WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=HL8eriJiDoE

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: HL8eriJiDoE):
- 00:00:05: Meeting Agenda, Budget, Ordinances, and Victory Town Recognition
- 00:01:47: Public Comment Period for Agenda Items Begins
- 00:01:47: No Public Comments; Budget Presentation Introduction
- 00:02:15: Budget Presentation: Process, Environment, and Lower Taxes
- 00:04:39: Revenue Overview: Total Budget and Surplus Usage
- 00:06:50: Tax Levy Cap and Spending Increase Details
- 00:07:57: Council Inquiries: Waiver Process for Exceeding Cap
- 00:08:31: Spending Breakdown, Appropriations Cap, and Tax Rate History
- 00:12:04: Tax Dollar Allocation and Impact on Average Homeowner
- 00:14:43: Budget Praised, Fund Balance, and Out-of-Control Increases
- 00:15:29: Grant Successes, Outside-the-Box Thinking, and Finance Team Thanks
- 00:16:49: Revenue Increases, Preparation, and Budget Newsletter Promotion
- 00:18:29: Minutes Approval: April 9th Meeting and Roll Call
- 00:19:26: Ordinance 26-11: Public Hearing and Second Reading
- 00:20:02: No Public Comments; Ordinance 26-11 Approval
- 00:20:37: Introduction of Capital Ordinance 26-12: Part Two
- 00:21:10: Reading and Approval: Capital Ordinance 26-12
- 00:22:14: Open Space Grant Resolutions: Preswood Park Tennis Courts
- 00:22:32: Resolution 128: Submit Open Space Grant Application
- 00:23:05: Local Budget Resolutions: Authorize Title and Public Hearing
- 00:23:56: Public Comment on Budget and Resolution to Continue Hearing
- 00:24:46: Consent Agenda: Victory Town Resolution Details and Benefits
- 00:26:40: Consent Agenda Approval: Vote and Roll Call
- 00:26:58: Council Reports: Water, Sewer, Fields, Sidewalk Completion
- 00:29:40: PPW Committee Meet and Crestwood Lake Alterations Update
- 00:30:24: Ongoing Field Maintenance and Crestwood Lake Dates
- 00:32:36: Budget Newsletter Thanks and Ordinance Point
- 00:33:10: Budget and Reminder of Filing
- 00:34:30: Report on the Meeting AVAP Lease and The Big Three
- 00:37:11: Marvin Stepping Up and Congratulation to Jamie Hogartner
- 00:39:24: Open to Public for any Other Items
- 00:39:24: Tennis Court Discussion and Emergency Road Repairs Authority
- 00:40:33: Depressed Asphalt and Report Question
- 00:41:44: Thank You and New Business Regarding Wine Park
- 00:43:47: New Crosswalk Plates Constructed by the County
- 00:47:48: Motion to Go Into Close Session


Part: 1

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Vincy and Bliss regarding um our budget, our 2026 municipal budget that we've worked so far about. Um we have the approval of minutes. We have second hearing for ordinance 26-11

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and that is for fun um ordinance to exceed the municipal budget uh at bank that we do every year. Then we have introduction of ordinances which is part two of our capital. We split it up because we had some things that we had to get done earlier in the year. So this

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is part two of our of our capital and we have resolutions um the application for the Bergen County Open Space Grant we're applying for and that is sort of part two of the testports. Um, and

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let's see. Then we have uh oh, the budget. So, we're going to read the budget today by title and then we're going to actually technically adopt it at the next meeting. The consent agenda, we have um our victory town resolution. So, as part of the 250 year anniversary,

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we'll read that and that's going to be naming Allenale as a victory town because it was part of the Washington Rashamboo uh route during the Civil War. >> Revolutionary War. Thank you. >> Okay. So, thank you. So, and then we

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also were are going to be um purchasing uh a truck purchasing the lot. All right. So, with that, I'd like to open the meeting up to the public on any uh agenda items.

