Oh, >> thanks. at 7:24 p.m. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty
and justice for all. Please join me in a moment of silent reflection. >> Thank you. Alison, >> I s myself. >> All right. >> All right. 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 being broadcast from
Burough Hall 748 River Road, New Jersey with April 27th, 2026 is available by call and phone number to web conference Zoom. Members of the public will be on mute until it's time for questions or comments which will be announced. At that time, the public has the
opportunity to question or comment by phone or presumed by the raised hand button will be called on at the appropriate time. Notice of this meeting was included in a schedule of meetings which was adopted by resolution number 2026-13 sent to the Asbury Park Press and the Two River Times on January 12th, 2026.
posted on the burrow website, the Bolton board municipal building and has remained continuously posted as required under the statute. With adequate notice having been given, the bur clerk is directed to include the statement the minutes of this meeting. Uh also may please have a roll call. Council members go >> here.
>> Griffin >> here. >> Miy >> here. Ol >> here. >> We have administrator Dor engineer also parks director
Breenidge CFO Nancy Britain BPW. >> Thank you. Uh Chris, I'm handing it right off to you. Fair Haven entrance. >> Okay, perfect. So, um, we've been having discussions about replacing the Fair Haven entrance signs. The signs we have currently now are roughly about 15 years
old, maybe even a little bit older. Um, they're in disrepair. Um, we've had discussions to the beautifification committee and other groups here in town about going back to what the original sign was. Um, Allison, I sent you um some that's one of the samples. Can you pull
up the original sign, what it looked like, and just give you an idea where we're at? That was the entering show a picture what the original sign looked like. Um that's that's an extra one there.
>> Yeah. So before that >> No, you only have three of them up. >> That's another one. There's one more has by the cherry trees. You go in that attachment there. If you have access to your email, I can
you'll see there's a fourth one there. There it is. So, that was the original Fair Haven sign. Um, we changed the signs over roughly again about se 15 years ago. Those signs were hand painted. Um, that was the last one. A lot of them got stolen and the rest of
them got hit by cars. that we changed design. Um there's been a desire to go back to that original sign because of its historical significance here in the town. I reached out to our sign vendor to do a replication of that style sign which Allison has up
and it' be a double-sided sign. One side would say entering Fair Haven. The only thing on that proof that we were not happy with was the smoke. It really didn't match the art on the sign. So our sign vendor is correcting that. And then on the other the reverse side it'll say leaving. And I have the leaving graphic, too, if anybody wants to see that as
well. Um, signs roughly cost about $1,200 a piece installed. And again, they would replace the current signs we have. We have four entrances to town. So, each sign would go at all four entrances. Uh, so $1,200 a piece. However, there is an additional one,
that's the leaving sign to give you an example of that. Um, there is an additional one that we had a discussion. The garden club um will have a new president this year. um and she was looking for what her two-year presence project will be and she has approached
about doing over the entrance to Fair Haven near Schwanker's Pond um at Redbank uh at the Redbank border. Um it has been neglected. It probably needs a refresh and that's what most people see coming into town. So I reached out to our sign vendor and and had one of our
professionals put up a quick mockup sign of maybe having a larger sign at that location. Not saying that that's what it has to be, but that was an idea to have a larger sign and maybe put some type of plantings around it um again to have an idea. That's a sample, but that might be
something to discuss too um as the workshop if that's something we'd be interested in doing. >> I like that we're going back to the the sign at Heisman Historical. I also like that your partnership on our behalf with the garden club um for the
entryway. I think all of us have noticed how neglected it is. Um I'd like to suggest also that we develop a plan a design >> for the landscaping. >> Yeah. So that the garden club has some direction. >> So on top of that that's not on the workshop tonight and Linda Leer will be
coming to the council once she's installed. I believe her term starts either June or July. I believe it's July. um we have um invited her to come to our next DPW engineering committee to talk about the plans and then um she has said that they're willing to put whatever the burough would like to have
there and have us involved in the process. So because DPW will be involved in the upkeep of it u we have included uh her to be part of that engineering committee and meeting so she can discuss what her plans are. So >> I like the I like the rope. I just think
it would get dirty is my fear. Well, we would it would be PVC would not be true. >> Do we want to talk about specifics of the sign elements? >> So, I think the only and I would say the questionable one would be the large that the last minute mockup, you know, if that's something we would look at, maybe
that's something we'd want to bring back. We want to explore another sign. The sign the other three locations right now, if we decided to do it for all the same, four would be an exact replica of the sign that was in town. So be the same dimension, same size, same style that Allison showed in the original
picture by the cherry trees. >> So again, if the goal is to go back the historical sign, I would say that we we don't just change the design elements of it because again, that would take back take away that would be my only suggestion. But obviously the governing body could make a recommendation that they change in lighting.
There's no lighting on >> lighting going to be no. >> The question I have though is we've been talking about having more steady signs for like farmers market or anyone who's putting up the signs. Would that be attached to this as well or is that a second? >> So, it's interesting you said that. So,
one of the things that we decided to put on there that the original sign did not have is brackets for a rider. So, you can put on all the entrance signs. You can have a bracket there where you can put, you know, if it's farmers market or if it's fair environments fair or if it's love where you live day. Each one of those groups could buy a brack a
rocker to put on the I'm sorry, rider to put on those brackets. it would be underneath the sun >> and they receive specifications uniformity and >> um that seems to be appropriate at maybe rich or certainly at the from red banking and if they're
>> I want to stay away from sort of designing a sign here from today but um as I think it's really tricky to integrate um um things that might have a nautical feel they can become clumsy or even
cheesy looking. So, um just I don't >> really need to >> uh micromanage, but I just classic traditional historical win >> get too cutesy with it. >> Yeah. And maybe we instead of again the nautical look on and that was an idea
that was thrown up maybe, you know, again to go with the ship, maybe we just go with a, you know, with a a normal framing that matches the decor the other side just on a larger. >> Yeah. And that but then that would accommodate the riders. >> Correct. Right. Yeah. >> Just scale of the post to support the
writers, not just so much for durability, but for proportion. When somebody's designing that, they should be thinking about Yep. >> how it looks overall. >> And not to harp on the writers, but are we then deciding that we're not allowing the bigger banners out from these different entities? >> I'd like to open that discussion at an
appropriate time on >> But I'm just saying as we this is something I would like to think about. >> Yeah, I think it'd be a suitable replacement. Again, that's opposite up to the governing body, but I think that would be the goal is to have something that's more permanent, something that's more fixed, and obviously something that's a little bit long longer lasting for these groups that do use the banners and, you know, that we can put up there
and, you know, and something that's, you know, maybe fits with the uh the area a bit better than banners. >> Yeah, I'm for preserving history and I'm a little bit biased. That's the sign I grew up with. So, it feels like home. >> There you go. >> Yeah. And that seems to be the overwhelming um, you know, comments that
have come out since we discussed this. So what's the next step? >> So the next step would be um obviously I'll get a formal design of the entrance you know incorporating in the um the comments that came here from regarding body and we'll get some finalized put it on for workshop next. I'll get the again
I have the quote for the three normal signs 1200 in built and installed. I don't have a quote for that sign yet, but I'll have that. We can discuss it on the 11th. >> Very cool. >> And that would come out of pay as you go capital.
>> You said 1,200 a sign, >> 1200 sign. Yeah. >> And times six >> times four. Yeah. The larger sign it would probably be a little bit more just from the scale of it. >> Does that include putting one on river for Rumson? >> Correct. Yes. We don't have one there
currently. We did have one. It's either since been stolen or run over years ago and they replaced, but at one point all four entrances did have signs and that'd be the goal to go back to that as well. >> Why are they still the is there is there something we can do to keep these? >> Yes. Yes, that was I talked to that with
our sign vendor. Interestingly enough, the signs we have now, nobody's stolen. I don't know if it's because they're just not appealing. Um, but I have discussed about, you know, as many um, you know, anti- theft measures we could put. The original signs were were hung differently. And so, you know, we we
take that into corporations. You can >> unless you want to dig them out, take the whole thing. >> Nothing's completely anti but we'll make it the best I can. >> Thank you, Chris. Moving along. Design for an inclusive playground for >> DJ just give an update on where we're
at. >> Yeah. So, um we're at the point now where we have the design that that would like to go with. Um we just need to reach out to the vendor who has been selected the first order and then uh the remainder of the work will take place uh
going out to the installation and the demo of the existing >> DJ what's the uh the lead time I know you had spoke with the vendor reached out to you the other day. What's the lead time and the uh the hold price on it right now? >> Yeah. So depending on the parts u it's anywhere from 12 to 15 weeks. The original plan when we go back to looking
at the application, we were trying to go out to bid around this time or a couple weeks before that we can get it in a student school gets out minimal disruption to a quarter park and school and uh get everything wrapped up for September.
>> Thank you. Uh next on the workshop, the uh board of education invoice as well as the bureau provided services. Um to give the members of the uh governing body an update, um we've been
told by the board of education that they are unable to pay an invoice for the $150,000 commitment that was made to us. Um we were in discussions with them asking if we could have an alternative
arrangement over time. Uh to this moment at this point we haven't heard back as to whether um that's going to go forward or not. Uh we have to make some decisions up here from the deis as far as um how we're going to
pay for this playground. because we're obviously $150,000 shorter than we thought we were going to be. Uh as part of those discussions, um we're going to need obviously some more information and some thoughts from all of you as as
far as to go forward. Um I would like to say from the standpoint of the Burough of Fair Haven um that it's always been our intention 100% of the time to have a great working relationship with the board of education. which I think we always have. Um I I I am going to sit
here and say that we've heard a few things come in lately from residents of the community that are I'll use the word discouraging and a little eye openening. Um I think I know the source of the of the uh information that's been coming to us.
I'm not going to air that dirty laundry in public. I don't think we've ever done that here. We've always tried to do what's best for Barry. What I am going to say is we've worked very hard the last five years to be as fiscally responsible as we possibly can on all of
the decisions that we've made. It's something that I'm actually very very proud of. We had decisions in this body that were very challenging at the time. Gar garbage comes to mind. We made a
very tough decision that probably wasn't supported by the majority of the community, but we made it because we were being fiscally responsible for them, right? So to throw out there that um you know the the issues that are
occurring elsewhere are are issues is not accurate. And I and I will if anyone needs more information on that, if anyone wants to discuss that in more detail, my phone is open, my email is open, I'll meet with you. But it's just
not true. And it's unfortunate that it's happening. And quite truthfully, anyone that's having those private discussions on their own and trying to lead people in that way, they really they really should be uh ashamed of themselves. So that's that's
my speech on what's going on right now. Um, we have some decisions to make as a governing body. Chris, I don't know if you want to take us through any of um, you know, some of the burrow provided services that we need to discuss.
