Borough Council - Regular Meeting

We good to go. Call the meeting to order. Roll call, please. Mayors here. Mr. Ruth, I'm here as well. Sorry, guys. here. Mr. Trainer here, Mrs. Mayor here. Mr. Zena here.

Notice of this meeting was provided to the Burnsville News and Courier News file with the municipal clerk and posted on the municipal bulletin board on December 4th, 2025. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States to the republic for it stand with liberty and justice for all.

All right. Welcome to the April 27th, 2026 meeting of the Burnersville Burough Council. Members of the public will be allowed to speak during the open sessions and during formal public hearings on the agenda. Comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker which will be monitored and enforced by the burough clerk. Failure of the governing body to provide a live broadcast of this meeting or technological problems encountered during the course of this meeting that affect remote viewing and or participation will not invalidate this meeting or any action taken including but not limited to the adoption of any ordinance resolution or motion. All right. First on the agenda um we're going to I'm going to read the proclamation for Bob Walsh into the agenda. I mean to the record uh Bob is our veteran who is turning 100 on May 6th or 8th. I forget which one. Heartworks will be having a birthday party fundraiser for him on May 16th at the Mayan antique whatever that is where they have all the antique autos. Um and they what Hardworks does is at the Hardworks house down on 202 they um hold the meetings, the veterans meetings there once a month and they provide them dinner every month. So they have been very supportive of the veterans and so they wanted to do an event to recognize Bob. So in recognition of his 100th birthday and distinguished service, whereas reaching the milestone of 100 years of life is a rare and extraordinary achievement, reflecting a lifetime of experiences, resilience, and wisdom. And whereas Bob Walsh, a respected resident of our community, will celebrate this 100th birthday, marking a century defined by service, perseverance, and devotion to family, country, and

community. And whereas Bob Walsh honorably served in the United States Marine Corps as a radio telephone operator and radar operator in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II, answering the call to defend our nation and embodying the values of courage, duty, and sacrifice that safeguard our freedoms and received the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, the Army of Occupation Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. And whereas following his military service, Bob Walsh continued to exemplify the spirit of citizenship through his integrity, kindness, and quiet leadership, earning the admiration and respect of all who know him. And he continues to serve as a proud member of Burnsville BFW Memorial Post 7858. And whereas Bob Walsh's life stands as a living testament to its strength of character, patriotism, and commitment that defined the greatest generation, and his story serves as an inspiration to present and future generations. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that May 8th is hereby recognized as Bob Walsh Day in Burnersville, and all residents are encouraged to join in celebrating his 100 years of life, honoring his military service and expressing gratitude for his enduring contributions to our community and nation. In witness whereof, I hereupon set my hand in blah blah blah. You want this? I'll just leave it here. you can talk about. Um, yeah, he's he's just a great guy and in good health for 100. I think he's one of the few the only is he the only World War II veteran we still have, I think, in that in that group. Yeah. All right. Moving on to

minutes. We have March 16th and March 23rd. Do I have a motion to approve? I'll move to Oops, I lost my document. The second I said it. I'll move the minutes for March 16th and March 23rd, 2026. I'll second. All in favor? I All right. We now have our first open session for any items that aren't listed for a public hearing. If anyone in the public would like to be heard, please come up and stand on the silver X. I don't I can't see if anybody's on there.

June 13th. Seeing none, I will close the open session. Um, I will open a public hearing on ordinance 2026 2045, an ordinance supplementing and amending the burough code by creating a new section 2-27 entitled damage to mailboxes resulting from snow removal and establishing a maximum reimbursement amount. Would anyone like to be heard on this ordinance? Seeing none, I will close the public hearing. Uh we'll start with Rich.

I move to pass ordinance number 2026 2045 on bino reading and adopt as published. Second. Roll call, please. Mr. Rivera, yes. Mr. Lee, yes. Yes. Mr. Trainer, yes. Mr. Mayor, yes. Mr. Zadina,

yes. I will open the public hearing on ordinance 2026 2046, an ordinance providing for the improvement of the Mars Morrison Avenue pump station by the burrow of Burnsville, the county of Somerset, New Jersey, and appropriating 1,115,000 therefore constituting proceeds of grants in the amount of 750,000 from the county of Somerset ARP funds and 365,000 is sewer capital improvement funds. Would anyone like to be heard on this ordinance? Seeing none, I will close the public hearing here.

All right. I move to pass ordinance 2026-26 on final reading and adopt as second. Roll the call, please. Sandino. Yes. Miss, yes. Mr. Trainer, yes. Mr. John, yes. Ruth, yes. Yes.

