[clears throat] Okay, we are Oh, we're on. >> All right, I will call the meeting to order. Roll call, please. >> Mayor Mouse >> here. >> Mr. Rivero, >> here. >> Mr. Ruth is absent. Mr. Zro >> here.
>> Mr. Trainer is absent. Mamera >> here. >> Mr. Zazerino >> here. Notice of this meeting was provided to the Burnsville News and Courier News filed with the municipal clerk and posted on the municipal bulletin board on December 4th, 2025. Please stand for
the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance. Welcome to the July 13, 2026 meeting of the Burnsville Burough Council. Members of the public will be allowed to speak during the open sessions and during formal public hearings on the agenda.
Comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker, which will be monitored and enforced by the burough clerk. Failure of the governing body to provide a live broadcast of this meeting or technological problems encountered during
including but not limited to the adoption of any ordinance, resolution or motion. Um, we have no presentations. Uh, we do have minutes to approve. We have May 18th and May 26. Do I have a motion?
>> I move to approve the May 18th, May 26 minutes. I'll >> second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. That's it. Okay. Now, we now have an open session for any items that are not listed for a public hearing. So,
uh I cannot I can't It's like it's natural to say stand on the X. I don't have to say that anymore. Okay. So, uh come up to the podium. Please make sure you give us your name and address. >> Ready? I'm Mary Fran Dailyaly. I'm
for the reading of the declaration. Everybody had a really good time and enjoyed it and the schools did a beautiful job singing. Um I gave Anthony a print out of the reports from the last two library meetings and of our upcoming calendar. seats are filling up for Zuporia and the I don't know if it's the
toddler dance party or the babysitting club party, but uh we have a lot of fun things planned for July and even more in August. So, we hope you'll join our summer reading program and come see us for all our special events. And uh thank you to everybody for your help with all of the arranging for the cooling to be
fixed because of the power outages and the extreme uh gratitude from the community to use the library to cool and to charge and to connect. So, thank you. >> Thank you, France. Great job, Fran. Everything's always packed and so well done. Thanks for having
>> and really, you know, you did probably more program. I think people really enjoyed it and I actually reading the declaration was quite an experience. I think everybody should read it. It really was uh moving, you know. Um, a
lot of people were have never heard it read aloud. So, thank you for that. Uh, anyone else? >> Yes, Henry, come up to the podium, please. >> Don't [laughter] have to do that. Just
give us your name and address. >> Thank you for bringing me here. Bernazoo in 1943. Future is in the where it's in. And in 43
and uh I grew up next door on a farm. My father came over in uh 1926. He was an inventor who always wanted a farm. I was born I was raised on a farm and always wanted to be an inventor.
And it happened perfectly. This town made it all possible. They had a a wonderful government. Their police force was helped us out. So many incidents. When a cow broke out in the middle of the night, they called us
and we were able to get it in. That was when I took care of the cows. And uh the same with we've tried to keep a good collic way coming into Bernardville to keep the estate looking pretty good. weather and flood planes kind of have
their way with it. But uh still I couldn't ask God for a better place to grow up and uh they permitted us or me to invent different kinds of glitter. Now it's holographic. It doesn't get all
over the place. And uh I just enjoy every day living here in Bernesville. And I think it's become a bucolic gateway into town. People driving along see that and I they all like it.
Everybody comments to me about because I spent a lot of time with the Red Bulls and uh I meet wonderful people there. Now comes a little bit of a blurb that I'm going to mention and then I'm going
to get back to the story. at 4:48 this morning. I uh call it a terrible experience that I have almost every day at
4:48 and then again at 6:48. And what happens is they have a couple of rogue engineers driving their diesels and [clears throat] they are just relentless and blow the horn like 25 times. And it's not the the gentle horn
that the Mus were the MU trains have. It's it's it's a really crazy loud thing that Well, we're pretty close to the Maker Road, but all 24 times you can hear it clearly when you're in bed with two rows of bricks between you and
everything else. So, I think maybe it's time to say it again that the beautiful town, and I've heard this from a lot of people, suffers through these two rogue engineers that do this in the morning and then they do it again at
night. And I think it's the the ALP 46s and the ALP 45s. I think it they just do it deliberately because they can and they're union people and they can't get pirate because they're technically following the law
but you know you can go boop or you go four times and uh so I think there's a middle ground. I was here a few years ago as the pigeon remembered me right >> and you wrote a letter and it did good
for a while. >> Yeah. And uh maybe you could do another letter. >> We will. We'll try it again. >> Um >> sometimes they need reminders. >> The same thing again at night between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. I think the big
trains that come from Manhattan. I'm not sure. And this should be addressed by the counselor. So let's go back to the present. >> Actually, your three minutes are up, Henry. >> How much longer we You had your three minutes. You have more.
>> Well, I have another issue. >> Okay. >> Let's let's start a second three minutes for the next issue. Okay. That was his trains. >> Comment on that. >> Yeah. >> Have we recorded it? Because it might be good to record it and then prove it like how disturbing it is to NJ Transit.
>> Record the sound about how >> how long they hold on to it. >> Yeah. >> And the decel level. >> Yeah. >> In the middle of the night. >> You're not getting your pajamas. Yeah. Going. But maybe the evening ones if you had an opportunity on anybody could
really do it. Doesn't have to be you. Catch it on the phone and >> just to prove it to them. >> Yeah. >> People mention they hear it. They don't know what to do. There's even a group of people that go to the train station and their their pole job there is to limit
the the train noise. I met with them once and they were very good, but I don't see them there anymore. Anyway, >> we we'll we will take we will send another letter. So, thank you, Henry. >> U
now comes the big part. Uh my my mother passed away in 2009 and she her will was to divide the property of 240 acres into three parts. And uh
from the lay of the land and and the way the houses are situated, basically what it means that next to my subdivided lot on there, there's about 85 acres that I think should stay as open land. And I'm lucky enough to have the time to
join with Miss Kenos, Mayor Kenos, maybe on Thursday to talk further. if the town of Burnersville is interested I'm willing to play and that will do two two basic things for me. It will give me an appraisal because land is only worth
what somebody's going to pay for it. So why spend hundreds of thousands on an appraisal which I'm not going to do. I was thinking if if there was a value there that's fine with me. And uh so I was hoping to find a way that it can be
done in the way that it should be done according to the law. Right now I'm in I'm in a lawsuit with my siblings because I have one sibling that thought thinks that because my mother she took care of my mother she
deserves all of it basically. And um the will says oneird one third one third. So, I've made a u a settlement proposal which I want to share with Mary Mrs. Mrs. Mayor when uh when I meet with her maybe on
Thursday. And I want to thank Berninsville for always allowing me to have a stage for my successes and thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Henry. And we do we have a
[clears throat] meeting on Thursday and um I've invited uh also Frank Pinto who is our open space consultant >> to be there as well. >> Perfect. >> Yeah. And and our administrator. So >> thank you for your time. I know it was longer than three minutes.
>> So two issues. >> It's not it's not like they're lining up to come up here. So >> thank you. >> Thanks Henry. >> Henry. Thank you so much. and you know just uh obviously continues to be a priority of the bureau to you know preserve that property. So would we'd love to work with you and your family in
any way that we can do that make that happen and we'll write that letter again. >> Okay. Um anyone else I can't see if anybody's nobody on there.
