Good evening everyone. This is the record meeting agenda of government body Tuesday June 23rd 2026 at 7 p.m. order of the salute class. I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all >> here >> is excused here
>> power of Smith business and attorney. This meeting is called pursuant to the public and public meetings for adequate notice of meeting was advertised news on January 9th, 2026. Copy was provided to
local news media and posted continuously in the municipal building. A copy of this note is available to the public in the office of the municipal clerk. As per state fire code, I am required to acknowledge that there are two emergency exits in this council change. The main
entry to which you enter through and a secondary exit to the left where I am seated. If there is an emergency, walking to the exit through the door, down the stairs and out the building. There's any questions? See, um we do not have any non agenda
items tonight. So public comment second. >> All in favor I wish to talk to a general please. There's four items here. I really want to thank the council for moving on them.
uh one is I'm looking forward to seeing more information on the deer population survey because they're continually control um the other ones about the healthcare resolutions I think are important I think affect both municipal side as well as the school side and the
highland so thank you for taking the time to research that you're welcome thank you anyone else to agenda items Hello. >> Hello. Just got to say your name and your address.
>> Oh, I'm Barry and I address your addresses. >> Oh, we are Girl Scouts from 1979 and we are working on a project on our silver ward. Um, so thank you for giving us Home address. >> We just need your home address.
>> Home address. >> Give them your home address real quick. >> Where do you live? >> Very good. Okay. Go ahead. >> Um, we would like to install an interpretive wildlife sign at Boca Park. The purpose of the sign is to educate
visitors about the local wildlife and natural habitats found within the park. Many residents and visitors enjoy spending time in our park, but they may not know about the animals, birds, plants, and ecosystems that exist around them. An interpretive sign would provide interesting facts, identify common
species, and explain the importance of protecting our local environment. This project will benefit the community by increasing environmental awareness, encouraging appreciation for local wildlife and providing an educational resource to families students.
The estimated cost of designing, producing, and installing the sign is approximately $2,000. We are respectfully requesting the board's approval of this project once approved. So, Alyn and I will be begin fundraising efforts to cover the cost.
We believe this project will create a lasting educational resource that residents can enjoy for many years while helping people better understand and protect the natural environment in our community. Thank you for your time and consideration. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
>> Okay. Um I have a couple questions. Um obviously this is a Girl Scout project. Um, is your whole Girl Scout troop going to be working on this or is it certainly you guys? >> It's just us. >> It's just you. Okay. Um, I don't think
we are going to have a problem because you want to put this up a playground. >> Okay. Um, anybody here? >> I have a question. >> Okay. Um, I know in Oakquick they have a sign that there's this particular
species that um I don't know that the county like the county have any grants or anything that could help them with that kind of um you know with the environmental club do they can they help
>> I think the so I know at one point in time back well Before Dave took over as leazison for environmental, they had discussed uh habitat signs for Oakwood and there might be some knowledge there coming out of environmental that transfer of
information. Uh but I would think that if you're going to be doing fundraising, obviously the council will stand behind you and support that in the Boy Scouts and their projects burn. >> Correct. just grad let me ask you a
question. I think since this is a Girl Scout project, correct? And I think part of your project is raising the money. That's part of your right and outgoing um equal to uh voice. They have to go out, they have to
solicit, they have to come up with a project in complete withheld, however you guys decide to run it. Um I think it's great. Um, I believe we'll be 100% in favor of of it. The only thing I will ask is once you design your sign, all
right, on paper, I will kind of instruct you to meet with Mike or myself, anybody else. We just want to see it and then we will come up with a location that you you want to put it. I'm sure you got the park. You must have some type of ideas
of where you want to put it. Okay? So, I would, you know, just have one of us work with you and we will just if you be okay to put it in that spot. Um, and the reason I'm saying that sometimes where you want it, it might be blocking something new. It might be, you know, we
put the new dot in. It might not be I don't know where you want to put it, but you know, I'm sure it's going to look great. And, um, I don't know if anybody else has any questions. I think we're just giving you the okay and do it. I think it's a great
project and you're going to find a lot of stuff I think that you're going to you're going to identify. And how long do you think it will take to do this? >> Yeah. How? Because you can create you
can order an actual post online and then have it shipped in parts and a go and >> but you want to design it in person. >> So we actually discussed this a little bit at the last environmental meeting
the environmental committee behind that. So, it's going to be like a cabinet. >> So, then you can make changes when needed and input stuff in there. Um, I would suggest putting I think it's on the bottom on there that'll be on there
in this um Okay. And they'll tell you literature. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I see stuff like that on there. I think it's fantastic. Um, far as I'm concerned, I think we're all in favor
go with it and once it's done, we'll just walk you up to a presentation and we'll open for what you're doing and recognize you guys for doing it. I think we all really appreciate this fantastic
Yeah. Please come talk to us. >> We can help you. >> You just have one volunteer. >> I'm sure we'll all help you out to get to where you need to go. So, we'll be part of your fundraising campaign.
