In compliance with the open public meetings act of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting was provided on December 10th, 2024 by sending written notice and electronic notice to the courier news and the breeze posting on the website and the bulletin board in
the municipal building and filing with the township clerk. Uh may we have the roll call, please? Councilman Kersh here. Councilman Cordella here. Councilman Pardoso, Councilman Ring, Council President Norgalis here. Uh
would you stand if you're able for the pledge of allegiance led by Alan Cordella to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Thank you. We have minutes for approval for the April 24th, 2025 regular session. Has everyone had an opportunity to look at that? And if they have, could I have a motion, please? I'll make that motion.
Motion. Second. Well, my only commentary is I was not present at that meeting. So, I'll either abstain or not vote. I'll second it. All those in favor approving the signal of progress saying I. I. I Okay, the mot the minutes are
approved. The closed session was circulated separately. Uh let the record show uh Councilman Pedroso has joined us. Uh we're up to township council reports. Uh Mr. Cordella, would you uh start it off, please?
Okay. Since our last meeting, there has been a fair amount of activity with the community block grant program and the today we had our last meeting and the uh community block grants have been issued.
That's it. That's it. Okay, Michael. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, so first want to acknowledge uh the reason I was not at the last meeting. I was uh part of the first wave of uh Newark airport interminable delays. Uh despite having a 3:30 flight from Atlanta, which is
supposed to be two hours away, I got home at 12:15. So even though I know you guys were here late, I got home even later. Could have stopped by. I could have if I gotten in a little a little bit earlier. Uh but I know we have a large crowd. So I'm I'm going to focus my comments only on the budget. Um and
acknowledge that um uh we've received uh what I'll call a working draft of the mayor's budget. The reason I call that a working draft is that in the five now six years that this group has been together, we've approached the budget as a collaborative affair. Um, first with
the budget committee members, that's myself and Councilman Ring. Uh and then in time we bring in uh the our our other colleagues so that we can all uh express our points of view and and and come to a um come to a budget that reflects uh you
know each each of our points of view and and is our in our judgment what is what is best for our community. Um we have several meetings on the calendar. So, assuming that everybody makes their meetings and all of our staff members uh
you know do their appropriate follow-ups and homework, uh we are anticipating uh an a uh budget introduction. Well, it's obviously the mayor's choice, but expect to be in a position for the mayor to be able to introduce a budget uh two weeks
from tonight, May uh 22nd. Uh and just I want to proactively note that uh there is resolution 13A uh with some temporary appropriations. Um that really is really can be seen through the lens of it being
uh a continuing budget resolution that allows us to continue to pay our bills. And as as everyone will see, they are really our minimum bills. There is um there there's there are no um uh there
you know there there are there are no uh bells or whistles involved in those temporary appropriations. We are literally keeping the lights on uh doing the minimum that is required uh in order to um uh you know pay our bills until we
have a budget which uh we expect to um hopefully have introduced two weeks from tonight. And then uh the process from there is to hold a budget hearing uh and um you know ultimately adoption uh four weeks later. So uh that's where we stand
and uh thank you uh those are those are my comments. Thank you uh Phipe please. Thank you council president. Uh first of all good evening everyone. Thank you for being here tonight. It's nice to see so
many faces. The only thing I want to say is I want to wish all the moms a very happy Mother's Day. I hope you have a great day and uh and you're well taken care of. Have a good time. Happy Mother's Day. Moms are very important. Appreciate you. That's all I have. Thank you.
That's it. Okay, that's it. My report is as follows. Uh today is a time of jubilation for the world's 1.6 billion Roman Catholics. As everyone knows, Pope Leo I 14th uh was selected and he happens to be a native of Chicago. Uh
and so we're very proud that uh he had roots in this country, but uh it was a surprise to many and I think it the bookmakers probably lost some money today. Anyway, uh I attended the monthly Bridgewater Municipal Alliance meeting where we were introduced to Ruby Arthur who is the latest social worker to join
the Bridgewater Somerset County Crisis Intervention Team. Uh she will be the principal responder for Bridgewwater and Boundbrook and will share space with Damian in the office just outside and around to the left of the courtroom. Also, as part of the Alliance report,
high school counselor April McGrath Lutzky reported that locked vaping disposal containers are now being installed in the high school restrooms as a disposal alternative to students trying to flush their vaping items all too frequently, clogging the toilets. Uh
these boxes will be a little bit like a roach motel. They'll put the items in and they can't get it back out again. Uh sometime during July and August, PSEG contractors will be paving curb to curb those streets, especially those with intense school traffic. Uh to their
credit, PSEG did undertake an intram fix by grinding down high spots and filling in potholes over the past month. has attended several redevelopment meetings with the administration and legal staff to assess project on major projects such
as 1200 Route 22, the former Ethicon product and the Peters Book Innovation Center, which will be the subject of a pilot review in just a few minutes. Uh for those of our residents of Mexican ancestry, the recent celebration of Cinco de Maya is an annual celebration
held on May 5th to celebrate Mexico's victory over the second French Empire at the battle of Puea in 1862. Uh planning work continues as we move towards the selection of a sanitary sewer engineering firm uh to perform an in-depth analysis of our aging sewage uh
pumping stations. One from 1969 and the other from 1985. That is my report, Mr. Mayor. Report, sir. Yes, thank you. Good evening. Just a few items to a few items to report uh this evening before we get to some of our presentations. Uh we had a couple events
that were planned last week, although they were rained out uh unfortunately. So, the u the township spring carnival that we uh co-host with the JCC has been moved to June 22nd. and we had a township teacher appreciation event that
we were working with some of our PTOs with uh that has been moved to Monday, May 12th. So, we'll hopefully get those events back up and running. We did have a very successful first annual township garage sale. Um so, that's something that we've been uh wanting to do for a
little while now. We had 63 homes registered and more participated. So, if you did register, hopefully uh you were able to sell a lot of your stuff and uh it was successful and uh we'll continue that uh next year as well. So, that's my report. Thank you. We're moving now to
item number seven, a proclamation and the mayor will lead us in the proclamation for Brody Nusman and goals for imagine. Okay. We have uh with us tonight a uh young man that uh some of you may have
seen was honored uh was noticed in in the papers for some of of his work uh recently. Um and uh we wanted to take the opportunity to issue a proclamation to bring further recognition to uh to him and to and to his uh success. Bro,
if you want to come up while I read this so people can look at you and people can take pictures and your parents can smile and uh you know enjoy it. though. Um, so Brody Nuzman is a young man uh launched something called Goals for
Imagine uh which is a fundraiser inspired by the legacy of Mike Shambach. So, for many of you who are Bridgewater graduates, um if you're someone who's my age, you remember Mike Shambach and his um and his leadership in our community and uh the impact that he had uh both as
an athlete, you know, his his family um continues to be very active in the town. And so, his legacy, it's amazing to me as somebody who was in high school at the same time as Mike Shambachi. was a little bit older than me. But to to see the fact that uh his impact is still
felt today with another generation is uh something personally um inspiring to me. So I'm going to read the entire proclamation uh because it warrants reading. Whereas Bridgewater Raran High School senior Brody Nuzman has demonstrated exceptional leadership,
compassion, and dedication to community service through multiple impactful initiatives during his high school career, including the founding of Goals for Imagine, a lacrosse-based fundraiser to support grieving children and families. And whereas Brody launched goals for imagine in 2024 to honor the
legacy of the late Mike Shambuk, a beloved member of the Bridgewood Ridan lacrosse community in 1998, state champion by encouraging donations for each goal scored during the season, ultimately raising over $7,500 for Imagine, a center for coping with loss,
a nonprofit offering free grief support for children and families. And whereas Brody's efforts extended beyond the lacrosse field to include the girls varsity lacrosse team as well as teams from Hillsboro and Somerville high schools and he plans to expand the initiative further demonstrating his enduring commitment to empathy,
emotional well-being and community impact. And whereas in addition to his work with goals for imagine, Brody created a second fundraiser threes for Grigal Grigal and memory of Dan Grigal, a Cherish Bridger Rarity Middle School teacher and
basketball coach who passed away from cancer in 2021, raising over $6,000 for Dan Grigal scholarship fund involving both boys and girls varsity basketball teams, further exemplifying his dedication to inclusive and meaningful change. And whereas Brody's character
and leadership extended into everyday school life as a three-year varsity athlete in both basketball and lacrosse, a unified basketball coach, and a dedicated participant in PE partners supporting students with developmental disabilities and autism. And whereas in
recognition of his selflessness, sportsmanship, and service, Brody was awarded the Bobcott Award in 2024, an honor reserved for student athletes who best exemplify dedication to their sport and their community. And whereas through his drive, generosity, and example,
Brody has shown what it means to turn personal passion into lasting positive impact, uplifting others, honoring legacies, and inspiring peers through Bridgewater and beyond. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the mayor and council of Bridgewater Township do hereby recognize and honor Brody for his
outstanding achievements, including the creation of goals for imagine, for his commitment to service, inclusion, and leadership, and for representing the very best of the Bridgewater community. Congratulations, We're gonna we're going to take a couple pictures. Want to say a few words? Uh yeah, go do
it. Um I would just like to thank the uh the mayor and the council for this honor. And uh I'm just happy that I've been able to combine sports and the community with this fundraiser. And if anybody wants to support this fundraiser on Instagram at goals formagine, you can uh find extra information there. Thank
