Mar 21, 2025 Township Committee

[00:00:01]

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.

[Call to Order]

HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN. HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

TAYLOR. TODD. HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. HERE. NO. IN YOUR. TO YOUR MIC. HERE.

MAYBE THE MIC IS. IS IT WORKING? THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. DID YOU WANT TO HEAR MIKE HERE? OKAY. NOTICE OF MEETING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.

ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON MARCH 20TH MARCH 6TH, 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. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

OKAY. OKAY. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ARBOR DAY 2025.

[1. Proclamation – Recognizing Arbor Day 2025]

AND WHEREAS THIS HOLIDAY, CALLED ARBOR DAY, WAS FIRST OBSERVED WITH PLANTING OF MORE THAN A MILLION TREES IN NEBRASKA.

AND WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY ON THE LAST FRIDAY IN APRIL.

AND WHEREAS, THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY WILL COMMEMORATE ARBOR DAY IN THE TOWNSHIP ON FRIDAY, APRIL 6TH, 2025 WITH EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND TREE PLANTING.

AND WHEREAS TREES CAN BE A SOLUTION TO COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE BY REDUCING THE EROSION OF OUR PRECIOUS TOPSOIL BY WIND AND WATER, ABSORBING STORMWATER TO MITIGATE FLOODING EFFECTS, CUTTING HEATING AND COOLING COSTS MODERATING AND THE TEMPERATURE CLEANING THE AIR, PRODUCING LIFE GIVING OXYGEN, AND PROVIDING HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.

FOR FOR WILDLIFE. AND WHEREAS TREES ARE A RENEWABLE RESOURCE GIVING US PAPER WOOD FOR OUR HOMES, FUEL FOR OUR FIRES AND COUNTLESS OTHER WOOD PRODUCTS.

AND WHEREAS TREES IN OUR TOWNSHIP INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES, ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY, VITALITY OF BUSINESS AREAS, AND BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS TREES, WHEREVER THEY ARE PLANTED, ARE A SOURCE OF JOY AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL.

AND WHEREAS MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS TREE CITY USA BY THE NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION AND DESIRES TO CONTINUE ITS TREE PLANTING WAYS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, HEREBY RECOGNIZES APRIL 6TH, 2025, AS ARBOR DAY AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR TREES AND WOODLANDS AND TO SUPPORT OUR TOWNSHIP'S URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM.

BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE URGES ALL CITIZENS TO PLANT TREES TO GLADDEN THE HEARTS AND PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

[2. Public Comment]

ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE? HI, I'M CANDY WILLIS, KNICKERBOCKER DRIVE. BELLE MEAD, NEW JERSEY, AND I'M COMING TODAY BECAUSE IN 1772, THE FIRST TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WAS HELD. MEETING IN 1972, THERE WAS A 200TH CELEBRATION. IN 2022, THE TWO 50TH. THE TOWNSHIP DECLINED TO CELEBRATE THE TOWNSHIP FOR THE FIRST TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING.

NOW IT IS. AND THEN IN 1776, OF COURSE, WE HAD THE COUNTRY DECLARE THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM THE ENGLISH.

IN 1976, WE CELEBRATED THE 250TH OF THE NATION.

AND NOW THE 2026 IS COMING UP, THE TWO 50TH. I HAVE HEARD NO TOWNSHIP PLANS TO CELEBRATE THE TWO 50TH, AND I'M WONDERING WHAT THEY ARE, IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANYTHING.

THANK YOU. OKAY. AND WE WILL GET BACK. THERE ARE SOME PLANS.

THANK YOU. BECAUSE I'M WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD.

ABSOLUTELY, PARTNER. OKAY. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:05:05]

GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I SAW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TODAY, THIS ORDINANCE, THE INTRODUCTION THAT'S COMING UP NOW FOR THE ADOPTION AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.

AND I WANTED TO SAY I THINK I FULLY SUPPORT THIS.

