Township Committee - Regular Meeting

I'd like to open up the public portion of the meeting at 8:11 p.m. If everybody could stand up, we're going to do a flag salute and then a moment of silence. So, please remain standing.

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 be seated. If you can read the actual notice, please. All attendees and participate agree to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for public gathering. Individuals speakers should be advised that no right of privacy protects a person's public comments made in a public forum. Accordingly, all participants bear responsibility for their own statements and commentary. Ordinance. Second reading 25-14. An ordinance amending chapter 5 fees section 5-2 fees for chapter 2 administration. Paragraph C recreation registration of the revised general ordinances of the township of Milstone County of Mammoth and state of New Jersey.

Explanatory statement. This ordinance amends the recreation registration fees contained in chapter 5 section 5-2 paragraph C of the revised general ordinances of the township of Melstone. Affidavit of publication presented. I'd like to open up to the public at 8:12. Thank you. Would anybody like to come up and speak about this particular what? Okay. Nobody is here to make a statement. I'd like to close it to the public at 8:13. 8:13. Do I have a motion to adopt the table? I move to adopt. Thank you. Second, please. I'm sorry. Who was that? I'll second it. Eric.

Thank you. All right. Roll call. Committee person Davis. Yes. Committee person Zabroski. Yes. Committee person Ziner. Yes. Mayor Pharaoh. Yes. Resolutions 25-202. Resolution to transfer funds on current year appropriations. Number two. Move to adopt or table, please. I'll move to adopt. I'll second. You roll. Committee person Zoski. Yes. Committee person Ziner. Yes. Committee person Davis. Yes. Mayor Farah. Yes.

Resolution 25-203. Resolution of the township committee of the township of Milstone authorizing and committing to the condemnation of three properties for public purposes, including the implementation of the township's affordable housing obligations. Motion to adopt the table. I move to adopt. Do I have a second, please? Second. Thank you. Roll call. Committee person Zabroski. Yes. Committee person Zer. Yes. Committee person Davis. Yes. Mayor Pharaoh. Yes.

Resolution 25-204. Resolution authorizing one the acquisition of two 10acre parals owned by DEJ Inc. identified as block 57.01 lot 1.01 and block 57.01 lot 1.02 subject properties for fair market value and two the reasonzoning of the remainder of deenj property for 5 acre residential zoning. Thank you. Move to adopt a table and or committee discussion. Move to adopt. Senator, I want to do committee discussion. I need a second. Second.

Second. I'll second.

Okay. Discuss.

Uh, no committee discussion before the vote. So, I just want to point that out that I I've been uh speaking to our uh affordable housing council and a condition of the resoning uh might have impacted the funding capabilities of other projects that the township was looking at. And as such, uh we were told earlier that the funding would be jeopardized if we resone this particular piece of property and you know adopted this resolution and approved it. Uh but in checking with the the state and funding sources, uh reszoning this property will not affect possible funding for other projects that we have for affordable housing. So I just want to go on record by stating that that any decisions made uh for or against this have nothing to do with funding properties for other projects on affordable housing within the township. Does everybody understand that? Okay. All right. Roll call. Committee person Zabroski.

No. Committee person Ziner. No. Committee person Davis. No. Mayor Pharaoh. No. Okay. So, resolution 25-204 is fails. Fails. Not adopted.

Okay. Now, we're going to do consent resolutions. All matters listed under item consent agenda are considered routine by the township committee and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. There will be no separate discussion on these items. If discussion is desired of any item, that item will be considered separately. 25-205 resolution increasing contract amount for the township attorney for the calendar year 2025. 25-206 resolution increasing contract amount for professional engineering services for expert witness services on behalf of the township of Milstone in a pending litigation matter. 25-207 Resolution directing tax collector to refund real estate taxes listed on schedule A. 25-208 Resolution authorizing conveyance of block 57.01 uh 21.02 known as 14 Novad court to Affordable Housing Inc. for the provision of affordable housing. 25-209 resolution appointing fire protection sub code official. 25-210 resolution authorizing the execution of an affordable housing agreement with the affordable housing alliance for the development of a municipally sponsored affordable housing project on the shoe lee site located at 14 Novad court lot 57.01 lot 21.02-21 2 25-211 resolution authorizing the execution of a memorandum of understanding with Newell LLC for the development of a 50 unit affordable housing project consisting of 45 family rental units and five units for disabled veterans households. 25-2 resolution to enter agreement with Mammoth County Board of County Commissioners to provide ride in Mammoth, formerly referred to as SCAT services. 25-213 resolution authorizing the award of a

