talk about >> we are recording of We're live on YouTube. >> We got more time. and respons. Good evening everybody. If I could ask everyone to please stand for a moment of
silence and salute to the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.
Quick notice of this meeting was provided to the leader and advertised on November 13, 2025. Notification was sent to the local source union county and is posted on the municipal website, the municipal public bulletin board, and filed in the office of the municipal clerk informing the public of the time
and place according to the provisions of the open public meeting law, chapter 241, PL1975. PL 2025 C72 states that legal ads placed by the municipality will not need to be published in newspapers beginning on
March 1st, 2026 and will be posted on our burrow website under the section titled Garwood legal notices. Roll call, please. Mr. Arthur >> here. >> Here >> councilman.
Council president >> here. Professionals, please. >> John Arthur, I'm here. >> Go >> here. >> And Chief Patty. Okay. >> Okay. We are going to start off with a
special presentation tonight. Um we have asked uh RVS RVSA has very gratefully uh graciously accepted our invitation to come here and speak to the council tonight. Um we have uh our rep current
representative uh Craig McCarrick. We oh we have our former representative Steve Gree. Uh and we have our two representatives from RVSA. uh if you would come to the microphone if you don't mind and just introduce yourselves and let uh
everybody know uh your name and title and what you do. >> Sure. >> Thanks. >> Uh my name is John Bonapor. I am the executive director and chief engineer for the Raleigh Valley Student Authority. Have Carrie Misallowitz with me. She is our chief financial officer and secretary treasurer. Um
so we were asked to come before you. Uh think I've met some of you before. Give you a little bit of an idea. So, we treat sewage from 11 towns. Garwood is one of them. We uh currently serve roughly 250,000 people. Uh our treatment
plant, if you're familiar with Rawway, we're down right by the uh Rowway River by the prison by the DMV building. >> And the mic is on >> down the street from that. Um >> just wanted to make sure it's on. Okay. Thank you. >> Sorry. >> No, I just want to make sure it's on. >> The Zoom doesn't pick it up unless
you're like in the mic. So, okay. Yeah. Uh, so as you know, we've been serving you for a number of years. Um, I guess my questions if you guys have any questions about what we do. To give you some idea of what we've got going on right now, there's a couple of construction projects that we are doing right now.
We're upgrading some of our buildings. We just finished a big project uh that upgraded our treatment system to provide better screening for our uh raw sewage as it comes in. We got a couple of other projects that are in the works. We also have some revenue projects. I think
RBSA, we're proud of some of the things we do that are a little more progressive than some other sewage authorities. So, we have a co-generation facility where we use waste gas that's generated as part of our process to generate electricity and offset our electrical
bill. Um, we also use that as a to dry our sludge which produces a savings in shipping costs. Uh we have also for the last seven years been involved in a public private partnership with waste management. We're one of the first in the country that uh has a 10-year
commitment, a long-term commitment with a private hauler to bring food waste to our facility which has provided a revenue stream because we do get paid to take it. Uh as well as it's significantly increased our gas production which has allowed us to run our engines for longer and produce more
electricity and get more savings from that. Uh we are also in the works right now of negotiating a new project with them where we will be taking that gas that we produce on site cleaning it to pipeline quality and injecting that directly into our utility grid. So we'll
be selling it as renewable natural gas into our pipeline uh which also has very good resiliency for us because we will be able to use that gas in emergencies to power our plant. Uh but it's also just great financial sense in the long term. it's going to produce a tremendous
amount of revenue for us outside of what we have to assess the members. Um, so that's kind of some of the stuff that we have going on. If there's any specific questions. Yes. Uh, >> so we did finish a pipe pipe grouting project that we just did in Garwood up
on Third Avenue. Um, we routinely are inspecting our pipes lines. We contract that out on a yearly basis. Our goal is to do about 20% of our system every year. Uh so this way every five years we're doing almost our entire system.
So as part of that we did find a couple of sections that had some cracking and some ini uh infill infiltration and inflow that we tried to correct. Uh so we did a grouting project in Garwood that has since completed. Uh it was about 290 ft I believe. Um, and then we
are also doing a CIP project where we'll slip line a new pipe inside a pipe. Uh, that's going to be happening on the north side of town. I'm not exactly sure what street. Um, but that's a smaller section. We found it was it was a little bit more damaged than some of the other ones. So, we had to do a little bit bigger repair for that. So, that's going
out to bid in the next couple of months. >> I have a question. >> Yes. >> Uh, so how often are the meters inspected? So, our metering system, we we contract that out with an outside vendor on a three-year basis. Uh, all of our meters are in. So, because of that,
even if it's the new even if it's the same vendor that gets the contract, every 3 years, they have to replace all of the meters. Uh, for two reasons. One, that gives make sure we always have the most up-to-date technology, but it also gives a even playing field so that whoever's the existing contractor
doesn't have advantage over a new contractor. So every three years all of our meters are removed and new meters are put in. And then every month they are inspected. A vendor our vendor goes out they do a physical entry into the manhole. They inspect the meter to make
sure there's no fouling, nothing catching on it. Make sure it's still installed correctly. Uh they do a physical measurement of the flow depth and the velocity and then compare that to what the sensor is reading to calibrate it to make sure it's reading correctly. Uh and so that is done every
month which is far and above more than what the normal industry standard would be which would probably be more quarterly. >> Okay. >> So we're doing it much more than normal. >> So there was a jump in July. Um was it just Garwood or was it were there other towns affect this past July? >> It was most of the towns had a had a
>> and that was what was the cause of that jump? The storm. >> Storm. >> The storm. >> Wet weather. >> Wet weather. Okay. >> Yeah. Councilwoman, one of the reasons I um had asked uh Mr. McCarrick to come in and talk with us was um in July there
was um one or two days that were that big jump that we talked about and that was the day of the storm um that big storm that was really bad and Garwood actually got very lucky consider you know compared to some of our other towns but um I wanted to know whether that was
just Garwood was there an issue was there something going on that we need to look at that's not going to be the last storm arm. No. >> Um or whether it, you know, it was just >> an uncontrollable event, you know, areawide. Um and and we did uh you did
pulse a lot of the other towns for me and we we saw that similar jump that day. Um so it did make me feel a little bit better that it wasn't just Gwood. >> That's good to hear. And when are you guys going to come back and do more repairs, more INRs?
>> We're we're constant, like I said, we're constantly inspecting our system. >> Okay. >> Um, so we have to prioritize obviously the worst, you know, areas that maybe need more repair. >> Uh, but like I said, there is a a CIP, which uh is basically they they reline the inside of the pipe with a new
structural pipe. >> Uh there is a section in Gar that we're going to be doing that we're going out to bid in the next couple months. >> Great. Thank you. Yeah. Um, one thing we would say since you were talking about, so all 11 towns that we serve are technically uh, separated systems, which
means there's a separate storm system from the sanitary system. However, whenever it does rain, our flow goes from an average of 30 MGD to 70, 80, sometimes 90 MGD. Um, so obviously there's still a lot of rain water and storm water that is getting into our
system. One of the things that we have recently passed, as you know, we every town has a flow rate, which is how much flow they're allowed to in in uh put into the pipe at any given time. Garwood has fairly substantial flow rates. You've sold some of the over the last couple years, but one of the recent
things our board has done is anytime uh six or more towns all violate on the same day, those days get waved. So, the nine, you're allowed nine, every town is allowed nine before there's any penalties. uh if if six or more violate
on the same day, that penalty that day doesn't count towards anybody's penalties. >> It's obviously like an act of God, >> right? It's it's a it's a major storm that's affecting everybody. So, >> and I don't think our approach is denying. >> No. >> No. I don't think
>> over the past at least six months that I looked at that we had any Yeah. >> You've had several years where you haven't had any. >> I'm sorry. You can do you want to come out and sit so that people can hear you if you if you chime in.
