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Yeah. >> Hello. There we go. >> Welcome everybody. If I could have everybody 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

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republic of one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and for all. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the leader and advertised on November 13, 2025. Notice of this meeting has also been posted on the

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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

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posted on our burough website under the section titled legal notices. Uh, roll call, please. Miss Katiga. >> Madame Mayor here. >> Councilwoman Inelli here. Councilwoman Biano >> here. Councilwoman Noli >> here. Councilman Padusniaak is excused.

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>> Councilman Sera, he is excused as well. Council President Bod here. >> A roll call of staff and professionals, please. Uh, Mr. John Arthur, our burough administrator, >> here. >> Um, Mr. Jonathan Pridey, chief of police. Mr. Adam Abramson, burough

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attorney >> here. >> Okay, we will head right to our report from our burough attorney. Anything for us, Mr. Abramson? >> Nothing new. >> Okay, report from our burough administrator, Mr. Arthur. >> Yes. On tonight's agenda, you'll see a resolution 26128. This was sent to us by our office of

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emergency management coordinator for hazard mitigation plan. Uh the county is asking us to pass this resolution adopting their plan uh which could open up potential grant funding included including from FEMA grants during emergencies and without this plan we actually wouldn't qualify for a lot of

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funding. Resolution 26-127 uh was created by our affordable housing attorney and planner and this spending plan is a state requirement. Resolutions 26126 and 26125 were reviewed reviewed by the planning board last night and

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both received the board's unanimous support. Also, just a reminder to everybody, July 9th's uh council meeting is canled due to there's no there's going to be a lack of a quorum due to some vacations and some work events. So, that's it for my report. >> Thank you.

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Okay. Um so I do want to bring your attention uh to some of those resolutions that Mr. Arthur mentioned uh 26125 which is a resolution opposing legislation that has been brought before the committee in in the state a committee in the state legislature

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uh that I could I feel could greatly hurt Garwood. This bill 1836 would allow developers to purchase church or nonprofit property and bypass our zoning code when developing. Uh it would mandate um at least 40 uh 40 units an

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acre uh allow building a story over our current code and they would not need to seek the normal variances from our planning board. So not only does this assurp our local planning authority but it supersedes the affordable housing plan that Garwood worked hard not only

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to put together but to defend in the courts. Um the planning board as Mr. Arthur said discussed this bill last night and I know planning board leaison councilwoman Biano will have a little bit more to say about this but I hope the council members will support this

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resolution and vote yes. Telling our legislators that this bill while created in the effort of making more affordable housing really only hurts the efforts that municipalities like ours have been making to create that housing. Um, likewise, I want to put my support

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behind resolution 26-126, which I know Councilwoman Bianca will also discuss. This bill mandates municipalities under 9,000 residents to allow accessory dwelling units or ADUs, as you'll hear them mentioned. Um, it would supersede again any local zoning

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code and severely limit our planning authority. And while again I understand the need for more housing in our state, uh I think this bill completely undermines the master plans that we as a municipality work hard on for proper planning. It ignores the real issue of

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density and infrastructure pressures that we already worked to deal with in our affordable housing plans. Uh it also ignores the fact that for safety purposes uh a town like Garwood may have to employ more inspectors and en enforcement officers without any revenue

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to offset that. So while ADUs as a concept may not necessarily be a bad thing for increasing housing options in the state, this mandate I don't feel get gets it right. Uh moving to a different topic, I want to thank all of the restaurants who participated in Taste of

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Garwood this year. Uh, it was great to go out and support our local businesses and also get some great deals at the same time. We truly have a wide variety of food served here in Garwood and I hope everyone continues to support these great restaurants throughout the summer. I also want to thank the Garwood Public

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Library for hosting our Pride events this month and thank everyone who has come out to participate. We've had a great time decorating cookies and had a lot of new people come out to celebrate by chalking the walk. Uh I also can give two thumbs up to the documentary Will

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and Harper. Um so really recommend everyone watching it if you get a chance. Uh this Saturday is our last Pride event with Garwood author uh Rob Pearlman reading from one of his children's books at the library at 11:00 a.m. Uh there will be some crafts as uh

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for everyone to do as well as snacks including some very special pride cookies. Um I hope everyone here stops by to hear the story. Rob is really great to give his time uh to this each year and so it's always a fun event. Uh the town of Cranford has invited

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Garwood residents to join them for a very special celebration as our nature our nation approaches its 250th birthday. They are hosting a communitywide celebration on Thursday July 3rd. Not Thursday. Is that