All right. Uh, now we have introduction of ordinances. Christine read that ordinance 2026-2047 be introduced by title pass on first reading published according to law appropriating 1,840,140 from the capital improvement fund for various equipment and improvements as listed in the 2026 municipal budget and that a public hearing be scheduled for a meeting beginning at 700 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Second. All in favor?

I opposed. Yep. I move that ordinance 2026-2048 bond ordinance approving providing for the acquisition of new and additional firefighting equipment by the Burough of Burnsville in the county of Somerset, New Jersey, appropriating $1,500,000. Therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $1,425,000 in bonds or notes of the bureau for financing such appropriation be introduced by title pass on first reading published according to law and the public hearing be scheduled for meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Second. All in favor? I oppose.

All right. I move that ordinance 2026-2049 and ordinance supplementing and amending chapter 2 article 9 entitled background checks required of certain bureau officers and employees and outside contractors by requiring background checks for all prospective bureau employees be introduced by title pass and first reading published according to law and the public hearing be scheduled for a meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, 206. Second. All in favor? Any opposed?

Okay. Moving on to um Did I skip something? I was supposed to ask that. Oh, the boss. Yeah. Are you sure? It was a voice though. Yeah, you missed the introduction and I said it's we'll remember it for next time.

Um, just going through the resolutions any that we want to uh talk about separately. We always like to notice the that's a new member and fly company. Very good. Thank you. Thank you so much. the same. It's the same. Um, yeah, let's see. We're approving the uh Mayday parade route, Cub Scouts. Um do the uh their little Yeah. Kirk pred.

What's new? Oh yes, we have a new code enforcement officer. So that was new. Was a former police police. Yeah. Retired last year. Yeah. Oh, we have an appointee to um recreation. Anything else? I just know with the u cub scouts, they do know they need a fire permit. Yeah, we have Aaron here, right? So,

we we'll get whatever we need. We've done it before the top. We use a container to we're not, you know, opening and we work with uh Mr. Waters and Tyson and whatever. Oh, great. How is that working out with having them using the house and Well, thank you. The uh the house is uh probably smaller than than we when we do our events. They're they're usually out. They're it's nice to have space so we can use bridge cold or something like that while we're setting up. And uh and the garage is wonderful. bugging our equipment up and down the uh the steps of the church. We appreciate it as well. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Thanks.

Anything on there that we want do separately? I think we put a little budget. No, we do have Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There. Yeah. Separate. Um, so we need to move 26102 to 26115. I move that resolutions 102 to 26-2 I'm sorry 115 be adopted. I second. Okay. Roll call, please. Yes. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Mr. Trainer. Yes. Is the mayor?

Yes. Mr. Vina. Yes. All right. Uh, now we move on to the adoption of the 2026 budget. Um, I think before we open the public hearing, we'll let you guys see our finance chair do the presentation.

Yep. So, you want to pull it up, Anthony? So, while Anony's pulling it up, I just want to um first stage just a couple things. Starting off, big thank you to our CFO Leslie who's Robertson's on the line. I saw her there. So, thanks for all the work and Nancy, our administrator for all the guidance and of course my fellow finance committee sure people mayor Kenos and Council Jerome and uh thanks for all the hard work related it. The presentation itself isn't that much different than what Charlie showed um last month at the introduction. If you were at the for anybody watched uh or listened in to the um or attended the working meeting last week, you'll see this there's been some updates to it after the discussion we had as council last week and some other uh kind of clarity that um Leslie put into it, too. So, I'm just going to take you through kind of maybe some of the slides that we hadn't talked through as much before we open up to a public hearing. So, um first of all, the key takeaways, we lowered the tax rate for the fifth straight year of it being flat or lowered. We decreased it from 469 to 464 which is the largest decrease in decades at least until we look back which is around 2010. um significant. All that said, you know, there were significant headwinds that pertain to base as a municipality. Other municipalities face it as well. Increases in non-discretionary items such as health insurance, which is big, contractual items, utilities, liability insurance, and state aid unfortunately continues to remain flat. Um which it's been that way for ever

20 years.

