City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay. Mayor, I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the Elwin Park Mayor and Council for January 22nd, 2026 to order at 7:00 p.m. On roll call, we have council members here. Oswald here, Samson present. Sheridan here. Tracy here. Council President Pellegrine here. Mayor Kleti here. We have a quorum.

Thank you. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. And what a good evening it is. Am I right? There you go. That's it. It's one of our favorite nights here in Elwood Park. We get to honor our finest, our fire department, and uh their the promotions that uh are yearly and every two years, two two years as far as the police chief goes. In any case, if you could all please rise for our prayer flag salute. I'd like to call on Pastor uh Dan to do our prayer. Let us pray. Dear God, we gather here today with gratitude and purpose as we witness this moment of commitment and service. We give thanks for these men and women who have answered a call greater than themselves. the call to protect, to serve, and to stand ready in moments of danger and need. Bless these firefighters as they take their oath today. Grant them courage when fears near, wisdom in moments of uncertainty, and strength, both physical and moral, for the challenges ahead. Watch over them in every call they answer and return them safely to their families and loved ones. We ask your blessing upon this department and this community. May trust, teamwork, and integrity guide their work. May they serve with honor, compassion, and humility. And may never forget the sacrifices they make on our behalf. Today we dedicate this moment, these commitments, and this service to the good of all. In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Thank you, pastor. 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 require that 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 notice in the record and Herald News and by posting such notice in the office of the barrel clerk as well as in a public place within the municipal building. Also by notifying interested citizens said notice was posted and transmitted on January 2nd, 2026 and published on January 8th, 2026. Okay, first up we have approval of minutes. We have the October 27th, 2025 special meeting, November 6, 2025 work session meeting, and November 13, 2025 regular meeting.

May I have a motion to approve the minutes? So move second. We got the second. Any discussion? Call the RO, please. First by Council President Peline, second by Councilman Foso. On roll call, we have council members Folo. Yes. Oswald. Samson, yes. Sheridan, yes. Troy, yes. Council President Peline, yes.

Motion carries. At this time, we have the installation of our fire department officers. We're going to begin with our lieutenants. We have Mark Trauma from company 1, Matthew Ruglio, company 2, Nathaniel Aras, company 4. I ask that you all pre please rise as they be escorted in by the fire department honor guard. Auto attention. Raise colors. Guard forward march. At this time, we would ask that their family members or friends please join them on the deas as they are sworn in by Mayor Robert Kleti.

You can all be seated for this. I also like to call forward fire commissioner Councilwoman Sheridan. I

do solemnly swearly swearnly swear that I will support I will the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. that I will bear true faith that I will bear true faith and allegiance and allegiance to the same to the same and to the government established in the United States to the government established in the United States and in this state and in this state under the authority under the authority of the people of the people and that I will faithfully and that I will faithfully impartially impartially and justly and justly perform all the duties of perform all the duties of lieutenant

the office of Now you can say, "Let's see if we can get it all together in harmony." Lieutenant, according to the best of my ability. According to the best of my ability. So help me God. Help me God. Congratulations. Announce the names first. Okay.

Okay. At this time we will have the swearing in for the captains. We have Michael Presler from company 1, Joseph Coons, company 2, Brandon Trentacus, company 3, and Justin Hunter company 4. Everybody please rise while the honor guard against

forward march. Our department present arms. Hey, you may be seated for the swearing in.

So, this is what captains look like. All right, we've done this before, I'm sure. Right. Sort of put I and then state your name. And we'll continue. We'll take it nice and slow. I do so swearly that I will support I will support the Constitution of the United States. Constitution of the United States and the Constitution the Constitution of the State of New Jersey of the state of New Jersey that I will bear true faith true faith and allegiance and allegiance to the same to the same

and to the governments the governments established established in the United States in the United States and in this state and this under the authority under the authority of the people of the people and that I will faithfully and I will faithfully impartially and marshally and justly and justly perform all the duties perform all the duties of the office of the office of captain captain according to the best of my ability. according to the best of my ability. So help me God. So help me God.

Congratulations. Attention. Everybody please rise

forward march. Guard. At this time, we have the swearing in for the battalion chiefs. We have Gary Ruglio, first battalion chief.

Guard forward. his wife.

Yep. I ask that his family please join him on the deis. You can all be seated for the swearing in. Stop that picture. I I state your name. do solemnly swear domly swear

that I will support that I will support the Constitution the Constitution of the United States of the United States and the Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey of the State of New Jersey that I will bear true faith I will bear true faith and allegiance and allegiance to the same to the same and to the governments and to the governments established established in the United States in the United States and in the state and in this state and in this state under under the authority under the authority of the people of the people and that I will faithfully and I will faithfully and partially and partially and justly and justly perform all the duties of perform all the duties of the office of the office of battalion chief battalion chief according to the best of my ability

according to the best of my ability

so help me God congratulations Honor guard. Attention forward march. Honor guard home. At this time, we will have the swearing in ceremony for Assistant Chief Michael Jones. Honor guard forward march. Okay, you may be seated for the swearing in ceremony. I ask his family to please join him on the deis. You realize you're going to lose him for more time.

It's worth it. I I state your name. to solemnly swear to slely swear that I will support that I will support the Constitution Constitution of the United States of the United States and the Constitution the Constitution of the State of New Jersey of the state of New Jersey that I will bear true faith I will bear true faith and allegiance and allegiance to the same to the same and to the governments and to the governments established established in the United States in the United States and in this state and in this state under the authority under the authority of the people of the and that I will faithfully and I will faithfully impartially impartially and justly and justly perform all the duties perform all the duties

of the office of of the office of assistant chief assistant chief according to the best of my ability to the best of my ability. So help me God. CONGRATULATIONS.

Honor guard forward march. At this time we will have this swearing in ceremony for Chief Gregory Thompson. I don't Guard present arms.

You may be seated for the swearing in ceremony. Repeat after me. I I state your name. Eric Thompson. Do solemnly swear do soly swear that I will support that I will support the Constitution the Constitution of the United States of the United States and the Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey of the state of New Jersey. that I will bear true faith that I will bear true faith and allegiance and allegiance to the same to the same and to the governments and to the governments established established in the United States in the United States

and in this state and in this state under the authority under the authority of the people of the people and that I will faithfully and I will faithfully and partially and partially and justly and justly perform all the duties perform all the duties of the office of of the office of chief chief according to the best of my ability. To the best of my ability.

So, help me God. Congrat. We're going to have council comments and uh then we'll we'll uh adjourn for a little while just to have pictures with the family. So hang in there. Congratulations, honor guard. Congratulations. Attention.

Congratulations, baby.

Forward march. You may be seated. Thanks.

Council uh council comments. Uh we'll start off with our uh freshman over there. Not that he's a fresh guy, just as a freshman. Uh thank go ahead, Councilman. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I appreciate that. I I don't have much to say except congratulations to everybody in uniform in this room. Um I can't tell you how safe I feel living in Elwood Park knowing uh both the people with badges and the fire engines are doing their job 110%. Um I'm really proud of you guys and uh thank you so much for having faith and keeping this town. Um thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh that's all I have to say. Thank you Mr. Oswell. Um Councilman Folo.

