##VIDEO ID:C_cZ2pxUlNk## let go e would you please raise the open public meetings act adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by boing a copy to the cier news star leer and posting on the township website at least 48 hours prior to the meeting all in accordance with the open public screening act this meeting will not substantially go past 10:30 okay we already had executive session so roll call Madam clerk Mr Kudo yes Mr Thell Mr Foster yes Mrs zis yes Mr Machado yes Mrs po yes I'm here all please rise a little bit slower this time I flag the United States of America stands indice okay moving into conference session we have the audit review and corrective action plan and best practices inventory thank youa are you starting us off this evening um I'm going to turn it over to our auditor here and our CFO to just give a brief overview of where the stands okay if I the room is wired but for people that are here it's always better to come forward because we have both sort of going on anybody can fear you we want to hear what we're gonna hang on every word please it's not that fantastic um just so you know we submitted our we received our audit results and we're asking you to approve to accept the comments and basically there were seven comments a lot of them are ongoing and the staff is quite talented and we're working together intently on trying to clean them up so next year you'll be looking at a much better picture that is the goal the fast will be well this will be submitted to fast as soon as we get all our affidavits and the corrective action plan will be filed with the state so you any specific questions you have me I want to actually thank you because uh between having a contract CFO and uh staff that was not here very long you came in and have done an amazing job and then put in many more hours than you needed to to make sure that our finances are really up to speed and I know that you have done that so I think I speak on behalf of all of us by thanking you for that I know it's been a lot and it's probably not what you expected we said hey let's do the sh service thing right yeah it's a little more than I expected uh and we're I'm continuing to going there's quite a ways to go as you've noticed over the months there have been a few more resolutions than you're used to trying to keep everything by the book keep all everything up and running all of basically anything I do I need your approval to do it so I will sending you more resolutions as the days go on uh especially as we're getting to a de end I was able to cancel checks this time around there will be canceling grants and more more and more clean up and things like that we we appreciate it thank you I just want to say it was very thorough I read the whole thing then fell asleep no just kidding I'm just kidding I ride around with my a okay right this is obviously my audit but yes no I do it's very thorough as far as everything that that's out there and if there's more coming more coming you um it'll be great for insomniacs just kidding just kidding that was very good thank you and I want to point out that if you noticed um the agenda might be constructed a little differently and that is because we're going to add more Finance um housekeeping types of resolutions which is just lending more transparency to what goes on so sometimes the amounts are cumul cumulated like I think initially the the agenda said we spent $40,000 on deodorizer for the SE plant that wasn't the case it was only $5,000 but it was um for that one particular vendor so if you see more consent agenda items that are more Finance in nature it's very much housekeeping and in alignment with the way Dian likes to do so we appreciate that as well also well if I can thank our auditing firm kept everything going a a a CFO uh laps and CFO um they really work really well with with our staff to make sure on so thank you good evening good evening my name is Dave boty I'm with Wheel coxing Company um just here to go if you have any questions with the audit uh finances actually look good your Surplus was up um and that's the main the main thing everybody looks at and uh there's like she the CFO said there was some comments in the report that they're going to be taken care of and uh that's pretty pretty much it we thank you too for your months months of work and and pouring over documents and making sure that we're in compliance with the state law so we appreciate that as well yeah the partner who was in charge Jim cerillo he retired in at the end of June so he did most of the work before reti my best yeah he's living the dream yeah so I don't know one comment yes so when we went to I know I was with Manny and John um the Surplus is up a lot of residents don't understand that the fund balance it's not right it's not a surplus of extra money so I just wanted to clarify that your fund balance is a fun not a fund balance but a fun yeah the fund balance was up like2 million people hear Surplus like well you have the surplus of money what are you doing with it so I just wanted the public to know it's not exactly the same yeah I think we got that drill in our head yes I can't budget school budget we all went to budget school yes thank you oh there's any anybody questions on the um actually 68 68 it always is a tweak on my head just want to double check something okay Prospect good yeah 68 was a city Bond mentioned who's be there the Town Council the clerk the 68 63 63 6 63 right okay it's says clerk the tax assessor and one of the parties has a city Bond correct the CFO the clerk and Court Administrator has one okay and the rest of the council and the mayor is covered by our general policy yes okay just want to make sure good question question for the rest of us was memorized maybe it was 68 in the last year's report that was on my dad yeah say 68 was the uh property acquired for taxes I didn't get a question about that right thank you sure all right thank