--------- Thank you, Council President, and good evening, everyone. Tonight, we're going to hold the public hearing on the 2025 budget for the city of Inglewood, and we're going to have a presentation about about the budget. So, our CFO, Michael Kaufman, is here, and uh he will be
assisting for the 2025 budget. Our process actually began in October of 2024 where we started the to evaluate the needs of the departments and then we moved forward towards the end of the year. We put forward a preliminary draft
budget that we looked at internally and then in January we presented a budget to the council. It was a working document and uh with the council's assistance we have been able to make sure that we are meeting our goals and objectives that
have been set by the governing body and that we will be able to provide uh service to our services to our residents and purchase the equipment that we need to sustain services for our residents. Our budget mission statement is simple. We want to have a we want to have a
prudent budget. We want to make sure that we are maximizing grant funding where possible and that we are investing in efforts to uh implement flood mitigation measures and we have been doing that over the last two and a half years. We've been working with our
sister municipalities in the area to to uh eliminate snags and streams. But we're also we're also working with New Jerseys the New Jersey Institute of Technology and we have been able to receive grants from the state OEM that are helping us maximize our our efforts.
We're investing in we are looking to allocate our resources strategically and we're upgrading older infrastructure, our aging infrastructure and we're investing in our public facilities. As an example, the uh the DPWs had a
roof that's been leaking for several years. It now has a new roof on it so that it's it's no longer leaking. And we're going to be putting new garage doors on on the DPW facility. So, those doors are going to be energy efficient and will help us conserve energy, but it
will it will help us improve the uh the the length and durability of our our equipment that's inside. And we want to be able to minimize tax increases. So, we want to be able to comply with state statutes and also the tax levy caps that
we we have and we want to make sure that we are um we are creating surplus so that we have proper levels so that we can um we can have a a savings account for emergencies and we also are um
looking over the long term to be able to reduce our debt and we'll talk about those more uh as we go through the presentation. Our goal, as always, is to provide excellent service to our residents. We want to be in the top 1%
of any objective measurement in the state of New Jersey. So that means that there's room on the pedestal for a few other municipalities, but our goal is to be in the top 1% by any objective measurement. We want to be a laboratory of innovation. So we want to be able to
think outside the box when necessary and we want to be able to solve problems once and uh make sure that they stay solved. The uh we want to invest in our our staff. We want to make sure that we have succession planning in place so
that our new hires and our supervisors are going to be able to step up and lead in the future. So what is what's an example of being a laboratory of innovation? So we have in the past year we initiated a leaf composting facility
down at the DPW. We're able to take leaves that we collect from our residents and we're wind rowing them and then we're we're you we're tub grinding them. And what we're going to be able to do is two things. we are going to be
able to in the future have mulch for our parks and for our our flower beds. But when we do have to take material out, instead of sending out five trucks with leaves that are kind of light, we're
going to be able to send out one truck that that'll have more more compressed material in it, but we're going to save four truck loads and we're going to have we're going to be saving uh time for four for four of our other DPW staff so
that they can stay in town and and help do other things. So, those are some of the things that we're we're doing. And we want to optimize our resources. So we want to look at invest in repairs in our physical plant and we want to make sure
that we we are getting the best value for our dollar. Michael, next one. Next slide. So what is our budget? Our total budget our request or our total proposed budget is 81,574,11868.
This equates to a tax increase over last year of 1.98%. And that covers our essential services such as police, fire, DPW. It covers recreation and all of the other uh the other services that our residents
expect. It also covers unfunded state mandates and these ma these mandates there are examples of those mandates are tax maps that have to be upgraded and that's a significant cost. And Michael, what's another example of an unfunded
state mandate? We have the um files in fair loan that we have to take out. Okay, that's good. And we're going to we're going to we're going to get to those in a minute. So, thank you. Pension. Yeah, pension partially funded.
Yep. Good. Thank you. All right. Next slide. So, what is our budget impact? The proposed 1.98% increase in our city budget equates to $10.38 a month or $12462 on a home with with an average
assessment of $474,250. So that would be a tax rate increase of 0.26 cents over last year. What are some of the what are some of our our revenues that we're looking at this year? We're using
$3,300,000 for surplus. In the past years, we've used $3.1 million in surplus, but we have some specific one-time uh expenses that we're we're going to use surplus for. So, uh, some of those
one-time examples include the the tax maps that were just we were just mentioning, as well as, uh, we're we're putting we're putting funds aside for digitization of of some of our records that are off-site in storage, as well
as, um, as some of our our software so that we can um, make sure we we provide information in two clicks or less. our energy taxes, which is state revenue, is the same as last year, and it's flat,
and we'll talk about that again later on because flat state revenue actually means that we're losing we're losing money. We have our uniform construction code expenses. We anticipate an increase in that because we've raised our our
fees for the construction code. So when people people have a permit when they're doing work on their house, uh these fees now will cover our costs. In previous years, the fees didn't cover the cost. So that meant all 7,559 taxpaying properties were
subsidizing those that took out permits. So this is this is a more accurate reflection of those costs. And then the amount to be raised by taxes is 62 million 366,03.34. This is a look at some of this is just another slice a 3D slice of
our um of how how some of our revenue sources break down. So we've talked about surplus and that's 19.45% of our our total revenue. State aid is 16.48% 48% of our our total revenue and then pilots which are
payment in lie of taxes is 9.1% or 9.11%. All right, I'll I'll hold the mic straight like this. All right. How how's that? And then we have other revenue which is
39.97% of of the the budget. So the other revenue examples of the other other revenue are um when people want to rent went rec rent recreation u fields. So if it's teams or things
like that, they uh that's part of the other other sources of revenue. And Michael, what would be another source of revenue? You got to turn on your permits that people pay to the clerk's office or to the board of health or um the grant
grant. This includes grant revenue that we are anticipating this year. Okay, good. Thank you. All right, next slide. So on the other side we have the revenue side. Now we have the expense side. So some of the some of the the areas that
we've we've highlighted are salaries. So salaries are for the city are 34,480,000. Uh we have garbage and recycling which are 1.2 million. So that's gone up about $200,000 over the previous year. And that's that's also a
good sign because more of our residents are recycling more often. So, uh we are we're collecting more uh recite more recycling. So, we're helping we're helping to save the environment and uh we we are also uh collecting more
garbage and the fees have gone up slightly. But we're looking at the trends for recycling and they're they are very positive. We also have leaf disposal and we mentioned that before just about our wind rows and leaf composting and this year we're
projecting that because of what we're because of what we've done we will be able to reduce our our leaf composting cost by 25 uh 25,000 or 7.14%. And then we also have our down
payment for our capital ordinance. So, the down payment is a five% is a 5% down payment and that's in our operating budget and that is $525,000 this year. So, this slide shows an appropriation comparison between 2024
and 2025. So, you can see that our pension payments have gone up by $44,000. So, that's for all of our all of our full-time employees. Social Security has stayed the same. Our health
insurance premiums have gone up by $840,000. And then all of our other nonoperating expenses have have gone up by about two $2,82,000. And I'm bringing up that $2,82,000 because while that number is
accurate according to the state, it really is not the the true number. That number reflects the the city's opioid grant. So we have to take that in, anticipate that as revenue, and then we bring it over on the expense side. So that's the the opioid funds are are just
under a million dollars. So that that number of two 2082 should really be about a million dollars less than that. And Michael, do you have any other comments about that? And it also includes all the general expenses of the departments. Okay. You
know that's a good point because in our in our budget this year we have allocated to certain departments additional revenue, additional funding for certain expenses. So the clerk's office, we have the digitization project
that we spoke about before. So, there's about $100,000 that we put into the clerk's office so that we could retrieve boxes and inspect them and then digitize them. And we've also have funds in some other departments to help with the
digitization process as well as software costs that we didn't have in previous years for licenses and other things so that we could we could become more uh more transparent and pro provide information to our residents in a
quicker amount of time. And then also we've got the uh we we have this some of the other unfunded state mandates such as the tax map and things like that. And then we have contracts so that we could we can hire consultants so that we could we could
look at where is a good location for a community center, what to do with the Liberty School, and then some other contractual obligations that we we have for affordable housing. So those are those are some of the things that are in our our different department lines.
And then our debt obligations have uh have gone up and that was something that was forecast with our with our financial analysts and uh we've budgeted for that, but that's gone up by about half a million dollars. This is just another chart that looks or a bar graph that shows the same
information we just spoke about, but it just gives it a gives you a different perspective for it. So, next slide. And then out of the budget, this $81 million budget that that is we're having the public hearing on tonight,
88.55% of the budget is for contractual obligations. So that basically means that 11.44% is for discretionary spending. the uh that includes the the u contractual obligations includes salary
and wages. It's health care. It's the pension payments. It's utility bills. And our utility bills are up a bit. We we're actually using less energy. We've become more energy efficient, but but the cost of the energy has gone up. Okay.