>> Maybe I've seen a five. >> Hold the mic up and put in >> just push the button up. >> I don't believe we've ever exceeded our flow rate. >> Yeah. >> For night time we have >> access through the the various past at least six months. I haven't seen anything. So
>> um we we are pretty good with our our flow rate. I think >> I've been with the authority now 16 years. In those 16 years, you've never come close to the nine limit. >> Yeah. >> So, that quite honestly has a lot to do with the fact that we were an industrial
town. Yes. Bong roads early on. So, that covers us for many many years of time. >> Yes. So, um for the public uh so they can hear um one of the reasons well with our flow rate is that we were an industrial town. So,
It allows us that buffer at this point. >> Yeah. Gar Garwood was very developed when the flow rights were originally aortioned. So post World War II and even before as opposed to some of the other communities further upstream on the line that
developed later that were farms while >> Garwood was developed. So you have that enviable position which allowed you to sell right >> some of the flow rights to another town that needed them. >> May I ask you go ahead.
>> Um I noticed looking at historical data there was a bit a pretty substantial jump in the in the assessment starting in like 2024. Is that purely driven by usage? Is that
partially due to new projects that were being done like the cogen um development or what >> I would have to look at the specific data time period that you're asking about. So one of the things that's a
little unique about the way we are uh bill our towns is it's based on a percentage of the total. And so your every town is measured for their flow, their BOD which is how much organic matter is in the
flow and then their TSS which is just how much physical matter is in the flow. And your build based on your percentage of the total and so some towns if if we have a year where our budget has to go up 2%.
But if your percentage of the total also went up, you may be seeing a three or a 4% increase. And vice versa, if our budget stays flat, but your percentage of the whole goes up, you may see an increase in your budget, even if our budget, our operating budget stayed
flat. Um, so I'd have to go back and look to see if there was something specific about Garwood for that period. And if you'd like, I'd be happy to. >> Mayor and Councilman, I believe John presented on this exact question. I feel like we have talked about it from 2023 to 2024
>> with John as well, right? >> There was an over $100,000, >> you know, right jump and that obviously is a lot for Garwood and I remember I remember sweating that that year. >> Yeah, there there was a situation we found where there was that meter six um along
>> uh on the south side of town >> where we did see an increase in flow. Um we went back and checked the meters and and the flow was real. Um we don't know where that was coming from but it it was a real real increase in flow. >> Yeah. I mean I I asked because since
then it has remained at that higher level right. So >> yeah it's a moving average right for the assessment. Yeah. >> Right. We we build based on a 5-year moving average um to help smooth out some of those highs and lows. >> I have a question somewhere along those
lines. So it looks like um the revenue that you projecting for 2026 from assessments to member municipalities is increasing by 2.8% but our assessment is increasing by 4.6%. So can you just
speak to that? Sure. So, so that's a com sorry. So that's a combination of two different things. So, uh, one you said, as you said, our assessment to all the member municipalities went up 2.8%. Uh, the mount the Garwood
5-year moving average also went up 1.8%. And so that combines to add to that. Also, uh, any surplus that we have from the year before also gets credited back at whatever your previous year's average was. And so those things combined, it's
it's why it's never a one:1 ratio of what our assess what our budget goes up compared to what a town's assessment is going to go up. Councilwoman, aside from that outlying month, we haven't seen Garwood go back up to where that month is. So, at this point, we're going down.
So would you say that the outlier has kind of >> so when he was in my position >> we we tried to determine what the cause of the outlier was and were unable to do so.
>> Right. >> Yeah. >> So the the RVs we operate a trunk sewer system. So we have roughly 18 miles of sewer pipe which I'm sure is drastically less than the mileage you have in your town. So we don't own we don't own these
systems inside towns and so it's hard we have a very limited amount of data as far as tracking down we could tell you okay is that flow coming from your north side or your south side um but we can't necessarily pinpoint it's coming from one area or another >> to give the council an idea we have
three meters up up towards the westfield end we have one meter that leaves at the crford end so the three come together and leave right >> down So, as we make these sewer repairs, the hope is that we don't have another one of
these outlier problems because everything's maintained, or is that a separate issue? >> This is more of a general question, not RBSA. >> As I said, RBSA's section of pipe in the town is very limited. So the repairs we
make will are more safety issues, making sure that the pipes don't collapse, things like that. Then there is some INI that comes in through them. Um, but I have very little control over your town system. So if there's illegal sump pumps, illegal roof gutters, things like
that, I I don't have much control over that. So I have a question um kind of about sort of your your future and the way you were describing um you know basically turning waste into a fuel, right? Um and
that you look upon that as a financial uh benefit to you to to you. Do you see or anticipate any um passing on of this benefit to your towns in terms of either lowering our costs or stabilizing the um
the fees that we are paying? >> That's the whole point of it. That we're a nonprofit. So any any revenue that we do bring in uh either through our food waste program uh this new RNG program, we've recently instituted uh a new
connection fee program for developers. any revenue that we bring in is directly offsetting our operating budget andor our capital budget. So we have to assess the towns. >> So toions that we could
learn about in terms of uh the future like when you'll have that up and running um what you know what this will look like for us say in the next 5 to 10 years. >> I don't have anything out that far. Okay. >> Um, unfortunately we are one of the
largest electric and gas usage indust uh industries just as wastewater as a whole. Um, to give you an idea, our average budget for electricity is about a million dollars and our natural gas is about a million dollars. And so so much of what we purchase is dependent on
commodities that we have very little control over. Uh, we do have some projections of what gas prices and natural gas and electric prices are going to be, but I I wouldn't be able to give you a five-year estimate without any without any real level of confidence.
>> Have you seen the um the the food waste program providing a a decent amount so far? How how many years has it been with the >> So, we went online in 2018. >> Okay. So, we've been about eight years
now. Um, April of 18 we went online. So, yeah, we've definitely seen the the tip fee that we do get. We I think right now we're about 4.9 cents a gallon um that we we get to receive this food waste. And we're receiving roughly 200,000
gallons a week. >> Okay. >> Um the increase in our digestric gas production has been tremendous. So to give you a real world numbers, uh in the past we'd only be able to run our engines for about eight hours. We're now running 24 hours a day. So we went from
roughly a quarter of a million cubic feet of gas produced a day to 3/4 of a million gas. So 250 to 750. >> So it's been a tremendous increase in gas production, which is a direct savings for us. >> Anybody else have anything?
Um, if you don't mind, I would like to open it up to the public if anybody has a question. If you'd like to come up to the mic, anybody, Steve, you have any questions? >> Okay, come on up. >> Why am I still acting? >> Yeah, you should be.