you very much great evening I in that long commute down the road too right better get out this toll put the toll up all right moving on to the regular agenda and oh mayor I'm sorry we have to do best practice in oh sorry I apologize I was going to cut L offy to go no it's okay doing good I got eight minutes um so Diane spere headed ensuring that all the Departments got the necessary uh um questions answered pertaining to various this a lot of the towns were sort of stunned that there were so many questions on on this year's best practice inventory um I can let her elaborate but there were quite a few on affordable housing and then some new ones seem to be about lead paint which for us actually is not that big of an issue so for us a lot of those answers were not applicable or no just because it's it's not a real heavy lift um in our town but we did work with our affordable housing um planners on the affordable questions because some of these dated way back um and then coure competencies that was another that was another one we scored very well on that in terms of transparency making sure pertinent information giving uh re resources to taxpayers was on our website in various places and did I miss any highlights you all have copies of this right yeah you may realize the state always asks for what are the the key critical things that they're looking for that making sure towns are transparent and doing what we're supposed to be doing as well as forward-looking as there are a lot of unscored questions so you could tell where the BCA is going next year it's good that kind of thing yeah so right so they don't penalize you yet for having a no answer for some of these because some of these were like when were we supposed to do this when was somebody going to tell us we were supposed to do this but that was just your point like now we know okay that's on our radar interested in seeing how everybody's working on that working towards that so I'm sure they will show up again next year all right good very good anything else thank you for that that was pretty thorough also that didn't put me to sleep this that was a little bit more interesting right very interesting to what do you mean the St the hard work that sleep um good luck tonight and we will see you next time okay now the hearing the agenda okay I herebody open the hearing on the agenda second any discussion roll call mrud Mr feris Mr Machado yes po yes comments are welcom the public comment perod during this meeting on any agenda item however if an ordinance is listed for its own public hearing on the agenda please hold your comments for that particular public hearing 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 three minutes the mayor council president will keep time please promptly yield on the floor when time is full and return to your seat your cooperation in adherance of these rules will ensure an orderly and respectful meeting and with that the hearing on the agenda items only is now open see no one I make a motion to close the hearing on agenda items on a second any discussion roll call Mr Kudo yes Mr Donell yes Mr fer yes Mr zillis Mr Machado yes Mrs po yes business yes you on to new business so PA you're up first Mo on resolution one approving Bill list stated October 29 2024 in the amount of 1,317 069.0 7 second any discussion roll call Mr Kudo yes Mr Don Mr Foster Machado yes po yes bring forth resolution number two approving the corrective action plan for the recommendations listed in the 2023 annual audit report second any discussion roll call is it Kudo yes Mr it tnal yes Mr It Foster yes M Machado yes M po yes I'm of resolution number three authorizing the governing body certification of the annual audit second n any discussion roll call Mr Kudo yes Mr Donal Mr Foster yes Mr zillis yes Mr Machado yesos yes I move resolution number four resolution rewarding a contract to Grand Sanitation service to perform residential curbside recycling services in an amount not to exceed 96 $60,000 for a three-year term expiring December 31st 2027 second hat uh any discussion so I'll just point out that we've had gardano for many many many years as our recycling hauler and that this will be the first time that a uh new vendor actually won the bid so um looking forward to a different service I guess right so is it still going to be twice a month that's how they went right it's uh they're doing Wednesday one day just one day MH it was an alternate if they W so they're doing Wednesday okay it'll be back to what it used to be the whole town t a month yes but on Wednesdays it's like right now we have alternated days giodo came back to us and asked to split it up after they had gotten the bid couple years ago it'll bees and then it's still single stream there aren't any other changes to the recycling services with the new because that's something that residents are going to ask since we have a new hauler yeah great no hopefully everything else is seller service so okay roll call Mr Kudo yes Mr donelly Mr fer yes Mrs zillis Mr Machado yes Mrs poke yes I move resolution five ratifying and awarding a contract with WK maramman Inc to provide magnesium hydroxide for the wastewater treatment plant an amount not to exceed $23,000 second any discussion so is this Diane is this a a new 203 or is this part of the aggregate okay so I just want to yeah okay sorry you resolu yeah so the the resolution set up as ratifying and awarding because it came to D's attention my attention that uh a lot of this has already been purchased and used to the tune of 148,000 55,000 is what we anticipate to get us to the end of the year so it's a total of 203 of which 148,000 has already been expended going forward will there be multiple resolutions for the same vendor or will we encumber the total amount and then just pay that as we the goal is to encumber it the beginning of the year one contract okay and then we'll down so this is just still a part of that