Council - Regular Meeting

Oh, you're up here now. I turn around [laughter] [snorts] underneath of the I'm live and now my ears don't hurt and me trying to explain. I was trying to find No, you're live.

Hey, Nance, do you have a letter from Marcusa over there? I always All right. restaurant. I don't think I go in there one day. Be an email. Just a page. You're the one. Should I? Nah. What's it in reference to? I saw it here. Here. Oh, you took it. I did not. I brought I brought extra. Do you want to read that with regard to the uh Oh, okay. Oh, here's an extra one. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under [clears throat] God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Good evening. This regular meeting of the township council is being held in accordance with the schedule of the meetings of the township council established and adopted by the township council which schedule designated the time and date and place of this meeting. Adequate public notice of this meeting has been provided pursuant to the provisions of the open public meetings act. We are using an electronic amplifying and recording device in order to obtain a clear [laughter] and audible record. And we request all those wishing to speak be recognized and state your name address directly into the microphone. The recording device is to be solely utilized by the township clerk's office for the preparation of the minutes and shall be the official record of the township council meetings. Madam clerk, may the roll call, please. Mr. Man here. Mrs. Albreight Troxel here. Mrs. Grace Love here. Mr. Nash

here. Mrs. Walters here. Mr. Castro here at a work commitment. Mr. Marcato present. Mr. Hutcherson present. Mr. Cartis here. Chief Manazi here. Mr. McIll here. Miss Weiss. We have a resolution, resolution 2602-059 to go into close session. Uh, this is to discuss a affordable housing settlement agreement. I anticipate it'll take about 20 minutes. Uh, if we go any further, I'll come out and extend that time. Have a motion to go into close session. I move. Second on the question. Roll call, please. Mr. Mo, yes. Mr. Celebrate Troxel. Yes. Mrs. Grace Love.

Yes. Mr. Nash. Yes. Mrs. Walter. Yes. Mr. Marcato. Yes.

Thank you. Hey, don't [laughter] sir.

[snorts]

I'll go back to my office. I'll take That's what right

options is nice. She's just a white noise. So, at least it's, you know, the ocean though. I might start taking a nap if I'm sitting here too long. How are you? back of that is where I was saying that they say next steps is in the next few weeks they should reach out to probably you or Mike. So just loop me in

because I think what's going to be

Thank you. probably a year long process I think for this one at least. So

my wife's away from work for days so I got double duty with two kids. That's nothing.

Heat. Heat. Oh my god.

Please.

We

All right, let's get some I'll be back. That's right.

forward. I Okay.

Folks, we're going to need 15 more minutes. That's Well, he wanted to try it out for And then he plays he played for like five years. So he I was like, you know, let's

Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

question. Chicken cheese steak. All right. Chicken cheese steak with some [clears throat] [clears throat]

[cough] Are you reading the email responses? Madam clerk, may I have the roll call, please? Mr. Mo, here. Mrs. Albreight Troxel, here. Mrs. Grace Love here. Mr. Nash, here. Mrs. Walters, here. Mr. Marcato, present. Mr. Hutcherson present. Mr. Cartis here. Chief Nazi here. Mr. Miguel here. Miss Weiss here.

Thank you for your patience. Uh we were discussing uh round the round four housing element and fair share plan. Uh and that's to be continued. No action will be taken tonight on that. So thank you. Now first open up our first public portion. This is for agenda items only. Anyone wishing to address council may speak one time. Uh each speaker is entitled to three minutes. There's 15 minutes for the first public comment portion of our meeting. Anyone like to speak on any of the agenda items? Seeing none, we'll close the first public comment. Weigh the reading. Accept the minutes of reorganization January 3rd, 2026. The workshop January 2012 12, 2026. And the regular meeting January 12th, 2026 and January 26, 2026. May I have a motion, please? I'll make that motion.

Second on the question. Roll call, please. Mr. Mo, yes. Mrs. Troxel, I abstain on the January 12th workshop and meeting. Mrs. Grace Love, yes. Mr. Nash, yes. Mrs. Walters, yes. Mr. Marcato,

yes. Next is the ordinance of first reading and introduction ordinance 0-26-03. It's a bond ordinance authorizing the acquisition of certain real property for recreational and open space preservation at Township of Gloucester, County of Camden, New Jersey, appropriating the sum of $3 million. Therefore authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds or bond anticipation notes of the township of Gloucester County of Camden, New Jersey in the aggregate principal amount of up to $3 million making certain determinations and covenants and al authorizing certain related actions in connecting with the foregoing. Uh this particular bond uh will help support the acquisition of real property at 1550 Haidider Lane. Uh this was approved many many years back um or recently for a three-story 60unit project. Uh this purchase price uh was determined by Green Acres uh and was based on a Green Acres appraisal uh and the township received a grant in in the $2 million million $2 million.

