I leave it off. >> I come back and >> Good evening. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America. Republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Good evening. This regular meeting of the township council is being held in accordance with the schedule and means of the township council established and adopted by the township council which schedule designated the time and day and
place of this meeting. Adequate public notice of this meeting has been provided pursuant to the provision of the open public meetings act. We are using an electronic amplifying recording device in order to obtain a clear and audible record. Request all those wish to speak. We recognize and state your name, address directly into the microphone.
The recording device be utilized by a township clerk's office for the preparation of the minutes and shall be the official record of the township council meetings. Madam clerk, may we have the roll call, please? >> Mr. Manion >> here. >> Mrs. Albreight Troxel >> here. Mrs. Grace Love >> here. Mr. Nash >> here. >> Mrs. Walters here.
>> Mr. Castro >> here. >> Mr. Mcado >> present. >> Mr. Carlamir >> here. Mr. Cartis >> here. >> Deputy Chief Manazi >> here. >> Mr. McIll >> here. >> Ms. Corbin. >> We have a resolution to go to close
session uh to discuss uh the aftermath of a settlement agreement that we have for a redevelopment area. Um that discussion will take probably about 20 minutes. Uh it could be a little bit lengthier. Uh if it is, I'll come out
and give an update on that. So that's resolution 258-294. May I have a motion, please, to go to close session? I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> On the question, roll call, please. >> Mr. Minion, >> yes. >> Mrs. Albreight Troxel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Grace Love, >> yes. >> Mr. Nash, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Walters, >> yes. >> Mr. Castro, >> yes. >> Mr. Marcato, >> yes. We'll be back in 20. He's recording. Stop. I didn't get an education. Madam clerk, please.
>> Mr. Miner >> here. >> Mrs. Albbright Traxxel >> here. Mrs. Grace Love >> here. >> Mr. Nash >> here. >> Mrs. Walters >> here. Mr. Castro >> here. >> Mr. Marcato >> present. >> Mr. Carlamir >> here. >> Mr. Cardis >> here. >> Deputy Chief Manazi >> here.
>> Mr. Miguel >> here. Mrs. Janis, >> this closed session was to discuss uh a settlement agreement on the 1000 Williamstown Road and next steps for that settlement agreement to fulfill our responsibilities of the township uh and
addressing that agreement. Uh we'll most likely continue to have some more sessions uh close session to discuss that to particular subject matter. Now we'll open up the public comment. Uh this is for agenda items only. Each speaker is entitled to three minutes.
There's a total of 15 minutes for the first public comment portion. Uh you're able to speak one time and we will address any questions or concerns you have after the first uh public uh comment period. Anyone like to speak?
Mr. Burns, Mr. Leader Bob is >> Good evening, Council Brian Burns, Swood Drive and Ariel. >> Um I I just wanted to um give my kudos and and my support and advocacy for the grant for the Marshall House. Um I'm
familiar with that property a lot more now than I was a couple months ago. Um and going through the uh master plan re-examination and the open space recreational plan. um the preservation of that property has a lot of boxes
checked off in both of those documents. Um just real quick, I mean this is not all of them, but on page 53, for example, uh this township planner has identified the north and south branches of Big Timber Creek as major green
corridor areas to be preserved and opened up for recreational use. Um, I think I think all council members are aware that the Marshall House is on 27 acres that borders Big Timber Creek and that's that's an amazing piece of
property and to be able to open that up for recreational use, maybe community gardens, uh, preserving a house that goes back to the 1700s is certainly a feather in the hat to the township. So, I will do anything I can to promote that
as an advocate to volunteer when it comes down to them possibly doing work on the property in the future. On page seven of the master plan re-examination, it specifically says promote the preservation of a historically significant structures and districts
that represent diversity of architectural styles in the township. On page 44, the master plan re-examination specifically says, "Preserve scenic and cultural landscapes, lands with significant natural beauty or cultural heritage,
such as historic sites, scenic vistas." Okay, there's not too many scenic vistas in Gloucester Township, but that is certainly one of them. >> I was there not that long ago, and when you get into the guts of that property,
