Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our December 15th council meeting, our last one for the year of 20125. And uh our first order of business is a call to order and pledge of allegiance. Item number two on the agenda is the
reading of our sunshine statement and roll call by Mrs. Morren Stats, our municipal clerk. >> This meeting of the Denellan Burough Council is called pursuant to the provisions of the open public meetings law. This meeting of December 15, 2025 was included in a list of meetings that
was advertised in the courier on January 9th, 2025 and as a teleconference was noticed on the official Denellan website on December 12th, 2025 and on the public bulletin board on North Avenue on December 12th, 2025 and has remained continuously posted as the required
notice. >> Mayor Sento, >> present. >> Council President Sigman >> here. >> Mrs. Albertson >> here, >> Mrs. Lance >> here, >> Mrs. Rios >> here, >> Mr. Scott >> here, >> and Mrs. Vandermark >> here.
>> Item number three on our agenda is the approval of the meeting minutes from our regular meeting of December 1st. Do we have a motion, a second? >> Move it. Segment >> second. Rios, >> any comments or additions or redactions to the meeting minutes of December 1st as they currently stand?
Without hearing any, we'll take a roll call. >> Mrs. Albertson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lance, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rios, >> yes. >> Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. Sigman, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Vandermark, >> yes. >> Item number four on the agenda is
adoption of ordinances. We have 2025-21 an ordinance to amend the general legislation of the bureau of den municipal code chapter 233 sewer use article 1 general regulations section 37 sewer rates >> move it segment >> second ri >> any members of the public that are here
uh we have uh a gentleman from our bond council um if there's any questions for him the public uh please state your name and your residency we ask that you only address item number 4 ordinance 2025-20 21.
Without hearing any members of the public on 2025-21, we open the floor to mayor and council for discussion. Is there anything you would like to add? Good. Mr. Miller, >> last meeting. Okay. Legal. We're good.
>> Okay. If there's no further discussion from council, we'll take a roll call, please. >> Mrs. Valbertson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lance, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rios, >> yes. >> Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. Sigman, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Vandermark, >> yes. >> Item number five on the agenda is
resolutions. We have resolutions 396 through 402. And Mrs. Stats, our municipal clerk, is going to read them through and give us the opportunity to discuss them. Resolution 396 is to pay the bills. >> Move it. Segment. Second.
>> Mrs. Albertson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. L. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rios. >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Vandermark. >> Yes. >> Resolution 397 is to amend resolution from August 4th, 2025 number 281
approving the change of Kelly Cedar's job title from recreation program coordinator to recreation director. Move it. >> Second segment. Mr. Miller, can you just briefly uh address this? >> Yeah, mayor. Uh back in the summertime,
there was a mistake in the resolution for uh the cedar originally had had her resolution as her role was going to stay the same. S was going to say the same. She became a recctor. Obviously, director position is a is a more
demanding position. you are the one that oversees the whole program from recreation and honestly that I I did a housew. >> All right, I'll take a roll. Mrs. Albertson,
>> yes. >> Mrs. Lance, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rios, >> yes. >> Mr. Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. Sigman, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Vandermark, >> yes. Resolution number 398 is to authorize a work change order for the installation and reconstruction of ADA
ramps on Jackson Avenue. >> Move it segment. >> Second Rio. >> Mrs. Albert Mig. Yeah. To the project. There was uh there was sections added curve work and some
uh um depressed curve openings to uh to a couple different style openings. Uh so we had to expand the the scope of the work which was another additional 300 square foot
6 in concrete aprons and then another curve. >> It wasn't configured in there, but as time removing the curve, it came to it needed to be replaced. doing all the
work on the road project and we want to make sure >> Mrs. Albertson >> yes >> Mrs. Lance >> yes >> Mrs. Rios >> yes >> Mr. Scott >> yes >> Mr. Sigman >> yes >> and Mrs. Sander Mark.
>> Yes. >> Resolution number 399 is to award Sunco Safety Marketplace for the installation of a fence at 635 Bound Brook Road at an amount not to exceed $6,997.38. >> Move it. Sigman
>> second. Rios >> do have a question. Is this the uh the strip joint? >> The strip joint y around there. So again, so with this project, we're uh we're just getting temporary put around the whole framework of the project for
safety reason. So before and one of the things would be temporary funds that So we'll be moving those big tree stumps. >> Correct. Take over.
