And we are live. Welcome to the agenda session of the Bridgewater Township Council on Tuesday, July 10th. Notice for the meeting in compliance with the open public meetings act of New Jersey. The 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. Madam clerk, may I have the roll call, please?
Councilman Kersh here. Councilman Codiller here. Pedroso. Councilman Ring, good evening. Here. President Ogalis here. Would you please stand as Councilman Ring provides us and remain
standing for a brief moment of silence to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisibley. Thank you for the moment of silence to
recognize the passing of those poor souls in Texas during the flood. Minutes for approval. The minutes for uh June 26th uh have been circulated. Has everybody had a chance to read them? And if so, may I have a motion on them,
please? I'll make that motion and I'll second it. All those in favor of approving the minutes of June 26. I The minutes are approved. close sessions uh are circulating. Township council report reports. Uh Mr. Pedroso is not
here. Uh we'll go start with uh Councilman Kersh, please. Thank you, Mr. President. Only a few brief items tonight. Uh the planning board has not met since our our last uh township council meeting. Zoning board met two nights ago, heard a single case.
Uh it is for self storage uh at um property that currently uh houses tectonic uh as well as connection to Melik's farm stand. Um there there there are there was a considerable objection
heard from the public. Um my understanding is that the applicant has um uh heard heard some of those concerns and they will be coming back uh during October for a second hearing. Uh and my final report I had the privilege of uh
attending uh and offering welcome comments uh at the um Middlebrook encampment independence day celebration. So I think well everyone on the deis knows probably many in the audience know um that uh the Middlebrook encampment is
the location uh where it is believed that the first flag uh was raised uh the first flag that is like the one that we have today was raised uh uh in in the United States of America um occurring on
flag day 1777. Um that flag uh a depiction of which is in the back of the room. It is the Hopkinson flag design. Um does have 13 stars but does not look like the Betsy Ross flag that most people associate
with the American Revolution. Uh it is a unique uh Bridgewater story. It is uh certainly a a deep heritage and connection that we have to the revolution. uh and uh as a consequence of uh that property uh being preserved, it is owned
by the Washington Campground Association, there is a requirement that each July 4th that there be a gathering uh to um uh you know com to you know to commemorate what occurred on on those grounds and a reading of the Declaration of Independence and that is what
occurred uh on uh on Friday morning July or it was Friday. Yeah, Friday morning July 4th. Uh I want to uh you know give particular uh um accolade uh to Kevin Storms. He's a Bridgewater resident. He is uh the current president of the
Washington Campground Association and he and the board have uh taken their responsibility very seriously uh over over these many years and um ceremony was uh was was enjoyable and and moving because the flag uh that's there is
retired uh each year. It's, you know, a little weather worn and then, uh, it's replaced by by a brand new one. Um, so it was my privilege, as I noted, to um offer brief welcome remarks. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, Councilman Pedroso, your report, sir, please.
Uh, thank you, sir. Today's my son's birthday, so I had to Sorry for my delay. I actually had to bail out early in our dinner to come here, but life of a public servant. Uh, glad to be here. Um anyway, hope everyone had a very
healthy and happy Fourth of July. Thank you, Councilman Kersh, for sharing your story of the Middle Brook encampment. I have I've actually had the uh privilege of being part of that ceremony a couple times and over the many years and it's
really very very special. So, thank you for reminding us again uh really what what a wonderful place that is here right here on Bridgewater Township. Uh, America certainly is an extraordinary place. Uh, we're very blessed to live
here in this wonderful country and certainly July 4th gives us an opportunity to remember and reflect on that. Uh, I hope everyone's enjoying their summer. That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Ring. Your report, sir. Thank you, sir. Um, as we move into the
summer months, not a lot of additional activities going on, but I'll just share for the public's benefit if they're not aware. Um the governor recently signed into legislation uh new law that basically eliminates the requirement for
public notices to be printed in newspapers. Uh as newspaper media becomes less and less of a you know I think was this year or last year the Star Ledger stopped printing newspapers stop printing it's very difficult to comply with the old standards. So, um,
public notices are no longer required to be printed and just for the public's benefit to be aware. That's all I have. Thank you. Uh, Councilman Cordella, please. I'd like to say that, uh, a few days ago, I received a call from some
residents that were concerned about, uh, issues related to a, uh, park. uh they had re uh expressed concerns regarding uh safety in the park uh the amount of litter in the park and the u the
perception of the lack of maintenance in the park. Um what I did is uh regarding the safety concerns, I immediately reached out to Chief Mitsac to let him know what the residents of the area were were
witnessing. And I felt that the uh the sooner our police department knew about it, the better off uh everybody will be. Uh in addition to that, I uh spoke to
administrator Papis regarding the uh maintenance and the other concerns about the park and we're in the process of setting up what I believe would be a meeting with a meeting with local residents on how to address their
concerns, especially the concerns regarding the uh safety for their children in the and the neighborhood in the park area. Um that's all that I have right now. Howard, thank you. Thank you, sir. My report is as follows. Um I hope also
has been said everyone had a health healthy and safe 4th of July. I attended the quarterly Bridgewater emergency service committee uh chaired by uh police lieutenant Jamie Edwards. Uh the major issue was the update of the Bridgewater emergency operations plan