it is beautiful. you would not know where you are. You can take a picture of that and send it to to friends and tell them you're on vacation in a far away land. And the fact that the the old pine forest or the natural trust in right
across the creek in Cluster County is there already. and the ability to join those two together is really an opportunity that that doesn't come around too often in areas like this with the with the population explosion we have and the development that's going on. So I you
know I'd say you move forward with this you know if we can spend 4.1 million for the bank in in Blackwood we can certainly put some money towards something of this significance as well. Uh page 21
it specifically says in the open space recreational plan promote the preservation of historically significant structures. So it's it checks off a lot of box. It's a very positive thing for the township and I I'm I'm behind it 100% and I hope that the effort that starts out with
this grant to preserve the house and get it watertight and preserve it from any further uh the mile see proper word I'm looking for but it's it's in disarray at the present time. >> Okay. And it would be nice to get it at
least stabilized and be able to move forward and open it up to the public and maybe even have additional community gardens there like you have at the the Gabriel Davies Tower. >> So, >> thank you, Mr. Burns, for your comments. Mr. Leader, >> Dave Leader, Huntington Avenue, Glendor.
>> Good evening. >> Good evening. I'm looking at R 25 col08-295 the capital account fund at 1
68 682 million. So there there must be significant items that are uh in that fund. I'd sure like to know what the highlight of makes up the major cost of those.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Denise Coin. She's landing. Resolution 25830307 directs a taxpayerf funded study to
decide if block 18302 lot 5 should be declared in need of redevelopment. But this lot was just purchased last year by a developer for $775,000. It already has a home on it and it's in a healthy neighborhood. There's nothing
blighted about it, which makes this study a waste of public funds. The settlement agreement essentially guarantees the outcome before the planning board even starts its work. So what's the point of doing a redevelopment study on prime real estate when the result is already
predetermined? Resolution 258308 sends amendments to the new vision redep redevelopment area plan to the planning board. The linked ordinance 02521 includes bulk standards far less
restrictive than what's required elsewhere in the township. Approving reduced standards here sets a precedent for other de redevelopers and developers to use to demand sub similar treatment eroding zoning protections. Those are
the same pro protections this council defended at the last redevelopment entity meeting in July. Yet a month later, you're prepared to give the same reduced standards to this developer. I wonder if you've weighed the true cost of these concessions to the taxpayers
versus the cost of going to court and paying the settlement. If a pilot is awarded for block 18302, lot 5, the developer school tax obligation will be drast drastically reduced or eliminated, yet taxpayers will still bear the full
cost of educating any children from this development. That burden will last as long as the pilot does. The residents deserve to know before you vote whether a pilot is part of this agreement. I believe the cost to educate one child per year is
roughly 1600 $16,000. So if there's approximately 200 kids in this development, that means there's $3,200 per year to send those kids to school. The lawsuit stems from a failure of
oversight by this council acting as a redevelopment entity. In my opinion, I'm asking you not to repeat that mistake tonight by pushing through major redevelopment actions without full public discussion. Those resolutions should be removed from the consent
agenda and discussed openly in public. If you approve these resolutions tonight, let the record show you were warned and you chose to repeat the same mistake that brought you here. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else
close the first public portion? Uh thank you Mr. Burns for your comments in support of the Robert Marshall House aka Maf's Farm. Uh Mr. Leader uh with the question about the capital account and
the major cost. Mr. Cartis, would you happen to have that information? >> No, I would not, but I I can provide that. >> Okay. uh Mrs. Coin's comments regarding resolutions 307 and 308 and also the
ordinance. Uh and I'm going to defer to Mr. Carla Mayor and Mr. Assala who's our legal counsel to what I can and cannot say because we were in close session. Um Mr. Well, procedurally, uh, council is
