Okay. Right. >> All right, we're live. Good evening everybody. If you could please stand for a moment of silence and salute to the flag. I pledge allegiance 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 leader and advertised on November 13, 2025. Notice of this
meeting has been 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
per PL 2025 C72. All legal ads are now posted on our burough website under the section titled legal notices. Roll call, please. Miss Kadika. >> Madame Mayor, >> here. >> Councilwoman Anarelli, >> here. Councilwoman Biano >> here.
>> Councilwoman Noli >> here. >> Councilman Padusniaak >> here. >> Councilman Sera >> here. >> Council President Bodto >> here. >> A roll call of staff and professionals please. >> Uh our burough administrator John Arthur >> here.
>> Our chief of police Johny. Our burough engineer Mike Disco >> here. >> Our burough attorney Adam Abramson >> here. >> Okay we will begin with our report from our burough attorney. Anything for us Mr. Abramson. >> Uh, nothing new to report. >> Okay. Report of our bur administrator,
Mr. Arthur. >> All right. So, you'll see ordinance number 26-16 is being introduced tonight regarding food trucks. I just want to say this went through many drafts with the committee that was led by members of the planning board. I was also on the committee. Chief Pridey was on the committee. Um, you know, special thanks
to the committee members and the planning board for all their work on this. The planning board voted at their last meeting to recommend this ordinance to the mayor and council for approval. The fire department uh reached out regarding a potential FEMA grant for a new pumper. Uh the burough clerk and I attended a webinar about the grant
yesterday. The grant does require a 5% match, but the funds do not need to be on hand on at the time of the application. So, it's a very um it being a federal grant, there's a lot of paperwork involved, but we're we're going to help the fire department work through that. So, I'll talk to Chief
Scazadon about that. Um reminder to the public that the summer camp starts on June 29th for children entering 1 through 8th grade and it is not too late to sign up at garwoodenj.mmyerrack.com. And that's it for my report. >> Okay. Thank you. Does anybody have any
questions for Mr. Arthur? Okay. Moving along to Mr. Disco or engineer. >> I'll try to be as brief as the previous two. Uh number one on our agenda is again the DOT grant. The solicitation goes through
the end of June. So we obviously want to um make a grant application. Uh we presented this topic last month and I don't know if the streets committee had looked at anything but we had some suggestions there. Certainly from a street perspective, I think we're
narrowing down the eligible ones or at least the ones I think they're going to get uh funded favorably. So, I I will put in an application if the council has finalized or believes we can uh proceed with um you know certain streets that
we've recommended or that streets committee has recommended. >> Okay. Um >> so I'm looking for feedback. >> Yes. Yes. Councilman, I don't know if uh streets had a chance to meet yet. Um I know you had talked in in committee about Oak Street with the sidewalks and
I know that's a topic later on we can go to as well, but I believe that was positive that we wanted to >> Yeah, that we we were interested in in pursuing the sidewalks on oak. I think we had asked about potentially going around some of the trees and I believe you've come back with a plan to go
around some of those trees. So, um, >> has, um, would the comm well, let me just open it up, I guess. Are are looking at East Street and Locust Street in those particular Locust Avenue in those particular areas, anybody have any reservations about um, putting those
into the into the grant? I know in particular because just happens to be where I where I live that that Locust Avenue part um is, you know, I mean, I'm sorry, East Street, that's >> the missing link. >> The missing link is is just really
deteriorated. So, I do agree that that could use some help. Um Locust Avenue, >> you know, >> I can speak to that. So, uh our curbs are in very poor condition. >> Okay. um almost non-existent in in many
places. So, I'm I was really happy to see this. >> I see some nods. Are we should we uh give direction to move forward with this for the grant? >> I can say I heard from some residents on locust to the same effect and I walked it myself. So, >> before so Okay. Well, Mr. Disco, it
looks like that's what we're going to consider for the uh next NJ DOT grant. >> Okay. And again, we had the model from last last uh round where we did put sidewalks in for south and it was looked favorably. Yes.
>> So I think Oak Street, if you know, if that's the desired uh street, we'll utilize later the ARP grant to do >> half a block or a block and then we'll the balance of it we can use with the DOT grant application. >> Yes. Yes. Just I I know we're jumping
ahead on years, but there was a we were successful. Thank you very much for doing that grant for $15,000 from AP for sidewalks on Oak. Um >> and if I don't if you want to jump to that and just talk Sure about that because I know you gave a new inventory
and um you know I took a looks good to me. I understand we have a retention wall on that one piece that makes this very difficult but I'm just happy to see more of the sidewalk created especially in those areas right by the rec center. I totally agree and I think that's why
they looked favorably on it. Again, there was only six uh awards in New Jersey the last cycle. So, I applied in three towns. This is the only one I got. So, obviously the connectivity to the sports and recreation complex is what
sold the grant on this. So, >> I I I sort of focus the priorities there and the trees. So those three blocks from on the east side of the street between Spruce and South are certainly the ones that from a tree perspective, I
don't see why we have to remove any trees. Again, 15,000 is not going to go very far, >> right? >> So that's why you're going to get a half a block. We have two blocks that already have sidewalks halfway. Um, so the half
block or the other block, that's where I would utilize the the first grant and the balance of it and whatever else we want to do on Oak. Um, we'll put in and, uh, DOT is obviously not going to fund 100% of the project. So, we can always
scale back, I think, on the sidewalks if there's issues with trees or walls or whatever. But, that's where I would go. I would use the two streets and Oak Street as the DOT grant. Again, it's not due till the end of June. I don't have to do anything for two weeks on this,
but I would be looking probably mid June to submit this. So, if there's any changes or rethinking of it, I'm happy to accommodate that. So, >> now I know we we just got this today, but um if you have any questions for Mr.
