seed. I'm going to start the meeting now. You ready? >> Okay. I'm now going to call the council reorganization meeting of 2026 to order at 6:32 p.m. Uh, Chief Greley, can you
please step up to lead us in the pledge of allegiance? Okay, Rabbi Reichman, can you please step up for the invocation? >> Thank you. Uh, >> do you want us to be standing or sitting? >> Just to be meditating.
>> Okay. Thank you. City clerk, can you please read the statement regarding the Open Public Meetings Act? >> This meeting is called Pursuant to the Provisions of the Open Public Meetings Law. Notice of this meeting was included in a notice sent to the record
advertised in said newspaper on December 22nd, 2025, posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building and has remained continuously posted as the required notices under the statute. A copy of this notice is and has been available to the public and is on file in the office of the municipal clerk.
The council regular meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m. Proper notice having been given. The municipal clerk is directed to include the statement in the minutes of this meeting. >> May I have a roll call, please? >> Councilwoman David, >> present. >> Councilman Rosenw,
>> present. >> Councilman Toker, >> here. >> Councilman Wilson, >> present. >> Council President Waski, >> here. >> Also present is Mayor Michael Wilds, city manager Robert S. Hoffman, Deputy City Manager John Burkner, and sitting
in for city attorney Bill Bailey is David Laferty. >> Okay, thank you. And now the mayor and I are going to change seats. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the 2026 Anglewood Council and Mayor Sessions. It's a
privilege uh for me to be here today, and I welcome everybody who's watching this remotely. I would like to of course just welcome our police chief uh Tom Gley that's joining us, our deputy city manager John Burkner, our confidential
secretary in the city manager's office, Katherine Melendez, and of course uh the finest and the best of our public works, police, fire, and all the other personnel that are capable of moving this important uh evening forward. And of course, I
wouldn't be anywhere without our first lady. Thank you, Amy, for joining us as we reconstitute our government. To those former members of the council that kind of find themselves sitting on the same seat each year, Doug Burn, Scott Redin, and Charlotte Bennett Shon. To the real
mayor in hiding, Alita Frezel, who joined us, uh to the good Rabbi Reichman, and the Reverend Given, and Stacy Rosenwag, a member of our board, our library board. I believe the library is reconvening this evening as well.
next week. Okay, apologies. And to Crystal Brown, the director of our environmental commission, thank you uh for joining us. Sam Lee, our chronic uh if you would and Mr. Weinberg, uh the best pedestrian that the second board has presented. Um a real privilege again
for us to go forward. My role here is to uh decide um to convene an election uh for uh city council president uh for 2026. I will accept motions at this time and I urge those of you to stay as I
will give the state of the city address thereafter. >> I nominate Dr. Ken Rosen Swag. >> One nomination for Dr. Ken. Is there a second? There's a second. Okay, thank you. Are there any other nominations for
council president? Okay, I'm going to close the nominations and ask for a role. >> Councilwoman David, >> yes. >> Councilman Rosen, >> yes. >> Councilman Toker, >> yes.
>> Councilman Wilson, >> abstain. Councilwoman Wasotsski. >> Yes. >> Okay. Wonderful. Congratulations, Dr. Rosen Swag, uh, for your election to the city council president for the year
2026. Yeah, I would be honored to What's the test? Okay. >> Join us. Someone could look at this. >> Please raise your right hand. Repeat after me. I state your name. >> I, Kenneth Rosenwide, >> do hereby affirm
>> do hereby affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. >> And that I will bear true faith >> and that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same. and
allegiance to the same. >> and to the governments established >> and to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority >> under the authority >> of the people >> of the people >> of the city of Englewood >> of the city of Anglewood. Further, I do
affirm >> Further, I do affirm >> that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the all the duties >> all the duties >> of the position of >> of the position of >> council president >> council president
>> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. [Applause] Yes. No sign. [Applause]
Thank you very much. Um, I will now accept nominations to elect President Prom of the city council. And I'll get things started by nominating Dr. Lisa Wasotsski. Do I have a second?
>> Uh, second. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, I will ask the city clerk to take a roll call. >> Councilwoman David. >> Yes. Coun uh Councilman Toker. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Wilson, >> abstain. >> Councilwoman Wasadski, >> yes. >> Council President Rosenwag, >> yes. >> Congratulations, Dr. WASKI. [Applause]
We will now administer the oath of office to council president prom Dr. Lisa Wasatski. >> You raise your right. I >> I >> Dr. >> Dr. Lisa Waski >> do hereby affirm >> do hereby affirm
>> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith >> that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments established
>> and to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this day >> under the authority >> under the authority >> of the people >> of the people >> of the city of Englewood of the city of Englewood. >> Further, I do affirm >> Further I do affirm >> that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially
>> impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties >> all the duties >> of Council President Prom >> of Council President Prom >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Thank you.
[Applause] Okay. I congratulations again, Dr. Wasatski. Um, we now at this point will ask for remarks from elected officials and dignitaries. So, um, you don't even have
your jacket off, but I'm going to ask State Senator Gordon Johnson to please address us. >> Okay. >> If you'll step up to the mic, >> we we moved out of the way for the photos. Good evening everyone. Uh
my uh my staffer Ralph and I have been bouncing around this evening so little late getting here. However, first of first off and this is kind of late coming. I should have done this years ago as a elected official. I want to personally thank the uh the first
responders in the city, the police, the fire, health department, building building officials that keep us safe. That's number one. I should thank them a long time ago. And also the uh those who work in city hall, the administration,
they make the city what it is. It's a well-run city. Uh Mr. Hoffman doing a fine job there. young man, not so young, but anyway, uh you're like me. But uh but uh this city uh the 28,000 people that reside here uh are
better off because of the administration and the management of this city. Um the mayor and council, the elected ones also a part of this team. So uh I should have said that years ago, but I'll say it tonight. We we tonight are celebrating
the future uh of the city again. Um changes that changes that are coming. Uh as you may have heard uh Ingwood Hospital will now become part of our Robert Wood Johnson hospital system. I don't know if you heard that, but that's
that's in in effect. Uh that'll make Ingwood Hospital the biggest employer in Englewood, by the way. Uh a better more with more opportunities for research, medical education, and what have you and in this new uh agreement. So, um that's
that's one thing that's changing. Health care for the city employees. That's going to be a challenge because of what's going on in Washington. So, we'll we at the state level will try to do what we can to ensure that our employees get the
benefit that they deserve in this city. Period. and for the employ and the for the residents of the city. Uh thank you for your support. I'm sure the elected officials here uh thank you for what you for for you supporting them and we we'll
continue forward as a city, the city of Inglewood, the city of restaurants because a lot of restaurants have opened up here. A lot of people want to come here to open restaurants by the way. So it's just the way it is. So I'll close with that and happy new year. Oh, the
mayor. [Applause] Oh, was it on video? I'll put it back again. Um so at this point we'll have um remarks from well the mayor state of the city address and remarks from the city
council. Um again this is an unusual year in that there was no um municipal election in the previous year. Uh so at the end of this meeting, we're going straight into the first meeting of uh 2026
instead of dividing up into two nights. There were remarks from the city council in the regular meeting at that starts at 7:30, but I would just ask everyone if if they can just include if they had separate remarks to just include them all in the remarks we're going to make
now just so there's no uh redundancy, but everyone will get a chance to speak as long as uh they would like. Uh so with that um I'll uh turn it over to Mayor Michael Wilds for his state of the city address. >> Thank you Dr. Rosenwar. Good evening ladies and gentlemen to the city
council, community partners, and residents. I wish everybody a happy and healthy new year. It's my honor to present the state of the city. 2025 was a year of progress, collaboration, resilience, and planning for our shared
future. In 2025, a number of significant achievements, challenges, and initiatives were held, completed, and implemented. Ang stands as a model of diversity, economic resilience, and cultural resess.
Distinctive qualities that define who we are and how we advance together. These traits have made us better, stronger as we face the challenges of the mid 2020s and beyond. First, the Anglewood community. Anguid is a home to approximately 30,000 residents.
