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Good evening everybody. Uh, madam clerk, roll call, please. Councilman Miseri, here. Councilwoman Peterson here. Councilman Zazali here. Deputy Mayor Miga here. Mayor Scavage here. Please rise for the flag salute.
I pledge algiance 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. Adequate notice of this meeting was duly
provided to the Verona Cedar Grove Times and the Star Ledger by email and published in an annual schedule of meetings on December 12th, 2024, filed with the township clerk and posted on the public bulletin board in the municipal building lobby in accordance with the open public meetings act. Um
item two, um extraordinary business. Uh madame clerk, if you would please. Thank you, mayor. Um, good evening everyone in attendance. It gives me great pleasure to report the certification of election for the municipal election held May 13,
2025. I, Dale A4, Township Clerk of the Township of Cedar Grove, County of Essex, New Jersey, do hereby certify that the following is a true and correct canvas of the voters of the Township of Cedar Grove at the municipal election held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. I certify
that the number of votes opposite the names of the candidates is the correct number of votes received by said candidate from the legally qualified voters of the township of Cedar Grove in said municipal election for three councilman at large seats for full
four-year terms expiring July 1st 2029. Michelle Migga 467 votes Carrie Peterson 454 votes and Melissa Scavage 460 votes. Total number of registered voters
11,322. Total number voted in this election 509. Total number needed by top vote getter 50% plus one of total votes cast that would be 256. Total number received by top vote getter
467. The election, excuse me, the elected councilman at large for a four-year term for the township of Cedar Grove are as follows. Michelle Migga, Carrie Peterson, and Melissa Scavage, certified by me May 23rd,
2025. If I may, I just like to say a few words. Um, there were several changes made during this election year from the shortening of submission dates, the number of petitions that you could have, and these candidates handled
it with grace. I respectfully congratulate all of you. I congratulate you, Councilman Peterson on your third term, Mayor Scavage on your second term, and Deputy Mayor Miga on your first full term. Congratulations.
Thank you. Thank you very much. And thank you, Madam Clerk, for all of your hard work. When you say 2029, it sounds like like something from a science fiction movie, but here we are. It's it's four years away. So, and if I may, mayor, I just thank you so much, Dale, and thank you for all your hard work and
everything that you do. [Applause] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, we're going to move on to item 3A, approval of minutes to consider approval of minutes of the regular public meeting on May 5th, 2025. May I
have a motion, please? So, move. Have a second. Second. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilman Miseri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zazawi, yes. Deputy Mayor Miga, yes. Mayor Scavage, yes. Item 4 A, to consider adoption of pending ordinance
number 25-950, an ordinance fixing salary and salary grades and ranges, wages, and fees of the officers and employees of the township of Cedar Grove for 2025. Uh, Mr. Kelly, can you give us briefly? Mayor, this is just an ordinance uh
setting forth the range and uh salary grades for the non union municipal employees, which includes the town hall staff, not the police or the DPW employees. Great. Thank you very much. Um before we do roll call, I wanted to open it up for public hearing. Is there
anyone here wishing to be heard on pending ordinance number 25-950? Nope. Seeing none, um may I have a motion, please? Mayor, I move for the adoption of pending ordinance number 25-950 to be published in the Verona
City Grove Times as a past ordinance to take effect as prescribed by law. Thank you. A second, please. Second. Great. Thanks. Roll call, please. Councilman Neri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zazali, yes. Deputy Mayor Migga, yes. Mayor Scavage, yes. Item
five, the meeting is now open to residents of the township wishing to be heard on any item on the agenda. Okay, seeing none, I'm going to close that portion of the meeting. We'll move on to item six, reports of township officials. Good evening, Mr. Zakelli.
