Township Council - Regular Meeting

[music] [music] Heat. Heat. call to order. I hereby call this meeting of Allen Township Council to order. This meeting is being held in accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act and adequate notice of this meeting has been advertised in the manner prescribed by law. This agenda is complete to the extent known and formal action will be taken.

Councilman Nadell here. Councilwoman Od O' Oddonnell here. Councilman Rubel here. Deputy Mayor Fischer is absent this evening. Mayor Legio here. Please rise for a pledge of allegiance and a moment of individual prayer. 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. Thank you.

May I have a motion for acceptance of minutes from the February 10th meeting? Motion. Second. Councilman Nadell. Yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell. Councilwoman Reubel. Yes. Mayor Leio. Abstain. [clears throat]

the reports from our department officials. Mayor and council, I just like to take this opportunity to thank the public uh for its cooperation during this past storm. Um we've seen terrific compliance in terms of um people moving their cars and getting them out of the way of the plows. If you look around town today, you'll see that the we're able to get closer to the curb than we have in the past storms. So, we want to again take the opportunity to thank everybody for their cooperation. Um remind everyone to to u focus on their sidewalks in in the coming days. Um we anticipate that uh we will move be moving forward with enforcement at some point but we do hope that um enforcement won't be necessary in most cases. So thank you

uh just briefly want to note that uh we did have a pretty successful workshop meeting discussing our parking permit ordinance. Um we have another one scheduled coming up. I believe it was on March 3rd, which is a week from today. That is going to be rescheduled. I think we were floating around dates. I'm not sure if it the new date is confirmed yet. Is it? I don't think it's it's not confirmed yet, but as soon as it's confirmed, uh we we'll post notices on the township website and uh social media so we can continue that conversation. And the next meeting should be a night meeting to accommodate all of those people who were working during the day. Yeah, I believe the tenative date is March 31st.

Possib possibly. Yeah, it's a matter of just everybody confirming their schedule. That's all that's I had put in my calendar just to just in case. Perfect. Yes. So, look for announcements of when that will officially be, but tenatively March 31st.

Thank you, Kaitlin. Before we get started, uh, you know, make a statement about this past snowstorm. You know, first and foremost, I want to extend my deepest thanks to our Department of Public Works, police, EMS, fire department team, and all the teams. They were out there working tirelessly in extremely diff difficult conditions, responding to one call after another and putting the countless hours in to keep our community safe. Their hard work ensured that our roadways remained open so emergency vehicles could travel safely and respond quickly when needed. This recent snow event was especially challenging. more than 24 hours of steady snowfall, powerful winds, down power lines, and fallen trees. Yet, despite these obstacles, our DPW staff and subcontractors showed an outstanding dedication and professionalism. Okay, some residents were not happy with our response times and uh I apologize, but snowplow operations are never easy. Okay. Sometimes a small snowstorm could be managed with relative ease. But then there are storms like this, a once in a decade event that can paralyze our roads, our roadways for days. And in spite of that, every department worked together to keep our township open and operating dur during this truly historic weather event. I hope everyone recognizes and appreciates the incredible effort that went into keeping our community safe and moving forward. every single one of our township employees and volunteers. Your service is greatly appreciated and thank you again. On to hearing of citizens and public comment.

Oh, may I move? Go ahead. I'm sorry. Can we have a um a motion and second to open? Motion to open public comment. Second. All in favor? I. Each person shall first give their name and address to the clerk. The the council shall be addressed as a collective body and not as individual members. Each person shall have one turn to address the council and comment shall not exceed a total of 5 minutes. Speakers shall not shall be notified when their time has run and no time extensions shall be permitted. like to who would like to come up. Mr. Crook, I'll be let

There's only a few people here. Who Anyone like to come? Go ahead, sir. Go ahead. I just Please state the state. State your name and your address, please. All right. Thank you.

Uh Nelson Jino, 24 Farest Hill Drive. I just like to say that uh last time I was here was in 2024 with the previous administration. I said basically everything that other residents have said. But let me say this, coming from Jersey City, I always said that how will change into a city in a couple of years and it has changed. See, Jersey City already gave developers 30-year abatements. And the reason I'm here is because property taxes went up. And yes, Jersey City has parking permits, and now it's $20 a year. They outsourced it to a third party because uh the city couldn't handle it. So, I just like to say that I know you're going to do what you want to do, all right? And you're going to be persuaded by other people, but uh you might as well start calling Howal the city of How because that's what it's going to be turning into. And yes, they did a great job removing the snow, so I'd like to add that as a plus. But in consideration, uh I know there's only so much you could do. All right? And we're stuck to me in a pressure where I just want to say look at Jackson Township, please. Okay, that's all I got to say. and it's coming here and I'll be calling this the city of how.

