Borough Council - Regular Meeting

This meeting is called to order. In accordance with the open public meetings law in accordance with chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided. This meeting of December 1st, 2025 was published in the Curry News and Star Ledger and placed on the burough's website and bulletin board at Burough Hall. A copy of this notice is available to the public and a copy of this statement shall be included in the minutes of this meeting. Mayor Brian Gallagher here. Council members Theresa Bonner here. Andrew Ki here. Glenn Deny here. Randy Pitts here. Gina Stravik here. Roger Verm

here. All right. Please stand for the salute to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Okay. Can I have a motion for approval of the minutes of November 17? So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Kiy. Yes. Yes. Glen Deny. Yes. Randy Pittz, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verm, yes.

Okay. Uh, departmental reports and notices. We have two. Uh, one, the reorganization meeting for the Burough Council is January 1 at the Somerville Middle School at 12:00 noon at high noon, uh, with a reception at in the cafeteria immediately following. Um, and then, uh, on November 13th, we received a letter from Charles Eer, uh, from the Somerset County Tax Board. uh they at their meeting on January 13th will be discussing uh and possibly making a determination if Somerville uh is required to uh perform a revaluation. We went through this probably about 10 or so years ago about 10 11 years ago and uh the valuations are becoming a little bit inconsistent. So uh the county tax board will be discussing that and we will have representation there as well. uh committee reports. Uh Andrew

um historic advisory committee met and uh discussed the continuing projects that are going on at the uh the burrow hall. Um also, you know, upcoming events. Um nothing really major planned. Again, we're meeting again this month on the third third Thursday of the month. Look forward to anybody who wants to come out for historical advisory committee. Okay, great. Gina, the board of health met last Wednesday. Um they reviewed the uh quarterly uh uh items from the county report. Uh the summer Scott is here today. Um and um they continue to find work in our community. Okay, Glenn.

All right. Uh environmental commission will not be meeting in December. We'll meet again on uh January 13th at 7 o'clock right here. And the fire department super excited because the holiday lights parade, the 14th annual one, is almost here. uh come on out and see all the great apparatus decorated on this Saturday uh the 6th at 6. So as soon as it gets dark uh the lights will come out. So come on out and enjoy. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you Teresa. I don't have anything to report this week. Sorry. Okay, Randy.

At this time, I'd like to invite [clears throat] officer Veto Speda to come up and have a few words. Uh Randy put me on the spot sort of, but um this is actually a um it's been an overwhelming two weeks for me. Uh most of you in the town know that my house burned down on November 15th. Lost everything in the house. Uh wife, two kids, everybody was safe. We weren't home. But um nothing left. um never thought in a million years and especially my 22 plus years of working in Somerville that I made such an impact on the community because of the support that I received and my family received was and is unbelievable. I wish I could thank every single person that donated, reached out, um, brought us clothes that we needed for the day, for the week until we were able to get some stuff. The schools have been outstanding reaching out. Um, most of you know I teach there at ICS and um, all the students wrote wrote cards and had a clap off for me when I walked out of class just to show support. um people from the rescue squad who were there on scene who never realized it was my house until they, you know, it's kind of fitting that you guys are here. Um because they were in shock just as much. You know, it's it's you respond to these calls all the time and they looked at it and it's like, wow, it's one of our own who are who help others and now we need to help you. And mayor, you I thank you showing up for the house and just checking on me and

everybody here who reached out and checked on me. We're doing okay. We've been in a hotel for a couple weeks and tomorrow we move into a rental home until we eventually rebuild. But to all the citizens and residents of Somerville and in Bridgewater, it's where I live. I can't say thank you enough. My family can't say thank you enough for what you've done for me. So, thanks. We love you, Veto. [applause] [applause] I I think just a a quick comment, Veto. Um I think the level of support you've given this community over your 22 years uh was reflected back to you. And Somerville's colors really shine when one of our own is in need. And I think our community saw a family that was in need and a family that dedicated their lives to this community. So, um, we thank you. Thank you. Godspeed to you. Uh, Roger. I just want to thank everyone that came out and participated in the turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning. Uh, as of race time, we had 1433 pre-registered um, racers and then a a multitude that showed up following thereafter. Um, making it the most successful Turkey Trot, I believe, that we've had in our in the 10 years that it's been running. Thank you to the uh, members of the wreck committee that worked tirelessly to put the event on. Thank you to uh Kathy, the uh rec director, Kevin Suca who was there helping out uh on the morning of and uh the rest of the staff that that make the event possible. Uh again, it goes back to the volunteers and the rec the rec committee has some truly tremendous volunteers. So, thank you for all that participated. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Mr. Denise, for running. Uh and uh hopefully next year uh we get more even more participants,

make it even better. Awesome. And how did your son do? Ah, my son, he did he did well. He was happy with his time. He came in second. Yeah. Uh he just finished cross country season and and when he when he finished, he crossed the line. He goes, I can finally take a break. Uh because he he was ready to go. So, thank you. That's awesome. Congratulations. It was a great day. It really was. Um is Mr. Ferguson here yet?

Ah. All right. So, we we actually have I don't you can't see the crowd right now, uh, but we actually have a a very full house here. Um, we have the Somerville High School marching band, and I'm hoping it's almost all of them here, which is which is absolutely incredible. And uh, and they're here for a very good reason. And I'm going to come down and I'm going to ask uh, Council President Vroom to help me. Uh, we have a uh, a proclamation for every one of the marching band members. Uh, and we'd like to recognize each and every one of you, but I would like uh, Mr. Ferguson to first come up and and talk a little bit about um, why you're here tonight and the successes that the uh, that the program has seen over the course of this season.

