Apr 03, 2025 Township Committee

IT'S ON. YES. OKAY. LISA.

[00:00:02]

[CALL TO ORDER]

ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON.

WHEN WAS IT? ON APRIL 1ST, 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, GOD. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25.

[2. Resolution #25-4-122 – Authorizing the Promotion of Sean Sullivan to Lieutenant in the Police Department]

I GUESS AT THIS MOTION TO ADOPT.

OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25, DASH FOR DASH 122. SO MOVED.

SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH.

YES. OKAY. OKAY. I WILL ASK CHIEF PETT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

GOOD EVENING. BEFORE WE GET TO THE SWEARING IN OF SERGEANT SULLIVAN, I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE SERGEANT SULLIVAN, SOON TO BE LIEUTENANT SULLIVAN.

SERGEANT SULLIVAN ATTENDED RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE EARNED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE, MAJORING IN ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN 2001.

ONE, HE ATTENDED AND GRADUATED FROM THE BURLINGTON COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY AS AN ALTERNATE ROUTE. IN 2003, AND SUBSEQUENTLY WAS HIRED BY MONTGOMERY LATER THAT YEAR. SINCE THAT TIME, HE HAS CONTINUED HIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ATTENDING ALL MANNER OF IN-SERVICE AND ELECTIVE TRAINING.

MORE RECENTLY, HE HAS ATTENDED SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING AND SELECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND COMMAND LEVEL COURSES OFFERED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

OVER THE COURSE OF HIS 20 YEARS HERE WITH MONTGOMERY, SERGEANT SELWYN HAS SERVED AS PATROL OFFICER, A TRAFFIC OFFICER, AS WELL AS A DETECTIVE.

IN DECEMBER OF 2017, SEAN WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT, WHERE HE SERVED AS PATROL SUPERVISOR AND MORE RECENTLY AS A SERGEANT ASSIGNED TO THE TRAFFIC DIVISION, WHERE HE HAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE TRAINING.

CRASH INVESTIGATIONS. SEAN HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SITE PLAN, TRAFFIC IMPACT AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PLAN REVIEWS AND ADDRESSING COMMUNITY TRAFFIC CONCERNS. SEAN HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING ALL TRAFFIC RELATED GRANTS AND IMPLEMENTING THEM TO CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS RELATED TO VEHICLE, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY.

RECENTLY, HE COORDINATED THE BIKE RODEO AT THE VILLAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PROVIDING A FUN EXPERIENCE FOR THE CHILDREN WHERE THEY LEARNED THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BICYCLE SAFETY AND SHARING THE ROAD WITH VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

SHAWN HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMMENDATIONS AWARDS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, INCLUDING A VALOR AWARD AND A 200 CLUB OF SOMERSET COUNTY AWARD FOR RESCUING RESIDENTS FROM A BURNING HOME IN THE CHERRY VALLEY COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS PULLING INDIVIDUAL OUT OF A BURNING APARTMENT IN PIKE RUN.

SERGEANT SULLIVAN WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE OPERATIONS DIVISION, OVERSEEING ALL PATROL RELATIONS RELATED FUNCTIONS, REPLACING LIEUTENANT ROCH, WHO RETIRED APRIL 1ST.

I BELIEVE HE'S HERE IN THE BACK SOMEWHERE TONIGHT.

SITTING DOWN. I'M CONFIDENT THAT SHAWN WILL BE AN INTRICATE PART OF THE COMMAND STAFF, AS HIS LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY IS ROOTED IN OUR CORE VALUES AND VISION OF ELEVATING PUBLIC SAFETY AND CULTIVATING A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY FOR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF BATT.

AND NOW WE WILL HAVE THE OATH OF OFFICE.

[3. Oath of Office – Lieutenant Sean Sullivan]

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, IN ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, END, AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED STATES. AND IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS STATE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE.

[00:05:02]

SO HELP ME GOD, SO HELP ME GOD.

YEAH. WE DID. OKAY. YEAH.

YES YES YES YES YES. YES.

YES. YES. PLEASE.

AGENDA.

GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. I AM HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS A LIEUTENANT WITH THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. I EMBRACE MY NEW ROLE WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE, AND I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GUIDE OUR DEPARTMENT AND ITS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVE AND PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK CHIEF SILVIO BET, LIEUTENANT ANDREW PERRY, LIEUTENANT JASON LARSON, AND, OF COURSE, RECENTLY RETIRED LIEUTENANT CURT ROCK FOR THEIR BELIEF IN ME.

I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO EVERY MEMBER OF THIS AGENCY, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, FOR GUIDING ME AND SUPPORTING ME THROUGHOUT MY CAREER. I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE PAM, AND OUR FOUR WONDERFUL CHILDREN.

THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU HAVE MADE OVER THE YEARS MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW.

TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. I AM PROUD TO SERVE WITH YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

PROPOSITION. OKAY. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING GLENN,

[4. Proclamation – Recognizing Glenn Stives, Tax Assessor, for Years of Service with the Township of Montgomery]

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 GLENN STEVE'S CAREER WITH THE TOWNSHIP BEGAN SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2002 AS ASSISTANT TO THE TAX ASSESSOR AND WAS THEN PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT TAX ASSESSOR IN JANUARY 2005. AND WHEREAS, GLENN LEFT THE TOWNSHIP AND THEN RETURNED IN 2018 AS TAX ASSESSOR, AND REMAINED AS SUCH UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN MARCH 2025, AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, GLEN HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, DILIGENCE AND STRONG WORK ETHIC, MAKING SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND SMOOTH OPERATIONS OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS THE TAX ASSESSOR.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT I'M HERE SAYING 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 GLEN STILES FOR HIS YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT 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 DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY AND EXTENDS SINCERE BEST WISHES AND HAPPINESS IN HIS NEW JOURNEY.

ON THIS THIRD DAY OF APRIL, 2025.

AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE, AND I BELIEVE GLENN IS ABLE TO MAKE IT.

OKAY. SO I GUESS WE WILL GET HIM THE PROCLAMATION.

OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 FOR DASH 123, AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF CAROLYN BAUER

[5. Resolution #25-4-123 – Authorizing the Appointment of Carolyn Bower as Tax Assessor]

[00:10:05]

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR.

TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH.

YES. MA'AM. ARE YOU READY? YES. GO AHEAD. I HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PUBLIC

[6. Proclamation – Recognizing National Public Health Week 2025]

AND WHEREAS, THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HEALTH DEPARTMENT WORKS EVERY DAY TO SAFEGUARD OUR COMMUNITY, PREVENTING ILLNESS, ENSURING SAFE DRINKING WATER, PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH, SUPPORTING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND ADDRESSING PRESSING HEALTH CONCERNS THAT IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS.

AND WHEREAS PUBLIC HEALTH IS MORE THAN JUST HEALTH CARE, IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY SHAPING HOW WE LIVE, WORK AND INTERACT THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT KEEP OUR AIR, FOOD, WATER AND NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE.

AND WHEREAS STRONG PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIRES STRONG LOCAL INVESTMENT, INCLUDING COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, FIRST RESPONDERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD A RESILIENT AND PREPARED TOWNSHIP.

AND WHEREAS, PRIORITIZING PUBLIC HEALTH MEANS PROTECTING OUR FUTURE BY ENSURING THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF AGE, INCOME OR BACKGROUND, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A HEALTHY AND FULFILLING LIFE.

AND WHEREAS PUBLIC HEALTH IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, AND EVERY RESIDENT PLAYS A ROLE IN STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY'S WELL-BEING, WHETHER BY STAYING INFORMED, SUPPORTING LOCAL INITIATIVES, VOLUNTEERING, OR SIMPLY LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, HEREBY RECOGNIZES APRIL 7TH AND 13TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN THE TOWNSHIP AND CALLS UPON ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND JOIN IN EFFORTS TO CREATE A SAFER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITY FOR ALL.

FURTHERMORE, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE EXTENDS ITS DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR ITS TIRELESS BEHIND THE SCENES WORK AND KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY RUNNING AND ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR FOOD AND WATER, PREVENTING DISEASE OUTBREAKS, PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, AND RESPONDING TO HEALTH EMERGENCIES.

THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT ALLOW OUR COMMUNITY TO THRIVE, OFTEN WITHOUT RECOGNITION. AND FOR THAT WE SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY.

[8. Public Comment]

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? FOR HARVARD CIRCLE. THIS RAMADAN, I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING GOVERNOR MURPHY'S CRESCENT LIGHTING CELEBRATION AT DRUM RACKET.

IT WAS TRULY AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT TO SEE NEW JERSEY'S MUSLIM COMMUNITY ACKNOWLEDGED AND CELEBRATED BY OUR GOVERNOR.

