and everything. >> Let's start the meeting. >> Let's call this meeting to the order at 7:02 p.m. start salute the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Please join me in a moment of silent reflection. Thank you. Sunshine Law Notice. In accordance with the provisions of the Open Public
Meetings Act, public meetings may be held in person or by means of communication equipment to include streaming services and other online meeting platforms. This meeting is being held in person and through the Zoom meeting platform being broadcast from Burough Hall, 748 River Road, Fair Haven, New Jersey. Public participation
for this regular council meeting of February 11th, 2026 is available by call and phone number or through web conference Zoom. Members of the public will be on mute until this time for questions or comments which will be announced. At that time, the public has the opportunity to question or comment by phone or through Zoom by the raise
hand button and will be called on at the appropriate time. Notice of this meeting was included in a schedule of meetings which was adopted by resolution number 2026-13 and sent to the Asbury Park Press and the two river times on January 12, 2026 posted on the burough website to
vulnerable building and has remained continuously posted as required in the statute. If adequate notice having been given the bur clerk is directed to include the statement and the minutes of this meeting. Allison may please have a roll call. >> Council members Paul here. >> Griffin
>> present. H >> here. >> Here. Olen >> here. >> We have administrator York, Attorney Soil, special counsel Olsen is on Zoom. Um CFO Britain and Junior Fodella, DP director,
parks director for Breenidge, and the chief staff. >> Thank you, Alison. Uh I'm actually move up the workshop session. We'll start with that. Since we see Keith is here, I assume he's ready to roll. Um he's going to come talk to us about you can stand
stand up front. Uh he's going to talk about uh a proposed project at the Harding Bird Sanctuary. Wants to install some uh birdhouses as part of his Eagles batous I'm sorry batouses uh as part of
his Eagle Scout project. And uh I think you all have information in your packets as well. I hope that you've reviewed it. Sounds like a really fantastic project. Uh Keith, why don't you take us through it real quick? >> Yeah, so I am planning to build four
chambered bat boxes to put along the ridge/hearting road side of the Harding Bird Sanctuary. Um they will be up on wooden posts um out of the way. They will be painted green to fit in with the forest um and spread out roughly 150 to
200 feet in between. Um they will each box habitats around 100 bats. So a total habitat for 400 bats. Um inspired by the boxes already in place from a former scout at Fairman
Fields. Um so I thought it would be a good idea to give the bats more options um as they like to move around. Uh the templates will be based off of templates provided by the US Forest Service um
with the specifications that the Harding Sanctuary Committee gave me. Um which were roughly no bigger than two by two feet. Um and they have to be on wooden poles. Uh as for labor, I will organize
volunteers to help me carry it out. and budgeting and costs. It will cost nothing to the town. I will fund raise everything specifically and do all the work myself. So, I should need no assistance from the town other than an approval from you guys and an approval
from the Harding Committee on exactly like the sites they want them. Um timeline I would like to start it the middle of March so that hopefully when the ground starts thawing out in April I can get them installed mid April late
April as is needed and yeah that's pretty much it. If there's any questions I can sure >> can you tell us a little >> can you tell us a little bit about the role of the fats in the bird sanctuary? Yeah. So, bats in our community are very
helpful for eating pests um and just keeping unwanted things out of the way. Um they eat mosquitoes, which is the main reason everyone loves them. Um cuz I don't think anyone here particularly likes mosquitoes. Um so that's a great reason that they're useful. They also
are good pollinators. So for our gardens, and I know recently in the Harding Sanctuary, they put in a garden, so they would be a good pollinator of that. Um, and just overall they're a big member of our ecosystem. So to help give them another home is a in my opinion a
helpful house. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Um, I have a question on installation. >> Yes. >> So you said the houses will be constructed on wooden poles. >> Yes. >> How are you going to put the poles in the ground? Do you use concrete? Do you how how do you do that? We have the hole
hole digger that you use for fences when you install fences. >> And it will be just be sim similar to a like installing a fence in your yard. Um whether concrete or dirt, I'm not exactly sure yet from the rough outline, but I can definitely look into that.
>> Okay, thank you. >> What else? Good. Uh my only thing just uh if you get to a point where you're considering signage, there now is a standard uh for Eagle Scout signage. just connect with uh the bur administrator. You know, you can email
us and he'll he'll explain uh what it looks like and what information you need. >> Yeah, I have a I have a sample. I can tell you what information to provide for it. Okay, >> this is great. >> Thank you for doing the chat. Is it have a motion to approve? >> Second.