you. Awesome. Hello. Hi. [Applause] It it's uh it's fitting tonight that after we honor uh community service with someone like Brody that we have an
opportunity to congratulate and um watch our participants in our citizens police academy tonight complete a the program that they've undertaken. Uh many of you have heard me speak about this program
before, heard the chief talk about it, but a few years ago we started the Citizens Police Academy. Um and uh as an effort to uh try to open up other ways of communication between our our public and our police
department, a way of making sure that our public really understands what our officers do on a day-to-day basis in a way that you can't get from just hearing a a halfhour one-time lecture or reading something that's posted online. But more importantly, just learning about building relationships because if you
spend the amount of time that all of you do with these officers, you really get to know them, hopefully form a bond with them. So that way in the future, you know, you know where to go and and they know where to go. And those relationships, I think, are just
invaluable in building a sense of community, a safe community, and uh one that communicates with each other. So, it's an honor to have this class graduating tonight. Thank you all for participating. I I know it's a commitment. This is not something again, it's not a one-time thing you show up
once and do. So, it shows your commitment to our community to sharing with us and, uh, learning about everything that our officers do so we can make it a better place to live. So, uh, with that, I am going to turn it
over to Chief Mitsac and, uh, he will conduct the graduation ceremony. And I do want to thank our entire police department command staff and for all the folks who run this program. Uh you do an amazing job and uh great representation for our department. So thank you all. Thank
you sir. Okay. Good evening class 251. And we have a couple alumni over here from uh what 2301 or two. Yeah. All right. Well, welcome welcome back. All right. All right. It's
truly an honor uh to be with you tonight as we recognize the incredible group of individuals who have completed the Bridgewater Township Civilian Police Academy again, class 251. Before I begin, I'd like to take a moment to extend my deepest thanks and appreciate appreciation uh to the mayor,
Matthew Mench. Thank you for your leadership, sir. Uh your presence here tonight and for your continued commitment to public safety and community engagement in Bridgewater Township. Your support is invaluable to our department and to the work we do every day. So, thank you, sir. I'd like
to uh also thank our instructors. Uh, Sergeant Jack Kennedy was the lead instructor for this class. Lieutenant Dinsky, everybody got a bunch of him. Captain See, I'd like to thank the other supervisors and officers and detectives uh for their time uh and energy and
their dedication for this class. They went above and beyond to give uh the residents and interns a true behind-the-scenes look at our police department. Uh they didn't just teach the classes, they built connections and opened doors to um a greater
understanding of our department. And now to our civilian police academy participants, thank you. You made a choice to step forward. You chose to invest your time to learn not only how this department operates, but also why
we do what we do. You toured our facilities. You observed our training. You rode in our police cars and experienced firsthand the complexity, professionalism, and humanity that define law enforcement in
Bridgewater Township. Our goal with this program is simple. is to create transparency, build trust, and form lasting partnerships within the community. We hope that through this academy that you not only learn more about policing, but that you also see in
the heart behind the badge. You are now ambassadors of this police department. You have the knowledge to help others understand what law enforcement truly involves, the challenges, the decision-making, the accountability, and
the care we put into protecting this community. Let this not be an end of your involvement, but the beginning. We encourage you to stay engaged, to continue to ask questions and work alongside us as we strive to make Bridgewater a safer and more connected
place to live. On behalf of the department, I thank you again for stepping forward. Thank you for caring enough about your town, your neighbors, and your police department to walk beside us. Our motto, like we taught in the class, is ensuring justice and
harmony through community collaboration and constitutional policing, and this is a major part of that community collaboration. Together, we make our community stronger. So again, congratulations and we hope this is just the beginning of your involvement with
us. So thank you. I think there's a couple classmates that want to say a few words. So if you want to come up one at a time. I think there's three speakers. Hello everyone. Well, most of you know I'm not shy, so I figured I'd go first. Um, as an attorney, I was
overwhelmed by the knowledge of our our police officers have of criminal law, especially the US constitutional law and New Jersey state law. Um, you should be very very proud. Uh, the CPR class was
amazing. I think that class alone was worth taking the course. Um, and I want to say, uh, one of the things that I learned from taking the course is that our police officers showed total respect for the law while
at the same time they use their discretion to treat residents leniently when appropriate. Um, and I and that was very touching. So, thank you all officers. Thank you, Chief, for sponsoring the program.
[Applause] Good evening everyone. As a citizen of Bridgewater, I have the opportunity to experience and learn about the many roles that police officers place. That includes law enforcement, engaging in community
service, conducting investigations, managing traffic, serving as counselors and mediators, asking problems and solving problems, and much more. The expectation to uphold and maintain integrity of the law and justice clearly present is
clearly present in every aspect of Bridgewater Department. Please know that you represent the standard of excellence in the police department across the nation and every nation should emulate this program. I would not be able to say that
if I weren't a part of this citizens police program. Through that program, I had the honor of seeing behind the badge, sitting behind the patrol car, placing my hands on the steering wheel, even trying to start the car. to my fail. I
even had a chance to listen to the dispatch room. I even had a chance to go behind the bulletproof glass and see beyond the veil of what takes place to operate the Bridgewater Police Department. And for that, I'm truly grateful. The firsthand experience of
just how important to contribute and support the funding of our police department is clearly evident through this program. Without that proper funding, we would not be able to have these programs and citizens would not be able to understand what it takes to become a police officer in this city and
cities across the United States. For that, I truly stand here as a Marine submarine and as a New Jersey Army National Guard. I stand here. I salute you and I applaud you. I hope that the crowd can join me in doing
that. [Applause] Thank you again. Hi everyone. Uh my name is Rebecca Hassuna. I was born in Bound Brook, but
I've lived in Bridgewater for the past 20 years, 21 years. I want to begin by thanking the Bridgewater Police Department for hosting our Citizens Police Academy. Uh there are so many more of you than I ever realized. I didn't realize how big the department is. Um, but I especially want to thank
Sergeant Jack Kennedy and Chief John Mitsac whose leadership, knowledge, and humor made this experience both meaningful and memorable. As a board of education member, I initially was interested in joining the academy to learn about the relationship between our school district and our police department, but honestly, that was a
drop in the bucket compared to everything we discussed, oftentimes very well past our official 8:30 end time. And we probably could have continued for hours with all of our questions. Our class was made up of people from all generations, from political views, I
assume, from all walks of life. And yet, we learned together side by side. What united us was a shared curiosity and growing appreciation for the complex principled work our officers do, grounded firmly in the Constitution. For me personally, two experiences that
really stood out. The ride along gave me a firstirhand look at the challenges and split-second decisions decisions officers face every day. Notably, their concern for the community and for each other. And the use of force training, especially handling a firearm for the
first time was eyeopening. It helped me appreciate both the responsibility and the discipline required in those moments. As an aside, I also now give field sobriety tests to all of my family members, and I think I'm pretty good. Another part of this experience
that truly expanded my perspective was meeting the department's community partners. It opened my eyes to the opportunities for continued learning, engagement, and even volunteering. I truly hope more people in our town take advantage of this incredible program. It brings our community and our police
department closer in understanding and respect. This academy gave us more than information. It gave us connection, context, and a deeper respect for the men and women who served this community. Thank you again, Sergeant Kennedy, and the entire department for your time, your trust, your transparency, and your
commitment to partnership. Thank you very much. All right. Uh, now we're going to do hand out the certificates. Sergeant Kennedy will be responsible for that. You want to take pictures? Yeah. You take a picture individually as Yes, they come up, Chief. We'll take pictures.
Okay. Then we'll get a group picture. Okay. and Stephanie put together. [Applause] two guys. [Applause] [Applause]
[Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
Adam. [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] Good morning. [Applause]
Ed and Lorine. [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] our intern Hadley. [Applause]
[Applause] [Applause] [Applause] Is that your phone? All right. Perfect. [Music] Look at that.
Sure. They appreciate and I know we do. Thank you very much. Appreciate that you over time. Oh, yes. You should get it though. We'll just take a couple of minutes so those folks who uh want to go out in the rain can uh leave. And thanks for coming.
You and I are in the same right here. [Music] Jez, good to see you as always. Yeah, of course, Councilman. How are you? Good to see you.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Not a living room. [Music] Wake up. You guys, oh, I see I got it. A little nod to that one. Not to put any under pressure, but you'd
be surprised how well Okay, great. Yeah, it won't it won't help me or hurt me. Mike would have gotten a haircut this year if he had known that. But alas, all right, that's life plans. Did you have Did you give them something
to throw up or No, I did, but I don't. How you doing, Michael? All right. How about yourself? Itchy. Gotcha. That's what she was. She was given. We're up to item number nine, which is a brief presentation on the
Petersbrook Innovation Center and it was formerly known as the Center of Excellence. Uh I'm going to ask uh the mayor to say a few words. Yeah, just a just a few excuse me, a few intro comments and then uh you know may have questions or or comments later.
