Okay. Good evening, Madam Clerk. Okay, we are up to the swearing in. Okay, so we're going to go right into it. How come we're not doing the council? There's Right.
That's weird. I imagine we're all here for the swearing in. We have three tonight. And First is lieutenant with Sean Tucker. Tucker, please come forward along with your guests. Step up, sir.
Just like that. Raise your right hand. Please repeat after me. I state your name. I, Sean, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution that I will support the Constitution of the United States of the United States and the Constitution of the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey by the state of New Jersey that I will bear true faith and allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same to the same and to the governments established and the governments established in the United States in the United States and in this state and in the state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people and that I will
faithfully and that I will faithfully and partially andartially and justly perform and justly perform all the duties of all the duties of fire lieutenant fire lieutenant according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability. So help me be God. So be God. Congratulations sir.
[Applause] Just need your name. That's it. Sir heard me. Congratulations to you. Congratulations. Michael, please step forward. [Music]
Raise your right hand. United States. United States people. Congratulations. [Applause] And
last step forward of the United States. Jersey. United States authority of the people. Deputy Chief. [Applause]
First off, I want to wish you guys a great So you guys stay safe and healthy and finish up and have a wonderful career here at the hospital. last couple
years a recess amongst each with family. Uh, we did our fire department promotions. So, going to bring up uh Jim Bangan for a budget presentation, our budget introduction. Where Jerry? Oh, sorry. Hold up. Jerry's not
back. All right, Jim. Okay. Thanks, Mayor. Um, so tonight during the business portion, we'll be introducing uh the 2025 municipal budget. Um, first I just want to do a little housekeeping on the budget. Uh we'll be introducing the budget tonight
and um as we've done in the past at the next council meeting I'll be doing the formal budget presentation the PowerPoint presentation right and then at the subsequent meeting at the uh June 20th meeting we'll have the public hearing and the adoption okay the reason
being that you have to put at least there has to be at least 28 days between the introduction and the public hearing so that's why we do the u the budget presentation at that meeting in between. Okay, a little bit about the budget itself. This year's budget is
132,391,327, which is a spending increase of 1.8 million or a spending increase of 1.3%. Okay, of that u $1.8 8 million spending increase. The increase to the
tax levy is only $700,000, which is a.7% increase to the levy. Um, this year's budget was a challenge. I know it's something that we say every year. Every year, uh, the budget is a
challenge. The, um, usual suspects, um, health benefits were up again. Not as much as they were last year. Last year was a killer. Uh but they were up significantly, 12.6%. Uh not as high as last year when they were up 32%. Uh interesting article
in the Bergen Record today about health benefits in local government statewide says that they've been up 60% statewide uh since 2022. Wow. And I checked and our health benefits are up 60% since
2022. So we're right in line with the rest of the state. Uh this year we had other challenges. You know, in addition to health benefit increases, we had a uh a large increase in pension of about 450,000. Uh we had a loss of state aid
of about 450,000. And um this year we had a loss of state aid and also the American Rescue Plan revenue expired 123124. So we lost that. Okay. I'll get into more details of the
budget itself um at the um at the budget presentation, but just know that um the increase to the levy 7% translates to at on the average home an increase of about $109 on the municipal part of the budget
for the average home. Um now I just want to make make sure that everybody's clear on something. Okay. The tax increase this year will be high. It will be a large tax increase when the tax bills go
out and they go out the end of next month. Okay. On the average home, the municipal increase will be $109. The school increase is going to be about $270. The school tax levy is up about
4.3%. The municipal levy is up 7%. Okay, I'll have more to say about that during the budget presentation. Okay, but just want to make sure that everybody's aware of that because tax bills will be out in about uh little more than four weeks
from now. Okay, what I wanted to do uh tonight was in terms of the budget um was just show everybody that um where you can access the budget. The budget's on the city website and you'll see that's the city website that's up on the
screen. And if anybody wanted to see the budget, okay, and the budget's there now, you go to the city website, you go to departments, you go down to finance, and you pull up the finance page. Okay? Scroll to the bottom of the finance page
and you'll see the finance documents. Go down to the budget and you'll see the 2025 budget. And that brings up the 2025 budget itself. Okay? And when uh in the budget, okay, I just
want to show you um a couple of things that we've talked about in the budget, but people may not be aware of. The budget itself is broken up into two sections. There's the appropriation section, which is the spending, and then there's the revenue section of where the
money comes from. And then there's a couple other miscellaneous sections like the uh um the cap calculations showing that the budget is under the spending cap and the levy cap calculation showing that it's under the uh the 2% levy cap.
Okay. But I just want to show you what it this is what the budget looks like. And let me just skip over some of these uh preliminary pages that the uh that the state requires. Okay, the budget message. This is the spending cap
calculation shown on sheet 3B. Okay. Continues on. This is the levy cap calculation which is shown on uh sheet three. Okay. Moving on. Okay. Then he goes into the revenue section, but I'm going to skip revenue for a second.
Just want to jump up to the appropriations. Okay. Appropriations start on sheet 12. Okay. All right. Now this is the appropriation section. Now the budget's broken down by department. Each department, the budget is broken down
into two areas. Salaries and wages and other expenses. You'll see the amount for 2025 that's budgeted. You can see the amount that was budgeted for 2024. You can see the amount that was spent in 2024 under the paid or charged and the
amount that's reserved. Remember, a budget lasts for two years. So the 2024 budget will lapse the end of this year. So what's in the reserve? Uh this is what was in the reserve as of 123124 which will lapse at the surplus
at the end of this year. So you skip through these are all of the appropriations. You go through general government um into uh land use uh insurance, public works, um public
safety, um health, and then we get into um our utilities, recreation, um then we have our miscellaneous sections of unclassified, just skipping
on. Okay. Then we get into our statutory which is pension, social security, unemployment. Okay. Then we have our outside cap expenditures which are things like um our sewer disposal, the library, tax appeal refunds. Okay.
And then we get into our shared service agreements followed by grants capital debt and I'm skipping ahead deliberately because I want to get to the summary
page. Okay. And finally the uh sheet 30 is the summary page. And you can see at the bottom you know that the uh the total budget is 132,391,000. Okay. Uh that is uh the amount of spending. The budget is your
authorization to spend. Okay. Now I'm going to jump back to the revenue section that I skipped over before which starts on sheet four. Okay. And starts with our surplus. Okay. Which is 6.7 million. um into our local
revenue. Okay. Followed by state aid. And you can see state aid there's a decrease of 448,000 because the municipal relief fund is uh expired. And we get al going along. We have our uh followed by grants. And just
remember on grants, most grants come in after the budget's adopted. we amend the budget to include them. So the fact that there aren't a lot of grants, that's normal. Okay. Then we have our miscellaneous items of revenue. Okay. And these all have to be approved by the
state. Uh these are all uh non-tax revenue items. And just about every single one of these has come about in the last 10 years. This is one of the areas that we focused on. You'll if you look at them, you'll see there's probably about five or six of them that
come from the hospital alone. Okay, that's followed by the pilot section. And we've talked about this a lot. Now, we keep pilots separate from everything else. So, the pilots are identified on sheet 10. And you'll see they're identified by the um by the
address. You'll see the amount that we anticipated in on the in the budget in 2025. the amount that we anticipated in 2024 and the amount that actually came in in 2024. Now, it's important to
understand that what we anticipate is not what's going to come in. We're going to we're going to realize more than what we anticipate. That always happens. Okay? For example, the first pilot is Meridia Metro. That's the one at 100 State Street. Okay? We anticipated last
year 572,000, but we actually took in 611,000. So this year we're going to anticipate 611,000 because the state says we can't anticipate more than we took in last year. Are we going to take
in 611,000? No, we're going to take in more than that. But we can only put the 611,000 in. All right. But here, if anybody wanted to look, you can see all of the pilots that we have. Okay, they go beyond uh sheet 10 and onto the next
sheet. Okay, following that, we then have the summary revenue page, which just lists all the revenues that that were shown. And you'll see uh you have your non- tax revenue of about 37 million. The tax
levy which is 92,1,000 an increase over last year of $700,000 or.7%. Add the non- tax revenue to the tax levy and you have a where did my
budget go? I was gonna say what happened, Frank? I hit something. Ah, there we go. Okay. All right. So, you add the non- tax revenue together with the tax levy. And I lost it again.
