Can I have your attention for a minute? We're going to start the meeting in about 60 seconds. So, if you could mute or turn off your cell phone, that'd be greatly appreciated. All right. Good evening and welcome to the township of Clark Council meeting. It is Monday, June 16th, 7:30 p.m. Roll
call, please. Council member Hoff here. Council member Hund here. Council member Maserella here. Council member Maniti is absent. Council member Okconor here. Council member Tol here. Council President Smith here. Please stand for
the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. To the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
This meeting is in compliance with the open public meetings act as adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by mailing the annual schedule of meetings to the star ledger union county hawk union county local source and tab into clark by posting such meeting schedule on the bulletin board in town
hall reserved for such announcements the official website of the township and the proper filing of said notice formal action may be taken at this meeting. Great. Thank you. Uh we were going to do a motion to suspend a regular order of business, but we're going to move the
troop and boy scout troop and cub scout troop 145 to the July meeting because there was a miscommunication in the date. Uh and then also is Matias Gabrielle Lopez here. All right. So, we'll probably do that
presentation if he shows up then near the end. So, um, we're not going to suspend the regular order of business. Uh, so we'll move to communications from the mayor and reports of township officers. Mayor Albanesey's. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, just want
to get some business out of the way here. Uh I've been advised by our um department head u local emergency management council uh Mike Nordis that we need to appoint myself and also our
police director Patrick Grady to the local emergency management council which used to be called the committee. Um that's that. Okay. I'd like to shout out uh a big
congratulations to the great job the board of education has done, our superintendent, the principles, all the administrators, and our teachers and students for ranking fifth in the county in the uh reporting of rankings of the school high
schools in the state of New Jersey. And um we were ahead of Cranford and Scotch Plains. So, we're very proud of that. And uh you know it's one of those things that can go up and down each year but uh we celebrate uh that and congratulate
them. On the agenda tonight we have the um audit um council's required to review in particular any general comments and recommendations that are made by the auditors. And uh I have the report here
and I'm pleased to say that we have no comments, no internal control comments. So I want to give a big shout out and thank you to our CFO Christy Vieiraa. Um and it's not something that she does alone. It's really relies she relies on
all the different departments, the clerk, all the departments that uh spend money uh have vouchers, time to report, etc. So, it's really a team effort and I also want to thank Jim Olrich, our BA, uh, for a tremendous job in getting this
done so timely. And, uh, that concludes my comments at this time. Thank you, Council Member Huff. That um, I apologize I am losing the library report. Okay. Um so first of all
as far as the board of education they are going to be giving me more information. Uh but as to the mayor's point um that was great news about the ranking and obviously there's been um as we wrap up the end of the year uh a lot of um award ceremonies and athletic ceremonies that have been great um
celebrations for um the the athletic teams that have done so well and all the academic excellence. Um, I'm looking for the update on the amount of scholarships that our district got uh for our students, which I think was pretty exceptional and obviously graduations are coming up this next week. Uh, so a
lot to celebrate um safely and happily for everybody. And moving on to the library report, um the library welcomed a total of 8,520 visitors and had 6,000 website v uh visits. They have upcoming events such as Color Our World, which is the summer
reading challenge. They're doing the um color our world big summer reading events with the adult and teen summer reading kickoff event of a museum escape room. And that's Tuesday, June 24th from 7 to 8:30. They have the reading kickoff, uh, excuse me, the reading
kickoff event, uh, which is Thursday, June 26th at 7 PM. And they're doing the New Jersey Man Bubble Show, which is Thursday, July 17th at 6:30 p.m., and Zuhoria Animal Show, which is a live animal show, on Thursday, July 24th at
6:30 p.m. And all of this can be found on their social media pages and on their website. again continue to reiterate that I'm blown away by our library and everything it has to offer, including the printer and the 3D printer and all of the things that are available for the community. Um, so if you haven't been to
library, I strongly encourage you to do so. And that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Hun. Thank you, Council President. I have the Clark Police Department report for the month of May, 2025. We saw a total of 1,959 calls for service, including but not
limited to 131 ambulance requests, 75 alarm calls, three arrive calls, which is for mental health requests, one burglary, eight fire department requests, eight, excuse me, 10 fraud identity thefts, 16 motor vehicle and
residential lockouts, 93 motor vehicle accidents, 23 shoplifting and thefts, and 1,00 [Music] five, excuse me, 155 911 calls and 145 miscellaneous calls. There was a total
of 10 adult arrests, including but not limited to two for warrants and se seven for shoplifting. The Youth Aid Bureau handled a total of 15 cases, including but not limited to one for shoplifting, five for offenses against the family,
two for truency, and two for short-term disability. Excuse me. That's for my work job. I apologize that for short-term custody. That concludes my report. Thank you, Council Member Maserella. Yes. Thank you, Council President. It's my DPW report for this
evening. Uh electric electronic drop off for this month will be conducted on June 28th, 9:00 a.m. to 100 p.m. in the DPW yard behind this building. ID is required.
Um, now for grass pickup, please, ladies and gentlemen, grass clippings only. No branches, twigs, plastic, and anything else. Our DPW staff has been directed to conduct
random checks of the grass and the leaf bags. If there's any of these items in there, they will not pick up your grass clippings. We have to do this, ladies and gentlemen, because we have no way of disposing it. Uh we can't we can't pass
it on to uh the entity that takes our grass. So, please make a note of it. It won't won't be picked up. If it is found that you have any twigs, uh branches, plastic, or any items other than grass, please make
note of that. To schedule any DPW services, go to www.ourclark.com and click the tab for online services. This covers tree permits, bulky appliance, pickups, tree trimming, tree
removal permits, mulch deliveries, potholes, and other items. So, please go to that site uh and please let us know what appliance and metal you want to be picked up because we have different
vehicles for each of those items. And appointments are required Tuesday, the week before your scheduled pickup week. Bulky items. Please, ladies and gentlemen, small items. Just don't throw them out into
the roadway or in front of your home. put them in a bag. No paint or chemicals would be accepted because again, we have no way to dispose of it. Um, branches can be placed out this week for pickup
on June 23rd. Please make a note of it so you could start placing them out. Please, there will be one pickup. Um, do not put any more out until July 20th. Our streets are starting to get
unsightly. Um, there's a lot of de there's a lot of debris because of all the rain and all of that. And the residents are just putting the branches out whenever they want and and it's becoming really is uh
an isore. So, please be wary of that. Um, so the next one would be July 20th. So if you need any other information, please uh go on your web for dbwourclark.com for more information. Thank you. That's
the extent of my report. Thank you, Council Member Okconor. Thank you. I do have Councilman's Clark Fire Department report. In the month of May, the Clark Fire Department responded to 54 calls, bringing the total for the year to 217 incidents included, but are not limited to the following. Five were for fire
related, six for rescue and EMS, 10 for hazardous conditions, 12 for service and good intent calls, and 20 were related to false alarms. Jimmy would like to thank the Clark Fire Department for participating in the annual Memorial Day parade and for attending the dedication of the new AED that was donated by the
Aliv Foundation. He would also like to extend his gratitude to the dedicated members of the Clark Fire Department for their continued hard work in keeping our town safe. The full fire department report is available in the clerk's office. And that concludes the fire report
for the Clark volunteer emergency squad. My glasses for this one. Squad activities. In May, the squad added a new probationary member. The squad participated in the Memorial Day parade and ceremonies. The squad currently has
ambulance 515 out for remounting. And the county has lent us an ambulance to be available. and should should ambulance 514 go out of service. Valley Road school hat day fundraiser for the squad was held and they were most appreciative of that. Please check for
recent fund drive requests and support them as much best as you can. And the squad celebrated national EMS week and they thank all the members and provided drinks and snacks for all crews for the week. Their call volume was as follows. There was a significant increase in ambulance requests in the month. They
had 339 calls with five mutual aid calls. But of course, this doesn't include any calls that were dispatched and canceled on. Total hours responding to calls is approximately 93 man hours. This does not include any hours that members are on duty when not on calls. Year-to- date call volume is 612 calls.
