right I'm ready to go okay Mee order council meeting March 1825 roll call please I'm so sorry Sor no no no so y yeah I'm sorry the time adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by forwarding a copy to
The Courier News Star Ledger and posting on the township website at least 48 hours prior to the meeting all in accordance with the open public meetings act this meeting will not substantially go past 10:30 p.m. call please Mr Kudo in attendance Mr Foster here Mrs illis
here Mr Machado here Mr Moran president Mrs POG here mayor Devon she is U in [Music] all right salute flag United
States stands indivisible andice okay we GNA want going in executive session read this quickly whereas the revisions of the open public meetings
act and nj10 call 4-1 at SEC expressly provide that a public body may move into executive session and exclude the public from that portion of a meeting at which the public body discusses any of the nine areas set forth in njsa 10 412b and whereas the township Council the
township of burk lades has determined necessary to move into executive session to discuss the following subjects all of which are included in the after set exceptions poal potential sale of Township property and portable housing now therefore be a resolved by the Town Council of the township of Berkeley
Heights that it does hereby move into executive session pursuant to njsa 10 412b to discuss the affet matters and it is further resolved that the affet discussions shall be made public either at a public meeting following the executive session or at such time as any
litigated or Personnel matters are concluded or upon conclusion of any negotiations for related discussions or as otherwise specified as further resolve this res shall take effect purs the law second please Mr Kudo yes Mr Foster yes
Mrs illis yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs poke yes thank you we shall return Sous e e e
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e e e e during the Clos session oh I did that upstairs oh sorry my bad all right we're back all right I'm here now my apology softball softball games never go two and a half
hours in the they did today so um we're moving into conference session and we have Mike mrea here uh to discuss the recent developments with our affordable housing obligation good evening Mike har Consultants I'm here tonight to just very briefly go through some action that
has taken place over the last months and an update on the fourth round affordable housing position as most people know on March 20th 20 24 Governor Murphy signed a new law which amended the fair housing act and that the signing of that law set
in a series of motions and deadlines and actions that the township has had to take in order to prepare for the fourth round of reportable housing which technically starts July 1st 2025 and is the 10year period until June 30th
2035 October 18th 2024 to DCA was reled a Statewide report on the fourth ground numbers every municipality for the most part was assigned a an obligation Berkeley Heights was assigned 275 and that was done by the DCA
Department of Community Affairs that's what they assigned our Township then there was a period between October 18th and the end of January where the township had the uh had the right to go through the data go through the report and and consider I don't want
to say use the word challenge I would say clarify or provide additional information that would support possibly lowering our number we did that I appeared here in January of this year um and I briefly touched upon the planning
report that we prepared attached to that were spreadsheets identifying the 62 properties that the state found in their report the DCA report that were led to our development and development potential in the 275 number in our
planning report we concluded and that planning report is online everybody tonight if they want to see the DCA report is there our planning report is there with all the supplemental spreadsheets I'm referring to our report concluded that our fourth round
obligation should be 208 not 275 we Council adopted a resolution supporting the 208 that then set in another time period for the entire month
of February which was allowed anybody not I don't want to say anybody but interested parties to challenge that number if they thought that our number 208 is too low on February 28th uh fare housing center filed an
objection and a challenge to the town's position that our number was 208 and they submitted their own separate report which said our number should be 264 so at the end of February we have three reports DCA
275 Berkeley Heights 208 and we have fairshare housing center with their experts saying it's 264 that's set off in the month of March there's a time period where you are put into essentially settlement agreements
with all the parties that challenged you you're sharing data you're sharing exhibits you're going through the spr spreadsheets property by property again evaluating those 62 Properties Plus the income Factor that's all spelled out in our planning report and you have these
ongoing conversations they started last week last Friday it concluded with a with a basically say a settlement conference in front of a judge who was assigned judge Miller who was assigned to t Berkeley Heights who's represented also
with their own planner uh who supports the court and then you have fair share their planners I was there along with our councilman who was a great help thank you as well as Liza and who was another just incredible incredibly
important factor in all of this as well as Connie I have to just give her shout out because she was instrumental in giving us more data to support our case all wrapped up we made our presentation where we landed was settlement agreement which is reduced to a resolution every