Anticipated that our population will increase as new housing units are built. Our population reflects a multicultural tapestry enriched by residents from all walks of life and backgrounds. Nearly half of the households speak a language other than English at home. Vigilance,
therefore, is required to recognize the changing needs of our residents while engaging in smart planning for our future. I'm proud to say that our governing body and staff do an excellent job of honoring the legacy of this city while preparing for the innovations of
tomorrow. We celebrate in a community where children, families, and professionals, seniors all contribute to the social and economic vitality of our city. Anguit spirit extends beyond its census data. It lives in our streetscapes, in the diversity of our
houses of worship, in local events and events where we are immersed in each other's cultures and the pride with all residents help one another in celebrating our community. Angu is a place again where diversity is celebrated and community engagement
thrives. We're a city where all backgrounds, ages, and cultures come together for the common good. Anguid has a robust array of cultural, religious, educational, and other events that allow us to share the experiences of the amazing people that make our city so
special through various city departments, our public library, and a myriad of community organizations. There's always something happening to enrich our lives through the interaction with one another. Local clubs as the Angwood Rotary organized service projects including the McKay Park
cleanup, mobilizing volunteers to beautify public spaces and contribute to environmental stewardship. The local arts and culture scene were enriched by wonderful performances and community gatherings that engaged residents of all ages. The Bergen Pac Performing Arts
School in Anglewood proudly hosted scores of events drawing talented students and families from across the region, showcasing the arts as an essential part of our community fabric. Annual traditions continue to unite us. For the second year in a row, the
award-winning night market brought live music, family entertainment, and local vendors to downtown, fostering small business visibility and community joy. We look forward to the biggest ever Anglewood market in July. I take great pride also in having hosted more than
five full years of virtual coffee with the mayor sessions highlighting every Friday all things Anglewood during our weekly broadcasts. This provides another method for our residents to reach out and learn about our services. With regard to community service, Anglewood
continues its distinguish its distinction in not just the strategic planning and economic development, but by the engagement of its residents and service to one another across all of our neighborhoods and organizations. Thousands of volunteers hours
strengthened our social fabric and provided vital support to our most vulnerable residents. In 2025, Angua's diversity was not only a statistical truth. It was a lived reality reflecting in the cultural celebrations, civic
participation, grassroot collaboration, and programs that welcomed every voice. Many of our public and private schools hosted events that honored our heritage, demonstrating a collective commitment to inclusion, understanding, and belonging. These initiatives strengthened our city
socially as well as culturally reaffirming that in Angwood diversity is a source of strength and community engagement and it's a defining feature of our civic life. We continue to support initiatives that make Angwood safe, inclusive, and familyfriendly.
From youth recreation programs and art events at regional venues to conservation of open space and community centered services, we are creating opportunities for all residents to thrive. Through organizations such as the Center for Food Action, local volunteers played a crucial role in
addressing food insecurity. Community members from high school students with seniors committed hours of sorting, packing, and distributing food to families in need, ensuring that nearly 200 families per day can access essential groceries at an Anglewood
site. This October, we saw the best of Anglewood. Our emergency food drive at city hall and the Cecil Center collected enough food to support hundreds of families affected by the SNAP program shutdown, ensuring that the rising cost of living does not result in hunger for
our neighbors. When they shut down in Washington or Trenton gives us less, we have to continue the flow of food. The Anglewood Health Department sponsored multiple community support initiatives in 2025, including community support
days that help with public benefit applications such as New Jersey Family Care and SNAP, as well as free mental health first aid courses available to both adults and youth. These programs expanded access to critical resources and empowered residents with knowledge
and support tools. Our community engagement also emphasized agefriendly inclusive support systems for all residents. Programs like spring into wellness jointly hosted with our health department and our parks department. Residents participating in health
focused challenges activities of all ages and abilities. senior programs, including informational sessions hosted by the Bergen uh by Bergen County, uh reinforced Enwood's commitment to inclusivity across our lifespan, making
sure that we build a community center was started and I tip my hat to this uh governing body at the Liberty School site that will truly meet Anglewood's current and future needs. It's one of our crowning moments of 2025.
Investing in infrastructure and city services are of utmost importance. We strive to continuously improve communication, municipal services, and public safety that make Angwood such an inviting place to be. In February of this year, we launched My Inguid NJ, a
mobile app, a citywide communication platform that helps with event notifications, essential municipal information right at our fingertips. This tool improved our ability to connect with residents efficiently and transparently, enhancing civic engagement, accessibility to all
neighborhoods. Ang led the state this year as the first municipality to deploy two MAC electric garbage trucks. You could listen to our city manager and me lecture for hours at the League of Municipalities. But we were proud because we effectively reduced our
carbon footprint while keeping all wards clean with the latest in green technology. Our DPW municipal garage and recycling transfer station will soon be back online. Its equipment has been repaired or upgraded and is in the process of being tested. Don't kid
yourself. The lessons of the environmental commission are being heard by those at city hall. When back online, it will save the city significant sums of money and staff time that can be redeployed to storm water management and flood mitigation needs. We have
continued to improve pedestrian safety measures with new crosswalks, turn signals, and key locations, began the process of codifying rules of the growing usage of electronic scooters and bicycles. In 2025, the city continued its multi-year effort to reduce or
eliminate flooding that has historically plagued not only your mayor's basement, but our lowest elevation neighborhoods through smart storm water management. We received a million-doll grant in New Jerseyy's 2026 budget to continue regional efforts to combat flooding and
erosion. And I tip my hat to the city manager who did a regional program with all of our neighboring communities where our public works officials, God bless them, went to other communities to desilt, dnag, and they helped us and we help one another because we're all in
this together. In this respect, I urge the council to now focus on developing ordinances for me to sign consistent with the new issued master plan we adopted this last year. And I thank you, Mr. burn for your effort in this past year as well on that. With regard to
economic performance, development and public safety, our local economy continued to strengthen in the 2025 year. Ang benefited from a diversified employment base with education, healthcare, retail, food, food services among the leading sectors. Just ask
Senator Johnson. Anglewood's strategic location near New York City, combined with the presence of leading healthc care institutions added stability and growth potential for the local job market. I have welcomed scores of new businesses this past year, cutting many
red ribbons. We have been consistent and proactive in supporting small business downtown throughout our city, expanding our business appeal with unique eeries, boutiques, and cultural venues that draw patrons from across the region and strengthen our tax base.
In December, we began the roll out of modernized parking kiosks in our central business district. This transition to a quote unquote smart city model makes it easier for visitors to shop at our local businesses while providing the city with more accurate parking data and revenue.
We have business proprietors that park in front of the meters. We had people that would be in doctor's offices or in stores and they need more time. We need to move with the times. We continue to have a businessfriendly city in the fastch changing global climate. Angwood
continues to be a destination for startup businesses as we see a steady stream of ribbon cutings and a flow of customers from within and without our city patronizing our many businesses. We must protect our warehouse and industrial space so that startup companies have a place to work in, grow,
and prosper. We have been proactive in working to create a sustainable ecosystem where entrepreneurs can thrive in a digital first world. Our public safety, parks and recreation, healthc care access, and educational quality still remain top priorities. Our
families deserve spaces that reflect the beauty of our city. So, in 2025, in its city partnership with Rutgers University, we accepted a comprehensive 16-month study that now serves as our roadmap for investing in every park and playground in Anglewood. We have opened
new inclusive playground facilities at multiple locations. Supported by Green Acres and Jake Law funding as well as $43,000 grant from the State Department of Transportation, we've begun the transformation of Denning Park into a
flagship of active and passive recreation activities, including inclusive play areas, ensuring every child in Angwood, regardless of ability or disability, has a place to thrive. We have also prioritized strengthening public service and safety. This
administration has been committed like no other before it to providing funding and staffing to ensure our public safety personnel have all resource and training needed to be safe and empathetic while protecting our community. I want to
thank our police chief Tom Gley, our fire chief Jeff Kaplan, and the deputy chiefs along with every member of our public safety community for their dedication and vigilance. Again, kudos to our manager for filling in our ranks and making promotions to ensure
experienced supervision. This effort is in part successful because the partnerships we maintain. To name a few, in November along Congressman Josh Godheimer, we announced a monumental 662,000 federal investment for the Eggwood Fire
Department for staffing and training. Additionally, we have grown and seen an interest in the special needs registry. When rolled out, this vital database will allow emergency service professionals to know before they even arrive on a scene if a resident has a
condition like autism or dementia that might affect their interaction with a diminished capacity with emergency services in this kind of effort and planning that makes our public safety services here in Angwood truly the best.
And finally on municipal finances, when we think about our state of our city, obviously one of the greatest questions will be our finances. In the past year, the city has advanced key municipal initials initiatives behind the strong leadership of our city manager, Robert
Hoffman, in conjunction with our entire municipal workforce council and other partners. Our financial standing has improved, signaling a credit rating upgrade. It reaffirms our financial practices are indeed responsible and expand opportunities for future capital
projects and fiscal stability. 2025 began with a resounding validation of our management. We entered with a standard and pores credit rating upgrade to double A. This isn't just a letter on a page. It's a tool that has already
begun saving our taxpayers money on every capital project we undertake. We continue to balance the scales, building a necessary surplus to protect us from the rain from the rainy days that climate change, federal government policy changes
such as tariffs and others uh have effect. We also anticipate the implementation of a wellthoughtout excuse me That's how my voice turned off.
A cannibis ordinance that would provide Give me a moment. Forgive me. We also anticipate the implementation of our wellthoughtout cannabis ordinance which will provide additional revenue
for the city in 2026 and beyond. Well, in conclusion, the state of our city at this moment is one of progress rooted in purpose. I can say based on the myriad of nights and hours that all of us have
put in and as the privilege of actually being Angua's longest serving mayor, we are meeting our challenges with determination, building in our strengths and shaping a future that embodies opportunity for every resident.
