Good evening. Welcome to the June 24th, 2025 meeting of the Emerson governing body. For those of you present, in case of a fire, please follow the exit signs above each door and exit calmly. Um,
please stand for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nationisible, liberty and justice for all. I would ask
you to remain standing for a moment of silence in memory of former Bergen County freeholder Mr. David Gans. Uh former police chief of Oregon and resident of Emerson, Mr. Frank Florio, Terrence Maloney, and very nice man that
we recently held a blood drive well that the burrow assisted with in a blood drive, Mr. Armando Gonzalez. May they rest in peace. Thank you. 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 June 24th, 2025 was noticed to the record and Rididgewood News on January 7th, 2025 and published in said newspapers posted on the
bulletin board in the municipal building 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? Mayor Depala present. Councilwoman Rice here. Councilwoman here.
Councilwoman pres. Thank you. There are no proclamations this evening. Minutes for approval. All minutes will be listed for approval at the next meeting. Correspondence, of which there's a lot,
is on file in the clerk's office. Appointments. There are no appointments this evening. I already said that. F. This isn't stable, so I'm going to get lost. Um, financial business. May I have a motion to approve resolution number 171-25
to approve the June 24th, 2025 bills list. So move. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice. Yes. Councilwoman Sers. Yes. Councilwoman McGuire. Yes. Council President Arzia and Councilman Timberman. Yes. And
Councilwoman Chelino. Yes. Thank you. Uh the next item on the agenda is unfinished business. So, we've been going back and forth talking about a brand new electronic message board for the burrow. Um Joe from Casey Signs was
supposed to be with us this evening. Um but something came up. um probably the 106 degree weather, I would guess. Long day for someone that works outdoors. Um and he was going to uh do a site visit with us in order to see where to place
the sign. So, in the meantime, we need to authorize the purchase of the electronic sign. Everybody received the information um in their packets and the grand total, I believe, was under what we budgeted. what was the
for the installation and for the frame and for everything. Correct. Um so I think we had um almost 50 or 60,000 budgeted over a couple of years for that. Um so we need to uh do a roll call on to whether or not we're going to move
forward with the sign. He brought the sign several meetings ago. I believe everybody saw it. Um, and there's also a change order, I believe, on it, um, as it relates to the sign that is already out there that does not work because
there is a glitch between the the connection with the Wi-Fi from the building and the electricity or something out to where it is in the center of town. But Joe from KC thinks it would actually work if we replaced it on the front of Burrow Hall because it
would be like hard grounded, I guess, I think he said. Um, so we have to But there's a $20,000 charge to move it. Is that correct? No, it can't be the CH to move it if it's 39 for a brand new sign. And that's to move the old signs.
That sounds like a lot. Is I I think we should continue to explore that. What does anybody else have an opinion? I think so. It sounds like an awful lot. And we just got those numbers late last week, so they were in everybody's packets. But as far as the new sign goes, we're we're not voting on the placement yet. We're still going to ask
Joe to come up and bring the sign and put it where we think it belongs and then we can all have our opinion on it. But um we I I just would like to make someone to make a motion to actually purchase authorize the purchase of that electronic message board
because it takes about eight weeks in order for us to get it. So that means that we should have it by September. And we are have also been working behind the scenes to get new either wooden or um what's that called? Tracks signs that
say welcome to Emerson. And we're hoping to coordinate the installation of all of our signs um hopefully by the midepptember. Don't hold me to that, but that's kind of the goal. Okay, I'll make the motion. Everyone's on board with that.
Uh Nicole seconded that. Jill's first. Okay. And a roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman, yes. Councilwoman Muire, yes. Council President, yes. Counciloman Timber, yes. And
Councilwoman, yes. Thank you. Um and that was resolution 172-25. Sorry, I didn't throw that out there. Um, the next item on the agenda is new business, utility bills audit.
And this is an order to authorize Troy Banks um for a utility bills audit. Um, what they do is they go through all of the bills and they see if we're due any money back. Um, I think in the past they have found money and I believe they take
what 20%. 22% of whatever money they find. What Nicole? No, I said 22%. Yeah, 22%. Um, is everyone in agreement for that? They did it in 2016 and it netted a
total of $7,500, right? But you never know if they have lapsed again. Um, so can I get a motion to approve resolution 173-25 to authorize the agreement with Troy Banks for utility bills, audit and cost
recovery services. So move Ashley second. Councilwoman Rice. Yes. Councilwoman Sers. Yes. Councilwoman Muire. Yes. Council President Arzia.
