All right, guys. Good evening and welcome to the September 2nd, 2022 meeting of the Emerson governing body. For those of you present, in case of fire, please follow the fire exit signs above the doors and exit calmly.
Chief, would you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and Republic for it stands nation indivisibley and justice for all. I would ask you to
remain standing for just a moment. Sorry, I get emotional. Um for a moment of silence in memory of Emerson residents James Belvado, Jadigga Nurowski,
Rocco Demarco, Amergo A. Rico Pantuso and Arlene Maul. May they 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 September 2nd, 2025 was noticed to the record and the Ridgewood 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 D. Simone, would you please call the roll call of the governing body? Mayor Depala, present. Councilwoman Rice here. Councilwoman Sers
here. Council President Arjenzia here. Councilman Timberman here. Councilwoman Chelino here. Thank you. As everyone can see, there is an empty seat. One of our council members has resigned due to moving out of town. and the Republican County
Committee and the governing body will um appoint a replacement uh in the next couple of probably at the next meeting or the meeting thereafter. Correct. Okay. Just to let everybody know that's being worked on. Proclamations. Clara
Erggo's 100th birthday, August 12th, 2025. Clara, I'm going to ask you to come up with me. Can you stand or do you want me to bring a chair? Can you stand? That paper is right here. We're gonna stand here. If
you want, I can get a chair. You can hold on to me, though. I'm fine. I'm fine. You're fine. lean on the table. I just want to get a microphone. Doesn't expect a big speech from you.
Ready? Whereas the mayor and council of the burrow of Emerson is proud to recognize the achievements and longevity of citizens of our community. And whereas Clara Ergo, a lifelong Emerson resident,
celebrated her 100th birthday on August 12th, 2025. And whereas Clara was born in her family home on Wharton Dyke Avenue and continues to reside on the same street in Emerson. And whereas Clara's parents
instilled in her patriotism, strong religious beliefs, and an incredible work ethic that helped make her the woman she became, but also helped her to persevere through the struggles of the Great Depression and
World War II. And whereas Clara met her future husband Frank Erggo at the Fourth of July celebration in 1945 when Emerson was also celebrating the opening of the new town hall. And
whereas Clara and Frank married in 1948 in the original Church of the Assumption building on Lynwood Avenue followed by their reception at the Lincoln Tavern on Kindermack Road. And whereas Claraara and Frank raised two daughters, Linda
and Donna, in Emerson and continue to fill their family home with generations of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And whereas Clara has always been deeply involved in the Emerson community. And whereas Clara dedicated her time to
Emerson's Lady Auxiliary, Emerson seniors, she devoted she is a devoted Catholic and member of the Church of the Assumption. Whereas Cla Clara has a deep love for the New York Yankees, the New York Giants, and enjoys playing the slot
machines in Atlantic City. And whereas Clara has a deep h blazed her trail demonstrating to other women that they can excel in whatever they want if they follow their dreams. Whereas Claraara Ergo has led her life
in a manner that brings honor to the Burrow of Emerson. and the burrow is fortunate and privileged to celebrate this special milestone birthday. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Danielle Dea, mayor of the Burrow of
Emerson, on behalf of the governing body, do hereby make the declaration, get it, to acknowledge and applaud the life of Clara Erggo, a life that has been and is
still admired by all for her outlook and joy for life. Be it further resolved that September 3rd, 2025 is hereby proclaimed Clara Erggo Day in the Burrow of Emerson.
How's that? [Applause] We'd like to sing to you. What honey? I have a little cake and we would like to sing to you. Okay, everybody ready?
I don't know what to do. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Clara.
Happy birthday to you. I couldn't light candles cuz the fire I couldn't get candles because the fire code. The fire marshall don't know. Don't worry about it. You did great. You happy? Oh, I'm happy. All right. I want you to say a few
words. Okay. Um, I'm really shocked. I didn't expect to be talking here today, but I just want to tell all of you how happy I am to be
a resident of Emerson all my life. And I hope that it continues for a while. also that all the people in Emerson, even our people here, have all been wonderful people serving our town of
Emerson. Thank you so much. [Applause] The declaration was Laura Cino's idea. Thank you. Which I think was an excellent idea.
We're going to put the lid on this and we'll send the cake wherever you guys are going and you guys can enjoy some cake. Okay. I appreciate that very much. Let's Does someone have a camera? They could take a picture and then we could do with the family and the governing body and everything. You're right. All right. Let's do that.
