I'll just scribble. >> Okay, good. All right. Roll call, please. >> Here. >> Mr. McCriedy is here but stepped out. Mr. Rivera >> here. >> Mr. Ruse with absent. Mr. Trainer >> here. Mamra >> here. >> Mr. Zero
>> here. Notice of this meeting was provided to the board of news and courier news file with the municipal clerk and posted on the municipal bullet board on December 5th, 2024. [Music] Welcome to the October 27th, 2025
meeting of the Burnsville Council. This meeting is being conducted in person in the council campus in B Hall and it is being broadcast live on YouTube and on Zoom to make it as convenient as possible for residents to attend the meeting. Members of the public who are
here in person and those attending remotely on Zoom will be given the opportunity to comment at appropriate times during the meeting in accordance with the following guidance. Members of the public will be allowed to speak during the open sessions and during formal public hearings on the agenda
including public hearings on ordinances. Comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker which will be monitored and enforced by the borrow clerk. Comments containing consent profane or indecent language or language constituting hate speech will not be
permitted. Remote participants will be muted unless they are unmuted by the clerk and remote participants will not be able to unmute themselves. The clerk will mute remote speakers at the expiration of their 3 minutes of allotted time or if they make
any inappropriate or offensive comment. All speakers, whether in person or on Zoom, shall state their name and address before making their comments. Speakers on Zoom shall activate their camera so that they can be seen by members of the governing body and audience. Failure of
the governing body to provide a live broadcast of this meeting or technological problems encountered during the course of the meeting that affected viewing and/or participation will not invalidate this meeting or any action taken including but not limited
to the adoption of any ordinance, resolution or motion. Got that? >> All right. Um I am happy to uh have here our schoolboard officials who are going
to do a little presentation on an upcoming referendum. Thank you Scott tonight and you brought up the crew here. >> I did. So thanks for having us. Um my name is Brian Bol. I'm the superintendent of the school district. for those that I haven't met personally. I've met uh a few of you in my travels
in town and um you know perhaps this shouldn't be the first time that I introduce myself to the uh to the council. So I apologize for that, but uh hit the ground running in the district and I've enjoyed it um frankly every second of it. Um I do have um some
information for the folks here. Um thank you. Thank you sir. [Music] And I didn't realize there were cookies uh back >> every meeting. >> So you know what I say, it's always a
great day in Somerset Hill. So >> So this is uh just another reason. So um first and foremost, you all are community volunteers and I appreciate the time uh that you've allocated to me tonight. It's not my intention to monopolize it. Uh but as a courtesy to
you, I've um met with Mayor Kenos and she um has been kind enough to extend a brief opportunity just to apprise the council as to what the school district intends to do in March and kind of give
some some context uh as to why uh we have um kind of a vast and farreaching uh public relations campaign uh going on since we do service kids from multiple municipalities. ities in multiple towns. Uh so I am, you know, I've been reaching
out to the town various uh municipal councils and speaking with them and it really is a very thankful that uh you've extended that to me as well. Uh so I will uh kind of give you the cliff's notes version of what we uh intend to
do. We have a uh referendum vote that we are uh intending to announce for March 10th of 2026. And uh the long and short of it is that we are looking to enhance some of our learning environments um in all three of
our schools. Um first and foremost uh we are uh looking to enhance student and staff safety um with uh to ensure that the physical physical security enhancements that are necessary for long term. Um and we are looking to u
maintain um our operational program. So all of our operational systems, you know, we're looking to um do some enhancements there. Uh the school district is at a unique uh juncture at this point where we do have some
expiring debt uh that are is coming off of the books which uh gives us an opportunity um to replace the expiring debt with new debt which results in a netneutral um transaction. Uh that will allow in
the event that the voters are supportive of it, that would allow um myself and my business administrator, Mr. Lori, uh to act on behalf of the board um to conduct the bond sale um in order to finance uh some enhancements to our physical plan.
Uh so that's kind of like some context as to why uh the board has elected to move um in this direction. Uh we are anticipating just a touch under 34% of state aid. Um and that's a
kind of a unique opportunity here. Um when we go out for a bond rep school districts do have the opportunity to capitalize on state aid. Um and uh the projects that we are proposing um just
under 34% um of them qualify uh for state aid which is um significant and certainly a drive. Uh as an example when we uh pay for and fund enhancements to our facilities through our capital
through our annual budget uh those projects do not qualify for state. So in the event of as an example of a replacement of a trap which we recently did at the high school that was done uh
without any city so and but funneled through um our budget. So uh sad is available and certainly uh we are looking um to take advantage you know of that uh to share the cost um you know with the uh department of education and
with the state of New Jersey. We uh conducted a facilities evaluation. So we really had a deep and broad examination of exactly what our challenges were operationally. And we were able to go through a process with our architects of
record and identify of you know an area of greatest need and greatest priority. Um, we spent uh the lion share last winter uh preparing um to move forward with a long range facility plan approval with the New Jersey Department of
Education and we are at the very end you know of that. So um we certainly did not uh conduct this work in vacuum and we wanted to take a pragmatic approach to examining uh what our needs are. At the same time, uh the board has taken an
opportunity over the past several years to address um some major uh projects in and around the district that um were were in need of upkeep. So, uh we were able to renovate the media center at the high school. Uh we had a multi-year
program in our performing arts center to upgrade the lighting and sound. Uh there was a new installation of synthetic turf uh on the high school field. Uh the running track was um uh was uh replaced as well. Uh there was an installation of
athletic lighting there. Uh we had renovated the lower fields. Um and uh we're in the process of um over a multi-year budget um of um completely uh redoing and renovating the tennis courts
that are all on CB Drive. So um you know those take those have taken place outside um of this work. Uh we are looking to enhance um our science labs at the high school at the middle school
and even uh build brand new um technology and engineering labs at Bedwell uh through this. Um we're looking to do some media center renovations at Bedwell as well. uh some kindergarten renovations. Um we're
looking to add the creation of a culinary arts uh program. Uh the board has a goal in order to enhance what we call career and technical education opportunities for students. Uh so the culinary arts program uh that we're looking to institute kind of speaks uh
to that. Um and in addition, we're looking to renovate um some visual arts classrooms uh as well. Uh from a district-wide perspective, um we are looking to upgrade and expand our camera systems. We are looking to um