think everything I'm talking about tonight is in a resolution on a council agenda which settles this challenge if you will and it lands at 240 I support that number I've gone through every piece of data I possibly
can on behalf of the township I've been repres representing the township and affordable hous man for quite some time I support the 240 I did the other day uh on the zoom meeting with the cour report and all the experts and in front of fa
share and the township so I'm asking tonight that the township move forward with endorsing adopting that resolution resolution then goes to fair share housing center for their signature then it goes to judge to the judge in the
court who then um we hope will execute it and that closes that chapter the next chapter is between hopefully tomorrow and June 30th we have an obligation to put a plan together everything I'm just talking about tonight is
only determining what Our obligation is it doesn't determine where anything goes on any property it's just identifying or or agreeing to a number and that's it the next major part of this process is between tomorrow and June 30th as along
with every other municipality and most other municipalities in New Jersey we have our planning board has to adopt what's called a housing element and fair share plan and that'll contain all the details of where and how the down will address its
obligation that's all I have okay Mike so just to clarify so between tomorrow and June 30th you're working on a plan once that plan is finalized and adopted and and we vote on this number this evening is it now then
set for the next 10 years okay when we are protected from any Builder remedy suits correct so our our job is to put this plan together adopt it there'll be a public hearing it has to be in front of the planning board planning board adopts a housing element it's a master
plan element there'll be a public hearing then the council needs to endorse that plan with a resolution those two documents are folded together they're submitted down to the DCA all of that work has to be done between now
tomorrow and June 30th then starts in you that's that's the work that's really all of the work and then there's a period where we all go on vacation enjoy our summer and that's July and August and then September 1st that's the deadline anybody wants to
challenge our then we'll talk to so Mike I have two questions um when you were talking about the plan if you could just clarify the plan will or will not include specific locations for
right so is it is it actual addresses where we expect to have those housing units or is it just a general statement that they'll be in the downtown whatever so specific lock block street address it's going to have a lot
of information it's that the plan is the housing plan that I'm talking about be adopted by June that's really that's the how that's it's the housing plan it's going to it's going to show where we assign the units and want this these units to be constructed in
our town and it's going to be specific most of it's going to be specific lock block street address location and so forth there are as you get further into it you're allowed to have more General ideas but the majority of the plan very
specific everything I'm talking about tonight and up to this point is only arguing about the number that's all we're talking about I haven't looked at any site to say what goes where yeah um and then secondly if could you provide
um the information on that link you said that the um the numbers and the reports are all available on the website could you get the link to that or the information to laza so it can be made available to the public yeah we were required um to have it posted and it was
posted I confirmed it because I checked it myself and all my staff checked it but it was it I can't remember the exact link but I can provide yeah so if you could just get it to Liza because we're we're really good about putting this information up on the
website under our site under um Redevelopment yeah they stayed on me to make sure I did that they it great thank um yes so it's so everything I'm talking about the link is there the maps are there the
exhibits I should said spreadsheets and all that stuff but if you have any questions great thank you so much you're welcome Mike was the only Challenger to our number uh fair share or were there two Challengers there's two Challengers who was the second one New Jersey Builders build that's what I
thought with have two challenges this Council resolution satisfies all the challenges although I don't want to start speaking like my I missed EXA so to make sure I got the information
correct say thank you ahead of time um whatever of the council's going to be for all the hard work we've done um and that was on the phone call with you it's amazing watching the discussion is going back and forth and I I think we did a
good job we did a good job I'm saying we Township we did as a group we did really well we worked together it's a lot of information in a short period of time and again Liza and Connie were just fantastic your arguments are on point so thank you
I always if anyone has any questions of Mike before he leaves for the evening invite anybody up to ask any questions though I think you're presentation was very thorough and to the point so thank you for that and thank you manie for joining in on the zoom too and taking
the time thank you Mike we appreciate it okay moving on to the regular agenda and the approval of the minutes um yeah move the following minutes as distributed be accepted and approved public meeting October 8th October 29th 2024 special public meeting October 29th
2024 second any discussion roll call Mr Cuda yes Mr Foster yes Mrs illis yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran Mrs poke obstain from October 88th and yes to October 29th and special
