Yeah. Yeah. So far, don't worry. >> Oh. homeship. >> I can't tell you actually So he didn't >> my people.
What's wrong? official thought. What do you mean? Yeah. red blood. >> Yeah. Amen. >> Like there is no
policy against You can meet some vision. doesn't work. Yeah, that's one for The meeting will come to order
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Missouri complied with the notes provisions of the sunshine law by
adopting prior January 10th this year a resolution describing the date, times, and locations of all regular meetings permission. This meeting is one of the meetings in such resolution and copies of the resolution were by January 10th file April 2nd 13
sorry municipal court zoning official >> second we have a second reading and public hearing of ordinance 836 amending chapter for 217 road recreation. Uh so
this is second reading adding uh EV cars, small little remote controlled uh electric vehicle at a new EV racing track on hotels across um across from the community garden. Um it's going to
be a new club sort of thing for I believe older kids um in the 10 plus range. Um Marcus Bell from Leader Up is going to be leading that and so this is just an additional recreational programming. So
we have to amend the code to add the $50 fee to sign up and be part of that. That's what this is. And this is second reading. So your chance for public comment on this comment >> yes.
Yes. Yes. The second reading and public hearing of business 1838 is miss agenda amending and supplementing chapter 141 of the code. I think at this point >> oh sorry
second reading of public hearing of 37 amending chap 287 section six uh electrical electric vehicle supplying service fees. Uh so fundamentally um the chargers that
we have uh were installed six years ago now and the pricing has not changed since then. So, we're now uh following state guidance on a system that will charge what it actually costs in energy to your electric vehicles. Um, and this
will just allow that price to fluctuate based on what the state saying should be charging. So, second reading of that today. Any public comment on none?
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Now we have a second public hearing for the 1838 amendment to supplement chapter one. We want to go to the bur college developmental rights to designate data
designate data centers and computing nodes as nonpermitted uses in all zones and burough policies about this at different meetings. Um, if you're not familiar with a node, it is a small engine that goes beside your house. At smaller municipalities like
ours, companies will pay you to have these thousands of dollars each year um to hold this. So, the idea being that we will not cross an area um create, you know, the energy for a data center. Um we were the idea for this um amendment
is to press pause on all of this. We don't know particularly what the new county water project etc. what the water need would be for this the electric we're concerned about noise. >> Um so this is a pause. Um this went to our planning board where it was
unanimously agreed upon that it is in line with the master plan. Uh and before it went to the planning board it was reviewed by uh our planner our missile planner from Rein Bing. um because everything is moving so quickly. Um this
was what he thought was the best route. Um the nodes that uh Commissioner Ry's talking about are kind of like Hback like small little Hbacks. Um but they could be loud and there's there's a lot we don't know
about them and their usage and yes is small. We don't have a lot of plans but that doesn't mean that there's adaptations that can still affect our town. So, I wanted to be proactive at that. Second reading if there's anyone that has any comments on that. Okay. Uh,
please state and >> sure. Um, will Commissioner Malady be giving insult from this as he represents a uh firm that is attempting to sue another town to force it to accept a data center
as a usage for a u unit of property in its municipality? That frankly sound reminds me of the villains from a cartoon when I was a kid called Captain Planet. Uh if you never watched if you actually watched the uh Montro uh
township uh meeting where he spoke, it was really a bad job. >> Thanks. >> Um Caitlyn, would you like to uh so I was requested to look into a potential conflict of interest. After researching
and looking at this, there is not a conflict that raises under the local government ethics law which would prevent uh fisherman from voting on ordinance tonight. Um there's no pending application, nothing that really ties
the burrow um to his work as a private attorney. So it doesn't raise to the same levels the recusal that need to be met for the local government ethics law. So, um I've issued a finding that there's uh nothing preventing him from
voting on this. We're discussing this topic tonight. >> And on another hand, yes, please. Um yeah, very much to support this ordinance and thank you to the deputy mayor for her leadership on the issue. I believe this makes us the second
municipality in Gambian County to ban data center in our county. Um, and yeah, I was going to say some of the stuff that Wayne said, but I very much look forward to hearing what Commissioner Ally has to say. I was at that meeting because the organization works very invested in stopping data centers and
establishing state there. I'll just make the whole town that so it be interesting to hear your remarks which will capture on our lunch. >> Sure. Any other comments on any other comments on
data center not >> so um my vote on this is that I think that we should have a six month the way Amy talked about it I was not
but there needs to be like some timetable where we do develop and look at standards okay the The total ban is just not defensible. We don't have a record here. We don't we don't have
enough here to make it defensible. So the the way it the way it's put up right now, it's a ban of reaction and there need to be a review and I would ask about our planner look at it to come up with what the standard should be. Not data centers. There's no I mean we it
was funny read through the ordinance. We don't we don't prohibit airports. Okay, that's prohibited use. We don't do that because there's no place to put an airport. There's no place in this county to put a data center. But the uh the nodes are another issue. Okay, the nodes are an issue and they should be
regulated. And that's what we should be doing. We should have we commit to have our planner in a six-month period come up with some reasonable regulations to make sure that we don't get something. And that's something that our our planner action did say that we should do that. But in this moment, if we wanted
to act right now, that's what we should do because there isn't relevant things we have to pull from from other municipalities as examples of what sort of regulation would work and be more restraining. And so his recommendation was to do for the go for our goals to do
an all right out ban. Now, we should continue working on it to see what what other things we put in place that we feel will stand the test of time. >> Yes. And my vote is I'm going to abstain. Not because there's any legal recusal. I don't have to recuse myself,
but it's very clear that folks are going to follow me around with this vote in the work that I do and I'm just not going to do them. So, I'll just abstain. >> Thank you very much. Yes. The first reading of 1839 chapter 97 of
the borrow code devices operated. Uh, so real quick, uh, we had a local business owner, um, come to meet Lindsay Ferguson about an idea, ways to bring more foot traffic and to, um, best use
their space that they have in town. And when he sat down, look at the point operated uh, code, it was written in and adopted in the early 80s. Um, I think in a time when you could still like gamble on, you know, a couple dollars in the
ones that would sit on top of the counter, there was a lot of things that went point operated beyond just like far. Um, so we revisiting that just to allow a simpler fee, an easier process.
