Oh, wow. I know. Really? Oh my goodness. It was John. John. Oh, Dan. Dan. Oh, I'm gonna tell Jane. She was just here visiting. Yeah. Oh, I will. Just let me know when you're ready. Welcome to the Chattam
recording in progress. No, we're good. Welcome to the Chattam Township Committee and workshop meeting this Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Uh we are returned from executive session. Um, and I kindly ask everyone
to stand for the flag of the stands nationy and justice for all. Great. Mr. Lanti, has adequate notice been given? Yes, it's still still good.
Great. On to uh the first hearing of citizens. Mr. Lanti, could you kindly provide guidance? Members of the public are now welcome to come up to the microphone to address the township committee. This is an opportunity for any member of the public to be heard about issues which are not topics scheduled for public hearings
tonight. Those present may step up to the microphone to be heard. If you're watching via Zoom, you may speak during any of the public comment sessions by following the Zoom instructions to raise your hand. Whether in person or online, you are when you are recognized to speak, please mind the following
procedures. Please say your name, spell your last name, and give the name of your street. You do not need to give your street number. All public comments will be limited to three minutes. Rather than use any of your time answering questions, the township committee will wait until you finish speaking before
responding. There are two public comment sessions on tonight's agenda. Each member of the public will be limited to one comment of up to three minutes during each public comment period. Written comments submitted to the township clerk before 3
p.m. today will be read during the public comment sessions. Written comments are subject to the same guidelines as oral comments and duplicative written comments may be summarized rather than read in full according to guidelines issued by the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services. And uh there were not any
written comments before 3 p.m. Thank you, Mr. Lanti. Do we have anyone online? We do not have anyone online at all. Great. Thank you. I now invite uh anyone in the audience to come before the mic should they decide to do so. Good evening. Hello, Asher Robson, Pine
Street, R O S. Um, sorry, I just came from work, but today I'm here to talk about my Girl Scout Gold Award. So, I'm a rising senior at Chattam High School working on my Girl Scout Gold Award, and my award focuses on access to period
products in public spaces. So, period products are a basic human need, no different than toilet paper. And my initial goal for this project is to have free period products in the library of the Cadams with an ultimate goal of seeing all municipal libraries in New
Jersey offer free period products. To do this, I've begun meeting and talking with Senator Ruiz, Assemblywoman Dunn, and a few others. But I want to start with my community of Chadam because that's where I am. Um, I've begun talking to other libraries in New Jersey
who offer free period products and I've been emailing with Miss Broaddsky of the Chadam of the Library of the Cadams. I've also shared a survey within the community and the broader Girl Scout comm community as a whole and I've been
talking with elected officials in both of the Chattams as well as Livingston as well as working with members of the New Jersey Assembly and Senate. So from my survey I got results from New Jersey, Colorado, North Carolina, New York, Virginia, and Massachusetts. And within that survey, there were around 80
participants. 94% of them stated that they have started their period with no products while in public. 82% say that the lack of product availability has caused them some shame or embarrassment at some point in their life. as well as a survey with just the students where
70% have said that the free period products in schools have be been very helpful and 19% of those respondents don't have access to period products while in school. And then my final question uh stated that 90 sorry 89.7%
say that free products in public libraries would be helpful for them. So I talked to the West Orange Library and there I talked to David QB. I've also done a site visit there. They use Antflow dispensers and products and their guests per year are around 132,000
with their cost of products being 280 in September 2024 and 280 in February 2025. So an estimate of their yearly is 840, but they don't know their yearly yet. And then in Livingston, I have also talked to them, but I have yet to do a
site visit. They distribute products in a little basket, and their guests per year are 273,000 with their cost being 200 to start their project, but now they rely on donations from the community. So, in Chadam, what I want to do or what I've been doing is
I've been emailing with Miss Broaddsky, the director of the library of the Chadams, and they logged 213,000 visits in 2024. So, I'll have to use that number to account for how much this project will cost yearly. And what I will be doing is raising money for the
dispenser, which is around 300 to 500 depending on which one I use. And I'll be raising all of that money. And um if it pleases the other members of the committee, I I certainly would encourage you to continue. Okay. feel free to
um I've been working with committee woman Roland each step of the way because she's one of my project adviserss. I've also been talking to the board of health in Chadam Township and I'm here tonight because I'd really love the support of the township committee and to make this a reality in Chadam.
I'm really excited to see this happen and what I would love from the committee is finance. Um, my idea is that the township, the burough, and the friends of the library could f finance this project in the future. And I'll be
pricing out products based on well, I've been pricing out products based on the current supplier of like toilet paper at the library and stuff. That way, it can all stay within the same supplier. And I would also really appreciate a resolution to support this cause. Thank you. Well, thank you, Asher, for coming
before the governing body. Um, I I encourage you to come be before the governing body anytime you'd like to voice um an opinion or thought or share with us your work. Um, I am delighted to see that you're continuing with the Girl Scouts and I presume this effort is in
uh in in in connection with your gold award. Okay. So, wonderful. Um, it is a distinguished honor. So, um I uh I'm excited for you to uh head down this path and reach completion as far as the
project details that you've outlined. Um the the topic at hand is certainly um uh an important one. I think there's many injustices and inequities in the world and lack of access. Uh and certainly this is um no minor one. Um and I and I
think as you rightly point out uh it's not um I think it does uh have uh a potentially significant emotional and development uh cascading effect on those who are who are um struggling with
access to to period products. Uh so I thank you for uh coming before us. Um, I think one of the things that we can certainly do uh in in in the different ways we can support is uh offer up this uh platform as a way for you to have a voice uh to broadcast uh to the
community at large and members who um are here in uh digitally and also in in person to understand uh the goals of your project and what you're doing. um step forth and and support or get involved or help to um communicate the
project to uh those beyond the community here. Uh as I think you mentioned, you're looking at uh offer this type of um uh service uh to multiple libraries, not just uh in the Chadams. Um so so I
thank you. I don't know if anyone else wanted to share some comments. Uh yeah, I would just um you know echo that and thank you for your efforts. Um buried products are crazy expensive and for people um especially uh you know dealing
with rising costs across the board. Um you know I think that's important to provide uh to help especially young women to have access. So I appreciate that. Um I don't know do the schools do the schools give Okay. And then I was trying to understand the numbers. So,
one of the districts you mentioned or one of the u I don't know if it was a library, but um I think I heard something like 300,000 visits and it was it only cost $800 for the year. Um so that was Livingston with or West
Orange only has 132,000 visitors and they're saying it's around 800 per year. Okay. And then Livingston was 273,000 with $200 to start. But then they've now rely on donations from the community. And you're fundraising for the
dispenser. Okay. And I'm also collecting products to like start it. Okay. Wonderful. Great. That that all sounds wonderful. I, you know, I definitely think we can lend our support and certainly help you push this information out into the community. So hopefully it'll support it as well.
Thank you. Thank you. I most certainly will is I'm sorry. Go ahead. Oh, the only thing I would add is that um I' I've seen more than a handful of gold award um applications come through um not in since I've been in this
position but as the father of two girl scouts um and I would say that um what you've done so far and the preparation and all of that stuff is really spectacular. So thanks for educating us and providing all the right statistics as well. Um you have my full support.
Thank you Asher. I too am a father of two girls. Um so please come speak to me as well. project that resonates with me. Uh just as a final parting um u idea, have you ever tried reaching out to the large
general consumer products companies? Um they uh I know we've done this with food service. So we've done it with Cisco and others and went out with a college student, but um if you can find the right individual corporate department and usually it's in the PR marketing um
they have a uh a group of folks who actually are u part of the part of their mission is to support projects like this and they can provide donations of products um within um their uh you know menu um you know period products.
Yeah, for sure. I'm Clark. I'm happy to try and gamble. I'm sure some of they have they have uh folks who would be delighted to um uh support you with product donations and I mean you can you can try to uh get some extra stuff out
of them by offering up some uh corporate you know branding and co-branding effort there. I bet you can get the dispensers for free from these guys. So before uh you can use that money by buying more product and and just get the dispenser from free from those guys.
Thank you. Thank you. Great job. Thank you. If there's no one else uh within the audience, I I now close the first hearing of citizens. Um while we wait for Mr. to return. Um,
I will speak slowly. Well, was there anything any questions on the clerk's monthly report since I can address that if there's anything? Okay, then you're Europe. So, we're now in the workshop portion of
our our meeting. Dan knows his stuff and it first memo included and there field received a complaint at one year ago or so and we've been working on
it for the complaint was about accessibility access and so we've been researching the issue and trying to come up with solutions to ensure that we are compel John put together
and cost estimate and run this by questions concerns uh given the cost proposal for property
funds for each open space for maintenance necessary to project on this question, concerns, feedback for us on the design. Um, I had a question. So, and and I do
appreciate that there because part of the reason one of the reasons why we couldn't allow traffic up to that area was because kids are walking back and forth. So, uh, I did see there's a walking path that's addressed. Um, but you know, in my mind, if we were going to spend 75,000 to get this done, um, I
was wondering if it's feasible to put in more than one spot. I mean, Is there something about that space that we can only get one in? Yeah, unfortunately the the topography of the site and the available area to create an accessible pedestrian route
from the space to the field which is the second element, you know. So the the driveway itself is very steep. So you need the parking space near the top near the entrance to the field. But the second element is having a flat enough
grade from that parking space to the to the field entrance. So So that's why and and also needing an accessible um aisle which essentially takes up the space of
two parking stalls. So yeah, with the limited room and the grades that are there, one parking stall is really all that's feasible to the extent you consider more than one. It's not that they need to be
together. So in other words, um is there not space closer to the playground? Can we not consider that area? Just a question. Upper. Yeah, the upper. Yeah. Yeah, it it's it could be possible, but it
would take substantial uh additional grading than what we're showing on the con concept plan and likely retaining walls, um increasing the cost substantially. Um so what we've got now on the concept plan is basically what you could grade and construct
without the need for retaining walls. Um so it could be done but with retaining walls I think and increasing the cost. access. What what actually is our obligation to be in compliance with how many spots?