For those who would like to assist the squad but may not have the time to do the EMT training, we are accepting applications for people who are interested in becoming drivers for the ambulance. Must be 18 years of age with a clean driving record. If you're interested, they can email the squad at www.rclark ourclark.org or membership at
clarklearkms.org and they continue to service the community. The squad hosted three blood drives in April and is looking to expand the number each month as a need for blood is increasing. Due to the urgent need for blood at this time, there will be a blood drive every Tuesday at the squad from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please
consider donating. And the squad hosted an Eagle Court of Honor in May respectfully submitted Lorie Sheldon trustee. And from the finance committee, the township continues to be able to meet its current obligations. Thank you, Jimmy. To you and your team. That concludes my reports. Thank you,
Council Member Tol. Thank you, Mr. President. No official report tonight. I'll save my comments later for the end of the meeting. Bye. All right. I'm going to give a uh quick pool and wreck uh report. Uh there are last if there's anyone who is interested in signing up for the summer wreck
program, uh there are last minute uh spots available. We never turn anyone away. So, please contact Ralph Bernardo or Em Em Emily Lambert at 732-4288400 or you could always stop in the recreation office. The Clark Community
Pool is now open and accepting membership registrations. I know the weather hasn't been cooperative, but it will be uh by the end of this week. It's going to be forecasted in the high 90s for a few days over the weekend into next week. So, if you're interested,
information is on the clark.com website under the swim utility tab. Uh, the Clark family night at Somerset Patriots was another huge success. I want to thank Ralph for coordinating that. And lastly, we'd like to thank Ralph uh for
coordinating the annual Memorial Day parade, which was another huge success. I want to thank all the Clark residents who lined the streets to cheer on the parade marchers. And a big thank you to William Duffy for his foresight into enlarging and updating the memorials at
ALJ High School honoring Clark's falling soldiers. And that's all I have this evening. So with that, we will and all reports given this evening are available in the clerk's office or on the website. So we'll move on to ordinances, appropriations, and claims. Thank you,
Mr. President. For the record, no objections have been received in connection with the proposed ordinance. Ordinance 25-20 is a capital ordinance to appropriate the sum of $50,000 for the acquisition of a new compact excavator in by and for the township of
Clark in the county of Union, state of New Jersey, and providing that such sum so appropriated shall be raised from the capital improvement fund of the township. Okay. At this time, I will open up the public hearing on this ordinance and this ordinance only. If anyone would like to come forward,
please state your name and the town you reside in. Okay, seeing no one, I'd like a motion to close the public hearing. Thank you, Councilman Okconor. Second, Council Member Hun. All in favor? Any opposed?
At this time, I need a motion to adopt the ordinance. Moved. Thank you, Council Member Mezerell. I get a second. Thank you, Council Member Okconor. Any discussion or questions for the BA? Jim, do you have anything pretty self-explanatory? This is the purchase of a well, a Bobcat as everybody knows
it, and it's out of capital funds. Yep. Thank you. Roll call, please. Council member Hoff, yes. Council member Hund, yes. Council member Maserella, yes. Council member Okconor, yes. Council member Tol, yes. Council President
Smith, yes. Ordinance adopted. Okay. Now we'll move on to introduction of proposed ordinances. Ordinance 25-21 is an ordinance to amend chapter 76 entitled alcoholic beverages section 76-10
C entitled regulations of licenses of the code of the township of Clark. Thank you. Can I get a motion? Move that, please. Thank you, Council Member Hun. Can I get a second? I'll second it. Thank you, Council Member Hoff. Uh, any discussion? Yeah, this is just to bring
it into com um to conform with other municipalities. Right now, um we're just changing Sunday, moving it from 10 to 5 to 10 to 7. Right. Anyone else have any questions for the BA on that? All right. Roll call, please. Council member Hoff,
yes. Council member Hund, yes. Council member Maserella, yes. Council member Okconor, yes. Council member Tol, yes. Council President Smith. Yes. Public hearing on this ordinance will be July 21st.
We're going to move on to payment of claims. Council man uh Councilman Okconor. Thank you. I have reviewed the bills for the month holding $375,43.15. Great. Thank you. We're going to move on to the citizens hearing on the agenda. I'll open the meeting to the public. The
public comment portion of the meeting is to allow the public to bring to the council's attention their concerns or comments in accordance with NJSA10 col4-12A in the code of the township of clerk. Each person addressing the council shall give their name and the town in which
they reside to the clerk. All remarks shall be addressed to the council as a body and shall not exceed five minutes in duration. At the conclusion of the statements or questions from a member of the public, the council president his discretion may choose to respond or not respond. So at this time if anyone would
like to come forward on anything on the agenda. Uh let me you got it. Hold on one second. John, somebody will Okay. Sorry about that. Uh John Greavves from Clark. I just had a quick question about the agreement for 2011 Broadway,
the property there. Um, what kind of agreement is it? Is a sale? Is a rental? And I guess uh what what would the town be doing with the property? Yeah. So, that's um there's a property on um Broadway that has two pieces. It's
surrounded by two pieces of property that the township owns. There is an encroachment on the property. So, what we're doing is we're giving them a license to, you know, use the property, not have to take um any of the um
encroachments off, and we're also putting it out to bid. Uh there's no guarantee that they will get it as part of the bid, but we are going to put out those two pieces of property to bid. So, the the adjacent properties is what you're talking about, you would put to bid. No, we're going to put the bid out
on the properties that we own, not Okay. Okay. Thank you. Good evening, Dia Collins, Clark. Um, I just was wondering on endorsing number four, endorsing the housing element of the fair share plan. I've read on a
couple other townships, not ours, uh, information, Facebook, social media, that the fair share plan should be available for citizens, taxpayers, residents to review it. And I was
wondering if because I have a copy and it's extremely long and complicated. Um, I was wondering if there's a something on the internet or the town website that this is there for the residents to pro breeze through and take
a look at. Okay, I can comment on that. So, you were at the planning board meeting and Paul gave you the report. That's that's the report, right? I know, but is it available online anywhere for anyone to review or would you have to open it? As mentioned, you'd have to
just go down to town hall and you can get a copy and it is also available online online. Okay, it is all of the planning board documents are online but also you can go down and examine them as well. Thank you. [Music]
So, just to clarify for everyone that uh that this is an item that was discussed at the planning board meeting that the council is voting on this evening. U Michael Lata Clark. Um here you talk about the traffic at Old Ryan Road in
Westfield. Um it continually gets worse, but more importantly, it's getting very dangerous there. This is only for agenda items. So there'll be a portion at the end of the meeting to come up and speak about it. Okay. We'll let you know when that is. Thank you.
Yeah, this is just for anything on the agenda. All right. Is anyone else seeing no one else for like a motion to close? Move. Thank you, Council Member Tolk. I get a second. Second it. Thank you, Council Member Hoff. All in favor? Any opposed?
All right, we'll move on to resolutions. First resolution is certifying to the local finance board of the state of New Jersey that the members of the governing body have reviewed as a minimum sections of the 2024 annual audit entitled general comments and recommendations. I
get a motion that please and I'll I'll second that. All right. Thank you, Council Member Hun. Uh any discussion? Yeah. Yeah. This is a you know a state requirement that each member of the um governing body uh has received reviewed the audit you know
went through any uh findings, comments, recommendations which there were none and it's just signing off that you um understand it. Okay. Thank you. Council member Yeah. just like to make a few comments and uh the township of Clark's financial statements for the years ended
December 31st, 2024 provide a comprehensive overview of the municipality's financial position under the regulatory basis of accounting mandated by the state of New Jersey. The audit was conducted by PKF O'Conor Davies, no relation to myself, LLP,
which issued an unmodified opinion on the regulatory basis financial statements, affirming that they present they present fairly the financial position and operations of the township. The auditors reported no concerns or no deficiencies related to internal control, compliance, or financial reporting. The current fund showed total
assets and deferred charges of 9.65 million in 2024, slightly down from 9.89 89 million in 2023 with a statutory excess of 2.76 million added to the fund balance which stood at 5.32 million at year end. These figures reflect
consistent fiscal management and effective budgetary controls. The other funds also reflected stable or improving financial health. The general capital fund, the swim pool utility fund, the sewer utility fund reported operating surpluses and increased fund balances.