I THINK FOR THE PUBLIC, IT'S IS AN IMPORTANT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THIS WAS COURT MANDATED THAT WE HAD TO PUT IN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF UNITS. AND I THINK THIS AS A FOR A REDEVELOPMENT AND A POTENTIAL PILOT AND PILOT IS PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES, WHICH ALSO MEANS THAT THE MUNICIPALITY GETS TO CONTROL ABOUT 95% OF, OF THE ACTUAL IMPROVED STUFF.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD THING BECAUSE A DEVELOPMENT LIKE THIS IS VERY, VERY INTENSIVE IN TERMS OF OUR MUNICIPAL COSTS.

AND SO IT INCREASES OUR THE POLICE NEEDS. AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO INCREASE YOU KNOW, ROADS AND ALL THIS STUFF.

BUT I WANT TO JUST ENCOURAGE THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT DOES GO THROUGH, IF YOU DO A PILOT THAT VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS OUR FIRE DISTRICTS, THAT THAT THEY GET THE FULL PERCENTAGE OF WHAT WOULD BE TAXED BECAUSE THEY COULD GET THEIRS, NOT THEY COULD GET NOTHING. BUT PLEASE ENCOURAGE I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET A FULL AMOUNT OF WHAT THEY SHOULD GET.

AND ALSO FOR MS THAT IF YOU'RE FULLY FUNDED THIS YEAR, WE HOPE AND THEN IF NOT, IN ADDITION TO FULLY FUNDING IT, ALSO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE PAYING FOR THEIR INSURANCE AND ALSO PERHAPS PAYING FOR SOME OF THEIR EQUIPMENT BECAUSE THAT BENEFITS ALL OF MONTGOMERY.

AND BUT I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD USE OF IT. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? HELLO? CHRIS NEWMAN. SKILLMAN, ANY. MAN, SINCE WE'RE SPELLING OUR LAST NAMES, I JUST HERE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, IF WE CAN REMEMBER EMS AND THE FIRE. I KNOW THAT THE BUDGET WILL BE OUT MAY 1ST OR THE PRELIMINARY.

SO I'M HOPING TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE TOWNSHIP'S SUPPORT OF EMS. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE 196 UNITS.

AND NOW THAT I'M AN EMT TRAINING, I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY CALLS COME FROM STONEBRIDGE.

AND IT'S A LOT. SO I SUSPECT THAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE HAVE ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT WITH NURSING CARE UNITS.

SO THE M. S IS ALREADY STRETCHED THIN AND THEY NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET.

SO THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. OKAY. ORDINANCES. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.

[3. Ordinance #25-1750 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery in Somerset County Adopting the Block 4020, Lot 1 Redevelopment Plan – Introduction/First Reading]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1750.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES.

ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION. THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION.

[Consent Agenda]

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? OKAY.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 23, DASH 103. NUMBER 25. DASH THREE.

DASH 112. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.

MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTIONS. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25.

[14. Resolution #25-3-113 – Authorizing the Appointment of Robert VanBenschoten as Building Subcode Official]

THIS IS RELATED TO THE SUCCESSION PLAN OF OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT.

SO BOB PREVIOUSLY WAS OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR.

UPON RETIREMENT, ROY MUNDY'S RETIREMENT AS CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL.

MIKE KRUPSKI WAS PROMOTED FROM BUILDING SUB CODE TO CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL.

[00:10:01]

AND BOB VAN BENSCHOTEN IS BEING PROMOTED TO BUILDING SUB CODE OFFICIAL, AND WE'RE WE ARE ADVERTISING FOR HIS REPLACEMENT FOR A PART TIME BUILDING INSPECTOR.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 53-1 13.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 5-31 14. AUTHORIZING AWARD OF BID B02 DASH 2025.