What am I? What am I right clicking? Now I'm printing. I am so old. Oh, I am old. All right. Thanks. Okay. So, you'll see on the
bottom the uh add the non- tax revenue to the tax levy and you've got the $132 million that appropriated and the budget is in balance. Okay. So, again, this is on the city website for anybody to see. Um, copies of the budget are also
available in the clerk's office. And like I said, at the next meeting, I'll get into the budget in a lot more detail when we do the PowerPoint presentation. Okay. If anybody has any questions, be happy to answer them. Good job, Jimmy. Thank you. Good job as
always. We know it was a tough one. And I know you know you talked about 109 on on an on an a uh the average home from the city side but and an addition that that's seven of a percent. So it's less than 1% and
$270 on an average home from the school which is you I think you said about a 4% increase about four and a half. Yeah. I I meant to say also that on the average home tax bills going out next month, the average tax bill will be about $420
increase 109 municipal 270 something on the schools and then the the balance of the county and the library and the library. Correct. You say 420 for $421. Yes. Okay. And I'll have details on that at
the presentation. Okay. I mean, to get the 4.2 from the schools increase, did they have to get special approval for it to be that? The um No, the uh their budget um the inside the the cap portion of their budget was at 2% by regulation.
Oh, so this is all outside cap. It's all outside cap. If their inside cap budget exceeds 2%, it has to go to voters. Okay. Gotcha. All right. And the average home was around 3
321,000. The average home this year was 321,000 which is just a slight increase from last year. Last year the average home was about 320,000 800 something like that. And that's because we haven't really done a reassessment. That's right. Okay.
So it's an average of $36 a month on a $320,000 home. Okay. All right. Thanks, Jim. And we look forward to next time we hear all the gory details. Yeah. Okay. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Thank you
agenda for the people. Okay, Ally, you're up. Okay. Okay. Next up is Dwolf Place residential parking study. Um so as requested by the residents and the council uh the traffic department
conducted a residential parking study for dwell place overnight. They found very limited parking overnight with a reoccurring pres presence of outofstate plates and vehicles occupying spaces for extended periods of time. So, tonight on the agenda is the introduction of an
ordinance to add residential parking on DWolf from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. And uh since we don't want cars to then park on adjacent streets, uh we are also doing Stanley Barry Hannes and Second Street with the same times 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Are
we notifying those homeowners on those streets? Traffic will be sending out the or handd delivering the memo. So when does that that has to be done by ordinance, correct? Yeah. So that'll give them time for people to come and who may have a different opinion on this. Yeah. We'll have the public
hearing at the next meeting and then it'll be adopted. Okay. Number four. Number four, we have the Garden State CPACE program municipal municipality opt-in ordinance. Steve, if you want to
say a few words on it. CPACE. CPACE. Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, the CPACE ordinance is, sorry, is this not on? There we go. The CPACE ordinance uh arises out of a new uh state law that
deals with uh the ability to obtain um certain financing in a manner that um effectively the the financing is uh build through the city and um and so
they can use the the city's tax collection mechanisms to ensure that um that the the the the money is repaid to the city. Sort of like property
taxes. So, if you're a lender, it's uh you know, you know that you're going to be repaid because if you're not repaid, then the city can um then then it's it's like you're not paying your property taxes. Um, so it it provides additional security for certain
projects that qualify for the CPACE program. So this is something that came out of Trenton um and through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Apparently, it has been used around the country um and has been successful in
allowing for projects that might be more difficult to finance uh to uh to to use this mechanism to uh to to to get the funds needed for construction and for lenders to feel that there's adequate security for that.
So the state has been pushing municipalities very hard to adopt um this ordinance and so um you know we it was reviewed and it felt that it might be a tool that would be worthwhile that uh you know might encourage more homes
more affordable homes within the city and uh and projects of that nature. And if I may add, Steve, I think a lot of the qualifications have to do with environmental. Yes. Where these homes that are being built must prove that
they are doing things like um uh water efficiency, renewable energy, uh strengthening buildings against natural against n natural I couldn't get it out disasters. So, it's a way that we can encourage the environmentals things to
be capabilities to be built into the development by affording them uh a way to go as the EDA approves us uh financially to help assist those things. And these are all very important things, you know, as we see in in new construction, in reconstruction that we
look forward to the future in all that we do. Yep. And again, it's it's um, you know, it's just it's it's providing additional security for those improvements for new and and it can be used for existing projects as well, but you would expect, you know, they're going to build a better project if they
have the the funding available, you know, to do things. You know, I guess you could do solar panels. Maybe you weren't going to do solar panels before. And so, you know, this you might say, "All right, you know, we'll do that now." where you might have, you know, a more efficient heating system or air
conditioning or HVAC. So, you know, it it helps for that as well. So, Steve, it says commercial property and certain other types of property. It can include multif family, residential, real, multif family only, no single family. Yes, I do not believe I I think there are other mechanisms if
you're a single family owner that you can access tax credits for things like solar, but this is designed on a more industrial scale. again because in the end if you uh you know you receive this financing you have to
pay it back or the same mechanisms that the city would use for uncollected um assessments you know if you don't pay your water and you don't pay your sewer you know then the city has certain rights to uh uh you know come after you and and certain very powerful put leans
on your property put leans on your property and I think it's important for everyone to realize too that this comes at no cost to the city so there there's we actually get a fee. I think we actually get a uh for processing we have to realize we'll be processing. So for doing that effort of having them
processed yes there'll be a small fee but basically there's no investment here by the city. This is just again to encourage building in an environmentally a proactive way you know based on especially what we've seen you know climate changes and things in our environment here. It's important that we
look forward to do those things. Okay, number five. Number five is Chris's presentation. Good evening, mayor, deputy mayor, council members, here to talk about our construction
projects. Um, couple of updates. Um uh funny I thought they were going to be in blue at the bottom just I added our paving projects to our list here. So um we're in uh detailed design for those projects that were funded uh earlier
this year and uh and uh so those are in design and should be um uh advancing to uh to bid uh through the into the summer. An overview of our cso separation projects. Uh again, we've completed everything on this list up
till Anderson Street. We are just finishing that project. And the next projects are going to be the west of rail contracts shown in light blue. Uh that'll those will be done in two phases and will take the city over 100 acres of uh uh of storm water being diverted from
the from the sewer system. Anderson uh oh I guess I guess this is the next one. Okay. So um again that so the upcoming project is in uh review right now with New Jersey D and uh we are
anticipating that we will receive an approval from D for the contracts and uh that the first contract uh will be bidding uh later this summer. And just a reminder that this is the first uh sewer separation project for the city that
includes um green infrastructure. So there will be uh some uh tree filters installed at different locations uh as appropriate um according to uh uh sight specific conditions uh through the project
area and on the Anderson Street project um took me by surprise for a second because it's just showing paved streets and um uh so we're we're done essentially with the Anderson project, there are some
punch list items. There are a few uh a few driveways that need to be corrected and um a little bit of sump uh pump routing from people's homes. But um for the large part, this this project is complete and uh we're just uh finishing up site restoration uh and and contract
close out. And there will be a maintenance uh bond for the project for uh for a year to uh uh follow up with anything else that uh uh that uh that may need correction, you know, make sure the grass is growing and so forth.
