[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:11] IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, CALLED TO ORDER AT 7 P.M. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR. BARRAGAN. 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 12TH, 2026 TO THE COURIER NEWS AND THE STAR LEDGER POSTED ON THE BULLETIN BOARD AND FILED WITH THE TOWNSHIP CLERK SALUTE TO THE FLAG. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. PROCLAMATION [1. Proclamation – Recognizing Deborah Axtt for More Than Three Decades of Dedicated Service with the Montgomery Township Police Department] RECOGNIZING DEBORAH ACT FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE WITH THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHEREAS RETIREMENT MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE LIFE AND CAREER OF AN INDIVIDUAL DESERVING OF RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE. WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE. AND WHEREAS, DEBORAH DEBBIE ACT HAS SERVED THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES WITH UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM, CONTRIBUTING TO THE SAFETY AND THE WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS DEBBIE BEGAN HER CAREER WITH MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AS A CLERK TYPIST, ONE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUNE OF 1995, AND WAS THEN PROMOTED THROUGHOUT HER CAREER AS FOLLOWS. CLERK TYPIST, 2ND JANUARY 1996. ACTING ASSIGNMENT RECORDS CLERK, AUGUST 1998. RECORDS CLERK, OCTOBER 1998. SECRETARY, 1ST AUGUST 2000. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT APRIL 2001. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE TO POLICE DIRECTOR, JANUARY 2007 AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT IN JANUARY 2024. AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT THE 30 YEAR PLUS YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, DEBBIE HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL WORK ETHIC, A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND A COMMITMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP. AND WHEREAS, DEBBIE HAS BEEN REMARKABLE COLLEAGUE, FRIEND AND MENTOR TO MANY IN THIS TOWNSHIP. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT I, MAYOR SINGH, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AND ITS RESIDENTS AND STAFF HEREBY RECOGNIZE DEBORAH ACTS FOR HER OUTSTANDING DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND LEADERSHIP THAT HAS POSITIVELY ENHANCED THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT THE TOWNSHIP HEREBY EXPRESSES HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR THE MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND EXTENDS SINCERE BEST WISHES AND HAPPINESS IN HER NEW JOURNEY. ON THIS FIFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY 2026. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND DEBBIE ACTS ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT FROM THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS REFLECTED IN THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THIS GOVERNING BODY TONIGHT IS BOTH A PROUD AND EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, AS WE FORMALLY RECOGNIZE DEBBIE ON HER RETIREMENT. FOR 30 PLUS YEARS, DEBBIE HAS SERVED THIS DEPARTMENT AND THIS COMMUNITY WITH EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY. THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, DEBBIE HAS EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN THE DAILY OPERATIONS AND LONG TERM SUCCESS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ANYONE WHO HAS WORKED IN THIS DEPARTMENT KNOWS THAT THE CHIEF'S OFFICE DOESN'T RUN ON RANK ALONE. IT RUNS ON TRUST, ORGANIZATION, FAMILY AND CALM. UNDER PRESSURE. DEBBIE [00:05:01] BROUGHT ALL THAT AND MORE. SHE KNEW THIS DEPARTMENT INSIDE AND OUT, OFTEN ANTICIPATING ISSUES BEFORE THEY EVEN REACH MY DESK AND ALWAYS HANDLE MATTERS WITH PROFESSIONALISM, DISCRETION AND CARE. AS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE, DEBBIE WAS FAR MORE THAN ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL. SHE WAS A TRUSTED ADVISOR, A STEADY PRESENCE AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL BACKBONE OF THIS AGENCY FOR MANAGING CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS AND CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS TO SUPPORTING OFFICERS, STAFF AND COMMAND PERSONNEL. DEBBIE CARRIED OUT HER RESPONSIBILITIES WITH PRECISION, DISCRETION AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, A CAREER DEFINED BY EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE, OFTEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES, DEBBIE ENSURED THAT THE DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONED EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, ALLOWING SWORN PERSONNEL TO FOCUS ON THEIR MISSION OF PROTECTING AND SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWNSHIP. HER INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND CALM LEADERSHIP WERE INVALUABLE, PARTICULARLY DURING TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND TRANSITION. BEYOND HER PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS, WHAT MADE DEBBIE TRULY SPECIAL WAS NOT JUST WHAT SHE DID, BUT HOW SHE DID IT. DEBBIE BROUGHT KINDNESS, PATIENCE, AND A GENUINE CONCERN FOR PEOPLE AND TO AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS OFTEN FAST PACED AND HIGH STRESS. THAT STEADY PRESENCE MADE A DIFFERENCE MORE THAN SHE WILL EVER KNOW, ESPECIALLY FOR ME. DEBBIE HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ALL WHO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE HER. ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYALTY, YOUR HONESTY, YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT. YOU MADE MY JOB EASIER. YOU MADE THIS DEPARTMENT BETTER, AND YOU DID IT WITHOUT EVER SEEKING RECOGNITION. YOU WERE SOMEONE I RELIED ON, TRUST AND RESPECTED EVERY SINGLE DAY. I WILL TRULY MISS OUR MORNING COFFEE AND CONVERSATIONS. ON BEHALF OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT, I EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR YOUR YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THIS COMMUNITY. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE LEFT A LEGACY THAT WILL ENDURE LONG AFTER YOUR RETIREMENT. A LEGACY FOUND THAT PEOPLE YOU HELPED, THE PROFESSIONALISM YOU UPHELD, AND THE EXAMPLE YOU SET. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THIS DEPARTMENT AND TO THE RESIDENTS OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. WE WISH YOU NOTHING BUT HAPPINESS, GOOD HEALTH, AND WELL DESERVED PEACE IN YOUR RETIREMENT. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF THIS DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY AND YOU'LL BE GREATLY MISSED. THANK YOU. IF YOU CAN COME UP HERE. [2. Proclamation – Recognizing theCoderSchool Team PantryLink for 12th Congressional District App Challenge Award] OKAY, NOW WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE CODER SCHOOL TEAM PANTRY LINK FOR 12TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CHALLENGE AWARD. WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF YOUNG INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INNOVATION, DEDICATION, AND PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE CONTRIBUTES TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS TEAM PANTRY LINK. NOBODY'S, NOBODY'S DO IT. NOBODY'S, BUT TEAM PANTRY LINK OF THE CODER SCHOOL MONTGOMERY CONSISTING OF MEMBERS JOSHUA SAMUEL, NISHA SINGH, MICHAEL YATES, AND NEPAL VAVASSEUR AND INSTRUCTOR JARED HERNANDEZ HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, CREATIVITY AND PERSEVERANCE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APP [00:10:03] FOR SIMPLIFIED ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ENABLING USERS TO BROWSE NEARBY PANTRIES, CHECK ITEM AVAILABILITY, ACCESS INFORMATION ON PANTRIES, HOURS, CLOSURES AND DISTRIBUTION EVENTS, AND ENABLING SIGN UP FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. AND WHEREAS TEAM PANTRY LINK PARTICIPATED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE, A NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE OF THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INSPIRING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO LEARN CODING AND DEVELOP SKILLS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS, AND WAS NAMED THE CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE WINNER FOR DISTRICT 12. AND WHEREAS THESE STUDENTS ACCOMPLISH THESE STUDENTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO PEERS, EDUCATORS, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, SHOWCASING THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARING YOUTH FOR DIGITAL FUTURE AND THE GROWING TECHNOLOGICAL WORKFORCE. AND WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COMMENDS THE CODER SCHOOL, MONTGOMERY'S DEDICATION TO NURTURING YOUNG INNOVATORS AND EMPOWERING THEM TO REACH FULL POTENTIAL, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT I, MAYOR SINGH, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE SCHOOL OF MONTGOMERY AND TEAM PANTRY LINK AS HONORED RECIPIENTS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE FOR NEW JERSEY, 12TH DISTRICT. ON THIS FIFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026. GOOD WORK EVERYONE. SO WE DID. WE WANT TO. DOMINIQUE, DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME PROCLAMATION. WE'LL HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES AND THE PROCLAMATION FOR YOU. YES. I GUESS YOU END UP LOOKING AT US. WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR SINGH AND THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. YOU ALL HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN A PART OF THE CODER SCHOOL STORY AND JOURNEY SINCE DAY 1 IN 2020, AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CODER SCHOOL TEAM AND MY PARTNER, MICHAEL YOUNG, WE WANT TO JUST PUBLICLY EXPRESS HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THESE FOUR STUDENTS. I'M GOING TO JUST TURN FOR A SECOND. THESE STUDENTS HAVE COMMITTED TO CODING EDUCATION FOR YEARS, ALL FOUR OF THEM. JOSH, MICHAEL, NAISHA AND NUPUR. I'VE WATCHED THEM GROW AND DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND THEIR CONFIDENCE, THEIR ABILITY TO COLLABORATE, THEIR ABILITY TO PROBLEM SOLVE, AND THEIR ABILITY TO INNOVATE USING TECHNOLOGY. I'VE WATCHED THEM COME UP WITH BIG IDEAS, RESEARCH, TALK TO PEOPLE, ASK HARD QUESTIONS, AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS THEY GET TO SEE WHAT HARD WORK DOES. HARD WORK REALLY PAYS OFF. THEY SET A GOAL TO WIN THE CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE IN MAY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND SPECIFIC TO DISTRICT 12, THERE ARE OVER 400 APPLICANTS, AND THESE FOUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY ACHIEVED THEIR GOAL OF WINNING THE CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE. WOW. ON BEHALF OF AGAIN MY PARTNER MICHAEL YOUNG, THEIR INSTRUCTOR SHEENA HERNANDEZ, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AT THE CODER SCHOOL. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO YOUR PARENTS FOR ALLOWING US TO WORK WITH YOU AND ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF YOUR GROWTH AND YOUR JOURNEY, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE THE CERTIFICATES AND PROCLAMATIONS WILL COME BACK. AND. THIS ONE. YEAH. ON THE WALL. HERE. I GET US ALL. YES. YEAH. YES. THANK YOU. [00:15:20] OKAY. YOU'RE NEXT. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. I AM PROUD AND HONORED TO READ THE FOLLOWING [3. Proclamation – Recognizing Black History Month] PROCLAMATION. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. WHEREAS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE CELEBRATE THE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY AFRICAN AMERICANS FOR OUR ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS, IN FEBRUARY 1926, DOCTOR CARTER GODWIN WOODSON, NOTED BLACK SCHOLAR AND SON OF FORMER SLAVES, INITIATED BLACK HISTORY WEEK. AND WHEREAS FOR MANY YEARS THE SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY, CHOSEN SO AS TO COINCIDE WITH THE BIRTHDAYS OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WAS CELEBRATED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND WHEREAS IN 1976, AS PART OF THE NATION'S BICENTENNIAL, BLACK HISTORY WEEK WAS EXPANDED AND BECAME ESTABLISHED AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND IS NOW CELEBRATED ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA. AND WHEREAS THE OBSERVANCE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH CALLS OUR NATION'S ATTENTION TO THE CONTINUED NEED TO BATTLE RACISM AND TO BUILD A SOCIETY THAT LIVES UP TO ITS DEMOCRATIC IDEALS. AND WHEREAS, THE STOUTSBURG SOURLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, LOCATED IN SKILLMAN, IS A PLACE THAT INSTILLS THE HISTORY OF THE UNIQUE CULTURE, EXPERIENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF THE SOURLAND MOUNTAIN REGION DATING BACK TO COLONIAL TIMES. AND WHEREAS, THE MUSEUM'S PURPOSE IS TO CREATE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS WHO LIVED IN THIS UNIQUE COMMUNITY AND ROSE UP FROM SLAVERY TO BE MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE LABOR HELPED CREATE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST AREAS IN NEW JERSEY. NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE HERITAGE AND CULTURE. THANK YOU. CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS LISTED ON THE CONSENT [4. Consent Agenda] 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 26 TO 55 TO RESOLUTION 22. DASH 63. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. [5. Approval of Minutes] APPROVAL OF MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 13TH, 2025. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES ONE OF DECEMBER 18TH, 2025. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES TWO OF DECEMBER 18TH, 2025. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REORGANIZATION? MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 7TH, 2026. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 22ND, 2026? SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 22ND, 2026. SO MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 60 FOR [6. Resolution #26-2-64 – Payment of Bills] PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. YES, MAYOR. WE HAVE OUR THREE HIGHEST BILLS THIS MONTH SOMERSET COUNTY, FIRST QUARTER COUNTY TAX. AS WE TALK ABOUT, WE COLLECT PROPERTY TAXES AND THEN DISTRIBUTE TO ALL OF THE ENTITIES THAT RECEIVE A PORTION OF THAT. SO SOMERSET COUNTY RECEIVES THEIR PORTION OF THE TAX. IT'S $4,759,317.20, $0.20. SOMERSET COUNTY'S FIRST QUARTER COUNTY TAX FOR THE LIBRARY, LIBRARY, COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM $639,920.20 $9.67 AND SOMERSET COUNTY FIRST QUARTER COUNTY TAX, THE OPEN SPACE TAX FOR THE COUNTY $506,377.78. AND I JUST WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION ON PAGE THREE IN OUR CAPITAL FUND, THE HEADQUARTERS DRIVE URBAN RENEWAL ASSOCIATION, THIS IS THE 100% AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING BUILDING THAT'S GOING [00:20:02] UP THAT THE TOWNSHIP IS PARTICIPATING THROUGH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND. IT'S 100% SENIOR AFFORDABLE, NO MARKET RATE UNITS IN THAT BUILDING. IT'S GOING ON JUST BEHIND US HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX. IT'S OUR SECOND INSTALLMENT. IT'S TWO OF THREE PAYMENTS, AND IT'S $586,512. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22, DASH 64. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ALAN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. WE'LL GO ON TO TOWNSHIP [7. Township Committee Reports] COMMITTEE REPORTS, STARTING WITH COMMITTEEMAN MARTIN. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE ITEM FIRST ITEM I WANT TO BRING UP IS THE BOULDER AND PLAQUE ACKNOWLEDGING THE LENNI LENAPE SETTLEMENT AND AND RESIDENCY HERE AND ON THIS LAND THAT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR ABOUT THREE AND A HALF YEARS. AT THIS POINT, I THINK YOU'VE ALL WE'VE, WE'VE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW TIMES. YOU KNOW, LORI PRESENTED A NICE SUPERIMPOSED IMAGE OF WHAT THE BOULDER AND THE PLAQUE WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE THE GARDEN IN FRONT. AND THE I WAS ASKED TO JUST ADDRESS IT, JUST TO MAKE SURE IT WAS KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD THAT WE STILL WANT TO DO THIS. IT'S A I THINK IT'S IT'S A GREAT INITIATIVE. EVERY TIME WE START OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION MEETINGS, WE, WE START WITH THE LENAPE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, WHICH I'LL JUST READ QUICKLY. IT'S NOT NOT NOT VERY LONG. WE GATHER TODAY ON THE LAND OF THE LENNI LENAPE. AS WE MEET IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, LET'S ASPIRE TO SHOW APPRECIATION, RESPECT, AND CONCERN FOR ALL PEOPLES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT. WE HONOR THE LENAPE AND OTHER INDIGENOUS CARETAKERS OF THESE LANDS AND WATERS. THE ELDERS WHO LIVED HERE BEFORE THE INDIGENOUS TODAY AND THE GENERATIONS TO COME. SO YOU MAY YOU MAY KNOW THAT AUSTRALIA IS ACTUALLY A LEADER ON THIS. AND AND I WAS RECENTLY WATCHING THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT WITH MY DAUGHTER HELD IN MELBOURNE EVERY YEAR. AND THE CHAIR BEFORE BEGINNING THE FINAL CEREMONY OF GIVING THE TROPHY TO THE WINNERS, STARTED WITH SIMILAR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT. AND YOU KNOW, WE WE SO YOU KNOW WE WE COULD BE A LEADER HERE ACTUALLY BY BY YOU KNOW STARTING THIS AND YOU DON'T SEE IT TOO MUCH HERE. AT LEAST I HAVEN'T. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTS. I SUPPORT AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE COME TO FRUITION. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OPPOSITION, BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS KNOWN. THANK YOU. YEAH. AND THEN ON ON OUR OUR OUR SHADE TREE COMMITTEE, YOU SEE A RESOLUTION HERE THAT WHERE WE DO HAVE IN FACT NOW A QUORUM OF SEVEN MEMBERS ON THAT THAT SHADE TREE COMMITTEE. SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO STEPPED UP READ, READ GREG NANTHINI AND EVA, WE DID VERY, VERY TRAGICALLY LOSE A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE, SHERIDAN HOTUNG, WHO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HER OBITUARY IN THE MONTGOMERY NEWS JUST SEEMED LIKE A REMARKABLE PERSON. I NEVER MET HER, BUT AND SHE WAS A MEMBER OF OUR SHADE TREE COMMITTEE, AND WE I WANT TO EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO HER FOUR KIDS AND HUSBAND. SHE WAS 52 AND SHE WILL BE MISSED FROM FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. SO VERY SORRY TO HEAR THAT. HEY, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. SO FOR EDC WE HAVE THIS MORNING WE HAD THE SOMERSET COUNTY AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL MEETING THAT INTRODUCED WHAT BUSINESSES AND YOU KNOW, THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT SOMERSET COUNTY HAS TO OFFER FOR FOR EVERYONE HERE. AND WE HAD SPEAKERS FROM THE STATE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHANEL ROBINSON GAVE A WONDERFUL TALK ABOUT WHAT THE GREAT WHAT GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOWN AND OUR COUNTY EVERYWHERE ELSE, AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES. I'D LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT THIS END OF THIS YEAR OR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR IS ON THE 17TH. SO HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY WHO CELEBRATES. AND THAT ALSO BEGINS, IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE DAY OF RAMADAN. SO IT GOES BY THE LUNAR CALENDAR. AND ON THE LUNAR NEW YEAR DAY OF THE THE LUNAR NEW [00:25:01] YEAR. FOR SOME CULTURES, RAMADAN BEGINS AND ENDS AROUND MARCH 18TH 19TH. SO TO OUR FAMILIES THAT CELEBRATE RAMADAN. HAPPY RAMADAN. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT ANYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, BUT I DO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES TO OUR COMMITTEE MEMBER THAT LOST. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COINCIDING OF LUNAR NEW YEAR AND RAMADAN. I DID NOT KNOW THAT, SO I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO READ THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION EACH YEAR. AND I WANT TO ALSO ADD TO THAT THAT ELAINE BOOK AND BEVERLY MILLS, WHO ARE PART OF SAM, HAVE BEEN HONORED WITH THE RICHARD J. HUGHES AWARD, AWARDED BY THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, AND THEY WILL RECEIVE THAT AWARD ON MARCH 18TH. YOU MAY KNOW THAT THEY'VE WRITTEN A COUPLE OF BOOKS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THIS AREA, AND THEY'RE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN SAM. SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM. I JUST FOUND THAT OUT TODAY. SO I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME MORE OF THE GOOD NEWS THAT WE HAD TONIGHT. THE CONGRATULATIONS TO DEBBIE AXTELL ON HER RETIREMENT. I ALWAYS LIKE TO CONGRATULATE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ON THEIR LONGEVITY AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION, AND ALSO TO JOANNE MOTTOLA WHO WAS PROMOTED. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HER. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE OLDER SCHOOL WE JUST HONORED. THAT'S AMAZING. OUR FAMILIES HAS BEEN PART, INDEED BEEN PART OF THE SCHOOL STORY SINCE THE BEGINNING. MY OLDER SON, WHO'S A SOFTWARE ENGINEER, USED TO WORK AT THE SCHOOL AS AN INSTRUCTOR, SO HE'S NOW IN GRAD SCHOOL STUDYING SOFTWARE ENGINEERING. SO THAT CONCLUDES MY NON REPORTS. I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATES ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND OPEN SPACE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE THE DEPUTY MAYOR. I GUESS HE WILL BE DOING HIS COMMITTEE REPORT HOPEFULLY THE NEXT, NEXT SESSION. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO START WITH. I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE LOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL YESTERDAY, SO WE JUST HAD THE INAUGURATION, IF I CAN CALL IT FOR THE HOPE SQUAD. HOPE SQUAD IS SOMETHING THIS PROGRAM WAS ACTUALLY MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO OUR MAYOR'S WELLNESS CAMPAIGN, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE MONTGOMERY SCHOOL DISTRICT. THERE WAS A GRANT THAT CAME THROUGH THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS, AND THIS IS OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE SCHOOLS. AND HOW THIS WORKS BASICALLY IS IT'S THROUGH PEER TO PEER ENGAGEMENT, WHERE STUDENT ADVISORS, ADVISORS HELP CREATE A CULTURE OF KINDNESS, INCLUSIVITY, AND HOPE. AND IT'S A FINDING FROM CDC. AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL CONNECTED AT SCHOOL, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE POOR MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIOR. AND THAT ACTUALLY IS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF HAVING HOPE SQUAD. SO I WENT TO THE EVENT AT THE LOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO DO AS WELL. WE'LL HAVE A HOPE SQUAD AS WELL, AND SO WILL THE UPPER MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, STUDENTS WILL LEARN MENTAL HEALTH SKILLS TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS STRUGGLING, AND OFFER SUPPORT AND COMPASSION. SO WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE NOMINATED STUDENTS, THEIR ADVISORS, THE PARENTS AND THE TEACHERS WE MET. SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD NEWS THAT WE HAVE COLLABORATION WITH THE SCHOOLS. AND ALSO I HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET OUR AMAZING SCOUTS. I MET WITH BYBLOS, FOURTH GRADE, BYBLOS CUB SCOUTS PACK 185, AND THEY HAD A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY NEEDED TO MEET AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. THEY HAD SOME AMAZING QUESTIONS, AND I JUST FEEL THAT OUR FUTURE IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH THESE CHILDREN. AND I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET A GIRL SCOUT TROOP, 606 TO 2, WHO ARE LEARNING ABOUT WOMEN WHO HAVE BROKEN STEREOTYPES AND TAKEN ON ROLES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE TRADITIONALLY MALE DOMINATED. AND IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR THESE YOUNG LADIES AND, YOU KNOW, ANSWER SOME OF THEIR QUESTIONS. AND AGAIN, WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THESE YOUNG STUDENTS. AND I WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHAT WE HAD BEAT THE WINTER BLUES, ONE OF OUR VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENTS, AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY WELL DONE. THIS YEAR WE HAD EVENT WITH THREE WORKSHOPS. WE HAD YOGA WHERE I ENDED UP DOING YOGA WITH OUR POLICE, ONE OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH WAS REALLY NICE, AND THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON ACHIEVING PERSONAL BALANCE. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A FINAL WORKSHOP ON TEEN SPEAK, AND WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF OTHER VENDORS WHO WERE HERE WHO WERE ABLE TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WINTER CAN BE REALLY TOUGH ON PEOPLE. SO I FELT THAT THIS REALLY HELPED OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE, AND DEFINITELY OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHO [00:30:01] COORDINATED THIS ENTIRE EVENT. AND EVERYTHING WENT BEAUTIFULLY. AND I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR OEM AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ON A WONDERFUL JOB KEEPING OUR STREETS SAFE AND OUR PUBLIC SAFE. AND WE HAD THE STORM, THE PAST STORM. AND THEN AGAIN, THE RABIES CLINIC HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS. LISA, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY? SO AT THE THEY VACCINATED ABOUT 125 PETS, CATS AND DOGS, AND WE LICENSED ALMOST 80 PETS AT THE CLINIC. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER FREE RABIES CLINIC FEBRUARY 21ST AT OTTO KAUFMANN FROM 9 A.M. TO NOON. SO PLEASE JOIN US. PERFECT. AND THEN WE ALSO THE TOWNSHIP COMPLETED TWO SUCCESSFUL SESSIONS OF AGE FRIENDLY MONTGOMERY INITIATIVE. THIS WAS TO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF ADULTS AGE 55 AND PLUS AND TOPICS INCLUDED HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH CARE, SOCIAL INCLUSION AND OPPORTUNITIES, COMMUNICATION AND MORE. AND THIS WAS WELL ATTENDED. AND AGAIN, MY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR MAKING SUCH AN EFFORT. AND AND I GUESS, HELP US WELCOME OUR TWO BUSINESSES THAT I WAS THERE WITH. COMMITMENT. AN ANYTIME FITNESS AND JERSEY FAMILY HEALTH ARE THE TWO NEW BUSINESSES IN TOWN. SO THAT'S THAT REPORT. I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE. I DO HAVE AN UPDATE FROM THE PLANNING BOARD. AND SO THIS I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THE STATUS OF THE FORMER KENVUE PROPERTY, AND A RECENT ACTION BY THE PLANNING BOARD INVOLVING ECON DEVELOPMENT. THIS PAST FALL, ECON DEVELOPMENT APPLIED FOR GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVAL WITH RESPECT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER KENVUE PROPERTY. THE PLANNING BOARD WAS ADVISED BY ITS COUNSEL THAT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HAS NO ENABLING ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE THE PLANNING BOARD TO ACCEPT OR REVIEW A GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPLICATION. THE PLANNING BOARD HELD A PUBLIC MEETING ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2025, AND FOUND THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW JERSEY MUNICIPAL LAND USE LAW REQUIRES LOCAL AUTHORIZING ORDINANCES TO GRANT GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVAL, AND THAT THE ABSENCE OF SUCH AN ORDINANCE PLACES THE BOARD IN A SITUATION IN WHICH THERE ARE NO LOCAL PROVISIONS OR STANDARDS TO ENFORCE OR APPLY TO THE APPLICATION, INCLUDING COMPLETENESS STANDARDS. BASED ON THAT, THE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, OR AS KNOWN AS GDP APPLICATION WAS DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION. HOWEVER, THERE ARE LOCAL ORDINANCES, PROVISIONS FOR APPLICATIONS FOR SITE PLAN AND SUBDIVISION APPROVAL, AND THE PLANNING BOARD'S DETERMINATION ON THE GDP DOES NOT AGAIN DOES NOT PREVENT ECON DEVELOPMENT FROM PURSUING DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED SITE PLAN AND SUBDIVISION APPLICATION PROCESS AS OUTLINED IN THE TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT ZONING REGULATIONS. WE CAN SHARE THAT ECON DEVELOPMENT HAS NEVER SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR A SITE PLAN AND OR SUBDIVISION CONSISTENT WITH THE PROPERTY'S EXISTING ZONING, AND WE REITERATE THAT THE PROCESS REMAINS AVAILABLE TO THE DEVELOPER AT ANY TIME. THEREFORE, IT IS INACCURATE REPORTING THAT THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD DID NOT ACCEPT AN APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT CONFORMS WITH THE EXISTING LIMITED MANUFACTURING ZONING. SO THAT IS MY REPORT FROM THE PLANNING BOARD, AND I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE. AND I GUESS WE WILL GO ON TO THE ADMINISTRATOR'S [8. Administrator’s Report] REPORT. THANK YOU. WELL, WE HAVE AN ISSUE AT OUR SENIOR CENTER. OUR HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT HAS HAS REACHED ITS END OF LIFE, AND IT IS IT HAPPENED LATE YESTERDAY. AND SO OBVIOUSLY WITH THESE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, IT WAS NOT A GREAT SITUATION. WE HAD A COMPANY OUT YESTERDAY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. IT'S AN OLDER SYSTEM AND SO IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT TRICKIER TO REPLACE. WE HAD ANOTHER COMPANY OUT TODAY OKAY. TO PUT IN ANOTHER QUOTE FOR THE WORK. WE MOBILIZED WITH OUR OUR BUILDING FOREMAN AND OUR DPW AND OF COURSE OUR OUR PARKS AND REC STAFF IS AMAZING. WORKING WITH LISA CARR FROM THE SENIOR CENTER, THEY RECONFIGURED THE GYM SO THAT THE SENIORS WERE STILL ABLE TO COME BECAUSE THE ONLY PORTION OF THE BUILDING THAT'S IMPACTED IS THE SENIOR CENTER PORTION. SO THE GYM, THE PROGRAM ROOMS, THE RECREATION OFFICES, THEY'RE ON A DIFFERENT SYSTEM. SO THERE'S HEAT IN MAJORITY OF THE BUILDING EXCEPT FOR THAT SPACE. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RUN THE SENIOR CENTER OPERATION OUT OF THE GYM. WE RENTED PORTABLE HEATERS. SO THERE'S HEATERS IN THE KITCHEN, THE BATHROOMS. SO THAT OBVIOUSLY WITH THESE COLD TEMPERATURES, WE WANT TO MAKE [00:35:05] SURE THAT THE PIPES DON'T FREEZE AND WE'LL REEVALUATE AGAIN IN THE MORNING TO SEE IF WE CAN CONTINUE THAT SAME OPERATION AS WE DID TODAY, TOMORROW, IN TERMS OF HAVING THE SENIOR CENTER RUN OUT OF THE GYM AND THE THE STAFF WAS AMAZING BECAUSE THEY SET IT UP FOR THE SENIORS. AND WHEN THE DAY WAS DONE, THEY THEY REMOVED IT ALL SO THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE REGULAR RECREATION PROGRAMING IN THE EVENING IN THE GYM. SO DEFINITELY NOT IDEAL. BUT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD PRETTY QUICKLY AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AS THINGS PROGRESS. OKAY. AND DO WE HAVE SOME KIND OF TIMELINE OR. WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT. ONCE WE GET A QUOTE THAT WE'RE WAITING TO SEE HOW SOON WE CAN GET THE SYSTEM. OKAY. SO THE TRANSPORTATION SURVEY IS OUT. WE HAVE 121 RESPONSES SO FAR. BUT ONCE WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LEAVING IT OPEN, WE WANT AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. SO THIS IS A SURVEY THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS OF PLANNING AND HEALTH ARE DO HAVE PUT TOGETHER AND PUT OUT. IT'S REQUESTING THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE US WITH INFORMATION ON HOW THEY TRAVEL AND WHAT, WHAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THEY