You want me to take box it up? Um I think it'll be hard to get in and out. Can you see it? Oh, you want me to put the cover on? Oh, that's good. Here. Let me do this. All right. Oh, wait. Well, hold on. Let's
get governing body first. We're gonna take a picture with the governing body. You want to tilt the cake? And now you want your family to come up and take a picture. Does anybody want their phones? Yes.
That's good. She's saying get up here. Come on. Come on. One more. One more. You happy? I'll see you on September 11. Thank you everybody. I'll take this very
here. You know what, Danielle? Do you want to put a piece of tape on that? Mayor Bench. Okay. Thank you for coming. Happy birthday. There is so
he'll know how to figure it out. But I think he does. I think he talked to Merkel. Okay. Being September, we also have a lot of other proclamations. We have the proclamation to commemorate the sad anniversary of the 24th anniversary of
911, which will be read at the firehouse on 911. Proclamation for decain musculardrophe awareness month. National Assisted Living Week for 2025 is September 7th to the 13th,
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. All of these proclamations will be listed on the
bureau website. Appointments, there are no appointments at this time. Minutes for approval. May I have a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of July 15, 2025? Second.
Roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Council President Argenzia, yes. Councilman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. Passes 5-0. May I have a motion to approve the close session meeting
minutes of the May 6, 2025 and the May 20th, 2025 and the July 15, 2025 meetings that are not available for release to the public at this time. So move second. And a roll call, please.
Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Council President Argenzia, yes. Councilman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. Passes 5. Thank you. Correspondence. All correspondence is on file in the clerk's office. Financial business. There is no
financial business this evening. Unfinished business. There is no unfinished business this evening. New business. Discussion of grant opportunities. FY20 fiscal year 26 recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This
grant aims to assist local governmental entities in meeting their mandates under the Americans with Disability Act to include people with disabilities into their municipal recreation and leisure services. The maximum grant award is
$20,000 for a grant serving one municipality with a 20% match requirement. The deadline to apply is September 26. Um, some examples of a comprehensive recreation and leisure service program are continuous
recreation and leisure service programs, regionalized recreation and leisure service programs, weekly integrated afterchool program for children with disabilities, weekly integrated Friday evening recreation programs for young
adults with disabilities. There is also special event grant within this grant program for any short-term recreation activities. These are activities that only last for one day or a few days. And by law, there is a maximum of $1,000
that can be awarded to a municipality for this grant. A maximum of four special event grants will be awarded. And examples of these special events are a one-day recreation event, up to four bus trips le lasting less than one day,
up to six sessions of recreational instruction, and uh this sounds like a good grant to apply for. Um does everybody agree that this is something that we should apply for? Anybody have any comments? It's a 20%
match for up to $20,000. I think we could also use it for um equipment for the playground that I know that we're updating. So, that might be um some money well spent or even for um if we do something at one of our um town
events that we have a separate event that we could do for people with um special needs. Um so, we're going to go forward with this if everybody agrees. Okay. Consensus is to apply for it. So, we'll take this into the grant committee, Mike and I, and we'll talk
with our interimm administrator and we'll come up with some suggestions. Um, there is also the NJDC fast charger solicitation, which is a grant up to $100,000 for uh a
DCFC port in a community setting, which includes dwellings and transit set centers. Uh these incentives for from it pays to plug in DP's grant program for EV chargers can be combined with utility
incentives for the public fast charging infrastructure. Applications will be accepted through the online grant application until 8:25. So beginning I'm sorry 8:25 with a deadline of 10:25.
Um I think this is something we should pursue. I think we need an EV charging uh station somewhere. Um, one was proposed years ago, but it never uh got accomplished under the old administration. Um, so I think that we have some ideas of where to put them.
