Borough Council - Regular Meeting

meeting agenda of the governor body of the burough of Bloomingdale, Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 at 7 p.m. Which calls me to order by exclusive flag. I aliance 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. Roll call, please. Mayor here. Broner, present. Councilman Catalano here. Councilman Graciano here. Councilwoman Hagen, present. Councilwoman Schuber here. Councilman Yati here.

We also have admissible clerk Brianna Smith, business administrator Michael Sondmeer, and Burough Attorney Dawn Sullivan. This meeting is called to pursuant of the provisions of the open public meeting law. Adequate notice of this meeting was advertised in the Herald News on January 9th, 2026. Copies were provided to the local news media and posted continuously in the municipal building. A copy of this notice is available to the public and on file in the office of invisible clerk. As per state fire code, I am required to acknowledge that there are two emergency exits in this council chambers. The main entrance which you entered through and a secondary exit to the left of where I am seated. If there is an emergency, walkway to the exit, exit through the door, down the stairs and out the building. There's any questions, please raise your hand. So, you know, we do have one non-aggenda agenda item tonight. Um, we're approving the hiring of the part-time employee for the construction department that you we uh talked about at our last meeting. And before we start our meeting, just want to say this is our first live meeting to the public. All right. Um, with the help of Rich Dela Ripper setting this all up. Um, this is so people can physically watch from their homes. It is not interactive, okay? But they can watch if they have questions. They could either come to the next meeting or send us an email. But this is the first time our town is live to the public. Okay.

Okay. All right. I need a motion to open up early public comment. So move. Second. All in favor? I Okay. Anyone wishing to come up, please come up and state your name and address. Okay. Seeing no one on a motion to close. Second. All in favor? Okay. Reporting committees.

U mayor for the Federal First Aid. Um, I don't have any uh members to report, but they did um want me to let everyone know that on uh Sunday, March 22nd, they have their annual pancake breakfast. It's from 8:00 a.m. to 2, and it's at St. Anony's. They have over 60 vendors so far. Also, on April 18th, they're having um their annual uh beef skate. And um for the Bloomingdale Senior Center, uh starting February 9th, all senior activities will be moved to the nutrition. Uh all senior activities and nutrition uh will be temporarily moved to the environment hall uh because of the start of construction. Um this weekend they had a garage sale from 9 to 3. Um as They have many activities listed on their senior website um and on bulletin that's located inside the senior center. I believe the next in March we will be sending out a flyer. We're supposed to send uh we usually send it in January but they're going to get one I believe in April. I think Mike said you said it was April for the seniors. the next time we can put the mailer.

We're trying. Yes. Yes. And um they um they have many events. The their golden age club meeting is on uh Tuesday, February 10th. They have bingo on February 11th. And um definitely look online to check out their John,

couple things tonight. One, Trial Little League registration is open for spring team. To me, that's like saying pictures of catchers are reporting to spring training. Spring is around the corner. They have a discount uh if you sign up before February 28th, but that will be open for for sale after that date as well. So, make sure if you want to register your children for fiber roll, go ahead and you can do that now and get a a discount if you do it. On the economic development front, um we're meeting our next meeting, which is the fourth Thursday this month uh with John Carlo D. Leonardo. So, he's the director of economic development for state county. So, the idea is to get some information as to what they do for the county level and then also what kind of grants and programs they have available for local business owners. So, we're hoping that that's going to influence our objectives for 2026 a little bit and start to partner with the county a little bit more. And then just the last thing, we had the veggie challenge for Australia week at Magpie. Know the mayor was there and many members of police department there. Everybody successfully completed the challenge. look forward to it every year, but it's very nice of me, the owner of Mac, to invite us and to to really have a whole week celebration for Australia backpeing board. Uh they met obviously we introduced last year the the wall ordinance a second time re-reviewed it I know that it's a new calendar year so we'll have to reintroduce it put together a nice resolution commenting on and reviewing the changes they think that need to exist uh in order to pass it. So uh it will need some revision before reintroduction but it was fully

supported uh 8 to zero uh that particular resolution and the changes including the support of the mayor. Okay.

Uh the board of education introduced the new superintendent Dr. Michael Ryder, who will be starting in April for the Bloomingdale Public School District. They also put out for a request for proposal for the construction manager for the construction project at Walter T. Bergen and they're in the process of reviewing those. The environmental commission will be meeting tomorrow evening at 7:30 at the senior center. And that's all I've Do you want to mention the PTA fundraiser?

Oh, the PTA is having their big fundraising event. It is going to be a casino night this year and that will be taking place on the 24th of April. There's information on the PTA website regarding that. And it's at the no country club. Okay. Right.