>> Yeah. So, currently right now um, and again this is this dates long before and I came here as the bur administrator two years ago. Um, the and Nick can provide Nick's where's Nick at? Nick can there you are. Um Nick can talk a little bit more in depth on the services that we
do. Um but you know we do provide um all the maintenance and all the field uh work for sportsman's field which most people don't realize is actually not a um fair haven property. That's a board of education property and we do not invoice the school for it. Most municipalities would invoice the school
for services like that on a nonpropy. Matter of fact, we don't even looking at it today, we don't even have um really an insurance agreement there in the event that one of our employees does get injured there. Um, additionally, we obviously, you know, because of the size of SickLs, um, SickLs does not have land
for playground, um, we provide, um, you know, the recess point and also their outside gym point for their playground as well. Again, those are things that we do at no charge where our ordinance does have a $50, uh, per usage of two hours fee on there as well. We did not charge for that as well. Um, during these last
snowstorms, we provided plowing services to the school. Did not provide any res any uh, invoices for that as well. um we provided sand, salt, all of those materials, plus all the materials um that we provide for the maintenance of the fields as well. Nick, maybe you can go in a little more detail on some of
these discussions. And I know um you know this is nothing new. Um even when I came here two years ago when Nick took over as the director DPW, Nick had a lot of concerns as far as our arrangement that we had. Um again, it's been an informal arrangement we've had with the school for a long time. The fact that we did not have a formal contract of what
liabilities came into it. Just for perfect example, you know, if the DPW, you know, was maintaining the fields and obviously created a, you know, pothole or some issue there and and somebody, you know, broke Don and broke an ankle, who's responsible for that, you know, is that on is that going to be on the
burrow because we agree that because we provided that. Again, we don't have any formal agreement there. Um, so I'm just going to ask Nick just to go over a lot of those services that we do provide if you wouldn't mind coming up just to give a detail and give an eye and really discuss, you know, what that has to do with your manpower and u and the resources that you have to provide for
that and also how those resources affect our other properties here in town that are bured. >> Uh, sure. So obviously the u the DPW is a we're civil servants. We work with the community and that community involves includes the board of ed and the board of ed property and we have a good
working relationship with the janitorial staff and the other staff members there and uh there's there's plenty of times where we're working together and there's uh you know snowstorms are they always happen on weekends, they always happen during the holidays. um you know, we're here we're here with them. Uh and we
work closely with them to make sure that the uh the properties are safe for when the school has to open and when the the normal public is out and about and uh you know that's our our main focus and priority. There are times where the DPW
um is is called to um you know move snow. We have uh special equipment. We have loaders. U obviously the school board doesn't have that. So, if we're we're plowing the parking lot or they're playing a parking lot, they might uh put those in a location uh central to, you
know, sportsman's parking lot or to the to their uh you know, to their internal parking lot and we would move that with a loader and a dumpster and a uh a dump truck to a different location so that they're not um you know, not blocking parking or things like that. So, there's
a there's you know a lot of a lot of that is done uh kind of organically. uh we have conversations and stuff with the with the staff and we try to coordinate as much as possible. Um but it does take away from some of the um you know our
other properties the facilities be it the police station, community center parking lot or B hall parking lot. You kind of have to to bounce back and forth. Um you know salting wise obviously they have a pickup truck with a small salter which is not really convenient to do the salting in the
parking lot. So they would ask us on you on certain days when there's a snow melt obviously and then a freeze in the morning you know we would run through just like we do all the burough properties and kind of salt the parking lot area so that you know if if there's any slick spots or whatever we would
make sure that they're you know safe before the the school opens up kind of you know common sense type of things and and and but but again it's it's something that we do and we don't necessarily quantify that in a a uh in in a form like a contractor would if you
had a property maintenance uh arrangement or something to that effect. Um it's kind of uh it was it was always a handshake or a good neighbor approach to things and it it's wrong different whatever it's it's the way things have kind of happened um before me and then
also you know with me this past you know you know few years. Um in addition to that uh you know mowing we do the mowing and sportsman's field. Um so obviously you know it's it involves making sure that we coordinate scheduling wise when
there's recess when there's um you know when there's activity that's in the in the sportsman's you know field area we have to uh you know bring our trailers over and you know cut the lawn area and and again usually it's you know it's
three guys um you know some one on you know you know two guys may be on mowers one guy's on a uh on a weed whacker we're picking up trash and and doing that work and that that work usually happens uh you know I'd say four hours a week uh between April and November you
know so there's there's a cost associated with that so it takes away from you know other burrow properties that we might be cutting along via berry and fields or the natural area or the Normandy or or some of the other areas. Um when it comes to to lining and
dragging fields, uh we we do the actual um uh sportsman's fields for softball, we do the the field hockey lining that's associated with the with the sportsman field or behind the field. Then also uh
you know the soccer games we do uh you know lining for the for the uh for the board of education there. Um I think Chris mentioned that there's uh the ordinance kind of calls out um a fee
associated with with some of that uh that kind of predates me. There's uh obviously there wasn't a charge for for using your burough property for you know different different events that the school has be it you know baseball, soccer, cross country races or or what
have you. Um again I was just asked to kind of put together some some line items. I'm not saying it's right, wrong, or indifferent. I'm just kind of, you know, kind of outlining some of those some of those things. Um, there are occasions, too, where where we get called to fix some potholes in the
parking lot or the edge of the edge of the burrow property and and the community parking lot or the uh the bur right away and the and the bur board of ed property. Um, and there's there's also obviously the board of ed uses the the fuel at our at our site, but
recently we upgraded our fuel management system. So now we we build them quarterly. Prior to that, it was just kind of a you know, whenever they needed fuel, they would come in and and use it uh and fill up. But uh recently with the upgrades to the DPW facility and the
fuel management system, we uh we can track that and and build them accordingly. Um, and there's also times throughout the year where um, you know, normal trash and recycling or bulk pickups, you know, we coordinate with the board of ed with regard to, you
know, picking that up or then dropping it off. So, that's a quick snapshot of of some of the, you know, the the work that's coordinated between DPW and Board of Ed and stuff that was historically done and stuff that we've kind of moved forward with. Just to give you a a quick
uh, idea. Yeah, and that's just just to outline the stuff that obviously we don't have a formal contract with. Um, and that was the important thing. Another thing too just to just to note um the sports and skill was recently done over um it cost us roughly a little over $10,000 that came from a donation from one of our rec teams that came from
rec softball. Um they donated a little over $10,000 of funds that they raised to do that field over and donated to the school. Um so they obviously they use that field so it benefits them but again that's a cost that came out of one of our rec team teens that you know benefited the board of ed. The final one we do have a contract with um which uh
expires in July which is our class 3 special officers. Um we are one of the few towns um you know to be honest in you know my 20 and a half years in law enforcement I'd never heard of it before but we were one of the few towns actually contributes to the cost of class 3 specials. Uh we we pay for 25%
of the cost. most towns, our neighboring town, Rumson and many other towns, you know, the school pays 100% of it and they also pay a per day per daily rate for the vehicle parked there as well. Um, we subsidize 5% of that cost and we don't charge for a vehicle either. Um, so that's also something that we do. Again, that's a
formal contract that we have, but it's it's important to note those things as well on top of um, you know, the things that we do for free that we don't have a formal contract with. um just on the recent you know recent phone calls I've had the recent people I've come in um you know that were unaware of these
things um you know and wanted you to know to want to know what the burrow actually does for the school. So just just to bring this up there. So >> do you have an idea I know it's different every week different seasons on average how many DPW hours we
probably put towards the schools. >> Hard to say. >> Yeah I'm not prepared or I have that information. Is that something you could put together though if you had some time? >> Um, I'm sure we could take a look at it and, you know, estimate or guesstimate
based on season or based on task, you know, how many hours per week or what have you. We have we have some general ideas. Um, for instance, like uh you know, if we were taking a look at at sportsman's and mowing, um, like I said,
that's like four hours a week from April through November, eight months, 32 weeks, three guys, you know, at at X dollars, you know, there's a cost associated with that. So, we have we have some some numbers um that we kind of roughly prepared. Um, but it wasn't a
detailed, you know, forensic exercise. >> And, and Chris, if we were to choose to pull back on some of these services, obviously it would be up to the board of ed who they want to hire at that point. Let's say they came to us and they'd still want us to provide a service, but is this something we would still want to
do or would the added um >> those those additional resources hours would be allocated to other burough properties, other facilities, other tasks that we're, you know, that we need to manage. >> Um, does anyone have questions up here
right now? I I uh I I'd be interested in if you can quantify what is the output from the burrow. I think that would be important to know. >> I think that's I think that's great. I I think if if there's any way that we
could put together some more detailed reporting in advance of the next meeting. >> Yep. >> Um so that we can make some I think we got to make some concrete decisions moving forward. U maybe we'll have more information as well from the board of education. I believe that they have a
meeting from now until then as well that can also um inform our direction. Uh and that's that's really where we're at right now. Questions? Good, >> Nick. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Very much appreciate it.
>> Uh next up, we have public comment on agenda items. Please observe a threeminut time limit. Please state your name and address. Anyone? Uh Chris Hemstead, 53 Willow Street, Fair Haven. Uh just on the introduction
of uh ordinance 202609 for amendment of Howard Operation. Um I All right. I maybe I didn't understand the wording of it, but it it sounds like if the ordinance were to be adopted the way it's written, I'm sure it'll change,
but that would basically restrict the zoning board or the planning board from issuing variances on that particular ordinance >> lead. >> So I mean
that's what it does. It changes the hours of operation. Um, and they would have to follow the laws. >> So, they would have to meet the standards for variance. Yes. >> So, they would still be able to get a variance to operate earlier, but they would have to meet the requirements of
the MLU. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, as long as Yeah. But the ordinance already says 5 a.m. I mean 6 am 6 a.m. >> You want it to be 5 a.m. But >> but the ordinance does. So this is just this is just saying again 6 a.m. is the
rule. Let's just remind everybody and if you want exception to the rule you have to go to the appropriate independent body either the zoning board. >> It wouldn't allow. So this removes so if you guess you don't have >> I have it written down. I have so do you
want to this came from? So this was um this was a right this was a discussion with um with actually our land land use attorney um who had discussed this you know again so Andrew can talk a little bit more into this. >> So what this does is it removes the site plan uh approval by the municipal agency
which is our planning board uh so it removes that discretion so this earnance would control and so it doesn't leave it up to the planning board. It would leave it up to the municipality. >> Okay. I I just I fear I I think I understand. Well, well, maybe not
because I haven't heard the discussion. So, we'll we'll hear more, I'm sure, from council members. You you were at a planning board meeting where a lot a lot of stuff was said. It was a packed house. Um, and I'm curious to hear what everyone's thoughts are on it. But my theory is is that an ordinance of this
nature is a slippery slope because what's to stop the council from doing something similar for housing requirements or for other land use, which you say, you know what, we're sick and tired of the planning and the zoning board doing whatever they want with our ordinances. So, let's just do the same
thing. And I I think I don't know it just smells to me like a potential problem for the for the burrow for the for this for this board going down the road if someone were to challenge it at a later date and say what are you talking about? So >> they're fair.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Public comment. Come on S. Hold on before Sue. Before you talk to him, I want to tell you
people know me as an art connoisseur. Okay. So, I just want to point out >> that's why my name keeps popping up. >> Great job. >> I like that.
