DelenCo Township Committee meeting of May 5th, 2025, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Deleno Township Municipal Building, 770 Coopertown Road, Deleno, New Jersey. We are recording. We are live. Thank you. Good evening. Welcome to May
5th, 2025's Deleno Township Committee meeting located here at the municipal building. Can I have a roll call, please? Mr. Bartlett, here. Mrs. Patrick, here. Mr. McFaten, here. Mr. Owlette, here. Miss Seuss here. Also present, Mr. Schwab, our township
administrator. Mr. Fox, our township engineer, Mr. Heinhold, our solicitor, Mrs. Lure, our municipal clerk, Mrs. Russell, our deputy municipal clerk. Mr. Fenmore, our superintendent, Mr. Warren, our police chief. Please rise for the flag salute 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. Sunshine and live stream statement, please. Yeah. Please, please be advised that proper notice of this meeting has
been given in compliance with the public meetings act in the following manner. Written notice has been mailed to the Bronx County Times and current post and published in the December 30th, 2024 editions and written notice has been posted on the official bulletin board of the township of Deleno at le 48 hours prior to the meeting. This meeting of
the Delo Township Committee may be transmitted via liveream on YouTube video. The streaming of the meeting is not intended to be relied upon as formal public access under the open public meetings act. And if the technology is disrupted for any reason, the township meeting will proceed in person as an
official meeting in accord with the official notice. Yes, if you could take a moment to please silence your cell phones, put them on vibrate. Um, I'm going to read the rules governing public the public comment period now. Pursuant to provision to the
provisions of the Open Public Meetings Acts NJSA 104-12, the Deleno Township Committee is entitled to permit, regulate, or prohibit public participation in its meetings. Public participation and comment shall be governed by the following rules to maintain order and
prevent disruption of the meeting. Each speaker will have a maximum of 5 minutes to speak and should limit comments to the matter at hand. The speaker will be directed to conclude their remarks once the speaker's time has expired. No time may be yielded to a speaker by another speaker. Groups are asked to select a
spokesperson to speak on their behalf. Speakers will address the township committee from the podium and are asked to begin their remarks with their name and address for the record. Township committee members are not obligated to answer impromptu questions or address remarks from the members of the public during the public
comment period. Speakers should expect the township committee to refrain from engaging in a dialogue except to the extent necessary to clarify the speaker's comment. The allotted time for the speak from speaking from the podium is a method to address the township committee during the public comment period. The township committee will not
entertain questions or comments called out from the audience. Speakers and members of the public should at all times maintain proper decorum and shall make their comments in a civil manner. Personal attacks, obscenity, derogatory or slanderous remarks will not be tolerated. Meeting is now open to the
public for comments and questions. This is session one. Please come to the podium and state your name and address. My name is Charlie Tina. I live at 2901 Burlington Avenue, New Jersey. I just wanted to comment that I feel that the town's going downhill.
We have property bias which is a rental which in turn I was an exterminator for 43 years and watched the cockroaches crawl across the ground to my house or to my neighbor's house and the neighbor after that. No one does anything about
it. They leave it alone. They had cars on the property. They just take the tag off one vehicle, put it on another vehicle, drive away. We called Easter about dirt bikes running up and down the street. The officer showed up, told him,
"Pit homeless on." Turned around, I called the gun and said, "I own a motorcycle. It's not registered. Is it right for me to ride?" "Oh, no. You can't do that. I don't understand what's going on. We feel like we're the forgotten in town." It's not
just me. It's my neighbors. We have a guy with the white charger who thinks it's a drag strip with open pipes. No one does anything. I'm tired of it. Then I have the repair shop across the street. Right. Where's the code
enforcer? They have six vehicles there, no tags. A van there with no doors. A smashed up vehicle, no doors. And then I get to look out a dumpster every morning when I open up my front door, you know?
Nothing gets done that end of town. You come in this end, it's beautiful gazebo, this, that, everything else. You may want to just take a look at the other end of town and make it just as nice. I'm tired. John's crew does a beautiful job,
but I end up picking up the trash from the neighbors because they use the trash. The contractor who owns the property brings his contract trash there. And I know that you pass the thing where if homeowners do repairs, you have to turn around and get rid of
it yourself. Here's a gentleman who's been doing it. They go up in a black truck, drop off 11, 12 bags. And I recorded it, but nothing got done. I called the police about the motorcycles and they showed up once. Sunday they had
a gentleman with a little kid on the front of the bike motorcycles running up and down the street in flipflops. They drove down to the ball field. I called the police. No one showed. You know, I would really appreciate if
somebody does something at our end of town. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. Um the the motorcycles that you're talking about, are they the small little dirt bikes you're talking about? They're 90 course dirt bikes under 50
cc's. No. What are they under 50 cc's? 90 cc 90 cc's. Cuz we just talked about that chief, right? At the same time as a 5-year-old running down the street the wrong way. And not just me called, there was seven
other people on my street that called the police and no one showed up. Did you call 911 or the non-emergency number? Non-emergency. Okay. And no one showed up. So, you know, you get tired. Sure, understand. Yeah. Did you call the
house? I called the board of help. No one showed up. I called the code enforcer. He actually came I came to the code enforcer. He treated me like I was a criminal who got in my face and said, "When he gets a chance, he'll do it." Wow. Right. Okay. What's the address
there, Charlie? 400 West Avenue. Okay. They have I can't tell you who lived there because it's constant traffic. People get in and out. Okay. The car registered, the white charger registered Pennsylvania, but he lives there. I thought you live in Jersey, you have to
transfer things over to Jersey, right? He's been there for almost a year. Okay, we'll look into 400 West for sure. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else?
Yep, that's fine. Public comment. Um, hi Christine Holland, 319 Delaware Avenue. Um, I'm here to voice my opposition to holding a referendum vote during the special election rather than waiting until the general election. Um, at the presentation held last month, reasons
given in opposition um, of the right to vote on this matter included the expense associated with holding a special election. Um, I believe the figure was around 70 to 100,000. Um, to this point, I'd say that that is a fraction of the overall impact
the taxpayers would bear over the term of the life of the bond. Um, but regardless, I'd add that in the vein of what was called a no-brainer with respect to the parcel of land, the no-brainer would truly be to just wait until the November election um rather
than holding this special election um to do so. I do note it is a real estate contract and time is of the essence. We all know that. Um however in this case where we have pretty turbulent economic climate um particularly where
warehousing space is concerned uh not only is the property not actively for sale some remediation work needs to go into it at not insignificant expense uh before the property could even change hands and there's certainly no shortage of existing warehouses available um
without interested buyers in our town as well as within our zip vote. Um, so I do have a tough time believing that where time is of the essence, any party besides Deleno Township, would actually find themselves across the table making
settlement before the end of the year. Um, additionally, special elections, especially one held midsummer, would typically result in much lower turnout. It should excite you that so many people rally to be heard. they want to vote. And the best opportunity to get representative feedback from your
constituents is to hold the vote during the already scheduled general election. Here's where I wasn't didn't have time to get my notes in order, so this will get a little sketchier. Um, insisting on the special election gives the more cynical among our town's people the
feeling that the committee may be going through this motion begrudgingly counting on low turnout um to skew results in favor of the purchase. Ultimately, if the committee does choose to move forward with the special election rather than a general election timeline, I'm still very proud of the
work that those of us that circulated the the petitions, went to neighbors, friends, new acquaintances to raise awareness, have tough conversations um and ensure that democracy was being uh
upheld um where we're in unprecedented times. people are fed up with coming, you know, working full work weeks, um, and being unable to make their paychecks last to the end of the month.
