Great. Thanks, Alex. Welcome to the workshop meeting for the township of Chadam this Tuesday, May 6th, 2025. Can I get a roll call? Mr. Lanti. Well, first adequate notice of this meeting. Attention committee was given as required by the open public meetings
act as follows. Notice was given to courier and daily record on January 8th, 2025. was posted on board January 8th, 2025 was clerk on January 8th, 2025. Thank
you, Mr. Lanti. And now, kindly uh Mr. Alberitz here. Mrs. Ewald will be with us shortly after we here. Okay. Um M here, deputy mayor here
and mayor here. Behalf of Thank you, Mr. I now ask for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible
with liberty and justice for all. We shall move on to the first hearing of citizens. Mr. could kindly provide guidance. Yes, sir. Members of the public are now welcome to come up to the microphone to
address the attention committee. This is an opportunity for any member of the public to be heard about issues which are not topics scheduled for appearance tonight. Those present may step up to the microphone, which I'll bring out in a second, um to be heard. If you're watching by Zoom, you may speak during
the any of the public comment sessions by following the instructions to raise your hand. Whether in person or online, 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, 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 to during each public comment period. Written comments submitted to the township before 3 p.m. today will be read during the public comment sessions. Written comments are subject to the same guidelines as oral comments. Duplicative written comments
may be summarized rather than read according to guidelines issued by the New Jersey government services. Thank you, Mr. Li. Do we have anyone online? We Uh
Tyler to speak. Hi Tyler Bar of of Randolph. Um this is embarrassing, but would you guys be able to make sure that the front door is unlocked? We are uh Chad Courier would like to send in a stringer to uh cover this meeting.
It wasn't, but I did unlock it. The first two people are locked. All you got here. Oh well. No, no further comments. Uh, clerk, I hope you guys are all doing well. You
too, Tyler. Thank you, Tyler. No other individuals online. Wonderful. At this time, I now invite anyone in the audience uh to approach the mic should they desire to do so. Hi, Dennis Williams, River Road. I was
just curious what the stance is with the uh I got the letter about the sewer maybe coming through River Road on our section, but I'm not sure what's going on with that. That's why I'm here. So, if you can enlighten me, that'd be great. Are we waiting for money or is it just
Uh thank you. So the letter that was sent out actually was not concerning expanding the sewer. Uh we're not envisioning that at this time. That's not in the discussion. What the letter was concerning was actually the sewer service area. Uh and that's actually our engineer is here tonight to talk to the governing body on the results of the
meeting that we had was it about two weeks ago. Um so right now there's no act plans were not to discuss expanding it actual implementing of sewer connections. It's more of the planning documents for the sewer service area with respect to the state and our our
plans. So, uh yeah, exactly. So, John Rushki, our engineer, will be speaking about that shortly. So, if you'd like to sit around and hear u hear that, you're more than welcome to say. Well, thank you. Pretty much answered my question. Any uh thought of ever putting sewers on
River Road in that section? ever apply for state grants or uh the we're going to be discussing the the possibility of actually removing the that portion of road from the sewer area. And if we do do that, it's
unlikely it'll ever be. Okay. We we we pulled out a section um in Green Village years ago because of environmental constraints in that area and that's what's being considered now. Okay. Well, thank you. Good night. Thank
you. I shall now close the first hearing of citizens on to reports. We have Mr. But I leave it to you on order of reports. Oh, thank you, mayor. Actually, that's perfect. Mr. is here, so we can
also get him out as well. Um, we did receive his report. There's question on that we can address those. Uh but we also have two items for discussion and action. Uh one of them is a proposal for uh Mr. Rushki and his firm to prepare
the uh I bank documents for the water pollution control plant uh with respect to the upgrades we've discussed in the past. The other item is for John to report back on the uh stakeholder meeting or rather forum that we held
about two weeks ago for residents that would be impacted by any potential changes to the River Road sewer service area. So uh first is there any questions or uh comments on his report? Okay.
Just a quick one, Mr. Rushki. With regard to the fence properties, maybe earlier from Helen Fensky as she looked at it. Um but the um but her her plan was was frankly
unrealistic applying today's environmental regulations and so you know those those past development plans that were thought of getting something done that was in the 80s um it was it's just not practical now. you know, looking at the um GIS
database, the G identifies almost a majority of the property would be wetlands. However, walking the property, knowing the property, we know that there's going to be some pockets of of uplands in on that property. Um, however, we're still likely going to
have wetland transition areas to uh to do so. Um, like I said before, I don't expect the property to be undevelopable. I think something for recreational I I don't see um it'll be a major undertaking and frankly a battle with the D to try and get some active
recreation like another ball field or another soccer field that that's just unrealistraints but certainly installing a a parking lot to support um a recreation more passive recreation on that site
would appropriate. So I I think one of the next steps and I just mentioned it to Z recently is that we may want to invest and just do a letter of interpretation on that property delineate the wetlands know exactly what we have on the property. um is usually good for five
years and then any any permit or any anything that we do on the property we're going to need that so it's a fundamental document so it is something that we may consider yes the delineation will be a number of folks at the ready
the only thing I remember was from third round when we're looking at um third around housing, you know, whether or not that was viable in any way. But I did think and I'd have to check, you know, what what I had received. But I thought there was some discussion about how from
an open space perspective because I remember the discussion of like three acres interior that were buildable, but they were not accessible from the road. So that's why it wasn't worthwhile from an affordable housing perspective. But there was some discussion about whether or not, you know, there could be additional fields there. But I I'd have
to check. I I thought John you had had some rough uh drawings related to that and maybe my recollection is wrong but you know I'll try and look back at the third round documents and see if I could find something related to that to share with the group.
