How many people nearly got in because they had three different lives. So they were everybody was getting like three places like okay just ending heard million
connection second you refresh and then place a great Okay. All right. Good evening and welcome to the August 19th, 2025 meeting of the Emerson governing body. For those of you present
in case of a fire, please follow the fire exit signs above the doors and exit calmly. Chief Savina, would you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance? Honor America to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it
stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I would ask you to remain standing for just a moment in memory of several residents that have we have lost. Um
Emerson resident Mary Mora Enright, Ruth Mluck, Kelly McGrath Bara, Joyce Milano, and Raymond Trinowski. May they rest in eternal 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 the July 5 this meeting of August 19th, 2025 was
noticed to said newspapers, the record and the Rididgewood News on January 7th. Actually, it wasn't on January 7th, was it? I think we just have to correct that date. Um, 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. Counciloman this evening. Councilwoman Styers, here. Councilwoman Maguire,
present. Council President Arjenzia here. Counciloman Temple here. and Councilwoman Chelino here. Thank you. Uh may I have a motion to excuse Councilwoman Ashley Rice from tonight's meeting? Second. All in favor?
Any opposed? She is excused. We don't have audio. You don't have audio. Let's try. [Music] I'm getting excellent connection. getting audio here. Michelle, do you have audio?
There is a delay, so give it a couple seconds. Testing one, two, three. Testing 123 audio. So, we lost audio and I just want to refresh that this is the August 19th, 2025 meeting. We have already done um
our pledge of allegiance and we remember several members of our community that passed away. Mora Enright, Ruth Mluck, Kelly McGrath, Barata, Joyce Milano, Raymond Trokinowski. May they rest in eternal peace. Um we've done the roll
call of the governing body and we have also excused Ashley Rice from the meeting. At this point, we are going to make 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 206-25. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Syer, yes. Councilwoman Magguire, yes. Council President Argenzia, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Shelino, yes.
Thank you. And I apologize for not having the audio um up and working, but as you know, we've been having some glitches and I just wanted to get that all on the record. Um so 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. All right, we're going to start the meeting again. Okay. Testing. One, two, three. Testing. 1 2 3. Testing. 1 2 3. the door. Okay.
May I have a motion to reconvene? Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried. Um I'm going to go a little bit out of order. Um our our first um item under proclamations and citations is the 100th
birthday of Ethel Muriel Salamandanda. Come on up with me. Come. [Music] We'll get We'll get into that. Yeah, I can do it. We're going to bring all of you up for pictures afterward, but I'll just take
Mary and Mary by herself. I can't see. That's okay. I'm going to read it. You look out and smile and look pretty for the camera. I've been doing a long time. Okay. Proclamation office of the mayor.
Whereas Ethel Muriel Salamando was born in Anglewood Hospital on September 26th, 1925 and lived in Fort Lee before moving to Closter soon after her birth. And whereas as a young woman, Muriel worked as a babysitter every Saturday night for
25 cents and later was employed in a defense plant assembling various products on James Street in Closter with my aunt, might I add. Correct. Um whereas it was at a vegetable market in Closter where Muriel met Vinnie, the
soon-to-be love of her life. He drove her home from work one day and they were together from then on out. Whereas they were married on December 9th, 1948 by the mayor of Closter and moved to Emerson where they built their house at 19 Broad Street. And whereas Muriel and
Vinnie raised their family of three children, Joan, Janice, and Vincent, and remained Emerson residents for over 75 years. Whereas Muriel's family continued to grow. And as of today, she has six grandchildren and nine greatg
grandandchildren. and whereas Muriel has been a member of the Emerson Bible Church for over 70 years and a longtime member of both the Emerson Senior Citizens Club and the Red Hatters Women's Group. And whereas Muriel loves to go on trips with her friends,
especially with the seniors on mystery trips, Pennsylvania trips in New England, as well as the October Fest in New York State, whereas she is an avid knitter. I have one of her hats and scarves. Um, and would would knit sweaters and blankets for family members
and friends as well as for hundreds of newborn babies um for the Pascat Valley Hospital. Whereas Muriel Muriel has lived a life full of joy rich with family, friends, and community here in Emerson,
New Jersey. Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Danielle Dea, mayor of the Burrow of Emerson, on behalf of the governing body, do hereby offer this proclamation that acknowledges and applauds the life of Ethel Muriel
Salivando and wishes her a very happy and healthy 100th birthday. Be it further resolved that September 26, 2025 is hereby proclaimed in the Burrow of Emerson as Ethel Muriel Salamando Day. Happy birthday.
[Music] [Applause] I don't know. I just want to thank everybody. I just thank the Lord for my family. My husband is gone now, but my children are here. My children, my grandchildren, my great grandchildren
are right here. And I just love everybody. I miss Emerson. I live in Delaware with my daughter and my son-in-law Paul and Janice Lord back. They lived here, too. But I do miss everybody. But I can't be here. So,
well, you lived here a lot longer than most people. So, even though you left a few months ago, you deserve this. Many changes. Many changes. And there's a solid there's a solid mandle back there, too. I think it's Allan and
there's a lot of Are you Vinnie or is your son Vinnie? That's Vinnie. There's a whole bunch of Vinnies here. Yeah, that's my son. And then he has Yeah, he has three and Deanna has two.
[Laughter] And then of course you know uh Andrea of course yeah that's that's my presiding officer of our recision. Oh. Oh yeah. So but there's a lot and I
do remember a lot of people in Lemson. I wish I could be here but you know what was it like when you first moved here? It was really barren here in I think they had just built this building. Yeah.
So, there were no fourtory buildings. No, no, no. But, uh, that's all right. But, but there's been a lot of a lot of things going on in this world. But I thank God for every everything that I have. And we thank God for you. Muriel, we're
so happy to present you with this. Would someone will you take a picture of me and Muriel? And then everybody can come up and then we'll get the governing body. Everybody come down. They're gonna come down here. Wish you happy birthday. Take We're gonna take a picture with everyone.
