It's not very like it's on his private property. You can put a side [Music] on that. >> He has guns in his home.
>> Let me see. I didn't read that. gun. >> Two and0 start this year. How you going to think that? Two and0 start for the football teams. >> Going to call the meeting order. Pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> That might be too high. >> I didn't do it. What are you looking at me for?
Good. Now it's this one. >> Is it a one? [Music] Good. >> Open public meetings act statement, please. >> Pursuant to the open public meetings act, adequate notice of this meeting was
forwarded to the official township newspapers, posted on the Bolton board and township website. This meeting is being videotaped and will be on channel 9. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Marsh >> here. >> Mr. Pella >> here. >> Mayor Bruno >> here.
>> I get a motion to approve correspondence and reports. >> Make a motion to approve correspondence and reports. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Uh, can I get a motion to approve the minutes from August 12th, 2025? >> Motion to approve the minutes. >> Second.
>> All in favor? I >> I >> a motion to approve the bill list. >> Motion to approve the bill list. >> Second, >> Matt. >> Mr. Marsh. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fella. >> Yes. >> Mayor Bruno.
>> Yes. I get a motion to approve the mobile food handling license from Daily Grace Cafe. >> Motion to approve the food handling license. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Can I get a motion to approve the raffles for uh Alma, Our Lady of Mercy,
Green and Gold? Motion to approve the raffles. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I uh before I get into the moh first uh public portion motion for the first public portion for resolution, we are going to pull resolution 133 and R 134.
Can I get a motion to open the first public portion for resolutions in below? >> Make a motion for the first public portion. >> Second. All in favor? I >> I can I get a motion to close first by report. >> Motion to close. >> Second.
>> All those in favor? >> I making a motion to approve resolution 12725 grant junkyard license within township of Franklin. >> Motion R12725. >> Second. >> Matt. >> Mr. Marsh. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fella.
>> Yes. Mayor Bruno. >> Yes. Make a motion to approve resolution 12825 authorizing tax collector to grant tax exemption for a totally disabled veteran. Motion R1 12825. >> Second. >> Mr. Marsh. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fella.
>> Yes. >> Mayor Brun. >> Yes. Uh resolution 12925 authorizing tax collector to grant tax exemption for totally disabled veterans. >> Motion R12925. >> Second. >> Mr. Marsh. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kerella. >> Yes. Mayor Bruno.
>> Yes. Uh resolution 13025 authorizing the qualified purchasing agent to award non-fair and open contracts up to the township bid threshold of $53,000. >> Motion R13025. >> Second. >> Mr. Marsh. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Fell. >> Yes. May. >> Yes. Uh resolution 13125. Uh resolution of the governing body certifying accepting the annual audit. >> Motion R1 13125. Second, Mr. >> Marsh. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Fella. >> Yes. >> Mayor Bruno. >> Yes. Resolution 13225, authorizing contracts with certain approval state contract vendors for contracting units pursuant to NJSA4A 11-12A. >> Motion R1 13225.
>> Second. >> Mr. Marsh. >> Yes. >> Mr. Beella. >> Yes. >> Mayor Bruno. >> Yes. And again, we're uh moving 133 and 134. Uh can I get a motion to uh for the introduction of the following ordinances? The public hearing
will be on October 14th, 2025. >> Make a motion for an introduction. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> uh the ordinance uh is a little quick there, Mike. Ordinance 11:25, ordinance of the towns of Franklin County, Gloucester State, New Jersey, releasing,
extinguishing, and vacating the rights of the public in a portion of a paper street known as Washington Avenue. And again, that ordinance will be public hearing will be on October 14th, 2025. Again, can I get a motion to introduce that ordinance? I'll make that motion again.
>> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I get a motion for open the second public portion for comments. I make a motion to second public portion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I thank you, Mr. Mayor. Harry Kennedy,
1578 Frizeville Road. Uh, >> you uh pulled those two resolutions, >> correct? You probably see them again next month. >> Okay, fine. I'll save my discussion of those two resolutions for next month then. >> No problem at all.
