WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=InLq25JDsCs

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: InLq25JDsCs):
- 00:00:00: Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, and Executive Session
- 00:03:09: Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call - Back in Session
- 00:05:21: Superintendent's Report: Student Achievements and Updates
- 00:11:42: Committee and Liaison Reports: Policy, Finance, Senior Center
- 00:15:01: Reading Walk-On Resolutions, Opening Floor to Public
- 00:17:27: Public Comment: Property Question and Zoom Meetings
- 00:19:19: Public Comment: Library Media Staffing Concerns
- 00:21:54: Board Response, Closing Public Comment, Resolutions Vote
- 00:26:10: Old and New Business: Appreciation and Adjournment


Part: 1

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I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Yay. Okay.

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Nope. is >> is it? >> Yes. >> Okay. The New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business

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affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of the act, the Portley Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published on February 18, 2026, posted on the district's website

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at www. flboe.com. published in the board's designated online media outlet newspaper, the record and the SAR ledger filed with the clerk of the Burough Courtly and

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mailed to all persons, if any, who have requested said notice. Please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and may be broadcasted on local TV and online at a future date. The Open Public Meeting Act allows for participation at

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board meetings and defines meeting as any gathering whether caporeal or by means of communication equipment which is attended by or open to all of the members of a public body held with the intent on the part of the members of the

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body present to discuss or act as a unit upon the specific public business of that body. Roll call, please. >> Miss Buyers Kang is absent. Miss Curry >> here. >> Mr. Goslin is present trying to get into

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the meeting as we speak. Miss Coten >> here. >> Mr. Lopez is absent. Mr. McTan >> here. >> Miss Perez >> here. >> Miss Richtor >> here. >> Miss Morell >> here.

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>> The board will be convening to executive session to discuss legal personnel and other confidential matters. The board will reconvene into public session at approximately 7:30. May I have a motion to go into executive session? Motion.

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>> Motion Rictor. Second, Curry. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? We are now officially in executive. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it

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stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The New Jersey open open public meetings law was enabled to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice and to attend the meetings of public bodies

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at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of the act, the Fley Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published on February 18, 2026, posted on the district's website, www.fle.com,

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f lb.com published in the board's designated online media outlet newspaper the record in the star ledger filed with the clerk of the burough court lee and mailed to all persons if any who have requested said notice.

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Please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and may be broadcasted on local TV and online at a future date. The open public meeting at allows for participation at board meetings and defines meetings as any gathering whether caporeal or by means of

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communication equipment which is attended by or open to all of the members of a public body held with the intent on the part of the members of that body present to discuss or act as a unit upon the specific public business

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of that body. Roll call please. Miss Buyers Kang is absent. Miss Curry >> here. >> Mr. Goslin here. Miss Coten >> here. >> Mr. Lopez is absent. Mr. McTurnan >> here. >> Miss Perez

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>> here. >> Miss Recctor >> here. >> Miss Morurell >> here. The board convened executive session at 6:30 today to discuss legal personnel and other confidential matters. Miss Colato, will you begin by sharing the

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superintendence report? >> Yes. Good evening, members um in the in the public and listening online. Um thank you, President Morurell. Uh tonight we're pleased to have two students, Nasha Chitima, who's with us

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again, and Isabelle Lynn representing Fort Le High School, and they're here to share updates of what's going on at their school. >> Good evening everyone. I hope everyone is doing really good. I know the weather outside is doing really good. As usual,

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for High School has some amazing and exciting news to share with everyone. I mean, always there's always some student excelling in something. 10th grader Sean Kim participated in in the scholarship speech contest held on

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May 2nd at the Korean Society in New York City. He prepared and submitted a manuscript during the preliminary round in February and was selected as a finalist. In the final competition, Shan delivered an outstanding speech and as a

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result, he received both the manuscript award and the mentor scholarship. Congratulations to Shan Kim. That was brilliant. We're also proud to announce that 11th grader Jacob Kim has been awarded the certificate of academic achievement in the Korean program of

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Portland High School presented by the Korean language teachers association. Congratulations on the outstanding accomplishment high school and the steam program was decided to bring back the science festival for students in grade 5 through

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8. Students participated in priority of engaging and hands-on activities in the areas of biology, chemistry, forensics, engineering, and physics. As you can see, worldly has it all, allowing these them to explore different fields of

