Township Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call the September 25th, 2025 meeting to order. Uh we're going to we have uh we're fortunate to have the girls from Troop 99022 with us today. Uh they're here for a badge, so we're going to invite them up here to lead the pledge of allegiance.

Here's the flag. You guys start. I pledge algiance 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. Nice job, girl. You guys want to take a picture of them up there? That's okay. Yeah. How old are they? We know.

Oh, look. What grade are you in? All right. That's a fun grade. I know. I want to go back. It's all down. Yeah, I know. Very good. You're not living at your mile. Okay. All right. A moment of silence to remember the service and sacrifices of the armed service members who protect our nation and the first responders who protect our neighborhoods.

Clerk, please take the role. Councilman Frelander here. Councilman Sager here. Councilman Quinn here. Councilman Brooks here. Councilwoman Newton. Councilman Salber here. Council member Boyovich here. Council Vice President Brooks here. Council President Marson here. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the daily record and the official newspapers for the township of Rockaway. Notice was posted on the official bullet boards of Rockaway Township Township website and notice was filed in the office of the township clerk. Approval of the September 9th town council regular meeting minutes. Can I have a motion? So move. Second. Cler, please take the role.

Council member Flanders. Yes. Councilman Saget. Yes. Councilman Quinn. Yes. Councilman Brooks. Yes. Councilman Salbert. Yes. Councilman Boyovich. Yes. Council Vice President Brooks. Yes. Council President Morrison. Yes. Say yes. This motion carries. Ordinance for introduction 02513. An ordinance amending chapter 5 general licensing article 5-5. peddlers, canvasers, solicitors, and mobile food vendors. Specifically, section 5-5.1, definitions of the revised general ordinances of the township of Rockaway. Can I have a motion? So move. Second.

Cler, please take the role. Councilman Freer, yes. Councilman Sacket, yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. Councilman Brooks, yes. Councilman Salber, yes. Councilman Boyovich. Yes. Council Vice President Brooks, yes. Council President Morrison, yes. Say yes. Motion carries.

Ordinance for adoption 2514, an ordinance amending chapter 17, parks and recreational facilities, article two, watercraft operation upon waters or within within or bounding upon Rockaway Township. Specifically, section 2.2 2 vessel and size limitations to remove any reference to Lake Telmar in this chapter of the general ordinances of the township of Brockway. Is there anyone from the public that wishes to speak on this ordinance? Is there any council discussion on this ordinance? Clerk, please take the role. Councilman Freellander, yes. Councilman Saget, yes. Councilman Quinn, yes. Councilman Brooks,

yes. Councilman Salber, yes. Council, yes. Council Vice President Brooks, yes. President Morrison, yes. It's a yes. This motion carries. Consent agenda R21 177 up to and including R2181. Can I have a motion? So move. Second. Clerk, please take the role. Council Freder, yes. Council, yes. Council, yes. Councilman Brooks. Yes. Councilman Salber. Yes. Council, yes. Council Vice President Brooks, yes. President Larson,

yes. It's eight yeses. Motion carries. All right. We're going to do the open to the public portion. As a reminder, I will call your name. You'll step up to the microphone. State your name and address for the record. There will be a time limit of three minutes. Michael Oardi. Hang on. Now, give him one second. We'll

get his No badge. [Music]

Michael, 190 drive. Just like to thank Mayor Jackson, Mr. Mary Brian from the water department, Al from DPW for inviting uh myself and the White Middle Lake president to take a tour of the water department building that's gone up in White Middle Lake. Um they did a great job on that. So the planning and the design of it is um big improvement. Uh I'd also like to thank everyone who was involved in cleaning up Reservoir Road I brought up at the last council meeting. They uh took care of that last week or so. Um, also on the agenda items, I think I recall there used to be like an explanation of what these items were because reading this you don't know really what they're they're about. Could there be a little recap of what these things are you're voting on? So, if we do have a question or even like the pedal's license, right?