housekeeping that we're trying to do here okay got it got it got it just want to double check all right roll call Mr Kudo yes Mr Mr Foster yes Mr zis Mr Machado yes Mrs po yes I move resolution number six resolution authorizing the township to execute a collective bargaining agreement with the United Public Service employees union for the term of January 1st 2024 to December 31st 2026 second any discussion I want to thank uh thank the team for working really hard to get this thing taken care of I know elza and barbar few others worked really hard pushing through and we're hiring and we're we're hiring at a new level rate so hopefully we'll get some folks interested in uh in working at the plant because we need it it was an update update to the old agreement so and also just a shout out to the sewer plant workers for keeping us going day in and day out they're one of the few departments in town that usually don't get a thank you so know that I appreciate them as I'm sure everybody up here does and some Heroes for sure for sure uh roll call Mr Kudo I Mr Donell Mr Foster yes Mrs zis Mr Machado yes Mrs po yes uh move resolution 7 authorizing personto person transfer application for legal license neoya Group LLC to Nomi Japanese bar and Gill LLC and discussion I think this is just a transfer management correct yes and we do backround everything's been done and new owners essentially okay got it got it roll call Mr Cudo yes Donell Mr Fuster yes Mr zillis Mr Machado yes Mrs poke yes I'm a resolution eight a resolution authorizing a hold harmless agreement with the county of Union Rel comp second any discussion yeah that's it's going to be composting they're picking up leaves along their Road or what's the comp County Roads so we can drop off the leaves with them also I believe we drop up we've been doing this yeah I thought we've been doing it year but been asking off uh to the county to the County facility or the one in Springfield probably but I don't know the answer to that we can find out okay um I would hope so that would save them a little time and energy and effort we we don't handle that so it's okay wey we'll try to find out roll call Mr Cudo Mr Donal Mr Foster yes yes Mr Machado yes spoke yes I move resolution number nine resolution authorizing award a cont cont ract to Pino builders for emergency easement work on Riverbend Road and an the amount not to exceed $25,000 second any discussion one more time yeah which work is is being done over day I think that's 311 and we talked about that today in the STA meeting so and okay I one of the residents reached out to me it was an emergency project I don't know it's that walkway you're talking about that walkway that we EP that we did yeah it goes down to it I don't think it is I think it's something different okay I think it's a collapse of a pike that happened that's the one okay yeah I know that so that was different then that's why it's an emergency expenditure because it was yeah single probably not that bad but yeah close um sorry R call I know we're working hard on on that trying to get answers but yeah yeah I was hoping that was it and I just missed it no I know no unfortunately it's something else different emergency piping repairs yeah there was a big pipe that yeah uh roll call Mr Kudo yes Don Mr Foster yes Mr zillis yes Mr Machado yes Mrs poke yes it's you yeah that's you Susan I'm I'm at consent agend I thought no it's it's a little up you're number 10 oh at that's okay I'm resolution 10 authorizing going out to bid for Road Recon of Old Farm Orchard Mercier project for the town shop second that any discussion question sure um are there engineering plans in place for this to go out to bid with uh yes um Tom saaro and I'm trying to recollect he was recapping today like four or five projects that he is a part of and I believe all the engineering everything's done and approved by the state because this is a grant and that's why we're able to okay can I see those PLS um yeah you'll send them to me then um too big I have to see move on the screen but yeah I'll check with him if you could print it out to yeah I I wouldn't be able to print bake plant but I'll I'll see what he's got they can they can yeah yeah I'll see I'll see what he's got um any other questions R Paul Mr Cudo of course Mr Donal yes Mr Foster yes Mr Dillis Mr Machado yes po yes okay and I move sent agenda a through I second any discussion I just have two comments I want to thank Owen Emmons uh he's on the roster now of our Rescue Squad which is fantastic and Winter Walk date is December 7th which is also Pearl Harbor day it's always a great event in town so awesome come attend I will I'll be there um any other did you have to my did you say something you want discuss why we're doing so many consent agenda of be doing right so so this is this is sort of what I was um referring to earlier consent agenda a lot of this is housekeeping items from the finance department that honestly they're a bit perun we have to do them because it's a part of the process so we just uh decided that uh it could be onerous and that it should be a part of the consent agenda um and let me just mention too for any reason when Anna puts the agenda out if a council person believes that it requires its own discussion they are uh more than um able to pull out that tell Anna that they want to pull that resolution out for a separate Vote or we can certainly do that if for some reason we having some sort of discussion and we have a resident come forward and feels that we need to do that we can make that decision as a governing body in the moment to pull that resolution out and discuss it separately and vote on it separately so so I just have a quick question on the stale checks because we haven't canceled any St stale check since I've been on Council um so what is the process with check once they're um over 180 days they're pretty stale meaning not cashed correct right they're not cashed