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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=mNP8px9cwMg

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This meeting of the Franklin Township Open Space Advisory Committee is called pursuit to the provisions of the open space meetings law. This meeting of June 16th, 2026 was included in a list of meetings notice sent advertised in local

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newspapers, posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building, posted on the municipal website, and has remained continuously posted as a required notices under the statute. In addition, a copy of this notice is and has been available to the public and is on file

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in the office of the municipal clerk. >> Can you call the >> role, please? Yeah. Okay. Bob Mtork >> here. >> Schmidt >> here. >> Bill Connell >> here. >> Ted Chase >> here. >> Stephanie Total here. >> Steven D >> here.

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>> Vanessa Jones I see her walking in right now. Uh John Moon >> here. >> Bob Husk >> here. >> Mary Lao >> here. >> Paul Witzky >> here. >> Bob Warlocker. >> Um Council Member Sing. Mayor Kramer.

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>> Okay. And we know that Dena and John Pearling are going to be asking tonight. Did I miss anybody? No. >> Motion open to the public. >> Anybody from the public? >> Yes. >> Something Magnolia Road.

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>> 20 Magnolia. >> Anyway, >> did you say your name and address, please? >> No. Um, >> did you see this lift? >> No, I didn't. My head's behind. >> I thought maybe we could get public

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service to buy the stain and pump. They've been sending notice. >> Public service or >> public works to buy this? >> Yes. >> Public service notice. Say no. We sent a notice with the the exact items I want from home. >> The day you sent it.

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>> Yeah. >> Last time and this time, I immediately poured it into public works. So, I don't >> how we put the screws. >> Um, I'll definitely I'll reach out again tomorrow. >> It's stain for the bird. >> Okay.

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>> Okay. I'll send an email to Bob >> right now. I'll remember to do it in the morning. >> Yep. >> Process. No problem. >> I have to get his email up, but I will do it as soon as I can find it. Okay. >> Thank you. And I led a Walt trails

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committee this year this week and it turned out on Saturday turned out pretty nice. >> Okay. >> Very nice. Thank you so much for doing it. >> You're welcome. >> Anybody else? >> Motion to close. >> Second.

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>> Approval of the May 2026 meeting minutes. >> Motion to approve. Second. >> All in favor? discussion discussion. >> Oh, discussion. Okay. I I just have one

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comment. Um on the third page, please not the fifth paragraph down where it says shade tree commission. Um, what I believe I said in there was my discussion discussion was about changing

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the definition of a tree in the township ordinance from 4 in in diameter to 2 and 1/2 in diameter. >> Oh, it's backwards. >> Yeah. To match that replacement tree size minimum allowance. >> Got it. Okay. Yes. 2.5 diameter. That's

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definitely the tree ordinance. Previously allowed replacement trees to be 2.5. Is that correct or no? In the parenthesis. >> What I just said. >> Okay. I think that I'm pretty sure that's what you just said. So, yeah.

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Okay. You want to replace You want to change the definition of a trade to be 2.5 instead of four. Yes. >> Okay. Got it. Got it. Okay. We're good. >> Yeah. It's the opposite. Yeah. Okay. Anything else?

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>> I'd just like to say something with respect to the bit about farmer depradation permits at the the kickoff for NJCS deer New Jersey campaign to reduce the

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number of deer eating ours. I was able to talk with the deputy commissioner who is in charge of fish and game for the EP and I asked him about the depradation permits and he

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said well they've been back and forth and what they finally settled on was depradation permits will be open 24 hours a day and so forth all year except for during hunting

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it hunters a chance at deer and since the hunters hunting season I would think it's mostly after crops have been harvested seems like a reasonable compromise but what do you think >> it's not that they've done that a year

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ago and the problem is the seed the permit ends September the 12th >> the crops are still growing after September the 12th you know the crops could be out there in January This fall bow starts generally right around that time in September. >> The bow season starts six mile. The only thing we have here is bow hunters.

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They're not controlling a deer. >> No, they're not. >> And and I got my permits back from the state just this past weekend and they they cut them back further yet. No, no shooting during daylight hours. >> Got worse instead of better. >> Whole herd and come to my backyard

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there. >> No, we got we got >> nice buck and velvet right now. My dog and they come over to your house then. >> Yeah, they're they're all there. I mean, they're just coming bozing in my backyard every day. >> Making my dog bark.

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>> I know there are. >> They're They're in your newly acquired open space behind your house as of today. >> I believe we closed. Right. There you go. >> We'll talk about that later. Right. Um,

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so everybody all set with the minutes a motion motion. >> Yeah, we have a first and second. Yes, we have a first and a second. Yeah, >> in favor. >> All those in favor? >> I missed >> financial report.

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>> Uh, it is on the table and I can also put it on the screen. Get it? That could be you. How are you? And I was like, "Oh my gosh, I hope they're going to hang around." And

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though every year it changes, you know, well, keep an eye on it. That's what we good. Good. >> Yeah. >> Motion to accept. >> So moved. >> Second.

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>> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. >> New business. >> Okay. So, we have Lindsay Brewbaker here. She is the community-led conservation coordinator from Duke Farms and she wants to come speak to us briefly on the connecting habitat across

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New Jersey project which I know I've mentioned here a few times. Um it's properties that are identified for preservation specifically because of their habitat and their connectivity. So Lindsay's been working with D and D farms. So do you want me to you want to tell me when to hit the

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>> Yeah, that works. I'll just come stand up here and I'll room. >> Yep. Yep. Um, yeah, and I appreciate that you already are familiar with change. Um, but yeah, I'm Lindsay Brewbaker. I work at Duke Farms as their community-led conservation coordinator and I'm working with D, so Gretch and

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McKenzie Brian, um, if anybody knows those folks, uh, on their change project. Um, so essentially meeting with a lot of townships, environmental commissions, open space committees, and commissions this summer just to share more about the tool and our efforts. Um, just in the hopes that it'll be useful

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for y'all. So, go ahead. Um so yeah, main idea being that this tool is created um you know to help connect animals across the state of New Jersey to ensure that bobcats, butterflies, salamanders, everywhere in between is able to move across the state for shelter uh food and aches as well. Next

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slide. Um so the main idea here being that uh you know New Jersey obviously is among has a lot of urban areas in it and on either side. So the left chart kind of shows in red increasing urban areas uh from 1985 to 2020. So you can kind of

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see just how much you know the state's been urbanized over the past few decades. And on the right just showing um high level road usage throughout the state. So both of those kind of in combination make it super difficult for animals to travel like if they wanted to

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go all the way from the north all the way to the south at the most extreme. Um luckily about a third of New Jersey is preserved. So that all shows like New Jersey uh D open space, other like local municipal open space and also preserve farmland.

