City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay. Okay. Council President Pelgian, I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the Elwood Park Mayor and Council for August 21st to order at 7:00 p.m. On roll call, we have council members Fullo here. Golbeck here. Samson present. Sheridan here. Choicey here. Council President Peline

here. Mayor Kleti absent. We have a quorum. Okay, good evening everyone. I'd just like to say that Mayor Kleti couldn't be here tonight, so I'm filling in for him. So, I'd ask you at this time to please stand for our prayer and flag salute. Oh God, our father, we ask you to bless our meeting which we entrust to your fatherly care and protection. Please remove all selfishness and prejudice from our hearts and implant there in a keen sense of justice and a greater love for you and our neighbor. Guide us in your deliberation so that our decisions will always please you and bring you peace and happiness to our community. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Whereas, chapter 231 of the public laws of the state of New Jersey requires at the commencement of every meeting, a statement of compliance be read by the presiding officer. Now therefore be advised that the meeting requirements for this meeting have been met by publishing a special meeting notice in the record and Herald News and by posting such notice in the office of the burrow clerk as well as a public place within the municipal building and notifying interested citizen. Said notice was posted and transmitted on January 3rd, 2025 and published on January 8th, 2025. Chenet.

Yes. Next on the agenda, we have approval of minutes. We have the June 5th, 2025 work session, June 5th, 2025 executive session, June 12th, 2025 regular meeting, June 12th, 2025 executive session, June 26, 2025 special meeting, June 26, 2025 executive meeting. May I have a motion to approve the minutes, please? So move. Any discussion? Call the role, please. First by Councilman Folo. Second by Councilwoman Sheridan. On roll call, we have council members Foso. Yes. Golbeck, yes. Samson, yes. Sheridan, yes. Choicey, yes.

Council President Peline,

yes. Motion carries. Next, we have ordinances on second reading. Resolution R-260-25 introduce ordinance 25-9 on second reading. Whereas a public notice has been given by the burough clerk that an ordinance entitled an ordinance amending section 27-3.1B refues containers and collections related to garbage receptacle volume and weight was introduced and passed at a meeting held on Thursday July 17th 2025 and that further consideration of this ordinance will be taken up at this meeting and whereas all persons interested in said ordinance were given the opportunity to be heard concerning the same. Now therefore, be it resolved by the mayor and council of the B of Elwood Park that an ordinance entitled an ordinance amending section 27-3.1B refues containers and collection related to garbage receptacle in volume and weight pass on final reading.

May I have a motion to open to the public? So move second. Would anyone from the public at this time like to come up and speak on this ordinance only? No one wishes to speak. I will close the public hearing. May I have a motion to adopt the ordinance? So move second. Call the role, please. First by Councilman Folo. Second by Councilman Golbec. On roll call, we have council members. Yes. Golc. Yes. Samson, yes. Sheridan, yes. Troy, yes. Council President Peline,

yes. Motion carries. Next, we have resolution R-261-25. Introduce ordinance number 25-20 on second reading. Whereas a public notice has been given by the burough clerk that an ordinance entitled an ordinance adopting burough code chapter 35 portable toilets to address portable toilet issues to portable toilet use was introduced and passed at a meeting held on Thursday July 17th 2025 and that further consideration of this ordinance will be taken up at this meeting and whereas all persons interested in said ordinance were given an opportunity to be heard concerning the same. Now therefore, it be it resolved by the mayor and council of the brow of Elwood Park that an ordinance entitled an ordinance adopting burrow code chapter 35 portable toilets to address portable toilet use pass on final reading. May I have a motion to open to the public?

So move second. Would anyone from the public like to speak on this ordinance only? Okay, I will close the public hearing. May I have a motion to adopt the ordinance? So move second. Okay. Roll call, please. First by Councilman Samson, second by Councilman Folo. On roll call, we have council members Folo. Yes. Goobec, yes. Samson, yes. Sheridan, yes. Troy, yes. Council President Pellegrine, yes.

Motion carries. Next, we have resolution R-262-25. Introduce ordinance number 25-21 on second reading. Whereas a public notice has been given by the burough clerk that an ordinance entitled an ordinance to amend the code of the burrow of Elwood Park, New Jersey, amending the burough code and all general ordinances of the burrow. More specifically, chapter 4, licensing and business regulations. Section 4.7, clarifying application fees and license fees, clarifying types and numbers of licenses that may be issued. And chapter 8, cannabis facilities and establishments. Section 8.2 2 clarifying cannabis delivery service from local cannabis realators of retailers was introduced and passed at a read meeting held on Thursday, July 17, 2025 and that further consideration of this ordinance will be taken up at this meeting. Whereas all persons interested in set ordinance were given an opportunity to be heard concerning the same. Now therefore, it would be resolved by the mayor council of the burrow of Elwood Park that an ordinance entitled an ordinance to amend the code of the burrow of Elwood Park, New Jersey, amending the burrow code and all general ordinances of the burrow. More specifically, chapter 4, licensing and business regulations. Section 4.7, clarifying application fees and license fees, clarifying types and numbers of licenses that may be issued. And chapter 8, cannabis facilities and establishments. Section 8.2, 2 clarifying cannabis delivery services from local cannabis retailers. Pass on final reading.

