Borough Council - Regular Meeting

Hello. How are you? Well, that was their the only concern because I

[Applause] [Music] Hello. It's working fine. I'm here. Mhm. [Music]

Good evening. I'd like to call the September 29th, 2005 Burough Council meeting to order. Will the clerk please read the open public meeting statement? Adequate notice has been provided as required under chapter 231 public law 1975 specifying the time, date, and location of this meeting by posting a copy of the notice at the municipal building on the municipal website and providing a copy of the annual notice scheduled to the official newspapers of the burrow. Notice is also on file in the municipal clerk's office. Will the clerk please call the role? Council President Zambbrana here. Councilman Collins here. Councilman MO here. Councilman Pasnansky here. Councilwoman Payne here. Councilman Potter here. Mayor Murray

present. Burough attorney Peter Vignolo present. Burrow engineer Luke Lasanka present. Burough administrator Fred Carr present.

Bur clerk is present as well. Will everyone please stand for a moment of silence for the passing of Miltown's Deputy Chief Anthony Corbenek who passed away on Thursday. Then followed by a salute to the flag 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.

First, we're going to have a presentation for silver reward project for the Girl Scouts. Would they please come up? So, hi. So, this is our softball rocks donation box. It's our What's your names? Uh, my name is Annabelle. And I'm Isabella. And what are you going for? Uh, this is our Girl Scout Troop Silver Award Project and we're asking for approval. So, this is our softball rocks donation box.

I'm Isabella Wise. I'm in eighth grade and I'm a part of NGHS at Joyce Kilmer School. I enjoy playing softball, specifically third base and I play for the North Brunswick Raiders. My name is Annabelle Abrams and I'm an eighth grade student at Joyce Kilmer School. I'm a member of the NJHS and a softball player for the Meltown Royals. We are both a part of the Meltown Little League for many years.

What is our project? The softball rocks donation box is a box for used and donated softball equipment. The purpose of the box is to give girls who don't have the equipment the chance to play. Many girls want to try softball but don't have the money or simply don't want to spend the money on us before they decide they really like the sport. Why did we choose this project? We chose this project because it is something that is important to us. Both of us enjoy playing softball and we would like to share those meaningful experiences with young girls. Choosing this project gives us the power to show so many young girls that it is good to try something new and that if you try hard enough, you can achieve anything. The box. The box will be located in Gloria Bradford Park next to the blue shed at at the back of field 2. To access the box/equipment, you must go to the snack shack and ask for the key. There will also be a sign out sheet at the snack shack that asks for name, the equipment you took, and the date it was borrowed and returned. the insides and out. The box will be a plastic storage container with the shelves inserted in it to hold the equipment. We will also supply a bat rack for all differentiz bats with a description of what size bat should be used for girls of different ages. If we get baseball donations, we will have another small section for those. What else is involved in our project? In addition to the equipment box, we will we will also host three days of softball clinics to raise interest in softball. These beginner clinics will take place at the fields at Gloria Bradford Park. Sessions will take place multiple times a day and be about an hour long.

Thank you. Thank you for your consideration. [Applause] Does does any member council have any questions? I I I just had one about uh whether they're going to the public works can do some make sure there's pest control and you know u insect control over there. That's what I'm worried about. Maybe Councilman Posinski could talk to Ralph about that. Okay.

And I just had just two quick things. First of all, thank you so much. I was actually on the board for the little league and girls softball and I think it's a tremendous thing you guys are doing. Um, first, you're also going to work closely with the little league with your clinics, right? Perfect. And, um, second, I have some equipment. I'll be more than happy to donate. So, I've been looking for a place and now I have it. So, thank you so much. Perfect. Great program. Thank you very much. Thank you, ladies. Thank you.

Next on the agenda, we have Assemblyman Robert Parabenek and Assemblyman Shirley Stanley. if you would please come up, gentlemen. Thank you.

Good evening, mayor, council members. It's a pleasure to be here. Um, we come here tonight to actually celebrate the fact that Miltown has come into our district. This is the second year. So, you know, when we heard Miltown was transitioning during the redistricting, it's going to come into our district now. So we were excited for the fact that you know we've known you all we worked with you in many different aspects and it's a pleasure to be here to represent Miltown and I hope to continue both of us hope to continue repres keep representing you in the years ahead. Um we have been working tirelessly for you on your behalf and my running mate Carvinc is going to sit and explain to you everything that we've done for you the last two years.

Thank you. Thank you mayor. Thank you, councelor, for for taking a few minutes and listening to us. But the the most important things that we've done for for Miltown and all of the constituents of Miltown is we got $200,000 for the fire department, which is great for the first responders who respond to the needs of the people when there's an emergency. That there's nothing more or better than you can do for for a person when they're in need. And that's something that's going to help everybody. And the biggest one is uh a million dollars coming to Miltown to help with the water infrastructure pipes and the lead lines and all of that for everyone here again for Miltown. This is something that Assemblyman Stanley and myself fought for during this budget and we brought it home for you and everybody here in Miltown. So please use it, enjoy it, and have everybody safe. And thank you so much for giving us the time.

Thank you, J. [Applause] Take care. Thank you. Thank you.

Now is the time for public comment limited to the resolutions on the agenda only. If you wish to speak, please step up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record. Again, this is the public portion is limited to the comments only on the resolutions listed on the agenda at this time. There'll be a fivem minute time limit as set forth by the rules of council. If someone raises their hand, please step up to the microphone, state your name and address for the record. Seeing none, I'll close audience comments. Ordinance public hearing second reading. The following ordinance was introduced on September 8th, 2025. Minutes

minutes. Oh, sorry. Thank you. Thank you. Um like to Can we do it in one shot or separate? Whichever. To to the extent that you have if everybody had been present for every one of those meetings, I'd say okay. But you've got people who are going to need to abstain. So why don't we do them individually? Okay. Um, may I have a motion to approve minutes from July 21st, 2025 regular meeting? So moved. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Potter, seconded by Councilwoman Payne. Is there any comments? May we have a roll call, please? Council President Zambr, I. Councilman Collins, I.

Councilman MO, I. Councilwoman Payne, I. Councilman Posnansky, hi. Councilman Potter. I motion carries. For the record, I think Councilman MCO, I think you were absent on the meeting of the 21st. 21st. Okay. Yeah. So, if we could just change your eye to an abstension. I I have Perfect. Thanks. Thank you. Just trying to remember what date I was at. Might be too. Uh may I have a motion to approve the minutes for August 18th, 2025 regular meeting? So moved. Second. I have a motion made by uh Councilman um Collins, seconded by Councilwoman Payne. Is there any comments? Seeing none,

may we have a roll call, please? Council President Zbrano, I. Councilman Collins, I. Councilman Mango, I. Councilwoman Payne, I. Councilman Posnanski, I abstain. I was not present. Councilman Potter, I. Motion carries, mayor. Thank you. I have a motion, a second for August 20. Uh, August 18th, 2025, executive session, please. So move. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Potter, seconded by Councilwoman Payne. Is there any comments? Seeing none, will the clerk, please call the role. Council President Zbrana, I. Councilman Collins, I. Councilman Mo, I. Councilwoman Payne, I. Councilman Posni, abstain. Councilman Potter, I.

Motion also carries. Thank you. I have a motion for the September 8th, 2025 regular meeting. So moved. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Collins, seconded by Councilwoman Payne. Is there any comments? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the role? Council President, I. Councilman Collins, I. Councilman MO. Hi. Councilwoman Payne. Hi. Councilman Posenki. Hi. Councilman Potter. I. Motion carries. Thank you. Uh, may I have a motion and a second, please, for September 8th, 2025 executive session? Some move. Second.

I have a motion made by Councilwoman Payne. Seconded by Councilman Potter. Is there any comments? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the role? Council President Zambbrano. I. Councilman Collins. Hi. Councilman M. I. Councilwoman Payne. Hi. Councilman Posnki. Hi. Councilman Potter. I.