Disco on this now, or if again, please email him um in the next two weeks before it goes through. We just want to make sure we're getting Everybody knows where these will be. >> And the AARP grant and there's an email. I think it it formally gets to us on
June 24th or something like that. In fact, we're not even supposed to talk about it. >> I know. They saw that. >> I have some activities I have to do behind the scenes on it. But um I received a box too of uh red bright red t-shirts. So I'm happy to distribute
them. A couple of them are 3XL though, so I'm not sure what the typical AARP grant recipient is, but uh you know they want us to do a video as we implement the project and I'm sure it's a wonderful we've been asking.
>> We have 12 t-shirts we can hand out so or 10 or 12. >> I have no problem doing videos for for money with that for the for the grant money if that's what it takes to do these sidewalks. All right. Um, >> does anybody have any more questions
about the sidewalk or the grant? Okay, then we'll turn it back to you for the rest of the >> um Midwest Construction came back and if anybody drove by, we we did additional sidewalks at the first aid squad building. We did the ramps on second adjacent to the school in the first aid
squad building. And um the restoration came in, the grass came in. So now we're going to conclude that project. Again, this was a project. We literally bid it and we were under our DOT grant. We were looking for things to spend money on associated with uh the streets that were
in it, including Walnut Avenue. So, that's why we did the first aid squad. And we essentially did all of the sidewalks leading up to the doors and al along a lot of them along the um the streets there and uh one of the driveway aprons. So, that's good. They're back.
They're done. Uh, mayor, I know it's a particular thing, Gallows Hill. So, you know, we're proceeding. I have enough direction um from Cranford. >> Again, I want to get it to do. I'm going to get it there next week. And, um, as we go to construction, if Cranford wants
to change something, we can always accommodate a field change. >> Okay. But um the only you know I know sidewalks are important so the only sort of a design change is currently the throat of Gallows Hill at second or West Holly is only 20 ft wide which is a very
non-standard road width. Um the minimum is 24 feet. So, I was going to do the 24 feet, but that really does infringe upon the sidewalk along the um the fence line and tree line on the guardwood side of
the street. So, I think I'm going to leave the 20 ft um and quickly widen it up to um the 30 ft once we get past the uh the garage over there in Cranford and incorporate the sidewalk as desired. So,
>> Okay. >> Okay. Um, so do you need further comment from Cranford or are you to send it in? >> I'm good enough to send it in. I've gotten their comments. They're going to get another goaround. D is obviously going to have some comments. We never
get 100% acquiescence. Um, they're in the business of making comments. So, they make comments, but um, so I we're we're going to submit. We're going to get our comments back and go out to bid. >> Okay, that was my next question. When we can go out to bid for that. Okay.
>> Um and then the only other thing was, you know, um we had discussed at the the last time I was here to do a plan for murals under the underpass and we prepared a plan. We incorporated some lights on it. I don't know if there's any comments or changes anybody wants
from it. So, um >> it's been submitted to NJ Transit, so they haven't made any comments yet. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Okay. I had to again back off one portion of the mural only because they have a rule you can't put the mural over an expansion joint
>> and with the panels that we had I had to lose one of them. So I don't think it's the end of the world. Uh where the panels are shown I tried to center them on the you know end to end they have to be shifted here there. Yeah. However anybody wants it. That's an easy accommodation. I just can't go over
where the joint is on each side of it. So there's going to be a gap in the middle of this continuous mural. So >> yeah, there's such a long stretch that it's such a big mural on that. So >> there's there is room.
>> Um, anecdotally, I uh spoke to DPW and this was something I don't know if it was John or or somebody else had mentioned the five catch basins under the underpass. >> Yes, >> that uh we would like to have them. Now, I did from a structural standpoint, I looked at those basins. They're not
necessarily um as cars go over and um what's the word I'm looking for? Rattling per se from the structure itself, but the pavement around it is pretty beat up. So, uh, as we do this contract, the DOT contract that we go
out to bid on, it's something I, as long as the contractor's a favorable one, I would bring them over to the site. And I think they could cut out a piece around all five of the catch bases and make it a smooth transition there. And that's probably what I, you know, acquiescence
from everybody. I would handle it that way through this contract rather than doing a separate quote. >> That would be great. If I can't get a contractor cooperation, then I would do a separate quote and we'd go to local contractors on that. But >> okay, thank you for
>> that's my thought process. >> Taking care of that one. >> Could I ask a question? >> Would that add any significant cost at all or >> um the cost of the the pavement around those five catch basins is minimal. It's really the mobilization to get a
contractor there. How much is that going to cost? couple thousand bucks just for them to show up. But the the the the tonnage of asphalt is minimal. It's more hand work around the catch basins. Can't just mill where the structures are. So
you have to just work around it. Now we have two lanes. So you know from a traffic perspective. I won't speak for the chief, but we can obviously detour the traffic onto the one lane while we work on the one lane where it's there. So I think it's a
>> call it a lowcost repair. >> It is like as you I don't know if anybody has noticed some people have some people haven't but as you go down it >> you can feel it with the car. So >> something that needs to be fixed. >> That's where the water is going to drain to. And of course when water sits in areas it obviously has an impact on
pavement. So >> okay. All right. Does anybody have any further questions for Mr. Disco? >> Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. And you're welcome to head out if you have anything else. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Yes. Thank you for the grants. >> Grants are good. We love >> We do like those grants. Thank you, AARP. >> Okay. Um, moving to my report. Um, I just want to start off by thanking everyone who was involved in the Memorial Day
remembrance service this past Monday. our recreation director, rec committee members, council members, and even our burough clerk uh worked hard to make this a special day to honor veterans. Uh I'm very sorry I couldn't be there. I was very under the weather, unfortunately. Um but I heard everything
went off without a hitch. Uh and I couldn't be more proud of our Garwood community. It's such an important day where we truly get to reflect on the sacrifices our military heroes have made. Uh, and I'm grateful our speaker, Jay Boxwell, a Navy veteran himself, uh,
was able to make our service extra special, uh, with his inspirational speech. I'd also like to thank our police, fire department, and DPW for all of their help when we had that very quick but terrible storm the other week. Uh, we
had several utility poles ripped out of the ground, as well as many large trees. So, it was a it was a few days of tough work with those power outages, but we always appreciate our first responders stepping up in those moments. Uh, as I spoke about at our last
meeting, I had the honor of not just attending the New Jersey Conference of Mayor's Spring Conference, but I was sworn in as the presidential appointee to their executive board. Uh, I'm honored to have that position and look forward to being even more involved with legislation in Trenton that affects our
towns. And you know continuing on that I am chair of their transportation and infrastructure subcommittee and so I had the opportunity to conduct a roundt panel about a particular bill concerning data centers. Uh this particular bill
which was A796 uh was about restructuring the costs for data centers in terms of their energy use to alleviate the burden on taxpayers. So obviously this is still a really big issue we're seeing everywhere um especially you know close by. Uh and our
hope was that this bill as well as several others going through the legislature help make restrictions um not only on energy costs but look at the environmental damage that can come along with data centers. So, I'm gratified to see just yesterday that Governor uh
Cheryl has put forth a four-point plan to move some of these um restrictions along in a comprehensive way. It's a new plan. Um I know all of us, you know, other municipalities and state legislators will be looking at it and
asking their questions and figuring it out. But I think it's certainly a step in the right direction as we try to balance our growing dependence on AI with the consequences that can come along with that. So I know that the community development committee uh was
planning on discussing this in terms of what we may want in Garwood specific to our code, but I know they had to reschedule the meeting. Is that correct? So um with a new one coming soon then. So I look forward to hearing your recommendations. That is all for me. Moving on to
comments from the council. Councilwoman Annarelli. >> Uh, no comments from me today. >> Councilwoman Bianca, >> no comment. >> Councilwoman Nuli. >> Uh, I'm just going to remind everyone about the GPAC um, celebrating Pride.