>> No other question. Take a roll. Mrs. Albertson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lance. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rios. >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Vandermark. >> Resolution number 400 is to authorize the transfer of 2024 appropriation
reserves to accounts payable. >> Move it. Segment. >> Second. Rios. >> Mrs. Albertson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lance. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rios. >> Yes. >> Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Vandermark.
Resolution number 401 is to hire winter basketball coaching staff for the recreation department. >> Move it. Rios. >> Second. >> Mrs. Albertson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lance. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rios.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Vandermark. >> Yes. Resolution number 402 is authorizing the award of a contract to SHI International Corp. for the purchase installation of
new security system at Burough Hall Police Department and Office of Emergency Management. >> Rio, >> Mr. Miller, would you like to address this? >> Sure. Uh, sure.
So a while back we're looking at some of the security systems that we've had or concern that we had involve uh first thing that came in is the uh the counter system that we have in PD is not um so yeah obviously that was a big
factor we have to give get up with compliancy so with this project would be using the hard wires that we have now but we' be changing all the cameras in you know a better system for identification. Uh the cameras that we
have now the location will be the same and then we'd be adding more cameras and other cameras to the hallway coming up to the chambers on the court side. Then also adding camera this hallway to the burl hall side.
So we can see whoever's coming you go into any new office upstairs. um out the lobby to the to the burough hall side, we'll have a buzzing system where a camera would recognize the individual who's trying to come in and they would get buzzed in from the
clerk's office or from from my office. Uh more cameras outside the building for security. Um so we'll have the whole outer perimeter of Burough Hall police department uh with and in the camera system that we'll have tax office will
have a cameras inside and outside too and then also the same system we apply to the OEM office outside and inside of the office over there to enhance all our security to our question. So um
how long will >> uh you know obviously you can bank you can put in iCloud so I'm sure there's there's other things other factors too. So it' be a little period of time. So obviously if there's an in incident we
have access to it and police would have access to all the cameras will go in case people. >> Okay. So then with the recordings, um, does the police department have maybe like an extended access to recordings or
is it going to just be the same account and then it'll stay it'll have the same access so that if something did need to be recovered um would have access >> was an incident um to uh review. There's
going to be kind of issues. >> That's it. >> Did that answer your question? >> It it Sorry. >> access to like the to whatever backup is your question referring to somebody on the administrative side. I'm I'm asking more about the length of time that you
would have access to it and I'm talking about is there a difference between the length of time that um say you would have access to it versus the police department would have access to say >> okay >> good questions from schools
>> that's answers my question >> yeah any other council members for discussion and eventually eventually we also look like different the same type of system which would be less money at the library too. So all our build on the same system. So this
way all we can please have access to law security. >> Okay. No further discussion. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Glance. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mr. Scott. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sigman. >> Yes.
>> And Mr. Sandra. >> Yes. Item number six on the agenda is the consent agenda. We have resolutions 403 through 426. I'll give council a moment to review the resolutions. If there is any specific
resolution you will make bold, please let us know. We'll b them and then vote consent for the other ones and discuss the the bold uh resolution side. I'm just wondering um on what is it 410
I have a question so do you want to pull okay >> we would need to pull correct >> all right Okay. So, we're definitely pulling 410. We're pulling 414, >> Bill. >> You're not a decision making, are you? >> No.
Okay. So, we're pulling 410 and 414. >> Any other resolutions to pull? Okay. Uh with and I have a motion second to uh vote on consent agenda 403 through 426 with the exception of 410 and 414.
Move it. Second. >> All in favor? >> I abstensions. Okay. More 10. Yes. Councilwoman Lance. Just a question about um if there's any
existing limit to how many chickens. I love that people are getting chickens. >> No, >> no, I'm not I didn't finish my question. >> Okay. So, my question is um is there a limit to how many chickens we can have
per our square mile? >> Okay. >> No, there's a limit how many they can have. I believe it is eight and like he said so five. >> So it's eight times however however many lots we have in Dun.