Um, this purchase is a prime example of government not reading the room. Um, those of us deciding where in our budgets we can cut back just to break even. um when the only thing that's changed of late is inflation, corporate greed, and crooked politicians run a
muck federally, not within this room. Uh this is one expense your taxpayers, we the people, um have expressed desire to have a say in, do the right thing, and allow the referendum to be held during the general election when the full voice of the community can be heard. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments. Um as a note, hold on a minute. We literally are under contract until July 1st. So, we can't go back to Criterion and say, "Hey, listen. We need another six months because by the time we would settle, it would be December."
So, at that point, they're going to they're going to want money because now they're losing revenue, right? Their tenants are out. They have property taxes. So, either way, we're going to acrew additional costs, whether it's through a special election or them wanting additional money. There would be an additional cost for the for the additional time frame. Uh, Mr. Mr.
Hindle, did you want to elaborate on that at all? Um, I'll just add that my conversations with the council for for criterion have been preliminary at this point to inform them of what has happened relative to petition process and there seems to be some general
understanding. We still have to negotiate an extension because the special election runs past the real estate date. the mere fact that there is a special election may it may be a foregone conclusion if criterion does not agree um I have no
sense that they are willing to wait uh until November December to see what the voters say um I think they there is some understanding that they're willing to wait a short period of time to to allow us to get through this process um you know the real estate contract
says what it says we don't have the ability to keep them under contract track past July 1st right now. We'll try to extend that, but I don't have any reasonable belief that that extension will be more for than for what is needed to get through the special election.
Thank you. And I will um add whether you agree with the process or not, the democratic process, how this transaction has gone down has been followed to the letter of the law. And um by passing all the different ordinances, we have done everything we are legally obligated to
do. um by following the petition that means you disagree with it. So that's okay. But what we are doing is legal and that is how government operates on the local level. Anyone else? Todd Burke, 1506 Second Street. I
have a few things to say. No surprise. First of all, if it was done at a special election, the settlement date would have to be postponed anyway. Settlement dates get postponed all the time and there would be no harm in having the settlement date postponed
because first of all Mr. Heinhold has very well and intelligently in spite of some past comments from the floor put in all kinds of contingencies in the sales agreement which I have read which means that if the bond isn't raised we
can walk away no harm done no cost and that's fine. settlements get postponed all the time. I think that the idea of having a special election in the middle of the summer is meant in fact to put some pressure and cost on those who are
in fa or against the uh against the proposal of the bond. And I think that that's the only reason why it is that there would have to be any kind of cost and time involved for a special election. As far as notice goes, uh uh the the attendance of this meeting
is witness to the different between the barebones notice requirements and the bare bones following the law and what should be done for the residents of this small community. Now, there was one meeting that was well attended, and that
meeting was well attended because someone went to the trouble of hand delivering notices to every almost every household in the community. And it was also packed by Newton's Landing residents who'd had a meeting that morning to discuss packing the hall in
favor of the bond. And I am so tired of having the tail wagging the dog. So, this seller is not, first of all, the property is not for sale. there aren't other people bidding on it. The seller is not going to work walk away from the deal anyway because he's making a
killing and there's no reason why it should not be postponed and and preserve the cost until the general election. Also in the statement attached there is uh wording such that um uh that it's
imperative that we move quickly towards but there's no citations of law or regulation or statute or factual citations. It's just a blanket statement that we have to move forward as fast as possible. Um, I I think that what we should do is
have it on the general election in November and have monthly meetings to have the entire population invited with notice that should be proper under this unusual circumstance so we can intelligently discuss pros and
cons about the entire proposal. That's the way that government that is transparent and democratic is really supposed to run. Don't pull any surprises on us and don't try to misdirect with statements about that Burlington County may be doing this and
the state of New Jersey may be doing that. We're not here to discuss any of that stuff. We're here to discuss what Delano is doing and a lot of us are opposed to this bond as you already know and most people obviously look at the room have no idea of what is going on
and that's grossly unfair to them and it's going to be more grossly unfair when they get their tax bills and see what the increase is really all about. Um, if the bond is not passed, I'm sorry, if the
bond is passed and the property eventually is sold by the township to whomever, there's going to be engaged in construction. It's going to be construction of one sort or the other. And this construction is going to cause more havoc on the roadways for six years
than this proposal by uh the the seller is really talking about which would this guy knows what he's doing. He know he whether or not he actually puts a truck repair facility in there. He knows what he's doing. He knows what the costs are involved. he knows what the additional
costs to the township are going to be in terms of remediation and to make sure that it's not a toxic waste dump and to go through all the due diligence stuff that we're doing now. So I don't see where anyone has provided an estimate for how all of that's going to have to
be paid for because I think you're looking at another million or two dollars. That's what the seller was talking about. And that's going to be have to be borne by the township, by the taxpayers also to clean it up and to remediate and to make sure that there's no hazardous waste in there and to go
through all the demolition and construction that would be necessary to remediate that. Um, I don't see any reason to not delay until November. There really is no pressure and there really is a lot of problem with people who are dissatisfied
with not having this brought to their individual attention. Doing the bare bones is well, it's I guess it's fine for routine stuff. Not for this project. I can't emphasize that enough. For this project, it is incumbent upon the
committee to go out and make sure that all the residents have full notice about what is going on. That was only done once. It wasn't done by the committee and that's really unfair. Thank you. Your five minutes is up. Um I'm not surprised. I I have a timer if you'd
like to see it. I would. Where do I start with that response? The reason why this room was packed was because the information that was provided to the residents was incorrect. the formula and the financial information that was provided was incorrect. So that's why this room was
packed in December because they thought their tax bills were going up $2,000 by the formula that was provided. Second, bare bones is what's required by law. Whether you agree with that or not, bare bones. We don't have to go door to door and let people know what's going on.
That's not how this works. Okay? We notice, we post, we do what's needed regulatory. That's all we have to do. We don't have to go door todoor. Should I rent a plane and fly a plane so people know? You have a civic duty to do your responsibility and find out what's going
on in town. Second, this is not an unusual circumstance. As I provided in my presentation two weeks ago, this has happened on several other occasions. And if you Google other towns that have done this, properties purchased all the time to stop things from being built, including warehouses. This is not
unusual. Third, nothing has been designated as hazardous. There's no remediation necessary. As of today, there is no hazardous. We would never buy a property that has been designated with hazardous waste. That's all I want to comment on.
Anybody else have anything else they want to say? I think you covered most of mine. Both Mr. Burke and Miss Holland both Sorry. Sorry. I'll speak uh into the mic. Both uh Mr. Burke and Miss Holland both mentioned about remediation and unless
they've done their own phase 2 testing. I don't know where this is coming from because there there hasn't been the borings done yet until this week. The soil borings are being done this week, but everyone is seems to think that remediation is done. So, I don't know where you're getting your information from, but it's incorrect.
One other thing, taxes are not being increased due to the purchase of this property. Taxes are being in increased because of the items that I mentioned in my presentation. The increase in costs, the decrease in revenue, taxes are not going up because of this
purchase. Anybody else? Any other comments from the public before I close session one? Session one's closed. Moving on. Um, mayor, if I could just make a couple comments at the time you get to
the consent agenda or now. Um my job is to protect the process, right? The policy is what it is and you know I the the governing body determines that policy reacts to comment
and so forth. There's been a lot of points in time that got us to this situation where um we're now under contract. We have a good faith responsibility to execute under that contract. the the due diligence is still moving forward.
