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[CALL TO ORDER]
THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. CALLED TO ORDER AT 7 P.M.. ROLL CALL PLEASE.MAYOR SINGH HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN HERE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD HERE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. COMMITTEE MEMBER MARTIN VIA PHONE 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 FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
[1. Proclamation – Recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month ]
WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL TO EVERYONE'S OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.AND WHEREAS 1 IN 5 AMERICAN ADULTS EXPERIENCES A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION EACH YEAR, AND EVERYONE FACES CHALLENGES IN LIFE THAT IMPACT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.
AND WHEREAS, DESPITE ITS PREVALENCE, MENTAL HEALTH REMAINS SHROUDED IN STIGMA, PREVENTING MANY FROM SEEKING HELP.
AND WHEREAS EARLY INTERVENTION AND ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE ARE CRUCIAL FOR MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND WHEREAS MAY IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS, COMBATS STIGMA AND PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE MAYOR AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2025 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN THE TOWNSHIP TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH, TO SUPPORT MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FACING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND TO URGE ALL RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND OTHERS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, TREATMENT OPTIONS AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES, AND BE COMMITTED TO ELIMINATING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL ILLNESS, BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED.
THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE EXTENDS GRATITUDE TO MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE COMMITTEES, TEAM OF RESIDENT AND STAKEHOLDER VOLUNTEERS, AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF FROM THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP'S YOUTH COMMUNITY.
[2. Resolution #25-5-148 – Amending 2025 Municipal Budget ]
AMENDING 2025 MUNICIPAL BUDGET.MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT? RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 48.
JUST BEFORE THAT, MAYBE IF I CAN JUST GIVE IT OVER TO RESIDENTS.
THIS WAS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE WERE UNDER STATE REVIEW THIS YEAR. AND WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET COMPARED TO OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THEY SAID OUR INTEREST ON NOTES SHOULD BE ABOUT $540 MORE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. WE ADJUSTED THE BUDGET BY $540.
$547.88, HAS NO IMPACT ON THE TAX LEVY OR THE TAX RATE BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO OFFSET IT WITH SOME OTHER ITEMS. SO. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 FIVE? 148. SO MOVED. SECOND.
ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.
MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
[3. Public Hearing – 2025 Municipal Budget ]
2025 MUNICIPAL BUDGET.MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY.
HELLO? CHRIS NEWMAN. SKILLMAN.
I'M BACK. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS I, I THINK THAT THE BUDGET IS NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE. IS THAT CORRECT? THE NEW BUDGET, THE 2025, IN ITS ENTIRETY? IT SHOULD BE. I'LL DOUBLE CHECK.
OKAY. IT IS. I SAW IT UNDER THE FINANCE.
AND ALSO IT'S ON MY PAGE UNDER THE MEETING.
THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, IT WASN'T THERE. MEETING AGENDA. IT'S.
IS THIS THE ENTIRE BUDGET NOW? YEAH. THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S THE BUDGET DOCUMENT.
OKAY. BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT GOT PUT UP, BUT IT WASN'T PUT UP. IT'S UNDER MY AGENDA PACKET.
POCKET IF YOU LOOK ON IT, BUT IT'S.
I LOOKED THIS MORNING AND IT WAS THERE NOW, BUT THAT'S JUST OKAY. IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS
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LOOKING AND LOOKING AND IT WASN'T THERE. AND I KEPT GOING TO THE BUDGET PAGE AND IT WASN'T THERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO COMPARE IT. BUT YEAH. AND IT WAS ON.IT WAS AVAILABLE TODAY WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED APRIL 7TH, I THINK IT WAS APRIL 3RD. IT WAS INTRODUCED. IT WAS UNDER THAT MEETING.
AND THEN IT SHOULD BE ON THE FINANCE PAGE AS WELL. AND I THINK TAMMY HAD IT ON THE WEBSITE. YOU DIDN'T SEE IT ANYWHERE IN THERE.
SO I SAW ALL THE OTHER BUDGETS. I DID NOT SEE THIS. I SAW THE PRESENTATION AND I SAW THE APRIL OR THE FEBRUARY MEETING.
THAT'S WHY I DID NOT SEE THIS ONE. SO I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I DID LOOK MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT BEFORE TODAY.
WHEN I THINK IT DID IT, IT APPEARED OKAY.
I LOOKED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND I COULDN'T FIND IT, BUT BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SO LOOKING THROUGH THIS QUICKLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THE RESCUES, THE EMS ONLY GOT $10,000.
AND I REMEMBER BEING HERE MULTIPLE TIMES ASKING IF IT COULD BE BUMPED UP TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
SO I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THAT AND I THINK I READ SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE I COULD BE WRONG REMEMBERING THIS WRONG, BUT THAT THERE IS SOMEBODY CALLED A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER OR A SPECIALIST OR SOMETHING, AND THAT PERSON'S OR PEOPLE'S BUDGET WENT FROM 30,000 TO 60,000.
AND IF I HAVE THAT NUMBER CORRECT, I'M KIND OF WONDERING WHAT THAT IS, WHY THAT BUDGET GOT DOUBLED COMPARED TO THE EMS WHO GOT 10,000 MORE.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YEAH. THE COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT THAT WE WORK WITH.
THE BUDGET WAS INCREASED FOR SOME MODIFIED WORK THAT THEY DID LAST YEAR, BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE GOING TO THAT AMOUNT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE ACTUALLY RESTRUCTURING SOME THINGS INTERNALLY SO THAT WE WILL BE RELYING ON THEM LESS. BUT WE BASED IT OFF OF WORK THAT THEY HAD DONE LAST YEAR, WHICH HAD INCLUDED SOME VIDEOGRAPHY FOR THE TOWNSHIP, SOME THINGS WE HADN'T DONE, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY IN-HOUSE TO DO IT. SO WE MATCHED LAST YEAR'S.
BUT BUT WE'VE NOTIFIED THE CONSULTANT AND STAFF THAT THAT'S NOT WE'RE NOT REACHING THAT GOAL. WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING LESS.
AND HE'S GOING TO BE TRANSFERRING SOME SKILLS TO SOME TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES.
SO WE'VE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THAT NOW.
YEAH. AND JUST THE MS THAT IS SOMETHING WE DID TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
NOT ONLY DO WE INCREASE THEIR OPERATING BUDGET BY 10,000, WE ALSO GIVE THEM AN EXTRA 10,000 FOR CAPITAL.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT ALL IN ONE YEAR AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LOVE TO. BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF NEED, ACTUALLY, A LOT OF EXPENSES THAT DROVE THIS BUDGET THAT UNFORTUNATELY TOOK AWAY FROM STUFF WE WANTED TO DO.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE ITSELF, VALUE EMS. AND WE FELT THAT $20,000 IN TOTAL, RIGHT, 10,000 OPERATING 10,000 CAPITAL IS A GOOD START TO WHERE WE EVENTUALLY WANT TO GET TO. OKAY. PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN STILL.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL.
[4. Resolution #25-5-149 – Authorizing the Adoption of the 2025 Municipal Budget ]
AUTHORIZING THE ADOPTION OF THE 2025 MUNICIPAL BUDGET.MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 FIVE? 149 SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.
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.
IF COMMENTS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALREADY STATED, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE ASKED TO SELECT A SPOKESPERSON.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE? OKAY. ORDINANCES. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 1757.
[7. Ordinance #25-1757 – Kepner-Tregoe Redevelopment Plan: Village Walk Amendment – Introduction/First Reading ]
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AMENDING THE KEPNER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN PURSUANT TO NJ 4812 SEVEN TO INCLUDE THE VILLAGE WALK AMENDMENT FOR THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS BLOCK 28007.LOTS ONE AND TWO, KNOWN AS VILLAGE WALK STUDY AREA.
SO MAYOR ORDINANCE 1757 PERTAINS TO VILLAGE WALK.
