Planning Board Meetings - Regular Meeting

and welcome to tonight's meeting of the Sparta Township Planning Board. Thank you to those joining us here and online. For the record, this meeting is being held on February 4th, 2026 at 7:03 p.m., excuse me, in the Sparta Township Municipal Building located at 65 Main Street, Sparta, New Jersey. And the live stream can be viewed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/spartatw. Please note that adequate public notice of this meeting was given in accordance with the open public meetings act. No new business to be conducted after 9:30 p.m. and the meeting will end promptly at 10. Let us begin with a salute to our flag.

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. I would like to welcome our newest member, the mayor's designate, Christine Quinn. Thank you. And just for the record, uh board, I did uh swear in Miss Quinn uh earlier today at the minor site plan uh subcommittee meeting. So, she's duly sworn and has already signed the certificate in support of her position. Congratulations. You're welcome. Congratulations. Thank you. Tori, would you please call the role? Bogler here. Ron Dick here. Ernie Rice

here. Brian Zimmerman, Vice Chairwoman Janette Burke here, Chairwoman Celeste Luciano here, Christine Quinn here, Deputy Mayor Michael Sylvester here, Christine Dunar here, Joan Ferman here.

So before we move into the approval of minutes, um I would like to convey our uh on behalf of the board our heartfelt condolences uh to Rayisha Franklin for the passing of her uncle Michael B. Franklin uh and to acknowledge that uh Reisha's work as assistant land use administrator and excuse me, assistant zoning officer doesn't go unnoticed and uh and we appreciate her and send her our deepest condolences. So with that said, we will move into the approval of minutes. Um we are now looking at the August 20th, 2025 that were previously tabled. Uh I am going to open it to the board for comment and questions on those particular minutes.

I just have a very minor correction on page four middle. Uh my my name my last name is misspelled.

Um just a com. So just I looked through it and I didn't see a lot of changes. If maybe there were and I just didn't pick them up. Um but it's still I I felt uh too much there's you know talking about how people are feeling what their thoughts are. Um so I still have some concerns there. I I will say in advance the other two I thought were the other two that I'm going to vote on tonight were done uh very nicely. I think that's a good model for what she was driving for. So

not in disagreement um on any one particular point. Um the the changes that were included were changes that were provided to us by um by Miss Ferman. So Miss Ferman, do you want to Well, there was a lot of stuff I did not change. I just added like two or three things, but the stuff I did not change the feelings and some of the comments that were there previously. I kind of ignored that just to add some additional things that I thought should be in there. So if you want to I could go back and take a look at it again and uh go through the whole thing and take out that kind of stuff.

I board I don't think that's necessary. It's it's okay. I mean as as was mentioned going forward uh but they are the minutes. The transcript is what it is. So um I think in my opinion you should approve the minutes. Anybody else have any comments and questions? open for discussion. Okay, seeing none, may I have a mo motion in a second to approve minutes of August 20th, 2025? I'll make a motion to approve. I'll second. Roll call, please. Bert, yes. Ernie Rex, yes. Ron Day, no. Joan Ferman,

yes. Bogler, yes. Luciano. No,

but it doesn't matter. So, one way or another, they pass. We are now moving to minutes, excuse me, for September 3rd, 2025. Excuse me. I'm going to open it to the board for comments and questions. I just added on page four what is in red because I thought that was very important.

Any other comments, questions? So the purpose of all these comments are just to clear the record of what was previously said and discussed or is it addition to? It's to it's to certify or clarify what's what's in the minutes as but it was previously stated. These minutes came out and then last week I emailed Dory and I asked her to put this for clarification. But but we haven't voted on because you forgot to say it at the Oh, no. No, no, no. It was that was a very important point of this. So, clarification. Okay. Thank you.