the property we know that it just severely restricted with environmental. It also not only the wetlands but it has a stream running through it and that stream is tributary to the to the Blackbrook and that's category one stream and so we actually have a 300
foot buffer on each side. So basically a 600 corridor going through the property that regulates from from the New Jerseys flood hazard regulations. So, it's not only the wetland regulations, but New Jersey flood hazard regulations are restricting the property and they typically um when you have a 300 foot
repairing zone in your 150, they're highly restrictive on that development of that property. So, that now we have a 300 foot corridor going through through the property. So, it does it just encompasses so much of that property. Not that it's
um impossible to uh install, but it's going to be a challenge. But we're fully aware of the environmental sensitivity around the property and no one's looking at intensive use, but there is a ball field there. We've got the Nashville connector
trail coming in from behind and uh um I think there are some options that are certainly viable. Absolutely. And and the D actually does um give a lot of latitude to install trails and doing passive recreation on properties that are highly restrictive
and um they don't have so much restriction on the amount of the service because almost DP wants to encourage people to walk into wetlands and see and see the environment and and just enjoy the setting physical setting that's out there. So you know certainly it's that
that you know there's certainly some recreational opportunities for the property but um again anything that we do on the property is going to be regulated by DOI at least as the first step of having that and seeing what type of permit are
we going to go for is it possibly a wetlands aaging or some other type of Thank you Mr. proposal on the bank. Certainly. Um so as I discussed in the previous
meeting, we did um develop a cost estimate, a preliminary cost estimate for improvements at the uh the uh sewage treatment plant. Um the components that we're looking improvements are actually date back to the original plant construction. So the these are
facilities that were construited in the 1960s. So they're extremely old. Unfortunately, the improvements to these facilities are going to be expensive because they're major renovations. And the initial estimate um for the project costs, which is the capital cost, soft
costs, and loan costs and such, we're we're in the range of $6 million of what the uh the loan application basically the project. So the proposal that I outlined is the initial steps in
and first establishing the loan application with the New Jersey I bank. Um New Jersey I bank it's it is a very economical way of of funding projects. Basically, it's it's taking um multiple
projects, going out to bid, getting aaa rating with with getting a rate um for the loan, but then also that's only 50%. The other 50% of the loan is actually supported by a 0% interest from the EPA
that then blends it to almost half of what you would get on on the market. So, you get a very very low interest rate on the loan. So, it's very economical to go down that route. Unfortunately, with that federal money that's tied to it, you do have to do a number of reports
and studies in order to satisfy all the federal requirements that come with this loan. So, um these type of this is a great program, but um the soft costs and and you know, added studies that you have to do, you know, the the rule of
thumb is that you don't apply for um loans under this program if a project is less than a half a million dollars because added things that you have to do. It's just just not the economics aren't aren't beneficial. So, as part of the the thing that we're proposing a TNM
budget, time materials, basically filling out the loan applications, going through the process of of filling out and comping all the EPA reports that need to go through it, um giving the support to the bond council and all that's necessary to go through that that
legal process. Um and we're also uh proposing the initiate the uh design of the facility um doing doing the initial geotechnical investigation. There's wetlands peritting that's required. That's kind of like one of the the critical path with implementing this
project is going to be getting the D permit. So we do want to uh initiate because we're going to be putting in a new structure. We got to delineate the wetlands. We have to apply for the permits and and that again is going to be the critical pc. We want to jump on getting the
permits and getting all that behind us. Um, we'll also be doing the preliminary initiating the preliminary design for the facility so that we're looking at a $6 million project. But the initial stage here is let's bring that cost down. Let's see what what we can do with
value engineering and what we can, you know, start to work closely with the operator and making sure that, you know, we're we're developing something that's that's uh, you know, as cost effective as we can. We're not just doing a very effective way. So, um it's a lot of work
to initiate and get off the ground and so that's a basic scope of work. I could you elaborate on the SED the socially and environmentally disadvantaged business plan in reference to H2S? Yes. And that that basically is
a plan that um contractor that's ultimately um retained um by the um that we ultimately award a contract to. He has to satisfy those requirements that are that are federally mandated. And so there's federal requirements that we
have to follow and and it's it's quite a boring report to read, but you know, basically we're just pulling all those rigs together and we identify a plan that the contractor has to follow. Understood. So these are qualifications for the vendor. Correct. Correct. Not for us, but not for the township to follow but for the the contractor that