There's no understanding of what that even to people that are here. There's not a hyperlink. Yeah, there should be a hyperlink on when the agenda goes out online. If you click it, it'll bring you to it. It'll bring you there ahead of time. But do we have um don't we print out or do we not do that anymore? They used to, but it seemed to be a waste of paper. But if there's a link, I'll make sure I Yeah, there's a hyperlink for each one in the future. Okay. And then uh just wish happy new year to everybody that's celebrating. Thank you, David Cristiano. Did I get that right?

Yes. Good evening. My name is David Cristiano and I live in 27 Pillar Drive in Mark Township and basically have a question. Uh, currently they're running a gas line uh on Meridan Road which is across street to Pillar Drive where I live. I had contacted the gas company probably six months ago at least when they saw us they were going to do that and he said we we cannot run the mine on Pillar Drive because the road was paved a few years ago and I think there was a moratorium of like five years so we probably have at least two more years to go. Um, I was wondering if that's still in place or we could change that somehow since the gas company's currently putting a line on Meridan Road very close to our street. Um, so that's my question.

If if our engineer is prepared to answer during her time today, I'll ask her to. If not, she'll reply to you via email. Okay. If again, Al, if you're prepared to, great. If not, we can respond at a later time. I approve, but I'll respond to that. Okay, we'll get back to you. Okay, thank you. Is there anybody from the public that did not sign their name that wishes to speak? Okay, we will transition to reports. Again, I ask to keep it to five minutes or less and we will start with Councilman Freellander.

I'm trying to keep you on your toes. Good job. Okay. Uh quick quick summary. Uh Substance Abuse Alliance uh we had a meeting this month and everything is going well with their program the phase 4 which I'll discuss later on. It'll start at the end of the year at Copeland which is a tremendous success over the years. Uh

then uh they're going to have a fundraiser. Mark it down. I'll keep on mentioning it, but it's April. It's going to be a bingo night, which was real successful last year. Was the first one we transitioned from the uh 50 not 50/50, the with the prizes, tricky tray.

Tricky tray because everybody wanted bingo. That's that uh library. Uh second, since we have the grant to start improving things, uh the architect is meeting with the subcommittee to go over the plans for the bathrooms and everything else that is part of that phase. And last but not least, uh pathways, uh the historical society put it down the calendar for October 4th, 12 to 5. the uh Ford Fish House is part of the pathways tour in the county and we have the open house and uh the tours will be there from 12:00 to 5:00 October 4th. That's it.

Councilman Brooks.

Thank you, Council President. Uh first off, I'd like to thank uh Mayor Jackson and Councilman Zacket for showing up to the red, white, and blue event at my church on Sunday. It was a very good event. We had a good turnout. um and a very very good speaker. So I just like to thank them for that. Uh secondly, I just wanted to check in with the chief about the Halloween event on Circle Drive. Just to see if there was a traffic pattern that you guys kind of figured out. I know some of the residents were asking me about that on my adventures out. Um so uh any status on that that would be greatly appreciated. Um and also just uh in in light of uh the things that have happened not only in the town but in this in the country lately. Um I just want everyone to just take into consideration everybody and uh if they have any problems or the thoughts that they uh need to speak with somebody. I believe people in the the town would be more than willing and the health department or or somebody else to speak with anyone if they have anything going on in their lives that are struggle. I think we do have a suicide hotline um as well. So if we can maybe if that's not posted on our website, if we can do that, I'd greatly appreciate it. And that's all at this time.

Councilman Quinn,

thank you. uh planning board. We codified the um laundromat which will be going in over at POPS which is the old stewards. Um I was at the Peterson Field and this Saturday was the JV versus Varsity. Um basically it was the uh powderpuff game. Yeah. And the boys dressed up in the girls cheerleading outfits and the the girls dressed in the boys' uniforms and it was great. They had fun. Um, and also uh I'd like to also ask if there's any updates to Peterson Field if I could get some updates. And basketball signups are on for boys basketball and girls. So, please sign up. And if you want to be a coach, they're always looking for coaches.

