Heat. Heat. This meeting is being held in accordance with the provisions of the open public meetings act of the state of New Jersey. Notice of time and place of this meeting was published in the annual meeting calendar which was posted on the bulletin board by the city clerk. The
2026 meeting calendar was published in a legal advertisement in the Bergen record in December 2025. Notice of this meeting was posted in the public notice section of the Bayon municipal website on April 13, 2026. Additional notice of this meeting was
faxed to the Bergen Record, the Trenton Times, and the Star Ledger on April 13, 2026. >> We'll stand for the pledge of >> allegiance. I aliance 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, Mr. Fe, you want to do the uh roll call? >> Commissioner Nwiki is absent. Commissioner McDy >> present.
>> Commissioner Driscoll, >> present. >> Commissioner Hivac, >> present. Commissioner Lack >> present. >> Alternates Olon's absent and uh is absent, but we do have a quorum.
Councel David Razacheski >> and staff secretary Joe Ryan. We have a quorum. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Um we received the uh adoption of minutes from the previous meeting. Uh I mean we received the minutes of the previous
meeting. So, um we will we'll look them over and then we'll take a um motion to accept. >> I made them from watching the video of the meeting. Uh I was sick when the meeting took place last month, but thanks to the miracle of YouTube, I did
minutes. >> Yes, >> you did an excellent job. >> Yeah, we got the times in good. Very good. >> I make a motion to adopt the minutes. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I >> I >> All right. Motion. The minutes are adopted. All right. Um, we received a packet from Secretary Ryan here. Um,
Secretary Ryan, is there anything we need to go over with this? Yeah, I wanted to mention um there were a couple of um comments. There were basically no comment comments that were already handled. Um I distributed uh a
new set of documents tonight to the commissioners. There were a couple of uh requests for comment that are at the front of this packet. one uh concerns a uh proposal for 14 O'Brien Court. Um and
there's a statement there from the uh the attorneys representing the developer um that would be uh converting one family house to a two family house and providing off- streetet parking for the
property. Um so that's that's that item. There's a more complex proposal uh concerning uh 75-87 East 31st Street. Uh this proposal is for an eight-story building with 165
units, 188 parking spaces for vehicles. Uh I didn't include in the note there the number of bicycle spaces. Um and this uh proposed development would be constructed between 31st Street and 32nd
Street on the one hand and between Prospect Avenue and Route 440 on the other sides of it. Uh a small bit of it pokes out onto Prospect Avenue. Um the most significant um side of it faces
Route 440. Um, so that is before the planning board and the uh O'Brien Court one is before the zoning board of adjustment. So if
anyone has any comments uh or you have no comment, I'll pass on whatever the comment or no comment is to uh planning and zoning. >> So this is the um the one on 7587 East 31st. Basically, the East 31st is that
dead end street that goes down um toward 440, but it doesn't quite make it there because it's blocked off. Um so, it's going to be right on it's like across the street from the um the entrance to where like Dunkin Donuts is and and then um
so basically it's going to be right on I'm trying to picture this. It's right on 440, but it's going to be behind the um homes on Prospect. Is that correct? looking at the map here and looking. >> Yeah, because there's only there's only one brief little bit um of this property
that's on Prospect. It's otherwise behind Prospect >> uh and in front of Route 440 and then between 31st and 32nd. >> Yeah. Just looking here to see >> where in prospect would it be?
>> Eight story that 31st Street is going to be very busy. going to be there's all houses along Prospect. Well, okay. I mean, it's not historical, so >> can still make comments if they wish.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I know they have that there's a retaining wall, I think, there somewhere because there's that little the one right off 32nd Street. There's that little road that you drive in. There's like one house on the corner.
So, I guess it's going to be Just trying to look at that. That property is not really that big. This it's like the end of East 31st Street. It's right across the street from like the Dunkin Don where that warehouse is next to Dunkin Don where you drive in.