No, no, no, no, no. the act the actual project itself with the with the path itself. Um in other words um we received a complaint it's not ADA compliant. What what is our obligation to be ADA compliant?
Do we have to do this public the public the field is for public use the upper field. So technically yes it it does need to comply with the the ADA there there should be some access. Um, we looked at
initially we looked at feasibility of pedestrian access all the way from the bottom, but the steepness of the driveway is just too much. It's it's not feasible. So, the only option we could come up with was expanding the top of the driveway
near the field to create just one space and it's 75,000 for the, you know, to get this in place. Um, in terms of maintenance. Well, I have two questions actually, but in terms of maintenance, what should we anticipate?
So, the maintenance costs should be a lot less. Um, my meeting with Rich on site a month ago, um, which was after a rainstorm, but nothing like last night. Um there was a large erosion channel in
the driveway in the gravel driveway and that's basically because the the field itself and hillside above the field uh creates a lot of storm water runoff and the driveway is sort of carved into the hillside so it almost acts as a
conveyance. And Rich anecdotally was telling me that after every substantial rainstorm, he's out there with his crew trying to fill in the erosion channel and regrading and compacting. So paving
this once and installing a rolled asphalt curb to sort of control the runoff at least to get it to convey it to the bottom of the hill where it goes now without eroding the driveway every single time. should actually be a
benefit with respect to maintenance. Just two questions if no one else has any. Um once you're up at the top where the the parking spot is, um have you do you have you done or do you feel a need to do a like a turning radius
calculation? make sure that because uh there will be people leaving the field and coming down and then you could theoretically have a vehicle that's trying to do a multi-point turn to get out. So yes, so correct, mayor. Yes, the um the parking stalls were laid out at a
90°ree um from from the driveway so that um so that you could pull in and then back out and turn regularly as if you were in a normal parking aisle. Now, we've created we're we're proposing now a 14 foot wide pavement area for the for
the aisle to turn into to back into. Um 4T of that would be striped off for pedestrian access. 10 feet of that would be for the single car. Um, so with this with it striped with a nice wide stripe
with the markings and with the layout that we have, it's it's should be typical of what you would see in a park in a typical parking lot as far as pulling in and backing out of the the one stall. Okay, I'm sorry. What is that noise exact
with Jack? There's there's a sensor issue with one of the fire alarms and it keeps going on and off about this. Okay. Sorry. That's why we were leaving the room. I didn't hear it before, but now Oh, yeah. No, we That's why I've been going in and out. We're trying to get
this resolved. Sorry. Okay. Thank you. Fine. The second question I had is on the concept plan. Um, I did not see a uh any signage at the bottom uh to indicate that an ADA spot is
at the top. And um and we we refer to it as opera, right? Okay. Um yeah, that's fine. My my only thought is it we have many out of town invitees by nature of it being an athletic field.
So, um, if there isn't one, I might suggest, uh, posting it at the bottom so that an inviteee driving in who then realizes my child's playing off at yesterday and has a spot up at the top. Good suggestion. Thanks, Mayor.
Yeah, I think when it came up also, they weren't necessarily because we restrict access. I don't know if there's a sign, but it came up more so because they weren They didn't think they could drive to the top. Um, and we had talked about whether or not we should just have signage that says, you know, access
vehicles only, but that's not there's it's not actually truly accessible even if you could pull your car up there, I guess, is what you're saying. the way the driveway is used now and it's its current state of gravel
eroding constantly the DPW out there. It's it's really only used by DPW maintenance trucks and equipment at this point. Um, so paving the driveway is really
it's it's elemental to making this use, you know, safe for the public, you know, to to have it um to have it a safe driveway with for for a public use. As I said, right now, to my knowledge, my
speaking with DPW, um, they they're the only ones that really use the driveway. Um, they've told me that everyone parks down below and walks up by foot. So, um, I think it's intimidating myself when you drive
up to it as it is now. I didn't I did not drive my own car up the driveway. I had Rich drive the hill in the DPW truck. So, I I think I think paving the driveway is is an elemental part of this for So, other will go up the hill aside from
just uh, you know, people who are disabled and need the parking We're not looking to encourage people driving up the hill, are we? No. Yeah. One stall. Clear. Make it clear that there's one stall available. Yeah.
Okay. We're not in a rush if we want to kind of noodle on this, right? Not at all. Not a huge rush, but we do have instruction. How you guys feel? You're ready to move forward? I kind of want to look at the space.
I could second guess the engineers. I mean just compiance on it. I think sports. I would estimate it could be done within a week or two. authoriz.
Yeah, I'm all right with that. I don't mind taking a look at it real quickly, too. Okay. And when we are ready, um I'd like to make these documents, this particular concept plan available on on the website if we could.
Um exactly. Well, I guess there, you know, the addition of the signage um helpful and then yeah, I mean, maybe even just having that addition made and then, you know, a concept plan out there for
consideration, especially if we want to move forward in August. You know, now would be the time to put it out there as a draft and get input. I'd love to get the leftover madam from the vote taping. Get get it first pennies on the dollar.
What kind of input are we technical stuff here? Very limited. There's not much There's not much choice here. Um I don't know. I just I think to your point just having it posted and available and to the point where
you know our meetings are public and people we're encouraging people to weigh in um just giving them maybe sort of a uh uh a written comment or two just to weigh in on our next meeting. Okay.
If I may just one thing that personal experience I don't know if there is the ability to allow and I know it's tricky because um not wanting to encourage people to go up the oh thank you to
drive to drive up but like for example I can't bring my parents to any of my kids sports because they can't walk so like I don't have a sticker but I could drive them there, drop them off and then go park and then I can walk up. So, I don't know if that's functionally going to be
something that's going to be able to be done there with a one stall with the turnaround. I don't know. Seems like you're limited, but that's just something to think about, Dan. If someone's parked in the stall, yes, that would be a limited and and so I I
think the signage is a good suggestion. It's important that someone look and see if the stall is in use before they start driving up the hill. I can talk to John Rushki about this and yeah, think of how we can do this.
You have a line of sight from the bottom. You do? Yeah. Yeah. It's pretty steep. It's very steep. Green means you can go up. Red, no go. Too late. All right. Um,
so where we're leaving off on this is uh put on the website and then this is going on August August with a uh an authorization to bid and hopefully at that point we'll have bid specs um or at least draft bid specs so that
way uh we can post them anyisions or changes to those and then uh Okay. Uh, next topic, uh, River Road Sewer Service Area Amendments. Uh, we had discussed this a few months ago
after we did a public input session. Uh, it seemed like the, uh, conclusion of our discussion, I should say, was that we would, uh, sit on this, think about it, revisit it at some later point to decide what what direction we want to
proceed with this. Uh, and that's where we are today. Uh, back on the agenda just to see if there's been any thoughts whether we want to maintain the status quo which is uh no changes no amending taking the river road out of the sewer service area uh or I'm sorry uh keep it
in or take it out so status quo keep it as is the change will be to take it out the public session uh was not really overwhelming in either direction Um,
any thoughts? Yeah, I think you only had like four people and I think it was one for one neutral and partially two against or not really one misunderstanding and one against. So not and there was um uh notice that went
out to everybody who would be impacted. Correct. Yeah. So, um I mean and and the only reason this came up is because uh those residents had a concern with dense development in that area and this would be one way to kind of um mitigate that
is if you can't put you know sewers in there then or if it's out it it lessens the impact plus I thought there was a whole um state um requirement and there was or a state revisit of um
the master plan like the state master plan. Yeah. But there was a thought that this would definitely qualify for being removed from the sewer service area. That's my recollection. Am I stating that correctly? No, I think you've stated it all correctly. Okay. Um but there the u
the debate or rather rather the uncertainty was whether removing it really does have an impact of actually uh limiting the density development there. Anyways, because the developer who wanted to do work there could still petition the state to have that
included. Correct. Yes, that's correct. So, sounded like it was a more laborous process though. Correct. Yeah. Process the process of of removing it,
adding is that the question? Like if a developer wanted to develop there? Yes. What would that look like? developer wanted if we took it out and developer still wanted to work there. So, sorry, just to recap. So, when there
there was a look at putting 74 units on River Road, uh there was a whole discussion because sewers would have to be put in and to put the pipes in was going to be 1.4 million plus, you know, of course that's even more now. Um but that and then of course the residents uh didn't want that. It doesn't in their
opinion didn't fit and there's all kinds of environmental issues. There's a whole bunch of reasons why. Um, so that's how the discussion started. Uh, but those are all the other steps that would need to take place. I mean, it's not just put it back, you know, petition the DB to put it back in the sewer service area. Then you've also got to contend with
financing the infrastructure. Yeah. Yeah. To put in that dense development which exists that cost exists whether it's in the sewer service area or not. They still have to bear that cost. The administrative process is probably the easiest for them rather than funding and
actually doing all of that. Were there not also environmental consideration, you know, determining whether or not taking that portion out of service? Uh, yes, mayor. As John explained it to
me, um the river road, this this area along river road, you know, essentially every property on the um streams, the river side has some sort of a wetlands or flood hazard area restriction or um
element to it. And then on the high side of River Road, almost every property has a steep slopes um to contend with as far as when you're talking about development. Um so yes um you know developing these
properties is has its environmental challenges and concerns for sure. So that's something to consider when in this debate.
