Thank you. We're going to call this meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. We're going to start in a second with a salute to 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, with 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 through the Zoom meeting platform meeting broadcast from Burough Hall, 748 River Road, Fair Haven, New
Jersey. Public participation for this regular council meeting of August 18, 2025 is available by call number Zoom. Members of the public 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 2025-13 and sent to the Aspbury Park Press at the Two River Times on January 7th,
2025. Post on the Burough website and municipal building and has remained to this post as required under the statute. With that adequate notice having been given, the bureau clerk is directed to include this statement in the minutes of this meeting. Allison, may I please have a roll call? Council members p. Yes. Miss Elli,
yes. Ellie, yes. Yes. Barbara, present. Olson, yes. We have York, Attorney Mal, Chief McGovern, CFO Britain, Engineer Gardella, DPW director, and
director DJ Further. Yeah. All right. Uh, so we are starting off tonight. Um, obviously it's great to be back uh in the council chambers. I think everyone can agree this is a gigantic
upgrade. Um, I don't think I've ever cursed in a meeting before, but I'm going to say it's based on actually hitting the fan down here, literally. Um and the nice the one nice thing that came out of that was that um it was
mostly paid for not by the burough fair even. So what you're seeing is um you know not a burden on the taxpayers. Um so what we're going to do tonight is just to officially open it up. I'd actually like everyone to come join me if you could if that's not too much for all you. And uh
we got the scissors going. We're going to take a picture. Is she coming up here? Yeah, join us as well. Just remind these are very short as you compare as you're open.
You guys want to help me? We all grab a grab. Yeah. No, no. Well, I was going to say the scissor. Ready? One, two, three. Okay. Wow. All right.
I'm gonna give it to Chris. And this table was repurposed from our old police station. Refinished. So, I think they did a tremendous job. Yeah, that was from the conference
there. Is that great? on this. That's been um I I also want to say if at any time in the next few meetings you see us fall asleep up here, it's because the seats are a little bit uh more comfortable the
old ones as well discussions up here. Chris, you did a tremendous job here. All right. Um, jumping right into it. We have Charlie N here. Charlie, come on up.
Yes. Hello. This is his thing. But I just felt since he's not an adult that I should I'm Gina, his mother should speak to all of you and apologize that we did not go through the proper channels the first
time. It was a complete oversight. And as the adult, I take responsibility of it. As the Eagle Scout, Charlie takes responsibility for it, but just wanted to be clear. It wasn't meant, you know, in disrespectful way or anything. But I
also wanted you to have a picture. This picture shows the post so you get an idea of where we had placed the sign. And then a picture, which I think you probably have already, of the actual sign. But just so you know, that's a picture. and you can pass that around.
And I will let Charlie take it from here. Thank you. U before anything else, I would just like to say I'm not asking for the sign for recognition on myself. I am not doing this for my own ego. I'm I'm just I'm I just want it I want it there to
show just that there's been that it was an Eagle project that um there are Eagle Scouts coming from this town. Um just uh imagine you're the parent of a young child. You would you want them to be
able to see that sign, show that it was an Eagle Scout project. You want them to think to themselves that they can eventually achieve this. Um um with uh three years I've got um 25
badges. Three year like three and a half years ago I had none. I was not thinking I would be able to get my Eagle Scout, but I did it. I would like to be able to show that it's it's possible.
And I'd also like to mention that uh multiple of the other Eagle Scout projects that were done in this town have signs. Um it's we believed and thought it was
known that it was just common place to have one of those with the project. Okay. So, before before I open up for discussion, I just want to say, Charlie, the project that you put together was was and is absolutely fantastic. Um,
it's it's an asset to the community. you did a fantastic job from from start to finish and um you know the discussion regarding the sign it in my opinion will have no bearing whatsoever on the end result of the project and its impact on
the community. So, um, you know, in no way, shape or form should this be, um, looked at in any way other than, uh, a discussion about a sign and how, uh, we set, uh, priorities in the Burough Fair Haven. You have done an awesome job and
I I'm sure I'm not as proud as you as your parents, but I am proud of you and I think you did a really fantastic job. that I'll open up to anyone that you know wants to discuss this. I'm happy to say something and my apologies because I know I owe a phone call. This week has been a little crazy
for me, but I definitely support what you've done and I think it's wonderful if we promote volunteerism in our town. I mean, we're all volunteers and these could be the future leaders of our town. And I think that it's this is really honestly a great lesson in government,
too, to like learn how how slow things happen and to know the pro the process things go through. So, I think it's actually great and I applaud you for standing up here because that's not an easy feat to do, especially asking for something from us. So, um I'm in full
support of it. I Yes. going through the right channels. Um, and I know that some of this is this has actually brought something up for us. What is our policy kind of standing for signs and that was something we had spoken the mayor and I had spoken about. So, I think it does bring up a bigger issue that we do need
to talk about. But I would fully support this moving forward because one, I don't want you to spend any more money on it. Two, I know how hard you all worked and I just appreciate obviously the project as well. So, you definitely have my support and bill support. So, we're saying support the
project or support the sign. Support the sign. Okay. Project's done. Okay. Um I would like to echo Mayor Halpern's congratulations and um the fact that you have achieved this on your own as well as the 25 badges in the past three and a
half years is extraordinary. That's a huge amount of work. My only concern is the other Eagle Scout projects that have occurred in that area. for example, the V Hotel where there were no there was no signage for those accomplishments.
So I don't know where that puts us. I think there was there is there is a signage. I actually have a picture of it. Yeah. Hotel. This is actually all the Eagle Scouts names that are around
you. There's these for the trees that are donated. The benches all have signs on them that are donated. This is which ones are just Eagle Stone. This is a Girl Scout gold project. So
that has a sign. And here is Jack Rodriguez as well. I mean, it definitely brings up the conversation about what is our policy and what are the the standards that we have for signs. Um, but I feel like that's almost like a miss on our side
versus just just to be fair, what what is where is the Airbnb? Where is right? But where is it? Is it on is it on our property? Road off of Bridge Road. I haven't seen
that one. The other two, I mean, one is a, you know, that's a piece of paper and a plastic sheeping. And the other one's on school, which is in Burough Brown, but the plastic like I'd rather have a nice finished sign than just a plastic and
sheet. So, did we allow the plastic and sheet? I mean, not we because I don't think we approved that necessarily, but yeah, I think they were all taken down. So, listen, I I've had this No, no, we're talking about the plastic. Yeah, I just
the plastic sheet for the Cole family. Yes. Again, I I don't think it was something that was approved. Just because it's there doesn't necessarily mean that it's something that should stay there. Okay. Understood. So, I I'll come back. I I promise I'll let you have a last word, but let us
just let us have the discussion up here and we'll come back to you. Um here here's here's my thought personally, and I've shared it with you. Um and this has no bearing on Charlie. I've even made the offer as well that I want to promote the scouts. I'm open to
all ideas to promote the scouts. I want to put a page on our burl website that goes over every Eagle Scout project and um you know how they were developed the the um you know step by step so so that
forever we can u memorialize the work that was put into them and so that all kids can see um you know the the the fruit of the labor that and the end result of the beauty of that project and how it impacts our
Um, I'm I'm just not in favor of signs like this. I voted up here against even having a sign on the new DPW and on on the police department that would have had my name on it. I voted against having a sign down at 21 Fairaven Road.
Um, you know, for a donation to the burrow. I saw a schematic of of a map of the signs around Fair Haven right now. the other day um in a DPW meeting that there's just so many signs everywhere we
go. Um I I don't I just don't necessarily think it's something that we need in fair and I think it sets a precedent where um you know you can have anyone putting up a sign of public property because they put some hard work
and I don't as Charlie even said that's not why he did it. He didn't do it for the recognition. Um, I I don't I don't see either of these signs as approved and I personally would not be in favor of them, but that doesn't change my mind on how awesome a
project Charlie put together. And if the governing body ultimately decides that the sign can stay, obviously that's a decision I would support. That's how the system works. So, uh, I was just, um, have a thought. My my sense is eco scout projects have had
signs and while I agree that the you know unchecked proliferation of random signage on public property yeah it could be a problem there's an answer to that and um it's signage standards it's not even that difficult
to create some signage guidelines um an Eagle Scout project could be a simple brass plaque with Eagle Scout and a QR barcode even to scan to learn more about Eagle Scouts so that it's small and um
fits into the national landscape. There's lots of ways to deal with this because I think everyone's sensitive to kind of random signing. That said, I don't think a scout project is random and if the council wants to commit to doing um I certainly would be in favor
of making motion to go ahead and implement some signage standard, but in the meantime, um the other scout projects that are in place do have a marker of some kind. Charlie's should as well. It is only right. And either that
or everyone has to remove their own signs from their other people's scout projects and that doesn't seem right. is the burrow's obligation to set those standards. We haven't done that and this perhaps raises an important initiative that wouldn't be a complex thing to get
off the ground. So, I support Charlie's request, which I think that's specifically what's happening here tonight is Charlie's requesting permission to have a sign. And as a what we could probably do is say it's a sign temporary until the signage standards
are developed and a new sign that's cohesive but other Eagle Scouts projects can be put in place uniformly. I don't want to deny uh Charlie an opportunity to have a sign just like I wouldn't want to deny Jack's projects to have a sign or any of the other great scout projects
that we've supported. Yeah. And my my my only I love what Charlie did. Um super stoked, but I've been up here numerous times where we've had conversations about signs and how degraded they are and how much time and energy and money needs to go into it. So
if we agree to do signage, we're adding additional signage that becomes a maintenance item that we have to address. Um there's plenty of signs in the natural area trail, right, that have degraded over time. We've had discussions about it. So I just that's that's what my concern is is the cost that comes in after the fact
and it's not so much the cost it's the time you design something are maintenancefree like a small metal plaque a brass plaque to me is not a maintenance sign either but then are we going to say then that the scouts then have to pay for that type of sign as part of it we're going
to make it yeah I mean we could talk about it but that's what I think would probably be the right thing to do so I'd like to separate the issues Um, you obviously Charlie, I'm proud of you. I I think you're a great asset to the community. I wish there were more
American kids like you. So, thank you. Uh, but for me, it doesn't seem right to do it on an ad hoc basis. So, we should come up with a sign policy and it should be either all the signs stay up or they all come down and we talk about who's going to pay for them, how they're
maintained, what they can be. Um, and so that's where that's where my brain is, is trying to do it comprehensively rather than ad hoc. I don't I don't want to be in the business of of um proving individual signs and potentially saying no to a child that, you know, rolled
their sleeves up and try to make difference. That doesn't feel right to me. Um, so I'd rather do it on a wholesale basis. I think that's the situation we're dividing ourselves in. That's what makes me uncomfortable. Charlie, let me ask you this question because Brian sounds somewhat Oh, sorry.
No, I just clarify. I think it's we're saying we're separating the issues. We're saying we're going to vote on this sign, but then simultaneously come up in the policy. What what I'm hearing from all you is you do feel like there's an avenue to have signs like this if there's a
standard. Yes. Is that accurate from everyone? potentially. So, so now based on what what which is also kind of what you said, but what Brian said is to separate the two. So, now I'm going to ask the council, is your preference to allow Charlie to have
the sign until that time when we figure that out or would you prefer to take all the signs down, figure it out, and and you know, obviously I would like to commit to us um you know, gives them some type of time period. I don't want
to be talking about signs forever and then you know you rob them of the opportunity. So does anyone have any ideas on that better? I mean, design standards for designs are not complex and and we have some professionals in the room who can illuminate us if
Chris you want to you want to ask Nick or Rich to give us some suggestions. But I mean I've done way finding and other design standards for signage and within a few months something like if we wanted to separate you know say say we wanted to look at signage more broadly and I
don't want this to get bigger than it already is but we could start with the Eagle Scouts as an initial piece and that can be done quickly in a matter of months and you could have several schemes in front of council for review and approval by by this you know before
and I don't don't speak about timelines, but it it could be as early as the beginning of next year. There could be prop signage on all the EOS scout projects that's approved by the the governing body. I I think that's that's a great idea. I
I I would I would suggest we defer a decision until we come up with a with a standard that we could present to the and call it the Eagle Scouts signage. But until we come up with a standard, maybe we should defer a vote.
But I just want to give um you know, you usually we go to public comment. Um but here it looks like we're going to make a decision before then. So I just want to give them an opportunity if that's all right with everyone. Well, I'd like to suggest that it's not
really fair to Charlie and deprive him of a sign until we get our house in order. I think it's okay for him to have a sign. he's already paid for. It can be temporary until we provide the design guidance and the specs to fabricate an
appropriate sign that meets the design standards. Otherwise, his Eagle Scout project wouldn't have a sign like the others do. And I saw that. Can I say one thing also to add on to that? I agree with everything that Tracy is saying or council's saying because it
does feel like if we're saying we're not going to put this up and then take everyone else's down then we're penalizing other people that either we approved or didn't have our house in order that it was kind of on us that we didn't have standards. So instead of penalizing Charlie and penalizing the
past projects and just the last thing is that I agree I don't want to like make the town look like a mess but at the same time as someone coming into town or potential buyers for houses they go around like how cute they have Eagle Scouts here. I mean it tells without having a realtor have to tell them it
visually tells them what is going on in town and that we are a town that supports volunteerism at a really early age. Look at all these great projects they've done. So, I think we have to be smart about the signs, but I do think wayfinding it gets bigger. So, I just want to clarify one, one part of
what you said. You said that it looks like our house is not in order. Our house is on in order. We need to get signs on public property approved by the burough council. That's not what's happened on any of these projects with the exception of one where I believe a sign was approved, but the the actual
information that was going to be on the sign was not approved. So, our house is in order. I need more. Let's not characterize this as the burrow as the burough government not doing what they're supposed to do. If anything, I think we're being very flexible in this discussion. Yes. Name and address, please.