Thank you mayor. I want to start by congratulating all the officers that were uh sworn in today. Uh thank you for all the service that you provide to uh the Burwood Park. Uh your commitment is definitely noticed. Um and your sacrifice is noticed every day. I'm reminded of it. Um I live behind the firehouse, so I'm reminded of it every day at 6:30 when the uh when the alarms are tested. But um with all seriousness, I I see how fast you guys run to every call as no matter how small it is, no matter how big it is, it it it's truly uh remarkable what uh commitment you guys have for what you do. I want to extend my best of luck to Chief Thompson. Uh, Chief Thompson is my uncle, so I don't have much of a say when it comes to uh, fire decisions, but I know he's going to serve the role with the utmost integrity and same commitment that he's shown throughout his whole career as a fire a firefighter. So, congratulations all. Thank you. I mean, you seem to be related to a lot of people. That's a big name for so long. Councilman Samson. So congratulations everyone. You all uh worked hard for this. You earned it. Please um keep the the spirit of this department in mind. Keep the integrity of this department in mind. Um lead your uh your men and women that serve with you. And um may you all be protected and uh safe at the end of the run. And I've said this before at fire department assemblies. I will say it every time and you're going to tell me you're getting bored of it. I'll say it again. Fire doesn't know the difference. Uh volunteer firefighters to me, I am one. I was one. I've been one for 40 over 40 years. And it doesn't say when you pull up, fire doesn't see volunteer on the side of the truck. Fire doesn't know the

difference. So your dedication makes a difference. Um your uh commitment to our to our town, our burrow, and the job that you do every day and every night a absolutely is observed. this council will always support you. May you uh again go by your uh do your duty uh with safety and diligence. And thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Sheridan.

Thank you, Mayor. Um I just want to say congratulations to the new officers. Um Mr. Thompson, I know you're going to do a fine job. Um to their families, thank you for your dedication. Um, and keep wondering every time that your loved one leaves the house. Um, my uncle was a fire was a fire chief back in the day, uh, Przioce. And, um, I know what you're going through. We went through it growing up. And I just want to say everybody stay safe, be careful, and God bless. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman Tracy.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, congratulations to the newly installed officers of the fire department. Leadership is a commitment. It's a responsibility uh to lead with integrity. Often with the fire department, it's under very challenging circumstances. So we thank you for ste stepping up to lead for your dedication to the department for your service to our community and we are grateful for all that you do. I wish you each success in your new roles and I pray for your safety daily. Thank you.

Thank you Councilwoman Council President Peller Green.

Yes. Good evening everyone. Just like to say congratulations to all of you. Your job is a very very hard job. You never know what you're walking into. It's very dangerous and we really just appreciate all that each and every one of you do for our community on a daily basis. It's hard for the families. It's hard to see sometimes when you go into things. We we hear about it and we see the the burning buildings you go in and the houses and everything. And where most of us fear fire and run the other way, you guys and ladies are all going into there to save people and help people. We can't thank you enough for that and we want you to just know how appreciated you really are for all that you do for our community. I know many of you for a long time. I know your families and you're always there for us and as council people and residents of this community. We couldn't be more proud of you and tonight's a great night to honor all of you. wish you success in your new roles and just let you know how deeply we appreciate you and we hope that you always stay safe and that God always protects each and every one of you. Thank you all so much.

Thank you, Councilwoman. I uh think this council had summed up their feelings on what they think about our fire department and uh I know myself with the 22 23 years of service uh it's quite a bit but when you compare it to 20 30 years of a fireman it humbles me. It humbles me to the point of uh saying to myself that there's no comparison what you people are subjected to day in and day out as far as your schedules go, interruption of your life, your children's life, your your total family's life is it's uh there's no way I can compare my 22 years of service compared to all of yours. Uh we are extremely grateful like uh one of the council people had said uh as far as the safety goes. I think you really really know over the years and this goes back as far as I can remember. I do not remember a single council or council person or mayor that was not totally concerned and given all they could give to the fire department. And that's the way it will continue at least uh for as long as these people are here because there's all good people up here. And uh I want to thank you very much and congratulate the the uh people that are promoted. I want you to take a look at the chief now. Two years from now, I'm going to ask you to look at him again and he's going to look like a different person. I I guarantee it. I see it happen maybe 10 times with the Chiefs. They come in, they got their hair nice color and sharp, no wrinkles in their face. Two years later, they look like they were on

the in the battle of Emma. So, but hopefully that won't happen to you. Uh but we want to wish you the best and um our door is open to you. You know that, right? Great job, guys. Great job.

Mayor, mayor. Mayor. Yeah. Can I get two more seconds? I just want to um expand on something you had alluded to. So, we're talking about years of service. I see two members of this department from the same family that probably rep represents 75 70 or 75 years of service. I don't want to call them out by name unless they want to uh admit it. Thank you very much. the department knows who you are and uh the family is steeped in service to this department and our buress. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Any further comments? Okay, we're going to take a brief recess. We want to take some pictures and say hello, whatever. Mayor, we're coming back. Council going to take a picture with them.

I'm sorry. Council, take a picture.

Yes. Yes, the council. Come on. Can recently promoted.

Thank you for putting up with me and leaving at all hours of the night. I'd like to thank all my officers. Without you guys, I'd be nothing. So, thank you for all you do and all you continue to do. I'd like to thank past Chief Eddie did an outstanding job this year. Without him, without them, I don't know where this department would be today. And also, thank you to Brian, our uh director. Another one did a fabulous job. Pulled us out of the ashes. Thank you guys. And mayor and council, thank you. Thank you for everything you do for us and continue to do. And if you guys are good with that, that's about all I have. Thank you. Thank you to all the members. Have a good night. I guess you want to continue or

Okay, let's see. Uh, let them take pictures if they want. I let them know. Yeah. You guys want to go? Wait, wait though. See, make sure. Huh? Make sure they don't uh they don't need more time for pictures. They're leaving. I think they're going somewhere else,

are they? To celebrate. Yeah. Hey, good job.

Real extreme conditions. Okay. You ready? Wait, I'm going to restart. Okay.

Okay. No problem.

Mhm. Okay.

Okay, we're ready. Okay. Mayor, I'd like to reestablish a quorum for the Elwood Park regular meeting on January 2nd, 2022. And roll call. We still have council members. Here, Oswald present. Samson present. Sheridan here. Troy here. Council president Pellegrine here. Mayor Kleti

here. We have reestablished a quorum. At this time, we will have our ordinances on first reading. Resolution R-52-26 introduced ordinance number 26-01 on first reading. Be it resolved that an ordinance entitled an ordinance to amend an ordinance entitled an ordinance to establish the water department of the burrow of Elwood Park, Bergen County, New Jersey to fix the rates and prices to be charged for the use of water and establish rules and regulations for the distribution supply used and protection of said water and penalties for the violation of certain said rules and regulations. Be passed and adopted on first reading. And be it resolved that a final hearing on said ordinance will be heard in the municipal building on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as same can be heard, at which time any person's interest in a said ordinance can be heard. Be it further resolved that the burough clerk being and she is hereby authorized to advertise in a legal newspaper a notice of introduction and final hearing as required by law.