>> Uh the only question I would uh have on that since uh they're coming up next month is uh you're doubling the labor attorney's uh fees in terms of that resolution. I believe this goes from
10,000 to 20,000. Is that correct? >> Correct. And I believe that your labor attorney has been utilized in depositions and sitting in on a court case that's pending for the township. Is that correct? >> Correct.
>> And who approved that to happen? >> Uh we did. >> You didn't? >> Well, we didn't app like she's been used for that. So, correct, Matt. >> Yes. >> And well, thank you, Matt and Matt. Uh the only question would be you are represented I believe by a law firm in
that lawsuit. Is that correct? >> Correct. Ma'am, am I allowed to? >> Yeah, I'm we're not going to discuss the underpinnings of the pending litigation. We're all >> You are represented by a law firm in that from GIF. >> From the GIF, correct? >> Right. So Jeff assigned that attorney?
>> Jeff assigned which attorney? >> Well, I know they didn't assign the second one because you're about to approve the township pain for her. Jeff approved the first attorney. >> Jeff approved the first attorney. Was there any input from anyone in this township in terms of hiring that attorney?
>> This attorney here? >> No, the sec the first one. The North Jersey law field uh law firm Hatfield and Schwarz. >> I believe there was. >> I believe there was too. >> So there was input that you wanted Hatfield and Schwarz to represent you. >> Correct.
>> And who made that decision? your attorney or >> well >> your clerk or >> the GIF the GIF >> and who represents us on the GIF bar Fionville >> uh I believe so mayor mayor we're not going to discuss >> I bet you don't want to discuss that
>> no we're not able to pending litigation >> it's pending lit but >> against the township and we're not going to comment on that firm was suggested by Jeff if you get a chance I know that Mark and Mike are pretty new to uh government >> lawsuits.
>> Yeah, you can read a lot about lawsuits. You can read about Montlair. You'll really enjoy the lawsuit in Montlair with Sean Spiller, the candidate for governor and the people that represented him in that lawsuit and the way they handled it. Take a look at who the
attorneys involved were and maybe you'll understand why we ended up with this law firm at this time in this town. But if you're going to have GIF pay for it, or at least some of it, remember your GIF
amount increased by about 35%. Why would you have duplicative attorneys if you're already paying for it through JIF? I I know you don't want to discuss it because it's a law law case, but why would you have duplicative attorneys? Is that necessary? Do you need more than
one attorney? You got more exposure than you need. Is there any reason for a second attorney that you're paying for? Uh, Mr. Mayor, >> I'm not going to talk about it. >> Not going to talk about it. I bet you're not. I just would mention this that last
year you spent approximately $155,000 on legal fees, which was about half as much as you spent in 23 when you had your all day Friday meetings and Mr. Alliance made an extra $300,000 that year. You spent
$155,000 last year. However, you increased the legal expenses to $298,000. I would wonder again, Mr. Marsh didn't ask to be represented by any special attorney. You didn't ask to be
represented by any special attorney. Mr. Fierella wasn't here when the alleged incident took place. I don't know why he needs a special attorney. I can understand why Mr. Doyle might want a special attorney. In my own mind, I could understand that. But why would the
township foot a double bill and double bill the taxpayers when you're paying for one set of attorneys through the GIF and you're hiring a second attorney who Mr. Lions used to work for to protect who? Mr. Doyle, Mr. Fierella, Mr. Lions.
I don't know who they're protecting, but in any case, it's an unnecessary expense. I can hardly wait to discuss that in great detail next week. Finally, >> next month. >> Oh, next month. That's right. It's a whole month. >> I look forward to that discussion. Thank you. You have a good night.
>> Thank you. >> What are you doing? Can everybody hear me? I'm working. >> You're going to touch. Matt. >> No, it's okay. I I'll just stand up a little bit. >> Can you hear in the back? >> Okay. >> Hold on. We got to put it down.