so therefore um if it's under if it's just around 800 days we just cancel the check and we keep the purchase order open however I have checks getting back to 2021 that were never cancelled so therefore we'll just take the money to Surplus that to fund balance at that Mak sense thank you all right local MR Kudo of course Mr Foster yes Mrs zis Mr Machado yes Mrs pop yes okay onto Township Council reports Manny your first up okay uh Township Council reports John's do DBC um on Mr vet's aair committee meeting so the may may be KN that one um and EDC I'll just give a short snippet the EDC is working to coordinate with the owners and businesses to have a sit down to figure out their needs and help attract new businesses to town I know the EDC has been working very very hard to try to coordinate um the business needs as well as the landlords um also the complete streets the complete and green streets passport mes at night and they've applied for the ss4a grant for the and Grant is also being applied for by Union County for the exact same amount and we're going to see which one wins it's not an easy grant to get but the grants in separate steps um and the steps are for the first part of the grant is for implementation the next one is for planning and the next one's for for following it through so we're waiting to see if we get that Grant um they're also compiling data from other towns on best practices and ideas as well as funding to help improve our roads and keep the town walkable and keep Town safe the task force is also checking working on a placement on Township website so the township can be informed of what's going on with the group and they're also discussing about refocusing their Charter for next year and coming into Force the council again as for next year to be and I would just I think I mentioned this to you I think I mentioned this to you and to Margaret that you know I know we said hard deadline end of the year to complete a report I think that needs to be extended out because the police department has so much going on in town this has added a lot more to that so I I think I don't think anybody would object if the the task force yeah they're working very hard and working the report they actually John Leo said he's going to have it he should have it done by the next two three meetings so we should have a rough draft to present the township and then they're going to ask and that I have no problem with extending it and if and if they can't meet that deadline for the everybody right I don't think anyone would no they're working extremely extremely hard I'm sure Mark can agree with me Mark anything else you want to say about that I'm sorry I'll do it in my report okay I apologize um and that was it for the for the task force um public interest just information what's going on everyone talks about the plastic bags in town and I know this not I'm not in the environmental commission but I was on the builder website and I found that TX whose goal is is by the way TX is not an advertisement for the company for any reason stretches the imagination but their commitment to recycling of thin plastic is is next to none and if you go to their website next trxs you can type in your zip code and it has a list of everyone who does plastic in the United States so if you want to drop it off the Stop and Shop which is on our list here in town just go to next trxs type in the type in the zip code and you see old stores and businesses that recycle plastic so say your side of that a little bit yeah I'm back on that for a second so Woodruff does a collection and we're like in a running to be in a competition with other schools so I take care of anything that comes in through Woodruff um and our Township collects thin film plastic the first Saturday of every month so that's where I end up dropping it I have to weigh it take a picture of it uploaded to the TR account and then we get credit for it that to Susan so has an ex information over in shop shoppr in Sterling they put in a brand new box for T collecting Plastics and it's not just the plastic bags it's any thin film plastic all your Amazon Stu they have other other options so food containers I think they do they might do number five like the yogurt containers but they have separate sections it's lovely state of theart it just want to bring the tracks up because we've gotten a few um things that w d a bench and a wind Chim and a coat hook so we um we're in competition with a lot of other school districts we're a small school so we appreciate anything that comes in through wardr the front door I'll take care of it okay anyone in town wants to drop off tracks to Susan right front door I'll take care of it not a front door but it's Mr PO helps me so that's good that keep Mr Po happyy and two more two more items uh one's going to be I just want I'm going to take from John's idea on what today is today's Black Tuesday and that's based on what happened 1929 when the stock market crashed so you have to remember that the economy is is very precious so keep an eye on it don't take bad Investments and do your best and the last thing I'm going to say which someone else might be saying also this is a it's not a political Choice statement um but it's a statement for for for us for all the citizens the American citizen the democracy is a process that happens in the United States go vote believe voting so far has started there's over 250,000 votes have been tabulated already in New Jersey history aside when Washington finish his term as a president the Congress asked him to continue as president for any any reason he wanted they offered him everything Washington looked down he says no I'm not taking this job anymore he goes it's not for the next person and he stepped down and the world watched the creation of a new Republic and the birth of democracy every election season that same power is given to each and every citizen of age with few exceptions it