PROMOTED TO SENIOR SECRETARY IN 2005, TRANSFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, HOLDING THE SAME TITLE IN 2007, AND THEN TO ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT IN 2008 UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN JANUARY 2025. AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT HER TENURE 20 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE, MICHELLE HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, DILIGENCE AND STRONG WORK ETHIC, MAKING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND SMOOTH OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT I, MAYOR SINGH, ON BEHALF OF TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AND ITS RESIDENTS AND STAFF HEREBY WISH TO RECOGNIZE MICHELLE ESTRADA FOR HER YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION 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 MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND EXTENDS SINCERE BEST WISHES AND HAPPINESS IN HER NEW JOURNEY. ON THE 16TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025. I'M GOING TO INVITE MICHELLE TO COME TO THE THIS FOR THE PROCLAMATION. THANK. 
          YOU. FOR THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE ALL THE 
          [00:05:04]
WAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. THAT WORKS. GREAT. ONE. TWO. THREE. OKAY. YEAH. 
          IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT MICHELLE. MICHELLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR 18 YEARS OF KEEPING DPW IN LINE. I KNOW IT WASN'T ALL 18 YEARS, BUT I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY SITTING BEHIND YOU, YOUR WHOLE TEAM, REALLY APPRECIATES YOU. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO SAY, MICHELLE HAD A RETIREMENT DATE IN MIND. AND WHEN ART, OUR FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, RETIRED, JEFF BERKLAND, OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT, SAID, MICHELLE, WOULD YOU MIND JUST STAYING ON OR MAYBE MICHELLE YOU OFFERED WITHOUT HIM EVEN ASKING? I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU DID. JUST TO HELP. I MEAN, JEFF'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AS WELL. AND SO YOU COULD JUST SEE THE TEAMWORK THAT THEY HAVE AND THAT I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT, MICHELLE, BECAUSE THAT WAS YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. AND I KNOW EVERYBODY SITTING BEHIND YOU REALLY APPRECIATES THAT. SO WHEN YOU'RE UP ALL NIGHT MANAGING 55, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE PLOWING THE ROADS THROUGHOUT TOWN AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE. WHEN YOUR FAMILY IS WONDERING, I WONDER WHEN SHE'S COMING HOME IN THE BAD WEATHER. WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT COMING TO WORK IS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH. AND MICHELLE IS A PROBLEM SOLVER. SHE'S NO NONSENSE FOR SURE. QUICK WITTED. 
          AND ALWAYS HAS A JOKE OR CERTAINLY A SMILE ON HER FACE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY STAFF MEMBERS HAVE COME UP TO ME AND TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WELL, WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE WITHOUT MICHELLE? BUT SHE ALSO REASSURED US THAT SHE IS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY. SO AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL. AND I KNOW YOUR WHOLE TEAM BEHIND YOU APPRECIATES THAT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST IN RETIREMENT. THANK YOU. 
          [3. Proclamation – Recognizing Roy Mondi, Construction and Code Enforcement for Years of Service]
WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ROY MUNDY CONSTRUCTION AND CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR YEARS OF SERVICE. 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 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, AND WHEREAS ROY MUNDY HAS SERVED THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY CONSTRUCTION AND CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES WITH UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM, MAINTAINING AND ENFORCING BUILDING AND FIRE CODES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS ROY MUNDY BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE TOWNSHIP OF TOWNSHIP ON OCTOBER 21ST, 1985 AS A FIRE OFFICIAL WAS OFFICIALLY APPOINTED. FIRE PROTECTION SUB CODE OFFICIAL FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER AND BUILDING INSPECTOR. TRAINING IN MARCH 1990. 1987 AND THEN CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL IN APRIL 2012 AND ENDS HIS CAREER AS FIRE MARSHAL, FIRE SUPPORT OFFICIAL, CONSTRUCTION CODE OFFICIAL AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT HIS 39 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, ROY 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 ITS RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS ROY MUNDY HAS BEEN A REMARKABLE COLLEAGUE, FRIEND AND MENTOR TO MANY, AND HIS LEGACY WILL REMAIN. 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 ROY MUNDY 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 39 YEARS OF SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND EXTENDS SINCERE BEST WISHES AND HAPPINESS IN HIS NEW JOURNEY. ON THE 16TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025. ROY ISN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT, BUT HE DID SAY THANK YOU FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT. HE HE REALLY MEANT A LOT TO HIM. AND HE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW AT THE STAFF MEETING, OKAY? OKAY, NOW WE'RE 
          [4. Presentation – Affordable Housing Information Session, Michael Sullivan, Township Planner, Clarke Caton Hintz]
          [00:10:07]
GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING INFORMATION SESSION. MICHAEL SULLIVAN, TOWNSHIP PLANNER CLERK, ANTHONY HINES. AND HERE IS MICHAEL. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. OKAY. AND OF COURSE, OF COURSE, OUR TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY, WENDY, IS GOING TO RUBENSTEIN. I FEEL MUCH SAFER NOW. YES, I LIKE THAT. SHE'S SITTING THERE, AND I PROMISED I WOULD. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. FOR THE RECORD, I'M MICHAEL SULLIVAN. I'M THE TOWNSHIP PLANNING CONSULTANT. WITH JUST ONE SECOND. MICHAEL, I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT. TOTALLY FINE, THANK. CAN WE HAVE A LITTLE QUIET SO WE CAN GET THE PRESENTATION STARTED? THANK YOU. OKAY. I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO GO. OKAY. FOR THE RECORD, I'M MICHAEL SULLIVAN. I'M WITH CLARK AND HINTZ IN TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, WHERE THE TOWNSHIP PLANNING CONSULTANTS FOR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND PLANNING BOARD AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FOURTH ROUND OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATIONS FOR THE TOWNSHIP. I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, MICHAEL. YOU MAY NEED TO PUT THE MIC A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOU. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE BACK END. YEAH, OKAY, NOT THAT CLOSE, BUT YES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I APOLOGIZE. NO WORRIES. VANCE. ADVANCED SOUND SYSTEM HERE. I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I TELL MY STAFF WHEN WE'RE PUTTING PRESENTATIONS TOGETHER, USUALLY THEY'RE FULL WITH, LIKE, DIAGRAMS AND ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS AND VERY FEW WORDS. AND THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE LIKE THAT. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORDS. SO I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH IT AND HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY CAN STAY AWAKE. SO THANKS AGAIN. TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ADDRESSING MONTGOMERY'S FOURTH ROUND OBLIGATION, WHICH GOES FROM 2025 TO 2035. AND WE'RE DEALING WITH A NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAW. IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE NEW AFFORDABLE FAIR HOUSING ACT, AND THAT AMENDED THE EXISTING FAIR HOUSING ACT. IT ABOLISHED THE COUNCIL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT USED TO ADMINISTER UP UNTIL ABOUT 2015, WHEN THEY STOPPED DOING ANY 2008 WHEN THEY STOPPED DOING ANYTHING. IT ALSO ESTABLISHED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE BODY THAT IS GOING TO REVIEW COMPLIANCE FOR ALL MUNICIPALITIES THAT PARTICIPATE. AND IT SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED HOW AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ADMINISTERED IN NEW JERSEY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE LAW WAS INTENDED TO TAKE THIS PROCESS AWAY FROM THE COURTS, WHERE IT HAD BEEN SINCE THE 2012, I GUESS, WHICH CULMINATED WITH THE 2015 SUPREME COURT DECISION AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE NUMBER 14. DASH 24 FROM THE JUDICIARY SETS FORTH PROCEDURES, GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR HOUSING PLAN ELEMENTS, AND IT ALSO SAYS THAT YOU WILL BE FILING A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT COMPLAINT IN ORDER TO RESOLVE AND CERTIFY YOUR PLAN. SO THE COURT IS NOW OVERSEEING IT, EVEN THOUGH THE LAW INTENDED IT NOT TO. THERE ARE RETIRED JUDGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MANNING THE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS ADJUDICATORS, WHICH ARE PLANNERS WHO SERVE AS FORMERLY KNOWN AS COURT MASTERS OR SPECIALISTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MY FIRM HAS TWO OF THEM. THERE ARE 11. TWO OF 11 SIT VERY CLOSE TO ME. ANY DISPUTES OR CHALLENGES TO YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLANS AND YOUR OBLIGATIONS WILL BE DEALT WITH BY THE PROGRAM AND MEDIATED AND AS NECESSARY, THE MOUNT LAUREL JUDGES WHO ARE SERVING ON THE PROGRAM WILL ISSUE ORDERS. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? YOU WILL BE PREPARING A NEW FOURTH ROUND HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN, AND FILING THAT BY JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR. IT MUST PROVIDE FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF YOUR OBLIGATION FOR THE TEN YEAR PERIOD STARTING IN 2025. 
          AND THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERIM DEADLINES PRIOR TO JUNE 30TH AND BEYOND JUNE 30TH THAT YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO. SO KEY MILESTONES. THE FIRST ONE IS COMING UP PRETTY SOON. ON JANUARY 31ST, YOU MUST FILE WITH THE PROGRAM AN ADOPTION A RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNING BODY, SETTING FORTH YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION, WHICH IS AN OFFICIAL BINDING STIPULATION AS TO THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS YOU WILL PRODUCE DURING THE THIRD OR DURING THE FOURTH ROUND. SORRY, AND IT MUST BE POSTED ON YOUR MUNICIPAL WEBSITE WITHIN 48 HOURS BY FEBRUARY 3RD, OR WITHIN 48 HOURS OF ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION, YOU WILL FILE A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACTION WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM THAT IS YOUR LEGAL FILING. SO BY FEBRUARY 28TH OF THIS YEAR, ANY CHALLENGES TO YOUR OBLIGATION 
          [00:15:05]
THAT YOU STIPULATE IN THAT RESOLUTION MUST BE FILED? IF NO CHALLENGE IS FILED, YOUR OBLIGATION WILL BE PRESUMPTIVELY VALID BY MARCH 1ST. IF THERE IS A CHALLENGE BY MARCH 31ST, THE PROGRAM MUST ISSUE A DECISION ON ANY CHALLENGES TO YOUR NUMBER. AND SO WE'LL SEE. SEE HOW THAT GOES. WE TALKED ABOUT JUNE 30TH. THAT'S A DEADLINE FOR THE ADOPTION OF YOUR HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN. IF THERE'S SOME EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES YOU CAN APPLY FOR A GRACE PERIOD PRIOR TO THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO YET. THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY. I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT RIGHT UP FRONT. THERE IS UNCERTAINTY ABOUT HOW THIS PROCESS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK, AND I KNOW FROM MY DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER PLANNERS AND ATTORNEYS THAT IT'S NOT EVEN CLEAR HOW THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO OPERATE YET. SO WE'RE SAYING ALL THIS AND IT'S BASED ON WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW, BUT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY PLAYS OUT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW FOR SURE HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK. SO IF THINGS CHANGE A LITTLE BIT FROM HERE, DON'T BLAME ME. IT'S MY CAVEAT. BY AUGUST 31ST, THERE'S A DEADLINE FOR ANY CHALLENGES TO YOUR. SO YOUR ADOPTED HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN. SO THERE'S REALLY TWO POINTS IN TIME WHEN YOU FILE YOUR STIPULATION OF YOUR OBLIGATION. AND WHEN YOU FILE YOUR ADOPTED PLANS, THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO CHALLENGE THOSE PLANS OR YOUR WORK. SO WHAT IF THERE ARE NO CHALLENGES? WELL, THE PROGRAM WILL REVIEW YOUR PLANS WITH FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW LAW TO MAKE SURE IT COMPLIES WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, WHETHER IT'S GOT THE REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A HOUSING PLAN AND IF IT'S COMPLIANT. WE THINK THE LAW SAYS A COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION WILL BE WILL BE ISSUED, BUT THE COURTS DON'T GENERALLY ISSUE COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATIONS. THEY ISSUE JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO MAYBE IT'S AN ORDER WE DON'T KNOW. THAT'S PART OF THE UNCERTAINTY IS ACTUALLY HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK. AND WHEN THE JUDGES ACTUALLY STEP IN. SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES. WELL THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THOSE CHALLENGES ARE COMPLIANT. 