[15. Resolution #25-3-114 – Authorizing Award of Bid #B02-2025 – Township Line Road Improvements Phases 1 & 2 (State Aid 2024 FY and 2025 FY Project)]

STATE AID 2024 FY AND 2025 FY. PROJECT. SO THE PROJECT IS TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

WE'RE DOING THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP AS THAT ROAD IS IS SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO MUNICIPALITIES.

TOP LINE CONSTRUCTION WAS THE LOWEST, MOST RESPONSIVE BIDDER.

WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM BEFORE IN THE PAST. THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.

THEIR BID CAME IN AT $1,277,642.69, AND THE STATE AID THAT IS NOTED IN THE RESOLUTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND 2025 IS ABOUT $700,000.

SO THAT WILL BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE PROJECT. OKAY.

AND THEN HILLSBOROUGH IS TAKING ON AND THEN THEY'RE DOING THEIR THEIR OWN SHARE.

YES. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 531 14.

SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH THREE, DASH 115 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE AGREEMENT.

[16. Resolution #25-3-115 – Authorizing Execution of Construction Sequence Agreement – The Haven at Princeton, LLC (Block 37003, Lot 7)]

SO THE CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE AGREEMENT IS A DOCUMENT THAT'S PREPARED BY THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEER AND THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY, AND THEY REVIEW THE PLANNING BOARD OFFICIAL RESOLUTION, WHICH INCLUDES ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND ALL THE DETAILS OF THE OF THE DEVELOPMENT. THEN A SEQUENCE AGREEMENT IS PUT IN PLACE AND APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE.

IT ALSO INCLUDES ANY OF THE LOCAL CODE REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD WOULD GO INTO EFFECTUATING A DEVELOPMENT.

THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS IN OUR APARTMENT TOWNHOUSE ZONE OFF OF BLUE SPRING ROAD.

THE HAVEN PROJECT IT'S AN INCLUSIONARY PROJECT AND WAS PART OF OUR ROUND THREE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN.

SO THAT'S 122 AND THEN 32 AFFORDABLE. YES, 122 TOWNHOMES AND 32 AFFORDABLE RENTAL APARTMENTS.

OKAY. AND THAT PROJECT IS WILL BE GEARING UP THERE.

THEY'RE JUST FINISHING UP GETTING THEIR DEP PERMITS, AND THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ONCE THE CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE AGREEMENT IS FINALIZED, THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING WITH THE TOWNSHIP, AND THEN YOU WILL START TO SEE WORK HAPPENING OUT ON THE PROPERTY.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 53-1 15.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH THREE. DASH 116. AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,

[17. Resolution #25-3-116 – Authorizing Execution of Memorandum of Understanding with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) Related to the Stage 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant Recovery Assistance from FEMA]

THIS IS RELATED TO WHAT MARC HERMAN, OUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER, HAD SHARED AT THE LAST MEETING, WHICH, AFTER A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT WITH FEMA AND NJ OEM AND OUR OWN LOCAL OEM WE'RE RECEIVING AT A MINIMUM SOMETHING IN THE AREA OF $1.1 MILLION TOWARDS THE STAGE TWO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECT, WHICH IS THE FLOODWALL AND THE PLANT UPGRADES.

OKAY. AND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO MARC HERMAN AND HIS DEPARTMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON THIS WHEN IT WAS A SMALLER AMOUNT, JUST SO THE TOWNSHIP KNOWS, IT WAS MAYBE AROUND THE 250 RANGE AND IT'S OVER A MILLION NOW.

SO PERSISTENCE PAID OFF. ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTION? YES. DO WE KNOW IF THE POTENTIAL IN THE MIC? YEAH.

WILL ANY POTENTIAL FEMA CUTS POTENTIALLY IMPACT THIS GRANT? WE KNOW IT'S HOT. IT'S WHAT WE KNOW. SO I CAN'T SPEAK WITH CERTAINTY, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THESE ARE FROM PRIOR BUDGET YEARS SO THEY SHOULDN'T BE IMPACTED. BUT YOU KNOW THEY SHOULDN'T BE IMPACTED.