Um, we are celebrating Pride with the art project that we've been very successful with. Um, we're asking artists of all ages to submit their original 9 by9 square. I have a couple of examples right here. Thank you.
And these should be um abstract um so no no figurative um drawings. The tiles will be collected um uh with and you're going to be decorating them with the colors of the rainbow. We're assembling it into one large artwork which will be on display at the library during the
month of June. You can find the full directions for creating your tile on the uh Burough website or on the Burough social media website um you know Facebook or Instagram. The last day to drop off your creation in the GPAC celebrates Pride Month box at Burough
Hall is June 8th by 5:00 p.m. and you can do as many tiles as you like. >> Terrific. Thank you. Hope everybody participates. And Councilman Padusniaak. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to
remind everyone that on June 11th at 7 pm, um, Garwood Ref 250 is hosting an event at the library, there will be a speaker about the American Revolution in Union County. So, if you want to learn a little bit more about how, uh, our founding played out in our specific county, then come on down. That's 7 p.m.
on the 11th. Um, and that is going to be all for my comments tonight. Thank you. >> Okay. Councilman Shereka, >> no comment. >> Council President Bodto, >> no comments tonight. Thank you. Um, okay. No problem. Yeah, it's
>> been a long time. >> Trust me, that happens. >> Um, so I just want to uh remind everybody that we have restaurant week coming up. It's June 8th to the 14th. We have several restaurants that have signed up and perhaps maybe a couple more to add on to this um prior to this
event commencing. And I hope everybody partakes and enjoys all the great wonderful food that we have and you know, support the establishments. And thank you >> very much. Thank you. Yeah, we have a lot more businesses this year, a lot more restaurants, I should say, this year. So, looking forward to it. Uh
minutes. Uh Miss Kotiga. >> Uh Madame Mayor, if we can please defer the vote uh to the next meeting. >> Uh sure. Uh that's fine. Thank you. Yes, we can do that. Um communications,
please. Uh we have one communication. It's a notice of Union County Housing Choice Voucher Program. Uh it was rescheduled to Monday, June 1st, 2026. Thank you. Received and filed. Uh we have a number
of ordinances tonight um for adoption uh and public hearing. We have ordinance number 2613. Uh can you please read this ordinance by title only? >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. uh bond ordinance to authorize the making of various public improvements
and the acquisition of new additional or replacement equipment and machinery, new communication and signal systems equipment and new automotive vehicles including original apparatus and equipment in by and for the bureau of
Garwood in the county of Union state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of $520,000 to pay the cost thereof of to make a down payment 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. Okay. Uh we do we have any correspondence concerning this ordinance? >> No. Okay. We will move to the public hearing portion for this ordinance. If
you have um any comments to make to the mayor and council, please step to the microphone, state your name and address, and please limit your comments to 5 minutes. John Bartlick, 231 Hemlock Avenue. Um I had comments on two of the items that were included in this ordinance if I'm
not mistaken. One was $10,000 for trash cans. I'm a lay person. That sounds like a lot of money, particularly since we have enclosures that are probably uh fine and we only have two parks. Um, but I couldn't help but notice last year we also appropriated $11,000 for
trash cans in our capital app appropriation. If $10,000 is a lot, 21,000 is really a lot. So, uh, simple question, I hope. What happened to the 11,000 from last year? Did we spend it? Uh, is this going to be an annual
expenditure? Uh, and could you provide some clarification around that? Uh secondly, uh I wanted to speak to what is now, I guess, $20,000 for lighting and other improvements in the underpass. I appreciate the council members who uh
uh spoke out against this during the capital, uh budget discussion a couple of meetings ago. We're uh I realized that the circulation element had a line in there about um how improving the
lighting and making it more um jovial in the underpass would drive uh use of the train station. I I I didn't even comment I get a lot of comments about the circulation element. I didn't comment about that one. So, I don't think anybody would I thought it
was a throwaway line and that report is ladened with opportunities, real opportunities to improve all aspects of safety, security, and everything else. We're expected to believe that there are people who would love to take the train
to Newark or New York, but they're and and walk the streets there, go into the cavernous dungeonlike terminals there, maybe even enjoy the mass transit systems of those cities, but they're too scared to do it, too
concerned to do it because the underpass is not inviting enough or they're afraid of that 10 yards of underpass spacing Garwood at night. I can't believe that. And uh if we had infinite money and infinite resources,
improve it. But we have real needs, real gaps. Even right above that, in that same report, other improvements to the underpass to improve the safety of vehicular traffic going southbound around the blind curve. That's a real
disaster waiting to happen. So, uh, I am disappointed that not only is this going forward, it's gone from 15,000 to $20,000, uh, in, uh, in just a month. And lastly, I just want to tie this all together by saying in two meetings ago, we
appropriated money or, uh, yeah, agreed to spend money, $29,000, something like that, for air conditioning for the fire department, which I'm sure we need. We're paying for it with capital dollars from 2018. three of the six council members who appropriated that money don't even live
in town anymore. And it makes me wonder in this appropriation, how much excess um contingency rounding up we have and eight years from now, are we still going to be spending money that we so desperately need to
include in this particular ordinance? Or have we really sharpened our pencil? Because going back and looking at the financial statements, we have bonds open from 2015 uh that were uh and I just wonder how much money we're paying interest on for projects that weren't
even included when some of these things were envisioned by people who are long since gone from the community and from the council. And uh it it just makes me question the overall uh budget that is uh was reflected in this appropriation. Thanks.