Good evening, Mayor. I have a report tonight. I will begin by sharing that the new website that the township has been working on uh producing should be live within a month hopefully. The reord date is our go live date. Uh Marissa and Adolf Jefferson has been working very
hard on taking the data off of this website, putting it onto the new one. The new website has a lot of cool features. There's an AI feature that will help residents get some questions answered, uh point them in the right direction. Uh it's userfriendly and as the council is aware, a new law was
passed that required websites be ADA compliant and accessible. Um, this website has a feature where before we post anything new, it ensures that the text, the headings, the font, the spacing, and the sizing is all ADA compliant and accessible. Um, I didn't
think that was a real claim at first, but some towns in Florida did uh receive a lawsuit because of their non-compliance with that. So, it's something that we are looking forward to achieving, and it's going to be a nice new website. Great. Um, two other or three other updates real quick. Mayor,
our DPW crews have been working very very hard and diligently around the town, not only from this little micro burst we had on Saturday, but um replacing a lot of the catch basins for the streets that we will be paving uh mostly up in Park Ridge right now. Those catch basins have not been touched since
the road was installed some portions 1981. Uh these are pretty deep catch basins. And a special shout out to our DPW who's working they're doing about six a day with three crews. So, it's they're moving along and uh it's important that we do this before we pave the roadway. That way, they don't
collapse and we have another uh have to cut the road after it's been paved. I want to give an update if I can, mayor, on the affordable housing plan. Um the township has with its affordable housing attorney, planner, township attorney, uh and administrative
agent drafted and prepare is prepared to present the fourth round affordable housing plan to the planning board. Um, this is going to eventually be subject to the governing body's approval before the June 30th deadline which was imposed by the state. Our planner, Christopher DNY, prepared a summary of the plan. And
if it's okay with you, mayor would like to read this into the record now for the publication. Please do. Thanks. This will also be on the uh website housing element plan and fair share plan. This is the township's housing plan uh for the fourth round of affordable housing which is between 2025
and 2035. The fair share plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the municipal land use law and the amended fair housing act. The purpose of the plan is to identify mechanisms and strategies for the township to address their affordable housing obligations. The plan is an element of the township's master plan
which the planning board has the exclusive jurisdiction over to adopt. The ordinances to implement the housing plan are then adopted by the governing body. The essence of the Mount Laurel cases and the purpose of the Fair Housing Act is that municipalities cannot use their power to zone and
effectively ban low to moderate income households from living in their town. Each municipality has an affirmative obligation to accommodate its regional fair share of low and moderate income population either through zoning to permit by right or create a realistic opportunity for a certain number of affordable homes to be constructed
within the township. This must be done within the obligations period. This year regional fair share obligation numbers have been calculated by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at DCA. The township must demonstrate compliance with the Fair Housing Act through the adoption of a
housing element and fair share plan, demonstrating how the township intends to satisfy its fair share obligations and then follow up with the plan with appropriate ordinances and policies to allow for development. Affordable housing sites must be generally suitable, available, approvable, and developable, meaning that the development on the site is feasible and
realistic. Township is not responsible for actually constructing affordable housing, but only ensuring that the proper zoning regulations are in place to allow a developer to build housing without the township acting to block the development in any way. For rounds one through two, which
is the time period of 1983 to 1989, township had a 70 unit obligation. Round three, from 1999 to 2025, the township had a 260 unit obligation. The township has completely satisfied these prior obligations through the following mechanisms including Cedar
Ridge Senior Housing, Hilltop Khavanian, Zephr Woods, Cliffside Drive, I'm sorry, Zephr Ridge, Cliffside Drive, and the Ark of Essex County Supportive Housing. In 2025, the township was given a
uh new new uh need, a new requirement under the Affordable Housing Act. Um the prospective need that was given to the township was 170 units. Uh before I talk about that, I'll discuss what the types of needs are. Uh
there's a present need and a rehabilitation obligation of 15 units for the township. Uh this means that the township should seek to rehabilitate existing deficient homes that are owned or occupied by lower moderate income households. Um there's a county program that does this and uh that's a present
need of 15 units. The prospective need, which is the big number that everyone saw, the number that I believe prompted this council to uh proactively engage in litigation was 170 units. And I'm proud to share that we reduced that number to nine units through our realistic development
potential. Cedar Grove is a largely built out community with limited land available to dedicate to new housing developments. As a result, the township's entitled to a vacant land adjustment. We have calculated that the realistic development potential or RDP for the township is nine units rather than 170. With a realistic development
potential of nine units, the township must zone to accommodate at least nine units of affordable housing and then then the remaining 161 units are what is now known as unmet need, which has a lesser obligation. The requ requirements for addressing these obligations are 50% family units,
30% senior units, 25% rentals, and 25% bonus credits. The township is proud to state that we believe we satisfy nine unmet needs in the RDP as I'm sorry, nine unit RDP as well. The as well as the unmet need through the following mechanisms.
The township has the March development senior assisted living which has already been approved for 17 credits and overlay zones in various other areas of the municipality. The MFHO Commerce Road affordable housing overlay district, the MFAHIO Lewis Road
affordable housing overlay district and proposed additions to the multifamily affordable housing inclusionary overlay zone. These are existing zones in the township that we believe will not only meet our current need of nine units as well as the unmet need of 161 units. Uh
there's various block and lots that the council uh has recommended the planning board to review as part of the plan. Uh with the existing overlay districts and the proposed expansion, our planner believes that Cedar Grove will more than satisfy its obligations both the realistic development potential of nine
units and the unmet need of 161 units. That's the summary. Thank you, Mr. Z. Kelly, just for the public's knowledge, could you clarify what the unmet need means? Yeah, council, do you want to jump in on that a little bit more than Sure. what I
explained? The unmet need is is essentially the balance of so you have the 10-year obligation and then the unmet need is what can be pushed forward, if you will, for kind of a to be dealt with at a later time.
um this 10-year period is is again it's 170 over over the entire period. So it'll be revisited and then those numbers can continue to be pushed forward because as Mr. Kelly said as the planner stated um the town is already built out, right?