Hi, Carol Lang. One of Forest Avenue, Fair Haven. Um, thank you for listening to this. I also have a son who is a soon to be Eagle Scout. His project will not be happening in Fair Haven. Um but I do think it's an opportunity when um Eagle Scouts come in front of you or Gold
Scouts um anyone who's asking to do this, a volunteer group um that comes to you that that's the time to have the conversation. And I would suggest that anything that has happened in the past, there's no retroactive change to it. Um, I think finding every single Eagle Scout
project that has come through and marking the signage if you want to do it is great, but that sounds like an expense that perhaps as a taxpayer I don't think we need to incur. I think having guidelines that can be applied going forward for any future applicants would be sensible. Um, and I think that
gives you control. And I like the idea of, you know, a uniform and consistent sign. I think telling kids that this is something that kids do is important, which is what makes me nervous about a QR code. You know, you want kids to be able to read it and see it themselves. You know, short, sweet, but words are
helpful just for that was my my two cents on that. Um, I think really the the reason the signs are there, like you said, for kids. I like Thank you. True. Hi, Kristen Gatherino, 24 Normandy. Um, first of all, this sign is in the natural area. You cannot even see it
from the street. If you're walking around, this is something you would actually have to walk through to see. Um, second, my big concern, of course, I'm here to support Charlie and there are a lot of other Eagle Scouts projects
tomorrow. There's signs in the Nashville area. There's signs in the fair fields acknowledging the moralers acknowledging with there's signs on trees, right? There's all these signs all over. My concern, and I will disclose I am an attorney, is that you're saying your
ordinance is vogue vape and you're trying to enforce it against somebody on First Amendment. That's a big issue. You can't approve some people and not others. You can't do that because if your ordinance itself, you're saying it's vague, it doesn't really cover this, and now you're choosing to allow
one person to do it and not the other, you've got an issue. Again, this is not a what we Which sign did we approve? Yeah. Other scouts of proof. We don't we made it clear we didn't approve the same thing. Okay. But you permitted that.
Not action. We What does that mean? We didn't take them down. You took his down but not theirs. Wait. We didn't know they existed. I just found out about something on Ridge Road about a V. I didn't even know where the V project was. You don't see it?
Okay. So, but is that you don't want it to sheep in the town because people are going to use the word cheapen the town that word you said disintegrate or denigrate. I don't I don't this I don't think this is in the spirit of discussion and
I'm saying I don't mind encouraging students and young people to do good things and acknowledge it when you have done it for others. Christy, I'm going to I'm going to pick your comment to public comment on agenda items only. I I'd like to focus on the spirit of this discussion right now. To
me, it's not well to you. To me, it's not. And it's I'm running this meeting and you'll have a chance to discuss during public comment on agenda item to go up and thread legal action on something we're trying to work out is just not in the spirit of our town. Even I do want to comment on one something
you said at the beginning, which is that you can hardly see it. And yes, I'm not done commenting. Sorry. But what I wanted to say is that I agree with you. I would personally and as a resident love for us to get away from signs alto together full stop political
signs lawn signs all of it you your point in that it can't be seen I agree with you I think there's a greater opportunity to use other mechanisms to promote this kind of amazing work whether it be websites
social media etc that will create more awareness than perhaps someone walking by and seeing this Okay. So, as a president and not a lawyer, may I comment on that? I'm not a lawyer. No, no. I said as a president and not a lawyer, I'm commenting
is that I have a son who grew up in this town. I don't want him to look on a on line to have to see what I want him to walk through the trails and see what other young people have done for the betterment of this town. I want to
encourage that good behavior. Okay. Okay. Absolutely. James, I live in 1st Avenue. Um, I think that kids aren't going to take their phone out and scan a QR code. They're
not going to look at the burrow website. I only looked at it once because my mom told me to, but I looked at them. um that and I think there's a huge difference in signage acknowledging uh the effort of someone like Charles Eagles scout project as
opposed to like you said like political signs or long signs like um like RF lacrosse team or whatever. Um and I think there should be a distinction between signs acknowledging um that effort and just like signs put up on somebody's lawn. But I think there
should be a clear process through you guys in the burrow to put a sign up through like a legal means and just like have whatever's on approved. Thank you, James. Hi, my name is
134 Buttonwood Drive, Fair Haven, New Jersey. I'm here as a scout leader, not as a parent. though my son did um do an eagle project um which did have signage approved. It didn't have the wording approved. Um that's his fault, not mine.
Um just kidding. He um I had spoken to him about his sign. I said if we have to downsize it so it's appropriate for the area, would you be cool with that? And he kind of I don't even know if he acknowledged it.
He said yeah. Um so we'll downsize that. Um the current sign that we have up there is a little bit bigger than the sheet of paper. Um so it's not a lawn sign. It's not a two river little league sign that's 8 ft long. It's a very small
and appropriate sign. But I think each area has an appropriateness. If it's a passive area, it should be something for a passive area. Jax is probably the most traveled area in all of Fairfields. It's at the concession stand and the kids are
running around. and so forth. So, I think it's a great sign, but you know, it's all in the eye of the holder. I think that if you guys um put out a standard, everyone will follow it. I think that's a fantastic thing. Um I approved the beekeeper, the B hotel, not
B, the B hotel sign. I didn't approve the wording. I looked at the wording, but I know we the sign um was approved verbally um in the meeting. I don't think there's recordings going back that far, frankly. Um, but I do remember that one coming through. It is customary for
these signs to be attached. There's a gaga pit not on on s on on the public property. It's on the public school property, but it's small and it's appropriate for the item. So, I think that you guys are on the right track. As
a scout, former scout master of Charlie, um, I com I commend him on all the work that he's done and appreciate you guys also commending him. um there was a misstep. We didn't get the approval. Um and so that's the way it goes. And it's a great life lesson. And this whole
Eagle thing is about learning lessons and managing a project. And so I think it's a great thing, though it's not the greatest thing he needed to learn, but he learned something here. We all did as leaders as well. Um so I do think that
the consensus is on spot on point. Um, I would like to see our kids continue and and have that web page. I'll contact you about that. Um, even in the schools, maybe um have some stuff in the schools that help kids understand that scouting is alive and well in this community and
that we're um all all of our youngsters are contributing back. So, um just wanted to say that um getting that standard going would be would be a fantastic thing because then as leaders and and Dan Ramirez is away this this week. um he wanted to be here. He's the
current scout master and he would have said all these things that I'm saying. Um he um he wanted standard because his child Kayla um is about to move into Eagle Land and she's going to do a project and you guys will hear about that really soon. Um it doesn't need a
billboard. Um but we do want to, you know, appropriately um acknowledge these things um under whatever regime you guys dictate. So, um, um, Brian, just one thing, all of the materials are donated. They're never costing the town anything
and, um, all maintenance and all of that is maintained by the scouts. So, there's no time, money, or effort put in by the town, it's generally a gift. Um, so to the extent that something wears out, Jack's sign is made out of metal. Um, it will never wear out. It's UV protected,
all that kind of stuff. But, you know, it'll look great in our living room when we get a smaller sign. And, um, we'll figure that out. It's uh it's not that big a deal. There's real problems in life and this is not one of them. So, I just want to say thanks for hearing out Charlie and all of his supporters and um I think we'll get on the right track
once you guys give us that spec. So, thank you. Thank you. Bonnie Pivia 115 road. Um I helped Charlie with the installation of the garden and um which was he did a fabulous job.
Was very very hard. Lot of planning. Um I was away when the sign I didn't I wasn't really involved in that. I was disappointed. I was excited when I saw it and then sad to hear that it was taken down because I thought I understood how proud he was of all the work he had done. And I do think that first tree trail is off the beaten path.
Um but being that I'm working there a lot. I watched people come and read the pollinator the green team sign that we got approved everything about it and people do like to read about like they don't like they see something new they're like what is this I mean even
the bee hotel no people don't understand what that is so it is kind of nice to have an educational sign for people that are walking by so I I do think it's a great idea for the youth scouts now be aware there's a process they have to get approval that's important maybe there's
standardized thing so everybody recognizes it as an Eagle Scout project and it's amazing how many more are coming along like we are like this town I didn't realize that there were I never heard of so many Eagle Scout projects in any other town but really a wonderful thing um but I think it would
be so nice to allow the sign to be on the project at least until you figure out what you're doing so maybe you know it's made up and I I don't know if that's right or wrong but I would love to see it's just to so people can see what it is and understand. But that
would be Charlie Bonnie. So you you mentioned and I think I think if you end the conversation, Michael, my two favorite sand signs in town and this is why we do need standards to me are educational. The the bee pollinator garden educational sign
and the sign over on the dock that talks about hurricane Sandy and everything like that. Um I don't personally see this as an educational sign. I know that that's depending on how you look at it. I think this is more of a recognition sign which which is my concern about people getting recognition all over town
for different things. Um but you know the information is in the eye of the holder and different people have different interpretations. So yeah, Carol Carol Forest Avenue um I do think it's important to know it's part of the Eagle Scout process and James can probably and Carol can speak much more clearly about
this than I can. Um, but it's not just the Eagle Scout who puts the work in. It's a lot of community members like Bonnie. Like their friends and peers are out there with shovels or whatever the tools uh of the day might be. And I think um it's not don't think of it just as a recognition of one person. It's
really a recognition of a community when these fill up. So I just wanted to add that. So um I believe this was a project that I worked on, my daughter and I, Bonnie, you were there. I don't know which one I was working on, but I'm pretty sure it was this one. The one before? That was the one before. Okay. So I mean obviously I support the work in general.
I love kids as I said before getting involved. Um but as this conversation is happening talking about the first amendment and there's text and I'm thinking you know how would how would advocates feel if a sign had text that you didn't agree with. I just sort of
conceptually uh our country's gone through a big fight about I don't think there's anything controversial in this don't get me wrong but but the approval process though I don't think you'd approve a conduct that was well that then that's where I was going is are we get in the business of
approving text I'd rather not do that um I'd be okay with facts date they you know exactly what it that kind of thing um not that I think anything is going to be inappropriate we're asking I think but But I don't want to get the business square we're approving tax. I think that
that feels um a step too far to me. I think a brief a brief description of what the project is, the name, the date, if there's any, you know, important recognitions that need to happen like, you know, the green team or the mayor or the pro council, whomever it might be. I
I I even think that's too much. But I think there's definitely I think there's a I think there's a middle ground that we can all land on that we'll be happy with. I actually think we're beyond that at this point. I think we just got to figure out the sign until we figure out those standards whether the sign's going
up or not. I think Chris I think either way ultimately I I think we're going to turn it around while this governing body is in place. I don't think we we're looking to um you know lead this into into 2026. So, it's going to be a pretty quick
process and I think there's bigger issues in the world that I don't think it's a big deal, you know, whichever way it goes. Um, and we just moved on. So, can I ask a clarifying question? Are you proposing to um either retain or remove all prior project related
signage? Well, that's for that's for a member of the governing body to make a motion. Understood. I'm just asking what the question is. Okay. They'll make a motion and we'll make a motion and we can first maybe get a second and we could talk about it if you
if the council wants to change it. But I would make a motion to undertake design standards for the signage concerns so it gets clarified and procedurally is communicated uh and allow a this sign to be installed
temporarily until such time sign to be replaced so that nobody's taking down signs, nobody's being penalized for signs and we will complete the design group standards quickly to bring everyone into it. So the motion
I did make the motion. The motion is to undertake the the standards for specifically for Eagles guns. Do you want I just want to say one and we'll have discussion. We're not we're taking a vote. When you make a motion, we're taking a vote. We
can't was hoping someone would I know it's your motion save and then a second and then it gets discussed. Oh, I'll second it because I have some questions. Okay. He's going to make it a motion to make a vote, not to discuss it. We've had the
discussion. Once the motion seconded, then it's on the table for discussion. Yeah. I'm in support though, by the way. The motion's on the table. Can I then ask clarifying question though? Go ahead. I'll go for it.
She made a motion. So, whoever wants to second, but she's saying it's open for discussion. Yeah, once it's on the table, then you can discuss. Go ahead. I wanted the conversation before the motion. Yeah, that's not everybody had a chance.