          AND IF IT IS COMPLIANT, THEN THEY WILL START DOING SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES. AND IF YOU'VE IF YOU'RE NOT, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH ANY OF THE LITIGATION THAT HAPPENED IN THE THIRD ROUND, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE COURTS WITH YOUR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT. YOU HAVE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES WITH OBJECTORS OR CHALLENGERS AND THE INTERESTED PARTIES. IF THAT'S NOT RESOLVED, THEN YOU HAVE A SESSION. NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE SESSION MEANS. I THINK THAT MEANS THE JUDGE COMES IN AT THAT POINT AND EXERT SOME INFLUENCE OVER IT. BUT THERE'S A TIME FRAME FOR THIS. IT'S A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME FOR THESE THINGS TO BE HANDLED. AND HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT THERE'S A DECISION RENDERED BY THE MOUNT LAUREL JUDGE AND THERE'S AN AGREEMENT, A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OR AN ORDER UPON RESOLUTION OF WHATEVER THE CHALLENGE IS, REMAINS TO BE SEEN EXACTLY HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK. BUT THERE'S A PROCESS THAT'S BEING BUILT AND IT'S BUILT INTO THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE. BY MARCH 15TH, 2026, THE LAW SAYS THAT MONTGOMERY MUST ADOPT ALL ORDINANCES NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT YOUR HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN. HOWEVER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE FROM DECEMBER OF 2024 SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM ALL WITH YOUR HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT. IT'S IN CONFLICT. WE DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IS GOING TO HOLD UP, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT WORKS OUT. IT'S A LOT TO GET DONE. IT'S ONE THING TO GET DONE. YOUR HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN IN FIVE MONTHS, ALL ROUGHLY. BUT TO GET THE ORDINANCES DONE, AND PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE A REDEVELOPMENT PLAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THE DRAFTS ARE GOOD ENOUGH, BUT WE'LL SORT THAT OUT. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE. WE MUST MEET THE JANUARY 31ST DEADLINE, SO THE RESOLUTION HAS TO BE ADOPTED, SETTING FORTH THE PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE FAIR SHARE OBLIGATIONS AND FILING OF THE DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACTION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. SO STEP ONE, MICHAEL, I'M SORRY. GOING BACK TO IF YOU COULD GO BACK LAST SLIDE, I THINK OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE COMPLIANCE, THE STATUTORY RATIONALE FOR THE 31ST, BUT AREN'T THERE ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL LEGAL BENEFITS THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS TO PROTECT ITSELF? IF WE DO SIGN BY THE JANUARY 31ST? WELL, THE YEAH, THE IF YOU DON'T IT'S JEOPARDY. RIGHT. SO THE THOSE LEGAL BENEFITS APPLY TO ALL OF THE DEADLINES THAT MICHAEL SETTING FORTH ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM OTHER BUILDERS BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT'S CALLED A BUILDER'S REMEDY LAWSUIT, WHICH IS WHEN A BUILDER 
          [00:20:03]
WILL FILE AND SAY YOU'RE NOT CONSTITUTIONALLY COMPLIANT, YOU HAVEN'T DONE YOUR PLAN, YOU'RE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. WE GET TO COME IN AND ASK A JUDGE TO THROW OUT ALL OF YOUR LOCAL ZONING AND LET US DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE CAVEAT TO THAT IS THAT PARTICIPATION IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE TO MEET ALL OF THESE DEADLINES IN ORDER TO KEEP THAT PROTECTION. YES. NOT MEETING ANY OF THE DEADLINES MEANS YOU LOSE IMMUNITY FROM THEY USED TO CALL THEM BUILDER'S REMEDY. IT'S CALLED AN EXCLUSIONARY ZONING LAWSUIT. NOW, IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE LAW, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I THINK IN THE PAST THAT OTHER TOWNSHIPS OR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE MISSED THESE DEADLINES AND HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN COURT AND LOSING TO DEVELOPERS, ETC, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, DO THEY ENFORCE TOWNS TO DO THINGS IN A WAY THAT THE TOWN'S NAME DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO EXECUTE AT? YES. LOSING IMMUNITY IS A VERY BAD THING. YEAH. OKAY. JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT. YES. AS WE TALK ABOUT THESE, IF YOU LOSE IMMUNITY, YEAH, YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR AS AS WENDY SAID, YOU CAN LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR ZONING. AND IT'S NOT A GOOD THING. MAYBE TOWARDS THE END YOU CAN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TOWNS THAT HAVE LOST THAT AND HOW THAT HAS WORKED OUT. THAT WOULD JUST HELP THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND. SURE. YOU KNOW, WHERE WE ARE AS A GOVERNING BODY AND YOU KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF WE DON'T. RIGHT. THANK YOU. JUST FOR THE RECORD, NONE OF NONE OF MY TOWNS. NONE OF NONE OF MY. SO OKAY, SO WHAT HOW DO YOU WHAT ARE THE STEPS YOU NEED TO. STEP ONE DETERMINE OR STIPULATE TO YOUR YOUR FOURTH ROUND OBLIGATION. SO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ISSUED ADVISORY A PROSPECTIVE NEED OR PRESENT NEED WHICH IS REHABILITATION NEED. IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS THAT AND PROSPECTIVE NEED WHICH MEANS NEW UNITS. THEY DID THIS IN OCTOBER AND THESE ARE ADVISORY NUMBERS MEANING THEY BASED IT ON CERTAIN INFORMATION AND THEY PUBLISHED THEIR METHODOLOGY AND HAVE SHARED IT WITH EVERYBODY. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM DIRECTLY ABOUT HOW THEY DID THINGS, AND THESE ARE ADVISORY. AND SO YOU START WITH THIS NUMBER AND YOUR PRESENT NEED, WHICH IS YOUR REHABILITATION SHARE IS 73. AND YOUR PROSPECTIVE NEED WHICH IS NEW UNITS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU'RE BUILDING NEW UNITS, BUT NEW UNITS IS 260. SO THE PRESENT NEED IS CALCULATED BASED ON OVERCROWDED UNITS AND LACK OF PLUMBING AND LACK OF KITCHEN FACILITIES. THAT'S HOW THEY DO IT. IT'S BASED ON THE CONDITIONS OF HOMES AND HOW THEY ESTIMATE HOW MANY LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THAT. THAT'S HOW THEY CALCULATE THAT. AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET TOO MUCH INTO THE DETAILS. THE PROSPECTIVE NEED CALCULATION IS CALCULATED FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. AND YOU'RE IN REGION THREE, WHICH IS 100, AND SOMERSET AND MIDDLESEX COUNTY. SO THE DCA CALCULATED THE NEED FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. THEY THEN ALLOCATE THAT TO EACH MUNICIPALITY BASED ON FAIR SHARE. AND IT'S BASED ON THREE FACTORS. DEVELOPABLE LAND, A HOUSEHOLD INCOME FACTOR, AND JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT FACTOR. SO THE REGION THREE PROSPECTIVE NEED IS 11,604 UNITS. AND SO YOUR MUNICIPAL PRESENT NEED IS BASED ON AN EQUALIZED NON RESIDENTIAL VALUATION FACTOR, WHICH IS A PROXY FOR JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT, AN INCOME CAPACITY FACTOR AND A LAND CAPACITY FACTOR. YOUR EQUALIZED NON RESIDENTIAL VALUATION IS CALCULATED AS X. AND I'M SORRY I KEEP HITTING THE WRONG BUTTON. 
          AND YOU LOOK AT THE GROWTH IN NON RESIDENTIAL GROWTH IN MONTGOMERY. YOU LOOK AT IT IN THE REGION. AND THEN THERE'S A DIVISION AND YOU GET A FACTOR OF 0.62. THAT'S HOW THEY DID IT. 
          INCOME. CAPACITY IS LOOKING AT HOUSEHOLD INCOME RELATIVE TO THE LOWEST HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THE REGION. AND THEN LOOKING AT THE MUNICIPAL AGGREGATION OF INCOME BY NUMBER WEIGHTED BY NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS. I'M JUST SKIMMING OVER THIS. AND SO MONTGOMERY'S MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS 224, 185,000. YOU HAVE 8102 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE REGION. THREE LOWEST MEDIAN INCOME HOUSEHOLD IS 56,239. AND THEN THERE'S AN INCOME FLOOR, WHICH IS $100 BELOW THAT. AND THAT'S WHAT THE FACTORS THAT THEY USED. SO YOU TAKE THE TWO MEASURES AND THEN YOU AVERAGE THEM TOGETHER. AND WHAT THAT ENDS UP WITH THAT GIVES YOU FOR MONTGOMERY, AN INCOME FACTOR OF 4.16%. AND THAT'S YOUR SECOND FACTOR GOES INTO THE EQUATION. YOUR LAND CAPACITY IS THE LAST FACTOR. 
          YOUR TOTAL ACREAGE OF DEVELOPABLE LAND IS CALCULATED BY DCA IS 202 ACRES, BUT THAT DOESN'T REALLY REPRESENT THE ACTUAL LAND. IT'S WEIGHTED BY PLANNING AREA. SO IN PLANNING 
          [00:25:02]
AREA TWO IT'S ONE FOR ONE PLANNING AREA THREE IT'S 0.5 OR 0.75. I FORGET EXACTLY WHAT IT IS, BUT IT EXCLUDES CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. DCA DID NOT INCLUDE SLOPES OVER 15%. 
          THEY EXCLUDED WETLAND BUFFERS, 50 FOOT WETLAND BUFFERS, AND THEY WEIGHTED IT BASED ON STATE PLAN AREA. SO YOUR LAND CAPACITY FACTOR IS 1.95. SO THEY DON'T INCLUDE PRESERVED FARMLANDS AS LAND FACTOR. THEY EXCLUDE THAT, THEY EXCLUDE IT. THEY EXCLUDE PRESERVE FARMLANDS AND OPEN SPACE OKAY. BUT THEY INCLUDE ALL FARMLAND THAT'S DEVELOPABLE. SO BASED ON THOSE THREE FACTORS, YOU GET AN AVERAGE ALLOCATION FACTOR. IT'S ALL THREE FACTORS BROUGHT TOGETHER. AND THAT'S 2.24. WHEN YOU APPLY THAT TO THE REGION THREE PERSPECTIVE NEED OF 11,604, YOU GET 259 .93, WHICH IS ROUNDED UP TO 260. THAT'S HOW YOU GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE NEED FOR NEW NEW CONSTRUCTION QUESTIONS. ANYTHING SO FAR? I THINK IF YOU WOULD SPEAK TO YOU KNOW WHAT, OF COURSE, THE OBLIGATION THAT WE HAVE BY THE 31ST. BUT WHAT IF THE TOWNS WHO DON'T COMPLY, WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT CASE, AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN ROUND THREE WOULD GIVE GIVE A BETTER PERSPECTIVE TO ANYBODY WHO'S LISTENING OR IS IN THE AUDIENCE? SURE. SO THE TOWNS THAT DID NOT COMPLY, THERE ARE TOWNS THAT THAT DID NOT COMPLY IN ROUND THREE OR WERE FOUND TO BE NON-COMPLIANT. AND THOSE TOWNS THERE'S SOME SOME OF THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, I GUESS I CAN TALK ABOUT THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS THE TOWNS THAT REALLY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE LAW, AND THEY WERE FOUND TO BE WILLINGLY. I FORGET WHAT THE TERM IS. THERE'S A LEGAL TERM. 
          NEGLIGENT. WHAT? NEGLIGENT? NEGLIGENT. BUT IT'S BASICALLY THUMBING YOUR NOSE AT THE LAW. 
          THAT WAS THE WAY THEY WERE DETERMINED TO BE. AND THE COURTS REALLY WENT AFTER THEM. IN ONE PARTICULAR CASE, THE COURTS GAVE A TOWN SUBSTANTIALLY MORE OBLIGATION THAN THEY MAY HAVE HAD HAD THEY COMPLIED. ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, SO THEY LOST CONTROL OF THEIR ZONING AT SOME LEVEL AND AT AND TO ENSURE THAT THAT MUNICIPALITY MOVED ON, THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS COMING BECAUSE OF THESE DEVELOPERS WHO WERE SUING THE TOWN, THEY TOOK AWAY THE POWER OF THE PLANNING BOARD TO REVIEW IT. SO THERE WAS A COURT APPOINTED PERSON TO REVIEW THE PLANS, AND THEY ONLY REVIEWED THEM FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN WE DO SITE PLANNING REVIEWS OR SUBDIVISION REVIEWS, WE TALK ABOUT TREES AND WE TALK ABOUT BUFFERS, AND WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT'S MAKES A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT REVIEW WASN'T FOR THAT. WHATEVER THE DEVELOPER DECIDED THEY WERE GOING TO PUT IN, THEY PUT IN. AND IT WASN'T ABOUT THE NICE HOW NICE IT COULD BE. IT WAS ABOUT HOW MANY UNITS YOU GOT, BASIC PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND ANYTHING THAT WAS EXTRANEOUS WAS VIEWED AS A COST GENERATIVE MEASURE, WHICH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT TALKS ABOUT. AND THE RULES TALK ABOUT. BUT YOU CAN'T ADD COST GENERATIVE MEASURES. SO THE NICE THINGS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS AND THINGS YOU COULDN'T PUT IN THERE. SO THEY REALLY LOST CONTROL OVER THAT. AND THEY DIDN'T KEEP THE UNITS OUT. AND NOT JUST IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY GOT AFFORDABLE UNITS, BUT THEY GOT MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MARKET RATE HOUSING AND IN FORMATS THAT WERE VERY TOUGH TO SWALLOW. LET'S SAY IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY THESE EXTREME CASES WHERE MULTIPLE YEARS OF NONCOMPLIANCE. CORRECT. OR HAS IT JUST BEEN LIKE ONE YEAR WHERE HOW DOES THAT WORK? ONE ROUND HE MEANS LIKE, WAS IT A NON-COMPLIANT OF ONE ROUND, OR DID THEY DO IT IN THE CURRENT ROUND IN THE CURRENT IN THE ROUND WAS AT THE TIME OKAY. SO THAT OKAY, SO IT'S NOT AGGREGATED. ONE ROUND OF NONCOMPLIANCE CAN PRODUCE A RESULT LIKE THIS. BUT BUT YEAH THEY CAN LOOK BACK AND I AND I WILL TELL YOU NOW THAT THE CURRENT THE WAY IT'S WORKING NOW, THE TOWNS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT EVERY UNIT FROM DAY ONE. TO DEMONSTRATE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ASKING TOWNS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT EVERY CREDIT THAT THEY'VE EVER CLAIMED IS LEGITIMATE. SO WHEN MOST TOWNS DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF RECORDS, OKAY, WHEN YOU SAY 260, ARE YOU SAYING THAT NUMBER IN TOWNS THAT DON'T COMPLY OR, YOU KNOW, THUMB THEIR NOSE OR WHATEVER YOU WERE SAYING, THEN THAT NUMBER CAN CHANGE THE NUMBER. THE NUMBER CAN CHANGE IF THERE ARE CHALLENGES. OKAY. IF, IF, IF, IF, IF A DEVELOPER OR AN INTERESTED PARTY WOULD COME IN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGES YOUR PLAN AND SAYS YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH FOR SOME REASON, THEN THE NUMBER COULD GO UP, OKAY, YOU COULD HAVE MORE BECAUSE BECAUSE THEY WOULD. THE CASES THAT DEVELOPERS MAKE WHO WANT TO BUILD HOUSING IS THAT THEY NEED MOREO JUSTIFY THE COST OF PROVIDING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO ADD MORE ONTO IT. THE MARKET RATE. YES, THE MARKET RATE. AND, YOU 
          [00:30:06]
KNOW, TO GET TO THE AFFORDABLE AND IF THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, OR BARRIERS, THEN THEY WILL CERTAINLY SAY WE NEED MORE UNITS THAN, YOU KNOW. FOR INSTANCE, WE TRY TO WE TRY TO USE A RATIO OF 15 TO 20% AS A SET ASIDE OF AFFORDABLE TO THE MARKET RATE. BUT THEY IN SOME CASES, IN THE THIRD ROUND, WE WERE GETTING 25% SET ASIDES. BECAUSE YES, BECAUSE WE'RE NEGOTIATING THAT COULD THAT THAT COULD GO BACK DOWN. AND THEN YOU'RE YOU'RE ACTUALLY PRODUCING MORE MARKET RATE THAN YOU ARE AFFORDABLE. THE RATIO GOES DOWN. SO JUST FOR MY CLARIFICATION, DID YOU ALSO SAY THAT MAYBE YOU JUST SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE COULD BE A LOOK BACK FOR NOT COMPLYING IN THIS ROUND. LOOK BACK AT EVERY CREDIT THAT YOU EVER CLAIMED. AND IT COULD BE, I GUESS, ADJUSTED TO MAKE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR EVEN MORE UNITS. IT'S UNKNOWN. AND THIS IS REALLY FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THOSE REQUIREMENTS APPLY ONLY TO THOSE PLANS THAT ARE CHALLENGED. OR DO THEY APPLY TO ALL PLANS BECAUSE THEY'VE ACTUALLY CREATED THE MUNICIPAL LAND USE LAW SAYS WHAT'S IN A HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT? THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE NOW HAS ADDED THINGS TO THAT, ADDED ELEMENTS TO THE HOUSING PLAN AND FAIR SHARE PLAN, WHICH THE LEGISLATION AS WELL. RIGHT. 
          YEAH. AND BEYOND THE LEGISLATION. RIGHT. SO IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHETHER THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IF YOU IF YOU'RE CHALLENGED OR THERE'S A PROBLEM. 