Motion also carries. All right, back on track. Now it's time for uh ordinance public hearing second reading. The following ordinance was introduced on September 8th, 2025, published in accordance with the law. If any member of the public wishes to comment on this ordinance, they may do so after reading. Will the clerk please read ordinance 251572 by title? An ordinance to fix and amend salaries for Miltown Burough employees to include police captain. May I have a motion a second, please? So moved. Second.

I have a motion made by Council President Zabbrana, seconded by Councilman Potter. Is there any um uh want to open the uh up to public uh comment? Seeing none, I'll close public comment. Is there any pro uh council comments? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the role? Council President Zambrana, I. Councilman Collins, I. Councilman MO, I. Councilwoman Payne, I. Councilman Pnansky, I. Councilman Potter, I. Motion carries.

Thank you. Ordinance, public hearing, second reading. The following ordinance was introduced on September 8th, 2025 and published in accordance to law. If any member of the public wishes to comment on this ordinance, they may do so after reading. Will a clerk please read ordinance 251573 by title? An ordinance to amend the redevelopment plan entitled Ford Avenue redevelopment plan. May I have a motion in a second, please? So move. Second.

I have a motion made by Council President Zimbran, seconded by Councilman Potter. I'll now open up the public hearing on ordinance 251573. Please state your name and address for the record. These comments are limited to the comments only on this ordinance only. If you if someone raises their hand, please step up to the microphone. State your name and address for the record. Seeing none, I'll close audience comments. Does is there any council comments?

Yes, Mr. Mayor. Um, I was looking in here and uh it says we they can go up to 350 residential units and it doesn't say the amount of stories the buildings can go up. Does anybody know about that? I believe Mr. Barry is here who might be able to provide some insight into those that information. Councilman, thanks Peter.

Good evening, mayor, council members. John Barry uh here as a burough planner. Uh so uh Councilman Collins, there are um bulk regulations in the plan starting on page 17 that include the permitted height for different types of buildings. So up to five stories for the mid-rise apartment or mixeduse building, then up to four stories for the stack town houses and three and a half stories for the standard traditional town houses. Okay. Thanks, John.

I have a question. The five stories, when was that determined? How many recent years ago? the um the last amendment to the plan that was adopted in 2022 included five stories as the maximum building height. So that's carried forward in this version. But but there'll be one building that's the the concept plan that we have attached which we expect the development to be substantially consistent with includes one five-story building. Okay. Yeah.

Uh would you know the nearness to to um Main Street that it would you and it could be yards but but would you have an idea? So, so the um the setback is permitted to be believe it's 10 feet to Main Street. Um you know, it's just a little little section of Main Street there that that the property has frontage on before you get to the bridge. Um the idea would be that we have some presence there on Main Street for a mixeduse building with commercial space on the ground floor and it runs consistent with the the the road. It it won't be on an angle. It would be consistent with Main Street.

That's something we'll have to iron out. the final details, but I think that's a good recommendation when they come when a developer eventually comes in for site plan approval at the planning board. That's something we want to look at. Make sure that the sidewalks have adequate width, all of those different design items. Okay. You're welcome. Thank you. I just have one more question. Um this this was for Mr. Manola. I I I see um the amount is for 25650 is um and I I that that accounts for the um from the original number it's minus 1.25 million. Is that that for um uh

the the numbers have to do with condemnation award, but they don't really have an effect on the plan. Those are just things that are part of No, it's it's not that. I I don't have a question about that, but I I know that um the agency at some point wanted, if if I'm correct, 6.6 million. So, there were two sides to to the numbers they they saw as far as um the the cleanup. The the cleanup hasn't been established yet. So, the cleanup is currently something that'll be dealt with um as part of a separate hearing before the court determining what an escrow will be for the cleanup out of the condemnation award. the condemnation award doesn't take into account um the condition of the property.

Okay. Well, the the six the 6.6 million that I believe came from the the person uh the expert for the agency. Do you know how he came up with that number? Cuz I know it changed to the 1.25. I I don't know what the one point I don't know where your numbers are coming from, council. Well, I I've read them in a court court document. Okay. Yeah, I was gonna say it's right now we're dealing with the plan for the development of the site, not the condemnation award. Um, so I can get answers to you for that, but really that's not gerineain to what we're doing this evening. This evening is about the plan itself, not about the value of uh the property and any other offsets there might be. Okay, I understand. Thank you.

You got it. I just had a question, Peter, about a condemnation. Suppose suppose it's 10 million today and he goes to court and he they tell him it's 20 million. Who picks up the 10 million difference, the builder or the town? It's really right now, Councilman Collins, we're not talking about the condemnation award. We're talking about the plan itself and what can be developed on the site. So, uh, there not relevant at this time. It's really not relevant and frankly to the extent it's it's still pending litigation. It's not something we generally will talk about in an open meeting. Okay. Okay. Will the clerk please call the role? Council President Dan Brown. I Councilman Collins. Hi, Councilman MO. I, Councilwoman Payne. I, Councilman Posnansky,

I, Councilman Potter, I. Motion carries, mayor.

Thank you. The following ordinance was introduced on September 8th, 2025 and published accordance with the law. If any member of the public wishes to comment on this ordinance, they may do so after reading. Will the clerk please read Ordinance 251574 by title? Ordinance to amend chapter 6 alcoholic beverage control section 6-3 licenses subsection 6-3.4 entitled classes and maximum number of licenses license fees and chapter 15 building and housing section 2 administrative fees for all sub codes subsection 15-2.1 entitled certificates of occupancy and approval and chapter 25 section 4 water rates and meter charges subsection 25-4.2 two entitled tap fees and meter charges of the revised general ordinances of Burough of Miltown.

May I have a motion in a second, please? So moved. Second. I have a motion made by Council President Zbrana, seconded by Councilman Collins. Uh is there any uh comments from the public? All right, I'll close public comment. Is there any comments from council? I'm here to discuss the border of I don't know whether this is the appropriate time. Nope. Or not yet. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Little bit.

Um is there any comments from council? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the role? Council President Zano. I. Councilman Collins. Hi. Councilman Mango. Hi. Councilwoman Payne. Hi. Councilman Posnki. I Councilman Potter I motion carries me. Thank you. Authorizing payment of municipal obligations. Next on the agenda we have authorizing of payment of municipal obligations. Will the clerk please read resolution 2025309 by title. Authorizing the payment of bills, claims, and statements against the Burrow of Miltown in the total amount of 2,782,955.76.

May I have a motion in a second, please? So move. Second. I have a motion made by Councilwoman Payne, seconded by Council President Zimbran. Um, is there any comments or questions?

Yes. Uh, I have a few. I'll start with the one I I know that this is standard the the COA housing and I see the uh the fee of 3875. Um, do we have any oversight? I don't know if Mr. Vinola wants to answer that or whoever would want to answer that. Um because because the taxpayers do do pay this. Um do we have any oversight? Are we um does someone from the construction office get to see what's going on on the site? Do we do u do we see the I don't to to tell you the truth, Councilman Posinsky, I don't scrutinize the bill list because so

so you're talking about the fee paid to what? CGPH for is is work we're because what sir which number bill are we talking KOA there's you talking about community grants and planning on page three

309 uh it's it's for it's for uh page 32 uh 1828 and 1841. Um I I understand that that that it has to be paid and that's not my complaint. My my feeling is that that since we are paying this and it if if it comes up every month at at 3875 it's almost $40,000 for a year and since the taxpayers are responsible I I think that whether it's true or not that that there should be some oversight from uh from the town. Um

so so that oversight comes from my office. Uh my office approves those improvement projects submitted by CGB&H to the burrow as part of our Does someone does someone inspect to make sure that either the work is needed or the work is done? Yes sir. The firm that we hired, Community Grants and Planning, is our representative, if you will, in the COA line of rehab, rehabbing our so we hired them to do that. They process the applications from the resident. Okay. The resident has to provide documentation and why they meet certain COA guidelines or income guidelines. Okay. That which authorizes the work to be done.

