July 14th to order. You will notice thanks to the library, we do not have an 8 and 1 half by 11 flag. We now have a flag. So if you could stand for the pledge of allegiance, we appreciate it. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we're moving on to open public meetings notice. Pursuant to the open public meetings act notice that this meeting was sent to the cranberry press
times in the home news to on January 3rd and location change on July 7th posted on the township's website and said those requested a copy this notice. We will move on to roll call. Mr. Christopher here. Mrs. Elab is absent. Dr. Rogers
here. And Mr. Scott and Mayor here. Thank you. Okay. Do we have any uh changes or additions on our agenda this morning? Yes. So, we're going to be adding to our consent agenda, resolution 104, which
the resolution in support of NJ protection against climate threats, resilient environments and landscape rule. And second, we will be removing the first ordinance that is on tonight for second reading which is Ray Township ordinance number 06-25-08
which will be put on a future agenda. Right. Uh the planning board um met last week and their role was to find a do a consistency review or both ordinances that were on tonight. Uh 062508
they made a suggestion to give it more flexibility. So as said we will reintroduce it at our next meeting future future. Okay. Um so reports and oh can I get a motion to approve the
minutes from the regular meeting on 23rd as well as a special meeting on June 26th. I'll make a motion for both meetings. I'll second both. Thank you. We're going to move on to roll call for both. That would be Mr. Christopher. Yes. Mrs. Elab is excused absent. Dr. Rogers. Uh yes. Mr. Scott.
Yes. And Mayor Caner. Yes. That's unanimous. Thank you. Okay. Uh, who would like to kick off their reports and commissions? Sure. Well, kicking it off. My commission have not met. So, this is my quiet week.
You will spend time with me next time. Okay. I um I am the same. Hi. And don't have anything to report. Okay. Well, then I'll just waste some time. Not really. Yeah. I I have a wreck park wreck
Wednesday, but that's okay. Got it. Okay. Um first of all, I'd like to thank everybody for a very successful July 5th. I was unfortunately out of town at a wedding so I couldn't attend it. But I heard it's as magical as always and wanted to just thank again
our crime volunteer fire company, our police department and of course our first aid for a successful evening. So that's great. Um I think everyone's aware of the new recycling bin program. Uh some updates went uh out about that that it's one bin per household. Uh if
you don't want the old bins, you actually recycle them in the new bins. And that goes start I believe the uh second week in August. So if you're not they're not being picked up that's why it hasn't started yet. Um and then the school just wanted me to remind
everybody that uh new welcoming new families and students new uh student registration is now open. Uh this will go in the mayor's update tomorrow. And if you moved within Cranberry or outside of Cranberry and have a high school age student, same thing. There's registration links on there and I'll
publish them tomorrow. if anybody who's been able to walk into village park over the last couple days, but I just wanted to thank the parks and rep commission uh as we have a beautiful new cedar roof that is on the pavilion uh which is fantastic. So our res now enjoy the
pavilion for parties and gatherings without worrying about leaks from above and it really looks cool. There's a really neat copper element around like the chimney so you get a chance to go over there. Uh while I was also over there parks and wreck because we continue the multi-use courts in Village
Park. Uh please note that there's an orange construction fence that's up for the protection of the residents uh as also the surface as it's curing. So please don't cross over that fence and we hope that we'll be able to use that. Um they'll be up running by mid August.
And then any of you walked in tonight, you'll see that um the walking paths that connect the Cranberry School uh parking lot and the library, there's chest tables out there. They've been installed. They're permanent structures and they have three permanent uh chairs
there. Um so for players comfort. So that's kind of really all I have is updates, just some good things going. I just wanted to thank the DPW for their work after the fireworks as well. I'm not sure if you added that to this. No, I didn't. Thank you.
Okay. All right. Um, we don't have any updates from subcommittees or department heads scheduled tonight. So, um, I will move on to the boards and commission vacancies. The environmental commission has the first alternate and a second alternate. Municipal Alliance has a
second alternate and our zoning board has a full membership. Um, that is currently vacant. Okay. So, now we'll seeing no first readings of ordinance tonight. As discussed, we have second reading which is ordinance 0625-09
and that uh ordinance the title is an ordinance of of cranberry Middle Sex County New Jersey amending chapter 150 land development of the code of the district of cranberry to add a new residential Mount Laurel 55 zone
and I get a motion for that second I'll second. Is there any public comment on cranberry ordinance number 0625-09? Seeing none, we'll close public comment. CC
then we're going to move on to roll call for the adoption. Mr. Christopher, yes. Mrs. Silva is um excused accent. Dr. Rogers, yes. Mr. Scott. Yes. Mayor Kir. Yes. Okay. And as we discussed, we added uh
letter H. So, can I get a motion to uh move consent resolutions A through H or if anyone wants anything pulled out? So, sorry. I'll second. Thank you. We're going to move on to
roll call. Mr. Christopher. Yes. Mrs. Obadawi, excused. Absent. Dr. Rogers. Yes. Mr. Scott. Yes. Mayor, yes. It's unanimous for members present. Thank you. Okay. We're going to move on to um a
work session with our primary volunteer fire company. So, I don't know who from the fire company wants to head on up. If you need to grab another chair, one microphone. No,
I think you can hear me now. You got to use the microphone for There you go. And I would just leave it on while you guys. Thank you. I'm Charlie Smith, chief of Cranberry Fire Company, president of Cranberry
First Aid Squad. To my right, our attorney, Richard, and to my left is our president, Richard Zimmer. Thank you guys for being here tonight. It's been a while. So, if you guys would permit me, I thought I'd maybe kind of refresh our path to this working session
and the things that led led up to it more so for the general public to catch anybody up or anyone who's new to it. And if I have my timing incorrect on anything, just stop me. Interrupt me. I figured just so that we make sure that we're all on the same page. Um, since,
like I said, it's been a while. Um, The Primary Volunteer Fire Company has been contemplating a fire district for uh many. Their board of trustees and their leadership formalized uh this intent in 2014. Uh several small meetings were held at the fire department between TC
and the company's members to understand the general framework of the district. This prompted a joint working session held between uh the company, the TE, and the general public here at the library November 12th, 2024.
um as well as the public um was gathered here so that we could ask questions and gather more information and the main objective of that work session was to explain the reasons why district modeled was desired and if I have it correctly the two main driving factors were a lack of volunteerism
um that the company was experiencing uh and that's been an ongoing problem and as well as nationally and then and then the second reason um was a financial gap to cover annual expenses. So that's that's the main two
reasons that we discussed in that report. The the uh volunteer problem is a day for fire department first aid squad already went for dams 2009. We got licensed through the state and did it and nobody even knew nice and easy.
So uh but now he needs help during day for fire department and we need some help at night for the first a burnout. So We had monies in the budget for both of those. Okay. I catch your thing. The hours of training and commitment it takes to qual quant qualify to join can be taxing
especially for those that are holding down full-time jobs like you said during the day. Okay. All right. Um you also at the same time because of the financial gap you guys had prepared budget documents that were the current budget um the draft district budget and also a
a full paid municipal fire department budget. you also prepared at that time. Okay. Yeah. Which those are now two years old, right? Uh one Yeah. One year old, I guess, right? Okay. All right. Um
Okay. The outcome of that working session was uh for the team to stand and now do their due diligence on the three models uh which we just described, right? Stay in current, district, and full municipal fire. Uh and then uh the fire company began actions and the legis
legislative steps to the district bond which is the first one is a petition that was signed by 5% of all record voters in our municipality and in parallel you created an FAQ document held info sessions to educate the public and of course acquire more signatures
right those in info sessions is applicable that petition was submitted to the township clerk and um the signatures were quickly validated like on track so for okay yes that's correct Okay. So, as the TC began their research, education and diligence on the creation of our
district, uh the complexity of the topic became a little bit more clear. So, the township decided to commission a feasibility study. Um the company agreed with that action and it was conducted by a mutually respected authority of JP Monson Consulting. That completed report
can be found on the homepage cranberry township.org. It's titled analysis of the financial impact of various fire service models for the township of cranberry. Both the township and the fire company provided information to the consultant to help in its and we had a few week delay in that.