further implement school notification and lockdown systems. Um we do have a design to uh enhance and to build a security vestibule uh at Bedwell providing ballistic film uh for all
lower level uh first floor um uh rooms around those facilities. And we also have sections of roofing that we're examining. Uh fire alarm systems. Uh we're looking to enhance our
bleachers um in the lower gym at the high school and um those are some pretty significant upgrades that we're looking to include into the scrap building. Um the next few slides on the deck that you all have um
are examples of uh current existing labs at um the high school and with some mockups regarding um some flexible um some flexible seating and uh some some opportunities for different types of
layouts. Um, in the science labs of 2021, um, there are some mockups here regarding our existing art and two-dimensional art classrooms, and we're looking to um,
completely uh, reimage them in order to ensure that we're meeting the needs of the students of today so we can prepare them for uh, colleges and careers for tomorrow. Uh we have some significant science lab work at the middle school
and in addition uh we are also looking to implement a a brand new um science, technology, engineering and math facility at Benn. Um again our role here uh as a school district, as a board of
education, as administration is to prepare students for careers that do not even exist yet. and our lowest um our youngest learners um in the district need to have challenging spaces um that expose them um to these areas of
equipment. So you'll see that uh as well uh you'll see some work uh regarding a security vestibule at Bedwell which is uh very much needed and very much a priority here and um that was
essentially a non-negotiable and um you know something that we feel very strongly about. Uh the high school program will see uh renovations uh that include a culinary arts lab. Uh they'll see renovations to
all of the uh chemistry, physics, biology, uh and robotics and technology spaces. You'll see uh television and um podcasting enhancements um inside of our permanent labs. We're going to bring
them up to 2025 and beyond. Um, so we are seeing a big uptick in students that are creating their own content uh through TV broadcast and radio and uh podcasting now. And so we're looking to renovate those spaces. Uh, high school
will have um security enhancements, roofing and um and the like. The middle school will um see their science labs renovated. They will see our roofing systems replaced um in some some needed
sections and uh further security uh enhancements as well. And Bedwell, as we spoke about, uh we'll see um a host of projects that include a security office, a security vestibule. Uh they will have
a dedicated corridor for our kindergarten program. Um we will see uh additional security enhancements. um at Fedwell uh as well. Um so the cost for this uh proposal is
38 million $24,257. Um we are expecting um at this point in uh just over $12 million in state aid. Um, and that will come to the district over in in the event that it's approved by the
taxpayers, that will come to the district over a 20-year uh term. Uh, that gets forwarded and transmitted to the district and debt service aid on an annual basis. When we receive our uh what we call our state aid um from the
Department of Education, it will include debt service aid. So that $12 million will be spread out over 20 years. Um so after the debt service aid is applied over time the cost of our projects of
proposal is $25,445,470. Um, if you are a resident in Bernardville, we have uh been working very closely with uh the folks here uh in this building and we have the average assessed value of a home here at
$975,586 and um there will be no current tax impact um regarding this uh this particular proposal. Uh we do have a section of our website that does uh host um an expanded version of these speaking
points. Uh we also are hosting community events in November, December and January in our um over at the high school for folks to learn more. Uh and uh we have a dedicated email address uh which is included in your slide deck and um uh
some social media feeds because no uh no public for anything isn't complete without social. So I want to thank the council for your time and for the opportunity. And uh again I wanted to just take this
opportunity as a courtesy to let you know what we've been working on on the other side of town. And uh certainly um I personally consider you all partners and uh am thankful for the time to be able to send you >> support
certainty that uh state debt service aid. So the state debt service aid is is a certainty. Um probably the biggest the biggest variable at this point is um in the event that the uh that the um
the the issues passed, it's really where the market stands on our industry bonds. That's probably the biggest variable at this point and that would be subject to a competitive process um for bond sale. Right now we projected at 4%. We feel
strong about that. Um, so the debt service aid is something that that um they've committed to through the approval of our long range facility plan, which is what you need to have happen to. >> Okay.
I think it was very helpful. Thanks. >> Thanks for being here tonight. I really appreciate it. Great presentation. I got four questions. They're all pretty quick, just five questions. Um just from like the mechanics of the actual referendum, is it just a straight vote between the three bureaus or is that to pass to individual burrows? How does
that >> So it's a it's a straight vote. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um when was the last bond reply? When was the last vote? >> I believe in 2016, but I can uh research that. >> So about nine years ago.
>> Okay. Uh if it fails, is it these capital improvements just don't happen or plan? >> Yeah. So, if it if it doesn't pass you, the board has some options. Option one is to do nothing and keep things the same. Uh option two is to take off some of these projects through our annual
budgeting process. Uh but the rub there is um you don't get the state aid, so you're paying, you know, you're paying that full ticket on those projects. Um third option is is for the board to go out to the community again for another
vote. Sometimes boards elect to revise the projects, sometimes they elect to take a different approach on how to communicate it. Uh so that would those are kind of like the three links. >> Yeah. And then um you actually started to maybe answer my four question which was um I know this doesn't have a tax
impact on residents, but I do think you took a tax increase this year. >> So just explain for residents uh like I assume that that's operations versus capital improvements, but just from you just defy that. Correct. So, um, so this is separate from our annual budget
development. The district is capped at how much the budget can increase year-over-year. Uh, there is a 2% um tax cap levy on how much it can grow. Uh so the the history
of how to keep the district operational and how to keep it functioning is that um we historically have gone to our 2% to our full 2% budget growth. Um there are um some other flexibilities in in
budget growth as well that are connected to um health insurance and health benefits. Yeah, we've got a similar. >> But to be clear, and I'm glad that you brought it up, taxes may increase uh once we go through
our budgeting cycle in March and April. >> Um, and the latitude of the permissibility is that they are able to increase up to 2%. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Yep. >> I I love the culinary arts >> um you know and the emphasis more on
some of the trades and technical skills that I think have been missing. So I'm excited to see the next part of this project. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for your time.
>> Are you going to pay? >> No. >> No. And I told you you can go out and ask some questions. >> I wanted the council to hear you about the park. >> No, Joe.