Strategic infrastructure, community engagement, cultural celebration, economic opportunity must remain squarely in our vision. As 2026 begins, we are mindful of our responsibilities to every resident, every business, and
every neighborhood. With the pandemic in our rearview mirror, we will continue to improve our office of emergency management capability and work with partners to ensure that all residents and businesses are protected. But it is in the end the good Lord that will
protect all of us. And I take pride in saying it doesn't really matter if you pray on a Friday, a Saturday, or a Sunday, or if you don't pray. It's so important that we are there just for one another. We stand united in vision and
in action. We build a city that is pro prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and reflective of the promise for all of its people. Let us continue to work together to ensure that Anglewood remains a place we are proud to continue to call home. Thank
you. >> Thank you, Mayor Councilwoman David. Uh Mayor, thank you. You summed it up for all of us what we have been working on um in every ward throughout the um you know the year. And
I would like to say um there's not much to say, but I did advocate on a lot of things you did mention for not just my word, but for all boys, especially the safety for the um board of education and everything. So, I was always on that. But, um I just want to wish everyone a
happy new year. Thank you to our police and fire department. Um thank you for my colleagues and everything up here. And I'm looking forward to doing more work. We have a lot of work to do. And thank you [Applause]
Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman took career. >> Thank you. I kind of wish I went after uh the mayor so I can say ditto and be done. Make it a lot easier. Uh mayor, I appreciate you coming to tears about all the work that we've done. It uh means a
lot. Um, thank you everyone here for uh I want to thank specifically the council who um really held my hand in the last year and teaching me uh the ropes. Uh it's been quite a year and the amount of reading I've done I think more in this last year than I did in four years of
college. But um learning how the system works um learning how to get things done and learning how to protect our uh community members and my constituents in Anglewood uh has been a huge success and uh I'm very much looking forward to
doing it for the next few years. And I want to thank everybody on the council for sort of holding my hand uh going out for a drink for me on the days that I needed extra help uh extra tutoring so to speak. And um once again, thank you everybody and thank you to the police,
the fire and DPW and happy new year everyone. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Wilson. >> Thank you, Council President, and congratulations to you as the president and Lisa as the prom. Congratulations.
Happy New Year. Uh first giving honor to God. without him, this wouldn't be possible for me. Um, we've come a long way in the past couple years that I've been here. Um, and I I know some people are new to council meetings or on
YouTube and some people still aren't happy and I realize that we still have a lot of work to do and it's important about the issues that are before us. and how we tackle these issues as a
community. The only way we are successful is if in fact that we have transparency because without transparency you guys don't have the proper information to
work with and make um indelible decisions. So the transparency comes from you guys as well. We would love to see when something happens that you inform your designated council people or the
city manager so these things can be rectified as soon as possible. Um, and you may not be the only one that has that problem. But some people don't speak up whether it's the elderly or the handicapped that may have difficulties
with the communication process. Uh, I believe that dedication to our town is the cornerstone of maintaining a successful future. What we do now shows about our future
and our future is watching and I think it's important that as we move forward that we include our future. If you know a young person, please invite them to come through. Um, I've been told several times that things aren't done that way
anymore uh by 20 and 30 year olds and I don't know at what process I got old but um so we need new inventive ideas as well. Um, and that comes from dedication to our town to include everybody and f following guidelines and procedures to
get to a better stage and to get to different different ratings whether it's from the council, fire department, DPW, whatever that may be. I believe we're approaching a all-time high for ordinance and resolutions.
Uh, which which is a great which is which is a great thing obviously. Um, and we have so much more to do, but a lot of this has to come from you guys. We could sit up here and brainstorm about what we need or what
two or three people need, but it's got to be consistent with the makeup of the town. Uh, let's see. Um, I just think that
we as a city, we as a community, and we as a council can usher in this new year with important footprints that everyone around will be able to say, "Job well done." So, thank you for coming out.
Hopefully, this isn't the last time that we see you because it's a reorg. Um, so continue to help support and help us get down the road. Thank you. Have a good night. [Applause] >> Thank you, Councilman Wilson,
Councilwoman Watski. >> Good evening and happy new year, mayor, council colleagues, residents, our city employees. Before I begin, I want to start by thanking our city manager and uh Mr. Hoffman um and his office. I see
Katherine Melendez is here. I want to thank our city clerk, Yansancy Wazeris. Um, I want to thank them for their professionalism, responsiveness, and steady leadership throughout 2025. Their work keeps the city running smoothly every day, and it is deeply
appreciated. As we begin 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect on 2025, a year of steady, meaningful progress for Anglewood. Flooding and storm water management
remained a top priority. We advanced regional and local efforts, strengthening strengthen ordinances, invested in green infrastructure, and continued important maintenance and long-term planning. We also f focused on
public safety and quality of life, responding to concerns about ebikes and ecooters, commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods, and the use of public spaces, all with the goal of keeping our neighborhoods safe and
welcoming. are on street and pedestrian safety. We completed new crosswalks, make key traffic signal improvements, and saw the long awaited completion of the Jones Road Bridge, improving safety and connectivity for residents and
visitors alike. We worked on making city services easier to use, launching my launching the My Anglewood, New Jersey app, and continuing sustainability efforts including it. Expanding our
electric vehicle fleet, parks, recreation, and community spaces saw meaningful investment with new inclusive playgrounds, field improvements, expanded recreation programming, and continued progress
toward a community center, projects that bring people together. I also want to thank the people who make this work possible day in and day out. Our police department led by police chief Tom Greley. Our fire department led by fire
chief Jeffrey Kaplan. Our DPW department led by Ray Romney. And our recreation department led by Tashawn Warren. They all did an in outstanding job this year. And I just want to give a special shout out to our DPW department and Mr. Romney
who did they did a great job particularly during leaf collection this year and snow removal. I also want to thank our volunteer boards, coaches and community volunteers whose time and commitment make a real difference. And finally, I want to thank our residents.
You are our partners in this work. Your feedback, ideas, and engagement help guide our decisions and create positive change across the city. Throughout the year, we remain focused on being careful and responsible with taxpayer dollars,
adopting a restrained budget while maintaining a strong financial position. Looking ahead, 2026 is about continuing this progress together, continuing flood mitigation, advancing infrastructure and
parks, and delivering city services efficiently and responsibly. 2025 showed what steady work can accomplish. I look forward to a productive continuation in the year ahead. And congratulation, Council uh
Councilman Ken Rosenwig, on your election to president of the council. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Osatski. Uh, good evening everyone. Um, happy new year. Uh, we did some acknowledgements
earlier, but I'd like to acknowledge Horus Ragbear, president of the Ang Democratic Club for being here, and I'd like to thank uh, Pastor Given, and Rabbi Rakman for their benedictions. Uh we had an extremely productive uh 2025 uh passing an enormous number of uh
ordinances uh uh and which was uh we really got a lot done but I think 2026 is also going to be a very exciting year. Um we've already gotten a head start on it. The library renovation is well underway. I've seen some photos. you would not
recognize the library right now. And a lot of that um has been uh based on the work of uh my wife uh Stacy Rosenwick who got a a very significant grant and I'd like to thank uh state senator
uh Gordon Johnson for his help in in that as well. uh when you when you when we open it up again, you will not recognize a library and it's really going to improve the uh health literacy and quality of life of the residents of the city. But I think the most exciting thing for this year is
the continuation of the community center project. So in 2025, we hired a consultant to help us uh find the best spot for it. Um and perhaps not surprisingly, uh the Liberty School seems to be the only uh workable spot for it.
Um, we had a very productive public hearing on that just a few months ago and then the council in the final uh meeting of 2025 hired an architect uh for this project. So, you might think we're kind of in the
middle of the project right now, but I think we've really just stepped up to the starting line and this is where the real Burke begins. We're going to have to get a lot of input from the community. we can't have everything in uh in in any particular structure. So,
we're going to have to decide what's in and what's out. Then, that's going to be some very tough uh decisions to be made. Um I I don't think anyone's going to be 100% happy with it. But I think if we're all mostly happy, that's that's going to
be uh um a very productive outcome there. We need to keep the cost feasible. We can't bankrupt the city for this because then it won't be of any help at all. If we can't if if we have moon craters leading on the roads to the community center, we won't be able to
get there if we can't keep the roads good. Um and part of that we're going to be going to our state uh representatives for grant funding for this and that's going to have to be a major portion. We've heard from other towns who have gotten uh very significant funding to
help build their community centers. uh we we can't go to them yet until we have a plan. So So that's the stepwise we're taking here. But 2026 is going to be the year that we make the most progress in this. Uh so it's going to take all of us working together and um
it's going to be a tight rope and um to to get this done and if we take a step off uh we we might fail. So we really going to need to concentrate on getting to the finish line with it. Um, I'd also like to echo uh still plenty of work to be done on storm water management and I
might as well put the plug out right now in less than two months on uh Wednesday, March 4th, we're going to have a flooding uh seminar uh right here in this room at 7:30. Uh so I hope everyone can attend. Uh but this is a this is not
going to be a problem that we uh solve for all time. It's going to be an evolving problem and we're always going to have to be uh working on it to improve our storm water management in town. A lot of you have heard the joke I tell, you know, there's not a a switch
in city hall. Uh flooding, no flooding, and it's been on flooding by accident the past 20 years. If we had that switch, uh it would be that easy. But it's about a hundred small decisions uh that get made on impervious coverage
in any one particular property uh clearing the the gutters um etc etc. So we need to keep it's going to be something that we have to do diligence on uh pretty much forever. I think if you come back to this room in a hundred years that we'll still be talking about
it because the the climate's going in one direction here. So I'm hoping for a very productive year. I'd like to also echo all the uh the thank yous that were given to our wonderful city manager and the city manager's office uh John Burkner's here as well, the police
chief, the fire chief. Um um really appreciate you know there's obviously Sorry. Okay. Uh obviously this is a a job and you know we we do we do pay our employees but it's it's clear this is a
labor of love and and they put the extra effort into it and it's really uh have the heart the care and the heart of the city in mind with everything that they do and it it it is noticed it is appreciated and and thank you very much. Um so that concludes the uh remarks from
the mayor and city council. Uh so we'll go straight to the business of the city. Uh we have um a consent agenda here. This is for resolutions 001 through 049. We're going to skip number 50 for now.
