Are we ready? >> Welcome everyone to the township committee workshop agenda meeting for this Tuesday, February 10th. Uh the meeting is called to order at 7:01. Uh Mr. Lanti, has adequate notice been given? >> Yes. Adequate notice of this meeting of
the attention committee was given as required by the open public meetings act as follows. Notice was given to the Chad and Courier of Mars County Daily Record on January 7th, 2026. Notice was posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway of the municipal building on January 7th 26. And notice was filed
with the township clerk on January 7th, 2026. >> Okay, thank you. Can we get a roll call, please? >> Uh, Mr. Al Perowitz >> here, >> Mr. Troy >> here. >> Mrs. Ewald >> here. >> Deputy Mayor McHugh >> here. >> And Mayor Eel. Uh, Mayor
>> here. >> Um, field division. Um, we have our whole committee. >> Thank you. Uh, do we have a motion to move into executive session? >> Move. >> I'll second. >> Okay. >> Mr. Auritz, >> yes.
>> Mr. Short, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ew. >> Yes. >> Deputy Mayor McHugh. >> Yes. >> And Mayor Roland. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. All right. Okay. Welcome back to the public session. Um, we will now open the
first hearing of citizens. >> What? >> A flag salute. >> Pardon me. Please stand for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. So, the guidance members of the public are now welcome to come up to the microphone to address the townial committee. This is an opportunity for any member of the public to be heard uh 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. Uh whether in person or online when you're
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 3 minutes during each public comment period. Written comments submitted to the township clerk uh before 3 p.m.
today, which we did not receive any, but if we had, they would be read during the public uh comment sessions. Written comments are subject to the same guidelines as royal comments. Duplicative written comments may be summarized rather than read in full according to the guidelines issued by the New Jersey Division of Local
Government Services. >> Thank you, Mr. Lante. Were there any questions submitted in advance or is there anyone online? >> Uh, we did not receive any in advance and we have a couple hands raised. Uh, the first one I saw was
um Erin Berggo. Mrs. Berggo, you're good to go. >> Thanks, Greg. Aaron Berggo, Bur G Candace Lane. At the January 27th, 2026 Township Committee meeting, the committee added and approved resolution
2026-059 authorizing YMCA Colony Pool Services Agreement, even though it was not on the published public agenda. The Colony Pool Advisory Committee, which I chair, was not engaged in any capacity in this effort, nor even aware that the township was planning this major change. In
response, the advisory committee met, developed a list of 12 statements and 12 questions focused on basic operational fundamentals important to all members and all township residents, and sent it to our committee liaison on Sunday, February 1st. About 8 days later, the township administrator replied to our
email, but confirmed or denied none of the statements and answered none of the questions. The duties and responsibilities of the Colony Pool Club Advisory Committee are to advise and assist the township administrator and the Colony Pool Club manager on recreational and social activities associated with the Colony Pool Club.
One statement asked the township to confirm or deny whether long-standing beloved member events such as live music, Fourth of July fun and games, family float day, and tween night would remain part of the colony experience. A follow-up question asked, who would bear financial responsibility for these
events, the township or the YMCA? The township's refusal to respond prevents our committee from fulfilling its duties. Just last week, the Rosewood band, who has played at the Colony Pool for over a decade, reached out to confirm dates. I was unable to respond.
How can the Colony Pool member experience, to quote the administrator, remain the same if the advisory committee lacks the direction needed to plan and book events that define it? How can we expect, to quote the mayor, most everything will stay the same when basic questions such as, should we expect club
hours to remain the same and will the Wibbit be back remain unanswered? The resolution and agreement were drafted behind closed doors almost entirely by people who do not use the pool. While our questions go unressed, the township's response confirms only that the transition to the YMCA management
proceeds without any involvement from the advisory committee or other colony members. I encourage all township residents, whether you plan to return to Colony this season, join for the first time, or simply a taxpayer who enjoys tennis on the Colony courts, to request
a copy of the YMCA agreement, read it, and ask questions. And I hope that you are more successful than I am in getting answers. Thank you. >> Next up, we have someone whose screen name is iPhone. >> iPhone user, you're now live. if you
could uh give your name and speak. >> Uh hi, this is Stuart Carr. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Hi, Stuart Carr. CR3 Crestwood Drive in Chattam Township. Um couple of items. Number one, wanted to follow up on the planning board inquiries I had
over the last couple of meetings, I think, about whether we're going to be getting the planning board meetings into the big room and getting those uh taped and YouTubed to put on the website for future consumption. Uh really no excuse not to do that now. Again, Chadam
Burough does it, other folks do it. We're now in the big room. Really no excuse not to. Uh following on that uh right now, in order to get information for the planning board me uh meetings have to go and get jump drives from Mr. Lacanti as I requested at some recent
meeting. Is there a way to or we should be getting those jump drives onto the website so we don't have to go and again bring a jump drive bring that information to the website so we don't have to uh go and get jump drives and then related to that and this is a kind of Mr. Al Puroit's question, Council
Committeeman Alpurit's question. Um, is there a way to get those uh meetings transcribed? I know a lot of other jurisdictions do that. There may be some cost to that, but if we could check on having that. So, not only do we have a uh verbal, but also a written transcription uh of those items, that
would be appreciated. And then more generally, as I requested a couple of meetings ago, getting more information onto the website such as the last say 10 years of meetings on the planning board and the uh committee which is not uh there now, what the cost would be for
that, how to get that on the platform, etc. since you do have an updated platform. And then finally with respect to this colony pool idea or not idea but this colony pool initiative which I think is a good one overall I was not aware of the fact that uh a colony pool
advisory committee member was not involved in those initial negotiations. I understand again that confidentiality is key, but I think given the particulars of switching from a um count a um uh townshiprun venue to an outside
management company, that would have been the time to bring at least someone from the Colony Pool Committee or Colony Pool Advisory Committee into the uh into the tent, so to speak. And obviously that's uh water under the bridge. But I think going forward perhaps it would be
incumbent upon the committee to engage someone from the uh colony pool advisory committee to be in meetings with the liaison which I think is uh councilwoman Ewald or committee woman eald maybe somebody else now but whomever is the current liaison that whatever kind of
meetings they have or she has or he has with the administrator and related to that concerning the colony pool activities in the summer that someone from the colony uh advisory committee also be in all or most of those meetings. I think that would facilitate things. I know it's out of the ordinary
a little bit, but given the fact you do go to a management company now in a totally different business model, I think that would be prudent for not only the colony pool members directly, but also the uh uh community at large. Uh thank you for your time on that. Look forward to hearing responses on those
items uh when you get to it. Thanks very much. Okay, next up is Katie Warren. >> Hi, good evening. Um, I'm calling I'm calling in this evening about the Madison YMCA contract.
>> I'm so sorry. Katie Warren, Susan Drive. Last name is W A R N. >> Thank you. Okay. >> I'm also calling about the Colony Pool contract with the Madison YMCA. I had occasion to read it and I have to voice
my concern. I I will say I completely understand the appeal of the idea of having a really experienced manager. Um, and I know that that would address maybe some concerns, but I I fear this is a situation where somebody
needed a band-aid and and the doctor wants to amputate a limb and it's really going to end up changing something in really fundamental ways. um that I don't know if I if if the ends going to
accomplish the means the means are going to accomplish the ends of keeping this a lovely town asset. Um, my two biggest concerns are, well, one overall being that the contract seems to have almost no limits.
