Township Council - Regular Meeting

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Go ahead, Mayor. Good evening, everybody. Good evening. Madame Clerk, can you please call the role? Councilwoman Peterson, absent. Councilwoman Scavage, here. Councilman Zazali, absent. Deputy Mayor Miseri here. Mayor Miga here. You please rise for a flag salute.

I pledge algiance 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. Adequate notice of this meeting was duly provided to the Verona City Times in the Star Ledger by by email and published in an annual schedule of meetings on December 12th, 2024 filed with the township clerk and posted on the public bulletin board in the municipal building lobby in accordance with the open public meetings act. Sorry, glasses back on. Good evening everybody. Welcome to our meeting.

We have uh some extraordinary business here tonight. So, tonight we were happy to swear in three new police officers. They will take the administrative oath of office and they are if I screw up anyone's name, I'm really sorry. Mitchell Erie, Cayenne Powell.

Can I Can I Sorry. See, there's one Edward Daly. We wish you the best of luck. We welcome you to Cedar Grove. You're working with a great department. You have a phenomenal town council, a phenomenal uh manager, clerk, and attorney over here. And we welcome you. And without that, without further ado, Mr. Zakali.

Thank you, Mayor. I echo everything that you said. And in short order, I will be turning this over to Chief Pumprey. But, uh, this I just want to give a little background on on, uh, these hires. It the chief's going to give their specific background, but the process more generally. Um, this is my first hire as the town manager. Um, and it was a process that I was very grateful to do alongside Chief Humphrey and on the back end, uh, Captain Rodriguez and Captain Rousmano. Um, if you haven't known, I am uh very type A and have vetted and reviewed applications with the utmost scrutiny and attention to detail. We had 75 people apply for the um officers opening positions and we interviewed I believe 16 and we've selected these three out of the 16 and um the good thing is I have a very long career here too. So I get to watch them go through their whole career at Cedar Grove. Uh, and I I couldn't be prouder of these three uh gentlemen that were swearing in today. I'm going to turn it over to Chief Pumprey to give a few more uh remarks and give their background and then the clerk will administer the oath of office.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Zak. Kelly, mayor, council. Good evening. Is everybody evening? Evening, Miss Ford.

Uh, I want to thank everybody for coming tonight, especially the families. Uh, I think the last time we hired three officers was when I got hired back in 2000. So, it's been a while since we've turned this many numbers. Uh, we staggered this a little bit. The department's going through a lot of change. Uh, two weeks ago, we had the largest promotional ceremony in the department's history where we made three sergeants, three lieutenants, and two captains uh in one shot. It was a busy night, so I promised the mayor and council, thank you. Uh, that that took well over an hour to get through. So, maybe it is good we staggered this a little bit. Uh we're very happy with our selection. Uh we we did with the manager's assistance. We vetted uh any applications. We called it down. We brought them in for interviews. The three gentlemen here tonight stood out to us that we were very excited to offer them an opportunity to work with Cedar Grove. To the families, they're joining a fantastic police department. We will take good care of them. Thank you for giving them up to us. Uh for some of you who know the background of emergency services, it's a lot. It's going to draw on you as well. Okay, nights, weekends, holidays. Unfortunately, they will miss some events. Uh they are joining a great group of men and women, which is the Cedar Grove Police Department. I couldn't be prouder. Uh when I got sworn in as chief, I think the best way to say it, I inherited a great department. Uh which is true. Uh we have a wonderful group of people. more importantly is in my tenure with Cedar Grove since 1999, uh we are fortunate we have an outstanding mayor and counsel. I'm I'm not pulling anybody on that. Uh in addition to the mayor and counsel, we're lucky to have Mr. Zakelli as our town manager. Uh you go around a lot of places and people say they support the police and they have your back. Uh this mayor and counsel and manager, they show

