I'LL TELL YOU WHEN. OKAY. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:09]
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. CALL TO ORDER AT 702. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH. HERE.DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR TODD HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON HERE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. 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. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY. WE WILL START TODAY. RECOGNITION.
[1. Recognition – National Purple Heart Day, August 7, 2025 ]
NATIONAL PURPLE HEART DAY, AUGUST 7TH, AND I WOULD INVITE JIM BUSHONG TO PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. AND OF COURSE THE METER AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND FROM THE VETERANS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. SHOULD I SPEAK THIS WAY? IS THIS CORRECT? OR IF YOU'D LIKE, I GUESS YOU CAN SPEAK THIS WAY. YEAH. COME CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE. YEAH. COME CLOSER. YEAH. IS THAT GOOD? AM I CLOSE ENOUGH? YEAH. JUST. YEAH. OKAY. HOW'S THAT? THAT'S GOOD. OKAY. OKAY. THANKS TO THE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS OF THE MONTGOMERY VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE, TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION, AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HAS THE HONORABLE DISTINCTION OF BEING DESIGNATED A PURPLE HEART COMMUNITY. TODAY IS NATIONAL PURPLE HEART DAY, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT FULFILLING OUR OBLIGATIONS FOR THIS DISTINCTION, THOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST PROVIDE A BRIEF CONTEXT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE PURPLE HEART IS AWARDED TO ANY UNITED STATES ARMED SERVICE MEMBER, WOUNDED OR KILLED IN ACTION DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS AS PART OF THE PRIVILEGE OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO GAVE SO MUCH FOR THE FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TODAY. WE HAVE COMPILED STORIES OF HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS THAT HAVE EARNED THE PURPLE HEART WHILE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY. THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE AND TOWNSHIP RECOGNIZED ALL OUR PURPLE HEART RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS EARNED THE PURPLE HEART ANNUALLY ON AUGUST 7TH AND MAINTAIN A PERMANENT RECORD OF THEIR HEROIC STORIES ON THE TOWNSHIP'S WEBSITE. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TWO SOLDIERS TO ADD TO OUR PURPLE HEART HONOR ROLL, THANKS TO TOWNSHIP RESIDENT BILL LEWIS FOR HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS TO HONOR AND REMEMBER OUR SERVICE MEMBERS. THE STORY OF ALEX MALCHO JR HAS BEEN NOW BEEN INCLUDED IN DOING RESEARCH FOR ALEX. I DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER MALCHO FAMILY MEMBER, RUSSELL MALCHO, ALSO EARNED THE PURPLE HEART. BOTH OF THESE BROTHERS EARNED A PURPLE HEART IN WORLD WAR TWO ALONG WITH THEIR BROTHER MICHAEL MALCHO, WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN SAIPAN. I WOULD LIKE TO NOW READ THE STORIES OF ALEX, JUNIOR AND RUSSELL, NOTING THAT THESE SUMMARIES ARE BASED ON INFORMATION GATHERED BY THE ASTONISHING DEDICATION OF OUR FRIENDS WITH THE HILLSBORO VFW, MANNSVILLE VFW, AND SOMERSET COUNTY MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART. CORPORAL RUSSELL MALCHO SERVED WITH US ARMY UNIT E, COMPANY, 30TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, PARTICIPATING IN THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN TO LIBERATE THIS CRITICAL PORT CITY AND AIRFIELD. IN SPITE OF STRONG GERMAN RESISTANCE AND SUBSEQUENTLY BREAKING THROUGH THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED GUSTAV LINE IN THE ROME-ARNO CAMPAIGN TO MARK THE FIRST AXIS CAPITAL TO FALL TO THE ALLIES ON JUNE 4TH, 1944, DURING THE FIERCE FIGHTING, CORPORAL MALCHO WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, EARNING THE PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER DISTINCTION. HE IS INTERRED WITH HONOR AT BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM C DOYLE MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN ARNI TOWN, NEW JERSEY. SERGEANT ALEX MALCHO JUNIOR SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE US MARINE CORPS. HE WAS IN COMBAT DURING THE BATTLE FOR IWO JIMA WITH THE THIRD MARINE DIVISION. HE WAS ONE OF 20,000 MARINES WOUNDED DURING THIS INFAMOUSLY FIERCE BATTLE, IN WHICH NEARLY 7000 ADDITIONAL MARINES GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR THEIR COUNTRY. SERGEANT ALEX MALCHO, JR IS INTERRED WITH HONOR AT SACRED HEART CEMETERY IN HILLSBOROUGH, NEW JERSEY. AS[00:05:01]
MENTIONED, HE WAS ONE OF THREE MALKO BROTHERS WHO EARNED THE PURPLE HEART, WITH AN ADDITIONAL THREE BROTHERS ANSWERING THE CALL OF DUTY TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY WITH HONOR IN WORLD WAR TWO. WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT ALL SOLDIERS WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH HONOR TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITIES, DESERVE OUR CONTINUOUS GRATITUDE AND REMEMBRANCE. THAT IS THE MISSION OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE, WITH OUTSTANDING SUPPORT OF THE TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION. THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TODAY IS THE UNVEILING OF A POSTER TO PRESERVE AND SHARE THE MEMORIES OF OUR PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS WITH THE WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING ITSELF. THIS POSTER WAS DIVISION OF OUR COMMITTEE CHAIR, DIMITRA BARAK TARIFF, WHO'S STANDING WITH ME, AND I AM INCREDIBLY HONORED AND HUMBLED TO HAVE WORKED ON THIS HONOR ROLL MEMORIAL. MAY THEIR NARRATIVES AND PICTURES BRING TO LIFE THE SPIRIT, BRAVERY, AND SACRIFICES THEY MADE FOR US ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMENT, I GUESS UNLESS THE MAYOR OR VINCE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT? I MEAN THIS. WHY DON'T YOU SAY SOMETHING? YES, THE DEPUTY MAYOR, I JUST REALLY. JIM, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER RECOGNITION OF HOW OUR OUR TOWN, YOU KNOW, IS RUN SO MUCH BY WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS. AND, JIM, I KNOW YOU HAVE MADE THIS, LIKE A PERSONAL MISSION OF YOURS. YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR PROBABLY THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE EARNED THE PURPLE HEART HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AND MEMORIALIZED AND DOCUMENTED FOR HISTORY. RIGHT? SO THAT THE RESIDENTS, CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM. I HOPE THAT THE ONLY REASON WE ADD MORE TO THESE TO THIS LIST IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE IN THE PAST, AND WE DON'T ADD THOSE FOR THE FUTURE. BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO GOOD RECOGNITION THAT, YOU KNOW, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EITHER PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OR HAVE BEEN WOUNDED IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. AND YOU DO INCREDIBLE WORK. AND I KNOW THIS. IT TAKES A VILLAGE, AND WE BUILT A LOT OF GREAT COLLABORATIONS UNDER DEMETRIUS LEADERSHIP TO HELP IN THIS ENDEAVOR. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, VINCE. AND JUST EVERYBODY THAT THEY'RE SHOWING THE POSTER, THIS IS LIKE THE DIGITAL VERSION, BUT I KNOW THE TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING ON A PRINTOUT. OF COURSE, THAT'S WHAT WILL BE IN THE IN THE SOMEWHERE IN THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING. AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR, YOU KNOW, ENABLING ME TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE LIKE THIS. IT'S A GREAT HONOR. THANK YOU. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT TO HAVE THE POSTER. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE LOBBY AND THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS. WE HAVE A BUNCH OF SECOND GRADERS WHO COME AND DO TOURS, AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER STUDENTS WHO TOUR, SO THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THEM TO SEE. USUALLY. I MEAN, EVERYBODY SAYS PAPER IS NO LONGER THE WAY TO GO, BUT I STILL FIND PRINT. IT DOES WORK BECAUSE EVEN IT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. KIDS TEND TO LOOK AT IT AND YOU KNOW. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIMITRA AND JIM, FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND THE VETERANS COMMITTEE. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
[3. Update – All-inclusive Playground]
THE UPDATE FOR THE ALL INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND UP. HI EVERYONE, I'M JOHN GREGOR, I'M THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR HERE. OBVIOUSLY, AS EVERYONE CAME IN, I'M SURE FOR SOME TIME YOU'VE SEEN THE PLAYGROUND THAT'S BEING BUILT OUT HERE. IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST, IF NOT THE BIGGEST IN THE COUNTY. VERY EXCITING. I'M PROBABLY AM THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN SOME TIME TO KIND OF BRING IT TO LIFE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST KIND OF GIVE EVERYONE AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE WITH IT, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU'VE SEEN, THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL RIGHT NOW. SO JUST A LITTLE BACK STORY WITH IT. BEN SHAFER RECREATION IS THE COMPANY THAT WE ULTIMATELY CHOSE TO DO THE DESIGN AND ACTUALLY BUILT ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE HERE. WE'VE USED THEM FOR A HANDFUL OF PROJECTS. THEY DID THE PLAYGROUND OVER AT MONTGOMERY VETERANS PARK, AND THEY USE THE INSTALLER OF CORBY ASSOCIATES, WHICH IS A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS. WE'VE USED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES, ONE OF THE BEST IN THE STATE. SO JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKSTORY WITH THAT, WE HAD A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE DELAYED THE PROJECT FOR RIGHT NOW. THE WEATHER DELAYS ON THE EARLIER END, WITH THE HEAVY AMOUNTS OF RAIN THAT WE'VE HAD AND A FEW LITTLE SUPPLY CHAIN THINGS THAT HAVE KIND OF SLOWED THE PROJECT DOWN. BUT WE DID JUST GET WORD BACK THIS MORNING THAT THEY ARE BACK ON TRACK, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION BACK UP ON TUESDAY. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO KEEP THE PROJECT, THE PROJECT MOVING. JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF PICTURES JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT THE PLAYGROUND FINAL PRODUCT WILL LOOK LIKE. CAN KIND OF SEE THE MOST OF THAT SHELL IS THERE ALREADY AT THIS POINT. BUT GIVING YOU AN IDEA AGAIN, AS THE PROGRESS HAS COME ALONG, IT'S STARTING TO LOOK GREAT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO LOOK THAT MUCH BETTER ONCE IT'S FINALIZED. THIS WAS AND I'M TOTALLY BLANKING ON HIS NAME RIGHT NOW. I'M SORRY HE WOULD GIVE IN TOM CONNOLLY FOR THE[00:10:02]
PRINCIPAL OF ROCK BROOK SCHOOL, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET. A TOUR OF THE FACILITY. PERFECT.THANK YOU. YEAH. SO WE JUST DID A WALK THROUGH JUST TO KIND OF SHOW WHERE A LOT OF THE PIECES ARE GOING TO BE JUST TO KIND OF GET A HANDS ON TOUR AGAIN. WE HAD OUR OUR DRONE WENT UP TODAY JUST TO KIND OF GET SOME UPDATED PHOTOS OF THE OVERHEAD TO SHOW YOU HOW LARGE THE FOOTPRINT IS AND HOW EXCITED WE ARE TO HAVE SOMETHING SO LARGE AND TO GET EVERYBODY MOVING. DIFFERENT SIDE HERE. AS YOU'LL SEE, I HAVE SOME PHOTOS THAT IN WHERE THE CURSOR IS HERE, WE'VE ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE PARKING, WHICH I'LL SHOW YOU SHORTLY. AND IN THE FUTURE WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL STRIPING FOR ACCESSIBLE, SAFE WALKING AREAS ACROSS THE PARKING MEDIAN. HERE, FOLKS ARE COMING IN EITHER TO THE PLAYGROUND OR FROM THE LIBRARY TO THE PLAYGROUND. SOME ACTION PHOTOS ON SITE. AGAIN, AS YOU SEE THE ROCKS ARE DOWN THERE. STILL, THE PLAYGROUND WILL NOT BE ROCKS, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF US PROBABLY GREW UP WITH THOSE YEARS AGO. IF I DID, I THINK THIS PICTURE WAS WITH PATEL GIVING US AN OVERVIEW HOW THE, YOU KNOW, HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THIS WITH THE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL SPECIAL NEEDS AND OTHERS. THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERGENERATIONAL. SO DEEWANGI WAS EXPLAINING TO US WITH OUR SENIORS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT IS REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING. I THINK THE DEPUTY MAYOR AND I TRIED A COUPLE OF THEM. AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT INTERGENERATIONAL, ALL INCLUSIVE. SO WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HOPEFULLY SOON. YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR SINGH. AND AGAIN, JUST TO SHOW YOU, THERE'S GOING TO BE A HANDFUL OF PIECES. SOME OF THEM OBVIOUSLY HAVEN'T BEEN PUT IN YET THAT ARE GOING TO BE STANDALONE PIECES FOR THE PLAYGROUND, THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT FOR EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. THIS IS KIND OF THE MUSICAL SECTION AREA OF THE PLAYGROUND FOR, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY TO BE ABLE TO NOT NECESSARILY JUST GO ON THE LARGER PIECES, BUT TO HAVE SOME OF THESE PIECES ON THE SIDE AS WELL. ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PHOTO.