Yeah, it was one of our conditions. Thanks. Any other comments or questions? Okay, seeing none, Rory, would you call the roll, please? Oh, yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. Motion and second. I apologize. I'll make the motion to approve the minutes of September 3rd. I'll second. And just um before we uh go on, I just got a comment from a member of the public saying, "Please speak into your mics because they can't hear us." We'll share. Of course. Thank you. Sharing is carrying. Yes. Ernie Rex. Yes. Joan Ferman. Yes. Bogler. Yes.

Celeste Luciano. Yes. Christine Dunvar. Yes. Moving forward to excuse me. Moving forward to uh minutes from December 3rd, 2025. I'm opening up to the board for comments and questions. Okay. Hearing none. A motion and second. Please

make a motion to approve the December 3rd, 2025 minutes. I'll second it. Rex. Yes. Less Luciano. Yes. Ronda. Yes. Bogler. Yes. Yes.

Moving forward to minutes for December 17th, 2025. Opening up to the board. Hearing no questions and comments, uh, I will ask for a motion in a second. We'll make a motion to approve. I'll second. Pepper. Yes. Bernie, yes. Ronda, yes. Celestiano, yes. Bogler, yes. Christine Dunar, yes. John, yes. Okay. Thank you.

And Dory, um, just asking a quick question. So, it's my understanding now that our meeting minutes are complete and up to date through the end of 2025. Is that correct? Correct. Okay. So, that that has been a feat that's been something that has been ongoing and I appreciate everybody who has worked very vigilantly to uh to to get that completed. Okay, we are going to move to other board business. Uh I'm going to open it up to our attorney uh first.

Yes, just real quickly. Uh it is very timely. We're going through the master plan and uh today there was an informal uh meeting with Diamond Chip to see what the highest and best use of that property is and practical and feasible. There are the pending litigation. So I'm not going to go into uh anything further that there is a dialogue. uh it's the right thing to do by way of any party and again with the master plan in place. Any uh discussion or settlement would come back uh before the board and um for your review but we are not there and uh obviously there's a lot going on but uh just for the uh I do represent the planning board and this was a planning board issue and just advising you that at least there's a dialogue going on and that's a good thing. That's all I have to say. Thank you,

Ken. Was the dialogue with the appellet court or the federal court? Uh, it was a global I am empowered with the appellet state uh matter. So, I can't speak to the federal, but it's clear that we're looking for a global conclusion. Okay, good. Thank you. Okay, I'll open it up to the board for any other issues for other board business. Just one quick thing from my part. So, I'm happy to be here with everybody. Uh I don't want to be uh back on the board and weigh anyone down. So, at some point, maybe somebody could just spend a couple hours with me and bring me through what's going on with the master plan just so that um I can get a handle on

absolutely what's going on. So, Celeste, maybe we could spend a little time. We'll do at some point. Okay. 100%. Thank you. Okay. Any other business?

I' I'd like to just um mention something that's been on my mind for a while now and um I would like the board perhaps sometime in the future to consider that um a person that is a part of the environmental commission and works hard to present the information to the planning board and reviews the applications of the planning board. um for everyone's best interest that they should be considered to always be able to have a vote. I agree. And I don't know what Ken I don't know what that involves in terms of changing classes or changing wordings, word smithing here or there, but I think that that is the fair and just thing to do and showing respect for them and that individual going forward. I would only say since I've been here in March, you do an excellent job of advising us. So the uh we are lucky to have you here. Uh so whether or not that qualifies as the class two member, I don't know, but we can look into that. Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes. Just to piggyback on what Christine had said, um we hear from the applicants and they're uh supposed to give us um an environmental assessment, a um traffic study, community impact study. Um and that all becomes part of the conditions in the resolution that that has been looked at. But I think we should be paying more attention to what the environmental commission is also sending up and make that part of our um reports as well just as we do all the other reports from the professionals um because I know you spend time reviewing it and then bring it to us and I think it should be incorporated into the process at some point. Well, what I'm seeing and what I'm hearing what I'm seeing and what I'm hearing um from the residents in Sparta is is that they do want us to take care of our natural resources and keep our community rural. And um we can only do that if we understand how we use our resources. And that goes into also the master plan because you have to have a an erri and you have to know your resources before you can form a strategy to go on and and have a plan for our town. It's one of the main reasons why when uh when I put together or actually when Ron and I put together the uh master plan subcommittee that we wanted to ensure the fact that we had liaison from from varying um boards, we we made sure that we had a liaison from the zoning board, a leazison from from the environmental commission so that that good information could filter through and then they could take what's what was going on at the subcommittee level back to each of those respective boards and you guys could discuss it.

