The meeting will come to order. Please stand alone for stand indivisible and justice for all. The road complies with the notice provisions of the sunshine laws by
adopting prior to Jary 10th of this year a resolution describing the dates, times and locations of all regular meetings with mission. This meeting is one of the meetings listed in such resolution and copies of the resolution were by January 10th file with the bur
file 28 minutes. >> Second follow zone official. >> Second reading and public hearing of ordinance 1826 to exceed the administrator.
Do we want to go through the proclamation first? Well, it is February to Black History Month. So, we have invited um the director of culture and climate at Michael Jackson from the school district
to receive a proclamation. Um and so I'm going to read that out. I'm going to invite him up and leave this out for for everyone. Yeah. All right. >> Whereas each February, Collinswood along with communities throughout our country are in the midst of a month-long
observance of black history month. And whereas Americans are aware of the election of this country's first African-American President Barack Obama, Jackie Robinson's contributions to baseball, and General Colin Powell's military leadership in Desert Storm. Few probably could pinpoint the college
founder Mary Mloud Ratun's contribution to education or identify astronomer Benjamin Banaker and whereas ignorance of such facts is what led Carter G. Woodson, son of former slaves to create the first Negro history week in February 1926. A culmination of the separate
efforts of Mary Church Terrell of the National Council of Colored Women and the African-American Collegiate Fraternity Omega 55, which became Black History, which became Black History Month in 1976. And whereas February was selected because Frederick Douglas, a
staunch human rights advocate, and Abraham Lincoln, another defender of equality among mankind, were born that month. And whereas the Association for the Study of Afroamerican Life and History chose this year's theme to be African-Americans and the arts, which spans the many impacts black Americans
have had on visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the board of commissioners of the Burough Collins, will pay the month of February 2026 as Black History Month in the Burough Collins would urge residents to take advantage of many programs available in
the area and pay tribute to inspirational African-Americans from the past and all to come with appreciation. We welcome those who will continue into the future with untold contributions to this country and the world. >> Thank you.
And just a quick word from the school district. This year marks a centennial of the national movement to honor black history. A legacy sparked by 1915 founding of the association for the study of negro life and history by Dr.
Carter G. Woodson and his colleagues. What began in 1925 as a long week a long obser observance has evolved into a global celebration becoming an essential part of American culture. This 100th anniversary theme invites us to reflect
on the profound impact of black life and commemorate the transformative journey of black peoples in the modern world. Across all levels, the Collegewood School District is engaging in a comprehensive celebration of Black History Month that bridges foundational
learning with deep ac academic inquiry. Our elementary schools are bringing history to life through daily announcements, student led presentations on change makers, and themed hallway gallery walks ranging from community helpers to activists. Middle and high
school students are diving into complex historical and cultural narratives, including studies of the great migration in the Harlem Hell Fighters by integrating the contributions of black artists, scientists, and authors directly into the STEM, PLA, and fine
arts curriculum. From preschool tasting tables and storytelling assemblies to competitive door decorating and AP level research projects, our students are not only honoring the 100redyear legacy of this commemoration, but are also seeing
themselves as the next generation of leaders. Black History Month feature highlights. Author and storyteller visits. Zay North welcomes author Dembi Palmer on February 9th, while newbie students will engage with creators via story voice live author events. Student
led presentations. Fourth graders at Sharp will lead presentations on Ghana and fifth graders at Garfield are taking over morning announcements to highlight lesserk known historical figures. Artistic exploration. High school students are launching a type on the
path graphic design project featuring influential African-Americans while elementary students create a hallway gallery walk showcasing innovators, poets, and activists. The tasting table. Tatum Elementary is hosting a unique
interactive tasting table at their front entrance to accompany daily community readalouds. Curricular deep dives. CHS students are exploring complex narratives through texts like the case for reparations and researching the impact of the Harlem health health
fighters and the great migration. We are thankful to the burrow of college wood for their recognition and supporting black history month. Thank you everyone. We have the second reading of public hearing of ordinance 1826 to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits
and to establish and to establish a path. >> Yeah. Oh, sorry. The second this I'm so sorry. um in the second reading is the public comment on on the cafe bank which we do every year
that just gives us the ability to extend taxes the percentage from the previous year that we did not use. Um it just gives them some flexibility. It's a yearly activity. Um and this is this opportunity to having public comment on this specific item if anybody has
anything they want to say about the cat. be okay. Commissioner Mley, >> yes. >> Commissioner Henderson Riley, >> yes. >> Yes. Okay. Move the first first reading of Ordinance 1827 authorizing a tax
abatement for property located at 664-68 Patt Avenue and authorizing a financial agreement that pursuant to 5-year exemption debate in the fall. As everyone's looking at their Google map, yes, that is the wall wall location.
