Evening. Welcome to the January 20th, 2026 meeting of the Emerson governing body. This meeting is being videotaped and may be viewed on your local public access channel, either 36 or 77. The meetings are also available live on
YouTube. For those of you present, in case of a fire, please follow the fire exit signs above the doors and exit calmly. Mrs. Ionora, from your seat, would you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible >> I would ask you to remain standing for just one moment for the best neighbor I've ever had um Rosemary Farley who
passed away last week. She will be missed. 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 January 20th, 2026 was
published in the record and the Rididgewood News on January 12th, 2025, posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building and has remained continuously posted as required under
the statute. They were actually on 2026 published uh roll call of the governing body. Miss D. Simone, >> Mary, >> present. Counciloman Chelino >> here. >> Councilwoman Arzia >> here. >> Counciloman Ellis >> present. >> Council President Rice >> here.
>> Counciloman Timberman >> here. >> Councilwoman Syers >> here. Caller present. >> Very good. Um tonight we have the distinct honor of introducing for a couple we've done this a few times since
uh the last few years. um a 70-year resident, a former library trustee, and a beloved fifth grade teacher. She turns 105 this Friday. Mrs. Ionora, will you please join me up here?
[Applause] from the count. I'll get favorite thing to do every year since I've been mayor for the last five years. age York City children's
neighbors and they're still here raised two daughters and she still began teaching career school. school York City as one of the most beloved and respected teachers in the burrow
taught for 29 years and touched the lives student library for 22 years and has continued to do so crisis as a direct result of her love. She has taught English in order for them
to participate in the community obtain citizenship and drivers improve jobs and the ability to communicate with their children's teachers. as a valued member of the burrow of
Emerson's library board for over 24 years and Francesca has served as the moderator of the great book for over I think it's more 24 years library
discussions over anyone else and Catholic serving as churches with respect and admiration. contrib to cate I mayor of the burrow of Emerson
birthday and in genuine appreciation declare January 23rd 2026. So your name is gonna be on that members of the governing body of the citizens extend to Franchesca our
congratulations on this very HAPPY [Applause] I also know She reads the Wall Street
Journal still to this day. She's still an all correct business. Did you want to read something? It's my card and it says, "Years of life add up to countless blessings.
Treasure them all today, which is what I'm doing tonight. I'm trying to remember." By the way, I'm going to be 105. I'm allowed to look at notes in case I forget. It's possible I
can forget. So anyway, uh what we're doing tonight is remembering all the blessings of my life. And it started really I've been lucky started with having doting parents
overwhelmed with lots of doting relatives and then lots of good neighbors and friends. And out of that accumulation of wonderful people, I would say that am here today thanks to
all of their contributions to my life, to my thoughts, to my being here. And um one of the things that I think was the crowning glory of my of the blessings of my life is that I chose to come to
Emerson. Really, that was a great decision. It was something made by my sister-in-law Pauline and myself. We decided that when our children came, we wanted a house in the suburbs with a
front yard and a backyard and neighbors. And it sounded very fantastic except that our husbands were allergic to mortgages. They they didn't want to hear anything about it. So, we just ignored them.
>> And Pauline and I would go trapesing around looking for a place where we could afford. We started with $12,000 homes. Then we went up to 15 and we finally wound up with 19,999, which is what these houses were going
for way back. So, uh, we began to look around and we came across an article in the Times about, I think it's called Emerson Manor and it sounded like it was within our range. It was under 20,000
and it had uh, trees and it sounded like a good suburb. So we packed the kids in the car, came over the the East River where we lived in Brooklyn, and there was this woods, trees, trees, trees, and one house on the hill. That
was the model house. So we walked into the model house, and there was a huge map with streets carved out of the diagram of trees, and the streets had houses and numbers. We got very excited.
My sister-in-law and I put down a $ five reserve deposit and she picked the house across the street because that would give her more privacy, >> which was wrong. Could see her much better across the
street. Yeah. Really, you can't see people next door. So Pauline was 249 and I was 252. But that was the beginning of a whole lifetime of blessings really. And by the time we looked back on our years, our
husbands became acclimated to the idea of paying the mortgage and thankfully we were able to do so. So, uh, we're now down to the present night, which is a long way, but it's been a good way. It's
been a very a very blessed, happy time. and brings me to the point where I could stand here and say thank you so much for making this possible. Especially thank
you to our gifted and dedicated mayor and to all of the council that takes time out to come out here to make it possible to have a town like this. I'm very proud of Emerson. I'm glad I'm here and I just could never say thank you
enough for a good lifetime. Thank you for blessing us with your presence for 70 years. I have the down package. the cake. I have to stay taught to read everything.