20 years. Yeah. Despite promises that that would increase. Um we increase the use of cash for capital purchase in order to reduce future debt services. It's the largest capital budget in over a decade which fulfills a council goal. We had a nice healthy debate on that last meeting and that was um great to sort of uh hash out you know how we were investing in the capital budget. Um the burough valuation has increased for the sixth straight year. You know in our minds that demonstrates the positive momentum from the investments we made into the bureau but we're going to go into that a little bit later too. Um that the increase in valuations and what's that you know how that's metriculating throughout the budget. We keep making key investments, our community priorities, investments in the public safety, including purchase of a new fire truck, the draws of life and the chest compression unit for the fire department, which um just want to thank the fire department and rescue squad for uh their great engagement with us early on so we understand their priorities and could help co-plan like we said as well as the police department um as well. We were able to fund police cars, body cameras, and video technology. Because of that, um, we achieved the first allocation for the library of over a million dollars. I also want to really thank Fran and the library team. I mean, they've really done a nice job of managing the budget, being transparent and open with us on council on challenges they're facing. They face the same exact challenges that we do as a um as a municipality, and they've been able to really um manage it uh nicely. um still a lot of difficulties in helping them achieve but and uh you know they've had a lot of good advice from their board but want to thank them for their partnership as well. And then um we increase support for pool and recreation to support this community asset. Um a reminder that we represent about a quarter of the residents overall tax burden. Put a million dollars appropriate into the open trust fund to pay back master plan. Something new on the next slide that we didn't do in previous years. We thought as a finance committee and as a council

we would um maybe articulate for the public and I might pause after this to see if there's other council members that want to add anything on this as well or the mayor. Um so like in the current budget this was our overall approach and our goals smart fiscal planning to balance funding mandatory items core service and discretionary items with as low of a tax burden as possible. And we're big on trying to ensure there's no significant spikes or dips year after year with the headwinds because we know that do to you know residents and how they have to plan their own household um budgets as well. We want to try to invest in areas that we believe improving residents quality of life and experience while increasing the burough's value and the invest and support the council community goals and increase the capital budget. Understand the current and long-term needs of burough departments including the police, fire and rescue and the library and co-plan these to address them together. um a smart approach to debt management actively managed to ensure we maintain our AAA credit rating which has been you know a real asset to the bureau and ensure reasonable annual debt obligation which helps fund our future needs a little bit longterm we um want to lower the overall tax burden on residents particularly through expanding the share of commercial property taxes and other income contributing to funds raised currently 91% of our taxes as a bureau comes from residential taxes so um if you think about it every time we want to invest in something, nine out of every $10 comes from really on the back of residents. Now, that's lower. We've made some progress in this space. Just a few years ago, that was at 93 or 94% and we're down to 91, but really as a collective council, our goal is to get that into the 80s and ideally even to the mid or low 80s so that um commercial properties or other properties in the burough pay more of a percentage and therefore it's not always going back to residents um whenever we want to make an investment in the burrow. And then we want to ensure that that Burnsville remains an attractive location for future residents and businesses particularly compared to peer communities in the region who have a choice of going to other communities other than Burnsville when they're looking to move in. And we want them to choose Burnsville whether they're

starting a family here, moving here um for the rest of their lives or uh starting a business here as well. So I'm just going to take a quick pause. Anyone from council want to add anything because I know we talked about this um pretty much at length last last week too.

Yeah, just roll it back a little bit. The only thing I wanted to just emphasize is the second one um is is ensuring there's no spikes or dips. And I think it's very easy for a council or um any particular council member to want to oh let's cut the budget. Let's let's give taxpayers as much as you'd like to do that. I think if you reduce it one year, it's going to double back on you in two years. So the idea of trying to keep it stable so that people aren't caught unaware that you know one council changes suddenly the next council has to increase the budget. So I think we've been very focused on that stability. I think that's really important. So thank you for making that point.

I just reemphasized what Al said on the long term. I think what we're trying to do here um and mayor mentioned some of that as well is we're not trying to come in here and make a quick cut that's just sort of a sugar rush and what we're trying to do is really attract folks who want to be here for decades and make it as attractive financially as possible to be here by bringing in other revenue sources other efficiency gains which Nancy has driven a lot of in recent years so that you can get the most in terms of amenities quality of pound quality of life here while paying the least amount. That's what we're trying to achieve in the face of a long-term plan and thanks to Leslie, thanks to the investigator in the finance committee to achieve that.

Yeah, it is a challenging balance for taking a balanced approach to this, you know, bringing the rest of us into the discussion when had questions or whatever it was. So a great job this year and uh you know again our um you know uh significant cut at least historically but again you know with stability as a as a focus. Great job. Thank you. Anyone else? Otherwise I just want to hit a few other quick points. We'll keep going.