The consultant learned that Branchburg Township was going before the local finance board for uh approval and application to become a district. This is the first time in 11 years there was an application of the local finance board. So we felt it was relevant and a significant hearing. We that this will
provide some insight into the local finance board's approval process and their line of questioning. So that brings us to today and the process of what it takes to create a fire district is number one the petition is in to the governing body now gathers
their information which I just went through. the governing body schedules um a formal hearing which will be this working session at a date we've been so it's a formal hearing on notice to the public at which it determines whether there should be a fire district if the answer is no we remain under current
conditions if the answer is yes then the governing body now drafts an ordinance fire district and designating its location and then before the ordinance formally introduced we have to fill out an application file with the local finance board and which is part of the
Department of Community Affairs finance. I'm sorry if this is maddening and I'll try to post this tomorrow, but it's just important that everybody understands the process. These guys know it in and out. It's more for the public. The local finance board then decides whether any new authority like a fire district can
be in the state of New Jersey. They must determine if the proposed authority is an efficient and feeble means of providing and financing this project. and they give the needs of and the financial burdens to be placed upon the inhabitants of the local unit and then
they'll schedule um a hearing for us to uh go before them where we have to uh include in our application a plan for governance, a plan for funding and a plan for operation. If the local finance uh approves the application, we move
forward with adopting the draft ordinance. and if there will be an election for the first board of fire commissioners. So that's the process. We are at step two which is gathering information. And this follow-up working session is to review the feasibility
study and discuss and urban questions. And now I'd like to shut up and hand it over to the Cranberry Volunteer Fire Company for any opening comments or presentations or any recaps that you want to kind or correct me on anything I said that was.
No, you given a detailed report of the the whole process. Um, you know, obviously you've all looked at the uh the feasibility study. Um, you know, I think it's the fire company's
plan and our opinion, uh, the committee that has over 130 years of firefighting experience in this town that came up with this point to a district. Um, you know, we we see some discrepancies in in
the find in the uh Mr. Vanza or Bonso's uh report. Um, you know, I don't know if you want us to to point those out, but you know, we might want some clarification on or what we feel isn't correct. Um, but, you know, fire at this
point, I think we're interested in how this township wants to proceed with this. Okay. How the committee feels. Yeah. I mean, I don't have to time on any discrepancies if you want to. This way we can further discussions and we can one of the the the main ones uh on page
14 uh a couple paragraphs down says as you will see in the department model as proposed by the fire. It's more sustain sustainable organization with greater hierarchy with officers and firefighters. We aren't looking for a department model the way that this is taught that it's under path to a
municipal fire department volunteer heart company. You know our recommendation is going to this we provide the municipal just for the budget purposes. We don't municipal fire department. I just don't people are
confused about that. We definitely don't support it. The budget was done financial the budget. The budget was done as a comparison to trying to provide as much information. Okay.
I agree with that confusion when I read it too, but I get like I understand you guys aren't looking for that. I think that's Yeah, we we just a few of our members had to people that came up that read the report and went, "Wait, wait, you guys, you know, voicing your opinion on this,
but this report it's saying this that the fire company wants that makes sense. Yeah, I think there are just I think that was the main that was the main point. I think one question that we have.
Okay. You know, one other thing that our our members have brought up is, you know, this uh person that was hired um you know, it says right in his bio, a seasoned municipal finance professional. Um you know, this is for services. Were there no
companies out there that could provide financial plus also fire safety information? This is so this this report is solely just like from a lot of people's perspective it's just the dollars and cents again
not what's good for cranberry for emergency services. Yeah. I think that when you go through the different models which we're going to discuss tonight, I think that that's part of our working session which is to talk about them together. The title board is to analyze the financial impact of v various financial services. So
there definitely was a fiscal focus on on that. Yeah. Financial operation. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that that's where when we get into the meat of the budget, the difference in the the budget that we currently have and the proposed budget, that's where you're talking about a little bit more longer term
operational the things that you'd be taking over in the district model. So I want to make sure we get to that. Well, I think the point we're trying to make is the man had no experience in fires and he's doing a study on fire and AMS. So it was strictly a bean counter trying to find out what the most
financially feasible is but not knowing what service or how each thing, you know what I'm saying? I don't because what the what we got back from you guys that you were um you know in agreement that he was a credible
resource to be using well we try to use someone objective. So I mean if we're talking about a taxing if you're trying to talk about a tax increase that's what we're trying to figure out again the title of the report is focused on financials
and that was the scope of work which is what different models and what would be the fin impact on the residents of Grand did did Mr. Mazo have experience looking at fire districts, you know, I I thought they did. I thought he did as well. So, I'll take it as a followup to go back just on
whatever his published credentials are, but I thought that there was a background also. Any other discrepancy? Not this time. Okay. Doesn't address EMS all that much either. district. We'll go over everything. Yeah.
Yeah. We'll get to make sure it's covered. Yeah. I mean, how I like to proceed is everybody individually talk about what what your thoughts are and provide feedback to the the company so that they know what you're looking at and ask the
questions and why you're asking them. And We'll go from there. Absolutely. So, I guess I'll start. Um, so I spent some time earlier this year talking to one of the members of your board. Um, a lot of time while sitting
in a hotel room in Boston. Um, and sounds like we had made some good progress, had some really good conversation, and then the Branchburg situation occurred. Right. So I think from my perspective, you guys have some sort of an idea of how our situation
differs from the branch work situation because at this point that's the only comp we have over 11 years and the state shot them down handily. So I just need to I curious to see if you guys have comp or understand about how how those differences are. So from what we've uh you know had
discussions with people uh Branchburg was unique. They've already had a shared services contract with Bridgewwater and other municipality up in that area. Some might be Somerset. Um, also their town does not give the
maximum allowance every year to the fire company. at the DCA meeting, one of the proposals was to go back and kind of restructure their shared services contract to maybe get a little bit more
help and to see about the town providing more money to the fire company for opies. Uh, one other thing with Branchburg is they don't include, as far as we know, EMS in their district, but Granberry, we're trying to bring the Cranberry First A
Squad into the district. Let me clarify that we're going to contract Cranberry First A Squad. The district can give them more operational money than the town can. They're capp fire department if we need more money. Yeah. Um, so that's one reason. and we
can provide them funds for perams at night when needed or as needed weekend. It supplements their daytime. Yeah. As far as the scope districts, I understand I think that just as a as a point of reference, it did not follow the point where they were not getting
the full vote that they could as a point of differentiation. Also, Branchburg, I think there are three or four fire companies right now trying to go into one district. Yeah, they already had shared service. It would be easier to expand that or
them to hire more people just I really don't know. PCA it's because where I focused I viewed the transcript from Branchburg and I almost want to take Branchburg like out of it, right? Because what I did was I
put my mindset as if we were sitting there and we were on the other side of that table and we were being asked the same questions which were completely in line. If you look at like what it takes to create a fire district, they hit on every single one of those like six
things and their questions were so methodical around that. And so I got a good sense of what the board was looking for. And that to me is where I want to kind of trade our dialogue and I'll wait my turn to do that. But it was almost
like we have to be prepared to answer these questions like thoroughly where I would back in is that they have a very confusing situation there. Like my eyes rolled in my head at one point with this district and that that town and that is
very confusing. But our ability to still answer those core questions, I believe four questions are coming directly at us. And I think that that's where I think we need to do some work and that's where I'm still in like a discovery mode to work with you guys to to answer those
questions because I think that's the majority of the reason that they didn't answer well. Um and they were kicking the can down. Um that the commission will get there and there was a lot about budget and stuff like that. So, I have like four main points, but I just want you to know where I'm where I'm coming
from that it's solely as if we have to answer them before you cross because at the end of the day, the township's the one making the application, right? Like, it's not you, it's us on behalf of you and the residents of the town. Yeah, I believe the mayor, the branchation.