>> All right. I'll bring it up then. >> That's fine. You can come back. Thank you. As I understand, this is not a town hall meeting. >> Yes. [Music]
>> And we have more on our program. So, we don't want to hold you up anymore. soon. We're coming up on our ribland ripple water engineering. So, you are hot. Thank you for coming. I know it's been a
while since you've been here. >> I think it's been about three and a half years. >> Yeah. And we do have some new council people, so we thought it was a good opportunity to kind of get everybody to speed on where we are. So, thank you. >> Yeah, absolutely. Um I
>> No, I think you have to stand. Ices do this >> on the um the little X stickers. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Um so I prepared a brief presentation which is a little bit of an update on
the 2022 presentation and I walk through kind of where we are project and then a comparison on the cost. So they know that was a big question and it got so advance. So this is just a quick
summary up here of the benefits of the dam removal. Obviously um one of the main ones is eliminating the liability risks associated with dam ownership which I will circle back to later in this presentation. also restoring the
fish habitat of Minebrook, improving the water quality, um reducing the temperature, reducing the feal form loading from geese that are prevalent out there. >> Um and then also getting that free flowing movement of the water which
eliminates debris clogs and sedimentation loading in the pond. Um, ultimately, um, this is going to be hard to see at the scale, but I have it here so that if we need to refer back to it when I go over the cost, I will. But just at a
high level, um, this shows you the current endowment with the proposed improvements. Um, it's going to be a narrower stream channel obviously when the empowerment um, and the dam is removed. Um we have several
structures that are required to address the change in elevation from the upstream end of the pond to the downstream. Um we also have um some bank stabilization um which is required to hold the stream channel in place so that
it doesn't try to braid all through the former pond and kind of create a mosquito swamp mess. So there's stabilization techniques that are associated with that. Um there's also plantings um that are required uh not
only just to replace the you know expand the lawn area but to add in some pollinator and native plantings again along the banks that are required for the permitting. This also includes um park improvements
which I think is um a po portion of the cost concerns um that are different between the original estimate and the new estimate which includes um the walking paths um the replacement pedestrian bridges some additional stabilization for those pedestrian
bridges benches signage and some other park improvements as well. So, here's where we are in terms of permitting. Um, we need four permit approvals for the project. The DM safety construction permit was our biggest um
approval that was necessary. We filed permits back in June of 2023. And in June of 2025, we received the approvals year to years through the stage process to receive the permit. Um, they issued that approval in June. The
wetlands permit is still pending. It has been pending for two and a half years. Um I spoke to them today. I've been asking them almost every day for an update on your permit. Um they tell me that they're very close to being done. Um so I am conservatively estimating
December, but I'm hopeful that we actually have that next month. Um they said they're waiting for just some comments from a threat and endangered species review and that's the last piece for them to issue that. Uh then I'll be finished with the state permits um with the exception of the soil erosion and
sediment control certification from a Somerset Union soil conservation district which I don't want to file till I know that buts is really done with their review in case they ask me to change more on the design. >> Can I just ask a question there? So absolutely. Yeah. is do you anticipate
any of the permits being denied or is it more if they ask for >> administrative paperwork situation and unfortunately with the wetlands approval they are not obligated to give us a permit in any particular time period and
what has gone on I've been working in permitting and doing this for 30 years or so and in the last probably three or four years we've seen a lot of the state agency um folks retire and then they aren't necessarily replacing them. So,
all that does is increase the workload on the remaining staff. >> And um two years for even a damn safety permit is not something that I'm even telling is a reasonable time frame to receive permits. I have some projects that have taken three, four, and five
years to receive their approval. >> Yeah. So um costs I have broken these into some general categories and I want to kind of touch on what the differences between the two. I have the 2022
estimate in the center column, the 2025 estimate in the right column and then the left is the broken down categories. In 2022, we had just completed the feasibility phase of the project and hadn't done any of the detail
engineering yet. Um, and Barrero was the burrow engineer and they had done some portions of the engineering and so some of my 2022 estimate did not include all of the improvements that they ultimately completed engineering design for. And so
a big portion of the difference between the two estimates comes down to improvements that I wasn't necessarily doing the engineering for um and were added into the project as they completed their engineering designs. Um that
includes the walking trail benches and signage piece. Um it also includes portions of the stabilization for the foot bridges and abutment protections that they designed around those foot bridges. Um and then additionally
increased planting and changes to the plantings. Um the other change in cost estimate um comes down to the amount of material needed to be disposed of from the former empoundment and that is a
result of some of the dam safety comments back and forth with regards to the additional rock quantities that they wanted placed in to stabilize. So, in order for me to put rock in, I have to take more material out of the former impoundment to offset that, which is
another part of that cost increase. Um, and then 445,000 um was a recent more recent add-on for the parking lot um stream bank stabilization where it's eroding down along the brook downstream of the dam.
>> Are contingencies over ones or unplanned? contingencies is unplanned uncertainties and that's about 20%. In the initial estimate we had that down more at 10%. But unfortunately with construction materials right now and the uncertainty but with regards to tariffs
and um imports and exports of materials there's huge fluctuations in cost. So I no longer do estimates with a 10% contingency. Um, I tend to air on a 20% side just because I don't really know
what's going to happen till it goes out to bid in terms of material cost and things of that nature. >> So, would this be one bid for that whole thing or it would be so they would do the whole thing? >> They would do everything. Yes. >> And about how long would you think it
would take to do this whole process? this construction to start um to start the construction and complete everything is going to take weather depending about four months. >> That's all. >> I thought it would take a longer. Yeah. >> No, if we have good weather and we can
kind of keep moving along, four months is good. If we end up with like a very very wet period where it's just raining every single day, >> um you can look at maybe double that or more depending. Are there contractors who can do this whole project?
>> Absolutely. Yes. And I have a list of contractors that I would definitely make sure. It's obviously public bid. Um but there's people that I would make sure they knew about the bid um to be able to submit for because there are contractors who specialize in this type of work. >> Okay. Thank you.
Um and then last I just wanted to touch on funding because when I came to you all last time um there was a lot of funding available for uh damal projects and I was confident we could get most of the cost covered by grants. Um so in
2024 um we filed the first grant applications for this um the NIC with fivestar grant we did not receive um that was given more to um lower income municipality projects um and we just didn't score high enough on that grant.