Yep. Okay. Just Charlie did a lot of these so I'm just kind of going to spend a lot of time but reminder that only a quarter of your tax bill comes from the bureau and that tax rate is what we really can control. a lot of other um factors going into your tax bill, your property and the valuation of your property and then of course counting is primarily school taxes as well. Um keep going. So just a quick overview of the budget um all together you know taxes 14 million um other revenue increased now to a little over 7 million total uh revenue 21 million um which just a 300,000 increase over 2025. Keep going. So just we put in here and this is all you know will be online for public consumption but um we really try to break down what are mandatory core services and discretionary you know mandatory required by statute core services we move them in there it's not statutoily required but public works it utilities that we know we have to pay anyway so really when we look to discretionary items that we get full control over and decide to invest it's about 4% or about a little over $800,000 what is really you know we choose to invest um increases in non-discretionary.

Yeah. Uh altogether you could see that 370,000 in contractual salaries, 270,000 in health benefits, $30,000 in um liability, state management sweet, $45,000. So the total increase there was $62,000. The health increase and thanks to Nancy and the council would have been much higher had we not made different decisions in in 20. Yeah. Last year as well, right?

We made a uh Nancy, you want to speak to what we did there real quick? I'm sure we left the uh we left the New Jersey state health benefits plan um because they were looking at a 37% increase and we joined uh a hip a health insurance fund a joint health insurance fund um it is an NJ solution and uh we were able to reduce the increase to one 3%. So instead of 37, it's still increased 23 which you see there is still significant but a lot better than 37 which is as we hear only kind of well and as more people pull out of it.

Yeah. It's only leaving the ones that uh can't get out. Yeah. Unfortunately we just right.

It's all about experience. Yep. Good. This is the next slide. This is the overall increase in the bur valuation. Um you can see over that five years it's been a uh $751 million increase in the overall value of all properties in the burrow. Listen, we know that um this is a positive thing, right? The burrow is appreciating asset and it's getting more valuable. the same time um there's a lot of factors that go into that the economy and other factors that you know that's why we really want to have that steady year-to-year management so that there are spikes in overall valuation we're able to manage through that and it's also a recognition that um you know this manifests itself in um obviously you know on your property tax bill if your property if your property value goes up your property tax bill goes up we're hoping that over time when people go to then sell their house and um you know at a different stage life that they then appreci realize the appreciation of that asset and claimed the full value of it. So next slide um mention this so years of either flat slight decrease or a bigger decrease this year. Keep going. Um Charlie did a nice job on this slide last time. So I'll go into the details. One thing that's new on here and putting here was this average assessment. Um, I really want to kind of draw your attention to the bottom in that the average residential assessment increased by 65,000. So, $66,000 essentially. Um, it's kind of in line recent years. Last year, I think it was 75,000. The year before that year was a little over 50,000. So, it's right in line there, but that's what creates that larger increase over years. In the end, the average resident, you'll see about a $257 increase in the residential tax bill. It's a reminder, too, that municipal taxes are only a portion of it. doesn't include school and county taxes which are 75% that you did in this worksheet. Okay, keep going. And then we, you know, I won't go into it deeply because, you know, we talked about it last time, but

we try to break down how the budget's divided between $21 million and all the different areas kind of pie chart so people can see that. Next slide. I'm trying to give some detail on that capital budget. Um and who in which department requested you know major improvements um and that we were able to fund this year. So keep going. Just want to mention Yep. This is not what they all that they asked for. Sure. Nobody got everything they asked for. Yeah. Yeah. But they great partnership though to really understand Yes.

what people were experiencing, what was a priority now versus what could potentially wait until 27. And I think that that long those conversations that we look over the long run and give people, you know, gives us an idea of how we can um stagger the funding to try to achieve the, you know, goals and what the department's trying to what we're trying to achieve as a Yeah. And also keep that capital Yep. funds. That's it. Nothing in the appendix. I think you can go back up and uh I think we're good. So that's the budget presentation. happy to answer. All right. Any questions and that'll be online, too.

Um, so I will open the public hearing on the 2026 budget. So, if anyone would like to comment, feel free. Yeah. Hi. Um, I just had a question about the um reimburment from the open space trust funds to the burrow. I was wondering if that could be um fleshed out a little bit like what were the expenses or they incurred up the million dollar million. Yeah.

Yeah. So that's to start paying back the money that we used um for the low ground, I believe. Can you just confirm a little bit? I think I think they talked about um the reimbursement the million dollar.

Yeah. So that pretty much pays the um the capital fund back for the work that's been done so far through the master plan. So that would be the walking path, the lighting, everything that was done through the master plan. Uh this it was always intended that the open space trust fund would pay for that. So this is avoiding having to go out for debt for what we've done so far. Okay, you can show that.

Yeah, that was the um the polar grounds work that's been done over the last few years. Um and so the and my followup question was going to be um you know why wasn't that paid directly from the open space trust fund as opposed to you know doing it through a reimbursement later.

