Hello. >> Hello. Hello. Hello. Um, could everybody make sure though that they do speak into the microphone and like raise your your face when you're doing >> they tested them again? >> I got it, Victoria. Thank you. Yeah,
there's got to be that we're not Welcome everybody. If I could ask everybody to please stand for a moment of silence and salute to the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the Union County Hawk and advertised on December 26, 2024. 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. Roll call, please. >> Mayor Blumentock, >> here. Councilwoman Bodto,
>> here. Councilman Foley, >> Councilman Carney, >> Councilman Lazero, >> uh, he is excused tonight. Councilman Padusniaak, >> he is excused as well. >> Council President Noly >> here. Roll call of staff and professionals. >> John Arthur, uh, he is excused as well
as tonight. >> Um, Victoria >> here. >> Sorry. Okay. >> I didn't have you. >> Victor. Yes, Victoria is >> is filling in for Adam tonight. >> And Chief Pry >> here.
>> Okay. Um, we will go right to our bar attorney. Victoria, do you have anything for us? >> I have no report tonight. >> Okay. >> As we do not have the bar administrator, I will give uh my report.
Sorry about that. Um, just a note on the agenda. The CDBG grant application you see is resolution 25-187 is the federal funding we receive each year to offset the senior expenses such as bus driver salary and instructor
salaries. Uh, this is just a paperwork kind of reszo allowing us to apply for the grant and then when we receive it, we will of course have to vote again to accept it and insert it into next year's budget as we do each year. and fingers crossed that we receive the same amount
or more. Uh I am on the public service committee of the community develop community development revenue sharing committee uh where we go over these applications and there are hundreds. Um and of course I push each year for an increase to uh the grant as the costs on
our end go up each year. But it's gotten a bit difficult of course with the aotment of federal grants. So we will see. Um, but I will of course continue to advocate. I want to thank the PBA for a really wonderful Halloween event this past weekend. They did a fantastic job uh
with a pumpkin patch, a bouncy house obstacle course, face painting, and pizza and music. Uh, there were so many families there enjoying the day and the PBA did a great job organizing the event. Thank you so much. This weekend, uh, come check out the trunk or treat at
Lincoln School held by the Garwood PTA. Uh the recreation committee and the green team will be there along with some funny and spooky trunks for the kids to trickor treat at. The event is 4 to 5:30. Advertisement for advertisements for
mural artists have gone out on social media. We are looking for artists to submit their ideas for a mural along the one side of the underpass with the theme of Garwood then and now. Uh compensation for the chosen artists will be made through grants. Please take a look at
the advertisement on Garwood socials or the tap to see all the details. Just a quick update on our new online services. We are getting closer to being able to provide online pet licensing as well as online rental code payments. Um there
are a few more bugs that Gov Pilot is working out, but we should have the modules up on the Garwood homepage and ready to go in November. I want to thank the DPW for all of their work this fall with helping with fall decorations and banners and all the extra fall
landscaping. Uh but also for working with the police department with uh the new street signs and beacons we are working to put up on Center Street. Uh the first batch of pedestrian beacons on Spruce Locust and Pine are almost ready to be installed. there's been a delay on
some parts and then um the work on syncing them up particularly at Pine where there will be on both sides of the intersection. So we are working with the manufacturer and they will be coming out to assist with that so DPW can install. Uh I'm as impatient as anybody to see
those coming up on center. So we will keep pushing to get it done as soon as possible uh and then get the rest of them up uh down along center street with when they come in. And Chief Pridey actually did update me right before the meeting. And um some of them will be
next week. Uh the part that we need for one of them will be the week after hopefully. So within the next couple of weeks, we should see some of uh those beacons going up. Uh let's see. I know Councilman Carney uh will talk about the planning board
meeting and his report later this uh evening, but I just wanted to touch on something concerning the circulation element. As you know, Harbor Consultants was awarded the project and they have become uh they have begun moving forward. I mentioned at the last meeting
that I had met with various stakeholder groups around town uh fire department, first aid, board of ed, the citizens advisory panel and others to gather their feedback and I compiled it and relay it over to the planner in charge of this, Gabe Baylor. Uh Gabe is also
working with the police department now to gather the relevant data uh in terms of accident reports, speeding data etc. And then the next step is for a small committee to meet with harbor to look at objectives and goals for this element. So last night at the planning board
meeting, we determined that the committee will consist of chief pride, myself, planning board chair Steve Greet, planning board vice chair Kathy Velagio, and planning board member Bill Nerstead. The committee will also have a few residents outside of the planning
board to ensure a well-rounded committee. Uh I will have those names at the following meeting. We're just uh getting confirmation on a few people uh that have expressed interest. Um paper board, I don't have much of an update.