Photographer. I will. This is Ashley and Jill. Thank you guys. And you're just catching Jill. Today's her last name. Yes, Jill. Congratulations, Jill. Okay, Graham, look here.
Ashley, nice to meet you. Let's take a photo. Gonna wait. All of us. This is one of our professionals. He's our burrow engineer. And this is our burrow uh interim burrow administrator. I'll be shaking hands with you. She'll be shaking hands.
Ready, Graham? Look here. One, two. Look at this. Good job. Awesome, guys. All right. Is that just a family want to come up here? No. You want to take a picture with the family?
[Music] Here. Hold your proclamation. Can you hear that? I'm going to have her table with us. I got everybody. Okay. One, two, three.
I'm just going to keep on going. Okay. Thank you, Mayor. I can only guess one thing. Is it 6:30? I didn't even look at you that bottle back there. Muriel, I have a little something for you. A little night cap. Take this
practice with the family and celebrate the 100 years. That's okay. Champagne toast. And don't be a stranger. Congratulations. Come back next year. We'll celebrate 101. [Music]
Congratulations. Hope I make it. I just It was a big family. Yeah. Wow. [Laughter]
No, she doesn't look good at all. No, I know. She's amazing. Have a good evening. Oh, thank you for moving that back. I appreciate that. Bye, family. You're so welcome. You're so welcome.
While you're doing that, I'm just going to keep on going. Um, we also have um another birthday coming up for one of our residents of Brookdale. Her name is Emma Chance and I have a proclamation. Emma Chance was born on
August 31st, 1924 in Hoboka, New Jersey where she spent her formative years working at a five and dime general store. And whereas she enjoys crocheting and knitting as well as playing canasta, roomy cube, checkers, and blackjack, and would like to continue to learn more
games. And whereas her favorite foods are spaghetti, Chinese food, and most of all, her mother's Hungarian cooking and pasta. Whereas she has been blessed with a life full of family, including three children, five grandchildren, many great grandchildren, and even great great
grandchildren. Emma is most proud in life of her family, and cherishes the generations that will carry on her family's legacy. Whereas Emmy is Emma is happy to call the Burrow of Emerson at Brookdale Senior Living home. Now therefore, be it resolved that I,
Danielle Deaala, mayor of the Burrow of Emerson, on behalf of the governing body, do hereby congratulate Emma Chance on her 101st birthday and do hereby proclaim August 31st, 2025 is Emma
Chance Day in the Burrow of Emerson. A very happy birthday, Emma. Okay. And now I would like to ask Jill Maguire to meet me up front. Um Rich, would you do me a favor and take some photos?
I would be more than happy to. Okay, I've been treading this. Oh, we're going to cry. Okay, let's give me the mic. We're professionals. We should know that.
Okay. Um, Jill, I am honored to stand alongside you as we reflect on your many years of service to Emerson. This is truly a bittersweet moment as I've had the pleasure of serving with you for the past eight years. You have been an important part of the community since
you began attending mayor and council meetings more than 12 years ago. Um, and then you started as a volunteer in 2017 on the historic preservation commission, rising to chair for two years shortly thereafter. When I vacated my seat to
become mayor, the governing body knew there was no better choice than Jill to serve on the council because of her integrity, courage, and unwavering commitment to Emerson. Jill, you have been a valued member of the council, and I know that everyone you have served with has nothing but the utmost respect
for you. Right now, I'm going to ramble a little. Um Jill, I personally want to thank you because from the bottom of my heart, I used to sit on the stasis as the lone Republican and you and Ken and Brian would sit in the audience and you guys would come at the public comment
and agree with me and you guys gave me the carrots to keep on going and as being the only one up there that was I had a difference of opinion with everybody else. If you didn't get up there and you didn't support me, who knows where we'd be today. So if this would have worked out the way it did.
You have always been for transparency in Emerson and keeping Emerson the small familyoriented community that it is. We all fought together against overdevelopment and you got this building um uh
certificate of eligibility for the WPA historic building and we helped to stop knock down this building to some people's chagrin but also as part of this this is a big part of Emerson's history. Um, I don't even know what to say anymore, Jill, but Emerson is a better community
for your service. And on behalf of our 7,251 residents, thank you. We will all miss you, my friend. Governor, I would like to present you with this plaque. You want to read it? Go ahead. You read it. In recognition of
your many years of honorable and dedicated service to the Burrow of Emerson, council member January 2019 to August 2025, honorable volunteer and chair, Historic Preservation Commission, January 2017 to December 2018. These are
for you. Thank you. It's small because I know that you might be traveling. Why does the council come down and let's take a picture with Jill? I thought I was going to fall. Jill, do you want me to use your phone? Is this here? Oh, sure. I can do it with
photo. She was she my friend said right there. I'm sure you can go right over me. I am. Okay. Oops. Mr. Chair, I'm afraid to move. All right. Would you like to say
anything? Sure. I don't have it written and I hope I don't cry, but I'll hold the mic so you can stand up. It's hard to believe that it's over 19 years that we moved here and this is my
seventh year as a council member. Um, it's been a great experience. This place is far more than a place to live. It's definitely home and um the family town. Although we didn't know about the family town when we moved here for our family, it will always be the
family town. It's our family town for sure. Um getting the opportunity to um volunteer at school events, um the parents for athletes, the historic preservation committee, which obviously was very close to my heart. I met some great like-minded Emersonians who
believe that this place matters. This place, this building matters. um the Bon House mattered too. You know, there's a lot of um beautiful places in Emerson and we have to take care of them. Um it's part of our history. Um
getting the opportunity to serve on the council when I was appointed and then elected and reelected has been a great honor um to serve with like-minded council members, the mayor for um past and present council members. They all have the same commitment to Emerson that
I do. and um it helped deepen my com my connection to this community and gave me the opportunity to give back to a community that gave my family so much. So I will definitely look back at this time with pride and um definite fondness
and we will miss Emerson, my children and myself. So I'll always love Emerson. It will always be our home. Emerson's going to miss you, too. Thank you. Sorry I cried through it. [Music]
Jill, you find the best picture. So, we thank Jill for her appreciation. Her actual date that she will be stepping down from the council is August 31st, 2025. Correct. and we wanted to give her the plaque um today because this is the last meeting that's on the
books before that date. But should there be some kind of emergency meeting or special meeting needed, we will see her again. But we're not anticipating anything. No flowers. Okay. And the reason there's these bigger flowers back here and they weren't for Jill is it's um my boyfriend
dropped them off. So sorry. I didn't know. I wasn't expecting them. Um, that will bring us to appointments. Tonight, I would like to appoint Julie Itan to the Sha Tree Commission as a regular member for an unexpired 5-year
term ending December 31st, 2027. Thank you, Julie, for stepping up. She will be sworn in at the Shade Tree meeting. Uh, the next item on the agenda are minutes for approval. May I have a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of
January 28th, 2025? Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Syers, yes. Councilwoman Maguire, yes. Council President Aria, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chalino, yes.
