Not according to >> being in order to fight for the flag of the United States of America stand with all. This meeting is called pursuant to the provisions of the open public meetings
law. This meeting of October 27, 2025 was included in a list of meetings sent to the courier news on January 6, 2025 posted on the bulletin board wall on that date and has remained continuously posted as required. In addition, a copy of this notice is and has been available
to the public and on file in the office of the burough clerk. Can I have a roll call, please? Councilman Harris, >> Brandon. >> Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Here. >> Councilwoman Ninghor >> here. Councilwoman Pasor here. Councilman Levit >> here.
>> Council Vice President Wall >> here. >> Council President Parker >> here. And >> yes, here. >> All right. Uh, we have the presentation of the 2024 audit. Um, and joining us is our CFO, Bill Hance, here live and in
person. So I don't know if you want to come up to the microphones and on Zoom is our auditor. So if you want to justice our auditor see who it is. >> Yeah. Our auditor is Warren Kiy from supplic. >> Oh
right. Are we going to be able to see you Warren or not? There you are. >> There you are. Hello. We can't hear him. You got to >> You gota unmute yourself. Okay.
>> Okay. Good evening. >> Good evening all. >> Thank you for joining us. Um I don't know uh what you want to highlight for the council and the public um regarding the audit this year. Uh yeah, we every
year there's a statutory audit that has to be done required by state uh you know state regulations and we filed our report uh it's dated July 31st 20125 for the year 24. Um again this is done every year. We
come in and the records that are maintained by the CFO's uh office um we take those and we uh audit those records and we uh compile them into financial statements based on the transactions that happened for the year December 31st
24 and we generate financial statements based on the um requirements of division local government services. Okay. and and based on those um what you receive, we give an opinion and the opinion's uh considered a clean opinion. That means
there's no qualifications or restrictions on the opinion that there's something wrong with the financial statement. So whatever Bill is doing there, the CFO, he's doing it correctly. He's maintaining the b, you know, the records in the way that division asked for it. And it's not just a financial audit, it's also a compliance audit.
There's various there's an audit manual that the state puts out. It's around 200 pages long. there's different areas that they want us to look at. You know, your payroll, your outside departments, and um everything that we did examine was in compliance and with those rules and regulations. Um I'll just make a couple
of brief comments. I mean, as far as uh your operation wise in the report, it's schedule A1. Um you started the year with 953,000 in surplus. You ended the year December 31st 24 with a,62.
So you're you're up about 700,000. So financially you did very well and out of that million 162 I mean you only used 192 in your 25 budget. So you preserved a lot of the surplus that you did have. Um what generated a lot of the increase
in 24 was your percentage of collection is up. It's over 97%. So you collected you know about 7 800,000 more in taxes. So the taxpayers are you know funding up uh you know the uh the bills that they're receiving. Uh we did have um one recommendation this
year after looking at the uh the records and I'll just you know it's it's it's minor in itself but the the recommendation just read it the bank accounts for the tax collector and utility collector be reconciled on a monthly basis. Now that's not to imply there were no reconciliations. we just
want there was uh you know bounce checks uh things like that that just weren't entered into the reconciliation to get it to go back to the general ledger. So once we made those adjustments everything was in order but it's something they should be on you know on to on a monthly basis and that was the only recommendation that we did have
and that's basically about it. I mean the the records that have been maintaining are fine. Everything's in good order there in Flemington. Like you said you did very well financially. uh the utilities are all self-liquidating and what that basically means is that the uh receipts from the revenues from the both utilities are covering their
operations with no support from the uh current fund budget. There's any questions or anything like glad to take uh answer them right now. You should you should be doing a corrective action plan on the recommendation. I assume the CFO is doing that right you know at this moment.
>> It's done. Yes, we did it. >> You did that last time. So, does anybody from the council have any questions? >> Can you just go back over? Did you say a million one? Did he say a million66,000? >> And then he said after that you said
something else. >> I said yeah u you have a million662,000 in surplus at the end of December 24, but you only used 192,000 in a 25 budget. So you preserved a lot of your surplus. You didn't use it.
>> Okay. Thank you. As I recall, Warren, I think that the magic number we wanted to get to on surplus was a,750,000. That would put us in that sweet spot as far as auditors care about with municipal government. >> Yeah. You know, you you want to preserve
it. I mean, it's very it's very easy to use and not generate it back. You know what I mean, >> right? >> So, you want you want to keep something on hand because it's like any other thing. In other words, when when a CFO comes into the municipal building, you're like any other business. He needs cash on hand. In other words, in a till the run of your operations, you don't
receive all your revenues on a, you know, monthly basis. Your state aid comes in in the second half of the year, but you're paying out a lot of bills in the beginning half. So, you need cash just to operate. So, by preserving your surplus, it gives a CFO cash without going out for short-term notes to maintain your operations,
>> but it also is important for bond ratings. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> So, I think we're like right at that sweet spot now. If we can preserve this amount for maybe to get a better volume rating, um then this is the most surplus this county has ever had. Actually, I
think the 953,000 was already the most surplus we've ever had. So, um to almost double it is pretty pretty. So, anybody else have any other questions? >> I have a question on the the recommendation. >> Can you hear me? Sorry. >> Yes, I can hear you.
