[CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:08] ORDER. THIS IS THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. CALLED TO ORDER AT 7 P.M. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH. HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN. HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ON. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. HERE. 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 MUNICIPAL BULLETIN BOARD AND FILED WITH THE TOWNSHIP CLERK. SALUTE TO THE FLAG. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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. CONSENT. AGENDA. ALL MATTERS LISTED ON [1. Consent Agenda] 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 CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS 26-5-153 TO RESOLUTION 26-5-155. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. [2. Approval of Minutes] YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 16TH, 2026. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 16TH, 2026. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 30TH, 2026? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 30TH, 2026. SO [3. Resolution #26-5-156 – Payment of Bills ] MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. RESOLUTION 26-5-156. PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. YES, MADAM. PAGE ONE. YOU SEE THE SECOND LINE ITEM. ALLIED CONSTRUCTION GROUP. THAT'S FOR THE STAGE TWO FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT. GOT $187,530.74. THAT'S ACTUALLY COMING OUT OF A GRANT. AND THEN FURTHER DOWN OUR MONTHLY HEALTH INSURANCE, $215,746. AND IF YOU TURN THE PAGE OVER NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER FOR $59,521.93, THOSE ARE YOUR THREE LARGEST BILLS ON THIS BILL LIST. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-5-156? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. [4. Township Committee Reports ] SINGH. YES. TOWNSHIP. COMMITTEE REPORTS. COMMITTEE. MAN. MARTIN. I DO NOT HAVE ANY. DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GREAT EARTH DAY CELEBRATION? WELL, YEAH. WELL, WE WE MENTIONED I THINK WE MENTIONED IT LAST TIME WE SAID IT WAS COMING. DID WE TALK ABOUT IT? NO YOU DIDN'T. WE JUST ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS AN UPCOMING EVENT. YEAH. UPCOMING. AND BUT NOW IT WAS HELD MAY 3RD. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY AGAIN? HOLD ON. SO I HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS? I GUESS THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL EARTH DAY RECYCLING DAY HELD AT MILL POND PARK ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MAY 3RD. IT WAS A SUCCESS. COUPLE RESIDENTS HAD MENTIONED TO ME IN MY OFFICE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST EARTH DAY EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD, SO I GUESS THE LOCATION CHANGED OR. OH YEAH, I MEAN, IT WAS WELL, IT WAS EXTREMELY WELL ORGANIZED AND THERE WERE A LOT OF BIKES DONATED. YEAH. THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LIKE BULK ITEMS COLLECTED, TONER, PRINTERS, ETC. SO GREAT THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION PUTS THIS ON EVERY YEAR IS REALLY A GREAT, GREAT EVENT. AND AGAIN, THEY DID A GREAT JOB WITH IT. SO THANK YOU. YEAH, KUDOS TO MARY REESE. I THINK SHE WAS LEADING IT. AND THEN SHE WAS ALSO DOING THE PHOTOGRAPHY THIS YEAR. IF YOU REMEMBER, SHE WAS DOING. YEAH. SHE WAS DOING DOUBLE DUTY AND LAUREN ZALESKI AND OF COURSE. ABSOLUTELY. AND THE BOY SCOUTS, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR I THINK WE COLLABORATED TO DO THE TROOP 46. DID THE BIKES USUALLY THE TOWN DOES IT. THANK YOU. COMMITTEE ON. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. SO THE EDC IS DID BUSINESS WEEK. SO THEY REPRESENTED A FEW BUSINESSES IN TOWN AND AND HIGHLIGHTED THEM AS WELL AS. AND NOW THE MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE. WE'RE SAD TO SAY THAT LORI HOUGH IS. THIS WILL BE HER LAST YEAR DOING [00:05:05] MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE. AND, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS DONE IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED AND WISH HER WELL, YOU KNOW, AND THEN IT IS MENTAL HEALTH. OH, SORRY, MENTAL HEALTH MONTH. AND THERE IS A HOTLINE 988 FOR ANYBODY WHO'S, YOU KNOW, FEELING NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY. AND I THINK THAT THEY SAID THAT IT HELPED A LOT OF CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, CALL SOMEBODY AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT ABOUT THEIR PROBLEM. SO I THINK THIS IS FOR ADULTS AS WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE FEELING STRESSED, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. NICE TO SEE EVERYONE OUT HERE. AND IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT THE WEATHER HAS FINALLY BROKEN. SO I HATE TO COME HERE FOR THE THIRD MEETING IN A ROW AND SAY, I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC UPDATES FROM HEALTH OR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT. THEY HAD A SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING THIS MONTH, AND THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE IS ACTUALLY MEETING AS WE SPEAK. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE AN IMPORTANT SORT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY ANNOUNCEMENT, AND THIS IS A COMMUNITY UPDATE ON THE PLAN FOR HEALTH MONTGOMERY INITIATIVE. OUR TOWNSHIP HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED THE GRANT FUNDED PLAN FOR HEALTH MONTGOMERY PROJECT, AN EFFORT FOCUSED ON INTEGRATING PUBLIC HEALTH PRINCIPLES INTO OUR LOCAL PLANNING AND MASTER PLAN UPDATES. A COMMITTEE OF RESIDENTS AND OFFICIALS IS NOW IN PLACE, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BOARD OF HEALTH PLANNING BOARD AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING A PROFESSIONAL PLANNER TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. ONCE THAT PLANNER IS ON BOARD EXPECTED AROUND MID JUNE, WE WILL HOLD A KICKOFF MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE TO OUTLINE THE PROCESS AND NEXT STEPS. AS PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, SEVERAL KEY PLANNING AND PUBLIC HEALTH DOCUMENTS WILL BE REVIEWED AND UPDATED, INCLUDING THE MASTER PLAN, THE LAND USE PLAN AND COUNTYWIDE HEALTH ASSESSMENTS SUCH AS THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN, A MAJOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOOL. THE MAP SURVEY, PROVIDED TO US FOR FREE BY THE NEW JERSEY AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION, WILL BE ROLLED OUT LATER THIS SPRING AND SUMMER. THIS INTERACTIVE, ONLINE, MAP BASED SURVEY WILL ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SHARE INPUT ON HEALTH, LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS. WE EXPECT TO LAUNCH IT SHORTLY AFTER THE MID JUNE KICKOFF MEETING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BROAD COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AS THIS WORK MOVES FORWARD. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. OH THANK YOU. JUST A REMINDER OF A MEMORIAL DAY IS MONDAY THE 25TH AND THE MONTGOMERY VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE WILL BE HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL CEREMONY AT 9 A.M. AT VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK. IF THERE'S A WEATHER ISSUE, IT WILL BE HELD AT THE KAUFFMAN CENTER. WE'LL USE NIXLE AND THE TOWNSHIP'S WEBSITE, KIND OF A SOCIAL MEDIA TO ALERT EVERYONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, LET'S HOPEFULLY WE CAN EXPECT A NICE DAY AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE SOLEMN CEREMONY ON THE 25TH. THANKS. OKAY. AND I GUESS THIS IS THE ONLY ONE MEETING IN MAY, SO I WILL RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING. 57TH ANNUAL MUNICIPAL CLERK WEEK HAPPENED MAY 3RD TO MAY 9TH. RECOGNIZING THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS WHO PERFORM A WIDE RANGE OF CRITICAL DUTIES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. YOU KNOW, FROM MAINTAINING PUBLIC RECORDS, SUPPORTING ELECTIONS, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, A LOT OF WORK THAT WE SEE LISA FOURNIER DO, AND IT WAS MY HONOR TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS LIKE A SOME KIND OF A COMPETITION, WAS IT? NO, THIS IS JUST ANNUAL MUNICIPAL CLERK. RIGHT. BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER THING THAT. YES. YEAH. THAT'S A NOMINATION FOR THE HONOR ROLL FOR THE NOMINATE YOU FOR THE HONOR ROLL. THANK YOU LISA. THANKS. NATIONAL POLICE WEEK. ALSO, WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MAY 10TH TO MAY 16TH WITH MAY 15TH WILL BE OBSERVED AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY TO HONOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WHO SERVE AND PROTECT WITH COURAGE, PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP AND PROUD TO HONOR THE DEDICATED PERSONNEL OF MONTGOMERY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO. NATIONAL EMS WEEK, MAY 17TH TO 23RD TO HONOR EMS SERVICES PROFESSIONALS FOR THEIR VITAL ROLE SAVING LIVES AND PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH. ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP, I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE MONTGOMERY EMS DURING NATIONAL EMS WEEK FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS 100% VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION, AND IT EXEMPLIFIES EXTRAORDINARY, SELFLESS DEDICATION IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND HEALTHY, AND WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION. AS COMMITTEE SAID, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THIS AS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND ALSO BEING A MEMBER OF THE AAPI COMMUNITY. IT IS ALSO THE AAPI HERITAGE MONTH, AND I JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY THE BEST [00:10:01] ON THAT AS WELL. IMMIGRANTS ARE AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN WE HAVE UPCOMING EVENTS. SPRING FLING IS THIS SATURDAY, MAY 16TH, 2 TO 4. AND REMINDER, MUNICIPAL OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, MAY 25TH, AS MENTIONED, FOR MEMORIAL DAY. AND OUR FIRST OUTDOOR FARMERS MARKET IS SATURDAY, MAY 30TH. TRAILS DAY, JUNE 6TH. BOY SCOUTS TROOP 46 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL A REAL FAVORITE OF THE TOWN. JUNE 7TH AT LOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAVE RUN WITH ROTARY JUNE 14TH AND WE HAVE OUR MAYOR'S WELLNESS TEAM PARTICIPATING. WE HAVE A BLOOD DRIVE SUNDAY, JUNE 21ST RIGHT HERE AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING. AND WE JUST WANTED TO ALSO MENTION THAT WE HAD A FEW GRAND OPENINGS THIS PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I WAS THERE WITH COMMITMENT ON FOR THE SRIRANGAM, WHICH IS FORMERLY MANGO TREE RESTAURANT. THERE WAS A RIBBON CUTTING. I COMMITTEEMAN MARTIN WAS THERE FOR THE CARING HEART ANIMAL HOSPITAL, THE MARTIAN SPA AND NAILS. I WAS THERE FOR THAT RIBBON CUTTING AND WE ALSO. THERE WAS. THERE WAS ALSO RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE GEMINI SISTERS. WE WERE THERE FOR THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, WISHING EVERYBODY ALL THE BEST ON THESE NEW BUSINESSES. WE ALSO HAD OUR ANNUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIELD TRIP, WHICH WAS VERY WELL ORGANIZED RIGHT HERE BY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. AND THE KIDS HAD A BRILLIANT TIME. SO THEY WERE HERE FOR THREE FULL, ALMOST THREE, FOUR HOURS A DAY. THEY WERE HERE FOR US, AND THEY LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND I ALSO ATTENDED THE EAGLE SCOUT COURT OF HONOR. AND OF COURSE, I ATTENDED THE NEW JERSEY QUALITY INSTITUTE SPRING RECEPTION FOR THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS, AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE HONORED OVER THERE. AND NONE OF MY COMMITTEES MET. BUT I GUESS WE DID HAVE A LOT OF [5. Administrator’s Report] OTHER STUFF. SO FOR NOW, ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT, PLEASE. JUST QUICKLY, WE'VE LAUNCHED THE CELEBRATION REV 250 PAGE ON THE WEBSITE. SO IT LINKS TO DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THE TOWNSHIP IS DOING AND SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE VAN HARLINGEN HISTORIC SOCIETY'S PROGRAM ON THE BICENTENNIAL QUILT IS NEXT WEEK, MAY 21ST. THE QUILT IS HANGING UP IN THE LOBBY AND THERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE QUILT AND WHAT WHAT IT MEANS TO THE TOWNSHIP OUT IN THE LOBBY AS WELL. THE ROTARY CLUB IS DOING AN. THE ATLANTIC BRASS BAND AT THE HIGH SCHOOL ON JUNE 12TH, SO THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE MET WITH GOVT PILOT ON THE NEW RESIDENT PORTAL THAT WILL BE. THAT'S IN DEVELOPMENT NOW WE'RE TARGETING A JULY RELEASE DATE. THIS WILL ALLOW RESIDENTS TO TRACK THEIR PERMITS THAT THEY'VE APPLIED FOR AND SEE WHERE IT IS IN REAL TIME, AND BE ABLE TO MESSAGE DIRECTLY THROUGH THE PORTAL. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THAT IS COMING ON THE HEELS OF THE JOINING OF GOV PILOT AND SDL. SO THAT BENEFITS. OH, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WE'VE WE'RE WE'RE CLOSING OUT THE TRANSPORTATION SURVEY. WE'RE CLOSE TO 600 SURVEYS. SO ONCE THE DATA IS ANALYZED, YOU'LL BE HEARING WHAT THE RESULTS HAVE SHOWN. STAFF HAVE BEEN REFINING THE LIST OF RENOVATION PROJECTS FOR THE AUTO KAUFMAN COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE SENIOR CENTER. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF $1.35 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY COMING TO US, 500,000 FROM THE STATE AND 850,000 FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND SO ONCE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MODIFIED THE THE LIST, WE'VE RECEIVING QUOTES NOW, I ANTICIPATE WE'LL COME BACK WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT THAT WILL GO THROUGH WITH YOU. AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT UPGRADES WILL BE HAPPENING TO BOTH, BOTH OF THOSE FACILITIES AND THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE. AND WE'RE LOOKING TO MOVE IT TO A PROJECT BASED INITIATIVE, USE THAT MODEL FOR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND SO WE'RE UPDATING THE WEBSITE. WE'LL BE RELEASING THE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS COMING SESSION. THERE WILL BE A FEW PROJECTS THAT WILL START OVER THE SUMMER, AND THEN THE REST WILL START COME THE FALL AND THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND SO I KNOW THAT'S A MUCH ANTICIPATED AND, AND A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE. AND SO WE, WE TOOK A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD, WE COULD EXPAND THE HANDS ON PROJECTS THAT THE STUDENTS COULD DO. AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. MORE TO COME. OKAY. SO MORE LIKE AN [6. Legal Updates] INTERNSHIP, YOU'RE SAYING, RIGHT, OKAY, LEGAL UPDATE. NOTHING AT THIS TIME, BUT I'M GOING TO JUMP THE GUN A LITTLE BIT. AND NOTE THAT TODAY IS OUR TOWNSHIP CLERK'S BIRTHDAY. OH, YES. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LISA. THANK YOU. A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING WITH THE [00:15:04] TOWNSHIP CLERK THIS EVENING. THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. SHE'S HONORED. AND AND SHE'S HERE AND SHE'S HERE. THAT'S TRUE. ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, LISA. THAT THAT'S THAT THAT TAKES SOMETHING. OKAY, OKAY. CAN I JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT? REMIND RESIDENTS ABOUT ELECTION DAY. SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND. EARLY VOTING WILL BEGIN TUESDAY, MAY 26TH THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 31ST HOURS TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 10 A.M. TO 6 TO 8 P.M. SUNDAY, 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M. HERE IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING. SO IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT PROCESS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT MY OFFICE. [7. Public Comment] THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LISA. PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON. IF COMMENTS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALREADY STATED, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR SUPPORT OR YOUR OPPOSITION GROUPS ARE ASKED TO SELECT A SPOKESPERSON. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE? GOOD EVENING, DEBORAH KEENAN KENAN. CONGRATULATIONS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING. I SEE YOU'VE GOT AN ORDINANCE COMING UP ON REGARDING DATA CENTERS AND ANY INCARCERATION PLACE. I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT. I HOPE YOU WOULD ALSO CONSIDER PUTTING WAREHOUSES ON THAT TO MAKE IT VERY SPECIFIC. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE IT. IF IT'S CLEAR IN OUR ZONING ABOUT WAREHOUSES, BUT JUST ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THOUGHT WAREHOUSES WERE ALREADY COVERED, WERE THEY NOT? YEAH. THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT PERMITTED. RIGHT. OKAY. AS LONG AS THEY'RE ATTACHED TO AS ARE THEY VERY ANCILLARY TO THE PRIMARY USE. PRIMARY USE. OKAY, GREAT. BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE PROPERTIES THAT ARE COMING UP THAT MIGHT BE OF CONCERN. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE RESOLUTION REGARDING THE CHANGE OVER AT THE MONTGOMERY PROMENADE. WHAT'S THAT IN REGARDS TO. SO SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT IT WHEN IT'S TIME OR. YEAH. WELL AT LEAST CAN WE LET MISS KEENAN FINISH FIRST SO THAT WE'RE OKAY. BUT BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT'S IN REGARDS TO. AND I HOPE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LETTING THEM DO ANYTHING WITHOUT PUTTING THAT ROAD IN, BECAUSE THAT WAS A HARD FOUGHT BATTLE. YEAH. VERY GOOD. GLAD, GLAD TO HEAR THAT ONE. AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE POLICE FOR THAT GREAT POLICE, THAT WELLNESS GRANT. THAT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE. SO I THINK THAT IS IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND AGAIN, I ALSO THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LISA AS THE CLERK, BEST CLERK OUT THERE. SHE SHOULD BE. SECOND THAT ALL OF IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? DAWN COHEN DAWN. I'M SORRY. DAWN OVER HERE. COULD YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR ME JUST SO I GET IT RIGHT? RIGHT. COHEN. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I, I'M ALSO HERE TO COMMENT ON THE ORDINANCE THAT'S COMING UP A LITTLE BIT LATER. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING IT TODAY. AND I URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD AND EVENTUALLY ADOPT IT FOR PROHIBITING DATA CENTERS AND IMMIGRATION DETENTION OR PROCESSING CENTERS IN MONTGOMERY. OUR NEIGHBORS IN ROXBURY WERE BLINDSIDED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN A LOCAL PROPERTY OWNER SOLD A WAREHOUSE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS PLANNED, WHICH PLANNED TO USE IT TO BUILD A MID-SIZE, 1500 BED DETENTION FACILITY. THAT SALE WAS EXECUTED WITH NO CONSIDERATION OF THE SUBSTANTIAL NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS SUCH AS WATER AND ELECTRICITY USAGE OR PUBLIC SAFETY. LOCAL LEADERS THERE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO REACT AFTER THE FACT WITH ARDUOUS AND COSTLY LEGAL CHALLENGES TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND JUST SO THAT THEY COULD MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. I URGE YOU TO TAKE NOTE OF ROXBURY'S EXAMPLE AND PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY BEFORE IT BECOMES A TARGET FOR LAND GRAB, FOR BUILDING A DETENTION CENTER, INDEPENDENT OF ANY HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS, WHICH ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT IN AND OF THEMSELVES. MONTGOMERY SIMPLY COULD NOT AND SHOULD NOT SUSTAIN A SUDDEN LARGE INCREASE OF POPULATION THAT WILL PUT A STRAIN ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. ALSO, ACROSS NEW JERSEY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, THERE'S BEEN A SUDDEN UPTICK IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DATA CENTERS TO FEED THE AI BOOM, AND THOSE DATA CENTERS BENEFIT TECH COMPANIES THAT BUILD HUGE [00:20:05] WEALTH FOR THEIR INVESTORS, BUT IMPOVERISH THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES, RESIDENTS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH THOSE FACILITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED WATER SHORTAGE, NOISE POLLUTION, AIR POLLUTION, INCREASED TEMPERATURES AND SKYROCKETING ELECTRICITY COSTS. MONTGOMERY PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS ENVIRONMENT. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE BLINDSIDED BY A LAND ACQUISITION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A DATA CENTER, SO I URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RAJ. I'M A RESIDENT OF MONTGOMERY. DO WE NEED TO PUT THE MIC A LITTLE CLOSER? SORRY, IS THIS GOOD? YEAH, I'M A RESIDENT OF MONTGOMERY. I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE, TAKE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND UPDATE PHIL UPDATES WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PETITION THAT I'VE PUT IN LAST TIME. AND I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE MET. THANK YOU, MAYOR NEENA SINGH, WE'VE UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE MET WITH SOME OF THE TOWN TOWNSHIP MEMBERS, AND WE HAVE HAD A GREAT CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOG AND STUFF. AND THERE'S SOME KEY OUTCOMES THAT CAME IN WHICH ARE OPERATIONAL COST SAVINGS. I THINK IT'S ABOUT 5.8%. AND WE ASKED FOR TEN. BUT IT'S A GREAT THING THAT AT LEAST WE COULD COME TO 5.8%. AND THERE'S HIRING FREEZE AND HEADCOUNT MORATORIUM. THERE'S A SIX MONTH HIRING FREEZE THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED ON CERTAIN ROLES, I THINK. AND THEN THERE'S A NEW TASK FORCE THAT'S GOING TO BE CREATED, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PERMITTING AND SEWER, WHERE RESIDENTS WILL BE PART OF THAT. AND SO THAT'S AT A HIGH LEVEL. THAT'S WHAT WE THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING. SO OVERALL, THAT WAS A VERY POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE OUTCOME. WE APPRECIATE THE TOWNSHIP'S WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE SUBSTANTIALLY WITH OUR RESIDENT CONCERNS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING COLLABORATION. I, AND I KNOW THAT WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WHAT'S THE EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT MODEL. SO WE'VE TRIED TO WORK THAT MAYBE ANOTHER ONE, 1 OR 2 WEEKS WE'LL GET BACK IN TERMS OF WHAT IS WHAT ARE THE OTHER IDEAS THAT WE HAVE. AND I'M GOING TO UPDATE THE SAME THING ON THE PETITION AS WELL. AND LISA, I'M GOING TO SEND YOU THE SOFT COPY, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. PUBLIC HEARING 2026 MUNICIPAL BUDGET. BUDGET. WHAT [8. Public Hearing – 2026 Municipal Budget] AM I SAYING? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2026 MUNICIPAL BUDGET? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DEBORAH KEENAN AGAIN, QUESTION DID YOU INCREASE YOUR SALARIES OR NOT? I WASN'T SURE IF THAT GOT PULLED OUT OF THE BUDGET. I SAID THAT I WOULDN'T BE TAKING ANY INCREASE, BUT THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT ANYBODY ELSE CANNOT TAKE AN INCREASE. SO I GUESS, MIKE, YOU WILL BE TALKING. YEAH. WHAT IS IT? SO IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET LINE ITEM THAT DIDN'T INCREASE AT ALL, IT'S THE SAME THE BUDGET LINE ITEM, THE SALARY AND WAGES FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THAT IS THE SAME AMOUNT AS LAST YEAR. OKAY. BUT SO IF SOMEBODY TAKES A SALARY INCREASE, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? HOW DOES THAT WORK? THEY CAN'T TAKE A SALARY INCREASE. SO NOT THIS YEAR. THEY CAN'T. I'M SORRY, BUT THERE WAS A 2% ALSO, RIGHT? THERE WAS SOMETHING 2% THAT EVERYBODY GOT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR THE TOWNSHIP. CORRECT. OKAY. SO THAT THAT STILL HAPPENS FOR THE THAT HAPPENS FOR EVERYBODY, THE NONUNION EMPLOYEES. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT? OKAY. NO, I WAS JUST SAYING, BUT IN TERMS OF THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE RANGE, THAT DID NOT CHANGE THAT, I THINK IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT. I WANTED TO KNOW, IS THE MAYOR TAKING CAN BE PAID 10,000, THE DEPUTY MAYOR, 9000 AND SO FORTH? NO, THE MAYOR IS NOT GETTING THE INCREASE. IF ANYBODY ELSE IS, THEN THAT IS UP TO WHAT THEY SPEAK TO THAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THEY'RE TAKING IT OR NOT. SO THAT, NO, THERE'S BEEN NO ORDINANCE TO INCREASE ANYONE'S SALARIES. THEN THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE. THE ORDINANCE WAS PASSED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. RANGE? NO. SO THAT'S A SALARY RANGE, RIGHT. IT'S THE SAME AS WITH THE EMPLOYEES. YOU CAN'T YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE MAKING LESS. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE MORE. IT'S A RANGE IN BETWEEN. BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, SINCE THE LINE ITEM OF THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BUDGETED IS THE SAME, NO MORE THAN THAT CAN BE SPENT. SO THE LINE ITEM STAYED THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. MAYBE I'LL LIKE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT YOU BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT WHEN YOU ASKED ME, BECAUSE I'M A DISABLED VETERAN AND I HAVE AN EXEMPTION THAT THE STATE ALLOWS AND THAT I SHOULDN'T BE TAKING A SALARY, I THINK THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS LANGUAGE THAT WAS DISCUSSED. I THINK ABOUT A LOT [00:25:02] OF THE OTHER DISABLED VETERANS AND, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT COULD BE PORTRAYED, THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE SERVING IN PUBLIC OFFICE BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T BE PAID THE SAME AMOUNT AS EVERYONE ELSE. I ALSO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO MAYBE ARE IN PUBLIC HOUSING, YOU KNOW, WHO MAY RENT? I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BACK AND FORTH. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN'T SAY THAT AND THEN NOT EXPECT ME TO RESPOND TO THAT. THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE. YOU'RE MAKING SOME DANGEROUS ACCUSATIONS. I HAD ASKED YOU YOU DO NOT PAY TAXES. AND I SAID, WAS IT APPROPRIATE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO TAKE A TAXPAYER FUNDED SALARY? THAT IS THE ONLY QUESTION I ASKED YOU, SHOOTING THIS BACK AND FORTH, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WERE AGAINST WHEN YOU WERE HERE, THE BACK AND FORTH. SO PLEASE LET HIM SPEAK. HE AND YOU'VE MADE YOUR POINT. IF SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING INFLAMMATORY, YOU'RE LEADING IT ON. LIKE I'M SAYING OTHER THINGS AGAINST VETERANS AND THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE. AND I RESENT THAT. THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE. YOU'RE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THE COMMENTS. AND SO SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THE COMMENT THAT YOU, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, PUT FORWARD TO AND YOU YOUR SERVICE IS SEPARATE FROM YOU AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL TAKING A TAXPAYER FUNDED SALARY. AND I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND I SERVE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. AND YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT ME, WHETHER THAT I SHOULD NOT TAKE A SALARY BECAUSE I HAVE A TAX EXEMPT EXEMPTION, WAS VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO A LOT OF VETERANS. AND SO I FEEL THE NEED TO BRING THIS UP. IF THERE'S ANY OTHER VETERANS THAT ARE HAVING THE EXCEPTION AND ARE, WE DON'T KNOW, IN OTHER TOWNSHIPS SALARY, IT IS JUST IT IS THE SALARY THAT YOU GET AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS MINUSCULE. IT IS ABOUT THE. THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT'S A MINUSCULE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN BRINGING IT UP AND IT IS REALLY JUST HOW IT LOOKS, AND IT JUST LOOKS INAPPROPRIATE. IT WAS MUCH MORE OF A ABOUT THAT. SO, MISS KEENAN, YOUR REMARKS ARE REALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING THIS COUNTRY. AND IF THEY ARE DISABLED, THAT THAT IS REALLY INAPPROPRIATE. I, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD SAY THAT. AND I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A BACK AND FORTH WITH YOU. NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THESE THINGS AND THEN NOT EXPECT ME TO RESPOND. I'M SORRY. NOT RESPECTFUL. THIS IS NOT HOW WE RUN THESE MEETINGS. AND I THINK WHEN YOU WERE HERE, YOU WERE AGAINST THIS. THERE IS A LIMIT. THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT YOU CAN SAY. PLEASE, I CAN SAY WHATEVER I WANT TO SAY. THIS IS CALLED THE FIRST AMENDMENT. I THINK WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OFF TOPIC. SO I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY TO LET'S FOCUS AGAIN ON WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET, PLEASE. OKAY. JESUS. ANYONE ELSE ON ANY COMMENT ON THE BUDGET? YES, SIR. PLEASE COME ON. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE WHOLE HALL. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE? EXCUSE ME. YOU HAVE TO PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME. AND FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. SUDHAKAR. GOVINDA. OH, OKAY. YOU GOVINDAVAJHALA. THIS IS A QUESTION FOR THE WHOLE ROOM. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD A INCOME INCREASE OF 30% IN THE LAST THREE THREE YEARS? OKAY. HOW PERFORMANCE FOR THE AUDIENCE. MY TAXES HAVE RISEN BY APPROXIMATELY 30% SINCE 2021, AND I DON'T THINK MOST OF THE RESIDENTS HAVEN'T STARTED MAKING 30% EXTRA MONEY OVER THE LAST SINCE 2021. SO WHILE, YES, WE HAVE OUR REGULAR PRESSURES ABOUT COSTS AND ALL THOSE THINGS, WE REALLY HAVE TO SEE WHETHER HOW MUCH OF JUSTICE WE ARE DOING BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE STRUGGLING FROM TAXES AND THE WAGES ARE NOT INCREASING, AT ANY RATE, COMPARED TO WHAT OUR TAX INCREASE HAS BEEN SINCE 2021. NUMBER ONE, I WANTED YOU TO MAKE MAKE YOU AWARE OF THIS AND THE MEMBERS OF PUBLIC ALSO AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. YEAH. NO, SIR. I DEFINITELY WANT TO ADDRESS THIS BECAUSE I DID GET QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE THAT MAYOR SINGH, YOU WERE MAKING $6,000 PER MONTH, AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE MAKING $10,000 PER MONTH AND YOUR SALARY. SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, THAT'S A YEARLY SALARY. AND I HAVE PUBLICLY SAID THAT I'M NOT TAKING ANY INCREASE. SO WHAT 30%? AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IS ONLY GOING WITH THE 2% THERE. THAT WAS THE RANGE, AS EXPLAINED BY THE ARE. WHAT IS THE 30% THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? MY TAXES HAVE RISEN APPROXIMATELY 30% SINCE 2020. SO YOU'RE SAYING ALL SALARIES OF ALL TOWNSHIP. I'M SAYING THE COMPARED TO THE RIGHT RATE OF INCREASE OF THE TAXES, THE SALARIES OF GENERAL PUBLIC WHO SUPPORT THE TAXES HAVE NOT RISEN. AND AND I GET IT. YOU KNOW, YOU PERSONALLY PROBABLY DON'T TAKE SALARY. I, I KIND OF KNEW THAT. OKAY. AND MAYBE THAT'S TRUE WITH OTHER PEOPLE ALSO. BUT IRRESPECTIVE, THE TAXES ARE INCREASING AT A MUCH FASTER RATE SINCE 2020 COMPARED TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I, [00:30:05] I'LL BE SURPRISED IF PEOPLE HERE ACTUALLY HAVE SEEN 30% INCREASE IN THEIR SALARY SINCE 2020. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT, I MISUNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. AND IT'S NOT A. IS YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PAYING THIS MUCH OF YOUR TAXES THIS MUCH IS THE MUNICIPAL TAX BASE THAT'S GETTING ADOPTED TONIGHT. HERE'S THE SCHOOL. HERE'S THE COUNTY. KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE WAS AN ADDED ASSESSMENT FROM THE SCHOOLS DURING THAT TIME FRAME THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, WHICH GIVES AN ADDED JUMP THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT LEGALLY BE ALLOWED. THAT WAS ADOPTED BY A REFERENDUM. I'M SURE MICHAEL CAN SPEAK TO THAT JUST REAL QUICK. YEAH, WE'LL HAVE THE CFO SPEAK TO YOUR QUESTION. I LOVE THAT COMMENT BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU BRING UP A GREAT POINT ABOUT 30% INCREASES. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT 2020, THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME FOR FOR THE MUNICIPAL TAXES THAT PAID BECAUSE AGAIN, WE ONLY CONTROL THAT THAT MUNICIPAL PORTION, WE CAN'T CONTROL THE SCHOOL COUNTY. SO THAT 13.75% OF YOUR BILL, THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME, WAS PAYING $2,133 FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES. BASED ON THIS BUDGET, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAYING $2,534, THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME. SO THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 1,818% OVER SIX YEARS. SO THAT'S JUST OVER 3%, AN AVERAGE OF 3%. SO THAT'S ACTUALLY INFLATION. I DON'T I'M JUST TELLING YOU THE NUMBERS. YOU COME IN AND SAYING THAT WE INCREASE TAXES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET A WRITTEN COPY OF THE SHEET WHICH YOU'RE LOOKING AT. I, I THINK WE'LL NOT DO A BACK AND FORTH. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE YOUR EMAIL TO LISA, AND YOU CAN HAVE A COMMUNICATION WITH THE CFO, BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MY TAXES HAVE INCREASED APPROXIMATELY 30% SINCE 2020. AND YEAH, EVERY YEAR IT'S 2% HERE, 5% THERE AND ALL THAT, BUT IT'S ADDING UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING, AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO SHARE YOUR EMAIL WITH THE CLERK. AND SHE, THE CFO, WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE FOR THE BUDGET? I, I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO THAT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2026 MUNICIPAL BUDGET? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. RESOLUTION [9. Resolution #26-5-157 – Authorizing the Adoption of the 2026 Municipal Budget ] 26-5-157. AUTHORIZING THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 MUNICIPAL BUDGET. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-5-157? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. [10. Ordinance #26-1779 – An Ordinance Amending Section 1, Chapter 16, Land Development, Subsection 1.5, “Prohibiting Data Centers and Detention Centers Within Its Geographical Boundaries and Amending Subsection 2.1 “Definitions” of the Code of the Township of Montgomery, In Somerset County, New Jersey– Introduction/First Reading ] YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. ORDINANCES. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING ORDINANCE 26-1779. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION ONE. CHAPTER 16 LAND DEVELOPMENT, SUBSECTION 1.5, PROHIBITING USES PROHIBITING DATA CENTERS AND DETENTION CENTERS WITHIN ITS GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES AND AMENDING SUBSECTION 2.1 DEFINITIONS OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984. 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 ON THE TOWNSHIP'S WEBSITE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PL 2025 C 72, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THE MEETING OF JUNE 18TH, 2026. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE 26-1779. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. [11. Ordinance #26-1775 – An Ordinance Amending Chapter XII “Sewer and Water” of the Code of the Township of Montgomery (1984) to Establish the 2026 Sewer Capacity Charges and Sewer Rates – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ] MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. ORDINANCES. PUBLIC HEARING. FINAL ADOPTION ORDINANCE 26-1775. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12 SEWER AND WATER OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, 1984, TO ESTABLISH THE 2026 SEWER CAPACITY CHARGES AND SEWER RATES. DO I NEED ANYTHING? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 26-1775? SO MOVED. SECOND, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 26-1775. SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 26-1775. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. ORDINANCE 26-1776. [12. Ordinance #26-1776 – Bond Ordinance Providing for Various Capital Improvements in and by the Township of Montgomery, in the County of Somerset, New Jersey, Appropriating $3,253,300 Therefor and Authorizing the Issuance of $3,090,600 Bonds or Notes of the Township to Finance Part of the Cost Thereof – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ] ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN AND BY THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING 3,000,253 3300. THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF 3,090,600 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE PART OF THE COST THEREOF. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 26-1776. [00:35:03] SO MOVED. SECOND, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 26-1776. SO MOVED. SECOND, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 26-1776. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. [13. Ordinance #26-1777 – Bond Ordinance Providing for the Improvement of the Sewer System in and by the Township of Montgomery, in the County of Somerset, New Jersey, Appropriating $300,000 Therefor and Authorizing the Issuance of $300,000 Bonds or Notes of the Township to Finance the Cost Thereof – Public Hearing/Final Adoption] YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. ORDINANCE 26-1777. BOND ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SEWER SYSTEM IN AND BY THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING 300 000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF 300 000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THE TOWNSHIP TO FINANCE THE COST THEREOF. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 26-1777, SO MOVED. SECOND, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HI THERE. CHRISTINE NEWMAN FOR MAPLE STREET. NEED MY NAME SPELLING? NEWMAN. OKAY, SO BEFORE I START, LET ME TELL YOU, HAVING A CRASH COURSE IN SEWAGE MANAGEMENT AND GIS SEWER DATA WAS NOT ON MY BINGO CARD FOR 2026. BUT HERE I AM. SO I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS IN HARLINGEN VILLAGE, SOME OF WHOM ARE HERE TONIGHT WITH ME. SO THIS ORDINANCE APPROPRIATES 300 000 FOR WHAT'S CALLED MAJOR REPAIRS IN THE TOWNSHIP COLLECTION SYSTEM. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REPAIR NEEDED IS CLOSING THE GAP IN SEWER ACCESS FROM HARLINGEN VILLAGE. WE ARE OFFICIALLY INCLUDED IN THE PIKE BROOK SEWER MANAGEMENT AREA, AND WE'VE BEEN ZONED FOR SEWER ACCESS IN THE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR OVER A DECADE NOW. IF THE PHYSICAL EXTENSION OF THE LINE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT ALREADY INCLUDED IN THIS 300 000 APPROPRIATION, I ASK THE COMMITTEE TO DELAY ADOPTION TO INCLUDE IT, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, ALLOCATE SOME OF THE ORDINANCE SET ASIDE OF THAT 6000 FOR NON BRICK AND MORTAR COSTS, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS FOR CONSULTING ENGINEERING COSTS TO A FEASIBILITY AND ENGINEERING STUDY, WHICH WOULD BE A FIRST STEP THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD NEED. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS ALONGSIDE THE GENERAL CAPITAL ORDINANCE, IT'S CLEAR THE TOWNSHIP'S MAKING A MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND SYSTEM CAPACITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NEW CONSTRUCTION. WHILE WE SUPPORT A GROWING COMMUNITY, OUR GROWING COMMUNITY, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHILE EXISTING RESIDENTS, SOME OF YOU WHO'VE LIVED HERE DECADES, IF NOT GENERATIONS, ARE STILL WAITING FOR THAT BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE THEY WERE PROMISED IN THE PIKE BROOK PLAN YEARS AGO. ULTIMATELY, THIS IS A QUESTION OF EQUITY. AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN ZONED FOR THIS SERVICE FOR OVER 13 YEARS, WITH TOWNSHIP DISCUSSIONS GOING BACK DECADES. YET WE REMAIN ON SEPTIC WHILE THE INFRASTRUCTURE REALLY GROWS AROUND US. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT FAIRNESS IN OUR PLANNING DECISIONS AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING WASTE MANAGEMENT. SO IF NOT THIS CAPITAL INVESTMENT NOW, THEN I'M ALSO ASKING THIS COMMITTEE TO DECIDE ON AND ARTICULATE TO THE PUBLIC CLEARLY WHICH FUTURE CAPITAL PROJECT AND WHAT DATE THE RESIDENTS OF HARLINGEN VILLAGE WILL BE MADE A PRIORITY. FINALLY, I'M ALSO HERE TO REGISTER A FORMAL REQUEST ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS TO SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR, TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR, THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEER, AND THE SU. I'M NOT SURE WHO'S THE COMMITTEE LIAISON FOR THE SEWER DEPARTMENT. I TRIED TO FIND IT, BUT I COULDN'T TO REALLY JUST HAVE THIS DISCUSSION MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY MOVE EQUITY FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. YEAH, WE DO HAVE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN HARLINGEN. THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING IS RUNNING THE SEWER LINE THROUGH THE DPW AND DOWN TO ALLOW FOR MORE CONNECTIONS. YEAH, THEY'RE RUNNING IT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE RUNNING IT JUST SORT OF IN FRONT OF LIKE PUBLIC WORKS. AND SO LIKE UP MAPLE STREET, THERE'S NO PLAN AS FAR AS I'M AWARE FOR THAT TO BE BUILT IN. WOULD LOVE IT IF WE WERE WRONG ON THAT. NO, I THINK IT'S MAYBE WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS MAYBE YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL WITH LISA. YEAH. AND THERE'S, THERE'S A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP OF US AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD CONVERSATION. YEAH, WE CAN HAVE EVERYBODY SIT DOWN AND GET THERE. SO IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH LISA AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THIS GET DONE. THANK YOU. I HOPE WE'RE WRONG ON THAT. THAT WOULD BE GREAT NEWS FOR US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE BRINGING UP THE ISSUE. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD OF THE ISSUE. SO SO IF WE CAN GET AN ANSWER ON THAT. YEAH [00:40:05] YEAH. THANKS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PEOPLE FOR. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 26-1777. SO MOVED. SECOND. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 26-1777. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. [14. Ordinance #26-1778 – An Ordinance Authorizing as a General Improvement Certain Capital Improvements in the Township of Montgomery, County of Somerset, New Jersey, and Appropriating $122,500 Therefor from the Capital Improvement Fund of the Township – Public Hearing/Final Adoption ] YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. ORDINANCE 26-1778. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AS A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT CERTAIN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AND APPROPRIATING 122,500 THEREFOR FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND OF THE TOWNSHIP. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 26-1778, SO MOVED. SECOND, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 26-1778. SO MOVED. SECOND, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 26-1778. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION. REALLY QUICKLY. AWESOME. OH, YEAH. THAT GETS THE APPROVALS FOR ALL OF THE BUDGET. I DO WANT TO THANK OUR CFO, MICHAEL PITTS, LAURIE, SARA AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. YOU KNOW, WE TAKE THIS REALLY SERIOUSLY. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HEARS OUR RESIDENT AND WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES ECONOMICALLY. YOU KNOW, I MYSELF WAS LAID OFF LAST YEAR AND SO HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF FINDING ANOTHER JOB. AND SO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMIC PRESSURES THAT EVERYONE'S ON. AND I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, PULLED EVERY, YOU KNOW, DID EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE COST. AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE DO HAVE IDEAS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO MANAGE THE BUDGET. WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY OPEN HEADCOUNT. GOT ALIGNMENT ABOUT TWO BOARD MEETINGS AGO WITH THE WITH THE SCHOOLS TO WORK ON SHARED SERVICES. SO THIS DOESN'T END WITH THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS A CONTINUOUS WORKING PROCESS. AND WE WE'VE HEARD EVERYONE VERY LOUD AND CLEAR ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE FINANCES AND CONTINUE TO BE WORKED ON. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, MIKE? YOU'RE GOOD. I JUST HAVE A SHORT STATEMENT NOW THAT I REALIZED I WAS GOING SO FAST THAT WE ARE DONE WITH THE BUDGET. MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP'S 2026 MUNICIPAL BUDGET REFLECTS THE CAREFUL BALANCE BETWEEN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MAINTAINING THE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES RESIDENTS EXPECT FROM US. WHILE NO ONE WELCOMES A TAX INCREASE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE MUNICIPAL PORTION ACCOUNTS FOR. JUST AS OUR CFO SAID, 13.75% OF THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BILL. THIS YEAR'S CORE MUNICIPAL BUDGET INCREASED BY 3.49%, EXCLUDING GRANTS, RESULTING IN AN ANNUAL INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $98.74, OR ABOUT $8.23 PER MONTH FOR THE AVERAGE ASSESSED HOME. THAT INCREASE GENERATES MORE THAN 1.1 MILLION IN REVENUE NEEDED TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL SERVICES, PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS. LIKE COMMUNITIES ACROSS NEW JERSEY, MONTGOMERY FACES RISING COSTS IN AREAS SUCH AS HEALTH INSURANCE, POLICE SALARIES, STAFF COMPENSATION AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE CONTINUE TO SEEK SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCIES WHEREVER POSSIBLE THROUGH STRATEGIC HEALTH INSURANCE INCENTIVES. 