Yeah, he did. He did the fire department if he feel comfortable. Yeah. No, I'm comfortable in that. Did you want to ask this question? It's up to you guys. I mean, I don't want to hijack it. I'm overly prepared. So, um, you guys can go and then I can
come back. Um, so I think you had mentioned that in the um, thank you for that complete summary because it was really great, Lisa. Uh, thank you for pointing out some of the discrepancies. Appreciate
it. I appreciate everyone being here to listen to to uh you know just get information so that we're all kind of on the same page um as much as we can be. The New York guys are actually out in the field. Um, one of the areas that um, the statute
mentions um, quite often is um, one of the areas uh, that I think needs clarification and careful um, carefully being analyzed as the most efficient and feasible means of providing and financing a fire district. Um, the
statute actually uses this language. the proposed authority is an efficient and feasible means of providing and financing this um project. So, you know, have we looked at I just want to hear again what are some of the different
fire service models, you know, um besides the municipal one. We heard shared service. Can you explain that a little bit more? Um what shared services is what we are now? Um you know, um you know, we do all
right now we're fully volunteer obviously. Uh right now we have what we call mutually agreement with other towns. So when you get something that you can't handle, they they get called in. We also have an automatic um automatic aid set up during the day. So
if we have an alarm during the day and it's automatically too with 46 or just those volunteer companies, we don't mess with the big companies because they get tired alarms hotels and that's set up for hotels and nursing home and everything
fire occurs. This is mutual this is mutual aid like what we're doing right now. Okay. Well, there's two automatic aid which is when they punch the the address in the cat they tell they're going to dispatch cranberry and east winds one or two.
Okay. Um when it comes to turns cranberry you know so it's automatically that um mutual aid is when you get there and you go oh man I've got to call my first alarm. That's when they start sending okay
38 ters but um so that's mutually you know depending on what level you need first second one and that's all predetermined in in our book all right in our Jesus anyway so it's all predetermined
and and who's I'm sorry and who's making that alert like who's like the goes out which alert that we want first alarm. So, yeah, the dispatcher. Okay. The dispatcher. Well, no. Well, I'm calling for it if I need it. Okay. You could be called for an alarm and I
get there and I see smoke. I'm going to send my first alarm. All right. It's all dispatched out of West Emergency Services, County Center. Uh, can you just explain for the lay people like during mutual aid and shared services? Yeah, that's what he's trying to do. He's trying to
mutual aid's free and you only put them you only use them when you need it. You're not running them out running back and forth. All right. So, that's the big thing. Um, shared service come from another town. The way this reads, so what's what's the
time to, you know, get to the call and that's like a paid a paid contract at a shared service. That's an agree a formalized agreement with another township and it's based on you reached that agreement and correct me if I'm
wrong. Is that to get get the agreement in the other town because they have to have the capacity to go into a shared service agreement. It's not like you just say knock on your neighbor's door and say let's do this together. They actually have to be willing to do it, right? And have the capacity to do it. Correct.
Cool. Brand has shared services with Somerset or Bridgewater and they pay I would assume. Yeah. And a shared services agreement would likely be with a fully paid fire company. Yes. I would not likely
likely like volunteer approved camp. Right. That's that's what I could be a fire district or a paid a different model of paid fire. It could be. Yeah, there's going to be somebody there whether premium either way. There's going to be somebody
at the firehouse and do that ahead of time. You make these contracts ahead of time. I guess there's a lot of lot of drawbacks. No, we're just trying to just trying to like let's just describe and it's likely paid a full mun paid
municipality because they have No, don't necessarily. Well, you just said that likely. I'm only saying that because they probably have they have the man. We could hire for dams. We could hire for dams and sell our services to East Wind. So, we'd have money coming in and start
financing their budget. They would finance our budget, which to me makes sense. Okay. So, let me just explain a shared agreement is an agreement between two different governmental entities. Um it's a recognition that not everybody can offer
every service and sometimes it makes sense to combine efforts so that um so that for instance like here operate our own municipal court we have a shared service agreement with Plansboro because
it's more efficient that way. So any municipal service you have buyer is one of them can be the subject of a shared service agreement with another municipal entity or another governmental entity. It's a contract um that you enter into
with that other entity. So it could be Cranberry could enter a shared services agreement with somebody else who provides fire protection like another town Heights Town or Plains or with another government like a like a fire
district that fire district would then have to expand its jurisdiction to include if that was the direction you know so it's much different than what we're talking about mutual aidual Visual aid is just an understanding among emergency
responders that they need help and there are people who can help and are ready to help. Shares is a contractual relationship between governmental entities. And correct me if I'm wrong. I thought we did brief um kind of like a a gut
check of our our surrounding towns and we didn't feel or we researched it and didn't feel that there was a viable shared model in the immediate area. I think the Yeah, because I planains were out I believe because of what they just
went through, they're just got getting into their new normal was not interested in that and we felt that I I thought that we had done some diligence around that and that that was the largest of everyone else is in a similar situation where they're clamoring for volunteers
and all their signs are in front of their fire department going volunteers needed. So they were organizations that were stressed and probably couldn't provide a shared service to us. That's my recollection of my notes of the shared service model. If anyone else has anything that contradicts that or lines
to it, just let me know. But that's that's what I have in my notes. There's there's other factors as well as um procedures and policies and procedures one town to another. could be from one county to another. Delayed response times.