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Thursday? Friday. Know why I have July 3rd. um from 1 pm to 6 pm at Hansen Park. Uh the event will feature games, crafts, food trucks, live music, uh and historical demonstrations that will

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bring our nation's history to life. Uh and I know Garwood's Revolution 250 committee is still planning events for later in the summer. Uh but this is a unique opportunity to celebrate this milestone with our neighbors. And finally, I want to remind everyone

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of our big news that Garwood will be kicking off its inaugural summer concert series in July. Uh each Tuesday in July at 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. we will have a different musical concert at the Vermela patio by the fountain. Uh this concert

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series is made possible by Vermela, who will also be hosting some food trucks in their circular driveway during the concerts. So, bring your lawn chair, grab a seat on the benches, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the summer with a little music. Thank you to Mr. Arthur who worked with Vermela to create this

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concert series. Um, our social media has a list of all the bands that will be playing. They include Viva Vayonato. I'm probably say it >> vayonato. Thank you. Bradford Hayes, American Women, and Violet. I'm very

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excited to bring this to Garwood and I, you know, hope it's something we can do annually. We've been able to bring more of the arts into Garwood over the past few years. Thank you, Councilwoman, for that. Um, and this continues that progress. Uh, I will unfortunately miss

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the first one as I'll be away, but I can't wait to see the others and I hope everyone will be there. Um, I know we have some other events coming up this summer that our council members will report on either this meeting or the next. Um, but safe to say I think we really have some great things happening

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in Garwood this summer. So, thank you. We will move on to comments from the council. Councilwoman Annarelli. Thank you, Mayor. Um, as I have done in the past, I will be recusing myself from a few votes tonight that are relating

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relate to housing and overlap with some of my work professionally. um just to prevent any any appearance of a conflict of interest given my employment at NJHFI. That's all for my comments. >> Thank you. Uh Councilwoman Biano. >> Good evening, Mayor. Thank you.

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Actually, I have a lot of comments. So, um, regarding the Senate bill S1836, yes in God's Backyard Act, I also oppose the Senate bill because it further shifts land use authority away from municipalities and places it in the hands of the state. While I respect the important role that religious

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institutions and nonprofit organizations play in our communities, local zoning exists to ensure that development is compatible with surrounding neighborhoods and that infrastructure can support the future growth. This legislation would allow certain housing developments to move forward as a permitted use without the traditional

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local zoning review process that limits the ability of the municipalities to evaluate the impacts on traffic, parking, public services, neighborhood character, and the infrastructure before the projects are approved. Garw has Garwood has always planned for growth through a transparent local

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process that allows residents to be heard. I believe those planning decisions should continue to be made at a local level, not through statewide mandates. For those reasons, I oppose Senate Bill S1836. Then regarding uh Senate Bill S1 1786,

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the accessory dwelling units, I oppose the Senate bill because it represents another erosion of local zoning authority. While increasing housing opportunities is an important goal, decisions regarding where and how additional housing should be permitted are best made by the municipalities that

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know their communities, not by the state. This legislation would require towns like Garwood to allow accessory dwelling units in residential neighborhoods regardless of whether our master plan or zoning ordinances support that type of development. Over time, this could increase residential density,

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place additional demands on parking, roads, sewer infrastructure, emergency services, and schools while limiting our ability to manage growth in a way that reflects our community's character. As elected officials, we are responsible for thoughtful planning that balances housing needs with the quality of life

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that our residents expect. I believe those decisions should remain in the hands of the local government. And for that reason, I oppose Senate Bill S1786. And I ask for everybody's support on resolution 26-125 and 26-126.

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Thank you, ma'am. That's all. >> Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Nuly. I just have one short um announcement that there's still time to catch the Garwood Partnership for Arts and Cultures celebrates Pride. In June at the library with the display of the

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community art project, members of the community of all ages created the square tiles of the rainbow colored abstract art which are um on the wall at the public library through the month of June in celebration of pride. Uh the full list of participating artists is posted alongside the artworks. I hope everyone

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will catch uh catch that along with the um event at the library. >> Yeah, turned out really beautiful. Um Council President Bod, >> thank you, Mayor. No comments for me tonight. >> Okay, we will move right along to the approval of minutes.