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So basically with all this in mind, uh D kind of created this change tool as a tool, as a resource to help guide land protection, habitat management, and also a way to think about mitigating those road barriers. So, if you go to their website, um just like Google D change, uh there's like a

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nice intro video, there's a guidance document, and there's also web viewer, which I'll spend a little bit of time talking over. Um so, yeah, guidance document is super in-depth. It's like 90 plus pages. But if you have like a very specific need, for example, looking up uh like these

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road mitigation, they have different resources in there that could be helpful for the township. >> Yes. All right. >> So, there's a few that are a little repet. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, this is kind of just an example of um what that can look like, different guidance tools um and things

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to keep in mind for, for example, um expanding a culvert to make it wider. So, that way it's um you know, able to allow animals like that little weasel to pass through. Um, and again like very indepth. So you can see you can keep in mind animals

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that had very low mobility versus high mobility and kind of plan to retrofit or to build culverts or passages to kind of fit different needs. Um, next slide. So this is kind of what the tool looks like. I think some of you may have seen

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this. Um but essentially the dark green areas are important areas for animals for habitat whereas those brown kind of yellow ones are the corridors or the ways that animals are most likely to travel from habitat to habitat. So this

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is all based on DP's data that they've collected and kind of put in one web tool. So, it's very easy to kind of plug in like your home address, your work address, wherever you're interested in the state of New Jersey, and see exactly like how animals use the habitat or ideally would use the habitat if it's

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>> Yes, please. >> Are those corridors um most some of them uh preserved areas? >> It depends. So, there is an option on here. So there's different layers that you can select and one of them is you can see um areas that have been

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preserved like federally by the state by local municipalities and that can do kind of an overlay on the map so you can see exactly like where township has preserved areas where it hasn't and kind of see like if you're hitting the correct spots for example. So it it definitely varies and that's part of our

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efforts here is to kind of just raise awareness of the tool. So that way if you are looking at preserving more in your township, you can see like oh well we haven't preserved like this corridor and maybe that'd be important to make sure animals can like cross from one section to another.

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>> Next. >> Yeah. Um so another layer on this tool is you can look at culverts. So there's been an inventory of all the culverts across the state to kind of see how passable they are for animals to cross. So, you know, a lot of culverts weren't built for wildlife in mind, but

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nevertheless, animals use them. So, the red ones is a high barrier, so very hard for an animal to kind of pass through, whether aquatic or terrestrial. Um, and the dark blue being no barrier. So, again, not necessarily built for wildlife, but animals are able to use it

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just because it's like wider, so maybe like a bear or bobcat could go through or there's like substrate so they can walk across. um you know for aquatic having some water to go through. So just another way that you can use the tool. Uh next slide. Yeah. So this is an

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example of a no barrier crossing. So like nice and wide um you know easy for a bear to cross through. That is from one of the trail cameras that they have set up as part of this project. Um, so that's another part of this effort is like setting up these wildlife cameras to see exactly where animals are using

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these spaces and get a better sense of um, which spaces are important to protect. And yet another layer there, you can actually see the different mitigation projects that have happened across the state. So the blue being ones that have been constructed, the gray is in

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progress. I think if you go to the next one, there's the visuals. Uh, next one as well. Yeah. So there's um so if you click on one of these it shows like a pre and post construction photo so you can get a sense of like what the culprit looks like beforehand and after the sun.

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So there we go. So the before on the top like very low there's a lot of water and the after image they put in that concrete so that way terrestrial animals can actually pass under. So yeah, just like an easy way kind of to, you know, think about how to retrofit the environment to like help

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suit their needs, which is very personally. Um, so the main focus of like the efforts this summer with myself and with D staff is to kind of focus on this central area of Jersey and that yellow because like again from earlier like this is the area that's like most

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getting urbanized. Um, and so there's a lot of land that's been protected in like north and south Jersey and obviously like throughout the middle section as well, but we're really trying to focus our outreach efforts on like townships in this area just because this is the area where we need to kind of try

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and get like a section from north to south for animals. Um, next slide please. And next slide. Yeah. So this area in particular, this purple corridor is something that D staff mapped out is like, you know, if we're able to connect this whole spot, we'll be able to

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connect like fully across the state. And obviously connecting like any or preserving any areas are important for wildlife, but this is kind of where we're trying to um concentrate our efforts. Next slide. Um yeah, so again just showing

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urbanization or urbanization in a particular area. Some are a little repetitive. Next slide. And next slide. So there's a few other resources in conjunction with this change tool. So there's a wildlife tracker that you can find. Yeah, feel free to use the QR code if you have your

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phone open. Um you can also find it on the main change website. So if you do see a cool rare animal, you can report it to D and that helps them with their data. Um, it can also be roadkill. You know, that's sad to see, but that's also helpful for them to be aware of.

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>> Um, yeah. So, it's right there's those arrows. So, it's the third one there is report wildlife sightings. They also have a list serve that you can sign up for. It's very infrequent, maybe once a month at that. And you can look at previous list serves as well. Um, and another program I should

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mention, so partners are Green Acres. Um, I'm sure some of you may be aware of the Green Acres program, but they're definitely of interest with this effort. Uh, so just another, you know, funding mechanism to mention if that's of interest for your township. And I should also mention so green acres um one of

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something that they've asked me to kind of note for these presentations um is uh if you're like in the process of updating an open space plan or master plan if you mention like habitat connectivity or the change project or like specific areas you're interested in

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preserving then that opens up like a 50% match from the state for funding. So just something to put in your minds if you haven't thought of that already. That could be a way to help with these efforts if that's of interest. you'd say 50% max for funding funding for what? >> For preserving like open space areas.

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>> That's for preserving open space. >> Yes. Yeah. Thank you. >> Um yeah. So again, just ways to stay in the loop is just kind of the email list there. Um you know, social media pages, the wildlife tracker, and just utilizing this tool as you can with preservation

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networks. Um >> yeah, so there are also postcards available. Um, so if that's of interest, like I'm happy to connect you all and get those um, you know, put up in the building, the school building or wherever. Um, and I think one more slide and that's that.

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>> Yeah. So, just a nice picture of a bobcat. Um, but yeah, no, so I, you know, I appreciate you guys uh, letting me speak about this issue tonight. I have a few questions for you all just to, you know, get some information back to D so they know how to, you know, better um, improve their own outreach efforts and make sure this tool is

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useful for folks. But happy to answer any questions on any of that. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Yeah. >> Um do you want to ask questions to us first? >> I yeah, can you just repeat yourself the language you had suggested to put in

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master plan connectivity? What else did you say? >> So habitat connectivity or the change tool itself like either one is fine. Yeah. >> And then specifically they noted like if there's multiple properties like even potentially that you're interested in preserving like having a list of those is helpful as well. Okay.