[00:15:04]

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH THREE, DASH 117. AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT.

[18. Resolution #25-3-117 – Authorizing Award of Contract – Communications Consultant]

WE RELEASED THE RFP. WE RECEIVED EIGHT PROPOSALS.

THEY WERE SOME WERE WE RECEIVED ACTUALLY PROPOSALS FROM NATIONAL FIRMS. AND THOSE COSTS AMOUNTS WERE QUITE, QUITE HIGH.

SO THERE'S A STRATEGY GROUP, WHICH IS OUR CURRENT CONSULTING FIRM CAME IN WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BID.

AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO EXECUTE THAT CONTRACT WITH, WITH THEM TO AND THIS IS A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERMS. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 53-117.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH THREE, DASH 118. SUPPORTING STONEBRIDGE AT MONTGOMERY'S REQUEST FOR A BUS STOP ON MONTGOMERY ROAD.

[19. Resolution #25-3-118 – Supporting Stonebridge at Montgomery’s Request for a Bus Stop on Montgomery Road]

THEY'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH NJ TRANSIT THEMSELVES.

THE LIKELIHOOD THAT NJ TRANSIT WOULD EXTEND A STOP DOWN MONTGOMERY ROAD INTO THEIR FACILITY.

I'M NOT SURE HOW LIKELY THAT IS. IT'S A PRETTY LONG LENGTH OF TIME FOR FOR THE RUN OF THE BUS FROM ITS BEGINNING TO END.

BUT WE FELT THAT IT YOU KNOW, THEY WERE REQUESTING THE RESIDENTS WERE REQUESTING A LETTER OF SUPPORT.

AND OF COURSE, WE LOVE TO SEE PUBLIC TRANSIT ENHANCED IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, WE FELT THAT IT MADE SENSE TO SEND IN THE LETTER OF SUPPORT.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION, BUT I MEAN, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW HOW DO WE KIND OF SET UP A PROCESS THAT WE WOULD SAY, HEY, IF WE HAD TO ASK THE STATE FOR ONE BUS STOP, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE, RIGHT? OR ONE BUS ROUTE. SO YEAH, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THEY'VE TAKEN THE INITIATIVE AND SO OBVIOUSLY HAPPY TO SUPPORT.

BUT MAYBE AS WE THINK ABOUT IT LATER IN THE YEAR, LIKE IS THERE ANOTHER STEP THAT WE WOULD PREFER IF WE HAD TO KIND OF USE UP OUR, OUR CAPITAL WITH THE STATE? WELL, WE DID THEIR REQUEST HAS BEEN ONGOING, BUT ONE OF THE REQUESTS THAT WE HAD MADE THAT THAT WAS RECEIVED WELL WAS THE MONTGOMERY PROMENADE STOP. AND SO THAT WILL KIND OF WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT, NOT NOT TOO FAR INTO THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT I THINK THROUGH THE CIRCLE. SO FOR, FOR A NICE BUS STOP THERE.

SO THAT WAS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES AND WE DID RECEIVE THAT.

THANKS. GETS MORE PEOPLE TO THE SHOPPING CENTER RIGHT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 53-118.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 6TH,

[20. Approval of Minutes ]

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 53-119.

[21. Resolution #25-3-119 – Payment of Bills – Posted]

WE HAVE OUR BOARD OF ED MONTHLY PAYMENT $8,370,000 806 $370,806.

WE HAVE OUR POLICE PENSION ANNUAL PAYMENT $1,437,849.

IT WE DID SEE A LARGE INCREASE OF $132,732 FROM 2024.

THAT WAS AN INCREASE OVER 10%. AND I THINK AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT'S ONE OF OUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THIS YEAR.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PENSION. SO THE OTHER EMPLOYEES PENSIONS IS $1,050,596.