>> I I think I can just go with all in favor. >> You're all set. And then at a later date or tonight if possible, I will need information for a representative to keep in touch with um I can also be someone
on the hing committee if that is going to be >> stay in touch. >> Okay. I will email you. >> Yes. >> At some date and get your information from >> Great. >> Congratulations. Good job. >> Thank you. Good luck. All >> right. Next up, we have a public hearing
on the 2026 NJDP Green Acres Grant application for waterfront improvements at 21 Fair Haven Road. >> All right. >> Engineer or Dela is handing out looks like
>> blueprint blueprint concept plan. I'll give a little background on it. Um >> just before Rich begins his presentation, I'll give a little background on the grant and then he can talk about the concept plan and then um we can discuss financials. Uh on top of that, the uh grant from Green Acres is a
uh 7 is a 75% match for 25%. Um right now we're looking at a project that would be uh 1.275 million. um that would require a match um for us for $956,250
um to be awarded a $318,000 $750 match. >> Um currently we have in that account available um with all of our funds including brand awards that we have that we're able to use towards the match, we have $974,2525.
So we have the match and funds available. So the match um defining the match funds would not um incur any debt to the burrow itself. It' be using funds that were already available. So Rich is going to talk a little concept plan um and any questions you guys have on top
of that. Good evening. Uh just to add to what administrator York had mentioned, we are in the process of putting together an application for park development through the Green Acres program. The
deadline for the grant is Feb 27th. And as part of the process, we need to do a series of public outreach um community engagement. And we had a community engagement here in this meeting room a few weeks ago
where we had a um broadcasted out and invited folks to come in and have informal discussions on what they would like to see in the park. um different amenities, you know, site
improvements, etc. And we talked about the shoreline, we talked about the parcel itself, the location, the neighboring properties, all that stuff. >> Just one thing to add to um you know, we had all our professionals there. Councilman Cole moderated it, Mayor Halton was there as well. And uh we had
the open house from 2 to 4. We had actually a pretty large attendance here in this room. Um you know, considering it's midday and where most people work. um we had a good contingent of the uh you know stakeholders involved in the community show up and they asked some really good questions and provide some great feedback uh for the process. So in
my opinion I would say council would say the same. It was pretty successful. >> I agree it was >> so off of that community engagement community meeting the second round is a public hearing. So that's why we're here tonight. It's more of a formal setting. Um, we've done these before, part of the
grant process. And I just want to add DJ's here as well. He's helped with with putting all this together and especially with the uh the public outreach that we had. >> Yeah, >> we're going to touch on some of those themes for that open. >> I think that would be good.
>> Capital. >> One of the one of the advantages of having those types of meetings is we have the data and we have all the information. So DJ kind of uh summarized all of that and put together a little one page. >> Yeah. So just real quick, um the 10
general findings that we found through the openhouse process. Um start with ecological sustainability and native landscaping for the property. Shoreline protection and water management was an important theme that we saw in terms of
the type of park passive park. um pass the park design um low recreational impact such as walking, sitting, na nature observation, things like that rather than loud obtrusive, you know, sports complexes and playgrounds and things like that. Um and we talked about
uh reducing the impervious footprint. This might involve things like removing black top at the end of the road, creating an extended park, things like that. Um and generally a community gathering place, a place to educate the community on different uh ecological things, uh
nature, um we'll talk walk and talks, music, things like that for all different ages throughout the community. Um and that's included in that. Number five is um we're talking about kids and and adults and older populations. So,
it's really a um a location that we uh envision being used through all the generations in town. Water access and utilization is huge. Obviously, we're lucky enough to have the Navison River here in town. Um and so, any way that we can maximize the
burough's property at the waterfront is very important to the the public. Park parking and traffic management, that's going to be an ongoing thing. Uh there might be some studies down the road, things like that. look at uh what the bureau wants to do with that property. But um that's a constant theme that
we've seen throughout not just this open house but previous open houses as well. It's a lot of different conversation in terms of that topic. ADA accessibility very important. So making sure that that's included in the in this project um is a top priority from what we've seen from the feedback.