>> Okay. Anybody else wish to address the mayor and council? >> Good evening, mayor, lad and gentlemen of the council. Bruce Patterson, 325 Willow Avenue. I talked about this bonding at the budget meeting. I also talked
about it over at the board of ed meeting just in passing, but I mean over there I was saying you guys have no fiscal discipline. No, I'm going to tell it to your face. You have no fiscal discipline. You're you're devoid of of financial accumment obviously. I mean, to be borrowing borrowing $3,000 for a
cabinet, $8,500 for a radio, $9,900 for intake valves, $2500 for a hose tray, $19,000 for a license plate reader, $15,000 street liner, a striper device
for the DPW, 10,000 for garbage cans, as as Mr. Bartleick mentioned underpass lights. That could be an issue. I don't know. And the pump station, $23,000. But I these are minor amounts. We have a $12
million budget. We just approved a $12 million budget. And now we're going out for bonding on these minor minor items. Yes, there's large items involved here. You know, everything totals up to about $500,000. And these little items I just listed total to about $100,000. But
these little items, you should not be borrowing. It's like saying, "I I need a uh a couch for my house, so I'm going to go out and I'm going to go to the bank and borrow money." I mean, you have to have some kind of grasp of financial
accumin to understand where we are. I'll tell you, I've been going to these council meetings, the budget hearings, etc., going all the way back to 1997, maybe even before, but 97 I was in the minutes of the meeting. But anyway,
I I've I I'm just mortified at at the financial at the no financial discipline. I I'm sorry I I'm ranting and raving here, but I mean, it's just amazing. $12 million budget and we got
to go out and borrow $3,000 for a cabinet. We have a $500,000, maybe $550,000 in excess uh surplus. We should have been using some of that to buy these little items instead of bonding them because you bond them, you're
paying the interest, you're paying the the overhead cost, the section 20, section 10 cost I think they're called. That's like $75,000 I believe uh somebody said. But anyway, it it's just I suggest you hold off on these little
items. Yes, the big items $53,000. I'm not going to go through the big items, but the items over $50,000, sure, go ahead, bond it. But these things under the the little items, take them out of the bond. Go out for a true bond where
you really need to borrow the money, not $3,000 for cabinet, $8,000 for radio hose trade, $2,500. We got to borrow for that. Really, you should be ashamed at at what you're doing here financially. We have
$12 million budget and we got to actually borrow it these little items. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council >> Thompson 320 Pine and I'm going to reiterate the same thing. I've worked in
places where I've had to do the budget. You have budgets that are for your everyday, you know, work, you know, buying products, selling this, and you have your capital expenditures. Capital expenditures should be money that's over 100 grand, not 3,000, not 4,000, not
even 15. Those things shouldn't be bonded out. They shouldn't be We shouldn't be financing it. You don't finance your couch. You finance your house, your car. If you need a couch, you wait until you have the money to pay pay for it. And Bruce is right and so is John. This is irresponsible spending.
We're creating more debt because we're sending these things out for bond. How much interest are we going to be paying on that in the 10 15 years that we're sitting on that? >> Thank you. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council?
Okay. Seeing none, I will ask for a motion to close public hearing. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Okay. Um Mr. Bartlick, uh the trash cans that you asked about, they
were not purchased last year. Um and and uh Mr. Arthur, I believe you would have to look back and get the answer to him about um that particular bond from last year in in that portion, I assume. Okay. So, we will get that answer to you. But
um yes, these trash, we're talking about trash cans for the recreation complex. Um they were priced out. We're not talking about, you know, the trash cans that are, you know, simple take off. These are the big heavy ones that you see with uh that are connected that are
the big um immovable ones. So uh that that's what they cost these days, unfortunately. Um, the lighting for the underpass. Uh, I I it's interesting. I Mr. Arthur, first, do you want to address that?
>> Uh, what the question of why it went up to 20,000 or so it it didn't. So, the it's it's listed in there at 20,000 because the bond attorney has to pick a line to put his fees in, but those fees cover the entire bond, not just the
lighting. So it's it's just we obviously there has to be fees paid to the attorney and there's other fees too like engineering fees again for the whole bonding. Um so that that's where those costs are are entered into the bond. But that project should cost more like 13 to
$15,000. >> Yes. But obviously yes there is always a buffer that you have to put in um because we just get estimates uh to provide for this uh in terms of past bonds being used for different things.