Um, this is the first step to get that up and running. Um, the public meeting for this will be our March meeting will be the second reading of this ordinance. >> Commissioner Mley, >> yes. >> Commissioner Henderson, yes. mayor
award. Yeah. Then we have first reading of ordinance 1828 auctions and ports. >> All right. So, uh, you want to give a a quick 30 seconds on what this is?
>> Uh, yeah. The, um, we're amending the, uh, accessory structure. Um there's a little bit of uh it's an accessory structure accessory structure accessory building in the old one. We're just trying to fix it make it more streamlined. Um
semantic changes and then there is enormous sports court becoming popular. Um so we are probably about that. All right. So if you live in one of the four laws in town that can allow sports court this applies to you. Um and the second
meeting for this will also be at our March commissioners meeting. >> Yeah. March 2nd. March 2nd. Thank you for >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes.
Comment on the resolutions. >> What was that? >> Oh, okay. Sure. the um yeah, I just want to talk about what I'm sure a number of you hear about um on the um the state status of EMS fire. uh uh a Commissioner
Henderson and I spoke today uh kind of laid out mapped out a plan on the retention of a a consultant for the burrow which I I've seen what the what's been put out about come tonight to you know make sure we hire a consultant for
the burrow that was part of the litigation that I had filed like that was the resolution a couple weeks ago that a consultant was going to be hired and a public process is going to be engaged So, we went through that. We went through today. We expect that we'll have
an RFP in form for everyone to review, including I told Keith Kerry, we'd get it over to you guys so you can take a look at it. So, that we're going to look to shoot to adopt that on I think we have a work session on the 18th. uh and then uh we'll get that issued and
hopefully get responses in so that by the March uh meeting or the April meeting we're in position to make selections and move forward with that right >> yeah we we met today I know last weekend the working meeting we said we're going
to do it tomorrow but um really happy we were all able to find the time was myself Caitlyn and Jim um and yeah that's the timeline uh pursuant to the terms of the settlement uh mayor one award will be recusing herself from this process. Um and we hope to engage the
public in order to address this as quickly as possible. >> Question for you. Um because we are they are potentially going to be voting on something during a work session because we did say during our work session that that's not generally a time but because
of the timing of things. So when do we need to is this the time to to notice that or how does that work? So the the notice provisions, all we have to do is publicly notice that we anticipate official action is going to be happening at a work session and that's going to be
on your regular online notice. That's at minimum 48 hours in advance, but since we're announcing it now, everybody is on notice that we do anticipate taking action at our next work session. We'll update the the online notice as well.
So that work session mentioned we are now holding public work session every month. So that's on February 18th. So in 16 days we will be posting that RFP in order to address this. >> Anything else you want to add?
>> No, that's it. >> Yeah. >> And now public comment on the resolutions. >> Just a question. Is that work session open to the public? >> Yes. >> Okay. It was not. >> Yeah. Can I have your name and address? >> Name is George Haran, 125 East Styles Avenue.
>> And uh that's at 11:30 on the 18th and I believe it's in the safe room. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And also online. >> I was going to say we'll be streaming it and we post it to YouTube after as well. >> So for opening to public comment, I think think I did see somebody sign up.