So, do members of the committee feel they they need additional information or time to consider further or put this on the but to remove
so to remove it we would one need request a proposal from John's firm you know the work involved to do that cost estimate step number one to do that if you do want to move in that direction let me
know here but that's what would be the next step then you want to remove it removing or keepingly obviously your choice um I just suggest that you already have heard that there are a number of limitations to it to
developing So why take on that additional expense and hurdle of doing this if you already have a number of other barriers to that development and the status quo rather than upset the status quo. There's no overwhelming
demand to from folks to remove it. Uh right. So you just end up annoying those people who are upset with the status quo, you know, who don't want the status quo changed only to create yet another hurdle when you already have at least two hurdles there that aren't costing us
anything. But if you want to kind of close to seal the deal, then yes, this is a move to to go in. But uh that's just something that we've evaluated. I don't know what the process is or how much I'm putting you on the spot, Dan. How much effort is involved if you had
say 10 hours 30 m there's some mapping maybe surveying the application. It's wastewater management plan amendments are a substantial amount of engineering work. It's not something that's you know it's it's a it's a
sizable application and yeah so yeah I'm not asking you to put a proposal. I don't know the spot. I don't know the number and yeah a three-page form or is it more than it's involved? It's involved and time and it takes time. Okay.
What's what's the biggest downside of leaving it as is? What missing? Yeah. Again, like I said, it was in response more so to the community, you know, when there were there was this risk of this large, you know, at the time they was like five or six stories going up on River, right?
So, uh so that's how it came up. But the followup discussion to tell people, okay, this is on the docket. They just didn't seem passion one way or the other. So, I agree in the in my opinion, in the absence of what seems to be community interest anymore, maybe just
not stir the pot. Yeah, I mean, I think if we were responding to a lot of issues or complaints or something that justified it, but um I'm having a hard time understanding why we go through all of that expense.
Yeah. Unless it's like a major environmental issue, which I mean I'm sure there is an environmental issue, but like not massive enough to address it, I think from my understand well it's most associated with development, right?
Yeah. Yeah. With dense development which is and that's the environmental issues will always be an obstacle to the dense development. So yeah, again it becomes important when it becomes important. So that's the uh well I'll I'll hop on that and it
becomes important. So I'm I'm good with just tableabling it until somebody wants to bring it up because I don't see a compelling need to go and spend money to figure out just for the sake of knowing what it would cost. Just I just don't see the need until something occurs.
Yeah, I appreciate all the effort so far, but We have our answer for now. Not to speak for the mayor. All right. Next item. Next item. Uh we did receive a report of uh the traffic
and uh site distance analysis from a safety perspective of the intersection at Fairmont Avenue Road. Uh this is my understanding has been a ongoing issue here in Chadam but more so highlighted with the construction of the bridge and
the temporary traffic light. Uh so John and Dan put together an analysis with data from the police department. Uh on the one hand you know we want to be proactive and take a look at it. On the other hand it's also skewed data because of the light. So uh but even with that
uh you know Dan elaborate summary of it but it's the the warrant the traffic does not warrant a light but they did find that there are potential there are improvements that can be made or should be made to improve safety there. Um and
the recommendation right was further analysis after the light. Uh but that is unlikely to uh add to the merits of the light. else. Yes. Um so the the intersection itself
um if we're designed today as it is it would be substandard with respect to geometry. Um the roads the way they line up it's it's not the it's not the greatest. Um NJ dot has standards for this and it's
it's substandard uh with respect to geometry. There's also site distance issues. Um we looked at site distance for uh traffic coming down Fairmount Avenue stop sign and traffic coming up
Central Avenue to the stop sign and both um both both directions there's site distance issues currently. Um so the recommendation with respect to this would be to all we've done to this point
is look at done a field some field observation and look at aerial photography. Um really uh would recommend doing a ground survey and and getting more information as far as topography so we can generate
more accurate sight distance profiles. Sight distance is not just, you know, horizontal looking from point A to point B, but it also has a vertical element. Um, when you're looking at the the elevation, the driver's eye to the elevation of car and so we don't have
that information at this point. Um but certainly um there are issues with site distance and we made some in the end of our report we made some uh we suggest we recommended some possible improvements
that could be done um without needing a tra to install a traffic light um that that would improve the situation uh currently the way it is. um the the traffic light uh analysis
um as far as that's concerned uh NJ DOT standards um defer to the manual of uniform traffic devices which have 10 warrants basically and these warrants if you if you qualifi if you if your if
your traffic counts or your conditions at the intersection tilt one of these warrants it's not a definite need for a traffic light, but it basically is a trigger for you to consider a traffic light. Um, currently
out of the 10 warrants, there was one that was triggered, but as Z said, um, the the traffic count data we're using right now is traffic counts after the detour was put in place. So, it's, you
know, traffic coming east on River Road. A lot of it, some of it may have been going down Payic Avenue. We just don't know. Um, you know, Payic Avenue bridge closure right now. Traffic's being detourred down to that intersection from
both Chattam Township side and the New Providence Berkeley Heights side. So, the traffic counts that we looked at now may be a little bit inflated at the intersection than they would otherwise be if the bridge was open. Um, so with respect to
the traffic light warrants and and looking at traffic counts, um, we're recommending that this be revisited post bridge completion after the detour is removed so we can get more accurate
data. Um, we're not dismissing it completely simply because the numbers that we have now do uh hit one of these 10 warrants. Um uh so so that's where we stand. That's kind of where we are right now. We're we're
looking at um doing a ground survey, get get some more detailed information as far as site distance and geometry to evaluate what what we could potentially do at the intersection um with from a construction standpoint without the benefit of a light. Um and
then uh getting some additional traffic count data further down the line um to see if the data that we have now is either verified or discounted. Yeah. Um so thanks for that analysis.
Um uh I think it was really thorough and really helpful and obviously skewed with all of the bridge construction and everything as you may or you probably don't know. Uh there was quite a lot of chatter about this on social media um
with a majority of people saying finally there's a light going in albeit temporary and I think that there was a lot of relief about that. So, I think that having this data um was really good because there were certainly a few people that were in the opposition of that for a variety of reasons um
particularly those whose driveways were being blocked by the presence of a light understandably so. Um but I think how we can improve that intersection would be a great service to this community because with or without a light present there um
the line of sight is really challenging and The speed with which vehicles travel um down river road should probably be considered in taken into consideration as well too and particularly for cars that are trying to not necessarily make a left turn or right turn off a fair
amount but going straight through that intersection is a particularly dangerous spot. Um so however we can actually address that um irrespective of a bite I would very much welcome that conversation. Yeah, I concur with a lot of that
because there being down in that area a lot um coming from the east uh there is oftentimes a false stop right on River Road which causes people to react differently and so I think by configuration as much as anything else
uh can certainly uh improve that that location and um being that hopefully not too far away in the distant future we will have a uh a bridge over a PAIC. Um you know, getting accurate counts would
certainly be uh worth waiting, but that's no reason not to look at that configuration improvement may be uh to be able to consider that. So, thanks. Um as somebody who constantly goes through that intersection and crosses River Road, um you know, I
can appreciate where uh people were happy about the light because it's a mindless, you know, you don't have to think anymore where before, especially coming from the Providence Berkeley Heights and crossing over River Road, you know, you have the kind of blind spot on the left. So, you you have to
be, you know, super cautious. You're back and forth. You know, it's it's your it's like playing chicken on the road. So, I appreciate where that feedback is coming from. Um part of what you said in the report was that um there wasn't enough right of way I guess to fix the
geometry. The current rightway space is is somewhat limited. Um, I think with a more detailed survey we would know exactly, but what we're dealing with, but it does appear that it's limited
with respect to how much more additional space could be used to widen radiuses or um even reconfigure the the geometry of the intersection. Um,
right ofway acquisition is a whole other thing. um that I'm not really prepared to speak to, but um it's it's it's challenging that intersection. The way the right of
way is now does present an additional challenge because it's there's not a lot of additional right-of-way space for expanding, but we're creative. We might be able to figure something out. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I've seen people have
recommended four-way stop signs, and of course, other people don't like that. Um, I know you guys had the flashing stop signs. That seemed to help. Um, and I did see moving forward the, um, you know, the stop line, so that people are, you know, paying attention to that. So,
um, yeah, it's it's a tough one, but whatever. I I think it's worthwhile to do the study because my biggest worry and this is more so I think for the chief which I don't when when Z starts paying attention I'll um I'm more concerned when that traffic
light comes away because people's habits they're not accustomed to having to really pay attention. So, we're gonna have to figure something out in the transition certainly and that's more more so for the chief or you know and and also a also a communications effort too to to let people know because
there's going to be a lot of chatter we want one back and I think that this data will be really helpful. Yeah. And I may offer contrary view on this. So I I'm I I am looking at the the
statistics you gave um with with no real relevant context other than I'm looking at numbers. Um is it your opinion that the intersection is unsafe based on historical crash data and incident data
or you you you described as suboptimal I think or maybe that wasn't the terminology is substandard. Okay. So substandard, but that may not necessarily in of itself prompt a need to reconfigure. Correct. I mean, there's plenty of pre-existing substandard configurations.