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Miss Kotiga, >> uh these are the minutes of the regular meeting of mayor and council held on Thursday, June 11th, 2026. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to accept the regular meeting minutes as presented? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I

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>> opposed. Okay. Communications, please. >> We have the Rawway Valley Sewage Authority the May 21st, 2026 meeting minutes. Our second communication we have from the Garwood Planning Board a notice of public hearing um from Paul

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Muns of John Jin Realy Co. of 4652nd Avenue. The third communication we have the Westfield Zoning Board notice of a special meeting being held um regarding the Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Corporation located at 1129 Boon Avenue.

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Uh we also have the Township of Cranford notice of hearing uh for ordinance 2026-17 regarding the removal of data centers from permitted conditional uses in certain zones. And lastly, we have a correspondence from the Irrigation

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Association of New Jersey regarding PL 2025, chapter 262, which discusses landscape irrigation laws. >> Okay, thank you. They have been received and filed. We will move on to our council standing committee reports. Uh,

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anything from finance? Council President Bodto, >> no report, mayor. >> Um, anything I haven't received anything myself from Councilman Padusniak. Anybody? Okay. Um, community development councilwoman Biano. >> Good evening. The community development

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committee met on June 15, 2026. The community discussed proposed legislation regarding accessory dwelling units. And after that discussion, we referred the matter to the planning board for its review and recommendation. The planning board has since completed its review and submitted its recommendation, which is before the mayor and council for

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discussion this evening and adoption. That's all. >> Okay. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Next meeting of the community development committee is scheduled for July 21st, 2026. >> Okay. Sure. Um, and I assume and has anybody received anything from Yep. Good.

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>> So, I'll be sharing the public works report um in Councilman Sika's absence. So, uh, in addition to their normal duties and among other activities, the DPW has installed American flags in various areas around the burough, restriped the parking spots in the

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municipal complex, prepared the sports complex for summer programs, and continue street sweeping operations in accordance with the annual public work schedule. A quick reminder for residents to continue to check the public works schedule and to remove their cars when appropriate from the street so that the

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department can effectively sweep. That's it for public works. Thank you. >> Um just know that the electronics recycling is scheduled for Saturday, July 11th. >> Yes, that's true. Kind of it always jumps up on us. July 11th is the

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electronics recycling, but I we we call it electronics recycling. And there's actually a host of things now that we do. So if everybody wants to check the schedule um of services, it has a list of the items that are collected. >> Um police councilwoman Noli,

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>> no report. >> Uh community engagement councilwoman Annarelli. Uh summer uh Garwood summer rec summer uh camp is starting this Monday, June 29th, and will run through August 7th. Uh there's still a few more days to

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register which you can do at garwoodrec.com. In addition, there'll be some summer uh clinics. So there's youth soccer and youth dance/chair. They'll be starting up first summer on July 11th and will take place on Saturday mornings at the

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sports complex. Registration is open for that as well. Adult open play soccer is still taking place on f Friday evenings and adult open play basketball is taking place on Wednesday evenings. Last but not least, everyone should mark their calendars for the ice cream social event

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hosted by the rec committee and the fire department. This will be taking place on July 20th. That's all for my report. >> That is always a fun night. Okay. Uh library Councilwoman Nully. >> Uh no report this evening, but there is a lot going on at the library throughout

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the summer, including the summer reading program for schoolaged children, which I announced at the last uh meeting. So, for more information, see the Garwood Public Library website. And to register for programs, call 908-7891670 or email the Garwood Library at Garwood

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Library uh Garwood Librarygarwood.org. That's that's all for my report. >> Okay. Thank you. School board council president Bod. >> Thank you, Mayor. The board of education met on June 16th. During the meeting, they recognized the Mustang movers, honoral members, and heard the student

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council's monthly report. There was also discussion regarding the appkeep school. The superintendent advised that the district is currently short-handed, but that the grass will be kept. Uh they will also be collaborating with the realtor to rent the building. The next

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board of education meeting is scheduled for August 18th. That is all for my report. >> Thank you. Um for our Garwood seniors, uh at our last meeting, we had an ice cream party. Um, thank you to It's Delicious Ice Cream in Clark for stopping by our senior meeting in their

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truck and giving our seniors a treat to cool down with. I mean, who doesn't love an ice cream party? So, our next meeting will be July 2nd at 12 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus. Um, small business Councilwoman Bianca. So, restaurant week was a great success

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and I would like to thank all of our participating restaurants, businesses, and residents and visitors who helped make the event such a positive experience. The support shown throughout this week was greatly appreciated and highlighted the strength of our local business community. We look forward to meeting with our small business owners

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again in the near future to begin planning another event that will continue to promote and support our local businesses. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, anybody have anything for board of health? Okay. Um, planning board councilwoman Biano.

