paper. >> What? Zoom. >> Do it with Zoom on YouTube or not? >> Uh, no. That that part's free. Pay for Zoom. It's is not. But the YouTube part is free though. >> That's true.
>> All right, we are live and good to go. Oh, >> I see the Yes. >> Make it full screen. >> Sorry. >> Oh yeah. Welcome everybody. If I could ask everybody to please stand for a moment
of silence. United States of America for it stands nation for all. >> Adequate notice of his 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 PL1 1975.
BL2025C72 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 burough website under the section titled Garwood legal notices. Roll call, please.
>> Madame Mayor here, Councilwoman Anelli >> here. Councilwoman Biano >> here. >> Councilwoman Ni here. >> Counciloman Paduzia >> here. >> Councilman Sera >> here. Council President Bodto >> here. Roll call of staff and professionals please. Mr. John Arthur,
burrow administrator >> here. >> Mr. Adam Abramson, burough attorney >> here. >> Chief John Pretty, police department >> here. >> Okay, we will move right along to our reports from our borrow attorney. >> Uh, nothing needs to report.
>> Thank you. Report from our borrow administrator. >> Right. Hello everyone. So on tonight's agenda, you will see the introduction of the 2026 budget. I want to again thank Garwood's CFO Sandy Bruns, the finance committee, uh, and all department heads for their work on this budget. And if
anyone wants more information about the budget, you can, of course, view the special budget presentation video on our YouTube channel. It was just two days ago, so it's it's there now live and uh well, not live, it was live. And the slides from that presentation are available on garwick.org. Uh, this
agenda tonight also includes ordinance 26-11 establishing a cap bank. Um, the cap bank ordinance was described by our CFO at that meeting on April 7th, but I'm just going to recap her or summary for anyone who wasn't there. The cap bank ordinance is a budget tool authorized by state law. There are two
different caps that municipal budgets are subject to an appropri appropriations cap and a tax levy cap. Municipalities are only allowed to increase budget appropriations with some exceptions by 2.5% or the cost of living rate, whichever is lower. Passing a cap
bank ordinance allows the municipality to increase appropriations up to 3.5% and bank any unused portion for use in the next two budget years. The balance is not cumulative. So, the ordinance should be adopted each year to maintain a cap bank balance because as one year
drops off, another year is added. This ordinance allows a municipality to meet its cap obligations in a year where raising the appropriations over the cap limit is necessary or needed, but also has a new revenue to offset that increase, thereby limiting any potential tax impact. The cap bank is a budgeting
tool for planning purposes only and does not authorize any spending. Just because the cap bank allows for a potential increase over the limit, it does not mean that the increase will be used, but it is beneficial to have it available just in case it is needed. Municipalities are still limit by
limited by a 2% levy cap which is more restrictive than the appropriations cap. And then resolution 2680 authorizes the tax assessor and tax appeal attorney to file counter claims to tax appeals. This is just um something that our tax bill
attorney requests us to pass every year that gives them that authority. It's kind of just a standard um resolution that we have to pass. That is it from our board. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Anybody have any questions for Mr. have a little something. Uh, first I want to thank all of the recreation
committee volunteers and council president Bodto and Councilwoman Nuli for all they did to put on a great egg hunt uh for the children in Garwood the other week. Uh, it may have been freezing. It was freezing, but that didn't stop the kids from having a very good time uh, seeing the Easter Bunny
and dancing to music from Alan Keith Entertainment. Um, and a big thank you to the DPW for all the work they did for that big day. Next week is local government week where we highlight some of the fantastic committees and departments that make up our town. Monday, the senior department
is hosting their senior walk. Tuesday, students and government night in conjunction with the Lincoln School Student Council. Wednesday, the green team is doing a spruce up at Unami Park. On Thursday, we will have a speaker at the library hosted by the Rev 250
committee, and this will be about Union County's part in the Revolutionary War. Uh, and on Friday, there will be coffee with a cop from with our police department. We will wrap up on Saturday with clean communities hosting their bi-annual litter cleanup. So, I hope to
see everybody at one or maybe more of the activities and of course invite all of our elected officials to join me. Also, um we will be celebrating Earth Day on April 22nd by touring UNAMI Park and learning about the reforestation and
reing project uh and the progress to date in the park. Visitors are welcome to join the UNAMI forest people and other community volunteers who will be working to create a new meadow. Efforts include weeding and covering the area with cardboard and organic mulch to
prepare for fall native flower planting. So, there will be two sessions, one at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and one at 3 to 4:30 p.m. And finally, on tonight's agenda, you will find resolution 26-87, recognizing
April 24th as Arbor Day. uh recognizing and celebrating Arbor Day here in Garwood is not only a part of our efforts to be certified as a tree city, but it's an important way we can show our commitment to Garwood sustainability uh as we continue to improve our tree
canopy. So, I hope uh my fellow colleagues up here will vote for this resolution in support of those needs. Moving to comments from the council, Councilwoman Annelli, >> uh there are no comments from you tonight. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Bianca.