Camper like I picture, what I picture when I read the contract is that there's going to be just day care day camps everywhere and loudspeakers and chaos and you'll feel like you're going to the gym or something instead of the
relaxing, shady, quiet colony pool. Um, I have so I would really hope I know that not everything is ironed out yet. I would really hope there would be efforts made to keep this what it is for the residents including possibly
no structured camps after noon noon time or no structured camps on the weekends. And my second and probably bigger concern is the potential of why members getting day passes, limiting capacity enjoyment of the residents. And
I know there's language in the contract that says uh the enjoyment of the members won't be um substantially interfered with, but I cannot see how that would not happen if there's not really strict limits put on things like
um day passes for Y members. And I would really like to see a limit such as that doesn't happen on the weekends so this can be fully enjoyed by the taxpaying residents of Chattam Township. Thank you. >> Okay, next up is Jessica Romeo.
>> Hi Jessica Romeo, Pine Street. Um you there's an agenda item to um authorize the Chattam Township Environmental Commission to apply for a grant and I just wanted to thank you. Our natural resources inventory the NRI was last dated and updated in 2013. They should
be updated every 10 years. Why is this important? Because an updated NRI is a vital piece of information that informs land use planning. It enables us to identify, protect and manage critical environmental assets like water sources,
tree covered areas, wildlife habitats, but really importantly, it also acts as a foundational tool for updating master plans, strengthening zoning regulations, and mitigating climate risks. It also guides sustainable development, and can
better help guide preservation. As you guys know, our master plan is due for an update in 2027, so this is really timely. Um, so I just again wanted to thank you for putting that in on the agenda tonight. And I had a question about summer employment opportunities at
Colony Pool. Wondering when kids who've worked there in the past would be hearing about summer employment because they're at the point now where they have to figure out what they're doing for the summer. Thanks. Okay, that's it for race tens. Okay. We'd like to invite any members of
the public or special guests to come up to the microphone. They have something to say. >> It's on. >> Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Levante. Mark Lois, Gates Avenue. I'm just here to also speak about the calling pool resolutions that were
passed in the last meeting. um really just about the method of how it was done and just for the benefit of u whoever might be listening to this the um the resolutions were not or the resolution was not on the agenda and so it was
added to the agenda and of course that's completely uh allowable within OPMA and there are certain technical ways that that's controlled and u but the the the spirit of it the intent of it the language of it is that the agenda as it
is known should be published and you know the we've long held in this township at least 48 hours in advance if you know something's going on should be on the agenda and um I've been I've talked about it for you know three years now about making
sure that all the documents that we have like for instance for this workshop meeting you have reports and all types of things that are available to you that are not online. So there's no way for a member of the public to meaningfully participate in your meeting tonight to even follow along to know what you're
even looking at. I've been talking about that for three years. So that's not that's not an oversight. That's that's a choice of this committee to you know exclude that and to not have that kind of information. But to not even have the resolution that you're going to vote on
um posted uh even the day of that resolution was extensively long. It was negotiated over months as was said in the meeting. It was something that had an immediate press release to follow within um very short order. The
committee here was clearly uncomfortable passing that um in in short order at at the meeting. There was hesitation that was could be read easily by any audience. The pathos here wasn't great. And so the responsibility is over the whole committee, but really the
responsibility for what's on the agenda in our form of government falls to our mayor. And the mayor is the chair of the meeting. And so really, if there's got to be someone who takes the majority of responsibility for passing something so quickly like that, it has to be our
mayor and our new mayor Roland. So congratulations on on that. But is in my view, this is not a great start to the year. Um, it certainly doesn't fit into the into an openness, a transparency, or into a into the spirit of what Oakmont
requires or even what the history of our township is. Uh speaking of the history of our township, when when there's zoning or something that in facts in that impacts planning that's critical and needs to be kept somewhat um
confidential, often the planning board chair will be pulled in or we have a history here. It's something with affordable housing. we pull the open space chair in and then that way it can be kept somewhat confidential but still have some input to to make a change this
large that impacts what the com the colony pool advisory committee was formed to do which is to um give input based on not only the programming and activities and events in the calendar but also the promotion of the club.
It's it seems a little um preposterous to think that that that they couldn't have been. So those are my comments. >> Thank you, Mr. Lois. If I could just give a little bit of a different lens. There was nothing intentional or
nefarious about keeping this off of the agenda. This was a very important contract negotiation, which is a confidential process. We ironed out, we worked tirelessly to
try to get this done as soon as we possibly could knowing that based on the timing we were at the beginning of the year, there's a lot of planning to be done. It's a transition to a new management. So when we were able to
finalize some of those details at the last minute, rather than waiting another several weeks or possibly two more meetings, we decided to put it on the agenda so that we could get started because we knew it was happening and we
have been working with people. So there was nothing intentional about keeping it a secret. It was we were able to finalize those last few details before the meeting. So we added it to
the agenda in the essence of moving forward and not losing more weeks where young people want to finalize their summer work plans and getting in touch with Rosewood. So if we did delay it by several weeks, we wanted to avoid that.
So that that was the approach that we took to add it to the agenda as soon as we knew that we were substantially complete with the contract. >> Um I'll just add a little bit too. I mean not just the process and everything but the other concerns that were
expressed. Um uh I think collectively we all agree that the um treasure of what Colony Po is is to remain intact. Uh we look at this as a partnership with the Y um and
actually in a large response to the complaints that we had about management over the last several years over and over and over again. Um this is a one-year agreement. That's all this is. If members of the public feel that the
spirit of Colony Pool has degraded or changed, um I think we welcome comments throughout the course of the year so that we can take corrective actions. Um and I think that this is the beginning, not the end of a partnership. This is uh
we welcome these kinds of comments and feedback and I think it's refreshing to have conversations in a public forum to hear about them, too. So, I think we welcome these comments. Um, but I think we're all looking at this as a very positive step uh in actually direct
response to a lot of complaints that have been lodged over the last several years. >> Okay. Any other comments, Mr. Okanti? >> Uh, we don't have any other answers. >> Okay. Then we can close this hearing of citizens and we can move on to the
reports. Uh, Mr. Shahhati, would you mind? >> Yes. Um so under administration a couple items uh for legislation to consider over the next uh meeting or two. First item is a resolution uh affecting sale of property. Uh the property in question
here is um the town owned land over on River Road, part of 482490 River Road. Uh the developer that's part of an affordable housing development project from our third round a number of years ago. It's moving along. the uh developer
has obtained or has finalized obtaining financing through NJHMFA and so now we are just effectuating those last final details. We still own that land um and we need to transfer ownership of the land in order for him to uh start the work. So um these are all in keeping
with previously authorized developers agreements that have existed in place for 482 490 for the blue homes that will be coming there. Um, so if there anything to add on that? >> Yeah, this is consistent with the affordable housing agreements that
you've authorized. No terms or conditions are changing. It's just um authorizing the sale of property. >> Any questions or concerns? >> Okay, moving on. Uh, next item is a word of contract to lead based for lead based
paint inspections. Um, as we've talked about at workshop meetings, uh, we had to, uh, update our ordinances to create a program by which, uh, leadbased paint inspections occur in the municipality and, and that's to comply with state
statute is happening everywhere in the state of New Jersey. Um, somebody needs to go ahead and do those inspections. uh we can hire employees to do them or we can contract out for a firm that specializes in this uh and does them a lot more efficiently, has the staffing,
the resources to do all of this. Uh so I'd be recommending there's a proposal that was included in your agenda packet. Um Oh, thank you. Yeah, there was an uh there was a um presentation I'm sorry, there was a proposal included in your agenda packet for a firm that has done
uh similar work in area municipalities and um it would essentially come at no cost to us. Um so next meeting we'll be adopting the ordinance that was introduced at the last meeting and I'd like to concurrently have this resolution on the agenda to move forward