AT THE SAME EVENT, GOVERNOR MURPHY PROCLAIMED MARCH 15TH THE DAY TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA IN NEW JERSEY. YET, ATTENDING THE EVENT WAS BITTERSWEET BECAUSE IT WAS A VIVID REMINDER THAT I WAS PREVIOUSLY UNCEREMONIOUSLY REJECTED WHEN I TRIED TO ORGANIZE A CRESCENT LIGHTING EVENT AT THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY HAD ADVISED THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE EVENTS CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS.

THIS WAS DESPITE MY HAVING ATTENDED RELIGIOUS EVENTS AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE PAST.

TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, MAYOR NINA SINGH TOLD ME, QUOTE, BESIDES, SOME PEOPLE IN TOWN WON'T BE HAPPY IF WE DO A MUSLIM EVENT AND WE NEED THEIR VOTES. END QUOTE.

THOUGH I IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO SEEK THE VOTES OF HATEFUL PEOPLE.

THE PAIN OF THAT COMMENT HAS REMAINED.

I ENDED UP ORGANIZING CRESCENT LIGHTING AT AUTO CENTER MYSELF, BUT IT WAS TINGED WITH SORROW AT THE WAY MUSLIM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE LESS VALUED BY OUR LEADERS THAN OUR NEIGHBORS FROM OTHER FAITH TRADITIONS.

SUBSEQUENTLY, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS CELEBRATED AT THE MONTGOMERY MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, INCLUDING CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS AND SPRING CLEANING CELEBRATING HOLI.

WHY IS THERE A DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO CELEBRATING MUSLIM CULTURAL EVENTS? IF GOVERNOR MURPHY CAN ACKNOWLEDGE RAMADAN AND EVE WITH A CRESCENT LIGHTING, WHY CAN'T MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP? THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? HELLO, MY NAME IS AMANDA BEAUMONT.

BELLE MEADE. ON MARCH 17TH, 2025, NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES MICHELLE JULIUS AND ROY FREEMAN HELD A PETITION SIGNING EVENT IN PARIS BAGUETTE, ATTENDED BY SEVERAL LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. DURING THE EVENT, BOB WINICK, A LOCAL ACTIVIST,

[00:15:03]

MONTGOMERY POLICE WERE SENT TO MR. WITNESS HOME IN MONTGOMERY THE NEXT DAY, AND INFORMED MR. WHITNEY THAT ASSEMBLYMAN ROY FREEMAN HAD ACCUSED MR. WINNICK OF BRIBERY. THIS IS A CLEAR ATTEMPT TO USE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SILENCE POLITICAL DISSENT, AND IS A WORRYING PRECEDENT FOR LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS TO SET.

GIVEN THE CURRENT ACTIONS OF THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS DETAINING AND DEPORTING IMMIGRANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR TOWNSHIP, I.C.E.

ARRESTED MONTGOMERY RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER MING ZHANG, WELL KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY AS SUSHI JOHN, THE OWNER OF YAYA NOODLES.

I HAVEN'T HEARD A THING FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON THESE MATTERS.

WHY ISN'T THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE SPEAKING UP IN DEFENSE OF THE VULNERABLE AND DOING MORE TO PROTECT FREE SPEECH IN MONTGOMERY? WHY ISN'T THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE DOING MORE TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ALL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COMMUNITY? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? THANK YOU. NOW WE'LL HAVE THE 2025 BUDGET PRESENTATION BY CFO

[7. 2025 Budget Presentation – CFO, Michael Pitts]

SO WE WILL LET YOU KNOW.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY SOMETHING., I JUST A MINUTE, I THINK. DENNISON WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

SO PERTAINING TO MR. ZHANG.

WE ARE LOOKING INTO IT.

WE HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN'S TEAM AND DIFFERENT AREAS.

I HAVE PERSONALLY REACHED OUT TO AAPI ORGANIZATIONS AND TRIED TO LOOK INTO HIS WHEREABOUTS. WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.

WE'RE LOOKING AND WE'RE SUPPORTING IN THE BACKGROUND.

SO JUST BECAUSE WE'RE NOT COMING OUT IN FRONT AND STATING THINGS DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND ALSO WE'RE TALKING TO OUR SENATORS.

SO BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU.

OKAY I THINK MICHAEL, WE'RE READY FOR YOU.

[9. Resolution #25-4-124 – 2025 Municipal Budget – Introduction]

AS ALWAYS, EVERY MUNICIPAL BUDGET IS A VERY DIFFICULT BUDGET.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. WE MET WENT OVER THE BUDGET AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. LORI. GREAT JOB. I THINK THIS IS YOUR SECOND BUDGET WITH ME. RIGHT.

SO THE BUDGET, I THINK WE DID A DECENT JOB.

BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, AS ALWAYS, HAVE BEEN GREAT.

VERY RECEPTIVE TO WORKING WITH TIGHT BUDGETS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, AS YOU'LL SEE, THERE'S BEEN THERE'S ONLY ABOUT 4 OR 5 COST DRIVERS THAT REALLY DROVE THIS BUDGET.

BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

BUT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WORKED WITH US TO, AT THE END OF THE DAY, DO MORE WITH LESS. THAT'S KIND OF THE MOTTO WITH MOST GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES NOWADAYS.

SO LET'S BEGIN. AS ALWAYS, WE START OFF WITH THE PROPERTY TAX ALLOCATIONS. WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILLS.

YES. WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR PAYMENT, IT COMES TO MY OFFICE. I'M THE TAX COLLECTOR AS WELL. SO OUT OF THAT BILL, WE COLLECT ALL OF IT, 100% OF IT. BUT AS YOU SEE FROM THIS PIE CHART, 67.55% GOES TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ALMOST A PERCENT AND A HALF GOES TO THE FIRE DISTRICT.

YOU HAVE 13% GOING TO THE COUNTY, THEN ANOTHER 1.7% GOING TO THE COUNTY FOR THE LIBRARY. THEN 1.37 GOING TO THE COUNTY OPEN SPACE.

THEN ABOUT 15%. YOU KNOW, 13.6 FOR MUNICIPAL ARES.

AND THEN OUR MUNICIPAL OPEN SPACE, ABOUT 1%.

SO ABOUT 15% ACTUALLY STAYS WITH THE MUNICIPALITY.

SO AGAIN, WE LIKE TO MENTION THAT THOUGH WE COLLECT ALL YOUR TAXES EVERY MONTH, WE SEND IT OUT TO THE THE SCHOOL BOARD EVERY QUARTER WE SEND IT OUT TO THE COUNTY.

WE SEND IT OUT TO THE FIRE DISTRICTS AND ALL THE OTHER ENTITIES.

AGAIN, JUST A LITTLE GRAPH SHOWING THE ALLOCATION OF THE PROPERTY TAXES, THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR STARTED PROBABLY THE THIRD WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.

WE HAD A BUDGET REFRESHER, A BUDGET.

THE THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED THEIR BUDGET REQUESTS.

I THINK IT WAS SEPTEMBER 23RD TO BE EXACT.

WE GAVE THEM A DUE DATE OF END OF OCTOBER, EARLY NOVEMBER TO GET BACK TO US WITH THEIR REQUEST. NOVEMBER, DECEMBER WE HAD DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS, THE FINANCE OFFICE ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATOR, WE MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO TO HONE IN ON THEIR BUDGET TO SEE BASICALLY ALMOST A WISH LIST REQUEST THAT THEY HAD WITH THAT REQUEST.

YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR THE NUMBER IN TERMS OF A TAX RATE INCREASE IS ASTOUNDING.

WE WERE OVER 10% THIS YEAR.

AND AGAIN, THAT THAT WAS JUST A STARTING POINT AND WE STARTED BRINGING IT DOWN.

FROM THERE, THE NEW YEAR IN JANUARY, WE STARTED MEETING WITH THE BUDGET AND

[00:20:01]

GLENN, STEVE, GREAT ASSESSOR, JUST RETIRED.

LAST WEEK HELPED US WITH OUR ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH YOU'LL SEE IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES.

HOW THAT PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN CREATING YOUR TAX RATE.

WE'RE HERE TODAY. BUDGET INTRODUCTION.

WE'LL ADVERTISE IT THE FIRST MEETING OF MAY.

WE WILL HAVE OUR BUDGET HEARING.

THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN COME ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.

BUT I ASK YOU AGAIN OR I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE BUDGET HEARING ISN'T THE ONLY TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN EMAIL ME BEFORE CALL BEFORE AND ABOUT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET.

AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

I KNOW BRETT'S DONE IT BEFORE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A MEETING IN A WHILE, SO IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.

BUT I'VE GOTTEN CALLS BEFORE THE BUDGET HEARING TO TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, SO IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL ONCE WE HAVE THE BUDGET HEARING THE FIRST WEEK FIRST MEETING OF MAY, WE WILL HAVE THE BUDGET ADOPTION WHERE IT GETS SENT TO THE STATE, GETS SENT TO THE COUNTY AND GETS CERTIFIED.