So, we'll take that individual first. Uh, Mr. Zolanda, come on. I'm Julian Delonzo. I'm the local fire officer, Shaw Stewart, IFFF local 3249. Um the cognitive fire department staffing model is being stretched thin
as call lines continue to rise particularly when two or more emergencies happen at the same time. When a fire call requires firefighters, firefighters are reassigned from the ambulance to the fire engine. The ambulance is left unstaffed and leaving
the town without dedicated EMS coverage. When the ambulance is handling a medical call, fire engine becomes short staffed and sometimes responds with only two firefighters. This is not enough to safely or effectively manage fires, rescues, or
any other life-threatening incidents. The National Fire Protection Association standard 1710 establishes an industry minimum of four firefighters on a fire apparatus. So's two in, two out regulations advised that
that firefighters must operate in pairs with at least two firefighters immediately available to rescue them if something goes wrong. Mutual aid was never intended to provide our communities everyday staffing. It is a backup, not a replacement for proper coverage.
Collins with firefighters strongly support a full independent study by a third party consultant to evaluate the current services model and identify safer, more reliable ways to provide fire, rescue, and emergency medical service to our baron.
Short staffing and delayed responses increase risk not only to the public, but the firefighters who serve them. We are committed to working collaboratively with our elected officials and bar leadership to fix these public safety challenges and to
ensure Kwood is properly protected. >> Thank you. >> That was our only sign up. So if anybody else has public comment, feel free to take turns. We have the following resolutions presenting resolution 2025-
um 222 awarding a contract with Bfield Health for EMS services and ratifying the execution of a settlement. So the mayor you have to have >> Oh right sorry.
Yeah, sorry. I was writing back, but okay. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. I >> thank you. >> Okay. Heavy. The next resolution authorizing final change order number
one from Gemini General Contractors for the 20204 WQAA Chelsea Avenue water main placement project. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Authorizing order number one from General Gemini
General Contractor for the 2024 >> next. >> Accepting a maintenance bond. I'm sorry. accepting a maintenance bond and authorizing the release of the performance bond from Gemini general contract which is the 2024 WQAA Chelsea
Avenue project. >> Yeah. For the change order and the other one for the maintenance bond. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Accepting change to the New Jersey Department of Transportation reservicing project for Miguel Avenue street
lighting. >> Yes. >> Yes. authorizing a professional service contract with Barnard Works Second Computer LLC for the annual adult services. >> So on this one, we'd like to have an amendment. So this is the So the way
that our department is set up now, we have a third party biller. Um at the moment, the termination clause is 90 days. Um I requested earlier today that that be reduced to 30. I've reached out. Do you know when we're able to do that?
So, I I suggest if we want to put this off for a meeting, uh, we can do that. So, we have time to go back to the service and change modify that provision of the contract. I don't anticipate much push back or that minor.
>> Perfect. So, we can table make a motion. We table this resolution. >> Perfect. Thank. Yes. And then we have an ordinance authorizing to advertise for bids for air conditioning for an air conditioning unit for college senior community
center. >> Yes. >> Yes. Authorizing an adjustment of taxes to a totally exempt property at six Collins Avenue. >> Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Authorizing a note for the Common Avenue
Hillrest Avenue water treatment plant improvements through the infrastructure bank financing program. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Authorizing an appropriations transfer. >> Yes. >> Yes. Approving raffle license 2026 one
St. Amen club and 2026 two and three following the Rotary. Yes. Yes. Accepting funding from the governor's council on substance use disorder through the county of Sanford Municipal Alliance. >> Yes. >> Authorizing the acceptance of federal
funds at participation in the federal grant program safe and secure grant. >> Yes. >> Authorizing an application for program year 2026 community development block grant. >> Yes. Yes. >> Pointing Ed Fox as full-time member of
the Collinswood Planning Board. >> Yes. >> Welcome back, Ed. Yes. >> Appointing Sobal as alternate member of the Collinswood Planning Board. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. Bills. >> We're holding one, right?
>> There is a housekeeping issue with the payments for Montgomery and Kraken. to pass another resolution exceeding our previous not to exceed amount. So I would request that the Montgomery and the cracking laws be held until that
resolution that's >> with that provider. Yes. >> That's all I have. Um I have a couple of a couple of things. Um in no particular order um so as I mentioned before um I
genuinely invite the public to come to the working meetings. So as you see a lot of these are voting on things. This this meeting tends to go relatively quickly. Um the working meetings are an opportunity um to hear deliberation between the commissioners, hear um
different sides of a story etc. So um please join those. Um at the moment those uh what we've decided is those will be the third Wednesday of each month at 11:30. Um and as mentioned before those are here physically as well as online and via YouTube. So um please
join those if you wish. Uh secondly, there are several affordable housing units that are currently available at the F Avenue site. I believe that application is still open. Um the burough social media pages has all of that information, but I know there have
been multiple questions at this meeting about those applications. So, um they're due sometime in the next two week. The ninth. Okay. So, one more week um should you wish to apply. A few more announcements. Um, congratulations to our police department who passed their
on-site accreditation assessment and who are being recommended for reacredititation. Um, the police are having a meet with the police event um on February 12th at Stella Pizza from 1 to 5. Cherry, anything you want to add about that event?