would be because ultimately it's the federal funding that's being applied. Thank you. Is there a risk with all the dynamics that are happening at the federal level that something would change with the program and that
funds may or may not be available or that the interest rate would change or something would change with the program that would impact us different way. That's a wild card. That's a wild card. I um certainly there has been some federal programs that have been cancelled. I know with the FEMA
brick program that was very surprising that they pulled that funding and so that's not moving forward. Um I have not heard anything about you know the funding to uh you know this is not just you know in New Jersey but it is a national program
other states do have a similar blending process that they do. There is no discussion but the work needs to be done and certainly um to loan process. We we can at least initiate the process and um we need to
look at an alternate way of funding. We can certainly do that. A lot of the upfront work that we're doing for the you know installing the soil bars and doing other things preparing the preliminary plans and just refining the scope and doing that those are are not redundant or lost. It'd be very
surprising that the funding is It's just zero interest loan that they're giving. It's not that the money not grant people think of this as a grant. It's not a grant. You know, this is a funding program that the the government gives the money, but you're paying the government back. You're just
paying back on 0%. So, it's it's not necessarily something that you would see, right? But they might change the amount. and and frankly with with the tariffs we may want to look at that and see if you know if some of the equipment because a lot of this is very you know sophisticated
electrical equipment and and they you know I'm not sure if all the equipment is manufactured in the US so you know as we progress the project if there's something happening on the federal level that we want to postpone the project a few months until things are more stable you know that
may look What's the anticipated timeline of receiving? Um, well, it's right now there's no indication or discussion of this program
not contin and the announcement come tomorrow. No, I meant the timeline to apply for the grant and the time for decision for the grant and all the low interest. Yeah, the the um again
a lot of times I don't want to represent this as being a grant. It's just it's a low interest loan, but but the time frame I would think um you know the you know the this has been funded through the capital right now proposed within the capital budget um as soon as
authorized get started on it right away. And I would think that um by late summer, fall, we're going to start getting the bond council involved and securing securing the loan. So once you
secure the loan, it's then we can always delay going out, but at least we'll have the loan program in place. So even if there is some some turmoil, we can certainly just hold off when we want to do the
forward. So sort of timeline process here first resolution to authorize this proposal and from there that's John documents after that we
would capital borrowing money whether we're using funds from capital reserve whatever it is that say that it's fin or adopted and then after that you know there's a lot after this
work just to get just to refine the scope So there would be later on authoriz. So that being said, John, how much of this work would you say 25% 50%
of some of this is work that would go towards those bids? Well, yeah. We're preparing preliminary. A lot of this is we're going to have all the site work done, designed, you know, that'll be 100% for the DP permits. It's it's more and then the structure itself we're
going to have eventually the work that I I just didn't include in this is the final electrical and mechanical and things components that um I don't need for D permits. I I really just and those are the type of things that I want to work out with the operator and see where
we can save some cost and do some value on that. So, you know, from a percentage wise and it's time materials I hope we advance it fairly substantial. So, does it make sense to You and I have just a one-on-one meeting the timing of the schedule. Does it make
sense to then maybe have a proposal for all of that and break it down whereas the preliminary design per essentially getting us from now to does that make sense? We can do that. The um that idea of also what those
additional costs are going to be and well that's what this this phase also does. those final cost and it you know the the funding for the final design inspection and such that can come out of the loan too that locally that would just be all part of
the loan so you know you know initially we discuss this is frankly seed money in order to initiate the application initiate the planning documents go through the DP permit and then and then once we have the loan established that's
the next you would have to do local funding to to handle engineering. It would come out as well. Um, and is this for the proposed fee here of 250,000 is that a not to exceed or it could potentially go above there. There's a
later statement about it being based on actual hours. Yeah, the it's in time and materials because it's it's we we work as efficiently as we can to to minimize the cost. Um, you know, we we it's for the
for the work that I'm proposing in here, it certainly is well within the budget to do that. Well, just for for Tiana and for Debbie in terms of certifying the funds, right, we need so it would be not to exceed 250.