One of the things that uh we are looking at with um you know several different properties for different reasons is uh you know to look at areas in re in need of redevelopment and the applicability in different cases of pilots. Um now as
these guys will be able to tell you in more better detail than than I can articulate uh you know generally pilot is not it's not tax-free. It's a payment in lie of taxes. It's another way of calculating the amount of money that a
property owner is going to pay with regard to their um their taxes. And it allows us to do a variety of different things. It's for lack of a better term, it's another tool in our toolbox to help us
both manage development as well as to uh make sure we maximize our potential revenue as the host town for whatever potential development or project may come in. Uh it may not fit in every instance, but uh this is something that
we're looking at for uh for this project and uh you know there may be other ones as well. though with that. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, this is going to be a two-part series. There will be no test after we're done. So, I want to put everybody at ease. Uh, I'm going to talk for just a couple of minutes, and it's
sort of a pilot 101, the very basic or cliffnotes or whatever you like. And basically, uh, then the real heavy hitters, uh, Matt Jessup and Mike Hanley will will take over and try to, uh, provide a little more. Now this is not
this is not a master's thesis level thing. I don't expect anyone to be an expert about pilot but it's not the people who run the planes or guide the boats. This is a a payment in lie of taxes. Uh and a payment in lie of taxes
is a payment made to basically to compensate the government for some or all of the property tax revenue lost due to the use of real property. The property in question must be defined as in need of development. We're not
talking about class A property. Uh we're talking about property that has possibly set v vacant. Uh property that may be hazardous. Uh there there a whole litany and that's a whole different course. Uh but the specific site that we're talking
about at this point has been one that has been uh identified as in need of redevelopment. But before I get into the prop the pilot person property, I want to talk a little bit about the
traditional tax that you've all if you're a tax if you're a property owner any place you get a tax bill. Uh uh could I have the a chart please? I have but two charts and the traditional tax
attribution for land and buildings is listed on either side. It's composed of several components. The the one piece is the the county tax 14.9%. The county library tax which is 2.0. The county open space which is 1.5.
Uh the big bruiser in this which is the Bridgewater Rit and Board of Education they get 67.7%. Uh Bridgewater Municipal RP 12.5 and then the fire districts uh the four fire districts in the township uh get
another 1.4. So basically that's and that there's some minor rounding which comes up to 100%. But that's that's what happens for a traditional and that traditional use applies to both land and and building. Now moving moving forward
uh could I have the second chart please? When we get to a pilot program, there are two parts to the pilot process. And the first uh which is the building part has a would be taxed. Now, by the way,
any any pilot program is a negotiation between the administration and the property owner. It's not the case that we come along and put a stamp on something and say this is the number we want. It is a negotiated process because this actually represents
a win-win for both sides of the equation. Now, the county piece in in a pilot attribute and a pilot only applies to the building piece. It does not apply uh to the land piece. But but the uh for the value of the building that exists on
the property, 5% of the tax that is finally agreed to must go to the county. The other 95% it is the flexibility of the the discretion of the township to decide where it's going to go whether
they want to fund go back and fund any of the previous components or or keep it all. Now uh the the property in question the the former COE property on 2026 there
are no buildings on that property right now. Every single building on that 67 acres has been demolished based on uh demolition permits issued by the uh the township of Bridgewater in conformance with state requirements. So right now
there is nothing on that property in terms of of building and that's part of the issue for future development. Now the pilot attribution for the land uh follows the traditional format uh that you see there. Those are the same
percentages the 14 the two 1.5 etc etc etc. Uh so the the fundamental difference between a pilot the pilot program uh and the traditional tax is that there is a larger opportunity for
the township to take advantage of keeping an additional a larger share of the property tax. uh now uh in terms of the pilot the previous distribution centers uh apply
and we've talked a little bit so you you know you're grounded now you know what a traditional allocation is and you know what a pilot piece may be and now we move out of my part of this and I'm going to turn
it over to Matt and Mike who are the real experts the they are the folks who have been at the bargaining table or the call it the negotiating table with the with the folks from from now Petersbrook Innovation formerly
Center of Excellence and and they're here to tell you about why where we're headed because tonight is just a discussion two weeks from hence from tonight I fully expect that we will have a the next step of this which is the
introduction uction of an ordinance to develop the the pilot program between Bridgewater Township and the Center for Excellence and some weeks after that uh there would be an adoption. So this is not an in this is
not an instantaneous process. It has been one that has gone on for months. Gentlemen, now uh with that splendid leadin uh well thank you m thank you councilman. Uh, I'll going to start here and um turn it over to Mike very
quickly. Uh, I know you said this wasn't a test, but that was well done. I'll give you an A minus. Um, I'll take it. Matt Jesset, McManaman, Scotland, and Bowman, your redevelopment council. Um, just a couple things I wanted to add to the 101 uh, briefly for the benefit of
obviously everybody here, but certainly for the public. Um, I want to start with what the mayor said. This really is a tool in the municipalities. um toolkit. It it helps to make projects that are not otherwise financially viable
financially viable. Right? So, we want to turn this vacant or underutilized land, this land that is is an area need of redevelopment, an important distinction from all the other land in the in the town um into something
vibrant, producing to the benefit of the public, to taxpayers, etc. Um, and often times you can't do that without the financial benefits of a pilot. Not only does it make the economics of the project work for the developer, it also
provides certainty to the developer in one of its biggest uh expenses in its budget. Right? No matter what the type of project is, it can control salaries. It understands operating expenses. But real estate taxes, which are not a small
component in in anybody's project, um are completely outside of the control of the property owner or the developer. A lot of the taxes, as you just noticed, are outside of the control of this governing body, right? A lot of the a lot of the taxes are decided by the school district or by the county or by
the other taxing district. So the pilot creates financial certainty to the developer in what their obligation, what their tax obligation will be on their project, which is really um important. As you mentioned, Councilman, um the
pilot is an improvement on the taxes only depending on the project. Projects will still pay land taxes according to the traditional distribution of taxes that you showed earlier. Uh in some cases you can also exempt the land but
certainly in industrial and commercial type projects we don't see um we're not able to um exempt the land. We also don't just hand out the pilots like this right we go through a pretty significant financial analysis to make sure that the
project uh deserves it and needs it for one of the reasons I mentioned. So the developer may come to us and say, "I need a pilot." Of of course they do. But through Mike and all the great work that he does, you know, we go through a an analysis of their proform, the
developers proform to make sure that in fact, you know, the pilot is basically the difference between having a project and not having a project or providing that economic um certainty. the you're going to hear Mike talk about some percentages of gross revenue in terms of
calculating pilots. Um statutoily the township cannot charge a pilot less than 10% of annual gross revenue. What is annual gross revenue? It is exactly that. It is all of the revenues of a project. So, you know, whether it's a
commercial project that is leasing out, you know, retail or office space, it is the rents that they receive. If they're charging for parking, it's parking they receive. In a residential context, it's pet fees and storage fees. Any revenue
basically that the that the project produces, um the pilot is a percentage of that revenue that gets paid to the municipality. And again, the minimum in the traditional context being 10%. Finally, all of those terms, wherever we
land on them, project by project, are memorialized in what's called a financial agreement between the municipality and the developer. The pilot pursuant to that financial agreement can't last longer than 30 years. In a phased project, where perhaps you're doing building one and a couple years later building two, etc.,
etc., each phase would get its own 30-year clock. So, the township is assured of the benefit, the significant benefit of the pilot, the economic benefit of the pilot for the full 30-year period, sub project by sub project by sub project in in a context
where you have a phase project. And with that, unless you have any other questions about sort of the pilot 101 portion, Councilman, as you mentioned, uh I'll turn it over to Mike Hanley. Oh, just one thing I failed to mention. The pilot only begins when a
certificate of occupancy uh is issued for the building. So, so the building gets put up and over during construction. The pilot does not exist. Absolutely. It's to the point that it's a pilot on the it's a tax on the improvement. We can't tax it until it's actually improved. Right. Until it's
done. But in the meantime, the the developer is paying traditional conventional real estate taxes all the way up through the point where that CO is issued. M Mr. President, I I have a couple of questions in the 101 phase. Oh, okay.
Um, so several of us have land use board experience and the key in looking at land use applications is is not today or tomorrow. It's it's the long term. So, in this case, you know, we're talking about 30 years. 30 years is a long time,
but you're 31 and beyond. Uh, whatever has been subject to a pilot would then convert to essentially regular taxation. Correct. Correct. Okay. And that's really what what interests me a great deal. Um, is is is the is future
viability. Is it fair to say that um I if a project if if if a project is not done, you have land that still has some value, it still has some tax revenue, but not nearly what could come in. So,
you know, for instance, the property is paying taxes today, correct? Yes. Yeah, but but it's it's not it's not generating nearly what it could in terms of utility on the property and then ultimately taxation for any of the various entities. Correct. Correct.
Okay. So, is it fair to look at at at a pilot as being a mechanism so that a developer gets a degree of cost certainty that allows that developer to then say, "Okay, it's going to cost me x number of dollars to develop the land
and y number of dollars to bring it to market and z number of dollars in this pilot. I package that together, calculate whatever other expenses there may be over the 30-year period, and at that point can go
identify financing that would then make the project viable. Correct. Okay. And in the absence of all those pieces, it could be very difficult to get financing. It could be very difficult to develop anything. And then any
municipality using Bridgewater as an example is left with a property that is underperforming. Correct? Okay. So for the person that says, well, why don't you just why don't you just go without the pilot? Why don't we just make this a
straight taxation situation? Is that likely to be attractive to a developer as they are trying to put a project together, identify costs, and achieve financing? No.