Yep. um library. Uh this month on the 19th is their adult painting class. Uh so they're excited to have that. Like I said previously, they're really trying to gear uh to really pull in more, you know, the the adults into the the library for um all kinds of things with, you know, adult painting and they also have book clubs from cookbooks to true crime. So they've they're covering it all. Um as um as mentioned they uh let me go back. Uh they're also launched their winter story time sessions for children. Uh so that that's underway and they're they're enjoying those. Um then they are working on their 100th celebration the anniversary. They have not uh given me a list of the things that they're hoping to launch to celebrate the anniversary. And again like I mentioned previously uh they're going with the uh you know fine free and for uh for late finds only and then they are seeing a nice um viewing of the canopy which is the new free streaming service which you can use with your valid library card. Um board of health uh they're coordinating with the school to set up a program. The first program they're looking to schedule and set up um is regarding hygiene. uh they're just working coordinating the dates and they'll get those to us. And of course um second Tuesday of the month of of the month uh from 2:30 to 4 located at the council chambers is held screenings and um public events. Uh the uh crescent lighting is going to be on the 12th. Uh there is a 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. right now. It's, you know, it's always usually in the front of Burough Hall, but uh Mike is going to speak with Nadia in regards to that because of the

cold weather and all the snow uh to see how that's going to work out. And uh the uh website's been updated for the um dates for the uh public events um because Camping Under the Stars is now going to be to be advised as we work on coordinating that possibly uh for May. Yeah, Councilwoman Schubert mentioned the senior center is closing this Friday. Relocate to the fire hall uh starting next Monday. DPW will move them their stuff out of this place next week and then construction tenatively start the week of the 16th and then just have an open discussion. I sent an email out to all the council about uh we have two grants that we applied for. One is the LRIG is a local recreation improvement grant. Uh the last two we got, we used one for equipment for the Walty Bergen School uh the lower parking lot there like exercise equipment there. And then we also got one this year uh or the end of last year for part of the Delayer playground to help fund that with the open space grant from the county. And then the other one I'm talking about is an open space for this year from the county. I need to get a letter of intent to them by Friday that we are going to apply for something. It doesn't have to be detailed out to the penny, but just that we're going to go for something and what it is we're going to do. So, open discussion to everybody what it is we want to do with those two grants this year. A couple of things that came in. Had a couple of people ask a question about a doc at Vogue Pond. I went back and looked at our open space grant that we got from the county for boat pond and part of the reallocation was a dock. So, good news for us. We have money there. We can do that. So, we'll do that. With the money, where do we have in place? So, I'll look into that in the next couple of months. Hopefully get it in by

spring. Uh we close out we closed out the rest of it, but I kept that x amount of money there and we'll close that that little portion out and then that'll be done. I hope. But you'll still have money for a dock. Uh Oakwood Lake came up the playground. I don't know if the playground's relatively new. Uh but it does have a mulch surface. So we can look at doing a hard surface on Oakwood Lake. I had a couple people mention Oak Lake playground. Um with either or open space or the other thing that is in uh a little disarray and needs repair or replacement is the true exercise equipment down by the tennis court at Walty Bergen. Uh, one piece totally we took out because it was broken. Uh, the vendor doesn't exist anymore. So, we can't get replacement pieces. We can't even get placers made to talk about how to even use the machines. So, wonder that's one of the ideas we possibly go at also. And I'd have to reach out to the the board of education to make sure we can replace that on their property. And then there were some other things out there. Somebody talked about possibly doing a clock downtown. I don't think that falls with either one of these uh open spaces for buying open space or recreation progress uh projects or historical uh buildings like if we were going to replace or repair the I think the only historical is our the laser fields uh stadium. I can ask we can look into see if we can do something with the museum building that came up in one of the uh responses back. I'm not sure if the rest of the council was on board with that as well. Not sure what we want to do there. If it's just interior remodels or an exterior stuff or addition add on.

Yeah, it's coming up with the museum that uh Tom Riley who's obviously running it. He's running out of space and he um purchased banners better banners.