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Not seeing anybody. Um do we want to do the presentation now? That sound good? All right, let's have it. Hello. >> Thank you. Pleas to be here. Uh just a a brief uh summary of your budget and

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really the budget process. So what happened at last month's meeting? You introduced your budget. So that basically sets the whole budget process in motion. Uh now tonight you'll have your public hearing on the budget with this presentation and at the next meeting you'll formally adopt the budget. Okay. Normally you would adopt at the same night as the hearing but uh

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unfortunately you need the state approval to adopt the budget behind all the budgets this year. So we haven't received that we uh see that being approved shortly. So it should not be completed for

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uh globally on the budget filling in any details. It's a really great budget. If you I'm sure you read the paper, you see what's going on out there. It's a really difficult environment for really all developments to shift into a lot of school districts and municipalities and

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uh almost all of the budgets we see are are having difficulty meeting the caps. Spending coming out of the tax levy cap uh having difficulty meeting those caps and also once they meet the caps there's just a significant increase in the

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taxes. Uh and it's pretty much the same story everywhere. Uh it's really due to health insurance, right? Everybody's seeing around anywhere from a 30 to a 35% increase in health insurance. Uh that being one of the biggest uh you know line items in municipal budgets, it's really becoming difficult to you

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know manage the taxes to go relatively small level with that kind of increase. Uh that being said, you were able to uh take that about a 30 some odd percent increase in your health benefits and you were actually able to uh lower the taxes that you're going to collect during 2026

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and 2025 purely from your municipal budget. Okay? So really if you look dollar for dollar from one year to the next, you're actually uh leving about $9,500 less than you did in 2025. Uh and that's really an extraordinary feat to it in this in this environment to see that 30% increase in health benefits and

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still be able to manage that uh that tax le is really a fantastic job. Um it's really a perfect storm this year with your health insurance. You had the two storms that came in in January, February. So really these expenses are you know hopefully temporary and one time in nature but may you know you were

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able to uh to kind of keep those taxes really at a lower level. Um, so if you want to go through, we have the presentation that that we handed out. Um, so really starting on page two, that gives you we start on the revenue side to show you where your where your revenues are coming from in

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the budget. So if you see on the bottom, you'll see the total your total budget is around 18.5 million. That's up from 17.4 million. So the total budget is up $5 million from last year. Um, and really like I said, the two drivers of that just from a from a spending standpoint was your earn your health

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insurance and your schools. How you were able to mitigate that is really the the first line there. Surplus anticipated $900,000 need. So, uh, the burrow was in a very healthy position financially from a surplus standpoint. Um, so you're able to use a little bit more than you had in

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the past to offset those increases instead. That being said, even though you're using more, you're still leaving yourself with a very healthy surplus. And the reason that is is because from last year to this year, you increased your surplus from where you had the

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previous year. Basically, what that means is as your revenues came in, came in higher than what you anticipated. You didn't spend up to the full amount of your budget. So that money goes back into the surplus. So when you kind of shake everything out, you ended up at a higher level of surplus at the end of 25 than you did in 23. So that allows you when you move into next year to use a

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little bit more surplus, still maintaining a relatively same level that you had in last year, but to offset those costs that that increased on the spendings. Um really all your other revenues were were pretty level. You have some uh an increase in municipal revenue that was really uh the driver of

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your interest uh you know bank interest uh UCCC fees they were increased from last year. Uh and that kind of offset the next line down there was a decrease of 267 that was uh just some litigation settlements that came in one year versus the next. It was a little less than last year but again that was offset with some

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other revenues. So all your revenues are you know from a total standpoint really pretty equal from the previous year just using local sustain. On the next page page three it just shows you where the uh just a graph format where chart format where the uh

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money is coming from. So as you can see about 65% of the total revenues are coming from taxes and that's certainly not uncommon in comparison to municipal government whereas you know state and local revenue is really counter and you can see the surplus you're using

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about 12% of total budget is funded by surplus again certainly not uncommon in in New Jersey about 10 to 20% surplus. Now page four, another very positive. Um, this is, uh, kind of mentioned earlier, you have two caps that you deal with. Uh, this is the tax levy cap. So,

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you're limited on how much you can actually increase taxes every year. And obviously, like I said, you actually decreased taxes from previous years. So, you had no problems with the cap. Uh, you're about a million dollars under the state mandated cap. Uh, so you would actually be able to raise your taxes another million dollars and still be

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within the state mandated cap. Obviously, take a huge increase in taxes. Uh and the good news there is that that million dollars does carry forward for two years. So uh you know when you're below what the state allows you to tax, you can actually bank that money that excess and use that if needed