it. Uh they equip us probably better than anyone. Uh we have nice facilities downstairs and they take care of us wholly. Uh so you know they're in good hands. Uh not just with the people they'll be working with but on the back end with the mayor council and manager who will be supporting them throughout their career here. Uh they've always taken care of us. Uh, I'll read a little bio. We'll do the swearing ends. But the last thing I can tell you, and I told them today, one of the biggest things I'll ask of them, because it's what our officers do, uh, they keep their moral compasses due north. And as long as they can do that, I think they're going to fit in just fine here. And I'm sure they'll be capable of doing that. Uh, so with that, I'd like to bring up uh, Officer Mitchell Erie first. If, uh, you want to come up real quick, a little bio, and then we'll get your family up here. So, Officer Yuri, probably one of our younger ones that we're hiring. Uh, I had the pleasure of knowing him in the police academy. As I said to his family, I'm still trying to get used to the hair. Uh, I got to do a double take to make sure it's him. Uh, he grew up in New York. He graduated from, uh, Pearl River High School. After that, he attended the University of Alabama. Uh, we'll discuss that another time. Go Tide, I believe it is, right? Roll Tide. Is that what it is? Uh after college, he entered his career in law enforcement with the Essex County Sheriff's Department. He attended the Essex County Police Academy where he graduated and uh he was with the Sheriff's Department a brief period and now he's going to be with us. Uh we're kind of glad we're getting him a little newer, a little greener so that we can mold them in uh our likeness here. So congratulations. I'm going to bring up uh town clerk if your family wants to come up and join you so they could do the swearing in.

So they can see. Oops. Got there. Family on this side. Okay. Mom holding the Bible. Oh, face them so they can see this momentous occasion. raise your right hand, left hand on the Bible, and you're going to repeat after me. I, Mitchell Erie, I, Mitchell Erie, do sincerely profess and swear do sincerely profess and swear that I do and will that I do and will bear true faith and allegiance bear true faith and allegiance to the government established to the government established in this state

in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people. I do solemnly swear I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America of the United States of America and the Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and that I will faithfully and I will faithfully impartially impartially and justly perform and justly perform all the duties of all the duties of police officer of the Cedar Grove Police Department. police officer of the Cedar Grove Police Department. According to the best of my abilities According to the best of my abilities and understanding and understanding. So help me God. So help me God.

Congratulations. [Applause] I just saw your name for you. remarks. Okay. Sure.

All right. Congratulations, Officer Erie. All right. The uh next officer we'd like to bring up is Officer Powell. Come on up, Officer Powell. Uh he smiles a lot, which is good. Uh you need that in this career nowadays. Uh, so Officer Pal graduated from Sussex County Technical School up in Sussex County. Afterwards, he enlisted in the New Jersey Army National Guard where he proudly served as a sergeant and was deployed to Somalia in 2019. 2019

2019. Yes. Uh, after finishing his service to our country, he came home and was able to complete his bachelor's degree at Monontlair State right over the hill. small world that he's now landed on this side of the hill with Cedar Grove. Uh you never thought it probably would have happened, but it's a good place to be. Uh after that, he went to the Morris County Police Academy and began as a Sussex County Sheriff's Officer uh in Sussex County as a sheriff's officer. He started the Junior Police Academy and he's attended lead training as well, which is uh something we're very interested in here. Uh we're happy to get officer pal and have him become a member of our agency and bring to us I think what you've accomplished so far in your life with your service in the military and with the Sussex Sheriff's Department. So congratulations. I'll have the clerk come down for you if your family wants to come up. Raise your right hand, left hand of the Bible. Okay. Repeat after me. I can I Powell

I can I Powell do solemnly sincerely profess and swear do solemnly sincerely swear profess and swear profess and swear that I do and will that I do and will bear true faith and allegiance bear true faith and allegiance to the government established to the government established in this state in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people I do solemnly swear I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America of the United States of America and the Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey of the state of New Jersey and that I will faithfully and that I will faithfully and partially and partially and justly perform

and justly perform all the duties of all the duties of police officer of the Cedar Grove Police Department police officer of the Cedar Grove Police Department according to the best of my abilities according to the best of my abilities and understanding and understanding. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. [Applause]

You have this first and this one. Oops. As promised, I'm trying to move through this without any rush.