That's correct. And the and the the crash data, it was a little um a bit all over the place to frankly be frank. Um there was there was some there was one year there was seemed like a lot of crash one in one year and then uh not
many uh in year sever for several years before and after. So, uh I you know um unsafe might be a strong that that one that one year where I um I don't have in front of me. There was one year where there was sever
several crashes and it was it looked like a blip on the radar statistically. Um so you're correct, you So again, I'm not interpreting it other than saying it was one recorded crash in I think whatever time period 10 20 years.
I'm I'm not representing that's safe or unsafe. I'm trying to understand from you whether or not you interpret it as safe in unsafe or not enough data some other position more or less um inconclusive data you know it's it um
but that's warrant seven. It is and you guys did address that. I mean so we had since 2020 no more than two crashes a year. Prior to that there was saying that fluctuation but since 2020 in the last five years there's been no
more than two crashes per year and I think you guys not uh right that's not satisfying usually those five years that's not satisfying correct current conditions right kind of one one of the things I
was saying to Sienna earlier was just how I've dealt with this in other towns both as even when it comes to paving streets right people you know, you want to improve these intersections, you want to do improve these roads, but they also have the opposite effect, right? Like when you streamline the intersection,
you make it flow and it's so safe, people are going to fly through it and they're going to be like, oh well, this is a convenient intersection to go through. It flows. When people are looking at like, whoa, what the heck am I doing here? They're slowing down. It actually makes it a little bit, you know, calmer, calms the traffic down and
gives people a moment to pause before just thinking, I got the right away and they fly through. Uh, same thing with paving, right? All the potholes and, you know, they want all these different things and then now you've got this smooth runway and you start seeing more speeding going on. Uh, so just the a
counterargument to it. I'm not saying that's the rationale, but the data at least just under warrant seven crash experience for the last five years is not been justified. Well, Mr. Shahadi, I when I was reading the document, I I got super excited
because I thought where we could go with this is the installation of a roundabout. I would be excited about that, too. To me, and I'm no expert, but as a layman and what I know in ter terms of circulation is you eliminate the running of red lights. um you by design uh
dictate a slowdown of vehicle speed. Um and I don't and so when I started reading this there was a passing comment about roundabouts and perhaps and I think you alluded to earlier you we may not have the right away but so then then I got deflated and I sat back in my
chair. Um uh so but before we go start spending money I I'm I want to be a little cautious because it sounds like we're really restricted other than in terms of a new configuration. All it really is going to be is just installation of permanent lights. I think is what we're more or less can be
left with. Or do we have realistically at this time your opinion that we uh subject to further study can conceivably have other consider uh configurations for consideration? There are there are some things that can
be done at this at the intersection um that we highlighted at the end of the report. um increasing you can't like I said the the rightway space does appear to be limited but um when you're talking about a roundabout and I agree
wholeheartedly with what you were saying about a roundabout late at night right there's no you're not just sitting there like the idea red light right but yes everyone keeps moving but um but we could you you could you could increase the the uh the turning radiuses
um we could look at the optimal positioning of the stop bars um as as to where they are now, where they could potentially be moved to. Um stop bar being the the wide stripe that where everyone's supposed to stop. Um uh and
relocating those. Um there's uh there's there's some clearing that could be done within the rightway. Again, if we know exactly the location of a tree, is it the township's tree? Is it the township stubr or is it a is it a is a privately
owned tree? Um so if it's in the rightway, it could potentially be removed and help open up sight distance. So, so with with a with a survey, there's some there is some benefits to seeing exactly where those rightaway
lines fall and where uh I I think there's also a retaining wall um on the west side as you're coming down Fairmount Avenue. Um where that falls, we don't have that information currently. Um and that might be good to
to know. Um, so I I do think there's some benefits to doing a a planetric and topographic survey with respect to um evaluating potential improvements that could be made to the light to the intersection
without a traffic light. Dan, for the sake of mayor, if I may, for the sake of figuring out options for the governing body right now, I see two things. Well, three. One of them is do nothing which I don't think we want to do but the other two are one uh either
proceed with you know get us a proposal to do the survey and proceed with that uh you know as quickly as we can or two wait until the bridge reopens traffic is kind of back to normal do an analysis of the traffic first see how that changes
the analysis of the warrants and then proceed with the survey if you want or not. So either do the survey now and go go ahead with that or wait until the bridges reopen and then evaluate whether to proceed with the survey. Most likely
we'll do it anyways, but at least you have the traffic data uh post traffic uh modifications and uh then you can have a more accurate representation of what that looks like. Is that that makes sense? I would assume that
seeing the regular flow of traffic would help in your analysis of what to be done at that intersection. Correct. With definitely with respect to the traffic count evaluation and looking at
the warrants for the traffic light. um uh that yes, but even even if you remove the consideration of a traffic light, which I I'm going to guess that it's not going to warrant it. Um uh would the regular
flow of traffic once the bridge is open help with your analysis of what's to be done at that intersection for, you know, sight lines and stoppage points and all those things? or it's irrelevant. You can figure it out now.
It's the traffic data. um it it wouldn't I don't think it would be um it's not as relevant for to the geometry um which is so um site distance is is you know as as the intersection is
configured right now and as the um the the current traffic pattern is with River Road being the flow through and the two stops at Central and Fairmont um you know it it becomes more of a geometric evaluation
and and look looking at uh when you're looking at site distances. So the traffic data may help some, but I don't know. I think we could I think it would you could go forward without it and and look at the geometry and look at
site distances without it and and come to the same conclusions. I think that's why I suggested because on the one hand at least you you know to I think committee will you were mentioning you know when the light comes out people are going to be so if we move ahead with the survey at least we've got that going
and we might have the results of their survey before and at that point you you're able to move more quickly uh because I I mean just my recommend my observation and opinion is that light is not a so it's nice to do the survey to do that
count at least then present that data to the public. Uh but I can't see that that reduction it's going to uh call for a light and if it does then great but if you're going to put a light you're probably still going to want to make some improvements to that intersection anyways.
Correct. So you're probably a good idea to move ahead with the survey uh if you want to make improvements at this intersection. Yeah. I was I mean I think it's two warrants that met the requirement but uh it sounds like barely they barely met
the requirement so there's a good chance they both drop off but we we're absolutely going to need improvements there. So um I would want to I agree proceed because maybe once the light room is removed we can either have those in place already or and the benefit for me is from a
budgeting perspective to know for 2026 if we are going to do a survey and we're going to look at what those improvements are it gives them the lead time of being able to give me So I can plan for that in 2026 if that's something. Yeah. And frankly, I think you're technically taking something away from a
handful of residents that are very happy that's there and you're giving them something to replace it with in some capacity or an answer as to what we might potentially be replacing it with. And I think that's a good thing. Wait, sorry. I thought this start sooner. You were talking about 2026.
When's the light coming out? No, I'm not I'm not said 2026. Yeah, I'm not necessarily saying I'm saying the survey could start this year potentially depending on again proposal. We may have some money left in the road budget for that work the engineering budget but but if the actual
construction of it is going to be I'm just throwing out a number. There's not going to be less than $200,000 in work to that intersection. You're talking about curbs and you know paving associated with that striping uh just whatever those reconfigurations are.
clearing maybe. Yeah, right. I don't think it'll be less than $200,000. Might be 150. I can't see it being much cheaper than I don't think we have that money in the current capital budget. This wasn't planned for. So, that knowing what that number is is going to be based off the survey and
then I can use that for the 2026 capital planning process. You reminded me because I meant to ask this on the ADA. Are there are there grants that uh qualify for traffic calming or for the ADA? There are grants, but uh you know there depending
on the round and when we want to do the work and you know I don't this may qualify uh there's a number of of grants. I mean if we're going to be putting crosswalks there that probably helps qualify, right, Dan? If we're going to be putting ADA cross potentially
that could help the but this is not a I don't think it makes a very compelling grant application to improve this intersection. just also based on the data we don't have like if you've got an intersection and Dan you could probably speak to this more but I've seen a lot of DOT grants like they want to look at
do you really have accident to to really war like justify other intersections around the state that are probably competing for uh for these funds this is not a very high application you know like I think it starts becoming more
compelling when you start incorporating ADA issues but we don't have crosswalks there right Now, so then it's do you and where where are they leading to? Uh but that could be a start. Uh put crosswalks if you do
think you know crosswalks there and then because what you're doing is you're creating ADA compliant crosswalks with the curb ramp or curb cuts in the ramps. We don't have any of that right now. So if that becomes part of their recommendation and their analysis might make for a more compelling grant
application. But either way we we still got to have that money budgeted in case the grant doesn't come through and you want to proceed. Yeah. I mean there is sidewalks fair amount to central and then across fair on river. Isn't there
river but not further down that far down? Yeah. Not starts west. Yeah. But you can certainly make the argument for the in favor of the grant that this would be a precursor to be able to enhance pedestrian walkability, right?