AND THAT IS THE BUDGET PROCESS.

NO DIFFERENT FROM THE PRIOR YEARS.

ONLY THING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR IS WE ARE UNDER STATE REVIEW.

EVERY THREE YEARS THE STATE REVIEWS YOUR BUDGET, SO THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY ISSUES THERE. ALL RIGHT. I SPOKE ABOUT THE COST DRIVERS A LITTLE. SO THIS YEAR OUR BUDGET IS INCREASING $755,000. THAT'S EXCLUDING GRANTS.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GRANTS, UNLESS YOU HAVE A MATCHING GRANT, IT'S A NET ZERO. IT'S A WASH. WHATEVER YOU PUT IN YOUR REVENUE SIDE, YOU PUT IN YOUR EXPENSE, YOUR APPROPRIATION SIDE.

SO OUT OF THAT 755,000, YOU'LL SEE OUR MAJOR COST DRIVERS, POLICE WILL DEBT EXPENSE $241,000.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH A NOTE THAT WE WENT OUT LAST YEAR.

AND THE THE INTEREST IS DUE THIS YEAR.

POLICE SALARIES, JUST LIKE ANY MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S USUALLY THE LARGEST DRIVER WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR SALARIES.

SO POLICE SALARIES INCREASING $200,000, POLICE PENSIONS, THAT'S THE NUMBER WE GET FROM THE STATE. WE HAVE NO SAY IN THAT NUMBER.

THAT INCREASED $125,000 AND HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASED $133,000.

THAT'S ALMOST 700,000 OUT OF THAT.

755 YES. THERE WAS SOME, YOU KNOW, DECREASES INCREASED.

BUT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE MAJOR COST DRIVERS.

AND THESE ARE THE FOUR MAJOR COST DRIVERS TO THE BUDGET.

BUDGET IN THE SNAPSHOT. AGAIN THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT I KNOW FOR RESIDENTS TO SEE WHAT WHAT'S OUR INCREASE WHAT'S GOING ON. SO I ALWAYS START WITH THE TOWNSHIP VALUE. IT INCREASED ONLY 0.018%.

YOU HEAR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES INCREASING 910%.

WE'RE NOT THAT MUNICIPAL.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BUILDING GOING ON. WE DON'T HAVE WAREHOUSES.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.

SO OUR, OUR ASSESSED VALUE INCREASED 0.018%.

THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE ASSESSED HOME. IT'S NOT YOUR MARKET VALUE. THIS IS WHAT'S ON THE TAX BOOKS. THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME VALUE IN MONTGOMERY IS $507,400.

THAT'S ABOUT 59% OF MARKET VALUE, ONE OF THE LOWEST, IF NOT THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTY.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE TAX RATE THIS YEAR IS INCREASING 2.89% FROM 0.466 TO 0 480 THIS YEAR.

THAT IS AN INCREASE OF $69 ANNUALLY ON THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME JUST OVER $5 MONTHLY INCREASE OVER PRIOR YEAR.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST STRICTLY FOR YOUR MUNICIPAL TAX AGAIN.

WE HAVE NO WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE SCHOOL BUDGETS OR ANY OF THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT WE COLLECT TAXES FOR. SO AGAIN, 2.89% OVER LAST YEAR.

THAT'S $69.93 MORE. OR IF YOU WANT TO BREAK IT DOWN FURTHER, $5.83 MORE MONTHLY COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR.

JUST WHAT I STATED COMPARED LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.

AND THIS WILL ALL BE ON OUR WEBSITE.

BY THE LATEST ON MONDAY.

BUT AGAIN, COMPARING THE TAX RATES, THE INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR, PROBABLY THE FIFTH BULLET POINT OVER THERE SHOWS YOU, YOU KNOW, THE ANNUAL TAX THAT A RESIDENT PAYS FOR THEIR MUNICIPAL SERVICE THIS YEAR IS 2004 $2,434, COMPARED TO 2365 THE PRIOR YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS ON HOW TO TO TO CALCULATE THE PROPERTY TAX BILL, HOW TO CALCULATE THE TAX RATE.

NOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE TAX RATE AS YOU'LL SEE.

TAX LEVY IS 19 MILLION.

WHAT DO WE NEED FROM THE RESIDENTS.

HOW MUCH DO WE NEED FROM OUR MONTGOMERY RESIDENTS? 19,434,000.

IF YOU DIVIDE THAT BY THE ASSESSED VALUE, THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AND YOU SEE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, AS THAT ASSESSED VALUE GROWS, THAT TAX RATE CAN DECREASE.

BUT AGAIN, OURS ONLY INCREASED 0.018%.

MULTIPLY THAT BY 100. YOU GET THAT TAX RATE.

HOW DO YOU NOW FIND THE INCREASE ON THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME.

RIGHT THERE SHOWS YOU TAKE YOUR YOUR HOME. YOU CAN DO THIS YOURSELF. TAKE YOUR HOME

[00:25:03]

YOU KNOW, YOU MULTIPLY IT BY THE DIFFERENCE OF LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE AND THIS YEAR'S TAX RATE DIVIDED BY 100. AND YOU GET THE INCREASE.

IF YOU DIVIDE THAT INCREASE BY 12, YOU GET THAT MONTHLY INCREASE.

AND FINALLY, IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR, THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES, FOR POLICE, FOR THE ROAD IMPROVEMENT, FOR PARKS YOU TAKE YOUR ASSESSED HOME VALUE, MULTIPLY IT BY THE TAX RATE, DIVIDE IT BY 100. AND THAT IS WHAT YOUR PORTION OF YOUR TAX BILL IS RELATED TO YOUR MUNICIPAL SERVICES. WE SPOKE ABOUT OUR APPROPRIATIONS.

OUR APPROPRIATIONS AGAIN INCREASED ABOUT 2.44% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN GRANTS.

LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT 30,963,000.

YOUR TAX, THE AMOUNT WE'RE REQUESTING FROM RESIDENTS IS JUST ABOUT 3%.

AGAIN, THAT'S A TAXES AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXES, NOT YOUR TAX RATE WENT FROM 18,854,000 TO 19.4 MILLION.

SO WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE BUDGET, WE HAVE SOME CONSTRAINTS BY THE STATE.

THE FIRST ONE EVERYONE I THINK WHEN THEY WHEN THEY HEAR THE THE 2% LEVY CAP, IT'S BASED ON THIS NUMBER.

I'M GOING TO GO BACK THIS $19 MILLION.

THE STATE SAYS YOU CANNOT RAISE THIS THE THE AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXES BY MORE THAN 2%.

THAT'S WHAT THE 2% LEVY CAP IS RELATED TO.

BUT IF YOU RAISE IT BY MORE THAN 2% AND IT'S RELATED TO INCREASE IN DEBT, INCREASE TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, INCREASE TO SOME OTHER EXCLUSIONS.

I HAVE IT IN THE SECOND BULLET POINT.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO RAISE YOUR TAXES BY MORE THAN 2%.

WHEN YOU DO YOUR CALCULATIONS AND YOU TAKE ALL THESE EXCLUSIONS OUT, YOU GET A NUMBER. BASICALLY, A STATE SAYS YOU CAN ONLY RAISE YOUR TAXES UP TO, LET'S SAY, 20 MILLION.

IF YOU RAISE IT 19 MILLION THAT YEAR, YOU HAVE $1 MILLION.

YOU CAN PUT IN A CAP BANK THAT CARRIES OVER FOR TWO YEARS.

IT'S TWO YEARS FOR THREE YEARS.

SO THEN THE NEXT YEAR COMES AND LET'S SAY YOU'RE REACHING THAT 2% THRESHOLD AND YOU CAN USE SOME OF THAT CAPPING TO GO OVER THAT 2%.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE THE CONSTRAINTS THAT THE STATE HAS PLACED ON MUNICIPALITIES.

THE SECOND ONE IS THE APPROPRIATION CAPS.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR EXPENDITURES, THE STATE SAYS YOU CAN'T RAISE YOUR EXPENDITURES. YOU'RE INSIDE THE CAP EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS THE SECOND BULLET POINT, YOUR SALARY AND WAGES, YOUR OTHER EXPENSES LIKE STATIONERY, EQUIPMENT, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, MOST OF YOUR EXPENSES, YOU CAN'T RAISE THEM BY 2.5% OR THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, WHICHEVER IS LOWER. BUT IF YOU PASS AN ORDINANCE WHICH JUST ABOUT EVERY MUNICIPALITY DOES, YOU CAN ACTUALLY RAISE THEM TO 3.5%.