which is an allhazard plan to provide structure and mechanisms for for township level policy and operational coordination. Uh three new operational New Jersey state police annexes are being introduced. Uh cyber incidents,
civil unrest and pandemics. Now, if you live, work, or plan to visit Northbridge uh between Voke and Firehouse, uh pack your patience. Uh you will hear very shortly about the 8week project that our friends at American
Word Water are going to undertake to improve the uh the facility along that site. The long talked about PSEG road overlay for streets severely impacted by their gas main replacement is almost done, right, Tom? Uh, I went down
Country Club. It was paved within the past week. It's striped. It looks great. Nobody should drive on it because it really looks that good. That is my report. Mayor's report, please. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Mr. Ngalas. Um, a couple of things. On behalf of the mayor and the administration, I do want to
acknowledge the efforts by the campground association for the July 4th event, but uh particularly our public works department, which has for many years u helped prepare the site and neaten up the appearance of it. Uh that's something that uh we've done as a
tradition and I think most people are not aware that that's something that we uh carry out as a public service. Couple of things on the agenda. I'd like to just uh point out that you'll hear about the yardway site yardway site for Mr. Gova, but there's another resolution uh
uh 12B which is our our long-standing digitization program. Um we uh like many municipalities throughout the state are undertaking a plan to improve efficiency. uh there are standards by
which we have to maintain certain records in perpetuity and digitization is a much more efficient uh way to to maintain those. This particular company is one that I had opportunity to work with even before coming to work for Bridgewater Township and they are very
very uh competent um vendor that carries out this service uh very very efficiently. There are a couple of change orders from road program uh closeouts. One is a significant decrease. Uh you'll see in
12 C a $124,72.36 decrease uh as a closeout which is a over 12% decrease from the original contract. And the one following that is an increase of.97%
$12,000 and uh from a $1.3 million uh road project. Um I think that's all for now. Thank you very much. Thank you. Under item seven proclamations, we have none to offer at this point. We're up to item eight,
which is presentation. And we'll start with the yardway site. Mr. Gova. Well, thank you for having me. Um, I'm here to report on the Yardway site. As you know, there's an item 12A on the council agenda
to award the same. So, um, a little overview, okay, as far as the yard waste transfer facility goes, the township does own a yard waste transfer facility located at 136
Foothill Road. The property is approximately 3 and a half acres. Township residents and the Division of Public Works utilizes this site as a drop off yard waste that includes grass, brush, tree parts, and leaves.
So, uh you'll see some pictures and actually as we you know today uh you know we have senior brush pickup. Of course, you're all familiar with the uh leaf bag pickup as well. The total estimated amount of yard waste
collected annually is 50,000 cubic yards of leaves, 60,000 cubic yards of co-mingled yard waste, which includes again trees, branches, and brush, and 10,000 cubic yards of grass.
Uh the resident drop off policy. Residents are allowed to drop off materials in their personal vehicles. A resident using a contractor to clean up their property must obtain a permit from the Division of Public Works for
one six cubic yard vehicle twice a year at no charge. The township yard waste facility is an exempt from obtaining a solid waste permit from the New Jersey DP. So, what we're what we have on your
agenda tonight is uh consideration of a management and maintenance agreement. The township currently has an agreement with a qualified contractor to perform the management, operation, and maintenance of the yard waste facility.
Responsibilities include the staff maintaining a daily presence at the facility in accordance with the recycling schedule published by the township. There is no additional payment from the township for utilizing the facility for
drop off and this includes natural emergencies. This office recommends the award of contract to Nature's Choice LLC in the amount of 29,000 payable to the township for the term of
September 1, 2025 to August 31st, 2026 with a renewal option following. You have any questions? Questions? Yeah. A uh
go ahead. I think it's important to point out here um the $29,000 is them paying us. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's money. This is this is the flip side. We used to pay to have this. Correct. Now people are paying us to do it. Yeah. That's a nice thing. We have to find
some other things to do. Well, yeah. I think it's worth that extra emphasis. So I think what we we paid what 25,000 the last four years. The last four years we paid 24,000 a year. Yeah. Yeah. And you know what what's worth
pointing out is we're we're really one of the only municipalities that have a site like this. Again, it's a transfers facility because it's only three and a half acres. Yep. Other towns what they do is they get containers that are dropped off and then carted away. So this is really a great
benefit to both the residents in Bridgewater and again to public works to have a site like this. Okay, thanks Tom. Okay, moving on. We now have uh New Jersey American Water representatives who are going to talk to us about the pipe replacement. Uh Mr. President, as
their uh gentlemen are coming forward, we had a meeting with them uh our uh municipal services, engineering, public works, police department, rather extensive discussion uh leading up to yesterday. And yesterday, as you pointed out, there's a a significant project that they're going to be undertaking
shortly. and uh they will describe the uh the scope of the cont of the project and uh be available for your questions. Yes, sir. If you could gentlemen, welcome. How are you? Everybody can hear me. Please give us your name and the position you hold in American Water, please.