The USDA NRCS equip funding um they were very confident we would be funded. However, the administration changed and the federal funding shift um went into chaos earlier this year. Um and so that
funding was pulled. Um we were scheduled for a meeting in March. Uh we were confident we were going to receive at least half a million towards it and possibly more. Um they put that on pause at the state agency level. We weren't
sure whether they were going to reopen that. um they did reopen that for projects like this one um earlier this month. So that application for 500,000 did go in um and we will find out in
early 2026 whether that is good. Um we also received a $25,000 grant from the Nature Conservancy. Um so we have that in hand. We have additional funding options through the New Jersey Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership. Um
they take rolling applications that max out at about 25,000 again. Um but that's one we could apply for pretty much at any time and I think we'd be guaranteed to receive. Um the New Jersey Highlands Council has funding for engineering um
and planning work. So perhaps some of the remaining work would associate with the permitting and then the construction bid administration could be covered there. Um US fish and wildlife service partners program has additional funding that can be put towards plant materials in particular. Um so I believe we can
get funded with that. And then FEMA high hazard dam grant the state of New Jersey received that. Um we were not fully compliant. the bureau was not fully compliant on um the FEMA requirements. We now are. Um however, that money was
also put on hold with the federal shift. Damn safety's hopeful it will return in 2026, but there's no guarantee. Um if that does come back around the transport up to a million dollars, so that would be a significant amount of money as
well. So we are tracking the funding hoping um for a return to to some of the options for damal. >> So projecting with um the permits waiting on those when do you think this actually might happen?
>> I'm hopeful that we'd be ready for construction next fall. However, with the um NRCS speak monies, it's unlikely that they would get through their process to issue you the half million by next fall. So, it would be more likely
spring of 2027 when you actually to start the question. >> Yeah, I just the two that were rejected, how much were they? Um the NIWP fivestar grant was for 75,000 that we applied for. That was the max that they would
allow. Um and then the Equip 2024 um they were looking at around 750 under the old there that has come down to the 500 which is why they put it in for the 500 for us.
>> I'm sorry. So that's a different 500 then >> that's that's the equip. Yeah. So NRCS equip grant we um were going to get that in 2024 and they were looking at a price point of around 750. Um but then we were
you know told that that was reneged all the they they pulled all of the equipped funding for all stream and damal projects in the state. Um and then like I said they reopened it for us uh in October. >> Yeah. So they're two different years. So
2024 1-2. >> Yes. Uh hi. Um could you just for my benefits you on camper could you like rewind and explain what was the impetus for all of this? How did we first find out that there was an issue with the dam >> and maybe just give us a little more later there.
>> Sure. That was actually that predates me but I assume the history. Um so uh dam safety alerted um you all that the dam was in need of a hydraologic and hydraulic analysis to evaluate whether the dam could pass particular design
flood as per their regulation. So in other words a lot of rain a lot of water coming through. They have a standard based on the hazard classification, meaning the risk to loss of life and property resulting from the dam that your dam must safely pass that design
storm. Um, and so they had um your municipal engineer at the time complete an analysis of whether the dam could safely pass that required design storm and it couldn't. So that required a discussion of either upgrading the
existing dam to safely pass that design storm or removing it. That's the two options that the state gives to you as a dam owner. did uh I think one of the things too we were looking at too and I'm assuming I know the answer but to since the cost has gone up a lot we were
thinking well let's go back and make sure that it's not going to be more expensive to take the the dam down as opposed to uh either build a new one I guess or or repair this one. >> Yeah. So I actually have one more slide presentation for that. I anticipated
that particular question. Um so uh when they were looking at the over topping protection analysis um they did that simultaneous to the feasibility study work in 2022 and estimated that at about 2.7 million for the installation
of the increased spillway and the over topping protection. Um in bringing that to 2026 costs will be about 3.4 4 million um based on the construction cost changes. Um and then that would
also require a brand new set of engineering drawings and a restart of your permit process. Um I don't do dam rehab. So, I can't say with certainty what that would cost you, but off the cuff, it's probably about $500,000 in
engineering consulting fees because it needs more structural engineering work to deal with all of the layouts um than uh than what a dam project requires. Um, and then there's also the long-term maintenance cost. So, every two years,
this dam requires an inspection, which is $3,000 for engineers to complete. um we have to complete emergency management plan updates um every five years for about $5,000. Structural and formal inspections are required every 10 years for about
$20,000 in current day cost. Um and then anything that engineers in those inspections requires staff or contractors to come in and complete the the required
as well. So that's sort of the bond building expenses. >> Two questions on that. Sure. Um, thank you by the way. >> Do you what are the uh is there a comply by date that the dam safety commission has underscored?
>> Yeah. So in the permit we received in June, they requested that instruction start within one calendar year. Um, normally they don't have that condition. That's the first time I have seen that on a removal. But you are a um high class of DM due to the risk with the um
emergency responder building being attached to the structure. Um so that puts you into a special category where they want you to do the removal as soon as possible. Um so they want you to start by next June. Um, however, knowing
that there's funding that could come in a little bit behind that and frankly the state's own delays in issuing the wetlands permit, I believe we will have leniency in that. Um, I've spoken to them about it and they seem comfortable that as long as we have a planned construction timeline, there's some
leeway on that. and a big reverse course on when to maintaining a DAN about complying with the upgrades that are required. >> Um they would expect you to start the engineering process book immediately and get the permits in as quickly as humanly be possible.
>> And then what is the um kind of what enforcement do they have? Like in other words, what's the cost of doing nothing and delay? um the cost of doing nothing. They would turn you they would send you a bunch of um deficiency letters, I'm gonna say probably for about six months
or more. Um and then they would turn your case over to the deputy attorney general's office for um assessing like daily or monthly fines is the way they usually make compliance issues. >> Um do you remember do you know when the
dam was first built? When it was first constructed, I'm not sure, but it had a major upgrade in the >> 70s. 70s. >> Um, it's a mill dam. So, my guess is buried underneath of everything from 70s upgrade there, maybe even timber crib.
So, if I had to guess, you're looking at something maybe 1700s, 1800s era originally. >> And when did the regulations go into effect that suddenly determined that this was an unsafe ban after being there for hundreds of years?