I have a question. I I love the work that the uh environmental commission does. Um is it an advisory committee or does it have more than that authority to the planning board?

Understanding it's an advisory committee but that that's a council question I think. So we would if they so in theory they would they would meet they would give us recommendations advise us on future actions that we should consider whether it's in regards to should they be in the application process then or where where's the authority lines on the the information that they're providing to us for consideration. I'm just trying to get clarification on it. So in my experience in the past, okay, not trying to throw, I'm just trying to share, reflect backwards and share. So what used to happen was for every application that we got, we would get a onepage just like we do from the police department.

Um not a not a booklet or anything like that, but like a one page, you'll remember Dave as well. um where the environmental commission would bring any if they had questions, if they had concerns and it was on one page just like the police report was on one page um to say we we think this is good or you know it's good. However, we have these concerns that should be considered and so it was that was always in the packet. So I don't know if you guys are still getting those. We still get that.

Okay. So, are you looking for more than that or I know I think I know what you're saying because if the environmental representative is put on as an alternate, they don't always get a vote. So, I think what you're saying, if I'm hearing you properly, is to safeguard the position to make sure it always has a vote rather than taking the chance that it's going to be put on as a alternate that may not have a vote. Correct. That's correct. Okay. Well, thank you for that clarification. at at least you are providing advisory and suggestions andor you're you're included in the application process. Yeah. Um we did get so that's how I was interpreting that but I think that was clarified.

Well what I was getting at is they do the onepage summary but when we do our resolutions and other conditions it says subject to the review by our planning professional subject to the review of our engineering professional. And I just thought maybe we could incorporate in there also subject to the recommendations of the environmental commission. The problem I think with that Joan, I don't mean to overstep. I don't want to be the new person that doesn't stop talking. No, it's good to have these conversations.

Yeah. I think the issue with that is that our our professionals can can bring up things that can stop an application in its tracks. and they've got the professional background like Dave and and our legal fees, our legal staff and whatever to bring up different kinds of things to that legally according to our ordinances, according to different things can shut something down or stop something or prevent something or whatever. Environmental again is advisory. So yes, it's very important. And I don't think there's anything to say, you know, in the checklist, check mark environmental concerns have been, you know, um you maybe you can't address all of them, but you can make sure that they are heard and the ones that can be addressed can. Um, but I think it's in a little bit of a different space than the professional reporting only in that again the the environmental while everyone is very knowledgeable, the professionals have the certificates up on the wall that you know um can give us reports that can actually stop things. So that's the only thing I would say there. But I don't think there's anything wrong with putting it on the checkbox to say we

and I guess we can just add it to our conditions if we feel appropriate. I I would say there when we're talking about the environmental commission the it's the same as we're we ask of the police department of the fire department uh you know or any other you know uh part of the town that we're asking asking for comment from um you know but we can't I mean we can't bring them all in to have a vote you know so but we have to make sure that the uh the concerns are are heard and part of you know part of the record and part and and and and weighed in on and then we as a a group have to um assess all those and we seriously consider them. Yes.

From whatever advisory group that pre presents to us, we express our concerns and try to get those answers and those issues resolved. So,

it has a significant role in our application process. I also think that historically this board has done a a decent job, Christine, correct me if I'm wrong, of um of ensuring the fact that there are certain environmental concerns that are brought forward that are included in the resolution. And once they're included in the resolution, that really kind of makes sure that those boxes are are checked because now we're we are addressing those issues and we're giving our professionals now the the power to enforce, you know, those those needs. Ken, I mean, am I am I incorrect in that?