Yes. Councilman Timberman. Yes. And Councilwoman, yes. Okay. And then the next item on the agenda is the um discussion of the pickle ball courts at the Emerson Junior Senior High School.
If everyone recalls, um the uh board of ed asked us um in order to contribute for the um maintenance and the uh uh
refurbishing of the tennis courts and we said that if we did that could we please also line them um for pickle ball since pickle ball is such an up incoming sport and the council agreed and now we are at the point where um they are going to be
lining that sometime very soon Michelle you want to grab that from me sure I'll add in if I have to sure um so this project has just started in its final phase of U lining. Um so it will uh take
a few weeks but uh then the courts will be open and ready for play. So we're in the process of um scheduling a meeting with the board of education just to finalize schedules and everything but um there there's an end date that's soon
and we're excited for that. Uh the burrow uh is going to be purchasing couple nets that are on casters and that will take a few weeks to get them. But
we're excited. Tonight there is an ordinance for introduction um ordinance 1706-25 um to uh set annual fees to use the courts
and the proceeds will go to And where are the fees? I have a lot of papers here today. Um, how are they going to monitor who access or so? We are uh looking into options. That is something that we have to
discuss further with the board of education. But um there are uh several options and system or a magnetic system in the ordinance. This would just be for 2025
rates since so these are prated. So to for so for the first year we're going to have very nominal rates and then they will go up for non-residents um as it goes forward. Um because we're already missing part of the season. I don't think they're really going to be playing
because the um high school also has dedicated them for community school. Um so there would be some limited play as well after they're up. So um the committee got together and they um
decided that the prorated fee for this year would be let me just look at that again so I can announce it. $25 for an individual resident to get a pass for the remainder of the year. and $75 for a non-resident individual pass. And then a
household for a resident would be $60 and for a non-resident family or household would be 150. And then any Emerson Junior Seat High School students, there would be no charge since it's on the school property and they are the students there. Um, does anyone have
any comment about this? This is something that we worked on with the pickle ball committee and um I wouldn't to these rates. These are sort of the introductory rates um as we get more information and then we are actually looking at ways like you said um
councilwoman to secure them and we're still kind of going back and forth whether we need like a part-time employee that's going to sit there and manage the courts and the court times, whether it's going to be a website, whether it's going to be swipe cards, or whether we're going to use some kind of
like of a badge system, not unlike a beach badge. to show whoever is checking that that person um should be on those courts and has paid. Um um we're welcome to any comments. We put together the pickle ball committee and we've met on
several occasions. It's been very productive because we found some pickle ballers in order to get on there. So they they kind of know the lingo and they know what's going on in the places that they play outside of Emerson. So that it has been very very helpful. So we do thank those volunteers for their time. Um, does but does anyone on the
governing body have any comments about it? No, I know everyone's just excited about pickle ball. I'm sure it'll be a little learning curve for the first year and they'll get everything right and the season's going to be short because, you know, they've already missed like two or
three months, right? As we continue to iron out the case. Okay. So, I don't think there's any action to be taken on that tonight. Correct. I lost myself. So, we're just going to introduce that um
ordinance for those fees. Uh Miss Ryan will announce by number and title the following ordinance. Upon approval, this ordinance will be further considered at a public hearing to be held on July 15, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be addressed in the
council chambers of the 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 Ryan, would you please read
the title of ordinance 1706-25? Sure, Mayor. This is ordinance, excuse me. This is ordinance number 1706-25, an ordinance to amend chapter 200 of the code of the burrow of Emerson entitled
Parks, Playgrounds, and Recreation Areas. Can I get a motion and a second? Second and a roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman, Councilwoman
McGuire, yes. Council President Arzia, yes. Councilman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. Very good. Um, and that next topic is uh agenda item 13, reports. Uh, Councilwoman Rice, do you have a report
for us this evening? Um, I just have two quick ones. One from environmental. There are two plots left in the garden. So, if you want to um get involved, it's it's wonderful. I was there today and there several times a week. Everyone's garden is flourishing. Uh, but there are
two left for you. So, um, get your application in and drop it off to Burough Hall. And as for library, just check out the website. There is there are so many program programs going on. um for adults and children alike. So all summer long.