There's not a lot of land to be built upon. So, um, those numbers can continue to, uh, be pushed forward as the new rounds come in. So, what the town township has to focus on is its present need of of that nine, okay, which Mrs.
Kelly indicated is is being met. Um, so the township is in a good place, not only what it's doing now currently, but what it's done by having those overlay zones already in place. That's huge. A lot of towns did not do that proactively and now are scrambling to create zoning,
right? And that's much more difficult because now you're trying to fit in the appropriate areas where this housing would go. You've already done that. Um so you that being proactive put you in this in the current position that you're in and try to which which will be met by
I think the one or two applications that are currently approved. Great. So it the township is in a good place and and the governing body should feel comfortable knowing that the affordable housing uh obligation is going to be satisfied. Now, Mayor, you intended on having some type of Q&A. I'd be happy to prepare a
document that we could share and then something that you could uh read in for the residents to uh explain this a little bit more. Yeah, absolutely. Because I know this is a a hot button issue, not just in our community, but across our state. So, would love to just make sure that the public is is clear on on what's been done and the efforts that
have been made and and the impact on on our community. So, tremendous job as always, Mr. Zelli. Thank you for for all your hard work and in making sure that our obligation is is manageable and I I think it's it's more than manageable. So, thank you, mayor. Just two two brief items lastly. Clean sweep is this
Saturday at town hall. I know it's probably going to be in a few reports. Uh I believe it's at 9 or 9:30. Uh and I believe this is your last public meeting as mayor. It is. And uh just great year, mayor. You led with distinction and it was great working with you. Thank you very much. Uh the feeling is mutual.
Thank you, Mr. Zelli. Um, and we have an audience today. So, they all came because I knew it was your last. I knew it was my last meeting, right? Thank you everyone. Um, okay, great. So, thank you. Um, Madame Clerk, good evening. Thank you again, Mayor. Good evening.
Good evening, everyone in attendance. Just like to report the primary election is scheduled for next Tuesday, June 10th. Tomorrow is the first day of early voting. For those interested, June 3rd to June, excuse me, June 8th um are the
days for early voting this year. This June 3rd to June 7th, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on and on Sunday, June 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The closest locations are the Verona Community Center at 880 Bloomfield Avenue and the Fairfield
Community Center at 221 Hollywood Avenue. On election day, June 10th, I want to repeat that because some people don't know, still don't know, Cedar Grove polling locations will be open from 6 am to 8:00 PM. Residents may call my office if they're unsure of their
specific polling site. With the mayor and council's permission, I'd like to remind parents that children ages 16 to 18 may be trained to work as board workers for the upcoming general election. I encourage the next generation to become involved in the election process. So, please send your
teens to my office for an application. Students earn $300 for each election and could receive school credit. Um, I asked for the council's indulgence once more. On Memorial Day, I witnessed a wonderful representation of Cedar Grove citizenry.
It was a gorgeous day that was well attended by the largest number of residents I've seen since we marched from the school to Community Park in 2023. The layout worked well. I was able to sit next to a resident whom I met during your senior meet and greet. She praised
council for upholding their promise of securing senior programs and the township for implementing the new senior programs. Kudos to the township recreation department for revamping the Memorial Day event. I just wanted to share that if no one else told you it
was a great day. my friends that I um you know joined me they were happy and the business owners slash residents who were here that I knew they were very happy to attend. Great. Thank you so much. Great. Thank you. Uh good evening
Mr. Lagana. Good evening madame mayor, council members. I don't have a formal report. We'll have a brief comment on item eight 8 I. 8 I Okay, great. Thank you very much. Um good evening, Councilwoman Peterson. How are you? Good evening, mayor, and
congratulations on your first year. Well, well done. It's been a pleasure. Thank you. So, you've done a great job. Um, I don't really have a formal report tonight. The only thing I wanted to do was wish my father-in-law, our pop, a happy birthday. He is watching at home.