May I have a motion to open to the public? So move. Second. Would anyone from the public like to come up and speak on this ordinance only? Okay. I will close the public hearing. May I have a motion to adopt the ordinance? Um before we do uh vote, I just want to say to the public that I will be voting no on this ordinance uh at a time where we are facing two years of double-digit tax increases um and the ability to for the bureau to raise funds and to raise some revenue. Uh I believe that cutting licenses down the down the board um no matter what type of cannabis business it is is is the wrong move. So for that, I'll be voting no. Council President, may I?

Yes, you may. Um, I want to echo the councilman's sentiments. Um, the marijuana subject has been beat to death over the last few years, and anyone here who is a resident knows what their tax situation looks like. Um, so I'm just I'm simply against any effort to limit revenue coming into the burrow coffers. It's just not the right time to limit ourselves with bringing money in considering the situations we've been facing. Thank you, Council President. Council President. Yes.

I' I'd like to say that as we all know in this room, we have marijuana here uh marijuana uh distri distributors here in the burrow. We have probably a concentration of many or several of them and just another one I believe will just cause that business to cannibalize off each other and it's going to uh impact the success of the ones that we currently have. uh it's here now and by reducing it by one license I don't see a significant difference to our burrow. Thank you. Just just to respond to that, it would be one thing if we were just talking about retail licensing, but we're talking about all types of cannabis licensings that are being cut. So you have wholesale, you have uh cultivation, you have all these different types of uh businesses licenses that are being cut um when at a time when the bureau really needs the revenue. Okay,

any other discussion? Mayor, yes. Um, h how many of those other businesses that we have license licenses for are here in Olo Park? Can you repeat what's the question? How many do we How many do we existing? How many are existing? No. Uh, yes. How many of like the the ware the other licenses that we're cutting aside from retail? So like distribution warehousing. Do do we have we I know we have Bush's Lane, right? And that would be the one

and that can does that take the two licenses both manufacturing and distribution? No, it would take I believe that's a cultivation. I believe it's cultivation that one if I'm not. So there are still available licenses within the burrow for additional cannabis businesses. Correct. Correct. But you're cutting but you're cutting the amount of licenses that are possible in the burrow. That's that's the purpose of that and that leads to the the over competition. What I consider is over competition.

Well, when you have c when you have retailer that's okay. You have a a point for retail establishments where you have competition. But when you're talking about cultivation and you're talking about um uh manufacturing, the competition is everywhere. The competition is is out of town, the competition is out of state. So you're limiting that type of revenue from the town where that one bes aside from retail, that's a huge gain to the to the burrow to get 2% 3% on each transaction that that wholesaler or that manufacturer or that uh cultivator has obviously there's some differences of opinion, but we're going to go to roll call now, please.

So, I'll move I need a a second. Second. Okay. First by Councilman Samson, second by Councilwoman Chroy. On roll call, we have Council Member Spillo. No. Golbeck, no. Samson, yes. Sheridan, yes. Troy, yes. Council President Pellegrine. Yes. Motion carries.

Moving on to our consent agenda, we have the following resolutions. Resolution R-263-25, approval of payroll. R-264-25, approval of bills list. R-265-25, authorized vacation buyback. R-266-25, Resolution to refund 205 Philip Avenue. R-267-25, resolution to refund PSEG. R-268-25 resolution for contract with ARP of Elmo Park chapter 3864 resolution R-269-25 authorized purchase of equipment R-270-25 approve Emma Park fire department stipen program second quarter compensation R-271-25 authorized clerk office refund R-272-25 authorized release of road opening performance bond R- -273-25 authorizing appointment of municipal representative to the Bergen County Community Development Regional Committee R-274-25, a resolution of the council of the Burrow of Elwood Park designating property known as block 902 lots 3 and 4 on the tax map of the burrow as a non-condemnation redevelopment area pursuant to the local redevelopment and housing law. R-275-25 appointment of special officers R-276-25 for new liquor licenses for the 2025 2026 license term R-277-25 approved block party request R-278-25 appointment of board of adjustment alternate number one R-279-25 leave of absent of firefighter R-280-25 appointment of firefighters R-281-25 resignation of firefighters R-282-25 resolution for renewal of membership in the South Bergen Municipal Joint Insurance Fund. R-283-25

resolution to approve the consent agenda. May I have a motion on the consent agenda? So move. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. First by Councilman Folo, second by Councilwoman Sheridan. On roll call, we have council members for solo. I need to recuse on 269, 270, 279, 280, and 281 as I have a family member in the fire department. Yes to the rest. Okay. Qualc. Yes. Samson. I need to recuse on R-273-25 as I'm named in that otherwise. Yes. Okay. Sheridan. Yes.

Choicey. I need to recuse from R-269-25, R-270-25, R-279-25, R-280-25, and R-281-25. Yes to the rest. Council President Pelgree, yes. Motion carries. Next, we have departmental reports. We have the zoning board meeting minutes from May 28th, 2025 and the library board meeting minutes from May 19th, 2025. May I have a motion to accept the D departmental reports, please? So move second. Any discussion? All in favor? I.