moving forward with the, uh, the ordinance on first reading 02521 tonight. Uh, but part of that before you can go to a second reading, that request has to be analyzed and reviewed by the planning board uh, before council can
finally adopt any uh, ordinance amendment change. And as it relates to our litigation settlement, I guess Mr. uh, S can can really respond to that. Uh yeah, I my name is Mark Selta. I'm an
attorney with the Brown Econory Law Firm and I've uh represented the township in the litigation. Have been part of the uh settlement agreement drafting. I I did want to comment um I I think one of the comments was that uh why take this action? It's a done deal. Uh it's it's
not a done deal because specifically and this is public record um the settlement agreement says if permitted by law. So for instance, if that zone was determined not to meet the statutory criteria, uh there's no obligation for the planning board or the township more
properly to uh designate it as such. Uh so um I think as Mr. Carlamir said, I had the same note. Uh there's no binding action being taken by the council tonight. Uh they're referring these various actions to the planning board at which time there will be full hearings
and the public will be able to provide input on these very issues. >> Thank you, Mr. Next is the ordinance of first reading introduction ordinance 0-25-20 ordinance of the township of Gloucester County of Cam in the state of New Jersey
adopting amendments to the Blackwood West redevelopment plan in accordance with the local redevelopment housing law NJSA 4812A-1 at se this is a first reading uh this is
for property North Blackhorse Pike. Uh, and it is for a medical spa services. Um, may I have a motion? >> So move. >> Is there a second? Second on the
question. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Minion, >> yes. >> Mrs. Albreight Traxxel. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Grace Love. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nash, >> yes. >> Mrs. Walters, >> yes. >> Mr. Castro, >> yes. >> Mr. Mcado, >> yes. Next is ordinance 0-25-21
ordinance of the township of Gloucester County Cam State, New Jersey, adopting amendments to new vision redevelopment area plan in accordance with the local redevelopment housing law NJSA4A12A-1 at SE. Uh what this does is provide a overlay district applicable to uh the
the block 18302 lot one block 18301 lots 12 and 14 block 138 excuse me 18319 lots one and 1.01 and provides permitted uses for free simple town homes condominium town homes or cooperative town homes.
There will be a hearing at its second reading. May I have a motion please? >> So move. >> Is there a second? Second on the question. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Mo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Alre Troxel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Grace Love, >> yes. >> Mr. Nash, >> yes. >> Mrs. Walters,
>> yes. >> Mr. Caster, >> abstain. >> Mr. Mata, >> yes. Next is our consent agenda. Any council member like to have any of the items removed from the consent agenda, please speak up. Hearing none, I entertain a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented.
Is that a second >> on the question? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Mo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Aubrey Troxel, >> yes. >> Mrs. Grace Love, >> yes. >> Mr. Nash, >> yes. >> Mrs. Walters. Um, yes. >> Mr. Castro, >> yes. >> Mr. Mcado,
>> yes. We did not receive any GTE gov access emails. We now go to our second public comment period. This is for 30 minutes. Each speaker is entitled to five minutes. Uh each speaker can speak once and after uh those speakers have
addressed council with their questions or concerns, council may respond to them at that time. Then would like to speak during a second public comment. Mr. Leader, Miss Coin, Miss Gentilly, those are our three. Mr. later Dave Leader Huntington Avenue, Glendor.
Uh update for the green team. I'm be trying to join. Um I've heard that it's a Democratic club. This is just gossip that only the mayor appoints people on the green team who are his uh part of
his entourage. Don't know if that's true. It was sad to hear that. I'm used to volunteerism. I always volunteered on MLK day when I was healthy. got the t-shirt and um I volunteered with a historic
board, historic team several times and tried to volunteer for the green team. Mr. Castro has not called me back since I left a message at the mayor's office a month ago. Uh last week, I went to the
mayor's office in person and Mr. Castro was not in and I left a message for him. I have not heard from him since which has only been a couple days, but yeah.
