Borough Council - Regular Meeting

Well, good evening everyone. This is the regular meeting agenda of the governing body of the Burough Bloomingdale, Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 6 p.m. like to call the meeting to order by salute to pledge. I aliance 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. Roll call, please. Mayor Dato, here. Councilman Brockford, present. Council

here. Councilwoman present. Council Schubert here, Council here.

We also have our municipal clerk Brianna Smith, business administrator Michael Smar, and B attorney Lauren Sullivan. This meeting is called to pursuant to the provisions of the open public meetings law adequate most of this meeting was advertised to Herald News on January 9th, 2025. Copies were provided to the local news media and posted continuously in this building. A copy of this notice is available to the public and on file the office of municipal clerk. As per state fire code, I am required to acknowledge that there are two emergency exits in this council chambers. The main exits which you enter through and a secondary exit to the left of where I am seated. If there is an emergency, walk orderly to the exit, exit through the or down the stairs and out the building. If there's any questions, please raise your hand. Seeing none, we do have one non-aggenda item tonight, which is authorizing our um our BA to work with our attorneys regarding our affordable housing obligation for around four.

Yeah, the fourth balance since much is going to be happening from between this meeting and the end of the end of the year. to have have this done by the 31st and then a new clock starts for the next step of that. Right. a second. You can see it. You good? Yep. Um, do I have a motion to open up early public comment?

Second. All in favor? I. Anyone wish to speak? Please come up to agenda items for the Huntley A6 Van. Um for the adoption for the award for contract for Bloomale Senior Pair Center, um the bid was 1969, but you're awarding it for 1989. It's the bid was 1981. Uh you're looking at it. There was a typo in the resolution. The top part says 196. the other two it's 1989. So this is going to be adjusted before you vote on it. Correct.

It already is in their drive. You're looking at a draft of it, but you'll have the right numbers. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else?

What do you need 66 for? Two questions. What's the town going to do about the water? Are we going to do it three years in a row? It's going to fail. The water past two years it's failed in July. Please explain. Are we going to do it for three years in a row? It's the is that the letter you received in the mail? Okay. And who's going to pay for the people that have to get bottled water because of being this? First of all, this is not on the agenda item. So, you should be at late public comment because now those were agenda items, but we'll take your questions now. Okay. Um, and you can help me out here.

The first the first time we failed chlorine had a low chlorine and that's what the letter that went out was low chlorine. Everything else passed. There was no issues with the water other than low chlorine. 2024. Okay. We had to boil it for a week. That was totally different. Totally different scenario. It's two years in a row. Okay. We've had water problems. Correct or incorrect? I'll say correct to that. But one's testing and one was issue. Understand what? Okay. People are paying a lot of money for water initially. One. Yes. We all pay. One. One. The first one was an issue with if I remember correctly, the tank and B. Yep.

Correct. So that's when we went to the bottle water. We were handing it out, giving it out to help out the residents. this last issue that came along when they do their chlorine test what we fail by like point yeah if you have 5% we do x amount of we do 10 sites

test points throughout the town and we failed cuz only 5% you can fail so we're only doing 10 so we failed one spot by minimal numbers for chlorine and chlorine only that has been taken care of all right we're still doing tests Our guys are doing the test now, going out and making sure. We have been good ever since. But it was only low chlorine. There was no bacteria, nothing that was harmful to anyone to drink or use it for cooking or whatever. Okay. It was low chlorine. And do we do selective enforcements of ordinances in town?

No. Are you sure? Because people raves out to the street, left them, and now they got snowplowed on my property. Give me the address. We'll send 67 Noles Road. If you want, I can give you pictures. No, that's fine. We'll just send our property maint. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Have a good evening. You, too. Anyone else? Seeing no one motion to close early public comment for attendees. Second. All in favor.