Reforestation and tree health. Um so looking at the trees that are still existing. There was some tree work that was done there. Um, but there was talks about the ivy that's existing on some of the existing trees. Um, what we want that to ultimately look like um, and we
also had heard some feedback of looking at different alternatives to to regular grass. Um, making it a functional space. Some ideas were raised beds and things like that so that maybe it could be another community garden location. We can get some donations going to different local community groups like
lunch break and things like that. Um so that's one through 10 on on the main common themes that we saw. So just wanted to share that feedback. >> And just a couple things just to add on um we had another um this morning we had another team meeting um going over the uh the grant um prior to this meeting. A
lot of these points that were brought up during the um the open house are points that are listed in the grant um that they would want us to um to focus on as priorities in order to receive the award. uh considering this was brought up in the committee and taking a look at the concept plan um you know we're we're
very we we pretty much meet every single mark on that application um you know get full coins. So it's it's a favorable project um to apply for um from again from my um you know evaluation of the openhouse hearings the concept plan and and looking at the points that we have
to hit um I say it's it's favorable for us to apply for it to get the funding. >> I'm glad you feel confident is essential. Yeah, I feel really confident and the fact that the community itself echoed the same points that we had already been looking at that NJP is looking for us to satisfy if we were to
receive the award. >> Um, >> yeah, every you know, it really satisfies your every stakeholders's priority and concerns with the project. Um, so for me, I think it's good. These are and the only point I'll make is we've had a series of open houses related to 21 not necessarily this grant
but open space grants and we we really do continue to hear the same thing. So feel like we're we're moving towards alignment with resident input. Um and so I'm confident we'll be able to get this right as long as we can find the funding. >> Yes.
>> Without taking on debt. >> Right. And and that's the and I'm glad you brought that up and that's really what our goal is. I mean, taking a look at, you know, again, you know, you know, right now we're, you know, we we're at 956. Every every project, every portion that we've done, you know, um we've we
haven't incurred any debt on. It's all been some type of funding that we've received through grants um through other sources. So, the bur has not incurred any debt. Even 121,000 that we paid to um to raise the property, do the site clearing and the asbesus mitigation again was all taken out of, you know,
funding that had nothing to do with depth in burrow. And that's really been our goal. So, this again works more towards satisfying um you know that that goal of mission of the burrow. The other thing that's great too is there's no restriction on where we find those matching funds. There are other grants that do have restrictions that you can't
use funds that were already earmarked for another match. This does allow. We're allowed to use funds that we have that you've received through grants as part of the match. So, you know, in my opinion, I think it's it's a win for the burough if the if the governing body was to, you know, approve for us to move forward with it. There's another uh not
to um pivot in another direction, but there's another grant that I sent Chris's way as well this week that would help us on this project as well. >> And that's a grant that requires no match. >> So that's that's >> Can I ask a specific question? Um it
just struck me. It says increased staff uh used hours for public. Just curious how that came up or >> that was just in the course of the open house. We asked for any feedback that they might have on the property and some of the feedback was how would that property at 21 tie into the dock and
then so that was that was some piece of conversation that came. >> Yeah, there was a gentleman that that came to the open house um you know that that mentioned how there's a lot of people travel here to I guess go clamming and fishing and must have the best clams and fish in the area because he said they drive you know states away to come here and and he had he had a
question on whether we would uh extend hours if that was something we would consider. So obviously we took regardless whether it's something we were going to do or not >> was unaware of some of the neighborhood feedback. >> Correct. >> Correct. And and the mayor had the mayor had shared that too during the meeting. You regardless whether it's something we
were going to do or not do. We did make a point to you know put everything together in this list. So it you know reflected what the community input was. Yeah. >> DJ did a great job on that. So just building on everything we're talking about based on the feedback
obviously the the prior grant that was out through county space the subcommittee meetings we've had the the various resident input and community input. What we did was we created this concept plan. So this kind of captures as much as we can in a conceptual way so
we can at least put numbers on, you know, costs on what each uh improvement would be. And and once again, it's a very concept draft format, passive type recreation,
>> you know, some walking paths, some landscaping, some um riding beach access, shoreline uh protection. Uh obviously, we removed the house in this in this last bid. um even just because
of the slope of the of the land, trying to maybe mimic or create some type of amphitheater seating, but but more of a natural way of doing it. You know, some of the feedback we got was even just having a library program go down there
and, you know, have a read a book or or something, you know, because of the proximity to even where we are tonight. the possibility of vacating the end of Fair Haven Road and pulling up all that per, you know, that that imperous
surface and and linking the dock to this parcel as well and and tying it all together and and as we know when you when you write a grant, the the folks that are reviewing these grants, they like to see an element of a larger plan.