>> I am the expert. >> No, he's the exe. >> You want me? >> I'm the acting chief engineer just because we haven't hired a new one yet. Ah, >> so if you know any engineers, please send them my way. >> All right. Is everybody good? >> Thank you, Mayor Council.
>> Okay. Thank you so much. I really appreciate you coming out. >> I know. Sorry. Okay. Uh we move on to the report from our burough attorney. >> Nothing nothing new to report.
>> Okay. Um our report from our burough engineer. >> Good evening everybody. >> I sent a lot of data to Patricia today though. I know I brought copies in case she didn't. But um uh last meeting,
mayor, you asked me to review sidewalk potential along Oak Street, uh between South Avenue and Rankin, really the south south side of town portion of Oak Street as opposed to the north
section. And uh we did review that and I what I did is because of the snow, I couldn't really give you great photos because you're not going to see anything but snow covered and some trees popping out. So I used some Google Earth historic shots for you and then I prepared a plan
which uh evaluated on a block by block and then west side east side where and that really is where is it easy or very feasible to construct sidewalk and where it's more difficult because of walls,
trees, bushes, maybe utility poles, driveway locations, etc. The goal was to enhance pedestrian access towards the Bwood Recreation Complex
and um you don't have sidewalks along the majority of Oak Street. Only a little bit of uh east and west side coming off of South and then near Spruce by the basketball courts, if everybody's familiar where that is, you've got some
sidewalk there. So the the the photos are there to help understand. We can from an engineering standpoint obviously construct sidewalks, but at the risk of removing trees, which if Bill Nerst was here, he'd freak out. Is Bill here?
>> Bill's there. >> See, um there's bushes one on the block between Locust and Spruce. There's retaining walls for the driveways. You're ne that's a very expensive proposition to put in a sidewalk and
have to redo an entire retaining wall for somebody's driveway. So there's lowhanging fruit and then there's not low hanging mayor. It's really it's always about cost you know sections there 200 to 220 240
ft for a block that you can do and we've tried to identify them and we've tried to identify the reasons some of the other blocks may be more difficult. Um for the most part most of the residents uh on the corners are really facing the
streets other than Oak Street. So that's really the sides of their property and that's repeated over most of the blocks. Again, between Locust and Spruce, you have homes that that actually face on Oak Street. So the sidewalks would be along their front yard. >> Yeah.
>> Naturally, if you add sidewalks, you you may have people who would object to it. And then there's also going to be people that would understand that this is safer for people to walk, especially children. So, if you can do it without impediment as a long-term strategy, I think it's
probably wise to do it. Um, and and the the plan, you know, hope I don't know if it's effective in guiding you, but the cross-hatched area that's shown are the areas that is what we deem feasible or very feasible to do. The other areas
that aren't shaded can be done, but just at more of a a social cost, that's all. Thank you. Um, this is very helpful actually. I think what we will do is
have public works take a look at it. Um, and I would also discuss with the public works chair as well some of my thoughts. Um, I think I I do think that there's
some room to do some work here. Um, one of the reasons that I asked for this street in particular is the recreation complex. Um, and especially in the good weather, but also with the summer camp, it is um, you know, just kids walking
everywhere. And obviously that presents a safety issue when there's no sidewalks. Um, I'm sure that some of the homeowners are not thrilled with kids walking across the lawns. Um, but obviously from my perspective, I I just
worry about um the safety as they're walking to camp. >> Um, and so I would like as much sidewalk there as we can. I do understand the um the impediment of trees. Uh, and I am
certainly not one that likes to take trees down if I don't have to. However, I will always replant them or replant a tree somewhere. So >> if if that is necessary, if we find it is necessary because I do see a few
locations where it's one tree and I know but it it is a very necessary >> some rocks where it's really just one tree. >> So that's where they walk to camp and it's like between willow and spruce are you that's where you see them walking and and it gets a little um
>> Yep. you know, as a parent, you're like seeing them walk in the street like that and they just kind of cross at the intersections like going diagonal and it kills me. Um, so I would like to look at that at the very least um
especially between uh Willow and Spruce. So, um I will direct public works to um take this on when they meet next. Um and then we can come back to the table for it. Um
let me just ask with that retaining wall. >> So I'm looking at that picture. You're talking this. >> Yeah, that's be the left one. Yes. So that's between Locust and Spruce on the >> east side of the street. Yes.
And that's the only retaining wall. >> That's the only wall. Yes. >> But again, you know, obviously from an accessibility standpoint, you don't want to have a sidewalk with steps on public right away. So, you've got to lose the wall and losing the wall means
substantial regrading. >> Yeah. >> Along the whole frontage of that property um and transitioning back to the corner. So, again, that's an impediment. >> It's it's not the lowhanging fruit. Um, you've got I mean certainly uh between
Locust and Rankin there's really nothing in the way but that's really just really getting people to the Cranford border. It's it's the least probably important of what you're doing, right? >> By the basketball court, same side of the street, spruce to what's that? Myrtle.
>> You can certainly do the rest of the half of that block. That seems to be low hanging fruit. And again, it gives you a linkage to the basketball court from the other direction. Uh where the rook crosses, again, for the most part, you can do it. You've got
a couple of impediments there. Again, signs are easy to move. Uh bushes are easy to move. There's some trees there and there's some sensitivity to that. The first block south to Willow. The one side, it's a perfect picture. The the
van of the painting, Christoph Chrisor, >> that vehicle sticking out. Really would be over a sidewalk. The other side has multiple trees and some slope issues. You know, again, put a sidewalk in on a sloped property. Now you've got to
maintain proper accessible slopes, cross slopes. You don't want to start building walls on the resident side of a sidewalk in order to do that. Again, it can be done, but it just the the lowhanging fruit is is evident and the non non-
lowanging fruit is evident. >> Okay? >> And if Bill wasn't here, I'd say we take a tree down and put it put it side and plant three trees. ood but and so you could look at the the condition of the trees. Maybe some of those trees don't
necessarily aren't the healthiest or the could be uh you know ash tree and maybe longterm that tree is not going to be there. So that's that's beyond my pay grade but um >> Okay. Well, we will talk to shade tree. >> Yeah.
>> Um okay. Thank you for doing this and for doing it so quickly. Um yeah, go ahead. So, I had a question about um the the concept of the sidewalk. Are we is the goal to put it on one side, either
the west or the east, or are you going to cobble are we going to sort of cobble together a a pathway >> on the east and west and then have crosswalks? I mean, my goal would be to put it on both. I I I don't like the
idea of cobbling one side and a crosswalk to that. Kids don't do that. Adults don't do that, let's be honest. So, my, you know, initial thoughts were, let's do both. I mean, we're we're going to have to take a look because as you
can see, it looks like there's feasible blocks on one side and feasible not so feasible on across from it. But so, we are going to have to take a look and it might mean taking a tree out, but um will replant it. Um but that was my
thought was on both sides at the worst if we see that there was if we had side that was just had multiple blocks that were infeasible then I would say let's definitely do just the one. It looks like it's a little mishmash
though. Um, and so I think we might have to take a look at what we want to do and see whether there's one side where there's the fewest impediments and we just do that or if we're ready to tackle both and and just work with what we have
and um try to make it work. >> I would say the east side is probably the more where you can do end to end other than the wall. Yes, that's >> because it has less >> has less really tree impacts and
>> yeah more existing as well. Yeah. >> So if you if you're the goal is to get end to end which I would think it would be that's the side that I mean if you had to rank the two that's all. >> Yeah. >> And I I mayor it's probably helpful. I did some ballpark numbers. They're not
put on paper yet, but um knowing the lot depths, they're about 100 foot lot depths and the rightway and if they got the brook, I did some numbers and and you're probably on the 15 to 25,000 for a block on one side for sidewalk.