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>> And multiple just because you know if one falls through then you have like backup options. >> Yeah. >> Um but those two are like a specific then think they noted that would open up that funding match. >> And then you had showed us that one slide that had kind of like the purple >> um and it kind of went through the

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middle of uh Franklin Township. >> Yes. Um can you tell us a little bit about that? What what is that route? >> Yeah, so it's kind of and this is something I need need to ask them a little bit more in depth about but I think this was based off of areas like so some of this corridor per se is like

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already preserved for example. Okay so I think this is one where they saw like okay well based on where there are currently preserved areas like what's the easiest like path per se to preservation. Um, so this is kind of what they came up with, but again like this is like, you know, would be like a

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dream goal, but obviously that's not always happening, right? So whatever >> Yeah, exactly. >> I think that >> Yeah, I think it probably is too like where habitat and nesting and food resources are from one to the other.

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It's probably how to get from like that one major spot to the next major. >> And again, you can kind of see like these larger areas, too. Like so some of this for example like parts of that I know are preserved. Um >> and so just kind of thinking about like

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where the easiest connections are again. >> Any other questions you want to ask your questions? >> Yeah. No. So just some quick things I wanted to note. So I already mentioned you know the updating the open space plan if that's of interest. Um something else. So like I said I'm working with green acres team as well on this effort.

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Um, and they noted that sometimes like in some cases like the state or greenacres folks will like have an interest in a property, but then there's no state agency agency at the time who's willing to actually go through the process. So then they kind of bounce it back to the township or the county. But

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we don't always know like who the correct person to contact for those referrals would be. So I'm just curious like who that would be within Franklin Township. That would be you. Okay, >> that's >> perfect. Okay, make a note of that. >> Yep. Yeah, just again that you know if there is like an important habitat that

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it doesn't just fall by the wayside. >> And they had actually sent us a list of properties and we're we're working on two of them using that. >> I know you mentioned that the change language. We are updating our open space plan. So that is the new part of it and it actually is part of our

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trails update as well. Our trails. So yeah. So we are using that funding hopefully. >> Hear that. >> Yeah. Um, and then one other thing I wanted to mention, um, like I said, doing a lot of outreach to townships within the central corridor in particular, just because of this

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urbanization. So, we're be going to be having an in-person meeting at Duke Farms on August 5th to bring all the townships, bring the counties, bring NGO partners, bring DP, Duke farm staff, greenacre staff all in one room to kind of talk about this issue more, like hear

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your concerns, hear your interests, um, and just kind of brainstorm a little bit more realistically like what this could look like for you all. So, I'm happy to I'll be sharing like RSVP information in a few weeks, but I can send it to you and you can share with everyone if that works. >> Do that. Yeah, cuz I also work with the

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environmental commission to them as well. So, yeah. Yep, that would be great. >> Yeah. And I guess also on that note, so another township mentioned like we were thinking this would be like an afternoon event perhaps, but you know, given uh different commission schedules or like you know, being volunteers or whatnot.

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Wondering if an evening event would be preferable. Just going to pull people kind of informally in the next few weeks, but curious just what would work best for y'all. >> It depends on the >> It's a Wednesday. as a staff person like I prefer

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>> no Wednesday but that's the first week of the month which generally doesn't have committee and commission meetings >> the first week other than environmental >> which is on a Monday so Wednesday is not a conf >> our council meets in the second week

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this committee meets in the third week >> second week is the fourth week so yeah so >> usually the first week of the month is an environmental commission that meets twice at planning board, but there's I, you know, other than Mike Orsini who

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might want to go because he's now taken an interest in all things environmental. Um, >> I would recommen like like hybrid like virtual because then if someone can't make it, we have a lot of people on the EC that attend things virtually. >> That's good to know.

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>> So, if you can do that, that might be helpful. >> Yeah. But I guess like any preference to evening, afternoon, morning or does it does it really matter to you? >> Well, I think that so you should and and this is you know my experience is that >> um >> when you have volunteer committees and

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commissions many people have jobs. >> So daytimes during the week are difficult for attendance. Therefore evening meetings that's why we have all of these meetings in the evening. >> Okay. That's kind of the vibe I sense but I just wanted to you know ask around to make sure that made sense. Okay,

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awesome. Well, I'll be in touch to share more about that with like RSVP link and everything in a few weeks, but really appreciate you all letting me speak with you tonight to share about this issue. >> Thank you so much. >> Where is that in Franklin? Then it crosses that town. >> Yeah, it's So,

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>> so this is Franklin, >> right? >> Right. So, that's Bunker Hill Road, if I had to guess. >> Yeah. So, it's like that southern kind of portion of the township. >> Yep. Bunker Hill South and then it and it goes pretty much all the way down to

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Kingston um through some and and we have just introduced an ordinance at the last council meeting to purchase one piece of property that falls within that purple area. So that will close in the upcoming

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month or so. >> Yeah. And we do when we look at open space and the environmental question, we do turn that layer on when we're looking to actually own a number of properties in that area, right? >> Yeah, I noticed that. I was looking at

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your township earlier to kind of stuff that since probably. >> Thank you, Wendy, for coming. >> Thank you so much for informative. Thank you so Yeah, and I should also say real quick, so you know, Duke Farms, we're kind of positioning ourselves as like a

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center for conservation. So, working with the state, working with local NGO partners. So, if there's any way that like we can support you now or in the future with like your own projects, like I'm a community-led conservation coordinator. So, if there's anything I can do to assist, um, I'm happy to do that. >> Question. >> Yes, please.

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>> You guys, are you are you still doing your Firefly >> stuff? So, we we do a Firefly hike. You guys had so much stuff when you had your Firefly. If you had any if you had any items or whatever you wanted to lend to us just we our Firefly I think is um the

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11th July 11th this year >> and you know just to borrow if you had stuff we'd be happy to happy to put it out. >> Let me see about that. Yeah, cuz I know that some of those like programs like kind of filled out a few years ago and we're focusing more on like education with like K through 12 and such right

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now. It's a little bit shift in focus, but I'll see if someone knows about that. Like our education team know >> you have anything left over. >> No, I'd be happy to. I'll get back to you on that. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Um and you're welcome to say of course mom, but if you have to leave, don't feel

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>> I'll stay perfect. I have to cut at some point. But >> perfect. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> That brings us to old business. Um Tara, you know, >> brings us to be hunting program. Oh, this Oh, that was uh I thought that was

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Cash. >> Okay, I forget. >> Oh, yes. >> I knew I would if I didn't grab it. >> So, I put the hunting program on here for this meeting. I checked again just as of yesterday. The state still hasn't put out the dates yet for the hunting program for September. So, I have the

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resolution drafted. It'll be on the July agenda to let us like start the hunting program, but I have to wait to put the actual dates in. They usually are the same exact weeks, but just in case I can't. >> 12th or 13th starts the motion. Sure. I probably look at my permit date. They said they ended that starts the motion

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the next day. >> Yeah. So, it's not out yet. So, I just checked. So, >> did you ever get like um all the data back from the hunters from >> I got more data than the last time I presented it, but not much. I got maybe 10 more hunters back. But do you want me