Um, there's still a cap on how many devices you can have. The board would trigger after you go before the planning board. still not going to allow full on our aid, but a couple of, you know, uh, aid in the back of a store that already has approvals from the planning for the
do a thing, uh, will have an easier process. Um, and I want to applaud the business owner for coming and being open-minded and laying out some case, what they're going to do, knowing what approvals they already have in the
planning board. It was really a great um exercise in how we can work with businesses to see if our code like this is something that's the book in 1983. Does it work in 2026 like it did in 1983? Maybe not. Uh so the second reading for this is going to be on
September 8th. So it's a Tuesday. Yes. Tuesday is Labor Day. stay home and I don't know if the full draft ordinance is in the back or online but it says uh mayor that it is uh no more
than five doment devices shall be installed maintain operating possess without separate so >> and I'll just say we did have a restaurant like where Sabrias is now right with the west side have a restaurant hamburger to to be opened up,
but we paid few arcade games in in it at the time. So, what's been done in the past >> and and this uh the ordinance that existed did allow for arcade games. It was just rather than a fee and application process uh that I'm sure
this person made it through, but can be very difficult for a business owner to read that uh this feels like an insurmountable. We wanted this to be more accessible. Yes. >> Yes. So, this is another time. If anybody has
public comments about any of the resolutions on the agenda, this is your time to read your comments. an application for the 2026 NJUF community grant tree inventory and community forest management plan development. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Okay, just to tell people what this is. Um, so the Shade Tree Commission brought this up a year ago that we uh still need a tree inventory and tree inventory is what it's like counting the trees and knowing where they are and
knowing what kind of trees we have. Um, and Ferguson, I want to say thank you. We worked very hard on this grant application. This will not cover the full um the full management plan, but these plans are developed in a way that
we can get hopefully get this grant funding about $20,000. >> Yes. >> Uh $20,000. And the way they map it out, go through a chunk of town and we can slowly over time and that that way that's enough show. So in the master plan if we want to do more things of
this vein we can show progress that we've already started to do the tree inventory um and then you know the next year we can do another chunk of so it's a great first step to make the money raise for water sewer and tax payments
is September 15 2026 let's say again very loud for everyone grace period till September 15th. I know you're used to receiving your bills earlier. Um, every year it takes a little bit longer for the state and county to get us all of our numbers and
get them to you. So, there's a great period till September 15th for tax, water, and sewer. But be warned, September 16th, any interest will go up and all the way back to the
>> August 1. So just be be aware there's time but interest will go back to August 1st. Also reminder please be kind to our tax office and to our bureau staff. This they didn't make the number. They will gladly explain things to you as best
they can. They will point you to resources. But if you have big qualms you have all of our emails. My office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to 12. Amy 9 to 10 on Friday and gym by appointment. So you can talk to any of us. Um we understand things may be
difficult. We don't we don't know your personal finances, but we're glad to best we can. Um and be kind to our staff. They work very hard. Um and and they they just send the letters
and refund task. 605. >> Yes. >> Yes. Manual family policy. Yes. Yes. Sorry. Sorry. Stop you. This
um so there is a state mandate. So now employees will have a shorter window of time they need to have for the bureau before they can apply for family medical leave. Uh I'm not but it's in 250. I don't know how much shorter it is than
it once was. State mandate. Um so that's something to our employee. Approval of items appropriation and thank you. >> Yes. Yes. So fun fact that anytime we're we want a grant. So we want a grant for
$12,93756 a recycling tonnage grant. we have to formally make a resolution to amend our budget to include that into our budget because we didn't know that we won that grant when the budget was approved earlier in the year. So that's why you see these things happening as grants are awarded
right from Earl as company for the west comfort being relocation project. >> Yes. Yes. may not be authorizing electric vehicle supply and service equipment usage fees for the
publicly accessible municipal park. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yes. We have an ordinance and a resolution. >> One of them us to
change it so that we can adjust the rates without every time and then the res. >> Okay. And they're effective September 1st. >> Thank you for that breakdown.
>> And then we have the pros. >> Yes. Yes. um comments you have any >> just real quick um actually just kind of sad I just got word that Chef Albertino passed away uh so just let just sending
our condolences to the family really sorry about needs to become a little bit of the main state. I haven't been here forever, but the main state I got. Um, and oh, that's it. >> Uh, just a few things. Tomorrow, um, from the police department is our
national night out. That's from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the parking lot of Spanish. In addition, next week is the junior police academy, which uh started if you know how many people are registered. It's more than ever before now. >> Yeah, it's operation.
And that that activation will be on August 14th. A reminder that Thursdays on the release of the park through the month of August. Um this Thursday there's a little giant. Excellent. Um we're going to mention fireworks. We talk about that. Oh, so fireworks are
rescheduled for September 5th and that coincides with an additional time with additional days of pool due to the closure or the cancellation of fireworks on July 4th with the with those with the rainy. episodes that are scheduled for Saturday, September 5th, and a rain date
of Sunday, September 6th, if the weather is well, we've all had a wet day, you know. Um, and a few announcements here from our college library. Uh, summer reading program continues uh back and forth for
adults. There's still time, so school doesn't start for a while. There's still time for students to come and get their assigned reading books. Thursday afternoon movies for kids still happen throughout August as our story times. The adult movie at the library for August 19th. It's a movie called Center.
And the library crew will be at National Night Out tomorrow, this Tuesday, reading stories and bringing their fresh. And then finally, uh a few folks have asked me about the status uh of the fire report. Um they just had a conversation
about it today. Uh a presentation to the public will be at the September 8th meeting from our fire consultants and the report will be public at some time. I don't know yet sometime before. That's all for me. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Um so National Night Out, I just read the invoices. There will be duct tanks. Uh bring your bicycle, especially your kids, your teenagers. Um, your bikes get registered with the police department. So, if they are they go missing, then the police department
can track them down better. Uh, should be pretty nice weather tomorrow night. It's going to be in the Scottish parking lot. Lots of space. Um, place for your kids to roam and have fun and meet our officers and uh, and play the dunk. Who's who's going to be the best? >> I have no idea.