>> Anyway, um about back to the sign issue. I hope that the boat on the new signs is not going to look like a speedboat, >> but like the Albertina. >> So, it's interesting you say that. So, I
had this conversation with Elise Casey. I love where he lived in. There's diff different pictures of the Albertina where it looks different. It looks more like a steamship as you would say and then more like the >> behind you. >> So, I can show you a picture if you'd
like if you want to stick around around the meeting. But they're different looking. >> The the mockup looks like a speaker, >> but but that's what the actual Albertino also looked like at one point. >> This was the 2012.
This was the 2012 update, but there's also been criticism out of this one that the smoke goes in one direction, the flags go in the other, and it's not accurate. But Josh, >> so you'll never unsee it again. Um, but but Josh So you see the front of that, but look, you can also see that that's the
Albertino. >> And that's what our logo was based off of. >> I don't know if everyone can see, but that's what the original >> Is that a newer version? >> I don't know. That was kind of my angry >> to go through all the photo albums in my
house and see what I come up with. >> So the album the the vote on the mockup signs was based off the original signs that were hand painted. That's the historical reference. >> I liked your painting also when I
>> Steve Hower of 32 Fisk Street. I just wanted to understand a little better the discussion about the board of education invoice. Was it that there was a an agreement sort of a handshake agreement that they would pay for services and then we issued an invoice or did did we issue an invoice and they simply said
we're not going to pay it. I I I got lost in that or we don't have the money to pay it >> anymore. So the best way for me to answer that is uh we applied for a grant for a playground to be put at Marter Park. >> As part of those discussions, which I
was not directly a part of the discussions, but as part of the discussions at the time I was here, um there was a commitment made by the board of education. And when I say board of education, representatives of the board of education committed to $150,000. >> They didn't have a formal motion on that
or anything. They was there. >> No, there was not. Um at at the time there was a discussion about facilities money um that they were that was there's $47,000 of facilities money they have from previous capital projects that could not be used for salaries and wages. Uh at the time then business
administrator Frank Grip and current superintendent Shawn McNeel and I had conversations if they want if they would contribute to it. Uh the conversation was yes because that money could not be used for anything else. um up until this past February. That was back in probably
November, October of 2024. Um at that time, we also did get letters of support from two um board of ed members and also the principal, the vice principal, and also the PTA even though the PTA is not affiliated with the school. So, five total letters, but four from the school itself. Um
this the school had intentions on paying it up until there were um some questions in February. Um but in April we were told officially um when we sent the invoice that they were not able to pay. >> Okay. Because of financial issues they
they're not able to >> we're not going to speak for whatever. >> Okay. So you have a interesting thing to deal with. Thanks. >> Anyone else? Sure.
>> Hi. Uh Paul Fair Haven Road. Um, so I'm also a little bit confused about exactly what's going on. Um, because uh, it seems like as far as the board of eds concerned, there's a huge shortfall in the budget coming up this year. 300,000
last year I think that was covered now a million this year. Uh, about two and a half year old daughter, four-year-old son. um hoping to send them to um you know the circles and uh yeah I'm a little bit concerned because
you know I don't really understand what's going on. I'm not actually like that tuned in. I have no private information. Kind of looks like we're trying to sort of turn them upside down, check them for loose change. Uh sending these invoices seems a little bit like a maneuver to try and you know force them to say yes to the 150k. Um but they've
got a million dollar shortfall. So, um, it kind of seems like, uh, you know, from my vantage point, you know, the the the enemy in the room isn't really the board of ed and the board of ed's enemy is not the town council. The, you know, state is really the largely responsible
for huge crunches in our um, you know, basically revenue. There's probably some costs that, you know, can be trimmed. I'm sure you guys have opinions on trimming cost of the school, but I'm, you know, one of my comments observations is that I just like a little bit less tension between the two. And I think this active invoicing is not
going to help anybody in this town. If I could, you know, sort of imagine myself as somebody who pays taxes here, if I do, and I maybe other people might feel this way, but um it's all coming from the same budget, right? You guys are on the same side. I'd rather spend our time lobbying the state to get that 2% cap
removed. I'd rather do a lot of other things. You know, we're cutting teachers and then we're going playground right now. We're going to slam them with 150k of invoices over what, I don't know, 12, 24 months. I have no idea. right? You know, they're already going to the town asking for them to cover the gap, right?
Like you're just going to keep coming back to the same people, right? So, a little bit frustrated observing it, right? And just like maybe cooler heads a little bit less like work it out private. That's kind of my feeling about it. >> You're welcome to respond.
>> Well, I I agree. I think that it's definitely we're not each other's enemy and we should be working together. There's no I don't think anyone doesn't agree with that. Um I think there is some information that's going around that might not be I'm to be honest I
don't think any of us are completely clear because there's so much information that's going around. >> Um but you said something that it's all coming from the same budget but in fact it's not. That's where I think we get into the same issue is that we're responsible for the municipal portion. We get the smallest portion of the tax
the the taxpayers money. So the board of ed is responsible for their portion of it. So we have to as good stewards for the municipality, we're responsible for looking at the roads and the the public safety and all those things. So we have to make sure that we are covering our
side of it, too. I'm not looking to to hold any, you know, to shake money out of them. That that's definitely not our intention. But at the same time, it's being said, you know, there's talk about us being able to use our surplus. that is not an easy lever that can just be done because
we need to maintain our surplus for lots of reasons too. So I think there's a lot of different information that's getting out there that's sort of pegging us also is not willing to work with them but there aren't levers that are easily that we're we're not like not pulling levers that we can be pulling
>> and that's what I think some people are saying and that's not fair either. And I think the point of the in what they're saying is that we do provide a lot of services without charging the board of ed. Personally, I'm not I don't love wanting I don't want to charge them, but we want to pay for this playground too,
right? So, everyone kind of agrees with this. We would love to keep this playground. We're getting $700,000 >> 750 of basically free money to play for this playground. We >> put the bureau put a lot of work into almost two years to get this grant. A
lot of time and effort was spent to do that. There it sounds like yes there might not have been an agreement by the board of ed on the record but there was some agreement that we would they would give some money. Right. So we we applied for this grant >> on the with the knowing that it was part
of it was going to be funded also by the board of ed. I don't know that we would have applied for it had we not done that. So now we're in this position is we have this playground. If we want to make it happen on time and before school starts, we someone has to come up with this money to be able to pay the whole
project. So, how do we get that money? That's where we all are. And had had we not been providing all these services, maybe we wouldn't have had to cut recycling every every week. Maybe maybe there's other there's other things that we could have done. We have had a good
relationship the whole way through. Yeah, I agree with you. >> Yeah. I think what's frustrating to us is um what's going on right now is some of those problems are being projected upon us >> when we've kept our house entirely in order.
>> Different buckets of money that can be used here as well, >> which is another part of the process that's not really being discussed and sort of just like you're saying, you're coming up here and basically saying, you know, money's funible. It's not really funible from the standpoint of what
we're looking at when it's a playground versus the salary of the teacher. They're two different buckets of money. >> So, if we were to, let me give you this example because I think I used it today. >> If we were talking about a fire truck with fire department and they came to us
and they say, "We found this grant. It's $1.3 million for a firet truck and uh Mayor Halpern, would you like to put some money to it?" They said, "Sure, we'll, you know, how much can you put?" Oh, they say they can put 700,000. We'll put 600,000 towards it. And then a month
before the grant came in, you got a call. You the fire department, the bureau said, "Sorry, we we just can't we can't fund anything." What do you do? We're just, okay, all right. Well, we'll just we'll just pay the other $600,000. The fire department do that. Like, we're
running a municipality here. you know, the services that we provide to our residents. Even though our pie is so much smaller than the schools, it's not any less important. So, we got to do what's right for our constituents. Also, they are two different budgets. We
operate independently from them when it comes to that. We always work well together. >> And we can't raise taxes, our taxes to just hand over illegal. Like, that's not a thing. It would destroy our bond rate. >> And the surplus isn't just money sitting
around. >> Well, it does. No. So, >> destroy it. >> You know, we had 17.5 million that we just put out. We just sold, right? >> Yeah. >> I mean, you obviously Brian can speak better to that. >> But we also do have, you know, we have a
fire truck that we want to get next year, 1.5 million. We need to figure out how to pay for that. So, it's not like this money is just sitting around. this money stabilizes our taxes from year to year. We're able to not raise our taxes, which on top of everything, if we raise
our taxes, too. Like, that would be a problem. >> I mean, I understand all this. I understand the council's perspective. I don't, you know, and I'm also not here arguing for the board of education. I don't know anybody on the board of education, right? I'm I'm I'm merely coming from the perspective of we've got a huge shortfall on the on the the
school side. It's not going to go away. This is not going to go away. I get that. I understand they they promised or allegedly promised some partial part of this money, right? In your example, it's basically a 50/50 example. This looks like closer to to 10 15% of whatever the the costs were for it, like I think that
like >> it's about 11%. >> You can you can I'm you know, you can you can talk to me all you want. I think that the moment that people understand that we're building a playground and losing a million dollars a year and then we're invoicing them for 150,000, we're going to lose probably a kindergarten
teacher next year or whatever it is. Like those that sound like those two things are not >> unfortunately at some level that doesn't really matter. That's my point is like >> question you come here tonight for this issue. >> Yeah, of course. >> What did you hear that made you come here tonight for this issue? Oh, I heard
that u that basically you guys are mad at the board of ed. That's what I heard. >> That that's all you heard? That's what I heard. That's what brought you to our meeting tonight? >> Yes, 100%. >> It's hard for me. It's hard for me to believe that that's why you think that I just based that we're mad at the board of ed.
>> It's the first time I've seen you in here. >> It it Well, that's not true. I've been here for for inauguration. >> He's a friend of mine. >> Yeah, we both and we appreciate you coming. Yeah, >> please know that like I think that it's really I have a hidden >> it doesn't you don't have to you don't
have to you don't have to like me you don't have to care what I'm saying anything about that all I'm telling you is I think that if people are aware people aware of these kind of inconsistencies they're not going to be happy the inconsistency is that we're going to charge the board we're going to charge
the the the uh board 150,000 the project that we applied for in form of a grant we awarded that brand. You're you're you're you're trying to do the same thing that is frustrating us up on the deis and making those problems our problems.