um that money was is sitting in that bond and yes, could it go back into the surplus in 20 years or there was a project like the HVAC uh for the fire department that it could be readily used for because of uh it was a similar to a
different project and I think that's a actually a really good way to uh alleviate some of that burden on the taxpayer by using what was already there um that was going to a similar project that maybe came in under budget. Um so
that that's been done before, it's been done past. I understand what you're saying with that. But um you know, if the the way we we try and write um write these bonds is to help address things
that may pop up into the future if for instance it does come in a little bit under. There's it usually doesn't come in so far under. We're pretty good at estimating, but that's what it is. Um, I don't think that the uh circulation
element, I don't think anybody uh is wants to do the lighting because they think somebody's not going to use the train station because of it. I know how it was worded in the circulation element. Uh I think the reasoning is just it does provide a safer walkway
through there if you're going to go take the train at night. if you're walking through from one side to the other. Um, and it's we we talk about safety all the time. And I understand it sounds like a lot for lighting, but you have to understand it's not it's labor and and
things like that as well. We're not just sticking up a, you know, an LED light with tape up there. It's got to go through, you know, with with an a proper electrician. So, it's when we're talking about we've added lights at different intersections. I get asked all the time
to add light lighting to different places to upgrade lighting so that it's brighter. Um, and this was just another case where I do think it is good to add to safety. I don't I I mean it's yes, do
we have money to spend on everything? No, of course not. And we do have to figure out those priorities, but I'm comfortable with this particular priority in doing that. Obviously, majority was as well. So, um it's just a difference of opinion with that. Um
and that's, you know, I think that was all the questions. Uh and thank you for the the comments. We can move unless somebody has any discussions up here. We can move to a uh a motion to adopt.
>> Some second. >> Okay. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Anarelli. >> I. Councilwoman Biano. >> I. >> Councilwoman Noli. >> I. >> Councilman Pedusniaak. >> I. >> Councilman Surga. >> I.
>> Council President Bodto. >> I. >> Okay. Um, we have ordinance number 26-14 for adoption and hearing. Um, can you please read this by title only? An ordinance amending the Burough Code
of the Bureau of Garwood amending chapter 21 entitled vehicles and traffic article one traffic and parking section 8.6 municipal parking lots. Okay. Um do we have any correspondence concerning this ordinance?
>> No. Okay. We will move to the public comment portion concerning this ordinance. If anybody has anything they wish to address to the mayor and council, please state your name and address and keep your comments to five minutes, please. >> Good evening, mayors, ladies and gentlemen of council. Bruce Patterson,
325 Willow Avenue. Um, simple question, I guess. just explain this ordinance and even the next ordinance. I don't have to get up again, but anyway, just explain these ordinances to the public viewers so uh we understand what you're doing. The the odd thing is we used to have
backup, you know, uh given out at the same time as the agenda. And now we don't. I I brought that up before in a previous meeting that somehow we don't see the backups anymore. That is a public document that we actually should see. But anyway, please
explain to the public this ordinance and even the next ordinance. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody else? Okay. Um seeing none, can I have a motion to close public hearing? >> Some moved. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I >> opposed. Okay. Um this uh particular ordinance is to allow for JFK Plaza parking to be um allowed for JFK parking to be available
earlier. Uh the lot is closed at particular time overnight. Um but we were finding that people are um wanting to utilize that parking lot earlier uh because you know there's a gym there, there's coffee shops and so rather than
penalizing um residents who who might be using it um they are now able that lot will be open earlier. That's the simple explanation. >> Yeah, there's also commuters and workers who need to take an earlier train. Um, so
>> yeah, so technically it was closed uh until 7. Now they'll have an earlier time that they can park there. Um, and all right. Um, and I'll just answer for the next one so
we don't have to do that again. But the next ordinance 26-15 is uh we're just officially putting into the code the municipal hours. We hadn't We just needed to paperwork that essentially. >> Yeah, we just have to change the language. It was out of date.
>> Okay. All right. Do I have a motion to adopt this ordinance? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh, roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Anarelli, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano, I. >> Councilwoman Ni, I.
>> Councilman Padusniaak. Hi. >> Councilman Sera. Hi. >> Council President Bodto. Hi. Okay, moving along to ordinance 26-15. Can you read this by title only? An ordinance
repealing and replacing the Burough Code of the Bureau of Garwood, chapter 5, entitled Administration, Article 1, Organization of Burough Government, Section 5-2, Hours of Municipal Offices Are Open for Business.
>> Okay. Uh, do we have any correspondence concerning this ordinance? >> No. >> Okay. At this point, our open public hearing. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council on this ordinance? >> Okay. Seeing none, do I have a motion to close public hearing? >> So moved.
>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Um, do I have a motion to adopt this ordinance? >> Some moved. >> Second. Roll call, please.
Councilwoman Annarelli, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano, >> I. >> Councilwoman Noli. Councilman Padusniaak. >> Hi. >> Councilman Sera. >> Hi. >> Council President Bodto. >> I. >> Okay. We have one ordinance up for introduction tonight. Miss Kotiga, can
you please read this ordinance by uh title only? An ordinance of the Burrow of the Garwood County of Union, New Jersey, amending chapter 106 entitled land use, article 8 entitled zoning regulations,
section 10 entitled eating and drinking establishments and adding a new subsection entitled mobile retail food facilities. Okay. Do I have a motion to introduce this ordinance? So moved. >> Second.
>> Roll call, please. Councilwoman Anarelli. Hi. Councilwoman Biano. Hi. >> Councilwoman Oldi. >> I. >> Councilman Padusniaak. I. >> Councilman Sera. >> Hi. >> Council President Bodto. >> I.
