[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:07] MEETING. CALL TO ORDER. THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. CALLED TO ORDER AT 7 P.M.. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR TODD. PRESENT. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. THANK YOU. VERY MUCH. COMMITTEE MEMBER MARTIN HERE. NOTICE OF MEETING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON APRIL 28TH, 2025 TO THE COURIER NEWS AND THE STAR LEDGER POSTED ON THE MUNICIPAL BULLETIN BOARD AND FILED WITH THE TOWNSHIP CLERK. SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ADVISE THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE RESIDENTS THAT EARLY VOTING FOR THE JUNE PRIMARY ELECTION WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY, JUNE 3RD, AND RUN THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 8TH. THE HOURS OF EARLY VOTING WILL BE FROM 10 A.M. MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY TO 8 P.M.. HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND SUNDAY, 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M.. I ALSO WANT TO REMIND CANDIDATES, OR ANYONE RUNNING FOR OFFICE TO PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE ELECTIONEERING LAW, WHICH IS THE ACT OF DISTRIBUTING OR DISPLAYING ANY PRINTED MATTER, SUGGESTING OR SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR ANY CANDIDATE, PARTY OR PUBLIC QUESTION WITHIN THE POLLING PLACE, POLLING ROOM, OR WITHIN 100FT OF THE OUTSIDE ENTRANCE TO THE POLLING LOCATION, OR WITHIN 100FT OF THE BALLOT BOX IN USE DURING THE CONDUCT OF ELECTION. SO HERE AT THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BUILDING, WE HAVE A BALLOT BOX OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT ENTRANCE, AND THERE CAN BE NO ELECTIONEERING WITHIN 100FT OF THAT BOX AS WELL. SO JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL DURING THE EARLY VOTING. THOSE THOSE REGULATIONS ARE IN EFFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LISA. AND THIS IS THE WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TODAY BECAUSE OF THE EARLY VOTING. YES. AND OUR NEXT TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE THURSDAY, JUNE, JUNE 19TH. THANK YOU. SALUTE TO THE FLAG. PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY. 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 YOUR OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE ASKED TO SELECT A SPOKESPERSON. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMITTEE. JOHN CARLUCCI. PAST PRESIDENT, MONTGOMERY PBA. IT'S TOUGH TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING. FOR MANY OF THE UNION MEMBERS, THIS JOURNEY STARTED APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS AGO OUT OF CONTRACT. LOOKING TO SETTLE SOMETHING THAT WAS FAIR. AS PAST PRESIDENT, IT WASN'T UNCOMMON TO TAKE QUESTIONS IN CONFIDENCE FROM MY MEMBERS. THEY WANTED CONTRACT INFORMATION FOR DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOSING MEMBERS TO. I QUICKLY SAW THE NEW BREED OF COP WAS INTERESTED IN THEIR WORTH AND WHAT THAT WORTH MEANT TO OTHER TOWNS. IN THE PAST, COPS WOULD FIND THEMSELVES WORKING AT ONE DEPARTMENT THEIR ENTIRE CAREER. I WAS TAKING NOTICE ON HOW THIS WAS BECOMING THE NORM AT THE TIME. I HAD MADE MENTION OF THIS TO THE BA DONATO NEEMAN, AND I EXPLAINED IT LIKE THIS. PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ATHLETES USED TO SPEND AN ENTIRE CAREER DEVOTED TO A TEAM THAT DRAFTED THEM. TODAY, NOT SO MUCH. YOU HAVE YOUNG STARS CHASING THE MONEY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON A MORE LOCAL LEVEL. YOU KNOW WHO DOESN'T HAVE RETENTION ISSUES? DEPARTMENTS WILLING TO PAY A DECENT WAGE. BACK TO NEGOTIATIONS. IN 2020, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE HAD AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO KEEP QUALITY OFFICERS SERVING IN THIS TOWN. THEY WANTED THE BEST QUALIFIED OFFICERS FOR THE JOB, PROTECTING THEIR PROPERTY, THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR COMMUNITY. A DEAL WAS STRUCK BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE UNION. IT WAS A FAIR DEAL AND A DEAL, MOVING MONTGOMERY PD CLOSER TO THEIR NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS AND WAGES. AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF. BEING WITHOUT A CONTRACT, WE HAD COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND OUR MEMBERS [00:05:02] WERE HAPPY THAT IT WAS FINALLY OVER. ON THE DAY THE TOWN AND UNION WERE TO MEET AND SIGN THE CONTRACT, WE WERE MET WITH DISAPPOINTMENT. THE TOWN DIDN'T SHOW UP WITH THE NEWLY FORMED CONTRACT THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PREVENT PRESENT FOR SIGNING, BUT RATHER NEWS THAT THE DEAL WAS OFF, A MOVE KNOWN LEGALLY AS REGRESSIVE NEGOTIATING, A MOVE THAT IS ILLEGAL. THE REPERCUSSION FOR THE TOWN NOTHING PERK CANNOT COMPEL A MUNICIPALITY TO SIGN A CONTRACT, EVEN WITH A SIGNED AGREEMENT. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. WE WERE TOLD THAT NOT EVERYTHING COULD BE FIXED IN ONE CONTRACT. A PROMISE TO PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF THE NEXT GO AROUND, AND ONLY A FEW SHORT YEARS AS A YOUNGER PRESIDENT. IT WAS MY MISTAKE IN TRUSTING IN THOSE WORDS. I BROUGHT BACK NEWS TO OUR UNION THAT WE WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE FUTURE. WITH THAT, OUR MEMBERS FOUND HOPE IN THIS NEXT CONTRACT. THERE WAS HOPE THINGS WOULD BE SETTLED QUICKLY AND THE PROMISES HELD TRUE. HOWEVER, HOPE AND WITH IT, MORALE IS DIMINISHING. I TELL YOU THIS JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU SAY THAT MOTIVATES YOUR OFFICERS, BUT WHAT YOU DO. AND PLEASE KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS ARE LOOKING TO YOU NOW CLOSER THAN EVER. I JUST ASK THAT YOU SHOW THEM THE SUPPORT THAT THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SALVADOR IN CHILE. IN CHILE. PRESIDENT. MONTGOMERY PTA 355. IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE SPEAKING AT THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, AND I'VE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, REGARDING OUR CONCERNS WITH OUR CONTRACT OR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROBLEMS. I WOULD THINK THAT THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE OUR CHAMPION OR SUPPORT US WOULD REACH OUT TO COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING. WE'VE HAD OFFICERS TRANSFER TO DEPARTMENTS WITH SIMILAR GEOGRAPHICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS AS OURS. TO DEPARTMENTS THAT PAY A COMPETITIVE WAGE. AMONG THAT LIST WAS BERNARD, SOUTH BRUNSWICK AND EDISON, TO NAME A FEW. WE ALSO HAD OFFICERS APPLY TO HILLSBOROUGH AND BRIDGEWATER FROM 2020 TO 2024. OUR NEIGHBORING POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SETTLED FAIR CONTRACTS WITH THEIR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES. BOUND BROOK AND MANVILLE HAVE TOP SALARIES THAT ARE 15 TO $30,000 HIGHER THAN OURS. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MEMBERS OF THIS UNION ARE CLOSELY WATCHING HOW THIS CONTRACT PANS OUT. IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF WE LOSE MORE OFFICERS, IF WE DO NOT GET A COMPETITIVE WAGE. I WILL NEVER BLAME MY FELLOW UNION MEMBERS FOR TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT TO MAKE A FAIR WAGE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. I WILL PUT THE BLAME ON THE TOWNSHIP THAT RECOGNIZES THAT WE HAVE A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROBLEM, BUT FAILS TO ACT. THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN SHOULD ALSO HOLD THE TOWNSHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOWING HIGHLY TRAINED QUALITY OFFICERS TO LEAVE, ONLY TO BE REPLACED BY YOUNGER, INEXPERIENCED OFFICERS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME HIGHLY TRAINED, BUT THEY WILL POTENTIALLY LEAVE THEMSELVES. WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS HERE AND I FORESEE MORE OFFICERS APPLYING ELSEWHERE IF THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT FALL WHERE IT NEEDS TO. THANK YOU. HI, MAYOR. CHRIS. VENICE 417 ROUTE 518 SKILLMAN. MAYOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. IT WAS A PLEASURE WITH YOU THIS WEEKEND AT THE MEMORIAL CEREMONY. I ENJOYED SHARING OUR STORIES OF OUR RELATIVES IN WORLD WAR ONE, WORLD WAR TWO, AND MY APPRECIATION TO THE LEGENDARY INDIAN GURKHA ARMY, WHICH IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN VICTORIES IN WORLD WAR TWO. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY NOT ONLY IN SUPPORT OF OUR RESIDENTS, BUT IN SUPPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. THEY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY. I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO PERSONALLY MEET A FEW OF THE POLICE OFFICERS. I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SPEEDING, BUT IT WAS OKAY. THEY LED. THEY WERE COURTEOUS, PROFESSIONAL, WHICH IS THE EXPECTATION SET BY THE CHIEF AND SUPERIOR OFFICERS HERE IN MONTGOMERY. AS A FORMER DEPUTY MAYOR, A POLICE LIAISON AND COMMISSIONER AND CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE SON OF A POLICE OFFICER, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SEE THOSE THAT WE LOVE PUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER. WHILE CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF 10,000 EMPLOYEES, 30,000 INMATES AND A $1 BILLION BUDGET. I'VE SEEN THE WORST AND THE WORST AND THINGS YOU COULDN'T IMAGINE. PRIOR TO SENDING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO THE PRISON SYSTEM, A POLICE OFFICER HAS TO HAVE CONTACT WITH THEM. AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS WE SIT IN OUR SUBURBAN HOUSE ON THE HILL WITH 2.3 KIDS, [00:10:03] A DOG ENJOYING OUR WEEKLY YOGA CLASSES AND OUR MOCHA SOY LATTES. THE POLICE ARE OUT THERE PROTECTING US 24 HOURS A DAY, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. TODAY, I FEAR NOT EVERYONE HAS THE BACKS OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS. WE HEAR DEFUND THE POLICE. POLICE ARE BAD. NOW I HEAR OUR OFFICERS ARE IN DANGER. SHORT, THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT ARE NEEDED AND STILL WITHOUT A CONTRACT. YOU ALL SEEM LIKE VERY NICE PEOPLE, BUT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP ON THIS TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW. REAL LEADERS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. IF YOU CAN'T DO THE JOB, IT'S OKAY. IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB SOMETIMES, BUT GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET SOMEONE ELSE DO THE JOB. IF YOU DON'T, THE VOTERS WILL REPLACE YOU WITH SOMEBODY WITH REAL EXPERIENCE. A FEW FINAL WORDS TO OUR POLICE AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. WE'RE HERE. WE SUPPORT YOU. AND HELP IS ON THE WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK YOU REMEMBER ME. I WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO, AND I'M SPEAKING ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MATTER. I'M SPEAKING ON THE ATTACK. CAN YOU PLEASE. COULD YOU GIVE YOUR NAME FIRST FOR THE RECORD? YOUR NAME? SORRY, I'M JOHN LEARY. I'M AT 32 BEDELL STREET IN MONTGOMERY. AND AS I WAS MENTIONING, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ON THE MEETING THAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN ON JUNE 5TH. THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK. IT'S A PUBLIC MEETING, AND I'M HERE TO TRY TO ENLIST SOME HELP. EVEN THOUGH I LIVE IN MONTGOMERY. IT'S A VERY STRONG FEELING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I'M SURE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE, THAT THIS IS A REGIONAL PROBLEM. THIS GIANT WAREHOUSE OR TWO WAREHOUSES THAT'S GOING TO CONSIST, I BELIEVE, OF 90 DAYS. THEIR TRAFFIC EXPERT HAS SAID THAT HE FEELS THERE'S GOING TO BE NO MORE THAN NINE TRACTOR TRAILERS PER HOUR. WE FEEL EVEN EVEN THOUGH THAT'S A LARGE NUMBER, WE FEEL THAT'S A LOW NUMBER. AND NINE TRUCKS PER HOUR IS 18 BECAUSE THERE'S A TO AND FRO INVOLVED. ROUTE 206 CANNOT HANDLE THAT. IN NO WAY. NOT TO POINT THINGS OUT, BUT IT'S VERY OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THERE'S A VERY LARGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MONTGOMERY, WHERE I LIVE, AND HILLSBORO. THAT'S A NEIGHBOR. I REMEMBER WHEN THE VET WAS ABOUT TO OPEN ON THE CORNER OF SUNSET ROAD AND 206, AND MONTGOMERY HELD THAT OFF UNTIL THERE WAS AMPLE SCREENING. SO THAT 20206 STILL LOOK LIKE THE RURAL COMMUNITY WE WANTED TO LOOK LIKE. THAT'S THE WAY MONTGOMERY THINKS. WE'RE LOOKING FOR HELP TO TRY TO HOLD THIS OFF. JUNE 5TH IS THE MEETING AND WE'RE ENLISTING AND HOPE YOU PUT A RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING TOGETHER AND JUST HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S ONLY CITIZENS THAT ARE TALKING AS OPPOSED TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE SITUATION, AND THAT HAVE SOME AUTHORITY AND SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND CERTAINLY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE LIKE, IN MY ESTIMATION, LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT RUN, RUN MONTGOMERY ARE THOSE PEOPLE. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU GUYS THERE JUNE 5TH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HI. MY NAME IS DAVID BROOKE. I DON'T LIVE IN MONTGOMERY. I LIVE IN HILLSBORO. DAVID, CAN YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME, PLEASE? YES. IT'S B R O O K. THANK YOU. IN IN A LITTLE BIT OF A FOLLOW UP FOR JOHN. I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING THE PLANNING BOARD HEARINGS IN HILLSBORO. THESE ARE SOME OF THE DETAILS AS, AS JOHN INDICATED, CONCERNS ALL OF US. AND THERE IS THERE ARE ACTUALLY FIVE FORMAL OBJECTORS WHO ARE WORKING AS CITIZENS TO TRY TO BRING FACTS TO THE TABLE AT THE HEARINGS. JUNE 5TH IS A CRITICAL DATE BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. [00:15:02] AND WE WOULD INVITE YOU FOLKS TO ATTEND IF POSSIBLE. YOU WON'T BE ALONE. I'M PRETTY SURE AT LEAST ONE OTHER TOWN. THE TOWN OF MANVILLE AND THE MAYOR AND THEIR COUNCIL WILL BE ATTENDING THERE FOCUSES ON FLOODING AND TRAFFIC. YOUR FOCUS, I BELIEVE, IS TRAFFIC. WHEN THE TRUCKS COME OUT OF HOMESTEAD ROAD. AND THAT NUMBER NINE, I THINK SHOULD BE MULTIPLIED BY ABOUT 100. THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR UP TO 1000 TRUCKS A DAY GOING INTO THAT WAREHOUSE. PROBABLY NOT. BUT THERE'S BEEN NO REAL GOOD INFORMATION AS TO THE TRAFFIC STUDIES AS FAR AS ACCURATE INFORMATION, BUT WHEN THOSE TRUCKS COME OUT TO 206. HALF OF THEM ARE GOING TO GO NORTH AND HALF OF THEM ARE GOING TO COME SOUTH RIGHT INTO YOUR TOWN. IT WILL ADD A HUGE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC, WHICH I KNOW WE ALL DON'T NEED. IT WILL ADD A HUGE AMOUNT OF NOISE AS MOST TRACTOR TRAILERS ARE DIESEL DRIVEN AND THEY ARE NOISY. THERE ARE A FEW HILLS IN MONTGOMERY AND THEY'LL PROBABLY BE USING THEIR JAKE BRAKE NOISY WAY OF BRAKING. AND THE LAST ISSUE IS THE AIR POLLUTION THAT'S GENERATED BY THE DIESEL. SO THE THOUGHT WOULD BE, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PASS SOME FORM OF A RESOLUTION JUST EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS AND HAVE SOMEBODY ATTEND, I THINK IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY. AND THERE WILL BE A RECORD CREATED ON THIS AND ANY SUPPORT THAT YOU MIGHT GIVE TO PROTECTING MONTGOMERY. CERTAINLY WILL BE APPRECIATED. HOWEVER, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU NEED ANY INFORMATION, I HAVE BEEN SPENDING A BIT OF TIME STUDYING IT, AND WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET ANY INFORMATION TO YOURSELF OR TO YOUR ATTORNEY, OR TO MISS SAFFRON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. FOR HARVARD CIRCLE. GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TO RESPOND TO VINCENT BERGEN'S CLAIM IN THE MONTGOMERY NEWS THAT HE WANTS TO, QUOTE, CONTINUE TO BUILD A CULTURE OF INCLUSIVITY IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. UNFORTUNATELY, INCLUSIVE IS NOT THE WORD I WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE BERGEN'S LEADERSHIP. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HE HAS PUSHED TO SILENCE THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH HIM, RATHER THAN ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION, OR SIMPLY ACCEPT THAT OTHERS MAY HOLD DIFFERENT VIEWS AND SOMEHOW CONTINUE TO OCCUPY THE SAME SPACE AS HE DOES AT THE MOST BASIC LEVEL, BARRAGAN HAS REPEATEDLY ASKED ME TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE IN OUR CIRCLES FROM RAISING QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. I HAVE DECLINED BECAUSE I BELIEVE ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE AN EQUAL RIGHT TO SPEAK. SIMILARLY, AFTER DISAGREEING WITH FORMER MAYOR KEENAN'S ADVOCACY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, HE COORDINATED WITH MAYOR SINGH TO REMOVE KEENAN FROM HER PLANNING BOARD APPOINTMENT. AND FINALLY, THERE IS THE ISSUE OF HIS ATTEMPTS TO SILENCE MY OBJECTIONS TO THE ONGOING MASSACRES IN GAZA. AS MANY ARE AWARE, THERE WAS A TOWN HALL IN THIS ROOM LAST NIGHT WHERE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRAISED CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN FOR HER STRONG STANCE FOR CEASEFIRE AND PEACE IN GAZA. YET WHEN BERRIGAN DISAGREED WITH MY PERSONAL ADVOCACY FOR CEASEFIRE, HE AND MAYOR SINGH DEMANDED MY RESIGNATION AS CHAIR OF OUR LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY. FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO MONITOR AND THEN TRY TO CENSURE A CONSTITUENT IS WRONG IN THE CONTEXT OF A CONSTITUENT SEEING NONSTOP IMAGES OF MASSACRES. IT'S CRUEL IN THE SPIRIT OF REFUSING TO BE SILENCED. I WILL NAME WARDELL KHALIL, A SIX YEAR OLD GIRL WHOSE SILHOUETTE MANY OF US SAW IN THE MIDST OF A BLAZING FIRE THAT ENGULFED THE SCHOOL WHERE HER FAMILY WAS SHELTERING WHEN HIT BY ISRAELI BOMBS. WARD LIVES WITH SEVERE BURNS, BUT HER MOTHER AND SIX SIBLINGS WERE BURNED TO DEATH. THEY DESERVE TO BE NAMED AND MOURNED. PERHAPS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING RAISED WITH THE INCLUSION AND EQUITY COMMITTEE, BUT THAT WAS ALSO DISBANDED BY THIS MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR. TO CONDUCT ONESELF IN THIS WAY, AND YET STILL TOUT INCLUSION AS A STRENGTH SHOWS VERY POOR JUDGMENT ON HIS PART. AND I SAY HE'S NOT HERE. HE SEEMS TO MISS A LOT OF THESE MEETINGS. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME, FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? MY NAME IS. MY NAME IS KATHY LYNCH L.Y, AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION. AND HERE ON THEIR BEHALF TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION 255189. I'M ALSO THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF A NONPROFIT CALLED GREEN MATTERS. [00:20:03] WE FUND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS FOR STUDENTS IN NEW JERSEY. YOU MAY RECOGNIZE MY NAME. I WROTE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR ABOUT THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. I ALSO WENT TO TRENTON IN JANUARY TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE SENATE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE ABOUT IT. I'VE GONE TO LINDROS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT PLASTICS. I WAS AT THOMAS GROVER MIDDLE SCHOOL THIS MORNING TO TALK TO 11 YEAR OLDS. AND WE I HELPED ORGANIZE THE FILM SCREENING THAT WE HAD HERE IN DECEMBER TO QUITE A LOT OF ATTENDEES. WHY? WHY DO I DO ALL THIS? MY CONCERN INITIALLY AROUND PLASTICS WAS ITS POLLUTION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. BUT AS I'VE STUDIED IT FOR MANY YEARS, I'M NOW MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HUMAN HEALTH IMPACTS. WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT THEM EVERY DAY. I'M AT MY LIMIT AS AN INDIVIDUAL AS TO WHAT I CAN DO TO PROTECT MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. WE NEED STRONG LEGISLATION. AND THIS S 3398 IS AN EXCELLENT STEP TO GET US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. NEW JERSEY CAN BE A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES, AND MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP CAN BE A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS MUNICIPALITIES. I HAVE A COUPLE OF HANDOUTS THAT SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE HEALTH IMPACTS AND THE BILL. WHY NOW AND WHAT? AND CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I KNOW MORE THAN I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS TOPIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND YOU CAN LEAVE THE HANDOUTS WITH LISA. LISA AT THE CLERK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS, CATHY. OKAY. HELLO, I'M KAREN ANDERSON. BILL MEAD I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT ELECTIONEERING, WHICH WAS MENTIONED AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS SESSION. AND I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT LAST YEAR WHEN I CAME TO VOTE, THERE WAS TWO OF YOU RUNNING AS INCUMBENTS, AND YOUR PHOTOS WERE ADVERTISED ALL OVER IN THE ENTRY WHEN I CAME IN. IN FACT, IT WAS THE FIRST THING I NOTICED. SO JUST TO NOTE, IF WE COULD MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS AGAIN, I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU ARE RERUNNING THIS UPCOMING, BUT I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SUPERVISOR, THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR, AND THEY ACTUALLY REVIEWED WHAT I SHOWED THEM, AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS AGAINST ELECTIONEERING RULES, SO THEY HAD MADE ADJUSTMENTS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT OBSERVATION WITH YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF IT EVER GOT BACK TO YOU, BUT IF WE COULD JUST MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF INCUMBENTS OR OF ANYBODY WHO'S RUNNING OR AFFILIATED WITH YOU UPON ENTERING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, DEBORAH KEENAN. K E N A N OF SKILLMAN. I HAVE TWO COMMENTS. MY ACTUALLY THREE. I'LL SEE IF I CAN FIT THEM ALL IN. MY FIRST COMMENT IS REGARDING RESOLUTION 25 511191. REGARDING THE OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT REQUEST FOR PRINCETON FORM AND PRESERVES FOR THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS NOT REALLY LOCATED IN PRINCETON, BUT IT'S DIRECTLY LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL KITTY CORNER TO THE SCHOEMAN POST OFFICE AND ALONG SCHOEMAN ROAD. IT USED TO BE KNOWN AS THE SOD FARM. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT BOTH COMMITTEEMEN EN AND COMMITTEEWOMAN SLASH CURRENT MAYOR NINA SINGH RECUSE THEMSELVES, AS BOTH HAVE TAKEN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE OWNERS OF THAT PROPERTY. AND THAT'S OF CONCERN IN HIS REPORT. AND I HAVE THAT HERE, WHICH IS THE NEW JERSEY ELECTION LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION REPORT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES, AKA FORM 91 R1, DATED 327, 2005, 25, AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO, DENNIS ANJOS, A $1,000 CONTRIBUTION FROM MOLEST PATEL, WHO'S THE REPRESENTATIVE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY? PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT MORE TROUBLING IS IN HER REPORT, NEENA SINGH IN HER FORM FILED ON 1113 2024, NEENA SINGH SHOWS A $5,000 CONTRIBUTION FROM MAHESH PATEL, IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER $5,000 CONTRIBUTION FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHO APPEARS TO BE HIS BUSINESS PARTNER. HIS LAST NAME IS DANNY, I BELIEVE BOTH ARE LISTED AS EMPLOYEES OF SUMMERSET HOSPITALITY HOLDINGS. WHAT'S NOT LISTED ON THIS REPORT ARE THE IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY. IF SHE HAS HOSTED TWO CAMPAIGN EVENTS. ON THAT SAID FARM, THE MOST RECENT BEING IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. SO WILL YOU BOTH RECUSE YOURSELF? [00:25:04] THANK YOU. I'LL QUICKLY SKIP TO MY FINAL COMMENT, WHICH IS AT THE LAST TC MEETING, THE PBA PRESIDENT OFFICER AND TILLY MADE A PUBLIC COMMENT THAT IS CERTAINLY MAKING THE ROUNDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. LAST TIME THE CONTRACT WAS NEGOTIATED, I WAS SITTING IN ONE OF THOSE SEATS UP THERE. AND AS SOMEBODY WITH A BACKGROUND AS AN EXECUTIVE IN HR, I WAS CLOSER TO THE NEGOTIATIONS AT THAT TIME. AND OFFICER CARLUCCI IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. THAT CONTRACT WAS CONSIDERED A STEP. AT THE TIME, OUR ENTRY AND MID-LEVEL OFFICERS WERE AT THE