Next. And then just um another a little bit deeper dive into our our contractual obligations. So we have police salaries that are at $14 million 14965. That's uh $18.35% of of the proposed budget. We
have insurance costs at 11 million 11,910,000. That includes health insurance, liability insurance, workers compensation insurance. And then we have statutory expenditures such as the such as our pension
payments. Next slide. And by the way, uh this pre this uh PowerPoint presentation will be posted on our website. So feel free to take pictures, but if you want it, it'll be on our website in the next day or two. So, by the numbers, so our our proposed
budget is $81,574,11868. The mayor the mayor made sure we put the 68 cents in. Um the uh the cost per month is $6,797,843. The cost per week is $1.5 million. And then the cost per hour is 9
$9,312.11. Next slide. So let's take a look at our our tax rate history. So since 2014 from 2014 through 2025, uh you can see the our tax what our tax
rate is. It's projected for 2025 to be 1.360% and it's gone up about uh 0.26 26 cents over the previous year. Um in 2014 and 15 the tax the tax rate was
lower but that was um the the council the councils at the time were u were not were looking at other were looking at oper the operating budget more than they were looking at the capital budget. And that was a strategic move on on their
part. And after after those few years when um when there wasn't a a significant amount of surplus um and there was there was not a there was not a a significant amount of capital investments uh that some somewhere around
2018 or so uh you know the tax rate went up because of because of the investments in in the capital infrastructure as well as the the policy decision to build surplus so that we could we could improve improve the city's credit rating
over time and then have reserves for for storms, for capital improvements, and for tax appeals because it's it's important that we have a reserve for tax appeals. Next, this year, uh this year we have
approximately $7,84,000 in federal obligations and grants. and those those federal obligations and grants are important to the city. We've been able to hire firefighters with
those grants. Uh we've also we also have grants from the for the health department and for for different capital projects and equipment purchases. On March 24th, one of our grants in the health department that was supposed to
run, it was supposed to be a three-year grant that was supposed to run until March 31st of 2026 was eliminated by the federal government and the city was notified on March 31st that these two grants were
eliminated a week before. So that's why it's important that you have surplus so that you can you can prepare for emergencies and the city is looking this number may be a little bit low and it may be a little bit low because we have
state grants and some of those state grants have federal passroughs or federal contributions to them and we just haven't been able to uh lock lock in on the correct number for that. So,
it's important that the city has has reserves just in case we need them for emergencies or in case grant funding is is reduced before before the contracts expire. Michael. And then um one of the slides
here is one of the grants that we had applied for was for Denning Park and the the park we had looked at. Uh we wanted to do a a significant improvement because the city takes the health and security of of all of its residents
seriously and we want to make improvements to all of our parks. Uh the city has engaged Ruckers University to do a strategic plan of all of our parks and we were making investments based on that. So, the city had applied for grant
funding for improvements to Denning Park that would have included soil testing and drainage for new soccer fields, energy efficient lighting, ADA compliant bathrooms, renovated bath basketball courts, perimeter fencing, and other a
other amenities amenities. But um we were we had a public hearing and the the grant the grant was denied by the by the uh state earlier this year or earlier last month
um because in the letter they said that uh there wasn't public support for that that particular application. The we have a we have a letter from the state anyway. So, so what we were what we're doing the lessons that we wanted
to learn here is that no, there was there was comments that were made. The city took them seriously. We closed the park. We did we did an investigation and we've learned some lessons. So, there needs to be better communication and we have to uh we have to go back, take
another look and see how we can re reconfigure the grant. There's going to be a period of time where we have to wait before we can do that. But the the total grant that we had asked for was a 75% matching grant. So that funding was
$2.9 million. And that's just the the the value that that uh is on hold or that we've lost until we can get we can get funding again. Michael. So we're let's talk about surplus right now. Over the since two
2016 the city surplus has has been increasing and in 2023 uh the the surplus was 11,837,815. That was the audited amount. We have an unaudited number of
13,249,375. So what we do for the what we're using fund sur fun fund balance for or surplus for is to reduce future taxes to have money so that we can put into the operating budget. So you saw that this year we
we're taking $3.3 million out of surplus to use for for the budget. We also we also want to be able to um have money in reserve for tax appeals. When there's a tax appeal, if the city is required to
pay back money on a tax appeal, the city is paying funds for both for the city portion of the taxes that are being refunded as well as the county portion of the of the taxes that are being refunded and the school district portion of the funds that are being refunded. So, we cannot go back to
the school district or the county and say, "Hey, you owe us money because we had a pay we had to pay out X, Y, and Z." So, the city the city has to pay out all of those funds. And that's why it's important that we have a that we have surplus so that we can put it into a
reserve for tax appeals. We also put it into a reserve for for storms and for a couple of other items. But this this helps this helps the city uh look at look at the unintended consequences of
storms or other other items that may come up and it also helps the city when we go to the credit rating agencies. So in the past two years the city has has had an improved credit rating. The um in
two two years ago uh the city had the city received a positive outlook from standard and pores and just that positive outlook reduced our our borrowing cost by $83,000. This past year we received a credit ratings increase and we'll see
we'll see what what that does for the city when we have to go out to the market in 2025. Our capital budget is $10,575,000 and we've got $180,000 in grants there uh from the county and the state. We're also actively looking for
some other grants and uh we're we hope to receive some some good news about those during the year. And then we've we've outlined the soft cost. So soft cost or the engineer it's it's when engineers design the roads or park improvements. uh it's the cost of
bonding and things of that nature. And then this is this is a a list. It's not a complete list, but this is a list of our capital projects. We're going to spend $4.6 million for uh improving roads and sidewalks, $1,375,000 for sanitary sewers and storm
water sewers. We're going to we're spending another we've got $35,000 in our capital budget for the digitization and the document retention system that we're we're going to be implementing. And then we've got $750,000 for improvements to parks and
playgrounds, $755,000 for improvements to facilities. So that's uh that's everything for from the improvements that that I mentioned about the DP the DPW yard to improvements that we're we're going to be doing in other
facilities. Uh and this is this is just an example of of some of our capital projects that are in the city. We talked about earlier getting records getting records out of storage. We have over 2,700 boxes of records in
storage. Each of those boxes has an index on the outside, but those indexes are not always accurate. So when you call back boxes based on what's on what's on the index, you're not always getting what you think. So what we're doing is we're going to be taking those
2700 boxes. We're going to have take them out out from the where they're being stored. Now we're going to have them inspected to make sure that the what's in the box matches the index. If it doesn't, we're going to have the index corrected and then we're going to
scan in those records that the city needs. There are records that we're storing that we no longer need. We do not need to keep purchase orders from the 1990s, but we do need to keep plans
and we do need to keep other records for 75 or 100 years. So, that's what we're going to do. But 2,700 boxes of records is the equivalent of an NBA basketball court. So that's why that's where why we have the
second the second photo up there. So an NBA regulation basketball court is about 4,500 square feet. And then our goal is to get those records so that they fit on a laptop or they you're able to download them onto your smartphone. So that's
that's our ultimate goal. We want to be able to know the records that we have. We want to be able to get them out to our departments, to our boards, to our commissions, and our committees so that we can we can all have access to the information and we can make better
decisions. And then this this slide here is about our state aid. So our state aid has been level, but with inflation, state aid, your purchasing power decreases. So, $100 of state aid, if we're losing 3.42% of that purchasing
power, means that we're basically we have $96 and change of purchasing power uh for for whatever we need. And then over the years, since 2024 through 2025, the city has received $30 million
in state aid. And that um inflation over that same period of time is is running at 31%. So the city over that period of time has lost over $9 million of purchasing power. And um you know that's something when that the city makes up
over time. So this is your tax dollar. So how is it broken down? The city if the budget is adopted would receive 40 cents out of every tax dollar that's collected. The county would receive the county would receive
10 10 cents 10.67 cents out of the every tax dollar and the school district this is an estimate would be 44 44 uh 44.25 cents and the reason I say it's an estimate is because the school district
hasn't introduced their budget yet. So uh this is what this is what we believe it'll be. And then the library receives 1.56 cents out of every tax dollar. So that's that's an overview of the 2025 budget. We're are looking the
the numbers in cap and out of cap. Our budget has increased by 5.4%. But the overall tax impact to our residents is 1.98%. The key drivers for the for the uh for the changes or the the increase are the digitization project, the tax maps that
we have to be that have to be updated as well as our insurance and pensions. Also, we're going to be doing we're we're being we've been ordered to do a revaluation or a reassessment. So, you know, we're some of some of those some of those increases are related to
preparing for that. And then our our goal is to be prudent and to make sure we have a balanced approach so that we're we're consistent over the years. And uh this governing body and the past governing body should be commended because the because of the financial
spending plan that was put in place and the um the care that's been taken so that we can make sure we're being prudent that the uh we're serving our residents needs. Also, the ratings agencies are are looking and and saying
that Englewood is a good is a good place to make recommendations for so that people can invest their money here and that helps us reduce our interest rates over the long term. So, Council President, thank you very much for the time. I appreciate it. Okay. Thank you
for the presentation and I'm going to open up for questions from the governing body. Does anyone on the governing body have any questions for Mr. Hoffman? Okay. Thank you so much.
Okay. So, we're going to have um a public hearing first for for the uh establishing a cap bank. I do. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't I didn't hear you, Councilman Wilson. So, uh,
Councilman Wilson has a question. Yep. Go ahead. You're on, mic. Okay. Um, good evening everyone. I apologize for not being able to attend. Uh, but my heart is still with you guys. Um I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get the the
piece of the pie in regards to that presentation and that denotes some of the um the numbers that we have in our budget book are slightly different. So, I would have liked to have a chance to
see the update in regards to our budgeting for um personnel um our different departments, health, fire, court, police, DBW. And in
in saying so that I I thought it was very important that we touch the fact that we have lost the grant for health department for three positions in the amount of $228,000 and those people we kept on for
a couple weeks. But that grant money, if you could tell me uh Bob or our CFO, city manager, whether or not we calculated that in our budget because that's how we moved forward or we
removed it from our grant and if in fact that we have any updates on the grants moving forward for the positions for the fire department. And I believe it
was I want to say three positions for um the fire department. And if in fact that do we have to put that update in our budget if in fact that falls through or do we do that with
um with our set aides? Is that part of that? Okay. Is that the end of the questions? Is that it, Kevin? Sorry, council. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. For for the most part. All right. Would you like me to answer the
question? Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh, thank you for the questions, Councilman Wilson. Uh, the first question had to do with the health department and the loss of a grant of grants. So, the health department lost two grants. Those were the grants that uh that the federal government
eliminated on March 24th of this year and the city found out about on March 31st of this year. Uh so there is two positions in the health department that uh were funded by those grants. The city made a commitment to keep those
employees on through April 30th while we we've looked to see what was the what was the best alternative, what was plan B. So, I'm pleased to say that those employees will be able to be retained through the end of the grant period, which is March 31st of
2026. Uh, their job descriptions are being changed slightly or are being changed, but they will be able to continue to do what they're doing, but there's we're using opioid funding for to to keep them on through March 31st of
2026. So, the opioid funding they will be they there's a teaching component for opioid funding. So, we have to do educational pro programs. So, we're we're scheduled to roll those out later this year. And these uh these two employees are going
to be helping us do that. And they're also going to be help help us with the education, but also to do some investigation because part of the part of the opioid grant is to um is to do code enforcement, but also also
investigate the effects of fentanyl and things of that nature. So, Councilman Wilson, we're uh those those employees will be able to be retained through through the end of this of the grant, which is next next year. And you asked a question about the fire department was
arrived together that was under the health department as well grant funded. That is correct. That I I do I believe that that grant was renewed through another source but we've also reserved money in case that that does not happen.
Uh but uh we do that program is very successful and it has made a significant difference in the the police department's ability to work with residents that that are are
having difficulty. So uh there is there is a there is a reserve in in case that that other grant option did not did not go forward. Uh you had also asked a question about the fire department. So the fire department if if I may real
quick that the opioid funding uh grant that I'm just now hearing about and thank you for sharing that they're going to cover the balance of that 153 for the the 153,000 for those two employees.
Well, it's it's not 100 it's it's not 100 I'm I'm sorry. It's not 153,000, but it's it's going to cover it's going to cover um it's going to cover most of their most of their salaries and benefits. Yes.
Okay. But but combined they're 153. Is that correct? The 75 and 78,000 per person. I'll have to the the theoretical answer is yes, but it it's for each calendar year. So, we're we're we're now in May
and um so it's basically we're we're looking for we're looking at eight months for the rest of the year and then three uh three full months into next year. So, I just I don't want to mislead you, but it it's about that. Okay. And we're looking for other
sources to continue to arrive together. Is that a will a um a grant from the state cover that or are they pulling that back as well? Well, the grant that we had was from a from a nonforprofit and I'm not sure where they received their their funding for, but um we had
been told that that that funding would be continued, but again, it's it's it's fluid. So, um so we're we're we have a reserve just in case that that doesn't occur.