Another project the city uh is uh um um implementing is the the Green Street uh hazard um mitigation project HMGP which is uh administered through the state uh office of emergency management. Um even
though it's it's it's a it's from FEMA, it's not affected uh like some of the uh brick grants that you that you've heard about being rescended uh through the state. uh this project has already been awarded uh and is is not uh is not
subject to um any sort of uh of retraction or or withdrawal. So, it's a $40 million grant um for the um uh the Green Street area shown in the on the right there. And we have approached um
OEM uh about the possible addition of the uh South Newman Street area which is which is under review right now. But the $40 million is is for the area shown on the right. And it's a it's a bit of a process. Um we are currently
um through the green boxes. We're still working on property acquisition and we're still uh uh uh getting ready to present a proposal for the detailed design uh and the uh the permitting that will be required from New Jersey D uh
for this project. And uh uh so you'll be you'll be hearing about that uh at at the you know in in the next uh month or so into uh our parks projects. We are actively um um engaged in the uh the
submittal process and uh initial construction startup meetings uh with both contractors. one for the fieldhouse contract and the other for the site and utility uh contract and site improvements and um uh so construction
will start on site next month and uh we are working through you know just making sure the the schedules are coordinated and um um and we're really you know we're we're we're growing u full pace now with uh with the submittals from the
contractors and uh and coordination. So those those meetings are happening routinely. Also in parks, we're getting ready to award the Fini Park fields 8, 9, and 10, also called phase fi phase one. And
um we did receive green acres funding for this project. So we will be adding uh u be able to include uh the the sports lighting uh with with the project. The bids did come in higher. You know, there's been a lot of uh um of
flux in in the in the market of late. The bids came in a little bit higher than anticipated, but uh the plan for uh the plan scope uh is is is as shown for uh roads and traffic. We are just kicking off with the lot A parking
improvements. This was delayed somewhat due to weather in the last uh week and so uh but we we are getting ready to resurface the lot a parking lot and make some uh adj uh um
uh ADA u American with Disabilities uh Act accessible uh curbs and ramps um and sidewalks uh you know to the garage and the parking lot as well. So um so that's just getting
started in roads and traffic. We also completed the installation of the speed humps and uh and signage on Kaplan A. And um I'm not sure if anybody's here from Kaplan uh today or but I we you
know we believe this has had some effect but we haven't heard uh any anything formal from the from the residents in the area. And as I mentioned, we're just getting going on the the 2025 paving program. Um, as Jim has as our CFO has mentioned
in prior meetings, uh, this is there are three uh contracts that will be coming out according to the funding source. Uh, the the first is the uh local aid from New Jersey DOT uh doing Kennedy Street uh from Hudson to East Wesley. And then
we have city- funded projects and um uh as well as uh CDBG or the Bergen Community Development Block Grants uh funded projects. And each of these contracts has an alternate uh at the end uh in case the bids come in favorably
that we can award those alternates and include them in the in the project. And just a reminder that um again uh there always we do frequently apply for grants and utilize grants. The city has been quite effective and uh and eligible
uh for for grant funding for for various purposes. And uh the next um significant one is the uh u well a number of a number of state aid uh programs including uh municipal aid, transit village, bikeways and safe streets uh
for all through the New Jersey Department of Transportation. So that deadline is coming up July 1st if um to keep so keep that in mind for any projects um that uh may wish to be sponsored. And that concludes my presentation. And
just a reminder, take care of your sewers, keep the wipes uh out of the sewers, and uh um help us uh keep the system maintained and and free of debris that uh um that that uh causes flooding conditions when the sewers get blocked
up that way. Okay. Thank you. Any questions from the council? No. Thank you. So, on behalf of the council, we know you're leaving us uh Friday, I believe. So, we thank you for your service to the city over the last how many years are you here now?
Just two and a half. Two and a half. But over the last two and a half years, we've accomplished a lot, especially sewer-wise, and we thank you for all your your work on that. And uh we wish you best of luck. I don't know where you're going, but uh wish you the best of luck wherever that is. Thank you very much, Mayor. It's been a privilege to work with you all. Thank you, Grace. Thank you. Thanks,
Chris. Chris. All right. What else you got, Ally? That's all. That's it. Yep. With that, I need a motion to open to the public, please. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. None opposed. Anybody from the public
who'd like to speak at this session, please come forward. Give your name to the clerk. You will have three minutes. Good evening. Marty Smith, Prospect Avenue. I'm a member of the Hackinac Condo Co-op Advisory Board. I'd like to
thank the council for completing the safety project on Prospect Avenue at the intersections of Berry Street and Golf Place with the installation of the new illuminated traffic safety devices
crosswalks. I know this will make these intersections safer for pedestrians, particularly during the hours of darkness. So, thank you for completing that project. Also, I'd like to thank you for the installation of a new no Uturn sign on
Anderson Street just east of the railroad crossing. So, now we have signs for both directions on Anderson. And if our drivers in Hackinack can learn to read signs, we will have a safer Anderson Street through the commercial
area. And in regard to Anderson Street, I'd like to mention one other item that I think needs to be addressed, and that is the intersection of Anderson Street and Union Street. At that location, Anderson Street has a curvature to it.
And there are two problems that exist here. left turns on from westbound traffic turning left onto Union have a little more difficult time making that turn because of the configuration of the
intersection. And secondly, there are two bus stops at that location. One on the north side of Anderson Street and one on the south side. We suggest that crosswalks be installed on Anderson
Street. One on the east side of Union and one on the west side of Union so that pedestrians in general and uh pedestrians in particular who are boarding buses and exiting buses at
those locations can uh cross more safely. So, thank you for all your work in traffic safety and I look forward to continuing the work on traffic safety for the city in the future. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Smith. Thank
you for all your hard work. Next person, please. Good evening. Good evening to the council, Mr. Kleinman, Allison and Debbie. I would first like to just give you some feedback from the
superintendent of my building. He downloaded the app, the recycle coach app that's on the website, and he wanted me to tell you that he loves this app. It's just so helpful to him in so many
ways. And he Okay. He especially likes the alerts. The alerts alert him to special pickup days, regular pickup days, schedule changes, um recycling information, disposal information. As you can
imagine, in a building of 69 units, all sorts of things get thrown down a garbage shootute. So, all of the information that's on the app, he said, is so helpful, which is kind of nice to hear. I thought you might like to hear that feedback from someone who you deals
with the trash and the recycling every day. We also informed our residents about the app, hoping that they would download it, even though we have everything in writing. I don't know if they did that. and I shared the information with the rest of the
advisory board to share with their building superintendent. So, it's real he's he wanted me to say please tell them I love this app. So, I'm telling you that app. Okay.