>> Oh okay. Um so then I will close the public session and we'll move on to uh discussion items. We had um Main Street is hosting Garlicsville which um I think will be a lot of fun on
October 25th at the train station. So they want permission to use the train station. I believe that's a Sunday which you know it's pretty quiet there anyway. Um they also are asking permission to um
do the winter holiday celebration. So they're going to be combining the tree lighting with the parade and they are working with the Rossy family because you Joe's health has been a little shaky lately and so they're willing to um have
us work with them and do it together. So the only I think they asked for information on how to close that one little strip there. So, we'll get more information. It's just, you know, the overall concept, the date, the date, the times. So, um, but we will get from the
police, uh, a route where the parade's going to go and more details, but this is just kind of the general concept. Um, >> they look good. I They said three up to 3,000 people at the Garlicsville. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I was very impressed. the person
who runs it came and did a presentation and he does all kinds of different street fair type things all over um not just New Jersey. I think they do one in um Allen not Allentown East does
a Garfield. Yeah, >> it's almost >> Yeah. And it's it's a big hit. So >> um we we have resolutions for those later or we have a need a motion now for
well let's finish them. Okay. And then also just keeping the events together. The library foundation um wants to do and I think they've done this a couple years now. They do a gratitude event for all the uh volunteers and donors. um and they need
uh permission to apply to ABC so they can serve wine. So let's do those three as one motion for the events. >> I move to have all fun events
winter holiday and >> gratitude. >> Gratitude at the library. >> So >> all in favor? >> I >> Okay. Okay. So then we'll just make it official on in August. >> Okay. Then we have the GIF renewal
which uh is a three-year contract. So um do when is that due? Do we have to do it tonight or >> I think we can do that in August. I don't think we need to. >> So we're just doing it as a resolution. But yeah, and we want to stay with the GIF because they have been >> great to us.
>> They've really served us well. um the additions to Claremont Playground. I will turn it over to Nancy. >> Yes. Um so we notified the vendor uh after the last uh meeting that we wanted
to order the items that you approved in yellow and blue with uh blue. You asked him what would look best. He thought the blue flooring would look best um or the rubber bottom. Um, so this is So Anthony has a 3D
uh rendering of what it will look like. That's not it. >> What is that? >> So can you make those bigger? >> And is is this the game time? >> So this is game time uh which is also
MRC. So, if you go down, you can see that's the overview. And then that's what it would look like from the side. And I think there's a couple more. It's kind of the same thing. You see the shaded benches. There are two of them.
The shade big shade on the top of the um playground unit that you ask you'd asked for. Yeah. I wish we had all that land around it. Yeah. Exactly. >> Um but
so the cost for that is what you approved which is $264,400. Um but I heard from you some questions and concerns about ages and you know that that big structure is rated 5 to
12. I mean, younger kids can use it, but it's rated 5 to 12. So, you'd asked about younger kids. Um, those little the duck and the bunny are for the younger kids, but I looked into something for uh much younger kids,
which would be um Can you put up the other the other one? This little activity set. It's for ages 6 to 23 months. Um, you can't really see that it's not an outdoor activity set and we could add
that if you wanted to. That's for 6 to 23 months. Think even older kids could use it. Um, and then I wanted to add two more swings uh because we had room and we could have four al together. So, one would be the adaptive swing. Two would
be the sling swings and then which are the traditional ones and then one would be the uh like infant or >> toddler swing. >> Um so, Anthony, if you could bring up the >> I asked him to put a rendition together,
>> second one of what that would look like. So, you see on this one there's four swings instead of two. Um down at the bottom you see the the two the duck and the bunny. And then that if you wanted the
So if you see that >> this one >> there. Yeah. That in the next to the looks like the duck is the would be the 6 to 23 month. [snorts] And then the swings. I think if you go down one more, I think there's
maybe not. Maybe one more. I don't know if you can see the swings in the back. >> Yeah. No, can't see it. Now, we did you did have um >> There we go. >> Oh, there's the picture. Yeah. in a
closer view of the >> you did have Ben Schaefer also the design to get to that but I want to give you this um cost. So to add the the the baby thing and the two extra swings would be an additional $7,300
um which would make the total uh $172,198 plus 994. So it basically makes it um two
I don't know why I don't have a total on here 264 about 272,000 if you wanted to do that. Um so I wanted to let you know that we had asked for a second quote [clears throat] from another vendor but we actually didn't think that they would
reply. That's why I didn't bring it up at the last meeting. Um, but we finally did get a quote and it was about seven or eight thousand dollars less than this one. Um, it's kind it's a little hard to compare apples to apples. Like they had demolition. This one doesn't have
demolition. Um, we took all we took all the differences out and we made them as close to each other as could be. And that one was about seven or $8,000 less. However, the main playground structure, like the big one, >> the center
>> the center of it, uh, has less activities. So, theirs has four, this one has 12, uh, climbers. Theirs has two slides, this one has three, theirs has three platforms, this
one, this one has eight. So, in comparing the two, it seems like you get a better deal with this one. Um it's it's you know and they're pretty much when you're talking this much money seven or $8,000 isn't that much to begin with but you're getting more for your
money for this one. >> Um and these were this vendor and the vendor that we got or two of the biggest playground vendors in in New Jersey. It was Ben Schaefer was the other one and this one is Game Time which is MRC Martano Recreation.
Um, so if you choose to, well, if you choose to do these two extra things, um, I feel like this is good for all ages and I think that it
it it's a good deal for the money that you're paying and would be a great addition to the park. And I feel like these two things, well, definitely the swings, the additional two swings. Yeah. Um, I think are
really good to have. Uh, we didn't think we'd have enough room previously. And I kind of like the baby thing because if you have a little kid there, you have something for them to do. So, and again, for an additional about $73,000, I'm
sorry, $7,300 for those two things. The activity set is five and the additional swings are about three. >> Okay. Does this include installation? >> Yes. >> But not demolition. >> Not demolition. So DPW is going to do
the demolition. >> Okay. >> Um the installation is If you went with the second If you went with the second one, the installation is $63,000.
the big um the big unit, the main unit is 115. I'm rounding these. Um the swings, if you did the bigger ones with the four is $5,400.
The shade over the um unit itself is a,000. The two shades over the benches are 12,000. >> I don't know how they come up with these numbers. I wonder.
>> The bunny and the duck are 1550 each. The uh baby activity center is five and the two benches are uh 2260, >> but it's all included in the 272.
So that 172, >> not the demolition. We're doing that. DPW is doing demolition. >> Okay, got it. The installations. >> Yeah. >> Installation. >> And that way, you know, a lot of times they used to ask DVW to install and we don't want that liability. So it's great that they're doing it.
>> Yeah. >> So this is the So if you went with that, it's 172 and then the the 99 for the rubber coating and the curving. Oh, they do curbing too around the edge of the the Oh, good. And there's a fence around
it. Besides, >> there's a fence and there's actually wooden um would call it kind of a retaining wall because to hold back the dirt in the at least two sides, I think it >> And you still think they can get it in
by Labor Day if we order it tomorrow? I'm not making any promises. [laughter] >> No, we always get in trouble when we >> I know. I know. I Yeah, >> he would start by then for sure. >> I mean, honestly, everything that we do
um and later in my report, you'll see, you know, Wes and Boy Linan, everything we do is delayed because of supplies. >> Yeah. >> You know, it's I started during COVID, nobody could get it better. It's [laughter] like it never stopped. Yeah.
>> So, it's all I guess it's all about the time it takes to get the >> the equipment, right? >> Equipment. Yeah. >> Well, I think then what it is is people don't stock anymore. They manufacture once they get the order. And that's what takes so long. >> Yeah.