You're correct. And I think u the council representative summarized it. Uh is the class two member should that be the environment a member of the environment of the commission and I and I would take a look at that for the board uh because I know there's that vacancy there uh versus uh just Christine as an alternate. So good discussion, good questions, but we have been good on the resolutions uh incorporating as a condition the terms that we've received and discussed as to the environmental commission and she should be complimented again for bringing that to our attention. just on behalf of the whole entire environmental commission, you know, we do get that application most of the time, not all of the time before it comes here and we spread it out on the table and we're looking at it and, you know, we have our phones out and trying to figure out what the Highlands uh council recommends and and looking at the zoning. So, we do put our our full attention to that in writing our one-page report. So, thank you for your consideration. you.

Well, we appreciate all the work and effort%. Okay. Any other items or discussion?

But one thing if I could, it's kind of kind of a tough discussion, but I just I think it needs to happen is, you know, at the last meeting we were talking about the class two versus the altered and who votes. And I think the way we left it is we were hoping that we were going to get a class two uh uh person decided at the town council and they kind of kicked it back to us um saying, "Hey, you know, it's up it's up to the board to determine how they vote." So, I I think we got to get that lane flat before we have an applicant in front of us. I think it's an important discussion to have and see if we can get it resolved. It doesn't have to be tonight, but I think certainly before an applicant, we should know what what the cut offs are going to be in terms of how we're going to vote.

Well, that kind of means good discussion tonight.

Yeah. And I I think we're we're fortunate that Mike uh Sylvester is here. Uh we're having that conversation. Is the class two member an environmental commission member? Is the class two member an employee? uh you know if there's that position there has been a determination that if it's an administrative function it's not a municipal land use and what I mean by that you're making a decision on uh chair and those issues that the ordinance says the sparta planning board is nine members so in that case there were nine votes whether it was an alternate or not um now the question becomes if someone especially if you vote vote against an application and someone uh challenges it saying that I didn't get the opportunity of that additional vote or I got the alternate who shouldn't vote. So very interesting issues. If it was a law school exam, it would definitely be one that has different paths. So uh Mr. Sylvester, uh good luck.

Thanks. So but that doesn't really address what I was hoping to address. So I again I want to drive this to this discussion to a closure if we can that says we have an act I believe coming in in March. Are we going to have are we going to know before that applicants in front of us who can vote and who can't vote? We should. Yes. I think there are two separate issues. In fact, I know there are. One is um the class 2 position has to be filled by town council if they're going to fill it. That's a town council issue. Mhm.

But as Ron is saying and as I brought up last time, our issue, and they did punt it back to us for the land use portion of it, we determine, you know, how we're going to vote. And um the law is we have nine regular members. One is vacant. So how many members do we have regular members? We have eight. One, two. We can go around and count. We have eight regular. We have eight minus the class two position that's vacant. Right. Right.

So eight regular members. An alternate member reading straight from the statute may participate in all matters but may not vote in except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. And that was challenged um in the Hamilton planning board and the decision was that the trial court held that when a member has not been appointed an alternate may not vote in thestead of that member. was contrasted with an absence of a dulyappointed board member or perhaps a disqualification of a dulyappointed board member in which an alternate could vote. But here there wasn't an absence of an appointed board member or a disqualification, but rather there wasn't anyone in that position at all because an appointment had not been made. So that's the law. I don't see where it's even questionable. Um actually I do

and we have eight as a quorum. So we have our quorum and we have a quorum to I mean because yes that that particular case and that was the result in that case but Ken correct me if I'm wrong so precedent was set in that in that particular case but are there other cases that utilize that same precedent that you know what I mean because if there's a body of cases that set that precedent then that carries more weight

versus I would just say it's unusual it's this an unusual circumstance in that uh the issue has been raised. We've determined administratively and past practice of this board way before almost all of us that the uh on administrative functions who the chair is who the professionals are uh that the alternate has been able to vote as an by ordinance and sparta nine persons. However, now we're looking as uh Ron is bringing up when you have the Municipal Land Use Act and you have an applicant here is the same standard and I have not done an opinion of that. Good question. Good discussion. Uh hopefully again the mayor and council will fill that class too so we we don't have to have that issue.