Uh that was that was to um it gave us the flexibility with having you know we don't know exactly how much was going to be done all at once. So by doing that open space um the capital ordinance that allowed the bureau to move forward with the projects and have that appropriation available and then as we were doing the projects we could take the money from the open space trust either in pieces depending on what else needed to be paid for out of the open space trust or like we're doing right now since we didn't really spend much out of there we can move all that money over to reimburse us for what we spent so far. The council will still have the additional 3 million that's in that ordinance to spend on the projects that were planned. And then again, moving forward, we can reimburse that ordinance by pieces or in chunks depending on what's available in the open space trust fund.

Okay. So, um I guess my my my followup was the um so that money the million dollars coming out is uh what do you know what the balance approximately of the state fund is? The balance of the um recreation of the 100% either way account is just under 3 million right now. So once we move this over, it'll be just under two million. And that does not include the open space trust, I'm sorry, the open space tax for a 2026.

And that that's that doesn't that also doesn't include, if I'm correct, the Yeah. There's about 6.3 available in the acquisition side. Thank you. And uh do you know approximate I mean are are there other amounts that have been paid already by the bureau um that are eligible for reimbursement that you're aware from that open space trust fund? It's not like the million dollar was was a start. Do you know if there's additional remaining? As far as I know, this million covers what has actually been spent to date.

Okay. Yeah, but we still have the the um pavilion to do. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. I know Aaron knows this, but for the public's benefit, referendum was passed um 2019 going into 2020 allowing um the bureau to use the open space funds going forward, not in the past. um father funds collected for improvements on recreational facilities and not just the acquisition of open source. You evolved over time. Yeah. Yeah. Originally only acquisition then there was a percentage

percentage point I think and and we never added maintenance because the state has maintenance. So we still have development. Yeah. And that was a public referendum so it was all on it. Yeah. All right. Anyone else on the budget? Okay, I will call us to public hearing. Um, and thank you for your hard work on this and Nancy and Leslie did a great job. I know we put a lot of time into this. Thank you to Nancy and I think we balanced a lot of priorities, you know, saved back theirs dollars and funded our long-term fiscal health. So, thanks everyone for the hard work.

Well, you move the rest of the show here. All right. There are six. Um, I move that resolution 26-116 be adopted. Second. Local, please. Mr. Yes. Mr. Lee. Yes. Yes. Trainer. Yes. Yes. Yes. Until next year. Congratulations. Congratulations. It always, you know, boggles my mind that here we are in May. May and we're approving the budget that we've been spending since January. I never understood that because, you know, I I did schoolboard budgets and we would do them

July to June and we'd get them approved in March. So then, you know, we were ready to go June. I don't know why state does it this way. All right, my report. Um, let's see. Uh, Main Street had a mixer at the Bernie in March that was very well attended um with our local businesses. I attended a panel on transit that Assemblyman McCertie hosted.

Uh, was actually very interesting because they had an update on the gateway project and they said phase one will be two new Hudson tunnels and the tunnel borers came from Germany and they are being assembled here. Really was interesting. Yeah. Um by 2031 they expect to replace the entire bus and rail fleet. But the Yeah. But the the units are backorded for seven years. Oh man. I know. We still have trains from the 70s here. Yeah. They when my husband took them they were they had the liqu. The windows didn't open and they weren't air conditioned. So

we're making progress. No, I was going to say ours we have but good. They commented the Penn Station has 600,000 people go through it a day and its capacity is 200,000. So that's another $7 billion project to redo that. Yeah. On the 28th Recreation had their Easter event which was very well attended. It was a I don't know if you remember it was a super cold weekend so they roofed it inside and just did the egg hunt outside but it they still had a had a good turnout. Great.

Um I did my 34th wedding officiated on the second. Uh I attended the YMCA awards ceremony. They invite me every year when they u give out their volunteer awards and look at how far they've come in their fundraising. Uh, I attended a downtown New Jersey webinar on how your downtown can get involved with FIPA events. So, that's kind of we're trying to figure that out. It's just we're so small. It's very hard for us to, you know, I'm applying for a license in order to stream that the Paraguayan and US game on the 12th of June. It's, you know, they're acting like we're this, you know, giant. or Patterson or something with the details they want and who's the commercial sponsors and all it's like just you know let me show them just yeah very frustrating but I don't want to do any promotion until I have the license so I'm waiting to try and get the license to show it um Charlie and I were at the fire company dinner and Ross

yeah and um Congressman Kane was invited couldn't be there but I did the I prison presented his proclamations for him. Uh we had the volunteer awards ceremony on the 13th. Uh our five outstanding community volunteers. Maybe we were there. No, you weren't there. Me, Christine, and Ross. Yes, we're there. Um it was an excellent program. I think people were very pleased. So hopefully we will continue that every great turnout. Yeah, I was very happy. That was awesome. Yeah, we had a good good turnout and people were very happy with it. So, um you know, it's always nice to recognize volunteers. Thanks library for hosting.