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>> Last night, the planning board met and heard an application requesting a certificate of nonconformity. The board engage in extensive discussion regarding that application, which questions from board members and testimony from the applicant and professionals. As additional information and discussion are needed before determination can be

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made, the application was carried and will continue to the next planning board meeting which is scheduled for July 22nd, 2026. That's all. >> Thank you. Okay, we will move right along to public comment. If there's anybody in the audience who wishes to address the council, please step to the microphone, state your full name and

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address, and please limit your comments to five minutes. John E. Perchard 410 Garwood. I said it before and I'll say it again. We need to back our police officers, firefighters, and rescue squad personnel.

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Because they're there for us. They're the ones you can count on when when when the tra when when emergencies arise, especially our police and fire departments and rescue squad personnel.

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We need to back them up in every way because they're the ones who have that I'll be there and never you fear kind of attitude that serves as well. Abolishing police departments, abolishing fire departments, and abolishing rescue squads is not the answer. And mark well,

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what I do say, ladies and gentlemen, should never be the answer. So, reject those uh radical leftists who who hate our police officers and firefighters and rescue squad personnel. We must back them up in every way. And

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that the same thing goes for our military personnel. We need to back them up as they serve our country both at home and abroad. We failed to do so during the war in Vietnam. And during that time, three of Garwood's sons had lost their lives

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fighting for our country. We must back them up in every way. They loved us so every day. In a hundred ways, they told us so.

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In honesty, in affection, they told us so. They loved us so every day. In a 100 ways, they showed us so.

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With loyalty and bravery, they showed us so. They were our defenders and they kept us free. They took an oath

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to guard us and fought for liberty. They loved us so and we should know for we loved them so. And finally,

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we need to pressure the state legislature in Trenton to reopen some closed hospitals such as Muenberg because what if an on 911 attack occurs? We'll need those hospitals very, very badly. The sooner we activate those

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hospitals, the better off we all will be. I'll make myself clear. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. >> Thank you, Mr. Pritchard. Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council? Please come forward. Laura Thompson 320 Pine app. Um, couple

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questions uh for right now. First of all, I'd like to thank you all for looking at that S1836 and S1786 bills and agreeing that it's ridiculous and it's taking power out of our hands. It's the nicest thing I've heard in this room

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in a long time. Um I was questioning and I apologize I wasn't here last week for family reasons cost to the township and the um revenue for the township for Garwood

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Rocks. I know we have to put block the streets. The police have to do that. The DPW has to do the cleanup. Um I know that the uh Westfield Chamber of Commerce collects fees for the cars and the vendors. Um, I'm just wondering

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after all is said and done, what is what's the breakdown? Does Westfield Chamber of Commerce give us that money or do they take a chunk of it? Um, and uh, that's my question. Thank you. >> Okay.

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Um, is anybody else wish to address the mayor and council? Good evening, mayor, ladies and gentlemen of the council. Bruce Patterson, 325 Willow Avenue. Um, I sent uh some of my questions ahead of time only because they appear to be intricate

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and hopefully can be answered. Um, I also have other comments. Um, one is about the ADU units. I mean I I do not like that idea either. However, one time I was talking with u uh planner Vicron and I was saying, you

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know, we actually should at least allow the single family homes to be replaced with two family homes as long as one of those units would become an affordable housing unit. Maybe that would be the best plan moving forward instead of ADUs. Um I don't know

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how far that would get, but I'm just telling you the same thing I told Vic. Uh let's see. Yeah. Uh some questions on on the backup of the reszos uh and through you mayor to the police committee. I guess you guys all have copies of whatever. >> Mr. P, are you going to read from that

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email? Okay. Because total five minutes just so you know with that email and other questions. >> Thank you. I do get a couple of minute half a minute back after you did that. But anyway through you mayor uh to the police committee chair. I don't know whoever that is, but anyway, reszo

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26-122 and 23. Uh, the taxpayers spending 100 grand for two police vehicles that in the old days we buy a police vehicle every other year, but now we have two in one year. I'm just wondering uh what are these for? Why are

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we doing it? And what was wrong with the replaced older vehicles? So hopefully somebody can answer that. and also to the public works committee chair the reszo 126124 $29,000 for the equipment loader