Um I I understand the desire or the wish that maybe this could happen just as part of the general election. As a person who's involved in the process, I'm just going to say very clearly that's not an option. And it's not a matter of whether they have it marketed or they have another buyer on
the line. They have rights. They have the ability to move forward with their development if they'd like to do that. they have actually agreed, I think very uh consiliatory, to work with the township on a transaction if that's where this ends up. If it doesn't, I
think what we're going to see is they're going to be back with their truck terminal facility and that's what's going to happen there. Um, so I don't think it's a choice for the governing body. the governing body is is is has a
good faith responsibility to move forward and that requires a special election. Um the other the only other thing I will say is I hear this a lot and it you know we all have positions about what we think should
happen. Civility is so important to try and move forward and respect that somebody may have a different a understanding of where you are. There are people in this town who don't who don't want to see this happen. There are people who who don't think the bond should happen. All right? So, they're
they're both reasonable positions, right? The governing body has an obligation to execute under the law all the notice steps, all the requirements. In addition to that, they do put out public information. There's I get
emails. I'm on the email list for Deleno. I get emails from the township about all sorts of things. The idea that, you know, it's not fair or there should have been more done, I think is a
very unfair sort of allegation to put on any township. And I see this not just in Delano, but in many places. That is a that is a never-ending hill that nobody can ever satisfy. um sending out an employee to knock on
every door or having having the governing body members who have full-time jobs and other things to do to go out and knock on every door. It's not a realistic um circumstance. So respectfully, you know, what needs to be done is the law
needs to be filed followed to to assert that it's not democratic or it's not um fair when we're doing exactly what the law requires. I take issue with. Thank you, Mr. Heinald. Um, and I will
uh make a note too that um the law requires us to mail out the mail in mail out ballots for the people that have opted to vote by mail 45 days in advance. And if we were to do that, say at the end of the month, they would get those mail-in ballots right before the
primary election, which would cause confusion. which is why we've opted to mail them out right after the primary so that people were crystal clear as to when this election is being held and there's no confusion. So, I just wanted to point that out that we do are cognizant of that and we are trying to
make it obviously the easiest process for voters, the most um legal process for voters and uh we are doing our due diligence there and people can still register to vote by mail if they're not going to be available for the July election. And it's not on the and it's
not on the primary election because that's a partisan election and the members of the public and I believe it's almost 40 to 50% of the town who have not declared a party, they wouldn't be able to vote on the referendum, right?
Yeah. I I would just like to make a comment. I'll put that right up here. That we um you know, we did buy another per uh we did purchase another property in town. It didn't cost quite as much as this, but it was the Zerbrook mansion and I happened to be very involved in
that transaction and that was to stop the state from getting that property by a deed in loo and putting a capital academy uh in that property um for it was to rehabilitate juveniles. And so
when um when the gentleman who owned that property was out of contract with the Capital Academy, our attorney Doug found out that it was definitely out of contract. We bid on the property the same amount that they were going to buy,
which we bought and we tried to do numerous things with it and we were finally in a position where we had to sell it and we it was in a redevelopment zone. So we had an option to choose who would buy it which that was a difficult
decision being up on this committee at that time because it was three to two they didn't three pe three three members of the committee didn't want to sell it and finally one did go with us to sell it to um grapevine which they did put
the town houses there which happened to give the township a nice tax income. Um um so the people who live there love it. The Zerbook mansion has been preserved and is a jewel in this town and the
residents get to see it at the Christmas time when we have our carriage rides there. It's open to the public and um it has been preserved but yet we sold it so that we could still make money on it. So, we didn't lose any money. And there
are people that live there that love it. Uh, and I just think that when we did that, we did it for the betterment of this town. And that's why I believe we're doing what we're doing out on Creek
Road. we're doing for the betterment of the town and for our children who have our fields out there, for the residents at Newton's Landing, but also for the entire town. The entire town does not live on Delaware Avenue that uh
benefited from us purchasing the mansion. But the entire town has benefited. We kept the portion of the property on the waterfront. We going, our waterfront park is being um built. It's going to be gorgeous. Everybody's going to be able to enjoy it who will
walk down there. This township committee in my mind, I've been up here for quite a few years. We have taken consideration into everything that we do and I can tell you that I vote for things for the betterment of this town. And buying this
property is definitely for the betterment of this town. And as Carolyn had stated, there's no tax increase on our tax bill for the next year right now that has anything to do with this property. They're just expenses that
have gone up in the town. The school is not having a tax increase. So that information was relayed to residents and that's not happening. So, I think the town is misinformed and um I think the people up
here know what they're doing. They don't take it lightly. They research and I mean, I may not be the one that handed out information, but my I am available to anyone in this town. My home phone
number is listed, my address is listed, and I've been around here for a long time. So, I think the consideration was a good consideration to purchase this property and I stand by it. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, since we
brought up the school, I'll take this opportunity to elaborate on that. Me just find my documentation [Music] here. Give me one second. I attended the school board meeting last
week. They presented their budget. The tax rate for fiscal year 2025, the school tax rate was 1.8214. Their tax rate that they're proposing for this coming year is
1.8211. So, it's gone down .003. That includes the money for the down payment for the roof. So the taxes are not going up for the school. The taxes have gone down. The difference is $21 million in ratables
was added to their ratables base this year. So the additional building and warehousing that happened has um finally hit their books. So they have been able to spread their tax levy, which they increased by the maximum of 2% across a larger tax base. So, our taxes are not
going up because of the school. Just wanted to point that out. Okay, let's move on to comments and reports. Professionals, uh, Mr. Heinhold, do you have anything else you'd like to add, sir? I just want to give an update. Again, I'm trying to do this every month so people are aware of
the affordable housing situation in the township. We remain in a very uh good position uh because of prior year uh prior round planning. We are uh carrying a surplus into the fourth round and the primary mechanism to address fourth
round is to extend controls using existing affordable housing trust funds which were funded by development that occurred in the town. So it's not coming out of our general revenue source. Um you will see uh on the agenda
uh some a resolution that supports um Abundant Life and Living Springs and their effort to get funding sources from above uh which is beneficial to the township. So that's a supported resolution. We'll probably have other resolutions for
other entities in upcoming months that are similar to this. And uh in addition we have to go through a formal process of adopting the fourth round uh housing element and affordable housing plan that happens at the planning board level and
then is endorsed by the governing body. That will happen at the board meeting in June and then uh at our next meeting in June we'll do the resolution uh to endorse. But overall, just again, uh, we're in a very good position. Uh, but there is a number of procedure elements
that that the public will see on our agenda in the in the coming months. And that's all. Thank you. Harry, would you like to give a engineering update with the microphone right up to your mouth? Thank you, Mayor. Thank you.
Dr. Projects that we're working on. Um the 2024 local aid uh grant uh program that is for um Walnut Street from Wilton Avenue to Hickory and then also Chestnut
from Union to Spruce and that little piece of spruce coming up to Batter. Um that has been advertised. We're going to be accepting the bids on uh Tuesday, May 13th. uh if it's come in acceptable, we
can award that project on the the meeting of May 19th. Um so that process is is moving on and and that's all funded by money for this project. How do we make out with Chestnut Street one way?
