You can make that. >> Yeah. uh if I could ask everybody to please stand for a moment of silence and sol the Adequate notice of this meeting was provided to the leader and advertised on November 13, 2025. Notification was sent
to the local source Union County and is posted on the municipal website, the municipal public bulletin board and filed in the office of the municipal clerk informing the public of the time and place according to the provisions of the open public meeting law chapter 29 states that legal ads placed by the
municipality will not need to be published in beginning March 1st, 2026 and will be posted on our burough website under the section titled guard. with legal notices. Roll call, please. Mayor Blumenst >> here. Councilomani >> here. >> Councilwoman Biano
>> here. >> Councilwoman Noly >> here. >> Councilman Patusniaak >> here. >> Council President Bodto >> here. Roll call of staff and professionals please. >> John Arthur Bau administrator. >> Adam Abramson bureau attorney >> here.
>> Michael Disco bureau engineer >> here. >> Jonathan Pry chief of police. Okay. At this point, um, if I could please have a motion by council to suspend the regular order of business.
>> Second. >> Municipal vacancy law NJSA4A 16-1. The Democratic Municipal Committee has submitted the following three names for consideration to fill the unexpired council term from January 22nd, 2026
certification of the election results of the November 3rd, 2026 general election. And the three names provided were Deborah J. Ledger, Thomas N. Greece, and Hersh Viserica. So, as we know, we are appointing the
seat and I would at this point um ask mayor and council uh sorry, council to um present a motion uh for one of the >> If I may, I like to um nominate Mr. Hers
Sura. like to second that. >> Okay. Uh any discussion? Um I'll start it off if everybody's shy tonight, huh? Um I agree. I think uh her a fantastic
addition to uh our council up here. Um I have gotten to know uh Mr. Rica very well. Um he has uh been uh very involved in um knowing what's going on on council and um supporting some of the council
members up here um during the past uh couple of years. Uh he is a VLA resident who has been here for a couple of years and would provide a nice perspective up here that we don't have. Um and uh I just I know his work ethic uh and his
professionalism will certainly show through. I think the residents would be uh very lucky to have him up here. The other two names as um I have said before uh Debbie Ledger and Tom and Greece are just um fantastic people and would
certainly do a good job up here. There's no denying that. Um, and so it it's a tough it's a tough situation when you have three great people um to fill to fill a role. Uh, and uh, we would be lucky to have any of them, but I
appreciate the nomination put forward. >> Don't be shy. >> Thank you. >> Yes, I I've also gotten to know Mr. Sica in the past few years and you definitely have been very very involved, very committed and I think that um new ideas and like
you say he lives on Romela will bring us together and just you know give us a new perspective >> is it okay that yes Mr. sera many times and um seem like a
wonderful guy right for service so I think it's a good idea >> okay thank you very much um at point we will roll call vote >> councilwoman Annarelli >> I councilwoman Bo sorry sorry Biano >> I >> councilwoman Naldi
>> I >> councilman Padusniaak >> council president Bodto >> hi >> okay congratulations at this point I will administer the oath of office to Mr. Cere up there. If you will join me
Very good. affirmly affirm >> that I will uphold >> that I will uphold the >> Constitution of the United States of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> of the State
>> that I will bear true faith >> that prayer true faith >> and allegiance to the Saints >> and the Saints >> and for the government establish >> establish >> for the United States >> and states >> and it under the guardian
for people. welcome. Um, council has a few words, but he uh he asked till the council comments for them. So, we'll hear them in a little bit. Congratulations again. Welcome up here. And if I could have a motion to
res >> second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Okay. So, we have um something really special here tonight. Uh I had been talking with uh the president of the first aid squad, Glenn Costello. Um
and we had been talking about uh doing a ceremonial swearing in of our first aid uh squad officers, our administrative officers and our line officers. Um, and I just thought that was a really fantastic idea because not hopefully
you're lucky and you don't get to see them and they don't come to you, but that means that some people may not even know the the great volunteers that we have uh on our squad and all of the work that they do. And I just feel that this will help uh our residents put some
names to faces. And not only that, but I really want to honor the work that you do because we up here know how hard it is um to give of your time like that and um you know and we certainly don't do it in the middle of the
storms and things like that and you do. So um it's even more precious. So, I just wanted to um you know, begin this tradition uh of uh swearing in the first aid officers because I do think it's important um to honor you for for what
you do and also uh show the public just how amazing our volunteers here in Garwood are. So, um at this point, if I could have our um administrative officers, Glenn, Lucenne, Kim, Stephanie, uh Wilson, and Jeff. I don't
know if they're Yes, I see them. They're all here. If you could please join me up front. And if you would raise your right hand and repeat after me. I state your name. We solemnly affirm
>> solemnly affirm >> that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> serve the residents of the burrow >> serve the resurre >> that I will protect life >> that I will protect life >> provide care >> with compassion and
>> with compassion and >> respond in times of emergency >> and respond emergency >> to the best of my abilities >> to the best of my abil I will uphold the standards and traditions >> that I will uphold the standards and traditions
>> of the barage squad. perform the duty of the duties of >> your office >> with integrity >> with integity >> dedication >> dedication >> and respect for those I serve >> I serve
for If I may ask for our line officer, we have Kim back again and Rihanna. >> It happens. Okay. All right. If you will raise your right hand,
>> I say your >> name >> and I will faithfully serve >> I will faithfully serve >> the residents >> the residents >> of the borrow of the >> I will protect life >> by care >> by care
>> action and professionalism >> with compassion and professionalism >> and respond in times of emergency respond suit >> the best of my ability. defend my ability. >> That I will uphold the standards >> of uphold standards
>> and traditions >> of the gar >> and that I will perform the duties >> I will perform the duties >> of your office >> of those >> and with integrity >> with integrity >> dedication >> dedication
>> and respect >> and respect >> for those I serve >> for those I serve those What's that? Thank you once again to all of our first aid squad members, our administrative officers and line officers who came here
tonight. I know it's also tough to get here tonight with your schedule. I do um to regular business. Our first aid squad, you're welcome to stay, but I'm sure you have much better things to do.
But hey, it might be something exciting tonight. Who knows? Thank you. We will um begin with our report from our burrow engineer. >> Good evening, Mayor. Thank you. and
welcome to the new members as well. Um, I prepared an agenda and Patricia, I'm I'm sure distributed it and it's pretty brief in reality. We are working on the design of our municipal aid 2025 DOT grant project which consists of G
Hill Road, Maple Street, and West Street. We've completed all of the field work, which is good considering the snow is coming and we didn't have that finished. We'd be waiting for the snow to melt. So we design on that dated everything for February. We'll get it
dot for February. Gallows Hill will obviously going to interact with Cranford. Um the right way, the Cranford rightway varies tremendously from about 30 ft to over 60 ft there. And so how they want to put the curb on their side
is going to be important how we fit that in with the rightway um road. So we will interact with some consensus as to what they want and what we of the street >> achieve a minimum width of 24 but um the
road currently goes from 19 ft to wider than 30 ft avenue. We'll try to do the best we can. Um have confirmed that funding is procured.
We got a grant for 249,000 and change and we had listed the approximate construction cost estimate. Uh recapping what here we did get our 2026 award for uh second avenue will and
south avenue sidewalks that grant amount was 38 construction cost of about 13,000 by January we to submit a couple of mandated JP format
consecutive to be done in the initiator. We have to work by other entities and basically data collection.
In the following year, we're supposed to identify our strateies are to reduce these impairments and then two years from now more of a is going to be looking for us to actually have done something. So uh this was the
e of the three parts and again $5,000 for these tasks. Certainly the tasks that we did this year are well under that effort and um um were safe in that regard. Um there will inevitably as
they review all 500 whatever we have now 67 municipalities or 550 there will be changes to the data. U it's inevitable. Well, I already got audited. Every 3 years they audit. It's not a bad thing. It's routine in Springfield and they already looked at what our consultant
there did for uh the work and already have comments for it. So, they will go through every municipality offers comments. It's expected and we will then revise the either the infrastructure map or the inventory report or both documents. they will go up on the
website and um and be available for the public to view as well. These again are mandated tasks that every every municipality in the state has to do. It's interesting to note that um the last time they had the mandate
statewide, the compliance was only around 25 to 30% on the actual due date. A year later, they had only gotten up to 70%. So when you submit on time, it's well received by D. Uh following down uh on the agenda, um
John had asked recently about that quote. It's three-point repairs and um vortex services will be out there weather permitting soon to do those things. It's really a one or a two-day uh project. So as they fit it in their
schedule, um they will do that. Um, and mayor, you had mentioned um, some sidewalks. So, I mentioned some future work items there. And I found the inventory uh, sidewalk inventory map that we did in February of 2025, and I attached that as well, so people could
see that. And everywhere where there's a uh, an X is sort of areas that don't have sidewalks on that side of the street. And the areas that have the the shading shows where sidewalks are present. So, I know you you would like to you've been trying to add sidewalks
wherever we can in areas that are missing. And as an example, on Maple Street, our DOT that we're currently in design on, if you look at the map, or if you can recall it yourself from South Avenue, there's sidewalks on the west
side of the street or the first three blocks, but on the east side of the street, only the first half block in from South Avenue has sidewalks. So the rest of that block um towards Willow and then the whole block from Willow to Myrtle doesn't have sidewalks on the
east side and I'm very confident we can add those in our DOT grant. We've already looked at that from a design perspective. From Myrtle to Spruce, you have it on one side of the street. There's a little bit more impediment there because of landscaping and other features. So we'll look at that. the the
last block there um south of Spruce Street, which is a dead end. Um I think the residents probably would have a tough time wanting or having us force sidewalks there, and there's no really uh through traffic on that. So, I wasn't
anticipating at all trying to get sidewalks there. You have driveways and landscaping and some slope considerations as well. on West Street. Um we don't have in the one block we're doing which is between Pine and Beach. There are no sidewalks there. Again, you're right up against the Westfield
border. Certainly not getting school through traffic to get to you. And because of grade considerations, that would be very difficult to put sidewalks in. You would have to essentially build some walls. You're going to be taking down some trees. Um we can certainly solicit input from the residents. I
don't know, mayor, if you looking to to do those sidewalks or at one side of the street there. Uh if we're going to do one side of the street, probably the east side makes sense because at least you link it to the sidewalk that we have available on a pine, but we're we're going through that design process now.