If they don't, can we put this as an agenda item for the next meeting? You could I was I was going to give an update in the town council. I mean you guys are going back and gone a little bit. Yeah. So if you want me to speak to it now, town council uh has received some applications and will we be presenting an applicant for to fill the class 2 uh as soon as reasonably possible. Okay, great. Um, now saying that that position's full the voting and who has that's that should resolve this discussion. Correct. Well, if if if they approve a member, yes, it resolves it. Okay.

If they don't, then we're still back. We're hoping to get that out shortly. Okay. It's with the mayor as we speak. And if they don't, then we could address it at the next planning board meeting. Yes. Yes. I I mean, do you and I'll report back. If if for some reason it stalled or something didn't move forward and the recommendation didn't come to the planning board, I'm sure we'll we'll be notifying the planning board that something is different has changed. Okay. What are the odds that you guys will have a decision on that by your next meeting? I can't speak for those making those decisions, but hopefully very soon. Okay, great. And I think for clarification, that's a council vote, not an appointment. Correct. So, thank you everybody.

So, hopefully we can get to it as soon as reasonably possible, but if it does carry in to extends into March because of the timing of the approvals and all that, we'll notify the board so we don't have to keep you in limbo or have this discussion moving forward.

Okay, great. Just quickly, Ron, let's say we don't have the member present. Uh, one concept would be to say to the applicant, uh, it is a nine member board. Do you want to carry your application until it's filled or, uh, there is some, uh, discord in the law of vacancy absentee? Would you be okay with the absent, uh, with the alternate voting? Uh look, it's not

it's not uh pure, but it's putting the applicant if in my opinion if the applicant wanted to have nine members, give them that choice. Uh is is that's a band-aid. But thank you. That's it. Yeah, I definitely think that that would be worth it only because I mean an eight member board there's there's possibility for uh Yeah, I think we're going to be in good shape. Stay tuned. Okay, great.

Okay, so continuing with other board business, anyone else? Just wanted to ask maybe Ron or or someone here um if you you had the idea at our last meeting that you would have um applicants for minor site plan come in um before the executive or before our regular meeting at 6:00 or 6:30 from time to time. Is that still on the table? I will give an update as soon as I get to that subcommittee section under the state of the agenda in the back. Okay. So, we're going to move forward to updates and we're going to move into town council. Seeing as though that's probably threequarters of your update,

you all stole my thunder. So, that was what I had to report and uh there's really no other additional reports to provide at this time, but I will I will be diligently following up on this class two position. Great. Thank you.

So, we will move forward to environmental. I think last time I updated you on um the winter salt contamination concern that we had and then we were doing monitoring on that and our five watersheds and also um mentioned that we're going to have an Earth Day cleanup and fair afterwards on the front here. Um, and also I think that I mentioned that we did do a review of um the zoning board application 16-25 29 Main Street, which you should be receiving a report on eventually. So, I'll move on to new sort of new stuff. Um, we got correspondence from the DP, a notice of ecigarette and vape pen management and disposal. And um what the concern is is that these um these products, they have uh chemicals in them that are dangerous for the environment. Um just to mention a couple, the nicotine and the chromium. Um they leech into the environment. Um the pods and pens, they do not uh break down and the lithium ion batteries can ignite in the trash. And so there's a there's a disposal issue here, you know, with them. Um they classify them as hazardous household waste.