NFP NFPA 17 I'm sorry 1720 I believe 1710 I think is paid 5 minutes on scene with five firefighters from another town. Believe that's a statute. I have to look it up for sure. We spent 17 sorry we spent about an hour
on the phone with the uh fire safety on Thursday. Um we spoke with the head of that department as his first assistant. Uh they commended us for what we're doing as far as taking the lead in this and being
proactive and wanted to take care of our town um in the most cost efficient way we can and way we can actually work with it and not create more stress. volunteers. I think a report says I know it says that the best way to retain and
recruit volunteers is through a fire says I think that's the last our last sentence in that one part. So I I think I tell you we've been thinking about this for five years and we put a lot of thought into it. We have a lot of expertise and and I tell you what I I I
think it's and we're applying to it as well. So financially and you know in average is $400,000 you realize that you survive for 85 90 so money is an issue. Yeah, I think that's where Branchburg was pretty good
with explaining. Again, I I don't want to keep harping on Branchburg as a town, but it's both the answers to the questions and the questions that were asked, which is things cost more now, right? And there's also, you know, that history that they went through. Um,
well, I just want to finish this. Yeah. Sorry. Um, so, um, yeah, and and it's just that I, you know, when we when I read this and just for when I make my decision, that's why I feel like we're getting this
information from you, you know, it just it just seems like the statute's written as the most efficient and feasible means of providing financing, you know. So, we're going through the different models. So, that's so we have shared service, mutual aid, and then we have
municipality which seems exorial um financial aid is already in place in place for hundreds no and I'm just we're just saying the different models um so um you know and the shared service seems to be a regional approach which you're saying would take more time to get to Granberry
I get that um but going alone if we look at the financial part gets becomes expensive um but um you know I mean and it's um So, and but are we situated are we in a
place these are thoughts that I've just have been coming up with. Are we in a place where, you know, uh where there are multiple districts or or paid departments that could potentially do a different model? I I know you thought this through, you know, um but are
I don't know of any other models. I mean, uh No, no, the the the shared service like where people we could contract with someone. No. Okay. You just I think Lisa just kind of crossed that out if I'm correct. Correct. Lisa. Yeah. Again, anyone can go back and look
at their notes. I'm pulling from my notes in the last work session we had when we talked about it and then we likely instigated it made some phone calls like you guys probably did and just knowing the general area and if that's the rule of five minutes and five men were hardressed to achieve that. So
it was in the stud the feasibility study to look at that to look at it to look at a shared service but we had previously discussed it which is why it was part of the feasibility study to flush it through and then what the finances that were like all the other ones like would that contract cost us on average with another
another municipality early on we discussed that when we sent this to you the first time and said that's really not feasible. We didn't waste time really giving up the price. Who knows what it's going to be. Yeah. And the problem with that, your money's going out of town. You want your tax money to go out of town. If you can keep it in town, do a better job.
And that again, that's that was part of why we included the feasibility study to flush it through like everything else. And also that that's that's the part we're on is diligence, right? So, and the other thing you you stick your neck in the news because they can next
contract they can double cost. Oh, you know what? We're losing money on here. We want another 100,000 a year. So, you had you lose control in a number of ways. So, net net, right? We're here really to
discuss status quo for the district, right? Sheriff does not seem like a viable opportunity. A full municipal department is clearly not a viable opportunity. So, we're going to and this is not this is from a a good I promise,
but I want to ask difficult questions so when we get asked them there, we're prepared to answer them either together or as Lisa as a representative or whatnot. In the document that you put out that was the creation of the primary fire district. Um,
number three, there's a few bullets under there that essentially said it offers several notable benefits, most of which felt the very status quo, right? Ensure the continued delivery of reliable emergency services, enable efficiency of resources, precise
budgeting. I presume you guys are doing that today. I know you guys are doing that. Um, and some, you know, to some level improve accountability, transparency, and responsiveness. You guys are wildly responsive today. Like those bullets, you you do that today,
right? Super you guys for doing that work because it's God's work for sure. that I have in looking at this potential new model. We're talking about an increase an average increase of about
$450 per tax per household in taxes. What is that $450 a year to all of the folks in the audience and all the folks listening at home? What is that additional $150 a year represent? It represents daytime guaranteed time
coverage during the week. It represents everything in here. Represents us being able to maintain equipment and not have to purchase new as often because we maintain our old stuff. A pumper is $2 million now. You know, towers probably
two and a half or three. So, our pump our pump is about one and a quart million. A tower's over two million. All right. So, equipment that we keep at top notch levels and it cost money. Just had a leak in it. So, you know, it's 30 grand here, 20 grand there, but in the
long run it's worth it. Okay. get a lot of use burned out. Um the other thing is is that transparency is the big thing. Now you have a board of five fire commissioners get elected by the puts power back in the taxpayers hands. They get elected by the
taxpayers. They vote the taxpayers vote on the initial budget. Taxpayers vote the budget goes beyond the 2% cap and the taxpayers vote on all um capital equipment or capital improvements or capital equipment. We would also take
the firehouse out of your hands. Both firehouses one less maintenance headache you guys would have that would be the commissioner would take care of everything would have to go to state contract were bid. All right. Um so
fire marshall's office would come under. They're going to help with the supervisoring and and the paperwork for the scheduling of the prediums. All right. And there's a number of positives. So, so essentially though, so I'll say again,
most of that work is already happening, but we know there's a shortfall. So, so as far as oversight and management and whatnot, right? Like currently, it's under our budget, sorry, the township budget now some of it's just in our budget,
correct? But then there's that additional $450 per household, which is essentially just covering the shortfall is what I'm hearing. Right. You guys providing the same today as you because we're guarant we're going to have a firehouse during the day. It's a
crapshot craft shoot right now. If you get a call during the day, if there's people in town, fine. If not, if the fire marshall's office is working today, then we got no extra. You know what I'm saying? And I got if I'm in town and not working elsewhere, I go and you know it's a crap shoot today. I'm telling you
right now. And so that's that's where the extra money, right? plus the extra money to each organization to their equipment and stay in operation. Plus, it it's going to give you ambulance at night guaranteed two people sitting at the building like they do during the day. Now, not guaranteed. It's never
guaranteed. They could be on another call and get another call. Obviously, um it's going to improve the service of this town and make it a safer town all the way around. As far as I'm concerned, I think my my main question, you know, looking
through uh the the minutes from the branch or the transcript of meeting with the local finance board and then going to the consultant report. It seems like the last time uh a fire
district went before the local finance board was 2014 and it was shot down Branchburg which just got shut down. I know you guys said there were some differences but I guess my point is you know let's say we agree because I'm not opposed to this idea. Let's say we we as
a a committee agree to entire district and we move forward and the local finance board shoots it down. What's plan B? What cuts? Plan B would be backst step and take another look at be
possibly some type of shared service but like I said it's not going to be as good a service we give it with the district. All right. I know there hasn't been a while but I think our situation is unique definitely for Bransburg. There's no question about that. Um a lot of the fire districts haven't done them lately.
Come back in the 70s and 80s and we had a rapport with our council and with the town and we didn't do it then. We needed something generally. We got it. You know what I'm saying? We didn't have a we didn't have a volunteer problem during the day because everybody left work and went to the calls. U didn't have a
problem. They had more more volunteers at night during the day. So, it's we're unique I would say. Definitely not nothing like um if I could if that's opinion of you two gentlemen. You know, you obviously read the transcript said what what is
your take on what the local finance board thought because they seven to one like what what do you think they didn't get or what do you think they want? Well, part of it actually earlier at this meeting, um, Bransburg does not
receive the full aotment from their municipality at this time and the DCA made it clear they wanted them to go back and see if they could work with the town to have the town increase their fine, you know, cover these shortfalls. Whereas right now, you know, here in
Prairie, we you you know, we're lucky that our town council gives us the full amount. But as Charlie mentioned with uh you know modern equipment today uh everything's going up in cost. So when a minor problem occurs like we've said you
know cranberry has always historically you know we've taken care of our stuff. We've had trucks I think before this tower that we had our ladder truck was from 1952. Oh, 64, sorry. But we ran that until the
2000s because we took care of it. Um, so, you know, that that's part of the branch. You know, I think the DCA saw that there's money still out there in the community and they wanted to try and come up with some type of agreement
before they established, you know, this district that route. We also had a shared services establishment. Why not expand on that? and they didn't include EMS. I think we, you know, we knew from the start five years ago it's crashing. All
right. We put hundreds of hours to spend a lot of money. All right. And but we want to do what's best for parameter. All right. Not not what the most financially, you know, thing or whatever. We we'll make the we'll approach the PCA and take our best shot.