Okay? >> And we can talk further on that. Gallows Hill, there's no known sidewalks there. The rightway is very narrow. If you think about how Gallows Hill meets Second Avenue or or in Cranford, they called it I think it's West Holly. >> Um right at the corner there, there's
almost limited right away available. You have a fence. You literally only have 3 ft or so to about the the curb that there that turns by the handicap ramp. So again, Gallows Hill may not be able to get sidewalks, but again, once we get everything plotted, we'll share that and
if there's ideas on that, we'll be happy to incorporate them. And then going forward, of course, you've got other areas there without sidewalks, Oak Street, um on the north side, Cedar Avenue, Cedar Street, excuse me. Um but
they can be incorporated in future work or future grant applications. And I did also add there, mayor, that we we we'd be very helpful if we could do some television inspection of sanitary sewers on the south side as the licensed wastewater operator. We're mandated to
do those periodically. We did them on the north side. I think in 2021 at this point, maybe 2022, we could certainly if there's a ability in the budget or in grants to to consider those. I know there's a lot of competing interest for the money. So that's my report and I'm
happy to answer any questions or suggestions. >> Thank you, Mr. Disco. Um yeah, one of the things that has we had the um initiated a sore fee last year and um to
take care of some different items that we know not only were on the horizon, but that we wanted to do all of the point repairs as we were using some of those fees for. So things like the um television inspection, I think um you
know it would be very wise to um utilize some of those uh fees for that so as to not burden the operating budget further. Um but that's something that certainly we will talk about as we move into budget season. Um sidewalk construction,
I appreciate the map. Um, something that, you know, I know I've spoken to you about before and I just wanted to put out there. Um, I do want to investigate along Oak. Um, if there's a side that we could look to put sidewalks
on, that is obviously Oak on the south side of of Garwood. Um, it's obvious it butts right up to the rec center. Um and obviously that is a big pedestrian um you know thoroughare you especially during the summer when we have the kids
walking to the camp. Um but pretty much all year as they're walking to the rec complex. Uh I know that um safety over there it gets brought up a lot by many parents and many residents in that area because there are no sidewalks um in
that in that spot. And as much as we love um people to to slow down, we we know that it's difficult to to get them to. And so having um those sidewalks for for pedestrians, I think would really uh enhance safety here in Garwood. So if I
could ask if we could do a investigation over there, what because I do think we looked at it years ago, but it's been so long and I can't remember. there were certain obstacles and I don't remember what they were at this point, but I would love to really narrow down
>> if there's any challenges over there to do that. Um because I I do think that's a prime focus, should be a prime focus if we're going to look at sidewalks. I do agree over on Maple perhaps um some of those blocks towards south if we are
were already over there would be um ideal. um and Gallows Hill as well. Obviously, a less traveled sort of a less walked road, I would say, but um you know, if we're in the midst of work over there,
it's certainly uh we should certainly in investigate. So, um that is all I have for Mr. Disco. Does anybody else have anything they'd like to ask? >> Okay. To be continued. Yeah. And and I
think there's certainly opportunity on Oak. I don't know about the full length, but as as I recall, there are opportunities say at sidewalks there. So, >> okay. >> All right. Terrific. Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you very much. >> Appreciate it. You're welcome to head
out as well. >> Thank you. I I will stay for the comments so I hear the new people. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> That's very nice of you. Thank you. Um report from our burough attorney. Uh nothing new this week. Y >> thank you. Report from our B
administrator. >> Yes, thank you. So therefore to affordable housing that uh we from tonight's meeting to the February 12th meeting. Just do want to assure everyone the process is still moving. It's just
really paper for paper. So once we get that for the February 12th meeting uh resolution number 26-44 that makes vacation hours basically match the dispatcher schedule um that
was already previously approved and it just ensures they'll receive the same amount of vacation days they were previously receiving. It's about the calculation there. There was their time off for vacation was calculated in hours, not in days, but their hours change, so it just kind of has to match
the new the new setup. The CFO and program managers except for one department for the 2026 budget. Uh that last department will happen this week. Finance committee is already planning to
meet um weekly throughout February. So we will 26 budget. Just a reminder for residents that uh cat cat and dog licenses can be filled out completely online if you'd like. As
well, if you go to go.org, you can find the link and find just feel free to reach out to me, give me a call. And then I just added this to my report. We shared information about the Resources Development Act. Um they're looking for
information about what types of projects communities were looking to complete. Uh s things such as feasibility studies or construction projects related to flooding, storm water, drinking water, etc. The fund is due tomorrow. So if you have any thoughts, um please share them
with me as soon as possible. We build them out tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon. >> I'm welcome to you're welcome to take that job. I actually got that particular um email from Congresswoman uh Macgyver. >> Okay. >> Um and so was in the process of filling
some of the things out that we'll do co-write on it if you don't know. We'll we'll talk >> but I you know wanted I had spoken with her. I've spoken with um Assemblyman McCertie and of course Assemblyman
Carney knows as he's been here um that we are looking uh hopefully in the next year to do a sort of sore infrastructure study um to look at where we can mitigate flooding. And so I had mentioned that to them and then this
came along and we said perfect. Um let's let them know what we're planning to do. I imagine that something like that will come up with some recommendations that could be quite costly. Um and so certainly would need grant money for that. Uh if they say retention basins,
things like that, um it's certainly something that we would need some some grant money to uh pursue. So I think this kind of came along at a perfect time. Uh so hopefully we can put everything in there and get it over to uh the state so that uh they can take a
look. >> Sounds good. >> Okay. Anybody have any questions for uh Mr. Arthur? >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Um I do have a mayor's report. Um
but I actually want to start first with the green team uh report. uh have sort of a um review of things from 2025 and um some looking ahead at 2026 that
the um our green team chair Bill Nerstead has provided for me. Um I am going to shorten it a little bit because I know Mr. near like me, we do long reports and we talk a lot and then it doesn't really work in a council
meeting, but uh so I'm going to get the overall gist of everything for everybody, but I do think it's important to hear what the green team did this past year and uh what they're looking to do. So the Garwood Green team continued to advance green initiatives into burrow
activities in 2025. While continuing to present and distribute green educational information at burough events, the team increased its UNAMI Park forest restoration work, worked with NJD watershed ambassador program, and held our first park bird walk in count. The
team promoted green thinking at clean community day events on May 20th and November 16th by having teams pick up litter, sponsoring a table at Garwood Rocks on June 7th, organizing a Garwood Brook cleanup in conjunction with Lidle on June 21st, sponsoring a table
distributing healthy foods with no candy wrappers uh at the October 25th trick or trunk. Um decorating JFK Plaza, Burrow Hall, and new this year, the Wreck Complex for the fall season. I'm placing the holiday adopta pots. Um, we also
sponsored a table highlighting recycled Christmas tree ornaments at the holiday tree lighting. On behalf of the Burough of Garwood, team members completed, submitted, and was granted a $10,000 sustainable jersey grant towards the installation of the Center Street Bikeways, um, which we hope will connect
with other bikeways and the in the year to come. Uh, our largest undertaking continues to be the reforestation of the wooded section of Yami Park. Team members have refurbished the wood chip trail connecting Center Street and Westfield's Twin Oaks Lane. Uh
installing two batouses. They cleaned out 10 birdouses for new tenants. Inspected, removed, and replaced tree tubes that protect young native tree seedlings from deer. They installed two bat boxes, planted nine stag horn and shining sumac trees, identified and
mounted 18 tree signs with QR codes to educate the public about native trees in Yunami Park. And then during 2025, the team's various trail days and Yunami Park forest people's work days have been busy advancing our urban forest restoration
project. The green team considers this project important because of Garwood's limited open space. The goal of the restoration is to create biodiversity through protecting existing native plants and planting new native plants and building a community of interested
residents through a common nature experience. Uh the two with uh the green team and Union County Native Plant Society um headed by Mary Roberts took the lead to remove uh thousands of invasive stilt grasses uh and covered
those areas with cardboard and wood chips uh and provided new bedding for over 850 to 900 new native plant plugs. Um, looking forward to 2026, green team is promote uh promoting creating an
Earth Day event on April 22nd with Lincoln School and working with the Union County to advance the physical development of a storm water management plan along trail sections that suffered flood damage from the baseball field runoff. Uh, other things they're looking to do, hire an expert from New Jersey
Invasive Species Task Force to create a park management plan. uh create an understory of shrubs and small trees to protect uh and they will need to be caged to protect them from the from deer. Uh continue our involvement with the Ottabon Society annual bird count.