So um we got this advisement um to never throw them in the trash bins and the e-liquids or pods should be stored in a clear plastic bag um because they're liquids. Um, and whenever, um, the county has a household hazardous waste event, um, that would be a good time to bring these items over over there. And so when we were talking about this, we had a few suggestions. One is that we could um, we could post this flyer,formational flyer from the D on the Sparta website. We also could send it to the business commiti committee for their thoughts. Um, and I'll get back to that in a minute. Um, and also to the school board to make the health teachers more aware of this. Um, and um, just to include it in general awareness among the parents um, and everything. um with the business committee um we were saying that when somebody goes in to buy this product, they often buy it, but they're not aware of the consequences of what they do with it afterwards. So, would it be appropriate for businesses that sell the products to have a sign, you know, just like when you remember the cigarette packages came out? Well, I do. you know, years ago, you know, the attorney general, you know, um you know, just so that people know that these are hazardous substances and they should be disposed of properly. But then the question is where would you direct them? Well, my only answer at that this point would be that you take them over to the landfill um area and they would be able to um perhaps um have a dispenser there. But I I don't know

this for sure. Uh, I know the lithium component they do because I take lithium batteries over there to be recycled. Christine, to your to your point uh or uh medicines um we started the the drop boxes and now um all thearmacies advertise it as well. Any pharmacy you go to tells you where you know where the local dropbox is. Some of them have them themselves, but you know, put all of them directly to the local police department and everything. So, kind of the same idea. You know, there, you know, from the point of sale, they're telling you this, if you have any leftover, this is why you get rid of them. Don't throw them in the trash. So, I think

So, how do we go about making that um a possibility for Sparta residents? Do do we

Well, the not the notification, if I recall, said there was designated disposal fac is identified. I I saw the notification. I mean, this is a public community out outreach public awareness statement, right? So, we got to get the information out to the public and everything you suggested I I agree with. I mean, I think it's just about getting the awareness out. Um, I we would should look into where they should be disposed of or who who does the disposal. They just don't want throw people throwing these things in the trash. And there's no different than the pharmaceuticals. Don't flush it down a toilet, right? bring it to a disposal facility. But it's about getting the awareness out

once we know once we know what the where the list of locations is. Can we put that out on the RAV? 100%. I thought I thought it was good. I mean, I I just saw it. It's kind of coming from it's just it just it was just released. So, it's a ma matter of us getting the awareness out to the community. Well, don't they sell those things at like 7-Eleven and stuff like that?

Yeah. And and I agree with those signs up there. Well, I'm wondering if there's going to be a push because of the the bigger bigger retail. So, the smaller I mean, my understanding was at one point I mean like the I know we've had a lot of discussion about smoke shops around here lately, but um you know, I don't have a problem with asking them, but it can't be some big huge ridiculous crazy thing either. Like I think it should be something that's that could go, you know, small or something. But I'm wondering if um there's going to be some kind of legislation coming down to places like for example 7-Eleven, Waw Wa, Quick Check, you know, mandated

that's mandated for them to do something that we don't have to take that action because the bigger thing is where they're selling it, I would think would be huge. I mean, I I would guarantee, you know, I know people that that use those things and

I mean, I didn't ever look or ask, but I'm thinking in my head they're so small that people are just probably not knowingly, honestly. Um, but you can also use the um the township rave system, you know, and send out a bulletin just like you do if you're not getting garbage or you're not getting whatever to say, hey, there's a warning because those things those those batteries catch on fire and it's a it's a thing. So maybe maybe you could talk to council and maybe council could talk to Jim Zep and get a smaller version of that public service announcement out through the rave system that goes out to every member of the township as a text message in addition to trying to figure out if there's going to be some mandate from the state to the bigger stores.

Well, we got to follow up on it. It's so it's so new. We're reviewing it at council level, but I mean it's it's really to get the information out to the public. One other suggestion, but it would only be periodic, is when you have the um shredding, which is I think twice a year. Um and if you're having that in the parking lot, you can also have another station for collecting these, collecting batteries, collecting pills, and kind of have it like as a one day drop off. But yes, so that's one thing.