The dunk, >> right? Um I'll be able to announce it again in September, but at NCI on Collingswood is coming together and organizing to have our first expanded heritage event on September 19th in the pocket park. We're actively looking I
say we and I say fun is actively looking for sponsors or vendors. It's a $25 fee just to cover expenses and entertainment. goes from 4 to 8:00 pm. Um we're gonna have a band at one point hopefully some poetry readings um and
other kinds of music kids events. Uh so if anyone is interested in getting involved with that, email me and I'll get you coordinated with uh the owner of Dulce who is taking things in hand really well and we're very excited post an event like this and use our pocket
chart for all these great events. Um, lastly, some news may come out this week about uh a business owner in town who's been detained by ICE. And I just want to remind the public that
Burton Hall does have a notary and cost $2 cost $2 to have the document notorized. Um, our employer is going to be on vacation, but we have another notary. Please just get jump on the phone real quick. We'll answer and let you know.
You know, um our hours are currently 8:30 to 8:30. >> 9 to 5:30. 9 to 5:30 Monday through Thursday and 9 to 11:30 on Fridays. Um there's also a notary at the library. Um
but the library you have to make an appointment. Um we recommend you just call ahead to Bur Hall so we can make sure that our our notary is there so you can sign. Um so just keep keep an eye out. We'll share news as the family is comfortable sharing it. Uh but we are aware and enjoying everything we can on
our side. And that's all I have. Uh >> Robert Javani, 7:45 Eric Avenue. First, I'd like to thank for addressing my handicap curve. my property there at 745 Merrick Avenue
previous of 2023. Um they came out, it was marked, they took care of it, did a nice job. The only thing is people have to stop driving over top of it. Okay, that's my second point. Le Avenue don't have a speed limit sign nowhere.
Okay, Park Avenue, it's a race track. Those stop signs are great that people stop. They don't. And the reason my curve got destroyed the way it did was because when people are coming down America, the people on lease, they don't
want to wait for them to go. So they want to turn into them even though they can't make the turn. And watching just the other day, I was watching people go by at about 3:30, 4:00.
People do not stop at the stop sign. >> At the stop sign, the corner of right according lease they roll out go nighttime it's worse because now it's one >> one straightaway and that curb y where it's going down toward ventner it's very
dangerous because people parked on both sides of the street >> all right and three weeks ago I was coming home from an event about 8:00 at night somebody's coming around the curve the other side had no idea where I was ran into me because they don't slow down
they just come around. Even though the cars are there and they can't see, they speed anyway. Why they do it, I have no idea, but I'm afraid somebody's going to be killed or we have more children in the area now than we had before.
Somebody's going to get run over. I know there's a resident now near Vander. Okay. It has one of the uh um Luminous uh stop child watch for children science. Okay. the flag and
he's got it out along the side of the curve which is good but I mean people don't really pay attention to that because in our own little world but the thing is if they were to get stopped first thing they're going to say there's no speed limit sign we didn't know what the speed limit you should know it's residential area should be 25 miles an
hour is but that's what you're going to get so I would appreciate maybe we get a little bit of maybe uh good signs yeah proactive response okay thank Thank you. >> Hi, Rebecca Pinkle Park. Um, I just
caught up on the reporting from New Jersey 10 and I wanted to ask for some clarity on whether the Collinswood Foundation for the Arts is owned by the Burrow of Collinswood. Thank you. >> Sure. It's it's a it's a it's an
operation. It's an entity that's controlled by the power of college. Yes. Yes. Just the same as just it's same as college with partners. Uh the bid in town that's a that's a nonprofit that's organized that is run
and funded by uh by the burrow as well. >> Yes. >> Hi 220 Harris. Um on May 1st of this year, I submitted an open request to the bureau for all organizational budgets from the last five years for Collinswood Partners just reference and Collinswood
Foundation for the Arts. And the response that I received was the attached budgets that I asked for for Collinswood Partners. However, the Foundation of the Arts is a private entity and there are no responsive records maintained by the Bureau of Collinswood for the Foundation of the
Arts organizational budgets. So that is in direct conflict what you just said. So could you clarify please? >> No, it's not at all. It's not at all. The the difference is this. I I don't know what document was provided to you with respect for partners. Okay. But the colleagues with partners, the bid puts
together a budget that has to be approved by this body. Okay. And I'm just guessing that that's was provided to you because the burrow has that budget because it's put on the agenda and it's voted on by the commissioners.
Okay. If there are documents I saw the whoever did all that it's anonymous whoever posted it. >> Oh >> no. Oh sorry. >> No no no the over I mean the the Excel spreadsheet that talks of the evils of
me and everyone I've ever met. Okay. U that that is just kind of missing the point. If anybody wanted records if you want to see anything or know anything we'll be happy to supply them yet. follow. Um, I also have the 99 piece from the Conor Foundation from the Arts
from 2019, right? Um, and on here it says Mary Baldwin, director, will do a detailed review of the form. Jay Ny, president of the Conso Foundation for the Arts, will also perform a review. And then on the next page, it says the burrow, which is not a related entity of Cons Foundation to the Arts. Thanks. So
again, your 990s for the organization, the nonprofit organization that you're the president of, directly contract what you're saying here. No, it's not. Listen, it's not a poor part of the organizational structure here. Okay? So, it's a neither is neither is the colleagues is the colleagues of
partners. Okay? There are agreements between the nonprofit and the burrow whereby the burrow is basically funding and running everything at the Scottish right. Okay? >> The burrow running everything at the Scottish rate. the burrow. So
over over the last, let's see, this all started in the beginning of of this century, right? 2003, probably started before that. Um the the burough public works department, our police have all done work at the
Scottish Wright, have all done maintenance work, have done security work. Uh they help maintain the building. the the the methodology that we used to fund this. The way this would
be funded for from 2003 until 2025 was the bureau would advance monies pursuant to its agreements with the foundation would advance monies to the foundation to cover its expenses during
the year. the foundation would would earn, you know, wedding rentals would earn that money through the year and they had been able to pay back the burrow every year. Okay, it was self- sustaining for 22
years in 2025 uh and kind of the hangover from from pandemic because pandemic we lose that wedding revenue but then we also didn't have a lot of bookings during that time. So as a result of that it started to
have some financial issues. We started having troubles. Last year, 2025 was the first year we had to supplement them to pay some money over to cover the expenses to keep it all going. And over that time, we've also been in conversation and discussions with the
county about shifting the Scottish right into the ownership and control of the county because they have a greater ability to handle the expense, the cost that it's going to be. Um that process has been for the last year. My public
commissioners have been aware of it. They've been a part of it. >> The commissioner and the president of the foundation. >> It's all the same. There's no it's not different hats. And listen, you allege. Listen, the stuff that I don't know. So,
you're not the author of whoever put this PowerPoint up. You're not. And you have no idea who did it. That's just someone else. It's just the documents that you you got. I It's like you got the Oprah, but somebody got We all look the same thing. So, the is the person that wrote that
PowerPoint here tonight. >> Take a deep breath. Deep breath. Thank you so much. Why does it matter? >> Can we Can we please right now? Uh Megan still has the floor. Jim, if you want to finish what you want to say regardless of the person and the whatever.