Our last is Officer Edward Daly. Uh, Officer Daly is a Cedar Grove resident. I grew up in town, went to Satan Hall Prep, which I I think uh struck a chord with the manager uh when that came across. Yes. Uh after high school, uh much like Officer Pal, Officer Daly joined the military. Uh he went with the United States Marine Corps and served nine years. Uh leaving as a sergeant working in intelligence with the Marine Corps. Uh one of the things that stood out in his interview was he gave me an acronym for Marine that I never heard before. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of it. Thank you. Uh obviously he wasn't intelligence because nobody else could ever explain that to me. Uh after that he uh obviously came out he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement. He was picked up by the Irvington PD. He went to the Essex County Police Academy. Uh after spending a little time in Irvington, we're very happy to have him jump over to us here in Cedar Grove. Uh in addition to being Cedar Grove resident, he also uh volunteered with our Cedar Grove ambulance and first aid squad before he went to the military. So again, it's it's nice to see somebody who came up uh from the township and through the volunteer end of it uh be able to make it back into the PD here. So congratulations. We're happy to have you, Officer Daly. Miss Ford, come down. Your family wants to come. Raise your right hand.

Okay. Repeat after me. I, Edward Dailyaly, I, Edward Dailyaly, do sincerely profess and swear do sincerely profess and swear that I do and will that I do and will bear true faith and allegiance bear true faith and allegiance to the government established to the government established in this state in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people. I do solemnly swear I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America of the United States of America and the Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey of the state of New Jersey and that I will faithfully and that I will faithfully and partially and partially and justly perform and justly perform

all the duties of all the duties of police officer of the Cedar Grove Police Department police officer of the Cedar Grove Police Department according to the best of my abilities according to the best of my abilities and understanding and understanding. So help me God. So help me God.

Congratulations [Applause] to Thank you.

Quite looks good if the new officers and the other officers come up. We just like to get a picture with the council real quick. Okay.

Might just have to wait a little bit. Mayor, thank you.

Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations. Welcome. [Applause] It's okay if you all want to leave. It's phenomenal if you want to stay, but Okay. So, Yes.

If you move with that, you you'll need that. Or if you just stand at the podium, you will not need I will not need that. Not moving.

What? Yeah, they're solid. They're really good officers. May you're good. Okay, moving on. Looks like an excellent uh group you have there, Mr. Zelli. Item 2B, recognition of Michael Marques and Diane Nichollet for the Advisory Health Council. Sorry, glasses on, glasses off. Uh Diane, would you please come forward to receive your uh proclamation? I'm going to meet you right down there.

Right. I think

no, I heard that. Um This is a proclamation for you for all your years of service and hard work on the health advisory. Thank you so much. Volunteerism of what Cedar Grove is built upon. So, I'm going to read this for you. Okay. Whereas the township council of the township of Cedar Grove prides itself on the volunteerism of its residents, they believe the basic ingredient in the foundation of this nation and this town is the voluntary spirit of its private citizens. And whereas the township council of the township of Cedar Grove, a group of volunteers themselves acknowledge that everyone has some special contributions to offer for the benefit of others in the community. And whereas Diane Nichollet, right, Diane Nichollet has contributed to the well-being of fellow residents and the welfare of our citizens by giving tirelessly of her energy and and time without desire for recognition or personal gain. For nearly 30 years, she has worked quietly, often unnoticed and unappreciated by the general public. And whereas the township council recognizes that Diane Nichollet has been an intricral part of this community through her volunteerism, service, support, and participation on the health advisory council where she has also served as president with distinction. Now therefore, it be a proclaimed that the township council for the township of Cedar Grove does hereby extend its heartfelt appreciation and special recognition to Diane for her longtime service on the health advisory council and for the well-being and enrichment of the community. Thank you very much.