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to put it back up again or if you got more? >> I got more from my last email. Yeah. So I can go we got we did pretty well. I think we got like 60% response rate 65% response rate. So um I

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can definitely push harder but yeah you know so but we did pretty well I think. So yeah. So hunting program the um resolution goes before the council in July to basically say we're having the hunting program again. So I'll put that on there. But

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>> you know Yeah. Anything else on that topic? >> No, that's it. >> Boowing at the grasslands. >> Um, I put this on the agenda because we talked about this a little bit at the um trails advisory committee meeting last

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week because we were at the uh um they attended the national trails day at Negriot and there has been some talk I guess about you know the maintenance of the grasslands at Negriot um and you know is it properly being

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maintained. So, I did want to just put the explanation out. I know you said something to them at the at the walk, right, about the grasslands. >> So, I just want to address it and make and then if anyone has any questions, we can absolutely go into it. Um, so the

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fire the prescribed burn in 2018, that's when the prescribed burn legislation came out and it allowed municipalities who participated to have that done completely for free as long as you follow their program rules. So every year we apply for the prescribed burn. Every year, especially for the last two

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years, I've been really pushing neg. But the fire service, they tell you when they're coming and where they're going, and they only have to give you one day notice, which is what they usually give you. And I was telling the story about when I had to call you on Easter Sunday to tell you that they told me they were coming the next day. So that's the kind

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of notice we get when we find out they're coming to do the prescribed burn. Um, so anyway, so for some reason they burned John Clyde twice this year. Now there there was two two days worth of burning to do, but instead of doing John Clyde once then going to Negri

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Napody, they felt that their time was better spent finishing off John Clyde Preserve on the grassland. So Negriot was not mowed this year. It also was not mowed last year prior to October 1st

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because we're anticipating the burn. Um, so the the grasslands have to be mowed, but the conundrum that we're in right now is that we were hoping to have it burned. It didn't get burned like it was supposed to. We cannot burn now. I talked to Ted and Chris about it a a few

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months back or maybe a month back. And uh there's nothing birds in there right now. So burning right now would not be really the responsible thing to do. So we're waiting until I'm on the schedule for October 1st to burn. Now, there has been times I just want to let everyone know as well that and it happened at our

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trails meeting when I said October 1st. Another one of our members was like, "Oh, but that's when I forget what she said animal was in there, but it was like bats or something else." So, no matter what time we choose to mow, I've gotten calls about turtles when we mow

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too late. So, we're going to mow it in October. The recommendation that I have to the trails committee, what what I had last meeting was that if we're concerned about Negri Pot not getting burned because it hasn't been burned, maybe what we should do is only apply for the

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burning at John Clyde and then have DPW mow negriot twice during the one year because if there's concern about the burning, then I think that might be the appropriate way to go. I just want to clarify because one of the things that was confusing for us or for me was I was

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under the impression that you um that you could mow and then burn after that. So that's one of the things we were talking about. So why don't we just go ahead and mow negri and then if we get the burn after the mow great. But you clarified that I

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spoke to the fire service and they want to mow. The fire service ms first. So they come when they're doing their prep work, they'll come and if they want they'll do a stubble burn or they burn it to the amount that they think is appropriate for like the height and the vegetation to actually correctly burn it

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with the because that's what's being used as fuel. >> Uh if we mow it down to the to what we're supposed to that's not optimal burning for them. So they might come and then either not burn it or feel that it's not as done as well or it's not for them. So

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>> cuz we thought that would be a happy medium. Correct. >> Because we keep waiting for the burn, it doesn't happen. The grasslands in Negri are just, you know, not what we want them to be. So, we were suggesting that perhaps we do a mo and then they could still burn. But instead, because that's

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not the preferred sequence, correct? >> Then we were suggesting, okay, then let's just mow in October so that we can just get it back down to >> it would be October and what would be >> March, April, we said, right? Uh, no, not March, April, cuz that's when the

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birds are in there. It would be Ted, when is the other um what's before nesting birds? So, if we mow October >> and what's like the beginning of nesting bird season? >> May 1st, that's what you said. >> Wouldn't March?

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>> No, it wouldn't include March. So, it would be May. Yes, it would be May 1st and October 1st. >> No, by May 1. You told me conversation that was the last day. May 1st is you can't you can't mow after May 1st. >> Birds are already nesting in there before May 1st.

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>> You can't mow until after May 1st. Nesting bird season is like the height of it is March and April. So it' be a mowing in October. >> I would say nesting bird peak season. >> March and April is is not we cannot

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that's burning season. March >> April through May, June, July, >> right? Through July. Yes. April. So after so it would be June or July and then October. Is that correct? >> Before May

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>> after October 1st and before May 1st >> the first and third week in December you can do it but the rest of the year is out. That's pretty much it. >> Redly blackird start nesting in the middle of March. >> Redly blackirds start nesting in the

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middle of March these days. >> So you don't want to cut in the middle. You want to cut by March 1st. That way you don't have to worry about nesting birds. >> February. >> Well, that's what I said in February maybe. But it might be a little difficult because of the snow. That's

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the only problem. So, yeah. >> Well, if you can't mow it a second time, it's not a big deal >> as long as you mow it the first time. >> Correct. >> The first time though, you understand, is that we don't mow it when we're getting a free prescribed burn on it, right? Which is what you told everyone

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on that walk. >> Well, the whole thing is is I was told by somebody that they prefer you to mow. >> Who? But I'm telling you that I spoke to the fire service. We're about to have the same problem. I I spoke to the fire service.

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>> I trust you. >> Right. But we've discussed this though. You heard from someone, correct? >> I'm telling you I spoke to the fire person that actually >> I mean this is a lot of Yeah. >> So that's my recommendation. So we don't

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have to worry about this anymore. I think we mow it. We only mow negri because I can't make the fire service burn negri. Like I can't force them to go to negri. I can only recommend >> and for some reason they don't want to go to negri or they can't get to

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>> find the kid to burn my sweating field over at quarter lane last week. >> Right. So if we mow negri the only thing I need to know is the following. I'm already on the schedule for October for the mowing of both prop of both properties. Right. When would be Ted the

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appropriate time to mow negoti if we do a second mow >> the end of February would be the best >> well we have in the way of redwing blackbergs at negri >> and of course you you don't have much grass

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>> right >> that you problem, right? >> Previous se season's grass, but since your principal objective is to mow down multifloor rows and things like that, >> right? So, if we can get in there in

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February, like if we have good weather at the end of February, it would be appropriate. >> Yeah. >> You mow in October, you're not going to have much growth for February. M. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's the point. That's true.

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>> Unless we can mow in early March. >> Unless we don't mow in October. Unless if something happens, they don't mow. Then you can do it in February. >> But then the only problem is if the weather is bad, then we're going to completely miss that window. That's the only problem that I worry about. >> Mhm.