meeting on October 9th okay moving on to the public hearing and final adoption of ordinances I move to open the public hearing on ordinances being considered for final adop May before we do that should get the now oh sorry
yes I'm out of I was late iate I apologize sorry okay so just uh for the public sake I'm going to try and make this a regular thing where I provide a short summary or explanation of any noteworthy ordinances or resolutions that are on the agenda that are up for adoption just so everyone is on the same
page I suppose as to what what we will be doing tonight so the first ordinance that we have on tonight is ordinance 20259 uh this is a storm water Control Ordinance this is actually required by uh the state uh state of New Jersey through the Department of Environmental
Protection we are required to update our burrow our Township Code to strengthen it to ensure that we are protected against these once in a generation storms that keep happening a lot more frequently than that uh the next ordinance is a companion ordinance to into that is
202-10 is a Sal assault storage ordinance uh it accompanies the previous one uh is also just to ensure compliance with the uh the dp's uh State storm water requirements uh the next one is ordinance
20251 so this provides a clarification on how the township currently charges for sewer fees which are included in residents their in property taxes it's not a separate line item uh this is just uh codifying our prior practices essentially for transparency sake that
way residents can see how they are being built or with you know the basis for for being built for for sewer um and lastly is ordinance one Department uh it also allows us to use more qualified inspectors the lack of which is I understand has been a
problem in the past for for Barkley Heights uh at the same time this allows us to retain the fire department's uh specific expertise on reviewing building plans for fire safety components uh conducting those those inspections and other related activities um that's it
for the ordinances I I may have an update uh later for the uh for the Council on the um the lease agreement with the the Board of Ed we're monitoring their meeting that's going on right now but if there is an update I will let you know later on in the meeting thank you Scot appreciate that
all right I move to open the public hearing on ordance is being considered for final adoption any discussion roll [Music] car Mr Cuda Mr Foster yes Mrs illis Mr Machado
yes Mr Moran yes Mrs pop yes and can I just ask who second did that oh sorry okay goes to alphabetically to Andy okay so comments on the ordinances up for final adoption are welcomed
during the public hearing there will be one public hearing for all the ordinances listed before making a comment all speakers must identify their name and address each speaker will be limited to three minutes and the council president will keep time and with that I
open up the hearing on the ordinances only 497 Avenue right you're on the clock Rich that was L wow see up from the Moon don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good talking about the storm
water ordinance is this a good ordinance ah it's okay we raised meaning the environmental commission raised several points and provided them to the council one more from the township engineer is the need for a future homeowner to be aware of
maintenance requirement I don't think this is in the ordinance in other words when a home is sold new homeowner needs to know that that a storm water strategy has to be
maintained and we asked two environmental Engineers to evaluate it and they had some good governments provided those to the to the council as well so I hope the council will be willing to engage in a conversation that can make this ordinance not perfect but
good thank you thank you Rich new to aren't you I want to come on I want to go play week don't Ben CH from ET roselt Avenue dear Mayor de and Meers members of the township Council thank you for
the opportunity to address you at this public hearing regarding ordinance number 2 11i speed for Township I commend year efforts to ensure the sewer system sustainability through this ordinance
and resolution number 2025 135 however I respectfully urge uh you to consider a small but meaningful amendment to enhance fairness for permanently and totally disabled veterans who own tax exm single family homes as it stands the
ordinance places an unintended burden on those honored residents and I believe we can address this together before final passage tonight under the current proposal tax pay and home owners have their sewer cost folded into their property taxes calculated
based on assess value a seamless process that feels less like a seate do by contrast veterans with homes exempt njsa 5 4330 permanent and total disability from
their service Cas a direct sewer fee of $1,391 per year for a single family home that's over $86 a month a fixed cost they can't avoid unlike their taxpaying neighbors this disparity seems unfair when the state has already recognized
these veteran sacrifices by relieving them of property taxes New Jersey's exception for disabled veterans reflects a commitment to ease their Municipal burdens while sewer fees are justtin from taxes charge will be full
$1,391 undermines that baring the ordinance already offer a $25 deduction for some seniors and disabled residents showing your willingness to support vulnerable grou groups why not extend this compassion to Veterans given so
much a full exemption or at least a reduced feed would align our local policy with State Valu I understand budget concerns but the impact would be minimal if we have just 10 such veterans in berley Heights exempting them would
cost without $1,390 annually a ping fraction of the sewer budget this could easily be spread across taxpaying Properties or adjusted among other tax EV users like institutions like multiple edus no one would feel the difference