5 minutes. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the close session meeting minutes of January 28th, 2025. Um, they are not available for release to the public at this time. Some I'll second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Sers.
Yes. Councilwoman Magguire, yes. Council President Arjia, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Telino, yes. Five. May I have a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of the February 18, 2025 meeting? So moved. Second.
Roll call, please. Councilwoman Syers, yes. Councilwoman Magcguire, abstain. Council President Organzia, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. That passes 4 zero. May I have a motion to approve the close session meeting
minutes of February 18, 2025 that are not available for release to the public at this time? Uh so second roll call, please. Councilwoman Syers, yes. Councilwoman Magcguire, abstain. Council President Odentia, yes. Counciloman Timberman,
yes. Um Councilwoman, yes. That passes 40, mayor. Okay, we're doing a catch up on minutes. Do I have to say each one individually? Okay. So, I'm going to do a list at this point. May I have a motion to approve
the regular meeting minutes of March 21st, 2025, the regular meeting minutes of April 22nd, 2025, the regular meeting minutes of May 6, 2025, the regular meeting minutes of the
May 20th, 2025 meeting, and the special meeting minutes of August 4th, 2025. So move. So, uh, councman seconded that. All right. And roll call on those.
Um, Councilwoman Syers, yes. Councilwoman Magguire, yes. Council President Orenzia, abstain. Councilman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, abstain. And now I would like to make need a
motion to approve the close session meeting minutes of the March 21st, 2025 meeting. the close session meeting minutes of April 22nd, 2025, the close session meeting minutes of the June 3rd, 2025, and the close session
meeting minutes of the June 24th, 2025 meeting. None of these are available for release to the public at this time. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Bayers, yes. Councilwoman Magguire, yes. Council President Orenzia.
So I abstain from the March 21st and I abstain from April 22nd and I abstain from August 4th. The rest I approve. Yes. Councilman Timberman. Yes.
Councilwoman Chelina. Uh abain from March 21st, April 22nd. Uh and the rest Yes. pass there. Okay. And I hit all of them, correct? Yes. All right. I just wanted to make sure cuz I separated them out pretty quickly. Did Okay.
Did I Did I miss something? Well, I mean, I abstained from March 21st, but I abain from the regular minutes of the 22nd as well as um May 20th. Do you want to amend your vote? I would like to amend my vote. Yes. Abstaining from the regular minutes of April 22nd and May 20th.
Okay. Okay. And you can go back to the table. Sorry. All right. The next item on the agenda is correspondence. All correspondence is on file under the office of the clerk. Financial business may have a motion to approve resolution number 192-25
to approve the August 19, 2025 bills list. So move second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Councilwoman Magcguire, yes. Council President Orenzia, yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. That passes.
Okay. May I have a motion to approve resol resolution 208-25 to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended applicable to the exclusion from the gross income for federal income tax
purposes of interest on obligations issued by the Burrow of Emerson and authorizing the mayor, acting burough clerk, chief financial officer, and other burrow officials to take such action as they may dee necessary or advisable to affect such compliance and
designating a $6,18,000 million bond anticipation note dated July 25th, 2025 and payable July 24th, 2026 as a qualified taxexempt obligation pursuant to section 265B3
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended. I just want to clarify that's 6,18,000. So moved. Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Fars, yes. Councilwoman Magcguire, yes. Council President Arjenia,
yes. Counciloman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman Chelino, yes. That brings us to unfinished business. There is no unfinished business. And then new business. There is no new business this evening. That now brings us to uh number 13, adoption of ordinances. Second reading and public
hearing. This is the second reading and public hearing of ordinance number 1707-25. Miss Dapo D Simone, would you please read the title of this ordinance? This is a capital ordinance of the Burrow of Emerson in the county of Bergen, New Jersey, authorizing the acquisition of
firearms and related equipment in, by, and for the police department in, by, and for the borrow, appropriating therefore the sum of $28,500, and providing that such sum so appropriated shall be raised from the borrow's capital improvement fund.
May I have a motion to open the meeting for public comment on this and this ordinance only? A move. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? We're open to the public on this. Anyone? Seeing no hands, may I have a motion to close the meeting for public comment on this ordinance?
Some moved. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. With no more requests. May uh close that. And then may I have a motion to adopt ordinance number 1707-25 on second reading?
Second. Uh roll call, please. Councilwoman Sers, yes. Councilwoman Magcguire, yes. Council President Arjenia, yes. Councilwoman Timberman, yes. Councilwoman, yes. Very good. That brings us to introduction of ordinances. There are
none this evening. And number 15 is reports. Um let's start with um Councilwoman Ashley Sers. You have a report for us. Yes. for the Emerson Recreation Commission. I just want to thank all of the 30 players who came out and played
in the Emerson Cornhole Tournament and congratulations to the winners. Um, we have fall sports that are going to start in a few weeks. Good luck to all of our athletes and a big thank you to all of our volunteer coaches.
Um, and then don't forget the fall festival. Just save the date for that. It's October 19th. Mhm. Very good. That's all I have. Thank you. Councilwoman Jill Magcguire, do you have a report for us this evening?