Um, he was cutting down a tree all day today with a chainsaw and wasn't showered and ready to come to the council meeting. And today is his 87th birthday. So most 87 year olds spend their day cutting down trees. But he is a 50-year volunteer on the Cedar Grove
Fire Department, a volunteer at Morgan's farm, heavily involved in the community for decades upon decades. So I think he deserves a shout out at our council meeting, and a happy birthday because he is watching. So absolutely, that's all I have. Great. Thank you very much. Happy
birthday, Pop. Yes, happy birthday. Happy birthday. Um, good evening, Deputy Mayor Miga. Good evening, mayor, and thank you. Sure. And thank you for a tremendous year. You've been fantastic. Thank you very much. You have you as well. Um I did attend a few events and
meetings since our since we last met and you'd be happy to know I have it all written out tonight. Um I also attended the Memorial Memorial Day ceremony on the 26th of May and it went very well. The scouts along with Dan Hullbrook and of course Mayor
Scavic did a great job honoring all those that have and do serve our country. This event was very well attended and the atmosphere along with the great food and the ice cream. Joe nice touch with the ice cream truck made for a nice community my own
heart. Uh the historical society will be having a free concert on this Saturday from 7:00 to 9:00 at Morgan's farm. Bring your chairs and blankets and come and see The Inquisition. This is a progressive rock band inspired by the golden era of classic
rock. Um, of course, my my uh pool shout out. Yes, if you haven't picked up your pool applications, they can be picked up in town hall or on the website. The pool is open for weekends only from now until June 20th when it opens
fulltime. our I'm very happy to say our senior citizens wind wind creek trip huge success. Um thank you all for who everyone who went on the trip but also gave the feedback and we hope to see it again in the fall. There's also a total
recovery physical therapy. I hope I say this word right. Neuropathy is that and arthritis workshop on June 4th for our senior citizens from 1 to 2. And after the work uh the workout the workshop from 2 to 3 is a social hour. So if you
would like to join us, please call the recreation department and sign up. And there are some more senior citizens programs that we're hoping to offer you shortly. And of course, please sign your children up for the summer programs before the deadline and the late fees.
That's it for me. Great. Thank you very much. Good evening, Councilman Miss. Good evening and uh good evening to the public who's here joining us and for everybody watching at home. Um I also wanted to take this opportunity since the last meeting was was a staff
meeting. I congratulated the three of you but since we're here with the public and on TV I just wanted to big congratulations to to the three of you who just won the election. I know it was uncontested. Um but you as I said at the last meeting you every you made
yourselves available. You knocked on doors. you spoke to residents, you continue to have your meet the mayor, which I just saw also advertised on on tap, which was nice. So, um it's just it's it's great that you're giving the
residents the opportunity to speak to you and during this process. So, thank you for doing that. Big congratulations to the three of you and mayor, tremendous job this year. Thank you very much. You did a great job. to echo what uh Councilwoman Peterson said. I mean,
this was this was a tough year. We had a lot going on. We had the affordable housing. We did a lot with the capital budget as you know and everybody. We give kudos to Joe, but kudos to you for being there and being a part of it and going to all those meetings. So, congratulations. I appreciate it. I
would like to say on the record, you had a tougher year as a mayor. So, wow. But, um appreci appreciate that from you and from everyone. Thank you. Um anything else? No, no, we're good. Okay. Um, good evening, Mr. Zazali. How are you? Good evening, mayor. Good evening, everyone. Uh, mayor, I just want to say uh,
congratulations to you for completing uh, your term as mayor. Thank you. You did a good job. Um, I can say honestly, you you were the best mayor while I've been on the Thanks. Thanks, John.
Um, I'll take the compliment. Um, and and congratulations uh to Councilwoman Peterson and Deputy Mayor Amiga on winning your election. Um, and I have one thing to report. Uh, last uh last
week I sat in on a virtual meeting with uh the team that's handling the uh the North End Firehouse uh which is uh attorney Tri, uh Mr. Haynes, the architect, his assistant, Miss Edmonson, uh Joe La Perry, who's our uh
construction manager who's overseeing uh seeing that job. Uh and our our building inspector, Mr. Hoffman, and Mr. Zeli. Uh it was a it was it was a good meeting. I was happy that I sat in on it and had the opportunity to see uh what they're doing. They're doing a fantastic job.
They have a a firm understanding of everything. Um, and I think it it it's going to come to completion hopefully soon. Um, and when it does, it will be uh a nice job. So, thank you to them. And that's it. Mayor, can I just add to that because the public doesn't really
know how many Joe, how often do you meet? I you mayor, I have a a standing meeting three times a week with our internal team. um the internal team consisting of the architect, the engineer, project oversight manager, uh
myself and our our special uh council that we've appointed um for for this project. Um we meet three times a week. um as issues come up, we deal with them and we have a really really nice team that's has a very good grasp on the uh
the matter and it's something that the township and the taxpayers should be very proud of uh because we have a lot of people committed to ensuring that this job is exactly what we want it to be. Um so it was a it was a great call and it was glad Councilman Zali, you know, availed himself to sit in on it.