And obviously there's economies of scale to that. You do the whole thing, it's going to is going to be cheaper. But >> when you're doing one block, you mean for a contractor to show up, it's 5,000 bucks. So >> as you do more and more of it, the economies of scale benefit you. But a
block on one side I'm guessing is 15 to 25,000 which is probably something then you can say well we have u blocks two sides minus a couple that are already there that you can do the numbers as what you need in total.
>> Mhm. Yeah. Okay. That's helpful. I had what might be a silly question, but um that Oak Oak Street seems quite wide. Is there any
potential to build a walkway kind of taking part of the street as opposed to um trying to go over property? >> Well, you you could move the curbs in board. Yes. >> Yes. Um many towns their roads are 30 ft
wide. Garwood many of their your roads are 34 36 38 uh feet wide. You have wider rightaways. Uh so um when the town was developed um you have wider streets. So you have the
ability if if you so chose to constrict the cartway with and create space maybe on one side unbalance the street within the rightway to do that. Now when you have a lot of people who park cars on the street the wider the
street the better it is for that standpoint. And obviously when you have a 30-ft road and you got cars parked on both sides and you got vehicles moving at each other, that's where it gets a little dicey. Who's going to who's going to stop? Yeah. >> Who's going to indent and allow somebody
to pass? Whereas when you have the 34, 36, 38, you're getting that extra comfort zone >> in that situation. >> And do we know the the width of Oak Street specifically? >> I I did measure it. I don't recall it in my head. >> Okay. >> I believe it is wider than 30 feet
though. Okay. >> And I'm trying to think if the I say the top of the street near the Cranford that may be indented slightly. Oh, >> 60 >> 60 is the rightway. Yeah. The partway width though as far as curb to curb I I
don't I can't tell you every block off hand. All right. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Well, that's something to look at as well. Okay. Thank you. See, not silly. Uh, anybody else about this before we
>> Okay, thank you. >> opportunity. >> Yeah. >> And >> always take those >> $15,000 grant. You can do a block of sidewalk if you want. >> We would love it. >> Um, so that that grant opportunity fell
in my lap. Somebody shared it with me. I'm going to do one in each of my three towns. So, wouldn't mind. That would be great. >> I have one ready to go. Just waiting to hit a button in Springfield. I did one in Mountainside today. I figured I'd talk to you about it tonight.
>> It seems the goal is to um if you read that one sheet, I mean, it's many pages, but it's to benefit the all residents, but specifically age 50 and older. So, age 50 and older, one of the real targeted bullet points is
mobility, accessibility. If you make it easier for people to get from point A to point B, which unfortunately targets people who are older such as myself. >> Yes. >> You know, we lose the ability to uh run
and dodge cars. So, we want we want >> uh sidewalks and we want to be able if we're in a wheelchair to to get free access and be inclusive. So, it seems like a perfect thing here. We'll put the grant in if you don't mind council.
>> No, >> they only gave five in New Jersey last year. Hey, >> can't hurt to try. >> You can't get it if you don't try. So, >> just a quick question. So, aside from sidewalks, human accessibility, is it is there technical sorts of things the grant?
>> Yeah, I literally read in my time in Springfield, I don't want to say I had some time on my hands. I I I I looked at every state and every grant award and if you read everything for the most part it's mobility accessibility whether it's
parking or ramps or sidewalks or parks. Um sometimes there's programming that's not you know where I can help you. Programming measures within a community maybe they accentuate something for the over 50 population.
But um ramps perfect. The one in Springfield I'm doing a redoing an ADA ramp to our municipal building which over time we have now tripping hazards on it defeating the whole purpose of ADA. So um will will they get the grant?
Who knows? >> Hopefully >> hopefully we'll get it. >> Yay. >> All right. >> Any questions on that? And then just the third is really um um you know we had done for the for the DOT the one we're
looking to go out to bid on I I said I think I put in there 85%. So I'm I'm very close and John Arthur had mentioned about a meeting potentially with Cranford people for the flood. And so literally tomorrow I was sending out uh
plans and cross-sections of Gallows Hill to the Cranford engineer. >> Okay. Uh because if you're familiar with Gallows Hill, the CRA the Garwood side is easy. We really don't have We have one house I think facing it, maybe two. And we've got a lot of room there for a
curb line and widening that road. It's only 20 ft wide when you hit Second Avenue or West Holly. Very substandard uh under every standard RSIS or DOT standard. The Cranford rightaway is
variable and there's one garage if you're familiar with the street and every source we find that garage is actually built in the Cranford rightaway. It's not >> I don't think the Cranford engineer is >> wide the road can be
>> near um second and west Holly which as a minimum has to be 24 ft >> but at the other end where you can be 30 or more um Cranford has to really guide us on what they want. Also on the Cranford side, all of the homes there,
some of which uh the the homes at front on Gallow Hill, many of them don't have driveways, so they have parking basically along the front of the street. And so we would not want to take that away from them. So they have to tell us
where they want the press curbs to accentuate the front yarding for those residents. So >> okay, >> a meeting and plan is very valuable. I was going to send it to him and wait for feedback and get together, but maybe Monday if he's there, I'm going to give it to him after the other meeting and
okay, >> say take a look at this and then give us your thoughts. >> That's and then uh Bill and I when the snow's gone or maybe without with the snow there, >> we'll go out and we'll look at every tree and decide where we can enhance our
uh tree canopy on on those three streets. >> We've been very successful the last couple years. So, >> and and just a note um on West Street that is where um I have asked if we
could do um ADA ramps um at Locust and I'm not sure if there's any other areas on West. Um we had talked about doing it since we were over there. Yeah. >> So, that was a location that was brought
to me because some kids cross >> that way. So, um, we wanted to make a crosswalk. So, if you could make a note in your design or >> it's outside of the DOT area, but we'll do is we'll put an alternate in. So, we can segregate the
cost. >> Terrific. >> But DOT doesn't think we're trying to get a pull a fast one on them and sneak something in. But then we can also weigh as as whether the contractor who bids on this, it's cost effective for us or we go out for quotes. So, okay. >> Yeah, >> I did have a mental note for that. Yeah.
