Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our February 17th council meeting. Our first order of business is a call to order and rise for the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stand. One
nation under God, indivisible, liberty for all. >> Item number two of our agenda is the reading of the sunshine statement and roll call by our municipal clerk, Mrs. Lawrence Stats. This meeting of the Denellan Burough
Council is called pursuant to the provisions of the open public meetings law. This meeting of February 17, 2026 was included in a list of meetings that was advertised in the courier on January 8th, 2026 and as a teleconference was
noticed on the official Denellan website on February 13, 2026 and on the public bulletin board on North Avenue on February 13, 2026 and has remained continuously posted as the required notice. >> Mayor Sento
>> present. Council President Lance >> noted absent. Mrs. Dalbertson >> present. >> Mrs. Rios here. >> Mr. Scott >> here. >> Mr. Sigman >> here. >> And Mrs. Vandermark noted absent.
>> Item number three on the agenda is mayor's appointments to boards, commissions, and authorities. No vote is required tonight. for appointing Roger Dorbeir, Tara Dugen, and Shironda Weiss Shimp uh to our mayor's cannabis task force with uh term expiration of uh
December 31st of this year as it's an annual appointment. And uh we thank them for stepping up to the plate and volunteering. And there's many opportunities you can find on our website to volunteer uh to the various committees, commissions, and authorities. And to the high schoolers that are here this evening, we do welcome your participation as well
because it's important to engage and civics is important. So we welcome you as well. Um so that is item number three. That is done. So you want us to do the oath of office here, Miss Shironda, or you want to wait.
Why not? Let's do it. We have a lot of 2040. Yeah. >> I won't be here but 2040. Does everyone hold the Bible? Commissioner >> Friday.
>> I say your name. I, Sonic Kaiwan Shim, >> member of the mayor's cannabis task force, >> member of the mayor's cannabis task force, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. >> That we will bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> that we will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. and to the government established in the United States. >> and for the government established in
the United States. >> And in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people. >> Under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> So help me be God. >> Congratulations. Item number four on the agenda is prop designation and present tastings. And I know that's why we have a great audience
this evening. We appreciate you all being in here and also uh sharing your talents with us as a municipality in a school district. Um, so, uh, Miss Shir, I'm going to ask you to join us again to read the proclamation and then we'll call the winners up of the essay and art
contest. And we have some lapels to share here. So, >> proclamation recognizing the winners of Black History Month essay and arts contest. Whereas, February is recognized as Black History Month in the burrow of
Denellan. and where the Denellan Arts Inclusion and Culture Commission and Denellan public schools collaborated to organize essay contest in Faber Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School and Denellum High School and an art
contest in Denellan High School to honor Black History Month. hands. Whereas Gianna Hughes won first place and Paulo Tran won second place at Faber Elementary School for their essays on Martin Luther King Jr. And whereas
Sophia Maldonado Sanchez won first place and Gianna Aby won second place at Lincoln Middle School for their essays on Martin Luther King Jr. And whereas Samara Mangaroo won first place and
Elizabeth Sereno won second place at Dellan High School for their essays on Martin Luther King Jr. And whereas Josh Osborne won first place. Amina Black won second place and Khloe Downing won third
place at High School for their artworks depicting Harry Tubman painting the city and leading her people to freedom. a portrait of musician Lauren Hill and a black woman seeing her younger self in the mirror respectively. Now, therefore,
be it resolved that Mayor Jason Falento and the Delan Burough Council congratulate the winners of the Black History Month essay and arts contest and celebrate their achievements and talent with the entire community signed on the
70th day of February 2026. >> Congratulations So if you are present, you can come up. Hughes, Paulo Tran, Sophia Maldonado,
Sanchez, Diana Ais, Samara Mangaroo, Liz Dano, Josh Osborne, Amina Black, and going down.
One, two. Why don't we sing just a little bit for the camera? All right. One, two, three. One more. One, two, three. Okay. All future leaders ready to be
join. Now, as you can see, we're showcasing some of the artwork throughout today's council info. We are a small town, but a mighty town with a lot of great talent in our school district. So, another round of applause for the student. Thank you.