>> Well, I want to answer. No. No. With all all due respect there, someone posted up online that I have $9 million conflicts of interest. Okay. They did it anonymous. All right. A lot of the folks that are here have written and said and
joined in on all that and all this this PowerPoint that's been put this together with all this data that they say which 80% of it is wrong. Okay. >> Yeah. Well, you didn't put this together. I'm talking about the PowerPoint. So, let me just finish correct.
>> Let me finish here. It's 80% of it is wrong. >> And it it does accuse me of complex. Okay. And it said it acts as though I have some kind of personal interest in the foundation for the arts that I make
money at it or that I have some personal interest in it. >> My only interest I tell you what, let me finish. Okay. My personal interest in it is is as mayor as mayor as commissioner and serving the
role that I serve there was the same interest as the bur the foundation has no different interest than the burrow comments group. Okay. So that's that's what we did. I would love for the person that made the accusation against me to
have the guts to stand up and say and say it to my face so we can discuss it because they're wrong. Uh Amy had asked for an opinion about whether or not there I have a conflict. She met with the attorney that's going to give that opinion and that's fine. We're h I'm
happy to wait for it because just like when Amy asked for the opinion about the data center, there is no comp. It's all the same interest. You folks have no You're using conflict in a way that is not at all what a legal conflict is.
>> Hold on. Hold on. I'm only going to just everything that that Jim says is true. The only thing I I want to edit is that there were other loans made to CFA in years past that have all been repaid. It was a 2025. It's the first time that
they weren't able to fit repay. That was my understanding. Yes. Correct. Correct. There. But there also are are loans that were never repaid. >> Right. >> Okay. There's initial investments in the
building made in 2003 >> that made the ballroom that did work on the auditorium. It was the investment that the burrow made to get the project up and running. >> The loan to the foundation. >> Tell you what, I'm all fine. You're good. Mary, do we have another Do we
have someone else to ask the question? I know their response was my name was brought up just for a moment. So, I just want to u have my two seconds on this. So, this it was confusing and uh when this was brought to me, I wanted to understand uh since I ran on the transparency platform and will continue
to be transparent. I wanted to understand my responsibilities in this role in regards to these two entities. And so as soon as this came to me, I asked our solicitor and um she said that she could not answer my questions because she has a conflict of interest because she represents the conflict
foundation of the arts. Therefore, it is now my special counsel so that I can understand what these are and so that we can move forward with a clear road map what I can do what we all can or cannot do. So that is why he is currently with special counsel. Um I received an email
from him today. Um, he said plans to have those remarks to me and that guidance by the end of the week which I will continue to be transparent and share as soon as I have. Thank >> if you had any questions about it, you could also ask me and you could still get your still get your complex. >> Sure. It was a legal question to the
burough attorney. >> But no, if you No, you just said you wanted to understand how this works in your role and I at least could provide that some information. You don't have to plea any of it, but I could have provided that some information and you could have gotten somewhat >> the attorney, but thank you. >> Right.
>> Okay. Uh, someone who hasn't asked a question yet. >> Is there going to be an audit of all of this 904 Park Avenue? Is there going to be an audit of this? Because I feel like um we as the public there was a $5 million loan. It was called a loan. It's now I
think you were quoted in the NJ pen article saying it was a loan but not really a loan. I don't know what that means. Uh that never applied to my mortgage. It never applied to my college loans. Nothing. I've never heard a loan that's not a loan. There was no interest that we were never going to pay it back.
Um especially because this particular that particular building is an asset of the burrow. It could be making revenue. It is not accessible to most of the taxpayers in this uh in this uh in common. I don't have access to it. I
can't have my O practicing. Um it's we we it's it's not like you're getting banned that I care about there. So I'm not really sure why I am paying taxes for something and why I am paying taxes on um lawsuits for this for the
foundation of the arts. My kid goes to Perkins. That's where my kid gets art. We also have art teachers that aren't getting paid. We have school buildings that are not getting loans that are not really loans. We just closed my 10th school. Could have kept that open for $5 million. So, I would like an audit as
the taxpayer. I would like an audit of >> You can laugh. >> Oh, I can laugh. But you're alleging. >> You're just talking without any substance whatsoever. >> Okay. No, >> we'll see. Do you >> No, there are I would actually like the two people who don't have a conflict.
Can you do an audit of this? >> So the posit have had an audit done. So part of when Riley and I were elected and when we jumped onto this moving train
was conversations beginning with the county for the county to be over to take over property. There's of course things that they need like here's the financial disclosures and audits. This is something that the conso foundation of the arts for one reason or another and for that I cannot speak was not up to
date. They have now been up they've now come up to date and that's the work that our VA our CFO working with executive director of the foundation of the arts to get all those documents and to get all of that done. that was a precursor for being able to continue conversations
with the county of an asset that was depreciating and doing very little next to nothing in the early 2000s with maintenance who could not invest in the property and today it requires far more than as you were saying the tax base
here in Collins would account for just just so you did audit it you found that there was a $5 million loan and somehow that $5 million didn't help the borrow grow at all. It was It's now the the cost to repair repair the building hasn't been kept up. It can't make any
money. So, we have to give it to the county now because whoever was in charge of it wasn't doing a good job and making money from this huge asset. The one and only place you can get alcohol in town. >> That is not what I said. Uh >> but you're saying so we have to we now
have to give it to the county because it's not >> the burrow's auditors. >> Correct me if I'm wrong. Right. The >> just We're going to do this back and forth. Go right ahead. Right ahead. Stop. >> You did. You did explain. >> Okay. >> You did. Agree. That's all.