          SO THESE ARE THE THINGS WE HAVE TO SORT OUT. BUT WE'RE ON GUARD. AND MY OFFICE IS WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE CREDITS WITH THE MONITORING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP TO DATE AND ASSIST OUR TOWNS WITH KEEPING THE CREDIT MONITORING AS GOOD AS WE CAN GET IT WITH WHATEVER DOCUMENTATION WE CAN AND WHERE WE DON'T HAVE DOCUMENTATION. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE, YOU KNOW, ATTORNEYS OFFICES AND THE OTHER FOLKS, THE MUNICIPAL HOUSING LIAISONS TO TRY TO NAIL DOWN, LIKE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND APPROVAL DATES AND CEOS FROM YEARS BACK AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, SO SINCE IT'S NEW, YOU HAVE TO REALLY BE EXTRA CAREFUL BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO INTERPRET THIS. CORRECT. BUT WE CAN ALSO DO A LOOK BACK. SO WHEN WE WERE IN ROUND THREE BEFORE THE COURTS, AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULING IN 2015, THAT PUT EVERYBODY BACK INTO THE COURTS AND PREPARING THE PLANS DURING THAT ROUND, CERTAINLY WE HAD TO LOOK BACK AT ROUND AT THE PRIOR ROUNDS, AT ONE AND TWO, AND IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT, YOU WOULD SHOW HOW YOU COMPLIED WITH ONE AND TWO BEFORE YOU EVEN MET THE NEXT CREDITS TO ROUND THREE. WE FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT THAT WILL BE REQUIRED AGAIN. IT WAS IN THE PAST, BUT IT'S STILL SOMEWHAT UNCLEAR NOW HOW THEY'RE DOING IT. BUT I THINK FROM WHAT YOU ALL ARE ASKING, IT'S MORE BASED ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. AND YES, THE TOWNS THAT DIDN'T COMPLY WITH ROUND TWO AND THREE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TIME TRYING TO CONVINCE A POTENTIAL BUILDER WHO WANTS TO BUILD IN THEIR TOWN THAT THEY CAN'T BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY COMPLYING WITH ROUND FOUR. THEY'RE GOING TO BE OPEN TO CHALLENGES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T COMPLY IN THE PAST. COULD YOU, MICHAEL, SPEAK TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY WHEN YOU SAID THAT'S THE ONLY IF THE TOWNS THAT DON'T COMPLY, IT GOES DOWN TO JUST A HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THEY TAKE AWAY THE AUTHORITY OF A MUNICIPAL PLANNING BOARD OR, YOU KNOW, ZONING. WHAT WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT? HEALTH AND SAFETY? ARE THEY SAYING THAT THIS AREA CANNOT TAKE IN THIS MUCH TRAFFIC NOW BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD, DOES THAT COME UNDER SAFETY OR HEALTH OR BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN IN A TOWN LIKE MONTGOMERY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR ROADS AND HOW MUCH TRAFFIC THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, SUSTAIN. SO WHAT WHAT GOES IN THAT HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN THAT RAISES, OH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE GUIDING. IT'S RESIDENTIAL SITE IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS. DO YOU COMPLY WITH THAT. AND THEY DON'T CARE. AND DOES THE STORMWATER WORK. AND DO YOU HAVE UTILITIES THE BASIC STUFF. AND EVEN IF YOUR ROADS CANNOT SUSTAIN THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC THERE, THAT'S NOT A CONCERN I HAVEN'T SEEN. IN MY EXPERIENCE. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THOSE INSTANCES WHERE THEY'VE SAID, WELL, TRAFFIC IS A CONCERN. I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP AND MAYBE IT'S HAD SOME MITIGATION, BUT I DON'T RECALL THAT COMING UP AS A AS A DEFENSE AGAINST. INCLUSIONARY, IS THE STATE GOING TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEM WITH OUR 206 TRAFFIC? I MEAN, IT'S YOU KNOW, THEY THEY WANT TO THROW US ONE, ONE THING AND THEN WANT US TO DO ANOTHER THING. THEY NEED TO SUPPORT US. RIGHT. AND FIGURING OTHER PROBLEMS OUT. AND I AGREE. WILL YOU BE GOING? THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FIGURES THAT YOU HAD SAID WERE USED TO DETERMINE, YOU 
          [00:35:02]
KNOW, OUR PERCENTAGE ALLOCATION, ETCETERA. WILL YOU BE GOING LATER ON IN YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT PROS AND CONS OF WHETHER WE WANT TO CHALLENGE THAT AND WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN TO MEETING THOSE DEADLINES? WELL, I THINK I THINK THAT IT'S PROBABLY MORE OF A LEGAL DISCUSSION. YEAH. OKAY, WENDY, IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT, IF WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A NUMBER THROWN OUT THERE, LIKE, I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT STATE. I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL WORKING REALLY HARD, BUT YOU KNOW, ERRORS ARE MADE, RIGHT. 
          YOU KNOW, LIKE MAPS. YOU KNOW, THE I WOULD CAUTION IS THAT WE SPEAK IN GENERALITIES WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPECIFICS. I DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY DISCUSS STRATEGY IN AN OPEN SESSION THAT MAY GIVE AN OPENING TO SOMEBODY TO OBJECT. OKAY, OKAY. THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT. OKAY. I GUESS, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. OTHERWISE I'M GOING TO I DO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD LOOK LIKE AS YOUR PLAN. SO THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, JUST A COUPLE MORE SLIDES. AND THEN SURE, I WAS JUST MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A CHANCE TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO YEAH, OF COURSE. S, YOU KNOW, THE SLIDE THAT WE HAVE UP NOW IS A ESSENTIALLY A CREDITING FRAMEWORK BASED ON A VERY SIMPLE AND GENERAL BASED UPON YOUR PERSPECTIVE NEED OBLIGATION OF 260. AND WHAT WHAT IT REALLY SHOWS IS THAT YOU HAVE A PROSPECTIVE NEED OF 260. AND IF YOU AND THIS IS BASED ON DCA, AND IF YOU MAXIMIZE ALL THE BONUS CREDITS THAT YOU CAN GET, YOU THAT 65 BONUS CREDITS. SO WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT OUT OF 260, YOU HAVE 195 NEW UNITS THAT ARE REQUIRED. AND WE SAY NEW UNITS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE THINK ABOUT IT AS NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT THAT COULD ALSO BE A UNIT THAT WAS DEED RESTRICTED AND IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE. AND YOU EXTEND THAT DEED RESTRICTION. ANOTHER 34, I THINK IT'S 40 YEARS NOW. IT'S 40 YEARS NOW. YOU WOULD DO THE 40 YEAR DEED RESTRICTION. THAT'S A NEW UNIT, BUT IT'S NOT A NEW BUILDING. RIGHT. SO THIS ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME OF YOUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FAMILY UNITS, YOUR MINIMUM RENTALS, YOUR. AND THEN IT GETS INTO SOME OF THE MICRO REQUIREMENTS HERE. BUT WHAT IT ALSO SHOWS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THE MOST AGE RESTRICTED UNITS YOU COULD HAVE ARE 58. AND THE BONUSES FOR THE AGE RESTRICTED UNITS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY LOW. IT'S LIKE THE LAST BONUS YOU WOULD TAKE. YOU GET LESS THAN THREE BONUS CREDITS FOR SENIORS. SO IT REALLY SHOWS YOU THAT OUT OF THE 260 THERE'S REALLY ONE 195 REAL UNITS OF THOSE. SOME MANY MAY BE NEW CONSTRUCTION, SOME MAY BE EXTENDED DEED RESTRICTIONS OR NEW DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE PUT ON MARKET TO AFFORDABLE THINGS LIKE THAT. IT JUST GIVES YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY START TO PUT IN THE MECHANISMS THAT WILL SATISFY THAT. AND SO I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS, THE MECHANISMS TO EXPLORE EXTENSIONS OF CONTROLS, SPECIAL NEEDS FACILITIES. WHEN YOU DO SPECIAL NEEDS UNITS NOW YOU GET A ONE FOR ONE BONUS CREDIT THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE LIKE THAT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. OF COURSE WE HAVE 100% AFFORDABLE PROJECTS YOU'VE DONE. WE HAVE THE PEARL OR NOW IT'S CONIFER AND THE RPM THAT IS ON THE ON THE BOARDS. IT'S BEEN APPROVED. AND SO THOSE ARE THE 100% AFFORDABLE. ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ARE ANOTHER WAY YOU CAN DO THIS. AND THAT'S NOT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS. JUST PUTTING A NEW UNIT IN YOUR BACKYARD. THAT MEANS IT'S GOT TO BE AFFIRMATIVELY MARKETED AS AN AFFORDABLE UNIT. AND JUST LIKE ANY OTHER UNIT, AND YOU LOOK FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR BONUSES, I STARTED TO DRIFT INTO SOME OF THESE THESE BONUSES, IF YOU EXCEED THE MINIMUMS FOR THREE BEDROOM UNITS, YOU GET BONUSES FOR THOSE. SO IF YOU IF YOU CAN GET A DEVELOPER TO BUILD MORE LARGER UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE, THEN YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO THAT'S HELPFUL. AND THAT'S TOWN WIDE. THAT'S NOT PROJECT SPECIFIC. SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL YOUR THREE BEDROOM UNITS TOWN WIDE. A LOT OF THIS IS ACCOUNTING. I SOME OF MY PLANNERS HAVE COME TO ME AND THEY'RE LIKE, I FEEL LIKE I'M AN ACCOUNTANT. SOMETIMES. YOU KIND OF ARE. BUT IT'S GOOD TO DO THAT CONVERSION OF NON RESIDENTIAL SPACE TO RESIDENTIAL. SO IF YOU'RE IN A REDEVELOPMENT SCENARIO THAT WORKS, YOU DO GET A HALF BONUS CREDIT FOR UNITS CREATED BY VIRTUE OF A REDEVELOPMENT AREA. SO THERE'S YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH SOME OF THE REDEVELOPMENT STATUTES TO GET THINGS DONE. AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE IN A REDEVELOPMENT AREA. THESE UNITS ARE GOING TO GET ADDITIONAL CREDITS. SO THAT HELPS TOO. AND THEN BACK TO THE IMMEDIATE STEPS. GOT TO GET THE RESOLUTION DONE. GOT TO GET YOUR ACTION READY AND YOU GOT TO FILE IT. AND DON'T FORGET TO FILE ON THE MUNICIPAL WEBSITE. AND 
          [00:40:02]
THAT'S IT. SO AND THE IMPLICATIONS AS WE TALKED ABOUT LOSS OF IMMUNITY AND LOSS OF YOUR AUTHORITY OVER ZONING. SO. AND THAT'S REALLY IT. IF I MIGHT ALSO ADD LOOKING AT IT FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION, ONE OF THE BENEFITS TO PARTICIPATION IS THAT YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF WHERE THOSE UNITS ARE GOING TO GO. SO IF MUNICIPALITY MARKETS TO SOMEBODY TO GET ANOTHER 100% AFFORDABLE PROJECT WITH 90 UNITS, NOW YOU'RE DOWN TO 105 NEW UNITS. THINGS OF PARTICIPATING DOESN'T JUST PROTECT YOU FROM SOMEBODY COMING IN, BUT IT ALSO LETS YOU GO ON THE OFFENSE. YEAH. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE'VE ALWAYS STRIVEN TO DO IS WHEN YOU'RE FACED WITH THESE OBLIGATIONS, WHAT ARE THE WHAT ARE THE WHERE ARE THE PLACES. 
          AND THIS GETS TO LIKE BEING IN CONTROL. WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE. AND THAT HOUSING COULD IMPROVE IN THE TOWN. WHERE COULD THIS BENEFIT THINGS. WHERE WHERE DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN? SO LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND TO CAPITALIZE ON OTHER ADJACENCIES AND SYNERGIES WITH EXISTING DEVELOPMENT OR THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO IMPROVE, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. SO I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING AT IT FROM BOTH SIDES. SO THE GLASS IS HALF FULL I KNOW. RIGHT. IT'S JUST JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION BECAUSE I'VE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE NATIONALLY AROUND REDUCING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS, LIKE CREATING GREAT LIKE VETERAN HOUSING OPTIONS. YEAH, I'D SAY I'VE I'VE DONE I'VE HAD SOME WORK THAT I'VE DONE WITH LIONS. THERE'S LIKE A VETERANS HOUSING FACILITY. IF IT WOULD THAT KIND OF HOUSING ALSO KIND OF FALL INTO, YOU KNOW, THE 260 OR SO, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS OUR TARGET IF THAT, IF THAT WAS AN OPTION IN MONTGOMERY. OKAY. SO YEAH, YOU CAN HAVE SOME SOME VETERANS HOUSING, VETERANS PREFERENCE HOUSING. YES. AND THAT COULD BE EITHER FOR VETERANS THAT HAVE DISABILITIES OR SPECIAL NEEDS. BUT IT CAN ALSO BE FOR VETERANS WITH FAMILIES. OKAY, OKAY. I GUESS AT THIS POINT, PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC 
          [5. 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? PLEASE COME ON. DOWN. YOU HAVE TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE. HI, I'M JIM MEYER, I LIVE IN SKILLMAN IN CLIFFSIDE PART OF CHERRY VALLEY. 
          SIR, COULD YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR ME? FOR THE RECORD, M AS IN MARY I O N AS IN NANCY. 
          THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR MICHAEL THAT I ONE, YOU TALKED ABOUT CHALLENGES, BUT YOU MOSTLY FRAMED IT IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE WANT THERE TO BE HIGHER NUMBERS, LIKE DEVELOPERS COULD CHALLENGE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE THE NUMBER COULD GO UP. COULD WHO CAN CHALLENGE? CAN AN INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE? COULD AN INDIVIDUAL SAY, THAT'S INSANE? YOU'RE YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, COULD I RAISE MY HAND AND SAY, I HATE YOUR METHODOLOGY, I HATE YOUR SUIT. I HATE, YOU KNOW, YOUR NUMBERS OR WHATEVER. SO WHO CAN CHALLENGE? AND BECAUSE YOU, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT CHALLENGES AND WHO WHO CAN CHALLENGE AND WHAT GROUNDS. WELL, WELL, LET ME SAY THIS. 
          ANYBODY CAN CHALLENGE, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE LAW. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RATIONALE. FOR INSTANCE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO YOU WOULD HAVE TO SHOW THAT THE TOWN THAT YOU WERE CHALLENGING EITHER DIDN'T FOR THE FIRST CASE, FOR THE NUMBERS. RIGHT. YOUR OBLIGATION THAT THE NUMBERS THAT THEY STIPULATED TO DIDN'T FOLLOW THE LAW OR THAT THEY DIDN'T THEY DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR CERTAIN THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FACTORS AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT. 