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in the next two weeks. So when you go to tax significant problem and you're can't meet the tax cap, you actually have money from the previous year. >> What what is the process? So so some of these other municipalities are struggling with healthcare etc. and they have to go over the cap. across the

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state they have to get approval or or is it just >> you really can't you have to you would have to apply a local finance and the state waiver so reset but uh that comes with a lot of your budget and you have to really why you can't there's no other reason no other way to get that uh so

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there is a mechanism but again not best way to go about you have to like I said all the time explain why your how you got to this point and really they give you recommendations how to move forward

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but that's how they're not that one waiver really want I give you the waiver this year then they want to make sure you know why next year page five this now turns to the size of bud just shows you where your increase in spending. Um, and like I said, you

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can see in total again total budgets up about a billion dollars and you can really see that 600 about 660,000 directly from insurance that was about 29% increase. So that's that's really increase the rest of uh public safety

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public works publicly a little. So, so you have increase this year see that 20% increase that's not really a year since

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that's page six of the charge just deals The spending side is sure from standoint evenly distributed throughout obviously public safety uh public insurance I think if you look at in past years I

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mean the percentages say pretty similar every year so it's not like one year sales budget Um seven deals with the appropriations cap. So this is the second cap that you have to deal with spending side of your budget. Uh this

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one is a little bit tighter where you're still under the cap about $300,000 312,000 closer because what uh it's really this budget is split into two sections. It's your corporation within the academy and then you have another outside. So a lot of the bigger numbers fall outside the

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cab, your debt service, your capital groups, those all fall outside the cabinet. So this just deals with self. What they did do the state this year, they did allow you to take some of the health benefit outside the cap. So that really helps some of these meet this cap

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even though you know your your benefits might be going 30%. Your spending is only allowed to go up 4%. So they allow you anything over that 4% that take out the appropriation. So it still has to raise the taxes but still

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say ignore it but they anything over that's why that gap otherwise it's a 30% increase just gives you a history of year-over-year on the tax rate. Okay, so you can see uh from your municipal standpoint, we'll see that the tax rate

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actually increased from the previous year. So the municipal portion of it, your tax rate is about uh 33 cents which is 48 cents from last year. So that's the actual tax rate. Those are estimates.

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Those final goal tax page n just shows you uh you know the percentage of the tax dollars where they go to sand bill. So with the total tax bill we see the municipal portion of 25 cents per dollar school around 64 cents

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and bonuses obvious last page really shows you the uh the impact. Uh so when you look at the decrease on the average holding um this year you're at about $38 on the county

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piece of that means is even though you're collecting less tax as you do these reassessments and the assessed value changes to the town the average home changes. So if we calculate this average it's always based on what the average value. So the average home in 2026 is

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calculated about 9991,000 versus 2025 which is 882. So even though you see a decrease in the actual money you're collecting, it's the shift assessed value because that value goes up scale. If that if the homeowner is actually on the average, if your house is worth 991 this year and it was

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worth82 last year, you're going to see a $38. Your value say the same as the previous year see that's kind of how shapes it. Yeah. So this year our our collective um valuations went up almost 10%. In the

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past years there have been about 5%. >> Um so that's I mean that's a really really big jump and what we try to tell people that these valuations are revenue but not really they're not technically mean your taxes are going to be raised. And if you look at the history, um 60%

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of the homes either have a zero decrease or or a zero increase as or a decrease or an increase less than $100. So, um I think that's just really important to point out. And then this $38, it's not like everybody's going to get it's not

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it's not a blanket $38 per household. Some will get none, some might get a little bit more. Um so I think that's important to point out as well depending on how the evaluation. >> Yeah. And and what Right. So the average was 10 but if yours was to say 15 then

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>> yeah rules don't still say if my assess if your assess value didn't change your individual assess value will change you'll pay less in tax this year. Your assess value goes up by more than the average you're going to pay more. If you stay right on the average you're going to be soon. That's great for people to

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understand the lower budget. Who's, you know, who's spending it versus, >> you know, all in all just, you know, you know, from what we're seeing out there, this is a really a really great budget. Uh, you guys are in a great place as far as this budget and I think, you know, from a fund balance standpoint, you

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have, you know, we help the financial position moving forward. So, we were able to mitigate these increases this year. I still think, you know, you didn't do anything that's going to really negatively impact in future years. So if there happens to be increase in the next year, your fund balance is still in a good position to hopefully those any future increases.