Thank you. >> Great job. >> Thank you guys. >> Anyone else want to speak to agenda items? I'm sure you do. >> I got nothing to say. I'm good.
>> Hi everyone. Aaron Esner just wondering what um you saw something on the agenda about survey. So I was just wondering about update on on where things are at. >> Okay. Um other street business um >> you know what we're doing tonight we're
approving the funds to have the uh the college go ahead and do the survey. It'll be the fall on the schedule to have it done this year but the population truly is coming down off the tree.
>> Exactly. that they might >> it probably from what we talked to them it probably sometime late November early December once the leaves are all gone and you know they even like to have snow on it happens but they need get rid of the density so we can actually do the
>> drones >> all drone fly over and they're doing the complete town >> whole town >> including state park >> sure let you know >> it'll be in the middle of the night so I think they do. I think they said they
do at night. >> So, >> very useful. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else? >> See no one motion to close. >> All in favor? Report of committees.
>> Um, mayor for the um senior center Uh the all calendar events are listed on their uh
ad calendar um at the um really beautifully uh renovated um senior center. Um I also um it's my understanding that uh
um Pat Yangsy, she will not be retiring. She's still uh very active in um um getting all kinds of events for the seniors. Uh they have uh in November they have a trip to uh Newport, Rhode
Island. It's from November 17th to the 20th, four days. And their yearly trip to uh their New Year's Eve uh day trip to uh um the Grecies in uh in Long
Island City. All these uh things are available um at the senior center. Also for the um the May the main numbers for trib
were 156 for the May. Uh year to date they had 748 calls and chart had 129 calls. um their instruction
for this month uh is about uh it's called graduation fever and um if anybody would like to volunteer definitely go on on their website. They are always looking for uh people to
help. Um and um um this Saturday we're having the fireworks. Um there's about 15 trucks that are coming. Um I'll let Mayor talk about the
possible uh weather situation. Um >> good. >> Okay, John. >> Okay. Um about a week ago, Mayor Mr. Sand Meer, myself, Michelle Reynolds from our economic development commission
as well as a couple of business owners. Uh we walk Main Street with a gentleman from the New Jersey Business Action Center. So he's a state employee as well as the director of the city county economic development, John Carlo, Steve Monardo. And the intention there was to
look what we have going on on Main Street, what our zoning is, what are things that we can do that are more businessfriendly. They were exploring different types of grants that we might be able to apply for. Um we're really just explaining what are the benefits that we have and what are some of the hindrances that we have. I know one of
the big ones we discussed was the flood plane rising up to be over the past couple of years. Um and both representatives in the county and the state seem to see what we're all know and that is a bit unnecessary
kind of a restriction and how much it can hurt us downtown. Um so anyway, they're going to come back to us with some suggestions, some additional materials, and essentially give a study um from the state for things that we might be able to action on. So I'm looking forward to receiving their
responses and seeing what we might be able to do with that. But it was it was a good productive walk. Took about an hour, went up and down, even met with certain business owners that happened to be uh there at the time to so they could share their input and give their feedback. So, I want to thank you both for coming as well as Michelle from the
EDC and the county and the state for their time and attention. >> Yeah, it was kind of um educational, but I think from what we got out of them, we're getting the same complaints of the problems that we we talked about
from other other municipalities with the flood issues and and that stuff people being almost hand tied because the state wants you to to build and then the other side says you can't. So they need to all get on the same page
and hopefully what the gentleman from he will relay that message to the u the next step to try to help us out of what we have to do to get these projects moving forward. We'll see what happens.
Uh tomorrow night we have a planning board meeting and uh I believe summer camp for wreck is now underway. So hope all the kids are out there enjoying it. It was a rainy day today. There will be uh soccer camp for this summer as well
as volleyball camp available. I think uh obviously the concerts in the parks look forward to for the wreck. But uh I think that is it for right now. Feel free to sign up for those via the website. Yeah, the concert's in the park. We were asked about the concerts down there if we just
need to start advertising dates so people can start planning. >> Yeah. July 22. It's Clementine's Basement. It's the first one I know about. >> Is that being advertised anywhere on our website? >> They advertised it on the grant page. I'll check and find out whether they put it any place else yet.
>> I saw Yoda Park July. >> A lot of activities. >> Sure. What would this be cons? >> That's the first one that I have on a note for long. The one I have a note for. Sorry. >> Okay. Right.