Mr. Figgno, would you be so kind to break it down? Yes, Mayor. Uh unfortunately, um everything's going up. So, we uh got passed a a rate increase from the water company and uh it's a 10% increase this year. Mayor, and we'll be passing that on to the residents. Correct. May I have a motion on the ordinance?

Mayor discussion. Um I in the work session, I um expressed concern for another increase in the water rate. Um, I know of a of a few municipalities and cities that are having issues with their billing with Pake uh Valley Water Company. Um, I would like some time to review that what other municipalities are doing and maybe um send them a letter expressing our concern for another rate increase. This is two years in a row now. Um, if you would extend me the time to to work on that, I would like a motion to table this for until the next the next public meeting. I second that motion

at this point. Then we'll call for a uh unless there's any other discussion. Well, I actually would like to give a reason for the second. Um the the governor of the state has issued a utility state of emergency which calls for freezes on any public utility including water. Um, so I think if we had a little bit more time to address whether or not they're going to be legally allowed to pass this rate increase on to us, maybe we can take some time to uh to look into that now that this is something that's just recently happened and this seems like a proper opportunity to save the person. Any discussion on the motion? Mayor. Yeah. May I? Yes.

Um, I think we should table it and get some more research about it and then bring it back. Okay. Anybody else to discuss? The question I have is um Chief. Yes. Is this is this in effect? Is it increase in effect now for the bureau? Are we currently paying more right now? That I will I'll get into that answer by tomorrow. When the increase went into effect, I'll find out tomorrow. Thank you. Because if we're already paying more, um I have an issue with that. It's an obvious issue if we're already paying more and inevitably it has to be passed through. That's my thought.

Thank you, Councilman. Okay. Uh ordinance tabled by Councilman Folo, second by Councilman Oswald. On roll call, we have council members Foso. Yes. Oswald, yes. Samson, no. Sheridan, yes. Troy, yes. Council President Pellegrid, yes.

Motion carries. This ordinance is tabled. Next, we have resolution R-53-26. Introduce ordinance number 26-02 on first reading. Be it resolved that an ordinance entitled an ordinance amending section 20-1.4 facility use rules and regulations to allow leech dogs and burrow parks be passed and adopted on first reading. and be it resolved that a final hearing on said ordinance will be heard in the municipal building on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Whereas soon thereafter, same can be heard at which time any persons interested in said ordinance can be heard. Be it further resolved that the burough clerk being she is hereby authorized to advertise an ingal newspaper a notice of introduction and final hearing as required by law.

Mr. Flickno, once again, would you please break it down? Yes, mayor. Currently, our ordinance does not allow dogs at all in parks. Um, several council members have expressed uh the willingness to allow that with dogs on leashes and as long as the owners clean up after them um so that they can enjoy the parks along with their their dogs. And this ordinance allows for that with the caveat that they're leashed and they get cleaned up after. May I have a motion on the ordinance? So, move second. So, any discussion? Call the roll, please. First by Council President Palig Green. Second by Councilwoman Troyce. On roll call, we have Councilman Bruce Voso. Yes. Oswald,

yes. Samson, yes. Sheridan, yes. Troy, yes. Council President Pellegrine, yes. Motion carries.

Next, we have resolution R-54-26. Introduce ordinance number 26-03 on first reading. Be it resolved that an ordinance entitled an ordinance amending section 4-34.4 operating conditions to update burrow towing fees be passed and adopted on first reading and be it resolved that a final hearing on said ordinance will be heard in the municipal building on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as can be heard at which time any persons interested in said ordinance can be heard. Be it further resolved that the burough clerk, BN, and she is hereby authorized to advertise an illegal newspaper a notice of introduction and final hearing as required by law.

This basically is an ordinance to increase the fees for our to tellers uh to bring them in line with other towns. Am I correct with that, Mr. Full? Yes, mayor. We're are mirroring the state police ordinance. Our ordinance has not been our rates have not been changed in many, many years, and it's time to bring them up to the uh standards. May I have a motion on the ordinance? Second. Discussion. Call the role, please. First by Council President Paligine. Second by Councilman Foso. On roll call, we have council members Folo. Yes. Oswald, yes. Samson, yes. Sheridan, yes. Troy, yes. Council President Pelligree, yes. Motion carries.

Next, we have resolution R-55-26. Introduce ordinance number 26-04 on first reading. Be it resolved that an ordinance entitled an ordinance adopting burl code section 7-32 electric scooter regulations to further address electric scooter and electric bicycle use be passed and adopted on first reading and be resolved that a final hearing on said ordinance will be heard in the municipal building on Thursday February 19th 2026 at 7:00 p.m. or soon thereafter as same can be heard at which time any persons interested in said ordinance can be heard be further resolved that the burough clerk being she is hereby authorized to advertise in a legal newspaper a notice of introduction and final hearing as required by law

may I have a motion on the ordinance mayor discussion yes um I know uh two days ago maybe our attorney could uh help me out here two days ago the um the governor signed in an ebike law expanding insurance and licensing rules I'm not sure if this is, you know, coincides with that or if we need to change anything that July.

So, first off, it doesn't take effect in until July. I still need to evaluate whether we'll have to make any revisions to it. Obviously, state law would supersede our ordinance, but state law, for example, doesn't have provisions about not riding on the turf field, things like that that that we included in there, which I think are still legally permissible. Again, subject to my closer review. Um, so it may require some tailoring, but it's not in effect yet, the state law, so it's kind of to be determined. Sounds good. It's a good thing. A good thing we're getting some regulations on this very very very dangerous. Frankly, if if the law had gone into effect earlier, a lot of what we had to do may have been mooded by by that. But yeah. Okay.

Um and just uh if I may, just to be clear, this is not going to affect someone uh that is using it for for handicap purpose at all. Correct. Is there a stipulation? Correct. There's there's um I believe there's specific reference to that. Yes. I need a motion. We jumped the gun on the discussion, but I need a motion first. I and a second. Second. Any further discussion? Call the roll, please. First by Council President Peline, second by Councilman Folo, and roll call. We have council members Foso. Yes. Oswald, yes. Samson, yes. Sheridan, yes. Troy, yes. Council President Pel, yes.

Motion carries. Moving on to our consent agenda, we have the following resolutions. R-56-26 approval of payroll. R-57-26 approval of bills list. R-58-26 Appointment of counselors for the 2025 2026 school year after school program. Recreation Department R-59-26 resolution to redeem third party tax lean. R-60-26 resolution authorizing tax exemption for disabled veteran 126 TLA Avenue block 1304 lot 30 R-61-26 resolution for contract with the Elwood Park involved citizens Epic R-62-26 resolution for sports program sniping program R-63-26 resolution authorizing payroll utilities day-to-day operation payments for the borrow of Elma Park R-64-26 Appointment of part-time fire protection inspector James Di Maria, building department. R-65-26, authorized agreement for a certified recycling professional with the Bergen County Utilities Authority. R-66-26 appointment of firefighters and R-67-26 resolution to approve the consent agenda.