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>> And the the interesting part too is all of these increases are completely out of our control. Healthcare, the sewer, you have to have sewer obviously. >> Um so and the library state which is also a mandated polic. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean I think we're getting

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broken out between the cost you control hall versus self pay and you know your increase of error probably >> yes definations >> so I think um you know part of it too we always say that we go for out for every single brand that's out there and we do and you know some of the grants not

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necessarily this year but we had a big brand I think it was 100 something for the concession stand. We had 750 the year before for the um community center and of course Violia wipes out our debt. So we don't have all this debt service now that we we could potentially have.

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So um that's kind of a big part of it. And then we try to think outside the box all the time. Cell Tower is a perfect example of that that we're getting revenue from that. >> Um so um all that just makes a difference. It's all collectively makes a big difference. So, I just really want to thank the finance team, especially

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Allison, for, you know, the work that we did with this and going back and forth and trying to figure it out and make the least impact for our residents as we could because we know everybody's kind of hurting right now with cost of going up. So, we have the surplus so we're able to use it and that's what

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>> um no all in all I think it was just it's a good budget. We are in a good place. You know, the health benefits, we did what we could do to save money where we could. It definitely did not take a huge impact. The surplus was definitely a savings to help offset that. The

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increases in the cell tower revenues, even though we implemented that last year, it still increased this year. We did have an increase in a couple of pilots, which was, I want to say, at least $100,000 on one of them, which that also helped on the revenue side offset the taxes. Um, yeah. So overall,

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I think we're in a good financial position. Um, didn't cut ourselves short anywhere. Didn't have to really play any tricks to stay within any caps. And yeah, so thank you. >> And you know, speaking of the healthcare, too, we knew ahead of time that healthcare. We knew last year we

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had heard rumors and I actually met with um Congressman Gottheimr to get some idea of what percentage he thought was going to go up and he just said definitely put some extra money away. So, we were prepared for it. Um, because it kind of blows my mind a little bit even all the schools what they're closing down and all because they

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because can't just be the one thing. So, maybe that was what put them over the edge, but they couldn't have been financially stable. >> Um, and also I just want to bring your attention to our handydandy budget newsletter >> that we worked so hard on. Um, and we revamped it a lot from uh last year

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based on feedback from the residents and trying to make it as, you know, as simple as possible for for everybody. So, these went out to everybody um in the burrow and we have actually popped here for anybody in the audience if you'd like. >> Um

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>> yeah. >> All right. Well, thank you. Thank you very much. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You don't have to stay participate. >> All righty. So, uh next I we have uh

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minutes. I'd like to approve minutes. April 9th. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second, please. >> Roll call. >> Councilman Okonnell. >> Abstain. >> Councilman Otul.

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>> Councilman Councilwoman Homeman. >> Yes. >> Councilman Deluisio. >> Abstain. Councilman Yakarino. >> Yes. Next we have public hearing and second reading on ordinance 26-11.

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>> The following ordinance published herewith was first read by title only on March 26, 2026 and posted on the bulletin board of the lobby of the municipal building and burough website. Ordinance 26-11, calendar year 2026, ordinance to exceed

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the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a CAT bank NJSA4A 4-44.14. >> I'd like to um open the meeting up to the public for any comments on ordinance 2611 for the public hearing.

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Not seeing anybody. Do I have a motion to approve ordinance 2611? So home second, please. Second. >> Councilman Okonnell. >> Yes. >> Councilman Otul. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Hullman. >> Yes.

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>> Councilman Delisio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Yakarino. >> Yes. >> Great. >> Next. Introduction of ordinance 26-12. This is our capital ordinance that we have. And as I mentioned before, it's a

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part two. So, we have um we have to replace the vehicle fueling station at the DPW. We're purchasing a leaf vacuum. We have um money in here for the grant for the tennis courts and some sidewalk

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and defensive town just to name a few of them. Do I have um a motion to approve ordinance 26-12? >> I have to read it first. And can you please read it? >> Yes. Ordinance 26-12, capital ordinance

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of the burrow of Allenale in the county of Bergen, New Jersey, authorizing various public improvements and acquisitions in, by, and for the burrow. Appropriating therefore the sum of $1,500 and providing that such sum so appropriated shall be raised from the

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burrow's capital improvement fund and from a state grant. >> A motion. Second, please commend. Councilman Okonnell, >> yes. >> Councilman Otul, >> yes.