Um Councilwoman Sers, do you have a report for us this evening? Um yes, I do. Um first of all, I just want to give a big shout out to our recreation commission for hosting the Emerson summer kickoff on June 14th, 2025. Um despite a little bit of rain,
residents still came out to enjoy the wonderful events throughout the day and a beautiful fireworks display to end our evening. Um Just thank you to everybody who made that event possible and um you know kept smiles on kids faces. I know
my children enjoyed it. You know, they didn't care about getting wet. They were sweaty, rained on everything and they had a blast. They didn't want to leave. Um and everyone I talked to had the same feeling. So, we were happy that the event still took place and um it was
great. So, thank you to everybody. And then just don't forget some upcoming events happening. We have our cornhole tournament on July 17th. And I know this one's a little far out, but save the date for our fall harvest festival,
which is happening on October 19th. I want to piggyback on the um uh just about the the timing of the day because on the poster it did say that it was um had a rain date of the following day.
And I think people were confused and there was really no confusion. If you have a weekend where there's rain on both days, you may as well go with the first date and that's what the rec commission decided to do. And I think at the end of the day, it was the best decision. I know it was a hard decision for them, but the next day being Father
Days and raining was a kind of a double whammy. So to go with it the first day, so that's why we sent the announcement out in order to let everybody know that we were going through with it consider even though it was going to be a bit rainy. Councilwoman Magcguire, do you have a uh Yes. Um the next meeting of
the Shade Tree Commission is Wednesday, July 9th at 6:30 p.m. The meeting takes place at Burough Hall. As always, if you're interested in having a tree planted on in the burrow right away in front of your property, reach out to
shade tree emerson nj.org and um you could schedule that with them. And also just uh congrats to the class of 2025 and wishing all the students of Emerson a very fun and uh
exciting summer. Thank you. Council President, do you have a report for us this evening? that health did not inform this past month, so they did not meet and they took a break for the summer. So, no reports there. Did also want to say same
thing as um tailgate on the back of um Councilwoman Ashley um that I want to say thank you to all and everybody that put up the um that worked very hard and tirelessly for the uh family town day for Emerson. I
thought it was wonderful. Um, same thing. Little rain didn't stop anybody. Everybody still enjoyed themselves and had a great uh time and the fireworks was amazing. So, I just wanted to thank everyone working hard for that. And also, congratulations to the class of 2025. Thank you. Councilman Timberman, do you
have a report for us this evening? I don't have a report. No report? Nope. Councilwoman Chelina, do you have a report for us this evening? Uh, I do. So, um, if you haven't already done so, the historic committee has put a, uh, display case at the library, uh, displaying all sorts of historic
memorabilia from the town of Emerson. Um, their last meeting was actually this past, uh, week, and they won't be meeting again until September. Uh, I do have a report from the DPW as well. Um this month, um the DPW trimmed two
trees and removed two dead trees for the Shade Tree Commission. They also have been watering all the newly planted trees for the commission. The DPW painted the exterior of the firehouse in preparation of the new truck wet down um which please note will be July 26th and
that'll be a really great um activity for everybody to come down and kind of christen our new fire truck. Um the DPW also set up and spruced up um for our town day which again um like everyone else has said it was really a fantastic
day despite the weather. Um and then happy to report that um the town received our our environmental report from the joint insurance fund and we received 100% satisfactory score. Wonderful. Okay, I'll just kick off my report with
a another huge thank you to the recreation commission, including presiding officer Andrea Lo Lauderbback, as well as their vice chair O'Neal Ellis um who helped to uh quarterback that whole um day of
festivities. And I'd also like to thank the police department who were who were on site for most of really for the whole day um keeping us safe as well as the auxiliary police, our fire department, our um Emerson volunteer ambulance corps
and of course uh Perry Salamando and our DPW. And we also want to thank all the people that contributed um donations in order for everything to make it a free event. I know that it's very important to um the recreation commission and
volunteers that it is a truly free event and they've pulled it off again. I mean, they've even had the addition of the ice cream and the ice truck coming and there's no charge for that. Um, if you've never been to one of the summer kicks kickoffs and the the true name is
Emerson summer kickoff, but it's really our town picnic, our town day. Um, it gets a lot of different monikers. Um, next year it's generally in June. um please make a point of coming down saying hello. The governing body is usually on hand. Many volunteers from
our fire department and the evac and it's a great way to get to know your neighbors and become part of the community. Um so if we didn't see you this year, we'll see you next year. Um the heat advisory was in effect for today and the police um sent out a message saying that the council chambers