with awarding that contract to the firm. Any questions or concerns there? >> Okay, thank you. Uh there's a resolution to accept a resignation of an employee. Uh you should have all received that letter. >> Yes. >> And uh then there will be follow on
resolution to appoint an employee. Uh hopefully have somebody there to backfill that position. Uh I we've been interviewing and and considering applicants and I think we've got somebody for that. So, uh, originally we were looking at a part-time, if you recall, we were talking about a
part-time addition to help out, but that now is going to be the priority to backfill that full-time position that's now going to be vacant. So, that's what this refers to, but we will also have another resolution to appoint another employee in DPW. They did find an employee to backfill uh an upcoming
vacancy. Um, any questions on those? Okay. And then finally, the resolution uh to authorize the environmental commission to apply for a grant uh to um hopefully use those funds to prepare an
NRI, an updated NRI. Any questions on any of those? Okay. Uh under discussion and action, uh before we get to that, I just did want to provide an update on the mobile app. Uh it's been progressing nicely. We've pretty much uh my assistant and I have
been uh completing the template and the documentation that they require to populate it. We are uh making one more change. One of the delays uh last delay is a change to our website in order to make uh because what happens on our website appears also on the app. So
there's something that we're doing on our website to create a self-service portal which shows all of the different things that residents can do on their own whether it's obtaining a police report or requesting overnight parking or um uh you know dog licensing. So,
we're creating a one-stop shop on our website. Once that's complete, that's the last piece of the puzzle for the app and then all that stuff can go to the company and hopefully have that rolled out soon. >> All right. >> Would we be uh able to get a list of the
content and functionality or something to get an appreciation in draft form? >> Yeah. >> What we're going to >> Yeah. What'll be on the website? Yeah. And one of the things that we did also is we looked at three other uh municipalities apps and to try to uh you know follow what they're doing as far as
what because you create these applets. We have like 20 you know we just have a whole bunch of them but you also don't want to uh overwhelm residents with people. So trying to create uh some of the most commonly used things. One of them would be uh one of the easiest things is just news and alerts places
for people to find out what's going on, how to sign up, our calendar of events. Uh that's another one we're putting uh a directory of all the contact information for the different offices and departments. A page for the mayor and committee so people can find the agendas and ordinances and resolutions. Um, so
we're trying to limit it to just 10 things on there and that's why we're creating a selfservice page because that would just have like, you know, rather than having five different itemized things, it would just be, okay, here's some self-service options and then they go to that for everything else. But I'll forward all that to >> some of the other municipalities
required to log in um in order to store information so that they can subscribe to specific information that's tailored to them rather than just general news and alerts. Um, Are we planning that process too? >> We haven't gotten there yet with the
company right now. We're just uh working out send setting the templates and the logos and the graphics and all that. That that'll be next, I think. >> Okay. >> So, yeah, I will I'll send you guys you know what uh that the spreadsheet of the
applets that we'll have on there and uh welcome your feedback. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, the next item under administration, we put that sidewalk snowing. Uh, there I'll turn that over to you or you want me to open that up or if you want to open up the conversation.
>> No, I think there's there's just been um confusion over whether or not there is an existing ordinance over clearing sidewalks. And there is, but it only relates to commercial properties. So, there is not an ordinance on our books related to residential properties. Um, I
know that this storm, what is it called? Winter storm Fern has been a challenge. And you know, typical temperatures for this time of year are 40°. We're at 14. I tried to go out on Saturday and shovel
through some spots in town that have not been shoveled for whatever reason, whether it's a rental property and the landlord hasn't done it and there's no one living there or if it's an elder elderly or disabled resident. But I try
to go out there. I had a shovel. I had a garden tool and I try to get through. there's so many layers of ice and snow and unfortunately if this if the walk wasn't shoveled it's it's really hard right now. Um I just encourage people going forward if there's any dangerous
situations um hopefully in the next week the temperatures arise and we'll be able to get you know walkways cleared. But um the question on ordinances I hope I I was able to clarify that. Uh and again if there's
any um if there's any need for any support um please give us a call. Um I I mentioned that to someone. I was sitting next to someone and they they said if you have you know elderly parents or someone you know needs help shoveling um and she said oh my parents would never
ever call or ask for help. So, I think um if you have the bandwidth, the wherewithal and you see a neighbor, I know it's hard at this point, we can't really get through the ice, but going forward, um if you can help and chip in and shovel someone's walk, they think
they may not be able to do it, then I would, you know, appreciate that. >> I was a little confused because I read those ordinances that you sent and I didn't see what made them come like they read as residential as well to me. makes them commercial.
>> Um, which or no? So, we provided copies of ordinances from other municipalities that >> those were drafts that were cons. >> Those were just draft. >> Oh, they were never >> Yeah, they were never adopted. >> Yeah, those were, by the way, we have these for workshop meetings. We have
these omniirectional microphones. >> I'm getting feedback that they're not being >> Yeah, I heard. Yeah. So, that may not be the microphones. It's the I have to check the audio board. But my point is for workshop meetings, these we don't turn them on. They're on. So they should capture all of us regardless of this being on or off. So I'll have to check
the it's the the individual regular meeting that we turn these on and off. So that's why we have these for here. So I'll work with uh Greg after the meeting and just see what's going on with audio levels. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, um, yeah, those were ordinances that were included with your
agenda packet as drafts for consideration that had been considered in the past. Those are not our actual ordinances. Yeah. >> Because there's no number. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Those are just u I guess over the years. So, this topic has come up again and again, but as the mayor said, we do have in our ordinance
under sidewalks, there's a section that talks about sidewalk maintenance, but it does not address clear. That's more of like um you know if somebody put a trash can there or weeds or like you know some actual maintenance having to do some impediment on the sidewalk does not deal
with the snow specifically. But then there's another section in our ordinance under the sidewalk maintenance that does deal with snow removal but it does not apply to single family type residential properties. So somebody maybe educating why why is
this not I mean I can understand elderly I can understand hardships I can understand all that stuff but the ice is there because of the super cold and had everything been shoveled when it snowed or within a certain period of time there wouldn't be ice. So why is why is this
not an ordinance? Why are we not talking about like the pros and cons of actually creating a law in order to do this? I'm just a little confused. It's like or why has it been denied in the past? So, the last time this came up, the uh committee
opted not to adopt the ordinance because at the time none of the committee members owned properties that had sidewalks and they didn't want to adopt an ordinance that would apply to other people but not to them. And there's also the concern about um the proverbial
little old lady that Ken Shel wrote book which >> yeah I think I understand that I think I'm still just trying to understand I think a lot of the the push back or from what my interpretation of the push back happens to be probably around safe routes to schools um and within sort of
a certain area of schools maybe that should be considered or something along those lines. Um, and I can understand applying for hardships and, you know, people have vacation properties, they may not even live there during the winter time and all that stuff. There's all those kinds of questions, but I'm
just still perplexed as to why it's just outright not a law at all. That's >> the two times that this has come up in the time I've been here, those were the reasons why the committees have opted not to adopt it. But um you may feel
differently and it's it's up to the current committee to decide that if you want to move forward with this. >> I mean, you know, we could always have discussions. Again, um from my perspective, I like to see especially for something that's going to be so
impactful and that is hard to enforce because we can't enforce selectively. And you know what? >> I agree. we're going to divert the police from >> right >> what they're doing in order to door knock to tell people they got to clear their sidewalk. So it's a big undertaking and I think usually when you
have something like that like that you want to see real commensurate interest >> in the community and I I only personally heard from one person. I think you might have heard from one or two. >> So there's going to be people on both sides of the argument. So yeah I'm not against having a conversation.