Okay. So in many cases without a pilot you you're you're you're left with underperforming land. So so it I guess I'll ask as a question. Should we be looking at at a at a at a at pilots not as universal goods, not as universal
bads, but as a pathway to achieving full utility on a property. Yeah, I think that's a great way to to to look at it, right? because where it stands today, absent something changing, it's going to continue to
remain that way. And what the change is, you know, the zoning through redevelopment to allow for the type of project that you want and providing the economics to turn that project from one that isn't feasible to economically be built because of either the project
can't get financing andor it's not worth the developer risk because the return to the developer is too low or a combination of both into a project that can get green lit financially. And last question, when when someone makes an investment in a property like
this, there there's there's still going to be risk because you don't know what the marketplace is going to look like in year 10, year 20, year 30, there are degrees of risk, even when all these items come together. Is it fair to say that without a pilot, it just becomes so
risky that there's almost nothing that could even happen there? I mean I think in the traditional sense without a pilot you can't get the financing in the first place which goes to the you know the economics of it right so you can't get the financing maybe you can't even get the equity source right the financing
70% the equity source is maybe 30 you might not be able to ultimately raise enough in either construct um if you don't have the correct math to make the project work thank you so I guess it's really financial certainty that that
gets encapsulated Any Alan, do you have any questions? Okay, Michael, over to you. Thank you, Councilman. My name is Mike Hanley. I'm with NW Financial. I have been working as the financial consultant for the
municipality in these discussions. Um, working with Matt and the administration in attempting to come to an agreement with the developer and to give you an opportunity if you choose to introduce and adopt an ordinance related to this
project. and you actually covered through your questions and your description many of the topics that are important here. So I may be repeating some of the things that we just talked about. So but I'll try and do it
quickly. Um you know we're in a you you've worked for a long time to get this project to be the type of development you want and you accepted specific uses.
um that you feel match the nature of of Bridgewater and are appropriate in this space. Those uses are some logistic space that make up about a quarter of the project and then lab and office space that make up the balance of the
project. And we're talking about almost a million square feet of redevelopment here. That property is currently producing only a few hundred,000 in taxes. If this project is
successful, under the terms we're talking about will end closer to $3 million. And that's dollars that don't need to be raised from the current taxpayer. And that's why if you choose to move forward, you would want to move
forward because you're generating revenue that would not otherwise come in and it can fill it can reduce the need to raise money from the existing taxpayer. Notwithstanding that it is
something less than what would be conventionally charged under under taxes. Now we've we've turned this into two different um percentages based on the use. So the
logistics space is going to start at 13 a.5% and then go to 14% and then go to 14.5% of the gross revenue as we talked about before. So you become a partner with the developer in these deals. To
the extent they make more money, you make more money. The we're in a difficult economy as it relates to development for two primary reasons. The we have a significant pressure on cost of
construction and labor that has driven up the cost of building in a way that's very significant. Additionally, we are in an interest rate environment where rates have increased significantly generally and the amount
of available funds for construction lending has decreased significantly. So, you know, construction loans that used to be 5% are now 9%. And that has changed the economics of these projects. The third very
important piece here is that um as it relates to the lab and office, we have a different set of percentages that starts at 10% goes to 12% and then to 14%. The reason that's a different
set of math than the logistics space is because of the condition of the marketplace where logistics is in high demand and it is easier to attract tenants. the lab and office space is not
and we've seen the way these things have worked whether it's in you know on three on in route three and um or in office spaces along the 280 corridor we have closed down millions of
square feet of office space that's older and out ofdate but it's very expensive to get new lab and office space built And we're in a very competitive marketplace as it relates to people
competing for those tenants. There is a, you know, as of the end of last year, probably a 20% or more uh vacancy rate in lab space. And um the so everyone that has
incentives to use are using them in order to attract the tenants. And this structure will allow Bridgewwater to be competitive and to bring that revenue forward. So we go from 300,000 to 3
million. So it's the certainty and the competitiveness with other places that makes this attractive to the tenants that would be users of the site. and they are the ones that cause the
financing to occur and cause the development to be built. Developers are not specking this type of space in the marketplace. They're waiting to find tenants that choose our location as a place to locate
count in terms of because I know the charts up there. Um, nobody's going to be able to read it, let alone necessarily All right, there you go. You're you're jumping uh or I jumped ahead in terms of, you know, give us some, you know, estimated bottom line
numbers. I mean, right now, if if the under the conventional, you know, model right now, if they're being taxed at, you know, if they're generating $600,000 of revenue, the township's getting uh, you know, we're getting 12% of that. If it goes to, you know, three million or
or more of taxes, our additional revenue, we're getting again 10% of that. So we go to 300,000 under this model we'd be getting again depending on how well they do obviously if they do better we get more correct kind of like the our mall is a pilot we are an
absolute partner we win when they win right and that's uh you know the mall's a little bit different but I mean you know when they do really well we get more money they got minimums they have to pay but the better they do the better we Exactly right we want them to get as much money as possible so we can get as
much money and so that would bring in for us it would bring in additional you know $2.2 million of revenue that we would uh well 2.2 total. I guess we'd be getting a little bit of that anyway, but uh significant significant impact on our
budget. Yes. the the the taxpayer Bridgewater both as it relates to the total dollars coming in and in particular because we'll be receiving probably over 70% of the cumulative dollars the municipal budget will be
significantly enhanced by virtue of this project being successful. Okay. So uh on your chart you have six different buildings that will be built over time and as you had indicated before maybe it was Matt said it uh each one will be a
separate each one will be a separate 30-year program. Uh so if the first one gets built in 2027 that starts there, the next one 2028 or whenever. Uh but the bottom line is this is a win-win for the township and for the
developer. And I I guess if there's one message that I want to make sure we we share with uh with our residents, it's that uh this is this is a good this is a good thing. Yeah. Two uh one question, I
guess. and uh question stat statement slashquest. The first one is I know you know we have not in Bridgewater we don't have a uh we don't have a lot of pilots. Um you know we have I think you know a few other properties that we've identified that we are looking at. Um
but how common is you know how often are pilots used uh you know in New Jersey in terms of do you have any idea in terms of how frequent or where they're frequent or rare they are? Yes, I would say in the
post208 time frame they have become extremely common and they like to the tune of hundreds in a year throughout the state and they've become more
common postcoid because of the pressure on costs related to supply chain related to interest rates that we discussed. the it it's just very expensive to build
new product and while rents of all types have increased significantly the increase in the rents has been outpaced by the increase of the cost of development. One of the things that um you know you mentioned and I
want to just highlight or ask you to comment on is you know uh we've taken an approach that we want to continue to make Bridgewater a you know a place for biotech type innovation companies and now we're not seeing the large sprawling
campuses like Santa Fe anymore. We're seeing companies like InMed and we're seeing companies like Celtech and companies that are uh innovative companies that are building their national headquarters here that we hope continue to do well and maybe expand. Um
my understanding is that you know a site like this where especially when we're talking about the um the biotech office buildings that the failure to look at pilots as a model for making sure the
right tenants move in could mean that some of those companies those marquee companies that we want to come to a space like the Petersburg Innovation Center don't come because the tax revenue is not just on the developer side it's that they pass on to their tenants. So, if you are a company looking as to where you want to go and
do you want to go to Bridgewater or do you want to go to Morristown or uh Jersey City or somewhere else that the tenants are the ones really looking for that certainty that gets passed on through their rent and if we want to be
competitive in the biotech, you know, field, this is an important step in that to make sure that we can get those companies in. Yeah. and the competitiveness of that marketplace. You know, we're not just competing with New Jersey in the context
of that. Like there are New Jersey is one of the best places to go and these types of companies come to places like New Jersey because they're seeking a really well- educated workforce that can do the important jobs that they do. But
we're not the only place that has it. and they have site location teams that are also looking at Boston and Dallas and Raleigh and other places that also have, you know, strong universities,
well educated populations that will fill those jobs and those places also have incentive programs that attract them. So we we're competing with the other sites in New Jersey whether it's on three or
Kennallorth or you know pick one of the larger sites that is also trying to attract these tenants but it's it's a a national competition because these companies are spending huge amounts of money. These are more
expensive than just office right because of the lab work etc. Um so the if if you can't offer a good enough package they will choose one of the other sites. Now I I've also um you know I've indicated
to the folks at Peters Brook and I think I've obviously indicated internally as well um that with this with you know with this pilot as I think Howard or Michael mentioned um they continue to pay traditional tax. nothing changes until essentially they get their their
CO uh their first CO for the first part of the project. Um but uh you know I I know that depending on how the projects are structured there are instances where uh you know I will in order to not say
the wrong term I will say that there are potentially opportunities to partner with them in ways that would provide us additional benefits sooner. I'll put it that way. So I don't step on any legal phrasing um that is is or is not uh what
we're supposed to you know structure them. But in other words cuz right now if they don't have a you know if they don't have a co for let's just say two years on the first phase uh nothing changes anyway in the next two years there's no um we get the benefit of the taxes and land which we get now. Um but
I've made it clear to them that um you know a working on that you know bridge some yeah that bridge uh is a critical piece of me approving any proposed um you know
structure. So um you know making sure that uh that continues to be a part of that discussion. So, mayor, if I may briefly, um, for the benefit of the of the council and the public, um, having nothing to do with the pilot, right,
this is a redevelopment project in a redevelopment area. And as a result, under the redevelopment law, we the township as as a redevelopment entity, we are allowed to negotiate with the developer and um collect a cost or a fee
to offset or defay costs that we incur either in connection with the redevelopment project directly or in support of our redevelopment plan or in support of redevelopment efforts generally. Right? This is not like a
municipal land use law or a a land use board planning board zoning board application, right? Where you have to have a direct nexus between the project you are approving and the improvement that you are asking for, right? There is in fact no such nexus. Nonetheless, our
redevelopment plan for this site talks about economic benefit to um Bridgewater. It talks about benefit for the residents of Bridgewater. It talks about environmental conditions and improvements to Bridgewater all as goals
and objectives of the redevelopment plan in this uh for this project. So, we do have an ability unrelated to the pilot or to the to the financial agreement to negotiate and discuss with the developer
a fee or a series of fees to offset our costs, current andor future costs in connection with redevelopment that we're going to have to bear the burden of from now until when we have pilot revenue um coming on.