Thank you. Thank you. Have a good day. Stay safe.

Anyone else? There's no one else here, Mr. Crook. All right. Make it quick. Make it quick. Press on. All right. Come on. We got to laugh a little bit. It was a rough 48 hours, right?

We do have to laugh because otherwise you're going to cry. Um, I was here last week. I can't remember what day it was to file my Oprah request for uh two pieces of property I I uh have concern about. 37 Sammy Drive is one of them. And the other one is the one I've been complaining about across the street from my own house. 7 Sammy Drive. Um 37 Sammy Drive I find very interesting even though it's down the block and not visible from my home. Uh they demoed the garage. I'm kind of filling you in on on it. Susan has been monitoring this and actually came to my house uh after viewing it to discuss what's going on there. And um she said to me, "I'm appalled at at what's going on there because it's obvious that it's it's something more than you would think it is from from the street." And I know uh because I asked about the plans and it is uh a twostory edition. However, there's no framing members at the second floor. So it's a big cavernous building that has a 17 foot high ceiling in it from the front to the rear of the addition. So I don't know of a lot of places that have 17 foot ceilings over here in how maybe in Rumpson or Navasync over there because I worked in that area but um I kind of think it might be something used to assemble people in and uh I questioned John Aguilera whether or not when they reviewed the zoning application for this I don't know

who did maybe somebody who no longer works for the town. Uh if they put clouded notes on there after looking at it, because I did that for 30 years. If I look at something that doesn't seem to fit the description for a living room and dining room from front to rear, uh I would say to be used as a living room and dining room and not to be used for the assembly or gathering of people. There's not even a religious remark being made there. I was just saying that you applied to the town for building promise to construct a two-story atrium style living room and dining room and that's all you can use it as. And so, uh, he first said to me, "We didn't make any remarks on there." Then he said, "Oh, yeah. Uh, maybe we did. I'm sure we we put something down." At which point I said, "Well, I'm going to Opra request the plans." and and that's it's very uh elaborate my description what I'm looking for and uh I told Susan and she said thank you for looking into that. I also noticed that the footings detail on the on this uh thing could never support a second floor. So, even if they got slapped and said, "Hold on a second. You're not you're not going to use this thing as a meeting room or gathering place," they wouldn't even be able to add a second floor because they put an 8 in block instead of 12in block. So, I find that a little funny. These are these guys are amateur builders here. I was a project manager on the Goldman Sachs Tower in Jersey City. This gentleman knows about that. Okay. is the largest building in in the state. It was over a billion dollars in construction. So for me to look at a house and and ascertain what's going on, it's a joke.

Um so she called it a monstrosity, I think was Susan's ex exact uh words. Um she also mentioned to me about the poleborn uh over in the candlewood section. So, because I'm curious, I went over there and looked at that and she asked me for my comments on that. I said, "Well, I I don't have the plans for that. I didn't ask for them, but seems like you have a lot coverage issue over there." Um, it would be interesting to know who approved the these things. Who is it? Somebody that no longer works for the town. Can I ask that question? Maybe you can address it in the in the uh answer. uh portion. But if that's the case, you know, there's a big problem there. And uh Susan and I shared the sentiment that we were looking at into the Manchester decision because that's very interesting. I I don't know if you know, parallels a lot of the things that we have going on and the town was able to uh uphold their uh stance that it can't be used for the public. And so I'm sure they'll contest it and take it to the zoning board

in five minutes. Yeah. Approval. So that that's my take on what's going on. All right. Thank you, Richard. Thank you. Byebye. Anyone else on the public? I'm seeing none. Make a motion to close public. Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I. All right. Responses. Mr. Mr. uh

yeah I I'll just say that I don't know the answer to the question of of uh uh who who approved that uh or approved a any particular application um the documentation will revolve that I will say that we have had some turnover in the department so that is another particular reason I can't tell you who did it so but it is certainly when the opra request is is completed that information will be there. Nelson Kale,

um, as far as pole barns, I don't believe we have any restrictions in our code right now that regulates on how large those um accessory units can be to the the main property. Um, but that's something that we can discuss with uh zoning and possibly update the code to uh look at tighter restrictions. moving forward.

Yeah, I I'll just add that um that I have been looking at that issue specifically along with some other zoning issues and have begun to meet with individually uh with members of the council and hope to put together um some suggested amendments to help address uh areas that that are um zoning may be deficient or or not appropriate at this time. So, Can I make one very quick? Can you wait till after? Thank you. No, fine. Thank you. You're fine.

I'm good. I just want to echo the mayor statement from before. Uh few tough snowstorms this year so far and DPW is really handling it well. Uh I drove to multiple areas across town today. Uh was able to get around with no issues. They're out there working long hours doing [clears throat] the work in these tough conditions and all emergency personnel that are out there as well. So thank everyone that was involved uh on the streets during the storms.