>> Well I guess that I guess that's the point. I I guess my plea is that if there are people out there that are listening to this, then please by all means raise your hands, speak up, come to the meetings, talk about it because um I I agree. I like I I don't have a
sidewalk. There will be a future one at some point in front of my house somewhere from circa 2014 will beed in 2036. Um, but uh it doesn't personally affect me, but I I have heard from a few residents and I don't want to just kind
of advocate on behalf of the entire town if there's not that kind of support, but I just don't want to shove it under the rug that like, okay, it's been denied before. I just wanted to have some sort of conversation and get some perspective as to why it's not a law. So,
okay. >> Okay. So I guess I'll last one is that something now or no I don't I don't feel compelled to I think that I think there are they're valid points I agree in terms of enforcability is the the
biggest one okay so even if it is a law and somebody breaks the law is it like how do we know there's a sidewalk under there how do we know that they haven't tried all of those all of those questions but um aside from a couple of people complaining about it right now I
think I'd like to hear more um from residents um and in order for us to move the needle further. I guess I I would be honest on on others at this stage. >> I I mean I think it's understandable. Sorry, my mother's trying to reach me and she gets cast into this ring again.
Um I think it's understandable because the concerns I did, you know, see on social media of course was by the school. I don't know if you could limit something like that by the school. Um >> well a radius a radius within sort of like a onem radius or something where people are walking to schools if you have a sidewalk that
>> I believe most of our sidewalks are in the first place. >> Yeah. >> Well then there's bus stops and then there's there's a million region million stories. >> Well that's what makes us right. So I'd like I'd like to hear it.
>> We can further discuss. >> It is certainly a um a highly discussed issue in most municipalities. >> It's not. It you know maybe on first blush people would think it would be easily dealt with and it's not. It's in
residential areas for sure. It's because it is something that um affects property owners directly. You know, typically would result in fines. >> Sure. It affects people in terms of, you know, their ability to to shovel and the cost of shoveling if they're not able
to. >> So, I get like I understand it. Um and I just because there's a vocal minority right now, maybe sorry, a vocal crowd, not minority, um that is expressing concern. I haven't I guess I I haven't
heard both sides of the vessel. So, >> right. And then and and you know there may be an equal number of of people who you know don't don't want it be being implemented. Yeah. So it's it's and that's usually where you see action
>> as a result. Would you say that towns will fall on both sides of the fence in terms of passing through ordinances to address this and not leaving it kind of self-reliance and you know the goodness of community action to deal with
>> civic mind >> for commercial residential >> residential are there any neighboring town >> well we included I think you should have gotten in your packet. You know, it's like at least three. I mean, I I don't know of many towns that don't have it. I
don't want to say most towns have it. That's what we're just asking. I don't want to say most towns have it, but I'm not aware of towns that don't have such an ordinance. um that don't have an ordinance to do with residential shoveling of of snow really, but just
putting the entire a lot of times just have that the burden of everything had to do with mun the sidewalks adjacent to your property are the responsibility of that homeowner. Uh a lot of towns have that codified for liability reasons. Whether it's trees
uprooting sidewalks, whether it's the snow shoveling, that tends to be the default uh that I'm aware of. I'm not aware too many towns don't. So, >> this would be in keeping with that. And generally what happens is you most towns won't put that on their police department. They'll put it on their
property maintenance code official, zoning official to go out and enforce. And when that happens, it's usually like, >> you know, here you go. Here's a letter, you know, or putting on your door. You've got 24 hours or 12 hours within the the stop of this to to tend to it.
And then if they don't do it, then there's a summon issue. Uh so, you know, like a lot of things, notice of violation. There's argument that, hey, it's a safety issue. It's going straight to a violation. But, you know, you want to again, if there's somebody who's elderly, maybe somebody's not even home, right? Like they're out of town on
vacation. Um that is the responsibility to do it. So, you're saying, "Hey, FYI, in case you don't know, we've got to tend to this." Uh if there's an issue, like with most notices of violations on property maintenance, it's usually call the zoning official or whoever issued it. Uh if you have any questions, oh,
you know, I can't do this or I'm out of town or whatever. And then, you know, if you want to say, "Hey, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, put it out on a forum if somebody's willing to help them." Um but, you know, there there's a process that, you know, there's flexibility in the process as well. So I know just the
in your agenda packet we looked at just the municipalities right around us burough Madison and I think the other one that we included was was it Palm Hill or >> I must have missed something. I only saw ours did did maybe I missed it. Was it in the big packet in the packet? >> I I
included what you sent >> I missed this. >> I think it was the lead was Long Hill and the other one you sent me. Well, that that actually bespeaks a question because uh you know the burrow is main street and a lot of sidewalks. Madison is main street
and a lot of sidewalks. Um you know if I mean >> is there even a sidewalk in Harding? I don't know. You know, so if it's a more comparable I think that's where the history comes from. Correct. The fact of the matter is that these were >> for lack of better term trails as
opposed to sidewalks. Correct. and but getting formal around where density is higher um is certainly where that is. So >> and also you know a lot of the sidewalks one maybe contributing factor as to why
this a lot of the sidewalks that we have in Chadam are also not on municipal roads. >> Yes. >> Right. Like they're on county roads as well. So that is uh you know the county has a policy that they say like most counties we only do deal with curb to curb. If you guys want sidewalks in your
town states even if you want sidewalks in your town you can put them in our rightway but then they're your responsibility or whoever's responsibility that you want to delegate it but they're not our responsibility. So um that may have had something to do with progression of sidewalk. So count
so even if there was a a an ordinance in place that we adopt it just say for that and it's a county road it wouldn't it wouldn't apply to that >> no it would apply to it would apply to everybody in in in the jurisdiction if
you said townwide right if you wanted to name certain roads that's a different story but um it would apply everywhere it's just you know who's adjacent to that to that sidewalk Well, like Shumpike, I don't think had there's parts Shumpike that didn't have
sidewalks up until fairly recently, right? >> They're still they're planning to put them in at some point, but there's parts of Champike that are not residential. There's school property and all that kind of stuff too that's not plowed. Um, so,
um, yeah, I mean, there's plenty of places where there's not an actual sidewalk and it's like kind of gravel that probably will shouldn't be included, but I would think so.