Motion. Yeah. That's what I was going to say. Put a timeline. That's if we don't if we don't if we don't come up with a policy by December 31st, they all come down. Something like that. That's what But I also want to commit. We got to come up with
I don't think that's how how slow government moves like I wonder if we can get an Eagle Scout to volunteer. So, so, so knowing that this is second, I'm going to say something and then I'll make then I'm going to amend the motion, right? Okay. So, the first thing is I I was a little
bothered during the conversation because twice I heard the word penalization and then I also heard regime and dictatorship. Right. So, I want to make sure that whether it's intended or not, I want to make sure the record is set straight. Right? This is not a penalization. We're not talking about penalization. Charlie did, you know, I
understand the process piece and everything, but I do not want it on the record in any way. such manner the word tarnishing what Charlie did because it's fantastic right 10,000 times over on the regime dictatorship piece again I I think it was meant in a joking manner but I think what what this governing
body has demonstrated is collaboration and ensuring that what we do is for the best of all fair and unfortunately what what the public is witnessing is we have so much more information right with the decisions that we make and we unfortunately need to make sure that
it's fair and standardized so I just want to make sure that in no way whatsoever this is not a penalization. I would like to make an amended motion because I'm in support of what council said. I keep the sign as is until the design standard and all that and that
makes sense. But I want our staff to come up with a design standard solution by the first governing body meeting in October. So it gives when October
meetings from now, right? Well, be a third in between because I've seen up here, right? We saw with facilities seven years conversations, right? And and like so as as trivial as this may seem, I think if we put a timeline to it and we have a
workshop at the first October meeting to have that design standard, we have plenty of uh sign experience in house. That would be my minute motion. I'll sign it. What's the what's the date of the meeting? Whatever the holiday, how's that sound? Do
you have time? What's that? Does the timing work for them? Uh, I would say the second one in October. I think that gives us more time. I'm good with that. So, keep the sign as is. Charlie, you crushed it. Way to get up there and nail it today.
things about that. I'm fine with the sign being there as it is and then the design standard coming back for workshop on the 2nd October second question. Um, is that okay? I don't know. Now I'm
getting confused because we've amended a motion. Can I explain where I think we're at? Yes. Okay. Charlie sign will go back up on the post right by the second meeting in October. We've asked our staff to come to us with a um with a science standard for all Eagle
Scout projects, right? For workshop. So just scout. I think more than that. I think all signs. Yeah. What does that mean though? Yeah. What does that mean though? So all um start
with equal scale. Let that let that be the success story and then from there you follow second, third, fourth. You say scouts. Scouts. Scouts in general scout. Scouts economic events.
So, but what about like volunteer projects though? Like the clarification is then once we create the standard do we are we requiring all current signs to be remade. That'll be part of the discussion where so that's not part of this. That's okay.
That's also I think and are reconsidering no matter what side it is still has to come before the governing body. So once a new request comes in that we hadn't standardized, we can follow the process. So the motion is Charlie sign goes back
and by the second October meeting, we have a design standard from our staff for scout projects for at large proposed design standard. Hope yes. It's going to be a workshop as close, right? So, yeah, I'll second the amended motion.
Allison, may I please have a roll call? Council members call. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Congrats. Do we need another Thank you again.
Question. So for the signs that are current which I would include for outage is current the grandfathered signs will those be signs but those projects are closed the fundraising is done who pays that's going to be part thank you.
Thank you. Uh, next up we have a request from Derma Dreams for their 100yard challenge including sign it shines too. Oh, hi. Hi. Can you hear me?
Oh, sorry about that. Hi. So, I'm sure you guys are thrilled to hear about signs. Um, I just um so we're launching we're doing our food drive again this year. Um the date is October 26th and what we're doing is we are um launching what's called the hundredyard food drive
challenge and we are trying to get everybody in all of Mammoth County and Middle Sex County, Ocean County to bring all of their food to the RFH um uh football field. And our goal is to
this will be the year we're currently at 873,000 pounds of food that has been raised in the last five years. And this will be the year, knock on wood, that we break a million pounds. So, we decided to make it exciting and something new. And our goal is to break a million
pounds, but also um uh what's the word? Oh, um cover the football field from end zone to end zone with yellow bags. Um we'd like to request to put up uh both lawn signs temporary and um our banners in the three spots. We normally put them
for a little longer than usual. And I just wanted to talk because I know that the Fair Haven Farmers Market is on River Road at the same spot as us. So I would really like to keep the signs up because we need like a thousand students to make this happen. But I would put my
sign behind there so they could be in front of mine for the week of the month if that's okay. Does that make sense? Yeah. So, you're asking to put your sign for a month, but for the week that the farmers market is coming from Saturday
to Saturday, you would place yours in a secondary position basically. No, no, no. I want I actually I want I want to put them up basically from September 5th until October 25th. And so, there's one spot on River Road where
we have a sign and so does the farmers market. But to prevent any problem, I would put my sign behind their stakes. So they put theirs up once a month for a week. They could just cross me out and be in front of me so I don't have to take it down and put it back up. Does
that make sense? She's putting it where it blurred back or covered and that farmers market comes down and then it'll be visible. So So for one week it's not in between September 5th and October 24th one. You know what? Do we know what date the
farmers market is that falls? I think it's the 14th. No, I want you to be able to see the farmers market sign. So, I'll go behind them, right? We heard that. Okay, fine. Just checking. Sorry. I I don't want to hurt them.
And And you said lawn signs. They I when someone was whispering in my ear here. The lawn signs are on public property, you're saying, or are you just talking about on private property? Mostly private. A lot of the businesses are very supportive and they let us put it, you know, in their front window or on their front lawn or something.
The priv The private stuff isn't our business. Um yeah, it's the it's the banners. Um so, you know, she's asking the free banners. Anyone have any questions for lease? Could you tell us the dates again that you're proposing
for the signs? Uhhuh. I'd like to put the banners up from September 2nd to October 25th. That's really a two month period of time. You said different dates. Yes.
So, how long do you at least How long do you typically put them up for? Usually a month. About five weeks. How about a month? By the way, she has this she said she needs to get a thousand kids to do it. So she's trying to figure
all the different characters involved. Alisa, are you implementing any additional strategies to meet this new goal other than the twomonth window of time for the band? Just just of course, of course. Oh yeah. My husband is speaking at schools all over
New Jersey. He's been invited to um and we're soliciting all of them. I mean, we're, you know, my husband was just interviewed uh on on the news back in July that'll be all over. I mean, we're implementing a lot of strategies. I'm not just hoping that Three Signs is going to get students all over New
Jersey. Mayor, I was asking about new strategies is those are things you do ongoingly. Is there anything new you're doing to achieve your goal this year? I'm sorry. I'm having a hard time
hearing you. Could you speak up? Just hold on one second. Second, mayor Allison's been trying to for no more than three weeks. Beautiful. Have people ask for longer and you've limited it to about 3 weeks time
was it? What have we done historically? What ter? Three. Three was the most. Okay. So, three is what we've done historically. She's asking for what? No, that's too much. She's asking for looking at my what I'm looking at here. It looks to me like she's asking for
seven weeks, but to be fair, she also said one of those seven weeks it's not up. So, it's really a six week assoc. It's a six week ask. That's one sign, but the other signs. Yeah. The others will be
You mean one sign on people's problem which is not my only concern is weather. I I actually have a concern with just I mean it's sort of a tolerance. It's not the entry is you know I I think there
are visual tolerances for it sounds vague. I'm sorry I don't have anything a better way to describe it. That's a long time a sign. It's a very you know it's a pretty town and I almost four or five push.
How many other towns are have signs? Is it just Fair Haven that's going to have these signs? Red Bank, Marboro, Manalapin. Do they all have the large signs as well? Yes.
And we would have three large signs, right? Yes. And only one would be covered up when the farmers market sign goes up. Yes. We do. Yeah.
Want to ground in a couple of facts. How many pounds of food did you raise last year? My god. Uh the last it was over 200,000. Awesome. How many volunteers did you have?
We had about 550 students and we probably had uh oh god a 550 probably had about 650 700 volunteers through all throughout all of it staying at the ground like what we're
talking about well we normally improve three weeks I don't care a couple extra weeks support such a whole mission I'm just I'm just pointing out we could we didn't I'm stretching what I'm saying we just approved the sign in third street trail forever. We didn't but
but it's also a sign that's 8 by 10 or so signs coming in here now. This is a temporary sign that's that's raising money for for you know to defeat I don't know I you know maybe it's slightly too long but like I
I think this is something that our communities kind of rally around also. I wouldn't I wouldn't short it up that much. Um we need to know for a while. That's you see the sign there that I agree. And so what's the purpose? Like
that's my view on also. I I'm assume I'm assuming if if this burough council were to shorten those dates um you'd want to shorten them on the on the beginning end of that, right? Because you want the sun coming. No, I'd rather shorten them on the end. Oh, really?
Yes. Because what? So if the the food drive is October 26, approximately two and a half weeks beforehand, we are delivering a hundred bags to everybody. So I I I want them to sign up so that I
could deliver the bags because the more signups I get, the better. If the if the everyone knows that the food drive is going to be happening, um but I I I I use it for awareness on the signups. That's what I really need it for. For the high school students, people that
need it for all of their um I let me let me throw this out there and see at least if this would work for everyone. There's a market on the 13th, right? So, what if what if your son were to go up on September 14th, right? Bear
with me. And then what was the next one? October. October 11th. October. And then and then it came down the week of the you know or sat in the secondary role for that week of the 5th to 11th and then went up through the end of until the actual date. Is that enough
time at least? So September 14th basically until the 26th yes but but with the one caveat is there's one week in there where the farmers market would be in front just that one time in front
on the one side. Still too big. It's too old. But so you'd have you have one week, two week, three weeks. So it's either it's it's five weeks if you count it, four weeks if you
but the other two signs are up for five. Yeah. Le does that work? Sure. I'll make a motion for five weeks as the mayor just outlined it. I second it. You want to do you guys want an individual vote or no? I feel like I've already
do or don't. No, I don't. Uh, all in favor? Anyone opposed? Thank you, Elise. Please, can I say something really quick on the side? Sure. River Road near H never hasn't been getting bags lately. So, could you make sure we get bags?
River Road near Hance. Hon. I will. Thank you very much. So, Elise. Yes. I I just want to say for the record, too. I think I've said it before, um the
Durmers are just the most charitable people and the the tremendous efforts you guys put in uh to Derma Dreams is is really really awesome. So, just thank you for from the entire community as well. Thank you for all of your support. We really appreciate it. We couldn't do it
without you. All right, thank you everybody. Okay, next up we have we have the request from the Fairman Business Association for August sale lawn signs.
Is anyone here from Isan Business Association? It's only up to they won't make a motion. They won't make a motion. All you guys care about are the business association. You don't care about any of the signs.
All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? I don't know. Probably permanent financing. Hey, I promise I won't talk about signs. Thank you. Um, but it does involve the other long
projects. got two extrabody's got. So, um I wanted to talk about the bond anticipation notes that the burrow has outstanding. We currently have $17,740,000 of short-term notes that mature at the
end of March of 2026. Um those projects, they were funded from 2019 to 2023 ordinances. So, a lot of that was the facility projects, some curbing, road projects, and various equipment. Um, I was before you, I
believe, every year, but through Zoom, so it's nice to see you in person. But, um, in 2023, the notes were issued through the Mammoth County Improvement Authority. They're a financing vehicle that any municipality, school district, fire district, local authority can use
in the county um that the county supports their project projects in uh all the municipalities where you can go through the improvement authority. Those projects then have a county guarantee. So then you get the lowest market rates
um out there. They're AAA um county for all three rating agencies. um your long-term rating is a double A plus, so you're one lot one notch lower. Um and it made sense to go through the improvement authority for your note
transactions. Um because you're pooling a lot of different municipalities and school districts together. The last deal in March 2025, there were 24 participants. I believe it was around $240 million. Um, so investors like that
size so you get the lowest interest rate possible than if you went on your own. Um, so now the improvement authority does offer a December pool loan program where you can permanently finance your notes into bonds which we have been talking about over the last couple of
years. Um, surveys went out last month for that program. So now here we are running numbers and seeing what makes sense for the burough whether to participate in that or if there's another avenue that is more advantageous for you. So your debt picture, your
long-term debt picture is a little bit different than a lot of other municipalities because you don't have a lot of debt on your books. You have one bond transaction from 2019 and then you have very small um green trust loans totaling $140,000
and then this note transaction. So because of the 2019 bond transaction that was level debt service that fully matures in 2044, you don't have any debt dropping off of your budget until 2024. So any new
capital project you do there is a budget impact. Um so if you purchase 20 year 204 204 204 Oh okay. I thought you said 2024. Oh okay. I was like sweet.
We're good. Um, so if you participated in the December pool loan financing, your first debt payment on the bonds would be June 1st for interest only and then December 1st, 2026,
um, principal and interest. In New Jersey, they have very strict rules about debt financings. Um, other states are not regulated like New Jersey. So, you're governed under the local bond law. Um when you do a bond financing,
you have to have a conforming maturity schedule, which means that you have to pay um principal within one year of closing. Um and your lowest principal amount in any given year can't be less than half your largest
um principal amount. So if you have a longer financing like this, your weighted average useful life is 22 years. um level debt service isn't a conforming maturity schedule. So you have to pay more debt upfront
and then you pay a little bit less the longer you go out. Say that line again. Say the last thing you said. Oh, so I a um a 20-year financing that's level debt service is a nonconforming maturity schedule. So you have to put
more principal upfront which then increases your debt load up front. Um so I think for a dis so what make sure everyone understands that so debt service is principal plus interest right and she's talking about principal
component would be you have have to be uneven because the interest as you're paying on principal your interest portion drops so maybe maybe you say it again sure so I'll I'll give you an example so if I ran a level debt service structure
for a 22year financing your principal up front would be about $400,000, but in the back as the principal drops off, like um council council Nelson said, your principal amount would be over a million dollars. And because New
Jersey statutes say that to have a conforming maturity schedule, your smallest principal maturity amount can't be less than half your largest. That's a non-conforming maturity schedule because 400,000 is upfront and you have over a
million in the back end. So, it's like a mortgage payment stay in 30 years, but the first payment is mostly principal or excuse me, mostly interest and no principal. The last payment is almost all principal interest and no interest. And there's a rule about principal payments each year in
relation to other principal payments throughout the street. Uh, and there's a it's a constraint. Check check. Um does that apply to whether we go through Mammoth County alone competitive negotiated all that? Yes. Okay. So yes across the board. Does it apply to go for financing outside of New Jersey?