Better banners. And he doesn't have enough space within the current museum to put it up. So the thought process was and I talked to my cousin president of the fire department is that we have our antique truck at that the firehouse. It would be nice if they could put that truck in the museum so people can physically see it but it would still be access to the fire department. So the thought process was if we were able to get a grant to redo the garage section of that building and move fire and police out there, that would really open up a lot of space, excuse me, inside for Tom. And meanwhile, we're displaying an original piece of equipment um that the fire department used to use. And there's a whole there's a little section of fire. There's whole booth. There's all that stuff down radio system. We still have the old tape machine. we had that you would punch like 32 out and you would run in and see where the fire was. It would tell you where it was. Um, but that's just an idea. We I've looked into a while back replacing the front garage door with a section of glass so when you walk by, you can see the truck without it even being open. That was about 20ome,000 just for the door. But the inside needs a real refurbish. of the 40s to be done paint and cleaned up and whatever. So, it's just a thought. I mean, we started a museum project. It's getting a lot of people on Saturdays when it's open. Tom has held some um talks down there when people come in. He's had the scouts down there. He's had um people that have class reunions have asked to go in there. So, the whole class would come and you know, from the high school would go down there. So it's getting a lot of attention. So I think we should just if we're able to build upon it and it's on our field so it kind of touches.

Yeah, that one was on my list too to renovation of some sort. There's plenty you could do with that.

Just the other one uh basketball court. We could do that with the LIIG. We couldn't do that with the county open space. Um, I don't know if we can use the county open space, the barrels to do the board of education property. Uh, the tennis court we we were able to do because it was green acres land originally when we first put the tennis court on there 25 years ago. Uh, so that's how we were able to get the money put on there two years ago to redo the tennis court. Um, question that came up about clean up the trails up on uh, Friendship Park. Again, that's a county park, so I wouldn't cover that as well. uh I can reach out to the county and have them get their people up there to do some trail markers and and clean up the trails if they're if they're in disarray. So is it you want to go for we can do the art surface at Oakwood Lake and we can combine that with the upgrades in museum down at the laser field down there as the open space brand. I can put that in this year's letter of intent. Super kind of money they give us up to give us some quick numbers. Uh and then if you want we can look at possibly doing the exercise equipment of the multiver with the LI if everybody's on board with that.

I think that kind of makes sense for for the school side of it because if that equipment is outdated and not posted properly for use and if they're breaking we can wind up having more trouble um down the road. And the other exercise equipments on the other end gets used quite a bit. I think when we play softball up there, you'll see people down there using it. And uh in the other side by the tennis court that is used, but people are hesitant because like we have to take equipment out. All right. And I know um Matt from recreation has asked about that because he's big into to working out. Yeah. So people are using it. So I think that's you guys good with that.

It works. Okay.

Okay. Um talk about just want to bring everybody up to date and Don's going to help me with here where I come a little bit. Um you all received a letter from Dawn's office regarding fair share fourth round. Okay. And there's um there's a timeline that everything has to be done by March 15th. Okay. So, next meeting there would be um we're going to introduce um two ordinances I think or as much as that we can get done.

Right. And it's it's not really um a huge we can't make any changes. All right. because these are the uh orders coming down from fair share in the courts of what's been established and what we can do and we can't do. So Dawn's office will write up the ordinance, get it to us, and there'll be resolutions. I think some of them already have done correct.

Some of some of it's been drafted. It's in in the review process. We've been working with the planner to ensure everything is as it should be in accordance with the the statutes and and the um what's called the directive from the administrative office of the court. um to comply with the program. Um and then once everything's introduced, the ordinances are introduced at the next meeting, it has to go to the planning board for what's called consistency review and that just means consistency with the master plan. Um once that comes back, then it would be before you guys for adoption. U plan planning board's very aware of our timeline. All right. So they're if they have to have special meetings or whatever they need to do to get their end done, I'll say our end. Um that will be done. So we will be introducing at our next meeting and then adopting on March 3rd. March

3rd March 3rd. That's that's the goal. Otherwise, we would have to have a special meeting because the next meeting following March 3rd is March 17th. Correct. Um, we're really trying to avoid having to have a special meeting to get this accomplished. And if you read the outline that was sent to you, if you have any questions, please reach out to myself or Mike and we'll answer the best we can. But this is pretty much cut and dry. The waves don't come down. Um, if we do not meet the date, we open ourselves up for builder's remedy.

Uh, yeah. If if you don't meet the date, then there's a a potential loss of immunity from a builder's remedy. builder's remedy lawsuit. Um, and if a builder comes in with such a lawsuit, then basically what happens is the burrow loses ability to zone or control the zoning um in whatever particular area that developer has property. So, it's a big deal. It's a big deal to retain our our immunity. And just so everybody knows the the court system uh for the whole state, every municipality is going through this. So it seems like we're we're taking it. We're trying to get it done right away. But just picture the whole state has to comply with this and all the planners, the um judges, the fair share. They have meetings every single day hammering out um what do you call uh the parameters?