We're applying for 200 uh $24,000 more. Okay. And we have to move forward with this bond in order because to satisfy Green Acres requirements. Correct. May I have a motion, please? So move. Second on the question. Roll call, please. Mr. Mo, yes. Mrs. Robert, yes. Mrs. Grace, yes. Mr. Nash, yes. Mrs. Walter, yes. Mr. Mcado, yes. There will be a hearing at its second reading. our consent agenda. Any council member would like to have any item removed from the consent agenda. Please speak up. Hearing none, I entertain a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented. So moved.

Second on the question. Roll call, please. Mr. yes. Mrs. Aubrey Troxel, yes. Mrs. Grace, yes. Mr. Nash, yes. Mrs. Walter, yes. Mr. McCo,

yes. Resolution 72, resolution of the township council of the township bolster, Kam County, New Jersey, amending the redeveloper from 1,000 Williamstown LLC to 1092 Williamstown LLC, located along Williamstown Aerial Road, County Road 704, and known as block 18302, lots five, and lot two if acquired by the redeveloper for the new vision business park NVBP district redevelopment area and to authorize the signing of an amended and restated [clears throat] redevelopment agreement. May I have a motion, please? I'll make that motion.

Second [laughter] on the question. Roll call, please. Mr. M? Yes. Mrs. Aubrey Crossel? Yes. Mrs. Grace Love? Yes. Mr. Nash? Yes. Mrs. Walters? Yes. Mr. Mcado?

Yes. We have two GTE love access emails. First is from Terry Fritz at 85 Cherry Circle, Blackwood, New Jersey. Ordinance number 0-26-03, section 7A1. Can council explain the rationale for the proposed purchase of 1550 Hyder. For context, this property has remained privately owned with no recent improvements and has generated property tax revenue for Gloucester Township, approximately $7,796. In 2023, $7,596 in 24 and $7,731 in 2025. What is the total anticipated purchase price for acquiring 1550 Hyder? [cough] how much of the proposed 3 million to be borrowed will be allocated specifically to this acquisition given the fact that this property is not a financial burden on the taxpayers and does not provide ongoing tax revenue and also considering the currently Gloucester Township has committed investments to other recreation projects. What circumstances or priorities have changed to justify the public purchase at this time? Four. Can the council walk residents do the financial and strategic analysis used to determine that this acquisition represents the best financial interest of Boston Township, including any long-term cost benefit consideration? As I stated when the in the ordinance was introduced, uh this uh parcel of land was approved for a three-story 60unit project. uh this uh will no longer take place if we move forward with this. We received $2 million from the Green Acres grant. Of the taxes that are paid per year, the town only receives approximately 31% of

the figures that uh Miss Fretz had indicated in her EGOV question. The purchase price is determined uh will be determined by the Green Acres program based on the Green Acres approved appraisal. 75% of the purchase price is funded by a Green Acres grant at no cost to Gloucester Township taxpayers. The township received the grant award uh last April, April 25th, 2025 in the amount of $2 million for this project. We are presently seeking a additional grant in the amount of $24,344,000 and the balance will be funded through a lowterest loan. Uh we feel that this presents a unique opportunity to acquire a highly visible piece of property that will add to surrounding open space part uh parcels that the township has and will greatly contribute to our efforts to control growth in a hightra and populated area through open space. Our next question is from Nancy Gentilli uh 210 Keystone Avenue in Blackwood. How many recreational, medicinal, marijuana stores, distributors, standard growing, and hydroponic growers in Gloucester Township? What are the names of them? Six total have been approved by the planning or zoning board. Quality cannabis on 1610 North Black Pike. Flower and Flame at 601 College Drive. Honeyroveve on 1337 Blackwood Clement Road, Blackwood Wellness at 816 North Blackhorse Pike, MPX Dispensary at 581 Berlin Crosky's Road, and Unity Road SNJ LLC at 2751 Cichler Cichlerville Road, which is approved but not built yet. All of them are retail dispensaries. Are there any pending approval uh with

zoning, planning, and council? No, not at this time. What was the total Gouster Township What was the total tax G Gloucester Township received in recreational medicinal marijuana sales for 2024 and 2025. In 2024, $38,960. and in 2025 $232,75282. Is there a limit of how many stores, building sales, growers that Glosser Township will permit? Um, currently there's no limit on the number of licenses in the township. Thank you, Miss Jan Tilly and Miss Fred, for your questions. We'll now open up the second public portion. This portion is for 30 minutes. Each speaker may speak one time and they have five minutes for each speaker. Would anyone like to speak in the second public portion? Mr. Bur. Good evening, council. Brian Burns Sawwood Drive in a um I haven't been in for a while. I've been keeping eyes on the agenda and I want to first comment. I'm very very pleased to see that uh the township has joined the Big Timber Creek um watershed or association that's going to link five or six communities along the Big Timber Creek uh and work in conjunction with the national park system to open that waterway for recreational purposes. Um I join the group through the old pine farm and I'm going to be acting as an advisor. I'm going to get my hands out there in in different ways to to help the project along and I think it's a very positive thing for the community and I was very pleased to see that and a recently passed resolution. Um, with

regards to that endeavor, I opened the Robert Marshall House structural condition update and I don't know how many members of council have received this or reviewed it. So, I made copies for everybody and I wanted to point out a number of things within the review and get your feedback with regard to uh this particular project.