>> No comments. >> Councilwoman Delt, >> I just have a reminder that the Garwood Partnership for Arts and Culture will be hosting our third annual poetry festival taking place the weekend of April 25th and 26th in celebration of National Poetry Month. There will be two poetry
readings, one at the Garwood Library for all audiences and one at the Crossroads for adults. The event at the crossroads is made possible in part by a heart grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners and a full line of poets reading at the crossroads will be posted soon. In preparation for the
festival, GPAC is asking local poets to submit their poems to be invited to participate in the poetry reading at the Garwood Public Library on April 25th at 11:00 a.m. Poems should be submitted to myself, Councilwoman Noli, at cold@garwood.org. And the due date for all poetry
submissions is April 17th. And that's all for my comments tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman Padusniaak. >> I just want to encourage everyone to, as the mayor did earlier, come out on Thursday of next week, the 16th, to hear
the Red 250 speaker at 7 p.m. And to let everyone know that, uh, as has been announced on our Facebook page already, there is a scavenger hunt starting on the 13th. Um, families will be asked to go around find QR codes throughout the town and answer questions related to the
revolution. Um, those who do so successfully will have their names put into a raffle with a drawing on the 23rd for three $50 Visa gift cards. So, come and have fun. >> That was a great idea. Councilman, >> no problem.
>> Council President Bodto. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, just one note. You will see on today's agenda resolution 2679 authorizing the introduction of the 2026 operating budget. I welcome all the discussions at a special budget meeting
on Tuesday and once again thank my fellow committee members and professional staff. As per stated this was a rigorous and careful endeavor and I hope council will vote in favor. Thanks. >> Thank you. Uh minutes please. Miss
>> minutes of the regular meeting of the mayor and council held on March 26, 2026. Do I have a motion to accept the regular meeting minutes as presented? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed.
Okay. Uh we have one ordinance up for adoption tonight. Um, Kota, can you please read ordinance 26-10 by title only? An ordinance amending the burough code of the burrow of Garwood by amending chapter 126 entitled Parks,
Facilities, Playgrounds, and Recreation, Article 1, Use of Parks, Facilities, and Playgrounds, subsection 126-4, Prohibited Activities. Okay. Uh, and do we have any correspondence concerning this
ordinance? No, mayor. Um, we will move to the public hearing for this for ordinance 26-10. If anybody wishes to be heard concerning this ordinance, please uh step up to address the merit council and limit your comments to 5 minutes. >> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Bruce
Patterson, 325 Avenue. Uh this is amending a uh ordinance without prohibit activities uh for the record and also for the viewers what exactly is going on here through you to the attorney I guess
to explain what the prohibited prohibited activities are. Thank you. >> Thank you. Does anybody else wish to address the mayor council? >> Seeing none, can I have a motion to close public hearing? >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? I
>> opposed. Any discussion for someone on council? >> Uh Mr. Abramson, do you want to just review what this ordinance or Mr. Arthur can >> I don't have it on me, but it's where ebikes. >> Yeah. So, we're just updating the code.
Um, currently we don't allow um like scooters and bikes I guess on the park property and we're just updating it to include uh ebikes essentially and scooters. >> Yes. >> On a rec complex uh particularly but park and park as well um just
prohibiting the ebike traffic. >> Okay. Uh do I have a motion to adopt this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Second. Welcome, please. >> Councilwoman Inelli, >> hi. >> Councilwoman Bianca, >> hi. >> Councilwoman Noli,
>> hi. >> Councilman Puzzia, >> hi. >> Councilman SA, >> hi. >> Council President B. >> Hi. >> And we have one ordinance up for introduction. Um, can you please read ordinance 26-11
by title only? This is for calendar year 2026 ordinance to establish a cath bank. Thank you. Do we have a motion to introduce this ordinance? >> Second.
>> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Anarelli. >> Hi, >> Councilwoman Biano. >> Hi. >> Councilwoman Ni. >> Hi. >> Councilman Padusia. >> Hi. >> Councilman Sera. >> Hi. >> Council President Bodto. >> Hi. >> Okay. Moving to our committee reports.
Uh, finance council president Vodto. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, no report. >> You said it all. >> Fire. Councilman Padusniaak. >> No report. Mayor, >> community development. Councilwoman Biano. >> No report.
>> Public works. Councilman Sera. In addition to their normal duties, uh, DPW completed installation of cleanup after your pet signs through the town assistance and setup for setup and cleanup of the Easter egg hunt. Uh, a
stone pad installation at the recycling center for police department storage. Uh, and they've begun preparing the streetside flower pots for spring planting. Uh in addition, sorry,
uh seasonal grass and brush pickup uh will take place every Wednesday in accordance with the annual public work schedule. Residents are remind are reminded that materials must be placed in biodegradable bags or open containers for pickup. Materials placed in plastic
bags are not accepted and will not be picked up. In addition, brush must not exceed 4 feet in length and must be tied up in manageable bundles for it to come. >> Thank you. >> Um, you know, actually, I think it's a good idea if maybe we ask our our new
public information officer to put up a post about that on our socials. Just reminding everybody now that we're in the season. Thank you. Um, police Councilwoman Nully. >> Thank you, Mayor. The Garwood Police
Department has recorded 2,657 calls during the month of March 2026. These calls include 472 motor vehicle stops, 72 parking complaints, 155 fixed tech traffic posts which is radar stop sign and distracted driving,
356 building or property tracks, 37 medical assists, 93 community policing posts, 69 walking posts, 31 suspicious persons or vehicles investigated, 34 criminal investigations, 19 motor
vehicle crash, crashes and four driving while intoxicated arrests. In addition, the Garwood Police Department would like to thank the United States Deputy Sheriff's Association for donating 10 Stop the Bleed kits. These kits will be placed in all patrol vehicles and medical bags to
ensure quick access in emergency situations. We also extend our gratitude to Maverick's Legacy, who visited headquarters to share the story of the tragic loss of their five-month-old son due to a choking accident and generously donated six life back choking devices.
These devices will also be stored in patrol vehicles and medical bags should they be needed. Uh, as far as training, during the month of Mar month of March, all members of the Garwood Police Department participated in one of two annual rifle familiarization trainings.
These sessions consist of hands-on live fire rifle training to maintain and enhance officer proficiency. Officers Shukai and Matos attended a moto motor vehicle search and seizure master class as well as a document fraud
course. These trainings help officers stay upto-date on current case law and improve their ability to identify fraudulent documents such as insurance cards, driver's license, passports, and more. In other updates, as a reminder, the department is participating in the put
the phone away or pay campaign through the month of April. This initiative focuses on in enforcing distracted driving laws. Please remember that using a phone or other distractions while driving is not only illegal, but also dangerous. With warmer weather approaching, there has been an increase
in bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles. We encourage everyone to remain alert and look out for one another to help ensure the safety throughout the community. And there is something else that I have prepared to say today as well. Um,
in addition to the chief's report, the police committee also received the extensive arrest reports made since January and it is clear that Chief Py's police department is proactive. This record of arrests shows that they are safely apprehending and processing
persons suspected of crimes. According to the record, a total of 32 arrests were made with many officers having made multiple arrests. Some 37% of those arrests were made by officer Shakai. I would like to shout out officer Shakai who incidentally was a
recruit of the police academy. Additionally, I would like to bring a capital request made by the police department to the attention of the council. Chief Pride is in strong favor of purchasing a plate reader, as are Councilman Padusniaak and myself, both members of the police committee, since
one uh the one that they formerly used is no longer operable. A plate reader is a valuable tool that can have a real impact on solving crimes in our town. If driving through a parking lot or down a street, it will scan the license plates and then later, if the police receive a
report of shoplifting in that area, the plate reader will allow the officers investigating to enter the database and search for a partial plate or search by the make, model, or color of the car reported, even if they don't have the plate. It also connects the officer to the rest
of the plate readers in the state to be able to identify and locate the vehicle. It is especially helpful in identifying expired registrations, suspended registrations, or if the registered owner has a suspended driver's license, or a warrant. It also alerts the officer
if a license plate or vehicle in the vicinity of the reader is reported stolen, which I don't need to remind the council is a growing problem across our area. I support the inclusion of the plate reader in the capital budget and I hope the council will support it as well since it is an invaluable tool for the
police to use as they continue proactive policing and investigation of crimes occurring in our burough. And that's all for my report. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. I know that we will be discussing capital at the uh next meeting and I know that finance has already begun discussions on the police
request, so I'm sure they'll be bringing forth their recommendations. Did you mind? >> Yeah, I just wanted to say that I am also part of the police committee and I never voice whether I support it or not. It's part of finance and we will be discussing it. >> Okay.