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>> We can definitely do that as an option, but the only problem is if it snows. >> Yeah. Well, then we don't mow in October though. So if we say we wait till February and it like snows really bad. >> No, no. I'm saying October. Definitely October. But if it doesn't happen, like it hasn't been happening, >> right? >> Then that could be the back plan.

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>> Yeah. I see. But if you mowed in October, as Chris says, there's not, and Bob says, there's not much going to grow >> to February >> to February. >> So one mow only in October 1st. >> Well, and then don't remember if you

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can't mow October the 1st, you can mow, you know, winter >> November doesn't make a difference after October the 1st. But if you can't get if because the weather's bad in October, you wait till November, not in the summer. You find a nice day and you mow >> and you mow, right? >> Frost freezes the ground. Don't have

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mud. >> They of course the the fire service people have more constraints on when they burn. That's what that's why you get one day's notice. So I have to be sure that

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>> I know >> there's a lot of condition factors and they have a lot of requests for the the service. >> But if we get one good mow in, let's say we get an October or a November mow in and that's the one time a year, then let it be >> and then if if fire wants to come, we're

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not we're not stressed that they don't come, >> right? So that'll be fine. >> Yeah. Well, we did mow last year in October though. >> Yeah. At Negri. Yes, we did. >> No, we did. No, we didn't. Yeah, we did. >> No, we didn't. >> Has been almost three years. >> Bring it up.

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>> I don't think it >> Yeah, we did. >> No, we didn't. I can tell you by looking at >> it's public the trees all you want, Chris. That's fine. Yeah, >> there was no one there mowing. I know cuz I go there quite a bit. >> Okay, but do we have all the information? Not

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>> there. >> Um, well, we do have the information. The So, I guess we'll just keep it as it is. Then I don't need to change. Do should I apply for the burn at Negri is my question because I usually actually start putting together the application now. So definitely John Clyde, but

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should I not put in for Negri? >> If you put in for Negri and then at some point it's decided that we don't want to do it. Can you change that? >> Tell them we don't want you. >> I can change it. The only thing is like if we so if I would hate for them to

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come out because when they come out they come out with like a ton of >> you would change you would change it well before they >> well before Yeah. would have to be like it would you know we would want to give them a lot of notice you know >> you might see if you can get them to say

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why they hesitate to burn egg. >> Yeah. You know I asked them and they basically just said it's just their resources. They don't have enough people to do it. I don't know why they wanted. >> The issue is there's houses closer to Nagri than there are to Griggstown. It's a much larger area in Griggstown that

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gives them the ability to burn without coming in close proximity. The smoke conditions, the wind shifts that that will impact residential neighborhoods like Napody and and Lar Terrace and those houses. They don't that they have concerns for safety. That's the bottom

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line. They don't want to burn near houses and negri has more houses around it than Griggstown does. >> That could definitely a lot of conditions. >> We never burn negri. >> When was the last time they did? 2018. >> They never even did it. They never did

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it. Yeah. >> Honestly, I don't think they're comfortable. >> They got the ditch around it. >> You need a lot of of people on the ground to control the burn. >> Yeah. So maybe we don't put an application in to burn negri this year.

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>> Yes, >> that's what it talked about. Trails was okay with that. >> Yeah, >> talked about it at trails and people >> we're to guarantee the burn the the bow >> subcommittee. >> We do. Yes, >> we do. Yeah, >> just checking.

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>> All right, so I'm not going to put that in that. I will put in John Clyde as I normally do cuz they they do burn there and it actually >> turns out pretty well. Mow mo get it moans anytime after October 1st. >> Anything more on fire and mowing?

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>> I hope not. >> I think we've beaten the subject to death. >> Oh, thank you. Moving on to uh old business updating of open space and recreation. >> So, we are we continue to work on it. It's a it's a huge huge undertaking. So,

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we're just trying to make it work basically. But one thing I will say is is oh, Lindsay when she brought up the connecting habitat across New Jersey project, that is referenced in our trails update. Um, and it's also in for our open space plan. So, we'll

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definitely be capitalizing on that, which is good. So, >> I have a question. Um, is there any um update on bids for catalp? No, it's not out for bid.

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>> It's not out for bid. >> No. >> Oh. >> Oh. >> The updates to the plans are being finalized for the bids because the bid specs needed significant changes. >> Okay. We'll go out to bid soon. >> Okay. >> That would be the update.

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>> So, uh, one other question on the trail on Katalpa. Was that crush stone or was that asphalt? >> Depends on what portion of the trail you're talking about. The the the the

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pathway between in the park and you're you're testing my knowledge about something that I don't want to speak out of turn Arie because that's not on the agenda was not prepared for. I believe it's all poor porest pavement asphalt as was decided

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>> that was council. >> Yeah, that was my impression. I think that's that's my recollection. >> So I have a question then. >> Where are we at on this agenda? That's >> we're on we're on open space and recreation and Katalpa is open. >> That's the open space and recreation

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plan in the master plan. >> Okay. >> So maybe you want to get through and then if there's additional old business we can talk about the park. Let's get through the agenda maybe. >> Okay. Where would you like to discuss catalpa on the agenda? I said you if you have additional open old business. I

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believe that's always asked by the person who's running the meeting. >> I can't listen to two people. >> I just told you you do it at the end of the old business items. Does anyone have any additional old business? That's usually the question posed. You can pose it to yourself.

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>> I will do that. >> All right. Moving on to is there nothing nothing else on open space recreation? >> On that plan? No. On the open space plan? No. >> Okay. Next, the Somerset County Trails Grant Program. >> So, we're continuing to work on this. We

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discussed this at the So, I finalized the narrative, brought it to the trails advisory committee. There's some changes that are going to be made instead of going around the uh bird blind as a loop. What how we proposed, we're going to basically go in front of the bird blind and then include the purple trail

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which goes back to the parking lot. Um, the reason we're doing that is that it'll eliminate a lot of the potential problems that could come with permitting and wetlands and my avernal pond, which could cost a lot of money. So, I am going to just resketch that and then update the narrative, which shouldn't

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take that long, and then we can I'll bring it back to the trails committee in July, and then hopefully we can submit it to the county after that. But I'm thinking that the um the amount that we're going to request is probably going to be somewhere in like the 25 to very

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big range here, but 25 to 40 range. Just trying to figure out how much stone we need and uh ramp improvements, things like that. So that's all updated. >> Okay. Somers said county trails grant program

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>> uh that we just did. National Trails Day is we're on C. >> Okay. Um, so National Trails Day was on uh June 6th in Agrarina Pot and it was very >> Yeah, it was it was a success. Thank you, Chris, for leading the the bird walk. He was Chris was able to hear the

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birds even when he couldn't see them and so that was really helpful for those of us who attended. We had about 14 people there. Um, and it was really it was really nice event. We have this normally National Trails Day is our least attended event. I think it's just like a

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busy time of year. We put a lot of work into it and sometimes we don't get a lot of people to show up. So, it was nice to nice to have a good turnout and um we uh you know we want to you know continue with that. There was some double booking um there was an Ottabon group I guess

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from um Washington something Washington Crossing Ottabbon Group they had a hike there in the morning before we did. So, we did discuss that at our trails meeting just about wanting to alert um alert alert the autobon groups they do need to reserve that space so we're not

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having parking. We got lucky. We didn't have parking issues. Um but um they shouldn't be having group hikes when we're having group hikes. So, we just want to manage that. But it wasn't really a problem. It's just something we want to avoid in the future. >> Um yeah, and it was nice a nice event

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and we look forward to our next event. >> Yeah. I don't know how. Yeah, they need to let us know, I think, at some point. But yes, >> do you want me to go? Do you want me to go to the Firefly hike? >> Oh, yes, you can. I'm looking for the Don't you ask me for National Trails?