>> They're not. Actually, mayor, I'll just may I'll just say just one thing just to clear it up. When we had the conversations going back to 2024 and Sean McNeel's in the room, I'm sure he would, you know, verify this as well. The school was having financial problems then as well. >> And but when we had the discussions
about it, there was and Sean used this term was two buckets of money. He has buckets of money that cannot be intermixed. So facilities capital cannot be used for salaries in French. It cannot be. So that 407,000 they have in there cannot be transferred in there to
cover the teacher salary. So even if they even if they went bankrupt tomorrow, that 47,000 could not be used to pay salaries. So that 47,000 was not in play for their shortfall in salaries and fringe. That's why they said they would give us the 150,000 towards the
playground that Sickle School uses half half throughout the year. There was never a moment where where any of us went in and asked, you know, that we want to, you know, ask you to pay for it out of your budget line items and your salaries infringe. I mean, I I think if we were doing that, I would look at the governing body and say, "We made a huge mistake. That's not fair." This was
money for again that they had left over from the facilities capital projects that they were going to use towards a playground that obviously their students were going to get a lot of use out of. And the playground that's there right now is probably almost 25 years old. If you've noticed, there's a lot of apparatus that's been taken off of it
and we can't get parts for. And at some point, we have to rate we rate these several times throughout the year. Nick can go into more detail if you wanted to know. Um, but at some point it's not going to be safe. We have to take it down. So, you run into the issue, you either take the playground down completely, you don't have any playground, you're going to replace it.
So, it was a win-win for everybody, you know, to have the playground there. Again, this was money that was explained to us that could never be used for any of their budget shortfall, cannot be used for salaries and fringe. So, it's not that 150,000 is what's keeping the school from getting rid of a teacher.
That's money that can never be used for salaries. I hope that just clarifies. >> I al I also would like to add in there that in the past week, you're trying to say that we're not working to well together. We're not getting the room together and off and offer was made. It was a commitment of $150,000.
An offer was made to drop that number to h 100,000 and to only require a $10,000 payment in year one. $10,000. That's what we're talking about. >> I'm turned out over five years and we lowered the number,000.
That's kind of what's going on. >> What was you see? You put words in my mouth. That's the unfortunate part there. I didn't come up here saying that like they did you did wrong. They did wrong. What did I say? >> You said >> I said work together. I said work together. You're What do you What do you so care? I'm telling you that I don't think the
optics look. >> I Michael, one second, please. >> I asked you why you were here and you said you heard that we were mad at the board event. >> I heard there was beef. Yeah. >> Okay. So So we didn't put any words in your mouth. >> Words in my mouth. I didn't say any. I I
said I'd like you guys to work together. I think you got a common problem. Focus on the common problems. >> We feel as if we have worked together. We've made a very very um competent offer, reasonable offer. We haven't heard back. At a certain point, we have our budget to vote on. We have to move
on. We have to run a municipality. Again, we've balanced our budget. We've gone through this process. >> They the board of ed has to do do their own budget. That's their priority. We're not going to tell them how to run their board of ed. That's that's up to them to run. We >> We got We got some fireworks coming up.
We got some more meetings coming. I don't think the town's going to be happy. All right. I'm not I'm don't kill don't shoot the messenger here, right? Like >> we're talk about the bond market. So I work in the bot market all day long every day. >> Um there is precedent for this type of interaction. So I'm going to give some
some examples that are quite extreme. I'm not saying our port is in this position, but Detroit went through bankruptcy. They asked Wayne County for money. They were trying to get money from the state. Chicago event currently is in a crisis. They're trying to get money from the state. They're trying to
get money county. They're trying to get city Jefferson County, Alabama went through bankruptcy. They try to get money through Birmingham, through the state of Alabama. The bond market will completely freak out if a sister entity gives money to
support the financial position of somewhere else, particularly across sometimes downstream, right? So, a state can sometimes help a local government. And so if we if we made a move like that, our bond rating will get hammered.
The bond market would require a higher interest rate than any debt we should choose in the future because they don't know are you am I lending money to Fair Haven or am I lending money to Fair Haven and the school district. School districts in the state are under a tremendous amount of pressure. >> Yeah. So that that increased credit risk
will bleed into us both in rating and interest rate and will make it harder for us. Now backing on the difference between capital budget and operating budget. So a bond is for capital budget. I remember when I was in finance committee last
year the I think it Nancy I think it was EMS asked for the the fancy stretchers the >> strikers. Stretchers. >> Yeah. They're very expensive and we said we'll give you one. They wanted two. We'll give you one and then I don't want to break the news here, but
we talked about maybe next year we can give. So when this situation happens where $150,000 disappeared on a capital project. Now I'm thinking next year am I going to be able to honor that commitment? Because a commitment away from me was
pulled away. And so it's not about it's not about whether they're going to have a active fire kindergarten teacher or not. It's am I going to be able to serve my residents. My EMS is asking for a stretcher that they need that's up to up state-of-the-art.
And so it's it's not about punishing them. It's trying to make sure that I can do what I need to do for my constituents. We we have a co-turnous tax base, right? The same people, but they don't overlap. So, for example, the businesses in town are very disconnected
from a school school district versus a resident, right? Not completely disconnected. Um, but it's important to keep that separation and make sure that my duty is on my residents, my
constituents, and my obligations. >> Sure. I think that there is a vested interest in the in the school being a beacon for the state and I think part of that comes from spending inside of the school and so if you can't get we can't cover collectively can't cover all of this. I know the money is not fungeible
and I'm saying it's fungeable, but I'm I think that there's a benefit to every one of the residents here and there's a reason that some of our asset prices are as high as they are, right? So, if everybody's looking looking at th those numbers, part of it is coming from that school. So, it's not as clear-cut. I get that these are two different streams. I
understand that, but both sides benefit from each other, right? And so like all I'm saying is that you know and and obviously the we're what the second most populous per capita uh uh burrow in the in the state, right? We've got a lot of families here. They moved here
specifically for this, right? And so like I think that there's there's a lot of pressure coming and the question, you know, you're saying that the the the cost of borrowing is going to be higher, right? Those are >> 100%. That's great. I'm I I I I welcome that as one of the options that we can
consider because we should be pulling on all the levers that we can pull on. That's it. That's it. You guys are fiscally conservative. You've done a great job. I've never said nothing. I've not done anything bad about this. >> It is what if it's going to be raised in taxes. That's a board of ed option. >> That's not an option for us. And that's
why you can shake your head as many times as you want. >> Sir, don't don't assume that I'm I'm shaking at that. We're we're going to have to raise taxes. It's a done deal. Like it's obvious that you can't patch that hole. You can't patch a million dollar hole. 300,000 you can cover that with people. A million you can't cover
that. It's getting worse here over here. Right. So like have you have you ever written to the state? Because I agree with you. This is a state cap issue. >> Yes. >> Okay. So So from from the standpoint of and I believe I don't know the exact number. I think they I think they decreased our state aid in fair even
this year 1.4% or something like that. >> It is a state issue. We're we're in the opening. I said that in the opening, right? >> It's been a state it's a state issue for us also. Yeah. >> We have caps also. >> We have to fit our expenses under those
caps also. And right now when we're having these discussions, I understand from a from a resident whose kids went up through the Fairman school system, I understand that it comes in one bill, but our responsibility up here >> is that 22% >> 23%
>> the 23% portion of the bill. That's our So I just hope you have the same passion at the board of ed. >> Oh yeah, I haven't talked to them yet. Yeah. And again, the only thing I'll say is part one. >> I I think we made a very fair and
realistic offer in trying to help and work together and I hope that we that they accept that offer. That's what I hope. >> Can I just say one thing like myself, I do want to work with board of ed, but I am disappointed that they did this because it will affect our children. My
daughter is at prek at sickles. She may not have a park because they chose this maneuver. And that's why I'm upset about this. And but I do want to work and find a solution. I I have three kids. I'm planning on sending them through this.
So, we need to work together. >> It it doesn't help when certain people are spreading false. >> I'm not you but it doesn't help within the community, which this is showing. And I think it kind of turned on itself today
in hearing from a few different people that the same individual was doing that. So let's leave it at that. >> Are would I'm asking honestly like would you prefer that that we don't do the inclusive playground? Like is that an option you think people would like just
just throw the not throw but like essentially not use this money >> not address the playground? I'm just wondering because >> you know if we used 100,000 if we front the 150,000 >> then we would have to take it out of our budget in other ways. So there would be
cuts to other things. So I really want to know from the community is it worth it to the community to get this playground or do we just wipe our hands of it and just keep our playground as it is? I'm asking this honestly. get the grant money back. >> I I don't think I don't think the school
would b I don't think the school would benefit in any way. >> School wouldn't benefit from that. They wouldn't have more money available to them based on to pay for teachers if was was turned. >> But that's my point ultimately is that
we need to find a way to make this happen and if it's on us then it will come as cuts to other things that the road >> just just play it out a little bit, right? Which is basically you guys go this way. This is the last thing I'll say. I don't want to take up everybody's time here, right? You play it out this way. You start invoicing them. You get
your 150k back. There's going to be big cuts, right? We're gonna be making cuts. Now, it's not just that the school did this. It's the school and the town did this, right? You're part of you're you're going to be right there in the bucket with them. It's a million dollar deficit. It's a million 1.5 1.15.
>> That doesn't come from your operating budget, though. That's >> I understand. It's not funable cash. I understand. Maybe I'll just >> perceptions. >> I'll leave it. I'll leave it >> perceptions. >> You guys are very sensitive about >> they might know what >> you're already.
I want to do the right thing. The end of the day for the kids. What matter what matters is let's try and put the most resources into the schools that we possibly can. Let's try and put the most resources into the municipality that we can based within the confines of the way that it
works. That's ultimately at the end of the day all we're trying to do. I would just encourage that you don't be so mad about them reneggging on a deal that that there's some sort of >> it it looks a little more mad about the back door maneuver the tactics than I am
about >> back I'm thinking about I'm thinking about playground or the EMS wanting the stretcher >> right those are those are at this point in conflict because the commitment that was made to us was not honored and now
I'm stuck with a conflict like that. It might not be the stretcher. It might be something else. It'll be a new police car. It'll be, you know, new weapons for the police department, whatever. But now I have a dilemma, right? And one way out is to say, uh, we've been doing
something free and maybe maybe we shouldn't do it free. Maybe that's not the right thing to do for, uh, the residents that that are like this, the business district, right? And this isn't a battle I wanted. >> Sure. >> All right. This isn't something I asked.
Uh >> I that that's if if you don't mind. That's the kind of the the attitude that I find a little bit odd as a resident. As a resident like it looks a little bit like oh you know that meme the two Spider-Mans pointing at each other. That's how it feels a little bit looking at this. Right. So you can understand
the playground that's going to be used by by the schools primarily a $1.3 million playground and and we're the villain because >> because you have available get creative pull some levers I don't know that's what we're trying to do the levers >> the levers are to turn them upside down
like I don't that's what >> yeah it's look back why don't we look at the board of ed and what the predecessors have done to get us to this point, maybe a fiveyear audit. Maybe we should think about things like that as
well. >> You're using words like turned upside down, like we're like like we're we're the um you know, like we're the mafia. We're pushing them around on a commitment that we have. I I don't understand. And I think the three minutes is up here. I think we want to if there's anyone else here.
>> Thank Thank you for your time. family at the time. So on the rec committee did a lot of work with DJ and everyone to put together this playground. I independently um raised money for the playground that was put at fair fields.