>> Okay. >> Yep. I mean only four people households have chickens. >> No check. I'm curious to see. Okay. I'll check it right now. >> I I I'm not against the chickens. I love the chickens but >> and they're inspected every year. The booths are inspected. The enforcement
officer closes and this >> Are we legally allowed to make a bet? with your memory. She does this on for a living just as your back in the day. This section specifically means
I believe >> eight. Okay. >> No. >> No. >> Okay. Thanks. So if you find time to go right to the >> bud second then on board
second >> yes >> yes >> yes Mr. Scott >> yes >> Mr. Yes. >> Yes. Sorry. >> That makes me a holiday.
>> We have a motion and second. >> Second, Lance. >> Mrs. Albertson. Yes. Yes, Mrs. Rios. A shame. >> Mr. Scott. >> Yes, >> Mr. S. >> Yes.
>> And Mrs. Yes. >> Okay. Council reports. Councilwoman uh >> Vandermark. >> Okay. In November, our police department received 1884 CAT entries, 577 motor
vehicle tickets, 442 motor vehicle stops, 15 arrests, 70 DWI, and 17 crashes. >> Your reports this evening? >> Yes.
>> Okay. Just so you know, great job so far. doing great so far. >> Well, we know you're going to continue with I just want to let you know that Councilwoman Rios >> Yes. Grounds public works public works completed installation of holiday breeze
decorative roping on the downtown poles as well as holiday decorations at Washington Memorial Park really. Additionally, electrical upgrades were completed on the second floor of Burl Hall, which will greatly benefit all
second floor offices. Public works also mounted two televisions in the OEM office. Parsa was on site for coming service to inspect the generators at the pump station at the cross.
The generator successfully passed inspection. The Danella Public Library. The search for the new library director have resumed. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the interim director or view the
job postings on. As always, please visit the library's website for or Facebook page for information on an upcoming building. If you have any ideas or programs you would like to see offered, please reach out to the library via
email. And the next board of ed meeting will be held tomorrow, November 16th at 7 p.m. >> Okay. Thank you, Council Counciloman Albert S. >> I'd like to wish everyone a happy holiday season. Take some time to enjoy
family and friends, good food, and good fun. And if you don't have a Christmas tree yet, there's beautiful woman over at the fire department. >> Okay. Sure. Sweet. Good boy. Lance. >> Yeah. Um, so the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony was held on Sunday,
December 7th at 6 p.m. in Washington Memorial Park. This wonderful event is a highlight in Denellan, and it took the efforts of many amazing individuals to bring this magical night to life. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the mayor and council for their continued
support of our events. A special thank you to everyone involved. Mayor Sento for leading the countdown during the tree lighting ceremony, the recreation commission for their their invaluable assistance with the event. Paul Guyer and the Faber School fifth grade choir,
the Imperial Brass Band, the Danell and EMS fire department, rescue squad, OEM search team, and the police department. And special thanks to Mike Luthman. We're looking forward to another beloved Denellan tradition. On Christmas Eve,
our fire department will escort Santa around town starting on the north side at 10 around 10:00 a.m. Listen for the sirens and join in the festive fun. And finally, this year's celebration of the annual senior citizens holiday party
will take place on Sunday, January 4th at 1:30 p.m. at the Denella Firehouse. Any senior interested in attending can contact the recreation department. As always, we invite the mayor and council to join us for this joyous occasion. >> Okay. I just really quick a shout out to
Peg Lockwood and her husband Nick from the Artics and Maggie Murray for the new decorations they added to uh his I think made it that much more festive council president statement.