THAT'S A SLIGHT DECREASE OF 17,939 COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

AND THERE IS ALSO US BANK. THE INTEREST PAYMENT FOR THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, THE NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING, $576,490.64. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 53-119. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

[00:20:05]

TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.

MAYOR SINGH. YES. CORRESPONDENCE. THERE IS NO CORRESPONDENCE.

[23. New and Unfinished Business]

DO YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK? MAYBE I COULD SPEAK.

I KNOW, I KNOW, WE HAD THIS ONE ON THE AGENDA FOR A COUPLE TIMES.

I THINK I CONNECTED WITH EVERYONE ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO PUT IN A COMMEMORATIVE STREET SIGN ON OF STEVE WARNER WAY ON COMMUNITY DRIVE.

I THINK I'VE CONNECTED WITH EVERYONE AND EVERYONE'S ALIGNED. SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROCEED AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND AND THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEES ARE PUTTING TOGETHER PLANS ON HOW TO DO THAT.

SO, WENDY, DO WE NEED A MOTION OR JUST A VOICE VOTE? WE'LL HAVE A RESOLUTION ON ON THE NEXT AGENDA.

OKAY. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A COMMEMORATIVE SIGN.

WE STILL HAVE COMMUNITY DRIVE JUST IN CASE, PEOPLE.

YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. FILM READY ORDINANCE. LISA.

SO, AS YOU KNOW PAST MEETINGS, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING A FILM READY TOWN.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE HAD COME AND GIVEN A PRESENTATION.

AND ALSO THE COUNTY REGARDING WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR BECOMING FILM READY.

AND I HAVE PROVIDED LAST MEETING AND THIS MEETING AGAIN BACKGROUND ON BERNARDS TOWNSHIP AS A SAMPLE.

THEY DO HAVE AN ORDINANCE IN PLACE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE, AND THAT'S FOR THE GOVERNING BODIES.

INFORMATION. SO WE'RE AT THIS POINT DECIDING WHETHER WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH AN ORDINANCE TO BECOME FILM READY.

OKAY. AND THE ONE THING I CAN ADD TO THAT IS THAT WE HAD A CONVERSATION.

WE HAD BEN AND DAVID. OH, I SHOULD REMEMBER TO BE IN THE MIC.

SO WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND WE HAD A PRESENTATION BY BEN NANA FROM THE COUNTY AND DAVID SHANNON, I BELIEVE, FROM THE NEW JERSEY FILM COMMISSION.

AND THEY DID LET US KNOW THAT WHEN COMPLETE UNKNOWN WAS BEING FILMED IN MONTGOMERY.

MONTGOMERY MADE ABOUT $27,000 FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND ALSO FOR THE SPACE THAT THEY RENTED.

SO I THINK IN THAT IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO LOOK INTO THIS.

AND SO I GUESS THE NEXT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE A DRAFT ORDINANCE FOR REVIEW.

IS THAT CORRECT, WENDY? YEAH. ANYBODY ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE HAS ANYTHING TO ADD? OKAY. ANY OBJECTIONS? ANY OBJECTIONS? OKAY. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[24. Township Committee Reports]

NO. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. COMMITTEE. YES. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

HAPPY SPRING. IT FEELS A LITTLE STRANGE TO BE IN HERE IN THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE.

USUALLY IT'S DARK OUTSIDE. FIRST I WANT TO SAY, EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT HERE, CONGRATULATIONS TO OFFICER CASTALDO ON PASSING HIS PROBATIONARY PERIOD. IT'S VERY EXCITING. AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF UPDATES FROM THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE.

THERE ARE A FEW UPDATES, BUT THE ONES THAT I'LL SHARE ARE AT THE LAST MEETING ON MARCH 13TH.

THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF THE SOURLANDS AS AN AREA OF CRITICAL STATE CONCERN WITH THE STATE'S DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.