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science in a fun and interactive way. This past Friday, one of the two student groups participated in the event. Students and staff enjoy an afternoon filled with creativity, problem solving, and scientific exploration. The group

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that was originally cancelled on Thursday has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 28th. And we look forward to welcoming those students for one another for another exciting day of learning and discovery. The Asian Student Alliance will be hosting the 4th annual AAPI culture on

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Wednesday, May 27th at the high school large from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The evening will consist of singing, dancing, musical performances, different cultural exhibits, and a fashion show. This special event aims to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander

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communities within our school. Tickets can be pre purchased during during lunch in the cafeteria or purchase at the door at the evening of the performance. Congratulations to the Portland girls softball team as they have secured the big North American League camp for the first time since 2014. Congratulations

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to Frankie Bura and backto-back heroes. He is the NJIA North group 3 state sectional champion in the high jump. The fourth track teams competed in the sectional championship this past weekend and four athletes advanced to the next round. Seniors John Walsh, Frank Pero,

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Christian Burton, and Alice Murphy's. We wish them luck as their season continues with the Burton County League meet of champions and the state meet of champions. A reminder that students in grades 10, 11, and 12 have a delayed opening tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19th, as our grade n students will be taking the NJSLA

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mathematics assessment. Portland High School and the Fort Le PVA are excited to announce the return of the annual cops versus teacher softball game. Early High School is proud to host this fun community event on Saturday, June 6th at 2 p.m. More details will be shared soon,

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so please stay tuned. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. A lot to be proud of. >> I'd like to report since our last meeting, the district has recorded six harassment, intimidation, and bullying cases. Of those, one case was founded

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and five were unfounded. On May 7th, school and district data was certified through the CDS system for the 2627 school year by the required New Jersey Department of Education deadline. NJSLA adaptive testing is still in progress. Initial testing will be completed

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tomorrow, followed by makeup testing through next Friday. So, I just want to extend um my sincere gratitude to the testing coordinators, counseling department, teachers, administrators, and support staff for their efforts um in successfully administering these assessments on the new platform.

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I would also like to recognize that May 6th was National Nurses Day and I neglected to announce that at the last board meeting. So, I just want to also extend um gratitude to our school nurses for their care and their support and how well they take care of our students as well as our staff every single day. Um

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in addition, I'd like to um extend my sincere thanks to our PTAs for their generosity and support during teacher appreciation week. um all of their spreads that they offered were really thoughtful and and I know that our staff was um particularly appreciative of of

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what they did. Um we also look forward to many end of the year celebrations. Um one of them being the district's circle the arts event on Friday, May 29th at Fort Le High School. Please mark your calendars. We invite the community to enjoy and celebrate the talents of our

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student artists, actors, musicians, and singers. And finally, I'd like to wish everyone a meaningful and safe Memorial Day weekend as we honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and service to our country. So, thank you. And hopefully I will see members I

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know I'll see board members, but also members from the community at the um parade um come Memorial Day. So, thank you. And President Moro, that concludes my superintendent report. Thank you, Superintendent Palazo, for your report and thank you to our

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wonderful students who always make their reports um exciting and and great to to listen to. Do we have any committee or liaison reports? >> Okay.

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>> Sorry. Policy and legislative advocacy committee met on May 13th. We discussed uh three policies uh two are ongoing and policy 0155 will be on the agenda at the next meeting I believe for the first

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read. Um so that's the one um that's >> Thank you. >> The finance committee met on April 22nd. Um we want to thank um our superintendent

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Colossal and our business administrator um Thank you for their hard work in putting together a budget. It was difficult. Um, and while it's over, 2027 and 2028 is around the corner and it

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won't be easy. And we just want to thank everyone in the district for working together to get through to get through all the obstacle that is um thrown at us really with rising health costs um and

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other um visionary challenges. We also discussed going forward some of the steps that will be taken to um tightening up some um some of the financial um give us more financial revenue in the district. Um discuss

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transportation discuss facilities and you'll be hearing more on those. Um we also want to partner with um going forward with buildings and grounds so that we understand uh what are we as our buildings are aging what are the

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requirements and and we also discuss um stability within the business office and of this Mike has done tremendous work to um to get our business office um