Final report. Um, the next Jade Tree Commission meeting will take place at Burrow Hall on Wednesday, September 10th at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in having a tree planted on the burrow's right of way in front of your property, please contact the commission at shadetree
emersonj.org. And that is my final report. M that's it. No more words. Oh, just again I would it was an honor to serve with all of you. It's a great team and I know that you will continue to do good do good things for Emerson. Thank you.
You're here. Um council president, do you have a report for us this evening? Um I do. I have a very brief one, excuse me, for fire department for the month of July. I have a total of 19 calls um anywhere from fire carbon monoxide to
motor vehicle accidents. That was short. Councilman Timberman, do you have a report for us this evening? I don't, but I'm going to take a second. Uh, I again wanted to wish Councilwoman the wire uh all the best in the next chapter for her. Um, like you mentioned
in your she was one of those faces like when I knew nothing about municipal government that was standing up. Uh, and those same principles that she had back then she she did on her time here on the council with us. So, um, you were never shying away from the hard work that had
to be done. Uh, and thank you for setting an example. Oh, good luck. I appreciate that. Councilwoman Chelina, uh, I have a brief report from the DPW. Um, the DPW cleaned uh, streams off of
Main Street while the reservoir was low and they were able to walk the stream bed. Uh, they painted all crosswalks and stop lines in preparation of school openings. Uh the DPW went around town trimming branches away from stop signs and street signs. Uh they've been doing
tree removal and trimmings to the shade tree commission as well. Um I'd also like to thank Jill. Um I haven't been here very long, but um even prior to getting on the council, you taking the time to campaign with myself and Ashley
meant a lot. Um because we were coming in here with, you know, no experience. Um I appreciate your knowledge. I appreciate your honesty um and doing the right for the community. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. You're going to do great things. Mayor, I said one more announcement. Sure.
We want to tell you happy birthday. Tomorrow is the mayor's birthday and we just wanted to give flowers. Thank you. What a pretty card. That's why the That's why the flowers showed up. Oh, everybody signed it in there. That's
beautiful. Thank you so much. He didn't do anything wrong. It's my birthday tomorrow. That's why I bought the flowers. In fact, when I called to thank him and to say uh thank you for the surprise, he started laughing and just hung up on me
like gotcha. Okay. Um last week we celebrated our annual employee and volunteer appreciation day. Despite the weather, everyone enjoyed the barbecue by the pool at Hackinack Golf Club. Emerson's Environmental Commission members are our 2024 volunteers of the
year and our uh 41-year employee DPW Superintendent Perry Solomando is our 2024 employee of the year. Well deserved. Oh, well deserved. I said if you see any of the environment environmental members
or Perry around town, please congratulate them and thank them for all that they do for Emerson. Uh we concluded our mayor and council presents summer concert series for 2025 and are already busy planning next year's
concerts. Tax bills were mailed out in late July. The last day to pay third quarter property taxes without a penalty is today. So if you're watching this tomorrow, you're already getting a penalty. So please pay your taxes so
that you don't acrue any more um charges. Starting Thursday, August 21st through September 3rd, weather permitting, there will be road work improvement projects commencing in several areas in town. Um Dave, are you going to go into that
with all of the the uh why don't you do it so that you could explain how it's going to get done? All right. And then you can PSCG will be restoring the final roadways that they had to disturb as part of their gas modernization project
including Acriman Avenue. There is also a separate drainage and paving project on Park Avenue. Full details with an updated list of locations will be posted tomorrow on the bureau's website and our social media
pages. Individual notices were sent by the respective contractors to each resident affected and a rave message will also go out tomorrow. Dave, is there anything that you want to elaborate on? But what the one thing I will say is at the pre-construction
meeting for this, it was imperative from me that all of this paving was completed prior to the start of school. Yes. So that that information was relayed to the contractor. They're working the schedule that they're
provided to us um is working that working into that. Obviously, if mother nature doesn't cooperate with us, there could be a potential that it could spill into um the school time period, but the way we uh we work with PSNG related to
their schedule so that the roads that are at the tail end of the schedule are further away from uh the school areas and they're not the main thorough affairs uh that the ped, you know, the motorists will be using to get to the school. So um just I'll go through the list of the roads here now. This will
get posted later. Um so the roads that are be impacted through the PSEG program as well as through the uh the burough sponsor project. Uh so we have excuse me uh South Dorchester Road, uh Granger, Lindenav, uh Lincoln Boulevard, Spruce
A, Greta Place, Park Avenue, Acriman Avenue, uh Erie Avenue, and Sycamore Avenue. So, uh, the contractor will begin first by doing the milling operations. Um, just pay attention, um, you know, as the roads will be left in a milled condition, there will be signage
up, noting that there's raised manholes. Um, but I just ask that the motors pay attention to those, uh, signs and the raised manholes as well throughout um, the time period from when the roadway is milled to when we can get it paved. Um, so construction is anticipated to start
on the 21st and we should be completed by September 3rd. um with all of the uh the paving operations on uh the PSEG work as well as the DOT sponsored project on Park Avenue. Um so those improvements again
mill and resurfacing there are some streets where it's only going to be um from curb to center line of the road just because of um the fact that they only disturbed half the road but we tried to maximize um the square footage as best as we could. We did some um
swapping and negotiations with PSCG to maximize curb to curve paving where we could. So um now people do get upset when you do that only half of the road, but we really are only doing that if the road has been fairly recently paved. And even though
it looks dark on one side and light on the other, just after one snowstorm, they're exactly the same color. Right. Correct. Y okay. So don't panic if your street looks a little correct. And I know we've we've dealt with that over years and we've tried to work out ways and see if we could come
up with a different asphalt mix to make it lighter, but unfortunately it's it's the nature of the beast. I mean, the roadway is in good condition. Uh even though it's the the lighter, not the dark black, but the lighter black uh road surface. And there are some other roads. I think South Dorchester is one
that we're actually going to be looking to do some other stuff on it in the future, too. So, that one is one of the roads that's only getting paved half, but we're looking to do some other uh enhancements in that area itself. Okay. All right. I'm going to continue and then I'm going to go back to you for
your report. Um mixed garden debris will be picked up on Labor Day, Monday, September 1st. The next senior meeting is on September 11th. Um, I am pleased to announce that the governing body
will be joining American Legion Post 269, the housing development of Bergen County and other dignitaries at a groundbreaking ceremony for phase 2 of the Veterans Housing Project on September 16th. This is fantastic news.
