Good evening everybody. >> Hello. Welcome to the mayor and council meeting. It is September 18th, 2025, 7 p.m. Linda, will you please call the meeting to order and read the open public meetings act. In compliance with
the open public meetings act, the notice requirements have been satisfied. The meeting dates for the year are confirmed at the annual meeting are posted on the public bulletin board in the municipal building and on the burough website published in the record within the first 10 days of the new year and copies are sent to the Ridgewood news and star
ledger. >> Notice notice of this meeting >> by the September 16, 2025 sunshine notice was sent to the record the Rididgewood News and Star Ledger and has been posted on the public bulletin board in the municipal building and burrow website. Councilman Yakarino
>> here. >> Councilman Oul >> here. >> Councilwoman Homeman here. Councilwoman Luis Oolo. >> Councilman Delisio >> here. >> Councilman Okonnell >> here. >> Mayor Winski >> here. Everybody please rise for the
>> flagg indivisible with liberty and justice for all righty. So, our first order of business is a proclamation. So, we're having a little fun tonight and we are going to have a proclamation
honoring um in a bird as Allenale's bird and it's the red shouldered hawk. So, honoring the red shouldered hawk as the burrow's official honorary bird. We love that. Whereas the Burough Bound
values its natural environment, including the Celery Farm Nature Preserve, and recognizes the importance of native wildlife in enhancing ecological education and conservation awareness. And whereas the red shouldered hawk, Buto Latitus,
is one of the most beautiful and striking hawks known for its distinctive reddish coloring and soaring flight. Whereas the red shouldered hawk is an ecologically important bird of prey
native to New Jersey, it plays a vital role in local ecosystems and is considered an endangered when nesting. And whereas these majestic raptors are regular presence are regular presence at the Surrey Farm, Aladdale's treasured
nature preserve where they can often be seen hunting and calling from trees. And whereas these hawks can also be heard all over town, captivating both seasoned bird burgers and casual visitors.
And whereas these hawks live in Allenale year round and have successfully nested in many locations in town for more than two decades, including this year. And whereas recognizing the red shouldered hawk as Allenell's official honorary
bird would raise public awareness about the importance of wildlife habitat preservation the burough's commitment to environmental stewardship. Now therefore be resolved that I, Amazinski, mayor of Allenell, as well as the
council of the burrow of Allenale, hereby designate the red shouldered hulk but lenatus as the honorary bird of the burrow of Allenale. >> Y >> in recognition of it significance, symbolic beauty and
frequent present in the Allenale Celery Natural Preserve. [Music] And we also have another picture that we framed that we're going to hang up at Bar Hall with our proclamation. >> Take a picture with us of the
>> Yeah. share with everybody. >> All right. Let's go. Where's this fit? >> All right. One. I'm gonna wait. >> Excellent. >> All right. Now I get my photo.
>> Hold on. Oh, this is really good. Wait. Yay. Smile. Yay. Awesome. >> Did you get it? You can see the fan. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
>> Congratulations. like today. You're okay. can send it to you. >> Oh, absolutely. >> You want somebody want to take a picture of So, I I don't know if everybody knows. Did everybody look at the carved bird before you leave? Styles Thomas
carved that bird. I didn't know if you knew that. >> I want to steal it, but they don't they won't let me. It's hers. >> It's actually >> Yes. Please send that. I'll send that. >> Yeah. Do
>> All right, everybody. Next, we have approval of minutes August 14th as September 24th. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second, please. >> Second. >> Councilman Yakarino, >> yes. >> Councilman Otul, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Hman, >> yes.
>> Councilman Deoysio, >> uh, abstain on September 4th. >> Councilman Okonnell, >> abstain on August 14th. Yes. on September 4th. >> All righty. Thank you. We have a light agenda today. We just have our consent
agenda and I'll just uh quickly go through this. Our consent agenda matters that are considered routine and we enact in one motion. But I like to highlight a few. We are um actually just double checking this first one. Me back authorizing cancellation of uh balancing
of ania contract. This was something that um had to do with some contamination down at the DPW. We uh have a tax appeal. We also um are putting in for a grant to actually do renovation on the sidewalks around Memorial Park. We're going to put new
pavers, new beautiful pavers around there, but we uh we just need an extension for the grant. So, this is just approving that. We're also approing mutual aid agreement uh for a water emergency standby. This was initiated by our fire department. So
they can um they can be standby for other people if there's water emergencies. Uh this I believe was brought up because of all the issues that they had in um in Patterson which they actually are still experiencing >> with the water >> the the water um pipes. so that people
know the issues they had with their water supply. water supply because they had um massive uh pipe diver and we had um our our audit and so we are approving that this evening as well
as a few items that we needed to correct and we put together or I should say our CFO put together corrective action plan and I just want to thank Allison for her hard work on that and and our list of bills and that's pretty much it. So, I'd
like to open the meeting to the public. If anybody from the public would like to comment on any agenda items, please come up. >> You state your name. >> Walter Wigler 38 Hamilton.