>> Is that Did I use the right name? I did. Did I? Mr. Castro, I'm sorry. >> Cruz. >> Mr. >> Cruz. >> Cruz. >> Mr. Cruz. I'm sorry, Mr. Castro. >> It's okay. >> Mr. Cruz. Um, so the reason why I bring it up here is because this is on record.
what I do casually in the mayor's office or when I see the mayor publicly is not recorded. This is recorded. So, I don't know the reason why a public volunteer who's willing to give up their time and expertise
is not been accepted for this activity since last January. The recordings of the audio and video of the township meetings has been an issue for over a year. It is time. Is it time to revamp the system?
It's a question. Meanwhile, is it time to have I an IT specialist familiar with the equipment, test the equipment prior to the meeting, and be present during the meeting until the root cause of the failures is known? Another
question is, has this year's budget included looking for an upgrade for this equipment? This equipment is very old, I'm told, and that might be part of the root cause of the failure. When I worked in IT, I had customers who
said that if you find the root cause, you need to install an irreversible solution. I've been I've worked on that my whole career. I'd like to see the same energy for your audio and visual system.
My wife and I are in retirement and fixed income. Our taxes in 2004 were a little over $4,000. My taxes currently are $8,220. That's a 204% increase. Most of it
during Mayor Mayor's um role as the mayor of the township. If you remember, he wrote he he uh campaigned on no taxes
a couple times over the years. How many of your constituents are on a fixed income? probably a lot. We're all aging. If they realize their taxes increased by 204%, do you think they would vote for Mr. Mayor and the current council members?
Obviously, you can't answer that, but they're the questions I I pose to township folks when I talk with them. Why is it the council can initiate a dialogue with the public, but the public can't initiate a dialogue with the council?
This has happened in each of the last two meetings where council question back to the public and we're accepting shouted answers from the public. You can't have it both ways, can you? Well, yeah. You're in charge. You make
the rules. You treat us the way you want to treat us. And you treat yourselves the way you want to treat yourselves. If you want to shout out to the public for clarification, you can. If the public wants to shout out for clarification,
they get admonished. You have it both ways. You're in complete control. Why is it that public can't have an open dialogue with council, but council can have an open dialogue with the public? When can I expect an organizational
chart be updated and made available to the public? I think the chart is dated 2003. There have obviously been several changes. Thank you very much, Mr. Leader. Denise Coin, she's landing. Nancy has a
handout. Thank you. >> I am making this statement for the record because meaningful meaningful discussion is no longer permitted at council meetings and the council president has the last word even when it's not accurate. I want the minutes to
reflect actual facts about the July 14th appointment of Mr. Castro because the public deserves nothing less. For Mr. Castro's appointment based on public record. There was no public notice of a vacancy or appointment was
issued for the July 14th, 2025 meeting. No appointment resolution appeared on the agenda. No appointment resolution was read into the record, motioned, or adopted. While a public nomination and vote occurred, the crucial step, a formal
appointment resolution, was absent. New Jersey SA4A col16-11 requires appointments be made by resolution adopted at a meeting. By contrast, the May 22nd, 2023 appointment
of Terara Walters followed these steps. There was public notice in the Courier Post on May 12th and a cancellation notice on May 18th for the related meeting. the agenda R23 col05-121
for the executive session and R235-133 for the appointment were both listed on the agenda. The appointment resolution was read, motioned, and voted on in public statement that these two processes were the same or incorrect.