Okay. And as as you guys well know, um I I didn't see the highlight and maybe I missed it on on the slide and forgive me for that, but our uh our budgets for
overtime has went up some. And are we slated to to review that overtime now that we have more personnel? Because that should bring the budget down as well. Because if we continue at the rate of
the overtime that is slated for with the additional employees that helps bump the the the the tax rate. Uh the the answer to the question is yes. The overtime the overtime is being looked at every month and uh there are
there are adjustments that are going to be made. You know, it's critical that we we we the the over the overtime the the period of time to look at the overtime is basically
May through through August is when we we have to take the really hard look at overtime for our, you know, for our emergency services, right? That's the the summer months for the most part. Correct. Um and and so
when when we talk about the surplus, um how often are we looking at a surplus that is um that that affects the the taxpayers? You you said it's usually for a tax. One of the reasons was for the
tax appeal and how often and you know that that rarely happens for a tax appeal of any significant amount. The um well tax appeals go in cycles. So
there you need to have you need to have a reserve for your tax appeals. But it's also we're using we we have to we have reserves for storm damage and for storm for storm for storm issues. So those are that's that's a key component and then
we have we have other reserves that we put the money we put our some of our surplus in um so that so that we can fund u Michael what would be another example of that so we have we have a reserve for basically for for
retirements or or sick time or terminal leave I just wanted to make make it clear because it sounded to me and again forgive me for being on the phone that it was tax appeal driven. No, those those were examples that I
used. It was tax appeals and and the reserve for storm damage. Okay. Um I'm sure all the residents like to hear about the storm damage appeals. Um and you mentioned real quick um the
tax rate history and how it applies to today. Um which in you know if if we look at it it looks a little different than you know we we actually do take care very well take care of our employees and those
rates have never been as high and so I would submit that that's part of the reason why our taxes are going up as well just just to have clarity for the public um of of why taxes are are
increasing. 1.98 appears to be a good number. Some people think it should should be at zero, but that may be uh somewhat irresponsible on our part if we continue at a zero rate, which it's
hard. It's very difficult to do. Um and I think that will do it for me for right now. Thank you, Council President. Thank you. Okay. I now need a motion to
introduce um calendar year 2025 ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap a cap bake. That's ordinance 2520. So moved. Second.
Okay. I'm now going to um declare that the public hearing on this ordinance is now open. Anyone who desires to be heard or to ask questions concerning this ordinance will be heard at this time. This is on the cat bank. If anyone would like to be heard, please step up
to the mic. And you have three minutes. Good evening. Uh my name is Raymond Diaz 48 Shannon Court. Uh just please explain officially what cap bank means. That's one. Uh second uh the
opioid fund is that part of the municipal alliance budget or is that I'm sorry I didn't hear what fund opioid fund. Oh is is so this we're just having the public hearing on the cap bank. The opioid fund doesn't have anything to
do with that. No, no, you didn't hear my question because we're budgets, right? We answer the questions after the public hearing, but we're talking about budgets, right? Just the cafe. No, no, we're going to have another hearing. The next public hearing is on the budget.
That would be the time to ask. Look, you I'll tell you when to come up to ask the question on the opioid. Um, okay. [Music] uh on the bill's list. Is it possible
that No, no, no. We're just on the cat bank, sir. We're just on the cap bank and and um can you explain what cat? Yeah, this is just on ordinance 2520 and just just one moment. One moment. Um we talked about this is the public this is
the second reading. Um at the first reading the attorney explained the cap bank, but why don't you do you want to or actually be before be just just take a minute to explain the cap bank again? Sure. Thanks. So the cap what the cap
does is it allows us to save money that we're when we're under the budget in the current year. So this year we're under about $500,000. We're able to save it for future years and use it if we're over the appropriation limit in future years. Council still needs to approve the
budget in future years. This is just like a safe way to keep the money aside. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Calfman. Go ahead. Okay. So for further clarification then um I don't understand
why it says here uh whereas the city council of the city of Anglewood in the county of Bergen finds it advisable and necessary to increase its calendar year 2025 budget by up to
3.5% over the previous year's final appropriations in the interest of promoting health, safety, and welfare of the citizens. And then they say the city determines that 2.5% increase in the budget for
said year amounting to 1.576 uh million etc in excess of the increase in the final appropriations otherwise permitted by local government gap law. You know I'm not following all this because it's actually in legal ease. So
the bottom line is what are we increasing total not just for the city but does the cap bank include the amounts for the school and the county.
Okay. Thank you. Hold on. I'm not done. Take your time. And then I'd like to know uh what percent we're going to use this year.
Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Does anyone else from the public have any questions? Okay. So, so we're wait. Okay. So, I'm now going to close the public hearing for this ordinance.
Um, go ahead. So, we're not using any of the bank from previous years. This year, we're actually under the threshold this year. So, we have money now to save for future years. So, we're not using we're
under this year. Um, the other the other question laws were allowed to go over by 2 and a half%. So, this ordinance increases it from 2 and 12% to 3 and 1.5%. So the difference between 2,227,000 and
1,576,000. So that's 633,000 is what this ordinance is allowing us to use in in future years. Okay. Thank you. Any question?
Okay. So um Councilman Wilson. Okay. Councilman Wilson, go ahead. Mr. Wilson, thank you. Um, for CFO, that's 633,000. Are we not slaying some of that
money away for the future purchases of fire trucks and police apparatus and DPW vehicles? It's just a reserve. Yes, it's a reserve for the for the whole budget in general and in the future years. It's not for a
specific thing. Can you I don't think he heard you. Uh, Councilman Wilson, the CFO said that it's just it's a reserve for future years. Um, future years. The council can use it for fire trucks or something else, but it's it's a reserve for future
for the future. Uh, if No, no. Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. I I just want to clarify be I just want to clarify because previously when we were purchasing trucks, we were working with the chiefs of the department and uh that's and we know that these prices are
astronomical and I thought that we built in a park where we're putting money away for future vehicles. Uh the the answer is yes, but that's that's that's in the that's in our capital budget. We we reserve money in that for future, you know, future
purchases of vehicles. Okay. All right. Thank you. I just want clarity with you on that. Thank you. Any questions or comments from the from the anyone else on the governing body? Mr. Calfman, I want I just want to when
when is since you've been here since when? Since 200 what? 16. Okay. Have we ever used our cap bank? Not that I can remember. Okay. So, it's it's kind of like an emergency potential. Yes. In case we
need it. Okay. Thank you. Um well, if no one else on the governing body has any questions or comments, I'm going to ask for roll call, please. Okay, we're ready. Councilman Rosenw. Yes. Councilman Tokayer. Yes. Councilman
Wilson. And just to be clear, this is on the cap, not on the on the budget presentation Bob just did. Correct. Yes. To the cap. Council President Wasatski. Yes. All right. Can I have a motion that we
introduce resolution 160-050625 to allow us the budget to be read by title only? So moved. Second. Can I have a um any discussion? Can I have a roll call, please?
Councilman Rosenway. Yes. Councilman tooker. Yes. Councilman Wilson. No. It's just to be read by by title. We're not voting on on the budget. Yeah. This isn't a vote on the budget. This is just to allow us to read it by title.
Okay. Um Yes. If if the president can speak into the mic, I apologize. Thank you. Sure. Uh, Council President Waski. Yes. Okay. So, I'm now going to open the meeting to the public for the 2025 municipal budget only. Speakers are
asked. So now it's to speak on the budget and I guess now would be a time you can ask about the opioid funds and the speakers are asked to step up to the microphone and to give their name and address and have three minutes to speak. Okay. Ray Diaz 48
Shannon let me just ask the first question is what's the difference between the cat bank versus surplus? Because this is for future use. You use it for emergency and then you got the surplus. I think we've been averaging about three million and
something a year. So, are we using two funds for emergencies? Can you clarify that? Is that what you're doing? Then you got extras in the capital to save for trucks. That's one
question. The bill's list. Can we indicate that starting like in January? Can you hear me? Huh? No, it's still about the budget. It's a budget question. Yeah. If I can finish it,
perhaps you get the connection. You got the bills list which basically uh I'm I'm just saying if we can start off with the 81 million dollars, whatever it is, as the year's budget, right? and January use so much
and then that's the difference will tell you how much we have left for the budget as we go through the year because I've seen stuff like u maybe there's another issue I just say it's it's a way to monitor the budget versus what we're
what we have in the beginning and what we're using as we go along. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Hi Diane Jansen, 589 Richland Terrace. With all the cutbacks at the
federal level, I don't understand why we have any increase in the budget. I think it is irresponsible. I think that there are areas that we can cut. I know that the federal government is
going to we're going to lose money. We don't know how much and we're going to need more of a reserve and you're putting already 1 something% on the taxpayers and that's not right. I had
worked for a multi-million dollar corporation in New York City, a healthc care corporation, visiting nurse service of New York. And when the federal government cut back Medicare and Medicaid funding bec home care agencies
throughout the country closed, my boss was chairman of the National Home Care Association. I will tell you this. We had to lay off 345 people because we did not
expect how bad it was going to be. And here you are. We have 16% in grants funding that you're counting on. And that's at the federal level. What And then what about at the state level? the
state budget is there's a gap in the state budget. Now, how's the state going to meet that gap when the revenue falls short? How are they going to meet that? They're going to meet it on the taxpayers's backs. And guess what? We
don't have that money. We need you to start doing now. Cutting, not adding. And you're topheavy. What are all these people you're adding? You really need to operate in a turnaround situation right now because
you're putting us the taxpayers at risk. Thank you. Thank you. Peach Anson, 589 Ridgeland Terrace. I'm just going to uh put a a little uh background and numbers behind what we just heard. Uh if you look at uh our
overall budget revenues last year, our increase was 2.5% in revenues. This year's budget, it's 4.89%. So what you did to to close your budget, you raised the spending and you close
the budget by increasing revenues. In my experience, banking on revenue to close a budget is not the is not good planning. I work for a company 25 years doing financial planning and
budget analysis. This is setting yourself up for failure. You should also you should not use some surplus fund to cover shortfalls in revenue. Shortfalls in revenue is just poor planning. You have to bank on what
you know you're going to get. So let's look at the numbers. Your local revenue is increasing 20%. It's a it's a $1.6 million increase. And if we look at the detail, 1.3 million of that increase
comes from interest on on investments and deposits. So that's one question. What is that? What are all these investments that we have? And the second item, which is the state and federal grants, which
we just heard about, it's an increase of $546,000. So, where are we getting these additional funds for? And what's the, you know, how much of them do we have right now? What
percent of that total amount, which is one about roughly $1 million. What do we have right now? It's May. We should have some of it. And how much of of that same line item did we have last year at this time in the year? Those are important
analysis points to know, are we in trouble now? Because you can figure all that out right now. We have all the numbers if you can go back to last year's federal and state grants and see where we were this time last year and look at where we are this time this
year. We'll be obviously be able to tell if we have a problem right now before you go and approve a budget that's set up for failure. Thank you. Anyone else from the public like to come up and make a comment?