The Yeah, we're looking at that. Um there is no issue with making it one way. The only question is which direction to make it. So, so we'll have to report on that as well as as well as some other streets we have anywhere we can get possibly making one way. Great.
I mean, wouldn't it be because Chestnut Street also covers where the bank drive is. Talking about just Chestnut Street, just that one section from Walnut over from Walnut to 7-Eleven. Yeah, it would make sense to make the whole street the
runway in my mind. I mean, I just think logically common sense, but uh and that's how I think it would flow better um to come out the side street by 71. Yeah, that's what they're trying to figure out. Yeah. Okay. Y
um the uh road park, woodfront park, um the the contractor has started constructing that there. You've probably seen the safety passes like that. Um they are things are moving a little bit slow right now because they haven't built steps for a certain section of the
area. Um so that takes footings. They have to be inspected. Then they have to format the section themselves for those and that's what the process they're doing right now. Um installing those steps. Um soon as they're done with those uh they will be moving on to
installing sidewalk uh in the various areas where we have delineated on the plans. They will also be uh starting on the electric uh probably next week. Uh that's going to be underground work that they're running electric put in decorative lighting. Um some outlets out
there that have been posted caso. Are they pouring this week at all? They're supposed to be. Yes. It's it's weather. Yeah. You know, weather committee. Um luckily that soil out there is pretty good soil, so it does drain pretty well and and rain doesn't
hurt us as bad, but it it's weather dependent. Okay. Um the gazebo is scheduled to be delivered the week February 19th, May 19th. Um so be you'll see it being installed that week. Should it should be done by the end of that
week as well, weather permitting. Um so you'll your start pop up there. Uh the 2024 CDBG grant that is a a grant we've announced by it's actually
federal money. It's it's distributed by the county and that's for replacing handicap ramps accessible ramps uh throughout the town. um with that has been awarded and we're having a pre-construction meeting this Wednesday
at 1:00 p.m. Once you have that big construction meeting, that's a it's a process we have to go through because the county can the county requires that as well as as as we do, we'll have a definite schedule of construction on on that construction. But I would anticipate
construction will start in those grants within the next definitely by by this month as well. And that's that's all I have. Okay. So, the 2024 Township Road program, I saw your engineer was out there surveying Delaware Avenue the
other day. So, we are um planning to pave Delaware from Cedar to Hazel and we are going to throw in that dirt road at the end too, right? Yes. Okay. I just didn't know if that actually had a name to it or if we had to add It's just Delaware from Okay. Okay. Yes. So, we
are going to look to pave that as well. Um just kind of make sense at this point. and uh the 2025 CDBG grant. I know Janice has a meeting at the end of the week for that uh to see if we did get that grant too. So, um Harry is
working on the Union Avenue boat ramp proposal. Do you think you'll have something to us for cost by the uh next meeting in June? Um absolutely. Okay. And um when are you doing you're doing your inspections at 401 this week, right? That's correct.
Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else have any questions for Harry? Nope. Township administrator, Mr. Schwab. I have nothing new right now. Thank you. Uh John, public works. Good evening.
Um we've been quite busy getting everything done. Uh we picked up 60 yards of chipped up brush. Uh we picked up 45 cubic yards of leaves, more leaves that people put out after we got done
pickup. Um we cut all township properties four times. We lined uh the ball fields 13 times and dragged the ball fields. Um we lined also lined the soccer fields last weekend, too. So I
guess the start of that uh we put up two street signs. Uh we end up fixing the boat ramp at the end of A Street for the fire department and all and that supposedly everything turned out good on that.
Um we finally took down the batting cage. Well, it took us about 4 days to do it and I don't know if anybody has seen it or not. Um there's a pad of asphalt there. And what has happened
um there's a couple big tree roots that grew underneath of that. So if we go to put, you know, another uh trailer on there, that's going to have to be taken out somehow some way. So just so you know, but uh it's down and that's good.
Uh we mulched all the up at the trail the West Avenue that's all done. Delran brought their tough grinder in and grounded up all our mulch that the wood chips and we got plenty. Well, we had
plenty of mulch and that's it. How was your cleanup day? It was pretty good. It was pretty good. We um we got like 136 tires.
Wow. And uh it it's you know the price of tires have gone up now. And so we're going to have to really look into that next year or this year when we have our one in the
fall about you know the cost of the tires cuz it's not fair to uh um you know bless you pay for all them tires. How much are they now John? Well, if it's a truck tire, it's $10. And I think
the uh passenger cars are five. So, and we took 136. So, it's quite a bit of money. Yeah. Which we took out of the clean community. So, you know, which is good. Bless you.
And that's it. Okay. And um John is going to order three pet waste stations to be added throughout town um so we can try to help the dog owners conveniently pick up their dog waste a little more.
That's a nice way to say it. Yeah. I have a question. When are we going to talk about the trash um situation? The new trash the new contract? Excuse me. Well, it's out the bid, right? Yeah. Janice Janice will report
on that. Yeah. Okay. Yep. Uh, anything else? No. Okay. John, you'll be getting that one way sign up over by the ice cream bar. Now, I've got your message later on and we'll get it up tomorrow. All right. Thank you. Yeah. Now, you know what it I saw actually saw a car
come down from Buttonwood and go right down that street. Yeah. Like nothing. Yeah. So, and you know the other other street there of Buttonwood, it's got all kinds of signs, but there definitely was a sign on the the one side of our park
there. A oneway sign. We'll get it up. And if you see a car, do that again. As Chief likes to say, call they'll be gone. [Music] They're gone. Thank you, John. Uh Chief Warren, you could yell at them, John.
Good evening, everyone. Um, last month I had a opportunity to go and meet uh, Li Springs with the residents for about an hour. Um, had a good time, little Q&A and reference to um, some of their concerns living there, excuse me, but also with um, awareness of cyber uh,
crimes and what they needed to do and be aware of phone calls and things of that nature, but also we just sat coffee and we talked because it was it was pretty cool. Um, they enjoyed your visit. Yeah. I met with them at the end of the month and I meet with them the and they were
very pleased to meet you and I think you took another officer with you. No, I was dismissed and uh but they were really pleased and thank you for doing that. No, not a problem. I enjoyed it. Thank you. Um for the month of April um for our department, we finished with 25
police cases. Uh there were 70 motor vehicle violations issued with 246 motor vehicle stops and we had a total of 982 calls for service. Um preparing now to get ready for uh traffic plans for the
Memorial Day parade. So I'll be getting on that this week and uh that's it for now. Yeah, I've been seeing um the officers do a lot more stationary posts on Burlington Avenue and that's that was a couple residents have mentioned that to me as well and that's much appreciated
to help try to uh curb the uh speeding. Yeah, we they asked for it so they were directed for more director patrol. So, specifically Burlington Avenue um near uh Edgewood and Cooper as well as uh Walter A. We got our concern about that
our last meeting. Um, so they increase that patrol as well. Yeah, I've seen them there and they picked up a lot of speeders. So good. They're riding tickets. So, Yep. And we like it. Yeah. Um, we did uh we were out at the Riverline
um exercise on Saturday. Yes. And your officers did a nice job coordinating with all the other departments. I guess there was about like 150 people out there, you think? Probably. Rob, how many did you keep a count? how many we had out there was the list from transit.