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>> That's it for National Trails Day. >> So, fire Firefly Walk, Saturday, July 11th at 8:00 p.m. John Clyde Memorial Native Grasslands Preserve. >> Yeah. Um, >> so yeah, our next hike is our next scheduled hike is our annual Firefly

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hike at John Clyde. Um it's at 8:00 p.m. We're going to do it in partnership again with the Franklin Astronomy Club. Um so you'll be able to go for a walk, look at the fireflies, and then um and then also >> Oh, yes. Um and then also then um Oh,

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you have the hang I got it. Um >> look at the look at the night sky as well. So mark your calendars. It's now we are there are a lot of fireflies out now. So, I'm a little worried that we might be past peak fireflies, but it'll be a nice hike no matter what.

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>> Um, I also wanted just to put up um after the the firefly, we also it's on the it's the first one on our long range plan here. We're we're going to try to keep like a running list of our upcoming hikes cuz people are always asking us when we do events and table. So, this just shows you uh the tentative dates

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that we well some of them are definite, some of them are tentative. So, July 11th is the Firefly. Um we're going to do um a history hike walking in George Washington's footsteps in partnership with Franklin 250. Um and we're going to uh hike to Rockingham from the Plumber Preserve and we're going to get a tour

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of Rockingham and our trails committee member who's also a historian um is uh Patrick Murray is going to lead that hike. We're going to do another astronomy astronomy hike on August 12th which is going to be a big um meteor shower night. Um, so we're going to have

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that hike in conjunction with the astronomy club. Um, the Ottabon is doing um a September hike and I don't know the date um exact time for that and they're also doing an October one. Um, those are, you know, we're paying for those, but we don't always have those. People

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don't always know about them. So, I wanted to get those dates out there so our Franklin folks know about them. Um, we are going to we're partnering um for the in September for a mental health hike. It's um you know a suicide prevention type hike you know really focusing on mental health and we're

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working on that with Safy and what what's the group that Safy's with Stigmafree Franklin >> Stigmafree Franklin um and then we're going to add in in the fall a story book hike where you do parts of a story throughout peppered throughout a trail. Um our long one of our goals is to put

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in the actual board signs that are along a trail that you change the pages of a book in them throughout the year. maybe of a few different books so people can just go on a hike and read a story at the same time. And our idea is to do that at um is to do that at uh Middle

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Bush Park and kind of have that hike to the library thinking that would be a nice hike to the library as well and then we'll do an autumn hike at Bunker Hill. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. So, Calpa,

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um as Bob said, bids haven't gone out yet. Um, and you said you believe it's asphalt. >> That's my recollection. >> That was my recollection also. Um, so my question is, um, looking at the minutes

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from our last meeting, it says, uh, for the Negri Napot, the project includes extending uh the ADA compliant blue trail around the bird blind using red crush stone at the surface as the surface material.

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And I'm wondering why we can use crushed stone there but not at Catal because the decision was made by the council of council to use pavement. >> And that's my answer. >> Is there I mean >> that's my answer. Arie go any further on

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it. That was a decision made by the governing body of this town. >> That's it. When you say the trail at Katalpa, what >> what portion of the trail, he's talking about the park, the trail interior to the park.

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>> It goes >> along the driveway and up to the playground. >> Yeah. Well, I would I would think you would want that paved. Yeah. >> Yes. And that was discussed, I would say, adnauseium, much like grassland

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burning today. As far as over and over and over again, about the reasons why um from a maintenance standpoint, it will be far easier to maintain and keep uh the trail uh usable by those um who

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have ADA issues. Um, and so the council made the decision to have it paved. >> You're talking about atala. Yes. But but not necessarily at far less usage. It's not a decision that was I was

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consulted on. That was a a recommendation of trails. >> Yep. >> Pardon me. >> One is a trail, the other is a park. >> Well, there's trails are both parks.

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You know, I've been meaning to say this for a while. >> Okay, first of all, I like everyone here. I appreciate everyone here. But sometimes this group treats council like an opponent.

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We are your client and we've asked we asked for an opinion on what should be done. And for instance, your opinion that the parking lot should be gravel was a good opinion. It was gave us an

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option to think about. We didn't take it, but it's a good option. But to to badger about why is it different here than

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there, you're not serving your client. You're you're you're wrestling with us. I I think it'd be better if you treated us like a client than the enemy.

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>> If I may, I don't see you as an enemy. I I like to believe you know that. But I'm just asking the question. That's all. I was just asking a question. That's all. And it's but it's been asked in many ways many times and I certainly

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don't consider you an enemy. >> You're my friend. I'm just talking about generally sometimes the way this committee which is the only committee I come to

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but sometimes that's the the interaction just my opinion >> the delivery Yeah. >> Updates from other things >> under just move on. Under old business, any response back from D about the letters we sent? >> No. And I did reach out to them as well.

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I did not reach out to um following now. What's that official title? Not executive director. Commissioner. Yes. I did not reach out to him because we did talk at the environmental commission. He I think he's not supposed to talk directly. >> You can't talk about Franklin for a

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year. >> A year. So I did not reach out to him directly. Yes. But I did reach out to the staff. And >> what were the letters about? I was at grandson's birthday. >> One about the deprivation permits. And the second one was Okay. >> The second one was about the stupid thing about cutting not cutting hay

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between June 15th and after July 15th and not before like >> on state on six mile property. >> I sent the letters and I did follow up with their staff but I haven't heard back. But I know that the letters were sent. So that's you know I sent them right after the meeting. Okay, let's see

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if we got any response or not. >> Uh, next item, uh, updates from other committees. >> I got a lot of mine in already. Um, just >> I thought you did. >> Um, just a couple of things that, um, we are, you know, I mentioned astronomy club. They are, you know, they attended

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our meeting. They're really being great partners with us. So, we appreciate that. Oh, I add just one thing real quick only because I did talk to Bob about the summer solstice. Oh, okay. Do you mind if I just mention course? So, I talked to Bob about it. He approved them to hold that summer solstice event. So,

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it's going to be out uh and Steven. Steven helped and got them the permit. So, they are going to hold an event right here at the municipal building at the gazebo on June 20th in the daytime. So, thank you, Stephen and Bob. Yep. So, they're they got approved. >> Yep. And and they're meeting the first Wednesday of the month at the senior

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community center. Um yeah, and another thing um >> there's been a there's been it seems a significant interest in that club and their activities. It's good to see and and you know and and I I've mentioned this to Tara since we're on that topic.