kind of hard to show a gravel. >> Yeah, I'm sorry if the I'll double check, but yeah, Chattam, Long Hill, Madison, all but they weren't near. I apologize. They're supposed to be all >> Long Hill. I wouldn't consider Long Hill
down. >> Well, they have a shopping center right near their municipal shopping center. >> Yeah, I forgot about that one. >> Well, I I don't think anyone questions the wisdom of wanting to have safe
walkways, right? Um I think we had rather unusual storm where um we had significant snow accumulation and bouts of warmer weather where the snow melted. Uh the trouble is we had sub freezing temperatures overnight and
really no place for the melted snow to go. So you ended up with refreeze refreezing on paved surfaces whether it be concrete or driveways. Um, so I think there was an added challenge partic particularly to this uh snowstorm or
snow storms. Um, I I do think it merits having a discussion about uh the possibility of of introducing an ordinance to address it. Um, I think ultimately what we're going for is how do we how do we maintain safe walkways
whether it's through law or through some other means or perhaps a combination of the two. Um, you know, at the end of the day, I don't know if this is too Truman showes thinking, but you know, you've made a fleeting reference to Foy SC to the Scouts, um, other civic
organizations. I I don't know, maybe we put together a a a needs list of of addresses and, um, you know, do a call to arms for able-bodied dev individuals with equipment and shovels and, uh, maybe, you know, we have neighborhood
associations as well. I I know that um we can break it up in terms of that. You know, probably think about ways to deploy um at least section by section, particularly the ones where schools are probably heavy or heavy pedestrian >> trafficked areas um hit those first uh
with some sort of plan. Um that that could be bolstered with an ordinance. I'm not sure. But um I do share committee woman Ewalt's concern about enforcability or selected enforcability. Um, so, uh, nevertheless, I think it
merits discussion. I think we, uh, certainly want to have safe walkways. I think we want to encourage our children to walk to school, uh, in a safe way. Um, anyone who's done drop off knows the complete nightmare of, uh, backed up
cars. Um, so any way we can foster uh, walking to school in a safe way, I think everyone can embrace that. Um, so I I think it merits further discussion. Um, and uh, yeah, so that's all I've got to
say on that. >> So I I guess I might suggest if we can um, you know, collect the comparable ordinances, which I know you sent, you know, think about it. Now we've had a discussion so residents have an opportunity >> to listen in and then to chime in and
maybe we bring it up in next month at next month's workshop and >> okay >> if that makes sense. I think I don't think we have to make a decision tonight. >> There's a second hearing which says tonight if people are speaking but um but I'd encourage others to come forward at future meetings and not just when
>> you know it's probably not going to happen overnight. So the weather will turn warmer and then people forget about it. So I would kind of mark it as your point of view now and you know hopefully we'll have a point of view for end of
year something like that. Okay. All right. Anything else underg um moving on clerk received the report. Any questions there? >> Okay. Construction building. Um just uh
note that we've got a resolution to refund the permanency overpayment and uh the report was concluded. No question. >> A refund on an overy. >> Yeah. >> I do have a question if you don't mind.
Uh at the end of of the report uh it is noted that uh complaint investigations and tree removal permit activity um are not reflected but there have been a couple circumstances recently that have been noticed by neighbors and others. Uh regarding um some building lots where
there has been significant tree and and enforcement. uh is that something we can add or talk about or have a report of what is the compliance level uh of particularly tree permits within the township? Uh I don't want to add anything to uh the construction office
where they're losing bodies. Uh hopefully they'll get them back real quick here. Um but I think it is important because particularly over uh on some specific locations over by and over by Susan and some others. Um I do have a question on are we
complying? Are we not complying? Can we look into that? >> Yeah, can just more or I can talk. Can you Yes. >> disc you want to discuss now briefly or uh you and I can chat later. >> Well, >> just so I know what what is it you're looking for as far as the data points are. >> So, what I'm looking for is compliance of there's been a number of lots that
have been um I I I cite the ones what a year or two ago on River Road where he was up the hill and he took everything out and washed it down. You know, where are we with settlement there? Uh there is a construction project uh starting to occur over on Pine Street uh which um
some people have done some counts on. >> I counted about 29 trees >> and so it's it's not that big a lot. Um over on Susan I actually even looked at one that looked funny to me and I uh look into the permit for perhaps seven trees and there was certainly
significantly more than those number of stumps. And so, um, I would ask if there's a way to, um, see what the current compliance is. >> But when you say comply, meaning JB, >> the compliance with permits. Number one, do they have the permit? >> Right. And and what does the permit say
and is it being complied to? And then, you know, >> so we would only know if there's a to kind of play out the process. If somebody removed trees without a permit, we wouldn't know about it until >> somebody came in. >> Yeah. Somebody somebody complained. So, not a data point. It's just that we can
only at this point report on permits >> obtained. >> Okay. >> And then maybe let's say I'm just trying to play it out. As I said, if you want, we can talk about it now uh separately and I can try to help to craft the right report for you. >> Uh yeah, that's fine. We can talk about
Yeah, but I I I do think it's something that uh needs discussion. >> Yeah. But if there are any complaints about those, I'm not really hearing them. Nobody's so if residents are seeing those if the environmental commitment if somebody they're not coming to me so I can't do my job to follow up on those and and then you know
after >> it's not accusation how do we how do we how do we notice this or is it just a matter of residents noticing and raising their hand. >> Yeah. >> And if that's the case then I think there are groups within town that would raise their hand if they're you know
make it easy for them to raise their hand. I also I think the one of the bigger issues though and I I don't know how to address this either is that's usually done after the fact, right? The dam the damage is already done. >> Well, that's why it's so important specifically.
>> So, I think that's the bigger question of like is that considered has that been approved by the planning board? Does all are all the trees and all that stuff is that part of the process of the approval process to begin with? >> Um I don't know. So, well, there's been
over the last couple years actually, there's been discussion on updating a tree ordinance again close to the model ordininal by the state. Maybe that's a moving target. Um, >> which we got approved for though. That one we the state approved ours. Uh, may recall we did uh, you know, we sent that
over to them to see if there were any changes that needed to be made to be in compliance and they said ours compliance. Um yes, but I think it's a little further than that because there's a significantly more work happening for example with the environmental commission. >> Oh, I just remember in terms of this
model comp. >> So I think I think this is all kind of related and it also comes all the way down to planning and everything else you know what kind of community do we want to maintain, right? Um if we want to get to the maximum tree removal of every
property because we can maximize footprints. So, this is a bigger bigger piece um and something I think we should really start digging our teeth into a little bit more because some of them are becoming egregious type of approaches to some of these properties. So,
>> yeah, and I would suggest that you know even discussions about um whether or not to encourage people to re you know raise um violations or concerns after the fact. Mhm. >> You know, those could be worthy if
that's the direction you want to go in because there are penalties and you know, if you want if you want to discourage that >> from happening in the future, that's the way you do. >> Yeah. I'm not I'm not disagreeing. I just think that part of it is
yes, that the voice voices should be raised. There's no doubt about it. But it's but I think that the and maybe this was in the plan like this one particular property this was already approved and it was done case we have no idea >> right