No. New um New Jerseys governed like this. Other states you can do whatever you want. Um so it's sort of the wild wild west in other states compared to New Jersey. So you're very regulated. Um and they're trying to they came up with rules. Some
of them don't make sense. others. They're they're trying to make you advertise your debt and not backload things so that residents now that are getting the um benefit of these projects are paying for it as long as future
residents that also have the benefit. Um so we ran a couple different scenarios. One was doing a bond issuance in December through the M County Improvement Authority with the county guarantee, doing it on your own through
the bureau in December 2025. And then the last um scenario is doing a financing through the bureau in March of 2026 prior to the nodes maturing um with with four notes. No, no, no. With the bond financing.
Okay. of on our own either in December or March. Yes. Or with M County in December. Yes. Is there still we haven't talked about um there there isn't ban versus bond yet. So a ban is a
one-year or ban is a one-year loan and you refinance it every year. So as rates are moving up and down, you're paying a different rate, right? So, it's a it's a floating rate. Fixing it out is
like a a 30-year fix on a mortgage. Your rates locked in for 30 interest rate, right? So, our first decision, we can roll bands. You could sort of do that throughout the 22 years, I assume, right? The full 22. So, our first decision is do we want to
do floating or fixed? The finance committee discussed it. I think NY's on board to go and Chris York and the mayor talk to others to go fixed. That's what we recommend. I agree with that. Well, can we can we ask some questions?
I'm just I got it. I think Heather has more to explain for each of these. Yeah. So, if you want to let her finish like explaining the different scenarios, she may ask her some but what I say is we're talking about the second decision first. The first decision is do we do floating
or fixed? And then once we decide that, then we can decide if we're going to go competitive or negotiate with county. Either have to be comparable with maturity. Yes. Unless you get specific state approval and they will not give you that approval unless there's extensuating circumstances.
If you were to go with that, like what's it what's what would be an assertive? Um you have a large debt payment that you're paying off that's one year from now. So then your debt drops significantly. So you just want one relief, one year of tax impact relief.
Got it. Okay. And you don't have that. So um so just to um piggy back on Councilman Olsen's um discussion on the floating rate. If you did a bond anticipation note in New Jersey, you can
roll over notes for 10 years and then you have to either pay off that note or permanently finance it. In your third year, you have to start making principal payowns, but they're very minimal. There's a formula that that you do it. It takes into account the useful life of
the ordinance times 2 minus one and that's what you have to pay down. So, it's very minimal that these projects are completed. So typically once they're completed and once you start having to make principal payowns as long as the market is
favorable to and your and budgetarily it looks favorable to permanently finance the debt you typically do that. Um over the last couple of years we've been seeing one-year rates at 3 to 3 and a
half% whereas long-term bonds have been 3 and a half%. So, you know, there's there's been an an advantage to permanently finance your debt versus, you know, taking that one-year risk of issuing a short-term
note. Um, so when we're looking at the three scenarios that I provided to you, um, permanently financing in December under either scenario through the improvement authority or on your own does not make sense. Um, and there's one
reason why. because you don't have any debt dropping off and your note debt service, the interest on the notes um is $710,000 in your 2026 budget. If you permanently finance in December,
you're going to have a full year of principal and interest paying along with that $710,000 of note interest. If you permanently finance in March of 2026,
you make the first interest payment on the bonds 6 months later and then the first principal payment would be in your 2027 budget. So your note debt service would drop off in 26 and you'd replace it with principal on your bond
financing. It's more of a seamless transition at least an impact from a budgetary perspective. Yeah. So budgetarily um even though the improvement authority provides some savings overall it's the highest tax impact in year one because of of
structuring a conforming maturity schedule. So that's a tax impact of $580 on the average home in 2026. Is um Heather, is there a time of year to the Mont County
Improvement Authority? Is is there some sort of switching gets flipped like the rates are favorable? They're going to go out to market now or why December and not. They've been doing that for 30 years December. Um and it allows municipalities and school districts to plan
I see of when they do their bond financings. um they started offering the note transaction in 20 2023 um because a lot of the note underwriters in New Jersey were fined by
the SEC because they were selling their notes to more than 35 investors without an offering document. Um and and New Jersey notes is common practice. They used to just do a notice of sale, not have an official statement that tells
investors exactly what they're funding. Um, and it was common in New Jersey. It's not common in other states. So, an underwriter would sell it to Goldman Sachs and then Goldman Sachs would put it in 50 different client accounts and
that's against SEC rules. So, four major New Jersey note buyers were fined. Um, so then they started not buying any notes unless there was an official statement. For a smaller municipality that doesn't issue debt, um, it's very
difficult to put that official statement together. Um, you don't get favorable rates because you're not in the market all the time. The improvement authority and the county are in the market multiple times a year. So, there's additional savings because of the well-known name. Um, so that's what what
the decision was to go through the note financing um through the improvement party. So what is your recommendation? I would do a financing in March on your own. So then you would only have six months of interest in your 26 budget for the
bonds and then your first principal payment would be in 27. Um, March bond, not March band. March bond. March bond 30-year fixed. I want to question 22 years. May I ask one question just on this real quick? And I could tell you the tax impact and
then for that scenario. So the tax impact for that over a two-year period is $255. Um so in the 26 budget it's $166 and in the 27 budget $87.
Are you talking for household average? Am I just those two years? Am I correct in if we take the March option for the going down to 2048, we'd end up the burl would be on the
hook for about half a million dollars more in total, but the impact on the front end would be it would be a softer transition into that for a taxpayer. Correct. Is that that's accurate? Yes. So you're talking half a million
dollars over the course of 20 years, six 22 years, right? So you're talking an extra $27,000 in basically in interest. Yeah. Per year. But
for the for the current and and just and just to let you know it t typically when we when we see Mammoth County in there with their AAA rating typically it's a lot higher of a savings. Right now there is a lack of
supply in New Jersey for New Jersey paper. So, we've been seeing double A transactions price more like AAA transactions because competitive underwriters are just gobbling everything up. So, this isn't a typical this isn't a
typical situation. So, a couple things. If you go to page four of the three banks, this is the concept and strategies formula. So if you look at the two December scenarios, that very first payment, the annual debt service on the right, they're a
million2. If you go in March, that first one is 367,000. That's what correct. That's what you're trying to explain. Yes. Can you say that again? Sorry. So look on page four of the three scenarios. That's our annual debt service on the new
on each of the three scenarios. Yep. If we go in December, whether we're on our own or through Mammoth County, that first annual debt service will be a million2. See that 1,215,000 of one, a,247,000
on the other. Yeah. Right. Now look at the March one. 367. It's 367. So there's a little bit of a relief up front because of the rules allow us to div. And I want to say one other thing when she was talking about Mammoth County um
and the statements and all that that was in relation to short-term notes that does not apply to long-term bonds. So we when we did the the short-term note the proper move was to go Mammoth County bonds it it there's pros and cons right?
So to do it on our own she's recommending on our own. I agree. Um but we should be prepared to go with M County if circumstances change in my view. Can we switch or you're saying in future in a couple months we would decide we did submit the survey
we have not only Megan thank you for this it's super helpful but we have a resident in house that does this for a living for one of the largest financial institutions in the world so I actually really love to hear what you have to say about your like what you would recommend
so I think we should do the with the information we have today I would recommend doing fixed rate and then doing competitive on our own in March. And I am not the expert or Brian is but
I'm going to agree with the expert and just from my standpoint when I look at 22 years when it's fixed the percentage of people's taxes as time increases that will become less and less he has to
build. Yes. So, I think the upfront belief, you know, that keeping taxes and minimizing them is very important for me personally, and I think you've all shared that. I've seen that all of you as well. Um, I just I actually think
it's a no-brainer. And we said $27,000 a year in interest. Not that we're trading one for the other, but you know, Chris will get in later. We we save $200,000 on a road job just negotially. That that eats up nine of the 22 years just like that. So, I actually think this is a
no-brainer. I totally agree. Um, anyone else have this? This is really a full circle moment, I think, for for for quite a few of us because two years ago when we presented with facilities, right, we avoided almost $14 million in additional cost. So, imagine what the taxes would
have been now if there was another $14 million tax on. And we worked on that analysis two years ago at Theres and everything, right? So, I think a win-win and it's full circle and I think our our prudence to it has really served us well. Yeah. All the stuff we're talking about is window dressing. The best way to keep your debt service low is to not spend
extra money on a project, right? Buy a smaller house. That's how you get a lower mortgage. Well, and I I think it would help too if we start doing we have been doing this over the last couple of years because your facility projects are outside of the norm. But now that you're going back
to a normal year, what is going to be your projection annually of what you're going to issue in debt for capital? Because I can build that into this analysis and we can structure the bond transaction to then you know layer in
that future debt. You start building on the spray market. How many years? The one the one thing that stands out is probably by the time they buy it's the fire truck probably a million fire truck. But what about 21 things with that too?
Well, before we get into this type of conversation, right? I mean, we're talking about there's a running list of capital improvements that are on a list of what has to be done. Engineering DBW both have their list of items. That is a much larger conversation. I'm not trying to to say a
fire prop or this or that. like you know I think this deserves a subcommittee look at right to come back with to answer that so that the entire council can participate well that would be the national process but I think what she's asking us is are there big things coming like another
building right not small stuff not necessarily that either I think you're not ready to answer the question right now I'm just saying I'm just saying that we should have some sort of picture of what you're looking to do in the future regular capital and bigger
projects and maybe it's I'm just going to throw a number out there a million dollars a year let we could run a scenario like that we can see if it's $2 million a year what does that look like so you can see how it impacts your budget and for background before facility started Nancy and Alison you know this
better than anybody we used to do that right we used to plan a certain amount of capital every year right and then factor it in until well so we still are We still have our pay as you go. I'm talking in district totally separate.
Yes. There. Well, as projects would come up, you would authorize the funds and they would be authorized but not correct funded. So I mean that having a second loan because we have our 2019 we'll have another bond doesn't stop you from also
doing that. But what and I I agree this is a good idea is thinking long term what might we want in the future and then base our bonding amount on that. So I think it's going to involve a couple of things. One, first cleaning up
what we currently have. And Heather and I talked about this a little bit this morning. Cleaning up what we currently have. Find out, okay, these are the open projects. What are we still waiting for? You know, we still have some grant monies out there we need to to retrieve. are we going to get them? Are you going to have to cancel and then whatever? So,
there's a lot of different things there. And then anything else we may want to do in the future and then we make the decision on the amount we want to buy and it just gets it gets updated on an annual basis as things change. But, you know, you're seeing the next three years
it looks like a certain amount and then in 2026 I update it based on what you think realistic numbers are. I mean, we've seen over the last couple of years that prices for everything have exploded. So it has to be consistently looked at every year. That would be I
think very helpful as the increase per year when we first looked at I'm going to find it was was so much more substantial than $254. I was trying to find it. I couldn't find it. I'm going to find it. So um well and it was the dollar ammo was much less I think.
Correct. It was on 14 million because we were only looking at the facilities and what the tax impact was for that. This includes roads, curbs, equipment. This is all on fun. Yeah, let's go.
Can I ask Austin question and and maybe N you can maybe it's a is it best practice perhaps, but is there a percentage of our budget that is best practice for for debt allocated for? Jeez, we just had this conversation with the auditors
and or like and I can't remember what it is. I I don't remember the exact percentage, but we were well below it. Yes. Yeah, we're very your net debt percentage is very low um in it in itself but then budgetarily 10
to 15% is a normal percentage. Do we maintain our dust settle? Could we maintain our double A plus rating? I think so. They are this we already have debt, right? So we're refinancing it. So this this debt's already
incorporated in our rating. So answers well. So, we we just recently had one of the rating agencies requested our our audit. So, they're going to review that, you know, and and we'll see when you have bonds outstanding, even though you've been going through the
improvement authority, so you haven't had a rating call each year because it's been the county instead because you have bonds outstanding, the rating agency, S&P, is looking at your financials every single year because they want to make sure that your rating is up to date. So, they took a look at
your audit. They look at your fund balance to make sure that you're not spending it. It's continuously growing um to see if there's any abnormalities in your budget. Um and everything's been very consistent
and and uh they can't buy this just for residents knowledge because I think residents have asked this, they can't buy this paper from us directly. They need to go to the broker on the open market. Correct. Yeah. And and so what's different when you're doing a bond financing
on your own? Um it's a competitive sale. Um so we don't know who the underwriter is going to be. We set the pricing date. We set the parameters of the sale and then that day underwriters bid on your deal
and you know we click the button see what the results are and you know we've been seeing 10 10 biders lately on projects. Great. Um I in March just like just like the waste. No, people want people want this
too soon. It is a great great factor today. Thank you so much. Yeah. Well done. Thank you. And thank you to the finance committee like to get to this point in the conversation the amount of work that must have went into it from a finance committee
perspective like hats off Nancy awesome work like yeah wow thanks for saving us some money thank you for being here presentation that was great finance committee
Michael Brian great job thank you thank you to the staff All right, that was a that was a big one that we're moving past now. We need do we need a vote there? There's another decision here.