Good. M Mr. President was one one followup to to the comment made about the attractiveness of Bridgewater because um you know of our workforce, but is another side of that coin also these companies are often going to need
to um need to attract talent to come here. Um because the talent they need may not all be native. So they may need to to bring people in. Um, and while New Jersey and this area may not be everybody's uh uh nirvana, um, certainly
we we offer a lot of of positives. Um and and so should we also be so should we be looking at this as we owe it to ourselves to maximize the positive environment that we've collectively built, the community that we live in so
that companies can come in and not only find the people already here, but then also be able to bring others which will then have people buying homes, keep our property values high, keep our our
community an attractive one to live in. I I agree with that. Okay. Any other comments? Mike and Matt, thank you very much for sharing your time and your talent and and thank you for the work that I know you have been doing in
laboring on this for months. And I it's worth repeating that this is not an instantaneous process. It began months ago and will continue for a little for a little while anyway. But thanks again, gentlemen. Thank you all. Appreciate it. Uh Mr. Papis, did you have a comment
before we open to the public? Yes. Uh thank you, Mr. Ngalas. Uh the last council meeting, a member of the public uh had come and spoken about the township's financial management and u uh questions about the Could you take one
pass down, please? Uh about bonding. And uh what I'm distributing to the council is a report that Mr. Anthony and Verso, our financial advisor, has prepared that clarifies for the benefit of the council
and the public what was alluded to uh two weeks ago. uh the the chart that I've uh presented is a um it's very simply a chart of various um 10year, 20-year and one-year um
u a comparison of interest rates uh throughout a period from uh 2020 through 2025. And what you can see here are the arrows of the specific two dates, one in
2020 one and one in 2022 when the township uh had a bond sale both for uh notes and permanent financing. Back in 2020, uh, February, excuse me, July 20th in 2021, uh, we had, uh, one of the most, uh, low
rates for note sale, which was 0088% uh, really virtually one of the lowest, if not the lowest that our financial adviser had seen, and a 1.556% for uh, permanent financing. A
year later there were uh again for the note sale 2.19% and for the bond sale 3.31%. Um the um the gentleman who spoke uh talked about how going for temporary financing for another year was a
mistake. If you look at the next chart a bar graph that it it's referenced as scenario two but I'll explain why I'm describing this one first. This is the uh financing the debt service plan that u our financial advisor and team have
presented that the township has been following and you can see very steady and declining um uh debt service. If you'll flip to the next page, which is what uh the resident had advocated for, you can see for 2022, there would have
been a significant spike in the debt service that the township would have had to budget for and incur. And uh that is specifically why our financial team uh proposed what we ended up um carrying out. So I I'm going to be sharing this
with members of the press for their edification, but I just wanted to make sure that the council understood and for the benefit of the public that what was presented uh was again his opinion but uh not uh all of the facts. Thank you.
Thank you. Okay, we're up to item number 10, which is a meeting open to the public. Members of the public wishing to address the council on any matter will be allowed three minutes to speak unless there are unusual circumstances. May I have a motion open to the public, please? I'll make the motion. Second.
Second it. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. We are open to public. Please come forward. Uh sign in. Uh make sure that the the microphone is there. We need a mic. Is the microphone there? Is it there? Okay. We're going to
we're going to get one moved up. Hi. Can everybody hear me? Okay, good. Um, Kathy Franco, 766 Remac Road. I thought I'd be able to stay under three minutes, but some things have been thrown on the agenda which I didn't expect. First, Mike Papus, um, the bond
info that you passed out to the council and you shared with the, uh, press, will you be making that available to the public? And if so, in what form? Yeah. Well, that's for me, but do I I guess um the pilot you did a pilot 101, Mr.
Ngalis, which is indeed just that. It's an introduction to pilots because pilot 102 talks about the fact that if on that property under the pilot you're going to charge $100,000 in taxes under the pilot the
township can keep $95,000 of that and the county gets five and the school district previously would have gotten $67,000 and the you know the library would have gotten money. The fire department would have gotten money and
right now we only have two pilots in town from my recollection. Centerbridge and the mall. That's correct. The mall I know is dependent upon revenue and that's why during COVID and postcoid we were having issues collecting money from
the mall. So let's make sure that we do the pilot 102 all the way to the pilot 301 for the public. So every taxpayer can understand that if this administration decides to negotiate a
pilot, the residents expectations, both the residents like me and the commercial residents are going to end up absorbing an undue burden for those other taxes because what we expected when you
said, "Oh, we're doing an area I need to redevelop velment and we're going to build two warehouses and we're going to add some more lab space and that was going to be taxed universally the way every other piece of property other than those two pilots are taxed and it was
going to share in the cost of our schools our library our recycling everything now suddenly that's not so that burden falls on me as a taxpayer that burden falls on every other commercial taxpayer and I am not happy
about that. So unless you can show me a pilot plan that says you're going to reduce their tax, I don't have a problem with saying, "Oh, you don't have to collect 3.4 million, you'll collect three and you'll divide it evenly the way it's been done in the past." I could support that, but thinking you're going
to get 95% of that. What I see and the schools aren't is not h I'm not happy that it is at the township's discretion. Exactly. It's at the township's discretion and we don't get input on it. in which case I'm not supporting a pilot.
I will advocate to not support a pilot. Thank you for your comments. Right. Thank you. Okay. Um just want to just want to note that when you say you know we get the money we meaning the Bridgewater taxpayer the money the Bridgewater Township. Please don't cut me off. I
never cut you off. I want the same courtesy. Please not money that's generated by the pilot that goes to tax that goes to the municipal budget belongs to the people. It's the people's money. So that money is just something that will be used into
the overall municipal budget. Maybe reduced or taxes or not. I don't know. But that money, maybe it'll be But that money will go back to the people. It's the people's money. It's not our money here sitting up here. You know what the whole thing is? You've got as item 13A a
resolution to approve more money to be spent. 32 almost $3 million. If you annualize that, because we're only in month five, that becomes $76 million for the year. Last year, our budget was $50.5 million. I can guarantee you the
budget will not be $76 million. Can you But since you have a copy of the proposed budget, can you give me an indication as to how much we're talking about? You have it. As I can, you can't give it to me today.
What was proposed to you? The draft working budget. No draft working budget. Okay. So, so how close So am I closer to 50.5 million or closer to 76 million? You're nowhere near 76 million. Am I Am I anywhere close to 50.5 million? I I
think closeness is in the eye of the beholder. I I Oh, you know what? I I don't even want to hear your walkound. Relax. Okay. Because you're not giving me You're a marketing person, okay? And I know that. So, you're not going to give me a straight answer, okay?
And that's really frustrating because you think that you you will have an exceptionally clear answer in two weeks. I I stated before we will have a budget introduction in two weeks. We do not have it tonight, but and and and you
should have had a budget introduction long before tonight. And I'm not even going to go over my other things. So just you know understand I you know people are watching the fact that you are excessively spending that you can't control your expenses. That's why you're
looking at pilots. Mr. Mayor Mench when he was councilman during his campaign for mayorship the first time got up and fought against pilots on this the same property the
same property that you supported. I never got up and spoke in on either side of that topic, sir. I spoke on the fact that it was a property that needed to be redeveloped. You were the one who created a website, who created a blog,
who created a Facebook page that blocked me and I'm still blocked from that page as well as from your page. So, don't talk to me about freedom of speech. Don't talk to me about those things. Mr. Poso, please remain on. Thank you.
Thank you, Miss Franco. Is there anyone else who wishes to address the council? Come on up. Jane Gandalf, how are you? That's in Washington Valley Road, Martinsville. I have a couple of things I want to take. Can you speak a little closer to the
mic, Jane? Is that better? Yeah, that's better. Thank you. Uh, first thing is directed to you, Mr. Ogalas. Thank you so much for your 21 years of service to Bridgewater. Um, your knowledge and your experience is incredible as shown
tonight in your explanation of some of the processes. Your dedication to serving the community is great. Uh we really appreciate it as we appreciate the time that every council member spends. We wish you well. Thank you. And
that's personally as a resident. Um I also want to thank Mr. Papis and DPW and Tom Goenova. The friends of Bridgewater History had a talk on Camp Cromwell last week and uh Mr. Papis came and provided
an update. DPW provided some safety cones for us and Tom Goenova allowed us to borrow back the artifacts that we've uncovered at Camp Cromwell. So, thank you. It was a little disappointing that none of you were there except Mr. Papis.