Thank you, Councilman Sack. Thank you, Council President. Uh, Councilman Quinn, that was a powderpuff game. I don't know. Did you watch it? Of course. And Jenny Sack, it was five five polls that day, so she's working hard. And, uh, I signed up to coach, uh, assistant coach Basketball Girls, so looking forward to that. Draw me back. Yeah, come come help me out. Can we can you use help volunteering in town? Um, like Councilman Brooks had said, we I'd stopped by the uh Faith Family and Fellowship Church for the white red, white, and blue Sunday. Just great job by the church and everyone was there and the mayor was there and just so many come throughout the county. Just a great morning.

Roshashana had just ended so everyone had celebrated. Hope you had a great and sweet and happy new year. We do have this Friday. Hopefully see some people from the council. I'm sure the mayor will be there at the Rockway Township PBA fundraiser at the barn 7:00. So, looking forward to that. Um, next Wednesday through Thursday, we are starting the uh the Yom Kapoor Day of Atonement holiday. So, everyone celebrating um wishing you an easy fast. We have the It's a long fast too, you know,

25 hours. Um Sunday, October 5th is the White Metal League Fall Festival. Looking forward to that. And uh thank you to administration. We'll be starting soon on the Willow Park at Stony Brook Park. So redo that park over there right in Ward 4 over there. There'll be some work going on at Willow Park right off of uh Stony Brook there. And I know uh Councilman Brooks had mentioned last time Scarlet Brooks uh got a pony for that. um you know the RTSA a lot of times I was speaking to um the RTSA I guess the president I saw him over the weekend and so many people come through our program so many volunteers like Jack said and we have so many of our players are right now playing in college sports and uh you know Shaya Sacket my daughter was just named rookie of the week for the New Jersey Athletic Conference for goalie at Ruckers University Newark so

nice huh pretty uh pretty exciting but it all starts here all starts local, RTSA, all our volunteers, basketball, all our programs, you know, just helping these kids along and we have so many people doing great things out there in the world. So, just want to give a shout out to all our volunteers, all our sports programs. Thank you, Councilman Sber.

Thank you. Uh the Open Space Trust Fund had our uh opening meeting uh last week. Uh we discussed the funds that we'll have available uh for dispersement. Uh we reviewed this year's applicants. uh made some decisions on that and then this Saturday uh we'll be in the field uh visiting the actual locations of all the applicants to help with our decision and we're hoping to be able to announce it publicly um uh to our to our candidate or to our winners uh this November. Thank you, Council Member Tovich. No report. Council Vice President

Um I just have a few comments. Uh the Green Pond Road Dunkin Donuts is becoming a traffic problem again this morning. I personally called the police department because I was sitting on Green Pond Road and it took me like 10 minutes to get from Sanders to the first 80 exit and it Yeah, I know it was like rush hourish, but well, it turns out tractor trailers are parked in the lane in the right lane with their hazards on to go get coffee, right? So, they leave their trucks running, they put their hazards on, and they run into the Dunkin Donuts. And it creates a lot of problems because you have people coming up that right lane. They're then trying to zip around the truck. Then the guys trying to make a left onto 80. It become becomes a nightmare. And then you even have trucks, which this was to my disbelief, to park in the right lane on the opposite side to try to run over to the Dunkin Donuts. So, it's just I I I know we had at one point some officers over there during rush hour and trying to limit these giant trucks, and I get it. There's nowhere for them to park. It is what it is. Um, but parking on Green Pond Road is not ideal, especially in the morning or at any rush hour. Um, because then you also have people from the hotel walking across Green Pond to go to the diner for breakfast. So, it it's getting a little hairy again over there. Um, and I noticed it this morning was probably at its worst most recently this morning and then again yesterday. Uh, so I just don't know if there's anything we can do traffic wise. Um, I did call the dispatcher. She was kind enough to an officer over. I don't know if the guys were still there or not. Um I know it's not the quickest Dunkin Donuts, but at that rate, who knows how long he was there.