Yes. I >> again on Maple Street Maple Street, we have the ability certainly the first two blocks to add sidewalks. The fourth block which is the dead end block, I just don't see the benefit of it. And the third block has sidewalk on
one side and um probably that's the way it's going to remain. But again, u there's no sidewalks on Gallows Hill. again at the at the neck when it necks down there's re it's really tight there. We're going to be literally 3 feet from the fence line
where our curb is. >> We could get a sidewalk in. So if you want sidewalks on the whole Garwood side, we can incorporate that in. >> I mean I'm I'm always a fan. So >> yeah, >> I don't know what everybody else feels, but if maybe we could put that in and maybe an al I don't know if you want to
put it as an alternate so we can see if we have enough. But >> I think I'll put I think the way I feel the costs are going to be I would think we can fund it within the grant. So if if you're desirous of it, we'll incorporate it on the Garwood side. >> Okay, >> maybe Cranford wants it on their side,
too. Let's see what the meeting holds. >> Okay, >> that sounds good. >> Anybody? >> That's what I had for you tonight. So that was >> Anybody? All right. Well, thank you. I appreciate that.
Okay, good stuff. All right. And Mr. Disco, you're welcome to head out. Thank you for staying through uh the presentation. >> It's always good to hear from RVSA. >> Uh report. >> Keep him honest. >> Yeah. Report from our bar administrator,
Mr. Arthur. >> Yes. Hello. Uh so on today's agenda, we'll see a resolution 26-55 which approves an extension to the shared court services agreement with Fanwood. Uh this extension is needed because the state's Department of Community Affairs changed the
requirements of Loop grants and will only consider grant applications for 5-year shared services agreements. Uh that being said, our contract does still have a 180day termination agreement in itality
ever needed to take uh to cancel. Uh shared service is going well so far. Uh to re to reiterate what we discussed last year when the shared court was approved, we anticipate approximately 5,000 to 10,000 in savings per year while also saving approximately 5 to
10,000 in police time. um police officers that would be covering court back on the road. When you add estimated savings of about 10,000 in staff time for administration, payroll, IT support, and other tasks, we can conclude that the burough will see about we say 15 to
20,000 of staff time gained as well as 5 to 10,000 in actual uh funding gained in our in our budget. So there also gains things like office space and we see small but harder to estimate savings for things like utilities. So I just want to
give an update on that and explain why we're extending the shared service already. And that's it for my report. >> Thank you. And that's it. Is that a a new requirement for the LEAP grants? I know Fanwood is the one that will be applying essentially on our behalf, but
so before that they were okay with three years and they changed it. I'm not sure like exactly when they changed them, but I know that they I think what happened is >> there were shared services happening that they were funding them through the leap grants and then the shared services would not last as long as they would like
>> and they were like why are we funding these if >> they're just going away a year or two later. So they they changed to five years and they're strict with it. We asked them can we asked them if there's other options and they said no. So, >> well,
small change. Okay, thank you. Um, I have a quick report for tonight. Um, so, uh, as everybody knows, we definitely took a walloping this week with the snow. Um, so, uh, first a big
thank you to the DPW for their efforts plowing us out from this storm. And thank you to all of our first responders for helping and keeping everyone safe. I know everybody's really tired of all the snow. Um, but I do appreciate all of our residents patience while we work to
continue removing it. Uh, the DPW obviously prioritizes se certain areas of the town, especially school areas, downtown intersections, central crosswalks, but they will be and have been, but they will continue to go steadily down their list uh, and going
back to certain areas as they get through the priorities uh, and make their way down. So, um I I appreciate the the patience. Um it it was an unprecedented amount, but I uh and I also uh appreciate everyone who helped their neighbors out. Heard lots of
stories about that. And thank you for helping clear your neighbors driveways and aprons. Please continue to check on your senior neighbors for any additional help they might need. Tomorrow night is the end of the basketball season.
Just want to take a moment to thank all of the amazing parent coaches. We very much appreciate you volunteering and making the season a success for the kids. And we are looking forward to the end of the season pizza celebration tomorrow. Um but I just wanted to give
uh Katya Lysk, our rec director, a thank you for all of her work on the basketball season, but also for all of our recreation events. Um as you may have noticed on our agenda, Katya is heading to another position. uh and we are sorely going to miss her. I'm not
sure if uh people realize just how much Katya has done here. Um not only with the recreation departments and managing the rec complex and turf fields, but with the holiday events, the summer camp, the seniors, clean communities, um
and she's also public information officer. So, she truly has her hands in every department and um in in every little piece of like what's going on in Garwood. So, she's I I sort of say she's everyone's right-hand woman. Um but we
wish her well and she leaves big shoes to fill. Next Wednesday, March 4th, please join me and our planning and redevelopment professionals for a town hall on redevelopment. We will be going into some detail on the latest fourth round of affordable housing and the
housing plan here in Garwood that we will be adopting uh as well as discussing the paperboard project. There will be an opportunity for residents to be able to ask their questions to our professionals as well. So the town hall will be at Lincoln School in the
cafeteria at 700 p.m. again March 4th. That is all from me. So we will move to comments from the council. Councilwoman Anna. Um I just want to reiterate um stocks thanks to all of our first responders
and to the DPW. Um I saw the um police out there clearing cars from the street with their silent and I think it worked because the car was able to clean up clean up the street pretty efficiently. I've been getting of updates about
continuing we saw uh the fire the excuse me the fire squad out there digging back yesterday so it has been a a very wide effort to me the snow so thank you thank
you councilwoman Bianca >> just like to say thank you to the first responders for getting us through this storm great job keep it up thank you >> councilwoman NDI And I'll join the everyone in joining uh the DPW for their phenomenal snow
cleanup as well as police and fire for all they do to keep us safe um in the in bad weather. Thank you. >> Uh Councilman Padusniaak, >> I'm taking this um but seriously to please follow DPW.
Thank you. It's it's been good. Councilman SA, >> I will join the chorus in thanking everyone that helped out with the storm, our first responders and our DPW for their hard work during that storm. Um, thanks.
>> Okay, Council President Bodto, Councilman, >> I also want to respond for the hard work. Um, I really to thank my neighbor Jackson. Um, it is the second time that he's
helped us out and um, you know, our driveway was totally totally packed and him and his son are just absolutely amazing going up and down third street cleaning the road. So, thank you to Jack Sullivan for this meet up. >> Nice shout out. >> Thank you.
>> Okay, minutes. Mr. Arthur >> to delay the meeting council held in February 12th, 2026. >> Do I have a motion to accept the >> served? >> Second. All >> communications.
>> Westfield Gen 2026-03 designating 625 Westfield Avenue historic landmark. Westfield Planning Board public notice reproposed amendment to round for housing element. Cranford public notice introduced ordinances 2026
202607 20260 affordable housing. Cranford public notice on adoption of amended 2025 housing element and fair share plan. >> Uh received and filed. Looks like we're all we're all doing the same thing. >> Yes, we are. Um, we have no ordinances
up for adoption tonight, but we do have a few for introduction. Mr. Arthur, can you read our ordinance 26-07 by title only? of the board council of the board of Garwood County of Union, New Jersey. Adopting the amended Garwood paperboard
red block 211 6-75 North Avenue pursuant to local redevelopment and housing law JSA4A 12A. >> Uh, do I have a motion to introduce this
ordinance? >> Second. >> Roll call, please. Councilman responsible. >> Hi. >> Counciloman Bogen. >> Hi. >> Councilman Petusak. Councilman Seka. >> Hi. >> Council President Bonoff.