Okay. Uh, Council President Peline, this concludes my portion of the meeting. I will turn it over to you for council reports. Okay. Let's start with Councilwoman Chroy, please. Okay.

Um, first I'd like to offer my condolences to the family of the rec bus driver Richie Tagley. Um, so if everybody could just keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. And summer camp ended on the 15th. Registration for school year programs will close tomorrow on the 22nd. Gilbert is at capacity for both morning care and after school care. 16th AB is at capacity for afterare. Uh the indoor court at the rec center has been closed this week for maintenance. EP United is looking for girls aged 7 through 12 to join their soccer league. If interested, contact Coach Jose at 2011-2770223. Um the uh softball hut has been opened on Tuesday nights uh for the concerts and the Bombers uh hut is opening on Thursday nights from 6 to 8:30. The next rec board meeting will be September 15th at 7:30 in the game room. Board of Ed update. Um there's a uniform swap uh day on Tuesday, August 26th from 10 to 1 and then again from 4 to 6:30 in the high school cafeteria side of the parking lot of the high school. The donation drop off day is August 22nd from 10 to 1 and again from 4 to 6:30. The next board of ed meeting is August 26th at 6:30 in the media room of the high school. Um the Elks will be returning to family fun

night um uh for special needs children in uh grades K through through 12 on Wednesday night. So, the uh first one back is September 10th and it's from 7 to 900 p.m. at 192 Market Street. There's a summer reading finale at the library on Saturday at uh on 8:23 from 12 to 2:00 p.m. There will be a story time from 12 to 12:30. Ice cream from 12:30 to 1:30. Uh summer reading winners will be announced between 1:30 and 2. And then we have a bunch of backpack giveaways in the town. Our hope did one today um over at the rec center. I might still be going. Um and Strangers Helping Strangers is doing one over at Fire Company 2 at 70 Park View A. Um there's I believe it's one to three and then uh I'll let um Council President report on the last one.

Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Sheridan. Thank you, Council President. Um I really don't have a lot to say, but what I do want to say is my deepest sympathies go out to um the bus driver, Richie. I didn't know him personally, but for working 40 years um with our town is a big accomplishment. Um and I just want to send to his family my deepest condolences. Thank you. Okay, Councilman Samson.

So, there's been no planning board activity uh for the summer. Um the finance committee met today and uh reviewed and approved the vouchers as we typically do every month. Excuse me. Uh as far as outside activities, the ARP meeting uh went off well last week. It's the second Thursday of the month over at the VFW. We have about 65 people that come and it's always a very uh fulfilling meeting. We had the pharmacist from Market Street here on Park Pharmacy. she uh made an appearance and uh gave a lot of education to the seniors. It was a very good afternoon. Uh tomorrow um I see Linda Colamini out there. Linda Colomini is running a trip to the uh Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Um I'll be participating in that as I typically do. And um other than that, it's been in the summertime has has not been a lot of activity. Um, aside from our spectacular uh concert series, I was there on Tuesday. It was uh the band there was 60s7s and 80s rewind I believe something to that effect and they were very good. Uh they did some steely Dan. They did some very good other groups and it was very entertaining. It's a very good uh very good feature here in our burrow that we do every year. Uh council presidents that's it. Progress.

Okay, Councilman Basilo.

Thank you. Uh I also want to extend my condolences to uh Richie's family and friends and all who knew him. He's been here for 40 years working in the burrow. I also want to thank the chief um for responding to I had a few residents who uh reached out and wanted to give him a certificate. Former employees of the wreck. Uh we I'm glad that we got to do that for him and and they delivered flowers and uh before his passing uh and and showed their their recognition of of his years in the burrow. So, I just want to send my condolences again to his family and friends. I want to thank everybody who was involved um in National Night Out and also for the concert series. Those are going great. Uh National Night Out was was a great success uh the other week. Um other than that, progress.

Thank you, Councilman Golib.

Thank you, Council President. Just two items. Um first, just driving around town, it's encouraging to see a couple new businesses coming into town. ery specifically. Um, a coffee place on Broadway. There's a gyro place right down the street here on Market Street. I think a hot dog and burger place uh right next to it. And I think there's a Peruvian place also opening up further down. Um, so it's good. It's refreshing when stores turn over. There's somebody willing to come in Tumblr Park and do business. Um, I attended the um the water quality meeting last night. Um, kudos to everyone that participated and put it together. Um, I listened more as a as a resident, so I kind of held my thoughts to till tonight. Um, but I just I want to share my opinion. Obviously, the quality of our water is is a major concern and something that has to be an ongoing discussion. Uh, we can't just let it go. Uh, because, you know, it goes away for a little bit. Um, so obviously that was the kind of the topic of discussion, but I think one of the things that have come out of this process and what happened across the river in P County is the infrastructure. the infrastructure that our water goes through. Um, we own most of the pipes underground. Um, but P Valley, which we're a customer of, all of us are a customer of, owns basically everything from their treatment plant that comes into, you know, everything underground to get at Elwood Park. Um, and what we learned uh through the incident in P County is that uh a pipe burst that was uh constructed in the the late 1800s. And it's something that um you know um something that I think we need to look at in terms of how old is our infrastructure, map that out and know how old is Pake Valley's infrastructure, the infrastructure that's getting us the water. Um, we may not feel it every day because it's even here in New Jersey, you know, it's it's tough to to to get by, but we do actually live in the wealthiest one of the wealthiest regions in the world and we're and and we're

relying on 130y old infrastructure to get clean water to our homes and that's something that deeply concerns me and I'm sure that's something that everyone can agree with. So, uh, it was a great meeting, but I think our focus on water and the infrastructure that gets our water to park must continue and I look forward to talking about that at future meetings. Thank you, council president.