We are still awaiting a concept plan for the 60 units an acre that garden homes is proposing versus the 40 units an acre uh density that is currently in the plan that they put forward. Uh Garway's professionals are putting together our
full arguments to provide the judge in November. I provided an update for the planning board last night as this was our first meeting since the challenge was filed. Uh, and I informed them of Garden Homes argument and of course our disagreement with it, mainly that it
would result in a badly planned development for our town and that we also should not be responsible for essentially reimbursing their carrying costs through the mechanism of more apartments when they have had seven years to begin construction. So, I know many of you and I've spoken to many
residents about it all feel the same way. So, we will continue to make our case and hope our Mount Laurel judge comes to the same conclusion. Um, and that is it for me. It's a bit of a long one. Sorry. Uh, moving to comments from
council. Councilwoman Vodto. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I have an update on our adopted dream program. Some of you will remember that in 2024, the public works department implemented a storm drain management program or adopted drain where residents could assist in keeping
the local wershed clean. by adopting a drain and committing to clearing them regularly. Six residents signed up to adopt drains and over the course of the year cleaned out leaves, trash, and other debris from multiple drains. Those adopters are Drew Epstein and Claire
Deming, Lenny Dfano, Debbie Ledger, Gonzalo Gonzalez Vasquez, and Bill Nurstad. We thank these adopters and appreciate your efforts and commitment to keeping our water clean and contributing to reduce flooding in Glarwood. although they're not here, they're going to get a letter in the
mail just thanking them and they're going to get a hat as it is, you know, adopt a storm drain. Um, over the next few weeks, the bill will transitioning over to the official adopted dream program, a project of Hamlin University, um, and developed in
2014 by Center for Global Environmental Education. The program has since been implemented in over 150 jurisdictions across the country and engaged more than 18,000 people leading to over 950,000 pounds of debris being kept from local
bodies of water. In 2024, adopted drain was award of the public communication and outreach program by the water environment federation. Soon, burough residents, community organizations, and businesses will be able to sign up to adopt a drain by
visiting the website new jersey adopted drain.org and selecting one or multiple drains within Garwood they would like to adopt. Um, they will create an account allowing them to adopt or unadopt a drain, name the drain, track the amount
of debris they collect, and see the amount of debris collected in our region. Reporting only takes a few minutes and can be added at any time. Uh once signed up, adopters will receive a welcome letter, information on how to keep their drain and the area around it
clear of leaves, trash, and other debris. They would also receive a yard sign to let others know about their commitment to protect uh the Railway River waterershed and to start the conversation with friends and neighbors about ways they can help prevent a water pollution.
Um this program is very easy to sign up and um you know flooding is such an at such such a concern for everyone. So I really hope that uh the community will get involved. Um it's something that can definitely make a change. When the paint
goes live it will be on the board social media so stay tuned. Um I really want to thank Miss Lizac for all her work in getting this together. Mayor Bloomark for her support on the original program of the official one. Uh so that's really
it for me. >> Okay. I'm I'm very excited for this. I know that was kind of the hope that once we started it here, we could become a part of the bigger uh program in New Jersey. And um it it makes it a lot easier on residents to sign up and keep
track too. Uh so that'll be nice. And I I really encourage everybody to uh sign up whether it's one drain or multiple drains. Obviously, it's not a a cure for flooding. We know that. But every little
bit does help. These are small things that um you can do as a volunteer in town to keep those drains clean. Um it really does help our DPW because they go around and do it themselves. Uh but of course uh you know they're they're
obviously very busy doing everything else as well. So this does help and enhance the DPW uh department. So and you know we we all talk about little things that we can do just to make a difference uh here and this is this is one of them. So please uh keep an eye
out for when it goes live on our website and and sign up for the drains. I really encourage everybody to and cute hat. >> If I if I just could please, this does not replace or take away from anything that DPW is doing. It just supplements it. Um they're really good about it, but
if you see something, you know, you can go in uh select the corner that you want to adopt and it just helps us all. We all know that with wind storms and everything that you can have it clean one day and the very next day after a storm, it everything is blown right into it. So, uh, it really does make a
difference to have people out there cleaning them. So, thank you, >> Councilman Foley. >> Mayor. >> Okay. Councilman Carney. >> Uh, no comments, Mayor. >> Um, anything from Councilman Lazro? Uh, any count comments from Councilman
Padusniaak? Okay. Okay. Council President Naldi. >> No comments from me. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, minutes, Miss Vasquez. Minutes of the regular and executive session of the mayor and council held on October 9th, 2025.