All right. Hello everyone. My name is Mr. Ferguson. I am the director of bands here at Somerville High School. U, I'm here today to celebrate the students behind me. Um, this year was a very historic year for the Somerville High School marching band. Um, I can go through the list of almost every single achievement. Some record-breaking um, achievements from these uh, individuals, but I think most of all the thing I want to celebrate um, is the students dedication to this community uh, in representing uh, Somerville and not just a state level, but a regional and even a national level. Um this year the Somerville High School marching band um we won the Lewig Muser Classic which we get to go to Metife Stadium performed against 60 other bands. We got first um and got um swept all captions. Um we went to our regional um performance in Tom's River. Um that was only against uh three bands in our division. I think it was 12 bands overall at that competition. But regionals um is done in the northeast region um in a bunch of different areas. So we actually um scored the highest amongst 114 bands across six states and then um we won state championships at TCJ on November 2nd um with a 94.6. Um, so it's been a really quite uh amazing year for the Somerville High School marching band and I just want to give them all the love and praise in the world for everything they achieved this this year. So, can we give them a round of applause?

[laughter] I get that a lot.

All right. So, so there's a lot of you. So, here's I'm I'm first going to read the resolution. Um, and then what I'm going to do is I'm going to call each of your names and and just come on up, shake my hand, and then walk over to Council President Vroom, and he's going to present you with your with your resolution. So, first, this is a resolution honoring the out uh the Somerville High School marching band for the outstanding achievements during the 2025 season. Whereas the Somerville High School marching band has brought great pride and recognition to the burrow of Somerville through its dedication, talent, and musical excellence. And whereas under the exceptional leadership of band director Mr. Ferguson. The students and staff of the Somerville High School marching band have shown extraordinary commitment, discipline, and teamwork throughout the 2025 marching season. And whereas on October 18th at the Lewig Muser Classic at Midlife Stadium, the Somerville High School marching band earned first place out of 60 competing bands with a score of 89.6 and was further recognized with awards for best music, best overall effect, best color guard, and best percussion. And whereas on October 19th at the Central Jersey Regional Championship Championships, the band achieved first place with an outstanding score of 95.2, sweeping all caption awards and earning the highest overall score among 114 bands across 11 regions in six states. It's incredible. And whereas on November 2nd at the New Jersey State Championship, the Somerville High School marching band again earned first place out of 32 competing bands with a score of 94.6. 6 receiving honors for best music, best overall effect, and outstanding band director for Mr. Ferguson. And whereas it is most fitting we recognize the 25 New Jersey State Championship under the leadership of band director Mr. Ferguson and congratulate all the band members. I'll read all your names in a second. And whereas the accomplishments of the Somerville High School marching band reflect the dedication, hard work, and

community spirit that are hallmarks of Somerville's youth and educators and serve as an inspiration to the entire community. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Mar and Council of the Burough of Somerville do hereby recognize and congratulate the Somerville High School marching band, its directors, staff, and students for their extraordinary achievements during the 25 season and for representing Somerville with honor and excellence. Well done each and every one of you. [applause] Now, I will absolutely butcher some of your names, just so you know right up front. So, and if I do, correct me and and and we'll get we'll get the name correct. So, I'm just going to call up the names. Just kind of walk up. Um, Somia Anand, not here. Okay. Dominic Ascalles, Angel Bailey, Roma Botra,

Ellie Bogress. All right. Emma Beckwith, [applause]

Shioali, Batala, Gray Biancini, William Booziotus, Juliana Bua, Leticia Candido, Daisy Kuransza, Congratulations [applause] Vanessa Castro, Jacqueline Chen, Vivian Cody, Sophia Cruz, Tahhas Dach. Did I mess up that name? Olivia Dale, Sylvia Davis, Kalin Delgavio, Anna Diaz, Caprice Deani, John Dugan, AnnAise Evans, Vanessa Exel. All right.

[applause] Sophia Feno, [applause] James Flores, Lopez, Viona, oh sorry, Lopez, Viona, Gandhi, Zachary Gelino, Gianna Jino, [applause]

I'm doing okay with the names so far. Well, they're not here to correct me. So, Isabelle Gomez, [applause] congratulations. And an Isabella Gonzalez. Okay. Maxwell Greavves. as Gruber, [applause]

Noah Harris, [applause] Sahira Hussein, Darwin Jimenez, [applause] You could have done the shortcut. Carlos Calbach, Isabella Keller, Landon Keller, [applause] Gatashri Kmineni, Evan Kunic, [applause] Graden Lightstein, Vicrant Lubana, Rebecca Masel, Francisco Marin, Oscar Mazlowski, Join Matai, Vivian Matthews, Michael Mazi, Hayden Muenberg, Timmy Micler, Mallerie Micler, Andrea Miguel Barios, Isabella Milano, Samuel Mores,

Dara Moran, [applause] Gia Moran. Is that right? Emma Munis, Sebastian Nuranho, Gabriel Nuranho, Lasso, Molly Astraman, Abigail Arsler, Caitlyn Parker, Jenny Plazas, Luca Porovcio, [applause]

Paige Powers, Cherry Poochie, Nick Kuano, [applause] John Quintala, Ivan Rzimski, Ben Robinson, Andrew Saliola, Lesie Santana, Arlene Santana, Alex Shier, Isabella Sher, Stella Cisco, William Skowra. Did I [applause] get that right? Did I get that right? She was too kind to correct me. Miguel Suazo, Owen Sumoski, Addie Swinsburg, Aaron Zumagala, Gabriel Ta, Raymond Trombodor, Nat Zagamic, Jade Zu, Paige Ziegler, and Luke Zeco. Ziko Zeco. Is he here? No. Did I forget anybody? Has anybody left off?

No, we're good. So, so we'll give the the other resolutions to uh to Mr. Ferguson so that you can get those into the students hands. And again, our congratulations to you, to the entire marching band. And we all we have another marching band enthusiast up here, uh, Councilman Ki, as well. Uh, but thank you all for, uh, for doing Somerville proud. Thank you. Congrats. [applause]

So, we're going to take about a twominut recess so you can all leave. [laughter] Two minutes.