Thank you. Okay, I will give my report now. Please update. This Sunday, August 24th, our Elma Park PD will be having their annual block party and backpack school give supply giveaway. Let's celebrate with good food, games, and many giveaways. location Elwood Turis and 16th A time 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is a free event for all. Please come and attend and have a great day with us. The next board of health meeting is September 8th at 700 p.m. And the next Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 16th at 6:30 p.m. at our local VFW. And last night, as some of my colleagues have mentioned, we had the water quality meeting. The meeting was very, very informative. representatives from Pake Valley Water, our licensed water operator, our DPW team were on hand to answer questions that our residents had. Thank you to those who came to the meeting to voice their concerns to us. And I want to thank Chief Felligno and his team for organizing the special meeting. We did really learn a lot and I think we could all agree on that. We have to start a plan like Councilman Gullibbec was saying on the infrastructure. So, we kind of know what we have to do. Now, one good thing about the meeting is I think we all left there. We're all residents here. We all live here. We all bathe in it. We all cook in it. A lot of us drink it. So, I I think what we learned is the water is safe. Okay. Uh it may be a little brown at times and things, but we learned it's not harmful. And there are other precautions that we may take. Um, some areas in town are have more problems than others. We usually do two flushings a year to kind of move the water along. And and at one point we were doing one. And I remember I wasn't even up here yet. And I came as a resident and I

said, "You know what? We used to always have two. The water seemed cleaner. Can we go back to two?" And they did. So now we have two flushings a year for several years again. But maybe in those areas in town that have like more problems than others. I was talking to Chief Aligno today. Maybe we could do more flushings in those areas and it may potentially help a little bit. It's not going to solve the problem. The pipes are old. We know we need new pipes, but it may alleviate some of the brown water that comes into those certain areas. So, we heard everybody last night. This council cares about everybody, all our residents. So, we will be working on that. We will keep you all updated and if we need another meeting about it, we will certainly have one. But again, uh Mike started the meeting with saying, I just want you to know everything that happens in this community happens to all of us here. Whether it's a tax increase, the brown water, or whatever else happens, good or bad, it's happening to all of us. We're all residents here, and some of us are lifelong residents. A lot of us are. So, we care and we want these problems fixed just as all of you do. So, I just wanted you to know all that if if that makes you feel just a little bit better. We truly care and we all may have different opinions up here, but I can assure you each member sitting up here truly cares about all of you and our community. Okay. Now, at this point, we are going to May I have a motion to open the floor for public comments? Okay. Anyone from the public that wishes to be heard, please come up to our podium, give your name and address, each member that comes up, each resident that comes up has 10 minutes to speak on whatever subject they may want to speak on. So I ask you to speak directly in the microphone so we can hear you. So if

anyone wants to come up at this point, please do so. Come up to the podium, sir. Hi. Uh, I don't have to say who I am, what I live, but it's just something that needs to be brought up to attention of this of the council that law is is supposed to be the same for everybody. So, for example, um, what's being done by people putting garbage on Saturday afternoon for pickup from Monday? Why people don't getting summones? Why? Second, let me finish. Let me I'm going with the same thing.

Uh Miller Street, I think is one of the houses there. There was a became like people left it apart. This building uh they put up garbage mixed with a como like paper everything. They put up on Tuesday for Wednesday pickup. Wednesday was only cardboard pickup. This evening it was also garbage pickup. Today, today the whole sidewalk is littered with garbage. This is this is ongoing in town for years. Nothing being done. People put out garbage in the middle of weekend. And sometimes people put um because they oversleep and they put up paper or cans uh and they sit there for two weeks. They don't get summones. They don't see any stickers saying like, "Hey, you have to do this." They don't care. This is been not it's not being done. This is ongoing issue. Other problem is is people cutting grass. They cut grass and throw it into the street. And we know what's happening. It's like it's like Miller Street, all these streets in the area, the rain comes in, washes it down and goes to storm drains. And we're thinking like why if you look if you drive on uh by the former um twisted elm they did the the I think the the property l uh was Marcal whatever they put that the basin catch basin is growing with weeds now multiple feet high so we're going to see flooding issued in town the other thing is I would like to know how people that live along the county property which is the the Garfield the water works they have gates or even cut chainling fence to access the county park and they were they doing dumping all garden waste into street into the park and what do you think now there's signs about no dumping because I complain to county other thing is people they live along Gilbert