Um and then also I can only put out a plea to like planning, zoning, whoever is in charge of looking at our master plan. I I know we put in the commercial buildings and the warehouses on Green Pond over there. I know we have the space. I've been to planning board zoning meetings and they say, "Oh, two trucks a week, two trucks a day, two times a day." you know, there's an substantial amount of large tractor um traffic on Green Pond Road, specifically towards the north end all day, and it's just getting to a point where it's becoming a little problematic. So, that's just kind of a plea for us living up where sometimes I joke it's like hund games. I don't know if you're trying to keep us out

or if you're just trying not to let us get back in, but um the tractor trailers are really becoming a problem, specifically the ones who just to be honest, it baffles me that they think it's even remotely an idea to do. So, there's that. Um and that's all I have. Thank you. Uh I am happy to announce that um with the help of Miss Pali uh we will be signing a contract very shortly to replace the audiovisisual system finally as as also demonstrated by the microphone. Um

so we uh we've secured funds for that. We'll be signing the contract very shortly and then beginning work on that. Uh I know that it's been problematic for a long time. So we are uh finally on the way to doing that. Um I'm also looking forward to next Friday. Uh Mr. Knock will be uh bringing us through on a tour of the new water building. Uh time to be announced. I'll find out tomorrow. Mr. Yacho, no report.

Mr. Mayor. Um, so first recognize Mr. Titus. He's a teacher at Stonyberg School. Um, he does a lot for our community. Um, he runs some volleyball camps. He's always come to me with ideas. I'd like to just talk about we did recently for 911. There were about, I think, 50 students in Stonybrook that wrote letters to our firefighters and to our police officers that were dropped off. And I'd like to just read to Dear firefighters, thank you for saving people lives um in the 911. And yes, firefight fighters spelled out and it says fearless, incredible, resilient, empathetic, formidable, impressive, generous, hardworking, trustworthy, excellent, and rescue. And then this one says, "Dear local heroes, you are so amazingly brave. I am truly in awe. Thank you for everything you do. We are so thankful that you make us feel so protected and safe. You save lives every day, which makes me so proud. Thank you so much. And I know the firefighters and the police officers appreciate these letters. Um, thanks to the students and thanks to Mr. Titus uh for coordinating that. Um, we have one more uh gazebo concert. I think it's this is it this Sunday? This Sunday um from 3:00 to 5. Uh, one more concert. The Rosewood band um is is making up a concert that was canceled. So from 3:00 to 5:00 this Sunday at the Park Lake Gazebo if you can make it. It's always a fun time. So this is the last event for our summer series even though it's not summer. Um like to recognize a few things that happened since the last uh meeting at the senior picnic. Um as uh Mr. Brooks mentioned, Councilman Brooks mentioned the red, white, and blue Sunday at Faith Family Fellowship was a

great event. Gary Delgreo does a great job. um every I think he's been doing it for over 20 years, something like that. And uh great great honor to all first responders. Um the wheels on the lake car show was a was a hoot. Um I there were almost 200 cars there, Mike, but