So we could certify up to Okay, does that make sense? John, I have a quick question if you don't mind. Uh it's Marty. Um the rough number and I realize it's rough and I know that there's a lot of value engineering to come, etc. Um but uh that
fee, you know, the number you've given us, are you including that in your six million or is that in addition to It's included. Thank you. Mr. Rushki, if I heard you correctly, so um so the 250 will will cover not all of the
projected soft costs in order to make this happen, just some of it. Um what's your guesstimation? You've been before the IB before with applications of this bill. Um what do you think to be the full number for soft costs for the the
for the full design? For a $6 million project, the design fee may be upwards of five 5%. You know, usually it could be four in that same. So, so this this could be in the range of of another another 150 another 200 to go to final
design. Just look at the scope of the overall project. Okay. And so this this money gets you to the point where um we are with and we're at a point
where we can bond for the project itself and then the balance of yeah this is this is preparing um preliminary drawings and I can I can also the bank so that you can continue that whole process. It just doesn't get us to construction ready where we want to have
more detail involved in the drawings you because the you know what's what's key with with frankly you can always do something cheaper but you know if you do it cheaper there's always potential of change orders or problems in field and so you know you just want to you want to have that balance of doing enough
engineering where the contractor fully understands the projects they can bid the project you know accurately the more accurate a contractor can bid the project the he'll sharpen his has to have to take on more risk not enough details, you know, it just comes the cost. So, but you don't
want to overengineer something that you just need to explain every bulk and you know it's just you have to have that balance. But your experience is 5% of total cost. 5% cost for for soft cost. Well, for for
the for the um for the um design it may be closer to 7% 8% if you're talking with the with this loan in the wrong direction. Yeah, I know. I am. But you also you have to do the design, but you also have to do the
inspection period services. You have to you have to have a full-time engineer um inspecting the work as they're going. That's It's a loan requirement, but it's also something that you would, you know, typically do for a project of this magnitude to make sure the contractors,
you know, pouring the concrete, right? You're taking the concrete cylinders, you're doing, you know, making sure that the concrete is set properly and just, you know, this is an infrastructure that we want to last 100 years and you don't want to just contractor loose and just
kind of walk away without watching. So that the additional 2% would be roughly again these we're not guidelines it would covers then uh all the the ongoing inspections during the implementation absolutely there'll be a
subsequent proposal outline of the next step it's you know the one of the things is to refine like I said it's refining the cost trying to you know balance the operator's wish list to what's practical what we need and things it's kind
looking at it from a value engineering and trying to see where we can shave some cost and bring that cost down. So that's what this this effort is more to refine that scope further. Um so that once through this this test and we know exactly you know how everything is going
to be built and then it's just about plugging and chugging on electrical and things like that. And I mean with all due respect to Mr. Rushy though if there are further conversations that you want to have privately then we can also discuss this in executive session or contract
negotiations. Um but I do want John to be here to answer any questions you may have at this point. either at the next meeting or the June meeting, we'll prepare resolution to make questions or discussions.
Thank you, Mr. River. Yes, River Road. So, um just a brief overview of the we're looking at taking a portion of
an existing taking looking at revising our our sewer our future sewer service area for uh the main treatment for Chatt Town and and basically we we have a existing service area identifies where all the
existing sewers are and what we can um what's currently plant but the future seas are looks at areas that we haven't se and so that's basically we're looking at in River Road within our sewer future sewer service area. So, it's identified as an area
that may be sewed in the future. Um, but we started to look at this area because of of the environmental constraints, the steep slopes, the um the flood plane, the wetlands, you know, this particular area and it's just not an area well suited for more intense development. Um,
we looked at years ago, we looked at Green Village and we kind of had a similar discussion many years ago on Green Village because of all the similar constraints, not necessarily steep slopes, but certainly more impacts from, you know, streams and wetlands in that
area that it just wasn't an area that environmental perspective was was appropriate to have significant development. So we we identified the limits and uh we did um reach out to the impacted property owners. It was approximately 70
properties that would be pulled out of the sewer service area. U we did send them a letter and indicate that we're going to have a public meeting. Um we had that public meeting. It was uh through remote so we tried to accommodate so people could easily come
and join the meeting. Um and of those 70 plus or minus home property owners, we only got four people that initially signed up and had comments. Um there was mixed comments. Um there was certainly one individual for taking it out
recognizing the environmental concerns. But there was also two people that were reluctant and were a little disappointed about removing um the area from the sewer service. They just There's there's
also septic systems in that area that they feel that the area should be super. So um not a significant turnout from what we you know we're hoping that you know get more feedback from it but um you know interpret different ways.