And congratulations. I'm going to give you a hug. We're not shaking hands. And you're very welcome. You want Did you get a picture? Yes. Okay. Unfortunately, Mr. Marquees was unable to attend. His resolution is the same obviously with his name, but he served for 45 years. Wow. And he sent the following remarks. Right. Wow. That's a long time.

Yeah. I want to thank the council for my appointment. Time has passed quickly. I realize I started on the council in 1980. It has been a very rewarding and learning experience in many ways. And again, I thank you. And the township council thanks both of you for your volunteerism. [Applause] Okay. Item 3A to consider appro approval of minutes of the regular public meeting September 8th, 2025. I have a motion.

May I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. Second. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Scavage, yes. Deputy Mayor Miseri, yes. Mayor Ma, yes. Thank you. Item 4 A to consider adoption of pending ordinance number 25-953 an ordinance to abolish the health advisory council established in the administrative legislation chapter 31 administration of government manager. Do you have anything?

No, mayor. This was previously introduced at the September council meeting and it's to codify the powers of the advisory health council onto the unto this governing body in lie of the advisory health council. Thank you. Um the floor is open to anyone wishing to address pending ordinance number 25-953. Seeing no one, I have a motion. Uh, mayor, I move for the adoption of pending ordinance number 25-953 to be published in the Verona Cedar Grove Times as a past ordinance to take effect as prescribed by a law. Can I have a second? Oh, no. Second. Yes. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Scavage. Yes. Deputy Mayor Meri.

Yes. Mayor Mig. Yes. The meeting is now open to residents of the township wishing to be heard of any item on the agenda. Seeing none, I close that portion of the meeting. We will move on to our reports. Township manager Z Kelly, do you have anything you'd like to report?

Good evening, Mayor. Just a few brief informal items. Um, as the council's aware, we had a lot of work take place between the last council meeting and this council meeting. Um, our road overlay work has been completed. All that's left to be performed is the painting of stop bars, yield triangles, um double yellow tails, and u other streets that we've put in for striping. As you know, the municipal lot has now been uh striped. Uh and I anticipate the striping to occur over the next uh week to two weeks. We're trying to do it when school is not in session to mitigate any traffic impact. Um we are trying to we've we've awarded I believe next week um the contractor will begin the Devonshshire Road Devonshshire Road South construction uh reconstruction uh that involves curb work. It involves some apron repairs. Uh and it's a complete mill and and overlay of the curb of the street curb to curb. Um we're going to get that done this season as well. Um other than that, mayor, I'm beginning the budget prep for 2026. Um the department heads will be getting their budget memo from me in in short order. We will begin preparing the budget. Uh we have a budget hearing scheduled for the staff meeting in uh January and then we will uh work our magic and try to get a nice budget again for the council.

I'm sure you're excited. I can't wait. It's my favorite time of year. I have no other uh updates, mayor.

Okay, Madame Clerk. Good evening, mayor, members of council, and those who are still with us in the audience and on uh TV and YouTube. I have a few items to address. Sure, if I may. Thank you. I ask everyone to please bear with me because I want to be as clear as possible. This is regarding our upcoming general election. Number one, late night voter registration is next Tuesday, October 14th. My office will be open to accept applications for voter registrations until 900 p.m. I will also accept vote by mail. Some people know it as mail and ballot applications on this date as well. This is not the time to change party declarations. The last day for party declaration changes was September 10th. For general elections, voters vote for any candidate of his or her choice. Number two, the deadline for vote by mail, mail and ballot applications sent via the post office is Tuesday, October 28th and must be postmarked by October 28th. Those applications should be mailed directly to the county clerk's office. Otherwise, residents must submit the application to the county clerk's office in person. I cannot take applications and mail them for you on your behalf at this time. To those residents who have received their vote by mail mail-in ballot, the vote by mail ballot box is located at 99 West Bradford Avenue and is open and all ballots are picked up on a daily basis. Number four, early voting begins on Saturday, October 25th to Sunday, November 2nd. Monday through Saturday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6 pm. The closest locations are in the community center in Verona 800 Bloomfield Avenue, Fairfield Community