>> I have a question on the on the recommendation of >> Sure. reconciling the tax and utility um monthly. Are they not doing that currently? Like is that not a a rule currently? >> No. No. They had recon they had reconciliations, but the differences
were in other words when you get when somebody pays taxes or something and you get you're going to get bounce checks with insufficient funds. So you should adjust the reconciliations that we found every time to tie it back to the general ledger, it was always the back the bounce checks that weren't adjusted on the reconciliation. So that's what you
should do on a on a current basis. >> I guess I guess my question is what is is there a regular schedule of reconciliation now? Is it like every three months instead of every month? >> No, it's supposed to be done every month. Every month it has to be done. >> It's supposed to be done every month and it is done every month. >> It's done every month, but like I said,
we had to make a couple of adjustments to it for insufficient funds. >> Okay. So I guess my question is then if if if she's doing that every month and then why just the recommendation is just continue that practice is that >> so a lot of it had to do with the
transition when our previous uh collector left then she came on mid year. >> Okay. >> Things you know she had to get caught up and things weren't done you know I guess by the end of the meeting. >> So basically it's keep up the good work is what you're you're saying. >> She's right. She's on track now. >> Okay. Because I do know that. Yeah.
Yeah, I mean people bounce checks and and unfortunately sometimes, you know, the the clerk doesn't necessarily have the most recent information if there is if there is a a balance difference. And I know that's something that, you know, she's concerned about because she wants
to make sure she has the most accurate information. So basically whatever the tax and the actually there's two she's the the tax collector and the um utilities uh clerk have on record. >> You don't have a utilities. >> No.
>> Well I'm sorry person. >> Same person >> or Liz. >> She's my person. >> She's saying Liz. >> Liz. That's I'm Liz and and K. The two different people. So maybe I'm using the wrong terminology for their title. >> Liz are each. >> Okay. I'm using the wrong
>> the wrong terminology for their title, but my point is there's two different people and when those two different people are looking at their records, it could be as much as 30 days off if there's if there's a, you know, if there is some sort of difference as far as,
you know, somebody comes in and says, "Hey, what's my balance?" They can look it up in their schedule, but if there's been a bounce check in the last 30 days, that wouldn't be showing up on their ledger. not not any fault of theirs. >> So, we uh were in the process of giving
them access to their accounts online so they could view that. >> Great. >> And they would know within two days of the check balanced. >> That's great because I know that's something that they they have to struggle with on a day-to-day basis because I just talked to them about it a couple days ago. Thank Thank you.
>> Can you go back to the tax? I I didn't hear what he said about the tax. He said something about the tax. >> Oh, >> the tax collection rate is up to 97%. >> The collection rate. Okay. Thank you. And actually I just looked at that right now as of the third quarter we're at 98.22%
amazing for collection the collection percentage. Yes. >> Wonderful. >> Where were we compared to last year? Where were we? I'm just trying. >> Last year it was 97. The year before. >> So it's still five or so. >> Okay. So it's still we're still >> I mean there's no issues. There's never been
>> it's getting better. It's good that right. Okay. >> But the percentage is a lot of money. Um, Councilman Long, >> no, I just uh who do we say good job to? >> Uh,
no. Thank you, B. Uh, anybody from the public have any questions? >> Bill, is there anything you want to add that Warren didn't tell us? >> Not that I know if I didn't cover it. I mean, everyone good with the surplus and try to maintain that with the budget next year as well.
>> Great. Okay, Warren, thank you for joining. Oh, I'm sorry. How has someone in our eyes? Do you have a question? >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> No, I'm good. >> Okay. Thank you, Warren. >> Good evening all. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um I have only two things on
our report. Number one, uh we received an award last week from Hunter County. uh they had opened up another round of uh parks funding uh grants and um this was very specific for uh ADA compliance
and upgrading parks to help improve accessibility. The highest award that was given was to Alexandria Township at 72,000 and we received 70,000. So we did really great in this round. um and my partner in
crime who wrote this grant uh by Campion. I want to just thank him um for uh getting that in early. Um so that's all I've got. Um so going on to the council members reports. Councilman Rias.
>> Um not too much from my part. Uh really all I got to say is that um what is it? Uh December 6th. Um I know it's a couple months two months from here actually. No, almost a month actually. Uh we got the uh Twilight House tours for the HPC.
And then for June uh for 2026, we already have a date for the house and garden tours for the HPC. So that'll be in June 6, 2026. But um I guess when we get closer to those dates, we'll talk more about it. And yeah, that's all about u from me. Thank you.
>> Um I forgot that I I just wanted to um let everybody on council know whether you knew her or not. Anglehart, long time, very long time resident, passed away over the weekend. Um, she had been sick for several years. Um, prior to her
becoming sick, Chris was, and I know a lot of you, you know, haven't been here long enough, and I know Counciloman Angle certainly has been here long enough to know, but Chris was a force. I mean, she was very big in the arts community. She basically started Plar
Arts. um you know all these art people that are now doing player in the in the municipality know Chris was the one pushing for all of it. She brought in art shows she helped preserve the divor um arm with citizens for Parkland. She was a member of um friends of historic
Flemington as well as I don't even know countless organizations. She cared deeply about this municipality and it's uh it's just very sad and I just want to send my mine and all of your condolences to her her daughter Beth. She served on planning board NH. She did serve on
planning board. I forgot about that. NHBC. >> She was a she was a lady. >> Really nice lady. >> Very nice lady. >> And um even when she criticized she was nice about it. >> So uh she'll be missed. >> Um okay. I'm sorry about I forgot to do
that. Counciloman Angleart. >> Yeah. >> Your report. >> Yeah. Christie, thank you for answering her that support. >> Um okay. Uh, thank you. I'm going to start with what's happening this week is
trickor treat and is a big deal. And so, um, I wanted to, um, mention the 2025 burrow trick or trick c trick or treat county assistance program. Um, we're continuing it this year. We're collecting donations for
neighbors on Broad Street and of the Nell Street who get you know up to 1,200 uh visitors on Friday night each house. Um it's a lot of fun um and the surrounding areas who may face extra costs due to the high number of
trick-or-treaters. So the way you can help um if you if you partake you know it's we really appreciate it. Um, sometimes people just donate right at the door, but this is the better program because we can distribute it to people who really ask and need need it. Um, you
can donate candy, individually wrapped candy, um, only at the burrow hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday of this week. Um, obviously today's over. Um, donations must be made by Thursday, October 30th at 4:30. um
any afterhour donations. If those hours don't work for you, contact me directly or let the burrow clerk know. My email is s n t- l h a r dt at historicswington.com.