          YOU CAN'T JUST CHALLENGE, OKAY, YOU NEED TO HAVE A RATIONALE, AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE THE DATA TO SHOW, TO DEMONSTRATE THAT IF THAT IF YOU DON'T. AND THIS IS THIS IS A NEW WORLD. SO WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. BUT IF YOU DIDN'T THEN YOUR CHALLENGE WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE DEEMED TO BE AN ACCEPTABLE CHALLENGE. AND THEY WOULD JUST THROW YOU OUT. SECOND QUESTION. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE 27 TOWNS, MOSTLY IN BERGEN COUNTY, THAT ARE CHALLENGING THE LAW ITSELF, AND THEY LOST ON THE FIRST ROUND AT WHATEVER LEVEL. AND NOW THEY'RE THEY'VE APPEALED IT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OR THE LIKELIHOOD OR THE OF THE PROGRESS? I MEAN, HOW LONG COULD THAT GO? YEARS. MONTHS? THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. SO THEY DIDN'T LOSE THE FIRST ROUND. WHAT THEY LOST WAS THEIR REQUEST TO STOP THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEADLINES, YOU KNOW, TO STAY THE LEGISLATION UNTIL THEIR CASE IS HEARD. THE JUDGE SAID NO. SO WE STILL HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE DEADLINES. I DO BELIEVE THEY'RE BEFORE THE END OF THE 
          [00:45:03]
MONTH, IF NOT ON THE 31ST. THERE ARE OTHER PARTIES NOW ASKING TO HAVE THIS CASE DISMISSED, RIGHT? SO IF IT GETS DISMISSED, THEN WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS. WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD DO IF MONTGOMERY TELLS ME TO FILE THE DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACTION IS TO MAKE SURE WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO AMEND OUR NUMBERS SHOULD ANY ANY LAWSUIT PREVAIL. GREAT. AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION IS JUST JUST A MATH THING. YOU WENT TO 195 AND 260, WHICH I UNDERSTAND. SO I ROUNDED THAT UP TO 200 BECAUSE IT'S AN EVEN NUMBER FOR ME. IF WE DID JUST DO THE BUILDER'S REMEDY, WHICH IS NOW CALLED THE EXCLUSIONARY ZONING LAWSUIT, AND IF YOU DID 20%, DOES MR. MATH SAY THAT THAT'S A THOUSAND NEW UNITS TO GET THE 200 UNDER BUILDER'S REMEDY SCENARIO? YEAH, WE COULD BE STUCK WITH A THOUSAND, LITERALLY A THOUSAND UNITS. CORRECT? OKAY. THANKS. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. I DO WANT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN WE DEVELOP THESE PLANS, WE'RE VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT IT. AND WE USE A VARIETY OF COMPLIANCE MECHANISMS, NOT JUST INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND YOU KNOW, WE USE EXTENSIONS OF CONTROLS. WE USE, YOU KNOW, SPECIAL NEEDS. WE USE 100% AFFORDABLE. SO IN OUR MIND, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TOWN AND PARTICULARLY MONTGOMERY, TO MANAGE THIS IN A WAY THAT FITS INTO THE TOWN IN THE BEST WAY IT CAN. NO, THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO IMPACT SO MANY AREAS, RIGHT? SCHOOLS, OUR OUR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR TRAFFIC, YOU KNOW, SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE HELPING LIKE EMS, IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE IMPACTED. SO REALLY WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THESE, ALL OF THESE, THESE THINGS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, AND WE ONLY HAVE UNTIL JANUARY 31ST. I MEAN, IT'S A LOT. YEAH. I THINK THE RESIDENTS QUESTION WAS REALLY GOOD ABOUT WHAT, 200 UNITS OR 260 FOR THAT MATTER, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDING ALSO MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO LET THE BUILDER BUILD MARKET RATE, I THINK UNDER A BUILDER'S REMEDY SCENARIO THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED, WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY SAY TO SAY NO. BUT AS MICHAEL HAD MENTIONED, BEING PROACTIVE AND GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE BY PARTICIPATING, AS MONTGOMERY HAS HISTORICALLY DONE MEANS YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE RPM BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO GO UP, THAT'S 100% AFFORDABLE, 74 UNITS, 70 OR 70 UNITS. THAT'S WITHOUT ONE MARKET RATE. OKAY. SO WHEN YOU DEVELOP YOUR OWN PLAN, THAT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK STRATEGICALLY AT WHAT BENEFITS MONTGOMERY THE MOST. IN THIS CASE, IT WAS NO MARKET RATE UNITS. PLUS NOW WE HAVE AN AFFORDABLE PLACE FOR SENIORS. THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT BECAUSE THEN AND WE GET TO CHOOSE WHERE IT GOES AND CORRECT ALL OF THAT OKAY. THAT'S A THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF THERE'S ANY MORE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IF YOU CAN ASK NOW AND THEN WE CAN OPEN IT UP TO REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. HI, I'M MOLLY SCHNEIDER, I LIVE IN SKILLMAN. I'M BRAND NEW TO ALL THIS, BUT VERY INTERESTED. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT OUR BONUS CREDITS. SO THE WAY THAT THE LAW IS STRUCTURED, IT ALLOWS FOR A UNIT TO BE CREATED OF A CERTAIN TYPE. SO LET'S SAY IT'S IN A REDEVELOPMENT AREA. SO IF YOU HAVE A REDEVELOPMENT AREA AND YOU CREATE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT IN THERE, YOU GET 0.5 CREDITS FOR EVERY UNIT YOU CREATE THERE. IF YOU IT USED TO BE THAT IF YOU DEVELOPED RENTAL HOUSING, RENTAL HOUSING GOT A ONE FOR ONE BONUS. AND IT WAS THESE ARE INCENTIVES THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE LAW TO ENCOURAGE CERTAIN TYPES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. DOES THE BONUS THEN REDUCE THE NUMBER YOU HAVE TO DO IN TOTAL? YES. OKAY, SO IF I GO BACK I'M GOING TO GO BACK. SO IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE THIS SHOWS OUR TOTAL PROSPECTIVE NEED OF 260 OF THAT 65TH MAY BE BONUSES. SO THOSE BONUSES ARE NOT UNITS. THOSE ARE BONUS CREDITS THAT ARE CLAIMED THROUGH THE VARIOUS MECHANISMS THAT ALLOW FOR BONUSES. AND IF YOU MAXIMIZE THOSE, THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF UNITS REQUIRED IS 195. SO THEY DO COUNT AGAINST YOUR TOTAL PROSPECTIVE NEED. OKAY. IF THIS IS TOO BIG FOR THIS SETTING, JUST TELL ME. MOLLY, COME SEE ME LATER. BUT I'M CURIOUS. YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT A DEVELOPER COMING IN. I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT IS THE POWER DYNAMIC HERE AND WHAT LAND IS IT? IS IT PRIVATE CITIZENS SELLING LAND, OR DOES THE TOWNSHIP HAVE LAND THAT YOU ARE GETTING BUILDERS TO WORK WITH? NO. SO IN THAT SCENARIO, IT WOULD BE THE BUILDER EITHER OWNS OR HAS A CONTRACT TO PURCHASE PROPERTY ON THEIR OWN. OKAY. AND 
          [00:50:04]
THEN YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO IMPACT HOW THEY DO THAT, RIGHT? IF THE TOWNSHIP HAS LAND AND IT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR HOUSING, THAT'S WHERE WE GET INTO THE OFFENSIVE OF WHAT DO WE WANT HERE? AND THEN WE CAN FIND A BUILDER TO BUILD IT. RIGHT. SO IF A FARMER, JUST A PRIVATE FARMER SELLS 100 ACRES TO A DEVELOPER. WELL, SO THE WAY IT WORKS THROUGH THE THROUGH THE HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT, THE HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN REALLY ARE THE OVERALL PLAN FOR THIS. AND THEY SHOW FIRST THAT YOU'VE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE ENOUGH UNITS TO COMPLY OVER THE TEN YEAR PERIOD. IT SHOWS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT WHEN SPENDING PLAN, BECAUSE THERE'S FEES AND THINGS THAT HAPPEN, AND THERE'S ALSO ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS IN THERE AND THE ZONING THAT'S ADOPTED, FOR INSTANCE, THAT FARMER, IN ORDER FOR HIM TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THERE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE HIS PROPERTY ZONED TO PERMIT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A WAY THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE HOUSING PLAN. SO THE TOWNSHIP'S POWER IS TO ZONE FOR THOSE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, IN ADDITION TO WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT IS ACTUALLY HAVING A MUNICIPALLY SPONSORED DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS WHAT WENDY'S TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS THE 100% PROJECT THAT SHE TALKED ABOUT ON MUNICIPAL LAND. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK THANK YOU FOR ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. AND I THINK MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE SHOULD PUT OUT MAYBE A PLANNING, YOU KNOW, PLANNING ONE ON ONE KIND OF DISCUSSION, BECAUSE I LEARNED A LOT JUST FROM THAT, THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IN THE. HI. BRIAN HAMILTON SKILLMAN, NEW JERSEY. THANKS, MR. SULLIVAN, FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS. VERY INFORMATIVE. JUST A QUESTION. I THINK YOU MENTIONED YOUR FIRM IS BOTH ADVISING THE TOWNS AS WELL AS BEING ARBITERS, ARBITRATORS. SO HOW DOES THAT WORK IN TERMS OF I MEAN, YOU'RE KIND OF PLAYING BOTH SIDES A LITTLE BIT. SO HOW DO YOU. WELL, WELL YOU KNOW I DON'T THINK THAT WE'LL BE ADJUDICATING ON MONTGOMERY'S CASES OR ANY OF OUR DIRECT. 
          DIRECT TOWNS. WE WON'T BE DOING THAT. THERE'S 11 ADJUDICATORS THAT WILL BE INFORMING THE PROGRAM, AND SO THAT WILL BE WE WON'T BE DOING IT FOR OURS. BUT THE ACTUALLY, I THINK THE DIRECTIVE SAYS THAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE KIND OF THERE'S, THEY'RE ANTICIPATING BECAUSE THERE'S SO FEW PLANNERS WHO DO THIS IN THIS WAY THAT THERE'S, THERE'S GOING TO BE MOMENTS WHERE THE CONFLICT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE WAIVED JUST TO GET THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART RIGHT. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE CONFLICT WOULD BE THAT THE SPECIAL ADJUDICATOR IS ASKING THE ADVICE OF SOMEONE WHO ALSO REPRESENTS MUNICIPALITIES OR MAY ALSO REPRESENT BUILDERS. THE IDEA IS THAT WHEN THEY'RE ADVISING THESE ADJUDICATORS, THEY'RE OBJECTIVE AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PLANNING PRINCIPLES. ONLY INTERPRETATION OF THE PLANNING RULES. THEY'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF A DEVELOPER AND THEY'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF MUNICIPALITY. THEY'RE IMPARTIAL. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ANY OTHERS? FOR ONE LAST QUESTION, IS THERE A WAY TO ASK FOR EXTENSION? THE THERE WAS NOTHING THAT INDICATED IN THE LAW TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION FOR THE STIPULATION OF THE OBLIGATION. THERE WAS IN THE LAW AN ABILITY OR IN THE DIRECTIVE. I THINK IT'S IN THE DIRECTIVE THAT THERE'S A PROVISION FOR, YOU KNOW, TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT. AND THAT'S SEEMS TO BE MORE OF WHEN THERE IS AN OBJECTION AND YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH IT, THAN IF YOU'RE JUST SAILING THROUGH. BUT DENNIS, TO I KNOW THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED A FEW TIMES THAT YOU FEEL THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ONLY THING THAT IS BEING AGREED TO BY JANUARY 31ST. WELL, THERE'S TWO THINGS. FIRST, ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM OR NOT TO SEEK YOUR ROUND FOUR COMPLIANCE? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, YOU HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ARE YOU CALCULATING YOUR OWN NUMBER BASED ON THE METHODOLOGY THAT WAS PUT FORTH IN THE AMENDED FAIR HOUSING ACT, OR DO YOU ACCEPT THE CALCULATION THAT DCA HAS PROFFERED? THOSE ARE THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT THE MUNICIPALITY HAS TO DO BY JANUARY 31ST, WHERE THE UNITS WOULD GO AND HOW YOU'RE DOING IT, THAT'S IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN. AND THAT'S PART TWO. THAT'S WHAT HAS TO BE ADOPTED BY JUNE 30TH. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND PLEASE GO AHEAD. OLIVER SKILLMAN, NEW JERSEY I'M HERE JUST TO QUICKLY SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MANDATES. OBVIOUSLY, SOME CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED REGARDING THE ADVERSE IMPACTS THAT FURTHER DEVELOPMENT COULD CAUSE. IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK IN THE IN THE MICROPHONE, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF PEOPLE IN THE BACK CAN HEAR YOU. THANK YOU. YES. WITH REGARDS TO TRAFFIC, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF 206, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THAT TRAFFIC IS THROUGH TRAFFIC AND THAT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO CHANGE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HOUSES WILL LIKELY INCREASE TRAFFIC. BUT TRAFFIC IS ALSO A FUNCTION OF AVERAGE COMMUTE DISTANCE, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE CLOSER TO THEIR PLACE OF WORK, PARTICULARLY LOW INCOME PEOPLE 
          [00:55:04]
WHO OFTEN ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN PARTS OF THE STATE AND DRIVE FURTHER DISTANCES INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS. AND, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO LIVE CLOSER WOULD CERTAINLY DO SOMETHING TO MITIGATE THAT. THERE ARE ALSO SOME CONCERNS REGARDING, YOU KNOW, INCREASED EXPENSES WITH REGARDS TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. UTILITIES, OFTEN WHEN DISCUSSIONS OF DEVELOPMENT IN MONTGOMERY COME UP, THERE IS THE ISSUE OF BEDROOMS VERSUS COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RESIDENCES DOES CREATE NEW INCENTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS, AND THAT THERE IS SORT OF A HOLISTIC VIEW THAT CAN BE TAKEN ABOUT THIS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OLIVER, CAN YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR ME, PLEASE? T E T E N N E Y. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY, OKAY. HELLO, EVERYBODY. I'M BARBARA PRESTON. I'M WITH THE MONTGOMERY NEWS. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHEN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS USUALLY MANDATED ONLY FOR 30 YEARS AND THEN IT REVERTS BACK TO MARKET UNITS. SO WHETHER IT'S, SAY, THE SOMERSET, WHICH HAS 115 APARTMENTS, 92 MARKET RATE, 23 AFFORDABLE RATE. SO AFTER 30 YEARS, THE 23 AFFORDABLE RATES, WHICH ARE OWNED BY THE DEVELOPER, WOULD BECOME MARKET RATE UNITS. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE. SO EVERY SINGLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX BUILT IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP IS ON A TIMELINE OF AFTER 30 YEARS, THEY REVERT TO MARKET RATE. THAT ALSO GOES FOR THE AGE RESTRICTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING BUILT RIGHT HERE NEXT TO THE MONTGOMERY MUNICIPAL COMPLEX. THE DEVELOPMENT IS OWNED BY THE DEVELOPER, BUT IT'S AFFORDABLE, AGE RESTRICTED HOUSING FOR 30 YEARS. AND THEN HERE'S THE QUESTION. AFTER 30 YEARS, DOES THE DEVELOPER OF THE HOUSING THAT MONTGOMERY IS PAYING JUST TO BUILD AFFORDABLE UNITS IN, DOES THAT THEN REVERT TO THE DEVELOPER AND BECOME MARKET RATE HOUSING? I HEARD MR. SULLIVAN SAY, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE TO BUILD A BUILDER'S REMEDY. WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE A DEVELOPER FOR MARKET RATE UNITS FOR EACH AFFORDABLE, WHICH IS WHAT A DEVELOPER WILL TELL YOU THEY HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO AFFORD TO BUILD THE AFFORDABLE UNITS. SO INSTEAD, WE CAN BUILD OUR OWN AND JUST BUILD THE AFFORDABLE UNITS BY, I SUPPOSE, GIVING THE LAND TO A DEVELOPER WHO THEN DEVELOP IT DEVELOPS THIS, AND THEN IT REVERTS TO MARKET UNITS IN TIME. I JUST WONDER WHAT THE MECHANISM IS TO MAKE THESE ONCE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT REVERT TO MARKETING UNITS. 
          HOW DO WE GET THEM BACK TO BE AFFORDABLE AGAIN? AND THIS SOUNDS LIKE A LONG WAY OFF 30 YEARS, RIGHT? I MEAN, WHO'S GOING TO BE AROUND IN THIS ROOM IN 30 YEARS? SOME OF US, YES. 
          BUT THE UNITS AT PIKE RUN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH WERE BUILT ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, GIVE OR TAKE SOME YEAR, SOME YEARS, ALL OF THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE NOT GOING TO REVERT TO MARKET UNITS. AND CAN WE GET THEM BACK FOR THIS NEW ROUND? SO I'M GOING TO JUMP IN BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT THERE TO UNPACK. YES. FIRST LET ME START WITH MUNICIPALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE HAVE THE MOST CONTROL OVER. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY THAT TOWNSHIP LAND THAT WAS PURCHASED AND THEN DEEDED OVER TO A DEVELOPER FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL EVER REVERT TO MARKET RATE, BECAUSE IT'S DEED RESTRICTED FOR 30 FOR 30 YEARS, FOR ETERNITY. OKAY, THAT'S GOOD. 