[music] All right, we're going to continue on with our meeting, although those are very nice parts of our uh our public meetings. Um, at this point, we'll open up the meeting to the public. Can I have a motion to open the meeting? So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki, yes. Glenda, yes. Randy Pitts, yes. Genus Travik, yes. Roger Verm, yes. Public portion is now open. Please state your name and address for the record and please address your comments to me.

Hello, sir. Uh, my name is Tony Faber. I actually live in 1180 Raritton Road uh in Scotch Plains and I'm here tonight because I heard you were uh going to consider a resolution uh put forth to consider in support of the immigrant trust act. And uh I wanted to encourage the council to uh pass that resolution and encourage um uh the assembly and senate in New Jersey to move forward with the immigrant trust act and uh give protection to immigrants in the face of a world where uh ICE and other immigration uh [snorts] uh groups are acting illegally in the state of New Jersey. I'm sure we've seen a lot of the things that have happened in New Jersey. Uh, but I'll just say the Immigrant Trust Act would uh prevent local governments from giving out in immigration information and prevent uh ICE raids in places like schools and hospitals, which I think is consistent with the character of Somerville and of New Jersey. Um, and this is very important. While there is an immigrant trust directive in place, uh uh ICE is using loopholes in the directive to do things that are borderline illegal and clearly unethical. Um if we have cooperation, say between local law enforcement and immigration authorities, the community is very unlikely to cooperate with the police, which makes communities less safe. I could say a lot of different things about this, but I I think I trust you to uh support this resolution, which again is in the spirit of New Jersey and this community. Thank you very much.

Thank you for your comments. Any other public comment?

Hi. Uh my name is Donna Vulpi. Um Schoolhouse Lane here here in Somerville. Um, I'm also here to speak in support of the Somerville adopting a resolution in favor of the immigrant trust act. I strongly believe that the immigrant trust act will benefit Somerville, not just immigrant families, but the entire community. First, the act will help ensure that all residents, no matter their immigration status, can access vital public services like health care, schooling, libraries, and shelter without fear that seeking these services could trigger immigration enforcement. That kind of security makes a community stronger because people are more likely to get the care, education, and support that their family needs. And that benefits us all. Second, immigrants uh residents already contribute significantly to New Jerseys economy and by extension to towns like Somerville. Per a report titled immigration and labor market published in May 2025 by Stockton University. Um, foreign born workers make up a substantial portion of New Jersey's labor force and immigrant entrepreneurs and workers help support industries from construction and to and technology to small business to small businesses and services. For example, in New Jersey, undocumented immigrants alone contribute to an estimated 1.3 billion in state and local taxes in 2022. Um that contribution helps fund public services used by all residents including schools, infrastructure and emergency services, improving life for everyone. Third and critically, the act promotes public safety and community trust when immigrants know that they can interact with local institutions safely, including reporting crimes, accessing medical care, shopping, or sending their

children to school. They are more likely to come forward when they or their neighbors need help. That benefits everyone's safety and well-being. Finally, passing a resolution like this sends a clear message that Somerville is welcoming, inclusive, and that they value all residents. It helps immigrant families who may already live in fear feel safe and able to contribute fully. That sense of belonging belonging builds stronger neighborhood ties and social cohesion. [snorts] Supporting the immigrant trust act is not just about immigrants. It's about what's best for Somerville as a whole. Stronger public services, a healthier and safer community and and economic vitality grounded in inclusion and trust. Thank you for your time and I urge you to join Somerset County and numerous other New Jersey towns and counties in passing this resolution. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Any other public comments?

Hello everyone. Uh I'm John Flores from William Street. Uh, I am here also to encourage the council to adopt the Immigrant Trust Act and to put guard rails on the questionable tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE. Decent, hardworking people are being pulled off the streets by by masked unidentified federal agents here in New Jersey, here in Somerset County just a couple of weeks ago in Bound Brook. There is very little transparency about who they are targeting and many of the people apprehended by ICE appear to be falling into a legal black hole. Nearly all of the people apprehended [snorts] are like me, people of color. There are reports that over 170 people that ICE has apprehended are like me, US citizens. Today, there are over 65,000 people being held in ICE detention centers around the country. Nearly half of them don't have a criminal record. If the goal of this program is to deport violent criminals, it is catching a lot of innocent people in the net. I'm afraid for my family. I'm afraid for my friends. I'm afraid for my neighbors. I'm afraid for Somerville. I'm afraid that someone I know, someone that I love is going to be taken and that they won't receive due process. I never thought that I'd have to ask local government to protect me from the actions of the federal government, but here we are. I'm asking you to protect me and my family and friends from the mass anonymous agents of the federal government who are acting without accountability. Please support the immigrant trust act. Join the other municipalities and counties, including Somerset County, that have already done so and let the communities of color of Somerville know that you have their back. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Any other public comment?

Hi, I'm Sher Rust, uh, Rhymer Street, Some Somerville. I'm also here to talk about, uh, the Immigrant Trust Act, and we're asking Somerville to join the other New Jersey counties and municipalities in issuing a resolution to support the ITA. Um, it will limit the assistance that state, local, and county officials can provide to ICE and allows community members to seek support from public agencies for health and safety services and law enforcement agencies without fear of deportation. And um, I can tell you that this is a problem already and it's a problem that's growing. Uh, people are afraid uh to come out and to to get services. People are afraid to bring their kids to a hospital. It's uh, it's not really what we want, I don't think, in our town. So, this bill's been languishing in the state senate judiciary committee without a vote since September of 2024, and we're hoping to push it through in uh the lame duck session. Now, many many towns and uh counties, including ours, have uh spoken up about it. Um so, we believe that our town's resources should support Somerville's values, Somerville's priorities, and not federal detention and deportation. Um our Somerville police. They do a great job here of fighting crime and there's no reason to have our local law enforcement resources diverted to assist the violence that's committed by federal immigration enforcement. And I'm sure you've all seen ICE detaining individuals at churches, at hospitals, at schools. Um, and as was mentioned, over 170 US citizens have been um detained without due process. Um and just 7% of immigrants taken by ICE to date have violent convictions um which was supposed to be the whole point of of this uh process. So it has been popping up all around us. ICE has been um documented in Bound Brook uh many times in Manville in North Planefield in Wong,