So they we try to tie it, we don't just keep it within these boundaries and these lot lines. We look we look to our neighbors. We looked at obviously the waterfront, the dock and and the existing roadway and how it all functions and how it can all fit together. So with that, we created the
estimate as uh Chris had mentioned, we're at 1.275 million that incorporates um several items. I and just for the people that are on Zoom, we have the the
concept plan up there, but once again, this is uh this is an item that needs to be submitted. We have to submit a cost estimate. We have to submit a concept plan. And many of these items, they're in the narrative that we need to talk
about. So, >> it kind of blends all together. >> Yeah. And even one like I'll just even talk about you know rich thought by even bringing up you know making it you know the plan you know part of a bigger bigger element impervious coverage you know reduction of impervious coverage um
is certainly a big uh stressing point of the grant um the fact that we you know we moved the structure we took out concrete we're looking to um you know change the configuration at the end of the road obviously governing bottoms approval I mean that's a great you know it's a great point grabber on the grant itself so that's just that's just one
perfect example of it So with that um coming out of tonight's meeting, we have a resolution on for this evening. >> The next day, the next steps, our internal team will continue working on this grant application. Uh put it all
together, get it submitted by the deadline of February 27th. And as Chris had mentioned, we do see this being a favorable project. it does meet the criteria for a park development application and um we feel fairly confident.
>> What is the um do you know when the award announcements are made? >> So they as part of this as part of the grant application you have to put together an anticipated timeline. Although they don't mention when they make award announcements they guide us
to assume that the clock starts in July of this year. So that kind of gives you an idea of where that funding cycle goes because it it's an annual grant. So they want the projects to move along. So then
>> and and that's even as one of the requirements if you have outstanding projects from other cycles, you may not rank as high, but obviously we're in double shape. >> Yeah. Yeah. We've closed that a lot, which is which has helped us out on on applying for a lot of these grants.
>> Um Did anything just I curious it looks pretty similar. I'm not seeing them side by side but did anything on this plan change after the meeting after the open houses? >> The plan is pretty much the same as what we submitted for the the Mammoth County open space. Obviously the benefit is we
knew we had a short timeline here. So we were able to >> um >> but we all of these most of these topics are incorporated into this drawing you know one way or another or the cost estimate >> and and they'll be discussing the narrative >> and yeah council yourself just to
there's extensive narrative that has to go with this grant as well um you know which um um which myself and DJ are going to put together um which has to incorporate um again every all the the um all the points in the requirements
And also it has to incorporate the feedback we got from the community as well. So um while again this is a concept plan all of that will be explained in the narrative as well. >> Can I add um just round out a little bit for the public and my colleagues maybe
the concept plan you you can see it proposes a section of the street might come up. It proposes maybe a hybrid shoreline. It proposes the idea that there might be covered areas. proposes the idea that we might have terrace seating with the amphitheater but
concept doesn't lock us into everything that you see on here is is um drafted so that we are saying these are things that we know we want to do how it ultimately gets designed and executed is in a future stage >> right
>> so when people look at this just know that this is gen it's called a concept plan because it's supposed to represent the key concepts that we're attempting to execute but we know it's not a plan yet. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for clarifying that. >> I have not got questions.
>> So what happens if the grant is not award is there like a success? >> Do we go and apply for another grant? What's the timeline? So, >> so um >> soon after or is that >> so? So, so again the prior to your
arrival on the council, we had received a $368,000 grant from M County Open Space. Um that grant will be opening up soon. The award the announcement hasn't come up, but I believe it was late February last year when they or March when it posted up. That's another grant we'll probably go
after as well. So what we're trying to do is hit every grant possible that we can find that that works towards this project and then to gather the funds. So if we don't get it, I mean that would be sad if we didn't. Um however, there's other opportunities that you know we could apply for those fun that funding
as well. >> And then on um did you is there like want to maintain costs factored in long term? Was that impact the budget or is that that so so m so again once we determine what the park is yes obviously there's
the additional park is going to require additional maintenance um and that was something that we would have to discuss in the budget once it's decided right now our maintenance is going to be mowing grass up until you know which is really not going to you know affect our budget that much you know you know it's
not that big of a a parcel of land um it's not that much that we have to do but it's basically mowing grass as you know we decide what it's going to and we start you know doing work on the project its cost probably may increase however u grant funding generally doesn't cover
that. So, um, grant, you know, that covers capital improvements that would cover operational costs for it, >> right? That >> that's something that could be potentially covered by some of the programs we could run down there, right? >> Some of the, you know, if we were to do kayak rentals or something like that.