Um, this is a project long in the pipeline for Burden County and we are so happy it is finally coming to fruition. Burton County expects to have agreements and contracts in place by November and they intend to start as soon as they can thereafter. Once commenceed, the project
should take about 18 months to complete. We look forward to that day when American Legion Post 269 can meet in their permanent meeting room and several heroes who have served our great nation can live in a safe and affordable
housing. Uh, Meals on Wheels North Jersey is now accepting new clients. If you'd like further information, please call 2011-3580050. With more people spending time outside these days, property maintenance issues can become more apparent. If you have an
issue that you would like to uh report, please call our property maintenance official at 2011-2626086 extension 1216 or you can email at propertymaintenance emersonj.org. Um please make sure to pick up after
your dogs um as everyone's out there walking. The next meeting of the governing body will take place Tuesday, September 2nd at 7:30 p.m. At this meeting, we will celebrate Claraara Ergo's 100th
birthday. Claraara and her family will be joining us, and we hope you can, too. Um, at the 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 to 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 Bureau of Emerson is not actively pursuing any action at this time. We are just gathering information to educate
ourselves and the public. Tragically, Emerson had a fatality last year caused by a deer, and this is a regional issue. We have invited neighboring town officials to join us. Um, the Bergen County Utilities Authority is holding a
house household hazardous waste collection Saturday, September 6th, 9 to 3 at Camp Gaw in Mawa. Wayback Burger and Multi Pizza had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago at the site of the former Boston Market. We will be
scheduling a grand ri uh opening ribbon ceremony with them in the near future, but we wish them the best of luck. I ate there. It's delicious. Go on down. A few save the dates. September 18th, Bergen County Senior Picnic. Wednesday, October
1st, Bergen County Satellite Office here in Emerson. Saturday, October 4th, Emerson's townwide garage sale. The 19th of October, Emerson's fall harvest festival. November 1st, Emerson's free paper shredding day and styrofoam
recycling event. That's new. That will be held at the um DPW yard. We are also working on scheduling more dates with motor vehicle commissions mobile units so our residents can get their real IDs. We have also invited the Legalized Games
of Chance Control Commission to come in early 2026 to give a presentation and answer questions for all licensed organizations that hold raffles and bingo events. So, they're just going to be in in a place in town and they can just go ask them
questions. Yeah, it'll be like like an open form. Okay. Um there will be more details to follow on all of these events. Reminder, Emerson schools are opening on Thursday, September 4th. Please be alert and pay attention to the
uh detours. Um I am happy to announce that the pickle ball courts are now open at the high school. We will be having a grand opening in the near future as well as providing more details on the public's use and court rules.
Rich, do you have a report for us? I do. Okay. Rich, welcome. you are our interimm burrow administrator. You may be familiar to most people because that watch our meetings because you have sat in that chair before uh and we welcome your presence back to the burrow.
Thank you very much, Mayor. It's um I'm really happy to be here. Uh just briefly for everybody on the council, I retired for the second time this past March and decided that after 50 years in the business, I wanted to take a step back, enjoy my now one-year-old grandson,
travel. Uh, and I started my own LLC. So, here we are. Uh, segue into that. I, my first goaround here. I believe Councilwoman Maguire was only on the council maybe a month. Correct. Yeah. And we came on the same time.
I was there for the beginning and now unfortunately I'm here for the end. Yes. But I wish you well. It was a pleasure working with you and I actually was looking forward to uh spending some more time here. Thank you. So to the report. Um, as you know, we
have an issue at the public works facility where we have to install an emergency shut off switch by the fuel pumps. In order to rectify this as soon as possible and avoid any fines from PIOSA, it's necessary for the repairs to begin immediately. This is a specialized
job and unfortunately we don't have the time to obtain three quotes required by the New Jersey public contracts law. We have spoken with one vendor uh in Fairfield who has quoted a price of approximately $12,000. We are making every attempt to at least
obtain at least one other quote. Uh this is from our public works director. The quote actually was $12,727. That statement was read in conformity with the public contracts law. Since we cannot find at least two, preferably three quotes for a vendor to do this
job, there is a process, which this was, to read that into the record to let the community, the governing body know that we will be taking advantage of the one quote and um we have put it on the record that we can only get the one quote, which was one of the requirements
in the uh public contract law. Uh we need to get that done as quickly as possible. uh hence the reading of that into the record. Um the last one uh I emailed to all of you uh an updated list
of priority tasks. The initial one was August 6th. The other one the updated and revised was dated yesterday. I do have hard copies here if anybody wants it. The list is now two full pages long. uh from some personnel issues and moves
that need to be made to things that are were on the whiteboard in my office um that we'll try to tick off as many of these as possible and there's some updates with um meeting dates and action items that have already taken place. So if any of you have any questions on that
once you see it if you haven't read it please feel free to reach out to me. Is that your final report? Yes ma'am. Is that it? Very good. Thank you. Um, it's only been a couple days, so Okay. You get a lot done. You work fast. Um, Mr. Atinson, do you have a report
for us this evening? Sure. In addition, obviously, to the road work that's going to be going on. I just want to update you on a couple other projects that are ongoing. So, at the last meeting, we talked about the uh senior center doors. So, our office finalized the documents for that and we
have uh solicited pricing from four door contractors to get some pricing in. We expect to get we don't we should be getting the pricing in from them by the end of next week and then we'll make a recommendation to the governing body on the next steps uh related to that. Uh so
things are moving forward with the uh the automating doors over there. Um additionally um we are wrapping up uh and we'll be working with your clerk's office to get some dates to go out to bid for your capital road program. So,
in addition to what PSCG is doing as well as the DOT program, you have your 2025 capital road program. So, we're just wrapping up the plans on those and then we'll be looking to go out to bid um probably next week um so that we can look to award in September for that.