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>> Councilwoman Hullman, >> yes. >> Councilman Delisio, >> yes. >> Councilman Yakarino, >> yes. >> Okay, motion passed. Ordinance 2612 has been introduced upon first reading and will be posted on the

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burough website on April 24th, 2026 and will be taken up for further consideration and final passage at the meeting of the mayor and council on May 7th, 2026 at 7 p.m. or soon thereafter. >> Okay. So, next we have two resolutions

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regarding the open space grant for uh 2026 Bergen County open space for Preswood Park improvements tennis court rehabilitation. Is there any um comments public comments on this application? Not seeing anybody. Next, we have resolution 128 which which is a

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resolution authorizing um us to submit this grant. Do I have a motion? >> Yes. Homing. And I just want to thank you for all the work and service that you put forward to get us these grants

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to. >> Thank you. >> Yes. And thank you. >> Second, please. >> Councilman Okonnell, >> yes. >> Councilman Otul, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Hman, >> yes. >> Councilman Deluisio, >> yes.

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>> Councilman Yakarino, >> yes. Our next two resolutions are regarding the uh local budget which we explained earlier. Resolution 26129 is the authorization for the municipal budget to be uh read and then we have

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public comment and then 26-130 is a resolution to continue this public hearing at um the next meeting. So resolution 26-129 authorization to adopt by title only. Do I have a motion?

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So second, please. >> Second. >> Councilman Okonnell. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oul. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Hman. >> Yes. >> Councilman Deluisio. >> Yes. >> Councilman Yakarino.

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>> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Is there any public comment on the adoption of the local municipal budget based on the presentation and everything you just said? Okay. Next we have resolution 26-130.

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A resolution just to continue this public hearing um to the to the next meeting. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second, please. >> Councilman Okonnell, >> yes. >> Councilman Otul, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Homeman, >> yes.

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>> Councilman Deluisio, >> yes. >> Councilman Yakarino, >> yes. All right. So, next we have the consent agenda. But before we approve it, I just want to read real quickly the resolution of the bureau authorizing participation in the Washington Rashambo revolutionary

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route uh and considering us as a victory town. Whereas the Washington Rash shamboo revelate revolutionary route, it's called W3R is a 600mile natural historic trail designated by Congress to commemorate the historic 1781 march of

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the American and French Allied armies to the siege of Yorktown. And whereas the burrow of Allenale served as a vital corridor for the Continental Army's right column during this campaign, witnessing the movement of troops and supplies that were essential in achieving America's independence. And

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whereas the historic John House stands as a local landmark of the revolutionary era, representing Allenale's significant contributions to the patriot cause. And whereas the national Washington rashu revolutionary route association has established the victory town program to

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recognize municipalities that provided passage hospitality or support to the allied armies. Noa would absolutely do that. We would be very special to them coming to our town. And whereas the participation in this victory towns program would provide the bureau of national recognition,

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educational resources, and heritage tourism opportunities as part of the upcoming America 250 semiquentennial celebrations. And whereas the mayor and council desire formally acknowledge Allenell's historical significance and

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join this national network of historic communities. And I'd like to thank Councilwoman Coleman to for bringing this to our attention at one of the local Foul House meetings. And I understand this opens us up actually to more potential grants for Yeah.

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>> Do thank you for your work. I'm actually getting it for the worker. So thank you. >> My pleasure. >> All right. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? So second, please.

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Moment. Hman. >> Thank you. Councilman Okonnell. >> Yes. >> Councilman Oul. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Hullman. >> Yes. >> Councilman Deloisio. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Councilman Yakarino.

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>> I'll abstain. Uh 26135. Yes. On the balance, please. >> Okay. fast. So, first of all, thank you is water and sewer.