My name is Christopher Lynch. I'm the construction supervisor out of our Hillsboro office for this area. And I'm Frank Price, uh senior construction inspector out of the same office. So, this project uh we are undertaking. Um, as many of you may know, over the
last 10 or so years, we've had a lot of water mane breaks on North Bridge Street. Um, the pipe originally was installed in the 1970s. Um, which doesn't sound that old until you think about it. It's like, yeah, that's pushing 60 years old already. Um
because of our booster station that we have down below Prince Rogers Drive. Um especially this time of year in the summer months, the booster stations kick on to pump water up the mountains to meet the demand. And as we've seen over
the last several years, that pipe just can't handle the can't handle the pressure surges anymore from that. So, we decided to undertake replacing the entire thing from Prince Rogers all the way up to Foothill, which is where the majority of our brakes have been. Um, I
know Bridgewwater didn't have um the greatest experience with PSEG from what I've heard. Um, first and foremost, before we get into the logistics of the project, you know, we're undertaking this to better the water system for
everybody. Um, and it is our intent to not make this chaotic and have it as orderly and efficient as it can be while we're working. Um, so we will be replacing 4,300 ft of 12-in ductal iron
man from Prince Rogers Voke Drive all the way up to Foothill Drive. That will include new fire hydrants all along, replacing the existing fire hydrants, uh new 1-in water services to each home,
um and final paving. The entire road will be paved, curb to curb when we're complete. Um we did meet the other day to discuss and it was a lengthy discussion because of the traffic situation. While it's a county road, it
does affect obviously Bridgewater. So, a we scheduled this for the summer to hopefully avoid, you know, the school bus traffic and school traffic. That takes one thing out of the equation. Um, but the I think we're we've landed on a good detour plan to keep in place uh
while the work is taking place. Uh, county road hours will be we can't start working until 9:00 a.m. every morning. It'll be Monday to Friday starting at 9:00 and we have to be off the road by 4 per the county. So, the detour will be
in place during those hours. Um, after hours and weekends, the road will be open for normal traffic flow. Um, CRJ Contracting, who is one of our best contractors, they're going to be doing the work. Uh, Derek Clark and Tom
Vandery are over there. Derek is the project manager. Tom will be the foreman of the job and Frank here will be the inspector on the job every day. We've handed out notices to all the residents in the area. We also do a code red call
which is like a reverse 911 call to explain the project via phone message to all the residents in the area as well. Um any questions at this point so far? Both the Green Squad and the Green Firehouse
are right down the block. Uh, will the road still be closed to them as emergency vehicles? Will they still have to take the detour? I believe that was a yes right from that that we decided on. Yeah.
Okay. Okay. Any questions? I have several. So, um, understanding emergency vehicles have to take the detour. what happens when there's an emergency call for service at a house along the closed road.
So, while we are working, uh we will have police at every intersection, you know, for the closure. Um they will help us let in local traffic to the best of our ability and emergency traffic as well. If there if there's, like you say,
god forbid, a fire or EMS situation, they'll have access to work site. You mentioned you've delivered notices to the area. Um, did you get one? I did not. I live directly off North Bridge Street. I have not received a notice. The only notification until
tonight that I've been aware of this project is the sign that said you were starting construction yesterday on North Bridge Street. Um, so I myself uh yesterday had handed out the notices to everyone affected in that zone where the actual construction
is going to take place on North Bridge. Um, in regards to the side streets, uh, today we actually put out, it should have gone out today, the code red that, um, basically gives all the information that's taking place on North Bridge. But
how do you put that out? that's uh going to go out through basically our our system contacts any so you have streets off of North Bridge Street my house is a well you don't have my information how do I receive notification so that would be the only other caveat
but tomorrow Friday we'll be out on the streets where we're going to be starting because it's going to be obviously in in in phase understood right so where we start we're for that exact reason we don't have any rail capability minus the oldfashioned knock on the door leave an actual you know,
letter indicating what's taking place. So, to your point, um, that is ultimately going to take place tomorrow. Um, you have a number of deadend culde-sac streets off of North Bridge with only one way in and out and it's a weird one. I live on a street, there's a hydrant on
my corner of North Bridge and I go three or four houses past my house and there's a hydrant, but the whole middle section of the street is all Wells. And to your point when you were asking about, you know, god forbid there was an emergency situation, um the crews are are obviously aware that when we do traverse
that intersection, wherever it may be, we do have um road plates that will be there when we're in that sensitive area of construction, god forbid, again, you know, there is an ambulance that needs to get in and out or so on and so forth. So again, our goal is not to make it
harder or any more struggles, but so we have that in place as well as a back. So and I'm apologize, but you know, you had mentioned the PSEG some of the challenges. Um PSEG just completed we just completed we're going to award contract tonight
for repaving some of the streets that were impacted by PSSE and I'm sorry, finalized the payment for the contract for streets PSEG did. So people in this area are sensitive, right? Understood. And that's why we also decided the the detour plan that we decided was uh
because what I've heard was PSEG was kind of jumping around to different streets having different streets closed different days. um this detour plan that we have will be in place from the beginning of the project to the end just so we're not we
had talked about you know maybe we can keep one half open and keep the other half open and vice versa but it's going to be I think more beneficial long run to the residents once they know the detour and that stays in place for the duration of the project instead of
trying to bounce around would probably be a good thing yes is your plan to replace the main pipe and then go back and do the connections or will you do connections as you go? So what we do is we will lay the main first. Um we fill the pipe, we flush and
sample the pipe. We have to bring water samples to our lab at our treatment plant to get analyzed. Once they have passed, then we can come back and start transferring the services for each house over to the to the new main. So each house will get a new service from the
water man to the curb. Um the other thing as part of this project too, if there are any galvanized or lead service lines um running to people's houses, which we don't anticipate here, just because we know the area pretty well, um
if we do find any galvanized services, we will replace that service all the way into the house of the homeowner at no charge. Um sorry, I apologize. I almost done. You we talked about emergency vehicles.