Okay, next up is a proclamation recognizing February as love your library month and I've asked council Rios as the leazison for the library from mayor council to uh read the proclamation. >> Love your library month proclamation. Whereas libraries connect people to
literacy, information, and culture to build and sustain a diverse and vibrant community. And whereas in a world undergoing constant change, libraries provide enduring connection connections to the past and the future of our
communities, nations, and civilization. And whereas libraries provide access to important research about health, economics, housing, the environment, and countless other areas to support better living conditions and to help people
lead long help people lead longer, more productive and fulfilling lives. And whereas Denal Public Library offers access to literacy, technology, community resources and information, print materials, and digital downloads.
And whereas the general public library offers children's programs such as story time and afterchool crafts, teen programming such as gaming club, cultural celebrations, ESL classes for adult and teens, and programs for adults
which include painting workshops, book clubs, museum passes, home deliveries for senior citizens, and the homebound, which encourage habits of reading uh that will benefit their personal and professional lives. And whereas the
Denome Public Library services support a competitive workforce with basic literacy programs, access to technology such as Chromebooks, iPads, WiFi, hotspots available for small business startup startups, job search,
and other resources to support businesses and economic development. And whereas Snowland Public Library creates a welcoming environment for everyone to celebrate the joy of literacy, learning, creative, communicating, and cultural exchange. Now therefore be
it proclaimed that Jason Escalancho mayor of the Burls and Allen proclaim that February 2026 as li love your library month in the buroughs and Allen and encourage all residents to visit our library and thank a dedicated professional the dedicated professionals
for making this unique and wonderful institution possible. >> Thank you Councilwoman. Um, I noticed were you one of the students that came in for the art or painting contest or the essay contest? Okay. Uh, we would
like to recognize you. What's your name? Elizabeth. Well, congratulations. Why don't you come up? We'll give you the, uh, Okay, next up is item number five on the agenda, the meeting uh approval of our meeting minutes from February 2nd. Do we have a motion in a second? Move it.
Second >> second. Rio, >> any comments, additions, or edits to the meeting minutes as they currently stand? >> Without hearing any roll call, please. >> Mrs. Albertson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rios, yes. Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Sigman.
>> Yes. >> Next up is item number six on the agenda. We have introduction ofances 2026-03, 2026-04, and 2026-05. These are all ordinances dealing with
our redevelopment plan in association to the state mandate around affordable housing and our obligation and compliance with that plan. I can uh proudly say that we are in good position with the state um and we are moving forward with it but uh in doing so we have to introduce an ordinance around it
and then the next meeting will be a public hearing and adoption and presentation by our planner and our affordable housing attorney. So, um, civic lesson for council meetings. Uh, ordinances are the laws of our local land, whether they're zoning, whether
they're code, whether basically anything. It's the law of local government and the land here. Um, so how it works is we introduce ordinances. They have a 10day period statutoily in which they are provided through the clerk's office. We place them online as well for residents to be able to read
them and then come back at the next council meeting and have the opportunity to make their concerns heard on such ordinance. Um, council and mayor are able to speak upon that ordinance and then a decision is made whether we vote on it as it currently stands or do we make amendments and then move it back to
a reintroduction at a subsequent meeting or do we vote it down altogether. So tonight there's no discussion on introduced uh ordinances, but you'll hear discussion on the public hearings and adoptions for this evening coming up next. So uh can we have a motion and second on ordinance 2026-03,
an ordinance of the burough of Denellan in the county of Middle Sex, New Jersey adopting an amended and restated Denellan redevelopment downtown plan phase one. >> Move it. Second >> second. Rios roll call. >> Mrs. Albertson, >> Mrs. Rios, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Scott. >> Yes. >> And >> yes. Can I have a motion and second on 2026-04, an ordinance of the burrow of Denellan in the county of Middle Sex, New Jersey, adopting a redevelopment plan for block 85, lot three on the official tax maps of the burrow. Move it.