Yeah, it was definitely north of 100. Yeah, it was at least at least 100 between fire, EMS, uh, OEM, PD, all the transit cops. Uh, we had a lot out there and everyone did a great job working together. They made it down. Okay. We all We all made it down. Yeah, we were
all there watching. They said transit made it. They made it. They were the first ones. Which was funny because they said Transit's never going to be the first one here. So, they were the first ones that responded, but ever um and we did talk to a bunch of the transit officers. Um I was out there with officer Hollis and he was telling me
about his experience with transit and um transit was had their official drone operator out there. Like literally that's what his job is to fly the drone for transit. Talked to him about his drone, got information. Riverside was out there with their drone. It's a pretty nice setup. They actually got it
from money that was used from a seizure. I guess. Mhm. And it cost them about 15 grand, but they had this nice big hard keys and a big monitor and it was a nice setup. So amazing tool. They were able to zoom into um William Ped's head on center city. That's how good from right
above the Riverside the Riverside train bridge. It's awesome tool. Heat seeeking. Um they're all thermal imaging. Thermal imaging. Yeah, he showed us all the stuff. So, it's cool to see all that technology and explain kind of what the drones do now that Dano is going to um add that to our to our
force as well. I think it's important to have that, especially with Hulk Island. So, so thank you for detailing your officers uh to that drill. And John, also thank you uh to your guys for taking care of getting everything set up for the road closures for that day. Yeah, it was a great
exercise. Okay. Um Mrs. floor department head for the township. Um we had we had the um Can you pull your mic down? We had the um document shredding event this past
Saturday also available to residents um along with the public works cleanup day. So um other than that, that's it. Thank you. Bev, do you have anything? Um just that at the shredding event there were 84 residents that brought shredding.
What did we say Janice was going to report on? So that's residents and we also combine that with um uh documents that have been approved by the state of New Jersey that we no longer are required to keep. So those can go in also. Okay, that's it. Thank you.
Oh yeah. Yeah, this the I'm trying we are out to bid um for a new solid waste collection contract. Okay, there sorry. So, um there's also another meeting this uh week, this week or next
week uh for pre-bid meeting for um haulers that may um choose to participate in the pre pre- bid conference because it is uh quite extensive that that bidding process for solid waste collection and um those bids
uh will be due and um not till July because this bidding process requires a 60-day notice and published two times over the 60 days, okay, in in newspapers. So, great. Thank you. I did just want to
add there was another little library box that was added over the weekend to um Gateway Park from Tommy and his troop. What is that? Troop 82. Troop 39 out of Alabama. That was close. Okay.
I wish I would have known about the installation. So, I would have liked to attend. I always like to I I like to attend the Boy Scouts or the Cub Scouts activities if I can. And they're usually Eagle Scouts do a wonderful job. But yeah, we weren't notified of this. Yeah,
I think he split it up into two different dates. And I'm not sure I got the second date, but we were driving by and we stopped real quick. So, um it looks nice. I think the concrete is curing right now. So, um yeah, it looks it's a nice little addition. So hopefully they'll add that to the the
main website that tracks all of them because I know residents were asking for a list of them. So thanks to Tommy and his troop. All right, moving on to the consent agenda. Consent agenda items are considered to be routine and will be
enacted with a single motion. Any item requiring discussion will be removed from the consent agenda. All consent agenda items will be reflected in full in the minutes. Does anyone have anything they'd like to remove from the consent agenda? Okay. Ordinance 2025-5 amending the
township code at chapter 216 governing park and public property regulations. This is the first read by first reading by title only and set public hearing date for May 19th, 2025 at 7 p.m. Ordinance 2025-6, a bond ordinance of the township of Deleno in the county of Burlington, authorizing the purchase of
vehicles and equipment for the public works and police departments appropriating the total sum of $178,000. Therefore, and authorizing the issuance of $169,100 and bonds or notes of the township for financing such appropriations and making certain termin
determinations and covenants and authorizing certain related actions in connection with the foregoing. This is the first reading by title only in step public hearing date for May 19th, 2025 at 7 p.m. Resolution 2025-72. Resolution of the Township of
Delano, County of Burlington, State of New Jersey, confirming the need for the acquisition and rehabilitation of 100 units of senior affordable housing and the submission of funding applications to the State New Jersey Economic Development Authority in the State of New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. Resolution
2025-73 authorizing disposal of out of service police department equipment. Resolution 2025-74 authorizing award of contract for professional services to tri associates for affordable housing review and compliance assistance for Zerberg mansion and general payment of bills
accounts current fund 1,282,96918 payroll $132,495.35 escrow trust $3,89525 capital fund $28.50 50 clean communities fund $533.56 approval of businesses business licenses 2025-2-4-24 and 26 approval of consent
agenda can I get a motion please and mayor just on those business licenses it's all those um business licenses I'm sorry through 24 2024-4 through 2025-24 and then 26 thank
Approval, please. Motion to move. Second. Motion by Kate, second by Matt. Roll call, please. Mr. Bartlett. Yes. Miss Fitzpatrick. Yes. Mr. McFaden? Yes. Mr. Olette? Yes. Miss Seuss? Yes. Thank you. Um, next on the agenda, we have the
municipal clerk certification of the petition received on April 25th, 2025. That is NJSA 4049-27 ETS seek Janice. Thank you, mayor. Um I'm just going to read my um letter to the
governing body, mayor and governing body as required under the statute um to the Deleno Township uh committee uh certification of petition. Honorable mayor and members of the township committee of the township Delanco. The petition was submitted to the Deleno
Township Municipal Clerk's Office on Monday, April 28th, 2025 at 10:45 a.m. to protest against the incurs incurring of indebtedness under the recently adopted ordinance 2025-4 per NJSA
4049-27. NJSA 40 colon 49-27B certification of petition states that the municipal clerk shall examine the same and ascertain whether or not it is signed by the requisite number of qualified voters and also meets the provisions of NJSA
404927A to 40 uh 4927 C. An examination in accordance with the with all applicable statutes of the petition papers as submitted on April 28th, 2025 was conducted beginning on April 28th, 2025 and concluded on May 1st, 2025. It
was found that the signatures of a sufficient number of qualified voters were present on the petition papers and that all other applicable statutory requirements for this petition were met. Therefore, I Janice M. Lower, municipal clerk of the township of Delanco in the county of Burlington, state of New
Jersey, hereby certify that the petition submitted to my office on April 28th, 2025 protesting the incurring of indebtedness under adopted ordinance 2025-4 meets the requirements of SA NJSA
4049-27 at SEC as per the examination conducted as required by law, respectfully submitted. Janice Emlor, Municipal Clerk, Township of Delano. Thank you. Thank you, Janice. Um, moving on to resolution
2025-75, resolution establishing ballot question special election date in response to petition for referendum on bond ordinance 2025-4 which authorized funding for acquisition of 401 Creek Road. Anybody want to make a motion, please? I'll make
a motion. Second. Motion by Phil, second by Kate to adopt resolution 2025-75. Roll call, please. Mr. Bartlett, yes. Miss Fpatrick, yes. Mr. McFaden, yes. Mr.