I guess the other question is how about when you're working in the area of Foothill Road on North Bridge, access to the firehouse and rescue squad. Um, you know, I understand the vehicles have to take the detours, but you mean as far as vehicles coming out
of the firehouse? There there's going to be a time period where you're digging up in front of those buildings. What we will do is we'll strategically coordinate it so that we're not blocking the entire length of the firehouse apron at once, you know. So, we might go halfway,
finish up for the day, then start the next day halfway. So, at least, you know, half of their access remains open to get in segments. So that may only be, you know, a hindrance or uh, you know, we may only be in that area for, you know, a day or
so and then we're moving down the street, of course, but yes, for for that duration and and I promise my last question, no impact, it sounds like on the people that are on your water service as far as drinking water and then uh what impact
if any on the hydrants while you're working? no impact on the hydrants because what we do is we leave the existing main live until we're ready to transfer everything over. So for a while we're installing the hydrants as we go,
but once the new main is service, you'll actually have the new main and the old main and the new hydrants and the old hydrants actually still in service together for a brief period and then we will cut and cap and kill the old main. So there's never going to be a lapse in fire protection.
There won't be any lapse in water service for anyone. The only time there will be is when we start doing the transfers of the services over at which time we'll give Frankie will give notice to the residents ahead of time that you know actually if I could jump in. So um as
far as everything side street concerns um for the tie-in purposes I think it's uh Yan um is the I think there's only six houses on that road. that particular street is the only one where there's going to be a mild um maybe an hour or
two um transfer when we do transfer the loss of water. But again, at that point before it even gets turned off, I myself will go and knock on doors, make sure that you know it's okay to do so. Um, other than that, we have it in place for the other streets, Hogland, uh, Ddale,
whatever the other numerous ones are to where we, the way we're going to do it, there won't be a disruption, um, in order when we do transfer it over by the way we're doing it. And then to Chris's point, uh, when the actual service transfer takes place, the crews have do
this all the time. um not even as a courtesy. They go to the door, knock on the door, make sure that no one's using water or even myself just just so for obvious reasons, you know, the water doesn't get turned off when they need it. Ju just so you're aware, you mentioned Yorn. Mr. Pedroso lives on uh sitting
down there. So, you'll be you'll be knocking on on his door. Hey, two of the five of us sitting up here are in the neighborhood of You mentioned the 12in ductal that you're replacing. was the old you you've been using ductal for generations
since the late60s or so. The believe it or not, the existing pipe is already 12-in ductal iron pipe, but it's a very cheap class of ductal. So, what we're installing is a lot thicker version of this ductal iron.
Is is that pipe unique to this specific sections? Are there other parts of town where you suspect the the same pipe will need to be replaced eventually? Probably Foothill Road is it's the same 12-in ductal iron, but
Foothill we haven't had as many problems with just because bridge, as I mentioned before, that that booster station we have bridge. Where where exactly is the booster station? It's down between south of Voke and Prince Ro or Yeah, Prince Rogers, right?
And and uh 287 down there. It sits in that stretch down there south of the post office and going towards 287. Um, but Bridge Street takes the Any other questions or comments? I have a question. Yes, sir. When this work is going to be on North
Bridge, is it it starts at Voke Drive? Is Voke Drive where the main line goes to the Bridgewater Commons or is it cut before that? So, it's going to be essentially where we do our tie-in uh to start the project. It's going to be about 100 to
200 ft north of Prince Rogers and vote. So we will not be in that intersection. We'll be just north of that not interfering with anything going towards the mall. Yeah. So vote then Prince Rogers will be 100% open the whole time. So this will have zero impact on the
mall. Correct. Correct. Any other questions? Yeah, I have question. Thank you sir. Uh where can I and residents find your detour plan? I believe uh it was supposed to go on
Bridgewwater's website. Mr. Proso, we have that and we will provide that copy to you and it'll be on their website. By the way, when do you start digging? Uh this Monday is when we're going to begin. Are you guys going to update the sign
that's says yesterday? Okay. Might be local pranksters. Okay. So, that that that detour information, it'll be available on the township website. Where? On the township website.
How do I find it? Um, and when can we expect that? Okay. I I asked because Rowan is here from the Breeze and and obviously he he can be helpful. One of one of the benefits of having the having the news here is that they can be helpful in
getting information out to the public. And I think it's important for him to know that more than me, frankly, for him to know how to uh provide that info for the public has access to that detour plan. Um, do you anticipate any changes at all to
the detour plan as you work or is it prefixed? No, that's we we met for probably a good two hours yesterday and ironed out everything with the police and and the township and came up with something that we we're going to stick to. Okay. If there are any changes, I would
certainly encourage you to provide those as quickly as possible to the administrations. I mean, the only spur-of-the- moment change we possibly would anticipate, um, as we discussed yesterday, would be if the old main started leaking while
we're doing this at any point, then it would kind of become an emergency situation where we had to do what we have to do to fix it. But other than that, we're sticking to this this detour plan. Great. And I noticed as this conversation, I appreciate Councilman
Ring's questions on the issues of uh the fire department and the rescue squad, the issues of safety. Uh is there any way that the road can the fire department can have access to to the road so they don't have to detour around? Is there any way that construction can be done so that rescue
services are not delaying getting to people's homes should they need it? With the help of the police, I think that would be mostly possible. um depending on whether we're working north of Woodlon or south of Woodlon. So, for instance, if we're working in the
section south of Woodlon, you know, and a fire call comes in for somewhere west down Woodlon, with the help of the police, they could probably come down Bridge to Woodlon and go that way. So, it's going to depend on where we're working exactly, but with the police's help, we should be able to try to
accommodate them, I would imagine. Yeah. And actually when we looked at the the layout for where the new water main is ultimately going to go, we're we during the the construction as it gets a little north of Woodlon, it gets tight, there's a guard rail there and it's it's
there's really not much of a shoulder, but uh we're still going to probably hope to just utilize one lane. So if again, God forbid that the fire truck needed to get through, the road wouldn't have a giant trench across and they physically with the help of the officers
could get emergency vehicles in and out um in a god forbid bad situation. So right, I think that's very very important. Absolutely. That um you guys do the do something to keep access for fire and rescue services and the police so that someone needs it.