>> No. Okay. >> Uh so tomorrow, Wednesday the 24th is the board of education meeting and then the following Wednesday, July 1st, environmental is meeting. Uh
even though the senior center is done, we've decided to keep the meetings occurring here in council chambers. So that has been updated on the burough website that the new meeting place for environmental meetings is in this
location. That's okay. Just a couple of things. The delay playground ready for the surfacing equipment's all in and the pavement out front is done. That should be coming in within as soon as he's dry. Uh and then out the back
you'll see the shed for the uh or the pad for the shed for the police is ready to report again. As soon as the rain stops before that shed delivered them up and running their start their accreditation process and you can talk about
it. >> Okay. Uh just a couple things for me. I attended both the Walter B school graduation and the high school graduation. Um, they both went very well, very well organized. Um, it was pretty impressive how how
I use a burger school. The plans work outside and then they weren't sure, but everything was organized. Everybody know inside. Setup was nice. The program was great. But was very nice. And I did notice their class seemed to be big. It
was 146 kids for the high school graduation class, which I thought was a pretty big pretty big group. So they went really well. Um Salt Barkfest um was well attended, a little bit hot in the beginning and then once the band
started playing and uh it cooled down a little bit, we had a really good turnout. The fans were great. Uh food trucks all seemed to be moving and um it was very well organized from uh Sally Bazil, Eevee and and Jen who really ran
with it and organized it. Um so that went went really well was nice. Um the other thing for me is Fer and Deler place in Hamburg turn bike where the two cars hit the guard rail on the Cobra
crossing um for Fer Street Hamburg turnpike. Within the next two weeks um the county will be starting that project to do the repairs on it. Um they're going to start putting up signs along Hamburg turnpike that construction will
begin on on route dates um to do that which it's going to cause some adequate traffic. It's going to be about a month to get the project complete. Um they have to work on both sides >> both sides >> both sides of the Culbert to do the repairs. So I'm assuming once the
construction starts the sidewalks will be closed on the the north side of Hbert Turnway. on that. So, but it's it's going to be a problem a little bit with traffic. They want to wait till school got out so they bing and everything
early morning. So, but it's going to be um a pretty big project to do those repairs from what I looked at and look underneath. So, that's going to start um hopefully within the next two weeks. Um I did a couple ride through Ann and Elm of the work that's going on in Memorial
Court Charles. It's coming along really well. It looks like they're going to start doing the piece work of the curvy. It's going to start on an street and then they'll they'll work their way through to get the film and hopefully within the next two to three weeks the
main part of that project will be done which will be a curving. I believe the water's done, the drainage is all done. So the curving and then they're going to let it set for a while before they actually paid through there. Um so that project is coming along us. We are going to do a grand opening for the new
playground laser and I hope everybody from the council can be there while we schedule a date for that um to open it up. Some people thought it was open already in there so we case it's part of it but that project
was looks really well. I was down there and took some pictures and John post where we are today. Um, so that'll be another big project between us and and the county. That's all I have. >> All right. Um, resolution number 2026
6.10 consent agenda. Before we approve the consent agenda, I just want to recognize and just make mention Mary Lazole is leaving us as of the end of August. Mary has been a dedicated
employee to our our burrow. She's been one of the long-term dispatchers part time dispatchers. Um I know Mary for a really long time. So we wish her nothing but the best and on her retirement from
dispatching. Okay. Um, do I have a motion to accept the consent agenda? >> Second. Any questions? >> Roll call.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Graiano. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Pending items. Adoption of the 2026 municipal budget.
Ask Mal to read section two. be resolved by the council members of the Burmeino County that the budget hearing before set forth hereby adopted shall constitute an appropriation for the purposes stated of the sum therein
set forth as appropriations and authorization of the amount of 9,827,238.70 for municipal purposes down to 181,9 952.58
cents for open space recreation farmland and historic preservation trust fund money and $453,75 for the minimum library tax resolution number 2026.20 adoption of 2026 municipal budget. Do I
have motion? >> Okay, roll call. I just want to take a moment while I uh was not in attendance for the last meeting, I did review the meeting minutes and I have reviewed the budget and as uh as frustrating as this budget
may be to all of us here and to the taxpayers, I do think that our uh budget committee did the best that they could with the cards they were dealt. So, yes, >> yes, >> no.
Gassy. >> Yes. >> Rocker. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um I do for the people that are hopefully watching this live. I suggest that people have any questions, they go
back to the last meeting and watch or watch our website and look at the budget presentations that um our business administrator presented to us. And it explains a lot a lot of where
we are, where we were, and how we got to the resolution of this budget and the constraints that we have on the controllables and uncontrollables. Um, I always urge anybody that, you know, has any ideas from this council to please meet with us and give us any ideas that
you believe that can help us um w with any budget that we do. Um, but it's as being part of this and Ray and John uh can um can talk about this if they'd like to, but we worked on this budget very very
hard and looked at it line by line with our CFO, our business administrator. They sat down with our department heads and and we got the budget to the best place that we can with all the issues that were forced to to
handle as a bur and but I think the presentation if you look at explains pretty much everything and how we got to where we are today. So I thank everybody for their participation on this. Um Heather's not here tonight. She was here last meeting answer question of Mike and Heather. You guys did a great job. I
really appreciate what you did with the budget. So, thank you all. Okay. Okay. Item B, second final reading, other hearing bond ordinance number 9-2026.