>> Can we make the audit public? >> What's that? >> Make the audit public. >> The audits. I believe all the audits. There's burl audits through >> for the foundation. Can we make they have tax returns we can make a available? Yeah. They would say, "You want to spend the money go?" >> That's fine.
>> They can spend on making taxes and then they would be on the internet. >> They could file. No, they're not on for five years. >> I tell you what, everybody just say stuff at once. That's fine. >> All right. Someone else name.
>> All right. >> Or is that >> Joe Banto with 1941? Why have you not filed a 990 for the Collinswood Foundation for the Arts in five years? So why are you out of 501c3 compliance? Why are you out of NJDCA
compliance? Why do you not have published audited financial statements like a nonprofit 501c3 organization is supposed to have? Where is that? >> So you're first of I'll go from the back. We're not required to do certified
financial audits which is not required. And if it was crap I tell you what if you would let me answer. Okay. Let me answer the question. So we're not required to have that. The tax returns that was a screw up again. And all I can
point to is part of pandemic things that were rough after okay it's it's it is is I take complete responsibility for it that once we found out that they had not been filed they were prepared they have all let me finish we were they were
prepared they have all been filed and we are in the the reinstatement process on the 501c3 I touched base with our the burrow auditor today who is doing all this for the conflict folks out there. Burough auditor does all the work over there.
There's no conflict. Uh our attorney's been doing work for them. There's no conflict. We'll get an opinion this week. There's no conflict. It's one and the same. Okay. So, that was a screw up. We have rectified it. We are in the process to get the reinstatement done so
that we are fully we are fully compliant. Yes. Uh >> that's really unacceptable. And you got to hold it to you got to hold it accountable. It's unacceptable to let a nonprofit to slip out of compliance like that pandemic is not a
legitimate for slip out of compliance and not by the fact. And if you're the president of the board, are you still the president of the board? >> I believe so. >> Okay. So, you're supposed to see and sign the 990 every year as the president of the board. >> The executive director is typically
signed. It doesn't have to be us. And if the accounts could die, why that a board member wouldn't bring you that? >> Hand over here. >> Yeah. So just say your name.
>> So I'm interested saying 80% of that post, but I did appreciate the information was incorrect. So I'm very interested in hearing about what the 80% is that you think is wrong and the 20% that's correct what that is because it sounds like you just gave competing responses
in fact to Joe you said file all the tax call the documents and then you're saying didn't um I think it's really strange the idea of like well we'll just transfer it to the county isn't the other board member of the county the head of the county government I'm gonna finish talking now
what Erica Because I think a big concern that we have is it's an astronomical amount of money that apparently was blown to this entity at a time when our schools have been underfunded. And I mean now I guess they're finally getting some cut from the pilots that have been
authorized for decades like you. So we're concerned about that money. We're concerned about it not going to our schools and the other things are that needed millions of dollars more than this entity. So I would love to hear how somehow transferring it to the county is going to be better for us because of
course and also what is the 80% that's wrong and what's 20% that's right. Walk us through all that. >> Yeah. So so there's a whole there's a whole lot that you're throwing out there. Um compelling is not on the board. Um but he's not been on the board
for some time. Uh we uh part of the funding that we received a few years ago was four or five million I believe from the county for uh the air conditioning in the theater for air conditioning the theater for some other work at the
theater. Um, so just to be clear on that, the transition over to the the county, the reason we started this beginning of last year was because it was going to be cost some and it was a too great of a of a burden for us to
take on. So we started those discussions. We started that talk and it's it's it's advancing now. It's advancing. So they most of the the things that are wrong on that PowerPoint that I saw are numbers. The numbers are way off. There are things they reference
there that have nothing to do with the Scottish right. Uh they miss things. Um when we the profits from the the proceeds that we received from the Park View sale, we put about a million dollars into the Scottish right. We put
it into the front lights there. We also put a million dollars into outfitting the high school TV studios and computers for the school district. All of this done with the full engagement and
participation of the public. Okay. And I understand some of you may not have been here when all that happened, but that's how we did all those things. You're the allegations been made and you did you just said it again about this money should have been used for the schools.
This money was spent on that building in 2003 four five. Okay. 2003 four five. >> I'm actually years ago. >> So the structural deficit for the school started in 2013 just just to get some
like numbers as to when these things happened. And the $5 million bond the burough did take out was again in 2003, 2004, 2005 for the initial investment of turning the balloon into something that could make enough money to sustain it. And that was when that money was used.
And then that was something that was on our books and our auditors okayed us to >> take it off. >> Okay. And that was all done in our audits. >> Yes. It absolutely was labeled as a loan with no expectation that we would be repaid. And that's why it was never put
on the balance sheet of the burrow. You will can review all the audits. It's not listed as an account receivable. Okay. It was set up so that we had some agreement mechanism that if it was a grand slam home run and generated a lot
of revenue, we had a mechanism to repay that money back to the borrow. That's it. >> Quickly question on the board. Who's there? >> Um I think I I to be honest with you, I'm not sure who the board is. I think
it's Cassandra. not Paula is Paul. No, Paula is not >> Paula's not Morgan and Rob were put and Rob, >> but I I believe that was tied to the end of their >> It's tied to I believe I think it's doesn't and Sandra specifically talk
about commissioners are on the board. I think that's what it does. >> Names trustee at the moment. named trustees. Um, and Amy and I are not named as trustees and I don't think that's updated since 2024. At least the last one that I but you guys voted to give money to the
foundation and you don't know who's going on the board. You voted in September, I believe, to give money to cover a lawsuit. >> No. No. >> That's is that false? Because that was in the documentation. So there was no lawsuit. There was a lawsuit, but I
don't believe anybody was paid for the borrowing power. That was the settlement. It was a settlement. Okay. My apologies. >> So, you guys voted, the three of you voted to give money to an organization to settle the lawsuit. >> We did not give it to the organization.