May I have a motion on the consent agenda? Second. Any discussion? Yes, mayor. Um, I just want to commend uh the bipartisan work uh with Councilwoman Pel Green for um R-62-26. Um we are supporting our our our children in our in our youth sports programs by amending the well by creating the stipened uh program and increasing it such. Um so I just want to commend her for for the work and working with me on that. Um that's it. Mayor. Thank you, Councilman. Any further discussion?

Uh, yes, Mr. Mayor. Um, I just want to real quick since we've just tabled the issue about the water uh payments, is that going to affect the approval of the bills list? It if we're about to approve expenditures and we just tabled increasing water rates, I just wanted to make sure that wasn't folded in together. I mean, if the rate has been already passed on to us, we have to pay it and we can circle back later on. Okay. Yeah. So, basically, we'll be paying it and going into a deficit. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Call the roll, please.

First by Council President Palig Green. Second by Councilman Samson. On a roll call we have council members Folo. I need to recuse on R-65-26. Yes to the rest. Oswald. Uh I will be abstaining from R5626 approval of payroll as I wasn't on council for that payroll period and yes to everything else. Samson. Yes. Sheridan. Um I will say yes to and recuse myself from R62-26. Yes to everything else.

Okay, Tracy, I'm going to recuse myself from R- uh 62-26 uh because uh the pro the children in the program that I run would directly benefit from that. So, I'm going to recuse. I am also recusing from R-66-26. Yes to the rest. Okay. And council president. Yes. Motion carries. Next, we have departmental reports. We have the board of health meeting minutes from November 10th, 2025. The recreation advisory board meeting minutes from September 15th, 2025. May I have a motion on to accept the departmental reports?

So move. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? I. Okay. Reports accepted. At this time, I will turn the meeting over to police chief Michael Felgno to present a special public safety report. Okay, let's uh start off with Councilman Folo. No, I'm sorry. I turned it over to

Oh, Mike, I'm sorry. That's okay. Thank you, Chenet. Thank you, mayor. So, as everyone is aware, especially the council, since late 2019, we've been working on trying to establish a police substation on Broadway. We've had uh discussions with the property owners at 100 Broadway, which is the Elwood Shopping Center to put a substation in the vacant uh space above the Chase Bank. That was moving very well until COVID hit. And then like everything else when CO hit, the discussion stopped. Since we came out of CO, the price on that project skyrocketed and pretty much tripled, quadrupled. So it kind of put us in a bind and it the people that were interested in in doing it for us no longer could afford it. Insteps uh Larry and Sarah of the Andah family of the shop rights that you know they own and they moved into Elwood Park and through a relationship with uh council president and then I was brought into that discussion. We have since uh renegotiated with them and gotten their full buyin and I have a just a brief statement that I'll read here about the whole process. So just bear with me. Ensuring public safety remains the foremost priority for Mayor Kleti, the council and police department. Over the past several years, we have dedicated significant efforts to enhancing the safety and security of the Elmwood shopping center area on Broadway, recognizing the need for a stronger police presence. It's become challenging up there and we we put a lot of effort into walking posts and but you know we're only so many people and we can only be so many places at once. For the past four years, council president and former police commissioner Lorraine Pelgrine and I have collaborated closely with the landlord of the shopping center and and Sarah Shopright to establish a police dub stationation above the Chase Bank on Broadway. With the continued and

unwavering support of the mayor and council, this initiative will provide a sustained and visible police presence, serving as a deterrent to crime and fostering a safer environment for all. We are pleased to announce that an agreement with the landlord has been reached, and construction of the substation is scheduled to begin in late spring. This achievement is the result of persistent efforts by Lorraine and I, with the trust and support of the governing body, past and present. The active particip uh partnership with insera shopright whose committed commitment has been invaluable to the process. The financial impact on the burrow will be minimal as in Sarah Shopright will bear the majority of the construction and ongoing rental costs. We are deeply grateful for their support. This project marks a new chapter for our community promising greater safety and peace of mind for residents and shoppers alike. Thank you.

Thank you uh Mr. Full for those of you that might be saying what what does Elwood Park need an annex police department or station? Uh keep in mind uh where where we're situated here in the state and the four major highways that run through us and uh especially Broadway there uh to have the presence of a a substation is going to be monumental. Uh if you uh feel very safe living in Elmond Park, you should uh because we have a very very very very good uh police department led by a a very good police chief. And um when they come up with innovating ideas like this, it's only to en enhance the safety of this community. uh and it's going to be at a very very minimal cost to uh to the taxpayer because of uh the donations that are being are being made. Um and I I want to personally thank Lorraine and and the chief for for spearheading this and of course the council because without the council they they can't go nowhere with this and it's very important that we're all on board. Uh yes, would you like to speak? I just want to thank everybody here, this whole team, because like the mayor just said, we could have grandioser ideas and without the mayor and council supporting us, it would never happen. But I want to thank the chief from the bottom of my heart and Larry and Sarah because we've been working on this for years and a lot of people in the community that would see me would say, "Is this really going to happen? I don't think it's going to happen. It's been four years." and they were they looked down upon us and we really had several meetings within Sarah and his team to get this accomplished. So where this might just sound like okay

we're getting a substation, this is really really big for our community. There are um some problems up in that area of town and splitting the police force for some to stay here and some to be up there is really going to enhance our safety up in that area. And um I'm just so so grateful for the chief and Mr. and Sarah and our mayor and council for supporting this, for believing in us because somebody would have said after two years uh it's enough, give up. We don't give up in this town. We have persistence in what we believe in and working together as a community. We do get things done. Sometimes it takes a while, but this is going to be nothing but goodness in that area. You're going to feel better shopping there at nights. And um I again chief I'm very grateful for you working with me and Larry the whole time the chief has worked with the construction people and he has done his work with this more than anybody. So um I'm so blessed with this and I think we all are. So I think well done team and we can all be proud of this. It's it's really going to be a great thing for our community. Thank you.

Thank you Loren. Anybody else care to speak on this?

Yeah mayor please. real quick. I was going to say it in in my report, but I'll I'll do it now since we're all talking about it. Um, I remember when this this came up, I was um I was a a freshman councilman and to see an idea, you know, cultivate and then come in and become something real where we're, you know, really getting uh it's really lifting off. Um is it's truly something special. But I want to commend Lorraine cuz I know back in 2019 2020 um you know when when this idea came up um and then she cultivated that that relationship right away with with Larry and Sarah and uh really brought it to life. So I want to commend her and uh the council looks a lot different than it did uh back then. But I know that this idea was always popular with every council and every council has to has to continue that idea and continue the commitment to the idea for it to be uh something real. So, I want to commend everybody, past and present. Council,

thank you, Councilman. Anybody else?