Okay, I'm now going to close the public session. Um, Mr. Calfin, do you want to or do you Mr. I could I could explain the difference between surplus and the appropriation cap. Okay. So, why don't you start and then Mr. Hoffman, you answer after. Okay. [Music]
So after the year is over, any money revenues that we have that exceeded our appropriations or appropriations that we didn't spend from the prior year, if it's a positive net positive, then that goes into surplus. So like 10 years ago,
our surplus was $3 million. Now it's $13 million. That has to do with the prudent spending and watching and the increase in revenues that we have. appropriation cap is the actual spending that we spend every year. So we're allowed to spend we're allowed to
budget up to three and a half% over the prior year. the appropriation cap just if if the following year let's say budget goes over 4% instead of three and a half% that bank is used for that only only for the increase in spending in the
following couple of years and uh also the interest on investments I just want to that's just the money that we have in the bank about a year and a half ago we went out for uh requests for proposals from all the banks and we got much better interest
rates from the banks So from the prior years, our interest went up over a million dollars. So that had to do with us going out for an RFP. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. Uh thank you, Council President. And um you know,
just to echo what the CFO said, uh it's it's important that you look at all of your your revenue sources and even what Mr. Jensen had had said before that. And that's that's why that's why the city went out for that RFP, the request for
proposals, so that uh we could make sure that we were we were maximizing uh the return on investment for that the city has from from from using using taxpayer dollars. The some of the questions that came up is
uh has has to do with Mr. Diaz had asked about the bills list and um well that's that's something that could be looked at. The bills list includes the operating budget which is $81 million but it also includes uh the capital capital items. So when you look at the
bills list and you see a C on there in one of the sections that's that's for capital and then we have our we have some of our statutory um payments that come out of it. So, uh, that would be for pens for pensions and then the money that we give to the
school district. So, it's something that's theoretically we could we could look at, but, um, you know, I'm not I'm not sure I'm not sure how we would structure it. There's also the trust accounts that get charged out of the bill list. And then we we do an analysis after the budget's adopted
every month or two and we look at the revenues and the percentage of collections and the expenditures and and the uh we look at how it's in regards to the budget. So we look at that after the budget's adopted on a monthly basis. Right. But the the the question just had
to do with the bills list. Is there a way is there a way that we could segment so that people could see the what's in the operating budget and what's what's in what's in the capital? So that's I believe that was Mr. Diaz's question and we we do have sections for that but
maybe there's maybe we could take a look at it and and see. I'm not sure but we'll we'll take a look. the um then the uh there there was other questions that had to do with um with with the uh you know is there is there a g is there a gap? Do we know
where where our where our revenue is? And the answer is yes. There was also a question about grants. So with our federal grants we have their reimbursement grants. So with the firefighters grants we have received our quarterly reimbursements for the fire
for the firefighters grants. uh we look and we know where we stand versus last year. So we're we we track that. It's not something that um that we we we do not look at. So as every as it stands now, the only grant that we that has
been uh that has been removed was the one for the health department. U so we we have received our quarterly payments, but we don't know what the future holds and that's why we have we have reserves. the federal government has reimbursed us and the state has reimbursed us for um
for the grants for the the the the grants that um that are the reimbursement grants. Uh the there was a question about whether you know what about the state budget and what about grants from the state. So yeah, the state is going
through the budget process right now. They will adopt a budget around June 30th with a start date of July 1st. And what the state does is when they look at their grants, um, they will they will tell you that they, you know, if there if there's going to be a change in the
grants, they honor the grants that have been committed until the end until the end of the grant cycle, but they will tell you that they will not there will not be any funding for those types of grants in the future. So, make make other plans. Um, and we will be able to
we will be able to deal with that. So, those were those were a couple a couple of the questions that came up and uh there had to do with u of you know is this um you know are are we in trouble? Are
we receiving grants? And the answer is yes. We're receiving we're receiving most of the grant funding. The only grants that we haven't received were for the health department. And I believe that answers the questions. Oh, the uh there was a the question about the op the opioid grants. um that
that's really not a grant. That was a law that was a lawsuit. That was a settlement from big pharma and from the pharmacies. So the CVS's and the right aids and all municipalities received a portion of those funds. And the city was very prudent. We didn't we didn't
receive the first the first amount and go out and spend it. We wanted to know we we didn't know how much we were going to receive. We wanted to wait until we received the full amount and we wanted to see what were the ground rules because there was at least four changes
in the guidelines that were issued for how to spend opioid the opioid funding. So part of it has to the the f the final results are that part of the opioid funding must be spent on educating educating partic with an emphasis
towards young adults on the dangers of opioid of opioids. Then there's a component that's supposed to be used for enforcement. So it's not just police enforcement but it's code enforcement. And there's uh there's another component
for this is my terminology, but for the after effects of of opioid use and how do how do how how do you help families or how do you help people that are are affected by it? How do you help them um deal with it and and come come back to
being um full full productive members of society? So, those are some of the things that we've been we've been looking at internally and we have um we we want to use the the funds for programs that make an impact. And uh
we're we're we've been talking with the health department and the school district and others to make sure that we're uh we're using the money prudently and we're not we're not replicating uh some kind of program that other
people are doing. So we want to make sure that we've identified gaps and we can use the opioid funding for those gaps. Thank you. Okay. Can I have a motion to introduce resolution 161 authorizing the
adoption of the 2025 budget? So moved. Second. Okay. Now we'll have discussion from the governing body. Uh Councilman Wilson, did you want to speak? Councilman Wilson, did you have comments on the budget?
I'm sorry. Yes, I I did. Um, and for the op the opioid grant, the the funding, do we know how much exactly that was? And if in fact that we have two people that we were able to retain as employees,
uh, their job description has changed as it was from before um, our original grant. Is that correct? Uh the ye the answer is yes. We have changed the job description so that it
now includes an opioid component, but they're still going to be doing some of the duties that they were hired for under the under the grant that was originally ca, you know, that they were originally hired under that was canceled on March 24th. Okay.
966,000. That's how much. How much? Uh 966,000. And how what's what's the um what's the life of of the opioid? Is that to um 123125?
No, the uh the the the funds can remain with the with the city for an extended period of time. There's no it's not you don't have to use it or lose it if that was if that's the question. Yeah, that that's the question. Um
because I just wanted to know are we does that carry over to the 2026 budget? The answer is yes. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Any questions or comments
from the governing body? Okay. Yansancy, can I have a roll call, please? Councilman Rosen, yes. Councilman Toker, yes. Councilman Wilson, no.
Council President Waski, yes. Okay. Okay. Uh, final vote is three yes, one no. Motion passes. Okay. I'm going to call for a 5m minute break. Part: 2
Okay, we're going to reconvene. If everybody can please take their seat. Great. Thank you. Okay, so we have uh two more public hearings. So, um, can can I have a motion to introduce
ordinance 25-22? It's already been introduced. You should have public hearing. Okay. I'm sorry. I'm going to actually I'm going to declare that the public hearing on ordinance 2522 is now open. Anyone who desires to be heard or to ask questions
will be heard at this time. And just to remind you, ordinance 2522 um has to do with low-speed electric scooters, low-speed electric bicycles and motorized electric bicycles, some rules and regulation, and some prohib
prohibitions on sidewalks for safety. Please step up to the mic if you wish to be heard. State your name and you have three minutes. Leroy Campbell, 287 Tenniferly Road. Um, I guess my question is what are we
going to do about this? Because this is becoming horrendous. You watch these guys on these scooters and they they they in the middle of the road. Number one, they're in the middle of the road. Number two, they don't obey
any traffic signs. Um, you come to a to a traffic light, you stop for the light, they don't even stop. They just blow through the light. Uh, like I said, I live on Tennerly Road and I seen a kid turn from Tennerly Road onto Deerris
Avenue and he lost control. He lo he he lost control of his scooter. By the grace of God, he didn't get hurt. He didn't get hurt at all, but he lost control of the thing because it was going too fast. This is becoming this is becoming very very dangerous for
for the people on the scooter because a scooter can't do any damage to a car. This is becoming very very dangerous. And they're all over the place. I mean, I can see if they're on the sidewalk. I can see if they're even on the side of the road. They're not even on the side of the road anymore. They're in the
middle of the road. I mean, I got to I got to renew my registration every year. These guys don't got no license plate. They don't pay no registration fee or nothing. I mean, they're just they're running rampant. And it's not just in our town. It's throughout Bergen County. It's not just in our town. It's
throughout Bergen County. So, we need to do something about this. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Uh, Steve Weinberg, W 2. Uh, couple of quick questions. Um, I noticed in the, uh, in the text that you
guys define all of this as two- wheeled and three-w wheeled vehicles. Uh, keep in mind that there are other types of electric vehicles, including these um I don't know what to call them, boogie board unicycles. All right, we see them. I've spoken to other people. They they
drive down Broad Avenue. They can approach speeds approaching 87 miles an hour documented. All right. Um, the typical ones will go about 20. All right. If you get hit by somebody on a
unicycle going 20 miles an hour, you're going to get hurt. All right? Uh so we have to do something about that. The language of your of your ordinance does not include single wheeled vehicles nor does it include four-w wheeled vehicles
and those are electric too. So it should include any motorized uh electric vehicle. All right. The other part is uh that uh you um you mention an enforcement of cert there is no mention
of really enforcing a certifying of the reading of title 39 of the of the New Jersey statutes uh regarding the use of these vehicles. How are we going to be enforcing that? All right. And the last is you mentioned voluntary registration
and as stated previously uh I believe this should be a mandatory registration so we know who has these vehicles and that they have in fact uh done the correct certifications know what the restrictions on these vehicles are before we let them take to the streets.
All right. These these can be very dangerous vehicles. They are vehicles and should be treated as such and not considered little bicycles. All right. People are running at very high speeds with these things all over town. Thank you.
Thank you. Uh Pete Jansen 589 Ridgeland Terrace. Uh the electric unicycle is something I brought up in the in a prior meeting for you to include. So when the public comes and helps you with your ordinances, it's
really good to incorporate good ideas when they're brought forward. Secondly, what's not covered in this ordinance that that uh was just not spoken about is electric motorcycles. They are they now have come out with electric trail
bikes which are capable of doing 50 to 60 miles per hour or more. and they're very quiet when they come up. And they're even more dangerous than bicycles because they're going faster and they're
heavier. So speed and mass determines impact when it hits you. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments from the public? Okay. Okay, I'm now going to close the public hearing for this
ordinance. Can I have a motion that ordinance 2522 be adopted? So moved. Second. Okay. Um, Bill, do you want to address the questions?
Um, in terms of registration, I believe that has to be done under the oipacies of the state. I'm not sure municipality can mandate that. I've not seen that happen for these type of vehicles. Um, title 39, which is our motor vehicle statute,
um, people do have to still comply with it. It's referenced in the ordinance, but the state statute still has to be complied with. And I actually did have a conversation with the chief regarding unicycles, and he was going to try and get some more information. So they, you know, there could be an amendment, but
they wanted to get something on the books to help the enforcement, you know, try to keep them off the sidewalks, uh, and, you know, give a little more teeth to the police department in terms of issuing violations. And I would just say to Mr. Campbell's
point, this was actually an ordinance that was for discussion on the agenda in 2024. And it just what's the word you said? Languished. Languished. So, we we brought this ordinance back because it's a really
important issue as you've mentioned. And I don't know if the c the captain I don't want to put you on the spot, but I know uh do you have any comments to any of the concerns about this electric? No, it is something that's not governed based on the speed.
All right. Any comments from the govern Mr. Hoffman? Go ahead. Uh, thank you, Council President. Just as a point of clarification, what uh Mr. Campbell said is is accurate. Um, and the police uh over the over the weekend were involved in a chase with four juveniles that were
on electric scooters, both on the street and on the sidewalks. and they um they were able to um apprehend them and and uh you know take them off of their scooters. Um so they're they were you know the the
juveniles were were released, but they were they were a danger to um to cars and they were a danger to the to the pedestrians that were that were on the sidewalk when they were zipping in and out. But this is um you know this is just an example of um the the new
technology and the speed that I guess Mr. Weinberg also also brought up you know that that the city has to face. So it's it's good that we're going to get something there you know that um that has uh in increasing increasing fines
for for second offense and third offense. But this is just um this is becoming a weekly occurrence in the city. So, it's it's good to have something on the books. Thank you. Any comments from any members
of the governing body? Yeah, just a question if I can, maybe to the officer perhaps. Um, there are some wheelchairs that go at very high speeds and because there's a lack of sidewalks or because of the lighting, they prefer
to go on major corridors, particularly to houses of worship. Um, is there anything that's going to impact uh these wheelchairs or are they discounted completely? We we made an exemption right for for people who had mobility issues. We specifically put that in the
ordinance. Right. Is there any speed restriction even on people who have mobility issues and is that something to consider? That's why I directed it to the officer speed. Yeah. For wheelchairs in other words. Uh I don't think some of those uh mobility are bad just because they're
their stability. Yeah. That they're probably not as fast as as you think. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments? Yansancy, can I have a roll call, please? Councilman Rosenway, yes.