Um my question is there's a lot of discussion right now. Things seem very heated. I'm going to try to keep things very simple. One thing I just want to say >> you just step up a little bit just so I can hear you on there. Uh when you talk about like the students, the students are also residents of this town. We're also talking about the fact of this
playground is over 25 years old. This was not paid for by the town initially. It was knocked down one day and angry parents saw what happened and they raised money independently and redid all the playgrounds. This has been a known
issue to um the entire community that this is something that needs to be fixed because the number one thing that draws people to this town is the fact that we are supposedly children first and I'm not really getting that vibe lately. Um
but anyhow, what I just want to ask is are we really going to say no to $750,000 and not proceed with this? >> No. So, we will get creative and this will proceed one way or the other is what I would like confirmation on.
>> So, I mean just to build on Councilman Olsson's point and I'll just add because Councilwoman Deacelli and I who shared a finance committee had discussions today. So, what happens if the school doesn't um come up with 150,000? I will have to pull that 150,000 out of the pay as you go capital account. That's where we'll
come. Generally, we spend about $181,000 a year in capital. Again, capital expenses are anything but fiveyear life expectancy and a value of $5,000 or more. So, for example, I'll use the the striker um uh c for the ambulances. That's that's about a $60,000 expense.
Um we bought one last year at a pay as you go capital. Our goal was to buy one this year. Obviously, if I take that 150,000, then I'm not going to buy that cot this year. They're not they're not going to get it. That's something that we lose. So, we have to be creative. So, our department heads like the police chief and anybody else in here is not going to get capital equipment this
year. we would have to take it from there. I don't we're not going to reneg on it. I mean, I think that'd be foolish. I'm not going to speak for the governing body because they have the ultimate say, but we're not going to reneg on this on this. We got $750,000. You know, we've designed it. We got it. You know, I mean, it was a very competitive grant and Councilwoman Hoey
who worked on it, you know, put a lot of effort into it as far as engineer DJ, they put a lot of effort into getting it and because it was of all the time success was written, we got the award. No, we're not going to. We just have to find something else. But unfortunately other things we made promises to other groups. They're not going to have it.
They're just not going to get that equipment. This is the way it's going to go. >> We've als we also at one point looked at from the community center that was ridiculous. >> You know the kids obviously need to make use of it outside the school. That's what's most important. We've talked about even you know making them smaller, you know, if we had to to meet the
obligation. But there'll be some some playground that's going to be going. >> Okay. I just want to confirm that that because honestly like we're talking about kids and I just want to make sure that that is always top of mind and our number one priority. Um and I just feel like the fair haven way based on the
fact that too when you give all the examples of the shared services that we've had in the past a lot of them are historical is for us to find a way to work together. So I hope that um in private conversations that the best outcome is made and we can come to terms
but I would be extremely disappointed if things did not happen and I think a lot of there would be a lot of outrage and you will have parents like out the door. So I just want to make that clear. >> And I don't think I don't think sending an invoice does anything but flush out
the true intentions. Sure. And enables us to move forward. >> Yes. And just so you know though as like an outsider that like obviously I'm biased because I want this playground to happen but I don't care how it happens. I just want it to happen. Um the com the
conversation did seem a little tense as an outsider when you go through the invoice. So if some people seem angry, I think it's just unfortunately I think there's a lot that we're not privy there's a lot that we're not privy to. The public's not privy to that's going on behind the scenes. But it just it
seems he needed. >> So I thank you because I know how much work you put into this too. The rec committee and I think what's happening here there's two things happening at the same time. >> This wreck the playground is happening at the same time that the budget's happening. And so there's been a lot going on. I'm not angry at anyone and
I've made it clear. I'm willing to work with anyone. We are kids first. Like I have a kid in the school and I want this playground to happen. We need to figure out how to make that happen and we will make it happen. >> But there's two things happening at the same time and they're getting a little conflated and everything's kind of
morphing back and forth. >> We're talking about money. We always have to end up paying for things independently a lot and I think it's just gets very tense for everybody. Always feel like we're getting hit with money whether it's taxes or school or whatever it may be. Tina, just so you know, the PTA made a commitment to this
playground, too. They didn't have the money, >> but we sat here for two hours the other day figuring out how we're going to help them fund raise. Yes. And how they're going to do it. Like, we're committed to this and and we're doing everything we can. We just can't have >> people rowing against us. Sure. That's
all. Yeah. What I was going to say is to be clear, it's a little bit of repeating here, >> but the playground's going to happen. We're going to find a way to make playground happen. So, in my mind, it's not are we going to have a play guard. What I'm trying to do is prevent renaming on a promise to the EMS.
>> Sure. >> On a strike. >> Right. And if if if I can't find another solution that fills this hole, I have to do things like say, "Sorry, I told you last year I'd get you another one next year." And I'm can't. >> So, I'm trying to avoid that. I'm
fighting for the striker. >> Think about that. Not I'm not fighting for the playground so much. That's already done in my head. >> Yeah. Okay. Good. fighting for the fighting for the for other things. >> Sure. I just when you look at the comparison to me it's just like well Striker is going to help sure it'll help
everybody at one point in the community but this benefits 500 kids at recess every single day. Um, and it's also just something in regards to mental health for kids, like the fact that they need to go outside and they need to play and they need to learn to interact and that's where their social skills are
built. And this is on the playground and it's inclusive for everyone >> and the alternative would just be we'd have to raise like nothing or we'd have to independently raise it and it could take years. So anyway, thank you for your time, but I just wanted to share that and clarify some things. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Sure. Hi, Rosen 126 Buttonwood. >> I really just came here tonight to find out what an inclusive playground was and if we can see the uh but I have so many more questions about everything that's
going on here. So, I mean I'm not even going to dive into that stuff, but what would an inclusive playground entail? And will we be able to see the design? very similar to the Farah Haven Road project where you were able to go online, click on it, and you'd be able to see the whole entire schematics where you're going to be able to see this new
beautiful playground that we're going to be getting. And then second, if I wrote a personal check for $150,000, would you name the park after me? >> Is it an actual uh the park or the playground? >> The playground. I mean, the park's already named after
>> Okay. Like we can work on that. If you're being serious and you want to have a conversation after the meeting, I would definitely encourage you to stick around. >> Yeah. All right. Well, I can definitely tell you that. I'm sure that if we really thought about this, parents, the
municipality would come up with that kind of money. >> That's part of the conversation we have with the PTA. So, there's bricks being laid um that are going to be up for sale to help um offset the cost. >> Benches and the rainart. >> Benches. The rain gardens for sale. Yeah. We're
>> great. I mean, but I would love to see, you know, serious about a silver >> naming naming rights and gold. >> Listen, it's a it's an option that doesn't seem too outlandish. But in any case, I'd love to see the, you know, the specs of what this would look like. You know, my daughter is going to be, you
know, going to cycles next year. So, and then my son two years from now. And of course, we're all for it. I mean, it's a beautiful >> Just add Mr. S, we had a bunch of council meetings where we had the design. If you go back on our prior YouTubes, there's some uh videos of it. But you want to connect with DJ Breenri
back there, director of parks and recreation. Um he can uh he can email you over and you know take a look at the plan everything virtual. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Love. Yeah, that'd be great. >> But yeah, we'd be happy to share >> and inclusive essential. I mean one main thing is that access to it. So it comes in a wheelchair the surfaces can be like
the whole playground can be accessed some say in a wheelchair or sensory a lot more sensory >> barriers. So they a kid maybe might wander off. >> We have a little bit of a barrier.
>> Sounds great. >> And the the grant was specifically for inclusive playgrounds. So that was how we got. >> Got it. And you also mentioned earlier that we're not going to be raising taxes here. Should I just throw that little blue card out that I just got in the mail? >> I want to be clear there
taxes. We mix up about 23%. >> Um and it's the third straight year that we're not increasing them. And in the last five years, I believe we've gone up about 2% in the aggreate five years on municipal tax >> and last year was a decrease. >> But as as part of that, we're making
some tough decisions here that not everyone is always in support of, but sometimes they're necessary. >> Recycling is probably the best example of that, but it's not the only one. Yeah. I mean, you know, the chief's in the back corner. I'm sure he'd love another officer. You know, the the DPW,
I'm sure Nick would want another DPW worker. Mhm. >> We're we're doing the best we can with the resources we have. Understanding that our residents don't want to be priced out of town. Yes. >> Yeah. There's certain residents that the um >> you know the the priority is absolutely
the schools. And I understand that because for me, for a lot of my time at Fair Haven, it was. But there's also residents that also are senior citizens. They've been in their house for 40 years. >> Yeah. >> Maybe they're not locked into the tax freeze and and they don't want to leave area. They want to be able to stay here,
you know, for all their years. So, like we have to balance everything up here as part of what we do. And that's part of the discussion that we have when, you know, >> I understand sometimes the perception isn't great. I'm not I'm not I don't get the benefit of living in a world where
per maybe some politicians do. I don't live in the world where perception matters. Doesn't we got to do the right thing up here. So, we're going to do the right thing for the Burough Fair Haven for all of our residents. Will we get it wrong sometimes? I'm sure we will, but we're going to make the decision based on it. >> True. But, you know, a lot of young
families, and I'm going to go back to what the young lady just said prior to me, is, you know, we moved here for this. I moved from New York City for this. Kids, riding bikes all over the place, fair haven fields, thousand
lacrosse kids. I mean, like, that's exactly why I moved here. Now, prices we're going to pay for this is extraordinary. which helps out everybody's property values. And if you want to stay here, the longer you stay here and the more people like myself, you know, show up,
your property values are all going to go up and we can obviously hopefully build a better tax base at some point, but as of right now, um yeah, I just really like to see the party, >> right? >> It's coming. >> All right, great. >> Yep. Hook up with DJ. He'll um get you.
>> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Public comment. agenda items only. Hi Carolyn. >> Carolyn Ferguson, 7 Colonia Court. Uh just a quick question about the ordinance about the businesses opening. What happens to businesses that were prior granted the ability to open before
6 a.m. >> The grandfather grandfathered in? >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any else? Public comment agenda items over. >> Sure. >> Hi. I wanted to see your citizens in town. Uh, first of all, thank you to all of
you because the former school board former school board >> name and address. >> Oh, sorry. Eileen Higgins, Dartmouth Avenue. Um, I want to say first of all, thank you for >> what number >> 318 putting the the stop sign in at the end of Gentry and Dartmouth. Um, it
still seems to be a suggestion. Um, at best people roll through it. Unfortunately, more times than not, there's no stop at all. the end of our street is a is a field. It's great to see how packed they are right now. It's one of the reasons we moved here to town, but my children are having their
children. Um the traffic coming through at between school. Our neighbor who lives right on right on the bend there has two young children. We chased after a car that very narrowly missed his son. There are a lot of kids who run ride the
bikes down that street. parents walk down the middle of the street and people are not stopping at that stop sign. And we are begging you as people who sit on the porch and watch it to put somebody on that corner as games are going on to
to watch the traffic when they built the parking lot there. They're not supposed to be able to make a right-hand turn out of the parking lot through the gentry. Yes, there's a sign there. Again, a suggestion. The traffic is ridiculous and I'm really concerned about the kids and the bikes and the >> sure
I didn't want to cut you off. It's just it's not on an agenda. This is public comment on agenda, but the chief will look into that. >> This was a public. >> Okay. >> Um he he advises on all traffic safety type stuff. So he'll take a look at it
and if he if there's a change that he suggests, he'll obviously communicate it to the governing body. 99.9% of the time when he makes a recommendation, we will. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else public comment on agenda items only?