Let's get Yeah. I mean, but I think we need to get the survey going if that's if we're going there. My point is like we and for budgeting purposes, the sooner we move ahead with this, the the more helpful it is for us to plan for 2026 to actually do the construction if that's what happens.
I agree. Okay. All right, Dan. Well, John, I need a proposal. I will. Are you gonna look for grants for yesterday, too? Yes. Uh, that one may be possible, actually.
That one may be possible. Um, all right. Um, that's it for those listed discussion items. There are under the agenda, uh, a number of resolutions. We did talk about some of them in workshop, but I just want to make sure there's no questions before Dan leaves.
Uh first one is submission of municipal a grant application for river road. That's the annual DOT grant application for uh road repaving. Uh this is for u river road for 2026 grant application. Any questions on that?
Okay. Um the other one southside pump station generator. Um fairly self-explanatory. It's been in our capital. Uh John's firm reviewed that. Mike Har's been working on that. That was in our capital from last year. So, we've got the proposal for that. Any
questions on this? Okay. Uh the WPC proposal, we did get that proposal from John's firm. He's been here a number of times talking to us about uh you know, all the major capital investment infrastructure improvements at the WPC. This is the
proposal to prepare the I bank application and uh for the headworks and all that. Any questions there? Um and the contract for hillside have improvements. We talked about that at workshop. Anything else?
Do we have a uh update on the timing of the uh safe routes to school first project? We've got a precon when this Thursday. This Thursday. So we'll have for you after that. Thank you. Uh the Hillside Trail, what were the
changes? I don't know recall seeing that. Hillside, not Hillside, Hillside Avenue. Uh it's the road paving. Um I thought this I thought there were that I read there were some enhancements. Maybe it was uh storm water management enhancements for the Hillside Avenue though or
the trail. Well, it was the Hillside Avenue, but I thought it said that there were some hillside trail aspects incorporated. The uh scope of the project for the for the Hillside Avenue improvements does include as a supplemental bid item to um
uh to do some work at the um the where on at the trail site um where where storm water currently uh comes down the hill through a channel uh and onto the road. Um drainage drainage storm water runoff from
Fairmont Avenue. Um uh that's part of this as a supplemental bid item. Um but there is a separate we've developed a separate set of plans and specifications for um the hillside trail site itself which is not that has nothing to do with not to do with this
mixing the two but I also did remember that there we have a little bit of yes carryover. I was mixing the two. Great. Thank you. Sure. Stand released. Okay. No questions on John or otherwise. Thank you, Dan. Thank you, mayor, committee members.
Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Z. So, Dan was my daughter's swim coach. One of the coaches. Yeah. Um, okay. Uh, next up, construction. Jack, come on up. Uh, so, Mr. Daniels is
here to talk about uh his uh memo and uh report his analysis of uh our construction fee ordinance. Uh we started this briefly this uh last meeting uh with some data that Jack provided. Uh it was a comparison and a
review of uh ordinances in other municipalities and our own ordinance. I have to give him a lot of credit for this this project. uh one because there's no standardization for ordinances uh how they're laid out, how they're written, their table and all
this stuff. There's standardization in fees uh to some degree prescribed by the state, but they're all over the place in their code books. Uh so Jack did a great job uh looking at these other towns to give you a great analysis and comparison. Uh so in his spreadsheet,
he's looked at what other towns have, what our uh applicable section that compares is or if they have something we don't or if we don't have something that they do or if the state has something that we don't have in terms of a fee for
certain things and he prepared his memo on that. Um so are there any questions? The next step would be, you know, uh, you know, he's he's given you the spreadsheet, but then that, you know, if you want to move ahead with an ordinance
after the discussion here today, he would work with Tienna to draft that ordinance. Uh, and whatever the amendments would be. Uh, but all the fees that he's proposing are within the guidelines provided to us by the state because you can't exceed those amounts
either. So with that, you want to say anything first or do you want to start off the question? And I I just want to sorry the the genesis for this also and I mentioned at the last meeting is uh construction is a department that generates revenue but
also has expenses. The more work, the more inspections, the more activity that's going on in town, the greater our costs are for personnel. and our personnel costs are going up in terms of inspectors and the hours they perform.
Uh however, if the fees aren't adjusted and in many cases they have not been adjusted or increased and in some places they don't exist for the services we're providing, what ends up happening is the taxpayers uh have to absorb that cost. It's in our operating budget. So the
goal and the hope is in adjusting these fees, it becomes a fee service. people who are, you know, deriving the benefit of that service are paying for their their uh work rather than it being subsidized by the taxpayer. And with the
everinccreasing cost to the municipal budget, uh it's ideal if we can try and strive for a neutral department uh in terms of the the cost budget. So that's what uh Jack's uh proposal here
accomplishes or hopes to accomplish. Thank you. You read my mind because Yes, I wanted to make sure residents had that overview. Um, and um, you know, I think it's not so much rising cost. I think you guys had a lot more when I look at the volume. The
volume is a lot more than it was in the past. So, and we're not covering our expenses and it's a use fee that the people the expense that's covered that's incurred should be covered by the people that are using it as opposed to all taxp. So, uh, so that's how this
analysis came about and your analysis and I appreciate the spreadsheet was very helpful. The comparison to other towns and to Thank you. Uh, what we have currently and what you're recommending, uh, you're really trying to close a gap either stuff that we're not charging for that everybody else charges for.
That's part of the the biggest problem is that there's a lot of things the state has changed. Uh, and when I say a lot of things, meaning requirements of what needs to get inspected and who needs to do the inspection that we frankly don't have a the ability in the
ordinance to collect a fee for that fire pump as an example. Um, and this came about because we had a fire pump go in and looked in the ordinance as to how there's a lot of inspections, a lot of work associated with that, we had to do it for free because there's nothing in
the ordinance. So, so that that's what a lot of this takes care of. Leveling the field as well as putting in things that are not there that should have been there and matching this the stuff the state has that the state had made changes to such as the mechanical sub
code that's a mandate now that was an option before. Now that it's been a mandate, um they also mandate us to do it as a flat fee instead of you know for this device and that device and this device. It's a flat fee based on an
appliance. So flat fee cost and if there's an additional appliance, there's an additional cost for that appliance. It also helps to make the uh contractors and the homeowners um easier to try to figure out the permit cost.
So there's the ability for folks to add that into the budget instead of trying to guess at what it's going to be. So, uh, hopefully we'll accomplish a bunch of those things. Yeah, I think I I had plenty of information here and I appreciate all
the analysis. So, I didn't have any questions. Mr. D, uh, your your comment about it would facilitate applicants ability to more accurately uh, estimate permit. That would be
because our our permitting fee structure is more you know, in line with other towns. That is to say, it's kind of more standardized in terms of the matrix of fees or it's easier for facilitate an
applicant to better estimate. It's more from the abs absence of things and not being in line with uh the state. Uh there's an initiative for the I'm sure most of you are familiar with the initiative with the solar systems. right now there's no way to really hone in on
that cost and the state knows that. Solar companies know that. The solar initiative folks know that. So there's been a mandate put out that this or the the proposal will take care of to standardize that and make it a I don't want to say it's not a flat fee. It's a
it's a fee based on the kilowatt hours of the panels that are going the system that's going in versus how many inverters, how many panels, uh you know, this this item that item. There's really nothing in our ordinance that addresses
leveling that out to just okay, how much is the system? This system cost you this much. And that was one of the mandates that the initiative had put out quite a while ago when I was in another township. So, um, and we've gotten that complaint. So, in reference to your question, answer
your question, it, uh, it helps the people to become a standardized fee ordinance in line with not only the state, but what's going on around the communities around so they will they can look at our ordinance online, of course,
and then not have to guess like they're doing right now with some of the issues. Thank you. your solar panel example if it's done by calculation kilowatt hours that's pretty cut and dry and I can appreciate how someone can then say all right I know how much
pretty accurately my current exactly thank you yeah some of it is leveling out the uh or I should say rounding off to make the numbers I know another aspect of that is to make the numbers easier to figure out make it a little bit faster make it a
little bit more rounded numbers instead of all the different uh values like for construction costs associated with renovations. Right now the cost is 0.036 per cubic foot. 04 I mean come on make it easy it's
easier to calculate it out that way. So there's some items in there that need to be uh identified. When I say identified uh one of them one of the aspects is under the plumbing sub code. That one is the one that's that sub code is the one that's experiencing the most
changes. I'm taking out a lot of stuff in there and trying to make it as simple as possible by charging um by an appliance or by a fixture. The challenge with that is that there's no real definition or there's a limited definition of what an appliance or a
fixture is. So, I would have that added into the ordinance that this item fits into this category. There's no guessing. And that's what we're doing right now. We're guessing on where this is because there's no clear definition in the ordinance as to what
fixture or what appliance goes where. For a home builder who would do this repeatedly, is your opinion that by setting up our structure, you would provide clarity and facilitate him or her to be able to
proceed with this work. File the application. Correct. They're not really fair. Thank you. I have no further questions. I don't know if anyone else on it.