And there's that little house there. I guess the entr Since there's all buildings there, homes. >> Yeah. There's no map here, right on it. >> The I didn't provide everything that was
uh online. You did have the opportunity to view it online. >> Okay. I'll look at it. I mean I mean, you know, >> there's nothing historical, so we really can't object to it. >> That's up It's up to you. >> No, no. I mean, you know, it's >> people want to comment, they can
comment. comment. Yeah. Anyone? >> Yeah. They're not going to be very happy. They're not going to see the morning sun anymore. Um I just I'm just looking at I'm seeing how an eight-story building and that small lot, that's not a very big lot. I don't see how they're going
to be on prospect at all because there's a building every single home except for the corner on the other side. Unless they plan to make a driveway there, but I mean I can't I don't know. I guess I have to see it
out to see what they're going to be doing unless they're going to do something up here. I can't see that either. If the entrance is on 31st. All right. So what do we need to do? Just >> if anyone has com any >> comments? >> No comment.
>> So >> I have no objection. Tie the property. >> Okay. So am I sending in a no objection or do people want to make comments about >> I have no object. No no comment. >> No comment. >> Okay.
>> Okay. And what about the >> um >> the O'Brien court one >> court one? Let me >> Okay, this is um what is this going to be? It's a that's going a one family >> from a one family to a two family and there's a proposal for three off
streetet parking spaces for the property. >> Okay. >> Oh god. All right. I see this >> I have no objection. >> This is the one that's down near um um Veterans Park. It's not on It's O'Brien Court is the
one street that's just south of where the firehouse is. It's close to 16th Street. That's correct. >> Yeah. If you go past the firehouse on Avenue A, keep going south uh and make a the next right. That's O'Brien Court.
It's um about halfway down. It's on the other side of the street. So, it looks like they're just taking a regular house. And here, >> yeah, they is thereition or they just dividing it. See, here it is. There's Veterans Park. This is where we play
baseball and it's right here. This is the entrance to Veterans Park. The firehouse is up here. So, it's just seems like uh let's see here. Why I'm not getting a You might because it's showing me
directions and I didn't want directions. The applicant is seeking to add a kitchen to the second floor and converting that second floor into a separate second unit. >> Okay. I have no comment on that. That seems like a very small thing and it's not in a historical house. So,
>> if everyone's comment is a no comment, I'll give it a no comment. >> No comment. >> No comment. Okay. >> Okay. >> Um that appears to be it for the uh am I correct there, Mr. Ryan? That's it, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank good. All right. Um
>> now, um we have an item on update on historic properties. Uh since Mike Whitney is here from the fire museum, perhaps we should call on him to come up. He has some things he'd like to mention to be the commission about developments at the fire museum.
>> Okay, awesome. >> Name's Mike Whitney. Uh 15 Avenue CO, New Jersey. Um about two years ago took on the Endeavor reopening it the fire museum on 47th Street. We were hoping to have it open last year for the 150
anniversary of the building being built, but unfortunately uh with delays and so forth, we got set back. This Thursday uh it will be a ribbon cutting with the blessing of the city who worked uh previously with us in getting it open
through the law department DPW and so forth and so on. Um we do have a committee of 12. Um we filed for 5013C um status. Um we ensured the building
with extra liability insurance and so forth like that. But the purpose is basically to get it back open to the community. Not only the community, but for the kids. We can't dabble in fire prevention, but we could use a a program
for fourth grade social studies. So, the history of fire throughout the city of Beon. So, um I just wanted to introduce myself. Um Joe Ryan uh works for the city. He put out a nice
letter on Facebook to put it out to the public to invite him. Everybody's welcome to attend. And I just wanted to put a face to the property and who who you're going to see mostly around that property for the for the betterment of
the community, the history and the historical site of the museum. So that's our intent and our purpose. Uh we wrote up flyers will these will start being handed out at ribbon cutting.
>> It's a self-explanatory of the building's history and the contact information on the back. So, uh we're in the uh infant stages and uh we're constantly improving and uh we look
forward to meeting you all at the uh ribbon cutting if you wish to come by >> or any Saturday. >> What time is the ribbon cutting? >> The ribbon cutting would be 4:30. Is that correct, Joe? on Thursday. >> Yeah, Thursday afternoon 4:30. >> 4:30 Thursday the 30th.