          DON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THERE. IT REVERTS BACK TO US. NOW THERE'S IF THEY DON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT. SO THOSE THOSE UNITS CAN NEVER GO TO MARKET. NOW THERE'S OTHER THINGS INVOLVED WHEN IT COMES TO 100% AFFORDABLE AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY US THAT THEY ARE 
          [01:00:02]
ENDOWED TO. RIGHT. THERE'S ALSO FINANCING THROUGH THE MFA. THE MFA REQUIRES 40 YEAR GENERALLY DEED RESTRICTION AND GIVES THE FINANCING FOR THAT TERM. AND THERE WILL BE ANOTHER OVERLAYING CONTROL FROM THE MFA ON THEIR FINANCING THAT REQUIRES A 40 YEAR DEED RESTRICTION ON RPM. 
          WHEN THAT IS UP. THEY CAN COME BACK AND SEEK ASSISTANCE, MAYBE FROM THE TRUST FUNDS, TO HELP BRING UNITS BACK UP TO CODE WITH WHATEVER THE CODE IS AT THAT TIME. AND WE CAN FILE IT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GET MONEY FROM MFA. WE CAN GET IT. AGAIN. THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THAT IS NOW WHATEVER ROUND WE'RE IN WHEN THAT TIME PERIOD EXPIRES, THAT CREDIT COUNTS AGAIN. SO EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A DEED RESTRICTION ON THE LAND, THE UNITS THEN GET RESTRICTED AS WELL BECAUSE THEN WE GET TO COUNT THEM AGAIN 40 YEARS, 30 YEARS FROM NOW, WHENEVER IT IS THAT THEY PULL FINANCING AGAIN, WE DEFINITELY GET TO COUNT THOSE A SECOND TIME. CORRECT? OKAY, SO THAT'S WHAT MICHAEL WAS SAYING. TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE'S UNITS EXPIRING, WHETHER IT'S ON OUR PROPERTY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S, AND WE FIND WAYS TO REENGAGE THEM. AND USUALLY IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE UP TO CODE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT A SLUMLORD SITUATION EITHER. SO AS LONG AS THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, WE GET ANOTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING CREDIT FOR THE TOWNSHIP WITHOUT BUILDING ANOTHER UNIT. OKAY. AND JUST TO JUST THE MECHANISMS FOR THIS ARE IN PLACE IN TOWN. RIGHT. SO WELL WE MONITOR WE THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR THE MONITORING TO UNDERSTAND WHEN THE DATE OF THE DEED RESTRICTIONS EXPIRE. BECAUSE THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN A YEAR OR TWO BEFOREHAND, YOU START TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH UNIT OWNERS OR WHOMEVER, BECAUSE THERE'S A FINANCIAL COMPONENT. WHEN WE DO DEED RESTRICTIONS NOWADAYS, WE PUT THE TOWNSHIP HAVING THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL IN THERE BEFORE IT GETS SOLD TO KEEP THE DEED RESTRICTION ON IT. SO AND WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE HAVING RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, DO WE HAVE TO SAY PURCHASE THE WAY THE THIRD ROUND DEED RESTRICTIONS WERE WRITTEN, IT INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE RESTRICTED FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 YEARS OR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE GOVERNING BODY ALLOWED THEM TO BE LET GO. RIGHT. SMART LAWYER. LIKE I SAID, THERE WAS A LOT TO UNPACK IN EVERYTHING YOU SAID, BUT VERY GOOD POINTS TO BRING UP BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE HEARD US EXPLAIN. BUT WE DO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE THAT UNIT IS CREATED, IT CAN GET CIRCULATED AGAIN. OKAY, SO WHEN YOU WONDER WHAT A MUNICIPAL HOUSING LIAISON DOES, THAT'S PART OF THEIR JOB IS TO MONITOR THOSE DEED RESTRICTIONS. SO BUT BUT THE OTHER HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH WERE NOT TECHNICALLY BUILDERS REMEDIES, THEY WERE BUILT WITH PLANNING, BUT THEY WERE STILL FOUR UNITS TO EVERY AFFORDABLE UNIT. AND WHEN THE PIKE RUN UNITS COME OFF WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, HOW CAN WE GET THOSE BACK INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THAT'S THAT'S BASICALLY MY QUESTION. SO TO BE FAIR, I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE DEED RESTRICTIONS SPECIFICALLY. WE ARE AWARE OF PIKE RUN. I'M NOT SURE OF WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS IN THERE, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY. WE'LL EXPLORE EVERY OPTION AND EVERY POTENTIAL TO EXTEND IT. A NEW ACCREDITING OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT HAVING TO BUILD. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK WE'RE DONE WITH THE QUESTIONS. I THINK 
          [6. Allies, Inc. – Project Amendment]
WE WILL MOVE FORWARD AND WE HAVE ALLIES INC HERE FOR A PROJECT AMENDMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO INVITE ALLIES REPRESENTATIVES TO THE PODIUM. YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS PETER FLANNERY WITH THE LAW FIRM OF BISGUIER HOFF ON BEHALF OF ALLIES INC. ALLIES INC IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION BASED IN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, MERCER COUNTY, WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, DEVELOPS SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING ALLIES, IS PROPOSING AT 148 BURT HILL ROAD IN THE SKILLMAN SECTION OF THE TOWNSHIP. A SIX BEDROOM SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING HOME, A GROUP HOME FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. TO FURTHER CONFUSE EVERYONE. THIS IS PART OF THE TOWNSHIP'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN, BUT FOR THE THIRD ROUND, NOT THE FOURTH ROUND. SO THIS PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE SIX CREDITS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE TOWNSHIP'S THIRD ROUND PLAN. BACK IN 2013, THE TOWNSHIP HAD CONVEYED THE PROPERTY. IT'S ABOUT ONE ACRE TO ALLIES INC. DUE TO FUNDING ISSUES. IT'S TAKEN UNTIL NOW FOR ALLIES TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS PAST JULY, THE ALLIES WAS BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT HERE FOR SOME VARIOUS BULK VARIANCES FOR THE GROUP HOME, AND HAS NOW 
          [01:05:04]
COMPLETED ALL THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, INCLUDING A NEW DEED RESTRICTION ON THE PROPERTY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING CONDITIONS OF THE APPROVAL IS A CORRECTIVE DEED, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY TAKING THAT 2013 DEED FROM THE TOWNSHIP TO ALLIES AND RERECORDING IT WITH A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE RESTRICTIONS. AND THAT CHANGE IS. ORIGINALLY, THE PARTIES CONTEMPLATED A RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY. IT WAS AN OLDER BUILDING KNOWN AS PINE KNOLL. ALLIES DETERMINED THAT IT JUST WAS NOT FEASIBLE TO RENOVATE THAT STRUCTURE, SO ALLIES DECIDED TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE AND JUST TO BUILD AN ENTIRELY NEW RESIDENCE ON THE PROPERTY. AND THAT'S WHAT WAS APPROVED BY THE ZONING BOARD BACK IN JULY. SO THIS CORRECTIVE DEED WOULD ESSENTIALLY REVISE THAT DEED FROM BACK IN 2013 TO PROVIDE FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, AS OPPOSED TO RENOVATION OF AN EXISTING STRUCTURE. LITTLE FEEDBACK HERE. OKAY. ALL THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS OF THAT DEED WILL REMAIN IN PLACE, INCLUDING THE REVERTER CLAUSE THAT COUNCIL HAD MENTIONED THAT AT ANY TIME, WE'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING REGULATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS, IT WOULD REVERT BACK TO THE TOWNSHIP. THERE'S ALSO AN INITIAL 30 YEAR DEED RESTRICTION, WHICH AT THE OPTION OF THE TOWNSHIP, COULD BE EXTENDED IN PERPETUITY FOR ADDITIONAL 30 YEAR TERMS, AMONG OTHER RESTRICTIONS. OKAY, SO FOR THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE'S EDIFICATION, WE ASKED MR. FLANNERY TO COME IN IN CASE THERE WAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THERE IS A RESOLUTION ON YOUR AGENDA FOR TONIGHT THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE CORRECTIVE DEED TO BE EXECUTED BY THE MAYOR AND WITNESSED, AND TO TAKE THOSE ACTIONS SO THAT THE ALLIES PROPERTY COULD BE MOVED FORWARD FOR SPECIAL NEEDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. JUST AN EXTRA CAVEAT. PART OF WHY THE HOUSE COULD NOT BE REHABILITATED FOR THIS PROJECT ALSO HAS TO DO WITH THE SPECIAL NEEDS TENANTS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED TO MOVE IN, AND IT BEING A TWO STORY STRUCTURE, INSTEAD MOVING IT TO ONE AND A HALF STORY. WHICH IS WHY THERE'S THE NEED TO BUILD A NEW STRUCTURE INSTEAD. CORRECT? OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MY EDUCATION. HOW ARE HOW ARE TENANTS SELECTED OR FOR HOUSING? I BELIEVE THERE'S A SCREENING PROCESS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. AND THEY WOULD ALL BE AFFORDABLE HOUSEHOLDS UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REGULATIONS. SO THERE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, AN INCOME TEST AS WELL AS OTHER TESTING OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. THANK YOU. MR. PART OF THE CREDITING REQUIRES IT TO BE DONE IN THAT FASHION. IT'S NOT THAT WE CAN SELECT WHO GOES IN. IT'S MORE OF A OVERALL SELECTION PROCESS. THE DCA HAS WITH THEIR WAITLISTS, SIMILAR TO HOW THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR NON-DISABILITY TENANTS GOES THROUGH EITHER A LOTTERY OR SOMETHING OF THAT SYSTEM. OKAY, PETER, CAN YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR THE RECORD? SURE. FLANNERY F L A N N E R Y. AND THE NAME OF THE LAW FIRM. BISCHOFF. B I S G A I E R. H O F F. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. OKAY. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1748. AN ORDINANCE 
          [7. Ordinance #25-1748 - An Ordinance Establishing a Comprehensive Salary and Wage Plan for the Township of Montgomery, Somerset County, and to Provide for its Administration – Introduction/First Reading]
ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE SALARY AND WAGE PLAN FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, SOMERSET COUNTY, AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS ADMINISTRATION IN 2025, 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 FEBRUARY 6TH, 2024. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 25, DASH 1748. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER AND YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. 
          YES. ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING, FINAL ADOPTION. THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION. 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION 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? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 25. DASH ONE, DASH 38 TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. 
          DASH ONE, DASH 49. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. 
          COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 
          [20. Resolution #25-1-50 - Designating Lots 59, 61, 62 and 64 in Block 28010 as Shown on the Tax Map of the Township of Montgomery (formerly known as Phase 2: Gateway Redevelopment) as a Condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment Under the New Jersey Local Redevelopment Housing Law (N.J.S.A. 40A: 12A-1 et seq.)]
NUMBER 25. DASH ONE, DASH 50 DESIGNATING LOTS 59, 61, 62 AND 64. IN BLOCK 28010, AS SHOWN ON 
          [01:10:08]
THE TAX MAP OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, FORMERLY KNOWN AS PHASE TWO. GATEWAY REDEVELOPMENT AS A CONDEMNATION. AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT UNDER THE NEW JERSEY LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT HOUSING LAW. NJSA DASH 40. 812 A-1 AT SEQUENCE. SO, MAYOR, IF I MAY, THIS RESOLUTION LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE USED TO BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY HAS. TO CHECK THE BOX FOR WHICH LOTS, IF ANY, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO DESIGNATE. THE PLANNING BOARD HAS DONE THE STUDY FOR THE AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT, AND HAS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL FOUR LOTS QUALIFY AND CAN BE DESIGNATED AS AN AREA OF REDEVELOPMENT. BUT YOU ARE NOT BOUND TO DESIGNATE ALL FOUR OF THEM. YOU ARE NOT BOUND TO DESIGNATE ANY, AND YOU MAY DESIGNATE ALL FOUR OF THEM IF YOU SO CHOOSE. BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS. THE RESOLUTION IS WRITTEN WITH A CHECK MARK THAT WOULD THEN BE INCORPORATED ONCE THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED TO NOTE WHICH LOTS, IF ANY, ARE BEING DESIGNATED. OKAY. AND WOULD YOU SPEAK TO THESE LOTS SO WITH THE GOVERNING BODY CAN YOU KNOW, GET REFRESHED. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO MICHAEL ON THAT ONE. OKAY. SURE. I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. OR MAYBE WE PROVIDED THE MAP THAT WAS IN THE STUDY FOR YOU. SO YOU EACH HAVE THAT AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY MAP LOT 64. 
          I'LL GO IN ORDER. LOT 59 IS THE FORMER FULL AUTO PARTS BUILDING. THAT THAT BUILDING HAS SINCE BEEN DEMOLISHED, BUT THAT ENCOMPASSES LOT 59. IT EXTENDS FROM COUNTY ROUTE 518 BACK TO A SMALL SECTION THAT FRONTS BRECKNELL WAY AND LOOP ROAD. LOT 61 IS THE ONE OF TWO LOTS THAT IS PART OF THE TIGER'S TAIL RESTAURANT. SO 61 AND 6261 IS SOME VACANT SPACE THAT THEY HAVE AT THE REAR OF THEIR MAIN PARKING LOT THAT ABUTS BRECKNELL WAY LOOP ROAD AND HAS FRONTAGE ON 206. LOT 62 HAS FRONTAGE ON ON 206. IT HAS AN ACCESS DRIVE AND THE MAIN RESTAURANT BUILDING IS ON LOT 62. AND LOT 64 IS THE FORMER TEXACO GAS STATION LOT. AND THAT'S AT THE CORNER OF FIVE, 18 AND 206 FRONTAGE ON BOTH OF THOSE ROADS. OKAY, SO THE OPTION FOR US IS DOING THIS AREA NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT AND BE SPECIFIC ON THE CONDEMNATION. IF WE DON'T WANT ALL FOUR IN THE CONDEMNATION PART, CAN WE STILL DESIGNATE AN AREA OF REDEVELOPMENT? IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT TO US? SO THE STUDY WAS DONE AS AN AREA NEED WITH THE ABILITY FOR CONDEMNATION BECAUSE OF CERTAIN. JUST TO GET A LITTLE BIT HISTORICAL HERE, THAT IT'S REQUIRED TO BE PUBLICLY NOTICED. IF THE GOVERNING BODY WOULD LIKE TO DESIGNATE WITH THE ABILITY FOR EMINENT DOMAIN. THAT WAS DUE TO COURT ACTIONS DECADES AGO. SO AT THIS POINT, WHENEVER A MUNICIPALITY DOES AN AREA NEEDED REDEVELOPMENT STUDY, IT WILL ALWAYS INDICATE NON CONDEMNATION OR WITH CONDEMNATION. IT IS A TOOL IN THE SHED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT UNDER SINGLE OWNERSHIP. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TRYING TO DESIGNATE SOME AS AN AREA NEED WITH CONDEMNATION, SOME WITHOUT. THIS RESOLUTION IS FOR A DESIGNATION WITH CONDEMNATION, AND THEREFORE YOU CAN CHOOSE WHETHER TO DESIGNATE ONE MORE, ALL OR NONE. OKAY. BUT, BUT BUT CLEARLY DESIGNATING IT AS A CONDEMNATION REDEVELOPMENT AREA. YOU STILL HAVE THE OPTION OF WHETHER TO EXERCISE THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN. CORRECT. EITHER SELECTIVELY OR NOT AT ALL. 