WHEN WE USUALLY PASS THIS ORDINANCE, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. ARE YOU RAISING OUR TAXES 3.5%? THE ANSWER IS NO, NOT NECESSARILY, BECAUSE THERE'S MANY VARIABLES.

WHEN YOU ARE CALCULATING YOUR BUDGET, AS YOU SAW, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YOUR IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE THE CAP APPROPRIATE OUTSIDE TO CAP EXPENSES DECREASE AND YOU'RE INSIDE THE CAP APPROPRIATIONS GO TO 3.5%.

IF YOUR REVENUES GO UP AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF CALCULATIONS BECAUSE.

SO JUST BECAUSE WE PASS THIS ORDINANCE EVERY YEAR DOESN'T MEAN YOUR TAXES ARE GOING TO GO UP 3.5%. JUST LIKE THE LEVY THOUGH, THERE IS A CAP BANK AS WELL.

BUT THAT ONE IS FOR TWO YEARS. SO YOU CAN CARRY OVER WHATEVER.

YOU DON'T GO OVER THE THRESHOLD.

YOU CAN CARRY THAT FOR TWO YEARS.

AGAIN, IF YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED, THERE'S THREE SLIDES ON THIS YOU CAN FIND ON OUR WEBSITE. SO OUR CURRENT FUND REVENUES, OUR MAJOR SOURCE OF REVENUES ARE OUR TAXES.

WE SPOKE WITH THAT BEFORE 18.8 MILLION TO 19.4 MILLION THIS YEAR.

SECOND IS OUR SURPLUS SURPLUS.

WE HAVE A RESERVE THAT EVERY YEAR WE USE.

SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT SURPLUS IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES. BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT RESERVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT USING TOO MUCH SURPLUS OUT OF THAT RESERVE WHERE WE DON'T REGENERATE IT. BECAUSE IF YOU GET TO THAT POINT WHERE LET'S SAY WE GET IN FIVE YEARS, WE CAN'T PUT WE CAN'T TAKE $5.3 MILLION OUT OF THAT SURPLUS RESERVE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THAT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, EITHER MAKING OPERATIONAL CUTS, FINDING OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE, AVENUES OR INCREASING TAXES.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON AND MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT DRAINING OUR SURPLUS.

STATE AID DECREASED SLIGHTLY, BUT AGAIN, THAT COMES FROM THE STATE.

WE'RE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE AT PROBABLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WHEN IT COMES TO STATE AID INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS, WE'VE BEEN DOING VERY WELL.

LAST YEAR WE BUDGETED 900, ALMOST 990,000.

NOW WE'RE BUDGETING JUST OVER 1.1 MILLION.

OTHERS OF NO COURT FEES, 100,000 WERE GOING UP TO 110 THIS YEAR.

SHARED SERVICES IS A SMALL DIP.

A LOT OF THAT'S A TIMING VARIANCE.

SO IT WILL BE JUST ABOUT THE SAME THIS YEAR.

BUT FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES WE'RE BUDGETING $168,000.

HERE'S A PIE CHART OF OUR REVENUES. AGAIN, PROPERTY TAXES. JUST LIKE ANY MUNICIPALITY.

THAT'S OUR MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE. IT'S YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.

60% OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES, 16 COMES FROM SURPLUS.

AND THEN ALL THE OTHER ONES LESS THAN 5%.

YOU CAN SEE THEM OUT THERE. FEES AND PERMITS, CONSTRUCTION CODE, STATE AID.

[00:30:03]

USE OF OUR SURPLUS. YOU CAN SEE IT.

WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING AROUND THAT 16%.

IF YOU SEE 2022, THIS IS COMPARED TO OUR BUDGET.

HOW MUCH SURPLUS COMPARED TO OUR BUDGET ARE WE USING? 2022 2023 ARE ARTIFICIALLY LOW BECAUSE WE RECEIVED THOSE ARP FUNDS, WHICH ALLOWED US TO USE THAT ARP FUND, YOU KNOW, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY WE GOT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALLOWED IT TO USE IT AS REVENUE. HENCE DECREASING SOME OF OUR SURPLUS USE IS WHY YOU SEE THAT 13 AND 12%.

WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 16%.

YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET DOWN TO THAT 14, 15% AND STAY THERE CONSISTENTLY, THAT'S KIND OF OUR GOAL.

AND WE'RE HOPING WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE CAN GET THERE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DRAINING OUR OUR SURPLUS RESERVE GRANTS.

AGAIN, IMPORTANT. WE'RE VERY BIG ON GRANTS TO OFFSET THE BURDEN ON THE RESIDENTS.

THE MORE GRANTS WE RECEIVE, THE LESS WE HAVE TO FIND OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE, SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES.

WE GOT THE STORMWATER BASIN GRANT.

WE RECEIVED IT LAST YEAR, BUT FOR ACCOUNTING PURPOSES, IT'S IN OUR 2025 GRANTS. WE RECEIVED ANOTHER GRANT FOR TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. DEPARTMENT OF AGING.

WE'VE RECEIVED AN AGE FRIENDLY GRANT, 70,000.

AND THEN YOU SEE A COUPLE OF HEALTH GRANTS.

AND READ ON GRANTS. WE'LL GET MORE GRANTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND WE'LL MAKE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS TO INPUT THEM INTO OUR BUDGET.

SO WHENEVER YOU COME TO A MEETING AND YOU SEE A CHAPTER 159 RESOLUTION, THAT'S BASICALLY A GRANT WE RECEIVED, AND WE NEED TO CREATE A RESOLUTION TO ADD IT INTO OUR BUDGET. BUT THOSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, THOSE ARE OUR MAIN GRANTS.

WE SPOKE ABOUT OUR BUDGET COST DRIVERS.

BUT LET'S TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT OUR APPROPRIATIONS.

SALARY, WAGES IS OUR LARGEST EXPENSE AT $11.2 $2 MILLION ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE AT 5.8.

PENSIONS. THIS IS POLICE AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSIONS 2.3.

HEALTH INSURANCE AT TWO.

RESERVED FOR UNCOLLECTED TAXES. THAT'S LIKE OUR BAD DEBT EXPENSE WHEN YOU'RE WHEN IF YOU'RE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

RIGHT. WE JUST IN CASE OUR PERCENTAGE OF COLLECTION DIPS BELOW WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING, WE HAVE THIS FUND SET UP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH CASH FLOW TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EXPENSES. OUR UTILITIES IS JUST UNDER $1 MILLION.

SOCIAL SECURITY, UNEMPLOYMENT, 855,000.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE 825,000.

AND LIABILITY INSURANCE 435,000.

AGAIN, THIS IS THESE NUMBERS ARE TRULY VERY TIGHT NUMBERS.

WITH INFLATION, WITH THE TARIFFS AND THE PRICES THAT ARE GOING TO GO UP ON, ON, ON, ON PROJECTS, ON CONSTRUCTION.

AGAIN, WE REALLY KEPT THIS TO A LEAN BUDGET BREAK OUT OF OUR APPROPRIATIONS.

POLICE, JUST LIKE ANY MUNICIPALITY POLICE IS GOING TO BE YOUR, YOU KNOW, DANGEROUS JOB.

THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITIES IN MUNICIPALITIES. IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST EXPENSIVE, EXPENSIVE DEPARTMENTS.

POLICE MAKES UP 23% OF OUR BUDGET.

SALARY. NON-POLICE 19%.

DEBT 18%. OTHER EXPENSES LIKE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, OTHER EXPENSE BUDGETS 10%.

AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS ABOUT 5 OR 5 OR BELOW.

THIS JUST COMPARES THE BUDGETS FROM YEAR TO YEAR. AGAIN, IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED, GO TAKE A LOOK. SO LET'S BREAK OUT DOWN OUR DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS. AGAIN, A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, WE HAD TO KEEP THEIR OTHER EXPENSE BUDGETS AT THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY.

POLICE ONE OF THE LARGEST INCREASES, $200,000.

AGAIN, A LOT OF THE STEP INCREASES CONTRACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS.

AGAIN, 3.5, 3.65% INCREASE OVER PRIOR YEAR AND DPW STREETS AND ROADS.

WAS A DECREASE. AGAIN, THERE'S SOME ALLOCATIONS YOU SEE IN THE NEXT SLIDE THERE'S INCREASES. BUT AGAIN DPW STREETS AND ROADS DECREASE OF $2,400.

HEALTH AN INCREASE OF $37,000 5.32%.

THAT INCLUDES THEIR INCREASES THEIR SALARY INCREASES, BUT ALSO OUR HEALTH OFFICER SEE PER STATE STATUTE.

THERE IS A STEP GUIDELINE THAT AFTER THE THE FIFTH YEAR, THEY HAVE TO GET TO THE MAX SALARY.

SO THIS INCLUDES US GETTING JUST ABOUT THERE BASED ON OUR NEXT STEP SCHEDULE.