Oh, prom date. >> It's magic mic. >> Oh, Jesus. >> I'm gonna snort on video. We're going for 110. >> We'll have a big block party. >> Yeah, Mrs. When you hit 110, Ashley said, "We're gonna have a big block
party." >> Close the whole town. Now, you could stay for the rest of our boring meeting or you could do whatever you would like. I have a feeling she's going to want to watch.
Okay. Okay. Um the next uh proclamation is regarding January's National Blood Donor Month. The blood banks are low, especially at this time of year, and I encourage all who are able to to go out and donate blood. We are lucky to have
the Philip Morgan Foundation in town, which hosts blood drives every year. This year, the blood drive will be held on April 12th, 2026, at the senior center. The proclamation will be available for viewing on the website. The next item on the agenda is
appointments to the library board of trustees. I'd like to appoint Christopher Johnson as well as Rick Hodgeges. Appointments to the preservation committee. I have someone for the committee, but I did not get a confirmation. So, I'm going to hold that
to the next meeting. Uh the next item on the agenda is um as the clerk has not any received any requests for changes to the minutes, uh may I have a motion to approve the minutes of December 16th, 2025 regular meeting?
>> Second. Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chelino, >> abstain. >> Councilwoman Arzia, >> yes. >> Councilman Ellis, >> yes. >> Council President Rice, >> December 16, 2025 minutes. >> We were both.
>> Yeah. >> Abstain. >> Councilman Timberman. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Shelino. >> Councilwoman Sers. Yes. I'm still getting used to the seating order. >> Okay. May I have a passes? Correct. M.
May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the December 16th, 2025 meeting for the close session, which are not available for release to the public at this time? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chelina, >> Councilwoman Argent.
>> Councilman Ellis, >> yes. >> Council President Rice, >> abstain. Councilman Timberman. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Sers. >> Yes. >> That passes. >> Very good. And may I have a motion to approve the minutes of the December 30, 2025 special meeting?
>> Second. >> And a roll call. >> Councilwoman Chelino. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Arjenzia. >> Yes. >> Counciloman Ellis. >> Yes. >> Council President Rice. >> Abstain. >> Councilwoman Timberman. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Syers. Yes. And may I have a motion to approve the minutes of the
December 30th, 2025 close session, which are not uh open for release to the public just yet. >> Second. >> And a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Telina, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Arzia, >> yes. >> Councilman Ellis, >> yes. >> Council President Rice,
>> abstain. >> Counciloman Timber, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Syers, >> yes. And it looks like we're all up to date because I also need a motion to approve the minutes of the January 6, 2026 reorganization meeting of the burrow. >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ardenzia, >> yes. >> Councilman Ellis, >> yes. >> Council President Ray, >> yes. >> Counciloman Timberman, >> yes. Councilwoman Sers, >> and one last minute, um the close session minutes that are not uh ready
for release to the public at this time for the reorganization meeting of January 6, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> And a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ardenzia, >> yes. >> Councilman Ellis, >> yes. >> Council President Rice,
>> yes. >> Councilman Timberman, >> yes. >> And Councilwoman Sers, >> yes. >> Thank you. Number seven, correspondence. All correspondence is on file in the clerk's office. Um it what we have is a letter January 8th, 2026, a letter from
the Bureau of uh NJPDES, storm water permitting and water quality management reapproval of storm water assistance grant deliverable. Do you have anything to say on that Dave? Any elaboration? >> Sorry about that. Um yeah so basically
um pursuant to the requirements of the state uh we had prepared your MS4 which is basically your storm water uh mapping system. Uh everything was submitted to the state. They've reviewed it um and approved everything that it concurs with the state requirements. Ultimately, um
they will be issuing the remaining $10,000 of the total $25,000 grant uh that they've provided to each municipality to help offset the cost for the uh mapping. So, uh at this point, you guys are up to date as far as the
MS4 infrastructure mapping requirements. >> Excellent. Thank you. Um and now the bill list. May I have a motion to adopt resolution number 59-26 to approve the January 8th, 2026 bills list? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> Roll call, please. >> Um, Councilwoman Shelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Ardenzia, >> yes. >> Counciloman Ellis, >> yes. >> Council President Ray, >> yes. Councilwoman Timberman, >> yes. >> Councilwoman, yes. >> Okay, which brings us to There is no
unfinished business to discuss. There is no new business to discuss this evening. There are no adoption of ordinances and there are no introduction of ordinances tonight which brings us to reports and we will begin with councilwoman Chelino.