if you go the day before there is a garden a garden waste pickup most likely you will not see cans with garden waste they're not there because what do people do I called them they walk out the street and count dump it in the county property. There's all along the whole thing from the tracks all the way to the school. People that live behind the the the for behind the baseball field on Gilbert, you go there, there are gates and all the way to the tracks, people have gates or cut the chain fence. How did people get the permits to put gates into county property? And actually, I I think I noticed something that it was a few months ago, one of the big oak trees was cut down and the Gilbert uh baseball field. Looks like DPW took the remnants of the tree and they dumped it into the woods when there's a clear sign says no dumping. People that live on Main Street, the Denon Street, which is the former uh uh super fun site. the last house. These people from there they go and dump the garden waste to the track on the tracks. Why do you think there's now since uh last winter there's a a barrier saying no trespassing enter the the tracks. These people go around it. There's piles this high of garden waste on the trade-on tracks. And these people, you go there. You be gone in the weekend, you can see it because I track these people and I found I see them, but I have no way to prove it. But it's their garden waist is on the tracks and the guy has a business and the end of the street. He saw them. He complained to them and he told him, "Buzz off. It's not mind your own business." This is ongoing issue

in town. Pay taxes. We pay to garden the gardening ways to be picked up but people just don't follow it and don't even use it. They don't care. Can I ask you a question? Yes. When you do see these things or Oh, reported do you report them? You call the police department. I I called every called the DPW everybody and nothing's being done. Mike, do you want to add to something with this? He's saying he's calling in and I reported this multiple times. Yeah. Uh can sir, can you be specific as to like uh you said a lot and I I unfortunately I didn't write them down. So if you could start over one by one so then I can get these uh items addressed for you. Um that would be it's not for me, it's for the town, for the people here.

Yeah, I know. But you're bringing them forth. So I would like to help you and I would start by you reiterating what you said so I can write them down. Um and then I can contact the proper department on your behalf. Um, so garden waste I mean I'm sorry it's the garbage people dropping putting out on the on the curbs. Yes. Saturday afternoon they sitting all over the town. You drive and you see it people putting garbage and they're sitting there all weekend putting it out too early on Saturday afternoon. Okay. I'm just asking you're saying they're putting it out too early. Of course because the ordinance is a night a night off pickup.

So I just want to make make it clear. You're 100% right. if that's occurring, that is an ordinance and it is a violation. Unfortunately, we don't have staff that can go around and and and and locate those things. So, what we do is I I'm sorry to cut you off, but somehow staff was was diligent enough to harass me on a long weekend when I was working on my car. I put my car on the jacks. They came out my door knocking like why is the car on jacks? So, so how times how did they have time to do that? But in the garbage is in the street um sitting there for three days. It's it's that's okay.

So what I probably what happened is um somebody probably one of your neighbors probably called, right? That's how that's what we rely on, right? So if you as a resident see a violation and and we see things, but we don't see everything. So if you as a resident see a a specific violation, call and we will address it. Um that's probably what happened to you. Um, I don't think an officer or a whoever came to your house just saw your your vehicle on a jack stand and decided to take action against it. I know there's someone called. Yeah. So, exactly. So, so that's what I'm getting at, but anyway. Okay. So, garbage is going out early. Um, what locations for uh Spyel Spyel?

Yeah. The I mean it's I mean it's everywhere like either Spyel I understand it's everywhere. I just want to get an idea of do you have a specific complaint that we could focus in on now and then we'll come up with I mean this is this is ongoing like it's everywhere they give you go on the weekends and people have like the they do sales or moving out and just put the garbage on Saturday because someone's moving out like come on you're right the property owner should be know supposed to be in char like this happened with this house on the Miller that someone moved out suddenly and they put everything now it's like animals in the sidewalk like picking up the the garbage. Uh Miller and Spidel you said no this this house is on mil on Miller between you know exactly like kind of where

I can tell you because I took picture because I was on a training ride and I took a picture of that property so I can tell you the address. Um chief he can always email you. Correct. You can always email the chief too with all this information. 58 58 Miller. Okay. And then next house next over you can see grass all over the street because like some of the mower and just and they just with blower and just blow into the street. I mean this is happening every all the time I will say. I mean, it's not only about this majority time. People just go in there, take the le blow into the street

and then thinking that it's going to the storm drain and a big storm comes in and everything's clogged. And now DPW has to go in there and like I actually personally go in raining hard. I go to the storm drains actually pick with my hands all the leaves because they're clogging and it's just not flowing. And that's also on Miller.

Oh, that's Elm Miller of Phillip. I mean everywhere they just I mean it's one thing is very often you see how many people have here we have a lot more residents in town a lot of people that come they come here they maybe live here but other people rent they don't care that is a problem everywhere on all the municipalities people rent they don't care what's happening in town because like I pay for rent I don't care I don't pay taxes here well the only way is if you take pictures like you did right and you put in you give an address or street location and email it to the chief and he will get his officers to go to that property.