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I don't process I think and then as far as sewer also dizzy challenges. using all those contacts. Something wrong with Thank you very much. And also,

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>> thank you, Mayor. PPW committee meet put in conversations with superintendent. Our fields have been completed. All the work on the fields have been completed. Crestwood Frackly John for alterations

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of Crestwood Lake. I do have some happy news. Uh the beginning of this month, the sidewalk on West Maple is finally completed. So kids don't have to walk on the street. >> Take a picture of that one. That's my >> already gotten several texts from residents on West Maple. They're really happy. >> That's great.

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>> Thank God I got to see before I'm dead. That's great. And then uh >> that's a positive. >> Shouldn't look like I was going to see it. So, you know, it finally came to portion. So, thank you. >> Uh Cres Crescent Avenue, Walter, you had mentioned to maybe build a meeting about

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a depressed asphalt situation. I did reach out to our superintendent for the meeting. He did reach out to Molia. So, they are going to investigate and repair that. Thank you very much.

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Well, let's see. Councilman Yakarino. >> Yes, Mayor. Thank you. Um, I'll echo some of Councilman Daloio's sentiments regarding the fields in year two of our ongoing field maintenance pledge, if you will, to the community and the Allenale Recreation Commission. Uh, the fields do

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really look in tip-top shape and I think over the last year or two certainly um, as folks are familiar with in years past. So, we're really happy with that and the feedback from ARC um has been very positive and as such you, myself, the chief and Andy attended the ARC

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meeting this past Tuesday. Uh very productive meeting. Again, the commentary was very positive. Uh discuss some ongoing initiatives, uh the field box sheds that we'll be installing up in Field 6, potential locations for the new batting cages, and among other things, and also looking forward to opening day,

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which will be on Saturday, May 9th. Uh we also had a facilities meeting earlier this week uh where we discussed Crestwood Lake dates as far as opening closing uh the band nights which we previously discussed um as well as the new concession air. So we'll be reaching out to them as they've already done with

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us uh making sure that we're ready to go. We'll be doing a pre-insspection if you will of the concession stand as uh before the new vendor gets in. Um also just kind of set a baseline as far as um if anything needs to be cleaned up and things of that nature. Uh we'll leave it

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there for now. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, Girl Scouts are almost done with their birdhouses, so we'll be hanging them up hopefully in the near future. And that's about all I have. Thank you, Mayor. >> Um, administrative reports,

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Miss Alman. Um, I'd just like to thank Mayor Wilzinski and the finance committee for another successful budget with a near flat increase to both the tax rate and tax levy. Uh, all year we work very diligently to prepare for the budget and

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the effort shows when it comes time to finalize the numbers. The process is very smooth and efficient and I couldn't do what I do without such a great team. Um, I also hope that everybody had the opportunity to review our handydandy budget newsletter and found it helpful.

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If you haven't yet, it is available on our website. So, by all means, I suggest everybody take a look at it. In regards to the ordinance that's being introduced tonight, I would just like to point out that we were fortunate enough that we will not be increasing our debt with the

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ordinance and it's either being fully funded by grants or with money that we've already raised in the past. And just a reminder, second quarter taxes are due by May 1st with a grace period through May 11th. And additionally, Crestwood Lake passes will go on sale

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beginning May 5th. And that's it. >> And our uh clerk >> I was going to say Crestwood Lake >> I was going to say Crestwood Lake registration opens May 4th. And I'd like to remind all the local government

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officers who have not filed their disclosure to do so by the 30th. >> You haven't. >> Sorry, Matt. >> Stuck your head in shame. >> I sent out a reminder today and I say next year it says the handy dandy budget

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newsletter on the budget newsletter. We should make it official. Allenale's handy dandy budget newsletter. W >> I think a lot of the things that I've been involved in have been referenced council reports but I think you should

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mention that while reports are synopsis of things going on really increase to the amount of time that members of the governing body spend on these items from the AVAP lease where a special meeting with council and council delawio to

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speak the day back and to go over the lease and uh and try to reach finality on that uh that's kind of above and beyond uh uh respect to the meetings uh um the uh public safety committee that was mentioned that the interview process took place um but that is again

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significant number of interview meetings then followed by meetings of the entire governor body um so I I think that while public synopsis of these events uh it really doesn't do justice the amount of time and then of course uh on I'll call