>> Let me put that in my calendar. >> And that's the 30th, >> correct? >> And then the actual opening hours, Mike, it'll be Saturdays. >> Saturdays from 10 to 4, 6 hour period every Saturday. Okay. That's for the general public at this time. And we also
uh looking for maybe tour groups or something like that. That'll all be by appointment and so forth. and we'll have to try to schedule them in accordingly with the proper manpower and personnel to handle it. So, I'm just showing you a
face of the introduction that's taken care of one of your historical sites and uh if you have any questions, I'm here. My number is on this pamphlet. That's my number. That's my cell phone number. So, just feel free if you have
any questions. >> No. Very good. I'm very happy to hear this. >> Looking forward to this. >> Yeah. >> And uh >> and that's Thursday and you said 4:30. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I have one question for you. >> Sure. >> Um when they tore down that old house
just west of the museum, >> right? >> Was the uh contractors careful enough to not to damage the side of the museum? Basically, we still got the uh ridge line where the roofs are attached to the building, but uh that's something that
is not corrected at at this point, but I understand another building's going right next to it. And that's the footprint right next to our building. Yeah. You know, so uh I'll be looking forward to those uh planning board hearings because I got a couple requests
or suggestions that I might like to see done to improve our property just as much as theirs. I've noticed you have the uh the logo painted up on the side of the building. I notice that every time I drive by. >> Yes. Uh uh we had a little hiccup with that. We got a head of the horse and we
had to get that correct through the law department which we uh >> Oh, really? >> due deal did right Dave and uh we got that all corrected and ironed out. >> Um there's a lot of work to be still be done, but we're going to do it from the
interior. There's always more work to be done. Yeah. So, any other questions? >> Mera looks very nice. Who was the artist? >> Uh, um, a lady, I think she's from Cranford, but her name is, uh, Lynn.
It's linstar.com. She did great work. >> Not only does the public like the the mural, but the building, the 10story building next to us, >> they love it because the side of the museum started >> getting different color paints because of graffiti writers.
Now it's all cleaned up, all painted, and it seems to be more respected, and and it brightened up the neighborhood a lot more, and everybody appreciates it from what I hear. You know, if you hear different, let me know. >> Well, it's eye-catching. You come down avenue, you come down Broadway, and it
just >> and it's open to the park. And then Yeah. And the other thing is >> the plan with the school kids, if you notice, the benches are right there. So after they visit, they could take a class picture right by the mural, you know. So there's a lot of thought and
process in between everything and it and it put something on that wall to beautify the not only the park but the building itself. So it it was done in good taste. >> All right, sounds great. Can't wait. Thursday I'll be there. >> Any other questions?
>> Anyone else have any questions or comments? >> Thank you very much. We appreciate you coming by. >> Joe's a great help throughout the the whole system. I I talk to Joe and Jerry a lot. So, >> thank you. >> The board members are four community
members and eight firefighters are either retired or paid. So, uh we have a 12 member board. So, uh it's not just me. If if it wasn't the help for the community, it wouldn't have been done. So, you know, >> so it's an asset to the city, the
community, and the history of Bayon once again. You know, definitely. And it dates back all the way down to 1875. So, Thank you to see it. It was a It was a pleasure working with you. >> Oh, absolutely. And thank you so much. You know, uh like I said, I worked with
the law department and I worked with everybody. I try to do it the right way instead of just one curator to bring up the whole community and make it a community thing. You know, keep the pride of Bayon going. So, that's where we're at. >> I look forward to you seeing you Thursday.
>> Yes. Thank you very much. >> Enjoy the shows. Yeah. >> Thank you. Have a good day and thanks for allowing me to talk. Thank you. >> No, thank you for coming in and we really appreciate it. >> Have a good day and you get more with honey than vinegar, right? Have a nice day. >> Well, thank you again very much.
>> Thank you. >> Now, that's great. I'm looking forward to seeing that. That's um I always wanted to go visit that. All right. Um that the updates on historic properties. Anything else? >> No. Um I've been busy. There's a mayor's
race next month and really I'm Yes. >> I didn't know about that. >> They don't put signs up anymore, do they? >> Oh, yes, they do. Anyway, I'm volunteering for one of the candidates and that has kept me very busy.