Conduct several trail days to maintain the path. Um work with Union County Parks to create and install a sign at the center street entrance. Create an outdoor education area within the non-forested section of this wooded area. plant another meadow closer to
Westfield Twin Oaks uh and explore deer management with the county. So, the team just wants to thank DPW, the Union County Parks Department, and volunteers who provided rakes, wheelbarrow, shovels, and other tools and in their and their time. We are grateful to those
who helped make 2025 a success and look forward to even more successful 2026 projects. Uh we have team members uh and volunteers Andrea Castro, Carol and Charles Lombado, Lombardo, Klaus Hollesfeld, Dory Deck, Edison Lee, Elena
and Kim Ficara, Elizabeth and Brian Tag, Gabby Blevens, Giana Marley, Hadas Parog, Edison Lee, Jeff Jotss, Julian Russ, Graham, Mallerie Mangan, Mark and Janine Cotch, Maria and Bill Ner, Mary KD, Moren and Jeff Conlin, Michelle
McNellis, Michael Mandel, Rich Fino, Sarah Escanro uh and Mary Robert Sam Samantha Batcher of the Rucker Agriculture Extension Service and Ed Marowski of the Union County Master Tree Stored Program also assisted. And if anybody is interested
in helping with future projects or has any ideas or wants to join the team, please contact Bill Nerst at w-irststatarwood.org. Thank you for that. Appreciate it. And the green team really did do a lot in
2025. Uh, and I know that we just had a meeting uh, last night. Um, and so there are a lot of plans in place for 2026. So stay tuned and come on out. Okay. Sorry.
Okay. For my mayor's report, there has been a lot happening in Garwood. Uh, last week the parish of St. Church invited the mayor and council to the first of their year-long events celebrating their 100th anniversary. I want to thank them for having us as their guests at their mass and
celebratory lunch. Um, I was honored to help cut the ribbon on their wall of history timeline that they've created downstairs and I got to see and hear some tidbits of Garwood's history that I had never heard before. It was a real pleasure. Uh, looking forward to more celebrations and events throughout the
year. I also want to thank rec director Katcha Lysk and the recreation committee as well as all those who attended for a job well done at the annual MLK day of service this past Monday. We had three different Girl Scout groups attend uh Councilwoman Annaelli Ni and Bodto were
also there. Planning board vice chair Kathy Velagio uh as well as officer Matt Lewis and Sergeant Suggs, all of whom are very much appreciated. There were also a lot of new faces there making sandwiches for the Elizabeth Coalition. uh or coloring cards for homebound
seniors. We also compiled hygiene kits for the Elizabeth Coalition. And as you can see up here hanging in chambers, both adults and kids got in on our craft honoring Dr. King's legacy where they created many people to represent the
diverse makeup of our community. Uh it's really always heartwarming to see our community come together in service of others and for even those littlest children to learn how special this day is. So, thank you to everyone once again for making it a day on and not a day off.
We have a ribbon cutting with the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce coming up this Saturday at 11:00 for the new business Soccer Post, which is located on North Avenue under the Aloft Apartments, and I know my daughter will be there often for her soccer gear. Uh, we have some other new
businesses in town, so stay tuned for more grand openings. Uh, as I I spoke about our green team and our uh meeting yesterday. Um, but I did want to thank uh the green team volunteers and councilwoman Bodto for
the adopt a pot Christmas tree decorations that you saw around the downtown uh with the local business sponsorships. It is a timeconsuming pro project we know, but I think it really adds to our downtown holiday decorations with the added benefit of partnership
with local businesses. So, thank you Just an update on where we stand with the circulation element portion of the master plan that the committee has been working on with Harbor Consultants. Our next virtual meeting is Tuesday, February 3rd, and we will review the
draft plan and discuss additional comments and edits to the fi to finalize the draft. And then after the draft plan is finalized, it will be added to the burrow's website for public review before the planning board meeting on February 25th, which will be the public
hearing. Uh any comments from the planning board in public will then be incorporated uh before the plan is intended uh to be approved by the planning board at the March planning board meeting. So there will be a lot going on with the planning board as you will see. So make sure to come out to
those meetings as well. As you can see in new business, the mural committee has been formed and we are actually having our first meeting next week. We will be looking through the various submissions, begin narrowing down the search and then continue continue forward with conversations with the artists to
determine the best concept for our underpass mural. So, thank you to the resident volunteers who will be helping see this through. Now, a couple of items I would like to pass on to committees to explore and bring back to the council. Now everybody
has to perk up, right? Um, I'd like to have a look through the council bylaws just to see if there's any areas that need adjusting or updating. So, if I could ask community development to coordinate with Mr. Arthur to start the process of looking through that. Uh, and then if any updates are needed, bringing
back those recommendations to the full council. I'd also uh like to ask police to discuss a few things. Um, first something that has come up at our citizens advisory panel last year, uh, and I've also had various interactions with residents concerning it. I'd like
to have police look at the paid parking spot in front of the station and the medical office on Center Street. This came up maybe about two years ago as we were beginning to initiate the paid parking program downtown. Um, and it did it went to a straw pole and no action
was taken. Um my view on it uh my view on it personally hasn't changed. I would like to make them the choice to make it no parking as I find residents always telling me of close calls as they make the right-hand turn from south onto center. Um but at the time the council
was split on whether to remove it uh with I believe one more vote edging out having it remain. So, but with it still continually coming up to me and on the citizens panel as Counciloman Bodto can attest to, um I figure with new council
members, it could be time to take another look. So, if the committee could discuss um and bring back a recommendation to the full council and then we'll take the full council's pulse on it. Um, one more thing I'd like the committee to take, the police committee
to take a look at is the um penalty uh fee for not removing your car from the street when it snows more than 3 in. Uh, I've gotten a lot of feedback that more and more people are not abiding by the law now. Um, whether it's anecdotal or not, I'm not sure. But um I do think the
chief and I have spoken about this and I hope you don't mind me um you know talking about what we we we spoke about but I think the sense is that the fee is low enough that some people would rather take the ticket than uh have to move the
car to one of our designated lots. So, I I think the way to address that is uh ask the committee to to discuss raising that. Um if so, to what number? Um and then to once again bring the recommendation back to council.
Uh and just one more thing, I know it's long stuff tonight, but just as a note, as we do have that big snowstorm on Sunday, I do encourage everyone to move their cars off the street Saturday evening and not take that ticket. Um it looks like it's going to be overnight um into the early Sunday morning and
continue throughout the day uh and into Monday. So we could get a really significant amount. Nixel alerts and online notices will go out with designated lots you can move your car to if you do not have a driveway. Uh you can call PD with your information should you choose to park in one of those lots
and we do have some on both sides of town. But please let your neighbors know that and please make a plan now before the snow starts. And that is all for me. Thank you for putting up with it. Um C comments from the council, Councilwoman
Anna. Thank you, Mary. Um so first I would like to start by welcoming uh Councilman Sura. I'm thrilled that you are on council. Um, I've had the pleasure of
getting to know you and I think you have such a great community already in Vermila. Um, and I think you could be an awesome bridge between Vermela and and the town in a lot of ways. So, I'm glad you're here. Um, I have some comments.
Uh, they are also from Mr. Nerstat. So, I received the 2025 shade tree report. Um, I tried also to condense it. I think there's a pattern there.
As you see my I'm just as long. So the report says the garden shade tree advisory board had a busy 2025 responding to 50 me tree concerns holding ceremony seeing the planting of
new trees on portions of 30 new constructed garwood roads and transplanting trees and removing stumps when necessary. The board would like to thank John Arthur for his assistance through
many issues during 2025. Engineer disco for his technical assistance and garden DPW for carrying out so much the actual required tree work. The bill is excited about the progress made five and to
continue growth in 2026. In 2025 garden to its national day tree city status from which it has been absent for over 10 years. Thanks to the below council creating the shade tree board, adopting the shade tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on tree work, and
thanks to the shade tree board building an arbor day ceremony and planting a tree at Lincoln School. Tree Sydney street signs and flags recognizing this achievement achievement will be installed in spring 2026. Uh by
working closely with the engine construction projects trees were planted on street 10 on East Street and streetings result in substantial tree canopy shade tree canopy improvements.