Denellan, Edison, Newark, Flemington, all around us. They're detaining people based on their skin color, based on speaking Spanish, and based on the type of jobs that they have. So, ICE agents are masked. They're not required to show ID, and there's no really really good way to distinguish them from criminal imposters. And I've tried to do so. I've talked to uh ICE folks who have been in and around communities trying to get a hold of people. And it's not a great conversation to talk to somebody who's supposed to be in law enforcement, won't identify themselves. It does not make me feel safe as an individual. Um, additionally, kidnappings by criminals who oppose as ICE agents have been reported all over the country. So, that makes not just immigrants aren't safe. Nobody is safe. And I know here in Somerville, everybody I know wants our residents to feel welcome, to be able to participate in our community life without fear. and issuing a resolution to support the ITA is a concrete step that we can take as a community to show our support of of our residents and to help state legislators understand our position. So, we're asking that you pass this. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Any other public comment? Steve Moss. So, I'm assuming I don't do this too much. I'm assuming you guys can't answer questions. Just for your just for your address for the uh for the record. Okay. Steve Moss. I live at 311 Ultimont, please. Yeah. It's an opportunity for you to make comment to to the bur.

Okay. So, I'm sure you're aware that there's um a development being proposed in Bridgewater. It's by time to eat diner. They're gonna enter our roads so they can circumvent the DOT. Right. So, we as a neighborhood put together about $17,000 of our own money. We got an attorney. We're suing them right now. You or someone said, "We're not going to do anything until we know there's a a building permit or a proposal." Today, they were digging there. And I've been in construction my whole life. I work for some of the biggest developers in the nation. When we start digging, we're doing percolation tests for storm water management and we're deciding where the storm water management is going to go. Will the building be on this side or that side? So now I think it's time you guys start to do something about it because a lot of families put out a lot of money and I don't think they should have to. Right? I pay 25,000 a year in taxes. It's absurd. Right? So, I think it's in your best interest because if there's 20 units there, if you Google and study the statistics, excuse me, that creates 9.7 cars per unit, which is 150 cars a day, whether that be Uber, FedEx, the mailman, people coming in and out. So, that's 5,000 more cars a month on Cornell. But they use our roads as passroughs to circumvent Main Street. And we own half that road, Somerville. Correct. I know you can't say anything, but that's fine. You nodded. So, we need to look at that, right? Why should we have to pay more money for an attorney? We're going to have to, you know, you're taking away people's Christmas money.

Not mine. I'll pay as much as they want, but there's a lot of people that need that thousand dollars that we all put in. So, I'm recommending you guys really take a look at this and shut it down. Otherwise, a lot of people are going to move out of the community. Not for any other reason, but for traffic. I just fought four years to get those flashing lights on ultimately. I even offered to buy them and they were like, "No, no, no, you can't buy them." I said, "I'll put them up myself." No, you can't do that. So, it's something we need to consider. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other public comment? Moren Dwire, 275 West Summit Street. I'm really here just to confirm that it's the whole neighborhood. You know, we all put a lot of money up for it. Um, we just don't think it's right. When are we going to stop it? We all saw [clears throat] construction today. Are they going to knock down the trees and then say, "Oh, sorry. We didn't mean to." Like, you know, that's our buffer. If you look at all the statistics and everything, you don't want, you know, all those trees to come down. it's going to hurt our neighborhood. Uh there's no sidewalks over there. There's there's like a lot of things that are going to have to be addressed if they're going to open up that road. Um you know, it's just not right. It's not a fit for the neighborhood right now. And um we just want to make sure that you know, they said when something happened that we would uh you would get involved. So we're just here hoping that the council will get involved at this point. So thank you.

Thank you. Any other public comment? Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to close. So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members. Theresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki. Yes. Glenda. Yes. Randy Pitts. Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes. Roger Fur. Yes. So So I will address some of the comments off of the uh the Cornell Boulevard issue. Um

what I will tell you is that it's not that the bureau decided not to take a position. Um, I I can also tell you that we've had three or four attorneys looking at how we could take a position given the circumstances that we currently have. And at this point, the the bureau does not have a standing um in terms of the noticing that was done. Um, and that is what I believe you're uh you're targeting right now as the residents. Um, I was a little flabbergasted by it. Uh, I said, "How can the burough not have standing? I I represent seven uh 14,000 people." And the comment back to me was, "We get it. We understand it. But the reality is you represent the corporation, the the the burrow itself." Um, at which the bureau did receive notification. So, we don't have a standing. And if we actually filed suit, we potentially, Jeremy, correct me if I'm wrong, uh, if we did file suit, uh, it would be thrown out and the residents then would be liable for the costs of all of that. So, so the burrow took the position at this point because we do not have a standing in it. We cannot file. Um, I will tell you our planner, our engineer, and our attorneys, our redevelopment attorneys, our burough attorney are all monitoring. We're all watching this. We have communication with the folks that are on your team. Um and and we understand the position that you're in. So our role and when we can take action is when there is an application that is filed. So until there is something substantial, and I know it's frustrating, I get it. But there is nothing at this point that the burrow can do legally. Um, it's their piece of property. They have the