If you go back on board, you can apply again. Yeah. I mean, we've been told by, you know, people that have been through this process that, you know, sometimes when it's it's denied by DCA, it's it's because of budgeting and they just want to see a new budget that they feel like,
you know, more in line with what I guess their thoughts are of how it should be. So, can I ask a question? So, Google finance board is just a finance. That's what they care about really. That's all they care about. You said something at the beginning about to
Professor Cranberry in terms of fire safety as opposed to just just the budget. But but local finance looks at the budget. Correct. And so I'll ask you attorney um is there a role for
presenting testimony about the impact on fire safety in addition to information about the budget? Oh, absolutely. We can do that. I I think if want to move ahead in this direction, I think we might be getting ahead of ourselves at this meeting, but
we all have to sit down in in a close session or whatever and hash things out and and make a come up with a report and make a presentation. It's hard to be done. You can't do meeting. I'm sorry. You know what I'm saying? It's just too much detail. First thing we're going to have to do is for a budget two years old.
Yeah. And again, my whole mindset is the the questions that they were asking. It wasn't the answers. And when I came across it, your your proposed annual budget is significantly higher. I'm not sure in the financials that I saw the justification for the total amount
that's projected, which makes complete sense in their case. So, that's just one. I just want to make sure we do the work together to be like that line makes sense, that line makes sense, that line makes because anything inflated seemed to immediately go up on their radar of
like a money grab and they were very sensitive to the taxpayers. So that was one that I kind of highlighted out. It didn't seem like as big of a gap as there was, which is high, but it's still like I'm I'm sensitive to it and I still feel like that that's probably the
followup work that needs Well, and that's one thing. The the account we uh selected to help us with this process uh has been he's an accountant for other local districts uh mainly a couple municipalities, townships that are kind of similar in
size to Cranberry. Um, so that's why we felt, you know, the some of the numbers he came up with with, you know, data that we had that we were able to get from, you know, the township for, you know, budgeting items. Um, you know, that we're not really that far off. We
did realize the first year there's going to be a little bit higher amount in the budget for getting the district started. Um, you know, but hopefully then those numbers possibly could go down a little bit. Yeah, because that's one of the
questions asked was uh to the mayor was like, "Are you going to decrease your budget at the municipal level to offset a gap between that and that?" And was like, "Oh, that's an interesting thing for us to discuss that if we have room
to potentially unbburden the taxpayer, that's something we haven't discussed as whole." So even you're asking for an inaugural budget, of course, it's going to be higher like any startup would be, but is there anything municipality could then do to help mitigate that and then it wouldn't be $400 and something
dollars potentially. It could be $300 to the T whatever it is. But that was one question that they asked which again very focused on finance but also the finances of the taxpayer was a lot of what I was feeling from their questions. Lisa, you have a pool in your backyard, right?
I do. You know what they charge me for my pool? $400 every year. $400. So, what's $400 for fire protees? Oh, I understand. It's not a lot of money. I don't You know what I'm saying? It's I was like,
I'm paying $400 charges be a lot more than $400 a month. No, no, I'm talking the tax reflect tax bill. I got it. It's not a lot of money in Cranberry. I don't feel and I across the highway that's going to
help. And I know you guys know this and again that's more why we're here is to make sure that there's no surprises. So, I've got probably a a hard ball and I've got a soft ball. You guys choose which one you want me to throw at you, but I also I want you to understand that I'm asking
the question because I know we're going to be asked the question. And so, the softball is what kind of community outreach did you do? And we you guys I've run through it before. I I'm willing to do it again and now and
sooner just to have a couple more information sessions. That was part of the finance board. There was also that was like, you know, they didn't expect to do an advertising campaign, but I think that we need to make it clear that this is what your tax bill looks like now. This is what your tax bill is going to look like. We're
adding an extra line item that the fire district acts as its own body. They have their own commissioners that are on there. They propose a budget. They have meetings. They have minutes. They act like bed. They act like this the governing municipality here. I just think like even showing a max a mock tax
bill of this to that forget numbers but getting the public with really how this affects them. I mean I'll donate my time. We can get it through in August. I and any other TC member wants to attend them. I think they need to see that we're doing the diligence and and
working to get the answers because it's you guys all along privately and in meetings. My sole purpose is that you have the support of this community. That's what our is up here to do is that we respond to that and say now you have our support because the town understands
it and supports you and that's our job. It doesn't matter that it's the five votes and we have to go to the the board for approval. It's the matter that we feel that the majority of the public in this town has a firm grasp on this topic and some recent events have made this even more important to me.
We understand 100% when we went to town behind us too. Of those 200 signatures we had nobody say no. We explained to him the costs every and and nobody would say no. We had one guy said I'm not going to sign because I he had a Union County FOP. So,
you know, he's a union but um so we've seen nothing but positive feedback from and our sessions we held really didn't have a big turnout. Great. A lot of a lot of the same people there was maybe 25 people that were interested.
Yeah, I think that's an important point. I think the numbers that you had to get that I'm glad you got those numbers, but I think it should have been higher. I mean, 200 people out of 4,000 to Lisa's point, I think the word needs to be spread. That that was the
last I thought that we would have been more than happy to get more signatures, you know. Yeah. I needed 10 to run for re-election. So, we want to talk about numbers really and some of these information sessions. A lot of the public, a lot of the questions revolved around some financial stuff that just wasn't
pertinent at that time. We tried to explain that that the further we get into this process, which I think we're at now, I'm eager to get our account again proposing budget. Yeah. And get more firmer numbers and you know, then we can, you know, answer some
more questions to the general public. Can I make one statement? Um, so getting back to for it real quick. I think that they had the misfortune of looking at the the the items on the menu on the
schedule for the for the meeting immediately prior to Branchburg putting her application in Plainsburg was the was the dissolution of of the Planesboro fire district. And so the optics of that are really bad, right? Obviously they come into it, oh wait, we just dissolve one of these.
So the reason I think it's probably complicated by playing throw, but I think Part of it was the kept going up up, right? It was like firefighters gone wild. It was like they just sort of kept asking and asking asking what kind of I know you can't make this, but what kind
of assurances can we give the township that, oh yeah, it's 450 this year, but it's not going to be 1100 next year, 1500 next year, 2% cap, you vote on but they plan also trying to get 24 hours,
right? And what they also did was they didn't turn in my angels to the DCA for three years. So the DCA really didn't do their job either. They should have been on top of them three years earlier. So um so public records and they weren't I don't know what happened. I I worked for the
guy that actually formed the district and years ago I always praised the place for the model of volunteers work for paid and somewhere along the line it got bu got the other way and um unfortunately
that happened and I I would guess it would be the commissioner's fault. Yeah, you got your 2% caps. You always get a vote%. We're not going to go buy five new fire trucks or unless you vote for it, but we're not going to raise your taxes for no reason. We would bond
them and so forth. The budget is somewhat inflated because when you start business, you got to build some surplus. You can't just run sho string the first year. So, um I think Yeah. Well, our our thought also is, you know, with with the permium fireman
being hired, um, you know, the district model. Um, you know, if if we get a surge of younger kids, which we're kind of in that right now, we we have a good amount of firemen and, you know, uh, young gentlemen and ladies who have gone
through fire school. We just had two in the last month that graduated fire school. are now, you know, full-time firefighters, you know, for the volunteers. Um, you know, if we get a surge of those those people volunteering again, we may not need to have as many
permanent. That's the beauty of Perans. You're not So, that was that I'm glad you brought that up because um that like I'm really it was really nice on the 5th of July. I got to talk to you guys and um uh and I I was um it was really great to hear
that you had a surge of volunteers which um so but it sounds like it kind of goes like you know surges kind of in Yeah. Exactly. Historically, Cranberry, the kids go to college, the kids don't move back to Cranberry.