I can tell you I can tell you like five years ago I took a pictures of the house on the corner of of Miller and Spidel that was impossible because of snow and ice. I sent out to DPW I sent to administration like hey there's a picture look at this ice and snow we can you can even walk through days. It was nothing done. Please send them to Chief Align and I'm sure it will get resolved. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Uh and then stuff about the the the uh I mean there's the is it Garfield Waterworks at the county park. So you said you reported it to them. What did they say? To who? You said you reported it to the county.

Oh, that's what the signs are now like years ago. They I I actually met the guy it was years ago that he was on the weekend going through the Gilbert part like the area between the houses and the baseball field. He was working there and picking up the garbage. And I spoke like, "Hey, you need to see what's going on." He's like, "Yeah, this pretty sad." And it's like, "See see the people?" And he's like, "Yeah, I see the gates." He's like, "Yeah, how did they have the gates?" He was like, he's like, he's like, "I don't know. I'm I'm from county. This is a town. How did they permit that?" And if you go there now, you see the people have from the fall, you see piles of branches and everything like falls on the property, they just open the gate and walk into the the area and just dump it. And if you go from the Mola Boulevard towards the 54th Street, you have to walk there, not drive the car. Just about have a stroll to the path and look at this f properties. People have gates set up. People have actually cut the chain fence so I can actually pull it and walk into the county park and they just dumping. They have like they made like private entrances. I'm not sure how even they got permits for to do that. I mean, that's a county property. I know for years this was a disputed area between the county and Emerald Park and it was a very great effort to put that walkway but it's just uh how about all the people have to do public um like some they have to do the public service like do the community work get these people there and clean it all up

we hear your concerns chief is on it but the one thing is really annoying is the people that live on live on Maine on Maine on Maine towards the tracks. Okay, there's a big sign, no trespassing. And this person, the last house, because I have this evergreens by the entrance and it was early this spring. I all suddenly I see it was maybe somewhere like over the winter sport. I see I was passing by and I see all this was trimmed and it's like, well, it's clearly trimmed. Let's take a look at the tracks all there. Okay, there are piles of it.

We heard your concerns. It's been 10 minutes. Um, Chief Aligno will look into this. You get his email. He has a card with his email on it. You can email him directly and I'm sure some of these problems will be

But the final thing talking about anonymous law, how come police cars, I mean the Menipas Valley vehicles don't follow state law? They have expired inspection stickers and as some of you council member also don't follow the law. You put if you think you put the gold shield on your windshield that you exempt from state for following the state federal law to have car inspected. Shame on you. That's all.

Thank you sir. Anybody else wish to address the may the council? Come on up sir. Can you please give us your name and address? Leonard Cresone, 67 Birchwood Drive. I'm sure you all know the address by now. The park police must know it by heart.

The question is, what's going on? She continues to have these parties. I know for a fact that she is gone. She moved all her clothes out. She had cars there. Everything came out of the house except furniture. Okay. The only time I see her is probably for a half hour. She throws shock in the pool, turns the filter on, and leaves. Okay. What is going on? Is this person going to have a court date? Is this person going to court? Because even when the police come there, those people that are in the backyard even admit and said, "Yes, we rented the pool." Okay. Now, it's against the burough ordinance. Do I stand corrected? Okay.

And I know you were here, I believe, last here last meeting, correct? I remember you. Okay. Yes. What's the address again? 63 Birwood is the one that she is. No one is there. Uh uh the last it's uh the last last month was just I know you've been having a very difficult time. Um the thing is, okay, Lorraine, I've lived here. I know your husband a long time. Yes, even though,

but I play by the rules. This person does not. I pay my taxes. This person, I know for a fact, is a year in back taxes already. Okay? She just laughs in her face. And the people that rent her house, I see the old New York plates. They come to me and they're like, "Hi, bye." Because they know they're going to get away with it. Okay. Can you can you after the meeting um give me your phone number and all again? and and we'll look into certain things and we'll get back to you. I promise.

So, let me just interject. Council President, this is a police investigation and we have a case that we are working on with the burough prosecutor, with the building department and the police department. I would just let it run its course right now. I don't want to speak about this publicly. Um, it is being handled. Multiple upon multiple summones have been issued and we are working handinhand with the burough prosecutor on this case. We cannot expedite the calendar. It is on the calendar. It's being It's in the courts. We understand that they're thumbming their nose in our face, but that this will come to court. There is $2,500 fines associated with these tickets. It just has to run its course. I ask everyone to be a little bit more patient with this, please.

Thank you, Chief, for clarifying that for us. I'm just Okay. I'm trying to be patient. Okay.