>> Second, Scott. Roll call. >> Mrs. Albertson. >> Mrs. Rios. >> Yes. Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. Can I have a motion and second on 2026-05, an ordinance establishing affordable housing program requirements and adopting regulations governing the
administration of very low, low, and moderate income housing units? >> Move Rio. >> Second. Segment. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Albertson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rios, >> yes. Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> And Mr. Sigman, >> yes. >> Thank you. Okay. As noted, our next
council meeting on March 2nd, they will be heard and potentially adopted. and you can pick them up to read either online or at the clerk's office. Item number seven is the adoption of ordinances. We have this evening 2026-01
an ordinance to amend the general legislation of the burough Danell municipal code chapter 256 streets and sidewalks article one snow and ice removal section three failure to comply removal by burrow assessments of costs. And I have a motion and second on this
ordinance to open up to public comment. Move it segment. >> Second. Rio. >> So, just to summarize it real quick, this is us amending our snow removal ordinance to make sure that those, as we found out, who did not remove their snow from the sidewalks and the crosswalks
that they are obligated to as property owners that the burrow has the ability to remove it ourselves and charge back that resident. They're not able to. Okay. Without any comment from the public, we'll move to mayor and council for discussion. Okay. Roll call.
>> Mr. Dbertson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rios, >> yes. Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> And Mr. Sigman, >> yes. >> Okay. Can I have a motion and second on 2026-02, an ordinance to amend the general legislation of Burough Dome Municipal
Coach up to 233, sewer use, article 1, general regulation, section 37, sewer rates. Move it. Segment >> second. Rios >> for the public. Before I open it up, I'll summarize this. Uh, this ordinance is amending our sewer rate ordinance.
Um, his historically Denellan's sewer rate has been a flat fee. We are keeping that in place. Um, it was 365. We are raising it to 375 because there are improvements that need to be made. Uh, we we last year, and you can find us all
online, we went out to bid on our sewer utility, our lines. uh only American Water came back and bidded $5 million. We didn't have another bidder. We didn't feel it was appropriate to go on that bid. Five million personally. I thought the value was low, but we also didn't have anything to compare it to. So
instead of privatizing it, we made the decision a safe capital improvement plan that we had to build out for that. We as a municipality will do so we can control the rates and make sure that it's not a separate entity, you know, having the right to just raise the rates. So in doing so, uh this year we're raising the
flat rate to 375. Uh this recognizes that next year there'll be a rate of 375 but also a $1.30 usage fee in order to make the ability to raise a $2.5 million capital over a 10-year period to make
improvements to our well over 100-y old sewer system. So that's what this ordinance is about. Okay. So with that summarization, I will open the floor to the public. We kindly ask that you just state your name and residency and we're here to address your concerns and answer your questions.
Yes, Mr. Morgan. >> And you are 8051. >> Now you I understand you said you're just going to raise it to 375. Am I right saying that >> there are flat rate fee? Correct. >> Yeah, it's flat rate for the year. >> Correct. >> And we're still going to have the option
of paying it uh what was it two times? I think we can pay it. Correct. But next year in 27, it'll be based upon a usage fee. It'll be a flat fee of 375 which covers the operations of the sewer utility currently and then the usage fee which would be data collect back to New
Jersey American water. Okay. >> Um because it goes and there's opportunity for the summer months that if you're using water volume because you have a pool or you're watering your gardens, we average out the front end and the back end. So this way that's not captured because clearly that water is not going until sewer retail
>> and that's something new we're going to do next year right >> next year that those funds are going to erase the healthy capital improvement plan of $2.5 million over 10 years to make sure that we are sustainable before that's why I was asking especially with all these apartments complexes
>> and then now you're going to treat the normal homeowner price on it. That's what I >> Well, they have to pay it too. >> Okay. >> They have to pay it too. But I was on the impression with all these improvements and the narratives are going on and that we thought it was going to get better. It's obviously not
saying we as normal normal taxpayers, you know, small houses. I guess we're going to have to pay more even though we're only building the town. >> Well, with improvements does come with a cost and um unfortunately over the past
uh how many years have we had the sewer utility? >> 13 12. Oh yeah, I bought that. >> Yeah, the rates have only increased twice. So that's that's only really covered the expenses and we've been the way it's been it's been reactionary and that this needs to be proactive and
sustainable over time and even with the usage fee we are well and we've done the analysis and it was was recent presented at the council meeting a couple what was it um >> December >> December um we are well under our our neighboring towns some thousand years
some towns are 500 600 we are averaging even with the usage that people probably fall in the 400 range. Okay. So you're and you're going to get that information from the water company basically. >> Correct. >> Okay. All right. >> And there is opportunity for disabled and seniors to take advantage of a