But so, how many services, can you maybe pinpoint something that helps get those volunteers? Like, did you do something special? Uh, well, over the years, our our chief uh has gone to Princeton High School, had concession with the kids over at the high school.
Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if they've done a few years. Uh we make it very known any the fireworks cranberry day any public function where the fire company works that to that's one of our main goals being there is talking about
volunteerism and seeing if people might be interested. Uh we've gotten one or two members that you know they they don't want to do structural firefighting. We started a, you know, a branch. Yeah. R rescue, you know, kind of volunteer. Um, so they're not
required to go to to fire school, but they can still, you know, do a lot of firefighting things to help out the fire company and, you know, so we we try and recruit that way. Um, I think it's kind of known through the young kids. Uh, every Monday night, that's that's where majority of
our fire company is right now. They're all down at the firehouse training. And we've had people come in um you know actually we have a couple people from Plansboro from like the Ravens Press area that I hate to say but yeah volunteers were kind of pushed out of Plansboro with
everything going on over there and they've got the credentials they've got the training they're close they're looking to member us yeah they're in the process would you say you have an involvement just asking you never have anse
just nuts and nicely nuts and active like going up for everything. Probably 12 to 15. And how many volunteers you have on your books? Just 20. About 20.
So 20 all actively show up. 12 at one time. It could be 12. I know this four other guys in the next time. And what would be an ideal number to show up? 12 gets the job done. 12 gets the job. There's no wiggle room on the 12. Yeah.
Okay. We can always get when I drove my apartment, we were parked all the way halfway down. We parked on Main Street to get to and we get every truck at the time. I think this is really good to just in years past. I mean, I have an office
street at North Academy in Heightstown. We get a fire call at like 10:30 in the morning and I'm the driver of the first truck. I don't have a light in my car. I mean, I got a little bit of uh but no. Uh
that says a lot. Like when I'm coming from the town away and I'm a driver for the truck. Yeah, but remember there's a chief on scene already. No, no. I I appreciate we're all like I think it's really important. That's the thing. We don't have the
members like we used to have that own businesses or companies in town. years. I I remember in the 80s as a kid, you know, you had 15 guys right in the middle of the day that they were able to close up shop and run down to the firehouse for a fireball.
Most people are working out of town. It's very rare. Always got a business here in town where you know it's tough during the day. That's that's the biggest I I know this kind of like So we have maximum is there a minimum?
Well, the uh ISO scene 20, which is for volunteers, um if if you go out on a call, you're supposed to have two firefighters in the building, two firefighters out.
Okay. And that doesn't include the because tech, if they're driving, they're not supposed to be put on. I only have one more before we're done. No, I I'm done with my volunteer question. I have like a little category. Yeah. Go ahead.
From a I'm going to be a passenger just for a minute, right? We sit in front of the DCA. They say no. This process is at least five years long, right? You guys been working on this for at least five years, maybe longer.
Runway's now maybe another five years, right? Who knows? They say, "No, we've got to reapply. We got to go through all this process again. hypothetically, right? So, let's say it's another two, right? Typically, I'm sorry to interrupt. Yeah, they'll give a reason. Um, they're
supposed to give a reason. The statute says they're supposed to give a reason. Given a reason yet, which reason, right? I beg to my fear. We reach out to their clerk for when they give the reason because the statute
says you're supposed to give the reason. But the reason I'm bringing this up is once they give that reason, a subsequent application be tailored to those reasons that they give. Sure. But again, hypothetically, let's say there's one, let's say a year, maybe two, right? Things take a while. You
never know. Maybe takes them to actually give that reason. How many days? What do we implicitly the statute seems to say 60 days? There's 60 days, which is ironically today. It is. It's July 14th. They they were there on May 15. May 14 outside of the details of
the window. the time window ends up being. How do we mitigate all our existing issues between now and then? Same way we want it for the last 50 years. We do the best we can with what we got. Like I say, we have we have automatic aid during the day for our
alarms and everything. We have mutual aid all the time. All right. So, I mean, we're getting the job. Okay. We're looking for the future. You know what I'm saying? That not just today, but down the road. And one part of that is unfortunately you would See, like say we're here this
time next year. Okay, so town council gives the fire company and the first aid, you know, money to to run what we need to run, but we have something break on one of the trucks. We may not be in in the
financial situation to call our company, say, you know, get down here. This this broke and, you know, come down the firehouse. That piece of equipment might be out of service. possibly a month, possibly two months. Like I said, we we've been
fortunate enough, but the fire company can't financially keep coming up with the short. So then you're putting pressure on your mutual aid. Exactly. Is that what you're doing? And quite honestly, there are some mutual aid companies that have said, "Don't call them unless you have
unless you have spoken fire. You've called us so many times. You know, that's another town, but they haven't said yet. Not I didn't clarify. Sorry. Um I just want to go back and clarify like the oversight of finances. That's
that's not on a fire district. That's actually on the the finance board side. They have like no oversight guidelines if I'm not mistaken from the research that we all did. They're not that which is I think what enabled Plansboro to kind of you know be the wild wild west
out there with money is because they don't have like an oversight committee. It's not like the same as the requirement to have CFO here or like the way the board of ed has to manage their money. There's not a lot of oversight that's forced down from the board. Am I
incorrect? Besides the 2% cap besides the 2% cap. I mean the fiscal affairs law would apply but the every year a fire district has to submit a budget for DCA approval and every year they have to have an audit and the
budget and the audit are also put on the website. So given I'm not sure how Plansboro got as far as it did. Yeah. Um um but there are those controls. Um, I mean, typically, no, they wouldn't be a
full-time CFO or even a part-time CFO, but there there are some Well, in their case, it was a laptop with books. So, yeah, my assumption is we're going to do better than that, right? No doubt. Yeah. No doubt. Okay. All right. Here's my awful question that I have to ask,
but I'm just going to say it again. It's from the lens of the the the board. The first question they asked, very first question was quote unquote, "What other options did you consider aside from the fire district concept? What other concepts did you explore in these
discussions through shared service?" We've been through a full municipal paid fire department. Um, and we understand the um contribution of mutual aid to our existing model and where we are today. Okay.