Okay. Before we get to reporting committees, I'm going to ask Ready to join me at the podium. As I said earlier before our meeting started, this is a bittersweet day for the federal booming bill. Um, and the reason I asked Ray up here is because when we first started our campaign to become our in um councilman at that time, uh, Doran Hudson stepped up and was our campaign manager and that's how we got Doran kind of involved to um, help us along to become elected officials to the burrow. That was back in 2011. By Dawn doing that um she showed an interest to become a council woman. So the following year Dawn um ran at that time with

Tony Costa.

Tony Costa. I had to remember I saw Tony the other night with Tony Costa and both of them became council people. Don has gone to council ever since. So, not only tonight is the last meeting of 2025, but it's also the last meeting with Councilwoman Dorne Hudson, serving on the Deis since 2000 since serving on the days since 2014. Dorne has been a dedic dedicated member of the Bloomale Barrow Council, giving countless hours to the residents while raising a family of her own in town hall um in town hall we all in the town we all love. And tonight we have her husband Mike, daughter Bella, and Cole will get the video later on. Throughout her multiple terms, Donna has served as a leazison to members of numerous boards to help us bring a meaningful improvements to the to Bloomingdale. Any responsibility dedicated to her has been met with a full commitment in her best efforts. Dawn worked to establish the community garden and has secured grant funding year after year to support the garden. As a member of a public outreach committee, she singly handled built built the burrow's social media presence, created a vital platform for sharing important news with our residents. She also worked together with burough employees to make our website more accessible and userfriendly for over a decade. Dawn has worked alongside the board and board of health keeping the boards and its members of the government body informed including through the challenges of co as we all know that was uh a time we all went through when we all had to deal with things but we we banned together as a burrow and we got through that. She has been valued member of public safety committee consistently advocating for the well-being of our community. She has worked as a coordinator to clean community grants. Lastly, Donna has been a a valued member

of our OEM team and in 2026, she'll serve as a deputy coordinator to the to OEM. She also serves on the um um ops committee and that's a huge task on when you you work with that. You work with the employees when you're doing hiring or whatever has to be done. we have to make major decisions to bring in form the council of what's going on. So that was another vital part that Dawn um handled through the burrow through these years. Dawn, you have made Bloomville a better place. It has been an honor to serve alongside you. Thank you for the years of dedication and service to the burrow of Bloomingdale. So I'd like you to come down.

Well, just to add, I mean, she's been a big proponent of uh public safety, right? she was a member of public safety committee for entire 12 years you've been up here. So, so very proud of you. Sad to hear your last report. And I know for me at least, you know, I uh you introduced us to Facebook, right? Uh I don't it's it sounds silly, but she told us when she was a campaign manager, you have to get on Facebook. No way. I'm not doing anything like that. And here we are. Right. And uh at every meeting she makes sure everyone knows, hey, go to the website, you can sign up for uh

rave as well as the recycle. And I was the hero the other day when my wife uh looks across the street that somebody put out cardboard, but it was uh can I was able to look it up and tell her. So, thank you. Congratulations. So you know you didn't want you want that because you know you have the fire department from all of us. We thank you. Thank you.

I just have to take one towel. I was going to take one out and give it to Mike. But that's Thank you. YES. THANK YOU. Thank you everyone for coming. Good evening friends and neighbors. As I stand before you know I knew I WAS LIKE I GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN. I'M NOT GOING TO CRY. OKAY. As I stand before you on my final week serving as your council woman, I am filled with gratitude, pride, and hope for the future of our town. First and foremost, I want to thank my family, my husband Mike, my daughter Bella, my son Cole. I wish he was here tonight. Um, your patience, encouragement, and love have been the foundation of my service to the bureau. So, thank you. Okay. To the dedicated employees who keep our town running day after day, you are the quiet heroes behind our progress and I'm deeply grateful for your commitment. To the mayor and my fellow councilmen members, I'm sorry. Thank you for your collaboration, wisdom, and shared vision. Together, we have faced challenges and celebrated victories that strengthen our community. To the volunteers, your commitment is what keeps Bloomingdale strong. You embody the spirit of service that makes our town thrive. And I see a lot of volunteers right now in this audience. Thank you. And to the residents, thank