So, next time we have a talk, we'd love to see you. Um, my next topic is a little more controversial. It's with regard to a meeting you had on April 3rd, a private session regarding the cottages of
Martinsville. Um, I believe that you had a developer who offered a gift of a house to be fully restored or refurbished, brought up to code completely, and um would like that house to then be rented to the friends of
Bridgewater History for future use. Uh, unfortunately I heard that that was declined. I was very disappointed because it would have been a house open to the public in Bridgewater, which we don't have today. Although we have
several historic properties, we have Cam Cromwell that we've owned since 2017 and it's not open. We have the Hancock Preserve House. I don't remember when that was purchased, but that's not open
to the public. We have the lane brokaw house on Miltown Road which you very generously have allowed us again this year to use when we participate in journey through the past. However, that is not open and into a terrible state of
disrepair. Uh you have the Bcher preserve off uh foothill road. We bought the stemp in property so that we would have a place to park and we still don't have access. So these are all examples of how our money has been spent for
historic preservation and nothing has happened as a result. We still don't have anywhere we can go as a public to visit the historic sites in Bridgewater. Um so my ask is would you can
reconsider the offer from the developer. Friends of Bridgewater History is in a position to be able to accept that gift if you do not, but we would prefer that the township show support for the historic properties within our
township. Um, a year ago I was asked to be a member of the Bridgewater Township Historic Committee and I agreed and I was sworn in or whatever it was at the clerk's office and there has yet to be a meeting of that committee. Nor has
anyone stepped up to actually support any of the historic sites. So, as a resident, it's very disappointing. you know, my history. My family goes back 300 years and blah blah blah. Um, I just don't want to see any more houses lost
any torn down. It's happened all over Bridgewater, particularly Martinsville. I don't think this house will be torn down, but it would be a shame to lose it, and I do think it's a great opportunity for the township to show support for our historic sites. So, my
ask is please reconsider. That's it. Thank you. You [Applause] anyone else wishing to address the council, please come forward. Good evening. Good evening, everyone. Uh
my name is Seth Nicks and this is uh my first council meeting uh ever. So uh good flavor of everything. Good flavor of everything and so I appreciate it. I just came to introduce myself. I'm a pastor, a new pastor of the Axe Church
and we're looking to plant here in Bridgewater. And I just wanted to introduce myself. I'll pastor to our men's ministry, Jeff Graham, is in the back. And we just wanted to know that we will be of service to the township any
way that we can. And that's it. You have a business card? Could you give it to Mr. Papus? I have a I have a digital one on my phone. Okay. Okay. I'll do that.
Okay. Might come in and get that card. And we welcome you. Thank you. And we're here every couple of weeks. Come on back. We'll be back. We'll be back. We'll definitely be back. Is that Bob Albbano waving from the back?
Would you like to come forward, sir? You know, after being on this side of the bar for 23 years, you we 24. Sorry. I didn't want to break your record. Hey, Bob Albano served very very faithfully
for many years and when he left the council position uh he entrusted me with keeping track of the number of compliments uh which the council had gotten and I think in those last dozen years I think we've gotten
five more Bob so more than a dozen Bob Credell is gunning for your record. Oh you're gunning for my record. One more term will do it. Okay. All right. Well, I will be here to honor you. For the record, uh Juliana, my name is Robert Albano. I live at
1149 Papin Road in Bridgewater, New Jersey at the very end of the postal district for Martinsville. But I am a member of the Martinsville Rescue Squad as well as a whole bunch of other things that you all know about. But I am here I
can I ask a question about the uh Peters Brook thing? Sure. As you know, I have some experience with township council business. I would be concerned about issues regarding bankruptcy because there was at least
one issue in this town in which a developers agreement and payment in lie of taxes and pilots and on and on which guaranteed the town a certain reasonable amount of revenue. However, the course of business that business declared
bankruptcy and the agreement with the township dissipated. So, I would ask our distinguished uh attorney, Mr. Corsini, who I've known for many years pleasantly uh to be sure that they do something to protect the township uh
in the event of bankruptcy. We we'll work with um redevelopment council to ensure that, Councilwoman Abano. Okay. Thanks, Chris. Uh, but I'm here to talk about um an environmental issue. I made copies. Uh, one for I will
give one to Juliana. Hey Bob, you know what? Oh, there you go. You know, you know, after all. Yeah. Okay. Any anyway, um I'm talking about Peters Brook. Peters Brook kind of
begins in my backyard. Um but over the years going back to when I first got involved in uh 1978, it was a problem and it was eroding the banks. Uh Howard Clark, who was the engineer at the time, and Chip
Mills, who was the deputy, worked on it and it took them close to 10 years to get something to happen. So around 1985 or so um gabons were put in and those gabons served well even during Hurricane Floyd. However, as time went on,
additional uh hurricanes came through there and most recently Ida pretty much destroyed them and they're pretty much gone. And so the pictures that there's only four pictures there showing what it was about a year ago versus what it is now. It
continues to erode. um lost about another foot in the last uh round of storms. The concern is that it is in fact eroding away the land and there is approximately a 100 foot high oak tree that's about a hundred years old and
when it falls and it will fall if we don't do something about it, it will land on the house of my neighbor where there are two young children living and that would not be a nice thing. It would also take the power lines down. Um, I've talked to the county about
this and um, they are concerned with the bridge and guess what? Hot potato went to you guys and they said that the stream itself is an issue for the town to take care of. So, I'm asking that uh,
we do something about the erosion from a safety perspective. And I don't know why the flow in that stream is so much more than it was 45 years ago, but it is
every time it rains like the rain we had over the weekend scour out more of the land. And uh you can just see from the pictures it's now there was a a block that I put that I would go out to the edge and I kind of looked at the stream. That block
is now at the very end. my wife will not let me step on it. And uh so anyway, I ask you to uh take a look at that. I talked to Tom Gova and u So anyway, that was it. But thank you for your service
and I will not take up any more of your time. Good night. Good night, Mike. Thank you, Robert. I'm sorry. Go. used to be snake that would almost always be sun you know sunning on that rock I guess I forget which storm it was
Ida but one of the storms there just completely you know upended everything and uh you know you go by today and it's all it was it was I think it was Ida as a matter of fact the gab the gabons got ripped out from the wall and they were laying across the
And I called I called Vicky Shrimp and Paddock Works and they came and cleaned it out. Right. But it's it's still Yeah. We one of the things too that you know we're looking at not to derail the whole conversation but with um with something like the the pilot with with the um
Peters uh you know organization the some of the benefits that we may be able to receive um you know in the interim period between now and and then. Um sometimes it can be cash, sometimes it
can be uh you know improvement projects where you know they may not be uh you know they may not be writing a check that just goes into the general fund but maybe the kind of thing where um given the fact that a redevelopment project is uh one of the goals of the
redevelopmental conditions on the property. Um, Chambers Brook doesn't go through their property, but it Petersbrook does and they do Chambers and Peters do combine. Chambers and Peters Brook come together on come on the other side, but it's still those are the kind of things that we look at too, but it's funding sources the issue. It's
figuring out, you know, where we where can we get is there a place for funds other than just Yeah, I I if if Gabium baskets didn't cost so much, I would just do it myself. But um but it's also the township's investment.
uh I don't know how much it cost to do back in ' 85 but whatever was done very shortly will be absolutely totally lost and uh so I appreciate uh your attention and uh
thank you increase the number by one thank you for your time Mr. mentioned Gabon and for the public's purpose uh that's a wire basket that is filled with rocks and is used basically
as a retaining wall generally along stream bodies. Okay, step up sir please. Thank you. Please sign in please. Gotcha. Thank you. Uh, I came with a specific question
about a property on Chimney Rock Road, but I do want to say that uh I think the previous woman who was Find him, would you give us your name? Oh, my name is Dan Zalinsky. Thank you. Live at 715 Chimney Rock Road. Thank you. uh the the uh previous resident that was
talking about the pilot program and just for clarification for any of the public that might be watching I think what she was trying to say is not that 95% of that those funds would go into your pockets that it's it's a part of the
administration's uh you know it's a it's a part of the the tax revenue that you have to spend. Uh I think the the piece that she was trying to communicate is that through normal taxation a place like the library
would be guaranteed a certain percent but as it relates to a a pilot program such as you were talking about it means that it would be at the council's uh or the mayor's discretion as to whether or not any percent of that
95% would be allocated to like an organization like the library. And I think that that's what her concern was. I may be wrong about that, but I I do think it's important for people to understand how that money then gets dispersed and that it's at, you know,
the administration's um discretion. Not that it would be going into the administration's pockets, but the reason that I came tonight is there's a property at the top of Chimney Rock Road that uh my
impression was uh set up to be a development for senior citizens, uh single family homes, and it it appears as if the uh the development, the construction has has stopped. Uh, and I'm just wondering what uh, you know,
what is the situation with that property? Has the developer backed out of it? Is is there a bankruptcy issue or is it just stalled or, you know, why has it stopped? I can speak to that. Yes, sir. I've spoken to the developer. uh
they received approval from the zoning board for I think it's eight single family homes age restricted and uh there was a period of time that they uh came forth wanting to see that converted to higher density affordable housing uh
partial affordable housing and now uh I was more recently told that now now that there is another developer that will likely become involved in and wants to build it as it was approved uh they may go back to the zoning board for some slight modification of one of the one
aspect of the approval, but that's the last I've been told. Okay. One of the things that we're seeing is that, you know, some of these uh some developers who have projects that either they have received approvals on or they have kind of that they're thinking about are all waiting to see what happens with the uh you know, the next round of affordable
housing. So, some of these folks are now sitting on projects to see, you know, whether they can now come back and say, "Well, we'll build, you know, 45 units there if you need that to make your affordable housing plan and things like that." And so, we're seeing some some folks there, too, on on different
projects that are out there. Got it. And I I recognize it may be difficult to like really nail a time frame, but any time frame on when that might be done. I mean, would it be the end of this year? You talk about the you talk about that the the development on Chimney Rock. You're talking about the affordable housing plan. No, no, the uh the
development on the top of Chimney Rock. Yeah, you have to ask the developer. Yeah, that's we don't have any. That's We don't have any control over that. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council, please come forward.