Um community engagement council woman. Oh, and I would like to just do a shout out then to uh officer Shukai. That's pretty amazing stuff. >> She she she is amazing. >> Yeah. But to the whole department, um
those are some great stats overall. uh community engagement. Councilwoman Anna, >> thanks Mar. Um thank you to everyone who uh planned, set up, and participated in the Garwood Easter egg hunt. Unfortunately, I couldn't join due to a
wedding. Um but I heard it was a cold but fun uh day and um I appreciate DPW's help in in setting everything up and taking everything down. Um exciting news for summer. So, Garwood uh Wreck Summer
Camp is officially up for registration. It will run from June 29th to August 7th. It's open to kids entering grades 1 through 8. And this year, uh camp will be open to residents and non-residents.
Early bird resident pricing is $135 per child until May 22nd. So, make sure to register as soon as you can. There's still time to register also for the youth cheer and dance and youth soccer clinics which will be starting up on April 25th. Both will take place on
Saturday mornings at the wreck. And don't forget to register for the youth computer coding classes which will be held on Friday evening starting on April 17th at the Wreck. This will be open to third through 8th graders. Turning to our adult activities or I should say activity. Adult ceramics class will be
held on this coming Wednesday, April 15th at the rec complex. Register for these programs and more at garwoodre.com. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh library councilwoman. >> I just want to highlight a couple of things that are going on at the library.
Coming up April 16th at 7 p.m. The American Revolution in Union County, New Jersey. Join John Prescott from the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs as he discusses significant Revolutionary War events that took place in Union County. Also,
the aforemented aforementioned Garwood poetry festival, April 25th at 11:00 am. That's a Saturday. It's going to bring together some of Garwood's best poets. Enjoy live art, meet local artists, and immerse yourself in the beauty of language. For a full list of goings on
at the library, please visit the Garwood Library website at garwoodpl.org. That's all. >> Thank you. Uh, school board council president Boda. >> Thank you, Mayor. No report. The next meeting is on April 21st. Okay.
>> Uh for the senior citizens club at our meeting on April 2nd, we were treated to lunch by Doulies in Westfield uh with funeral director Ronnie Tomb stopping to talk uh about advanced funeral planning and answer questions about the process. Jesse Hines from the Hines Law Group
also stopped by to talk about elder law and estate planning. Um, and so I want to thank them on behalf of the members for coming to the meeting and providing this important information. Our next meeting is next Thursday, April 16th at 12 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus. Uh,
small business advisory councilwoman Bianca, no report. >> Board of Health Laza, >> no report. >> Planning board leazison, Councilwoman Bianca, >> no report, but our next meeting is on the 22nd. >> Um, I I do I just have something to say.
Um I said there was no report on finance but actually we set up a meeting this afternoon. So the next finance meeting committee will be April 16. >> Terrific. Um no officers reports tonight. So we will move 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. Donnie Pard 41 Darwin. Three things I must say. We must back
our police officers and firefighters and rescue squad personnel. Even though fire our firefighters and rescue squad personnel are all volunteers, we pay our police officers to protect us. And they do. They do. So do our volunteer
firefighters and rescue squad personnel. They serve us day in and day out. They're the ones you can count on when going gets rough. when you have an emergency, they'll be there
because they have that I'll be there never you fear kind of attitude that serves us well. Abolishing police departments, abolishing fire departments and abolishing risk was is not the answer and mark well to say ladies and
gentlemen should never be the answer. The second point is we must back our military personnel, especially the those who are in harm's way. We failed to do so during the war in
Vietnam. During that time, three of Garwood's sons had lost their lives. And it teased me off when they when they call our soldiers Nazis, murderers, and baby killers.
But those three men from guards of servant mom were killed in action there. They were our heroes and they gave their all for all of us. They loved us so
every day in a 100 ways. They told us so. and honesty and affection. They called us so. They loved us so
every day in a 100 ways. They showed us so. With loyalty and bravery they showed us so. They were our defenders and they kept us
free. They took an oath to go and fought for liberty. They love us so and we should know for we love them so.