Olette. As much as I would like to see this go to the uh general election in November, understanding uh some of the I guess other stipulations that are involved uh and looking at the uh
setting the date of July 29th of 2025 for the special election. Uh, I am going to vote yes and and thankful that the folks in town will have the opportunity to uh vote on this
matter uh for the $3.6 million bond. Thank you. And Miss Seuss? Yes. Thank you. Uh any correspondence, Janice? Yes, Mayor. We have I have one piece of correspondence that came in. Um you all
did get copies. Um and it is uh from uh Samuel Harrove regarding um the parking issues up at River's Edge. Everyone did get that. I'm not
going to read it until it's quite lengthy. And I'm asking that the township get involved to um help alleviate some of the parking stress um at the River's Edge development. And that's all the correspondence that I have. Thank you,
Harry. When River's Edge was built, did we petition the county or did they change their mind later on about parking on Burlington Avenue? Was that ever on the table in front of them? People comment. Yeah.
Okay. I I can address some of the issues at River's Edge. Um actually after the um project was totally developed the HOA reached out to us and Dave Denton I I don't know if you were involved then we
walked the whole development out there and we did a oneway in and out which we actually were able to give them I believe 88 more parking spaces. The problem is they have driveways and
garage, but when these developers um do these properties now that by law they only have to be a certain size, but most of the people don't park in their garage or even in their driveway. A lot of them don't park in the driveway or
they have more than one or two vehicles. Everybody knows in this um state now people have at least two vehicles and some have more than that if they have children. But at that one time we were able to give them 88 more parking
places. But I don't know what recourse we have at this point other than this parking on Burlington Avenue is really not going to eliminate the real problem that exists. Yeah, we did and actually that was that was through. We actually
did that ordinance and um made it oneway streets. Um we even revised that again parking where we could um we have a massive amount of parking allowed out there that we can do safely. Yeah. As
far as the county right away. Um I'm sure that was part of the county approval parking out there. That typical for for the approvals. Um and we have jurisdiction of that. there nothing we can do about that location. Yeah. And I can add that
was based off the county engineers. Yeah. That's why there's no park in there in the front of the building. Um one of the other issues too, um the head of the HOA, Amanda Tensley, I'm in constant contact with her because we were advised by her once we completed
the strike last year to again reinforce no parking. Uh, one of the things that was put in the letter was um the questioning of the designation of the yellow lines as a no parking area, which universally if it's yellow line on a sidewalk or a
curb, you don't park there for people to tend to keep parking there. And I understand as you know, chief that yeah, it's difficult. Um, one of my officers, he resides there and 97% of the time his wife brings him to
work so he doesn't lose his parking spot cuz it's just it's just that bad. But we have no control over that. But we were specifically tasked and asked monthly, can you make sure the guys are enforcing no parking? So we do. So if they're part and what we did uh I want to say four
years ago we changed um through referendum I believe resolution was done to make the no parking a uh ordinance violation as opposed to a title 39 statute. Originally it was a title 39 statute. We switched to an ordinance
violation with a flat $50 fee but we're being requested to enforce it. So we did. you know, so but I mean we're we understand the issue, but we can't create more parking inside that development. It's just it's honestly
impossible. So, yeah, thank you. Um, okay. Meeting is now going to be open to the public for comments and questions. This is going to be session two. Same rules apply. If you'd like to come up, please state your name and address for the record.
[Music] Go ahead up, Mr. Kell. You can come up. Did you want to say something, Tim? Yes. I I'm not sure what you said. Hi, Tim Kishler, 12 hours court. Um, I have some prepared remarks, but I just
wanted to say based on things I've heard, I live in Newton's Landing. Um, I don't know how the rest of res rest of the residents would appreciate being referred to as the tail that wags the dog, but I think they would like to be included and not excluded from those uh
folks in the town. Uh, we pay the we pay taxes just like everybody else. Fact of the matter, we pay more taxes than most of the other people in the township of Deleno. I'm saddened but not surprised that a single Rose Township committee member
has once again coraled a significant number of otherwise disinterested, uninformed, and uninvolved Delanco residents to act in opposition to an initiative that would benefit our community as a whole. One can safely assume that those who
signed this petition were removed to do so as a result of receiving the same kind of biased, incomplete, and incorrect information that prompted them to attend one single township meeting back in December. They likely did not see, hear, or read the excellent
presentation given by Mayor Suz, which detailed the many reasons for and benefits of the township purchasing the property at 401 Creek Road. And they were also probably not made aware of the fact that a special election in and of itself will cost almost $100,000 which is not budgeted for and
will not and will necessarily create an immediate need to increase the taxes in Deleno. I will personally be voting in favor of the township purchases of the property at 41 Creek Road when the special election is held and I will encourage as many other residents as I can to vote for the approval of this
initiative as well. Thanks. Thank you, Mr. Kishler. Anyone else? I will close this session to the public. Moving on to discussion items, we have our NJ DOT fiscal year 2026 state aid program. Uh the grant
submission deadline is July 1st. You want to talk about that, Mr. Fox? Uh sure. Uh the state offers uh several grants uh that are all due. Um typically the the local aid grant is
what we always apply for and and that's Florida on Walnut and Chest Street. That's where those funds. So we definitely want want to go for that that grant. There's um bicycle route grants. There's safe streets to transit. Um
there's transit village which we don't qualify for. Um we we the only thing we we really don't have an area for for a bike shop. I'm looking for an actual trail map just streets. Um so I
don't really see any good application for that um to apply for the city streets to transit. Um there's not a whole lot we can do with that. We applied for that probably
five or six years in a row um a few years ago and never received that grant. Um it's just not enough traffic to the only thing we really have is the train station and not enough um walking traffic to get there.
Um other than the county road and and that's their again their responsibility. So really the only grant that's really worth fighting for is the lake grant. We would glad to spare any other grants you might want
to but it would be my recommendations. It's almost a waste of money. Yeah. So we just move on to the next portion of our road program plan or five-year plan. Yeah. And um we look at trying to get more creative because what gives us the
more points to receive the grass. Um one major thing is roadway the uh traffic volume. So when you pick a highly used road that helps if it's going to a school. Um that helps. If it's in really
bad condition they look at that as well. Um and and safety issues. if there's any safety issues. Um, and I'll be contacting the chief um on his opinion whether there's any areas whether it could be pedestrian vehicle um any
safety issues that we can look at it. They they really love to find those things. Um so so we'll look at it first, give our recommendations and and generally we meet with the subcommittee with John and we'll make a recommendation on the bike.
Now the bike trail is that something that would be like on a roadway or is that something like in the woods in a park bike trail? They really like the ones that are separate from roadways. Okay. Um, second to that would be one that it's border both way but separated
by physical barrier. Got it. Thirdly would be it might trail in one boat way. Um, and when you get down to that third level, it's very difficult to get to and then we really don't have a lot of roads
that we can put like be a shared use which is essentially just putting up signs. Yeah. Um, and the county is already doing a feasibility study to do their bike trail that through town. So, correct. Yeah. Okay. So, I would just suggest to the to the committee that we
move forward with our usual plan of the is it, you know, and just meet with the subcommittee and figure out what streets would qualify. Anybody have anything else they like to add on that? uh just that we did when we applied for
the one to the for the um the transit, we actually it seemed to me that we actually had a good reason to because the sidewalk was so tore up from Burlington Avenue down to the transit. And as Harry said, we applied for it at least four or five times that I
remember. So we finally did that repair oursel. We did get a partial grant. I believe the county. Yeah, the county helped us a bit and uh we finally did repair all that sidewalk. So, um so that finally did get done, but not by not not
by that grant, but it it should have qualified because it was a mess. Agreed. And it was not safe at all. But anyway, at least we got it done. But it that grant is is very difficult. It It is very difficult. Yes. But thank you,
Harry. Yeah. Thank you, Harry. Thanks, Keith. So, Harry, when do you think we should look to have that resolution? On um the May 21st or can we wait till the June 2nd
meeting for that resolution? I I would rather June second because I'll be meeting when I'll start. Okay, perfect. Yeah. Thank you. So, we should meet before then. Yeah. Okay. Just not the 10th or the 15th. Okay. proposed resolution to authorize acceptance of credit card payments by
the municipality in accord with state regulations. Okay. So, um speaking with some of our office staff, uh they had expressed interest in talking about um accepting credit cards again that it's something the residents
have, you know, been frustrated with that we only take cash or check and nobody really carries cash or checks anymore. So, we got a proposal to accept the credit cards for several different uh aspects of daily business from Clover, which is one of the biggest
national um processors. So, I believe the proposal is to acquire two different machines here. They would be um in person accepting credit cards for permits, for dog and cat license fees, for marriage licenses, and other things.