>> I don't know if it's on the agenda. >> My name is Chad Shley. 90 Cambridge Avenue. >> It's uh good to the burrow. You can bring it up then to wait till the end. just only agenda items only. So good to the borrow you can stand up at the end and ask hoping someone
>> because it's causing a problem at the end. >> At the end you come back. >> All right. It's the good of the burrow portion. Anyone else public comments on agenda items only? >> Alison. All right.
All right. >> Hey, can you hear me? Hello? >> Yes. >> Okay, great. Hi, Anmarie Koo, 134 Woodland Drive. And I just wanted to chat quickly. I know we've exhausted
this a bit on the um board of education, but I think my ask here is a I've been a resident of Fair Haven for 3 years now and both of my girls will be attending Cycles. We're going to be starting in the 2027 school year, but I think some
of the things that are going to be happening with the board of education funding cuts are going to set precedent for funding cuts, class sizes, and that's all part of why we moved here. So my ask to you guys given this was an agenda item is can
you help the board of education because right now at least from this meeting it's my first meeting I've attended there seems to feel some tension and I think we're all paying taxes to the town and municipality board of ed education system wherever it's going. I think
right now we may need some creative solutions to keep these schools great to where they are. Whether that needs to be from rearranging the bud budget, fundraising solutions, anything really. My ears are wide open and I'm trying to educate
myself as much as I possibly can ahead of the next board of ed meeting because I'd like to come to them with some ideas and we've kind of stumbled upon a few different mechanisms potentially today but they're in a really tough spot and we can only control what we can control
but I would love to see the town working with the board of education whether it's through the resources all the smart people we have in this town and the money we have and how we can make this work for the town and keep our school
systems great in addition to keeping the town great and also appreciating the work that you guys are doing with the playground. >> That's that's absolutely the goal. >> Okay. >> From an outsers's perspective, I don't think a lot of the parents are are aware
of what's happening on both sides of the equation. So, I'd love there to be a little bit more public communication here. And if you guys from the inside, if any way residents can help or collective action on any of these issues, whether it be through your goals
or board of education goals, I'd love to see some collaboration and some more education to the town because people like me didn't know about anything that was happening until last week and I'm like, "Oh, whoa. Hey, we live in this super affluent area. we all came here for the kids, the schools, all of that.
And like, let's do this. We all just need to be in the same room. >> I I agree with you. But I we we can't communicate on behalf of the board of ed on on what's going on within the board of ed. That's just not our role um as a
municipality. Our our agenda today was specific to the >> services that we provide to the board of ed as a result of that discussion. nothing else. So if you if you need to talk to them about staffing or you know
any of their expenses or their fiscal situation, that's conversation for them specifically. We can't speak on behalf of them. >> No, I totally understand that. I think I am just kind of echoing the support from your
side if if that's possible. >> We've met with them countless times. We've been in the same room. We've offered uh shared services agreements. We've shown tonight the services that we provide to the board of ed and and I guess it's it's our it's our continued frustration to hear
>> that people think they're not in the room trying to help >> so many occasions. >> Yeah, I would say >> sorry that is definitely not my perception. I just want to advocate to
get a solution because we're in a tight time crunch and I know you guys are too with your budget. >> We agree. >> Thanks for coming. And I I would say I don't envy the position the board of eds in like you guys I don't envy you. So I understand but we want to work together
like we are trying on our end too. We're pulling all the leverage that we legally can and that keeps us safe too. >> Thank you Amarie. Thank you. >> Looks like Megan Chris. >> Hey,
>> can you guys hear me? >> We can. How are you? >> Hi. Good evening. How are you? Um, so nice to see all of you up there. It's been a long time um since I've joined a meeting. Um, my question is this. As initially anticipated, the playground
was a 750 grant, 150 from the board of ed for a total of $900,000. >> No, there's more. There's was it 75 from PTA? >> Uh about 57 PCA. >> 57 from PTA. Then what was >> and then we and then the rec trust was
covering a portion of it and then the final trust the final portion was from the burrow. >> Was from the burrow. So what was the total Chris? >> Uh it's about just shy of 1.3. You hear that? Like 1.3 sh Okay. What I'm trying to understand is where the balance of
those funds were coming from. >> Um so some from the PTA and then how much was from the the town overall? >> So PTA rec and the rest of the balance
is from the rec trust and the um the burst capital budget. So that was like an additional three or $400,000 >> roughly. Yeah. >> Is not that we want to scale back anything, but is there an eye toward we could scale anything back and be able
to, you know, continue the project um with a more financially conservative eye. >> So some of the issues you run into, you know, scaling the actual apparatus back um is because obviously it's an inclusive playground. So we have to you know check certain boxes on the approval
list for Jake's law in order to have the playground there. So um the most expensive portions of the project are the apparatus and the surface the board in place surface. Unfortunately the port and place surface is you know roughly just shy of 500,000 itself and that's required for the project as well for
accessibility. Um things we probably could um scale down but I don't think it would make that big of an impact on it. maybe some landscaping, some bushes, a rain garden, you know, maybe a couple benches, those types of things. U we could scale back, but as far as the the
the bulk of the cost of the project is the apparatus itself. And you start taking pieces of it off, then you might lose a certain inclusive part of it that's required to be there. So that's the that's the difficulty in this project itself. >> Yeah, a little more. I think that covered most of it.
>> Yeah, 100%. I get that. That makes a lot of sense. And you know, obviously we don't want to scale anything back, but we also don't want to miss out on an amazingly incredible grant opportunity. Um, you know, I know the bureau works very hard pursuing grants and we should embrace every single opportunity for
things that we need. Um, this is the need. We're at 25 years. Those playgrounds have a usable life and, you know, I would be really ashamed to see it go away. So, I was very happy to hear that the burrow is committed to making this happen one way or another. Um, you know, obviously it's a unfortunate
situation that the board of ed is dealing with a, you know, a budget major budget issue. Um, but that's not new. That was last year and it's probably for the foreseeable future until the there's some, you know, legislation that is supports that. So, um, you know,
hopefully everyone can move forward amicably. As everybody said from our perspective, we're taxpayers. It's all our money. The grant money is probably part of our money too that's coming back to us from the state. Um we just want all the great
things in our town um to continue moving things forward and improving um where improvement is needed. So I appreciate all the hard work. I know what it takes and um I look forward to seeing what this um new playground has in store.
>> Thank you. May Alison, we >> had Stephanie Adams. Hi, Stephanie. >> Hi, Stephanie Adams, 230 Oxford Avenue. Um,
so full disclosure, because I I spoke at a council meeting probably last year or the year before, I think with Kelly Flanigan, um, about the playground, about the poured in place surface and just, you know, that that we had some
issues with it. I am fully support so important the inclusive playground. Um but we've we've had some concerns about the port in place plastic that's going in to surface it. I'm hearing now that
this is a half a million dollar price tag. I've had these conversations with Michael um Dimichelli. I've I've had conversations I think with a lot some of you about concerns over whether you know some of the research that's coming out
on these poured in place plastic playgrounds um their toxicity heavy metals um crumbling and you know it goes on and on and I'm not going to get into that but what I would say is it is so expensive the research is
starting to show that it doesn't hold up and that it is not necessarily healthy for children. I I have researched Jake's law. Actually, I think I had this conversation with Chris York. I've looked at the law. I've looked at the, you know, the Disabilities Act. I've looked at all of the requirements. And I
would argue that unfortunately, I think that Jake's Law is flawed in that the only option that they give you for surfacing is this port in place. I think that there could be other options, but they're just not
they're not in the law. So that leaves you guys, you know, with a really expensive surface that now we can't afford. So the first thing, so that's, you know, my green team hat, my education foundation
hat. I've spent the last three years with a group of amazing people trying to raise money for the schools. Um, any residents that are on the call right now, I would encourage you to, you know, read the communications that are coming out of the schools about all of the meetings and town halls that we had
leading up to the budget season. It's it's really hard to to reach Fair Haven. We're finding um people are working really hard. I understand the buckets. I understand all of it. You don't have to explain it to me. I also understand that the relationship the the issue of
McCarter Park and Sickles I I've I'm aware of the tension there but to me that has always been a symbol of like the collaboration you know again back to green team the collaborative spirit that makes Faired such a great community that
groups pitch in and help out. So, I, you know, I was a little distressed to hear this language of, oh, we're going to start, you know, billing them or charging them. I know you guys don't really feel that way. I know everyone's mad because I know how hard Wreck has been working on this playground. Um, so
the two things that I want to say is, you know, a can you again I I hit a wall. Um, I don't have contacts at the D, but if you do, you know, is are other I'm wondering if other municipalities
are struggling with this port in place plastic that is required for Jake's law because engineered wood fibers also are ADA compliant, but for whatever reason, they're not included in Jake's law. So,
that would be my first question. And then my second question is, you know, could you get sort of a a a delay, you know, on this grant? Can you can you push it back as I know the municipality has done with other grants in the past
until you can get all of this sorted? I know there's urgency. I know the playground is is and I know I'm going over my three minutes, but um you know, is there a way to delay the project until all of this gets sorted? Because you know at the end of the day you also
have to think about the optics of you know putting in this fantastic needed playground but people don't understand the buckets and they're going to be wondering how we have money for this playground when teachers are losing their jobs and kids are losing their
teachers and that's really upsetting and you know that's what what sadly is is going to happen. Um, so those those would be my two uh suggestions. If you can maybe talk to the D and find out if if if they're getting these complaints
about the port in place. It's so expensive. It doesn't hold up. It overheats. It crumbles. Arsenic. I mean, and I'm happy to share the research with anyone who wants to see it. I'm not trying to be inflammatory. I'm just saying it's going
the same way that um you know we're seeing now with the astro with the the fake uh fields grass the turf that they're starting to see that maybe turf isn't so healthy. So can we just not do that and put down a different surface um
and then maybe save ourselves some money? That's it. Thank you. And thank you all. I know you guys are all working hard. It's complicated, but you please, you know, show the schools some grace because we're all working hard and we're all just trying to, you know, save jobs
and keep the kids happy and healthy, right? We all have the same goal. So, um, I hope we can all just focus on that. Thank you. >> Now, thank you, Stephanie. I know you and I had many conversations over this and I appreciate all the insight and all the research you did on it and I certainly agree. I wish I didn't have to
buy a board in place either. It's a significantly expensive material. Um unfortunately, you know, we're at the mercy of uh DP. We do a deadline that we have to use the grant money by, so we're not able to delay it. Um it's the only surface that they'll accept. I wish I
could do engineered wood fiber as well. It would save us money, but the DP doesn't allow it. Um if we decided to put engineered wood fiber down, um they wouldn't when they came out to do inspection, they would not give us the grant money and we would be out that 750 as well. So, unfortunately, that's the issues we run into. Um it's bigger than
us, that's at the state. Um, you know, I mean, you're you're a great activist on these causes. You know, I suggest reach out to as many people at D as possible and express your displeasure that this is the only option available. Um, but I agree. We didn't have to buy that. That would be a significant savings. But
unfortunately, it's >> But it just makes you It just doesn't make sense. It doesn't make you I know how these things work and I know that, you know, there's people that I I get it. It's part of the package, but it's not a good part of the package.