SO AGAIN THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A LITTLE LARGER INCREASE THERE.

RECREATION. YOU SEE A HUGE DECREASE OF $235,000.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH MOVING A PROGRAM FROM THE BUDGET TO OUR RECREATION TRUST FUND.

THAT'S ALSO WHY YOU SAW A SMALL DIP IN OUR OTHER FEES AND REVENUES, BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING A PROGRAM FROM RECREATION CURRENT FUND BUDGET TO OUR RECREATION TRUST FUND, PARKS AND MAINTENANCE.

IT'S JUST ABOUT STAGNANT CONSTRUCTION CODE, STAGNANT FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A LARGER DECREASE. BUT WE SALARY WISE, WE LOST AN EMPLOYEE, NOT A LOST EMPLOYEE.

EMPLOYEE AN EMPLOYEE RETIRED.

AND INSTEAD OF GOING FULL TIME, WE REPLACED THAT EMPLOYEE WITH A PART TIME AGAIN, DOING MORE WITH LESS.

[00:35:01]

BUT WE DID ADD OUR GRANT CONSULTANT, AND WE ADDED IN THAT FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION BUDGET ENGINEERING GIVES US A DECREASE OF $8,000.

SAME THING WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE LEAVING.

WE'RE BRINGING EMPLOYEES MAYBE AT A LOWER COST.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, YOU SEE AN INCREASE OF 46,000.

AGAIN. THAT'S WHY YOU SAW A DECREASE IN A PRIOR SLIDE IN DPW AND PARKS AND MAINTENANCE.

WE DID SOME ALLOCATION.

SO IT GOT MOVED TO BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. ALSO, WE HAVE SOME MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS ON THIS NEW BUILDING NOW THAT THAT WERE A COUPLE OF YEARS IN THAT ARE COMING ON THE BOOKS.

SO YOU'RE SEEING AN INCREASE OF $46,000 THERE? CLARK. NO INCREASE OVERALL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT SALARIES AND OTHER EXPENSE, ADMINISTRATIVE AND EXECUTIVE, THAT'S DECEIVING. IF YOU LOOK AT PLANNING AND ZONING, YOU SEE A DECREASE THERE WHEN IT REALLY SHOULD BE A $16,000 INCREASE BECAUSE OF SALARIES. BUT WE'RE MOVING.

WE REALLOCATED STIPENDS FROM PLANNING AND ZONING TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND EXECUTIVE.

SO IF YOU TAKE THAT STIPEND REALLOCATION, IF YOU TAKE THE REGULAR INCREASES, PLUS A SMALL INCREASE IN THE OTHER EXPENSE BUDGET FOR SOME EVENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO. AGAIN, YOU'RE RIGHT AT THAT.

JUST ABOUT THAT 3% INCREASE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S DECEIVING. THAT $46,000 DATA PROCESSING.

SAME THING. NOT MUCH OF AN INCREASE TAX COLLECTION ASSESSMENT, DECREASE PLANNING AND ZONING.

WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION $5,000 INCREASE.

AGAIN YOU SEE ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS NOT NOT MANY INCREASES THIS YEAR.

INSURANCES THE BIGGEST INCREASES AGAIN EMPLOYEE GROUP INSURANCE.

THAT'S OUR HEALTH INSURANCE $133,000 6.51%.

LIABILITY INSURANCE $64,000 INCREASE.

THAT'S ALMOST A 9.28% INCREASE OUR PENSION.

SO THAT'S OUR POLICE PENSION SYSTEM THAT WE PAY INTO.

AND THAT INCREASED $125,000, 8.65%.

THAT DEALS WITH THE CONTRIBUTION RATE THAT THE STATE SETS EVERY YEAR.

THEY KEEP INCREASING THE MUNICIPALITY MUNICIPALITIES CONTRIBUTION RATE.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RETIREMENT SYSTEM THAT LUCKILY HAD NO INCREASE THIS YEAR.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, NO.

INCREASE DEBT AND DEFERRED CHARGES.

THAT'S AN INCREASE AGAIN. WE TALKED ABOUT DEBT. THE NOTE THAT WE TOOK OUT LAST YEAR WITH INTEREST DUE THIS YEAR.

INCREASE OF $241,000. RESERVE FOR UNCOLLECTED TAXES STAYED THE SAME ANNUAL DEBT PAYMENT.

ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE NOTE INTEREST OF $196,000 A BOND INCREASE.

BOND PRINCIPLE ALSO INCREASED SLIGHTLY, WHICH BRINGS IT UP TO THAT $246,000 INCREASE.

DEBT SERVICE IS ALL OUR DEBTS FOR THE CURRENT FUND ON OUR BOOKS.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE OUTSTANDING SERIAL BONDS GOING BACK TO 2012.

THERE'S 8 MILLION LEFT IN THAT IN 2022.

WE HAVE 16.8 MILLION IN TOTAL OUTSTANDING BONDS, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED PERMANENT BONDS, MEANING WE HAVE FIXED NUMBER OF YEARS THAT WE WENT OUT TO DEBT FOR. THAT'S 33,000,033.3 MILLION NOTES, WHICH WE WENT OUT FOR LAST YEAR.

THAT'S 5 MILLION DEBT AUTHORIZED BUT NOT ISSUED, MEANING WE'VE DONE BOND ORDINANCE, BUT WE'VE NOT GOTTEN ANY FINANCING YET.

THAT'S AT 2.4 MILLION.

RELATED TO LAST YEAR'S CAPITAL.

AND AND THE LARGEST ONE IS REALLY THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, 32 MILLION. THAT'S THIS BUILDING WHICH WE PAID TO THE COUNTY.

AND THAT WILL BE PAID OFF.

2000. I'LL BE. I WON'T BE HERE.

SO NOT FOR A LONG TIME.

SO DEBT SERVICE DETAIL AGAIN.

MOODY'S RATING. VERY IMPORTANT. WE'RE TRIPLE A THAT THAT TRULY SAVES US HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND DOLLARS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT GOING OUT TO DEBT FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND GETTING THE BEST INTEREST RATE THAT YOU CAN GET, TRIPLE-A RATING IS THE HIGHEST INTEREST RATE, HIGHEST RATING YOU CAN GET.

THERE'S NOT MANY MUNICIPALITIES LESS THAN 30 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE THAT HAVE A TRIPLE-A RATING. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LARGE TAX BASE ABOVE AVERAGE RESIDENT INCOME.

SO GOOD JOB RESIDENTS, STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION, CONSISTENT OPERATING SURPLUSES, WHICH WE SPOKE ABOUT A FEW TIMES ALREADY, ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT SURPLUS OR SURPLUS RESERVE IS.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE. THERE ARE NONE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET ANY HIGHER THAN THE TRIPLE-A. FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE, MATERIAL DETERIORATION OF YOUR TAX BASE OR RESIDENT WEALTH AND INCOME, OR SUSTAIN DECLINES IN RESERVE AND LIQUIDITY.

SO WHEN WE GET ARE THEY PERIODICALLY RECHECK OUR RATING? IF WE HAVE A MEETING AND THEY SAY, HEY, YOUR RESERVES, YOUR SURPLUS HAS BEEN DECREASING 500,000 IN THE PAST THREE, FOUR YEARS. GOOD CHANCE WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWNGRADED.

DOWNGRADED MEANS AGAIN, WHEN WE GO OUT TO DEBT WE'RE GOING TO GET HIGHER INTEREST RATES, HENCE PAYING HIGHER INTEREST OVER THE LIFE OF THE LOAN. CAPITAL BUDGET, CAPITAL BUDGET.

POLICE DEPARTMENT. AGAIN, A LOT OF THESE WE KEPT THE SAME AS JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM. WE KEPT THE SAME AS LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS. WE HAD POLICE. SAME THING AS LAST YEAR, $100,300 FOR EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE OR SUV RADARS, ADS, ARM ARMOR AND AMMO CAPITAL BUDGET

[00:40:02]

JUST TO ASSIST THEM AGAIN.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, DONE PRESENTATIONS.

AND AGAIN, VERY VALUABLE RESOURCE.

AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM ENGINEERING SAME AS LAST YEAR.

1.4 MILLION FOR THE ANNUAL ROAD AND SIDEWALKS PROJECTS PARKS.

THERE WERE SEVEN, JUST ABOUT 75 LAST YEAR FOR EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT RECREATION.

THIS INCREASED AGAIN. OUR PARKS ARE STARTING TO GET OLD.

MILL POND PARK IMPROVEMENT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGER ONES THIS YEAR. AND THEN THERE'S SOME OTHER SMALL PARK IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL.