A good way. Nelson, thank you for coming up here. appreciate you uh being you know get coming up here on a after the snowstorm and uh out coming out in the cold and addressing us. Um as far as the parking is concerned when that does get implemented there will be no fee to the residents. That's the that that's the plan. We don't plan on doing second party, third party, any of that kind of stuff. We're not Jersey City obviously. Not yet. Maybe in like 50 years or so. Um, [clears throat] as far as any of us up here taking orders or being uh pushed to be pushed around by anyone else, I can tell you I answer only to the residents of How Township and I do not answer to any special interest groups or any any kind of shenanigans like that. Sir, I'm saying it on the record. I work I work for the Howell Township residents and I will not be told how to vote. I will not be told how to uh push an agenda through. Make that very clear.

So, thank you. Okay. No, thank you, Mr. Kug. We're aware of what's going on, sir. Okay. I love you guys. And Mr. Gross and Caitlyn, like you said, we're working on some some things as far as lock coverage and setbacks and all that stuff. Things that we never had to address in the past, but maybe needs to be looked at. And um through our legal team, what we could do, we we will do. Okay. And we we're going to leave it leave it there for now. What is your question to Mr. Or you want to do it at the end? Do it at the end real fast. Yeah.

It it it falls in with zoning. Okay. That particular building over there. But use that as an example. They they called it a pole barn. However, a pole barn um would you would expect garage doors on it or a barn door. Okay, because uh a pole barn would fall into like a type four construction, heavy beam timber and possibly metal sheathing because I believe that's that's what's on that. However, what's in insistent here is there are no garage doors. There are only man doors on this building and a lot of windows in the front portion of the building. So when you get a plan like that and for a proposed pole bar, again, these water watermark notes or clouded notes that the zoning department puts on there are critical because it says to be used as a poleborn. It's an accessory structure to a home. Okay? It can't be an entity into itself to be used in some type of assembly use.

Well, Mr. Krug, yeah, like I said, we're addressing numerous things in this particular case. There were notes added to the application. Okay. This is this has been a hot topic for the past week. Okay. Yeah. And I'm just I'm going to leave it at that. Our professionals are on it and moving forward with our zoning department. We, like I said, we're we're dealing with some with some things without getting too deep in the woods. All right. Got it. Thank you. Next, we will vote on consent agenda items. Does anyone wish to vote on any of these items separately? Excuse me. I don't need a separate vote, but I wanted clarification on one specific one. So, do you want go

ahead? Uh, R 26109. Um, Mr. Mr. Ghost, could you just extrapolate on that a bit? That that one I can touch on. Thank you. Yeah. Uh that is the mediation agreement that um we have with the fair share housing uh

group and it's essentially laying out our uh affordable housing plan. Um it's including all the projects that we have already passed zoning for. Um we've got some pretty tight deadlines with the state right now for our affordable housing obligation numbers. Um tonight you'll see one of the ordinances that's on for intro um needs to be adopted by March 15th. That's uh the big deadline for across the state for everybody to get all of their plans and zoning in and everything like that. uh we were ahead of the the ball for most of it because we've already done most of the the zoning and redevelopment plans and overlay uh zoning. So, we're good on that. These are the final few pieces that we need to pass. So, this the ordinance on tonight for intro is changing our affordable housing uh language in our code to reflect the uh DCA and the states language. It's also incorporating our obligations. The mediation agreement that's uh we're looking to ratify tonight also is laying out all of those obligations. Everything that we've agreed to, everything that are are in our plan. So, that's something that had to uh go through the court system. It was agreed upon through litigation council and uh fair share. then it's going to be presented to a judge and then we'll we'll I believe the judge will issue an order related to that.

So this particular resolution does not is not indicative to any one parcel or any one affordable housing. No, it it's laying out all of our obligation, all our unmet need. It it has all of our numbers in it th those kind of things. So, and the mediation, I'm sorry. Then the uh intro on the ordinance will be specific.

The the intro on the ordinance isn't again isn't for any one specific property. All of those specific property kind of ordinances that we've already done were more pertaining to the zoning ordinances where we've already done in past. Those have already come. I I believe this summer you guys had passed a couple of those. These are just our general obligations. And then also obligations for the the future of the program. So making sure the units stay affordable and how you know future development comes in. It addresses unmet need and uh set aside numbers and and fees that the town can collect through through the affordable housing program. So that's for the ordinance for tonight. uh the resolutions just to ratify the mediation agreement that is basically spelling out everything we've already agreed to. And then at our next meeting, there likely will be a couple more resolutions. I know uh a spending plan needs to be adopted before the 15th. Um and we have our housing element fair share plan which is going to be in front of the planning board and then as soon as the planning board hears it they have to refer it back to us. So then we will um confirm what the planning board does but all of that has to be done before March 15th. So a lot of moving parts.