IT ALSO CONNECTS TO A 2018 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WE HAD ADOPTED, THE KEPNER TRIGO REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, WHICH IS AN ADJACENT PARCEL THAT INCLUDED A PORTION OF THE VILLAGE WALK PROPERTY.
AND SO AS DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN THAT AREA SOMETIME LAST YEAR, THE TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE BEGAN WORKING ON SOME OF THE FINAL PIECES AND SOME TWEAKS TO, TO THAT AREA, AND NOTED THAT THE INCLUSION OF ONE PORTION OF UNBUILT PHASE FOR VILLAGE WALK MADE SENSE TO AMEND THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA AND INCLUDE
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AND ALSO AT THAT TIME, THE TOWNSHIP WOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS SO THE THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH OBVIOUSLY HELPS US WITH OUR ROUND FOR SOME ADDITIONAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, SOME ADDITIONAL SIDEWALKS.YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE $3 MILLION GRANT THAT WE HAVE FROM THE STATE AND THAT WILL BE CONNECTING ORCHARD ROAD DOWN TO OUR OUR DOWNTOWN AREA THAT'S BEING REDEVELOPED IN THAT VILLAGE WALK AREA.
AND SO THIS DEVELOPMENT AS PART OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN WILL ALSO INCLUDE SOME ADDITIONAL SIDEWALKS TO KIND OF SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY MISSING MISSING LINKS, MANY MISSING PIECES. AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOME OTHER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT WILL, WILL HELP PROMOTE THE TOWNSHIP IN TERMS OF THE BRANDING EFFORTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY'RE IN MONTGOMERY, THEY KNOW THEY'RE IN MONTGOMERY. AND SO THAT IS SOME OF THE SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
SO THE ORDINANCE IS THIS TWO PAGES.
AND THEN ATTACHED TO IT IS THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
SO IN THE REDEVELOPMENT WORLD, THE PLAN SORT OF SERVES AS THE ORDINANCE.
AND SO THEY GO HAND IN HAND AND THEY'RE ATTACHED TOGETHER FOR YOU.
OKAY. OKAY. 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 PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF MAY 15TH, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1757.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.
[8. 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 – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ]
FINAL ADOPTION ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1752.AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12 SEWER AND WATER OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984 TO ESTABLISH THE 2025 SEWER CAPACITY CHARGES AND SERVICE RATES.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? IS THERE ANY BACKGROUND YOU WANT TO GIVE ON THIS? YEAH. THIS IS THE SEWER RATES THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT. YES. THE BASE FEE INCREASING FROM $288 TO FROM $286 AND THE USAGE FEE INCREASING FROM $15.25 TO $15.65.
OKAY. THAT'S AN OVERALL IN THE AVERAGE USER.
OKAY. THAT'S RELATED TO OUR SEWER USERS ONLY.
WE GOT IT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY COMMENTS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1752.
SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1753.
[9. 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 – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ]
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 OF NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST.YES, MA'AM. THIS IS OUR CAPITAL 2025 CAPITAL PLAN RELATED TO OUR BUDGET THAT WE JUST ADOPTED. A MAJORITY OF THIS IS DUE TO ROADS.
ACTUALLY, ALMOST 2 MILLION OF IT'S RELATED TO ROADS. THE REST IS RELATED TO SOME EQUIPMENT, SOME POLICE CAMERAS, BODY ARMOR, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1753.
SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 75 FOR BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF
[10. 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 - Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
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.[00:15:02]
YES, MAYOR. THIS IS AGAIN 2025 CAPITAL.BUT THIS IS RELATED TO OUR SEWER BUDGET THAT WE JUST ADOPTED.
OKAY. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1754.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR.
YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 55, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AS A GENERAL
[11. 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 - Public Hearing/Final Adoption ]
IMPROVEMENT THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN EQUIPMENT BY THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY AND APPROPRIATING 35,000 THEREFOR FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND OF SAID TOWNSHIP.YES, MAYOR. THIS IS ALSO RELATED TO OUR 2025 BUDGET.
THIS IS RELATED TO CAPITAL ITEMS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT FOR FINANCING. WE'RE PAYING VIA CASH. THAT 35,000 IS MADE UP OF 5000 TO OEM, 10,000 TO EMS, AND THEN 20,000 TO GIS FOR A CAD BASED MAP.
OKAY. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1755.
SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.
[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? OKAY.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH FIVE, DASH ONE 5220.
OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD. YOU HAVE.
OKAY. SORRY. ADD TO 20 55-1 54.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 55 AUTHORIZING AUTO ASSEMBLY PERMIT.
[17. Resolution #25-5-155 – Authorizing Outdoor Assembly Permit – iGo Stem Academy - Carnival ]
I GO STEM ACADEMY. OH THIS IS JUST AN OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT.BOTH RESOLUTION 155 AND RESOLUTION 156.
THEY'RE BOTH ON THE SAME PROPERTY, THE MONTGOMERY PLACE SHOPPING CENTER AT THE CORNER OF 206 AND BELLAMY ROAD.
EGO STEM ACADEMY HAD A SIMILAR FUNCTION OUTDOOR FESTIVAL FOR THEIR FAMILIES THAT ATTEND, AND ALSO ANY POTENTIAL NEW NEW NEW CUSTOMERS THAT MAY MAY WANT TO COME TO THE ACADEMY. I THINK THERE WERE NO ISSUES LAST YEAR.
THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH THE PD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS SAFE WITHIN THE DESIGNATED AREA IN THE PARKING. AND RESOLUTION 156 WHICH FOLLOWS IS FOR CASSIA MARKET.
THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR ON THE SAME DAY.
SO IT SHOULD BE A THE PLACE TO BE, I GUESS, OTHER THAN SPRING FLING.
YES. LET'S NOT FORGET, SPRING FLING IS THE SAME.
PEOPLE SHOULD STAY IN TOWN AND VISIT ALL OF THESE.
ALL THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON ON MAY MAY 17TH.
GOT IT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT? RESOLUTION NUMBER 25, DASH FIVE.
ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 56 AUTHORIZING OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT.
[18. Resolution #25-5-156 – Authorizing Outdoor Assembly Permit – Kasia Market – Grand Opening ]
CASSIA MARKET GRANT OPENING.AND I GUESS, AS LAURIE SAID, THIS IS THE SAME DAY AND AN OUTDOOR PERMIT.
I WANT TO STEAL DENNIS'S THUNDER. YEAH.
IS THERE ANYTHING ANYBODY WANTED TO SAY? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 56.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON ABSTAIN.
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR.
TODD. YES. COMMITTEE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN.
[19. Resolution #25-5-157 – Designating Specific Tracts of Municipally-Owned Parks and Open Spaces to be Included in Montgomery Township’s Deer Management Program Pursuant to Chapter IX, Section 9 of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984) for the Hunting Season Beginning in September 2025 and ending in February 2026]
RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 57, DESIGNATING SPECIFIC TRACTS OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED PARKS AND OPEN SPACES TO BE INCLUDED IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP'S DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 11, NO.NINE, SECTION NINE OF THE CODE OF TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY,
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1984 FOR THE HUNTING SEASON BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER 2025 AND ENDING IN FEBRUARY 2026.THIS IS OUR ANNUAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE, AND WE WE INTRODUCE THIS ORDINANCE EVERY YEAR IS SPECIFICALLY STATES, ALL OF THE PROPERTIES, THE LOCATIONS, THE TYPE OF HUNTING THAT'S PERMITTED WHEN IT'S PERMITTED.
WE DO LIKE TO NOTE THERE'S NO HUNTING ON ANY OF THESE PROPERTIES ON SUNDAY.
SO PEOPLE, IF THEY DO HAVE TRAILS ON THE PROPERTY AND THEY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GO ON A SUNDAY.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE PROPERTIES WERE STILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
NOT EVERY PROPERTY HERE HAS A, YOU KNOW, IS ACTIVELY OPEN SPACE AND MOST OF IT IS PASSIVE OPEN SPACE.