you for placing your trust in me with your vote. Serving you has been the greatest honor of my career. Also, to our residents, as I step away from this role, I encourage each of you to stay engaged. Reach out to your council whenever you have questions, concerns, or ideas. Your voice matters and it shapes the future of our town. One of my priorities has been improving communications between residents and the burrow. Please take advantages of the resources available. Visit the website, sign up for our emergency notification system, and follow the bureau's official social media pages. Each member of the council has an email and a phone number. Use them. Every single burough department has a phone number and an email. Please use them. An informed resident is an empowered resident. I also encourage you to volunteer your time. Whether it's helping at community events, supporting local initiatives, or lending a hand to neighbors in need, your involvement strengthens the bonds that make Bloomington a special place. And lastly, be kind. Be kind to the leaders who continue this important work. Be kind to our employees. and most importantly, be kind to each other. Though my time on the council is shortly coming to an end, my commitment to this town and community remains steadfast. Together, we have built something meaningful, and I know that the best is yet to come. Thank you for allowing the privilege of serving you. Thank you.

Cheers. Anybody else have anything to uh to add to this before we move on? I I have something from Fred. Go ahead. Okay. This is from Fred.

Don, we wanted to say our thanks and c congratulations to you on all the hard work you put into the burrow of Columbia. You were there through the hard times, the challenging times, and the successes. Thank you for your support of both Dawn and I and our office and for always putting the residents of Bloomingdale first. Wishing you all the best. And on a personal level, I want to say thank you. You're always so willing to um assist, advise, kick things around. You'll be missed.

Thank you. And safe. Thank you. You have a dad on top of that, too. Thank you, Don. I've been sitting next to you, either over here or on that side, for the past 5 years. Always appreciated you. Um, phone calls, thinking things through, thinking, what can we do differently? How can we do things better? The energy you always brought, the commitment, the way you articulated that to everybody and your vision. I thought those were all fantastic things. Thank you for your service. Definitely going to miss having you up here, but I know that we'll see you around and still be working together in some way, shape, or form.

Thank you. Well, I I don't know who's going to be doing all that running around with Mike on the ATVs and walk in direction. So,

let's go right to reporting committees. Would you like me to? Go ahead.

All right. Here we go. All right. Bloomingdale Fire Department, Santa Run, December 20th and 21st. Uh, typically they start around noon and they go until the schedule's complete for the day. You'll find the schedule on the fire department Facebook page. Please do not call the police to request them or to find out where they are. You can use the app Glimpse to follow the fire department. Um, also we've had some uh public service announcements on social media about uh shoveling out the hydrants. Please help your fire department by shoveling out the hydrants near you. In an emergency, every single second counts. Burrow offices are closed. No DPW pickup Thursday, December 25th and Thursday, January 1st. Rabies clinic schedule has been posted. Bloomingdales January 3rd from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Bloomingdale DPW garage on Union app. Public events. Tomorrow is the Manora lighting at 7 PM here at town hall. Uh the public event calendar for 2026 is posted on the burough's website. We have a couple of new things that are kind of fun. One is camping, which will be fun for the kids, I think. And we're also doing a dog Halloween costume uh walk and um contest. Uh we are on the public event calendar missing unity through community that will be posted. Any updates will all be on the burough website and our fireworks right now are on the schedule but that's going to be dependent on a number of factors. So that is to be determined. Um also reorg meeting is January 6th at 7 p.m. with the swearing in of Jen Hagen and Dave Bron Bronhurst. Dave, congratulations. Jen, congratulations. You're going to do great. Um, board of health, we are continuing health clinics every second Tuesday of