Uh, no, I'm pretty good, too. I thank you for the effort that you went through and the analysis and the detail, but it's good. Very great, terrific, proactive effort. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to sit here and explain it to you or if
you have any questions answer. Um the last item that I would say is just I did put it in the memo is that the uh ordinance hasn't been looked at as far as a major overhaul or an update since 2011. So um it's quite outdated with the
stuff that we have seen in the in the state code and how things have been added. Can I ask you where did it go? one of the items subcode offhour inspection request. Do we get a lot of those or you just trying
to make sure you can cover it in case you want to accommodate something like that? Um I couldn't hear what you were saying. Uh there was a there's an amount for subcode offhour inspection requests. Do we do we get those or that's Yes, we do. Um so if facilities and it's more in the commercial side which we
don't have too much of but it could happen. That's why I want to have it in there is u it's been my experience like when the facility has to do a shutdown. It's more on the electrical side and they're changing out of service. They have to shut down everything. They can't do that when they're on operation hours. So, it's usually an overnight thing.
Wow. So, that incorporates that. Or if they've got to kill power to uh install a transformer inside the facility, they have to shut things down. They again normally do that on off hours. Okay. So, this covers that.
Great. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And I'm sorry the alarm is not going to go off tonight. You're lying. Well, you're all in the wrong line of We're all in the wrong line of business. $600 an hour to come out after service.
After Yeah. So, Thanks, Jack. I thought Greg was playing some kind of game over there. That's All right. Uh next item uh on workshop is uh sort of an update but just also to
make sure there's no objections that the chief has been working with the county and Madison on um matter related to uh drug overdoses, drug reporting, um you
know mental health reporting. Uh there there is a system that would help uh both the county and the municipalities in tracking and reporting this information to the state and and having systems talk and and really improving
communication right now. U but there is no system to do that right now that we presently have. And so the chief worked with the Madison chief and with the county prosecutor's office to identify this module here that would uh have to
be sort of programmed and and purchased. Um and in order to do that, there's a cost associated with it. Uh so if the two municipalities, Madison and Chattam Township, split that cost, it would be about 10,000 each. Uh the reason it's
Madison and Chattam Township also is because we are the only Chattam Burough, for example, they didn't receive opioid grant funding. So, um, we did, Madison did. Not all towns received, uh, the opioid grant, I'm sorry, the opioid settlement funds. Uh, so that's why it's
just the two of us involved in this conversation about splitting this cost and utilizing the opioid settlement funds uh, for this. Uh, an individual out of the county prosecutor's office did review the terms of the settlement agreement and I identified the section in there that allows for us to use some
of these funds for that purpose. Uh so I just wanted to make sure that you are aware of this um and that you know our efforts to to do our part in this uh ongoing uh battle with with drug addiction respond and to have the
resources needed um you know is something that's still very much on our law enforcement professionals minds and on their docket. uh and see if you have any objections to the use of the opioid settlement funds, some of the opioid settlement funds for that purpose. Uh
that ensures that also it's not coming out of our operating budget and affecting taxpayers and um it's it's a great use. I think it's exactly what some of the funds are envisioned for objections. No, it's great
for questions. No, I mean I was pleased to see it looks like from the chief's report they're having success with the arrive program. I think that's that's a county or it started with a county. Yeah, that was I think we signed on to it. I don't know if I the required governing body approval or not, but it's something that he and I had been working with on
that agreement. We signed on board with that uh not too long ago. Yeah, I remember that where counselor goes out with Yes. on on mental health calls. So uh and it sounds like that's going very well. So this will just help with that program to facilitate the program. So I think that
sounds great. Yeah. Especially because we have the opioid funds and the police chief is recommending it. So correct. And I think that's also a good thing, you know, not to, you know, what I had suggested early on when we started getting this money is let's not rush to spend it all just because we've got it
because you don't know what is going to come down the pike. And you know there may be ideas that we haven't thought of and and good uses for this and this is exactly it. So we will still have some money in the account uh quite a bit of money but uh this is a draw down. We've
so far I think made three sort of larger or this would be the third larger draw down. Some of the draw downs that we've made were for uh Narcan kits uh I think two years ago and then this year uh our uh municipal alliance requested some
funds for uh drug neutralization pouches as well uh that they give out at events. So if there's you know prescription medication or anything else you put this in this pouch. It's a solution that then neutralizes the drug so you make sure they don't get in the wrong hands as
well. Uh so that was the most recent draw down and not a huge expense but because this is a larger expense I just want to make sure you're aware of it. Yep. Okay. Thank you. Um monthly reports. Any other questions on
any of the monthly reports received? Um and so mayor uh you know we had discussed if there's anything on the consent agenda agenda right now that anybody wants to talk about because we're a combined workshop regular meeting uh now might be an appropriate time if you guys have any questions on those
because we have a dual format and before we exit the workshop portion of our session and enter into the regular meeting. I I did want to provide the opportunity to anybody on the committee who would like may have questions or comments with regard to any of the
resolutions as part of the consent agenda. I I do not I think we covered most of it. Thank you. Now you want me to present this?
Sure. Um is there a way to present from my computer onto there? I know if you had told me ahead of time, I could have sent you the Zoom link. I know. Uh that's why I'm asking you now. Okay. Uh 3:00 this afternoon would have
been the time. Um do you have like an HDMI cord or anything I can just connect or not? Uh you know, if you could uh let me think if you could email it to me. No, I'm gonna I'm gonna log in here and send him the webinar link that he's
already Yeah, he could send you a Zoom link so you could do it directly through Zoom so we can uh and then I gota I gota give me a minute with this one. Um this was an impromptu thing and presenting I got I gota log in there with my my
personal account and get that logged in. I was thinking reading and listening wasn't so bad. Jesus met the first time. I don't know. I emailed you to you go to your email
and come in as a panelist. So that's the only way you're going to be able to share. I did not get your Chattam Township email address. Yeah, it's coming from Zoom. Check your junk mail as well.
Alex, you going to be able to filter out that noise for the uh for the uh Well, I guess the YouTube post is what it is, right? Or does she fix it up and then repost? I did not get it. Do you have um
join if you have a meeting? Try resending it. Sorry, I know the anticipation is killing everybody. If there isn't a password, do you want to just read off the meeting ID? I need you to come in as a panelist, not as a member of the public.
Okay. Or you can go in through the agenda which is on the website. I can add you that way. I'm not getting an email from you. It's coming from Zoom, not from me. It's coming from Zoom. What do you mean?
I went into Zoom. I sent you the link through Zoom. Try try refresh. I don't know. Yeah, that's connected to the internet. Take a minute break while we're
Okay. Try try going into What is this is your Yeah, this is your um if you go into the agenda on the website, you can as a member of the public, then I can promote you to panelist. We could have already been there. Where would I find the agenda?
On the agendas page, if you go to mayor and committee agendas, should pop up on there to uh Yeah. And then I'll share my screen. Okay, good. Sorry about that.