Various road improvements public, please. >> Yes, mayor. This ordinance is posted in municipal building published on the website. copies were made available to the public so that a motion may be read by title. So I have a motion to read by title. So move second. All
>> in favor I providing for the reconstruction of various roads by and in the rural counties of the state of New Jersey appropriating 415,000 therefore inclusive of a NA DOT grant in
the amount of $331,080 and authorizing the issuance of $415,000 for the borrow. Motion public hear. >> Anyone wish to come up speak? Seeing no one, a motion is closed. So
move second. All in favor I um this is simply where this is for a DOT grant that received for Hillrest and Cook to repave um both roads and there
will be some concrete work that needs to be done some curving that needs to be repaired and this is primarily um grant money that we received from the do the additional amount that's in there because you're not allowed to use it for engineering cost and the engineer must
do it. So that is our sections cost as call for our engineer and any surveys that he needs think needs to be done. But those two rows will be done um as one of our next projects. So we have a motion for adoption. So
>> yes, >> yes, >> yes. >> Broners, >> yes. >> Yes. New business. Item A, resolution number
2026.21, payment of the bills. Is there a motion to pay the bill? Second, >> yes. >> Gazy, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Okay. Item B, introduction of ordinance number 10-2026, amended. Amendment to chapter 2 recreation fees. Do you have a motion to read my title?
>> Second. All >> in favor? >> I an ordinance of the bur of county state of New Jersey amending chapter 2 administration section 2-6411 fees for recreation programs of the code
of the burough cooling. uh second and final meeting and adoption will be scheduled for July 21st. >> Okay. Motion of late public comment second. All in favor.
>> Anyone wish to come up and talk about anything. Just wondering the site next to the post office. What's going on? >> That's a good question. Um, the
developer at this time has not um he needs to file paperwork with several identities. the county. Um I believe the sewer authority he has to work out the water hookup and the problem I think it
is because he just run over the county and they have specific rules. If the he opens it up he's going to pay the occur. Um that's part of the problem. Um we're waiting for him to get his final approvals through the building as file
for us permits. It's right now I'll just be honest. We Mike is in touch with them all the time to see what we're doing, how where they're going to start, but right now we're not getting um the results we want at this point, but
the way the law works, there's nothing we can do. Um, I know it's it's horrible that he took down those those houses, but you cannot stop anyone from demoing um because obviously go tax save himself money, but we have no control of forcing
him to start the bill. He has always appro all the processes through there. Um, so we're waiting on him. There's not much we can do. >> There's been a flurry of activity and
then nothing for a long time. Looks like this looks like the site probably not complete yet. >> It's like supposed to be complete. I mean, our engineer has made it new things. You see the grass that's growing? He had to replant all that to
make sure it stops the eroding somewhat. It didn't stop it completely. I know our property maintenance has been in touch with him to and as recently to you'll see big pile woods and finds. All right. And to get rid of that debris. So
property maintenance is is doing his job to making sure that he's keeping it somewhat clean. Um anytime we have problem with he call doesn't respond and then our property man. But that's about all at this point we
can do with that. um kind of the same property down by arenas. Um but he wants to get known. I know that we spoke to him. He was one of the people that stopped with us the other day with the um the county and the state when we walked over main street. He came out and talked to us. He's itching to get
started. He's waiting for all his DP approvals um for that for that project. So once he gets those approvals, he wants to put a shovel right in the ground. So there's there's a plus on that side of the main street. the other side. It's very upsetting to me that
every time you drive down and look at that, it's it's horrible. >> Point out walking through economic development like that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. He he owns the property so
if the owner decides I'm not this is far into too much cost. I'm just going to bail out on it. Is there any recourse or could the property just stay like that? >> Um, I don't have that answer. That would be between our legal team. We'd have to
do the research on that of what we're able to do and not to do with him. Um, to me if he got to a point where he thinks he cannot do it. I'm I would assume he would try to put the property for sale. I would assume that and then somebody maybe do a different project
lesser cost for that project. But right now our hands as a burrow sign. >> Appreciate the question. Anyone else? See no one to close the public.
>> All in favor? We do not have an executive session tonight. Our next meeting and we only have one July July 21st at 7 p.m. a motion to adjourn. So move
all favor. Thank you all.