Uh community grants and planning submits the application on behalf of the resident. Okay. Okay, that those that in that information or that improvement, if you will, it be it I'm fixing the the roof or plumbing or whatever the whatever the need of that low income person is has gone through CBA, excuse me, community grants and planning. Uh there's a load of paperwork on each one of those improvements, sir. Uh, and then they inspect it to make sure it's done correctly and they ensure that the contractor is licensed by the state of New Jersey and that he has all his paperwork and he does the work correctly.

Okay. Well, I I appreciate you clearing that up because I I know that we're responsible and I just didn't know how deep that we would go into it and I appreciate you telling me, you know, so we are very deep into each one of those applications is absolutely uh maintained and man managed by my office. Okay. Um, a couple others. The um, well, I ask a question. Supplely Clooney, I know that that uh, they don't really have much to do here anymore. Do you know how long they'll still be here? Because I I know that I think it's less than $1,000 what we paid them for the past month.

Yes, sir. So, their presence in Burough Hall is as an a is not as the auditor. They do bank reconciliations. So we have probably 25 different bank accounts in the borrow. Okay. And Michelle Swisser is the one who does this. She comes in, she sits in either, you know, the old planning board office and she goes through those um bank reconciliations every month to make sure that the money that clears the bank is tied into Edmonds.

Okay. Uh, and then what I will get sometimes often and sometimes if I'm we're lucky and we've done everything cleanly, I'll get an Excel spreadsheet from Michelle that says transfer, you know, $98.7 from the tax collector's end to, you know, because we haven't entered it. You know, there's there's a bill we paid on the bill list, but we didn't make that same change in the many bank accounts we have. So, I'll get this big long sheet. We move the money back and forth so that Edmonds matches up to the bank reconcil the bank wrecks, right? And that's what Michelle does.

So she she's and I understand so she's an expert in that. Is it is that a position that that would be beneficial to keep her even though you have a new person coming in? Would it be beneficial to keep that because she No, I would not dump this off. When was the last time you balanced your checkbook? Don't answer that question. I will tell you that I have one checkbook and that's more than enough for me. Fred call. I would not want to do 25 on a $14 million budget.

Okay. I'm having enough time with just one from the Pentagon Federal Credit Union and I don't write that many checks. We write 150 a month. So, she does a very good job. Now, Joe Zanga does it in South River, but he has a time and he's also been there 20 years. There's not a check that goes through there that he hasn't seen already. We This is a good set of second set of eyes on our money. Well, that's what I'm saying. So if if if she's the right person to be there even though we're pay going through subly Clooney I don't need to ask that question if they're going to still be here if if she's that beneficial to us. She is very beneficial to us. Okay. Thank you. No more no more questions. Thank you.

See no further comments. Will the clerk please call the role? Council President Zabrada. I. Councilman Collins I. Councilman Mao. I. Councilwoman Payne. I. Councilman Posnanski. I. Councilman Potter. I. Motion carries.

A consent resolution has been prepared for the list resolutions listed on the agenda. All matters listed under consent agenda are considered to be routine in nature and haven't been reviewed by burough counsel will be enacted on in one motion. Any items that may be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any council member. if and if so removed will be treated on as a separate matter. Any items requiring expenditure are supported by a certification of funds. If any member of council wants any resolution acted upon individually, please give me the resolution number and it will be pulled from the consent resolution.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to pull a resolution 20253-11 and uh 2025-324 that it have any So you had 311 and 324. But um that's correct. Okay. Uh will the clerk please read the consent agenda resolution?

Approval of consent agenda for the September 29th, 2025 burough council meeting. Whereas pursuant to the rules of council, the council may establish a consent agenda for any regular or special meetings upon certain conditions. And whereas each of the following resolutions presented before the burough council at its September 29th, 2025 regular meeting appear to have the unanimous approval of all members of the burough council. Now it would be resolutions oops I'm sorry 310 312 to 323 and 325 and 326. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Burough Council of the Bureau of Miltown, that each of the above list of resolutions be approved and adopted by the Burough Council with the same legal effect as each as though each was read in its entirety at the September 29th, 2025 regular meeting and adopted by separate vote.

Excellent. Will the clerk please um I'm sorry. May uh may I have a motion in a second, please? So move. Second. I have a motion made by Councilman Potter, uh second by Council President Zbrana. Is there any comments? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the role? Council President Zabbrana, I. Councilman Collins, I. Councilman Mo, I. Councilwoman Payne, I. Councilman Panaskki, I. Councilman Potter, I. Motion carries. Will the clerk please read resolution 2025-311 by title authorizing the award of a required disclosure contract with Duke's Root Control?

What's pleasure, council? Make a motion this resolution be adopted. Second. I have a motion made by Councilwoman Potter, seconded by Councilwoman Payne. Is there any discussion? Yes, Mr. Mayor. I'm wondering what this root control was for. Is this water and sewer? Uh, is there one street or is a couple streets or uh sir, it's a preventive maintenance and the wastewater collection system. Not just a street, the system itself street. Yes, sir. The town itself.

And the reason why we need the resolution is because their services exceed the payto-play limit of 175. And because they've exceeded the 175 paytoplay limit, we have to have a resolution. Now, you'll see that the cost is 23,000, which is below the bid limit or bid threshold. The bid threshold requires us to go out for a formal bid. We can do quotes under the bid threshold under the guidelines of the QPA and the town and these guys are the ones we always use. But again, we've hit that magic paytoplay number and here we are. Okay. Thanks. Seeing no further comments, will the clerk please call the role?

Council President Zbrano, I. Councilman Collins, I. Councilman Mako, hi. Councilman, I'm sorry, Councilwoman Payne. Hi. Councilman Posnansky. I Councilman Potter Irish. Will the clerk please read resolution 2025-324 by title authorizing application for a grant to replace lead service lines. You have heard the reading of this resolution. May I have a motion to second, please? So moved. Second.

I have a motion made by Councilman Potter, seconded by Councilwoman Payne. Is there any discussion? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Um I'm wondering uh how the residents are going to be um signed up for this uh program that to author to get on the list. Uh I I assume Beths has it. Is that correct? So I can I can answer that question right now. Okay. This resolution supports the money that they already talked about right there. Right.

Uh the money was uh about a month month and a half ago. I received notice that the bureau had received a million dollar grant that's in the state budgets and the budget now DCA has required us to apply for the money that we already have. So I went online with the mayor and we're going to go to green sage and say yes. We think this is a lovely idea. So wait a minute. That's the short answer. So we've already got the money. We have to play apply for the money we already got. Welcome to New Jersey, sir. What's your What is your What is your next question? So I'm still trying to digest that one, Fred. Yes, sir. So DCA will administer the money like the water water like the water grants. Same thing, right?

It'll all be in the DCA system. We'll go out and do whatever we do and then eventually we'll have to upload thousands of pages of paperwork to prove that we spent the money correctly and we followed the rules and etc. This is part of that process. The mayor wrote a letter of endorsement. He's going to upload it. Lovely. The council president needs a letter of endorsement or this resolution which suffices for the council ex you know approving or agreeing that we want to do this now next step in a process yeah I'm the residents how they going to get this

somewhere down the line not this year when we have completed the water meter replacement project and the ledge service line identification project. We have a long list of specific addresses that require the replacement of the lead line. That lead line service goes from the person's house to the street. Okay? Because we are responsible to go to the connection to the main. Okay? this million dollars and probably some more money will be thrown into the cauldron of spending if you will where along with CME and VPO we will go out and identify each ident individual's house and bid the replacement of that waterline replacement. We you guys not me will have to decide how you want to do it. Now a million dollars only goes so far.

Yes it does.