Um, okay. So, um, I'll try to make this fairly quick because it's been a long night, but um, uh, the goal of this is about talking about communications for Chattam Township. Um uh so I know this is a little hard to read from on there, but um the challenge that I kind of
looked at was just that despite this kind of always on connected world, the people in Chattam Township are not terribly connected to all the things that we do around here. Um evidenced by the empty room. Uh but uh they seem to
be either too busy uh or to not maybe necessarily care. Um and then they gather some information most of the time from places uh resources that may or may not always be correct which is social media as we talked about like the intersection of uh Fairmont and River
Road and a lot of hoopla goes on around there. Um and it's while social media is a great sounding board and everything it's also is filled with a lot of uh POVs that are not uh always you know well informed. So, the goal here is to how do we inform people a little bit
more aggressively? Um, and especially in sort of a town where we do actually have a couple of news outlets, one of which is filming me right now. Um, but there's only two uh that report on news. One of which is behind a payw wall. If you want
to read what's going on, you actually have to pay for it. Um, and you know, the other is run by one person most of the time who seems to be everywhere all the time. But it's pretty hard for him to actually pay attention to every single thing that's going on. Thank you very much for all your efforts, Ed. Um,
so in light of all that, I think that that the communications, you know, when I first threw my hat into the ring to actually uh join this committee or run for this committee, um, there was an old website. Um, and I think significant improvement has happened over the last
year. Uh, much to Z uh's efforts and other members on the committee. Um the the website is a lot more user friendly. The newsletter is kind of out and about. It's moving forward. Um there is an alertsbased uh communications effort for
emergencies and for needs-based kinds of things. Um and I think the social channels to the best of everyone's abilities on the limited resources are updated as frequently as they can be. We don't have full-time staff doing social media updates. And to that end too, I'm
not so sure that's the should be the primary source for people being informed in this town. So, um, when I knocked on all these doors throughout my whole campaign, you know, I think overall residents really felt that communications could be better because that was pretty much a straw
poll, right? So, of course, communications can be better, can always be better. Um, but in light of that, they still won't necessarily take the steps necessary in order to be proactively opting into everything. So the question is how do we kind of meet them in the middle between all of this
stuff? So what we were thinking is an app. So the Chattam Township mobile app. Um and what we think this would be uh would be mostly a news and information resource um for residents to feel more informed and more connected to
their local government. um and an opportunity for um important updates to be pushed to notifications, for residents to be informed of things that are taking place, meetings that are happening, events that are taking place. Um purelyformational, right? Um a direct
line for people to communicate with members of the committee andor voice their concerns. Um, and it also kind of shows a progress a progressive way for us to show that we're kind of meeting people and giving them another way to communicate and connect with the town
and all the things that are going on. Um, so when we think about sort of what the app would look like, um, I kind of made a few assumptions. The first one is that stage one, at least let's say beta version 1.0 would
be mostlyformational. Right? This is really just push notifications, news events that I talked about. No e-commerce. We're not talking about permitting. We're not talking about uh building constructions. We're not talking about payments. We're not paying, you know, sewage payments or
taxes or anything along those lines. So, it's not a commercebased thing. It could evolve to that, but that's not where we're going right now. Um, an integration with the website and channels. So one way uh so that if you actually push a notification on the app,
it would also update the website. It would also update the social channels. So it's an easier way for people to manage multiple channels at once. Um and then also uh be very very low maintenance. How can we make this as low
maintenance as possible and yet still meet the demands that are required of an app presence? uh because again back to my earlier point um we don't have that many resources in terms of personnel that can manage all of these things and we're adding another layer. So how do we
make this a little bit more um connected so that uh we can have sort of a central hub and all channels are updated simultaneously. So there's a couple ways you can go about building an app. Um there were three avenues I I pursued. I'm not going to go through all of these
because in my preliminary meeting with the mayor and with Mr. Shahadi, um we kind of landed on a plug-and-play solution. Um I did build in my spare time a prototype app just to show them what it would look like. Um but it was
far from complete and uh it needed a lot of work. Um and there are a couple of vendors out there that offer plug-and-play solutions built built specifically for municipalities. So, GOG gov is one of those um which is
pretty much the top of the line. It has kind of all the bells and whistles. Um it's designed specifically for city halls and municipalities. Um it does have one-click integrations for notification systems. Uh text and and phone notifications um are actually an
add-on because those are carrier costs that go with that. Um, but if you just have an in-app notification system, all of that is considered part of the package and free. Um, there's unlimited training. They have a team of people that are at the ready. Um, and it'll be
fully branded for Chattam Township. Um, there are things that I really, really like about this. Um, just sort of the ease of use, the one-click uh ability. There are a lot of advanced features in this. uh some of which might actually allow us to remove other
systems that we have. Um they offer marketing launch kits. So imagine kind of every one of our events we have download apps at the library. Maybe there's a download app. We're basically trying to encourage people to download and have access. And this is pretty much if you ask anybody, this is what they're
attached to. It's on their person. It's a you know, it's a it's a their devices are are at the ready. And if we are careful and strategic about how we push our notifications, um it'll it will um it will bring the
the residents a little bit more closer into the government and what we're doing here. Um without abusing that kind of uh that kind of notification system. Um and then the last thing I kind of like about it is that just they just have a full support maintenance team. Um and it's pretty quick development. that can be up
and running within sort of about a four-week time period. Um, what I don't necessarily like about it is just kind of a bit of a cookie cutter approach. So, that's kind of the way you go with a lot of these uh plug-and-play solutions. You can't really customize the um with
the user interface behind it. Um, but it's sufficient for the needs that we have. And you know, while the costs run about five grand a year, I got them down to about four grand a year, which they would lock in for a three-year price if we're interested. Um, if you think about
that exponentially, I have a hard time with that. I'm a scrappy developer kind of guy, and you add $5,000 a year over a fiveyear period of time, you could have built one yourself by then, and it's kind of hard to justify in my mind. Um
but uh the pros outweigh the con in terms of uh the support and you know not relying on one or two developers to actually create the things that we need to have uh and make changes to. Um so the concept that pretty much the concept
of what I wanted to present. Um there were a couple of other vendors, but it wasn't this one was pretty much the one that landed as um the best uh the most features uh the the easiest plug-and-play solution and probably the lowest the lower of the costs between
the two of them from the demos that I did. Um so I hope that makes sense. Um, I think that this is a really good way for us to connect with uh residents. Um, and and it's not meant to replace anything in particular. It's just meant
to augment the communications that we do and uh keep people informed and uh and provide them a way to weigh in on matters. even when we ask them for, you know, comments about anything that we're
doing, um, they can easily comment very quickly and send a a note to us to weigh in on things. Uh, yeah, trying to think if there's any other things. So, yeah, this is what I presented to the mayor and um the
administrator. And I I do think that um uh I've come around to sort of the cost associated with it um because I think that it's just a really good solution and I think it ticks a lot of the boxes
uh for us to communicate with residents. Yeah. So, we would have widgets basically that would say like pay something and it would they click on it, it would open up the web browser directly on the site. So we the the purpose of this isn't just for news and
updates and everything but easier access to information that's on our website. So it would be a direct mirror of the website um of you know so if you write a blog post which is basically a news article um it'll display as a news
article on the app. Um, but for payment functionality, if you need to renew a pet license or something like that, you would basically click the button, it would open up the browser that is directly on that. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.
Oh, your phone. Your mic. Sorry. Uh, getting the browser updated. Um I know has been a a slow you know progressional or website I should say getting it updated has been progress uh that we've had a pace and the uh mobile
view sometimes is a little deficient. So if we build that functionality which I think we want to maximize the use of this that you know four 5,000 4,000 a year um I would say we have to enhance the the mobile view that we have within the
yeah it wouldn't it wouldn't change the website functionality if you go on to chattamount.org you know, it's not going to change anything on the website of the mobile view, but opening up the app will take you to all the quick links that are
necessary to find on the app. Does that make sense? Yeah. So, my point what I'm trying to say is I don't know if I've actually made payments on my phone or on the digital, but you know, I know every time I try and book to have my kids car outside when they have friends over, uh it's to get into the, you know, the police app so you can sign up to have
your car on the road. Uh it's it's hard to is hard to view. It's just very It's very difficult. So, I'm just saying if we're going to add that functionality to the mobile, let's make sure it works when it Yeah, no doubt. No doubt about it. So, there's no doubt about it. we'd have to I mean I I don't know specifically which
forms and all those details but the payment gateways and the forms that are necessary to fill out um we can talk separately about making them electronic on the website or just being able to print from your phone directly and all that kind of stuff.
Yeah. Wonderful. Yeah. So as records custodian um if we do something like that any content that we push out through such an app we need to make sure that we're archiving because um anything that we push out would be subject to open public records requests.
So, and I think that's the other advantage of this versus a developer and I wouldn't know such things, right? This an organization like this is very attuned to government, municipality organizations. They have a clerk
section. I'm sure there's things that they can work with you on. Yeah, I'd imagine a vendor like this probably has something like that. I just want to make sure that we that we look into that before we go forward. Yeah, absolutely. So, you have a number of you've menu of
features functionality and in the event you go with GOG for example roll this out what do you envision as being the the first three five key features that we must offer in order for people to
feel compelled to download um I think it's all the quick links for things that they need to have access to right so it could be sort of the um wherever whatever things that people are going to on our current website I'd need to do that analysis and kind of
understand that why do people come to our website to start with and then secondarily I think it's news it's events it's updates and all of those kinds of things that are with within that um but I think we have to provide them with a you know and and I think
this is all part of the discussion as we build we build this out you know what are the key things and you can see on this slide you know these are kind the widgets of like the clickthroughs. Um, so you might have agendas and meetings at the top that take you to another
page, but you know, it could be building construction section, it could be, you know, pet licenses right there. It could be taxes and and it would direct people that quickly to the places on our website.
So, how it technically works then is it points the app points to the different portions of correct actual website in in because our website is that complex that has so many different layers. Majority of the content would
mirror what's on the website directly and not be having to be built on the app and loaded on the app and updated in two places. It's actually just an API direct connect. Um but I think there will be
the backend interface which I can share with you all separately. Um, with the demo that I did, there's just a dashboard where you can type the information and it'll push the notifications out and it would be an inapp notification, not like a text
alert notification. So, you know how like when your, you know, like your your app has like a one number on it or two number or some people have 35 or 75. Um, it'll just be in the app. It's not going
to directly update like text alert you on your phone like the oh we have a new notification through text message. That's not that's that's too much of an annoyance. Um but news information meetings happening you know all that stuff.
Craig, um, local communities that are using such an app like have something Madison who who has some experience? I'm not I think that I think the town of U Maplewood might be doing this already.