Yes, Mr. Mayor. If I could also, um, I just wanted to say, uh, prior to sitting up here, uh, with these, uh, wonderful people, um, I was the and still currently am the president of the Chamber of Commerce. And one of the things that, um, people always talk about is, you know, if you're going to grow business, if you want businesses to move to town, you need to have a safe place to shop. And I wasn't on this council then. Uh, I'm obviously very supportive of it now, but I can tell you from at least from a chamber of commerce or from a standpoint of a business owner or a shopper, uh, from a standpoint of a parent. I have two young children and my wife uh, you know, who goes to the Chase Bank. Um, it it just it's good for future- wise, too. We can't look at tiny uh, expenses like a police substation um, as an expense. when you think about all that we're going to gain from it, the increased commerce, the increased feeling of safety. Um, you know, you have to think Route 4 is a big road, it connects a lot of towns and cities. We share a neighbor in Fairlon who will also benefit from this. So, I mean, the trickle down effect of of the uh project that the chief and council president put together is going to have dividends that are going to pay off for a generation to come. and I'm very proud to sit up here with them and uh so happy for our town that we are going to have that substation.

Thank you, Councilman. Anyone else?

Um I'd like to comment. I do have it in my council report, but I will do it now. Um I want to thank Chief Aligno and Council President Pel Green for all of your work and efforts that you put into this. Um, particular particularly uh, Council President Pellegrine, I knew that this was a goal that she was never going to let get out of attainment. She was going to make this happen no matter what. Um, so I'd like to commend her for that. And um, and and Chief Feligno for all of your assistance as well. And I'm really excited to see some of the improvements that are going to happen in the Broadway uh business district because of this change and I'm really looking forward to it. So, thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Anyone else? Yes, please.

Um yes, I'd just like to say um thank you um Council President Mike. Um, thank you. And I think it's really going to have a lot of impact. And I mean, I grew up in this town. I remember when it was Grand Union up there and there was a lot of problems then up there. So, you could imagine from then to now. So, I mean, this is going to work. We're going to make it work and this town will be a lot safer. Thank you. They always say uh always strengthen the weakest link in the chain and probably that's a weak link in that area. We're vulnerable and we're correcting it. So this should work out nice. Okay. Uh council reports. Mr. Folo. Mayor, I think I talked too much at this meeting. Progress, you talked enough. Is that Mr. Oswell?

The same.

Whoa. Ditto. You ditto that, huh? Mr. Samson. Uh, Mayor, as far as uh my typical committee reports and stuff, uh, progress we're doing well. We're moving forward. I'd like to take this moment though um to remind everyone of a very significant um anniversary that's right around the corner and that's January 30th. And uh on January 30th was the uh was that uh terrible Marqual fire disaster that occurred on January 30th, 2019. This horrific fire on a bitter windswift evening brought our hometown to a crossroads. This fire could have truly brought a town to its knees and devastated it. Not here, not Elmer Park. Everyone all pulled together and supported the first responders, utility workers, and anyone else affected that night. civic groups pull together such as our our Elks Lodge 60 voluntarily open as a warming center for days with people stopping by to donate food and other items as as a rehabilitation center for those workers and emergency service uh members. As the realization set in of replacing that building as well as jobs that were lost, our leaders put their heads together in finding a replacement for that building and hit it out of the park, so to speak. The beautiful new building will soon become headquarters for MLB networks, bringing jobs as well as notoriety to Elma Park. We should be proud of ourselves at every level knowing we only got stronger because of this. It did not weaken us at all. Our burrow is in great hands and moving in the right direction. Thank you, Mayor Chief. I know you two fellas had a significant part in what I'm talking about. Uh really it's um every time that they go to a replay, they're going to say we're switching to our studios in Elmer Park, New Jersey. So we're going to be uh uh probably at least nationwide uh recognition.

God bless America. Thank you for your guidance to progress, mayor. to your po uh point, the uh a lot of credit goes to the planning board that night when the uh the builder first came in and said uh he'd like to put a warehouse there and we said we want it we'll more than likely approve a warehouse. However, we don't want it to look like a warehouse. And I think that at that moment it opened the door uh for Mr. Figgno to go run with the ball, literally literally run with the ball and uh bring bring uh Major League Baseball to Elwood Park.

So, it's funny the sequence of of events that have to happen in order to get to that point. Yes, 7 years is a relatively short time for everything that's happened and and where we're and where we're headed for uh spring of 28. And I just want to say that uh when we were at the groundbreaking uh three months ago, two months ago, they had indicated that they interviewed I believe two over 200 buildings and this building stood out. This building blew outund what 90 whatever other buildings. So um that's again just it speaks volumes for itself. Thank you. Mike, can we tell the u the train story? What's the train about the train going by and it almost?

Sure. There's a little story that uh backstory that goes along with this. As uh we were negotiating with Major League Baseball, they were getting close to saying yes. Uh they had a meeting at the site and uh along comes a train with all the vibration and the tooting the horn and

and all the all the executives looked at each other and said they must have said we didn't hear him say it but they must have said that we're going to have our studios here. Um at that point Mr. Flaggno gets on the phone and calls uh the people at that were involved with that particular train and uh make sure that going forward that the train would not blow its whistle when it was going by and that satisfied the Major League Baseball. Did I get that story pretty pretty right? Close enough.

Close enough. Okay, but there's a little backstory on that. Um okay, moving along. Council comments. I'm sorry. Council reports. Uh, Councilwoman Sheridan. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I really don't have a lot to say, but um, I just want to remind everybody that, um, Sunday and Monday is going to be a bad storm. Please be safe. Please be careful. Um, go easy on shoveling if you have to do it yourself. Um, just take your time. Take your time. That's all I got to say. Mayor, Councilman, Councilwoman Tracy.

Thanks, Mayor. Um, I'd just like to remind everyone that Little League registration is open until January 31st. For more information, visit epittleleague.com. Girls softball registration is open until February 1st. For more information on that, visit epsoftball.com. And to go along with what um Councilwoman Sheridan was saying about the snow, I'd like to remind everybody that the Elmo Park bombers are offering um snow shoveling. For more information, you can contact Coach Chip at 5517956142. Uh for my board of ed update, the preschool enrollment closes on January 30th for residents that are three or four by October 1st, 2026. And um Project Graduation is um holding a uh Giddy Up Gala Tricky Trade fundraiser on March the 24th. Tickets are $85. And let's see. Okay, my police update. The Elmo Park Youth Police Academy class of 2026 is now accepting recruits from now in through to July 10th. It'll be held August 10th through the 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There's no cost to participate. You can register your children ages 8 through 16 on Community Pass. Um, for the community garden, I had met with our grant writer last week so that we can try again to apply for the AARP community challenge grant. We discussed ways to improve the narrative and to focus more on the benefits of our senior residents. Millennium is going to attend

a webinar that they're holding for this grant on January 27th and I'm going to be the guest speaker at the meeting of the local chapter of AARP on February 12th and I will pull uh the members for their input um so that we can include that in our grant narrative. And then lastly, on Tuesday, January 20th, Epic and the Elma Park Historical Society held a semiquincentennial planning meeting. Elma Park has formally been accepted as a community partner of Revolution New Jersey. So stay tuned for commemorative events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation. Thank you, mayor, and God bless America.