32 EMPLOYEES CURRENTLY OPT OUT OF TOWNSHIP COVERAGE, SAVING TAXPAYERS APPROXIMATELY $900,000 ANNUALLY. WE ALSO REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MONTGOMERY EMS, WHOSE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL EMERGENCY CARE WHILE HELPING RESIDENTS AVOID THE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER COSTS OF FULLY PAID SERVICE. MONTGOMERY EMS PROVIDES 100% FREE, 24 OVER SEVEN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO ALL TOWN RESIDENTS, ELIMINATING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN AMBULANCE FEES, REMOVING THE BURDEN OF OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES NOT COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCES. THE TOWNSHIP CONTINUES TO CONTRIBUTE FUNDING, FUEL MAINTENANCE SUPPORT AND REDEVELOPMENT REVENUE TO ENSURE EMS REMAINS STRONG. IN ADDITION, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND STAFF HAVE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED OUTSIDE FUNDING TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS. MONTGOMERY SECURED MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING IN 2025, AND NEARLY 1.9 MILLION ALREADY FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2026. THESE FUNDS SUPPORT IMPORTANT PROJECTS SUCH AS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, WALKING PATHS AND UPGRADES TO THE OTTO KAUFMAN COMMUNITY CENTER THAT OUR ADMINISTRATOR JUST MENTIONED AND WITHOUT THIS IS WITHOUT INCREASING LOCAL TAXES. SHARED SERVICES REMAIN ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOOL IN CONTROLLING COSTS AND IMPROVING EFFICIENCY, AND DEPUTY MAYOR BARRAGAN HAS LED THE EFFORT OVER THERE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM FAVORABLE FINANCING TIED TO MONTGOMERY'S STRONG FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND OUR TRIPLE A BOND RATING. OUR ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE SMART INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, SHARED SERVICES AND RESPONSIBLE LONG TERM PLANNING. WE ARE ALSO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FUTURE REVENUE [00:45:02] GROWTH AS MONTGOMERY PROMENADE NEARS COMPLETION. ONCE COMPLETED, THIS PROJECT WILL BECOME A SIGNIFICANT COMMERCIAL READABLE THAT HELPS DIVERSIFY OUR TAX BASE, WHICH CURRENTLY INCLUDES LESS THAN 3% COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. YOUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE HEARD YOUR WORRIES ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAXES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE 535 PETITIONERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES FOR REACHING OUT TO US AND SHARING THEIR VIEWPOINT. WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO KEEP OUR MUNICIPALITY AFFORDABLE AND REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON RESIDENTIAL TAXES. WE CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES IN COMBINATION WITH COST SAVING MEASURES, AND APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS PARTICIPATION, EVEN AS WE SEEK NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO PRESERVING MONTGOMERY'S CHARACTER BY PROTECTING OUR OPEN SPACES AND REJECTING WAREHOUSES, DATA CENTERS, AND CANNABIS BUSINESSES. NO BUDGET IS PERFECT, ESPECIALLY AMID RISING EXTERNAL COSTS AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. BUT THIS BUDGET IS RESPONSIBLE, FORWARD LOOKING AND ROOTED IN MONTGOMERY'S VALUES. IT PROTECTS CRITICAL SERVICES, SUPPORTS OUR EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS, AND CONTINUES INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY WHILE RESPECTING OUR HARD WORKING TAXPAYERS. TOGETHER, WE WILL ENSURE MONTGOMERY REMAINS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN NEW JERSEY AND IN THE NATION. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR CFO, MIKE PITTS, FOR ALL THE WORK [15. Resolution #26-5-158 – Authorizing the Reappointment of Lisa Fania to the Position of Municipal Clerk and Establishment of Tenure] THAT YOU'VE DONE BEHIND THE SCENES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MIKE. RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION 26-5-158. AUTHORIZING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF LISA FARNIA TO THE POSITION OF MUNICIPAL CLERK AND ESTABLISHMENT OF TENURE. CONGRATULATIONS, LISA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I KNOW I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY LET'S LET'S GET TO THE I JUST SAID, CONGRATULATIONS A LITTLE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-5-158. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. AN. ABSOLUTELY. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR. FOR SURE. YES. THANK YOU. NOW WE CAN CLAP FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. MY PLEASURE TO SERVE. OH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, LISA. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YES. RESOLUTION [16. Resolution #26-5-159 – Authorizing Outdoor Assembly Permit – Montgomery-Rocky Hill Rotary Club’s Run with Rotary Event ] 26-5-159. AUTHORIZING OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT. MONTGOMERY. ROCKY HILL. ROTARY ROTARY CLUBS RUN WITH ROTARY EVENT. DO YOU HAVE TO SAY SO? THE MONTGOMERY ROCKY HILL ROTARY CLUB'S ANNUAL RUN WITH ROTARY EVENT THERE SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATION FOR AN OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT AND HAVE MET ALL APPROVALS OF THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS. SO IT'S BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-5-159. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. [17. Resolution 326-5-160 – Authorizing Final Change Order No. 1 For Bid #08-2025, Former Municipal Building Demolition (Increase), and a No Cost Time Extension] YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 26-5-160. AUTHORIZING FINAL CHANGE. ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR BID 08-2025. FORMER MUNICIPAL BUILDING DEMOLITION INCREASE AND A NO COST TIME EXTENSION. MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED A FEDERAL GRANT TO DO THIS PROJECT AT THE OLD MUNICIPAL BUILDING TO REMOVE THE BUILDING AND RESTORE THE FLOODPLAIN. SO THE CONTRACT INITIAL CONTRACT AMOUNT IS BELOW THE GRANT AMOUNT. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO ADD ADDITIONAL TREE PLANTINGS AND ALSO TAKE CARE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION OF COVERED DRIVE. SO THIS CHANGE ORDER INCREASE IS FULLY COVERED BY THE GRANT. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO MODIFY THE SCOPE OF WORK TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT ARE OF BENEFIT TO THE TOWNSHIP. OH GREAT WORK. THANK YOU. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-5-160. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. [18. Resolution #26-5-161 – Authorizing Second Amendment to Construction Sequence Agreement - TGA SJC Montgomery Promenade Owner, LLC] MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 26-5-161. AUTHORIZING SECOND AMENDMENT TO CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE AGREEMENT. TGASJC MONTGOMERY PROMENADE OWNERS LLC. SO MAYOR CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE AGREEMENTS ARE ADOPTED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. THEY COME FOLLOWING WHEN THE PLANNING BOARD MEMORIALIZES A RESOLUTION THAT IS BASED ON AN APPROVAL THAT THEY'VE GIVEN FOR A DEVELOPMENT. SO IN THIS CASE, MONTGOMERY PROMENADE IS A SHOPPING CENTER PROJECT THAT'S GOING ON IN MONTGOMERY. IT WAS APPROVED BY THE PLANNING BOARD. PRIOR TO THAT, ZONING HAD BEEN ENACTED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND SO FORTH. SO THERE'S KIND OF A HISTORY OF HOW HOW WE WORK ON THESE THINGS. CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE AGREEMENTS ARE ABLE TO BE MODIFIED AND AMENDED THROUGH THE LIFE OF A PROJECT. AS THINGS ARE HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. AND SO THIS AGREEMENT WAS FIRST ADOPTED IN 2023 BY THE TOWNSHIP. IT'S BASED OFF OF WHAT THE DEVELOPER IS APPROVED TO DO. AND THEN, AS THE NAME INDICATES, IT'S THIS LITERAL [00:50:01] SEQUENCING OF HOW THE PROJECT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED. AND SO IT WAS THEN THERE WAS A FIRST AMENDMENT IN 2024. AND SO THE DEVELOPER APPROACHED THE TOWNSHIP TO REQUEST SOME A FEW MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE SEQUENCE AGREEMENT. SO WE HAVE BROUGHT THOSE FORTH TO YOU. THE THREE ITEMS ARE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OPEN SPACE PARK, WHICH WE CALL KIND OF THE CENTRAL GATHERING SPACE THAT'S AT THE REAR OF PHASE ONE TO BE COMPLETED AS THE DEVELOPMENT, THE BUILDINGS IN THE BACK ARE CONSTRUCTED. SO RATHER THAN UP FRONT, IT WILL BE DONE. SO IT BETTER COORDINATES WITH THE CONSTRUCTION SO THAT THE PARK ISN'T OPEN AND PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL THROUGH AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION ZONE TO GET THERE. THE SECOND IS THE TIMING OF THE BUS SHELTERS. THEY'RE ON ORDER NOW. THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE AGREEMENT REQUIRES THEM TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE THE FIRST BUILDINGS C O. SO WE THINK THE TIMING OF THE WHOLE FOODS CEO AND WHEN THE BUS SHELTERS WILL ACTUALLY ARRIVE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LATER. SO WE'RE MOVING THAT SEQUENCING AND THEY HAVE A CERTAIN STREET LIGHTS. THERE'S THEY'RE WORKING WITH CNG ACTIVELY TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS FOR THE POWER, BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO INSTALL SOME TEMPORARY GENERATORS IN ALONG NEVIUS BOULEVARD IN CERTAIN AREAS SO THAT AS THE LOOP ROADS OPEN, WHICH WILL BE OPEN BEFORE THE FIRST BUILDING OPENS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO, TO HAVE THOSE LIGHTS ON IN THAT ONE PARTICULAR SECTION. OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU. OKAY. FOR THE REASONING BEHIND IT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT LIKE THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND PEOPLE UTILIZING THAT PARK, THAT AREA MAY BE HAZARDOUS. CORRECT. AND FOR THE, FOR THE FIRST ITEM THAT I TALKED ABOUT. YES. CORRECT. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-5-161. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. [19. Resolution #26-5-162 – Authorizing Participation in the SFY26 Law Enforcement Wellness Grant Program and Acceptance of Grant Award ] DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 26-5-162. AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE SFY26 LAW ENFORCEMENT WELLNESS GRANT PROGRAM AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT AWARD. I SEE THAT CHIEF BETH IS HERE. DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING OR. CHIEF? GOOD EVENING. SO ON MAY 7TH, I WAS INVITED DOWN TO THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE IN POLICING AWARD CEREMONY TO ACCEPT THIS WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY OFFICER GRANT, THERE WAS A TOTAL OF $500,000, WHICH WAS GIVEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE WERE ONE OF 155 AGENCIES THAT HAD PUT IN FOR THE GRANT, AND ONE OF 15 THAT HAD ACCEPTED THE GRANT. SO I THINK THE GRANT IS VERY SPECIAL IN THAT IT SUPPORTS THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MONITOR AND KEEP UP WITH INCREASING OUR EFFORTS IN OFFICER HEALTH, WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY SO THEY CAN BETTER SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WELL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF I COULD JUST SAY SOMETHING, I GET TO SIT ON THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY WITH THE MAYOR. AND, YOU KNOW, WE MEET WITH THE WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE, YOU KNOW, ONCE A MONTH. AND I HAVE TO SAY FOR FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE OF THIS TOWNSHIP, BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY DON'T HEAR THIS, YOU DON'T SEE THIS. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A CHIEF OF POLICE WHO NOT JUST WALKS THE WALK, BUT TALKS THE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND, AND PROTECTING HIS OUR ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO I REALLY APPLAUD YOU, CHIEF. FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S SOMETHING WE TAKE EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. WE IMPLEMENTED THIS PROGRAM ON OUR OWN SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND WE JUST KEEP ADDING TO IT BY IMPLEMENTING DIFFERENT FACTORS. WE STARTED WITH ONE RESILIENCY OFFICER. WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE PD, WE'RE UP TO THREE. WE HAVE JUST ONBOARDED OUR FIRST FEMALE RESILIENCY OFFICER. SHE'LL BE ATTENDING THE TRAINING. SO WE JUST KEEP AT IT AND IMPROVE WHAT WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RECOGNITION. THANK YOU CHIEF. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-5-162. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. BARRAGAN. [20. Correspondence] [00:55:02] YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. CORRESPONDENCE. LISA. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT. SO I RECEIVED A PETITION FROM A RESIDENT YOUTH, PROBABLY A FIRST. OR DO YOU WANT TO GET THE MIC A LITTLE CLOSER. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO I RECEIVED A PETITION FROM A RESIDENT YOUTH, PROBABLY A FIRST OR SECOND GRADER WHO, WHENEVER THEY MEET WITH THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR SAYS, REACH OUT TO ME. YOU'RE YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO REACH OUT TO ME, SUBMIT IT AS LITTLE SUB PETITION TO CLEAN UP PUBLIC SPACES AND JUST DIDN'T SIGN HIS NAME. HIS MOM DROPPED IT OFF. SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF HIS PETITION AND HIS LITTLE FRIENDS WHO SIGNED IT. SO YEAH, ACTUALLY, WE SHOULD GET THIS COPY OUT. YEAH, WE SHOULD ACTUALLY HOLD THIS UP. THIS IS A PETITION WITH ALL THE KIDS SIGNING. IT'S ALL THE LITTLE KIDS SIGNATURE ON A PETITION TO CLEAN UP THE. SO CUTE. OKAY. GO AHEAD. LISA. SO, SO THIS NEXT ONE IS ACTUALLY FROM ME, MAYOR. I RECEIVED THE REQUEST TO ALLOW THE TOWNSHIP TO SIGN CONSENT FOR SOMEONE WHO'S SEEKING A ZONING BOARD APPROVAL TO BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, THEY'RE OFF OF A PAPER STREET. AND SO THERE ARE CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT WHEN A STREET IS NOT ACCEPTED, BUT WAS DEDICATED BY MAP. SO THE LETTER ASKS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT I AM BRINGING TO YOU. THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM MISTER SCHATZMAN IS ALSO ASKING FOR CONSENT FORMS TO BE SIGNED FOR FUTURE PERMITS. WHAT I AM REQUESTING OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IS TO ALLOW EITHER YOUR CLERK OR YOUR ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN OFF ON JUST THE ZONING BOARD APPLICATION, ASSUMING THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL AT THE ZONING BOARD, THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY. AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOR ANY KIND OF PERMITTING FROM OUTSIDE ENTITIES, BUT BY ALLOWING THEM TO SIGNING OFF AS THE OWNER OF PROPERTY THAT'S IN BETWEEN TO THE STREET, BECAUSE IT'S A ROAD THAT THAT HASN'T BEEN FORMALLY ACCEPTED, YOU'RE NOT TAKING ANY POSITION OR TELLING THE ZONING BOARD WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE APPROVING AN APPLICATION OR NOT. YOU'RE MERELY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT THE APPLICATION IS GOING AND THAT, YOU KNOW, AS, AS A PROPERTY OWNER ADJACENT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SIGNING ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE APPLICATION IS GOING IN. BUT AGAIN, IT, IT WOULD HAVE TO RUN ITS COURSE THROUGH THE ZONING BOARD TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT ULTIMATELY ANY CONSTRUCTION IS APPROVED. SO IF THE CONSENSUS IS IN AGREEMENT, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU JUST GO DOWN THE ROAD TO SAY IF YOU AGREE OR NOT, TO ALLOW EITHER YOUR CLERK OR YOUR ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE FORM FOR THE ZONING BOARD APPLICATION. SO MY ONLY QUESTION ON THAT ONE IS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, AND I BELIEVE THERE IS THIS ONE ROAD THAT GOES TO TWO HOMES, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING A THIRD HOME. SO I THINK THAT SAFETY PART IS STILL THERE, ARE WE? IT WOULD NOT BE IT WOULD BE A NEW DRIVEWAY. NOT THAT NOT ANOTHER HOME OFF OF THE SAME EXISTING DRIVEWAY THAT SERVICING THE TWO HOMES TO THE REAR ALREADY. IT WOULD BE A NEW DRIVEWAY GOING THROUGH WHAT WOULD EXIST RIGHT NOW AS ONLY A PAPER STREET. AGAIN, IF THEY GET THE APPROVAL, THEN THE ZONING BOARD, THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD BE WEIGHING IN ON THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVEWAY AND ANY KIND OF BONDS OR REQUIREMENTS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE POSTED IN ORDER TO DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTAIN IT. BUT IT IT IS NOT ANTICIPATED TO BE THROUGH THE EXISTING SHARED DRIVEWAY ON THE OTHER END OF THE OTHER TWO HOMES. THIS WOULD BE A NEW DRIVEWAY. SO MY ONLY QUESTION IS IF WE AS A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ARE SENDING IT TO ZONING BOARD, DOES IT IMPLY THAT WE ARE AGREEING WITH THIS, THIS RESIDENT TO HAVE THIS EXTRA, YOU KNOW, YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND NO, IT DOES NOT GIVE ANY IMPLICATION AT ALL OR ANY DIRECTION TO THE ZONING BOARD. THE ZONING BOARD IS AN AUTONOMOUS BOARD. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT LIKE THE PLANNING BOARD. IT'S FULLY AUTONOMOUS AND IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT GRANTING SUPPORT FOR AN APPROVAL. IT'S JUST GRANTING ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE FORM IS GOING IN TO FOR THE REQUEST FOR AN APPLICATION. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. MAYBE IT'S JUST ALSO FOR THE RESIDENTS, BECAUSE I USED TO BE ON THE ZONING BOARD BEFORE I WAS ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. I'VE BEEN ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS NOW, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I REMEMBER BEING ASKED TO. AND A LOT OF APPLICATIONS GO THROUGH ZONING BOARD, AND THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE NEVER ASKED TO. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN ASKED TO CONSENT TO. AND I HAVE NO POSITION ON THE ON THE APPLICATION. BUT BUT WHAT WHAT IS THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS SITUATION THAT REQUIRES CONSENT FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE SITUATION IS THAT THE LOT IS CURRENTLY LANDLOCKED, BUT A PAPER STREET EXISTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REACH THAT PROPERTY. AND SO WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS SUBDIVIDED INTO AND MAPPED AND THE MAP WAS FILED MANY, MANY, MANY DECADES AGO, THE LOT WAS CREATED WITH A PAPER STREET TO [01:00:05] PROVIDE THAT ACCESS, SINCE THE TOWNSHIP HAS NOT ACTUALLY BUILT THAT ACCESS OR ACCEPTED THAT DEDICATION, THE TOWNSHIP WOULD HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A OWNER, SO TO SPEAK, OF THE ACCESS AREA, THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEBODY'S PUTTING IN AN APPLICATION TO GO THROUGH YOUR PROPERTY. AND SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A HOUSE AND BOUGHT THE LOT NEXT DOOR, WHICH WAS LANDLOCKED AND DECIDED TO MAKE IT. I MEAN, THAT'S I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND INTO THE, THE FACTORING HERE AT ALL THE, THE IDEA IS THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT IS ADJACENT TO A PAPER STREET THAT IS OTHERWISE LANDLOCKED. THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE ZONING BOARD BECAUSE OF THAT AND BECAUSE THERE'S THE PAPER STREET, IT WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN A PERSON PUTTING IN AN APPLICATION AS A CONTRACT PURCHASER, LET'S SAY. AND THEY NEED TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE OWNER THAT THAT APPLICATION IS GOING IN. IT'S NOT A SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION. IT'S NOT GIVING DIRECTION. IT'S JUST AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE APPLICATION IS GOING IN. GOT IT, GOT IT, GOT IT. OKAY. SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU NEED? I WOULD ASK TO KNOW IF THERE'S A CONSENSUS SO THAT I CAN RESPOND TO THE LETTER AND ADVISE WHETHER SOMEBODY FROM THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE AUTHORIZED. AND AGAIN, I'M RECOMMENDING EITHER THE CLERK OR THE ADMINISTRATOR TO JUST SIGN THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR THE APPLICATION TO THE ZONING BOARD. DOES ANYBODY I'M GOOD WITH THE APPLICATION. YEAH. OKAY. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN ON THIS ONE. I DON'T HAVE ANY OPINION. SORRY. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED, BUT I JUST DON'T I'M NOT COMFORTABLE. THAT'S FINE. I JUST NEED TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY. OKAY. HOW MANY WERE THERE? I'M GOOD. GOOD WITH THE APPLICATION. GOOD WITH THE APPLICATION. YES. OKAY. SO THE THE, IF I'M MISTAKEN, I, I'M SEEING A MAJORITY CONSENSUS. YES. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH CLERK OR ADMINISTRATOR OR EITHER. EITHER IS FINE FOR ME EITHER. EITHER. EITHER. OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND LISA, I THINK IT'S BACK TO YOU. OKAY. SO NEXT ON THE UNDER CORRESPONDENCE, WE HAVE EMAIL FROM AND CASTELLANO DATED MAY 8TH. THIS IS AS CUSTODIAN, I'M SORRY, AS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNING BODY, MY ONE OF MY ROLES IS TO FORWARD TO THE GOVERNING BODY ANY CORRESPONDENCE I RECEIVE WITHIN THE COURSE OF MY ROUTINE BUSINESS. AND I'VE RECEIVED THIS EMAIL AND HAS FOR. I WANT TO OFFICIALLY STATE THAT IT HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW. OKAY. I WANTED TO WEIGH IN ON THIS BECAUSE THERE'S INFORMATION REGARDING A PROPERTY PROPERTY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A PENDING APPLICATION TO ANY OF THE BOARDS, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC THAT WHILE PROVIDING INFORMATION OF THIS TYPE TO THE GOVERNING BODY IS APPROPRIATE, THE BOARDS OPERATE IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, RIGHT? SO THEIR FUNCTION IS TO LISTEN TO APPLICATIONS AND THEN DECIDE WHETHER APPLICATIONS PERMITS SHOULD BE OR APPROVAL SHOULD BE GRANTED OR NOT BASED ON ORDINANCES THAT ARE ADOPTED AND IN PLACE BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. SO IT IS SOMEWHAT INAPPROPRIATE TO SHARE THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON A PROPERTY THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN APPLICATION PENDING, BECAUSE IT COULD CREATE LITIGATION PROBLEMS IF AND WHEN AN APPLICATION COMES FORTH SO CANDIDLY, WE WOULDN'T BE SHARING IT WITH THE ACTUAL BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO TAINT THE RECORD ON ON WHEN AN APPLICATION, I HEAR YOU DOES COME FORTH. SO JUST FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, THE BOARDS CAN ONLY ONLY CONSIDER WHAT IS BEFORE THEM ON AN APPLICATION. THEY SHOULDN'T BE DISCUSSING THINGS THAT ARE HYPOTHETICAL AT THIS TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEW AND UNFINISHED [21. New and Unfinished Business ] BUSINESS, FOOD SECURITY PREPAREDNESS AD HOC COMMITTEE. LORI, IF YOU CAN TALK TO THAT. SURE. I THINK EARLIER IN THE YEAR, COMMITTEEMAN ANN HAD BEEN DISCUSSING WITH A COMMITTEE WOMAN, TAYLOR TODD, AND THE REST OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SORT OF THE NEED FOR FOOD SECURITY IN TIMES OF GREAT NEED, LIKE WE HAD WITH WHEN THE SNAP BENEFITS WERE PAUSED. AND IF YOU REMEMBER, THE TOWNSHIP DID A FOOD DRIVE AND WE HAD A LARGE FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENT. AND SO WE WE'VE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND SORT OF WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MISSING LINKS THAT WE HAVE AND SOME GAPS THAT WE HAVE. AND WE HAD A RECENT MEETING WITH STEVE KATZ, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOOD BANK NETWORK, SOMERSET COUNTY. WE'VE FALLEN UNDER THEIR UMBRELLA WITH OUR FOOD PANTRY. AND ALSO ADAM VERDUCCI, WHO'S OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR. AND IT IT CAME TO LIGHT THAT OF OUR ANNEXES FOR OUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THIS IS SORT OF A MISSING PIECE. IT FALLS UNDER HUMAN SERVICES, BUT WE REALLY FELT LIKE IT NEEDED TO BE MORE FULLY FLESHED OUT. SO IF YOU'RE [01:05:01] FAMILIAR WITH THE APARTMENT FIRE THAT HAPPENED IN BRANCHBURG, WHERE MANY RESIDENTS WERE DISPLACED, THE TOWN BRANCHBURG HAD TO COME TOGETHER AND KIND OF COME UP WITH A RAPID RESPONSE PLAN. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE IN PLACE. SO WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH LISA WERNER FROM THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE THEY'VE NOW PUT IN AN OPERATING PLAN FOR THOSE TYPES OF INSTANCES. SO OVER THE SUMMER, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE AN INTERN THAT WILL BE HELPING OUR HEALTH PLAN, PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNER TO CREATE SORT OF THIS ANNEX, A SUB ANNEX TO OUR EMERGENCY PLAN AND MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND SORT OF A PLAYBOOK OF HOW THAT WILL BE. SO WE'LL BE INVENTORYING COMMERCIAL KITCHENS. WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO CORPORATIONS THAT MIGHT BE AT THE READY IF A DISASTER WERE TO HAPPEN, WHETHER IT'S LIKE THE APARTMENT FIRE IN BRANCHBURG OR POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS. AND SO THE GROUP CAME UP WITH SORT OF A MISSION FOR THE GROUP. AND IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN READ THAT TO YOU. NOW, THE MISSION OF THE FOOD SECURITY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE IS TO STRENGTHEN THE TOWN'S ABILITY TO ENSURE RELIABLE ACCESS TO FOOD FOR ALL RESIDENTS DURING PERIODS OF SUDDEN OR SUSTAINED NEED. RECOGNIZING THAT THE EXISTING TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY MAY NOT BE POSITIONED TO RESPOND RAPIDLY AT SCALE DURING EMERGENCIES SUCH AS ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS, REDUCTIONS IN SNAP BENEFITS, NATURAL DISASTERS OR OTHER DISRUPTIONS. THE COMMITTEE IS ESTABLISHED TO ENHANCE PREPAREDNESS, COORDINATION AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. FORMED AS A MAYORAL AD HOC BODY AND ALIGNED WITH OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STYLE PLANNING APPROACH, THE COMMITTEE IS CHARGED WITH IDENTIFYING, ORGANIZING AND SUPPORTING A NETWORK OF KEY COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. THIS INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, INDIVIDUALS WITH FUNDRAISING EXPERTISE, AND OTHER RELEVANT PARTNERS WHO CAN PROVIDE SURGE CAPACITY AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT WHEN DEMAND FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE INCREASES UNEXPECTEDLY THROUGH PROACTIVE PLANNING, RESOURCE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT, THE FOOD SECURITY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE TOWN CAN RESPOND SWIFTLY, EFFECTIVELY AND EQUITABLY WHENEVER RESIDENTS FACE HEIGHTENED FOOD INSECURITY. AND SO THE NEXT STEPS, AS I MENTIONED, SHOULD THE COMMITTEE WISH TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FORMALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AD HOC WOULD BE WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE THE THE ANNEX, THE PLAYBOOK FOR HOW TO RESPOND, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO YOU ONCE THAT'S COMPLETE AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE AND THEN FILLING MEMBERS FOR THE AD HOC WOULD ALSO BE THE NEXT STEP. OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. I THINK WE WERE GOING TO TAKE A VOICE VOTE, RIGHT? MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS ALIGNED. CONSENSUS, CONSENSUS THAT EVERYBODY IS ALIGNED. AGREED. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I THINK, LISA, THERE'S AN OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY PERMIT APPLICATION IN YOUR AGENDA PACKETS. WE RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR AN OUTDOOR ASSEMBLY FROM STEELE SPORTS INC SUMMER TROPHY EVENT. IT'S A SOCCER TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT JULY 11TH AND 12TH THAT IS RIGHT NOW BEING REVIEWED BY THE RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND WILL BE ON THE JUNE 2ND JUNE 4TH MEETING AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. [23. Resolution #26-5-163 Executive Session] FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. THERE ARE NO MATTERS LISTED. RESOLUTION 26-5-163 EXECUTIVE SESSION, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTGOMERY, COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, AS FOLLOWS. THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WILL NOW CONVENE IN A CLOSED SESSION THAT WILL BE LIMITED ONLY TO CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY BE EXCLUDED. PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVEN B OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION ARE AS FOLLOWS. PERSONNEL POLICE OFFICER INTERVIEW CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS S O CONTRACT LITIGATION DOCKET NUMBERS SOML15325 AFFORDABLE HOUSING ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE COUNTY TAX ORDER THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE WILL RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION AND MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION. IT IS UNKNOWN PRECISELY WHEN THE MATTER DISCUSSED IN THIS SESSION WILL BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND SETTLEMENT OF LITIGATION SHALL ONLY BE APPROVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IN A PUBLIC SESSION. THIS RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-5-162? SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. TAYLOR. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.