>> Do I have a motion to accept regular and executive minutes as presented? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Communications, please. >> RVSA minutes approved at the October 16th regular meeting. >> Received and filed. Uh we do not have
any ordinances on for tonight. Uh so we will move right along to council standing reports. Finance. Councilman Foley >> report. >> Uh fire. Uh Councilman Lazro let me know there was no report tonight. Um does anybody have anything from community
development? I didn't I don't think I saw anything. Okay. Public works. Councilwoman Boda. Thank you, Mayor. In addition to the reoccurring activities, DPW employees completed residential waste and brush pickups, treated problem sewer lines weekly, maintained cleanliness of the sports and recreation
complex and public areas, repair street and traffic signs, clear debris from the underpass sidewalks and bus stop enclosures, checked and cleaned roof drains, collaborated with the shade tree officer on tree issues, assisted with park inspections, and ensured storm water inlets were kept clear before and
after heavy rains. Additionally, they serve as the street sweeper and began leaf cleanup at all barrel properties and parks. That's all for my report. >> Okay. Thank you. Police Councilman Carney. >> Thank you, mayor. The police committee continued discussions regarding traffic
and pedestrian safety, ebikes, parking, and various updates to the burough code. As we reported in the last meeting, uh I expect to have recommendations to present for full council review over the next few meetings. >> Thank you. Uh, community engagement. Council President Naldi.
>> Thank you. Um, start with recreation of our winter sports youth recreck basketball is open for registration. Register at garwoodrec.com. The cost is $90 and the program is open to grades 1 through 8. Practices will start the
first week of December and games are in January and February. Miss Lysc is also looking for volunteer coaches. Please email Garwood Recreation. Garwood, I'm sorry, excuse me. Email recreation@garwood.org if you are interested in coaching.
Uh, cheer and dance courts is taking place at the rec center starting in January on Saturdays and is open to ages 3 to 8. Registration is now open for that. Science surprise is one of our fall programs and it started this past Monday. There are still a few spots left
to register for the remaining five classes. This class is open to grades K through 5 and is provided by Mad Science. Takes place on Mondays from 4:30 to 5:30 at the rec center. Register at garwoodrec.com. There's just a few um adult programs I'd
like to highlight. Adult open play soccer on Fridays, adult open play basketball on Wednesdays, adult ceramics, behold the jacko'lantern. It's the next class will be on November 19th. >> A turkey
>> and Wednesday, December 10th. Canvas painting will take place on Wednesday, December 3rd. >> Some of our upcoming events uh are the we're looking forward to very much. The Halloween parade and costume contest taking place on Halloween night. The
parade starts at 700 p.m. at Burrow Hall. The contest takes place in Lincoln School Gym at the conclusion of the parade. parade and costume is open to all ages. Participants in the costume contest will receive a candy bar and there will be prizes for the winners.
The Halloween decorating contest deadline is this Saturday, October 25th. Winners will get a gift card. Enter the contest by visiting uh a the website right on the Garwood um right on the the
web page for the um for the Halloween decorating contest. Um, the holiday tree lighting is on Saturday, November 29th from 3:30 to 5:30 at Burough Hall. There will be food trucks, entertainment, vendors, and a special guest, Santa Claus.