Councilman Toker, yes. Councilman Wilson, yes. Council President Wasatski. Yes. I'm now going to declare the public hearing on ordinance 25. What?
Okay. Ordinance amending chapter 38022 of the code of the city of Englewood pertaining to commercial sidewalks. That's ordinance 2520 23. I'm now going to declare that the public hearing on this ordinance is now open. Anyone who desires to be heard or ask questions
concerning this ordinance will be heard at this time. And just to remind uh people, we discussed this at the last meeting. I know Councilman or if you want to say a few words about this ordinance. Uh sure. I'm hoping that um uh this will
help clean up our streets uh especially on Palisades Avenue and uh especially over the summer with a lot of um garbages overflowing. And I'm hoping this will help clean it up to make it more of a pedestrian corridor as well. Thank you.
Anybody who would like to be heard, please step up to the mic, state your name, and you have three minutes. Radi Shannon, let's clarify what is a commercial sidewalk. I I always thought of city sidewalks meaning owned by the city. But
what is specifically commercial sidewalk? Is that the stores alone palisades? Is that it? Would anybody else like to make a comment, ask a question? I noticed that M when Mr. Diaz asked this
question. Uh, Councilman Atlas, uh, Mr. Topia, um, sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh shook his head saying yes, but commercial sidewalk is not just pertaining to Palisades Avenue. Commercial sidewalk should be pertaining to any any dwelling that's in a
commercial zone. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Any other comments? Okay, I'm going to now close the public hearing for this ordinance. Um, Mr. Bailey. Oh, can I just first have a motion that the ordinance 2523 be
adopted? So moved. Second. Okay. Mr. Bailey, do you want to clarify the the Uh, yes. Um, to answer Mr. Diaz's question and to piggyback on what Mr. Campbell said, in New Jersey, there's a distinction made by state law between
commercial sidewalks and residential sidewalks. a much higher burden is put on uh property owners, business owners that above abut commercial sidewalks. Uh and there was already this obligation to some extent in the existing ordinance,
but this clarifies to specifically include garbage. People were just depositing garbage on the streets. And to Mr. Campbell's point, it doesn't just apply to Palisade A. It's any commercial zone uh in the city that that under New Jersey law that's deemed a quote
commercial sidewalk. Thank you. Um do we have any comments or questions from the governing body? Yansancy, can I have a roll call, please? Councilman Rosenway, yes. Councilman
Toker, yes. Councilman Wilson. Yes. Council President Wasotsski. Yes. Okay. Now we have two ordinances for introduction for first reading. The first ordinance is ordinance 2524. This is an ordinance of
the city of Anglewood amending chapter 212 fire prevention bureau establishing article 4 a fire watch and safety procedures. Can I have a motion that the ordinance pass on first reading and be published once by title only in the record and
that a public hearing be held on June 4th, 20125? So moved. Wait, we we'll we'll get to questions. Second. Okay. Um uh be m Councilman Wilson, if you don't mind, just could we just have um Mr. Hoffman
explain it and then you can ask your question? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. Uh thank you, Council President. uh this this ordinance uh is to give stability and
clarity to uh to the to the firewatch. So what it what it will do is it will um it will allow the city to charge a flat rate for the firewatch. The flat rate would be $85 an hour. Uh right now uh
when we have fire watch requests, we have members of the fire fire prevention bureau or firefighters that do the firewatch and the rates differ from whether you're um a newly sworn in firefighter like tonight or whether
you're a senior firefighter. So now um when whatever the fire watch is for um it it will be it will be $85 an hour and there'll be there'll be a fee for for vehicle usage of $100 and then um you
know if if fire apparatus is required like a you know a fire truck or something that has to be on on the scene it would be $150 an hour. But the key is that um for when when when when a fire when a fire watch is required, it's going to be
$85 an hour. So this way um you know, people people won't have if they have to have fire watches on a couple different months, they're not going to have a different bill because just based on the seniority of of whoever is doing the firewatch. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Councilman
Wilson. Yes. Um, thank you, Mr. City Manager, for your explanation. Um, so the basic change because we already have something on the books is that we're leveling the pricing across the board. Is that
correct? The answer is yes. Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. Any other questions or comments from the governing body? Okay. Yansy, can I have a roll
call, please? Councilman Rosenway, yes. Councilman Tokayer, yes. Councilman Wilson, yes. Council President Wasatski, yes. Now we have ordinance 2525, an ordinance amending ordinance number
2406, fixing the maximum annual salaries to be paid to officers and employees in the unclassified service of the city of Anglewood as of January 1st, 2025. Can I have a motion, please, that the ordinance pass on first reading and be published once by title only in the
record and that a public he hearing be held on May 20th, 2025. So moved. Second. Okay. Um Mr. Hoffen, would you like to explain this, please? Sure. Thank you. This is the uh annual salary ordinance for city employees that
are uh that are not represented by uh by unions and this is something that's done annually. Uh the this is not what the employees will be paid but there's a m there's a maximum in the range and um
this is uh this is based on uh this is based on the positions that the city has and this is something that's just just done annually. Okay, thank you. Uh, do we have any comments or questions from the governing body?
Okay, Yansancy, can I have a roll call, please? Councilman Rosenway, yes. Councilman Tokayer, yes. Councilman Wilson, yes. Council President Wasotsski, yes. Um, before we have public comment on the
consent agenda items, are there any resolutions from the consent agenda that anybody on the count on the council would like to pull and vote on separately? Okay. Okay. So, I'm now going to open the meeting for public comments on the consent agenda
resolutions. Members of the public are requested to state their name before speaking and are reminded to speak on the consent agenda resolutions on number 157 162 163 4567 89. Anyone who'd like to make a comment,
please step up to the mic. Okay. I'm now going to close the public comment section on the consent agenda. Can I have a motion that we introduce resolutions 157, 162 through 169? So moved. Second.
Any discussion or questions from the governing body? Yansancy, can I have a roll call, please? Oh, go ahead. Councilman Wilson. Yes. 163-05-06. -25.
Okay. Mr. Hoffman, do you want to explain resolution 163? Uh, thank you, Council President. Yes. Uh, 163 and let me just double check. Um 164 are are related. They are um for the
purchase of a one-armed uh garbage truck. So one is one is one is for the bo body. So resolution 163 um is for two is for 24 $43,000 but it's it's it's the same it's
the same truck. So, one is for the body and one is for the packer. And these So, if I if I get this right, that's what is that 433,000 approximately. I believe it's 423,000,
but it's it's in that ballpark. Yes. Okay. And we we ain't got a Yeah. $453,496. We got a rebate, but it didn't seem to be applied to um the entire bill. And I'm not sure why that is.
Maybe at some point we could take another look at that. in regards to that that amount that there there was there seemed to be something in um hold on one second for
um I think it was 13,000 that we got a refund. I'm not sure if our CFO is familiar with the refund that I speak about. It was
[Music] uh do we get a state refund from this? We'll have to check. I don't want to mislead you. We received a state refund or a rebate for the two electric garbage trucks. Um, I'll have
Yeah, it was $39,224. All right. Is um I I'll verify 14% discount. So that's that's the discount off of the sticker price. So we did receive that if that was the question. Yeah. What I'm what I'm asking is did it
apply to the other part of the bill because this came in two bills. Uh the answer is no. So resolution 164 is for the body of the truck. So um and then resolution 163 is basically for the uh
for for the chassis for the chassis of the truck. I I get it. I I would I would just like to see the rebate done on both of those if at all possible. So I got I got to ask. Okay. Then if then we will
we we will check. Thank you. Okay. You're welcome. So no if there no questions any additional questions or comments from the governing body. Yansancy. Can I have a roll call, please? Councilman Rosen Swag. Yes. Councilman
Tokayer. Yes. Councilman Wilson. Yes. Council President Wasotsski. Yes. Okay. Now we have two ordinances for discussion. Um Mr. Hoffman, will you just The first one is amending the wireless communications ordinance.
Thank you, uh, Council President. Yes, this is um this is an ordinance um that we wanted to give the governing body a uh a heads up on that'll be that'll be coming at one of our next meetings. This is just so that the city has control
over its rightway when it comes to 5G to new technology. We want to make sure that um that the companies that are that want to place these new um these new nodes uh that they do it on city on city
rightways but they do not block our line of sight or anything else. So this is uh this is something that the city attorney and I and the engineer have been look looking at along with with a couple of other people. But this is to protect the city's the city's right to control its
its easement and to make sure that um that when a company comes in they they're using uh they're getting approval from the city and they're not they're not impinging the line of sight for uh for our motorists and anybody
else that's anybody that's walking. So that's that's the synopsis. Thank you. Any questions or comments from anyone on the governing body? Okay. And then the second ordinance is amend fee schedule for construction
office and land use. Uh yes, this is something as we were putting the as we were putting the um the the new fee schedules into the into the electronic forms. It was it was noted that there was a there was a
couple of fees that were that had been left left out. So, we're we're looking at those and we're going to um we're going to ask the governing body to include those um so that uh so that they can they can reflect the true cost for
the for the inspections. Thank you. Now we have item for discussion uh Broad Avenue South Corridor and that Mr. We'll see. Uh, good evening everyone. Um, as Oh, is it on now? All right.
As many of you are aware, Broad Avenue was restriped last year from Van Noren to Sheffield. Um, and I don't want to take too much time. I just want to briefly go over the striping and the intent that was involved in doing that. Um, just for context purposes, the
section of Broad Avenue that we're talking about is a 25 mile per hour zone. It's a two-lane road means one lane in each direction. Um, it has parking on the southbound lane, but no parking on the northbound
lane. And it does have some bus stops in that leg of Broad Avenue. Um, what we've done is uh over over the over the past few years, actually more than that, um,
Broad Avenue has become sort of hazardous. Uh what's happened is more and more motorists are ignoring the historical use of that of that street of that road and essentially turned a two-lane road into a four-lane road. Um
that's created a number of issues. One is speeding which sure the police department can assess to um can attest to. Um the other thing is pedestrian safety. Um just being able to cross broad avenue has become more and more challenging. the pedestrians that now
have to sort of navigate four lanes instead of two lanes of traffic. Um the other thing is bus stops. Um again that leg of Broad Avenue does have several bus stops. Um with it being a four-lane road um you have the buses essentially
stopping in the middle of a lane in order to pick up or drop off passengers. Um the other issue that we're that isn't discussed as much is access from uh side streets. Um motorists that are trying to turn onto Broad Avenue, especially when
they're trying to make a left-hand turn. It's very challenging to have to go through two lanes of of traffic in order to make that left-hand turn. So the police in our office have had several conversations about how we could possibly address all this situation, all
those uh hazardous conditions and the simplest way is literally through sign and striping. Uh and that's essentially what we've tried to do. Um it addresses all the issues. Um this the striping
essentially brings Broad Avenue back to a two-lane road which is supposed to be it'll reduce speed. Um the striping not only delineates you know the uh the roadway um but it actually works also as
a a speeding deterrent. Um so it has many functions. Um over the years we are going to do a number of improvements along Broad Avenue. Um uh currently right now the
striping is just the first phase of what we're going to be doing. It uh it actually does immediate impacts in terms of speeding. um the buses. It gives it an actually a specific area where the buses can pick up and drop off passengers without impacting travel
lanes. Um it allows pedestrians to cross Broad Avenue now much easier than they could previously. So safety was our main goal when we did the striping. In the future, we're looking to imple implement even more signage, more
striping, and other improvements to either to improve the safety aspect along not only that section of Broad Avenue, but the whole corridor of Broad Avenue from Lyndon all the way to I95. Um, the goal is to improve the safety aspect on the entire roadway. We are
presently working at the signal at the intersection of Broad and Ven and Vin and Nostrin. We're going to be looking at the signal at Broad and Sheffield also to see if it needs improvement, to see if the timing is right, to see if maybe left turn arrows may be required there. And that's something we're going
to be looking at. Those are more long-term things, but we're going to be looking at those. We're also going to be implementing uh at the crosswalk push buttons again to improve safety for for the pedestrians. So our office along with the police department, we're going
to continue to observe, we're going to continue to monitor the traffic along broad um implement um things that we feel are going to improve the safety aspect along broad. If things don't work out, if things don't work the way we plan or the way they should, maybe we'll
remove them. But it is an ongoing effort and we're going to continue to keep moving forward. Um we are glad to look at you know um we have suggestions etc. As long as the main objective is for
public safety and to increase the safety of the public most most uh both pedestrians and motorists then it's something that we'll consider. Um but that that's that's essentially it and the reason we did the the striping along Broad Avenue. Just wanted to get it out
there so that everybody had a sense as to why we did the striping that we did along Broad Avenue. Okay. Thank you. Um any comments or questions from anybody in the governing body? No.