But secondly, on a more serious note, as you know, the condo co-op advisory board was created by the city to initiate a means of communication between the city and the residents of multi-unit dwellings. It's been extremely successful in its mission, creating the
necessary exchange of ideas. It has led to meaningful improvement of many quality of life and safety issues, etc., affecting all city residents. As the chairperson of the condo co-op advisory board and on behalf of the
board, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the council, Mr. Caruso, Debbie, and Allison for all of your support over the years, which has allowed us to accomplish the many projects which are in keeping with our
mission statement and are beneficial to residents. With your support, we were able to install a traffic light at the corner of Beach and Prospect, which used to be a four-way stop sign. As you well know, it took two years, but with your support,
we did it. Promoting the placement of a drug drop off box in the police station, preventing the use of a toxic medical waste sterilizer at the Prospect Heights Care Center. The medical waste was slated to go into the city sewers.
recommending bench benches, installing benches at all the bus stops on Prospect Avenue, which not only help the bus the commuters, but are just really nice for residents to be able to have a place to
sit. Also, a I will a huge thank you to Al Dib because he made that happen with NJ Transit. Um, we're currently working with the city manager about the dim lighting public service on Prospect. Okay. Um,
and 12 years ago, your support aided in preventing the construction of an 18story Eltech on Prospect and Summit. We thank you for that support. We also thank Leo for being our advisory board liaison. You've attended our meetings and you've been very helpful and we
thank you for that. Deputy Mayor, we would like to thank you for your tireless work on the Tanic Committee to change the Teter flight path. The path was changed. Thank you. We're still committed to working on the flight path. Thank you.
You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you, Annette. Anyone else from the public like to speak? Seeing no members from the public, motion to close to the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? Oh, I I excuse me. None opposed. All right.
So, I need a motion to uh close the executive session. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. Motion to close the council the hall. Offer. Second. All in favor?
I guess Steve. Yeah, I'm trying to think. Yeah, as as per usual, we did discuss several cases in closed executive session. The cases we discussed in in any uh in any depth whatsoever were two workers compensation
cases um Luther and Kubler and a civil litigation call. Okay, thank you. Motion to close the mo uh council of the whole offer. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. So, we will be back in about 10
minutes. All right, then we'll start the new business next meeting. This meeting is being held in accordance with the open public meeting act NJSA10 column 4-6 at SEC notice of which was sent to the record in the star ledger and was posted on the municipal bulletin
board. Okay, roll call please. Council member vonutenberg here. Deputy Mayor Canestrino here. Council member Vaglia here. Council member Carol here. Mayor Leos here. Okay. Would everybody please rise for
the flag salute? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you for that.
Okay. So, we do have proclamations tonight and as you can see, we have some of our young people here to celebrate a special occasion. Um, first I'm going to start with the uh Hecach High School rowing team, the
club. Okay. A little history [Applause] [Music] on So, a little history on the club. Yeah, that's great. Guys, come on up here. That's a great idea. Line up
here. So, this this young lady right here and her daughter are my next door neighbors. This is MNA and Kira Gatrell. All right. They've lived next to me for how long? 30 30 some odd years.
So, uh, they Bernie came to me years ago about starting a club crew team in Hackinack, which I thought was an excellent idea and, uh, who would have ever thought we'd have a club crew team in Hackinack in the first place, but now we do. And as you can see, it's very
active and it's doing very, very, very well thanks to you and your lovely daughter. And, uh, I want to congratulate you for all this, uh, hard work you put into this through the years. I know how how much work I see I see you gone all the time she's all over
the bringing these kids all over the place and uh she deserves a round of applause for what she's done for the youth and I think so thank you for that so this year they had an exceptional year so I have some uh certificates um we're honoring four students tonight
and then we have a proclamation for basically for the whole team so I'm going to start with uh Nicholas if you'd come up here please How we doing, Nicholas? Good. Good. Good. You nervous? Yes. That's okay. Don't be nervous. We don't bite. So,
Nicholas Castellanos is a freshman. He entered the sport this year and quickly distinguished himself, motivated by his sister who lives with who lives with cystic fibrosis. Nicholas dedicated his efforts to her and found early success winning at the fifth Manny Flakes Riata,
earning a bronze medal at the Garden State Championships in the men's novice double. He aspires to serve his community as a firefighter and a paramedic. So congratulations to you. and he gets a certificate which is from the mayor and the city council of the
city of Hackinac extending our congratulations to you and the Hackinac high school rowing team. All right, bronze medal. Very good. Congratulations. Thank you. Next up, we have Sebastian
[Applause] Edmonds. You don't look nervous. He's good. So, Sebastian Edmonds is a senior, four-year veteran of the team. He has exemplified steady growth and perseverance, moving from a squad to a single. He earned silver medals at both
the Garden State and City Championships and previously qualified for Scholastic Nationals. He will continue his journey at Dominican University, majoring in prehysical therapy. So, congratulations [Applause]
And again, a certificate for Sebastian. All right. Best of luck to you. Keep rolling, bro. Jonathan Lopez, Mercenos. So, this one's a little special. So, Jonathan Lopez Rinho, a junior and three-year team member,
transitioned to the single this year and experienced his most successful season yet. He earned a silver medal at the PSA City Championships and won gold at the Garden State Championships, becoming a state champion. Jonathan credits his coaches, teammates, and especially his mother, his greatest supporter, for
helping him stay focused and motivated. So, congratulations to you, and to be a state champion is not an easy task in any sport, folks. So, congratulations. Best of luck to you. There you go. Thank you. So, it's all good stuff. And we have
another young man who would be celebrating tonight, but he is not here. I'll read his bio real quick. So, Josiah Rodriguez is a sophomore, sorry, embraced rowing as both a challenge and an opportunity. In his first year of
competition, Josiah earned a bronze medal at the Garden State Championships and has his sights set on collegiate and high performance level rowing. Off the water, he is equally driven by his passion for entrepreneurship and creative problem solving. So, kudos to him and uh Mie, you'll see that he gets
[Applause] this. Thank you. So now read the proclamation from the council to the rowing team and it reads, "Whereas the Hackinack City Council takes great pride in recognizing the accomplishments of our community's youth, particularly
those who demonstrate excellence, determination, and leadership in both academics and athletics. And whereas the Hackac High School rowing team led by head coach Mael and assistant coach Kira Gatrell has grown into a powerful and inspiring program. And whereas founded
in 2018 by Kira Catrell, then a student and avid rower, the team began its journey with a Garden State Championship victory and has steadily built the legacy of commitment and competitiveness. Excuse me. Whereas these young athletes embody the spirit of Hackinac High School, working hard,
lifting others, and striving for excellence in everything they do. And whereas today the crew is 15 rowers strong, closed out the 2025 season with a state championship, one gold medal, two silvers, and one bronze. And whereas this season success was driven by the hard work and achievements of four
standout students, Nicholas Castellanos, Josiah Rodriguez, Jonathan Lopez Renos, and Sebastian Edmonds. Now therefore, I John P. Leos Jr., Mayor, the city of Hackinack along with members of the city council do hereby congratulate the Hackinack High School row team for hard
for working hard, lifting others, and striving for excellence in everything they do. Also, congratulations to Nick, Josiah, Jonathan, and Sebastian along with their coaches and teammates for their extraordinary accomplishments in rowing and for representing Hackist High
School with integrity, resilience, and pride. So, congratulations, guys. [Applause] You don't understand. She's a
baby. I remember her brother actually. We lost her brother one day. I was at my at a wrestling tournament with my son coming back and I see like 50 people standing in my front yard. I'm like, "What's going on?" And uh your oldest was missing along with
Roco Monosano. They were missing. We couldn't find them anywhere. Where were they? They were in the They got into the trunk of the car and closed the trunk and it was like 80° out. So, we heard finally heard a noise and uh able to get them out. But that was a scary day.