>> um but I think there is genuine concern and it's usually kind of noticed >> like I said after the fact for sure >> people have uh contacted the officials when during in progress when they have concerns and they we will send out >> construction officials we sent out
police to top. >> Yeah. >> You know, work that we think is not >> uh in accordance with the permits that are provided. So, I certainly would encourage if somebody's worried that there's massive clear cutting. >> So, I mean, please let me know. Like I if I don't hear about those, I know we had the incident on River Road, was it last year or two years ago? Soon as that
we have police, construction and engineering responded, but if I don't know about these, but then once we issue the sanitation, there's a summon at that point, it's in the court and uh then it's the prosecutor. So, you know, uh Mr. Daniels may not be aware of what's
progressed from there unless it's in that case. I don't uh you know so all work is getting the data points you know we'll talk about you know so get you know what what uh what it is exactly to put in that report so I could have uh
yeah number one have there been um except the one on river you know have there been fines assessed you know and and what have those been have they been to the ordinance have they been uh to the uh uh to the extreme of the ordinance or the the easy part you know where are are we um with with uh that
and how and how in review of um the tree ordinance itself, right? Um what do we want to have as a community in order from the planning standpoint and is there is it the tree ordinance as it stands sufficient to protect what we're
looking to protect from the standpoint of the character of the community? Yeah, it's a broad question comes up though every year we've been talking about that and I think every year we've kind of said that it it has right >> to some degree you know it does meet that it's not that it's a very
permissive it's actually a very restrictive ordinance um >> right because we talked about I think last year and we had a subcommittee meeting on it and I recall that the feeling >> were there were any changes however was that to what was existing because I
remember that you know we had John engaged to look at that um and rather than just simply um complying to the state model um uh is that satisfactory to us or not? I don't know that >> I think ours is more restrictive than
state. Yes, that was so >> yes. >> Okay. Well, we can talk about some of those specifics um when we get because I would like to follow that. I there is expressed there is expressed interest that this is a kind of a little
bit too far the pendulum is sw >> yeah but again the ordinance the where it's swinging is not because the ordinance compliance with the ordinance is >> well then it comes down to the report what is being complied that's what I'm asking for you know are we actually
following up on any of this um okay if it doesn't meet the ordinance then why is it not then followed up. >> But the but let's say in the case of the trees have been removed, right? >> Yes. >> You follow up after them, you can't replant the trees. They've already been
removed, right? Like we're not out there while the trees are being removed, right? They >> No, I understand that. >> So that's that's only however to to your your your point of compliance. There is um a penalty for non-compliance. And is
that happening? Um I don't know that that's happening either to give a negative >> but until we're aware of it right and then we f you know then we issue the summons that's that's the process once it happens there's there's in our mind
it's full compliance unless we're aware of other >> all these properties by by and large um all uh do have either a replacement factor you know how are those things followed up right even for the major developments you know the enclave Okay,
there's yeah, I remember 300 some odd trees and they follow it up and yeah, so that's the engineer and the actually goes out. >> So, but but this is to me um and and to neighbors I've had discussions with around these properties, uh this is this
is a an ongoing issue. And so I want to revisit that um specific um to okay, where we are in compliance. That's the baseline, right? are we complying and uh and the mechanisms that are addressed
after that it's learned I mean are are we actually applying the fines are we actually you know why is this continuing >> yeah well we just issue the summons and then the court would >> sure >> issue the the fine >> and collect the fine and at that point you know it's we don't know what's
necessarily you know Jack is not involved in that he just issues the summon >> and then it goes to the court >> no I understand it's outside of his control but how does this how does is get beyond, right? Is there a mechanism to keep it from happening rather than being punitive after the fact? Is there
a way to actually make sure people comply? >> If you can tell me how we can stop people from speeding, it's kind of the same thing. >> I think to Tiana's point, >> if you start enforcing, if people complain and we enforce, then it's a deterrent.
>> Yeah, that's my point. That's >> right. They don't have an audit process, but also >> right I'm not sure if and we could talk more but I'm not sure if um pulling data with
regard to compliance is going to show you anything other than who's telling on who. >> Okay, >> there's plenty of people doing that >> that because that >> there's plenty of people doing that. Whenever a tree comes down in this town, there are plenty of neighbors that are,
you know, calling to see if there's a permit. So, >> yes, >> a tree a tree doesn't follow this town without someone getting knocked on. >> Well, that's part of my point. But in these some really egregious cases that are current and so Okay. >> Well, that's the other discussion we've
had is, you know, we grant permits because they get somebody to come and say that the tree is disease. >> Yes. And that's a whole that's part of the orex because because and is that then a conflict because you get that approval from somebody that has a certificate that's actually taken the trees down,
>> right? >> But then there's there's a conflict of interest. Yeah, there's an absolute conflict there. Yeah, of course it's I mean we look at the ones on what is it Johnson or whatever it was where he's taking a wall back and so um this is something that I would like to at least
investigate a little bit more to get a better handle. My my point was perhaps it's um more an understanding of process as as opposed to compliance >> because you know because compliance is um
more a matter of who's noticing and who's you know falling because it's you know I I don't know of a way for other than >> claiming board applications and followup permitting that happens.
you know, there's just not going to be a way from from the municipality to regulate that affirmatively. >> The only one I know where when I started was on actually I think it was off of buyers bill or behind that there's that gentleman who there was a an application trees were supposed to re be replanted,
whatever. We follow up with that. We like kept going through the court process. We even at one point uh he came I think before one of the boards because he wanted something to do with his property and we made that uh I think we raised that to the board and said hey he still hasn't complied with this. So you
know I know John went back and forth with them. You know we >> when it comes to our attention we do try to use every lever that we can to compel compliance ultimately whether it's the replanting or or the fees. Um but again unless it comes to our attention,
>> um I do think the environmental commission maybe can get roped into this too because they have specific points of view on how whether or not that's the viable choice, but they have specific recommendations on how um the process can be improved um
prior to the tearowns, I guess. Um and I think that's part of the discussion. encourage best to rope them into this because they're they have much more vested interest. >> Yeah, I'll set up a meeting u mayor if
you want. I'll set up meeting uh a construction official or engineer. >> Great. Okay, we can thank you. >> Yeah. Um engineering uh resolution to award a contract uh that is for the Hillside Avenue drainage improvements. That's for the It's not Hillside Avenue, it's the
Hillside Trail drainage improvements. That's one that we had that inter local agreement with the county on uh to address the runoff and the uh sort of wash wash out into that trail. Any questions there?
>> I mean, that's funding. Cool. That's one through grant money or is that Morris County carrying that whole? >> Uh the county is handling that one. We're just we took the lead agency role on it to advertise >> uh bid and >> oversee. >> Great.
>> Uh that's the one I use that one. >> Correct. I'm just hoping there's a couple things that the bidder has to do before uh hopefully the 24th before the full award. So if they >> checked off all those boxes then we'll have the res.