Then 51 through 54 and we're going to skip 55 right now. So 1 through 49 and 51 through 54. Um, does anyone uh want to uh pull any of these um resolutions for discussion or
otherwise we could just do a a consent agenda vote? >> Yes. >> Yeah, please. Mr. >> President, >> I'd like to pull one. Uh 002 004
007 008 012 016 017 08 18, 01 19, 020, 021,
022, 023, 024, 025, 026, and 0. Okay.
All right. So, do I have a motion? Uh, do I have a motion to approve resolution 01, 003, 005 and 6, 9 through 11,
13- 15, 27-39, 41- 49, 51- 54. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. Roll call. >> Councilwoman David,
>> yes. Coun, >> uh, Councilman Toker, >> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Wasadski, >> yes. >> Council President Rosenw, >> yes. Okay. So, now we'll introd uh now I'll
ask for a motion to introduce resolution 002 and then we can discuss it. I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> So, any discussion on 002? >> Uh, yes.
Thank you, council president. Um, we're we're doing uh governance and bre best practices. Hold on one second, please. Okay. Um, council me. Okay. So when we have um
I apologize that should not have been pulled. Please forgive me. >> Can I have a roll call on 002? >> Councilwoman David. >> Yes. Councilman Toker. >> Yes. Councilman Wilson,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Wasadski, >> yes. >> Council President Rosens, >> yes. Thank you. >> Uh, can I have a motion uh for introduction of resolution 004? >> So move. >> Second.
>> And so any discussion on this uh resolution? >> If I may, council president. >> Uh, page four. >> Uh, 004 remote meeting public comment policy.
>> Right. Um number four B. City manager to follow up on o up over the course of the next few days. Speakers should be prepared to provide contact information in this case.
What do we do and how do we address alternative plan? I see no alternative plans here and unfortunately um I have many of my constituents saying that
one of us or city manager slash hasn't getting gotten back. So to move forward in 2026 to avoid this from our constituents, how do we provide them with timely information or how do
we capture that again? Um so thank you for bringing that up. So, um I'd be very happy to um to, you know, to consider any uh edits
to this uh public common policy. Um so, if if you want to get something back to the council about that, we can certainly uh discuss it and and review it. Um I would recommend uh so uh Mr. Laferty, if
we pass this today, can we edit it and pass a replacement resolution in the future that will take effect at that point? >> It can be amended by >> Okay. So, I So, I think that's a great idea to try to put some uh
>> I couldn't hear you, Mr. Could you speak in >> I'm sorry. Uh it can be amended by majority vote at a subsequent meeting. >> Okay. So, I I would uh support let's get this one passed and any uh edits you
want to make. Um we'll we'll you know uh happily present it to the council for you know for discussion and for adoption uh so we can put in the the guard rails that that you are hoping for here. >> Thank you. >> All right. Can I have a roll call on
004? >> Councilwoman David. >> Yes. under the conditions that um Councilwoman um Wilson um stated. Thank you. >> Councilman Tokayer, >> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Waski,
>> she's not here. I'm sorry. >> Council President Rosen. >> Yes. Thank you. Do I have >> Do I have a motion to introduce resolution 0007 on the temporary budget appropriations?
>> I make a motion. Council president >> second. So any discussion on this? >> Yes. Um I don't know who we get to explain this. Um, so if in fact that we look at the second page,
we have a uh capital improvement budget of $25,778,43829. And if we go on to the following pages 2 through six, it has uh I guess we can say abbreviation for city
manager purchasing human resources. And I would just like to agree. So the record's clear of SNW, would that be salary and wages? >> Yes. >> OE, would that be operating expenses? What
is that? >> Yes. >> And O slash T, would that be overtime? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, if I may, council president,
when when we do this temporary budget, and I know we're going to get into budget season, and I just kind of want to get ahead of it, um, in regards to um, some of the numbers here in regards to human resource operating expense at
$42,650. How how do we ascertain some of these numbers? Are we breaking it down from last year the projected operating expenses for the last two years? Because as I see some of them are are zeroed out
for data processing, community development. Um those those are zeroed out. And so my concern is how do we how do we calculate for example on page three and I could go through examples all night but I won't
for interest of time for roads at uh 33 thou excuse me 30,000 for overtime. >> Uh council president if you want ahead. Uh thank you. Um C members of the council, Councilman Wilson, this uh
temporary budget is 26% 26.25% of last year's the 2025 adopted budget. So that's um that's how that's how this is calculated. So this is 26.25% of last year's adopted budget. The state gave um
gave some relief. They said that for certain budget lines you can go up to 35% because of um because of additional expenses that usually occur in the beginning of the year. So your questions are valid for for when we get into the
2026 budget and the development of u the uh permanent budget. But again, this is this is the temporary budget and by statute it's 26.25% 25% of last year's adopted budget
>> and it's supposed to carry us through the first three months of the year. >> Okay, thank you for that. Um I had a scale um and some of these calculations have broke my scale um at 22 26.5%
and I I I get I get I guess I get a little lost when we go up to 35 and somewhere in between 26 and 35. So we have no way of knowing of what has actually gone up and what hasn't.
>> Well, we we do we do have a way of knowing. We can provide that to the council. But one of the some of the lines that have gone up that we've um we have taken the state up on the the offer for 35% whereas the is has to do with health insurance costs and a couple of other things.
>> Okay. And health department health insurance is the one that stands out to you. Is that correct? it. Yes, it should. >> Okay. Um and this would be considered to cover for the first quarter. >> Uh yes, the first three months of the
year. Yes. >> Okay. And and the reason why I asked because I see numbers for buildings and grounds at 190 and as as we're going into a different
budget season, I just like to capture some of these numbers. And obviously I'll have to go back um in regards to what was captured la last year and why certain things were zeroed out. Um
we have a uh abbreviation of Vincent K Tibs for that is zeroed out and I know they were here years ago. So, I would just like to see some of the things that have been utilized on a
sliding scale, if you will. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Can we have a roll call on the temporary budget? Councilwoman David, >> I would say yes under the recommendations of um Councilman um Wilson. Also consideration. >> Councilman took.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Wilson. >> Not sure if I got an answer about information that we that I'll get for a sliding scale. >> Is that possible? >> Yeah, the answer was yes. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Councilman Wasadski.
>> Yes. >> Council President Rosenway. Yes. >> Right. So, we'll have a motion to introduce resolution Excuse me. Do I have a motion to introduce resolution
008 approving the cash cash management plan of the city of Anglewood? >> I make a motion. >> I second. >> Any discussion? >> Any discussion on this uh resolution? >> Yes, council president. If we could be
directed to um page three of seven, number three A. This plan is intended to cover deposits, investments of the following funds, and accounts. I don't know if this is arbitrary um by
the things that are listed listed here, but it says um dog license trust fund, offduty police trust fund, DHS trust fund. Are those accurate?
>> Yeah. Uh yet yes they are. This um this cash management plan covers 17 different uh investment funds or accounts that the city has. Some of them are older accounts. So those are those are some of the names that you might you might have
um you know you might have remembered from the past but they they still have funds in them. So this um this this this plan covers those 17 accounts. >> Okay. And we also have a plan in regards
to authorized investments with school district funding. That would be on page five. Number four, bonds or other obligations of the local unit or bonds or other obligations of school districts.
Excuse me. Page five was number number five or number four. >> Number four. >> I'm on the wrong page. Okay. Roman room number eight. >> Yep. And I'm I'm sorry.
>> Number four. Bond bonds or other obligations of the local unit or bonds or other obligation of school districts of which the local unit is a part of within which the school district is located. So the the the qu the question has to do
with how can how can funds be invested if the school district has asked us to invest funds or also where do we after we collect um money for the school district where um where where can we put the funds until it it's needed by the
school district. >> That is correct. >> So so this is um this lists u the steps that the city is allowed to take. um to protect the to protect the money that's collected on behalf of the school district or in the in the event that the
school district asks the city to invest um invest funds, this this is the procedure we would follow. >> Okay. And and all these procedures would be for 12 months. >> Yes. This is a this is um a resolution
that's adopted annually by the by the governing body. >> Okay. And this would have no bearings on our surplus which was stated earlier about two years before its release. Is that correct?
Uh that's correct. >> Thank you, Council President. >> All right. Can I have a a roll call on 008? >> Councilwoman David? >> Yes. Councilman Tayer? >> Yes. Councilman Wilson,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Waski, >> yes. >> Council President Rosen's wife, >> yes. >> Do I have a motion to introduce 012? >> I make >> authorize developers escrow payments.