Good. My name is very short. Adam, lower the microphone so you can speak into it. There you go. Thank you. My name is very short still. I write very slow. Yeah. Uh first of all, I want to ask But Adam,
you have to announce your name and address, please. Yeah. Adam Adam Albb I live in uh 2002 Washington Valley Road in Martinsville. I have a question for you
all. If you are familiar with amendment amendment four of constitution I'm sorry I I didn't get what the question was. Are you familiar with the amendment fourth of the United States
Constitution? Yeah. Are you all of you all of you are familiar? Okay. Now, I want to be sure because if the longer I talk, the angrier I get. I brought
here because I'm a farmer. I brought here the Right to Farm Act of New Jersey. And I want to give it to you. You all read it. And I don't want anything to do but to
apply here. Now you have I love this town. I move here. My family grew up here. I'm a respected member of community. My children grew. They have
business successful business in Bridgewater. But I got stuck in this town by harashing by people of this town, people in power.
Tyrants, they are tyrants. And I'm sure some of you know what happened to me for over 30 years since I moved to this
town. All I wanted to build a house and to practice my the primary economic right in this country right to farm. Adam's
meat. The father of economics say that farming is the pilot of of economy. When the right of farm was
introduced more than 30 years ago, the people in state they realize that without farm cannot survive. Some philosophers say [Music]
that the economics is not gold or whatever. The economy is farming. All other economics divert from farming. Yet here you buy
land from people under the name of preservation. You deceive the people and then you keep the land. You don't use it for preservation. Like this lady
complained that there is uh on chim not chim was that was raven you bought some land there a taxpayer money and the public still can I use it or after a
years after people forget who pay for that land you sell it to a developer to spend more money and and port projects. I have it here for 30
years. They are harassing me neighbors. Neighbors and I've been there before any of them. came into my neighborhood. Some of them [Music]
left, some of them uh came, other left, other die. Most of them my neighbor who opposed me being there, they die, others they left. When others
come, whenever somebody is complaining, they don't even uh they hide their name somewhere. They are aware that it's it's illegal what they do. I have here all
the papers. any local government organiz Before somebody complained. All the viations only. Everybody You're retired. Yeah, I was asking I was asking if
something had happened recently that brought you here because uh Judge Sasso has not been the judge here in Bridgewater for could be 10 or 15 years. Uh George Jones has not been the uh the code official here for Yes. Yes. Yes.
But pray for this guy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I just I just wanted to know if there was something that had happened. The guy he fell off my neighbor died. Yeah. He was one of the opposite right I had to fight twice for
zoning right for not zoning it's adjustment right did you even need adjustment right right but did did I'm asking did something happened recently is there is there a spec yeah that's what I was asking about what happened my neighbor
told me that just a couple couple days somebody was my neighbor. He's helping me to clean the property that was burned. But how she doesn't know they burn my property?
Did they they burned your property? Who burned your property? I would like you all to come to see what happened my property. Right. Right. Right. For 30 years. I'm filing for for
Right. for tax assessment. Right. They saw they cannot threw me out from there. Right. Yeah. Yeah. You told me once. Was it is it U I came from Romania. I was going to say I had to wrong. I was going to say I knew Eastern Europe and I
couldn't remember. I Mr. Council President, I'm so sorry, but this gentleman is going through a great effort of coming here tonight to address this and to make a public record, but he's not on the microphone and it's not it's not really getting it's not being recorded and being part of the public
record. I I think you hear even without microphone. I think the issue I'd like you to come and see what happened to my property. I is this something that just happened to your property? I know that in the past
you've spoken about a fire from 30 years ago. Is that is that still the issue that you the same same issue? Same issue. The the zoning official doesn't tell me who is
complaining. The zoning official I told him I'm protected by right to farm act. Now the the right to farm does not farm the right to farm does not protect you from not maintaining your property. The
right to farm says if you if you are a farmer and you are farm assessed, you are entitled to produce crops and and spread manure and things like that. Yeah. But it doesn't say that you are you said before you said the right to
farm exempts you from anything else. any that is that is not the case. The right to farm provides you with specific rights if you are a farmer. Are you registered as a farmer? I'm registered. I file with the state but that but that
state and I file with the this town with the county I file as a farmer. He excuse me Mr. certain regals, he is uh okay qualified as this farm assessed property and he's entitled to the protection of the the right to farm act, right? But
that does not preempt all township zoning at all. All township zoning. If township has issue with how I run my property, first you go to the county
agricultural committee. If I win or you win, the one here who's complaining or neighbor or whoever is complaining, if it's not resolved, then it go to the
state. All right. Have are you currently being cited by a township official for anything? Yeah. And and that is the zoning officer. I don't know. somebody well if I can um they call even the state Mr. Al from
state came there and and they found nothing in violation Mr. Al when when you and I spoke last week when you were here I said that I needed a few days to look into your situation and uh I had uh Mrs. Bueno from my office call you to
say that I was prepared to speak with you or meet with you and then you informed her that you were going to come here. So I I maintain that I'm I'm prepared to meet with you to review what I've learned and I'd like to do that. If you'd like I can call you tomorrow
morning and we can set a time when we can All right. All right. Okay. Okay. But what I what I want to come come and see what my neighbors those who complain did to me. I I will
be happy to come to visit you. I want to tell you what you'd like. I lost my wife. I lost my wife because she couldn't. We have a daughter in Paris in France. She went there because she couldn't stand.
She always say, "Adam, there are the laws. You have to obey the laws. These people here are for enforcing the law." Okay? Enforcing the law for 30 years. When you meet with Mr.
Papus at a point of your mutual choosing, you can share with him those issues and and in so far as there is a citation from a township employee, he can pursue it. Okay. Also make sure uh I'll make sure that the council uh gets
brief, you know, I'll make sure they have all the information too so that they have the background, not just Mr. Papis, so that that way if you speak to any of the council members, you can be assured that that they're aware of it. Um and they're aware of uh you know the situ. I came here because I
wanted everybody to hear and I'm sure some of you know about the harassment. Mr. Mayor, you when you came campaigning, I happened to be at my son house. Yeah. Right. And I remember Do
you see my wife? How how charming she's a woman that you cannot find rarely you can find a woman like that. I remember very well. She was she was very nice, very sweet. She was. And I told you, Mr.
Mayor, drain the swamp. You just we have a we have a full I don't want to cut you off but you have a video. Is that true or not? Yeah, I remember that. I actually remember that and your wife did you do anything? We we did we did just just last
year this guy Dorber in court. You had a lawyer that the the lawyer that lawyer sir have a vehicle dresser. The hour is late. We have a full agenda that we need to go.
All right. So I thank you for your time and it's good to see you again and when you meet with Mr. Papis uh we will the he will report back to the council as to the outcome of his discussions with you. Okay sir.
Better because this is not h this is not the end. Okay the end somewhere all the way to Supreme Court. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council? Sorry, Mark. I thought you were going to, you know, chat with us again. Good night, Robert.
Uh, anyone else wishing to address the council? Seeing no movement, could I have a motion to close public input? I'll make that motion. Second, please. Second. All those in favor? I I we are closed to the public. Thank you.
Um all right, we're moving on to public hearing and final action ordinance item number 11 11A, an ordinance authorizing the sale of property known as lot 511 in block 3 on the Bridgewater Township tax map and located at Whit, Bless you,
Whitney Court, Bridgewater, New Jersey, 08807. It's the part that's east of Shasta Drive uh to TripleC Housing Incorporated 1520 Route 130 North Sweet 2011 North Brunswick, New Jersey 08902,
which is the buyer for a nominal consideration of $100 pursuant to NJSA48 Coling 12-21L to construct an affordable housing if the developer is unable to meet construction costs through other
sources. The township may contribute up to $150,000 from the affordable housing trust fund. Could I have a motion to open to the public for this item? I'll make motion. I'll second. All those in
favor? I. We are open to the public for anyone wishing to comment. Um, and I see someone coming forward. Hello again, Kathy Franco Road. Um my question is, you know, we're talking about up to
$150,000. Um is this the property that's going to have eight um affordable housing units? Five. Five. Five is double credit. We'd like we'd like to see six, but I think five is the five, but we get double credits on it. Okay. Right. Um called bonus credits. So I guess my question is
is anybody looking at their financial performer and seeing like will they be able to maintain this if they can't even get the financing to build it and you're thinking about giving them $150,000. Have we talked about a loan instead?