Um uh and Carl's Carla's email is c o n rhistoricwington.com or you can call um town hall and extension 2 is her extension. Um, so you can sign up by either calling Carla. Um,
you can also uh write a comment on the Facebook page if if you want and we'll be monitoring that this week. Um, there's some people that are emailing saying, "Hey, where's you know the where's the candy?" You do have to have proof of a burrow of Flemington resident
if you you're coming to pick up. So, all you know, all due respect to our our Bitton neighbors, this program is not for you to pick up candy. But if you come and partake, you're welcome to donate in. We appreciate it. Um, did I get Did I get all the information that
we need? >> Is it hot here? >> We're freezing. We're freezing. >> I'm okay. >> I could still watch. >> All right. Um, so I I do want to mention um uh Marca did mention it, but Marca
and Tony and myself um and Tony's husband Scott were attended the witches walk and we had the very difficult task of judging the children's um Halloween contest. I absolutely hated this assignment. It is so hard. There are
little people's Yeah, people's eyes are all looking at you with wrong faces. really creative stuff out there and it looked like everybody was having a good fun. So, thank you for attending that. >> Um, another bad news, by the way, uh, people
sometimes mistaken. Uh, Chris and Christine and I were not related. We just happen to have same last names spelled differently. Um, unfortunately, we also, um, Jeremy and I attended U Chief Bill Martin's funeral on Saturday.
Um, I'm sure he's going to go into it in a little more detail in his report. I would like to encourage everybody to um make donations in her name to the fire department. I think that would um really mean a lot to her and her family. Um,
and I I don't know what um uh type of uh disease that that um that uh Debbie uh suffered from the last two years, but I do know there it was there was some sort of cancer involved. And I just want to encourage everybody to get there. It is
it is uh breast cancer awareness month. And um please everybody including myself were reminded this weekend when last weekend when we heard Debbie's passing to get our mamogs. Um and uh the reason why I wanted to bring that up is because Chief Gil Martin was the first female
fire chief in the county. So, I wanted to just kind of shout out some girl power there >> and uh and thinking thinking of her and her family. Um on October 15th, I attended the safe in Huntington vigil um
at the courthouse for victims and survivors and those who are suffering in silence from domestic violence that it's also domestic violence month as well. We um encourage people to donate to safe inflaming safe in Hunter um for to
remember those victims. Um I've said this a few times the last few weeks, but a reminder rabies clinic is November 8th uh 9 to 10 at the firehouse. Please make sure your dogs are on leashes. Um and yard sale this Saturday. Again, if you
would like to participate, put your address either on the Facebook page or let Carla know and we'll be uh making sure that's on the website. All good stuff. >> Thank you, Council Fisara. >> Uh key thing uh just to keep it quick,
uh the planning board bylaws committee, which consists of myself, Melissa Swingel, and Mr. Eckle. Um we met twice now, we'll be meeting again this Wednesday. We have found a few things we felt were missed in the past. Example,
it's it still calls out a secretary who was not the secretary in Carla's manner. So that's somehow sat in there for years and been missed. Um we're also looking at pulling back the time. So last meeting, Don and I are are going back
and forth. Should it be 9 or 9:30 for the last we witnessed, last time? Um and we'll be we are going to be involving our planning B board attorney on Wednesday's evening on this Wednesday's meeting. So um and then in terms of the library, everything is running smoothly.
Um and I should have some decent updates in our next meeting which I'll be able to share at that time. >> Good. Thank you. Was it? >> Thank you. Very brief report. uh most exciting thing I've been up to in the past two weeks is I made a new uh form
for the uh dumpster permit uh ordinance that we passed at the last meeting. So that's everything I've got. >> Pretty simple. >> Thank you. >> Sure. Uh good evening. I just got a few things. Uh I skipped the police report
last time for the September numbers. I'll just throw a few things at you. Uh in September there were 44 investigations and 20 arrests. uh that activity uh has ticked up. Uh motor vehicle crash uh in September there was a total of 31 crashes. Out of these two
involved commercial vehicles and four of them uh did report injuries. Officers are actively enforcing our traffic laws throughout the town with a particular focus on distracted driving, sign enforcement, and speeding. Shoring roadway safety remains their top priority. And if you have any traffic
traffic related concerns or complaints about your street, don't hesitate to call the department uh the non-emergency line at 9087823434. And they certainly appreciate the community's help in keeping our roads safe. Uh as as uh Councilwoman Angelard
mentioned, uh we did attend the funeral for Deborah Gil Martin who for over 30 years was a member of our volunteer department. Uh she took on numerous roles including serving as mentioned as
the fire department chief from 2011 to 2013. Um and as also mentioned by counciloman yes the first female chief in all of Hunter County which is uh I know as as a as a young lady that's
impressive but as a as a regular old dude I think that's pretty important um to have that in leadership. Her commitment to both the department and the Flemington community cannot be overstated and I want to thank everyone who was able to attend the services and
she will be greatly missed. Lysum uh the last one was on octo October 13th. It was the sixth sixth event in the series at the chamber of commerce. There was a lot of great discussion and ideas shared upon the subject of creative creative civic participation. This is a really
enlightening roundt like discussion because uh what happened as a result is you know the the president of an art venture wants to sit down and talk and I think a lot of the a lot of the feedback uh and a lot of the ideas generated were how how can we get more public art in
the community specifically the burrow how how can we get displays and spaces um we do have some um but there's there's some ideas for how we can get more so I hopefully we'll be able to share some some ideas and and send them out to the council and and certainly the
people in the public art committee. Um the next lysm society lecture is going to be taking place on Thursday, November 13th, same time, 6:30 at the chamber once again. This time audience members will be presented with youth and civic voice are listening to the next
generation. So all the Alex lectures have been uh really great in their own ways, different formats, different speakers, a lot of different stuff. Uh, I think this one's going to be very special. I have two very passionate individuals who simply cannot wait to share their insights. Uh, and the next
generation of leaders has some thoughts and I'm certain that they will be heard loud and clear. And that's my report. >> Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman Parker. >> Yeah. So, don't know if you guys are aware of this, but um on Fulper, the