Family skate night is scheduled for the same evening, Saturday, November 29th, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Warren Skating Rink. This is free and open to Garwood residents. Pre-register by visiting garwoodre.com. The concession stand at the sports
complex is open during game times. It will be open tomorrow, Friday, from 3:15 to 5:45, this Saturday from 1:15 to 6:00 p.m. and this Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 10 7:00 p.m. Stop by to watch a game and
grab a bite or take something to go. The Garwood Partnership for Arts and Cultures October Art Exhibit, Fallen to Art, is still on display through early November. Art is displayed at Alonzo's Cafe, Al's Deli, the Garwood Public Library, and right here at Burough Hall.
And that's all from your report. Thank you. >> Very nice ceramics. Um library, I have Councilman Lazero's report. Uh we have some November events. Uh November 4th, all day is election
day. The Garwood Public Library is a polling location. The library will be open, but the children's section will be closed. Computers and seating are not available. Browsing and checkout are permitted. November 5th from 10:00 a.m. till noon, the Union County Division of
Aging staff will be on hand to assist seniors AED 60 and over or their caregivers with information on services such as meal delivery, respit care, adult daycare, and support services for caregivers. Then November 12th and 19th
at 100 p.m. it is adult game day. Socialize with others while playing rummy cube, sorry, uno or cards. No registration required, but it is limited to 12 people. Um, school board Councilman Carney,
>> the Garwood Board of Education held a regular meeting last Tuesday, October 14th. The board heard presentations regarding New Jersey's quality single accountability continuum uh NJQAC findings uh and also the results of the
new New Jersey state student learning assessment. Uh action was taken on numerous agenda items. Relevant resolutions uh included approval for our recreation committee to use the Lincoln School Gym for the aforementioned uh Halloween costume contest on the evening
of October 31st. Uh and also the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Russo as the new Lincoln school principal. Uh he'll be replacing Mrs. Emmens who's retiring effective January 1st of 2026. Uh our monthly coordination meetings
with Dr. remarks and the board president will continue for the remainder of 2025. And that's all for this report. >> Thank you. It will be very sad to see Mrs. Emmens leave. She's been a a mainstay at Lincoln School, but we wish her well. Um the senior citizens, we had
some great speakers come in this past meeting to talk about financial planning for seniors. Although even I though I'm a few years out, I got some good information myself and learned a few new things that are helpful. Um so thank you to the senior club board for arranging that. Also thank you to the board of
health who continues to provide free blood pressure uh readings at the meetings. We are signing up for the Christmas party which will be December 3rd. Uh and I also updated the club on paperboard and we ended with some fun games of bingo. Our next meeting is
November 6th at 12 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus. Uh small business advisory Councilman Carney >> with no report. Board of Health, Councilman Foley. >> Planning Board, Councilman Carney. >> The Planning Board met last night, uh,
Wednesday, October 22nd. The board unanimously adopted two resolutions for cases heard over the summer. Uh, certificates of nonconformity are granted on case number PB25-04, which is 543rd Avenue, uh, or Stephanie
Gardens, uh, for a 36 unit garden apartment in the RA zone. And on case number PB25-05, which is 59 Willow Avenue, uh for a two family dwelling in the RA zone, uh the board discussed the upcoming circulation
element of Garwood's master plan. As the the mayor discussed earlier, a uh also a uh a subcommittee was formed uh led by vice chair Kathy Vagio, including board members Katya Lysac, Steve Barkan, and
Bill Merstat uh to review and update the burrow code relative to food trucks. Uh, Mayor Blumentock provided updates about the circulation element. Uh, and also um an update on paper board and the fair share housing challenge which uh the
mayor already covered. Uh just a note that that challenge from fair share uh has affected nearly every municipal affordable housing plan in the state. So that's not Garwood specific. It's it's basically almost every municipality. Uh the next regular planning board meeting
is scheduled for November 12th and that's all for me. >> Thank you. Uh and that just to note as I said last night at the planning board that fair share challenge is essentially just checking that we are uh progressing
properly uh with our plan and that we intend to make all of the proper ordinances and we had all of the correct uh things submitted with our plan which we did and we will continue to do. So, it it's more of an oversight uh type of
uh even though it's a challenge, it's it's trying to provide some oversight and we will be in full compliance. Uh moving along to public comment. If there's anyone who wishes to address the council, please step up to the microphone, state your full name and address, and please limit your comment
to five minutes. Johnny, our police officers, our firefighters, and our rescue squad personnel, our chairman, police department and the There's also
excuse there's nothing rescue squad is not the answer and Mark said should never be Sir, thank our ser. Show us show And they can free to go and
should know. the state legislature in Trenton hospital such as world hospitals. Let's not forget that the 3,000 people have been slaughtered in my car
faithful September 11 20 those hospitals we all thank you Mr. Richard, is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council? Please come forward, state your name and address, and please limit your comment to 5 minutes. >> Laura Thompson, 320 Pine A.