Center, 221 Hollywood Avenue, and in West Orange Bergen Family Center, also known as South Mountain Recreation Complex, 560 Northville Avenue. We've heard the need for an additional spot especially with the long lines in Verona. So the newest location is in Montlair at the St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish, one Mun Street in Montlair. Five, the general election is Tuesday, November 4th from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The polling locations have not changed. And finally, if there are any questions on anything I've said tonight, please give my office a call at 973-2391410 extension 204. Thank you, council, for your patience. That all all I have to report this evening.

Thank you very much. Um, can I ask you one little question? Write it down fast enough. No problem. The date that early voting starts, October 25th. Thank you. That's a Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Got it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Lugana, do you have any good evening words of wisdom for us tonight? Council members and members of the public, I do not have a formal report or any words of wisdom this evening. So, thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Scavage.

Hi. Good evening, Mayor. Um, I just wanted to congratulate our three new police officers here in Cedar Grove. It's such an exciting day and and to recognize Mr. Zelli for his hard work um not just with getting these three officers on board, but with the promotions that we did um the week before last. It's it's really um a moving thing to see um these men and women uh not just join our department, but also climb the ranks here and stay with us for for the long haul. And um that's a testament to your hard work and to Chief Pumprey's uh leadership. So, excellent job all around. Um, I also wanted to recognize she left, but um, Diane Nichollet was the first neighbor I had here in Cedar Grove when we lived um, over on the south end side of town. Um, I moved to town with, you know, two toddlers and, uh, she was amazing uh, to have, not just as a neighbor, but but as a as a friend. So, I wanted to just call her out and and thank her for for her years of service on the health advisory council. Um, and then third, I just wanted to send um my sincerest condolences on behalf of the town council to um our friends in Verona who are um dealing with the loss of of a young resident who passed away on Thursday. Um, I know the community really rallied around her um during her her long um battle against cancer and um it was you know beautiful thing to witness from afar. Um I know we've we've dealt with a very similar tragedy here in Cedar Grove and and um our friends in Verona were very kind to us during this difficult time. So I just wanted to encourage us all to um to recognize that they're they're hurting as a community. um our neighbors are are dealing with a

a very difficult time and um to send them our condolences on behalf of the council and that's that's all I have tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Mousari.

Thank you, Mayor. Good evening. Yes, just to add uh to Councilwoman's report, um just want to acknowledge the process for the promotions. As the chief said earlier, um this was a long process and you know, new procedures in place and uh I know the town manager and the chief spent a lot of time uh not just with vetting and narrowing down the applicants for tonight who we we gave um three uh gentlemen the opportunity to join our police department, but you know from 75, but also the promotions themselves. That was a long process. So congratulations. That's a lot of work and it needs to be recognized uh the chief and Mr. Zelli for for doing that. Um also just a couple of reminders. Uh October is breast cancer awareness month and this month on October 23rd we're doing our annual uh Panthers Wear Pink uh evening which grows every year. Um it's just an amazing um event for the town. It's not just an event where we raise money, but also the community does come together for that. And I just feel like every year we have more and more people. So, I hope that everybody can make it on the 23rd. That's at 6:00 at Panther Park. Um, also, um, the municipal alliance committee where I'm the liaison along with the recck department. We are they're joining forces and we're having our fall movie night on October 25th. That's a Saturday. Uh, looks like we'll have face painters. There's going to be activities, refreshments that start at 5 and then the movie will start once it gets dark. So, please try to make it that's an event for everybody in the community. So, thank you. That's all I have, Mayor.

Great. Thank you. Great job.