Overall, the audit confirms that the township remains in sound financial condition with no audit concerns with adequate reserves and proper fiscal oversight in place. Jim, congratulations to you and your team. Outstanding job. Thank you.
Thank you. Great. Thank you. When you're ready, Madame Clerk, roll call. Council member Hoff, yes. Council member Hund, yes. Council member Maserella, yes. Council member Okconor, yes. Council member Tol, yes. Council
President Smith, yes. Number four is endorsing the housing element and fair share plan as adopted June 5th, 2025 by the planning board and directing the township's affordable housing council to file the documents necessary to seek a compliance certification. We get a motion. I'll
move it. Thank you, Council Member Maserelic. I get a second. I'll second that. Thank you, Council Member Okconor. Any discussion? Jim, do you have anything to add on this? Yes. Or Mayor Albanesey's. So, as as you
know, council, um we had our attorney, Jeff Serinian, uh address the council in private session regarding this matter and um because it's because of its latigious
nature. Um the planning board met on June 5th and is presenting the plan um for for the township of Clark and uh it is due on June 30th. And we're really pleased and I want to also thank Paul
Ricky and Jeff Serinian who were at the meetings uh at uh the planning board meetings and uh answered questions for the public. So, we had our experts available to answer anything any questions that anyone had.
Thank you. Any other discussion? Okay. Roll call, please. Council member Hoff, yes. Council member Hund, yes. Council member Maserella, yes. Council member Okconor, yes. Council member Tol, yes.
Council President Smith, yes. Number five is the council as the ABC board authorizing the annual renewal of alcoholic beverage licenses for 2025 through 2026. And I'm happy to report that all licences complied with all requirements.
That's great news. Can I get a motion? A motion. Thank you, Council Member Hoff. Get a second. Thank you, Council Member Hun. Any discussion, questions? Pretty self-explanatory. It's just the renewal of the town's liquor license. Exactly. In the role listed in the um back up on
the agenda, there's no changes. Thank you. Uh roll call, please. Council member Hoff, yes. Council member Hund, yes. Council member Maserella, yes. Council member Okconor, yes. Council member Tol, yes. Council President Smith, yes.
I think number six we're going to pull from the agenda because all the paperwork's You have something to say, counselor? Yes. Uh number six is not ready. the uh other party has not responded to my comments yet, so the agreement is not ready to be considered. Great. Thank you. Okay. All right.
Number seven. Seven is authorizing the tax collector to prepare and mail estimated tax bills in accordance with public laws of 1994, chapter 72. You get a motion. Thank you, Council Member Okonner. You got a second? I'll second it. Thank you, Council Member Maserella.
Any discussion or roll call? This is because the state hasn't uh done their budget yet. Pretty much. I mean, it's because of the late adoption of the New Jersey state budget and the county still hasn't certified uh county county board of taxation still hasn't certified our
taxes. Um so, we can't uh send out the actual bill. We will send out the estimated bills based on our budget of um you know, the tax collector, the CFO. I mean, this is just a little bit more of a hassle because we got to mail them
out and then, you know, remail out uh the real uh the accurate tax bills when they come through, but in the end, it's, you know, everybody will get a uh notice on when interest will start acrewing. So, you know, the deadlines are going to be a little bit different in this
process. We do this every year. Most times we get lucky. The county comes through. We do, but I'm not sure we're going to get lucky this year. I mean, it's been there for a couple of weeks already waiting for the county tax board's approval. I mean, it's usually a
you know, uh, you know, quick approval. You have anything to add, Mayor? No, just it's it's, uh, pretty common throughout the state. The, um, log jam of work down at DCA, uh, division of local government services has to, you
know, certify all of the budgets. Uh in addition, you've got the department of education, but the DCA has to deal with the counties and the uh municipalities and um by doing this, the taxes will be due on their regular date, August 1st.
So, it is very helpful to keep that in mind. And uh yeah, it's a good thing. Thank you. Roll call, please. Council member Hoff, yes. Council member Hund, yes. Council member Maserella, yes. Council member Okconor, yes. Council
member Tol. Yes. Council President Smith. Yes. Number eight is authorizing the mayor andor business administrator to execute an agreement between the township of Clark and Vincent and Stacy Mellie in connection with the property located at
2011 Broadway. Get a motion. A motion. Thank you, Council Member Hoff. Get a second. I'll second that. Thank you, Council Member Okconor. Any discussion? I believe you mentioned it earlier. Go ahead, Jim. Yeah. The only thing I do want to add that I left out is that they
will also be providing insurance naming the um township as additional insured for those properties. Great. That that's important. Great. Thank you. Anyone else questions, discussion? All right. Roll call, please. Council member Hoff. Yes. Council member Hund. I need to abstain,
please. Council member Maserella. Yes. Council member Okconor. Yes. Council member Tol. Yes. Council President Smith. Yes. Number nine is consenting to assignment and transfer of real property designated
as block 91, lots 8.01, 10.01, and 36 located on Westfield Avenue and Washington Street. I get a motion. I'll move that. Thank you, Council Member Okcon. I get a second.
Actually, I'll move that. I'll be the second on that. Any discussion? That's the old uh Knights of Columbus property. Yeah, this is the old Knights of Columbus property. Um he was approached, the owner of the property was approached by a real estate development firm to
take advantage of building on taking over that building uh proposition. It's going to be the same exact building, same mixed use. Um however, these are, you know, very um successful property developers. Uh they also developed 999
uh Raridan on the corner uh bunch of properties in Lynen, Elizabeth uh Cranford Rawway and um you know we think this is good for the town. It'll probably even move it forward faster than it would have been under the individual developer. Uh so that's why
we're suggesting that we you know make this transfer of the agreement. Thank you for the explanation. Roll call, please. Council member Hoff abstain. Council member Hund, yes. Council member Maserella, yes. Council member Okconor,
yes. Council member Tol, yes. Council President Smith, yes. And when you're ready, we can move to consent agenda resolutions. Following items are considered routine and non-controversial items by the township council and will be enacted upon by one
motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member so requests in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda to be discussed and voted on following the approval of the remaining items listed on the consent agenda. First resolution is award of
contract to waste management for solid waste services for bulky waste type 13 and 13C at the Union County rate of $119.12 per ton. Next is authorizing the tax collector to apply sewer account balance adjustments
as credit in the amount of $2,200. Next is authorizing final payment to T. Fiatakis Construction LLC for work completed on the year 50 community development block grant ADA curb and sidewalk improvements in the amount of
14,440. Number 13 is refunding construction permit 22-432 in the amount of $1,928.40. And finally, authorizing a professional services agreement with Lou Environmental Services to manage lead testing of residential rental units
built prior to 1978 in compliance with NJAC 528A and at the property owners at the property owner's expense and to prepare and submit required documentation to the state on behalf of the township free of charge. Get a motion to adopt the
consent agenda. So moved. Thank you. Council member Tolk, you get a second? Yes, I'll second it. Thank you. Council member Masarella, roll call, please. Council member Hoff, yes. Council member Hund, yes. Council member Maserella, yes. Council member Okconor, yes.
Council member Tol, yes. Council President Smith, yes. Okay, at this time, we will now go to public comments. I'll open the meeting to the public. Oh, I'm sorry. Any new business on the calendar? There's no new business. Thank you. Now we'll move on to public
comments. Uh the public comment portion of the meeting is to allow the public to bring to the council's attention their concerns or comments in accordance with NJSA10 col 4-12A and the code of the township of clerk. Each person addressing the council shall give their name and the
town in which they reside to the clerk. All remarks shall be addressed to the council as a body and shall not exceed five minutes in duration. At the conclusion of the statements or questions for a member of the public, the council president at his discretion may choose to respond or not respond. So
now is the appropriate time. Michaela Clark, I'm here to talk about the traffic and the dangerous condition at Old Raton Road and Westfield Avenue is continually getting worse and worse. Over the last two years, I already had a drunk driver run up my driveway, slam my
car into the garage and into the house. I've also been sitting at the stop sign, cars speeding by, make the, you know, took the corner too sharp, hit me head on. My neighbor yesterday got hit coming out of the driveway. Um, the cars are constantly speeding coming from
Federbed. Um, they're doing 50 miles an hour. I can't even do my cut my grass because I'm afraid they're going to go up on top of the curve. Um, we can't put our branches out or grass because they run over it. Um, there's the neighbors do go to retrofitness. There's no crosswalks.