>> Okay. Well, yeah, of course it would. I know there's a lot of candidates I keep getting things stuck to my doororknob. >> All right. Um, I guess we go to the plaque program. Any update on that? >> Yeah. So, I am thinking that if we're
going to if we're going to launch this program, we have to do something pretty soon because we'd want to capitalize before school is out, I would think, so that they can I mean, we're kind of down to the wire. I don't know if we'd be able to get the plaques up in time to
arrange field trips or anything like that or we're at the end of April, right? So, we've got two more good months of school. Um, I don't know what what what is the board feeling? Should I pursue this? Should I
kind of scope out the actual plaques in writing and we we try to order something between now and the next meeting or um I really feel like next meeting might be too late for a decision to really to really get this off the ground.
>> Plex can be added really at any time. So I don't think there's a a need for saying that certain things must be done by date X because they could also be done after that. This is something that's been happening off and on in the
city. So, as long as there's funding and um places that haven't been plaqueed yet, know this could continue. Um I did check and I remember I communicated with you the good news that um the commission does have a $6,000 budget. Um we'd have
to put a little of that aside for legal advertising, but the majority of that could go to plaques. So, um I think it would be important to find out the cost of the plaques and then prioritize
uh which plaques uh should be put up uh first uh and then you know continue through um seeing what what money is left and what places remain to be done. And I think we had an email discussion about this. There's some
>> um works of art that already have a plaque on them. Uh, I would suggest the emphasis should be placed on places that don't yet have a plaque uh or a stone saying what they are. Uh, so that way we could prioritize places that um haven't
yet been explained with a plaque for the public to read. >> Yeah, that sounds great. So, I can I can go through an exercise of in order of priority which spots do not yet have signage that we might want to put together and I can get pricing for
that signage and maybe I'll put together um a proposal for approval at the next meeting and we can just not worry about the school tiein. I think that that maybe is difficult, but we can certainly get this up this summer. I mean, I think
that makes sense. >> Who would be doing the Plex? >> I don't have a vendor, actually. That's a good >> That's a great idea. So, >> I I mean, I don't either, but who did it last time? Our plaques? >> Priscilla was the one that was working
when she was the commissioner working on the plaques. Joe, do you remember or have a record of it? I I'd have to check through the old minutes, but we could certainly find, you know, what company did it before and see if they're still in business and what um what their contact information is. And then um
Commissioner, maybe you could check with them about pricing once we once we do that. Um and before we get further on, there were references to the next meeting. I'm sorry to mention that the May meeting can't happen, at least not when scheduled because we have early
voting that'll be taking place um fortunately slash unfortunately on the night of um the the May meeting. So, we would either have to move the meeting or not meet again until uh September or
pick some other month to meet. Normally, we don't meet in the summer. So, um, a related issue would be, um, deciding what to do about not having that May meeting. Do we move it? Uh, do we not have it? Uh, do we have subcommittee doing work over the summer?
>> May 26. >> Yeah. Yeah. There'll be >> we could >> there'll be early voting in here for the municipal election and then for the primary. So, there'll be various days in May. >> That's an election you're talking about. So, it is
>> I would be okay with having it one week earlier on May 19th. >> 19th. I'm okay with that, too. >> Check with the city clerk about the availability of the room. Sort of sticking it, you know, between um the
early voting for the municipal election and the early voting for the primary election, right? And then see if there's a night when some other municipal entity isn't already used. >> Yeah, we got the planning board could be in here. So maybe, you know, but >> check the previous check with them to see um some available dates, okay? On
Tuesday or even Wednesday the 20th um the 20. >> See, because I know it's going to be crazy with the election. So maybe I think instead of us trying to pick a date, let's see what's available. >> Got it. All right,
we'll move on to um continuation of the reorganization meeting. We still haven't done that yet, have we? >> Yeah, the um the reorganization meeting was postponed because we we were
cancelled due to the severe winter weather. Mhm. >> Um and there have been issues with various people being sick. My concern would be if the election doesn't take place now. Um since we're not sure
what's happening with May, um I wouldn't want to go a whole year without having the election of officers. I think that's something that has to happen. Now, Chairman Nikki is unable to be with us this evening, but when I spoke to him, he thought the election of officers uh
ought to go ahead. >> Okay. And he's um okay with still being president. Correct. >> He he was still interested in being chairman. >> Okay. Chairman the term. So it would be
um a matter for um the board to uh settle on procedure and then settle on nominations. >> Okay. So we'll um you're saying we should start with procedure. In fact, how do this? >> Um >> so what are our options? Sure. There's
essentially two options and uh council you could um uh correct me if I'm wrong. It's really a matter of is there a slate in which there's a group uh nominated together or whether the commissioners
would vote individually on individual nominees for individual uh offices. I can't think of any other way of >> Yeah, those are the only two ways you can do it. So I think it would be in order at this time then for someone to make a motion
uh for either of those procedures either doing it by slate or doing it on an individual officer basis. >> So I guess pulling names out of the hat is just out of the question. >> No. Okay. How do you feel everyone here?