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it the the big three from my vantage point uh affordable housing may be there the amount of time that you've been spend ing terms of getting the remnants of the plan finalized. And I guess the good news there is that our affordable housing attorney today sent the filing order signed by uh the fair share

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housing council to the court. Uh it's merely waiting the judge's signature something was filed with the clerk's office. So hopefully that will be the the last step in that process. But again, a lot of loose ends just to get that done. There's a lot of time there that you spend on that particular um

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council mentioned the uh the singular issue that you could saddle river um it's not a singular issue which is a it's a multi-headed uh I don't want to say monster but it's a it's a multi-headed it's a multi-headed issue um that that takes a lot of time uh working with the bur engineer going over

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schematics uh today trying to solve an east problem uh no no small small item no small expenditures of time um that you know I dare say it's not an unusual thing for us to start the day with a 7:00 phone conference where we both meet

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and uh that may be one of the two or three that may happen during the course of the day and then of course the water till those three terms of you know meeting us on that in order to articulate a physician uh it's

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not just say something it's it's making sure that there are bullets in the back when you fire it and certainly uh it's taken a lot of time by uh by council build by advisory there putting together a plan and you know

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unfortunately for us we're involved in a uh a very lengthy and complicated process u which I I think will extend for some period of time but it certainly has taken a lot of work so apart venturing participation in these items I think it just bears again accentuating

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that uh this is a lot of time above and beyond by members and stuff. Thank you very much for joining us. >> And I'll just give Marvin real quickly. First off, daddy, I just want to say thank you for stepping up. Um, our portraits um and had a family emergency and our prayers are with her. So, we

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really appreciate you being at St. Clair and stay with us today. >> Um, congratulations to Jamie Hogartner. So, we look forward to um kicking off uh the next uh week or so um with the finalization of that process. Um, I was

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working with the parade committee again and actually out talking to all the merchants. We're really trying to promote a fun parade for the event on September 19th. The bureau is going to be having a parade that is going to lead into the holiday observer 250 year event

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which is going to have lots of vendors, but they're going to have reenactments. There's going to be a horse and carriage. There's going to be music and food. So, it's certain to be like one of the most savvy. Um, we have we talked about the fields, how great they look, but I just wanted to also mention we've received another

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grant that we uh put in for $45,000 for the new batting pages that we'll be putting in maybe at the end of this year. Um, we had a I had a nice day with um Al resident and brown student Emily Tesla. actually started at a 7:30 a.m. mayor's

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meeting and she was happy to attend um with a very interesting speaker uh from the Stevens Institute talking about how they were trying to put sensors somehow in the Brooks to to be able to um anticipate when there was going to be a big flood. So, it was actually it was

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actually a very interesting uh speaker. And then we went to the chamber, we went to Burough Hall, she did an interview. So, thank you for everybody for keeping her busy at Burough Hall. So, it's a great tag. And lastly, um proceeding with another grant. Uh been working on it pretty much the entire week, uh

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regarding um an acquisition. Uh so we're not really ready to talk to the public yet about that, but we will keep everybody informed. And with that, does anybody have any um business or old business? All right. I would like to open up the

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meeting to the public for any items. I have the ability find out specifically how they're going to do the tennis court. >> So we are actually having our first meeting on Friday. This Friday we have

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it coming up. We have a first meeting coming up where we're going to look at the whole space. So, we have some engineering problems there that we are going to have to deal with. There's a lot of flooding. So, we have to um examine that first and then we're trying to look at it as a whole instead of um

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necessarily pitching holding you know the new ports in the the footprint that we have now at the fence. We're going to pretend like there's nothing there and then see does it work better at a different angle. But a lot of it does have to do with the environmental and the engineering report. So when we get to that love point where we have a

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conceptual drawing, we'll certainly let you know. >> You're welcome. And number two, you mentioned regarding the gift we have on person over here. Do we have any

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authority in determining all the work that's been done or will be done? Uh when it comes to emergency repairs, absolutely. I mean, in this particular case that you brought to our attention, I reached out to superintendent. He reached out to the I

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mean they are responsible to repair the road when they open it. If something like that happens, we get a sink, oh, we had it's a frozen dirt, whatever the case was, they are they are responsible to come back and actually make it right. But yes, >> yeah, but do we have do we have any say