>> It's going to be a public event with no agenda. They have taken school as well. We're hopeful that children in town officers in town. >> Correct. Um there also were and I know the police account posted about this but the new ebike laws. So the new laws are
nobody under 15 you have to wear a helmet. Anything you want to add there? state there where you have to be compliant with that again for further information. >> Several updates about the library.
Starting in February, the Collinsbook Library will be offering an adult drop in program on Wednesdays monthly from 11 to 12:30. So, join folks at the library for coffee, conversation, games, crafts, and more. There's no registration required, and that's an open-ended program for adults to get to know their
neighbors and build community. Uh, the uh January 26th movie was rescheduled at the library due to the snow. Um so that is rescheduled for tomorrow which is February 3rd from 5:45 to 7:45. Um the library will be showing a film American Fiction based on the
book Eraser by Everett. Um this film is rated R so 18 or welcome. Um and uh they are at the same time the library is reading the novel Colored Television as their book club pick and that is on February 25th and both works address
race and identity um as we are celebrating Black History Month. Finally from the library AARP tax aid service begins this Friday, February 6th. AARP volunteers will be at the library on Friday afternoons during tax season to help seniors complete basic federal and
state tax returns. contact the library or visit the library's website to register for an appointment. There are limited number of appointments. Um so those do fill up quickly. Um if you joined our working meeting last week or caucus meeting um you would have heard
about several different committees that are in the works um including a public arts committee that will meet with the bid. So exciting next steps on that. Um you may be hearing from the mayor on um but talk to myself, talk to the mayor, talk to Jim about park committee. Lots
of ways to get involved on these snowy days. Um let's get involved and work with our neighbors. Um another item from last week is uh from that meeting. Um we agreed as a governing body to share information about the safe rout
um report that came out and that'll be at the March town forum. So I'm greatly looking forward to sharing some of that and getting community feedback. In the month of February, the Collinswood Community Theater will be presenting here in town, so be sure to mark your
calendars for a wonderful event. Um, my office hours are open on Friday. Again, those are opportunities at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. Anyone can come and talk to me about anything. So, if I can do something about it, I'll help. If I can't, um, I'm not a licensed therapist,
but I'm happy to listen. Um, but please come and chat with me. Otherwise, I'm just talking myself. Um, and our April meeting, um, I believe we gave notice about this, but our April meeting has moved a week later because of school spring break. So, uh, it'll be the
second Monday, April. That's what I had. Thank you. >> I I just want to give a shout out to all the Burls family. So, everyone, this is been a while since we've had a snowstorm in winter. Uh I'm usually still able to golf in winter and I think it's working
so well this year, but I want to um thank everyone and um everyone has to adjust uh Burl Hall crew um the the police fire police between dealing with people parking in
incredibly creative ways and blocking streets fire um with the work that they do just clearing out uh hydrants and attending into every issue that comes up. BPW has a double dose of uh not just
plowing and trying to get streets clear and up and running, but um you know, with with a storm like this comes water main breaks and tons of tons of wonderful work that everybody wants to do. So, I want to thank all of you for
all that work. Um I think we are through it. someone else. >> I think we're through it, but appreciate um all of your work. Thanks. >> All right. Um some quick things. Um I understand that having daytime working
meetings is a little hard, but the idea of the working meetings is that we can actively work with our staff and I don't want to ask more of our staff than we have to to come in and they're this is their time. They're here. They're here right now. We appreciate them, but we very much want uh for it to be a
collaborative process. And if we need to bring in not just Lindsay, but also we need multiple people from staff to work on a problem. We don't want that. One of the reasons we can't do that because we're having it at night, which is why it's recorded because I know it's hard to get off at 11:30 on a Wednesday, come to a public meeting, but it'll be
recorded. It'll be there for you. Um and then if there's more questions about it, Amy has her office hours on Friday mornings. I have office hours from 10:00 to 12:00 every Tuesday and Thursday um in a really fun room in Burough Hall. Uh specifically affordable units, there are
four affordable units um available. Uh a thank you to everybody who came to Snowball Galla. It was a really really wonderful night. We were able to reach a number that we can finally start to make some movement. Um, so very excited to see what those new pieces of inclusive