But I but I do encourage you reach out to the state and you know and reach out as many people as you can express your displeasure and maybe something will come out of it. Maybe not for us but maybe for other future municipalities. So thank you >> Krueger. >> Hi can you hear me?
>> Yes. >> Hi Manford Krueger 23 Normandy Avenue. I have just a question about the operating hours ordinance. So just may preface to that with just my concern is just keeping the town nature that it's a quiet small town that we can all live in
um you know with and have respect for our neighbors. I'm just wondering what what is the rationale for the town to change the law and the way they're doing it >> as far as as far as the ordinance on the agenda. you're saying? >> Yeah, the the ordinance to change the
operating hours. >> I think it's what you just said. I think there's there's concern for, you know, we we don't want to make it a, you know, 247 uh all you can eat buffet when it when it comes to >> okay
>> um you know, businesses operating at all hours of the night. And and there would really be no remedy for businesses that have already received the variance because basically that'll be a single business perhaps that is able to open at 5 am and all the other ones can't and
they have no remedy to address the community, you know, in the way that they feel necessary as this last business did. >> Yeah. >> Well, I can speak as to that. Um once the a planning board makes a
decision uh so I guess everyone's speaking about one particular decision that was recently made once that decision is publicized uh any agrieved party can file within I believe it's 30 days an appeal with the New Jersey Superior Court.
um an an agrieved party. It's a it's a gray area, but uh a court will determine whether in fact you have standing as an agrieved party. That could be a municipality, that could be a neighboring business, that could be a neighboring resident. Uh anyone that feels that they were harmed or wronged
as a result of this decision and they can make that appeal to the superior court. >> That's the current one though. That's >> No, no, that's New Jersey law. That's just New Jersey law I'm speaking about. >> So, yes. So, they could do that regardless of whether we do this or not.
>> Yes. >> Yeah. >> That's the appellet process. >> So, but they could also come to the zoning board. >> No, they So, there's no >> Well, once the once the decision is made by that planning board, >> yes, >> the appellet process would be through the New Jersey Superior Court. But now
we're not letting not but this ordinance separate >> separate Michael um Andrew's discussing the recent decision that was made by the planning board and what the appeals process would be of an agreed party. >> But I think what needs to be clear though is this ordinance would make it
so the planning board wouldn't make that decision anymore. So no one else passed this person would have to strips the planning board of the ability to provide a variance >> for hours of operation. Yes. Right. So stop,
>> right? So what >> there's only one person this would >> a judge once told me is that the courtroom steps are always and the courtroom doors are always open. Right. Anyone who feels that they were harmed or wronged by a decision that's made by whether it's a language board or some
sort of governing board, uh they have the appellet rights to determine whether in fact they were right, whether it was an arbitrary and capriccious decision that was made by that agency. And the decision the planning board made
lives with the use of the facility. So right now the fitness studio. So the planning board gave them the ability to to open at 5 a.m. >> Um >> well I wouldn't I wouldn't just speak directly as to the specific but I would say any planning board decision that's
made >> the if the if the use changes let's say it changed to a bowling alley then the the variance would go away. So, it lives with the use of the facility. And what the ordinance does is it prevents the planning board from making that same
type of decision again. >> Can I weigh in here? >> Sure. >> It's it's for during site plan approval. So, the very >> Sorry, >> this our lawyer.
>> I was wondering who that was, Christina. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Was I interrupting someone? >> No. >> No. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Okay. Sorry about that. I just wanted to clarify that this is the the the ordinance would be the planning board would not have the ability to grant a
variance which is technically and typically left for the zoning board um during site plan approval. So the applicant would need to then file for a variance elsewhere if they meet the criteria. That's basically the goal of this ordinance.
That was I said then they can go to the fair that would go to the zoning board instead. Yeah. >> Come outside. >> Everyone good? Move on. >> Allison, >> I have Chris Rodriguez. >> What's up, Chris?
>> Hey guys. Uh Chris Rodriguez, 134 Buttonwood Drive. Um, I do not have any questions about the board of ed or any budgeting. Um, my, uh, comments are mostly about the signs. Um,
first of all, um, I'm glad we're redoing the signs. Um, that's a great thing. Thank you for, um, spearheading that. The, uh, I want to say you guys called in a rider underneath for different events. Um my only comment there is please make
it big enough so when people are driving by um they're able to see it. I know we're trying to replace you know 10 20 foot banners or whatever and I can't imagine I can't visualize how big those riders might be on a sign that's only about 3 or 4 feet wide. So um just
hopefully those will be big enough to accommodate. Um so that was my comment about the rider. Uh, as far as the sign is concerned, I've seen some cartoonish versions. >> Sorry, >> I'm sorry. I was I was talking. I
apologize. >> No worries. Um, the um the Albertina, I've seen some cartoonish renderings um that we've done in the past. Um, unfortunately, Mayor, you were showing some of the visuals, but I wasn't able to see it. I know the seal
has this sort of cartoonish smoke stack thing that goes on. Um I do think there's a more um realistic representation that can happen. So if we can go that route, that would be great from a historical accuracy perspective. I know that was important to some folks. And then lastly, um want to thank
administrator uh York and the DPW folks who um have um graciously replaced the um Eagle Scout signs that are around um Fair Haven Fields and so forth. Um they were nice enough to return the original and the new ones are in. And I just
wanted to report that I've seen them and I had great interactions with um with the staff on that and I just wanted to say thank you. >> Thank you, Chris. Good to hear from you. >> Good luck, guys. >> Thank you.
>> Lauren's phone. >> Lauren, >> hello. It's Lauren Porter at 87 Lewis Lane. Um, I just wanted to share just from listening um to all of this and because I know this is when sometimes
some information can go out and then people can question and it can take on uh a role of its own. I just want to be clear that the PTA portion towards the playground was um committed to years ago through uh executive board discussions
of what we reasonably thought we could raise from the community via the pavers and the benches and now um through our meeting recently the delightful rain garden. Um, but that no PTA annual budget funds or any of the funds raised
at the recent fundraiser, none of those funds are going towards the playground. This is going to be a direct campaign through the sales of those items so that the community, businesses, residents, senior citizens that want to put their grandchildren's names out there,
anything um have a place to put their names out and provide financial support to help the playground happen. Um, and we do ultimately through some of our budgeting recently looking at it hope that we can raise more than that amount so that hopefully we can cut in to the
amount um that you were hoping to receive elsewhere. So, I just wanted to share that so that no one thinks that any of the PTA funds are being used um inappropriately. >> Thank you, Lauren. Thank you uh for
everything you do and for your um you know your uh your work on this as well. I know you put in a lot of a lot of time in a lot of different ways and uh we're appreciative. >> Yes, we're just an avenue for parents to try to to contribute and we've seen it
work in other towns and some really remarkable uh facilities are hopefully going to come out of this. here. Portal >> portal teachers association, >> Alison, anyone else? >> That's all. >> All right. Thank you. We're going to
move along to approval of minutes. April 13, 2026 regular meeting. Do I have a motion to approve as presented? >> Allison, may I please have a roll call? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. Thank you. April 13, 2026 executive session. Do I have a motion to approve as presented? >> Second. >> Allison, may I please have a roll call? >> Council members, >> yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, uh, old business. We have a public hearing on the 2026 municipal budget. Believe Christian Nancy, you have a PowerPoint. >> Yep. Alison, would you mind pulling that up?
While they're pulling up, uh, we have two resolutions signed under the consent agenda pertaining to the budget adoption. Uh, that's 2026-102 and 2026-103. Show and tell. >> We good. >> All right. So, um first off, um I want
to thank the members of the finance committee who worked extremely hard on this budget. Um again, this is uh we had a decrease last year. This year the budget's staying flat, so we have no increases. Um, first of all, it takes, you know, it's a lot of the hard work that went into our administration, our
CFOs, um, as well as all our team of department heads that worked here to really help to be fiscally responsible for this. I'm also just to recognize the members of our finance council, obviously, uh, the mayor is ex official on all committees. um our chair this year, Councilwoman Selli. Um our new
members of the finance committee, Councilwoman Tracy Cole, uh myself, chief financial officer Nancy Britain, and also our community members, uh Jonathan Peters, finance committee member, uh Robert Mancuso, finance committee member, and also our student representative, Zack. So, I appreciate
to have that. Um so, again, this just gives an overview of our um budgeting. Nancy will go into some details on that and if you have any questions we can uh we'll ask questions for each slide. This probably makes it a little bit easier. So Nancy. >> All right. So as Chris said, we're
remaining flat for the year. Um this first page is just going to show you our basic budget funding. We're using 1.6 million in fund balance this year. Uh local revenues anticipated or 1.14. State aid has remained flat. It's pretty
much the same since I've been here over five years of 460,000. Our grants are minimal um at 1,600 delinquent tax, which is an anticipation we have to do is 150,000. And then the local purpose tax, which is the amount
being paid by taxation, is 9.6 925 for a total of just under $13 million for the municipal budget. Our ratables are 3 bill86,773,100. Our tax rate for the municipality will
be 311 as it was last year. The next sheet is a comparison of revenues and appropriations. Um I'm just going to quickly go over this one. You'll see a lot of what I just said as far as the revenues are concerned. And then below that are going to be be the
appropriations. Um each of those numbers, salaries and wages almost 3.9. Other expenses statutory and deferred charges 5.5. Uh state federal wait no sorry other expenses is 5.5. Statuto and deferred
charges 1.26. State federal grants that remains the same. Capital that would be our pay as you go capital that we're putting in the budget is 215,000. And our debt service for this year is one just under 1.5.
Um so you could if you look to the far right you can see the comparisons. The biggest compar you know the biggest change is the uh the re local revenues have decreased a fair amount. Uh part of that is um we're no longer
getting it used to be like a municipal relief aid. We haven't gotten that in a couple of years. Our state and federal grants decreased significantly because we had a $1 million grant the year before. Um, and our delinquent taxes I lowered based on where we've run it,
where we've been the rest of the last couple of years. Salaries and wages did increase. Other expenses did increase uh really the we decreased the amount of capital um that were pay as you go capital this year that we're taking.