          CORRECT. AND NOTHING REQUIRES YOU COMPEL YOU TO CONDEMN ANYTHING? ABSOLUTELY. YOU IT AGAIN IT'S MENTIONED ONLY BECAUSE FOR PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS IT HAS TO BE MENTIONED IF YOU WANT THE OPTION ON THE TABLE EVER. AND GIVEN WHEN THERE IS MULTIPLE OWNERSHIPS. I CERTAINLY WOULD RECOMMEND THAT. THAT IS HOW THE STUDY BE DONE AND THAT'S HOW IT WAS DONE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NOTHING IN A DESIGNATION THAT SAYS YOU NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CONDEMNATION. IN FACT, YOU'D HAVE TO AUTHORIZE THAT SEPARATELY. OKAY, SO I DEFINITELY WOULD WANT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO, YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO WITH LOT 59 AND 64 AND NOT 61 AND 62, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR EVERYONE. THAT'S MY POSITION. THAT'S YOUR POSITION. OKAY. IF WE CAN HAVE COMMITTEE ON THIS I 
          [01:15:02]
AGREE. 53 AND 64. SO 59 AND 64. WHAT ABOUT YOU? YEAH I AGREE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS, BUT HAVING, YOU KNOW, A BIG LANDMARK THAT'S AN OPERATING BUSINESS BE UNDER THIS AREA WITH 5964 I'M SUPPORTIVE OF. OKAY. SO AT THIS POINT, IF YOU WANTED TO JUST DO SIX, THE CONDEMNATION FOR 5964. HOW DO YOU SUGGEST WE MOVE FORWARD? CAN WE JUST CLARIFY WHEN YOU SAID DO THE CONDEMNATION? WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT. I'M IN DESIGNATION. OKAY. I MEANT THE DESIGNATION. I'M SORRY FOR MISSPEAKING ON THAT. SORRY ABOUT THAT. RIGHT. SO WE WOULD JUST NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE RESOLUTION THAT SOMEBODY WOULD MAKE A MOTION ON WOULD BE TO DESIGNATE LOTS 59 AND 64 IN BLOCK 28010, AS SHOWN ON THE TAX MAP OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, FORMERLY KNOWN FORMERLY KNOWN AS PHASE TWO GATEWAY REDEVELOPMENT AS A CONDEMNATION AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT UNDER THE NEW JERSEY LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT HOUSING LAW. OKAY, SO THAT THAT'S THE MOTION THAT I'M ASKING EVERYBODY TO VOTE ON, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE LOT 59 AND 64 AND NOT THE ANYTHING. RIGHT. SO NOW YOU'RE JUST ASKING FOR A MOTION ON THAT RESOLUTION AS INDICATED. OKAY. AS INDICATED BY TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25? DASH, I HAVE TO SAY DASH 150 AGAIN. RIGHT. IT IS. 
          IT'S BEEN AMENDED. OR DON'T SAY THE. NO NO IT'S NOT AMENDED. IT'S JUST NOTING. AND LISA WILL NOTE THE CHECK MARKS WHEN SHE CERTIFIES THE RESOLUTION. OKAY. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. 
          COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. OKAY. 
          [22. Resolution #25-1-51 – Payment of Bills]
RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH ONE, DASH 51. AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH TGA. SGC MONTGOMERY PROMENADE OWNER, LLC, REGARDING A NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY OCCUPANCY PERMIT FOR THE MONTGOMERY PROMENADE PROJECT. I CAN SPEAK TO THIS ONE, MAYOR. THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS IS NEEDED FOR THE PROMENADE TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ON THEIR PROJECT. THERE IS A SANITARY SEWER FACILITY THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED, AND IT'S IN DDOT RIGHT OF WAY. DDOT WILL NOT ISSUE THE PERMIT TO THE FOLKS AT THE PROMENADE, WHICH IS ALL THAT LONG NAME. THEY WILL ONLY ISSUE IT TO THE TOWNSHIP. HOWEVER, MARK HERMAN CORRECTLY, YOUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER WAS NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING ON ALL OF THE LIABILITY ASSOCIATED IN THE PERMIT LANGUAGE, SO WE HAD MONTGOMERY PROMENADE, WORKED WITH THEM TO GET A INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY RELEASE TYPE AGREEMENT, WHERE THEY'RE TAKING ALL OF THE THEY WOULD INDEMNIFY US FOR ANYTHING IN THE PERMIT THAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR DOT, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES DOING IT. AND THIS RESOLUTION AND I'M SORRY FOR THE LATE ADDITION, BUT IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, MOVING VERY QUICKLY. AND WE DON'T WANT THEIR CONSTRUCTION TO STOP. SO THIS RESOLUTION WOULD AUTHORIZE THAT EXECUTION. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25, DASH ONE, DASH 51. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. MAY I HAVE A 
          [21. Approval of Minutes]
MOTION TO ADOPT THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 19TH? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES, NUMBER ONE OF DECEMBER 19TH. SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY I. I. I WENT A LITTLE TOO FAST. THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES NUMBER TWO OF DECEMBER 
          [Additional Item 1]
19TH. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH ONE, DASH 52. 
          PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. MAYOR, WE HAVE FOUR BILLS I'D LIKE TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION. PAGE NINE. WE HAVE ALLIED CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE STAGE TWO IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND FLOODWALL PROTECTION. THAT'S $432,379.47. ON PAGE 11, WE HAVE THE MONTGOMERY SWIM ACADEMY, WHICH IS OUR WINTER SWIM LESSONS. THIS MONEY ACTUALLY COMES OUT OF THE RECREATION TRUST FUND. IT'S PAID FOR THROUGH THE PROGRAM ITSELF. THE PROGRAM FEES PAY FOR THIS, SO IT'S JUST A MOVING OF IT. THE PAYING IS COMING OUT OF THE PROGRAM FEES. THAT'S $106,368.85. PAGE ONE. WE HAVE OUR JANUARY HEALTH BENEFITS PAYMENTS. CENTRAL JERSEY HALF $180,000 500 I'M SORRY, $180,519. AND WE HAVE ON PAGE TWO TRANSDEV FLEET SERVICES. 
          THAT'S OUR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, $81,037.65. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A 
          [01:20:09]
MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25, DASH ONE, DASH 52. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. 
          COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR. DODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. 
          [23. Correspondence]
MAYOR. SING. YES. CORRESPONDENCE. I BELIEVE THERE'S A MEMO FROM TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION. YES. I PROVIDED A MEMO ON THE NEW JERSEY STATE PLAN. BOY, THIS IS A PLANNING NIGHT. RIGHT, MICHAEL? AND CROSS ACCEPTANCE PROCESS. WE RECEIVED A LETTER IN NOVEMBER FROM SOMERSET COUNTY. WALTER LANE, WHO WAS THEIR FORMER PLANNING DIRECTOR THERE. THIS OUTLINED THE STEPS THAT SOMERSET COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES NEED TO TAKE TO MOVE THE CROSS ACCEPTANCE PROCESS FORWARD. CROSS ACCEPTANCE IS A PROCESS THAT THE STATE HAS ESTABLISHED BECAUSE THE LONG AWAITED UPDATED STATE PLAN IS IN PRELIMINARY DRAFT FORM, AND SO THIS CROSS ACCEPTANCE PROCESS ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES, NONPROFITS OR OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO REVIEW THE PLAN, REVIEW IT AGAINST YOUR PLAN, YOUR MASTER PLAN, AND PROVIDE COMMENTS. SO SOMERSET COUNTY, ALL THE COUNTIES ARE GOING TO BE THE LEAD NEGOTIATING ENTITY. SO THEY'LL TAKE ALL OF THE TOWN'S COMMENTS, THEY WILL SYNTHESIZE IT AND WORK WITH THE STATE ON, ON THAT. THEY'VE ASKED US TO THEY'VE ASKED EACH TOWN TO LET THEM KNOW THIS WEEK IF WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROCESS, WHICH I AM RECOMMENDING WE DO. WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO NOT JUST REVIEW OUR OWN MASTER PLAN, BUT TO SEE WHAT THE STATE'S GOALS ARE. AND THERE'S A SPECIFIC AREA THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PAY ATTENTION TO, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE DOES, IS PLANNING AREAS. THEY DEFINE CERTAIN PLANNING AREAS IN THE TOWN, ONE THROUGH FIVE, FIVE BEING, YOU KNOW, THE MOST RURAL. SO OUR SOURLAND MOUNTAIN AREA, ONE BEING THE MOST HIGHLY DEVELOPED. WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THE UTILITY COMPANIES USE THAT AS A WAY TO ESTABLISH FEES FOR EXTENSION OF LINES, BECAUSE THEY WORK. THE STATE WANTS TO DISCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT LIKE UP IN A PLANNING AREA FIVE THE SOURLAND MOUNTAIN. SO IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE COSTLY FROM A UTILITY PERSPECTIVE TO THE FEES WOULD BE MUCH HIGHER TO GO IN THAT. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PLANNING AREAS THAT WE WORKED WITH THE STATE TO ESTABLISH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO, 12, 15, 20 STILL ARE RELEVANT OR HAVE WE HAVE WE CHANGED. SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT. THEY ALSO WANT A CROSS ACCEPTANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS REALLY LIKE A WORKING GROUP. AND SO I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE HAVE YOURSELF AND COMMITTEEWOMAN TODD. YOU'RE BOTH ON THE PLANNING BOARD AND DAVE CAMP IS THE PLANNING BOARD CHAIR, OBVIOUSLY VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE MASTER PLAN. AND I HAD BEEN SPEAKING WITH. A SORRY AMY, AMY ROSENTHAL AT THE REORG MEETING. SHE'S A VICE CHAIR OF THE ZONING BOARD, AND SHE HAD EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN DOING BEING MORE INVOLVED, WHICH IS MUSIC TO MY EARS. SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, HER LENGTH OF TIME ON THE ZONING BOARD, FAMILIARITY AND FAMILIARITY WITH PLANNING IN MONTGOMERY. SHE WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THAT. I DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE A HEAVY LIFT OR A HEAVY TIME COMMITMENT, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THE NAMES OF THE COMMITTEE SO THAT WORKS. THAT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY KNOW? OKAY, OKAY. THERE ARE NO MATTERS REGARDING NEW AND UNFINISHED 
          [Additional Item 2]
BUSINESS. I GUESS WE GO ON TO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS, COMMITTEE ON. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. SO FOR THE EDC THE MEETING FIRST MEETING IS ON JANUARY 27TH AT 7 P.M. WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FARMERS MARKET. DON'T FORGET THAT THERE'S A FARMERS MARKET ON SATURDAY, 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M. AND THEN THE NBA, ALSO THROUGH THE EDC, IS DOING MANGO TREE, A MEET AND GREET AT 6 P.M. THE AG COMMITTEE MEETS ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 830, AND MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE, I BELIEVE, MEETS ON THE THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH. I'D LIKE TO THANK GIVE MY THANKS TO ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT FROM MICHELLE AND ROY ALL THE TIME THAT THEY SPENT HERE, HELPING US OUT, HELPING THE TOWN OUT. THEY ARE. THEY'RE GREAT ROLE MODELS AND I WISH ROY AND MICHELLE LUCK. THEN THE NEW WE HAVE A NEW LUNAR NEW YEAR ON THE 29TH OF THIS MONTH. AND TO WHOEVER 
          [01:25:04]
CELEBRATES LUNAR NEW YEAR, CONGRATULATIONS. HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I TOO WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ROY AND MICHELLE ON ALL OF THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE. THEY DID MORE THAN HELP US OUT. YOU KNOW, THEY GAVE US THEIR CAREER AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. IN TERMS OF MY COMMITTEES, NOTHING SIGNIFICANT HAPPENED WITH THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND PLANNING EXCEPT FOR THEIR REORGANIZATION MEETINGS. NOTHING CHANGED WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF EITHER OF THOSE BOARDS. I WOULD LIKE TO, THOUGH, ACKNOWLEDGE JANUARY 15TH IS MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY, AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND CELEBRATE THAT EVERY JANUARY. 
          AND THAT WAS YESTERDAY. THE SANKOFA COLLABORATIVE, WHICH IS A GROUP OF HISTORICAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SAM, HAD A TALK YESTERDAY, VIRTUAL TALK CALLED CONFRONTING JIM CROW IN NEW JERSEY DOCTOR KING'S ACTIVISM AND HIS LEGACY. AND THAT IS GOING TO BE I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECORDING OF THAT. IF YOU'D LIKE TO CHECK THAT OUT, YOU CAN PROBABLY ACCESS THAT THROUGH SAM'S WEBSITE. BUT ON JANUARY 18TH, EVERY YEAR, REGARDLESS OF WHEN JANUARY 15TH FALLS, WE USUALLY HAVE A MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY OF SERVICE. SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ENGAGE IN SOME SERVICE ON JANUARY 18TH. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS WHAT DOCTOR KING WAS ALL ABOUT. AND ON A SORT OF A PERSONAL ANECDOTE, DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING GRADUATED FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND BOTH MY SONS ATTEND MOREHOUSE COLLEGE. ONE IS A CURRENT STUDENT AND ONE IS A GRADUATE. AND THAT IS REALLY THE SPRINGBOARD FROM WHERE DOCTOR KING'S CIVIL RIGHTS SERVICE CAME. IF YOU WERE TO GO TO MOREHOUSE CAMPUS, YOU WOULD SEE A BEAUTIFUL CHAPEL DEDICATED TO HIM WITH SOME OF THE QUOTES THAT FROM SOME OF HIS SPEECHES, AND A VERY BIG STATUE OF HIS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE CHAPEL. AND OF COURSE, THERE'S ALSO THE KING HISTORY CENTER IN ATLANTA PROPER. SO IF YOU EVER GET TO VISIT THAT, IT'S VERY IT'S IMPRESSIVE. SO AGAIN, WITH THAT IN MIND, PLEASE CHECK OUT THAT RECORDING. THINK ABOUT HOW CIVIL RIGHTS ARISES HERE IN NEW JERSEY AS WELL AS WITHIN OUR LIVES. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DAY OF SERVICE ON MONDAY, JANUARY 18TH. THANKS. THANK YOU. COMMITTEE WOMAN. AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT JANUARY 20TH, THE MUNICIPAL OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE AND RECOGNITION OF ALL THE WORK OF DOCTOR KING. I HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MOREHOUSE CAMPUS, AND I COMPLETELY AGREE. THE CHAPEL, THE STATUE OF DOCTOR KING AND THE QUOTES ALONGSIDE AREA ARE REALLY INSPIRING AND I'M REALLY HAPPY I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT LAST YEAR. A COUPLE OF THINGS ON MY COMMITTEES, A LOT OF REORGANIZATION, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. SO THE MONTGOMERY VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE REORGANIZED AND UNANIMOUSLY, DIMITRI HARRIS WAS ELECTED AGAIN AS THE CHAIR. ONE THING THAT IS GOING ON IN JANUARY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY A FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES TOWARDS THE COMMITTEE. EVERY YEAR, THERE'S A SALUTE TO SERVICE HOCKEY GAME THAT OCCURS, AND THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 25TH AT 7:30 P.M. AT THE SCI FIELD HOUSE AT THE LAWRENCEVILLE PREP SCHOOL. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MONTGOMERY VERSUS HOPEWELL VALLEY. A PLANE. AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME OF THE PROCEEDS DO COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE, OBVIOUSLY, COMPLIANTLY IT'S A FUNDRAISER. AND SO WE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, THE BOY SCOUTS WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A COLOR GUARD. 