Yeah. Hi. If I um I'm trying to be gentle cuz a lot of residents are actually concerned and I appreciate the background of your initiatives and efforts and that you're looking to do this if I'm not mistaken towards
Leonia southbound. Correct. Yes. The striping is very confusing to people, particularly residents who've been living in that corridor um for a long time and me frankly because when I go to Manhattan, I make a right on Rockwood now because of all the construction and
I'm already doing something illegal by the time I turn around from the Venostran light because I'm in the wrong lane. Um but the fact is I think going northbound you actually need two lanes. Um, I don't know that we can absorb in a
rush hour a one lane traffic and make sure that people can get quickly, safely in all the car pools and the school buses. If a school bus stops by state law, the red light goes out, everybody has to stop in both directions. So, I
don't know that we can um consume and get people through the volume that you need to do plus buses. And I'm gonna just say it because I feel it. Moving the bus from Cross Creek is a mistake because the value of people by Sheffield
and the Cross Creek, there's a greater constituency there. There's a wider birth of a street. Even if you do some construction along Phelps or earlier, I think it's going to uh not absorb it as well. And I trust your judgment implicitly. I just want you to
understand these comments are made for your benefit because I think if you speak to some of the ambulance servers in the community, Hot Burger and a few others that have to navigate around emergency um Anglewood Health also as
well as the mothers who have to commute the bus rides and also the seniors that are trying to uh go to services during the day. You'll see that the topography is quite different than what how it's laid out now. I also wonder France if
when the traffic um goes back to normal when the bridge is built whether or not any changes that are being made now will have been done in permanency because you may have to amend it. So again I I I speak on behalf
of a lot of family members that won't speak to me when they see me in my synagogue because they're upset. um my own family members because of the uh the moving of this bus and all of these things that people have gotten used to. Um, and I trust your judgment, the city
managers, the police, everybody has these values that have to be uh construed, but I I think going back to some form of comfort um and knowing that this city is controlling this, not New Jersey Transit, and that the manager has
control, not the police, not the engineering department, is absolutely critical. Um and a decision like this I think is a monumental lift given the volume of people in that area. So I just caution you to again speak to some of
these other actors, the commuters and so forth. I I am happy to speak to anyone who wants to discuss this. Um again the movement of the bus shelter from Sheffield to Phelps. U personally I believe Phelps is a better location for the bus stop and it's not for a
convenience purpose. is strictly for a safety purpose. Right now, I've I go down that road all the time when I go home and I've seen people when the bus stops and the light is green and they're stuck behind the bus, they jet into the traffic just to get around the bus so
they can make the light. I've seen it a number of times. Perhaps like a traffic calming measure would alleviate that. The perception is that there's a lot more people a few blocks away and those few blocks make a big difference in inclement weather. Whether Phelps and
Lake have fewer houses, fewer people, and you're trying to absorb and again New Jersey Transit should be um receiving what the city feels is in the best interest of its residents. So, and then I trust your judgment. I just want you to understand that. I think you may
want to speak to a few other parties. I I understand totally and that that's something we can consider. we can look at. But right now, as I 99% of what I do in terms of projects are predicated on two things. Public safety or enhancing
some service that we're already providing to the public. Those are the two things that lead everything. Um, in terms of convenience or the other aspects, those are secondary. Um, but if there is some real concern, there's some something we really need to look at that
I don't believe is going to supersede public safety. But that is something that we're willing to look at, willing to discuss, and willing to definitely um if there's another way of doing this, we're definitely open to to to doing this. But right now, we're just focused on just making it as safe as possible
for everyone. Any other comments from anyone on the governing body? Yes. Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Wil. Councilman Wilson. Yes. Go right ahead. Yes. Go ahead. Okay.
Yeah. Thank you. Um, good evening, France. Um, you know, public safety is good and we've had a situation since as long as I can remember, there's been no traffic light or signal or push budding
um for the residents coming out of Rock Creek and that's been there longer than their adjacent um neighbor and they have a light and it's very difficult for them to come to come out of there. Are we doing a study on that as well? In terms
of residents coming out of Rock Creek, it should be easier for them to access broad. I'm sorry, I can't hear him. It should be easier for everyone to access Broad Avenue now. I'm talking I'm talking about the Rockwood and Phelps signs or or lights going or the lack of
lights going into uh basically the major point is coming out of Rock Creek. Those residents can't get out of there. What? I think Councilman Wilson, you're asking about a traffic light for for people driving out of Rock Creek. Is
that correct? Right. We're doing improvements on Broad Avenue, and I thought that would be in consideration because I, as you guys know, it's it it may not impact some of us because we don't live in that area. Um, like the mayor just said, it impacts
a lot of people that live there that are um uh pedestrians, that are that are drivers. and the the people who take the bus, you know, it's imperative that they able to cross the street, whether walking, driving, bicycling, whatever it
may be. Have we not looked at that? Yeah. Part of the goal of the new striping is to address access to Broad Avenue, whether it be by pedestrians or motorists. Um, beforehand, like I said, it was I think there's feedback.
There's feedback. Sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry. I was trying to hear him. I can't hear him on on this particular um system, but okay. We'll we'll visit that. We'll talk to Fran offline. Okay. Thank you. Um any other comments
or questions from the governing body on this? Okay. Uh uh Mr. I'm just going to ask if you don't mind staying till the end of public session because I think there are people from the public who are going to make comments about Broad Avenue. Sure. So, if you could be here. Not a problem.
Thank you. I appreciate that. Okay. Um, now I now we we're up to resolution 170, approve payment of bills and claims. Whereas the chief financial officer has certified and submitted a
consolidated bill and claims list for payment as well as consolidated list of prepaid items. The prepaid items include emergency payments, wire transfers, and regularly scheduled monthly payments that are paid between bills and claims list dates. And whereas all bills and
claims listed herewith have been encumbered, and sufficient funds are available for payment. And whereas the required signatures have all been obtained on each voucher on the attached list. Now therefore be it resolved by the council of the city of Anglewood
that the bills and claims on the submitted list are hereby approved for payment in the total amount of 1,524,925.79. Can I have a motion? So moved. Second. Any discussion by the governing
body? Can I have a roll call, please? I just have one question. Oh, go ahead. Councilman Wilson, go ahead. I would like to see as we move forward that we capture the warranties on especially the
new vehicles um and maybe even extended warranties because I'm looking at $40,000 for this cycle for parts and um and repairs and that seems like a lot to me.
That's my comment. Okay. Thank you. Any other comments? Okay. Can I have a roll call, please? Councilman Rosen, yes. Councilman Tokayer, yes. Councilman Wilson, yes.
Council President Waski, yes. I'm now going to open the meeting to the public. So this is a time as opposed to the other public hearings. This is a time that anyone in the public can bring up any issue that they would like to bring
for three minutes. So speakers are asked to step up to the microphone and give their names and have three minutes to speak. Good evening. Suzanne Mullings, Phelps Avenue. Happy nurses week to anybody that's a
nurse. Um, I just want to again acknowledge that at the last meeting, Michael Wilds suggested that we revert back some of those changes and it
was his he was cut off or interrupted and that ideal option wasn't fully explored and I think we should revisit it and also revisit that option with that proposal in mind that perhaps the light
at Sheffield and Broad have a left turning signal and remove the left turning arrow from what's on the ground level. I think that adjustment would probably improve the visibility and
enhance the overall traffic flow and safety. I just would like to also respectfully disagree with Fron because if there's any study that can show that crossing at a light is less safe than
crossing at a on a on a street that doesn't even have a crosswalk is absurd. The crosswalk on broad is not aligned with the bus stop on Phelps A. That's one. The shelter, if that was truly
planned, should have been moved to accommodate the people because now they stand in the rain with no shelter. That also to me doesn't make sense. Adding more bells and whistles to
accommodate this change that clearly is not having the result intended should be revisited and changed because it is not safe. Also, I asked Fron if we could get the block the box on Phelps because it's
almost impossible to enter and leave during the heightened traffic times in the morning and in the evening. So therefore, I don't know how this is going to be resolved by just adding more things to that area of Phelps Avenue
that don't that don't enhance safety. Thanks. Thank you. Hello, Diane Jansen, 589 Richland Terrace. I'm speaking about the uh denial the application to Denning Park
uh for both park improvements and Jake's Law received from the state. I happened to call the state and I spoke to the state and they sent me a two-page letter along with the correspondence in page
three that the mayor received. And this is their comment. I'll read part of it. During our call, you asked what the reasoning behind being denied was, to which I explained it was due to the city
not meeting Green Acres public engagement requirements. Specifically, public engagement was conducted after, and it's italicized after the public hearing. If
you look at the application page, 14 notes that the that the required public hearing does not fulfill the public engagement requirements and that applications that do not demonstrate
additional community involvement during the project planning stage would not be funded. With all due respect, Councilman Wasatski, womanski, you are in charge of park
planning. Page five explains that applicants must engage in public outreach activities during the project planning process, which should come before the required public hearing. From what I understand, you were told
that Anglewood did not receive funding due to not having enough public support. I believe there may be a misunderstanding. Attached is the denial letter for both applications. It states the city's requests were deemed
ineligible because the submitted applications failed to identify meaningful public input during the planning process. Failing to identify meaningful public input does not mean that there was not enough public
support. It means that the public was not involved with public planning in a way deemed meaningful such as thorough as such as through community meetings, surveys, invitations or community input,
etc. Using that language allows applicants to be flexible with how they conduct public outreach. So I think an apology is due and I think there was a
misunderstanding. I will not use the word lying because I will say that my friends on the other side of the DS did not intentionally mean to thank you for your comments their concerns about public safety. And I do
have the letter that was sent to the mayor to back that up. Okay, thank you for your comments. Hi, my name is Pauline Pulos. I live at 470 Broad Avenue um in Anglewood. I live right in the middle of this mess on Broad Avenue. I live between Phelps and
Rockwood. So, I see this every day. The lines they put on, I am grateful. It has definitely cut down on the speeding because Broad Avenue was just drag racing. So, that is cut down. But, as my husband said, it's cut down because now we're in backup traffic. I don't know where this traffic is coming from. From
Van Austin to get I live right across from the bleachers. It takes me at 3:00 in the afternoon 10 minutes, 12 minutes, 8 minutes to get into my driveway. That's number one problem with this lining. But like I said, I do appreciate the the tra the um speeding has slowed
down. Another issue we're having now with this bus stop is that these cars now are parking in front of my house, which it's a public street, but parking is 2 hours. They're there from 6:00 in the morning till 8, nine o'clock at night. And now they're parking down Phelps. I turn down Phelps every
morning. It's like a a game of chicken. Who's going to move out of the way so I can get down? Because you can't get through. Cars are parked all the way down. I don't think you can park on Phelps all day long. Last year during the winter, they were um patrolling. They were giving tickets and it got good
for a couple of months. People were not parking there. All of a sudden, now you can't even get down that street. the people that live there. I have a friend who two years ago lived on Phelps her whole life, 50 years. She moved out of Anglewood because of the parking op. She can't get out of her driveway. She
couldn't get into her driveway because all these cars are parked on it. So now with this park with this bus stop coming to Phelps, we have the added cars that are not residents. We should have resident parking. We should have patrolling the signs that say you can't
park there. Two-hour parking. Like I said, it's two hours in my house. every day a cars different cars are there 10 hours. So it needs to be looked at which I do think it's a good plan but it needs a lot of lot of tweaking and I don't understand this part this traffic on
Broad Avenue every day all day all day the traffic that's all. Thank you. Thank you. Leroy Campbell 287 Tennfly Roadwood. Um, I have a I know we passed the budget tonight. I have a couple of concerns.