That's right. Okay. So, if you have, let's do some basic math. If you have uh 50 houses at 20 grand a pop, okay, you can replace 20 meters. Now, the last two we did from the bill list, we spent about 30 for two homes. So, if you interpolate that for all you people who took algebra, you're about 500,000 short. Once I invite Lou and the boys to get involved, they'll, you know, they gota they got to take their cut. It's a house cut. It's like Vegas, okay? To come up with the bid documents to do this correctly so that when we replace the lines, we've followed the law. And then we go out for bid. Then we replace the line. And then the council decides, how do we do it? How do we pay for it? Do we then say every resident on the list, we're going to front them a piece of the gate like we'll give you 15K, but you have to come up with the other 5K out of pocket because that's the way it is right now is that the homeowner is responsible for the lead service lines. So the council can decide how they want to do it. Do I say, "Look, I'm going to take this million dollars and I'm going to take it from the main to the cur corporation stop or the curb box and you, the homeowner, takes it the rest of the way because it's your responsibility. Or do we, you know, eat it all, use the million dollars and more borrow money to replace it all ourselves. But whatever you do, however you do it, whatever you decide, okay, got to have it done by

20 2031 2031 2031. So you've got So I would say from my experience in the last two years, please don't spend the next six years thinking about it. But I think in one of our ordinances from last year, we said 2027. 2020 2031 is the state, but we put in there 2027 is when we have we want mil time. We'd like to be done early. Correct. That's exactly. But

but we don't we're not going to find ourselves. But this we don't need the state helping us coming down and inspecting us. And the the requirements councilman are insane from the state's perspective. Our water replacement project is way ahead of the requirement. We have pictures of all the lines. We have pictures of the meters. We have pictures of the problem. So we can tell the state, yes, this is why we think that this is a lead line. Look, here's a photo. There's a magnet sticking on it. It must be galvanized. Okay. So you're got your years away before you're done, but it's going to this is a good start to figure out how you're going to pay for it. And which may mean that there'll be another ask. Correct.

To to our assemblymen. Yes. I So based on the current project, I I put in the grant application that we have about a million dollars of grant and then we're going to use about $500,000 of our own money. We're going to bond for it. That's a swag because you got to put the blank. the application requires you put something in the blank. Okay? So, you can always amend it later. And if we don't use our own money and we can spend just the we get another ask and we could spend only the state's money, then we don't need it. We amend the application and say we didn't use our own money. We got $2 million of state money and we spent it all and thank you very much. It's just paper, Councilman. You just get on there and you change it and they say, "Okay, fine."

Same way with our current project. Eventually, when we finish the water meter project and we've submitted all the documents to the $2 million project, $2 million grant, there'll be money left over. Easy opportunity to go to to DCA and say, I've got X amount of money. I like to segue that money over to the leadline service project or I want to replace the water main under the turnpike or some other water project in the town. Yep. Lou be publicly embarrassed. How many how many lid services do we have in Meltown? How many galvanized do we have estimated to have to be done?

So to date we've identified 65 lead and one galvanized. 65 lead. Okay. Thank you. And the state treats galvanized the same as lead. Same as lead. Yeah, I I hear that. I don't know why, but I guess because the lead in the lead in the water lines bonds to galvanized steel and so subsequently they consider it the same. Thanks. You can ask. I disagree, but I'm not D. Uh Lou, have the residents that u have they been notified those 65 uh people?

Yes. Yeah. Thank you. And Fred, um, how many how many do we still have to replace? 224. Mhm. So, there could be more. Lid. Yes. Seeing no further comments, will the clerk please call the role? Council President Zambbrano. I. Councilman Collins. Hi. Councilman MO. Hi. Councilwoman Payne. Hi. Councilman Kosnanski. I. Councilman Potter. I. Motion carries. Smith.

Next on the agenda, we have reports from elected officials. Council President Zambrana. No, we have report professionals. Mayor. Okay. Professional Peter Vignol. Uh Mr. Mayor, uh, nothing this evening other than the fact that I'm going to need to ask the board or the council to consider a resolution for executive session uh, prior to adjournment this evening. Um, there's a matter in pending litigation that I'd like to discuss with you uh, in close session. So, if you were amendable to that, I had asked uh, the clerk to prepare that resolution and have it ready in the event the uh, council were amendable to that request for tonight.

For tonight, so do you need a motion? I'll when we get to that portion of of the meeting. Okay. Right. Before adjournment, we can we can adopt that resolution. Okay. As long as you guys want to do that. Okay. Brew engineer. No reports tonight. Mr. Mayor. Okay. Mr. Park, I've spoken enough. Mayor, Mr. McCartney.

Uh just a reminder to burrow voters that the burrow dropbox has been open up here. Uh, so if you have received your vote by mail ballot, you are welcome to drop it in this dropbox here. You can go to Kennedy Boulevard, um, 26B Kennedy Boulevard. There's a similar box, but this one may be more convenient. It is open and ready for your voting pleasure. Thank you. Does any member council have any old business to bring before council? Yes, I do.

Um, this is in regards to the last meeting. I bring up the subject of the change of our agenda that was unanimously passed into law by resolution 2025-22. There was a spirit of discussion regarding the reason for the change to shorten the council meetings. The value of the constitution and its bill of rights and it issued here the first amendment especially regarding free speech. It's one of the natural rights that James Madison and the framers believe were to be protected. It has been said here that we do not always follow Robert's rules. And here's what I know. We do follow Robert's rules. Voted in. It is incorporated into our bylaws, thus becoming law just as the constitution is law. My pursuit is the freedom of speech, justice, and the rule of law for myself, those I sit with up here, and those that will follow us, and also for the residents. To those that say this, this is not an abridging the freedom of speech issue, I'll ask you to look up abridging. To a bridge something means to diminish, to reduce, curtail its scope, duration or authority. And freedom of speech is the right to share ideas, express oneself. This protection extends all forms of expression and their content. This means government cannot ban free speech because it dislikes the message or ideas behind it. Now on usurping law, a resolution passed into law is to be upheld. An attempt to override seized authority over its legal right would be considered preeemption which can have consequences. And I bring this up tonight because even with proof of the validity of an enacted law, it was being ignored and disrespected. Those loudly saying if you do not like the new agenda, let's take a vote. I do not have trust in those that expect me to fall in line with opinions over facts. And I'm going to quote Daniel Patrick Moan. You're entitled to your opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts. Thank you.

Anything else? Okay. Um I actually have a couple. Um so I know uh this was on the burrow on the bulletin board for quite a while. This was actually the home an additional uh home repair uh home improvement program that was on the bulletin board. Uh so this is actually uh another program that the burrows uh behind in sponsoring uh the support of this. So that's just another avenue for homeowners to uh try to make improvements to their home that are eligible. uh that I was also notified uh from the prosecutor's office for a fraud alert for a jury duty scam. So uh just be careful if you've been uh recently reported within Middle Sex County residents receiving phone calls from someone impersonating Middle Sex County Sheriff's Officer for a jury duty scam. So just be mindful of that. Um, typically you'll get your green card in the mail like the rest of us. Next, um, I was contacted by a couple residents about the, uh, letter that went out for the water meter, how to schedule your water re, uh, meter replacement appointment. Um, the only problem is they, uh, tried to go on the QR code and they called the number and they said there's no available appointments. So, I actually um asked Mr. Panka if he can um try to investigate that to see what occurred there. Some there must have been a glitch or something that occurred there. So, I just made a little aware of that.

Yep.

All right. Try to be brief. Um, last meeting I discussed about the establishment of the South Main Street uh or not South Main Street, but the firehouse subcommittee. Um, and it still wasn't put on the agenda. So, I would ask the council for consideration or a motion in a second to so this could be um created uh because this was uh since February 13th that the request has been in there. Uh so this is uh something that I think we should be moving forward. This the South Main Street rehabilitation uh improvement project has been stagnant. So I just want to see this move along because this is it's been quite some time with no movement on it. Uh so would any council member um like to u put this on as a motion or a second?