OKAY. SO DID I MISS ANYTHING? LAUREN? NO. OKAY. AND THEN WE DO ENOUGH OF THE COMMUNICATION TO LET RESIDENTS KNOW THAT I WOULD IMAGINE, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE NEW RESIDENTS ALL THE TIME.
WHY ARE THERE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND IN THE IN THE BACKYARD? THAT OUTREACH GOES OUT IN AUGUST OR THAT WILL GO OUT IN AUGUST.
OKAY, WONDERFUL. A PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF THE PROPERTY WILL RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL NOTIFYING THEM.
OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 57.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
YES. RESOLUTION 2551 58, AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF TWO 2025 POLICE
[20. Resolution #25-5-158 – Authorizing the Purchase of Two 2025 Police Intercepter Vehicles Through New Jersey State Contract #20-Fleet-01189]
INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES THROUGH NEW JERSEY STATE, CONTRACT NUMBER 20. FLEET 01189.YES, MA'AM. THIS IS. THESE ARE TWO VEHICLES THAT WERE IN THE 2025 POLICE BUDGET.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO PURCHASE THEM THROUGH A STATE CONTRACT.
OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 58.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 59.
[21. Resolution #25-5-159 – Authorizing Award of Contract for Professional Grant Services – Bruno Associates, Inc. ]
AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL GRANT SERVICES BRUNO ASSOCIATES, INC.. SO WE STARTED WORKING WITH BRUNO LAST YEAR.WE HAD SWITCHED VENDORS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL, THE GRANT WRITING SERVICES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BRUNO BROUGHT TO US WAS THAT MANAGEMENT OF THE GRANTS THAT WE DO RECEIVE, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF PAPERWORK INVOLVED, A LOT OF REPORTING. IT'S IT'S KIND OF CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THE LIFECYCLE.
SO IT'S A IT'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION.
AND I THINK THE CONTRACT AMOUNT IS THE SAME.
SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE THAT WE'RE GETTING THAT BENEFITS.
YOU KNOW, STAFF CAN CAN SPEND TIME DOING OTHER THINGS.
AND BRUNO AND IT'S THE SAME COST THAT WE HAD FROM THE PRIOR VENDOR.
SO WE'RE WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT SWITCH.
AND I'VE HEARD FROM YOU THAT THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB FINDING GRANTS AND APPLYING.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 FIVE.
159. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR.
YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 60 AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT FOR SEWER CAPACITY RESERVATION
[22. Resolution #25-5-160 – Authorizing an Agreement for Sewer Capacity Reservation in the Skillman Village Sewage Treatment Plant for the BPS Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility (Block 28003, Lot 211)]
IN THE SKILLMAN VILLAGE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT FOR THE ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE FACILITY. BLOCK 28 003, LOT 211.SO BE ASSISTED. LIVING IN MEMORY CARE IS GOING IN OFF OF HARTWICK AND VILLAGE DRIVE.
IT. ACTUALLY, THIS USE WAS APPROVED PROBABLY IN 22,007 OR SO IN A IN A ZONING OVERLAY DONE BACK THEN WHEN TAPESTRY, IF TAPESTRY WAS FIRST CONTEMPLATED AND THIS WAS INCLUDED IN THAT. SO NOW SPEED FORWARD, YOU KNOW, ALMOST 20 YEARS. THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR PLANNING BOARD APPROVALS.
AND SO THE TOWNSHIP EXECUTES A SEWER AGREEMENT WITH THEM, AND THEY'LL MAKE A PAYMENT TO THE SEWER UTILITY IN ORDER TO CONNECT.
OKAY, THAT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR SOMETHING TO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT TOOK THEM A WHILE TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO DEVELOP THERE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO, LIKE, VILLAGE DRIVE DIDN'T GO THROUGH.
THERE WAS REALLY NO, NO ACCESS CONNECTIONS.
THOSE TYPES OF YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES WANT SOME VISIBILITY FROM THE ROAD. SO IT DID TAKE QUITE A LOT OF TIME FOR THEM TO FIND A, YOU KNOW, A COMPANY TO DEVELOP.
OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 60.
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SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 61.
[23. Resolution #25-5-161 - Resolution of the Township Of Montgomery, in the County of Somerset, New Jersey, Determining the Form and Other Details of its Note Relating to the Construction Financing Loan Program of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, to be Issued in the Aggregate Principal Amount of up to $14,600,000, Providing for the Issuance and Sale of Such Note to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, and Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Such Note by the Township in Favor of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, all Pursuant to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank Construction Financing Loan Program ]
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY. DETERMINING THE FORM AND OTHER DETAILS OF ITS NOTE RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION FINANCING LOAN PROGRAM OF THE NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, TO BE ISSUED IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF UP TO 14,600,000.PROVIDING FOR PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF SUCH NOTE TO THE NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF SUCH NOTE BY THE TOWNSHIP IN FAVOR OF THE NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.
ALL PURSUANT TO THE NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK CONSTRUCTION FINANCING LOAN PROGRAM.
OKAY. YES, MA'AM. THIS IS RELATED TO AN ORDINANCE THAT WE PASSED BACK IN JUNE, JUNE 6TH, 2024. SO THIS IS NOT ANYTHING NEW.
THIS IS BASICALLY NOW THE THE TYPE OF FINANCING.
THIS IS RELATED TO ALLOWING US TO GO THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK FOR FINANCING. THE BENEFIT OF THAT IS WE GET 0% INTEREST FOR HALF OF THE COST.
SO AGAIN, IT SAVES US A GREAT DEAL OVER THE LIFE OF THE OVER THE LIFE OF THE LOAN.
SO THIS IS ALLOWING US TO TO GO THAT ROUTE OVER THE TRADITIONAL BOND MARKET ONLY BECAUSE OF THE FAVORABLE INTEREST RATES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE BANK CURRENTLY.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 61.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.
RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 45-1 62 AUTHORIZING APPLICATION OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF
[24. Resolution #25-5-162 – Authorizing Application to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish & Wildlife Community-Based Deer Management Grant Program ]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.
COMMUNITY BASED DEER MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
SO MAYOR, PART OF OUR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, INCLUDES THE OPTION FOR A HUNTER TO DONATE A THE DEER TO A THE TOWNSHIP, WHO THEN HAS A SPECIAL BUTCHERING FACILITY TO TO PRODUCE IT SO THAT IT CAN GO TO A FOOD BANK. AND SO WE'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROGRAM, I THINK, SINCE THE START OF OUR PROGRAM.
AND SO THIS GRANT FROM THE NEW JERSEY FISH AND WILDLIFE HELPS OFFSET THOSE COSTS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO COST TO THE HUNTER.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HUNT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.
GENERALLY, THEY'LL HUNT WHAT THEY COULD, WHAT THEY CAN USE.
AND SO THIS ENCOURAGES A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND IT'S DOING GOOD. IT'S PROVIDING THIS VENISON TO TO THE LOCAL FOOD BANK.
NOT OUR NOT IN MONTGOMERY, BUT IT'S THE NEW JERSEY FOOD BANK, THAT FOOD BANK THAT THEY GIVE TO. AND WE PROVIDE THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE. I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO A FEW RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN IN RECEIVING THAT, AND WE'VE SENT THEM TO TO THAT FACILITY.
SO IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD PROBABLY ADVERTISE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF.
YEAH FOR SURE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 62.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
[25. Resolution #25-5-163 – Authorizing Contract Award for HVAC and Boiler Services at the Department of Public Works and Sewer Utility Through the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission Cooperative Purchasing Program]
DASH FIVE, DASH 163. AUTHORIZING CONTRACT AWARD FOR HVAC AND BOILER SERVICES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SEWER UTILITY THROUGH THE HUNTINGDON COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE COMMISSION CO-OP PURCHASING PROGRAM.YES, MA'AM. THIS IS JUST, AGAIN, ANOTHER RENEWAL OF A CONTRACT.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH A CO-OP FOR HVAC AND BOILER SERVICES.
THROUGH GRIGGS PLUMBING AND HEATING.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5163.
SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.
[26. Resolution #25-5-164 – Authorizing Lease Agreement Between Somerset County, the Borough of Rocky Hill and the Township of Montgomery for Use of Van Horne Park]
RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 FIVE 164.AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOMERSET COUNTY, THE BOROUGH OF ROCKY HILL, AND THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY FOR THE USE OF VAN HORNE PARK. MAYOR.
MANY DEVELOPMENT WAS BEING PLANNED FOR OR PROPOSED FOR THE LAND THAT IS NOW VAN HORNE PARK. AT THE TIME, ROCKY HILL AND MONTGOMERY JOINED TOGETHER TO ASK THE COUNTY, SOMERSET COUNTY, IF THEY WOULD PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AND TURN IT INTO A PARK, WHICH THEY DID. THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT THE TOWNSHIP AND ROCKY HILL WOULD THEN MAINTAIN IT, DEVELOP IT AND MAINTAIN IT.
AND SO THE FACILITIES YOU SEE OUT THERE NOW WERE DEVELOPED MUTUALLY TOGETHER.
8020 SPLIT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND ROCKY HILL.
[00:30:04]
AND SO THAT LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOMERSET COUNTY AND THE BOROUGH AND THE TOWNSHIP IS NOW EXPIRED. SO WE NEED TO EXTEND THAT AGAIN.THE TERMS WILL WILL STAY THE SAME.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN IT ALONG WITH ROCKY HILL.
WE ARE ABLE TO DO FIELD RESERVATIONS, PAVILION RESERVATIONS.
THAT'S ALL MANAGED THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP.
SO THAT'S HOW WE RECOVER SOME OF THOSE MAINTENANCE COST FEES.
AND THE MAINTENANCE IS TOTALLY US TO GET.
WE, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS IT.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE 20% COST SHARE GO IS SENT TO ROCKY HILL.
AND THEN THEY THEY THEY RETURN THAT BACK TO THE TOWNSHIP.
THEY PAY THE TOWNSHIP FOR THAT AMOUNT.
SO WE TRACK OUR OUR HOURS AND ANY MONEY WE SPEND ON THE PARK.
AND, AND MICHAEL WORKS WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THE MOU WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLY UPDATING BECAUSE THE MOU WAS DONE ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I THINK, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND IT'S, IT SPEAKS TO SORT OF THE FORMATION OF A COMMITTEE, THE SORT OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK. I MEAN, THE PARK IS NOW DEVELOPED, SO WE MIGHT KIND OF CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT JUST TO, TO, TO 2025. BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY OF THE ITEMS REALLY BEING CHANGED? ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 64.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 65 DENYING OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT.
[27. Resolution #25-5-165 – Denying Outdoor Assembly Permit – Precision Autoworks, LLC – Car Show, Princeton Airport ]
PRECISION AUTO WORKS, LLC CAR SHOW PRINCETON AIRPORT.SO I RECEIVED THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO NOT RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ASSEMBLY PERMIT.
AND THE POLICE DID REACH OUT TO THE APPLICANT AS WELL.
AND THE APPLICANT ADVISED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THEY WERE THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER GOING TO USE THE AIRPORT AS A VENUE.
I HAD REACHED OUT TO THE APPLICANT TO REQUEST THAT WITHDRAWAL OF THE APPLICATION IN WRITING AND I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY.
ANYTHING IN WRITING FROM THEM. SO THEREFORE THERE IS A RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TO DENY THE APPLICATION FORMALLY FOR THE PAPER TRAIL.
OKAY. WELL, YEAH, THAT'S GOOD TO CLOSE THE LOOP. COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN THE REASONS WHY? SO LIEUTENANT PERRY IS HERE AND HE CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
THANK YOU. THE REASON FOR THE THE PD'S CONCERNS.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, LIEUTENANT PERRY MONTGOMERY, PD.
SO THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. APRIL 4TH, 2025 TO THE TOWNSHIP AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW.
THAT REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BY OFFICER CLIFFORD AND SERGEANT G.
COHEN OF THE TRAFFIC BUREAU, WHO THEN REPORTED BACK TO ME.
THE EVENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 8TH, SO THERE WAS A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF TIME FOR US TO REVIEW THIS APPLICATION THIS YEAR.
THERE WAS PRIOR APPROVALS GOING BACK TO 2021 EACH YEAR UP TO LAST YEAR AS WELL.
THE EXPECTED ATTENDEES, ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT, WAS 2000. THIS EVENT HAS GROWN EACH YEAR.
IT'S BEEN HERE. AND IN OUR ESTIMATE, BASED OFF THE OFFICERS HAVE WORKED THIS EVENT IN THE PAST. THAT 2000 MARK WAS WELL EXCEEDED LAST YEAR AS WELL AS A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT.
AND THAT'S BASED ON VEHICLES THAT WERE THERE, AS WELL AS JUST THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP IN EACH VEHICLE AND ATTENDED THE EVENT. SO THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING PLAN WAS PROVIDED WITH THIS APPLICATION, AND THAT WAS PART OF OUR REVIEW AS WELL.
AND IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE PARKING PLAN THAT WAS IN PLACE LAST YEAR.
THE PARKING PLAN THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US INCLUDED TEN ACRE PARK ROAD, WHICH IS THAT VACANT LOT ON THE CORNER NORTHWEST CORNER OF 206 AIRPORT ROAD RIGHT AT THE AIRPORT THERE. IT'S A GRASS LOT OWNED BY, I BELIEVE IT'S OWNED BY BAKER.
THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SELLING IT NOW.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO PARK AT PRINCETON NORTH SHOPPING CENTER, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY A HALF A MILE FROM THEIR TICKET SALE LOCATION ON AIRPORT ROAD, AND THEN ALSO A AUDI DEALERSHIP OVERFLOW LOT ON PRINCETON AVENUE, WHICH IS ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE OF A WALK FROM THEIR TICKET SALE LOCATION TO WHERE THAT PARKING IS. EXCUSE ME.
SO THE EVENT STAFF THEY DID HAVE VOLUNTEERS OR EVENT STAFF THERE TO ASSIST.
THEY HAD THAT LAST YEAR AS WELL, INCLUDED WITH THEIR TRAFFIC PLAN.
BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO REALLY CONTROL THE PEDESTRIAN FLOW ALONG 206 AND CROSSING 206.
[00:35:01]
AND A BIG PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE THIS EVENT DOES NOT HAVE PERMISSION AT 1060 206, WHICH IS THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THAT AIRPORT, AND 206 AS WELL AS RESEARCH PARK, WHICH IS OFF OF WALL STREET.AND SO PEOPLE PARK THERE EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO BE THERE, AND THEY CROSS 206 AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, WHICH WE DON'T CONTROL EITHER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ASSIGNED TO THOSE LOCATIONS, BECAUSE ON PER THEIR PARKING PLAN, THEY DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO BE THERE. SO THERE'S NOT ANYBODY EXPECTED TO BE THERE.
THOSE LOTS AREN'T BLOCKED OFF EITHER.
SO BASED ON THOSE FACTORS, WE AND REACHED OUT TO THE AIRPORT ON THE BEHALF OF THE EVENT ORGANIZER TO SEE IF THE AIRPORT CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH ADDITIONAL PARKING. IF WE THOUGHT IF IT WAS SELF-CONTAINED WITHIN THE AIRPORT PROPERTY, THEN WE'D BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT A LOT BETTER AND A LOT SAFER FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
THE AIRPORT COULDN'T SHUT DOWN, WHICH WE EXPECTED THEM TO SAY.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T SHUT DOWN AN AIRPORT, RIGHT, FOR FOR THAT EVENT.
AND THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH SUFFICIENT PARKING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THAT MANY SPECTATORS AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE GOING THERE.
SO BASED ON ALL THOSE FACTORS AND OUR AFTER ACTION REPORTS FROM LAST YEAR JUST BASED ON THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN VEHICLES, SPECTATORS, PEDESTRIANS AND IN REGULAR TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY.