but these veterans would feel our gratitude here's my proposal add a subsection to section 13228 a.3 dating any single family residential property owned and occupied by a permanently in total
veteran has defined under njsa 54 4330 exempt from local real estate property taxes they'll be exempt from the annual sewer use feed the township shall adjust the sewer budget allocation accordingly that's too much consider a
reduced fee of $250 matching what what out of Township homes pay a fa compromise Berkley Heights is a caring Community relieving those relieving these Veterans of this fee would show that we value their service and stand by them it's a chance
to set an example for other towns and build Goodwill right here at home tonight before you vote please amend ordinance number 25 20251 to include this relief our veterans deserve it and it's within our power to make it happen thank you for
listening and for your dedication to our cwn do thank you so our BFW Commander Steve mandragon actually raised this I'm sure you're the one that raised it with him so it get got back to me can we so here here's the only um hiccup that I
see we don't have a separate utility for sewage so it's baked into your property taxes can we table this is there any urgency so we can look into that and see if there's any way to create a deduction even though the prop it's part of the prop the general property
taxes yeah I so yes we is there any urgency to the the ordinance being introduced tonight in terms of another project again well it so if we make if we were making a substitutive change to it which this probably would be we have to reintroduce it yeah but is there any urgency to introduce it tonight Li in
terms of any other project orally this for adoption not for introduction I think right it's for adoption option yeah yeah we can if it's something we can't do like on the Fly can't amend it I do I do want to make I this is I'm glad you brought this up so the reason
that that the fee increase for tax tax exempt homeowners this year was because all the investment that we've been putting into the sewer plant and they part of your bill is based on sewer expenses every year so that's why there was a big increase this year I think it
was like 592 or something last year so that and that that'll that'll change in any given year depending on how much money is being put into the sewer PL like at this rate it's right which is might not be less than that anytime soon good uh
just Baseline information to have but I guess what I'm asking is can we pull this right so see how if if the sewer is baked into the property taxes right it's not segregated right correct I'm not sure how we would go about a deduction I think it's something that
we're going to have to research what I would suggest is we can table this for the adoption for the next meeting in the meantime we can see if it's something that we can do if we can at the next meeting we can just reintroduce it with with any changes if it's not then at that point the council can can consider this version for adoption but in the
meantime I would suggest instead just instead of pulling it I would suggest specifically tabling it for the next uh for the next meeting then can I also um let you know that we have a Veterans Affair committee tomorrow at six o'clock here so I would love it if you raise this issue with them as well because we
can work on that as a committee in conjunction with Scott and Liza certainly can't we pass what we have because this is an addition that we're it's a substantive change so it would change the what we have then we can introduce just
that element having to do with veterans to the same chap amend it amend it not amend it we do one ordinance she saying she saying amend it once it's adopted so amend we're just amending code have two different ordinances it would have to be so we'd have to
introduce it tonight adopt it at the next meeting on April 8th no I think we I think would um council with the amendment adopt it as it is and then we can introduce new ordinance which is you know now that this will be part of the code so introduce a new ordinance the
next one to amend the now current the time frame would be the same yeah it' be it' be the same yeah except the rest of it goes into effect the rest of it goes into effect because weren't there some issues with potential issues that's what
I was asking ideally that would be yeah and we just don't build in terms of tax it's not necessary as in you know the world if we don't do it tonight but it would be preferable if it is okay so that's that's what we'll do so if you could if you are able attend the meeting
with us tomorrow we'll discuss it we'll work with Scott and Liza so we're going to it sounds like introduce a separate ordinance um depending on the appropriate way to go about that type of tax exemption thank you very much before you go can you
yes on the works work Mike no taxes okay you're Angus
Chen F0 baild Drive U so I also want to set support a similar position with Richard along the environment commission um you know we know the uh strw ordinance as it is is you know seems to be going forward so I would also like to
advocate for you know amendments down the road to kind of make to to address some of the issues that you know homeowners and things like that will will face um and some of the changes that we've discussed with other engineers and S and I think you're working with Margaret on that correct
yes very good you very much thank you thank youone [Music] the public hearing on the ordinance consider for final adoption second any discussion roll
call Mr Cuda yes Mr Foster yes Mrs illis yes Mr machada yes Mr Moran yes Mrs poke yes ordinance 2029 please ordinance