YEAH. AND AGAIN, WE PRETENDED THAT. SO AGAIN, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA AGAIN, WE DID ADD THREE ADDITIONAL HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE SPACES WITH THE ZERO ENTRY WALKWAY THERE. SO THAT WAY FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO KIND OF TRAVERSE THE SIDEWALK TO GET RIGHT TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE PLAYGROUND. AGAIN, ANOTHER OVERVIEW, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN ADDITIONAL IDEA THAT THAT AREA JUST TO THE SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK, THERE IS GOING TO BE LIKE AN OUTDOOR SEATING AREA FOR FOLKS TO HAVE LUNCH AND SNACKS OUTSIDE OF THE PLAYGROUND, JUST TO HAVE A LITTLE BREAK AREA AS WELL. THAT'S THAT WILL HAVE CONCRETE THERE AS WELL. AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THE WHOLE THE WHOLE STRUCTURE, THE WHOLE PLAYGROUND ITSELF IS GOING TO BE FENCED IN WITH CHAIN LINK FENCE OF THIS SORT. IT'S GOING TO BE A BLACK CHAIN LINK FENCE. IT'S NOT GOING TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THAT, BUT JUST KIND OF GIVING YOU A VISUAL. AND THEN JUST TO MY OWN SELFLESS POKE HERE, WE DO HAVE A SUMMER MOVIE NIGHT COMING UP THAT'S GOING TO BE AT MILL POND PARK ON AUGUST 21ST, AND THEN IN TWO FRIDAYS ON AUGUST 22ND. WE HAVE OUR KIDS PRODUCTION OF FINDING NEMO. IT WAS ONE OF OUR OUR THEATER SUMMER CAMPS. SO IF YOU ARE AROUND AND WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO JOIN, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU. AND THAT IS THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOHN. AND I'LL ASK THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IF THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. LONG TIME COMING. IT'S VERY EXCITING, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF YEARS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE BIG QUESTION. TIME FRAME. YEAH. SO THE ADDITIONAL PIECES THAT HAD BEEN BACK ORDERED, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE THEM IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS FOR THE FOR THAT SPECIFIC THE DRAINAGE PORTION THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THERE. AND THEN AFTER THAT THEY SAID THEY THEY SEEM TO THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT A MONTH FROM THAT STANDPOINT. SO I SHOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA. BUT I WAS WE'RE HOPING FOR MID-SEPTEMBER, GIVE OR TAKE.
OKAY. SO WITHIN TWO MONTHS. YES. THAT IS DEFINITELY. YEAH. FROM FROM WHAT THE, FROM WHAT CORBY HAS TOLD US. AGAIN, AS LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE ANY HEAVY RAIN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE'RE EXPECTING IT TO BE. YEAH, NO MORE THAN AN ADDITIONAL TWO MONTHS. SO THIS WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME TO ENJOY IT BEFORE THE WEATHER CHANGES. ABSOLUTELY. I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS. NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE ALWAYS DELAYED FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS IS PROCEEDING. AND I'LL BE EVEN HAPPIER WHEN IT'S DONE, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT FOR ME, BUT I KIND OF WANT TO GO PLAY OUT THERE. NO, NO, IT CAN BE FOR YOU. WE GOT INTERGENERATIONAL. IT IS. THEY HAVE SOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT. YES, I SAW THAT. THAT'S PRETTY COOL. YOU KNOW THE SELF BENCHING AND THE AND THE ROCKING. SO YEAH THERE THERE ARE FIVE PIECES OF EXERCISE EQUIPMENT OUT THERE. SO WHEN, WHEN FOLKS ARE OUT THERE WITH THEIR KIDS JUST KEEP YOU
[00:15:02]
MOVING A LITTLE BIT. AWESOME. NO, I'M JUST SAYING I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU, THERE'S A YOU WERE SAYING THAT NO ONE WANTS THIS TO BE DONE AS QUICKLY AS YOU ARE. THERE'S A FOUR AND A HALF YEAR OLD WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET WHO I KNOW WANTS THAT ASAP, BUT I SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, LET'S THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION TO DETAIL. SAFETY FIRST. RIGHT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S INCLUSIVE BUT ALSO THAT'S SAFE FOR ALL THE KIDS. SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE WE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH JOHN. EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FORWARD. SO YEAH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE ARE DOING OUR EMS PRESENTATION. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT A LITTLE BIT. AND[4. Presentation – Montgomery EMS]
THEN WE'LL DO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STATEMENT. SO AT THIS POINT I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FOR EMS THIS YEAR. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MET DENNIS ON AND COMMITTEEWOMAN PATRICIA TODD, DEPUTY MAYOR VINCE BARRAGAN, AND OF COURSE, MIKE MARTIN, WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY, AND I ARE REALLY EXCITED AND PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT 2025 WILL BE THE HIGHEST DONATION EVER TO MONTGOMERY EMS, THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE DEEPLY VALUES AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY APPRECIATES THE EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION OF ALL OUR VOLUNTEER MONTGOMERY EMS MEMBERS. THESE INDIVIDUALS SELFLESSLY DEVOTE COUNTLESS HOURS TO RIGOROUS TRAINING AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ALWAYS READY TO SERVE, PROTECT, AND CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN TIMES OF NEED.THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND COMPASSION REFLECTS THE VERY BEST OF MONTGOMERY'S SPIRIT. WHETHER IT'S RESPONDING TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, SUPPORTING PUBLIC EVENTS, OR PREPARING THROUGH ONGOING EDUCATION, MONTGOMERY EMS VOLUNTEERS EMBODY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SERVICE AND CIVIC DUTY. ON BEHALF OF ALL RESIDENTS, WE, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE MONTGOMERY EMS. YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES MAKE MONTGOMERY A SAFER, STRONGER, AND MORE RESILIENT PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AS PROMISED, YOUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO HELP EMS. THIS YEAR, WE INCREASED THE DONATION FROM 70,000 TO 80,000, AND WE ARE PRESENTING THAT CHECK TONIGHT, AS WE HAVE HEARD EMS SHARE WITH US AND I WILL SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC TONIGHT. AS A REMINDER, WHILE THE TWO LOCAL FIREHOUSES ARE ABLE TO RAISE CAPITAL DIRECTLY FROM LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES, MONTGOMERY EMS IS 100% DONATION BASED TO PURCHASE LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT, TRAINING THE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS AND MAINTAINING THEIR SQUAD BUILDING IN HALOGEN SO EVERY DONATION HELPS. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND STAFF HAVE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH EMS LEADERSHIP TO HELP THEM ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE MOST PRESSING NEEDS. THIS YEAR, EMS APPROACHED THE TOWNSHIP ABOUT THE NEED FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE TOWNSHIP WAS ABLE TO LOAN A FORD EXPLORER THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NO LONGER USING, AND THE TOWNSHIP IS PAYING FOR ALL OF THE RELATED MAINTENANCE AND INSURANCE FOR THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE. WE PREVIOUSLY LOANED A CHEVY TAHOE THAT MONTGOMERY EMS IS ALSO USING AS PART OF THEIR FLEET THIS YEAR. AS WITH YEARS PRIOR, THE TOWNSHIP CONTINUES TO COVER THE COST OF GASOLINE USED BY EMS, WHICH IS ROUGHLY $10,000 PER YEAR. THAT IS THE MUNICIPAL. THAT IS WHAT THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET COVERS THIS YEAR. AT MONTGOMERY EMS REQUEST, THE TOWNSHIP WAS ABLE TO EXCHANGE A PORTION OF THE 1.5 MILLION RADIO GRANT THAT THE TOWNSHIP RECEIVED TO ASSIST FIRE AND EMS AND THE TOWNSHIP WITH NEW RADIOS, AND RE ALLOCATE 30,000 OF THAT GRANT TOWARDS THE PRESSING NEED FOR A NEW AMBULANCE. THIS YEAR, WE ADDED 10,000 IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR PURCHASE OF THAT AMBULANCE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE DEPUTY MAYOR WHO WAS WITH ME AT THE AT THE BUDGET AND FINANCE. AND THIS WAS A BIG DISCUSSION. AND THERE IS MORE. AS PROMISED, WE WILL NEVER STOP ADVOCATING FOR YOUR FINANCIAL NEEDS AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP WITH THE COST OF EQUIPMENT AND THE TWO AMBULANCES. TONIGHT, THE TOWNSHIP HAS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR VILLAGE WALK, AND THE TOWNSHIP HAS NEGOTIATED ON YOUR BEHALF A 50,000 PAYMENT FROM THE DEVELOPER TO MONTGOMERY EMS TOWARDS THE COST OF AN AMBULANCE. ALL IN ALL, FOR THIS YEAR, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HAS AMASSED 195,000 IN FUNDING AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MONTGOMERY EMS. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU MONTGOMERY EMS, FOR ALL YOU DO. NOW WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE TOWNSHIP. COMMITTEE WILL COME DOWN AND GIVE THE CHECK. OKAY. THAT'S ALL GOOD. CAN I SAY A FEW WORDS? OH, PLEASE. OF COURSE, OF COURSE. MY APOLOGIES. SID. SO ON, ON BEHALF OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES FROM MONTGOMERY EMS, THOSE WHO ARE HERE. AND SID, DO YOU MIND JUST GOING TO COME TO THE MIC? YES. OF COURSE. OH, YEAH. OKAY. NO. YEAH. CLOSER. THERE WE GO. OKAY,
[00:20:06]
SO ON BEHALF OF MONTGOMERY EMS AND ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE AND WHO ARE NOT, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR THE SUPPORT THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE HAS SHOWN AND GIVEN TO MONTGOMERY EMS. WE WORK HARD. WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST. I THINK YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS. NOT ONLY WHAT RESIDENTS OF MONTGOMERY ARE SAYING, BUT ALSO EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE AWARDS THAT WE HAVE WON. AND SO WE WORK HARD TO BE DESERVING OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN US. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH ONCE AGAIN. AND I WOULD INVITE ANYBODY ELSE, IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THAT. SEAN. YEAH.HELEN, DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? COME ON. I'M NOT AS TALL AS SID. NO, I WANT TO THANK THE TOWNSHIP, TOO, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS MONEY. IT IT IT IS WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT EMS HAS THE SUPPORT. WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS. 24 SEVEN. OUR PAGERS DO GO OFF AT, YOU KNOW, 2 A.M, 4 A.M, 5 A.M, YOU KNOW, AND WE DO. WE WAKE UP. MOST OF US DO NOT SLEEP AT THE BUILDING. WE'RE HOME AND WE RUSH TO GO GET AN AMBULANCE, OF COURSE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, TO GET ON SCENE, YOU KNOW, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, YEARS BACK, THE DONATION FROM THE TOWNSHIP HAD DISAPPEARED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. WE ARE JUST THANKFUL THAT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IT HAS COME BACK. IT IS HELPFUL TO US AS EMS AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR INCREASING IT AGAIN. AND YES, THE MONEY GOING TO OUR NEW AMBULANCE THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BE HERE NEXT MONTH. WE ARE THRILLED TO DEATH. AND THEN ONE OF OUR MUCH OLDER UNITS WILL GO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU AGAIN. AS WE ALWAYS SAY, EMS AND YOU VOLUNTEERS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS TOWNSHIP. I THINK LEWIS WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU LEWIS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE PROVISION. WITHOUT YOU GUYS, IT'S HARD. ALL THE OPERATIONS RUN UNDER ME AS A CAPTAIN, SO. BUT FOR US ALL, THIS IS OUR BIGGEST ASSET IS OUR PEOPLE.
JUST FOR AN IDEA SAKE 2024, WE'VE HAD 33,916 DOCUMENTED VOLUNTEER HOURS BY THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION. OKAY, THAT IS PEOPLE DROPPING THEIR TIME AND COMING IN. THAT IS WHAT KEEPS THIS ORGANIZATION RUNNING. THAT IS CLOSE TO 34,000 HOURS THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THE TOWNSHIP.