>> Okay. Council standing reports. Finance. Council President Bodto. >> No report. >> Okay. Fire and OEM. Councilman Padusniaak. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I just wanted to uh acknowledge that the fire department had its memorial event last Wednesday,
actually the same night as the storm that brought down the poles we heard about earlier. And I wanted to thank them and all the first responders for their work even on that night when they had the event. Um, I also just wanted to inform the council and burrow of the fire department's receipt of a grant
request written by firefighter Ben Fishman that uh the grant is called a New Jersey American Water 2026 volunteer fire NDMS grant. It allows the for the acquisition of two uh gas meters. These go on the engines for the purposes of
detecting uh basically gaseous emissions in emergency situations. These are an upgrade that would allow for um more specific location and for the detection of methane as opposed to other gases which is valuable in firefighting. And that's all for my report. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Yes, that congratulations to them on that grant. Community development councilwoman Biano. >> No report. >> Public works Councilman Surka. >> Sorry, one sec. In addition to their normal duty duties,
U DPW has among other activities dragged and lined the ball field at the sports complexes needed cleaned up the common areas around the municipal complex, watered the flowers and weeded the street side pots throughout the burrow on a daily basis, weeded the landscaping
beds and trimmed the shrub shrubbery in the municipal complex and continued street sweeping operations in accordance with the annual public work schedule. Residents are reminded to check the public work schedule and to remove their cars from the street so the department
can effectively sweep the streets. >> Thank you. All right. Uh police councilwoman NDI. >> No report. >> Okay. Community engagement Councilwoman Anarelli. >> Thanks Mayor. Um on Monday there's going
to be a lot of repetition here. On Monday we held the Garwood Memorial Day remembrance service and lunchon. Um, thank you to everyone who helped organize the event. Um, our rec director, uh, Tyler Christie and our clerk, Miss Kotiga, uh, spent their
memorial day helping us out, um, and serving the Garwood community. And, um, thanks to our special guest, Jay Boxwell, who shared both his experience in the service and his current work advocating for veterans in New Jersey. Um, also repeating about summer wreck
camp. It will run from June 29th to August 7th. So, there'll be a parents meeting on June 17th at 6:30 in the wreck to discuss the details. Um, and registration is still open. It's for kids entering grades 1 through 8. Um, so make sure to register before that closes
at garwoodre.com. And then adult open play soccer is still taking place on Friday evenings. Um, and adult open play basketball is taking place on Wednesday evenings. And that's all for my report. >> Thank you. Uh library mayor's representative, Councilwoman Nuli.
>> Thank you, Mayor. I'm just going to highlight some things that are going on in June. Uh and some important things to keep in mind when visiting the library. On June 2nd, uh election day is um being held uh in the libraries from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. That is a polling location.
And the library will be open, but the children's section will be closed. The computers and seating are not available and limited browsing and checkout are permitted. On June 3rd at 7:30, the library board meeting, a meeting of the Garwood Board of Trustees will take
place at 7:30 and this meeting is open to the public. Um June 10th and 24th, adult game day at 1 p.m. June 10th at 3, Lego Club, and the forementioned June 11th event at 7 p.m. the American
Revolution in Union County. Um, June 15th at 1:00 p.m. Monday book club. June 25th at 6:00, the Thursday night book club will meet to discuss Mr. and Mrs. American by Juliet McDaniel. For more information, uh, see the Garwood Public
Library website or for more information and register for programs, you may call the library directly at 9087891670. That's all for my report. >> Thank you. uh school board liaison, council president Bodto. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh the board of
education met on May 19th. Uh they held their monthly student counselor presentation. They recognized the Mustang movers and the honor society. There was also a presentation from the NJSBA regarding superintendent evaluation and the board's self
evaluation. Their next meeting will be held on June 16th. That's all for me. >> Thank you. um for the senior citizens. Um no report, but our next club meeting will be on June 4th at 12:00 p.m. at the
Knights of Columbus. Uh small business advisory councilwoman Biano. >> No report. >> Okay. Board of Health Leaison, Councilman Sera. >> The Board of Health met on May 20th. Members of the Westfield Regional Health Department were in in attendance and
provided updates on a variety of topics including inspections for vendors that will be participating in the upcoming Gard Rocks event on Sunday, June 7th. members had participated in a regional tabletop exercise involving a chemical
incident at the Morris County Emergency Operations Center, which is designed to promote multi- agency and multi-county coordination, test current uh emergency response plans, and provide recommendations for future preparedness
endeavors within the state. Director Avalone also discussed uh the upcoming World Cup event and how the state and local health departments are preparing for the influx uh of visitors. Uh the Westfield Regional Health
Department will be bringing back the popular healthy bones program. At this time they do not have an impending start date, but please keep an eye out on our social media for information as we will be posting once it becomes available. Beginning June 1st, the Westfield
Regional Health Department in conjunction with RWJB Trinitas is opening a women, infants, and children or wick site at the community center in Summit, New Jersey. uh services will include nutrition, health and
breastfeeding, education, referrals to other community resources, and electric food benefits. Sorry, electronic food benefits for income uh elig eligible uh pregnant women, breastfeeding and postpartum women 6 months after
delivery, infants, and children up to 5 years old. The burough licensing official shared that approximately 50 dogs that have not renewed their license from 2025 um haven't renewed their licenses for this
year. Reminder letters are going out um to those pet owners shortly. You can license your dog, cat, um and other pets through the burrow's website. Uh if you have questions, please send an email to clerk@garwood.org. >> Thanks.
>> Thank you. Um, okay. Planning board liaison, Councilwoman Biano. >> There's no report. >> Meeting canceled. Okay. Um, we don't have any officers report. So, moving on to public comment. Uh, if you wish to address the mayor and
council, please step to the microphone, state your full name and address, and please limit your comments to 5 minutes. Good evening, mayor, ladies and gentlemen of the council. Bruce Patterson, 325 Willow Avenue. Now that you passed the uh the bonding
appropriation, uh just a question out there to you guys and I guess Mr. Arthur also, what is the total debt now that uh we're including that $500,000? I would assume you actually understand what the total debt is being that you
added another half a million dollars to it. uh 26113. That's that's the salary ordinance on uh page 11 of 14. I'm just wondering who who actually is
in uh some committee that actually discusses uh setting the salaries. uh are these pe are the people listed actually also involved in the negotiations or or is that done, you know, behind closed doors and nobody
knows what they're going to get until it shows up on this salary ordinance? Uh I mean looking at it oh yeah looking at it which ones actually if you can run down which ones are the stipens and which one is actually the true salary uh towards
pension benefits in in one year I handed out that one piece of paper and and in one year salaries actually the total salary and wage line went up over $200,000 which was a 6% increase
which is really unheard of in private industry you get maybe two or 3% increase but the employee count didn't change and yet the salary and wage line went up 6%. Uh, somebody on social media did a Excel sheet showed a salary wage
cost just for the administration portion went up 14% in two years. Back back to talking about the numbers, the the finances of Garwood. I mean, our budget went up $2 million in in two years. Uh, in in about two three years,
we received about a million dollars in pilot monies. uh $600,000 is in tax increases, property tax increases, uh fees, questionable fees on the RVSA, but that added another $200,000.