is fully up to you to continue to streak and vote so with that I want to remind everyone to please vote anyone you want to vote for but vote it's your right it's your responsibility and it's a power given to you that people died in 1776 they got it done so to do so and women didn't get the vote until much later so wom it's women women come out and vote come out and vote everyone's got a vote each and every person right now has gotten the power so I want to I I was just sharing this and I I shared it in my class the University of North Dakota did a did a study um like a focused group last year and they had Republicans and Democrats on a zoom meeting um to talk about politics and the anxiety level of people before they had this meeting was at 80 some odd percent. after the the meeting took place and it was you know hundreds of people that did this 91% of people said that they agreed and had more in common with the person than they thought and they would go have a cup of coffee with that person on a personal level after having this conversation with them so let's just remember that we have a whole lot more in common than we don't a anality is important uh The Whole World's watching yeah the left and right side of the road but as someone once said everything happens in the middle of the road y the people here before you is is the first Council of of both parties and we're working together we don't always agree but we work together we share ideas collaborate and we become stronger because of that so please please please please yeah and show kindness and kindness do both for me wonderful way to end thank you so much Paul he the senior committee met October 23rd but I missed it because working but um I have some notes so um there's no resolution yet on the senior programming for the TV channel GL that's one thing uh they're looking into a cooking class for seniors um there's movie in the library every Friday well every fourth Friday of the month um they're going to do a cookie exchange holiday tea Winter Walk on December 5th from 2 to 23 2 to 3:30 for the seniors and then there's also one other announcement about the senior prom that Angie's going to do so she'll dig into that a little bit more and that's all think back on you now for a second uh the woman who our young woman who sang at our flag raising sh who's also going to sing at the veterans I just got an email from her today she wants to get involved with the ERS and the veterans in our community to bring joy of music to their program so I just forwarded um her email to Deb barin and Carolyn George and you mayor so she wants to bring you know the joy of music to to our seniors and our veterans there's a couple of older teens High School age teens that are trying to revamp the mayor's youth Council so that might be a great place for her to join in and be able to do things for seniors and S for them they would love it they would love it okay thank you John okay I'm going to start with the newest one first the DPC La met last evening uh it was a busy month for the committee October 23rd planning weard application for 268 Springfield Avenue is the March's property uh through the tech number Review Committee the DBC work closely with the applicant to design new building that will fit the character and feel over downtown community the new building will be the home of Paris Baguette uh also have an additional retail space available uh this will be an exciting addition our downtown the application was unanimously approved the committee has also been working with the owner of 649 Springfield Avenue it's genus tennis world through the TRC process and hopefully this project will be for the planning board surely uh new business is moving into 512 Springfield Avenue that's the Bank building on the corner of planfield and Springfield Avenue um the committee has been working with the new tenant on signage for new business we look forward to welcoming this business before the new year a restaurant month now with its eth year or now finished its 8th year concluded on September 30th committee has from canvas seeing the many participants and the feedback the to date has been excellent um it's been another successful program they're still collecting feedback but it looks like restaurant month will be back for its ninth year in September 2025 when we get to 10 years I'm going party for it um uh I want to wish everybody a happy Halloween that's coming up and you're out there kids out there in TV land be safe um and happy dwali uh to all the residents that have that coming up and yeah and uh last but not least the uh festival at the LEL Lord I'm gon to talk about that since that was just a great day thank you everyone for coming out um it was just phenomenal sorry I missed it unfortunately I did too yeah that's why I was going to I figured I would I'll but from what I see from the pictures and uh kind of wed the weather so maybe next year we do the same thing I'm just kidding um but that's what I got thank you awesome thank you John uh Margaret um I was just going to touch on latel Lord and what a fabulous event it was um a huge shout out to the historic preservation committee for all the hard work that they did in bringing Community together um in a really fabulous way they ran out of beer they ran out of glasses I heard because there were so many people there enjoying the day it was just a fabulous day out um last week I attended the I volunteered at the senior luncheon that's sponsored by the rec recck department um again it was you know they were busting the doors with as many people as came in um Everybody enjoyed themselves the next one will be a Thanksgiving luncheon um when is that one I don't know the data top of my head um so you know people should check the um the recreation calendar and also the Township calendar for these events because they're fabulous um The Pedestrian and green streets task force is marching on along um we are will