Okay, it is 7 o'clock. Welcome to the Bedminster Township Committee meeting. This is our regularly scheduled meeting for feep February 2nd. Recognize that we have full antennas by
bed Mr. Township committee here, committee woman, committeeman Rosen, and myself. And uh we have a special guest tonight. Instead of John attorney John Bolardo, we have attorney Zach Dillian. Zack, welcome. >> Thank you very much,
>> Robin. May we please have the open public meetings act statement. >> Yes, mayor. Adequate notice of this meeting of the township committee was sent to the Courier News Somerville, Burnersville News, Whippony, and to all subscribers and post on the township of Bedminster's official website at
www.bedminsternj.gov and at the Tachent Municipal Building on January 6, 2026. >> Great. Thank you. Please join me in standing for the pledge of >> allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, this is the time of the meeting. We open up the uh the deis the zoom
session and telephone. If anyone's participating by telephone for public comment, uh as we say at every meeting, public comment is your opportunity to ask questions, make a statement, you're not guaranteed of an answer. You're not guaranteed of a dialogue with any
township committee member unless township committee member so engages. And if you get an answer, you're certainly not guaranteed of getting an answer you like. >> Ms. Ray, we have an empty room here. >> I know.
>> Is there anyone participating via Zoom? >> We have Chief Bernardo and our HR partner, Amanda Summers. No members of the general public. So no public comment. We will move on. One set of meeting minutes to approve.
That's the January 20th Township Committee meeting. Any comments or questions for any meeting minutes that have not otherwise been provided to Miss Ray? >> Seeing none, take a motion to approve the minutes. >> So move. >> Second.
>> All in favor? All right. >> Thank you. >> We have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven permits and raffles on for tonight. First is annual seasonal farmers market permit for burnt mill cider. That's at [snorts]
the Bminster Farmers Market beginning May 22nd. That's early. It's not that far away. Uh through December 5, um 2026. Next, social fair permit to benefit the Union College Foundation on April 27,
2026 from 9 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club. A social fair permit to benefit Tunnel to Towers Foundation on May 11, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Trump National. an off- premise 5050 raffle to benefit the
Center for Great Expectations on June 29, 2026 from 11 am to 8:30 p.m. at Fidler's Elbow Country Club. An off- premise 50/50 raffle to benefit Pottersville Volunteer Fire Company on December 12, 2026
at 8:00 PM located at Pottersville Volunteer Fire Company. an off- premise merchandise raffle to benefit Hunan Healthcare Foundation on April 19, 2026 at 2:45 p.m. at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club and
an onremise merchandise raffle to benefit Healthc Care Foundation on April 19, 2026 at 2:45 p.m. located at Elbow Country Club. Any comments or questions regarding those permits and raffles?
Seeing none, take a motion to approve. So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> Monthly report discussion by subcommittee chair. Committee Rosen.
>> Okay. On the recreation front, um after school programming is ongoing with a new program, Lego engineering, uh kicking off tomorrow. The adult indoor volleyball program is set to begin in March when uh the wreck basketball season wraps up. Registration will be
posted soon. Uh we're also looking to add an afterchool youth volleyball program and this is going to be dependent on gym availability. If the school is not available, we will look to run the program in the spring at the Plugin Park Sand volleyball courts.
Community garden registration will open once the rules and regulations are reviewed by the community garden committee. And finally, we are submitting the 2026 DCA local recreation improvement grant application for four pickle ball courts which would be at the
uh Plugin Schoolhouse Park. >> Okay. Committee woman Fernandez. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just have a quick DPW update while Jason's here. Obviously DPW has been working a lot on the snow and the ice maintenance and salting
things um [clears throat] because you know it's cold out there and they've been putting together the garden boxes for our community garden, working on heavy equipment, snow removal, plowing, and just working on the plow and spreader repairs for all this snow and
the groundhog, you know, didn't help. So I'm sure that's the foreseeable future as well. And that's all. >> Well, just uh following up, Jason, once again, great job. I was talking to some folks who live in some surrounding towns
and they volunteered that the difference uh particularly on the dirt roads in Bedminster and our surrounding towns market. And uh you know, just a testament to how well you guys uh
respond to the snow, how often you're out there. uh person I was talking to lives on a dirt road in a uh adjacent town and said it took a day and a half for folks in another town uh to get the first path
of a plow. Um and then that road today [clears throat] is still ice >> whereas I was traveling the dirt roads this whole week and they were in great shape. pave roads are in great shape. Just
excellent job. So >> thank you to DB. >> Okay, >> committeewoman Moreski. >> Good evening, mayor. Good evening, everyone. Uh, real quick, uh, Jacob Vander met a couple weeks ago. Um, we
started with a recap of the Colonial Christmas that we know did super job of, you know, bringing in new people and introducing people to the house again. And um we're going to use that same format I think going forward this coming year and uh just make it bigger and