NONE OF THEM GET PAID FOR ANYTHING OF THAT. AND THAT IS JUST DOCUMENTED. THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER UNDOCUMENTED HOURS WHEN WE ATTEND MEETINGS, WHEN WE DO DRILLS, WHEN WE DO OUR TRAINING THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO RENEW OUR CERTIFICATES. THIS IS JUST FOR CALLS AND STANDBYS, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO DO AT LEAST EVERY PERSON 48 HOURS OF TRAINING TO MAINTAIN THEIR CERTIFICATION YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO THAT IS JUST A DEMONSTRATION OF THE DEDICATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE NOW. AGAIN, WE CAN HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE, NO EQUIPMENT, RIGHT? STUFF. WE CAN PULL IT OUT. SO IT'S A COMBINATION. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR OTHER VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY OUR POLICE FORCE, BECAUSE EVERY CALL AND THAT'S THAT'S I HAVE SEEN IT. WE'VE RESPONDED TO OTHER TOWNS EVERY CALL WHEN WE GO, WE HAVE A COP THERE. THAT'S YOU.
THAT'S I BELIEVE IS VERY UNIQUE TO MONTGOMERY. AND THERE ARE HELPERS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY HELP US MOVE, THEY HELP US LIFT, THEY HELP US SECURE THE SCENE. I JUST CAME BACK FROM A CALL WHERE, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE FIRE BOTH OF OUR COMPANIES. WE HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COPS, WITH THE POLICE FORCE, WITH THE FIRE. IT'S A COMBINATION THAT REALLY WORKS WELL IN THIS TOWN. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO DO THE BEST SERVICE FOR THE TOWN. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE, THANK YOU FOR THIS PROVISION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS. BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, JUST THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LEWIS. AND AGAIN, AS YOU ALL REMIND ME, YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR RECRUITS. WE HAVE AMAZING YOUNG PEOPLE, AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF PEOPLE COULD FIND TIME TO VOLUNTEER FOR OUR EMS. WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND PLEASE GO AHEAD. YEAH, SURE. SO PLEASE GO AHEAD. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL YOU KNOW PERSONALLY BECAUSE AS MANY OF
[00:25:01]
YOU KNOW, I HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THIS YEAR WHERE I NEEDED EMS, MY SON HAD A FREAK ACCIDENT AT HOME AND IT WAS QUITE A MESS. AND EMS CAME, CALMED US DOWN. POLICE OFFICER CAME ALONG, WE GOT HIM TO A HOSPITAL. THE GOOD HOSPITAL. HE GOT HIS STITCHES AND LIFE WENT ON. BUT I REALLY CAN ATTEST TO HOW COMFORTING IT WAS TO HAVE THE VOLUNTEERS RESPOND IN THE WAY THAT THEY DID. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHOSE HOUSE THEY WERE COMING TO. I WASN'T TREATED ANY DIFFERENTLY, AND IT REALLY I CAN'T BE EXPRESSED MY THANKS MORE, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU POINTED OUT THAT THESE ARE NOT ONLY VOLUNTEERS, BUT TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. YES. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS. THEY EXCEPT THAT THEY DON'T GET PAID, RIGHT, BUT THEY BEHAVE IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. THEY PROVIDE US PROFESSIONAL LEVEL SERVICE AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. YEAH. THANK YOU TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR EMS FOR KEEPING US SAFE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS DEDICATED TO YOU GUYS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, AND WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO AS BEST AS WE CAN TO, TO SUPPORT YOU. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. OKAY. I GUESS WE'LL COME DOWN AND HAVE THE CHECK FOR THE EMS. THANK YOU. MR. YEAH. I'M ASKING YOU WHETHER. ANYBODY. IN THE.I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM AND LEWIS AND. OTHERS. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE NONPROFIT THAT. IS GREAT.
OKAY. LET'S GO BACK TO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
OKAY. READYE? OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE AND
[2. Statement – Affordable Housing]
STATEMENT. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'D LIKE TO START TONIGHT'S MEETING BY THANKING ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN. WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY EXPLORING WAYS TO ADDRESS THE SUGGESTIONS AND CONCERNS SHARED WITH US. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IS DEDICATED TO ALL OUR RESIDENTS. WE ARE WORKING FROM A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE, FROM OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS TO OUR SENIORS, HAS A CHANCE TO THRIVE AND EVERYONE FEELS THEIR VOICE IS HEARD. AS PROMISED, WE WILL BE HOLDING A. WE WILL BE HOLDING PERIODIC TOWN HALLS AND LISTENING SESSIONS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR FIRST TOWN HALL WILL BE ON MONDAY, AUGUST 11TH AT 7 P.M. HERE IN THE COMMITTEE CHAMBERS. IT WILL BE LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED, ACCESSIBLE FROM OUR WEBSITE. AS EVERYONE IS AWARE, WE ADOPTED A PLAN BY JUNE 30TH TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN OUR IMMUNITY FROM BUILDER LAWSUITS. NEVERTHELESS, WE ARE ALWAYS ABLE TO MODIFY THE PLAN. UNDER THE LAW. WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS AT THE TOWN HALL. BUT TONIGHT I WANT YOU TO PROVIDE A STATUS REPORT ON MONTGOMERY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN, WHICH I KNOW IS A SUBJECT OF GREAT INTEREST THIS EVENING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, MUNICIPALITIES IN NEW JERSEY FACED A DEADLINE OF JUNE 30TH TO SUBMIT THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND FAIR SHARE PLANS TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM. THESE PLANS.THESE PLANS ARE REQUIRED TO OUTLINE HOW THE MUNICIPALITY WILL MEET ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OBLIGATIONS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. MONTGOMERY COMPLIED WITH THE JUNE 30TH STATE MANDATE BECAUSE FAILING TO DO SO WOULD HAVE RISKED LOSING CONTROL OF DEVELOPMENT IN OUR TOWN DUE TO
[00:30:01]
BUILDER REMEDY LAWSUITS. WE HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT OF THESE TYPES OF LAWSUITS IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS, INCLUDING SOUTH BRUNSWICK AND HILLSBOROUGH, AND WITHIN THE STATE. MORE RECENTLY, THE BOROUGH OF ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS WAS NOT ONLY FORCED TO ALLOW FOR THE BUILDING OF OVER 500 UNITS WHEN THE COURT TOOK OVER THEIR ZONING, BUT ALSO ORDERED TO PAY OVER 8 MILLION IN FEES TO DEVELOPERS FOR FIGHTING AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION. AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE THE COST OF PAYING THEIR OWN PROFESSIONALS FOR THE LITIGATION. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN A RECENT PRESS ARTICLE ABOUT THE MATAWAN GOLF COURSE. WHILE THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WAS GIVEN A PROPOSAL FOR 1000 PLUS UNITS AT THAT LOCATION, WE REJECTED IT BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY, AS WELL AS THE LACK OF SEWER AND THE DESIRE TO MAINTAIN THE RECREATIONAL AMENITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. TONIGHT, I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT DUE TO THE DILIGENT EFFORTS OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND STAFF, THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND ADDITIONAL CONTROLS MAY NOW BE AVAILABLE. THIS EFFORT IS CRUCIAL TO PRESERVING LONG TERM HOUSING AFFORDABILITY FOR MONTGOMERY FAMILIES AND SENIORS, WHO RELY ON REASONABLY PRICED HOMES TO CONTINUE LIVING IN OUR WONDERFUL TOWN. AS PROMISED, WE NEVER STOPPED FIGHTING TO EXTEND THE DEED RESTRICTIONS ON MONTGOMERY'S EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESIDENCES BY SECURING EVEN MORE CREDITS FROM ALREADY BUILT AFFORDABLE RESIDENCES, WE ACCOMPLISHED THREE VITAL GOALS. WE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT WE PROTECT, MONTGOMERY'S CHARACTER AND OPEN SPACE. WE HELP OUR MONTGOMERY FAMILIES AND SENIORS STAY ROOTED IN THE TOWN THAT WE ALL LOVE. I WISH I COULD BE MORE SPECIFIC, BUT WE ARE IN ACTIVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH MULTIPLE PARTIES AND WILL BE DISCUSSING THE STATUS OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS TONIGHT. IN A CLOSED SESSION, WE WILL HAVE MORE UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON MONDAY EVENING WHEN WE HOLD A PUBLIC TOWN HALL MEETING DEDICATED TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING DURING OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT. AT THE SAME TIME, MONDAY'S TOWN HALL WILL BE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATE PRESENTING POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE PLANNING BOARD AND TO THE PUBLIC AT THAT TIME. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO SPEAK TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ONE FAVOR. PLEASE FOCUS YOUR REMARKS ON THE PLAN ITSELF AND NOT ON THE MOTIVATIONS OF THE STAFF AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO DEVELOP OUR PLAN TO MEET OUR STATE MANDATE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE MADE WILD, UNSUBSTANTIATED ACCUSATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT ARE TOTALLY UNTRUE AND INCREDIBLY DETRIMENTAL TO MAKING GOOD DECISIONS FOR OUR TOWN. DEBATE IS HEALTHY. CHARACTER ASSASSINATION IS NOT. I WANT TO ADDRESS ONE SPECIFIC ACCUSATION THAT HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO BE A LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT. SOME HAVE SAID THAT I'M SEEKING TO PROFIT FROM THE SALE OF THESE NEW UNITS, BUILT UNDER OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN. TO REMOVE ANY DOUBT, I'M TONIGHT PUBLICLY STATING THAT I WILL NOT SERVE AS THE LISTING AGENT ON ANY NEW UNITS CREATED UNDER THIS PLAN, EITHER WHILE I'M IN OFFICE OR EVEN AFTERWARDS. EVERY PERSON ON THIS DAIS TONIGHT CARES PASSIONATELY ABOUT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND ENSURING THAT IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AFTER ALL, EVERYBODY HERE CHOSE TO RAISE OUR FAMILIES. WE ALSO ARE DEALING WITH AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX, AFFORDABLE HOUSING REGIME IN NEW JERSEY. WHILE I'M PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING OUR COMMUNITY MORE AFFORDABLE, AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ARE EQUALLY COMMITTED, I DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE RULES, AND PARTICULARLY THE RAPID TIMELINE WE WERE FORCED TO WORK UNDER. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE HAND YOU'RE DEALT WITH, AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE SITUATION WE WERE FACING THIS SUMMER. BUT I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE CAN COME OUT OF THIS PROCESS WITH A PLAN THAT STRIKES A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING AND EXPANDING THE STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN TOWN, WHILE MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER OF THAT OF OUR TOWN. SO SHARE YOUR OPINIONS AND IDEAS WITH US TONIGHT AND ON ON MONDAY. YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO EITHER AND KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM, TEAM MONTGOMERY, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND WE[5. Public Comment ]
WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. IF COMMENTS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALREADY STATED, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE ASKED TO SELECT A SPOKESPERSON. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO[00:35:02]
ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE? I'LL BE THE FIRST ELLEN ROBBINS HOLLOW ROAD, SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FINALLY HOLDING HAVING THE TOWN HALL. I THINK IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. I'M VERY SORRY THAT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS ARE NOT HERE TONIGHT TO EVEN JUST HEAR WHAT YOU'VE SAID. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL, YOU KNOW, LISTEN ONLINE. BUT I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER, DO THIS IN A JOINT EFFORT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS REALLY AGAINST THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S JUST THE CAN VIEW PROPERTY. HOW CAN IT BE DONE BETTER? AND AGAIN, IT'LL BE BROUGHT UP ON MONDAY. BUT I KNOW IT'S BEEN VERY HARD FOR EVERYBODY, EVEN US AS THE RESIDENTS. AND I CAN JUST KEEP REPEATING TO PEOPLE IT'S NOT JUST THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS THEY HAVE TO COME TO, THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE PLANNING BOARD MEETINGS AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY. IT STARTS SOMEWHERE. IT'S NOT JUST YOU. BUT THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE TOWN MEETING AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS MONDAY NIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS ARMAND RAJWANI. THIS IS PERFECT BECAUSE WE HAVE POLICE CHIEF SYLVIA BHATT RIGHT HERE. I'VE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE FEBRUARY, EVERY MEETING, ALMOST ASKING ABOUT THE SAME THING. CONNOR KRAKOWSKI, FIRST YEAR ON THE JOB HERE. HE WENT 89 MILES AN HOUR IN A SCHOOL ZONE, AND HE STRUCK JEANINE SANTI. AND WE ACTUALLY PAID OUT $1.6 MILLION. AND HE'S STILL BEEN EMPLOYED HERE. AND AFTER WE PAID IT OUT, I EMAILED POLICE CHIEF BHATT. AND WHAT'S WHAT'S HIS NAME? JASON LARSON, THE LIEUTENANT HERE. AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T COMMENT ON INVESTIGATIONS DONE BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. AND I DON'T GET IT. IT WAS ALREADY OVER. WE ALREADY LOST $1.6 MILLION OF OUR TAX MONEY. AND HE HAS A SECOND LAWSUIT FOR FALSE ARREST, UNLAWFUL USE OF FORCE, WHATEVER IT IS. I MEAN, HE HE PULLS OVER THIS LADY, HE DOESN'T TELL HER WHY SHE'S BEING PULLED, PULLED OVER. SHE DOESN'T SPEAK VERY GOOD ENGLISH. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, SHE'S UP AGAINST THE CAR AND HE'S FIGHTING HER AND NEVER TELLS HER WHY SHE GOES TO JAIL. AND I MEAN, I THINK WE SEE THIS BEHAVIOR IS PROTECTED. I MEAN, IF HE'S DOING THIS ON HIS FIRST YEAR AND NOW ON HIS EIGHTH YEAR, AND HE'S MAKING $115,000 A YEAR AND THEY CAN'T MAKE A COMMENT ON IT, I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THE FIRST TIME. FEB, FEBRUARY 9TH, I BELIEVE I CAME HERE, I MADE THESE SAME COMMENTS THAT SAME NIGHT. YOU GUYS RESTRICTED POST WITH THESE TWO SILVIO BHATT AND PHILIP FORD, POLICE OFFICER PHILIP FORD. YOU GUYS RESTRICTED COMMENTS ON THAT POST, VIOLATING EVERYONE'S FIRST AMENDMENT. AND IT'S RIDICULOUS. YOU GUYS NEED SOME ACCOUNTABILITY. SO I ENCOURAGE CHIEF BET TO COME UP HERE AFTER ME AND TELL ME WHY WE'RE STILL HAVING THIS OFFICER IN OUR TOWN WHO ONE HAS ALREADY PAID OUT $1.6 MILLION, HAS DISABLED AN ELDERLY LADY, ACCORDING TO SOCIAL SECURITY, AND NOW HAS UNLAWFUL, UNLAWFUL ARRESTS, LAWSUITS. I MEAN, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE GOING TO PAY OUT TO THIS ONE OFFICER AND HOLD UP THIS BAD LEADERSHIP? I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME UP HERE AND SAY SOMETHING, AND I WOULD HOPE IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T COMMENT ON INVESTIGATIONS DONE BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU, AS THE MAYOR, YOU AS THE DEPUTY MAYOR, YOU AS THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, YOU AS THE ADMINISTRATOR, WHAT KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY CAN WE HAVE? HOW CAN WE TRUST YOU GUYS IF YOU'RE NOT EVEN WILLING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? RIGHT. AND I'VE COME HERE SINCE FEBRUARY, SO I'M REALLY TRYING TO GET SOME ANSWERS. SEEMS LIKE THE PERFECT TIME. SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW. WHY CAN'T I MAKE COMMENTS ON POSTS WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS? WHY DO YOU GUYS BLOCK MY INSTAGRAM COMMENTS? WHY DO YOU GUYS RESTRICT ME FROM COMMENTING? WE LIVE IN AMERICA. WE DON'T LIVE IN MONTGOMERY. COMMUNIST CHINA PARTY. IT'S RIDICULOUS. IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. SIR, I'M SORRY. YOU GOT TO WATCH THE FIRST AMENDMENT. I'M GOING TO CURSE IF I WANT. I'M SORRY. NO, YOU'RE AN INVITEE IN THIS MEETING AND YOU MAY NOT CURSE. WHY DON'T YOU GIVE ME SOME ACCOUNTABILITY? WHY? WHY AM I GETTING SILENCED ON SOCIAL MEDIA? WE HEARD YOU. THANK YOU.VIOLATED. AND WHY IS CONNOR CZAJKOWSKI NOT IN JAIL? WHY IS HE STILL IN? OFFICER MAKING $115,000 STILL GETTING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. THANK YOU. SYLVIA. BACK TO COME UP HERE. IF HE HAS ANY ANY SORT OF INTEGRITY. THANK YOU. MAYOR, IF I COULD RESPOND. YES, PLEASE. SO I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT OUR POLICE, WHEN THEY'RE RESPONDING TO A CALL, IT'S WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY. I THINK PEOPLE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN AND THEY ARE UNFORTUNATE AND TRAGIC. AND THAT WAS THIS CASE. AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY THROUGH THE SETTLEMENT
[00:40:01]
THAT WAS PAID, WE CARRY INSURANCE THAT THERE WAS NO FAULT OTHER THAN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN THIS CASE. AND SO I, I REALLY WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT I THINK THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS WHAT HAPPENED. AND I ALSO WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, AS WE'VE EXPLAINED TO MR. RAJWANI, THE PUBLIC, THE TOWNSHIPS, SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES ARE NOT PUBLIC FORUMS. WE DO NOT HAVE COMMENTING FROM ANYONE. WE HAVE NOT RESTRICTED HIS PARTICULARLY. IT IS ALL OF THE COMMENTS. WE DO NOT HAVE A PUBLIC FORUM. IT IS MERELY FOR SHARING INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC. SO I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT WE HAVE NOT RESTRICTED HIM.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DID YOU WANT TO? PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SPEAKING WHEN YOU'RE NOT AT THE MICROPHONE? THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS AT THE MICROPHONE ONLY. I WOULD REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT SPEAKING FROM THE AUDIENCE IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE. THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING FOR PUBLIC BUSINESS, AND PUBLIC BUSINESS CAN ONLY BE TRANSACTED IF EVERYBODY COMPLIES WITH THESE RULES. THANK YOU. WENDY. NEXT. HOW'S IT GOING? AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE YOUR NAME? YOUR NAME? JAKE SCHWARTZMAN. HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW CONTROVERSIAL THIS IS, BUT I'M GOING TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY I'M ACTUALLY NOT A FAN OF ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT ALL. I THINK IT'S HIDEOUS, AND I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF IT ALREADY. I THINK IF IT CAME IN THE FORM OF LIKE, NICE, ARCHITECTURALLY PLEASING, RANCH STYLE AFFORDABLE HOMES THAT ENTRY LEVEL HOMES PEOPLE COULD BUY, THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S FANTASTIC. BUT IT'S NOT. IT'S THESE GROSS CINDERBLOCK. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HERE HAS BEEN IN THEM, BUT THEY'RE AWFUL. THERE'S ROACHES.
THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY LOOK TERRIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE. THEY'RE NOT THEY THEY THEY'RE NOT THE WORST. BUT ON THE INSIDE, I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY NOT NICE PLACES TO BE. AND THEY'RE ALMOST DYSTOPIAN, ESPECIALLY THE NEW, THE NEW. IF YOU TAKE A WALK DOWN THE ROAD WHERE THE NEW LIKE ACROSS FROM, RIGHT WHERE ALL THAT STUFF IS, IT'S REALLY IT'S NOT ESTHETICALLY PLEASING. AND THEN THE OTHER STUFF NEXT TO SHOPRITE, IT'S LIKE FOUR STORIES TALL AND IT'S RIGHT UP AGAINST THE ROAD. IT JUST LOOKS SO OFF. IT LOOKS LIKE HILLSBOROUGH.
WE'RE NOT HILLSBOROUGH, WE'RE MONTGOMERY, WE'RE BEAUTIFUL. AMAZING. GREAT. MONTGOMERY OR SUPPOSED TO BE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MAYBE THAT IS CHANGING. I HAVE ANOTHER POINT IS HISTORY. I THINK HISTORY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I THINK HISTORY HISTORY IS YOUR GUT'S HISTORY IS KIND OF EVERYTHING YOU HAVE. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THAT. I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE A TOWN HISTORIAN MAYBE HIRED. I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE MORE OPEN SPACE TO PRESERVE THE FEEL OF THE TOWN. I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO DO MORE.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE ABANDONED OR UNUSED VACANT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, HISTORICAL SITES ON THE TOWN THAT ARE JUST SITTING THERE AND ROTTING. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, WE GET LIKE 70 MILLION, $72 MILLION A YEAR. I'M SURE WE COULD THROW THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTENTION THAN JUST MOWING THEIR LAWNS ONCE IN A WHILE, OR THE LITTLE MUSEUM NEXT TO THE 24 CLUB. THAT LITTLE THE BARN, THE INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM, WHATEVER. I FEEL LIKE JUST MORE MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN, BECAUSE WHAT MAKES THE TOWN GREAT IS, IS THE FEEL OF THE TOWN, THE HISTORY OF IT, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE. BUT WHEN YOU START TO MAKE ALL THESE CHANGES AND KIND OF NEGLECT THAT, BUT NOT JUST NEGLECT THAT, BUT ALSO PAVE OVER IT, I THINK THAT'S HORRIBLE. I THINK THAT'S REALLY BAD. AND I THINK IT'S A HUGE MISTAKE. AND YOU CAN SAY LIKE ONLINE, SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING, OH, CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, THIS, THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, OKAY. BUT IT'S THE RIGHT TYPE OF CHANGE. I PERSONALLY THINK, ABSOLUTELY NOT. NOT IN A MILLION YEARS. IS IT THE RIGHT TYPE OF CHANGE? I THINK WE NEED TO PRESERVE MONTGOMERY, THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY, KEEP MONTGOMERY, MONTGOMERY AND I SAW A QUOTE ONLINE OF DON'T CITY MY SUBURB. AND I THINK THAT REALLY SUMS IT UP IN A REALLY GREAT WAY. AND AGAIN, HISTORY HISTORY IS ALL YOU GOT. EXCUSE ME, J, CAN YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR THE RECORD? S H W A R Z. THANK YOU. THANK THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE TO JUST SAY THAT OUR LANDMARKS COMMISSION IS DOING GREAT WORK. YOU MADE SOME VERY GOOD POINTS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO ON THE WEBSITE, LOOK AT THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION'S WORK AND MAYBE JOIN THAT COMMITTEE. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PRESERVE AND WE HAVE THE VAN HARLINGEN SOCIETY AS WELL. SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT. WELL. BUT YOU MADE
[00:45:03]
REALLY GOOD POINTS, AND I'LL LET LAURIE SPEAK TO IF THERE IS ANYTHING, ANY ANSWER. I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT WE ALSO HAVE AN OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE WHO HAS PRESERVED WITH THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE 40% OF THE TOWNSHIP, AND THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID, INCLUDING TWO DONATIONS THAT WE'RE GETTING FOR OPEN SPACE THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT. WE DO HAVE THREE LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 40, 30 OR SO HISTORIC LOCAL DESIGNATED HISTORIC SITES. THE TOWNSHIP ACTUALLY ALSO HAS PUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION EASEMENTS ON HOMES. SO USE SOME OF OUR OPEN SPACE, WHICH CAN BE USED FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS WELL. TRUST MONEY TO PRESERVE THESE STRUCTURES SO THEY HAVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION EASEMENTS ON THESE THESE HOMES SO THAT THEY THEY WILL BE FOREVER MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED AS PART OF THE HISTORY AND FABRIC OF THE COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THOSE INFORMATION. SHARE.I THINK YOUR TIME IS UP. WE VALUE ALL OUR AND WANT TO SAY ALL OUR HISTORY IN MONTGOMERY.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT AND INCLUDING IN THE SOURLANDS AND YOU KNOW, THE MORE LAND WE'RE ABLE TO PRESERVE THROUGH OPEN SPACE DOES SUPPORT THE HISTORY. WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST TOWNS THAT HAVE PRESERVED A LOT OF LAND, BELIEVE AROUND 40%. AND, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGES ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS BEYOND MONTGOMERY. IT IS A STATE LEVEL. BUT THE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMBAT THE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COMBAT OR OR HELP IS BY PRESERVING MORE LAND. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A MOTIVATION FOR US. AND WE WOULD LOVE, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU TO BE PART OF THAT, TO HELP US IN THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND HELP US PRESERVE MORE LAND. SO APPRECIATE THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND TALKING TO US NEXT. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND JUST A COUPLE MORE OKAY. JUST YES, SURE. AND ALSO PLEASE, YOU CAN TAKE LISA FANIA'S EMAIL AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO WRITE TO US. YOU HAD SOME GOOD IDEAS. PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL. I WOULD LOVE TO GET MORE INVOLVED. I'VE TRIED. I HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN FAR. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S THE TOWN'S FAULT OR CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE TO. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING SPECIFIC OR ANY ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD TALK. BUT LIKE WHAT I SEE IS WHEN I DRIVE AROUND AND I SEE BY THE CANAL, I SEE AN ABANDONED HISTORIC PLACE. AND THE I SPOKE ABOUT IT THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO DAVID C VOORHEES HOUSE THAT WAS LEFT IN DISREPAIR. I MEAN, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS AGO, TOO LATE NOW, BUT I, I, I KNOW WHAT I SEE AND WHAT I SEE IS NOT ENOUGH BEING DONE. SO I JUST THINK MORE SHOULD BE DONE. THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE BASIS OF IT. AND I THINK, I REALLY THINK THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS, IS THEY'RE THROWING THEIR SCRAPS ARE THROWN COMPARED TO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. BECAUSE I, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE NOT ENOUGH IS BEING DONE FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD FROM THEN. AND I THINK MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE A MONTGOMERY MUSEUM, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY, MORE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE. AND I THINK MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PRESERVE THAT. THANK YOU. WE CAN DO MORE. I THINK WE ARE DONE, SIR. YOU JUST SAID, OH, YEAH, I GUESS WE HAVE TIME FOR MORE. BUT YOU JUST SAID NO COMMENTS ARE ALLOWED ON ALL THE POSTS, RIGHT? ON ALL THE INSTAGRAM POSTS YOU SAID NO COMMENTS ARE ALLOWED.