LOWEST END OF THE PAY RANGE FOR THE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING MUNICIPALITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE HIRING PRACTICES AT THE TIME WERE RECRUIT AN OFFICER WHEN ANOTHER RETIRED OR LEFT. REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF YEAR. AND AT THAT TIME, I THINK OVER 50% OF THE OFFICERS WERE RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE. SO WORKING WITH THE THEN CAPTAINS, WE ADJUSTED TO A CLASS HIRING MODEL THAT OPENED UP THE CANDIDATE POOL, HELPED WITH OUR GOAL OF HAVING A MORE REPRESENTATIVE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND BY THAT I MEAN KIND OF REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF MORE WOMEN OFFICERS, PERSONS OF COLORS, ETC.. YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP. YES. AND SO THAT ALSO CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS, AS WE KNOW. BUT THE CONTRACT AT THE TIME. MA'AM, YOUR THREE MINUTES ARE UP, SO I KNOW. GIVE ME A SECOND. I'M WRAPPING IT UP. THE GOAL AT THE TIME WAS TO REEVALUATE THE COMPENSATION AND THE STRUCTURE. IT'S CURRENTLY A REALLY WONKY TWO SCALE SYSTEM, AND TO MAKE SURE OUR OFFICERS WERE PAID IN THE TOP THIRD OF THE COUNTRY AND COUNTY AND SURROUNDING MUNICIPALITIES. AND I HOPE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU NEGOTIATE THIS NEXT CONTRACT. WE HAVE EXCELLENT OFFICERS AND WE NEED TO KEEP THEM. AND WE DO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE EXCELLENT OFFICERS. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. I BELIEVE YOU'RE A MAYOR WHEN THAT HAPPENS. SO THANK YOU. THAT IS WELL THAT'S FINE. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? ON THE REPORT YOU HAVE THE PDA NEGOTIATIONS AND THERE IS A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEKEND. DID YOU WANT TO. KNOW? YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. AND AT LEAST I WANT TO SAY THAT THERE IS. YEAH. THAT'S FINE. AND I THINK AS THE OFFICERS MENTIONED, THERE IS A MEETING WITH THE PBA ON THE 30TH. I'M SURE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT. SO THAT'S WHEN THE CONVERSATION WILL HAPPEN. AND AGAIN FOR HILLSBOROUGH. THAT IS SOMETHING THE COMMITTEE IS LOOKING AT AS FAR AS THE WAREHOUSE. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, WE DO HIGHLY VALUE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND, YOU KNOW THAT WE, WE CONTINUE TO BUILD CULTURE WITH YOU KNOW, BECOME A CHIEF BIT CONTINUES TO, TO HELP OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUE TO GROW. THE TOWN DOES KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE DO, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR PBA FIRST PRIORITY. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU DO KEEP US SAFE. AND THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO US. ON OUR TRAFFIC. SO. AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THE PBA, ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, EVERYBODY THAT TAKES CARE OF US AND KEEPS US SAFE WHILE WE'RE SLEEPING. AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY. ONCE THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE OVER. AND I'D LIKE TO ADD NOT TO REPEAT WHAT COMMITTEE ON HAS SAID. I HAPPEN TO BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT WIFE. I'M CERTAINLY VERY AWARE OF THE WHAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS DO AND THE VALUE THAT THEY BRING, AS WELL AS AN ATTORNEY AND A VERY EXPERIENCED LABOR RELATIONS MEDIATOR AND NEGOTIATOR. SO I CERTAINLY AM AWARE OF THE ISSUES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO I'M NOT THE LEAD NEGOTIATOR. I'M NOT PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT I'M CERTAINLY AWARE OF THE ISSUES IN NEGOTIATIONS. AND I THINK THAT I WANT TO EXPRESS THE FACT THAT WE DO VALUE OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND THAT WE WILL NEGOTIATE IN DUE COURSE AND FAIRLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ORDINANCES. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING. THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION. ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION. THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION. CONSENT AGENDA. WE WILL PULL RESOLUTION NINE FROM A [CONSENT AGENDA] CONSENT FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. SO THAT IS BEING PULLED. BUT OTHERWISE THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT'S AFTERWARDS. OH IT'S AFTER. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD THEN IT IS NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. [00:30:02] THANK YOU WENDY, NO ONE DOES 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? GOOD. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 FIVE. DASH 187 TO 20 551 90. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. OKAY, SURE. OKAY. YES. OKAY. SO RESOLUTION NUMBER NINE. [5. Resolution #25-5-191 – Authorizing Outdoor Assembly Permit for Princeton Farms & Preserves – Patel Family Wedding (Part 1 of 2)] RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5191. AUTHORIZING OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT FOR PRINCETON FARMS AND PRESERVES. PATEL FAMILY WEDDING. YES, MAYOR. ON THIS OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS SIGNED OFF ON IT. HOWEVER ENGINEERING DID NOTE THAT THERE IS A SECONDARY ACCESS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE APPLICANT HAD DOCUMENTED THAT THE STATE AG DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE HAD DEMONSTRATED THAT THAT WAS A PART OF THEIR APPROVAL. AND SO I RECOMMENDING THAT IF APPROVED, THAT IT IS CONTINGENT ON HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH SADC. SO WE CAN JUST BE SURE IT'S NOT OUR AG EASEMENT THAT WE THAT WE ENFORCE. SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AGENCY THAT IS THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR THAT EASEMENT IS, IS AWARE AND HAS SIGNED OFF ON IT. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. I THINK DEPUTY MAYOR MUST BE ON HIS WAY, SO WE'LL WAIT TO DO THIS ONE. CAN WE DO THAT ONCE HE'S HERE? YEAH, YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT OF ORDER IF THE COUNCIL ALL APPROVES AND JUST HOLD IT FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION LATER IN THE AGENDA. SURE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 92, AUTHORIZING THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, [6. Resolution #25-5-192 – Authorizing the Township of Montgomery, Somerset County, State of New Jersey to Enter into a Cooperative Pricing Agreement with Mercer County Special Services School District ] SOMERSET COUNTY, STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE PRICING AGREEMENT WITH MERCER COUNTY SPECIAL SERVICES SCHOOL DISTRICT. IF YOU WE WE ARE MEMBERS OF MANY COOPERATIVE PRICING AGREEMENTS, AND THIS WOULD JUST BE ALLOWING US TO ADD ONE ADDITIONAL ONE. AND IT GIVES US FAVORABLE PURCHASING PRICING ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS. OKAY. EVERYBODY'S GOOD FOR THAT. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 92. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 551993. [7. Resolution #25-5-193 – Authorizing Change Order #1 for BID #B09-2024 – Montgomery Road Resurfacing and Pedestrian Route Extension (Increase) and Time Extension] AUTHORIZING CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR BID B0920 22 2024 MONTGOMERY ROAD. RESURFACING AND PEDESTRIAN ROUTE EXTENSION. INCREASE AND TIME EXTENSION. YES. TOP LINE CONSTRUCTION WAS THE CONTRACTOR THAT WAS AWARDED THE MONTGOMERY ROAD RESURFACING AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT EXTENSION PROJECT. THE CHANGE ORDER REFLECTS AN INCREASE OF $67,175, OR 8.66% OF THE CONTRACT AMOUNT. THESE ADJUSTMENTS, IF YOU RECALL WHEN ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS, MR. IRISH, HAD ATTENDED ONE OF OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT SOME UNEXPECTED TREE CLEARING, AND WE TALKED ABOUT A PIPE THAT WAS NEAR COLLAPSE UNDER THE ROADWAY. WHEN YOU SEE THE WE'RE REPLACING CORRUGATED CORRUGATED METAL PIPING WITH THE CONCRETE REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPE THAT WAS A PART OF THE PROJECT THAT WAS UNANTICIPATED. SO THERE WAS THAT THERE WAS SOME ADDITIONAL POLICE TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR SAFE PUBLIC SAFETY, SOME ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS TO PAVING QUANTITIES FOR CLEVELAND CIRCLE AND SOME AS BUILT QUANTITIES BASED ON FIELD MEASUREMENTS. SO OKAY, SO THAT'S REFLECTED. THAT'S THE INCREASE IN THE COST. YES. AND GIVEN THE SCHEDULING DELAYS DUE TO THE PIPELINING THAT WE, WE, WE NEEDED TO DO WEATHER CONSTRAINTS, THE STORM SEWER REPAIRS THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT THE CONTRACTOR DID NEED A DOES NEED ADDITIONAL DID NEED EXCUSE ME, ADDITIONAL TIME. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO EXTEND THROUGH WHAT WAS MAY 2ND, 2025? THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DONE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN THAT. [00:35:01] OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 93. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 94 AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF PROBATIONARY PATROL [9. Resolution #25-5-194 (Part 1 of 2)] OFFICER RYAN MARTIN. WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT? IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH. I SAW THE CHIEF A MINUTE AGO. I GUESS HE'S NOT HERE. OKAY. SO DO I. DO YOU WANT TO JUST SPEAK TO LISA? DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT RYAN? RIGHT. SO THE OFFICER IS TKB CERTIFIED. SO THAT'S THE POLICE TRAINING, I BELIEVE. COMMITTEE OR CERTIFICATION? THIS IS THE IN ORDER FOR HIM TO BE RELEASED FOR WITH A WAIVER. THE THE TCB NEEDS THIS RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING HIS ACTUAL APPOINTMENT AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO RELEASE HIS CERTIFICATION. OH, OKAY. WHAT MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20 551 94? SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? [8. Approval of Minutes] MEETING? MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 15TH, 2025. SO MOVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 95. [9. Resolution #25-5-194 – Payment of Bills – Posted (Part 2 of 2)] PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. YES, MAYOR. THE TOP THREE BILLS ON PAGE ONE. WE HAVE OUR MID JERSEY MUNICIPAL JOINT INSURANCE FUND PAYMENT $148,619.85. THAT'S OUR AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE WORKERS COMP, GENERAL LIABILITY. PROPERTY INSURANCE COVERS ALL OF THAT. PAGE TWO. WE HAVE OUR SOMERSET COUNTY RECYCLING BILL FOR THE RECYCLING PICKUP. RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING PICKUP, $8,463.70. AND ALSO ON PAGE TWO, THE TRANSDEV FLEET SERVICES. THIS IS THE WORK THAT IS DONE ON TO MAINTAIN ALL OF OUR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE. THAT'S $69,242.47. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5195. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. OKAY. SO, MAYOR, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST. JUST FOR PURPOSES OF OF AN EXPLANATION. THE REST OF THE COUNCIL. I'M SORRY, TO THE COMMITTEE. SINCE QUESTIONS WERE RAISED ABOUT DONATIONS TO TWO MEMBERS OUT OF THE FOUR, THEY'RE SITTING UP HERE. AND WE KNOW THAT THE DEPUTY MAYOR WAS HELD UP BECAUSE OF WEATHER AND TRAFFIC UP IN NORTH JERSEY AND WAS RUNNING LATE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT RATHER THAN PUT OUT TO A VOTE RIGHT NOW, THAT RESOLUTION. WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MAY TAKE ACTION AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WAIT FOR THAT RESOLUTION SO THAT THERE'S ENOUGH MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY AVAILABLE TO VOTE WITHOUT DRAWING INTO QUESTION THE VOTE. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO BE CLEAR, ONE MORE THING, THOUGH. IT IS NOT A DIRECT CONFLICT, BUT JUST TO ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. YEP. IT IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP. YES. THANK YOU. I'D RATHER, YOU KNOW, BE SAVED. AND YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A CONCERN WITH OUR COMMUNITY, THEN I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. SO I WILL RECUSE MYSELF FROM FROM THAT VOTE. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. 5-1 96 EXECUTIVE SESSION BE RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE [10. Resolution #25-5-195 – Executive Session] 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 THE CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY BE EXCLUDED PURSUANT TO A SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECT TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS. POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY FOR OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION, RECREATION AND OR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES. BLOCK 13 001. LOT 21 FORBES RAIDER BLOCK 25 001. LOT 27 AND BLOCK 27 001. LOT 7.01. NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS LITIGATION, DOCKET NUMBER 153 25. IT IS UNKNOWN PRECISELY WHEN THE MATTER DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION WILL BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION SHALL ONLY BE APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IN A PUBLIC SESSION. THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 96. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. [00:40:01] COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN REGULAR SESSION. SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? OKAY. HOLD ON. I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. WENDY, THE ATTORNEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. YES, I JUST I JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD, THAT DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN ARRIVED WHILE IN CLOSE AS WE WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION. I DID NOT WRITE DOWN THE TIME. 745. 745. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES IN NEWARK AIRPORT, AND MY MY SON IS FLYING IN. WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE? AND SO WE HAD TO CHANGE HIS FLIGHT. SO APOLOGIES FOR BEING LATE, BUT HE'S HERE, AND I'M HAPPY. OF COURSE. GOOD TO HAVE HIM HERE. OKAY. SO, MAYOR, IF YOU'D LIKE. [5. Resolution #25-5-191 – Authorizing Outdoor Assembly Permit for Princeton Farms & Preserves – Patel Family Wedding (Part 2 of 2)] AS I INDICATED EARLIER TO THE PUBLIC, WE HELD BACK ON. OR I ASKED THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO JUST HOLD BACK ON RESOLUTION 25, DASH FIVE, DASH 191, THE OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT FOR A FAMILY WEDDING AT PRINCETON FARMS AND PRESERVES LOCATED IN MONTGOMERY. SO JUST FOR FOR CLARIFICATION, WHEN FOLKS SUBMIT A PERMIT FOR AN OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT, IT GOES TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHO DISTRIBUTES IT TO ALL THE REQUIRED DEPARTMENTS, WHO THEN SEND BACK THEIR MEMOS SIGNING OFF INDICATING WHETHER ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS ARE COMPLIED WITH OR NOT, AND THEREAFTER COMES TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO APPROVE OR DENY THE PERMIT BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF ALL OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS. IN THIS CASE, THE ONLY THING THAT IS NOT FULLY CLEARED IS WHAT THE TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR HAD INDICATED EARLIER IN THE MEETING THAT THERE IS A SECOND LOT THAT IS NOT PART OF THE SABC'S APPROVAL FOR HOSTING EVENTS AT A FARM, WHICH, JUST TO PUT IT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC. THE PRINCETON FARMS FIRST GETS APPROVAL FROM THE STATE TO DO THESE EVENTS, AND OUR OVERSIGHT IS ONLY AS TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY, HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE PROVISIONS OF HOW TO PUT ON THE EVENT. SO THERE IS A SECOND ACCESS THAT GOES THROUGH A LOT THAT WASN'T PART OF THAT APPROVAL. SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT IT BE APPROVED, SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION THAT THE SADC APPROVES A SECONDARY LAW. LISA, PLEASE TELL ME IF I'M SAYING SOMETHING THAT'S WRONG. NO. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. PERFECT. CORRECT. BECAUSE AN ISSUE WAS RAISED ABOUT RAISED ABOUT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS SINCE ALL FIVE MEMBERS OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ARE HERE AND TWO HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE OWNER OF THE LOCATION. JUST AS AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT THAT YOU ABSTAIN FROM VOTING AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE A CONFLICT. ALL OF THE PERMIT APPROVAL IS BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS. HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE AMENABLE, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU BOTH JUST ABSTAIN FROM THIS PARTICULAR VOTE SINCE THE QUESTION WAS RAISED, AND IT'S BETTER TO NOT PUT YOU IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU CONTINUE TO BE QUESTIONED. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT. FROM THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS ONE THING THAT IS REALLY CONCERNING FOR A TOWNSHIP RESIDENT TO, AGAIN, BRING UP THE FACT THAT THIS FARM USES THE NAME PRINCETON. I THINK IF THERE IS A BUSINESS IN OUR TOWN AND IS GIVING TAXES TO US AND IS AVAILABLE TO US, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A FARM, I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, FARMS HAVE DIFFERENT TAX BASE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME BRINGING THAT NAME UP AGAIN. AND IF THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS CONCERN IS WITH THE NAME PRINCETON, THEN I'M SAD TO SAY. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITH PRINCETON AIRPORT, PRINCETON, JAGUAR, PRINCETON? AUDI? THERE ARE A LOT OF PRINCETON BUSINESSES. THEY HAVE THE NAME PRINCETON BECAUSE THEY ARE IN MONTGOMERY. TO ME, IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS IN MONTGOMERY AND YOU'RE PAYING YOUR TAXES TO MONTGOMERY, IF YOU HAVE PRINCETON IN YOUR NAME, WE ARE NOT GOING TO THROW YOU OUT. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE HERE. YOU ARE SUPPORTING OUR TOWNSHIP. SO I THINK THIS PARTICULAR RESIDENT HAS TO GET OVER THAT AND STOP HOUNDING BUSINESSES IF THEY USE THE NAME PRINCETON. YEAH. AND THERE'S TONS OF PEOPLE. THERE'S A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO. PRINCETON IS THEIR ADDRESS AND THEY LIVE IN MONTGOMERY. SHOULD ALL OF THEM NOW HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR ADDRESS? NO, I MEAN, SO I MEAN, PEOPLE WANT TO CALL THEIR BUSINESS WASHINGTON OR IF THEY WANT TO CALL IT A LINCOLN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO CALL IT OBAMA. I MEAN, IF THEY WANT TO CALL IT REAGAN. I MEAN, I MEAN, THAT'S THEIR THAT'S A PREROGATIVE. I AGREE WITH THE DEPUTY MAYOR. IT IS REALLY CONCERNING WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE WITHIN THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN THE COMMITTEE START NIT PICKING ON BUSINESSES. WE ARE A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WHO APPRECIATES OUR BUSINESS IF WE DID THE SUMMIT. THE INNOVATION SUMMIT, FOR THE ONLY REASON WE APPRECIATE WE HAD THE [00:45:01] EDA HERE, WE HAD IN NEW JERSEY IN THE COMMISSION. WE HAD STATE AGENCIES HERE HELPING US TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUSINESSES HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES. SO THIS THIS COMMENT TODAY REALLY UPSET ME. AS YOU KNOW, I DON'T SPEAK A LOT FROM THIS DAIS, BUT AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY CONCERNING WHEN THIS RESIDENT CONTINUOUSLY KEEPS ON HOUNDING ON THE NAME OF PRINCETON. SO I HOPE SHE GETS EDUCATED ON THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 55-1 91 AUTHORIZING OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT FOR PRINCETON FARMS AND PRESERVES. PATEL FAMILY WEDDING. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 95 191. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN. BUT, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, GOING TO WENDY. I DON'T HAVE TO, BUT I FEEL THAT YOU KNOW, TO BE TO HEAR OUR RESIDENTS. I WILL ABSTAIN. ONE RESIDENT COMMITTEE MEMBER, TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. I'M ALSO GOING TO ABSTAIN. BUT AGAIN, AS WE WERE ADVISED BY THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY, THERE IS NO CONFLICT. AND IT IS SAD WHEN ONE RESIDENT KEEPS ON BRINGING THIS UP. BUT THANK YOU. YES. I'LL ABSTAIN. IS THAT. CAN I JUST ASK A QUESTION? IS THAT AMENDED AS AMENDED WITH THE CONDITION OF APPROVAL FROM THE SAD S.R. FROM THE THE STATE AG CONFIRMATION? IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT'S WHAT I HAD INDICATED PRIOR TO THAT. SO AS AMENDED WITH THE CONFIRMATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. I CAN CLOSE. YES I AM. OKAY. MAYOR, IF I MAY, JUST ONE MORE THING. [Additional Item] BASED ON PUBLIC COMMENT. SO WE HAVE THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING ABOUT THE HILLSBORO PLANNING BOARD MEETING. AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE PASSING RESOLUTION OR SENDING A LETTER MAY BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE, IT WOULD NOT BE PART OF THE RECORD. AND SO IF THERE'S RESIDENTS AND OR ANY RESIDENTS WHO SERVE ON A GOVERNING BODY WHO WISH TO REALLY MAKE THEMSELVES HEARD AND BE PART OF THE RECORD, THEN THERE SHOULD BE ATTENDANCE AT THE JUNE 5TH MEETING. OKAY, THAT'S REALLY GOOD. I THINK THERE IS CONSENSUS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, TO AT LEAST SEND A LETTER. A LETTER. ON. AND OF COURSE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUT IT IN RECORD. I HOPE WHEN WE SEND THE LETTER, WE CAN HAVE A OUR CLERK REACH OUT TO THE CLERK AND SAY, CAN YOU PLEASE READ IT IN CORRESPONDENCE? IF THEY CAN'T. THAT'S FINE TOO. AND IF SOMEONE FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CAN JOIN THE JOINED THE MEETING. I UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT. THAT PARTICULAR DAY. BUT ANYBODY ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WHO WANTS TO. BECAUSE YES, I DO AGREE WITH THE RESIDENTS FROM HILLSBOROUGH WHO HAVE COME HERE THAT YES, IF THE TRUCKS ARE GOING TO LEAVE HOMESTEAD ROAD, THEY COULD COME TOWARDS MONTGOMERY AND 2 OR 6 IS ALREADY ONE OF OUR VERY BUSY ROADS, AND WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEIR ELECTEDS AND EXPRESSED OUR CONCERNS. BUT, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S IT'S THEIR DECISION. YEAH, YEAH. BUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW. MY PLAN IS TO ATTEND. AND, YOU KNOW, IF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE COMFORTABLE, IF THERE'S A LETTER, I'D BE HAPPY TO READ IT AND PUT IT ON THE RECORD THERE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND BECAUSE, I MEAN, I HAVE HEARD WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW INDIVIDUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD OUR RESIDENTS, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT THERE'S NO ONE THAT I HAVE HEARD THAT COME UP HERE AND SAY THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. AND SO I WILL GO ON THAT DAY AND, AND REPRESENT THE TOWNSHIP AND SHARE THOSE THOUGHTS. OH, THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR, THAT THAT IS REALLY WELL RECEIVED BECAUSE THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF US WHO COULD ATTEND THE MEETING. I WOULD ALSO ATTEND IF I CAN. I'M UNDECIDED AT THIS POINT IF I'M AVAILABLE, BUT IF I'M AVAILABLE, I WILL ATTEND AS WELL, BECAUSE I AM CERTAINLY IN OPPOSITION OF THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT. OKAY. NO, THAT WILL BE GOOD. AND AGAIN, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IS ALWAYS THERE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO OF COURSE, QUALITY OF LIFE AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE. SO YES, IT IS GREAT TO HEAR THAT WE'LL HAVE HOPEFULLY TWO IF NOT TWO, AT LEAST ONE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER THERE. ON THAT MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION? OOPS, I DID THAT ALREADY. SORRY. JUST A MOTION TO ADJOURN. OPEN. AND. YES. AND MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. OH, AYE. THANK YOU. MONTGOMERY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.