Okay. >> No, it's cold. It's cold. It's cold. We turned it off. >> Mayor, I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the Elwood Park Mayor and Council for May 21st, 2026. to order at 7:00 p.m. On roll call, we have
council members Folo >> here. >> Oswald >> here. >> Samson >> present. >> Sheridan >> here. >> Tracy >> here. >> Council President Peline >> here. >> Mayor Kleti >> here. >> We have a quorum. >> Thank you. Thank you. Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen. >> How's everybody doing out there tonight? >> Boy, boy, I see some good old faces I haven't seen in a while. And it's good to see you all here tonight. Um we have a lot to do. We're going a lot to
celebrate tonight in a positive way. Uh so hopefully you'll you'll all enjoy that part of it. Uh but first uh let us all rise for our prayer and flag salute. Honoring us doing our prayer would be chap Dan.
Heavenly Father, we ask for your wisdom and guidance as we gather you to serve our community today. Grant this council clarity in decision making, respect and discussion, and a shared commitment to the wellbeing of all residents. Help us work together with integrity, compassion, and fairness for the goodness of El Park.
>> Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you, chaplain. Whereas chapter 231 of the public laws of the state of New Jersey require at the commencement of every meeting a statement of compliance be read by the presiding officer. Now therefore be advised that the meeting requirements
for this meeting have been met by publishing a special notice in the record and Herald News and by posting such notice in the office of the burough clerk as well as in a public place within the municipal building. also by
notifying interested citizens. Said notice was posted and transmitted on January 2nd, 2026 and published on January 8th, 2026. Okay. First up, we have approval of minutes. We have the March 5th, 2026
work session and executive session meeting. March 19th, 2026 regular meeting and work session. April 2nd, 2026 work session meeting and executive session meeting. April 16th, 2026 regular meeting and executive session
meeting. >> May I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> Some move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yeah, mayor. For the um I'd like to amend the 416 regular meeting minutes. Um the vote on resolution R-143-26.
It's the water rate increase. Um it states that I voted yes on that increase, but I wanted it on the record that I did not vote for that resolution. Okay. >> Okay. I don't see a problem with that. >> Thank you, sir. Okay. >> The April 16, 2026 regular meeting
minutes resolution R-143-26 will be amended. >> Any further discussion? Call the RO, please. >> First by Council President Peline, second by Councilman Samson. On roll call, we have Council members Folo. >> Yes.
>> Oswald, >> yes. >> Samson, >> yes. Sheridan, >> yes. >> Troy, >> yes. >> Council President Peline, >> yes. >> Motion carries. At this time, I will turn the meeting over to Councilwoman Troy, who will be presenting the Elmo Park High School cheerleaders uh
recognition certificates. >> Oh, I think she needs the mic. >> Oh, yes. I would also like to call forward Mayor Kleti to stand alongside Councilwoman Tracy. Yes. Yes. Thank you. So, we're here
today to honor the Elmo Park uh high school cheer team for winning nationals down in Florida. They uh won first place in the Amerit Cheer competition. Um from what I understand, these ladies hit zero. Is that correct? Did I hear that
correct? Um, SO for those who don't know what that means, that means they had a perfect routine. They had no deductions. So that means they executed their routine perfectly technically. Um, so they
really do deserve a round of applause for that. I know that every one of these council members are very proud of them. Um, I'd like to invite Sierra up to the mic to Where's Katie here? Is Katie here too?
Okay. Well, Katie, okay. Would you ladies like to say something about the team? >> Yeah, you had an opportunity last week. >> Sorry. >> Yeah, I missed. >> Oh, >> yeah. Can we get a chair? >> I don't know. They're not prepared, just like I'm not prepared. Um, these girls,
we've came down to Florida and they gave it all they got. That was their highest scoring routine. That was their first time hitting zero, too. So, it was a big moment. They saved it right to the end. Um, our seniors, I couldn't be more proud of them and everything they've accomplished over their four years,
three years, however long they've been with us. They literally feel like an extension. >> Yes, >> they are shadows. They are Velcro. They're attached and I don't know how they're going to live. So, I'm very proud of them and I can't wait to see what big things you're going to do, not only in Elmwood Park, but when in your
futures, too. >> So, I had spoke on Sunday at the Elks. We were um also gratefully invited to be recognized there as well. Um every day they make me proud to be them co like to be their coach. Um we had a very tough season, a lot of trials and tribulations
and they came every single day came extra days, extra hours and continued to prove who they were to themselves and to us and to everybody else that we competed against and came out on top. So I could not be more proud of them and I could not be more proud to be their coach. So great job girls.
You don't recognize the tall one >> and Angie is not tall. >> Um, so these are two of the four that
are here tonight. Um, so they led their their team uh with grace and um great character. So proud of >> you. Say something. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Well, young ladies, um,
congratulations. You're putting Elwood Park on the map tonight. You realize that, right? >> But I got to tell you, I got a short story. Always got a story about um bombers. That's where I started off as the president of the football bombers
and my Shama was the head of the cheerleaders back then. >> And I tell you, it was so easy dealing with the football players when it came to the cheerleaders. I had a black afro at one time and this is what it turned into.
However, it was all worth it to stand here and see what these young ladies did eventually with the with the program. So congratulations. We're very proud of you and uh stay course
here to take some pictures. >> Council going to take a picture. >> You guys can stay there. We'll go up here. >> Yeah, we will. I want to be on the >> watch. It's not a council meeting without one.
>> Where's the GIF guy when you need him? school work. Okay. So, at this time we have our residents assistance program presentation. I would like to call forward um Angela Fava, Council President Lorraine Pellegrine, Burough
Administrator, Police Chief Michael Felgno, and Mayor Kleti. >> Mayor I forgot. Can you hear me good? Okay. So, this is a very special night for us. This is the residents assistance program and the people's pantry honoring the volunteers
that help us so much. We couldn't do this program without each and every one of them. They're there for us no matter what time we call them. Whether it's food shopping, shopping for Christmas gifts, um stocking the pantry with us, whatever we need, they are here for us.
And this is a very big program to run. And so without all of your help, we couldn't do it. And then we have I just want to name a few of the groups. We have our pantry pals that are here. We have Tom Mulligan and our student athletes that are always helping us. We
have our police force, Chief Felligno, and the whole team. We can't do these events without our police. They keep us safe and they help us. >> Steve, >> Steve, Steve's the man. Azo helps us very much. They're not here tonight. We're going to
honor them at another meeting, but they help us with leaf cleanup for our residents and they and they help us twice a year with like a town cleanup. So, they're a big organization with like 75 to 80 volunteers at a time, but we'll honor them at a different meeting. They
couldn't be here tonight. And I want to say to my team, Angela Fava and Dion York, and especially Angela because she puts all this together all the time. I love you. You're a sister to me. I couldn't do this program without you. We
started this program nine years ago in 2018. There were nights me and Angela spoke with each other that we actually cried because we didn't know how we were going to get the funds to buy the gifts to buy the food cuz it's run on donations only.
But with the grace of God, every year it got stronger and stronger through the help of our businesses, our residents, our families, our friends, our mayor and council supporting us. That's how we did it. And now RAP is thriving. Really
thriving. And we help 80 to 100 residents per month with food. And thank you. And we also How many toys do we give out, Angela? Oh my god. We we we
get like over 3,000 $4,000 worth of brand new toys, bikes, and all others. The people that donated funds uh are going to be honored in the fall. But for now, it's just our volunteers for tonight. But without all of you, this program wouldn't be what it is. And I
have to thank two other people, our husbands, Dale Father, Angela's husband, and Pete Pelleigreen, who are there with us. We drive them absolutely crazy, but they do everything for us.
So again, I just I'm going to let Angela speak now because she's the bones of this operation with me. But I just want to say from the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate each and every one of you. We couldn't do it without you. I love you all. You're like family to us. So, thank
you again. I'm going to let Angela say a few words. >> Yes, you will. Good evening. Um, first I have to thank of course the support of the governing body and the mayor and council and of course councilwoman Pelleig Green for bringing this all to light and um, Chief
Felgno. Without their support, this program would not exist. Tonight we have extraordinary people res from the residents assistance program that we must acknowledge and thank for their dedication to our community. The first group of volunteers I would like
to call up and please join me here are the people's pantry, our pantry pals. Bob, I'm not even going to call your last names. You know who you are. Okay. Bob, please come up and join us. The two Bobs may come up, please. Linda, please join us.
Liz, Elizabeth, >> Luchia, and Romano. >> Raphael, you can get away from your camera here. Please join us. Janette, Anna, Anna,
Brenda, Kathy Cars. >> I'm going to hand them. >> No, no. >> Because I miss Beatus. Thank you, ma'am. Dale and Pete. These are our pantry pals.
>> Everyone turn to the audience. Don't turn to me. >> Yeah. >> Most of these faces are familiar with us. For decades, they have been serving our community. Just when you think these people should be pulling back and slowing down, they don't. They gear up and they give us so
much more. Their energy is amazing. I can't even keep up with them. Each of you do so much for our community. This year was a rough year. The SNAP program shut down. They came to help us pack 200 bags of food. You'd think they'd go home and rest. Nope. The next day, they
showed up to help distribute food. These volunteers show up for our community at a moment's notice. They go food shopping with us. They stock shelves. They deliver food to seniors who are unable to leave their homes. They never quit. It's actually incredible. We call them
our pantry pals because they truly are friends to everyone in this community. We count on you. I count on you. I get choked up when I talk about each one of you because there have been so many times I've just needed so much help and you all were there. I am so grateful for
each and every one of you. Thank you so much. Please stay up here. Okay. Can we give him a round of applause? The next group, the next group of extraordinary people is led by an outstanding teacher, a
passionate coach, and a dedicated mentor. He is a lifelong resident of Elma Park. It is Mr. Tom, Coach Mulligan. Tom is not here at the moment. He's actually on his way home from a game. What his um standing in his place
today is Jordan Coaches. I'm sorry. Come on in. I This is Tommy Coaches's nephew. You're forever going to be a coaches to me. Okay. You look just like him. And could you please have your extraordinary athletes join you up
here, please? Ladies and gentlemen, this is our future. This program has many branches. From shoveling snow and raking leaves to unloading pallets of food from trailers, these young athletes show up willing to
help. They show up well-mannered, respectful, and kind. I am grateful to each one of you that have helped us develop this program. Without your muscle, we couldn't do this. I hope you continue this journey as you move forward in your life and always continue
to give back. I realize each and every one of you are a part of a team, a football team or a wrestling team, but you are part of our team. And always remember as you start to as you start your new life to graduate, always remember Elmo Park is here for you
because you are part of our team forever. And last but not least, I have to thank two of the most outstanding men I've ever met. Lieutenant Thomas Coaches and Detective Steve I'm not saying your last
name. Steve, please come up here, please. Every day, all day, these two officers are there for this community and for our program. There is n nothing they will do and haven't already done to help people in need. I consider it an honor to work
beside you each day. You both show true concern and compassion for others. There have been so many painful situations we have dealt with this year and both of you have helped me find solutions and for me to work through it. You have lifted me up more than I could
ever tell you. You never ever once said we can't do something. Your compassion, your strength, and your honor is what you stand for. It's everything an officer should be. But what you both are
built with and from is true heart. I thank you for all you do for me every day. You are the most amazing people honestly to have in my corner and I thank you Chief Fermillo for giving them to me.
>> Thank you. >> I'm going to hand out your certificates privately if you don't mind just because I'm making a little of a mess. Thank you all. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Yep. Mayor Ki Mary's always got to say something.
>> This side over here has been at it an awful long time. >> I mean, it just start yesterday for them. They've been giving their heart and I mean, they year in and year the same people doing the same job. Um, it's
incredible. I think it's incredible and and it's another way of putting the park on the map as far as having a heart and giving back to the community. So, and also where's the leader in the pack right there? Come over here.