YMCA, excuse me, United Way, the United Way, um Exxon Noble actually had 75 people donate time material to do an interactive sidewalk display for
kids. >> It is absolutely stunningly beautiful. As a matter of fact, they they called me and asked me if I would come. um to thank the Exxon Mobile volunteers. Um and I walked up and it was like you look
down and and it just pulls you in. It's absolutely wonderful. But not only did they do that, they painted the inside of the building. They put up shelves. They donated an entire day um to the United Way. Time, materials, and um my
understanding is they they donate time to United Way every year. That's one of their um uh things that they you know I guess they they have different organizations in United way they pick. So for Flemington Burl I it's just amazing and
I think I sent a text to say please go over and look at this. Um, that's it's actually very cool and I would like I would like the council to do something maybe give them a proclamation or whatever the case may be thanking them for their contribution to um to the burl
um this burl u location. Um, also just we also hosted um I don't know if you guys I think you guys all got an invite. There was about 125 to 135 people and I
can't remember the number here on Thursday, last Thursday for downtown New Jersey. It was such a great event. It was it so it's all the people from municipalities all around New Jersey, from southern Jersey to Northern Jersey.
Um, and David Dixon, who wrote the Stantech report, was here to speak and actually give his perspective from from the time the report was done to where we are right now. Um, that included taking tours of of Flemington, overwhelming
responses from people about the tours. Um, but more importantly, it gave people time to engage on similar types of challenges throughout New Jersey. Doesn't matter what municipality you are, whether that's ordinance or zoning
or trash or or whatever. It was just it gave people time to actually really dig in. Um, a couple of our businesses were represented. They were on panels and talking about what what types of barriers there are with the small
businesses coming into uh municipalities and the challenges that is and the money that it costs and how sometimes they get discouraged and they pick up and just go back to another go back to another location or another town or whatever the case may be. But it
was so good. But I also spent a significant amount of time with David Dixon and I would actually encourage us for next year's budget to bring him back here to let him talk not only to the council but to the community because he
put together that stand type report and we went line by line on on everything about it and where we are and what we've done and what hasn't been done and what were the what were the blocks. What I thought was really encouraging because
this guy has he's a renowned planner. He has planned some major major major um projects around the country. He's actually writing a book. Flemington is going to be a part of his book by the way. We're going to be a chapter in his book. Um and from his perspective, we've
come a long way. Um he understands the barriers. He understands what's going on. he understands the the the the push back, but he understands the pushing forward as well. Um it it was just a great event and I hope we can have it
here again next year and I would encourage everybody to go because it was actually excellent. Um that said, um I do want to tell I do want to reiterate I know I sent an email out to all of you,
but Robin, um Repus has resigned her position. Um she has she's moving on to another venture. Um I just want to say, you know, I know, you know, when that's
the executive director for FIT is a tough position. It is tough because you're getting it from the business owners, you're getting it from the console, you're getting it from the community. I mean, you're just getting hit. And for one person, um, I actually
think if I kind of take a look at it, I think there's two things. I think one is there's not one person cannot do that job. That's the main thing. There's got to be more than one person. I think the other thing is is that one of the things that Robin has done is she has put
Flemington on the map. She's got us into a lot of publications. She got us in and in in tourism. As a matter of fact, I was at the county and they handed me something and said, "See, Bloomington's actually outlined um in in this pamphlet. Um she has gotten us
recognition from um New Jersey BIS. Um so she has done a great job of doing those things. In terms of moving forward, we are going to
uh do a search. Um in the interim, we are going to look at getting um bringing in a consultant just to take a look and um help us out for the next whatever period of time. So, there is a there is a plan. Robin will be around for the
next week or two um doing transitions. Um that said the signs. So the signs are painted. They are actually done. Um I am coordinating a meeting between my
champion the county Mark Saler um and the printer. So everybody in the same room. So there is a definitive schedule. We have to get the signs out of one
location by the 31st. Mike Mike and I've already dealt with that. But I think the real issue is is just getting them up and getting the bucket truck and getting them to the printer, getting them from the printer, getting them up. It's still
a process. So, that is happening. It is happening. I actually have a picture of the signs painted. Um, while it's all being done, we will probably start with the smaller signs first instead of welcome to Bloomington so that those are up by Christmas so that there is some
type of something going on because we anticipate that the um uh courthouse square, just the square will be opening for during the Christmas season to do um come meet Santa and that
whole bit. Um, speaking of which, I did do another tour with the group from downtown Flemington. Um, Jack took people on a tour of the plaza. I have to say I had no idea the death of that plaza until you stand there and see all the potential and the possibility and
the excitement. It is so cool. These people were so blown away. They were so blown away. And what's really nice is that people who have never heard of Flemington are actually talking about coming back to Flemington just for the open. They want to see the open. And so there we go. The and and with that said,
I am working with the CUSP um corporation and some of our local business owners so that there is participation and there's something that goes back to the business owners so that everybody's included. Um so yeah, so
that that's that. Um the other thing is that the Y pool I was there today um with Y they're moving forward. They're about 50% of where they need to be for funding. So they're going to be pretty
aggressive over the next year to try to get their funding. Um I you know we talked about some ideas of what things can happen. Um, so that said, I'm just what's really nice about this is I see many things happening at once. There's a
lot of things going on. And I thought the mere fact that we had 120 or 125 or 135 people from downtown from downtown New Jersey here to talk about downtown New Jersey. Was amazing.