>> Any questions on the uh report? Okay. finance um annually the cap bank ordinance and uh an emergency temporary budget appropriation um for those of you that are not familiar because at the
beginning of the year you do a temporary budget and uh that one by state law is there's a formula it's 20 I want to say it's 26.25% of uh the previous year but it doesn't always correlate to 26.25 25
in every department. So there's potential shortfalls. So we amend the temporary budget until we adopt the full budget. So that's what this emergency temporary budget appropriation is for. Our CFO identified uh some potential shortfalls uh and wants to amend the
temporary budget to make sure that we're good until we adopt the budget. Any questions? Okay. Police. Uh no action items, just a report. Anything there? >> Um
just an just an observation that the motor vehicle stops and summones were significantly higher year-over-year. Um I just not that I'm surprised by the way people drive and nor am I surprised by you know
the excellent work that our police department does. Um I think it's just an observation. I I just was surprised to see this the size increase of the numbers of that even whether that has to do with distracted driving or anything else. So um anyone listening please try
to take both um public works uh we received a leaf composting grant from the state uh which you know typically we have to have the resolutions accept those grant funds um so that's what's being considered uh
however there may be some uh we are working on some implementation issues uh with the compost facility facility. John Rushkare engineer, our DPW director, our plant manager. Uh there are more stringent requirements coming down like
from the state from the D which are making facilities like ours to sort of like small town facilities. Uh adding a lot of a lot more cumbersome regulations and u things to deal with storm water runoff and how those affect uh you know
things being covered, not covered. Where's drainage? Where are they going? So, we are evaluating the whole entire Tomos facility operations as a result of that. Develop a plan to be in compliance with those regulations. So, we're receiving this grant. We may pivot on
how we use that in order to uh make sure that we are in compliance with the new regulations. you have the flexibility to use it for um you know the soft as opposed to hardware type of uh type of spend rather than equipment for grinding
of leads. You can spend it on compliance. >> We may be able to depending on the plan. Yeah. So that's what we're working on. I wanted to make sure that we also give you a full like before depending on what we're what the plan outcome is. We have enough details for you to review
financials and say, "Okay, if we continue doing what we're doing, this is what the cost is. If we pivot to this model, it's going to cost like this or if we go to this model, it'll cost that." And, you know, fully evaluate. So, uh, Rich Young is doing a good job with that. He's putting all those numbers together. We're going back a
couple years to make sure we capture everything, all the cost associated with this and what it might cost to either outsource that versus pivot and make the improvements ourselves to be in compliance. >> Is is the the new regulation or the new
compliance requirements putting the actual compost facility in danger for lack of a better term? >> Um, no, we think we can still continue it. It's just how we process the materials. Um or you may decide that yeah it is something that you know uh at
some point these these regulations just keep getting more and more difficult understood >> and it's just you keep pouring more and more money into it and so value even just things that we're looking at like we do mulch delivery over there. However, how much is it costing us to provide that mulch delivery service for the 70 people that take advantage of it
uh versus if we were to pivot and do something else. So those are all the things that we're trying to consider. um Rich's reports included and we also have an annual snow and ice report uh that's included which I think both are important to highlight for the residents
in terms of the spend right like it's quite a bit of effort and money when we're dealing with uh cold snaps and uh snow snowstorms that have been dealing uh this was a heavier year. So, um, you've got a report on overtime, sold,
brine, all those costs that are associated with what we do. >> Any questions? >> Sure. >> A lot of salt and a lot of brine. 235 ton I did math on my calculator. 235 tons of salt and 2,800 gallons of brine
in one month. And when things like this happen too, uh there's shortages around the state. You know, these not not many people realize how much public works departments start panicking when uh things like this happen. You know, we try to build up our
surplus as well and and build up the our dome. Um but then you start running into issues, supply chain issues. A lot of municipalities need it. DOT, private parking lots, everybody's using it. It puts quite a strain on the infrastructure and so um DPW our DPW is
really fantastic in how they handle it. >> Good. >> Uh tax collector, we have a resolution to refund an overpayment of taxes. Um and nothing too unusual about that questions.
Finally, tax assessor uh reporting tax assessor was included. We also did push an update uh on social media and uh on our website about the tax rebound. It's finally begun. So uh the link to the
uh page that includes locations is now being updated with the spreadsheet. So the uh reval company is out there. We've got the inspectors that are out there. The PD knows who they are. So, they're focusing really on the multi-unit
complexes right now because of the snow. It's easier to just deal with those in mass uh rather than trying to charge through the snow and larger, you know, some of the more spread out parts of the community.
I suspect that a really big part of I mean like everything else on our website, but that'll be on the app as well too when that actually rolls out whenever that which is good timing. >> Okay, >> any questions there?
>> Okay, that's it for uh resolutions and agenda items. >> Right. Thank you very much. Uh if you have further questions or discussion um Mr. Lanti, can we move on to the second hearing of citizens, please? >> Sure. Are we voted and raised?
>> Okay. >> Hi, this is Jess. Yeah. Hi guys, this is Jessica Romeo again from Pine Street. I just wanted to comment on a couple things discussed. One is the snow removal ordinance. I do hope that
there's encouragement for residents to speak up on whichever way they lean and feel about it. I walk a lot in town. I walk a lot in the morning and I see kids walking to school and the lack of care of the sidewalks is
really concerning. I've had to walk in the middle of the street on Southern Boulevard on Lafayette Avenue. I've seen little fourth and fifth graders doing the same. It's really scary. It's really dangerous. Um, I think a serious discussion should be had and just because in the past the answer was we
don't want to do this in our community, it doesn't mean that's the answer still. So, that's one thing. The other thing is the trees. Um, Z, I sent you a bunch of photos from Pine Street. I counted over 30 trees removed last week on a property
where a builder is doing a knockdown and a rebuild. I know you guys are putting together this app. I think there might be a great feature. you probably have it happening, but where you say, you know, got a concern, people can push a button and report something. I think one of the big issues is people don't know how to
report stuff. The environmental commission's been working really hard on reviewing our existing tree ordinance and tightening it up, making it in some way easier for residents to follow, and we do really look forward to presenting to that to you guys in the near future.
We've worked closely with Ruters on it to make sure that best practices are involved. Um, and I hope that uh when you do speak with somebody in engineering or construction, the environmental commission can be looped into this discussion on how to more
closely regulate the clear cutting of properties. Thanks. And sir, >> uh, this is Steuart Carr. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi, Stuart Carr, CARR from Three
Crestwood Drive, Chattam Township. Once again, a couple things. Number one, uh, reiterating that the two um, two uh, common periods is a terrific thing. Glad that was brought back a couple of years ago. Uh, number two, this whole workshop idea, having the public uh, to be able
to view that is terrific as well. So, please continue to do that. Uh, number three, I'm looking on my iPhone now and I'm seeing a transcript of the words that are coming out of people's mouths. Um, I would suggest that that be able to be transcribed and put that on the website such that people can not only
have the video, but can also have a transcription that goes to my comment a minute ago. And then uh following on that comment a minute ago, I did make some comments, but I also was making requests for a comment, i.e. what is the status of the planning board change to
having it taped and putting it out there? Please provide us a status update on that. Number two, please provide a status update on where we are with putting more stuff on the website, specifically more uh historical planning board, um township committee, etc.,
etc., and also backfilling those um uh whatever we call jump drive those uh reports from the planning board so that again the public can have access to that without having to go and get a jump drive from Mr. And then back. So I'd like to get some comment from the chair or whomever about
the status of those things. And then finally on the colony pool, uh same thing. Uh the idea of having a colony pool advisory committee representative in direct contact with the liaison and the administrator and whomever else is
dealing with the Colony Pool/Madison Y matters. I think over the next several months would be a prudent thing to do. and I'd like to kind of hear why that would not be a prudent thing to do and why you would not do that. So, if we could address those couple of items, that would be appreciated. I was not
being clear earlier when I was asking for uh response or comment. I wasn't just making a comment. Thanks very much. >> Hey, thank you. Um I sent you an email within the past week or so, so I will circle back and follow up and answer um
your other questions. the planning board that is on the agenda for the next planning board to start talking about that. But I'll reach out to you this week also. I think he asked about the uh the colony advisory. I don't think there's any intent actually. I think the intent
more you can assist Stacy is to engage them as much as possible to make this as smooth and as good a process as possible to take advantage of what we've created here. Um you know under contract negotiation that was the hard part for all parties involved not just us but the
Y as well. And so um I think Stacy you can affirm that right that's the whole idea is that the advisory committee is going to advise how to make this work. >> Yeah. >> Set a skeleton now put the meat on the bones. Well, and that's what because I did speak to the advisory committee before,
>> you know, the members some of the members I was able to get through the day before we, you know, had a sense that this might come on the agenda and um yeah, I had explained that the um the Y from our executive session discussions that the Y was interested in um meeting
with the advisory board and getting their input because they're eager to make this a success um for everybody. I mean the only way they make it successful for them is to make it successful for you. So and it again it is a Chattam Township asset. So it is
fully our intent to make sure that our membership which is largely our Chattam Township residents are enjoying that pool. So some of these concerns and worries about you know camps overriding there are limits in the contract in terms of and there was deception that the camps outside of Blur family would
be brought in before the the uh pool opens. So the all these things that were raised have been discussed, have been considered and again we didn't get into the nitty-gritty details in the contract, but the why has expressed an interest and and we have mentioned to
them repeatedly our interest in maintaining that experience for our members. So it's fully intend to pursue that. Sorry ma'am. I just to affirm because committee woman will I think you're being very nice but I want to affirm you did reach out to the advisory committee
before the meeting. Not just before the meeting but days before the meeting. Uh >> no because we weren't in a position to to >> well not I mean it wasn't that day >> regarding this management. I had speaking to them about different things. I gave them a heads up that I thought something was coming up but I couldn't
speak to them about any details. So it was the day before. >> The day that's what I mean it was the day before. It wasn't the day of it. It was the day before. >> It was the day before. So, he did reach out to him. >> You know, this should be on the agenda, but we still had to work out some details right before. >> So, I just wanted to clear that up because it seems like there might
representation also followup conversation. One of the members of the advisory committee called me to after you had that conversation. So, I'll affirm that you did have that conversation prior to it actually being >> I couldn't I think I reached four of them. I couldn't reach.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I just want to clarify for, you know, the public and whoever is hearing the idea that maybe that did not happen because it it did in fact happen. And um I just it's not as big of a change as some people are making out to be. I mean, we sent out an email to
every member and only one person had a question. Uh nobody had concerns about this. Uh so, it's not as big of a deal uh as as it may seem. It's actually a a good It's a big deal in a positive aspect. It's not a big deal in the sense
that it's just instead of hiring a manager and assistant managers, it's a nonprofit that has a manager and assistant managers and experience in running the pool. So it's not much different than what's been going on. Uh so there's a lot of sort of like whatifs, sky is falling scenarios,
hypothetical scenarios, and we could come up with a hypothetical scenario of all the things that go wrong whether we were doing this or not. Uh and so we just kind of need to keep this in mind that this is nothing drastic. This is not a huge change. It can only benefit
the the the community pool to make sure that it runs well. It addresses, as you said, community uh that addresses the concerns and the complaints that we've heard over the past couple years to make sure that the whole experience is safe and and fun.