But I mean, I know you say, "Well, it's only going to be closed for a day." But if someone needs it that day, they they you know, they need it, right? So, it's can't play around with that. So, okay. Those are uh also just to note, I didn't get I live right down the street from where you guys were working today.
In fact, I was coming out of my house today and I looked at a I was going to make I intended to make a right. I look down the street. I see a bunch of guys out there. I'm like, you know what? I'm not going that way. I I made the left. But I had I I did not receive any notices that you were going to be working on that. Yeah. Unfortunately, this kind of came together a little quicker than we
thought. And when we had the meeting yesterday, it had been brought up that yes, the area of construction is solely on North Bridge Street. However, to Councilman Ring's point there, virtually I think all the streets minus maybe
White or one or two are dead end. So, that's the only in-n-out of course. So, it was suggested and and made basically uh the decision that that they everyone needs to be notified even though we're not physically digging up their service
or their street like Hogland Court, all those that are that are in that affected area. So, the our we again we call it a a code red or reverse 911 that goes to our call center and that goes out to everyone that is a customer of ours that we have the information for. However,
the the individuals, the residents that are on a well, we don't have that luxury. So, that's the oldfashioned way of probably not probably tomorrow, myself and one or two other of my counterparts will be getting all that information dispatched. And I know it's
it's Monday, it's quick, but where we're starting gives us a little time because we're ultimately Monday going to start down by Vote and Prince Rogers. So the affected areas as far as the side streets are concerned gives us a little time for information to be dispatched. So
the other thing we planned on doing too as well for all the deadend side streets depending what half that we're working in um at the end of the street when you come out to Bridge Street there'll be signage there saying you know left turn only or right turn and we'll you know
alternate those depending on where we're working. So people coming out of those deadend side streets know where to go. Yeah. Do you I'm I'm almost done. I'm almost done. I have last last comment. Um I I understand I can certainly appreciate the fact that you have to get
this done. Residents can also uh understand and sympathize. It has to get done right. We can all get that. But the one thing in today's world that needs to happen is information. like you guys have to get accurate information that has to be disseminated to the public
that there's no reason in today's world that we can't get things out to people quickly and people expect that and I think it's a reasonable expectation. So that's that's the one thing I'm going to push to you. Make sure you get that done. To your point also it wasn't mentioned yet but um we did come up with the idea
of essentially a a progress report so to speak. So my task as the inspector as the job continues for instance the Friday prior to the following week I myself will discuss you know get with the foreman and and kind of just get an itinerary for the next 5 days coming up.
So this way I can send the information to whomever is going to be able to take that for Bridgewater and also put that on the website. So I know it's not 100% a perfect guarantee that everyone your point of contact for information should be Mr. Papus and he will arrange
to disseminate it within the township in whatever fashion is necessary. Have you guys checked the temple schedule? Yeah, we that's he was talking to them tomorrow as well. That was it. I just I wanted to make sure they're not digging up in front of the temple when they have some kind of
service going on. See, we we discussed that yesterday as well. You know, if we know that their schedule is that they have a big ceremony on Thursday, let's say we'll make sure we're not working directly in front of their place on Thursday. That's it. Okay, gentlemen. Thank you very much. Very detailed, very informative, and we
appreciate One last thing is that the end result is, you know, you'll have a brand new water mane on the on North Bridge. The road will be paved, curb to curb, and hopefully you won't have to see us for 40 years on Bridge Street after that, which at that point, I'll be retired. Thank you. Thank you. All right, moving
to item number nine, 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 were unusual circumstances. Could I have a motion open for the public, please? So moved. Uh second. All those in favor of opening. I
I uh anyone wishing to come forward now this would you like to close? Seeing nobody. Sure. I will move to close public comment. And uh could there a second on that? I'll second it. Uh and all those in favor of closing.
Uh, you know, it has been several months since I was not able to attend a meeting and I watched it on the tape and uh, Councilman Pedroso moderated that and and that was the only night during the entire year that there was no public
nobody came forward and I thought it was personal that you know but anyway so anyway we are closed to the public and we are moving on to 10A public hearing and Final action notice ordinance
bond ordinance providing an appropriation of $6,100,000 for various road improvements including but not limited to Monroe Street, Jackson Street, Villa Drive, Cabbat Hill Road, Sunset Drive, Miners Drive, Ridge
Road, Middle Road, Bulmer, Farm Road, and Blazer Road, including curbing, milling, paving, drainage, sewer, and other miscellaneous improve improvements, various road overlays and sidewalk improvements throughout the
township. Now, so there's two parts to this in uh improvements throughout the township in and by the township of Bridgewater in the county of Somerset, New Jersey, and authorizing the issuance of $5,795,000 in bonds or notes of the township for
financing part of the appropriation. Mr. Papus, are there any comments you'd like to offer before I move for a motion? Uh, none. Unless you have questions. I'm I have nothing else to add. Okay. But I have a a motion uh for this. I'll make that motion. Second, please.