HOW COME THEIR COMMENTS ON THERE? YOU YOU WANT TO GIVE ME SUCH A CLEAR ANSWER ON WHY YOU'RE VIOLATING MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS? THEN WHEN I ASK YOU A BASIC FOLLOW UP, IT'S I DON'T KNOW. COME ON. YOU GOT I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T KNOW. SO THEN WHY ARE THERE COMMENTS ON THERE? IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT NOBODY CAN MAKE COMMENTS AND YOU'RE NOT JUST DELETING A RESTRICTING MY COMMENTS, WE ARE NOT DELETING AND RESTRICTING ANYONE'S COMMENTS. WE DO NOT ALLOW. NO ONE CAN COMMENT ON JANUARY 9TH. YOU DON'T ALLOW POSTS. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I ALLOW COMMENTS. I BELIEVE THERE ARE COMMENTS SO LET'S ENFORCE IT THEN. SIR, I BELIEVE THAT YOU MAY BE. YOU HAD COME AND TALKED ABOUT BEING BLOCKED FROM A PBA.
I'M TALKING ABOUT AT IN MONTGOMERY, NEW JERSEY, WHICH SAYS PUBLIC PUBLIC OFFICIAL TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY. IF OTHER PEOPLE CAN COMMENT AND I CAN BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T LIKE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, YOU ARE VIOLATING MY FIRST AMENDMENT, RIGHT? IT IS A PUBLIC FORUM AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE MAKING COMMENTS. SO WHAT LAURIE SAVRAN HERE, WHAT SHE SAID TODAY IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE THERE ARE COMMENTS. WE'LL BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP. TO FOLLOW UP, YOU SAID, OH, ACCIDENTS HAPPENED. PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE VIDEO ONLINE. PEOPLE HAVE REQUESTED THE VIDEO POSTED ONLINE, PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THE VIDEO. THEY'VE MADE UP THEIR MIND. AND TO YOUR POINT, HE'S BEEN WITH THE POLICE FOR SEVEN YEARS. AS WE SAID, NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION FROM THE
[00:50:04]
POLICE CHIEF. BUT THEN HE HAS ANOTHER LAWSUIT AGAINST HIM IN 2020 FOR EIGHT YEARS. I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE GO INTO RECESS. REBUTTAL TO THAT. WHY ISN'T THE POLICE CHIEF COMING HERE AND SPEAKING AFTER ME? WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS HOLDING US ACCOUNTABLE? WE HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE, AND YOU GUYS FAIL AT YOUR JOB BECAUSE YOU GUYS SUCK. YOU'RE A BUNCH OF GRIFTERS. THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT IS COMMENT IS CLOSED AT THIS POINT. ORDINANCES.[6. Ordinance #25-1762 – Providing for the Acceptance of Right-of-Way Dedication Along Reading Boulevard – Introduction/First Reading ]
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1762. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN SOMERSET COUNTY, PROVIDING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION ALONG READING BOULEVARD. MAYOR. THIS ORDINANCE IS RELATED TO THE PSC AND G SUBSTATION APPLICATION BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD THAT WOULD BE ALONG ROUTE 601, IN THE BELLE MEAD SECTION OF TOWN, AND IT REQUIRES RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION FOR READING BOULEVARD. THE SUBSTATION IS NOT NECESSARILY NEAR READING BOULEVARD, BUT BECAUSE THE PROPERTY THAT IS BEING SUBDIVIDED ON THE WESTERN HALF OF THIS PROPERTY IS MUCH LARGER. THERE'S IT EXTENDS TO READING BOULEVARD, THE LARGER PIECE OF PROPERTY WHERE THE CNG IS SUBDIVIDING A SMALLER PIECE. AND SO IN COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY, THIS RIGHT OF WAY NEEDS TO BE DEDICATED. OKAY. THANK YOU. BE ANY QUESTIONS, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HEREBY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF AUGUST 21ST, 2025. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1762. SO MOVED.SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. YES.
COMMITTEE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING.
[7. Ordinance #25-1759 – Authorizing the Acquisition by Gift of the Property Identified as Block 4003, Lots 10, 11, and 12 Located on Columbus Avenue in the Township of Montgomery (“Ariola”) – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ]
FINAL ADOPTION ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1759. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION BY GIFT OF THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS BLOCK 4003. LOTS TEN, 11, AND 12, LOCATED ON COLUMBUS AVENUE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY. AREOLA. SO. MAYOR. BOTH ORDINANCE 25, 1759 AND 1760 ARE BOTH OPEN SPACE. DEDICATE LANDS TO BE DEDICATED TO THE TOWNSHIP FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS FOR OPEN SPACE. BOTH PROPERTIES ARE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO EXISTING TOWNSHIP OWNED PROPERTIES AND PRESERVED OPEN SPACE. THERE'S A PROTECTION OF CONTIGUOUS FOREST HABITAT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS SUCH AS WETLANDS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS FOR BOTH PROPERTIES DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES THAT WARRANTED FURTHER INVESTIGATION.THIS IS INFORMATION THAT LAUREN WALORSKI, OUR OPEN SPACE DIRECTOR, HAS PROVIDED. THE ORDINANCE 1759 IS IN OLD BELLE MEADE, 601 AND BROADWAY AREA. IT'S CONTIGUOUS TO ABOUT 80 ACRES OF EXISTING TOWNSHIP OPEN SPACE AND AN ADDITIONAL 80 ACRES OF COUNTY OPEN SPACE. THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL. WOULD BE GREAT ONCE IN A WHILE TO HAVE SOME OF THESE PICTURES SO THE RESIDENTS CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1759. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.
[8. Ordinance #25-1760 – Authorizing the Acquisition by Gift of the Property Identified as Block 15015, Lots 12, 13, 14, 15, 29, 30, 31.01, 32.01, 33.01 and 34.01 Located on Dutchtown-Harlingen Road in the Township of Montgomery – Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
MAYOR. SING. YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1760. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION BY GIFT OF PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS BLOCK 1501 FIVE LOTS 12 1314 1529 3031 .01, 32.01, 33.01, AND 34.01. LOCATED ON DUTCHTOWN HARLINGEN ROAD IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY. BARBOUR SO MAYOR ON THIS PROPERTY IS ALSO CONTIGUOUS TO EXISTING TOWNSHIP PRESERVED LANDS, TOTALING ABOUT 20 ACRES OF ADDITIONAL OF ADJACENT AND ALSO PRESERVES FOREST HABITAT AND WETLAND AREA. OKAY, PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE? NO. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1760. SO MOVED.SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. YES.
[9. Ordinance #25-1761 – Amending Schedule VI, “One-Way Streets,” Schedule VIII, “Stop Intersections,” and Schedule XVII “Speed Limits,” of Chapter VII, of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984) to Establish or Amend No One-Way Streets, Stop Sign Locations, and Speed Limits on Township Line Road – Public Hearing/Final Adoption]
DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1761. AN ORDINANCE[00:55:03]
AMENDING SCHEDULE SIX, ONE WAY STREET. SCHEDULE EIGHT STOP INTERSECTION, INTERSECTIONS AND SCHEDULE. WHAT IS IT? SPEED LIMITS OF CHAPTER EIGHT OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984. TO ESTABLISH OR AMEND NO. ONE WAY STREET, STOPLIGHT LOCATIONS AND SPEED LIMITS ON THE TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD. SO THIS IS RELATED TO SOME ORDINANCE CLEANUP. I'M SORRY. 17 FOLLOWING FOLLOWING THE RECENT PAVING PROJECT ON TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD, THERE WERE SOME CORRECTIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE IN OUR ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS. SO ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE THAT THE CURRENT ORDINANCE SAYS THAT THE SPEED LIMIT STARTS AT 206 FOR TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD. BUT NOW WITH THE REALIGNMENT OF 206 OF THE, THE SPEED LIMIT WOULD ACTUALLY START NOW FOR TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD AT PIKE RUN ROAD. SO IT'S ALL IT'S ALL IT'S JUST KEEPING. YES.AND I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONCERN BY RESIDENTS ABOUT TOWNSHIP LINE GETTING PAVED AND PEOPLE BEING A LITTLE FASTER. SO WHAT WOULD WHAT IS THE SPEED LIMIT? I I'M NOT SURE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHAT THE SPEED LIMIT IS. OKAY. NO I DON'T THINK WE'RE CHANGING THE OH WE'RE STAYING WITH THE SAME SPEED. I DON'T THINK WE'RE CHANGING THE SPEED LIMIT. OKAY. SORRY. PUBLIC HEARINGS NOW. JUST THE CLEANUP FROM THE REALIGNMENT. REALIGNMENT? OKAY. SIGNS WERE NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACES. GOT IT. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? ANYTHING FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MAY HAVE A. YEAH, SURE. ON THE TOPIC OF THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP AN ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. I THINK IT'S CHERRY VALLEY ROAD AND SORRY, IS IT STILL ON WITHIN WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED FOR TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD? WELL, I DON'T KNOW. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE ROADS AND SPEED LIMITS. NO, NO. SO THIS IS AN ORDINANCE. SO THAT'S A PUBLIC COMMENT SPECIFIC ONLY TO THAT ROAD ON THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE WITH THE SIGNAGE THERE. OKAY. SORRY I SAY IT ANYWAYS. CAN I SAY IT REAL QUICK? IF THERE'S A TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT'S LIKE MESSED UP? LIKE I KNOW WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IF YOU COULD LET THE CHIEF KNOW, OKAY, HE'LL LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT IT GETS SEEN TO. BUT IT'S NOT THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THE RECORD PURPOSES OF HOW THE AGENDA RUNS. BUT THANK YOU. YEAH. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1760. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.
ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH.
YES. ORDINANCE NUMBER 20 5-1761. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SCHEDULE SIX ONE WAY STREET. SCHEDULE EIGHT STOP INTERSECTION AND SCHEDULE 17 SPEED LIMITS OF CHAPTER EIGHT SEVEN OF THE CODE OF TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984. TO ESTABLISH OR AMEND NO. ONE ONE WAY STREETS, STOP SIGN LOCATIONS, AND THE SPEED LIMITS ON TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD. DIDN'T WE JUST DO THIS? YES. OH, SO IT'S STILL THERE ON MY. IT'S LISTED TWICE. OKAY. THAT'S FINE. WE HAD IT LISTED TWICE. THAT'S OKAY.
[Consent Agenda]
CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS. IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? RESOLUTIONS 20 5-82 43 TO 25. DASH EIGHT. DASH 254. SO MOVED.SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD.
YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. GIVE ME A SECOND. OKAY. RESOLUTIONS.