Um the stop sign, nobody stops. Um and then the worst part is when the trains come, they back up and then the people drive up the wrong side of the street. And almost twice a week I almost get hit a headon with the, you know, the people that are coming up on the wrong side of
the road. And beside that, uh if you want to come to my house, you can listen to the cursing that constantly goes on outside the the house. It's it's horrible. And the train traffic over the last two years has continually increased. And if you're there anytime
during the day, there's two trains at a time. It'll back up down to the police station. That's how far it'll go. Um there has to be something done. Um the the stop sign, there has to be no left turn put there because all it's doing is just causing
um the traffic and and it's becoming very dangerous. Um, my neighbors next door have two young kids that ride their bikes and I'm scared for them. My kids are a little older. They're gone, but it's getting really scary in that in that area and there's something has to
be done. All right. Uh, when you're we'll answer all the questions at the end because we don't want to take anyone's time up. Okay. We will. Thank Thank you, Michael. Nancy Taskis Clark. I have two things tonight that I'd like to uh speak to.
The first one is sort of a Maya Copa and uh I did have a post on Facebook related to the no kings protests that were planned for Rowway last Saturday. And at the time I wrote the post, little did I
know that I had an email response from the mayor's office sitting in my spam. So, um, thanks to Jim Erlick, he brought that to my attention and I did find it in my spam. It was a very thorough,
well-written email regarding the attention that all police departments were paying to the planned event. And I did go into Facebook and I did change my post to acknowledge I did receive an email and it would it really
helped me get over my concerns that how how did I ever think the police departments were not really paying attention to this. But since the only information I received was through the Clark patch letting me know this was happening that um so I do appreciate the
police departments being on top of it and I'm not sure what happened on Saturday. My neighborhood was quiet. I don't live that far away and there was it was raining so I don't know if that interfered with the activities but um I
do want to acknowledge that you know unfortunately it was in my spam why an email went to my spam I've gotten email from the town a lot maybe it was the subject matter that got it there Jim did provide me with some links maybe those
got it there but I don't know so look in your spam if you're think you should get an email which I thought I would get an email. Look in your spam first before you think you didn't get an email in the future. So, I do want to do a Maya Copa on that one. Um, the second is my the
property that's being developed behind my house being developed at 52 Skyllock Place. I did do an Oprah for the permit and I did get the permit and um the the thing that is and I'm here not to criticize. I don't work in the
construction department. I've done my own, you know, had permits in the past where I had to provide plans and the only thing I want to say about the permit is it kind of loosely describes the property being built. I
mean, it says it's a second floor edition and I don't want to go and read it because I don't know what I can read and can't read off of it. One thing is a comment. the second floor edition. It makes no reference to a second and a half floor addition or a habitable
attic, which I didn't go through our ordinances in town. I don't even know if a habitable attic is mentioned in our ordinances. If it's not, maybe it needs to be added. Um but it's just a observation that oh in the future if
somebody goes and looks at this pulls this permit and looks at it and looks at this structure they'll probably be scratching their head saying you know where are the plans because this thing doesn't look like you know what my lion eyes are telling me. So just an observation with with the particular
permit here and actually I'll throw in a third thing. I think um the town is very lucky to have Jim Erlick as our business administrator because in both of these cases he was the one that I communicated with and it was a very uh pleasant and
professional um interaction that I had. So thank you Jim. That's it. Thank you Nancy. Uh good evening, council. Uh Glenn Fogerty, uh Clark resident, live off of Lake Avenue by Goodman's Crossing. Uh
first, before I uh talk about the topics I wanted to cover brief briefly tonight, hopefully I wanted to uh second my concerns about that intersection, Old Raron Road, featherbed. Uh it it's a nightmare. I go that way to get home
towards Lake Avenue sometimes. Uh I'm not a traffic engineer. I really don't know what can be done to improve that, but uh people from wherever they're from are not obeying the traffic laws there in terms of right of way. Uh I've had a
couple of close calls myself of people nearly colliding into me. Uh again, I it might take a a magician in terms of a traffic engineer to re-engineer that place, but it's it's pretty uh unnerving. So, uh, tonight I'd just like
to make a couple of comments. I call it a tale of two holidays or tale tale of two patriotic holidays. I want to compliment Clark this evening, uh, the Memorial Day parade and comp and the festivities or, uh, celebrations,
addition of veterans to the memorials was outstanding. Uh, I think it gets better and better every year. Uh, the weather was great. It was really inspiring and moving. uh to see that and how it all played out. Uh from a matter of decorum though,
and this this is not something that the town can control. It's a matter of just good uh solid practice on the part of private citizens. Um last year it was bad enough that Mike Schulman from uh Stronger Clark was fiddling around with
his his cell phone while the anthems were going on. uh as the ceremony was going on and they weren't misbehaving or anything is that I turned around. I don't think any political party should be going around with a group of t-shirts
using Memorial Day as an electioneering opportunity. So, I don't even know who's part of Stronger Clark these days, but it was all ducks in a row of four or five Stronger Clark people standing behind me. Again, they were respectful,
but I'd say this to a Republican or a Libertarian or anyone else, it Memorial Day is not the day to for electioneering and sloganering and things like that. Now, turning to the topic of the Elder Holiday Flag Day, which was this past
Saturday, I had to get to the train station in Rawway and uh I made the mistake of going Westfield Avenue to cross over West Grand on St. George. Uh it took about three changes of the light for me to get through that because some
of the people at a park that's supposed to be dedicated to veterans and yes this is a railway issue but um no one heard of this group before like two weeks ago before George Soros or the Chinese government or whoever is funding this
put it up. Who ever heard of no kings before this month? So all of a sudden this this organic movement. Well, I guess they saw a flag or something they didn't like on my car and all I heard was a torrent of profane speech. I saw a
bunch of profane signs, people yelling free, free Palestine, which have been fighting words in a lot of cases, even attacking Governor Shapiro in Pennsylvania. um you know the the level of far-left extremism from this movement. Uh I
applaud to the level of whatever police departments were involved in keeping an eye on this. But when people are flipping me the bird as I'm just trying to drive to the train station screaming that I'm a fascist or whoever doesn't agree with this group is a fascist. Uh
that goes beyond free speech. I don't know where these people came from. This is an old mauist tactic of claiming something is an organic movement when it's most definitely organized by outside interests that just pull these people in to do this sort of thing. But
uh you know, good luck when this happens trying to get your train because I missed mine trying to make a dinner appointment in the city. Um these people, you know, my family escaped communist Czechoslovakia. These people aren't loyal Americans.
They're communists. They're capos. And they're a bunch of creeps. Yes, it's not a Clark issue, but uh these people were way out of control. And when people are banging on my window, I don't mean to interrupt you, but you have about 30 seconds. So, if you can wrap it up. I'll wrap it up again. Tale of two holidays.
Memorial Day in Clark. Outstanding. Flag Day over in Rawway. And this is not knocking the city of Rawway. Disgraceful. Thank you. Good evening and and let's all hope we somehow can get that corner fixed too someday. Have a nice evening.