Yes. Uh no report tonight. Okay. No call to action on volunteers 26. uh call to action for 2026. Yes. Um you have already put that form out. Uh I would just encourage people to go online, look at it. Uh there are lots of
opportunities, uh lots of different categories and ways you can help. Uh it is a wonderful way to get involved in town and to deepen your connection to where we live and the people that we live in town with. So please uh check it
out and join us. Okay, perfect. Councilman Scott >> for DBW. They continue weekly leaf clean up in the parks and leaf clean up in the downtown. That wasn't so uh crews continue leaf bag collection and leaf bag curbside pickup will
continue through the end of the year. On December 6th, they stop salted as needed various locations in the burrow and prepared the park for the crystal tree lighting ceremony. And recently the snow removal and road treatment along with maintaining burough properties on Saturday the 13th. the snowstorm and any
or into the night on midday on the 14th. And a reminder about parking for parking restrictions for snow emergencies. I'm sure the snow plows can operate freely and effectively. Parking restriction will be in effect in burough streets and roadways accessible for essential emergency
functions. These restrictions take effect 1 hour after continuous snowfall begins and remain in effect for 12 hours after the snowfall ends. During this time, no vehicles may be parked, stopped, left abandoned on any streets within the burrow of Dell. Vehicles on the street during snow events will be
ticketed and if you don't uh also please don't direct your snow from the snowblower onto the plow streets as it cause ice for alternate off street parking during snowies. The following locations are available. The American Legion 119 at 137 Market Road, McCoy
Park on North Washington Avenue and Columbia Park on Orange Street. And just a final reminder, the Christmas tree curbside pickup will take place after Christmas through January. And a reminder that your trees cannot be in a bag or have lights on the tree. And that's my referral.
>> Okay. Thank Thank you, Councilman. And uh it was one of the things I was going to mention too uh because I know some people have this question or make the assumption that we don't ticket cars that are left on the road. Um the police officers do ticket cars that are left
out on the road uh during and shortly after the storm. Um I know there's sometimes a question of why don't we tow them? Well, that creates a whole another risk and liability situation. So, we tip them to the towing. They can only be so many places at once. There are tow
companies. And for the individuals who question about the sidewalks, um we do send out citations for property owners who do not clear their sidewalks. and the intersections in which they live next to. So, um it is handled and they are held accountable for their
inactions. So, just so that's on the record. Um and of course, both ordinance are within a certain time here. So, I just I appreciate you bringing that back up, but I also put that on the record that for ours and for individuals who do not shuffle their properties within a
reasonable time in our ordinance um that public needs access to, they uh there are citations that are issued. So, okay. Um, I just want to wish a happy Hanukkah and let make note of our lighting ceremony, our manor lighting ceremony with the start of Hanukkah last night. I
wish to welcome everybody uh to our celebration tomorrow night and also a joyful and peaceful holiday. Uh we'll mark the festival of lights tomorrow evening with a manora lighting ceremony at Washington Memorial Park at 6 p.m. Please join us. Uh volunteer
applications are open and uh the terms be for terms that begin in 2026. Uh we're collecting them through Friday, December 19th. Volunteering is one of the most meaningful ways that you can give back in a miracle mile. And uh I know we're all grateful for the many residents and business owners who step
up to the plate to uh volunteer for our boards, commissions, and committees as well as our emergency services. Uh we offer a wide wide range of opportunities for individuals with diverse interests. Applications are available online at dell-nj.gov/volunteering or in person at Moral Hall. And if you
don't get appointed to a voting member position, we do send out the names and contact information of those who wish to volunteer to the specific uh boards and commissions. So that's then on to the boards themselves to reach out to you directly. Um on Wednesday, December
10th, we h held our Dell's annual Maril town hall on redevelopment. uh residents heard directly from our redevelopment professionals about the burough's progress from the start of redevelopment efforts in 2001 to where we are today and what lies ahead for our bureau. Uh this annual town hall reflects our
continued commitment to transparency and collaboration ensuring that resident input helps guide our redevelopment plan as it evolves to meet uh the community's needs. Uh so if you were unable to attend the town hall is available on our YouTube channel and you can go to youtube.comboro
of Denellan New Jersey. Uh our Washington added beautifification projects. The contractors complete approximately 75% of the concrete replacement work and anticipates finishing this uh coming week of course weather permitting. Uh once complete installation of bricks pavers will begin
then of course the new beautiful decorative lights. um decorative LED upgrade on Washington Avenue. This past Thursday, PSAG did install new LED lights on the decorative poles along Washington Avenue between North A and Dell A, completing the LED upgrade to
our downtown decorative lighting. New Jersey American Water are infrastructure improvements um expected to complete its water main installation in the coming week, weather permitting. Since 2002, American Water has invested just over $18 million in Burough
Danellen. All streets impacted by this year's work, including Beige Place, South Avenue, Grove Street, Lehigh Street, Prospect Avenue, Whittier Avenue, Market Road in the 200 block of Penfield Avenue Parkway, the Maple Avenue intersection, and Maple Avenue will be milled and paved in 2026, as
well as more work and roads to be looked at next year. um in terms of their CRJ's equipment from some of this they're they were formed to move them because they're supposed to move them last week and some residents have you know rightfully so question why they haven't been moved
after they so >> yes this morning went by they were they cleared out the snow that was around >> thank you um American water le pipe inspection program um in coordination
with Montana construction construction. Uh they'll begin conducting lead pipe inspections throughout the burl from Tuesday, December 16th through Tuesday, December 23rd between 7 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Uh weather permitting, of course, roads will remain open through minor
delays um may occur. Uh a full inspection schedule is available on the burough website under the news section. Any near any work near Faber Elementary School will occur during school hours and will not disrupt the drop off or pick up. So to their word on it.