So, I think the question for you is if you want to add those two things that I talked about, >> yeah, >> definitely the swings. Do we feel good about the the baby part? >> Baby part >> that was 5,500.
>> The baby part is 5,5005. Got it. Um yeah, I'm probably inclined if we don't currently have in the current design a piece of equipment for that age group. Um Nancy, do you assume you don't have a render of the other one? Um basically
this one gets us more platforms. I think you said eight versus three. Um, similar number of other pieces of equipment. Is that right? But basically a lot more play space up front up top. >> Yeah, it's got a lot more
>> the Yeah, >> it has you're comparing the main play structure for the one vendor to the other. >> Yeah. Um, just to make an informed decision there. Yeah. Uh, it has I have to get back to that page.
This one has 12 climbers. The other one has four. This one has three slides. The other one has two. This one has eight platforms and the other one has three. >> Got it. So, higher quantity really across the board. Um, okay. Yeah, I
think in that case it's worth going with this current design >> and with the baby >> equipment. >> You guys are good. Okay, I think we're good. Let's do it. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for doing the research on that.
>> What's the You need a resolution. Um, well, it's all on it's all on the state cont. >> I guess you can you did a off-the cuff resolution at the last meeting. So, I guess we could just amend
it to add these two things >> to to not exceed say 7500 because I think I just put down some. >> Well, I I could tell you exactly. Yeah, just there's always contingencies. [laughter]
>> Prove it a baby. >> Yeah. Swing. >> Okay. So then we'll to add approximately that's 5,05. And do you want to just say not to exceed 8 8,000?
>> Yeah, I think that's safe. Okay. >> Okay. Who wants to move it? I'll move to approve the additions to Claremont playground >> not to exceed 8,000 amount not to exceed 8,000.
>> Second. >> Did you second? >> No. Oh, you did. >> Oh, whatever. All in favor? >> I >> Okay. All right. Uh, engineering projects. Do we have a update on any of those or? Um it's just
a quick update. Uh the pavilion, we received the survey um a couple weeks ago. I sent that over to the consultant who's doing the um design work to try and make sure that everything fits based on the constraints of the property. Um,
I'm setting up a meeting for next week for the our engineer and the designer so we can make sure that we have everything that we should. Um, then well I will the one thing is so because this is in a co-op what they do is they
also do the um construction. we would need a separate electrician and plumber to install the toilets and sinks and and the electric. Um, so I'd like our engineer because our engineer didn't really like the pitch of the roof when he looked at it. So I'd like them to
talk to each other so everybody's comfortable and then once we have something, you know, that we think is complete, then it would go to the recck committee and then come to you. >> Yeah. Did we get a price on the pavilion? I didn't get a price of the
installation yet. I asked him again today. I don't I don't >> But but what about the actual >> the actual building? Um I had it uh I don't remember. I I think I I think at the last meeting I said well to give you a hint I think it costs
less than the playground. So [laughter] um yeah. >> So I if unless the installation's outrageous I mean I think we'd be able to do this for under five which is what you wanted to do. Yeah. >> Um, and then there's just we would
probably ask Wreck to meet with the different groups that use that field attached to the turf field. I know they practice there. There is a I call it a dugout. It's basically just a fenced in area. I think occasionally
put a bench in there when they want to use it. there. We measured and there's room to move that to the other side because it really is in the line of sight from where the pavilion would be to the Turk field. >> So, we would uh let them know about that as well.
>> And get any just on that point, can we um is that decided um in terms of moving that dugout or can we build a pavilion without moving that dugout? >> We could build the pavilion. It's I mean
nothing's decided. It's it's our you know >> sorry it just cut out Nancy. So I'm sorry I'm going to have to ask you to repeat that. >> I hope it's not our new system. Um I said it's all subject to what the engineer comes up with the uh according
to the topography of like which way it can turn things like that. So I mean if we can avoid it we'd love to avoid it but it sits right there in the line of sight to the turf field and like there's an exact spot for it on the
other side right next to the other dugout. It's not >> it's not a highly used field. So, >> we thought that would be an easy concession. I mean, again, it's something we have to talk to all the groups about, but
I think it'd be great to get input there. It's a little odd to see a baseball field that has dugouts on one side um and not both sides. Um if there's a way we can accommodate that, I think that would be wonderful. The information that I that I got from recreation is that that field is almost
primarily used for practice. So I don't know if it's you know if that matters >> if they really use the dugout. Yeah. >> Right. Like do you I mean how much you use the dugout for practice? >> Well I think just getting input from the groups that are there will help make
that decision. So and we don't have to make it tonight. Well, no. And I just wanted you to know that we measured and we could move it. Um, but you know, it it all depends, like I said, the topography and when the engineer looks at it and which way it
could face, how much room there is. Yeah. >> You know, like there's just so many factors that still have to be taken. So, so nothing's final. Great. >> And answer your question. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, contractor's waiting for supplies. Uh
you know the catch basins or whatever the the different things is that he needs to do the job. um date and crescent. The DOT final inspection is supposed to be the week of July 27th and then the any striping modifications will
be scheduled after that after any changes that they require. The [snorts] engineer is aware of the fact that it doesn't look great. I made that very clear. Um you can still see yellow in a lot of spots and uh so now I just will
come down to how they're going to fix it. Fix it. Make it look better. >> Okay. >> I have two questions. What are our status on uh for sidewalks, Child's and Train Station right now? >> Yes. >> Same August.
>> Uh no, no, that is a point of enormous frustration because DOT just will not respond to us on that. You know, you awarded that bid in December, right? >> And the contractor's not happy either because they were supposed to, you know,
be done by now. Um they they won't >> DOT approval. >> We're waiting for So DOT approved the modification. If you recall, this was the Burner Avenue sidewalk grant, right? And it was supposed to expire
in August, I believe, and next month. Earlier this year, we asked for a modification and said, "Can we use it for the um train station and child of road sidewalks instead?" They approved the modification and then
the engineer did the plans and sent them to to them and they haven't approved those plans yet. And every week, every week we ask them. So, um I might ask for some help with that, you know, with our
representatives. >> Yes. >> Because this because I, you know, I can't blame the contractor for being upset. You know, we we've been waiting. >> Yeah. Well, he has to plan out his schedule. >> Yeah. So, >> so I unfortunately don't have anything
new on that one. >> Yeah. Um >> the train station um New Jersey Transit said they were doing the asbestous and they're still not there, right? >> No. So, that was part of my report. >> Oh, sorry. Um, so New Jersey Transit let
me know that uh they were starting to do the asbesus work and it would take uh I think it was 4 to 6 weeks. >> Yeah. >> And they were going to start July 1, but we haven't seen any evidence of them starting yet. >> No. And they had told me they were doing
it in May and they never did it in May. So >> yeah, very frustrating. >> Yeah, it is frustrating. That's something we can raise with some of our assembly people soon. >> Yes. And >> think there's an upcoming opportunity to
do that. >> Is our county representation I'm just curious? >> No, it's like it's >> actually I actually >> I take that back. It was the um assemblyman's office who called and told me that. I don't I don't think it was New Jersey Transit. I think it was them
because they've been trying to keep on top of that. We both our assembled people to stay on top of it >> as well as our senator and yeah >> they tell them >> and then they tell us but they don't do it >> child
>> oh you're talking about childare >> child >> no I mean that's again that's state it's the state do and I will say this that this is not a typical that wasn't a typical grant it was what they're calling a paper grant right it wasn't electronic everything got mailed snail
mail back and forth. And so now when we submitted our modification, they were supposed to upload that into the electronic system and they never did. And they said we can't do anything about it until they do and they just never Yep. >> So the um just I have one question about
the western boiling. You said mid August. >> No, that's >> our engineer said mid August for start. The engineers >> the engineers said that which is again very frustrating because that will
lead into when school starts. So >> we still >> No, we're waiting the contract. >> Yeah. Yeah. And because and the contractor is completing another job,
>> which happens when you when you delay like we delayed it cuz we thought that the water, you know, for the neighborhood, we delayed let them do the water main extension first and so then he took another job and [snorts] so he's finishing his other job plus the
um delay in supplies. So, we're told middle of August again. It's It's frustrating, but not a lot we can do. >> This is the one the resident was here last meeting about. >> Yes. Yeah. >> And I all but promised the summer.