ability regardless of whatever is going on on that property. It's their property. We can't control that. We can challenge or I shouldn't say challenge is not the right word. Let me let me rephrase that. when and if a site plan application is filed, that is when the burrow will take a very keen interest in what is going on there. And it's not that we're not taking a keen interest right now. Um it's that we don't have any standing to take an interest right now. So when and if an application is filed, uh I can tell you that's going to have a significant impact on Cornell, on all of the streets that lead into Cornell on West End Avenue. Uh it's a problem. And you're right, they're bypassing the access permits that that would be required to get on to 20220 206 because they'll never get them because they're exiting onto an ex exit ramp or an entrance ramp onto 2026, which on its best day on a Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. is still a nightmare. It's awful. So, what do they want to do? They want to dump it into Somerville. And and personally, I find that absolutely wrong. And what I can tell you is once a site plan is filed, if it's filed, that's when the burrow will come in and we will take very strong positions. I can't tell you sometimes you can't say what you want to say. Um, but I can tell you that most everybody up here, I don't think there's anybody up here who doesn't agree with that position that this is going to have a very serious effect on a uh on one of our neighborhoods. and we do not want to see that happen. So that's kind of the position we're in at this point. So we we have to wait until until and if a site plan application is

filed. I would hope that the mayor of Bridgewater takes a uh a very vehement position as he did with the trees that came down on uh on Chimney Rock. uh and that he would take that same position on this parcel of land which is the last wooded area adjacent to uh the Somerville Circle and and I would like to see him out there doing the same thing. I would encourage him to to do the same thing. Um I get the fact that you know you're not against the proposed development per se. It's the impact that the development will have on our residential streets. And it's a it's a it's a reaction that is warranted. It's a reaction that I agree with and it's a reaction that the burrow will take issue with at the right time. So, um, and then as far as the immigrant trust directive, we will pull that off of the agenda, um, into its own off of the consent agenda into [laughter] in and we'll take that, uh, up at the appropriate time on the agenda. All right. So, um, we have ordinances for you know what? Before we do that, I want to pull a few ordinance a few resolutions off because there's folks here that have been waiting very patiently and and I think it's very appropriate. So, I will take them in order. So, the first one is number 322 is naming the family fun ride bike race in honor of Frank Quinn, former Somerville recreation director. Frank was our uh our longtime recreation director and uh um the wreck committee uh took a position which I think is uh is is a great one. I don't know if you want to talk to this if if you want to please. Okay. Um, and you know, Frank

dedicated his entire life to the burrow of Somerville and uh did some wonderful things uh for our recreation, for our children, for our facilities, and uh and I think this is a very uh a very nice honor uh for for Frank. So, I'll ask for a motion on 322. So, moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner, yes. Andrew Ki, yes. Glenda, yes. Randy Pittz, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verm,

yes. All right. And then uh 326 is authorizing the Emergency Operations Center at North 85 North Gaston Avenue, Somerville, New Jersey to be named in honor of Leroy Roy Gunselman III. Um I know he's got a number of family members here uh as well. I think uh I think this is a very fitting tribute to a man who uh understood the meaning of service uh for for and to Somerville. Uh spent his entire life whether it was with the hook and ladder company, with the emergency uh the the emergency committee, um the rescue squad, uh he just lived and breathed emergency services in Somerville. And uh and I think it's uh it's it's heartwarming and wonderful to see his family here and to see his his uh his fire family here and his squad family here. And I think that uh that's just wonderful and it's a fitting tribute to a great man who did great things for for some of them. So thank you. Thank you for coming. So um I'll ask for a motion on 326.

So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki, yes. Glen Deny, yes. Randy Pitts, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verm, yes. Does anybody want to say anything?

And it's okay if you don't. Don't I don't want to put you on the spot. Um I just think it's it's wonderful that you're all here. So, thank you. And thank you for sharing, Roy, with with Somerville. Uh it was a blessing for us. [applause] All right. And then 328 uh is authorizing the pickleball court located on Veterans Memorial Drive to be named in honor of Kenneth Ken Cornell pickle ball courts. Um is there any family members of Ken's here? No. Okay. Um I talked a bit at the last meeting about Ken Cornell and uh he he was definitely uh Mr. Mr. Somerville, Mr. Recreation. He just uh he lived and breathed and and helped so many kids in this municipality. Um if you recall, we had the uh the skate park down uh where the pickle ball courts are now and uh and he started that and he ran it for for many many years. And any given day during the summer, you'd see him down there uh making sure that the kids took care of it. Not only was he making sure that everything ran right, he was teaching kids how to take care of their own stuff and uh and and he did it well. Um he was also a man ahead of his time because he would spend his his uh winters down in Florida and he came back talking about pickle ball and this is 10 15 years ago. Nobody knew what the heck pickle ball can what is pickle ball. Ah it's great. It's kind of like tennis. and uh and and he was ahead of his time and uh so I think it's again a nice fitting tribute that these courts are named in honor of Ken Cornell. So I'll ask for a motion on 328.

So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Theresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki. Yes. Glen Deny. Yes. Randy Pitts. Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes. Roger Verm.

Yes. All right. Uh ordinances for public hearing and adoption. Uh these are ordinances that were uh introduced two meetings ago. Um, ordinance number 2777 is amending chapter 102 of the code of the bureau of Somerville, article 11, uh, as noted, uh, by adding subsection R. Mr. Cole, our planner, uh, I will ask you to just to give a very brief overview of what this is for the edification of the public, please. Uh, thank you, mayor. The the the ordinance adds a section on the checklist for land development applications that requires uh any substantial development to come before this the council for a review and the council deems appropriate to be designated redeveloper. It's part of the checklist so that it's done upfront as opposed to in the past it's done uh post uh approval of one of the boards. So that's in the nutshell. Uh there's a twite a slight tweak to the language the redevelopment council suggested to clarify shall and so forth, but other than that it's uh it's what was introduced.