here where it's actually very cool um uh would be a cooling station from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. And I wanted to let people know that if you're watching this on Wednesday that this also is a cooling cooling station as it is expected to be just as hot on Wednesday. Um, also do
not leave your young children or your pets unattended in vehicles as the uh inside of your car can reach very lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Um, exciting news, the mayor and council
presents summer concert series sponsored by the mayor's wellness campaign and all of our um, sponsors also and donate that donated money in order for this to happen. um is beginning on July 9th with a new act called the Rumies. Um they
have played at the Emerson Hotel and it's a band that's familiar to me. It's a classic rock band and we're excited about that. On July 16th, The Edge will be playing. That is also a new band. Um July 23rd, Emerson resident Stephen
Connelly will be strumming on his guitar and singing for us. And then the Emerson Project, which is made up of um a bunch of fellas that graduated high school in the 70s um here in Emerson, um will be playing, I think, for the third year in
a row, as well as Teresa Canada with her band, Beauty and the Grease on August 6th. So, all of these dates will be listed on the Barrow website, on social media, um probably on little flyers around town. So the um concerts are on
Wednesdays from 7 to 9 at Burough Hall and the rain date will generally be the following day. If anything changes then we will send out a message or we will post it on social media and the burrow website. Um the next senior meeting is July 10th. All Emerson residents 55 and
over um are invited to join this lively bunch. They have weekly activities, take day trips, and often have in-house programs at their monthly meetings. For more information, please go to www. emersonj.org/ceniors for more information. Uh, the motor
vehicle commission will be at the senior center Friday, July 11th from 9 to 3. Uh you do need an appointment for the real ID and I believe the um appointments are filled up at this time but there is no appointment necessary for registration
renewals, duplicate titles, surrendering license plates, registering for handicap, veteran or purple heart placards. Um if you have a real ID appointment, please visit our website to find out what documents are required for
you to bring. Um, in the interest of the taxpayers and saving additional monies associated uh to the budget, the barrel will not be issuing estimated tax bills. Uh, we will instead wait for the county of Bergen to strike a tax rate sometime
in July. If anyone has questions, you can contact the tax collector. I actually have a question on this, Michelle, because I did not discuss this with Lauren. So, the county has not announced their tax rate yet. So we really don't know what the actual taxes
are going to be. Is that the situation? County usually strikes the tax rate sometime, but they're just being delayed. They may not be delayed. It depends on the county. But Sometime in July, the
county will set their tax and it's usually done after the state adopts their budget by law. Okay. So, we will be mailing them out. We're
just not mailing them out right now. We are not mailing. So, so I think this is a little conflicting. No, it's not Um, so estimated tax bills are are
mailed out when you don't have all the tax rates that are set, right? We are not doing that. We're waiting for the county to set their tax rate and then sending out actual tax bills. Okay? And we're saving
on the cost of postage and printing of estimated tax. Okay. If you have any questions, please call Lauren in the tax office. Um, a reminder that barrel offices will be closed on
July 4th in obser in observance of Independence Day. Um, there will be no garbage pickup on July 4th. No garbage pickup on July 4th. I know those are always the questions that
people ask. Um, and we want to thank Chief Savino for donating ATV. Um, to be used in the Burrow Hall conference room for training and remote sessions. Um, save the date. The Emerson Fire Department is having a wetdown on July
26th. Um, a wetown is generally when they just turn the hot fire the fire truck pumps on and everybody comes down and the kids all jump in the uh, water and get wet. Um there's also some food and beverages involved and that is uh
July 26th. Um please look at the burrow website for more details. Um we want to thank um Emerson resident Jeremy Roman for his thoughtfulness and generosity. He dropped off a cooler full
of cold Gatorade yesterday for our DPW employees to help keep them hydrated during this extreme heat. That was really a really wonderful thing. Thank you, Jeremy. Um, I did attend graduation um up until at least the point that I had to run to the uh LAN use board
meeting and uh I want to congratulate all of the Emerson Junior Senior High School graduates in the class of 2025. And uh the next regular meeting of the Emerson governing body will take place on Tuesday, July 15th at 7:30 p.m. Um
John, do you have any report for us this evening? Okay. Um Michelle, do you have any report for us this evening? Um I do. Okay. Um so PSEG's Thank you. PSEG's contractors finished paving the phase
one streets um last week that were part of uh their gas moder modernization program. Uh phase two streets will begin in the fall after the settling period ends. Um PSEG has also been working on
acriman um at the request of Mayor Depala to address the uneven areas of the roadway um created by that project. So, um I drove the roadway today and conditions are improving. Um they're not
perfect, but uh they're not perfect, but they are definitely improved. I drove it a couple of times myself. We will continue to monitor it and um as I said, it will be paved and restored in the fall with uh phase two of the project, the restoration project. Um we're