August still counts as summer. >> Actually, got till September 21st is still summer. >> That's right. >> But yeah, we don't want to do it while the school buses are out. I mean, it's just gh frustrating. Any other good news? [laughter]
>> No, that's all I have. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, moving on to ordinances. Um, I will open the public hearing on ordinance 2026 2053 at an ordinance providing for the improvement
of Laurelwood Road in and by the burrow of Burnersville and the county of Somerset, New Jersey, and appropriating $259,28. Therefore, constituting proceeds of grants from the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Anyone like to be heard on this ordinance? Seeing none, I will close the public hearing. Um, go Russ. I move to pass ordinance 2026-2053 on final reading and adopt as lifted. >> Second. >> Roll call, please.
>> Mr. Rivero, >> yes. Mr. Z. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zazarino. >> Yes. >> Um the next one we were pulling this >> more like a note.
>> It's already been covered. >> Oh, right. >> We don't have to do anything. It's just to put in the public record, right? Yeah. >> So, we just let it go away. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, it was already it was in the capital ordinance.
>> Can I can I ask on this topic though? >> I think we discussed maybe a slightly lower amount or I mean I mentioned to be clear. Um do we know what the actual amount will be? I know we it was 20 200 in the capital but I was hoping we could
spend less than that. >> It should be less. Um Nancy had said they they're in the middle of um renewing the um what do you call their >> the co-op contract. >> Co-op contract. Yes. For the co-op that they're in. And so they couldn't give us
the but we're only doing zoning for the first part. >> Right. Well, so the uh I'm giving rough numbers right now. the uh construction documents alone was about 113,000
and then I asked them to add in the zoning um planning and zoning and that's I think where we're waiting it's it's not it's I think it's going to be like probably around an additional 50 to 60,000 for that so it's going to be
close to the two but um that's what it is. So, I was going to bring that back to you when we actually finalize that and then you can decide if that's what you want to do. >> Yeah. I think it's >> a good idea to do, you know, a whole department
>> Mhm. >> at once. So, >> and by the way, just one caveat, just so you know, uh so that we're completely transparent, there will still be multiple filing cabinets over there that will not be scanned because they're
current. You can't they don't want to scan them because they need the actual physical files. So just so you know if you go over there like what are all the still >> yeah all the current ones because there are multiple file cabinets of current there's so many unclosed permits
>> you know over the years. So yeah, >> na Nancy on that topic I guess once we do transition to having those more of those scanned and maybe transition improve some of our technology we'll move off of paper for some of the current is that right and then we can eventually have a more electronic system
for that. >> Um I think for as much as we can but I believe that the state still requires tech paper tech cards and the sheets that go with them. So, um I heard that the state is
exploring or maybe close to doing something electronic. So, um hopefully that will happen soon. >> Right. >> All right. We have resolutions. Um
>> I'd love to discuss 164 and 172. I had some questions. 64 was the traffic. >> Oh, the left turn. >> I just didn't know when that where that >> that's the uh garden center. >> Oh, okay. So, coming out of that no left turn from the garden center, they have
to go right. Perfect. Yeah, >> makes sense. >> That's part of their applications to estate >> exiting the property. >> Yes, >> that was approved over a year ago. I'm glad that they >> Why is that here versus
So require >> Yeah. >> D is requiring approval of it >> municipal consent to it. >> Yes. Did the planning board approve that >> too? It's >> well yeah but I mean >> I'm sorry
you know board passed it probably a year ago. >> Got it. >> Uh and then because they're New Jersey Transit on the back end and also road frontage of the property you know they that's another level they have to go through. And just like with the Clareman fiveway. >> Yeah.
>> Where you know they said okay well for us we'll require a stop sign. They're just saying they said a council >> endorse the stop sign. I mean I would >> and and and board usually makes approvals subject to approvals of other entities. >> You know soil conservation
county. >> They exit onto a state highway. That's right. >> They have to apply to DOT to have that driveway approved. >> Yep. So, and they take 18 months sometimes to give that approval. >> They do. >> So, and then if you read that whole
contract that they're requiring us to okay it before it's, you know, to agree to it, >> which is fine with me. Left turns are a nightmare there anyway. >> That's right. >> Very helpful. What was the other one? >> I want to talk about the audit. >> Oh, the audit. Yes.
>> Um, no recommendations. >> Yeah. I thought that was great. I just wanted maybe quick overview of the audit findings. Wasn't exactly the clearest language too. So like >> when you read that thing >> and the thing is you know municipal and school audits are nothing like >> corporate audits audits. Yeah.
>> They're very hard to understand. >> So if you could just I wrote down a few notes if you needed me to Nancy but if there's any comments if you don't have it in front of you it's fine. I'll give you my comments then. Is that helpful? Okay good. I thought listen I appreciate it. It was nice to see it was actually I
think there were recommendations in last year's audit and there were no recommendations in this year's audit. So I thought it was great. They had three I would say what they had findings though these weren't like necessarily moving to recommendations. It said they couldn't lick the bid thresholds for the pool
manager and um West and Boland to specific um outlays. And these aren't like um these these didn't exist. It was sort of like they didn't necessarily track it. Um they had like some comments
in there about tracking delinquent taxes and something about inner fund which I didn't um fully follow. So I didn't know if you could clarify any of that but I thought it was good that the audit came from handling our financial matters. Okay. So, um I I have the notes from
when Leslie and I did our um it's called like an exit interview. >> Um it said the inter internal controls and compliance were clean. Um they had no recommendations or comments. They said financially we're
doing very well. Um the current fund is up 14%. Which is very good. Utilities statewide are not doing well, but ours is okay. Um our records are in very good shape. Uh
there was a UCCC report that had an error which was fixed. There was a affordable housing overpayment of $200 which was repaid. Um, >> sometimes >> I can find out more about it, but sounds bad and it's not.
>> It didn't even say bad. It basically said that they saw um coun something along the lines of they saw council approval for certain amounts related to the pool manager in West and Boland, but didn't necessarily see outlays, which we know West and Bo wouldn't necessarily have it right now. So I think it was
just how they were tracking the information was more questions that they raised but they didn't have any recommendations and I forget what the recommend they had single recommendation last year which I forget what it was but uh it was nice to see that. >> So last year was about um getting
uh checks from construction in within 48 hours. >> Yes, that's right. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So overall seems to be in good financial health >> and they didn't mention it. So they know I mean we did go out to bid for both of those things. So
>> okay otherwise that I'm good my two questions. >> Um any any other resolutions? We did finally we now have a fully staffed zoning office. >> Oh, can I make a comment about that? >> Yeah. >> Um construction and planning and zoning.