>> Hi. >> Okay. Uh Mr. Arthur, can you read ordinance 26-08 by title only? bond ordinance to authorize the 2026 project and four of wood county view in
the state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of 530,000 to pay the cost thereof to appropriate a state grant to authorize the issuance of bonds to finance such appropriation and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds.
>> Do I have a motion to introduce this ordinance? So moved. Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councelor. >> Hi. >> Councelor Biano. >> Councelor Ben. >> Hi.
>> Hi. >> Council President Bodto. >> Okay. Ordinance 26-09. Can you read uh this ordinance by intro only? >> Sure. Amending
forward by amending chapter 134 entitled sewers on five industrial waste and fees subsection 134-15C. >> Do I have a motion to introduce this ordinance? >> Second. >> Roll call, please.
>> Counciloman. >> Councilwoman Blancco. >> Councilwoman Borden. I >> council councilman I >> council president vote >> I >> okay moving to council standing committee reports finance council
president Bodto >> thank you committee administrator and co uh we have concluded our meetings with department and we will continue in the next few weeks to discuss our our defend budgets
um okay fine Councilman Padusniaak, community development councilwoman Bianca. >> Thank you, Mayor. Community Development Committee met and review the proposed revisions to our bylaws. We had productive discussion
regarding potential updates and clarifications to ensure the bylaws accurately reflect our current structure and goals. We are continuing to work diligently on these revisions and will provide further updates as progress is made. This concludes my report for this evening. Thank you, Mayor.
>> Thank you. Public works Councilman Sera. >> Um, on top of their usual activities, DPW completes snow removal from the large snowstorm on the 23rd and the smaller snowstorm on the 25th. They are continuing snow removal operations as
needed. Uh, as a reminder, March 20th is the deadline for the April 6th bulk pickup. Thank you. >> Thank you, police. Councilwoman Nully, >> no report tonight. Thank you. >> Community engagement. Councilwoman Annarelli. Uh just quickly,
congratulations to um who participated in this basketball season. Um and enjoy your pizza party tomorrow. Um I also like to remind every adult ser is going to be held on March 11th um at the back. So you can sign up on go.com.
>> Thank you. Uh library councilwoman Noli. Thank you, mayor. So, I just want to highlight a few um in things that are going on in March at the library. March 1st through the 31st, there will be youth audit display. Celebrate youth art month by experiencing a vibrant showcase
of creativity from the talented students of Lincoln School in collaboration with Garwood GPAC. Stop by through March to support support our young artists and enjoy their inspiring work. um their regular activities such as knitting club uh story time with Miss
Mary and um um so highlight the founder this is on March 12th and 19th at 3 p.m. a book club uh on March 16th. This month's book is Homegoing.
Um adult game day, March 18th and 25th. March 18th at 3 p.m. is the Lego Club and March 18th at 700 p.m. Remember with Joel Farcus. This is in honor of Women's History Month. Joel will be discussing the roles women played in the
revolutionary and the library report. >> Thank you. Uh school board leazison council president boto the school board. No the students
jo um I'm unprepared. Yes. Thank you. March 19th. I apologize. I I really got involved with it. Thank you.
>> It's been a very busy week. Um I don't have any report for the seniors tonight. Uh small business councilwoman Biano. >> Okay. Board of Health Councilman SA. >> No report. >> And planning board Councilwoman Biano.
So, the planning board met yesterday, February 25th, and conducted a public hearing regarding an amendment to the Burough's master plan. The board held a public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Burough's master plan through adoption of the amended fourth housing
element fair share plan. The plan was prepared by Michael Mr P of Harbor Consultants. The amendment addresses the borrower's affordable housing obligations and outlines the framework for meeting the fourth round requirements. Following the public hearing, the board took action to adopt
the proposed amendment. The board also conducted a preliminary review of the 2026 circulation element and master plan. They also prepared also prepared by the harbor consultants. The element evaluates traffic patterns, road classifications, pedestrian
connectivity, and long-term transportation planning within the burrow. A formal public hearing on the circulation element is scheduled for March 25th, 2026 planning board meeting. We also heard an application. The application case PB25-06
for 400 Spruce Avenue. That would be block 407 lot 16 located in an RA zone, which is a single family zone. The applicant is seeking relief from section 106-91C2A
to permit a 13.9 ft front yard setback where 25 ft is required. The board reviewed the application and her testimony regarding the requested variance and the next meeting will be held March 11th, 2026. That's all, mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Okay, moving on to public comment. If there's anyone in the audience who wishes to address the council, please step to the microphone, state your full name and address, and please limit your comments to five minutes. Okay. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um, as you know, I'm Bill Nerstead, 320
Hickory Avenue. Um, I'm going to read very quickly because within five minutes, it's difficult for me to read all this, but I think it's very important. Um, first off, I want to recognize the mayor and council and Harvard consultants for all the work that I know you did because being involved in redevelopment plans myself,
I I know it's involved and I appreciate uh how much you actually had to give on on this situation. So, uh, I want to indicate that I appreciate your time and expertise. I also need to specifically state that I'm here as a citizen and a licensed professional planner who has
reviewed dozens of uh, redevelopments. I am not here uh, nor do I represent the planning board. Uh I'm not here as a planning board member. I do not represent the planning board at all. Um I also do recognize that the public
hearing the second uh the public hearing on the redevelopment of paper board, okay, is not until two weeks. But um I'm also well aware of the requirements between first and second reading and uh when you can speak. And I also recognize uh after being after participating in so
many public hearings myself that the time of a second reading on a on an ordinance it's difficult to make changes. So, I want to read these recommended changes to you upfront in the hopes that perhaps for the next two weeks, you can think about some of these
uh discuss them with the uh whoever you have to discuss them with and um try to incorporate what can be done uh before you actually adopt and have the second adopted before you have the second hearing. I'm sorry, before you have the second reading and adopt the ordinance. So, I apologize. I'm going to read very
quickly. Okay. Uh, number one, I'm disappointed the plan requires the bureau to issue a CO even if the Hawk signal device is not installed. I understand it requires Union County approval, but I encourage council to add a statement in the redevelopment plan. The bureau is holding something back,
some escrow dollars at minimum to ensure that the developer does indeed install the hawk signal. Two, nowhere does the plan state that the existing six-foot chain link fences to be removed. That should be added. Number three, permitted accessory uses. signage is not a use and
it should be removed. If it's not going to be removed, it should add add walkways. Four, I'm disappointed that the front yard setback um has an outright permitted deviation. I'm not sure if everyone understands what the co what the statute, I'm sorry, what the
plan actually says. Um rather than leaving the front yard setback at 20 ft, the plan actually requires we're granting a variance through this redevelopment plan um right up front. So what I mean is that the while the minimum front yard setback requirement
is 20 ft 260 ft or 20% is allowed by the plan. The plan actually permits it. I would ask that the council reconsider that and leave the bulk standards to the planning board. Five. Uh while the plan requires
that an outdoor public area be provided by in by the public uh by the public building. Um, the plan does not require the developer to place a single bench, shaded area, water fountain, or anything in it. I do not want the council to design the public area. I do ask council
to amend the plan to require that the developer be required to provide the site furnishings in that area, not the barrel. Uh, section 3.2b, uh, please add that the redeveloper has to comply with section 130 of the barrel code, which you might have guessed is
the shade tree standards. Seven, the site is located next to the railroad tracks. Yet, the plan does not require screening of the railroad tracks from the development. Again, I do not want council to design this screening, but I do ask that the council amend the plan to state that the enhanced evergreen and
that enhanced evergreen and shade tree comprehensive planting plan be planted to screen the development appropriately. Eight, bedroom distribution. The plan does not require any one-bedroom, two-bedroom split. Uh the plan does not require does not place a maximum of
singlebedroom units on the site. So it could be all >> one. Thank you. It could be all single bedrooms. If we're going to have a community here, a minimum number or or a ratio of one to two bedrooms should be in the plan. Number nine, it's great and I appreciate the fact that the plan uh
has green building technologies throughout it. Um but I don't see any place in the plan where they're actually required to install. strongly encouraged and recommended, but they're not required to install anything green technology. I would ask that this council consider requiring it. Number
10, I'd like to see some kind of timeline requirement placed in this plan. We all know what happened last time. Uh I think we need to do something. Last but not least, and this is standard in all redevelopment plans, that if something is is from a design perspective is not in not addressed in
the redevelopment plan, that the existing land use ordinance be the controlling document. That's standard in every redevelopment plan I've ever looked at. This plan does not contain that paragraph. Which means, for instance, lighting. Just take lighting as one. There's no standard in the
redevelopment plan for lighting. And I submit to you that the council should amend the plan to indicate that statement. >> Your time is up, Mr. N. >> And that statement that if it's not in the redevelopment plan, the land use ordinance >> time is up. Thank you.
Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council? Uh good evening, mayor, ladies and gentlemen of the council, Bruce Patterson, 325 Willow Avenue. Uh just a bunch of items. Uh 26
09, I think it was 09. It was the sewer fee uh resolution, I guess, for the public. Could you explain that if there's dollars involved, but explain to the public what is it? You know, since we're going to be paying it. Um, oh, there's
thank yous going around for the uh for the blizzard uh work. I want to I want to go out of my way and thank Carl Goodyear of Willow Avenue, the 300 block of Willow Avenue. Every snowstorm, he has a little mobile uh snowblower. And he goes up and down both sides of the
300 block of Willow. That's where I live. And I appreciate it. I offer him money. He always turns it down. But he does that. He gets up early, does the sidewalks, and he's so I'm I'm saying thank you very much, Carl, wherever you
may be. Um, just for uh information, Chief Pride is here, but anyway, how many tickets were given out for the uh parking in the during the blizzard on the streets? The court shared service.
Uh the BA mentioned, yeah, it was it was odd. I couldn't understand really what he's saying, but he's saying we're going to end up with 15 to $20,000 savings and then he mentioned about 5,000 or something. I I don't understand what exactly uh what savings is actually
going to impact our budget and I would assume it's it up um in the papers services and they stated $50,000. So, how come we're only getting 155 to $20,000 savings? They got 50,000. Maybe
you don't know. You know, that's all right. You can pass on that one. The uh Yeah, this amendment, you know, and I'm glad Bill's pointing out the possible flaws in the amendment that need to be rectified before the final reading. I'm
just wondering about the uh public room and the public parking. How is that being handled? Um, is it actually some kind of dedicated lease or a portion is going to be broken out and given to the municipality because it seems like if it's not five years down the down, you
know, down the time, they'll just close the building on us. Uh, also, and Mr. Barley brought this up yesterday in planning board. I don't know if it's part of the amendment, but he says he says don't let the developers charge for
parking if they build any uh parking lots or garages. And I believe on that I don't know if that can go into the amendment. Uh a couple couple other items and and at at the planning board I mentioned to Steve Green and you were standing there and I said, "Yeah, I will uh talk to the mayor council over, but
can you have four other uh ordinances for the other affordable housing properties? Can the and Oh, yeah. And the regular zoning was imposed on them, which was a 10-foot front setback. Developers have a habit. They see 10
foot, they build right up to the 10 foot, and so there's no room really in front to the street. So, I'm just wondering, can the mayor and council override uh the bulk minimums and maxs that are in these uh resolutions or ordinances?
And if it says 10T, can you change it to 20 foot? And let the developer when he proposes uh his development come in front and ask uh to decrease it. At least you'll have a yes or no um choice to give them. Um
Oh, yeah. The intersections. Yeah. Oh, the circulation plan. I did mention 64 intersections. There's actually 70 intersections in our town right now. county, there's about 18 to 20 traffic control devices, which is
about 30% of these intersections. And and in the circulation plan, they're actually uh recommending additional traffic controlling devices like four-way stop signs, additional LED lights. I don't know. I mentioned at the planning board that we're really I mean,
as much as we're trying, we're not going to really stop this traffic. I mean, Bill does have uh reasonable ideas about trying to get mass transit, but human nature as it is. I kind of understand it's not workable. Much like the plot of the planners or traffic experts say, you
make a wider road, still fills up with traffic. Uh last item is the pilots. I've mentioned this before. Uh after the lawsuit, it came through Harvard Consultants had a a design standard sheet and item number 12, it says, "The settlement agreement with paperboard
also includes consideration for a pilot for the additional units of the entire project." My question is, what does that word consideration mean? I mean, is it a legal word? Could somebody at least define what consideration means? Is it
being imposed on the project? Is it just being considered during some kind of negotiation? >> One minute. >> If somebody could actually talk about that, I guess that's all. Uh, yeah. Oh, yeah. The scary part that from the planning board that came out after
that lawsuit, 30 units were added to the round four paper board project and six and six affordable housing units. And I asked, I said, 'Well, if you're adding 30 units somewhere and six affordable housing units,
what is being decreased on the four other properties that are targeted for the affordable housing program? Um, Gabe of Harvard Consultants said, "Well, no, we haven't we haven't used up the affordable housing." So, >> 10 seconds.
>> So, so this is scary because something sounds like out there that there could be a lot more units being built in Garwood. We already we're already being overwhelmed by these units and the ones that are targeted and there's a lot more units obviously out there. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council? >> Okay. Um Mr. Nerst, thank you for your list of items. I we will take them back to our uh redevelopment attorney and redevelopment planner. I want to point
out something though. This was a crunched process as everybody knows. We have to approve adopt I should say these ordinances that you'll see at the next uh council meeting and this plan by
March 15th which means March 12th um at our council meeting. So while there was a done on this, as you said, most of this plan is from 2018 and the additional things that were in it were from this
new settlement agreement um that came about that we you the courts forced us to to change. Um the timing on it to go back and amend all of this in between. I'm I'm assuming and we'll have to talk to our
redevelopment attorney. Changing anything as significant as this would require a new reintroduction. And which point Mr. Abramson's shaking his head. Yes. So, and at which point we then would not be able to adopt it in time. And then, as you heard at the planning board meeting last night, if it's not
adopted in time, we are not compliant with the state. At which point, a builder can come in and file a builder's remedy lawsuit. any builder, but also garden homes with paperboard. So, the plan is,
as was explained last night by the chair and Gabe from Harbor Consultants, these need to essentially be adopted for formality sake. That does not mean, however, that we cannot go backward.