Was absolutely amazing. And it happened here at Stangle. And by the way, Stangle, I don't know if you guys know this or not, but the Ben who owns Alchemy got married to Stangle a couple of weeks ago and they redid Stangle. I
was invited to the wedding. It was stunning. Absolutely stunning. As a matter of fact, they left up some of the decorations for downtown New Jersey. What I'd like to see is that we use more of Stangle for those events and advertise things for poor weather. And I
did talk to um what you call and he said they do do that. But I think one of the things that I want bit to do is really get out and advertise that this place is available for meetings and it's available for this. Uh we know that the hotel is going to happen with that but we don't want to take the emphasis off
of off the stage. So that's >> a question about the signs. >> Sure. Um, I think I remember that we had talked about or Robin had talked about putting up a demo or two signal >> that was correct if I'm wrong. Right.
>> I believe they were technically up in the building. >> They're up in their put them up like there was supposed to be one put up like by >> they were in their window. >> Maybe they >> I don't know. I know they're very heavy, but
>> they are extremely heavy. >> They had foam samples. I think that would actually >> exterior like material was going to be because I thought there was going to be one or two. >> No, I don't see that because that would be Mike and them to have her put that up and take that down. I don't see they had a struggle trying to get those bad boys
up. >> Um but but they're going to be up in the next couple of weeks. So, you know what? We're we're threequarters of the way there. >> That's pretty great. Very good. Thank you. All right. Public comment section number one. Anybody wishing to speak from the public, please come up to the
microphone. I need your name, your address, and if you online, please raise your hand. So, >> hello. >> Hello. I'm just keeping it very brief. >> Name and address for the record, please. >> Uh, Kyle Daris.
>> Can you spell that? >> D. D O R E M U S. Um, perfect. I live at 31 Lieutenant Hooper Road in Milford, New Jersey. Uh I'm here on behalf of the Center for Educational Advancement. I just wanted
to thank you all. Um I wasn't able to be here for the the actual day that it was approved, but I just want to thank you for again another great year for the turkey trot and getting all that pushed through. So, thank you for that. Um again, very brief, but my second year and everything has always gone very
smoothly. So, again, I appreciate it from my end. you know, being one of the main people there that's like organizing a lot of stuff, it's very helpful to know that this is one thing I can count on going smoothly every year because there's a lot of different factors with this event. >> Awkward when you say that. >> Yeah. Are you doing the same route as
you did last year? >> Yeah, same route as we did last year. Yeah. So, we're going to try and keep that pretty pretty standard. >> I love it. >> Yeah. No, it's we because you know and we did figure that a lot of the the people who live in the town appreciate seeing the the community running around.
So, you know, we approved the wrong closure. >> Yeah, that's that's I'm here to thank you for that. >> He came after the meeting. >> Yeah. I I was like, I think I need this to get on the agenda. And she was like, sort it. She was very helpful. And was like, here it is. And I was like, thank you. Very, very easy, like I said. So,
thank you very much for that. And uh I will uh see you all next year. >> We'll see you on Thanksgiving. >> See you. See you on Thanksgiving. >> Anybody else from the public? Can their hand up? Dennis know
>> it. >> Nobody. >> Dennis. >> Oh, okay. Uh, Dennis Show, I need your address for the record, please. >> Hi. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi, it's Dennis Shoe. I'm a resident of Flemington at 194 Main Street. I would
like to publicly comment related to many comments made over the past few Burough Council meetings. I recognize that many of you will just say that's his opinion, but I cannot let some of the comments go without me commenting. First of all, I
don't know any Flemington Burough resident that is anti- renter and I resent burrow council members and the FCP members saying that about us residents. My wife Maria and I are pro business, have always encouraged and
supported retail businesses, including dining establishments in the burrow. What we don't support is burough council ordinances that are skewed to favor landlords, which is what the burough council implemented. One burough council
member even publicly stated that we need to show them a carrot and we want them to be inspired to invest in their properties. We have a lot of vacant space and they should be incented to invest in their properties. Our town ordinance allows them to delay any tax
increases from investing in their properties for several years. That's a big incentive. And some of these landlords still don't fix up their properties. If they aren't interested in fixing up their properties and can't rent their spaces, maybe they should sell their properties to someone who
will. It was also stated that year-over-year there have been variances for rear access. And I can say in the three years I've been involved in the planning board, I can only remember one application for rear variances on Main Street. Burough council members have
said people are making this issue political. I have never seen anything political on this issue and I have never seen politics come into play at all on the planning board. People may have differing opinions, but is important for
people to be open to compromise. That is not being political, and I don't believe council members should be saying things are political when they are not. Another burough council member stated, "When asked where was the forum for input from residents that went into the recent Main
Street zoning ordinance change, he said he got burrow in residents input when he was campaigning doortodoor. I believe that was roughly three years prior to the ordinance being crafted uh with two other burough council members. How is
that getting burrow residents input on the proposed ordinance before finalizing it? I am extremely disappointed that four burough council members voted for an ordinance that had significant impact on burough residents without having an
open forum for all residents, business owners and landlords to provide their input. Clearly, they got input from landlords and business owners through the FCP, but they never proactively held an open form that included residents
before finalizing it. We burrow residents pay a lot of taxes and expect our opinions to be heard and seriously considered before the burough council recommends and votes on an ordinance that significantly impacts all current
residents of the burrow. I want to commend Jeremy Long for his leadership and willingness to push back on the members who drafted the zoning ordinance to slow down and get residents input. and then two weeks ago where he proposed accepting the vetos for the two main