175. It was crazy. It was a fun time. Um there were kids there, families there having a great time. Um, I got to pick a uh 65 Mustang convertible as as my choice for my favorite car in the show. Um, and there were other winners, too. So, that was a great event put on by the lake HOA. Um, we had a planning board meeting. Um, I don't think there's anything on the agenda. Uh, we able to, as Mike said, give them a tour of the border building. I think it it really, as Mike said, it's a beautiful building, but we really also want to make sure, you know, the operations and make sure we're coordinating with the community to make sure um when our guys are coming doesn't interfere with the, you know, any of the camps or anything like that, the school buses, anything. So, trying to work through those items to make sure we stay in lock fest, lock step. Went to uh October Fest this weekend. That was a way over stimulating for me. There's a lot going on in I walked in there and I've never seen it was like Sodom and Gomorra. It's like there's people everywhere running around. It was crazy. It was crazy. It was just and it was so much fun. I bought a sign. Um I bought a sign. Um so yeah, really great time. So Germania Park does a great job with that. Um it was a lot of fun. Um got to meet with a couple of students this morning from Morris Hills um that were looking to see what the town could do for teenagers and different events and things like that. So I actually connected them with and we're going to share some ideas and we're going to get them hooked up with a mole too, talk about some things they might be able to do with the mole. So, it was uh uh pretty cool. Um over the weekend went to the our one of our water people uh coaches pre-clin team at Rockway and uh got to go to the game and our uh Makmood son plays for Roxberry. I'm pretty sure the Rockets beat up on the junior gales on Saturday. Yes. you know, you know, Vinnie didn't his face

too much, but it wasn't it wasn't a close game, I don't think. No.

Um, and then, uh, we had the Brownies here tonight. It was great. Um, and, uh, you know, they're all going to get a badge and they're talking about maybe doing some type of rock garden, um, at Park Lake, which would be kind of cool. So, we're going to talk to them a little bit about that. Um, and that's my short abbreviated report. Miss Palmer um fourth quarter tax bills were mailed out yesterday with a due date of November one day to get their money in before um any penalty or interest is charged. You can always pay online or of course in person we are going to be updating our personal manual this year. We're required to do that every two years with the joint insurance fund. I hope final copy of that for your approval sometime probably the second meeting. I was going to report on the tank um at the building but I see that here on Sure. Thank you

Mancing and hopefully we'll have documents ready to go out to the bid shortly. some general conformance with the plans that were presented last June session. Um we also have makers public hearing on it. We just heard from the highlands council. So permanent moving forward to finalize construction plans to go out to shortly depending on prices.

Chief Evening, Council President. I would also like to just mention and comment the Faith Family Fellowship event. Gary does a wonderful job with that. He's done that for many, many years. I've attended it many years. It's just amazing that on the first responders, mayor and the council members there again, it's just a wonderful We really appreciate that recognition and do it with such love and caring. It's always much appreciated. Thank you. As far as Circle Drive, yes, we do have a plan for Circle Drive. We're looking right now working with Chad to to push that out to the public in reference to uh the oneway directional parking, one side of the street parking signage. Uh and we're looking at the best way obviously put that and and some other Facebook and other methods to try to get that information out there and I would agree with the fact that Green Road is in fact no parking

I didn't know there's not a sign or anything but I just you know I think [Music] we will address that and I would also like to thank the fifth graders again Mr. guys came in and gave us all those wonderful letters from the kids. Very creative both in in language and and artworks. So we I took those I put those for the police department. They had them all displayed in in the squad room for a few days so they can appreciate. So again, always a wonderful thing.

Mr. N to North Lake pipeline project is on the way. You can see the uh intersections of North Lake Shore and White Road. Uh we put in some patches and some valve work out there. Um piping was a spark yesterday, but with weather we're holding off on that. Um with recycling, uh we're going to be cranking down and protecting curbside plastic bags. Recycling It's been out for at least 15 years. Um that is unacceptable to collect recycling. So we will be enforcing that. We get uh we get reports from the county who handles the the recycling for us. Uh so we're sorry. Um, in relation to what Mulary was stating, uh, the gas pumps at the senior building approximately on the 30th of September, um, they are out of commission right now. Uh, the tanks will be, uh, pumped out clean. The underground storage tank will be removed. The above ground storage tank will be in its place. The island will be removed. Everything will be on the embankment side. It should take approximately uh three weeks. So I'm working with the contractor to try and get everything done as quickly as possible for the Halloween festival. Everything will be barricaded. Uh there will be some temporary parking on that side of

Okay. Make a motion to adjurnn by consensus. All in favor? I meeting a journ. Say that. John. Wow.