We will uh so we got more than 30 resumes for those two positions. Wow. >> One is the um >> topical >> uh the technical assistant to construction construction official and then the um administrative coordinator
job for the zoning office. Um we conducted 14 interviews between the two. It was myself, um the zoning officer and the construction um code official. And
uh we um so we chose these these two people. Um and one starts on Wednesday, the uh administrative coordinator for zoning and the new technical assistant
starts on the 27th. She just gave notice to her employer today. Okay, great. >> I was going to ask for 1618 $800,000 grant transit village related for sidewalks. Uh do we have any I mean no
obviously but I want we have any details. >> You already talked about this. So this is just the formality, >> right? This is just the formality um of actually >> actually your approval to submit the grant. So we talked about at the last I
think couple of meetings. Um there is there is something uh of note the amount that we're applying for. We didn't have that last time, right? >> So, it is $85,681.50 >> and it is not a matching grant. So,
>> if we get it, that'd be great. >> Yeah. And this is part of having a designation as a transit village that makes these these funds available. Um, if you're not a transit village, you can't apply for these grants, I don't believe. >> Right. There's only 37, I think, transit
villages. Um, >> so the odds are good that we may not get all of it, but we'll we should get something. >> I'm hoping we'll we'll get some. We talked about this. We talked about doing it in in sections. We talked about the downtown corridor. You asked for that.
Um, this is to for to jog everybody's memory. This is to replace all of the sidewalks um >> pavers >> and the well the current pavers with solid um sidewalks and the one of the main
reasons is because it is 20some years old and it's no longer in compliance. Um there's not ADA compliance in multiple places. They're falling apart in a lot of places. Um the engineer went out and measured and took pictures and there's a
lot more cracked sidewalk than you would think. Um and so an added benefit is no weeds because if it's solid there's no cracks for weeds to come up. So that is an added benefit. Um and then part of
>> way they're persistent. Part of uh part of what we put in for is to improve the pedestrian crossings. Um I know you had mentioned at a recent meeting about um changing the you know how when you
press the pedestrian button they all stop and I asked the engineer to look at it and they said that >> because of just >> it's sight I think she said >> yes they're line of sight for var various corners that it would be it's
difficult and you've got people coming from all different ways it's a very unusual intersection there >> and you've got people coming for all different ways. And that's really the safest way to do it to keep them all stopped at once. >> That's part of it. Yeah, >> I eventually eventually will be and then
>> we could change that. Um I also >> Yeah. And I also emailed um DOT and asked them to look at the timing of that light again because I believe that was brought up at a recent meeting. I haven't heard back, but I asked I told
them it had been adjusted, then it went back to the way it was. So now if they could readjust it. >> Well, and I think because there's some kind of construction going on in 287, we've had a lot of traffic on 202 in the last week. Uh it backs up way far down
because they're all getting off 287 and coming through town. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I think they're going working on that exit. >> Yeah. >> And part of the part of this grant is also to replace those pedestrian um
buttons. If you if you look particularly the corner by I think Rebecca Collection and the one across the street from there, they're right in the middle of the sidewalk. So, you couldn't get a a wheelchair or baby carriage through there if you tried the buttons, right?
>> Um, and then part of the grant is also to um uh for to accessorize the train station. >> Um, new benches. Uh, >> bike racks. >> Bike racks. A bike repair station. I
don't know if anybody's ever seen them, but they have them. Yeah. Um and a water bottle filling station. >> Yeah. Yep. And I don't know if you've noticed um Main Street started the Ed English Park. So there's all new pavers
there. And so, you know, we're hoping we we'll get the benches that will go there. So that >> and the table and a table. Yeah. Game table. So >> that's shaping up nicely. >> All right. >> Thank you for your welcome. So, I need
uh I guess it's your turn, Chris. Do you have resolutions? >> That resolutions 26-159 to 26-173 be adopted. >> A second. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Zazino, >> yes. >> Miss De, >> yes.
>> Mr. Strong, >> yes. >> Mr. Rivero, >> yes. >> Right, we are up to you. >> You, >> it's me. All right. Uh, not a lot since our last meeting because it wasn't that
long ago. Um, I did attend, um, Senator Bramnik had a town hall in summit which he's been doing kind of around his district um, which was very well attended. And I also attended the annual meeting for Robert
with Johnson University Hospital which they invite me to every year and just get an update on that. you know, unfortunately most of our people go to Marstown. Um, but they're pretty impressive, you know, um, it's and they
show up for a lot of our health fairs and so, you know, we kind of want to get people heading that way, too. I did my 38th wedding. >> Yay. >> Up to 38. Um, I also had a dinner meeting with our
new assemblyman, Vinnie Carney, who um, you know, invited me to meet with him, which I thought was great. Um, he's a very regular guy, and, uh, I gave him a lot of our issues, the train
station for one. Um, and if you have anything else, he was more than willing to, uh, be open to whatever help we need. So I think that was encouraging and McCertie is equally as uh responsive. So
>> happy to have them. >> Uh on the 8th we had this sharing the spirit of America which was um actually it started in Hawaii and spread across the country where the declaration of independence was signed on July 4th but
it wasn't actually read publicly until July 8th. So we and their started in Hawaii. They wanted um organizations, libraries, museums to read it at 6:00 on July 8th. >> And we listed, you know, they listed all
the people who had signed on to do that, all the different organizations. And >> so that's why we we did that um on July 8th. And thank you to Fran and the library staff who did a wonderful job of providing surrounding activities
and Nancy for and uh Kevin for getting the food there and ordering it and having everything ready. So there were crafty things for the kids to do. We had the uh Bedwell kids. You were there. >> You were they sing and they sign which I
thought was amazing. >> That was good. that the new music teacher teaches them to sign a lot of their songs. And then we had what was his name? He was great. >> Yeah, [laughter] he was there. He did a lot ofity center it said, right? Yeah,
he's been all over the place and he did a lot of patriotic songs and tap dance and played all kinds of different instruments and did a lot of George Cohen stuff and yeah, it was kind of like what you do, Charlie, with your DJing. So, thank you for that. Um, more
to come from the 250th committee. We're working on some more activities. Uh, and I just I saw and I don't know if anybody else noticed it. I did post it on FA Facebook. There is a video on our website of the parade, the Memorial Day
parade that is outstanding that the high school kids did. >> Oh, no way. >> It is. Yeah. Um, thank you for posting it because it really I just hit it by, you know, I was looking at the website. >> It's a great video. Of course, I'm on
it, but >> No, it's really well done. You know, the kids um did interviews and they added music and it was just really well done. >> Put that in the time capsule. >> Yeah, we should. Yep. Um a couple other
things I wanted to take some time to uh talk about Quimby because it's been on our minds lately and where we're going from here. Um I think at this point we need to kind of take a step back and look at the progress that we've made over the past few years. Um, we've done
a lot to move downtown forward. Um, helping the businesses. Uh, Main Street's done a lot. We met our affordable housing obligations. Um, the third round is in progress now and we did it without having a builder's remedy
by building it ourselves. And we just we got our fourth round approved. So, you know, we've completed all that. Um hopefully we have uh the new the old Audi which will be the new car showroom
about to start. I think they're ready to go to the planning board and Palmer we hear is going to get started uh fairly soon. So there's a lot coming. >> Bakery as well the uh >> oh at the garden center. Yep. So I think
at this point now we've got all those projects behind us. we can start looking towards go back to look at Quimby. Um the reality is Quimby has been around for a long time. Uh it was a very
ambitious vision when we first looked at it. Um and at that time we had no other projects on the horizon. So we kind of had a lot of focus on that block. But obviously a lot is different now. Um, we
approved other other projects around town. Um, we've got some new businesses and I think we've heard very loud and clear from our residents about what they care about and which is that they want
the character of the town preserved. Um, including our movie theater, which we all love. And I think in the original design of Quimby, the movie theater was going to be gone. And for me that would be a nightmare. I mean I I love and what Chris is doing at that
theater is phenomenal. >> Totally agree. Mayor, he's an asset to our community. >> He has been doing so much there, you know, for the veterans. You know, we want whatever happens at Quimby to complement the rest of the town and support the rest of the town.