So I have not read the mediation agreement. I know it was sent out I think on Saturday at some point. Yeah, I I can send it to you separately if

Yeah. So, um then would you suggest that I vote on something I haven't read? Should I set it aside until the ordinance comes in for the final vote? Um I will leave, you know, how you want to vote up to you. I would say that uh it's a very important document to approve. I think it's been vetted by uh a bunch of your professionals and you know carries your obligations that you've kind of already else otherwise incorporated into some of your previous votes you've done on some of the overlay zoning and plans and everything you've done with that. But but if uh you know completely up to you how you want to vote but if you want to discuss any particulars about the the mediation

the snowtorm sort of you know I wasn't able to go Friday um because of the sunshine we have to respect that and then I would typically call on a Monday to get some details but because of the severe snowstorm office is closed and then I was supposed to have an eye surgery yesterday which was postponed till today. So, I didn't get a chance to get that agreement today either. So, I'm not comfortable with probably um I mean it's only an intro on the ordinance. So, um so so I think we're talking about two separate things tonight. The ordinance and the reszo. I think the reszo then will have some obviously have some impact on the ordinance. Would it not? Uh yes. Okay.

Yeah. Okay. You know, would you like them to separate it? Uh, I can just pull it out. I'll just pull it. No, that's right. You sure? Um, yeah, unless it makes the voting clearer. Okay, let me pull it out. Let's take 109 out. Uh, yeah. All right. So, then we'll May I have a motion to approve consent agenda consisting of 103 26-103 through 10 108 to 110. for now.

Motion to approve R 26103 through R26110 with the exception of R26109. Second. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Rubel, yes. Mayor Leio, yes. Consent resolutions passed. All right. May I have a motion now to approve consent agenda R 26 109? Motion to approve R26109. Second. Councilman Nadell. Yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell. I just feel I can't vote on it at this point in time because I don't have the information. So, um I'll upsent. Uh Councilman Rubel.

Yes. Mayor Leio. Yes. Okay. On to unfinished business. Adoption of ordinances. O-2604, an ordinance amending chapter 139 fees of the township code to lower the amount of fees associated with late retail food handling license renewal fees. May I have a motion to open to the public? Motion open to the public. Second. All in favor? I would anyone from the public would like to come up? I'm seeing none. Motion to close. Motion to close.

Second. All in favor? I Is that it? That's the We need a motion um to adopt. Motion to adopt uh 2604. Motion to adopt ordinance 2604. Second. Councilman Nadell. Yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell. Yes. Councilman Rubel. Yes. Mayor Leio. Yes. On to O-2605.

An ordinance authorizing the tax collector to cancel any and all taxes for the tax years 2024 and 2025 due on block 138.01, lot 26.03, owned by Affinity Partners Network Services, Inc. pursuant to and in accordance with NJSA 54-3.6. 6 C. I'll make a motion to open it public 2605. Second. Would anyone from the public like to come up on this ordinance? Seeing none. Motion to close. Motion to close. Second.

May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 2605? Motion to adopt O2605. Second. Councilman Nadale. Yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell. Yes. Councilman Rubel, yes. Mayor Legio, yes. And the ordinance is properly adopted. On to 026-06. Ordinance amending numerous chapters of the revised general ordinances of the township of Howell to amend and add parking regulations related to on and off streetet parking. Motion the public. Second. Anyone from the public? Seeing none. Yes.

Is there going to be more information on that or is that something different? That that's not the permit parking program ordinance. That's a ordinance that's basically giving the municipality the right to regulate uh municipal owned property a little more. So your parking lots related to your parks, the burrow or the township municipal hall parking lot, um things like that. So, we're giving uh stricter regulations, no overnight parking, can't leave your cars there for long periods of time, and um increasing the ability to uh fine and tow in situations where people are not listening. Of course.

Motion to close. Motion to close. Second. Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt 026 06. Second. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Rubel, yes. Mayor Leio, yes. The ordinance is properly adopted. Now on to introduction of ordinances. O-2607. Affordable housing ordinance and development fee ordinance implementing the fourth round housing plan element and fair share plan. I'll make a motion to intro the ordinance. Second. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell,

yes. Councilman Roel, yes. Mayor Leio, yes. The ordinance is properly introduced. All right, everyone. Our next regular scheduled meeting will take place on March 10th, 2026. Executive session will begin at 6 p.m. and regular session will be at 7 p.m. Thank you all for coming out and uh enjoy the next couple weeks. Hopefully we're done with the snow. Um seeing no further business before the council, may I have a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? Hi. Hi.