I provided a sidebyside chart documenting these facts and asked that they be included in the minutes so the records reflect the truth. Given these discrepancies, I request that council either fix the deficit by properly noticing and adopting an appointment
resolution in public or explain on the record the legal authority relied upon to treat a nomination vote as a lawful appointment under NJSA4A-16-11. Thank you, >> Miss Jen Tilly. Hi, Nancy Kelly
Blackwood. Um, Blackbox Theater. Um, trying to get an opening date. On the website here, it says August 26th, 27th, 28th with no exceptions. Um, LD4 had a video out saying that it's early September for a grand opening. So, I'm
just looking for a a clear-cut answer on when the grand opening is, unless it's a soft opening, the August 26, 27, 28th, like it says on the website. Um, is the public o uh permitted to go to the grand opening? Um, is it invite only? How much
it is to rent the facility? Is it staffed with that fee? Um, tables, chairs, catering, anything available unless you have your own catering that we're only allowed to use them. and operating hours and days and second
portion GT perks. I keep hearing that GT perks is out there available. It has been implemented but I called into who did I speak to? Mary Joe Gentino and said it is not put into effect and as of
now we're looking at two to three weeks out and right now we're still waiting on businesses. I asked what businesses. I was not told which businesses. So, if you can tell me what businesses have been signed up and when is GT Perks happening cuz I'm hearing that it is and
it's not and I'm seeing literature out there that GT Perks is implemented and implemented means that it's in effect. GT Perks is not in effect. So, I would like that. Thanks, guys. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else? Seeing none, we'll close the public
portion. Thank you, Mr. Leita, for your update on your quest to join the green team. Uh, you had stated that those that are part of the green team just happened to be part of the mayor's team or friends, and he said it's maybe
just gossip. So, my question to you is, why would you spread it if you just believe it's just gossip? Uh, Mr. Castro as we stated earlier was not the person you contacted is Mr. Cruz is the chief of staff for the mayor. Uh
in regards regard to the recordings of the township meeting and if it's time to revamp Tom this was updated recently. >> It was our audio new amps u microphones. In fact the microphone out there that the public uses they're brand new. Um we
did upgrade the system. There was an issue with uh our ability to access YouTube uh at the last meeting and that has been uh remedied at this point. >> Okay.
Do you believe there's a need to have it present for our meeting? >> No, I do not. >> Okay. Uh so there was no upgrade for this equipment in our current budget because this was addressed in the previous correct budget, I believe. Okay. >> Uh Mr. leader made comments about his
taxes from 2004 to 2025 and uh I guess posed a rhetorical question. How many on fixed income can afford their taxes? Uh and he also asked for a org chart uh
that is not in the purview of council but the administration. And Mr. Carter, are there any intentions to amend the current organizational chart of the township? No, but I will piss on m his comments to the mayor. >> Okay.
Uh Miss Coin came up and provided a handout that was passed out by Miss Nancy Kelly Gentilly and uh Miss Coin had provided a side by side uh regarding the appointment of Mr. Castro.
when we went into we have a closed session uh that is on the agenda at each meeting and we utilize that resolution to go into close session. In addition to that, please don't shout out. In addition to that, uh when we
came out from close session and I I said that there was a nomination and that nomination was made by Mr. minion uh that followed the resolution was not mentioned but there was a resolution for that that was the act to appoint Mr.
Castro I don't understand and and I I don't have a prepared statement and I probably don't have anything good in response to the questioning of Mr. Castro's appointment but Mr. Castro has served this country,
is serving our community, and he was rightfully appointed. And Mr. Castro, I continue to look forward to working with you. I don't understand why certain residents continue to question the appointments of anybody that's on here.
We do everything out in the open. Nothing is predetermined. It was here. They was nominated. He was properly uh sworn in. And Mr. Castro is continue to serve as a council person. If you have any or more issues with this, Miss Coin,
go with it where you need to go with it. Okay. Uh, Miss Kelly uh had asked regarding the Blackbox Theater and an opening date and a soft date. Do you have anything for that? >> I believe there is a an opening set for
se Friday, September 12th at 6 PM. >> Okay. So, Friday, September 12th, and that is open to the general public. >> I don't I wasn't the one to put that out. Um I just saw it today. >> Is that something you can find out for us?