be at a table at Winter Walk with the storic preservation committee and the environmental commission um on behalf of the township um so we'll be looking for feedback from people on what would make walking and biking in town more um pleasurable and there will be an activity for the kids um so we're very excited about that um we'll be crowd sourcing some feedback um we're looking for some volunteers to help us map and grade sidewalks so people can email me at Millis vhw p.com um and we'll get this information out um via Liza as well we will have a presence on the Berkeley Heights website as soon as we can but it depends on resources um and we'll be doing a survey for residents so that they can give us feedback again on their you know their walking um biking experience so we're looking for feedback across the community all age ranges all ability rang is we want to get a feeling for you know how the community feels about our walkable community and what we can do to make it a a more pleasurable and safe experience that's great that's it for all right very good um Bill don't actually have anything um but I do have to say that I I um I did a driveby over at the Lord latel uh festival and uh it was it appeared to be a huge outpouring uh there were cars parked on both sides of the streets on on U uh pretty much everywhere I there was no parking anywhere and then I also did a drive by over here at the trunk Retreat and uh that looked like it was a a huge celebration as well there was a big outpouring there there was a lot of people um I also noticed that there was a um a couple of adoption events over at home for good but yes unfortunately I don't have the opportunity I've been so busy with a lot of these animal rescues lately that I've just been um concentrating on those so uh but I do love the fact that our town is uh taking advantage of the beautiful weather that we had although I do have to say that um uh yeah we are experiencing a drought I mean it's we have not a a drop of rain uh this entire month it appears that uh you know uh climate change is real I don't want to be a Debbie Downer but it's it's quite concerning um but at any rate I just wanted to uh say that uh it was it was um I just one more thing uh that the uh police force uh our PD called me yesterday regarding a a a dog that was running around by our high school and they were saying hey Bill can you help us out now of course I was busy over in planfield at the time but what I love about our town is the fact that um you know these dogs are reunited with their owners almost within 15 to 30 minutes after they're running around loose so uh unlike over in the city of planfield where most of these dogs are either abandoned or or or just um just at large at any rate um a big shout out to PD they were able to reunite that dog um with the owner within a half an hour that's great I love that yeah they're amazing thank you Bill very much Susan so I'm a big piggybacker today because I'm gonna piggyback on Bill yes Bill climate change is real I did some work with a group called subject to climate and if you look at the map of how the temperatures across the world has changed since 1884 most of it's happened the last 10 years that said don't idle your car you can help everyone can do something don't idle your car and it's very dry so if you can avoid uh wasting water that'd be great and no fires right now fire pits are not okay unless it's a gas powered one um I know there have been some fires you know down in Ocean County because of that so um off my soap box I'm going to go to planning board so planning board adopted a resolution with regard to the application from Union County Improvement Authority it was proposed Park development and it approved unanimously 7 to Zer which really just a courtesy from the county the county did not need us to vote and approve it it's just a courtesy a three-year extension request was approved for the conal company with regard to the mixed use residential and Retail development and the extension now runs through November 2nd 2027 and approved unanimously 9 to Z um the building has the construction has started there but obviously everything takes a long time so um it was to help them out with not having to go through another process an application for the new commercial building as uh John mentioned to replace marchellos it looks beautiful it is Paris Baguette Cafe and their corporate office will also share the space and then a yet to be least retail store or restaurant space and that application passed 90 Connie just sent us the rendering and it's just they're it's beautiful it really is beautiful um we talked at planning board um to make sure that Woodruff is notified for any demolition because that whole building is going to come down just because we don't want it to happen when kids are out on that field because that field is directly behind the structure uh the next meeting is November 6th if there's anything on the agenda um so the heart grant that we talked about so I they have a new portal system I had everything up in the portal last thing I had to do is upload the budget I upload the budget and it all disappeared and I just I just didn't have the time in two days to get it up and running but all the work is done for next year so we'll get there it just couldn't happen this year and it's that project that we I I reached out to the people there they looked it was under Li's name it's just gone it's gone it's gone you'd have to recreate it I would have to recreate everything and it was all the research it was the narrative it was everything and the last thing was uploading budget that Anna got me and it was a PDF it should be very simple about what we were oh so yes so what it is is the rain Rainer so it's this paint that only shows up on rainy days and I did a lot of research on um rainy days and depression and there is a correlation between rainy days and depression so the goal was to