I'll second. Okay. Now, is there any discussion on 10A, which is the public hearing and and bond notice? We need a We need a public hearing. Yeah, I know. But I wanted to Oh, are we doing the public hearing first or we doing comments after?
We'll we'll then I'll accept a motion to open to the public. I'll open to the public. Second. Okay. All those in favor open. All right. We're open to the public. Anyone from the public wishing to come forward? See no one. I move to close public.
Okay. Uh and do you wish to move for final action? I'll make that motion. I think there's some discussion. I I know but procedurally. Okay. And all right. So we'll move to uh discussion. do
be very I'll be very very brief uh consistent with my prior comments in doing the introduction uh part of this ordinance I will vote no okay sir thank you any other comments on 10A uh now motion for
final action vote please do we did do we get a second I'll second it okay so I'm confused was there a motion to the motion was to close public comment. Right. Right. We've closed the public comment. Now we're moving for final action.
Okay. Who who made the motion to approve? Didn't you? No, I did not. Okay. Would you like to make it? I'll make that motion. Thank you, Mr. Cordella. I appreciate it. I will second it. All those roll call. Roll call. Roll call.
Councilman Kersh. Yes. Councilman Codella. Yes. Pedroso. No. Councilman R. Yes. President Ogalas. Yes. Introduction of ordinances. There are none for 11. Moving to resolutions 12A, award of contract to Nature's
Choice, New Jersey, uh LLC of 960 Homedale Road, building number two, suite number 20, Homedale, New Jersey 07733 for the management, operation, and maintenance of the Township of Bridgewaters Yardway site at no cost to
the township commencing on September 1st, 2025, and terminating on August 31st, 2026. We've already heard the presentation. Could I have a motion please on 12A? I'll make the motion. I'll second. Second. Okay. Uh, roll call, please.
Just want to just want to note and comment. Thank Mr. Gova. Did he leave? Oh, there you are. Thank you for your thorough presentation. It was very useful. Thank you for that. I like the no cost to the township part, too. I like it. Not only doesn't cost us, we
get paid. You grace. Yes. Councilman Codella. Yes. Pedroso. Yes. Ring. Yes. President Ogalis. Yes. Uh 12B, award of contract to FLIC imaging technologies incorporated, 99
Grey Rock Road, number 103, Clinton, New Jersey 08809 for Document Solutions under Educational Services Commission of New Jersey. ESCJ cooperative pricing uh ESCJ-223-11
in the amount of $100,000 to be funded through the records retention fund. Uh Mr. Papis, any comments you'd like to offer on this? Mr. President, before we move, I need to recuse myself from this. Yes, sir. I understand.
Uh just that uh this is managed by our township clerk and her staff. They are doing an excellent job. And last year, you may recall, we we had another contract. Last year, we focused exclusively on sewer utility documents.
Uh that uh for at least last year was concluded. Now we're back to uh the rest of the municipal government. Thank you. Does this go out to bid? This is state contract, so it does not. Is there any words of encouragement you'd like to offer on this project,
Grace, since you manage it? Um just that by approving this we'll be um we'll be able to continue records management. Um we have been doing such an excellent job. We have archived a lot of documents. We have um doc you know document um imaged a lot of
documents. So this will allow us to continue to do that. Now do they actually come in and take the documents and do it? Yes. Yes. They come in, they take the documents. Um right now we have about 200 boxes that are ready to go to um for imaging and then once they're imaged
they are destroyed so we don't have to keep them here. Grace, would you tell the council just a moment about the shredding and how that successful how successful that is as well? Yes. So we we have really um improved our records management
um in this you uh the last couple of months we had a shred event. I think we shredded about close to 300 boxes. So we are really on a schedule um for every department. We are on a schedule where we
um we have um we we have set documents to they come in we we have a schedule I'm sorry I wasn't prepared to talk. We have a schedule. No you don't. We have a schedule um of of um of documents that we can shred. Um
and this in the in the past couple of months we shredded about 300 boxes and then we have more coming up in the four about about the same amount so that we keep you know as soon as documents are ready to be shredded we destroy them and if they need to be imaged we send them
to Fionics we have a schedule laid out for that. Does the shredding truck come here? Yes, the shredding truck comes here and it's also paid um off of a grant so it doesn't cost the township anything. Excellent. Excellent. Um great project.
Thank you. Uh could I have a I have a question? A question for my Mr. Pap question? Yeah. Uh the documents are they stored in house in servers in house? Are they stored in the cloud? Like where are they where are they stored? Do you know? Yes, they are stored on the iCloud. on
the iCl iCloud or cloud because cloud cloud cloud I'm sorry on the cloud and then we have every department has assigned certain people that can access the documents once they are imaged I mean if you're looking for documents to to see what was imaged every every department
has people that have access to it I'm not sure if you know the answer to this question today but if you don't then you can just provide it to me later do you know how the data is backed up I don't I don't know the answer to Okay. I'd like to know that because uh it's
easy for data to disappear in today's world. They do. Um every year, I think twice a year, they do give us a CD of everything and we keep it in my office. So, I don't know if that's backup, but that's one form of backup. Yeah, that so we have it on the cloud,
but every every six months we ask for a CD to be just for backup so we can we can have it just in case of anything. Surprised it all fits in one DVD. Yeah. Um, okay. If you can give me some information how it's backed up. I just I
think that's super important because uh once the data is digitized and then we shred it, the paper version is gone. And so we need to rely 100% on the digital version and and those documents are super important for the government, also for the public. So
I think uh I just would like make sure it's being properly safeguarded. I I remember when we met I'm sorry, Grace, go ahead. And just so you know, there are some documents even after we image them, we cannot destroy them. For example, ordinances and resolutions and
minutes. So those are super um they have to be kept forever. Even after we image those, we cannot destroy them, right? Um but you know like planning boxes, site plans, we are able to destroy them after we image them.