          I'LL BE THERE AS WELL. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SO IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, THAT'D BE FANTASTIC. AND I'VE WORKED TO TRY AND MAKE SURE WE GET THAT POSTED ON THE ON THE MONTGOMERY WEBSITE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO DISCUSSED WAS, YOU KNOW, A GOAL FOR THIS YEAR. AGAIN, MONTGOMERY HAS A REALLY GREAT HERITAGE AND SUPPORTING VETERANS. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO. THE GOVERNOR DOES HAVE A WE VALUE OUR VETERANS AWARD DESIGNATION FOR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS BUSINESSES. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS AS WE TALK ABOUT, HOW CAN WE DO MORE FOR VETERANS, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, USING THAT AWARD GOAL TO ENHANCE AND ADD MORE SERVICES. SO WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH LIKE A CALENDAR OF POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, TO ADD SOME NICE THINGS FOR VETERANS AND SERVICES. SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT. SOUNDS GOOD. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS GET TO START OFF IN, IN JANUARY, RIGHT AFTER REORGANIZATION, IS THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. SO OBVIOUSLY JANUARY BEGINS BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, YOU KNOW, WE THERE'S TIMETABLES THAT ARE SET BY THE STATE THAT REQUIRE US TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A USUALLY A PROPOSED BUDGET BY THE END OF MARCH OR APRIL THAT GETS, YOU KNOW, APPROVED FOR DISCUSSION. AND THERE HAS TO BE A FULL WE CAN VE 
          [01:30:04]
BUDGET. AND I BELIEVE I'M GOING TO SAY, LIKE AROUND MAY 1ST IS THE ABSOLUTE DEADLINE THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE BUDGET. SO THAT REQUIRES US TO REALLY SPEND MONTHS OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND MARCH TO REVIEWING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, BUDGETS AND NEEDS AND OBVIOUSLY MAKING HARD DECISIONS TO BALANCE INVESTMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE WITHIN MONTGOMERY, BALANCING DIFFERENT HEADWINDS, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE EMS, CHRISTINE, YOU KNOW, FOR ASSESSING THAT FOR INVESTMENT. BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THINGS LIKE INFLATION, WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE HAVE COME ON OR COME OFF OF THE BUDGET. AND I DO KNOW FOR TRANSPARENCY, I DO WANT TO SAY I SEE A NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES HERE TODAY IN THE AUDIENCE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, OUR OUR CONTRACT WITH THE PBA UNION DID EXPIRE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR NEGOTIATING TEAMS ARE WORKING ACTIVELY WITH THE PBA. AND OUR GOAL IS TO GET THAT, YOU KNOW, RESOLVED IN A TIMELY MANNER. SECOND THING FROM A BUDGET FINANCE, AGAIN, MY GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE, IS TO PROVIDE FULL TRANSPARENCY. SO ON. SO. SO, YOU KNOW, THE STATE REQUIRES DIFFERENT GUIDELINES ON HOW TOWNSHIPS HAVE ASSESSED THE VALUES OF THEIR HOMES. AND MONTGOMERY IS IN A SMALL MINORITY OF TOWNSHIPS IN, IN THE COUNTY AS WELL AS IN THE STATE THAT HAS NOT DOES NOT DO AN ANNUAL ASSESSMENT COMPARED TO OTHER TOWNSHIPS WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU KNOW, AN ASSESSOR WILL COME IN AND INSPECT YOUR HOME AND WILL PROVIDE AN ASSESSED VALUE. OVER THE LAST IT WAS PROBABLY OVER. I THINK IT'S BEEN OVER 20 YEARS SINCE WE'VE DONE AN ASSESSMENT. AND OVER THAT TIME, AS I THINK MANY OF US KNOW, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY VALUES IN MONTGOMERY HAVE COME UP AND THE STATE DOES HAVE THRESHOLDS THAT CANNOT GO PAST IF YOU DON'T DO ASSESSMENTS. AND UNFORTUNATELY, MONTGOMERY HAS KIND OF PASSED THAT THRESHOLD. SO ON TUESDAY, THE MAYOR AND MYSELF AND MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION MET WITH THE SOMERSET COUNTY TAX, SORRY, BOARD OF TAXATION, AND THEY PASSED A RESOLUTION ORDERING US TO GO THROUGH AN ASSESSMENT PROCESS THAT STILL HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE. BUT OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A FORMALITY. NOW, A COUPLE OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S THIS IS A MULTI YEAR PROCESS. SO THE FIRST THING I REALLY WANT TO TELL EVERYONE IS THAT THERE IS NO NEAR-TERM IMPACT FOR ANY RESIDENT. AND I MEAN NO NEAR-TERM IMPACT, NOTHING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. SO THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES FROM THAT ASPECT ON. INDIVIDUALS, ASSESSED VALUES, ETC. THE FIRST YEAR THAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A REEVALUATION IS 2028. AND PROBABLY THE MOST, MOST LIKELY THOSE FIRST HOMES WON'T BE IMPACTED UNTIL 2030. BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED AS A GOVERNING BODY WITH OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING IN AS MUCH RESOURCES AS WE CAN TO EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS OF MONTGOMERY ON ALL THE POTENTIAL EXEMPTIONS AND BENEFITS TO, ESPECIALLY WITH AROUND SENIOR CITIZENS, TAX FREEZES, ETC, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO KIND OF PLAN AN APPROPRIATE TIMELINE TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SET UP FOR SUCCESS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. BUT AGAIN, MORE TO COME PROBABLY ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BUT AGAIN, I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE PUT IT ON ON THE RECORD, EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS AND WHICH BARBARA PRESTON WAS STILL HERE, BUT SHE WALKED OUT IS THAT THERE IS NO IMPACT TO ANYONE'S, YOU KNOW, FROM THIS, FROM THIS DECREE THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR. NOT UNTIL YOU KNOW, WELL INTO THE LATTER PART OF THIS DECADE. AND THEN I THINK THE LAST THING I HAVE, OH, SO LANDMARKS MEETS NEXT WEEK, AND I WILL BE CONNECTING WITH THEM. OKAY. 
          WELL, THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR. AND AGAIN, TO REITERATE, ALL OF US, THE GOVERNING BODY HERE KNOWS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE ASSESSMENT WAS NOT DONE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. AND I GUESS WE HAVE THE MANDATE IS FOR US TO DO IT. SO WE WILL OBVIOUSLY MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS KNOW WHEN IS HAPPENING. AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR SAID, IT'S NOT COMING UP THAT FAST, BUT EDUCATING IS AND COMMUNICATION IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY AS A GOVERNING BODY IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS KNOW AND WILL MAKE SURE OVER THE OVER THIS COMING YEAR, WE LET PEOPLE KNOW. AND OF COURSE, WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO PEOPLE COMING AND ASKING QUESTIONS IN A PUBLIC MEETING. SO FOR ME, I WANTED TO ACTUALLY SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OFFICER VANESSA HUNTER AND OFFICER PIPER FORD ON THEIR GRADUATION FROM THE CAPE MAY COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY, WHICH WAS ON JANUARY 10TH. AND THESE OFFICERS NOW WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THEM. 
          THEY WILL NOW BEGIN THEIR FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM AND PATROL WITH VETERAN OFFICERS OF MONTGOMERY PD. SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING I WANTED TO SAY TO THEM. I ALSO WANT TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE TOWN THAT TIGER'S TAIL. AS WE HAVE MENTIONED A LITTLE WHILE AGO, AN ICONIC BUSINESS IN MONTGOMERY. WELL, ACTUALLY WELL KNOWN ALL OVER NEW JERSEY, WILL BE 
          [01:35:04]
CELEBRATING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2025, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF FUN PROGRAMING THAT THEY HAVE PLANNED. AND WE, THE GOVERNING BODY, ARE THANKING THEM FOR THE YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN IN MONTGOMERY AND CONTINUE TO BE A GREAT PRESENCE IN MONTGOMERY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION. OH, AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE AT THE INSTALLATION OF THE OFFICERS FOR FIRE STATION NUMBER 46, WHICH WAS THIS PAST SATURDAY. AND YESTERDAY I WAS THERE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE EMS OFFICERS. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEW OFFICERS THERE. AGAIN, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF MONTGOMERY. AND I SEE ACTUALLY OEM AND SOME OF OUR PD IN THE BACK THERE. AND AGAIN, THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARE THE REASON WE ARE KNOWN AS A TOWN TO LOOK TO. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S HERE. THE FIRST RESPONDERS. AND I WANT TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF EVERYBODY THAT UNDER THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS, WE WILL BE DOING THE ALONG WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ALONG WITH OUR MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE. WE WILL BE DOING BEAT THE WINTER BLUES, WHICH WE HAVE DONE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FROM THE TOWNSHIP. I THINK IT'S ALSO BECAUSE IT'S COLD AND WE HAVE SOMETHING FUN HAPPENING IN THE BUILDING, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 30TH, AND THAT'S FROM 630 TO 8 RIGHT HERE IN THIS MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE LOBBY. WE WILL BE HAVING SOME GUEST SPEAKERS THAT WOULD BE NEW JERSEY TEACHER OF THE YEAR, STEPHANIE LACKENBAUER, WHO'S ALSO A MINDFULNESS TEACHER, WOULD BE SPEAKING TO US THEN FROM HEALTHY MIND HEALTHY BODY INITIATIVE, WE'LL HAVE SURBHI VYAS, WHO WILL ALSO BE DOING A SESSION FOR OUR RESIDENTS. EVERYTHING IS FREE GUIDED. THESE ARE THESE GUIDED MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES. THERE WILL BE SOME WELLNESS TIPS FOR THE COLD WEATHER. WE'LL HAVE SOME RESOURCE TABLES AND SOME GIVEAWAYS. SO WE HOPE TO SEE ALL RESIDENTS AND WE WILL HAVE SOME ACTIVITIES FOR THE LITTLE ONES. 
          SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BRING THE LITTLE ONES AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEM DO SOMETHING INSTEAD OF BEING IN FRONT OF THE TELEVISION. SO HOPE TO SEE ALL RESIDENTS HERE. AND THAT'S IT 
          [Additional Item 3]
FOR MY REPORTS. I GUESS WE WILL GO TO THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT AT THIS POINT. OUR ZONING OFFICER BUSINESS ADVOCATE SHARED SOME GREAT NEWS FOR THE MONTGOMERY WHERE OPPORTUNITY MEETS INNOVATION INITIATIVE. A TENANT FIT OUT PERMIT WAS RECEIVED THIS WEEK, AND IT'S BEEN APPROVED BY ZONING AND BEING REVIEWED BY THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. AND THIS IS FOR THE SHARED LAB SPACE ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF 23 ORCHARD ROAD. SO THERE'LL BE THREE STARTUPS THAT WILL COEXIST, KIND OF COLLABORATE AND SHARE THE LAB SPACE. IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN MONTGOMERY. WE'VE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT POSSIBLY COMING ON, BUT NOW IT'S BECOMING A REALITY. SO I THINK WE'RE GETTING SOME TRACTION. AND WORD IS OUT ABOUT THAT WHOLE INITIATIVE. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. EV CHARGING STATIONS. WE HAD A RESIDENT COME TO OUR LAST MEETING AND HAD ASKED AND APPROACHED THE MAYOR AND I PRIOR TO THE MEETING, JUST TO ASK ABOUT THE RATES THAT ARE CHARGED AT OUR CHARGING STATIONS. THE OUR RATES WERE SET BACK WHEN WE FIRST OPENED THE AUTO KAUFMAN EV CHARGING STATION. AT THAT TIME, WE LOOKED AT WHAT OTHER TOWNS WERE CHARGING AND WE WERE WE WERE IN THAT SAME, YOU KNOW, RANGE. I JUST DOUBLE CHECKED. WE'RE STILL WE'RE STILL ON PAR WITH WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE CHARGING. SHE ALSO HAD MENTIONED SHE LIVES IN A CONDOMINIUM. AND SO IS THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPERS OF CONDOMINIUM? THE DEVELOPERS THAT OWN THE COMPLEXES TO RETROFIT AND PUT IN SOME EV CHARGERS. SO STAFF REACHED OUT TO, YOU KNOW, PIKE RUN AND THEY ALREADY HAVE A PLAN THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON TO ADD EV CHARGING STATIONS. AND SOME OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AREAS. 
          AND ALSO AT THE CLUBHOUSE, SO THAT THAT WAS GOOD NEWS. THERE'S A HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATE. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HEALTH OFFICER TO OVER SOME TIME TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OFFICE SPACE NEEDS FOR THAT DEPARTMENT. THE FIRST PROJECT THAT WE COMPLETED WAS IN THE SPRING OF 2023, WITH A STATE GRANT THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED. SO WE UPGRADED THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE'S OFFICE, WHICH WAS AT THE TIME DESIGNED MORE OF AS AN EXAMINATION ROOM, AND THAT WASN'T HOW THEY NEEDED IT TO BE. SO IT'S NOW TURNED INTO A FULLY FUNCTIONING OFFICE SPACE THAT SERVES TWO STAFF MEMBERS AT THAT SAME TIME AND USING THE SAME STATE GRANT, THERE WAS A PARTIAL RECONFIGURATION OF THE DEPARTMENT STORAGE ROOM. THE STORAGE ROOM THAT THEY HAD WAS HAD A TRADITIONAL FILING CABINETS. THEY'VE GONE THEY'VE DIGITIZED ALL THEIR FILES. SO THEY HAD NO NEED FOR THAT. BUT THE NURSING STAFF DO HAVE BULKIER ITEMS THAT THEY USE AT 
          [01:40:01]
THEIR EVENTS AND CLINICS AND THINGS. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE HEAVY DUTY WIRE SHELVING. SO AND THAT WAS PROJECT WAS COMPLETE. SO THERE IS A AROUND THAT SAME TIME WE SWITCHED OUR ANIMAL CONTROL, AS YOU KNOW, TO A THIRD PARTY OUTSIDE VENDOR. SO THAT CUBBY FOR WHERE THE CUBICLE WHERE THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER SAT BECAME AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERN, THEY LIKE TO USUALLY HAVE ABOUT TWO INTERNS, YOU KNOW, AT ANY GIVEN TIME. SO WE'RE WORKING OUT A DEDICATED SPACE. THERE'S SOME OTHER SPACE THAT THE INTERN OTHER INTERN IS USING, BUT WE'D LIKE TO FIND SOME OTHER DEDICATED SPACE FOR THAT INTERN. AND ADDITIONAL STORAGE SPACE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUES TO BE NEEDED FOR SOME OF THEIR LARGER SUPPLIES. SO, RICH DETRICK, OUR NEW ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, HAS BEEN WORKING WITH MYSELF AND DEEWANGI TO IDENTIFY SOME ADDITIONAL STORAGE SPACE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAD BEEN USING A MUDROOM. THEY ARE NOW FINDING OTHER SPACES TO STORE THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE MUDROOM. WE SWAPPED THE JANITORIAL CLOSET, WHICH IS OUTSIDE ONE ROOM 117, AND THE NURSES HAVE ALREADY STARTED MOVING STUFF IN WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND THE JANITORIAL SUPPLIES ARE NOW IN THE FORM OF MUDROOM. SO I WANT TO THANK DIWANJI AND RICH. THEY WORKED REALLY WELL TOGETHER AND THE NURSES AS WELL. AND SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COLLABORATION FROM THE STAFF. CERTAINLY ALL OF THE INPUT FROM THE BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS WHO HAD COME AND GIVEN A TOUR WITH WITH STAFF. AND SO I THINK WHILE SOLUTIONS, YOU KNOW, TAKE TIME TO FIGURE THIS OUT, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEEDS. SO WE TRY AND ADDRESS THEM AS AS WE CAN AND AS FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. AND SO WE'LL WE'LL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE AS THAT MOVES ALONG. YEAH. OUTSIDE STORAGE SHED. WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE. YES THAT IS POSSIBLE. AND I THINK WHAT SHE HAS. JEFF BERKLAND, OUR SUPERINTENDENT, HAS OFFERED SOME SPACE AND SOME AT ONE OF THE FORMER TREATMENT FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE FOR THINGS THAT THEY REALLY DON'T USE THAT OFTEN. AND THEN THE HEALTH OFFICER DID SAY THAT AN OUTDOOR SHED, SIMILAR TO SHE'D BEEN RELUCTANT TO THAT, I THINK AT FIRST, BUT SIMILAR TO WHAT MONTGOMERY FRIENDS OF OPEN SPACE HAS OUTSIDE, COULD ALSO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT PRESSURE. SO THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL. PROGRESS CONTINUES ON OUR $1.5 MILLION FLOODPLAIN GRANT TO DEMOLISH THE OLD MUNICIPAL BUILDING. SO WE WILL BE POSTING BECAUSE BECAUSE IT'S A FEDERAL GRANT AND WE'RE DOING WORK IN A FLOODPLAIN, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE REMOVING IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE AND RESTORING THE FLOODPLAIN, WE NEED TO PUT OUT PUBLIC NOTICE THAT THIS ACTION IS TAKING PLACE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THAT PERIOD OF TIME HAS SOME DEADLINES THAT THE GOVERNMENT SETS, AND WE HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THAT. SO WE'LL BE THROUGH THAT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. AND THEN WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE AGREEMENT WITH HUD. 