Okay, got it. Um, next up, propose brush and leaf ordinance amendment. Um, very excited for today. Um, beyond and and there's a few different reasons. Um
when when this effort amongst others, but when this one originally started, uh the governing bodies both this and previous made a commitment that we would continually evaluate to improve, right? That we would continuously educate and
improve. Um and so what stands before you um just well just to back up, back in the spring, um we did one round of improvements. Um there were suggestions made at that time, but it wasn't ready to present to it because it was more
pertaining to um the spring cleanup um and and and partly the rolling leaf pickup. Um so now that we're rounding rolling leaf and coming into fall pickup or excuse me uh not rolling leaf problems, brush can pickup and we're
coming into fall pickup and uh ongoing leaf pickup. Um there were some additional uh suggested changes. Uh it's a culmination of staff feedback, brush and leave feedback that we talked about up here and I kind of want to bucket bucket it to a few areas. Um and then
open up to questions. Um so the first was hey if we're going to allow cans to be used for brush or leaf we need to update the ordinance to say that. So the way the ordinance was updated and thank you Christina um was to make the can
agnostic of brush or leaf right so if residents want to put it in put leaves in a can or 12 they can if they want to put leaves in the brush if they want to put brush in the can they can as well. Um the other piece that came up was on separate bundles. We spent a tremendous
amount of time talking about this and the practicality is that it's not when when bundles aren't separated, it's not worth the FTE hours to separate it. It's easier just to put it in the back of the truck and take it to one of the dumps.
And so the language in here is when we do spring and fall cleanup, it takes out the requirement to separate bundles. It's preferred. Um but when we looked at all of the data and the practicality of it wasn't there. The other big one here
was role and responsibilities. Um so there's a few different places in here where it talks about um um role and responsibility for the resident. So, um, one of them was, hey, you can't place
brush or leaf on the storm drake, and if you don't have an area where you can put it correctly, it's on to you to reach out instead of just having it go on the dra. Um, another one was that originally residents didn't have to make sure that their commercial landscapers were
registered. So, if you're going to use commercial landscaper, make sure they're registered, so that they're following the rules and they get the packet that the bro has. Can I just stop right there? Yeah. Do we have a list online where it makes it easy for a resident to just go on and see if they're registered deferred to Chris?
We do not, but we could that's something to do. We we could do it. We have a spreadsheet with us, but it's not there any issues. The only concern I would have is I'd be afraid we'd be advertising for people, right? Yeah, you know, I I think if somebody wanted
to call, you know, Burough Hall and and determine if their landscaper is registered or not, I I wouldn't want to put it and then it turns into an advertisement on our website. That'd be my only Yeah. Endorsement. Um the next one was and it's not in
here. I'll let Christina speak to it. That's also one of the things she's gonna say. I mean, people have asked or we've come across with code enforcement or through the intrigues where somebody will put an application and we'll tell them you're a
contractor and it's not registered and we get them registered with us too. So, right. Yeah. you provide who has license with us or somebody else? My mind is just going to the person that asks and maybe the landscapers.
I my thought was just this day and age people are less prone to pick up the phone and talk to someone than they are just to go on a website and check someone out. But all good. I don't think it's a big I mean is there something we could do? That would be my only concern. I I I understand what you're saying about
endorsing them though and why is it just problem? Yeah. The the next one was um there were some operational inefficiencies that came up with the spray painting. So what it actually forced code enforcement to do was go back to the property at two
different occasions. Right? The original intent of spray chaining was more of a a message like, hey, this is a non-compliant file versus needing to get to the residence. So, if you want to speak quickly to how you're going to update the language. Well, that's what I just want to I just want to confirm that the governing body
wants to basically make it one and the same. You've got the spray paint and the notice on the same visit. That is that that's what's being recommended. We we'll discuss it, but yes, that Okay. So that I would it would be combining basically 16-5.12 and
13. Yeah. And it was a resource as as as code enforcement went out and everything the feedback was, you know, team we're going back to the same out twice. I I rather get more houses and shines, right? Um and then the last one was um and this
was brought up when it was first, but we tabled it until we had more data. um offering residents the chance for an ad hoc pickup. Um so offerings the price ending in here it's $195 which is less than fine only two times per year. Um
but we have more data points to suggest that there are some ad hoc um times that residents need this. Um and being able to offer like almost like a buffet service still Brian Olsson's terminology uh where we can you know you have the option to participate in it but you
don't have to. um just really kind of gives a service back but also not for free given you know all different considerations. All part my bad sorry concier if I adjust for uh brush or leaf brush
and or leaf or is that for other waste brush or leaf? No. Yeah, we don't we don't we don't deal with vegetative waste, yard waste, nothing like that stuff. There's yeah I mean there's plenty of places we we've talked about you know plenty there's there's a couple areas
where they can bring it they can dispose of it you know pot um but the one thing I just want to note too right so so those are the those are the kind of the the main themes those one two three four five themes you'll notice that all throughout there consistently um and I just want to point
out because I I asked Alison this the other day you know I specifically been driving around more and noticing that there isn't a lot of non-compliance town looks great and even more so I asked how many phone calls was Allison and Chris aware of with that last
downpour and they weren't aware of any of flooding right and we know what the hot spots are so you know we do right very well aware so you know we one committed to making this a multi-year endeavor working with residents
grounding in practicalities and whatnot um but ultimately through education whatnot improving the storm water conditions and at the same time ensuring that we impact services, right? And I I think we've achieved that, especially with the last storm that we had. Um, this is the the final kind of component.
Not saying that it doesn't continue to be refined year after year, um, but I think this is our fourth amendment to it in the last two years. Um, so with that, um, before anyone even comments on the changes, I just want to point out and
what you just said, I drive around now, I see the cans everywhere. And I'm saying that in a good way. There was a point where I was like every fourth street people have bought it and by buying it, we've kept all of these leaves, all these twigs, all this brush
from going into our storm drain system. If everyone thinks that it's just like good luck or surprise that we're not flooding anymore, it's that they're wrong. It's it's based on a few different levers that we've pulled, but
the main one I do think is this program. It's been a fantastic um success. Um and uh I look forward to continuing to evolve on this thing and make it even better for our community. Um I I do want
to throw out one other thing just because it's sort of in the same um category here. They installed the uh what would you call them Rich and Nick? The traps or ashbait. The sediment filters. We upgraded the sediment filters around the part of pond
along with the curb pieces, the eco pieces and the bicycle state. So, so those have been installed as well. And uh during that same you know one of those same storms I don't know if you guys have seen the picture but there
there was like a giant um you know pile of leaves and twigs that ended up staying on top of the gut. And the nice thing about that it's a nice problem that we have you know we got to figure out to make sure they get rid of that and make sure it doesn't end up but it's
not going in the storm drain system. and it used to it used to get in there and that was um leading to a lot of flooding around town. So, I I applaud everything we've done so far. Um I don't really have any new comments on what we have
here. Um other than I think is it you Betsy that talked to me today? I think we I'd like to know a little bit more about how we're going to implement the 195 like how someone makes an appointment. Um that that would be something I'd be interested in. But I I I like everything that I hear. Yeah. And and there needs to be the
conversation with the process with what it looks like, how you track it, right? The communication being code enforcement, whatnot, you know, but following kind of like process and whatnot, right? Setting the policy, approving it, and then requesting the staff to implement it. Um,
I had a question. So when you talk about uh the containers for brush and leave, can they be co-mingled? Not in the not the can. Okay. So in the can it's either all leaves or all correct. Okay. I think that has to be made a little bit clear.
Okay. Especially under a definition is the the placement of bread or leaves in a burl container and you have to be specific because I think it can be confused. I mean it really would be handled but what she said is like
yeah that's fine. We we can Christina we can tweak that right just to make it clear because rolling brush rolling brush pickup right twice a month there should be no leaves out check ongoing leaf pickup there is no can if they want to put leaves in the can that's fine but in November December if you're putting
leaves in your can you can only put leaves because leaves are only allowed right so then the question becomes for fall and spring could actually best why can't they be I guess they can be comable in the fall I I had the reason that it's not clear is because I thought
it you could interchange them in the brush and leaves like see if you see 16-5.5D the amendment makes clear that for brush containerized pickup only you cannot coingle yeah there is
but for brush and leaves bring in fall cleanup do you want is is there ability to commingle or not yeah it doesn't it doesn't soc October. So October we pull out Russian meat pick pickup and we asked them to separate the
two different distinct you know Russian one can be because it goes to different locations. Yeah. But we're asking here not to separate them any further from the practicality of the conversations we have that one residents aren't separating them and two it's not worth the manpower to spend separating them
and that they go to the um they all get mingled together. Right. Well, the spring and the fall, right? Because we've had residents the last two years, right? After we've spent time and energy and we've been talking about it now for two years, right? They all send us the pictures of the front loader just
getting old piles and putting it together. So, in theory, if we had the manpower and all of that separate, it makes perfect sense. From a practicality perspective, it's not what's working and it's just leading to greater frustration, right, to our residents when we're not even following our own orders.
Well, would me too. Why didn't he track you at all on that? Eric and I was hoping Nick you could I didn't track you. It's more on me. I'm not faulting you. I'm just having a struggle. Can Nick
operationally when there seems to be a distinction between spring and fall? Is that what you were getting at? Well, historically, yes. You know, leaves go to the farm and brush goes to our staging area.
you know, we're we're coming up to a fall grinder or grind right now. And that material that we've been collecting all along through the spring and summer that brush is going to be ground up and then taken to, you know, Maza and they're going to do whatever they're
going to do with it. We've been lucky that we've been able to keep our prices pretty low because they know that our product is pretty much not comingled with a lot of different things. So they're they're going to grind it and then use it and sell it and do whatever
else. We had gotten multiple quotes when we went out to the grind and our price was very competitive compared to the other prices which were almost double to triple, you know, the actual cost of grinding. So the the the issue is is that once we start co-mingling a lot of
this stuff, you know, the prices are going to to change and we're going to be paying for it because the the vendor that's going to be doing the grinding is not going to be comfortable with the material that's there. So yes, there's opportunities in the spring whereas the
materials are are co-mingled because it's it's just the nature of the beast. But, you know, historically the the fall there's still an opportunity when when leaves are are can be separated into a can and the brush can be separated in can and we can kind of,
you know, move it out. So, it's not a perfect world and it's a case by case basis and it's dynamic based on the weather and when the leaves fall. Um, but ultimately we're trying to, you know, do what's best for the residents and what makes sense from an operational standpoint. you know, the cans
themselves, the coal on the can, I think is a great idea. Um, people can put leaves in the can, they can put a brush in the cans, you know, whenever it's convenient. Uh, from a safety standpoint, it helps with the pedestrians, it helps with the bicyclists. Um, in the past, everybody
has seen that the the piles extend way out into the road, causing, you know, people to have to slum back and forth. Um, so that suggestion in the in the new new draft, I think, is is welcome. I agree that the the the um the
administrative sides, the logistics for the ad hoc pickups, we'll have to figure out, you know, quantities, you know, schedulewise, how that makes sense from an operation standpoint with administrative staff and DPW staff. Uh I don't visualize it to be one of these types of scenarios where it's an
emergency where someone calls and says, "Look, we paid $195. We need you to come out there today." I don't see DPW just dropping everything we're doing and going out there. We're going to have to figure out how that makes sense from an operational standpoint. Maybe it's, you
know, maybe before the weekend uh on Friday, we set aside a certain time to go out and, you know, pick up the list and go out and pick up those different, you know, areas. And, you know, I don't know if we do it by the entire town or if we do it by zone. I have to figure
out, you know, some of those different scenarios. Um, and then the code enforcement side with the with the spray paint and the compliance. I think that helps out our our staff. So, they kind of seamlessly kind of hit that and and move forward.
Um, I don't know if that answers all the questions, but that's just kind of quick and dirty. Okay. So, so it can be coingled or not. So, so can I just can I just So, so the way the way that the suggestion is in ongoing leaf pickup which is November,
December can't come. You're not picking up enough leaves only. There can. So, hey, when you get there, right? Okay. So, you're with me on ongoing leaf. You're with me on leaf. Ongoing leaf pickup November, December.
The only thing we collect as a town is leaves. Leaves only. It can't come. Check. Okay. Between spring and fall, which are the cleanups, which are the foot beds, and between that, it's only brush pickup. So, there's no coingling with that either, right?
But yeah, sure. But even if some actually it's not sure in June, uh there's a certain species of tree that does fall, but that's why the hashup's going in here, but we won't get there. Okay, got it. So for ongoing brush pickup, which is in between spring and fall cleanup, all we have is brush. And
then in November, December, all you have is leave. Everybody with me? So there's no coming in there. The way this is written, in the spring and fall cleanup, you don't need to separate. And if you want to use a can, use a can. And you don't need to separate. That's not what decoration says. I I
don't like the I like it for the ease of the actual like putting it out as one. But it is confusing. But I do it is confusing to have like okay between this you can do it. It just it's a lot of different things to keep track. Great.
But we've done it the last two years rightly. My husband has been that successful. The fact that we didn't have any storm water complaints. There was no flooding in the last 3 4 in of rain. I think is is is telling us that it's successful. You know I support that.