Um the second tree phase one tree replacements and service walk replacements are anticipated to start in spring of 26. Um the uh terms in the new market and Walnut uh street intersection. Um the
county has requested that the board of commissioners adopt a resolution to accept the design contract. Uh once executed a design kick off will schedule. And uh so I went over ticketing. Um just it's the last meeting
of the year. I want to say thank you to the burough council, our administrative staff and team uh legal, everyone here in these chambers and obviously throughout the burough who work for the burough, our emergency services and our volunteers throughout the burough. Just want to say thank you for your work and
continued commitment to serving public, our residents, our business owners. Um at times it is a thankless job but I want to say thank you on behalf of myself. Um and so thank you for the hard work that you do each and every day for
our our miracle mile. So thank you. Um also just want to extend a merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone in the public and in these chambers and a happy and healthy new year. Uh we've accomplished a lot this past year and
there's a lot to look forward to moving forward. So with that, merry Christmas, happy new year. God bless you all, God bless and God bless our country, the greatest country in the world, United States of >> So with that, that's the end of my
report. And um item number eight, council discussion on the Denella Municipal Alliance. And this evening we have Rebecca Christian uh the chair of the Denell Municipal Alliance
who's going to give a short presentation on what's been going on and uh some suggestions for them moving forward. So if you wouldn't mind Miss Christian. >> Good evening. Um the nomunicable alliance. The alliance was originally
funded through the governor's council on alcoholism and drug abuse. Monies came from the courts costs and fines from driving while under the influence after COVID funding was um changed and came under the state budget. The name changed
to the governor's council on substance use disorder. We are now under the accountability regulation commission. Funded is funding is distributed through a data driven formula along with the monies from the formula. Municipals have
a 25% cash match that are is a require 75% in kind donations. Currently we receive $7,914 plus c cash match of $1,978.50 50 and 5,93550
in kind donations generally used in the borrow and school facilities. We need to find new ways to come up with funding. We will apply for grants and work with the prevention programs who may be able to include our programming in their grants funding. Previously, we only had
to do one evidence-based program and then could do other programs. In the new five-year plan, we will have to do all evidence-based programs and they must be programs that run multiple times. These are costly and they are they are good
programs. They need not necessarily meet needs of small communities such as DAL. Every year we do a leadership academy. This is a six-hour program presented by a professional trained. We approximately 55 participants from grades 6 to 12.