Um, one is how come the meter and garage fees are decreasing? In 2024, it was estimated for 635,000. 2025 it drops to $60,000 with a difference of
$30,000. That's the meters. And the garage was estimated for 100 in 2024 was estimated for 140,000 and it dropped to in 2025 it's dropped to 109,500. Um the other the other concern that I have is the extra duty fee
explain the significant increase from 2024 of 60,000 to 2025 of 360,000. And the other one I have is sales of mun municipal assets for
2025 93,000. What's the assets? And I had a question about uh the opioid funds, but that I think that was answered tonight. Um that's all I have. I can get some answers. I appreciate it. Thank you.
Good evening. Robert Abru, 186 Phelps Avenue. And also just have to reiterate the Sorry, I didn't I didn't hear you. I'm sorry. Robert Abru, 186 Phelps. I'm going to knock this mic down. Here we go. And um reiterating the the issues
that others have stated in regards to the Broad Avenue and the striping. Um I I believe there needs to be and similar to what uh Mayor Wild said there there needs to be a a review because the intentions are there completely understand and and agree that the
speeding has been cut down but um similarly it takes me a while live right on the corner of Phelps and Broad and it does take me a while because now traffic is backed up backs up on Phelps takes me a while to get in and out of my driveway and and agree that there is a lot there
are a lot of people that do park there uh during the day to take the bus stop. So concern that it's just going to increase with the bus being moved with the bus stop being moved over to um to Phelps. And the finally on the parking, I did want to mention that uh the 2-hour
parking which is supposed to dissuade people from doing that sometimes does, but then those of us that live in that live there and don't need to leave the house, my wife is a teacher off all summer. she has to keep going out every two hours or we wind up uh getting a bunch of parking tickets because there
is no resident parking. So, there should be some type of resident parking to alleviate so that we can enforce the two-hour parking uh limit but not at the expense of either having to go out every two hours to move your car or wind up getting multiple tickets. Thank you.
Thank you. Raymond Diaz for a Shannon Court. This is in reference to Denning Park. I think uh during the when you was trying to give us u what was going on in Denning Park, you mentioned that if we would we
were to receive the monies from Green Acres that it would be a we would have a good chance that we can get more monies for the other parks. Um so now that we don't have that funding, how does that affect the other
parks? Are we going to get funding for that? That's a question. And if you believe that we can't, the answer is no. According to uh uh D New Jersey, uh the Green Acres
funding for uh Inglewood cannot receive further Green Acres funding until Denning Park is up to speed. Okay. So, you said now it's we don't have it, but that's not true. Inglewood City is allowed to apply to future funding rounds for any project they want to work
on. There is no priority list on our side, nor do we pick and choose what parks receive help outside of those submitted during the open funding rounds. I think we could have been probably more successful if we were more transparent and work closely with one
another in order to be successful in getting this funding and gain trust between you and the residents of Inglewood. I don't like to be uh accused of us trying to
uh not trying to get this fund. I think the main issue was safety for the residents of Englewood and that was the main thing and I think we emphasized that if everything was fine we would go on with the project. Now today I heard
that this uh funding was going to support some of the testing of the soil. Uh that's the first time I heard that. I mean, that would have made a difference at that point if if we would have had a vote to say that we were
guaranteed that, right? Because that's what we wanted. Besides the radiation uh testing, there's more. There's soil samples and we should get water samples. Do we only get radiation? That's it. Do we get a copy of this report since this
is taxpayers dollars or is it required that we have to go to OSHA? I I I feel that that's a smack in our faces. I mean, we're really interested in maintaining the safety and I think so are you. So,
um again, we can submit uh requests for further funding through Green Acres for the other parks and we can probably revisit Denning Park at at a later date. Thank you.
Thank you. Hey, good evening Pete Chance and Ridgeland Terrace. Uh just for kicks, I went back and looked at the uh the budget increase for the last three years. If you go, it was under 2% every year. So this year, it's the first year
we've gone over 2%. We're at like 2 and a half% year-to-year increase on our taxes. So this administration has succeeded in increasing the rate of tax increase on the citizens the residents on a broad broad avenue. First
of all traffic traffic lights are are called in in terminology in the business active traffic controls. Okay. They're they were invented to make crossing roads
safer. If cars are avoiding lights and there is some danger at that traffic light where people cannot cross, that's an enforcement issue and the police should be involved. Not having a light at Phelps
where people now do cross creates an a much more unsafer situation than having them cross where there's a traffic light with an active traffic control. Second, why were any changes made
without a traffic study done? Is there a traffic study? Because you always start by planning something to see how to make it better. You just don't start making changes. Get a professional in. Have them look at the situation. They put the
little wire on the road. They time how many cars go each hour, what hour of the day it's it's high traffic, which direction it comes from, who's turning which way on all the different side roads. That's how you make a change to a roadway is you evaluate the traffic
patterns and volumes and then decide on changes that will benefit the flow of traffic and the safety to individuals. The way the striping is now, people zigzag back and forth. They're trying to find the right lane. They just want to go straight. No, I can't be in this
lane. I'm making a left. Got to get to this lane. People go in the lefthand turn lane, but they really go straight and then they try to merge back on. And that's an unsafe situation. And that if you're going south, that happens at least twice in that
corridor. Fourth, traffic efficiency and and traffic movement is compromised. You're not getting as much traffic through that roadway now because of all the changes that have been made. So there's traffic backups. People have just mentioned that you have to think
about what's the best way to get people efficiently through that corridor. And finally, why isn't the traffic advisory committee meetings on Zoom? We used to be able to go on and and comment on things as a public as a public person,
as a resident. So why can't that be put on Zoom again the way it was? Okay. Thank you. [Music] LES Lope is 147 Lake Street. I'm talking in regards to the traffic bro. I'm agree
to a lot of the people have spoken here as well. I don't know if there's any study done about this but whoever decide to mark this area complete mess. The other part is they only did one little section of the whole area. So I don't think it's well
marked all the way from Sheffield. It had to be marked all the way up to the entrance of Roui, not just two blocks. And another thing I just I spoke to some of the resident is that my street can you only allowed to park on one side of the street? Why can't they do the same
thing in Sheffield on Phelps and Rockplace? I'm sure that will help with people parking all over the place. I notice school buses not able to go through even on the snow days. trucks and so on. Um, they also mark the
stop sign on rock place going to roof four. Put a stop sign that is being blocked by a tree. No one sees the stop signs. People drive through. I'm always walking towards roof four to catch the bus to the city and I stand there and I
see one of these days is going to be a huge accident because people don't even stop at that sign because you don't be able to see it. So I don't know who would decide to move do all these changes without checking the whole process and the whole traffic and I also
noticed that the traffic increase. I don't know it's because of the work people cutting going through Anglo Eclipse because of the offices or because of the hospital or so on but I noticed there a lot a lot of traffic on Bro Avenue in the morning and in the afternoons.
Which stop sign were you talking about? This stop sign going from bro towards uh Palace uh to Grant Avenue right in the entrance of roof uh roof war going towards the city. Is it is a new one? They put the sign
the one on Rockwood. Yeah. Okay. The sign the sign is blocked by the tree and by post and there's no marked on the street at all so people can see it. Okay. I got it. And I noticed that is also a sign coming out of roof four. the stop sign that says stop only when
people are working but everybody sees at the stop sign and then stop and that creates a lot of trouble with the traffic coming from Route 4. Okay, thank you. Constantine Pulos 470 Broad. Okay, just got a comment that on
Broad Avenue, I don't see any sign notifying drivers that you're going to merge either to the left or go straight. So, as you're coming down, go heading southbound on broad. You see too many people, as gentleman said before, you're
in the left lane. You don't realize that you can only go straight and people are just trying to merge back and app traffic. Um, I think that has someone has to put a sign up because they have it on the street, but when you have cars over it, no one's going to be notified until you get closer. So, if somebody
could put a sign up saying that the one to the left is to go straight and the one to the right is the right only or uh that'd be very helpful. Hopefully, that'll cut down some of the traffic. Um, also, we have to go around
patrolling that two-hour parking. As my wife has said before, you have a car outside the house from 6:00 till 8 all day. That can't happen. you know, cars are going up and down that street and just slowing the
traffic. Um, and for those people that live up Phelps, I sympathize with them. Trying to park on Phelps is crazy. And when it comes to winter, Phelps is not one of the first streets to get plowed. It's going to be Broad Avenue. Okay? So,
trying to go down Phelps Avenue during the winter to get under Grand Avenue is a nightmare. I think we all take take a step back and look at that. Um, and maybe even put a signal light there. Maybe that'll help.
Um, obviously with all this traffic now, we don't see any accidents at the corner of Rockwood and Broad. Thank God for that. Uh, we've had enough accidents already there. And maybe have like a police officer patrol the area. Well, at
least hang up by the tennis courts and monitor the speeders a little bit because I see more Leona cops catch speeders on Broad Avenue and stop them in front of my house than anybody else. I'm not saying Engle's not doing a good job because I see them I see England late at night in front of my house too
catching people. But um we just need something about that. Thank you. Thank you. Alfredo Maner 474. We have the same problem that everybody have. Uh I asking you, you
know why Paramus uh pay less taxes because they have a lot of traffic. A lot of traffic. And we had that problem in Engard, take a piece and go to the to
the uh to the bus stop. I I take it one hour to go to my job because I can't go for my driveway. I cannot make a right. I cannot make a
left. Why we pay taxes and we need to be here like resident if you know everybody is going to move from Engle and the city is not going to have money. Thank you.