>> I make a motion, council president. >> So moved. >> Okay. Any comment? Yes, thank you. Uh, it's only one page. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Inglewood that the city manager
of the city of Ingwood is hereby authorized to execute developers agreement, including redevelopment agreements on behalf of the city of Inglewood. We have had numerous um developers come through our town, if you will. And my and my concern is and I
think uh the city manager and I have had this conversation on quality control. Um we have had individuals that have come through our town that have not given us the quality
of work that our residents in our town deserves. So, how do we amend that agreement in regards to redevelopment and obviously with the flooding and everything else
that we have to deal with cuz the escrow payments sometimes have been released, sometimes hasn't been released. Will this eliminate that? Uh can I ask please? >> Oh okay. Thank you. Um this particular
resolution is for um for um developments that have gone before the planning board or the zoning board. And so those are the it's the inspections, but it's it's also the work that's done by the professionals that serve those boards. So whether it's the um the attorney for
the planning board that has to do do reviews or the attorney for the zoning board as well as the um either the the engineers that serve both boards or the or the planners. So this is this is part of of the reconciliation of those escrow
accounts that the developers or um residents if they're putting an addition on uh have have to deposit with the engineers's office or with the city. Um, so this um this is more this is geared more
towards the um the small the smaller scale. I'm not I'm not sure it I don't it's if you're asking a question about commercial development then that would be uh that that would be different. No, I am not. I'm talking about smaller
scales um where either the plans were were drawn up wrong or read wrong or inspectors looked at it wrong and they approved and the building monstrosities continue. And me for one, I don't like
to see us try to recapture after the gate is open. You know, I have uh buildings in my ward that are residential right now that are teetering on different
>> specifications, if you will. >> Height levels. Yes. >> Height levels. Yes. >> I can't. >> Height levels. Yes. >> Yes. I drove by there today. >> So, that's part of the reason why I bring this up, you know, um and because
we're we're looking at affordable housing and things that to come. There are a lot of people uh that don't want it to come at all buildings, but if in fact that we do have to do it and it's mandated by the state, I would just like for us to be consistent
on what we do before escrow is given back. So, this is the screws and bolts that will hold that together. Uh yes, this this is actually the lock washer because the first the first review is by the engineer
and then uh then it it goes to the construction office and then it goes back to the engineer because um the both both departments are are involved before it comes to before it comes to finance and then to and then to me for sign off.
>> Okay. I ju I just want to be clear um because We're moving into de development season um housings and I would want us to be as accurate as possible as opposed to no developer
wants to tear tear down a second floor for a foot over. Um and if in fact do we implement a find if in fact they don't follow the guidelines because these developers are working at night. They're working on the weekends
and then by the time an inspector comes in on Monday, the deed is done. >> Well, that becomes a policy decision because perhaps we we need to have inspections at at different hours or maybe we have to have inspections six or seven days a
week. But yeah, that that that's that's unfortunate and that's and that's why I bring this up now because I think that's tied to this and I and I and I could be mistaken. I could be mistaken.
I just like to have some teeth in what we're presenting as we as we move forward. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council President. So, if we have a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman David, >> I have a question. Are we going to change the verbiage or anything or
>> Well, we're certainly, again, I I would recommend passing this tonight so we have a policy for the year and uh we we certainly can entertain any any changes by any council person going forward. >> Okay. Yes. >> And I would make a suggestion that the city manager make himself available to
every council member before the meetings so we can go through so that these things can be gone through. um before the meetings and everyone's answer questions could be answered. Personally, the city manager has made himself available to me to go through um
questions that I had on the agenda packet. So, please make yourself available to everybody on the council. Thank you. >> In response to that, I think that's a great idea. Um, unfortunately I've been waiting on a call back since Thursday.
So, some of the people on the council may have their answers answered by the proper people, but I have not. I have not given the opportunity and even if I had for these many things to be on the
agenda tonight, I think the public deserves to know what's on here and to be heard and to be spoken about as opposed to just voting on it. >> Thank you, Council President. Councilman took.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. I don't see when people leave. >> Uh, Councilman Wilson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Waski, >> yes. >> Council President Rosenw, >> yes.
So, do I have a motion to introduce 016, which is um regarding uh authority for approval of certain purchases through the New Jersey state contracts or purchasing
cooperatives? >> So, moved. >> Second. So, any discussion? >> Yes, council president. Now therefore be it resolved by the city council city of Ingua County Berg in the state of New Jersey as follow qualified
purchasing agent QPA upon receipt of identified need and direction from the city is hereby authorized to approve purchases under the bid threshold made under contracts and agreements through the New Jersey state contract andor slash purchasing
cooperative uh to which the city city of Ingwood is a member without further actions from from the council providing the funds are a available to cover excuse me the expenditures if in fact that we are purchasing
without bids of the amount of the threshold of 53,000. My problem is is that we have when we go through our budget there are duplications from
what whatever may have been purchased and I've been told in the past that these duplications have different definitions and so in order to be clear and transparent in this process here
I think that it should be spelled held out of what it's meant to do because when it comes back to us, we don't get a chance to vote because that's on the city manager and when we see it, it's already on the bills on the bills list.
So, I would just like to see that highlighted if in fact that that's possible. So, um, city manager. >> So, the um the city has a purchasing manual that we that we follow. So, our our our QPA,
anything that's over 53,000, we're supposed to go go out for >> a bid. >> A bid. >> Yes, sir. >> Um or a competitive contract. So, and then there's a process underneath that where we solicit quotes. Um but funds have to be available in that budget line
before we can before we can authorize any purchases. So, um this this basically rat ratifies the uh the procedures that we have in in our purchasing manual
that all of the departments have and that the um the governing body had received a copy of but it also talks about that um we belong to different purchasing cooperatives. >> That is correct. and the state health and the uh state state contract so that
the QPA the qualified purchasing agent can verify that um goods, services um and and certain products are are available on any of the 11 cooperatives that we belong to or the state contract.
And then um uh then then it can be moved forward through the um identifying that funds are available goes through the admin process with with uh requisitions and then purchase orders. >> Okay. All right. Roll call, please.
>> Councilwoman David, >> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. Councilwoman Wasadski. >> Yes. >> Council President Rosenwig. >> Yes. >> All right. Do I have a motion to introduce 017
uh granting authority for approval of certain purchases in excess of the bid threshold? >> So move. >> Second. >> So any questions or comments? >> Yes, Council President. I have a few and
I'll keep it limited. Um, as I stated earlier that things are in duplication and it's somewhat confusing. Um, if in fact we go to page two or
three, Eagle Point gun, it states that it's law enforcement, firearms equipment, and supplies. And then if you go down, and that was for that's for 531 2026. And if we go down to the next item
on the ledger, it says the same thing as opposed to T0106 law enforcement firearms equipment and supplies. And that is uh 331 of 27.
And I don't know if that is a typo for 2027. That will be on the second page. Second item down, East Coast Emer Lighting. The date is 3:31 2027.
>> Yeah, that would be that's under state contract. the state contract for that expires on March 31st of 2027. the um the Bergen. Uh
and then there's um there's there's a a different purchasing cooperative that um has this the same equipment on it that ex and that contract uh ends on
May 31st of 2026. And is that the same as we go down seven from the bottom? Um, radio communication and equipment and accessories. Motorro Solutions 83909. >> I don't know the answer. I don't know the answer to that question. So, I don't
want to make any anything up. >> All right, that's fine. And if if we go down to Motorola Solutions 23-fleet-33791 T0106 law enforcement firearm equipment expires 5312026.
Did we not replace their radios already? If this is for the police, >> we've we've replaced some radios um and for the police as well as the fire department. I'm not sure which um which
which list we're looking at, but we do have to we do have a rolling cycle for replacing u the handheld radios. That might that might be this. But no, I've highlighted I've highlighted both so we can get you the information
or get the council the in information. >> Thank you, council president. All right. Can we have a roll call on 17? >> Sorry. >> That's okay. No, it's my fault. >> Sorry. Uh, Councilwoman David. >> Yes. With Councilman um Wilson's
recommendations. Councilman Wilson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Wasadski, >> yes. >> Council President Rosenw, >> yes. >> Um, can I have a motion on uh resolution 18 authorizing auction of junked and/or
abandoned vehicles? >> I make a motion. Council President, >> I second. So, any discussion? >> Yes, sir. The city of Ingwood comes into possession of junk vehicles andor slash vehic abandoned vehicles by a reason of
failure of their owner to claim same. Got a couple questions. How do we come into possession? Is that by towing? Uh Mr. City Manager. >> Uh sometimes that is and sometimes there's just abandoned vehicles that are
left on the street. >> Okay. Okay. And then some other times with with junked vehicles, um, our city vehicles are in car accidents as recently happened. >> Okay. Um, and at that point where we think they're abandoned or it appears
that they're abandoned, excuse me, do we we notify the car owner or the registered owner of the plate if in fact there is a plate? >> Well, yes. attempts are made to register to notify the last known
owner. >> And when these go up to for auction, the proceeds, if in fact not over $5,000, that goes to the said garage or slash
tow personnel. Many times it many times it does. Um that's to pay for um their their storage fees and other um other costs.