AND ALSO MAYBE OF MORE IMPORTANCE OR INTEREST IS THE DEER DENSITY STUDY, WHICH RESULTED IN SOME AUTHORIZED DRONES, SOME RECOGNIZABLE DRONES WAS COMPLETED ON MARCH 2ND AND WILL BE WAITING FOR THE FINAL REPORT FROM RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND THAT'S EXPECTED AT LATE APRIL AND EARLY MAY.

THE BOARD OF HEALTH MET ON MARCH 11TH, AND I THINK THEY MET ANOTHER TIME SINCE WE LAST MET.

OUR HEALTH OFFICER GAVE HAD ONE OF HER INTERNS GIVE A FOOD INSECURITY REPORT, WHICH I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.

BUT TO MISS NEWMAN'S POINT THERE WAS AN MS ACTIVITY REPORT THAT WAS GIVEN BY THE HEAD OF MS, WHICH WAS REALLY ILLUMINATING. IT TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CALLS FROM 2020 TILL NOW, WHERE THEY NORMALLY COME IN FROM, AND REALLY ILLUSTRATED THE THE IMPACT THAT MS HAS ON OUR TOWN.

SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. YEAH.

SO THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION WILL BE MEETING NEXT WEEK.

SO I'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE IN APRIL ON THAT. MORE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

MEANS I THINK MAYBE I'LL JUST DIGRESS REAL QUICK.

OBVIOUSLY, THE IN THE SCHOOL BOARD PRESENTED THEIR PRELIMINARY BUDGET ON TUESDAY, AND I SEEN THE MONTGOMERY NEWS.

OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS A GOOD REPORT. OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE SEEING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE SEEING, ESPECIALLY FROM THE INCREASES OF HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE OTHER CHALLENGES WITH STATE FUNDING, ETCETERA.

I THINK IT JUST SHOWS THAT LIKE THE THE CHALLENGES, THE PHYSICAL CHALLENGES ARE, ARE BEING SHARED ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING AS A TEAM AND ALSO REACHING OUT TO THE BOARD OF ED IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN TRY TO WORK TOGETHER, RIGHT? WE'RE ALL HERE IN MONTGOMERY. ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHARED SERVICES? I THINK

[00:25:03]

BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS SHOULDN'T STOP US FROM CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO WRAP UP ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT REVIEWS AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS TO REVIEW WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND THEN BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT THE TARGET IS THE FIRST MEETING IN APRIL.

AND AS A REMINDER FOR EVERYONE, THE BUDGET IS IS PRESENTED.

THERE'S A THERE'S A MEETING IN THE MIDDLE WHERE, YOU KNOW, ALLOWS TIMES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, PUBLIC REVIEW, AND THEN IT WILL BE THE FIRST MEETING IN MAY WHERE THE BUDGET WOULD BE FINAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UP FOR A VOTE. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I DO AGREE WITH THE DEPUTY MAYOR. IT IS THE FINANCIAL TIMES ARE HARD.

AND THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK TO THE SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THEY HAVE PRESENTED WHAT THEY FEEL.

AND THERE IS DEFINITELY CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND AS PEOPLE THINK MONTGOMERY IS ONE, THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, WE GET 14% AND THE SCHOOLS GET 70%.

BUT YES, WE HOPE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR ALL RESIDENTS.

THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION IS IF YOU'VE BEEN OUTSIDE AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, YOU'VE SEEN THAT THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IS COMING AND THAT THAT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT GETTING DONE.

AND I KNOW THERE IS THE SEPTA ROCKBROOK SCHOOL ARE ALL EXCITED.

THERE IS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE YOUNG KIDS WHO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET AS WELL, AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO THE LIBRARY. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND AS COMMITTEEWOMAN TODD SAID, I DID HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM MONTGOMERY MS AS WELL.