So I want the public to know I want you know I everybody up here knows we can go and abandon a lot of these items that Mr. Nerstet listed would require a nice conversation with garden homes as well and as we know that can be a timely uh situation back
and forth. So to do something like that would require a lot more time that unfortunately with the state we don't have. We have to send these in. However, in 2018, this redevelopment plan was amended, I know, at least once after it
was uh introduced. Maybe it was twice. I can't even remember. Looks like twice. I got the two of them out in the audience. So, it is not to say that this won't be amended again. However, I just I don't want anybody to think that um anything
is the table necessarily, but there would have to be further discussions that would a lot more time than we have. So my and I think um we will hear from uh
ourselves on council is to adopt these so that we can send them into the state and then if we would like to continue looking at various things or things come up um we can amend. And that is also the
case with the the ordinances that you'll see um on the March 12th meeting. Now, Mr. Patterson mentioned the 10-ft setback for those ordinances that you'll um
you'll see in uh on March 12th. Sorry, there's a lot of stuff here. Um, again, those were bulk ordinances and as Gabe from our planner said last night, any redevelopment agreement trumps an
ordinance. So, for instance, this has a 20 foot setback in in paper board. So, it would trump any ordinance that said 10 ft. The same will be with any those ordinances involve redevelopment areas
in town um that were will be set by the plan. Any redevelopment agreement that we enter into any redevelopment plan that we enter into with a developer what goes into that willide the ordinances. And so if we decide that
we want a 20 foot and we manage to negotiate that with the developer that would override it anyway. These were just bulk setbacks. It was impossible as as the planner said they're all different areas that you you
know each area might require different setbacks. Each plan might require different setbacks. These were just the standard. So that's why you see 10 ft. So, it's not so much that the council can override it whether we could or not. It it's that
a we need to meet the deadlines. B these were just standard ordinances and c the redevelopment agreements that we would enter into uh or plans that we would enter into with the developer would override them anyway. So, it would null
and void that. Anyway, I hope that makes sense. If you listen to the planning board meeting last night, Gabe uh probably said it a lot better than I did, but um we did talk about that. Um in terms of let me uh miss turn it to
Mr. Arthur if you want to talk about the sore industrial rate. >> Yeah. So the industrial industrial rate is just a it doesn't impact the residents at all because it is an industrial rate. It's only for the industrial sewers. Um,
yeah, that's pretty much that. >> Mr. Disco, >> yes. >> Um, >> Chief, can you come up and talk to the tickets during the blizzard? >> This time there was just 15 cars that didn't move, so they were issued. And
then just two more that didn't move it after 48 hours. So, those were issued, too. So, 17 total. >> Yes. Total 15 for the three inches and then two more didn't move for over 48 hours so we gave them additional tickets
everybody move now >> thank you uh the shared service Mr. Arthur, do you want to explain again? There was quantitative, there was quant like there's there's an amount you're save, there's an amount of quality time that
isn't as easy to, you know, down to the penny, but there's estimates and also we were already saving verse Fanwood because we were sharing that court administrator. So that savings is already still there as well. >> Yeah. So that's on top of the savings
from the court administrator $5 to $10,000 worth of savings in our budget. The other figures I was sharing were basically savings in time staffing. So when I say we save approximately 5 to$10,000 worth of police time, we're
actually getting that money back. What we are getting is that equivalent of time with police officers back on the road as opposed to being in the courts. Similarly with administrative costs, those are that's gaining our time back
to the tune of approximately $10,000. Um, as for life saving a lot more, they were spending a lot more. So when you bring those averages together to share it, their average came down a lot
further, whereas ours came down a little less. So >> didn't they switch judges now though, too? switch judges >> significantly more than ours paying they were let's say this theirs judge's salary was a lot higher than our judge's
salary so that counts for a lot of it >> I think that gave him a huge savings >> so then they they're now using the judge that we we had >> yes and that was true for a number of things that again when you take the two put them together and average them down
there their average is here or they start here we start here the average still brings us both But they go further down than we do. >> I think we said from the beginning the the savings wasn't, you know, dollars and cents in this one. There's there is some and it will acrue
more as the years go on as we don't have to pay these, you know, salaries and we're just paying the fee, you know, even though the fee goes up a percentage, we're still going to end up saving more dollars and cents as the year go years go on. However, the
efficiencies were really what drove us and especially drove us to share it in that location so that we would have more room. We wouldn't have parking issues on the Mondays. Of course, we there was just quality uh of uh work environment
type situations and and you know ease of work here that would help. So shared services aren't I I don't think are necess and we do but we had started that big savings a couple years ago with the court administrator. This just created a
more efficient uh situation for Garwood. Um especially with our police and the and the space here at Burough Hall. Um so to me it it is kind of a win-win since court is virtual 95% of of the time. So
>> and I actually want to point out to I'm thankful to family in a number of ways but for example the court administrator paying a little bit less than 50% of that person's salary and benefits but we were getting 50% of their time. So family's been a really good partner through all these things and them saving
a little bit more on this while we were able to save a little bit more on other is I think it just a good partnership in that way. something. >> Um and I think uh the last thing is the pilot. Um consideration means and what every town, not every town does it, but
we do it. Um which is a good thing. We have a financial consultant go over the numbers and ensure that a pilot is necessary. Um at the town hall, you will hear um we've been working with uh NW
Financial, Mike Hanley. He will be there and we'll go over a lot of this, but he will show you how they analyze these projects to determine a if a pilot is necessary um because of the various costs that go
into it. and that he he he will I I know what how he shows it and he he will do a very good job in in explaining how um they go about analyzing that to to help a town determine if they should uh grant
a pilot or not. So he is doing that with the paper board. He has done that with the paper board and he will be showing uh some of that at the town hall. So stay tuned. Um, all right. I think that's it. I think I'm got through with all those
questions. If I didn't, please feel free to email Mr. Arthur or myself. Um, consent agenda. Anybody have anything they need to remove? I never closed it.
We we we kind of closed it. Can I have a motion to close public comment? So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> unless anybody else still wants to talk. >> Consent agenda. Anybody have anything
they want to remove? Okay. Can I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Annawi.
>> Hi. >> Councilwoman Dalco. Hi, >> Councilwoman. >> Hi, >> Councilman Biz. Councilman Seka. >> Hi, >> Council President. >> Hi. >> Okay. Uh, moving right along to payment of
claims. Mr. Arthur, >> that the filing claims is the same or hereby signed and verified and the payment of payables as listed is hereby confirmed and ratified. >> Adopt payments. Do I have a motion to
adopt payment of claims? >> Served. >> Second. >> Uh, roll call, please. >> Counciloman, >> I. >> Councilomano, >> I. >> Counciloman, >> I. >> Counciloman. >> Council Serena. >> Hi. >> Council President Bo.
>> Okay. The regular meeting of the council will be held Thursday, March 12th, 2026 at 7 p.m. in council chambers. Information for meetings is posted on the borrow website. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second.
>> All in favor? I >> opposed. All right. Thank you everybody. >> Hey Chase. Chase. >> Oh, it takes two seconds. >> That's okay. >> You had it.
>> It's just the meeting day. You stick around too. I got to get you. >> My signature print signature address. >> Good night everybody. >> Good night. >> Nobody's prime.