non-fair and open contract for professional services for wireless telecommunications consulting services to FSD Enterprises LLC. 25-214 resolution authorizing adoption of amendments and updates to the township's employee handbook entitled personnel policies and procedural procedures manual 25-215 resolution affirming the township of Milstone civil right policy with respect to all officials appointees employees prospective employees volunteers independent contractors and members of the public that come into contact with municipal employees officials and volunteers. 25-216 Resolution approving compensation for members of the board of fire commissioners fire district number one for year 2026. 25-27 payment of vouchers December 3rd, 2025. 25-218 resolution authorizing execution of developers agreement for US Tank Painting Inc. and TS Group LLC, block 16, lot 9.06, 06 site plan number M25-04.

Thank you. Move to adopt the table. I move to adopt. I'll second it. Thank you. Roll call. Committee person Zoski. Yes. Committee person Ziner. Yes. Committee person Davis? Yes. Mayor Pharaoh. Yes. Township committee minutes. Regular meeting minutes. November 5th, 2025. Committee person Zer was absent. Okay. Okay, that's what I was just checking. Okay, motion to adopt. Correct. I'll make the motion to adopt. Second. I'll second it. Committee person Zoski. Yes. Committee person Zer. Committee person Davis. Yes.

And Mayor Pharaoh. Yes. Executive meeting minutes November 5th, 2025. Motion to adopt the table again. I'll make the motion to adopt. Second. Second. Committee person Zabroski. Yes. Committee person Zer. Abstain. Committee person Davis. Yes. And mayor Pharaoh. Yes.

Reports from various departments for October 2025. Tax collector 3,176,810.93. Clerk report $916. Dog license $67960. Municipal court $7,778.14. Recreation $22,8127. Construction $49,952. COA $66,993. Construction September 2025 correction report 51,489 COA September 2025 correction $10,977 and the 2025 interest revenue.

Thank you. Motion to file. I move to file second. I'll second. All in favor? I Okay, here's our reports.

I have a couple things. Um, the Milstone seniors went on their annual trip to a Playhouse Christmas at the Hunter Hills Playhouse yesterday. Um, it was a great time. The show was wonderful in spite of the weather. This Saturday is the Millstone Seniors Christmas party. And if anyone would like to join the Milstone Seniors in 2026, they meet at 11:00 a.m. the second Tuesday of the month in the community center. And they are actively recruiting new members. The Open Space Preservation Council. A tenative date of March 5th has been set for a farmer meet and greet. A representative from the state agricultural development committee, Greenacres, and the Mammoth County Park System will be in attendance. The invitations to potential land owners will go out within the new year.

Is there a contact person when you said the seniors group? Uhhuh. Who should they? Uh Marker Patterson. So contact. Yes. How old do you have to be? 50. Oh, they actually lowered the age because their enrollment was down. They they lowered it last year. Yes, they lowered it last year. I'll be eligible next year. And the and the membership fee is $10 for the year. That's funny. Do you have anything? I do not. Yeah. Nothing from the school. I don't know the date of the what's the open planning. I believe it's December 9th at

Hold on. I will tell you. Okay. What's that? Middle school. Yeah. Middle school library. And what is this for? 7 p.m. Planning session for curriculum. Yeah, it's a strategic planning uh session at the school board which is open to the public and it meets it's going to be at 7:30 uh 7 o'clock at the middle school library and that's just going to be a type of workshop and they want you know interaction and feedback. Give any ideas as to what they can do to improve education. All right. Good business.