Not. >> These two ladies shall not quit. It's not in they they won again from the beginning to the end. And you turn around, you look at all this organization here. We're doing pretty damn good.
So, thanks everybody. I want to especially thank the volunteers. I know you guys. What you guys do every day is great for us. This is what makes Elwood Park great. These people right here. BECAUSE WE clone Mike, we'd be in a good if we clone Angela, we'd be even in a better
place because she is a machine and I have a lot of respect for her. She's like a sister to me. We know each other for many, many years and she's such a pleasure to work with. She's such a beautiful soul. She cares about everybody she deals with and she's just an awesome person. Council President,
great program that you started supported by the governing body and we we um respect what you do and the compassion that you give to the community and we're truly blessed to have these people in our corner. So, thank you all. Thank you all. All right.
Thank you. Thank you, beautiful. It's going to go this is >> Yeah. They'll watch the table. >> Okay. At this time, we have a presentation from the homeowners
association. I would like to call forward Linda Colini to accept the donation. I would like to call forward uh Burough Administrator, police chief Michael Felno, and police commissioner Councilwoman Chroy.
>> Steve. Oh, and Steve >> as well as Mayor Kleti. >> Come on down. >> Steve is going to say explain to everybody what this is about. >> Hello everybody. This is uh second time I'm up here, so this is a little weird
for me. Um so I just want to thank the homeowners association, council, everybody. Um we're getting presented with a check for uh I think $1,000. Yeah, $1,000. Uh this check is going to go to uh organization called Families Behind the Badge. Uh hits a little home
to me. Uh our department's been playing in this uh softball tournament for 2 years and um it's a beautiful thing. And there's about 20 to 25 departments all over the state and we play in this huge tournament and every year um the organ organization picks one family where all
the proceeds go to that someone has died in the line of duty. So it is a beautiful thing and I'm honored to take this check. I'm just disappointed it's not 5t long but I really appreciate it and uh thank you to everybody and uh really appreciate. Thank you chief as
well. Thank you >> Lindy. you. >> Oh, well, it's an honor for the homeowners association to donate to such a such a cause. I can't even express myself. It's a beautiful thing and we're so happy to help. We really are. Please,
I'm going to >> Thank you, Linda. Council comment. >> Council. >> Yeah. >> Ah, what an action-packed night this is. Uh, council comments. Uh, we'll start off with the on the end there.
Councilman Yes. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate the opportunity to uh speak and to congratulate everybody that received uh a an acknowledgement tonight. Um not only do we have excellent students here,
but we have excellent civil servants and excellent uh people that live and work and give their lives and and time uh to making their neighborhood better. Um, I think one of the things that I'm I'm particularly proud about, especially seeing those the high school uh cheerleading team, um, my niece
graduating high school. I'm so proud of her. Um, and I'm so proud of the Elmo Park school system for for creating so many good individual human beings. Um, we raised them right here. You can see just from the volunteers at the food pantry uh from the perfect scores being
uh created from our teams uh to the way that the board of education and the students come out to support us whenever we do anything uh with any other organization. So I'm just very proud again to to live in a town that has so many wonderful organizations doing so many wonderful things for each other. Uh I can speak to Roujo over there being
one of the f most fantastic officers we have around here. He does everything for everybody. Never says no, never tries to get out of it. he uh in particular uh fought through illness to come out and help me uh for the 5K on Mother's Day in the morning. He had a wife at home. He's
uh he he truly does give it his all and he's an example for all of us. So, um I just wanted to say thank you again and thank you mayor and council for acknowledging everybody today. >> Thank you, Councilman Oswell. Councilman Folo. >> Thank you, Mayor. I want to start by uh
congratulating all our uh amazing uh volunteers for the residents assistance program. Uh it's truly amazing to see what great public servants that we have living in our burrow. I also want to thank the homeowner association for supporting our police department. And uh
the biggest one I want to congratulate the Elwood Park uh cheerleading team for their first place finish in Orlando. Uh, I know there's an ongoing debate whether cheerleading is a sport or not, but I grew up in a family filled with cheerleaders. And if I would start start up that debate, I'd probably uh get in a lot of trouble. But if you ever witness
the dedication, the athleticism, and the strength of uh cheerleaders and their discipline and the hours that they put in to to knowing their routine and coming home and even training in the backyard, I remember uh my aunts and my cousins all doing that. Uh you'll know it's there is no debate. Cheerleading is
a sport. flipping, jumping, and competing under pressure. And in this case, winning a huge championship out of state. Uh if that's not a sport, I don't know what it is. So, thank you for that. The the high school cheerleading team for representing Elwood Park with pride on the national stage. And let's also
congratulate the parents. Let's give them a round of applause. The parents and the coaches who make all of that possible as well. So, thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Councilman Councilman Samson. >> Thank you, Mayor. So, to all the
recipients, congratulations. Everyone that was here, uh, you prove what Elma Park is. You're the the pride of Elma Park, the heartbeat of Elma Park. And I was just to expand on what the mayor had said. Um, it's important what he referred to as the left side of the room, which were the youngesters the
younger people that at that they continue on and they blend in to be finally someday on the right side of the room. and we continue this spirit because uh spirit and volunteerism really kind of fading fading and uh this in this burrow it's not. So, thank you
everyone. Let's get the left side to the right side and support them in everything that they do and uh let's keep making Elmer Park proud. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Councilwoman Sheridan.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, first of all, I'd like to say congratulations to the cheerleaders, uh, the families that got them to Florida. Um, very proud of everyone. Uh, the people's pantry, considering that I know most of you and you guys were around when I was a little
girl, I thank you for everything. Um, Elmer Park homeowners, Linda, you know, I know you're back there. You know, I love you. Thank you for everything you do for our town. Um, the wrestlers, I actually see that there was a female on the wrestling team. How cool is that?
>> Very cool. >> I I thought that was great. And the football team, thank you very much. And you, Chief, you got to let us know when that game is. We definitely got to go to that softball game. >> We will definitely be there. >> Thank you. That's all I have. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman
Troy. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, first I'd like to extend my gratitude to all of the people pantry volunteers. You know, it's it's a it's a saying, it takes a village, but it truly does. And
I'm so grateful for the one that we have here in Elmo Park. Thank you all so much for your hard work, the time you put in, your dedication, your compassion. Um I know that Councilwoman um Pelleigreen is
so very grateful for all that you do. Um next, uh Homeowners Association, Linda, thank you so much for that donation. so that uh the the officers can participate in that softball uh tournament for
families behind the badge. Um I'm actually I'm looking forward to it. I really hope I can make it um next to the high school cheerleading team. We're so proud of them. Um I am a cheer mom. My
girls were in competition cheer their entire lives from like seven to 18 years old. And I know how difficult it is to execute a routine perfectly with no deductions. So, right, no wobbles, no
bobbles, no touchdowns. Um, so we're extremely proud of them and I congratulate them, their coaches and their parents. Um, and uh, that's all I have, Mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Council President Pel Green.
>> Yes. I just want to start off by saying what a beautiful start to the evening. Right. In a world where there's so many things that are wrong, tonight's about everything that is right. Right. So, first I want to start off with the cheer team. Congratulations. Uh we honored you at the Elks. Also, it was a pleasure
seeing you then. Just want to say a lot of hard work as we all know went into that. It was an amazing win. I want to thank all the players for their hard work, the coaches, the parents, and all the families because it's a team effort for a win like that, right? So, you should be very proud of yourself. We're
very proud of you as a community. We wish you much success in all your future endeavors and uh thank you to our homeowners association, Linda, and all the members. They really work hard to give back to the community. They give um they have monthly meetings with guest
speakers with very informative information. They do a casino trip for others. The proceeds go back to the community. Everything is donated back. So, they're a very hardworking organization. I'm very proud to be a part of it. I go to every meeting. So,
Linda and all the members, thank you. You continue to amaze me with all your generosity giving back to our community. And then again, lastly, I have to say it one more time to the residents assistance program, all the volunteers.
It's been a long nine-year journey and it gets better every year, but it was I I said this before, but I have to say it again. It was it was tough in the beginning. A lot of people said maybe, you know, we we should kind of give it up. It's it's we don't have enough funds. And we weren't going to give it
up. My team wasn't going to get up. Give it up. Mike, our police chief, and all the supporters on the team here, we worked really hard and with the grace of God, that's what I say, with the grace of God, and all our volunteers and all our donors that will be honored in the
fall, we made it. And we're helping so many people in our community. And some say, do we really have that many people in this community that need help? And the answer to that is yes because we also work the pantry and there are many tiers because sometimes some of our
residents have to choose between food and medication. So yes, what you do matters. What you do makes a difference. And I am proud to live in a community surrounded by loving, caring people like all of you.
This is about all of you. So again, God bless you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. That concludes our council comments. We're going to take a little pause here for the course. We're coming back. >> Okay. Mayor, I would like to reestablish
a quorum for our uh regular meeting of the May 21st mayor and council. On roll call, we have council members >> still here. >> Oswald >> continuously present. >> Samson >> present. >> Sheridan >> here. >> Tracy >> here.
>> Council President Pel Green >> here. >> Mayor Kleti >> here. >> We have reestablished a quorum. At this time, we will have our budget hearing. So, at this time, we may um entertain a public hearing on the 2026
budget. Would anybody from the public like to come and speak on this ordinance and this ordinance alone? Mike, we need your name. N name and address. >> Well, we need >> 14 Philip Awood Park.
Uh question. Um I don't get to make many meetings, but I watch them online. And the last meeting there was a debate over the amount of the increase. And as I recall, correct me if I'm
wrong, Councilman Oswald figured it out to be about an 18% increase in the budget. Now that's 18%. That's without the school budget. So with the school budget, everybody's taxes are going to go up almost 20%,
22%. Can anybody explain how we justify an 18% budget increase to the taxpayers? >> Roy, >> Roy, would you like to
>> We need a microphone for him. >> First of all, Mike, I don't know if the 18% is an accurate figure, but let our CFO let him clear it up. So the 18 >> so the 18% I got
>> so the 18% is absolutely a true figure when you talk about the percentage but the dollar value is far less than when you hear of an 18% increase. So to explain first of all we had a reval. The reval uh was a court order had nothing to do
with anyone here on the deis and the reason for the court order is because the homes have doubled in price in the last 10 15 years. So the shift went basically from the commercial which they
were paying um not their true fair share compared to the homeowners. So there was a $200 credit or thereabouts that was uh masked back into the taxpayers uh bill that will come out in August.
the 18% um amount to be raised. Like I said, there's it's irrefutable. That is the percent, but the dollar value is far less uh than an 18% increase in your tax bill. Only a third, and again, you may be one
of the third, so I shouldn't say only, but a third of the homes after this reval is done is actually going to go up in in price. um a third is staying the same and a third is going down. The commercial establishments are going to
be picking up a good portion of the increase. Um because the homeowners truthfully have been picking up the uh tab for the last couple years. So they get the break this year, if you will. How we got to the increases, it's been
in the papers. We are the same as every other municipality in New Jersey. The health benefits is up roughly 35%. That 35% is almost a million6 at a 22 that we've increased this budget between
the uh salary contractual and the uh health benefits. That's where your major increases are. this council and the BA have decreased many of the appropriations to get it down to 300
roughly $393 a house on the municipal side. So it's that it to answer your question the 18% is absolutely correct but you can't equate you can but the equation of the tax dollar increase is
not that high. So then basically every h households are going to go up a minimum roughly $400 a year. >> That would be a that would be not every house. No, only a third. Only a third. >> Yeah. >> I've had people come in to the tax office where I work and we've had some
of the taxpayers say why is my home going up a,0002,000 and I said let me see your bill or let me see the letter. when I get the letter, you're going down a,000, $2,000. We had a couple people that were going to come to the council said, "You can
come to the council, but you're going down in taxes." We've had a lot of those as well. >> Okay. Well, I understand with things going up, I understand health benefits go up. Um, has anybody ever put on a table for discussion revamping
the health benefits that employees get, >> you know, in so Great. Hear me out. I have I have no problem paying 100% health benefits for any police officer in town. >> 100%. But for the family, they should be
contributing. Same as any other municipal worker, they should be contributing to their family. You know, last place I worked, it was 7030. We paid 70, the company paid 30. Employees could do the same thing. But like I say,
the actual police officer, >> we do pay we pay 35%. >> You do pay 35? Yes. Okay. So >> since 20 2011, >> all right. So then you're doing what my thought was there too then. >> And it gets better than that. >> But are the police getting 100%. The officers themselves
>> they pay 35%. >> See now now I have no problem officer paying only for the family 70 30 70 65 35 where the officer himself gets 100%. I have no problem with that because to me that's only fair and honest and right
with the police. >> All right. But >> to answer your question, we did go out to try to get another carrier, >> right? >> Uh the BA and myself two years in a row, um Sigma, US Healthcare and and Etna.
and the carriers came back and said, "We can't write a policy for you because our policy is roughly $4 million and you're spending $6 million >> in in claims." >> So, we did try that route as well and we're going to have to do it again next year because the benefits are going up
again double digit. >> Okay. Um, now not for you. This is the council's question then. As far as bringing revenues into the town with all the extra police vehicles that are here during the day and at night, why don't we auction some of them
off to bring some money into the town to help alleviate some of the burden? You got to understand, well, you should all know a good majority of this town is senior citizens, all living on social security, fixed income. Taxes keep going up the way they are,
not going to have to worry about getting elected. It's going to be a ghost town or it's just going to be section uh what is it? Section 21 uh housing from the state which is not going to be good for the town either. We got to we got to try and figure something out to try and help
the residents more than anything else. >> I got to remember your elected officials to represent us and help us. You know, we got to work we got to work a little harder. >> Mike, >> sorry. >> I mean, I'm on a fixed income, too. I'm on social security myself
>> and it's it's hard. Can't live on it. >> Let me say this. It was a survey that came out I want to say about 6 months ago where it had us listed in the top 10 cheapest taxation towns in Bergen County. So what that's
telling me is that everything we're doing is right. We're very cognizant of your tax dollars. I pay tax dollars. Everybody on this desk pays tax dollars. So, we're all in the same boat. And and it's not like we wake up in the morning and say, "We're going to go out and buy
a Mercedes-Benz uh so that we can give it to our building inspector." Everything is scrutinized, believe it or not. Uh and the answer to what's going on with the the uh health insurance, it's two years in a row, 70%, am I
right? 35% last year and 35% this year. 70%. That just takes everything out of whack. Completely out of whack. >> Right. Oh, I understand. I've been I got hit with it when I was working. Every year was I was taking more and more out of my pay. You know, it got down to a
point where we were paying 50/50 >> because as it went up, they had to keep adjusting it. And we had no choices. Either that or you had no insurance, you know. And that's why I said if we have to if the mayor and council have to adjust it again, readjust it. But like I say, I would not take it away from any
officer on on on the payroll. No, the officers and the detectives, they should all be 100% covered. Let them pay for their family plan partially or whatever because they're the ones who are out there on the front lines. All right. Um we need to get it to number one, maybe
even number two. you know that that top 10 was really wasn't really a good example because you got a town like Teterboro that's got six people living in it. The rest is commercial. >> Uh so that that town you throw it right off and that moves us up on the list and
I'm I can't wait till the the new survey comes out because it's going to be interesting to see if we stayed right where we were in that area. >> Yeah. Well, like I say, I saw on the bud I saw the budget briefly online. uh little bits and pieces of it here and there in between. >> Yeah.
>> And I saw some purchases here and there. Maybe some of the big purchases before they're done should go out to public opinion >> since we'll be paying for it in the long run. >> Well, Mike, you know what the problem if you know if it's something we could wait on and it's not going to be detrimental
to the operations of the of the town. Yes. And we do. We do like like I said, I'm I'm considered by many very conservative and I like to spread that. Sometimes it's to some of the members up
here dislike. But if it's it starts with me being conservative and saying to ourselves, do we really have to spend that dollar or not? >> So that's the kind of attitude we we've acquired up here over the years and it we will continue that.
>> Yeah. And and like I said before, and uh Mike, don't don't think like I'm picking on the police department, but I see new vehicles in the police in the parking lot across the street by the bank, but we still have a bunch of the older ones there. Every time we get a new vehicle, it's got to be outfitted, decaled,
everything else. So that brings a regular 35 $40,000 vehicle up to 65, 70, 80,000. Strip the old ones, auction them off, and let's bring some money back into the town. So, what we just did was um so we lease our vehicles. We've been doing
that for the last what four years. >> So, we saved a significant amount of money when we went to a leasing program cuz we got rid of all the most of the old stuff. We're still stuck with some old stuff cuz we need to. So, less maintenance, better gas efficiency, all that stuff with the leasing program.
This year, Roy and I found a new leasing company and we were able to save $190,000 in 2026 with a better rate and a better leasing company. So, we're we're it's a work in progress. It seems like we have a lot of cars. It seems like we have access, but I'll be honest with you, we do. We do not. We have they
have to go out for the traffic jobs. They have to go out for the security jobs. They have to go to all the schools because we have officers in all the schools. And then we have to have you have to have a backup vehicle for each almost each position because if a car goes down, you can't put a cop on the street or you can't. So, understand your
point. >> I'm used to cops on the street. I grew up in the city. They walk the beat. Yeah, I know. Well, we're going to bring that back. But we hear you. We're We're doing our best to try to >> With the leasing program, is it an open end or closed end lease? >> They're open. >> They're open. >> They're open end. Okay. So, how big of a
hit do we take when they uh lease ends up? >> No hit because what happens is they're going to auction them and they get roughly $400. We keep the rest of the money. >> All right. I only ask these questions because that's my line of work. Please do.
>> I've been in the business for 50 years. So, Enterprise, as you know, is the largest dealership in the world. >> In the world, and we just left them for a better price. >> Okay. I just I just had to ask I needed clarification from what I saw and what I heard on the last video. And I just
wanted to make sure that 18% was where it is and uh where we're going with it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mike. Anyone else from the public here to speak? Yes, John. How are you, John? Good. How are you? >> I didn't get to say hello to you. I was coming over to you, though.
Okay, my name is John Demorzio and I live on Lincoln Avenue. I was kind of hoping that my first time up here tonight would be for my other role. Um, but this is as a private citizen. So, um, I've noticed a couple of different things and I'm really aware and astute to so many things that are happening
especially in the private sector. Um, firstly like my question about the benefits packages are you do you guys have the same packages that we do in the private sector? because I know that when I know that there's a major deductible and I know that there's a lot of different coverages um but I don't know
if like tell me are they the same packages because I know you're saying that you're paying 30 or whatever it is percent more but when you when you factor the uh cost that the private sector is paying for their policy plus now we don't even have the credits anymore so then we have to pay even more
and then in addition we're paying for the priv the public sector too so you know I just kind of see that as an in an an inequity for for the people that are paying. You can't just have people in the public sector um and and having jobs and then the private sector is losing
jobs because you need that in order to subsidize all the increases that you're asking for. And I don't mean to be disrespectful, but it's, you know, it's getting really tough for a lot of us. And I think that when you're in the public sector, you have you your your ways are a little bit differently, you know, they're different than the public
the private sector. So um for example my my personal taxes uh and my house my house yes it did increase but the thing is according to what you had said Roy at the last meeting I believe the average home in Elmo Park is valued uh or assessed at $623,000. >> Yes.
>> Now my house is $100,000 less than that and you said that uh the average tax increase is $400. Well that's what I'm paying now. Right. Um so and and I don't have children in my household. you know, the neighbor, you know, the neighbors like they could have four kids and
they're paying the same taxes as I am, right? So, that's a little hard to to, you know, to deal with because I'm not I'm not draining the system like in that respect, too. So, I don't understand like and then my neighbor who has a really big home got a decrease of 1,000.
My home is a little small Cape Cod um that you that they raised and assessed you yes, it's more not not 50, not 100% or not 50%. It didn't double, but it still went up. So, how do you justify the fact that my house had gone up and
you know, uh, and I'm paying $400, which is $100,000 less than the value, uh, the average value of the $623,000. >> So, the answer is you would come to my office. We'll talk to the assessor. >> I I already spoke to him. >> That's who makes the decision, not I,
not anyone here. >> And then if I went to the county, I could pay $100 for to go through the same thing again, you know. But the thing the process. I >> I how do you how do you do the one-third? How does that happen? Like how do you determine a person who has a much bigger house and they get thousands of dollars less and my house who I
haven't done any major renovation um and I have a and I have a very small humble house, you know, I have like an eating kitchen. I don't have any um um air conditioning system that would add value to it. I have like wall air conditioners. I have a eating kitchen. I have one bathroom small. And how do you
justify that 400? And then when tax when the when the real bill comes in, that's another $400 for me. You know, that's a lot. And I and I find that hard to to deal with. I mean, this is Elwood Park, you know. I mean, you can't afford to live here.
>> I think I can answer that. Um, my home for the last eight 10 years was assessed. The new assessment brought me up to 600,000. I'm going to pay $1,000 more a year.
So, the way I look at it is over the past eight years, I've been getting away with a cheaper price. Now, it's time. Is it a cheaper price? Let me finish. >> I mean, is mine a cheaper price? My taxes? >> I mean, you know, I think it's pretty comparable to a lot of the people around
on my block because I know cuz I asked them and we talked about the taxes. We obviously were on the low end of it and when they it all meshed together, it was our time to to to for for the taxes to go up on our individual homes. I'm up
$1,000 a year myself. Well, I mean, maybe we're in different income brackets, too. Um, okay. So, um, I I have another question, too. In terms of council, and this is not to be disrespectful, but it just kind of shows you the difference between the public sector and the private sector. So, when
it comes to council and voting on raises, like how does that work? >> Like for your own raises, like how does that work? Do you have somebody that you have to go to to vote on it or like how do you how do you get your your increases in your salaries per year?
>> You're talking about the council >> and the mayor. >> You you take a survey and then also it's based on what these >> but who votes on it? >> I'm sorry. >> Who votes on the increases? Does the public vote on that or who votes on it? >> No, the um the council votes on it.
>> Okay. So, where in the real world do you get to vote for your own raises? Like, I mean, that would be great. I wish we could all do it, but how do you how do you do that? >> Well, you're talk you're talking about a a situation where it's a stipen to start off with. And if you were to gauge the
hours that were being put in, >> that's not the point. That's not the question I'm asking. I don't interrupt you when you're talking. Can I can I vote for my own raise in in my company? >> It's the way it's set up. Well, maybe we should change that, too. I mean, it's no disrespect to you guys, but this is not a practice that is a normal thing, you know? It's kind of like abnormal, don't
you think? >> Yeah. Well, here's the thing. And in the latest race that the council got, it was unanimous. Every single one of us that was on the council at the time voted for it. >> And I'm and I'm not discriminatory. I'm not I'm not saying it's one party or another. I'm just asking you because in
the real world, this doesn't happen. We don't vote on our own raises, you know. So whether it be, you know, it it is different is what I'm saying. It's a different practice. Okay. >> I understand where >> in terms of of government, local government that that's the way it operates by statute in this state. Any
local municipal body, governing body, they are the ones that set the the they are equivalent to site. I I mean I realize I understand about government, but I just think that that is a system that really needs to be changed, whether it be federal, whatever whatever it is. I understand that. >> I understand where you're coming from 100%. But it's not this mayor and
council that has the power to change that. That's that's by statute. They are the ones that that are empowered to set all municipal salaries. >> Okay. So when I guess when I like to go to Cheryl, I can ask her. Uh the excuse me um the
next question I have is I know that like there are contracts that are up um and I know that I've heard tonight that there's a lot of you know we're helping the community this and that and you know a lot of people are really struggling to afford food and things like that but when it comes to raises I guess that's a
whole different ball game. doesn't, you know, pan out in that respect. But the question I have for you, um, you know, specifically for you, because I know that you have a a contract that's going to be renewed. Um, and you do have like an increase. I'm sure everybody gets increases. The standard is 2%, I guess,
for the cost of living. Um, could do you mind sharing what your um increase is going to be? >> Yeah. So, I negotiated. >> Yeah. It was a 6% increase to pay on the hours that I devoted to Paul.
>> Okay. So, I mean, that's that's a pretty good chunk of money, you know, especially if you're making a certain income. I mean, I don't usually I don't know anybody that gets a 6%. You know, and I think that when you're having really tough times and you're cutting budgets, including, you know, the the board of health, you cut onethird, you
know, in the meantime, you're getting 6% and then you're cutting our budgets and we have to work even harder to go around town and getting people to, you know, donate their items, you know, and I just think that that's a little inequitable for a lot of people. >> John, John, you got to realize >> and everybody works hard, too.
>> Can I May I May I say something? You got to realize we're running a municipality here. It takes key people to do that and they got certain values. At the end of the day, we're still one of the cheapest in Bergen County at the
end of the day. >> Well, I I mean, how does that help the situation if we're one of the cheapest? >> Well, what you're doing is you're isolating. >> We're paying the less the least of the amount of taxes in all the burrows. How does that help us? We're still paying uh top dollar. We're still paying for the education. If you go to the grocery store, >> does that make a difference if we're
lower? >> A quart of milk, it cost you a quarter of milk, >> right? Well, that's a whole another ball game because that's insult to injury. We have high gas prices. We have high utility prices. We have everything is going up and our and our taxes are going up too, you know, but the the our salaries a lot in the private sector are
not going up to sustain that, right? They're not going incremental to be, you know, so you have to think about that too, you know. I'm just I'm just kind of venting because it's really getting tough for a lot of people and seniors, you know, they may have like certain programs if they're funded, okay? But you still have to pay that initial
amount of money first. You still have to have your taxes and pay them before you get any kind of um you know, incentive or or you know, rebate or whatever you want to call it. Um and then the last thing I want to talk about is the protocols in terms of like getting
together as a body, as a council. Now, I know that I was here at the last meeting and I know that there were some kind of like going back and forth and I just think that when you have when you're talking about my taxes and everybody else here with taxes, you know, you have to have a a corporate uh group of people. Everybody should be getting
together on this, right? So, I think that it kind of would make sense and what I've seen in the past is that you guys would get together, you'd have a work meeting executive, you talk it about uh you come to, you know, you'd have you you'd be discussing all the details, right? I don't think that that's what I heard happened. So that is
something that needs to definitely be changed because you can't have like partisan uh politics when it comes to budget. You should have all been meeting and that makes sense to me instead. And then it was said that you know maybe if you wanted to you could have spoken to the to the CFO himself. Why should
everybody have to meet individually? Because that's a whole another session. That's more time wasted out of tax dollars that we're paying for. Everybody should be together on it and and uh at the same time. Um, so I don't know what it happened there, but I just think that that kind of makes sense because, you know, everybody doesn't have the same
information and everybody should be together at that meeting because you're representing the community, not yourselves. >> Mayor, through you. >> Yes, please. >> Can I read a short email that we received because it answers that question. >> Sure. >> Okay.
So on April 9th, we received an email from our BA mayor and council. As we have a as we have a new council member who is relatively new to municipal operations, there may be some questions regarding the budget process. The budget
will be introduced on April 23rd. At that meeting, the governing body will have the opportunity to re review the budget and ask questions to the CFO. The budget will not be passed or adopted at that meeting and there is a mandatory minimum of 28-day waiting period between
the budget introduction and the adoption. If any council members have questions prior to the introduction of the meeting and would like a better understanding of the budget process, the CFO is willing to arrange a phone call or meeting to those questions. Please
note that the coordinating a meeting with all seven members may be challenging and timeconuming. However, this is the important part. However, if there is an interest, please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate this. The CFO is available in the
morning between this and this. But the key here is that this was on my opinion. This was on April 9th. Okay? And if anybody, it was talked about in prior years. We talked about having this meeting. We talked about it last year. We talked about it the year before. This
right here, the BA gave anyone the opportunity that if they wanted to have a meeting with all of us, all they had to do was reach out to the BA and request a meeting. It's clear as can be. It was April 9th. The budget
introduction wasn't until April 23rd. So there was at least two and a half weeks between that period that if it was so important to you to have the meeting and sit with your colleagues, then why didn't you call the BA? He gave you the opportunity. I'm not saying this mean I
just remembered this and I went back. >> So why why couldn't you all meet at a work meeting? >> Why if somebody wanted it this way, they had the opportunity to request it? Why didn't they? Why complain about it after the fact when you had the opportunity to
request it? I I my personal belief is that I think that it should have been handled a little differently and it's no disrespect to the to the protocols or anything like that but I think if it's if it's my taxes I want you guys it's better to have a corporate body because then you could address everything at that same time you know than it's playing telephone if they have like
individual conversations you know that it could have been it could have been done where a work meeting an executive everybody could have been cumulatively together at the same time somebody could have made that agenda I would have helped you I would have said you know if I could >> but but John no disrespect ect to anybody, but I had remembered an email
about that. So, I went I just went back to all my emails with Mike and it's it's just clear on here and I know it's also Kyle, I don't know if you want to say the how it's set up to do in our ordinance, but that's previously this is
the way if you wanted a meeting, it was very easy. He made it very simple. if you wanted the whole governing body to be at a meeting. And I'm not saying it disrespectful. Maybe things could have been different, but I just want to put it out there and I don't want to fight about this. We're all trying to do the
best we can. I don't want to go one side versus the other side. Do you think we're residents here, our taxes go up, too. Do you think we want to hurt the people? We run a pantry to help the people. Do you think I know you don't want tobody? >> I understand that you don't want to, but
it will. this this this increase is impacting everybody, right? That's why we had a job fair because we want to give back. Well, you know how important it is. And the thing is then you have a special >> and I was there too working to try to help people also. >> And then um and then you have a special meeting for the public or whatever at
4:00, right? And I I know that that time worked out good for you guys, but it didn't work out good for the public. So to have a different kind of meeting at that time at 4:00, it doesn't make sense to me. That's not a It's not a good way of uh h introducing it to the public. You know, you could have had a meeting at 7:00 like normal.
>> John, you've had plenty of time to explain. We got a lot of people out there. >> Well, I'm I mean, this may not be the last time I'm up here. >> I hope. Please come every every time. >> Okay. >> That that's what we're here for. >> Thank you.
>> Anyone else care to speak? Your name, please, and address. Gladis Kriskowitz 256 Fencac Avenue. Now the budget's gone up 18%. Going forward now I don't see I see more
employees being hired. Um will it always be this uh percentage going forward now every year like 18 because that's I've never >> as far as the manpower goes Glattus. >> So can I answer that? >> Yes. So the the increase wasn't due to
increased uh personnel. It was due to like >> the insurance well insurance some of it is salary uh increased steps right employees each year get if they're in a contract we get steps garbage goes up recycling goes up so all that stuff but
we haven't added additional personnel beyond what we had previous years. We've had breakage with higher salaries coming off and we've backfilled with lower salaries but we increase the size of the workforce. >> Okay. Now, at one of the meetings, uh,
Councilman Fisol didn't agree with the increase and said that after he looked it over, he could get it down to 7 to 8%. Did you do that? >> We haven't had a meeting as a as a whole council. So, I didn't have I couldn't go
through the entire budget in two weeks. So, but you had the opportunity to do so with Mr. Vriaton. >> Two weeks. >> But why? I thought everyone had like a month or so to to uh >> We did not. We did not get the budget. >> Okay.
>> Me and and uh if I could speak for Councilman Oswald, he didn't even have it that night that we were supposed to vote on it. With all due respect, I'm I'm telling you the truth, we didn't have it. >> Okay. Um you know, because that would be great if you could have gotten it down to seven or 8%. Um, could anybody else
here get it down? Because that would have been great. Um, you know, it's it's like the biggest increase I've ever seen here. >> Well, the thing the the the point of that statement was not the the the actual percentage. It's the point that as a governing body, we should be at a
meeting collaborating on ways we could try to cut the budget down. Um, one council person can't do that on his own or her own. So we should be uh sitting together months months before that that happens and saying hey look this is
what's coming down the pike let's try to cut things down but that wasn't >> well that should be a requirement then from going forward that everyone meets together and goes over the budget because now it's too late it's it's being approved today >> Glattus we we do that isn't is in
progress at our work meetings we have agendas there's items that are all listed there if you have have a problem with one, that's the time to bring it up. >> I don't have a problem with any only because >> No, I'm not. So, I'm saying to council people, not you. Not you.
>> Because I know that everything goes up like Lorraine was saying, you know, the uh garbage recycling has gone up a lot. >> 500,000. >> That's a lot of money, you know. I mean, and I like getting my garbage picked up twice a week. So, you know, it's like,
and like you said, we are the the 10th. We're the lowest, you know. I don't think we'll be the lowest for too much longer because, you know, things are skyrocketing out there. >> But you see, here's the thing. It's across the board. This is not only a a city, a county, a state problem. It's a
national problem. The insuranceances are crazy. Locally here for the county also with the garbage collection. All every town using those garbage collectors have the same problem we do. So when I say we're
10th low lowest, we it'd be nice to stay if we stay in that area, that means everything else we're doing is right. I venture to say if it wasn't for those um garbage collection and the health insurance, would it be safe to say there wouldn't
be no increase? Uh Roy, >> wow. Really? >> Yeah, there would probably not be an increase. >> There's no great secret what's going on here. It's just that that incredible. The insurance is 35%. >> I I have insurance. The car insurance is
crazy. Um, you know, I think I speak for everyone. Well, not maybe not everyone. I don't want to leave New Jersey, you know. I have no desire to go anywhere else. I hope that I can stay here, you know, and that depends on the taxes and everything else, you know. Um, Medicare,
you know, I don't we don't get a pension, my husband and I. So, no, I'm just, you know, just as concerned as everybody else. So, but thank you. >> I think uh the argument lies above us as far as our level of government. It's
what's going on in the state and county. Those are the people we got to go to. Those are the people we got to talk to and let and push them to put some reforms in place. Yes, dear. >> Uh Martha Hayes, 259 Pensac. Um I do have a question about the future of this
town. I know that we're mandated now to have a certain amount of apartments put in. Um, and I know that that'll eventually affect services, resources, etc. But how do the landlords of these um, apartments contribute? Do they
contribute to school taxes or is that off the table for them? I mean, I'm I'm seeing as we get more people in and they have children, we may have to think, do we have to build more schools? And that's a concern which comes again to the taxpayers. It seems the apartments
that we're experiencing that are coming into town are primarily onebedroom, some two two bedrooms. And a two-bedroom isn't like it was years ago. That second bedroom is being used for computer storage, etc. Very seldom do is it being
used for another child. So that's the one good part of of the of the influx of u units that are coming into town. >> Okay. and our major baseball um building. Are they paying taxes already or they I know they don't have an occupation?
>> Well, they're paying they're paying taxes on the building as it stands now. >> Okay. >> As it improves, they will pay more money. Is that correct, Roy? They already have an added omitted from last year. There'll probably be another add or admitted this year. So, they are
paying their fair tax and as they fit up the taxes will go up on their building. >> Okay. Thank you. And just well I guess one more thing is that um you know as as the taxes are um re-evaluated. I mean I know that the big hit this year was you
know the home uh reassessment. Um but what are other actions that are taken each year to kind of uh you know do you know minimize the cost um that goes to uh the homeowners? Are we looking to bring in more business?
>> Well, I I think we we're in a very good location. I think you see all these ribbon cutting ceremonies that are happening. That's not happening uh just by per chance. Elman Park's a good place. It's location and it's uh in in
terms of that it's growing. Uh other ways we can we can do that is to make maybe get a little more commercial going on in the commercial areas naturally. uh that we're cognizant of of all those avenues and we're constantly working on
them. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Mayor. >> Thank you. >> May I Mayor? >> Yes, please. What I'd like to say I would like to uh speak on two parts of what you brought up and uh specifically um the developments you're talking about the uh you have made a question about
what happens to uh the cost that the burough will bear and taxes and specifically um I have vowed to absolutely 100% scrutinize any part of what's called a pilot. So a pilot is a
payment in lie of taxes which means that there's there's terms that are set up by the developer. So the developer tells us what a good deal it is for us. So that's like going to a car dealer and a car dealer telling you that this deal is great for you. Why is why why is he promoting that? Right? Why is the developer promoting
that? Is it really good for us? So I'm going to say Councilman Samson says no pilots. There will be no pilots. Uh you want to build here? We want you here. We want you here. We'll build here. will comply with the with the uh low-inccome housing requirement every step of the way. But we all pay taxes
for the school. Everybody in this room pays taxes for the school. I don't see many people who have kids in the school system because I don't and I know everybody on a deis does not either. So as far as that's concerned, no pilots. And second of all, you had asked about um MLB. So Roy had answered your
question about taxes and at this early stage of the game they're they're fitting out and every phase of the fit out they have to do uh different different uh procedures or different uh constructions and etc and they have to get permits and they pay increased
permit fees. Uh chief >> permit fees are up for them >> permit fees. So we increase the the cost uh that the that the uh parties have to pay the bur and And that that is what can you speak on that through Tony's
department? >> Yeah. So they're in the millions of dollars the assessments that are going on with uh the major league um fit up um each month they're taking out different permits. So at the next meeting or we'll
I can get you a detail from Tony what the uh permits are just in the building department and an estimate on the tax as they fit up. It's going to be a lot of money for the burrow. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, dear. Anyone else care to
speak on this uh subject and this subject alone? If not, I'll close the public portion. Okay. At this time, we have resolution R-166-26. Introduce ordinance number 26-14 on
second reading. Whereas the public notice has been given by the bureau clerk that an ordinance entitled calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank in JSA48 col4-45.14
whereas said ordinance was introduced and passed at a meeting held on Thursday April 23rd 2026 and that further consideration of this ordinance will be taken up at this meeting and whereas all persons interested in that ordinance were given an opportunity to be heard concerning the Now therefore, it be it resolved by the
mayor council of the B element park that an ordinance entitled calendar year 2026 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits to and to establish a cap bank NJSA48 col4-45.14
pass on final reading. >> May I have a motion to open to the public? >> I'm sorry. >> No, we're on the the cat bank one. I'm sorry. >> Sorry. So, we do So, I have a motion from Council President Peline, a second
from Councilwoman Sheridan to Would anyone from the public here speak on this ordinance and this ordinance alone? If not, I will close the public portion. May I have a motion to adopt the ordinance? >> So, move.
>> Second. >> Call the RO, please. First by Council President Pelgine. Second by Councilman Samson. On roll call, we have council members Folo. >> No. >> Oswald, >> no. >> Samson, >> yes. >> Sheridan, >> yes.
>> Tracy, >> yes. >> Council President Peline, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Next, we have resolution R-167-26, adoption of the 2026 municipal budget. Be it resolved that the mayor and council of the burrow of Elmer Park in
the county of Bergen State of New Jersey hereby adopt the 2026 municipal budget set forth herein and shall constitute an appropriation for the purposes stated of the sums therein set forth as appropriations and authorizations
in the amount of 27573,712 for municipal purposes. May >> I have a motion to adopt the 2026 municipal budget? So move >> second. Any discussion? Yes, mayor. I just have a statement uh that I want to
make in regards to the budget and it's not meant to to start a debate. It's it's basically reiterating uh why uh tonight I cannot in good conscience vote in favor of the budget. Let me be clear. My concern is not simply the 18% tax
increase that's being adopted tonight. My concern is the process or more accurately the lack of one. What baffles me is how a governing body can be expected to adopt a budget of this magnitude without ever convening a single full council budget workshop or
budget discussion meeting. The municipal budget is one of the most important responsibilities entrusted to elected elected officials. It determines how taxpayer dollars are spent, establishes priorities for our community, and directly impacts every household and
business in Elwood Park. Yet throughout this budget process, there were no collaborative budget meetings involving the full governing body. Council members were afforded individual meetings with the CFO. But that's not the same as a public and collaborative discussion
among elected representatives. In my opinion, this represents a completely hands-off approach to governing. The governing body was largely absent from the budget development process and is now being asked to simply accept the final product. This is not the level of
oversight residents expect from their elected officials. Nor is it the level of oversight taxpayers deserve. It also lacks the transparency. Transparency is not achieved by presenting a complete budget and asking for approval. Transparency requires
discussion, debate, questions, alternatives, and the opportunity for residents to see how decisions are being made. When those conversations never occur in a public setting among the full governing body, the process becomes less
transparent and less accountable. When council when council members meet individually with administration, there's no opportunity for ideas to be challenged, alternatives to be proposed, or cost-saving measures to be explored
as a group. One council member may ask a question that another that another never considered. One member may identify a potential savings opportunity that benefits everyone. That exchange of ideas is the very purpose of a governing body. Without that collaborative
process, we are effectively being asked to rubber stamp a finished product rather than rather than participate in creating it. I believe taxpayers deserve more. They deserve a council that sits together, reviews the budget line by
line, openly discusses priorities, evaluates alternatives, and examines every possible opportunity to minimize the burden on residents before asking them to pay more. An 18% increase is significant for many families. Every
dollar right now matters. Before imposing a burden of this size, we owe the residents a transparent and collaborative budget process that demonstrates every effort was made to control cost and explore other options. Unfortunately, I do not believe that it
occurred here. My vote tonight is not a reflection on the hard work of our CFO, department heads, emergency services, or burough employees, all of whom who worked tirelessly on behalf of all the residents. Rather, it's a statement that the
governing body should have been more involved in this process from the beginning. As elected officials, we have a responsib responsibility not merely to approve the budgets, but to help shape them. For those reasons, and because I believe this process reflects a
hands-off approach that lacked transparency and collaboration that our residents deserve, I cannot support this budget and will be voting no. Thank you. >> Councilman, let me ask you something. How long have you felt like this about the whole process? >> Well, it's been the last three years uh
that we haven't met as a as a governing body to to discuss the budget line by line. Listen, my question is this year, just real quick, >> how many how long has it been that you felt this way about >> I have brought this up multiple times and we were never afforded the
opportunity to to go over a budget uh in in a in a work session at all. Um, also this was not meant to be a debate. We have beat this to death. It's too late now. You're going to adopt the budget. So, I just wanted to make it clear to the residents why I can't support the
the this uh 18% increase, not only because of the increase, but because of the process that that we were afforded. >> Yeah. Well, I'm sure if this this process you're saying that we've been handling it wrong, if you would have said something about it 8 months ago, we might have looked at what you were saying and saying, "Well, is he right?
maybe maybe we can do this or do that to correct it. But you know, when you come out 30 days before the budget has to be passed and you bring all this negativity out about the budget, it's hard to believe. Mayor, it has been year after year. Now it's Councilman Oswald. Before
it was Councilman Golbeck, every year we're bringing up the same thing and the process doesn't change. I I'm glad that that I got to sit with the CFO uh this year. Uh but that's that's not the process because if I have an idea then I have to come back to the council which
takes another month to get to everybody together. Like this this wasn't meant to be a debate. It was a statement and you made your statement with the public and I'll make I just made mine. >> We're in discussion so everybody can have a turn. >> Okay. You made a statement. This is not
a debate. >> You met I believe with Mr. Riotano. You were the first one to meet with him. You could have at that time asked him asked our mayor council requested through the BA which he gave us the opportunity on
April 9th, 2 and 1/2 weeks before April 23rd. Yes, I'm repeating it again because you're saying you weren't afforded the opportunity. All you had to do is ask. There were two weeks we could have sat down as a whole committee if that's what you wanted to do. You did
not. You expressed it last year. You expressed it the year before. We're talking about this year. We're in this year in this moment. >> I understand. Counciloman Counciloman Green. You I'm gonna say this and I'm done cuz you know what? You didn't want a
solution. You want to complain that it wasn't done properly, but you didn't want to ask to have a meeting. You vote no on the budget all the time, but you have no solution to what are we supposed to do? We couldn't come up with a solution. Are we supposed to fire people? Are we supposed to not have
garbage pickup? Are we not supposed to pay our health benefits? That is in the contract that we have to do by law. What is your solution to not paying this? I want to know. You won't know. And that's your prerogative. >> We got the the invitation to, hey, if
you want a meeting about our $27 million budget, you have two weeks to do so because we're adopting it in two weeks. So, meet with the CFO, get what you got to get, and then maybe if everybody's available sometime in those 14 days that you have before we we uh we uh propose
this budget, maybe we could get together. But we can't discuss any solutions about a $27 million budget in a month. It's it it's impossible. And that's all I have to say. I'm not I'm not even going to beat this to death anymore. Just pass your 18%. >> Any any other discussion?
>> Yes, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate the opportunity. I've been um patiently listening to my colleagues go back and forth and reiterating themselves. I think it's actually much more appropriate to go back and check the tapes. As a matter of fact, Mr. Mayor, it might have been exactly 8 months ago that former Councilman Danny Golbeck
mentioned and it is on a YouTube uh video. There is a transcript available where he asked the exact same thing. He said, "Why was the budget that was being passed last year done in shady ways by just the finance committee made up of the majority partisan group that happens to be here?" Now, when I took on this office, prior to doing so, I campaigned.
I knocked on doors. I asked people what they wanted. They said they wanted their council and their representatives to do more hands-on work, to stop pushing things off to other things, and to stop doing things in a partisan fashion. And I had hoped when I got up to this day that because I was something of a new person, I didn't have as much of a
political history with a lot of people, I am a first-time person sitting on this deis, um that things would have been different, that I may have been invited into some things. We sitting up here are supposed to be equals. I don't believe that any member of the majority had to ask the BA or the CFO to sit down. I
believe they called the meetings to the exclusion of the minority at that April 9th letter that the council president has read three times tonight. She mentioned that the CFO was giving everybody an opportunity to meet with them and the BA was given an opportunity to meet with them. If we wanted a
meeting alto together, we could have it. At the April meeting, I challenged every member that voted uh to pass the budget to call an actual special meeting. They were willing to call a special meeting to pass the budget 3 months late. You could call another special meeting in two weeks. I guarantee you, Franchesco and I would have shown up to that. Also,
we should not have to individually request something that is traditional and customary for every elected official in a municipality. Even in Congress, they have the right to look at things before it is proposed. Now, not necessarily with as much time. I get it. You can scream about how we had two
weeks to look at things. How me myself I I I mean if I wanted to teach myself a new language or teach myself something and you expect me to just go to one person, ask them how to do it and I know it. No, this is a collaborative effort. We've had citizens come up here and say that they wanted to see us do this for
years. They wanted to see this. The process changed 3 years ago when the majority changed and and now everybody wants to act like, "Oh, we've got to follow these precedents. We've got to talk about these things." It is politics. You're right. It is politics because the only four people that are on the finance committee that came up with this budget that had the opportunity to
meet with the CFO and the BA anytime they wanted as a group as a public body are the four in the majority of the partisan politics that have have taken over this this budget >> it three on the committee is more than more than there are of us because it wasn't Franchesco or myself that was invited in. I get I get put on one
committee and two other committees that don't have any work to do that never meet that have no real authority and now I'm expected to pass I don't like you're going offline here I'm not I have every right to speak and if everybody I sat and I listened to you guys argue and talk over each other it is not appropriate it is not respectful it is
not fair I have every right to speak when I have been shut out of all these budget meetings and yes I am so happy I got a chance to sit with the CFO and ask what do all these little things what do all these numbers mean and then get told maybe I'm asking too many questions. Or why why is we have $2.28 million in loss
revenue that we're just not going to talk about. And yes, while it's $1.593 million increase in insurance, we're raising $18% tax levy. That is $4 million. We're going from 2362 to 27 million. That is something that everybody in this room deserved to know
before a week ago when we had to ask to have the budget put online for the residents to look at because not everybody's going to sit here and go through all this paper or like the last meeting when I was handed handed this budget halfway through the meeting and expected to have already known what was in that paper. That is inappropriate.
And I completely agree with Franchesco. This is a smoke and mirrors budget. We had no input on this. And I'm glad that the Republicans have decided they will own this and they will adopt this baby to their own because if I had an opportunity, I am a proactive person. I have sat with my representatives, my state representatives, my federal
representatives. I went out on my own time. I am a father of two. I am a husband. My wife is graduating college as we speak. And I decided not to be there so I could be here today to make sure on this camera, on this record that people know we did not have a say in this. You are being raised an 18% budget
increase, not by the the will of the of the of the entire deas here, but by the will of the majority that had maybe two meetings in a finance committee, not a public meeting, not a workshop meeting, not one where we could all sit down and talk about it. We don't get to put things on the agenda. We can ask, but they didn't they don't I I've put
forward resolutions to lower water bills for anybody that's using less than their 5,000 gallons. ignored resolutions put that I wanted to talk about where we could uh get can convince people to use rain barrels and to compost uh their their things to use less waste so we stop putting so much tonnage on our DPW
there are things that we can do as a burrow that would relieve the tax burden but for some years now it seems like we're finally catching up development is finally happening but that is not going to solve every problem we could fill up on Market Street and the boulevard and it still would not change this tax
burden and there's a cat $500 extra thousand going towards next year's budget. They don't need it, but they just want the cushion. So, it's going to be a no for me. I'm not looking for debate. I'm glad that I got to speak. I don't need anybody. This is all rhetorical. I'm not looking for responses. >> Thank Thank you, Councilman. Thank you. Anyone else on discussion?
>> Yes. Yes. I'd like to make a comment. >> Councilman Oswald, you waved a package in the air and you claimed that you received it halfway through the last meeting. Why is that? when that when that packet was offered three weeks
prior, you could have gone to the CFO and gotten it. You did not you did not make an appointment to meet with him. You sat here at the introduction of the budget and you didn't even have that package. You grandstanded. You claimed
you knew nothing about the line items. Had you have met with the CFO within those 3 weeks, you would have had that package and you would have had, excuse me, I'm speaking, okay? You would have had that package and you would have had
the opportunity to review it line by line, but instead you wanted this opportunity to sit up here on the dis and grandstand for politics. That's all. Mayor, >> there you are. I got my position for three years. >> Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else kid
discussion? >> Yeah, I just first of all I want to say that your use of the word shady is offensive to me and I feel it's offensive to this entire governing body. There's nothing shady about this process. As a matter of fact, the budget was posted online last week at the request of a of a council member. >> That was me. So,
>> okay. But and and I think it should be online every every year. >> I didn't say it shouldn't. My point is the use of the word shady is offensive. Number one. Number two, there was a timeline and um I believe that there were 12 municipalities in Bergen County that did not have to issue rice notices
be rice notices or layoff notices because of the cap bank issue. U Mr. Riotano, can you expand on that? Yes. Um so the cap bank was indeed an issue even here. So before we even met
with the finance committee, the BA and I uh we went through every person's um employment and at one time there were the opportunity that we may have had to do a potential layoff. Um but when we
met uh with the finance committee, they had some other ideas and we did not have to do the layoff. The reason you're seeing the budget now at the end of May and many municipalities haven't even introduced yet or just about introducing
in late May is because of the cap bank. And to put that 500,000 into the cap bank for next year, let me let the taxpayers know it's not costing you a dime this year and maybe not even next year. That is nothing more than it's not
a cushion. It's a it's a actual document that is approved by the state in which we're not spending up to that appropriation level. And since we're not, we get the credit next year in case there is another bad percentage increase
in health benefits or anything else that is unforeseen. Thank you. Anyone else on discussion? If not, I will close the and look for a vote. >> Yes. >> On on the on the budget.
>> Yes. So, first by council president, second by council min. A roll call. We have council members Folo. >> No. >> Oswald. >> No. >> Samson, >> yes. >> Sheridan, >> yes. >> Troy, >> yes. >> Council President Pellegrine,
>> yes. >> Motion carries. It is hereby certified that the within budget is a true copy of the budget finally adopted by resolution of the governing body on the 21st day of May 2026. It is further certified that each
item of revenue and appropriation is set forth in the same amount and by the same title as appeared in the 2026 approved budget and all amendments thereto, if any, which have been previously approved by the director of local government services. >> Mr.
would you be so kind to break this down? >> No. No. Hold on, Mike. Hold on. >> At this time, we will be moving on to our ordinances on first reading. We have resolution R-168-26 introduced ordinance number 26-15. On
first reading, be it resolved that an ordinance entitled an ordinance to fix the salary, wage, and compensation of the officers, employees, and servants of the burrow of Elwood Park, County of Bergen, state of New Jersey for the year 2026, be passed and adopted our first reading, and be it resolved at a final
hearing on said ordinance will be heard in the municipal building on Thursday, June 18th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as same can be heard, at which time any persons interested in said ordinance can be heard. Be it further resolved that the burough clerk being she is hereby authorized to
advertise a notice of introduction and final hearing as required by law. >> Okay. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Mr. Feligo, would you be so kind to break it down? >> Mayor, this is the annual cost of living adjustment for our department heads and employees that are not covered by a
collective bargaining agreement um that the council uh customarily uh approves. >> Thank you. May I have a motion on the ordinance? >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Call the role, please. >> First by Council President Peline.
Second by Councilman Folo. A roll call. We have Council Members Brolo. >> Yes. >> Oswald, >> yes. >> Samson, >> yes. >> Sheridan, >> yes. >> Troy, >> yes. >> Council President Peline, >> yes. >> Motion carries.
Next, we have ordinances on second reading. Resolution R-169-26 introduce ordinance number 26-12 on second reading whereas public notice has been given by the burough clerk that an ordinance entitled an ordinance amending section 7-21 multi-way stop
intersections to add intersections on East 55th Street was introduced and passed at a meeting held on Thursday April 16th 2026 and that further consideration of this ordinance will be taken up at this meeting and whereas all persons interested in said ordinance were given an opportunity to be heard
concerning the same. Now, therefore, it be it resolved by the mayor and council of the burrow of Elwood Park that an ordinance entitled an ordinance amending section 7-21 multi-way stop intersections to add intersections on East 55th Street pass on final reading. May >> have a motion open to the public. So,
>> second. Anyone from the public here who will comment on on this ordinance and this ordinance alone? >> If no one wishes, I will close the public portion. May I have a motion to adopt the ordinance? So move. >> Second. >> Call the role, please. >> First by Council President Peline,
second by Councilman Folo. On roll call, we have council members Folo. >> Yes. >> Oswald, >> yes. >> Samson, >> yes. >> Sheridan, >> yes. >> Troy, >> yes. >> Council President Pellegrine, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Next, we have resolution R-170-26.
Introduce ordinance number 26-13 on second reading. Whereas a public notice has been given by the burough clerk that an ordinance entitled an ordinance to amend the code of the bureau of Elwood Park, New Jersey, amending the burough code and all general ordinances of the burrow. More specifically, section 4-7.3
licensing to permit class 6 cannabis delivery services was introduced and passed at a meeting held on Thursday, April 16th, 2026. And that further consideration of this ordinance will be taken up at this meeting. And whereas all persons interested in said ordinance were given an opportunity to be heard
concerning the same. Now therefore it be resided by the mayor council of the bur of Elmer Park that an ordinance entitled an ordinance to amend the code of the burrow of Elwood Park, New Jersey amending the burough code and all general ordinances of the burrow more specifically section 4-7.3
licensing to permit class 6 cannabis delivery services. Pass on final reading. >> Motion to open to the public. >> So move. >> Second. Anyone from the public here to speak on this ordinance and this ordinance alone? If not, I will close the public portion.
May I have a motion to adopt the ordinance? >> Mayor discussion. Uh, we motion. I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> You want to get >> I just wanted to make a comment. >> Is that Is that a line? Okay. >> No, cuz I didn't see you made the
motion. I just want to say uh I'm glad that the uh the council and and the cannabis uh committee um the cannabis board uh has brought this to the council's attention. Uh right now our businesses are at a disadvantage with delivery. Uh right now delivery isn't
allowed in Elmo Park after this vote. Hopefully it will be allowed. Um and right now Saddlebrook, Garfield, all these all these surrounding towns, their businesses are allowed to generate more revenue through uh delivery outside of town. and that'll that'll increase the the revenue to Elmo Park greatly. So,
I'm I'm glad the council brought this and it's in the second reading. >> Okay. May I have a motion to adopt the ordinance? >> Uh, we have a motion by Councilman Folo and a second by Councilman Oswald. On roll call, we have council members Foso. >> Yes.
>> Oswald, >> yes. >> Samson, >> yes. >> Sheridan, >> yes. >> Tracy, >> yes. >> Council President Green, >> yes. Motion carries. Moving on to our consent agenda, we have the following resolutions.
Resolution R-171-26, approval of payroll. R-172-26, approval of bills list. R-173-26, resolution authorizing tax exemption for surviving disabled veteran spouse 104
Sidel Avenue, aka block 705, lot 13.01, 01 R-174-26 Resolution to refund tax exempt veteran R-175-26 Resolution to refund R-176-26
Resolution to redeem third party tax lean R-17-26 Resolution to refund overpayment R-178-26 authorized payment estimate number one 2024 CDBG road program diamonds place
improvements R-179 9-26 authorized payment estimate number two 2024 CDBG road program to rem place improvements R-180-26 authorized payment estimate number three and final change order number two 2024
Burough road program R-181-26 chief financial officer/qualified purchasing agent contract R-182-26 a resolution requesting permission for the dedication by writer for affordable housing trust NJSA A 48 col2A-3 trust
fund R-183-26 establishing and implementing the 2026 Elwood Park Burrow internship program for high school students. R-184-26 Appoint crossing guards for the 2025 2026 school year police department.
R-185-26 resignation of firefighter. R-186-26 resolution to appoint firefighters. R-187-26 authorize online auction of surplus property and R-188-26
resolution to approve consent agenda. >> We have a motion on the consent agenda. >> Second. Any con any discussion? If not, call the role, please. >> First by Council President Pelgine, second by Councilman Folo. On roll call,
we have council members Folo. >> Yes. I need to recuse on R-185-26 and R-186-26. Yes to the rest. >> Okay. Oswald, >> yes to all. >> Samson, >> yes.
>> Sheridan, >> yes. Troy, >> I'm recusing on R-185-26 and R-186-26. Yes to the rest. Council President Pellegrine. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Next, we have
departmental reports. We have the board of health meeting minutes from March 9th, 2026 and the recreation advisory board meeting minutes from December 8th, 2026. I mean, 2025, sorry. >> We have a motion to accept. So, second.
>> Any discussion? All in favor? I >> Okay, mayor. This concludes my portion of the meeting. I will turn it over to you for council reports. >> Council reports. Let's start with Councilman Oswald. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I have just a couple of things I wanted to bring up. I
um wanted to say uh first of all, uh they're not here anymore, but a congratulations again to my niece, Angelina Cuchinello, who is graduating Elma Park High School. She was one of the champion cheerleaders. Um my wife who is graduating from William Patterson with her masters. She's a former Elwood Park teacher um for special education
and uh really proud of her. She's born and raised in Elwood Park. She played sports here and I'm very thankful that u my own daughter who's now going into 3K uh will get to experience the Elwood Park school system along with my son who's also going to kindergarten. Um
I've had a fantastic um birthday month so far. Uh we did a couple of really really beautiful things for the community. Um I'm sure that the uh liaison um to the chamber of commerce will expound more on it, but we did a job fair recently that we all agree was
one of the most important um community activities that was uh taken place by the chamber and and among our many members and sponsors. Um so many of the businesses in Elwood Park really go above and beyond what is asked of them. I'm sure that every member of the STAS and any member of this uh in the room
who is on a volunteer organization has probably approached some of the same people like Francesca's, Four Seasons, uh Blue 42, Alente, all of them. And they all give more than you ever expect. They all want to help. It's one of those things that we should all be really proud of as our business community and it is growing. As the mayor said, we're
doing ribbon cutings all the time. People want to be a part of this community. um specifically businesses like Aumare who have over the past month probably sent down uh what probably 40 trays of food to the first responders, police, EMS just to say thank you uh to
them. Uh and that's just only one of those people. Um we have um thankfully um we do I believe have a member of our police force uh who could be honored for um Asian-American Pacific Islander Appreciation Month. Uh there's a gentleman named Hans who I personally um
got to meet the other day and uh he expressed that he was among the first uh Filipino Americans employed by the um police department. So we have a diverse police department and I believe that it goes to the credit of all the good things they do to help out our community. I'm really proud to be able
to walk uh second year in a row in the Memorial Day parade. It is a solemn uh parade. It is not necessarily a celebration but a reflection of our dedication and the honor to uh soldiers who passed away in in service of our country. Um I'm also really proud that
I've been um able to meet with our uh representatives in the federal government um and Congresswoman Nelly Po's office. It's up on her website and we've shared it. um has put in for the fiscal year 2027 budget with the Congress uh to award uh to try to award Elwood Park $1.9 million to replace our
water treatment system, which is a huge uh boon for us and a help to our taxpayers. Um and I would also ask for anybody to please call our state representatives um Alab Delaz and Kenyatta Stewart and advocate for them um as they sit upon the budget and appropriations committee. We need to
call them and tell them the things that we need. Um, specifically, I'm asking for some help with our uh, fundraising for our EMS ambulance, and they put a request in for us, and we're really proud of that. Um, so I do hope that we will be able to move forward with that one. Um, and, uh, besides that, I I know
that sometimes everybody might uh, look at these videos and see us up here being um, contentious and butting heads, but at the end of the day, even before I sat up here, um, I was friends with everybody. We will always probably be friends afterwards. And uh the mayor likes to say we check our politics at
the door. So for anybody that may find anything um uncou you know from for my part um it's never meant to be disrespectful to the public. Everything that I say and do is meant to be the benefit of people. So just want you to know that we do get along very well up here uh 99% of the time. So um I did
want to say thank you, Mr. Mayor, for chairing the meeting uh appropriately and for giving everybody an opportunity to speak to say what they wanted to say. um and for the public for showing up and being part of this democracy as we going into the 250th anniversary of this great nation. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
>> Mr. Oswwell, did I hear you say 1.9 million? >> Yes, sir. >> Oo, is that sweet? >> It is very hopefully that is a follow through on that. >> Okay, Mr. Fullo. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just want to there's
a lot of similarities between our um reports tonight. Uh I want to thank the congresswoman for she had hundreds of projects that she could have picked from, but out of those projects, she's picked Elmo Park. And it's it's something that's a deep need for our for our community and the water uh quality
for our residents. Uh I want to thank the the Chamber of Commerce, Joe and and uh John, for putting together such a great uh job fair uh the other day. Uh it was really it it was nice to see a lot of people there, but it's also a little bit concerning, right? It's
concerning to see so many people coming with their resumes and looking for work and and um you know on such a small scale like at a jobs at a job fair in Elwood Park is it's considered a pretty small scale. Uh, and we had, how would you say, over 100 people there looking
for jobs and, uh, the Department of Labor was there and and the county the county people uh, of labor were there and um, the lines were just down the parking lot and and it's really concerning to see uh, so many people there, but it was a great event and hopefully next time it'll be bigger with
vendor-wise uh, and we can make that that grow and become a more successful event in the future. >> Mr. fac. Did any anybody get a job? Like >> I saw people I saw the Department of Labor literally saying you could go here and give them your resume and and they'll give you the job right away.
Some people were getting forklift forklift license uh all these different things to to boost their qualifications to get jobs. So it was really a good event. It really connected people with a lot of work. So I'm happy about that. Um I'm happy to see many new businesses, uh
barber shops, uh food places, uh crepe places. There's so many different things going on in Elmo Park and I feel like we're we're cutting ribbons every week. Um it's hard to keep up with them to tell you the truth, all these ribbon cutings. Um I want to thank the governing body tonight for formally
reestablishing the youth internship program for 2026. We've had a few students already apply and express interest. Uh they do have until if you are a student out there listening, uh there you do have until June 18th to do so. Uh hopefully we have a good turnout
of students and uh I just want to wish everybody out there uh a good weekend, a happy Memorial Day and uh we'll see you at the parade and enjoy your time with your family and uh you know remember th those uh those troops who gave their all for for our country and for our freedoms
and for our ability here tonight to speak the way we're speaking and still leave here and not uh you know be arrested. So thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Samson. Thank you, mayor. Uh, so just to reiterate, the the the
backbone of this community, the people that we celebrated today and we thanked and we congratulated is truly a awesome. It's an awesome thing. It's an awesome spirit in this burrow. Um, I just want to talk about uh acknowledgement of our
heroes. So, I believe two weeks ago was police week, Chief. >> Sorry. >> So, two weeks ago was police week. Uh this week we're currently finishing up uh EMS week and um we observed EMS week uh yesterday and uh council president
and myself brought the lunch to the to the crew. It was uh just the meant for the um for the committee and uh this is this is special to me because I lead the committee. Uh, and I be began this at 16 years old at Garfield Ambulance. And to
go from a 16th year old youth squad member um to now basically the commissioner of EMS here is really uh it's something it amazes me actually to tell you the truth. Um it's a great program. They need equipment. We're getting the equipment. I appreciate any
kind of um especially grant money because we were told there's no grants out there initially, but if we could uh if that's available, that's fine because the ambulances are sorely and they're costing us a lot of money to stay on the road. We know I'm not going to keep beating that horse, but we're doing the right thing. We're going in the right direction and uh like I said, I'm I'm
proud of what I do. And I uh of course, I would be remiss in uh missing DPW week because I believe I saw something that it's also DPW week and I didn't even know we had one of those. But uh I guess nationally they they acknowledge it. So that's Ela Park strongest and they do a
good job. Uh as far as Memorial Day is concerned, we owe like in the words of uh my counterpart, we owe it all to them. Um just sitting up here, we owe it all to them. Um the the barbecues and the sales and all of that, that's all great, but that was all fought for. So I prefer to say
observe Memorial Day, you know, respect Memorial Day, have a great weekend. Unfortunately, I don't think we're gonna have good weather, but we can't control that. Um, Mayor, thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Sheridan.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, May 17th was um the Elks Award, the lunchon for all our uh wonderful um students. Um I got to attend that. Um thank you to everyone that um
coordinated that. Thank you to Councilwoman Chisy. Um, also we had um on May 18th, a Monday night, we had the swearing in of the new officers over at the VFW, the new commander. I just want to say congratulations.
Uh, today at over at the VFW was the day of service. Um, I personally didn't get a chance to go over there, but um, a lot of the veterans from what I heard was there. Um, also the 250th anniversary,
the flags um, all around the town. Um, thank you to the chief for coordinating that. I mean, the town really looks good, especially with Memorial Day coming. Um, good job on that. Um, as far as the
parade goes, uh, anybody that wants to leave their car, um, over at the BFW, the float will be there at 10:00. the float will be leaving there 20 after 10. Um, and we will get escorted up to the um, high
school. Um, I want to say thank you to my uh, DPW. I've been a DPW lesson for three years and I couldn't have asked for a better DPW. Uh, thank you to them. Um, and the only else I have is everybody
have a safe, have a great holiday, and if you see a veteran, just say thank you. >> That's all I have. >> If you see a veteran, kiss him. >> That too. Just don't knock them over. >> Uh, thank you, uh, Councilwoman.
Councilwoman Chroy. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, the wreck complex will be closed from Friday, May 23rd through May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. The spray park is scheduled to open on June 22nd.
Daily and season passes are available for purchase online beginning June 1st. Summer camp registration closes on June 5th or once it reaches capacity. for the board of ed. The high school awards ceremony is on June the 4th. Um,
unfortunately, I will not be able to uh attend. It's council meeting day. Um, middle school graduation is June the 15th and high school graduation is June the 17th. And then for my police update, Burgers
with the Blue is tomorrow from 12 to 3 at Steve's Burgers. Hope you can join us. Um, I just want to say uh happy EMS week um to our first responders and thank them for their service to our
community. And that's all I got. Mayor, >> thank you. Council President Hello Green. >> Yes, just a couple things. My board of health update, they had their free rabies clinic for dogs and cats last
week. 49 dogs and 11 cats were vaccinated. Um, the president of the board of health is here, so I'm not going to speak about the upcoming events. He will do so in the public portion. I believe their next regular meeting will be held on June 8th at 700
p.m. The new Elmo Park Chamber of Commerce update, they had their Mother's Day 5K and 10K run on May 10th. It was very successful. The proceeds of the event were to help with Parkinson's disease. Thank you to all who participated to make a difference. Last
Saturday, they held their first annual job fair as they spoke about already, but I'll say a few things. Over 80 people came to this event. Many connections were made and hopefully many will get employment. The residents assistance program was there to lend a
hand and provide services to those who needed it. And I was really um not happy someone needed help, but someone reached out to me the next day and and I met them at the pantry. So really good thing came out of that helping another family.
Also at after the job fair, the chamber did a ribbon cutting for a new business, Kasa Habachi, located on Route 46 in Elmo Park. We wish them much success. The food there was phenomenal. I think everybody that was there could agree to that. I brought some food home too. Very
nice family, great people. Uh give it a try if you can. The next grand opening celebration will be on Saturday, May 30th, 100 p.m. till 2:30. It's um 287 Market Street. Both businesses are right next to each other. It's Blend Bliss.
It's a juice bar and I'm going to hopefully get this name right. Abu >> Shanab. >> Chanab. Thank you, Jeff. >> Barber. >> Yes, it's a barber shop and they're right next to each other at that address. So, hope you can go out and support the businesses. And many more
events and ribbon cutings will be taking place in the next few months. We'll keep you posted, but you can always go to their website for more information at elwoodp parkchamber.org. And their next regular meeting will be held on June 16th at 6 PM in the allpurpose room right here at Burough
Hall. Council Corner with myself and Councilwoman Sheridan will be held Tuesday, May 26th at 7 PM right here in Burough Hall in the all-purpose room. Our guest speakers will be Mayor Kleti, Chief of Police and Business Administrator Michael Feligma, and Chief
Financial Officer Roy Riatano. So, come be a part of our conversation. Lastly, I hope everyone comes out to our Memorial Day parade on Monday to honor and remember our fallen heroes. That's it, Mayor. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just have one
small addendum. Um, there's the blended and bliss uh ribbon cutting. That is not a chamber sponsored one. They are doing it. We're supporting it. The chamber sponsored one is at two V2 Motor Labs. >> Yes, that wasn't listed on my list, so I didn't say it. >> Oh, well, 2:00 V2 Motor Labs, uh, 257
Molnar. Um, we're doing the ribbon cutting for Victor, who's also partners with Aumare Global EMS, and Forever Moments QR. So, that's 2 o'clock. Okay, I got this straight. I'd just like to remind people and I know the people that
are in the audience here tonight are I'd be preaching to the choir when it comes to Memorial Day. Uh but it is a monumental uh moment for this country. uh 250 years uh of sacrifice by
thousands and thousands of lives that allow us to sit up here and have these discussions with all the freedom in the world and that nobody could stop and it's an vital importance that we
keep this day going for eternity and keep our children free. So, let's not forget the parade. And uh with that, I need a motion to open the floor to the public. >> Second. >> Anyone from the public here to speak on
any subject whatsoever? >> We know who you are, but we still need your name and your address. >> Darus, 124 Philip Avenue. Two questions. Mayor, we have the uh Vietnam Memorial statue. Are you going to stop Memorial
Day and get put a wreath there >> and stop there and and and want >> and put a wreath? >> Do we have >> because I think they deserve it just as much as the other. >> Can I Can I answer that please? >> Sure. Okay. Thank you. Hello. How are you? >> Hi. Um there is a wreath there.
>> I saw that the PBA put there. Okay. Um I could arrange a wreath. I mean if you want to do that I don't have a problem with it. >> We usually >> we usually stop and do a prayer. We we stop and say a few words, pay our respects and move on. Okay. >> Which is very difficult to coordinate
because >> everybody's coming down. I understand. But I didn't know that. I'm sorry. I didn't know that you stopped there to do it cuz I, you know, I'm behind them, you know, and I didn't see it. But thank you. That's one thing. >> Um, >> how am I going to say this, Mike?
>> I saw you. I saw you a month ago and I came to your office and I told you about five police officers that I wanted you to give them my blessing. They came on my street. They took care of a person that we know I don't know what was wrong
with her. But these five police officers, they were so good and so kind and so understanding and so patient with this person. The ambulance came. They took her away, but she tried to get out of their ambulance while they were going to pull away. The police officer took care of them right got her right away
and protected everything. So, please do you know they're my angels. Please, I want them everybody to know we have special people in this place and there are angels in town and every one of them should be honored. Thank you.
>> Anyone else care to speak? Yes, John. You brought some help with you, huh? >> I did. I did. I got backup now. >> Yeah. >> The the other one was all be by myself. Um, >> I'm John De Marzio, uh, president of the board of health, the Elmo Park Board of Health, and this is Janette Randazzo,
the treasurer of the board of health. Um, we are having an event, and that's our former member right there, Doris. Um on June 6th, which is a Saturday, at um uh the recreation center, uh at uh 10
until 2 o'clock, we're having our first um event dedicated to cancer prevention and wellness and definitely awareness. Um we'll be having um um most of the major hospitals uh in the area plus the county. Uh we have in Sierra Chopra from
Fairlon I think their dietitian because it's not just about treatments it's about prevention. Um you know this is it's really incredible because um 39% of the men and 38% of the women at some point in their lives will be diagnosed
with cancer. Um we've all been impacted either directly or indirectly by people we've known. Um, and I just think it's a great way that, you know, we can just do the outreach and bring awareness about this um this dreadful disease. But, you know, there is hope and that's what we're trying to do for the community and
for the people to to let them know that there is hope, you know, and and prevention and detection early can um um save lives. Um, so um we encourage everybody. I wish there were more people here. I wish we could have done this prior. Um, but we want to make this a a
really good big success. Um, and we want to make sure that many people, as many people can come out as they can. >> We've been putting out flyers. I've been speaking to uh the seniors at the recreation center and at the uh uh
during their lunch season. Um, and uh we're promoting it. I promote it at my ARP meetings. I spoke about it at the ARP meetings. So, I'm hoping, like John said, that we get a good turnout. it is the first time so we're hoping it it turns out well
>> and also I just want to say that I know that it's going towards you know because our connection mostly is with seniors but this is definitely a pediatric I mean there's no age discrimination when it comes to cancer um so this is for everyone we tried to get testing um on on site but that was really it it wasn't
it didn't work out unfortunately you know we were trying to get breast care and um and uh prostate cancer for men and um unfortunately it didn't work out but maybe you know next time we will be able to, but this is a a great event to make sure that we just get the awareness out there to people.
>> No, no, no, no. This is a new This is the event in June, June 6th. >> It's uh at the rec center um from 10 to 2. >> You're going to get an email out, John? >> Yeah. Um and the event that Joe's talking about was our Elmwood Park Celebrate Seniors event. That's not
until October, October 10th. And we'll have, you know, we'll be back again to make that announcement of that. um you know we have a pretty good team to make the announcement and that's a really it's getting to be a really pretty big event and we have new vendors this year so I'm really excited about that and Janette Janet and I we we recruit we go
to all different events um and it's not just about you know it's about the board of health which I'm really proud of and I think that we've done a lot as a board of health in this town and I just want to make sure that people know we're on the map and you know with a lot of uh you know our dignitaries and our officials and and it's just to promote
Elma Park too because you know I want us I want people to know that we are a cohesive uh great community that cares about the community because our goal and our mission is to get outreach to the people, you know, to to make them or let them have the best healthiest lives that we can provide for them.
>> Very nice. Uh John, I just want to compliment you over the years uh you and your staff. Um you have great >> my my colleagues. >> Yes. Um, you've done an incredible job right across the board with the people that
you have on that on that uh committee. Uh, and it's made Elma Park better. >> So, and and if I could just kind of like piggy back on Joe and the um the new Elma Park Chamber of Commerce at the job fair. Um, that was really a poignant,
significant uh time and I'm I'm going to talk to Joe to see if we can have um do even more, you know, because I know that it's a it's a service that's totally needed. We had people from Connecticut, believe it or not. We had people from Basking Ridge, Union, North Bergen, I mean, from all over that were coming
there. And I think that if we have, you know, the next time we could just make more of an announcement, um, because we need to get people employed, that is so important. >> Yeah, it's all good. It's all good. It is all good. Thank you. >> Anyone else care to speak?
>> You don't have to come back. >> Yeah, Mike. >> Um, I would like to ask the council or implore the council to consider updating a burough ordinance. All right.
uh 3-9A which is parking of commercial vehicles on the street. Uh it lists 9 ft high, 22 feet long. However, if you drive around town, there are a lot of people that own
Dodge or Mercedes Sprinters or the Ford Transit like we have in a police department. They're 8t high. They have no windows on them. 99.9% of them are being used for commercial purposes with passenger plates. They
have no writing on them, so they don't have to be registered commercial. However, you can't see coming up the street along them. >> On my block alone, I have one next door to me, one up the street. I even have a guy who bought a retired ambulance up
the street, which is wider than all of them. When it snowed, you couldn't go up Philip Avenue because the DPW didn't get any closer than four feet to the curb. He was parked there. So, he was out into the middle of the street. Can we try, think about it, renewing the
ordinance, reviewing it, bring the height regulations down. Bring it down to under 8 ft. A Suburban is only 6 and 1/2 ft high. That's a family vehicle. These vans are not family vehicles. They are an actual obstruction. I almost
hit a kid the other day coming up the street cuz he stepped out in front of one of them. You couldn't see them. Those things are just as dangerous as these electric bikes and the electric scooters on the street. Those I'm glad the state took a stand and made regulations on the bikes. They should have included the scooters, too, because
a lot of these scooters get up to 30 miles an hour. >> Now, to your to your point, Mike, they and when those vans are parked near the corner, it's dangerous. I got you go up on the corner of Philip and Elm, there's usually a car parked in the crosswalk.
>> No ticket on the windshield, but it's parked there. I know if I got a ticket once, I wouldn't do it again. Uh those things need to be looked at seriously. That's think we should be proactive instead of reactive before somebody gets into an accident or killed
to do so. Most of them, at least the ones on my block, all are in two family homes. Two family home is supposed to allow for two spaces per unit. Off- streetet parking. They're not in the driveways. Maybe
enforce it where the owner of that house has to let them put it in the driveway. That'll get it off the street if we can't change the ordinance for the height. >> Get them off the street. uh something to really consider before, god forbid, somebody steps out and gets seriously
hurt or killed, especially a little kid. >> M Mr. Attorney, do we have that power or is this is that >> uh according to state it just has to be brought up by the council, amended and voted on. They can an
ordinance can be changed real easy. I know in order to be I don't know if there's any restrictions in terms of commercial vehicle definitions etc. >> Yeah. Well then they don't have commercial plates on them but they're all being used for commercial purposes. All right. Then that's not the family go to church. >> We can't prove that though Mike. We got
to we got to stick to what we have. >> Well then that just reduce the height. Anything over anything over 7 and 1/2 ft has to be off the street. >> Yes. That's something like that. Mike >> because the Suburban is 6 foot high. 6 and 1/2 ft at tops >> which a Suburban is a family vehicle.
Mike, you have any opinion on this? >> I would prefer to speak with the attorney on this in executive and uh brief the council on some some uh specific things with this. >> Oh, yeah. I'm not looking for a definite answer right now. I'm just looking for
the council to sit down and consider it and work it out, maybe find a solution to make the street safer. Okay. Um, also does anybody know if the Riverview East property either has a permit or is zoned
to park school buses there? >> Yeah, they do. >> They do. Okay. Um, last but not least, um, I notice some streets have been renamed for people. Uh, Lee Street, the one section is renamed for Lou Mano
right in front of his house. Is there a certain criteria that needs to be met to have that done? Why would you like us to name your street? Uh, >> no. I'd like the council to consider my father-in-law on Beach Street. When he was a councilman, he was responsible for instituting the junior council. He
brought in the bandparents association in town. Uh, nobody on his council is old enough to remember except maybe you, Bob. But our big landmark, the tank. Thanks, Mike. >> Our big landmark, the tank on the boulevard, he was responsible for that
tank being there. It was on loan. The government wanted to take it away and he fought and we have that landmark. >> You know what I suggest? >> What you what you're doing right now? Yes. >> Put it in writing. Address it to the mayor and council. >> Okay. >> With all the different >> items. Yeah.
>> And we could take it from there. >> Yeah. Cuz I I figure I mean what other people have done. Yes. But he's also done a lot for this town when he was alive. >> He lived here from I think 52 or 53 until about 8 years ago when he passed. So he was a longtime resident also. Yeah.
>> And Beach Street's not a big street. >> Everybody, thank you. >> I thought you wanted us to name the street after you. >> No, no, you don't have that much power. >> Anyhow, everybody, enjoy your holiday weekend. Thanks for listening to me. >> You too, Mike. >> Thank you.
>> Anyone else care to speak? >> Good evening, everyone? >> Yes, ma'am. We'll need your name and address. Latrell Anderson 3 West Street here in Emil Park. I just have a little concern or a complaint. I'm here to
complain about West Street and Summer Street. You have cars flying not obeying the stop sign during the day and at night. I have two granddaughters that I walk across the street every day and I'm just scared
that I'm going to get hit. So, like, can something get done? May I don't know. >> There is a stop sign there now, dear. >> Yes, it's a three-way three-way stop sign. Yes. >> And it's still not slowing them down. >> No, not at all. >> Not at all.
>> Well, I work from home mostly and I'll hear a car zoom. I know they running a stop sign. or if I'm looking out the window or if I'm leaving home to go somewhere flying by, they do not obey the stop
sign. So, I'm just here to ask or you know, can something get done? >> Mr. Felgno, would you like to chime in on this? >> Yes, absolutely. So, we'll have our police patrols do extra checks over there, set up some some details, some radar posts, and some stop sign enforcement for you.
>> And it's mostly done at nighttime, too. Can you just um give your name and phone number to the lieutenant and we'll so we could talk back and forth with you. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> If not, I'll close the public portion
and may I have a motion to enter you into executive. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Good night, ladies and gentlemen. Whereas the open public meeting act 1975 chapter 231 permits the exclusion of the public in from a meeting in certain
circumstances. And whereas this public body is of the opinion that such circumstances presently exist. And whereas the governing body wishes to discuss personnel minutes will be kept and once the matter involving that confidentiality of the above no longer requires that confidentiality
then the minutes can be made public. Now therefore it be resolved that the public be excluded from this meeting. Thank you so much.