paint on buildings and sidewalks all over town like positive happy messages and so on a rainy day as you're coming on the sidewalk to town hall you would all of a sudden see see um a happy message that would bring you Joy so we were going to have like a competition we're going to get there we're going to get it done for next year um it just I just couldn't I couldn't get it done and I emailed him and he didn't get me get back to me until the next day and I literally had three hours to do it and as we all have jobs right so I had to go to work I had to go to work but all the research is done and I may look for another opportunity to get it done without the heart Grant it's not a lot of money but it'll bring a lot of joy to our to our town um so the grant forel Lord I had Co the last time when John announced this $384,000 grant so when I saw the letter I was just beaming from ear to ear because when I started the grants committee people were like oh lat tell lord it's too much it's too this it's too that and the first grant was only $5,000 but you got to start somewhere and then the second Grant was $85,000 and then it's a worthwhile project and then again this event that we had we back on the fourth centuries um tour and that's why so many more people there because they were coming from other events across Union County and they were so impressed with our building I actually gave a few tours towards the end of the day people there was a a line of like 20 people waiting to go into the house for the tour right even though the house is in shambles and you can only let so many people in because you know for safety issues so I want to thank the historical preservation committee they did a fantastic job special shout out to Karen castles I don't know how she pulls it all together and then Amalia mados actually reached out to the county to get us back on the four centuries weekend because we've been off for the last couple we uh years so um a big it's a big project but it's so important and one of the the things I want to just tell residents we live in a very unique area of the United States our we date back to before this country was even a country this house was built in 1760 so once that history is gone it's gone forever so it's so important that we devote our efforts to preservation and it's not our only it's not our only what's that my ADHD just like it's not our only historic um property so thank you to the historical preservation committee it's just amazing um the 18 F farmer was packed with both Berkeley Heights residents and people coming for this weekend um they were engaged and interested in the project and giving the tours was a different perspective for me so someone got tired CU they were the only one giving the tours that day so they asked if I would take over and I'm like sure and it was really exciting to meet you know residents from both our town and the county um I also want to bring something up for discussion a resident came a few weeks ago and complained about the noise ordinance hours for for leaf blowers especially um I know you're supposed to have a muffler I'm not sure if everyone does but I was wondering how people would feel about changing the Saturday time from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. pres to take care of that oh president Foster I love you you're my hero because I get it you know this is like some people's one day to sleep in and and just to to add to that it's going to be 8: a.m. it used was 7: a.m. week be 8 a.m. weekday 9: a.m on the weekends I didn't know about the if the weekdays were possible because I know landscapers they you know they have a business and they have to run their business and I get it you I would argue the days are longer during the time that they're that's true and I thought about that I was going to start small but you're going in big going big going in big and that's great I think it's you know I think it's a positive a positive change for our town so and that's all I have all right excellent thank you Susan can I just say I want to thank all members that we're able to make it even Billy did a drive by I want to thank you all for just being there I know I couldn't make it um I had a family thing going on so I appreciate you all being there I appreciate my committee like you have no idea how much I appreciate the ladies and gentle on that committee um I tell them that all the time and they look at me kind of like you know halfway but and I appreciate you all for being there also thank you we miss you thank you okay so on to Administration reports I have quite a bit so buckle in um mayor's Wellness committee will meet uh later on November 13th uh due to the school closures that week for election day in the njaa um convention the selfcare Suare sub committee uh did meet and discussed pushing back the event to January when there are fewer townwide events taking place and A Renewed interest and physical and mental health typically happens around that time of the year the event will include art therapy pet therapy breathing techniques like the 478 if you're familiar with it yoga meditation Charlie maybe we'll do taii Mind Body Connection session a full body uh Weight Workout demonstration and nutrition uh many of the activities will be sponsored and provided by the Kimberly and Wilson Foundation the YMCA and peace of mind yoga so we're really very all of us are very excited about that um retooling a little bit this was just added today the mayor's Wellness um committee presents the first Goble and go Thanksgiving Dash and turkey Jan um will be taking place on Thanksgiving morning Thursday November 28th um proceeds will benefit the Berkeley Heights volunteer rescue squad flyers and sponsorship opportunities will be available in the next few days we just got the approval from PD and so this literally happened this afternoon um so I want to thank conell and I want to thank the PD for for working on this um it's