>> Sorry. Oh, you gave us You paid for a lawsuit that was incurred by this organiz by by what? This is what I don't understand. You gave our tax dollars in the middle of a of this. Maybe this $5 million was, you know, given. Let's say
what it was. You gave the money to yourself to to update this ballroom that has now generated no money prior to the the what's considered the beginning of the structural the beginning of the structural deficit. That's when that
money went away. But in September, when our teachers were getting laid off and buildings were being closed in schools and aids were being laid off uh or threatened to be laid off, you gave money to settle a lawsuit for an organization that none of you know who
is on the board. That's what you're telling me as a taxpayer that you guys voted all three of you voted to give our tax money and you can't even tell any of the >> What is it? Danielle already told you we didn't give the >> good you you gave you
a >> organization you can't even tell me anything about >> so when it you're absolutely right you're absolutely right and as soon as because I thought it was part of it worked and that's my understanding from
even this conversation but as soon as I realized that it might not be that's why I asked the last working meeting to hold on the bills and I will not transfer another dollar until I understand what the relationship ship is there's also something that I I've not heard brought up in discussion enough and that there's a management agreement at least the way
that I understood it when I came into this like okay sorry who's our cousin who's our brother what's happening here right um and the holds the lease for the 99 year we renewed that lease last summer um holds the lease with the
maintenance and then there's a management agreement between the burrow and the consation So that management agreement is four pages long. I don't know the room it but it essentially gives the bureau the
right and the ability to step in and cover any unpaid bills to continue it. You step that that management agreement was written when early 2000s as well as it was it was the other way around. used to be foundation was leased indirectly
and then we switched it around went interchangeable not different just we did it originally through the the foundation because we thought it would make the property more eligible for grants we flipped it around later when we were going for concessionary less >> so >> because that would give us put us in a
better position >> at one point have a lease >> I think so I think that's how we originally did 23 years ago >> I could be wrong but I think that's how we did >> no doubt Why the simple that was literally the first question that I asked when I was told I can't get the
answer. Is it part of the bur or not? >> I still don't understand. >> I don't know the answer yet from a legal perspective. I get what they say and I get what's been presented to me and I'm doing my best right of what the information I had. A road map forward is what I've asked for from the attorney so that we all have a clear understanding
of what those relationships are and what ours are. >> All right. New hand. >> Good job. Haron Bray 619 Stokes. So I think the general question I have on this is how much more has Scottish right
cost us and has given us and it's definitely five million plus this settlement which I don't know if you can say plus or is there more and then if we sell it to the county do we get anything and then if not why can't we use it for
>> sorry what was the last part you said >> uh if we sell it to the county for if we give it to the county >> right Um, is there a better way to get more money back than it's cost us? Whether it being selling it or something, anything. And then other than that, uh, why can't we
just use it if basically they owe us money? Like it owes us money whatever. >> Okay. >> So, we don't own it. We leave it. >> Yeah. The masons don't own the >> You have You have to presume for me, and I know he's waiting to get an official opinion, but you have to presume that
it's the bird. Well, to go on that assumption, my answers are just simply going to be premised on it is the burrow. Okay, it is the burrow. Burl operates it, the burl runs it, the burl is involved in everything. Okay, so when
we are talking to the county and right now the form of agreement is probably going to be a shared service agreement. Okay. And we're doing as a shared service agreement rather than transfer title. And I didn't get a chance to talk with all you. I talked to Caitlyn. I didn't get a chance to talk to you guys about it is we're doing it as we would
do it as a shared service agreement because to change out the long-term tenant from Collingswood to the county could jeopardize our place in line for this cafe grant. We applied for this
CAFA applied for this grant at the state which is the money you're referring to part No, you didn't get to that yet. the money that we we put we spent beginning of last year to get appraisals done and get all the work done to make application for that grant. So
>> that has not yet been awarded. >> It's probably going to be in a shared service agreement where we're going to transfer over to them full operations and and responsibility for the building. We will work to keep out of keep in that
that we get use of it certain for certain events for certain times of year. Okay. They submit to payment but but the the the foundation listen the the burrow only last year and this year
which the money's been held up. Okay. Is is is is looking to subsidize expenses at the Scottish rate that it is not getting reimbursed. Okay. for the 23 years prior
we would put in 100 grand and at the end of the year we were repaid 100 grand and then the then next year that was a way it was financed it was funnel down okay so last year we had to put some put money into it and we weren't we weren't did not expect to see
that back we weren't generating the revenue >> how much was that >> 200 I want to say 200 last year >> it's 200 in addition to the hundred for the for the grant which was >> what it cost to apply for the grant which could be awarded up $5 million and
they've awarded they have the word the first round at that rate yet not yet so we were in the second round we missed the the date for the first round so we're in the second round the battle agent that >> and there was that initial 5 million to that we spent
>> absolutely was there anything else besides that initial five million and the last >> you put a million bucks in for front lights out of the proceeds from the park fume pilot and park fume sale in 06
maybe 07 I want to say um and you we got grant money for other stuff the freight elevator was a great grant actually an allocation align it we got out of the federal budget um so my point simply is as it's getting transferred
and we're trying to accomplish this transfer to the county to keep it operating to keep it running because I disagree with you. I do think it's a great asset for our community. To lose it would not be good. Okay. But as we transfer it, there's really not the
value is in a lease. Okay. But there's the the costs and the renovation or what's got to be done on the building far exceeds any kind of value out of that lease. Okay. We're hoping to get some use out of the property. At least that's >> that makes a lot of sense. It would be nice if we could use it for like Odyssey
or whatever like a whatever indoor sports whatever >> for something like community theater um does use the Scottish right adult community theater does um they have a longstanding they do their shows there they rehearsse there um I do believe
they even have a small space for storage that they use there uh very small but they do have a dedicated small space so community theater is in there uh for example like we host Snowball Gala. We'll pay a fee to host Snowball Gala to
use it for public forums and things like that. Uh I I do not I can't answer as to why the space isn't used the other times other than it's rented out fees. I I do not know. Um, I would say the