These students are members of leadership extracurricular clubs or part of the dental and school leadership classes. After this one day of training, these students spend a year working in the schools and community. Peer leaders meet with the freshman once a month to help them transition from the middle school
to high school learning about these real social issues, mental health awareness, diversity, human trafficking and student skills, and internet security. The safety ambassadors work with the second graders teaching them safety in and
around cars, bicycles, wheel activity safety, falls prevention, pedestrian safety, and making healthy choices to stop underage drinking students to work with students in all grades do doing
peer-to-peer educational programs. In October, they do a red ribbon activities with students in both the middle and the high schools. In a two-day period, they reach over 600 students. They also attend National Night Out. Harvest Fest will run an annual overdose awareness
ceremony. Our new formulated youth advisory board for pedestrian safety is working closely with the school's burough traffic and pedestrian safety commission as well as keeping Middle Sex moving to promote pedestrian safety. They have been asked to work with keep
middle sex moving on an ebike educational program helping to develop the program and then delivering it to the students in Denella. This one day leadership leads to many many of the promoting safety in our community in v variety of ways. According to the new
municipal alliance guidelines, these programs will no longer be funded. Neither will our prem program where a trained presenter comes and takes comes and talks to all the students who are going to the prom. If they do not attend the program, they cannot attend prom.
Feedback from the students show that this program raises awareness and good decision making. There are more programs we could talk about, but hopefully you can see that in the past nine years, we have rejoined the municipal alliance and we have made big differences in our community. We have helped to pass a
vaping ordinance ensuring that the local business selling vaping materials are licensed and follow the laws as of all of this will change as of July 1st 2026 unless we withdraw from the alliance and form our own program
similar to Matachin Cares which was formed when they withdrew from the municipal alliance several years ago. We've spoken to them and they are willing to guide us as we the burough transition to enable us to continue to take care of the miracle mile in a way that will work for our community and our
families. >> Okay. Thank you chairwoman. Um council any questions pertaining to this? I have a few questions. Um the Matachin Cares, which appears to
be what is being recommended this be modeled after that is a separate nonprofit or organization or is it a sub any other than mayor council and I know council just for transparency
counciloman Albertton is the DMA coordinator. um you're able to speak on it of course but you might you have to abstain yourself so if you would like to share with the north as coordinator right now
>> okay um the matuchin cares program is um part of burough or the municipality of matouch um they do get other funding the through grants and so forth um so they are able to sustain pretty much sustain
themselves but uh they have the opportunity to work their programs in a way that will help their community best. Um and it's community awareness
or responsible substance u education is what CARES stands for. Um they have been doing this for several years. It seems to be very successful there. Uh they're able to do very similar programs,
but they're just you don't have the um the the municipal lions telling you not so much what you have to do, but how you have to do it. It it's
we all want the same thing. We all want to educate everybody and stop substance misuse, but the the way they're going about it at this point is just become very um difficult for communities like
ours to do much of anything. We do one sub uh one evidence-based program um and it's $3,600. So when you look at $7,000 or almost $8,000, you have to do two of those. you don't have any money to do anything else
and there's other things that we do that are important and that do help the community. Um >> so what would be the funding mechanism for the new books can handle? >> Um hopefully the the bureau would be
willing to still do like the it's under $2,000 their 25% cash match that they have been doing and we will reach out and we will go and get grants. We also have a commitment from Wellspring Center for Prevention to provide um programming
for us through grants that they have. So that would eliminate, for instance, they're the ones that do that $3,600 program. So now, if they're going to step up and get a grant themselves to do that for us, that's a that's money we don't have to spend. um we may have to
cut back a little bit and not do as much but there's a lot of things that we can do that don't require a lot of money but again that because now with this new thing as as Beck Becky talked about you
can't do leadership academy it's only one day but how many students and how many residents do we reach and hopefully educate and and change some ideas and opinions on things um by having these
students that are trained to do this, you know, but they're like adamant, no, you cannot do that. You just have you have to find something else to do. So, we could bring in lots of different education programs, but I don't think they're going to make the difference. >> So, this process, you want to really
change the oversight in the sense of not directly answering to I guess what the county would be. Well, actually, yeah, it's the county and then up to the state. Um, so we in turn would would then most likely answer to obviously to all of you.