the month from 2:30 p.m. to 400 p.m. in council chambers. January 13th is the next clinic. That's checking blood glucose, blood pressure, hemoglobin, and cholesterol. County Department of Health Services also offers monthly children's wellness clinic for those uninsured or enrolled in uh NJ family care plan A. uh it offers state required immunizations and physicals. There are different locations. So, please go on to our bureau website and go to the board of health and you will see that there are a number of locations with different phone numbers at each location to sign up. Um free eye and hear screenings for those underinsured or without insurance. You can call 973881-4396. That is also through the county. Um, as requested, we have posted a couple public service announce announcements on not feeding the wildlife. Hopefully, everyone will comply. And lastly, this will be the last time I'm saying this hopefully up here. Please sign up for our emergency notification system. You can find that on the bureau's website on the homepage bottom right hand side along with recycle coach. That's it. Good. Um I was at the last um try trial meeting and their calls for November were 168. Year to date they have u 892 calls. Trebor had 147 calls covered 134 miss 13. Uh paid covered calls were 21 calls per town, 66 for Butler. Bloomingdale had 55. Canolon had 56. Um they did 11 mutual aid calls to uh to Mville

Aquanic, Riverdale, Ponta Lakes, Guanu, and West Mil. Um they're going to have a uh their installation dinner on the 10th. Um there's uh going to have a lot of um recognition. The um one specifically is a Gail Dunlop. since 50 years with um trio um first state and um they also have u a lot of new recruits and they're working with a lot of different um CPR uh courses. uh their pancake and then and coming into the new year they have u some special events on um March 22nd is their pancake breakfast with about 60 so far 60 to 70 vendors and they do this at the St. Anony's uh next to the church up there, the gym, and it's a really nice event. So, I'm excited. Um on April 18th is their be and I'll have more information. Um next is uh the library. Um, as always, they were at the um they were present at the holiday stroll and they have um many events coming up which you could find on their website um for uh juvenile programs and adult programs. and they um have many um events coming up as far as uh classes and knitting and um also they're going to look into um having some people talk

about trusts and um and things like that. And then for the senior center, um they're always very busy. Um and they're looking forward to the construction um they had a an event for the police department on Monday um that they always um do. And as always, the Bloomingdale Senior Center has their calendars on our Bloomingdale website for all of their chair aerobics. um and and trips that they take. So you can look at all just one item just a big thank you. It was a successful holiday stroll again this year and there's a lot of people to thank for that. Starting with the economic development commission and Bloomingdale wreck for leading and organizing that. Also thank you to the library who's in attendance and is always a strong draw. Fire department. I think I still have two of your coolers. that washed them out. I'll be bringing them back soon. But also for the rides, that was a new thing this year on the fire truck. That was very successful. So, a lot of happy children with that. Thank you all for that. The police department did a wonderful job of organizing things and went off without a hitch. DPW a fantastic job organizing as well. Um, I think I might be missing a few. I apologize if I am, but again, thank you. A lot of people that that go into making that event successful and I think really pulled it off again this year. That was a great event.

Right. Nothing to report. Just the final thought about the stories I was telling D. You made us the guys like we are better is the point of that story. And you're going to be missed tremendously, especially on the days on all the event days that you're wearing on your own. Somebody's going to suck you into those. And uh yeah, you're going to be massing. You got some big shoes to fill. So Jen, um we're going to need you to step up. You you serve the women of Blooming Bell well and proud. So thank you very much. Thank you,

Dave. Uh yes, so on December 3rd, the environmental commission met and we were joined by Julia Jablonsky. She's the local representative from America Corpse, New Jersey wershed ambassador and she looks forward to working with the environmental commission with um different things regarding the river and whatnot. That's all

um nothing to report. There was no planning board meeting in December. Reorg is the 7th. I think just to continue on on Don like obviously public events everyone has mentioned the number of things that she's involved in. I know particularly as you mentioned the river river clean up and the townwide cleanup those are big events that I I hope we continue to get that same kind of support through and hopefully still some volunteer work out of her we know she's not going away. She's just coming out of the chair. Thanks D. Thank you. I just I did reach out to D with the deer calling and we have a meeting a zoom meeting set up with them in early January. more with that. It's up to me.