And then when would they pave? Um we would try to get it in October, November before the holidays. Before the cold comes in. Yep. Um so that is uh that particular item as well. Um, another item I do want to talk
about, um, so there's I think there's been some talk about the, uh, Armenian home application, um, and some notices that went out to the residents related to that. Um so that particular application um and the notices that people received are related
to a permit that they obtained back in uh September 3rd of 2020 for the application that came before the uh land use board back prior to that date. Um that permit is set to expire on September 2nd of 2025.
So the applicant um had submitted an application to the D uh related to that essentially asking for an extension of that permit but at the same time they're uh indicating that there's revisions to the plans as well. um those plans while
they'll be reviewed by the D for conformity to their regulations um does not mean that the bureau has approved the application itself as well going in conjunction with that they have an application that they've presented or
submitted I should say not presented nothing's been presented yet um submitted to the land use board we're working right now through the completeness phase of it meaning there's a checklist list that the bureau has related to it in different documents that need to be submitted. We're working
through that process now with them. They're currently deemed incomplete, meaning there's some information that we need um that we feel is important for the board to have to be able to hear the application. So, as of as I'm sitting here today, application has been deemed
incomplete. We're waiting for additional documents from them uh to be heard before the land use board. So, just so you guys are aware as well as anybody that's watching this or who watches the recording, um the application and the information that they've received is just for the D portion of it. That's
just a So, can the application that may be on the agenda right now? I don't know if the date was advertised yet, but I think there's a tentative date. Can that go on while they're waiting for this? Yeah. So, they so typically can they come in and do their
application while they're waiting for this? So typically the way the process would work because um typically you would submit to the township first or the bureau in this case you would submit to them get your application reviewed and approved then you would go to the
DP. So this particular application I don't remember the time frame of when it was heard and approved by the bureau but it predates my time here and we had started I think around 2019. um they submitted for the DP permits
well after their approval from the land use board. The the problem they have here and what they're trying to avoid is having to do a brand new application to the DP. Um so they're requesting an extension as well as a a revision to it. That was my actual question when you
said is it appropriate to request an extension when they're making revisions? Why wouldn't they have to reapply? So, I mean, here's the here's the issue they're going to have. So, for this is from the D side. Um, so they're going to go through this process with them. They
submitted the plans that um that they've submitted to the township as well for the land use board to consider. During the hearing process, there could be back and forth and there could be comments from the engineer, myself, the planner, and there may end up being revisions to
these plans. um they may have to go back to after let's just hypothetically say and I highly doubt it's going to happen but like the D acts on this they get an answer back by October everything's good and I highly doubt it because I think
when they go in for an extension there's not a clock that's set for their review process but um let's just say the D approves their application within a short time period we're still hearing it on the town side of things. Uh if
there's changes made to those plans as a result of the board hearings, they're going to have to go back to the D um for another set of revisions. So, that's the gamble that they're going to be taking, that's on them. That has nothing to do with the board. And it
doesn't and even if the D approves this, this doesn't put any pressure on the on the land use board to have to approve the application. It's solely up to the land use board to review it and make the final decision on that application and
irrelevant to the DP. Typically what happens with the land use board is we'll approve the applica assuming everything's good. The application gets approved contingent upon the applicant getting the appropriate permit. So like in this case the D permits um and they
wouldn't be allowed to start construction until that has been satisfied. That's the typical process. But given the time frame on this um their permit um they're kind of fasttracking this process and I will say I think the application initiative came
in and there's been a lot of back and forth um with the applicant since the earlier part of the year. So you know I don't think they were anticipating um you know them not being heard yet at this point before the land use court but there was a lot of back and forth
regarding some other items. So any any other questions on your meeting? All right. Do you have anything else for us? Um I think that's all I have. Thank you. Very good. Tria, do you have a report for us? We do. Um
the from the clerk's office. Uh we are also coordinating with the New Jersey Division of the Taxation Office um to have a program potentially in October um for eligible residents participating in the state's property tax relief programs. for more information and to
guide people on how to um uh the application process. Um I also just wanted to report that um since Councilwoman Magguire um vacancy, the seat will be vacant as of September 1st, so per municipal vacancy law um since
she is of the Republican party, uh the municipal committee has 15 days to submit three names of nominees. Um that would be September 15th. And then the governing body has a total of 30 days to make a selection um from those nominees
by September 30th to fill the vacancy. Okay. Thank you. Hi, Mayor. I got one other thing. Sure. Um also, if anybody has questions, concerns, or they want to make comments, obviously um the D welcomes comments, there's in the letter, I believe it
indicates where to send those comments or questions to them. Um, so they can take those into consideration during the re will they still accept them? I thought there was a like 15 days from the release of the letter. Okay. And we're beyond I'm not sure when the letter Okay. Fair enough.
Sorry. Ignore that. I I think that the residents that surround the Armenian home had their opportunity and they knew about it. Okay. Sounds good. Mr. McCann, do you have a report for us this evening? I I do. Um
um since the last meeting um we have served uh the redeveloper at block 419 I'm talking to because you're very loud a judge you're very loud they can hear me
professional musician that's plenty okay um so we serve the uh the uh emissary redevelopment group Um there two notices. One was uh a
notice of default listing um all the defaults uh pursuant to the redevelopment agreement and the second notice was a notice to terminate our relationship with them altogether. Uh the basis for for these notices are provided uh within the redevelopment
agreement. Um just by way of information for the the general public um we were given you gave me authorization in I believe it was late last June meeting. Um they knew that we were doing
something. Um, I got a call from uh uh a what I would call an investor that very closely tied in a line with uh with the mortgager uh the mortgagee rather of the property and apparently with uh Mr.