Does everyone agree with applying for this grant? Yes. Okay, we'll take that to the grant committee. And then there is also a 2025 mayor's wellness campaign for mental health initiatives. Um it eligible municipalities can apply for funding for
the amounts of 5, 10 or 15,000. There will be up to 10 awards totaling 67,500. Eligible projects will focus on addressing community mental health needs. Um programs can address mental health, substance abuse, intimate
partner violence, andor stigma. um use the mayor's wellness to plan, develop, and carry out the programs. It will focus on underserved and marginalized populations. Provide community education about mental health,
substance abuse, intimate partner violence, and/or stigma. Promote and increase access to healthy po coping strategies in times of stress and crisis. Help community members feel a sense of belonging. utilize holistic approach to promote health and
well-being, increase access to affordable mental health care, and as we continue to grow the mayor's wellness program in Emerson, I personally would like to apply for the funding to help enhance the program that we have going. We have worked with Northwest Regional
and done substance uh uh abuse uh two seminars so far in the last couple of years. Um, and I have always wanted to do a um a holistic training with a uh holistic healer and I think that's something that this grant probably will
cover as well. Um, do we have a consensus to move forward with this grant as well? Yes. Okay. So, we'll work on that grant also and we'll work with Bruno Associates in order to get those grants, but we'll talk about in committee exactly what we want to narrow it down to. All right. That brings us to
adoption of ordinances. No, none are being adopted this evening. Introduction of ordinances. Uh, Miss D. Simone will announce by number and title the following ordinances. Upon approval, this ordinance will be further considered at a public hearing to be
held on September 16th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. or as soona 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 burough website and on file in the office of the municipal clerk if anyone would like copies. Miss D. Simone, please read the title of ordinance 1708-25. An ordinance amending ordinance 1705-25
establishing ranges for salaries, 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 170825 on first reading?
Second. Roll call, please. Uh, Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Council President Argenzia. Yes. Councilman Timberman. Yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. Passes 5. Okay. That brings us to reports.
Um Emerson Volunteer Fire Department will be holding its annual 911 memorial ceremony on Thursday, September 11th at 6 PM at the firehouse. We hope you could join us. Recently, I along with burrow engineer, DPW superintendent and two
Emerson residents and businesses business owners had a positive meeting with the Bergen County Engineer Joseph FEMA and assistant county engineer Nancy Daris to continue to voice our concerns about the congestion in downtown Emerson and the timing of the traffic signals on
Kinder Kamak Road. Simply put, we told them that the project that promised to fix the congestion 10 years ago is not working and has even exacerbated the problems. I expect to have an update for the next mayor and council meeting. Uh
today, the bureau received $3,253 from the state's unclaimed property program. This is money that the burrow was due but had not yet received. These funds were then turned over to the state for recovery. I encourage all of our residents to visit unclaimedf
funds.nj.gov to see if you are owed any unclaimed money. Uh Jane DJ, our former clerk started this and then um our acting clerk picked it up and um Michelle just found this $3,200 or so dollars and uh
hopefully next year Triesta will be telling us that we have some unclaimed money as well. Um, for those that don't know, Triessa D. Simone was appointed our municipal clerk as of um, August 26th uh, 2025,
and we wish her luck in her new role. [Applause] The next senior meeting is on September 11th. All Emerson residents 55 and over should join this lively bunch. You can see Claris still goes. They have weekly
activities, take day trips, and offer in-house programs at their monthly meetings. Uh, with more people spending time outdoors, uh, now that the weather's getting a little bit cooler, uh, please mind your dog. Mind whatever your dog's doing when you take him out for a walk and keep an
eye on your property maintenance because everyone else is looking at your property as well. The Burden County Utilities Authority is holding a household hazardous waste collection on Saturday, September 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Camp Gaw
in Mawa. Details can be fi found on the burrow website and at our September 16th governing body meeting. The New Jersey DP's Bureau of Wildlife Management will be giving a presentation on the topic of deer to the governing body and the
public at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers. The purpose of this presentation is to educate us on the biology of deer, impacts that deer in general and especially an overabundant deer population in the region have on
communities as well as different options available to the public and local governments to better manage the issue. The burrow is not actively pursuing any action at this time. We are just gathering information to educate
ourselves and the public. Tragically, Emerson did have a fatality last year that was caused by a deer. This is a regional issue and we have invited our neighboring town officials to join us. I have some save the dates. Thursday,
September 18th is the Bergen County Senior Picnic. Wednesday, October 1st, Bergen County sat clerk satellite office will be here to issue passports, swear in notaries, and the like. Saturday, October 4th, Emerson
Environmental Commission's upcycle townwide garage sale will be held. There's more information on that on the Burrow website and on their Facebook page. Sunday, October 19th, is Emerson's fall harvest festival. Wednesday, October 22nd is Emerson Board
of Health's Flu Shot Clinic. And Saturday, November 1st, Emerson's free paper shredding day and styrofoam recycling event. that's new, the styrofoam. More details on all these events could be found on the burough website and on Facebook.