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manufactured by Caterpillar and I'm just wondering was this through a standard co-op purchase I know it talks about it but did we actually have to rewrite these specifications somewhat uh to fit our needs and uh what equipment is this replacing and what is it to be used for

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and I'm just wondering uh source well is the intermitt the intermediary for the uh co-op program of the state. I'm just wondering how do they get paid? Hopefully somebody can answer that. Um also reszo 26-127

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the third we wrote whereas reads uh that the judge entered an order and decision establishing the burrow's fourth round affordable housing obligation at 31 present need units and 80 prospective need units. The reason why I bring this up is consequently what came out of the

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paper board lawsuit was the property was the property to include another six of our affordable housing units plus 30 more total units and the fourth round plan was amended and approved by authorities. However, after the lawsuit, we find ourselves in error with a total

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of 86 affordable housing units to build over and above the 80 affordable housing units as calculated by the DCA and as agreed by all parties. Uh, this paperwork obviously needs to be uh revised since the DCA constraint

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obviously reduces the six air um affordable housing units from L and applies wherever they're going to be deleted. It's your choice and saves us from imposing on Garwood's community another 30 residential units and legally

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maybe the attorney can answer that. Uh in in addition uh to the reszo was attachment for the fourth round affordable housing spending plan. I did have some questions about what these expenditures are about. Page eight of 16 mentions it's toward the infrastructure

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improvement. It's also extensions of affordability controls on eligible units. Uh mentions providing affordability assistance which uh enlisted as $94,000. But there they note that low-income families uh emergency

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repairs, down payment, and closing costs. Uh page 14 also notes expenditures of assistance for the 31 required rehab unit construction. I think that was 10 grand each rehab. So some of it is identified. Some of it is unknown.

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So somebody could uh explain what all those expenditures are about. And also the 250th obviously is coming up. So happy anniversary United States. And like county >> one minute. >> Oh, okay. Oh, that's a lot of time. No,

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as I told the county, by the way, I mean, you know, I find fault with the government on all levels, uh, as you know, obviously, but to tell you the truth, I mean, we do have the best government on the face of the earth, and

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I'm proud to be an American that criticizes. But anyway, uh, also, I'm I'm going to decorate my house for the 250th. I know there's no program for that, but I mean, I'm just saying this for the record and for the public and the viewers. I mean,

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hopefully everybody can at least do some kind of decoration on their house for the 250th anniversary of our nation to honor the nation. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. Okay. Does anybody else wish to address the mayor and council?

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Okay. Seeing none, do I have a motion to close public comment? So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? Um, okay. Miss Thompson, Garwood Rocks. Um, we do not receive any revenue from

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Garwood Rocks. It is um any revenue goes to the chamber. They are the ones hosting putting it on. Um it we do have a some cost in terms of some of our police officers. They do pay for some of our police officers and we

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cover the rest. Uh and we do pay for DPW to be there um that day because it isn't one of their days off. Um I don't have exact numbers for you offhand obviously. Um but um to me, you know what, it's one

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of those things that I think is is a it brings it back to us. maybe not financially, but in terms of quality of our town, um it's a great event that we can be really proud of. Uh and so I think it's worth a little bit of

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expenditure. Um it's obviously uh you know considered when when putting the budget together, but to me it's it's a day that we all come together and Garwood is known for now uh from other towns around us. It's it's such a fantastic time that

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I you know would hate anybody to say that it it wouldn't be worth you know you know some of that those salary you know for that day for our DPW because I I just think uh it comes back to us in so many other ways. But that's how I

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feel. Um so thank you for that. Mr. Patterson. Um, Chief, do you want to handle the police vehicle question about um the timing of those two vehicles? >> I think I wasn't really involved in the

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purchases prior. So, I know CO messed a lot of things up. We replaced in 2024, we replaced patrol cars from 2017 and then this year we're replacing the other ones from 2021. So, orders were getting cancelled and everything else. Um, I can't speak to anything else because I

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wasn't involved in the vehicle purchasing until now. >> Yeah. >> But they're replacing older patrol cars, maintenance is going up, uh, mileage, engine hours, and everything else. >> Thank you. Um, public works, um, Mr. Arthur, do you want to handle that about

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our loader that we discussed a lot during budget time? >> Sure. So the I'll kind of address all of it at at once, but basically Sourcewell is a local unit of government actually under Minnesota state statute. So it's a