Cogman himself and they a last stitch effort was made and they made a proposal uh to to us. uh the proposal um uh was was nothing new. It was it was essentially the same proposal that um
they walked away from in in April. Uh they but they actually put some additional conditions in the proposal particularly as it related to uh the off-site units. um they they were willing to uh build on
this other property that we that's out there that we proposed to them, but they wanted to guarant us to guarantee make guarantees and we can't do that. So, they knew the proposal uh although although it was written well, I I just thought the proposal in itself was in
bad faith given the fact that there was nothing really new that was being offered. Nevertheless, I said to them, well, since we've been down this road before with all these uh conditions that that are here and all these options that you present that there's nothing new. I
made them a counter offer uh a day later and I told them that time was was of the essence and I will give them essentially a week and um didn't specify the time but you know I expected a reply back to my counter proposal which they never
did. So after 7 days had passed uh we served them with the notice of default and notice of termination. The two why the two notices because under the terms of the contract there are certain things that they can do uh or not do uh that
cause for uh automatic termination of the agreement. So from a legal perspective uh they have been put on notice. um there is no ability to cure uh the ter the termination because they they were terminated for two purposes.
One because they have uh failed to pay taxes in the burrow and they actually got a tax sales they had a tax sale last year on the tax certificate and um and that was never cured because we every time we sent out the bill there's a
demand for the payment. So they they were aware of that and the other reason was for the delay of the project. Um by all calculations and measurements that I could come up with, we are well past the time period that they had. Uh and we are and we operate in good faith.
Notwithstanding what I just said, uh their new council sent me a letter yesterday which I distributed to the litigation committee and yourself uh objecting to to the notices taking the position that uh the notices weren't are not proper. number one and
number two that the burrow acted in bad faith because we didn't act in good faith with regard to the seven off-site units which of course is that just rejected or didn't even respond to my final proposal. So, uh you know lawyers have to say something to
represent their clients and I'm sure he's I can tell you that that this particular lawyer unlike his previous council uh is very good. Uh he knows his he knows his he knows his work. uh he's he's uh he's not trying to win anything.
He's a pro as compared to the previous attorneys that he uh that he had. Uh and uh and I want to finally say uh Joe uh good luck. Oh, thank you. Congratulations. Um you know, it's not
easy doing this job. Uh there's people on the days now that there where you were not so long ago. decision- making uh is is when you have to choose the lesser of evil decisions. It's it's when you're in government sometimes the the obvious decision the clearer decision of
right and wrong isn't there. Most of the time these are you know lesser of evil decisions to make and uh you've done that with a plum and it's been a pleasure to work with you and I appreciate uh arguing because I would no I don't mean that at all. I mean you're
a leader and that's what we do. disagreement. If if if we all got along and agreed, we divorce lawyers wouldn't be in business, right? So, no, but sincerely, but and the reason why I say that is because every time you you disagreed or had something
to say that may have been in agreement with what I said or not, it was always coming from a place of what you thought was best for the burrow. And that you don't get in a lot of communities. I've, as you know, I've served in a lot of communities and uh and I'm sure uh our administrator would
echo that. Uh never a doubt and so I always enjoyed it and I always respected your positions and you made me work harder to to to support support my positions. I appreciate that very much and I wish you well. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Oh,
you're welcome. Okay. Um acting clerk stepped into the room a few minutes ago. Do you have a report? Okay. I just wasn't sure if you were came to see the meeting or what?
Yeah. So, you did have a report. Given the opportunity working overtime, but come on in. I came back to uh to give you a card actually from uh Triasa and I we I
forgot it at home. So, I apologize that I didn't give it to you earlier, but um just wanted to say thank you for all your support um and uh all the kindness that you showed uh towards me and um I'm
going to miss you and I wish you and your family all the best. Appcate [Music] I don't think I ever sw if no one has questions of me. I'm going to go to dinner. Please go home. Enjoy.
Thank you. Okay. So, that now brings us to I believe consent, public comment. Comment. Um, members of the public are welcome to speak on any topic by coming to the podium and stating your name for the record. In the interest of time, all
who wish to speak, uh, please keep your comments brief and concise. May I have a motion to open the meeting to public comment? All in favor? Any opposed? We are open. [Music] Good evening, mayor and members of
council. Mayor, happy birthday, by the way. Thank you. Uh Alan Salamando, 138 Highland Avenue. Um I was pleasantly surprised by coming here from Uriel's uh uh project. But the the main reason I'm
here tonight is I'm very very confused and I'm hoping to get an answer to a question that's been haunting me for several years now. Back in in October of uh 23, I spoke with you, mayor, at the firehouse in reference to the 70-year-old uh
um requirement at the firehouse become a life member. At that point, you you spoke with me. we we agreed that at that time the burough administrator was going to look into it. Um it's been ongoing ever since. And then
at our fire department meeting, I guess last Tuesday or beginning of the month, uh Chief Carlos announced that the mayor and council has agreed to continue the burough ordinance the way it is written
and that uh the pre the uh subsequent uh uh bylaw changes that we we proposed uh were rejected. um confused as to why something like this would happen. Um
the the bylaw changes in the burrow of Emerson Fire Department takes 2/3 of the membership to for it to be changes, not just one person coming up and saying, "I want A, B, and C." And and it happens. It's it's proposed to bylaw committee.
It sits on a table. Uh the bylaw committee reviews it and decides whether or not it's something that's acceptable or not acceptable. and then it's presented to the membership. It sits on a t on a on a table for for three months and then on a third month it's voted on.
It has to uh receive at least twothirds of the membership uh vote for the bylaw to be changed. I am completely baffled as to why the mayor and council would go against the fire department's
wishes. We have um in in your burough ordinance, it specifically says that uh membership of the Emerson Fire Department is open to all persons who are eligible to perform the duties of
volunteer fire department without discrimination or bias of the applicant's race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or physical handicap. I my opinion you're you're discrim
discriminating against us because of turn people turning 70 years old. Uh part of the 70-year-old thing is anybody that's uh an member now doesn't have the ability to vote for our line officers.
We have members there's at least 12 members that this has affected and come November it's affecting this guy right here. I've been a member of the Emerson Fire Department for 52 years. I have never ever ever not made my percentage. I go to all the calls
that I can. I'm one of the the only drivers that's available. And and now come November, Adios, I'm out of here. I can't do anything any longer. It's absurd. There's enough things on fire ground that needs to be done. Yeah. Am I going to be crawling
into a burning building? Only if your life depends on it. That's for the younger guys to do. But there's there's many many many jobs on the fire ground that need to be done that could be performed. We've got 12 members that sit at the firehouse
because they can't go to a fire. It's completely absurd. Uh there there's things that that they're not going to be involved with that's going to be hazardous. However, they're not allowed to go to the fire course. There's there's operating aerial ladder. There's putting
ladders. There's filling air bottles. There's changing air bottles. There's uh traffic control. There's crowd control. There's there's dozens of of tasks that need to be done that were going to take a young person who could conceivably be going crawling into these burning
buildings and take him away or her away from that position that they're not no longer going to be able to do. I don't know whether this was presented to you properly or not, but I'm I'm hoping that you would reconsider it. I mean again it's something that the membership
voted on by at least twothirds of the membership. Can I respond? Absolutely. This is not something that we have taken action on recently. This is something that when AJ was the fire chief several years ago was proposed and I believe a member of the fire department brought it
to the attention of our acting clerk and they were going through the bylaws, the ordinances and the state statutes and I don't know that it completely came to resolution and my understanding is our interim burrow administrator is now
looking into this and we're actively trying to find the documents to see if the chain change was made whether you had the tur two/thirds majority vote correct rich yeah I have a meeting with the chief tomorrow because there are some questions the way it was presented the
language is not clear so as the mayor said this is not finally resolved right we we haven't discussed he led he led the membership to believe it's a done deal this is the way it is and the mayor council is not doing anything who's he Tom Carlos
okay well as rich said he has a meeting with him tomorrow. This has not been resolved. Um, as you know, Jane was the former clerk and then we have a an acting clerk right now. So, we're going back and we are researching it. Correct.
Unfortunately, we were told and I don't it's not your fault. We were told that the burough administrator at the time, I guess Mr. Hermanson had agreed that if we presented the changes that we required we requested with a vote change from the department that the mayor and council would change the burough
ordinance and everything would be hunky gory. And again I you know may maybe I'm I'm being disillusioned by the way that the chief presented it at the last meeting but that's what he said. Uh you can you can go and ask any of the other members of
the department that were present at the meeting. The ch the the chief came in, I believe, and asked for some clarification, and the acting clerk read the ordinance and the bylaws as it stood and gave him what she thought was clarification. And now, because there
are still questions, it is going to be handled by an interim administrator. So hopefully in the near future, we will have a resolution to this. I I very much appreciate because unfortunately come November topic that we have been discussing at all. I I'm probably some of the governing body
members are surprised that you're here even discussing it. Um I happen to be in Burough Hall a lot. So I I heard that a member had called up and was asking Michelle about revisions and this and that. Um at that same time Rich joined
us again and uh we asked Mr. Carlos, Fire Chief Carlos, and now we're going to try and get to the bottom of it to see where it stands. But we have not taken any action different than whatever was resolved with our old administrator. Maybe there was a misunderstanding,
maybe there wasn't. But what he stated at the meeting is completely different from what you people are telling me. And I appreciate that. Well, I think he was given the bylaws the bylaws have been approved by the mayor and council. I have I have the written bylaws and a signature that they've been my signatures on it.
Yeah, absolutely. From what date? Do we have those, Rich? I don't have them with me. No, but do we have them? I would have to look. October 16th, 2024. Okay. Oh, that was very recent.
Will you have that? Okay. All right. So, we're going to look at that again. I I very much appreciate it. Thank you for your help and uh thank you for your consideration. Thank you for volunteering and everything that you do for Emerson. [Music] Could you take those out from
anybody else? Seeing no hands, may I have a uh motion to close the public portion of the meeting. So second, I just let me just add I don't I think that when we looked at the um what was
in the computer, we did maybe let the fire chief know several weeks ago that we thought that those bylaws did stand, but then another member came forward. So now we are looking into it. So I I wouldn't cut fire chief short because I
think he is going on information that we did in fact tell him that we thought that they were approved. Well yeah or that they weren't approved but you're saying but we might have now found more which is why we're looking at it approving it. So it really well that that's why it's it's still
open-ended but I don't think that he was doing anything nefarious by by telling you what he did. I think he truly believed that what he was saying was the truth when he told the department. But there may have to be a clarification is what I'm getting at this is this is it was done and as a matter of fact he said we have to go
back and change all the bylaws to be consistent with Rich after Rich will report back to us and let us know what's going on. Okay. All right. Have a good evening. Glad you were here from Muriel. Hi Leslie. All right. So I already closed the
public comment. We need to get a motion. Yes. And a second. All right. We're done with that. So now we're moving to 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 resolutions 209-25 through 219-25. So move second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman, yes.
Councilwoman the buyer. Yes. Council President Oansia, yes. Councilman Timberman, yes. Councilman, yes. Thank you. We are now going into our second close executive session uh where to discuss matters exempt from the
public pursuant to NJSA 104-1 at SEC and adequately noticed by resolution 22025. Uh may I have that motion? So moved. I'll second it. And a roll call, please. Councilwoman Sire. Yes. Councilwoman Magguire, yes. Council President,
yes. Counciloman Tman, yes. Councilwoman Chiao, yes. Okay, 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.
Okay. [Music] this time. I think we all brought up in close session. May I have a motion to reconvene, please? Second. All in favor? I Okay. Um, do we have any other business to discuss?
No. No. No. Rich, there's no actions. Oh, I thought you said there was. Okay. With no more business to discuss, may I have a motion to adjourn at what's the real time? 9. 9:45 p.m. So moved.
Second. We are adjourned. Jill Maguire, thank you. 6 and a2 years of integrity and honor to the Burough of Emerson. Thank you. Thank you.