How do we feel about I think we should have a slate of officers and continue with the ones we have. >> And um so that would be you can just >> uh hold on. Um I I think council shouldn't that be broken up into two
separate items. First, a motion on procedure. >> Of course. Yes, that's >> and then secondly pend pending the outcome of that vote then getting two actual nominations of >> we have to do it that >> people. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Um, does everyone feel comfortable with a slate or do you think we should do
individuals? >> Someone should put that in the form of a motion for one way or the other. >> Well, I'm just If you want to make a motion, Lee has made a motion or I guess >> motion that we go with the slate program.
>> All right. Do we have a second? >> Okay. Okay. We have a second. I think this should be an individual vote, not I don't want to >> Well, I think then we have to vote on this motion, right? Because now the motion on the table is to do it as a slate. So, now we have to vote on that
>> vote to see if we're going to do a slate. >> Yeah, I think so. >> All right. So, >> am I right? I I don't want to. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, we're voting on if we're going to do a slate. So, >> yeah. >> Um, >> who runs the votes? Joe, do you run the
votes or do I? >> Done by me. >> Okay, good. >> Uh, if we need to count, I'd say council, as has been the case previously, would be the the vote counter. Um, so, um, council, how should
we proceed? Should I do a roll call on the vote on this, uh, slate method? There's been a motion put on the table um for voting by slate and it's been seconded. >> I'm gonna say no. >> I abstain.
Say yes. >> I'll say yes also. >> Yes. state motion has passed. So then vice chair secretary that's just three.
Um I'll start by is everyone comfortable um having Jerry return as what was the title? chairman. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. >> Yes. >> Um
I was the vice chairman, right? Yeah. >> Is anyone else interested in that job? I don't want to. >> No. >> No. >> Just like before. All right. So, and um
>> Secretary would be >> Lee. I'm okay with that. I I abstain from that. >> Okay. >> I'm I'm good. I'm happy with Lee as secretary. >> Okay. >> Okay. Okay. Then we have a slate. The same slate as last year.
>> On procedure council, should I do a roll call? Uh >> right. Should we do a nomination for the slate? You know, a motion. Okay. >> Is there a motion? >> I give the motion for the slate. >> Mr. Secretary, I make a motion that we
check we accept the slate of officers has been approved. >> Second. >> Okay. Anyone second? Feels awkward. >> Motion to approve the slate has been made and seconded. the slate consisting
of Jerry Nikki for chair, Frank McGee for vice chair, Lee Faley for secretary. Uh so I'll do a a roll call. >> I abstain.
Yes. >> Yes. See the uh buttercow? That would have been interesting. I was just talking about that in history class. >> Okay. >> Are there any other business if anyone has?
>> No. I'll prepare a proposal though for the signage for the next meeting. So everybody expect to see that by email ahead of the meeting. >> Anyone else? >> I will look for and get to you um Commissioner Driscoll the uh the vendor that was used last time. Uh so you can
look into that. Is there any other business we want to bring up? You have your microphone lit up like Oh, okay. I thought you were going to say something. >> No, >> your light. Yeah, it was green light was on. >> We're good. >> All right. So,
>> if there's no other business, is there >> motion? >> I'll make the motion to adjurnn. >> Okay. >> All in favor? I I >> All right. Thank you.