working with our grant writers and our engineer on um some uh uh grants including uh the DOT municipal aid grant that is resolution 175-25 tonight the T-Mobile hometown grant for
field maintenance and potentially one from sustainable jersey which I will provide more information at our next meeting. Um the Emerson senior door project is moving uh forward as well. Um Katherine
if you are prepared to speak about it tonight um Okay. Um, and then also I believe you're gonna speak about uh improvements to Park A uh phase two project as well. Um, I just wanted to
say that we had a successful election on June 10th. There were no major uh issues thankfully. Um, you know, uh, I just wanted to thank, uh, Tri, Deputy Clerk, Triassa D Simone, and, um, our
administrative assistant, John Ruspulli, and all the board workers. Um, the election results have been, uh, certified by Bergen County, so you can go on their website uh, to see the official Yeah. the official uh,
results. Um, and I just wanted to um say thank you to John Ruspolei. Um, he has uh he started as our intern and then he became our part-time administrative assistant who and he floated uh in
between offices to help out as needed. Um, his last day is Thursday and I just wanted to um express uh my appreciation for all the help that uh he gave to the clerk's
office and to the burrow and wish him the best of luck. Wonderful fella. Um, always happy to lend a hand and we will definitely miss you, John. Um, Katherine, do you have a report for us this evening? Yes. Thanks
for teeing me up, Michelle. Um, yeah, so a couple items to report on. First, the municipal A 2024 NJTO project, which is Park Avenue phase 2. Uh, last week we did have the pre-construction meeting with the contractor who's Smithi. The contractor advised that they'd be
starting construction around mid July to and that will continue into mid August. uh will continue to coordinate with the contractor and ensure that he provides proper notice to all residents in the area of um disturbance. As far as the Emerson Senior Center ADA
door improvement project, uh the plans are finalized. We're simply waiting on the green light from CDBG to be able to proceed with solicit soliciting bids for the project. Um, in regards to the municipal aid 2026, uh, local aid grant,
NGlio is working with Bruno Associates as well as clerk to, uh, submit for the grants for this project. We've already turned everything in to Bruno, so they're finishing it up on their end, but we are submitting further rehabilitation of South Dorchester Avenue and Dorchester Avenue since this
roadway is in pretty bad shape and in need of repair. As a point of clarification, we did consider doing the other portion of Lincoln Boulevard originally for this grant. However, it seems that PSCNG has already paved a portion of this road and the road appears to be in acceptable condition.
So, it didn't warrant paving at this time. Um, and then in speaking with the DPW, we decided that it was better to proceed with South Dorchester and Doorchester instead. So, that'll become part of the the drainage improvement project. Correct. So, that it's not that we're going to pave it now. Correct. So,
um, timeline production wise, uh, we'll probably receive these grants funds sometime in fall of 2025. And then we have 18 months to award it. And then on top of that, you could also apply for an additional six-month extension if warranted, which if there's still drainage improvements, we can extend it
even further. So, we have time to award that project, but that will definitely help aid in restoring the road after all those drainage improvements. Very good. Thank you for that explanation. Yep. Anything else? Um, no, just that the the 2025 road program is on the consent agenda for tonight. So, Neglia will
proceed with um preparing the specifications and plans for that to go out of it as well. Very good. Any questions for Catherine from anyone? No. Thank you. Okay. Um, the next item 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, please keep your comments brief and concise. May I have a motion to open the meeting to public comment? So moved. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay.
We are open to the public. Seeing nobody in the gallery, um I would ask for a motion to close the meeting to general comments from the public. Some move. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay.
Um the next item on the agenda is resolutions on consent. Um these 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 resolution 174-25 through 189-25? So Nicole seconded. Thanks Nicole. Um and a roll call, please. Councilwoman
Rice, yes. Councilwoman, Councilwoman, yes. Council President Arzia, yes. Councilman Timberman, yes. And Councilwoman, yes. Thank you. Um the next item on the
agenda is closed executive session resolution number 1 190-25. Uh, may I have a motion to go into close to discuss matters exempt from the public pursuant to NJSA 104-1 at second adequately noticed by
resolution 190-25. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Councilwoman, yes. Council President, yes. Councilman Timberman, yes.
Thank you. Um, we are going to shut off the camera and go into close session. Members of the public may remain on mute. May I have a motion to reconvene? So move. Second. Sorry. Um, do we have any other business to discuss? Yes. I'd like to make a
motion uh for resolution 191-25 to adopt cyber security incident response plan and technology policy version 1.91. And a roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman,
yes. Councilwoman, yes. Council President Arzia, yes. Councilman Timberman. Yes. And Councilwoman Chelino. Yes. Very good. With no more business to discuss, may I have a motion to adjourn
at 9:34 p.m. Second. Very good. Thank you everyone. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July. We'll see you soon. of