[22. Resolution #25-8-255 – Authorizing the Purchase of One Bucket Truck for the Department of Public Works]
RESOLUTION NUMBER 25, DASH EIGHT, DASH 255 AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ONE BUCKET TRUCK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. SO, MAYOR, THIS IS IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2025. WE ARE REPLACING A BUCKET TRUCK THAT WE BOUGHT ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. WE BOUGHT IT USED AT THAT TIME. SO WE USE IT ON A WEEKLY BASIS. WE USE IT FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES. TREE TRIMMING. THE SEWER DEPARTMENT ALSO USES IT FOR WORKING, REPLACING SOME OF THE APPARATUS OVER THE TANKS, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, QUITE, QUITE LARGE IN SIZE. AND SO IT'S A IT'S A IT WORKED GREAT FOR US FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. LIKE I SAID, WE BOUGHT IT USED THEN. AND SO IT'S JUST TIME TO REPLACE. OKAY.THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH EIGHT. DASH 255. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ALLEN. YES.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SING. YES. RESOLUTION
[23. Resolution #25-8-256 – Amending Resolution #25-4-126 Authorizing Contract Extension #2 for Sewer Excavation and Repair Services – Galbraith & Son Excavation]
[01:00:05]
NUMBER 25. DASH EIGHT. DASH 256. AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH FOUR, DASH 126. AUTHORIZING CONTRACT EXTENSION NUMBER TWO FOR SEWER EXCAVATION AND REPAIR SERVICES. GALBRAITH AND SON EXCAVATION. THIS WAS DUE TO AN EMERGENCY REPAIR ON BEDFORD DRIVE, AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WE DID RELATING TO INFILTRATION AND INFLOW FOR THE SLEEPY HOLLOW NEIGHBORHOOD. SO OUT OF OUR SEWER OPERATING BUDGET. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'M SORRY. OH, SORRY. YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I GUESS FOR THE FOR RESIDENTS. ANY INSIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE IN THE BUDGET. I MEAN, IT'S MORE THAN I THINK THERE WAS JUST MORE MORE WORK THAN INITIALLY ANTICIPATED. ONCE THEY GOT IN THERE AND STARTED EXCAVATING. OKAY. SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO APPROPRIATELY MANAGE IT WITHIN THEIR BUDGET. YES. THE BUDGET IS ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, THE INFLOW, THE I AND I, THE INFILTRATION AND INFLOW WORK. THERE'S A THERE'S A, A LINE ITEM THAT IS USED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR. AND SO THIS IS ONE PROJECT. AND SO CUMULATIVELY ALL OF THE PROJECTS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, FALL WITHIN THAT LARGER OPERATING BUDGET.OKAY, OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 5-82 56. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ANN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.
[24. Resolution #25-8-257 – Authorizing and Executing Indemnity and Trust Agreement with Central Jersey Health Insurance Fund ]
BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SING. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH EIGHT. DASH 257. AUTHORIZING AND EXECUTING INDEMNITY AND TRUST AGREEMENT WITH CENTRAL JERSEY HEALTH INSURANCE FUND FOR THE CENTRAL JERSEY HEALTH INSURANCE FUND IS THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND THAT WE'RE UNDER. WE'RE NOT UNDER THE STATE HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN. AND SO THIS IS JUST AN A DOCUMENT THAT WE DO ANNUALLY WITH THEM, ALL OF THEIR ALL OF THEIR MEMBERS WILL WILL EXECUTE THIS THIS THIS DOCUMENT. OKAY.ANY QUESTIONS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 5-82 57. SO MOVED.
SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ANN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR. TODD.
[25. Resolution #25-8-258 – Authorizing Award of Bid #B07-2025 – 2025 Inlet, Manhole, Curb Repairs and ADA Ramps ]
YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SING. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH EIGHT. DASH 258. AUTHORIZING AWARD OF BID B0720252025. INLET MANHOLE CURB REPAIRS AND ADA RAMPS PROJECT. SO THE WINNING BID WAS $371,305 FOR CONSTRUCTION, LLC. THIS IS ALL WORK RELATED TO OUR 2025 ROADS PROJECTS. OKAY AND COVERED IN OUR CAPITAL. GOOD QUESTIONS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 25? DASH EIGHT 258. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR.[26. Resolution #25-8-259 – Authorizing Agreement with Flock Group, Inc. for One Additional Fixed Camera ]
BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH EIGHT. DASH 259 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT WITH FLOCK GROUP, INC. FOR ONE ADDITIONAL FIXED CAMERA. SO IF YOU RECALL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD IDENTIFIED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE USE OF ALP AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER CAMERAS. THE COMPANY THAT WE WORK WITH, FLOCK SAFETY, THEY PROVIDE THE CAMERAS AND THE MAINTENANCE, AND IT IS A SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS TO OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM SO THE POLICE CAN MANAGE IT. AND IT'S ALSO CONNECTED WITH OTHER TOWNS THAT USE THE FLOCK SAFETY. AND IT'S NOT JUST TOWNS, BUT PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS. FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD MENTIONED IN THE PAST THAT OUR POLICE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DIFFERENT SHOPPING CENTER OWNERS. SO, FOR INSTANCE, MONTGOMERY PROMENADE HAS AGREED TO PURCHASE ONE OF THE CAMERAS AND THEY WILL HAVE IT. THEY'LL THEY'LL PAY FOR IT. THEY'LL, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE PAYING FOR THE CONTRACT ON THE CAMERA, THE INSTALL AND THE MAINTENANCE THROUGH FLOCK SAFETY. BUT IT WILL BE TIED INTO THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE. AND SO WHAT IT ALLOWS US TO DO IS SHARE INFORMATION WITH OTHER TOWNS THAT, YOU KNOW, REPORTS GO OUT ABOUT WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WHEN STOLEN CARS OR OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, THEY'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS AND THEN HELP REALLY SOLVE, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY INCIDENTS THAT ARE GOING ON. AND SO WE'VE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH THE ONES THAT WE'VE PREVIOUSLY PUT IN PLACE. AND SO THIS IS FOR ONE ADDITIONAL CAMERA. WE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. OKAY. AND I HEARD REALLY POSITIVE THINGS FROM OUR RESIDENTS. COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES HAD HAD A SITUATION, A COUPLE OF SITUATIONS WITH CARS GETTING STOLEN. AND ONCE THE CAMERA WAS THERE, THEY SAID IT WAS MUCH[01:05:04]
BETTER BECAUSE ONCE THEY FIGURED OUT THAT THERE IS, SOMEONE CAN READ THE LICENSE PLATE. SO I THINK THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY FEATURE. SO THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY IDENTIFIED AREAS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE THEM NOW. IT'S JUST. SURE THERE'S IF YOU REMEMBER A LIEUTENANT PERRY HAD COME PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO AND TALKED ABOUT THE INITIAL LOCATIONS OF WHERE. SO THEY'RE AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN TOWN. WE COULD DEFINITELY HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIEUTENANT PERRY COME BACK AND KIND OF GIVE AN UPDATE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT PROGRAM. BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE TOWN.SURE. IT KEEPS OUR TOWN SAFE. SO, YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO MAYBE IN SEPTEMBER HAVE SOMETHING SECOND MEETING TO HAVE LIKE A REPORT ON THIS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 5-82 59. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ALLEN. YES.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. RESOLUTION
[27. Resolution #25-8-260 – Authorizing Execution of an Affordable Housing Agreement and Deed Restriction for Affordable Housing Units with Harlingen Associates, LLC ]
NUMBER 25. DASH EIGHT. DASH 260 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGREEMENT AND DEED RESTRICTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WITH HALOGEN ASSOCIATES, LLC. PLANNING BOARD CASE NUMBER PB, DASH ZERO THREE, DASH 23. SO JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S KNOWLEDGE, THIS IS ACTUALLY A DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS APPROVED AS PART OF THE TOWNSHIP'S THIRD ROUND PLAN. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW. IT'S JUST TAKEN A WHILE TO GET TO THIS POINT. SO THIS IS IN ADDITION TO JUST SOLIDIFYING THE FACT OF THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE, APPROXIMATELY WHERE THEY RELOCATED, HOW? AND ADDITIONALLY AGREEING TO THE DEED RESTRICTION, WHICH PLACES THOSE REQUIREMENTS ON A RECORDABLE DOCUMENT FOR ALL TO SEE AND BE AWARE. SO IT'S PLACED THERE FOR 30 YEARS TO KEEP THESE UNITS AFFORDABLE ONCE THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED AND OCCUPIED. SO THESE ARE FROM THE THIRD ROUND. RIGHT. THIS IS YES THIS AND THE NEXT RESOLUTION FOR 261. THESE ARE BOTH THE SAME. BOTH PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS IN A PRIOR ROUND. SO IT'S JUST BEEN IN THE WORKS AND NOW WE'RE READY TO EXECUTE THESE AGREEMENTS. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20 5-82 60. SO MOVED.SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. YES.
[28. Resolution #25-8-261 – Authorizing Execution of an Affordable Housing Agreement and Deed Restriction with the Haven at Princeton, LLC ]
DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SING. YES. RESOLUTION NUMBER 25. DASH EIGHT. DASH 261.AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AGREEMENT AND DEED RESTRICTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS WITH THE HAVEN AT PRINCETON, LLC. PLANNING BOARD CASE PB DASH ZERO 720. SO THIS IS SAME EXPLANATION, DIFFERENT PROJECT ROUND THREE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PLANNING BOARD NUMBER, THEY DIDN'T EVEN THEY SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION BACK IN 2020, BUT THEY WERE PART OF THE THIRD ROUND PLAN WHICH WAS 2015 TO 2025. NO, THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING FROM 2015. THIS IS STILL HERE 20, 25, TEN YEARS. RIGHT. SO IT WAS APPROVED AS PART OF YOUR PLAN. BUT AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING, JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING'S IN THE PLAN, IT STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE FULL PLANNING BOARD PROCESS AND DO THEIR, THEIR SEWER, THEIR, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS, ALL OF THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT NORMALLY HAPPENS WITH ANY APPLICATION BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD, THOSE ARE STILL REQUIRED OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS. THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING SOMETHING THAT STARTED AT THE PLANNING BOARD FIVE YEARS AGO. IT'S FINALLY TO THE POINT OF HAVING REACHED THE ABILITY TO GO TO DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE'RE EXECUTING THESE DOCUMENTS, OR WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO BE ABLE TO EXECUTE THESE DOCUMENTS. RATHER, ASSUMING IF YOU AGREE TO IT, THEN IT KEEPS MOVING FORWARD. BUT IT IT DOES TAKE TIME. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20 5-82 61. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES.
[29. Resolution #25-8-262 – Designating Redeveloper for Village Walk Redevelopment Area Within the Kepner-Tregoe Redevelopment Plan and Authorizing Execution of Redevelopment Agreement ]
MAYOR. SING. YES. RESOLUTION 20 5-8. DASH 262. DESIGNATING REDEVELOPER FOR VILLAGE WALK.REDEVELOPMENT AREA WITHIN THE KEPNER TERRIGAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. SO YOU MAY RECALL THAT RECENTLY THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE AT THE PLANNING BOARD LEVEL THAT LOOKED AT THE KEPNER TRAGER AREA TO SEE WHETHER THIS ADDITIONAL LOTS THAT WERE PARTIALLY INCLUDED IN THERE, IF THE ENTIRETY SHOULD BE INCLUDED INTO THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING BOARD WAS, YES, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MOVED FORWARD WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION. SO THE NEXT STEP IN THIS IS TO DESIGNATE THE REDEVELOPER FOR THE SITE, AS WELL AS TO AUTHORIZE ENTERING INTO A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH THEN SETS FORTH THE TERMS, YOU KNOW, SUCH AS THE ROAD COMES FIRST, ETC. AND AS WE NOTED EARLIER TONIGHT, AS PART OF THIS REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THE CHOSEN REDEVELOPER, WHO IS THE PROPERTY OWNER OF THE SITE, NOBODY'S BEEN REMOVED FROM
[01:10:05]
OWNERSHIP, HAS AGREED TO A $50,000 CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS OUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. YES, WE SAW THAT. WE DISCUSSED THAT 50,000. YES. OKAY. SO OBVIOUSLY A QUESTION THAT WE GET A LOT FROM THE RESIDENTS IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THAT BIG HILL WITH WEEDS AND THE ROAD IS NOT CONTINUED. SO THAT WOULD BE A PROCESS THAT WOULD COME AFTER THIS IS DONE. RIGHT. SO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A REDEVELOPMENT AREA, THERE HAS TO BE A REDEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN PLACE BEFORE CONSTRUCTION STARTS. SO ONCE THE PROCESS IS MOVED FROM THE, I GUESS, DESK LEVEL, THEN THE SHOVELS CAN GO INTO THE GROUND MOVING FORWARD. AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE HAS WANTED THAT ROAD TO BE THE FIRST OF IT. I THINK IT HELPS WITH THE TOWN AND THE TRAFFIC, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO GO TO THAT BACK AREA IS CORRECT. SO THE THIS IS ACTUALLY BROKEN INTO TWO PHASES.SO THAT'S WHY IT REFERENCES TWO ENTITIES ON THE DIFFERENT LOTS, BECAUSE THE PURPOSES FOR THE PHASE ONE, WHICH IS THE ANCHOR BUILDING TO GO FIRST BECAUSE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR SUPPORTING THE STRUCTURE FOR THE ROADWAY. OKAY. SO THE ROAD IS GOING TO GO THE ROAD IS THE FIRST PART OF THE PROJECT WITH THAT SUPPORTING WALL FROM THE ANCHOR BUILDING. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20 5-82. 62. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANN. YES.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SING. YES. APPROVAL
[30. Approval of Minutes ]
OF MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 3RD, 2025. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 17TH, 2025. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THERE ARE NO CLOSED SESSION MEETING MINUTES FOR JULY 3RD AND JULY 17TH. AS NO EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS HELD. RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 5-82 63. PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. LAURIE. LAURIE, WHY DON'T WE COME BACK TO THAT? I'M SORRY, I WAS. YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT? YES. OKAY, I GUESS WE THERE'S NO CORRESPONDENCE AND THERE'S NO MATTERS LISTED FOR NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS. TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS. IT'S[34. Township Committee Reports]
THE SUMMERTIME, SO THERE'S NOT MUCH MANY COMMITTEE MEETINGS. WE ARE DOING RESTAURANT WEEK. SO I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY CAN PARTICIPATE SOON. IN SEPTEMBER. THE FARMERS MARKET IS AROUND, SO PLEASE HELP YOUR LOCAL FARMERS AND COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE FARMERS MARKET. AND YOU KNOW, I ONCE AGAIN, I GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND EMS AND THEY'RE JUST SO WELL DESERVED AND DESERVE MORE. SO WE DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, WRITE YOUR NAME, GENTLEMAN. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE LOVE PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY PASSIONATE, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING OUR TOWN. SO PLEASE REACH OUT. AND WE'RE WILLING TO HELP. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMITTEE. SO I HATE TO SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT MY COMMITTEES HAVE NOT MET NEITHER THE BOARD OF HEALTH NOR THE OPEN SPACE HAVE MET IN THE LAST MONTH. BUT I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THE STOUTSBURG SARAH LYNN AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IS GOING TO OPEN ITS BLACK BASEBALL EXHIBIT TOMORROW NIGHT, AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND, AND I'M GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO THANK THE EMS WHILE THEY WERE HERE, BECAUSE THEY REALLY DID HELP QUITE A BIT. AND I WOULD ALSO SAY TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S HERE WHO'S SO PASSIONATE, I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU TALK TO ABOUT VOLUNTEERING, I REALLY DON'T, BUT I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD TALK DIRECTLY TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE UP HERE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE. YEAH. GET INVOLVED.THE LANDMARKS MEETING LANDMARKS MET LAST WEEK. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS. ONE WAS AROUND THE CEMETERY, AND THEY DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND, AS IF ANYONE GOES ON ON GREAT ROAD. OBVIOUSLY THE FENCE FENCING IS IN DISREPAIR, RIGHT. IT'S JUST OLD I THINK ONE ONE AREA THE A CAR CRASHED INTO IT AND THEY HAD TO COME IN WITH A REQUEST ON WHAT OPTIONS.