However, that doesn't help us with the appropriation yet. So, it's something we have to, you know, um, we're going to have to thoughtfully consider. Whoever's up here will have to consider when the time comes. So,
>> yeah. >> Rich, anything else? >> Okay, the public. >> Um, let me just go to public comment for everything, right? Or you need the hearing. >> Just the hearing. All right. So, we're
going to open up. Uh, I have a motion to open for public uh comments on the public hearing. >> Motion. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> Okay. Is there anyone in the public that has any comments? Amalo.
>> Hi, Susan O'Brien, 875 River Road. So, I'm going to hold you to the fact that the concept plan is not set in stone because I was very unhappy when I looked at it to see just how much bulkhead is going to go there. I thought
when I took the burrow engineer and the councilman on a tour on the shore that they could see that there were other ways to handle this and I would ask that there be less all. So, so answer it is a
concept plan 100%. >> But I'm getting I'm getting my thoughts on public record because I spent time one morning, one hot morning walking the shore because I have a natural shoreline as do my two neighbors.
>> Sure. So, so but just to um also get on the record that we're working with professionals to see what the best use of of um that shoreline is, whether it's a living shoreline, which I think everyone is in agreement with that we would prefer. But if we're told by
professionals that a living shoreline doesn't work for that specific property, then there then the next thing up would be a bulkhead. That's why you're seeing both. You see on the concept plan you see a bulkhead and a living shoreline that help list that gives us >> not much living shoreline
bulkhead. >> Again, I wouldn't I wouldn't take too much to the bank when it comes to what you're seeing on the paper here. It's just basically a concept plan of what we're considering. >> Okay. >> Both of those are on there and after we get the feedback from the professional,
that's going to help decide what the eventual plan looks like. Mayor, I can I'll just add a little bit too if you if you wouldn't mind to help. So, um, uh, Nick Porchinsky and I were working with Stevens Institute, Stevens Institute of Technology, and they basically wrote the manual on living shorelines, and they're
the experts in it. They were, uh, recommended. We had initially met with the ALS, the American Literal Society. Um, they were, um, they we approached them first about it. They were the ones that actually recommended that we go to Stevens because Stevens is the expert on living shoreline. Um we have had several
meetings about it. Um the representative from Stevens was supposed to come out. However, um it's a little bit snowed. It won't go away right now. So that's kind of kind of you know preventing um a good sitewalk. Um so so pray for some warm
weather so we get rid of it. Um, I'd be be honest again, you know, from all the feedback living shoreline and and from personally from my perspective, I'd rather a living shoreline because a living shoreline is certainly less expensive than putting a new bulkhead in. So, I hope that's what it is. Um,
there was some concern and this is why that he wants to go out and actually, you know, go out and survey the property if that property was big enough again to have a living shoreline if there would be an issue. And that's really what he wanted to come out. So what we're waiting for is for um the representative
from Stevens to come out so they could do a thorough site visit once the snow thaws and then uh we can get an answer but right now you know depending on what our professionals we would like I again for me personally I'd rather living shoreline because it would cost me a lot less >> right >> so just as somebody who sits up here to vote for South I I want a living
shoreline too and I >> yes I'll let everyone speak for themselves >> that's the hope it really is from a financial standpoint but also just from accessing the river >> is the only one in room. >> I I also went to the public meeting um
and had to duck out early and uh I was um I guess surprised that the ivy had been removed from the slope. And I'll tell you why. I live on the block and the ivy is the thing that keeps the
dirt on my hill and not sliding down into my backyard. So, I think it was sort of uh a little premature. I mean, I can understand taking the ivy off the trees, but taking it off the slope, I think, is leaving it open to a
lot of erosion at this point because nothing's planted at this point. >> Anyway, I had to get my thoughts out. Is it native native ivy? >> None of it's native. >> It's not native ivy. >> So just following orders.