>> I touch it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I just wanted to first off um I I think commending our fire companies for what week that they had. Um, as a resident, um, I I can tell you
that I got quite a few phone calls that were concerned with the, you know, situation with school opening and the fires that were going there. And Mr. Dazzes, his group was unbelievable. And, uh, we're lucky to have him. We're really lucky to have him. One of the
things that I was asked from some of the residents who called the paper and and and wanted to know was about this Shield Deoid plant and I had >> Oh my gosh. on the new field. >> Pioneer Metal. >> Thank you. Pioneer Metal. Thank you. And
Pioneer Metal was um was apparently on the EPA list for quite some time. What I was wondering is is the township getting like annual um I I would say letters or any correspondence.
>> We get updates when they're out there and how long they're going to be out there and kind of what they're looking for. We don't get complete chemistry reports from them, but we do get updates letting us know they're going to be out there, how long they're going to be out there, if they need to access the compost facility, which is right next to
that, and things of that nature. We knew that they were out there. >> What bothered me was when I I was able to finally pull up something, okay, on their website and um I I know they had done all that cleanup and then I I guess another group came in and was there
until 2025, which I wasn't aware of. I guess I always thought that that was them cleaning up. That was that was for testing and they actually went out and they they were doing doortodoor with residents in that area that could be affected with the groundwater. So,
>> well, according to what they're what they're putting out, okay, just to update you, this is the only one I could get. Once I I got it, it was kind of lost. But one of the things that was there was that the electroplating activities ended in 2005 and then the facility was used for
powder coating operations until 2025 which I really wasn't aware that there was somebody else you know who had done that but it says the facility is now closed. Again, what I guess considered was that this
part here when they sampled the site in 2019, they found elevated levels and it started with chromium polycllorinated, you know, PCBs. I'll just make them a little shorter. And a whole list of contaminations in this site that
threatened the area down river from the site, including Timothy Lake, which is used for swimming, fishing, boating, and all. and we do have some veterans there. The other part was it also was concerned about Malaga Lake, Willard Grove Lake, and Union Lake Wildlife Management.
And when I saw that this was continuing to contaminate, I was wondering how much the EPA is there and are they noticing because there's a lot of people who are on wellwater as well as if it comes from Timothy Lake, it comes behind here as
well as everybody in our town hall and all that that uses the water and what's going on. Um, I know it was a mess and it burned for six days, so I'm not sure what is in the soil, but I hope that we will be able to continue to stay on top
of them as as a community. So, that way we're not left with such a disaster and at the danger that it poses to our children at the school who are out there on the field playing and those kind of things. So, that's really my concern and I thank you for your time.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. real quick. >> Touch what? >> Touch on that real quick. >> Um, so the EPA was out there started. Um, >> tonight I have Jack in charge of our Russian here with me. Uh, does anybody
have any questions about this? Um, yes, there were levels of chromium, copper, and lead. Um, we did a lot of air quality testing throughout the week. Um, every message and every press release and every alert was put out put out by
me. Um, I do my best to try to public up to date and what was going on. Um, since that um, air quality testing has been going on. I've gotten work every single morning um, from the EPA about air quality um, those courouses site also in
front of us each day monitor out there. At no time were there any air level uh air levels that were unhealthy on campus. So that was the number one concern. Uh when we did get those uh elevated levels across the street, we spoke to
those residents um gave instruction to um really the main concern from this point was uh first responders that were out at that site fighting. Um as of right now we um we have set up medical
test for all of them. Um see if there's any metals in their blood and uh correct. Uh at this point no one has come back positive. Um but I said uh we wanted to make sure the department was well aware of what we
were doing on our end. I don't know how how often we were out there testing. They were out there testing when the fire started. I don't know the frequency of that. to say that I'm uh very unimpressed with the EPA for the understatement um to get information out of them.
Um I I I do want to commend the fire department. I want to commend the uh forest fire service. I commend our golf um our police officers that on our local and the county end we handle everything that we need to handle residents a
breath as well. We need people on EPA. That's a different story. I can't speak for them. I really have no words for how I am. Um, so Jack, you want to have anything on that? Anybody have any questions?