better. Uh we did some housekeeping work with uh establishing the subcommittees and I think that's going to help the the house move forward in a big way. um we'll have a couple people for each committee assigned and uh these are committees that everybody wants to be a
part of and I think there'll be a lot of enthusiasm um picking up on the projects especially for the 250th and uh and and moving forward with that. Um uh one good thing is we're starting to develop the dosent schedule. So,
we're aiming to have the house open at least one day a month and then we'll we'll see how we do getting people involved and maybe open it more. And that's all I have. >> Great. Command Hickey. >> Thank you, Mayor. Good evening all. Just a quick update on the board of ed. I did
attend a kickoff meeting for the study that will examine potential synergies between Bedminister Township School and the Somerset Hill School District. The consultants laid out the process and the timeline with the study expected to to conclude in either late fall or early winter. There will be a public
information session as part of the process. In addition to the opportunities for better educational outcomes, I'm most interested in any potential financial impacts at Bedminster, particularly with respect to the tax rate, which is my primary concern. We will be doing some watchful waiting
to see where the numbers fall out. So stay tuned. And just to add to the the loading of Jason, the board of ed meeting, they called you out and showered much praise on you and your crew for their for your snow removal at the school. Thank you, Jason. Unfortunately, Jason saw his shadow. So,
we'll have at least six more weeks. >> That's all I have, Mayor. >> Okay, >> thank you. Um I have no updates for my subcommittees from our last meeting unless Robin tells me otherwise. >> Um no, >> no. Okay. Um, this coming over the next
week and a half or so, uh, the community garden is meeting. They're having their inaugural meeting tomorrow. Uh, next week the farmers market committee will have its first meeting. Um, Robin, we do have to schedule an agricultural advisory board meeting.
>> Okay. >> And, uh, land use board. >> You have a meeting this Thursday? >> Yes. Tesla. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> the long aaited Tesla application down at Fresh Market. >> Uh installation of uh chargers down at
Fresh Market, Fresh Market Shopping Center. Um that's really all I have. So Robin, we'll go straight to the administrator's report. >> Um yes, Mayor. I've been kind of in and out um being sick unfortunately, but uh some good news to share. We did get our
first check from Somerset County uh regarding the Miller Lane pump station project towards the 1.47 247 that we were awarded. So, um that's terrific. We received that in the mail today. Um I attended a uh I'll let you speak about
that later, but I attended a seminar with the not a seminar um a meeting with Edwin uh regarding uh public sector uh treasury last week. And we also had the Bedminster School fourth grade here last week. There's pictures on your desk
there. Um and the other thing was um Renee had mentioned um the subcommittees tomorrow night the JBH uh education outreach committee and 250th committee are meeting here at Bminster Town Hall at 5:00 prior to the garden uh meeting
and um I started attending a 250th uh 250th anniversary meeting but then I left so I have nothing to report. So >> okay >> that concludes my report mayor. >> Okay. Uh, community policing. Chief Bernardo. >> Oh, good evening. I have no updates
tonight, Mayor. >> You are now muted. >> There you go. >> I have uh no updates tonight. Mayor, >> is it our speakers? >> I'm wondering. >> Yeah, could be it. They can hear us.
>> Hang on, Chief. >> Could it be the TV? It was just working before we just literally tested it. >> Oh, if you can hear me. No, >> it's us. I'm sorry. >> It's all right.
>> Very faint. >> It's taking a while to warm up. >> Warm it up. >> Just like the rest. Okay, Frank, can you hear us? >> I can. >> All right, now we can hear you. Thank you, Chief. >> Um, no updates. So, all that doesn't
[laughter] say nothing. >> Think of something that effort. >> Okay. All right. We'll we'll go with that. >> Okay. I'm going to make a note. >> Moving on. We have two ordinances scheduled for public hearing. The first is ordinance number 2026
[clears throat] 0001 and ordinance amending chapter 2 entitled administration section 2- 24 entitled indemnification and defense
which provides for the indemnification and defense of public employees and officials of the township. Take a motion to open the public hearing for ordinance number 2026001. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I. [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> Okay. Robin, have at it. >> Yes, mayor. Um, this ordinance amends our current ordinance uh per per uh the PBA contract language puts it in line with the contract. Um, this is something
that came out during my review and Amanda's review of the uh GIFs. [clears throat] uh employee manual. We just were not up to date. So, this brings our ordinance up to date with our current PBA contract. Sorry, it took me
a while to spit that out. >> Any questions, comments from township committee? Uh we'll open up to uh the public hearing to the public for any public comment on ordinance 2026001. comments.
Take motion to close the public hearing on ordinance number 20260001. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Well, we need to close the public hearing. I'm sorry, mayor. >> That was the move. >> Oh, wow. I'm really not hearing well. I'm so sorry.