So, it's not about, you know, looking back. We want to look forward. And rather than trying to make an old plan fit into today's circumstances, I think we have a chance now to develop a new vision, you know, that reflects [snorts] where
we are today and where we want to be in the future. So, I think what I'd like to suggest is that at our August meeting, we start talking about the next steps, including how we engage the community. I think it for this project, we should definitely reach out to the community
for input. Um, I think they deserve to have a voice in what happens in on that property. And also for the businesses on that block, they need to So my hope is that we can come up with a
clear direction and move this Quimby project forward in a way that benefits the residents and the businesses. I think it's too important to remain stalled. >> So you know it it's an important section
whether it's more parking. I think we still have a affordable um requirement there from our third round. It just doesn't need to be what it originally was because we have made up made up some of those uh apartments in other places.
So, um I'd like to start that conversation in August and see how we want to open it up to the the community. So, what do you think? >> I agree. No, couldn't have said it better.
>> Yeah, thanks. and you outlayed it uh very nicely about the opportunity that exists in Quimby, but also the circum why that program was envisioned by this community years ago, but also it how we can sort of take that um area, which is still an important
maybe, you know, vital part of our downtown and reinvision it, envision it to um really fit the needs of the way that we want the character of our community to look. And so definitely have my support in engaging that discussion. be great to um get some momentum in August and then talk about
how we can engage the community this fall. So, >> yeah, certainly support. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Um and [clears throat] sorry I cut out once or twice. Um but but I think I heard the mayor say, you know, give the downtown businesses some clarity. Um so I think that's one of the
best things we can do with this is provide clarity so folks can plan uh keep their businesses there for the long term and know what's around the next corner. And with a revised scaled down project that's in line with the character of our community that has the
support of our our residents, has the input of our residents, I think we'll do a lot to move uh with the jewel of of what could be the jewel of our downtown uh forward with a revised community project. So really looking forward to this discussion with the community and
getting something that's, you know, both smaller in in a lot of ways as as the mayor mentioned um maybe I'll mention too. uh you know, we've had a lot more uh of developments in town uh that have brought more more both more residents uh more residential units and more
commercial uh development to town. So this will we don't need as much as we need before and we can do something that is more achievable, more manageable, more deliverable. So totally in support mayor and looking forward to the discussion with the community. >> Thanks Charlie.
Okay, good. Actually, when is our meeting in August? >> I'm twin. >> Okay. >> Um, you have anything more? You gave us a lot of writing. [laughter] >> I do. >> Um,
well, first, uh, unfortunately, no news on the post office and, uh, Jack could elaborate if he wants to. Uh, they continue to ignore our emails and they have not started paying the increased rent. So, >> I keep writing to them. It's like
dealing with a Wizard of Oz. I'm not sure who I'm dealing with or where they are or anything else. So, maybe next meeting we can discuss where we want to go from here. >> Yeah. And we do have um Congressman
Kaine's office also was trying to help us with that and they were getting frustrated as well. I think I'll reach out to them again. >> Yeah. since it is a federal organization. >> Um, we were just notified actually right
before the meeting started that our website will be down tomorrow at some point up to 1 hour. Um, anytime after 9:30 tomorrow morning uh for security work. This is because our website is run by the company that owns
SDL. If you recall a month ago or so, they had a major security breach. Yeah. >> So, I guess they're upgrading security all around. So, because they currently run our website, um,
>> uh, they notified us, we'll be down. So, um, Anthony, maybe in the morning we can put something up that says the Well, I guess if you're looking the website's down, you won't see that. So, uh, anybody's listening, the website might be down for an hour >> until
>> Not until 9:30. >> No, [clears throat] I'm saying if you put it out tonight throughout >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, >> up until it goes down. >> Um, okay. So, as you see, we have our new audio uh >> Yeah.
>> and video um system. >> Excellent. >> Uh there's a couple things, kings that need to be worked out. Um that microphone at the podium is going to be actually attached to the podium. Uh the people that sit here will have um stands so we don't have to hold
these. Um and uh what else? Um there's a couple of things to make that look better that um we'll be able to do. We'll be able to do close-ups when people are talking for an
extended amount of time. um you know, but overall uh and we tested it out on YouTube today. The sound is amazing and that was one of the main reasons to do it was so that when people watch uh you know reruns of meetings um
they could actually you know hear what's going on and it hopefully helps people on Zoom. I don't know Charlie can tell us if that was >> Yeah. How was >> how how is it? >> The sound is much clearer. Yeah, as as you heard me say once or twice, there was a little bit of audio
cut out, so made some just tweaks on mics, but I sound and the images is are all clear. Um, so uh you know uh definitely an improvement and just minor tweaks going forward I think will make it really an all-star system.
>> Yeah, very nice. Thank you. >> Great job. >> Thanks. Um and then uh we already talked about New Jersey Transit. Um, August 4th is National Night Out. >> Oh, right. >> And they're going back to the pool this
year after three years of not being in the pool. So, it'll be within the pool grounds and people can swim um if they would like, even if they're not members, uh, open to the public. Um, and that
will be from 5 to 8 of p face painters and food and organizations giving out things. And then all of the police cars, fire trucks, DVW trucks, they'll all be there in the parking lot for everyone to see. So, it'll be it's it's closer. Like
the last couple years when it's been at the polar ground, it's spread out a bit. Yeah. So, this is kind of more of a, you know, all in one place and and it lets people see the pool who haven't seen it before. >> Yeah.