I'd make a motion for you. Just just for the record, Mr. Mayor, what what are you asking for a motion to place a resolution on the agenda for next meeting or are you asking for action on something? Because to the extent that you had asked me earlier this year to prepare a resolution to create such a committee, I don't know that everyone has a copy of the resolution you're referring to, so they don't necessarily know exactly what it is you're trying to have happen. So you could ask for a resolution this evening to create to ask it to be placed on the agenda so it could be considered for next meeting or you can ask them to act on a resolution that you're handing out presently. If I may ask a question is a is a committee the only

secondly you've got a motion. I was just stepping in to make sure I understood what the nature of the request was for the mayor. I believe Councilman Collins, you're still um we'll go with the first one to say what you know to put it you put it on the next So you're making a motion to place this resolution on the next the agenda for next meeting. Right. Okay. All right. And then we would need a second if there was any. And then the matter would be open for discussion on the next meeting. Correct. Well, then you would have a vote on whether or not it's going to be on the agenda. Um, you could have a discussion following the second on whether or not you think it should be on the agenda and then you'll ultimately have a vote and when that vote is tallied, you'll know whether or not it's going to be on your next agenda. Lot of

Okay, you guys moving really quick for me tonight. So, if you can just tell me if I have a question when I can ask you. Just give me a not what your question is. Peter, don't we need a second to have a discussion? You you'll need a second before a discussion on whether or not you're going to add it onto the agenda. We we don't have a second yet to have a discussion. Yep. I understand. We're discussing whether or not we're going to discuss it. So, it isn't really the discussion. It's a discussion. So, my second we give us the motion to discuss this. Yes. I'll second it then. Let's discuss. Thank you. Okay. Now, is there any questions or comments?

Yes. So, I um would feel that it would be highly inappropriate to vote on this for a couple of reasons. First, I haven't read this. Well, I think sorry, Councilwoman Payne, I think that the the motion is to add that resolution onto the agenda for next meeting. So, leading to my second question, Sure. Um, is that's not how um our pro that's not what our process is in order to put things on the agenda.

So, I guess my question is why is this being treated differently than other agenda items? Um because if a group of council people want to see something placed on the agenda, they can do that. Currently the uh ability to add something to the agenda is with the person who presides over the creation of the agenda, which I believe is presently council president. So correct. Correct. And I've been requesting that since February 13th.

So I have a question for you, Mr. Mayor. Um so I don't understand um how establishing a subcommittee will lead to whatever the resolution that you think is appropriate with regard to the firehouse. So just if you could explain to me you know why we need a subcommittee um for the firehouse issue. I I just don't understand it. Um, and I know you haven't read the the resolution that Peter prepared in February. So, um, it's just a couple quick notes. Um, so it shall be considered recommended how to best dispose of the Mount South Main Street firehouse and cottage ad firehouse properties, including consideration of the following issues. What specific parcels compromise Main Street firehouse and a cottage ad firehouse? And what are the parameters for each parcel? Whether one or both firehouses should be sold or leased. whether the burough owner um owns the property or adjacent to the South Main Street firehouses to be included in the sale of the lead or lease either through subdivision or an existing uh and whether the restriction should be placed on the sale and/or lease of the South Main Street and Cottage AB firehouses. So, basically, it's just to try to move something along uh to to figure out because I know it's it's been uh in decay for quite some time now since uh the the uh both fire departments have been in the main building uh at the DPW yard now in the new firehouse. So, it's just, you know, uh the buildings aren't um getting any newer. uh there's been a lot of uh decay and water infiltration in into the firehouses. So

yeah, and I Yeah, and I appreciate I appreciate your response and I think that all those things that you're mentioning that I think that there's probably a a more streamline approach, right? you know, in terms of having council discussion and getting to the right result, you know, so that I'm not necessarily opposed to looking at the firehouse situation because I I agree with you. I think it's overdue, but I think that establishing the subcommittee sometimes, well, you know, things stall in committee, right? So, there probably is a more streamline approach. Um, you know, um, Peter, can you make a suggestion as to how to streamline this without having to give it to a subcommittee?

I I I think at this point you're really kind of asking me to pick a side, so to speak. Um, so I mean, certainly the council has the ability to take action with respect to this property in any way it it sees fit. I think you need to look at the issues which are are set forth in the resolution to figure out how you want to resolve those issues. Um, currently the parcel that the South Main Street Firehouse sits on is about the width of that building. The parking that is adjacent there too is associated with that house with the property on which the uh historical uh society is located. So in order to sell that property, if there's a desire for someone to try to renovate that site in lie of demolishing and rebuilding something else, you would need to perhaps either subdivide or provide an easement. Um, so those are the types of things you need to see.

That's what I meant. I was certainly not asking you to pick a side. But I mean, how to streamline it? I mean, the council would need to decide it wants to take action and figure out what it wants to So like all all I was asking what you know because I don't have experiences in buying and selling firehouses you know so what is the what is the first step and so if we can just come to some agreement the council right in terms of what is that next step in terms of but I think I think the first step has already been taken and that that was taken when the South Main Street rehab plan was created right that's that was the first step right

and I can't sit here and tell anyone in in these chambers. Why that didn't? Nothing happened last year. Nothing happened last year. Don't know why. Um but as I said I've said before um I think we've got enough talent on the finance committee and our professionals with our QPA. We didn't have a QPA for four months last year to structure and advertise a request for bids based on hey by the way here's what we have now. here's what we we possibly can do, you know, open to negotiation and then we move forward, right?

So, you know, if you if you allow a subcommittee to be formed, we could be here next year discussing what we we let another year go by. Well, I don't think we need that. I I respectfully disagree because it's been like this for four to six years already and nothing has been done and we're actually on council. That's true. But that ordinance was passed uh at the end of 23. And again, if it was so important, what happened to it last year? It really wasn't. Nothing happened last year. Nothing happened last year. There's a lot of nothing. There's a lot of nothing last year, right? And you can you can see I tried to put it on in February and still nothing happened. The problem is you want to be the chairperson. Yes. Of this subcommittee.

That's because um I I am going to look at it from both sides. I'm not one way or the other about um party lines or anything. I'm trying to look out for the best interest. I understand. But you want to you want to reset firehouses. You want to reset the plan. What you want to do is go back. You have Councilman Collins who complains that $30,000 was spent on a plan, right? But now you want to you have a plan, right? And we have a QPA and we've got the talent on finance. We've got the talent with the with our professionals, right? All we need to do is send out an RFP. We don't need to sit down, right? So, we're gonna spend more money to figure out that we're not going to do anything with the firehouse.

We we kind of already know the the the whole focal point of the South Main Rehab Plan was the firehouse, right? And to open up everything that's around the firehouse, the focal point has always been the firehouse. What whatever we decide to do there. I don't know. If I may, I got a question was um because I kind of agree that yes, we need to do something. We need to move. we need to move these things period and is I kind of get the feeling that a lot of the council agrees that these things should be we should we should do something with and I do feel that that's been there for a while

now regarding the first that first part which says letter A right uh and I thank you Mr. for uh explaining what that concern is about the narrowness of that. To me, it seems a backward chicken before the egg or egg before the chicken, depending on you word it. If we decide how we want to make it so that we're going to put it out for bid and we're going to expand the parking on this side. Well, maybe we should just take into consideration offers that come in. Can we post it? give us an idea of what people want of that place and then if we need to make a change into the way it is zoned or parcled or any of that that could be done to accommodate um

based on the interest based on the interest which also then uh but once we know what the interest is that could also lead us to a greater answer on restrictions placed on the sale andor lease. I mean all these things are kind of contingent on what people want to do. If we can't we can either tell people this is what we want it to be who wants to do that and hope that somebody wants to do that or we have people say this is what I'd like to do can you guys are you guys amendable to that amendable whatever the word would be you know which is fine

but that's and what I'm more wondering is that is if the committee is created and the committee is there to decide that in the time that it takes for the committee to come up with those plans Then those plans have to be met by the public and greeted well or unwell. Whereas is there is there just a shorter way to going about and getting what people want to do with that getting requests for it having that done in a public forum? I think you've already done that. So that was that was the purpose of the South Main Street rehab rehab plan was that. Now you may not have done that with the Cottage App Firehouse. So to the extent that the cottage firehouse is is a different animal

um you know you may have to take other things into consideration because um it's I I don't know it's zoning it's probably zoned for a governmental use. Um but part of the reason why um the South Main Street rehab um study was done was because there's a large area there around the firehouse and and you had to look to decide what to do with the firehouse property because it needed to be reszoned. You had a number of public meetings. The public came out. It was actually they were very well attended. Um uh Mr. Barry and his firm prepared a plan for how to utilize three different sites um specifically and then some general regulations for the remainder of the area. And those sites were the old heritage site across from at the end of Kulth uh the firehouse site and then the old Spirits of Miltown site uh down closer to Washington Avenue. they all have sight specific standards for those areas um and and uses that would be contemplated by that plan. And so that first step was already done. Now it's a question of you own the property, you need to sell the property. You need to figure out what the parameters are going to be when you sell the property.