playground equipment will look like and how that how that's going to work. Um, we had discussed these two two committees, one being a committee to work on the funding from the rep bond that is going to go into the night park
and how that's going to be used. Um, Jim is going to be leading that committee. I because I want to make sure everybody knows about it and sees it. I think we're going to push it back just a bit so that we can have some details about it in the town prior because that's the only way I know for a fact that the
information got to you. Um and so the same thing is going to go through the master plan steering committee. Um there'll be more information about both of those in the town prior which should be arriving the first week of March and we will likely have applications for if you want to be included in either of
those committees being mid-March. So everybody has a chance to hear about it here at our working session, but al on social media and whatnot, but also to get a paper copy in your town prior. You can open it up, read some details of what we're asking of you, what the opportunities are. Um, I don't want to
miss anyone. Um, we hadn't made that quite clear during our working session, but thinking about it a little bit more. I thought that was probably the best way to make sure everyone knows that these opportunities. Um, yeah. And when was the next time? So yeah, the first week of March,
>> the first week of March is when the next town prior. So expected in your mailbox instead. >> Yeah. I'm going to open the floor to public comment on not just on the resolutions, but on general matters. >> Yeah, why not? We got it up.
>> I don't want to pick a waste. >> Larry D. Javani, 745 Merrick Avenue. Um, I'd like to know what your plans are for the winter treatment plan. What's your upgrades included? >> So, so there's there's upgrades um on on both plants. On Hillrest is basically
building a new plant. >> Okay. Um, on at Tomley it's it's upgrades not building completely new but almost u most of it is related to POS removing the POS contaminant out of the
water. Um, one of the resolutions tonight was um, authorizing a note taking another step in the financing of that project through what's called the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. Um, which, you know, if if things stay the way they
always have been, we'll probably end up in a you take a loan, but like 50% of it gets forgiven. So, it's a way to fund a portion of it. So, it's a major overhaul at the pool area, especially like water plants going to be built in a different location, different spot, kind of the
empty spot. It's going to be modernized and um hopefully deal with all the new contaminants. >> We're going to have a new filtration system and everything complete replacement. >> Well, question being is, you know, I know the water in the town is okay, but
there are some issues, but that would be an upgrade. But the other thing you want to keep in the back of your head, American Waterworks is buying up everything in Pennsylvania, Aqua and PA American are buying up all the small water departments of a lot of the
counties. >> Yeah, I'm I'm I'm more than aware of that and um we have been doing our best to upgrade our system so that we don't need to let that >> Right. Exactly. Most of the towns when you see that happen, they're at a point
where they need to spend big big money to upgrade their plant. And so there's a there's a huge savings when New Jersey American comes in. That's who would be here. But when when when privatizing the water, um they usually guarantee rates
to be held for a couple years and then you're subject to a forprofit corporation's decision on what rates are. So >> Oh, yeah. I know that. Yeah. >> Um, yeah, we're doing everything we can and have for decades been investing tons of money in the water system. >> Okay. All right.
>> Okay. >> That's fine. One other thing. >> Excuse me. I understand how a snowstorm takes place and things happen, but the problem is I see in my neighborhood people have driveways. Why don't they
park in them? Really? Because you know these guys got a zigzag around the cars. It's actually dangerous because when they dig themselves out, they leave a mound of snow that turns to ice. Like now it's very dangerous because now
people are trying to navigate through them without hitting that snow pile. And you know there's a couple of close calls that went around because I live off of a curve and there was a few close calls there because kids coming out of school north. So, I mean, you know, I know it's
sometimes it's inconvenience to park in your driveway, but I came from the city. I love my driveway. I hate parking in the street. So, why do you want to park in the street? I mean, people around here, I know. So, like in here, it's tough because they don't have any other
avenue for it. But if you have a driveway, think of the think of your neighbors, think of the children, and think of the people who are driving down next street at night taking a chance of hitting your car, maybe your property or god forbid killing somebody, you know.