We decreased. Last year we had >> 215 the same. >> Last year we did 400. >> Um generally yes it is 215. Last year we we added some additional funding. >> Yeah. And last year's edition primarily had to do with the fire truck expenses.
>> So we we spent more than we normally spend in capital and we had the police car. Now the police car is 2024. That was 24. We didn't have a police car in 25. >> Okay. I take it back. >> Yeah. We didn't buy any police cars in 25, but 24 is a police car, but 25 last year the increase was the expense um was
roughly just shy of 80,000 to do the 80. >> Oh yes, I remember. >> All right. And then if you look at the very bottom, you'll see our surplus, the condition of surplus, which is quite healthy. Um we had available prior to taking the 1.6 million just under 4.2.
Our remaining balance is going to be 2.6. We added 48,025 to our surplus. Any questions? No. All right. Next sheet is going to be our summary of tax rates.
So, one caveat on this. Everything but the local municipality tax rate is an estimate. These are not actual numbers. They're estimated at 2% over the previous year and broken down from there. So, we can take a look at these,
but they're they're not real numbers as of yet. Um, the only real number on here is the municipal tax rate of 311. Uh, next page is summary current fund section. You know, a lot of this is just repetitive. Um, appropriations within
caps is 9 9 just under 9.4. appropriations excluded from caps is just under three million. Reserve for uncollected taxes, which is statutory, we have to do that is 625 um for just under $13 million in total
appropriations. And you'll see the revenues uh local revenues anticipated 3.35 and then the rest is going to be raised by taxation for the 9.6. Next sheet. Not going to go into too much detail on this. The big thing here,
this is our cap calculation. So this is our appropriation cap calculation. Um we have to remain under 3 and 12% increase. And the idea is to keep a rolling um a rolling cap bank. So cap bank can only
be rolled three years. We put some in to then have more left. So, we did use a little bit this year, but we are left with a appropriation cap bank of $260,756, which is a nice appropriation cap to
have. Um, the next sheet is our tax levy U cat. That's not quite as healthy. Uh, but we did manage to, you know, make do everything we needed to do. >> That's the 2%. >> That's the two. Yeah, that the the tax
levy. um have is 2%. Thank you, Chris. >> Uh so again, we managed to do everything we need to do and still maintain a zero increase in our um taxes and there we
have a cap bank of $457. >> Lean, it is lean. Yes. Yes, we're very we're very And then the last sheet is just it's a summary of the 2026 budget. It just goes over briefly, you know, salaries and wages, what you'll see in
social security, the statutory expenses of pension, insurance, um if anybody has any questions, I'll more than happily answer them for you. And then it just projects out for the next few years. Does anybody have any questions on them?
The amount that we have on item appropriated this year for debt service is one 1.2 >> debt services for this year is 1.5. Last year was just under 1.2. >> Okay. >> So it's 1.5. We added um a an interest
payment for the new permanent financing we just did. So there's only one interest payment coming in this year. And a fair amount of that was taken. We we took so I forget what they call Oh my goodness. Maybe you can help me. Um
>> extra money. >> Thank you. I could not remember the word premium. >> Losing slate. Uh so some of the bond premium that we used we added into the budget. We took some of it into the budget to lessen that impact and then we'll we save some for the next three
years to again lessen the impact because come next year we will have not only an interest payment, we'll have a principal payment and a second interest payment on permanent financing. But we what we won't have that we did have this year um
is the ban payment. So the permanent financing will still be more than the ban, but it won't be as big a jump as you think because the band payment will drop off. The permanent financing payment will will come up. >> It's not going to stay level, but >> No, it is not going to stay level. There
is going to be a a significant increase, but as I said, we did keep some of the bond premium back to lessen that impact over the next few years. >> Good. >> Any questions? I just she just helped me.
>> Good. Good. Thank you, Nancy. >> Thank you, Nancy. Great job. >> Great job. >> And again, thank you to all the department heads too here in the burrow that that helped contribute and let us run as lean as possible. So, team effort. Have a motion for the public.
>> Second. Do >> I need a roll call on that? >> All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Anyone in the public a public comment the budget? >> Uh motion and close. Allison, you have nothing.
>> I know. Great job everybody. >> Motion closing the hearing. >> Sorry. >> Sorry. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> Thank you. Um moving along. Introduction of ordinance 2026-09
amendment 30-7.3 hours of operation hearing and adoption would be on 526. Before I ask for a motion we won't have any public discussion here. I would just say the hours of operation
which are limited to um well they'll be specific were designed to protect small town life peaceable community where there's a quiet part of your morning and it picks up and the
active part of the day happens and move into the evening and those business hours of operation help to ensure the quality of life in a small town that we all have come to know and cherish and as stewards part quality of life. I think this is a I think it's a good step.
>> Anyone else? I have a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. Alison, may I please have a roll call? Council >> members call. >> Yes. Deelli. >> Yes. >> Ripen. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Olson. >> No. >> Thank you. Consent agenda is next.
>> Sorry, I can't I meant to take that. I was actually a no, but >> you were a no. >> It was a no, but it's fine. >> The consent agenda is resolutions 2026-102 through 2026-10.
Um, before I ask for a motion, does anyone want to separate anything from the consent agenda? >> Stop it. >> Sorry, I didn't mean to cause that. I was I was a no. >> I was saying didn't answer that correctly. I'm sorry.
Does anyone want to separate anything off the consent agenda 102 through 110? Does anyone want any discussion or anything before I ask for a motion? I have a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Allison, may I please have a roll call? >> Council members Cole,
>> yes. >> Dina, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Also, >> yes. >> Thank you. Uh, next up, department reports March 2026 Municipal Court. Do I have a motion to accept with thank you? >> Motion to accept with a hearty thank
you. >> All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Next up is consider the burrow portion. Please stand and identify yourself by clearly saying your name and address for the record. Please observe time limit three minutes
of the burrow. Marty >> Bill, you're back. Come on. I know. >> I think Avenue. I just have a question. Not necessarily looking for an answer tonight, but um I've been involved with the Netflix what's coming in with Netflix. Many municipalities are not
familiar with what's going on and just want to make sure that you all are aware that to register for that some ordinances might be needed and to let the businesses know they can be a business for the Netflix they will not have within three years now they will not have enough businesses in Mammoth
and Ocean County to support Netflix with the plan that's coming in and if we can get our businesses to get registered they can be the barist of choice the um and that there's certain ways that they can do that. Mammoth Ocean Development Council, uh, Eastern Mammoth Chamber,
and Brookdale have been very involved with educating people about that. They just need a big training on it. Just want to make sure that you all knew about it. There's only three towns right now that are, uh, movie ready. Um, Middletown, uh, Mayor Perry in Middletown has been very involved with
that. Um, so I know he would be willing to answer questions, um, if you have any about that. >> I definitely encourage you to connect with Allison. um or Chris uh and just let them know the specific details what you're talking about. I know that we've kind of looked at I think we had an
issue where our fee is higher than what Netflix's willing to pay or something like that, but you'll have the information to let them know what our opportunities are and stuff like that. >> I think also the the FHDA and some of the members of the FHBA are present today. I'll put it on the agenda for
conversation so can educate ourselves as well. Great. >> Thank you. Am I wrong? I I would go to the >> Sure. So since last meeting um on Cambridge that came up I believe the
person's here um myself uh Minister York Chief McGovern uh met with uh RBR um their superintendent member of their board little silver police um we're
trying to find a solution um we've opened up communications which I think is good I I left the meeting with hopes that we found a solution um that seems to have slipped away potentially. Um so I'm not giving up yet. Um and there are other creative
ideas that we're thinking about trying to socialize that with with the governing body here, but it is something that's on our radar. >> Thank you, Brian. Um the other one >> um environmental commission had their
roundt I guess last week that brought together the shade tree natural area green team garden club budget group. So there was some discussion on how lots of that happened but also the love where you live day was last week or on Sunday
and it was amazing and it was the fifth ever. So, thank you Bonnie who's in the audience here and Robin O'Neal who did a fabulous job bringing it all together and it really brought together a lot of our commissions and our committees and it was just a wonderful feelood day. So, thank you to everyone who came and can't
wait for next year. >> Number six, >> uh I'd like to recognize and give a round of applause. Um we have the third longest tenure chief of police mounting in the back. He just hit his 10y year anniversary.
We appreciate it. >> I'll try to do more. >> All right. With that being said, we're going to move towards a German. >> Hey, hold on. Sorry. >> I had to I had to leave the the Flyers game third period. My daughter works for
the Flyers, so I gota I gota support. I had I did want to be loud and watch the third period in in the meeting. Um, no, just in in regards to the ordinance for the uh for the time of business and I can appreciate everyone's concern about quality of life and fair haven and and it you know living in a peaceful quiet
town. I certainly don't want that to change. I think a lot of the frustration came from some noise complaints coming from a particular business which ironically got approval to open early. Um, but there are a couple of other fitness studios in town that they're
very small and they're very much in the nature and the and the character of Fair Haven. They're not big lifetime fitness gyms. They're not chain gyms. They're they're small. They're they're very personal in nature. Actually, a lot of personal training for the most part. But what what an early time would permit is
for people who commute and live in town, and there's a lot of us, is is to be able to to do that a little bit more effectively. Okay. And and it's just hard to So instead of working out in my town at a business in my town with three or four, maybe five other people at 5:00
a.m. and going to Dunkin Donuts at 6 a.m. or or something else. It's instead we're going to have to figure out I'm going to have to join a gym in the city or drive to Lifetime. And either way, it's it's it's incredibly disruptive. I just I have a hard time understanding
the measure of how the quality of life in Fair Haven would deteriorate if if a small gym that was catering to a half a dozen people at an early hour with with no noise, right? How that impacts the quality of life in Fairhead. I just that
I get it. I'm I'm concerned. I would not want anything to deteriorate that, but I just don't see it. And and I think I think we're missing the forest for the trees in in what could be I'm not suggesting everything should open. Not
suggesting we should permit you know you know Lifetime Fitness or or whatever. I don't know the names of all these big chain gyms where there'll be a 100 people but I mean look at I mean there's what four or five studios in Fair Haven. They're tiny. they don't fit that many people, you know, and I just don't see
the harm in allowing Fair Haven residents who, many of whom are members of these places to to work out earlier. Um, if they're not blasting lights and music out on the street, the doors are closed, the lights are down, you can't hear anything. Um, I just
don't see who's disrupted by this. I would have liked to have heard a little more discussion from the council. Um, just because again, I don't I just don't see it. And I appreciate what you said, Teresa, but I just don't I don't see the the damage being done to the town by opening it by letting people exercise at
5:00 a.m. >> Thank you. Thank you for voicing your concerns, Chris. Appreciate it. >> Allison, all >> right, with that being said, we're going to move towards adjournment. The time is 9:28 p.m. Do I have a motion?
>> Second. Any second? >> All in favor? I anyone opposed? >> Thank you. Good luck.