And finally, ladies and gentlemen, we must pressure the state legislature to reopen some closed hospitals such as Muenberg. What if an 911 attack occurs? Now, I pretty say that they doesn't have it
again. But if it does, we'll need those hospitals very, very badly. The sooner we activate hospitals like Genberg, the better off we all will be. Do I make myself clear? Thank you ladies and gentlemen.
>> Thank you Mr. Pictur. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the man council step to the microphone? >> Good evening mayor and ladies and gentlemen. Council Bruce 325 Middle Avenue. Uh my usual question in the
first meeting of the month is how many downtown parking tickets were given out this past month. Uh also I had a chance to review uh the handouts of the budget and and also I was there at the presentation. Thank you for everybody who put together the uh budget for the
public to understand. So but uh questions come out of it. On the uh revenue side, uh capital surplus anticipated there's a line item last year is actually zero, but the year before it was around 25
grand and so now it's not listed anymore. So I guess that shifted as sales as to revenue. Uh also the shared service with Craford, that line item was missing. Last year it was 25 grand. So I'm just wondering what happened to that
line item. Uh, and as I mentioned before, the the surplus that the surplus went from 1.1 million to 1.4, which is an increase of $320,000. Uh, in five years, the surplus did go up 31%. So, actually, it sounds like we
really aren't spending what we are budgeting. So, uh, if anything's we should be addressing the expenditures or the appropriations a little better, uh, in the hopes of decreasing our property taxes, which seem to go up every year.
Uh, in 2025, the surplus was around 200 grand. It went up and now it's going up 320. So, so it's nice we're acrewing it, but I think we're going overboard only because the surplus now is around 12% of
the budget. uh the uh taxes taxes in the last five years have gone up 20% now uh and and that's even including $1.1 million in the added revenues of the pilot which is amazing uh the V1 pilot
speaking about that that that went down I did ask a question and Sandy said that it was trueing up which I really didn't understand what that word is about but what it sounds like is that I guess Vermela gave us an
advance last year and now we're paying it back. If that is the case, something tells me that there should be a separate line item about the advance and then of course the payback in the budget, but it wasn't. It just was one line that said down $70,000.
Um, I'm just wondering if if really the DL if the department of of uh local government finance if they approved uh this creative accounting item unless they don't have to. I don't maybe
the attorney can chime in as to yes or no about that. Uh the next question is are we at the 2% cap or below that on the uh appropriation side? Uh the family shared service for the court oh the family share service line I actually is
$106,000 now which went up $66,000 from 40 grand last year. I would assume uh that's mostly the court cost that we are paying fairwood. And so if that 66,000 is the court cost for paying fanwood and in that handout we were
having a savings of 51,000. It sounds like we actually are spending $15,000. So we're not really saving $5,000. I guess if somebody could actually explain a little further about that. Uh oh, also also was noted by the uh business
administrator that there was a $20,000 like hidden savings and and he referenced the half% employee cost on that. But to tell you the truth, the employee is still working full-time and and not I I can't see that actually becoming any
savings because the employee is still there full-time whether they're b working on that or not. Uh we are we are still paying $186,000 interest on notes, but the notes are rolled into bonds now. So uh there's a
question a lot of this stuff I guess will come out also in the budget hearing, but I'm just saying it now. But you know, if they're rolled into bonds, why are we still paying $186,000 in interest on the bands? Uh this Yeah. And and I'll tell you,
I've been on this since 2016. Right now, you're giving $55,000 to the school district. Uh it's flat, I guess, from last year. And since Vermela opened up, and I know the mayor doesn't feel comfortable hearing these hard facts,
but two students now are special needs students from Romela costing $300,000. >> One minute. >> And the and the municipal has only given the school district $55,000. and yet they're getting banged big time. and uh
just roughly and and uh this is BTO the liaison I believe she's the leazison to the board of ed she said there's no report but we actually had a budget discussion at last board event and it looks like and don't hold me to it but taxes are going up about $200 over there
on a regular assess at the board of ed most of that is from that special needs student general comments you mentioned about the 19th officer and you had a laborious discussion about But it you don't need it. You shouldn't even be talking about it only because you're
talk you referred to the paper board. The paper board uh the application's going to go on for about 6 months. The construction is going to go on for another year and a half. Um and then the occupancy will take at least six months. So we're talking two and a half years