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you know under his leadership and and and work together as a team. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> I have a very quick leazison report from the senior center. >> Oh, great. >> Um, I mentioned this before, but June

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26th at 11:00 a.m. there is a senior hall for the seniors in town at the rec center. They need school volunteers. So explorers can sign up through whatever the formal families

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manages for. I forget what it is. I should know. And um should be a good time. So that's it. >> Very nice. >> I also have a liazison report um partially with the BFW. Well really with the BFW at the Memorial Day parade um

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next not this Monday obviously the Monday next Monday. Um, so if the town can join us, that'd be great. >> Thank you. Anyone else? No. Okay. So, do we have uh do any board members have any

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comments on tonight's agenda? >> No. Moving right along. I like that. Okay. So, can I have a motion to open the floor to the public? >> Motion second. >> Yeah.

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>> Okay. Whatever. >> Should I read the >> do the resolutions? >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Okay. So, before we're going to open the floor, but before we do that, we're going to read the We have walk-ons that we're going to be

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voting on. So, we're going to read the walk-ons first. So when we get to resolutions, they're already there. >> Okay. >> The first walk on is 3B. Um be it resolved that the Fort Lee

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Board of Education hereby permits the following non-resident student to continue enrollment at the Fort Le public schools for the remainder of the 2025 2026 school year at the advertised pr-rated tuition rate. And then there is

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the student's ID number 4B is resol resolved that the Fort Lee Board of Education hereby permits the following non-resident student to continue enrollment at the Fort Lee public schools for the remainder of the 2526 school year at the advertised

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prated tuition rate and that is again student ID and then 5B is uh uh be resolved that the uh board hereby

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ratifies a purchase and sale agreement with the burrow of Fort Lee in which the board is conveying a property known as 467 Stillwell Avenue identified as block

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2951 lot 2 on the official tax map of the burough. >> Thank you. Okay. Now, can I have a motion to open the floor to the public? >> Motion. >> Motion. Curry. >> Second.

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>> Second. Cotain. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any obstensions? The floor is now open. Okay. We will now hear comments from any members of the public. State your name

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and your home address for the record and begin your comments. Participants are limited to three minutes in which to make their statements. Do we have any members of the public here in the cafeterium tonight who wish to make a public comment?

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>> Hi, good evening 326 bridg. Um I have two questions. What's the question regarding that property because the property sold and also what price

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that was just mentioned? >> Property was sold on >> Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Okay. And now is about the Zoom meetings. Okay. I know I keep coming and every month keep talking about it, talk

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about it. All I'm asking for is that we have a dialogue. That's all that's all I'm asking because the way it was done, I know that I know it's not possible. I get it. Okay. There's a purpose. I get that. But there's never ever a

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conversation about it. So all I'm asking for is that it can be we have that a healthy conversation. That's all. But I think I think I think you know the public deserves that find out like other towns are still doing it

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you know postco towns are not I get it I don't care about the town I care about this town you know and that's all for it's just sit down and do you hear what the borders have to say you was everybody against it for it or what just

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I mean it over a cup hold just you know let's let's hear why as they say you And I think life will feel a lot better when we understand the um where thank you. >> Thank you for your comment.

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>> Thank my name is Doug Walden. 542 Windsor Drive, New Jersey 07650. Um, I got the late. So, good evening members of the board. I've served this district as a library media specialist for 16 years. My family also has deep

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ties to our school community. I care deeply about the students we serve and the strength of our library media programs across the district. I bring professional experience in graduate training in library and information science, educational technology, and educational leadership, which deeply inform my perspective on the educational

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role of library media programs. I also recognize that statewide conversations are increasingly emphasizing the importance of certified library media specialists in schools as reflected in pending legislation currently under consideration in New Jersey. I wanted to respectfully raise concerns regarding

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the library media staffing structure currently being developed for next school year. As the current plan has been explained, four schools in the district would continue to receive full-time library media specialist coverage while two schools would only receive partial coverage. I'm struggling

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to understand how this creates a consistent library media program that has been referenced in administrative explanations of the plan. I fully understand the financial challenges facing the district and appreciate the effort required to maintain services during difficult budget circumstances.