Okay, great. Thank you. Thank you, Mike. Okay, I'll ask for a motion to open the public hearing. So moved. Second discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Kiy, yes. Glen, yes. Randy Pitts, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verm, yes. Public hearing on 2777 is now open. Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to close. So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Theresa Bonner. Yes. [clears throat] Andrew Kiy. Yes. Glenda. Yes. Randy Pitts. Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes. Roger. Yes. Okay. Uh motion for adoption, please. So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki. Yes. Glenn Deny. Yes. Randy Pitts. Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes.

Roger Verm. Yes. All right. Uh 2779 is amending chapter 102-95 article 11 entitled zoning creating subsection H entitled zoning and affordable housing inclusionary development. Mr. Cole, would you give us an overview on that as well please?

Uh thank you mayor. This is um the overlay zoning which is otherwise known as inclusionary zoning. It's in the housing element fair share plan as a draft adoption. Uh this requires that any developments that create five or more uh dwelling units to have it to have affordable obligation. It has to be addressed with this ordinance. Uh the bureau has until March of 2026 technically to adopt this but to be proactive and keep the process moving. Uh that's in front of you what what's it's in front of you for adoption for movement. Yes. So uh it's basically it's been basically same language that's been around since June of this year and basically says it doesn't matter where the development's going to occur anywhere in the burrow. There's an obligation if the proposed development creates five or more dwelling units and and as just to make sure everybody's aware any development that's under five units development fee ordinance was adopted earlier this year. So you have the uh development fee that covers uh units under five units and then you have in front of you the ordinance that covers the five or more units.

Great. Okay. Thank you, Mike. Uh motion to open the public hearing on 2779. So [snorts] moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Theresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Kiy. Yes. Glenda. Yes. Randy Pitts. Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes. Roger Verm. Yes. All right. Public hearing is now open. Hearing none, I'll ask for a motion to close. So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll [clears throat] call. Council members Theresa Bonner. Andrew Kiy. Yes. Glen. Yes. Randy Piss. Gina Stravik. Yes. Roger Ferm. Yes. All right. Uh 2779. Motion for adoption. Please. So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members Terresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki. Yes. Glenda. Yes. Randy Pitts.

Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes. Roger Firm. Yes.

Okay. Okay, consent resolutions. We're going to pull off 324 and 325 for their own vote. Are there any others that anybody would like? Okay, so let's do the consent resolution first. 321 is accepting a grant of up to $300,000 from the hazardous discharge site remediation fund through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection. 323 is authorizing an application for funding from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections Green Acres Program, Carol Pager Ballfields Project. 327 is authorizing a refund in the amount of $1,622.50 to 106 Veterans Memorial Drive application 24 uh 2024-17Z from the escrow account. Do we have a motion?

So moved. Second. Roll call. Council members Theresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Ki, yes. Glendy, yes. Randy Pittz, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verm,

yes. All right. 324 is adopting the admissible municipal flag display policy and United States flag lowering policy. Um, just a a a comment before I ask for a uh a motion. Um, I agree with everything in there in the in the flag policy. There's only one minor revision I would suggest um which [clears throat] is on our municipal facilities, Burrow Hall, the the uh firehouses, the uh emergency uh uh operations center. Um there's a line in there that says you can you can post flags of culture. And my feeling is that on the municipal facilities themselves, they should be relegated to just the American flag, the state flag, uh P and the KIA flag. Um I don't believe, you know, whether it's the Irish flag, whether it's the Ukrainian flag, whether it's I my feeling is that those should be relegated to Main Street, which are more social commentary flags, uh which I fully support. Uh but my feeling is that on on the municipal buildings themselves, they should be relegated to just those flags. I see a challenge sometimes in who determines what is the appropriate flag. And if you open it up for one, you open it up for all. So, that would be my only comment on that, that we just eliminate the uh cultural flag from Burrow Hall, um the uh emergency headquarters uh and the firehouses and DPW. Uh otherwise, in on Main Street, uh all of our uh on Division Street, that's where I believe the cultural flags are more. Is is this a unique policy to Somerville or is this something that is shared among all communities in in New Jersey or nation? Like what what was the premise for for the language?

Councilwoman, the the the reason that the adoption has come about it it it was um it was talked about about three or four years ago. There were certain requests being made to hang flags at municipal buildings. The burough didn't have a policy in place. they had an internal policy that was basically a practice. So, um over a period of time, um we've kind of created this. It's very similar to most municipalities and it's pretty much what we follow. Um and then recently in the in the last year, there was a flag raising that resulted in in some questions as to our policy. So this is a a policy that would be formalized um the way it's written um so that the bureau has an adopted policy that it could stand behind as to say this is what we do this is the policy.

So so the language though the mayor refers to the cultural flags is that what does everybody else do? Not that we have to do what everybody else does but you know like what's so the standard.

Yeah. So the the language that that particularly relates to uh flag that was flag raisins for instance in Burough Hall. We we've raised the s the Irish flag for St. Patty's Day. Um we've raised the pride flag for for Pride Month. Um and that that has taken place at Bar Hall at one time. So that particular phrase that the mayor is speaking about is is referencing those types of flags. Um, if we eliminate them at Bar Hall in the emergency services facility, they would be either banners or something that the DSA would would utilize in their um in in in their expression of those events.

Right. So, so right now, you know, there during St. Patty's Day, there are banners that that um that go up on uh Main Street in Division, right? But he's talking about the flag poles, right? He's talking about flag ps. Yeah, our flag poles. Yeah, just the they meet us. Do we have enough flag poles to put this in like you know like so then if we don't have a cultural flag pole is are we missing one?

So no. So what happens is like for instance and just using an example is is the Irish flag is raised at this singular flag pole that's a burough hall. That that's what happens uh prior to the St. Patty's Day event. So they use that flag pole and it raises and then then it's lowered and removed after that ceremony.