down the line before people are in the paper board to where you really should be looking at >> Mr. Patterson. Your time is up, please. I s I suggest >> Mr. Patterson, your time is up. >> I suggest you to hold off two years. >> Thank you. >> Is there anybody else who wishes to
address the council? >> Good evening. Laura Thompson 325. Um I did have a question. Uh I was not here last meeting before that. Um, there was a discussion that we were going to have a meeting, we were going
to have a meet and greet with business owners. Um, I'm curious to know what the turnout was and what their concerns were with local businesses. Let us know how that meeting went. >> Okay. Is there anybody else who wishes
to Okay, seeing none, can I have a motion to This is public comment. >> Sure. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay, Mr. Patterson. Um, most of what you had were comments, there were a few
questions in there. Um, however, some of the items that you talked about, I'm I'm not particularly sure what line items that the shared service line item. I have an I have some ideas as to the answers to some of
these, but I think what we should do is have Miss Bruns um gives the specific answers. We can share these questions with her and she can get back to you um just because I don't want to give you any misinformation. >> Yeah. And there will also be um additional budget documents posted now
that the budget's been introduced that may >> clarify some of that. And of course, once you see those, feel free to reach out to me or Miss Brondon. We'll happily sit down and clarify more. >> I'll send I'll send an email. Yeah. >> Yeah. I I have the questions. I can send them to Miss Bruns um just so she can be
very specific about them. I do want to say that I I assure you there's no creative accounting ina. It is a true up. It doesn't mean that they were paying them back anything. So, um I perhaps Miss Burns can give you a very good explan better explanation. Maybe
something different than the other night. I you know I know she went into it that uh on Tuesday but um and in terms of the just so this was something that Mr. Arthur talked about in terms of the court cost what would
Mr. Arthur, you weren't talking about an employee. You were talking about these sort of quality, not quantitative uh savings, sort of qualitative savings you're getting. >> It's just a way of measuring it. It's saying we're saving $20,000 worth of staff time. We're not actually saving
the $20,000 I think I was pretty clear. We're not saving the $20,000. We're offsetting $20,000 worth of staff time. Getting police back on the road. You know, I can do some different things with my time. Sandy can do some different things with her time, etc., etc. It's not about our court clerk.
It's about the other people who work and do things around court paperwork. >> And then the actual savings um is not based on how much we spent in 2025, but it's how much we would have spent in 2026 if we had not created a shared
service because certain things were going to go up in cost. So that you can't calculate it based on the previous year when there's certain things we knew were going to go up. Um and Miss Thompson, um in terms of the local business meet and greeting, it was actually really well attended.
Councilwoman Bianca, you want to speak to it? >> Yes. Um it was March 23rd, I believe it was Monday night and we had over 16 about 16 to 18 business owners show up and um Rich from Rudy's uh came with some pizza and the mayor provided some
meatballs and some salad and it was a great time had by all. We all met, we allworked, and um looking forward to having our next meeting. >> They there there weren't particular concerns that they they brought up. We did talk about um just in general how
business is very difficult given the economic conditions right right now. But >> correct. But at the same time, I think we just all got to know each other and everybody spoke very positively. They were very happy with the way everything was going in Barwood. Um we had the owners of Alonzo's here. I mean, they're they're doing fabulous and fantastic,
you know. Uh Jess Bake Shop was here. Um the hair salon across the street, the barber shop across the street, the Indian restaurant on North Avenue. Um the um the laundromat um owners, both of them. Um the Bitra
um >> yeah, there was a lot of our new owners were there, so that was nice. I got to meet a lot of the ones who have been here for a while. >> It was very positive and very nice. >> Um and they did suggest that we more of them just as a networking sort of uh adventure with them. So
>> that's the plan. Okay. Uh consent agenda. Does anybody have anything they need to remove? Okay. Can I have a motion to adopt consent agenda?
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Councilwoman Anarelli. >> Hi. >> Councilwoman Biano. >> Hi. >> Councilwoman. >> Hi. >> Councilman Padusia. >> Hi. >> Councilman Sera. >> Hi. >> Council president B.
>> Hi. Uh the next regular meeting of the mayor and council will be held on Thursday, April 23rd the 206th at 7 p.m. in council chambers. Information for meetings is posted on the borrow website. Do I have a motion to adjurnn?
>> So move. >> All in favor? >> I thank you. Did I >> stop the meeting? 5 minutes.