Uh, yes, Mayor. But I emailed a letter that we received from a resident, Linda Bennett, um, but she addressed to the mayor council um, couldn't be here this evening, but just wanted to read it on her behalf. Um, so this is from Linda Bennett, a volunteer and a resident of our town who is moving. Uh, it has truly been a privilege and honor to live in and support this wonderful community. With Stephen, when Steven and I first moved here, we never imagined how deeply we would become involved in serving the place we love so much. For me, it began when I became the children's librarian and fell in love with our kids and families. When the pandemic pandemic struck and the needs were overwhelming, Kim and I along with incredible support from so many took actions to honor our frontline and essential workers. It was a frightening time for all of us. Yet, we stood ready to do what we could because I have always believed in one guiding principle, Pay It Forward. BBCO began in November of 2020 as a way to assist our food pantries and churches during one of the hardest times imaginable. How far we have come since then. This year alone, we served 174 families and over 367 children, a number that continues to grow each year. I was blessed to complete my final toy drive alongside an extraordinary group of women whose dedication and countless hours deserve recognition every single day. I also want to express my heartfelt thanks for the key to the town and the proclamation. My deepest gratitude to Evelyn for attending my surprise party. Your presence and kind words meant the world to me. As we move to our new neighborhood, I hope to find a new path to continue living by those words, pay it forward. Many have asked why I do this so often. During our first toy drive, we were fortunate to use the rec center next to Danny's Pizza. Mayor Dun Levy met me there to give me the key and reminded me that the best thing we can ever do for our community is to look around and see what needs to be done. His words have stayed with me ever since. Pay it forward, my friend. That

was the last time I saw John as he passed away that weekend. His words became my mission. I wish you all the very best and forever carry a large part of Bloomingdale in my heart as we begin our next chapter with gratitude. Linda Bennett will be missed um in this community in not just our community of other community. The toy drive I know she was instrumental in I think the Reese Cross America she worked with um the veterans over there. So she was definitely dedicated to both our community and the Butler and local other communities around us. she would be missed. Um, the people she recruited to work on all her projects are great. Kim Dulan, um, Sally, I probably I'm missing a bunch of them, but she had a great supporting cast working with her. Um, I know, um, I know Chief Bell's here. Um when that's the toy drive started, police department and chief Greenwood continued that and you know working with everybody to make the Troy D toy drive successful as it was in this year um even more successful. So she will be

no I said okay um just from me um there's two projects are going to start you'll see stuff on I believe can street and Roy I saw I saw Ann and I saw um material being delivered over there so that project will will kick off uh we're approving tonight to to go out and purchase the new playground uh equipment for the laser field and we're doing that with um open space money

right from from the county. So um that'll be another brand new playground next year opening up um hopefully early spring if not just after that. Depends what you know what needs to be done there. We will be closing that park shortly because we're going to demo it in the winter. Um, so when spring comes, we can kick off and get the new the new park built and ready to go um for the kids in the spring. So that's another big project very similar to the Bon project. Um, this is our last meeting of the year and I like to wish the public and everybody's here and our supporting cast up here a very happy and safe holiday for Christmas and New Year's and then uh January we'll kick off running and get that year started. So okay so resolution resolution number 202512.1 the consent agenda I have a motion to approve the consent agenda

second mayor just like to thank Lisa she resigned don't take a technical assistant of the town take her for the years put in here. We will be uh posting a part-time receptionist position and hopefully hiring somebody come back with the approval probably mid January, early February parttime position. Okay, very good. Um any other questions? Roll call, please. Ronard, yes. Catalano, yes. Rodiano, yes. Yes. Hubert. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Okay. Uh pending items. Lakerfield playground improvement project resolution 202512.14 authorizing contract with Ben Schaer Recreation ENJ playground site preparation installation. Excuse me. Move to the second. Any questions? Roll call. Yes. Raziano, yes. Hudson, yes. Schubert, yes. Gatsby, yes. Rocker, yes.