>> And for council's knowledge, the process would be a repeal and replace the current ordinance and how would it impact the ordinance rebate funding goes to DMA that would have to be amended to go to whatever new mechanisms being set up if >> that's exactly right. I think the
program here runs through June 30th of this year. of the municipal alliance committees would remain in place through the end of fiscal year. And at that point in time, if the council chose to go that route, uh there
would have to be an ordinance introduced to repeal the current ordinance and uh would would be replaced with a new ordinance establishing the committee along the lines what just mentioned the
Dell and Cares would outline the goals and objectives of the committee, the number of members, how it operate Um so the time if that's the direction you choose to go you have to time a new
ordinance to be inclusive that simultaneously. So my last question and then close council I'm not trying to um I know we received a letter recommending and I know Cherton's presentation tonight was
to formally present public um that letter has and this presentation has the support of the membership of the DMA like there was a meeting on this and there was a vote taken on it and this presentation is based upon that meeting. >> Yes. November 12th. Okay.
And uh as far as the the vape the money from the vaping licenses, we have to look at the wording of it. I don't think it actually says that it goes to the municipal alliance. I think it was worded differently, but >> I'll repeat that. >> Thank you.
>> Council, anybody have questions? You >> ask questions I have. question >> just well so then we'd have to dissolve the DMA just to clarify dissolve the DMA
and re do another resolution or an >> repeal and replace we repeal it in order for them to replace with something else >> but there has to be a time frame around that correct >> uh yes again you wouldn't do it until June 30th um And it would have to take
effect really especially after June 30th. >> Yes, I think their letter has July 1st as their last date. >> Chairman, anything else you'd like to add or you good? >> No, I'm good. >> Okay.
I just want to assure you all that we're not trying to do anything, you know, sneaky was just feel like right now the the the formula they use for giving us money is is for small
communities is really tough because they look at a lot of different statistics and we don't have as many people going into rehab as some place that has, you know, a larger community. Um, we just want to be able to do what we can for
our community and obviously we're not going to do it alone. We need the support of, you know, the schools and the the burrow and the council and so forth. >> Well, I'm getting that my my sense is that this is more exploratory at this point in time. So, I would recommend
being that we have a July 1 deadline and we're going through budget season. um that the current board of DMA um as well as maybe a council member or two could suggest who would be interested in stepping up to plate in
this exploratory process investigate do research on what a den I assume is what the new name would be what an ordinance would look like meet with my touch and how it's being like a proposal so this way by time we get to >> that time frame the council is very well
educated on um what I know Lauren has already found the the uh ordinance and resolution and I have reached out to Matuchen and they are willing to sit down with us and talk. We just decided we'd wait till after the
holidays obviously, but I mean they are are here willing to support us. It's not we're not going to do this blindly. >> Okay. So, we look forward to the post of the mayor on public. So,
meeting will be for I guess some chief. So, >> okay. So, two council members, you want to find Tony who's interested to be a part of that exploratory level. Okay. >> Just have to remember though there's only two meetings in some
July, >> right? >> Correct. >> So, it have to be in June. Will have to be May and then June. >> Right. >> So, okay. Okie dokie. Any other items on this discussion public? Any questions at this time on municipal Ryan's discussion
presentation? >> Um I just want to bring in um the rescue squad is pretty much the catch base for what we see the addiction issues happen in town. So um if we're looking for evidence-based information,
we probably have the best on on this. Okay. Um, for years I've said that our problem is not the students. Our problem is a whole lot of other people in our community. And for the most part, they don't come and admit to anybody I'm an addict until they're in the back of our
hands. Um, I would say if we're looking into what we're going to do in our community that um, I would like us to be part of that conversation because there are some real needs and I don't want to throw anybody under the bus. I don't want to give any
patient information out or anything like that, but um obviously there's some stuff going on. >> Understood. I really appreciate what you do on it day in day out. And I think you're right that should be a part of the conversation as well as police as well. And just so you're aware, I want to be very clear. This isn't a
conversation dissolve. It's about what should be put in place. EMA is not the option. Something will be in place. What will be best for our for our community? >> Yeah. I would like to do like focus groups. >> Yep. and get the police department, get, you know, people in the community, get
the rescue squad. >> Also, when we were talking about other sources of funding, um, about 75% of what I was hearing on the report was student, student, student, student student, student student seems to be the largest organization that receives
funding in this town, deals with students, but that's for a different meeting. That's >> I'm working on it. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, moving on from this item, we're going to department head reports. Legal, no report.