>> Right. Kind of like an open house. >> And then, >> who's who's in charge of it this year? >> Uh, it's always the police department. >> No, I mean, which officer is it? >> Um, one usually takes the lead, >> you know. I don't know. I talked to the chief about it. He didn't mention it's
probably Tim. That's usually 10 minutes. No, I think last year it was Chris last year. >> I think it was Jeff. >> It was Jeff Mitzki. >> I thought it was Chris Leorter. >> Oh, maybe. >> Maybe it was both of them. I don't know. I could find out. >> Yeah. >> Um and then the last thing I have in my
report is a a update on the dam. >> Oh. >> Removal. >> Yeah. Um, so we were notified uh last week that we need to renew a trail and bridge permit with the D because it expired in 2023
and uh nobody even knew that we had it. So no less that it expired. So uh Mary Pace Goldman is meeting tomorrow with D to tell them this needs to be done by the end of the month. Like you can't like we filed in 22. didn't even tell us
like they filed for all these other permits, damn safety and everything in 22, didn't let us know that the 23 permit, you know, that the permit taken out in 2018 apparently expired in 2023. Um,
>> and was never approved in all that time. >> I It was approved. It expired. >> Oh, >> and what was it for? the trails bridges >> to do. Yes, we we're gonna do a walkway around until we got into the
>> the fact that we had to remove the dam. So, we put that >> Well, we're still doing that, though. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But we had put it off until I think we had already appropriated the funds, had we for the trail or something. We had done some planning on that and then
stopped because we realized we had to remove the dam. >> Okay. Yeah. So, I don't know who was in charge of it at the time. >> Uh, it was uh Ferraro Engineering at the time. They're the ones who applied for
it. I actually thought that it had to do with the dam. So, I'm I >> No, we were planning a walking path around it. >> Oh, okay. >> Um, there still is going to be kind of a >> There still will be a path. >> There will be. Yeah, >> there still will be a path. And the
bridge the bridge came down in 21, >> right? And that will go back as well. >> Yeah. Um so then the rest of the timeline um is [sighs and gasps]
at your August 10th meeting um we will have hopefully well we will have reviewed the bid. Everyone been able to review the bid package and uh on August 10th you'll formally authorize approving going out to bid. Um
and then and that would be for the dam removal and for the park development. >> Oh, the whole one. It's all in one. >> Uh and then um the bid opening would be October 6th. The
award would be October 19th and then the construction would begin in November. Um and she anticipates that the construction will take from no November till the end of March. So be completed next year >> or by early next year. Nancy,
>> I'm sorry. >> It would be completed by early next year. >> Completed by March, the end of March, hopefully and weather pending. I mean, she said they could work through the snow. >> So it's not She said maybe it would go into April, but she anticipates this
would be the >> So we could have the park for next summer. >> We could do concerts in the boat house. >> That would be so cool. Again, no promises, but I'm going to say that there's a pretty good chance. >> Na Nancy, um that's wonderful. Um on the park, uh itself, are there opportunities
for us to make further improvements, you know, once the sort of bones, so to speak, have been laid out. Um you know, there's some cool parks. I went to one yesterday, top of my head, in the Midwest, where you can do, you know, just different things that speak to like local flora, fauna, plants, water
features, things like that. I I I assume once we've lay out the basic park, we can always improve if we want to do more environmental kind of features of some of the local um you know, water features, things like that. Um highlight plants and things like that if folks wanted to donate bricks. You know, we
could still make improvements um um even after the sort of phase one of the park is complete. Is that right? I >> mean, I think you can always make improve improvements. I mean, I don't I don't know what the you know, permitting process would be or whatever. I I would
think that the park itself would be ours, right, to figure out what we wanted to put there. >> Um I know the plan is in place, like the the landscaping plan and all that apparently has been in place for several years. And I think that's the plan that
was submitted to D, so I don't know how much wiggle room there is there, but I think afterwards to add things, I cannot imagine would be a problem. Well, and there are >> there are two rain gardens there right now. >> Yeah. >> Which are really nice. Um, and I think
you know the I assume we're keeping the boat house. >> I don't know why they call it a boat house. We always called it the boat house. >> Is it the gazebo? >> Yeah. Gazebo. >> Yeah. Pavilion. >> Yeah. That's not I don't think. I think. >> Is that the fire department?
>> I think it's the fire department. >> I don't know. I I like I think the border is really close there and it's not clear. Nobody I keep asking and some people say that's what I've always you know people always ask why don't why can't we have concerts there which would be great except that you know the the
bridge is out there yeah you could do weddings there too >> and uh yeah and >> that sounds like a a revenue opportunity Nancy >> yeah and there's you know so much goose poop that you can't even get over there >> well that's the good thing >> and that's when you don't have a pond
you don't get geese >> they don't like Yeah they don't like So >> no >> so there chairs and it would just be great >> and when it's a river and not you know >> it's a street
>> space >> the downtown >> yeah of course there is no parking somebody brought that up >> yeah we're going to work on parking if we have events this >> or Yeah. >> Okay. Um, do I have a motion to accept
the department monthly reports? >> Go ahead. >> Can I say I love the new because they're >> Yes. >> Instead of 100. >> And I I believe that was Amanda's
contribution. They're much easier to read, too. save my life. >> Oh, no. They're very clear and easy to read >> one PDF, but it's makes it way easier to have them separate from my >> Well, and just the way the it was laid
out. >> Yeah. It was, you know, instead of these big long, it would go like this all in one column, you know, now it Yeah. >> Yeah. It was much easier to read. >> So, yes, I accept the second. All
>> in favor? >> I >> um other reports. Do we have any committee? >> Did not meet. Uh health is next week, next Monday, which is nice because for once I don't have a run council. Yeah.
>> [laughter] >> Charlie, did you have any? >> Yeah, environmental met last week. Um, you know, actually one of the questions was on the timeline for the dam. Um, so uh and I said next year, which is, you know, actually sounds like even uh a
little longer than uh will eventually be the outcome. So that's great to hear. Um I think there's also some discussion of the rec master plan. Um that's being drafted I guess originally by the planning board this time. Um I believe in cons consultation with
recreck committee but that' be good to check and then uh seeking comments from EC on that. So they're reviewing that. Um there was one request for another anti-dumping sign at Marine for the Marine Crest Park but on the Mount Airy
Road um side. So that might be something to look at. Um, apparently one resident mentioned or one member of the EC mentioned there's been more dumping there. Um, so I think that would be worth uh looking into. Um,
uh, you know, may public works, you know, however we brought that appropriately. Um, and then there was one resolution that on landscaping equipment that uh that the EC chair brought up that he might or potential resolution they might want to eventually bring to council it. uh I have mentioned
my thoughts and concerns on but he's not quite ready to bring it yet. So I think we'll look for that on a future date. >> Um potential resolution they want us to consider um but it's not ready yet. So in a future council >> oh sorry am I cutting out >> uh you towards the end you started to
trail off almost like you weren't close to the microphone but >> Oh same AirPods so that's weird. So [laughter] um >> yeah yeah exactly. So that's you see hopefully that those the the main action thing that I think was the anti-dumping sign that um I would take away there.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Anybody else have committee meetings at all? N >> um shade tree I think was today and they're still waiting for the feedback on their ordinance. >> Is that Jack have that? Do you have
that? Kevin and I met to [clears throat] go over it one time and then he had to go back and make some more edits and then he was going to come back to me again. I would like our new code enforcement officer look at it.
>> Yeah, >> since he's the actual shade tree enforcement person >> and then Jack and then you guys. I told her we didn't forget about it. It's just it takes a long time with Yeah.
Okay. Um, correspondence. We did have a letter from Vincent Paragano um, who was very complimentary to our police for he had got caught in some kind of a fraud scam and they were
extremely helpful. So, it's nice when people take time to >> compliment the work. >> Yeah. >> Work. >> Yep. That was great. Yeah. >> Uh unfinished business. Anything still
hanging out? No. >> New business. Um you know, it's a silly little thing I noticed today. Who's in charge of fire hydrants? >> Um I had an issue with mine and I
>> in charge of what? We we pay for them. Well, no. There's one on cut square that is just a solid rust. It's ugly. And you know, I've been seeing these things where people paint them red, white, and blue. And it >> Well, I mean, who does that?
>> New Jersey American Water owns them. So, I mean, I guess we could ask them if >> even just to get the rust off. I mean, it's really there. >> I'll contact um New Jersey and Water and see what we can do. >> Yeah. It just it's right on Olcott
Square. Just noticed it today. I don't know if it just suddenly got rusty or I never noticed it before. >> Yeah. Silly little things. One thing. >> Yeah. Just a minute on the storm response um from a couple weeks ago. Uh
first of all, just compliments to OEM and all of our first responders, Tim Richards, and like everyone um who worked, right? all the first responders, fire department, police, like across the board. I think they did a great job on
just a crazy storm. Um the, you know, and I know that talk about JCPN all broadly, but like I know that the the um technicians out in the field work really hard to restore power. Thank you to the mayor again for your leadership and keeping people up to date minute by
minute about outages and um everything happening there. Um I I think that we probably should at some point have our GCPNL liaison back to council. We had them a few years ago. Um where they were talking about upgrades they making to the burrow. There are a lot of concerns in the community about how long it took
to restore power and uh sort of just the you know maybe some confusion around the response in general. I think that would be a really good thing to have them here. It was a really productive discussion when we had them like two years ago. They provided um updates on like almost the order of call talking
about hospitals and areas that they you know try to take care of first. They provided information to residents and I thought that would be good too. Um one other quick thought I was talking with Fran actually at uh the one of the events and John um I know that we left
the police department open for residents. I I think we should consider the library as well. Um I do think that there is a threshold where we open the library, right? But uh I just wasn't sure what that is in our emergency response plan.