Yeah. Scary day. So, uh congratulations to you guys. Years old. Yeah. Yeah. So, this is a feel-good story. You don't see things like this uh you don't think of rower teams in Hackinack per
se, but uh they got it done and we're very proud of of the work that went into this and just shows if you put your mind to something, you can do anything you want. So keep that in mind when you're moving forward, guys. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
[Applause] And I have a few more presentations or proclamations I should say. Are we reading all these Deb? Okay. So, I'm going to read these all in. And first one is whereas the United
States Congress, let me switch mics, has designated the month of May as National Military Appreciation Month. on May 30th, 1999. And whereas military apprec appreciation month is intended to honor and recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by past and present
military personnel in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard in addition to their spouses and families. And whereas on this month through and throughout the year, we express our gratitude and commitment to service members, veterans, and those who gave
the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom. In recognition of these contributions, we affirm, reaffirm our commitment to encourage, support, welcome, and celebrate their accomplishments. Now, therefore, I, John P. Leos Jr., mayor of the city of Hackinac along with members of the
council to hereby proclaim this month of May military appreciation month which affords us the opportunity to reach out to our veterans and extend our s extend our sincere thank you or well done for the selfless dedication and service
which they have provided to our country. Next one is whereas May 17, 2025 is the 15 15th anniversary of Kids to Parks Day organized and launched by the National Park Trust held annually on the third Saturday of May. And whereas Kids to Park Day empowers kids and encourages families to get outdoors and
to visit local parks, public lands, and waters. And whereas we should encourage children to lead a more active lifestyle to combat the issues of childhood obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. And whereas kids to parks day will broaden children's appreciation for nature in the outdoors.
And whereas kids to park day will recognize the importance of recreating responsibility or recreating responsibility while enjoying the benefits of the outdoors. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, John P. Leos Jr., mayor of the city of Hackinack, along with the city council, do hereby
proclaim kids to parks day, which we urge residents of Hackinack to make time in May to take their children to a park, which is very important. Next up, whereas frontline workers are the builders of our community, exercising curiosity, compassion,
courage, and creativity to provide essential services and ensure the safety, health, and education of our residents. And whereas over 9 million healthcare workers across the United States, serve in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities, often placing themselves at risk to provide
life-saving care. And whereas firefighters respond to an estimated 36 million emergency calls each year, over 800,000 sworn law enforcement officers nationwide work tirelessly to uphold the law and ensure public safety. And emergency medical services personnel
respond to more than 240 million calls annually. And whereas teachers dedicate their careers to shaping the future of our communities with over 3.7 million educators in the US providing knowledge and guidance to our youth. And whereas frontline workers embody the essence of builders, flexible thinkers, and
constructive problem solvers who respect the dignity of all people by dedicating themselves to overcoming challenges and uniting communities. Now therefore, I, John P. Leos, Jr., Mayor of the city of Hackinack along with the city council do hereby proclaim the month of May as frontline worker appreciation month in
the city of Hackinack and encourage all residents to join in recognizing and honor the heroic contributions of our healthcare workers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel and teachers. And last but not
least, whereas the office of the municipal clerk of time honored and vital part of local government exists throughout the world. And whereas office of the mun municipal clerk is the oldest among public servants. And whereas office of the municipal clerk provides the professional link between the
citizens, the local governing bodies and agencies of government at other levels. And whereas municipal clerks have pledged to be ever mindful of their neutrality and impartiality, rendering equal service to all. And whereas the municipal clerk serves as the
information center on functions of local government and community. And whereas municipal clerks continually strive to improve the administration of the affairs of the office of the municipal clerk through participation in education programs, seminars, workshops, and the annual meetings of their state,
provincial, county, and international professional organizations. And whereas in honor of municipal clerk's week May 4th through May 10th, 2025, the city council of the city of Hackinac wishes to recognize its municipal clerk and her staff for the vital services of
exemplary dedication to the community. Now therefore, I John P. Lebr Jr., mayor of the city of Hackinack along with members of the city city council to hereby recognize the importance of the role and functions of the clerk's office and the impact it has on the public and salute our municipal clerk Deborah
Carlson, deputy clerk Allison Sabay, support staff Dela Dfano, Taylor O'Brien, and Caitlyn Green for their dedication and commitment to the city of Hackinstack and its local government. So, thank you. Congratulations to you guys. They do a lot of there's a lot of behind
the-scenes work that goes on in this city, believe me. Especially with Oprah request and uh all the different uh things you have to go over every day. Uh elections for one, you know, you guys work long. They're they're starting at 4:30 in the morning on election day
getting ready for an election. So, uh kudos to you guys and thanks for all you've done through the years. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you for the K and the cookies. Yes. Invite the team to take a picture of them. Yes. So, the uh the road team, if you guys, the crew team, if you guys want to come up
front, we'll get a couple pictures real quick before we move forward. And then we'll take And the coaches And the coaches spread out across here, guys. 12 guys on the end. Come on. Come on. Don't be shy. Congratulations to
everybody. Nice shirts, too. Yeah. Congratulations. You guys look great. So, spread it out. Spread it out a little way this way, guys. Yep. Where's Kira? Got to get in the picture. Come on. Congratulations, and why don't you get in the middle?
Good job. Don't worry about it. That's it. That's it. Make room for your coach. There you go. Thank you for all you do. Thank you. Need some Need some There we go. Here comes the paparazzi. You're welcome.
Okay, guys. Thank you. Appreciate it. So, we'll take a uh thank you for all you're doing for everyone. Thank you. You're welcome. We can take like a two-minute break. So, you guys uh from the crew team, they can go. There's no reason to stay for the whole meeting.
So, we'll wait two minutes while you guys file out. 5 executive cow and regular meeting. Was everyone here? De everyone was here. Need a motion. Offer. All in favor? I I opposed.
Okay. And now we go over to uh Ally for the uh manager's report. Yep. Hackinack's annual Memorial Day wreath ceremony will be held May 26th at 10 a.m. in Veterans Park. Hackinack will be hosting a townwide shred event Saturday, June 28th
from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Johnson Park. The Splash Pads will be opening on May 24th for weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until June 21st when they will be open seven days per week. Packetex summer events at Atlantic Street Park are back soon with
Shakespeare in the Park, movies in the park, yoga, and Friday night concerts. Also, Tuesday night concerts on the green. More information will be posted this week. The city will be celebrating Junth on Sunday, June 22nd from 1:00 p.m. to 600 p.m. in Carver Park. There
will be a pickle ball tournament, giveaways, performances, live music, and more. Friday, May 30th at 3:30 p.m., the city will host its annual pride flag raising ceremony at Atlantic Street Park. More details will be posted soon. New Jersey is requiring lead safe
inspections for rental units. Landlords with pre978 rental properties located in Hackinack are required to have inspections completed by July 22nd. Landlords can use any company of their choosing as long as the compliance is obtained. Please reach out to the building department with any questions.