Thank you, uh, Councilwoman Council President Pellegrine.

Yes, Mayor. Just a couple things. My board of health update, they had their regular monthly meeting and reorganization meeting on January 12th. The officers for the 2026 year are John Dearzio, president, Luchia and Cherry, vice president, Janette Randazzo, treasurer, Chennana Mars is our board secretary. Two new members were welcomed to the board. Joan Pinola and Aziz Canero. We want to thank the two outgoing members, Doris Wetzler and Lorie Spiro for all their dedication and service to the board of health. Their next regular meeting will be held on February 9th at 7 p.m. All are welcome to attend. The new Elwood Park Chamber of Commerce had their regular monthly meeting this past Tuesday. We welcomed some new members and discussed many upcoming events for 2026. Committees were formed to support these events. As flyers come out with definite dates and times and locations, I will share that information with all of you. Their next meeting is Tuesday, February 17th at 6 p.m. at our local VFW. All are welcome to attend. Veterans Salute. I attended this great event on Wednesday, January 14th at our Elmwood Park American Legion Post 147. This event was organized by Frank Doc Shupe and his team to help our veterans. They had free coats, clothing, groceries, toys, and over a dozen resource tables were available. I was there to represent the residents assistance program and the people's pantry. We donated food gift cards to help our veterans. It was truly a beautiful event. A big thank you to Doc and his team for all they do to aid our veterans. My residents assistance program and the people's pantry. We're starting 2026 with more of our residents in need of food. We're getting many phone calls from our residents that really need our help. With the gener generous donations we receive all year long, we are able to help those in need.

So, on behalf of my team, I just like to thank all who donate to help our community. You all make a difference. I just want to say last year with RAP, we had an anonymous angel donation for $10,000. So this year we had another angel donating anonymously $5,000 and Sarah Shopight is with us all the time and donate everything to our pantry whenever we need anything. So I want to say it the year started off sad to me because on Friday I had 16 families come and that's the most families that ever came at one time cuz they may have three or four family members in one family. So, it it was a lot of people and the stories are always sad. Um, but again, I have the entire support of the mayor and council and our community helping each other, but it it it's starting out hard already. So, if you ever know anybody in need, we don't want anyone in the community to be hungry. There's numbers to call. Um, just reach out to me, reach out to Angela Fava, and we're always there to help. But I just want everybody to know it takes a team of people to run that pantry and to run our program and to help our fellow neighbors and residents. And yes, in Elwood Park there are a lot of people in need. Believe it everyone a lot. I see it all the time. So I just want to thank everybody. Whether you donate a dollar, 2,000, whatever it is, we appreciate anything that you can do to help your fellow residents. Thank you and God bless.

Thank you, Councilwoman. We uh last Monday we celebrated the uh the birthday of Martin Luther King. Uh I recall back as a young man in the early 60s the problems we were having here in the United States and there was two ways of doing things. The militant way and then the peaceful way. And uh this man uh he practiced a peaceful demonstrations uh which uh I look back now as an elder that uh he was spot on. Uh he what he was saying at the time a lot of people did not want to follow but he was saying we can get our point across if we do it peacefully. And uh for that uh I think he's left this uh United States better for it. Well, with that, I'd like to uh open the floor for public comments.

I need a motion. I need a motion. I need a motion. Second. All in favor? Anyone from the public care to speak? Hold on one second. I'm going to give a five minute allow five minutes and I want to be civil about this. Our commu communications should be that we can talk to one another in a civil manership. So, uh we'll start off with um this young lady in a second row with her hand up in the air. You can speak on any subject that you would like.

Hello. Do I have to give my name and address or? Yes, you do. Yes. Vana. Uh 207 Elm Street. Um I might look familiar to everybody um from the last meeting we had where we talked about creating a committee to talk look into sober living homes and the ordinances that we have surrounding that in El Park. Um, I put my name down as did a lot of my um, fellow neighbors and nobody's heard anything back. So, I was kind of wondering where we are with that. Has any progress been made? Mayor, I could I could answer that. Mayor, go ahead.

Um, because there was a there's a new council that got sworn in and um, well, new council member that got sworn in, we had to kind of reorganize the council at the reorganization meeting. Um, so that is upcoming at the next work session. So, I know there was interest and our clerk has the interest. Um, but we need to set the committee. I know it's Councilwoman Pellegrine and Councilwoman Troy um and myself on the committee. So, once we, you know, discuss that at the next work session, I'm sure the the clerk will be in touch. Okay. Should we come um work session? I'm not sure if you'll get answers at the next work session, but do we need to be there?

No. Oh, I know. So, we should come to the next meeting that's like this. Sure. Okay. You could come to any meeting you'd like. Well, I'm saying like how are we going to know? Are they going to like email us? The clerk will be in touch. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. That's what these meetings are for is to air things out. So, yes, please come. Okay. Sounds good. Thank you. Uh that fellow there with his hand up that gentleman. Your name sir and your address.

Frank Neoth 40 Cadmisav. Uh about two months ago I received in the mail a letter that uh DPW is going to be coming around to check our pipes. They did that in the past week. But my question is, what's the end game? Because nobody down there seems to know why they were doing it. Is it because of the pressure that's they're going to come in and replace lines from the main to the house? Because that's a major issue in Cherry Hill. Pressure is horrible up there. Yeah.

And you know, at one point they had told me, "Well, you replace from the valve to your house." I've done that, you know, and it's still nothing. There's still 50 feet from the valve on my side of the property to the main on the other side of the property, which when I dug out my main or my line going in, it was an inch pipe, maybe a quarter inch of hole opening in it. So, I'd like I'd like to know what is the end game here, you know, because I already dumped five grand in and now they're telling me it's another 20 grand to get pressure to my house. Mike, do we have uh any an answer for this gentleman?

Unfortunately, I don't I don't know why they were there. I I'll get you an answer. If I could, when you're done, I'll get your number on the side and I'll call you and let you know. They're there to inspect the pipes, but you know, if you're check I said, if you're checking the pipes, you're doing it wrong. Because if you're going to come to my house and say, "Okay, you got a copper pipe, so yours is done." No, it's not done. It's done from the valve in my front yard to the house, but the 50 ft that's under the street's not done. Yeah. I'll find out for you back in. Okay.

Yeah. I just had a a new neighbor here. That was the first thing when we greet him. He came over and said, "Geez, hey, Frank, how how's your water pressure in the house?" We have nothing. And he's he was trying all kinds of inventions to get it get some pressure and nothing worked. So, you know, we need to do something about the the lines that are in the street. We'll get to the bottom of it. Thank you. Yes. A good friend of ours.

Hello, man. I got a big problem and this town you better work on this very bad thing. Uh oh. Uh oh. Hey, not good. You hear me? I got very very Oh, you got to announce who you are and your address first.