That's 100% that it's just how not completely out of the store. It's never 100% new. Are you saying in the fall and spring pickups where you put your stuff to the
curb now can it can be mingled. So no more separating. more separating because from a practicality perspective as we've collected the last two years we've had is that different so many residents say hey you tell me to separate it and
then the machine just comes in because because what that then means is from an operational perspective this is the research that we did was that I'm only going to send out during the fall and spring cleanup I'm only going to send out a truck for brush go around the entire town and only collect the brush
then I'm going to go through the entire town and only go around and pick the leaf it doubles and given our current manpower and the practicality of that, it just didn't work. Hence why they would just pick everything up. But Nick just said it's going to be more expensive because it's not going to be as clean as it was when they were
separated into two piles. Sure. But the reason and the reason I I will respectfully challenge that is is the brush grinding site is only brush, right? And not anymore. No. Could I say why shouldn't change? We
weren't doing it anyway. Ding ding ding. When stuff was comingled, we just took it to the dump. We never dropped co-mingled stuff at the brush. Yeah, but never or did we historically and then recently after we changed it, were we home? I mean, I'm going to look at Nick and Rich. I'm going off the things that
we've talked about the last two and a half years and how many residents we have called in saying, "Yeah." And I Yeah, it's not a perfect world out there. There's there's there's there's piles there's plenty of people that call you and ask you how come we pick up everything and there's plenty of people that come to us then say thank you for
separating it and picking us you know there's both there's both sides of the story you guys do a fantastic job it's not yeah obviously October is the one month that's kind of a shoulder month because you don't necessarily have a lot of leaves falling and only in theory only
leaves that you should have are the leaves that are coming from the brush from the actual branches that are trimming there's not like huge piles of leaves out there. So, you know, if that gets to the to the to the brush site and it's not this human, you know, it's minimal.
It's not a huge amount, you know, when the when the monthly solid waste or health department comes over, if they can see that it's legitimate just kind of, you know, dimminimous in respect to the leaves, they're not going to necessarily find us for our our permit requirements, whatever. if they go out there and they see, you know, piles and
piles of leaves, then they're we're going against our permit. And that's what we're trying to avoid. What I what I really like is is and for the record, is when Councilman Lava brought this, the original, he said, "Look, we're going to try to make it as
as perfect as we can, but we're going to learn from the data and you're sticking with it and we're amending it and we're changing it and we're we're we're continuing to try to perfect it and improve it." I think that's great to to stick with something and look at the data and look how it's the the results
are happening on the ground. I think that's fantastic. We we heard that the standard for the can was too too strict. I was and that was me. You know I was the standard for the can was wrong. Right. That's what we heard from the
community. Correct. So what we did is we evolved and we added new option. changed. That's what where it's happening. We have other districties that have reached out to me asking about the can, how it's working, how it's being perfected and some of the issues and things like that because they they see
the benefit especially from the, you know, having all the debris in the road and not having to, you know, deal with storm water issues, infrastructure issues, wear and tear on the equipment and and what have you. So, you know, I would say that Fair Haven is kind of on leading edge of of trying to figure out
ways to this and and to me right where we where we left off with the separation was it should be an educational piece. If you can do it, do it right. Um but also every time we didn't do it, we weren't
following our ordinance for the enforcement. And it's not practical to it's not practical to say code enforcement and check every or or or have Nick and his team. Oh, hey here this pile's not separated. You know what? I guess I'll get this next week. They got to get it right there in the moment. That's the practicality of in
reality. October, I guess, is the is the shoulder month, like I said. And there's times where we have an alternative place. We take it to Maza and we use those some of those combined loads when when the guys are out there, they are addressing a certain section of town. If that section of town has a large
accumulation of leaves and brush which they know that we can't bring to our brush site, we'll take it to Maza and then dispose of it there. So, it's kind of a boots on the ground decision point. It's hard to kind of categorize the entire town, the entire ordinance on on
specific things. We have to be able to trust our employees and us to make that decision and figure out what needs to be done. And and that's where the ordinance it has some flexibility with regard to allowing people to put it the leaves in in one container and the brush in another container. Um it helps out with
with making those decision processes. So I just want to say that kind of is what I was looking for because the law can only do so much. Enforcement can only do so much. When you're out there with the crew or whoever's doing this, they they've got to make real time
decisions and the law should allow for that. Calvin Day, correct? And all which is I think the spiritist are doing just that. Um, which I think is a good uh I'll call it like a counter
correction because um I want our as I believe we all do. We want our residents to feel that this is a service that they're getting the service that their tax dollars are paying for. But we also want to protect the infrastructure, be
guarded against micro flooding and keep things clean and also safe in the streets for bicyclists and everyone on the sidewalk talking so on. But also be realistic and uh hopefully this is it. Are there
are there other things that the rest committee has? No, this is this is it. And and the other thing that's I want to underpin real quick because I think you hit a great point and and I'll give it to you right because you mentioned it two years ago right the educational piece right so
like we continue the education we continue the education to separate the child we continue right but we don't we don't set ourselves up for fail right given a non-practical right approach to enforce something that's not
really workable correct um but then As often as these little changes have been made to align with what's practical, we now also have an obligation to communicate effectively%. Okay. You you want to know how I know those
words? If we reverse engineered this and went back to the way we used to do it, I think people lose their votes. I think all they'd lose their quick question just to get back to the finance part of it. If we're you said
that we could be in violation of our agreement or something I forget. Right. So right now adjacent to the Fair Heaven Fields we have a a DPW a rural facility which is about 1 acre which has you know earn burns has a fireproof you
know surf on we have to keep a certain perimeter distance away from that burn for our pile and that file is a is considered a brush staging area. Mhm. It's totally separate from a leaf composting or a leaf, you know, um, you know, site that has to deal with storm
water, other issues, uh, because there's other safety considerations. Once you have a large collection of leaves for a long period of time, there's fire risk, there's leech that goes into the groundwater, there's a whole bunch of other things. And we're not in that business. We're just in a brush staging area um that we get quotes to get ground
up and disposed of in accordance with our permit. So I guess my question is if would we be in violation if we're in our ordinance saying in October you can co-mingle well because like I said DPW like depending on that week that street that
truckload if if we see that a large percentage of that is mixed material that is not suitable to our standards we take it to MAZA directly to them and you know that way we we stay within our parameters and our rules. regulations.
But will we be will we be costing the burrow more by taking more loads to maza if we take more loads? Yeah. Yes. Yeah. But if they're comingled like if we're kind of saying October go ahead isn't
there more chance of it being coingled and then more chance of us taking it to that that assumes that everybody's been separate, right? I I just don't want to add I think this is very don't want to add financial
and that's also why we make sure that like when we're taking the leaves out to the farm you know they're just leaves because there additional brush and things then the farmer has to separate any of the brush and leaves and becomes you know cost additional cost that's pushed back onto the burl so like in
November December when we're picking up leaves we're very conscious that when the guys are picking that up and this helps too when people put the leaves in the cans they can just dump them But sometimes with the loader, the big machinery, some people try to hide things underneath those big piles and we
don't necessarily see that and then it goes out to the farm and then there's an issue. So, and and I want to give kudos that Nick, you be honest here, right? I've seen personally the DPW in November, December separating the brush, put it on the front lawn, taking the leaves were one of the only municipalities in Mammoth
County, right, that still is able to bring the leaves to a farm. Yeah. Well, we're the only one that's using this specific specific inset and we just we just went through the whole process again and um are already set up like the PO to go back to the store
there, right? And there's a savings for that as well. It's huge. So, I just want to make sure we're still getting those savings by making these changes. We're still getting those savings. We're not 100%. Yeah. We're very conscious and making sure that it's efficient, that we're
following rules and regulations and that we're providing the service to the community and making sure that our roads are safe, our infrastructure is lasting, and that we're not, you know, undoing things that you shouldn't undo and the education has to continue.
Yes. And so put this on the agenda forations. Yeah. And so all that being said, there's few adjustments that I need to make now that everything is much more awesome. So that's next. Yeah. For next, we want to be before. But great job. Like the DBW's crashing
then Nick his entire team like are you looking for workshopping introduce? So then you adopt. So it's in a force for Okay. So then that being said, can we just look at the ad hoc curb side? I have in there the last Roman numeral about contacting DPW five business days
in advance and submitting the payments of the burrow. Do you want to um change that to say that they should look at some sort of literature elsewhere about the process or how do you want to address the process? I don't think the process should be outlined in the order. So you want me to just strike that 100%.
Right. The way I'm looking at the GB here, but the way that we've always approached this is like process changes and you don't want you want me to point them because we can't reach out to the burrow staff or burrow for the process contact
to inquire about schedule a pickup. Yeah, I wouldn't process. still have to put the fees into effect like yeah we're going to have to ordinance and it's calendar year so and next year I agree with that
I don't think you should I want you to hear I don't think I don't think the the park kickoff should start until 26 because we're running on calendar year January to December if you think about it right like it's confusing yeah that as long as we do all the work
now so 26 it's implementable Oh, good. Is the ad hoc going to be in containers? Is it going to be limited to a certain size or quantity or is it unlimited? Those are some of the questions. I mean unlimited, I don't want to say unlimited, right? Like there's not unlimited brush, limited leaves, but
like the thought process was it's another cleanup, right? It's another fall or spring cleanup at the curb twice a year and not associated with he did he did bring up one one good point. What what if someone does a clear cut or something and they chop a bowl of trees? They
expect you to be double. Oh, it's got three three feet. Three inches. It's the the same exact specs of what you're allowed to dispose of. 3 in in diameter, 3 feet left to right, but it would be I think the quantity is what they're worried about because they
can chop it up, but then we'd have to pick up an a. So if everybody else is putting out their cans and then someone calls for ad hoc pickup and they just put it out on the on the grounds. Is that Yeah. Listen, I I think we could talk through all like the what if scenarios. Why don't why don't you guys take away
coming up with a process, right? And I think the concern would be that turns into the community pile for that street for $195. You know, you one person $195 and three other houses dump on it, you know, and they'll split the cost. Someone says it
goes out and thinks it's a pickup and they put theirs out. Well, that would Well, they put theirs out separate. They would get a summon, but my concern would be is that they rake it into the the now community pile. So, I think we would have to determine what the side of the maximum size. And again, listen, like this is this is
not the first time we're going to revisit this. I can see we're finding the adhawk pickup multiple times. Our other big we could sort through. Well, it's not really worth $195, so one can. Considering you want to introduce the other changes and this isn't going into
effect until the new year, do you want me to strike this from the amendment or introduction? I do. You want to continue it? I think keep it in and just know, but it's not going to go into effect until the new year. So, but it'll be in place with that.
We're just not going to offer it until January. Yeah, we just Yeah, we just wouldn't offer it. Okay. And it wouldn't be in January because January is still Christmas tree and reads, right? Then February the second start of the calendar. Beautiful new Christmas tree is doing
well at I would like I would like to um Christmas tree. Our beautiful Christmas tree. I get it. Save us some time. I told I you know
what I I said last year we should buy sorry what were you saying I just wanted to uh kind of recap where we were about 620 what exactly 105 what am I picking up guys and I I don't think that that's clear
I think they can I think they can make an assessment right and tell us professionally what they think would be a sizable amount right and what they want to pick up so we're gonna hear from you Nick yeah I think And then I do believe then the next
question is well if one can is what we pick up and one can is the alart offer is that a1 195? No. Right. So well if someone wants one can picked up off schedule it would be $195. I don't
think anyone would ever do that. But that wasn't the intent of it. Right. The incentive was, hey, in June when all of the holly trees fall and I've trimmed them, which is when you're supposed to do that apparently, and I have a I have a parking lot size of material, right? I want I want to like grant us some a little bit of practicality in the
situations that arise, right? If somebody abuses it and does a clearcut and all that, well, there's all different ordinances for that, right, to govern that. So, I would like to recommend, right, the first step is always making sure that that the ordinance itself and whatnot is on its track for approval. And I'd like to
staff I'd like to ask our professionals who are on boots on the ground. These guys and gals see everything every day to come back. Hey, what do you suggest the process to be? And what size do you suggested to be based on this? What is the appropriate amount? Correct. Obviously, it's 400 cubic
yards. It's going to be a no. But also want to ground that in how many size properties we have. Right. That really looks like any hot brush. Brush brush and brush or leaf brush and or is first pick up and get another pick up.
Exactly. I don't know why anyone would need leaf because they have a spring pickup and they have the rolling leaf pickup at the end of the year. Why would they have so much leaf that they would need $19? Would have to be brush, right? It's it's larger properties and it's June. June is like a big month where
some other trees shed their leaves. Pirate leaves all the time. I think when you weave trees, they just fall. Well, I I'll just closing comment on that. I really like the idea of this added service.
Just want to make sure that the uh the services can serve their 100%. Right. We could track it like we do bulk pickups where we call I mean it's coming to us through the timeless it's another alart service another revenue line even though it goes into a
bucket we can't use it that can be goes into our surplus though I'm sorry goes into our surplus it goes into your burn roll all right public comment agenda items only please observe a threeminut time limit please state your name and
address for the record Is there anyone in the public with a public comment on agenda items only? Bill Perkins Hair. Um, I love the coingle pickup because I've been commenting on this for a number of years. With all due respect, I've never
seen them picked up separately. And now that I've been retired, I'm there to see that happen. follow the truck around and never seen a separate leaf pickup and then a brush pickup in the same zone. I've always seen comb. So, I think that that's great.
Bill Brian actually said that we should make a sign the Bill Perkins com I'll take I have a comment on the consent question on the consent agenda. So item 225
225 approval of the change orders wage three. So yeah so it only approves. Why is the mayor only signing off on 28 29 33 34 35 36 what happens to 30 31 32 and 1 through 27.
Yep. So any change order that's less than five didn't come to the GB for previous approval. Okay. Um so that's fact one. Let's just put that here. Okay. Say that there was over 5,000 things, the governing body. Okay.
At the last governing body meeting, this is all the latest, so just give me a minute. The last governing body meeting, um, it was actually June 6th, I think it was, or June 8th, the governing body, June 9th, there were five change orders that were presented that all had a timely nature to them.