Okay. Uh so for the land use board, their next meeting is January 22nd at 7:30 p.m. Um they continue to hear uh the application regarding the Armenian home. Uh for the DPW, they are still picking up Christmas
trees. Uh if you have not had yours picked up, please call the DPW at 20112628199. Uh the DPW has been working with energy um sales force installing LED lights on the exterior of Burrow Hall, Senior and Rec Center and the DPW buildings at no
cost the burrow um through a PSENG grant. Um and of course a reminder, please do not park on the streets during the snowstorms. It really makes the um DPW workers man uh working the plows difficult to clear the streets properly
uh creating hazards once cars do move. Um, for the health department, um, there's concern, uh, voiced via Facebook, um, regarding a smoke or chemical burning smell. Uh, complaints on Facebook don't ever make it to Burough Hall. So, you really need to call the police department and notify,
um, the police department to, uh, investigate the smells or concerns that you're having. Um, technology, uh, today went live our burrow website. It looks beautiful. Uh, we are welcoming any feedback you have towards it. Um, I think it's very e easy
to navigate myself um both looking at mobile um and on a desktop. Uh the environmental committee uh is having a Gallentine's floral arrangement uh night on January 27th at 7 p.m. at New City Florist in Town. Space is
limited. Um please RSVP by January 22nd to EEC at emersonj.org. I do not have any updates for the volunteer ambulance corpse um for the fire department. I do have a somewhat lengthy update. Um, for December, the fire department
responded to 21 calls for service addressing a diverse range of emergency situations. The incidents uh required swift response and professional expertise from our dedicated volunteer members. Our department also provided mutual aid assistance to neighboring municipalities on three occasions,
demonstrating our commitment to regional emergency response cooperation. Significant in incidents for the month included one vehicle fire within the burrow, a residential structure fire in Parkridge, and one commercial structure fire in Closter. All incidents were handled professionally and efficiently
through coordination of our mutual aid partners. Um, beyond emergency response, the department members spent considerable hours bringing Santa Claus throughout the town, continuing this beloved Emerson tradition. We also concluded the month by hosting our annual holiday workshop with brought
which brought residents together in celebration for the holiday season. And lastly, our resource our volunteer members collectively contributed 415 hours of service to the burrow of Emerson during December. These hours encompass emergency response, training,
equipment maintenance, mutual aid operations, and community engagement activities. Um, and they thank you for your continued support. >> Thank you. Welcome. Very thorough report. Um, Councilwoman Argenzia, do you have a report for us this evening? >> I do not. >> I knew you were gonna say that. I knew
it. >> After that, >> how could you follow that? >> Uh, Councilman Alice, do you have a report? >> Um, just uh uh Megan and I uh co-chair some of those. So, thank you. Uh the only one uh Shade Tree is meeting tomorrow. They're having their reorg and
then they're also discussing some topics with the Armenian as well. >> Okay, very good. Um council president, do you have anything? Um, just for recreation, the they have a meeting tomorrow at 8 o'clock here in council chambers. And for board of education,
their meeting is January 26th, 7:30 at the uh or in the high school meeting center. >> Very good. Councilman Timberman. >> Sure. Just a quick report. Uh, we just wrapped our first appropriate authority meeting. Um, Chief Sino and the department uh finished 2025
uh on a high note with the department. Um, they're definitely fully engaged in the community. uh and they're doing a great job uh running efficiently for the bar. Uh also I look forward to working with the library board this year uh now
that the appointments have been made and once they reorganized we'll be ready to go. >> Okay, very good. Um Councilwoman Sers, do you have a report for us this evening? >> I do not. >> Okay, that leads you to me. Dog and cat license applications for 2026 are due by
Friday. I took it for you. >> I know. That's what I said. um January 30th, there is a grace period for applications received and postmarked by February 12th. Applications received thereafter will have the $25 late fee
imposed. Applications can be fi found on the bureau's website under the health department page. I believe it was also in your garbage and recycling newsletter that was sent to you. If you have any questions, you can call Mary at Burrow Hall. This year's commuter parking
permits for Emerson Plaza East are available now at the police headquarters Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 7:30m. The resident fee is $250. First quarter taxes are due February 1st with a grace period through February