The burrow received the bur received funds to plant 23 trees throughout uh through the Union County Green County matching grant. Planting sites were chosen to revisit requests and locations where determined addition
tree canopy to find past planting areas where trees were planted with intersections and trees that attain mature highly planted and first taking suspected trees within areas of
concern and to all sucker growth of less than 5t in heist for responding tourism request in 2026. In addition, the board hopes to work with the board to a comprehensive vegetation and to retain and establish
tree city designation to advance plantings of trees on North Avenue. That's all comments for today. >> Thank you. Um, Councilwoman Bianca, >> I want to say welcome to Councilman Hersha and I look forward to working
with you. Welcome. Thank you. That's all I have. Okay, >> Councilwoman Nuli, >> thank you. Um, yes. So, definitely welcome, Councilman. We're very excited to have you. Um, we're looking forward to working with you on committees and
um, getting right to work. Um, I'm just going to make a quick um, announcement about um, GPAC. The Garwood Partnership for Arts and Culture will be sending Garwood Warms Your Heart yarn Moming, which is scheduled for January 31st, uh, weather permitting. Uh, so look for some
colorful yarn creations decorating around the burrow. And that's all for me. >> Thank you. I loved those last year. Looking forward to that. Councilman Padusniaakelcome last time. So, welcome and congratulations to Councilman as well. I'll be brief. I was just going to speak
about Garwood's Rev 250 group and some of the stuff we have coming up. Um, you can find this info on our Facebook page, but I um just to put it in one place here for the council meeting, I thought it would be nice. So, we're offering a bus trip to Philadelphia. That's on Sunday, February 15th. Tickets are 40
per person. The bus leaves at 8:15 a.m. from the library, returning at 5:15 p.m. Uh, please get in touch with us either via Facebook or contact Cindy Ringwrittengmail.com. On the 28th of January and March 18th,
both at 7 pm, Joe Farcus will be speaking about icons of the revolution and revolution respectively. These events will also take place at the G public library and are free of charge. February 12th at 6:30 uh also at the library. We'll be hosting the
Valentine's Day paint for children 1st through 5th grade. Space is limited, so please register through the library website. Um and lastly as you see we do have 2025 commemorative payments uh to commemorate uh and $5 per person. You
can contact me at cp producakgarwood.org respect. So uh yeah I think that's my report. Thank you. >> Guys are doing a great job putting a lot of events together. So thank you uh council president Bodto. >> Thank you mayor. Again, congratulations
and welcome, Councilman Sura. Sura, I'm sorry. I apologize. Um, I'm really looking forward to working together. Uh, you again been very, very involved and, um, I'm sure you have fresh ideas and, you know, that's really it. Welcome.
>> Thank you. And, Councilman, >> hey, thank you everyone. honored to be here and I just want to say it's a great honor to have the opportunity to serve the people of Garwood. I'm grateful for the chance to give back to this
community. Um I've enjoyed living in Garwood for the past three years and uh I've loved watching the uh town grow and evolve over that time. Uh I hope to continue the great work of this council to the best of my ability and to learn as much as I can during this term. Uh,
I'd like to thank the council and the committee for uh their confidence in me as well as my friends and family uh for their encouragement and support. Uh, I look forward to working with my fellow council members uh to keep Garwood the wonderful community that it is. So,
thank you. >> Thank you very much. That was lovely. And a final answer. I appreciate it. Okay, we will move to the minutes. Um, thank you, Mr. DSA. Minutes of the mayor and council. Oh, sorry. That's your
line, right? >> Uh, minutes of the mayor and council meeting held on December 18th, 20, 2025, and the reorganization meeting of the mayor council held on January 6, 2026. >> Do I have a motion to accept regular
meeting minutes as presented? Second. >> All in favor? I opposed. Okay. Communications, please. Miss Vasquez. >> Union County Ordinance 863-2025 fixing the salaries of members of the
board of board of the county commissioners, the county manager, county council, and department heads for 2026. RVSA minutes approved at the December regular meeting. Cranford New Building Department permit fees. Union County
Open Public Meetings Act Notice of the Pollution Control Financing Authority of Union County. 2025 Planning Board year and report. Planning board resolutions appointing professional planning engineering services and planning board legal counsel received and filed. Thank
you. Um we do not have any ordinances up for adoption, but we do have one up for introduction tonight. Miss Vasquez, can you please read order ordinance 26-01 by title only? >> An ordinance to establish a restricted parking zone pursuant to NJSA 39
col4-197.6 approximately 35 ft north of the corner of North Avenue adjacent to 260 North Avenue in the burrow of Garwood. >> Thank you. Do I have a motion to introduce this ordinance? >> Second. >> Second. Roll call, please.
>> Councilwoman Anarelli, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano, >> I. >> Councilwoman Noli, >> I. >> Councilman Padusniaak. >> Council President Bodto, >> I. >> And Councilman, I'm sorry. >> Sera, sorry.
>> Uh, absent. >> I'm saying it right. Right. >> Sora. >> Sora. Okay, thank you. >> Look at it. Hey, you don't have Bloom in stock. So, um, council standing committee reports,
finance, council president Bodto. >> This is the shortest report I've two years. Um, the finance committee meet Tuesday, January 20th to discuss our budget meeting schedule. Um, our next meeting will be on Thursday, February 5th, and
we have standing meetings on Thursdays. >> Thank you. >> That's all for me. >> Thank you. Fire and OEM, Councilman Padusnia. >> If I report here for December and a little bit about what's been going on in January. So, the fire department received 14 calls for service in
December. two building tent, one gas leak, one vehicle into build, two fire alarms, one C alarm, one chemical spill, one smoke investigation, one cooking fire, and three mutual aids. The total costs for service for 2025 were
231. These do not include training, house studios, community events. January, however, is starting off as a busy month. Uh through the 20th of this month, the FDA has already answered 20 calls for service. So they're already um December and that's report.
>> Thank you. Uh community development councilwoman Biano >> community development committee met on Saturday January 20 January 10th. The community the committee discussed the potential acquisition of the property located at 4212nd Avenue. discussion
focused on the preliminary steps necessary to evaluate the feasibility for the purchase, including obtaining estimates for the cost of acquisition, demolition, and of the existing structure and reconstruction of a new facility. The committee also reviewed potential redevelopment concepts and prospective uses for the property with
intent of gathering sufficient information to support future recommendations to the mayor and the council. That's all. >> Thank you. Um and just for the public's sake, if just to jar their memory, this was something that we did talk about last year. Um the resident did come
forward to the burrow. Um and it is a property right next to Hartman Park and in uh in between Hartman Park and the uh board of ed parking lot. So there was some discussion over whether the burrow was interested in pursuing that. So we
will move forward and and see what happens. Um and obviously the uh we will bring it forth for comments and everything for the from the public as well. This will you know it's not something that's a a quick uh discussion or process. So um the public will have
some time to to weigh in on it. Um moving along to uh public works Councilman Sera S I'll get him. Uh, I do not have a report. I'm sorry.
>> We we you just No report tonight. Uh, police Councilwoman Nully. Thank you, Mayor. The police committee met on January 15th to discuss a review of 2025 personnel and capital requests for 2026, ebike regulations, and free holiday
parking. Chief Pride provided a detailed report on the 2025 accomplishments of the police department and the committee is satisfied the police department is workingly and proactively in both crime prevention and enforcement. We discussed Chief Pryy's goals and plans for 2026
both for personnel and capital needs. Strategies for recruiting and retaining officers for the department were discussed. The committee fully supports Chief Pry on his recommendations and recommends that his request be presented to the finance committee in their entirety for their approval in the 2026
budget. The committee also agreed that ebikes should be prohibited from all Garwood Burough Parks and recommended that an ordinance be drafted and ready for review within the next few months. The committee agrees that the bureau should offer free holiday parking from
December 15th to January 1st. However, we did not reach a consensus on implementation. Councilman Padusniaak and I are in favor of limiting the free parking to the same amount of time as the paid parking. Uh so 6 hours uh or 10 hours depending on the location. A
cursory look at free holiday parking in other towns indicates that all of them follow this model. Cranford limits the free holiday street parking to 3 hours and the garage parking to 4 hours. Milbour also has time limits on free parking as do Westfield and Summit. The
objective of the parking regulations in the first place is to create turnover in the spots near the businesses. And the councilman and I agree that regardless of whether the parking is paid or free, the time limit set by the ordinance should be the same. Council President Bodto is in favor of unrestricted
parking during the same time period. And I will now present Chief Pry's report. They were very busy. The month of December, the calls included 405 motor vehicle stops, 170 parking complaints,
121 fixed traffic posts, four uh excuse me, 564 building and property checks, 39 medical assists, 66 community policing posts, five walking posts, 21 suspicious persons or vehicles investigated, 43
criminal investigations, and 16 motor vehicle crashes. In December, Detective Miller became certified AED and CPR instructor. This will allow him to train officers in-house for initial certifications and reertifications.