>> And so what happens in the event on section 8, all bids received in excess of $5,000 should be subject to approval by the city council of the city of Ingwood. Well, if if we were able to
receive more than $5,000 for the uh for the junct vehicle, then then there would be a resolution that would be on the agenda >> for for example, if in fact it was $7,000 the 2 $2,000 difference
and would that funding go to a general fund? No, it would go to um it would be taken into the budget as MNA as miscellaneous revenue not anticipated. >> Okay. And um
do when we store our police vehicles or our vehicles, city vehicles, do we get charged a fee? I don't know the answer to that question. I don't believe we do, but we'll find out
>> because I I've seen a SUV, police vehicle on a flatbed for over 3 months. And my concern is why don't we put these cars in our DPW lot or some other lot as opposed to
being on a tow truck for over three months? Okay. >> Thank you, Council President. >> All right. So, can I have a roll call on 18? >> Councilwoman David. >> Yes. With Council um and Wilson's
recommendations also. Let's get back to him. Thank you, >> Councilman Wilson. Yes. Hopefully with some type of edit. >> Councilwoman Wasatski. >> Yes. >> Council President Rosenwipe.
>> Yes. Um, so, uh, do I have a motion to introduce resolution 19, authorize certifications of project completions? >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Okay. >> So, any discussion from the council?
>> I'm going to tie this in with the previous one in regards to um inspections from engineer. Uh I I think we've already approached that situation. So, thank you, Council President. >> Any other uh comments or questions about
this? >> Okay. Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman David, >> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Wasadski, >> yes. >> Council President Rosenw,
>> yes. Thank you. Um, do I have a motion to introduce resolution 20? Authorize appeal of certain tax assessments. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Any any discussion or questions about this?
>> Yes, sir. City solicitor has requested authority to appeal certain assessments contained on the 2026 tax list. And my question is, uh, council president, has there been a problem in the future
that we need this type of resolution, um, for files and pleads and appeals? >> Um, I'll defer to Mr. Laferty. And if so, I I gladly applaud this uh resolution. >> So, typically a property owner appeals
the assessment and the city is the defendant. There are some cases where the city feels that the assessment is too low and as part of litigation
strategy which is to appeal the assessment to challenge the property owners um litigation or appeal. So, it does it does come up from time to time, not very frequently, but the city does
uh cross appeal or counter appeal um assessments, and that's that's what this I believe relates to. And and thank you for that. And the reason why I ask is because as everyone knows, we're being mandated with reassessments.
And so not really sure how heavily this will play into people that are being reassessed with their taxes um not being satisfied with the reassessment amount and how we are looking financially into battling all
these assessments because I can only imagine that they would go up. >> I believe the the reassessment is being moved to next year 2027. Um, that is usually the year with the highest number
of tax appeals, the first year of a of a reassessment. >> Okay. All right. And and that's why I brought it up. So, thank you, Council President. >> Um, roll call, please. >> Councilwoman David, >> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes.
>> Councilwoman Wasadski, >> yes. >> Council President Rosenwide, >> yes. Uh so now we'll move um to if I can get a motion to introduce resolution 021
authorize application for D and that stands for department of environmental protection uh permits. Do I have a motion? >> Second. Okay. Any discussion? >> Thank you, Council President. Um the sanitary sewer extensions or streams
encroaching permits to accompanied by a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign the necessary application forms. Does this have anything to do with um
drainage from residential properties? Mr. City Manager. Well, this is sanitary sewer uh system. So, this is the this is gray this is gray water. It's not the storm water. Um >> thank you, Council President.
>> All right. Have a roll call, please. >> Councilwoman David, >> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Wasadski, >> yes. >> Council President Roses, >> yes. resolution. >> Um, so I'll ask for a motion for
resolution 22 authorizing Bergen County Law Enforcement Mutual aid. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Any questions? >> Yes, Council President. Whereas law enforcement officials also have responsibilities to provide preparedness
against natural emergencies such as flood, hurricanes, earthquakes, major storms, etc. Man may cause civil unrest and civil disobedience such as riot uh strikes, jail or present riots, train wrecks, aircraft crashes, major fires,
ethnic disorder, riots, terrorists, incidents and bombing, states and national emergency. My question is, because this comes from the county as a trusted police department, do they
have a say in these procedures on how they come into our town for mutual aid? uh because in the past, I don't know if they're all ethnic disorders, but this is on the list and
civil unrest and we've approached this last year and the year before on how mutual aid comes into our town with long guns, with mental issues. So, do we get a say? Does our chief,
does our police, do does our city manager, does our council get a say on how in fact mutual aid comes into our town? >> I'd like to appoint. >> Thank you. We set policy. Law
enforcement are the experts. um the military and other um regional um law enforcement would also be engaged and their expertise would have to trump uh anything that we would say. um the
sensitivity of weapons being displaced, the kind of weapons uh that is what a chief does and the chief also has as much control as they have when a superseding legal authority as I think the attorney might confirm comes into
our territory uh with weapons and with machinery that they would need to quell a riot or other uh concerns. Um, I don't think it's appropriate that we set any policy other than that they should be judicious and go through federal, state,
and uh, protocols that no doubt covered this. Uh, we, you know, there were issues that we had, Councilman Wilson, some years back with some of the surplus materials that were being acquired. I can't see you. I'm sorry. >> No, it's the microphone. um that there
were some surplus materials that were being secured that may have looked >> um more military than civil in nature. Um those sensitivities are are understood. Uh but the truth is that th
this has not just been litigated but this has been uh mitigated and set forth by authorities. Um, I wouldn't want to uh I wouldn't want to touch this matter uh because it's not something that our
uh that the charter gives us the authority to opine on. And thank you for elaborating on that. But the experts that we speak about, we have a police shooting here from one
of our experts of a resident of in our town. These experts that you speak about have solutions on how they should come into our town.
I totally disagree with that because if in fact that it was understood on how they enter our town, our borders, we would never come up with the phrase um arrive together. We we wouldn't need
that if these experts understood mental health issues. We we wouldn't need that. And so what I'm asking here today is whether or not that when you come into this this
verbiage, when you go down the list about civil unrest and civil disobedience and ethnic disorder, which is racially biased, how tentify, how tene, how additional t and I'm not saying they'll come in here
intentionally like that, but I'm saying do we get an opportunity to speak to our chief to have paran parameters >> because we've we we've had these issues already and we just had some people in here last year with long guns for a
mental issue with a gentleman on a on a on a roof with a knife or a pair of scissors and they had long guns. So that's a a huge concern of mine when you tell me about experts and understanding and you don't want to
opine about how people come into our town. No, I'm not saying I I have an opinion. >> I just want to be I just want to be clear on this. >> No, I appreciate your opinion and I also have opinions on this, but I also >> and and I respect that >> and I and I defer to a regional authority to the Bergen County
prosecutor who's got the greater law enforcement authority in the county um who has 70 mayors and city chiefs and so forth that they have to contend with. Um, and the question is, does our police chief, are they trumped by a higher
authority also? And by setting protocol, can a chief then go to an FBI agent who's a federal authority or state official and say that they're in violation of a city policy or ordinance. In other words, I I don't there's the
the notion of preeemption. And the preeemption doctrine prevents us from opine. Well, we can opine. It's a wrong comment. We should each have our own particular opinion and I think we should be sensitive for a lot of reasons. But when it comes to actually the execution
of this, I think that that's governed by state and federal law. >> If I can >> I'm not sure if I agree. Um, I could sit up here and list an incident in regards to mutual aid where that mutual aid city
>> was banned from Inglewood. >> Yeah. >> So, we do have the authority to set rules and regulations in regards to mutual aid. Now, if this is just one complete package,
I get it. We have no options. We take the package as it's listed to us. >> We want to be protected >> and and we accept the consequences. >> Excuse me. The city manager just wanted to uh >> um thank you. This is a similar discussion to what we had two two years
ago. >> That is correct. And um one of the things they came out of that is um for uh for mutual aid or for when the rapid deployment force comes in uh they're they're under state authority but it's the local incident commander which would
be one of our police officers or um superior officers that would be able to make the calls. So >> that's the part I wanted to hear but I didn't see in here. >> So that's that's that's in the the police department um policies and procedures. that's not not in this
resolution, but um whoever the on-site incident commander is can um can make specific requests. So, they can either request um that it be arrived together. They can request that um uh officers
just just go in with their um with their regular uh uniforms on with their vest vests and body cameras. or they can request if need be that um longer long guns or or you know or something else be brought in. But that would be the
incident that would be the on-site commander that does that. I don't I don't know if it's just me, council president, but um the city manager just stated a couple of things that arrived together
uh on site supervisor is nowhere to be seen in this resolution for mutual aid. And >> I don't know. I don't want to see that trump what those two policies that we
already have in place be superseded because someone that may not be on the council today and a situation happens four years from now, they refer to this and this is their playbook. >> Well, this is this is just part of the
the um the procedures for mutual aid, but it's not it's not the the internal procedures that that are followed by the police department. I I I I to I totally understand. Um
we have been involved with mutual aids before that have went wrong and that's all I'm stating to possibly put some guide some some some guidelines some some rails if you will so this thing doesn't go off track because we
only get one shot at this thing. You know, you you can't bring somebody back if they come in with long guns and something happens. It's a done deal. This is the opportunity we have to get this thing right. >> Miss David. >> Um yes, I would like to see some
verbiage changing here because I think um ethnic disorders is very racist. Um, I would like to see other policies um in other neighboring towns how they would use the verbiage because it says ethnics disorders often referred to as the culturebound syndromes are psychological
or behavioral conditions that are specific to particular cultural or ethnics groups. I don't know where that came from. So I think the verbiage to change I mean I would like a mutual aid here but I think the verbiage is way off. >> Excuse me. Sorry.