Um it's something that the clerk understands I deal with every week. It's always a new issue, I'm sure, but it was nice that the council was able to sit in on that. So, thank you for that. And for the public, I mean, if it wasn't for the all the meetings that take place, and I know that we've had executive session
where we had Mr. Lear come here and update us, there's no way that this project would have been done. No way. With the schedule or the dollar amount or the dollar amount. So, great job on that. Thank you. Sorry, John. Um, uh, I I just want to
clarify one thing. I forgot you were marijuana. It's okay. You did a good job, too. Thanks. Not as good as Melissa. Absolutely. I'm still taking the compliment. Um Okay, great. So, um I have a very short update tonight. Um my
final meet the mayor session um will be Thursday, June 12th at 1 p.m. Um these have been really well attended and it's been a lot of fun um meeting residents and and chatting with them one-on-one. Um, but just please know that our communication for any of us is not
limited to these meetings or a formal meet the mayor session that we're immensely reachable and happy to chat with the public um about any issues regarding the town at any time. So, that's important. Um, and I wanted to just thank my uh council colleagues and
um Mr. Zilly and of course our amazing town clerk and attorney. Um I this has been a a challenging few months for me personally. My mom passed in April. So to have your support up here and um not
when we're up here as well. Um it has been has meant the world to me and my family. So thank you for that. And um everything else that I had on my report um Deputy Mayor Migga already talked about. So um but I went first one one
meeting and I felt really bad about that. So, I'd rather much much rather have you guys give your reports and then I'll just nod and agree because everything you say um I agree with in these cases. So, um I just wanted to make one special point about the Memorial Day event because um I have,
you know, been on the council for this is my fourth year and um every year we try to do something to make it special and you know after uh two years of seeing how poorly attended the parades were and that's not a knock on anyone in town um but people go away for Memorial Day, right? Or they don't want to stand
and watch us walk down the street which I understand. um we really, you know, put our heads together to come up with something that would honor the lives lost on Memorial Day while still fostering a sense of community and togetherness for our residents. So, um
kudos to um our recreation director, uh Marica Landalfi, and and Joe and and his team and everyone in town hall who worked so hard to um make the picnic a true community event because it was it was really a special day. um from having the Girl Scouts there and a veteran um
who was who spoke about his experiences um serving our country. It was it was really a touching and beautiful day and I know in the spirit of everything we do um every year will get bigger and better. That's right. Um much like our fireworks and and all of the other Santa visits and all the great events that uh
we work to put on for our township. So, thank you for that. Um and with that, I am going to move on to item seven. uh consent agenda. I'm going to read all of these together, A through D. Um 7 A to consider resolution concerning
approval of raffle application, Alpine Learning Group Foundation. 7B to consider a resolution concerning the approval of raffle application St. Carol and oh my gosh, how do we pronounce this? Um
Medic, thank you. um Orthodox Church. 7 C to consider resolution concerning the annual renewal of uh pocket ABC license for the 2025 2026 year. And 7D to consider resolution concerning the annual renewal of ABC licenses for 25
and 26. Are these exactly the same? No, it's one's pocket, one's active. Mayor, I'm sorry. One's pocket. Oh, okay. Thank you. Did I read it correctly or doing this? Oh, I did. Okay. Thank you. Um may I have a motion, please? Mayor, I make a motion to approve. Second. Thank you. Thank you. Um, roll call, please.
Council Miseri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zali, yes. Deputy Mayor Miga, yes. Mayor Scavage, yes. Um, item 8A, to consider resolution providing for the cancellation of funded appropriations with respect to general capital ordinance number
24-928 in the total amount of $100,000. Mr. Kelly, can you just This ordinance 24928 was for the installation the purchase and installation of Neptune 360 water meters. Uh we are approximately 80% complete with that
project. And while there is $158,213.78 left on the contract uh due to the contractor, um there's $47,475.76 left in the overall budget account. uh by canceling a 100,000 of that um that's going to return to the
capital fund balance, a capital improvement fund and that leaves 37,475.76 left in that particular budget account. Once we pay the remaining balance on the contract, there will be $149,261.98 left as a funded appropriation, which we will then cancel
and return to fund balance much the same we are doing now. Um we leave a little bit of a buffer. We don't know what's going to happen over the next year and uh once that project is complete, we'll cancel the difference. I just want to note that this is not uh debt. This is money that we put in the capital improvement fund which is cash that we
have on hand. It's not bonds or u bond anticipation notes that we used to pay for this. Great. Thank you very much. U may I have a motion, please? So second. Thanks. Roll call, please. Councilman Neri? Yes. Councilwoman Peterson? Yes. Councilman
Zali? Yes. Deputy Mayor Migga. Yes. Mayor Scavage. Yes. 8B. To consider resolution cancelling outstanding checks. Yeah. Mayor, just like everyone at their house reconciles their checking accounts. This is what we're doing now. U certain checks that are over a certain number of months old. Uh the township
cancels. Um and that way the money is not encumbered in the account anymore. We can reconcile our checks and our bank statements monthly as we uh we continue to do. Great. Thank you. May I have a motion, please? So move. Second. Thanks.