People didn't take the time to come out and voice their concerns you know that they just didn't have interest and certainly there was a few people that did but We really didn't have a significant outcry that against you know
doing something with the service area. So I'm just curious whether any letters in addition to the four that came to the meeting uh if Mr. Lante either either is aware of additional letters or if anybody on the committee has gotten any feedback otherwise. I
know I have not received any feedback on that topic. believe I got one email. John, one of the individuals that um that wanted the sewer to be extended did follow up with an email just
emphasizing that they were concerned of it being removed and they need the one individual that reached out. Then there was one email that I got um I don't know if that had gone to you as well John but it was one of the participants in the
meeting uh reiterating his support for removing these right I'm sorry the people there against but I think the the some of the folks that were against it was as we heard it was clarifying to make sure
that the understanding was that this is about a I say hypothetical but it's really just a paper plan uh and confusing it with actual plans to extend the sewer service. And so one one of those emails was that thinking that
we're we're turning down the the ability to or not not extending the sewer service. And what we had to explain was no that's not what this discussion is. It's not whether we're extending the sewer service or not. It's really the delineation or not for future plans uh
and explaining because some you know one of the comments was well but we pay a lot of taxes and just like everybody else and we don't have sewer service and I think the important distinction the clarification that we tried to make was we actually that's not being paid for by your taxes that's a sewer utility and
everybody that is getting sewer service um is paying for that sewer service through their an additional bill. So, um I think that's an important distinction. Some people don't realize the individual that was for removing it
was because they had spent considerable amount of money to just put in septic and essentially that's like thrown out that that money then have to because they would have to pay for that service to be added as well. So, it's now yet another fee that they would have to take
off. We did explain the typical township has extended sewers in the past. And basically um the the residents that benefit from the sewer actually pay a special assessment to pay for the cost
of extending sewers. And so you know if we were to install sewers on River Road, it would the cost would not be picked up by the by the through general taxation or through the sewer utility. It would be picked up by the residents that would pay for that
extension. My I know John's office this, but um anecdotally over the past 15 years that I've been the board of health secretary, a lot of the properties along that road have have redone their septics during that time period. So, it's, you know, a
lot of reasonably new septic systems in that area. And it's it's usually whenever I get questions about whether or not we're going to do um sewer in that area, it's usually when people are in that situation where they're about to do a new septic and they're weighing their
options. But there's never been a I I haven't ever seen any kind of organized effort to request uh sewers in that area. And John noted that at the recent public hearing. So, John, is there an uh this conversation started when we
were talking about um the state uh state plan they were doing their concurrent planning and also as it relates to future development in the community? Uh is there any sort of timeline right now? What sort of decision or no decision?
What what's next for the governing body? nothing that's mandating us to do this take this action. Um and if we do want to take the action there is a whole process you have to go through. Um I would not expect any hurdles with the
whole process that we have to go through formal public meetings as part of that process. There's really nothing this map that you're sharing with us. No, there's no planning to not
correct. So, everybody in these areas have subjects installed. Yes. Yeah. I mean the other reason uh this became a you know viable or real discussion is because during third round housing when there was you know contemplation of large development on
river road many residents turned out around turned out rather and expressed concern because of all the environmental because of the environmental sensitivity of you know the the watershed into the river that uh you know then feeds uh
water supply system and uh quarters for animal migration. I mean there were many uh environmental concerns raised about that area and uh you know people didn't want development and of course once you put sewers in uh then the development
will follow. So that's where uh this became a more you know realistic discussion uh based on those residents who turn out in force. So, I kind of look at, you know, now that everybody's been notified, they came in and had one message and granted it was in the realm
of having dense development and then, you know, when we do reach out and we say, "Okay, well, now we're going to pull back." And the the lack of a real response and uh again, John, I didn't quite catch this part. Was this letters that went to every household that was in this area? I'm sorry. Were they Was this
the mailing letters that went to every household? I'm sorry. How were they noticed? Then just regular mail. We didn't send it certified. Just regular mail. Yeah, we did send letters to that whole stretch of river.
Okay. Not certified, which is fine, but given the amount of time, sometimes our mail system is not so great in Chadam, but um given the amount of time, they they we would have heard I'm sure from the residents. Okay. There has been prior discussions on this
matter at the committee level and committee referenc This map um the map is not I don't think the map is on the website but the service area
no what went out to the public was just that direct letter to every so anybody that is on that map we gave them that correct and the opportunity to come before that two week old. Yeah. And the one email
that we received other than the one person, there was one person that emailed that was on the call and just wanted to put it in writing that were in support of amending removing the one person that I was talking about that also emailed that was not in favor of
changing it. They did not get the letter but they were on the address. So they so some people have found out about it neighbors or some other we did contact information they had an opportunity
beyond that but as John said there's no timeline right now act false more less we is it seems
wonder that there is action that's being taken but I don't know I just did our best but I feel like just one feels slightly insufficient given there were you know 25%
people show up themselves, you know, more conversation. Yeah, I would say if the committee formally going to move in the direction it certainly let them know that you're going to remove it. I I probably not necessary to tell them they're still thinking about it. I
would physically think about moving forward with it, then let them know and there would be another hearing required at that point. It would be it would be another formal hearing, but that by by that time we've already gone through all the process and
it's more of aity and you know to your credit like I'm not I'm not saying this is like I think you guys did you put it out there. You were really clear about it. You did all that. I think the onus is really on the residents to come forward. But I just
feel like you know that kind of concern We can even consider going to certifying it also. The next step you're referencing is
filing with the D. No, I'm saying before we even go with the D, if you want decision to Okay. Yeah, let's move on removing it. Let's give the residents one more time. This time we'll send out certified letters telling themstead of telling them that we're about saying
this now we're going to take a formal action formal we're going to say we're going to take a formal action by by the same token if the committee is not inclined to act then I would suggest that we don't give any more any more notice that is almost counterintuitive
as well you know the wrong I would agree with the the direction would go in terms of in the event we take formal action uh the notification I strongly urge Is there a desire to take action or not
take action at this point or you want to take it over? I mean, there's no urgency to this that I'm aware of, but well, I think that could certainly wait to hear from each of you or all of you or through the mayor.