Thank you, council. Thank you. Good evening again, Dia Collins, Clark. Um, I have a few things to go over and I'll try to be brief. Um, at one of the last meetings, Mr. Dugan was going to let me know if the contamination report
had come through regarding the pistol range. The county is planning to have us pay or whatever. And I wondered if there was any remediation needed by Clark before we can go ahead. Um, also I
wanted to know, and I've never been behind there, is there a barrier between the proposed or is there a barrier back there between the property line of the pistol range and the proposed walking path? I was just wondering for safety
issues. Um, we did hear from the county and it was re there was a reward I'm sorry awarding of a contract for the dredging. Um, it will be overed by our committee
to see what it involved. Um, the boat house is a separate bid process through the county. So, that has not come. We have not got any knowledge on that. Also, I wanted to thank the Clark police that they did not take any action
against the bear that invaded our town. And um I want to thank them for the restraint that they entailed not and the people get hysterical and the poor thing was just trying to
get out of town, get back to where he was from, which we don't know if he was in Raway, Westfield, Berkeley Heights, wherever. But I'm glad that he didn't get killed like one of the state troopers did one on Route 80 over the weekend. Thank you. Thank you.
And since I've been living in this town, um the area that the gentleman mentioned with the traffic issued, I h for the first time in my life, I was petrified at that stop sign to come to the library
and make the left turn onto Westfield Avenue. Well, continue left onto Westfield Avenue. It's a hazard. People were backed up all the way to Raridan Road and Westfield Avenue and it just was scary trying to get to make a left
turn. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, good evening. I live on King Street in Clark and in front of my office I have a storage drain and the madam on both sides has collapsed. I've been calling the town.
I've been calling public works and they keep on saying to me, "Oh, we got the engineer and they don't do anything." Last year they put a cone there for a week. This year, my nephew came over one night and he
slid on the ice because it doesn't go down. And he practiced that he had to get stitches. I don't know what you can do about it, but something has to be done, you know, cuz water doesn't go down. It just sits there and builds up. The ice builds up. In the summer, I have
mosquitoes and in the winter, I have ice. So, I don't I mean, I have pictures of it. I can show you the pictures, but I don't know what else to do. But, you know, I called the Department of Public Works. I talked to Katie and she
said, "Well, the engineers have it. This has been going on for two years. So, what else can I do? Do Do you have any other questions? What do you They don't answer. All right.
Excuse me. Do you have do you have any other questions? No. Okay. So, when the meeting's over, if you would just go see Mr. Olrich or the mayor. Okay. Uh make sure they get your number, your address, and I'm sure tomorrow someone will be on
top of this for you. Absolutely. Okay. Hello, John Graves from Clark. Um, after last meeting, I felt compelled to make a statement. Um, and what I want to say is that the way you're conducting yourselves in this chamber is hurting
Clark, and I'd like you to stop. I've been hoping we'd move beyond the bad behavior of the past so we could address other issues affecting Clark, but Mr. 's disrespectful and unprofessional outburst, among other things from last meeting makes it clear that the same pattern of hostility towards the public
is going to continue. Despite what you think, I don't like coming here. I don't like figuring out child care and missing bedtime with my kids to come here. I'm here because your actions created a big problem over the last few years, and I'm worried about our community's future. When you act the way you do, you
intimidate our community. When I come here and ask reasonable questions politely and they receive sarcastic answers, not only does that demean your position, it scares away people from public dialogue because it's not about me really. It's about the message it sends to the person who's not standing up here, who might have something to
say, but maybe they're a bit nervous. It makes other residents retreat from participating in our government. When this chamber hurls vulgar insults and aggression, it creates fear in our residents because they ask themselves, "If they're that hostile publicly, what might they do privately? What if I make myself a target if I
speak up? When I criticize pilot agreements that add burden to our schools and to our residential taxpayers, you invent some narrative that I'm insulting the teachers. I'm the one trying to help the teachers. I want higher salaries and more resources. You're the ones making
the bad deals. I'm the one saying, "Stop. Don't do that." And that makes people not want to speak up. Because what if you twist their words like that, too? You say you're transparent, but you're not. There's very little information available online except for what's
legally required. Nearly everything else needs to be done with an Oprah request, but what do you do when people use an Oprah request? You shame them. You love to bring up one Oprah request I made over a year ago. You say you can't imagine what I wanted all that info for, except it was the former mayor right here in this chamber who said we should
look and see that Clark's tax appeals were two or three times higher before he was in office. So, I did. Since he was an officer 25 years, you have to go back a long way. I emailed the business administrator before I did and asked him if he could verify the mayor's claim. He told me to do an open request. So, I
did. Then, on multiple occasions, you try to publicly shame me for exercising my legal right to access information about the town and for verifying if what's said in this chamber is actually true. When you do that, it hurts transparency in the government. Now, people who might want to do an open
request are going to worry about whether they might be asking for too much information. Will they be shamed? How much is too much? This makes people scared to ask questions. You'll say that you're obeying the law, but what I'd like to say is that obeying the law should be the minimum standard, not the
only standard. It might be legal to pass a 30-year tax break for developers in a special meeting instead of the regular meeting and not have an official video recording, but it isn't transparent. It might be legal to pass our $33 million town budget without making a presentation to the resident, but it's not transparent.
You're so quick to condemn me for asking questions and raising issues, but you don't seem to condemn bad behavior like the crimes and misconduct of the previous mayor. You stay silent when we need you to speak up. You didn't speak up when we lost our police chief. You didn't speak up when we lost control of our police department. You didn't speak
up when our mayor got convicted. You appointed a purchasing agent with a history of conflict of interest violations. And you didn't say anything when this fact was brought up. You didn't say anything when the last mayor was abusive to the public. and you don't say anything now that the tradition continues with Mr. Mini. When you tell
me I should move out because I criticize your decisions, not only are you being ridiculous, you're being unamerican. Because here in America, the very first amendment says we have the God-given right to petition our government with grievances. So, if you have a problem
with that, maybe I'm not the one who needs to think about moving. I'd also like to remind you that you represent the residents of Clark. You're not actually the town of Clark. Criticizing your leadership is not criticizing the town of Clark. Clark's our home. This is where we live. It isn't a shield for you
to hide behind when you get called out. So, if you really want to get rid of me, don't yell. Do your jobs better. Show us we can trust you, and I'll happily spend these evenings with my family instead of here asking for accountability. Thank you. Thank you.
Anyone else want to come forward? All right, we're gonna do a motion to close. Oh, sorry. Oh, come on, Martha. Hi, Martha Kamichoff Clark. Um, what I just heard just like really
irritates me from the gentleman. I I don't know. I have known this council. I've lived here for 30 years. I I don't like any of you being attacked. You're all sitting up here. You're coaches. You're volunteers in our
town. You do so much good for our town. And then people come up and attack you like that, which is unreasonable. You are nothing but transparent. You are approachable by every citizen in this community. I I I don't have to sit here and read
off a piece of paper because I speak from my heart. Okay. I love this town. I volunteer in this town. I do everything I can for this town. And God bless all of you for taking care of us. Thank you. Thank you.
Good evening. Mary Semler, Conger Way, Clark. Um I uh I would like to um just reiterate a couple of things that Can you just speak in a microphone or Yeah, perfect. Thank you. I would like to reiterate a couple of things that Mr.
Greavves said. Um, a few years ago I was here and I was talking about some things that had been going on in town and several people, several of my neighbors
wanted to come to the council meeting and they did say that they were fearful of retaliation and especially for their children. And um someone up on the deas rolled
their eyes as if this is simply not true. And I do want to say as a person who has been a public employee for 42 years, it is really really important regardless of what party we're on and what things we
believe in that we try to have mutual respect and not twist the words of what people are saying. and really try to understand that we do have people in our town who are very fearful of retaliation
because there has been whether in fact or it's the perception that when people come to the town to ask for something they need, they will not get it. whether it is a police response,
whether it is a permit for their home, whether it is something that needs to be done by the DPW. So, I'm merely just saying that the last meeting I was at where Councilman Manidi
acted in the manner that he did was damaging to this body, all of you, and damaging to the township of Clark. We should not be asking people when the hell are you going to move out of town.