program that would capital. So >> Mr. Morgan, the the thought on this is to try to make it as fair as possible with with residential homes. um try to a house with one or two people have to
be paying the same with a household with five people >> and then we have all those households that pay more >> we use more water so we can pay more >> so that that's that's a way we can capture and as the mayor was talking about our neighboring towns um Bound
Brook it's somewhere around $500 southbound Brook it's $600 is 573 there's a lot of towns that are paying much more than us. We are far behind a lot of the municipalities around us and um you know we have we have a 110 sewer
system that we have to try to you know maintain our hanging back >> we try keeping the rates low as possible of course and every time we've had the conversation there's been some economic means whether it was the housing issue or co happened and you don't want to burden people during very detrimental
times. So, but we're at a point where we we have to make the improvements or else it's not going to be sustainable forward. So, I have to pay too much. My hardest understanding is all these
apartments we never had. All these like, you know, all over now. We got two more and we were considering that that would cut the cost for some of us, you know, you know, us the whole town, not us. And but it seems
like with improvements and bringing in more things they help us out. >> Well, as I noted, they paid towards it as well. In fact, one of the development projects gave us a brand new force main throughout the town. Another one uh is
going to help with some improvements to other uh gas pump stations. So, um I understand your concern. Um the the goal is to increase revenue through the projects as you're saying, but that's a separate topic in in of itself from this ordinance, but I can state that they do
pay into this as well and there's connection fees that they have to pay. Um so because they are building new um they are paying their their share of this part. Yeah, the uh the crossings that that redevelopment project uh basically uh improved about a million
dollars almost a million dollars worth of work between the crosses going to the pump station on Los. >> Okay. >> Well, we hear your concern. Thank you. Any other members of the public? We ask that you please state your name and your residency and we're here to address your
questions solely around 2026-02. Okay, without hearing any comment from the public, either in person or online, we'll open the floor to Mayor Council for discussions. >> Okay, Mr. Morgan, I do just want to stay for the public as well. You know, we made this decision to, as I said, the
capital improvement. We could have implemented it this year and not that it makes it any easier, bleeding. I recognize that, but we wanted to make sure that we informed the public and educated the public over an entire period of a year so they know what that what their bill is going to be based on their usage above what the uh rate is.
So, um, we're trying to just be transparent and educational at the same time and know that we have $2.5 million worth of improvements outside of daily operations that we have to do for facility utility. >> Thank you, sir. Okay. No further
discussion from Calbertson. Mrs. Rios, >> yes. Mr. Scott, >> yes. And Mr. S. >> Yes. Okay. Uh they're both done with the uh done there. Okay. Item number eight on our agenda is resolutions. We have
resolution 76 through 80. Um if Mrs. Staff, you can read them out and give the opportunity for council to ask their questions if they need to. >> Resolution number 76 is to pay the bills. Move it. Rios >> second. Scott
>> Mrs. Albertson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rios. >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. >> Resolution number 77 is appointing a municipal housing liaison. Move it. Rios. >> Second. Segment.
>> Mrs. Albertson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rios. >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. Resolution number 78 is a resolution of the bureau of panel authorizing the payment of a deposit to seller in the amount of 15,000 for the
acquisition of block 30 lot 26 which is 205 North Washington Avenue >> move it segment >> second Rios >> so for public's understanding of this resolution uh we are pushing forward the purchase of 205 North Washington Avenue
the old investors bank which is adjacent to the hotel uh Pompy's pedal and the art annex. We're doing this because we need municipal parking for the municipality for the downtown as well as municipal services uh related to any future expansion. Um so the goal here is
municipal parking. Um and we were able to do that through funding through redevelopment um thing called payment in l of parking. And so that's contribution that developers provide to municipality to find parking. So, uh, the the money paid up front to acquire this property is
through those funds. So, everyone is aware. And this is just the the start of putting a deposit to get to the purchase agreement, etc. >> Mrs. Albertson, >> Mrs. Rios, >> yes. >> Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> And Mr. Sigman,
>> yes. Resolution number 79 is to accept the resignation of Marshall Morales as janitorial/capilial staff member. >> Move it. Segment. >> Second. Rios. >> Thank you, Marshall, for your years of service here and uh he'll be missed. You
did a great job. >> Mrs. Albertson, >> yes. >> Mio, >> yes. >> Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> And Mr. Sigma, >> yes. Resolution number 80 is authorizing the hiring of Martha C. Diaz as part-time
janitorial staff for the Burough of Denelli. >> Move it. Second. >> Second. Scott. >> Mrs. Albertson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rios. >> Yes. Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> And Mr. S. >> Yes. >> Well, we welcome Miss Diaz to the team.