Hopefully that provides clarification. Yeah. I'm just wondering like what you know what's the you know the military policy you know like like you're saying we're

like that's why it goes back to my original question. Where did this come from? So is it just AI? Did we make it up? Is this what our practice? A lot of it is is a standard policy that's issued um you know I assume by by the federal government. Um it gets a little more customizable when it comes to the local flag raisins and and lowerings. For instance, if we have a local person that that has passed away, there may be an order a local order. The the policy the federal policy doesn't lend to that. So this this does provide some customization to to local authorities.

Yeah. I I I just don't see this as a heavy lift. It it to me it's really it's it's we we know the four flags that are flown. It takes away any um well Kevin doesn't have to make a decision which really it shouldn't it shouldn't it shouldn't fall to you. Um and and you know who is the ultimate arbiter of what's right and what's wrong. You know did we raise a flag for National Cheese Day? you know it it becomes it gets a little cumbersome. So this way on the municipal facilities it's the four flags that's it and our we'll call it the social side of it is is relegated to Main Street. And I think that's to me that's good. I think that's a good call.

Yeah. So a motion to amend. if we're making uh amendments. Um I do have a little other section of language. And I mean no offense by this, but um the mayor having the ability for any reason deemed appropriate, including but not limited to. Um I'd like to take out the any reason deemed appropriate and including but not limited to. So the mayor can deem it lower the flags for a death of a current former burough official employees or significant community members, but not just on a whim because what if it's not you, Brian, and somebody wants to do it for some reason that is aggravating to others and not officially proclaimed or asked for and not related to something.

Yeah, [clears throat] I I understand that and and I know there was a whole lot of discussion nationwide about sure

uh uh reducing flags or lowering them to half mass. Um, I don't know that you want to take that ability away from a mayor. Uh, that is a discretion that the mayor has. Um, and what it has also been done in this is it's been open opened up to the council president as well, which I think is appropriate. Um, you know, you have to give the the mayor andor the council president some latitude in in and discretion. And I would hope that that discretion is uh is used well. The reality is we follow the guideline whether it's a presidential directive, a gubanatorial directive and and really the only directives that that are done at the local level are typically for um local icons who have passed. Um and and that's appropriate. You know, taking that ability and that discretion away from the mayor andor the council president, I think is wrong.

Yeah, I think we should do it for those reasons. I just don't think it should be any reason whatsoever is my only Well, what I would say is leave it in and and if there is an indiscretion by a future mayor, uh because this one won't, right? Um and then then the council at that time has the ability to take it away. Anybody else? A motion to amend uh make two amendments. One to uh reduce the mayor's power and two to uh remove the cultural flag.

I second that. I would prefer that we remove the cultural flags. I think that giving our our civic leaders the ability to make, you know, a judgment call about a local, you know, person. And if we want to put that in, I think maybe that's the more amunable fix would be that it is, you know, that that the mayor would have the and or the council president would have the ability to lower the flags uh for a local, you know, dignitary or icon as as the mayor said before and maybe then we can we can deal with that since it's that that would be more apt to what you were discussing before. So we could say that if you know in the event that a local you know dignitary or or person of um renown has passed that it's that's where we uh we put our we put the stoppage if that's if that's where the language is hanging up.

Yeah. I wouldn't say remove item four entirely. I would say just any reason deemed appropriate including but not limited to. Well, I think I think we we empower we we not empower but we and that would leave that well but you have you have to project out what one you know I I think you're projecting that a distrust of the mayor andor the council president right um two there are events that take place that may warrant it

um so it's not just relegated to icons so therein is the inclusionary element of as the mayor or the council president deeming it necessary I would suggest highly that you leave it as is um you know these things happen quickly and again it may not be a person it may be an event that uh uh and move on. I would say I agree with the uh the idea of of the cultural u and then just leave it leave it be and if there's an indiscretion council can address it. [snorts] I would agree that the power uh should coexist between the mayor and the council president.

Just for a point of clarity, this limits it to just the mayor and the council president in town that can direct it, right? This isn't like uh the fire chief for whatever reason wants to Okay, no offense, Joe. Just asking. I think again I I at the end of the day, you know, we have to trust those of us that are sitting here. Well, I mean, I think we're all here to make group decisions, too. So, I mean, why can't we all be consulted? Again, we should all be in agreement.

That speaks to what the mayor is saying. If there's a situation where we want to make sure that we act and there's there's times throughout the month throughout the days where decisions are made that all of us are not consulted on because it's something that we have to address at that time to be sensitive to the situation and I think having a quorum we can't do that unless we're at a meeting right so we need to make sure that in those circumstances that the either and I'm not going to be sitting here forever the council president or the mayor has the opportunity to make those decisions and not wait for the next meeting to make it happen. You So you're saying we can't be three of us can't be texted. We can't be consulted in advance. We can't vote. We can't vote. Right.

So if if we're going around then we're asking for your official position. Yeah, we can and that would be considered against the sunshine laws. I mean I mean I will tell you the council president was added to this uh in light of uh a representation of council right so so the policy that we have followed for all the years I've been here

is is the mayor has the ability to pick up the phone call the business administrator and and the actions occur in in all those years that I've been here um I don't particularly recall any any issue of anything ever occurring of a question of a flag. But there are situations and I I do recall one where there was an out of there there was there was a a police officer if you if you recall that was killed in action that had a relationship to someone in in the in the municipality and the funeral was at immaculate conception which I believe we we lowered the flag for. So that that that kind of that that that line is deems appropriate. Like no one thought that was unappropriate,

but it doesn't specifically fall into a category, right? So the person, you know, didn't live here. Their family was here. Um. Sure. So I mean that that's just an instance that I recall. I mean I don't know. Um and and we added the council president obviously. Um, well, I say we, I did. Um, really, if the mayor wasn't around, the council president could order it. That's one thing because he's acting mayor at that time. But more importantly, it represents maybe the council interest just in case the mayor and the council did not have the same interest,

right? Um, and in all these cases, no matter who orders it, it only takes one person to order it, and we would act upon it. And again, it's again just to create a policy so that we have something in place if if we get questioned as to um you know a particular request to lower. All right. Well, where are we in the voting on this? Well, you you have a little lost. Yeah, I was a little made a motion. You have a motion and a second on the floor to make the two amendments two changes. Certainly, if there's a a decision otherwise, you can have a subsidiary motion which which could override that motion.