Yes. You know, thanks for choosing us as an event. And fortunately, I didn't make it. I just think one of the things that makes Burnsville really special is how many people volunteer. So, it's great to see. I mean, this is really what everything so everyone here is volunteers. You know, a lot of people the library, you know, that's a glue of this community. So, it's really great to see so many folks turn out, the more we can do to encourage volunteership. So, and they I mean they got a nice plaque, but if you notice as you go down the stairs, there's a big big plaque on the wall and we have every year who the volunteers that got awarded and it's going to be full pretty soon. So,

yeah. Um I attended the Highlands Council meeting when they approved our amended plan. So that we're moving another step ahead on that. Uh I think the next that was where they it's an amended plan because we cut out the downtown piece. So that that's where any development takes place, but we protect all the areas outside what we designated as downtown. So it helps to protect the water beyond downtown. Um I'm not sure what the next I know Jessica is. Do you know what is Oh, I'll let you tell then. Okay.

Uh, we had the car wash fundraiser. I don't know if anybody got their car washed. I did. Did you get your car washed? I wasn't able to actually terrible, but great event there. Yeah. The owner of the car wash

had a fire in his house. Was it two years ago? And he was so impressed with what this volunteer fire company did um that he wanted to do a give back. So he, as he said, he turned over the tunnel to the fire company for the day. And so they collected the money. It was $25. And you know, when you first pulled in, they were there and you made your donation. And then you got a got your car washed. And I don't know how much they made, but I was there maybe at 11:00. And he said they had gotten 1,600 before they even opened the door because people had just written checks.

So yeah. Um, I attended the Feeding Hands one-year anniversary. They are now in Warren. That's the group that used to do the feeding program here in town. They have an amazing facility. So, I know why they left us. But, um, we are working with um the Somerset County Food Bank to try and get a location again here, probably at the chapel. So, hopefully we will once again have uh food service. I attended Jack, you probably know this stuff. the um link of municipalities had a lunch and learn on the new hemp laws.

Yeah. And I've already been uh contacted by Garry's because it's going to affect them. So, uh there's there's a few um bills hanging around to try and delay it, but what it means is basically you can't distribute uh you know, a lot of the beverages they have there. They won't be able to sell any. So, state of Nevada. That's state right now. State of Y. And then I had my 35th wedding I officiated at. Those of you that go to the upstairs at MV Barb, that's who I married Barb. Oh, really? Great. Yeah.

We had the green fair Saturday. Again, thank you to the library for hosting. It was really well attended. A lot of good information, activities for the kids. um just really was excellent. I think especially because it rained which it was already inside so we didn't have to try and move it. So hopefully that will go on every year. This is the second year third year I think available. Yeah. and the brain team. And the green team and even the high school brain team, which I think is great that they've got one in the high school and lots of they have lots of kids there, too.

Yeah. And then today I was at the Highlands Coalition. I always get these letters. The Highlands Council, the Highlands Coalition,

um they had an event gave a lifetime achievement award to Walter Lane. I don't know if any of you relate, but he is now the director of the New Jersey office of planning advocacy and he his team redid that whole New Jersey state plan, the development plan. So, uh we were encouraged to read it if you have some time. But yeah, he's an amazing guy. I mean, we really miss him in the county. He was the county uh head of the department of planning and uh economic development and just a great guy. All right, that's me. So the next step for the planner to develop that plan which is plans for the center. So J is thinking with various groups like the planning board, environment commission um to develop how the center area should be developed over time. Thank you in um some other things have to be done at night performance. So she's putting a schedule of work together. Uh good news is we'll submit it to the highland for grant for

um oil and terrace. We're still waiting for D to be approved at uh uh scope the change of scope. If you remember the plan had the sidewalk on the north side of block waiting to approve that and hopefully that will be able to get started. Um but they need present uh work began on that about a week ago. Um we expected to last about another two and a half more weeks by pending should definitely be done by the end of May. Um residents were notified that they cannot park for 48 hours in their driveway after the paper's going. they can park on the street but they all about notification of that. Um the library roof I had mentioned it our last meeting had its final inspection. Um so they replaced shingles uh replaced the ridge vent um repaired snow guards uh took out part of the ceiling and fixed drainage pipes. So uh that bought us at least another five years on the roof. Nice. Yeah.