We need to advertise it. Yeah. We need we need to sell We need to figure out what it's worth.

Stop is request proposal. That's what we need to do. And and my thought my my fear is that you set up a subcommittee, okay, and you're going to have like two council members of different parties, a member of historical society, a member of the revitalization committee, you know, and two other individuals of the burrow. Well, all those people already included in the South Main Street plan in 2023. So for me, it's like you're going back and starting all over again. And my goal would be to get something out the door before the end of the year in terms of a proposal. I think we could do that. I think the finance committee, we have enough talent. I think with our professionals, we can do that. I don't think we need to start all over again. That's my that's my that's my problem. I

mean, yeah, we should be making it a priority if we all agree it's a priority. Should have been a priority five years ago, four years ago. No, I mean, I agree with that and I just can't we can't retroactively push that.

The plan the plan wasn't put in as an ordinance until 2023. Again, it was adopted at the end of 2023. What happened last year? How come all of a sudden this is like the most important thing? Lots of stuff didn't happen last year. We didn't have a QPA. It's a total turnaround this year. Okay. Things were in a good place. We have a QPA. We've got the talent on finance. We've got the talent on the professionals right here. All we have to do is send out a proposal. That's all we have to do. And wait for it to come back and and see what we want to do. Do we want to sell it? Do we want to lease it? Whatever. Whatever we want to do. Whatever is in the best interest of the town. That's that's how I look at it. I don't think we need to set up a subcommittee.

And we also had a uh two other subcommittees that we did for the substation which that went very well and for the firehouse um for the DPW yard. They were both subcommittees that both went well. The design uh perspective of it went well and it went very quickly. Uh the electrical substation subcommittee uh did a fine job with that. I agree. So subcommittees do work. Some subcommittees do work. Some sometimes subcommittees when they're uh created sometimes it's where good ideas go to die. Yeah. I mean uh my thought is I mean we could always use the public input maybe you know we did that right. There's probably so well we we kind of did that with the planner but

putting those little sticky dots on where you think should go where. We did it we did it with residents. We did it with res. Yeah. I know. But the residents can't tell a property owner what they're doing is property. The problem is that nothing happened last year because of the nature of the council. That's what that's what the problem is. So I don't see what the nature because because nothing got done last year. So everybody got done this year committee. No, actually the reason why nothing happened with me last year is because I lost my mother and my father. No, that's the reason why I didn't push this in 24. I'm and I pushed it in 25. This is not a personal attack. All I'm saying is that as a citizen I observe No, it's not. Okay.

And it's inappropriate for you to even bring that up. That's not even the issue. Well, it's really not appropriate. Nothing happened. It's not appropriate to be political here and we are being political right here. Yes, there are two parties and we're being political about last year and I participated last year. I was a Republican last year. Well, I would like to respond to Garrett, please. I would like to respond to the mayor. Um, so I watched as a citizen last year that everything was halted and nothing got done. So I'm new to this council. I agree with you, Mr. Mayor, that something should be done about the firehouse. Let's get her done. Let's get her done.

Well, let me ask one more question would be um if we set up a we're into October. If we set up a committee, um, does reorg that happens in January have to restart or reboot a committee that has been or is that committee can be independent?

I will openly admit I do not recall what the parameters of that committee are because I drafted that resolution in February and I apologize, but I didn't know we were going to be talking about it tonight. So, to the extent you would like to create a committee, you can create a committee with whatever parameters you want. I would believe this was just an attempt by the mayor to try to bring the issue to the forefront and try to get something moved along. So to the extent he did that, it's it's a resolution and it will be, you know, the question is a firehouse committee resolution. If you guys want to see that on on an agenda, uh you can ask for that to be you you'll vote in favor of of the pending motion. If you don't think it's necessary, you can vote against it. And the form of the resolution will be whatever you guys decide you want to adopt next meeting assuming that you decide you want to move forward with it. Otherwise, it'll be for the council to decide how it wants to try to move this issue forward. Uh, you know, without the need of the committee. That's what we got.

Will the clerk please call the role? Mr. Zambrana, what are we voting on? The resolution. Whether or not you're going to add a resolution to the next agenda for a firehouse subcommittee. No. Mr. Collins, yes. Mr. MO, yes. Miss Payne, no. Mr. Postnansky, yes. Mr. Potter, no. Mayor, there's a tie. Yes. There we go. Way to cause delay. Okay. Way to cause delay.

So, thank you everyone for voting on that. I would also like to bring up another one. um that this one is actually um about the Boy Scouts and doing a service project um that's been out there since April and still hasn't been put on the um the agenda. So, um, if I can have a vote and a second for putting this one on the agenda for consideration for having a boy scout service project to, uh, rehabilitate the entrance of the police department, um, as they request it.

I'll make the motion. Second. May I ask why does that need to be a resolution? Chris, I've been asking. No, no, no. But no. Why does why does it need to be resolution? Well, I asked for what do you approve? But but your question did but that's not the answer to why it needs to be resolution. Not because you've asked, but what's the reason for having a resolution and not just getting it if we could have it approved? I'd love to have it approved. Well, I think it to come to a vote. It's okay. That's what I'm saying. Well, because we I don't know what I'm voting on. That's that's the problem. Right. Right now, I believe the the mayor is making a motion to try to have a resolution added to next meeting in order to allow a boy scout service project to rehabilitate the entrance to the police station.

Yes. Um and so to the extent that you don't understand what the parameters of that are, you don't have the resolution. So I think that's why he's asking for that. At least he was one step closer with the sub. I have no idea what I'm Well, it was basically the uh the document that I had last meeting was the uh pictures the request from the police chief and the documentation about um the boy the chief reached out to Boy Scouts about uh rehabing the flag pole area in front of the police station. So, so

cleaning that up and then um you know I brought that up last meeting and it was just about um seeking approval to do that because you need burough council approval for uh any scouting organization to do anything on burrow property. So that's all that was. So I I don't think that the chief reached out. That's that's that's the problem. That's right. The chief did not reach out. The chief did not reach out. Yes, he did. So, you're calling the police chief a liar? No, I'm not saying that. He approved. We discussed it and he approved. His signature was right on the sheet. He did not approach anyone and we have the documentation to show you. Okay.

Right. We've been through this already. Okay. So, um may I have a vote, please? Will the code please call the role? Council President Zambr I. Councilman Collins. I'd be a bad politician if I didn't vote. Yes. I Councilman M.

Hi, Councilwoman Payne. I for the Boy Scouts. Councilman Posnetski. I Councilman Potter and I for the Boy Scouts as well. Thank you. All right. Next part of our meeting is open to the public. The public comment portion of our meeting is to allow the public new business. Oh, I'm sorry. Is there any new business to bring the port council? Yes. Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Sorry.