Roll call, please. Councilmani, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zazali, yes. Deputy Mayor Migga, yes. Mayor Scavenage, yes. Item 8 C to consider resolution authorizing a source well contract to purchase replacement parts for a vacuum tank on the water
utility truck in an amount not to exceed $17,63745. Yeah, mayor. This is um as the council was aware last year, we bought two new trucks for the water utility. Um and this is for parts to replace the tank on one of the uh vacuum I vacuum tanks, I
guess, for the truck. Um this is when we used to clean out uh valves and valve boxes and curb boxes. Um this is through the Sourcewell National Cooperative Pricing Council. Uh the amount's not to exceed $17,63745 and there's money left over in the capital account from last year to
pay for this. Great. Thank you. May I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. Thanks. Roll call, please. Councilman Neri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zazali, yes. Deputy Mayor Migga, yes. Mayor Scaven, yes. Item 8 D
to consider resolution authorizing change order number one and authorizing issuance of payment application to four cleanup inc total contract not to exceed 236,000 there's an extra digit in here is $874.50 no it's all good um thank you um
Mr. There's a Kelly. Yeah. So, uh, through your mayor, this is a change order number one for the paving of Carlson Parkway and Smith Place. Change order number one is in the amount of 6,996.75 for the labor and material to repair double B type inlet. This revises
the contract total to $236,874.50. This resolution alo also authorizes payment number one to be issued before cleanup incount $189,6959. That leaves $47,84.91 remaining due on the contract. Okay, great. Thank you very much. May I
have a motion, please? Second. Thanks. Roll call, please. Councilman Miseri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Council Zazali, yes. Deputy Mayor Mig, yes. Mayor Scavage, yes. Item 8E to consider resolution authorizing change order numbers 12
through 19 for and from Descal LLC and deduct change orders and back charges for the demolition and reconstruction of the North End Firehouse. Total contract not to exceed $3,889,575.7577. Mayor, this is I will go through each change order now um to explain it for
the public edification. Change order number 12 increases the contract by $746.95 for the installation of a slab sink in the basement. Change order number 13 increases the contract by $5,290 for additional sidewalk/conrete work. Change order number 14 increases
the contract by $54625 for additional driveway striping. Change order number 15 decreases the contract by $9,570 for non-compliant siding installation. Change order 16 decreases the contract by 43,000 for non-compliant
gypson board subsequent painting and spack spackling installation. Change order number 17 decreases the contract by $8,500 for failure to abandon the old water service at the main. Change order number 18 decreases the contract by $3,300 for the startup of the generator on site. And change order 19 decreases
the contract by $3,690.90 as a back charge for the township assisting with utility connections on November 7th, 2024. As the councilman said before, we anticipate another few weeks till the building's fully operational and uh it's where we are for now, mayor. Okay,
great. Thank you. Um just driving by there. It really looks beautiful. It's it's going to be tremendous when it opens. Um may I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. Thanks. Roll call, please. Council Meri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Council, yes. Deputy
Mayor yes. Mayor Scavage, yes. um to consider I'm sorry, item 8F to consider a resolution authorizing the purchase of heads and grates for roadway resurfacing from the Campbell Foundry Company through the Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council in an amount
not to exceed $40,650. Mayor, this is all the catch basins and heads and grates for all of the uh storm water inlets that we are replacing. For the council members, we bought a lot back in December. We're buying a lot more now. Um it's important that when we
rebuild these, these are now uh some are bike compliant. There's different uh requirements and even for storm water uh filtration uh the size of the inlet changes. Uh these are all going to be replaced as we're rebuilding the catch basins mostly up in Park Ridge and a few on the other streets that we will be
repaving this year. Great. Thank you. May I have a motion, please? So second. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilmani. Yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Council Zazali, yes. Deputy Mayor
Mika, yes. Mayor Scavage, yes. Item 8G, to consider resolution concerning the insertion of an item of special revenue in the amount of $30,938.87 from the state of New Jersey clean communities grant. Mayor, briefly this is the chapter 159 to add this uh item of revenue into the
2025 municipal budget. Great. Thank you. Um, roll call, please. I'm sorry. May I have a motion, please? So move. Second. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilman Miseri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zali, yes. Deputy Mayor Mika, yes. Mayor Scavage, yes. Um, item 8H to
consider resolution approving the exemption application filed by PR2VC Cedar Grove Cedar Urban Renewal Owner LLC. Um, Mr. Zakelli. Yeah, Mayor. This is just a a resolution for the um approval. It's more of a procedural step
in a local redevelopment law for the application of 1201 Pompton Avenue, the former garden center um for them to enter into and file for a pilot agreement which uh I know council has a comment on as do I for the next item. Yep. Okay, great. Thank you. U may I
have a motion, please? So moved. Second. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilman Miseri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Council Dali. Yes. Deputy Mayor Miga. Yes. Mayor Scavage. Yes. Item 8, I to consider