20259 amending the township code for the township of Berkeley Heights to regulate storm water management and control I move to adopt the ordinance as read by the clerk I'll second that any discussion I just want to say that I really do appreciate the input that we
received from the environmental commission um and the continuing support that they give to our Township I will certainly um be discussing with them both the homeowner facing information that we're going to make available to the building and engineering department
which we'll incorporate a number of their suggestions and then additionally um after the ordinance has been in effect for a while we'll review it with engineering and then make potentially other changes or modifications um to take into account
the other issues that were brought up very good thank you Margaret uh roll call Mr Cuda yes Mr Foster yes Mrs illis yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs POG yes Angela can you do us the honor of
reading the next ordinance please ordinance 202-10 establishing an ordinance for privately owned salt storage per New Jersey state storm water regulation I move to adopt the ordinance as read by the clerk second that any discussion
roll call Mr Cuda yes Mr Foster yes Mrs illis yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs poke yes Madam clerk If You Could Read ordinance number 20 25-11 ordinance amending the township
code for the township of Berkeley Heights to clarify sewage fees I move to adopt the ordinance say read by clerk second act any discussion roll call Mr Cuda yes Mr Foster yes Mrs Alis yes Mr
Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs POG yes uh Madame clerk ordinance 2025 D12 if you would read that please amending the township code for the township of Berkeley Heights to regulate the Bureau of fire prevention I move to adopt the ordinance
as read by the clerk second that any discussion so I would just like to note that we had a um a very robust and um honest conversation with the chief and some of his uh command officers and I think that um it was incredibly helpful
for everybody um we have a good strategic plan going forward um to make sure that we take care of the needs and the concerns of the fire department and the fire chief so again Chief thank you for meeting us on a Sunday night we appreciate it John was with me as well as Susan and Liza um so again thank you
to you all sh up at 8 o' on a Sunday night I appreciate you all roll call Mr Cudo I Mr Foster yes Mrs Isis yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs poke yes okay the
yeah hearing read the comments need a second any discussion if roll call well you your comments yeah I always do it after okay Mr Cudo yes Mr Foster yes Mrs illis
yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs poke yes I like to do it so it's fres everybody's mind comments are welcomed during the public comment period during this meeting on any matter over which the township has jurisdiction to make your comment the speaker must come forward to the microphone and state his
or her name and address for the record each speaker is limited to 3 minutes the mayor and council president with his new timer will keep time please promptly yield the floor when time is called and return to your seat your cooperation in adherence to these Rules of Order will
ensure an orderly and respectful meeting and with that the citizens hearing is now open Don 70 detail so last town meeting I had brought up a concern about building code zoning violations and I didn't get a response
back so just wanted to know what you guys have discussed about it how you're going to address it and what the next steps are if it's related to Personnel we can't discuss that in public related to zoning and code violations not
Personnel the last time you were here I think you referenced some personnel let me be clear what is it that you want us to answer well there are zoning and code violations which we've been
asking Our Town engineer about he says he knows there are issues and he can't write violations the other person is Tom bako who's our zoning official personel you can't we can't well it's it's our zoning
official it's personel or not I mean can I say John Foster is he personel or no he's not an employee okay well in any case the zoning official is not investigating and being Guided by Our Town
Administrator to not investigate so I'm just curious why is that why aren't we investigating clear zoning violations is there a reason I think I could say at this point that everyone has done their job and done their due diligence and that's probably the only comment I would have this evening I don't know if the
attorney would like to add to that yeah so M I know you sent me some emails it was a couple weeks ago now and I I told you at the last meeting I was looking into it I honestly I just have not had a chance since our last meeting to to tie up some loose ends and hope my expectations is to have an answer for
you at the next meeting I just I'm I apologize I just haven't had chance since this last one but I will have answers for you soon I me it wasn't necessarily for you but it's you know the whole Council the mayor you know we were told not to talk to Town Administrator we were told not to talk
to the zoning official we were told to talk to the mayor and the council we talked to the mayor and the council we never got a response and was there any discussion that happened between the Town Council and the mayor about it sounds like Mr salmon is going to get
back to you I promise I will I will have an answer to you soon I just there there were a couple other things I want to check in on I just have good thank you guys thank you very much see you gonna let a meeting go and he ready Steve carelles 35
Sycamore Avenue also representing the national Motors Association um you know in addition to speaking to the merits of council legislation um I've also provided guidance on the implementation and especially for traffic matters now last year's uh twins Falls turn