Each of us may not be a volunteer with children's softball or the camp, but many of us are caregivers. Many of us help our elderly neighbors and many of us do things that aren't necess
necessarily attention getting to make the town better. So, I think that it's really important that you all understand that it's not how long we've lived here that makes us part of Clark and that
makes us love Clark. We just want it to be better wherever it can be better. This is not to say we don't do some things really well, but that really was very upsetting to a lot of people and even people who I know who viewed the
meeting and viewed the the YouTube video afterwards. It just really is unacceptable behavior from a person that's an elected official to act that way in a public forum and it does frighten other people away. So, thank
you for listening to me. I don't necessarily need a response, but I do want you to understand we have a lot of people in this town who are hesitant to speak up because they are fearful. And I don't think any one of you, although I
certainly hope you don't, want the public that you're supposed to serve to be fearful that they're going to be retaliated against. So, thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. So, seeing no, we're going to have
a motion to close this portion before we respond. So, can I get a motion to close? Motion. Thank you, Council Member Hoff and second, Council Member Hun. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Um,
I'll do the easy stuff first and Jim, you can jump in. On the gun range in the back, there is a very high burm which is probably what, 15 ft high back there. Now, there is no path behind it. When the park is put in or the walking path that is coming out, uh, I believe they
found there is no contamination in that. Yeah, we got the preliminary report there is no contamination. We're just trying to figure out how we're going to dispose of it and where, right? because there's still a lot of different type of requirements having to have the certificate of origin for the um
material where it's going, how it's going, how it's being delivered there. So, we're working through it. It's probably going to either go to an incinerator or it's going to be going to a landfill to use as cover. Uh, and we don't know if it's going to be in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. I mean, I could
go on for time. Um, however, the police range will no longer be used. um since it has already passed its um uh passed the review from the LSRP and the LSRP actually did the samples
making sure that there was no uh none of the contaminants exceeded the uh levels you know required by law. Thank you. Oh wait u LSRP is licensed site remediation professional in case
anybody's wondering. Going to ask you. Thank you. Uh what else was there? Regarding the uh deal you're regarding the county and the the dredging that whenever they
come to us and tell us they got a bid or contract on that, they'll let you that's what she mentioned. They have the contract. They've gone out to bid. She's going to look at the agreement. We can do the same. Right. That'll outline that and then they're going out to bid for the building.
separately. Jim, do you want to address the Westfield ovaritin? I know we did a big police study and uh traffic study on that about a year and a half ago if my memory is Yeah. You want to take it? You want me to take it? Um well, let me just
start out by saying, um Dr. Michael Latza, I saw you earlier. I I've been meaning to stop by your house. Um I haven't had a chance to discuss with our police officers. Uh, one of the suggestions that I have is that we have a yellow sign with two arrows, one
saying you have to go right or left so that no one's coming at night. It's reflective sign that would prevent cars from coming. Um, I don't know if Captain Lot would like to comment on the studies that have been done in the past. Uh
we're in a bit of a quandry because um you know the town was built the way it was, your home was built the way it was as you bought it, but things have changed that surround the area. Uh we have a situation where if you come down
um Featherbed Lane, you can't make a left turn um in the morning. We have other prohibitions. Um, in terms of if we rerouted the traffic, I don't see how it
would work out if we had all the cars, for example, go down to uh L'Oreal Way and go down to Westfield Avenue. They're just going to come around and come back to Westfield Avenue. Um, I don't know, Captain Lot, if you want to make any comments tonight, but I would suggest that we have a separate meeting with you
on this in terms of what we can do for your specific situation. And then, um, you know, I I heard, you know, Mr. Fogerty also comment on it. I drive by there every day and it is it is a Russian roulette when you're going
straight through and cars are trying to make a left. So, um, I'd like to, um, talk with the experts on the traffic situation and review that and then meet with you separately on that and then we can report back to the community on what
the plan will be. Great. Okay. Thank you. Yep. Mhm. There isn't a meeting that goes by where I comment on that. You know, we've tried some of the calming um you know, with the signs, the details out there. Um
so, we're aware of it. when when when the when the meeting's over, if you would just you go up to the mayor, make sure exchange the information. Like I said, I know we did a big traffic study. I know it's at the top of the list again to look at it and see what other ram
ramifications or things we can do and change for you. All right. Uh Nancy, regarding the house behind you, I don't know what we can do about that other than going to
the code or the planning board or I mean it's built. It's the code. I've gone through this a few times with the um construction code official. Everything is, you know, within our ordinance. All everything's permitted. Um, you know, it's really up to the council if they want to make any changes to it, but
right now the permit was issued within the ordinance. All the construction is being done within the ordinance, right? So, it you can have that half a level up there. It's and I believe all the houses in town are only two stories, uh, single residence and the top floor is an attic
or storage space. Correct. There's no living space. I Yeah. Yes. in some circumstances. However, there are exceptions to it, right? Okay. You have anything to add? No. No. Okay.
Uh was there anything else that we need to address on that? Uh yeah, I I do have the other one other thing. The um we did receive the concern about the sewer backups. We did jet it. I just confirmed with our because I knew he was going out
there. I just confirmed with our DPW supervisor. Um, we jetted it 3 weeks ago. So, that should alleviate any of the backup issues. Okay. So, as you know, we, you know, it's not that we brought in Gov Pilot to, you know, just
capture everything. We actually follow up and make sure that things have been done. I follow up on a weekly basis. Um, I just didn't know when, but this was jetted. So, hopefully that will alleviate some of that backup. And I guess the other lady who had an
issue with the uh water or whatever at the end of the meeting if she can just come get your number and go from there. So we already closed that. Does anyone else have any comments to address anything? All right. At this time we'll move to Mayor Albanesey's. You have anything
professional comments? some comments. I'd like to um have the community meet our new police director, Pat Grady. So, if he can come up and say a few words. Good evening. Good evening everybody. Uh my name is Patrick Brady. Um I'm a
retired Clark police captain, retired six years ago. Um, as fate would have it, I am now back uh in this building that I actually helped uh plan uh six years ago was on the planning uh committee to uh to create
this building and now I'm back as the uh police director. Um like to thank Mayor Albanese uh for having the you know trust in me and faith in me uh to bring me back here to lead this uh you know great police department. Thanks for the
council also uh for having faith in me. Uh listen, I'm born and raised in this town. Been here my whole life, raised four children here. Um I have a deep vested interest uh in this town. Um you know, my dad always told me when he uh
before he passed, he always told he always told me, you know, my mom and I mom and I moved into this town because it's a safe town. you know, always told me that I stayed here, raised my four kids here, and I'm a firm believer that this town is safe because of of our
police department, right? And it's my goal uh to keep it that way, keep it keep it safe. And um I'm happy to be here. I look forward to working with these two fine gentlemen over here, Captain Akaboo, Captain Lot, and the rest of the command staff here at uh at
the police department. It's a pleasure to be back home. Thank you. [Applause] Okay. Um, I want to start by thanking the A Liver
Foundation, Susan Paul, uh, for donating the uh, outdoor um, AED machine equipment uh, that's posted at the um, site there uh, for the safety of our citizens, children in this town. It's an
amazing unit. Um, it has a thermostat that keeps it warm in the winter, keeps it cool in the summer, so it's made for the outdoors. And she had a very compelling story to tell about her own experience. Um, and we really uh do
appreciate the gift that she has given and I hope that you'll see the video uh that we made and will be presented on our YouTube channel. Um, and I want to thank EMS uh representatives that were there. Uh, they gave a demonstration,
had people involved in in getting down on the ground and doing uh CPR and following some of the new regulations and using some of the newer equipment that's available. Also want to thank the fire department and our police department uh for coming out that day
and all the citizens that were able to attend uh that event. Um, the emergency squad as well, Mayor I did. I started out with them. Um, yes, as I said, they gave a
demonstration, uh, which was fantastic. Um, and we might be looking into doing some CPR training, uh, either at the library or some some programs that are available to citizens. This past year, uh, Ralph Bernardo had a program where
all the coaches were offered an opportunity to get trained in the with the AD equipment, um, and keep up to speed with, um, things that change. Things do change over time. I want to thank all uh, Ralph Bernardo
for the Memorial Day parade and uh, also thank Bill Duffy and all the citizens who participated contributing to the new monuments that were given. It was a fabulous day. We had great weather. Um so it was it was really wonderful and I'll be reaching out to um many of those
who uh contributed small and large. Uh we really appreciate it. Um, if you are over 65 or I should say 67 and you did not take advantage
of the senior tax freeze, I want to put you on notice that you can go back and retroactively file if you missed the opportunity to file for the senior tax freeze. Uh, I met with a representative
from the Treasury Department at the tax collectors and treasurers conference and they said if you go back, you can't get prior years refunds, but you can get your taxes reduced significantly if your freeze occurred uh several years ago.