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in that matter as far as how they do their work? >> If they consider what they did as being quality work from the jar, >> well, typically that that kind of argument really doesn't happen. they if it's if it's sunk, it's salt and it's

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pretty evident that they need to fix it. >> And I don't I don't say I think that they are certainly trying to repair and find as best as they can. Sometimes when these emergencies occur, there's been a

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tremendous amount of water discharged and so things can in the essence of getting the roads open. I'm sure it's it's it can be challenging and they are held to repair. So I think that's you know I would say they're not trying to

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get away with you know not >> does Andy have any say in the matter? >> I think he's >> I mean he doesn't have a say with how they're doing the work but he absolutely has a say when they're done if it's sunk

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depressed or if it's a if it's a hazard when they leave it. Yes. He can tell >> essentially he has many times. >> There's been so many repair. It's just a matter and and to what council member Holman said, it's not that isn't trying to address those. I think there's just been so many. They're trying to keep

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everything active and going and and as we bring it to their attention, they come back and reevaluate. So, it's just a matter it's like a hit, >> but they've been pretty good about trying to do what's right. >> I hope so. Third question. is gentleman

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who daves report. Who is he? >> He's an um accountant from um our our accounting agency. >> Auditor employee? >> No. Well, we uh he's a vendor. He's not an employee. He's a vendor. >> They're auditors.

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>> Auditors. >> So, it's a professional service that they do. >> We have to do a lot of reporting to the state and stuff. So, we have an auditor come in and we work with them and make sure that file was in the state. So, we've had this company, I think, for about 10 years now. >> Yeah. >> They make sure we don't have any

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potholes. >> In our budget, >> financial budget. >> Yes. >> Thank you also for putting up with >> ah you're the best. Thank you. Anybody else from the public?

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My name is I live at 62 Chestnut Street. I want to do you mind your financial >> don't forget to take a new >> Can you speak into the microphone please? Thank you. Um, I think you want to probably focus

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on this where the fact that I want to find a wine park. Chestnut Street. There are two new plates

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constructed by the county that faced one another on Frank the turnpike. However, they are not linked with the painted horse walk children walking at times. Sometimes they're bikes walkers.

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Maybe you're welcome to children. A lot of people come and talk about other parts of Alingale joggers. Adults station themselves at this place of course the place is supposed to be safe area to be able to make it in one

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part of the street. County was painting Allenville streets last year if mistaken. This was the only section not painted because someone said it's not a bus stop. What a stupid reason to not safely cross

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when the county the county set up this the walks to make sure that they connect. So the problem there are and also there is not a crosswalk south of Orchid Street. Not one.

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I'm only asking for only asking. There are 7 to 11 crosswalks north of Orchard Street. Maybe one bus stop. Maybe there have been I think close to

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an accident. there was an accident in November at that intersection. Also, the white safe walk area. Most I'm sure you if you've been gone for a walk, you try to stay within that white area where you're able to walk on Chestnut

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Street. It stops well before that white line stops well before Arow Court. So before Earl Court all the way up to Franklin turnpike where the people make the right hand turn to come off Franklin

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turnbite they could theoretically in theory they could pick someone that's walking around that corner. This a these paintings are and it's all it is is pain is to help not only the

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the pedestrian but the drivers to avoid any any accident as a taxpayer over the years. $587,000 should not be the voice that brings this safety issue to you.

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This is part of the town and this is a part of town that should be be treated equally to other parts of the town. only paint is needed. That's all it is. Not asking for any other kind of improvement. And I think that

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if if you go over into that area and if you just park yourself at that report uh section, you'll see how important it is. But more than anything is that the county has already established those.

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There are no other there are no other adaptive types that are not connected. Thank you very much. I hope that we take action. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else to speak? Not seeing

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anybody. All in favor? >> I'm sorry. Sorry. I forgot we're having a close session. So motion to go into um close session. Move. Second, please. I guess we can say for the record that when the council was out of close

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session to be for the purpose of Yes. Correct. >> All right. I'm sorry, Walt. We have to ask you to leave because we are in close session. >> I'll do the roll call. Councilman Okonnell. >> Yes. >> Councilman Otul

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>> here. >> Or the vote for the close session. >> Okay. Councilwoman Hman. >> Yes. Councilman Delisio, >> yes. >> Councilman Yakarino, >> yes.