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nonprofit. Um they do collect administrative fees from the vendors that have source wall contracts and then those fees are put back into the cooperative since they don't take a profit. Um, this was a standard co-op purchase, so there were no additional

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specifications made, but we did add a claw and a set of forks that were also included in the contract. So, it wasn't really it was an in addition to as part of the contract. Uh, this replaces a backhoe and it is used for snow removal,

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tree work, material loading and unloading, salt, various other uses. Basically, anytime they need to pick up and move something large. um they will use this type of equipment when when appropriate. I can say the backhoe um

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they use very very very frequently um for a lot of different projects. So that's I think that that's it for the response to that part of it. Um do you want me to just go into the >> Yes. Uh I there was a lot of questions on the spending plan. So I know um uh

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Mr. Baylor from Harbor has sent you some answers for that that we can provide. >> Yes. So, with regard to the first uh series of questions about the number of units, uh the response was the burough's affordable housing obligation is 80 and

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has never changed. As a result of paperboard's lawsuit, the developer will be providing 18 affordable housing units for the fourth round on the property. As a result of the additional affordable housing on the paperboard site, the bureau will have to provide a reduced

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number of affordable housing units on other properties and through mechanisms within the burrow such as the four overlay zones. Um as for the next part series of questions regarding the spending plan uh the response was

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that the per the fourth regulations affordable housing trust fund money can be applied to infrastructure improvements for affordable housing developments. No project has been identified for this yet but is listed as an option to provide the bureau flexibility.

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And then regarding the extensions of affordability controls on eligible units, the response is that this mechanism is for affordable housing units which are 30-year deed restricted but not the 30-year deed restricted is end. I'm sorry, one second. The wording

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of this is this mechanism is for affordable housing units which are 30-year deed restricted, but the 30-year deed restriction is ending. Sorry, there's a little typo in there. The bureau can use affordable housing trust fund money to extend the affordable housing deed restriction for this unit

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by providing funds to the property owner to offset these costs. No project has been identified for this yet but is listed as an option to provide the burough flexibility. And then it goes on there was a question about affordability

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assistance um which the response was affordability assistance is 71,000 which is the minimum requirement. These programs are listed in the burough's affordability assistance manual um which is on our website and I can if

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you need help finding it I'll happily share it. I'm sure you probably seen it before. Going on to the next question regarding assistance for the 31 required rehab unit construction. The response was that the rehabilitation for

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owner occupied units is through Union County Home Improvement Program where the burrow does not have to allocate any funds. FHC is requiring municipalities to provide mechanisms for rehabbing affordable rental housing units. The

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bureau then can allocate a minimum of 10,000 from its affordable housing trust fund monies for the rehab of these rental units. This program would be administered by the burough's affordable housing administrative agent. This program has not been established as of now, but will be if necessary.

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And that's all the responses regarding that. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, we will move right along to our consent agenda. And I know we

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have some um resolutions that need to be uh removed. Does anybody want to list what they need? >> Yes. Could I please have 26-125, 26-126,

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and 26-127 removed from the consent agenda, please? Okay. Anybody have anything else? All right. Can I have a motion to adopt the consent agenda as amended?

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>> So moved. >> Second. Roll call, please. Councilwoman Anarelli, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano, >> I. >> Councilwoman Noli, >> I. >> Council President Bodto, >> I.

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>> Okay, we will start with resolution 125. Do I have a motion to adopt this? >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Okay. Any discussion? Okay. Moving to a roll call.

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Councilwoman Annarelli. Abstain. Councilwoman Biano. >> I. >> Councilwoman Noli. >> I. >> Council President Bodto. >> I. >> Moving to resolution 26-126.

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Can I have a motion to adopt? >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Okay, moving to local. Councilman Annarelli abstain. Councilwoman Biano

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>> I. >> Councilwoman NDI >> I. >> Council President Bodto >> I. >> Okay. And it was 127. Correct? >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. Do I have a motion to adopt?

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>> Some moved. Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Okay. Moving to roll call. >> Councilwoman Anarelli, >> abstain. Councilwoman Biano, >> I. >> Councilwoman Noli, >> I. >> Council President Bodto,

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>> I. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, moving to adjournment and um, due to the cancellation of the July 9 2026 meeting, the next regular meeting

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of the mayor and council will be held on Thursday, July 23rd, 2026 at 7 p.m. in council chambers. Information for meetings is posted on the burrow website. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Second. >> All in favor?

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Thank you, everybody. Did I miss make it by by