>> Yeah, thanks Matt. Uh, yeah, first and foremost, you know, thank you for everyone uh going online. Uh, Matt here does a phenomenal job to be part of our federal coordinators uh
in time. So you guys are currently doing that as well as um what the EPA is out there doing. They are doing testing. Uh basically they got to go through different phases of testing to see what's in the ground
well uh soil. Uh so we're trying to figure out exactly what's in there, where it goes, how far how far down, and how far down into the earth go as well. uh based upon those results then they go for
funding which is the only federal grant that they go through that once they get uh federal funding approved based upon that's not clean uh so there will always help for cleanup
uh efforts to go on there um the legs that are there obviously in the ground um lots of lead copper petroleum uh in New Jersey that's not really
a lot of obviously we're asking for per around uh the site a little bit as well. So, keep listening to concerns. Um, if you're not getting taxed on Facebook, I promise you, we're on Facebook a lot. We're reading your
concerns. Put it out there. Um, we're addressing them. We already have it. We'll address it for you. Uh so you have definitely you both have kids. Uh I don't have kids. I understand
I certainly want to keep those healthy on the two monitoring stations over there monitors. They were there the entire time. Uh we had to buy off all together. uh on the back of the property right next door to back and two others
permanent housing. Uh and then we had eight controlling control. So you can chat up and say, "Yeah, there was no I think the important thing that I got
out of all of this towards the end of this investigation from EPA finally was that yes, it's on the national priorities list. It's on the national priorities list for ecological reasons, not for human health." So that was kind of something that opened my eyes. Um,
and it made me feel a little bit better. I know it's not good uh what went on, but I feel like we did um, you know, best we could to keep everyone, >> can we just identify the speakers purpose, >> please? Come on.
>> Yeah, I think that's probably best. Hi, I'm Cheryl Fox, 194 Road. So, we're about just 2 miles west of Pioneer. And about 20 years ago, Gloucester County did test our water. Um, and we were told that the screen went away from our
property. We're at Williamstown Road. I called the county health department on Friday. Um and this is in the midst of I do what I acknowledge which the the fire departments both forest fire to volunteer so much. Um we um I was told
that the county wasn't paying again to which they did about 20 years ago to cover for water testing. Uh privately I had reached out uh about $850 for water testing. What do you recommend at this point in time for the safety of health?
Matt and I know today a little bit uh on testing um today about they're worried about they're worried about finding some other contaminants that are not on site and
letting you know hey we found XY is not on site now you have a containment there and how to do that kind of um what's on
the website there only working on that on that uh book I can Okay. >> So, what what I'm going to do is anybody that has any questions back after the
information. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Can I >> get a motion to close? Second portion. Motion to close. Second. All those in favor I. >> Committee reports. Mike.
>> Um just to touch on what um Chief Des were talking about. He was I was in contact daily with the chief every day with updates and if anything was a public alert or public alarm, it would have been put out to the public. Uh I spoke to Matt every single day the fire was going on. They did a great job. Uh I commend the fire department, everyone
that handled it. And happier note, community day is coming up couple weekends. Hopefully it's a big township event and hope everyone come out and support um your local charity that day. >> September 20th. >> Thanks, Mark. >> Uh I just like to reiterate what Mike
said and really thank everybody involved in the fire department, local police department, everyone involved for that. And um as far as the library is concerned, they have their library of things up and running, which is basically where you can borrow actual items from the library, things like
record players, um things like that. And all of that is listed on their website. So if anyone's interested, they should stop by. >> Thanks. Uh I just want to reiterate what these guys said. Um Matt was great with his updates. Talked to Dana a couple
times. Not wanted to, but I want to thank the county. You know, the state obviously you know what you're getting with the state. They're no help. But I did see a couple grants come through, potential grants for well testing. So, I don't know if that would
qualify or not from the state, but again, I I want to thank those guys. They were out there a long time. My question is, do we know how the fire started? >> Uh, yes. But the Forest Fire Service is
still putting some pieces together. I'm sure once they have that all together, they will. >> All right. Fair enough. >> All right. the community day. Like Mike said, it's 20th. Come out and support the local charities. So that being said, can I get
a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I had it.