counterfactuals of what like the dollars in terms of what has it brought, my understanding of what that building was in 2002 was not good. Um, it was I don't want to say the word, but the impression I've gotten the I've gotten pictures I've seen of what it
looked like back then. Uh so the decision that I hind's point quite right but something that large like what would have happened had for the last 20 years there been no investment and the masons have no ability to upkeep
that building u and want to get like we're a town that loves old things and we value history um the civic collection we used the mansion for a tour last year on Halloween it sold out. is an incredibly fun event. It raised a ton of
money for their endeavors, for the scholarship they provide, the pool pass they give families. Uh so to have a space like that, not cared for on the west side, that's a pool that
brings people in. And I hear your point, not not the band that I want to go to either. I don't I'm not uh I don't know what role the bureau has in programming. I believe B runs the programming for the right uh
>> with the county we have no the series the concert the main concert series is done with the county the county runs it for >> right >> we interview >> it would just be nice from a like climate outsider if it could be made more like the center of the town right
like to me right now that's just like a building over there well we put all this money into it I agree we should it's beautiful inside it's beautiful I was just there for the first time for the orchestra concert and it's beautiful like we should be in there more often like >> that's a very important point especi so
we haven't uh you know Jim just brought up the situation about the shared service agreement we haven't like come to the table with the county to say what the shared service agreement looks like and what amount of dates we could hold you know where in the if it's not being used by x amount of dates what what does that look like and that you make a very
good point about things that we should advocate for on on calling good's behalf to say okay county you you're D, you're paying all the bills. You get to use it when you want to use it. If you haven't had it booked by X amount of time, can we stick some Girl Scouts in
there? Can we That's a wonderful point and that's something we should absolutely keep in mind when we're in a good meeting like >> just one last point. Odyssey >> better place if we get control of it is >> or not. >> Go check. Yeah. >> Okay. That's better for the but the way
you guys use it far better if we get something set up in there. Scottish, right? For all, you know, its grandeur doesn't really have good >> storage, >> small space. >> Yeah. >> No football. And you guys do leave there might be some residue left every once every once
in a while. Like it's a >> it gets a little bit messy. So, having the reserve schools base might good Shepherd might make a lot of sense. >> Okay. Where's go left or right? >> Hi, uh Rebecca Fingle, 916 Park A. I
mean, you have to forgive us for questioning whether the burrow owns the foundation or not because there is a tremendous amount of legal documentation stating that it is a
separate entity. We are talking 990s. We are talking burrow audits. Uh legal filing from that recent uh lawsuit. uh uh the laws for foundation make it clear that the burough and foundation have no formal relationship. You know we there
was that Oprah request that stated forgive me uh the foundation of the arts is a private entity and there are no responsive records maintained by the burrow of Collinswood. At this point the onus is on you all to
prove this because we have asked for documentation and we have not received any of it. This is all documentation that should be ready readily available. I mean, you should be filing your 990s if it were a legitimate nonprofit. I mean, why would it be hard to get rid of
this? I mean, Jimmy, you're laughing. None of us >> Yeah. No, when you say you listen, you ask questions like, you know, how often do you feed your Okay, this is Let me just >> Yes, it is. NO, HERE'S WHAT to ask the questioning
why. You don't joke about All right. Just I have no problem. I have no problem. >> I have no problem with your asking for this information. That's not what you did. That's not what you did, Rebecca. You sent me an email Thursday night and
whoever the anonymous postcard, they didn't ask questions. They of crimes. Okay. No way. >> Stop deflecting. >> Answer my question.
>> Okay. All right. We're not going to be doing that. >> I I would recommend to any community member that has continued questions and there's documents. I didn't I was unaware that you received something from the open request saying that I don't I'm not talking on every
OPAR request. All right. I'm not aware of responses. >> All right. >> The burrow received Excuse me. Excuse me. >> I was unaware that there was a response from the bureau that said that there we couldn't provide documents about
Foundation of the Arts. What? I I did not know that. So if you are interested in the the governing body documents of the foundation of the arts, the management agreement, >> they have all those things. >> Do they? >> They have all those things. >> I know. Okay. Who has what? Who's that?
>> The Google doc links that you sent to me. >> They're all there. >> It should be in the Oprah right there. The the Oprah request the response. >> I didn't even It just said it just said that we have no documents that are
maintained by the Bur 100% accurate. Okay. That's all. >> Thank you. If you can highlight the gap, if someone can highlight the gaps of which documents you have not seen because you have now gone through the open request. Um, I know there's a Google Drive that I
have not opened. If there are documents you do not have that you would like, email us and we will if they are publicly available, if we have them, we will send them to you. >> I think we need a response that is not
We need a public response. We need a forensic accounting. We need a lot more right now because there is nothing publicly available stating that the Collingswood Foundation for the Arts is a property of the Burrow of Collingswood.
>> Okay. Anybody questions? >> All right. Can I I'm going to ask the room if someone has something else. So if they do, I would like them be able to ask their question and then go and then you'll want to keep discussing. We can keep doing that. Someone have a question that's not related to that. >> Yes.
>> 325 roll 325 West Franklin directly across from Skyrike. Uh Jim, you mentioned earlier it was 4 million allocated toward or given in a grant for the HBAC upgrades to the building. Um, do you have checks and balances of where that 4
million went into the full budget? Also, I hear there was a lean on your house for some funds still owed on that project. So, if you could speak to that a little bit more or 200,000 that was still owed to an electrician. Was that part of that project?
>> Roland, you know, making accusations like that. You didn't like there was no lean on there's been no lean on my properties at all involving any of us. And that's what I mean. It's not asking questions. It's accusing. >> Okay, >> that's what's that's what's happen. That's what this is. This is all get
them, get them, get them accused. Okay, God bless. >> That is just that is that is totally 100% inaccurate on the full on the the money that was spent by the county. It's federal infrastructure money that came
from the federal government to the county. They have full reporting responsibilities on that grant money that they used it for. This was provided to us. Yes, it is. It's a full compliance. Yes, >> the four million was completely on that that particular
project. >> It on the I I believe it was 4 million. I don't have the you know the exact numbers or anything. >> It was roughly four. No, that was county money that they committed that to to install the air conditioning. I think we
did the heating system. We did a bunch of other repairs at the property. That money was put in that full 4 mill. Again, I just want to understand that there is no funds left over from that 4 million. >> The I don't know if there is or not.