I know um the police department probably accommodated most needs in this case, but the difficulty with the police department versus the library is it's not walkable and accessible for everybody, right? So and you may have um people may not even necessarily know it potentially could be a location they can
go to if they have out they have power outages. whereas the library is really walkable for a lot of people. Um, you know, there's restrooms, men and women's restrooms there. There were like there's like a lot of facilities. So, I know that probably is something to be requires a lot of steps like think
through staffing it and uh, you know, providing budget in case that happens. But, I just would think that whether it's public safety or some other type of one of our committee should consider that at some point too. >> I agree with that. That's you know, it's our community center and it's centrally located. >> But overall, you know, I just want to
say thanks and that we probably should at JCPN all year and consider that. >> Yeah, if I could Oh, go ahead. >> No, go ahead. >> Um, yeah, if I could just I'll second the the ask for JCPNL to appear. Um, uh,
we'll also second, you know, really, uh, I drove home. I think it was a Friday night. We came home from a a Patriots game and we came into town and, you know, managed to get managed to get to our house. But, you know, it was amazing to see how many first responders were on the road at probably 9:30, 10:00 uh at
night uh on what is, you know, what was a a long weekend right before July 4th. Uh so, it was, you know, really impressive to see just a testament to the quality of our our police force. Uh obviously Sergeant Richards being the public face of a lot of that deserves a
ton of credit. Um our our public works teams for clearing and obviously you know as the mayor had mentioned you know the the utility folks that came in from as far away as Oklahoma I think. Um which is quite quite impressive. So really want to commend everyone who did a great job keeping us safe and I think
that should be our first thought in all this is what an amazing job uh they did to to keep us safe. um uh and and to eventually get power back. On the point of um JCP and all, I think it would be great and I invite members of the public to attend um when we could get JCPL to
attend because I think we want to talk clearly about some folks [clears throat] have brought up potentially bearing lines in town. I think we want to be very cleareyed about the cost of of doing something like that and I think it would be great to have JCPL answer the exact costs of that um when they uh when
they attend. Um because uh uh when they when I believe they repaired something here in or in Burnersville in in in 2000 in 2024 and just for really a few thousand feet of line, it was a relatively expensive uh couple million
dollar uh project. So we can imagine the cost will spiral quite high well beyond the constraints of our our municipal budget if we were to bury any substantial portion of line around town. But we should have that discussion with the facts with JCPNL. Um so that I think would be great to have. The second point
is when we have that discussion with JCPNL, it' be great to talk about how we can leverage new developments. We have fewer of these than many other towns do. Um hence we do have more overhead lines, but we do have a little bit more flexibility when it comes to new developments to request that lines being buried and how we can work with JCBNL uh
in requesting um that those lines do be buried when we have the opportunity to do so. Um, and last point, I think it would be wonderful when uh the folks from JCB will get a second to breathe and rest. Um, if we can request any sort of uh extra safety checks around town,
have them drive around and look for particularly um, you know, egregious branches and and and trees that are near lines. If they can't we can't bury lines at the very least could we eliminate you know dangerous situ more dangerous situations and encourage more regular maintenance
of uh of dead and dying branches around the tendon too to limit as much as possible uh the hour of disruption while uh short of going to buried lines across town. So just a few thoughts. >> Thank you Charlie.
Can I just address the cooling station for a minute? >> The station. >> Yeah. So, the library is uh one of our only cooling stations. Um this was Fourth of July weekend though and library was closed and so it's more
difficult to staff. You need more people and the people that staff the cooling stations would be ser volunteers and again it was Fourth of July weekend. So, while we did use the police department for some of it, we were able to open upstairs here in this room. >> Oh, okay.
>> Um, and we had to staff it with police and um DPW employees. Uh, there was one one woman, her name is Louise Dix Dixon. She's a SER member. She was here on the 4th of July in the afternoon to staff
it. So, I want to thank her. Um but we do use we do use the library uh mostly when it's open because it's easier. Um but they have used it when it is closed as well. A community room, right? And we use this room as well. There were not as
many takers as you would think. Um there were only a couple of families who came and it was mostly to charge phones. >> Charge. Yeah. Um but uh uh we did you know we did >> right >> manage to cobble with the other people. I know Greg Skinner who's one of our um
uh SRO's >> um and our you know police obviously police and DPW we have to pay >> uh overtime but they um you know they were able to staff it when they needed to. >> Thanks for the update. Just one comment
in response to Charlie's comment about underground lines. We already required for all major subdivisions that the ground utility lines be underground. >> That's good. Good to know. >> Um and again, Fran, when you did open on
Monday, you know, we were available for because power was off till Friday for some people. So, it was great that the library was there. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you.
>> Well, you know, because people a lot of people work from home and if they did not have internet, you know, they were going to work at the library because you guys were there. So, thank you for handling all that. Um, I did get a a email from JCPNL that was, you know,
kind of a general to everybody that thank you for your patience and that kind of thing. Um, they did say they just told what what the restoration effort was. They restored power to more than 400,000 affected customers. Um,
hundreds of contractors already on site for the heatwave were joined by thousands of additional contractors. Approximately 5,700 workers worked around the clock to restore hazard responders, damage assessors, dispatchers, and support personnel. In
all, the crews replaced more than 500 broken poles, over 600 transformers, and then ran 163,000 ft of wire. Uh, and that's even if the wires the cables are underground, if a transformer blows, you
still don't have power. So, that's, you know, um, they said for many customers, this was the longest outage since a tropical storm, which I could never say Isaiah. Um, so what they plan to do here, it says,
um, their work continues. Post storm patrols and inspections are underway across thousands of miles to identify any new potential hazards. Um, they plan to investility and enhance your customer experience.
So, um, that's >> it was >> Yeah, it's a good question. >> Yeah, >> that's a great update, Mayor. And I'd encourage anyone to check out the mayor's regular updates that were posted throughout the storm on closed roads. We called JCPNL and obviously >> we had 18 roads closed total.
>> Yeah. >> So, um, >> do a great job updating everyone. >> Yeah, the last one got opened on Friday. I think the biggest complaint I heard from people is that JCPNL would say, "Your power's back on." And it wasn't. So that that was, you know, like I think
they'd rather get a real date than get told, you know, it's Tuesday and it ends up being Friday or yes, it's on when it's not. You know, it's the communication piece that got people the most upset, I think. So, um, if they can work on how they notify people.
>> All right. I don't think we have uh Oh, we have another open session if anyone in the public would like to speak. No one on Zoom. Nobody. No takers. Okay, I will close the public session. Um, we do not have
anything for executive tonight. >> We we don't >> No, >> it's summer. Charlie, >> I have a question for Jack then that I'll >> I know >> raise later.
>> Um, do I have a motion to adjourn? >> To ajourn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Wow. 8:30.