That's it. That's it. Okay, moving on to new business. No, we still have um What else you have? Oh, I'm sorry. Main Street Alliance budget hearing. Yep. So, uh you have it there. You're going to present it, John. Well, I'm going to uh
since I certainly can't read it from here, I'll do the best I can. Yes, sir. So, mayors, deputy mayor, city council members, everybody else, thank you. It's a pleasure to be here again. Uh as you recall, I was here about uh almost 8 weeks ago now. I mean, between six and
eight weeks ago, presented the budget in detail for our 2025 budget. And um we while uh many of the many of the costs stay the same, some went up a little bit, the the biggest action that we took place this year as part of our
three-year strategy, which I'll cover. So the our first year strategy um was to take care of all the clean and green efforts. We got the streets cleaned up. We changed the landscaping. We changed the sanitation company. And and as part of the second year plan, we continued
those efforts, but we also made a big effort into getting u much more closely um connected with our member businesses that are on Main Street, the almost 300 uh businesses that are on Main Street. We generated hundreds of thousands if not
millions of social media posts for them and views. Uh we helped them with openings. We certainly saw quite a bit of new businesses coming in and um that was part of the second year and then as far as the third year now this is what
we're calling the year of the resident. So not only our legacy residents but the new residents, not only those but our visitors, our employees and everybody else that comes to Main Street because we've been building a better Main Street for everybody. So, our biggest increase this year, now that we're moving into
this third year of the plan, is to hold u very successful events based on the successes that we had with our other events so that we can help generate a lot more foot traffic out on Main Street. And we added uh um uh almost uh
around $90,000 for extra events um for 2025. That includes um salsa socials on Vanto Place. It includes uh business districts uh efforts, business expos that we just held this last week um and and a whole
bunch of other efforts. We we based all that on the successes of our especially of our hackintoberfest event. The first year I got here we held about 200 people attend. This past year we had 4,500 people attend. So um we are very confident in those efforts. We went
through this in detail. We went out to our membership base to make sure that everybody was okay with that. We got only three responses saying that they weren't. So, we're very confident in this moving forward and I'm happy to answer any questions that anybody may have. Okay, Steph question. No, we
appreciate all your work. Thank you. All the events are great and October Fest really is um it's it's it's doubled in size and it was a great event last last year. Um and we hope it keeps continuing and moving forward. Thank you again. Thanks, John. Um Main Street never
looked better. I mean, I think the change in in some of the the pickup and the cleaning up and the the flowers look beautiful and of course all the events you do and I think it was great that you guys were able to get buy in for your budget from your uh all of your business owners uh building owners and uh I think
that's the way democracy works and I think it's great that they're with you 100% and we wish you the best of luck this year. You have a lot of new programs. I think the bus king is going to be great. Uh, I think you got a lot of things that are going to bring life into the city once again and we appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you for your job, John. You're doing good job. Thank you, Councilman. Yeah. Just keep up the good work. Thank you, sir. Thank you. And then you mentioned the the busking. Deputy mayor. It just got announced and we're already getting plenty of people that want to come and play on the street. So, Main Street is going to see music up and
down. Um, and we're going to make Hackin Sack sing. Yep. So, the busing I've had multiple people uh reach out to me on think it's a great idea. They love the the concept of bringing that back. It's always been around, but uh it's it's making a huge comeback across the
country and uh bringing out our local musicians to play on the streets and you know what people hear, what they have. I think it's great. Um Eric, you got a winner here. Make sure you keep this guy going. All right. So, we thank you for all you've done. Main Street Alliance
and and John especially all your hard work. Uh the October Fest was the best one ever and uh the way we're tracking people and where they're coming from and everything is so important and uh that's only going to get better and better and better. It's going to be one of the premier events in this county by the
time uh in over the next few years. So, keep it going. And uh great great great work. Thank you. Plus a lot of new business openings. You know, we've been to a lot of ribbon cutings lately and and even more that are that are right on the forefront. So, and certainly the the caliber of businesses that are coming is is pretty distinguished. These aren't
people who are just starting to um starting to getting to new businesses. This is their second, third, fourth, and fifth locations. So, we're very excited about that and that's due to a lot of the hard work that you guys put into it. So, we appreciate it. Thank you. Mayor, you have to open up to the public for
public hearing. With that, I need a motion to open to the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I. Anybody from the public who'd like to get up and speak to this budget and this budget only? Seeing no members of the public, motion to close. Offer. Second. All in favor? I
I. None opposed. Okay. Thank you again. Uh from the Main Street Alliance. So, um it's just a hearing. We're not voting on anything here, right? Are we? I think it's in one of the resolutions tonight. Yeah. It's included in the resolution.
So, we can move on to new business. Yes. You ready? It's pretty good. I'm moving my piles. We're ready. Yeah. I know. Mine's like mine's like a lot of paper. So, resolution 223-25. This is a resolution for the final
adoption of ordinance number 18-2025, an ordinance to amend chapter 170 of the code of the city of Hackinac, vehicles and traffic to add a new handicap parking space in section 49.2 parking for the handicap. This ordinance has been published according to law and now calls for a public hearing. Okay.
Need a motion to open to the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Anybody who'd like to speak to this ordinance and this ordinance only, please come forward. Seeing no members from the public, motion to close. Offer. Second.
All in favor? I. I. None opposed. I need a motion to adopt this ordinance. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Be resolved by the city council of the city of Hackinac County of Bergen State of New Jersey. That ordinance number 18-2025 has passed the second and final
reading and is hereby adopted. Resolution 224-25. Sorry. This is a resolution for the final adoption of ordinance number 19-2025, an ordinance authorizing financial agreement with RHR Hackinac
Urban Renewal LLC, an urban renewal entity authorized pursuant to the long-term exemption law NJSA 48 col 20-1 at SEC for the development of a mixeduse apartment project upon block 405 lot 3. This ordinance has been published according to law and now calls for a
public hearing. Need a motion to open to the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I. Anybody from the public who'd like to speak to this ordinance and this ordinance only, please come forward. Please give your name to the clerk.