WE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING BACK AND RECOMMENDING THAT FOR APPROVAL BASED ON THE CURRENT PARKING AND TRAFFIC PLAN AS IT SITS RIGHT NOW.
IF THAT WERE TO CHANGE, IF THEY WERE TO COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SUFFICIENT PARKING CONTAINED WITHIN THE AIRPORT OR EVEN ON THAT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, THAT COULD CHANGE.
BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT PARKING PLAN IS AND HOW FAR THOSE PARKING LOTS ARE FROM THEIR TICKET SALES AND HOW PEOPLE CROSS 206 AND WALK ALONG THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT US BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THEM TO WHERE THEY CROSS AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT AIRPORT. IT WAS IT WAS FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, IT WAS A BIT OF A MESS LAST YEAR, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT REPEATED AGAIN. SO YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OFFICER? ABSOLUTELY.
100%. I MEAN, THEY JUST OUTGREW THE THE SPOT.
SO AND THAT WAS WHAT WE REFLECTED TO THEM.
IT'S IT'S TO THEIR OWN CREDIT, THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF BUILDING US TO WHERE IT IS NOW, RIGHT? THEY BUILD THIS UP TO A VERY GOOD EVENT TO WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO COME THERE, BUT THE AIRPORT DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF SUPPORTING THAT MANY PEOPLE AND THAT MANY CARS IN OUR ESTIMATION.
ANYWAY. SO THAT'S WHERE WE KNOW.
BUT THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE SAFE AND EVERYBODY'S SAFE ON THE ROAD, SO. ABSOLUTELY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR A VERY THOUGHTFUL REVIEW AND NOT A RUBBER STAMP.
BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST I THINK THAT THIS WAS WELL ANALYZED, AND I DON'T EVEN THINK THAT THE APPLICANT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WOULD ARGUE WITH IT.
YEAH, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE DO.
WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN OFFICER CLIFFORD AND SERGEANT JACKSON AND TRAFFIC BETWEEN THEMSELVES, JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH AND THEN INCLUDING ME WITH THEIR THOUGHT PROCESS AND WHAT THE WORK THEY PUT INTO IT, AND REACHING OUT TO THE AIRPORT AND THEN REACHING OUT TO THE APPLICANT MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO WORK THIS BACK AND FORTH. IT WASN'T JUST OUR LIST.
DENY IT. WE TRIED TO WORK TOWARDS AN END THAT WOULD BE AMICABLE FOR THE FOR THE APPLICANT AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY IN GENERAL, BUT WE JUST DIDN'T FEEL AT THE END THAT WE WERE GETTING THERE. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5165.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.
MAYOR. SINGH. YES. APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 17TH,
[28. Approval of Minutes ]
2025. SO MOVED. SECOND.ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 17TH, 2025.
SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 66.
[29. Resolution #25-5-166 – Payment of Bills – Posted ]
PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED.YES. MAYOR ON PAGE ONE, ON TOP THIRD OF THE PAGE, YOU'LL SEE OUR THREE SECOND QUARTER COUNTY TAXES, THE FIRST ONES TO THE COUNTY FOR COUNTY TAXES $4,517,059.38.
SECOND ONE FOR LIBRARY TAXES $619,566.45.
THEN FOR OPEN SPACE. COUNTY OPEN SPACE $469,618.43.
AND THEN ON THE SECOND PAGE, YOU'LL SEE THE MONTHLY SCHOOL TAX OF $7,237,768. WOW. OKAY.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5165.
SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[00:40:02]
YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON.TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
SAYING YES. CORRESPONDENCE EMAILS FROM MONTGOMERY BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL LEAGUE
[30. Correspondence ]
COMMENDING STAFF. LISA, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK ON THAT OR.I KNOW IT'S SOMEWHERE HERE IN OUR PACKET.
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK IT'S I DON'T WANT ME TO I DON'T HAVE YOU WANT ME TO IN FRONT OF ME.
SO AT THE END OF APRIL, WE HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE MONTGOMERY BASEBALL SOFTBALL LEAGUE, AND HE WANTED TO FOLLOW UP AND THANK YOU FOR MAYOR DOING THE ANNUAL MAYORAL DUTIES OF THROWING OUT THE FIRST PITCH ON OPENING DAY.
SO THAT WAS GREAT TRADITION TO KEEP ALIVE.
THEY, THEY REFERENCED IN THIS EMAIL AN UNUSUAL HIGH LEVEL OF PREP ACTIVITIES.
THERE WERE SOME THINGS GOING ON.
THEY, THEY THEY HAD SOME ISSUES WITH SOME OF THEIR BUILDINGS WITH THE ELECTRIC AND PLUMBING. THEY HAD TO SATISFY SOME FIRE CODES.
AND SO ALL THROUGH MARCH THEY WERE VERY BUSY TRYING TO GET THE COMPLEX READY.
AND THEY, THEY DID WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU AND LET THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE KNOW THAT SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS WERE REALLY ON HAND AS NEEDED.
AS SOON AS NEEDED. EVAN STAN POULOS, HE'S OUR REGISTERED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
DID CONCESSION. HE HE INSPECTED THE CONCESSION IMPROVEMENTS TO MEET FOOD SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS.
MICHAEL, WHO'S OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL WAS OUR IS STILL OUR ELECTRIC SUB CODE.
AND AND WAS OUR BUILDING SUB CODE AS WELL.
COMMERCIAL SYNC REQUIREMENTS AND BUILDING INSPECTIONS.
RYAN PINIELLA, OUR ACTING FIRE OFFICIAL FOR FIRE CODES, EXTINGUISHERS AND INSPECTIONS.
JOHN GROGAN AND WILL CASAGRANDE FROM THE REC DEPARTMENT.
JOHN'S OUR OUR PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR.
ASSISTANCE AND SCHEDULING OVERFLOW SOFTBALL ACTIVITIES AT TOWN FIELDS.
AND AND NOW SERGEANT ADAM VERDUCCI AND ALSO OEM PERFORMED HIS AS THEY SAY, ANNUAL MAGIC TO GET FIRE, POLICE AND EMS REPRESENTATIVES TO PARTICIPATE AT OPENING DAY. SO HE JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR LETTING YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE HAS GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP THE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL LEAGUE.
EVERY YEAR AND ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR, WHERE THEY WERE FACED WITH SOME SOME LAST MINUTE CHALLENGES LEADING UP TO OPENING DAY.
SO WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
THIS IS GREAT TO HEAR, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HEAR FROM RESIDENTS WHEN THINGS DON'T GO THE RIGHT WAY, BUT WHEN THINGS GO THE RIGHT WAY, WE USUALLY DON'T HEAR. BUT THIS IS REALLY NICE. AND I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE WE AT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND I'LL LET OTHERS SPEAK. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THE STAFF IS DOING.
ANYBODY ELSE? NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[31. New and Unfinished Business ]
DANCE FOR THE CURE. TIE IN THE TOWN.PINK. REQUEST TO TIE RIBBONS THROUGHOUT THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES IN SUPPORT OF BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH OCTOBER.
SO IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS? DO YOU HAVE THIS WITH YOU? LISA? USUALLY, YES. IT'S FINE.
SO EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE DANCE FOR THE CURE.
THEY ARE AN ASSOCIATION THAT SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS IN 100 AND SOMERSET.
AND I THINK IT'S MIDDLESEX COUNTIES.
AND EVERY YEAR THEY ASK IF WE WOULD PARTICIPATE AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT BY TYING PINK RIBBONS THROUGHOUT THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES.
LAST YEAR, WE COLLABORATED WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS. SO THE GIRL SCOUTS TIED THE RIBBONS FOR US, AND THEY JUST PUT THIS REQUEST IN AT THIS TIME FOR OCTOBER.
SO IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS OR.
NO, I THINK I LET EVERYBODY SPEAK, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A NICE WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
YES. YES. MAYBE THE DEPUTY MAYOR CAN DO BRING VALERIE AND SHE CAN HAVE FUN TYING PINK RIBBONS, I CAN IMAGINE.