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um you know there there is they seem to want to ask per permission every time they want to do things and and and in communication with but I tell this to both of you if if there's we don't need to do anything special

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they're they have my blanket permission to go to Griggstown and do what they do in the evening hours the only thing that needs to be done and Tara certainly has you know is just to notify the police department that they're there that we're going to be there tomorrow night so that the police department knows that after

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hours it's not a violation of the the municipal code that they're there. Uh other than that, I mean obviously we want to encourage that type of activity on our on our properties. So >> should be encouraged to do more people are coming out in pretty good numbers to

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attend their events which is nice. >> Yeah. Yeah. And it's, you know, bringing people to the trails. So for us it's a win-win situation. Um and then the councilman on our committee also mentioned I think it was him somebody mentioned there's a blood drive on June 21st at 47 Cedar Grove Lane >> that will be your council represent

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>> given the location of that blood drive >> had mention had mentioned that so just and anyone's looking for a blood drive June 21st 10 to 47 lane >> and we routinely have them here too and there has been a shortage of blood >> yes >> in this tri-state area

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>> pretty significant relax. >> Yeah. >> Oh, Vanessa, I I just wanted to ask and apppropo of earlier discussion about notification. If you're going to have a walk to Rockingham, you talked about

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this with the Yes. the new um historian, whatever you call it. >> Yes. Yes. Patrick Murray reached out and they had they actually know each other. It worked out really nicely. So, he's coordinated >> met him for the first time on on Sunday.

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the Americanore watershed ambassador who was really from the Delaware basin had set up a a cleanup of the trails there which only four people signed up and only two

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people showed up of which I was the one. So you should, you know, for like that one, you should notify the Kingston Greenway people, the Kingston Village Advisory Committee people because those are, you know, local to the area and and might participate just because it's not

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a long ride from their homes to the Flemer Preserve. In fact, it's a very short walk for most of them. and uh that you might get participation from the the southern tip of our township um through those organizations. >> Okay. >> Kingston Gardening Club. There's a

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number of different organizations down there. >> Okay. Treat Commission. Um we bid one out for that Castleton Park reforestation project. We received um three bids, three proposals and um so

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the strate commission discussed it. Overall um everybody thought that the price was too high for all three. So we had some discussion um meeting of the subcommittee and um so we we recommended

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some alterations of the project to to >> those are consideration right now >> and um and so it's it's being worked on. We're expecting to bid to go out shortly. >> Thank you. >> So I have a a further update on day

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three. Um, at our last meeting I reported and it's reflected in the minutes that Shade Tree had recently submitted a recommendation to amend the township ordinance regarding tree specifically uh tree sizes. I missed the April meeting when I thought that had

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been done. So my report as reflected in the May open space minutes we reviewed tonight was premature. So that was my mistake. Subsequently, at our May 28th Shade Tree meeting, we discussed the cost of

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replacement trees required for developers to contribute to the Shade Tree Trust Fund when they're unable to replace trees they've cut down. The fee hasn't been updated in 3 years. It's supposed to be adjusted annually. Following an approved motion on the

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28th, this resulted in our Shade Tree chair to send a May 29th email to Mr. Born Locker, who Shade Tree reports to. The email provided fee structures for 14 New Jersey towns and three bid quotes

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recently received for the Bara Woods project, also known as Cath Castleton Park. Um, there was a wide range of prices, but I would guess that the low average price is about $500 a tree. We currently

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charge $300 a tree and we believe we've been undercharging for a while and we hope to see the ordinance amended as soon as possible. >> How big were those trees? The $500. >> It'll be discussed at the NES land use committee meeting. Mayor, there's more

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to it than just than I can go into here in the public portion. >> Okay. You know how big the trees were? >> Yeah. Some of them, some of them show. This one shows two half inch tree. They don't all most of them don't show.

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>> Most of them are 2 and 12 inch caliper trees. >> And what is the success rate of transplanting a 4in tree? >> Well, we're looking not to transplant 4in trees. >> They're planted tree. They're planted 2

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and 12 in trees. That's the plan. Yeah, that's what's done now is two and a half inch or more. >> Yeah. >> And my only concern which I expressed to you is we've already had one developer in my mind cheat

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and by using uh right to farm laws >> to get around, >> right? So even if we're doing the right thing, we may get

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we may get less even though we're asking for more. I I just wish there was a better way we could enforce. >> That's why we'll talk about it. Okay.

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Okay. So, it's scheduled for a subcommittee, a standing committee of council for discussion. >> Great. Thanks, Bob. >> Um, consultants monthly report. >> Oh, I think um I'm sorry interrupt you. I know um

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>> Paul wanted to do a last night. >> I know Paul was looking at me. That's why he wanted to report on the EC. >> Well, we did a couple things last night. >> Oh. Um, one, we did review a site plan for a truck parking rental on Route 27. Uh, there's a gas station repair stop.

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They want to do that in the back. They want to have gravel on the thing. And we recommended uh that they maybe consider putting in an electric charger for electric cars. Electric trucks may be coming in. They're coming. I mean, it's a recommendation. there's no no regular

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adapter to it but we thought it would be something nice. Um we also um did a little bit of discussion on back I mentioned last time uh on what they call balcony solar and now about eight or

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nine states including New York state are looking at ways to regulate this through the Bureau of Consumer Affairs and it's coming that was a discussion and then uh as reported this morning in the Franklin reporter we did pass a resolution asking

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that the the council consider the um the plan that we've had for um leaf blowers and now we I did speak to anjek last night this this evening more than it's

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over 12 towns now in New Jersey have put leaf blower regulations into effect >> 12 >> yeah more than 12 she said >> and um some do it in a phase over a couple years >> but we um really thought that the um maybe the town council could look at

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this and come up with yes, no, let us know what what what you all think. >> I'd like to do a little bit more research on that. >> Um you know, one of the things that I heard was that some landscapers say,

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"Well, I'm not going to do business in that town." I've heard other landscapers say, "Well, as long as we can um use the the gas powered ones during fall and spring cleanup, then we know it's going to still cost us money to purchase the

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new equipment, but we'll be okay with it because we can use it for most of the year." Um, I'd like to look at some of these towns and find out, you know, when people when landscapers say, "Well, I'm not going to do business

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in these towns." Of these 13 or 14 towns, whatever it is, >> are there still landscapers doing business in those towns? Has it has it hurt them as far as that's concerned? We we did have four landscapers come in and discussed it with us at a meeting

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and we were back for very nice and everybody was understanding. They're not thrilled because it means they got to buy equipment that they didn't have to buy. >> Yep. >> Money. >> It is

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towns because Highland Park is very different than Franklin. I don't >> It wasn't mentioned Princeton Madison. Yeah. Each town is different, right? Yeah. And we may be larger than these others that have done it. I I don't I don't have the whole list.