10th. If you have any questions, please reach out to the tax office or Lauren in Burough Hall. No knock registration forms are available on the website and in the 2026 garbage and recycling newsletter. Please note there is a $5
fee for the decal for anyone under 65 years old. It is free for anyone over 65. Although it does not pertain to nonprofit, charitable, religious, or political groups, being on the registry prohibits licensed solicitors from knocking on your door. And if they you
they do and you have the no knock and you call the police, they will be escorted for break out of town for um not following our law. Um the next senior meeting is on February 12th at 12 noon. New members are always welcome and I encourage all seniors over the age of
55 to join this group for their uh meetings every month and also for social events and fun activities that they plan. The senior bus is available to residents aed 55 and up and to those with special needs. It runs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Please see the deputy clerk, Samantha, to book a ride. On Tuesday, February 17th at 6 p.m., the burrow will be holding our second welcome Ramadan crescent moonlighting ceremony. Please join us along with our Muslim community
of town on the front lawn of Burough Hall to mark the start as of Ramadan as a community. All are invited. Light refreshments will be served. A flyer will be posted in the next couple of days. >> I'm sorry, mayor. When is that? >> That is um
>> the 17th before our council meeting >> February 17th. Okay. >> So, we have the council meeting directly after. >> Okay. Um, the first Bergen County Utilities Authority Household Hazardous Waste Collection of 2026 will be held on Saturday, March 7th from 9 9 to 3:00
p.m. Rain or Shine in Munaki. Please visit bcua.org for all details. Mark your calendars and get your unwanted papers ready. We will be having a mobile shredding day in collaboration with the BCUA BCUA on Saturday, May 16th from
9:00 am to 100 p.m. right here at Burough Hall. Um, as always, I encourage residents to sign up to receive emergency notifications on our Rave Alert system. If you need any help doing that, you can get them by text. Um, you control it. You you sign up for your own
password and you say whether you want a house phone, a cell phone, a text message, an email, so you can opt in or opt out of as many notifications or as few notifications as you want. If you need help navigating that, Triesta and Sam and the clerk's office can help you
with that. Groundhog Day is Monday, February 2nd. Also, my niece's 21st birthday. Um, I know we all are hoping Buxatanni Phil does not show his shadow and we have an early spring. With that being said, we're getting a doozy of a
storm. It sounds like this weekend. If it starts raining in the afternoon and you leave your house in your car in the first couple hours that it starts to snow, do not expect the streets to be plowed. I know that this weekend that there was a lot of uh chatter um and
terribly um someone uh hit a poll and um my prayers go out. I'm glad that they're okay. I um read about that and heard about that um about the car accident. I'm glad everyone was safe, but you have to give the DPW the time to get out there and
plow. So it when it happens overnight, we're all asleep and then they get the phone call and then they have like a few hours on top of us to get out there and to plow before we wake up at 7 o'clock, 6:30 in the morning to leave our houses. When it snows in the middle of the day, the fellas first have to get here and
then they have to get into the trucks and then they have to get to the streets. So you have to give them a little lead time to clean up your street and they always do the hills first. So, if you drive and Lincoln, Acriman, and Soldier Hill are not done, don't even try to navigate the side roads because
they always do the hills first in order to keep the town the safest. Um, and as they uh Megan said about parking in the street, when you park in the street, if there's a lot of snow, you're going to get snowed in and in a couple of days, if you think you're going to have a friend over, they're going to have
nowhere to park because that's going to freeze. So, it's best to keep your cars or you have to keep your part cars off the street and make sure they're in the driveway so the plows could do their job and we could be snowfree when it melts and everyone can park conveniently and continue with their lives. Um, Friday,
February 7th is National Wear Red Day to help um raise awareness for cardiovascular disease and the next regular meeting of the governing body will take place on Tuesday, February 3rd at 7:30 p.m. right after the uh Crescent uh Ramadan
lighting. Dave, do you have a report for us this evening, February 17th? >> Um, just want to update you all on the uh senior center doors. Um, >> excellent. >> We had negotiated uh pricing with the four biders that submitted the last
round. I'm happy to report that we were able to get favorable bids for the burrow and that's on your consent agenda this evening to award uh the base bid and alternate bid to uh inline architectural glass and metal. Um the total contract amount will be 92,500.
Uh the bureau did receive a grant for 85,500. So, the majority of the cost of the door project uh will be covered through the grant. >> Excellent. >> Um and we will be reaching out to CDBG to coordinate um after this meeting uh
getting everything moving along and we'll even potentially talk to them to see if uh they could pick up the shortfall of funds on the project as well. Um so that is that that's on your consent agenda this evening. Um just want to update you on the Vivian
Dorchester drainage study. Uh all the data collection has been completed. Uh we're in the process of analyzing the existing system and then we'll be rolling into looking at potential um solutions to help uh mediate remediate
some of the flooding issues over in that area of town. So uh stay tuned for that information um next month. Um I already talked about the MS4 um infrastructure mapping um that's been uh submit that was submitted
and the grant funds will be uh forthcoming on that. Uh additionally we worked on the MS4 watershed management plan phase one uh that was submitted uh by the deadline of December 31st of 2025. I've received confirmation from
the state that they received it. uh they'll be reviewing every municipality throughout the entire state of New Jersey and they'll get back to us um on any comments they may have on that. Um with respect to the west side drainage so um forest and Jordan uh the data
collection is almost complete on that. Um so then we'll roll into doing the same thing of analyzing the existing system and looking to different ways to improve some of the flooding issues in that area. So >> okay, >> that's my report. Anybody have any
questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Dave. >> Sure. >> Um John, do you have any report? >> Tria, do you have any report this evening? >> Um I was just going to mention and to echo what um Councilman Chelino said that our website was updated that went
live today with our new design. Um, it was strictly a redesign for aesthetic um, purposes and to make a more user friendly experience. So, the content, everything you would normally find on the website is still on there. Some of the menus might look a little different,
so you might need a minute to ren. >> Excellent. And that was a free upgrade as part of the contract. Correct. Correct. Yes. >> Isn't that nice? >> Yeah. It looks pretty, doesn't it? It's good. It's nice and clean. So, take a look at it and um if you have any questions, call Triestessa and Sam and
they'll be able to help you navigate. Uh that brings us to public comment. Uh 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, speakers are limited to three minutes in consideration of all who may 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. Would anyone like to speak? No.
You look like you might want to speak. Seeing no hands, may I have a motion to open the meeting to public comment? >> Closed. >> Closed. Closed. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay, we are closed. Um, which brings us to uh resolutions on
consent. uh 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 resolution 60-26 through 71-26. >> So move and a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Orenzia, >> yes. >> Councilman Ellis, >> yes. >> Council President Rice, >> yes. Counciloman Timberman. >> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Syers, >> yes. >> Okay. Very good. And that brings us to closed executive session. May I have a motion to go into closed executive session to discuss matters exempt from the public pursuant to NJSA 104-1 at SEC
and adequately noticed by resolution 72-26. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Chelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Argentia, >> yes. >> Councilman Ellis, >> yes. Council President Bryce, >> yes. >> Councilman Timberman, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Syers,
>> yes. >> 60. >> Thank you. We are now going into close session. Members of the public may remain on YouTube until we return to open session, at which time formal action may be taken.
>> May I have a motion to reconvene? >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Okay. Do we have any business to discuss? Any motions to make? >> Yes. >> Does somebody have a motion? Is there I
think there is a motion. >> I Yes. I'm sorry. I make a motion to hire Tom Delane Esquire as special counsel. >> Second. >> S was the second. >> S was the second. >> Okay. And a roll call, please.
>> Thank you, Mike. Councilwoman Chelino, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Argenzia, >> yes. >> Councilman Ellis, >> abstain. >> Council President Rice, >> yes. >> Councilman Timberman, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Sers, >> yes. >> That passes. >> And just to clarify, that's for not to
exceed $7,500 for an investigation of um one of the burrow departments. >> Okay. >> All right. With no She's looking at me like you're going to do it. With no further business to discuss, may I have a motion to adjurnn at 8:51?
>> So moved. >> Second. All in favor?