This in general just say agenda. >> Agenda. Oh, is this the agenda? >> Yes, the agenda is on the first page. >> I'd like very much someone explain to me >> correct >> the ban mutual agreement with the with
the Patterson. >> So, um yeah, let me see if I could actually read it for you. So Patterson re recently um had some issues with their water
pressure because they had a water main break. And so um Allenale recognized the importance of mutual aid agreements. So, we wanted to make sure that we just had a resolution that puts in place that we are able to do standby for water
emergencies for it doesn't really matter actually what town, but it started because of the issues that they had in other towns. So, it's um just recognizing the importance of mutual aid um ensuring health and safety for the welfare of residents and neighboring
communities. So, meaning that we can all interchange like if some community by us has a water mane break and they can't you their use their um fire hydrants that it's the ability to bring water. Right. >> Exactly. For any fire emergencies.
>> Yeah. >> And there's a rate that they reimburse us. There's a chargeable rate on there. >> Don't thoroughly understand, but it's all right. We'll be back. >> Okay. Alrighty.
Anybody else in the public? Not seeing anybody. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> Second, please. >> Councilman Yakarino. >> Yes. >> Councilman Artulo. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Homeman. >> Yes. >> Councilman Delawio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Okonnell.
>> Yes. >> All right. Next, we have council reports. Uh, Councilman Yakarina. Sorry. >> Mayor. Uh, last night I attended the Allenale Recreation Excellent. commission meeting and it was a very engaging dialogue. Super. >> The meeting lasted two hours and many
different topics were covered. >> Excellent. >> So, I will leave my report at that and we look forward to meeting with them again in October. >> All righty. Councilman Ouo. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh short report this evening. The public safety committee has
targeted a date of uh October 6th to meet. uh with everything going on in September, we've just kind of pushed down the road a little bit, but it is uh important to remind everyone that the police department at this time of year, especially with school being in uh is
targeting their traffic enforcement and safety initiative, which is going to take into consideration things like uh targeted traffic enforcement for speeding, failing to yield to pedestrians, distracted driving, and especially ebike
>> e scooter and all those things. Um, and other than that, we have the Gary Latizia memorial blood drive next Thursday at the community center, uh, from 1 to 7. So, there is a significant blood shortage and we could use
everybody's veins. >> Don't forget the pint for the pint. >> That's correct. The AVG is offering a pint for a pint. A pint of beer or a glass of wine or soda for a pint of blood. >> Thursday the 25th.
>> Correct. >> Thank god it's not the other way around. Given a pint of blood for a beer. >> We cod. >> Yeah, it is. That's what it is. >> Abg for council woman homeman. >> Hi. Uh, so I'm going to say we really
don't have any water and sewer updates, which doesn't mean that we're um, you know, not active, but we, um, things are pretty much the way they've been. Um, and we'll provide an update at the next meeting. I do want to just um build
maybe on what Tyler said since he met with the recck committee to remind people that we have the ark run memorial run in memory of Sharon Moran. And um I'm hopeful people are looking forward to participating and um donating and
being a sponsor. That would be really amazing. And then I'm really looking forward to this Saturday, but I think Amy will talk more, >> Mayor Winski will talk more about that. Thank you very much. And this is so awesome about our bird.
>> Exactly. >> It's really fun. Councilman Delawia. >> Thank you, Mayor. So, DPW committee is actually meeting tomorrow, but uh just to keep everybody in the room aware of what's going on. We had the pleasure of
attending the 9/11 memorial ceremony last week. It's sad that we have to even have that, but uh unfortunately this is where we are, but it happened. And uh want to thank the DPW for the initial prep of the Red Barn and the memorial
area is set up to allow everybody to be able to sit and have a nice nice vigil and then also the takeown. Uh some of you may have noticed that the uh downtown area was restriped the other night. Uh looks looks really well. I actually drove through there about 10:00
at night and they were hard at work doing a good job. Our superintendent, Andy, was there with the police with his uh DPW truck and helping block traffic to make sure the guys were safe. Everything was working out well. Uh DPW people are still closing out the lake,
winterizing everything, uh getting fields maintained and keeping up with that as they normally do. And we've also begun our autumn decoration, the plantings downtown. and the wonderful corn stalks we've put up. No corn on
them, but stalks. >> That's good. >> So, I have more to report at our next meeting. Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you very much. Councilman Ouo, I'm sorry, O'Connell. >> I have nothing to report, Mayor. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, cler. >> Uh, thank you, mayor. Uh, Daddy from the clerk's office will have a table this
Saturday at the Allenale Festival Day. She will have leaf bags available for residents as well as voter registration applications, mail and ballot applications, recycling schedules. She's also doing a full mask decorating, glitter tattoos, uh, and decorate a