MIGHT TAKE NOW OR WHAT THEY MIGHT TAKE IF IT WAS AVAILABLE. BASICALLY, WE'RE LOOKING HOW WE CAN IMPROVE MOBILITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND THEN USE IT IN OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS WITH OUR STATE AND COUNTY PARTNERS AND THE PUBLIC, THE PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES, AS WELL, TO EXPAND SERVICES HERE IN MONTGOMERY. SO WE YOU CAN ACCESS IT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TRY AND TAKE THAT SURVEY FOR US. SO WHERE IS THIS SURVEY? WHERE CAN SOMEBODY GO IF THEY WANT TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY? IT SHOULD BE ON THE HOME PAGE. BUT IF NOT, I'LL I'LL LET YOU KNOW. THERE'S A NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT IN THERE. BUT IT'S HTTP COLON BACKSLASH BACKSLASH B I T DOT L Y BACKSLASH MONTGOMERY TRANSPORTATION SURVEY. SO BUT IF YOU GOOGLE TRANSPORTATION SURVEY MONTGOMERY WOULD THAT SHOW UP. I THINK IT SHOULD I THINK IT SHOULD. AND THEN DON'T WE HAVE SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY RIGHT NOW WITH A QR CODE, THE QR CODE OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY WE HAVE BIG POSTER, A PLUG FOR THE E-BULLETIN. SO WE DO A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, A WEEKLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER THAT COMES RIGHT TO YOUR INBOX. AND THERE HAVE BEEN THE QR CODE IS IN THAT I THINK EACH WEEK THERE'S DIFFERENT COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY BOARDS AROUND TOWN LIKE THOMAS STREETS OR SHOPRITE. YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN PUT THAT UP SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN BE VISIBLE AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'LL GET MORE PEOPLE. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. OUR ATTORNEY JUST ADVISED US THAT IF YOU GOOGLE MONTGOMERY TRANSPORTATION SURVEY, GOOGLE WILL BRING IT UP. BUT YES, IF YOU DO NOT DO MONTGOMERY, NEW JERSEY, YOU'LL GET ONE FOR THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY. YOU DON'T WANT THAT ONE. IT IS RIGHT ON THE HOME PAGE. OKAY. OH THANK YOU. IT IS. BUT I, I THINK COMMITTEE MAKES A GOOD POINT THAT IF WE CAN HAVE IT AT PLACES AND I THINK WE HAD DISCUSSED TO HAVE IT AT BUSINESSES. YES. THERE'S IF IT'S NOT ALREADY UP, IT'S. YEAH, IT'S WE HAD DISCUSSED LIKE PRINCETON FITNESS TIGER'S TAIL OF COURSE SHOPRITE CASHIER. SOME OF THE PLACES THAT PEOPLE REALLY HAVE FOOT TRAFFIC IF WE HAVE IT THERE. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING UP ON A FUTURE AGENDA, WHICH I THINK SINCE WE'RE ALL PROBABLY GOING A LITTLE STIR CRAZY IN THE WINTER WITH THE COLD THIS SAUERLAND VIEW PRESERVE. SO IN MONTGOMERY WE HAVE ACTIVE PARKS, WE HAVE OPEN SPACE, WE HAVE FARMLAND, AND THEN WE HAVE SOME OF THE OPEN SPACE THAT IS STILL VERY PASSIVE. IT HAS BIRD WATCHING TRAILS TO HIKE ON BIKE THESE PRESERVES. AND SO SAUERLAND VIEW PRESERVE IS 130 ACRES OF PRESERVED OPEN SPACE. IT WAS TWO ACQUISITIONS THAT THE TOWNSHIP DID AND LAUREN MASLOWSKI, OPEN SPACE STEWARDSHIP DIRECTOR, GAVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU. SO VOLUNTEERS HAVE CREATED 3 MILLION, THREE, 3 MILLION, THREE MILES OF TRAILS THERE, AND THEY ARE GETTING READY TO PUT OUT TO BID A PROJECT THAT WOULD IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THAT OPEN SPACE PRESERVE. THERE'LL BE A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY, A PARKING AREA. SO REALLY WILL IMPROVE THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO, TO TO ENJOY THAT SPACE. IT DOES HAVE VERY ACTIVE BIRD WATCHING FROM SOME OF THE TYPES OF LANDSCAPE AND VEGETATION THAT GROWS THERE. THERE'S BEEN A STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT BY VOLUNTEERS. SO, YOU KNOW, THE CONSERVATION CORPS VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN ARE VERY ACTIVE, JUST IN TERMS OF PLANTING THE INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL THAT THEY DO THE TRAIL BUILDING. AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT'S ACTUALLY IN YOUR 2023 OPEN SPACE MASTER [00:40:01] PLAN. THERE'S AN ACTION PLAN FOR STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS. SO I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT PROJECT ON YOUR AGENDA IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, COUPLE OF MONTHS. OKAY. THOUGHT A LITTLE SNEAK OF THINGS WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IN THE SPRING. ENJOY THAT PROPERTY. SO AND THAT'S MY REPORT FOR TONIGHT. I THINK THE FRIENDS OF FRIENDS OF OPEN SPACE ARE ALSO DOING SOME KIND OF. SOMEONE ASKED ME THAT QUESTION AND I HAD HAD NO I HAD TO GOOGLE IT. BUT THEY ARE DOING SOME KIND OF A TRAIL DAY OR SOMETHING IN THE FOR VALENTINE'S THERE'S LIKE A SO I THINK I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF WE USUALLY PUT THAT OUT, BUT MAYBE WE'LL PUT IT ON OUR WEBSITE BECAUSE DEFINITELY PROBABLY ON OUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY EVENTS PAGE ON THERE, BECAUSE SOMEONE ASKED ME IF THE TOWN WAS DOING THE VALENTINE WALK. IT'S CALLED I BELIEVE. AND I, TO BE HONEST, DID NOT KNOW. SO THEY, THE MONTGOMERY FRIENDS OF OPEN SPACE, USUALLY DO ALSO LIKE A SUNDAY WALK. I THINK IT WAS FIRST SUNDAYS. I THINK OF THE MONTH AND ON TOWNSHIP OPEN SPACE AND THEY THEY BRING EXPERTS ALONG FOR THE WALK SO YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT A DIFFERENT TOPIC THAT THEY THEY TALK ABOUT. SO THEY'RE VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THE RESIDENTS CAN FIND THIS ON THE COMMUNITY PAGE. OUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR. OUR COMMUNITY CALENDAR OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND I [9. Statement – Affordable Housing Update] GUESS STATEMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATE DID YOU WANT TO DO FIRST OR DID I DO OKAY I DO THE STATEMENT. YEAH. SO I THINK FIRST WE'LL HAVE A STATEMENT ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATE. THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP PLANNING BOARD WILL HOLD AN INFORMATIONAL SESSION THIS COMING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH AT 7 P.M. TO PRESENT THE FORTHCOMING AMENDED HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE MASTER PLAN AND FAIR SHARE PLAN, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE TOWNSHIP'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN. RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND, LEARN ABOUT THE PROPOSED UPDATES, AND UNDERSTAND HOW THE PLAN IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE AHEAD OF THE FORMAL PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 23RD AT 7 P.M. THIS MONDAY'S SESSION OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GAIN CLARITY, ASK QUESTIONS AND PREPARE INFORMED COMMENTS BEFORE THE HEARING ON 23RD OF FEBRUARY. OKAY, AND NOW OUR ATTORNEY WENDY, PLEASE. THANK YOU. MAYOR. AS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IS AWARE AND THE PUBLIC MAY BE AWARE, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE BACK IN THE SUMMER VOTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONGLOMERATION OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT WERE CHALLENGING SOME ASPECTS OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAWS AND TIMELINES. TO DATE, THOSE EFFORTS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. BUT I DO WANT TO REPORT THAT ON THE FEDERAL CASE. WHILE THERE WAS A HEARING THAT DID NOT GO THE WAY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES FROM JANUARY 7TH, IT WAS ACTUALLY THE MORNING OF OF OUR REORG. A APPEAL HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE US SUPREME COURT ON BEHALF OF THE INDIVIDUAL PLAINTIFFS THAT ARE NAMED IN THERE, IN ORDER TO TRY TO GET A STAY OF THE. DEADLINES FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCES, WHICH RIGHT NOW THE DEADLINE IS MARCH 15TH. AND SO OBVIOUSLY, I'LL REPORT BACK ONCE WE KNOW WHETHER THE SUPREME COURT WILL TAKE WILL CONSIDER THE APPLICATION AND WHETHER THERE'S, YOU KNOW, ANY DECISION RENDERED. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. OKAY. BEFORE I GET BACK TO THE AGENDA, I ALSO WANTED TO ADD MY HAPPY CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND RAMADAN WISHES. AND OF COURSE, MY CONDOLENCES TO OUR SHADE TREE COMMITTEE ON THAT. THAT WAS REALLY TOUGH TO HEAR. OKAY. PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE [10. Public Comment] PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. IF COMMENTS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALREADY STATED, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE ASKED TO SELECT A SPOKESPERSON. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE? PLEASE? I LIVE IN PRINCETON. I'M SORRY, WHAT IS YOUR NAME? IRFAN KHAWAJA K H A W A J A ON JANUARY 7TH, SEND OFF JAFFER, THE FORMER MAYOR OF MONTGOMERY AND A FORMER HEAD OF ITS DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION, MADE PUBLIC SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN KNOWN TO THIS COMMITTEE FOR A YEAR. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, SHE SAID. MAYOR NEENA SINGH AND DEPUTY MAYOR VINCE BERRIGAN DEMANDED HER RESIGNATION FROM THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION BECAUSE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP WAS BEING DENIED STATE AND COUNTY FUNDS IN RETALIATION FOR HER JOFFRE'S CRITICISMS OF US AND ISRAELI POLICY IN PALESTINE. [00:45:04] NOW, I HAVE AN AUDIO FILE IN MY POSSESSION OF MR. BERRIGAN'S. MAKING THIS DEMAND, MISS JAFFER ASKED FOR THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAD ORIGINATED THE THREAT, AND ASKED THAT THIS BEHAVIOR NOT BE REPEATED AGAIN, AND I'M UNAWARE OF A RESPONSE. SO I AM HERE TO REITERATE BOTH THINGS. YOUR BEHAVIOR IS NOT JUST A PERSONAL INSULT TO HER, OR AN INFRINGEMENT OF HER FREEDOM, BUT A THREAT TO FREE SPEECH AS SUCH, AND A SLAP IN OUR FACES IF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THINK THAT THEY CAN THREATEN PUBLIC FUNDING AS RETALIATION FOR POLITICAL SPEECH, THEN WE NO LONGER HAVE FREE SPEECH. FREE SPEECH HAS BECOME A VICTIM OF PUPPET MASTERS AND THE VENTRILOQUIST DUMMIES WHO SERVE THEM. NOW, I HAVE LOVED ONES IN PALESTINE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. MY LOVED ONES HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY TO LEAVE THEIR HOME OR BE KILLED. THE FAMILY'S TEN YEAR OLD SON WAS AMBUSHED BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS WHILE PLAYING SOCCER. SHOT IN THE LEG FOR FUN WITH A LIVE M16 ROUND AND LEFT FOR DEAD. HE SURVIVED. JUST BARELY A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE FATHER WAS ABDUCTED FROM THE FAMILY HOME, BEATEN, BLINDFOLDED AND LEFT FOR DEAD IN THE DESERT. HE TOO SURVIVED, BUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT, THE TEN YEAR OLD WAS ABDUCTED BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY AND HAS SINCE DISAPPEARED. NO ONE MADE ANY PRETENSE THAT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE WERE MILITANTS, MUCH LESS MEMBERS OF HAMAS, IN A PATTERN THAT IS NOW DECADES OLD. THEY WERE MARKED FOR ABUSE, EXPROPRIATION AND DEATH BECAUSE THEIR PALESTINIAN. NOW THIS IS THE TRUTH YOU'VE WORKED SO HARD TO SUPPRESS. BUT THE TRUTH CAN'T BE SUPPRESSED FOREVER. AND IT TAKES PETTY, SMALL MINDED PEOPLE TO TRY. IT'S UP TO YOU AND UP TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN TO DECIDE WHETHER THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO BE. BUT IF YOU THINK YOU CAN TRASH FREE SPEECH WITH IMPUNITY, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T. YOU MAY BE FOR SALE, BUT FREE SPEECH IS NOT. NEITHER IS THE TRUTH, AND NEITHER IS PALESTINE. OKAY, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT. GOING TO THE ORDINANCES? YES. THE ONLY THING I WILL SAY ON THIS, AND I REALLY WANT TO SAY, I THINK MY NAME HAS BEEN TAKEN IN VAIN HERE. AND WHAT IS BEING SAID IS NOT TRUE. THE ONLY REASON, THE, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, WHEN SOMEONE WAS ASKED TO RESIGN, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR LEADERSHIP AND BULLYING AND IMMIGRANT LIKE ME. SO I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THIS. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND SPEAKING. AND YES, WE ALL FEEL, YOU KNOW, SAD FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PALESTINE AND WE WISH THAT WE COULD ALL HELP. BUT AT A MUNICIPALITY LEVEL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DOESN'T FALL IN OUR JURISDICTION. AND WE HOPE THAT THE SENATOR, ANDY KIM, CORY BOOKER AND OF COURSE, OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE DO LISTEN AND HELP OUT. AND ON THAT, I WILL GET TO OUR AGENDA. ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION AND [11. Ordinance #26-1770 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery, County of Somerset, New Jersey Amending, Revising and Supplementing Chapter 4 General Licensing, of the Code of the Township of Montgomery, 1984 by Establishing Regulations and Permit Requirements for the Filming Throughout Montgomery Township – Introduction/First Reading ] FIRST READING ORDINANCE 20 6-1770. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AMENDING, REVISING, AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER FOUR GENERAL LICENSING OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984. BY ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FILMING THROUGHOUT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. BE RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY. THAT THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE BE HERE BY PASSED ON FIRST READING, AND THAT THE SAME BE PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO LAW FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 19TH, 2026. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THIS, LORI. BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE FILM COMMISSION. YES. OKAY. ANY ANY QUESTIONS? NO. WE'LL HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NEW JERSEY FILM AT THE NEXT MEETING AT THE ADOPTION AND PUBLIC HEARING. RIGHT. AND I THINK FOR THE ONE MOVIE THAT THEY SHOT IN MONTGOMERY, MONTGOMERY DID HAVE LIKE CLOSE TO $27,000 THAT THE BUSINESSES MADE. SO THAT WAS THE WHAT WAS THAT MOVIE? I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE BOB DYLAN MOVIE. THANK YOU. YES. SO WITH MONTGOMERY, DID HAVE THE BUSINESSES DID REALLY WELL WITH THAT ONE. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE 20 6-1770. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. [00:50:01] MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. [12. Ordinance #26-1769 – An Ordinance of the Township of Montgomery, County of Somerset, New Jersey Reallocating Unused Funds in the Amount of $400,000 from a Prior Ordinance for Use in the Harlingen Sewer Project and Providing for Related Matters – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ] YES. ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION ORDINANCE 26 1769. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, REALLOCATING UNUSED FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 400,000 FROM A PRIOR ORDINANCE FOR THE USE IN THE SEWER PROJECT AND PROVIDED PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE 26 1769. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ALAN. YES. [13. Resolution #26-2-65 – Authorizing 2026 Appointments to the Shade Tree Committee ] COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTIONS. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 65 AUTHORIZING 2026 APPOINTMENTS TO THE SHADE TREE COMMITTEE. OH. EXCUSE ME. WE NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT. I THINK YOU CLOSED THE PUBLIC. DID YOU SAY CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? I DIDN'T DO THAT. HOLD ON. I THINK IT WAS CLOSE AND ADOPT. RIGHT? OH, YES. OKAY. WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY. YOU'RE GOOD. YEAH. WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. I MISSED THAT PART. OKAY. NOBODY'S. WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. RESOLUTIONS. RESOLUTION 26, DASH TWO, DASH 65 AUTHORIZING 2026 APPOINTMENTS TO THE SHADE TREE COMMITTEE. AND AS WAS MENTIONED BY COMMITTEEMAN MARTIN, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE LIKE A FULL QUORUM NOW FOR OUR SHADE TREE. AND WE WANT TO THANK THE THE NEW MEMBERS, GREG, ANTHONY, PARTHA, EVA, ZACK, AND WHO DID ELSE CAME ON REED CHAPMAN AND MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22? DASH 65. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 66 DECLARING [14. Resolution #26-2-66 – Declaring the Terhune Farm Windmill to be in a Deteriorating Condition and Authorizing the Salvage and Turnover to Van Harlingen Historical Society] THE TERHUNE FARM WINDMILL TO BE IN A DETERIORATING CONDITION AND AUTHORIZING THE SALVAGE AND TURNOVER TO VAN HARLINGEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY. OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY ON THAT, OR. I GUESS EVERYBODY KNOWS. SO I HAD JUST ONE QUESTION. PLEASE GO AHEAD. ON THE MONTGOMERY NEWS. SOMEBODY WHO LIVED AROUND THE AREA EXPRESSED THEIR THOUGHTS ON, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THE WINDMILL ON THAT LAND BECAUSE IT WAS A A ICON FOR THEM IN THERE IN THAT COMMUNITY. I'M NOT SURE IF THE VAN HALOGEN SOCIETY IS WOULD BE WILLING TO RESTORE IT AND KEEP IT TO WHERE IT WHERE IT IS RELOCATING, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO RELOCATE? BECAUSE THE, THE IT WAS JUST SOMEBODY WHO DID EXPRESS THEIR, THEIR THEIR THOUGHTS ON THAT. BUT OKAY. AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK FOR A SECOND. MY NAME IS JIM IRISH AND I'M PRESIDENT OF VAN HOLLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND I'VE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY SINCE APRIL OF THIS LAST YEAR TO SALVAGE AND SAVE THE WINDMILL THAT'S ON THE TERHUNE FARM PROPERTY, WHICH IS OPEN SPACE AND OWNED BY MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. SO THERE'S A LONG HISTORY IN THIS TOWN OF OPEN SPACE ACQUISITIONS, WHICH HAD STRUCTURES ON THEM, AND THEY WERE REMOVED WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION. THE HAGEMAN BARN, BARN, THE WINDMILL, THE. SHED, THE POWERED TOOLS, THE TERHUNE FARM SHED THAT POWERED TOOLS THAT WERE RUN OFF THE WINDMILL. NOW, IF YOU THINK THAT IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TOWN TO KEEP THAT WINDMILL THERE DETERIORATING, THAT'S YOUR CHOICE. AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY VOTE THAT WAY. AND IF THE PEOPLE IN, IF THERE'S SOME OPPOSITION AND PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP IT THERE, AND THAT'S ENOUGH TO CONVINCE YOU THAT IT'S WORTHWHILE, THAT'S YOUR CHOICE TOO. BUT IF I MAY SAY, IN THE INTEREST OF PRESERVING ARTIFACTS, IN THE INTEREST OF PRESERVING THE AGRICULTURAL HISTORY OF THIS TOWN AND HISTORY IN GENERAL, I URGE YOU TO SAVE IT, SAVE THAT WINDMILL. AND THE BEST COURSE IS TO HAVE IT MOVED, DISMANTLED, AND MOVED SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND IN THIS [00:55:01] CASE, IF THE VAN HARLINGEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY TAKES OWNERSHIP OF IT, IT WOULD END UP IN DUTCH TOWN AT THE HOUSE, THE HOME OF VAN HARLINGEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THIS TOWN TO ENJOY. AND THAT'S MY THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION, SIR. SIR. MR. IRISH, I HAVE A QUESTION FROM COMMITTEE MEMBER. QUICK QUESTION. SO IN MOVING THE WINDMILL, WILL YOU DO ANYTHING TO RESTORE IT OR REPAIR IT IN ORDER TO PUT IT UP AT THAT LOCATION? SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. SO THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS IT HAS TO BE DISMANTLED. SO THAT'S SOMETHING STRUCTURALLY THAT CAN BE DONE. WE WANT TO SALVAGE. THE TOWER, SALVAGE THE GEARBOX AND THE FAN. SO THOSE THINGS WOULD TEMPORARILY BE STORED AT THE HOUSE PROPERTY ON IN DUTCH TOWN. AS FAR AS RESTORING IT AND MAKING IT OPERATIONAL, THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH ACTUALLY DRILLING A WELL. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY MAY NOT BE TOO HIP TO, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A NON-POTABLE WELL, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO THAT. BUT BEYOND ALL THAT, TO HAVE THE THING OPERATIONAL TO THE EXTENT THAT THE FAN WOULD WORK AND IT WOULD TURN THE DRIVE PIPE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOOK INTO. AND ULTIMATELY, WHATEVER DEGREE OF RESTORATION THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. AND SO IT REQUIRES THE MECHANICS, IT REQUIRES THE FABRICATING AND RESTORING THE BUDGET, EVERYTHING ELSE. AND LONG TERM. THE OTHER THING IS THIS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, GRANTS TO PRESERVE THE HOUSE. WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE. WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TIME THAT THE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES THAT WE WANT TO PUT ON THE SITE AND HOW THEY RELATE. TO DIFFERENT GRANT GIVERS. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A 1920 CIRCA WINDMILL, AND IT'S GOING ON TO A 1752, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE PART OF A 1752 STRUCTURAL FARM. AND AS TIME WENT ON, OVER THE COURSE OF 150 YEARS THAT YOU WOULD FIND IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU COULD SEE IT RIGHT NOW, TODAY AT THE JOHNSON FARM, YOU HAVE A HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT IN THE 1700S THERE WITH, YOU KNOW, MODERN STRUCTURES. IT'S JUST THE WAY THE EVOLUTION OF THE ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPING A FARM AND HAVING A PROPERTY THAT'S SUITABLE FOR FARMING. YOU HAVE GENERATIONS OF DIFFERENT STRUCTURES. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE AN 1830 TIMBER FRAME STRUCTURE. WE HAVE A WINDMILL, EXCUSE ME, A CORN CRIB. WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT THINGS AND WE WANT TO PUT THEM UP. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF WE GO BEFORE IF WE APPLY FOR A GRANT, YOU KNOW, THEN WE HAVE TO SORT OF JUGGLE ALL THIS IN THE DEFINITION OF WHAT WE'RE UP TO. BUT I THINK THE WINDMILL, ULTIMATELY WE HAVE A GOOD ARGUMENT FOR IT SITTING THERE, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO RAISE THE FUNDS FOR NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE WAGON HOUSE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, SO THAT MAYBE NOT NEXT YEAR, BUT SOMEDAY IN THE FUTURE, THESE STRUCTURES WOULD ALL BE THERE, WORKING TOGETHER AND AS A VIABLE FARM AS IT EXISTED IN THE 1920S, AND ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY IN TOWN WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM IT. COME VISIT IT AND ENJOY IT. AND THAT'S THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR THAT. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY GOOD PLAN. THANK YOU. RIGHT. DETERIORATING. WE SHOULD NOT LEAVE IT IN PLACE JUST FOR NOSTALGIA PURPOSES BECAUSE IT WILL EVENTUALLY PROBABLY DISINTEGRATE. YES. I APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE PRESERVING THAT HISTORY, YOU KNOW, AND YOUR YOUR STATEMENT OF, YOU KNOW, US ALREADY LOSING A LOT OF HISTORICAL, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS AND OTHER WINDMILLS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR YOUR INPUT. AND AGAIN, WE'RE READY TO VOTE. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22 DASH 66. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 67 [15. Resolution #26-2-67 – Authorizing Contract Extension for Fleet Management and Maintenance Services ] AUTHORIZING EXTENSION OF CONTRACT FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES. TRANSDIV FLEET SERVICES. SO THIS THIS CONTRACT IS WITH THE SAME COMPANY WE'VE HAD FOR MANY [01:00:03] YEARS. THEY SERVICE OUR ENTIRE VEHICLE, FLEET AND EQUIPMENT. GREAT, GREAT TRACK RECORD WITH US, PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE VEHICLES, YOU KNOW, RUN WELL. AND SO HAPPY TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT. SOUNDS. SOUNDS GOOD. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22, DASH 67. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. [16. Resolution #26-2-68 – Authorizing Contract Extension for Laboratory Testing Services – Pace Analytical] TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 68 AUTHORIZING CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR LAB LABORATORY TESTING SERVICES. PACE. ANALYTICAL. SO RESOLUTION 68 AND RESOLUTION 69, WHICH IS FOR SGS NORTH AMERICA, ARE BOTH FOR LAB TESTING SERVICES RELATED TO OUR SEWER UTILITY. AND SO THERE'S EXTENSIVE TESTING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OF THE WATER THAT WE TREAT THROUGH OUR SEWER UTILITY. AND THEN THOSE RESULTS GO TO THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. AND THEY NEED TO BE DONE THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT LAB. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCIL COMMISSIONER, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22 DASH 68. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 20 6-2. DASH 70. AUTHORIZING THE CANCELLATION OF A COUNTY GRANT. APPROPRIATED RESERVE YOUTH SERVICES. OH, SORRY. 50 TO 6969. OH, SORRY [17. Resolution #26-2-69 – Authorizing Contract Extension for Laboratory Testing Services – SGS North America, Inc.] ABOUT THAT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22 DASH 69. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. [18. Resolution #26-2-70 – Authorizing the Cancellation of a County Appropriated Reserve – Youth Services Grant] TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 70 AUTHORIZING THE CANCELLATION OF A COUNTY GRANT. APPROPRIATED RESERVE YOUTH SERVICES GRANT. SO FOR THIS, THERE'S JUST A BALANCE THAT'S REMAINING THAT WE'RE CANCELING OF $100. JUST HOUSEKEEPING. OH, OKAY. THAT'S A HOUSEKEEPING THING. OKAY. GOT IT. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY WE WOULDN'T TAKE A GRANT. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22, DASH 70. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. [19. Resolution #26-2-71 – Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Fiscal Year 2026 Local Recreation Improvement Grant Program] YES. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 71 AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. FISCAL YEAR 2026 LOCAL RECREATION IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM. SO THE GREEN ACRES GRANT WE'RE APPLYING FOR IS FOR A CONCRETE PITCH AT A CONCRETE CRICKET PITCH AT VAN HORN PARK. SO IF YOU REMEMBER, OBVIOUSLY CRICKET IS A VERY ACTIVE SPORT. HERE IN MONTGOMERY, WE HAVE THE BROADWAY CRICKET PITCH, THE MONTGOMERY VETERANS PARK CRICKET PITCH. AND THEN I THINK IN THE SPRING OF LAST YEAR, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TESTED OUT AND GRADED FOR A CRICKET PITCH. A CLAY PITCH, YES, CLAY PITCH. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT OVER TIME THOSE ARE MUCH HARDER TO MAINTAIN. AND SO THE CONCRETE PITCH IS IS THE MORE VIABLE OPTION FOR THE LONG TERM AND LEAST AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE. BUT THEY'RE MORE EXPENSIVE. AND SO THAT DOES WARRANT US APPLYING TO THE STATE FOR THIS RECREATION GRANT. OKAY. AND SO WE'RE APPLYING FOR $75,000. THAT WOULD HELP CARRY OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR TOWNSHIP PARKS AS WELL. AND THEN INSTALLATION OF THE CRICKET PITCH, CONCRETE CRICKET PITCH. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22 DASH 71. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. [20. Resolution #26-2-72 – Authorizing the Settlement of the Tax Appeal Regarding Lot 2.01 in Block 5023 as Set Forth on the Official Tax Maps of Montgomery Township Owned During the Subject Years by Montgomery Place, LLC] COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 72 AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TAX APPEAL REGARDING LOT 201 IN BLOCK 5023, AS SET FORTH ON THE OFFICIAL TAX MAPS OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, OWNED DURING THE SUBJECT TAX YEAR BY MONTGOMERY PLACE, LLC. SO YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THESE TYPES OF RESOLUTIONS BEFORE. THERE ARE CERTAIN TAX COURT JUDGMENTS THAT COME TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL OR BEYOND WHAT THE ASSESSOR HAS AUTHORITY TO DO. THIS IS ONE SUCH COMMERCIAL ONE. I'M SORRY, THIS IS MONTGOMERY PLACE, SO THIS IS ONE SUCH THAT TYPE. IT HAS AN ADDED ASSESSMENT FROM 2023 THAT IS BEING SETTLED UPON. OKAY. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 22 DASH 72. [01:05:05] SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. ABSTAIN. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. AND TWO SO WE HAVE [21. Correspondence] CORRESPONDENCE. LISA. SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D SHARE AN EMAIL FROM WHENEVER WE RECEIVE POSITIVE CRITICISM OR POSITIVE PRAISE FROM RESIDENTS, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. SO I HAD BEEN I HAD REACHED A RESIDENT, HAD REACHED OUT TO ME REGARDING PET LICENSING, AND HE AND HIS WIFE WERE JUST HAD JUST HAD SOME SURGERY AND HAD SOME MEDICAL ISSUES THAT THEY COULDN'T GET TO, LICENSED THEIR PET, GET TO THE RABIES CLINIC. SO I COMPROMISED WITH THEM AND WORKED WORKED THINGS OUT WITH THEM. THEY WERE STRUGGLING TO GET TO OUR CLINIC AND HIS. SO I WORKED THINGS OUT WITH HIM AND HIS RESPONSE WAS WRITTEN TO ME, THANKS SO MUCH. YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REMINDS US WHY WE ARE SO LUCKY TO LIVE IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. TOO BAD THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE THE POLICE TAX OFFICE, OPEN SPACE, YOUR OFFICE, DPW, ETC. FOR GRANTED WHEN THEY REALLY ARE THE BEST IN THE STATE. LAUREN SOUTHERN, MD. SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D SHARE THAT WITH THE FOR THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE TO HEAR SOME POSITIVE. I DO AGREE THAT'S THAT'S REALLY NICE. AND THANK YOU, LISA FOR ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE CARING AND YOU LISTEN TO AND, YOU KNOW, GET BACK TO PEOPLE. [22. New and Unfinished Business] THANK YOU. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS. NEW JERSEY MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION MOBILE UNIT EVENTS DAY, APRIL 22ND. SO YES, ONCE AGAIN, NEW JERSEY MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION HAS REACHED OUT TO US TO HOST THE MOBILE UNIT. AGAIN. LIEUTENANT PERRY HAS HAD TO COMPLETE A SURVEY, AND THIS IS THE DATE THAT WE SELECTED IN APRIL. AND WE'RE JUST WAITING TO HEAR BACK. SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO OBJECTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REGARDING HOSTING. AGAIN, NO, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY'RE GOING TO NOW BE CHARGING PEOPLE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR REAL ID WITH YOU WHEN YOU GET ON A DOMESTIC FLIGHT. SO I THINK IT'S $45. AND THEN I GUESS WHEN YOU GET ON IT AGAIN TO COME HOME, THEN YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY AGAIN. OR PASSPORT. PASSPORT. YEAH. IF YOU, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PASSPORT, MOST OF THE DOMESTIC TRAVELERS I TALKED TO, I MEAN, UNLESS YOU TRAVEL A LOT, INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF A PASSPORT. SO I HAD A COUPLE OF RESIDENTS REACH OUT AND SAY, HEY, I DON'T HAVE A PASSPORT. I'M LIKE, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO GET A REAL ID. SO YEAH, OKAY, OKAY, WE'RE DONE WITH THAT. FUTURE AGENDA [24. Resolution #26-2-73 Executive Session] ITEMS. THERE ARE NO MATTERS LISTED. RESOLUTION 22 DASH 73 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 THE CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY BE EXCLUDED. PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS. LITIGATION. DOCKET NUMBER 1215 24. DOCKET NUMBER 015325. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE IN THE MATTER OF REVALUATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. FARMERS MARKET USE AGREEMENT. IT IS UNKNOWN PRECISELY WHEN THE MATTER IS 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 22? DASH 73. SO MOVED SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HAHN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.