Sergeant Zacharowski, Detective Miller, Officer Herz, and Officer Matoss have completed their project alert training, which will replace the outdated DARE program for the 2026 2027 school year. Officers also attended and completed
pedestrian safety enforcement training which allows um them to conduct PSSE operations safely and effectively. The department also has installed the new breathalyzer instrument which was mandated by the state. This replaced the
old instrument which was in service for over 10 years. Um, and they will have the officers certified to operate the new equipment and expect the entire department to be certified by the end of 2026. And that's all for my police report.
>> Thank you. Um, seeing as there wasn't a consensus on the holiday parking, um, if we could maybe have that discussion then, um, so that we can figure out where to move from there. Um, I Mr. Arthur did let me know during that after the committee
meeting that there wasn't the consensus. Um and I to to be honest didn't even think that that was something that um a restriction on time would be would even come up um just because of enforcement issues. But
I I did get we did get an email today a couple days ago from Mr. Arthur um with a recommendation. So do you want to just talk about what we want to you know and we'll move from there and talk get everybody's opinions. >> Yes. So we also discussed it at our department heads meeting which is myself
and the chief of police and you know head of DPW network just basically talked about what was imple implemented this last year at the end of 2025 if we if there were any issues encountered and there weren't any. So after discussing it for a little while, they figured kind
of if it's not broke, don't fix it type situation since there weren't any sit any issues in 2025. The consensus from the department heads at least was um just kind of do it the same way um because it worked well this last time. So that was the gist of the conversation
from from the department heads. If >> so I guess my question is even if we wanted to do it, what about enforcement? Um, but is my I know that Mr. Patterson took off some days during that. That was kind of like the point. So, is there a
way to enforce it with an app? If this year I know it went you you got a popup that it was free, right? >> Um, and I'm not sure how that would work if you're not paying for it, how you would know how many hours. I did after this also take a look like I went
through Westfield's code. I didn't see anything about holiday parking, but I do know like they put those covers on the meters. I'm so I'm not sure like how they enforce it. >> I can reach out to some of those towns to see how they enforce their time limits.
It's kind of deactivated. >> Do you know how they enforce it? So >> if so it's it the when you when you sign up for park when you go onto the app and you sign up for the parking it'll give you the same limitation of the amount of
time that you can park there. So in other words if it's free parking for 2 hours in Westfield it'll say you can park for free for 2 hours and that'll be all you'll get. So for example here it would be you would park your car and the maximum that you would be able to get for free parking would be 6 hours. But
then couldn't you renew it anyway? >> Well, I mean, then you would be in violation of the six-hour limit. So, that's that's basically it. They want turnover in their spots. They don't want people sitting, you know, parking their car for the whole day. And we
don't want that either in Garwood. Um, you know, we want turnover. We have a six-hour maximum for per ordinance. And I think that's what we should maintain that even if we're offering the free parking because you're going to have you're going to have people that are going to take advantage of that and then
you're not going to have the the parking available to people who are, you know, coming to park their car in the business district. I understand what you're saying. Um and I I I I I hear you. My I'll be honest. My feeling
is that this is a two-week situation where we're trying to not make it um punitive on residents um that this is for like a Christmas holiday sort of situation. And I don't know if for two
weeks you suddenly have people that are going to take advantage of it when they haven't all year, especially it's, you know, the Christmas season. I I don't see that that's what they would be doing, but I do also wonder how we would
enforce it. I'm still not sure about the app and I don't like how if Westfield if they also have the pay meters. So, how do you get the hours if they have pay meter? How do you know how long they are if they're paying? And it's not
through the app. Not everywhere in Westfield and Cranford are app. Not everybody uses it. I can imagine they do it in that situation is they chalk the tires or they have someone note the time that the license plate is there and then come back two hours later. That's the only way I can imagine they do it. I
have to I have to talk with them about the actual enforcement and Chief Patty might have a better idea. But um that's the only way I can imagine successfully doing that. >> I'm assuming for weeks >> the other gently for us to enforce it, Mr. Harrison takes
a picture with his tablet and actually he's the only one that has it on there for the pay parking. So we would have to take a we pretty much have to dedicate an officer to literally go and take pictures of every single car when they arrive and go back six hours later.
>> That's kind of So go ahead. Yeah, >> like if we're on a ball or something like we're not going to be able to. And this year because of the because of the free parking he did take off a lot at the end of the year to save his hours. that was because he was not he was not
enforcing it. In other words, if enforcing the causality, he was taking the time off because the stat the the um the time limits were not to be enforced, right? So, if they were to be enforced, there's no reason to believe he would be taking the time off.
>> Yeah. I mean, it's up to him, but for if he does take off for us to enforce it like >> without an app, >> it's going to be Yeah. But yeah, I'm just saying my understanding is that that particular time was taken because of the potential lack of role that that's his primary
responsibility, not that he commonly takes that exact period off and we happen to have >> I think that I feel like we're kind of getting in the weeds on this and making something that was very easy, very complicated for something that didn't need to be that didn't happen. And I
don't want to complicate it for residents. My whole point in I think when we brought this up and we did the we voted on it was to provide a service for the residents a a holiday gift um because you know whether it's visitors or residents and I don't want I mean I
can't imagine you know saying it's free parking and then giving them a ticket you know it's it I just don't I don't like the idea of that and I understand what you're saying you want turnover and that is part of
that is like a big reason why we did did the paid parking, but the turnover occurs because they're paying for it and they don't want to pay again. That was why. But for two weeks when they're coming in just to go shopping or have coffee or whatever they're doing, go to
their appointment. I it wasn't an issue this year. I don't see it. I feel like we're coming up with hypotheticals that I think we're getting in the I personally think we're getting in the weeds on. people prove that businesses are too
very positive, but we're happy that they closed it down to um and to me it's a December 15th to January 1st. It's free parking. I I really it should
be fairly free because then lots of sense. >> Um yeah, I just have one thing to say. It is the holiday season. We have a train to New York. What's to stop people from just coming free parking? Hey, I can stay overnight in the city and just take the train back. I mean, if we don't have restricted hours,
>> well, they can do that now. Like restricted hours are just during the day. So, it has nothing to do with overnight parking. >> I'm sorry, six o'clock. So, after six is free. >> Yeah, after six is free. >> Okay. applies over the day like if I
choose to go to the city and in there until let's say exactly 6 p.m. for the sake of dement issue arises. >> But that's why we have the 10-hour in JFK Plaza for anybody who wanted to do it. That's kind of
>> like so we're like making this time limit for like the the six spots in front of >> the businesses on North Avenue >> highly trafficked in terms of parking for businesses and I chief police
I think you guys do but we're taking a two week observation you know this is five year that five years of into part of the book. It's just not very
much data. I I'm particularly heavily in that respect. >> Okay. So, I've been um a renter in an apartment that comes with one spot with two cars. Um, and so I know I would try to stake
out a free parking spot for those two weeks if I could. Um, and so that's that's my only concern if if the um input is from the police chief and the administrator that
enforcement is a larger concern than what I'm talking about. I am also able to be swayed in that that cost benefit is um unequal like I don't know I know that there are some apartments in uh
Garwood that don't necessarily come with parking and you have to find parking and so that's from my personal experience where my head went. >> The only other issue that we can potentially face is we have a shift change in between that six hours. So, if somebody takes a picture with the tablet
at 10:00 a.m., they're not there anymore in 6 hours. So, if the original observing officer doesn't do it, it's kind of hard for them to write the summit as well. >> That's why Mr. Patterson's hours are are his hours. >> So, that's the only, >> you know, if you go to court and oh, did
you see that officer? No, I just gave the ticket. Somebody else showed me over. It's >> hours. Did they intentionally align essentially with the posted hours for the parking in the first place? Yeah, >> just that then we we really can't force it.
>> Sure. That's even further into the weeds of potential possibilities than what is being said about what I'm saying. >> I think the old vote here is put it on resolution on a resolution. We could either again
make a resolution this year or put it into the code. I had thought maybe to put it into code so we don't have to continually do it each year. But we voted and we did it. Unlimited parking for two weeks. >> Everybody, it was >> it was unanimous. But
>> I I that's I have to I was like baffled at at this it was like I I thought it was an easy thing. >> I just think it's something that the residents two weeks is how it is to me.
I don't understand it. I don't I don't I I I don't I don't know where to go if you want to do a straw poll. Um our Councilman SA if you want to weigh in at all. I know you're new so you weren't here when we voted on it before.