Yeah. one just the documents need to be accessible for the for the public if they make Oprah requests and I think we have an obligation to make sure they're safeguarded properly and it's just really important that the digital data is backed up and that we can do it the best we can to preserve
the integrity of that data going forward there was a we we meet with Fauvionics at least once or twice a year grace does more frequently but I'm I participate in others and uh I do remember a gentleman uh uh Vincent Dtomaso had gone through a
very extensive description of how there is redundancy to ensure that our records are are are maintained. One other comment um the the efficiency that this program creates is uh is pretty
incredible. uh when members of the public ask for records whether it's through an Oprah request or through some other uh request in the old days they would have to literally find where the box is and go there and and now uh this
is quick and so can they the appropriate information can be redacted with the press of a button and so it's a tremendous time saver. Let me ask you a question. I know that we're we're scanning a lot of documents from the past. Mhm. Going for forward into the future, are
the departments going to have their own scanners? Can they'll scan their own documents? Are we still going to rely on third party services? I think right now we're going to rely upon the third party. Uh one of the things that we're uh probably will be coming back to the council with regard to land use board applications. Uh there
will be an ordinance that will likely be presented that would require uh applicants that go through the uh land use board process and for those that get approved that a certain categorization
of digitization is provided to the township that would not require us to have it scanned at our expense. Right. We're going to try to do that as much as possible. And also just just want to add that um Fionics allows if you have
documents that you would like to scan into the program yourself, we're able to do that as well. So in answer to your question, we are able to do that. We my office does that. We're able to scan some of the things that are easier like not the site plans are harder to scan in
but like ordinances and minutes we can scan them into and you know and and still store them in the same in the same area. So what we can scan we we do. Thank you. May I motion please? So moved. Second.
Second. Roll call please. Councilman Kush. Yes. Councilman Codilla. Oh, I'm sorry. Councilman Pedroso. Yes. We got to get Allan back. All right. Go ahead. Councilman Ring. Yes. President Ogalis. Yes. Okay. We'll wait for Allan to get
back. Okay. Moving on to C. Authorizing change order number one and final change order decreasing the contract price from 1,14,857.97 to $890,785.61. 61. A decline of 12.23%
or $124,72.36 cents authorizing acceptance of the project, release of the performance bond, acceptance of the maintenance bond, and final payment to Topline Construction Corporation. 225th Street, Somerville, New Jersey
08876 for the 2023-6 roadway improvement project, which includes the entire lengths of April Drive, Eastbrook Drive, Mayflower Court, Loft Drive, and Wimac Road, funded
through the 2023 Capital Road Fund. Uh, Mr. Papis, you've already reported on the the uh the nice job this one represents. Is there any any other questions anyone has on this? You want to read D and we'll do them consent?
Uh, okay. Yeah, I'll do that. Um, I'll do D. Authorizing change order number one and final change order increasing the contract price from 1,300,932.79 to1,313,59.14 an increase of $12,576.35
or 0.97% and authoriz and authorizing project acceptance release of the performance bond acceptance of the maintenance bond and final payment to topline construction 225th Street Somerville,
New Jersey 08876 for the 2024-5 roadway improvement projects including the entire lengths of Lton Road, Lton Place, Birchill Drive, Bittersweet Terrace, Somerset Avenue, Mountaintop Road from Crim to Rose, and the parking
lot at the Bridgewater Senior Center funded through the 2024 Capitol road fund. Uh, might as well do e project resolution for professional surveys surveying phase one for the
Plymouth Road, Ryan Way and Jeffrey Lane Road improvement projects which includes the lengths of Plymouth Road, Washington Valley Road to Crim Road, Ryan Way, Plymouth Road to Plymouth to Plymouth Road. Wow. Okay, we got to fix that one.
and Jeffrey Lane Plymouth Road to Crim Road uh to Kala's Engineering and Design Incorporated uh Shelbourne at 153 Frontage Road Suite 110 Hampton, New Jersey 08827 in the
amount of $16,000 funded through 2024 Capitol Road Improvement Bond and and for year 2024 NJ do municipal aid grant. Um, okay. Can I have uh any any
questions or comments on uh on those items? If not, may I have a motion, please, to approve? I'll make a motion to approve. Uh, and a second, please. I'll second it. Roll call, please. Councilman Kersh, yes. Councilman Codiller,
yes. Councilman Pedroso, yes. Councilman Ring, yes. President Ogalis. Item F has been removed by the administration, moved to close session. Uh G is resolution authorizing the person-toperson and placetoplace transfer of plenary retail distribution
liquor license number 1806-44-041-00002 from from Ramaram Incorporated located at 477C Union Avenue Bridgewater New Jersey 08807 to uh say a s
not sure how to pronounce pronounce that LLC to be located at 601 East Main Street, Bridgewater, New Jersey, 08807. Um, could I have a motion, please, on that one? I'll make that motion. And a second, please.
Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Kush. Yes. Councilman Killer. Yes. Councilman Pedroso. Yes. Councilman Ring. Yes. President Ogalas. Yes. H. authorizing a fireworks display at Raritan Valley Country Club located
at 747 State Route 28 Bridgewater, New Jersey on Sunday, July 6th, 2025 with a rain date of Sunday, July 13th uh 2025 since uh July 6th uh has already passed.
In effect, this is a retroactive uh um I understand that the delay in getting it to us was they didn't send it in in time. Uh it is for that reason I advise in advance I will be voting no on this. I think if people can't have the
courtesy of getting their stuff in on time, uh we shouldn't approve it. But anyway, well well question, Mr. President, what's the consequence of our not approving it? Uh there is none. It's already taken place. Well, putting a stake in the ground that that from
if we Well, I think there is a consequence because if we turn it down, do we have to refund their check they wrote? Yeah. So, I mean anyway, it's question is do we want to go down that road? Well, I I I can assure the the members of the day and the public um the display
definitely occurred. Um I I know it occurred. scared the heck out of my dog. Um, tough tough weekend tough weekend for dogs is all I'll say. Okay. Um, is is there any any habit of this particular applicant having this problem
or is this a one-off? I I don't believe this has been late before. Not that I not since I've been here. A motion for H, please. I'll make a motion to move it. Second. I'll second it.
Roll call. Anman Kershman Codella yes Pedroso yes ring yes no I is resolution endorsing housing element and fair share plan we should be very proud of this folks a lot of work
went into it Mr. Trappis, would you like to offer some comments, please? U this resolution uh is a companion to resolution that the planning board adopted. I think it was on June the 25th. Uh the new legislation requires
that the municipal planning board adopt such a resolution uh approving the housing plan by June the 30th. They did so. And the legislation also requires the governing body to concur uh within a
different timeline but um suggested by Mr. Fischer that the council consider this at the next subsequent council meeting. There is no um differentiation between anything that the planning board has been presented the that the council
has been briefed on before and um it's before the council for your consideration. Do we have a copy of what the planning board endorsed? Uh, yes, there are copies. I I have been under the impression they were
distributed to the council and uh that this is the document. Oh, that I've seen that. Okay. Well, should have gotten it, but we will make sure you do. You okay? You've heard the comments. Could I have a motion, please? I mean, I'll make the motion, but I
would like brief discussion as well. Okay. A motion and a second. Then we'll have discussion. I'll make that motion. Okay. Discussion. Go ahead. So, I'll I'll be brief um because I've spoken on this topic many times, including at the planning board. Um I I
I find the fact that we are discussing this to be candidly disgraceful. Um we live in a state that has a um allegedly has a history of home rule um meaning self-determination.
The various municipalities are supposed to have a positive positive say in what they want their communities to look like in the future. Uh and u the um fair share plan absolutely is in
opposition to that. um these various court mandates. Um we're being told by Trenton what to do with a sword hanging over our neck that if we don't do it, the um consequences could be dramatically worse. Um Bridgewater has a
very proud uh history of being a very socioeconomically diverse community. Um we have housing stock uh uh all up and down the spectrum. uh we welcome people uh who
have more modest means. We welcome people who have uh greater means. Um and I I I just find that this this whole mandate to be highly distasteful. Um you know with that said um the work that was
done was outstanding. Um I think this is the best solution to a very bad situation that has been thrust upon us and the other 500 and something uh municipalities. Among the areas that
concern me is the burden on municipal services uh that may uh that may occur um including but not limited to uh education, fire service. I know I've uh been uh uh an outspoken advocate for the
concerns with the sewer utility and and you know my summary thought here is that uh there are places uh that have uh sewer capacity, they have classrooms, uh they have fire capacity,
um they have um grocery stores that people can walk to without needing one or more automobiles. and they're called cities. And I guess the idea that uh the state of New Jersey, Trenton, the current administration, the governor, and the state legislature are
essentially telling us what to do again with this sword hanging over our neck is highly distasteful. So, uh I supported this at planning board. I'll support it again tonight. I moved it. Um because candidly, we have no choice. Um but I think it's it's it's a rather sad day.
It's a rather sad commentary uh about what this state has become. We are um not the garden state, we are the mandate state. Uh and this is uh just yet another example of that and arguably uh the most egregious one um because uh
this will change the face of Bridgewater and every other municipality uh in in uh in very traumatic ways. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilman Kush, yes. Councilman Codella, yes. Councilman Pedroso, no. Councilman R.
Yes. Councilman Ogales, yes. Hey, we're moving to item 13, which is close session. Be it resolved by the Bridgewater Township Council. This body will now convene in close session to discuss contract negotiations related to open space and engagement of legal
counsel. When and if the matters discussed become public record, this will be made known to the public at that time. The public is excluded from this meeting and further notice thereof is dispensed. All in accordance with sections 8 and 4A of the open public meetings act. Could I uh and I do not
anticipate any action on this body at the conclusion of the close session? We will simply adjourn. Could I have a motion to go to close session, please? I'll make that motion. Second. Second. Okay. All those in favor? I I All right. We are in close session as
soon as we get the door shut. But how does it for 34 million homes are on market value? Are we saying it's lost $20 million of value in the last? We are back, ladies and gentlemen. We have closed close session. The next piece of business is adjournment. Could
I have a motion to that effect? I'll make that motion. I'll second that. All those in favor I I we are adjourned. Thank you very much. Thank you. How are you, Michael? All right. How are you? Seem to feel a little bump today. All right.
Yeah, I'm all right. You okay? Yeah, everyone.