Traffic tickets added another $100,000. I mean, we we are like the cash flow is amazing what's going on. And yet, you know, we're raising taxes. We're borrowing $2,000, $3,000. Something's not right. You know, the
running fund balance actually went up $250,000 off, though. I I mean, it's just somebody you guys are dropping the ball on on proper financial discipline.
Like I said, I've been here for 25 years watching councils and watching their budgets. I mean, this is fast and loose here. Next year is another year and hopefully uh you get it together. Uh yeah, just another question on on the
board of health. Um Mr. Sherekica, have they discussed anything on the Hunter virus that that seems to be appearing out there somewhere? No. Thank you very much. >> Okay. John Bartle 231 hemlock. Uh yeah, I
would be uh very appreciative if there was a followup on that uh where the $11,000 from last year's capital budget for those uh receptacles uh went to. I I I'm not going through the budget with a fine tooth comb. It only just jumped out at
me that uh we had this appropriation this year and I have a little bit of memory left and I did recall it being included in the appropriation from last year. So, if we don't watch the little things, it makes me wonder again, uh I can't read that financial statement that's on the uh
website about all the the bonds we have open for forever and municipal financing is a mystery to me and my eyes glaze over it. But I'm trusting that um we're uh we're managing the cash from these uh appropriations from years back and that
if something was appropriated uh we shouldn't see it a second appropriation for an identical uh spend the next next time. But enough on that. I appreciate the um diligence and consideration regarding uh the data center topic uh and not
succumbing to data center fever and hysteria. Uh back when I was a little kid, we used to have something called limousine liberals and uh these were people who would march in favor of civil rights by day, get in their fancy car, get driven home to their gated communities, and woe to any minorities
that tried to move into their neighborhood. Uh, and it's not a term I hear much anymore, but when I see all of the u cry about data centers, and I see these folks who go home and jump on Facebook and share their coordination and post
their pictures on Instagram and their videos on YouTube and find all their facts on Google and order all their stuff on Amazon and uh, it's getting late, so we better order in using Door Dash and then say, "Whoa, we can't have data centers and I don't use AI." So,
uh, data centers for them, not in my neighborhood. Um, but like any other kind of land use, we have to be smart about it. Uh, and in a community like Garwood, we want to make sure our zones are we have the appropriate bulk standards and other things that go along with it. But don't throw out the baby
with the bathwater. Let's remember in March of 2020, on March 13th, the United States shut down. And on Monday morning, we opened up for business again with our schools open with businesses turning on a dime to
create contact-free uh uh consumer and retail businesses. We kept the supply chain going such as it was and that was all due to technology and uh America has always been the leader and there are people around the world who know that this is the new
battlefield and they don't want us to be the leader anymore. So let's not be dumb. Let's think things through. It's like any other zoning type of situation. We don't want to put a nuclear reactor on the paperboard site, but a little rack
space data center somewhere, maybe on one of the South Avenue properties that may redevelop someday that can serve local community, local businesses and entrepreneurs and so on. Don't let's not follow the lead of other towns who think
the sky is falling all of a sudden and want to run to uh uh totally ban uh what is uh quite frankly a an imperative uh piece of our economy and uh an inherently beneficial use. I hate to use
that term, but I think there's going to be a rude surprise for people who think they've banned uh these uses. uh and don't be deceived by the uh some of the things that you see in social media. I know this group knows and from our experience here, whether it be sex
education standards or outsourcing a person uh from the DPW or any of a plethora of other things that you've seen on social media, if you believed everything you saw on there, oh, you'd be u chasing our tails forever. You don't like that. and just take with a
grain of salt the things that you see uh posted on this particular topic and please uh act in haste and we will repent and uh you know let's not do that. So thank you for considering uh in in the committee and and don't just jump into follow the leader and uh and do
because other towns have done it. Thanks. >> Thank you. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council? Laura Thompson, 320 Pine. Um, I'm just going to reiterate again that
if we sent out if we sent a budget out saying that we're going to spend $10,000 on garbage cans, but we didn't spend $10,000 on garbage cans. Nobody knows exactly where the money went to. Is this something that happens all the time? Is this something that we're doing all the time? we're budgeting for
something and we we're overbudgeting for it so that we have money kind of s stuck to the side so that if we're short sometime there's money, you know, we're we're that's not really the way you're supposed to pay for things. You're supposed to pay for what
it costs and get it done. You put it on the budget line to do last year. You didn't do it for some reason. And we deserve to know why. Um, and alongside garbage cans and pollution and everything else, there is such a thing as light pollution. And if you're
standing in downtown Garwood at 11:00 at night, it's like being in Time Square. It is so bright, it's ridiculous. And I would hope that we're being a little bit more conscious of what kind of lighting we're putting under the underpass that
it's not like being in the freaking center of the sun at 11 o'clock at night. It's not necessary. This town is relatively safe unless somebody knows something. I don't know. I mean, most of us walk around and we don't even have
our door doors locked until it's night time. >> I don't see why we've got to have more and more of the same thing. It's It's ruining the environment. >> Thank you. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor council?
Okay, seeing none. Do I have a motion to close public comment? >> Some moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Uh, Miss Yes. Sorry. Before we close out, uh, we do have a public
comment that was emailed in. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh, this came in today, um, before the deadline of submission from a Mr. Sean Foley. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I wanted to ask for an update regarding the proposed
resolution to ban rental pricing software. I have been emailing and sending the resolution to council since December of 2025, and I'm concerned that no action has occurred despite the seriousness of the concerns being raised and the potential impact this may have
had on residents in our community. For those in the public who don't know, FMLA at Garwood was publicly named in litigation connected to alleged algorithmic rent pricing practices tied to real page. If these allegations are
true, families in this burrow outside of Vermila would be financially harmed by paying inflated rental costs brought forth by the software alleged to be used by Vermeila. Cranford, Scotch Plains, Clark, and Fanwood have already passed
resolutions addressing this issue with more municipalities expected to follow. This resolution is about acknowledging the concerns of residents and showing that Garwood takes potential harm to its community seriously. So tonight, I am respectfully asking again, where does
this resolution currently stand and does the council intend to move forward with it? Thank you, Sean Keegan Foley. >> Thank you. Okay. So now we will close public comment. Do I have a motion? >> Some moved. Second. >> Thank you. All in favor.