items that every burough resident who spoke did not support which would keep 90% of what was proposed intact. The three architects of the ordinance refused to budge and wouldn't compromise at all which is very concerning. Thank
you Jeremy for all your contributions on the burough council and the lysium series. Jeremy, Maria, and I wish you were running again for burough council as your leadership and willingness to compromise is needed and clearly missing as evidence of the zoning ordinance that
recently passed. Thanks for all you have done and all you do for Flemington Burough. I encourage all Flemington Burough residents, if you find Burough Council members do not support your views and act in a way that compromises
an acceptable form of governing in our beloved Flemington Burrow, that you exercise your right to vote and elect people who will. Maria and I plan to do so now in the future. Thank you. >> So, I'm going to comment on this. No, I
am going to comment on this and I'm going to comment on this for a couple of things. A, when you talked about three years ago, it wasn't three years ago. It was this year because we're out campaigning because this is campaign season. So, let's get that first. Second of all, you know, when I I'm tired of
hearing this this whole thing. When I sat with David Dixon, one of the things he said and when we talked about the downtown New Jersey and all these municipalities, this is specifically what they said. They said you know there is a group who is all always just going
to fight and that's a very small group and you need to stop listening to that group and listening to the majority of the group. It is not true that we are just listening to business owners and I talk to people all the time. I talk to people all the time. I am tired of these
darts. I'm tired of all this going on. And yes, it is political political Dennis because because it turned political. And one of the thing that David Dixon did say, he said, when you're starting to do ordinances and affect zoning, it becomes political if
it's a political year. That was his quote unquote. This is a guy that is renowned. He is renowned. And you're more than happy to talk to him. That's why I want him to come here. I am just tired of this narrative. I'm tired of the narrative. We passed it. We're
moving on. That's it. I'm done. You can do whatever you want. You can vote for whoever you want. That's why we are in America. We get to do what we want to do. The point of it is is there's five people. There's six people up here. And
not all of us are going to agree with one another. And that's fine. That's what makes us individuals. If you don't want to vote for them, that's fine, too. The bottom line is is that we did something based upon
information that we got. We sent that information forward. We got no input back from it. Not certainly not in the time frame that we asked for it. And I'm going to put something else in perspective. When this first started in 2024 in November, we were just handed
something and not even given the opportunity to give any input. That's the other thing that people keep forgetting. So, let's not make this like he said, she said, dot dot dot dot. It's done. It's done. Let's move on. Thank
you. >> I got to remind the council. This is public comment and there really is no >> But you do it sometimes too, Marc. I don't I mean, I can debate you about this too, Tony, because there was a lot of discussion in 2024. So um and every
year is a political year because every year there's one there's two council people running. >> I'm just telling everybody he said to me I didn't say that >> he doesn't live here so I don't really you know he doesn't live here so >> you know he's got his opinion he's a professional but so does our planner and uh >> they also gave their opinion about the
ordinance. So, uh, anybody else from the public have any comment? I would try to keep from seeing none. Um, all right. We don't have any minutes to approve, Carla? >> Nope.
>> All right. Consent agenda. Resolution 2025 179, chapter 159, local law enforcement grant. Resolution 2025, 180, chapter 159, state of Missouri recreation grant. Resolution 20251801, a resolution authorizing a contract with
Shangle Vand to evade public safety hazards at 35 North Main Street, block 5, lot one and authorizing the tax collector to delete the property. Resolutions 125-182, resolution approving a refund for the redemption of tax sale certificate on block 5, block
4, resolution 2025-183, resolution approving a refund for the redemption of the tax sale certificate on block 24, block 21. Is anybody um ask what is that actually about? I'm sorry. >> Which one? >> The one that you're talking about the block the taxi.
Is that the one you're talking about? 182. >> Um, it's >> is this is it? >> It's for the tax. Yes. >> Oh, tax. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Carla. Anybody have anything they want pulled up for separate vote?
>> Seeing none, can I have a motion, please? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. Um, Councilman Aries. >> Yes. Councilman Negleart, >> yes. >> Councilwoman Sara, >> yes. >> Councilman Levit, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Law, >> yes.
>> Council President Parker, >> yes. >> So, we don't have any public hearings tonight because um >> make the paper. >> Didn't they? Yes. The public economic. >> So, it will be November 10th. >> Yes. >> And our next meeting will be the two
ordinances that were introduced at the last meeting, public hearings. We do have an introduction tonight. uh ordinance 2025-28 ordinance amending 78 traffic schedules to authorize a hand parking spot on Grant Avenue. Um this is
a request by uh both our chief of police and our DPWs superintendent. There is um a gentleman living there who is a senior who is very ill. We do not have a driveway. We do not have a garage and
rely on um street access to get him in and out of the car for his many doctor's appointments. So he does have a handicap plate. Uh so can I have a motion to introduce Angel? >> Roll call, please. Counciloman uh
Councilman Aries. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Councilwoman Fara. >> Yes. Councilman Love. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Long. >> Yes. and council president Parker. >> Yes. >> Uh thank you. Public hearing to be held on November 10th. Uh there is no like I
said there's no public hearings tonight. Um regular agenda resolution 2025-184 resolution approving the purchase of playground equipment to talk park not to exceed $80,000. That is a grant we received from the Department of Community Affairs. Uh after a lot of
scrutiny and a lot of discussion, um our DPW superintendent met with a playground equipment company that looked at the quality and condition of our playground equipment uh as being um not in that great shape. So this can be replaced,
but we've got an upgrade to um safer, more current uh quality. And I have a move. >> Is there a second? >> I have a second. >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. Councilman Aries, >> yes. >> Mangleart,
>> yes. >> Councilwoman Pasara, >> yes. >> Counciloman Lev, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Long, >> yes. >> And Council President Parker, >> yes. >> Are are we doing that other ordinance or not? >> Did I miss something? >> Does anyone? >> Oh gosh. I'm sorry. I sorry I missed it.