prohibitions or is a recent example where I brought attention to to engineering um design issues now for the Park Avenue speed limit ordinance I figured that implementation would be rather straightforward um state law says
an ordinance is effective 20 days after it's signed by the mayor and that means Park Avenue speed limits remain the same until the period ends and new signs are posted that comply with the manual and uniform traffic control devices even if that comes after the 20day period now
this period provides time to order the compliance signs plan for their placement and address the communication of the change now for example remember when uh Brian from neglia was here and he said he would consult on the placement of the signs on park now 3 days after the ordinance
passed a Friday I noticed on the way to the grocery store that all but a few of the existing speed limit signs were covered and variable message signs at each end of Park Avenue displayed with the the new speed limit would be to my luck soon after I saw the mayor in
produce and asked what was happening on Park and she wasn't aware of the changes so um that was then I I confirmed she signed the ordinance as expected and we both acknowledged the 20-day you know waiting period now that quick talk resulted in my expectation that the
signage would be returned to the existing configuration to avoid the confusion being created well nothing changed over the weekend but that's the weekend and but nor during the past week so last Friday I I had a chance to reconnect with the
mayor um to again ask what was happening and I got to say from this conversation I I learned that you can't say the mayor doesn't listen it's just the result may be different from what you expected um I learned and the mayor can correct me if needed um that the uh new 30 m power
limit won't be enforced until after the 20-day period and hopefully after compliance sign are posted I also advised the mayor that the VMS displays are not compliant speed liit signs and that the only visible 40 m per hour
signs in each Direction resulted in a 40 m 40 m per hour speed limit for the entire length of park now the following Monday those 40 m per hour signs were taken down leaving no valid speed limit sign on Park and that's where we are
today um so I am implore the administration to uncover all the existing speed limit signs to reflect current law and to reprogram the VMS displays to say something like new 30 m per hour speed limit coming on or after March 25th when
posted um like I said I had a hard time explaining to people why this wasn't corrected um you know if the goal is to have a successful reduced speed limit this may not be the best way to start the process and residents can really be best be served by just following best
practices and the law I just want to kind of summarize my observations and you know in a week or so since the ordinance you have any questions thank you very much Steve for keeping track of the speed
limit signs I miss them on Park Avenue but it's it's good to see someone's doing it I'm sure the town wants to comply and stay within compliance make this happen so you get your results thank you s thank
you and you made John fer very happy by having to be like that I don't know about that mouse back here all right anyone else the savings hey seeing no one else um seeing no one
then I moveed the closes hearing second that any discussion roll call please Mr Kudo any affirmative Mr f Foster yes Mrs illis yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs poke
yes yeah move resolution 2025 d144 resolution commit to fourth round pres perspective need affordable housing obligations and agreement with the be share housing C second any discussion roll call Mr Cudo defitely Mr Foster yes
Mrs Ellis yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs poke yes I move to adopt the consent agenda consisting of resolutions 20251 145 through uh okay moving on to Township Council
reports Manny you are up first my friend uh very short no counselor this time very short okay very good thank you John okay um for side I want to print
landscape instead of so I'll do it like that um we got our last historical preservation committee meeting uh we're hard at work at our fourth annual uh Festival which is going to be on Saturday October 18th the rain date is Sunday October 19th 2025 um I've
already put any order for good weather so um we have a vintage homes initiative that we discussed again that we're going to be trying to get out for social media it's on the website um there are a number of homes in Berk H are 100 years older and are part of the history of our town this program recognizes these
homeowners by providing a flaque hang outside their home that designates is having this historic iCal significance um vintage form uh vintage home forms are on the website it gives what the qualifications are as far as the uh the history and architecture and these
plaques are being designed by the students at The Woodworking Shop govern livs in high school Under supervision of Mr Mike moresca their feacher up here um there's also a picture of sign you can't see if you can see but I got right here you want to take a look at I'll leave it up here um they're uh high quality
engraved and um has the train station logo on it which you probably seen if you've been out to any of the events that we've been out at um you can also find this information on the website
www.at.gov or you can email HPC ofb gmail.com we have a train station plaque that was already posted on the training station representing it's historic and working up setting up
rededication of the train station on that coming soon um Nokia has some items of historic value and the committee is working on possibly securing these for display in town halls a reminder what Berkle H has to offer as a community of its and its Rich past we're also looking