TURN THEM DOWN THAT DO THAT TOO.
[32. Township Committee Reports ]
I GUESS MIKE MARTIN, IF HE WANTED TO.REMEMBER, MARTIN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT THIS EVENING? NO, NOT THIS WEEK. THANK YOU.
COMMITTEE ON. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR MY MY SUBCOMMITTEES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, FOR THE EDC, WE HAVE AN UPCOMING EVENT.
AT OUR TOWNSHIP, SMALL BUSINESS WEEK.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TABLE OUTSIDE, AND SMALL BUSINESS CAN PUT OUT PAMPHLETS OR PAPERWORK, INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT. WE HAVE A DYSLEXIA DASH, AND I'M SAYING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S IN JUNE, BUT THERE'S A SIGN UP THAT'S COMING.
[00:45:01]
IT'S ACTIVE RIGHT NOW AT DYSLEXIA.DYSLEXIA DASH 2025 RACE AT RUN.
IT'S IT'S IT'S VERY PASSIONATE ON MY SIDE BECAUSE OF YOU KNOW, MYSELF AND MY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE DYSLEXIA AND YOU KNOW, ONE OUT OF FIVE CHILDREN.
I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR, ABOUT ONE OUT OF FIVE CHILDREN, EVEN ADULTS HAVE A FORM OF DYSLEXIA.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY CAN'T READ. IT JUST MEANS THEY READ SLOWER OR THINGS ARE FLIPPED.
WORDS, LETTERS. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS EVERYONE BE AWARE.
THE LAST THING IS I WAS I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH HONORED TO ATTEND A A MEETING. GATHERING FOR IS NOT IN TOWN, BUT IT WAS OUT OF TOWN IN WEST WINDSOR, I BELIEVE. IT CALLED ART OF FASTING? I THINK SAMARA GANDHI.
SHE SHE WAS THE ONE THAT ORGANIZED IT.
IT WAS HELD AT THE MUSLIM CENTER OF GREATER PRINCETON, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT FASTING AND THE.
THIS WAS A VERY UNIQUE YEAR WHERE THERE WAS MULTIPLE RELIGIONS THAT GOT TOGETHER AND KIND OF OVERLAPPED ON THE FASTING SIDE.
AND THERE WAS RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
IMAN LAVONNE BROWN, RABBI, RABBI JACOB ADLER, REVEREND ROY CHAMBERS, SEJAL PATEL, FATHER PETER BACKUS, BEVERLY SANFORD, REVEREND DOCTOR MARY WESTFIELD, AND THEY ALL TALKED ABOUT FASTING AND MULTIPLE RELIGIONS COMING TOGETHER.
SHE'S SHE'S CATHOLIC. BUT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH THAT, THAT DO FAST.
AND IT REMINDS ME. ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS COWORKERS.
HIS NAME IS VLAD. HE'S HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR.
HE'S HE'S FASTING AND DURING RAMADAN, AND WE HAD THIS, LIKE, SPICY RAMYEON CHALLENGE THAT WE WERE DOING, AND EVERYBODY WAS EATING. ALL THE KIDS WERE EATING THE RAMYEON.
AND YOU COULD SEE IN HIS FACE LIKE HE SO WANTED TO DO IT WITH ALL HIS FRIENDS AND HIS BEST FRIENDS. AND HE DIDN'T OF COURSE HE DIDN'T.
AND I THOUGHT, WOW, WHAT? WHAT SACRIFICE, YOU KNOW ALL THAT.
YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAST TIME WITH VETERANS, EVERYBODY, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT SACRIFICE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
SACRIFICE FOR. A GOOD CAUSE FOR REMEMBRANCE.
SO REALLY, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO SACRIFICE FOR EACH OTHER TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
YOU KNOW, THIS THIS THIS MEETING WAS THIS WAS GREAT.
MULTIPLE LEADERS FROM AROUND ALL OVER CENTRAL JERSEY CAME TOGETHER AND AND SACRIFICED TOGETHER AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR SACRIFICE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYBODY WHO WHO PARTICIPATED. AND I THINK THAT WE ALL DESERVE OR WE ALL SHOULD JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR EACH OTHER. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR SHARING THAT. I EXPERIENCED I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THAT EVENT, BUT WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME BREAKING OF THE FAST DURING SOME OF THE MUSLIM HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR. AND I SAW HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS FOR PEOPLE TO WAIT FOR THE MOMENT WHEN THEY WERE ALLOWED TO BREAK THEIR FAST, AND EVEN THEN THEY WOULD OFFER THE GUESTS TO EAT FIRST. NEVER. SO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY, IN REFERENCE TO THE CORRESPONDENCE WE RECEIVED COMMENDING OUR STAFF. I REALLY AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES EVEN IN, IN THIS BODY, WE DON'T HEAR STAFF GETTING ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND FOR THEIR HARD WORK. SO I'M ALWAYS GLAD TO HEAR THAT IN TERMS OF UPDATES FROM MY COMMITTEES, I DO HAVE AN UPDATE FROM THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE.
THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON VARIOUS THINGS.
THEY'RE PLANNING OUR TRAILS DAY, WHICH IS COMING UP ON SATURDAY, JUNE 7TH.
THEY'RE WORKING ON CLEARING DOWNED TREES AND SO FORTH FROM PATHWAYS.
AND MOST NOTABLY THE FOURTH BUYOUT OF PROPERTY BY BLUE ACRES WAS JUST COMPLETED FOR ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS WHOSE HOME WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED DURING THE HURRICANE IN 2021.
SO WE ARE REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT AND HAPPY FOR THAT FAMILY THAT'S ABLE TO CLOSE THAT
[00:50:05]
CHAPTER. ALSO IN JUNE, ON JUNE 21ST SAM WILL BE HOLDING THEIR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.AND FINALLY, I ALSO WANT TO SHARE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH THAT MAY IS LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH.
THIS HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY PROCLAIMED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY.
AND SO WE WANT TO REMIND OUR RESIDENTS TO STAY VIGILANT AS TICK AND MOSQUITO ACTIVITY BEGINS TO INCREASE WITH THE WARMER WEATHER, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT REMINDS RESIDENTS TO FIGHT THE BITE BY TAKING SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS, SUCH AS USING EPA REGISTERED INSECT REPELLENT, WEARING LONG SLEEVES AND PANTS WHEN IN WOODED OR GRASSY AREAS, PERFORMING TICK CHECKS AFTER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, AND REMOVING STANDING WATER AROUND YOUR HOME TO REDUCE MOSQUITO BREEDING.
COMMON TICK BORNE ILLNESSES IN OUR AREA INCLUDE LYME DISEASE AND ERLICH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT THAT DOES NOT SOUND GOOD. ALSO, MOSQUITO BORNE DISEASES INCLUDE WEST NILE VIRUS AND EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS.
SO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE SHARING SEASONAL PREVENTION TIPS AND ALERTS WITH THE PUBLIC. AND WE ALSO HAVE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED TICK REMOVAL KITS AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL.
SO PLEASE BE AWARE. WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT IN OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND EVEN IN OUR BACKYARD.
SOME OF US HAVE WOODED BACKYARDS.
BE VERY CAREFUL. CHECK YOUR ANIMALS, CHECK YOURSELF AND EDUCATE YOURSELF.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEPUTY MAYOR. YEAH, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMITTEES SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AROUND THE BUDGETING PROCESS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST. YOU KNOW, REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING AND HARD BUDGET PROCESS AND WEEK, I WOULD SAY, FOR THE ENTIRETY OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.
YOU KNOW, I THINK I'D BE REMISS IF YOU KNOW THAT THERE WASN'T A VERY DIFFICULT BUDGET DECISION MADE IN THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND I DO WANT TO KIND OF TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE 20 STAFF MEMBERS OF OUR PRIZE WINNING SCHOOL SYSTEMS, YOU MAY BE IMPACTED.