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However, I believe it is important to consider how unequal staffing levels may affect student access to library media instruction, research support, literacy programming, and other educational services across schools. I also believe is an important is important to ask

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whether alternative staffing models were considered that could distribute cover coverage responsibilities more equitably across the district while preserving more balanced student access to library media services. Additionally, I hope consideration will be given to the important academic, instructional, and

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student support role that the high school library media center provides throughout the day. My intention in raising these concerns is not personal. I simply believe these decisions have meaningful educational implications for students across the district and deserve careful consideration before final

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approval. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, Andrew, so I'm sorry I didn't get to answer your question before Mr. Walden got up. Um so in the agreement the

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property is a dollar that we're giving uh the um property to the mayor and council and in return they're going to reconstruct that property to make it usable for all the students of WLY for

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all the children of Okay. Okay. Moving on. May I have a motion to close the floor to the public? >> Motion. >> Motion. Richtor. Second. >> Second. Perez. All in favor?

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>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Moving on to resolutions. Ready. May I have a motion to approve items 1B to 5B? >> Motion. >> Motion. Ricked. >> Second. >> Second. Curry. Roel.

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>> Miss. Curry. >> Yes. >> Mr. Goslin. >> Yes. >> Miss Coten. >> Yes. >> M. Mr. McTurnan. Yes, >> Miss Perez. >> Yes, >> Miss Richtor. >> Yes, >> Miss Moral.

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>> Yes. >> May I have a motion to approve item 1B and G? >> Motion. >> Motion. Ra. >> Second. >> Second. Curry. Roll call. >> Miss. Curry. >> Yes.

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>> Mr. Goslin. >> Yes. >> Miss Coten. >> Yes. >> Mr. McTurnan. >> Yes. >> Miss. Perez. >> Yes. >> Miss Richtor. >> Yes. Morel. >> Yes. May I have a motion to approve items 1 CUR to 3 CUR?

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>> Motion. >> Motion. Victor. >> Second. >> Second. Perez. >> Second. >> Coten local. >> Miss Curry. >> Yes. >> Mr. Goslin. >> Yes. >> Miss Coten.

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>> Yes. >> Mr. McTurnan. >> Yes. Miss Perez, >> yes. >> Miss Recctor, >> yes. >> Miss Morell, >> yes. May I have a motion to approve items 1 F to 12F? >> Motion.

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>> Motion. Mixer. Second. Curry. Roll call. M. >> Curry. >> Yes. >> Mr. Goslin. >> Yes. On everything except a death, I recuse myself. >> You abstain? >> Abstain. Miss Coten,

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>> yes. >> Mr. McTurnan, >> yes. >> Miss Perez, >> yes. >> Miss Rector, >> yes. >> Miss Morell, >> yes. And I abstain on 8F. May I have a motion to approve items 1 P

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to 11P? Motion. >> Motion. Recctor. Second. >> Second. Coten. Roll call. Miss Curry, >> yes. >> Mr. Goslin, >> yes. >> Miss Coten, >> yes. And I want to thank Miss Peterson,

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Mary Stevenson, Terry, and um Colleen Jano for their service to the district. Thank you for being my children's teacher. >> Mr. McTurnan, >> yes. >> Miss Perez, >> yes. >> Miss Rector, >> yes. Miss Morell.

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>> Yes. May I have a motion to approve items one p? >> Motion. >> Motion. Ricard. >> Second. >> Second. Curry. Roll call. >> Miss. Curry.

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>> Yes. >> Mr. Goslin. >> Yes. >> Missang. >> Yes. >> Mr. McTurnan. >> Yes. >> Miss. Perez. >> Yes. >> Miss Rtor. >> Yes. >> Miss. Morell. >> Yes. Moving on. Is there any old business?

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>> I would actually just like to quickly thank Mike for the extra information in the agendas that we've had recently. I feel like I know what's going on really well and I'm sure the public if they look at them will feel the same. So, thank you for calling it and as well I know that you do the same

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just second. Okay. Is there any new business? Seeing no new business and I have a motion to close public. >> Motion

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>> motion to adjourn. My bad. I know I was before. Motion to adjurnn. >> Okay. >> Motion. Motion cotang. Second bre. All in favor? I >> any opposed? Any abstensions? Thank you

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for coming out everyone.