[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:04] MEETING. CALL TO ORDER. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. CALL TO ORDER AT 702. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. SALUTE TO THE FLAG. PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AND PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY. OKAY. [1. Presentation – Eagle Scout Project, Alexander Tasche ] PRESENTATION. EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT. ALEXANDER. TOSH. ALEXANDER. JUST WAIT ONE MOMENT WHILE THE SCREENS, THE VIDEO SCREENS ARE GOING TO WARM UP. IN THE MEANWHILE, I MISSED SOMETHING. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD. 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. PRESENTATION. YES, PLEASE. EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT. ALEXANDER. TASH. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALEXANDER TESCH, AND THIS IS MY PRESENTATION FOR MY EAGLE SCOUT EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES BUILDING BENCHES IN CHERRY BROOK PRESERVE. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME. I WAS BORN IN THE NETHERLANDS AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE US FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS NOW. I'M A SENIOR AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M CURRENTLY A LIFE SCOUT IN TROOP 850. ABOUT THE PROJECT, MY PLAN IS TO BUILD BENCHES AND PLACE THEM AT CHERRY BROOK RESERVE. THIS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO TAKE A BREAK AND REST WHILE HIKING AND IT WILL INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY. BECAUSE CURRENTLY THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE NO BENCHES IN SHERBROOKE RESERVE. EVEN THOUGH THE PARK MAP SAYS THERE ARE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PARK MAP SAYS THERE ARE FIVE BENCHES. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO BENCHES AT THE LOCATIONS, IT SAYS. SO WHAT WILL ME AND THE KIDS IN MY TROOP DO? WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THE BENCHES FROM SCRATCH. WE WILL BE CUTTING PRESSURE TREATED WOOD AND ASSEMBLING THEM AT MY HOUSE. WE'RE GOING TO BRING THOSE BENCHES TO THE PRESERVE AND THEN PLACE THEM AT THE CORRECT LOCATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR BRUSH SO THAT THE BENCHES WON'T OBSTRUCT THE PATHS. AND WE'RE GOING TO. WELL, I WILL UPDATE THE MAP TO BETTER REFLECT THE LOCATIONS OF THE BENCHES. OKAY, SO THIS IS THE BENCH I WILL BE MAKING. I THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. THEY'RE STURDY, AND THEY'LL COST ROUGHLY $40 A PIECE, WHICH IS $36 FOR RAW LUMBER AND AROUND $4 FOR SCREWS PER BENCH. WHERE WILL I BE PLACING THEM? OH, SORRY. I'LL BE PLACING THEM AT THESE FOUR LOCATIONS ALONG THE TRAILS. I'VE ALSO INCLUDED PICTURES OF EVERY LOCATION. I THINK THESE ARE GOOD PLACES, SINCE THEY'RE ROUGHLY HALFWAY AT GOOD MIDDLE POINTS ON THE TRAIL AND AT SCENIC POINTS. SO WHAT I NEED FROM THE TOWNSHIP, I NEED THE TOWNSHIP TO APPROVE THE PROJECT, ALLOWING ME TO CLEAR, BRUSH AND PLACE THE BENCHES WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. IF POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO BORROW SOME TOOLS FOR BRUSH FOR BUSH CLEARING LIKE HEDGE CLIPPERS, A BRUSH AX, ETC. AND I'D LIKE TO PUT LIKE PERMISSION TO PUT NAMES OF DONORS ON THE BENCHES. IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF WE COULD COORDINATE TRANSPORT FROM THE TRAILHEAD TO THE FINAL LOCATIONS, MAYBE USING TOWNSHIP VEHICLES OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT. THE TIMELINE FOR THIS IS AROUND TWO MONTHS. I HOPE TO GET APPROVAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND START WORKING AS SOON AS I GET SAID APPROVAL. THE PROJECT SHOULD BE FINISHED BY THE END OF JULY AND 60 DAYS AFTER INSTALLATION. SCOTT FROM 250 WILL COAT THE BENCHES IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM LAST LONGER. THANK YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. THAT SOUNDS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. AND THE DESIGN FOR THE BENCH IS REALLY INNOVATIVE. I REALLY LIKE IT. IT'S A IT'S A GOOD WAY TO, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING WITHIN EVEN BEING VERY FINANCIALLY PRUDENT. SO THANK YOU. AND IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD. I'LL LET ANYBODY ELSE ASK A QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE DONORS ALREADY FOR. I DO NOT HAVE DONORS YET. I AM WAITING TO GET YOUR APPROVAL. OKAY. JUST A QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR. OH. GO AHEAD. I'LL COME BACK. THANK YOU FOR FOR VOLUNTEERING TO DO THESE THIS PROJECT. LOVE THE BENCHES. QUESTION IS, IS ARE THEY GOING TO SIT ON THE GROUND OR IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE, ANCHORED? [00:05:02] THEY WILL BE SITTING ON THE GROUND. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE CLEARING THE BRUSH AND ALL THAT. ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK JUST I NUMBER ONE, I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA. I JUST THINK THE QUESTION I HAVE IS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS IS AROUND, LIKE THE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A PROJECT IS OVER, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS YOU KNOW, DO YOU THINK THAT THE. I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON WOOD, BUT FOR, LIKE, $40 A BENCH, IT SEEMS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING, LIKE, THE RIGHT QUALITY OF WOOD SO THAT IT, YOU KNOW, HAS GOOD CHARACTER AND MAINTENANCE. I'M JUST. HAVE YOU DONE RESEARCH ON THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S ALSO SYNTHETIC WOODS. YOU KNOW, YOU SEE A LOT OF THESE DECKS ON THERE, LIKE, LAST A LONG TIME. I JUST DON'T I'M JUST ASKING IF YOU LOOKED AT ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVES. THE WOOD I'LL BE USING IS PRESSURE TREATED, MEANING THAT IT HAS A CERTAIN CHEMICALS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH HIGH PRESSURE PUT INTO THE WOOD, WHICH MAKE IT FIRST OF ALL, IT DOESN'T IMPACT STABILITY. HOWEVER, IT DOES MEAN THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ROT AND INSECT PROOF. SO IT IS A STURDY WOOD. YEAH. I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU KNOW, PROBABLY I DON'T SEE OUR OPEN SPACE COORDINATOR, BUT MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, LORI, IF WE CAN JUST TRIPLE CONFIRM THAT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE THE CONCEPT IS ALIGNED WITH YOU KNOW, HOW WE'VE DONE OTHER PLACES. AGAIN, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE. I THINK THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS I THINK IT'S NOT A QUESTION FOR YOU TO ANSWER. WE WOULD PROBABLY JUST NEED TO. WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY HAD, LIKE, DONORS. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, AT LEAST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. LIKE LISTED OR LIKE PRESENTED AROUND LIKE BOY SCOUT OR, OR GIRL SCOUT EAGLE SCOUT TYPE PROJECTS. SO I JUST THINK WE PROBABLY SHOULD LOOK AT THAT SINCE IT'S GOING TO BE ON TOWNSHIP PROPERTY, ETC.. I DON'T KNOW. I THINK NORMALLY PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THEIR NAMES WHEN THEY DONATE FOR THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE LIKE REQUIRE THAT, SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME. ALL RIGHT. IF SOMEONE HAS, IT'S ME. YES. GO AHEAD. SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING TO THE COMMITTEE'S ATTENTION THAT THERE IS A MEMORANDUM FROM THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE IN THE PACKET WITH THE EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT. THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE IS AMENABLE TO A HELP IN FUNDING THE PROJECT WITH WHATEVER PORTION THAT HE COSTS AREN'T COVERED BY DONATIONS, AND THEY SUPPORT THE PROJECT AND RECOMMEND IT FOR APPROVAL TO THE COMMITTEE. OKAY. OKAY. I THINK WHERE WE ALL ARE IS OBVIOUSLY. MAYBE IF YOU CAN CHECK ON THE DURABILITY PROJECT AS A WHOLE. I THINK WE ALL ARE IN ALIGNMENT THAT THAT'S GREAT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT. BUT DEFINITELY OUR ADMINISTRATOR MAY AND OR OUR CLERK WILL REACH BACK OUT. SO MAYBE THE TWO THE DURABILITY QUESTION IF YOU CAN GET THAT ANSWERED. AND AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR JUST SAID WE'VE REALLY NOT DONE THAT FOR BENCHES BY EAGLE SCOUTS. SO I MEAN WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, DO THE WHATEVER THE GRAND FINALE IS FOR, WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR EAGLE, YOU CAN DEFINITELY ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DONATED. BUT PUTTING THEIR NAMES ON THE BENCH IS NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING, ANOTHER THING THAT YOU COULD REACH BACK OUT TO THE CLERK. SO JUST WE HAVE SOME CLARITY THERE AND THE DURABILITY, BUT I THINK OTHERWISE WE ARE ALL IN ALIGNMENT. SO YES, PLEASE. WE DO APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME AND EFFORT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT INTO THAT. AND WE LOVE OUR SCOUTS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU THANK YOU, THANK YOU OKAY. [2. Presentation – Health Department Annual Report and Food Insecurity Report – Health Officer, Devangi Patel ] PRESENTATION. HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT AND FOOD INSECURITY REPORT. HEALTH OFFICER SHIVANGI PATEL. HELLO, EVERYONE. I'LL FIRST PRESENT THE FOOD INSECURITY ASSESSMENT, AND THEN WE'LL PRESENT THE 2024 HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT. SO IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP FOOD INSECURITY ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW RESULTS. SO THIS THIS WAS DONE THANKS TO ADRIA. SHE'S A MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL ALUM, MONTGOMERY RESIDENT RUTGERS MPH CANDIDATE AND MAJORING IN PUBLIC HEALTH. SO, YOU KNOW, SHE KIND OF CHECKED OFF ALL THE BOXES FOR US. SO I'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE A BRIEF SUMMARY FOR YOU, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN THE PACKET IS FOR YOU TO REVIEW. AND IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AFTER THE PRESENTATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO TO ME OR EVEN LORI. AND WE'LL WE'LL MAKE SURE TO ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS. BUT I'LL START OUT BY JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN CURRENTLY. THE PRINCETON ELKS LODGE IS THE BIGGEST ONE. PRIMARILY RUN WITH THE HELP OF ELLEN ROBINS. THE CURRENT AS OF, I GUESS DECEMBER 2024, WHEN THE INTERVIEWS HAD OCCURRED, THEY WERE SERVING ABOUT 44 FAMILIES, WHICH EQUALED EQUATED TO ABOUT 150 PEOPLE. AND ELLEN CAME TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING LAST NIGHT, AND SHE INFORMED US THAT SHE WOULD BE CLOSING DOWN HER FOOD BANK FOOD PANTRY IN SEPTEMBER. [00:10:03] SO WHICH IS WHICH IS A BIG DEAL FOR THE TOWNSHIP. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AUTO KAUFMAN COMMUNITY CENTER FOOD PANTRY THAT, AS OF DECEMBER, WAS SERVING AROUND 40 FAMILIES, BUT NOW IS UP TO AT LEAST 60 FAMILIES OR MORE AND SLATED TO GROW. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ONCE ELLEN CLOSES HER FOOD PANTRY, YOU KNOW, WE WE ARE ANTICIPATING GETTING ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE COMING TO THE KAUFMAN, THE TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY. AND JUST TO CONFIRM, I MEAN, WE'RE I KNOW I'M SURE THAT THESE NUMBERS HAVE NOT GONE UP BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE, BUT ARE THESE NUMBERS ARE WE SURE ISN'T LIKE OVERLAP. AND I'M NOT JUDGING. BUT ARE SOME OF THESE FAMILIES THAT GO INTO MULTIPLE FOOD PANTRIES BECAUSE OF THE NEEDS, OR IS IT REALLY LIKE WHERE A 44 PLUS 40 PLUS TEN? I THINK IT'S VERY I WANT TO SAY IT'S VERY MINIMAL OVERLAP, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO STRENGTHEN OUR DATA COLLECTION AND TRACKING TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE MORE ACCURATE DATA. BUT FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH JOHN KROGER, WHO LEADS THE AUTO KAUFMAN FOOD PANTRY CURRENTLY AND AND ELLEN, I BELIEVE THERE'S MINIMAL OVERLAP, BUT WE CAN I CAN DOUBLE CHECK AND GET THAT INFO TO YOU GUYS. OKAY. AND THEN WE HAVE THE FOOD PANTRY AT THE MONTGOMERY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH THAT SERVES ABOUT TEN CARS A WEEK. THEY HAVE A VERY SMALL FOOD PANTRY. WE INCLUDED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE HERE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DID COME UP AS A BARRIER WAS THE SPACE OF OF THESE FOOD PANTRIES, WHERE WHEN THERE IS A SURGE IN DEMAND DUE TO EITHER ECONOMICAL CHANGES OR DUE TO AN EMERGENCY WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO TO SCALE UP IN THOSE SITUATIONS. BUT SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT CAME UP WERE TRANSPORTATION FOR INDIVIDUALS. THEY DIDN'T HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THE FOOD PANTRY. THERE WAS STIGMA, YOU KNOW, BEING UNCOMFORTABLE OR ASHAMED TO ASK FOR HELP DUE TO CULTURAL OR SOCIAL STIGMA. THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF THE FOOD PANTRY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE DEDICATED STAFFING FOR THAT. SO IT'S REALLY BASED ON STAFF AVAILABILITY OR VOLUNTEERS. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF RELIABLE, CONSISTENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TWO FOOD PANTRIES. SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS CLEAR TO EVERYBODY, AT LEAST THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED IT, THAT WE HAVE THIS RESOURCE. AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THE TWO FOOD PANTRIES. AND THEN FOOD INSECURITY CAN BE A SYMPTOM OF A GREATER NEED STEMMING FROM MENTAL HEALTH, ILLNESS AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANTIAL SITUATIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, FOOD THE FOOD INSECURITY IS JUST A SYMPTOM OF A LARGER ISSUE. AND THOSE ARE THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE SEE, INCLUDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN SOCIAL SERVICES RELATED CALLS AND REQUESTS FOR HELP. AND WE ONLY ANTICIPATE THOSE THOSE NEEDS AND THOSE NUMBERS GROWING. SO AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. BUT THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE MOST FOOD INSECURITY ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN A CIRCUMSTANTIAL SITUATION. THEY MAY HAVE LOST THEIR JOB OR THEY'RE NEW TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE NOT AWARE THEY DON'T HAVE RESOURCES TO GET THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, OTHER GROUPS SUCH AS CHILDREN, SOME SENIORS, ESPECIALLY LIVING IN ISOLATION AND FAMILIES NEW TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THOSE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THESE INTERVIEWS. THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT THROUGH THROUGH THIS WAS THAT WHEN THE FOOD PANTRY WAS FIRST CREATED IN THE TOWNSHIP, THERE WAS A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS THAT NEEDED THIS HELP, AND IT WAS VERY SHORT TERM. THEY EITHER LOST THEIR JOB AND THEN THEY JUST NEEDED SOMETHING TO HELP THEM GET BACK ON THEIR FEET FOR FOR A FEW WEEKS. AND THEN YOU HAD THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE RECEIVING FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT NOW BECOMING DONORS AND REGULARLY DONATING TO THE FOOD PANTRY. THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE. WE'RE SEEING A NEED FOR LONG TERM CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEKING THE FOOD PANTRY FOR LONGER. WE'RE TALKING MONTHS AND YEARS AND THAT NUMBER IS GROWING. SO. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE COLLECTED. PRIMARILY ON PAGE 11. THERE'S THE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBERS ON STUDENTS ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. WE HAVE NUMBERS HERE FROM COMPARING 2024 AND 2023 AND THE NUMBERS, THE INCREASES ARE DRASTIC NOW, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE NOT EVERY CHILD THAT SHOULD BE ON THIS PROGRAM IS. BUT THE NUMBERS ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DRASTIC. AND THIS SHOWS ABOUT A 68.5% INCREASE JUST WITHIN ONE YEAR. AND WE HAVE AND WE'RE EXPECTING THIS NUMBER TO RISE EVEN MORE. AND YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE A FREE BREAKFAST PROGRAM. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW THAT ELLEN HAS ALSO BROUGHT UP AS A NEED IN, IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONSIDER. [00:15:05] YOU KNOW, BUT I GUESS MY, YOU KNOW, MY ASK IS REALLY FOR YOU ALL TO JUST BE AWARE OF THESE CHANGING DYNAMICS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THAT FOOD INSECURITY IS INCREASING AND IT REQUIRES MORE THAN AN AD HOC SOLUTION. WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE LONG TERM PLAN. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE AND HOW BEST WE CAN FIRST ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT ALSO HAVE A LONG TERM PLAN AND INCORPORATE AND INTEGRATE FOOD ACCESS INTO OUR LONG TERM STRATEGIC PLANNING AND OUR EMERGENCY PLANNING. BECAUSE WHEN IF WE HAVE A BIG EMERGENCY OR NATURAL DISASTER OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO DRASTICALLY SCALE UP AS WE HAD DURING COVID, WHICH IS HOW ELLEN HAD STARTED. YOU KNOW, THE FOOD PANTRY BECAUSE OF BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE PROLONGED NATURE OF THE EMERGENCY. SO WE'RE NOT WE ARE NOT SET UP FOR THAT. SO JUST WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE AS WE COLLECT INFORMATION AND BETTER STREAMLINE OUR DATA TRACKING WILL WILL COME BACK AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU. OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK YOU, WITH THE COUNTY, AS FAR AS ANY RESOURCES FROM THE COUNTY, ARE WE LOOKING INTO THAT? THIS BASICALLY MEANS WE REALLY NEED TO. THIS IS SOMETHING WHICH IS AN EMERGENCY FOR US, RIGHT? IF THE OTHER PANTRY CLOSES, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH SPACE AT THE KAUFFMAN PANTRY FOR THAT KIND OF FOOD. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO, AS A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, GET BEHIND FASTER THAN, YOU KNOW, TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS. IF SEPTEMBER IS THE DEADLINE FOR ELON, WHICH SHE'S SHE'S WORKED IN THIS TOWNSHIP AND BEEN A VOLUNTEER FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND WE ARE ALL SO THANKFUL. YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN DOING GOD'S WORK THERE. SO YEAH. AND, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR FOOD PANTRIES AND FOOD BANKS ARE DRIVEN BY DONATIONS. AND WE FOR NOW, I SPOKE TO JOHN KROGER ABOUT THIS AND FOR NOW WE ARE GOOD WITH THE DONATIONS SIDE. IF AS WE NEED TO INCREASE AND PUT OUT CALLS FOR REQUESTS TO THE TOWN AND TO THE RESIDENTS TO HELP WITH, YOU KNOW DONATING ITEMS, WE WILL DO THAT. BUT THE I THINK THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE ARE WE ABLE TO SCALE UP AND HAVE THE RESOURCES IN TERMS OF STAFFING AND VOLUNTEERS WHEN WE ARE IN THOSE SITUATIONS? SO THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS. INTERNALLY, WE WE'RE WERE ALSO GOING TO TRACK WHAT WHAT THE TRENDS LOOK LIKE IN THE NEXT COMING MONTHS AND THEN TRY TO COME UP WITH A PLAN. THE GOAL IS TO REALLY TRACK AND MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. SO THERE WILL BE THERE WILL BE SOME ASKS IN THE FUTURE. SORRY. YEAH. YEAH. BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING TO HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOMES EITHER SENIORS, DISABILITY DISABILITIES PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THAT GROUP. AND POSSIBLY SEE, EVENTUALLY THEY MAY HAVE TO THEY MAY BE IN THAT FALL UNDER THAT FOOD INSECURITY CATEGORY. SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK INTO. 216 KIDS IS IS A LOT. AND A LOT OF THESE KIDS ONLY EAT AT SCHOOL. THEY DON'T THEY DON'T HAVE A MEAL ON THE WEEKENDS. YEAH. SO THAT'S ALSO A HUGE CONCERN. AND IF IF, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SINGLE PARENT AND THEIR. THE KIDS ARE AT HOME, YOU KNOW. HOW ARE WE FEEDING THEM? YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO TO GET ANSWERED. YEAH. AND 360. YEAH. IT'S GONE UP 24. YEAH, IT'S GONE UP TO 366. YEAH. 216 WAS 2023. THAT'S REALLY CONCERNING. NO CHILD SHOULD GO HUNGRY. OKAY. SO THE ONE THING THAT I THINK YOU BRING UP A REALLY GOOD POINT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND THIS. AND I'D LOVE TO SAY THAT, HEY, WE CAN HIRE X AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO DO THIS, BUT YEAH, I THINK WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MACROECONOMIC IMPACTS. AND, AND THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE TO EVEN KIND OF MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. BUT I DO WONDER, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD, RIGHT? WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW DO WE CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW, A MONTGOMERY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVOLUTION OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. RIGHT. AND A LOT OF, LIKE, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PARTS OF THE HISTORY, BUT, YOU KNOW, PART OF IT, IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SELF-SUFFICIENCY. PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT AFTER EACH OTHER. AND I WONDER IF YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF DOING, YOU KNOW, ONE TIME KIND OF EVENTS, DO WE TRY TO BOLSTER THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP? RIGHT. WE GOT THE HIGH SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, ENGAGED. YOU KNOW, HOW TO GET THEM INVOLVED. YOU KNOW, THEY NEED VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR FOR COLLEGES, PROGRAMS, ETC., YOU KNOW, AND HOW DO WE KIND OF GET THIS MORE LASTING? SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE WE SHOULD TRY TO TACKLE AS PART OF. HOW DO WE CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NATION'S FOUNDING? WELL, WE SHOULD ALSO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE GOES HUNGRY IN THIS TOWN. YEAH, AND THAT'S A GOOD POINT. [00:20:01] WE HAVE A YOUTH ACTION BOARD AND WE HAVE A YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD TO GET THESE YOUTH INVOLVED AS WELL. SO MAYBE THIS COULD BE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU'RE DOING THIS WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT AND WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, OF COURSE, WE CAN ALSO GET SOME OF THE THE SCHOOL KIDS WHO ARE PART OF OUR TOWNSHIP INVOLVED AS WELL. AND YOU NEVER KNOW, THERE MAY. THERE MAY BE IDEAS THAT MAY WORK. AND I AGREE WITH THE DEPUTY MAYOR. THE SPIRIT OF THE TOWN IS WHAT YOU KNOW WILL BRING THE VOLUNTEERS OUT. SO. YES. THANK YOU. DO WE KNOW IF THE COUNTY IS DOING ANYTHING ON THIS, ON THIS TOPIC IN OUR TOWN? SO, I MEAN, I KNOW THE COUNTY IS AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE SHOULD WE NEED LIKE FOOD RESOURCES, BUT IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND STAFFING CAPACITY. NOT NOT YET. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TACKLE WITHIN MONTGOMERY, MAYBE COME UP WITH A PLAN. AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ASK, MAKE, ASKS FOR FROM THE COUNTY, THEN THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD DO IT. STAFFING IS THE HARDEST PART BECAUSE THEN YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT OKAY. THIS IS THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW ANNUAL REPORT I'LL KEEP IT SHORT. THIS IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S 2024 ANNUAL REPORT. YOU ALL HAVE A COPY IN FRONT OF YOU. AND I JUST I JUST WANT TO START OUT BY, YOU KNOW, SAYING, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT HERE TODAY? HOW WE ALL GOT HERE TODAY. WE ALL DROVE IN OUR CARS. WE PUT ON OUR SEATBELTS. WE GOT ON THE ROADS. WE DROVE THROUGH ALL THESE DIFFERENT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ALL THESE SIGNS THAT WE DROVE, DROVE PAST. AND WE MADE IT HERE SAFELY. AND PROBABLY MOST OF US DIDN'T EVEN THINK TWICE ABOUT HAVING TO PUT OUR SEATBELT ON AND DRIVING THROUGH THOSE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. RIGHT. WE WE TRUSTED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING. AND THAT, YOU KNOW, GOT US HERE TODAY. SO THIS IS PUBLIC HEALTH AT WORK. IT HAPPENS UNDER THE RADAR, VERY INVISIBLE, THAT WE DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT IT'S THERE. AND SO PUBLIC HEALTH IS THE INVISIBLE SAFETY NET OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS SUCH AS WATER QUALITY MONITORING, OUTBREAK RESPONSE, FOOD INSPECTIONS, IMMUNIZATIONS. THEY'RE OFTEN INVISIBLE, BUT THEY'RE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. AND IF WE IN PUBLIC HEALTH ARE DOING OUR JOBS RIGHT, THEN YOU DON'T NOTICE US AT ALL. AND BECAUSE OUR SYSTEMS, THEY'RE QUIETLY WORKING TOWARDS PREVENTING ILLNESS AND KEEPING OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. AND WHEN WE RESPOND, WHEN THINGS GO WRONG. SO OUR ANNUAL REPORT IS THE DASHBOARD OF OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH. AND IT SHOWS THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE DONE TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE. AND IF YOU GO ON TO PAGE FIVE, THIS IS THE FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES. AND IT'S THE FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. IT'S JUST JUST LIKE A HOUSE NEEDS A SOLID FOUNDATION TO STAND STRONG. PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS THESE FOUNDATIONAL SERVICES THAT YOU SEE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL, CHRONIC DISEASE AND INJURY PREVENTION, ENVIRONMENTAL, PUBLIC HEALTH, MATERNAL, CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH, ACCESS TO LINKAGE AND CLINICAL CARE, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE. ONS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ASSESSMENT AND SURVEILLANCE. AND THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS. AND THAT INCLUDES INVESTIGATING OUTBREAKS SUCH AS MEASLES OR FOODBORNE ILLNESSES, INSPECTING RESTAURANTS AND HOUSING FOR SAFETY, PROVIDING EDUCATION AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES. EVERY DOLLAR SPENT TOWARDS PUBLIC HEALTH SAVES ABOUT $10 IN MEDICAL COSTS DOWN THE ROAD. AND, YOU KNOW, IN HOSPITAL CARE AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND WITHOUT THESE BASIC ONGOING SERVICES, WE CANNOT PREVENT DISEASE AND RESPOND EFFECTIVELY IN EMERGENCIES. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THESE CORE SERVICES BECAUSE THEY'RE SO ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING THE RESIDENTS IN MONTGOMERY SAFE. SO I HAVE HIGHLIGHTS ON PAGE SIX OF JUST SOME KEY STATISTICS AND DATA RELATED TO SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES. AGAIN, A LOT OF THESE ARE THINGS YOU'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. YOU KNOW, IN 2024 OUR VACCINATIONS, OUR INSPECTIONS, THE NUMBER OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OUTBREAKS THAT WE'VE INVESTIGATED. IMMUNIZATION AUDITS THAT WE'VE DONE AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS TO ENSURE THAT KIDS ARE THEY'RE UP TO DATE WITH THEIR IMMUNIZATIONS. AND THEN I ALSO HAVE A FINANCIAL SUMMARY ON PAGE. TEN. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDING THAT WE RELY ON. THERE'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FOR LAST YEAR, IT WAS OVER, YOU KNOW, WELL OVER $300,000. AND SOME OF THESE GRANTS, THEY, THEY HELP US MAINTAIN OUR STAFFING CAPACITY. NOW, THE ONE THING THAT I DO WANT YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF THAT IS YOU KNOW, [00:25:03] THERE ARE MAJOR SHIFTS HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. WITH SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ANTICIPATED FOR NEW JERSEY AND MONTGOMERY. I DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, CURRENT I DON'T HAVE CURRENT INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT THOSE IMPACTS ARE GOING TO BE, BUT WE WE WILL DEFINITELY BE AWARE OF WHAT THOSE ARE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. BUT THE REASON I BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE WE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS DOING WORK THAT FULFILLS PUBLIC HEALTH STATE STATUTES. WE ARE ENFORCING STATE MANDATES. BUT WE DON'T REALLY WE DON'T HAVE SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING FROM THE STATE. SO AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOUR ADVOCACY IS CRITICAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE DIRECT IMPACTS ARE. WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE COMING. AND SO DOES THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. ANY INFORMATION THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT IS ACTUALLY FROM THE MEDIA. WE THERE'S NO LONGER REALLY INFORMATION BEING SHARED FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW UNTIL LIKE, I THINK THEY'RE STILL UNDERGOING RESTRUCTURING. AND SO WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO TAKE OR IF WE EVEN HAVE A PERSON THAT WILL SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH US. SO WE WILL ALL BE FINDING OUT ABOUT THESE CUTS TOGETHER. BUT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS YOU KNOW, YOUR VISIBILITY AND VOICES ARE IMPORTANT AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEALTH CUTS AND SERVICES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED. AND I'LL BE SURE TO UPDATE YOU AND SHARE THAT THROUGH LORI OR THROUGH OUR BOARD OF HEALTH. BUT MY ASK IS IF YOU HAVE IF YOU COME ACROSS ANY INFORMATION OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE COME TO LORI OR MYSELF. AND HELP US ADVOCATE FOR, YOU KNOW, INCREASED FUNDING FOR SUSTAINABLE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND PUBLIC HEALTH. AND THE THING IS THAT GERMS, VIRUSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE'RE FROM OR WHAT WE LOOK LIKE, BUT IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY. SO FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE STRONG. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEASLES, FOR EXAMPLE, AND WE'VE HAD INCIDENCES WHERE WE'VE HAD TO INVESTIGATE THAT. ONE CASE OF MEASLES TAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO INVESTIGATE AND TO PREVENT SPREAD TO OTHER PEOPLE. IT CAN TAKE DOZENS OF STAFF HOURS FOR 1 IN 1 CASE. AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE SOME SOME OF THE TIME, THE HOURS THAT WE'VE PUT IN HELPS PREVENT OVER 100 PEOPLE FROM GETTING SICK FROM ONE CASE THAT WE'VE COME ACROSS BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO PREVENT SPREAD. BUT, YOU KNOW, IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH, IT PROTECTS EVERYONE. AND IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR US TO STAY AWARE AND JUST BE UP TO DATE WITH INFORMATION AND SOME OF THAT YOU MIGHT BE HEARING BEFORE WE DO. SO, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO BE WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SHARE INFORMATION AS WE LEARN ABOUT IT. AND ANY IMPACTS, DIRECT IMPACTS TO MONTGOMERY. I'LL BE SURE TO TO SHARE THAT OUT WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. DID WE LOSE SOMEONE BECAUSE OF FUNDING CUT? I THOUGHT WE HAD OR DID WE? NOT YET. SO WE HAVE ABOUT 1.5 FTE FTES THAT ARE GRANT FUNDED, RIGHT? WE'RE USING MULTIPLE GRANTS TO TRY TO KEEP THEM FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN. SO IF WE LOSE ALL GRANT FUNDING, THEN WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT RISK OF LOSING 1.5 FTE STAFF. OKAY. THAT'S FULL TIME. ONE FULL TIME, ONE PART TIME. I'M JUST A PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNER. I'M SAYING FULL TIME. SO IF THE PUBLIC IS LISTENING, ON THE OTHER HAND, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW THE FTE, SO I'M JUST. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK WE WE'RE READING THE NEWS EVERY DAY. I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THERE'S A DIRECTION OF CUTTING FEDERAL SPENDING. AND THAT'S GOING TO HAVE I MEAN, IT'S REALLY HAVING RIPPLE EFFECTS. WE SEE IT IN WITH COMPANIES NOT HIRING COMPANIES LAYING PEOPLE OFF. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GOING TO START TRICKLING DOWN HERE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE WAITING TO TO GET A FINAL APPROVALS ON THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED MULTIPLE YEARS AGO. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE IN TOWNSHIP TO KNOW THAT THESE ARE REALITIES THAT WE AND EVERY OTHER MUNICIPALITY ARE FACING. AND I THINK PART OF IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, MAKING HARD DECISIONS. I THINK THE SECOND PIECE OF IT IS AND NOT JUST THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND EVERYONE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHO'S REALLY INVESTED IN THIS NEEDS TO, YOU KNOW, CALL UP THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND JUST MAKING SURE THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM. RIGHT. AND SO WHEN THEY'RE MAKING THEIR DECISIONS ON $1 MILLION HERE OR $1 MILLION THERE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH PIECE. YEAH, IT'S THE EASIEST ONE TO CUT UNTIL UNTIL YOU NEED IT AND IT'S NOT. AND THEN PEOPLE GET SICK AND DIE. SO I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THIS HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE WE ASK OUR OUR STATE OFFICIALS TO PRIORITIZE. AND WE'LL PRIORITIZE AS MUCH AS WE CAN HERE LOCALLY. YEAH. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD ABOUT 191 CASES OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES THAT WE INVESTIGATED AND THAT THE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, YOU KNOW, IT'S INVALUABLE. LIKE HOW MANY PEOPLE DID WE REALLY WE SAY FROM THOSE INVESTIGATIONS. [00:30:01] SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, AND WE MAINTAIN THESE CRITICAL SERVICES AND STAFF. BUT BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. WE NEED TO BE VISIBLE AND ASK FOR THAT. WE HAVE OUR HEALTH AND RESOURCES FAIR WITH OUR CONGRESSWOMAN ON THE 27TH 27TH OF MAY. AND I'M HOPING RESIDENTS DO COME. AND, YOU KNOW, SHE GETS TO HEAR THAT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY CONCERNING BECAUSE, I MEAN, I'M SURE SHE'S HEARING FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. BUT YES, LOSING FULL TIME STAFF CAN BE REALLY DETRIMENTAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. YOU AND MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS DO A GREAT JOB IN GETTING GRANT FUNDING. SO THAT'S THAT'S DEFINITELY MONTGOMERY'S HIDDEN SUPERPOWER WHERE WE WE ARE ABLE TO WE HAVE GREAT STAFF TO GET GRANT FUNDING, BUT SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHERE THOSE FUNDINGS AREN'T AVAILABLE. IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO DEEPLY LOOK INTO TO TO FIGURE OUT. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS, DEVON. JUST REALLY QUICK. JUST. LAURA. I THINK IT MIGHT BE GOOD IF I KNOW WE JUST FINISHED THE BUDGET PROCESS. IT MIGHT BE GOOD. MAYBE Q2 OR MAYBE. MAYBE Q2 FOR MICHAEL. MAYBE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT KIND OF RISK DO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN THE APPROVED BUDGET? ON, I'LL CALL IT AND MAYBE DO SOME PROBABILITY, LIKE SOME GRANTS ARE PROBABLY GOOD TO GO. SO WE'VE HAD YOU KNOW, AND I'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS ON SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GRANTS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE PROBABLY YOU KNOW, FUNDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THUS WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE HAVE SOME LEVEL OF HIGH OR LOW RISK. AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE CALL COMES AND PEOPLE SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE NEW IMPACT THAT WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, FLAT FOOTED. SO AND WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND WE CONTINGENCY PLANS ETC.. NO THAT'S IMPORTANT. YES. THANK YOU. THANKS. YES. [3. Public Comment ] OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON 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? JUST COME ON OUT. ALL RIGHT. SALVATORE GENTILI I N T I L I. PRESIDENT OF MONTGOMERY PBA LOCAL 355. I'M HERE TO COMMENT ON VINCE BARRON'S POLITICAL CAMPAIGN ARTICLE THAT WAS POSTED IN THE MONTGOMERY NEWS RECENTLY. TO QUOTE VINCE, BUILD FOR THE FUTURE, IMPROVE AND MODERNIZE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. PART OF THIS IS COMING TO AN EQUITABLE AGREEMENT WITH OUR PBA UNION. THEIR CONTRACT EXPIRED LAST YEAR. I BELIEVE I'VE BEEN A CHAMPION FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WAS A POLICE EXPLORER AS A TEENAGER, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO RIGHT BY THE POLICE. AFTER READING THIS ARTICLE, I FELT COMPELLED TO COME HERE TODAY TO THIS MEETING, TO SAY THAT VINCE STATEMENT IS THE FARTHEST FROM THE TRUTH. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I REACHED OUT TO VINCE TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFICULTIES WE FACED WITH OUR CONTRACT AND NEGOTIATIONS. I EXPLAINED THAT WE ARE VASTLY UNDERPAID COMPARED TO OUR NEIGHBORING POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND HOW OUR DEPARTMENT LOST NINE OFFICERS SINCE 2019 AT AN EXPENSE OF OVER $1 MILLION TO THE TOWNSHIP. I'LL REPEAT THAT. AN EXPENSE OF OVER $1 MILLION TO THE TOWNSHIP. THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM VINCE WAS NOT TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM IN REGARDS TO OUR CONTRACT AND NEGOTIATIONS. VINCE SAID AT ANY THAT ANY COMMUNICATION SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH ATTORNEYS. NOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, NEGOTIATIONS COME TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PBA AND THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, WHICH IS ALL OF YOU. NOT MIKE PITTS, NOT LORI SAFRAN, AND NOT THE ATTORNEYS. SINCE BEING DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH VINCE. WE HAVE BEEN OUT OF CONTRACT FOR FIVE MONTHS, AND OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH LORI, MIKE AND THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN PITIFUL. WE ARE NOT ASKING TO BREAK THE BANK. WE'RE NOT ASKING TO BE MILLIONAIRES. WE ARE ASKING FOR A FAIR AND COMPETITIVE WAGE THAT COULD HELP OUR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ISSUES. I'M TIRED OF SEEING OUR HIGHLY TRAINED QUALITY OFFICERS LEAVE TO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS. VINCE, I'M ASKING YOU TO BE THE CHAMPION YOU CLAIM TO BE AND SETTLE A FAIR CONTRACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT YOU CLAIM TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD EVENING, I'M SUSAN BRISTOL. I'M A RESIDENT OF ROCKY HILL, BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT FROM THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE AS THEIR MUNICIPAL POLICY SPECIALIST. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU HOW PLEASED WE ARE TO SEE YOUR RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. NUMBER 25 5179, WHICH IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH ONE WATER CONSULTING [00:35:04] FOR A REGIONAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN. I WANT TO THANK YOUR LEADERSHIP, CURRENT AND FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOUR STAFF AND YOUR HOSPITALITY IN HOSTING THOSE REGIONAL MEETINGS THAT WERE SO IMPORTANT TO BRINGING OUR TOWNS AND NEIGHBORS TOGETHER. AS YOU KNOW, THE WATERSHED IS ADVOCATING HEAVILY FOR THIS AS A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND PARTICIPATORY PROJECT. AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT SO FAR, HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP HAS ADOPTED A RESOLUTION ALSO FOR THIS WATERSHED. THE THE LOWER MILLSTONE AND ROCKY HILL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR COUNTIES AS WELL, WHO ARE ENCOURAGING THEIR TOWNS TO PARTICIPATE. SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST IN THESE THINGS THAT THE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAID ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE, CLEANER WATER. BUT WE ALSO EXPECT THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE WHOLE WATERSHED WITH THIS PROCESS AND REDUCE FLOODING AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE LAUNCHED THE STONY BROOK MILLSTONE WATERSHED, A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHY AND ONE TOWN TODAY. JUST TODAY IN THE ASPEN. PINK HAS ASKED US TO ACCELERATE THEIR REGIONAL APPROACH. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO VOTE TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. MR.. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JIM MAGGARD. I LIVE AT 19 BEADLE STREET. BEEN A RESIDENT THERE FOR 32 YEARS WITH MY FAMILY. EXCUSE ME, AND I BELIEVE. EXCUSE ME FIRST. I OWE YOU A MINUTE. I DON'T THINK SHE GOT YOUR LAST. COULD YOU JUST PAY YOUR LAST NAME FOR THE RECORD? MAGGIE, ID THANK YOU. AND I THINK IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT. FIRST OF ALL, THANK ALL OF YOU FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE DONE IT MYSELF MANY YEARS AGO. I KNOW THE TIME IT TAKES AND THE MANY ISSUES YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH. SO I'LL START OFF WITH A WITH AN APPRECIATION THERE. I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH SOME FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS REALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED WAREHOUSES THAT ALTHOUGH OUR. THEY ARE IN HILLSBOROUGH OFF OF HOMESTEAD ROAD, I THINK SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. THE JUST AS AN OVERVIEW. WE DO HAVE A PLAN HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. BUT JUST AS A AS A SUMMARY, THE PROPOSED WAREHOUSES ARE ON HOMESTEAD ROAD, JUST OFF OF 206, AND THAT'S THE ONLY INGRESS AND EGRESS, ACTUALLY, TO THOSE WAREHOUSES JUST NORTH OF THE PETER BIONDI BYPASS ENTRANCE INTERSECTION. THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION WILL BE THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO FOUR STOREY WAREHOUSES TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 537,000FT² AND INCLUDE 87 LOADING DOCKS. 137 DESIGNATED TRAILER PARKING SPACES. AND THE ESTIMATES OF THESE WAREHOUSES WILL SEE INGRESS AND EGRESS TRAFFIC ON AND OFF ROUTE 206 OF BETWEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED AND 1000 TRUCKS OR TRACTOR TRAILERS, IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN FOR MANY, MANY REASONS, AND WE COULD TALK ABOUT THOSE REASONS. FOR FOR A LONG TIME, I'M SURE. BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT HAVE CONCERNED TO ME IS THAT THESE TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS, MANY OF THEM, WILL GO DOWN TO ZERO SIX. BUT IF YOU KNOW THE TOWNSHIP, LIKE I KNOW THE TOWNSHIP, A LOT OF THESE VEHICLES ARE USING 601 NOW AS AN ALTERNATIVE. AND TO IMAGINE THAT VOLUME OF TRAFFIC NOW ON 601 GOING PAST OUR HIGH SCHOOL HAS A REAL CONCERN TO ME. SO HILLSBORO RESIDENTS ALONG WITH SEVERAL PROFESSIONALS HAVE MOUNTED AN EFFORT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. THEY'VE GOTTEN THE SUPPORT OF THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE AND THE SOUTHLAND CONSERVANCY TO OPPOSE THE APPLICATION FOR THESE WAREHOUSES. AND THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 22 COMMITTEE MEETINGS, HEARINGS ON THE TOPIC. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GETTING VERY, VERY CLOSE TO A VOTE. WHICH COULD HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT MONTH OR 2 OR 3. AND HONESTLY, THE HILLSBORO RESIDENTS MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS ARE REALLY TROUBLED BY THE FACT THAT MONTGOMERY HASN'T HAD A VOICE IN WHAT'S WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED UP THERE. BECAUSE IT DOES, AND IT WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON OUR TOWNSHIP. SO BECAUSE THE FINAL HEARING OF THE, THE, THE FINAL VOTE OF THIS IS REALLY [00:40:06] IMMINENT. WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO RESPECTFULLY URGE THIS COMMITTEE TO PASS A RESOLUTION. YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP, BUT I THINK I'M ALMOST. YOU CAN WRAP IT UP ALMOST MINUTE. YEAH. TO PASS A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE HOMESTEAD ROAD WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT AND SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE HILLSBORO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING ON JUNE 5TH AT 7:00 TO JUST GO ON THE RECORD SHOWING THAT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS AND THE TOWNSHIP OPPOSE THIS APPLICATION. THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. AND AND ALL OUR HILLSBORO RESIDENTS COMING IN AS WELL. WE'RE ALSO VERY CONCERNED WITH THE WAREHOUSING COMING IN. AND, YOU KNOW, AS AS MONTGOMERY, WE KNOW WE'RE DEFINITELY OPPOSED TO ANYWHERE ELSE THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT SIZE COMING INTO OUR TOWN. THAT TOURIST TRAFFIC THE TRUCKS COMING IN. I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT THAT THEY WOULD IN HILLSBORO DO WHAT WAS RIGHT AND, AND STOP IT FROM BEING BUILT, BUT WELL, THEY MAY. WELL, THEY MAY. FINGERS CROSSED. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? THANK YOU. GAIL MARTIN. I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF MONTGOMERY, BUT I'VE LIVED IN HILLSBORO FOR 34 YEARS. I'LL TRY NOT TO REPEAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THE GENTLEMAN JUST REPEATED. AFTER THREE YEARS AND 20 PLUS HEARINGS, THE HILLSBORO PLANNING BOARD IS CURRENTLY HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE LARGEST WAREHOUSE APPLICATION. I AM CONCERNED RESIDENT THAT HAVE ATTENDED ALL THE PLANNING BOARD MEETINGS FOR THIS WAREHOUSE APPLICATION. AS OF THE LAST MEETING, THEY DON'T HAVE A TENANT, BUT THEY SAID THE WAREHOUSE WILL OPERATE 24 OVER SEVEN. PLEASE DO NOT THINK MONTGOMERY WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THESE WAREHOUSE HOUSES IF THE APPLICATION IS APPROVED. ROUTE 206 WILL BE THE MAIN ACCESS ROAD FOR TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS TO GET TO AND FROM THESE WAREHOUSES. THEY WILL BE TRAVELING THROUGH MONTGOMERY. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK MEMBERS OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO ATTEND THE NEXT PLANNING BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY, JUNE 5TH AT 7:00 IN THE HILLSBOROUGH HILLSBOROUGH MUNICIPAL BUILDING COURTROOM. TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS TRUCK TRAFFIC, ROAD MAINTENANCE, LIGHT AND AIR POLLUTION. QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAFETY OF YOUR RESIDENTS. IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY SUCH AS A NEWSLETTER OR EMAIL LIST, PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR RESIDENTS TO ATTEND ALSO. THEY DO NOT. IF THEY DO NOT WANT TO SPEAK, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO. BUT THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS AND THEIR PRESENCE WILL BE NOTICED. I AM NOT AGAINST WAREHOUSES, BUT THEY BELONG NEAR MAJOR HIGHWAYS FOR EASY ON, EASY OFF. LET US KEEP OUR TOWNS RESIDENTIAL AND PROTECT THE SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. CAN WE ASK QUESTIONS OR NO. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. I'M JOHN VIERI. 32 BETHEL STREET. COULD YOU FILM EACH SECTION? COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN FOR THE RECORD? STATE YOUR NAME. YES. S P IS IN PETER R O V IS IN VICTORY. I E R I 32 BETHEL STREET. ARE YOU IN HILLSBORO? RESIDENT? SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. ARE YOU A HILLSBORO? HILLSBORO RESIDENT? NO. I'M IN MONTGOMERY. MONTGOMERY? AND WHAT IS YOUR FIRST NAME, SIR? YOUR FIRST NAME? THANK YOU. I ALSO WENT TO THE MEETING THE LAST MEETING IN HILLSBOROUGH. AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE MENTION OF A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY THAT I MENTIONED THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF IF I GRABBED THEIR EAR AND UNDERSTOOD OF WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE SEVERITY OF WHAT? WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING. BUT YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A PLAN AS FAR AS DUMP SITES. EACH COUNTY HAD TO HAVE PROPOSED TEN POSSIBLE DUMP SITES FOR INCINERATION. IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT THERE WAS A NECESSITY TO HAVE IT IN PLACE OUT OF THE TEN IN SOMERSET COUNTY, THERE WERE GOING TO BE SIX BETWEEN MONTGOMERY AND HILLSBORO. SO WE HAD WE HAD AN AD HOC COMMITTEE I WAS PART OF. IT WAS CALLED REFUSE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS. BOB KRESS AND BIONDI WERE HAD THE PRINCIPALS INVOLVED IN HILLSBORO AND MONTGOMERY. BUT MONTGOMERY WAS VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE, CONCERNED. AND I TRIED TO GET HILLSBORO CONCERNED AND SPOKE TO BIONDI MORE THAN ONCE, [00:45:05] AT LEAST A FEW TIMES. EACH TIME I SPOKE TO BIONDI, HE WASN'T ENTIRELY SOLD BECAUSE THE DUMP SITES WERE NOT GOING TO BE TOXIC. AT LEAST WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE TOXIC BETWEEN THE TESTING. BUT WHEN I MENTIONED ABOUT TRUCKING COMING INTO THE AREAS, HE WAS VERY, VERY CONCERNED. I GRABBED HIS EAR AND HE WAS SOLD ON IT. AND THE REASON WHY I MENTION ALL OF THIS IS WE WERE ONLY TALKING ABOUT BETWEEN 5 AND 8 TRUCKS COMING INTO THE AREA, AND THERE'S NO WAY THEY COULD COME INTO MONTGOMERY WITHOUT GOING THROUGH HILLSBOROUGH UNLESS THEY CAME OUT OF COUNTY. SO HE WAS VERY, VERY CONCERNED. AND ONLY THEN DID HE DID HE BUY INTO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS, I DON'T KNOW IF JIM MENTIONED THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT WITH NEAR 100 BAYS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. TEN TRUCKS AN HOUR, AT VERY LEAST. AND THE ROADS, THE ROADS, AS THEY ARE NOW ARE. WE'RE JUST NOT IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN WE CAN ACCEPT THAT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN FORESEE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN UNDO. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE LAYING DOWN MORE MACADAM AND AND EXPANDING THE ROADS OR WHATEVER ELSE WE HAVE TO DO. AND ALL THE GREENERY THAT WE HAVE IN THE AREA IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE LESSENED A GREAT DEAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I ACTUALLY JUST FINISHED AS SOON AS THE THREE MINUTES WERE DONE. USUALLY, YES, USUALLY AT OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETINGS. WE REALLY TAKE YOUR COMMENTS UNDER ADVISEMENT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, GET BACK. BUT I BELIEVE TODAY I'M GOING TO JUST PIVOT A LITTLE. I BELIEVE ONE OF OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAS A QUESTION. WE USUALLY DON'T DO THAT. BUT I KNOW MR. MARTIN HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU, SO I'LL LET HIM GO AHEAD. DO DO WE KNOW, LIKE, WHERE THE VOTES STAND RIGHT NOW ON THE HILLSBORO COMMITTEE LIKE FOR AND AGAINST EVERYTHING I KNOW IS IS GOING TO MOVE ALONG AND JUNE 5TH IS THE NEXT MEETING. NEXT MEETING? I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TRAFFIC EXPERT COME FROM THEIR SIDE, AND I'M SURE HE'S GOING TO HE'S GOING TO GIVE US THE MOST OPTIMISTIC OF VIEWS. BUT WHAT YOU HAVE IS NEAR A HUNDRED BAYS AND A COMPANY THAT THAT WANTS TO MAKE MONEY AND WITH, YOU KNOW, SEVEN DAYS AND 24 HOURS. MY FEELING IS EVERYBODY THAT WANTS THIS PROJECT TO GO THROUGH HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN IT, OF COURSE. I MEAN, THE ONLY REASON WHY THERE'S NOT AN EXPLOSION IS WE'RE JUST WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF PEOPLE AT THE MEETINGS, BUT EVERYBODY AT THE MEETING, AT LEAST IN MY ESTIMATION, IS IS ABSOLUTELY AGAINST IT. I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF LAWYERS OR ALL OF THAT, BUT MY ESTIMATION IS OTHER THAN HAVING A RATABLE AND HAVING SOME PEOPLE MAKING SOME MONEY OFF OF THIS. THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION AT ALL FOR THE AREA. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT HILLSBOROUGH. I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL THE TOWNS RIGHT ALONG ROUTE 206, AND PROBABLY EAST AND WEST AND MONTGOMERY. I LIVE IN MONTGOMERY. OKAY. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT TOO MUCH EXPANSION ON THAT END OF IT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. YES. THANK YOU. JUNE 5TH, I WAS LOOKING IS IS OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING AS WELL? BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO. WE DON'T HAVE ONE ON JULY. NO, WE HAVE 1 TO 1930 THE WEEK PRIOR. OR THE BIRDING. OKAY. OKAY. SO IF YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR EMAIL OR IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS YOU NEED ANSWERED, LORI SAFRAN, OUR TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR, WILL GET BACK. BUT WE AT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE DO FEEL THAT YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS IS A VERY SMALL TOWN. AND SO. AND HILLSBORO AS WELL, FOR THAT MATTER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. YEAH. MAYBE IF I COULD JUST ADD I KNOW THIS IS A I JUST WANT TO SHARE. FOR WHATEVER COMFORT IT DOES OR DOES NOT GIVE IS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT THIS. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS INDIVIDUALLY. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, THE TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR AND THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY OF WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE RIGHT AND COMPLIANT WAY THAT MONTGOMERY CAN AS HE'S FROM AN ELECTED POSITION, CAN CAN VOICE THIS CONCERN, WHICH I THINK WE ALL SHARE. SO, YOU KNOW, GO BACK AND I THINK WE KNOW WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S A LETTER OR, [00:50:04] YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IS THE BEST APPROACH THAT WE CAN DO. AND I KNOW WE NEED AN ANSWER NOW, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP. NO, I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE THAT AT THE PLANNING BOARD, WHEN THEY'RE DOING A HEARING, IF YOU SEND A LETTER, IT DOESN'T GET READ INTO THE RECORD, SO THAT WON'T BE EFFECTIVE. YEAH. OKAY. AS I SAID, WE'LL TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION TO SEE. AND WE UNDERSTAND. YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY CONCERNING. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. ORDINANCES. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING. [4. Ordinance #25-1758 – An Ordinance Amending Section 11 of Chapter III, Police Regulations, of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984) to Amend Fire Lane Requirements – Introduction/First Reading] ORDINANCE NUMBER 25 1758. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 11 OF CHAPTER THREE, POLICE REGULATIONS OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984 TO AMEND FIRE LANE REQUIREMENTS BE 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 JUNE 19TH, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1758. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING. [5. Ordinance #25-1757 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery in Somerset County, Amending the Kepner Tregoe Redevelopment Plan Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12-7 to Include the Village Walk Amendment for the Property Described as Block 28007, Lots 1 and 2, Known as the Village Walk Study Area – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ] FINAL ADOPTION ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1757. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN SOMERSET COUNTY AMENDING THE KEMPNER REDEVELOPMENT PLAN PURSUANT TO NJ 4812 DASH SEVEN TO INCLUDE THE VILLAGE WALK AMENDMENT FOR THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS BLOCK 28007. LOTS ONE AND TWO, KNOWN AS VILLAGE WALK STUDY AREA. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND, IS THERE ANYTHING OR. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THIS IS. GOOD. MAYOR. ANYTHING YOU WANT. JUST FOR THE PUBLIC. IT THE THE LOTS THAT WERE REFERENCED WERE PREVIOUSLY DESIGNATED AS AN AMENDMENT TO A PRIOR AREA IN NEED DESIGNATION TO EXPAND IT, AND THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN IS HOW YOU ADOPT THE ZONING FOR A SITE THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS PART OF A REDEVELOPMENT AREA. SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY JUST A ZONING ORDINANCE. PERFECT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1757. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE [Consent Agenda] AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS. IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 516 8 TO 25 5173. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTIONS. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5174. [12. Resolution #25-5-174 – Amending Resolution #23-9-262 Authorizing Shared Services Agreement for Uniform Construction Code Inspection and Support Staff Services Between the Townships of Montgomery, Franklin, Branchburg and Hillsborough to include Manville Borough] AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 392 62. AUTHORIZING SHARED SERVICES. AGREEMENT FOR UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE INSPECTION AND SUPPORT STAFF SERVICES BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, FRANKLIN, BRANCHBURG, AND HILLSBORO TO INCLUDE MANVILLE BOROUGH. YES. MAYOR. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AN EXISTING SHARED SERVICE WHERE IF, LET'S SAY ONE OF OUR BUILDING INSPECTORS MIGHT BE GOING OUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE OR THEY THEY NEED SOME HELP, WE WORK KIND OF COOPERATIVELY TOGETHER AND THEY DO THE SAME FOR MONTGOMERY. SO MANVILLE BOROUGH HAD REACHED OUT TO THE TOWNS TO SEE IF THEY COULD BE PART OF THE COOPERATIVE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, AND ALL OF THE TOWNS HAVE AGREED. OH THAT'S WONDERFUL. I THINK SHARED SERVICES ARE A GOOD WAY TO GO. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5174. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5175 2025 MAYORAL APPOINTMENT WITH TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. [13. Resolution #25-5-175 – 2025 Mayoral Appointment with Township Committee Consent to the Economic Development Commission] CONSENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. LORI, DID YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD? THERE ARE TWO VACANCIES ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, AND THIS APPOINTMENT IS FOR VAISHALI VAISHALI PATEL FOR THE UNEXPIRED THREE YEAR TERM TO DECEMBER 31ST OF 2025. OKAY. AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND I BELIEVE [00:55:06] DENNISON. YES. SO CHARLIE HAS IS PART OF OUR LIVES IN OUR TOWN. SHE BEEN TO SINCE LAST YEAR. SHE'S HE'S BEEN TO ALL OUR MEETINGS AND HAS HELPED OUT AS A VOLUNTEER. SO I THINK SHE'S A VERY QUALIFIED TO BE PART OF THE EDC. THAT'S GREAT. AND IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE EDC, PLEASE REACH OUT. THERE IS ONE VACANCY FOR A THREE YEAR TERM, AND I BELIEVE SOMEONE HAD REACHED OUT. I THINK WE'LL NEED TO LET DENNIS KNOW. YES. MR.. AND MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5175. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ARN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5176. [14. Resolution #25-5-176 – Authorizing Appointments to the Shade Tree Committee for 2025 ] AUTHORIZING APPOINTMENTS TO THE SHADE TREE COMMITTEE FOR 2025. I WILL ASK YOU ALL ON THE SHADE TREE. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. LISA, IF YOU CAN SPEAK ON THAT. SO THERE ARE THREE. SO THE SHADE TREE APPOINTMENTS ARE ONE YEAR APPOINTMENTS FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER OF THE CURRENT YEAR. THERE ARE THREE VACANCIES FOR THE REGULAR MEMBERS. AND THIS IS. THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHAIR. OH, THIS IS FROM LARRY POLLOCK. OH. RECOMMENDED. WITH THEIR BACKGROUND, THEY ARE RESIDENTS. AND AND I BELIEVE THE APPOINTMENTS. RIGHT. AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN ALREADY HELPING IN THAT. THEY'VE BEEN ATTENDING MEETINGS. OKAY, WONDERFUL. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO APPOINT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY ACTIVE. OKAY. INTERESTED? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5176. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5177. [15. Resolution #25-5-177 – Authorizing Contract Award to Environmental Resolutions, Inc. for Professional Engineering Services for Pathway Connection ] AUTHORIZING CONTRACT AWARD TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOLUTIONS, INC.. SOLUTION FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR PATHWAY CONNECTIONS. SO, MAYOR, THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE PART OF THE $3 MILLION GRANT THAT WE GOT FROM THE STATE FOR THE PATHWAY CONNECTIONS TO THE MUNICIPAL CENTER, DOWN ORCHARD AND DOWN TO 518 AND 206. AND SO THIS CONTRACT WITH ERIE WOULD HELP US DO THE DESIGN, THE APPLICATIONS, ALL THE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS. WE WOULD NEED ANY STUDIES, ALL THE PERMITTING, ALL OF THE SURVEYING, THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS, LIKE ALL OF THE ALL OF THE WORK NECESSARY THAT LEADS UP TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PATHWAY. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU. AND I THINK WHEN WE HEAR 3 MILLION GRANT, WE AT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ARE LIKE ESPECIALLY IN THESE FINANCIAL TIMES. SO THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5177. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 78 AUTHORIZING CHANGE. [16. Resolution #25-5-178 – Authorizing Change Order #1 (Final) for Bid #B11-2024 – Municipal Center Tree Planting Project (Increase) ] ORDER NUMBER ONE. FINAL FOR BID. NUMBER B 11. 2024 MUNICIPAL CENTER TREE PLANTING PROJECT INCREASE. SO THIS INCREASE IS A 2.48% INCREASE. IT'S APPROXIMATELY IT'S $1,437. THE I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SOME OF THE PRICING OF THE TREES BECAUSE WHAT TREES WERE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. SO WE HAD PLANNED FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF AND A CERTAIN TYPE. AND THEN WHEN YOU GO TO THE NURSERIES TO PURCHASE, THERE'S A LITTLE DIFFERENCE THERE. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM. OKAY. WONDERFUL. AS YOU DON'T LIKE PRICE INCREASES, BUT TO GET THE RIGHT NUMBER OF TREES THIS IS DEFINITELY A RIGHT THING TO DO. YEAH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5178. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5179 AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH ONE WATER [17. Resolution #25-5-179 – Authorizing Agreement Between the Municipalities of the Lower Millstone Watershed and to Authorize a Professional Services Contract with One Water Consulting, Inc. for the Creation of a Regional Watershed Management Plan] CONSULTING, LLC FOR THE CREATION OF A REGIONAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN. SO THIS IS WHAT THE MAYOR AND I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING. VARIOUS MEETINGS SUSAN BRISTOL HAD FROM FROM THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE HAD DISCUSSED AT PUBLIC COMMENT THAT ALL TOWNS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT PLANS, AND IF EACH TOWN DOES THEIR OWN ONE, IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE. SO THERE'S AN ECONOMIES OF SCALE TO KIND OF BUNDLE THEM TOGETHER. AND TO WE ALL KNOW THAT STORMWATER IS NOT GOING TO BE TREATED OR HANDLED ON A MUNICIPAL LEVEL BECAUSE IT'S A MUCH LARGER AREA. AND SO LOOKING AT IT FROM A REGIONAL STANDPOINT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND SO THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE AS SUSAN HAD SAID, HAVE A SUCCESSFUL REGIONAL MODEL WORKING ALREADY JUST SOUTH OF US WITH COMMUNITIES IN [01:00:05] THE STONY BROOK WATERSHED, AND THEY REACHED OUT TO THE TOWNS OF FRANKLIN, MONTGOMERY, HILLSBOROUGH, SOUTH BRUNSWICK, ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE IN THIS THIS LOWER RARITAN WATER, I'M SORRY, MILLSTONE WATERSHED AND HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS KIND OF WALKED US THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. AND THE TOWNSHIPS PARTICIPATION WOULD BE ACTUALLY MUCH LESS THAN IF WE HAD TO DO THIS PROJECT ALONE. SO WE'RE WE WERE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC. MARK HARMON, OUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER, KIND OF SPEARHEADED THIS. OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO TO SAVE MONEY. AND SO THIS IT'S IT'S PRORATED BASED ON THE IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE IN EACH OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT FALL WITHIN THAT AREA OF THE WATERSHED. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE EXCITED THAT THIS IS COMING TO FRUITION, BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR, I DON'T KNOW, SUSAN, SIX MONTHS NOW OR SO, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF NICE MEETING. YEAH, WE HAD NICE, GOOD MEETINGS IN THIS VERY CHAMBERS. AND I THINK THE ONE THING WE HAD ALL DISCUSSED THAT WATER DOESN'T CARE ABOUT BORDERS. IT JUST COMES THROUGH TO EVERY MUNICIPALITY. AND I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EFFORT. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S INVOLVED IN, ESPECIALLY THE WATERSHED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND SO THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH ONE WATER CONSULTING, WHO IS A CONSULTANT OF THE TOWNSHIP AND LONGTIME CONSULTANT IN THE REGION WITH THE MILLSTONE RIVER. AND ALL OF THE ISSUES, THE MULTITUDE OF ISSUES FLOODING THE ALGAE BLOOM ISSUES WATER QUALITY, QUANTITY. JUST AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD AND IN OUR AREA. SO WE'RE WE'RE EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH WITH THEM ON THIS. THANK YOU EVERYONE. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-179. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 80. [18. Resolution #25-5-180 – Authorizing a Use Agreement Between Montgomery Township and Montgomery Township Friends of Open Space for the Montgomery Farmers Market ] AUTHORIZING A USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. FRIENDS OF OPEN SPACE FOR THE MONTGOMERY FARMERS MARKET. MAYOR. THIS WOULD BE FOR THE 2025 SEASON, WHICH IS COMING UP SOON. I THINK IT'S THE LAST SATURDAY IN MAY WHERE THEY'LL BE STARTING THEIR SUMMER AND FALL OUTDOOR FARMER'S MARKET, WEEKLY FARMER'S MARKET EVERY SATURDAY. HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING. AND WE DID MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGREEMENT THIS YEAR TO HAVE A 50% REDUCTION FOR ANY LOCAL MONTGOMERY FARMER THAT WANTED TO PARTICIPATE, AND ALSO OUR AG ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IS SUGGESTING THAT WE HOST A MONTGOMERY FARMERS DAY SO THAT OUR FARMERS CAN COME SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED IS THAT IT'S A HEAVIER LIFT FOR THEM TO COME EVERY WEEK. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FARM STANDS, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FARMS, SHOPS THAT THEY ARE RUNNING. AND AND LABOR IS VERY HARD FOR THEM AT THIS TIME. AND SO WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM EXPOSURE. HAVE OUR RESIDENTS WHO ATTEND THE FARMERS MARKET SEE WHERE THEY ARE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE TOWN SO THEY CAN GO VISIT THEM, GIVES THEM GOOD EXPOSURE, AND HAS OUR LOCAL FARMERS SEE THE FARMER'S MARKET TO SEE? MAYBE THEY DO WANT TO COME EVERY SO OFTEN AND HAVE A STALL THERE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT LAUREN WAZOWSKI AND THE I'M SORRY, THE AG ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON THAT. WE DON'T HAVE A DATE JUST YET, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS. I REALLY DO WANT TO COMMEND COMMITMENT ON THIS WAS THE FARMERS MARKET AT THIS LOCATION HAS BEEN HIS YOU KNOW, DREAM, AND HE HAS MADE IT HAPPEN. AND I DO LIKE THIS FARMERS DAY. IN FACT, I WAS SENT SOMETHING BY A RESIDENT. I BELIEVE ONE OF THE FARMS, PRINCETON PRESERVES, IS ALREADY DOING A FARM DAY WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BUY VEGETABLES. I WILL. I JUST GOT THIS. I MEAN, OUR TOWN HAS A BIG WHATSAPP COMMUNITY, SO I DID GET THAT THROUGH WHATSAPP AND I WILL SHARE IT WITH THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. APPARENTLY THEY ARE ALREADY DOING A FARM DAY EVERY SATURDAY WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND BUY VEGETABLE PLANTS, ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE ETHNIC ONES, LIKE, YOU KNOW, OKRA PLANTS AND YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER STUFF THAT I SAW THERE. SO I WILL SHARE THAT. LOCAL FARMS. YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, HAVING THEM SELL THEIR PRODUCTS SAFELY, I THINK IS AND, YOU KNOW, MAKING A PROFIT BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT MAKING MILLIONS OFF OF SELLING SELLING OKRA. RIGHT? THAT'S TRUE. YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK THAT THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO GIVE THEM, GIVE THEM A PLACE TO TO TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS. NO, THAT'S THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW JUST WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THAT. I MEAN, IF THEY'RE AMENABLE, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO JUST DO ONE DAY. MAYBE IT COULD BE LIKE THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH IS A MONTGOMERY FARMERS [01:05:04] DAY, IF THEY'RE UP FOR IT. RIGHT. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY AND HAVE THE EMPLOYEES LIKE THE OTHER OPTION THAT WE THREW AROUND WERE LIKE A EDC TABLE, WHICH THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, ROTATE WHICH FARM THAT THEY WOULD USE. AND THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. ONE, ONE SECTION OF THE TABLE AND PEOPLE CAN KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. YEAH, YEAH, BECAUSE I HAD A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS AT ONE POINT ASKED ME ABOUT CERTAIN LOCATIONS, AND EVERYBODY DOESN'T KNOW WHERE ALL THE FARMS ARE, RIGHT. YOU USED TO HAVE LIKE A WE HAD DISCUSSED AT ONE POINT A FARM CRAWL. AND ANYWAYS, THERE'S A LOT TO DO IN THIS TOWNSHIP AND IN OUR TOWNSHIP PARKING LOT. THERE YOU GO. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 80. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5181 CONSENTING TO THE PROPOSED UPPER RARITAN [19. Resolution #25-5-181 – Consenting to the Proposed Upper Raritan Water Quality Management (WQM) Plan Amendment Regarding the Haven Development, Block 37003, Lot 7 ] WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT WQ M PLAN AMENDMENT REGARDING THE HAVEN DEVELOPMENT BLOCKS THAT BLOCK 37003, LOT SEVEN. SO THIS IS JUST STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR HAVEN IS ONE OF OUR INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENTS. IT WAS IN THE APARTMENT TOWNHOUSE, EXISTING APARTMENT TOWNHOUSE ZONE OFF OF BLUE SPRING ROAD. THAT THAT ZONE REQUIRED YOU KNOW, A SET ASIDE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO THIS IS IN OUR ROUND THREE PLAN BASED ON THE ZONING THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE THERE. AND SO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL BEFORE THEY CAN START TO TO BUILD, THEY NEED TO HAVE THIS APPROVAL FROM NJPW TO ALLOW THEM TO ENTER INTO OUR SERVICE SEWER SERVICE AREA AND HAVE THEIR EFFLUENT TREATED THROUGH OUR ARE PLANT THERE. OKAY. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5181. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 82 AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ONE 2025 KUBOTA UTILITY TRACTOR, [20. Resolution #25-5-182 – Authorizing the Purchase of One 2025 Kubota Utility Tractor, Model No. MX6000 HSTC with Cab and Four-wheel Drive Through the Sourcewell Government Co-op ] MODEL NUMBER RM 6000 HST WITH CAB AND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE THROUGH THE SOURCE WELL, GOVERNMENT CO-OP. SO THIS TRACTOR IS FOR OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, AND IT WAS PART OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED THIS YEAR. OKAY. GOT IT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 82. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 5-51 183 APPROVING A PERSON TO PERSON AND PLACE TO PLACE. [21. Resolution #25-5-183 – Authorizing a Person-to-Person and Place-to-Place Transfer of Plenary Retail Consumption License #1813-33-015-001 to Skillman Hospitality ] TRANSFER OF MILLINERY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSE NUMBER 181333015001 TO SKILLMAN HOSPITALITY. SO THIS IS CURRENTLY AN INACTIVE LICENSE HELD BY VILLAGE WALK LLC. ALL OF THE THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN FILED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REVIEW HAS TAKEN PLACE. AND BASICALLY THIS IS GOOD TO GO. SO IT'S BEING TRANSFERRED TO SKILLMAN HOSPITALITY AND THIS LICENSE WILL BE SHARED BY PJ'S PANCAKE HOUSE, WHICH IS DUE TO OPEN LATE JUNE OR JULY. AND THAT'S DOWN BY THE IN THE STARBUCKS PLAZA. AND IT WILL BE ALSO UTILIZED BY FALCO KITCHEN AND BAR, WHICH IS, I GUESS, AN ADJACENT BUILDING THEY'RE CONNECTED BY. THEY SHARE A PATIO AND THEY WILL OPEN LATER THIS FALL, BUT THEIR LICENSE WILL REMAIN INACTIVE UNTIL THEY OPEN. OKAY. THANK YOU. IT'S A QUESTION. ARE THEY SOMEONE TAKING, LIKE, A GAIN ON THIS TRANSFER? OR IS THIS JUST LITERALLY LIKE, I'M GIVING YOU TO DENTIST AND I'M ON APPROVAL FOR THIS, SO, WAIT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AGAIN? JUST EXPLAIN YOUR QUESTION. SO IS THERE LIKE A A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION BETWEEN THESE PARTIES OR IS THERE NO FINANCIAL TRANSACTION. THERE'S IT'S IT'S IT'S A PAPER. PAPER. PAPER TRANSFER. NO, NO. FINANCIAL EXCHANGE OF BUT THEY NEED THE APPROVAL OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO MOVE. RIGHT. BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT OWNERS, DIFFERENT NAMES. THEIR TRADING UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME AS WELL. SO THAT'S WHY A PERSON, A PERSON ARE THE IT COULD BE A CORPORATE OWNER, INDIVIDUAL OWNERS. BUT WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP IT'S A PERSON TO PERSON. AND BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE PLACED, IT'S A PLACE TO PLACE. THAT'S WHY IT'S BOTH. SO THE SKILLMAN HOSPITALITY IS OWNED BY PJ'S AND THE OTHER. SO NOW IT'S SKILLMAN HOSPITALITY OWNS THE LICENSE. WENDY, CAN YOU ADD DO YOU THINK SO? MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS IS THAT THIS IS THE ONE THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAD AN EXTRA LICENSE AND WAS AUCTIONED. NOT TOO LONG AGO, BUT NOT THIS YEAR. YES. THE DEVELOPER OF THE PROPERTY PURCHASED IT TO HOLD IT TO ENTICE HIS FUTURE TENANTS. [01:10:05] NOW IT'S BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE FUTURE TENANT. YES. OKAY. MAKES SENSE. OKAY. AND HE IS PART. HE IS. HE HAS TO REMAIN A PART OWNER. OH, OKAY. OKAY. IN THE LICENSE. IN ORDER TO USE IT. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5183. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 84, AUTHORIZING APPROVAL OF MEMORANDUM OF [22. Resolution #25-5-184 – Authorizing Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Blue Acres Program ] UNDERSTANDING WITH NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. BLUE ACRES PROGRAM. SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'RE THRILLED THAT WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF HOMES PURCHASED BY THE DEEP BLUE ACRES PROGRAM. THIS IS THE NEXT STEP. THEY'RE ASKING THE TOWNSHIP TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, WHICH WOULD SET FORTH THAT THE DEP IS GOING TO OWN THESE PROPERTIES, BUT WE CAN PUT WALKING PATHS THROUGH THEM, AND WE WOULD BE MAINTAINING THE AREA, WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHEREAS THE STATE HAS LIMITED ABILITIES TO VISIT EVERY AREA. NO, THAT'S MY KUDOS TO THE STAFF FOR GETTING THIS DONE. IT WAS A HEAVY LIFT, BUT IT GOT DONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25? DASH FIVE 184. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 1ST, [23. Approval of Minutes ] 2025. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 1ST, 2025. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 85. [24. Resolution #25-5-185 – Payment of Bills – Posted ] PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. YES, MAYOR. WE HAVE OUR TOP FOUR BILLS. PAGE ONE. CENTRAL JERSEY. OUR JUNE HEALTH INSURANCE PAYMENT OF $172,049. PAGE TWO. OUR BOARD OF ED SCHOOL TAXES $7,237,668. PAGE EIGHT IS ALLIED CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S OUR STAGE TWO SEWER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS $204,161.91. AND PAGE FIVE HEADQUARTERS DRIVE URBAN RENEWAL, WHICH IS KIND OF AN ODD TITLE, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE TITLE IS. IT'S FOR OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT HERE WITH OUR PM AND THE SENIOR HOUSING. THAT'S $586,511.66. AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IS A WHAT WE WOULD CALL A 100% AFFORDABLE JOB. IT'S BY A NONPROFIT. THERE'S NO MARKET RATE UNITS THERE. AND SO THEY HAVE PIECED TOGETHER A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES, THE LARGEST OF WHICH IS THE COMPETITIVE 9% LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT FUNDING AND SEVERAL OTHER GRANT FUNDS AS WELL. BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A CONTRIBUTION FROM THE TOWNSHIP'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND. THAT'S WHERE THIS MONEY THAT YOU SEE HERE IS COMING FROM. THOSE TRUST FUND MONIES ARE RAISED THROUGH DEVELOPMENT FEES FOR PROJECTS IN TOWN THAT ARE NOT PRODUCING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SITE. AND SO IN LIEU THEY PAY THIS FEE. IT'S BASED ON THE ASSESSED THE THE VALUE OF THE IMPROVEMENT THAT THEY'RE MAKING. AND IT GOES INTO A TRUST FUND THAT WE, THE STATE, SETS FORTH THE STATE. THIS IS ALL SET THROUGH BY THE STATE. SO THE THE FEES THAT WE COLLECT ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE, HOW WE SPEND THEM, WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO SPEND THEM ON, THE PERCENTAGE OF WHAT GOES TOWARDS WHAT PART OF PROJECT. IT'S ALL SET BY THE STATE. OKAY. AND YOU'LL BE SEEING THIS VERY SOON. AS YOU ALL KNOW, BEFORE JUNE 30TH, THERE'LL BE A HOUSING ELEMENT OF FAIR SHARE PLAN THAT WILL COME BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD. ONE OF THE APPENDIX ITEMS IN THERE IS THE SPENDING PLAN, WHICH SETS FORTH THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF TRUST FUND SPENDING. SO IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE SEEING THIS NOW. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 85. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. CORRESPONDENCE. THERE IS NO CORRESPONDENCE. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS. THERE'S NO MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS. [27. Township Committee Reports ] WILL ASK. COMMITTEEMAN MARTIN. SURE. YEAH. SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP A TOPIC THAT I THINK IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AWARE AND THINKING ABOUT THESE DAYS. AND YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC ON THINGS THAT CAN BE OF BENEFIT. [01:15:02] DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, FLOOD THREATS, ETC.. AND AS YOU, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, WE ARE SEEING ICE RAIDS HAPPENING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IN A WAY THAT YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE. AND TO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THIS HASN'T HAPPENED YET IN MONTGOMERY. BUT TO BE PROACTIVE AND TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEIR FIFTH AMENDMENT, FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS, I'VE VISITED 21 BUSINESSES TO DATE. ALL ALONG. ALL THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP. DISTRIBUTED WHAT? WE'RE CALLING RIGHTS CARDS, WHICH ARE WALLET SIZED WALLET SIZED CARDS THAT ARE FROM THE IMMIGRATION LAW RESOURCE CENTER. NATIONALLY A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT'S RECOGNIZED FOR BEING AN EXPERT ON IMMIGRATION LAW. THEY'RE BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO. AND THESE CARDS ARE JUST A SIMPLE WAY OF HELPING SOMEBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, WHAT THEY WHAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO. UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, IN THE CASE OF AN ICE RAID. SO THE RECEPTION THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE 21 BUSINESSES THAT I'VE VISITED HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE. ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY. AND I THINK THE THE UNDERSTANDING AND THE FEAR IS THERE. IT'S PALPABLE. AND IT'S BEEN A IT'S BEEN A GREAT INITIATIVE. IT'S BEEN A GREAT WAY FOR ME TO GET OUT AND AND MEET PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE REALLY MAKING OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR TOWN RUN. IN ADDITION, I HAVE ALSO DISTRIBUTED. SO THE TALLY THAT I HAVE TODAY IS 21 BUSINESSES, 603 RIGHTS CARDS DISTRIBUTED 87 FLIERS FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS, WHICH IS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT OUR OUR TOWNSHIP WEBSITE. IT'S IT'S A IT'S A IT'S AN EXCELLENT OFFICE THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT THAT GIVES INFORMATION TO NEW AMERICANS, AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE RECENTLY ARRIVED. THEY DON'T SOMETIMES THEY DON'T KNOW. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND. THIS IS A WAY TO GET THE WORD OUT AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO. THE 87 FLIERS I'VE DISTRIBUTED TO THE 21 BUSINESSES AND THE 603 RIGHTS CARDS ARE IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. SPANISH IS BY FAR THE MOST POPULAR CHOICE FOR WHEN ASKED WHAT WHAT LANGUAGE THEY WOULD LIKE, BUT I HAVE, I HAVE SPANISH, I HAVE CHINESE, KOREAN, ARABIC, HINDI, AND OF COURSE ENGLISH. SO THE THERE ARE CARDS AVAILABLE OUT ON DISPLAY AT THE AT THE FRONT DESK, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TAKE SOME. WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP, KEEP A TRACK AND SEE IF THEY GO. WE'LL REPLENISH. BUT THIS IS AN EFFORT THAT THAT I'VE UNDERTAKEN, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S TOP OF MIND. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO KEEP OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY SAFE. SO WELL, TODAY WAS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THAT THAT ELLEN'S PANTRY WAS CLOSING, AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S HORRIBLE. IT'S IT'S REALLY. SHE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR OUR TOWN IN MULTIPLE LEVELS, FROM MS TO YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY DELIVERING FOOD TO STARVING FAMILIES. SO YOU KNOW HOPEFULLY WE CAN TRY TO WORK WITH HER AND HER FAMILIES AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO OUR, OUR, OUR FOOD PANTRY THAT THE TOWNSHIP RUNS. AND CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR, OUR, OUR FAMILIES FED AND OUR CHILDREN FED. SO AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THAT WE HAVE MEMORIAL DAY COMING UP. SO IF EVERYBODY CAN BE SAFE, YOU KNOW, REFLECT. IT'S A DAY OF REFLECTING AND REMEMBERING YOU KNOW, FOR OUR FALLEN. SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY. NOT AS JUST A DAY OF, YOU KNOW, JUST BARBECUING, BUT REALLY REFLECTING AND APPRECIATING. THANK YOU. I'LL JUMP ON THAT ONE. DENNIS EVEN MORE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO ON MEMORIAL DAY, RIGHT? AS WE TALKED ABOUT REFLECTING, IS WE'RE HAVING A VERY UNIQUE EVENT THAT WE WE SPOKE ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO. SO WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY, WHICH WILL BE AT 9:00 AT MONTGOMERY VETERANS MEMORIAL. THAT WILL BE ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR EVENT. WE WILL THEN PROCEED TO HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL GROUNDS THAT, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER, IS BUT AT THE CORNER OF COMMUNITY WAY AND AND ORCHARD, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE DOING THE STREET DEDICATION FOR STEVEN WARNER AS WE DISCUSSED BEFORE. WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A A GOOD TURNOUT AT 10:00. [01:20:01] AGAIN, WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE'S ABLE TO ATTEND AND AGAIN, CONSISTENT WITH DENNIS COMMITMENT ON SAID, YOU KNOW, REMINDER MEMORIAL DAY, RIGHT. IT'S NOT A HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY. IT'S A DAY OF REFLECTION REFLECTION FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN IN SERVICE OF THIS COUNTRY. AND THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE DID HAVE A VERY THOROUGH PLANNING SESSION TWO WEEKS AGO. WE'VE INVITED SOME SOME VIPS. WE HOPE THAT THEY WILL MAKE IT AGAIN. HOPING IT JUST IS A REALLY GOOD COMMUNITY EVENT. RECOGNIZING OUR ONE KILLED IN ACTION. A RESIDENT FROM THE VIETNAM WAR. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE. I GUESS MY REPORT TODAY, OUR RECREATION COMMITTEE DID NOT MEET, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IS TAKING SHAPE OUT THERE, AND WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED. OUR RECREATION DIRECTOR, JOHN GALLAGHER, HAS BEEN REALLY BUSY MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE. AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT. THEY'RE ALL EXCITED, ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STREET. I BELIEVE WITH THE DEPUTY MAYOR LIVES. I HAVE HAD A FEW PEOPLE REACH OUT AND SAY, THE KIDS CAN'T WAIT. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. COMING UP. AND ON THIS, THIS SATURDAY WE HAVE OUR SPRING FLING, I THINK OUR THIRD ANNUAL. AND USUALLY WITH THIS ONE YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING THAT AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE'RE DECIDING THAT THE WEATHER WILL COOPERATE AND WE WILL HAVE IT. THAT'S USUALLY AT THE WE COLLABORATE WITH THE SCHOOLS. SO IT'S AT THE MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL. THERE IS DANCING, MUSIC, FOOD. WE'LL HAVE THE FIRE STATION THERE WITH THEIR FIRE TRUCK TO, YOU KNOW, MISS THE KIDS HOPING THAT IT'S KIND OF WARM AND HOT SO THE KIDS DON'T MIND. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE IS THE COLOR PART OF IT WHERE PEOPLE ARE THROWING COLOR AT EACH OTHER. OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OUR PD AND SOME OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS NONPROFITS WILL HAVE SOME TABLES THERE AS WELL FOR PEOPLE. I BELIEVE THE MTA HAS THE TABLE. BOY SCOUTS HAVE A TABLE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO COME ON SATURDAY BETWEEN 2 TO 4 TO JUST A COMMUNITY DAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER AND AND HAVE FUN. THERE IS, OF COURSE, THE COLOR PART OF IT. THERE'S THE MUSIC PART OF IT. IT'S JUST A GOOD DAY TO BRING KIDS OUT. AND SO AGAIN, IT'S FROM 2 TO 4 AT MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL. THEN THE OTHER THING THAT'S WE ARE HAVING A BUSY DAY HERE. THEN WE HAVE OUR INNOVATION SUMMIT, WHICH IS ALSO COMING UP, AND THAT'S ON MAY 22ND. WE'RE VERY EXCITED. OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER IS SCIENTIST AND SENATE SENATOR ANDREW ZWICKER. WE WILL HAVE KATHY GUZMAN FROM THE NJ, EDA AND LUCY HARTMAN. SHE'S PARTNERSHIPS WITH TECH INNOVATION, ALSO FROM NEDDA. JUDITH SHAFT, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMISSION ON SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY. WE WILL HAVE RAJPATH FROM THE NEW JERSEY INDIA COMMISSION. OUR VERY OWN RESIDENT, HIMANSHU PANDYA, WHO IS FROM RECOVER HEALTH, HE WILL BE THERE. AND CHRISTINE GHALIB FROM PRINCETON UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF INNOVATION IS GOING TO BE THERE. OF COURSE, JESSICA PAOLINI FROM OUR EDA FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF SOMERSET COUNTY. AND WE ARE GOING TO ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM NJ, DOL AND WORKFORCE. SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THE IDEA BEHIND THIS FOR US AT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WAS THAT WE FELT, YOU KNOW, MONTGOMERY IS REALLY PLACED, WELL WITHIN OUR LOCATION TO YOU KNOW, HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE LOOKING FOR SPACE. WE DO HAVE, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, 23 ORCHARD ACROSS THE STREET WHICH IS IN PROCESS. WE ARE IN PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THAT TO BE THE SOMERSET INNOVATION AND, SORRY, THE MONTGOMERY INNOVATION HUB. AND IT WAS ACTUALLY THE IDEA WAS TO CALL IT SOMERSET. AND OF COURSE, WE FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE THE MONTGOMERY INNOVATION HUB. SO THAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND THIS SUMMIT. BUT THE INTEREST WE ARE GETTING IS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND CENTRAL JERSEY WHO MAY WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING PARTNERS HERE AND SEE WHAT ARE THE OTHER WHAT ELSE IS AVAILABLE IN MONTGOMERY. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE INNOVATION SUMMIT, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IF THEY CAN MAKE TIME. IT DOES START IN THE MORNING. WE WILL HAVE BREAKFAST HERE. AND THEN ALL THESE GREAT PANELISTS I JUST MENTIONED, AND THEN WE WILL BE WALKING OVER TO 23 ORCHARD, WHERE WE WOULD BE HAVING LUNCH SERVED TO ALL THE ATTENDEES. SO THAT'S A FULL DAY EVENT. AND THEN WE DO HAVE THE HEALTH AND RESOURCES FAIR IN BETWEEN. OF COURSE, THE MEMORIAL DAY AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR HAD MENTIONED, AND I WISH I WOULD LOVE FOR ALL OF US TO JOIN US AT THERE AS WELL. AND THEN WE HAVE CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, WHO'S GOING TO BE HERE ON THE 27TH. THIS IS AN EFFORT LED BY OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND ALSO HER OFFICE FOR THE HEALTH AND RESOURCES FAIR RIGHT HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP. AND I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS THERE WILL BE, YOU KNOW, SERVICES FROM THE VETERANS AS WELL AS A LOT OF OTHER HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE HERE FROM THE STATE COUNTY. [01:25:02] SO I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO MAKE TIME FOR. I KNOW IT'S A BUSY END OF THE MONTH, SO WE DO HAVE SOMETHING, WHICH IS THIS ON THE 17TH, THEN WE HAVE 22ND IS THAT INNOVATION SUMMIT, 17TH IS THE SPRING FLING. THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE MEMORIAL DAY WITH THE STEVE WARNER SIGN DEDICATION RIGHT HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP. AND THEN ON THE 27TH, WE HAVE THE HEALTH AND RESOURCES FAIR. AND AFTER THAT, I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK. BUT THANK YOU EVERYONE, AND HOPE TO SEE ALL RESIDENTS AT ALL OF THESE EVENTS. AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE'LL DO THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. [28. Administrator’s Report ] THANK YOU. MAYOR. I WE DID ACTUALLY RECEIVE SOME CORRESPONDENCE, SO I, I WANTED TO PLEASE, YES, RELATE IT TO SOMETHING I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. ANYWAY, I'M KIND OF PASSING DOWN A PHOTO. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, CHRIS LICCARDO, WHO'S OUR SEWER DIRECTOR HE HOSTED A TOUR OF OUR PIKE BROOK PLANT WITH THE NEW JERSEY WATER COUNCIL. SO THEY ARE REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS DISCIPLINES, AGENCIES ACROSS DIFFERENT AGENCIES AT THE STATE LEVEL NONPROFIT GROUPS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN CLEAN WATER, BASICALLY IN THE STATE. AND SO THEY ARE ADVISED, THE POLICY MAKERS AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST FROM MANY STAFF FROM DEP THAT WERE ALSO THERE. SO I, I, I ATTENDED A PART OF THE TOUR AND CHRIS DID AN AMAZING JOB. HE REALLY IS ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE SYSTEM, WHICH IS A MORE COMPLEX SYSTEM. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT WERE THE MEMBRANE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE AT PIKE BROOK IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE BETTER SYSTEMS TO PULL OUT MICROPLASTICS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE KIND OF BEEN TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT. SO THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, AN INTERESTING TAKE AWAY FROM THAT, THAT THE DEP WAS REALLY ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GRAPPLING WITH JUST IN TERMS OF WATER QUALITY AND THE MICROPLASTICS IN IT. SO WE HAD I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM JIM COSGROVE, WHO IS ONE OF OUR CONSULTANTS IN OUR SEWER TREATMENT PLANTS. AND HE JUST SAID DEP WAS ABSOLUTELY THRILLED WITH THIS WAS TO CHRIS, AND I WAS COPIED ON IT WITH YOUR TOUR ON TUESDAY. YOU ARE A TERRIFIC TOUR GUIDE AND I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING THIS TOUR TO THE CLEAN WATER COUNCIL. I'M THRILLED THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO MEET. AND HE MENTIONED A VARIETY OF PEOPLE AT DEP BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTROL OF OUR PERMIT, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T KEEP THAT UP TO DATE, YOU GET SIGNIFICANT FINES. AND ALSO, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF WHAT WE DO IN TOWN. SO THE TOWNSHIP SCORED A LOT OF GOODWILL WITH DEP ON TUESDAY. SO THANKS, JIM. SO THAT WAS SO VERY NICE. AND I KIND OF REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING YOU UP TO DATE. AND HE DID DO AN AMAZING JOB AND CONNECTING WITH A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE AT THE STATE THAT YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HAVE. GOOD. WELL, YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT WAS THAT WAS VERY, VERY HELPFUL. WE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME OF THE WE TAUGHT ABANDONED AND VACANT HOUSES IN TOWN THAT HAVE YOU KNOW, CAUSED, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS CONCERN IN THE TOWNSHIP, CONCERN AS WELL. AND THE MAYOR AND I ACTUALLY WERE OUT ON SITE THIS MORNING ON ONE. THIS IS THE ONE ON BELLE MEADE GRIGGS TOWN ROAD. THERE THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER. THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, SOME OUTSTANDING FINDS REGARDING THE INTERIOR WORK. THE EXTERIOR, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH A CONSERVATION EASEMENT VIOLATION THAT OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IS HANDLING. BUT THE MAYOR AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS ABOUT THE THE ITEMS THAT HAVE ACCUMULATED IN THE FRONT YARD AND HOW IT'S LINGERED. AND SO WE'RE HOPING WE'VE HEARD THAT THERE'LL BE SOME SEATING GRADING. THERE'S A DUMPSTER ON SITE. THERE IS SOME REMOVAL OF THAT CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL TO ANOTHER PART OF THE PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT. AND THE SCAFFOLDING SHOULD ALSO BE COMING DOWN FROM THE BEGINNING. THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. SO I WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT. AND THE ADMINISTRATOR AND I DID DISCUSS WITH HIM THAT WE LOVE TREES IN MONTGOMERY, AND WE WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIVE IF HE GOT SOME TREES IN THERE AS WELL. WE HAD MENTIONED THAT DENISE CRAWLEY, WHO IS A SOMERSET COUNTY EMPLOYEE, AND THE MONTGOMERY SENIOR CENTER, WHICH IS OPERATED BY SOMERSET COUNTY, HAS RETIRED OR IS RETIRING. AND THAT JOB POSITION IS OPEN. SO WE ARE ENCOURAGING IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN BECOMING THE MANAGER OF OUR LOCAL SENIOR CENTER, IT'S A REALLY A VERY REWARDING AND FULFILLING JOB. THE SENIORS ARE A LIVELY GROUP. EVERY NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME OVER THERE. AND AND SO THAT'S A JOB DESCRIPTION. WE'LL LINK ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL, BUT IT WILL LINK TO THE COUNTY'S JOB. [01:30:01] JOB OPENING. SO I WANTED TO JUST SHARE SHARE THAT INFORMATION. AND WE HAD DISCUSSED THE PLAYGROUND. I DID WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THE WEATHER HAS CAUSED A LITTLE BIT OF DELAY ON THE OPENING. WE HAD HOPED FOR SORT OF A MID-JUNE OPENING. WE'RE GETTING A NEW DATE FOR THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THAT'LL BE THAT'LL BE COMING SOON. AND THE NEXT LETTER I GOT WAS FROM A RESIDENT ON GRAYSON DRIVE, AND SHE SHE MADE A COMMENT ABOUT MARK KIRKMAN, OUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER. SHE JUST WANTED TO REFLECT HOW WONDERFUL MARK HAS BEEN IN ASSISTING HER. LAST SPRING. AND AGAIN THIS SPRING, THEY HAD A TOILET LEAK IN THE BASEMENT THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF UNTIL THEIR WATER BILL STARTED TO CATCH THEIR ATTENTION. AND SINCE THE SEWAGE CHARGE IS BASED ON THE WATER USAGE WE WERE DEVASTATED, SHE WROTE. MR. HERMANN WAS VERY PATIENT AND WALKED ME THROUGH ALL THE LOGISTICS AND PROCEDURES FOR HOW WE COULD HELP ADJUST OUR SEWAGE BILL. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO HIS DEDICATION IN HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND OUR FAMILY. AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU. SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS TIMELY BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS AT MARK'S OFFICE AND MARK HIMSELF IS IS GREAT WALKING THROUGH RESIDENTS BECAUSE OUR OUR SEWER BILLS ARE BASED ON OUR WATER USAGE. AND SO IF YOU USE A LOT OF WATER, IT DEFINITELY IMPACTS HOW MUCH YOU'RE PAYING IN SEWER. SO IF YOU HAVE LEAKS THAT YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF. YOU KNOW, IT REALLY ALSO ENCOURAGES WATER CONSERVATION ON PROPERTIES. AND SO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IS THERE TO HELP ANY RESIDENTS THAT MIGHT, YOU KNOW, WANT TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THEIR THEIR BILLING AND UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS. SO I THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT SOMETIMES. YEAH, THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. OH, I'M SORRY, I DID HAVE ONE MORE THING. OKAY, LISA, THIS WILL HAVE TO HAVE A BIGGER CELEBRATION. BUT LISA WAS NAMED TO THE HONOR ROLL FOR THE 2025 MUNICIPAL CLERK'S HONOR. OH, ARE WE SURPRISED? WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED. THANK YOU. LORI. WELL DESERVED. SO SOME OF THE NOMINATION TALKED ABOUT LISA'S LEADERSHIP, HER MENTORSHIP OF SOME OF THE STAFF IN HER, YOU KNOW, THE DEPUTY CLERK'S ROLE. AND ALSO BRINGING OUR VERY ANTIQUATED CODE, WHICH WAS, WHAT, 1984 UP TO WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW, EVEN THOUGH WE MY JAG IS KICKING AND SCREAMING TO UPDATE THE CODE, YOU KNOW THAT SHE IS HAD SUCCESS IN THE TOWN THAT SHE CAME FROM AND IS LEADING THAT CHARGE FOR US. AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. SO THANK YOU, LISA, FOR ALL YOU DO TO THANK YOU. YES, AND THANK YOU. PLEASURE. AND I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT WE DO GET LETTERS FROM PEOPLE WHO WALK UP TO THE CLERK'S YOU KNOW, WINDOW. THEY ALWAYS RIGHT BANK THAT SHE'S SO WARM. SHE EXPLAINS EVERYTHING. TELLS THEM WHERE YOU KNOW ALL THE LINKS FOR EVERYTHING IN THE TOWN. SO THANK YOU, LISA. I KEEP CALLING HER THE GLUE THAT'S HOLDING. AT LEAST IT'S MY PLEASURE. TOWNSHIP COMING TOGETHER. THANK YOU. HAPPY TO DO THAT. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND CAN I JUST SPEAK FOR A MINUTE? YES, SURE. I JUST I JUST WANT TO UPDATE THE RESIDENTS ON THE NEXT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE. SO DUE TO EARLY VOTING, WHICH IS GOING TO START JUNE, TUESDAY, JUNE 3RD HERE IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, IT WILL RUN FROM JUNE 3RD TO SUNDAY, JUNE 8TH. ELECTION DAY IS JUNE 10TH. THE MUNICIPAL CHAMBERS WILL BE UNAVAILABLE FOR USE, SO OUR NEXT SCHEDULED TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MAY 28TH AT 7 P.M. THE. THERE WILL ONLY BE 1ST JUNE MEETING AND THAT WILL BE JUNE 19TH. WE WILL RESUME OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE IN JULY. THANK YOU LISA. THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. WE HAVE THE FILM READY TOWN ORDINANCE THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT. [29. Future Agenda Items ] AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN NEW JERSEY, AT LEAST IN MONMOUTH COUNTY, ABOUT NETFLIX. SO ALL I CAN SEE EVERYWHERE IS NETFLIX IS COMING TO NEW JERSEY. SO I GUESS WE MAY BE PART OF SOMETHING WHEN WE START LOOKING AT OUR TOWN. READY? FILM READY TOWN. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 86 EXECUTIVE SESSION. [30. Resolution #25-5-186 – 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. PERSONNEL. POLICE OFFICER. INTERVIEWS. LITIGATION. DOCKET NUMBER SM-L-1 53. DASH 25. IT IS UNKNOWN PRECISELY WHEN THE MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION WILL BE [01:35:06] DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION SHALL ONLY BE APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IN A PUBLIC SESSION. THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 86. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN REGULAR SESSION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. GOOD EVENING. GOOD NIGHT. MONTGOMERY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.