Yeah. Um and then the last thing, some uh some good news. Uh I forgot to tell you at the last meeting on March 11th, we had a note sale, we sold um $4.7 million in bond anticipation notes and there were seven biders and the bond all people on the lot. They were so impressed that there were that many. A lot of them had never bid before. I mean just one pound. So um TD Ben was the lowest TV of 2.564%. That's really good. It's really a testament I think honestly to your work but also to

go ahead. Sorry None. Nice. Yeah. really great. Really congrats to the council. Have you seen the New Jersey Transit yet? They doing this best.

Yeah. You make sure that they find the lead so that they can repair and repair the ceiling because they can't open that waiting area until the ceiling's fixed because it had been collapsing. Yeah. And then to repair the damage from the fire that we record. Well, they did assure me that they would have the asbestous removal done before the farmers market starts up again. That's what they told me. It's a plus. And they did and I think I remember they did seal the roof. They put something on to seal it just so it wouldn't get worse.

When was tomorrow start? May uh first weekend in June. So they said it would it would be a two to three years job to do the asbestous. So we'll see how long it would be. We can almost uh read really nice ceremony when they do it to open the farmers market and the new transition. Yes. Um I just forgot to mention we have a new appointee to the planning board. Uh Russ was on the planning board how long ago? For many years. Um did a great job.

Yeah. Was one of our our stellar members and he just moved back to town and wanted to be involved again. So he was on board adjustment too. I him for several years on board adjustment. He's great. He's really good. Yeah. So I thought that was it's rare that somebody calls me and says I want to do something on I'm going to be on planning board. So awesome. Yeah. Um I need a motion to accept our department monthly reports. I will move to accept the department monthly reports. Second. All in favor? I.

All right. a um correspondence from Laura Fine O Finanelli who is a realtor in town who has been representing the sellers and buyers for Monterey Gourmet. Um she's trying to find a replacement for the manager, I guess. you know, it's it's kind of been they've had trouble with the the previous owners. So, the new ownership is closing in miday. So, they're having a problem with the transfer of the liquor license, right? Am I getting this right?

No, not theirs. We did um that was Philadelphia. Philadelphia. So, what she's asking for is if we would have a special meeting when they finally get the sale done to approve the liquor license so that they can get it done quickly and get back riding the business laws are state law strict state laws. Yeah. They don't want to do the transfer until they actually have this the ownership. So exciting. So, so, so the question, can we do a special meeting if we need anything? It's my decision. I'll just call a meeting, but I don't want to inconvenience you guys if you

Of course. You know, you approve it conditioned upon the closing. Jack, I'm sorry. So, transfer of liquor license, can you approve it conditioned upon the closing of the business? Like a business transaction? Yeah, they're usually pretty strict with those things, but good thought. Can you approve it? Well, that we don't strike it down. No, I think, you know, we can just call a a meeting, you know, do a phone call in org.

How quickly would they need the approval? Like, in other words, because we have two meetings in May, it comes even at the working meeting, we could always approve it, just announce that they want to do something then. Well, um, it's in line. She said to close miday. So, when is our meeting again? The 18th is the work meeting. The 26 is meeting. So, 18th is kind of mid. Yeah. So, it might work out. Yeah. If we're able to Yeah. I mean, are you okay if I call the meeting should they close, you know, on the 10th and want to get this done? We'll be okay with that. Yes. Yes. be I think so.

Yeah. Well, we're we're open to it. And so that was the only uh correspondence. Um Oh, you had some correspond.

Yes. Um so uh the right director said that he had not been um contacted or he would have dealt with it you know urgently. That's fine. And the uh the director said it'll be the best. Yeah. Good. Excellent. All right. Any unfinished business? Do we have anything hanging around? new visit. All right. Now is our second opportunity for the public. If anyone wants to say anything, thanks. I was

going to stand on the silver X. You see this

silver X which I trying to tear down in the place. We initially had attempted to build it, but upon interior demolition and some other issues with asbesus removing, we discovered that the better course to literally take the building down, keep the footprint as was promised to you and from you. Um, one of the issues that's holding us up is New Jersey Transit has come back to me with the building slightly, very slightly like maybe the corner of your desk there. uh continues into their right of way or actually quite and I have been working with Greco which was INC work with them uh uh years ago uh to have the uh NJT uh give me this agreement. Uh the town was under the impression that the agreement was signed off on upon contacting Draco, they said it never was, but that because they had all the data that you supplied them with, it would be an easy thing. That was in September.