Um, thank you. Okay, going back to introduction ordinances number 117, ordinance 2025-29, an ordinance amending chapter 26, zoning of the burough code. This would put back in the 35 ft height from 50 feet to 20 feet in the zoning ordinance which
councilwoman Englehart removed on the fly looking at the veto. I don't know if everybody understood the significance, but our planner had recommended going from 40 ft to 35 from the 50 foot mark to the 20 foot uh rear setback close to
residential neighborhoods to bring it down to two stories which is what the houses are at one park avenue. So uh was requested by council long. Can I have a motion please to introduce? >> Is there a second?
>> Second. Roll call, please. >> Sorry. Sorry. This is just from uh just amending what uh Susan said from last time, right? >> Yes. This was put back. So, it's the LA my veto vetoed all the stuff in the parking lots including building buildings there. At the last minute,
Councilwoman Angelart, I believe in the spirit of compromise, removed one of the sections, and I'm not sure anybody understood what was happening because it was done on the fly. And so what the planner had originally put into the ordinance had recommended
was that from the back of the building to a 50 foot setback a bu an in addition or a separate building could be 40 ft high which is three stories but from 50 to 20 it would go down to 35 ft which is two stories because it abuts residential neighborhoods. That section was taken
out. So right now everything from the back of a building all the way to 20 foot rear setback would be at three stories or 45 high unless you put back in the section that was removed on the fly at the last public hearing.
>> Okay. So that's the only thing that's being amended, right? >> That is the only thing that's being amended is softening the height. >> Oh, okay. Sounds good then. So, yes, >> Council Counciloman Manglehart. >> Um, I let
I don't have a problem with this. I want but I do have a couple comments first. So, and and I and I want to strike some of the wording in the ordinance as it is written. So, how what
do we do? It's it'll have to be reintroduced because it's significant change. I mean it's such a short >> Can I do that now? >> No. Did I get so they wanted to pay me? Should have done it previous
should have done it on your second subsidiary to >> just so you know this ordinance was written by Kyle McMorris not by um so >> so if we wanted to make changes to this then would be because we don't want to
do it. So you're in the middle right now. >> So um you have to do the vote. Um so I mean the strict rule of procedure would be you have to finish your vote of which there are three votes been taken and
three left to be called. After that the ordinance has been introduced. You could always amend it later. Just reintroduce it. >> So it would just be an introduced ordinance but nothing says you can't amend it. You just would have to reintroduce it. But the but the the
wording that I have an issue with is in the introduction not table itself >> in the whereas >> yes >> which >> uh whereas to >> which was charter >> I'm sorry one two three four now
>> the last whereas >> okay whereas to uh in order to better address the potential negative impact of reduced rear yard setback requirements implemented in the DB district for an ordinance.
>> You can amend the where >> you want. Yeah, >> I have a problem >> doing it in the public hearing >> because it's whereas it's not substantive to the to the content of the ordinance which is listed later. It's just a whereas right you could just amend it
next meeting when it's on bottom meeting if you have no problem with the substance. That's what we look for for substantiality. So you could amend it however you want. >> It's just interrupt your go >> all it does is this all this does is put it back to the original ordinance. So there's no
>> we're in the middle of a vote. Aren't we weren't we supposed to discuss this first? There's no discussion in introductions. >> There's discussion in public hearings. There is no discussion in the introduction. >> Okay. >> I explained what it was, what it was going to do. >> We we we received this Friday afternoon.
>> I So is it my am I on is it my turn to vote? >> Yes. No. >> I don't remember. >> That I have to vote no because I don't I I don't feel comfortable with the wording in and where and with the where. >> That's the problem. >> It that's that's the problem. I >> So it could be So Chris says it's not
the standard. So it could be invented in a public hearing. >> It could be. Could be. It might not be. >> Okay. So, everybody has to >> because it's not because here this is you're okay with this part, right? Section one, Susan. But you can >> Yeah. I mean, this is this
I I I don't want to discuss it in I don't want to discuss it because we're voting like that's what not what we're supposed to do here. >> So, but yeah, >> trying to help. >> Yeah. I'm trying to help you, but I'm also trying to follow the rules, right? >> Okay. Yes, Jim. So the problem was the
what the the real problem is is I don't think that I think everybody thought there was going to be a discussion first before this was done. I think that's the problem. So it it is >> but this wasn't done last minute and that's my it wasn't done last minute and
I have a big problem with one line in the warehouse. That is the only >> issue I have done >> but it wasn't about >> it wasn't you know this was put on the agenda um Friday afternoon. So I >> I did write you two weeks ago and asked you if you were willing to put an amendment and I never heard back from
you and then I heard from council long. So um and this was received from Kyle McM this could be discussed in the middle of vote. I have voted no. Let's move on. >> That's I'm not going to mess around.
>> Yes. Councilman Levit. >> Yes. >> Uh Council Vice President on me. That's what I'm here for procedurally. Okay. >> Sure. >> If I were to It's too late for me to resend
or vote to second this, right? >> So to to second you typically would not be able to resend it. Some rules of procedure would allow you to change your vote before they're closing the votes. But >> yeah, I don't want to add any confusion. >> Yeah, I mean I'm trying to be helpful.