It's not the burrows. It's not ours. And it's not the foundations. It's the counties. >> Okay. >> So, I need to pay the bills. >> Noise mitigation which should have been done in the beginning of course by any here. >> Yes, that's rington
understanding why noise mitigation for if you put a 50 ton unit in a residential area that wasn't taken into consideration. >> Okay, now we're on a different topic. >> No, but you said last commissioner meeting when we spoke, we'll look into it. And then I was told there was two
grants that you went for two for noise mitigation, right? that now is gone. We're not able to get the grants because you're out of compliance. What are you talking? You're just >> So we have we I'm unsure of
somebody has you told me there was two grants that were involved for the noise mitigation or to help the noise. I don't know about I can see that digital included as a portion of the cafe grant
>> but so we so the cafe grant is a $6 million grant application covers a lot of different items we are in line as it's for the CFD stands for cultural and arts facilities
okay we are in a long line we are in line we are in a long line. What it sounds like Cassandra said to you was part of that grant application includes mitigation of the air conditioning that you have concerns with
>> consideration. Again, I we're not out of that because of any issue with the status of the entity. >> Okay. >> I also like to add that we have had we've had a resident complain about the noise and we've had our
you are the resident. >> Okay. But the since I've been in office, the only complaints I've received have been I I haven't got uh I don't see the RSS feed, but like the only it has been brought to my attention and in these meetings has come from from your house. That does not mean that other people did
not make complaints from me prior or before. I'm saying to my house and she joins gone by with we have a machine >> a decel reader that does not break our compliance like our our own account knows about
so we have we've done it several times so that's >> that'sing what we have done >> thank you anybody else have comments not about that building in general so you can all go home if you have other
Yeah. Hi, Grant Patter. Um, just want to express my uh or rather the citizen advisory board's appreciation for um collaborating on the ordinance when the bad ends and we're hoping to hear about uh any updates you guys may have about that
line. So, I have pulled together what uh the hen advisory board proposed in orphans um that have all the nooks and crannies of what backyard hens could look like in town. So there are 19 other municipalities in Camben County that already have background backyard hens.
Um that ordinance was shared with the commissioners that shared our zoding officer and I'm currently working on some piling and also in 2021 when this topic was brought up to the board there were some initial uh from the bureau side some initial guard rails and
things. So, I'm I'm putting them all together um to to hopefully send you in the next week or two like a counter proposal. It's what you suggested and what the what the work for for us and see and see where we go from there. But we are actively working on that. I have to compile a lot of different people's
inputs. I want to make sure that the 2021 uh comments are in there. I want to make sure both commissioners comments are in there. I want to make sure zoning officer we have all those comments in there and then we'll get that back to you. But thank you for coming out. >> Thank you. motion.
>> I'm going second a second. I would recommend if you want to make an appointment, we can sit down. We can talk about this. We can try to pull together the document that you don't have. It sounds I have not checked.
Bless me. I have not checked that Google Drive, but I will. But I will to make sure that you have what I have. And if you don't then I will make sure you get it. But I you know I have like more documents. I don't know what else what else there is. Um so
>> but but email us and who would like to be in the meeting and we can find some time to down. >> I one more question. >> Yes. >> If you guys So I I respect the fact that you're new to this and you guys just came into this and you didn't have time to do all this research. Can I just ask
like can you not move forward with selling a building or or or doing a shared service agreement and losing the potential revenue like you don't know what's actually going on? >> There's no potential revenue. We haven't that's the reason we're in this. >> But my question is do you know that?
Have you looked at their have you looked at what they what could possibly happen with that building? Because the thing that makes me upset here is that there's this organization and no one can give us a clear answer about who's on the board right now. was on the board, the the president of the board.
>> Clear answers that that building is operating at a loss right now because it works hand in hand with the executive director at the at Scottish right works hand in hand with Betty Joe at the burrow to go over finances, go over what bills they have to pay. Okay.
>> It it's two there's there are you're you're you're dealing with two competing issues right now. Okay. Right. Let me just finish. Okay. The there is there's been payments of 100 held up this year.
>> No, haven't it was the last bill. >> That wasn't believable. Well, I don't think so. I think I think the CFO >> So, talk to her today. I thought she was you were a business person. I want you to look at what you think of that bill
would be under new leadership because the the the leadership it's clear as you said that all the bureau has given this money to and invested this money in this building and we don't know what the investments have been and of of this wedding venue is somehow not making
money. So why isn't it making money? Maybe there's something wrong with the leadership. Maybe if we had new leadership involved in the build in in in in the running of that facility, it could make money. Maybe if we used it for different things or we had we were creative about what about the ways in
which we could the one building that has alcohol we and and it's closed. I mean like there's there's definitely like things that we could revenue that could potentially come from that building if we or maybe there isn't. But you guys didn't even know what was going on with
with any of this stuff until it was brought to your attention. And >> I actually that's not true. I sat down with the executive director of the Scottish right which at that time I didn't understand that she was executive. She was she's in charge of the rec. And I sat down with
her last October to ask questions about how work was going on, what where she found where we found ourselves. And she used before she was executive director, she was head of sales and marketing. She knows that only inside. And you talk to someone who knows the industry and that
building was painted in 2003 and it looks like it. They have sanded that dance floor down so many times that it's so thin and it doesn't have an appeal because outdoor weddings aren't really popular during co. So they tried to branch out into using the mansion and to
putting tents out front, but it doesn't have the appeal it once had, which is why part of the cafe grant was to put like build co like the sliding glass doors on the outside and make it indoor outdoor space and trying to find relatively lowcost ways to judge it up
so that it could be rented out, but it's not something that you just put a new person in. And when you walk into the ballroom and it looks like 2002, it looks it looks and it feels like it and that and and there's no I think the hope was that at one point and probably for
the for 20 plus years there was a little bit to be able to invest and make updates bit by bit, but since co it's my understanding that it's been it's been so flat. There's nothing to invest back into the building. That's not management. That's infrastructure. >> We're going to need to make a big
investment in it to get a big return going forward. And I believe part of the arguments being made is we shouldn't be making those investments there. >> Well, I think my argument is these investments have been made for 20ome years and it's the building has made no
money and yet we continue to sink money into it. >> If you would like to put this all in an email so we can like read it and analyze it and give you back a thought response with with like council's opinion and what you need, then you can email us. You have our contact information and we can get you a more thorough response with clear questions. Thank you so much.
Would you like to make a motion? >> I did. >> Second.