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. WE REDUCED THAT FROM 100,000 LAST YEAR TO 50,000 THIS YEAR FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, OEM 5000 FOR RESCUE GEAR AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT. AND LAST DPW, THEY GET $500,000 FOR IN-HOUSE PAVING, RESURFACING, AS WELL AS ANOTHER $260,000 FOR EQUIPMENT JUST ABOUT THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.

AGAIN CAPITAL BASICALLY STAYED THE SAME.

WE SPOKE ABOUT OUR PROPERTY TAXES, THE ALLOCATION.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THE AGAIN, SAME THING, THE ALLOCATION.

SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE, THE ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I'LL MOVE ON. SO WE'LL GET I'LL GET YOUR QUESTIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND. I'LL GET YOUR QUESTIONS AT THE END. GOOD. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE SEWER BUDGET. SEWER BUDGET. AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT IMPACTS ALL THE RESIDENTS, EVERY HOUSEHOLD OR RESIDENT OR BUSINESS THAT HAS PROPERTY IN MONTGOMERY.

THEY ARE IMPACTED BY THE CURRENT FUND BUDGET.

WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT SEWER BUDGET IS ONLY THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE ON THE SEWER UTILITY, MONTGOMERY SEWER.

SO LAST YEAR THE BUDGET WAS 8,032,000.

THIS YEAR WAS 8,258,000, INCREASE OF ABOUT 2.8%.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH JUST INFLATION AS WELL AS INCREASING DEBT COST DRIVERS.

AGAIN $226,000. INCREASE 75,000.

DEALING WITH DEBT 73,000.

DISINFLATION. PLANT MAINTENANCE CHEMICALS ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.

THE PRICE OF CHEMICALS HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASED 21,000.

AND WE INCREASED OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR PROJECT 20,000.

IN THIS COMPARES YEAR OVER YEAR.

THE DEBT SERVICE YOU CAN SEE AGAIN INCREASE.

I SPOKE ABOUT THOSE HEALTH INSURANCE LIABILITY INSURANCE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S JUST UNDER 3% INCREASE.

SOME OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ITEMS WILL BE COLLECTION SYSTEM, PIPES LINING, SUBMERSIBLE PUMP MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE, WHOLE REHABILITATION. AND FINALLY, HERE'S A SALARY, A SEWER RATE HISTORY SHOWING, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE IN 2016, WHERE WE ARE. TODAY WE'RE LOOKING AT A $2 INCREASE ON THE BASE FEE.

AND THEN GOING FROM 15, 20, $15.25 PER SHOULD BE A THOUSAND GALLONS TO 1565. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF TO THE AVERAGE OF 2.2%, JUST UNDER $30 FOR THE AVERAGE SEWER USER.

AGAIN, I RUSH THROUGH THAT LAST PART, BUT AGAIN, EVERYTHING'S ON THE WEBSITE BUDGET CALENDAR.

TODAY, APRIL 3RD, WE'RE DOING THE PRESENTATION INTRODUCTION.

HOPEFULLY ALL GOES WELL IF IT GETS INTRODUCED TODAY.

THE RESOLUTION GETS PASSED. TODAY. WE'LL HAVE OUR BUDGET HEARING OUR PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION ON MAY 1ST, 2025.

SO AGAIN, TO SUM IT UP A VERY STAGNANT BUDGET.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ITEMS YOU CAN'T CONTROL, LIKE PENSIONS, LIKE OUR CONTRACTUAL NEGOTIATIONS, ALL OF THAT, THE HEALTH INSURANCE, LIABILITY INSURANCE, THAT'S THOSE WERE OUR COST DRIVERS THIS YEAR, MORE THAN ANY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

SO WE DID OUR BEST TO TRY TO HOLD THE LINE, DO MORE WITH LESS.

BUT WE FELT THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WE FELT THAT THIS WAS A REASONABLE BUDGET, A FAIR BUDGET, NOT ONLY TO MAINTAIN OUR OPERATIONS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT OVERBURDEN THE RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. MICHAEL AND I DO AGREE THIS WAS A REALLY HARD BUDGET.

THERE IS SO MUCH OF THE COST THAT HAS GONE UP, AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE AS FINANCIALLY PRUDENT AS WE CAN WHILE STILL MAINTAINING, YOU KNOW, THE SERVICES THAT OUR TOWNSHIP NEEDS.

AND WE WERE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF ALL THESE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD.

WE WERE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE EMS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THEM IN CAPITAL AND GET THEM 10,000. AND YEAH, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, IF THERE'S ANYTHING. NO QUESTIONS.

[00:45:04]

SO I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT EASY TO TALK ABOUT INCREASES OF ANY SORT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT YOU DID THE BEST YOU POSSIBLY COULD.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO WE'RE UNDER THE NATIONAL RATE IS WHAT I WANT TO.

YES, SIR. YEP. OKAY. AND WHAT IS THE NATIONAL RATE? YOU KNOW. ON AVERAGE. I'M SORRY.

THE NATIONAL RATE IS. I'LL GET THE THE THE THE FINAL NUMBER AS OF LAST MONTH, BUT IT WAS OVER 3%. OKAY.

AND WE'RE UNDER 3%. YES.

GREAT. THANK YOU. MOLESTING.

THANK YOU FOR OUR STAFF.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN THE BUDGET FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR REALLY FOCUSING ON AND SHARPENING YOUR PENCILS AND FOR OUR STAFF TO YOU KNOW, WORK AND, YOU KNOW, ARE SAYING, FILL THE SPOTS WHERE IT'S IT'S BEING AVOIDED WITH WHAT WE HAVE. SO APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, MICHAEL, AND JUST SAY THAT AS I, YOU KNOW, STARTED TO UNDERSTAND AND RECEIVED YOUR IN-DEPTH EXPLANATION.

AND ON OUR ONE, ON ONE AND KNOWING THAT ALSO AS I'VE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE WAY THE TOWNSHIP IS RUN, INCLUDING FROM LORI IN TERMS OF TAKING POSITIONS AND WHEN SOMEONE LEAVES YOU KNOW, ADDING RESPONSIBILITIES TO SOMEONE ALREADY HERE OR CONVERTING A POSITION FROM FULL TIME TO PART TIME.

AND THEN ALL THE, THE, THE THE DIFFERENT LINE BY LINE ITEMS, IT'S OBVIOUSLY WENT VERY THOROUGHLY LINE BY LINE.

I JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THIS IS A VERY TIGHTLY RUN SHIP, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. SO THAT THAT IS, I THINK, APPRECIATED. I THINK WE AS TAXPAYERS ALL APPRECIATE AND KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MANAGE ANYTHING ANY THOSE OF US INVOLVED IN BUDGET MANAGEMENT KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO CUT WHERE WE CAN, BUT AND THEN AND THEN FUND THINGS LIKE THE EMS THAT ARE, THAT ARE VITAL, THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE OF INCREASED IMPORTANCE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I JUST WANT TO WE DON'T HAVE OUR DEPUTY MAYOR HERE TODAY, BUT DEPUTY MAYOR VINCE BARRAGAN.

AND THERE WAS OUR PREVIOUS COMMITTEE PERSON.

KEN HUANG WAS WITH ME ON THE FINANCIAL FINANCE AND BUDGET COMMITTEE, RATHER, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF MEETINGS BEHIND THE SCENES, AND ALL DEPARTMENTS KNEW THAT.

IT IS A TIGHT BUDGET. AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, COMMEND THEM FOR COMING TO US AND TRYING TO WORK WITHIN THE LIMITS THAT WE HAD SAID.

AND I WANT TO LET THE TAXPAYERS KNOW THAT WE ALL WORKED REALLY HARD, MANY HOURS TO COME TO THIS.

AND I THINK AS COMMITTEEMAN AND SAID, WE ARE BELOW WHAT THE NATIONAL RATE IS.

SO I THINK WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST AND KEEPING THE SERVICES OUR TOWNSHIP DESERVES.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN. AND I GUESS AT THIS POINT WE'LL GO INTO THE RESOLUTION.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. 4-1 24 2025 MUNICIPAL BUDGET.

INTRODUCTION. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 54-1 24.

SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH.

YES. ORDINANCES. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.

[10. Ordinance #25-1751 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery in Somerset County Authorizing the Acquisition by Negotiated Purchase a Deed of Easement for a Sewer Utility Easement on Block 6002, Lot 6 - Introduction/First Reading]

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF APRIL 17TH, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1751.

SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.

YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1752.

[11. Ordinance #25-1752 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter XII “Sewer and Water” of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984) to Establish the 2025 Sewer Capacity Charges and Service Rates – Introduction/First Reading]

WHAT IS IT? NINE. I FORGOT MY 12.

I FORGOT MY ROMAN NUMBER.

SORRY, 12. SEWER AND WATER OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984. TO ESTABLISH THE 2025 SEWER CAPACITY CHANGES AND SERVICE RATES, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEARD BY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 1ST,

[00:50:01]

SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH.

YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1753.

[12. Ordinance #25-1753 – Bond Ordinance Providing for Various Capital Improvements in and by the Township of Montgomery in the County of Somerset, New Jersey Appropriating $2,625,800 Therefor and Authorizing the Issuance of $2,499,000 Bonds or Notes of the Township to Finance Part of the Cost Thereof – Introduction/First Reading]

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 1ST, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1753.

SO MOVE. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR.

SINGH. YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1754.

[13. Ordinance #25-1754 – Bond Ordinance Providing for the Improvement of the Sewer System in and by the Township of Montgomery in the County of Somerset, New Jersey Appropriating $450,000 Therefor and Authorizing the Issuance of $450,000 Bonds or Notes of the Township to Finance the Cost Thereof – Introduction/First Reading]

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HELD BY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 1ST, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1754.

SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.

YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1755.

[14. Ordinance #25-1755 – An Ordinance Authorizing as a General Improvement the Acquisition of Certain Equipment by the Township of Montgomery and Appropriating $35,000 Therefor from the “Capital Improvement Fund” of Said Township – Introduction/First Reading]

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 1ST, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1755.

SO MOVE. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.

YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1756.

[15. Ordinance #25-1756 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery in Somerset County Providing for the Correction of an Existing Sanitary Sewer Easement on Block 37003, Lot 7 Related to the Haven Development – Introduction/First Reading]

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF APRIL 17TH, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1756.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES.

COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.

YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING.

FINAL ADOPTION. THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION.

CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE

[Additional Item]

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 20 541 25.

SO MOVED OR TWO AND NUMBER 20 54-1 27.

SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.

YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 54-1 28, DESIGNATING APPROXIMATELY 3.3 ACRES

[19. Resolution #25-4-128 - Designating Approximately 3.3 Acres Consisting of Lots 1 and 2 in Block 28007 as Shown on the Tax Map of the Township of Montgomery as a Non-Condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment Under the New Jersey Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-1 et seq.)]

AS A NON CONDEMNATION AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT UNDER THE NEW JERSEY LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING LAW AND JSA 4812 8-1.

AS. AS IN SEQUENCE. AS SEQUENCE.

OKAY. I THINK THERE'S A LETTER FROM THE PLANNING BOARD.

OKAY. WHERE DO WE. IS THAT.

IS THAT LISA? YEAH, I HAVE IT.

[00:55:02]

VILLAGE WALK DATED MARCH 6TH, 2025.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDED THE PROPERTY. DESIGNATED AS BLOCK 28 007, LOTS ONE AND TWO SHOULD BE DECLARED A NON CONDEMNATION REDEVELOPMENT AREA PURSUANT TO NWSA 48, 1281 ET SEQ. THE BOARD RECOGNIZES THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD AS THEY SEE FIT, BUT RECOMMENDED THAT BASED ON THE REQUEST IN 2021 MADE BY THE DEVELOPER TO AMEND THE SEQUENCING OF THE PROJECT, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE SHOULD CONSIDER DEVELOPER CONCESSIONS AND SHOULD REQUIRE VILLAGE DRIVE TO BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. SO THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING BOARD DATED MARCH 27TH, 2025. OKAY. THANK YOU.

LISA, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD OR WE JUST TAKE IT AS IS? OKAY. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 FOR DASH 128.

SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH.

YES. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 54-1 29 AUTHORIZING THE PARTICIPATION OF LUSCIOUS

[20. Resolution #25-4-129 – Authorizing the Participation of Luscious Spirits, Co. at Montgomery Farmers’ Market]

SO IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR, MR. SPIRITS CAME BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, SEVERAL MEETINGS. THEY ARE ISSUED A ANNUAL SEASONAL FARM PERMIT FROM THE DIVISION OF ABC ANNUALLY.

SO THIS IS TO KEEP CONTINUITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

THIS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE VENDOR TO PARTICIPATE AT THE MONTGOMERY FRIENDS OF OPEN SPACE FARMER'S MARKET.

THEY WILL BE ISSUED THE PERMIT PROBABLY APRIL 7TH.

SO THIS IS GIVING THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE INFORMATION AND NOTICE THAT THEY WILL BE ISSUED THAT PERMIT AND THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE AT THE MARKET WITH THESE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE RESOLUTION.

I BELIEVE WE ALL HAD A DISCUSSION AT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ABOUT THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND COMING AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE FARMER'S MARKET HERE, AND WE ARE ISSUING IT FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT THEY IN THE SUMMER, I UNDERSTAND IT WAS SAFE, BUT THERE WAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE.

OKAY. JUST TO CLARIFY, THE ABC WILL ISSUE THE LICENSE.

THE RESOLUTION IS IMPOSING THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE BECAUSE IT'S ON THE MUNICIPAL PRINCIPLE BUILDING.

OKAY. AND YEAH, PREEMPTS YOU ON THAT ONE.

RIGHT. BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF.

THE RESOLUTION DOES MAKE CLEAR THAT THEY CAN ONLY OFFER SAMPLES OF VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF SAMPLES AND NO SAMPLES DURING THE INDOOR FARMER'S MARKET.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS TO KNOW, JUST IN CASE ANYBODY'S WONDERING WITH THE NEW KIDS PARK COMING ACROSS.

OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24? DASH FOR 129. SO MOVED.

SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.

YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 54-1 30.

[21. Resolution #25-4-130 – Authorizing Award of Bid #B01-2025 – 2024 Sewer Rehabilitation Project]

DASH 2025 TO 2024. SEWER REHAB REHABILITATION PROJECT.

YES, MAYOR. THIS IS A BID WE WENT OUT FOR RELATED TO SEWER PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING ON.

REGARDING LINING OF SEWER MANHOLES OTHER LINING OF SEWER LATERALS MANHOLE REHABILITATIONS. WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS.

THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER WAS SRP INC FOR $263,158.

AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING TOWARD THAT BID.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25? DASH FOR 130. SO MOVED.

SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.

YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

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

[22. Approval of Minutes]

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 21ST, 2025.

SO MOVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 54-1 31.

[23. Resolution #25-4-131 – Payment of Bills - Posted]

YES, MAYOR. YOU'LL FIND ON PAGE TWO THE TOP LINE CONSTRUCTION FOR MONTGOMERY ROAD, RESURFACING $57,762.46.

THAT WAS RELATED TO A 2024 CAPITAL PROJECT.

[01:00:03]

TOP LINE CONSTRUCTION COMING OUT OF THE CAPITAL FUND MONTGOMERY ROAD RESURFACING $115,454.72. AND THEN ON PAGE EIGHT THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE RECREATION DEDICATED TRUST FUND TO MONTGOMERY SWIM ACADEMY FOR SWIM LESSONS FOR $79,852.05.

AND ON PAGE ONE THERE WAS TWO MOTOROLA $57,000 PAYMENT RELATED TO FIRST RESPONDER RADIOS. AND THAT IS COMING OUT OF OUR FIRST RESPONDER RADIO GRANT.

OH, OKAY. YES, I DID HEAR ABOUT THAT GRANT FROM I BELIEVE ONE OF THE FIRE STATIONS.

THEY WERE VERY THANKFUL. EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 54-1 31.

SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER.

TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH.

YES. CORRESPONDENCE. RESIDENT LETTER EXPRESSING SAFETY CONCERN FOR A SWING AT

[24. Correspondence]

A RESIDENT HAD REACHED OUT ABOUT ONE OF THE SWINGS AT VETERANS PARK.

ONE OF THE BARS HAD COME DOWN.

IT'S MEANT TO SECURE THE CHILD IN THE SWING.

SO WE WENT THE NEXT DAY.

WE WE REMOVED IT. WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING INTO WHETHER THERE WAS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH IT.

WE WE WE'RE NOT SURE. WE DON'T THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING FAULTY.

WE THINK IT'S THE WAY THE THE IT WAS BEING USED, BUT WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO FAST ON THAT.

APPRECIATE IT. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

THERE'S NO MATTERS LISTED.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS THERE ARE NO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[26. Township Committee Reports]

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN BE PART OF THERE.

UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY URGENT THAT.

WELL, NO URGENT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO.

WE LIKE TO SAY A LITTLE SOMETHING.

OKAY? PLEASE. ALL RIGHT.

YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? PLEASE GO AHEAD. I WAS GOING TO WAIT TILL NEXT TIME, OKAY? BECAUSE THAT'S. WHEN ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.

OH, YEAH. IN TERMS OF REPORT.

YEAH. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO THE PEOPLE. OH, YEAH. PLEASE GO AHEAD. OKAY.

IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, MIKE. I MEAN, WE GOT PRESENTED WITH THE BUDGET, WHICH YOU DID SPEAK TO, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW, NOT YOUR REPORT, BUT PER SE.