>> So even just adding on that obviously you know you you you know you how this works. I mean ivy's invasive and so a lot of the concern was having the ivy there and having invasive and then obviously you know you know doing more damage to the tree canopy that's already there. And then obviously the goal of this governing body and the goal myself
is to reserve as many trees as we can. So that was really the concern is having it be invasive there and that was a recommendation of our servant tree expert. That's why that was however >> we have monitor the slope which is a fair point. I I think everyone here understands that too. Yes, we it was
noted in in the minutes and reported in the feedback that the staff >> I caught Marty sledding down the hill >> twice. >> Unfortunately the snow has not gone away. >> I know. Thank you.
>> I know. >> Hi, Columbia. >> I just had um what's the legal requirement to provide handicap parking spaces for a park like this? >> I I would hope that that would be that
would come out of the circulation analysis that we'll have to we'll have to hire a firm or a professional to generate the circulation analysis for us. >> Great. >> Yeah. I will tell you the grant does not speak to handicap parking. How it does speak to ADA access. Um so we are
required to have ADA access and we and we are required to demonstrate that both in the plan and the narrative. Um so that is a requirement there. There is no doesn't speak to parking but the grant does speak to ADA access. So that and we are very cognizant of that and that will be reflected in the application. >> Great. Yeah. And I know there's been an
effort to make it you know wheelchair accessful but people have to get there. So >> understood. Thank you. >> Chris, can I ask you a question? >> Sure. >> Um, talking about professionals being hired either for the living shoreline or
um circulation and parking, is that covered by the monies that we've received for the grants or >> some some of them, some of them not. So, and that that we be very careful of. And that's um and Councilwoman Cole and I had um some discussions on that um regarding you know the hiring of
professionals and the fact that you know we have a lot of money for capital. um we do not have a lot of funding for soft costs. So we have to be again as again as this project goes and we're trying again not to incur debt to the burrow. Um we have to be in the beginning and planning we have to pick which
professionals we need to use first. And obviously you know baseline is determining whether or not it's going to be a living shoreline or a bulkhead because that that really sets the tone of what that park's going to be because right now we have a bulkhead. If if it has to be bulkheaded then we have to replace it. um if it can be a living shoreline, you know, then we can get rid
of that bulkhead. But baseline right now is getting the professionals in there to determine what that can be and then after that, you know, we can talk about traffic circulations and then see what funding we have there. But our goal again is requiring the grants and, you know, having enough for match and having enough for capital and also making sure
that we have enough for our professionals as well. But some do, some don't. But I would u um also add like whenever I can I am constantly looking for planning and technical assistance grants which would help us fund the professionals we need to advance the
plan um because it's only a portion of this can and anything we spend on professionals can't be allocated towards a match for a future grant application. A little bit of a conundrum but we're going to inch our way forward. >> Yeah. >> Anyone else in the public public
any comments? Do I have a motion to Alison? Anyone online? >> No. No hands are off. >> Do I have a motion to close the public hearing? >> Motion to second. >> All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Do >> I have a motion to approve? >> Am I approving, Alison?
>> No. Resolutions number 52. >> It's already down there. Consent agenda. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Rich. Thank you for >> All right. All right. So, we're going to move along then to public comment on agenda items. All week only for agenda items. Please state your name and address for the record. Please observe
three minute time limit. Anyone else? Public comment on any other agenda items. Alison, >> no hands up. >> Thank you. We'll move along to approval of minutes January 26 regular meeting. Have a motion to approve. >> Motion second. Alison, may I please have
a roll call? >> Council members call. >> Yes. >> Sell. >> Yes. Griffin. >> Yes. Caj. Yes. Mi. >> Yes. >> Yes. Uh, thank you. Old business. Hearing adoption of ordinances starting with 2026-01.
Uh, reading the position of deputy municipal tax collector. Do I have a motion to open? >> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Before I go to the public, anyone have anything on this? No. Anyone in the public? Any public comment on 2026-01?
Allison? >> No. Motion to close. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> Everyone opposed. Anyone opposed? >> Uh motion to approve. >> Motion second. >> Allison, please have a roll call.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Griffin, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Ol >> yes. >> Thank you. Uh 2026-02 amended ordinance number 2022-17. Rate schedule special duty police assignments. Uh, do I have a motion to
open? >> So, >> all in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Uh, before I go to the public, anyone have anything on this? Anyone in the public have any comment on this? There a motion to close. >> All in favor?