I always have an update. Sorry. Um, this past weekend was um a great event at the historic at Morgan's Farm through the historical society and I thank everybody that attended which was a lot of people. Mr. Z Kelly, thank you for coming. Um, it was their pumpkin and apple sale and they had a lot of volunteers who worked tirelessly. They had sponsors who made this event possible this year. Um things are getting more and more expensive as you can imagine. So the face painters, the zoo, the all that stuff, it it becomes quite challenging. So the uh turnout was excellent. They will open their farm stand this Saturday. So if you're unable to come over the weekend and you still want any kind of pumpkins or some mums, they will have some this Thursday. There's still a few openings for the trip to Paper Mill Playhouse to see Bulldorm. They depart here in the lockdown stairs at 12:30. The cost is $70. They also still have a few for the trip to Wind Creek Casino on November 6th. They depart here at 9:30, return around 5:00ish. They leave there 3:30, get here around 5. The cost is $35 per person for the bus, and it includes This is a great deal. It's $35 a person, includes $25 in money for slots. That's a great deal.

We only take a percentage if you win, mayor.

I should go. That's my birthday. Uh the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is on the 23rd of November. That also has a few openings. That's 150 per person. It's orchestra seats and the transportation. So if you want to register for any of them, you need to get in touch with the uh recreation department. My next meet the mayor will be October 21st at South Firehouse from 9:00 till 10:00 in the morning, which is before senior citizens exercise class. And new and exciting this year is a Halloween decorating contest um in which we will provide three categories, three three different winners. You need to register for the rec through the recck department for that as well. And I will be doing the judging on October 26th. There's also the shredding event October 11th through the fire department and Essex County Computers and Recycling Center Day October 18th. That is all I have. And I do want to say to those officers that we just uh hired and actually all the officers we have, every law enforcement officer out there, please stay safe. Okay? Please stay safe. And that is it for me. So now we're going to move on to the consent agenda. Excuse me. Wait. Oh, you're good in front of my face. Um to consider resolution concerning approval of the raffle application for AAPI Montlair and to consider resolution 7B is to consider resolution concerning approval of raffle application for Cedar Grove High School Music Matters. May I have a motion?

So moved. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Scavage, yes. Deputy Mayor Miseri, yes. Mayor Miga,

yes. 8A, under new business to consider resolution authorizing acceptance of maintenance bond and release of performance bonds, approval of change order number two and issuance of final payment to four cleanup, Inc. for contract of the reconstruction of Carlson Parkway and Smith Place. Mr. Zelli, do you have anything? Yes, mayor. This this may look extremely familiar u because the council considered this exact resolution at the last council meeting. Um except however we as part of the DO's um reimbursement procedure. There has to be a analysis of a a boring sample of the asphalt to make sure that it's you know properly compacted. is prop depth is is proper. Um and there was a air vvoid in one of the samples um which has since been fixed and required uh the township to increase the deduct change order um by approximately $2,000. So now the contract amount has decreased from $236,874.50 to $217,24181. So, we got about $2,000 back on that.

All right. Thank you very much. May I have a motion? May I make a motion to approve? Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Scavage. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miseri. Yes. May. Yes. Item nine, approval of bills. Madame Clerk. Thank you, Mayor. Be it resolved by the Township of Cedar Grove, County of Essex, New Jersey, that the summary of bills having been duly audited and found to be correct are hereby ordered paid in the aggregated amount of 1,364,81641.

Thank you. May I have a motion? So moved. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Scavage, yes. Deputy Mayor McCary, yes. Mayor Ma, yes. The meeting is open to residents of the township wishing to be heard on any item on or off the agenda concerning township business. No. Okay. Seeing none, I will close that portion of the meeting. May I have a mot uh adjournment? May I have a motion? Make a motion to adjourn. Second. Roll call, please. Council Gabin. Yes. Deputy Mayor Veri. Yes. Mayor Mig. Yes. Thank you. Thank you for coming.