They did ask their questions in here about the township providing purdium. I already know your push back on it and I understand your logic for it. We can discuss it privately. We're going to have to have an answer that we all agree
on of why that's not an option. So again, I don't want to we've been doing great all night. I totally understand your guys' perspective, but the my lens is gonna answer that question under oath
of we've explored all four of these and we've still come to this. I have an answer that I would rather not say in a public and that's that's okay. But again, even if we concessions that said that the pdiums were not under the town's
administrator and we made other accommodations for that, the the the the main goal here is that you want to be a separate entity from the town and run that way, but we're still again, we can discuss it outside of this working session, but we still need an answer to it. We're going to be
asked and they're going to go one, two, three, four, and we hit four. We're going to not we got to have it locked down. Understood. And we will we will talk about it outside and we will have an answer. But that ties into the local
finance court and the standard um that has to be met for them to and that is efficiency efficiency and feasibility and the answer to that is related to efficiency in terms of the chain of command which is their number one goal like
absolutely right. I And that's their that's their stated mission statement. That that's their role of approving or defeating motion. That's what I mean. Correct. Yep. All right. We we do have the answer. I didn't want to end on that note, but I still needed to make sure that we
keep you got But you understand my point. We got to absolutely. I agree with you 100%. Please. So, I do want to go back on the duty outreach if you guys are okay again. I just want to I think we just need to quickly build momentum and if you do it with you know us involved I'm telling
you I'll give mine to it to help people but I think quickly getting people I know that I was happy to see on some media that people are actually like read the feasibility study did some homework had questions of their own and hopefully in during public comment we'll hear some of that but I just wanted to make sure
that we are committed to Before Before you go to that I I still have questions I was just I'm still on I um so so I I'm trying to understand currently what are
the high cost expenses that um that you guys uh can't cover like currently we're covering everything right now. I mean Okay. So everything's being covered right now. Yeah. Okay. We're maintaining our equipment.
So does the town like if you in the budget when you ask for things the township has covered the expenses that are needed through our finance our savings over the years we've had to drastically dip into those
the 168,000 from this you know from the town as mandated by the state as the maximum doesn't even come close just to last year's uh better. Yeah.
Okay. So, right now things are being covered, but you're taking out the the donations that you had out of donations and Yeah. And our endowment we received and we we draw off of that. We don't touch the principal. We draw off of that like a
company. And and I think what's going to have to be provided is audits, too. And you've been providing the township audits of what's been going on, too. We provide them our annual financial statement. So we've had we've had and we have a
current one too or is that going to be this? I don't know if you have the fire. We'll give it to this. Not 24 yet, but our audit just got passed for 2024. So I don't even know if they have the 2020. You know, when you say audit, we're not going to spend $40,000 every year. You give a a
financial statement every year, which is sufficient by the state for what what's needed to be provided. Okay. I just want, you know, so then that updated will be the update to what you're going to provide because it's we're two years behind on
Yeah. Well, yeah. The budget, you know, show budget is not going to reflect. Yeah. Um Okay. Um so then back to um so back to how um a um a fire district is is
formed. Three things is the governance, funding and operations. So we're talking about funding. So how do you recruit your commissioners? And um will that board of commissioners include fire chief? But if you do then you can't
there wouldn't be a recruitment for commissioners. anybody who's a voting citizen of Cranberry, excluding township council members, the fire chief, president. Uh, believe me, we have people in mind. Yeah. I mean, obviously you want people with some fireatic background, but you
also want somebody with some financial background, but it's not so us as a fire company's going to go out and try and say, "Oh, yeah, you need to be the, you know, any anybody can run just like downtown. You Well, yeah. Like I just said,
You can't be chief, deputy, president, or vice president. That's restrictions. Yeah. Go out. What's that? What process? Like how do you get like on the ballot?
Yeah. So, it's a ballot thing, right? So, um, it depends whether the election is at the, um, general election in November or if it's at the annual election, the third Saturday in February. But in either
case, um, persons have to get petitions and people sign a petition and they're presented to the individual. And if it's the general election, it's the township clerk. If it's the annual election, it's the board. um clerk um to qualify to be
placed on the ballot and then at the election their names are placed on the ballot and they're elected like in any other election for your and and I you know you have volunteers as of now hopefully you'll have enough
commissioners for the board um okay we don't think there'll be any have okay so is and anybody can run anybody could get you In your report in appendix 2 in 4A 1471
nominating petitions it goes right there. No I I get that that's report just to be clear is an elected position right presidents are eligible and they run elected office just like you.
And so if it happens during the general election then the Management of that process is on the township clerk. If it happens in the February election, then you're managing that process. I'm shooting for this February. Like all of it,
like full workers, like all of that kind of things balance. Okay. We got a budget number. So I know if I get work or not I'm asking my own question. We're going to go to sheriff services. See if we can get it cheap or not.
We can hire you. Well, I I guess my concern is I just don't want those commissioners to deplete the volunteers that you have. No, because you can be a volunteer and a commission and just Okay. Yeah. Hey, just I understand putting it out there
because this is a public meeting. I just have a quick logistical question. If you guys go before the local finance board, you get shot down. You need to come back to us for another It means that we can't put through the
draft ordinance and that we have 60 days to appeal um that that round. Correct. Well, you have you can resubmit an application. Uh the C-day time limit is really on the board on their side. That's on their side, too. Act. But you
can resubmit an application. I I don't recommend you put the same application. Exactly. And then you can submit another application. I just want to get um Okay. So, um so this application
includes the governance which we just talked about and funding. I just wanted to ask, have you um yes, we're going to raise the you know through taxes. Have you guys considered um seeking grants or anything like that? Are there grants out there for funding purposes?
There are grants. Unfortunately, in the past, um we never qualified for a grant because of our endowment to be quite honest. Oh, that's interesting. That's one of the last major grants we went for to replace all of our aircraft, right?
Johnson which is kind I mean not good for us but the companies that are really scraping by it's that's what we uh we look into there's consulting firms that help you with your grant applications
but I mean because ultimately it does come down finances you know and I'm going to have to vote to raise taxes you know, to and for some people for like ultimately $455 may not be that
much, but there are people on fixed incomes that we have to concern. So, you know, I am very sensitive towards that, you know, and um people are tired and um you know, we're getting more and more retirees and um you know, I I'm just very sensitive towards that. kind of
remind you one thing kind of break in here. They vote on the original budget. The day they elect original commissioners, they vote on the initial budget. So they do have a set. Correct. Rich. Well, the itiation
on the voting between whether the election is at the general election or at the election. It's at the annual election. It's commonly said that the voters vote on the budget, which is kind of a misnomer. they actually vote in the tax le um um if it's the general election, they
vote if the district goes over the cap. But um in terms of the initial budget, I think you may be right years ago. Say that again. I think I'd have to double check about the initial budget, the very initial budget. Um
I'm not sure if that is voted on even if it is the general election. If it's the annual election in February, the budget is always voted on by the voters and and they are sometimes they're voted down um and then uh the district head or the um
township council or committee or whatever the governing body form is um which has an opportunity to um make cuts similar to a school district. I believe school. Uh yes, for those school budgets where the election is still held in
May. So like are you still in finances? Yes. Just one more thing. Um um like so what additional like so you're going to be your own entity. Um what administrative costs do you see like you
said finance right and what what other administrative costs overhead costs do you see in our budget right in public you know I don't have a budget I can't um election expenses legal accounting
advertising public awareness um commissioner salaries, parttime administrator, that's for administrator. Those are the categories that the account administrator layer administration is the annual budget voted every year.
Again, if it's the February election, the annual budget, technically the tax is voted every year. February, right? Even below the 2%. Even below 2%. So in other words, the taxpayers are approving the budget.
Correct. Just like the schools. And staying on that for a second again budget administrative, you have operational expenditures. If you happen to have capital expenditures, that's that are there and then, you know, other
operating expenses and then hopefully you have some revenue, right? basic P&L, but question had made mention prior that this sheet is two years old. So, this needs to be updated. Um, I assume that's
pretty quick work or no, I would imagine. Yeah. I mean, you're just going to review it and see what any inflationary things that you have to put in there. Okay. All right. Just wanted to capture that as an action item that everybody expects it potentially higher.
potentially lower, potentially the same. Don't know yet what has gone down in the last five years. We don't expect a huge increase, but we have to bring it up to the cost of living, the temperature of my pool because I pay for my heating. Um Um Okay. So, and the third and you've
already it's just this application. I just want to be thorough which what's you know. So, we have operations and you've already I think you've already answered this. Um uh where would we get the personel daytime? You're considering um contracting other fire companies or
anything like that or what? As we did in the first day squad, we advertise for help for perm. We have about 22 on the roles of the squad. So you see it as a way. Yeah, it's always part of any other way of doing. Okay. You put an ad in paper. We we all got
friends. I got people knocking on my door quite honestly. Um there's people that are rested. Um and I already asked you that like whatever overhead. So aren't you happy about Thank you, Barb.