introduction of pending ordinance number 25-951, an ordinance of the township of Cedar Grove, County of Essex, State of New Jersey, authorizing the execution of a financial agreement with PR2BC, Cedar Grove Urban Renewal
Financial Owner LLC, for property located at block 330, lots 16 and 16.01, 01 pursuant to the long-term tax exemption law NJSA 4020-1 eds thank you um did not go to law
school but um Mr. There's a Kelly. Council, do you want to do you want to speak before I do? Of course. Just just briefly, council. Uh, this again, this is the garden center property uh that is slated to construct 138 senior units. Um, this will count towards credits
toward the affordable housing obligation and we've been through a few steps already. U, this is kind of towards the end of of the process. We've been through the redevelopment phase of it. um developing the redevelopment plan that's going to set the zoning and the and the construction parameters. Now
we're into the financing aspect of it. So we've taken care of the zoning aspect of it. Now we're into the financing aspect of it. Um the financing agreement is beneficial uh via a pilot for a couple of reasons. Um number one, it um is there's no tax
appeals that are going to be uh had as a result of this property. So if there's an economic downturn um you you're not going to be facing tax appeals for this kind of when you engage in this kind of financial agreement. Um, number two, you get the pilot money. It doesn't have to
be shared. So, that's nice. The municipality realizes 100% of that valuation and there's still tax um 95 95 county 95. All right. Correct. have ad local school board. Um the um the other
obligation I'm sorry I lost my trans um the roll back tax. The roll back tax there's there a roll back tax in here because the property was split zoned uh with the garden center up on the front of the property along Pontton Plains up Pumpton Avenue and then in the back was
residential. There is going to be a roll back tax that was part of this um which is going to be payable along with all of the connection fees. Um and there was one additional point I wanted to make and it escapes me at this point. Mrs. Kelly, you want me to jump in and if it comes back, jump in after me? Please do. Thank you. I'll just go through some of
the specifics. Mayor, if I may. Um as council's eloquently stated, this is a a beneficial agreement. As this council was aware, our largest uh exposure and liability is scaled nursing facilities and nursing homes. Uh it's just a fact. We've seen it on the past few tax
appeals that the council has uh had to litigate. Um and taking that out of um that risk and exposure out is is beneficial to the township. Number one. Uh number two, it's beneficial that we will be receiving to council's point 95% of that revenue and sharing 5% with with
our friends at the county. Um I have those numbers here. I will share them all with you. Um and one other major point that uh council touched on was the roll back. A roll back is a calculation that when there's a change in the assessed value uh from farmland uh to
whatever the new assessed value classification is going to be, there's a they call it a roll back, but it's almost like a penalty for changing the use. Uh for this particular parcel, the roll back calculation is $235,3952. The township will be receiving that this year. In terms of
the specific dollar amounts for the pilot, uh the entity will be paying 25,889,51 to the township over the next 30 years with the township realizing 95% of this or 24,595,25.95 and Essex County realizing
5% or 1,21,294,475. As this council is more than aware, the ad valorum rate for regular taxation, we only receive approximately 22 23% of the tax uh amount. Board of Ed gets 55%, the county gets 23. Uh it's my intention to
realize this revenue the same way that we use Hilltop pilots, which means we don't realize it in the budget. We classify it as miscellaneous revenues not anticipated. It hits right to our fund balance. we go use it towards paying our debt, procuring more land in the event that it becomes available and
for capital projects. Um, that's been the directive of this governing body for a number of years. It's proved beneficial to us as we uh prepare budgets and we produce uh what I believe to be fiscally prudent results and I intend to uh use this revenue the same
way. Council did touch on it. I just want to note we already received $552,000 in connection fees for the water utility and $552,000 in connection fees for the sewer utility totaling 1,14,000. This money's already been collected and realized as revenue for
both of our utilities. Thank you. I know that because you were so proud you sent us a picture of the checks. I told I told the clerk I told the police desk. I said, "There's a FedEx envelope that comes in. Kick my door
down." I knew how excited you were about that. And uh it's contagious. So, no, that that's again just excellent work. Um it's uh it it's really just it's we're very lucky to have you and and to have all of the hard work that you put
into making sure that that we're we're spending Cedar Grove's money prudently and and maximizing whatever um we can bring in um through projects like this. So, thank you, Mr. Zelli. Um, is there anything else on this? No. Did you remember? No. No. All right. Sorry. All
right. So, you're cover. It's good. They had a good team. For sure. Okay. Thank you very much. Um, so may I have a motion, please? Mayor, I move for introduction of pending ordinance 25-951 to be published in full Brona Cedar Grove Times as a pending ordinance
with public hearing scheduled for July 14th, 2025. Thank you. Second. Thank you. Um, roll call, please. Councilman Miseri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zali, yes. Deputy Mayor Mig, yes. Mayor SC, yes. Item nine, approval
of bills. Madame Clerk, thank you, Mayor. Be resolved by the Township of Cedar Grove, County of Essex, New Jersey, that the summary of bills having been duly audited and found to be correct are hereby ordered paid in the aggregated amount of $752,885.71.