Okay. New business. Adopt a resolution number 2025 12.15, payment of the bill. Have a motion to pay the bill. Any questions? Roll call, please. Your team, too. Braziano, yes. Hudson, yes. Yes. Y, yes. Rockers, yes. Catalano, yes. Okay. Adoption resolution number 2025 12.16, transfer of appropriations. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Any questions? Roll call. Hudson.

Yes. Schubert. Yes. Yes. Rockford. Yes. Yes. Braziano? Yes. Item C, adopt resolution number 202512.17, awarded contract for Bloomell Senior Center repairs. Do I have a motion? This has been a long awaited project. I think since we started this in 2021 to get this off the ground and finally it's coming to get done to repair the floors in the senior center. I'm most I believe we're fixing stuff in the bathrooms. Yep. Right. And um and new flooring. Um roll call

yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. That's it. Yes. Item D, adoption resolution number 202512 18 sergeant promotion for the Bloomale Police Department. Um Kevin Pearl. Can I do these both at the same time? An adoption of resolution number 2025 12.19 promotion of uh sergeant promotion for the Bloomale Police Department Vasio. Do I have a motion? Second.

We got a second. Well, there was two so moves. She led on to this one. Public safety committee. I default to her. Roll call, please. Gassy, yes. Rockers, yes. Catalano, yes. Graciano, yes. Yes. Cuber,

yes. Okay, this is our uh added agenda uh resolution number 202512.20. This is authorizing the bur administrator to work with our attorney to finalize this resolution for December 31st due date. Do I have a motion to move? Second roll call. Yes. Yes. Graiano. Yes. Yes. Cooper. Yes. Gassi. Yes.

Do we have a motion for update public comment? All in favor? Anyone have anything to say? Please come on up.

The other side.

John Burell. My address will always be 101 here in B terminal. Uh a little late, but I I just want to say, Dawn, um it's been an absolute honor to work with you over pretty much the entire length of your council career except the last two years working with you on the public safety committee. I forever grateful for what you've brought to the public safety committee. uh from the public safety committee to the police department, our conversations, your guidance. Um you did so many things for our police department over the years. Personally, I'm grateful for that as are everyone who was on the department, but more importantly, what you did for the town, your service to this town, your volunteerism, your commitment. You, Mike, the Hudsons, you've left your mark in a real special way on on this burrow. And I am forever indebted to you for our conversations that we had, our dealings with Hurricane Sandies, our dealings with COVID, whatever the case may be. But your all your input was always something where how can we make this better? How how can we help the town? How can we make this town better? How can we make the people better? How can we make you safer? So many things that you've left your fingerprints on within the burrow. and I'm so so honored and so glad to have been a part of that and I just thought it was very important I could stand up here for the next 20 minutes but quite honestly um so can many many other people but I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done and I am forever grateful for all you've done for this town the police department myself our conversations from when Cole and Bella were that big and kicking them out of our public safety meetings whatever the case may be it's been a long time and a great run and you should be really proud of what you've accomplished.

Thank you. So, thank you. Thank you so much.

You know, can I I would like to say something actually kind of a funny story. Um you know, when I first got involved on Duny was um you know, very involved. And when my kids were little, John had his whiteboard and he did not mess with John's whiteboard. And my kids would go and draw on his whiteboard and it just pissed him off. And the one day, I think it was this one, this little one drawing smiley faces and she walked into she walked into uh finance and you know somebody whispered in her ears and she comes back and she says you know finance needs money and she wrote it on there and he was so upset by that. But it was fun having you know it was fun seeing my kids like develop. I have, you know, the picture that Mike put and this is when I first got sworn in for the first time and my kids were little and they were a huge part of everything. I dragged them to everything and Mike I dragged Mike to everything and he came and helped always willingly and the kids always did too. But uh you know this has been so lovely tonight and I really want to thank everyone. Anyone else want to push? Seeing no go on a motion to close.

Thanks. All in favor? I. We do not have an executive session tonight. So our next meeting will be the reorganization meeting on January 6, 2026, 2026. Move by. Do we have a motion to agenda? So move. Final time. Second. All in favor? Thank you all. Enjoy the holiday.