going to be a great morning because you can squeeze in a little run and then life Cham has a bunch of cool activities after and we'll be right there because the running route is within conell and then you can go home and uh you know just piig out and not feel bad about it go not gobbl and go go Gob go and Gobble go and then you gobble I recommend that Economic Development Committee met on Friday and we discussed the direction for the remainder of the year and setting the agenda for next year events and ideas centered around a farmers market or Berkeley Heights Market with a beer garden meeting with the new planner earlier in 2025 to talk about just how do we spur economic development in downtown um requesting that all the the conell renderings are at every Community event because what they're doing there is spectacular they have new renderings it's amazing um going back and onboarding new businesses or businesses that have not yet yet um gotten on to the park that's an app that conell um it's a proprietary app that they use for uh what's going to be residence there but it it also showcases downtown businesses as well I know that a lot of businesses that have done that from the beginning have been successful because conell is 98 point something uh percent leas up which is phenomenal for Suburban Office Park that just doesn't happen in this day and age um we're going to revisit the property tax credit program and that's if you sh shop locally you get a a discount on your property tax we're going to look at that again uh we're going to put together a press strategy around the film ready program we're going to relaunch the Berkeley Heights promotional video um couple other things let's see um I won't get into that but we have a whole bunch of great ideas senior affairs committee as Paul mentioned um I was not there I was on tour with Taylor Swift in the New York metropolitan so I I happened to miss a few things in the last week or so um but Jin Kingsley secured the Little Flower church for a senior prom Cathy bamo and Autumn Lakes are going to provide the DJ they're looking for restaurants to donate appetizer the kindness team uh they're going to cook the desserts or bake the desserts and they're going to design a photo booth for our seniors so dust off your prom dresses or your old txas and everybody join us on May 30th because it's going to be a ton of fun uh Veterans Affairs committee also met last week um we've got a letter going to Veterans um requesting their contact information so we can keep them more prised of what we're doing and we're doing a lot uh we're setting up a volunteer stuffing party if anybody from the council wants to come hang out at the Box hole with us and do that that'd be great we're inviting the Union County Veterans Affair leads on to our next meeting uh I am following up with the veterans yoga project with peace of mind yoga to help facilitate several trauma and form yoga events specifically for veterans that will be co-hosted by the Veterans Affairs committee uh and we decided to Pivot away from we were trying to collect the veteran stories to have a to preserve the history of each of our veterans in town and we decided to Pivot and what we're going to do is if anybody's seen this and if you haven't please go check it out at the library these are the stories as written by our fourth and fifth graders in 2016 of many of our veterans in town and it's a phenomenal book so we're going to do volume two um I don't know if Sergeant Pettis is in here GNA yell at him if he's not um we're going to do volume two so we're gon to be working with the history club and uh Board of Education president Gail um rord cheese is gonna help us do uh start hopefully finish start and finish volume two this year um just so you all know Mrs Master is doing the veterans reading we read to the kids about Veterans Day she's got a sign of Genius if anybody wants to do that I think the dates are the fourth and the sixth Monday and Wednesday um so they're looking for readers we asking for veterans that's that's respond you they they they do veterans but like Gil and reads they like the elected officials too because yeah so we can certainly invite to do that and uh Veterans Day uh service is on the 11th at 11: a.m. so join us for that and uh if you haven't already please uh support the BFW by purchasing a fox full t-shirt I have one I did a happening in the HIDs with the commander $25 well worth it so yeah so that's a lot and that concludes my report and and we don't have Liza so we can go on to the citizens hearing yeah make a motion we open the citizens hearing second any interception roll call Mr Cuda yes Mr MRIs yes Mr M yes SP yes we ac we have to yeah we do we do I don't think we have to officially do that we used to do right here do it to the citizens hearing can't we supposed to accept and it's right here number I'll just move it move official reports be accepted and approved and the money no that's not right that's not the right one what is it oh here move that all Township Council reports be accepted and approved period no money any discussion no money roll mrud yes now I citizens he right second discussion roll call Mr Cudo yes Mr Mach yes okay the citizens hearing is now in effect with the same Rules of Order I read out loud earlier this evening make Mo we close the C hearing second any discussion roll call yes Mr ma po yes okay we had executive session in a special meeting earlier this evening so I'll just ask for a motion to adjourn I make a motion toj I'll second that all of fa vot you're gonna get so much done I don't know how you keep it together her mind for you okay I'll leave it by your oh yeah right huh I don't oh yes yeah now that's what I hear make mistake take care my Township yeah yeah friends time I said to my husband I looked at how many hair you know I mean I'm fortunate right me yeah you know Miss yeah like two years I to F shut down that I just with