So, please, if you know of anyone elderly that might be uh able to take advantage of this, please reach out to me and I can help them out. Um Nancy, thank you for the Miaulpa. Um I did call the police department when I saw your email and I know Jim was
working on the response and asked them to um also post on the site and as was mentioned, you know, of course our police department work with the county, work with all the different uh entities and organizations to be prepared for events like that. So thank you for that.
And that's all I have at this time. Thank you, Council Member Huff. Yes, thank you. Um I was uh at the installation of the AED at Bartell. I thought that that was great. Um thank you to the first responders and um having followed Jill's story um and also
um the JadR's mom when that happened. Um it was a an amazing life-saving story. So I think that that's really great. Um there's been many reasons to celebrate as we reach the end of the school year. So congratulations to the ALJ class of 2025 as this week as they graduate. um
well prepared I'm sure to go out into the world and I'm sure we all offer them um our students, teachers and administration a congratulations on another successful school year and wishing everyone safe celebrations and a fun um very long very safe summer. Uh so
I'm looking forward to that. Um just on a personal note, I do want to um address something. I don't want to go into it too far with um the council member not being present. I I'm not comfortable with that. Um, but I'm new here and uh,
you know, I've heard a lot of feedback tonight about words like mutual respect and twisting words, sarcasms and accusation, insinuation, suggestions. Those are all things I absolutely agree with. Um, that's something that should occur.
Mutual respect on all sides. um accusations, insinuations and and things like that um are are equally difficult to sit there and listen to. Um I watch as legitimate questions get answered. I get emails from people. I see the mayor
and the business administ business administrator and my fellow council people answer questions um from members of the community and I love it. I think it's amazing when people reach out. Um we get to talk to people all the time. Um, so I I would encourage anyone um who feels that you have something to say to
please um reach out. I found this nothing but welcoming and and open and prior to my time on the council, I had questions. I had a thousand questions um that I was lucky to get answered and had no problems with. Um I but honestly like
just sitting here every time the suggestion of I'm only up here for transparency, I don't know how you don't see that as an insult. I don't know how you don't how it's not seen that every time someone stands up and and says, "Well, I'm only asking this for
transparency." Is not it it has to have like you can't just have the one side and not the other. Um it's a backhanded remark um that that's up here every time. Um and quite frankly, I'm super lost about the comments about fighting for the teachers. When the board of education
tells us what they need repeatedly, I I don't understand how someone anyone else is in a better position than them to to speak on their behalf. It's uncomfortable. It's, you know, I think everyone who stood up tonight has
something valuable to say, but um, you know, the questions get answered the council. I mean, immediately there's issues that have come up that are going to be addressed by the time people leave here tonight. You talk about like making Oprah requests for things that
are publicly available and transparency keeps being said. It's it's there for the taking, for the reading, for the for the looking at, for the asking. You don't have to open request things that are available and cost the township money. It's confusing. Um I'm still trying to wrap my brain around it and
how all of this works sometimes. Um, but at some point I just think that twisting words and mutual respect and making accusations um is not a one-way street. And uh um
and that's probably all I should say tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Hun. Thank you, Mr. President. Just wanted to congratulate um as Councilwoman Ha did the the graduates that will be graduating this week from the grammar school, middle school, and
the high school. It's all big achievement for all of them. For the older older boys and girls um who may go off to college or may start working, good luck in your endeavors. Um whichever way you choose is your path. Um some people are made to go to
college. Some people are not. Um, I have examples of that in my own household where two went to college, one did not, and they're all all three of them are doing well. So, when you see when you hear someone that's not going to college, I know people may think that the wrong thing, but it's the right
thing for that person if that's what they believe. So, don't look at people just because they don't go to college that they're not smart, entrepreneurial, all different things. I went off on a little tangent there, but everyone has their own path to blaze. and good luck
to all of the graduates this year. Um, with regards to availability, I I will say that for myself, I'll speak for myself, I'm available at any time to be reached by phone or email or stopped wherever I may be with in in in the
town. Um, I hope no one feel thinks of me as someone that's going to um what was the word? Uh, excuse me. intimidate or um suffer re repercussions for for
speaking to me on a question. All the everything that's asked of me, I handle work with the business administrator most most of the time and we resolve or attempt to resolve if we can the issues that were brought to me. So, please feel free to always contact me whether you're
a third warded resident andor any resident in the town because I do receive calls from multiple people that are not in my ward. So, thank you very much and that's all I have to say. Thank you, Council Member Maserella. Yes. Thank you, Council President. Ladies and
gentlemen, I have been on council now for going on 28 years. Um, I have been on council as long as our mayor when she was on council, our administrator,
Councilman Tol. And we've seen this community evolve from a almost failed community to where it is today, a vibrant, caring,
relatively affordable and safe community. And we have you to thank for that because I, our mayor, our administrator, Brian, and the rest of council listen
to you, the residents. That's why we have become a community as where it is right now. There were there was some question about some individuals coming up and saying
they're they feel hurt. They're unhappy about the comments that council has made. Likewise, we're frustrated with those comments because it just seems that
it's for political gain. That's all. It's not for anything else. you the other resident came up and talked about um it's known that some people are
um afraid to say something because of retribution. I have not uh encountered that. And as I have said every month, if a resident has a concern
on their well-being or safety, it's incumbent upon them to give our police department a call. Or if you're concerned about your well-being uh on retribution, call our
administrator or call one of us. We'll be happy to address it because I think the key here is to listen constructively and not make political hyperbole here
and just hear themselves talk because that's what some people are doing. And we've evolved every four years it happens the same way. People come up and beat the same drum. Now, if you're
really concerned about this community, give us credible alternatives on what more than what we have been doing for our community. If we're doing something wrong, if we're doing something that you
do not agree with and you have a better way, tell us. It just seems that some individuals come up and just say the school is is is not run good or we're not doing something
good in the township. Okay, what can we do to make it better? There's nothing near silence. So I would urge all of the community speak certainly
speak speak your mind and you have a fundamental and constitutional right to do that but don't just offer hyperbole. Offer some constructive criticism and constructive way on what
we could do to make your life easier to make your life better here. There is nothing. You just come up and you say what you're going to say that we're doing something wrong, but without any alternatives.
We're not mind readers. We're doing the best we can here. And I think we've done a pretty darn good job in the 27 28 years that I've been on council. And I'm proud of our mayor. I'm proud of our administrator. I'm proud of Brian. I'm
proud of council here because we're working as a team and we will continue to work as a team to the to the grin of some individuals that come up here and say we're not doing a good job. Well, give us an alternative.
I'm sorry I said enough tonight. Thank you very much for listening to me. Good night. Thank you, Council Member Okconor. Thank you very much. Um, regarding the traffic at uh, Old Round Road, I go by it every day. I'm sure you
guys know. I I know you guys. Um, so I like to be part of it with the with the mayor and yourselves. It's part of the discussion as I too live that problem as the mayor does. She lives right down the street from you as well. So, we're looking forward to finding a solution we can all live with. But as the mayor
alluded to, it's difficult with a no- left turn because if you can't make a left turn there, you can't go down to Featherbed Lane and make the left turn onto Ritton Road. So, no one would ever be able to make a left. So, there needs to be something done, but it but it can't be a no left turn because there'
be really, right? So, we we're going to talk a little bit later, right? But I just want to let you know, hey, I'm with you guys. Um, thanks to everybody who participated in Memorial Day parade and until next month. Um, have a good month. Thank you.