She uh was here today and uh she was very energetic. So, we're happy to have her part of the team. >> Okay. Item number nine is consent agenda. We have items 81 through 84. If council can please review and let us know if there's any specific uh resolutions you want us to pull for
discussion and then we'll vote accordingly based upon that. Okay. Uh no further conversation. Uh, do we have a motion and second to enter into the consent agenda? >> Move it. Rios. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Mr. Albertson. >> Yes. >> Rios.
>> Yes. Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. >> Next up is council reports. Councilwoman Vandermark's not here. Councilwoman Rios. >> Yes. Uh the Doma Police Department January statistics their CAD entries
were 1699 total arrests 11 motor vehicle tickets including parking was 591. That's for the month of January. DWI arrests five motor vehicle stop 238 and motor vehicle crashes
one it was more than four. Um, DDMO is looking forward to an exciting year filled with great events and community activity. Be sure to check out the Facebook page for updates on grand openings, upcoming events, and
opportunities to get involved. We welcome volunteers who want to help make Denellan even more beautiful and vibrant. Denellan Public Library. Please take a moment to visit the library public the Denellan public library Facebook page and website. We have
posted a short survey to help guide and plan future programming. If you have a few minutes, we encourage you to click the link and answer a few quick questions. In addition to the survey, please check out our current programs and events for the entire family. We currently
lost one. Hold on. Oh, we are currently still seeking a full-time library director and a part-time bookkeeper. If you are interested, please email your resumes to info@danellon library.org. board and that's all. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I know,
>> Councilwoman Albertson. fire this Sunday open $10 support local accompany a detailed report featuring key budget drivers and explanations for
the finance committee's consideration. Dalan Arts Inclusion Culture Committee is having paint and suites on February 27th, 7 PM at Delhi Cream, which is at 387 North Avenue. For $35, you'll get everything you need to paint. Go. You
will also get a sweet sampler from um Cream Delight there. And to register, you go to www.denellan parks andreciation.com. The friends of the Denell Public Libraries open air market begins on May
3rd at 11:00 a.m. The DOCC will be celebrating spring into wellness with us that day. The market is open on the 1st and third Sundays from May through October. To become a vendor, contact us at friendsofthed librarygmail.com
or follow us on Facebook and you can be with them as well. Thank you. >> Segment. >> Uh yes. And due to the uh heat wave we're experiencing, I'm going to begin with a DPW report uh who deserves this
much needed break from the snow. Uh the DPW crew has been working diligently on snow cleanup since the January 25th storm, which is quite a while ago. Uh their efforts have focused on opening and widening crosswalks and intersections by removing the snow and
ice and have been clearing out snow and ice from the many catch basins throughout the burrow. And our mechanic division has also been quite busy repairing and servicing the snow equipment following the heavy usage during this past month snow events. Uh furthermore, they have continued to
service the police and DPW vehicles as needed to ensure our operations remain uninterrupted. Uh for the board of education, the Denella Board of Education will be holding a special meeting on Friday, February 27th at 6 p.m. at Lincoln
Middle School to discuss the renewal of Superintendent Ross' contract. Uh for recreation and senior citizens, uh the hometown hero banners. Uh the community is encouraged to honor veterans by ordering commemorative hometown hero
banners with a registration deadline set for April 1st. These banners will be displayed downtown starting just before Memorial Day and will remain until Veterans Day, celebrating the service of those who have served. Uh registration
is now open. Uh and this next one is near and dear to my heart. There are uh volunteer coaches needed for our recreation programs. Uh the recreation department is currently in need of volunteer coaches for our upcoming spring programs. We're seeking coaches
for soccer grades uh K through 8, baseball ages 4 to 8, and softball grades 1 to 8. Our volunteer coaches play a vital role in creating positive experiences for our youth and ensuring our programs continue to grow and thrive. If you're interested in making a
