[00:00:06] THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE CALLED TO ORDER AT 701. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR SINGH HERE. DEPUTY MAYOR TAYLOR HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER ON HERE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN HERE. NOTICE OF MEETING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED ON JANUARY 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. TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY, SO OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS TODAY, [1. Municipal Vacancy – Nominations for Township Committee Seat to November 2026 ] MUNICIPAL VACANCY NOMINATIONS FOR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE SEAT FROM NOW TO NOVEMBER 2026. AND I'M GOING TO ASK OUR CLERK TO RECAP. SO ON JUNE 18TH, MY OFFICE RECEIVED DEPUTY MAYOR VINCE BERRIGAN'S RESIGNATION, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY FROM THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF DEPUTY MAYOR BERRIGAN'S RESIGNATION, NOTICE WAS PROVIDED TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIR OF THE MONTGOMERY DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION. PURSUANT TO NJSA 40, A COLON 16-5 MUNICIPAL VACANCY LAW. THE PROCEDURE FOR FILLING THE VACANCY IF THE VACANCY OCCURS PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 1ST AND THE INCUMBENT WAS A NOMINEE OF A POLITICAL PARTY, IS THAT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER THE OCCURRENCE OF THE VACANCY, THE MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE OF THE POLITICAL PARTY SHALL PRESENT TO THE GOVERNING BODY THE NAMES OF THREE NOMINEES FOR THE SELECTION OF A SUCCESSOR TO FILL THE VACANCY. ON JULY 2ND, MY OFFICE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES FROM THE MONTGOMERY DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION. DOUGLAS HERRING, BRIAN SIGGY, AMANDA BELMONT. MAYOR SINGH WILL NOW OPEN THE NOMINATION FOR THE SELECTION OF A SUCCESSOR TO FILL THE VACANCY FOR THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER. THANK YOU. LISA, MAY I HAVE A NOMINATION FOR THE OFFICE OF TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER TO FILL THE VACANCY TO NOVEMBER 2026. I NOMINATE DOUGLAS HERRING. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND THE MOTION. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER? IF NONE, THE NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. AT THIS POINT, WE'LL ASK DOUGLAS HERRING TO COME AND TAKE HIS OATH OF OFFICE FOR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR THE VACANCY UNTIL NOVEMBER 2026. DENNIS. DENNIS, SOMEBODY SHOULD HOLD THE. YEAH, MAYBE. MAYBE ONE HERE. DENNIS CAN DO IT. YEAH. DENNIS WILL HOLD IT. DENNIS IS COMING. SO WE PROBABLY ARE WE SAW THAT. UNITED STATES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THAT YOU FACE TO FACE I WANT TO. AND TO THIS DAY AND 2000 2009 THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED AND EXISTING UNDER THE PEOPLE. AND I THINK IN WASHINGTON PARKS AND. FOR ALL COMMUNITIES WITH OPEN OFFICES AND THE OFFICE THAT I ASPIRED TO BE A. 19 UNEXPIRED THREE YEARS. WITHOUT REPLACEMENT. 2026 ACCORDING TO THAT, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF [00:05:06] MY ABILITY. I. CAN YOU NOT HEAR ME? I KNOW I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF. ALL RIGHT. IN 2007, I WAS. I WAS. ON VERY GOOD. AND THEY ALMOST ALL HAVE THE SAME GRADUATE SCHOOL. VERY YOUNG MAN DIDN'T BELONG TO ANY. DOUGLAS. JUST ONE QUICK THING. IF YOU SPEAK THROUGH THE MIC, IT WILL COME IN THE IN THE RECORDING. YEAH, YOU CAN TURN IT FOR YOU, I WILL. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. ALRIGHT, SO THEY ALL HAD THE SAME TRAGIC STORY. THEY WERE YOUNG MEN WHO NEVER BELONGED TO ANYTHING. AND SO THEY BELONG TO SOMETHING TRAGIC. AND THEN ONE DAY I WOKE UP IN MONTGOMERY, NEW JERSEY. THERE ARE COWS AT THE END OF MY STREET. GEORGE WASHINGTON WALKED THE CONTINENTAL ARMY ACROSS THIS GROUND. AND NOW THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE FROM EVERY CORNER ON EARTH. AND THEY CAME TOGETHER AND THEY MADE SOMETHING SPECIAL. BECAUSE MONTGOMERY IS NOT JUST A BUNCH OF HOUSES, IT'S A COMMUNITY. AND COMMUNITY IS KIND OF A FUNNY WORD. IT COMES FROM A LATIN WORD THAT COMMUNISTS, WHICH MEANT TOGETHER OR COMMON, WHICH IS IRONIC BECAUSE THE MOST UNCOMMON THING IN THE WORLD IS A COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ONE HERE. MY FAMILY COULDN'T BE HERE. THEY WERE ALL BUSY DOING VARIOUS THINGS. SO. WHO? I ASKED MY OTHER FAMILY AND THEY BROUGHT THE AMBULANCE. SO. BUT. BUT WHAT'S AMAZING IS THEY ARE THEY REMIND US WHAT A COMMUNITY IS. I MEAN, I KNOW THIS IS LITERALLY PREACHING TO THE CHOIR BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE AND YOU GUYS ARE DEFINITELY HERE. BUT IT'S A COMMUNITY. AND IN TODAY'S WORLD, THEY NEED ONE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT MEANS, AND THEY FOUND IT'S EASIER TO TEAR DOWN THAN TO BUILD UP, EASIER TO DIVIDE THAN UNITE. BUT NOT HERE. NOT THIS GROUND. SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO. WHEN I GOT ASKED, I WANTED TO HELP BUILD A COMMUNITY. AND I THINK BACK TO GENERAL GEORGE. GENERAL JAMES MATTIS FROM THE MARINE CORPS WAS ASKED HIS VIEWS, AND HE SAID THAT HE TRIED TO FOLLOW THE TEACHING OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. THERE WERE FOUR THINGS. FIRST, YOU HAD TO LISTEN, REALLY LISTEN TO PEOPLE, AND THEN YOU HAD TO LEARN FROM THEM, AND THEN YOU HAD TO HELP THEM, AND THEN YOU COULD LEAD THEM. AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO HELP WITH THAT, TO BUILD A COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO HERE. THANK YOU. AND NOW IT'S. YOU CAN WALK UP NOW YOU HAVE A SEAT RIGHT AT THE DESK. OKAY. IT'S A SEAT THERE. OKAY. CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS [2. Consent Agenda] [00:10:13] LISTED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ACTED 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? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTIONS 26-7-195 TO RESOLUTIONS 26-7-202. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. ABSTAIN. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ON. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. [3. Approval of Minutes ] OKAY. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 18TH, 2026. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES OF JUNE 18TH, 2026. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. RESOLUTION [4. Resolution #26-7-203 – Payment of Bills] 26-7-203. PAYMENT OF BILLS POSTED. YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR. ON OUR BILL LIST TONIGHT THE THREE HIGHEST BILLS. PAGE THREE IS OUR QUARTERLY TAXES. MONTHLY TAXES THAT WE PASS THROUGH FROM THE COMMUNITY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. AS WE TALK ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP, LOCAL GOVERNMENT COLLECTS ALL OF THE ENTITIES THAT RECEIVE PROPERTY TAXES, AND THEN WE APPORTION THEM OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S A MONTHLY TAX PAYMENT THIS YEAR WILL BE $7,925,233. ON PAGE ONE, WE HAVE THE STAGE TWO FLOOD PROTECTION AND SEWER PLANT UPGRADES PROJECT ALLIED CONSTRUCTION $245,473.38. AND ON PAGE EIGHT WE HAVE ANOTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT STAGE TWO SEWER PLANT UPGRADE. THAT'S THE ONE WHERE CARRIER CLINIC HAS DECOMMISSIONED THEIR PLANT AND MOVED INTO OUR PLANT AS WELL. THAT IS $791,257.51 TO PACT TWO, LLC. I DID WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT ON PAGE FIVE, WE HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF PAYMENT FOR THE EXTENSION OF AFFORDABILITY CONTROLS AT THE MCKINLEY COURT. AFFORDABLE CONDOMINIUM UNITS. SO WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OTHER MEETINGS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO DRAW EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. THESE EXISTING AFFORDABLE UNITS WILL HAVE THE INCOME RESTRICTION EXTENDED AN ADDITIONAL 30 YEARS, SO NO NEW HOUSING UNITS ARE REQUIRED FOR A UNIT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO EXTEND. THOSE ARE THE REQUIRED UNITS THAT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY REQUIRES EACH MUNICIPALITY TO PLAN FOR AND PROVIDE FOR. SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, ACTUALLY, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE TOWNSHIP'S HISTORY, WHERE OUR PROGRAM THAT TO MEET THE STATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO EXECUTE ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH WENDY, OUR TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY, AND SO ON THIS BILL LIST, THERE ARE SIX PROPERTY OWNERS OF THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS THAT WILL BE RECEIVING THEIR PAYMENT, AND THE 30 YEAR EXTENSION WILL BEGIN ONCE THE 30 YEARS COMMENCES, WHICH IS IN A FEW YEARS FROM NOW. BUT IT'S IN THE IN THE ROUND FOR TEN YEAR PERIOD. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE HAPPY TO THAT THAT'S GETTING UNDERWAY. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK ON MANY DEPARTMENTS. THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT HAD TO GO OUT AND ENSURE THAT THE UNITS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS WORKING WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES TO HAVE ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS, THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS TAKEN CARE OF AND OTHER PAPERWORK WITH AND LIAISONING WITH THE HOMEOWNER. SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT EVERYONE HAS MADE TO TO BEGIN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORI. AND I WANT TO COMMEND, AS YOU SAID, THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND OF COURSE, EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MANDATE THAT CAME FROM THE STATE, WHICH MANY OF THE TOWNS, AS YOU SEE, ARE BUILDING NEW UNITS, WE ARE GOING FOR EXTENSIONS, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO COST THE TOWN. BUT AT LEAST WE DO NOT HAVE MORE CONSTRUCTION WITH NO INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I REALLY COMMEND EVERYBODY. AND OF COURSE, MY PARTNER, MY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE ON THE DAIS, WHO ALSO HAVE WORKED HARD BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS. SO THANK YOU, LORI, FOR THAT UPDATE. VERY APPRECIATED. MAY I HAVE A [00:15:03] MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-7-203. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. DEPUTY. [5. Presentation – Montgomery Business Association Donation of Teddy Bears to Montgomery Township Police Department and Other Matters of Business] MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. PRESENTATION. MONTGOMERY. BUSINESS. ASSOCIATION. DONATION OF TEDDY BEARS TO MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER MATTERS OF BUSINESS. GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU? CORY WINGERTER, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND TIGER'S TAIL RESTAURANT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR SINGH TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS, TOWNSHIP STAFF AND RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF ALLOWING US TO COME HERE TONIGHT. WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD REPORTING FOR YOU. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOME BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HERE AND ALSO MAKING A PRESENTATION. WE HAVE TRACY SONNER, WE HAVE BARBARA PRESTON, WHO'S WEARING MANY HATS WHEREVER. BARBARA. OH, THERE SHE IS THERE. AND WE HAVE ROBERTO RIVERA. ONCE AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN WHAT WE HOPE WILL BECOME A REGULAR DIALOG BETWEEN MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND OUR RESIDENTS. THE MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION IS NOT JUST A NETWORKING ORGANIZATION. WE ARE A GROWING GROUP OF LOCAL BUSINESSES WORKING TOGETHER TO STRAIGHTEN THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY FABRIC OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS. NEWLY ELECTED COMMITTEE PERSON. I ALSO WAS A FORMER MAYOR OF MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH COUNTY, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION IS NOT JUST A NETWORKING ORGANIZATION. I'M SORRY. OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE TO STRENGTHEN MONTGOMERY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO SHOP LOCALLY, AND BUILD PARTNERSHIPS THAT BENEFIT OUR BUSINESSES, OUR RESIDENTS, AND OUR TOWNSHIP. TONIGHT, WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE NBA, SHARE SOME OF THE INITIATIVES WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AND DISCUSS WAYS WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWNSHIP. THE NBA CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE TREMENDOUS GROWTH. JUST TWO YEARS AGO, OUR MEMBERSHIP STOOD AT 85 BUSINESSES. TODAY, WE HAVE GROWN TO MORE THAN 125 MEMBERS. AND WITH THE OPENING OF MONTGOMERY PROMENADE, WE ANTICIPATE WELCOMING MORE THAN 40 ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES INTO THE ASSOCIATION. THAT GROWTH REFLECTS NOT ONLY CONFIDENCE IN THE NBA, BUT CONFIDENCE IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HAS A GREAT PLACE TO OWN AND OPERATE A BUSINESS. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN STRENGTHENING OUR ORGANIZATION THROUGH CAREFUL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. WE HIRED A PROFESSIONAL MARKETING AND WEBSITE COMPANY TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS, ENHANCE OUR ONLINE PRESENCE, AND INCREASE VISIBILITY FOR OUR MEMBERS. WE ALSO HIRED AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO SUPPORT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS, JUST AS MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ALLOWING OUR VOLUNTEERS TO FOCUS MORE OF THEIR TIME ON SERVING OUR MEMBERSHIP, DEVELOPING NEW INITIATIVES AND STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE ALLOWED THE NBA TO BECOME A STRONGER, MORE EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION THAT DELIVERS GREATER VALUE TO OUR MEMBERS WHILE BECOMING AN EVEN BETTER PARTNER TO THE TOWNSHIP. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ROBERTO. ROBERTO, CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. TOWNSHIP OF COMMITTEES. TOWNSHIP OF STAFF AND RESIDENTS. FIRST OF ALL, COREY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING ME A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE NBA. I WANTED TO I WANTED TO MENTION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. THE NBA BELIEVES THAT STRONG COMMUNITIES ARE BUILT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS. WE EXPAND OUR OUTREACH TO ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL, FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA, FBLLA CHAPTERS HELPING INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES WHILE ENCOURAGING FUTURE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. WE ALSO STRENGTHEN AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MONTGOMERY ROCKY HILL ROTARY CLUB AND CONTINUE WORKING WITH MANY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW LOCAL BUSINESSES TO GIVE BACK WHILE SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE MONTGOMERY SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY SUPPORTING TOWNSHIP INCENTIVE. OUR INCENTIVE THE MBA ESPECIALLY PROUD TO SUPPORT IS THE TOWNSHIP SIDEWALK AND PEDESTRIAN CORRECTIVE PROJECT. WE COMMENDED THE TOWNSHIP FOR SECURING A 3.5 MILLION STATE [00:20:01] GRANT TO CREATE A SAFE WALKING AND BIKING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MUNICIPALITY CENTER, ORCHARD HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND VILLAGE WALK COMMERCIAL AVENUE. AVERAGE THE INVESTMENT BENEFIT EVERYONE. THIS INVESTMENT WOULD BENEFIT EVERYONE. IT PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH SAFER WAYS TO REACH SCHOOLS, PARKS, MUNICIPALITY FACILITIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES WHILE REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTIONS AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SHOP LOCALLY. STRONG LOCAL BUSINESSES AND CONNECTION COMMUNITY GO HAND IN HAND AND THE NBA IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT INCENTIVES. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD IN HELPING. PROMOTE THE PROJECT AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW CONNECTION AS THEY ARE COMPLETED. WE ARE. WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE TOWNSHIP INVITING THE NBA TO SUPPORT AN INCENTIVE LIKE THIS. WE BELIEVE OUR BUSINESSES CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING COMMUNITY. THIS. THESE PROJECTS TO THE COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGING RESIDENT ENGAGEMENTS. I NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE TRACY FROM NBA. GOOD EVENING. I'M TRACY SONNER FROM THE NBA. I'M A RESIDENT AND I'M A LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT IN TOWN TONIGHT. WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO INTRODUCE A SMALL INITIATIVE THAT WE BELIEVE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT MOMENTS. ON BEHALF OF THE MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE NBA, WE ARE HONORED TO DONATE 50 TEDDY BEARS TO THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT. THESE TEDDY BEARS WILL BE KEPT IN THEIR PATROL VEHICLES AND USED BY OFFICERS WHEN RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN. WHETHER IT'S AN ACCIDENT, DOMESTIC SITUATION OR ANOTHER STRESSFUL EVENT. SOMETIMES SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A TEDDY BEAR CAN HELP COMFORT A FRIGHTENED CHILD AND PROVIDE A SMALL SENSE OF SECURITY DURING AN OTHERWISE OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE FELT THAT IT WAS A SIMPLE BUT MEANINGFUL WAY FOR THE NBA TO SUPPORT BOTH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO CHIEF BET AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK THEY DO EVERY DAY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. WE HOPE THESE TEDDY BEARS PROVIDE OFFICERS WITH ONE MORE TOOL TO COMFORT CHILDREN DURING THE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. THIS INITIATIVE REFLECTS WHAT THE NBA IS ALL ABOUT, LOCAL BUSINESSES COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK AND GROW. HERE I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE TEDDY BEARS TO LIEUTENANTS SULLIVAN, LARSEN AND PERRY. WE HAVE THEM IN IN SEALED BAGS OVER THEIR. OH, SHE'S OKAY. HERE WE GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH, NBA. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. ONCE AGAIN. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE AND THANK LORI SAVRAN AND LISA BEEN IN TOWN FOR A LONG TIME. AND REALLY, THESE TWO MAKE EVERYTHING WORK IN TOWN. AND LISA BEING NEW AT THE JOB, I'VE WORKED WITH A FEW CLERKS AND IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB. YOU DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. THANK YOU. SO MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION IS GROWING, EVOLVING AND COMMITTED TO BEING A STRONG CONTRIBUTOR WITH MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THE TOWNSHIP'S INITIATIVES, STRENGTHENING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, WELCOMING NEW BUSINESSES, AND CONTINUING TO BUILD THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT MAKE MONTGOMERY SUCH A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. THIS EVENING IS JUST THE BEGINNING. WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE 2 OR 3 TIMES EACH YEAR TO TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE NBA'S ACTIVITIES, SHARE NEW [00:25:05] INITIATIVES, HIGHLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER ON PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT BOTH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND MONTGOMERY RESIDENTS. WE BELIEVE THAT MAINTAINING AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE NBA WILL STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP AND HELP US BETTER SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL BUSINESSES, OUR SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND RESIDENTS WORK TOGETHER, EVERYONE BENEFITS. THAT'S THE KIND OF COMMUNITY WE'RE PROUD TO BE A PART OF, AND THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THE NBA IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER IN THE YEARS AHEAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING, COREY, AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WE DID REACH OUT BECAUSE WE FELT THAT WE NEEDED THE NBA AS A PARTNER. SO JUST WANT TO THIS IS SOMETHING WE REALLY FEEL STRONGLY THAT LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY IN A IN A TOWN AND AND THE FOUNDATION OF MONTGOMERY'S EXCEPTIONAL SPIRIT AND CULTURE. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE. AND AS YOU KNOW, FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE MADE SURE THAT THE NBA WORKS TOGETHER WITH US. AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE GET WHERE WE HAVE AN EVENT, WE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO REACH OUT TO THE NBA AND SAY, CAN YOU PLEASE JOIN US? BECAUSE OUR POINT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS SHOP LOCAL, BECAUSE IF YOU DO WELL, THE TOWN DOES WELL. WE ALL DO WELL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING. I'M JUST GOING TO ASK IF SOMEONE CAN TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE TEDDY BEARS. SURE. AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR MEETING. THANK YOU. COULD YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK MAYBE BARBARA. AND IF ANYBODY WANTS. TO PREPARE. BE OPEN. AND. SHARE. YEAH, YEAH. YOU'RE YOU'RE. ALL. OKAY. WE WILL NOW GO ON TO THE TOWNSHIP [6. Township Committee Reports ] COMMITTEE REPORTS. AND I BELIEVE COMMITTEE HEARING MAY NOT HAVE A REPORT. SO WE'LL COM. MARTIN. WE'LL START WITH YOU FOR THE COMMITTEE REPORTS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK DOUGLAS HERRING HAS A REPORT UNLESS. YEAH. I MEAN, ALL I, I REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW, INDEPENDENCE DAY. EVENT ORGANIZED BY THE REV 250 COMMITTEE. SPECIFICALLY, OUR CHAIR, PAUL BLODGETT, WANT TO RECOGNIZE HIS WORK. AND IT WAS A IT WAS A COLLECTIVE EFFORT. OF COURSE, LORI, THOSE OF US ON THE COMMITTEE, THE RE-ENACTORS, BRAD FAYE, THE THE, THE ORGANIZATION THAT HE BELONGS TO, TO HELP BRING THE RE-ENACTORS. [00:30:02] WE ALSO HAD WE HIGHLIGHTED WILLIAM STEEVES, THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO, AFRICAN AMERICAN LOCAL RESIDENT OF THE SOURLAND MOUNTAINS, WHO WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON'S RIGHT HAND MAN, A STORY THAT REALLY HADN'T BEEN TOLD MUCH. AND SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO GET THAT STORY OUT AS WELL. AND, AND MAYA BAILEY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, FORGET HER, HER AMAZING DEPICTION AND DIALOG WITH WILLIAM STEVE ON, ON HIS EXPERIENCE AND IN REENACTING THAT. SO THAT THAT'S REALLY THE, THE ONE ITEM THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ON THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES THAT I BELONG THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, SHADE TREE WILDLIFE, THERE ARE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TOPICS OF CONVERSATION, BUT NOTHING REALLY TO HIGHLIGHT HERE. A LOT OF JUST ROUTINE BUSINESS. BUT JUST TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS WORK BEING DONE FOR THOSE ON THOSE GROUPS. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND COMMITTEE. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FROM MY COMMITTEES. BUT YOU KNOW THE 250 IT'S THE 4TH OF JULY ONCE AGAIN COMING. EVEN MARTIN WAS SAYING IT WAS AMAZING. YOU KNOW MONTGOMERY REALLY SHOWING HOW THE TWO 50TH SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, YOU KNOW IN OUR TOWN. AND, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS TO TO COMMITTEEMEN HERRING. YOU KNOW, I'M VERY GLAD THAT YOU'RE ON. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEPUTY MAYOR. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I ALSO WANT TO SAY WELCOME TO OUR NEW COLLEAGUE, COMMITTEEMAN HERRING. AND IN ADDITION TO OUR JULY 4TH CELEBRATION, JUST BEFORE THAT, WE HAD SAM'S ANNUAL JUNETEENTH, WHICH WAS AMAZING. IT REALLY GETS BETTER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR. IF YOU CAN MAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME EVERY YEAR, YOU'LL IT'LL BE WELL WORTH IT. ALSO AT THAT, RIGHT AFTER THAT CELEBRATION, THE THE MATRIARCH SORT OF OF THE SAM FAMILY, NANA BROOKS, PASSED AWAY AT AGE 105, AND I MET HER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST ATTENDED JUNETEENTH. SHE MUST HAVE BEEN 102 THEN, AND SHE WAS SHARP AS A TACK. SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S THERE'S QUITE A LOSS THERE. SO IF YOU KEEP A GOOD THOUGHT IN YOUR MIND FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE SAM FAMILY, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION FOR ITS GENEROUS AND THOUGHTFUL GIFT OF THE TEDDY BEARS. THOSE TEDDY BEARS, THEY'RE NICE TEDDY BEARS. I, I WISH I COULD KEEP ONE SO THEY'LL BE QUITE COMFORTING TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE NEED TO RECEIVE THEM. AND IN TERMS OF COMMITTEE REPORTS, THE OPEN SPACE MEETING WAS CANCELED THIS MONTH DUE TO IMPENDING WEATHER. AT THE TIME, IT WAS ONE OF THE DAYS WHEN WE WERE HAVING A LOT OF RAIN, AND OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, WE POSTPONED THAT MEETING. BUT AND THE BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING THIS MONTH, I BELIEVE, WAS A COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS AN UPDATE FROM OUR HEALTH OFFICER, DEVON G. PATEL, ABOUT THE RECENT NEWS COVERAGE OF THE CYCLOSPORA VIRUS, AS YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN IN THE MEDIA, AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. SO OUR HEALTH OFFICER REPORTS THAT THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONTINUES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO INVESTIGATE REPORTED CASES AND MONITOR FOR POTENTIAL ILLNESS CLUSTERS. WHILE THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN CASES NATIONALLY, WITH SEVERAL CLUSTERS IDENTIFIED IN OTHER STATES, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDWEST, NEW JERSEY IS NOT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ANY KNOWN CLUSTERS OR OUTBREAKS. I WANT TO SAY THAT, AGAIN, NEW JERSEY IS NOT CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ANY KNOWN CLUSTERS OR OUTBREAKS AT THIS TIME. NJ GOH REPORTS THAT NEW JERSEY IS SEEING NORMAL SEASONAL CIRCULATION OF CYCLOSPORA, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO IS LISTENING HEARS THAT. AS YOU ENJOY YOUR SALADS AND YOUR FRUIT FRESH FRUIT, YOU CAN DO SO MORE CONFIDENTLY. OKAY? AND THEN FINALLY, BE CAREFUL OF THE THE WEATHER AND THE HAZE. YEAH. THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A HAZE FROM THE CANADIAN WILDFIRES. THE AIR QUALITY IS NOT GOOD. IT'S BETTER IN HERE. AND THE SUN IS ACTUALLY ORANGE. SO EVERYBODY BE CAREFUL UNTIL THIS PASSES. RIGHT? CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. BEING OUTSIDE IS NOT A GOOD IDEA RIGHT NOW. SO I GUESS DEPUTY MAYOR TALKED ABOUT JUNETEENTH. I WAS THERE AS WELL. WHAT AN AMAZING CELEBRATION. I WISH MORE PEOPLE IN MONTGOMERY END UP MAKING SOME TIME. IT IS LOVELY UP THERE. WE HAD A BLOOD DRIVE ON JUNE 21ST. THIS WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEERS AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT. WE HAD 64 UNITS OF BLOOD AND HELPING TO SAVE ABOUT 192 LIVES. I THINK I WANT TO COMMEND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO PUT TOGETHER THIS FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, AND JUNE 23RD, THE TOWNSHIP ONCE AGAIN HOSTED THE NEW JERSEY MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION MOBILE UNIT FOR MOTOR SERVICES. WE'VE BEEN VERY [00:35:05] BLESSED TO BE HAVING THESE REGULARLY AT THE TOWNSHIP BECAUSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, IT'S NOT EASY TO GET TO YOUR REAL LICENSE, REAL ID OR WHATEVER THAT'S CALLED. WE'VE ALSO BEEN VERY LUCKY TO HAVE OUR ADMINISTRATOR WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR PEOPLE IN STAFF FOR THE MOSAIC TILE PAINTING WORKSHOPS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON. THE FIRST ONE WAS HELD JUNE 23RD. WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING AND THE OTHER ONES WHICH ARE COMING UP, WELL, I GUESS THERE WAS ONE ON JULY 11TH, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO COMING UP JULY 30TH AND AUGUST 12TH. AND YOU CAN VISIT THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE TO REGISTER. I'M JUST HOPING A LOT OF PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THIS IS A MURAL THAT'S GOING TO BE AT IN OUR BUILDING, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HERE FOR, FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES, WHATEVER, AND MAYBE BEYOND. AND THEN ONE OF THESE MURALS IS GOING TO BE ALSO AT THE VETERANS PARK AT THE MONTGOMERY VETERANS PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE BARN. SO ONE IS GOING TO BE OUTSIDE AND ONE IS GOING TO BE INSIDE. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND RESIDENTS TO PLEASE COME. YOU GET A TILE, YOU GET A LITTLE PAINTING KIT, AND YOU CAN PAINT WHAT YOU FEEL. YOU KNOW WHAT AMERICA MEANS TO YOU, WHAT THE TWO 50TH MEANS TO YOU. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. AND I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ASK OUR MBA PARTNERS TO ALSO PLEASE REACH OUT AND SEE IF THEIR BUSINESS PARTNERS WANT TO COME IN, IF THEY LIVE IN TOWN AND COME AND PAINT THESE TILES. AND SAME WITH THE ROTARY AS WELL. THE ANNUAL FIREWORKS HAS, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, WAS AMAZING. WE HAD REENACTORS, WE HAD PEOPLE ON HORSES. GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS THERE. AND ACCORDING TO WHAT REPORTS HAVE BEEN SAYING, WE HAD OVER 8500 PEOPLE ATTEND, WHICH IS AMAZING. AND THE AS AS WAS MENTIONED BY OUR NEWEST COMMITTEEMAN, HERRING, THIS IS WHAT MONTGOMERY IS. IT'S A COMMUNITY. AND PEOPLE COME OUT WHEN WE ALL GET TOGETHER TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT AND, YOU KNOW, DO BETTER FOR THE TOWN. AND I HAD ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS WAS TO BE A PANELIST AT VENTURE X. IF RESIDENTS DON'T KNOW, VENTURE X IS A BUSINESS TECH BUSINESS, WHICH IS IN THE BUILDING ACROSS COMMITTEEMEN ON. AND I HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND. I WAS ON A PANEL AND WITH NJ EDA, AS WELL AS OUR SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERS AND THE WHOLE PANEL WAS ON ENGAGING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRATEGIC COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTORS. AND AS WE KNOW, IT'S VERY ESSENTIAL TO FOSTER A HEALTHY STARTUP ECOSYSTEM AND SUPPORTING INNOVATION ACROSS NEW JERSEY. SO THIS WAS A GREAT EVENT HOSTED AT 23 ORCHARD, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE MORE OF THOSE. AND THEN WE COMMITMENT ON AGAIN. AND I ATTENDED THE LEARNING CENTER'S ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENT. AGAIN, AS I'VE MENTIONED, OUR BUSINESSES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, AND IF A BUSINESS IS HOSTING ANY EVENT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A RIBBON CUTTING. BUT IF THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING IN THE SUMMER, THEY HAVE LIKE A GATHERING. THEY WANT US TO COME THERE BECAUSE THAT HELPS TO BRING OTHER PEOPLE. WE ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO AS LONG AS THE CALENDAR ALLOWS, WE ARE WILLING TO COME. AND IT WAS A REALLY NICE CELEBRATION AT LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME OUT. AND THANK YOU, LISA, FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER FOR US. AND OF COURSE, WE ATTENDED THE EMS ANNUAL PICNIC ON ON JULY 12TH. AGAIN, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR EMS FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND THEIR VOLUNTEER SPIRIT. AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE EMS. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, COMMITTEEMAN HERRING. SO THAT'S IT FOR MY REPORT. AND I GUESS WE HAVE A LEGAL NO [7. Administrator’s Report ] ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. FIRST, I'M OUT OF THOUGHTS HERE. THANK YOU MAYOR. SO WE AN UPDATE ON THE PERMIT EFFICIENCY STUDY. WE ARE ABOUT TO RELEASE A SURVEY TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BOTH RESIDENTS AND MAYBE THEIR CONTRACTORS WHO ARE IN OUR GOV PILOT SYSTEM WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR A PERMIT. AND THIS THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY IS TO TO SEEK FEEDBACK ON THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE PERMIT PROCESS HERE, WHETHER IT'S A ZONING PERMIT, AN ENGINEERING PERMIT, A HEALTH DEPARTMENT PERMIT OR A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT. SO WE'RE SEEKING FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS. SO THIS IS MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH OF WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE DOING. THIS IS ONE PIECE OF WHAT WE'D BE DOING. THE QUESTIONS ARE PRETTY MUCH FINALIZED. THERE'S A GROUP OF STAFF WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMITTEEMAN MARTIN AND MAYOR SINGH ON THAT. AND SO EXPECT RELEASE. I EXPECT SOON IN THE COMING COMING WEEKS. LOOK OUT FOR THAT. AND WE'LL ALSO BE DOING PROBABLY AN E-BLAST POSTING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WIDELY DISTRIBUTING IT. BUT THE EMAILS THAT WE HAVE IN GOV PILOT FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR PERMITS, THEY'LL BE GETTING IT DIRECTLY TO THEIR EMAILS. SO THE GOV PILOT PROGRAM THAT IS OUR MODULE THAT WE USE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT PERMITS, LICENSES, APPLICATIONS THROUGH ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENT [00:40:07] DEPARTMENTS. AND SO THE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE, WE HAVE HAVE HAD GOV PILOT, WE WERE ONE OF THE EARLY ADOPTERS OF THIS TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES. AND SO IF YOU'RE IN PRINCETON, YOU MIGHT BE SEEING A DIFFERENT COMPANY OPEN GOV. IF YOU'RE IN HILLSBOROUGH, YOU MIGHT BE SEEING SDL. SO THEIR TECHNOLOGIES ARE A LITTLE MORE ADVANCED THAN WHERE WE ARE. THEY'RE PAYING MORE FOR IT AS WELL. BUT TO OUR BENEFIT, SDL AND GOV PILOT HAVE MERGED. AND SO GOV PILOT IS NOW ADVANCING WHAT THEY CALL THE RESIDENT PORTAL. AND THAT'S A VERY NICE TOOL THAT RESIDENTS, CONTRACTORS CAN USE TO SEE IN REAL TIME WHERE THEIR PERMITS ARE. IT'S JUST MUCH MORE USER FRIENDLY PLATFORM. SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH GOV PILOT TO, TO DO THAT. WE, WE RECENTLY HAD SOME MEETINGS WITH STAFF AND GOV PILOT. OUR I.T DIRECTOR, JOE LEE IS LEADING THAT. AND AND THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN MEETING WITH THEM AND GOV PILOT REALIZED THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOMETHING EVEN BETTER THAN WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO PROVIDE THE TOWNSHIP, WHICH IS GOOD FOR US. AND SO IN AUGUST, EARLY AUGUST, THEY'RE ACTUALLY FLYING OUT SOME OF THEIR STAFF FROM CALIFORNIA TO BE ON SITE IN MONTGOMERY, MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENTS, SEE THE PROCESS FIRSTHAND, AND CONTINUE BUILDING OUT THAT PROCESS. SO WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT THE BEST PRODUCT POSSIBLE UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT RATE THAT WE'RE PAYING, WHICH IS VERY FAVORABLE TO THE TOWNSHIP. SO WE'LL TAKE THAT. AND SO THAT PROCESS IS MOVING, MOVING ALONG. AND. AND JUST TO ADD OVER THERE, LAURIE, THE ONE THING THAT WE DO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS WHEN WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT AS A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IS THE PERMITTING PROCESS. IT'S A REALLY PAINFUL PROCESS FOR A LOT OF RESIDENTS. I KNOW I SEE ONE RESIDENT LOOKING AT ME SAYING, YEAH, I KNOW. AND SO, YES, THIS IS DEFINITELY AN EFFORT THAT WE WANT TO DO AS A TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. AND I'M GLAD THAT THE STAFF IS WORKING WITH US TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE EASIER AND LESS OPAQUE. SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYONE AND WHY IS IT HAPPENING? THERE WILL BE AN EXPLANATION OR SOME KIND OF A BOOKLET. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. SO THANK YOU, LAURIE. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WITH BUSINESSES, ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESIDENT PORTAL. I'LL DOUBLE CHECK. WE CALL IT A RESIDENT PORTAL, BUT IF THE CONTRACTOR HAS MADE THE APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENT, THEN PERHAPS THE CONTRACTOR HAS ACCESS. BUT I'M NOT. I'M NOT SURE. I THINK HE MEANS LIKE THE BUSINESS IS OPENING UP. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE RIGHT PEOPLE, IF THERE'S A BUSINESS OPENING UP AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS, WOULD THEY HAVE. I THINK THAT'S I'LL LET. THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE RESIDENT. IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE THE PERSON UTILIZING THE PROPERTY OR THE, THE TENANT OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, OR IT'LL BE THE CONTRACTOR THAT I BELIEVE LAURIE WAS SAYING. WE DON'T QUITE KNOW EXACTLY YET. OKAY. SO I WAS AS A USER, I USE THAT PROGRAM IN MY PREVIOUS CAREER AND ALSO AS A RESIDENT, YOU REGISTER SO A PERSON REGISTERS IN THE PORTAL AND THAT'S HOW YOU ACCESS IT. SO IT COULD BE A BUSINESS OWNER, IT COULD BE A BUSINESS. IT COULD BE A PERSON. IT'S A REGISTERED, YOU NEED TO REGISTER. OKAY. RIGHT. FOR USE THE PERMITS OR WHOEVER, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T MATTER RESIDENT OR BUSINESS. OKAY. RIGHT. SO FOR THE PERMIT, IF I COULD JUST ADD, SO, YOU KNOW, SO THE, THE, THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING IS, IS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE IN ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, COME UNDER THE, THE SUBJECT OF THE PERMITS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE, ONE OF THOSE TOPICS IS THE DIGITAL CASE MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS REALLY WE NEED TO GET TO THERE, YOU KNOW, SO LAURIE LAURIE SUMMARIZED IT PERFECTLY HASN'T HAPPENED YET, BUT I'M MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THAT'S BETTER FOR RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN LOOK UP THEIR CASE AND SEE, OKAY, WHERE AM I IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW? YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO'S GONE THROUGH THIS RECENTLY, I WOULDN'T KNOW UNLESS I CALLED AND HAPPENED TO GET THE RIGHT PERSON, YOU KNOW, IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. SO THE MANUAL HIGHLY, YOU KNOW, LABOR INTENSIVE APPROACH IS JUST IT'S THE OLD WAY. AND SO DIGITAL CASE MANAGEMENT, THAT'S ONE ASPECT OF THIS OTHER ASPECT OF THIS. GO AHEAD LISA. NO, IT ALSO OPENS UP YOU YOU ACCESS TO OTHER INFORMATION TAX INFORMATION. SURE, SURE. PERMITS FOR OPA REQUESTS. IT'LL IT'LL HELP US WITH OUR OPA REQUESTS. PEOPLE WILL HAVE MORE AVAILABILITY TO FIND OUT. WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF. YEAH, WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS ON ANYTHING THEY WOULD INTERACT WITH THE TOWNSHIP ON. AND, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE DISCUSSED AND WE'VE FLOATED THE IDEA OF MAYBE A TOWNSHIP APP AT SOME POINT TO THAT RESIDENTS CAN THEN, YOU KNOW, DOWNLOAD AND THEN ACCESS AND CHECK, OKAY, WHEN ARE MY TAXES? DO I KNOW I HAVE TO PUT IT ON MY OWN CALENDARS, WHEN TO PAY TAXES BECAUSE I, I FORGET AND THEN I GET THE NOTICE [00:45:03] SAYING I'M TWO WEEKS LATE. SO, YOU KNOW, ANYWAY, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY, BUT ON THE PERMIT ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS ISSUE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO IGNORE, LIKE CUSTOMER SERVICE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SERVING THE PUBLIC. WE, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO GET BETTER AT SERVING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND, AND, AND SEEKING SOLUTIONS WHERE THERE MAY BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE, THERE'S A MASTER PLAN, THERE ARE ORDINANCES. AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN RESIDENTS WANT TO DO THINGS. AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THAT. SO THAT THAT'S THAT'S WHY AS, AS I LEAD THIS AND I'M, I'M LOOKING TO, YOU KNOW, FIND NEW WAYS AND SATISFY THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS. RESIDENTS ARE OUR CUSTOMERS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER ALL THE TIME THERE. THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS AS WELL, LIKE THE CONTENT OF THE ORDINANCES AND THE MASTER PLAN THAT ARE IN PLACE. NOW. THERE'S A MASTER PLAN REVIEW COMING UP. IF ANYBODY HAS, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCES AND, AND UNDERSTANDING OF SOMETHING THAT THEY SAW AND EXPERIENCED THERE THAT THEY BELIEVE SHOULD BE REVISED. I KNOW I MYSELF HAVE HAVE SOME OF THAT THEN, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SPEAK UP AND, AND BE PART OF THE MASTER PLAN REVISION PROCESS. SO, SO I JUST WANTED TO, TO, TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE TAKING IT PIECEMEAL AS WE CAN, WHICH IS TO START WITH THE DIGITAL CASE MANAGEMENT. BUT THEN THE SURVEY THAT'S ABOUT TO BE FIELDED, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE YOUR ANY FEEDBACK YOU MAY HAVE ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROCESS. IF YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO GET AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE SURVEY, WRITE TO ONE OF US. OUR EMAILS ARE OUT AT TOWNSHIP WEBSITE. JUST SEND US A NOTE SAYING, HEY, I'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PERMIT SURVEY. CAN YOU SEND ME THE LINK? AND WE'LL WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. OKAY. THANK YOU. BACK TO YOU, LAURIE. SORRY. NO PROBLEM. THE OTTO KAUFMAN COMMUNITY CENTER AND SENIOR CENTER GRANTS. SO I WANTED TO JUST GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL GRANT. SO WE WERE PLEASED THAT WE RECEIVED A A FISCAL YEAR 26, $850,000 GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE UPGRADES AT THE SENIOR CENTER AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER. WE DO HAVE EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE ONE OTHER TIME THAT WE RECEIVED THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD EXPERIENCE. WE WERE A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT. FROM EVERYTHING THAT I'VE TALKED TO OTHER ADMINISTRATORS, THOSE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS CAN BE QUITE LENGTHY, COMPLEX AND ONEROUS. BUT THIS WAS THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE FORMER MUNICIPAL BUILDING, AND THAT ACTUALLY WENT VERY SMOOTHLY. WE EXPECT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL POPULATE OUR ONLINE PORTAL WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO THEN EXECUTE INTO OUR AGREEMENT. IN OCTOBER. WE HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE SOONER BECAUSE WE CANNOT DO ANY WORK AND SPEND ANY MONEY. IT'S NOT BEFORE UNTIL THAT AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED, BUT WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE SCOPE OF WORK OF WHAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE. WE DID DO A WEBINAR TO LEARN ABOUT THE BUILD AMERICA BY AMERICA BECAUSE THE THIS FUNDING WILL BE SUBJECT TO THAT, AND THAT WILL BE SOMETHING NEW FOR US. WE HAVE NOT HAD A GRANT HAVE THOSE REQUIREMENTS. SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THROUGH THAT AS WELL. SO WE'LL BE PRIMED AND READY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THAT. WE ATTENDED A TRAINING ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING. WE DON'T EXPECT ANY ISSUES WITH THAT AT ALL. WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, AND IN THAT CASE, THAT PROJECT WAS PARTIALLY IN A FLOODPLAIN. SO THAT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WAS A LITTLE MORE EXTENSIVE. THIS IS ALL INTERIOR WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, SO WE DON'T EXPECT ANY ISSUES WITH THAT. SO I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE MOVE ALONG. AND I'M HOPING IN THE MAYBE END OF AUGUST OR SO, WE'LL HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE SO THAT WE CAN TELL YOU WHAT'S BEING PLANNED. I KNOW MAYOR SINGH HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THOSE THOSE THAT PROCESS AS WELL AS LONG ALONG WITH THE STAFF. SO WE'RE WE'RE EXCITED TO MOVE THAT PROJECT FORWARD. THE PLAN FOR HEALTH MAP. WE'RE IN SURVEY MODE AND WE'RE GOING TO BE RELEASING THE TRANSPORTATION SURVEY RESULTS IN. AT THE AUGUST 20TH MEETING, WE BELIEVE. YES. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A LITTLE MORE INVOLVEMENT FROM OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE PARTICIPATED AND ONE THAT WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO, AND THEN WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO GET THAT GOING. AND SO THE CURRENT SURVEY THAT WE HAVE THAT'S BEEN RELEASED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE HAVE SOME SUMMER INTERNS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HELPING TO PROMOTE IT. THE MAP CHENIERE PROCESS IS RELATED TO OUR PLAN FOR HEALTH GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED, AND THAT IS RELATED TO THE UPDATING OF OUR MASTER PLAN, THAT COMMITTEE, AND MARTIN WAS JUST REFERRING TO AS WELL. AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN OR THE THE SURVEY I'M TRYING TO SEE IS TO GATHER, GIVE THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS AND HELP IDENTIFY PLACES IN TOWN WHERE IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHIER. [00:50:05] SO IT'S, IT'S AN ACTUAL MAPPING PROGRAM AND YOU ARE PINNING PLACES AND MAKING COMMENTS. SO IT'S VERY INTERACTIVE. WE'VE NEVER DONE A SURVEY LIKE THIS BEFORE, SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY WILL ENJOY IT MAY TAKE A, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE TIME TO GET USED TO, BUT IT'S ABOUT A TEN MINUTE SURVEY. AND SO WE'RE ONE OF SIX TOWNS THAT WERE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDING, WHICH IS FANTASTIC BECAUSE EVERY TEN YEARS, A MUNICIPALITY BY NEW IN NEW JERSEY STATE IS REQUIRED TO UPDATE THEIR MASTER PLAN. AND SO WE'LL HAVE THAT PROCESS FULLY COVERED. AND THERE AREN'T A LOT OF GRANTS OUT THERE TO COVER PLANNING PROJECTS. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THAT. THE PROJECT IS LED BY THE NEW JERSEY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. I'M A MEMBER OF THAT ORGANIZATION. IT'S IT'S GREAT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION. THE PROJECT IS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT HOW PLANNING AND NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN AFFECT PUBLIC HEALTH. SO WE DO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO ON, TAKE THIS VERY SHORT SURVEY, SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES, IDENTIFY PLACES IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE IMPROVEMENTS, PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE, AND LOOK OUT FOR COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT IN THE FALL. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, DIFFERENT SESSIONS. SO WE'LL BE WE'LL BE SHARING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMING COMING MONTH OR SO. WE TALKED ABOUT THE TILE PAINTING AND JUST THAT ONE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, TWO OTHER THINGS. WE'RE EXPLORING A COMMUNITY GARDEN. SO WE ARE MEETING WITH GREEN ACRES NEXT WEEK. GREEN ACRES IS A STATE AGENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. THEY PROVIDE FUNDING FOR OPEN SPACE ACQUISITIONS, AND THEY ALSO MANAGE ALL OF THE REGULATIONS THAT COME, THE STRINGS THAT COME ATTACHED TO ANY TIME YOU RECEIVE STATE FUNDING FOR OPEN SPACE. AND SO THOSE REGULATIONS, YOU KNOW, CAN BE RATHER COMPLEX. AND SO WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THEM NEXT WEEK TO TALK ABOUT SOME OPEN SPACE AT THE CORNER OF 206 AND HARLINGEN ROAD, WITH A POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARLINGEN CHURCH FOR A COMMUNITY GARDEN. AND WE'VE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A COMMUNITY GARDEN HERE IN MONTGOMERY. WE DO NOT HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW. THE OPPORTUNITY OF A PARTNERSHIP IS IS VERY APPEALING TO US. OF COURSE, WE LOVE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND SO WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT AS WE PROGRESS WITH THAT. AND THE LAST THING, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND OUR TOWNSHIP ENGINEER, MARK HERMAN, HAVE LED THE WAY IN ACTUALLY SPEARHEADING ONLY THE SECOND OF ITS TYPE INITIATIVE FOR REGIONAL STORMWATER PLANNING IN NEW JERSEY. SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE UP AT THE DAIS, HOW STORMWATER FLOODING KNOWS NO POLITICAL BOUNDARIES, AND THAT THE BEST APPROACH TO MANAGING THAT AND LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE FOR TO REDUCE THESE FLOODING INCIDENTS AND HANDLING STORMWATER IS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL. SO WE HAVE GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WATERSHED ASSOCIATION, WHO HAVE SPEARHEADED IT WITH COMMUNITIES JUST SOUTH OF US. AND THEN WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE IDEA TO ALL OF THE TOWNS IN THE LOWER MILLSTONE WATERSHED, WE OBVIOUSLY JUMPED ON IT AND SAID, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE DOING TO POOLING OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER, RIGHT? CHEAPER. IF WE ALL CHIP IN ON CREATING A REGIONAL PLAN AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, 15 INDIVIDUAL PLANS AND HOW SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN MONTGOMERY AND FRANKLIN OR HILLSBOROUGH, HOW IT ALL CAN CAN BE CONNECTED. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE HAD OUR FIRST PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION. WE HOSTED IT HERE IN THIS ROOM. IT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY NIGHT OF THIS WEEK. THERE WAS JUST A GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE PLANS. GOALS EXPLAINED, WATERSHED PLANNING PROCESS, COVERED SOME TECHNICAL INFORMATION, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY SOLICITING INFORMATION WITH AN ONLINE SURVEY. LOTS OF WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO. IT'S ALL SURVEYS IN MONTGOMERY NOWADAYS, AND THAT REMAINS OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 4TH. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME. BUT THE FEEDBACK THAT THEY ARE SEEKING IS RESIDENTS FEEDBACK ON OR BUSINESSES FEEDBACK ON FLOODING, DRAINAGE OR ANY WATERSHED CONCERNS. IF YOU CAN HELP IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS THAT MIGHT HELP INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PLAN, AND THEN ONCE THE DRAFT PLAN IS PREPARED, WE THINK LIKELY IN THE FALL, IT WILL BE RELEASED FOR FORMAL COMMENT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WE'RE PROMOTING THIS SURVEY, THIS STORMWATER SURVEY, FLOODING SURVEY THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP E-BULLETIN SOCIAL MEDIA, AND A AND A PRESS RELEASE THAT WE'LL SEND OUT AS WELL. SO THE SURVEY AND THE PRESENTATION SLIDES ARE ON OUR TOWNSHIP WEBSITE. YOU CAN JUST SEARCH FOR THE WATERSHED PLAN, THE LOWER MILLSTONE WATERSHED PLAN. AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT. AND WE'VE REALLY APPRECIATED THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING FROM THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT ENGAGEMENT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORI. AND NOW WE GO TO [8. Legal Updates] OUR TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL UPDATE. THANK YOU. MAYOR, JUST TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF [00:55:03] THE PUBLIC, THERE WAS A STATUTE THAT IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS A SKIP THE STUFF LAW THAT WAS PASSED IN NEW JERSEY, AND IT IS GOING TO BE ENFORCED STARTING AUGUST 1ST. SO JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, WHAT IT DOES IS TRIES TO ELIMINATE EXCESS WASTE BY REQUIRING RESTAURANTS TO NO LONGER PUT PLASTIC UTENSILS ON CARRYOUT ITEMS. YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK FOR THOSE EXTRA UTENSILS AND OR NAPKINS OR SAUCE PACKETS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PROVIDED AUTOMATICALLY. SO JUST TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR FOR A LONG TIME. AND SO YOU CAN STILL GET IT IF YOU WANT IT. BUT THIS WAY IT'S NOT. IT'S ELIMINATING SOME OF THE EXCESS WASTE THAT'S CREATED FOR THOSE THAT DON'T NEED IT. DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE INVITES? I KNOW IT HAPPENS, BUT YEAH, SO THE E-BIKE REGULATIONS THAT WERE ADOPTED EARLIER THIS YEAR ARE NOW IN EFFECT AS OF MID-MONTH. THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE BIKES THAT HAVE THE EXTRA ELECTRONIC ENGINES THAT AREN'T QUITE PEDALING BUT AREN'T QUITE A MOTORCYCLE YET. THERE'S I'M NOT COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS, BUT THERE IS NOW A LICENSING REQUIREMENT. AND I KNOW THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE ACTIVELY BEEN WANTING, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH, TO BE AWARE OF THIS AND THE PARENTS, BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENTS OR WITH MOTOR VEHICLES. SO IF YOU DO OWN ONE OF THESE ELECTRIC BICYCLES, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND JUST ONE OTHER THING. IF WE COULD REMIND OUR SENIORS IN TOWN THAT OUR CURBSIDE BULK PICKUP REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN, WE HAVE 87, 86 SIGNED UP SO FAR. IT REMAINS OPEN REGISTRATION THROUGH JULY 31ST, SO THAT'LL BE ENDING SOON BECAUSE THE PICKUP STARTS IN AUGUST AND IT'S FOUR WEEKS EACH WEEK. WE PICK UP IN A DIFFERENT AREA. IF WHEN YOU REGISTER, YOU COULD DO IT ONLINE OR CALL THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, TERRY MISTRETTA WILL BE ABLE TO WALK YOU THROUGH IT. SHE'S FANTASTIC. AND ALSO, IF THERE'S ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU NEED, I BELIEVE THE LOCAL BOY SCOUTS ARE ARE WORKING, WORKING ON THAT, TRYING TO GET THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED HELP GETTING SOMETHING OUT TO THE CURB. SO WE DO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE AND ALSO FOR OUR SENIORS AND ANY INDIVIDUALS OVER 18 WITH A DISABILITY, WE HAVE A. THE TOWNSHIP OFFERS A FREE FRIDAY SHOPPING SHUTTLE FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. AND IT'S CURBSIDE PICKUP AT YOUR HOUSE, FREE ONE HOUR AND 30 MINUTES OF SHOPPING AT ANY OF THE FOOD STORES AND THE SOON TO BE OPEN WHOLE FOODS MARKET AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEY ALSO HELP YOU DELIVER UP TO FOUR GROCERY BAGS TO YOUR DOOR. SO THERE'S A NUMBER HERE YOU CAN CALL. IT'S HANDLED THROUGH SOMERSET COUNTY, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, YOU KNOW, SPONSORS THIS PROGRAM FOR OUR SENIORS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITY. (908) 231-7115 AND WE HAVE ALL THIS INFORMATION ON OUR SO THAT THEY CAN ALL LOOK AT. AND I THINK THE BULK PICKUP WAS INITIATED LAST YEAR. LORI. YES. AND IT'S BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IT IS TOUGH TO GET SOME OF THOSE BULKY THINGS OUT OF OUR HOUSES, ESPECIALLY STUFF ON OUR SENIORS AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, PARTNER WITH THE BOY SCOUTS. SO THEY BASICALLY YOU SIGN UP AND THEN YOU'LL GET YOUR BULK TRASH PICKED UP. SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT INITIATIVE. THANK YOU. [9. Public Comment ] OKAY. AND NOW WE ARE TO 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? PLEASE COME ON DOWN. IF YOU WANTED TO SIT ON A CHAIR, WE COULD GET ONE OF THOSE MICS OR. YOU'RE OKAY. ARE YOU GOOD? OKAY. NO WORRIES. SO GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AS AS ALWAYS, I HAVE WRITTEN THIS DOWN SO THAT I CAN TRY TO KEEP IT TO THREE MINUTES BECAUSE I SURE AS HELL COULDN'T IF I HAD TO JUST REFORM IT. MY NAME IS JOHN KELSEY AND MY WIFE PAM AND I LIVE IN THE CHERRY VALLEY COMMUNITY NOW. I'M. I'M NOT HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP SNOWPLOW DAMAGED MY MAILBOX. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. I'M HERE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS DOESN'T SEEM FAIR. THE MAILBOX IS STILL FUNCTIONAL. I HAVE SOME PICTURES THAT I GAVE TO LORI. IF SHE WANTS TO DO ANYTHING WITH THEM, BOTH DURING THE SNOW AND AND AFTERWARDS. AND IN FACT, MY MAIL CARRIER HAS TOLD ME THAT [01:00:05] HE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH DELIVERING MY MAIL. BUT CHERRY VALLEY REQUIRES ALL OF OUR MAILBOXES NOT ONLY TO BE IDENTICAL, BUT TO BE STRAIGHT OUT FACING THE STREET. PERIOD. UNLESS I STRAIGHTEN MY MAILBOX. THEY HAVE WARNED ME I WILL BE FINED $100 A MONTH. SO THIS IS CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. BUT HERE'S THE HERE'S THE PROBLEM. NOW THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS CAME TO OUR PROPERTY AND HE SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT. SO HE SAID, IT'S UP TO YOU TO REPAIR IT. THE TOWNSHIP'S REIMBURSEMENT POLICY PROVIDES A MAXIMUM OF $100 FOR MAILBOX DAMAGE. THAT MIGHT BE REASONABLE IF I COULD REPLACE IT WITH ANY MAILBOX I WANTED, BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE THE TOWNSHIP APPROVED A COMMUNITY WITH UNIFORM MAILBOX REQUIREMENTS, I AM REQUIRED TO REPLACE IT WITH A MATCHING MAILBOX THAT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $285. AND THAT'S BEFORE I EVEN PAY TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED POST AND INSTALL IT, WHICH WE HAVE A BID FOR OF $540.75. SO THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, I'M LEFT PAYING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 500 AND $1000 TO REPAIR DAMAGE CAUSED BY TOWNSHIP EQUIPMENT. IF I DON'T, I FACE MONTHLY FINES FROM MY HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION. I'M NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT. YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT GOES ON, BUT I AM ASKING WHETHER THIS IS REALLY THE OUTCOME THAT TOWNSHIP INTENDED WHEN IT ADOPTED, WHENEVER THAT WAS A $100 REIMBURSEMENT POLICY PERIOD. IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THEN I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE TOWNSHIP STANDS. NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT, I LIVE HERE. IF THE ANSWER IS NO, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE POLICY, PARTICULARLY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE CHERRY VALLEY, WHERE HOMEOWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO USE SPECIFIC MAILBOXES. AND I HAVE NO LOWER COST ALTERNATIVE. TODAY. IT'S OUR MAILBOX TOMORROW. IT COULD BE ANOTHER HOMEOWNER IN CHERRY VALLEY OR ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT MIGHT HAVE SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS. SO I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER WHETHER THE CURRENT POLICY PRODUCES A FAIR RESULT FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE SOMEONE GETS BACK TO YOU. WE'LL WE'LL TAKE IT UNDER CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING. APPRECIATE YOU BOTH COMING IN. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? GOOD EVENING. ELIZABETH GARVIE, 79 SUNSET ROAD. CONGRATULATIONS. IT WAS A GREAT INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION. I'M REQUESTING THAT THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION BE MODIFIED TO ELIMINATE THE LOUD BOOMS OF THE FIREWORKS. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY IF WE'VE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE. I HAVEN'T BROUGHT IT UP HERE, BUT SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM ME. OKAY. OUR NEWEST COMMITTEE MEMBER, HERRING. AND YOU, MAYOR SINGH, TALKED ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL OUR COMMUNITY IS, AND I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY WOULD NOT ONLY SUPPORT THIS, BUT WOULD APPLAUD IT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. HI. JUSTIN MAYER 152 WILTSHIRE DRIVE. JUST TO COMMENT, I ACTUALLY WOULD NOT APPLAUD THAT WHATSOEVER. BUT LET ME GET TO THE TOPIC OF MY TONIGHT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY BIKE SAFETY. WE TALKED, I SEE THE RESOLUTIONS. WE HAVE SOME BIKE LANES BEING ADDED, WHICH I SUPPORT AND BIG FAN OF THE [01:05:03] INITIATIVE OF THE MAYOR'S WELLNESS PROGRAM TO GET PEOPLE OUT BIKING. BUT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE WITH SAFETY. THE ISSUE WITH SAFETY IN THE BIKE LANES IS ACTUALLY RELATED TO SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, UNLESS THEY'RE AN AVID BIKER LIKE MYSELF. AND THAT'S OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE BIKE LANE. THINK ABOUT PRIVATE TRASH PICKUP. PEOPLE ARE HAVING MULTIPLE DAYS, RIGHT? DAYS OR ANGELOS OR NEIMAN. THEY'RE COMING SOMETIMES TWO DAYS A WEEK. SO FIVE DAYS A WEEK. YOU'VE GOT REGULAR PRIVATE TRASH PICKUP COMING UP AND GUESS WHERE THE BINS GO IN THE BIKE LANES. SO DOES THE RECYCLING FOR THE COUNTY TOWNSHIP, WHICH MANDATES IT HAS TO BE THREE FEET WITHIN THE CURB IN THEIR REGULATIONS. AND ON TOP OF THAT, DELIVERY TRUCKS, THEY PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AMAZON, FEDEX, UPS ALL DAY LONG. OUR BIKE LANES ARE ACTUALLY NOT SAFE. AND IT'S ACTUALLY WORSE THAN JUST RIDING ON A REGULAR BIKE, A REGULAR STREET, BECAUSE DRIVERS ARE EXPECTING THE BIKER TO STAY IN THE BIKE LANE. BUT WHEN AN OBSTRUCTION IS IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY END UP QUICKLY HAVING TO SWERVE. SO MY ASK IS VERY SIMPLE WHERE'S OUR REGULATION? CAN WE ENFORCE A REGULATION WHERE THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION IN THE BIKE LANE? IT SHOULD BE VERY SIMPLE TO CREATE ONE THAT PUTS THE GARBAGE STUFF ON THE ACTUAL CURB AND NOT IN THE STREET IN THE BIKE LANE. OKAY, THOSE AUTOMATIC MACHINES CAN PICK THEM UP FROM THERE. I'VE SEEN PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY, SO MY ASK IS JUST THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THAT AND MAYBE ADVISE MAYBE THROUGH SOME SORT OF MAILING TO FOLKS WHOSE RESIDENCES ON THOSE BIKE LANES THAT THAT'S THE POLICY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. PLEASE COME ON IN. HI, COREY WINGERTER, MONTGOMERY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND TIGER'S TAIL. I JUST WANT TO HAVE A COMMENT. I HAD A CONVERSATION TODAY WITH A NEW BUSINESS OWNER. HE IS OPENING UP A A PRETTY NEAT BUSINESS IN PRINCETON NORTH SHOPPING CENTER IN THE WHAT WAS IT? THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM SECTION OF THE SHOPPING CENTER AND HE HAS A. HIS INITIAL LOCATION IS IN HOLMDEL, BELL LABS. IT'S CALLED OASIS VR, AND HE DOES VR. INTERACTION STUFF. AND I WENT ON THEIR WEBSITE. AND ANYHOW, I ASKED HIM IF YOU HAVE ANY. IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE OR ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW. HE GOES, COREY MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN GREAT. THE PERMITS, THE CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE, EVERYBODY'S ON TIME. HE GOES, I HAVE NO ISSUES. HE DIDN'T WANT TO THROW ANOTHER TOWN UNDER THE BUS. BUT HE BASICALLY SAID MONTGOMERY HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW. OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT IS MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? PLEASE COME ON DOWN. HI ALL. I'M REED CHAPMAN, A 71 ZION WATERVILLE ROAD IN SKILLMAN. THANK YOU ALL FOR INVITING MY COMMENTS. I'M HERE TONIGHT AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN BECAUSE I WANT TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF ABOUT THE INTERESTS THAT SAVE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL HAVE FOR THE PROSPECT OF THE TOWN'S ACQUISITION OF THE STATE. LAND AROUND BROOKVIEW FARM. ALTHOUGH I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE FRIENDS OF OPEN SPACE, AND I SERVE AS THEIR LIAISON TO THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE, AND I'M ON THE SHADE TREE COMMITTEE. I'M CERTAINLY NOT SPEAKING FOR THEM. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE OSC OPEN SPACE PREFERS TO NOT ALLOW ANY OTHER USES FOR THE PROPERTY THAT'S NOT ALREADY ALLOWED IN. THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE PROPERTIES BY THE STATE'S LEGISLATURE. I BEG TO DIFFER. IN SOME CASES, AND NOTABLY REGARDING THESE TWO LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, I DON'T HAVE ANY TIES TO SAVE OR MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL ANY LONGER, EXCEPT SENTIMENTAL ONES. AND AS A TAXPAYER, I DID DO SOME WORK AT SAVE UNDER AN EARLIER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO ALLOWED THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME INTEREST IN THIS LAND SOMEDAY. I DID ATTEND MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL 50 YEARS AGO, WHEN IT WAS NOW OUR UPPER MIDDLE SCHOOL. I UNDERSTAND THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE FINALLY WILLING TO MAKE THEIR INTEREST KNOWN. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE HAD A CHANCE OR WILL SOON ARRANGE WITH LAUREN WASIKOWSKI, OUR HIGHLY ESTEEMED DIRECTOR OF OPEN SPACE AND STEWARDSHIP, TO GET A TOUR OF THIS PROPERTY. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A WONDERFUL TOUR OF BOTH DOCK PROPERTIES, BROOKVIEW AND THE SKILLMAN DAIRY. JUST LAST YEAR IT WAS A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE FOR ME. YOU CAN EASILY GET A FEEL FOR MUCH OF THE BROOKVIEW SIDE BETWEEN SAVE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT EVEN GETTING OUT OF YOUR CAR, ALTHOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TRESPASS A BIT TO SEE THE OLD FARM MANAGER'S RESIDENCE. LAUREN CAN GIVE YOU A VIRTUAL TOUR TO, BUT SEEING [01:10:04] IT IN IN PERSON REALLY BRINGS IT HOME. HOME IS A PUN BECAUSE I USED TO LIVE THERE. I GREW UP IN THAT VAN ZANDT MANSION I CALL ANY BIG HOUSE THAT COULD PROVIDE HOMES FOR THREE STATE DOCTORS, FAMILIES WITH A MAGNIFICENT SPIRAL STAIRCASE AND SERVANTS QUARTERS, A MANSION. I USED THE BACK STAIRS TO GET UP TO MY BEDROOM. THE ADDITION THAT WE USED FOR OUR KITCHEN AND DINING AND LIVING ROOMS WAS LATER USED AS A REC ROOM FOR UP TO 90 WORK RELEASE PRISONERS. WHEN DON MATTHEWS WAS MAYOR, AND NOW NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE. BUT HERE'S THE MOST OBVIOUS AND DISTRESSING THING YOU'LL SEE. SAVE IS TIGHTLY CONSTRAINED BY AT LEAST THREE LAYERS OF FENCING THAT WAS REQUIRED BY VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING OUR OWN LOCAL AUTHORITIES. I CALL IT AN EGREGIOUS OFFENSE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SENSES, AND SOME OF IT WAS PROBABLY INTENDED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY THE CRITICAL ROCK BROOK CORRIDOR AND STRAY PEOPLE FROM DROWNING IN THE REQUIRED RAIN GARDEN. REACH UP. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO. YEAH, HURRY IT UP A LITTLE, BUT THANK YOU. YEAH. IF YOU WANT TO FINISH. WELL, MAYBE YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THEIR DOGS FOR A WALK IN THE IN THE DOG PARK AND SKILLMAN PARK IN ORDER TO GET ACROSS. 601 THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WALK UP TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND CROSS IT THEIR CROSSWALK AND THEN COME BACK DOWN. NOBODY'S GOING TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, THE OLD MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE INSTITUTE WAS CLOSED THERE DUE TO THE DANGER OF TRAFFIC AT THE BASE OF WHAT WE CALL THE INSTITUTE HILL. AND THE SADDEST THING ABOUT THIS FENCING AND THE NO TRESPASSING SIGNS THE STATE PUT UP, IT USED TO BE OUR FRONT YARD, AND IT WAS A VACANT LOT THAT WAS USED TO GROW HAY FOR DAIRY COWS. AND WHEN THE STATE SOLD THE MANSION TO SAVE AND THE FRIENDS OF HOMELESS ANIMALS, THEY FENCED IT OFF AND PUT A GATE ACROSS THE DRIVEWAY THAT WE USED TO GET TO OUR GARAGE. AND AS FAR AS THIS FRONT YARD GOES, I DON'T SEE HOW IT. IF SAVE WAS TO USE IT FOR A DOG PARK, HOW THAT WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S LAND USE RESTRICTIONS FOR THE PROPERTY. WE SHOULD JUST LET THEM USE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. ORDINANCES, INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING. THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION ORDINANCES, PUBLIC [10. Resolution #26-7-204 – Authorizing Addition of Green Acres Restriction to Deed for Block 34001, Lot 40 (Jefferson) ] HEARING, FINAL ADOPTION. THERE ARE NO ORDINANCES FOR FINAL ADOPTION. RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 267-204 AUTHORIZING ADOPTION OF GREEN ACRES RESTRICTION TO DEED FOR BLOCK 34001, LOT 40. JEFFERSON. SO, MAYOR, BACK IN 2024, WE ACQUIRED SOME ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE. AND THROUGH THE GREEN ACRES PROGRAM, THE NJDEP GREEN ACRES PROGRAM, WE ARE SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE FOR $88,609 TOWARDS THAT OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-7-204? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. DEPUTY. [11. Resolution #26-7-205 – Authorizing a Right-of-Way Access Agreement with RB Manufacturing, LLC Related to the Installation of Monitoring Wells] MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SAYING YES. RESOLUTION 26-7-205. AUTHORIZING A RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS AGREEMENT WITH RB MANUFACTURING LLC RELATED TO THE INSTALLATION OF MONITORING WELLS. SO MAYOR, THIS IS REGARDING AN ACTION THAT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IS WORKING WITH A COMPANY UP IN HILLSBOROUGH, RB IT STANDS FOR RECKITT BENCKISER. THEY ARE UP AT 206 AND HILLSBOROUGH ROAD IN HILLSBOROUGH. BACK IN SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A FIRE IN ONE OF THEIR BUILDINGS AND THE FIRE RETARDANT THAT THEY USED. IT'S A FOAM. IT. IT. WHEN IT WENT DOWN INTO ONE OF THE STORM SEWERS. WHAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IS THAT THERE MAY BE THE FOREVER CHEMICALS, THE PFAS, IN THAT MATERIAL THAT THEY USED. AND SO THE A RB HAS RETAINED A LICENSED SITE REMEDIATION PROFESSIONAL AND LSRP AND IS WORKING WITH DEP TO DELINEATE THE GROUNDWATER PLUME AND CONFIRM IF THERE IS ANY PFAS CONTAMINATION THAT HAS MIGRATED OFF OF THE RBM'S SITE IN HILLSBOROUGH. SO THE DEP HAS INSTRUCTED THE LSRP TO IDENTIFY SEVERAL DOWNGRADIENT LOCATIONS AT THE NORTHERN END OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, SO THIS AUTHORIZES ACCESS AN ACCESS AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THEM TO INSTALL THREE MONITORING WELLS IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF MONTGOMERY. AND THIS WAY WE WILL GET NOTIFIED IF THEY FIND [01:15:03] ANYTHING EVENTUALLY IN THOSE GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELLS. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS AGREEMENT IS ABOUT. NOTHING HAS TAKEN PLACE WITHIN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, BUT IT IS PART OF A LARGER STUDY BY DEP AND THE PROPERTY OWNER. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-7-205. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. [12. Resolution #26-7-206 – Authorizing Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding Agreement with SectorSite Tower Assets, LLC Related to Tree Replacement at the Municipal Center ] YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 26-7-206. AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AGREEMENT WITH SECTOR SITE. TOWER ASSETS, LLC RELATED TO TREE REPLACEMENT AT THE MUNICIPAL CENTER. SO MAYOR SECTOR SITE TOWER ASSETS IS THE TENANT ON OUR PROPERTY WHO SUCCESSFULLY WON THE BID FOR THE CELL TOWER THAT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED HERE ON THE PROPERTY. WHEN THEY BROUGHT IN THE THE ELECTRIC LINES AND COMMUNICATION LINES FOR THE TOWER, THEY WORKED WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH WAS PERMITTED WHEN THEY OPENED UP THE TRENCH THAT THEY NEEDED TO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE THE, THE ACCESS FOR THE UTILITIES LINES THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE FIVE MATURE TREES THAT ARE WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY COULD HAVE HAD SOME ROOT DAMAGE. SO WE REACHED OUT TO THEM AND SAID THAT WE WE BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE IT'S UNKNOWN WHETHER THESE TREES WILL SURVIVE IN THE LONG TERM, THAT WE'D LIKE TO WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT WHERE THEY WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT TREES. SO WHAT WE DETERMINED WAS WE WOULD LIKE SOME REPLACEMENT TREES. NOW THERE'S A TOTAL OF 18 REPLACEMENT TREES, 13 OF WHICH ARE BEING REPLACED NOW, AND FIVE WILL BE HELD UNTIL SUCH TIME. IF ANY OF THOSE STREET TREES DO NOT SURVIVE, THEN THEY'LL BE REPLACED IN KIND IN THAT LOCATION. AND SO SOME OF THE TREES YOU'LL SEE NOW HAVE BEEN PLANTED AROUND THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND, WHICH IS VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE THE DEP GAVE US A VERY BIG GRANT FOR THAT PLAYGROUND UNDER JAKE'S LAW. ACTUALLY, THOSE PLAYGROUNDS, THOSE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY REQUIRE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF SHADE WITHIN THOSE FACILITIES. SO THAT THAT WAS A PROJECT THAT THE TOWNSHIP WAS GOING TO TAKE ON. SO SECTOR SIGHT HAS DONE THAT FOR US, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF TREES WILL BE PLANTED ALONG THE STREET, BUT JUST OUTSIDE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO WE'RE NOT REPLANTING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY IN CASE, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE, THE THE RIGHT OF WAY NEEDS TO BE MAY ACCESSED, MAINTAINED AND DUG UP. SO WE'VE KIND OF COVERED ALL OUR BASES ON THAT. AND SO THIS AGREEMENT JUST PROVIDES PUTS THAT IN WRITING. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-7-206. SO MOVED. SECOND 206 YEAH. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH [13. Resolution #26-7-207 – Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application and Execution of a Grant Contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for an Orchard Road Phase 3 Road Reconstruction, Pedestrian Route Extension and Bicycle Project ] YES. RESOLUTION 26-7-207. AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION AND EXECUTION OF A GRANT CONTRACT WITH NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR AN ORCHARD ROAD PHASE THREE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION, PEDESTRIAN ROUTE EXTENSION AND BICYCLE PROJECT. SO, MAYOR, WE'VE HAD A FEW PRESENTATIONS ON THIS PROJECT AND SOME DISCUSSIONS. ORCHARD ROAD HERE OUTSIDE THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING HAS RECEIVED MUNICIPAL AID FUNDING THAT COMES FROM THE STATE DOT THE PORTION FROM THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING OUT TO 206 AND ACROSS ORCHARD UP TO BRIDGEPOINT ROAD WAS DONE IN PARTIALLY WITH THE FUNDS FROM MUNICIPAL AID. IF YOU RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION, THAT ALSO WAS DONE IN A SIMILAR FASHION WHERE WE PHASED IT OVER TIME, ULTIMATELY KIND OF STACKING THE MULTI-YEAR GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE DOT, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED FROM DOT DOESN'T ALWAYS COVER THE ENTIRE COST OF THE PROJECT. SO BY KIND OF STACKING THE APPLICATIONS OVER TIME, YOU'RE ABLE TO KIND OF MAKE UP UP FOR THAT AMOUNT. AND SO THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL SEE PHASE THREE. SO WE HAVE PHASE ONE. PHASE TWO WAS AWARDED LAST YEAR. SO THIS IS TO AUTHORIZE PHASE THREE TO BE APPLIED FOR. AGAIN KIND OF STACKING ALL THOSE GRANTS LIKE WE DID WITH THE TOWNSHIP LINE ROAD PROJECT. AND WE'LL HAVE THE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION, PEDESTRIAN ROAD EXTENSION EXTENSION, AND, AND A BICYCLE PROJECT. I DON'T THINK IT'LL BE A DEDICATED LANE BECAUSE WE SCALED BACK THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT. AND BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS APPLICATION IS ABOUT. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-7-207. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. ABSTAIN. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. AN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. TAYLOR. [14. Resolution #26-7-208 – Authorizing Contract Extension #1 for Chemicals for Wastewater Treatment – Coyne Chemical Co., Inc.] TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 26-7-208. AUTHORIZING CONTRACT. EXTENSION [01:20:06] NUMBER ONE FOR CHEMICALS FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FOR OWN CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. YES, MAYOR. SO OUR PURCHASING AGENT AND OUR DIRECTOR OF WASTEWATER OPERATIONS, THEY WORK ON THIS CONTRACT. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A SEWER DEPARTMENT THAT RUNS SEVERAL SEWER TREATMENT PLANTS. THEY USE VARIOUS CHEMICALS IN THEIR PROCESSING. AND SO WE HAVE CONTRACTS THAT WE COMPETITIVELY BID. AND THEN THOSE CONTRACTS HAVE EXTENSIONS ABILITIES TO EXTEND. AND SO THIS IS SEEKING THE EXTENSION NUMBER ONE FOR CHEMICALS FROM THIS THIS COMPANY. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-7-208. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. ABSTAIN. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. [15. Resolution #26-7-209 – Authorizing the Execution of an Open Space Preservation Program Grant Agreement with Somerset County for the Acquisition of the “Forbes/Rader” Property (Block 13001, Lot 21) ] AN. YES. DEPUTY MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 26-7-209. AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION PROGRAM GRANT AGREEMENT WITH SOMERSET COUNTY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE FORBES RAIDER PROPERTY BLOCK 1301, LOT 21. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT SOMERSET COUNTY, THROUGH THEIR THE COUNTY OPEN SPACE TRUST THAT WE SEND OUR TAX DOLLARS UP TO, HAS AWARDED US $125,000 TOWARDS THE COST OF THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PROPERTY FOR OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION. SO THIS IS EXECUTING THAT GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-7-209. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. [16. Resolution#26-7-210 – Authorizing 2026 Professional Services Agreement – Kenyon Planning, LLC – Consultative Planning Services ] COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. RESOLUTION 26-7-2 TEN. AUTHORIZING 2026 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT. KENYAN PLANNING, LLC CONSULTIVE CONSULTATIVE PLANNING SERVICES. SO THIS AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL HAVE THIS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TARA KENYON, SHE HAS DONE SHE'S A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL PLANNER. SHE WILL BE WORKING ON US WITH WORKING WITH US AND THE COMMUNITY ON THE PLAN FOR HEALTH PROJECT. SHE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND THE REEXAMINATION REPORT OF THE MASTER PLAN. IT'S BEING FULLY FUNDED. HER WORK UNDER THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED, WE'VE KIND OF BIFURCATED THE GRANT AND WILL ACTUALLY HAVE WORKING WITH TWO DIFFERENT CONSULTANTS, BECAUSE THERE'S QUITE A LOT THAT WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE USING FOR THE $50,000 GRANT, THE REEXAMINATION REPORT OF THE MASTER PLAN, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE, AND THE LAND USE ELEMENT PLAN UPDATE, AND A CLIMATE RESILIENCY PLAN THAT THE STATE REQUIRES WHENEVER. NOW YOU UPDATE YOUR LAND USE PLAN. SO WE WE HAVE ANOTHER CONSULTANT THAT WILL BE DOING SOME OF THE WORK. AND SO THIS IS, LIKE I SAID, FULLY COVERED WITH THAT GRANT AGREEMENT. AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MAP AIR ONLINE SURVEY. IT'S ALL RELATED TO THIS WORK. TARA KENYON IS GOING TO BE THE PLANNER THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKING WITH US ON THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE THAT I TALKED ABOUT COMING THIS FALL. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-7-2 TEN. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. [17. Correspondence ] DEPUTY. MAYOR. TAYLOR. TODD. YES. MAYOR. SINGH. YES. CORRESPONDENCE. LISA. THAT'S TO YOU, I GUESS. HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH. THANK YOU TO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE FOR ATTENDING THE JUNE 5TH GRAND OPENING OF THE HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH CARRIER CLINIC. CLINIC BUILDING AND COHEN COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND EDUCATION CENTER. SO JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CORRESPONDENCE FROM HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH THINKING COMMITTEE MEMBER AND AND MAYOR SINGH FOR THEIR ATTENDANCE IN CELEBRATING THEIR GRAND OPENING OF THEIR ADOLESCENT BUILDING AND COHEN COMMUNITY RESOURCE EDUCATION CENTER ON JUNE 5TH. [18. New and Unfinished Business] OKAY. THANK YOU. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS. SAVE A FRIEND TO HOMELESS ANIMALS. INTEREST IN PORTION OF STATE LANDS. TODAY WE HAVE WITH US HEATHER ACHENBACH AND BOARD PRESIDENT WENDY RAINER. OKAY, SO IF YOU WANT TO. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MAYOR. COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS. FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US. I DID SEND A STATEMENT FROM SAVE. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL SAW IT, SO I WASN'T SURE IF YOU JUST WANTED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS NOT WE ARE NOT PLANNING AN EXPANSION PER SE. HOWEVER, SHOULD PROPERTY THAT THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTIES COME AVAILABLE AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY BUILD ON THOSE PROPERTIES IF IT IF THE LAND IS EVEN SUITABLE FOR THAT, AND IF THE SPACE WOULD EVEN MAKE SENSE, THEN WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IT. WE ACTUALLY THAT THAT WOULD [01:25:07] BE THE, THE MAIN PURPOSE OF IT. SO OKAY, WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR PARCELS ELSEWHERE. IT WOULD MOSTLY MAKE SENSE FOR IT TO, FOR US TO HAVE THOSE THAT ARE ADJACENT TO OUR PROPERTY. I THINK YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LETTER, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE ARE A PRIVATE SHELTER, WE HAVE 11 MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE THE TOWN OF MONTGOMERY. SO EVERY TOWN MUST HAVE AN IMPOUND FOR THEIR LOST AND STRAY ANIMALS. THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN PARTICULAR, THE LAST SIX YEARS POST PANDEMIC, IS GOING TO CONTINUE. THERE AREN'T ENOUGH IMPOUNDS FOR THE AMOUNT OF ANIMALS IN NEED, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE ABANDONED RATE, THE ABANDONMENT RATE IS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF, AND IT IS BECAUSE OF VETERINARY EXPENSES. THE REALITY IS WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE EITHER BEING DEPORTED OR FEARING DEPORTATION, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO REHOME THEIR ANIMALS. WE SEE IT EVERY DAY OUT OF THE CITY OF TRENTON, BECAUSE THE NEXT SHELTER THEY COME TO IS OURS. SO THERE IS NO END TO THIS. BUT SAVE ONLY HAS THE SPACE WE HAVE. SO WE WOULD LOVE TO DO GOOD IN THIS, IN THIS WORLD, IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT NEEDS TO MAKE SENSE. AND SO FOR US TO BE RESPONSIBLE, BE ABLE TO RAISE THE MONEY, ETC. IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT ON A PROPERTY THAT'S NEXT TO US. OTHERWISE, WE'LL PROBABLY JUST NEED TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE. WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. I DON'T KNOW IF WENDY RYAN, DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? WENDY IS OUR BOARD PRESIDENT. YES. IF SHE WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU, LOVE. MICROPHONES. I JUST WANT TO INVITE YOU TO COME TO SAFE, FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING. IT'S THRIVING UNDER HEATHER'S LEADERSHIP. IT'S AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND WE'RE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. WE WANT TO BE PRESENT. WE WANT YOU TO GET TO KNOW US. IF THIS DOES BECOME AVAILABLE, WE'D LOVE TO EXPLAIN IT OR RESEARCH IT WITH YOU AND EXPLORE IT WITH YOU. BUT AS HEATHER SAID, THAT'S ALL WE ARE INTERESTED IN, IS WHATEVER WOULD WORK WITH YOU BUT SAY WOULD BE A GOOD STEWARD. THANK YOU FOR. YEAH, I'VE BEEN THERE AND JUST TO VISIT, BUT NOT REALLY TAKE A TOUR, JUST THE OUTSIDE. I THINK YOU WERE HAVING ONE OF THOSE ADOPTION DAYS AND THAT'S. AND I'VE BEEN THERE ALSO OUR ADOPTION DAY AND I SHOULD SAY WE. AS FOR THE FOR THE TOWN OF MONTGOMERY, WE OF, OF COURSE, RESERVED SPACE IN OUR FACILITY FOR, FOR THE TOWN THAT WE LIVE IN. BUT WE COULD BE A BIGGER STEWARD FOR, FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR TOWN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE MOVING IN TO THIS COMMUNITY, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT NOT ONLY WILL THEY BE ADOPTING, HOPEFULLY, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO RELINQUISH THEIR ANIMALS TOO. WE'RE SEEING IT. I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED HOW MANY ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER SETTING ARE ACTUALLY OWNER SURRENDERS. SO IT I'VE I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ABOUT IT AS WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CAPACITY TO TO HELP HELP THE COMMUNITY WHEN THIS TIME COMES, BECAUSE IT WE'RE WE'RE SEEING IT SO MUCH. WE SERVE 11 TOWNS IN ALL OF THESE TOWNS. THE NUMBER OF SURRENDERS, THE NUMBER OF PETS BEING FOUND THAT ARE NOT RECLAIMED BY THEIR OWNER HAS ALMOST BECOME INVERSE. WE USED TO HAVE 80% OF DOGS RECLAIMED BY THEIR OWNERS. I WOULD SAY ONLY 20% ARE RECLAIMED NOW. WOW. IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO. OH THAT IT IT'S. IT CAN'T BE POSSIBLE THAT THEY CAN'T FIND THEIR. THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEIR PET. THEY DO NOT WANT TO RECLAIM. AND THESE ARE GOOD ANIMALS. THESE ANIMALS ARE TAKEN CARE OF. THEY ARE HOUSE TRAINED. THEY'RE GOOD CITIZENS. BUT I REALLY THINK THERE IS AN AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM. AND AS PEOPLE MOVE, THEY TEND TO GO TO HOUSING THAT DOESN'T ALLOW PETS. THEY CALL A SHELTER LIKE OURS. WE SAY, I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE SPACE. WELL, THEY'RE MOVING, SO WHAT DO THEY DO? FIDO GETS LOOSE AND FIDO DOESN'T GET RECLAIMED BECAUSE THEY AND IF WE FIND OUT THEY ARE THE OWNER, THEY COULD BE FINED FOR ABANDONMENT IF WE TELL THE POLICE. SO THERE. THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM HAPPENING HERE. AND IT HAS BEEN EVER SINCE THE PANDEMIC ITSELF. AND IT IS IT IS JUST ONLY GETTING WORSE. IT'S ACTUALLY VERY DEPRESSING IN THE ANIMAL WELFARE COMMUNITY TO, TO SEE THIS HAPPEN AFTER A BANNER YEAR IN IN 2018 AND 2019, NATIONALLY KNOWN, WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF HOMELESS ANIMALS. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT AT ONE POINT, GOSH, WE, WE MAY NOT, WE DON'T. WE WERE USING OUR SPACE FOR THE SOUTH. [01:30:01] WE. IT WASN'T USED HERE. NOW. I COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO HELP OUR SOUTHERN STATES WITH THEIR PROBLEM. WE HELP THE CITY OF TRENTON, THE CITY OF HAMILTON, CAPE MAY COUNTY, AND YEAH, CAPE MAY COUNTY. IT IS NOT THE CAPE MAY COUNTY MUNICIPAL SHELTER IS. IT IS NOT AT THE BEACH AND IT IS OVERLOADED WITH ANIMALS. WE HAVE THREE COMING THIS WEEK, BUT IT'S TRAGIC AND I KNOW IT'S NOT OF CONCERN TO EVERYONE, BUT I, I, I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF PETS THAT COULD BE FOUND OUTSIDE YOU. WE ARE ALL OBLIGATED. WE THERE ARE RULES THAT SAY THOSE ANIMALS MUST BE COLLECTED AND PICKED UP, AND WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS TO TAKE THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT WANT THEM. VERY WELL, SAID. HEATHER. THANK YOU. I THANK YOU, DEPUTY DEPUTY MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT I HAVE BEEN TO SAVE. I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN THERE FOR A SOCIAL EVENT AND MY. MY SON EVAN USED TO VOLUNTEER THERE. SO WE DEFINITELY HEAR YOU. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE HEAR YOUR CONCERN. YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR ANIMALS AS WELL AS OUR PEOPLE SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN OUR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, NEED TO ADOPT, THAT THEY HAVE A OPPORTUNITY TO GET A HEALTHY, WELL CARED FOR ANIMAL. AND THAT IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS OUR GOAL. AND REALLY, PEOPLE, PETS HELP PEOPLE AND PEOPLE HELP PETS. IT'S IT'S SYMBIOTIC. IT, IT IS, IT'S A, IT'S A BIG PART. SO IT REALLY IS ABOUT PEOPLE. PETS MAKE A COMMUNITY BETTER FOR THOSE WHO WANT. THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY LOOKS TO ITS PETS. SO AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, RAY CHAPMAN, HE CAME UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SAFETY ASPECT OF YOUR STAFF WHO WALK THE DOGS ACROSS, YOU KNOW, THE 601 IS, IS, IS CRAZY. LIKE YOU SHOULDN'T BE WALKING ACROSS THAT STREET. IT'S A SHAME. AND WE UP THE HILL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE PEOPLE CROSSING THE STREET. SO WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AND PEOPLE ARE PICKING UP SPEED AS THEY COME THROUGH. SO WE TRIED TO GET EVERYONE ROOTED. BUT TO TO REED'S POINT, THEY DON'T. WE'RE THEY'RE CROSSING THE ROAD. THEY'RE NOT. EVERYTHING IS IDEAL. IT'S SAFE. BUT I DO THINK THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY, VERY RESPECTFUL. AND EVEN THE PARK RANGERS STOP BY AND SAY, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR. YOUR VOLUNTEERS FEELING SAFE IN THE PARK. RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY KIND. IT'S GOOD. BUT IF YOU HAD YOUR OWN AREA THAT YOU CAN WALK, YOU DO HAVE A TRIPLE DOG PARK. SO WE DO ON OUR PREMISES. IT'S A TRIPLE DOG PLAY YARD. BUT REALLY, I MEAN, MANY DOGS WANT TO GO WALK THROUGH THE THREE AND FIVE MILE LOOP, RIGHT? SO THAT'S WHY THAT LAND FOR US WOULD BE UTILIZED TO BUILD, TO BUILD MORE INFRASTRUCTURE. WE DO HAVE THE PLAY ROOM, IF YOU WILL. YEAH. BUT WE DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING. REALLY APPRECIATE FOLLOW UP. I JUST WANT TO SAY LET'S FOLLOW UP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, REED, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHING. SO JUST SEND, SEND ME AN EMAIL ON WHAT YOUR REQUEST AND SEND OUT TO ALL OF US WHAT YOUR, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE. LIKE, IS IT A CROSSWALK AT THE, YOU KNOW, ACROSS TO OVER TO SKILLMAN PARK AT THE AT YOUR DRIVEWAY? IS IT WHAT IS IT? I HEARD THE WE HEAR THE REQUEST. I GOT THE LETTER. YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S PROPERTY THAT CAN BE SO THAT THEY WANT IT TO BE HAVING SOME LAND FROM OUR STATE LAND THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS. YEAH. UNDERSTAND. BUT THAT IS THE MAJORITY. SO THE WHEN I FIRST JOINED SAVE, WHICH WAS NINE YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY DID REACH OUT TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS OUR VOLUNTEERS, I WAS NEW AND THEY WERE. WHY DON'T WE HAVE A CROSSWALK? I SAID, I DON'T KNOW, LET ME FIND OUT. AND IT WAS IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE HILL SPEED. YES. AND IT'S ALSO A COUNTY ROAD. WE DEFINITELY WILL. YEAH. ADVOCATE FOR YOU, BUT YES, WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR YOU. BUT YES, OUR ADMINISTRATOR IS SITTING RIGHT THERE. BELIEVE ME. WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY AND WITH THE STATE THAT DIRECTION. YES. SO THE STATE AND THE COUNTY ARE A LITTLE HARD NUT TO CRACK, BUT WE WE WORK ON IT. THANK YOU, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, WENDY. AFTER A LONG TIME. YEAH. TAKE CARE. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. WE OUR [20. Resolution #26-7-211 Executive Session ] FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. THERE ARE NO ITEMS LISTED. RESOLUTION 26-7-211. 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. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS SO A CONTRACT LITIGATION DOCKET NUMBER SOML15325. AFFORDABLE HOUSING B MUNICIPAL ACTIONS 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 [01:35:02] BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY AND THE 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 26-07-2211? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMITTEE MEMBER. HERRING. COMMITTEE MEMBER. MARTIN. YES. COMMITTEE MEMBER. ANNE. YES. DEPUTY. MAYOR * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.