>> Yes. >> Uh and uh I I don't know if rental and staff, is that something that has been discussed regarding the operating hours and if there's tables and chairs and if the general public can rent that out? Is that something that has even been
discussed? Again, I don't know the particulars of the actual opening in the event the event itself. If you could provide some information for us at our next meeting, I appreciate it. And uh GT Perks, I did see some literature for that. Can you give us an update on that
and perhaps reach out to uh Mrs. Dentino? I know that Miss Gentily had reached out to her uh to indicate I saw a brochure for it and it's been talked about, but uh if the list of vendors and a uh where we're at in the process of GT
perks, if you can give us an update and also Mr. Gentilly, we'd appreciate it. >> Polling of directors, please. >> Mr. Carlamir, I >> have nothing to report. >> Mr. Cartis, >> nothing to report right now. >> Deputy Chief Manazi, Mr. Miguel, >> nothing. Thank you.
>> Mrs. Corbin, >> Mr. Mñan, >> thanks for coming out. Have a great night and great week. >> Mrs. Albert Trox, >> uh, Mr. Burns, I appreciate your positive comments about uh, things that we're doing up here. Uh, we do our best to try and give the best back to the
township. I think that's what we all want and I think that's what we all try to do up here as best we can. uh we are under constraints that not everybody is and we can only do a certain amount with a certain amount of
money and people and we really try and make this a place where we all want to live and work and play. So again, thank you for your comments and I'm happy to live here. My taxes are high, too. Um, and I'm a fixed income senior citizen,
but I would rather live here in this township where I feel safe and I feel I can go to a senior meeting or I can go to any event that I want to here that it's not doesn't cost me a dime to go see a movie in the park or whatever I
want to do. It's a great place to live. So, I appreciate living here and I hope that someday you do, too. Thank you for coming. >> Mrs. Grace Love, thank you for coming out. Thank you for your comments. Have a great week, Mr. Nash. >> Um, yeah, I also would like to respond
to David. Um, you know, take this for what it's worth. I still I appreciate your concerns for property tax, but the comments, uh, what I wanted to go over is for the people who are not familiar with how property tax breakdowns work. I'm preaching to the choir, I'm sure,
but your tax bill, 23% is county, 45% goes to school. We have nothing to do with those taxes. Okay. The 32% or 33% is municipal. So of your tax bill, just for clarification for anyone listening,
we are responsible for 33% of your tax bill. Have a good night. >> Mrs. Walters, >> I want to thank everybody for coming out tonight. Um, I want to appreciate the chief and all the staff um from the police and everybody who made National Night Out last week. Um, it was a great
event. I hope everybody was able to get someplace, but thank you for um going out and it was nice to go out in the community and see everybody. So, we'll see each other everybody next year as well and have a good night. >> Mr. Castra, >> thank you everyone for coming out and
I'll see you at the next meeting. >> Mr. Marcato, >> I want to thank everyone for coming out this evening. Also, just echo what Tara had indicated regarding National Night Out. uh a fantastic job that the police department puts on and also the
residents because it wouldn't happen if there wasn't residents that were having uh these events and opening their doors. When you talk to people outside of our our township like what is this? What what and they think it's just a party. No, it's bringing awareness uh to
residents and having conversations uh and just keeping an eye out u for uh your neighbors. Uh I also want to thank uh Chief Harkkins uh the leadership of his police department in working with us
in creating the ordinance addressing youth and their behavior. If you watched any media this past weekend, it was on 36 and 10. Like back in the days when we had three channels, 36 and 10 and Fox.
But uh you read the comments. I I'm not a fan of reading comments when things are posted. Uh but I I think this is holding those that are accountable that want to act up. We want our town is a welcoming town. We want people to come
here. We want people to enjoy things that are here, but if you're going to come here, you have to act accordingly. And so I'm very happy that uh my colleagues on council supported that ordinance and we moved forward with that. So thank you very much. Thank you. With that, I entertain a motion to
adjourn. Move. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor? Have a great evening, everyone? This is identifying here.