difference in supporting our community's children uh this spring, please contact Kelly Cedar at kcardenellan.com. And I would like to add that just as a coach uh myself uh for many of these programs, it's also a lot of fun uh for the coaches and you do get to meet new
people and build relationships. uh with other like-minded uh adults who also like to coach. So, it's a win-win for everybody. Uh and for the mayor's traffic and pedestrian safety task force, uh they met uh and welcomed the youth advisory
board uh Terry Albertson and Beatatric Jimenez. Uh our meeting on February 10th. Uh we listened and had a wonderful conversation and it is always refreshing to witness and experience the energy of youth. Uh and um even more so when we discover
how aligned our goals are and we are continue or excited to continue working with them. Uh and I also want to thank Alex Miller for his close collaboration and guidance uh on this task force as well. And that is all for me. >> Okay. Thank you Councilman Councilman
Scott. Very very short report tonight for buildings and ground. The server installation, the new servers have been installed at the both the police department and burrow hall. The security system LTW has completed the preliminary wiring for the security system and the electrical upgrades have been completed
at the OEM office. And that's my nice short report for you. >> Okay, joint sweet to the point. There we go. Okie do. my report. Um, as I know it's you've seen them being placed up, the flashing beacon lights or the RRFBs that you see in the downtown and various
other locations um that were installed along North Washington. They're expected to be fully operational, thank God, over the next couple weeks, um, weather permitting. Um, the activation of these lights uh, was delayed because PSCG had to work on all the LED lights and some
of the wiring. uh in a very old town. You can only imagine that it needed to be updated. Um but and then also again to the recent uh weather uh and scheduling issue that was related to that. So that's why it's been postponed a bit. Um but just uh to let the public
know uh that this that this project the RF lights that you see in the downtown were funded because of redevelopment. They were funded as community benefit dollars um at no cost to the taxpayer. And uh I know there's conversations around redevelopment, what we're doing with the downtown. Um but I can assure
you that beyond what they're doing uh and for their own investments of course because you know they're business people um we ensure that they are providing revenue to the town through through uh annual service charge fees um and pilots what they're noted as but also not just
that but through contributions to what benefit the community as a whole. and um a pedestrian and traffic safety all know is a big key to that factor. So we expect them to contribute to it. Um so that's what that funding that's funding helped uh fund those. Um and as we know
they improve pedestrian safety by signaling drivers uh that someone is crossing into the crosswalk. Um and uh we're just looking forward to them being finally on. but also to note that uh we also got a $170,000 local aid grant uh
two years ago um to place them at South Washington Avenue and Orange Street going into Columbia Park. Um New Market Road and Grove Street by Whittier, the old Whittier School, current living hope. Um and then we're also looking other other key locations along Madison
and North Washington Avenue uh for installation this year or spring of next year. So, uh, we do take very seriously pedestrian and traffic safety and we're trying to go in the best direction we can. Resources are always limited and Rome wasn't built in a day, but, uh, we
are taking it very seriously. Um, New Jersey American Water, um, I understand that's everybody's friend lately. Um, it's scheduled to start, they're scheduling to start water main replacements on Second Street between Lincoln Avenue and Madison Avenue during the week of February 23rd. Again,
weather permitting, that's going to be a key word on somebody's projects in the next couple weeks. Uh the project involves replacing an 8 inch uh duct tile iron water man that has been in service for over 85 years. That's this section of water manes serves uh 17
residential homes. Uh the work will be completed in three phases. Phase one, the contractor will perform test pits to inspect the materials used in water service connections and ensure that no lead pipes are connected to our resident's home. Phase two, the replacement of water main itself. And
then phase three, installation of new water service lines, water meters for each home, and new fire hydrants. And then shortly after that, our Second Street phase 2 roadway improvement will start that is funded by a grant. >> Okay. And because American Water doesn't
have to pay Second Street because we're paving it right now in town. So there you go. Um, so this project, uh, New Jersey American Motor is investing $450,000 and that now totals us close to $24