I can go through them if you want line by line with that. Um, so and what the governing body approved was not to exceed of $35,000. Given the magnitude of this project, we wanted to do our due diligence, not due diligence, right? Where we wanted to
have the utmost etiquette. So, we came back and two of those change orders which were already approved back on June 6 are now. Then you have uh credits um and then another u debit in there as
well. Um, one other thing I want to mention is is out of that 35,000, we avoided 12,000 of it. So, we only spent 23 of the 35,000 was approved, just so we're clear. So, anything bottom line, anything sub five, the governing body
gave the mayor the authority to approve. Tonight is a way to do two things. One, ensure we are abiding by the highest standards of fiscal responsibility of change orders. and to address the two change orders that approved on June.
Drew, can I add one? And just one thing that you mentioned about 1 through 34. 1 through 30. Well, well, we'll just put 1 through 34 which has that number which has the total next to it. A lot of those change orders have long been approved prior to so some of those have resolutions
attached to them because they were over 5,000. some of that. Allison's point when she put this resolution together was to give the governing body an idea of what change orders um increased the contract, but also the fact that we had two change orders that decreased the contract as well. So that's why they were broken down. So a lot of that's
past history in Right. It was a question. It wasn't No, no, no, no. But it's I was going to say it on the update, but my second uh comment is when do I make a comment on the ordinance change? that
during public comment or that what ordinance change you talking about maybe a trady ordinance I had some comments on is that now or we open about that's that that's going to be that's going to be a second
yes you don't have opportunity to speak again anyone else public comment agenda items hold anyone please Ruth hi Hi Ruth.
Ruth, you got to come in. You got to come in and see the new uh council chambers here. It came out beautifully. Oh, good. I'm thrilled. Um I want to go back to this leaf and brush thing. Got it. I had distributed to council an
an ordinance from another town that gave senior citizens an exemption from your Russian limb ordinance. Uh I got caught in this last
big storm when everybody else got theirs picked up. I didn't know about it. I don't have internet in my house. The point being, even if I had internet, I could not have gotten it out. It was so
huge. I had parts, large parts of two trees fall in my yard. Now, fortunately, and coincidentally, one of my sons was going through town a couple days later, and he was nice enough to
cut all this stuff up and put it out at the curb. And I assumed since I've lived here for decades and after a huge storm, the town has always just rolled by and picked this stuff up. I have parking spaces in front of my house. I did not
put it in one of the parking spaces. It was put out from the curb so that water could run to the sewer uned. The point being I I I'm paying a fine and I believe that seniors and disabled
should be exempt from the brush and leaf ordinance because it is just beyond us. For you folks, $195 is probably a nice dinner out. For some people, it's their whole month food
budget. And I you there are poor people in Fair Haven, believe it or not. And I have just about had it because seniors are not treated well in Fair Haven. And I I
anyhow besides which I want to know why a can has to be round. What difference does it make? What's not what configuration? Completely changed that that part. Oh, good. I my argument at the time was
I thought the un Oh, I thought you said brown. I'm sorry. I apologize. I thought I thought you said brown. No, round. Yeah. So, the reason it needs to be round for uniformity reasons is just like we're trying to not get into workman's comp situations with all
different sizes and shapes. That's why it's under 32 gallon. That's why it's round. Um material it's made out of. Yeah. the the material it's made out of that we're trying to have uniformity there. Well, I've seen them advertised in stores to for somewhere between $40 and
$100 a can. I don't think the citizens should be responsible if you're going to make or ordinances that force them to have these things. My other comment is a lot of your ordinances deal with aesthetics. It is not up to
the town to deal with aesthetics. Aesthetics are approachable by each person. If you want to grow your grass 6 in high, you should be able to do that. If you pay your taxes and you're all right
with the world, you should have your own taste and not not have it dictated by other people who have to have their grass manicured within an inch of its life. They do not have we do not have landscapers. We do
the best we can and I just feel that every ordinance in town should be examined and if it isn't a health and safety issue for the general public it should be stricken. So anyhow that's my point. It it the
town is overregulated. It does not treat its seniors well. And I think the brush ordinance should be revisited again to for those who are incapable of of big heavy things. They
can do other things, but they can't do things like that. Thank you, Ruth. Appreciate your time. You're welcome. Allison, and anyone else? No. Okay. Moving along now. Approval of
minutes July 28th, 2025 the regular meeting. I have a motion to approve. Motion second. Second. Alison, may I please have a roll call? Yes. Yes. Yes. Rivera. Olson. Yes. Okay. Next up, old business hearing
and adoption of ordinances. First one, 2025-12 general capital ordinance. Motion to open. Motion. Second. All in favor? Anyone opposed? Does anyone up here have anything on this bill? We're not there yet. I'm asking you guys
first. Anybody up here have anything on this yet? Anybody in the public have anything on the general capital ordinance 2025-12 Allison? Anyone online? No. Uh do I have a motion to close? Motion. Second. All in favor?
Anyone opposed? I have a motion to approve as presented. So second. Alison, may I please have a roll call? Paul, yes. Yes. Hoey. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Next up, 2025-13, amend tree
removal ordinance section 14-H.12 violation and penalty section. Have a motion to open. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? Anyone up here have anyone in the public have anything on this? Yes.
I'm sorry, sir. We [Laughter] Well, sense. So, as many of you recall, I was quite vocal on this ordinance, this tree change, the
the changes to the tree ordinance. The consensus was that we spent two years working on it and blah blah blah blah blah. Therefore, we had to push this thing through. But apparently in that two plus years or five years or whatever the number was, we didn't do our due diligence because we now come to
find out that our penalty can only max out at $2,000. So I think that's one of the embarrassments for us. But two on the penalty schedule, I have some comments
but then question. So, for the first category, uh 2 and 12 to 6 in caliber tree, you replace one tree, $500, or you can pay $1,000. Category 2 is a 13inch caliper tree to a
22.99 inch caliper tree, replace it with two trees, add $1,000, or pay 1325. That's a bargain. I mean, I'm not sure why that the alternative is becomes a bargain because if you're in this
penalty category, you also didn't have to pay for any of the permanent. So, that lowers the the $325 difference. Third category is for a tree 23 in to 32.99
in. Let's replace it with three trees and $1,500 or pay $,650. That's a real boy. The icing on the cake is the fourth category, which a 33inch caliber tree,
and I should just like to say a 33inch caliper tree is probably well over a hundred years old. So, you took down a hundred-y old tree and you're required to replace it with four trees and pay $2,000 or just pay winner winner chicken dinner or
just pay $2,000. So, wow. If we're eliminated on our penalty schedule, why have So, so that leads to my second question. So, I'd like to address that. That's where I'm going. So my my comment is do we my question is do we
have to have a cash alternative? You have to have a cash alternative to the Portland place. The requirement is if I get a speeding ticket it's $100 because I was doing 20 miles over the speed limit. They don't say you can give us this or or you can do 10 hours of community service. That's what
the fine is. So the fine is four trees and $2,000. Why do you have the option to just pay $2,000? Well, I I'd like to I and I think you're hearing that about here.
Yeah. I I think that this is embarrassing. Yeah. I I also think I mean we're I would suggest a Russian leaf thing where we might need to come back to this. Yes. Ongoingly. Um, it's important obviously
just like our storm drains and our the other things for energy cleaning right this might also be something we need to come back to. So in the interest of I get it in the interest of time we're looking to push this forward because if somebody takes down these trees or whatever we want to do whatever but I
think we should be changing this that we're not I I don't think anyone's disagreeing with you. Well, I'm disagreeing with you. The words embarrassing like there's certain parts of this ordinance that work very well also. So, I'm saying this is a change. This is a change that everybody reviewed. And
unless I was sitting here, I'm not so sure you would have all just said yes. I think you're right. But we a lot of the things that we discuss we rely on our community to help us with as well. We're not perfect. And and I I don't think I I don't mean it as a a
personal affront anyone. I'm saying we pay That's more embarrassing. I'm not embarrassed by this. Could we have done better here? Absolutely. I I agree with that as far as seeing this, but I'm not embarrassed. Um we we we've been right on this ordinance on a lot of different,
you know, 37% more new trees have been put in the ground since last year in the month of June. In the month, only dead trees in the month of June. Only one tree that was healthy was taken out. And and your administrator can confirm that. data is we
so so the what's that it's a low number as well it's on healthy trees very very handbook Christina striking that column is that material change so have to go back and all that I would rather go back and take that B2
out I mean I I think because we're making we're giving incentive basically to more trees out the more trees out the better and I already had concern going into this We all know like but if our if our concern is the placing the
trees this then this isn't just a money gra because you're saying just write out a check. I think we should take out each. Can I just can I I have a question though? Right. Is it is it better to have I don't know because the cash will come
back to the barrel. The barrel still gets funds and can still plant trees. It's not like we're getting more money to plant more trees. So you're getting more if you don't even do the the B2. Well, you want the penalty with the trees and the fine because that gets more trees out.
Objective is to get them to plant trees. I'm I'm good tableabling this. There's I went online say they're going to put people in jail. 90 days of jail is their B2. So I don't think that's warranted.
What if we had it and immediately changed it? What was the poor join? I would I wouldn't adopt something if if it's if it's Yeah, I wouldn't do that. Can I just ask me? So, if we take this out, then it would just stand as like you have to replace trees no matter what.
And just on the on just on the penalties all the penalties. Penalty. Yes. Yeah. These are for people that get caught doing something they shouldn't have done. Correct. If I can add because when I thought about this more, I also think they should pay for the permits that
people who are doing it the right way are doing anyway. Like when you go to court and then you're also charged court costs. Yeah. Trees plus a buying plus you should get a fee right now. What's that application? But if you're doing this as a penalty, you're not even paying for the proceed.
But if they went to the state cost any but they're not paying for the penalty. They're not paying the that I legitimately by legitimately did it. I'd beame be serving the purpose as a penalty and we can only max it up 2,000 that would have the function. But is that the penalty if that was the
right way to to give you guys um penalty because it's happened to just I'm not saying that that's indicative of the future but we've had one time so far this year doesn't mean it hasn't happened more we've caught one one person that's illegally cut down trees without
I just think the objects of B2 are bad. Yeah. Make a motion to table this, remove it, reintroduce it the next one. The first one is not second. Yes. Thank you, B.
All right. Um, does anyone else in the public want to discuss tree removal ordinance? Well, did did this come to the shade, too, or is this just a a legal the label.
So, so Bonnie, just to give you a little background on it, um when this when we went to codify this ordinance with New Jersey courts, it was flagged by Judge Newman, who's the residing miscalcul ordinances. That's why it came back.
It's only to clear up the amounts because the amounts were too high for school ordinance for penalty. So, yeah. So, is there an alternative to a fine? Is there like I saying, jail time. Love that. um community service,
but I'm like not kidding. No, but I mean, yeah, Bill makes a really good point. I mean, it's like this makes no sense whatsoever, right? Like I mean, everybody agrees this makes no sense the way. I think category one makes sense. I don't think it's just Well, let's be clear about something. It
made sense in its original form and the judge said, "There's bigger law here than tree laws. We were trying to conform to the storm ordinance rules. There's bigger law that was outside sort of storm water and the model ordinance was blank on fines. There was a lot of
discussion as you remember in shade tree. Some people thought the fines are too high. Some people thought they were too low. Kind of back and forth. We tried to find the middle ground. Judge says they're too high. So now we're trying to adjust and fit round holes and square pegs. That's why it looks off. Okay. And who put these numbers in? This
is just the we tried to we tried to ramp it, you know, start off low. This is like building really It's a great coming up.