Cassin Gaines. Good evening. Mhm. So, I just wanted to take a moment and just read a little bit of this for those who don't have the docket available to them. This is for the Sears property. This is a
sixstory approximately 300 market rate rental unit property. And a part of what is included in this is that this is
a tax exemption. This is a tax exemption that is being granted for 30 years which is in the docket. And this is a highly soughtafter piece of property, the Sears
property. Everyone who has driven by the Sears property over probably the last decade has earmarked in their head a good use for this property. Some people have said schools. Some people have said parks. Some people have said a number of
things that are feasible and things that are not feasible. But this is a highly desirable piece of property in the city of Hackinack. and yet 30 years tax exemption for this
property. And that's not me saying it. That's in the docket. And so my concern about this is we have heard that you need some of these
30-year pilot agreements to kickstart things. We are 12 years into the LeBron administration and we are still giving 30-year tax exemptions, saddling people almost until
the year60 with a property that is not going to pay taxes with a property that is not going to contribute a dime to our schools. I have so much uh what they did and I think that's
fantastic. I think however it is hollow to celebrate our school children. I think it is hollow to emphasize several times, as the deputy mayor did, that the
school portion of the tax bill is going up a little bit more than the municipal portion when there are 22 properties that were listed today that took money that could be going to the school
system and circumvented it. Completely cut it out. But to point fingers at the school system and say that they're raising your taxes is completely false. It is a misrepresentation. You have strangled
the school's budget through these tax exemptions. And so what I'm not quite understanding is why a highly desirable site like the Sears site is in need of a 30year tax
exemption. I'm not quite understanding that the people of Hackinack have weighed in on this issue. And I'm not just talking about last week. The people of Hackinack have weighed in on this issue.
time and time again. However, we still get them. We are saddled with them. They are a burden. They make a contribution, but what is lost is so incredibly
significant. It outweighs the contribution that they are bringing in. And if after 12 years you're saying this is the best deal that you could get, the maximum tax exemption, that's the best you can
get. At some point you will wonder what happened last week. That's why because you still aren't listening to the people.
You still aren't understanding that this is a burden. You might feel good about it, but it is an error. Thank you.
[Applause] Next person, please. Good evening. And Post, 319 Clinton Place. I'm just going to say I beg of you to
reconsider the 30-year tax abatement. Even if you must do something, cut it down to five, 7, 9, something like that as opposed to the 30 years, I really want you to reconsider for the for the
sake of the community and maybe a last nice gesture for the community. I please ask you to do that. Reconsider. Thank you. Thank you. Next person, please. Hi, Mayor Council. Mike Pembroke. Um, I
just like to comment on uh to correct some of the uh uh statements that were made previously here. I mean, this project um as the city knows is a culmination of four years of of effort. This didn't happen last week, last year. This happened over a long period of time
um where there's a lot of work done by the city and by its professionals to really come to the culmination of what this project uh is now within Hackinac. The Sears site has been vacant for uh almost 5 years now. And we were um uh
awarded the the project through an open bid process uh nothing to do with the city. It was an open market process that we competed and we were um you know the successful purchasers of this site. Um, this property right now currently throws off about 300,000 a year in taxes. Once
our development is complete, uh, it will throw off the first year, $1.4 million in in payments, uh, pilot payments at our taxes. So, to say that there's no taxes being bene uh, uh, no benefit to the city that of taxes is not accurate. Um, as a matter of fact, you know, over
the 30-year life of the pilot, this project will throw off $50 million more in revenue to the city than what would be projected uh as the project remains uh today. So, you know, Russo Development um we we've we have a lot invested in Hackinac. We believe in the
future of Hackinac. We um have invested significantly in the printhouse uh project which we are extremely proud of. Uh we're partnered with the Aura which is also another great project in Hackinac. Um you know Larry Russo started this his this company in Hackinack in 1969. We had our office on
Hudson Street for 35 years. Um so you know we're here for a reason. We're we stretched further than we think anybody else would for the this property and for the success of this project. And I just want uh and hope that everybody you know certainly keeps that in mind as we uh
look forward here. Thank you. Thank you. Next person, please. Good evening, Reverend Davis. I just want to say I hear a lot of talk about the future of Hackinack and investments. I'm not saying you're
not. The misconception to me is the future of Hackinack depends on families and children. what we've seen and I've been up here since about 2016 along with other members of the work group. It goes a long way back where our primary issue
was affordable housing with fair housing. It is nine years later and we are still talking about the same thing that there wasn't enough attention given to affordable house affordable housing. We all understand pilots and how you had
to start pilots. But at some point there should have been a stop and say let's reconsider. Let's relook this. We have nine 10 right now. Luxury apartments. Luxury apartments with millennials is not going to make the city grow. What's
going to make a city grow is condos, homes for families who want to come to a city. That's what's going to make a city grow. not just luxury apartments where millennials will come in and they'll move out. And as far as the their 30
years, part of what he just said may make a lot of money. I haven't heard anything yet that what's going to go to the education system. It goes to the city. It does not go to the schools. And the children, as you saw here tonight, are the future. Thank you.
Good evening. My name is Blanch Candy Stewart. I am a member of the work group. I am also an appointed member of the Hackinack Housing Authority. Affordable housing. I've already been here before and stressed that the senior waiting list is over a
thousand people, but the family list cannot open because we can't. The list is very extensive. when you uh I guess put forth the affordable housing COA, I don't know what it's
called now, what you needed to create or provide to meet that requirement. You could have done that in those 30 some odd apartment complexes by asking them to put a certain percentage in there. We have families that are on a
waiting list that cannot be open because we have no units. But you could have done that rather than use rooming homes, rooming houses, group homes in parts of our senior buildings which are already affordable housing for seniors.
So, to the young man who came up about the development that is about to open, I know you've told us before that you can't ask them to do that even though you're giving them 30-year pilots. I ask them now, please try to
put a certain percentage of affordable housing units in there. Thank you. Anyone else from the public? Seeing none, motion to close the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I.
Motion to adopt the ordinance. Offer. Second. All in favor. Oh, wait. Let's go. Roll call. Roll call. Council member von Rudenberg. Hi. Deputy Mayor Constrino. I. Council member Paglia. I. Council member Carol. No. Mayor Leos. Hi.
Be resolved by the city council of the city of Hackinack County and Bergen and the state of New Jersey. that ordinance number 19-2025 has passed it second final reading and is hereby adopted. Thank you. Just want to say something real quick to that. Mr. Gains, you had mentioned that we were choking the
school budget. So when was the election for the school budget this year? There wasn't one, correct? Used to be in April along with the board of ed. Right. But it's now in November. Correct. So just wanted to make make
that clear. So whatever the school asks for for its school budget, the city is obliged and is always given them that money. We don't stop the schools from getting their money. Okay, I understand what you're saying. Oh, well, they get
all this extra money if they got a certain percentage. Listen, you guys get 40 plus million dollars in state aid from the state, and that's a school school um project system through the state. to help schools.
Correct. Pilots are the exact same thing for cities that are in trouble that have blighted downtowns that need to be redeveloped. That's what that was created for, the pilot system. All right. That's exactly what it's been used for. All
right. And I and I know what you're saying. Is it still lightened up? Uh there's areas that could be. Absolutely. And I can guarantee you if the Sears building wasn't developed, it would become blighted. But with that, I'm just saying you have the school
system is separate and this whole and we announced from day one this 165 acre track of downtown was to be redeveloped. There was no affordable housing in it, but there was affordable housing coming from it. And that has now already started to be accomplished with the one
Essex Street, which will have 25 units right there. There's 60 units that are not built yet, but they're going up on on State Street. That's a project that's already committed to it. Um 23 units on railroad. I mean, we meet
our obligations with fair chair housing and don't even have a need to build to 2035, but we are building. So, I I I know where you're coming from, but I respectfully disagree. the schools get whatever they ask for from the city and
always have since they've changed going out to vote for it. Um, next resolution 225-25. This is a resolution for final adoption of ordinance 20-2025, a bond ordinance providing for streetscape improvements along Anderson
Street by and in the city of Hackinack in the county of Bergen, state of New Jersey, appropriating $1,500,000, therefore inclusive of a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant in the amount of $1,35,000 and authorizing the issuance of $1,500,000 in bonds or notes of the
city to finance the cost thereof. Need a motion, please. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. Uh, I'm sorry. No, we're opening it to the public. No, open to the public. Open to the public. I need a motion to open to
the public. You just did. You just did. Okay. So, anybody from the public would like to speak to this ordinance and this ordinance only, please come forward. This is a bond ordinance for streetscape improvements along Anderson Street. Seeing no one from the public, motion to close. Offer. Second. All in favor? I.