Anything else for Thank you. Would you like me to go to the top? Yeah. Which we'd like to talk. Sure. So, under administration, mayor, the uh climate super fun act to the next workshop meeting. Yes.
to speak so we will carry that. Uh the next item is an ordinance on uh the global emergency management council uh make some updates to that ordinance uh some clean up also that the uh requested uh
our legal team made sure that it's in compiance with uh state law and regulation and our public safety team had feedback on some improvements to the participants all of which have been incorporated into this. uh we would like to introduce it at the next meeting
unless there questions. I do not think Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. Um under the clerk, we received a report. There's no legislation at this time. Any questions for the clerk on the report?
Just briefly u I I like the market uh increase in number of folks take advantage of the online capabilities with regard to licensing. Uh so hats off
to everyone to help make that happen. um with and in furtherance of of making the capability more robust. uh things like uh septic pool block and social uh permitting. Is is that if not
already on board other capabilities onto the website? We can take a look at those. Um some of those licenses can be issued through a steel. So we might be able to
like lices or like um like a liquor license that's through the state. Yeah, I'm thinking more like a pool stuff that the block and social uh were just very quick ones that I wrote down that may be candidates for
when when do you say social because like social affair permit that's a one day liquor license that's through the state and we don't collect a fee for that. social meaning I guess like a community event that would require a organizer to file something like a block party. Okay.
Well, we can we can look into that block. Filing that block party uh the people already fill out the form electronically and email that to us. Okay. U just to add to that um I also appreciate all the efforts around getting the
uh online licensing in place because that you know I think over time will just help people to you know encourage them to register was just too ownorous before and um but I'm just wondering if there's more ways we could promote it. So, for example, if we're doing um the
regular, it's one of the shots, rabies shots, um which that'll be in November. So, we'll definitely be promoting it there. and um the board of health at the re recent meeting which this will be in my my May report but the board of health recently met and uh we're planning to
have a table at the national night out in August and that's going to be an opportunity for me to both promote licensing of dogs and cats in general and uh pitch the uh online registration and uh we may be able to use our social
media to try to push this out. it's already been directly pushed out to the people that had registered dogs and cats last year. Um that's I think how we wound up having such a higher rate of renewals in in in April this year since all those people got their notices to
let them know about the online and that I think encouraged you know even though most people did the traditional method you know it's yeah the word is getting out and we're we started with uh targeted and then we can do general uh general advertising now. Okay, great.
And um I also uh I reached out to the management at my apartment complex. Uh I sent them the form and I asked them to uh push this out to to the residents there that own dogs just to uh you know get again, you know, targeted targeted
approach. Uh great. Along those lines, can we hit up some of the other, you know, dense uh community areas? damage too. We shouldn't uh elect some over others, but if we're, you know, doing that, might as well. As the apartment complex over by Sharp, right, something I know that they
do is when when someone's moving in that has a dog, they require the uh incoming tenant to get a license before they even move in. So, they they have have a mechanism in place there. Interesting. Okay. Thank you,
Mr. Lanti. One last thing. No backend technological snafoos or complications. It's running seamlessly on the back end. Yeah. So far everything's been good. I mean that's why we kind of started small just so I could you work out any any any oddities. Great. Thank
you capabilities under construction in the building. Uh we also received a report there. Any questions we covered engineering under finance uh for this month and next month? Some of these items will depend
on my ability to meet with our CFO and finance committee. Uh but the outlook for either this month or next month. Uh first is resolution to amend the capital budget. So the capital budget is in our operating budget that's more of a an outline, a plan. Then we do an actual
resolution for the specific year to amend it based on the actual plan for that year. Uh we do that and then we follow that up with a capital ordinance to actually provide the funding authorization for those items. So if those don't get done this month, then
we'll have that for introduction following month. Uh we have two resolutions to amend this year's budget that will uh come up for consideration at our May meeting. Those are to incorporate grants that we received after the budget was introduced and
adopted. state requires us to do this because not only are we accounting for the money as revenue but also account for money as an appropriation. So these are standard resolutions that the state requires. Good news there is talked about a $60,000 grant which we received
to upgrade equipment at Nash and about $9,900 for our recycling grant. want to give credit to um Christy Trio and DPW team over there for really dealing with the paperwork and tracking and doing
everything required to get this money. Uh the other resolution is for LOAP that is members of our EMS emergency squad our two fire departments uh different members are eligible for uh for contributions made
by the town uh in recognition of meeting criteria and standards. Uh the emergency squad and the fire departments have slightly different criteria. We receive certification from the departments different departments that the number members that they indicate are eligible
have met that criteria and so uh the resolution is an annual resolution that we do and that's what this is for. So I will say more questions on that I'll have more information on you but I think list of those numbers that will be
um have a question eventually myself um but for fire department particularly Green Village CES is a shared service so the budget is actually split between the
burrow and township green village fire department I know is our responsibility township There's no contribution whatsoever from county to provide even percentage amount of this to the members who actually
service their community. Great question. I think that's something that uh everything that we're noticing is the capital request the operating budget. Uh I think there's a an awareness that
no contributing to that share finan you're not aware that we're getting contrib. Yeah. And when the fire truck discussion came up, I know there was, you know, I talked to the folks at
Green Village and and some other people did and as as far as we're aware, Hardy Township, but just private donors, but they're not the the town is not formally giving for any of the equipment, for any of the, you know, the trucks, the fire
trucks, for LOAP. I we should really think about and I don't know that we have to discuss it now. Maybe we pick another time or maybe discuss it now, but think about if we want to have some formal approach with the Harding folks to find out. Um, for me, I mean, I know
uh through the chatter I've heard there was a pretty substantial fire in Harding not so long ago, which the Green Village Fire Department was, I think, the lead uh agency behind it. I could be wrong about that. Yeah, I'm sorry.