million or $25 million, 22 $22 million over the last 5 years that we've been able to get American Water to invest in our water infrastructure. So, um I know it's been a headache around favor school and traffic, but um at the
end of the day, uh they're not spending that kind of money in a lot of municipalities. They're working with us. We're able to negotiate and get them into town and we're replacing well over 100 years, 80 year old pipes and uh we will never have to probably see another pipe replacement in certain sections of
town until well never because we most likely won't be around. So, um, you know, it's it's I know it's annoying for the traffic, but it was it's the improvements were necessary. So, thank you for your patience, and good news is they're getting all the roads that they touched are getting repaid. So, that's
good news. Uh, Washington Avenue beautifification, uh, PSCG expects to resume work on the decorative lighting that we are that we found that it's between Washington Avenue, uh, within the next two weeks. So that's decorative lighting between north to the train trestle uh bridge and it's going to be
uh you'll see them add decorative lighting and trees and it'll just spruce it up. We got that through a grant as well. Um outside of that that's my report for this evening. Um no council discussion department head reports anything from
legal? >> No report. >> That's great news. Thank you. >> Lauren registister clerk's office. >> No reports. nightmare. >> Okay. Administration. >> Yeah. That's all the streets that were dug up
in mains were installed last year. >> That's good news. So >> 75% of our roads paid down. >> Yeah. By by the summer well 75% of the roads paid in the last uh five years. >> No more driving comes in. Miss Cedar, anything in recreation?
>> No, sir. >> Okay. Captain Lieutenant Lieutenant. >> Okay. I didn't forget your items. >> Mr. Morgan, I know you don't like me calling on you, but tonight you actually
have a report for the fire department. Is that what you said? Very sad report. Very busy report. Uh we had u just recently Greg Meyers 57 exempt reserve member of the fire department passed away.
Um and then we have Sue an amone who's the mother of our deputy chief Sue Connley. Uh she died February 13th and we're having the viewing is at uh Sunday February 22nd at Sheen 5. We have Anne
Hill. Anne Hill died February 13th. Anne Hill was the wife, excuse me was the wife of Will, I'm sorry, Williams. He was our past chief, our deceased patch chief for many years ago and um and she
was having a mass on St. John's at 10:00 a.m. and a viewing at Sheen at 4 to 8:00 p.m. So, we have a free almost a road bag. very sad thing. >> If everyone doesn't mind, we'll just
take a moment of silence for three days. >> So, you know, here I had a dry spell and now all of a sudden this comes up. What would it be? >> Yeah. So, now we'll take a moment. >> Okay. Thank you. OEM search.
>> I don't report today. >> Okay. Where's >> Homer? Okay. >> Anything from rescue? >> Yes. I'm I'm Chen Chaku, the lieutenant of Denell rescue squad. Um so Denell rescue squad um with cooperation with
the burrow Dell is hosting a CPR class on February 22nd at the senior center. Um, it was clearly demonstrated by the past weekend with three CPR calls that we responded to that CPR is a necessary skill that everybody should be trained
up in this day and age. So, if you want more information, it'll be on our Facebook page. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Lieutenant. Be dope. I don't see any other department heads, right? No. >> Um, at this time, we have item number
13, public comments. We ask that you just please state your name and your residency and we're here to listen to your concerns, your comments. We'll take compliments. >> I will say give you all a lot of credit for staying because a lot of the presentations we do, they usually just get they hightail right out of here. So,
God bless you for saying, man. Thank you for, you know, being civically engaged. But uh which is important regardless, right? So uh okay, no uh comments from the public either online or in person. Okay, without hearing any, we'll close
that portion of the meeting. Uh before I ask for adjournment, um I just want to note our next council meeting is March 2nd. That's a Monday, right? Not no holiday ahead of that, right? So we have our meetings on the Tuesdays uh after a federal holiday. So, the next meeting is
Monday, March 2nd at 7 p.m. in these chambers. You can join us again in person or join us virtually. All are welcomed and we're here to uh serve you and address your questions. So, with that, we'll ask for a motion on uh resolution 85 for adjournment.
>> Move it. Segment second. All in favor.