>> Anyone opposed? Do I have a motion to approve? >> Second. >> Alison, may I please have a roll call? Paul, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Ribbon, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> W >> yes. 2026-03
amend code 2-56.1 fee schedule. There a motion to open. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> Before I go to the public, anyone have anything on this? >> Just a little touch. Um I what I wanted to say is I understand we need to get
some fees on the books and sort of start this process which I fully support. Um, I'm going to request that we monitor it maybe, you know, and if we want to come back and look revisit this after we've had a chance to see how our residents respond, how facilities are holding up and maybe even contemplate a dedicated
facility maintenance fund. This if that's acceptable there, maybe we can come back and >> Sounds good to me. >> Anyone else? Anyone in the public have any public comment on this? I have a motion to close. >> All in favor?
>> Anyone opposed? Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Alison, may I please have a roll call? Me >> Paul? >> Yes. Team, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Thank you. Uh, new business,
introduction of ordinances. We're talking 2026-04 and 2026-07. Uh, before I ask for a motion, anyone have any comments here? >> No, we're good. Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion. Second.
>> Alison, may I please have a roll call? >> Council members Cole? >> Yes. >> Melli? >> Yes. >> Brian? >> Yes. >> Cotch? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Also, >> yes. Thank you. Next up, consent agenda resolutions 202652. That's the one we just discussed through
2026-059. Before I ask for a motion, does anyone want to separate anything on here? Does anyone have any comments on anything on board? Do I have a motion to approve? >> Motion. Second. >> Alison, may I please have a roll call? >> Paul,
>> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Menti. >> Yes. >> Yes. Uh, Department of Reports, December 2025, January 2026. Do I have a Drew Law Barbara motion to accept with a thank you? >> Motion to accept. Thank you. Have a
second. >> All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Thank you. Uh, and we are at Good to the Burrow. Good to the burrow. Please stand and identify yourself by clearly stating your name and address for the record. Please observe a time limit of 3 minutes
and anyone in the public with a good to the burough comment. Yes, Carolyn. >> Hi, Carolyn Bergson Colonial Court. Uh uh on behalf of the business association uh after this big snow uh the parking
spaces in our eastern business district you know they were really filled up and after a few days we called the burrow and we just want to thank the burrow and the DPW even though that's a county road. We asked if they could clear the parking spaces between Canyon Pass and
the eastern edge because they're so critical to those businesses. Um on the western business district there's more parking options but in that area the parking is very tight. Uh this time of year those are where our businesses are that struggle. Uh so we really
appreciate the borrow support and thank you to the DPW. Like I said even though it's a county road these guys did clear them for us. So thank you very much. >> Yeah. And I have to say I mean soon as FHBA reached out to me um I contacted Nick and Nick had a crew together right away and they were clearing those spots.
So, it was they did a great job and thank you again for bringing that to our attention. >> Great. Thank you guys. >> Anyone anyone in the public? Allison, >> no one has their hand up. >> Um, yes. I I don't really know if we need to discuss it tonight, but I've had
this conversation with the mayor and with our burough administrator about the sign out front that is malfunctioning. It means repair work. And one of the topics of our conversation regarding that was taking it down completely since
you really can't see it, you know, unless you're caught at the light and maybe you'll get a couple of messages, but basically if you're driving back and forth >> love it, Alice, have >> I would be open to talking about that really. So, uh I
>> not for like elaborate, but but I like Yeah, I think maybe we should rent >> for a conversation and and I think it was expensive to repair it and >> yeah, that's it's I think we were looking at I think repairs around 7,800 bucks. It was >> and when they put it up, everyone probably didn't have a phone in their
pocket, a smartphone anyway, um where they could get all of the information that's needed. Uh, and I I think I've seen this type of like even outside I think it's outside RF they used to have a sign where they would put information. Now it's just Rumson Fre High School. I think I've seen it a few different
places where they've gone in this direction. I think I think it's a great idea. >> Yeah. And even if we decided we were going to take the electronic portion off, you know, we could repurpose and um put a permanent fixture sign similar to RFH, you know, on that brick structure. So we wouldn't be tearing down, you
know, with the burn and something simple and, you know, basical >> uprated options that are less expensive, like that are more high-tech. I mean, I'm not saying, but I wouldn't mind less just seeing what other kinds of things are out there. >> I think the problem, and again, this is
just from from my vantage point, especially, you know, you know, from my other life on the other side of Buesta Avenue for many years, you know, the sign of Rumson works because it's at an intersection and a corner. You can see it from yeah, >> pretty much any angle and it's it's there. The problem we have at our sign,
it's far back from the intersection. You know, I think if we had a spot that actually worked where you could see it, you know, and you could get the messages, but work just in an awkward position. >> It probably be where the boy statue is would probably be the right spot, but obviously not ridiculous.