My last one. I promise. You you you've eluded the endowment you guys have. I'm going to guess it's not like Harbor size. Of course. Is that is that number going to be available as
it's in our financial report? Yeah. The fire company's stamp on that is we try not to touch the principal at all. We don't we don't any money that we spend out of it is you know that we made
and actually over the years I can go through a list starting from 81. I think we got to start. The fire company purchased We've been here a while already. Yeah. The fire company purchased the pumper uh 95 I think it was. Uh we put forth
$250,000 towards the new firehouse. In 2000 we uh put out $200,000 to contribute to a new engine. In 2004, $200,000 for the tower. In 2010, the tanker was bought outright by our
company with no township contribution. 350 in 2015 100,000 contribution towards our special services truck in 2022 Jeep car and along with all those trucks not included in those prices we fitted all the equipment
radio yeah radios and equipment and that is because we were financially you know sounded in watching the investment that we have yeah and and also the yeah the township's contributions contributions.
Sorry, last thing. The estimate to the um average taxpayer. Am I right on the math that we had it at like four something, but you're already paying part of your taxes. I thought we had some math that it was actually not
funny math, but that's the bottom line. Backing out what you're already paying. Backing out of what you're already paying. So, it's net. Okay. All right. I just wanted to make sure that no one was expecting a different number down the line. We'd already done that work and it's so that number already came out of our budget.
Yeah. So it it no meaning from a tax perspective what you'd be paying that for something is net because if you think about it today a portion of your municipal tax bill you're paying for those all those line items that are in the current budget. I'm just making sure that that it's not in addition to that
and what we were given back our contribution, the squad's contribution, all of that 562. Yeah. Okay. I just wanted to clarify that. Oh, and a fire marshal in there as well.
So, yeah, that backs that up too. Um, just the the feasibility study like one of the things one of the recommendations was that what we're doing is um if we if we change this current setup, it would be expensive. Um, so it's just really worth
taking a look at, you know, how to improve the current system, you know, explore other new options and and and I think that's why that's why we were trying to flesh out this information possible. Um, so um,
you know, so yes, it does expensive financial and that's that's like I said, we spent five years on this, I think we did a pretty thorough job. Okay. All right. So, you capture next steps. I capture next steps to compare
notes. So, um I had um community outreach. had to uh redo the interal budget and bring it up to like current
current expenses. Uh maybe just have a conversation about my powder kit question at the end of have we explored all models including perms under the tension? We'll be more than happy at any time.
Again, it's strictly from the lens. You got to pass that red face test under oath. you got to be able to say we've done the work, we've done the diligence on it, right? So that's why I'm kind of making that a priority if we have to answer. Lisa, I really appreciate that because that's what I was leading to to make
sure that that was in the feasibility. Again, I'm taking it from the questions that are asked, how do we answer? Yep. Okay. And what else? How about a date for our next meeting? How about that?
A date for our next meeting. A date for our next meeting. either in private or um yeah, we can work that out like quickly or email or right after this like look at calendars to do that. We'll contact our accountant tomorrow and start working on the budget because before we do community outreach, we need
a new budget, right? Yeah. Tori, and again, I would even mock up like tax cards, like fake tax things to say this is what tax bill looks like now. You're now going to see an additional line item for the fire department. just it may it just might help like residents from a visual
standpoint. See it, right? Quite honest. I mean, everybody seemed didn't have a whole lot of questions. And I can't speak for anyone else up here, but I'm available if we want to then schedule these and you'll you know, I think the commitment is that you've got a TC member always be there because
you're we're there to engage with the community with you and we want to hear what they have to say. Okay, that would be a big plus actually. That's all I got. We're done. I think so. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much, guys. Thank you. Yeah. Well, we're going to public comment. We might want to work on it. You want us to wait for public comment? Um, there might be because there might be public comment on here. So if you
don't mind if you want to hear Are we able to answer or no? Usually that was a oneway conversation. No, but we'll track every question. Not to question us. Yeah, one way or the other we'll get answers. Okay. So now we'll open up public comment for our meeting. Is there
any member of the public that would like to come up and provide comment? Sure. Mr. Picowski. Oh, remind everybody you've got three minutes. We've got a fancy new clock here so that it's more visible to the
person making comment. As you're winding down, you'll be to start to wind down your Okay. Give Debbie the thumbs up, Mark, and she'll start the big clock. This will be shorter than a minute. Mark Bassie, North Main Street, uh,
representing Cranberry Housing Associates. Just want to let the committee and the public at large know that we are having uh an information session on the history of the organization providing affordable housing for Cranberry as well as recent ground for
issues. Public's input and support will be enlisted uh as possible alternative solutions for Cranberry's future affordable housing discuss. The meeting will be held tomorrow night, Tuesday, July 15th at 7:30 in this very room in
the library. So in person would be great and it will be online as well. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Are there any action that didn't be captured except ones? Um I'm sorry. Is there any further public comment? I'm
so sorry. Sorry. testing. Um, let me know when you say your name and I'm going to start. Wade Whitman 19th and South Main Street. um in hearing the testimony from the fire company and all your responses tonight. Um I appreciate the due
diligence of both TE's and and reviewing this information and moving forward. I think the one thing that the township committee really needs to focus on is that um with all due respect to my friend
Charles and other people, um they are the they are the key who glue holding the fire company together, but they're not immortal. Okay? there. There are older people like myself that have been in town a long time that have their
hearts are as big as the town, but you know, we're all getting older and unless you get new people coming in and if and if we can't supplement with volunteers, I understand what you said about volunteers, cyclical. So, the whole thing with having somebody
there during the day we know is going to be there is going to be critical to this to our town moving forward. I I don't know if you've looked at the price of real estate in town lately and what the price of of houses cost and in five
minutes on a fire is is the world the difference between your h your your $900,000 house now burning down or debate and put out. So you really got to consider this as you move forward in your actions here. So I hope I hope this
can be moved forward. I think that's a you know it's a good plan. So hopefully, you know, it'll work out. But I I understand your your questions leave out what happened with Rainsburg and and it has to be air time when you're going to go back to them. So, okay. Thank you.
Thank you. Is there public comment this evening? Okay, seeing none, I'm going to close public comment. And besides the three action items I mentioned for the um proposed fire district, are there any other items
we decided on August meeting? We decided on our August meeting just for the general public. We have two meetings that are or three meetings I believe that are optional a year for the it's the second meeting in July and the second meeting in August. Our second
meeting of July um has been cancelled. U due to lack of quorum um we have not made a decision on both meetings in August at this point. So we'll usually know by the first meeting in August if we're on the second meeting in August.
Yeah. So that our action item is to Yeah. This is I was just thinking it's September. No, it's always in September. So it's a Saturday in September. There's no conflict. Yeah. And well after uh Labor
that's okay. Any other action items? Okay. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? So I got a second. Second. All in favor say I.