You can't speed up the courses. I I understand, Michael, and I understand you do you do a good job in this town and I respect that, but it's she has no respect for anyone. Okay. It's the weirdest thing because she has a trucking company park. It's not even an address on it. She has some kind of leasing business in Florida. You look up the address, it's an empty lot. Is this like a scammer or what? I have no idea what she does or what, you know, what's going on. The garbage piles up. I even have video of family of skunks in the driveway. My dog goes cry. I can't let my dog out because I'm afraid it's going to get sprayed. And

I know you've been very patient, but like the chief said, they they're working on it. Council President, if I can interject, I I appreciate your concerns, but as it's a pending legal matter, I would advise the council not to go back. Okay, we can't we can't talk about it anymore. Okay. Uh I understand. I get it. Okay. And there's just one more thing I want to bring up to the council and maybe you should put some ordinances. We all know what next year is, don't we? What's next year in the summer? World Cup. Oh,

okay. There's going to be people renting houses, especially if she's still there and she's going to stick a nose in your face. So, I think you should get together and try to come up with some kind of ordinance or something. Rent is one thing. renting a house for a couple days, but not for a weekend that people want to go to the soccer match and then leave. Okay. So, that's one thing to Sir, we have we have a we have an ordinance on the books that restricts rentals lower less than 29 or 30 days or something like that. Okay. Already on the books, I believe. Okay. With all due respect, Councilman, I'm I'm just saying it it came up. Airbnb was a problem in Elma Park. This this this person could care less, right?

Okay. She's going to rent it. Okay. And we'll talk about it after the meeting though in the back. Okay. I appreciate all your time. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anybody else wish to address? Come on up. Yeah. Thank you. Hi. Sorry I'm a little short. That's okay. Just give your name and address, please.

Hi. Good evening. My name is Andrea Ray. I live 157 Kip A. I am a volunteer coach for Elma Park softball for 4 years now and I'm a former player. When I'm here to speak on behalf of softball, by the way, in our girls, our field is a place where girls go and grow confidence, make friends, and have fun. It's not just a field place where they can be themselves. When I step onto our field, I don't just see a dirt and grass and the little bumps on it. It's where I learned to believe in myself because I used to live in Garfield and I spent my whole time on the bench. Elma Park gave me coaches that believed in me and I was able to grow. And then I even went to high school and I played varsity and I did all that and now I'm going to college and playing softball all because softball believed in me and the EP believed in me. Um, I don't think we should ever take away that field. That's something that they I don't want to take away that opportunity for those girls. They can grow. If you look in the crowd, there's some girls here to represent our behalf. We have around 150 girls playing last season. We are expecting to have around 175 and including coaches. There's about 200 members in the program. So, there's a lot of people from the town in this program. Um, if that doesn't show the love of the sport for the girls, I really don't know what will because they could just be playing their little games, but they decide to show up for the sport and program. The amount of times we had to reschedule most of our games due to weather conditions, having little puddles in home play, first base, having the bumps where the girls have to go chase the ball because there's a little bump going from the infield to the outfield. It's just not what we want for the girls. We want a little turf field, the

same one similar to baseball, so we can have them safe and clean place to play. That's all we ask. Well, you spoke very eloquently. Thank you.

And we're very impressed that so many of you came out tonight. I can assure you again that everyone on this panel cares and we want the best for the boys and the girls. We're in the process of getting more information from our engineers with new pricing on different items. So, we're going to have another meeting in September with our engineer and we will know more about what we we can do and what we're going to do, but we're definitely going to do something to address the situation. We hear all of you. Um there's nothing on the agenda about the softball this evening, but we're working on it. It's a work in progress and we're waiting for some new numbers from our engineer. So hopefully in September we will have some answers for you. But we hear you all and we're very thankful. I know everybody lives a busy life that you all came out to support each other and to support the girls. It's very important to us. And lastly, again, come back in September. We will probably have some answers for you at that point. Okay? And I just want you to know that every and I I I want the residents to really know this. Sometimes you hear us disagree up here for different reasons. We truly truly all care about all the athletes. Okay? So, we're working on something for everybody and we'll let you know more when we get to that point. But we hear you and I really thank you for coming tonight. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.

If I may. Councilman Sansson, I just want to say that that young lady, you opened your comments by saying uh you you wanted to make sure that field didn't go away. That field is not going away. As as um council president indicated, we have some options to consider. We have some decisions to make, but the field is not going away. What we do with the field is is is still out, you know, up in the air, but stay tuned. Anybody else wish to address the council? Please come up. You just please state your name and address for the record.

Good evening everyone. My name is Kenny Delgado. I live in 33 Lincoln Avenue. Um actually my daughter and I wrote a little speech regarding the same um about uh the the soft field. So I'll start with mine and I'll encourage my daughter to come up here in a minute.

Very good. Um, so good evening, um, council members and and distinguished guest. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today. Once again, my name is Kenny Delgado and I'm here to talk about something that will not only benefit our athletes, but also strengthened the entire Amwood Park community, the hopefully the construction of a new soft field. As many as you know, our current soft field is outdated and struggles to keep up with our growing demand for safe and reliable playing surfaces. Um when it rains, games are cancelled. Um practices are delayed and our athletes lose value opportunities to compete and develop their skills. The uneven conditions increase the risk of injuries and frankly speaking, it doesn't reflect the level of excellence or town strives for. Yes, our turf fields requires upfront investment, but it saves money long term. turf needs less maintenance, no watering, fewer repairs, and it can last up to 10 years uh with no um repairs. The return on investment comes in the form of reduce upkeep cost and increase community use. Last but not least, I'm speaking to you today to take this important step for Elwood Park. Let's give our athletes and and our families and our town something to be proud of and instead of an art um to our field hopefully. It's more than a field. It is an investment for for our youth, our community and our future. Thank you very much.