OBVIOUSLY REPAIRING REPLACING IT WITH THAT SAME I'LL CALL IT QUOTE UNQUOTE CHARACTER OF IRON OR WHATEVER KIND OF METAL. INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE IS A NONPROFIT GROUP WHO MAINTAINS THE CEMETERY. AND UNFORTUNATELY, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S JUST OUT OF THEIR BUDGET. THEY CAME IN FOR PROPOSAL OF BRINGING LIKE, WHAT I, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS PLEASANT ALUMINUM LIKE LOOKING. FENCING.
NOW THE UNFORTUNATE PART, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ORDINANCES, YOU KNOW, THAT DON'T ALLOW THAT BECAUSE OF YOU KNOW AGAIN THIS QUOTE UNQUOTE CHARACTER. SO I FELT REALLY TERRIBLE. AND I'M
[01:15:03]
SHARING THIS WITH THE TOWNSHIP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE OPTION IS LIKE FOR THEM IS REALLY NO FENCE. AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANT. AND SO I'M NOT IN MY COMMENTS ARE NOT IN THE WORDS FOR THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION. I'M NOT A VOTING MEMBER THAT I JUST AM THE LIAISON. BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO TAKE SOME TIME AND REALLY CONSIDER. I THINK THERE'S THIS I MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT THERE'S A BALANCE BETWEEN RIGHT PROTECTING THE HISTORICAL CHARACTER OF THE TOWN, AND THEN THERE'S SOME JUST HARSH ECONOMIC REALITIES. AND SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT OF THOUGHT. I ALSO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, IF MEMBERS OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT AS WELL. I HAVE HEARD THAT IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT ONEROUS FOR CERTAIN FOR RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN BLOMBERG TO JUST DO SOME BASIC CHANGES, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO. AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE ORDINANCES TO PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THAT AREA. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT LOSING THE FOREST FOR THE TREES. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GET THAT. SO THAT'S ONE. AND WE ALSO HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS COME IN TO TALK ABOUT THE KEMMU SITE AT THE LAST TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING, A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS DID COME IN AND DISCUSS THE, YOU KNOW, ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE OF CERTAIN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS BASED ON A VERY FAMOUS ARCHITECT THAT CAME IN. I DID ASK THE CHAIR OF THE LANDMARKS COMMITTEE TO ACTUALLY PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA, BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD HEARD OF THAT. AND I AND I, AS I'VE SHARED THIS WITH A LOT OF DISCLAIMERS, YOU KNOW, THAT I, I, I USED TO WORK AT JOHNSON AND JOHNSON. SO I HAVE BEEN AT THAT SITE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE TIMES. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS, A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, I THINK WE HAD ABOUT 2020 PLUS RESIDENTS DID COME IN, SHARE SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT THEY HAD DONE. AND WHEN YOU THERE, THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION AMONGST THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION ABOUT GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH AND POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, ALIGNING ON THE LETTER OF, YOU KNOW, OPINION ON THE ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ONE OF THE BUILDINGS. I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO QUOTE THE NAME OF THE ARCHITECT. I KNOW HE DID A NUMBER OF SOMETHING. PI. YEAH, YEAH, I AM, I AM, YEAH. AND SO, SO THAT THAT'S, THAT CONTINUES TO BE DISCUSSED. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SCHEDULED MEANS FOR THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION, BUT THERE'S AN EMAIL TRYING TO GET YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD EMERGENCY, BUT LIKE AN OFF SCHEDULE MEETING TO TRY TO, TO TRY TO GET THAT DISCUSSED. AND SO THAT'S ONGOING. THEN FROM THE VETERANS COMMITTEE, ALTHOUGH IT'S THE SUMMER AND THE IT'S OFF, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE TOWARDS OUR VETERANS DAY CEREMONY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE ENGAGING WITH THE SCHOOL ON, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO KIND OF GET THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR, AS WE DO EVERY YEAR FOR THE ANNUAL VETERANS DAY CEREMONY. SO MORE TO COME ON THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND REALLY, I'M GLAD THAT THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION IS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING. I, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THESE ARE THINGS, YOU KNOW, J AND J WAS THERE WAS THERE AND SOME OF THESE CORPORATIONS HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH TOWNSHIPS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST NOT SELL BUILDINGS JUST FOR PROFIT AND MAYBE KEEP SOMETHING IN MIND. I'M WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS. AS FAR AS MY COMMITTEES, WE RECREATION, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD JOHN KROGER HERE. WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THE INTERGENERATIONAL AND INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND. I KEEP GETTING RESIDENTS ASKING ME WHEN IS IT COMING? SO HOPEFULLY THAT IS SEPTEMBER. I BELIEVE SOMEWHERE THERE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT WE WILL MOST PROBABLY HAVE ONE MORE CRICKET PITCH WE ARE WORKING ON THE ONE IN BROADWAY. I'M SURE OUR ADMINISTRATOR MAY HAVE SOME UPDATES ON THAT. I KNOW RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN WAITING TO GET ANOTHER CRICKET PITCH BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, VETERANS IS A VETERANS PARK. CRICKET PITCH GETS REALLY, REALLY BUSY. AND AGAIN, THE RECREATION COMMITTEE IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO OUR RESIDENTS FOR ANY OTHER IDEAS, AS EVERYBODY SAW IN THE NEWSPAPER OR I THINK IT WAS IN SOME E-BULLETIN SOCIAL MEDIA, WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO OUR ASSEMBLY PARTNERS, ROY FREIMAN AND MITCHELL DRULIS, FOR HALF $1 MILLION FOR OUR COMMUNITY CENTER. SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL ALSO HELP. A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS USE THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IT NEEDS IT NEEDS WORK AND SOME REPAIR. SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. ANOTHER EXCITING THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK WAS, AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, WE LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE WE HAVE BRILLIANT STUDENTS AND OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL WAS WE HAD ABOUT OVER ALMOST 100 KIDS WHO APPLIED, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 20 WHO WILL BE TAKING ON THIS NEW YEAR AND REALLY SMART KIDS, AND THEY WILL BE GOING TO ALL THE COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS AND LEARNING HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS FROM THE GROUND UP. AND I THINK IT'S SUCH A GOOD CIVIC LESSON. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND I THINK THOSE ARE MY ONLY COMMITTEES AT THE MOMENT. AND OF COURSE, I WILL GO[01:20:06]
TO LORI FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. SURE. AND THEN WE'LL DO THE BILL LIST AFTER AFTER THAT.SURE, SURE, SURE. SO THIS WEEK WE STARTED OUR PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE SENIOR CURBSIDE PICKUP. WE STARTED IN WE ZONE ONE, WHICH WAS THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE TOWNSHIP, AND THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE LOU VACCARO, WHO IS ONE OF A TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEE, HE HE RUNS ONE OF THE SENIOR CLUBS HERE IN TOWN. HE HAD OFFERED TO CONNECT ANY SENIOR CITIZENS WHO MAY HAVE TROUBLE BRINGING THEIR ITEMS FOR THEIR BULK ITEMS TO THE CURB WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL VOLUNTEERS THAT HE KNOWS. AND SO TODAY, I RECEIVED WORD THAT TWO EMS ACTUALLY VOLUNTEERS, WHICH SPEAKS TO WHAT LOUIS WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THEIR THEIR DEDICATION JUST THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. JESSICA KNOWLTON AND JOE PRATT. I HAD ASKED IF THEY WERE HERE TONIGHT, BUT THEY, THEY THEY WEREN'T. YEAH, THEY WERE. SO I DID WANT TO TELL THEM, THANK YOU PERSONALLY. THEY DID HELP ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS BRING SOME THINGS OUT TO THE CURB. I THINK THAT WAS ON SUNDAY. SO WE THANK THEM CERTAINLY. AND LOU. EACH WEEK THROUGHOUT AUGUST THERE'S A DIFFERENT ZONE IN TOWN, NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER. JEFF BURKLAND, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE DOING A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, FEELS THAT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY REPLICATE THIS AND EXPAND IN THE FUTURE FOR MORE, MORE RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. TERRY MISTRETTA IS OUR HIS ASSISTANT OVER, OVER IN DPW. AND SHE I MEAN, THE TWO OF THEM, ALONG WITH THE WHOLE STAFF OVER THERE, THEY JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, TOOK, TOOK, TOOK THE CHARGE AND TOOK CHARGE OF IT AND RAN IT PERFECTLY. SO WE'RE SO, SO THANKFUL FOR THAT. AND WE ARE TOO, BECAUSE I THINK DOING SERVICES FOR SENIORS IS SO, SO IMPORTANT. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATOR DOING THAT HERE. AND IF I COULD ADD THAT, I REMEMBER I WENT TO A SUMMER BARBECUE WITH THE WITH THE SENIORS CLUB, AND THIS WAS A, AN ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MEMBERS. AND I MET WITH YOU, LORI, AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM ALREADY HAD A PILOT AND IT KIND OF KICKED US OFF. I AM THINKING, AS MUCH AS I LOVE OUR EMS VOLUNTEERS FOR VOLUNTEERING YET AGAIN, IF WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF MAKE THIS INTO A CONTINUOUS PROGRAM, I WONDER IF WE COULD BUILD LIKE A PARTNERSHIP WITH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE HIGH SCHOOL.
