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 republic for it stands nation indivisible with 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 Oriel and resident of Emerson, Mr. Frank Florio, Terrence Maloney, and a 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 Muire 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. 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 Magguire. Yes. Council President Arzia. Councilman Timberman. Yes. And
Counciloman 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 106 degree weather. I would guess long day for someone that works outdoors. Um, and he was going to 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 science. 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, yes. Council President Arzia. Yes. Councilman
Timberman. Yes. And Council, 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%. 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 elapsed 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. Yeah. Councilwoman, yes. Councilwoman Maguire, yes. Council President Arenzia,
yes. Councilman Timberman, yes. And Counciloman, 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 upand cominging 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 um 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. The burrow uh is going to be purchasing portable walnuts 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 ports 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
accesses Is there going to be some sort of keypad 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 one is like a magnetic system in the ordinance this would just be for 2025 rates So these are prrated. 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 will be some limited play as well after they're up. So, um, the committee got together and they, um, decided that the PR-rated 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 get used 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 a of a 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 they 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 and a roll call, please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman, Councilwoman,
yes. Council President Arenzia. 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 they're 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 Burrow 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 treemersonj.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?
This past month, so they did not meet and they break for the summer. So no reports there. did also want to say same thing as on 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 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 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 of 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 don 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 Steven 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 Canannada with her band Beauty and the Greece 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 bureau 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 lawune. 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 bills. 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 burough 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 modernization
program. Uh phase two streets will begin in the fall after the settling period ends. Um PSENG 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 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 on 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 going to 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, Triasa D Simone, and, um, our administrative assistant, John Rolley, 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 Rolley. 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 taking 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 miss Sandi. 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, Neglia 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 PSNG 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 Dorchester instead. So, that'll become part of the the drainage improvement project. Correct. 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 to bid 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? I. 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 Counciloman.
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 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. 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. So move and a roll call please. Councilwoman Rice, yes. Councilwoman, yes. Councilwoman, yes. Council
President Arzia, yes. Councilman Timber, yes. 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. says