would not be for taxes because you can pay that online um using your credit card if you want. There would be um software within the terminal to separate what goes to what. So um on the back end
we would know how much money is coming in for dogs and licenses. So that would all be separated on the back end. So um the processing fees would be passed on to the users. So, um I believe it's
2.916% and then I think 15 cents on top of that, but the consumer search charge would be a flat 3% to use our credit card. And then debit cards are 1.5% plus 25 cents. So, the township would only
have to have an impact of acquiring the units and then I think there's like a monthly service fee, right? you have a contract in front of you. There's just a monthly usage fee. So, um I know Doug, you had
prepared a a resolution on that, right? Yep. There's a resolution that authorized acceptance. Okay. And has some highlighted points. I think your comment answers that. It's just for construction permits, zoning permits, affordable housing fees, dog and cat licensing, marriage licenses, and rental
registrations. Yep. That covers everything, right? Be Janice, I think that was all the Can we add um and and any other Can we have some more permit or fee processing in the municipal clerk's office? We can.
Yeah, I mean there's a whole host of Yeah, I mean to to list it would be exhaustive to list that. So, can we just have a catch all phrase, Doug? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. What are you saying? I was ask because definitely we have firearms is weekly, daily and
uh opal requests like it would benefit us as well. Yes. So will we be able to capture the police charges as well, right? Yeah. So um it'll just say as well as general fees related to all the municipal departments. So that would be
the catchall language. Thank you. And I have seen that elsewhere, so I'm comfortable with that. Okay. Okay. So what anybody have anything they want to ask? Yeah, got this. The um the courts
um one of the uh questions was to list municipal court. I didn't get a chance to check with Jen. She is already on credit card. Yeah. And and it's probably um regulated by the AOC rather than us. So Doug, does that court language need
to be in there? Are you asking that they want to be included or No, they already have. They already have they already have their own. I thought the comment before was we're not going to include court fees. We're not going to include tax bills. Right. All right. So, if you look at
um the third whereas where it ends at rental registrations now, it's going to add as well as general fees related to all the municipal departments. And then in the section below, we'll repeat
that language again under number one under the now airport be resolve section under number one will repeat that language. And Richard just pointed out that it's not always the tax collector's office collecting uh fees. So it's instead of
saying the township does hereby authorize the tax collector's office, it's going to say that the township to accept credit card. Okay. Actually, it shouldn't be the tax collector's office at all because they collect great through their own system.
Anybody else have any comments? No, I think it's good that we're doing this finally. Yeah. To get up to speed. 10 years ago when I was doing flipping some houses and in here all the time pulling construction permits, this would have been handy. But, uh, glad it's Yep.
finally on the horizon. Okay. So, would this be um something we can make we can bring up tonight as a resolution? 2025-76, I believe. I mean, if if Doug feels that it's ready to um adopt, we
can assign a resolution number. Yeah. I mean, I'm comfortable with the resolution with the revisions we just made to it. Okay. So, can I get a motion? would be resolution 2025-76 um to adopt the authorization for accepting credit card payments by the
municipality in court with state regulations and as drafted and the necessary changes that were discussed. So moved. Second. Okay. Motion by Fern, second by Matt. Uh roll call, please.
Mr. Bartlett, yes. Mrs. Patrick, yes. Mr. McFaden, yes. Mr. Yes. Miss. Yes. Thank you. Great. So, um, Janice, you'll have the office move forward with whatever we need to do next. Okay. And, uh, I did
speak with Julie about it, so she is aware. So, I just let her know as a heads up. So, are you all right? Yeah. Drink some drink some of your coke there. Mayor. Yes. I'd like have two minutes, please. Can we go to the next item first? Sure. Okay.
Um the disc the discussion with Julie was that I uh let her know that this was going on in Keen to do anything with compliance on her and so she is aware of it and she can capture the necessary revenue as necessary. Okay. Next item and then
Fern, I'll let you have your your moment there. Um municipal park development program the grant submission. So, um I think I mentioned to you guys that Burlington County approved 5 $5 million
for uh municipal park grants. Again, um it's first time they've done it since 2020. So, where is that in my packet? That was actually and then the other one here.
Oh, it's loose on the D your packet. There you go. Too many papers. Yeah, lots. Okay, so the uh park development grant is due by June 27th, $5 million for all municipal all 40 municipalities. Um I had requested to
Scott Taylor if it was feasible to do a playground at the Babe Ruth um complex. I thought it made sense to put a playground in the center of town since we kind of have an absence of playgrounds. They're kind of at the end of town instead of putting the
playground which we had plans for already at Field of Dreams that we could go for um this playground addition at the Babe Ruth Complex. So he agreed that something would be feasible there and I had um several discussion items with rec recreation members and I talked to Kate
as the liaison and uh they all agreed it would be a good spot for it. Um so I asked Scott to put together a proposal for his cost to design um sent him some ideas for playground equipment and then his cost to submit the grant proposal to the county by the end of June which is
usually around like 2500 bucks last time it was. So he's going to get that over to us. So, I just wanted to let the committee know this was happening and if you guys want to discuss it at all or any feedback or comments, please feel free to do so. It seems like a good
location. You know, now that we think about it, we have the park up at uh playground up at West Avenue and uh and Pennington. Um yeah, that'd be nice to have a place for the kids to go center of town. kids
could use the the school playgrounds when schools aren't open, but you know, parents who are out and about who may not be uh you know, school age as of yet, you know, they wouldn't be able to use school parks. It would be nice to have something right in the center of
town. Yeah. And then you have the basketball courts there and then the baseball field. So, if you know the younger kids are there watching their older brothers or sisters play, they could hang out there and maybe kids won't hang out on the basketball courts, right? They can hang out on the playground equipment. And I thought it was nice that it's central right on
Coopertown Road there. So it'll be, you know, viewed by the police and by the public all the time. So maybe it'll deter some some crime and stuff. So um he's going to he's going to move forward with that as long as we're all okay with that. And um it's up to $250,000 is what
the maximum is. Yeah. Looking at what they've done in previous years, they awarded 5.3 million to 38 municipalities back in 2020. So you figure that probably we won't get the two the full 250. So I just said, you know, don't don't build something up to that amount.