>> Okay. I want to thank everyone for their comments. Um, you know, so my understanding and we've had this discussion uh for many years now. Um, you know, this is, you know, obviously with the sense of mutual aid.
So what this is for is if there's a fire in town um that our you know fire department needs help in controlling other towns will come to our aid. If
another town has a fire that they need help in controlling we will come to their aid. That's mutual aid obviously. Uh this is you know how we you know it's obviously signing on with multiple municipalities. Um so just like
you know if you if you sign on on a cooperative agreement or or you know we can't unilaterally change the language. Um, so I would recommend and it's the same recommendation I made last year is
um start now in talking to our counterparts across the county. Speak to our commissioners, speak to the uh head of the county. It it might be too late for 2027 already. This type of process
might take more than a year to happen. So might it might take multiple years for some of these agreements to get changed if you if you don't like the um the verbiage and and I definitely agree with with the concerns brought up tonight but you know so I'd recommend um
these some great ideas brought up tonight that the people move forward. Um it's it's going to be a lot of work but but all all improvements take a lot of work. Uh maybe we can get this done by by next year. My guess would be 28 or so
just with the number of municipalities involved in this. Um, but tonight we have to vote on whether we want people to come help save the lives of our citizens. So, I'm going to call a roll call on this resolution. >> Councilwoman David,
>> I'm going to abstain until they change the verbiage and I see others because um I do believe in mutual aid, but the verbiage should change because I think that's insulting. Councilman Wilson, >> just a point of order. Council
President, thank you for uh noticing the verbiage and the situation, but you said fire, mutual aid for fire. This one covers police and this is that's totally totally different in regards to fire and police
and and I get mutual aid. I've been a civil servant for almost 30 years. So, I get it. When you need help, they got to come. So, I'm going to stayain until we get some >> No, I'm going to say no until we get verbiage change.
>> Councilwoman Waski. >> Um, so I'm going to vote yes because I was elected. It's my responsibility to protect the residents that I represent in the city of Anglewood. I know that um it was just about two years ago that we
we had to call in mutual aid in police into our town. How many how many um how many police departments do we have here? >> I don't remember. We had a total of 150 officers that assisted. >> We had 150 officers that assisted. So,
I'm I'm going to vote yes because um I need to make sure my residents are protected. Council President Rosenwag. >> Um I vote yes and uh to the mayor for a tiebreak.
>> Well, I don't know if there's two yes and two abstain. >> It's time. >> The verb has to change. This is crazy. >> It's racist. I have the uh I have the privilege of having served 10 years as an auxiliary police officer with the
NYPD, a federal prosecutor at the US attorney in Brooklyn, and I am a very seasoned 35-y year veteran EMT, and I appreciate the notion of mutual aid, and it means that we have to come
to the aid of our neighbors, and they have to come to our aid. I also appreciate the kindness that Councilwoman Wilson uh is exhibiting when it comes to uh this concern and the effect
uh that Councilwoman David has on the language. Um but with that said, I break it with a yes. Uh because we have an obligation to our sister communities to protect them and they us. Um if you would like me to join you in tow and
have these conversations with the Bergen County prosecutor and the other law enforcement officials um and commissioners and so forth, I'm happy and honored to do so. But in the interim, we have to keep our residents safe. >> I have a quick question. What if it was
on the other foot and he had some stuff in here that would maybe be um racist to you or anything? Wouldn't you feel a certain way and say, "Hey, I want to vote with it, but take the garbage out or something." I'm just asking that question and I think it's a polite
question. We're melting pot here in Englewood and I just think this is so racist. Um, ethnic disorders. >> Okay. So, we're going to move on to resolution 23. Authorize application for municipal tonnage recycling grant.
Do I have a motion to introduce? >> I second it. Uh any discussion? >> Uh yes, council president. Mandatory source of separation and recycling. This has um for the tonnage and my question is to the city manager. Does
this have anything to do with clean recyclable or non clean recyclable to our residents? >> Um, so the the the question has to do with clean recycling. Was that the question? Yeah, because we're we're doing tonnage and oftent times um we get
mixed recycling um in our recycle bins and we're charged for non clean recyclables. Is that correct? >> That is correct. Yes. So, we have to reject it. So, people will put pizza boxes in in their recycling containers
and um we can't we um some some of the some of the the material that's around those pizza boxes has to be rejected. >> Okay. And and we they can find that on our website. City man, Mr. City Manager,
>> I believe so, but we'll I haven't I haven't looked for it recently. recycle. >> Just a point of >> We can't throw our pizza boxes in the blue recyclable bins. >> No, because they have uh and they have
oil stains on them which makes them not recyclable. So, you should throw your pizza boxes in the garbage >> or buy dry pizza. >> But where's the taste in that? So, um Okay. Yeah. So, pizza boxes in the
garbage. are the cardboard and >> what's the world coming to? >> You know, in our in our calendar that's sent out, we have the dos and don'ts for recycling and that um that goes to all households. >> All right. Um roll call on 23, please. >> Councilwoman David,
>> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. >> And Council President Rosenwag, >> yes. Thank you. All right. All right. So, we'll now move on to uh resolution 24.
Appoint public agency compliance officer. >> Do I have a motion to introduce? >> I make a motion, council president. >> I second it. >> Okay. Any any questions on it? >> Yes, sir. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of
Ingred, Bergen County, New Jersey, do hereby appoint Robert S. Hoffman as public agency compliance officer for the city of Ingwood for a one-year term commencing January 1, 2026, terminating December 31st, 2026.
Um, not to be insulting, is that not part of your duties already, Mr. City Manager? >> It is, but it's a >> uh It is, but it's a state requirement that there's a resolution that passed.
Okay. And my second and final question is that at an additional cost to the city? >> No. >> Thank you, Council President. >> All right. Roll call, please.
>> Councilwoman David, >> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. >> Council President Rosenwag. >> Yes. Um, so now move to resolution 25. appoint Anglewood Police Department custodian of records for police records.
Do I have a motion to introduce? >> So moved. >> I second it. Uh any discussion? >> If I may, council president. >> Yeah, please. >> Thank you. Uh if we if we jump down to uh whereas it has been determined that
in the best interest of the city, custodian of record should be appointed for the Ingual Police Department. And no disrespect to the clerk or anyone else.
Um, and I know we're in the Oprah world today and opas are just flying off the handle. Um, it's only one way to say this. Are they are they trained? Are we
training them to to for the guidelines of Oprah in a timely fashion and complete Oprah reports because this is this is a new entity for them because the clerk's office is a
super person and they do everything. So I know it's difficult to duplicate and it's the beginning of the process. Um but people were lerary about police policing themselves and that comes with opal records that may involve
police activity. >> Thank you. >> So even when uh the clerk's office was handling the requests for police records uh the police department did their own they handled all the work on their own. I am not an officer of the court, so I'm
not privy to the information inside those records, domestic violence, etc. Um, and they work handinhand with our attorney on a lot of complicated issues. A lot of the requests that go to the police department are very complicated. Um, it just actually streamlined a
little bit faster for them to handle it instead of going back and forth with us. >> Okay. Because we have seven days. >> Yeah. and and yeah, I know the guidelines are seven business days, but again, the records that are requested from them are so complicated. They're allowed to request extensions and they
do. >> Okay. Thank you. I didn't I didn't know that. You made it look seamless. >> So, thank you for that. >> No problem. >> Thank you, Council President. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Uh, Councilwoman Councilwoman David.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Wilson. Yes. >> Uh, Councilwoman Wasatski. This is Okay. >> And Council President Rosenwag. >> Yes. >> Okay. We'll move on to um resolution 26,
appointment of city solicitor. Do I have a motion to uh introduce? >> I make a motion. Council President, >> I second it. Any comment? >> If I may. Um, and it may be just me or my copy. There seems to be a discrepancy.
Um, if we look at the first page and we jump down to now therefore be it resolved the city council of the city of Ingred Bergen County, state of New Jersey that a professional service contract is hereby awarded to William J. Bailey Esquire to provide professional
legal service for annual retainer fee of $135,000 per year for general matters. And if in fact that we turn the page, it says Huntington Bailing LLP
um possesses and provide services to the city solicitor for the city of Ingwood in 2026 for annual retainer of 1 thou $142,500. So there's a $7500 discrepancy. Which am
I to believe? The 135 or the 142500? the the correct number is the 1425. Um, so that uh in and as in the letter dated December 22nd, 2025. >> Thank you for catching. >> My pleasure. M
>> So is that a typo we can fix? Yeah. Okay, great. All right, I have a roll call. >> Councilwoman David. Yes. >> Councilman Wilson. >> Yes. >> Council >> Rylanding corrections obviously.