Very welcome. [Applause] Anyone else wish to come up and speak? Please state your name and address for the record.

Yep. Uh Joseph Oswald, 34 Philip Aav. Um I just wanted to come up and say thank you for the meeting yesterday on the water quality. um uh myself being a resident here and having the questions be able to be answered and especially uh chief and burough administrator, you guys are very concise with that information. So, I just wanted to say thank you for putting that meeting together. I do hope that some action comes from it um and the POIC Valley respects us as a customer and a client and uh we'll address that. Um, I was out walking tonight and I just wanted to bring up a couple of things that I thought might be helpful um, specifically for the burough administrator, the chief. Um, since you were so helpful in um, securing a sign to put up to direct people to where the VFW is. Um, some people that live on dead end streets around myself, specifically uh, Miller A that goes right towards where theoretically you could get onto River Drive. It's a dead end. Um, they often times have said to me that they've got kids playing out there and people don't see the signs that say it's a dead end. and they think it's a cut through to River Drive. Um, and they had asked if there was any way to make dead ends like that, maybe even across the rest of the town, um, to have a more visible sign that that clearly states that there's no through traffic or that it's not, you know, people see a dead end or maybe they just ignore it. Maybe the sign is too high or too low. I'm not sure. Um, but they're always saying, you know, like they're really vigilant when their kids are playing in the street because people they think it's a cut through and and they speed down it. So, um, that's really the only thing I wanted to bring up and just to say thank you guys for putting together that thing yesterday. I'm pretty sure it was helpful to a lot of people. So, keep up the good work.

Thank you. Thanks, Joe. We will, uh, I'll have the DPW evaluate along with the traffic division where we can freshen up some of our uh, deadend signs and no cut through signs and all that. So, we'll take care of it. Does anyone else wish to address the council? Please state your name and address for the record.

Linda Zach, 223 Roosevelt. I want to thank Council Member Solo and anyone that helped getting that certificate for Richie. He got it there within hours that he passed. He was buried today. Anyone else wish to address the mayor and the mayor? The council come on up. You have a trio.

Hi ladies. Just give your name and address for the record. Oh, hit the red but hit the button. Yep.

Hi, my name is Alisandra Ray. I live on 175 Kip Avenue. I am We are Good afternoon. We are some girls from this town. We play softball. We like to have a nice field cuz it's a little bumpy, outdated. It It's not that good. We like to have a nice field like one of the guys, one of the boys cuz they have a turf. Nice. They can play on it even if it's raining for us. We have it updated. It's puddles and puddles and always delaying the game. We would like if you guys can just consider maybe earlier to have us with a baseball field, please. And thank you. You're very welcome. We are considering everything. We didn't forget about you. Don't worry. Okay. Good job. Anybody else wish to address the council at this time? No one. Going once. going. All right, come on up.

Please just give your name and address. Another Musmed Ray 157 Kip. The whole family is here. Okay. Um, we have the Is it talking in the microphone? Yeah,

we have the We live in Kip. Right next to in front of our house is the um storage and all the factories there. Long ago they used to have these signs where the cars they weren't allowed to park when especially when they go to the prek in Garfield and drop off and pick up kids. So the 18 wheelers they will have a space to go in and go out. Lately those signs they being knocked out. They are all on the floor. So people park there really often and when there's the time in the morning or afternoon, it's a lot of traffic there. It's a lot of beeping, people mad, people, you know, late. So I don't know if we can do something to put those signs back there. Um something that maybe you guys can check. There is a couple already still there, but they are so fake and old that you can barely see them. So you guys can take a look on that. and we really appreciate it. And also here for the softball. Please keep in mind that we love so we will look into the signs and we're working on the softball. So thank you for coming up.

Have a great night. All right. Anyone else? Okay. I just want to thank you. Oh, coming up. Come on.

Good evening, council members. I stand upon you tonight to share what a new softball field for the community means for me. My name is Ellen Delgado and I've been a softball player with the Emwood Park Girls softball league for approximately 2 years now. When I think about the possibility of having a new softball field in our town, I get very excited, not just for myself, but for every player who dreams of having a brand new space to grow, compete, and belong. Right now, we make best of what we have, but a new field would mean so much more. It would be a place we can take pride in where our teams can truly train, improve, and host games that bring the whole community together. It will show us as young athletes that our town leaders believe in us, in our effort, in our goals, and in the positive impact that sports can have on our lives. Thank you for considering our request and hoping very soon we'll be standing on the new field, ready to play the game we all love. Thank you. You're a very good speaker. Very good speaker. Okay, I just want to thank everybody for coming tonight, voicing your concerns. We love when we have people come and speak with us. So, everybody have a safe night and again, thank you for coming. At this time, I'd like to close the public portion. I have a No, we're not. We're closing the public portion. I may have a motion to adjurnn. There's no executive tonight.

So, move. Okay. All in favor? I Okay. Good night, everyone. Thank you again for coming. Eric, the council's 33 and you're up for council president. You're going to vote for yourself. [Music]