>> I don't know. I I'll be hon parking. I don't I know towns do restricted time limits. >> Again, I I know I don't see it in the don't enforcing sites, but if are they really enforcing it? Okay, so here's the
thing about enforcement here. >> Yeah, a traffic officer, traffic enforcement officer who spends 28 hours a week. So that's like a piece of Swiss cheese, right? It's gonna hit
or not. Um, so I guess you so entire our entire parking program has enforcement issues, >> right? Because hees >> he enforces to the extent that he has 28 hours to enforce. >> So I just feel like if you're going to
make free parking, it's a nice gift. It's wonderful. We all agree on that. Free parking is free parking, but it has to copy the ordinance in the ter in the amount of time that is allowed for the parking. >> Well, it doesn't have to. That's the whole point is that it this can be
something separate. But um again, because you have the I know everybody's worried that somebody's going to take over like a spot from one of the apartments for the two weeks or that doesn't have a driveway, but you do have the longer term parking in JFK Plaza and there's plenty spots. That's
why we increased the parking there. They can do that for 10 hours and then by that time it's nighttime and it's free anyway. So they could be I mean they could do that now. I >> if I may, I think the the abuse that I'd be worried about if someone just parks there and leaves their car for an like
several days more so than you know for an extended number of hours. Um I would be curious to hear how other towns are enforcing this if they are enforcing it because they may say that they are going to enforce it. >> That's what I'm worried about it. That's
what I suspect to be honest, but I haven't called them to confirm that and that obviously they're not going to publicly say that. They might say that thing say don't say that in public into because you really shouldn't be putting anything obviously into code that you can't enforce. I think that's a
obviously a not a precedent we want to set. So that could be why it's not in the code and they just pass a resolution or I don't know what they do to be honest. But >> then >> if you want we can look at other towns if you want to take a straw poll now and
then we can move forward again after we look at other towns. >> You want to do a third option of something like >> I know we want to make it more complicated. But you just said someone's sitting for two, three, four days. Right. >> Right. >> What if it's free parking, but if we
notice that you're still there for over 24 hours, we're going to tow you or something like that. Like basically people right now >> cars now that's it anywhere for >> it's covered by the state essentially. So actually that that does change things
a little bit. So if the food that was covered by state law >> it's covered at least campaign close to their res like I know it's possible but I imagine it's less likely someone chooses to drive to a lot to keep it there then we're talking
about you know within a block or something. I think it I don't think that is the kind of situation that is causing concern. So, Chief, if someone was in JFK for 48 hours, that would still apply. Any public spot? >> Yeah.
>> In the municipal park from 3 to 5 a.m. >> So, it's covered anyway. >> Every and Okay. So, those are all covered. So, Okay. So, that's fine. And then downtown right here outside the center, there's a
48. Someone really was abusing it. There's at least the 48 hours straight. >> Okay. >> Text messages. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, that gives us better information.
>> Christmas Eve, you're going to get a ticket and we said it was free parking and you're over a little bit and mayor day is Christmas Eve is not. And I just I I like if you're over by like like a few minutes and because it's the free and he
would have to take the picture because we don't have the app working. I I it just seems kind of not so nice to me. But um >> so for one, this is not going to happen until December 15th, 2026.
Do we need to take a straw poll? Do you want to put it on a back burner for a little bit? Is that consensus? >> I also think about it a little bit before it gets trampled. >> Yep.
>> Council Blaniano, could you bring this up at small business uh good idea? >> Absolutely. This is another thing is that number that at least in Westfield and
potentially Cranford because of the downtown development corporations there are sponsors the potential lost revenue for those parking periods. I'm not saying to do that. I'm just trying to point out the ways in which what we're trying to do seems to be distinct municipalities. I'm
not calling for that to happen. >> Yeah. I don't know if that really um does anything in terms of the time limit. I know they're still making money, but we wouldn't be whether it's time limited or not. So,
>> I'm drawing tension as council was talking about with other towns observing the limits, at least any that I've seen. So this it just be another way in which what we're because we often are up here talking about we try and achieve kind of use the towns around us the municipalities around us as models and yeah
>> well that's something then that we can have Mr. Arthur look into about the actual enforcement because again when I see when you see the covers on the meters I don't know how the the time limits are being enforced if if there's you know not everybody in
those they don't have just the app they have meters and they have to allow so they do have a different sort of uh system that I'm sure they use in regular day-to-day to enforce they have to so >> happen >> when so that's what I don't understand
the enforcement level there if you don't have meters to pay into. So anyway, all right. >> I was just gonna say we talked to, you know, other traffic enforcement officer. Putting all that aside, I know, for example, in Princeton there are free spots that are two-hour limited and
there have been times I've overstayed, nothing has happened. There have been times where I've been ticketed in that spot, right? And they'll just shock your tires, right? That's the approach there. I'm not bringing >> the tires. That would be something that as a free spot. So there's no meter,
there's no there's nothing. It's just so it can be addressed in that room. >> We the 15 minute spots, but while Mr. Patterson's there during his time, and he does go different times, he makes his schedule different. 15 minutes is like an easier way to enforce you're there
than six hours. He's not there that whole six hours necessarily. So that's, you know, so that's how he enforces a free spot here is you're there longer. But okay. Um >> I'll call on to see how enforcement
happens another time then >> we'll revisit a little bit >> another time. >> Okay. >> Okay. Um and then in terms of the ebikes um if uh is everybody uh in agreement on moving forward with an ordinance um that
was recommended by the committee with um banning from our parks. Okay. Um, if Mr. Arthur, we can work on that. And then, um, I do want to point out on the police social media, um, they did, uh, announce
the new ebike laws that have come that were signed by this, uh, Governor Murphy on his last day. So, um, there is a there are a lot of new restrictions on ebikes, which we as a council talked about last year wanting to get some ordinances together about that and then
we held off knowing that the state was probably going to do something that would supersede and wanting to wait, which I'm very happy they did because I know it's very difficult to do something like that municipality by municipality when they're going through from Westfield Darwa to Cranford. um having
different ordinances in every town is just makes that sort of thing impossible. So they did um sign a new law. They do need to people with ebikes uh who use ebikes need to be licensed. Um they cannot purchase I believe the
upgrading equipment to it's illegal to now purchase the upgrading uh that makes them go faster. Um anybody o anybody under 15 is not allowed now to be on an ebike. So there's a number of new um
requirements now. So I urge anybody and tell your friends and neighbors and anybody who has especially teenagers that might write ebikes to take a look at it because we will have to begin discussions in you know in police committee and and on council and with
the police department on enforcing that. So that's coming up. All right, moving back to our Moving back to our uh committee reports. Community engagement, Councilwoman Annarelli, we're still there. >> I did that one. We
Oh, no, I didn't. I'm so sorry. I thought I did. >> Stuck on police. >> We did. Oh my gosh. All right. I did it in my head. >> All right. So, um I will not go over this too much in because um Mayor Bentock covered it well, but we uh the
uh Garwood Recreation had the MLK Day of Service which was held on Monday um at the Garwood Firehouse. Volunteers made sandwiches and put together hygiene kits that were donated to the Elizabeth Coalition to help those in need. Volunteers also created drawings for
seniors and troops and participated in crafts uh to honor MLK Junior's legacy. Um and I just want to say thank you to the recreation committee and to all teeers for joining recation committee and service. Um additional thanks to the
five loaves pantry at St. An's Church for donating bread. Um to everyone dropped off hygiene items and cuts for the sandwiches. Um, looking ahead, Easter egg hunt will take place on Saturday, March 28th from 2 to 12 p.m.
go to Saturday term to rec program basketballs are getting started next week. um and also some upcoming programs. So
take place every Friday in March from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Go the price is $35 and to grades K through 5. Youth cheer and dance in soccer clinics will start up again on April 12th. Both of which
will take place on Saturday at the sports complex. STEM, Python, and other codees will be from April 17th, 22nd for fourth through 8th graders. And last but not least,
don't forget to sign up for adult activities, including adult ceramics and adult play soccer. Um, adult ceramics will take place on Wednesdays on Jul
13. distributions of garlandirect.com. Adult open soccer is still taking place on Friday and can register for that as well at get used to those long ones. Okay. Library mayor's representative Councilwoman Nully. I know you're
excited about your library. >> I am. I enjoy I enjoy the library. I'm passionate about that. >> Okay. So, the library report. The library will be closed on February 17th for President's Day. Um, we have some upcoming events in January. January
26th, February 2nd, 9th, 23rd at 10:30, the knitting club. Learn how to knit or show others how it's done while enjoying fun conversation. Open to all levels. No registration required. Uh, the Monday book club on January 26. Join for us for
a lively conversation about this month's month's book, The Queen of Crime by Marie Benedicts. January 28th, this is the um 7 PM lecture, Icons of the Revolution, the whole story with Joel Farcus.
Um February 2nd, uh sorry, February 3rd. Um so this is every week on uh February 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th at 10 and 11. Story time with Miss Maryanne. Uh registration is required.
Um there's also coding forward starting on February 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th at 3:30 p.m. offer schooling uh school students the opportunity to learn computer programming in languages such as Java, Python, and more.