Canada 31 Mberry Street Park, New Jersey. Mayor and Cman and cusman woman, we have a big problem coming up and if not we will is it blowing up a building right across the street from this building here? is going to happen because they already the X is on the building and the bank is the bank and that bank is going to blow up and it's going to be a pain in the neck because it's going to be too much traffic going to be disaster and going to be a lot of noise and it's going to be a lot lot of terrible things going to happen and I want to tell you it's going to be a disaster and you may have windows broken in this place cuz you're so close to the Yeah. So unfortunately or unfortunately I guess how you're looking at it uh each property has its zoning rights and nobody could take that away from that property owner.

All right. So that property owner just like you have rights that um and they're going to fulfill whatever they can saying to the traffic going to be disaster on Market Street and on the other street around the building. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, it's going to be disaster when it's going to happen. Yeah. Well, there's not much we can do about that. Like I said, once again, you you have rights that protect you as an as a property owner along with the zoning that you're sitting in.

But I'm look at when I see the X's and I know that was what they're going to happen. And I saw the Xes on the building and you can see it's going to happen. I don't know when it's going to happen, but and you have your police cars right there. So, they got to move them too if they do it. You can't keep them there. No. So, that's what I'm saying because now anything maybe we can rent some of your driveway.

All right. And m and cment and cousin ladies, I got some good news. Liz Morgan is back and she is wrestling and she's going to wrestle this Saturday for the belt again. All right. And she's going for the Peacock is on Peacock and it's 8:00 on Saturday night on main event. She's going to be voting. She's going to be fighting that day, that night for the belt. And she's going for two belts because we're going to be team tag team champion. He knows what I'm talking about.

Yeah, I know. You've been you've been saying we got to honor this lady sooner later. We have to because every time she come out from El Park, New Jersey, every time. and mayor she come to all different countries she go to and our town gets announced in our in the town in the state the country where what she go to we'll get around to it

because that's that is very serious because our town should be number one I have a feeling you know what I mean because I think when she keeps coming out and saying I'm Georgia and she even sing it when she say when they say em. She says that I heard it saying it on the TV screen. Okay. And I want to tell you that she does know about our town. She's a trooper. Yes. Uh and when we do have the ceremony, we're going to have you present her with the certificate or whatever you want to do. All right. Yes. That sounds good. Sounds like a plan. Yes. I like that. Okay.

I like that. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, one more thing. The good news for you. We do have now Amazon in this town. We do. Yes. The town had the big building is they're finally uh they moved in. They moved in. Yes. And they using the trucks to bring it in and out. Okay. In the back, you know what? Back out by um the blood right behind there. Yeah. So I just want to tell you they are working on that because I go past there all the time and I see the trucks there. Okay. That means more tax dollars for for us. Right. Right. Okay. Keep.

Yes sir. And with the blue coat on.

Uh good evening uh Buick 87 Le Street. Um, there's something going on in town. I have no idea where the our money is going and who is actually signing off all the construction work that's done in town. Let's start the new property that's going to be the Melro the Major League Baseball property. Look, I heard the town the borrow mandated the property owner to put the sidewalk. They put this zigzag sidewalk with benches up there, but the sidewalk's going to nowhere. It ends at the at the tracks. There's no crosswalk. I people go to the bus. How we supposed to cross? Not possible. That's the end of it. Then we have the um the shopping center from shopping center to shopite. There used to be there a broader or used to be bu building there. There's a ADA compliant sidewalk but only on the shop shopping center side. Other side is a curb. The sidewalk is not ADA compliant. who signed off on this work. Unbelievable. Let's continue. Uh property adjacent right actually property of the board of education. Um I'm not sure. I actually went last year winter time to building department and I asked why the sago is not cleaned. Uh finger was pointing it's not the poro's responsibility is the board of it's a um

board of education.

Board of education. Um, I actually look at the map of the borrow. I have no idea who did the map because there actually stumped that was there was a tree probably 100 years old cut down on the East 53rd Street between 15th and 14th. The map from the burrow show there's a street there all the way to the top. There's no street there. There's never been. I took the historical aerials. I look at the aerial photography that was used to be a golf course from 30s. There was no street there. I have no idea what the street there. And then guess what? There is a on the bottom of the u 15th street is the the complant crosswalk to go to the street up the hill towards the 14th street. The street that sidewalk was not is not even sidewalk. There's potholes and it's not even cleaned in the winter time from by snow. the kids are parents are going up there to the main entrance to the school or going to the apartments. It's a slip and slide. Shame on you people. What's going on? And then we let's talk about the ordinances in the town supposed to clean sidewalks. I walk yesterday with the dog around the neighborhood. Go you know all the neighborhood walked around. Yesterday was what? Wednesday. How many days do they pass in snowfall? How many? There are properties within not even clean sidewalks. The other thing is what is the police doing? It's great they have a new there's supposed to be new law about riding bicycles or the ebikes but of course there are three categories ebikes that has to be cleaned up because people have to know what because of different regulations different groups of ebikes. Well they actually police officer I asked them like why people are walking on the street when there's a sidewalk. Oh, we don't bother people. It's like but there's a law for example you're not supposed to write on according to New

Jersey law. This adding to all these events that actually the boro does with police department. There should be a learning and teaching people what their laws are because people often walk with the strollers in the middle of the street on the Sunday mornings on the holidays walking the street when there's a clearly a sidewalk and police officers don't do anything about this. If this was fairone people get summoned for not cleaning the sidewalks not here. That's all. Anyone else care to speak on any any subject whatsoever? Yes.

I was talking about multiple things. Is that is that okay? Yeah. Name and uh address. Yahira 67. Is that Is that on your Harra? Press the button. Press the red. There you go.

There we go. Okay. Um Yahira 67 Duramus Place. I think that's how you pronounce it. I still don't know, but you guys get the gist. Um, real quick, um, for the ordinance, um, 26 26-02, um, is is there a a off leash fee if someone has their dogs on in a park and they don't have them on a leash? Cuz I know that that does tend to happen cuz where I live, it's the Culdeac off of Elwood Drive and I have that huge park and there's people who let their dogs off the leash all the time. Is there a a fine for that? Did we did we?

So So the ordinance as proposed would include a $250 fine for any uh violation which would include the failure to have the dog on. Is that the first time or is what about multiple minimum minimum fine of $250? So it could be more than that but at least $250 and it be to the discretion of the um uh burrow for any subsequent offense or frankly the first offense but at least $250. Okay. I had time at work. I made notes. Sorry, it's okay.

I'm that person. Um I don't care about that one. Um so in regards to the ordinance 26-04, the um addressing the electric scooter and electric bicycle.