I ALSO, YOU KNOW, DO WANT TO COMMEND YOU KNOW, LORI, MICHAEL AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT STAFFS FOR, YOU KNOW, COMING IN WITH YOUR BEST AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY, YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AND REALLY COMING UP WITH SOME HARD DECISIONS, LIKE WE HAD HARDER CHALLENGES THAN I'VE SEEN IN ANY OTHER YEAR THAT I'VE SERVED ON A BUDGET FINANCE COMMITTEE UNION NEGOTIATIONS, ETCETERA, INCREASES IN, IN HEALTH CARE COSTS.
AND YET, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO COME INTO A BUDGET THAT I THINK PASSED THIS MUSTER, YOU KNOW, BELOW THE LEVEL OF INFLATION.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR EMS, FOR THE STATE COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS TO PUT IN SOME DOLLARS AWAY FOR NEXT YEAR'S NEW JERSEY RESOLUTION 250 PARTICIPATION.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW MY MY PEERS ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, VERY EASY FOR US TO REALLY COME IN AND DO SOME POLITICAL THEATRICS ON, YOU KNOW, COMING DOWN TO A MUCH LOWER NUMBER AND OTHER RESIDENTS THAT WOULD WANT US TO DO THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE KIND OF STAND UNITED IN MAKING SURE THAT WE MAKE THE RIGHT INVESTMENTS AND SERVICES FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AND THOSE THAT COME THROUGH HARD DECISIONS. AND I THINK WE ALL KIND OF STEP UP TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ENSURING THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE MINIMUM, WE MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, SUSTAINED SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS, WHETHER IT'S POLICE YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS, ROADS, ETC..
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR CREATIVE WAYS WHERE THERE'S GRANTS OR SHARED SERVICES OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATION CHANGES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, USE UP, USE THE BEST ABILITY, EVERY DOLLAR OF TAX REVENUE WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
AND I'M HOPING AND JUST TO EVERYONE KNOWS AS WE LOOK AT TO GET THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING IF THERE ARE ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO SAVE SOME OF THE ON CAPITAL THERE THAT SOME OF THAT COULD BE REDEPLOYED.
FOR MORE FOR MORE OF OUR ROADS.
SO AGAIN YOU KNOW, NOT TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, DO A CLAP HERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO COMMEND EVERYONE FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, HARD PROCESS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, A LOT OF HARD DECISIONS.
BUT I THINK WE'RE IN A BUDGET THAT WE COULD FEEL PROUD OF.
THAT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR STAFF AND DOESN'T IMPACT THE SERVICES TO OUR TOWNSHIP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEPUTY MAYOR. THAT'S TRUE. IT WAS A HARD DECISION THIS YEAR, AND I THINK THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WORKED TOGETHER.
AND I THINK WE IT'S STILL HARD, BUT IT'S IT'S AS YOU SAID, A BALANCED BUDGET AS AS MUCH AS WE COULD DO WITH THE WITH WHERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE.
I JUST WANTED TO REPORT ON THE RECENT EVENTS.
LAST WEEKEND, WE HAD OUR APRIL 26TH WAS OUR WINTER FARMER'S MARKET.
I HAVEN'T COME FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DID COME THIS PAST SATURDAY, AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THE NEW VENDORS.
WE. IF PEOPLE ARE THINKING WHERE THEY WANT TO GO ON A SATURDAY AND PICK UP SOME FRESH PRODUCE. THERE WERE PEOPLE WITH US FROM THE FARMS AROUND US.
THERE WAS FRESH BREAD, EGGS, DEFINITELY THERE WERE EGGS AND A LOT OF
[00:55:03]
I THINK THERE WAS A MUSHROOM VENDOR AND APPARENTLY REALLY GOOD HEALING MUSHROOMS. AND THERE WAS A YOUNG COUPLE WHOSE PARENTS RUN A FARM IN GREECE.SO THE OLIVE OIL THAT THEY WERE SELLING WAS DIRECTLY FROM THEIR PARENTS FARM.
AND I CAN TELL YOU I TASTED IT.
IT WAS AMAZING. IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLIVE OIL FROM COSTCO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT. SO I THINK I WOULD, YOU KNOW, ASK AND ENCOURAGE ALL OUR RESIDENTS TO PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT OUR FARMERS MARKET.
IT'S GREAT WHAT LORETTE DOES AND BRINGS EVERYBODY TOGETHER.
AND OF COURSE OUR STAFF AS WELL.
AND THEN OF COURSE, AT THE SAME TIME WE ALSO HAD OUR ARBOR DAY CELEBRATIONS AND WE HAD THE SHADE TREE COMMITTEE EXPLAINING ABOUT DIFFERENT TREES.
WHAT IS NATIVE? THEY WERE ALSO GIVING AWAY SAPLINGS.
WE ALSO HAD OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL HELPING PEOPLE.
SO ALL IN ALL, IT WAS REALLY A GOOD EVENT ON SATURDAY, TWO EVENTS ON SATURDAY.
THEN OF COURSE ON SUNDAY WE HAD OUR ROTARY RUN AND THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS TEAM CAME IN THIRD FOR THE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE SIGNED UP, WHICH I FELT WAS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP NORMALLY DO NOT RUN OR WALK.
SO WE ARE ALL KIND OF RAMBLING AND GOING SLOWLY AND CHATTING, BUT WE STILL GOT IT DONE.
AND OF COURSE WE MISSED OUR DEPUTY MAYOR, WHO WAS NOT WELL, AND HE WAS GOING TO BE DOING THE FIVE K.
AND THEN OFF WE WENT AFTER THAT TO EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS WHERE THERE ARE MANY TOTALS WHICH ARE PENDING. BUT THERE IS A PRELIMINARY REPORT ABOUT 60 BICYCLES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MERCER COUNTY WERE COLLECTED.
AND I GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THOSE BIKES.
REALLY WONDERFUL. I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE GIVING BIKES WHICH HAD TAGS ON THEM FOR SHOPPING CARTS FULL OF DONATIONS TO THE TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY.
THE TRUNK OF AN SUV STUFFED WITH MEDICATIONS WAS DROPPED OFF FOR SOMERSET COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A GREAT WEEKEND FOR MONTGOMERY AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME OUT EITHER TO RUN OR BROUGHT THEIR RECYCLING.
IN FACT, ONE OF THE RESIDENTS HAD HIS FATHER IN THE CAR AND HE SAID, YOU HAVE TO COME AND SAY HELLO TO HIM.
HE'S HERE FROM INDIA AND HE'S LOVING THE RECYCLING BECAUSE HE DOESN'T SEE THAT AT THIS LEVEL. AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THANK THE STAFF AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND OF COURSE, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT PUTS THIS EVENT TOGETHER. AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO OUR CHAIR, MARY REESE, AND EVERYBODY.
IT'S ALL IN ALL, A GREAT EVENT.
AND OF COURSE, NOT TO FORGET, WE DID GET A CHECK AT THE AT THE ROTARY EVENT FOR MAYOR'S WELLNESS THIRD PLACE REGISTRATION.
AND THAT DONATION WENT TO MS ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS CAMPAIGN.
AND THEN WHAT DO WE HAVE? I WANT TO MENTION UPCOMING MAY 10TH AGAIN.
WE HAVE SOME ANOTHER BIKE COLLECTION.
THIS IS FROM 246. IT'S GOING TO BE 9 A.M.
TO NOON AT THE BLOOMSBURG REFORMED CHURCH IN CASE YOU WANTED TO BRING A BIKE TO EARTH, BUT SOMEHOW COULDN'T GET TO IT, WHICH HAPPENS IN MY LIFE A LOT.
YOU CAN STILL BRING THE BIKES TO THE BLANKENBURG REFORMED CHURCH.
AND THEN MAY 17TH IS SPRING FLING.
THIS IS AN EVENT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
IT'S BECOME ALMOST AN ANNUAL TRADITION.
IT'S WHERE THERE IS ALL DIFFERENT CULTURAL DANCES.