>> That's okay. >> Mr. Rosen, you closed the Thank you. Who seconded that? >> I'm so sorry, guys. And I'm paying attention to [laughter] >> Yes, you are. >> Bad. What meds are you on? I want them. >> I'm not on any. That's
>> Zach is not Zach is not texting Devon at this very moment. >> Do we need a roll call? >> Now we need a roll [laughter] just to close the public hearing. >> Now we need a Thank you. Now we need a roll call vote, please. Mr. Hickeyi, >> I. >> Committeewoman Moreski. >> Hi. >> Committ Fernandez. Hi.
>> Committee woman Committee. [laughter] >> Hi. >> And Mayor Jacobs. >> Hi. We'll >> get you through this, Robin. So, now that we've closed the public hearing, take a motion to [clears throat] approve ordinance 2026. >> So, move >> 001.
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> Thank you. >> Uh, that's a roll call. >> Yeah, I was going to say, >> wait a minute. I'm still stuck. You're back on the roll call vote now >> for the >> Yes. to approve the ordinance. >> Yeah. >> Wow. Okay. Thank you. [laughter]
>> Gotcha. >> You did. You got me. We got you here. >> Okay. So, now we need a roll call vote. I didn't need a roll call on the last one. That was the problem on the closing, but anyway. >> Okay. >> Gotcha. Okay. So, um, Committee Hickey, >> hi.
>> Committee Moreski. Hi, Committeewoman Fernandez. >> Hi. >> Committee Rosen and Mayor Jacobs. Hi. Thank you. >> Okay. Next. Ordinance number 2026002. It's an ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriations
limit and to establish a cap [snorts] bank. Um, I'll take a motion to open the public hearing for ordinance number 2026002. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Robin, do you want to have a go at this one? >> I'll I'll give it a shot. Mayor, this is a an ordinance that we pass every year which allows us to um uh exceed the budget max. U this year it's up to 2.5%
and whatever we don't use, we're able to bank for the next year's use. >> So once again, this is we do this um every year. Um not that we anticipate using it or using all of the um cap bank
but this is by adopting this ordinance now it gives certainly gives us flexibility throughout the budget uh sessions. Any further questions or comments [snorts] regarding ordinance 2026
002 from committee? Yeah. >> None. Any comments from the public? Seeing none, I'll take a motion to close the public hearing for ordinance number 2026002. So moved.
>> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> And now I'll take a motion to approve [snorts] ordinance number 2026002. >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call vote, please. Committeeman Hickeyi. >> I. Committeewoman Moreski.
>> Hi. >> Committeewoman Fernandez. >> Hi. >> Committeeman Rosen. >> Hi. >> And Mayor Jacobs. >> I. >> So once again, this establishes a cap bank uh if we choose to exceed the appropriations limit from where we were last year.
Consent agenda. We have one, two, three items on the consent agenda. These are resolutions of routine nature. Any member of attachup committee may pull one, two, or all three off for individual consideration. Seeing none, I will take a motion to
approve the items on the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call vote, please. Committeeman Hickeyi. >> I. >> Committeewoman Moreski. >> Hi. >> Committeewoman Fernandez. >> Hi. >> Committee Rosen. Hi. And Mayor Jacobs. >> Hi. >> Thank you. We have no resolutions for
individual considerations. We'll take a motion to approve the items on the bill listing review of individual invoices. >> So moved. Thank you. >> Second. >> Roll call vote again, please. Committee Hickey. >> I. >> Committeewoman Moreski. >> Hi.
>> Committeewoman Fernandez. >> Hi. >> Committee Rosen. >> I. >> And Mayor Jacobs. >> Hi. >> Thank you. Uh we let's see new business. Any uh issues that any town committee member wants to put up
for discussion under new business? >> No. >> N you okay? I'm good. Okay. [laughter] Moving right along. Old business [clears throat] >> utilities. >> Mayor, I do not have a report. I don't
know if Jason may have anything based on [laughter] >> it. No. Yeah, no news. >> It's good news, especially given this cold. >> All right, good. We'll go with that. Um, by the way, I will say JCPL, I saw JCPL out um on that frigid morning when it
was below zero on Hillside A taking down a very large tree. >> Good. >> Good, good, good. So, if you get a chance to go up hillside or come down hillside um by Caleb's house, >> it's giant. It actually changes the
whole look of >> Wow. >> uh of that little section of the street. a little proactiveness. >> I I have to imagine that it's it's >> sure >> the constant heranging of JCPNL um >> yeah,
>> it helps and you know just on the hillside as with a lot of the other streets right into the right into so good to see that. >> Um Pluckin Park Senior Housing I did have a discussion with John Bardo. We
have nothing to report on that. um on Somerset Hills public safety committee meeting at our last meeting. Um I did offer to uh to Denise King that I forward uh her statement on to the
mayors of the Somerset Hills Public Safety Committee. I did that um last week. So all of the mayors of uh Bernard's Township, Bernardsville, Bridgewater, Pep Gladstone, and Farill the copy of uh
Denise's statement. Robin, do we have anything else on for public safety? >> Uh no, we do not. Not today. >> Is the third Thursday, >> third Thursday of the month at four o'clock via Zoom.