for members uh if you're interested in history check the website come on down what fine that goes for you people on TV Land all right thank you that's all I got all right thank you John Margaret um I don't have much this week um it's this weather's getting nicer more people are
going to be out walking and bicycling and scootering so please be mindful while you drive while you walk while you bike while you scooter because we have multiple users of the roads and everybody needs to be safe out there Mar
can I just picky back on you for a second because I almost um had a incident with an electric bike rider who was on the wrong side of the road so as I was turning right I looked to the left but he came up from the right and I
almost took him out so I think it's really important parents teach their children if they're riding scooters if you're on a wheeled vehicle Steve back me up if you're in a wheeled vehicle you are riding with traffic if you're walking you're riding against traff am I right about that he's giving me a thumbs
up justed a build yesterday to make sure they just don't tell drivers but they tell the riders with those devices thank you people don't realize electric scoo Des are same as a car traffic flow and everything else for safety we're
telling younger kids to go on the sidewalk on the sidewalk is fine he was in the road he was in the road so for so I we talked Tod about this and there's a little because we don't want sixth graders you know in the car Lane with
vehicles we're trying to be as safe as possible helmet helmet so just helmets What helmets oh yes and I've seen yes there are kids riding hel okay Sor thank you maret sorry about
that I don't have anything but I do have a reminder uh I just actually had it done today if you haven't scheduled your um inspection of your uh water uh uh I guess your water meter I mean what
they're looking for is to see if whether or not your uh leading is made out of lead galvanized steel if it is they will absolutely replace it with Copper at no additional cost so this is through New Jersey American Water if you haven't scheduled it I suggest that you do it
now uh because uh it it's actually um they've been doing it for a while now and it's and it's ending fairly soon thank you just a piggy back on that bill um a very nice person from America from New Jersey American Water knocked on my door with his his ID and he came to
inspect my water line my water pipes today I didn't make an appointment he just came yeah so all right thank you Bill Andrew no Susan I have a couple things uh planning board meets tomorrow night there's two things on the agenda there
is a preliminary and final site plan approval to a three story mixed use development at 495 Springfield and then an application for review at 343 Snider for an addition to the rear of an existing building for a baseball training place I not that includes
softball but yeah uh grants committee I'm working on the T-Mobile Hometown grant for accessories to be put into peppertown park such as benches tables uh dog stations bike racks and an outdoor musical instrument activity um Mary you to talk about the
wellness book club or started reading I'm halfway through I have the title things you can see only when you slow down is our next book and we meet the second Thursday of month so it'll be April 10th we had a flag raising last Friday for Irish heritage a lot of the council members were there Fiona Rouse
raised the flag we had a bag Piper from GL thanks to president Foster and thank you to Connor Williams from um no sorry Connor Williams was the bad piper Conor McKenna there were a lot of Connors that night Connor mcon went from Delicious Heights he hosted he had a
banjo player with played some Irish songs was the bagpiper Ian why did he tell me I thought he oh you're right Ian Williams because it's Mike I got the Conor yeah my bad thank you thank you I remember yeah soda bread contest had
nine entries and our Berkeley Heights Police Department judge the crystal family won a gift card generously provided by Conor McKenna from Delicious Heights thank you to all who supported the event so as a leader in the community I do feel compelled to speak about a topic tonight my father he was a
man and business owner had a quote in his office yellowed and frayed it hung so long the quote was from Bernard baroo Every Man Has a right to his opinion but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts a dictionary definition of an opinion is a view or judgment formed
about something not necessarily based on fact or knowledge the dictionary definition of fact an event or thing known to have happened or existed a truth verifiable from experience or observation as a former journalist before blogs social media websites and the internet I had to sign off on all my
articles as thing all things verified and then my editor had to sign off before publishing the world has become an overload of information pushed out as news but it's not all necessarily factual many people today use social media as a news source platforms like Twitter and Facebook are crucial for
real-time news dissemination but there's a challenge it's hard to verify the authenticity of information and manage the spread of misinformation in real time the other challenge is algorithms where two people can get fast ly different news feeds based on their past
interactions which can potentially re reinforce biases for those who are trying to figure out how to navigate the influx of information it's important to remember there are key principles of journalistic Ethics journalists are bound by a set of values designed to uphold the Integrity of their work which