Okay. Um actually Mr. Arthur, we had something come across today from you about concerning um the topic uh Mr. Foley was talking about. Do you want to >> Yeah. So we have a draft that we are planning to in uh put forth for a vote
at the June 1st June meeting. So >> Okay. The committee discussed it and >> Yeah. committee discussed it and um you know if if anyone has any more feedback, let me know and we'll make a couple more edits and it should be ready for the first meeting in June.
>> Okay. Um Okay. Um Miss Thompson, um no, we don't overbudget. There are some times where things come in under budget, which is a great thing actually, but it doesn't often happen. Uh but there is no such we there it would be illegal for us
to overbudget any item. Um and but that doesn't so that has nothing to do with purchasing new garbage cans. Um m Mr. Patterson um the finance committee is actually the committee that discusses
the salaries um the stipended uh employees versus salary. I think it's actually kind of obvious on that list um because you can see the the small amounts versus the larger salaries. The smaller ones are
stifened. So um you talked about why cash flow has gone up so much and yet we're there's still a tax increase. Um we talked about it at the budget hearing why the many areas where things have
increased and that's what they what that goes to. Um our debt as of now with this new bond is.77. So we're still doing really well in terms of uh stability there. And um I
think the hunter virus uh councilman >> yeah um the hunto virus was addressed at the board of health. They um they informed us that uh basically if anyone that had been exposed to this most recent outbreak was in any
municipality in basically the country, the local board of health would be informed so that in case um there was any spread or anything like that, the local board of health could address it and ensure that it didn't spread any further. Um
they also uh plan to put out a bulletin and this should come out I think in the next month or two um of um how to deal with rodent droppings if they happen to be in your home or or on your property
so as to not expose yourself to haunt virus. That as soon as it's available will be published on uh the burrow website and the uh board of health's um page as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, and I think that was it,
Mr. Patterson. Mr. Bartlike again will Mr. Arthur will have to get that to you. And I think that was it. I think I covered it. Okay, we will move on to the consent agenda. Does anybody have anything they need to remove? >> 2617.
>> Okay, >> so 2617's under old business. I don't think it's actually technically on the consent agenda. It's already separate, right? >> Yes, it is. Yeah. >> So, we don't need to remove it. Anything else? >> Because was we we voted on it
two votes. >> Yeah. >> So, it was voted on and passed unanimously at the last meeting. So, this is technically old business. >> It can still be discussed as old once the consent agenda is voted on, then it can be discussed as old business and then voted on separately.
>> Agenda vote first and then we'll go to old business. Um, does anybody have anything else from consent agenda they need removed? Okay. So, seeing that, can I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda? >> Some second.
>> Okay. Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Anarelli, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano, >> I. Councilwoman Noly, >> hi. >> Councilman Padusniaak, >> hi. >> Councilman Serega, >> I. >> Council President Bodto, >> I
>> Okay. Um, okay. So, old business, we have resolution 26-17. Um, assume they wanted a discussion on that. >> Yes, thank you. I was not at the prior meeting. um and therefore did not quite
realize what had happened. Uh I earlier this year we spent a lot of time discussing the need for the reform to the bylaws specifically surrounding um a a spirited discussion we will say that happened around holiday parking ordinance and its addition to the agenda the agenda
um in reviewing the bylaws. It just doesn't seem like changes are particularly substantial. We've discussed this as if it was going to be uh a major streamlining of the process and as best I can tell there's just somewhat further specification in terms of committee assignments or a
reorganization of that and it just doesn't seem to meet to me that the litmus test that we'd set for ourselves in reforming those bylaws. So that's to say. >> Okay. Um I believe it went through the committee if chairman wants to.
>> Um yes, this went through the committee and uh came out unanimous vote. Um we discussed it in length. We met several times. So that's all I have to say about this. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I'll just I >> Okay,
>> you can have one more. Go ahead. I just don't >> I mean I was just gonna I don't know if it was handed out at the last meeting or or not since I was not present but >> it was >> okay well then that's it. >> Okay. Yeah, it was on the agenda and it was given to everybody.
>> So okay, we will motion. Does any do I have a motion to adopt? So second. Okay. Roll call. Councilwoman Annarelli I. Councilwoman Biano. >> Hi. >> Councilwoman Ni,
>> I. >> Councilman Padusniaak. >> Nay. >> Councilman SA. >> Hi. >> Council President Bodto. >> Hi. >> Okay. Um, new business. I actually did want to mention something. Um, and now I have to
look for the dates. Um, because we will be something I I neglected to put into my report. Um, Garwood will be celebrating Pride Month. As you know, we have GPAC doing their project. We also will be
celebrating with a couple one event a week. So, um, June 4th, uh, we will be having Pride Cookie decorating at 300 p.m. at the library. Come and decorate a yummy cookie. And then on June 9th, uh, at 7 p.m., we be showing a screening of
a documentary, Will Will and Harper, at 7 p.m. And, uh, that is for adults only. Uh, June 16th at 3:30, we will be chalking the walk around the library. Uh, and then June 27th, we will be
celebrating with a story time with Garwood Arthur Gar Garwood author Rob Pearlman. Uh, and some crafts at 11 o'clock. So that's June 27th. So looking forward to those events and um, keep an eye out on social media obviously for
all of those. Okay. Um, the next regular meeting of the mayor and council will be held on Thursday, June 11th, 2026 at 7 p.m. in council chambers. Information for meetings is posted on the burough website. Uh, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Some move. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay.