Okay. Good evening. Welcome to the May 20th, 2022 meeting of the Emerson governing body. For those of you present in case of a fire, please follow the fire exit signs and above the door above the doors and exit calmly. Um, we have already done the flag salute as we had
some technical difficulty and we started again. Um, I would ask everyone to please remember former chief of police Peter Mazio um who passed away last week. May he rest in peace. This meeting is called pursuant to the provisions of the open public meetings law and
adequately noticed pursuant to NJSA 104-10. This meeting of May 20th, 2025 was noticed to the record and the Rididgewood News on January 7th, 2025 and published in said newspapers, posted on the bulletin board in the municipal
building and on the and on the website and has remained continuously posted as required under the statute. Miss Ryan, would you please call the roll call of the governing body? Sure. Mayor Dala, present. Councilwoman Rice here. Councilwoman Sers here. Councilwoman
Maguire present. Council President Arzia on her way. She is detained at school with her child. Uh, Councilman Timberman here and Councilwoman Chelino here.
There are no proclamations this evening. Um the next item is appointments. I am appointing to the um historic preservation committee for an unexpired term ending December 31st,
2025. Joan Wendell as the alternate number one member. Um and minutes for approval. There are no minutes listed for approval this evening. All minutes will be listed for approval on the June 3rd meeting. Correspondence. All
correspondence is on file in the office of the clerk. Financial business resolution number 150-25. Approve May 20th 2025 bills list. May I have a motion to approve that resolution, please? So
move. Second. Roll call, please. Thank you. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Ser, yes. Councilwoman Magcguire, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. And Counciloman, yes. Okay. Um, that brings us to unfinished business. We will discuss the flood
damage prevention ordinance. Miss Ryan, are you prepared to speak on this? Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um, the New Jersey D Thank you. sent notice uh to the burrow along with all other Bergen County towns that our flood plane management
ordinances needed to be updated to remain in compliance with federal and state regulations as well as to continue participation in the national flood insurance program. So over the last several months we have been working with the D and Dave and Katherine from Neglia
to make the necessary updates and customize this ordinance for Emerson. Uh one of the changes in this new ordinance will be to designate our uh burough engineer as the flood plane administrator to review uh applications for development to conform with these
regulations. Thank you. Okay. So we'll be working on this. There's nothing no action tonight. Well, there there is um it's uh listed uh under introduction of ordinances. Okay. I'm sorry. It sounds like they
caught a dog. Does anybody else hear the dog barking? I think a puppy got lost. Um, all right. And then discussion of repurposing the 2024 Bergen County Open Space Grant for Rosenart Sunset Park to Acriman Park. Miss Ryan, would you also
grab this one? Thank you, mayor. Um, several meetings ago, the governing body decided that Acriman Park would be a focus for playground improvements. Um, and uh, the $84,227 matching grant that Emerson was awarded
from Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund for Rosenart Park can be moved to Acriman Park, but a formal repurpose process will be required. So, at the next meeting, which is June 3, uh we will be holding a public hearing to repurpose uh these grant funds to
Acriman Park and more details on this project will be provided to the public at that time. Okay, perfect. Um you will notice that there is an empty chair here this evening and I would just like to announce that our administrator is no longer with the burrow. We wish him well
but by burrow ordinance um the clerk is the acting administrator in the absence of a administrator and myself and the burough council will be pitching in as needed if she um needs a couple of extra hands in Burough Hall. So, I just wanted
to make that clear to everybody that we are um running on full throttle and everything is moving and Michelle for the last week has been doing an excellent job. She stepped up very nicely. Um you're welcome. Um the next item on
the agenda is adoption of ordinances. Uh this is the second reading and public hearing of ordinance number 1702-25. Miss Ryan will please read the title of this ordinance. Yes, mayor. This is ordinance
1702-25, capital ordinance of the Burrow of Emerson in the county of Bergen, New Jersey, authorizing the making of various public improvements and acquisitions in, by, and for the burrow, appropriating therefore the sum of
$379,440, and providing that such sum so appropriated shall be raised from the burrow's capital improvement fund. May I have a motion to open the meeting for public comment on this and this ordinance only?
All in favor? Any opposed? Well, it's an ordinance. Shouldn't we be doing a roll call on this? Oh, okay. Um, so we are open to the public. Everybody in favor? Yes. Okay. Um, anybody want to speak on the
ordinance? Seeing no hands, may I have a motion to close the public portion of the meeting for on public comment for this ordinance? So move. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 1702-25 on second reading? So moved.
Second. May I have a roll call, please? Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman, yes. Councilwoman McGuire, I am Counciloman Timber. Yes. And Councilwoman, yes. Um, this is the Now we have the second
bond ordinance um and public hearing of ordinance number 1703-25. Miss Ryan, would you please read the title of this ordinance? Thank you, mayor. Yes. This is the second reading and public hearing of ordinance number
1703-25 bond ordinance to authorize the making of various public improvements and the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and machinery in by and for the burrow of Emerson in the county of Bergen state of New Jersey to
appropriate the sum of 3,122,190 to pay the cost thereof to appropriate various grants to make a down payment or partially fund an appropriation from the capital improvement fund to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such
appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds. They are tongue twisters sometimes. Um may I have a motion to open the meeting for public comment on this and this ordinance only? Second.
All in favor? I Okay, we are open. All in f Okay, we are open uh for this comment, this public comment on this ordinance and this ordinance only. Does that do anybody in the audience wish to be heard on this ordinance? Seeing no hands, may I have a motion to close this portion of the meeting for public
comment on this ordinance? Second. All in favor? I. Okay. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 1703-25 on second reading? So move. May I have a roll call, please?
Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Councilwoman Maguire, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. And Councilwoman Chelino, yes. The next order of business is introduction of ordinances. M. Those were all adoption. I may have misspoke before. And now we're moving to the
introduction. Miss Ryan will announce the number and title of the following ordinances. Upon approval, these ordinances will be further considered at a public hearing to be held on June 3rd, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be addressed in the
council chambers of Burough Hall, one municipal place, Emerson, New Jersey, and published in the record. All ordinances are posted on the Burrow website and on file in the office of the municipal clerk if anyone would like copies. Miss W. Ryan, would you please
read the title of ordinance 1704-25? Yes. Uh, this is ordinance 1704-25, an ordinance by the burrow council to replace in its entirety chapter 156 of the code of the burrow of
Emerson entitled flood damage prevention and reestablish chapter 156 of the Burrow of Emerson entitled Flood Plane Management Regulation. May I have a motion to introduce ordinance
1704-25 on first reading? So move second. And a roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Councilwoman Maguire, yes. Councilman Timberman, yes. And Councilwoman, yes. And before I move on
to the next one, and before we um to take care of the other ones, um I thought that uh Council President would be here a little bit sooner. Can I just have a motion to excuse her from the votes on the previous ordinances and then the ones that we are about to make?
So move. All in favor? Okay. Thank you. That saves Michelle a lot of paperwork which she reconciles the meeting. Um the next ordinance, Miss Ryan, would you please read the title of 1705-25? Yes. Uh, this is ordinance
1705-25, an ordinance to establish ranges for salary, wages, compensation, and other terms of employment of certain employees of the Burrow of Emerson for the calendar year 2025. May I have a motion to introduce ordinance number
1705-25 on first reading? Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Councilwoman McGuire. Yes. Councilman Timberman. Yes. And Councilwoman, yes.
Okay. Very good. The next order of business is reports. Uh, Councilwoman Rice, do you have a report from for us this evening? Uh, yes. I have two. So, the first is from the library. I want to let everyone know that there are so many programs available this summer for
children, ranging from magic shows to yoga activities to arts and crafts. Um, and then for adults and families encou uh you were all encouraged, I think we talked about this once before earlier this year, but um encouraged to take advantage of the museum passes that the
library offers. There's a flyer available if you walk in. They have all um all of this there for you, but you can get tickets to go see the MoMA, the Museum of the Dog, New Jersey Aviation Hall, uh Storm King Art Center, the list goes on and on. Yogi Barra. Um so pop in
the library, go on their website. Um all this information is available for you on uh there but definitely take advantage of it. So and then uh the environmental commission has three garden plots left. So get your application in. You can access it from the burough website. Um
just drop it off to um Michelle over in the burrow hall. And the last thing for environmental is there is an event tomorrow at the library. Um, it's a beekeeper presentation, which sounds really, really neat. Um, so join us for
a beekeeper presentation. Learn about honeybees, beekeeping, honey, and pollination in a fun and engaging way. Familyfriendly, children, uh, child-friendly um, at the library tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. So, very good. I think I'm going to attend that. It seems like it's going to
be fun. Um, Councilwoman Sers, do you have a report for us this evening? Yes. um for the Emerson Recreation Commission. So, spring sports are going well. We have football and cheer registration that's now open. Um prek,
soccer, the enrollment was up by 25%. So, we had a great participation with a total of 60 um children signed up for that. Soccer registration will be coming out by the end of May. Uh don't miss out on early bird
registration and mark your calendars for the Emerson summer kickoff on Saturday, June 14th with a rain date of June 15th. Come on down to Hillman Field and enjoy a day full of sports activities, hot air balloon rides sponsored by Unity Bank,
food, live music, and entertainment all day and wrapping up with fireworks at 900 p.m. For more information on events, check out Emerson Recreation Commission on Facebook. Thank you. Very nice. Councilwoman Magcguire, do
you have a report? Um, the board of ed recently reached an agreement with the Emerson Education Association for a new contract. They also recently approved their 2025 2026 budget, which will result in a $299
uh dollar a year tax increase on the average assessed home. uh the Shade Tree Commission. If you are interested in having a tree planted on the burrow's right of way in front of your property, please contact the commission via email. Their email address is
shadtree at emersonj.org. A member of the commission will contact you to provide further details about the program. It's a great It's a great program. Helps keep our town nice and green, which they've done very good with the their uh tree city,
right? Yeah. 20 years in a row. Excellent. Yeah. Yeah. Good job. Um, Councilman, do you report for us this evening? Yeah, I just have two things um to touch on. Also from the recreation commission, Emerson Park youth wrestling is currently uh raising
funds for upgrades uh and new mats in the auxiliary gym at the Emerson High School. Uh our communities have had a long history of success at youth and high school wrestling, and this is a much needed improvement to further enhance the program. If is able to
donate, uh, please reach out. You can see the flyer on Emerson Recreation Commission Facebook page or you can reach out to Nicole Sweeney, the Secretary of the Recreation Commission. Uh, and second, the Emerson Police Department is now accepting applications
for an NJ PTC certified officer or those currently enrolled in a PTC class. Um, see police app for details. Uh, and the application process is open now through June 22nd. Thank you, Councilwoman Shelina. I do.
Uh I have a report from the DPW. Um I'll start with a email that was sent from one of our residents um who lived on Demer Avenue. Uh she sent this on May 16th expressing that um that very morning around 5:00 a.m. a large branch had fallen branch had fallen across the
street. Um some neighbors were able to um move it out of the way enough for cars to pass through. Um but she wanted to commend the workers that showed up timely and efficiently and uh cut the tree up and cleaned the area um almost
like to meticulous standards. Um so just expressing her appreciation for the DPW that they always do a fantastic job. Um we're very lucky to have them. uh from the DPW super Perry Salamando.
Um his reports uh the DPW planted eight new shade trees for the Shade Tree Commission. Um they also use a new stump grinder to remove six stumps for the Shade Tree Commission. They removed five dead trees for the commission and the DPW had its annual D inspection on May
7th. They are in the process of making changes to be in compliance with the new permit. Uh DPW is planting and mulching in Monument Park in preparation of Memorial Day services which will be Monday, May 26 at 9:00 a.m. And that's
the end of the report for DW. Okay, great. Um, I'm going to come right out of the box with a report out of the out of the block on block 419. Um, as everybody knows, block 419 has been sitting dormant with little to no
activity for the better part of a year. From the moment the ownership of this project was transferred, without any financial due diligence by the previous administration and without final construction schedule, the project has been stuck by repeated delays. The
financial troubles by the redeveloper in his other projects across the state has been well publicized in the media, leaving other communities stuck in a similar situation as we have here in Emerson. Currently, block 419 has over
$33 million worth of mortgage leans against the property as well as other leans. As you know, earlier this year, we authorized our attorneys to bring another breach of contract action against the redeveloper. As this began, even more
properties the redeveloper was involved in across the state began to have similar problems. A few months ago, the burrow was approached by a wellrespected New York City finance construction investment firm called RXR and asked us for a meeting to see if things could be
worked out uh to the burrows of Emerson's satisfaction. Uh several other possible investors have approached the burrow as there is apparent interest in the property from other investors. At the time, RXR advised us they had a plan
ready to go if we could work things out with the current redeveloper. After several weeks of exhausting negotiations, sadly, at the last minute, the redeveloper changed what we believed he agreed to, which we thought was a very
fair deal, and it would make the taxpayers of Emerson whole while completing the project. Since this is no longer a possibility and given the extreme circumstances, the redeveloper
um the redeveloper um we are going to ask the governing body tonight to authorize our burough attorney um for immediate legal action against the redeveloper. Um all options are on the table, including condemnation.
It is the failure to perform due diligence on this builder at the last minute before leaving office of the previous mayor and governing body who failed this community. Hopefully, this action that we will take will invite other qualified developers to complete
this project so that we have a wonderful center of our town. Um, John, do you have any comments? Um I just wanted to thanks thank RXR for trying to work out a deal. Uh uh we as you know mayor and most of many members
in the governing body know that we worked really hard because we thought at the time instead of bringing um another breach of contract action and I'll cover that in a moment. uh you know it was best to proceed. They wanted to keep the
current redeveloper but they if you recall they assured us that they would be managing the project and and they were prepared uh to to the terms they they agreed with the terms. In fact our terms that we submitted to the
redeveloper were not just our terms. These were conditions that RXR had placed before us that needed to that needed to be resolved. So what we suggested in our settlement offer with Mr. Well with the redeveloper was terms
that were inclusive of and required by uh RXR. It's disappointing that at the last minute uh after several attorneys on both sides worked diligently uh to the verbal confirmation that we had of
an agreement when it came pushed came to shove to put it down on paper. Um as you know we we received uh disappointing news in that the redeveloper decided to engage again in to renegotiate what we
believed he had already agreed to. um could be you can argue that I guess I if you're the redeveloper, but that's you know that's on him. Uh at at the end of the day when you authorized me to bring the breach of contract action late last
year, I I mentioned and stated that we need to monitor the situation on the other properties in the state. Uh I was prepared to bring that action and still could be part of a condemnation. Uh but the reason why we didn't act on that is
because it it seemed to be uh having uh good money chasing bad money is the case. So to have me file another lawsuit and even win it um made little sense if everyone across the state was foreclosing and construction leans and
etc etc were going on on these other properties. In other words, what were we going to win even if we did win legally? So, uh, I I think our last best hope was RXR, and that is is off the table, and I think it's time, I'm sure the community
feels the same way, uh, that we have to take some drastic steps to protect, uh, the Burough of Emerson, the taxpayers, and get this project um, heading towards uh, a completion or maybe even a destruction. I don't know what the condition of the properties is right
now. As you can see, it's been open. it's essentially uh been abandoned. Um uh in my opinion, it's been abandoned. Um so I'm going to ask the governing body, you know, tonight to authorize me to take any and all legal necessary
steps, including condemnation. Okay. I don't want to limit it to just condemnation, but any and all legal steps that uh that me and our legal team feel appropriate to take. Thank you, John. Um I'll go into my regular report now.
Um, the burrow in collaboration with the BCUA held another successful shredding event this past Saturday. We recycled 4,892 pounds of paper. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in getting it coordinated, especially Perry Salamando
and Tom Carlos. We will keep you posted with more details about our next shredding day later in the year on November 1st. Monday, May 26th is Memorial Day and we invite you to join American Legion Post
269 and the Mayor and Council at the Monument across from Vano School for our ceremony that begins at 900 a.m. Light refreshments will be served courtesy of Rajie Meta of Dunkin Donuts. Um, in the
case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held indoors at the senior center. Um, there is a reminder that the burrow will be closed this coming Monday, May 27th, in observance of a Memorial Day. Mixed garden debris will
be picked up even though it's a holiday. I repeat, mixed garden debris will be picked up on Monday. The So, I've gotten a bunch of questions about this because I sent out the uh rave message. The Bergen County Clerk's Satellite Office
will be accepting passport applications as well as performing other services on Wednesday, May 28th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the senior center. Now, what I had said on the phone call, you cannot get the Real ID from the Bergen County Clerk's Office. What you can get
from them is an application for a passport. And when you get your passport, they now make a passbook, a traditional one, and they make a little tiny card that looks like a driver's license that can fit into your wallet. If you were traveling domestically, you
can use the tiny passport or the regular passbook when flying. And you do not need a real ID. As well, if you have the real ID, that's great. You could fly wherever you want with the real ID. You can only fly out of the country with a
passbook passport. So in order to fly domestically at this point, you need a real ID from the DMV or you need a pass book or the pass book card when you're traveling by air. Um if you have any
other questions about that, please call Michelle and she will explain it to you at Burrow Hall. Um, Saturday, June 14th is our summer kickoff as um, Ashley let us know. And the rain date is June 15th,
Father's Day. Um, applications are now being accepted by the police department for the 2025 Pascac Valley Junior Police Academy. Um, we will be beginning summer hours for Burough Hall offices um through August 29th. During these
weeks, each Monday through Thursday, Burrow Hall office hours will be 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. And then on Fridays, the hours will be 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars because if you come to Burough Hall on a Friday prior to August
29th, you will not find anybody here if you're coming after 12:30. The DPW summer hours will coincide with these dates as well, and their hours will be 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Police Department and the records clerk hours will remain
the same. Summer hours are posted on the burough website. And if you need the police, and it's an emergency, please do not hesitate to dial 911. On June 7th, the Emerson Chamber of Commerce is hosting a car show from 9:00
am to 2 pm in the parking lot of 800 Kinder Quebec Road just south of Dairy Queen. On June 8th, a blood drive will be held in honor of Emerson resident Armando Gonzalez and MDS patients from
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at our senior center. More details about the blood drive can be found on our burrow website. And our next regular meeting of the governing body will take place Tuesday, June 3 at 7:30m. Um Dave, do you have a report for
us this evening? Sure. Okay, great. We missed you at the last meeting. I'm sorry. Katherine did a nice job. That's good to hear. Glad to hear that I have Nice backup. Yes. Um so just want to update you on a couple different projects. Uh last month I believe
Katherine reported on the Randolph A pump station that things were underway. Uh the work over there has officially been completed. Um so everything is uh brand new as far as pumps controls. Um there are some punch list items that we're working with on the with the
contractor as well as working through uh the payment process to get them paid and then get that submitted for reimbursement with the county. So we'll be working on that uh over the next couple of weeks. Um additionally um we
had awarded the project for park phase two uh to Smith Sandi. Uh the contract, bonds, and insurance have been submitted to the clerk's office uh for final execution. Um and then we'll be looking to set up a uh pre-construction meeting
for that to get the the project underway uh in short order. Um also, uh the end of the beginning of this month, we submitted the MS4 uh permit application, which is for your storm water. Uh, so that was submitted um to the state um by
the May 1 deadline. So, thank you to Michelle and Perry for their assistance with that getting that out the door. Um, also on your consent agenda this evening is a contract with community development block grant for the senior center where
we're going to be doing a door replacement there. So, we'll have automated doors at the front entrance um which will have a sensor so when people walk there it'll automatically open and they can get in have access. Also, we'll be looking to replace two of the other
doors there as well through the grant. So, once the contract is in place and sent back to the county, we'll look to solicit bids for that because we believe that it'll come in under the uh the $44,000 bid threshold that the bureau has. So, we'll look to move that along
and get those improvements completed. Um, also just to put on our radar, um, due July 1st is the fiscal year 2026 uh, DOT local aid grant. Um, so we're working on finalizing the street for
that. Um, just um, for the FY25 one, which I didn't talk about, we did receive funds for that project. That's for uh, Lincoln A. But in talking to Perry Um it looks like the funds that we have will kind of complete what we have in
comparison to uh work that PSCG is doing in that location as well. So we're going to look to switch it up. Originally when we applied uh we thought it was going to be for a larger area. We got less money but anyway we're in the process of figuring that all out and uh we'll get
that uh taken care of and we'll work with um clerk and your grant consultant to get that stuff wrapped up. So those are the main things I had. So I did want to bring up PSENG as it relates to the energy strong program and what the
updates in town. We've been getting many many complaints about the condition of acriman and we hear them and I was told originally that they were going to pave at the end of May and I understand from Perry that that has been pushed to June.
Um I did call Chris who's the project manager. So Chris Perry and Chris's boss from PSCG um are going to meet I think either later this week or early next week and go over all of those horrible mounds that they patched which are way
too high that is giving everybody um issues with their cars. We don't want anyone driving up the center lane. It's very dangerous. Um we're trying to address it and I've been working on this for a few weeks now trying to get a meeting so that they can come and we can
them so that they could would it be called shaving them down if they they they really just dumped McAdam and there's like all these little bumps all over. They said that they were going to somehow remove some of it and just grade it better. So that I would guess they
might just mill this top surface to kind of scrape it off a little bit to make it a little smoother. I mean typically I think what they try to do with the trenches because they figure they're going to get some settlement. They do mound them a little bit higher. why they had to push it because they still have not settled properly to pay. Yeah. I was
going to ask how is is that appropriate that they can push it off for a month? I mean, or is that just you think scheduling? Um, listen, I I think you know, they have a lot of work that they've completed throughout Bergen County um and other counties as well.
So, I know they have a lot on their plate as far as that. So, they're trying to make sure um I think they're looking to just kind of group different communities because I believe your neighboring town to the south has some roads that are ready as well. They're kind of in the same So, it's easier for
them to bring the equipment to one area at one time. Yeah. But I think to be honest with you that your neighboring town is well ready. They're well beyond the 90-day period. So, Well, it's unfortunate that they had to push it back. I was upset. I let um the project manager know and at least they can come
in and try and make it a smoother ride as it continues to settle um and before they do the final paving. On a positive note that if it's closer to June at least then school out so it makes it a little bit easier because it is a lot of roads that they're going to be doing uh within the burrow here.
So becomes an inconvenience from that standpoint. But at least with school out it'll be that did not go unnoticed from me that they may been a nightmare, but if school is out, it would be a little But the road conditions, I understand from the other side of town. All right, thank you. Anything else, Dave? That's
all that I have unless anybody has anything. Michelle, did you have any report this evening? I do. I just want to um So, it's been very busy in the office. We've been working on grants. We've been helping
residents. Um we're trying to uh start projects, complete projects, work with our professionals. Um, thank you Dave. I've I've called you a lot and you've uh been there to and you've always answered my phone call. So, thank you. Um, and uh
just wanted to thank um Liz Morris and Perry Salamando for all their work to um obtain $10,88911 from the D's 2022 recycling tonnage grant. Excellent. um that's on
the consent agenda tonight to um to accept that and put that revenue uh unanticipated revenue into our budget. Um thank you to Tom Carlos. He's um been uh he's being appointed the storm water management coordinator.