Thank you. Thank you, Brian. How you doing? Good to see you up here. Thank you. [clears throat]

So, there's there's a lot of information here. I'm going to just kind of give you the nutshell of of my position on it. I'm sure Mr. Cardis can maybe speak to this as well. Um the house is is in poor condition. Um there was some remedial work done it back in 2001 trying to keep it watertight. Um unfortunately it is not watertight in its present condition. This evaluation was done uh I think it was back in September or October. I'm sorry November 12th is the date of the report. And just a couple things jumped out at me when I went through this and I highlighted those for you. On page three under section 4.0 existing conditions, um it's it states in various locations existing roof sheathing is missing. This allows active water infiltration into the building. So we all know how much damage water can do. And this is taking place right now as we speak. every time we get a weather event, precipitation, you know, it's getting inside. On that same page, uh, down towards the bottom, it states the bulkhead doors on the west elevation are missing. So, if you have a basement with bulkhead doors, you know what we're talking about. It's wide open. Okay. On the following page, uh, it states, "The existing upper main roof tarp is in poor condition. and the tarp exhibits multiple tears on the roof. And then down under P1, it says replace the existing upper main roof tarp with a new tarp securely lapped and anchored uh to the existing walls below all the eve. So, you know, there's a lot of work that needs to be done to this place. Um, I I do know that the open space or the preservation committee, historic preservation open space, just got a $50,000 grant which will be, you

know, hopefully put towards this project. Um, [laughter] but I guess my question to council is what would be the timelines at least to get this thing sealed? I mean, this water is doing a lot of damage and open access through the basement. you know, are we throwing good money after bad money? If we don't take care of this as soon as possible, at least keep it weatherproof while we, you know, look for funding to restore the building.

Yeah. I'm not sure where the building falls historically. I know it could be as old as the Gabriel Davies. Um, it's around that same area. Uh, but is also on the banks of the Big Timber Creek. Um, and I don't know if the township plans to uh turn this over to Green Acres or make it another site similar to the Gabriel Davies Tavern. Um, I had been at the site and there was an amazing opportunity there for watercraft access which would be part of the Big Timber Creek initiative between the towns. And there's also an extensive open sunlit area there that could be additional community gardens. I know a lot of community residents use the Gabriel Davies. I'm not sure if those plots are are filled by time the growing season starts or there's vacancies there. Uh but this certainly has an opportunity to provide that as well. So I guess my question mainly would be um how soon or what would be the timeline to get this building weathertight at least while the other issues described in the report you know are dealt with and get contractors and bids and additional funding and so on. So thank you for your time.

Thank you. Thanks

Mr. Cars. Is there anything you could um want to address towards that or?

Yeah. Uh so um as early as last week, I spoke with I received an email uh from Sharon Mickel. Um not sure who else was copied on that. I don't know if Mr. Nash was copied. Uh, and based on that and the fact that we do have a $50,000 grant from the uh, county to apply to this project, I spoke with uh, Margaret Westfield. Um, and uh, we've emailed and I spoke with her. Um, I spoke with the mayor also and she had given me a price of $3,600 to undertake uh, doing exactly what Mr. Burns was talking about, which is securing that building so that we're no longer getting water in there. Um, I did not, and I expressed my reservations and the mayor agreed with me, did not want to put public works down there working on that building because of the historical nature of it and the condition of the building. Um, so I know that Margaret is working towards uh, you know, getting some contractors lined up to uh, take care of that right away.

Okay. Thank you. There any else? Anyone else like to speak? Seeing none, we'll close second public portion. Pulling the directors. Mr. Curtis, I have nothing to report. Mr. Hutcherson, I have nothing to report. Chief Manazi, nothing. Mr. McIll, nothing. Thank you. Weiss. Mr. Mon, everybody have a great night and a great week. Mrs. Aubry, Mr. Burns, thank you [clears throat and cough] for always offering to help on things that are really important to you. Uh it helps us up here to uh uh to be encouraged more by people like you. Thank you,

Mrs. Gracewell. Everyone, have a great week. Mr. Nash, have a great night. Mrs. Walters, uh thank you for everybody for coming and I have a great night. Mr. Ma, thank you for coming out this evening. Uh at our next council meeting, we'll be celebrating Black History Month. Uh individuals who made a contribution to our communities will be celebrated. Uh that starts approximately 7:00 at our next council meeting. We're also accepting nominations for women who make a difference to celebrate Women's History Month. You can make those nomination at the township's website if you choose to do so. With that, I entertain a motion to adjurnn. I'll make that motion. Is there a second? Second.

All those in favor. Have a great evening everyone.

Good night everyone. Yeah. I I was just saying I think we'll go on for I think I was here the last [laughter] and I think I think I gave exactly it was very nice. You want to give out an award? You [clears throat] want to give out an award? You could tell.