So, you know, just a little hindsight, maybe, you know, a little courteous, you know, uh, thoughtfulness for them, you know, to try to do that. Thank you. Thank you for your time. >> That's our public service announcement. Larry Hum. >> Thanks, Larry.
Hi, Tom Elden, 5:30 Hatton Avenue. Um, mine is just kind of a shout out to Kevin and his team. Um, two Saturdays ago at around 2:00 in the morning, uh, one of my neighbors was a victim of a a
strong armed robbery and, um, his team got there within literally seconds. So, and they did, from my understanding, they made an arrest. So, good stuff. Good evening. My name is uh Dave Pay.
I'm with the Well, I'll give you my address. 506 Monroe Avenue, Ed Wedgewater Park, New Jersey. A little distance from here, but I'm with the AP driver safety program that's been around for 50 years. Unfortunately, CO kind of eliminated the program in Burlington,
Camden, and Gloucester counties, and we're reintroducing it. Part of that is we need host in the area. Uh host like the towns. Uh the host can be banks, hospitals, places of worship, fire department, senior centers, adult
communities, municipalities, BFWs, and so forth. The cost to a host is zero. It cost you nothing except for the use of your room. that ADV system that we can plug our laptop or our our USB drive in whichever the the
instructor has and it helps bring some positive uh information to your community. We provide AR people like trained instructors the course materials and promotional materials doesn't cost you anything unless you want to do something. Uh the courses are six hours
long that's mandated by the motor vehicle commission not by me or anyone else. And the uh forgive me I did that eye surgery so I'm okay here. Oh it can be done in one or two days. The six-hour course we can do one six-hour session or
two three-hour sessions. And there's a cost to the participants. AP members is $20. Non-members is 25. Now what do they get for that? They get hopefully improved driving skills or at least awareness of their skills and discounts
on car insurance is good for three years. Also, if you have any points on your driver's record, they'll take two points off. And uh that's all I have. I have some brochures if anybody would like some. And uh >> if you didn't mind sticking around till
we finish up, >> Ellen Rosen, 130 New Jersey Avenue. I just want to add on to the snow removal thing. I was moy impaired for a while and in a wheelchair in winter in Collingswood and a lot of people have
not shoveled their sidewalks adequately to be able to get through for anybody with mobility impairment and so I just was wondering if I'm very conscious of it now because of my experiences and I'm wondering if anything can be done about that and it's also not safe for regular
people to walk. So, I do believe that Chief Joyce has begun with with notices um to homes that have not cleared adequately. Um things first or
follow up with it wasn't follow >> and I I just film experience like you're you then become homebound and that's >> right. And we and uh and we talked with Paulie because we because storms like
these don't happen that often here. Um that's like you know it's been 10 years since the last big one and what can we do there because it's um because lawyers actually and it's very hard
>> um um it's very hard for the burrow to do like a grassroots sort of like help your neighbor block captain things like that. Um but Holly did find a couple of of like angel opportunity that we could potentially run through something like
the civic collective or something like that. And it's the kind of thing that I think exists in communities that this happens more often um to help out. Like I know I texted the couple of neighbors that I had that there were elderly just to make sure everybody at least had a contact for snow removal or something,
but like I can't do that with I don't have I can't access the list of all the neighbors. But I think it's something that we should definitely as all this stuff is hopefully melting look into further and try to set it up for the next 10-year storm which you know ponyt
might still happen this year. So you know um but that >> I I believe the county has a service that you can sign up. >> So that service um got overrun pretty quickly. I have yet to hear of anybody who have worked for um and then they
switched it within 12 hours. Yeah, we did, you know, handicapped. Um but so again, it's a work in progress, but I think it's something we should put some more effort into um to at least build the infrastructure or at least have an
idea of something we could do because we we did have notice of this. It just what what do we do? Um but went very pretty. Anybody else? >> All right, thank you all for coming to
second. Absolutely. >> Have a good night, guys.