AND I DO AGREE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT ALL THEY DO FOR THE TOWN, AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING THAT I FOUND OUT IN THAT PRESENTATION WAS HOW MANY TIMES THEY GO TO HILLSBOROUGH AND THE FACT THAT HILLSBOROUGH HAS ONE AMBULANCE AND ENDS UP CALLING US, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT MONTGOMERY GETS OUT OF THAT.

SO IT IS REALLY CONCERNING FOR AN ALL VOLUNTEER EMS TO BE HELPING OUT ANOTHER TOWN, WHICH IS CONTRACTED WITH ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON, AND THERE IS NO MONEY THAT'S GIVEN TO THE EMS BECAUSE IF EMS IS GOING THERE, BECAUSE IF THERE'S ONE AMBULANCE, THEY JUST CAN'T, YOU KNOW, DO THAT FOR THE ENTIRE TOWN.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING AS A TEAM.

AND OF COURSE, WE'VE LOOKED AT WHAT THE EMS HAS PRESENTED, AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP.

AND DOCTOR NEWMAN'S POINT IS VERY WELL MADE. THANK YOU.

AND THAT'S IT FOR MY REPORT AS WELL. AND ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[25. Administrator’s Report]

IT NOW IT IS A BREAK ROOM FOR THE DPW WORKERS.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FROM TIME TO TIME.

JUST ABOUT OUR CONCERN ABOUT THE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND CONDITION OF THE BUILDING.

COMING UP IN THIS SPRING WOULD BE A ROUND OF, GRANTS THAT IT POTENTIALLY COULD QUALIFY FOR.

SO THE WORK THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE DONE INCLUDES STABILIZING AND YOU KNOW, THE FLOOR PAINTING AND ROOF, ROOF REPAIRS AS WELL. SO SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT IS PROBABLY OUR TOP CONTENDER IN HOW THIS PROJECT WOULD MATCH WHAT THEY FUND. NEW JERSEY HISTORIC TRUST ALSO HAS SOME GRANTS, BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH BRUNO ASSOCIATES, OUR GRANT WRITING CONSULTANT, TO KIND OF MATCH OUR PROJECT WITH THE GRANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

SO I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

JEFF'S BEEN GETTING SOME QUOTES FROM CONTRACTORS ON WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO STABILIZE THAT BUILDING.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A HISTORIC RESOURCE TO THE TOWNSHIP, GIVEN ITS HISTORIC NATURE.

AND, AND PART OF OUR FABRIC IN HISTORY, BUT IT ALSO IS A BUILDING THAT WE, WE USE ON A DAILY BASIS FOR OUR STAFF.

WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DPW YARD, AND IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE YARD.

AND SO THIS THIS IS A KIND OF A COMPONENT TO IT THAT WE I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT.

MONTGOMERY PROMENADE, NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER IS IS OUT.

BACK ON THE SITE, I SAID THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF LULL IN THE WORK DURING THE WINTER UNTIL THOSE MAJOR UTILITY COMPANIES CAME BACK OUT.

PSEG IN NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER TO COMPLETE SOME OF THEIR WORK.

NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER IS OUT THERE DOING WORK.

THEY HAVE A PHASED APPROACH TO HOW THEY WILL DO IT.

AND THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS, REMOBILIZING, AND YOU'LL START TO SEE SOME VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE RETAIL BUILDINGS.

[00:30:01]

SO THERE ARE NEW SINGLE SOURCE RECYCLING BUCKETS.

THEY REQUIRE SPECIAL TRUCKS TO BE ABLE TO USE THEM.

THE COUNTY HAS ORDERED ADDITIONAL TRUCKS. THERE'S A ONE AND A HALF YEAR BACKLOG TO RECEIVING THOSE TRUCKS.

SO PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE COUNTY IS ON HOLD TO GET THOSE NEW BUCKETS UNTIL MORE OF THOSE TRUCKS ARE RECEIVED.

THEY DO ANTICIPATE, I THINK, DEVELOPMENT ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF TOWN, ABOUT 200 SOMETHING HOMES TO RECEIVE THOSE NEW.