Maybe 200 is the max. And there is no local um match required either. That's going to be my next question. Yeah. No, they we did apply for every every year when they had this grant and we got 250,000 every time except once if you
remember, Phil. And uh and that was when we were asking for lights for the Field of Dreams. But um yeah, the most of uh our fields out at the Field of Dreams and
the Zerbra property that was original down there uh came from the county grants. So I I think it's an excellent idea and we definitely need a park in that area. that would be really good for for the youth in this section of town. And you have a good established system
of crosswalks over there that could bring people there. You got that new path that we just put in that goes out to the baseball field. You got the new parking area there. The bathroom will be enclosed, so you'll have a bathroom there. Um and Scott said, you know, having the train station right there is
good for for scoring points scoring points on the application as well because it's near a transit um facility. So, we have that on our side, too. Yeah. So, um, yeah, let's try to try to spruce that park up a little bit. So, that's a great idea. Any feedback, Phil, from
recreation? Nope. They're on board. They're on board. Okay. Anyone else about the application? So, we'll just um do we need to make a motion to ask Scott to send the proposal? And how do you want to handle that, Richard? If you want,
you could uh authorize up to 2500 for his services. He should put it together, give it to you, and at the June meeting, he'll have to authorize submission. Well, I don't want to say 2500 because he has to design it, too. So, so why don't we wait to get his uh proposal
19th? He's going to approve his proposal and then he'll have it ready in time for you to authorize it at the June meeting. Sounds like a plan. And we're going to do pretty much the same playground that we're going to do at Field of Dreams. Uh, it's a little bigger. Okay. Yeah, it's a little bigger. Okay. All right. Anybody else have any
comments on that? Good idea. Thank you. Um, Fern, floor is yours. Thank you for your patience. Of course, the $3.6 million bond. Many of us who
are of senior age and qualify for the 50% kickback or I shouldn't say kickback, but uh refund on our property taxes. We have a life preserver that got sent to us this year and made available to us. There are many folks within the
community that don't have that lifeline. You know, for us to be able to get up to $6,500 back on our property tax, you know, is a gift. But for many folks that are in town who are struggling to pay their uh their mortgages, their taxes,
put groceries on the on the table, take care of their children, you know, fuel prices go up. You know, you talk about PSE and G cost of living's going up and my way of thinking is we the seniors who have this life preserve have very
little skin in the game. the folks that are paying the full amount have a lot of skin in the game and they're the ones who are maybe struggling. So to have this go to referendum and have the entire town be able to vote on
this in my mind and in my heart is the right thing to do. So thank you. Just have one question, Fern. Why did you vote for it then? I'm sorry. Why did you vote yes to sign the contract to Sir? I I won't go into that, but thank you. Well, I think it's a fair question. It
it is a fair question because at the time u the in going into the agreement, I thought it was a done deal. There was nowhere else to go with this and then when the bond issue came up, the 3.6 6
and uh the opportunity to have the entire town vote on this uh again I felt again in my heart and in my mind that was the way to go. Uh to have
that much money being spent and taken out of people's pockets to me is the right thing to do. Thank you. So we basically want to we agree to buy the property but we don't want to pay for it the American way.
And Fern just so you know you're you're saying seniors seniors seniors. I'm a resident of Delanco. I'm a taxpayer. I live paycheck to paycheck. But I also see the benefit of moving forward with
this as we were moving rather than putting more extension and funding on top of what this project should have been. So just so you're aware, it's not just seniors.
Now, we're we're the seniors are receive that uh life reserver, that lifeline that got sent out to us, you know, to be able to get a credit or uh money back on your taxes up to $6,500. That's a
gift. I pay I don't I don't consider it a gift. I think the state owes the state actually owes you that. That's why they're giving it to you. It's not a Yeah, but it's not a gift. I mean, the state of New Jersey overt taxes
the residents, believe me. And uh and the municipalities are mandated to do so many things through the state and we and they don't support what we have to do. They do not finance a lot of the
mandates. And so um that what they're giving the seniors is certainly due the seniors because of the overt taxing but it is it is a benefit to the seniors. Absolutely. But not everybody receives $6,500. No up to the $6,500. Right. So
but there are but I understand what Phil's also saying. But I think I don't see anybody realizing that we're not going to owe this debt forever. We didn't owe the mansion debt forever. We paid it off. We sold the property. We're
not going to owe we're not going to wind up paying $3.6 million. We're going to bond and we're going to do something with a property that is useful to the town and then we're going to pay the debt off. So, it's not going to cost the
town $3.6 million. You have to have a vision and you have to see what is good for Delanco. And the mansion was definitely good for Delanko. What we did there, I think it's a wonderful choice. And the people that live there in the affordable housing apartments love it.
And the people that live on the sides with the um town houses love living there. And we got a great waterfront park. So that was a vision that I had. We did it. And the people didn't wind up paying 1.2 two or two point whatever
million dollars in their tax bills because we turned it over and that's what we hope to do with this property. It's not something we're going to sit on, but we're going to put it to a good use that will benefit the town, right?
Like why wouldn't why wouldn't we want a better ratable there? Like we're literally collecting $23,000 a year in revenue. Why wouldn't we want something better to go there? The truck repair facility is only going to generate a few thousand dollars more. Why wouldn't we
buy it, control what happens to it, reszone it, maybe, you know, put something like restricted housing there one day and then bring in a hundred or so thousand more in revenue and maybe if we sell it for more money, you make money on the back end and what does that
do? Goes into your surplus and then lowers taxes. So, I don't know. I just think like people are just just seeing this this 3.6 six and just saying people can't afford it. People can't afford it. Well, as I stated two weeks ago, our tax increase is not going up because of this property this year. Next year, we have
more capital um hitting, so our taxes are going to be affected more, but we can also extend that out more than the five years that we have in our capital plan. So, the hit isn't as big. Next year, we only have the minimum payment due of the interest, which is for three
years. So, it's not this big hit on the taxes. I just think people just don't understand this, even though I I really made it crystal clear, I thought, in my presentation that the $104 tax increase is not due to this purchase this year. And um you know, we
have a vision for this even though, you know, I don't have a crystal ball, but I do have uh honestly there's no reward. If there's there's no risk, if there's no reward, you have to take a risk to have a reward. And that's what we're doing here. But our risk is very protected by
the fact that it's appraised at $1.8 million over what we're purchasing it for. And um you really can't lose there because that's a huge amount of money. It's almost like we would want the uh residents to want us to do what they
elected us to do, serve the town, right? And if we had to go out to referendum every time we had made a decision on something large and risky, we would never get anything done. That's why this government is set up the way it is. And the people on Delaware Avenue directly benefited from the purchase of the
mansion 20 years ago. And I saw that a lot of people that signed that petition lived on Delaware Avenue. Yeah. I mean, we we have a $178,000 bond on the agenda tonight for uh public works and police equipment. Should we put that out to referendum and public
vote? Sorry, Chief. Sorry. Sorry, John. But, you know, where's the cut off of what we're going? changing our government to a direct representative as opposed to an elected representative government. Where's the cut off? Well, the
legislature and I understand it gives and uh therefore you know uh the petition was fil uh filled filed and uh the voters or uh in town will have their opportunity that they will. All right.
Thank you. [Music] Anybody else have anything else they want to add? I'm not for animal cruelty. I think we beat the dead horse on that one already. Yeah. Um, yep. Okay. Uh, resolution for executive session not needed. Motion to
adjurnn, please. So moved. Second. Matt and Fern. All in favor? I I get out of here. Thank you. Have a good night. [Music]