Any new business? Well, we have uh the Allen House 2 is finally uh have three different uh families or three different apartments are being so they're moving them in. So, uh so it's completed. Yep. It's all done. They're moving in. Ready to go. So, uh so it's all filled. Yep. So, they were actually invited to go yesterday as well, but I think they're still unpacking. So there was uh in the middle. So it's not it's not filled. There's only three out of the 10 units that are occupied currently. So there's I guess progress. This is what happens when everybody works together and somebody benefits out of it. So

that's that's a good thing. We're talking about affordable housing for seniors and uh we we just finished Allen House 2, which is on Stage Coach Road AC across from the municipal uh building. And uh you know we got outside funding for it. We put in some money and and now we have seniors that that could live there and live comfortable you know within our town. So it was a project that benefited everybody. So anything else? No. Sure. There is. Did you get an email from director of transportation regarding some new technology that the school is implementing? That was last week. We discussed that last week. I said it last week.

Oh. All right. So, uh, but basically on your ways, they will actually have, you know, school bus stop ahead. You know how when you're you're driving down 195 and it says police guy, you know, police car over here. It'll be a similar thing. So, they're rolling it out. So, anybody uses waves. So, basically, you you'll get an alert in your car that says that there's a school bus stopped ahead, you know. So, this way it just alerts you to slow down and be cognizant that there's a stop school bus. Obviously, the two red lights and the big stop sign on the side hasn't been working. So, they got to keep coming up with other ideas. Yeah. So, hopefully that that'll save lives and and reduce accidents. Okay. Any old business?

All business. Yes. You have the two flyers. That's what's under old business.

Yes. But anybody else before I I speak? Okay. This is old business. We have it every year. It's our winter wonderland uh which is going to be a holiday season celebration at Nstone Park which is located at four Red Valley Road. It's going to be on this Friday, December 5th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Please uh join us in in the event. It's going to have live holiday music and dancing, food trucks, vendors. Uh there's going to be a Christmas tree lighting, pictures with Santa, crafts, inflatables for the kids, and much much more. So, if you have nothing to do and you want to take your kids out or your grandkids, please come on Friday from 5:00 to 9:00 and enjoy the festivities.

Also, this time of year,

we're uh we are having our toys for tots uh donation. Uh to promote the spirit of giving, Milstone Recreation is accepting new unwrapped toys for children ages 2 to 15. They will be collecting it through December 12th, 2025. Donations will be collected at the mstone municipal building. Uh there's a box in the hallway near room 103 which is located at 470 Stage Coach Road Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All toy donations will be distributed to local area children. If you have any information that you'd like to have, please contact the recreation department at 7329172954. Good. I'd like to tell any comments from the days having company.

Good. Okay. This point I'd like to open up to the public at 828. At this point, anybody please state your name, your address, and chance 1028 Windsor Road. Yes, sir. I'm back again about the traffic. Uh there was two accidents in the front of my house within two weeks. Go past the house now. You see a brand new telephone pole. Woman split it. Um I mean Kevin did put up a speed thing, but it's it's so far up the road you have to slow down for stop. So it's and it doesn't it's not working right now.

Yeah. I've already notified. We put it up the other day. Bob just told me two minutes ago that it wasn't working. So, I've already told DPW to go check it out tomorrow morning. Um, the location where we originally had um one of your neighbors, a farmer had welcomed us to put it there, but it has a drainage ditch and so if you put it too far off the drainage ditch, it doesn't work properly. So, they moved it under the power line. So, we'll see if we can find We might as well not even have it because, you know, it's so close to the stop sign. I I I asked if I can put it on your property. You said no. So if I if I had a field, you could put it. I'm not putting it on the grass. No, that's all right. So we we'll try to look at somewhere else.

Is there another spot that you could recommend or maybe speak to your neighbors that maybe they would allow us to do that for this purpose? Rita and Jay said they would accommodate it, but there's no place to really No, this the one that we keep cleaning out with their with their property. Is there any any other place that we could do that? I'll ask the guys. I'll I'll ask them to look further. So, a little if if you can reach out to your neighbors, it will find a good spot and you have no problem accommodating. Yeah. And it's just and the speed East Windsor put up additional signs. It did help for a week or two, but you know, there's nobody's patrolling it. Nobody's enforcing it.