THEY'RE NOT BUCKETS, TOTES, RECYCLING, TOTES, WHATEVER.

THEY THEY HAVE A LID. YEAH, THEY HAVE A LID. SO THEY NEED THE ARM TO LIFT THEM.

AND NEXT MONTH I THINK AND THEN THE REST FOLLOWING IN THE NEXT YEAR.

WE ARE SUBMITTING FOR CONGRESSIONAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SPENDING.

I'M SORRY LORI, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT, WHAT ARE THOSE WHAT ARE THOSE BUCKETS AGAIN.

SO RIGHT NOW THERE WILL BE WHAT WE WILL MOVE FROM THE BLUE BUCKET TO A TALLER TOTE THAT HAS A LID ON IT, AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO PUT, I BELIEVE, YOUR PAPER, PLASTICS, YOUR GLASS ALL IN ONE.

NO, NO, THERE'S THERE'S TWO, THERE'S TWO. I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T HAVE IT YET. NO, NO I'M PART OF THE AND IT'S SADLY, IT'S STILL WAITING FOR HOURS. I DON'T HAVE IT YET.

MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ONE AND AND THAT IS I THINK PEOPLE'S CONCERN IS HOW COME SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GETTING IT AND SOME ARE NOT.

BUT I THINK THE WAY THE COUNTY IS GOING IS THAT THEY WERE STARTING FROM BELLEMEADE, AND I THINK NOW THEY'RE GOING INTO SKILLMAN AND THEN THEY GET BACK TO, I GUESS THE RESIDENT WHO WROTE TO US WAS FROM COUNTRY CLASSICS, RIGHT? SO I THINK THEN THEY TURN BACK AND COME BACK.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING, LIKE YOU CHATTED WITH THEM, I HAD A CHAT WITH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE TRUCKS TO AND HOPEFULLY AT THAT POINT. SO THERE'S TWO TOTES AND YOU SEPARATE YOUR GLASS AND YOU SEPARATE YOUR CARDBOARD AND PAPER.

THERE'S ABOUT 55% OF THE COUNTY IS IS COMPLETE.

BUT IT'S COUNTYWIDE. AND THE DIRECTOR OF RECYCLING, HE MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING AND ASKING FOR THE TOTES COUNTYWIDE.

I UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WINDY CONDITIONS, THE PEOPLE, IF IT DOESN'T HAVE A COVER, AND THAT WAS THE RESIDENTS CONCERN THAT THE GARBAGE IS FLOWING, YOU KNOW, GOING AROUND IN THE WIND ALL OVER THE TOWN.

SO THAT'S WHAT THEIR CONCERN WAS. BUT AGAIN, RECYCLING IS WITH THE COUNTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WAIT FOR THEM ON THAT ONE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. OKAY. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS APRIL 3RD, 2025 BUDGET PRESENTATION AND

[26. Future Agenda Items]

INTRODUCTION. SEWER RATE. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 5-31 20 EXECUTIVE

[27. Resolution #25-3-120 – Executive Session]

AT 18 HARLINGEN ROAD. OKAY. SO I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I SAY THAT IN THE END.

OKAY. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AS FOLLOWS. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WILL NOW CONVENE IN A CLOSED SESSION THAT WILL BE LIMITED ONLY TO CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY BE EXCLUDED. PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.

THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS.

PERSONNEL. POLICE LIEUTENANT. INTERVIEWS. LITIGATION.

DOCKET NUMBERS. SOM L153 25 AND THEN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.

SEWER EASEMENT ACQUISITION 18. HARLINGEN. KNOWN 18 HARLINGEN ROAD.

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.

THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 531 20, AS AMENDED.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES.

DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY. MAY I HAVE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN REGULAR SESSION.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? I. I. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?

[00:35:01]

MONTGOMERY. MONTGOMERY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.