[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:06] GOOD EVENING. MEETING. CALL TO ORDER AT 705. EXCUSE ME EVERYONE, CAN WE HAVE SILENCE, PLEASE? EXCUSE ME. THE MEETING MS IN THE BACK. THANK YOU. MEETING. CALL TO ORDER AT 706. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. CALL TO ORDER AT 706. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN HERE. NOTICE OF MEETING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON JANUARY 10TH, 2025, TO THE COURIER NEWS AND THE STAR LEDGER POSTED ON THE MUNICIPAL BULLETIN BOARD AND FILED WITH THE TOWNSHIP CLERK. SALUTE TO THE FLAG. PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 56-1 [1. Resolution #25-6-196 – Authorizing the Appointment of Probationary Police Officer, Shawn Dwyer ] 96, AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICER SEAN DYER. BE IT RESOLVED THAT SEAN DYER IS HEREBY APPOINTED PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICER EFFECTIVE JUNE 16TH, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 5175? SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SAYING YES. OATH OF OFFICE. WE'LL ASK CHIEF BETH TO SAY A FEW WORDS. GOOD EVENING. I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE BOTH THE OFFICERS GETTING SWORN IN TONIGHT. INSTEAD OF DOING THEM ONE AT A TIME. SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE SWEARING IN, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE AND WELCOME BOTH SEAN DWYER AND RYAN MARTINEZ TO THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. SEAN DWYER GRADUATED FROM DESALES UNIVERSITY IN CENTER VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA, IN 2015 WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OF SCIENCE AND SPORTS MANAGEMENT. PRIOR TO JOINING THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, SEAN WAS EMPLOYED BY THE SOMERSET COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BOTH AS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AND MORE RECENTLY AS A SHERIFF'S OFFICE OFFICER. RYAN MARTINEZ GRADUATED FROM MERCER COUNTY COLLEGE IN WEST WINDSOR IN 2024 WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. RYAN'S PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT WAS A SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, CLASS ONE FOR LA VILLETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN LA VILLETTE, NEW JERSEY. FROM JUNE OF 24 TO SEPTEMBER 2024 AND IN JUNE OF 25, RYAN GRADUATED FROM THE OCEAN COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY BASIC COURSE FOR POLICE OFFICERS. BOTH SEAN AND RYAN BRING A UNIQUE SKILL SET, TRAINING EXPERIENCE AND DIVERSIFIED BACKGROUNDS IN POLICING TO MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET NOT ONLY TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT ALSO TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [2. Oath of Office – Police Officer, Shawn Dwyer ] AND NOW, OATH OF OFFICE FOR POLICE OFFICER SEAN DWYER. IF YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU SO. MUCH. I'M READY TO GO. I SHAN'T LIE. I, I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION. BUT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY. THAT I WOULD BE A TRUE FAITH. SO VERY TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME. I THINK THE ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT IS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES, IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THIS STATE AND THE STATE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE. AND IN THIS THE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PEOPLE. AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY, AND JUST PERFORM AND JUST PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES. ALL THE DUTIES OF THE POLICE. OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OFFICER, OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OFFICER. TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. SO HOW CAN I HELP YOU? [00:05:01] WHAT? DO WE HAVE TO CALL FOR YOU? WOW. SO CUTE. YEAH, YEAH, I GOTTA TAKE BOTH PHOTOS WITH HER. OH, YES. SO. THEY'RE JUST. PRISTINE PAPERWORK TOGETHER. DO YOU HAVE THIS OPTION? ARE YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE THE RESOLUTION? OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. WE DID THE RESOLUTION FOR OFFICER MARTINEZ AT THE LAST ONE. [3. Oath of Office – Police Officer, Ryan Martinez ] SO AT THIS POINT, IF POLICE OFFICER RYAN MARTINEZ CAN COME TO THE PODIUM. I WANT SOFTWARE, SOFTWARE AND I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CONSTITUTION. STATE CONSTITUTION. THE CONSTITUTION THAT I WAS THERE TO TAKE OVER TO THE STATE AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. THE UNITED STATES. AND IN THIS STATE, THE STATE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE. AND I WILL FAITHFULLY, FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL DUTY AND JUST PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE POLICE OFFICER. THE POLICE OFFICER. THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. SO HELP ME. SO HELP ME GOD. THAT'S IT. THAT'S LIKE A FRAME THAT'S NEVER BEEN TAKEN BY ALL THE PEOPLE. [00:10:47] SO I'M READING THIS FIRST. [4. Presentation – New Jersey League of Municipalities Louis Bay 2nd Scholarship Award – Aryahi Padmavati Narvekar ] AND NOW IT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO CALL AAROHI. PADMAVATI. SHE IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES. LOUIS BASED SECOND. SHE'S THE SECOND SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNER FOR HER ESSAY ABOUT MONTGOMERY. SO IF WE CAN HAVE HER IN FRONT AND I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AWARD. FOUNDED BY THE NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES, THE LOUIS BASED SECOND SCHOLARSHIP HONORS THE LEGACY OF MAYOR LEWIS BEY, SECOND OF HOUGHTON. THE SCHOLARSHIP AIMS TO ENCOURAGE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND APPRECIATE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THE COMPETITION ASKS STUDENTS TO WRITE ESSAYS ON THE THEME WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MY HOMETOWN. REFLECTING ON THE IMPACT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL, ELECTED AND VOLUNTEER LEADERS FROM DOZENS OF MUNICIPAL ENTRIES, THE NEW JERSEY LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES MUNICIPALITIES COMMITTEE SELECTS 15 STATEWIDE FINALISTS AND THEN AWARDS THREE SCHOLARSHIPS OF $1,000 EACH. WE ARE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT. MATT PADMAVATI HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE THREE STATEWIDE WINNERS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP AND A RECIPIENT OF $1,000. CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR ESSAY AND PERSPECTIVE HAVE EARNED YOU THIS PRESTIGIOUS HONOR, AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE YOUR FUTURE IN THIS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TAKES YOU. AND PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD READ THE ESSAY TO ALL OF US, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS MY ESSAY, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT MY HOMETOWN. I STILL REMEMBER THE THRILL OF RACING MY BROTHER TO LOG READING HOURS DURING MONTGOMERY'S SUMMER LIBRARY READING PROGRAM. AT FIRST IT WAS ABOUT THE PRIZES, BUT OVER TIME IT BECAME SOMETHING MORE AN ADVENTURE IN WORDS, A CHALLENGE TO OUTREACH AND OUTDO EACH OTHER. THIS PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY MONTGOMERY'S MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, WAS THE SPARK THAT IGNITED MY LIFELONG LOVE FOR BOOKS. THROUGH THE STORIES I READ, I FOUND PERSPECTIVES THAT CHALLENGED ME, WORDS THAT COMFORTED ME, AND IDEAS THAT SHAPED HOW I SEE THE WORLD. IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WAYS I REALIZED THAT MY TOWN WASN'T JUST A COLLECTION OF HOUSES AND ROADS. RATHER, IT WAS A PLACE THAT ACTIVELY INVESTED IN CURIOSITY AND LEARNING. THAT INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION DIDN'T STOP WITH ME. IT BECAME SOMETHING I WANTED TO PASS ON. EACH YEAR, I HELPED LEAD A SPELL IN CLASS THAT IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE MONTGOMERY RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THEIR SUPPORT HANDLING SIGNUPS, RESERVING CLASSROOMS, AND PROMOTING THE PROGRAM ENSURES THAT I CAN FOCUS ON WHAT I LOVE MOST. HELPING CHILDREN SEE LANGUAGE IS A DOOR TO CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION. THROUGH MY PROGRAM, I WATCHED YOUNGER KIDS PIECE TOGETHER LETTERS, THEIR EYES. THEIR EYES WIDENING AS THEY DISCOVERED THAT WORDS WERE KEYS TO STORIES, IDEAS AND ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES. MOMENTS LIKE THESE REMIND ME THAT EDUCATION ISN'T CONFINED TO CLASSROOMS. IT THRIVES IN THE COMMUNITY SPACES MONTGOMERY HAS THOUGHTFULLY BUILT AND NURTURED, JUST AS MONTGOMERY HAS NURTURED LEARNING, IT HAS ALSO PROVIDED PLACES FOR REFLECTION. SOME OF MY FAVORITE DAYS WERE SPENT AT VAN HORN PARK, A SPACE PRESERVED THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP'S OPEN SPACE INITIATIVES. I OFTEN FOUND MYSELF SITTING ON A BENCH WITH A NOVEL IN HAND, SURROUNDED BY THE GENTLE HUM OF LIFE. SOMETIMES I CONTRIBUTED TO THE PARKS OF THE LIBRARY, LEAVING BEHIND BOOKS I LOVED HOPING SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT FIND IN THEM WHAT I ONCE DID. THESE MOMENTS, MADE POSSIBLE BY MONTGOMERY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SPACES, TAUGHT ME THAT LEARNING IS ALSO ABOUT HAVING A PLACE TO SLOW DOWN AND TO REFLECT. MONTGOMERY IS ALSO A PLACE OF UNEXPECTED ENERGY. AT LAST YEAR'S STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, I TOOK PART IN A ZUMBA SESSION HOSTED BY THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS CAMPAIGN. AT FIRST, I HESITATED. DANCING IN PUBLIC WASN'T SOMETHING I USUALLY DID, BUT SOON I FOUND MYSELF MOVING IN SYNC WITH NEIGHBORS, LAUGHING AT MY OWN AWKWARDNESS. THAT DAY, I SAW HOW MONTGOMERY DOESN'T JUST PROMOTE HEALTH AS AN ABSTRACT POLICY. IT CREATES SPACES WHERE WELL-BEING IS SOMETHING WE EXPERIENCE TOGETHER. INSPIRED BY THAT SESSION, I JOINED PRINCETON FITNESS, TURNING A SIMPLE COMMUNITY EVENT INTO A LASTING COMMITMENT TO MY OWN HEALTH. LOOKING AHEAD, I SEE MONTGOMERY NOT JUST AS MY HOMETOWN, BUT AS A MODEL OF HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOSTERS A THRIVING COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, WELLNESS AND PUBLIC SPACES. [00:15:02] IT HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE SHAPED ME AND THE WAY THAT I LEARN, GIVE BACK, AND CONNECT WITH OTHERS FROM PROGRAMS THAT NURTURE CURIOSITY TO SPACES THAT BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. MONTGOMERY HAS SHOWN ME THAT STRONG COMMUNITIES ARE BUILT THROUGH THE LASTING IMPACT OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT PROVIDES. AS I MOVE FORWARD, I CARRY WITH ME THE LESSON THAT THOUGHTFUL INVESTMENT IN A COMMUNITY DOESN'T JUST SUPPORT ITS RESIDENTS, IT SHAPES THEM. THANK YOU. THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. YEAH, PLEASE. IF I, IF I HAD SOMETHING. MYSELF IN THE TOWNSHIP, ADMINISTRATOR LORI, AS SOVEREIGN, WERE THE FINAL JUDGES FOR ALL OF THE MONTGOMERY RECIPIENTS. AND I THINK EVERYONE'S HEARD WHAT A WONDERFUL ESSAY THIS WAS. IT WAS A REALLY HARD I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE STUDENTS YOU GO TO, THAT YOU GO TO SCHOOL WITH ARE JUST REALLY STRONG AND WONDERFUL STORIES. AND WE FELT REALLY, REALLY, REALLY CONFIDENT THAT YOU WERE THE BEST ONE OUT OF EVERYONE. ALTHOUGH ALL OF THEM WERE ALL REALLY, REALLY GREAT. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU KNOW, OUR SENTIMENTS WERE ALSO, YOU KNOW, SEEN AS WELL BY THE STATE. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN AND GIVE YOU YOUR CHECK. THE CHECK IS IMPORTANT. YES. AND AT THE TIME COMMITTEE WILL COME DOWN AND WE'LL GIVE YOU YOUR CHECK AND YOUR CERTIFICATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IT'S ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS WHERE THERE'S ALL THESE GREAT THINGS IN MONTGOMERY. SO NOW WE [5. Proclamation – Recognizing Montgomery Emergency Medical Services Cadets for Dedicated Service ] HAVE THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MONTGOMERY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES CADETS FOR FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE. WHEREAS A COMMUNITY POSSESSES NO GREATER TREASURE THAN THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF ITS VOLUNTEERS. AND WHEREAS WHEN MONTGOMERY MS WAS OFFICIALLY FORMED ON JUNE 1ST, 1972, IT CONSISTED OF APPROXIMATELY 50 VOLUNTEER MEMBERS WHO PROVIDED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR. AND WHEREAS, THE FOLLOWING MONTGOMERY EMS CADETS HAVE GRADUATED TO FULL MEMBERS AND ARE TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. WHILE CADETS. WHILE CADETS TO THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION AND THOSE CADETS ARE ANSHU, SAMUEL RAJ, PI IN LAW, MIRANDA, SHU PATEL, SAHANA RANGARAJAN, RISHI, SURBHI, YARA, MALI. IF YOU CAN ALL COME WALK UP. WHEREAS THESE CADETS JOINED THE MONTGOMERY EMS AS EARLY AS AGE 16 HAVE COMPLETED THE FULL RIGOROUS VIGOROUS 210 HOUR EMT CERTIFICATION CLASS AND PASSED THE STATE. OKAY, SO WE'LL FINISH THE 210 HOURS EMT CERTIFICATION CLASS AND PASS THE STATE EMT TEST. VOLUNTEERED WITH MONTGOMERY EMS AT LEAST 20 HOURS A MONTH, HAVE ASSISTED IN SQUAD FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, AND STOOD BY TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR A MULTITUDE OF COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HAVE SERVED THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RESIDENTS THROUGH THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS ON 911 DAY SHIFT DUTY SHIFTS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, HEREBY CONGRATULATES THE 2025 MONTGOMERY EMS CADETS ON THEIR GRADUATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EXPRESSES SINCERE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. ON THIS 19TH DAY OF JUNE 2025. I WOULD ASK THEM TO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS. IF YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE CADETS SAID. OR IS THERE A LEWIS OR WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK? OKAY. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE CADETS HERE. THEY SPEND ABOUT TWO YEARS. [00:20:01] SINCE THEY WERE 16, AND NOW THEY'RE IN 2018 AND THE SENIOR YEAR OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL. THEY REALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME. WE ARE NOT ONLY TEACHING THEM IN THE MONTGOMERY MS. THE SERVICE THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE TO THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO GROWING AS LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SO REALLY THE WHOLE MONTGOMERY MS, ALL THE THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTGOMERY MS REALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN TRAINING THE CADETS TO BECOME WHO THEY ARE, AND THEN TO GO OUT OF MONTGOMERY INTO WHEREVER THEY GO TO THE COLLEGE, AND ALSO DO THE SERVICE IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM THEIR WE HAVEN'T SIGNED THEM, BUT THAT'S OKAY. WE CAN JUST GO DOWN FOR THE. WE'LL GET THE BATON. WE CAN STAND HERE. IF YOU JUST HOLD ON, WE'LL COME DOWN. YEAH. JUST FOR THE PICTURE. OKAY. THE THE PROCLAMATION. WHAT YOU TOLD ME. YEAH, I SAID I WOULD GET THEM BACK TO HIM. OKAY? OKAY. YOU KNOW. I. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT. VERY IMPRESSIVE. MIRANDA. SORRY. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S ALL. RIGHT. YES. YES. OKAY. OKAY. I'M GONNA SEE WHERE TO GO FIRST. OKAY. I'M JUST GONNA. IF YOU WOULD ALL LOOK THIS WAY. BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. OKAY. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. OH, WAIT. ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE. OKAY, NOW I GOT IT. I'M GONNA SET IT UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [6. Presentation – Girl Scout Gold Award Project ] AND NOW WE HAVE A PRESENTATION. GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD PROJECT ANGELINA BUSH. HELLO, TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANGELINA BUSH. I'M CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL, AND TODAY I'M HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO CONTINUE WITH MY GOLD AWARD PROJECT, WHICH IS A NEW RESIDENTS WELCOME PACKAGE. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF HEALTH. SO NOW I'M ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO FINALLY START WITH THE PROJECT. SO TO START TO CHOOSE MY ISSUE FROM MY PROJECT, I HAD NOTICED THAT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HAD SEEN AN INFLUX OF HOUSING AND NEW RESIDENTS. MANY NEW RESIDENTS ADDITIONALLY MISUNDERSTAND TOWNSHIP EMERGENCY SERVICES, ESPECIALLY POLICE AID AND DISASTER RELIEF. NOW, HOW DO I KNOW THIS? I'VE NOTICED, NUMBER ONE, THE INCREASED HOUSING IN THE AREA. AND WHEN I PROPOSE SOME SORT OF SUPPORT SYSTEM TO THE TOWNSHIP, I HAD IDENTIFIED INFORMATION GAPS WITH TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS AND AM NOW COLLABORATING WITH THE TOWNSHIP'S BOARD OF HEALTH. INITIATE THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY WITH MY PROJECT ADVISOR BEING DEVAANSHI PATEL. AND AGAIN, FOR THE MISCONCEPTIONS AND THE STRAINED RESOURCES, THEY INCLUDE CALLING 911 FOR ISSUES SUCH AS MINOR MEDICAL PROBLEMS LIKE THE FLU, OR EXPECTING SOME SORT OF FREE FLOOD REMOVAL FROM THE TOWNSHIP. SO THIS LEADS TO FRUSTRATION FOR BOTH THE TOWNSHIP AND NEW RESIDENTS WHEN DEALING WITH TOWNSHIP RESOURCES. AND THIS IS WHY SPECIFICALLY, IT MATTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE NEW JERSEY HAS SEEN AND OUR COUNTY [00:25:03] HAS SEEN A HUGE POPULATION SURGE. NEW JERSEY ITSELF HAS HAD A 2.3% INCREASE IN POPULATION FROM APRIL 20TH 20 TO 2024. AND AS FOR WHY IT MATTERS TO ME PERSONALLY, I HAVE A FAMILIAR EXPERIENCE WITH BEING A NEW RESIDENT. BOTH OF MY PARENTS MOVED INTO MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AS NEW RESIDENTS, SO THEY KIND OF KNOW THE SYSTEM AND HOW THEY'VE HAD TO WORK TO UNDERSTAND IT. SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S DEFINITELY A GAP THAT CAN BE BRIDGED WITH MY PROJECT AND MAKING SURE THAT RESIDENTS ARE WELL EDUCATED. SO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, LIKE I SAID, IS THE INFLUX OF RESIDENTS IS CAUSED BY THE HOUSING AND NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. MONTGOMERY'S POPULATION IS AROUND 23, 690,000 PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS AND 33MI². AND THAT POPULATION DENSITY ROSE FROM 200 294.8% IN 1990 TO 720, AND 3.3% PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE IN 2020. SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A REALLY BIG INFLUX OF HOUSING. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOWNSHIP WAS ALSO REQUIRED BY NEW JERSEY MANDATE TO BUILD 260 MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN 2024, ALONG WITH SEVERAL NON MANDATED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. SO THIS MEANS THAT THERE ARE MANY NEW RESIDENTS IN MONTGOMERY, A LOT OF WHOM ARE UNAWARE OF THE TOWNSHIP SERVICES AND THEIR LIMITATIONS. AND AGAIN, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. SO MY PLAN FOR THIS IS TO CREATE A NEW RESIDENTS WELCOME PACKAGE, WHICH WILL BASICALLY CONSIST OF, SORRY, COMPILING EXISTING TOWNSHIP RESOURCES TO CREATE A PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT EMERGENCY SERVICES, DISASTER RELIEF, HEALTH, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND SEVERAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT NEW RESIDENTS OR RESIDENTS IN GENERAL CAN GO TO. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS A COMPILATION OF TOWNSHIP RESOURCES THAT ALREADY EXIST, AND IT WILL BASICALLY BE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO HAVE A ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY MAY NEED AS A NEW RESIDENT. AND IN ORDER TO DISTRIBUTE THIS, I'M PLANNING TO DO A MULTI-LEVEL DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY THAT AIMS TO REACH AS MANY NEW RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE. SO THIS WOULD BE WORKSHOPS AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING AND THE ELKS LODGE TO INTRODUCE THE PACKAGE, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE FURTHER RESOURCES. ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD ALSO HAVE INFORMATIONAL TABLES AT LOCAL MARKETS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND TOWNSHIP GATHERINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND I WOULD ALSO COLLABORATE WITH REALTORS TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION ON THE PACKAGE TO NEW RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS EARLY IN THEIR TRANSITION. I WILL ALSO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE PACKAGE. WITH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BEING INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE AND QR CODES LINKING TO THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE RESOURCES. SO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS BEING DIRECTED BACK TO OFFICIAL RESOURCES. LASTLY THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN A DIGITAL FORMAT ON TOWNSHIP PLATFORMS, AND THERE WILL ALSO BE A SHORTENED PHYSICAL VERSION THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE AT COMMUNITY CENTERS AND EVENTS. SO MY TARGET AUDIENCE IS NEW RESIDENTS IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH TOWNSHIP RESOURCES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. SO THIS DOESN'T INHERENTLY MEAN NEW RESIDENTS, BUT JUST ANYBODY WHO IS A BIT CONFUSED ABOUT TOWNSHIP SERVICES IN GENERAL, AND ALSO FIRST GENERATION RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURE OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. AND WHAT DO I WANT THEM TO GAIN? I WANT THEM TO GAIN IN INFORMATION ON EMERGENCY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THEM TO LIVE IN THIS TOWNSHIP SUCCESSFULLY, AND ALSO ALLOW THEM TO BETTER INTEGRATE THEMSELVES AND ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY SAFELY AND IN A WAY THAT THEY BELIEVE IS EDUCATIONAL. AND AS FOR KNOWING HOW THIS IS GAINED I'LL BE PARTNERING WITH THE TOWNSHIP AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO TRACK A DECREASE IN NON 911 EMERGENCY CALLS AND INCORRECT SERVICE REQUESTS. ADDITIONALLY THE TOWNSHIP AND THE BOARD OF HEALTH HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD REFER NEW RESIDENTS TO THE NEW RESIDENT WELCOME PACKAGE FOR PROPER GUIDANCE IF SITUATIONS WHERE RESIDENTS ARE ASKING ABOUT AID ARISES. SO THAT'S HOW THAT KIND OF BE REDIRECTED TO THE PROJECT. AND AS FOR MY IMPACT, I PLAN TO REDUCE NON-EMERGENCY 91 CALLS BY 10% IN SIX MONTHS OF THE PACKAGE BEING RELEASED. WHICH IS TRACKED BY THE POLICE STATISTICS. I ALSO WANT TO REACH 100 WEBSITE VIEWS IN THE FIRST MONTH, WHICH WILL BE MEASURED BY THE WEBSITE ANALYTICS. I WOULD LIKE TO COLLECT 20 SURVEY RESPONSES IN SIX MONTHS FOR FEEDBACK AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PACKAGE, WHICH WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE PACKAGE ITSELF THAT USERS CAN FILL OUT. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE 50 FLIERS TO COMMUNITY CENTERS ABOUT THE PACKAGE IN THE FIRST MONTH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE 30 OF THOSE FLIERS TAKEN WITHIN SIX MONTHS. AS FOR SUSTAINABILITY THIS WILL BE SUSTAINED THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP. THE BOARD OF HEALTH HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUSTAIN IT ON THE WEBSITE, AND THEY WILL UPDATE AND MAINTAIN THE PACKAGE AS NEEDED AND CONTINUE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESOURCES TO THE FACILITIES. SO YES, THAT'S MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANGELINA, I LOST ANYTHING. SO I KNOW YOU'RE PLANNING ON DISTRIBUTING. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. YOU KNOW MENTAL HEALTH CALLS ARE RISING, AND IT IS A CONCERN. THE MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THE NBA ALSO HAS A PACKET THAT GOES OUT TO THE RESIDENTS, NEW RESIDENTS ONCE ONCE A MONTH, I BELIEVE. ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS. MAYBE YOU WANT TO REACH OUT TO THEM AS WELL AS IF WE I KNOW WE AS A TOWN GIVE THEM SOME INFORMATION AS WELL. SO MAYBE WE CAN PUT IT ONTO THAT PACKET BECAUSE IT DOES REACH. [00:30:02] MOST OF THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS, NEW RESIDENTS. THE DIFFICULT PART IS REACHING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN, LIKE MORE OF A COMMUNITY BASED WHERE THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE UNITS TOGETHER. IT'S IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE HARDER TO GET INTO, BUT MAYBE YOU CAN LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL. YES. THANK YOU. I DEFINITELY PLAN ON DOING THAT. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR A AN INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION, A CREATIVE IDEA AND A GOOD LOOKING PRESENTATION AS WELL. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR CREATIVITY. AND WITH YOU KNOW, SOME INPUT. IT'S A GREAT I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE CAN CONSOLIDATE ALL THESE RESOURCES IN ONE PLACE AND MAKE IT VERY ACCESSIBLE, BECAUSE IT IS CONFUSING WHEN PEOPLE CALL THE WRONG DEPARTMENT AND IF THEY REALLY NEED HELP, IT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING. THANK YOU. YEAH, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT AND LIKE JUST THE THE PIXEL UPDATES, WHICH I FOUND EXTREMELY HELPFUL WHEN THE WEATHER IS NOT GOOD OR THEY'RE CLOSING A ROAD FOR PAVING OR WHATEVER. SO THERE'S ALWAYS, ALWAYS EXCELLENT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION, NEW EFFORTS, ANY OF THESE EFFORTS THAT PEOPLE LIVE HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT A LOT OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. SO I THINK IT SOUNDS GREAT. I THINK IF YOU RUN, YOU WANT TO RUN YOUR, YOUR POCKET BY ANY OF US OR LORI OR, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AND SAY, HEY, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE, OR MAYBE THERE'S THIS. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANT TO SAY AGAIN, ECHO GREAT ABOUT HELENA. JUST TWO THINGS. ONE IS IN MY LEADERSHIP SOMERSET CLASS, ONE OF ONE OF THE TEAMS ALSO DID, LIKE A KIND OF A SOMETHING SIMILAR, LIKE A CONSOLIDATION OF A LOT OF THE COUNTY RESOURCES. SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, JUST LIKE I WANT TO CALL THIS BEST PRACTICE, BUT LIKE AN ANALOG, LET ME KNOW. YOU KNOW MY INFORMATION OR, YOU KNOW, CONTACT ME. THE SECOND THING IS, I THINK WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THINGS THAT ARE LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, LIKE COULD BE BETTER, ETC.. SO PLEASE I THINK FROM ALL OF US, LIKE, IF YOU SEE, MAYBE IF YOU DON'T MIND ADDING LIKE A HIGH LEVEL LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS AS YOU TALK TO PEOPLE AND YOU GET SOME SORT OF RESOURCES, THAT'D BE REALLY INVALUABLE. SO THANK YOU. YEAH. OF COURSE, ANGELINA, THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE PACKET THAT WE HAVE FROM THE TOWNSHIP. YOU'VE SEEN WHAT LISA HAS. OKAY. THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE THAT AS A RESOURCE. AND THAT WAS A REALLY WELL DONE PRESENTATION. AND ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR GOLD AWARD. I'M A GOLD AWARD. GOLD SCOUTS MOM. SO I KNOW IT IS A IT IS A BIG JOB AND IT TAKES A LOT OF HOURS. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. AND NOW IT IS WE REALLY ALL THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES REALLY HAPPY AND GLAD AND [7. Proclamation – Honoring Denise Crowley for Outstanding Service as Community Resource Manager and Senior Center Director ] GRATEFUL TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION HONORING DENISE CROWLEY FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS COMMUNITY RESOURCE. I'M GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION, DENISE, IF YOU WANNA. YEAH, YEAH, YOU CAN SIT RIGHT IN THE FRONT. YES, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. SO, YES, HONORING DENISE CROWLEY FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGER AND SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR. WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY POSSESSES NO GREAT TREASURE THAN THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF ITS STEADFAST AND DEVOTED EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS. AND WHEREAS RETIREMENT MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE LIFE AND CAREER OF AN INDIVIDUAL DESERVING OF RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE. AND THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE. AND WHEREAS, FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS, DENISE CROWLEY HAS SERVED WITH DEDICATION, COMPASSION AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AS COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGER AND SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR AT THE OTTO KAUFMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, DILIGENTLY MANAGING THE FOOD PANTRY, ORGANIZING SEASONAL FOOD BASKETS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN TIMES OF NEED, ENSURING THAT NO ONE WENT WITHOUT EVEN DURING THE HOLIDAYS. AND WHEREAS SHE HAS BROUGHT JOY AND CREATIVITY TO THE SENIOR COMMUNITY BY OVERSEEING MUSICAL THEATER PRODUCTIONS AND FOUNDING A UKULELE PROGRAM, GIVING OLDER ADULTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE ON STAGE AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES ARTISTICALLY. AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT HER TENURE, DENISE HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, EXEMPLIFYING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF HEARTFELT COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND IN RECOGNITION OF HER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, DENISE WAS HONORED AS AN HONORARY ROTARIAN AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HER DEEP ROOTED IMPACT AND LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT EIMEAR SINGH AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE [00:35:03] TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, ALONG WITH STAFF AND RESIDENTS, HEREBY RECOGNIZED DENISE CROWLEY FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND HEARTFELT DEDICATION TO THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY AND EXTEND SINCERE APPRECIATION, GRATITUDE, AND WELL-WISHES IN HER RETIREMENT. DENISE CROWLEY'S LEGACY OF KINDNESS, SERVICE, AND DEDICATION HAS ENRICHED THE LIVES OF MANY AND WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS TO COME. DENISE. I JUST. I REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT THIS, BUT THANK YOU. I THERE WASN'T A DAY THAT EVERY DAY I WENT TO WORK, I, I CAN'T SAY THAT I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE GOING TO WORK THAT ONE DAY. I LOVED GOING TO MY JOB EVERY DAY. AND IT WAS MY HONOR TO SERVE HERE. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. THIS COMMUNITY WAS VERY THE COMMUNITY IS VERY GIVING, AND IT WAS EASY TO WORK WITH EVERYONE HERE TO GET PROGRAMS FOR THE FOOD PANTRY. THEY'RE JUST VERY GENEROUS. THE COMMUNITY'S GENEROUS. AND THE SENIORS WERE GREAT. AND THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT, I MEAN, EVERYBODY GAVE ME FULL REIN TO DO WHAT? YOU KNOW, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WITH RECREATION. IT WAS JUST. IT WAS A GREAT JOB. SORRY. IT'S TIME, BUT IT WAS IT WAS A GREAT JOB. AND I LOVED EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT OH. JOANNE FROM THE COUNTY IS GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS. JOANNE IS GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR ALLOWING ME TO RECOGNIZE DENISE. AND MY NAME IS JOANNE. I'M THE PROUD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SOMERSET COUNTY OFFICE ON AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES. FOR MANY YEARS WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL COUNTY TOWNSHIP RELATIONSHIP TO RUN THE CENTER AND TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR OLDER ADULT COMMUNITY. AND WHAT WAS SO FANTASTIC ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WAS NOT ONLY THE COOPERATION WITH THE TOWNSHIP AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE GENEROSITY THAT DENISE EXPLAINED, BUT DENISE HERSELF, DENISE, FROM THE SECOND SHE CAME IN, SHE'S BEEN HIGH SPIRITED, A LOT OF ENERGY. SO MUCH CREATIVITY. REALLY? YOU COULD RUN IT YOURSELF. WE LET YOU RUN IT YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU COULD RUN IT YOURSELF. YOU. YOU WERE A VERY CAPABLE MANAGER. AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGER, I APPRECIATE YOU. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AT SOMERSET COUNTY, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, AND WE THANK YOU FOR MAINTAINING SUCH A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. I SEE THAT LISA YOUNGBERG IS HERE. ELLEN ROBBINS IS HERE. AND OF COURSE, OUR DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL SERVICES AND OF COURSE, SENIOR CENTER, JOHN GROGAN. IF ANY OF YOU WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS, PLEASE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME UP AND SAY SOMETHING. AND SAY A FEW WORDS. TURN AROUND. NO. I JUST WANTED TO ECHO THE AMAZING WORDS OF THE PROCLAMATION. ALSO, WHAT JOANNA HAD SAID AND SAY FOR FOR 19 YEARS. ALTHOUGH I OBVIOUSLY WASN'T HERE FOR ALL OF IT, THE ALMOST SIX YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A TRUE PLEASURE. JOANNE, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME VERY LARGE SHOES TO FILL WITH WITH OUR NEW THE NEW EMPLOYEE. SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO AGAIN ECHO A HUGE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE DEDICATED WORK TO THE SENIORS AS WELL AS THE FOLKS IN NEED. AND WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST. DENISE. STAY HERE. LISA IS GOING TO. YEAH. PLEASE DO. PLEASE. COME ON, GIVE ME A MICROPHONE. YEAH. SO I MET THE ROTARY. YES. SO I MET DENISE IN OCTOBER OF 2007. I HAD BEEN MY GIRL SCOUTS, AND I HAD BEEN GOING TO THE SENIOR CENTER WHEN HER PREVIOUS SENIOR, LISA, GET CLOSER TO THE MIC. I REALLY LIKED TO DO THAT. OKAY. AND WHEN WE MET DENISE IN OCTOBER OF 2007, SHE CHANGED MY LIFE AND SHE CHANGED THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE. IN YOUR PROCLAMATION, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE GIRL SCOUTS, BUT DENISE HAS WORKED WITH MORE THAN A HALF A DOZEN GIRL SCOUTS ON THEIR GOLD AWARD PROJECTS AS AN ADVISOR. SHE IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN. [00:40:03] AS I SAID, ROTARY. ROTARY LOVED HER. AND ALL OF HER. ROTARY IMMEDIATELY WANTED TO PARTNER WITH DENISE WITH THE STARTUP OF THE FOOD PANTRY. AND HER CREATIVITY AND HER ENERGY. WITH GAMES MINUTE TO WIN IT. ANYTIME DENISE CALLED WE WERE THERE BECAUSE IT WAS DENISE. SHE WOULD SAY, I HAVE THIS IDEA. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I WAS GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER BECAUSE OF DENISE'S IDEA. SO I WILL MISS HER, BUT I WILL STAY FRIENDS WITH HER FOR LIFE. BUT I THINK SHE HAS REALLY CHANGED THE WAY WE LOOK AT SENIORS. AND PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS. SHE HAD THOSE SENIOR CITIZENS DOING THINGS THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN. DANCING WITH THE SENIOR STARS. WITH THE SENIOR SARS. MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING GREASE. SHE'S DONE SOME BOLLYWOOD STUFF THAT I'VE BEEN THERE FOR. AND I'M SO PROUD TO CALL HER MY FRIEND AND HAVE GOTTEN TO BE PART OF SO MANY OF THOSE AMAZING PROGRAMS. AND MY FAMILY WHO OH. THANK YOU. ALL THAT FUN WAS AT NOON WITH THE MONTGOMERY SENIORS AT NOONTIME. EVERY SINGLE YEAR SINCE. SINCE AMANDA WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. OH. THAT'S LOVELY. DID IT FROM HAWAII THIS YEAR. SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO WE? YEAH, WE DID IT FROM HAWAII. SO JUST. I THINK I'M SO PROUD. YOUR RESOLUTION IS WONDERFUL. SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN, INCREDIBLE PERSON. AND THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK. OH. THANK YOU. IT IS SO. PRICELESS. COME BACK, COME BACK! SUSAN! DENISE, YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR PROCLAMATION. ELLEN, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? PLEASE COME. I'M JUST WAITING FOR ELLEN. AND THEN. HOW COULD I BE HERE TONIGHT? NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT DENISE. DENISE AND I, YOU KNOW, MET DURING COVID. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES IN MONTGOMERY TO TO ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, DURING A PANDEMIC. AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE GOT THROWN TOGETHER. SO IT WAS. WAIT, HOW DO YOU DO THIS? HOW DO YOU DO DO THAT? AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO SEE WHAT SHE HAD DONE IN THE PAST AND HOW I COULD LEARN FROM HER AND WHAT I DID. YOU KNOW, I HEARD GREAT THINGS FROM THE SENIORS. THEY LOVE HER, YOU KNOW, AND AND LOVE THE PROGRAMS I HAVE. I KNOW PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT VISIT HER. SO THEY LOVED THE PROGRAMS THAT SHE DID. BUT I WANTED TO SAY, AS I DID TO HER WHEN I FIRST SAW HER TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS. I'M EXCITED FOR HER AND HER RETIREMENT. I'M PLEASED TO HAVE MET HER, TO HAVE KNOWN HER, BECAUSE SHE CERTAINLY TAUGHT ME THINGS. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T KNOW. I JUST HAD THIS KIND HEART THAT WANTED TO HELP. AND DENISE HELPED GUIDE ME. ELLEN, HOLD ON. DON'T DO THAT. ELLEN. YEAH, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DID, AND WE WORKED IT OUT. BUT IT'S JUST IT'S AN HONOR KNOWING YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID BEFORE ME. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR, AND I JUST. THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. YOU KNOW, SO MUCH TO. WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN. DENISE. STAY THERE. WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN. THIS IS THE BEST OF MONTGOMERY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M REALLY. EXCITED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. AWESOME. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. READY? AND ONE MORE. GREAT. THANKS. THANK YOU. RIGHT. JUNETEENTH. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. [8. Proclamation – Recognizing Juneteenth ] IT IS MY HONOR TO READ THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION AND ABBREVIATED PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH. WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY IS COMPRISED OF PEOPLE FROM EVERY NATION ON EARTH WHO ARE DECLARED [00:45:01] EQUAL NOT ONLY IN FREEDOM, BUT ALSO IN JUSTICE. BOTH OF WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR A HEALTHY HUMAN CIVILIZATION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, HEREBY DECLARES JUNE 19TH, 2025 JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, LIBERATION AND CELEBRATION. DID YOU WANT TO MENTION THIS EVENT. YEAH. SO AS I DO EVERY YEAR THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE AND REMARK ON JUNETEENTH AND TO READ THE PROCLAMATION, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO OUR VERY OWN JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, WHICH IS GOING TO BE AT SAM THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 21ST, I BELIEVE, AT 1:00. AND IT'S ALWAYS AN AMAZING CELEBRATION. YOU KNOW, BLACK HISTORY IS RIGHT HERE. AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND AMERICAN HISTORY IS RIGHT HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND IN SOMERSET. AND THEY ALWAYS DO AN AMAZING, AMAZING CELEBRATION. SO I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE BECAUSE MY FAMILY AND MYSELF WILL BE THERE. AND IF YOU COME, BE SURE TO WEAR RED, WHICH IS THE COLOR OF JUNETEENTH. 11 TO 1 SATURDAY. 11 TO 1 ON SATURDAY, TOMORROW OR SATURDAY. I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S AT 111 TO 1. I THINK IT'S 11 TO 1. OKAY. IT'S AT 12. OH IT STARTS AT 12. SO AND THEY WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO GO TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE BUSSES WILL GO FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL TO THE MUSEUM BECAUSE PARKING IS. YOU DO NEED TO GO TO SAM'S WEBSITE AND PURCHASE YOUR TICKET. YES, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO GET THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE DRESS CODE. I WOULD HAVE MISSED THAT ONE. YOU'LL BE ADMITTED IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE READ. OKAY. MIKE, ARE YOU GOING TO BE READING? OKAY. THIS IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE AS LGBTQIA+ PRIDE MONTH. [9. Proclamation – Recognizing June as LGBTQIA+ Month ] WHEREAS LGBTQ PLUS AMERICANS HAVE LONG MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF OUR NATION SINCE ITS FOUNDING. AND. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, HEREBY DECLARES JUNE 2025 FIVE. LGBTQ PLUS PRIDE MONTH TO COMMEMORATE THE STRIDES MADE AMONGST LGBTQ PLUS AMERICANS AND DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT FOR CONTINUED JUSTICE, INCLUSION AND EQUITY. THIS 19TH DAY OF JUNE 2025. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT. [10. 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. SALVATORE AND TILLIE IN TILLIE. PRESIDENT MONTGOMERY. PB 355. I'M HERE TO COMMENT ON A RECENT CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE TOWNSHIP'S NEGOTIATIONS ATTORNEY AND THE PBA, AS WELL AS A SPECIAL COMMENT THAT THE COMMITTEE MADE IN MONTGOMERY NEWS. TODAY, I WAS ASKED BY THE TOWNSHIP'S NEGOTIATION ATTORNEY TO NOT ENGAGE IN FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT AT THESE MEETINGS. I FIND THIS OUTRAGEOUS, AS PUBLIC COMMENT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF DIRECTLY COMMUNICATING OR NEGOTIATIONS WITH YOU ALL. ESPECIALLY AFTER I WAS INSTRUCTED BY VINCE THAT ANY MEANS OF COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING NEGOTIATIONS NEEDS TO BE DONE THROUGH ATTORNEYS. WE WERE ALSO INFORMED BY YOUR NEGOTIATION ATTORNEY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION, PRESUMABLY LORI SAFRAN AND MIKE PITTS, ARE GOING TO MAKE AND THE UNION'S OPINION A PITIFUL COUNTEROFFER TO OUR LAST PROPOSAL. UNLIKE THE COMMITTEE, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS, JUST THAT IT WOULD NOT BRING US TO A COMPETITIVE WAGE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS. YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES PUBLICLY COMMENT ON THE SPECIFICS OF NEGOTIATIONS, BUT NOW THAT OUR COMMITTEE HAS, I WILL CERTAINLY COMMENT ON THE RECENT NEWS ARTICLE. YES, WE DID ASK FOR THESE RAISES. WE ASKED FOR THESE RAISES TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE WAGE WITHIN THE COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING TOWNS. IF WE WERE TO HAVE THESE COMPETITIVE WAGES OVER THE YEARS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE LOST NINE OFFICERS SINCE 2019. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT BEING FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF THESE NINE OFFICERS, COST THE TOWN ITS CONSTITUENTS OVER $1 MILLION. DID WE VOTE AND AGREE ON THE 2020 CONTRACT? YEAH, WE DID, BUT AS JOHN CARLUCCI, OUR FORMER PRESIDENT, EXPLAINED THAT THE PRIOR MEETING. WE WERE PROMISED THAT THE AGGRESSIVELY NEGOTIATED CONTRACT WOULD BE CORRECTED IN THIS 2025 CONTRACT. NOT ONLY DID WE BELIEVE A FALSE PROMISE, BUT WE VOTED AND AGREED TO THE CONTRACT BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO GO TO MEDIATION OR ARBITRATION. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT KNOW THIS PROCESS, IT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AS IT INCURS MORE BILLS FROM ATTORNEYS WHICH WOULD DIRECTLY [00:50:03] AFFECT THE TAXPAYER. DID NINA SING AND VINCE BERRIGAN ATTEND THE LAST NEGOTIATIONS MEETING? YEAH. THEY DID. DID THEY NEGOTIATE? NO, THEY DID NOT. THEY SAT ACROSS FROM THE TABLE FOR MUCH FROM US, EACH GIVING AN OPENING COMMENT TO THE MEETING. THEN THEY LEFT THE ROOM. THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A NEGOTIATIONS TO ME. IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE IN ATTENDANCE JUST TO SAY THEY WERE AT THE NEGOTIATIONS MEETING. MONTGOMERY IS NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTY FOR HOUSEHOLD MEDIUM INCOME AND 15TH IN THE STATE. THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX IN MONTGOMERY IS $17,000, OF WHICH THE MUNICIPAL TAX IS 16%. IF THE POLICE SALARY AND BUDGET ACCOUNTS FOR ROUGHLY 33% OF THAT MUNICIPAL BUDGET, THEN IT EQUATES TO $75 A MONTH PER HOUSEHOLD, $75 A MONTH FOR A FULLY STAFFED, 24 HOUR, SEVEN DAY A WEEK SERVICE. IT IS TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS A LARGE TAX SURPLUS AND AN ABUNDANCE OF $5.5 MILLION. THIS MONEY YOU INVEST IN THINGS LIKE THE FARMERS MARKET AND SEVERAL OF THE PROPERTIES. MEMBERS OF OUR UNION AND YOUR RESIDENTS LOOK AT HOW YOU SPEND THEIR MONEY. WE FEEL THAT WE ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENT. WE FEEL THE RESIDENTS SHARE OUR OFFICER. YOUR THREE MINUTE PROPOSAL IS NOT BUDGETARY UNSUSTAINABLE. YOU HAVE THE MEANS. YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO INVEST IN OUR EMPLOYEES OR YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AS OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNSHIPS DO. IT IS NO WONDER WHY WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OFFICER, THANK YOU ALL. IS LOSING $1 MILLION SINCE 2019 DUE TO OFFICER RETENTION BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. PLEASE DON'T PUT THAT BUZZER ON FOR ME. OKAY, SIR. I'M FRANK THRIFT. WHOEVER DON'T KNOW ME. I'VE LIVED HERE 82.5 YEARS NOW. THAT'S A LONG TIME. I KNOW MORE ABOUT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP THAN ANYBODY IN THIS BUILDING, INCLUDING LORI, BECAUSE I REMEMBER LORI COMING HERE AS A YOUNG GIRL WHEN SHE WAS HIRED. WE HAVE A HELL OF A GOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M WITH THESE GUYS. YOU WOULDN'T GO TO WORK WITHOUT A CONTRACT. IF YOU DID, YOU WOULDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB. BUT THESE GUYS DO. THIS WASN'T THE MAIN REASON I CAME, BUT SINCE I'M HERE, WHY CAN'T WE GET A CONTRACT? NINA, YOU KNOW HOW TO DEAL. COME ON, GET A CONTRACT FOR THESE GUYS RIGHT AWAY. OKAY. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS ONE OF MY THINGS TONIGHT. THE OTHER THING IS. THE OLD SOD FARM. YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN SALAD WAS OUT THERE AND EVERYBODY WAS COMPLAINING THAT HE WAS STRIPPING THE SOIL. TOPSOIL WITH HIS SOD. NOW YOU GOT SOMEBODY OVER THERE THAT REALLY WANTS TO FARM, AND HE'S A GOOD GUY. YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE. YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE HE PUT A SIGN UP THERE. PRINCETON, THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. YOU KNOW, PRINCETON, THAT WAS PRINCETON NORTH. IF YOU DON'T ALL DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WHOLE PROPERTY WAS NAMED PRINCETON NORTH. SO HE DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. AND IF YOU GO OVER THERE AND LOOK AT HIS FARMING OPERATION, FOR SOMEBODY THAT GOES OVER THERE AND SAYS HE'S NOT FARMING, HE'S DOING A HELL OF A GOOD JOB OVER THERE. HE'S GOT FLOWERS PLAYING IT. I MEAN, NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT, A LOT. YOU KNOW, THE GUYS WORKING HIS BUTT OFF. HE'S A VERY ENVIRONMENTAL PERSON, AND I THINK WE SHOULD GO OVER THERE INSTEAD OF BEING VINDICTIVE. AND COMING IN HERE, WHOEVER DOES THIS COMES IN AND GOES TO ENGINEERING OR WHATEVER AND GO OVER THERE AND GET AFTER HIM. WE CAN'T DO THAT. WHY CAN'T WE BE A NICE TOWN? AND IF ANYBODY REALLY WANTS TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO ME, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT GOES ON IN THIS TOWN. IT'S ALL COVER UP. IT'S B.S.. YOU KNOW. NOW I'M GOING TO GO. THE TOWNSHIP EQUIPMENT, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITMENT. WE BUY A LOT OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE DO NOT NEED. YOU DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WHY WOULD YOU BOTHER? IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT? I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT. MY NUMBER IS 9082564105I DON'T CARE. YOU CAN CALL ME. I DON'T HIDE NOTHING. AND NOW THE LAST ISSUE IS ENGINEERING. I REMEMBER US SAYING NOT ME, BUT TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE SAYING, LISTEN, WE NEED TO DO THIS. WE NEED AN ORDINANCE TO DO THAT. WE NEED ORDERS TO DO THIS, AND ENGINEERING CAN HANDLE IT. WE ENGINEERING CAN HANDLE IT. DO YOU KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO STOP? DO YOU KNOW THAT WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, A PERMIT GOES TO ENGINEERING? IT SITS IN ENGINEERING DESK FOR A MONTH. [00:55:01] THEN IT GOES TO THE TOWNSHIP. MR. DRIFT. ABSOLUTELY. WE WANT TO MAKE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU, AND. BUT WE DEFINITELY WILL MAKE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU. WELL, WELL, FIRST THING IS LET'S GET THIS POLICE CONTRACT ON, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT I DO, SIR. YOU WORK FOR JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, RIGHT? NOT ANYMORE. NOT ANYMORE. WELL, I