Um, okay. So, um, I and I may have mentioned this also. Um, we got last year a sustainable Jersey grant. Um, and we kind of we the EC works closely with the trails committee and what we got a $2,000 grant. And what we did was is we had um trail signs for Sparta Glenn designed. one to put at the new Yonkers lot and one is in the Glenn and now we have those but the ground is frozen so we'll have to wait and then we'll have them installed at those two locations. So, that was a a nice grant. But this year, what we would like to do, um what we're trying to do at this time is is we'd like to um get a larger grant. And this is for an environmental resource inventory. And it would be a $10,000 grant. And um we would be um this would pay for assistance and also for Sparta staff time if they needed to help and get information. Now this is important because it's usually found as an appendix in master plans. It's one of um the references in that is in a master plan because you're building a strategy, right? and it's based on objective factual data about your environment there that it can sustain it. So, we're hoping that we'll be able to um meet that deadline. It's very foundational and a great tool for land use planning.

I would check also because I think something very similar to that was already paid for and done for all the outside um and recreational whatnot. Maybe pieces of that overlap. Well, it might it might use the mic. I'm sorry. Sorry. Thank you. I'm trying to sit back so everybody could see and throw my voice this way. Uh, you know, maybe pieces of that are involved in the report that was put together,

the open space and recreation plan. Yes. So, what we're what we hope to do is engage the land use uh New Jersey land use conservancy again once again because they're the ones that put together the recreation and open space plan and they're familiar with our area but I don't know whether they do the ERIS. Yeah. Yeah. So, when's the uh subscription period and the deadline for that for the ERRI? Yeah. To submit for the grant. Yeah, that's right. February 13th. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. It's uh Do

you guys still have a relationship with Millennium with the with the grant writers? So maybe someone should talk to them. Are you doing that through your Well, um commission or through the commission. We're trying to I think the person that was managing our sustainable New Jersey grant um for some reason um changed and so we're trying to find out information to close our old grant because our old grant with the signs has not been officially closed and we can't apply for the new grant until that old grant is you know put away. I can follow up on that.

Thank you. Right. Yeah. Okay. Anything else? Thank you. Thank you, Christine. Actually, okay. So, no, actually, I'm gonna have to to learn how to discern between Chris Quinn and Chris Dunar. I can't call you both Chris. Call me Quinn. Just call me Quinn. That that solves it.

There you go. Okay, moving on to the updates for subcommittees. So I am going to start with the master plan subcommittee. Um master plan subcommittee is intending to have their first meeting of the year on uh February 10th. Excuse me. It's Tuesday. Um there we are going to uh to discuss on a high level our uh overarching goals and objectives for um for the plan. Um we are going to get an update from our planner Lindsay on the progress of each of the respective um components uh that are that are being worked on with a little bit of focus on the circulation element. Um because we are hoping and anticipating that Brian and Tendola um will be capable of presenting the uh the circulation element on the 18th um at our meeting on the 18th. Uh that having been said, um that's all of the update I have for that at the moment. Um moving on to minor site plan subcommittee. Minor site plan subcommittee met for its first meeting this evening prior to this planning board meeting in this room. We heard our first three applications. Uh that is SP2601 through SP2603. Um, we have the pleasure of saying that we uh we approved all three of those applications. Um, excuse me. Uh, one was for signage and two were for new teny. Uh, one including also um signage for that new teny. uh we welcome those those individuals, the new tenants to the spaces that they're occupying and um we look forward to having aesthetically pleasing signage in uh in our town