Resolution, the parameters, um the numbers. So, we we've been on several um Zoom court calls with fair share in the judge and obviously uh Dawn's office. So, we got it all hammered out and the judge came down with her decision and that's what we're following. Okay. Any questions at all? As soon as the uh ordinances are ready, let's just have a special meeting and let's get it done. We have to introduce them. The court has to get them. They don't need No, I get it. Yeah. Well, let's introduce them as soon as they're ready. The plan is to introduce them on the 17th. Yeah. At the meeting on the

two weeks. Two weeks. So, that's um the planner already sent her version of the ordinances. Dawn's reviewing that. They're making her changes. So, we'll be ready for our next meeting to get planning board's going right after that and they can bring back. All right. Okay. And the other thing I just want to talk about is our Houston uh police, fire department, but especially our DPW. This last snowstorm that we had, those guys were out there from 48 hours on and off, very close.

All right. and the amount of snow that they have to deal with. And um and what's really uh great about it is we have a lot of new employees who've never plowed like that and they did an excellent job throughout the town. Um and they're still cleaning up today. Um they cleaned our main street um which is great. But those guys, they put the time in and it really they did a great job for our town. And I travel through the county a lot. We were in so much better shape than other towns around us. So, it's a big kudos to to our our DPW for putting their timing. I mean, when they go in, they sleep, frank, you know, they have places where they can go rest, they can lay down. So, it's very well organized and well ran. So, it it was a great thing. A great thing. And the police were out there. There was several accidents and stuff and did doing their thing. And and actually the first aid squad had a few calls so with it. So everybody in our first responders in DPWS did a heck of a job. So thank you to all of them. All right. Anybody else before I we move up? Okay. Um item number eight, resolution number 2026 2.1 consent agenda. Do I have a motion to pass the consent agenda? Some move. Second.

Okay. Any questions? Roll call. Broners, yes. Yes. Rafiano, yes. Yes. Schubert, yes. Gassy, yes.

Okay. Um, we do have one non-aggenda is resolution number 2026 2.5. Um, it's a resolution authorizing the hiring of a part-time receptionist for the construction department. Um, Cynthia Vargas Gonzalez. Yep. All right. As a part-time receptionist for the construction department at $20 per hour. Do I have a motion? Second. Any questions? Roll call. Halano. Yes. Ratiano. Yes. Hagen. Yes. Schubert. Yes. Gassy, yes. Broners,

yes. Okay. All right. Have a motion. Um, we have no new business. Motion. Comment. Actually, mayor, I do have I do have a couple of comments. Um, I just want to say again, thank you to DPW. I live on Hillside Drive and um, they were there every like like all morning. um doing that. Um I did have the question, you know, I know we had that water main break on um on Glenn Wild. Yes.

And it was the police department was awesome about letting us know that that was happening because my husband went out and I caught him before he you know, but they rerouted everything. Are we How are we with those issues like those issues? Like did that just happen? Was that on the plan? Did we know that wasn't a plan? The remain brakes aren't a plan. No, that happened when you get in the kind of freezer weather we're having. All right. And luckily it only affected three residents. Yes. Which was was good. So they had time. It didn't affect like Men Streets. Um but one of the main breaks didn't pop up. We actually have another one on Balter Drive, Mike.

Uh it was there was another one we did on Monday. It was on on our Clark and Red Trail. Yeah. It was not as big as the one. Yeah, that one we found last Friday. I believe it was and they were able to not do it till Monday just with two. Yeah. So,

and also I I just want to um reach out to any uh my my dog passed away so I don't have a dog but we are running the um the costume party for the pets. any pet owners out there have any um want to help in any way um they could reach out to me and that that event is going to be on October I it's a ways from now but it's on October 24th and um it's it's a new event and also um just to another new a new event because the town has never done that um which is the hopefully family sleepover over in at um at the laser. So, these are new events that are new to the town and it' be nice to get some uh some input or help or donations or if anybody could um reach out to Jen or myself or the mayor um that would be wonderful. And um and I I love the fact that you're working on the deck um around the the dock for the smoke park because um you guys have when we had the uh um the fishing tournament. It just looks unsafe over there. It would be nice to to have something like something safe for them. like our

just got to remember it's like a whole so many people and we got to make sure it's for kids, not for all the adults. But like, you know, just just uh if it's even concerning because we have like you know the beautiful path and then the kids could go in there and just it'd be nice to clear clear that up for everyone. It's really nice.

Okay. made the motion. You just need a second. Yeah, Ray made the motion. You need a second. Second. Okay. All in favor? I. Anyone wishing to speak? See no one want motion to close. So moved. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Um we do not have an executive session tonight. Our next meeting will be February 17th at 700 p.m. Uh thank you all for coming out. Do a motion to adjurnn. So move. All in favor? Thank you.