All for it. All for it. Love it. Concern. Uh will we I say we as a whole but uh will the police department in in conjunction with maybe the school district maybe do like a simple little class on the Yay like like the safety for the kids and maybe get a certificate if they do a small little training class. say this is what you can do or can't do like a safety like a safety class and they get a certificate saying hey you graduated this one day two-day class for something and cuz I know we when we drive you can't drive distracted you know with the texting but there's a lot of times that I see the kids on whether it's the little small mini motorcycle ones that they have the small ones or the electric bikes or the scooters they have these headphones on some of they're like texting and not paying attention and sometimes we might hit them. I was wondering maybe they could incorporate some some type of training. Just simple, hey, while you're out there, don't have headphones on so you can pay attention when someone's honking when you pay attention to the light. You know, don't be texting because that's just as bad as driving behind the wheel and texting. I I think that's a really really good suggestion and I I know our BA already is the wheels are turning to maybe during the course of the year we can uh or or in get get in touch with the superintendent of schools and see if uh they can work in some type of education

because the reason why I bring this up mayor is because um when I was in the army if uh if a service member had a motorcycle if they wanted to get um like defensive driving uh defensive driving training for a motorcycle and get safe percentage for their um insurance. They can take um a course on base specifically for motorcycles over a span of maybe three or four classes. They graduate, they get a certification and an endorsement where they can show it to their insurance company and say, "Hey, look, I did this defensive driving. I know how to properly use my motorcycle. I know what to do in case of an emergency. if it locks up, things like that. Like just the basic safety stuff that will help out in the long run.

Yeah. I think the the idea here of uh the person who's going to uh do exactly what the law says, get licensed, get insured. We're not really concerned about them people because, right, we're concerned about the the the kid, the safety portion is what I'm concerned about. Yeah. The safety part, the kid that isn't going for those licenses, he's not going for the legal end of it. is just going to do it and probably hurt himself or hurt somebody else. Uh maybe uh Mike we make a suggestion to um Mr. Iicetti uh on on doing a seminar on that for the school or and in conjunction with the police department.

We have a lot of plans for this mayor. We're still waiting for it to fully uh come out. the it doesn't take effect for six months and then the second six months it the uh governor's office and the law is recommending uh enforce not enforcement but education and warning campaign. So nice that's all part of the plan. It just came out two days ago and we're we're on it. Okay. I I jumped the gun. I'm sorry.

Sorry about that one. Um Oh, told you I had time at work. So, um, real quick, I I noticed that on our website, um, I say ours, but the town's website, there there's no there's nothing really under the community resource in regards to where veterans can go and find some quick information as far as who's the veteran liaison in town. Um, I know, um, Councilwoman Peligine and Councilwoman Sheridan are both under the committee for veterans, but maybe a little quick information like here here's your governing body reps in town or something like that. Or um, hey, here's a location for um, if you want to retire um, a retire your US flag, here's the Dropbox location, the American Legion, the BFW. But specifically, who's your veteran liaison in town? If you have an issue, go to that person. And this way, that person can outsource you to where you need. If you have food insecurity, that's where you go to Councilwoman Pellegrine and her food pantry program. Or, you know, if you having um something where you need benefits or some type of assistance with the VA, you can go to the VFW or the American Legion, they can put you that way. Just just something where it's like a little quick, hey, let me click on the community resource and there's something right there where I can just contact someone instead of trying to like scramble.

Yeah. Who would if our if we brought that suggestion to our web master who would uh convey that information from the VFW? Would that be you as I would be me? Cuz my Okay. My day job I work for the state. So we just went from the New Jersey the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Now we split off the two departments. I'm a veteran service officer. That's my day job. I help veteran families and veterans with their pensions, VA benefits, um burial things and things like that. So, I would be a point of contact for the VFW, the American Legion. I'm not sure who would be that point of contact. I don't know if it's Phil or uh Joe from them. Yeah.

So, basically, if we in a broad spectrum, if we just uh acknowledge something for the veterans period, it wouldn't matter where it was coming from, uh but we would need a source. And uh Mike, can we put her uh together with our web master? So, mayor, the uh council already um anointed a veterans liaison, doc Frank Doc. So, he's our liaison. Uh you might be right that there's not uh enough information out there as to how to get in touch with him and we can we can fix that. But he is already employed by the bureau for that purpose.

Right. That's what I was saying putting putting his information as a liaison. if you need to get a hold of someone. Here's Doc who is the because he goes to all all the veteran stuff and things like that and people know him for helping out veterans. So if his information his contact information was on the website, go to him and then he knows who to contact for us. He has my number, he has the American Legions number, anybody else who he can just get a hold of. What you're doing basically looking for us to open the door just yes for it would help him out too instead of people trying to figure out who he is. they would know who he is. Okay. So, the doc would handle that. Is that Yeah. Yeah. That uh Mike, do we have a a plan here? Yes, we do. We do. All right.

And I lost my pen. Our our precious veterans. Of course, we would do all we possibly can for them. And and I wanted to thank take this opportunity to thank um Councilwoman Pellegrine. And thank you and chief um for really spearheading the the ShopRight the the the sub thing personally. Last month my sister my sister was physically attacked at Shopright. Mike knows um she's she's fine. She's fine. Um now she's fine. She's she was very um distraught. Uh she refuses to go to that that shop right now. She she literally goes to Feralon Rochel Park uh because she's afraid of it happening again.

What happened?

Um she so she called the police because there was a vehicle parked um on the crosswalk with minors in the vehicle with the car turned on and music blasting and no adult supervision. So she took a picture and reported it cuz you know child neglect. Um a child in the vehicle when the mother came back I guess said, "Hey mom, someone took a picture. This is what she looked like. She went, the woman went back into Shopr, right to look specifically to look for my sister, to confront her. And whatever happened happened, the lady punched my sister in the head and in the neck, like assaulted her. But um I I just want to say thank you because the quick response from the police department was just amazing. But I feel like once that physical presence is there for the that I strongly believe that will deterior type of behavior and especially the rowdiness there. But personally I I I thank you because hopefully my sister can go back shopping there and feel safer in that area because she just refuses to go in that area because of that assault. So thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else care to speak? Yes, sir. My name is in in the microphone sir.

Yeah, my name is Mirroski. I'm living in 22 Mill Avenue. I just want to u say to Mike thanks for you guys doing a great job as a police. The only thing is I wish we will be more of you. So my biggest concern is people on the M street. We put benches the stop sign and people never stop this and I I was says um you know sometimes I forget stop too but last year what's hit me the most even bus stop did bus school bus didn't stop they're flying through the stops as you know if you put the every stop police officer that will be the greatest but if we cannot do that so what maybe you guys can think about something like speed bumps that will also limited the guys on the scooters when they fly and they never stop on a stop sign to slow her down. So maybe consider things like that because I'm walking dog around 4:00 in the morning. Guess what? Nobody stopping. So just if you can look it up for this thing. Another thing is we have a snow storm coming. People doesn't move the cars. No. Last two storms was over 6 in. People don't give a damn about it. The sign they don't get tickets. Please.

Yeah. The last storm we gave over 300 tickets. So, and I know it's it's it's terrible. I live here, too. Is there a way to make money? No. Yeah, that's not what it's for, but I I feel you. My They do it on my block. We we do our best. Report it when you see it and we'll take care of it. Okay. Thank you. Thank you guys. Chief, in Chief, in regards to those stop signs that he's talking about, do we have the the blinking lights on those on Elm? We do. Doesn't anyone anyone else care to speak? If not, I'll close the public portion. Well, you don't have no executive. So then I guess I need a motion to adjourn.

Wait, wait, wait. I closed the meeting already, sir. I'm sorry. I We adjourned a meeting. You sit here every time. You sit here every time.