And I think while I can appreciate them not contributing a million dollars to or a fire truck, um it feels to me like this is a small token of appreciation of the service that they offer to their community that they should consider weighing in. I think that discussion I'm
not sure how that happens but I I do feel like if there's an opportunity this could be the entry into easing some of the costs tiny bit for the members that devote so much time to their community I think that's
something I I also think a good first step would understand the operating history and have a more productive conversation. But I would agree um with committee woman's guidance. I think something we
should probably look into a little bit more quickly. Um thank you. Anything else on finance? Uh police, we do have a resolution that we would like to consider to authorize the agreement with
the county for intersection improvements at both road. This is something we discussed a few times at some workshop meetings going back to last year as well. Intersection, but there is an agreement some
policies county municipalities on cost sharing that go into this. So we did receive anary estimate rather than estimate work. We know what our share is here. So in order for the county to move ahead with the actual
plans to move forward with the go construction. They would like us to signal agreement with them. So resolution questions and concerns about this, please let me know. But I think
from previous discussions, I think we are ready to pull on this. Do we know if the county will have to uh do public hearings again on the exact plan? I mean, it's been such a long time.
If they will, but I could ask them confirm. Yeah, it might be a good idea because they're switching things up. I mean, I think from a uh c, you know, a walker access, you know, they're putting more they're really trying to make that
intersection more walkable. Uh but they are kind of changing the east hardware the the um what's now the exit to to allow for both entrance and exit which is interesting because it looks like there's some road easement into that parking lot. The way they mapped it
that's make it seem like it's an extension of Green Village Road. So I thought that was interesting but um yeah it might it might be nice for residents to have an opportunity to give input on what the plan is. The last I remember this being presented in any way, shape, or form, I feel like it's
been years. Do you recall if the uh previous public discussions were initiated or the host was the municipality or was it the county? Because I think that and I'll confirm
this, but maybe that's why, you know, they're they're looking for a consent to say that we've done that or we've vetted Unless there's more that we want to do, you know, I I I might I don't know if that intersection's been touched so many
times. Um I feel like the county came and presented to us in our township meeting and you know residents at that point had an opportunity to really understand what the plans were and to ask any questions. So that may have been at the township's
request perhaps to do the presentation on the county hearing which We can do that if we like before we then go ahead with this resolution. I mean it's certainly more resident friendly. What's the timing on this one? Are we hold you know is it just it's
going to get done whenever we sign off? Correct. Um and it's going to get done as currently um designed. Correct. Correct. I mean from my discussions with the police chief and um you know his conversation with the county is there's really not much wiggle room here. It's either this
is design I think was based off of those any feedback from the past uh whether they incorporated or did not. So it's either take it or leave it. Um they designed it engineering standards informance with manual and uniform traffic control devices. So it's either
we do it or we don't do it. Okay. I don't know that there's much wiggle room. It doesn't seem like there's going to be much wiggle room in this. Okay. So, but are would it be introduced next time by or an ordinance introduction or it's a resolution? It's a resolution to sign an agreement just
to authorize the agreement and then from there the county takes over. They handle the engineering, the design, the construction, all of that. So, it's just just a essentially a cost sharing agreement with them. Now, do we have this plan posted for
residents to see? We haven't done anything with that yet. No. Okay. I guess I would feel a little better if we push it out a little bit and then um go ahead and you know even if it cost us another month. Yeah, that's fine. We'll uh we'll put that on
the website and put something together as in fact. So the peculiar thing I see is that there there's they're installing a good number of offset stop bars for the left turn at the light
which often times people overrun and those do not exist today. I assume this has been part and parcel. Yeah, it is it is a curious feature they're putting in place that doesn't exist
before sort of well standards also have lighting the intersection the way it is now based on standards from whenever that was installed. I mean eventually this intersection is going to fail at
This is an inevitability. Well, so for example, we had the infrastructure, the equipment, they're they're going to fail. They're old. You know, parts eventually uh are not available or not compatible. You know, this came to our attention because
uh the boot under one of the under the street which monitors traffic presence of the traffic uh was destroyed by the contractors that were working there not once but twice. Um we filed an insurance claim which is what covered the bulk of