Have Have you reached out to the sergeant? Yes. And for this last incident and for the speeding uh He's He's kind of like standoffish now. So, I don't know if he was told. No, I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna send him another email. Okay. Cuz uh they were supposed to put signs on Felchure Road to speed up because there's school buses going down there. There's tractor trailers, dump trucks. You go down by the bridge on Felure, there's there's holes 68 8 inches deep. Is Felchure a truck traffic? No. So they only one. Yeah, I know. It's it's very narrow. Did they pay

East Windsor was going to put up They were going to Well, they were going to check the weight limits, which I I don't they have a weight limit sign on that yet, do they? No. Did they give you an ETA of when they were going to do this? Nope. Okay. Some of the accidents on Windsor Pineville or Fletcher? All Windsor Pineville. Eastbound, westbound, this would have been eastbound is the one in front of your house. Eastbound is going towards Freehold. Eastbound's coming towards us, right? Coming towards us. Yeah, exactly. So, it was coming towards us. She Yeah, she snapped a pole in half or almost in half. They had to put up another one. Then the second was a state trooper turned on to Velure. T-boned a a pickup truck. The

trooper did. So, you can't say the troopers aren't there. Yeah, he was there at the wrong time. But something's I mean, somebody's going to get killed and something's something's got to be done. I mean, and I know I I I'm sorry to tear your ears up, but No, but I see it all the time. And the tractor trailers are doing 55, 60 miles an hour. Dump trucks. It's they don't stop. The troopers again. I spoke to him after the accident. So, say maybe we could reach out to state police. Even at Even at night time, it's worse. the the the vision the sighteline is very difficult and motorcycles.

I'm waiting I'm waiting to see a deer come out in front of me. When when did you reach out to the expensive sergeant? Uh about week and a half ago. Did you get any response? Yeah, he responded. He said um basically Milstone has it a little bit more. That's why I mentioned it to Kevin. Um but there's no truck routes they can do. So, I don't know. Well, we could still do enforcement for the for the speeding. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's I I spoke to him after the accident and uh so when you speak to state police, you could ask him to document, you know, the statistics and the enforcement. So,

the one trooper that was out there the day the lady hit the pole told me uh I said, "You know, you guys got to start enforcing this." Yeah. He goes, he was kind of nonchalant about it. He goes, "Yeah, I gave a guy a speeding ticket. He was doing 94 miles an hour on Felure on Windsor Road and he was like an hour 94 miles an hour road is so beat up. Yeah, that's that's a good thing to be doing all the time. It's on my short list for the DOT type of grant type of thing. Good. We're going faster. That's is the problem. You know, as soon as you clean them up soon, you can you can hear gearing up. They're municipal roads. Yes,

they're not county roads, right? It has to be arterial road. So, we consider that an arterial. Got it. Okay. People are coming from other areas going through to get the state to give us money. I can't do it like in a development or something like that. It's roadway. So, you like prain, you get not a county road people. you know, this spring we're doing the last last piece of Steel House and Paint Island um at Spring Road, you know, Cars Tavern and and this one would be ideal for like the next round or whatever it is. So, they they contribute some of it. They don't pay the whole cost.

Yeah, but I haven't seen I haven't seen hardly any East East East winter cops patrolling, so I don't know if they just Yeah, I'll I'll remind our side of the troopers. Okay, then I I will reach out to the East Windsor mayor again. Okay. I appreciate it. I'm sorry to be No, don't don't be sorry. You're not doing anything wrong. I'm just worrying about people my you know me and other people getting hurt. Yeah. Don't ever be sorry for that. Don't worry. You'll probably see me again in a few months. Hopefully on on different circumstances, better better circumstances. Have a good evening. You too. Thank you. Thank you. No updates. No.

Okay. Just here for the baseball thing. Okay. All right. At this point, I'd like to close it for the public hat. 8:35. Motion to adjurnn. I move. Thank you. Who is that? It's Jeff. Jeff said he's the first and second is Terry. All in favor? Hi. Don't say it and me bleep.