That's good. Um, so I just wanted to um just reiterate the um uh message from the chief with regard to Brid's Lane being closed and the traffic, you know, so give yourselves plenty of extra time as you're traveling around t around around town. Uh because there's going to be some backups because of that closure is pretty significant on Ryers Lane. Um so just a reminder, give yourself enough time as you're traveling on our roads. Thanks, Mr. Mayor. I'd just like to reiterate the fact that we have Ryder's lane closed, Tyson's lane closed, and Renee Road closed, which I found out today, unfortunately. So, it's going to be very difficult to do maneuvering outside of Route 18 and Miltown Road. So, Main Street, Miltown. So,

good luck. Washington and Main Street will probably be good luck for a certain amount. Yeah. Yeah. So, please give yourself time. and Wednesday midday there there will be a uh fire department procession traveling through Miltown as well. So um be mindful of that.

Is there any more new business? Okay. Um public comment. The public comment portion of our meeting is to allow the public to bring to council's attention their concerns or comments. Will the council the council will respect the public's time by refraining from any comment until the speaker is finished. It should be further noted that the public comment portion of our meeting is not structured as a question and answer session. Please state your name and address for the record when you come to the podium. Just a reminder, under the rules of council, individuals wishing to speak during the public input part of our meeting shall be limited to five minute period and may after others have finished speaking may be allowed to speak for a second fiveminut period.

Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, may may I make a comment for the for the uh participants? Um it it comes from our last meeting if I hope people remember. Um we had a situation where a resident burst through the door the chamber doors running up and chastising council members. There are two things. We have a code of conduct for council members and that extends to the res. That's council comments. I wanted this to proceed people coming up because of what happened last meeting. That's why I wanted to ask permission for you to speak about this. No, he looks like well he's giggling so he's in pretty good shape. He's not upset. And and the door and the doors open

and the door is open to this. No, you know, considering the the Okay. Do you want me to proceed on? Okay. Um, but we have a a code of conduct for council members that extends to the residents. Um, I don't expect trouble from you, sir. Desiring to speak in this room. And two, with with with all the political violence in our country right now, we up here deserve to be protected. Um, and again, I I I don't expect trouble, but if if people violate the quorum, you may forfeit your right to speak and you may be asked to leave. Thank you. No pressure. No pressure.

You're still giggling, so yelling. Good evening. Steve Iola, 17 the bonus drive.

Thank you. I mean really the reason I c came today was to discuss the rates of the water and the sewer, especially the sewer. My water bill for the three months of from June to September was $1,800, right? And I didn't want to just come up here and complain. I wanted to do a little bit of research, call different towns, see how they did things, and they were very open to the discussion with me. I spoke, the first town I spoke to was Miltown, was um Bridgewater. Bridgewater charges a flat fee of $530 for the year. I paid almost $1,200 in three months for sewer. I just don't think that that's financially sustainable to continue to pay these exorbitant rates for water and sewer. Um I called Lower Township and the same thing. They charge $499 flat fee for sewer regardless of how much water you use. I called Woodwards Township um and under 49,000 gallons they would charge you $384 for the year. Once you exceed 50,000 gallons, they charge you8.0088 cents a gallon. Um and that seemed to be the same for a few other towns that I had spoken to. The interesting town was Monroe because I think on Miltown's bill at our top tier for sewer for a,000 gallons were charging $24.50. Uh Monroe's top tier under over 24 20,000 gallons was $1.15. So we're 24 times more expensive sewer than we Monroe. And even everybody's water rates were lower. But this was the first time my sewer bill was more expensive than my water bill. My water

bill was $630. My sewer bill was almost $1,200. Now, I think part of that issue is I have irrigation. Um, and I know I've I've spoken to a few people. We've had conversations. How do we handle irrigation in this town? It's not going into the sewer.

Um, other towns gave a a beautifification tax credit. Some towns made it easy on themselves and just did a kind of an algorithm based on the seasons and how uh you know what the water uses during the summer as opposed to other months. And obviously some towns you can put in a separate water meter for irrigation and then they would send you a bill just for water and not for sewer based on that. Um, I just don't know how sustainable it is to continue to pay a water bill and and a a sewer bill that's almost $2,000 for three months. Got children that are going to go to college soon, bills to pay. This just this was the first time I really was concerned of how viable it is to live in Miltown with these utility rates. And I know from people that I'm friends with who were buying homes in the past few years, they were getting concerned that Miltown was getting too expensive and wound up not buying in Miltown, which is also concerning that we're getting a reputation of having utilities and being a very expensive town to live in. So I think and I don't I guess my question is how can we relook at sewer, relook at water, make it more viable, make it more fiscally responsible for the residents of Miltown so that we're not getting clobbered. That's number one. And then I think number two is how can we address people who use irrigation? How can we alleviate this painoint? I think obviously I paid more because of my irrigation, but I know neighbors who will no longer turn on their irrigation and their lawn dies and then at the end of the season they rip it all out, they receat it. They run irrigation for two weeks and they have a lawn. I would prefer not to do that. I'd prefer to come home, have a nice lawn, have, you know, make sure my neighbors are happy with the way my house looks. So, I think that's my

concern and that's my question right now is how can we get some of these rates under control so that moving forward we're not paying these outrageous water bills and and sewer bills. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Excuse me, sir. Yes. Have you compared your your bills from this year to years before? How long have you lived here? Uh 15 years. So, like have have you checked last year?

Yes. It it the nice thing about the smart meters is now when when I spoke to the tax collector, she told me exactly where my water rates. She said between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. is when you're using your water. And that's exactly how I have my irrigation set up. And the irrigation is set up the same way each year. So when I spoke to the tax collector, she said, "Your r your water usage is almost identical year-over-year." I mean, it was still outrageous last year. It was still maybe 1,200 or 1300, but now we're at 1,800, right? It's

dramatically going up compared to a town that just gives you a flat sewer rate of $530, right? So again, I don't know. Like I don't know what the best way. I do have a rain sensor to try and you know stop my uh irrigation running when the days it rains but uh according to the tax collector it's been pretty similar my water usage year-over-year. So so the amount that you use this year is probably the amount you've used last year and your past past years. Yes. Yes. Okay. Because you're aware that we did have to raise the the rates last year. Yes, I I'm aware. But

last year at the top tier it was $8 for for sewer. This year it's 24 per thousand gallons. But like I said, Monroe's top tier per thousand gallons is $1.15. So it's 24 times that of Monroe and much higher than just doing a flat rate. Now, I guess it's because our our water and sewer isn't privatized and we're we're we're stuck doing all the repairs and all all that ourselves. So, but I just, you know, that was just my comment. If any way we could take a look at this again and figure out how we could help the residents not feel this pain.

Sure. Well, and I know that we all feel for you because we live here, too. Sure. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Seeing none, I'll close audience comments. Oh, maybe not.

I Well, like I said, I think um I would like to figure out whether we could whether we could somehow figure out the irrigation. My wife just reminded me whether we whether it's like I said earlier whether it's an algorithm we can figure out or if we do put a water meter in because I know I've asked that before and people weren't sure whether doing that would resolve the issue. So thank you. I'll close audience comments. Uh does any member council have any comments?

I do. Um, one, I wish we could do better with the water. It some of the things are just um the litany of decades before us, a hundred-year-old system. Um, a lot of uh things that I heard when I first came on council is sometimes the cake is already baked. And uh not a great answer, but an answer that I've come to see the reality of. Um, and you know, if if we can come up with something that would be great, but I really don't know what it would be. Uh, the other thing would be that I'm not exactly crazy about a subcommittee because I do feel that subcommittees are not quite the way to fasttrack things. Um, and I am a man who tasked in this role will say that I will take the safe bet if it guarantees me and the town a resolution. But I would love to come to my next council meeting and get another option for something that is a fasttrack plan that says this, this, this, and we should be able to do this by X date. And I could go, but I'll give that a try. So, um, you know, in in this is what is what I'm offered. You know, I'll go with the I'll certainly listen to and vote on and consider having a subcommittee. But if there's something we could do that does things quicker, that does things better, uh, I'm, you know, certainly open to hearing that. And, um, you know, um, would love options. Um, Miltown historically is not fast when it comes to enacting on many levels. Uh, and that's that's a long-term thing.