THERE'S FOOD. AND THEN, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY GETS TO THROW COLORED POWDER AT EACH OTHER AND DANCE AROUND AND WELCOME SPRING.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, MAY 22ND MONTGOMERY INNOVATION SUMMIT.
WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
THIS IS A COLLABORATION WE ARE DOING AT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE TOWN, SO THEY GET TO SEE OUR UNDERUTILIZED AND EMPTY SPACES, AND IT'S GEARED TOWARDS BRINGING TOGETHER SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND FINANCE.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE LOW KEY ANGLE OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THAT MONTGOMERY EXISTS AND IS A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE A BUSINESS.
AND WE HAVE. THE FEATURED PANELISTS WILL BE SENATOR ANDREW ZWICKER, WHO WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT I, JESSICA PALLONE, THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOMERSET COUNTY, KATHY GUZMAN, SENIOR SMALL BUSINESS LIAISON.
AND CHRISTOPHER SCHEER'S SENIOR INNOVATION PROJECT OFFICER.
JUDITH SCHIFF, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMISSION ON SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY.
KAREN NAGEL, CHRISTINE GOLUB, DIRECTOR, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF INNOVATION, AND I BELIEVE SHE WAS ON THE LIST OF THE 100 INNOVATORS AWARD BY NJ BIZ DOCTOR HIMANSHU BHATIA FROM RECOVER, AND HE WAS ALSO ON THE SAME LIST FOR THE 100 INNOVATORS, 100 TOP INNOVATORS OF NEW JERSEY.
CAPITAL IS THE COMPANY, AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
AND I'M HOPING RESIDENTS COME.
AND OF COURSE YOU'LL SEE OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE THERE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, JUNE 1ST IS STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AT THE LOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND THEY HAVE ASKED US TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
[01:00:01]
PEOPLE CAN BUY THEIR TICKETS THERE SEVEN IN ADVANCE AND NINE AT THE DOOR.AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL SEE ALL THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE THERE AS WELL.
AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST IS OUR SUMMER CAMP, MONTGOMERY SUMMER CAMP.
THE REGISTRATION REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR KIDS ENTERING GRADES ONE, TWO, THREE, THE 1 TO 6 IN THE FALL OF 2025.
CAMP WILL BE HELD JUNE 30TH THROUGH AUGUST 8TH.
YOU CAN SIGN UP BY SESSION OR FOR ALL SIX WEEKS, AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR RECREATION PAGE OR CALL THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AND I CAN LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT MY KIDS DID GO TO IT, USED REC AND CREW OR SUMMER CAMP FOR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND THEY ALWAYS HAD A GREAT TIME. SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY NICE PLACE TO BRING YOUR KIDS AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE GET TO REGISTER AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GO TO LORI SAFRAN FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
[33. Administrator’s Report ]
GREAT. WELL, PEOPLE WILL HAVE SEEN THIS WEEK ARE PAVING SPRING PAVING PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY IN FULL SWING MONTGOMERY ROAD AND TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD.WE ASK PEOPLE TO HAVE PATIENCE.
ALONG WITH THE PAVING, THERE'S ALSO PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, SIDEWALK EXTENSIONS, CROSSWALKS.
SO THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD THING THAT THE TOWN IS CONTINUING TO MOVE DOWN THAT PATH AND RETROFIT THOSE OLDER AREAS OF THE TOWNSHIP THAT THAT DON'T HAVE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SIGN UP FOR NICOLE, BECAUSE THAT'S OUR OFFICIAL WAY TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THE ROADS ARE CLOSED.
AND SO THAT CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE, RIGHT ON THE HOMEPAGE.
WE ARE IN FULL MODE OF TRANSFERRING AND THIS PERIOD OF MAY INTO JUNE.
TO OUR NEW PLATFORM THAT IF YOU RECALL, I THINK IT WAS SOMETIME LAST YEAR WHERE OUR WEBSITE WAS DOWN. OUR WEBSITE WAS ON AN OLD PLATFORM THAT REALLY COULD NO LONGER BE MAINTAINED. SO OUR WEB PROVIDER, CIVIC PLUS, HAS MOVED US AT NO COST TO THE TOWNSHIP TO AN UPGRADED PLATFORM.
THE LOOK WILL STAY PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
THE CONTENT WILL ALL BE THE SAME.
BUT IN MOVING OVER, THERE MAY BE SOME PAGES THAT YOU'LL GET THE BROKEN LINK.
A QR CODE MAY OR MAY NOT WORK.
SO WE'RE WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK OUT THOSE KINKS.
WE HAVEN'T MOVED OVER OVER YET.
SO WE'RE JUST ADVISING PEOPLE, IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND YOU NEED SOME INFORMATION AND YOU DON'T SEE IT THERE, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE TOWNSHIP CLERK BECAUSE SHE'LL BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GET THAT TO YOU DIRECTLY.
WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE AWARE WE WANT TO NOTIFY PEOPLE.
WE'LL BE SENDING IT OUT IN THE BULLETIN AS WELL.
SO THIS IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.
PLAYGROUND. THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND HERE AT THE BUILDING IS STILL ON SCHEDULE.
A COUPLE OF DAYS THIS WEEK, THE CONTRACTOR HAD AN EMERGENCY AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION. SO YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN A LITTLE WORK, BUT WE'RE STILL ON SCHEDULE FOR FOR THAT JUNE OPENING.
WE ARE ALSO ON MOVING TOWARDS THAT JUNE SCHEDULE FOR DEMOLITION OF THE OLD MUNICIPAL BUILDING. HUD HAS NOW HAS THE ALL OF THE PAPERWORK THAT THEY NEED FROM US.
OUR HUD REPRESENTATIVE WHO'S BEEN ASSIGNED TO US IS VERY RESPONSIVE, VERY EAGER TO GET THIS THIS PAPERWORK OUT THE DOOR AND BACK TO US.
ONCE WE HAVE THAT AGREEMENT SIGNED.
WE CAN EXECUTE. CAN'T BEGIN THE PROJECT UNTIL THAT STAGE, OR WE'LL JEOPARDIZE OUR FUNDING.
I WANTED TO JUST ONE MORE THING.
SIGRID SOLIS, OUR HEALTH OFFICER HEALTH EDUCATOR.
SHE AND WE'RE CONTINUING A PROJECT, YOU KNOW, AS MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH.
WE DID A POSITIVE AFFIRMATION SCIENCE PROJECT LAST YEAR AND WE'RE DOING THAT AGAIN.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT WERE UP LAST YEAR IN MONTGOMERY PARK.
YOU'LL SEE THEM HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND AROUND TOWN.
SO THAT USUALLY LASTS THROUGH THE MONTH OF MAY THROUGH FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THOSE SIGNS ARE REALLY NICE.
REALLY GREAT. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, ORDINANCE FILM.
[34. Future Agenda Items ]
READY TOWN. LISA, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK ON THAT? OR I CAN MARK FOR A FUTURE MEETING? OH, YES. WE'RE JUST LETTING YOU KNOW IT'LL COME UP ON A FUTURE AGENDA.SOUNDS GOOD. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5167, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[35. Resolution #25-5-167 – Executive Session ]
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AS FOLLOWS.THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WILL NOW CONVENE IN A CLOSED SESSION THAT WILL BE LIMITED ONLY TO CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY BE EXCLUDED PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS.
POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION, RECREATION AND OR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES.
BLOCK 11 002. LOT 38. MASON BLOCK 13 001.
LOT 21 FORBES RADAR BLOCK 25 001.
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LOT 27 AND BLOCK 27 001.LOT 7.01. NJ DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS LITIGATION DOCKET NUMBER SOML153 25. DOCKET NUMBERS SOML005163116 DASH 23.
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. DASH FIVE.
DASH 165. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
LET US KNOW WHEN WE'RE READY. OKAY.
OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN REGULAR SESSION.
SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. ADJOURNMENT.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. MONTGOMERY.
NICE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.