>> Yeah. uh in terms of those immediate things that have to be done. I know those conversations because we've been turning up. So, for example, the hiring uh we I know those conversations and you and I had talked about that the township would probably send a notice to those uh folks who would had worked for the pool before just let them know, you know,
there's a link or >> Yeah. Just as we sent out a press release and and an email to all the members uh when that information, you know, we did say when information is available, we'll let you know. The Y is working through it. They're inputting things into their HR systems, refining
job descriptions, all these different things. Once that's ready and we've got things available to put out, we will put out notice to the lifeguards and staff that have worked previously if they want to reapply and be considered uh and more details. You know, the marketing, you
know, typically this is around the time when we would start having the brochure go out to homes soon. And it's the same thing. marketing will include all the information that people are are curious about, but not much is changing. You know, that's that's the important thing to remember is really not much is changing from the forward facing side of
things. Uh, you know, just in terms of the uh structure and the parameters of of our pool. I I think we might be all be well advised to um encourage a meeting between key folks
at the Y and other parties from the township whether it's advisory board committee or combination thereof um as soon as sensibly possible um in order to uh
allow the Y to have a better understanding of what u what the what the concerns and and desires might be is and get a better appreciation for what the history of of of the pool is and they've already gotten that from us but I think there
would be um another dimension added by folks who have been serving on the advisory board for considerable amount of time um because I do understand what you're saying it's a whenever there's change there there's there's a possibility for for ought to be well gee
how can it change for the worse I I think we went into this with the notion that we're we're going change for the better also understanding that yes there's a risk that there's a risk inherently with any contract any new partner but I think we have a very
community-minded partner um who's expressed desire certainly in the offset to uh run things largely the way they are right I mean um but uh you know having said that I understand they are just words from you know it's telephones
coming from then to us to the public but uh and also advisory board so I think you know perhaps some direct dialogue would benefit all parties yeah it's just important to remember for everybody that's sort of uh and there aren't that many people again that are overreacting
or thinking that this is a big we've only been two month two weeks two weeks from having authorized the agreement so there just needs to be a little patience right it's like we we only authorized it two weeks ago. We only I think just recently finally exchanged signed copies
of the agreements. There's, you know, administrative things that need to happen. So, you know, we got to do things in in sequence and in order to make sure that, >> you know, uh we've got our ducks in a row. So, you know, we'll get there. It's just that's also to kind of the mayor's
point is that this was something that was not tried to be hidden from the agenda. was just moving so quickly and trying to get this done in time for the season to be open and so, you know, I understand a lot of people are kind of chomping at the bit or getting excited.
It'll be okay. It will be okay. Um, sorry, I just don't I want to slightly correct one word because I think you said overreaction and I I think it's a natural reaction. I think that this is something that residents have been very pouring a lot of heart and soul into. So
I I can I think we all understand where they're coming from. I think we have a valid counterargument, but I can think we can all understand where they're coming from and it I just don't think it's necessarily an overreaction. That's all. >> Well, what I tell my kids, don't open
the umbrella until it starts raining. And I think everybody was quick to open their umbrella, but it's heavy to carry around the umbrella if it's not raining. So that's to your point. Let's just ask ask for some patience. Um we're excited.
We spent a lot of time, a lot of work. There has been a lot of communication and we will continue that conversation. There's no secrets. There's no hiding. We're all here to be, you know, working towards the same goal and the same success for Colony Pool. I've been a
member many years. My kids work there. You know, nobody wants to see it become a a chaotic, you know, splash pad scene. So, um, we appreciate everyone's input. Um, and,
you know, just let's all work together. Have on that note. Is there a motion to adjourn? We got one more bill. >> Oh, we do. I want to close. We have to close the second. >> Yes.
>> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Aaron Berggo, Bur Candace Lane. Um, I just wanted to provide a few updates, clarifications if I may. Um, I was told around 10:00 the night
before the last committee meeting that there would be that the township had entered into an agreement with the YMCA. Although I knew that at 10:00 at night, there's no way the public could have known that this topic was going to be
discussed because it was never on the agenda. And I certainly couldn't call a hundred people and tell them to tune into the meeting. Um, I wanted to also just read if I could uh the response
that I got in an email from the administrator this week. Bear with me for one second. Um, we value the advisory committee's role and input and we share the same goal, a well-run, safe, welcoming, and enjoyable season for members. As we move through the preseason timeline, we will continue
to provide clear updates to the township and YMCA communications, including registration information and key operational details. be on the lookout for emails from the township to the Colony Pool member distribution list on our website and Facebook. So that is what I got in response to the email that
I sent, our committee sent looking for confirmation to 12 different statements and asking 12 questions. In other words, we needed to just sit back and wait and we'll find out when everybody else finds out. We have been excluded from this
process. It happened behind closed doors. it wasn't on the agenda for the meeting. I I I just even tonight when I I called in and I I mentioned that we can't even book a band, you know, because even our
question that pertains to events wasn't answered. I I'm sorry. I'm I don't think this has been done fairly. I'm and I'm think that you need to really I've read the
contract. Other people have read the contract. We have valid concerns about the number of campers that may be at the pool. We already had issues with work family and I think we're compounding this issue by bringing in more campers. We don't have enough facilities. We don't have the infrastructure to support
any more campers. There are four toilets in the ladies room. The locker rooms above the concession stand do not work. How can we bring in more campers? How can the facility support that? We had I just think we've There's a lot of people that have read this contract. We have
valid concerns and they're not being addressed and we're told to just wait. We'll find out when everyone else does. That's all. >> Okay. If there are no more questions and comments, then we can close the second hearing of citizens.
Now, is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Anyone? >> I move that we adjourn. >> Second. Okay.