>> But you're right, that would be the ultimate spot to put it. I'm just so absolutely not. But that's not >> Yeah. So that's the um >> over this conversation. >> Yeah. >> So I I'll I'll throw that in the future and dig a little deeper into that. Maybe
maybe we can if it's all right with everyone. Maybe we can have uh Chris look at some options. Yeah. >> Are you guys all right with with that? A little bit. >> Okay. >> Um >> thank you. >> Yep. and publicly. Sure. Um, one, I just want to thank um, the environmental
commission for having the storm water and green infrastructure talk recently with Dr. Abrupta. It was >> great. He's always really interesting and I thought he brought up some really good points. If anyone wants to watch it, it is on our website now as the video. So, you can always, if you missed it, check it out there. Um, there is
another talk about tree pruning. I think it's Sha Tree Commissioner is doing it and that's March 12th at 12:00 at the community center. So, if you're looking to learn about proper tree pruning, I think that's a good one. Um, and then something that has come up to me and I
know maybe a couple other people on the day here that um I guess it was brought up MedStar. Talk about MedStar. I don't know if everyone knows what MedStar is, but essentially um it's um I guess Mammoth County's emergency management system essentially. I guess
Chris can talk to more about it, but I just wanted to bring up that it was brought up at a recent firehouse meeting and it's not something that we have been talking about at all up here. Hasn't come across our attent like across our desks at all. So, I know that everyone was kind of asked to talk to their
representatives and I just wanted to put it out there that it's not something that we have talked about or >> are looking to talk about. So, >> yes, maybe could background on this. I know. >> I know. Uh, Andrew could tell my best start too from your perspective, but um,
you know, I mean, the sheriff did a great job putting together a need for a lot of municipalities that no longer had volunteer first aid squads. I mean, I've been a EM I've been a certified EMT for over 30 years on the other side of Buesta. I'm reliving my life, my former life tonight. Um, and one of the things
that volunteer squads have always dealt with is membership. Um, except for this town for some reason. And I don't know, I've said this when I got here, I don't know what's in the water in Fair Haven versus some, but we have probably one of the most vibrant volunteer communities out there. And we have not had an issue
with volunteers. Um, where a lot of towns have Redbank no longer has volunteer EMS anymore. I believe they contract with Hackinac Meridian. Um, Middletown has, you know, has um MedStar contracted. It's just a lot of towns, you know, Highlands, a lot of towns don't have it. and the program that the
sheriff put together was really a lifesaver for those types of tasks. Um, Fair Haven's an anomaly. We don't have that. And even speaking from, you know, being over in Rumson for the years, a lot of times when Fair Haven couldn't get, sorry, a lot of times when Rumson couldn't get EMS members to go out for a
call, Fair Haven was the one doing mutual aid during the day. So, not only is was Fair Haven strong enough to cover their own town, they were strong enough to cover other towns as well and and always put a crew together. So, um, we're fortunate, um, that we have great volunteers and continue to have great
volunteers and legacy families and, um, you know, so it's really never anything that's come to our forefront, never been discussed, um, and I hope we continue to have that same, you know, saying great legacy families because, um, I think it's probably the best DMS squad around. So, that's just my take on it. >> True. >> Agreed.
>> Thank you for bringing that up and correcting the record if it needed to be corrected. Um, we we have the best volunteers. Yeah. Anywhere. And uh we have zero plans. Zero >> in going in any other direction any time
in the near future, long-term future hopefully. >> Yeah. And I'll add too, I had a few people call me as well about it and I said the same thing to them. You know, it's, you know, we're we're fortunate here in Fair Haven, you know. And I would also uh encourage our residents um
you know if you have a question reach out ask ask our B administrator. He's locked in with every single component of our town. Um don't let your imagination run away with with itself. Um without
the facts. Uh you know that's all I have to say about that. Anything else? Good. >> Good. All right. That was a That was a quick one. >> Kevin and Christina must be the good luck charming
since they joined. >> Uh with that being said, we're going to move towards adjournment at 7:50 p.m. Do I have a motion? >> Motion moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? It's a nice bird.