Um, couple questions. Uh, $90 for wreck basketball for first graders. What does that money go towards? um seems like an awful lot of money to
play basketball. Um especially if we're looking for volunteer coaches. Uh the other question I had was I know we're in a a dispute with the paperboard property. Are they currently paying land tax this whole time that that place has
been vacant? Um and another question was the um concession stand. What is the cost to the township for that to be running? Thank you. >> Does anybody else wish to address the
mayor and council? Okay, seeing none, do I have a motion to close public comment? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Uh so that $90 has been $90 for a
couple of years now and uh for WCK basketball and it pays for a number of things. Uh, it pays for uh uniforms for the kids. It pays for the coaches to get trained and fingerprinted. Uh, it pays
for uh somebody to be at the door uh each time because what we found was because it's after school hours, there's nobody there to open the door and um teams were coming and not able to get
in. So, a couple of years ago, we began a program of hiring I believe they hire some teenagers uh to uh be the the door person to keep security up there um to allow people in and out. Um so, it also
purchases at the end of the uh season a pizza party for all of them and medals. So, to be honest, $90 is a pretty good rate when I when you think about other towns and what they're paying for these. I mean, they have multiple practices a week uh for a couple of months before
the games even start. Um, so yes, we do ask for volunteer coaches because that would obviously raise a cost um much past the 90, but also because it's a great thing for parents to be involved with the their kids' teams and it's
great for the town to have parent coaches. Um but yeah cuz I I just wanted to add so there are just a couple of um item uh budget items on that the the rep um the basketball rep budget that are um
you know required. We need to have ref referees at all the games. That is really the largest um percentage of the amount of money that u that we you know we need to um pay for. Um, there's also background checks for the coaches and volunteers, the CPR classes for the
coaches, the coaches get a clinic. Um, and so, you know, these are these are fees that we need to implement otherwise we can't provide a quality experience for the students >> and it keeps the kids safe. >> That's correct. That's the most
important thing. Um, the land tax as paper board paying the land tax. Yes, they are. The concession stand cost. It costs the borrow nothing for the concession stand. We do receive a certain percentage of profit if they make profit, but we do not pay anything
for the concession stand. However, I would ask and encourage everybody who wants to continue having this concession stand to frequent it because um you know the thing about it is if they don't see you know anybody coming and and you know
eating or or grabbing sodas or you know chips or whatever it may be um I I want to continue having this company come in and and provide this service. Uh but it does obviously require that you know everybody utilize it. Um but in terms of
the cost to Garwood it is $0. Uh okay we will move on to the consent agenda. Does anybody have a item to remove? Okay. Can I have a motion to adopt the consent
agenda? >> Second. Uh, any discussion? Okay, roll call, please. Councilwoman Bodto, >> hi. >> Councilman Foley, hi. >> Councilman Carney, >> hi. >> Councilman Oh, he's out. He's out.
Council President Noly, >> hi. Okay, moving on to payment of claims. Miss Basquez, be it resolved that the following claims as approved be and the same are hereby ordered paid when properly signed and verified and the
payment of payrolls as listed is hereby confirmed and ratified. Do I have a motion to adopt payment of claims? >> Clarissa. Uh, roll call, please. >> Counciloman Bodto. Hi. >> Councilman Foley. Councilman Carney. Uh, Council President Noly
>> I. >> Okay. The regular meeting of the mayor and council will be held on Thursday, November 6th at 7 p.m. in council chambers. Information for meetings is posted on the burough website. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Some moved. Second.
>> All in favor? >> Opposed? Okay. So move. >> Not yet. Not quite.