>> Councilwoman Waski. >> Yes. >> Council President Rosenway. >> Yes. Okay. Now we'll move on to resolution 40. um resolution of the city of Anglewood um appointing Triad Associates
as affordable housing administrative agent. Triad Associates. >> Uh do I have a motion to introduce? >> I make a motion. Council President. >> I second. >> Okay. Any any discussion?
>> Just brief for those that are in attendance and those for the listening. Can we give a explanation on resolution of the city of Ingwood County, Bergen State, New Jersey, appointing Triad Associates affordable housing administration agent? People don't
actually know what that is and we're in the affordable housing realm, if you will. >> So, city manager, >> uh, thank you, council president. Yes, this is a an annual contract with this
firm that will um manage the uh the lists if you will for afford for affordable housing. So when residents wish to sign up for affordable housing rental, uh they would uh try Triad would
do the verification of income and all of the requirements that um that are imposed by the affordable housing statutes and they would maintain that list and then they would they would also update it. Um the list is valid for several years and they would update it
uh as um as units become available to make sure that the that the uh the people that are on the list are still um still qualify for the for the rentals. And so just to be totally transparent, um
I have gotten several calls in regards to uh Rock Creek, King Gardens, Park View on individuals who declare that they've been on the list 30 years, 13 years, eight years,
and that they have been skipped over. So, would I be proper into guiding my constituents to contact uh Triad Associates? >> I don't believe so. the um Rock Creek.
Um I don't believe that's that's at the moment that that's part of our um of the of the units that that are on the affordable under the affordable housing um guidelines that that Triad is is
following. I believe that that's that predates the affordable housing. But >> could you >> we can double check. Could you offhand give me the the ones that triads are associated with? >> No, not offhand because we don't have we
don't have units that have been built yet around three and four, but I can contact them. We do because last year I did check I did verify and they they do have a valid and an active list.
So in regards to affordable housing, people checking um on who's on the list. >> Did we have such affordable housing um representation prior to this >> already built? >> I don't believe we did. I believe it
went through previously it had gone through the um Inglewood Housing Authority, but >> yeah, this uh as as uh our our clerk just reminded me, this was part of our round three obligation. >> Yes, sir. >> So,
>> that's why I asked for explanation uh because people are thinking that it means other things. >> Thank you, uh, council president. Thank you, city manager. >> All right, so roll call, please. >> Councilwoman David,
>> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. Councilwoman Wasatski. >> Yes. >> Council President Rosenway. >> Yes. So, I'll now ask for a motion to table
um resolutions 50 and 55. Um >> I make a motion. >> I second. Uh there's no discussion on tableabling, so roll call, please. >> Councilwoman David, >> yes. >> Councilman Wilson, >> yes. Councilwoman Waski.
>> Yes. >> Council President Roseno. >> Yes. All right. Thank you. Um so now we move on to the public session. So as you know we're having actually council president if you don't mind. Um
I'd like to just make a formal appointment. The the board of uh the environmental commission is going to convene before our next meeting. And since it's a unilateral appointment, is it okay if I just state it for the record this evening? Uh they want to have her sworn in.
>> Just replacing >> just make the announcement then. >> Thank you. Sorry to interrupt. Um we're going to be replacing Mary Trudale Jenkins. Um who was appointed as an alternate uh June Greg will be moved up to a full commissioner. Uh and then
we're going to have Andrea Carter uh take thestead. Um all these details will be sent to you. Um, I'll hand it to you after the meeting, Yansy, with the young lady's phone number and email and so forth. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for the announcement. So, um,
so again, there are two meetings tonight. So, this is we're getting to the conclusion of the first meeting. We're going to have a public session now. Um, and you can speak at this meeting, the next meeting, both or neither. So, uh, with that, uh, please
step to the mic and state your municipality and state. Name, municipality and state. >> Amy Bulock, Bergen County, NAACP, First Vice President, Political Action Chair. I have some serious concerns regarding
this term ethnic disorders in health care. It typically refers to conditions that are prevalent in certain populations such as cickle cell in the black African-American community or tayachs in the Ashkanazi community. I
took a quick glance at the statutes indicated in this ordinance. Nowhere in those statutes over a quick review did I see the term ethnic disorders. So, since this um came from the Bergen County Police Chief's Association,
since they've proposed this mutual aid plan and rapid response uh deployment, Mr. Hoffman, can you please get for me what they submitted to the city and I will follow up with them regarding this
term ethnic disorders. It's extremely concerning. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Good evening. Happy new year. Uh congratulations um city council president and prom. Uh thank you for
making it a little more educational Mr. Wilson. Um I happen to agree with um Amy Bullock that that they should have been rewritten. I understand why you were passed it but I still don't
understand the word ethnic disorder. And I happen to agree M with Mrs. David as well. I think the the wording and knowing exactly who is in control should be on on the document whether it's our supervisor, whether it's the chief, but it should be there who is in
control because as it is worded in the format that it is currently, it's anybody could be in control. It's going to be a hit and a miss if we have a catastrophe here in Englewood. All right. Thank you. Um I happen to be a little bit late, sir. Um I I don't
know who you are. >> You can answer. Yeah. >> I'm covering the meeting for my partner, Bill Bailey. >> I understand the name, please. >> David Laferty. >> Thank you. >> Democrat. >> Democrat.
>> All right. So, I'll close the public session for this meeting. And now, uh thank you, uh Pastor Given. Um if you'd come up and give a closing benediction for the reorganization meeting. All right,
if everyone can stand, please. [Music] Good evening my beloved and to all and happy new year unto all. >> Happy new year >> to you and your family as well.
Let us pray. Our father and our God for once again oh God you have done it again. You have blessed us beyond our imagination. You have blessed us, oh God, through
another year. And then, oh God, you have blessed us to enter into another year. And we pause now this hour of this evening of this day to say, "Thank you, God. Thank you,
God, for this day that you have blessed us with. Thank you, oh God, as we you've blessed us to move into a new year. And then, oh God, as we close this session
of this legislation body, oh God, for this great city, we want to say thank you, God, for this body. Thank you, oh God, for their commitment. Thank you, oh God, for their talent.
And then, oh God, we ask you to bless each and every one of them. Not only them, oh God, but their family as well. Bless this mayor and his administration.
Bless the city management and his administration. Bless, oh God, this city council, this legislative body. bless them in a mighty way. And father, oh God, we thank you
for this new president on this reorganization meeting going into a new year. Father, we understand that we will have trials and
tribulation. We understand, oh God, that there are some challenging days ahead. But help them, oh God, this entire administration and this city to understand that even in
the midst of our challenges, there is better days ahead. And we want to say thank you God. Help us. Help us, oh God, to be able to go
through it. We pray oh God for this council that they may be able oh God to administrate and to make decision for this community. Help them to understand oh God that all
of their action has a direct reflection oh God on your people. Oh father in the name of Jesus bless each and every one of them. Help them, oh God, to be able to sit down and
discuss. Help them to understand that let love roll down like a mighty stream. Help them to understand, oh God, that each has their own ability. Help them to understand, oh God, that
they will be able to come together and make and legislate, oh God, for the betterment of this community. Help them to understand, oh God, that is not about them,
is about your people. Bless each and every one of them. Help them, oh God, to carry out their Godg gifted ability for the betterment of this community.
Help them, oh God, to be able to not forget our young folks. And they talk tonight, oh God, about our community center. Oh father, we hope that it it's been a while, oh God,
but whatever the differences may be that they may be able to come together to come together, oh God, for the betterment of this community. Help them to understand,
be with them and their family as well. Oh God, that one day, one day that we can come together in unity and peace for the betterment of your people, oh God,
in the name of Jesus. Help them, oh God, to serve to serve a God because we serve a God, a renewed God. And as we go into this new year, go into this new year with a
new name written, new ideas, new thoughts, and to take you, oh God, at the beginning of their discussion. Be with them. Help them to to serve us
with joy even in the midst when they are weary. Help them, oh God, to lead with encouragement even when their ways are uncertain.
Give them the knowledge and the wisdom of Solomon to protect their people. be with them and guide them and help them, oh God, to understand that they are elected is not by power,
but to be a servant to your people. And as we close tonight, be with us. Be with them, oh God, in their coming and in their going. Be with them, oh God, in their leisure. Be with
them in their uprising and their dong setting. Be with them when their thoughts and sleepless nights. Help them, oh God, to be able to carry out the assignment that you have given to
them. And they will you bless them in their mother's womb. This our prayer tonight for this administration and this council and this community. help us in our challenging days ahead and that
we go into 2026 with a new mind and a new vision that our better days ahead of us because you are God. Praise be unto God. Go in peace.
>> Thank you very much for that beautiful closing benediction. Um so do I have a motion to adjurnn? I make a motion that we adjourn. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. So, we're going to take a fivem minute break and then we're going to go
into uh the regular council meeting which is a very important meeting uh regarding uh Denning Park. So, I hope everyone can stay for that. So, we'll reconvene in five minutes. Thank you.