STARTED THERE 1970, AND I STILL WORK THERE. THANK YOU. SO THE OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR THAT'S EVER DONE THAT. WHY? BECAUSE I TAKE PRIDE IN WHAT I DO. THANK YOU ALL. NO THANK YOU, MISTER. WE LOOK AT ALL THE POINTS THAT YOU MADE. THANK YOU. FRANK DRIFT IS A LEGEND IN MONTGOMERY, SO HE'S QUITE A CHARACTER, BUT A VERY SMART PERSON WHO'S BEEN HERE FOREVER. SO, CHRIS. VENICE 417, ROUTE 518 SKILLMAN. THANK YOU. MAYOR. AGAIN, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN. AS THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE NEWBURGH, NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS THE FIRST THING ON MY MIND. I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS OF MONTGOMERY FOR THEIR DEMAND TO HIRE MORE POLICE OFFICERS. TWO OFFICERS HAVE BEEN HIRED TODAY AND THAT'S A START. IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING. THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO. YOUR VOICE HAS BEEN HEARD. IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO BE YOUR VOICE. THAT WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND THE HIRING OF MORE POLICE OFFICERS AS NEEDED. THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF ANY GOVERNMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, HERE WE ARE AGAIN. I'D MUCH RATHER BE SITTING IN MY COUCH WATCHING BASEBALL TONIGHT. BUT HERE WE ARE. HAVING SAID THAT, THERE'S STILL NO CONTRACT FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS IF A REASONABLE CONTRACT IS NOT REACHED. MONTGOMERY WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A REVOLVING DOOR OF POLICE OFFICERS. QUITE HONESTLY, I CAN'T BLAME A YOUNG POLICE OFFICER TO LEAVE FOR A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE PAY IS MUCH BETTER. THIS PAST WEEK, IN OUR SLEEPY RURAL TOWN OF MONTGOMERY, CRIME REARED ITS UGLY HEAD, A CRIME THAT'S OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH BIG URBAN CITIES. A RESIDENT WAS STABBED IN MONTGOMERY. YES, YOU HEARD ME CORRECTLY. THE FOLKS AT HOME, WE HAD A RESIDENT THAT WAS STABBED IN MONTGOMERY. OUR POLICE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH NEIGHBORING TOWNS TO APPREHEND THE SUSPECT AFTER A VEHICLE PURSUIT. THANKFULLY, NO MONTGOMERY OFFICERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. WE EVEN HAD A VEHICLE HIT BY THE SUSPECT. THE DANGERS ARE BECOMING MORE EVIDENT EVERY DAY IN MONTGOMERY. AS UNFETTERED DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION CONTINUE IN MONTGOMERY. SO WILL THE DEMANDS ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. AS CRIME RISES, SO DO THE DANGERS RISE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE OFFICERS. PLEASE, I ASK YOU, SETTLE A CONTRACT FOR OUR POLICE TONIGHT. THE LONGER THIS GETS DELAYED, THE LOUDER OUR VOICES ARE GOING TO GET AND OUR VOICES WILL BE MUCH LOUDER. THE DANGER PUT OUR OFFICERS AND OUR RESIDENTS IN IS. IT'S A SHAME. IT'S TIME FOR EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP. AND AS I SAID BEFORE, TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE POLICE, WE HEAR YOU. WE SUPPORT YOU AND HELPS ON THE WAY. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. ELLEN ROBINS HOLLOW ROAD. SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS. HENCE I AM ONE. BUT OF COURSE MORE IMPORTANTLY I DO IT AS A VOLUNTEER. BUT WE DO HAVE OUR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE FORCE. AS AS AN EMT, WE RELY ON THE POLICE ON EVERY SINGLE CALL WE GO ON. IT WAS JUST SPOKEN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON MONDAY. TERRIBLE SITUATION. IT WAS HANDLED IMMEDIATELY. THE POLICE WERE ON TOP OF IT. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THIS IS THEIR CAREER. THEY DO THIS CAREER FOR A REASON BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. SO I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I STAND BEFORE YOU NOT WITH ANY COMPLAINTS, BUT WITH CONCERN AND WITH A REQUEST OF FAIRNESS. OUR POLICE OFFICERS SERVE ON THE FRONT LINES OF OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO RESPOND FIRST, WHO PROTECT, WHO MEDIATE WITH TONS OF TRAINING, AND WHO WALK INTO THE UNKNOWN SO THE REST OF US CAN FEEL SAFE. AND YET, DESPITE THE WEIGHT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, OUR OFFER OFFICERS ARE NOT RECEIVING EQUAL OR COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION WHEN COMPARED TO SIMILAR TOWNSHIPS IN THE AREA, EVEN JUST SOMERSET COUNTY. IT'S NOT JUST A PAYROLL ISSUE, IT'S A MESSAGE, A MESSAGE OF HOW WE VALUE THOSE WHO SERVE. [01:00:01] ABOUT WHETHER WE EXPECT THEM TO GIVE THEIR ALL WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO ACCEPT LESS, BECAUSE THEY WILL. WHEN COMPENSATION LAGS, WE RISK LOSING. OH. I'M SORRY. THE LAST SIX YEARS, WE'VE LOST NINE OFFICERS GOING TO OTHER TOWNSHIPS FOR BETTER PAY. WE BROUGHT THEM IN. IT COST MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP MONEY TO BRING THEM IN. AND THEY LEFT US. WHY? BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT THEY WEREN'T BEING HEARD. RECRUITMENT BECOMES HARDER. MORALE DIPS. IT'S PROVEN. AND THE FABRIC OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY WEEKENDS. I URGE YOU, PLEASE TAKE ACTION. REVIEW THE NUMBERS. SPEAK TO THOSE AFFECTED. SPEAK TO THE OFFICERS. YOU DON'T WALK IN THEIR SHOES EVERY DAY. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO. YOU MIGHT HEAR STATISTICS FOR THE TOWN, BUT AGAIN, BACK TO WALKING INTO THE UNKNOWN. THEY DO IT EVERY DAY WITH NO CONCERN. WE ALL WOULD BE CONCERNED. SO I PLEASE, I ASK YOU, LET MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BE A MODEL, NOT AN IMBALANCE, BUT FOR INTEGRITY, FOR HONORING THOSE WHO STAND WITH US EVERY DAY BY STANDING WITH THEM IN RETURN. PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. WE WANTED OUR POLICY TO FOR MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP TO BE ONE OF THE TOP THREE PAID IN SOMERSET COUNTY. WHY? BECAUSE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP TAKES PRIDE IN WHAT WE DO. WE WANT TO BRAG WHAT WE'VE DONE. I YOU KNOW, I'LL BRING UP WHAT SERGEANT ADAM VERDUCCI DID. HE WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS OWN PROGRAM. YEAH. AT THE TIME IS UP. MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP TAKES PRIDE IN WHAT OUR POLICE FORCE DOES. PLEASE WORK FOR THEM. DON'T LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. LOOK AT WHAT THEY DO. WALK IN THEIR SHOES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RON GERSTLE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED THAT FOR ME. YEAH. G E R S L IN YOUR FIRST NAME. RON. RON. OKAY. I CAN USE IT IN A SENTENCE, TOO. THANK YOU. SO MY NAME IS RON. I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF MONTGOMERY MS FOR EIGHT YEARS. I WOULD JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. MY COMMENTS ARE FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, NOT RELATED TO THE SQUAD AT ALL. I ALREADY THINK IT'S PRETTY CRAZY THAT THESE THREE MINUTE COMMENTS ARE BEING SO STRICT. IT SHOWS KIND OF THE, THE WILLINGNESS YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT'S FRUSTRATING AND EMBARRASSING THAT I EVEN HAVE TO BE HERE. I SERVED AS CAPTAIN FOR TWO YEARS OVER COVID AND RESPONDED TO OVER 2000 CALLS WITH MONTGOMERY EMS AND HAVE INTERACTED WITH MONTGOMERY POLICE ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE CALLS. I COMMEND THE PAST LEADERSHIP, BOTH FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWNSHIP, FOR HIRING THIS POLICE FORCE, WHICH IS SOME OF THE BEST AND MOST SELFLESS PEOPLE I'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED. I WORKED ALONGSIDE THEM IN MANY DIFFERENT INCIDENTS, FROM CPR TO MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS TO STANDARD FALLS OR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCIES. REGARDLESS OF THE CALL AND THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH EACH ONE OF THESE, THE POLICE SHOW KINDNESS AND COMPASSION TO EVERY PATIENT AND WILL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR STRANGERS. MIND YOU, SOME OF THESE STRANGERS, THEY UNFORTUNATELY ONLY MET BECAUSE THEY WERE BREAKING THE LAW. YET THE OFFICERS WILL STILL PUT THEIR OWN SAFETY AND WELL-BEING ON THE LINE TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE SCENARIO. EVEN THROUGHOUT THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, WITH SO MANY UNKNOWNS, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP PD WAS THERE FOR US AND FOR THE TOWNSHIP 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. IN FACT, AS THE MAYOR STARTED HER PROCLAMATION FOR OUR CADETS, SHE SAID. MONTGOMERY MS IS THE TREASURER OF THE TOWNSHIP SINCE 1972. MONTGOMERY EMS IS UNIQUE AS IT'S THE ONE OF THE FEW VOLUNTEER SQUADS LEFT IN THE AREA, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT WOULD NOT BE LEFT WITHOUT MONTGOMERY POLICE. BEFORE KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE CURRENT ISSUE, TO BE HONEST, I THOUGHT MONTGOMERY WAS THE BEST PLACE FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO WORK. WHEN WE RESPOND TO TOWNS AROUND MONTGOMERY, WE OBVIOUSLY INTERACT WITH OTHER OFFICERS AND I CAN ASSURE YOU, NOBODY GETS CLOSE TO OUR OFFICERS. IN FACT, MY MOM, WHO'S BEEN WITH THE SQUAD FOR 15 YEARS, OFTEN JOKES THAT THEY ARE SO KIND, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THEY CAN GET ANYONE IN TROUBLE. BUT WHEN I STARTED TO SEE NEW OFFICERS LEAVE AND BEGAN ASKING MORE QUESTIONS, I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR HOW LITTLE SUPPORT THEY GET FROM THE TOWNSHIP WHEN ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS FAIR PAY THAT'S COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER TOWNS. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO YOUNG MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THEIR HOMETOWN, THEY LIST ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS. BUT ONE THING NOT MENTIONED IS ITS SAFETY. THANKFULLY, A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN MONTGOMERY DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW SAFE THIS TOWN IS SOMETHING OTHER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OR EVEN 5 OR 10 MILES FROM HERE, CANNOT SAY. [01:05:03] EVERYONE IS AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN MONTGOMERY ON MONDAY. AND THE REALITY IS, MONTGOMERY IS NOT THE BUBBLE THAT EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT. IT IS JUST VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A POLICE FORCE THAT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE AREA. BUT AS THE TOWN GROWS AND MORE HOUSING IS BUILT AND BUSINESSES MOVE IN LIKE WE'RE SEEING IN JUST THE SOUTHERN STRETCH OF 206, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS AS GRACEFULLY AND PROFESSIONALLY AS THEY DID. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CAN SAY WHATEVER IT WANTS ABOUT THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT IF IT'S TRULY INVESTED IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TOWNSHIP, ITS BUSINESSES, ITS VISITORS AND ITS RESIDENTS, THEN THEY SHOULD PUT THESE FUNDS AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FLIERS INTO ACTION AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TREATED WITH RESPECT TO DESERVE. IS IT? SHE'S CONTROLLING THE MEETING. EVERYONE HAS THE SAME THREE MINUTES. I WAS JUST SAYING THE SAME THING FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE AS A TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY SINCE 2021, WE'VE HAD THE SAME TIME LIMIT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TOPIC BEING DISCUSSED. I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE MAYOR HAS GAVELED. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? HI, MY NAME IS JOCELYN PENA. THE MC, IF YOU CAN BE CLOSER. THANK YOU. BETTER. JOCELYN. WHAT'S YOUR LAST NAME? PENA. PENA. THANK YOU. OH, AWESOME. I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN. I HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME, AND IT BOTHERS ME TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE HAD NINE POLICE OFFICERS LEAVE. I HAVE NEVER ONCE WALKED THE STREETS OF MONTGOMERY THINKING I WAS AFRAID AND I STILL DON'T. AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. I WANT THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS. AND I WANT IT TO CONTINUE. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JIM MAGGARD. 19 BEADLE STREET, BELLE MEADE. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WAS HERE WITH AN ASK. TONIGHT, I'M HERE WITH A THANK YOU, MAYOR SING TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED WAREHOUSES ON HOMESTEAD ROAD IN HILLSBORO. THOSE WAREHOUSES WOULD BE POTENTIALLY OVER 500,000FT². SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMITTEE MEMBER PATRICIA TAYLOR TODD FOR HER ATTENDANCE AT THE MAY MEETING OF THE HILLSBORO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND HER EXCELLENT AND COMPASSIONATE DELIVERY OF A VERY WELL DRAFTED AND COMPREHENSIVE LETTER OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY'S OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED WAREHOUSES. THAT SAME EVENING, THE MAYOR OF MANVILLE ALSO VOICED HIS OPPOSITION FOR THOSE WAREHOUSES. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE JULY 10TH MEETING OF THE HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WILL CONCLUDE THAT OVER A THREE YEAR APPLICATION AND REVIEW AND DEBATE PROCESS, AND RESULT IN A DENIAL OF THE WAREHOUSE APPLICATION BY THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M JOHN VIERI. 32 BEDELL STREET, MONTGOMERY. I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE WHAT JIM SAID. WE'RE EXTREMELY THANKFUL. ESPECIALLY PATRICIA COMING THERE. I, I BELIEVE MY ESTIMATION IS THAT THAT PARTICULAR APPLICATION IS GOING TO BE DENIED. AND YOUR HELP CERTAINLY MAKES ME FEEL THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I, I I WANTED TO ENLIST YOUR HELP A WHILE AGO, AND I HAVE ANOTHER THOUGHT, AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF NAMES HERE, BECAUSE WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS I THINK THEY MAY APPEAL IT AND IT MAY GO TO COURT. SO WHAT I WAS THINKING OF IS I'D LOVE TO HAVE SOME AUTHORITATIVE PERSON, SOMEBODY. MY THOUGHTS ARE NEXT. NEXT WEEK. OUR CONGRESS LADY IS GOING TO BE IN HILLSBORO. I'M GOING TO APPROACH HER AND SEE IF I CAN INITIATE SOME KIND OF AN INTEREST. JUST HER PRESENCE ALONE MAKES ME THINK THAT A RATIONAL MIND WOULD CERTAINLY NEGATE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE A COUPLE OF NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS HERE, AND I'M ASKING IF ANYBODY HAS A CONTACT OR A SUGGESTION AT ALL. [01:10:05] PLEASE CONTACT US BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FOR SOME SOME ADDITIONAL HELP IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD. SO THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS. YOU CAN LEAVE THAT WITH THE CLERK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN WITH LISA, THE CLERK OVER THERE. THANK YOU. THANKS. GOOD EVENING. DAVID BROOKE. IT'S BROKE. I LIVE IN HILLSBORO. DID YOU GET THE NAME LISA. CAN YOU REPEAT IT FOR LISA? DAVID. BROOKE. IT'S B R O K. THANK YOU. AS I MENTIONED, I LIVE IN HILLSBORO. I DON'T LIVE IN MONTGOMERY, BUT I'M HERE TO THANK YOU ALSO. ON JUNE 5TH, THERE WAS A PLANNING BOARD HEARING. AND AS JIM MENTIONED, IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE THIS APPLICATION CAME FORWARD. THERE HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY FIVE FORMAL OBJECTORS AT THE PLANNING BOARD. PURSUING THIS APPLICATION, TRYING TO GET TO THE FACTS. AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS. I THINK IT'S VERY RARE THAT REGIONAL ISSUES ARE LOOKED AT ACROSS MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES. AND I SIMPLY JUST WANTED TO COMMEND ALL OF YOU FOR THAT. AS JIM MENTIONED, JULY 10TH IS THE NEXT HEARING. IT'S NOT LIKELY THERE'LL BE A DECISION UNTIL MAYBE SEPTEMBER, BUT WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE INFORMATION THAT'S COME FORWARD, THE OBJECTORS, WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION AND WITH MANVILLE PARTICIPATION, THAT THE APPLICATION WILL BE DENIED. I SIMPLY WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY FUTURE HELP THAT WE, AS RESIDENTS OF HILLSBOROUGH, CAN PROVIDE TO MONTGOMERY TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. AND I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS, EXCUSE ME, FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT, TO SUPPORT YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS IN HILLSBOROUGH, AND REALLY FOR YOUR GOVERNMENTAL LEADERSHIP AND ESPECIALLY COMMITTEEWOMAN TAYLOR TODD FOR YOUR TIME IN YOUR VERY DETAILED AND ARTICULATE STATEMENT PRESENTED TO THE PLANNING BOARD, AND I MUST MAKE A PERSONAL COMMENT AND SIMPLY SAY, I WAS AMAZED THAT YOU ACTUALLY STAYED FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING TO OBSERVE THINGS. MOST PEOPLE COME, THEY MAKE A PRESENTATION, AND THEY WALK OUT THE DOOR. AND SO TO ME, THAT'S VERY RARE. AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR TIME IN THIS ISSUE. AND LOOK FORWARD TO POSSIBLY THE IDEA OF REGIONAL COLLABORATION ON DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT IMPACT EACH OF THE TOWNS. WE JUST DON'T DO THAT ENOUGH, I THINK, AND AND I THINK ALL OF YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON THE BACK FOR HELPING IN THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING, DEBORAH KEENAN K E N A N. FOR THE RECORD, IT WAS FIVE MINUTES. THE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. UP UNTIL WHEN NINA SINGH TOOK OVER AS MAYOR. YES. LOOK AT THE AGENDA. I JUST LOOKED AT IT LOOKED AT THE LAST MINUTE. IT WAS FIVE MINUTES THAT I WAS IT WAS DECEMBER OF 2023, I SWEAR. TAKE A LOOK. IN ANY CASE, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THE RECORD REGARDING THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE RESPONSE TO A PUBLIC COMMENT I MADE AT THE LAST MEETING. THIS RESPONSE WAS EXTENSIVELY COVERED ON A LOCAL NEWS SITE. PROCEDURALLY, IT WAS STRANGE TO ME THAT IT WAS AFTER THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE RETURNED FROM A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT THE MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR AND COMMITTEEMAN ON DECIDED TO RESPOND. SO WHEN DID THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE START RESPONDING TO PUBLIC COMMENTS? AFTER YOU RETURN TO A CLOSED SESSION WHEN BASICALLY NO ONE IS IN THE ROOM? TIMING ASIDE, THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT YOUR RESPONSE DID NOT ADDRESS MY COMMENT. MY COMMENT WAS NOT ABOUT THE BUSINESS NAME AND LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY. MY MENTION OF THE LOCATION WAS SIMPLY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC WHICH PROPERTY I WAS REFERRING TO, AS THEY DO NOT HAVE A SIGN. MY COMMENT WAS ABOUT THE CONFLICT OR RATHER APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT FOR COMMITTEEMEN ON AND MAYOR SINGH TO VOTE ON A MATTER IN FRONT OF THEM THAT PERTAINS TO A CAMPAIGN DONOR. TAKING ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY IS AN ISSUE IN MY OPINION. NEVER MIND THE LARGE SUMS THAT NEENA SINGH HAS TAKEN AND STILL HAS NOT FULLY REPORTED. [01:15:04] BUT THAT REPORTING ISSUE IS NOW JUST A MATTER FOR THE STATE ELECTION BOARD TO ADDRESS. BACK TO PROCEDURES, THOUGH. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. WHY WOULD YOU EVEN HAVE A RESPONSE TO A COMMENT MADE IN THE EARLY PART OF THE MEETING WHEN YOU WERE NOT IN THE ROOM? NO COMMENT. SHOULD I COME BACK AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MAYBE YOU FINISH YOUR THREE MINUTES. EXCUSE ME. YOU CAN FINISH YOUR THREE MINUTES. I DO HOPE THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WAS NOT DISCUSSING THIS IN THE CLOSED SESSION, AS IT WAS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. FINALLY, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT AGAIN, BOTH COMMITTEEMEN ON AND MAYOR SINGH RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM VOTING THIS EVENING ON RESOLUTION 25 6216, WHICH IS AUTHORIZING THE OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT AT PRINCETON FARMS AND PRESERVES. ARE WE. ARE YOU DONE? THANK YOU. NO, I'M WAITING FOR RESPONSE. YOU DON'T STAND AT THE PODIUM FOR A RESPONSE. YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR CHAIR AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR WILL ADDRESS IT. THIS IS NOT A BACK AND FORTH QUESTION AND ANSWER. WILL YOU ADDRESS IT NOW WHEN YOU COME BACK FROM IT? THAT'S THAT'S UP TO HIM. THIS IS NOT A QUESTION AND ANSWER, MISS KEENAN. IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU COULD CALL ME. YOU DON'T CALL ME MA'AM OR MISS KEENAN. MISS KEENAN, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'VE MADE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. I'LL WAIT. I GUESS I'LL COME BACK AND SEE IF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE COMMENTS THEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE DON'T CHALLENGE PEOPLE AND THEIR BRAVERY. MAYBE DO THINGS FOR THE TOWNSHIP INSTEAD OF COMING AND WASTING PEOPLE'S TIME. GO AHEAD. DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S STILL PUBLIC COMMENT. DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS ANYTHING? I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE STILL HAVE PEOPLE WANT TO SPEAK TO PUBLIC COMMENT. CAN WE? ARE WE DONE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT OR IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. SO PUBLIC COMMENTERS GO AHEAD. SO SO FIRST I DID WANT TO I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON LIKE THE KEY ISSUE HERE. AND I APOLOGIZE THAT I WAS LATE TO THE LAST TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS OF NEWARK AIRPORT, YOU KNOW, MY SON'S FLIGHT GOT CHANGED. BUT I DID GET HERE WHEN I GOT HERE. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS ON THE MONTGOMERY NEWS, ETC.. BUT I DO WANT TO REITERATE MY SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE. I KNOW THAT'S PEOPLE HAVE DEBATE ON THAT, BUT I HAVE BEEN REALLY PROUD OF FIGHTING FOR, YOU KNOW, INCREASES IN THE STAFFING THAT HADN'T HAPPENED OVER TEN, 15 YEARS. YOU KNOW, CREATING THE TITLE OF THE CHIEF, WHICH I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S BEEN AND ALSO BRINGING IN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. NONE OF YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO THE DOCUMENTATION FOR FOR BODY CAM RECORDINGS. THAT HAS COME AT SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INVESTMENT, WHICH I WAS PROUD, AND I THINK THE REST OF THE TOWNSHIP WAS PROUD TO DO. AND I PERSONALLY CHAMPIONED IT. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I ALSO SIT ON THE BUDGET FINANCE COMMITTEE, SO THAT'S WHERE IT COMES THROUGH. AND SO WE MAKE SOME OF THE KEY DECISIONS AND FINALLY MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS AS A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. OKAY WHEN I'M NOT. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A PRIMARY ELECTION AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF WALKING AROUND. AND I DO SHARE THAT SAME SENTIMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW THE RESIDENTS CAME IN AND TALKED ABOUT THE SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE. I'LL ALSO SHARE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HUGE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS GOING ON IN MONTGOMERY. AND IT'S NOT JUST AFFORDABILITY AS SOMETIMES CONSTRUED AS, YOU KNOW, FROM FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME, OR THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR TAXES WHO ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THE POLICE, RESIDENTS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING TO MOVE OUT OF HERE. AND I THINK THAT'S THE DELICATE BALANCE THAT WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND WE WANT TO COME TO A FAIR OUTCOME. SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FROM, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUS MEETING THAT I WAS ABLE TO ADDRESS AS WELL AS THIS ONE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANKS. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I'LL JUST REITERATE, I SUPPORT THE POLICE. I'M A POLICE WIFE. I'M PART OF A POLICE FAMILY. I UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE AND I'M ALSO A VERY EXPERIENCED LABOR RELATIONS NEGOTIATOR, SO I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES THERE TOO. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE ANY, YOU KNOW, OPINIONS ABOUT PROCEDURES, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I DON'T KNOW IF NEGOTIATING IN PUBLIC IS PRODUCTIVE AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE. AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S REASONABLE TO EXPECT THOSE ASSERTIONS TO GO UNANSWERED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [01:20:04] OKAY. ORDINANCES ON INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING. [11. Ordinance #25-1758 – Amending Section 11 of Chapter III, Police Regulations, of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984) to Amend Fire Lane Requirements – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ] THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION ORDINANCES, PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION 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. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1757. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. 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? YES. I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM G FROM THE TO BE DISCUSSED. THAT'S RESOLUTION 25 62203. YES. OKAY. DO WE WANT TO DO THAT AFTER THESE? YEAH. OKAY. SURE. SO I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO SAY, MAY I HAVE THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 25 6197 AND 2202. AND THEN 620 4 TO 210. OKAY. SO TWO TILL 25, SIX, 2 OR 2. AND THEN FROM TWO OR 2 OR 2 TO DASH TWO, TWO OR 4 TO 2, TEN AND TO 25, SIX. DASH TWO, TEN. ROLL CALL PLEASE. OH. SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ALLEN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. YOU WANT TO CONSIDER 2 OR 3. OKAY. SO RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 56-203 AUTHORIZING GUARANTEE EXTENSIONS FOR THE [18. Resolution #25-6-203 – Authorizing Guarantee Extensions for the Completion of Improvements – Various Projects ] COMPLETION OF IMPROVEMENT. VARIOUS PROJECTS. I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FOR THE TOWNSHIP SINCE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ITEMS HERE AND, YOU KNOW, OLD COMPLETION DATES AND NEW COMPLETION DATES FOR LIKE A YEAR, I THINK JUST BE GOOD FOR THE THE TOWNSHIP TO HEAR ON THE RATIONALE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DEVELOPERS, A LOT OF ITEMS AND DON'T WANT THAT TO KIND OF GO ON DISCUSSED OR AT LEAST SHARED. SURE. SO RESOLUTION 203, AUTHORIZING THE GUARANTEE EXTENSIONS FOR COMPLETION OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS. OF THE PROJECTS LISTED, THERE ARE THREE DEVELOPMENTS OR DEVELOPMENT TYPE PROJECTS. SO THERE'S ONE DEVELOPMENT, MONTGOMERY CROSSING, THAT HAS MANY LINE ITEMS IN HERE, BUT IT'S IT'S ALL ONE PROJECT. SO THE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE MONEY WOULD BE RETURNED UNLESS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TOOK THIS ACTION. SO THESE PROJECTS ARE ALL UNDER CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. SO THERE ARE A VARIETY OF REASONS WHY WE WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE TO HOLD ON TO THIS MONEY THAT THE DEVELOPERS HAVE POSTED. THE ONE ON REMI COURT, SHE STILL NEEDS TO PLANT THE TREES. PRINCETON AIRPORT IS AN ONGOING MATTER. AND THEN MONTGOMERY CROSSING IS IN AS AN ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT. SO SINCE THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT YET CONSTRUCTED AND WE WOULD NOT WANT TO RETURN THE MONEY IN ORDER FOR US TO RETAIN IT, THE LAW REQUIRES US TO DO THIS EXTENSION. SO IT'S SOMEWHAT OF HOUSEKEEPING. AND IN ORDER FOR US TO TO DO THAT, WE NEEDED TO PUT IT ON A RESOLUTION FOR FORMAL ACTION. THAT'S GOOD. I JUST, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANTED SOME TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE, OH, WE'RE JUST KIND OF GIVING PEOPLE A PASS WHEN THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I APPRECIATE THE THE DISCUSSION IN IN PUBLIC COMMENT. YEAH. AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING. THAT'S IMPORTANT. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 11, AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF A2203023. WE DIDN'T DO IT. SORRY. OKAY. SO RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 5-6203. YES. MOTION. MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTIONS. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 11. [26. Resolution #25-6-211 – Authorizing the Sale of an Animal Control Vehicle to Animal Control Solutions for the Appraised Value ] AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF AN ANIMAL CONTROLLED VEHICLE TO ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS FOR THE APPRAISED VALUE. SO THIS IS THE ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT WE HAD WHEN WE HAD IN HOUSE [01:25:02] ANIMAL CONTROL. WE NO LONGER USE IT. THE THIRD PARTY THAT WE CONTRACT WITH AND MANY MUNICIPALITIES CONTRACT WITH ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS IS EXPANDING BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE TOWNS THAT ARE MOVING TOWARDS THEIR SERVICE. SO THEY ARE. THEY REACHED OUT TO THE TOWNSHIP TO SEE IF WE HAD ANY VEHICLES THAT THEY COULD PURCHASE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS DOING. WE'RE WE'RE DECLARING THE VEHICLE SURPLUS AND AND SELLING IT TO, TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 56-2. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 56-2 13 AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF INACTIVE PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION AND PLENARY DISTRIBUTION LICENSES FOR 2025 20 2026. WE SHOULD BE ON RESOLUTION 212 OH NOT TO JUST GO BACK ONE. OH, SORRY. PAGE 11. OKAY. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 12. [27. Resolution #25-6-212 – Authorizing Renewal of 2025-2026 Plenary Consumption and Distribution Licenses and Club Licenses] AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF 2025 TO 2026. PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSES. PLENARY RETAIL DISTRIBUTION LICENSES AND CLUB LICENSES. SO THIS IS THE ANNUAL RENEWAL FOR OUR LIQUOR LICENSES IN MONTGOMERY. THIS IS FOR THREE THREE RETAIL PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSES, TWO DISTRIBUTION AND TWO CLUB LICENSES. ALL HAVE BEEN I HAVE ALL APPROVALS FROM THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS. ALL STATE FEES AND MUNICIPAL FEES HAVE BEEN PAID. SO THIS AUTHORIZES THE RENEWAL FOR THE 2020 2026 PERIOD. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 25. SIX. TWO. 12. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 13 AUTHORIZING RENEWAL OF INACTIVE RETAIL CONSUMPTION AND [28. Resolution #26-6-213 – Authorizing Renewal of Inactive Plenary Retail Consumption and Distribution Licenses for 2025-2026 ] PRELIMINARY DISTRIBUTION LICENSES FOR 2025 TO 2026. OKAY, AGAIN. SO WE HAVE THREE INACTIVE PLENARY RETAIL CONSUMPTION LICENSES AND ONE INACTIVE PLENARY DISTRIBUTION LIST. ALL HAVE MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL. THEY ARE REMAINED INACTIVE. LAST YEAR THE THERE WAS A NEW LAW IMPLEMENTED BY GOVERNOR MURPHY TO KIND OF CLEAN UP INACTIVE LICENSES THAT HAVE BEEN INACTIVE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THESE LICENSES HAVE TO BE RENEWED OR HAVE TO BE PLACED BY JUNE 30TH OF 2026 OR THEY EXPIRE. SO THE OWNERS ARE AWARE AND THIS IS THE NEW JERSEY STATE LAW. SO I'M ABLE TO RENEW YOU ARE ABLE TO RENEW THEM FOR ONE MORE TERM. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 13. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 14, AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 551 57, [29. Resolution #25-6-214 – Amending Resolution #25-5-157 Designating a Specific Tract of Municipally-owned Parks and Open Space to be Included in the Montgomery Township Deer Management Program for 2025-2026 to Amend the Mill Pond Parcel to Include Block 17001, Lot 17.02 (“Hardesty”)] DESIGNATING A SPECIFIC TRACT OF MUNICIPALLY OWNED PARKS AND OPEN SPACE TO TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR 2025 TO 2026. TO AMEND THE MILL POND PARCEL TO INCLUDE BLOCK 17 001, LOT 1701. HARDESTY. SO ON IN MAY, WE ADOPTED OUR ANNUAL RESOLUTION THAT DESIGNATES THE TRACKS OF OPEN SPACE LAND THE TOWNSHIP OWNS TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR MUNICIPALLY RUN DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THE HARDISTY PROPERTY, WHICH IS NEAR MILL POND PARK, WAS ACQUIRED AND IS BEING ADDED INTO THE THE PROGRAM. NO, THERE'S NO NEW INCREASE IN HUNTING PERMITS THAT WOULD BE ISSUED, BUT THIS PROPERTY IS 2.4 ACRES TO ADD TO THE EXISTING PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED VIA RESOLUTION IN MAY. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562. 14. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 15. [30. Resolution #25-6-215 – Authorizing Award of Contract for Chemicals for Wastewater Treatment ] AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR CHEMICALS FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT. [01:30:02] AND SO WE WENT OUT TO BID FOR CHEMICALS. WE ARE AWARDING FIVE COMPANIES WHO WILL EACH PROVIDE US WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CHEMICALS. AND SO WE ARE AUTHORIZING THAT THE RESOLUTION LISTS THE SPECIFIC COMPANIES AND THE CHEMICALS THAT THEY WOULD BE PROVIDING. THIS IS FOR OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND THE OPERATION. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562. 15. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 16. [31. Resolution #25-6-216 – Authorizing Outdoor Assembly Permit for Princeton Farms & Preserves – Omnicron Chi Chapter Event] AUTHORIZING OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT FOR PRINCETON FARMS AND PRESERVES OMNICOM KEY CHAPTER EVENT. THIS ONE WOULD BE FOR ME. OKAY. GO AHEAD. GOD. THANK YOU MAYOR. SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THE ASSEMBLY PERMITS AS THEY RELATE TO CERTAIN EVENTS AT THE FARMS AND WHAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ROLE IS. AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE AS TO HOW THE SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE FARMS HAPPENED. THIS CAME ABOUT AS OF A STATE STATUTE THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2023, EFFECTIVE IN FEBRUARY OF 2023. WHICH IT'S A SPECIAL OCCASION EVENT. SO IT ALLOWS OTHERWISE RESTRICTED FARMLAND TO BE UTILIZED FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF APPROVED EVENTS IF IT GETS THE APPROVAL FROM THE CDC. AS TO THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST FOR AN OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS WHERE IT IS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE STATE. HOWEVER, THE STATE RECOGNIZES THAT THE LOCAL ENTITY, THE FARMLAND, MUST THAT THE MUNICIPALITY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES, AND SO THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY DOES THAT THROUGH THEIR OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT, BECAUSE IT WOULD SPECIFICALLY, IT NOTES THAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL LAWS AND FURTHER ALLOWS THE MUNICIPALITY TO REQUIRE A MUNICIPAL APPLICATION TO IDENTIFY SUCH THINGS, SUCH AS THE LOCATION OF TENTS OR TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, SANITARY FACILITIES, PARKING PERMITS FOR FOR FOOD SERVICE, ACCESS AND EGRESS. THOSE TYPES OF OF OF ACTIVITIES AND THOSE ARE COVERED BY THE TOWNSHIP'S OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT. SO THAT IS WHY WE UTILIZE THE OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT AS A WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE CHECK MARKS, YOU KNOW, THE BOXES ARE CHECKED OFF WHEN THE APPLICATION COMES IN, JUST LIKE ANY OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT. IT GOES THROUGH THE CLERK'S OFFICE, WHO THEN DISTRIBUTES IT TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE, TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, FIRE CODE OFFICIAL, ETC. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWNSHIP CODE. YOU ALL GET THOSE REPORTS. AND SHOULD THOSE REPORTS NOTE THAT ALL CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN MET TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE ATTENDEES OF THE EVENT? YOU GRANT THE PERMIT APPLICATION. IF YOU WERE TO DENY IT, YOU'D HAVE TO STATE THE REASONS AS TO WHY, WHICH WOULD BE WHAT? HEALTH. SAFETY. WELFARE. ITEM THAT THEY DID NOT COMPLY WITH. FOR EXAMPLE, AT TIMES THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE HAS DENIED IT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE A TRAFFIC REPORT WASN'T SUBMITTED OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, ALL OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS HAVE SIGNED OFF. SO ABSENT A REASON TO DENY IT FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE. IT IS AN OBJECTIVE DETERMINATION. THERE IS NO SUBJECTIVE NATURE TO THIS. BEING FRIENDS WITH WITH THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY. THAT THAT DOESN'T IMPACT WHAT IS BEING ASKED HERE, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THE EVENT IS APPROVED BY THE STATE. YOU'RE JUST SIGNING OFF THAT YOUR CODE OFFICIAL, YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT CODE OFFICIAL, RATHER, YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ALL SIGNED OFF AND THOSE SIGN OFFS HAVE OCCURRED. OKAY. SO IS THIS THROUGH THE CDC? THEY ARE THE AUTHORITY ON THIS. THEY HAVE RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF EVENTS, BOTH FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024 AND THE CALENDAR YEAR 2025, BY RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE CDC. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE. OKAY. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 56-2 16. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW OUR MISS KEENAN, WHO CAME UP AND EXPRESSED HER OPINION. SAY SHE SHE'S A FRIEND IN THE PAST. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE WHEN A FRIEND DONATES TO ANOTHER FRIEND, [01:35:06] I BELIEVE THAT'S ALLOWED RIGHT IN, IN OUR CAMPAIGNS. AND IF YOU COME UP TO ME AND ASK FOR SOMETHING FOR ME TO STOP SOMETHING, AND YOU DONATE TO MY CAMPAIGN THEN. AND YOU DID, RIGHT? SO THEN DO I JUST HAVE TO ABSTAIN WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THAT YOU REQUEST ME TO DO AND SAY? SO PLEASE DON'T SPEAK FROM THE CHAIR. SO SO, YOU KNOW I WILL ABSTAIN, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T. PUBLIC COMMENT IS DONE. THIS IS A I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, A CONTINUED ATTACK. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WILL ABSTAIN. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR. TODD. YES, DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YOU KNOW, I AM GOING TO ALSO, FOR THE ONLY REASON THAT I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO FEEL BECAUSE MISS KEENAN KEEPS COMING HERE AND MAKES STATEMENTS WHICH ARE HONEST TO GOD. THIS IS A FARMER IN OUR TOWN. IF HE'S GIVING CAMPAIGN DONATIONS, IT IS NOT ILLEGAL. THE ATTORNEY HAS TOLD US VERY CLEARLY, AND I THINK PUTTING DOUBT IN THE RESIDENT'S MIND WHEN WE SHOULD ALL BE WORKING TO MAKE MONTGOMERY BETTER, USING ALL OUR TIME AND OUR RESOURCES. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE THAT'S SITTING HERE IS GIVING THEIR TIME. ALL OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, OUR VOLUNTEERS GIVE THEIR TIME. LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT MONTGOMERY IS A DESTINATION WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO COME. AND OF COURSE. I DO WANT TO REITERATE, THE PD IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHY MONTGOMERY IS A DESTINATION. BUT AGAIN, AS WAS MENTIONED BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR AND BY COMMITTEEMAN TAYLOR TODD, NEGOTIATING IN PUBLIC IS NOT THE WAY ONE SHOULD DO IT. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE ARE TRYING TO BE REASONABLE AND WE UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION ON YOUR SIDE. BUT ASKING SAYING THAT THE MAYOR AND THE DEPUTY MAYOR LEFT THE NEGOTIATION. I'LL BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU. THIS IS HOW IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE. IF NOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED, YOU CAN LET US KNOW. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD BY OUR ATTORNEYS THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE DONE BY THE LABOR ATTORNEYS. SO AT THIS POINT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC. IF THEY'RE LISTENING, WE CARE. IT'S NOT THAT WE WALKED AWAY FROM THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. WE IN FACT, INSISTED THAT WE SHOULD BE IN THE ROOM. SO THAT'S THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AT THIS POINT. I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THIS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY DO WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. I KNOW BARBARA PRESTON FROM MONTGOMERY NEWS IS HERE, AND SHE HAS OFFERED ME AN OPPORTUNITY AND I WILL BE TAKING UP ON THAT, BECAUSE I THINK BEING IN A TOWN AND COMING AND BEING A BULLY IS NOT THE WAY TO RUN A TOWNSHIP. SO I WOULD REQUEST EVERYBODY TO WORK TOGETHER. THAT IS ALL I CAN SAY FROM THE DAIS. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THIS WORLD. IF WE CAN MAKE THIS TOWN A PLACE WHICH IS WARM, KIND AND WELCOMING, LET'S ALL DO THAT. THAT'S ALL. THAT'S MY ONLY REQUEST TO EVERYBODY IN THE TOWNSHIP. AND I KNOW I'VE TAKEN TOO MUCH TIME. SO I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN AT THIS ONE, BUT I GUESS WE'LL MOVE THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR LISTENING TO ME. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562-2 17. [32. Resolution 25-6-217 – Authorizing Award of Contract for Janitorial Services for Municipal Offices, Police Department, Library, Otto Kaufman Community Center and Public Works Facility ] AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICES. POLICE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY, OTTO KAUFMAN COMMUNITY CENTER, AND PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY. SO OUR CONTRACT FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES WAS EXPIRING. WE WENT OUT TO BID AND THE BIDS CAME BACK IN JUNE, JUNE 11TH. SO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BID WAS FROM PJ BUILDING AND CLEANING $117,900 TO CLEAN THOSE FACILITIES LISTED IN THE RESOLUTION. THEY WILL BEGIN AUGUST 1ST. IT'S A ONE YEAR TERM WITH AN OPTION FOR TWO ONE YEAR RENEWALS. AND SO THIS WILL BE A CHANGE TO THE VENDORS FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY ISSUES IN THE TRANSFER OF THE CHANGE. I THINK EVERYTHING WILL WILL GO SMOOTHLY. AS WE SAID, IT'S THE PJ BUILDING IS A IS A VERY REPUTABLE COMPANY. OKAY. AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I DO NOT KNOW THAT PJ MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. SIX. TWO. 17. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 18 APPROVING 2025 SALARIES FOR NONUNION EMPLOYEES. [33. Resolution #25-6-218 – Approving 2025 Salaries for Non-union Employees ] [01:40:05] SO ALL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY A CONTRACT, A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CONTRACT, FALL WITHIN THIS RESOLUTION. THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SALARY RANGES THESE FALL WITHIN THAT. AND THEY ARE ALL FALLING WITHIN THE CURRENTLY APPROVED BUDGET. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 18. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 19. [34. Resolution #25-6-219 – Authorizing Award of Contract to Flock Group, Inc. for Flock Safety Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) Cameras ] AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO FLOC GROUP, INC. FOR FLOCK SAFETY. AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION ALE LP CAMERAS. SO ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEGAN EXPLORING THE WHAT IT WOULD BE TO IMPLEMENT AN AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION CAMERA PROGRAM. THEY WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE BENEFITS OF IT, LOOKED AT DIFFERENT COMPANIES. AND THE COMPANY THAT WAS SELECTED WAS FLOC SAFETY. SO WE'VE HAD A SUCCESSFUL TWO YEAR PROGRAM. I'M JUST SEEING IF ANDY AND LIEUTENANT PERRY IS ONE OF THE THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THIS PROGRAM. SO WE'VE HAD IT FOR TWO YEARS. WE ARE AUTHORIZING TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT ANOTHER TWO YEARS. THE ONLY CHANGE IS THE COST HAS INCREASED. BUT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, AN INVESTMENT THAT THE TOWNSHIP FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT SUPPORTED THE POLICE ADMINISTRATION'S APPROACH WITH THE THE CAMERAS AND THE UTILIZATION OF THEM. I KNOW LIEUTENANT PERRY HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND HOW IT'S HELPED IN MANY CASES THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND THE COMMUNICATION THAT THEY HAVE AND SHARING OF INFORMATION WITH OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS. SO THE INCREASE WAS IT WAS $31,600 FOR OVER THE TWO INITIAL TWO YEAR PERIOD, AND THE NEXT TWO YEARS, IT WOULD BE $36,000 TO CONTINUE USING THIS PROGRAM. OKAY. AND THE PHYSICAL CAMERAS, THE FLOOR CAMERAS HAVE BEEN A BIG HELP. A LOT OF RESIDENTS I KNOW, AND THE PD HAS BEEN REALLY ACCOMMODATING FOR SOME OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE CAR THEFTS AND ROBBERIES. SO THE PD HAS BEEN AMAZING. MOVING. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE WHICH IS PORTABLE OR TRANSPORTABLE CAMERA. SO, YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO COMMEND THEM ON MAKING SURE THE RESIDENTS FEEL SAFE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 SIX? 219. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 56-2 20. [35. Resolution #25-6-220 – Amending Resolution #25-1-27 Authorizing Agreement to Contract for Copy and Print Services with the County of Somerset to Amend the Term of Contract for Five Years ] AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH ONE, DASH 27 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT TO CONTRACT FOR COPY AND PRINT SERVICES WITH THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, TO AMEND THE TERM OF CONTRACT FOR FIVE YEARS. SO WE'VE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMERSET COUNTY ON THEIR PRINT SHOP. THEIR PRICING IS THEY CAN'T NO ONE ELSE CAN COME COMPETE WITH THAT. IT'S VERY IT'S VERY REASONABLE. THE TURNAROUND IS GREAT. THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY PRODUCE IS GREAT. SO WE'RE WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO EXTEND THIS TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO USE THEIR PRINTING SERVICES. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 562 20. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 6221 ADOPTING THE 2025 SOMERSET COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. [36. Resolution #25-6-221- Adopting the 2025 Somerset County Hazard Mitigation Plan ] SO THE SOMERSET COUNTY PUTS TOGETHER A HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. AND EACH TOWN HAS A SECTION THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THEM. SO THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THERE ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC HAZARDS THAT WE HAVE. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SECTION ON FLOODING HERE BECAUSE OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP'S SITUATION AND ANY OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, HOW WE WOULD RESPOND. AND IT ALL GETS INCORPORATED INTO ONE PLAN THAT THE COUNTY MANAGES. AND SO ADAM VERDUCCI, AS OUR OEM COORDINATOR, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, HELPS WRITE THIS, COORDINATES ANY OTHER INFORMATION FROM ANY OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT HE NEEDS TO INCLUDE. AND THEN IT BECOMES PART OF THE COUNTY PLAN, RIGHT? OKAY, GOOD. YEAH. SO THAT'S THAT'S WE DO THIS ON EVERY EVERY FIVE YEARS. [01:45:05] FIVE YEARS. DO WE DO THIS? HOW OFTEN? EVERY FIVE YEARS. APPROVED. RIGHT. FIVE. FIVE? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. DO EVERY FIVE YEARS WE UPDATE. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 6221. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. WE JUST DID THIS RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 56-222 ACKNOWLEDGING AUTOMATIC RENEWAL OF 2023 TO [37. Resolution #25-6-222 – Acknowledging Automatic Renewal of 2023-2025 Cooperation Agreement Regarding Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnership Program Activities ] 2025. COOPERATION AGREEMENTS REGARDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BLOCK GRANT AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. SO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IS MONEY THAT'S ALLOCATED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WORKS ITS WAY DOWN THROUGH THE COUNTIES. SO ALL OF THE TOWNS EXECUTE THESE AGREEMENTS AND THEN WE PARTICIPATE WITH THE COUNTY. ELLEN'S HERE. SO ELLEN WAS A BIG PART OF THE CDBG GRANT THAT WE GOT FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE FOOD PANTRY AND THEN WHAT LATER BECAME THE ELKS FOOD PANTRY. SO WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH THAT. AND SO THIS WOULD CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP. OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 6222. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. I GUESS THERE'S NO MINUTES FOR CONSIDERATION. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 6223. [38. Resolution #25-6-223 – Payment of Bills ] PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. YES, MAYOR. THE THREE HIGHEST BILLS. PAGE ONE IS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE FUND. PAYMENT $178,000, $196. PAGE THREE IS OUR SCHOOL TAX PAYMENT. AS WE JUST HAVE SAID, WE COLLECT ALL OF THE PROPERTY TAX AND THEN WE DISTRIBUTE IT TO ALL THE VARIOUS ENTITIES. SO THE SCHOOLS WILL BE RECEIVING $7,237,768. PAGE SIX IS TOP LINE CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S THE MONTGOMERY ROAD RESURFACING $292,119.89, AND A PORTION OF THAT ENTIRE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE STATE. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? OKAY. HOLD ON A SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 6223. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. THERE'S NO CORRESPONDENCE. THERE IS NO MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION IN NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS. TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS. [41. Township Committee Reports ] MR.. COMMITTEEMAN MARTIN. SO REAL QUICK, I JUST WANTED THE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE ON OUR, IN OUR TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE. AND MARY REESE, WHO IS ACTIVE IN THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE, SHARED THAT AT A RECENT MEETING. THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE, YOU MAY KNOW, IS REALLY ONE OF THE PREEMINENT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ANYWHERE. AND ARE JUST LOCATED NEXT DOOR HERE ON 800 PLUS ACRES IN HOPEWELL. MARY IS ACTIVE IN THE IN THEIR GROUP, AND TOTALLY UNSOLICITED. THEY WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT AS A AS ONE OF THE BEST ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONS AT A TOWNSHIP LEVEL THAT THEY KNOW OF. SO I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM. OKAY. OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. SO WE HAVE EDC RESTAURANT IS WORKING ON RESTAURANT WEEK. IT'S BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 8TH AND 14TH. WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE A SUMMER FARMER'S MARKET THAT'S HELD EVERY SATURDAY. IT'S REALLY GROWING. 26 VENDORS I HERE, RIGHT HERE ON THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY. THE EDC ALSO PARTNERS WITH MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OR YOU KNOW, THEY WORK, YOU KNOW, HELP EACH OTHER, AND THEY HAVE A SOCIAL AT SAVE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ANIMALS THAT NEED SUPPORT. SO THEY'RE DOING A SOCIAL AT SAVE. AND IF YOU CAN BRING PAPER TOWELS PET FOOD SOME TOYS FOR THE ANIMALS. I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT. GREAT SUPPORT. MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE. THIS WAS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO MEET AGAIN FOR A LITTLE BIT. WE HAD A GREAT YEAR. [01:50:01] AND, YOU KNOW, WE DID A LOT OF THINGS LIKE LUNCH AND LEARN WHERE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING DIDN'T KNOW A LOT OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO, OR THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT COLLEGE WASN'T THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THEM OR AND THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONFUSED AND WITH THIS LUNCH AND LEARN A LOT OF CHILDREN, A LOT OF THEM REALLY FOUND A DIRECTION TO GO TO. SO I THINK IT'S GREAT. I THINK ONE PERSON, HE HEARD A PROFESSIONAL PLUMBER WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS, HIS PROFESSION, AND IT WAS, LIKE, SOLD. YOU KNOW, LIKE, SO IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE GIVE DIRECTION. I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE BUILDING ON THIS LUNCH AND LEARN PROGRAM AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, A NEW PROGRAM THAT'S COMING IN CALLED HOPE SQUAD. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS GOING, BECAUSE HOPE SQUAD IS BASICALLY A TRAINED STUDENTS THAT ARE APPEAR TO EACH OTHER. SO INSTEAD OF IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO GO TO A, LIKE AN ADULT, A TEACHER, A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, AND WITH THESE IDENTIFIED PEER LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE FROM LIKE, EARLY GRADES ALREADY UP TO HIGH SCHOOL YOU KNOW, CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND THEY GET GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR, THEIR, THEIR CLASSMATES. SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. HOPEFULLY WE GET IT NEXT YEAR AND THEN. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S IT FOR ME. OKAY. COME TO YOU, TODD. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT AN AMAZING MEETING. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE REALLY SAW THE BEST OF MONTGOMERY TONIGHT. I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF THE YOUTH THAT WERE HONORED TO WELCOME OUR NEW POLICE OFFICERS AND TO CELEBRATE OUR THE DENISE CROWLEY'S RETIREMENT. AFTER ALL THE IMPACT THAT SHE HAD IN HER ROLE. AND REALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE SAW. YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, USE THEIR TIME AND TALENTS TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. I DID TALK ABOUT JUNETEENTH. SO HAPPY FREEDOM DAY. AND IN TERMS OF MY COMMITTEES THE BOARD OF HEALTH'S MEETING WAS CANCELED THIS MONTH. SO I DON'T HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT REPORTS FROM THEM AS WELL AS THERE WAS NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT ON BEHALF OF OPEN SPACE, EXCEPT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT ACTIVITIES OUT THERE THAT INVOLVE GETTING OUTSIDE, SO I HOPE EVERYBODY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THAT. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO THE VETERANS COMMITTEE MET AND WE DID AN AFTER ACTION REVIEW, WHICH IS A KIND OF MILITARY TERM LIKE REVIEWING HOW SOMETHING WENT. YOU KNOW, WHAT LEARNINGS WE HAVE AND HOW WE IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE. OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE DISCUSSING OUR MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AS WELL AS OUR STEVEN WARNER CEREMONY, WHICH AGAIN, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY TOUCHING. AND AGAIN, WHAT A WHAT A LUCKY DAY. WE HAD TO HAVE ONE OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES SURPRISINGLY, ATTEND AND BE OPEN TO MAKING WORDS. SO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A 30 MINUTE MEETING TO REALLY KIND OF DEBRIEF AND GET READY FOR THE SUMMER, YOU KNOW, ONCE, LIKE A GOOD HOUR, AN HOUR AND A HALF OF LIKE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGER THINGS WE WANT TO DO? SO IT WAS JUST A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION. A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, PRE-PLANNING FOR, FOR VETERANS DAY. SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT ONCE WE COME BACK FROM THE SUMMER. I DO YOU WANT TO BRING UP? THERE WAS A LIKE A SPECIAL LANDMARKS COMMISSION MEETING ON JUNE 10TH. I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND. I WILL WORK WITH SHERRI AND RICKY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE TOWNSHIP ON ON THAT DISCUSSION. I DO WANT TO BRING UP THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO YOU KNOW PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE INITIATIVES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR CELEBRATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY. CLOSE TO YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH A VENDOR THAT WAS THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, APPROVED THAT REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION. SO HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET THAT UPDATE EITHER BY THIS NEXT MEETING OR THE MEETING AFTER THAT AND REALLY KIND OF START KICKING SOME VERY VISIBLE ITEMS AROUND HOW WE HOW MONTGOMERY WORKS TO CELEBRATE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR OWN WAY. 250 SO LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT I GET EVERYTHING. YEAH. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEPUTY MAYOR. SO I WAS AT THE COMMITTEE, WHICH YOU KNOW, MET AS EVERYBODY'S WAITING ANXIOUSLY OR PATIENTLY, RATHER FOR THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND. THE RAINS DID NOT HELP US, SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE LATE JULY OR EARLY AUGUST FOR THE OPENING OF OUR INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND. I KNOW A LOT OF RESIDENTS ARE WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR THAT, AND WE MAY HAVE A FUNDRAISING EFFORT AS WELL. THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF SHORTFALL BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE AS OUR GRANT AND THE REC DEPARTMENT WILL. THE COMMITTEE RATHER WILL BE PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER, AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO BRING IT UP TO THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS. AND ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SOLVE AT THE REC COMMITTEE IS THE CRICKET PITCH AT BROADWAY, WHICH SEEMS TO GET A LOT OF WATER AND AND TAKES A LOT OF TIME FOR [01:55:06] PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY GET THE PITCH READY EVERY TIME THAT THEY'RE PLAYING CRICKET. SO THAT'S ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION. AND OUR REC DIRECTOR, JOHN KROGER, IS WORKING WITH THE VENDORS TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET THAT UP TO THE STANDARDS OF INTERNATIONAL CRICKET. SO THAT'S HAPPENING. ALSO, WE HAVE A CIT PROGRAM LAUNCH CALLED THE RISING LEADERS, WHICH THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE DOING FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 14. SO PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THAT AS WELL. AND THERE IS THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE DECLINE IN CAMP ATTENDANCE. SO I JUST WANT TO BRING UP TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION THAT SUMMER CAMP IS JUST RIGHT, JUST ACTUALLY RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, BECAUSE I THINK NEXT WEEK WOULD BE THE THE LAST WEEK FOR SCHOOLS. SO PLEASE LOOK INTO MONTGOMERY RECREATION CAMP. IT IS ONE WHERE MY KIDS WENT AND I KNOW IT'S A GREAT, GREAT CAMP. AND OF COURSE, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE FIREWORKS ARE GOING TO BE COMING IN SO THAT THAT'S A BIG, EXCITING EVENT FOR THE REC DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE ON JULY 26TH AND JUNE. OH, SORRY. JUNE 26TH. WHERE DID I GET JULY FROM? SORRY. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU JUST KEEP. JUNE 26TH. AND EVERYBODY SHOULD TRY AND SEE IF THEY WANT TO BUY PARKING PASSES. THOSE ARE $20, BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF FREE PARKING FOR PEOPLE. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY THERE. AND THEN THAT'S THE RECOMMENDED REPORT I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY TOUCH ON THINK FAST. THIS WAS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE PD AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID. THIS IS AN ASK THAT I MADE TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FIRST. I HAD A FEW DIFFERENT RESIDENTS, PARENTS WHO WERE IN THE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT VAPING AND THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR PRE-TEENS AND TEENS WERE VAPING AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, AND OF COURSE, I DID TELL THEM WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES TO HELP. THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT ONE OF THE VAPING SHOPS IN, IN IN OUR TOWN, BUT WE FELT THE EDUCATION PART IS SOMETHING THAT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND THE TOWNSHIP HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN WORK TOWARDS. SO I HAD ASKED DEVON AND OUR CHIEF OF POLICE SYLVIA BETH, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO COLLABORATE FOR THIS EVENT, WHICH WAS A THINK FAST TEEN VAPING PREVENTION EVENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. AND IT WAS A REALLY NICE INTERACTIVE PROGRAM. HIGH ENERGY. IT WAS A GAME SHOW STYLE WHERE THEY ENGAGED 500 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THERE WERE QUIZZES. THERE WAS MYTH BUSTING FACTS. THEY CALLED IT. THE STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT THE INCREASING POTENCY OF THC PRODUCTS, AND THEY HAD A FORMAT WHICH PROMOTED CRITICAL THINKING AND THE STUDENTS AND AND IN FACT, THE PRINCIPAL FOR MATCHES MISS HEATHER PINEAU, THEY REALLY WERE VERY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR SUCH A GREAT PROGRAM THAT THE TOWNSHIP COLLABORATED ELABORATED ON, AND THIS INITIATIVE IS PART OF A BROADER STRATEGY TO REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE. THAT'S THROUGH EARLY EDUCATION, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND PREVENTION EFFORTS. SO WE WERE GLAD AS AS A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT. THEN WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL BLOOD DRIVE RIGHT HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. THAT WAS ON JUNE 14TH. THE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAHA SRI MAHA SABHA OF NORTH AMERICA, MENA AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, HOSTED A REALLY SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE. AND THE 55 UNITS OF BLOOD WERE COLLECTED, POTENTIALLY SAVING UP TO 165 HOSPITAL PATIENTS. 29 FIRST TIME DONORS PARTICIPATED, A STRONG REFLECTION OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ACTUALLY PRAISED THE EVENT'S ORGANIZATION AND TURNOUT, HIGHLIGHTING OUR LOCATION HERE IN MONTGOMERY AS IDEAL SITES SUPPORTED BY A VERY DEDICATED TEAM FROM OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OF COURSE, THE COMMUNITY EFFORT BY THE MAYOR. SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE. OR I JUST WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS SATURDAY AT 10 A.M., BEFORE YOU GO TO THE SAME EVENT, IF YOU CAN TRY AND COME TO THE INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY CELEBRATION, THIS WILL BE AT THE MEDITATION GARDEN BEHIND OTTO KAUFMANN, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING PEOPLE THERE. SO THIS WILL BE A RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY, AND HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO COME RELAX AND GET SOME PEACE. THANK YOU. THAT'S THAT'S IT FOR ME. AND I THINK OUR ATTORNEY WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. YES. I WAS GOING TO WAIT TILL AFTER LAURIE, BUT, YES, I WANT TO DO A MIA CULPA. I WAS ABSOLUTELY WRONG. MISS KEENAN WAS CORRECT. THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DID CHANGE IN 2024. [02:00:03] IT WAS AT THAT REORG MEETING. I DON'T KNOW WHY. IT MAY HAVE JUST BEEN OUR JUST DOING THE AGENDA AND MOVING FORWARD. I WILL SAY THAT I GENERALLY DO RECOMMEND THAT WHEN CHANGES ARE MADE THAT THEY ARE DONE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR SO THAT THEY'RE CONSISTENT FOR THE YEAR. HOWEVER, I'M HAPPY TO LOOK INTO IT IF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE STILL WANTS TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. PLEASE, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AND MAYBE LET US KNOW WHY THAT WAS RECOMMENDED. WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS THAT LED TO IT BECOMING THREE MINUTES? BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME STUFF THAT HAPPENED IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND SO WHY DON'T WE LOOK INTO IT AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT AT THE NEXT TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, WE ADDRESS IT AND BRING THAT TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION. THANK YOU. YEAH. I'LL GO BACK AND PLEASE TAKE A LOOK. THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN ME. OKAY, THAT'S THAT'S FINE. WE UNDERSTAND THINGS HAPPEN. AND IF I CAN HAVE THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT NOW. [42. Administrator’s Report ] YES. SO MONDAY AT 5 P.M., WE HAVE THE FAIR HOUSING PLAN ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLAN. PUBLIC HEARING. IT WILL. IT WILL BEGIN. IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW. THE PLAN IS ONLINE, AND IT'S AVAILABLE IN PERSON. I THINK BARBARA IN THE NEWSPAPER HAD REPORTED THAT IT'S 800 PAGES. BUT PLEASE DON'T BE SWAYED. IT'S REALLY 80, 80 PAGES WITH A LOT OF ATTACHMENTS, SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PERUSE IT. I ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK AT THREE PIECES THAT ARE ON THE WEBSITE. THE CURRENT PLAN TO SEE WHAT WHAT IS PROPOSED, THE PRIOR PLAN FOR THE PRIOR ROUND. BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME LOT OF LOT OF GREAT DISCUSSION OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC, AND SOME OF THOSE IDEAS ARE ACTUALLY BEING IMPLEMENTED. YOU KNOW, THE 100% AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILDING ALONG THE TRANSIT LINE AND REDEVELOPMENT AND URBAN INFILL. SO I THINK IF THEY CAN OBVIOUSLY REACH OUT TO ME. MY NUMBER IS (900) 853-3929 THREE. SHERRY CRUZ IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WILL BE ABLE TO ALSO KIND OF WALK THEM THROUGH THE PLAN. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THREE REALLY GREAT POWERPOINTS ONLINE FROM 2019, 2022 AND 2023, WHERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT GROWTH AND HOW THINGS OCCURRED AND THINGS ABOUT THE LAWS. AND THEY'RE THEY'RE GREAT THE WAY THEY'RE LAID OUT. THOSE WERE PRESENTATIONS THAT THE TOWN HAS DONE, AND WE'VE TRIED TO KEEP THOSE ACTIVE ON THE WEBSITE SO PEOPLE CAN REFER TO THEM. 2025 PRESENTATION THAT MICHAEL DID. AND I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY AND WE DID A JANUARY 16TH, 2025 INFORMATION SESSION WHEN WE KICKED THIS OFF AND WE HAD A GREAT ATTENDANCE BY THE PUBLIC THEN AND SOME GREAT, GREAT FEEDBACK. I'LL DOUBLE CHECK TO SEE WHAT PAGE HIS PRESENTATION IS ON FOR FOR THAT. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO. THERE'S A THERE'S A TWO PAGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. SO IF YOU CAN GET THROUGH TWO PAGES, YOU AT LEAST GET THE GIST OF EVERYTHING. BUT THERE'S GREAT BACKGROUND DATA GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1975. THEN THERE'S THE REQUIREMENTS ARE LAID OUT. THEN THERE'S KIND OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. SO IT'S SORT OF BUILDING BUILDING UP TO PAGE 27, THE LANDS THAT WERE CONSIDERED. AND THEN PAGE 30 THROUGH 82 IS REALLY LIKE THE MEAT OF THE PLAN. SO I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TO DO THAT, BECAUSE THE 800 PAGES SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE ONEROUS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT RESOURCES OUT THERE. AND AGAIN, MYSELF AND SHERRY CRUZ COME IN, CALL US. WE CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THE WEBSITE. YOU KNOW, ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN SORT OF PREPARING FOR THAT, THAT HEARING BEFOREHAND. AND, LORI, IF I MAY JUST JUMP IN ON THAT. I ALSO JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THERE ARE VERY STRICT STATUTORY PARAMETERS THAT WE'RE WORKING IN ON TIMING. SO IF IT SEEMS LIKE THE PLAN WAS PUT TOGETHER QUICKLY, IT'S BECAUSE THE STATE MADE US DO IT THAT WAY. AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT THEY'RE PUSHING THE PROCESS MORE QUICKLY THAN IT SHOULD BE DONE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN AMEND IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING ON FILE WITH THE COURT BEFORE JUNE 30TH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. A BLUE ACRES UPDATE TO THE TWO OPOSSUM ROAD HOMES. WE'RE HOPING WE GOT FEEDBACK FROM DEP THAT THEY WILL BE DEMOLISHED. BEFORE DECEMBER. ALL OF THAT TIMELINE UP. BUT THAT'S THAT'S THE INITIAL FEEDBACK WE GOT. AND THE COUNTY NOT SO SWIFT PROGRAM. THE COUNTY SWIFT PROGRAM AND OFFER WAS MADE ON THE ONE PROPERTY THAT QUALIFIED AND THE OWNERS ACCEPTED. SO WE'RE THRILLED. THAT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WAS HANGING OUT THERE FOR A WHILE. AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY FRUSTRATING. SO THAT'S THE BLUE ACRES UPDATE. THERE IS A GRIGGS TOWN CAUSEWAY MEETING. YES. THAT THE COUNTY IS HOSTING ON THEIR CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT STUDY TUESDAY, [02:05:05] JULY 1ST. DOORS OPEN AT 630. THE PRESENTATION IS AT SEVEN. IT'S UP IN SUMMERVILLE AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. WE'LL BE PROMOTING THIS. BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE THE ONE LANE BRIDGE OVER THE MILLSTONE RIVER IS DEFINITELY WIDELY DISCUSSED HERE AMONGST ALL THE RESIDENTS. AND SO THIS WILL BE A PRESENTATION OF THE STUDY THAT THE COUNTY DID. THE COUNTY OWNS AND AND MAINTAINS ALL OF THE BRIDGES IN, IN TOWNS IN SOMERSET COUNTY. VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS. AND SO THIS IS THEIR STUDY OF SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVES OF HOW TO IMPROVE THAT SITUATION, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT INTERSECTION THERE IS VERY DANGEROUS. A LOT OF ACCIDENTS. SO I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE'LL BE PROMOTING AND WE'LL REQUEST THE NEWSPAPER, MONTGOMERY NEWS, TO ALSO PROMOTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GO TO THAT MEETING BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING VERY OFTEN YOU SEE ACCIDENTS OVER THERE. VERY OFTEN YOU SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO THIS AREA FOR THE FIRST TIME, ESPECIALLY THE UBER DRIVERS I'VE HEARD WHO SEEM TO JUST ZOOM THROUGH IT, NOT REALIZING THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO YES, IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO KEEP JULY 1ST ON THEIR RADAR. WHAT TIME DOES THAT MEAN THAT STORES OPEN AT 630 DOORS. MEETING STARTS AT SEVEN. I'M ASSUMING THE BRIDGE IS NOT THE ONLY ITEM. SO IT IS THE ONLY ITEM ON THE BRIDGE IS THE BRIDGE. OH, THERE'S THE GRAVESTONE CLICKING ON THE STUDY THAT THEY DID ON THE BRIDGE. AND WHAT ALTERNATIVES THAT THAT BRIDGE IS A BIG DISCUSSION POINT. CONDUCTED SOME TRAFFIC STUDIES SO THEY'RE THEIR CONSULTANT WILL BE THERE TO TO WALK US THROUGH THAT. WE GOT SOME SOME GREAT NEWS THIS WEEK THAT OUR HUD GRANT HAS FINALLY BEEN EXECUTED. THAT WAS A GREAT RELIEF FOR US. AND SO ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS ARE READY FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD MUNICIPAL BUILDING. WE COULDN'T, WE COULDN'T. AS I HAD MENTIONED, WE COULDN'T START THAT PROJECT WITHOUT THIS AGREEMENT FROM HUD. AND WHILE WE KICKED IT OFF IN A GREAT WAY WITH THEM, THEY SORT OF WENT RADIO SILENT. AND SO WE DID KIND OF MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS. I KNOW I AND I DO WANT TO BRING THAT UP, THAT THAT WAS A BIG CONCERN. THERE'S SO MANY CHANGES GOING ON. THERE WAS DEFINITE CONCERN IF THIS WOULD GO THROUGH OR NOT. BUT WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT IT DID. AND THE PHONE CALLS ALWAYS HELD. SO WE'LL BE GOING OUT TO BID VERY, VERY SHORTLY. AS I SAID, ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE READY. YEAH. LAURA, I THINK YOU AND THE AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, YOU KNOW, ENGINEERING, ETC. I KNOW THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENCY DAY TO DAY OR DAY SEE WHEN THEY COME IN, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK ON THAT. I KNOW WE WERE ALL ASKING ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE SUCH AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. SO KUDOS TO YOU AND AND EVERYONE INVOLVED, FROM YOUR STAFF TO GETTING THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. VERY TRUE, VERY TRUE. THANK YOU. YEAH. IF I COULD JUST ADD THE CONGRATULATIONS ON THE THE HOUSING DOCUMENT AS WELL. IT'S IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE, REALLY A HISTORY OF OUR HOUSING SITUATION HERE FOR DECADES. AND I JUST WAS MARVELING AT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND THE THE REFERENCES AND THE CITATIONS AND THE THE ATTACHMENTS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND JUST THE, THE, THE COMMENTARY AND THE WAY IT WAS DESCRIBED WAS REALLY WELL DONE. SO THANK YOU, LORI, I WILL I'LL PASS THAT ALONG. THANK YOU. STATE LANDS ACQUISITION. SO WE'RE FINISHING UP. THE TOWNSHIP'S GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THE APPRAISAL AND WE'RE FINISHING UP A GRANT. GREEN ACRES HAS AN EXTENSIVE CHECKLIST. MAPS NEED TO BE CREATED. A LOT OF QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED. AND SO WE'RE FINISHING THAT UP. AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT APPRAISAL. THE SOMETHING THAT I THINK I'D MENTIONED TO YOU A WHILE AGO THAT, THAT, THAT MYSELF AND THE DPW DIRECTOR JEFF BIRKELAND HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT WAS IF THERE WAS ANY WAY WE COULD DO SOME KIND OF EVEN IF IT'S WHAT WE'VE WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS JUST A PILOT PROGRAM RIGHT NOW FOR SENIOR CURBSIDE BULK PICKUP. BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE OFFER, BUT WE KNOW THAT OUR SENIORS, YOU KNOW, ARE STRUGGLING, AND IT'S REALLY HARD FOR THEM TO, TO TAKE THINGS. WE HAVE A GREAT YOU KNOW, CONVENIENCE CENTER HERE THAT PEOPLE CAN BRING ITEMS TO, BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY HARD FOR OUR SENIORS TO GET THERE. SO WE, WE THEY'VE THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT HOW THEY COULD RUN A PROGRAM. THERE'S A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN HILLSBORO. AND SO WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH. AGAIN, IT WOULD BE A PILOT JUST TO TEST TO SEE HOW IT COULD GO. WOULD BE THE CAPACITY THAT WE WOULD HAVE WOULD BE ABOUT 100 100 SENIOR HOUSEHOLDS PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, PROOF OF RESIDENCY AND AGE UP TO SIX BULK ITEMS. [02:10:04] THEY WOULD LEAVE. AND WE'VE DESIGNATED THE TOWN INTO FOUR ZONES. SO OVER FOUR WEEKS IN AUGUST YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, SIGN UP, CALL THE DPW, EMAIL THEM GO REGISTER THAT REGISTER, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT PAPERWORK, VERY LITTLE PAPERWORK. I SHOULDN'T SAY THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PAPERWORK. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE PHONE CALL. AND TERRY, WHO REPLACED MICHELLE ESTRADA IS FANTASTIC. SO SHE WILL BE ABLE TO WALK ANYONE THROUGH IT. THERE ARE SOME EXCLUDED ITEMS WHICH WOULD BE THE NORMAL EXCLUDED ITEMS THAT WE DON'T DO AT OUR CONVENIENCE CENTER. SO HAZARDOUS WASTE PAINT, MOTOR OIL, THAT SORT OF THING. SO WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO START ROLLING THIS OUT IN JULY, ALLOWING THESE HUNDRED, YOU KNOW, SENIOR HOUSEHOLDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PILOT, SEE HOW IT MIGHT, MIGHT GO. AND WE WOULD DO THE PICKUP THROUGHOUT AUGUST. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS COMFORTABLE WITH WITH THAT IT'S WITHIN THE, THE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING STAFF THAT WE HAVE. AND THEY, THEY FEEL THEY COULD SUCCESSFULLY ROLL SOMETHING LIKE THIS OUT. YEAH. LAURIE, IF I COULD ALSO COMMEND YOU ON THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, COMMENDATION THERE. BUT LIKE LAST WEEK, I WAS INVITED TO OUR AUTO COFFMAN SENIOR COMMUNITY LUNCH, WHICH WAS AT VETERAN'S PARK. AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT A NUMBER OF THE, THE ATTENDEES BROUGHT TO ME. AND WHEN I, WHEN I MET WITH LAURIE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK. URI, YOU AND THE STAFF HAD ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON SOMETHING, WHICH IS JUST FANTASTIC. SO, SO JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, LIKE PEOPLE ARE BEING PROACTIVE, PROACTIVE AND TOWNSHIP, YOU KNOW, AT THEIR NEEDS. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR YOU AND THE STAFF ALREADY HAVING THE CONCEPT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT. ACTUALLY DISCUSS ALREADY. SO YEAH THANKS. THAT'S WE KIND OF TEASE THE IDEA. SAID WE WERE KIND OF WORKING THROUGH THE LOGISTICS OF IT ALL AND KIND OF GOT A GREEN LIGHT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO IT. AND SO JEFF JEFF SENT ME OVER THE DRAFT LAYOUT. AND, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS GREAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FINAL MEETING NEXT WEEK JUST TO KIND OF BUTTON EVERYTHING UP. AND THEN WE'D LOVE TO ROLL IT OUT. AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SENIORS BECAUSE IT IS REALLY HARD WITH THE BULK ITEMS AS WE ALL KNOW. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING IT. THE COUPLE JUST THE LAST FEW ITEMS DEP WAS BACK AGAIN BUT WITH MORE GREAT NEWS. SO WE WE HAVE NEVER REALLY HAD THE DEP CONDUCTED THEIR FIRST AUDIT OF OUR MIS FOUR PERMIT. MIS FOUR STANDS FOR THE OH GOSH, I SEPARATED. I KNOW THIS. I KNOW THIS STORM WAS A MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER. PERMIT. EVERY TOWN HAS TO HAVE ONE. IT BASICALLY REGULATES ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HANDLES STORMWATER. SO DETENTION BASINS THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP, ALL OF THE STORM SEWERS IN THE ROAD. AND SO THE DEP CAME TO DO THEIR FULL AUDIT. THERE'S A WIDE REQUIREMENT. I MEAN, EVERY YEAR THERE WE WE HAVE TO SUBMIT PROOF OF HOW WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR PERMIT. BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY CAME OUT TO ON SITE, MET WITH ALL OF THE STAFF. IT'S REALLY MARK HARMON, OUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER, WHO MANAGES THAT PROGRAM. AND DPW ALSO IS VERY INVOLVED. SO THEY SAID THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH WITH HOW WE'VE OUR LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO OTHER TOWNS, WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR. AND THAT MARK, YOU KNOW, IS, IS REALLY AND ALL OF THE STAFF ARE JUST DOING A GREAT, GREAT JOB. THEY'RE THERE. THEY'RE GETTING THE WORK DONE. IT'S EFFICIENT. IT MEETS THE THE REQUIREMENTS. AND THEY'RE JUST THEY WERE VERY HAPPY. SO I WANTED TO PASS THAT ALONG. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO MARK AND THE OTHER TEAM. ALL OF THEM FOR SURE. I THINK THAT'S IT. WE WE ACTUALLY HAD SOMEONE FROM SOMERSET COUNTY JOANNE PROBABLY WHO WAS HERE EARLIER. JOANNE FIASCO FROM THE COUNTY HAD HELPED HOOK US UP, BUT WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE SOME REALLY GREAT CONNECTIONS. REGARDING THE THERE'S A FOOD NETWORK IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AND THEY WERE TOURING OUR FACILITY AND TALKING TO JOHN KROGER, OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC, ABOUT HOW WE COULD JOIN THAT NETWORK AND WHAT THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO, GIVEN THAT THE ELKS, YOU KNOW, IS CLOSING AND WE'LL BE TAKING ON THOSE ADDITIONAL FAMILIES. AND SO HOW WE CAN GROW OUR CAPACITY. AND SO THAT WILL BE MORE FORTHCOMING. TODAY WAS JUST KIND OF AN INITIAL INITIAL READ. AND THEY COULD SEE SEE WHAT WE HAVE. SO I'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. YOU KNOW, AS, AS AS IT MOVES ALONG. BUT THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO THAT'S GOOD. YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S IT. SO AT THIS POINT, HOLD ON A SECOND. [02:15:01] I GUESS WE HAVE THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEM OF FILM, READY TOWN, WHICH HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE NEXT MEETING. AND NOW RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 622 FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION, [44. Resolution #25-6-224 – 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 MEETING ACT. THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PBA CONTRACT. IT IS UNKNOWN PRECISELY WHEN THE MATTER DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION WILL BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION SHALL ONLY BE APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IN A PUBLIC SESSION. THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 SIX 2 TO 4. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OPEN REGULAR SESSION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ADJOURNMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. MONTGOMERY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD NIGHT. MONTGOMERY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.