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>> Maple Woods, South Orange up that area. >> They're here. I can send you this. >> But she has all the stuff at ANJ and they they >> Oh, I'm sorry. No, wrong wrong the wrong list. Wrong list. >> We'll get the complete list.

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>> That's the snowblower list, not the leaf blower list. Most don't effect in July. >> Oh yeah, exactly. We can't use gas ones in July. One more. Exactly. >> We'll we'll get inject will send us all

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the stuff. >> This is the This is the tree size. >> Yeah, that's what I thought. I looked I saw that looked familiar to me. You were from here. >> Thank you, Paul. >> Okay. You're welcome. Thanks very much for listening. >> Right. >> Of course. >> Anything, John?

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Not much from the wreck perspective, but this is our busy season. It is >> parks are being used. >> Fireworks are going to happen. It's >> all kinds of things going on. >> Go into our own little hole at this point. So, >> and I will say that it's not only the

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parks and things like that. They have programs in the senior center >> that are great programs. Tina and I go to yoga couple of days a week. Um, >> yeah, it's I'm glad you said that, Arie, because what I what I would challenge

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people to do, and it just might just take you a little bit of time, but look at the uh the calendar of events and the schedule of of programs in our recreation program, both for adults and and small children out of out of Steven's building, at the rec center,

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and for seniors, but also at the youth center for the teen kids. Um, and compare it to comparable towns. Look, look at other towns in our area that are of, you know, relatively our size and compare the

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number of things that we offer to our residents compared to those towns. And you'll see that we are leaps and bounds ahead of them in our programming here. And uh a lot of that has to do with the continued um leadership in the recreation department. Stephen taken

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from Bo, from Alice, from the long period of time with Alice and it and it just continues to grow and and it I you know I I just stay in my lane and stay out of the way and say yes a lot to when they ask me to do things because a lot of good things come out of what they do and I appreciate you recognizing that.

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It seems like every time that we come here for those classes, all of these rooms in the senior center occupied something is going on. >> Sure. If you can't find something of interest, then you're not an interesting person. >> Well, tell us because we may not know

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about it, right? >> But no, they do a very very good job and and the teens get a tremendous amount of opportunities down at the youth center as well. They do. So when we um did this

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whole study 10 years ago, whatever was what we were putting that believe it or not >> 14 years ago 14 when times five. >> So when we were putting zero dollars into recreation and we spent whatever it was 50,000 or whatever on that study,

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>> it was worthwhile every every penny. A lot of >> good things. A lot of good things came out of that. And there's still there's still things that are relevant. You know, they say that those studies have relevance even 25 years later. It's 14 years later from when that study was done. And if you if you go back and you

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look at it, you find that there are still relevancy in that report. There are things that were unanticipated in that report. Um, no one in 2012 knew what a pickle ball was, let alone think that we would need multiple pickle ball

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courts for that that growing sport. I don't think that pickle ball ball was invented in 2012. Um but you know things like that were unanticipated but the demands for um additional ball fields

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whether they be cricket ball fields or baseball or softball. Um it just it it was a very good investment that the town made to do that and we continue to look at it as we as we look to plan things. So, yep.

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>> They were thinking back then in 2011, I guess, when it started. 2010, 2011. It's about a 2-year project. >> Raj Sherman. >> Raj Sherman. That's absolutely right. Yeah. Raj Sherman. >> So, this weekend I attended Stacia's uh Eagle Scout ceremony. >> Oh,

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>> and she worked on the Van Wickle House. >> Mhm. >> And uh it was just nice because I happened to know the family for a long time. It was a young lady that I watched grow up and she participated and learned from the things that I did in the

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theater program and many people um taught her a lot of things and she took all those and spent the last four years of high school applying them at the high school level. Um but it was just a very nice ceremony. The mayor was there. Thank you very much. Yes.

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>> And made made a nice speech and thank you for supporting that. >> She did a great job. She really did. >> Impressive young lady. >> She is very much so. Yeah, she's very dedicated. >> Very dedicated. >> Yeah. And I was able to attend too. And um it was nice. And she's also doing

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another project. So what she did at Vocal House was her Eagle Scout Boy Scout project. She's doing a Girl Scout Gold Award project as well. It'll be done, she says, by September where she is repairing six of our kiosks that need

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a little love, you know, and so she's going to uh be working on those. So, we'll be seeing another >> Yeah., >> you know, accommodation for her in the fall. >> She's great. Yeah, she is wonderful. >> And speaking of kiosk, I So, the change poster should go in all of the kiosks. >> Oh, yes, definitely. With that, yes,

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absolutely. >> Identifying of wildlife. Yes, there's a good likelihood that maybe they might see wildlife in our open space property. >> Yes, agree. Absolutely. >> Um, >> good point. >> So, are there any other committee updates? Which brings us to Did we do the

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consultants activity report? >> Uh, no, it's on the table. I can also put it on the screen. Uh, there it is. But there's copies on the table if anyone wants a paper. Can I get some of those postcards? You write it down or do I need to have

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>> I'll just reach out to DP though because I think it's like Yeah, they can be free. Yeah. So, I'll reach out to them and get back to you. >> I'll like send me those free ones. >> Thank you so much. >> Scroll it. Yeah. Okay. There you go.

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Okay. >> Any questions on comments? >> Seen. Um um motion to open to the public. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I

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>> Okay, we're open to the public. Any comments except for Chris Williams? >> The first amendment. Hard at work. Yes. Um, I have all my information. I think we should just mow one time in October

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or November when the stopping when mowing of the parks slows down and they have more time to mow the grasslands. And that would be it. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Any other comments from the public?

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>> Most that close. Mot you. >> You're sitting when I'm sitting. >> Okay. Getting ready to leave. Executive session is coming. >> Okay. A motion. A motion to uh close public session. >> You got it from Bob. >> We got it. Secondary seconded. >> All favor.

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>> Uh do we have an executive session? >> We do. >> Okay. >> Uh motion to go into executive session and >> talk to her. Okay. She does. >> I told her. >> Then you did what you were supposed to do. >> Yes. We'll talk after the meeting. Yeah.

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Or like tomorrow. >> Okay. >> Sound good? >> You got my cell phone? >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah, just call me. >> Thank you. >> Bye. >> And I have a motion to go into executive session and emotional guests are going to have to leave the room. Thanks for

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coming. Thank you all so much.