includes accuracy every piece of information should be verified and crosschecked leaving no room for error it builds trust objectivity while complete neutrality is nearly impossible journalists strive to present facts without personal bias or agenda allowing
audiences to form their own opinions fairness journalism must represent multiple perspectives especially in contentious issues to ensure balanced reporting and accountability journalists must take responsibility for their reporting acknowledging and correcting mistakes when they occur there's a
social media platform in our town that sees itself as a source for news about the township as well as the Board of Ed sometimes this platform posts a lot of information that's not accurate nor objective it is not balanced it's often biased the misinformation often caus causes divisiveness within our community
based on the definition of fact and opinion and the ethics of Journalism residents should caution themselves when relying on this site for news about our community without factchecking there are many ways to get real news about the township tap into the website newsletter videos and a very responsive staff
Abraham Lincoln said I am a firm believer in the people if given the truth they can be dependent upon to meet any national CR crisis the great point is to bring them the real facts thank you for listening thank you very much Susan appreciate that sry mayor before your report there was one thing we
forgot about the the resolution that needs to be walked on related to the uh the the cancellation of the bid the bids to the road workor and infrastructure repair I'm sorry I forgot bring uh I you should all have a copy of this I do now okay all
right so was this an addition to the agenda sorry mayor you weren't here I tried to explain to everyone else so yeah this came up this afternoon read the resolution to the record um I just wasn't here for the beginning
of the meeting sorry deed sorry it came this afternoon we've had some issues with the bid that is out now for the concrete work okay so we need to uh redefine some some information in the spec to provide some more information so
we're just asking to cancel that bid rework it and then put it back out so that's what this resolution is for so if we allowing us to do that okay I appreciate the explanation that's great do you want me to read the resolution into the record I'll say I'll say yes
Okay resolution whereas purum to njsa 40a 11-1 the township of Berkeley advertised to solicit bids for the 2025 2027 Road workor and infrastructure repair and whereas the township Subs sub quently determined that it must modify the terms and the conditions of the
township of Berkeley Heights request for proposals for the 2025 2027 road work and infrastructure repair to better clarify the work expectations proposal amounts and evaluation criteria and whereas pursuant to njac 5 po
34-9 do3 the township of Berkeley Heights is permitted to can cancel or postpone receipt of bids or proposals and whereas the township Berkley Heights has determined it necessary to cancel the current request for proposals for the 202527 road work and infrastructure
repair and an effort to modify advertise and accept proposals in response to a request for proposal that accurately reflects the work expectation proposal amounts and evaluation criteria now therefore be it resolved by the township Council the township of Berkeley Heights
hereby cancels the request for proposals for the 2025 27 2027 road work and infrastructure repair and hereby authorizes the read vertisements for the 2025 2027 I'm going to hear that at my sleep Road re with
the correct dates for the say be it further resolved by the township Council the township of Berkeley hates that the Township Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to take whatever ministerial actions are necessary to effectuate the terms of this resolution approved this 18th day of March 20125 can I get a
second second any discussion roll call Mr Kudo yes Mr Foster yes Mrs illis yes Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs po yes okay here we go I moved at the township wait I haven't I haven't
Administration reports haven't gone yet um so I'll be brief so we have a Slowdown in our town event and we're just putting up the little yellow long signs that we've been trying to implement for a number of years along Park Avenue just to raise awareness about uh the changes there senior affairs are meeting next week and
we're working Margaret and I are working on trying to get an ARP um Aging in place survey done townwide this year um vac Veterans Affairs committee uh the mayor's youth Council and the veteran affairs tomorrow are stopping in mailing so we could try to build a mailing list
for our veterans in town the mayor's youth council is meeting on Friday and they have a number of uh monthly events bonly events that they're planning including a dog parade I think I mentioned that to everybody so that's amazing and then the mayor's Wellness committee will meet the first Wednesday in April
so all my committees are backloaded um Liza um just spring chipping will begin April 7th that's one of the biggest programs we do for DPW so please check our website Berkeley heights. goov for more information and um we are collecting donations now for goods for
Army special forces units deployed over so that's also on our website and donations specific donations are listed on our website on the front page and can be dropped off here at Town Hall through March 31st so please help us support those men and women who are overseas um serving their country and and serving us
so thank you all right now then I move to uh I move at the township official reports be accepted and approved second any discussion roll call Mr Cudo yes Mr
Foster yes Mrs zillis Mr Machado yes Mr Moran yes Mrs poke yes motion to adjourn motion to adjourn all in favor I all right let's go to the board of Ved