It's not even that's not a this year, last year, or that's just history. Um, which I don't like to go too deep into history because, uh, I'd like to really like to take tomorrow on much better than I'd like to talk about yesterday. Um, I'm very sorry for the town and our fire department's loss. Um, that'll be it.

Mr. Mayor, I just want two quick ones. Um, so for folks who are watching tonight or watch it later tomorrow, there will be in council chambers here a special Ford Avenue meeting at 7:00. Um, don't know if it's going to be televised or not, but if you're interested, we will be here at 7:00 uh for that special Ford Avenue meeting. Um, and I'd be remiss if I didn't uh after Saturday's uh great Miltown day. It was a great day because it didn't rain and it wasn't windy. That was really why it was a great day. Um, but I'd actually like to um uh thank each of the revitalization team members who without uh without any of them, none of that would have happened. Andrew Vander, the chair, Bonnie Jasco, David Reiniac, Rachel Freed, Sue Woolen. Um would be remiss in in not mentioning the DPW and the recck department. None of this would have happened without them. Um the uh our first responders, our our fire department, uh you know, our police department who were there. Um and to all our sponsors. Um uh I still have not recovered. Um maybe in the next couple of days I will. Um but um that's uh all I have to say. Thank you so much,

Mr. Mayor. Uh thanks. um as chair of the public safety committee uh and on behalf of the council uh and the mayor um that we want to extend our condolences to the family of Tony Corbin, the deputy chief who recently passed away um uh and our condolences to the fire department uh as they are in mourning and um you know they're a wonderful group of people and Tony leaves a big hole uh and uh you know, our firefighters will come together and make sure that hole gets filled, but it'll be a it'll be a tough task to do that. So, I just wanted to acknowledge Tony and thank you, Mr. Mayor, for um including him in the moment of silence uh tonight. I appreciate that.

Thanks, Mr. Mayor. Um somewhere in here, we used to read council reports, but I guess we changed the agenda again. No, sir. No, sir. in strictly accordance with rules of council passed by the 6th of January of this year. Council reports are only on the first meeting of the month. Oh, is that right? Yes, sir. If you look at you look in your D. I'm glad you told me. You'll see a copy of the rules of council passed by council. But but is the change now because um council comments are back. Is that why to show? No, sir. We placed we if you'll look at your agenda and compare that to the rules of council passed on the 6th of January, you'll see it's verbatim as passed by the rules of council.

But but you've been the business administrator and you've let us go on every month with with uh um our reports. Why? I guess we'll turn to You only did it at the You only You only did reports at the first meeting of the month. But why have we been doing reports every month then? You did it during You did it during You You spoke during council comments, not reports. No, I'm saying we've done reports every meeting. Now we don't. I guess we'll turn the music on. That's what I'm I'm asking that. So the the the question is you objected to one change, but you don't want to follow the rules of your own rules.

Uh if you give if you give if you give council reports during both times of the meeting. Okay. In violation of your own rules, sir, that you spoke about last time. Let me finish. Let me finish. Then you may speak one at a time. Thank you, sir. If you guys want to talk during council comments, we don't care. I don't care what you say. It's your comment. It's council comments. You can say anything you want. But by the rules of council, reports, department head reports are only given once a month. But we have not followed that. And you

Yes, sir. You have not followed it. And it's not my job to correct you, sir. It's not my job to correct the council on the DAS if you don't follow your own rules. But now you want to follow those rules because No, sir. You want to follow the rules. You want to follow the rules, sir. That's why we put it back. You objected to the change. We put it back the way you want it. It's exactly the way the council passed it on the 6th of January, verbatim. Your little st number 18 agenda session. That agenda session has not been on this council agenda this year. Sir, I I make up your mind. Make up your mind, sir. You can't have it both ways. We are following this to the letter then.

To the letter, sir. Verbatim. To the letter to the But but now it's important to do that, correct? No, sir. It's important to you. Yes, it is important to me. That's why we changed it back. It's verbatim the way you wanted it. 6th January. There it is. You certainly like jousting with me. Sir, you started the fight, not me. I got nothing else to do. Starting a fight. I got nothing else to do. Take a breath, guys. Let me get you, sir. I'd just also like to express my condolences to the fire company and the Corbinic family for the loss of Tony. He was a good man and uh I spoke to him at his son's uh services and uh he was a real he was a really down to earth guy and I'm really going to miss him.

I I'd like to speak if no one else is. Um I have two things and I'm also going to honor uh the deputy chief. The one is um in regards to the firehouse because I didn't know we were going to speak about that tonight. So I will proceed. The importance of a resolution for the bureau is to be beneficial beneficially impactful to the residents and taxpayers. Last meeting we had a resolution 2025-307 NJ rule in support of New Jersey protection against climate threats, resilient environments, and landscape rules. I asked questions regarding Miltown's obligations, penalties, and onus in regards to the regulations involved. The answers I received were inconclusive except upon reading more. Much is expected of us in the future if we voted for the resolution, which we did, and I did. A resolution is of major importance to the residents of a community for their benefit or it is not brought up. A resident came to the meeting upset that the firehouses had not been sold. I asked for evaluation of the sites, considering that if sold, it would ease the tax burden of the struggling residents. They already have been shouldering the taxes at the site of the old Michelin plant amounting to $7 million. We need to have a resolution or at least a discussion to form a committee guided by the mayor to come to an agreement on the disposition of the sites for the beneficial financial benefit of Miltown. If we can have a resolution on climate change, the rising of the oceans and expected by some of cataclysmic events supported by a few, all of which have differing opinions, surely we can put up a resolution to support having open and honest discussion on plans for our firehouses. We owe that to over the overburden taxpayers. I brought up the disposition of the firehouses before and nothing's ever come. There was never a discussion except my voice and thank you and I'm going to talk about the deputy chief.

I am honoring one of our very brightest of lights, a true pillar of our community, Tony Corbin. Tony has left us embodied, but his spirit, the love of his family, Miltown, and his beloved fire department family lives on. He was a devoted father, husband, mentor, or more appropriately, a brother, father, and grandfather figure to our wonderful firefighters. To them, I hope when the sadness passes that they remember Tony with a smile. I knew Tony for a short while. I will surely miss him and the long talks we had. Godspeed, Tony. Thank you. Mr. Mayor said a few things. Um, at a special meeting held on September 18th, the planning board determined that the Ford Avenue DV red development plan is consistent with the Burough's master plan in the ordinance to ordinance 25uh 1573. The recory committee held a special meeting on uh September 25th attended by Councilman MO, Councilman Collins, and myself. And the information discussed will be included in my report in the next meeting. A sincere thank you to Andrea Vanderbeir, Council President Zambrano, and the entire revitalization committee for organizing an outstanding Miltown Day. And finally, as reflected in Councilwoman Payne's remarks, our thoughts and prayers are with uh Chief Corbinc's family and the Miltown Fire Department. May his legacy continue to inspire us, and may his family and fellow firefighters find comfort in the support of the community he served so faithfully. And Mr. May, that concludes. Hey. Um, I'd like to make a motion to have ex enter into executive session. Is that what you want to hear?

Essentially, um, I would need you'd ask if the council wants to move that resolution. So, the resolution is prepared. Um, so you could ask if there's a uh ask that it be read um by title. I guess it would be a uh if there is a title on it. Resolution 2025 327 entering into executive session. Perfect. So, moved. Second. Have a motion made by Councilman Collins, seconded by Councilman Potter. Is there any comments? Seeing none, will the clerk please call the role? Council President Zbrano, I. Councilman Collins, I. Councilman Ma, hi. Councilwoman Payne, I. Councilman Posnki, I. Councilman Potter, I motion carries.

Thank you. Take five minutes. So, we're going to have executive session. Amen.