>> AI it don't do report. I keep it municipal clerk registars. >> No report. >> Okay, great work this year. Administration, DBW, >> was said tonight already. So, thank >> recreation
report. Okay. Police report finance report. Okay. Get ready. Scott season's on. Said winter is coming. >> Oh yeah. >> Rescue squad. >> Uh just real quick, cold weather is in
us again. So the squad is busier than ever. Um last weekend, just on just on Saturday night alone, we were called out seven different times and we're running for 12 hours straight without any moments off. So, I can't give you the
full statistics of what we've done this month because obviously the month isn't over, but we're getting real busy. Did I say please? >> You did. >> It's the end of the year.
>> Okay. No more department heads. Okay. Item number 10 is public comments. We open the floor to the public. those who are in chambers as well as those joining us virtually. Please uh we ask that you state your name and your residency and then uh the floor is yours. Ask your
questions, make your comments. Um we're here. Last chance for 2025. chain maybe in 26 more public >> in chains not on Facebook question about sidewalk Rebecca Christian about the sidewalks that we're
replacing in town and everything is there any ordinance about when like I because I live on Orange Street and I walk up to Columbia Park all the time just to walk the track and everything as I walk up the street that sidewalk is a disaster disaster there. Whose
responsibility is it to fix it? Who and what has to be done to fix that part of the sidewalk? You think about all the football games and everything else and the people that are walking there that sidewalk is destroyed and someone's going to trip and get hurt and injured and I mean I usually walk out into the
street just to avoid it. >> Well, there's a few things. One, technically the wording states the property owners are responsible. Um, I would say historically the issue is is over the years it's not been enforced. Just created a really big issue on a lot
of sidewalks and an administrative um issue. Guess I can put it that but that does mean nothing should be done. A lot of the sidewalks you see being replaced are mostly through grants. So that's helped offset the cost. Um what could be done? Citations. Um, we've
looked at possibly considering programs where you bid out the entire town and residents could possibly I'm saying this wrong, please stop me. could could get in on it and then basically it goes against the value of the property but therefore the resident's still paying
for it or um I I what we have been doing is that anytime somebody goes to sell their property as part of the inspection before CO is issued the the construction officials will basically say you got to replace your sidewalk or reissue a CO and it's
on the current property owner the new property owner >> so as of right now like the The sidewalk that's the most destroyed is a house that's up for sale right now. So, you're saying that before they can sell it, that sidewalk has to be replaced >> in that case. Yes.
>> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> What is your address, just for the record? >> 329 Orange Street. Thank you. >> It is. It's a big concern. I re we recognize that South Washington Avenue, we have a ramp that's going to replace all the sidewalks there next budget
season or fall away. >> This coming year. >> Okay. Okay. So, that's something you'll be seeing over the next two years in 24 months. >> I mean, you have to think that this town is a a walking town to their schools and everything. There's a lot of kids that come from behind there that walk that direction.
>> I So, it's just, you know, a safety concern more than anything else. >> I understand it was my neck of the woods, too. So, I >> I know, but it's an issue throughout the entire town that, you know, unfortunately that ordinance was not enforced over the years. So, we're trying to find ways in
which we we can lighten the load on residents without having fully do citations because that's a lot of residents that want to site. So, >> no problem. Thank you. >> And even in the last project on Second Street, uh the contractor would
uh reach out to the residents if they wanted some concrete work done, but they would get a very reasonable price for to do it on their own with the contract side thing. Thank you. So, oh, >> hi David Atstein 247.
Uh, thank you for last meeting also and all the council people for, uh, considering me for volunteer. Uh, it means a lot to be able to volunteer for and, uh, so say thank you. >> Thank you, Jacob.
Do you have a members of the public before we close up shop for 26? >> Oh, 25 minutes. >> It is not certainly not trying to wish away time. >> Wait a
joke. Uh item 11 gets some chairman if resolution 427. And before I move you and second on that, our next council meeting is Thursday, January 1st, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. in these chambers for a
reorganization where we uh reorganize our government. So, hope you join us in person or virtually. Can I have a motion and second on resolution 427 to adjourn for >> move it Albertson? >> Second.
>> All in favor? Hi >> any naysay we have a time record as well. Okay. And is everyone