Oh my goodness. And um I understand and I don't want to get too far a field here that there's going to be sort of an ad hoc committee put together to help us with the redevelopment have a have a preliminary meeting prior to the redevelopment application. But this is one of the issues that's holding us up and I'm tired of explaining my friend and family why I everybody's so excited.

I want to assure you that we are ready to put a shovel in the ground. The drawings are done. They're all stamped with hills. I want to submit development the moment that power of application timing accepted. So is there anything that can be done to help us move this along with New Jersey? Yes. Oh, New Jersey Trans. We can reach out if you could because I suspect that just the name file. Yes, you're a municipality and Nancy. And the other thing I would ask is I think I'm gonna probably answer it right now. Technical committee committ.

Yeah. So, um it's it's a mystery to me. Well, so apparently when this redevelopment plan was written, it said that you as council would adopt appointment technical committee. So technical re review committee is typically the planning board, but since it in this plan says you'll appoint um what they do is you will give us a preliminary plan. will look at it and see if you know there are any glaring error before it gets to the planning board because it kind of just smooths speed right

you know makes it cleaner so um I was talking about uh Jess who is our redevelopment attorney now and he's not the one who wrote that plan but um

we thought that um the best people to be on it would be Jessica the planner and her role will be to make sure all the setbacks were good, the zoning, things like that. Um, Steve, I believe it was Steve Bolio who's a new board engineer because of the engineering things. Um, a member of council, it cannot be planning board member, but a member of council or the mayor. Uh, myself and um Denise uh Denise is there because obviously there's been some kind of know what's going on. and then myself and the mayor or council person would be to make sure that the plan look like what we thought it was going to be, right? So, um I I'm guessing it would only be a meetings one hour probably to review it. Um so, and and you already uh paid your escar um the escar paid the uh professional. Um, so, uh, I don't know how I disappointed if that has to be a formal thing or just

by motion. Yeah. You want to the mayor to give the power to something formal? Yeah, I beg you. Thank you. Yeah, definitely.

We've owned it for 15 months now. Opportunity, sunk costs. Yeah. Engineering fees have been paid. of architecture. I'm way in excess of uh I'm approaching $200,000 in addition to the cost of the building side. Furthermore, I'd like to add that the escrow uh I found out on Thursday afternoon that it was in negative territory and uh I had never been informed that there was an outstanding house. I took a check the following morning into the building office and presented a check for $21,000 maybe $5,000 down then so that there would be an excess of $15,000 in the account in order to encourage everyone to move along.

This looks terrible. I feel terrible about it. I have a business ready to move in there. Generate taxree wall and it's going to be an attractive building. It's going to follow exactly what we claimed that it will be in the exact footprint. It will be slightly taller because it will have a second showroom floor. Uh so we're going to do everything to the letter. So I need your help. We help them on the NJ transit fund. I can contact our on transit. And if that doesn't work, we pull John Brown. And now this assemblyman is also interested in energy transitions. So

yeah, he's not as connected as John. Yeah. No, John's the John always gets the top. Sometimes he can, you know, if things get down to the bottom, he can always get Thank you for Thank you for developing these. I'm so excited. So excited to see it actually.

I gave it I went into town hall on the no one was in the tax collector's office. I wanted to bring down this person who told me I had to go buildings. I went to the person who collects the taxes on vacation till Wednesday each month and it's very difficult. Yes. Yet there's so much opportunity for redevelopment. I have other ideas. I don't want to go. It's like really there needs to be a little more attention because we could have been done by now. Yeah.

So our time is I actually call the town attorney twice on Monday on on uh Friday night. I mean we Yeah. I mean, I'll get to the bottom of that, but one comes here because it's redevelopment. When you get the planning board, it's a second that goes over there. What comes here?

All right. Thank you. Appreciate your patience. We're excited for the building. Thank you. Absolutely. Thank you. Anyone else from the public?

Do we need to make a motion on this? Get this committee. Yes. Done. So, let's just take care of it now for the technical committee. Yeah, I'll do it somewhere around here. So I I make I move to appoint a technical committee uh pursuant to the redevelopment agreement regarding 65 Morristown Road appointing you can add in their last names Jessica Caldwell Steve Bolio Denise Nancy Wool administrator and second all in favor and Matt Jessup yeah oh no he He should be.

Yeah, he should be there even and a TBD lawyer. I mean, just think of keeping the cost down. Technical. Yeah, he's not there. Okay. Then we'll just pass it. Yeah. Yeah. I mean Jessica for the college. All right. Um so now we have a close session for contract negotiations. Um we will not be coming back. So okay close session.

Second. All in favor?