We are providing funds after a very extensive process where they have to prove to us they can't get financing by any other way. in which case we would you utilize up to 150,000 from our fund. This is an
organization that a number of our professionals have have worked with and we're aware that they have very successfully undertaken similar projects elsewhere. Well, you know, I I just I I appreciate that, you know, that but that's I guess kind of why I question
why they might need this additional basically free money. It's not even financing. Yeah. Sometimes with some of these projects, depending on where they're getting their their loans from, sometimes municipalities, if they at least indicate that the money is there, it's almost like a down, you know, down
payment. They got to show you have enough money in the bank to get the loan even though you're not necessarily going to use the money. So, some of these projects in order to get depending where the financing comes from, uh, to have the municipality back it is what the lenders need to know that the lenders have enough of the um, you know,
certainty to be able to Yeah. so that they know that hey you know there's at least some pot of money there that if it takes longer construction overruns. So this is it's pretty and and the and and not to make any judgment but just trying to understand the financial modeling of it. The occupants um of this will
primarily be paid for through Medicaid programs or services I assume. I I don't know that that's the case. They are I don't think so in this particular case. They're separate apartments and these individuals will be living in separate. So they'll be falling under the
affordable housing, not under the Medicaid affordable housing piece account. Okay. All right. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to address the council? If not, could I have a motion to close public input and move for final? Motion.
Second. Second. Uh roll call, please. Councilman Kersh. Yes. Councilman Cordella. Yes. Councilman Perdoso. Council President Ngalas. Yes.
Okay. Uh under item 12, introduction of no new ordinances. We have none. Moving to resolutions 13. 13A. Resolution providing for emergency temporary appropriations for current fund in the amount of 1,421,314.19 cents which brings the 2025
year to date temporary appropri appropriations to 32,269,389.15. Mr. Papus, would you like to Sorry my cut off. Sorry. Uh just wanted to couple things. thank the uh the budget subcommittee uh both for their work on this and their work on the
budget overall. Um you know we've we've looked at this we've removed $200,000 about from the temporary budget just to make sure that we are um lean on what we need to make payments on. And I also want to um in advance and for the work we've already done, thank the budget
subcommittee and council president Argalis. Um with regard to uh this year, believe it or not, we are uh nearly two months ahead of where we were last year with the budget uh process. So u the uh we did informal presentations on the
draft budget in late June. We introduced in early July. So we are uh uh ahead um of where we were last year. So, thank you for your work on that and uh we will um get that uh get everything done.
Okay. Any questions on 13A? If not, could could I have a mo motion to approve, please? I'll make the motion to approve 13A based based on I'm sorry. I'll take the second. Okay. Yeah, take I'll second it based on my understanding that these are these
are bills that would be included in the budget no matter where the budget lands. Yeah, Council President, just consistent with my prior votes on these emergency temporary appropriation resolutions, uh I will I will vote no. I
um although I have received the binder today, this evening, I received the budget binder. I have not had a chance to go through it. Uh looking at the resolution on its face at 32.2 million times 2 puts it at 64 million. I understand certain things are topheavy.
However, uh I certainly would not approve a 64 million budget. Uh I am a little concerned about the expenditures. I will not support the resolution. And Mr. President, just the briefest of commentary, not only is 75 million not the right budget number, 64 million is
also not the right budget number. Um unless something dramatically changes in the next two weeks. But just for the benefit of the public, um you know, the these are absolutely necessary bills that must be paid. Failure to pay these bills would create severe negative
consequence uh including items like keeping our group health insurance uh uh up to date uh the basic maintenance of our facilities, our information technology structure, senior services,
uh the health benefits waiver, uh uh streets and roads including pothole repair, uh our recycling contracts which we are legal ally a legally binding requirement with the county, library maintenance,
planning, board operations, and including but not limited to paying our employees. Um, so there's, you know, the these these are items that clearly as a functioning government we must do and and that's that will be my reason for
voting yes. Certainly, I'm not pleased that we're still sitting here in May. Uh with uh temporary appropriations, I I believe that with uh better planning and an earlier start, we could have avoided
this. That's behind us. We are where we are today. And as I noted in my comments earlier, with continued due diligence, we anticipate uh the we anticipate being in a position to have a budget introduction in two weeks. U Mr. Papis, I want to thank you and your staff for
the exhaustive reanalysis done uh enabled at reduction. Could I have a roll call, please? Councilman Kersh, yes. Councilman Cordella, yes. Councilman Pooo, no. Council President Ring uh Nargalis, yes. Uh 13B
authorizing the modification of resolution 24-12-9-291 as it applies to the housing rehabilitation project at 855 Brown Road in Bridgewater. This is a relatively dimminimous amount. I think we're talking less than $700 as a change to
it. Uh unless there's any discussion of that, I'd like to have a motion on 13B. I'll make the motion. I'll second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Councilman Kersh. Yes. Councilman
Cordilla. Councilman Pdoso. Council President Orgales. Yes. Uh C is resolution of the township of Bridgewwater, County of Somerset, State of New Jersey, authorizing the mayor and clerk to execute a federal aid agreement with the NJ dot for the Adamsville
school pedestrian safety project, which receives safe routes to school funding. U Mr. Papus, would you like to comment on that? Sir, I will leave Mr. Papis the opportunity responsibility. Uh just as a a general matter, I think the council's
aware that we received a grant from the federal government for a pretty comprehensive project in the Adamsville Road area. This allows us to do uh you know, safety improvements to regard to a lot of either improving sidewalks to, you know, creating sidewalks or there
aren't one. Uh fixing some roadways that might create dangerous hazards. This allows us in terms of not just improving the quality of life in the area uh can eliminate some of the hazardous busing and make it overall safer to walk for school. Can I have a motion on 13C please? It doesn't require a match,
right? It just straightforward. May I uh this is uh the initial step there will be we will be coming back to the council. This is a reimburseable grant. Uh so we will be coming back for request for the initial amount but again
it's reimburseable. Yeah. One of the challenges that we have on on this project and I think there's one or two other ones uh that we're going to have to deal with this year is that they you get the money but only after you spend it which means we have to appropriate it in the budget process or through a
capital uh through a bond and upfront to get the money back. Um, so that's a that's a challenge on um there's I think there's one there's another safe roots of school and I think there's a a third project state I think where it's one of those best be done in the same year.
Yeah. The project. Okay. Okay. Um get a motion. I did. Motion please. On 13. I'll make the motion to approve. Second, please. I'll second it. Roll call, please. Councilman Kur. Yes. Councilman Cordella.
Yes. Councilman Poso, yes. Council President Nargalis, yes. Uh, moving to D, resolution opposing legislation S1408/ A2757 sponsored by Senator Troy
Singleton and Benj Wimbley. Also, Assembly Members Lewis Greenwall, Clinton Calibris, Tanal McCoy, and co-sponsored by Dan Hutchson and Robert A. Carab, how you pronounce mispronounce it? Caravan check. Uh, which would
preempt local planning and permit conversion of certain office parts and retail centers to mixeduse developments. Uh, my own I think this is just bad legislation. This attempts to take uh
home activity away from our boards. And anyway, Mr. Mayor or Mr. Papus, would you like to offer a comment? you know, we we don't do a lot of resolutions um kind of generally opposing or or supporting kind of random things as a as a matter of
practice here. Uh and Bridgewater, which I think is a good one. Uh this one however you know what we've continued to see especially as we go through our affordable housing plan and deal with this next round is a continued assault by Trenton on uh suburban municipalities
in particular to try to force what they believe to be um uh you know development down our throats that we don't want or doesn't fit our community. And what this bill would do uh if it ever got passed
is allow them when municipalities like Bridgewater properly plan to stop largecale uh mixeduse developments that will bring in thousands and thousands of people. Well, they can just come in and say never mind. We would like you know we have somebody who want to do that.
And I think that's terrible for uh Bridgewater. It's terrible for the state. And I think this is important enough to uh make sure we send a message that uh this is not acceptable in our town. Well stated. Could I have a motion on D, please? I'll make the motion. Second. Second it. And Mr. President, just the briefest of comments because
this came up in significant um detail during uh my conversation about uh affordable housing and our plan. And you know, it's bad enough that we're we're being boxed into a corner. it's bad enough that we're um you know operating with handcuffs uh in terms of planning
for our community's future. You know, this this is now yet another uh uh limitation on our home rule. Um you know, any essentially, as I understand it, any office building or almost any office building could now become
housing. Uh, and I I think that's an expectation that that neighbors who live adjacent to an office building would wake up and be very surprised at. Uh, I think when you live uh adjacent to a commercial zone, you have a reasonable
expectation. Um, that um, you know, it's going to kind of remain somewhere in the vicinity of what it is. uh not that it it's going to become more housing, potentially high density housing, potentially uh you know, things that that just you you would you would not
expect them to be. Uh I'm also concerned about how this might impact formulas or you know, is this now going to be bonus affordable housing requirements? So, will communities that have office buildings now be penalized because they used to have more functional office
space? I I just think there's too many unknowns about this. Um and and it it's it's it's certainly yet additional overreach from Trenton. Let's just call it what it is. Trenton Democrats are trying to ruin our suburbia here in New
Jersey. It's the bottom line. They're on a mission. I think you have it. Roll call, please. Councilman Kersh, yes. Councilman Cordella, yes. Councilman Poso, yes. Council President Nargalis. Yes. Okay.
We're now moving to item number 14, which is a close session. Uh be it resolved by the Bridgewater Township Council. This body will now hold a closed session uh meeting to discuss. And we have several items. Uh contract
negotiations shared service agreement, litigation on a contract, and negotiations of affordable housing. At the conclusion of the close session, we anticipate no business and we will simply adjourn. Um, could I have a motion to go to close session? Make that
motion. Mo second, please. I'll second. All those in favor signify. I. All right. We are now closed. We'll take a second. Suzanne. Hey, we have concluded our closed session and closed it. We are now open
for a an adjournment motion. I make that motion. We adjourn. All those in favor? I I