BUT IT'S OKAY IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. I'M GOOD. OKAY.

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS.

I DON'T. HAVE ANY AT THIS TIME, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE THE I WAS WISHED HAPPY EID MUBARAK.

IS THAT HOW YOU SAY IT? IT WAS ON THIS PAST SUNDAY OR SATURDAY TO SUNDAY.

AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE SUCH A DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

SO YEAH. YEAH. AND. YES I WAS BEING A LITTLE BIT FACETIOUS, BUT I DO LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PUBLIC WHEN I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

I DON'T HAVE ANY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS, BECAUSE MY COMMITTEE DID NOT MEET SINCE LAST TIME.

BUT I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW LIEUTENANT.

I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE GLENN STEVENS FOR HIS SERVICE.

I KNOW HE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE, BUT I WANT HIM TO KNOW THAT WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE HIM. AND I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE EAD EAD MUBARAK, EID AL-FITR E MUBARAK.

AND I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BREAK THE FAST A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING RAMADAN WITH RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS TO COMMEMORATE THE END OF RAMADAN AND TO CELEBRATE EAT.

SO I WISH A VERY HAPPY EID AL-FITR TO ALL OF THOSE WHO CELEBRATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE ALL, AS A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, HAD THE HONOR TO BE INVITED FOR THE CELEBRATIONS BY OUR MONTGOMERY MUSLIM COMMUNITY. AND IT WAS REALLY NICE OF THEM TO HAVE US THERE AND AGAIN, EAT MUBARAK TO ALL OUR RESIDENTS.

AND ALSO, AS YOU MENTIONED IF YOU THINK ABOUT OUR TAX ASSESSOR, HE'S DONE AN AMAZING JOB FOR ALL THESE YEARS, AND WE WISH HIM A VERY HAPPY RETIREMENT.

AND I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE, I THINK THAT CAN BE MY COMMITTEE REPORTS. BUT I DID HAVE THE HONOR TO BE PRESENT WITH OUR CHIEF BET, WHO HAS STARTED THE FOR THE MONTH.

AS WE KNOW, APRIL IS AUTISM MONTH.

AND IT WAS GREAT THAT OUR PD TAKES THESE AMAZING WELLNESS INITIATIVES AND LED BY OUR CHIEF PET. SO I HAD A CHANCE TO BE AT ROCK BROOK SCHOOL WHERE THEY ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE BLUE ENVELOPES AND THE WHOLE YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THE THE MESSAGE BEHIND THAT IS THAT IF ANYBODY HAS A CHILD WITH THEM OR WHO'S AUTISTIC, THEY WOULD HAVE A BLUE ENVELOPE THAT THE PD CAN THEN REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON AND AND BE MORE HELPFUL THAN REALIZING.

SO I THINK THIS INITIATIVE BY OUR PD, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE CHIEF PAT AND OF

[01:05:03]

AND IT WAS REALLY NICE TO BE AT THE SCHOOL WHO HAS WHO HAVE BEEN OUR PARTNERS, IN FACT, EVEN FOR OUR INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.

SO THAT WAS REALLY GOOD THIS THIS MORNING.

A GREAT WAY TO START OUR MORNING.

OKAY. AND MAY I WHERE AM I NOW ON CORRESPONDENCE.

TOM. COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

OH, LOOKING AT ME, SHE'S LIKE, WHAT ABOUT ME?

[27. Administrator’s Report]

WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF THE REQUIRED PUBLIC NOTICING THAT WE NEEDED TO DO BECAUSE WE'RE DOING WORK WITHIN THE FLOODPLAIN.

SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT WITH HUD, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR FINAL PIECES.

WE'VE FINISHED ALL THE FINAL TESTING INSIDE THE BUILDING OF ASBESTOS AND LEAD, WHICH NEEDED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO, COMPLETE THE RFP THAT WE WILL BE RELEASING, WE ANTICIPATE AT THE END OF THE MONTH, SO YOU'LL BE SEEING THAT RESPONSES.

AN AWARD COULD COME IN MAY.

AND YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN STAY ON THAT, IT'S A PRETTY TIGHT, AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE. WE COULD SEE DEMOLITION BEGINNING IN JUNE.

SO THAT'S THAT'S THE PATH WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS.

AND WE'LL WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

THE SPRING TREE PLANTING.

THIS WAS THE SECOND PHASE OF THE LARGE SCALE PLANTING THAT WE'RE DOING ON THE PROJECT.

STARTED YESTERDAY, WORKED TODAY, FINISHING UP TOMORROW.

65 TREES ALL AROUND THE PROPERTY.

YOU'LL SEE SOME NEW TREES.

AND ONE OF THE BONUSES IS THAT WE WERE STAFF WERE ABLE TO.

IF YOU HAD RECALLED, WE HAD SOME PUBLIC COMMENT FROM SOME ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND SHADE TREE MEMBERS ABOUT THE LACK OF TREES WITHIN OUR PARKING AREA AND THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME LOCATIONS.

THERE ARE UTILITIES IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS, SO IT LIMITS IT.

BUT THERE'S 2 OR 3 TREES THAT ARE GOING TO GO IN SOME OF THE GRASSY AREAS PLANTING AREAS WITHIN THE PARKING LOT. SO THAT WAS A GOOD THING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO.

APPRECIATE THE STAFF LOOKING INTO THAT.

THE PLAYGROUND SHOULD BE INSTALLATION SHOULD BEGIN NEXT WEEK.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S ALL BEEN DELIVERED OUT ALONG COMMUNITY DRIVE.

WE HAVE OUR FINAL SIGN OFF FOR OUR STORMWATER, AND WE ARE GOOD TO GO ON THAT.

THE LAST ITEM I WANTED TO MENTION WAS OUR 2025 FARMER'S MARKET OUTDOOR FARMER'S MARKET AGREEMENT. WILL BE UPDATING THAT AND BRINGING THAT FOR APPROVAL.

PROBABLY AT THE NEXT MEETING.

AND THE ONLY CHANGE IS THAT IN PRIOR AGREEMENTS, WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T ADDRESS ANY KIND OF REDUCED FEE FOR MONTGOMERY FARMERS.

AND SO THE MARKET HAS AGREED TO A 50% REDUCTION IN THE FEE FOR ANY MONTGOMERY FARMERS, AND THEY THEY DO REACH OUT EVERY YEAR TO ALL THE MONTGOMERY FARMERS TO SEE.

IT IS A IT IS A BIG COMMITMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF THE FARMERS LOCALLY.

SO MAYBE THERE'S ONE DAY DURING THE, THE SUMMER THAT WE CAN GET OUR LOCAL FARMERS HERE TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME TYPE OF AN EVENT.

SO IT TIES IT ALL TOGETHER.

BUT I KNOW LORETTA PRUDEN, WHO IS THE MARKET MANAGER, DOES REACH OUT TO ALL OF THE LOCAL FARMERS.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY GREAT. I REMEMBER HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR FARMERS IN TOWN, HAVING 50% OFF. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

SO THAT IS GREAT. AND OF COURSE, THE NEWS OF THE BUILDING, I'M SURE IF SOMEONE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ABOUT THE BUILDING, AND WE LOVE THE FACT THAT WE GOT THESE TREES AND YOU ACTUALLY LOOKED INTO THE PARKING AREA. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR STAFF FOR THINKING AHEAD.

I'M SURE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND SHADE TREE COMMITTEE WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT. ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. LET'S SEE.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS APRIL 17TH.

[28. Future Agenda Items]

APRIL 17TH. ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 1756.

PROVIDING FOR THE CORRECTION OF AN EXISTING SANITARY SEWER EASEMENT.

PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL ADOPTION.

MAY 1ST, 2025 BUDGET ADOPTION.

MAY 1ST ALSO ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 1752 ESTABLISHING 2025 SEWER AND CAPACITY CHARGES AND SERVICE RATES, PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL ADOPTION.

AGAIN MAY 1ST. ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 1753.

BOND ORDINANCE, 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION MAY 1ST ALSO.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 17541.

ORDINANCE 2025 SEWER IMPROVEMENTS.

PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION.

MAY 1ST ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1755.

[01:10:02]

PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION.

AND AT THIS POINT. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25.

[29. Resolution #25-4-132 – Executive Session]

PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.

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

PERSONNEL. POLICE SERGEANT INTERVIEWS.

WE'VE DONE. WE'RE GOING TO AMEND THAT BECAUSE WE COMPLETED THOSE SORRY LITIGATION.

DOCKET NUMBER SOML153 25.

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 25 FOUR? 132. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.

YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.

YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES.

THANK YOU EVERYONE. ARE WE READY? THERE WE GO. WE'RE ON.

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

SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. MONTGOMERY.

THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. WAIT.

NINA.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.