I mean, also some governing bodies just do whatever they want procedurally. >> Well, look, I don't know. I want to skip. >> Yeah, I you know I've always looked I try to chart a middle course here. Flexibility flexibility while trying to you know guide. So right
>> um I would say that you know we wanted I would say it would be inappropriate to change a second. Right. I think that >> that would be >> I think if you wanted to change your vote you could appeal to the chair under the rules procedure to change her vote. She gets to decide >> considering this is on for final next.
So nothing is really permanent today. I can't imagine don't speak to the mayor but right that she would have a problem with that because >> you could just vote on it next week do in a different manner. So >> to change your vote, right? I mean that would be the appeal of the chair.
>> I would just really suggest we just vote on it and then allow the amendment to happen. >> I want to be crystal clear. I have no problem with changing changes procedure, right? 100% no problem. So >> changing the wording to the that >> No problem. No problem. Wendy crystal
bear. You could change it >> if even if you wanted. I >> I mean I just think if we change the wording all this goes away. >> You're just saying but but you're saying we have to wait until the next thing to change. >> I think that Yeah. >> This is just >> I think that's what she doesn't Okay. I
understand. But I'm trying to res I'm trying to respect what I'm trying to respect the whole process, right? And respect what the push back is. And I think that's all of our push backs. I think it was just not I think we thought we were going to have a discussion just I mean and that's our own stupidity. I'm
not blaming that on anybody. So the point of it is is that if this goes through then this part comes out >> here whatever you're >> just do that at this point. >> All right it I don't care
>> because I don't think anybody has problem with the rest. >> That's important part I think. >> Right. It puts it back. That's all it does. Okay. So, where we at? >> Your vote. >> On the vote. All right. So, we uh I'm just trying to count here. >> Yes.
>> There's three yeses in one. >> Yes. Yes. One. No. Oh, okay. All right. Um I'm just going to say yes. >> Council President Parker. >> So, I just want to make sure we're all >> Yeah, I would do this one more time. I'm
going to do it one more time. You could amend it at the >> because I don't think And Susan, I'm gonna I'm I'm I'm asking you >> because I want to be fair everything. >> Yes. >> You're we can fix. So you're because you're okay with everything else. >> Just the principal.
>> Okay. All right. Then we're gonna then we're going to go >> Yes. We'll >> Okay. Public hearing November 10th. Thank you. public hearing scheduled for November 10th with everything else. Thank you. All right, getting back to
the recognition of emergency. >> Can I do Can I have a point of order? What was moved November 10th prior? There was something that Jack introduced. >> There were two introduced ordinances that was >> Oh, the HPC. >> Which numbers were those?
>> God, I don't remember. Um >> Oh, they're not on this agenda. Okay, that's what I I was looking for them on the agenda. 26 and 27 because they weren't public. >> Right. >> Got it. I got it. I I didn't realize that they mentioned it and I'm following along on the agenda and I was confused.
>> Mayor has carried that hearing to the next as required by law here in this room. >> No further notice be >> that will be heard. That's all fine. >> Sorry to say in the next meeting which you
did. Everything is fine. >> So who's going to correct this for the next meeting? So I would suggest that Councilman Englehart um either any time now in the next two weeks submit the language she prefers to her colleagues and that that at the prior to the the
final action or on the ordinance with that motion to then be very simple you're going you're going to take the ball. >> Yes. >> And that is only because it is to aware which is a non substantive clause. You can always need to go through planning board again. No, not for this.
>> No, no, >> no. You already commented on this as part of the original house. >> Whatever it is, please make sure you submit it to Carla as well. And just >> whatever you want to ask us, tell us. We don't want to get too bogged down. So,
whatever the governing body wants is going to get paid 100%. >> It's not to the substant. I know >> sentences or anything but again Jane we're asking >> all right getting back on the regular agenda I believe I left off the 2025 205 is that right cler
>> yes >> okay uh authorizing the purchase of an alka test 9510 system from director inc23,194 motion please move >> is there a second >> any discussion roll call please councilman
>> yes >> counciloman >> yes counciloman FAR. >> Yes. Councilman Levit, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Law, >> yes. >> And Council President Parker, >> yes. >> Resolution 2025186, resolution approving the purchase of a crosswalk sign system from Glen Co Supply not to exceed
$17,300. That's more than that's a purchase of I think it's three sets if I'm not mistaken. Can I have a motion, please? >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. Counciloman.
>> Yes. Councilwoman Langhart, >> yes. >> Council Pisara, >> yes. >> Council Levit, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Law, >> yes. >> And Council President, >> yes. >> We don't have a work session. Public comment. That's session number two. If anybody from the public has anything
they want to say, please come to the microphone. Please take three minutes possible. Seeing nobody, moving on. Payment of bills. Authorizing payment of bills in the amount of $2,657,667. Have no sense. I got a motion, please. >> Is there a second?
>> Will second. >> Roll call, please. Council Mars. >> Yes. >> Yes. Woman, >> yes. Councilman Love, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Long, >> yes. >> And council president, >> yes. Um we do have an executive session
um regarding potential litigation electronic sign. Uh there will be no action taken after the executive session. Uh >> what >> there'll be no action tonight. >> There will be no action tonight. >> So >> okay.
>> How do you want to handle I guess who's here I guess. >> Well gave away all suit. Um and they said public went out of words. So >> Michael, everybody without a suit has to
also step out for >> you would like to do your thing. Can >> come back in and then they'll be invited in. So >> I have a motion. Do I have a motion to go into executive session, please? >> Second. All in favor?
Hold on. back in public. Um, I have a motion to the meeting. >> Is there a second? All >> in favor? I