I JUST KNOW THAT TEENAGE STUDENTS SEEM TO ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AND MAYBE THIS COULD BE A PROGRAM TO HELP THEM. AGAIN, AS MUCH AS I WANT TO DO MORE VOLUNTEERS, THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK ALREADY. I KNOW WE COULD EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES. YES, I, I DO WANT TO SPEAK. THIS IS A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH ELLEN ROBBINS ABOUT OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. AS I MENTIONED, WE HAD OVER ALMOST 100 APPLICATIONS FROM THE YOUTH FOR THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, AND OBVIOUSLY WE COULD ONLY TAKE, I THINK, 20. SO THERE IS A REAL DEMAND WITHIN OUR TOWNSHIP FOR THE YOUTH TO VOLUNTEER. SO MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK AT. WE DISCUSSED HAVING THEM ALSO HELP AT THE SENIOR AT THE FOOD PANTRY OR EVEN AT THE SENIOR CENTER, EVEN AT THE FOOD PANTRY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ALL THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS VOLUNTEER HOURS. SO IF WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT. AND TO THE DEPUTY MAYOR'S POINT, THEY CAN ALSO BE PART OF THIS. SO WE HAVE TO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK INTO SOMETHING AGAIN. THE LOGISTICS WILL BE WHAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT. BUT YES, THIS IS A DISCUSSION I HAD WITH ELLEN AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ON THE TOPIC OF SENIORS, OUR SENIOR 100 SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BUILDING IS GOING UP BEHIND THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING HERE. AND SO WE GIVE YOU PERIODIC UPDATES, BUT YOU CAN DRIVE BACK THERE AND SORT OF SEE THE ELEVATOR SHAFTS IS UP THE STAIRCASE, YOU KNOW, FIRE STAIRWELLS ARE UP. AND SO THAT'S WORK IS PROGRESSING AND THAT'S RPM DEVELOPERS WHO ARE DEVELOPING THAT. AND I THINK THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE HAS ASKED EARLIER AS WELL THAT SINCE THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS 100% AFFORDABLE AND SPONSORED BY THE TOWNSHIP, IF THESE COULD BE, I'M SURE OUR ATTORNEY WILL TELL ME IT MAY NOT WORK, BUT IF OUR SENIORS COULD GET, YOU KNOW, FIRST PRIORITY AT AT THIS BUILDING. RIGHT, I WILL LET I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE DEVELOPER TO, TO SEE IF WE COULD DO THAT. DISCUSS THAT. THANK YOU. I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID TALK ABOUT IS EVEN IF WE'RE CONSTRAINED, YOU KNOW, BY STATE LAW ON WHO GETS TO APPLY FIRST, I THINK NOTHING HOLDS US BACK FROM HOW WE MARKET THIS OR HOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO FROM A
[01:25:03]
TOWNSHIP TO SHARE LOCALLY AND HOPEFULLY GIVES OUR OUR SENIORS, YOU KNOW. YEAH. INFORMED YOU KNOW, GET LET THEM KNOW AHEAD OF TIME MAYBE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO BUT YEAH. YEAH THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANT TO DO IT FOR OUR SENIORS. WE TRY AND FIND A WAY.I MEAN WE HAD OUR, OUR TOWNSHIP CLERK LISA FANIA SORT OF DOING A DOUBLE DUTY AS DMV REGISTRATION.
YES, YES, THAT'S THE NEW, NEW THING I'M IN. YES. IF I CAN TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THAT I THINK WE ARE MAYBE THE SECOND TOWN IN ALL OF THE STATE WHERE THE 60, YOU KNOW, APPOINTMENTS FOR REAL ID WERE JUST FOR MONTGOMERY RESIDENTS. I THINK THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE. AND I WANT TO REALLY RECOMMEND AND COMMEND OUR CLERK WHO GOT ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS. SHE'S SHE FEELS SHE'S RUNNING THE DMV NOW, BUT I THINK WE GOT SO MANY RESIDENTS WHO ARE SO APPRECIATIVE. WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ALMOST AN HOUR TO GET THEIR REAL ID, AND WE OFFERED THAT TO OUR RESIDENTS. I KNOW, THANK YOU LISA. GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR IT DIRECTOR JOE AS WELL, FOR DEVISING THAT FORM AND WORKING WITH ME AND TURNING IT AROUND IN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 15, 20 MINUTES SO THAT WE CAME UP WITH A FORM TO THAT WOULD WORK HERE. WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO GET ADDITIONAL DATES IN SEPTEMBER WORKING WITH OUR CONTACT. SO MORE TO COME. HOPEFULLY WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT TO OUR RESIDENTS. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE FACT THAT IT STARTED AT 9:00 AND 901 60 APPOINTMENTS WERE 60, 60 APPOINTMENTS IN ONE MINUTE, BUT THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING ON THE DMV SITE TOO. SO AT LEAST OUR RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY I DIDN'T HAVE THE WAY I SCHEDULED THAT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION WAS WE WERE THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE SCHEDULED AS THEY CAME IN PER THE TIME THEY WERE RECEIVED. SO THE FIRST APPOINTMENT WAS 9:00. SECOND APPLICATION CAME IN AT 9:00. THAT WAS THE SECOND THIRD.
SO IT WAS IN THE ORDER THAT THEY WERE RECEIVED. WE DID HAVE ABOUT TEN THAT SLIPPED THROUGH BECAUSE THE IT DIRECTOR COULDN'T CLOSE IT OUT FAST ENOUGH, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW FAST THEY WERE COMING IN. WE DID HAVE A FEW CANCELLATIONS, SO ABOUT FOUR OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON THE WAITLIST WERE I CALLED THEM PERSONALLY AND SCHEDULED THEM. SO MAYBE SO. SO MAYBE SIX DIDN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT THIS TIME. SO BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S SUCH SUCH A BENEFIT TO THE TOWN.
[35. Administrator’s Report]
SO THANK YOU. MY PLEASURE. YEAH I MEAN BYE BYE UNDER YOUR SUGGESTION. BUT BY WORKING WITH DMV AND THROUGH LISA'S OFFICE, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME WE RAN IT. USING DMVS PORTAL TO REGISTER, IT'S OPEN TO ANYONE IN THE STATE. SO WE TRIED TO MARKET IT HEAVILY TO MONTGOMERY RESIDENTS. BUT THIS TIME WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH DMV TO COME UP WITH OUR OUR OWN PROCESS TO REGISTER. AND THEN LISA IS PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO DMV. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A GREIDEA AND GRER TOWNSHIP CLERK. YOU HAD MENTIONED EXPANDING CRICKET. AND SO AS WE KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A GROWING DEMAND FOR ACCESS TO CRICKET PITCHES. AND JOHN KROGER AND I HAD BEEN LOOKING AT REPURPOSING UNDERUTILIZED FIELDS AS PART OF ITS ONE OF OUR GOALS IN OUR OUR RECREATION MASTER PLAN. SO IT HELPS SAVE MONEY IF THEY'RE UNDERUTILIZED THEIR EXISTING FIELDS. AND REPURPOSING WOULD COST LESS THAN CREATING A NEW FIELD. AND SO JOHN HAS BEGUN REPURPOSING THE BACK SOFTBALL FIELD AT VAN HORN PARK FOR A CRICKET PITCH. AND SO THAT'S BEING DONE IN HOUSE. SO SAVING MONEY THAT WAY AS WELL. WHAT'S GREAT IS IT'S IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE TOWNSHIP, BECAUSE BOTH OF THE CRICKET PITCHES WE HAVE NOW ARE IN THE NORTHERN PART. SO IT PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, EASIER ACCESS TO THOSE RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE SOUTHERN PART. AND JUST STAY TUNED TO SEE WHEN THAT WORK WILL BE DONE AND THOSE RESERVATIONS WILL BE OPENING UP.SO THAT'S THAT'S GREAT THERE. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON EXPANDING CELL SERVICE. WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF THE TOWNSHIP. WE HAVE A MEETING, I BELIEVE, NEXT WEEK WITH WITH REPS FROM CHERRY VALLEY HOA, BOTH THE CHERRY VALLEY HOA AND THE ACTIVE ADULT SECTION OF CHERRY VALLEY HAVE BOTH REACHED OUT TO THE TOWNSHIP AND ENCOURAGED THIS EXPANSION. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM IDENTIFYING SOME SOME PROPERTY THAT THE TOWNSHIP HAS. WE IF YOU RECALL, FRANK DRIFT, A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE TOWNSHIP, HE HAD SPOKEN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC WORKS AND SOME OF THE TRUCKS AND THAT WE'VE ORDERED.
AND SO I, I INVITED FRANK TO COME MEET AND JEFF BERKLAND, WHO'S OUR OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. AFTER ARELLANO RETIRED, WE DISCUSSED SORT OF OUR METHODOLOGY OF HOW WE MANAGE OUR INVENTORY AND FOR PURCHASING EQUIPMENT. FRANK, YOU KNOW, GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO BE A
[01:30:06]
SOUNDING BOARD AS AS PUBLIC WORKS IS DEVELOPING THEIR THEIR, THEIR WISH LIST ALMOST FOR THE HOW WE WILL REPLACE EQUIPMENT OVER TIME. AND HE WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW MUCH WORK WE ARE ABLE TO DO IN-HOUSE WITH OUR EXISTING STAFF, BECAUSE HE HAD MET RICH DIETRICH, WHO IS A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN, WHICH HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN-HOUSE FOR US, KEEPING COSTS VERY, VERY LOW FOR WORK AT THE SEWER PLANT WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU NAME IT, CHANGING, YOU KNOW, EQUIPMENT, RUNNING ELECTRIC LINES. I MEAN, IT REALLY, IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THE START OF MANY. I'M GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION FOR THEM AND THAT THAT WILL BE MOVING FORWARD. I HAVE A MEETING WITH KATE RUSSO FROM SOMERSET COUNTY, MYSELF AND DEVON WILL MEET WITH HER. SHE'S A PART OF THE HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION. SO WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING TO DO BECAUSE MONTGOMERY DOES NOT HAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT UP TO SOMERVILLE, AND ALL OF THE HUMAN SERVICES OFFICES ARE IN SOMERVILLE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM HAVE A SATELLITE HERE IN MONTGOMERY. WHETHER IT'S ONE DAY A WEEK, YOU START WITH EVEN ONE DAY A MONTH SOMETHING. AND SO WE'VE WE'VE SORT OF TALKED PRELIMINARILY ABOUT IT. AND SO WE REALLY WANT TO TRY AND SEE HOW THE COUNTY CAN EXECUTE THIS. FOR THE MONTGOMERY RESIDENTS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR OUR SENIORS AND FOR, YOU KNOW, OTHER LOTS OF OTHER FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN. SO I'LL BE YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CAN GET THAT OFF THE. YEAH, THAT'S WONDERFUL FOR THE RESIDENTS. YEAH. BE GOOD TO KNOW HOW THAT GOES. I MEAN, BECAUSE WE COULD ALSO RAISE THIS TO OUR COUNTY ELECTIONS. YES, YES YES WE ARE.YES. YEAH. YEP. AND THAT IS IT FOR ME OKAY. AND AT THIS POINT WE WILL GO TO RESOLUTION 20 5-8,
[31. Resolution #25-8-263 – Payment of Bills ]
DASH 263. THE BILLS. SORRY. THE BILL LISTS I'M SORRY THE PAYMENT OF BILLS. BILLS. SO PAY PAGE 9 OR 3 BILLS ARE ALL RELATED TO THE STAGE TWO. STAGE TWO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROJECT THE FLOODWALL AND THE UPGRADES TO THE PLANT. THEY ARE ALL OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AT NEW JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST LOAN REPAYMENT THAT WE ARE STARTING.AND SO IT'S $481,932.74, $389,217.76, AND $433,841.29, AND I DO ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO WE WERE OUT YESTERDAY. CHRIS LICCARDO WAS GIVING A TOUR TO SOME OF US FOR SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE, AND IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE. AND I CAN REPORT ZERO SMELLS COMING CURRENTLY. SO HE'S HE'S HE'S THAT WAS A TEMPORARY SORT OF ISSUE THAT WE HAD HAD. AND HE HE WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT. AND THINGS ARE RUNNING SMOOTHLY OKAY I DO SEE HERE ONE OF THE SUPPLIES TO THE FOOD PANTRY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FOOD PANTRY IS STOCKED FOR, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, THANK JOHN AND EVERYBODY FOR, YOU KNOW, REALLY. AND ELLEN, SHE JUST STEPPED OUT. BUT YOU KNOW REALLY FOR HELPING OUR FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES. WELL THANK YOU OKAY. AND I GUESS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, THERE'S NO ITEMS LISTED AT THIS POINT. WE'LL GO TO RESOLUTION 20 5-826. EXCUSE ME. WE JUST NEED TO ADOPT THE BILL LIST RESOLUTION. OH, WE DIDN'T DO THAT. SORRY, SORRY. THAT'S ME. BECAUSE I'M NOT USED TO DOING IT AFTER. OH. THAT'S OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20 5-82 63. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES.
[37. Resolution #25-8-264 – Executive Session ]
MAYOR. SING. YES. RESOLUTION 20 5-8. DASH 260 FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AS FOLLOWS. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WILL NOW CONVENE IN A CLOSED SESSION THAT WILL BE LIMITED ONLY TO CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY BE EXCLUDED. PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECT SUBJECTS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS. LITIGATION. DOCKET NUMBER SOML153 DASH 25. AFFORDABLE HOUSING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PVA 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
[01:35:02]
MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 20 5-82. 64. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER.ANN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. COMMITTEE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. YES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.