Uh February 5th at 3 p.m., decorate donuts. Join us at the Garwood Library for a sweet Valentine's treat. Participants will decorate Valentine inspired donuts from Duck Donuts using a provided decorating kit. This sounds like fun. Each attendee will receive
several donuts to decorate and enjoy. Registration is required. This is for children in 8th grade or younger. February 10th is a 3M virtual kids craft. Pick up your supplies for a craft. You have to register for that and
it's limited to 15 participants. You can sign up on the libraries website. February 12th, Children's Paint Night at 6 PM. The library in conjunction with Garwood Revolution TW 250 invites children first through fifth grade to
express their creativity during this fun paint night. Canvases and paint brushes will be provided and registration is required. And I'm going to stop there because the report continues all the way through the end of February. So, I'm going to save some of those for next month. >> All right. You can always visit the
library's website uh for more information about activities that are going on at the library. That's all for my report. Thank you. Okay. School board leazison council president Boda. >> Thank you, mayor. Um I don't
schedule from 26, so please state. >> Okay. Um, for the seniors, we had our senior meeting today with lunch and bingo and I updated the clubs on the club on things going on in Garwood and our next meeting is February 5th at
12:00 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus. Um, small business advisory. Uh, it does say Councilwoman Annarelli, but it is Councilwoman Bianco. We will make that change. Councilwoman, >> I have no report for tonight. >> Okay. >> Sorry. >> And our board of health liaison is uh
going to be Councilman Surka. And I assume it's a >> thank you. >> Uh planning board liaison, Councilwoman Biano, >> planning board meeting held on January 14th, opened up with the swearing in of
four new members. We have Craig McCarro, class 4. Um Brian Di Maria, alternate number three. Keith Mason, alternate number two. I'm sorry. I think Brian de was alternate number one. Keith Mason was number two. And Thomas J. Biano was alternate number three. A resolution was
adopted providing the 2025 zoning board annual endyear report. Addition resolutions were passed appointing Donald Frasier as planning board attorney, Vic Venegra as zoning officer, Steve Gre as chair, and Kathy Valagio as vice chair. Bless you. The planning board was advised the council intends to
introduce the ordinances listed on the council agenda this evening, which was which will be reviewed by the planning board at its next meeting. The next planning board meeting is scheduled for January 28th, 9, 2026. That's all. >> Thank you. Um, officers reports.
Zoning enforcement officers report for December 2025. Code enforce code enforcement officers report for December 2025. >> Do I Do I have a motion to accept uh officers reports? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I
>> I >> opposed. Okay. Uh if we will move to public comment now. If there's anyone in the audience who wishes to address the council, please step to the microphone, state your full name and address, and please limit your comments to five minutes.
>> Don't yell at us, Bill. >> Five minutes. >> Uh oh, I'm going to start a timer. >> Actually, I'm going to start off with something that talked about. Uh most of the bicycle groups in the state of New Jersey including group I'm with county connects we fought against uh senator
Bill was a bill and it's important for you to recognize doesn't differentiate between um kettle assist bike that is my wife has >> and a bike with a throttle angle 40 miles an hour. So if you follow what the state has, you'll be preventing any
parent with the child grandchild taking that bike, taking that child on an ebike over to Hartman Park, parking that bike in the park. Okay, we you know whether that's a ebike. So, we fought
against the adopt the state adoption of that bill because there are a lot of things in that bill, you know, requiring insurance, requiring so many other things on a bike that you really, you know, Maria used it to go >> uphill, >> you know, doesn't hit 40 miles an hour. So, I don't want to spend any more time
on that because I have other things, but please, please do not adopt that bill as the state passed it. It's horrendous. We're we're continuing to fight against it at the bike level. It's not an easy one. Okay. Um, thank you for reading the reports. I hadn't
expected that. Um, so, um, what I'll jump into is it's early. Okay. But a couple of budget items with the Shane Tree uh, commission. There are two items that are going to require funding that are not in the current budget. One of them has already been mentioned that I'll talk about. Um, the Brook improvements. The other one is the
athletic complex. We really do need to hire somebody to look at those trees. There are some dead ones I can pick out, but there are some dead and dying trees that we need to look at and perhaps take down. Um um as a shade tree officer, I receive the complaints about trees growing in
the brook or going along the brook or in the gabi. And Mr. Arthur and I have gone back and forth on figuring out how to enforce because if you have the middle of the block, there's a tree going out of the cabinet, you can't get to it without having to cross somebody's
private property. So we chose this going through the book, okay, and and and clearing it. But this is not a search and destroy mission. At least we don't want to be search and destroy. There are trees there that are good. There are native plants. There are native trees.
Get rid of the Japanese notweed. Get rid of the fragmitees. Get rid of the malberry. Get rid of the oak. You need somebody who knows the trees. Okay. I don't know what the what the end result is, but I don't want to I encourage this body not to end up with a bare um brook
area. Okay? Because from that area there is a good I think a 30ft width the rightway there. And so I would encourage the the council to adopt a plan. Okay? Hire somebody who know what they'll be doing. Look at the different plans.
decide what has to come out, what doesn't have to come out and perhaps and I'm sorry and come up with a plan. Okay, that will allow for vegetation along the sides of the brook uh in the gabians on top of gabians. But there okay, believe
it or not, that really is a big habitat area for birds. Okay. Uh it's one of the few places they can get water and if we can provide some plants you know um uh don't go with this because I have to look further into it but you know you can picture a viper but you picture for
citrus which I don't want. Okay. But that kind of you know arching shrub if it's just on the top of the gabian isn't going to bother anybody by the greenway all the way down. So, mayor, I would hope that somebody can shade your commission and point it to the group that you pointed for. Look at that. And
we don't just go in on a on a search and destroy mission that become a little more surgical. Um, the fish also need shaded areas to live in that book. We remove all the shade, you killing all the fish, too. Um, so I'm asking council fund a couple
things. Okay. the Brook uh review, inspection and u uh and task and also the um athletic complex. So, it would be remiss if I didn't also recommend to you some way to come up with funding. I mentioned this to you last year and I found out two nights ago, last night
actually um some response to it, but um humans not just inwood. We produce so much garbage and I believe we're at the CL from law garbage pickup is the second campus value second highest they might
have not the second it's the third is up there and so I encourage council last year >> one minute >> thank you to consider reducing the amount of garbage that you allow residents to put out I put out a letter every year in the newspaper advising people that there's no reason why your
authority after Christmas should be more than the garbage before Christmas 90% % of what we get at Christmas can be recycled. As everybody knows, I travel all the time. 39 put out one can a time once a week. No matter what the week it is, that's
it. I watch my major put out four cans on Tuesday, two more on Thursday, Monday and Thursday. I don't know how they do it. Do they sit in the house and produce garbage? So, we're paying for that. And to be quite honest, I don't see anything out of it because garbage is taken away.
There's no public improvement, no capital improvement. Um, there's nothing here. I would encourage his council to look at the regulations and be proactive. I don't care if you start at 10 cans, but let's say in 2026, you know what, residents going out to put out 10
cans. You cut it down. And you cut it down to the point where people begin to recognize, gee, maybe I don't, this is a garbage. Maybe I didn't have to buy it in the first place. Maybe it is recycling. Maybe it's pul. We all know how much folding picks up. >> And I have to cut you off
>> in your garbage and you all pay for that. So I encourage you to look at that again this year. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council? >> Good evening. Laura Thompson 320 Pine
app. >> Uh, a couple things. Um, we've been talking about the parking issues. Um, is there a way to get a report on the average net gain to the burrow based on this new parking paid parking?
You must know what we're making on it. We get that. Um, also, Bill, may your staff, I hate to tell you this, but >> if you could just I'm sorry, we have to do your comments, but I'm sure >> uh 206 willow new construction on that
block. Uh, they pulled a mature mature tree out of the ground today with the back coach. Don't know if you're aware of that. It's very much. Okay. Was very sad to see that. It was a beautiful tree. Um, in reference to the flooding,
there was some, you know, bunch of us just throwing ideas out there one day and it came to me that I don't know if there's still supposed to be construction of some sort of eery or whatever on the east end of the Lidle
property or not where its terribly. And my thought was, if it's not, why can't we look into making that a retaining basin? That's where the water goes anyway. If we could make a large
enough basin there, it might alleviate some of the flooding at least on that side of town. >> And that's got it. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anybody else? Good evening, mayor, ladies and gentlemen of the council. Uh, welcome
aboard, Councilman Saraka. Sora. Okay. I was shooting for Debbie, but would have been all women except Tracy. But, uh, regret Regretfully, I have a statement. Regretfully, I did not attend the reorg with the special presentation
uh within the reorg. I was at the board of ed reorg. Uh I did review the video though, and what I found was odd. Uh the special affordable housing presentation suddenly had a public comment portion that the agenda didn't actually show
that. So maybe it was added at the spur of the moment by the mayor, which would be great. or was it uh supposed to be included in the agenda and was left out? Uh possibly the attorney could clarify if the procedure was missed. Uh however, I am commenting now on the settlement.