Yeah, there's Sandy, I think. >> Yeah. So, there the damn safety rules went into effect actually um New Jersey's rules have been in place since the 19s. Um but the changes in the precipitation uh floods or the flood
study request. Um that particular analysis wasn't required until the late 90s. Um, and it took the state a while due to the number of high hazard dams they have um to get around to checking in on a lot of those.
And actually, if you've seen the drawings, um, we still have those that Ferrara did of what that dam would look like if it was compliant. It would be like miles of ugly cement. >> It's not, but they did they even did
like a video if I recall. I don't have luxurious and pretty that would not be that nobody there was no second opinion on it >> on the cost to rehab the dam.
>> No, just the fact that our current dam would not withhold from the code study request. Um, not I mean the state I would review their hydraulics as part of what I needed to do for the renewal. Um, it was done in standard practice like
consistent with what's required, but in terms of someone actually looking to see if all the details could be modified. Um, no, I don't think anyone did a second opinion study at that level. Again, that predates me a bit. So, I'm
more speculating predates all of us. Thank you so much for uh coming back and doing this and for hanging in there so long. We're continuation with state agencies. >> Uh believe me, I have had a lot of frustrations myself. I just try to try
to get them to get me whatever I can >> push the issue. But I talked to them even earlier today on this project in particular. So thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, I have approval of the minutes from September 15th and the 29th.
A motion approved. All in favor? >> I I >> Okay, we now have our first open session for the public. Again, I remind you that this is not a town hall meeting. It's on
the Q&A. It's to me first. >> No, I just wanted to take a moment to thank Nancy and her staff for um it's later on in your resolutions. I think it's 196 for their work on the hip that
would make the rise in our benefits cost considerably less devastating that it's I know it was a lot of work to vet everything and um there's a lot of paperwork that goes along with it and a lot of decisions were made and um we're thankful that the library can broad your
coattails. >> It's great. Yeah, I want to thank Fran as well. They had a great I got my flu shot today. the health department. They hosted the health department um with giving vaccinations today. Plus, they had a kind of a mini health fair with
different agencies. Um I met the new health department director who's delightful. So, thank you for that. And uh >> yeah, they've been great partners. They've had a lot of programming. They have one coming up on diabetes at the library. um we've been offering regular
blood pressure screen days and we're working together to coordinate them more when some of the populations we're trying to target are um more likely to be in library at the timing of that. So um no, the Burn Township has been great for all of our needs. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm here. Um, one I came down because the the superintendent was coming to talk about
the regulation of schools and whatever, but we have we have the town and schools have a problem with the parking. The two schools up at Bwell. All the parking lots are filled and
they're on our parking lots are f filled also. So, we have a problem with that and I talked to the superintendent about it and I told him I'd work with them to get parking on their property for all of their teachers and people and whatever.
There's no room for guests. We have to park on the street or we have to park in the pool. And uh so I'm going to try and meet with him and try and come up with some cost and then to help them try and figure out what can be done because they have the back of the school and then there's
other areas where they can build these parking lots. But we have the same problem at the high school. The high school is a real problem with all cars parking on the road. There's no reason for those cars to be parking on the road. That's a residential area and there should be no
one parking on the road except people coming to visit maybe because they don't have any parking on the interior lots also. So they can do something down in the back that I've talked about. They're going to they're using my engineering per steel storming area. So we're going
to talk about the lower lower field. There's a big space between the king's um fence and where we build in to build the lower fields. And if we can get the these big concrete blocks with cheap and they
they're decorative to put those in there and build the wall and get that filled in, that could be another parking area. And they can move the buses somewhere. I look for private spot for them if they didn't want to park them down there. But the school is totally inundated with
parking and there's no place to park. So that's that's a situation that needs to be worked out and I'll work with any of them to help them to figure out that that spot problem. They also need to finish the work that they started on the
lower field. The lower field is not a great field. >> No, this is the council. That's really bored stuff. You have something for us. But they are taking u you know you you feel you have no uh you have no pressure from the school they tend to all the kids up there and then all these teams
are up on our fields that we built. Okay. So that's what I'm saying they're using our fields. Are we getting the money for because I don't know if people are even fertilizing now the oven cow or the lower field the well is now you know
so I want to know are we I I I have no problem with that but it's better for them if we had if they had their fields that they could walk right out on to the kids rather than taking them up to our fields and then all these towns are coming in and renting. So that money is
going into the that money is going into the general fund rather than going to the field fund, right? All those all that rental and we don't know who's up there. And the same thing with our tennis courts, the same thing with the
the uh the paddle tend uh ball. So no one's looking at it. There's nobody watching. People are from out of town using it. And our people aren't able to get on those courts. It's those that are green acres are open to anyone from any town. We cannot limit
who uses like the pickle ball courts or the bowling grounds because that's green acres. We cannot limit say can burn >> ground is is what >> green acres is it not? >> How's it green acres? We my grandfather built the first field. My uncles built the second field and we built the last
>> once the land you want to explain it Jack? >> Yeah. Once you get green acres my green acres restrictions apply to funded and unfunded parks. Everything is open space and on recreation open space inventory >> recreation open.
>> Yeah. Well, I mean, what I'm saying is that >> Okay, I'll I'll sit down. I'll come back up and do another name. Good. >> There anybody on Zoom?
>> All right. Um, moving to the open public hearing on ordinance 2025 2027 requiring the payment of delinquent taxes as a condition for the issuance of a municipal license or permit and supplementing an amendment chapter 2 of
the borrowable title administrative. Does anyone want to be heard on this ordinance? Seeing none, I will close the public hearing and I will start with pass ordinance number 2025 seven on final reading and adopt as
>> second please. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barer, >> yes. >> Mr. Mayor, >> yes. >> Mr. Open the public hearing on ordinance 2025 2028 amending ordinance 2024 2000
entitled an ordinance vacating a portion of Bernard's Avenue which is outside the page roadway and sidewalk area and which is necessary for the construction of the affordable housing development at 63 Burners Avenue by correcting the
description of the area vacated. Would anyone like to be heard on this? uh you switched that uh low-inccome housing. You took the parking in the from the front to the back of the building, right? >> That was the planning board. I think
none of us, but that's in the zoning law. We now don't want to see parking. We want it to be not visible. >> Okay. Yeah. But you have an 18 foot road that is not legal. So people can't even turn onto the road. And I've been here before about the trucks, garbage trucks
and delivery trucks hitting the uh hitting hitting the corner of the cars. You can't do that. And you allowed the cars now to stay parked on the road. An 18t roadway. And even Bernard Avenue, we have that that there's there's no
parking on that road. People will not pull into their own spaces to park. Janer, she sees me. Um, you know what I'm saying? Please, please do something with the, you know, that situation up there. It's dangerous.