>> Okay. Um, it's pretty much the all we got. Julia, [laughter] how you feeling? >> Uh, pretty good. >> Good. Good to see you up and walking. Uh, we will go through township committee comments. Uh, we do have an
executive session. >> We do. We do. >> We do. >> It'll be very brief. >> Okay. But we are not expected to take any action. Certainly, there's [clears throat] nothing on the agenda. um indicated that would be taking action after that executive session. So we'll
go through tens of committee comments. We will take a motion to go to executive session and we'll come back for final adjournment. You're certainly welcome to stay. Um so we'll start with committee comments with committeeman Rosen. Thank you mayor. Um well I guess the talks
Phil saw the shadow. Six more weeks. Only another week and a half till pitchers and catchers and I am ready for some warmth. >> All right. Thank you. Committeewoman Moreski. >> I just want to say everybody stay in stay uh stay warm
>> and uh drive carefully around here because the around the corners there are those big snow humps that eventually will melt away. But uh right now just be careful pulling out in the streets. >> That's all I got. >> Clear your mailboxes. Clear your mailboxes. >> Clear your fire hydrants
>> and the fire hydrants if you can. >> And the fire hydrants. >> But be careful. Don't land in the street. >> Committee men hickey. [laughter] >> You're changing things up. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Throwing the water off. All right. You know, >> can't say ditto. [laughter]
>> Now, I want to mention there was a winter wellness committee presentation at the last board of education meeting. It was conducted by a group of grizzled veterans ranging anywhere from second to fifth grade. [laughter] They did a great job. And one of the things the kids shared was a use of the
word yet at the end of every sentence. I haven't received an a yet. >> I haven't accomplished this goal yet. I haven't made the mayor smile yet. It's a pretty simple but effective philosophy that perhaps we can all
adopt. And uh great job by all them involved. I just want to recognize that they did a super job. >> That's great. Very good. >> Committee woman Fernandez. >> I like their positivity. The growth mindset positivity. Um no that I doo. [laughter]
>> Oh, and the Super Bowl. Everybody have a good Super Bowl. Okay. So, I'll just say uh as Robin mentioned on Friday, Robin and the entire uh township staff uh fire department and police department and DPW
hosted the Bedminister Township School fourth graders. They were a fantastic group. They were great >> at every stop they had, whether it was public works, fire, police in the uh
staff and certainly out here. Um asking questions of uh of me about how the government works, what we're doing, why do we do, and what we like about it, what we don't like about it. Uh they had great questions, great comments, and
really great enthusiasm. Super polite, too. >> And >> super super polite. >> It was 13 degrees Friday morning. >> They walked from the school down here. [laughter]
>> And they walked back. >> Oh, wow. >> And they were fired up for it. They were It's the teachers, Principal Swan, they were just They were all excited. They were getting hot chocolate back at
school. Um they're really really a great punch. U Robin had mentioned that we had a meeting with Edwin. Edwin is a uh essentially a startup company. Um Peter Rogers is the I guess the CEO
and it's um it's a meeting we had regarding uh data management and it's something that we discussed certainly in budget session is interest income for the bank accounts that Bedminster
holds and there's effort uh that Robin and and Derek, our CFO, uh put to make sure that, you know, we're getting um good rates and the way this uh company, what they're doing, Colin, you can certainly
correct me if I'm wrong, uh that they're using AI and data management to essentially scope out the universe of banking options, uh particularly with regard to compliance with municipal
government obligations. and telling you, okay, you're doing a good job. You could do better. These are these these are some accounts that might be doing point or two or three or four a full point um better and you could, you know, just manage your money a little
bit better. And in so doing, um get more interest income for the money that's already sitting out there. uh we're going to have some further discussions with it, but it's certainly intriguing um and uh you know similar to what we
did with um Civic Live uh if we can early very discounted uh rate on services um and um have more discussions over the next um couple months I believe on that. >> Yep.
>> Okay. So at 7:28 um we'll take a motion to uh join or regroup in executive session. Once again we will return to public comment for final adjournment for the
evening but we will not be taking any formal action. Take a motion to um go to executive session. >> So move. >> All in favor? I >> thank you. Okay. >> Okay. It is 7:46. We've returned from
our executive session. As we mentioned earlier, we are not taking any formal action following the [cough and clears throat] executive session. So, at 7:46, I'll take a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> So, move. >> Second. All in favor?
>> Thank you and good night and thank you, Zach. >> Thank you, Amanda. Thank you guys. >> Thank you.