Maybe I will also send my comments in writing uh for the record to the planning. Uh with the two lawsuits from Garden Homes at Fair Share Housing, I commend Burough Attorney Renard for his efforts. It it fully appears we are arguing from an inferior position
regretfully. The subsequent issue we find from the settlement is that is that the mayor has been going around town saying we came out really well and the new plan was as close to original plan. We don't really need any government
gaslighting. It was a disaster to Garwood and we lost. Maybe garden homes wanted more but we still had to concede over what we originally planned during round three and four. A lot more units for the 4 and a half acre paper board
site. We went from 27.3 units per acre in round three to 40 units per acre in round four. And we were being nice to them uh when we were setting up round four, which was and it was still a concession though. And they still sued and we ended up with about 46.7 acres
units per acre around 75% more than round three. Uh the downside of this travesty is that outside of what we were getting from round three, the community room and the preservation of the castle, etc. We really got nothing more from them. This is why I note the the
government is gaslighting us to believe it was so great. We lost and we even paid more money to lose. Other mayors like Scotch plane in Scotch Plains, they previously said they are holding a gun to their head. East Brunswick mayor said
that it was destroying their town. You know, we just said it was really good. Special bulletin. It was a disaster. Uh to the settlement. In reviewing the settlement, I come upon page 12 on page I mean paragraph 12, page 13 of 14. It
states each party acknowledges that each has entered into the agreement on its own vition without coercion or duress. I I find that actually laughable. I mean, all towns were under quarters and duress. You know, you must remove that
sentence from the settlement. We had a gun to our heads through all of this. Uh, and I am disappointed no one on the governing body at that presentation had any questions. Final comment towards the new paper board project. Uh,
hopefully a separate building. No pilot should be given since we were actually sued. Period. They deserve no gratitude. Unsure about this point, but anyway. But most alarming is that counselor Annarelli recused herself since she said
she involved in formulating the affordable housing project program. Uh what this means is that we will lose a voice and a vote for every reszo and ordinance that comes up to the council involving affordable housing. It's a major issue impacting much of Garoo's
buildout moving forward with high density uh for a burrow and we lose a counselor in my opinion and and no uh you know I hate to say this but I don't really think you should be sitting on council if you're going to not be able to vote on these major reszos and the
democratic committee of Garwood should have realized this grave impact and it was very disconcerting and it's something to be considered I have more time. >> You have about 10 seconds. >> 10 seconds. Uh my usual question is the
parking tickets. How many parking tickets were given out downtown? And uh I guess the last thing is there's a uh typo I guess on the last reop meeting. >> Have to cut you off there. >> I I'll tell you.
>> Yeah. Okay. Thank you very Is there anybody else who wishes to address the mayor and council? Seeing none, can I have a motion to close public comment? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I opposed.
Okay. Start with uh Mr. Nerst. Um uh I you can talk your um exempt that it would stop a parent from parking in uh Hartman Park.
I I believe as long as that person has registered their bike, they can park. Can they get to ebikes in the park? Yes, but they can certainly park it right out on the fence and that sort of thing right there. So, I'm not quite sure what
we're saying. So, we can have that discussion further uh offline. Um but I just want to say you hope we don't adopt the bill, but this isn't something that we're adopting. We we would have to enforce by the state statute, but that's a just to clarify that for everyone.
It's not something that we're going to have to to be voting on. Um, I will refer the issue with the brook to Mr. Arthur because I know you're already working on it with him and he is working possibly with a company that will be
removing um the vegetation, the the knotweed and and all of that. Um, that does need to get removed. It it is our responsibility um as the burrow and it is encroaching on certain people's properties. So, I know there is a difficulty because of
how invasive it is in completely making sure we remove all of it, but I know Mr. Arthur is talking with with a company um and taking a look at it. And so, we're still in the beginning process of it, but it is something again that I am hoping that the council funds um to
begin well, I know that a company would like to begin before it starts growing back so that it makes it easier. So it might be something we need to move on fairly quickly. So I'll leave the the issue of the trees because I'm not still quite understanding that either. Um so I
will we can have a further discussion, Mr. Arthur uh offline. Um and in terms of reducing the garbage cans, I know we we did take that to public works committee and um it didn't move out of committee, but we have a new uh chair
now. So, um, if that's something our chair wants to take a a look in and discuss with his committee and bring back some recommendations, we're welcome to look at it. We look at it all. Um, Miss Thompson, Mr. Arthur can work on
getting you the information on the net gain. We obviously don't have that available at the meeting, but work on getting that for you. Uh in terms of the flooding at the east end of Lidol, that's something that obviously always comes up when we're talking about possible flood mitigation um issues
there at this point. Yes, still is um Popeye's is still possibly going in. They did ask for an extension on their um planning board application which was granted. So they do have one a year from when it was uh granted last I guess
fall. um we don't know the status of where they are and other than that they asked for an extension and it seemed to be moving along. So I honestly don't know what the holdup is. But in terms of a retention basin, um, and I do think
that these are something that come up a lot when we talk about this and that when we do the study, they might show that they recommend retention basins there in that area, maybe under the wreck complex. That's been thrown out there at different points by people as
well who are um, knowledgeable on this. Um, it would be underneath. The problem with the lidal property is that it is private property. So we we would have a we could look at our legal options for inforcing
that on this private property. I obviously am not knowledgeable enough to know if there are any options with that. Um, but I do know that after we get that study back, whatever comes back about that area, we would have to put forth
with um with legal to see what our options are, if any, um, because it is not our property. However, we were actually meeting with our OEM um, director yesterday or a couple days ago and talking about that area, uh, Mr.
Arthur and I and we are possibly looking at he he's looking at some different equipment that might benefit the area over there that would be put onto our right of way that might direct any flood waters away from the street. That is
something that possibly like our DPW could put up in the time of a storm. Um, I don't want to get too into it because I still don't know if if anything's possible or what what's going to come out of it, but we are actively searching
for other possibilities to move the storm waters from going, you know, where it does currently now when we have a big storm. So, um, if we are able to find something, that would be a great, uh, possibility, but we're still, our OEM director is still looking into some
things. Um, Mr. Patterson, uh, the public comment portion was I felt that residents should have an opportunity if they were here and listening to Mr. Renard speak to ask him while he was here to ask him
questions if they felt like it. So, yeah, I I opened it up to the public um so that everybody could get their questions answered. Um, and I I'm not going to really speak to you about the paper board uh or not the settlement
agreement and your your views on it. Um, I I other than to say that I think you you've taken what I've said out of context, which seems to happen a lot, but it I didn't say that the deal is great. I said we came out pretty good considering what we're up against. And
as you said, we were negotiating from uh a lesser position as every town is um because they are forced in there. And yes, they did get more apartments, but the real possibility was that we could have had more apartments that were not
age restricted. We could have lost all the other items. Um that was the real possibility that I put forth at the beginning when I was speaking. Uh you know, I would come out and update everybody. um that's what paperboard was looking to do and fair share was you
know it's not their negotiation so they wouldn't help us in that respect so uh we did fight back and we did manage to retain at least what was there which I you may not appreciate that and that's
fine but I do having sat in those negotiations and seen what was spoken about and and how hard they were and how hard our um planner and attorney worked to get it at least back to where it was when we went into there. They they
challenged us and we we had no choice but to spend the money to ch to fight them back. I mean, we could have just rolled over at the beginning and not done it and taken what they were offering at 60 units an acre, but of
course, we didn't. So, is it a is it fantastic that they got 20 something more apartments or whatever it may be? No, it's not fantastic. But I will certainly take that over what it was looking like it would be and what they had come in asking for. So, when I say
that we managed to get a good deal out of it in the end, that is what I mean. Um, and I'm not even going to comment on Councilwoman what you said about Councilwoman Annarelli not being able to. We've had people that have to
abstain for various reasons because of their their work. And that doesn't mean that every vote that comes up about anything with redevelopment is it's going to be a case by case basis. And I think it's really good to have people up here from v various uh
categories and backgrounds of of their employment because it does provide good for discussion and as um councilwoman Annarelli was able to add to the discussion even though she could not vote. So uh and I just really
don't like the way it was was said. So um we will move on now to our consent agenda. Does anybody need to remove anything? Okay, seeing none, can I have a motion
to adopt our consent agenda? >> Second. Uh, roll call, please. I'm off the page. Where was I? Okay. >> Councilwoman Hannah, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano, >> hi.
>> Councilwoman Noli, >> hi. >> Councilman Padusniaak, >> Councilman Sera, >> absent. >> Council President Bodto, >> hi. >> Okay. Um, new business. As you see, we did have um a new member put onto the
shade tree advisory. Thank you to Mary KD. Our mural committee, as you see, is uh Mr. Arthur, Miss Lysac, myself, Council President Bodto, Pete Kora, Carol Delcanti, and Crystal Zoiski. So, looking forward to moving forward with
that. Uh payment of claims, please. Be it resolved that the following claims as approved B and the same are hereby ordered paid when properly signed and verified and the payment of payrolls as listed is hereby confirmed and ratified. >> Do I have a motion to adopt payment of
claims? So move >> second. >> Roll call, please. >> Councilwoman Anarelli, >> I. >> Councilwoman Biano, >> I. >> Councilwoman Noly, >> I. Councilman Padusniac. >> Councilman Sera. >> Yes. >> Council President Bodto.
>> Hi. >> Okay. The regular meeting of the mayor and council will be held Thursday, February 12th, 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? >> I opposed. Okay, thank you everybody. >> Hey council, we need a hood picture. >> I know it's late. >> Yeah, you need one for the website.