You've created a problem. Having the parking lot in the front, they can pull right on to Bernard's Avenue, which is a 24 foot roadway, but they can't pull onto an 18 18 foot and you're not you're not taking care of you. You're not
giving tickets to those people. >> Anyone else want to leave on this ordinance? If not, I will close the public hearing. It's Ross. I move to pass ordinance 2025 2028 and find to adopt his calls.
Second roll call, please. >> Mr. Zrio, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Mr. Painer, >> yes. >> Mr. Romero, >> yes. >> Mccy, >> yes. I'll open the public hearing on ordinance 2025 2029, an ordinance
changing the membership qualifications required for appointment to the Burnsville Fire Company number one first aid squad and amending chapter two of the burough code entitled administration. Anyone want to be heard on this? This is just a language change so that we
hopefully we'll get more people. >> Thank you. Um we as where our bylaws say that uh we have allow any legal residents to be a member of the bar company. In the past, we've had uh you know legal res members and they have been nothing but
very helpful and we're just looking to see if we can uh not exclude anyone who is a legal resident in our town in the country from >> No, thank you for bringing it to our attention. Anyone want to be heard on this?
Seeing none, I will close the public hearing. We'll see. I move to pass ordinance 2025- 2029 on final reading and adopt as killed. >> Roll call, please. >> Mccy, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Trainer, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Is that? >> Yes. >> Yep. I move that ordinance 2025-2030 authorizing 2026 salaries and wage ranges for non-contraction employees at the bur of Burnsville be introduced by
title pass by first reading published according to law the public hearing be scheduled for a meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Monday November 24th 7.5. >> All in favor I opposed.
All right, Tim. Very chip junior. >> Um, I move that ordinance 2025 of 2031 appropriating $100,000 for replacement of SDR blower for sewer plant and general capital items be introduced by
title on first reading published according to law and then use a public hearing be scheduled for a meeting beginning 700 p.m. Monday, November 24th, 2025. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed.
All right. We're back to the bridge. >> I move that ordinance number 2025- 2032 adding one new sergeant position in the police department and amending chapter 2 of the bureau code entitled administration be introduced by title passed on first reading public supporting law that the public hearing
be scheduled for a meeting beginning 7 p.m. Monday, November 24th, 2025. >> Second. All in favor? >> Opposed. All right, moving on to resolutions. Are there any that we want to
consider separately or you have questions on make it come on ahead that? >> Yeah. >> Most of it is pretty standard. The ABC license is Monterey Gourmet.
Um the 209 was all those little requests for the mini golf and um the tree lighting and those events. >> Yeah. You know, I haven't heard back from her since I said that you had to be
local. Yeah. Yeah. >> Just a rehash of the um 210. >> Yeah. It's appeal just for anybody working. >> Yeah. This this is uh basically what we're doing is restricting the use of
the turf field to sport events so that we don't have parties or you know tables or chairs. Um and the reason we're doing it is because of the you know tremendous cost
of the ter and it's it's being it's goes down and and you know we have a maintenance four times a year but that's different than repair. So now we spend more when we turn it in. So we it's just this
vicious cycle you know prepare it repeat it or repeat it. So, we're trying something just >> so that anytime, you know, if they want to have an event or a party, you do it on the um what's the other
lower? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And so that this is just around you or not to access that >> which one is >> we have cameras. We have a camera system. There's people coming from out
of town or whatever. Like I was saying before, get those cameras on it, put it on the police or wherever it has to go. Anyone that's interested and look at what's going on there. I built that system. It's a belt. >> That's how we know that it's being abused. So it it is >> but but that field, I'm going to tell
you something. We got ripped off by the something. I don't want to hear that again. >> All drain underneath it and that's why it's ripping apart. >> It's >> and it's all draining down into the polar rings. I will say it's been really used and it's great to go there on Friday night
and see all the sports teams playing and hundreds and hundreds of people. The lights look great. The >> lights are so we need to make sure that it's their birds. >> Yeah, I think the birds is playing
bridge like a little bottle at a but school kids are playing each other nice which is really nice to see those two towns. Yeah. Do I have a motion for resolutions 25193 through
25210? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Or yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mayor's update. Um,
October 2nd, I don't know, those of you that don't know, um, Ron and Carol Dobby, who live up in time every year, do a unbelievable feast for our first responders, which is so generous of them. And this was their
10th year. And they did an even bigger one and had fireworks and it was it was phenomenal for all the first responders and their families. So, thank you to them. Um, we had the apples festival at the farmers market. So I always get to do the drawing for the somebody to win
it. Um I attended a downtown roundt that the county economic development uh department did along with downtown New Jersey uh with several mayors and elected officials kind of talking about problems with downtown New Jersey
transit and those kind of issues. The county does have city data >> that we can have for nothing. I mean, you can use we can ask them for information. It's kind of the same as Placer AI. So, you can get all that demographic of when people come into
your town, how long they stay, where they're coming from, where they go when they leave your town. So, um yeah, that is uh was it Jessica Palino who's the head of economic development? You can ask for that data, which I thought was a a good thing that we could have. Um that
was on the 10th. I also did another wedding. I think I'm up to 25 now. The hornet history tour was on the 11th. I think Rich, you attended that as well. That was It was raining, but I think still went over very well. People really
enjoyed it. I attended the Main Street Board meeting. They are having a business mixer on uh November 12th at the Bernie. So, if you know any businesses, remind them to go. Um I attended the conference of mayors
board meeting on the 18th we had our first music on the benches which was Allejo and Sarah. It was at uh right by the Millison Fenwick statue. It was there were maybe 12 people that stopped to listen. It was lovely. It was like a
half an hour of Argentine I don't even describe it. He just does this amazing guitar. And then this past Saturday they were down here I think at Bur Hall doing Bosanova kind of thing. >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> And I think they're trying to do every Saturday through November at 4:00. So if you watch for it because really he's amazing. >> Has a location change. Is it? >> Yeah. They're doing different benches >> just put somewhere. >> Yeah. In town. Um then I had another
wedding. I attended the downtown New Jersey conference in Flemington. Um the theme was street level magic building experiential downtowns and we got to tour the renovated pro project that's
going on to renovate the old Union Hotel in Flemington. That is phenomenal. I mean they are restoring the old hotel, adding rooms in the back, apartment buildings, a huge public plaza, three restaurants, a mini bowling alley. I
mean, it's it's going to bring so much new life to Flemington. It's amazing. Uh it was great to to get to tour that. >> Um had a League of Municipalities Legislative Committee meeting. Uh we had the trunk or treat on S. He's like,
wouldn't wake up. >> A shift shipped it a little bit more for two-year-old. >> Yeah. >> Tried to get him going. He was uh he was going to be a lion. It was all ready. But, you know, I saw Rich later and I was like, I couldn't make it over. You're
getting annotated. >> But, >> thank you to recreation and the DPW and the police department who and the fire company who were all there. They had the um the command vehicle from the fire company so the kids could see all the equipment in there and how, you know,
how we can make calls. And then, >> they had a petting zoo. They had a hay maze. It really did a lot more this year than we had in the past, which now the kids didn't get so focused on just candy. They had other things to do. Sap had his little baby there. Uh it was it
was really great. >> Tried to explain this all to him just >> but yeah, it was great. Thank you to everyone for that. And um we do have the I don't know if you looked at the flashboat results from our quality of life. I thought it was pretty positive
and that 83% of people said it either good or excellent uh quality of life here. Um what was library came out first of our strengths. I think it was library, physical safety and security
and the school system. Those were the top three that people thought um were our strengths. um what's important to people which I thought was interesting the top um most important to you was physical
safety uh the school system and then shopping in restaurants surprised me um what they thought was should be the uh important priorities for Burnersville is local business development and growth was number one
preserving open space and improving traffic flow So those are the clear ones. But if you have a chance, it is on the website. You can look at the the details and read through the comments if you have time.
Um we also are I think um you want to talk about the Highlands? >> Um not yet. I mean you can mention that we have the >> we have the D. >> Yeah. But I figured out we had the meeting with the council, >> right? the Highlands Castle.
>> Yeah. So, we Yeah. Jessica kind of finished the draft designating what we we have to designate what we consider um the downtown >> the center >> the center and that then kind of gets held aside that this is where you will
do any new building and then the rest is all protected more or less or within limits. Um, so we have to meet with them either I don't know the state or out. Would you like to >> counselor
>> meet with the Highlands do that? >> Yeah. >> Either whoever's available. I would get a meeting set and uh it should only I think it's just going to be one meeting >> maybe. >> Yeah. >> Okay. That's it for me, Nancy.
>> Okay. I'm following up about the health department. They also have a residence clinic coming up >> which is I forgot where it is. It's in bathroom. Um >> probably the community center building
that's >> Yeah. >> It's on November 8th from 10 to 12 and then on January 10th from 10 to 12 no appointment required dogs for dogs. I guess >> is there a fee?
>> No, it's free. Wow. >> No question answered. >> Um, yes. Thank you to everyone for the front of the tree. Tom and I talk about how to expand it. Um, I suggested maybe next year we do a little dog costume before
>> before the kids come out and you kind of saw a lot of dogs yesterday. Yeah, >> fire dog. I just wanted to uh remind everyone about uh the new reckon water closing narrator. We had initially been told that it was going to be at night. They
changed it for two during the day. So I didn't find out why that happened, but we found that out last um mid of last week. So our police department's been putting notifications out and lawyers been putting notifications out. Should
be done on Thursday. though. >> And it's 10 to 4 >> 9. >> Yeah, it didn't seem that crazy. Like I thought it was going to be worse, but I think >> I did talk to about it last week when we
found out and he said because it's after the morning school rush and the rush hour that they probably wouldn't be so bad. And then the afternoon, you know, they do let the buses through. They didn't, you know, talk to school about it. Um, we heard from a couple
complaints today. Well, one complaint about more detour signs. Senator J Motor is going to actually have an additional police officer tomorrow. Um, so I guess they're trying to put those code. Uh, I think I think it would have taken longer
at night. >> Yeah. >> For some reason. And um something about the um asphalt plant not being built make it more I guess expensive and not >> I heard that they that they had to bring
in some special equipment because there was like massive amount of concrete under that they were not expecting >> but they got some machine that just like ripped right through it. So >> yes >> hopefully not going to delay it anymore. Yeah. Right.
>> And beacon was in place today. Um >> yeah, they're expensive. Um but it was installed today. The last home was failing and tech
is Did we replace it or the county? >> We did. We did. We did. Um yeah. So, um, yeah, they had their complaints about that because it wasn't um and all the lights be happy to miss
all the lights at the library at the Nelson Fenick statue and all square and working. Um, we still waiting for the replacement light at the county nearby shop on 202. >> Um, still waiting for that replacement.
Um but they're they're think at a later place. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um I need a motion to accept the department monthly reports. >> Acceptable.
>> All in favor? >> Opposed. >> Um correspondence. We just had that letter from the >> just that they're proposing a 2%. I don't know what it produced. surprising. >> Isn't it based on population too? I
guess everybody pays a different >> Are we mandated to join? Because it's interesting. School boards have to join in Jersey School Boards Association. >> No, we're not. But I mean, they do municipalities. Yeah. You know, I think
they're the most powerful that we have. >> Yeah. >> So, we need them. Everybody else is sliding boards. >> Yeah. I think that >> Yeah. Um any Oh, unfish statements. We have
>> correspondence. We typically handle like letters from residents in this section like the letter we got. I think Heather Ike sent a letter to the council like maybe want to talk about that now or put that on at some point.
>> Um >> and that's just her but like sort of any letter that we get >> I think well I answered her shared that [Music] too transit I saw you found out
about specific answer. It's a good name. >> One of the things, well, it was Heather Ike was her was questioning um >> well, it was very complimentary, but then her question was about u you know, ice cream to Burnersville and how are we
prepared for that and what would we do? And I think I had just answered what the police had said is that um we're not going to assist. Police are instructed, I think, from the prosecutor's office not to assist,
but also they cannot interfere. Um, I did go to most of the um, Latinos stores and cafes and dropped off copies of immigrant the immigration rights that should you encounter, I so that they
could hand it out to their customers. Um, but other than that, and she's also asking, that's what I was going to ask the superintendent, what the schools were doing. >> Um, and I don't think they have any input. put out a statement the schools
did not >> there's like a graph law I think and this is just from I just Googled the you know what the attorney attorney general says in New Jersey and I think the local police force can get involved if u if there's like a warrant or arrest or something like that or criminal criminal
activity so they can assist with that kind of thing but not like a generic like or I think >> and I think I almost said I think you know what we're seeing now is mostly large cities. I think we're way at the bottom list.
>> But it's still it is a uh a real fear for a lot of the residents. So [Music] >> and and we had another letter from someone offering to help with New Jersey Transit again. So like, hey, the more
the marrier. I don't care if you want to call them, call them. Um, stop signs at five corners at Claremont. This was, you had an issue with this. >> I'm personally opposed to the idea that
I, you know, Sarah rode away at the end of the day and understands. Now, I was just in Montlair today and almost every intersection I went through was an always stop and and one of my kids went to San Francisco, it's like every intersection is an allway stop and that
you know people tend to get used to it. It's just the transition time is going to be a little I did check with them and they had said we needed to pass a resolution to say exactly what they wanted us to say. Um it turns out it should be an
ordinance because it would be needed in order for the police to enforce the stop. So um without us passing the ordinance they can get people. >> So we would have to change the like put
it into the police ordinance. >> Yeah. In the traffic ordinance, right? The police can't get tickets without to back it up. violating a stop sign. >> It's not recognized as a stop.
>> Yes, you can't you can't enforce any traffic regulation unless it's in the ordinance. We had a problem a few years ago, but a lot of other channels had signs that weren't challenged. Yeah.
>> Even road stops. This is for those of you who knew it's five pointers in and right now which now currently has three stop signs and will now have five.
That's what the county is proposing to >> Oh, because it's a county road. Yeah. >> Okay. Because the county put it in, we would have to recognize it or else >> and it's, you know, right now there these stop signs are on our roads. Yeah. not on their
>> So if you're okay with it then we introduce an ordinance at the next meeting and adopt it in December. >> We'll see how it works. Um >> any comments on >> No, not yet. There's an open submission
coming up very soon. >> RPM fees. What is this for? um oh their for their application. So they we've discussed here previously that they are
they changed the siding and roofing and a few other aspects of the three scattering sites affordable housing development and they made a presentation to you and they talked about how if you that it's going
to reduce our cost that we had to contribute to them. I think that part of it was $7,000. Uh the other component was the last thing. And so because it was a planning board application and that
those material were originally approved by the planning board, they had to go back to the planning board. So uh they were just asking if the application fee could be which is $3,750 or reimburse them. Um, so they did say reimburse. They sent
a check for $3,750, but ironically their escrow was estimated be $3,750. So I told them that would not be able to if you said it was okay. They did not reimburse them. They would just eat that towards escrow because they only
submitted one tax for 3750. >> They put that towards escrow. That was our planning the planning. So we wouldn't give it back. We just boarding 3750 more. That makes sense. >> It takes one half, doesn't
>> there? We okay with that? >> Compared to the rest of the cost. >> Nothing. Okay. >> Yeah. So, >> that's true. >> Now, may we need a motion? >> Yes, please.
>> Make a motion. >> Wow. I'll move to the RPM application fees to the board. >> Yeah. But not the first. >> Not the right. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I uh any new business? Anything new? >> All right. Open session. >> Okay. three. Um, >> how much did the rock How much did the rock cost us over at that job?
>> How much did what >> the rock for blasting >> cost us? >> Yeah. >> We don't have the bill yet. >> No, >> they they didn't give you an idea. >> Um, >> it depended on what they took like $800,000 to go down.
>> Yeah, we we agreed to pay him 10 million6 something and change. for blasting. >> No, it's cap. That's how much >> they're paying toward their shortfall. >> The blasting reduced it overall. >> The blasting reduced. We don't know what it cost them to blast
>> and we're hopeful that the blasting would cost less than they initially thought, >> which they haven't fortunately blasted that much. We peel it every time we do. Um so we're hoping that that comes in a little less and then we don't that comes off
what we have the 2.6 So we actually wouldn't know how much it is because it's part of their bill. >> DNA. >> Okay. >> But you gave them the 200 million senior 2 million something additional.
>> So that was for what? >> The initial plan had $1.9 million part and they were but because of time past also an increase in the number of units. It was increased over time to to 6 million. So the increase would be what?
>> N26 but it was over the course of seven years >> but it was going to be fine. So then when you take away their ability to glass rather than dig and you take away the changes in the u
you know the outside siding looping things like that they brought it down from about five to 56 and they said we pay them to do those three sites >> right I want to ask you so you made a
statement that the lights are back. >> Um I >> have a light in in the in the garage was knocked on over eight years ago when this morning. There's two lights on either side of her. >> Okay.
>> Okay. The other thing is I asked for an earth clock and I want the earth clock. I don't want or I'm going to call people on the board. >> What's the earth clock? >> It's automatic. It goes into the two stainless steel cabinets. It automatically by the seasons as the sun
comes up the lights go off. As they go down, they go on automatically. We don't have to worry about coming into town. You know, >> you know about the lights that light all the post lights. >> It does. What else do you need? >> No, but it it it doesn't work. You know,
power goes off then the timer goes off. With the Earth clock, it automatically adjusts and runs. You know, it's two Earth clocks, okay? When I if they don't work and they're off, I have everyone's number I'm going to call.
Okay. But I hate coming into town with the town not being lit before it gets dark. It should be lit before it gets dark >> and then as morning comes up, they can shut off. >> But to call the police, call the dispatcher, call town hall, it's crazy.
>> It It is true. They were not wearing those [Music] dust off the sides and watch them. >> Listen, I I spent my time to design it to do it, you know, to try and save what
we were designing there. And look at it. They didn't listen to me. That's why we have sinking. That's why we have the curving rotting. That's why we have the buildings leaking. Do I have a Oh, anybody else? Good. Do I have a motion for executive
Thank you.