Thank you. Uh Steve Weinberg, W two. Uh first of all, uh thank you uh Mayor Wilds. Um we appreciate your comments about Broad Avenue. Uh and they're accurate. Uh
we're seeing what we're seeing is um we put in some signage on the road which is only visible to the lead car. All right. Left turn into Cross Creek as you're
going southbound on broad. Well, the car stops at the light. Nobody else could see that sign, so they all queue up behind it. I live on that block and I'm telling you that one car maybe in a thousand goes into Cross Creek. It's
just math. All right. So that means we're tying up Broad Avenue and turning it into a one-lane road for the sake of an occasional car making a left turn. And most vehicles are becoming scoffs
here anyway, even inadvertently. Even the buses are doing it. I have photographic evidence of that. All right. So, what we've done is we've created a big mess by not analyzing this scenario properly. We've got lots of
cross streets coming up before um Sheffield Avenue. All right. And they don't have traffic lights. They don't have any kind of signage that says don't block the grid. All right? and other towns have managed to avoid these
problems by working on the active uh road, you know, the traffic light situation. We don't have left turn signals. We created left turn only where one is not really necessary. All right. If we just put in a delayed delayed
turns, delayed uh greens, we could solve these problems. All right. And we could have two lanes going forward. two lane, you know, southbound, two lanes going northbound. We could solve these problems, but we have to look at it, not just snap our fingers and hope that
we're solving a problem. All right? So, this this broad avenue scenario that everybody's talking about, we've got to get on top of because it's getting messy for everybody. That's it. Thanks. Okay.
Thank you very much. Um, anybody else from the public? Oh, no. You can't come back. Sorry. Um, but uh, okay. So, I'm now going Okay, Ava, go ahead. Thank you. Good evening,
everyone. Ava Ratigan, Nap Place. Um, I just want to add to what my neighbors have said. Um, we need to have a delayed light at Broad and Sheffield.
Even with the left hand turn into Cross Creek, there should be another um arrow going straight or allow individuals to turn into Cross Creek. But it's just creating a unnecessary bottleneck right there. as well as if we can have a
lefthand turn. When you get off of I 95 turning onto Sheffield, there should be a lefthand turn or a delayed lights cuz it's one in a million that you see turning into Cross Creek. So that's my input.
Thank you. And next consideration I think I still have time is to have adopt the same situation our neighbor Tene has where it's alternate parking. So, when
you're turning off of whether it's of Broad onto Sheffield, either direction, the let me get my direction. The northwest northwest side there should be
no parking. That's the opposite side from the lake. That will also help to alleviate the traffic right in that area because it's only two cars that are parked on the northwest side heading to Grand Avenue. And yeah, we need to do
something about that area. I live in that area. I want to be able to move freely and not be stuck in traffic waiting for a delivery truck or something. So, if the chief can monitor that, that would be great. Thank you.
Thank you. Okay. So, I'm now going to close the public session. Um, Mr. Vulce, do you want to um I don't know if you took any notes on some of the questions that you were being asked.
I didn't take a lot of notes, but I do appreciate all the comments. Um, the reason why I didn't take a lot of notes is because, as I mentioned, the police department and myself are also observing what's going on on Broad Avenue. We've already um had signs, additional signs
made, uh, just make, uh, drivers more aware of the, you know, the traffic patterns along Broad. So, those are going to go up fairly soon. We're going to put additional striping. Um, again, as someone mentioned, right now need a lead car can tell, um, you know, uh,
there's a there's a turning, a left turn, whether it be at the Cross Creek, uh, whether it be at Rockwood. So, we're going to make sure that that that part is also, uh, you know, taken care of. So, we're going to put additional striping in the roadway so that, you know, drivers are more aware of the
patterns that are upcoming. Um, again, the traffic signal we're we're going to be work we're working on the one on on Broad and Van Noran. We're looking at the one on on Broad and Sheffield. As I mentioned, left turn arrows may be a possibility that are coming. Timing is also something that we're looking at.
So, we are aware of a lot of these issues. Um, we they haven't gone by the wayside. This is not this is not completed. This is something that that we're going to improve on. Uh in terms of the parking, that may be a police matter, an enforcement matter. Um if only two hours
is are allowed and people are parking all day. Um I don't believe that's something that our office can control. Um in terms of crossing at at Sheffield at a traffic signal versus not a traffic signal, I
don't think I said it was safer to not have a signal, but I'll I'll I'll take a look at things. Um, the concern that I have with the bus at Sheffield Avenue again was cars that were stuck behind the bus would often jet out into into
traffic just so they can make the green light. Um, that that's the concern that I have with the bus being um at Sheffield right now at Phelps. It is it is in an area that is off the road that is off the the lane. So, it will not
impact traffic as it discharges uh or picks up or picks up uh passengers. But that is something that we're all going to look at. I took a bunch of notes. Uh we're going to be looking at everything. Um if it makes sense, we'll definitely be implementing it. Um and we'll uh we'll definitely try
and make the best. The goal is to to make it safe and uh obviously um as we we want the corridor to move as quickly as possible in terms of the uh the amount of traffic has a lot to do with what's going on on Jones Road, has a lot
to do what might be going on on Grand Avenue. I think we're not going to see that the the real flow of traffic until both those projects are completed and sort of traffic come back to where historically it was prior to um but
again u took a lot of notes and we are going to be uh looking reviewing everything. Okay. Um do you have any comments Mr. Hoffman on on on Broad Avenue? No, not on not on Broad Avenue. just
actually I do I might add that um the traffic on Broad Avenue will change once the Jones Road bridge construction is completed and that's fairly soon on you know it's it's supposed to be done early in the early in the summer and so
that'll that'll change traffic patterns because people will will be able to go back to uh the way that they they the way that they were commuting before the bridge was uh closed for renovation. And then there's a new traffic signal that's supposed to go online and that will, you
know, that's something else that's going to be monitored and will will help. Yeah. And and and the new just to piggyback on that, the new traffic signal that's on going to be on Vanos and and Broad is also going to have a left turn only. So, right now, I believe the two lanes coming out of of Broad
Avenue heading south, they both allow traffic to go straight, uh, which is sort of causing a bottleneck as you're going to Route 4. That's going to change. You're going to have a left turn only and a straight and a straight arrow. So, that's going to that's going to help with the flow of traffic and the
uh the traffic signal is going to reflect that because it's going to have a left turn uh arrow on there. Okay. You know, a couple of things that people asked like about the markings, why it wasn't marked all the way up to 8095. That's something we're going to add also
as additional striping. And people asked, can you reconsider reverting back to the two lanes on each direction? The the issue with reverting back into two-lane is the issue we were having previously is a speeding issue and a pedestrian safety issue in terms of
crossing Broad Avenue. Yeah. and putting putting if you can evaluate putting a light at Phelps as something we're going we we can take a look at it. We can do a traffic study, but I can tell you right now I think we've done one in the past way back and
I don't think it was a viable option to put a signal there, but that's something we can revisit. Okay. Um Mr. Hoffman, there were a a bunch of comments about lack of enforcement on the 2-hour parking. I
think it came up a few people mentioned that. Uh yes, we I've taken notes of that. So that that can be relayed to to the chief and the deputy chief. And we need to enforce our parking laws. So if people are parking on the streets that are commuters and it's two-hour parking
and they're parking there for seven to 10 hours, we need we need to issue summones. And so that that's not a commuter parking lot. So we we need to enforce our own laws. We'll address that starting tomorrow. Okay. Just a question. If if uh the funding that we
didn't get for Denning Park, does it impact funding on other parks? Uh yeah, there was a couple questions that were related to that. So the um the I believe there the the question that had been asked is the the the funding
the denial of funding for Denning Park does not affect other parks. Uh the question is the there has there's there has there's going to be a pause on on applying for grant funding for Denning Park, but that doesn't that doesn't
affect the other parks in the city. But related to the Denny Park um qu questions, there's um there there seems to be some misinformation because there was there was a question about I I believe it was
information submitted after the fact and that that was probably related to Councilman Wilson going out and getting over 200 letters of support um for the for the project after there was um there was there was not support during the
public the public hearing on it in December. Uh the city the city did um did not uh the city followed all of the guidelines for the for the public
hearing and for submitting information. We submitted the there was the study from Rutgers University, the outreach that was done by Rutgers University that was submitted with the grant with the grant application. there were surveys that had been submitted. Uh some of them
had to do with going back to the to the master plan. So, uh you know, the the the comment that the city didn't um didn't do its due diligence ahead of time is not not completely accurate and we're not going to ask for an apology e
either about that because communication is an art and not a science. So um we have gotten information from the state. So the then the next comment the next comment that came up had to do with um some questions from I believe it was
Mr. Campbell that had to do with the sale of municipal assets. One of the sale for $93,000 that was for the sale of an easement to to Harkco. Um, so that was that that was one of the questions you had asked sever several others and I'm I
he asked about the uh why the meter and garage Mr. Campbell asked why the meter and garage fees went down. is the expected revenue. Um the meter, we'll have to look if that's specifically for South Dean
Street. That's because there is work being done on the there's work that was being done on the um the parking the parking decks during 2024. So you can only anticipate for the for 2025 the revenue that you took in for 2024. So, I'm I'm
not sure if that was the specific question, but that's that's part of why the the revenues were down, but you know, for the parking garage there. Okay. And and I think there was just one one question on the extra duty fees. Yeah, the extra duty fees. I believe you said they were 60,000 and then they went
up they went up to three they're up to $300,000. And um there's there were several there were several components for that. And I'll I don't want I don't want to I don't want to give give wrong information. Some of
it some of it has to do with um with increasing the the fees for police for use for doing um for for the uh the work that's being done with utilities, but there's other components. So I'll I'll look and I'll I'll send you an email
about that. Okay. And then um uh um Coun Councilman Rosen Swag, do you want to just mention how people can access the traffic advisory meetings? Yeah. Um the we had one
um in March. Um it was the Zoom link was uh on the city website and and and and people did um sign in who were not on the traffic advisory committee. So just uh I forget the exact date for the
next one. I think about June 25th. So just keep an eye on the city calendar and and the link should be there. Um, if you need some help with Zoom, uh, just send me an email and we'll we'll try to help you, uh, sign in with with Zoom in the future.
Thank you. And then, you know, there were there were comments about um about the Phelps uh, the the do the parking on both sides. Again, no enforcement of the twohour parking. There was also a a question about residents having resident
parking. I'm going to leave that to our attorney to answer. Yeah. With respect to resident parking, this comes up periodically, not just in Angwood, but many towns. One misconception sometimes about resident parking is if someone lives on
Elm Street and they're a resident, you can't prevent them from parking on Oak Street. You can't designate spaces on the public roads to only the people on that street. So that's one of the issues that comes
up is people think, "Oh, well then I'll have that parking space in front of my house." No, that's not really how it works. Someone on the other side of town that wants to catch a bus can come and park. So that's why the resident parking thing is problematic and I'm not sure would solve the problem.
There's one other thing Mr. Campbell raised the $93,000. That's um from the sale of a portion of Nord off Place to Hark. Yeah.
Oh, he did. Oh, sorry. All right. And um before we adjourn the meeting, I really I want to thank everybody from come for coming out. You were heard the city engineer heard Mr. vulsy heard your comments about broad avenue
and he said that he's going to keep evaluating it, reassessing it and um so thank you. I want to really thank you all for coming out. It really it it's we we listen to our residents and we're really glad all all the council people
our contact information is on the city web page. So if you want to contact us, our emails and our phone numbers are there. I know that that I'm that I I get a lot of phone calls and emails and I appreciate hearing from residents as do
my colleagues on the council. And with that, I'm going to adjourn the I'm going to ask for a motion to adjourn the meeting. So move. Second. Second. Everybody in favor? I Okay. Thank you.
Thank you, Kevin. Thank you, I appreciate it. Have a great night. Get home safe. Thank you. Love you, man. See you. See you on or talk to you on Thursday 10.