Uh there's a reminder that schools are opening this Thursday, September 4th. So, please drive alert. Um I wanted to um also just mention that uh tomorrow someone that I know is turning
50 and I want to wish him a very happy birthday. Happy birthday, CJ. And the next mayor and council meeting is on September 16th at 7:30 p.m. We are hoping to honor Emerson's young athletes for their notable achievements during
the 2025 season at this meeting. Um, our interim administrator is not tasked with reporting to our meetings unless urgently needed. So, I have a short report from him. Uh, the burrow administrator ad was placed and the deadline to apply is 9:19.
There was also an advertisement placed for the deputy burough clerk administrative assistant position and the deadline to apply is also uh September 19th. The administration is working on implementing comprehensive records retention and scanning program for the
burrow. We have a lot of paper that needs to be scanned. He's working on that. He is working on um the personnel policy manuals. Uh GIF requires that we update it every two years. So he'll be working along with the personnel
committee on that. Um he's also reviewing ordinance updates. We have several of them that need to be updated and um he's working on going through our code book to see what urgently needs to be updated. Right
now, um, PSENG is completing their final schedule as posted on the burrow website. Paving is expected to be completed tomorrow for the Park Avenue improvement, milling, and paving. It
will be completed by the 8th or n 8th and 9th, weather permitting. I drove down Acriman over the last two days. It is absolutely gorgeous. It just needs its striping right now. Have you guys driven down Acriman? It's absolutely beautiful. We're very happy with the
work. Um I have to make sure that Perry and our engineer are happy with the work, but to the layman, it looks good. Um and the bid opening for the 2025 road program is being held on September 10th at 11:00 a.m. in the council chambers.
So that is what the administrator is working or some of the things that the administrator is working on right now. Does anybody have anything else timely that they need to report before our next meeting? Council members, anyone? No. John, anything?
Just a brief uh report. Uh tonight you on part of tonight part of your consent agenda, you're going to be voting uh to revoke the designation of Emerson Redevelopers urban renewal as the redeveloper for the
central business district uh here in town. Um after this is uh as it relates only to the notice of default uh that in demand that was sent on July 31st. They had 30 days to which to uh comply with
the demands in that and to cure the defaults. The defaults are many in the agreement. Regardless of what their position is as it relates to seven off-site units, they have not made any good faith effort to ameliate any of the simple sharing of
information uh uh and paper paper stuff that could have been sent to us, files, information, uh anything zero. All they've asked for is for for a uh a meeting with the with the court regarding the prior litigation that's
been resolved. So that's really outside of the scope of of the demand uh that we placed on them. 30 days uh past it's 30 calendar days per the agreement and that's now passed and so uh it's part of
the consent agenda. So I just want to report that to the public. Okay. Thank you, John. You're welcome. Um that brings us to 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
wish to speak. Please keep your comments brief and concise. May I have a motion to open the meeting to public comment? So, second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Seeing nobody here except for one person. Um,
that doesn't look like they want to speak. May I have a motion to close the meeting to general comments from the public? Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? We are now closed. Um, that brings us to resolutions on consent.
Resolutions 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 22125 through 225-25? So moved. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Councilwoman Arjenzia, yes. Councilman Timberman,
yes. Councilwoman Shelina, yes. 5 Z. Okay, we are now going into closed executive session. Uh, may I have a motion to approve resolution 226-25
to discuss matters exempt from the public pursuant to NJSA 104-1 at SEC and adequately noticed by resolution? Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sy, yes.
Council President, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. Thank you. We are now going into close. Yes, we are recording. We are recording and we will be live in a moment.
Motion to reconvene. Second. Do we have any business? Oh, all in favor? I. Okay. Um, do we have any business? Yes. I would like to make a motion to approve resolution number 227-25,
appointment of Triesta D. Simone as the municipal clerk of the Burrow of Emerson, effective August 26th, 2025 as per the salary ordinance. So registered municipal clerk, I just want
to make that clarification. You got a second. Can I get a roll call, please? Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Council President Argentia, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. Zero.
Okay. Anything else? Yes. I'd like to make a motion to approve resolution 228-25 to award the contract with contingencies to new Singular Wireless PCS LLC AT&T for the communications site lease
agreement at Emerson DPW yard Emerson Plaza East block 617.01 lat 8. Can she get a second on that? Second. And a roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Council President Arza. Yes.
Councilman Timberman. Yes. Councilwoman Chelino. Yes. Anything else? Okay. With no further business to discuss, may I have a motion to adjourn at 10:36 p.m.? So move. Second. All in favor?
Any opposed? We are in slap.