Okay. So, we'll figure out like community service forward. Chris, if you need someone for you, anybody else next meeting
else in the public on 125-13 Allison? No. Do I have a close? Sorry, mayor. Um, but we probably not to affect the stack the stage of the process, but I think it would be a good idea for Christie to distribute it to
the shing commission so that they're updated as it is being updated. You mean just the new ordinance as it? Sure. Absolutely. Um, are we still able to vote on this? No, I made a motion. Do I but I do I
need to close this the you need to close the public hearing and then no motion. Got it. A motion to close second. All in favor? Anyone opposed? Thank you. Uh facilities update. Awesome. So, we kind of hit it before, mayor, but just we'll go through the
rundown um just so it's all in condensed area um on the minutes. So, again, huge kudos for for all involved, right? Avoiding almost $14 million in additional costs. We're at the point in the projects where we want to close them out. We want to be done. Um there's
always going to be area for improvement, always areas to enhance, but given the professional burn, right? This is a monthly burn for the professionals to hire. Uh given um how public contracts law treat these types of projects from a union's perspective, it is best to come
to finality based on the approved projects and any enhancements whatnot we can look at later. Um, even though we had that avoidance of cost, it didn't stop how we treated it throughout the project, right? And I just want to notate it so it's clear. At the first
meeting in June, right, where the governing body authorized $35,000 for five COS, um, we were able to do it all for 20 and avoided another $15,000 in CS. Right? So maintaining not only that that fiscal prudence, right, but then ensuring that
from a documentation perspective, authority perspective. Hence, I love how this resolution was written and hats off to Allison and Nancy for that. Um, from a DPW perspective, uh, we are 100% complete with the exception of two items. Uh, the one item is the waste oil
tank. It is just a bear to order it out of Indiana. 22 week lead time. So, hopefully within the next 48 weeks, we get an update that it's delivered. Uh, the other item that's not 100% is landscaping. Um, one of the trees tree species uh was diseased. Um, so we had
the landscaper come in, remove it. Um, they are slated in October to replant uh that tree and no additional cost. No, no additional cost of 100% species or different species. Same species. It's just it's perfect for the design and the way it fits and all that. Yeah. And Brian, just that's a question
that I had asked as well. it was this a bad species for the landscape design and and all and the contractor said we probably bought a bad batch because it was all the same trees in the same order. He said they probably sat too long by the time he got them from the vendor and they probably were already dying. So, so it's under warranty so no
costs and they have been pulled out and hats out. Kudos to Nick and his team. I mean, they've watered the crap out of these plants, right? And they survived and flourished. Hot summer, hot summer and everything. So, hats off to Nick and his entire team for for pulling that through. So from a DPW
perspective, um we also uh as you know no longer um were paying for services from the professionals. 31 July was their last day. Uh so Nancy and team have been crushing it at the DBW. At the DBW, correct? Um for the PD and
community center, we're in a final sprint as we speak um to hopefully conclude by the end of this month. Um the the contractor is uh working tirelessly um on site every day work with all the subs to make sure it's done. The new bike path is in. So if you
had a chance to walk by and see bike path connected, it's actually kind of cool. Um the one item that will remain for PD and community center that won't close out is landscaping because we're going to do in October when it's cooler and it makes sense. Um but great work there. And then um the fish chapel
parking lot um storm water systems in. So as you know we created a in consultation with the church a bio retention system that captures all the water that hits the uh the roofs of the buildings as well parking lot. Um they were supposed to
pour concrete uh curving and the rest of the concrete sidewalk last week but there was an unfortunate uh challenge. The subcontractor's mother unfortunately passed away so it got pushed one week. Um but we're in this week which is great and then hopefully within the next two to four weeks concluding with that again
with the exception of landscaping um which won't be until October when it gets a little cooler. Um do we want to talk this paving? I'm going to give it to Chris and Rich. I know this was Josh's Josh's doing or
at least sparking the idea. So over to Chris. So, so, um, Nick, uh, Rich and I met with, um, New Jersey American Water, um, regarding the Fair Road Paving project. Um, there was some work on Fair Haven Road, um, that was slated for curb
to curve restoration. Uh, because we are already doing that. Um, we had had a discussion with, and again, this is still pending their approval, but they're going to pitch it to their management team. Um, we had had a discussion with them considering if they were to do the curb to curb restoration, we'd be milling it up anyway and
repaving it again. Um, would they pave another road where their services are and the road that was suggested was Fisk because Fisk needs paving. Um, the representative in New Jersey American came out and said that he would certainly be um fine with that. He proposed that to the management. He said
it'd be a favorable um request and didn't see any issues. We we haven't heard anything back yet. Right. That was uh last Wednesday, last Thursday we met and um so we should hear something relatively soon. Um but again, he said it was pretty favorable and we were planning on paving FISK anyway so we
would have that project paid for by New Jersey American Waters. So how much it would cost a cost avoidance? What would you say exactly that would be? I love it. was right to a linear. It's a it's certainly a considerable savings uh for the burrow um that we would have had to uh you know outlay to
get that project completed. So while he does the math um just two closing remarks um again we can't stress how critical is to come to point of finality. Um the team has been phenomenal entire way. Um and hopefully
we'll be talking about um ribbon soon as we up. So thank you for that. Probably between 15 and 20,000. Awesome. There's another savings, right? What was the number? 15 to 20,000. There's no curve or sidewalk. So no
curve or sidewalk. No store order. So awesome. Um just as an aside for your on fair road going out to bid September 3rd for the demo. Oh, I was like wait.
We've distributed that bid to 10. Oh, for sight stabilization and all that. Yeah, as fast as we will. Awesome. That's great to hear. Good. Awesome. It's great. Just moving along. Any questions on facilities? Did I miss anything, Chris? Great job. I think everything's good.
That's great. Okay. Uh, next up is new business, the consent agenda. We're talking 2025 217 through 2025-227. Anyone up here have anything on this? Anyone want to separate anything?
I think I'd like to separate 2025 222. Yeah, I'm not and I Why don't we Why don't we um Why don't we vote on the other ones, then we'll get Is that all right? Is anyone anything else? Anybody wants to separate? All right. So um 2025 217 through 221
and then 223 through 227. Does someone have a motion to approve? Second. Allison, may I please have a roll call? Paul, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank you. Uh Councilwoman,
so I think I'm a little too close to this um this one. So, I don't know if I need to recuse myself. That's probably the best. Yeah. So, I'll refuse myself just because my property is affected by this. So, yeah. Does anyone else have any comments on
this before I ask for a vote? We Oh, just noting that u there's a maintenance bond still in place. Yes. Yes. I guess I there's probably more broader
contest here than I have. Right. This was the project that was behind on it. So, um th this is Colonial Court is um a subdivision that is directly behind
the council's house. Um, for a long time we had a lot of trouble in getting them to perform what was in their application and their approval. Um, so for years without going into too much detail
um I think we gave them multiple extensions. Sorry. Maybe I No, no, no. I I think the question was what's the big picture? You said there's two bonds out now. what we're releasing from the performance.
Got they've now satisfied they've now satisfied some of those things we've been giving them extensions on over the years and they put up money to us for us to give them the last extension. I think that's correct. Correct. We as
there's no extension, is there? No, no, there's no extension now. What I'm saying is the last extension we gave them increased the amount. We increased the amount of that and now we're releasing those folks because they've done all that in punishment that correct that was given by the rich ultimately to
have release. Yeah. And now as a term of you know releasing the performance bond they have to now post a maintenance bond. A lot of it was storm water related behind the subdivision as well. There was there was an HOA that had to be that was that was one there was a
there was a whole I could go over the list of it. I did ask for the list. Yeah. And I know the homeowners appreciate this too, but essentially they they're leaving 55,000 which is I guess he said percentage time. Yeah. Under Yeah. Under the municipal land use.
So for anything that happens in the next two years in terms of maintenance, like if someone were to flood or something, they they still have that money. Or if any of that infrastructure was to fail within that period of time, then um we could draw upon that. And the performance guarantee was for how long? It was a year when it was done.
How long? Now the performance guarantee is posted prior to start construction. It gets renewed by the developer right until we sign off. Check. Check. We have the right to do a bond reduction. It's all per
Yeah. Yeah. Know my my question was how many months since the work was deemed to complete and then releasing the performance guarantee? So in the resolution it says that it um it's the maintenance guarantee is going
back to the date that it was originally accepted check by office and board. Yeah. And this project I'll make a motion to approve 2025-22. Alison, may I please have a roll call? Call. Yes.
Um abstain. Yes. Yes. Yes. Uh next next up is department reports July 2025. Mayor, can I ask a question on protocol
abstension goes to the majority? Right. When you recuse, you still abstain. Christina, I'm sorry. When you recuse yourself, you still abstain from a vote. You're not voting. Yes. Yeah. You're just not voting. Even though it goes to the extension means you go. Do I still have to say abstain or she
doesn't so it doesn't vote. You have a majority in favor minus her extension. Thank you mayor. Sorry. No worries because I was about to ask you if maybe you had a motion to accept. Thank you. Motion with a huge thank you for the
July 2025 performance reports. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? Now I'd like to ask our community again anything that are good to the burough. Please stand and identify yourself by clearly stating your name and address for the record. Yes, Steve.
This is very good. I'm not talking about this chap Steve how 33 Fist Street. Uh one there was a lot of discussion regarding trees and drainage and everything else tonight. And I did want to say that we're going to take that retention pond buyer retention pond and
turn it into a swimming pool. But I bring that up because on Fifth Street and Maple Street, there have been a number of meetings um about what's going on and how it's built. And that drainage program and sewage system there looks like it's state-of-the-art. I don't know what is state-of-the-art, but it's very
complicated. Uh there's there's reserves under parking lots, there's pipes going everywhere, there's a fire retention pond, and it's really a great project that's been done. It hadn't cost a lot of money. Um but I want wanted to say that it would be a good idea to have a
little education session just maybe 45 minutes um the uh mechanics of the drainage system around the new project because everybody was always concerned about it. It looks like a very good job was done and uh a lot of people even non-engineers would be interested in
seeing that in detail. I wouldn't cap him at 45 minutes. Well, I don't Yeah, I think this Yeah, some some diagrams, some detail why how we got to that. It's a great story and very worthwhile. Well, there are plenty of powerpoints on
it. For the record, it's not a pool, right? And naturally, people walk by and think it's a pool. There's a lot of discussions. I want to make sure the record that straight. There's all going to be landscaped to be a fence around it. And it's also built to handle 800 years storm was Hurricane Sandy.
And two questions on the PD project. Um, Fisk Street. Is there I understand there's not a plan yet for the repaving of Fisk Street. Yes, sir. That's what we were just talking about 20 minutes ago. Missed I missed it. And um the area behind the
police station, what's the plan for that? No plan as of today. That's going to be part of a phase two effort when the governing body beams community center. Plan as of today for is to recede it. Okay. And all right. lots of room there for trees
and more drainage out. We don't have a plan. Okay. We don't We're good. We're good at discussing. I think that's we're committed to discussing it. That's as far as we've of course. Of course. Thank you. Um I got the notice that they're going
to be waving the photogram at that road um this Wednesday, right? start quest. I think they were starting in dredging started dredging project. That's why it's safe. Oh, okay. I'm just curious. So, it's going to be all approved and hope encourage more usage and this report
just came out Jersey PDP that it was downgraded because of So, are we looking into that? I'm trying to figure out I was worried about the river rats and watching all the kids sailing there and has been um
has involved as well um in her role as liaison to the uh to Rivers Rivers um and and yes we're we're addressing it and I I actually it's not the first time this has happened. I would actually make
the argument that this is the most proactive. I guess you could say it's reactive, but it seems like we're putting proactive measures in place for the future in addition to reacting to the immediate issue that's going on. And Bonnie, just to add a little bit to
that, um, you know, Joe Mik from code enforcement and I had a conference this morning. Uh, we met with u with the property owners that back up the board creek, uh, Richard Badori and also Walsh is on the other side. Y discuss some of the issues there, cleaning a lot of that up, some of the
invasives. Also, um we're setting up a meeting with um UC Chair Kelly as well this week to talk about, you know, what steps we can do moving forward. Um I know Nick's been involved in some of this as well, but what we can do um you know, to do some preventative measures
here. So, we are we are taking this again as soon as it came out um with that information. You know, I've been in touch with also assistant commissioner on the two sewer authorities. I was uh in contact with Brian Richmond to discuss what we could do there. Um you know, so we're we're we're on top of this.
Great. Thank you. Anyone else in the public? Alison, anyone else the public? Do you like to extend on behalf of the historic association fair like to extend an invitation to everyone who's here?
Some of you have already purchased your tickets for plan to attend, but if you're in town on September 6, um the historic association is hosting its annual garden party to raise funds historic preservation and um it will be at the lovely home of
Felissa on River's generously offered to host the historic association. So um I'll share the link if anyone hasn't seen it. Um it's very easy. because it's such a fun occasion. Um
it's just a lovely talk reception and I'm from all joints. Great job. Thank you. Let's not forget the fireman's fair starts on Friday. Yay. And I know we're all volunteering at certain points. So come see all the members. What I what I
was actually about to say is how proud um this governing body always makes me in the way that you're all so involved in all the community events and the parades and um you know the fair is no different. Um, I think that we recognize
how important the first responders are to this town and um, I think we all feel honored for the opportunity to give back to them as well and uh, take part in what I call quintessential fair haven event. It really is. It's an amazing
amazing week. I get so excited about it. I'm excited right now. What's that next? I want I want I want to be online at the seafood right at I will be at the hoop shop. Hoop shot. you guys will make the mistake of putting me on the microphone again
where I get to heckle our residents for one night a year back. Um I asked for a dunk tang. I guess they they just they didn't want to dunk me at the end of the day. But um really excited Friday night we get going. My
last plug I say every meeting, ebikes, please. Um it's every I feel like every meeting gets where I'm just like hoping for cold weather. I'm at that point where I'm getting scared. Please put your kids helmets on. Use them responsibly. If they're not old enough,
they shouldn't be able to be lighted, too. Yeah. Can we even say like be proactive and reach out like to your friends when you see kids doing something? Like be proactive. I'm not saying parent, but you know, I'm sure I'm sure no one wants wants to
get told on, but no one wants to get a call in the middle, you know, in the middle of the night that they didn't anticipate either. So I think if you if you see something, say something. I don't think any parent's going to take that in a in a bad way. So it just to do on that you were just
saying um biking to the fair release is not we'll say not encouraged, but people shouldn't be bringing their ebikes to the fair. Um don't place parking. Don't do it. just walk your lift or park your
bike to a friend's house and then approach the health. Chief, is there anything along those lines you want to add? Uh, no. Like I said, we've been uh giving out different warnings given out to those cards for the kids that are doing the right thing on the ebikes. I don't know what the report was. I think
it was under 50 somewhere around 50. And the mayor asked how many accepted offenses were and I actually as somebody go in coal and look it was about 8 to 90% all were second offensive. Thank you. And no backpack there. So uh they're
going to enforce that best we can especially the first few days it' be a little challenging getting try to get that going back. Best best police force in in the entire state if not the entire country. That being said, it is 9:44 p.m. Motion
to ajour. Second. All in favor? Anyone opposed? Yeah. Good night. Good night everyone. Just see the