          ONCE WE HAVE THE AGREEMENT, WE CAN START START THE PROJECT. SO WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT. 
          WE ARE MAT MOWING OF THE TOWNSHIP MEADOWS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY PEOPLE REALLY RESPOND WELL TO. SO JEFF BERKLAND WANTED ME TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WE MOW SOME OF THE TOWNSHIP OWNED MEADOWS. SO THE WINTER ANNUAL MOWING OF THE BUILDINGS MEADOW HERE WILL BE TAKING PLACE, I THINK NEXT WEEK. WE STARTED AT STONEBRIDGE. SO WE OWN ALL OF THE MEADOW THAT'S AROUND THE STONEBRIDGE CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY. SO THEY STARTED THAT THIS WEEK AND OUR OPEN SPACE AND STEWARDSHIP DIRECTOR IS GOING TO BE DOING SOME PLANS FOR THE MEADOW OUTSIDE. AS YOU HEARD US TALK ABOUT, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IS THE INVASIVE SPECIES AND ONE OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES. THAT IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST SORT OF, YOU KNOW, CALLING THEM. 
          THERE IS THE CALLERY PEAR TREE BECAUSE THE TREES ARE ACTUALLY ORIGINATING FROM ACROSS 206, IN A DETENTION BASIN THAT A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, OWNS AND MAINTAINS. SO THERE WILL FOREVER BE A SEED BANK ONTO OUR PROPERTY FROM THAT SOURCE. SO SHE, LAUREN MASLOWSKI, IS GOING TO BE DOING SOME. IDENTIFICATION OF WHERE ALL OF THOSE TREES ARE. AND UNLESS SOME OF OUR YOUTH VOLUNTEERS TO DO THAT AND WE MIGHT ENGAGE THE RESIDENT ACROSS THE STREET TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE, BECAUSE REALLY, ANYTHING WE DO HERE WILL BE FUTILE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONSTANTLY HAVE THE SEEDS COMING ACROSS. AND SARAH ROBERTS HAS OFFERED SOME OF HER NATIVE WILDFLOWER MEADOW MIX. SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY A SMALL SAMPLE AREA TO SEE HOW 
          [01:45:02]
THAT THAT COULD BE. SO JUST MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. SO THERE'S A PRIVATE RESIDENT WHO HAS THESE INVASIVE TREES. AND THAT'S THOSE SEEDS ARE WHAT'S COMING INTO OUR LAND OKAY. I MEAN I FEEL LIKE THERE'S PROBABLY A COST FOR US TO CONTINUALLY DEAL WITH THIS. WELL, ONE WAY TO MANAGE IT IS TO MOW IT. SO WE MOW IT ONCE A YEAR. WE COULD MOW IT MORE FREQUENTLY, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY BIRDS THAT MIGHT BE NESTING IN THERE, THERE'S A SCHEDULE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT LAUREN'S GOING TO BE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH A PROPOSAL TO SEE IF MAYBE A TWICE A YEAR MOW WOULD BE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. YEAH. I'M CURIOUS IF THE RESIDENT WOULD BE OPEN TO REPLACING THEIR THEIR TREES. THAT'S WHAT THEY ONLY BLOOM IN THE SPRING. SO THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE REALLY ABLE TO QUANTIFY WHERE THEY ARE, BECAUSE QUITE POSSIBLY THEY'VE SPILLED OUT FROM JUST THAT PROPERTY. WE DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF THE GROWTH OF THE SPREAD OF THOSE TREES. SO I KNOW THE MEADOW HAS BEEN TALKED MANY TIMES HERE. SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT RPM. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 100% SENIOR AFFORDABLE. THEY HAVE BROKEN GROUND SO YOU COULD STILL DRIVE BACK THERE. THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF SITE CLEARING THIS WEEK. AND LIKE WE SAID THAT'S 71 BEDROOM SENIOR CITIZEN, ALL SENIOR CITIZENS, ALL 100% AFFORDABLE. 
          AND THERE WAS A RESIDENT THAT HAD REACHED OUT TO ME, AND I THINK SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY REGARDING CHANGES, REQUESTING CHANGES TO THE TOWNSHIP'S IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO CLARIFY WAS HE WAS SPECIFICALLY REFERENCING THE 2024 ORDINANCE THAT WE HAD DONE. BUT THAT ORDINANCE, THOSE REGULATIONS WERE ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY ADOPTED IN 2004, SO WE DIDN'T REALLY MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THAT IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE RULES. THOSE HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GENERALLY LIKE TO DO IS HAVE OUR MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE TAKE A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS OR STRUGGLING WITH SOME SECTION OF AN ORDINANCE AND ITS APPLICATION, THEY ARE ABLE TO COME AND THEY CAN TALK TO STAFF, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE ON THE GROUP, THE PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE. IT'S KIND OF A CROSS SECTION OF PEOPLE AND OUR OUTSIDE PROFESSIONALS, SO WE CAN KIND OF FURTHER THE DIALOG. SO WE'LL YOU'LL SEE. WE'LL HAVE THAT MEETING AND I DON'T KNOW, A MONTH OR TWO AND, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT. AND MONTGOMERY PROMENADE, THEY, YOU MAY SEE SOME WORK STOPPED, WHICH I HAD TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT GOT AN EARLY START ON SOME OF THEIR BUILDING, BUT THEY THEY SORT OF DID BECAUSE SOME OF THE UTILITY WORK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED YET. AND THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL, OUR CONTROL, THEIR GENERAL CONTRACTORS CONTROL. THAT'S PIERCING NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER. SO IT'S A LARGE PROJECT. THE TIMING OF EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS HOPE WILL BE SEAMLESS AND YOU KNOW, AND WORK LIKE THAT. BUT THERE'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY. AND SO YOU MAY SEE SOME OF THE WORK STOP UNTIL THOSE OUTSIDE AGENCIES COMPLETE THEIR WORK UNDERGROUND. YOU CAN'T DO THINGS ON TOP OF THINGS THAT YOU KNOW NEED TO BE BELOW THEM. SO JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE I KNOW, I KNOW THE RESIDENTS DO APPRECIATE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THAT THAT IS MY REPORT. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THIS RESIDENT WHO I THINK WROTE TO A COUPLE OF US. HE WROTE TO ME AND I THINK TO DENNIS TO COME ON AS WELL. SO THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE THAT HE IS BRINGING UP IS THAT WHAT IS THE STATE REGULATION FOR US? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, LET PEOPLE KNOW IF IT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT. THAT'S NOTHING WE CAN DO AS AS A TOWNSHIP. YEAH. FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S A STATE REGULATION. THERE IS A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF WHAT IS DEFINED AS IMPERVIOUS. SO HE'S SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO DECKS AND GRAVEL. SO LANDSCAPING GRAVEL, IF YOU HAVE GRAVEL ON YOUR PROPERTY THAT'S LANDSCAPING. WE DO NOT CALCULATE THAT AS IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE. BUT IF YOU USE GRAVEL FOR A WALKWAY BECAUSE THE LIKELIHOOD OF IT BEING COMPACTED AND THEN NOT BECOME NOT IMPERVIOUS, OR IF IT'S YOUR DRIVEWAY THAT'S GRAVE, THAT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT WHAT THE STATE THE STATE GIVES A LITTLE LATITUDE INTERPRETATION. BUT MOST TOWNS INTERPRET IT THAT WAY THAT WE DO. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO COMPARE OTHER TOWNS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND, AND BE SIMILAR TO OTHER TOWNS. WELL, EVERY TOWN THAT OUR OUTSIDE ENGINEERING CONSULTANT, HE SAID THEY APPLY AT THE EXACT SAME WAY. SO I GUESS WE'D WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUTLIERS ARE OUT THERE. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE OUTLIERS, BUT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. OKAY. YEAH, I WOULD JUST POINT OUT ALSO, THOUGH 
          [01:50:01]
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE IN ACTIVE TALKS WITH BLUE ACRES FOR SOME OF THE PROPERTIES IN TOWN THAT WERE IMPACTED FROM FLOODING AND IN THE BLUE ACRES PROGRAM. ONCE THEY ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY, THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW THE GRAVEL AND WHATNOT. THEY WOULD CONSIDER IT IMPERVIOUS AS WELL. SO EVEN THOUGH THE STATE SEEMINGLY GIVES SOME KIND OF LEEWAY WHEN THEY APPLY IT TO THEIR OWN PROPERTIES, THEY APPLY IT THE SAME WAY WE DO. I MEAN, I HAVE PROPERTIES IN LIKE SOUTH PLAINFIELD AND, YOU KNOW, A GRAVEL LOT ALLOWS WATER TO GO THROUGH. AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE TOWN. SO I HAVE A DIFFERENT QUESTION. IS THERE AN UPDATE ON THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND OR STATUS? THE CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY IS READY FOR INSTALLATION. SO WE THERE ARE THOSE OLD ABANDONED PVC PIPES THAT FROM THE FORMER CONVATEC. WE'VE DETERMINED THAT IT'S NO PROBLEM FOR US TO REMOVE THOSE. SO NOW THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS READY TO MOBILIZE IT, IT COULD BE. IT COULD BE VERY SOON WE'LL BE TAKING THOSE PIPES. YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE PIPES OUT AND THEN THE CONTRACTOR CAN PROCEED. BUT ACTUALLY JOHN KROGER JUST GAVE ME AN UPDATE ABOUT THAT TODAY OR YESTERDAY THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS READY TO GO. THAT'S GREAT. I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD CONSTITUENT WHO'S A REALLY INTERESTED ABOUT THIS. SO AND WE'D REALLY LOVE THAT FOR YOU. FULLY FUNDED FOR THAT NOW OR ARE WE I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME. THERE MAY BE A LITTLE GAP. 
          WE DO HAVE A PICNIC AREA OUTSIDE OF THAT, BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN THE PLAYGROUND BUDGET. SO THERE'S A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT JOHN COULD PROBABLY PROVIDE A LITTLE BETTER PICTURE, I THINK THE RECREATION COMMITTEE WE HAVEN'T MET YET, BUT THE RECREATION COMMITTEE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND THE CHAIR, STEPHEN SHAY, HAS SOME IDEAS ABOUT RAISING MONEY FOR WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP THERE, BUT I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ONCE WE HAVE OUR RECREATION MEETING. WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE. I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THESE TREES, THESE PEAR TREES OR WHATEVER THEY ARE, I THINK WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. AND I, I'M, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IF WE DID SOME KIND OF A COMMUNICATION OR AN EDUCATION PSA TO RESIDENTS, BECAUSE I'LL BE VERY HONEST, I'VE HAD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS TREE WITH THE WHITE FLOWERS AND SAY, OH, IT'S GORGEOUS, I NEED TO GET ONE. AND SEEMS LIKE THE NURSERIES AROUND HERE ARE STILL SELLING THEM. SO MORE OF AN EDUCATION. I'M HOPING MAYBE THE SHADE TREE AND YOU KNOW, SOMEONE PUTTING THAT TOGETHER SO WE CAN HAVE THAT PART OF OUR E-BULLETIN OR, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY BARBARA IS GONE, BUT HAVE THE. OH, BARBARA'S HERE. SORRY, THE NEWSPAPER HELP US WITH WITH, YOU KNOW, GETTING THIS MESSAGE OUT TO RESIDENTS THAT THESE TREES ARE ACTUALLY THEY LOOK PRETTY AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO. AND NONE OF THE LANDSCAPERS ARE SAYING, NO, DON'T PUT THEM THERE GIVING THEM PRICES FOR IT AND SAYING, OH, THIS WILL LOOK GREAT IN YOUR YARD. SO AS A TOWNSHIP, IF THAT THOSE ARE INVASIVE, THEN WE CAN SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SO THAT MAYBE LIKE A EDUCATION ON INVASIVE TREES AND YOU KNOW, WHAT HELPS OUR ECOSYSTEM. WE DID HAVE ONE REALLY GOOD PROGRAM FOR NATIVE PLANTS, WHICH WAS AMAZING. AND I BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY ON THE WEBSITE ACCORDING TO TAMMY. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO PLEASE GO ON THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP WEBSITE AND LOOK AT WHAT NATIVE PLANTS IN OUR AREA ARE. SO BUT THAT'S OH, THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO MONTGOMERY NEWS. YES. I GUESS JUST FOR EVERYONE HERE. THE MONTGOMERY NEWS HAS A FULL ARTICLE ON THAT. ON THAT. YEAH. SHE WAS LIKE YES OKAY. I GUESS AT THIS POINT WE'LL GO TO FUTURE 
          [24. Future Agenda Items]
AGENDA ITEMS. LISA, DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE. SO THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE DISCUSSION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS AN UPCOMING DEADLINE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION BY THE JANUARY 31ST DEADLINE. SO IT IS A PROPOSED TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING MEETING AT NOON ON JUNE JANUARY 27TH. I DO HAVE CONSENSUS FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND NOTICE THAT IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, YES, I THINK WE NEED TO GET THAT ONE ON THE AND THAT IS TO ACCEPT OR CHALLENGE THE FOURTH ROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATION. 
          AND THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WOULD BE TO ADOPT A BINDING RESOLUTION TO SET FORTH THE MUNICIPALITY'S OBLIGATION IN THAT RESOLUTION WILL EITHER BE SETTING FORTH OUR ALTERNATIVE, OR WILL BE ACCEPTING THE DCA NUMBER. OKAY. THANK YOU. ON RESOLUTION NUMBER 25, DASH ONE, 
          [25. Executive Session]
DASH 53 EXECUTIVE SESSION. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, 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 LITIGATION. 
          [01:55:06]
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACTION. 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 25. 
          DASH ONE. DASH 53. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. 
          COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. UNMUTING ME A SECOND. WHERE AM I? OKAY. DANG IT. WE'RE BACK. OKAY, OKAY. ARE WE READY? YEP. MOTION CLOSED. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN REGULAR SESSION. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.