Thank you very much. Um, may I have a motion, please? So, move the mayor. Second. Thank you. Roll call, please. Councilman Leri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zazali, yes. Deputy Mayor Mig, yes. Mayor Scott, yes. Item 10. The meeting is now open to
residents of the township wishing to be heard on any item on or off the agenda concerning township business. Good evening, mayor and council. Congratulations on your reelection. Thank you. Um on behalf of Essex County, I have a couple of events coming up this
month to mention. Um the first is this weekend on Saturday, June 7th, we will have our paper shredding event um here in Cedar Grove at the uh public works building on West Bradford Avenue. Um it'll take place from 8:30 to 12:00 noon. Um and it's free for residents to
participate. Um, as well this weekend we have our open house at Essex County Riker Hill Art Park which is located in Livingston. Um, that event happens both Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Uh, it's free to participate. The artists will have their studios
open. They'll be demonstrating um the different media they work in and there's an opportunity to purchase artwork as well. Um later this month on June 14th, we will have our first Celebrate the Outdoors event. It'll be taking place in our reservations. Um there are multiple
guided hikes that uh residents can sign up for. Um and in addition, we'll have self-guided hikes with staff at each of the locations. Um the locations that will be staffed our Hilltop Reservation, um South Mountain Reservation, and Eagle Rock Reservation. And then hot off the
presses is our summer music concert series. Um I have a stack of these to leave here at town hall. And I'll just bring everyone's attention to the Cedar Grove Park concert which happens on Wednesday, July 30th, and will feature Big Hicks, which is a country music
group. Okay. Thank you. July 30th. I think it was July 30th. Miss Hartwick, did you say it was July 30th, the concert? Okay. Thank you. Anyone
else? You sure? Come on up. 55 Overlook. I just want to thank you for a beautiful Memorial Day service. Um I never seen anything so beautiful in my life. I brought the three boys up including Daniel. Um one
was veteran uh from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. And they were so impressed with this town. They they just couldn't stop talking. And they thanked you, Dan. Thank you for helping him out with his speech. You were a lifesaver because he
was so scared. But he also know they were both up all three of them were up here to represent the ones that didn't come back. And that's what Memorial Day was all about. Not the big parades, not the parties, not the everything. But what they saw the kids behaving so well.
They didn't see any uh telephones or anything like that. the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the way everyone was treating each other was unbelievable. And um the first time, because I worked at the VA for over 25 years, it was the
first time all three of them said, "We're at peace." Wow. I said, "Now, I never heard that before." I know when I brought some of the guys up, they're always happy, but they were content. And they saw the park, how beautiful it is.
And I said, 'I know you guys have memories, but it's all at ease. He said, Mike, we're at peace, and that was worth a million dollars, and I thank you all for it. And for my town manager over there, God bless you. You made such an
impact on those three. They are going to come up because they want to see Morgan's farm. And uh and after you left, they go, "He's one hell of a nice guy." I said, "Yeah, but some people feel the nicer." No, I mean it whenever they want to come up. I offered
them a tour of the Morgan farmhouse. Um they shared interest in local history and I said we'll make it available for uh for them to come and take a tour obviously anytime they want and they want to come back next year and word
already got out how great this was up here. Thank God for Facebook. Um I have several uh soldiers that want to come and speak and one of them is my little colleague um he he he made they made a movie after
him Courage Under Fire and Denzel Washington played him. So if you ever watch that movie he should be here next year to talk about Veterans Day and stuff like that. It's a very moving movie. Denzel Washington is
he's fantastic in it. But again, I just got to thank you again for all the years with the BA. You guys without drugs, no psychiatrist, just love in the town of this. It just you made made it possible.
I thank you all. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh it it really was a beautiful event and I was uh fortunate to be there with my with my daughter who was one of the Girl Scouts who uh said the pledge and um it's so important to teach that
younger generation too. Um so that they understand and know that it's not just you know well Cedar Row gets almost a week off of I was going to say it's not just a long weekend but it's not just a almost a week off of school for the kids. It's their significance behind why they're they're home that weekend. So, thank you very much. And it it really I
agree with you completely. It was a beautiful event and um your message tonight to us was beautiful. So, thank you. Um anyone else want to come up today? No. Okay. Seeing none. Um I would ask for a motion to
adjurnn, please. So, move. Second. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Siri, yes. Councilwoman Peterson, yes. Councilman Zali, yes. Deputy Mayor Migu. Yes. May. Yes. Thank you everyone. Thank you.
Okay.