Uh, others, not so many that I know of. Um, I think that's also a really good thing. Um, I mean, not that that's a good thing, but I think it shows that we're ahead of the curve in a lot of ways. Um, there are a lot of towns that are using it for election notifications. Morris County government, I think, is
doing that. Like specifically an app for local elections, telling them where the ballots are, like ballot boxes are, where they where to go vote, and all of those details. Um, and they have a range of other I mean, tons of demos with other local municipalities around the
United States, but um, I don't believe there are too many that are local. to the extent Maplewood is implementing this or considering implementing this that would be a great they've been very progressive with their communications. Um I'm not sure if it
was this one or if it was Infogrove which was the other vendor that we looked at. Um but uh but they've been very progressive their communications. So I think that um you know uh if I haven't said it enough already I I do
think that there even when we overcommunicate but in the experience that I've seen so far in this committee um we have actually communicated a lot. We're in these meetings. We have the workshop meetings. We talk about things. Um I think the media does their best job
to cover all of those things. And yet, if you throw a dart and you ask somebody, they they will feel uninformed. Um, this this brings them a little bit closer. Try to find a Maplewood app. Yeah, I could be wrong about that, but
um uh there were a handful. I mean, on gov, I can send you links to and you can just download the apps and see what what things people are using for. Burrow had something was working on something. I thought they have the alert like the it's the alert notification system and they're
very thorough with it and I and we have an alert notification system too. Um they happen to have more resources to to you know staff it. So uh I don't really know next steps what further information is needed. Um,
I would encourage I can sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh share with you the demo that I did as well too if you're all interested in it. Um I had them I I was a little rude on the beginning part because I wanted to cut through the chase and just get it along. I was pretty well aware of the system already. Uh that's my only caveat before
I send you the link. Um but uh I think it would be a really big improvement. So right. So you know conceptually one of the things that I like to think we're
propping up is is ego initiative finding ways to get information time uh timely and meaningfully out to our constituents. Um we've obviously got the website there is already a pre-existing landscape of tools and in which our
residents can get information. You know, I I would find I would characterize perhaps disperate and um uh you know, a varying mix of tool sets that people are using. If you talk from
one resident to another, um there is the Facebook uh website. We have an alert system. Um and we have our traditional uh website. I would imagine it's probably one or two more social media platforms that our residents are using. So there's there is
an existing landscape of of tools out there and for us to have an understanding how this would fit in and to the extent that it could you know perhaps be central way that or one of the you know primary ways that residents
become informed by the I think that's that's a ser you know central consideration um you know when I originally thought of ego I never thought of mobile app in discuss in my discussions. I would, you know, I felt
the website was was more than adequate. I I was uh uh you know led to believe that this was definitely going to be the pathway forward for at least well communicating
municipalities. So I I I I'm very open-minded. I think this if it works you know I used to be in venture capital for a number of years so I've seen a lot of technology a lot of apps come and go and um
even even if I studied it more critically I still couldn't tell you what made one fail succeed. So um and notwithstanding the fact that they're pretty much all very well designed um so I would like to
you know I want to profer this up for opinion, thoughts, uh you know, throw things to the wall, see what sticks. Um Craig Craig is passionate about this and I think this could potentially have a place uh in terms of how we communicate with our residents. Um I am far from an
expert in in how mobile apps are working in municipal field but uh well I think you can also do a little bit of an analysis post post and I think it can be prototype to start with too. I
don't think that the cost of entry is not terribly expensive that you can beta it out and if there isn't a high adoption rate and people aren't taking to it. Okay. I mean, you you tried at the end of the day. Um, unless we signed a three-year contract, in which case it's
a little bit more. Um, but I have a strong feeling. Um, and you can probably do a poll somehow to start with to see if if if we did a prototype example. Uh, would you adopt this? Would you download
it and get sort of a a visceral reaction from residents prior to actually moving forward? At the end of the day, I would love to see we've got approaching 12,000 to see mult
functionality can be quite diverse but yeah so for sure and I think there's and I think with that is a permission for us to interact with them and we have to be respectful of that too because this is in their pockets and we need to be careful about how frequently we are
communicating with them, you know. Yes. Multiple existing touch points. How would this establish anchor amongst that landscape and can this growth be a central way?
Um so wanted to bring take it to the broader committee and get some thoughts get some feedback back to Craig myself and see what next steps are for this. Yeah, I'd love to see the demo and I'd
love to see if we can an example of another town is doing it just to get a sense of how robust I'm also curious their um subscription rates in terms of what you know how many people subscribe since they issue but yeah whatever I'm
just curious to see it in action true thing uh with the seamless integration with social media is that where we post stuff on the website and social media and it automatically goes to the app it would kind of be the other way around you'd actually be on the app and it
would post to Facebook and like whatever you're posting it like in the app um will post to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, wherever you want. Yeah. Cool. So instead of you right now going behind
the keyboard and posting on Facebook and then copying and pasting it on Instagram and everywhere else too, you can actually target whi which apps you're sending it to. know that would help somewhat with my concern about archiving since we already use um a service for
arch archiving Facebook and Instagram. So thank you committ excellent presentation Mr. Shahadi let's see where we are here so with that I I would like to formally conclude the workshop portion of our
session move into uh the regular uh meeting session of our meeting um and start with the mayor's message for this evening last night our community experienced the relentless forces of a heavy storm that fully saturated the
grounds taxed our storm water management systems caused flooding that damaged homes and property and made roadways even major highways impassible. Even my ch a child along with 150 other children spent a portion of their first night at a local overnight sports camp in
darkness due to a power outage. I want to thank the township police emergency squad and our public works crews who stood at the ready and mobilize as needed to administer care to residents, patrol roads to ensure they are safe and passable, restore services and ensure
our residents overall safety. As for tonight's committee and workshop meeting, uh I want to share a few highlights of the important work local government is advancing to improve infrastructure, improve services, and m maintain good
fiscal health. We are awarding a contract for the long- aaited Hillside Avenue road improvement project funded in part by a $260,000 DOT grant. We are also authorizing the purchase of a new generator for the Southside pump station, which funds with funds already
allocated in our 2024 capital budget to improve our emergency preparedness and wastewater system reliability. As mentioned in prior meetings, we are preparing to make long-awaited major upgrades to our sewage treatment facility, including new headworks,
clarifiers, and aeration basins. all critical for compliance and service longevity. This evening, we are taking the first step by engaging with our trusted professional organization to begin the design and preparatory work for what will be a many month-long
capital improvement project. The committee is making changes to the qualified purchasing agent protocols, QPA, in order to streamline the steps whereby the township can properly conduct business with third parties. The changes here are for smoother, more
nimble governance while still maintaining appropriate oversight and transparency in the process. The committee can confidently endorse such a move because of the trusted, experienced personnel we have at Meyersville, namely Debbie King, our QPA and CFO. Additional
actions include Chadam JC's granted Chattam Township Environment Environmental Committee Commission, Bill Heap, Jim Connelly, and others. I thank you sincerely for your long-standing support to the environmental commission as well as numerous other civic organizations in the township. We will
also discuss updates on Estreate Field with the ADA compliant improvements as we did earlier uh as well as study more deeply the Fairmount A and River Road intersection which we did earlier to consider the optimal circulation and traffic design to make travel more safe and efficient. So, I thank you, our
residents, professionals, and volunteers for your continued engagement and partnership in continuing to make Chadam Township a desirable place to live. Thank you. If I may now move on to committee reports
with Thank you, mayor. Um, actually do not have any reports to share this evening. Thank you, committee woman. You all likewise. It's been a quiet summer, so I do not have any reports at this time.
Thank you. The Irishman's got to talk. Um, it it won't be long essentially. Uh, we'll start with uh for planning purposes as folks return from summer. I'm not getting ahead of myself, but there will be the sustainability fair that the environmental commission will join with
the burrow. Um, and there'll be great uh games and learning opportunities there. As far as the library goes, uh during the months of July and August, um the library is offering uh drop in story times for young children both on Monday
and Tuesday mornings. Uh on July 29, the library is hosting a car basics workshop uh presented by the local Chattam Mechanics uh from Bower Automotive Service. Um, importantly, the library will be holding a wine tasting event on
August 6th. So, you can check the website and check that out. And on the library will be sponsoring two finance workshops. Uh, one on July 22nd and one on August 11th. Uh, that's all I have. Mayor,
thank you. Committee. Um, I I'd like to make aware uh a walk with the mayors. Um, this is an event. Uh it's a part part of the program uh for the mayor's wellness campaign. Um monthly during the summer uh local mayors gather together
to walk the municipalities uh trail. We trade notes, engage with residents, and um perhaps most importantly get a little bit of exercise enjoying uh the outdoors. Uh the next one on the docket is at 12 pm. Um
gee the date now. Um it's on our website, the Chattam Township website. So one excellent reason to go make use of information that's elegantly uh portrayed there. Um it is at Drew University uh Forest located at 36 Madison Avenue in Madison. Uh Carolyn
Dempsey, Mayor Chattam, and Bob Connley uh mayor of Madison. uh and and myself uh will be there. Um so please join us, mark your calendars and uh u let's enjoy a good walk. Uh that is it for my report.
Um so if there's nothing else um I now seek a motion to approve the consent agenda comprised of resolution 2025-147 through resolution 2025-157. So moved
Second, Mr. El Perowitz, yes. Mrs. Ewald, yes. Mr. McHugh, yes. Mayor Choy, yes. Motion passes. Thank you, Mr. Lacanti. Onto our second hearing of citizens, Mr. Lanti. Do we
have uh anyone online? Nobody at all. At this time, I invite anyone in the audience to come before the mic event they'd like to do so. I see no one. So I shall close the second hearing of of citizens. Um
and with that I I believe we'll move into the continuence of executive session for a brief period. Mayor, it is important to note though for the public that we will not take action at the conclusion. Yes. And we also need to state the uh subject
matter uh is a contract negotiations. Okay. We need a motion. Motion move. I'll second. Thank you, Mr. Aleritz. Yes. Mrs. Yield. Yes. Mr. McHugh.
Yes. And Mayor Choy. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you, Mr. Lanti. Recording stopped.