Thank you, Council Member Tol. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm going to keep my comments brief but accurate. This July 4th, 2025 is the 54th anniversary of the death of
Clark Patrol officer Billy Wat. Billy Wat lived on seven Jenny Lane. He was a Clark kid, grew up in the town, went to Brewer. Then he went over to ALJ and graduated in 1965. After getting out of high school, he went on and became a Marine and went to
Vietnam where he was sent into Bush. He went into country. Came out, survived, came back and he went came back into Clark in New Jersey and he went on the Clark Police Department for a job. His father was a police captain in the Clark Police Department. Billy drove the streets of Clark
in these old Plymouth Furies. They were very popular. If anybody's a car guy, you remember these Plymouth Furies that drove all the local streets. There was that weird green. It was like a Hunter Green. So that was the patrol units. They were out. Billy Wat and his partner
Richie Ryder, a Clark kid to also they knew each other. They worked and patrolled the division in Clark. Back then it was a little bit different, a different world, a little bit good and bad. a lot of innocence and a lot of insanity. On July the 3, Billy Wat and Richie
Ryder were sitting where Jack's Tavern was, which is now the CBS. How this town's changing, it's unbelievable. So, they were sitting in the parking lot. Billy Wat's parents were just coming home. He Cap Watson was off duty. He comes home and pulls up next to his son in a patrol car. How are you doing, son?
When you get off shift, come on home. We have a dinner. We have supper waiting for you at seven Jenny Lane. Billy Wat then with Richie Ryder who was driving drove down Brandt Avenue around the park the old parkway circle which is cut into sections now went under the parkway
bridge and they started hearing some commotion or screaming where the shop right is today used to be Howard Johnson's motor lodge it was taken down in the mid 1990s to create the super shop right which is now obsolete which is crazy they heard screaming they drove
into the old Howard Johnson's motor lodge went to the back of it if you remember there a building where they served the ice cream and then you went back where the motel was section was. They drove around the perimeter of the place. They heard screaming and as they drove up to the back motel section, they
saw somebody attacking a young couple who were on the balconies. They pulled up the unit, screamed at them, "Stop. Hold it." The guy jumps off the second floor balcony into a shrub and runs off into the parkway. The parkway had shrubbery. It was a larger parkway then.
It was more space to it. Wat and Richie Ryder wrote left the patrol unit and ran after the guy thinking nothing of it. Hey, he's the guy was doing something stupid and we're going to stop him. They when they went into the shrubbery in the woods woods is the proper term. They
cornered the guy in behind some shrubs ordered him to come out. He then without a moment's notice opened fire on the officers striking Billy Watson twice in the chest and in the side. Richie Ryder had jumped down when he heard heard the
shots. On July 3rd into July 4th, patrol officer William J. Wat, William John Wat, who was known in the local in the police department from his friends as rabbit because he talked like a rabbit. Richie William Wat was taken from the
scene, transported to Royal Hospital where he died on the operating table July 4th, 1971. I tell this story because this township with all the current issues and traffic, there's always been traffic in this town. This town's not going to get better until we start doing something
about the state. The state has to correct the issues because they're building by demand, not building by progress. It's not progress, it's forced progress. So, this happened then and it can happen again. We never want something like this to happen. One of our own goes out on a patrol, which they
do every night. They do it right now. There's men out on the patrol and what happens? A stupid event and a loss of life and one of our own. This township never has recovered from this. I run into Billy's sister Jenny in town
from time to time. And it's just heartbreaking to still see her 54 years later that she lost her brother. She was just in tears over it. And who wouldn't be? It shouldn't have happened. Anybody who remembers this, it should have never have happened. But it did. And it can happen again if we don't take the steps
to have the strongest police department with Pat Grady, our beloved captains, and all the men who are trained properly. We will make sure we have and prevent such a horrible, horrible thing. I'm going to end the story on Billy Wat tonight. I hope on July 4th, there's a memorial service. Clark PBA 125 has a
service in front of this building to honor Billy and all the fallen those who have served in the police department in Clark. We ask you to please come out and join us. That's at uh 10 o'clock, guys. Guys, the memorial service for Waterson's at what time?
910 usually. 10 o'clock. Thank you, Captain. So, that's all I've got on this issue, but I want to also address the resident from King Street. I'm going to talk to you after this meeting. I'm going to get your contact information and find out more of the details. I did not know anything about this. You brought it to
my attention. We're going to help you is what I try to say to you. We're going to help you. That's all I have tonight, Mr. President. I wish everyone a healthy and happy Fourth of July. Please do not forget Billy Wat and politics goes like the wind. It's good, it's bad, and it's cold sometimes and other times it gets
really hot. We'll talk to you later. Thank you. I believe Mayor Albany, if you have something you need to add. I think it's appropriate after Brian's comment just now. Um, yeah, it gets it gets hot sometimes. Uh, I just want to
say to respond to John Greavves and I appreciate the comments from Councilwoman Huff and Mezzerella uh, thus far this evening. Um, you know, for a long time I sat up there at council president for two years. Uh, we were
taunted, criticized, called names for not speaking out when clearly our attorney would say that we couldn't speak about ongoing litigation. We were called names. That was disrespectful. I don't want you to give the appearance
that it's um that you're, you know, an angel out there. Um when we when we went into private session last month, uh you were out in the out in the hallway saying very derogatory things about me. A couple of
people came to me after that meeting and and told me about it. And you said, "Well, that didn't apply to you." but it was said about me and I didn't appreciate it. So, uh I would say that's not uh a friendly gesture. That's
disrespectful to me making accusations and telling people in the community negative things about me. Uh you have a video of me uh to a sound bite that you have on your website, taking things out of context. Well, you have that up
there. That happened a few years ago. Well, you you complain though that we bring up the fact that you did that Oprah request, but the fact of the matter is that you did it. Did you need to go back that far? If it was the prior administration, I don't think you needed to do the past 25 years if you were
looking into the prior administration. Um, I know that when you first started coming to the meetings that the mayor, the former mayor and Mr. Olick spent hours with you going over pilots. um frequently you come to meetings and
you make suggestions with no data to support it. Uh for example, the number of students that would become uh with a pilot and at the same time as I pointed out at the workshop you're contradicting
yourself and the recordings are on your website there and in the minutes and now you're shaking your head and I saw you smirking a few times when others were talking. Um, and I know that even at the time of my uh appointment as
mayor by the council initially, you were in the audience there laughing and giggling about something I said when I was referring to different uh citations from books that I've read and uh some of the council people didn't appreciate it and responded to that and I do
appreciate that. Um, so I think it works both ways. You have to respect others. Be kind to people and respect others. It's as simple as that. As far as anyone
who wants to approach me or any member of this council, you know how to reach us. You can reach us privately. Uh we do get a lot of anonymous call uh emails and things. We can't respond to those because we don't know who they're from. Um but
um yeah, if you if you uh have a different platform that you want to talk about while you're here, uh it's your right to do so. You have your time up here and uh you can do it. If you have better ways of doing things, then you can announce
that to the public. Okay. This is a legislative meeting. Um really shouldn't be campaigning here, but I I guess that's what you want to do. Um, I'll close on a positive note. U, Martha Clemch, thank you for coming up.
It just happens stance that you were here on another meeting and uh we're not happy with what went on. Uh, so we appreciate uh the feedback you've given. Thank you. Jim, do you have anything?
I do not. Thank you. Madam clerk, you have anything? No comments. Thank you. Council, you have anything? I do not. I just want to thank the clerk uh on election night for your hard work again. And I know uh I know that November one will even be harder for you as usual. Um
July 4th, we have our July 4th celebration out front of uh ALJ High School and the municipal building. So, please come on out for the festivities and the fireworks. And uh I'm going to take a part of what Brian usually does.
Um, and I hope I don't break up. We lost a citizen who Judy Pecarero, she was an angel. Um, very I was very close with her in softball. Uh, way too young, 59 years old. Uh, passed away recently. Her
husband Jerry, her uh her daughters, Jen and Nicole, uh, you are in our hearts. Anything you need, you know where to reach us. But uh she was always smiling and always a wonderful wonderful lady. So we are going to miss Judy and it was a blessing
uh that she was part of our lives which got us uh to meet Jerry Jen and Nicole. So that's all I have this evening. A motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. Thank you Councilman Tol. Thank you Councilman Okconor. All in favor? Any
opposed? See you next week, next month.