Um and we are also approving the social affairs permit for the summer kickoff. Excellent. And um just wanting to welcome Daniela Vargas Delgado as a part-time violations clerk in our um
court and uh Ryan Bienni who is going to be with us uh as a part-time summer help at the DW. That concludes my Oh, actually, um, if anybody's, uh, watching, um, you have
and you are not registered, uh, to vote and you'd like to vote in the primary, tonight, um, is the deadline to, uh, register. Um, if you, uh, do not want to register online, you can go to the
clerk's office. We have a basket uh, with registration, paper registration forms. just stick it in our box and uh we will take it down to the county so that you can register to vote, but you have until nine o'clock tonight. So, you have um 44 minutes to do that. You just
reminded me I had a little bit of fun this morning. Um, as everybody knows, the high school um, teenagers have been helping out on election day. And I went down to the high school today and met with the kids before they got their their lesson on how to work the uh,
voting machines and checking people in. So, there's a new um, crop of young ones that will be working. Um, and if you are a voter, um, they've all been excellent in the past. I'm sure these new recruits will be just as good. um they're very
excited on um becoming part of the democratic process. And I also wanted to remind people because this is a big election this year. Um if you are an unaffiliated voter, you normally do not vote in a primary. If you wanted to
declare a party, you could vote in either the Democrat or the Republican um primary. When you do so, you will be declaring yourself that party. So, if you are an unaffiliated voter and you
feel strongly about a candidate on either side of the aisle, you are able to vote, but you will be declaring yourself a party when you do so. Correct. Yes. You have to declare yourself, right? Correct. Right. Okay. I
just wanted to put that out there as people are considering who they're going to be voting for. Can I just have one more thing? Sorry. I just wanted to um thank you and congratulate you for getting the uh Unity Banks um hot air balloon again.
Securing that for fun. Yeah. Um I didn't go up last year. I don't know. Did anyone go up in the hot air balloon last year? No. Did anyone go up? I'm afraid of heights. No, I'm afraid of heights, too. But I'm gonna hopefully be the first one in this year when he does a test drive. any of you are welcome to
come because when I start screaming, he's going to have to immediately bring it back down to the ground. So, if you want to be in that bucket with me, I invite you. All right, the next um order on the agenda is public comment. Members of the public are welcome to speak on any topic
by coming to the podium and stating your name for the record. In the interest of time, all who wish to speak, uh may please keep your comments brief and concise. May I have a motion to open them? There is a limit of three minutes that was taken out of here. Um may I
have a motion to open the meeting to public comment um this evening? Second. Um all in favor. Okay. We are now open to the public. Would anybody like to speak?
Seeing no hands, may I have a motion to close the meeting to general comments from the public? Second. So we have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? We are now closed. We now move to resolutions on consent agenda. Um they are considered routine
and will be enacted by one motion of the council and one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member requests an item be removed for consideration. May I have a motion to approve consent
agenda resolutions 151-25 through 157-25? Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Councilwoman Magcguire, yes. Councilman
Timberman, yes. And Councilwoman Chelino, yes. Okay. Um, we are now going into executive session. Uh, members of the public may remain on YouTube until we return to open session, at which time formal action may be
taken. Can someone make that motion to go into closed executive session to discuss matters exempt from the public pursuant to NJSA 104-1 at set and adequately noticed by resolution number 158-25
second roll call Councilwoman Rice Councilwoman Sers Councilwoman Maguire Councilman Timberman yes Councilwoman Chelina yes and please let the record that Council President Arzia has joined us at 8:20
p.m. No idea. I didn't bring No, it wasn't there before. May I have a motion to reconvene? Second. All in favor? Any opposed? We are back and open. Is there any other
business to discuss? Yes. I'd like to make uh one more motion for resolution 159-25. We authorize our burough attorney to take all legal steps necessary against the redeveloper for block 419 to enforce
our agreements against the redeveloper and to proceed with condemnation and to retain any and all professionals, clerks, and experts he sees fit uh with a not to exceed of $17,000. Second. May I have a roll call, please?
Councilwoman Rice. Yes. Councilwoman Sers. Yes. Councilwoman Magcguire. Yes. Council President Arenzia. Yes. Councilman Timberman. Yes. And Councilwoman Chelino. Yes. Thank you. With no more business to discuss, may I have a motion to adjourn
at 10:48? Second. All in favor? I we are adjourned.