the expense but uh one vendor said no like this is not compatible. We were able to figure out a way through another to rather than having to replace the whole thing. It's going to get to a point where I mean it could be a vehicle hits
the inter one of the traffic lights or the cabinet or there's a failure of one of the components and at some point this is going to happen and when they do new intersections they've got to bring them up to the new standards and that's everything from markings to pedestrian
safety to you know you look at things 20 30 years ago some intersections that don't have pedestrian warning system even the striping for crosswalks has changed over the years. Uh the state and the manual uniform traffic control
device have also evolved to indicate what type of intersection markings are allowed and not allowed. So this reflects those newest standards and so at some point it's either going to be this or probably involve some more and be some new things that we're not used
to. Understood. Um, as you know, I'm a big proponent of getting information out to our constituents. I would agree with Committee woman Ewald. And if we can get this information on the website um and
coral the opinions and thoughts of the collective group even if it is at 11. Great. Thank you. police submitted a report. There was an updated report based on uh the statistics uh that weren't available on
Friday. Are there any questions for police public works? Uh we have two resolutions that we'll ask you to consider and those are for purchase of chemicals. Uh it's lumped together as just one item here, but it is two
resolutions. They are under state contract or I'm sorry rather a co-op um and we did this last year. We realized that with prices going up quantities needed that we're exceeding thresholds with which we can just make these
purchases without your authorization once they hit a certain threshold even though they're under co-op. It requires your approval. So we're anticipating uh that these are going to exceed that and rather than put the WPC plan at risk of certain chemicals they need in us
rushing. We're trying to do this before it happens. We included the two resolutions from last year that it will be pretty much the same exact year just concerns
questions tax collector also included a report. Uh I will note that uh because of the timing of our workshop meeting and when I have reports due so we can get them to you. Those numbers weren't fully reconciled numbers. They will be reconciled but um that report included
any questions on report. Okay. And then finally tax assessor he included his report. U one thing I just highlight there is um we are making our way through those approvals finally for the state uh from
the state tax updates. Um I have not gotten final word on that app. Tremendous progress has been made. We're near the finish line there. I think they gave they some acronyms that are specific to the tax map world. I think one set was approved and the other set
of updates that fall under another acronym are still outstanding, but uh it will be approved soon. And then from there we will uh start to work on marketing and public communication material to inform the public of next steps with regards to the
reval by the county. there any um concern about the timing of the inspections because the I thought originally a lot of the promotional stuff and the education resident education was going to go out you know
earlier and the appraisals were supposed to or the inspect what would you call them the site visits we're going to take actually yeah I mean the tax map updates have taken a while but we are still within the schedule for the rebal we
envisioned um pull that up. Yeah, because I think they plan through June of this year through sometime next year, June of next year, I suppose, they would be doing, you know, the visits um and the you know, determining the appraisals based
on those visits. So the uh rebal timeline our tax assessor put together was that we were looking at um uh data collection and fieldwork starting in January of 2026.
Oh, really? Okay. Yes. Going to homes, correct? That's process. Yes. Okay. Correct. Y and we were even thinking that the reval contract would be awarded mid 2025. So that timeline was based off of So we're ahead of schedule in that
regard. So timing of everything is still and Mr. Shahadi prior to that we're obviously going to provide a form or so awareness. Yes, there will be a pamphlet and a letter that will go out
to every home uh that will also include details on publicly. Um, no, we didn't want to do it too soon. We're the materials all ready to go, but we didn't want to do it too soon until we got the maps approved and the contract approved by the state because
let's say that took three, four months. We sent out a letter, you know, let's say we sent out a letter in January of this year. until June, people would forget about it. So, we want to keep it close to the time frame of when the inspections will start. So, um the way right now is
probably mail out September or October. Ideally, want to wait until after a lot of people. But again, even if we did though, the inspections wouldn't be starting until later. We're going to have a
forum meeting Understood. Thank you. Uh that's all for the agenda. Thank you, Mr. Shahadi. Um we now move on to the second hearing of citizens.
Great. I invite anyone in the audience to come before the mic should they decide to do so. I see no one. So I shall close the second hearing. Citizens do have a motion to adjurnn. So
moved. Second. Second. All in favor? I I meeting a journ. Thank you. Good night everybody. Bye. Thank you. Good night. Good night.