center. Uh beyond that, moving forward, we will continue um you know, evolving our process for uh for minor site plan seeing as though this was our first goaround. Um I think it was a good session. Um, we we had the benefit of of uh Ken having sit sat in on our inaugural session. He uh he decided to to help us proono um to make sure that we were kind of up up to speed on where we needed to go. Um I think I think we were all in agreement that that it went reasonably well and look forward to uh to moving through this process and and fine-tuning it as uh as we move forward. Um, also putting officially on the record that even though I had stated last, excuse me, last meeting that Mike Sylvester would have been a member of the miter site plan subcommittee until such time as the mayor, excuse me, I apologize for my voice. I am losing it intermittently. Uh, that until such time as the mayor uh appointed his design. Uh I want to say that Chris Quinn officially sat in on those meetings um on that on today's meeting uh in that capacity. So that is the only update I currently have for uh minor site plan subcommittee. Um yeah, I think that's everything that I had on my agenda. Oh, actually I do want to put something else out there. Um, last meeting, Robert Otto was here and gave us a summary of um, the 2025 uh, year. Um, I know Michael had reached out to him to get a copy of that of that summary. Um, I also reached out to him today to get a copy of that summary. We have yet to receive it. Um, as soon as we receive it, we'll forward it to the

members of the board so they have it for their for their records and their reference. Um, and the minutes the minutes. Yes. And the minutes as well. No, the So, the minutes for the year. We had never approved. I sent you an email on this. We had never approved October, November, or December of 2025. I'll talk to you about it.

Yeah, let's let's discuss that. I apologize. I I hadn't really checked emails after like 4 o'lock today. It's been it's been a day. Um, okay. So, actually then, uh, that having been said, we'll we'll make sure that we get those on on the next agenda.

Uh, okay. That is all of my information for subcommittees. That said, we will move into the open to the public. Before we do that, I'm just took me a little while, but I'm thinking about what um you know, Ken had said and um addressing the voting of the alternate member. It's one thing to ask the applicant, but if you recall with the one of the prior applications in 2024, we were challenged by a member of the public. So, it's one thing to ask the applicant, but it still leaves the door open for a challenge from the public. And um I think unless you know I know Celeste you said you know what other law is out there um unless you can find something we just have this and I think we really better pay attention to it. So I just want you to think about it before we come back next time. Think about it seriously because I don't want to be in that position.

So can can we charge you with with finding the case law on on what you know on what direction we should go. Yes. And hopefully it'll be a non-issue and I won't have to charge because the council will fill the position. I was just going to say it sounds encouraging that you know before we make the investment in uh your time. Hopefully we're going to make an investment in your time and get you behind the council to get the uh the new member. I will be prepared uh to give an opinion at that hearing if need be.

Appreciate that. I'd like to move to the open to the public session for comments and matters not on the agenda. any? No. Okay. Hearing none, we do have on the excuse me on the agenda an executive session relative to contract discussions with our professionals. Uh, excuse me. Ken, if you wouldn't mind in lie of my voice. You need to take a recess. You all right? You need some water?

I just need a sip of my tea.

Gang, under the open public meeting act, you have the ability to go into uh close session. Adequate notice was given of uh the request for close session. the there will be no determination uh that needs to be done is my understanding. So when we come out of the close session there will be no additional vote. Uh this is just the discussion and therefore for the public again uh there will be no determination after the discussion. There is a formal resolution that was prepared with regard to the open public media act which is part of the record and we have the ability to talk about uh contract discussion attorney pryant communication litigation and the like. So uh someone moved to go into close session and second we can uh proceed.

I'll make the motion. I'll second. Roll call, please. Christine Quinn. Yes. Deputy Mayor Michael Sylvester. Yes. Ron Day, yes. Christine Dunar, yes. Joan Ferman, yes. Ernie Rex, yes. Vice Chairwoman Janette B. Yes. Chairwoman, yes. Yes. And again, for the public, uh, when we come out of close session, we'll just be moving to adjourn. There'll be no further action taken. Thank you.

bringing all that up. All right, we're back on. Okay, so we are back live out of executive and may I have a motion and a second for adjournment? Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I. All righty. Thank you everyone.