community full banner that will be finished at the community center openhouse event on October 24th. Also, ballots have been mailed out to voters with active vote by mail requests for the November 4th uh, general election. uh late. The last night to register to
vote is Tuesday, October 14th, uh for the general election. The clerk's office will be open until 9 p.m. for voter registration, as well as anything else you may need from the clerk's office. >> Thank you very much, Attorney G. >> So, it's always a breath of fresh air
coming here, so I appreciate it. I think last time I was here, we were talking about budgets and um one of the creative ways that uh Allenale keeps their taxes low is obviously with cell phone tower. So, we're working on um additional revenue sources. We've been hard at work. Hopefully get another bid to bring
in some additional monies to to Allenale and um the last go round we've got real real positive results and we hope several um folks are now in our tower that were not there before and we're going to continue that. So, um, with any luck, we'll get a bit out shortly and,
um, have some additional revenue for everyone. So, >> yes, I appreciate that that there's not a lot of lowlying fruit for revenue and that one was, uh, was really, um, well done. So, thank you for the work on that. Um, I will give my report. uh Fairshare Housing um spent about four
hours uh today working on uh with our team and just reading over all the documents we um have to uh put in as our um that's a better word for rebuttal uh our response >> respond to their objection
>> to uh their objection. Um I think I reported at our last meeting uh 400 municipalities all 400 uh did receive um a challenge and um we are going um and reviewing that very carefully and we want to submit that. So uh we were
working on that all day today. Um uh Allison and I also met with our insurance agent, our GIF insurance agent. We're always looking for ways to save money. So healthc care has been um on the rise. I think it was 24% increase last year and then on top of another 12
to 14 the year before anticipated this year is over 35%. So um there is um some opportunity potentially to save money actually without going to a private insurer. We did look into that as well. So uh we will reveal that once
we make some um final decisions. We do have all day this Saturday. Um, it's going to be a great day in Anndale that it's actually going to be a beautiful day as well. We're going to have them ribboned cutting for the mural. So, that's going to be really excited. All the kids in town who worked on it hopefully will be there. We invited them
all and some of the teachers. Um, we do have a booth as uh Linda Linda me mentioned. There's also going to be booth for the uh ARC 5K. We're about $9,000 from our goal. So, we could raise another 9,000 that will be matched
dollar for dollar. and um and that is uh named in memory of a wonderful Allenale uh soul as Sharon Moran. So uh tomorrow morning I'm going to have a department head meeting. This is a meeting um that I started when I first
became mayor. Uh once a month we come and have all the department heads come and just have a conversation about uh what's working, what could work better in every department so we can have some uh cross- silo collaboration and help each other out. and it's just uh just
one hour um once a month and it's uh turned out to be very successful. Uh we did have our beautiful 911 ceremony. Uh thank you to the DBW as Joe uh uh Delawisio, Councilman Delawisio mentioned, it did look beautiful as well as our downtown for Allenale day. Um I
had the opportunity uh before the evening to uh meet with uh Jerry Goodman's uh seventh and eighth grade classes. So they came, I think there was like six classes and uh we talked about what our memorial was, what it was all about. We reviewed the timeline and
actually a lot of them had stories. So um it was actually nice to to talk to the young kids and I got to be teacher for a day. So um I think that is it for my report. So let's see any um any new business,
any unfinished business? I'd like to open up uh the meeting to the public. Anybody from the public wish to speak on any matters? Walter Woodward 38 Hamilton. Uh yesterday I made the observation that uh
we've got the gas company >> in town. Excellent. >> Yes. Yes. Okay. >> Are on Crescent A and they were digging up the road. >> Okay. engine, right? Sorry. And I went over over there, was watching them,
asking what was going on, all that business, and they had a uh public relations guy there, which was fascinating. I as he answered all my most of my questions, >> right?
>> One of them that I still did not answer from him. Why is it necessary for the town or PSNG to dig up the road to replace the gas lines into the houses?
Can anybody enlighten me? What's are they is it necessary for them to do that all over the town? So wait, the gas lines they were replacing the lines in the street or they were replacing it into somebody's house >> into physically into the house.
>> Yeah, I I believe there was a there was a that there was a problem there a couple years ago, too. I believe it was a there was some type of a gas um leak in that corner. I'm I'm not sure why. Maybe they figure out it went to somebody's house, but I'm not exactly sure the details, but I don't think they would be doing it if they didn't have
to. So, I'm sure it was >> we're not aware that you're doing it to every person's. It's not that it's not a it's not a townwide initiative. So, maybe to that house there had been um a problem that
had been identified. >> Just trying to understand what's going on. >> We can see if we could find out for you. >> Well, I'll bo I'll bother them. >> Thanks, Walter.
Anybody else have any um comments? Not seeing anybody. Motion to adjurnn. >> All in favor? I >> Good night, everybody.