So, yeah. So, so we can either move forward with a vote on that or you can revise your motion uh to uh just the first. I'm not willing to revise the motion. Okay. Let's drive it to a vote. So, so just so I'm clear a two amendments. Yeah. And we don't have the resolution on the floor yet. We correct. That is that's not on the floor. It is. Yeah. Sorry. It is. We voted and we're this is the discussion after the first motion and the second. All right. So So first is the motion to amend for those both for the two amendments, right? Um if you don't agree with both amendments, then yes, you're voting no.

You're voting no and and then then we could entertain a motion for a single amendment. Correct. Okay. So, a no vote means we will go to a motion for a single amendment. All right. Roll call. Council members, Theresa Bonner, no. Andrew Ki, yes. Glendon Eye, no. Randy Pittz, no. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verm, no. Okay. So, now we'll I'll entertain a motion to for the single amendment. Uh, regarding the cultural flag, [snorts]

someone needs to make it. So moved. Second. Discussion. Roll call. Council members. Theresa Bonner. Yes. Andrew Kiy. Yes. Glendee. Yes. Randy Pitts. Yes. Gina Stravik. Yes. Roger Verma. Yes. [clears throat] Okay. All right. Now that we have that out of the way. All right. Number 325 is supporting the Immigrant Trust Act. Do we have a motion? So move. Second

discussion. All right. Uh one point of discussion before you vote. Um what I will tell folks there there there's two things. One, um most of all that is covered in the Immigrant Trust Act is already governed by the attorney general. uh and and the restrictions that he's placed on police departments and police officers and their interactions. Um so I don't know really what the effect of this will be because we already have to abide by the attorney general's uh restrictions. Uh that's just the way police departments are are covered. Um the second part of this is and this isn't I'm not commenting on the pros or cons. There's pros and cons on both sides and all it does is drive people apart. It doesn't drive people together. What concerns me is that we are taking up a an issue that's a federal issue and typically Somerville doesn't do that. Um we have typically kind of relegated to those issues that we will have a direct effect on. And I know folks are going to I know exactly what folks are going to say, but this opens up a slippery slope for the burough council. I understand the folks that want this. I understand the folks that don't want this. I get it. Um my concern is that this begins to open up conversations at this table that are more federal or state level conversations and we're not focusing on um Somerville issues and and I would caution the council on uh on this approach. So having said that discussion,

I think historically we very infrequently step into this arena of supporting a bill of any kind. I mean this is the first one we've done this year where we said please state we support X Y and Z. And in the past we we have issued at least a proclamation to align ourselves with some of the national ongoings. Um, at the end of the day, this is a resolution to say, "Hey, state legislators, please do this." It's not really, we're not enacting this, right, guys? It's not coming from us. We're not giving a new directive to the police that doesn't exist at the moment. But I do think um it's valuable to support that New Jersey cottify this in case in the future our attorney general's direction does change. We at least have uh what will impact Somerville in my mind is us losing folks from the community that are um vital for our economic and for our community culture and interests. I mean we can't grow without folks feeling safe in town. Um, and we can't operate a lot of the businesses without folks uh being able to to go to work and school and whatnot without fear of being uh disrupted by the federal government. So, at the end of the day, I mean, I'm not um I'm we don't need to get into all the national politics side of this, but the request before us is simply that we pass this resolution to encourage the state to consider it on their end uh and strongly consider passing it on their end. So, while uh I I hear and agree with a lot of what you said there. I think it does directly impact us. I think the symbolic support of this um at the very least shows to those in our community uh that could be affected by this that we have at the very least a distaste for for how this is happening if not um you know some obvious opposition. So our um my point of view on this personally is just that uh we should do all we can to protect their community members and if supporting this would add additional protections and enable the police to do

their job protecting us a little bit more effectively without distractions um I'm in support of it. So um that's just my discussion on this. Any other comment?

I think that um this is not our first foray into immigration. uh this council and the bureau um has in has multiple times with the county hosted the flag flag daynaturalization ceremony um which is usually at the county county steps. The last time we did it was in the county courtroom because the uh not county courtroom in the county chambers uh because due to weather. Um but we have supported folks and their path to citizenship and and you know having a ceremony for them uh again hosted by Somerville with the count you know at the county. Um but we we have supported them in their journeys uh to becoming naturaliz natural naturalized citizens. Wow. It's been a long day. I apologize. Um and and I think this is just one more step in in that direction that we show uh you know that we support uh our immigrants and that we look you know again I look forward to us having the the uh naturalization ceremony in the future. Um I think it's a great thing that Somerville does and to see the looks on those folks faces. It's it's it's amazing to see them go through that whole journey and become United States citizens. Um, and I think that this act protects those people in that process. Um, and gives them not obviously it's the two different things, but you have to feel safe to go through that lengthy lengthy process and anyone who's gone through that process of of becoming naturalized, it is a long long process. 10 years I think is is the minimum. Um, and I think that this gives people that feeling that they can they can make that they can get there.

Any other public comment? Sorry, not public com. Uh, roll call. Council [clears throat] members Terresa Bonner, yes. Andrew Kiy, yes. Glendon, yes. Randy Pittz, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Ferm, yes. All right. Uh, bills and vouchers. Roger. I make a motion to pay bills and vouchers in the amount of 1,112,699.74.

Second discussion. Roll call. Council members. Theresa Bonner, yes. Andrew Ki, yes. Glenzene, yes. Randy Pittz, yes. Gina Stravik, yes. Roger Verm, yes. Mr. Ki, I will entertain a motion for adjournment. I have a motion