I. None opposed. I need a motion to adopt this ordinance. Please offer second. All in favor? I I none opposed. We resolved by the city council of the city of Hackinack County of Bergen and the state of New Jersey that ordinance number
20-2025 has passed a second and final reading and is hereby adopted. Thank you. Resolution 226-25. say resolution and final adoption of ordinance number 22-2025 a bond ordinance providing for the acquisition and purchase of
equipment for the department of public works buying in the city of Hackinack in the county of Bergen state of New Jersey appropriating $1,220,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of $1,220,000 of bonds or notes to finance the cost thereof. This ordinance has been published according to law and now
calls for a public hearing. Need a motion to open to the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I. None opposed. Anyone from the public would like to speak to this ordinance and this ordinance only, please come forward. Seeing no members of the public, motion
to close. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I need a motion to adopt this ordinance. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. We uh by the city council of the city of Hackinac County of Bergen and state of New Jersey that ordinance number 22-2025 has passed a second and
final reading and is hereby adopted. Thank you. Resolution 227-25. This is a resolution for final adoption of ordinance number 23-2025, an ordinance to amend chapter 170 of the code of the city of Hackinac
Vehicles and Traffic to add a loading zone on John Street. This ordinance has been published according to law and now calls for a public hearing. Need a motion to open to the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Anyone from the public who'd like to speak to ordinance
23-2025, please come forward. Seeing no members of the public. Motion to close. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. I. None opposed. Motion to adopt the ordinance. Offer. Second. All in
favor? I I none opposed be resolved by the city council of the city of Hackinac County and Bergen State of New Jersey that ordinance number 23-2025 has passed it second and final reading and is hereby adopted. Resolution 228-25.
This is a resolution for the final adoption of ordinance number 24-2025, an ordinance to amend and update chapter 32 of the code of the city of Hackinack Police Department to make revisions to the department table of organization. This ordinance has been published according to law and now calls
for a public hearing. Need a motion to open to the public. Offer second. All in favor? I I none opposed. Anyone from the public who'd like to speak to this ordinance and this ordinance only, please come forward. Seeing no members of the public, motion to close. Offer.
Second. I'm sorry. Um, all in favor. Need a roll call. My bad. This is just to close the public comment. This was just a close. Oh, sorry. Yes. So, all in favor? I I Okay. Okay. Now you need a roll call. Motion. Now you need a motion
to adopt. Motion to adopt. Offer. Second. Roll call, please. Council member von Rudenberg. Hi. Deputy Mayor Constrino. I council member Paglia. I council member Carol abstain. Mayor Leos. Hi. Be it resolved by the city
council of the city of Hackinac County of Bergen and the state of New Jersey. That ordinance number 24-2025 has passed a second or final reading and is hereby adopted. Resolution 229-25. This is a reintroduction of ordinance number
21-2025, a bond ordinance providing for various 2025 capital improvements and acquisitions by and in the city of Hackinac in the county of Bergen, state of New Jersey appropriating $7,180,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of
$6,411,70 bonds or notes of the city of of the city to finance part of the cost thereof. Need a motion. Need a motion, please. offer. Second. All in favor? I I I none opposed. be resolved that the above ordinance being ordinance
21-2025 is introduced is now passed on first reading and that said ordinance shall be considered for final passage at a meeting to be held on June 3rd 2025 at 8:00 p.m. where soon thereafter as a matter can be reached to the regular meeting place of the city council and at such time and place all persons interested be given an opportunity to be
heard concerning said ordinance and city clerk be and she is hereby authorized and directed to publish set ordinance according to law with a notice of its introduction and passage on first reading and of the time and place when and where said ordinance will be further considered for final passage. Thank
you. Resolution 230-25. This is a resolution for the introduction of ordinance number 25-2025 an ordinance to amend chapter 170 of the code of the city of Hackinack vehicles and traffic to add h excuse me
haynes place berry street place second street to wolf place as resident on resident only on street parking areas overnight. Okay I need a motion please. Offer second. All in favor? I I none opposed.
And just for the record, all the residents in the area that were just mentioned will be notified so that they're aware of this for the next meeting. All right. Be resolved that the above ordinance being ordinance 25-2025 as introduced is now passed on
first reading and that said ordinance shall be considered for final passage at a meeting to be held on June 3rd at 8. Is it June 2nd or June 3rd? June 3rd. June 3rd. It is June 3rd. June 3rd. Yes. Okay. Just wanted to make sure because
well I have a typo in this. held on June 3rd at 8:00 PM or as soon thereafter as the meeting as the matter can be reached at the regular meeting place of the city council and at such time and place all persons interested be given an opportunity to be heard concerning said ordinance and that the city clerk B&H is hereby authorized and directed to
publish set ordinance according to law with a notice of its introduction and passage on first reading and of the time and place when and where said ordinance will be further considered for final passage. Thank you. Resolution 231-25. This is a resolution for the
introduction of ordinance number 26-2025 an ordinance to amend chapter 94 of the code of the city of Hackinac gardeners landscapers horiculturists and those engaged in commercial snow removal business to h to add hang tag requirement
okay need a motion please offer second all in favor I I I none opposed resolved that the above ordinance being ordinance 26-2025 is introduced is now pass on first reading and that said ordinance shall be considered for final passage at
a meeting to be held on June 3rd, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. or soon thereafter as the matter can be reached at the regular meeting place of the city council and at such time and place all persons interested be given an opportunity to be heard concerning set ordinance and that the city clerk B and she is hereby authorized and directed to publish set
ordinance according to law with a notice of its introduction and passage on first reading and of the time and place when and where set ordinance will be further considered for final passage. Thank you. Resolution 232-25. This is for the introduction of ordinance number
27-2025, an ordinance to repeal and replace chapter 89 of the code of the city of Hackinac flood hazard areas with a new chapter 89 flood damage prevention to comply with updated standards and to adopt flood hazard maps to designate a flood plane administrator and providing
for sever severability and an and an effective date. Need a motion, please. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I un opposed. Be it resolved that the above ordinance being ordinance 27-2025 is introduced is now passed on
first reading and that said ordinance shall be considered for final passage at a meeting to be held on June 3rd, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as a matter can be reached at the regular meeting place of the city council and at such time and place all persons interested be given an opportunity to be heard concerning set ordinance and that
the city clerk be hereby authorized and directed to publish set ordinance according to law with a notice of its introduction and passage on first reading and of the time and place when and where said ordinance will be further considered for final passage. Thank you. Resolution 233-25.
This is a resolution for the introduction of ordinance number 28-2025 an ordin an ordinance to exceed the calendar year 2025 municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank. Make a motion please offer.
Second all in favor I I opposed. Be it resolved that the above ordinance being ordinance 28-2025 is introduced as now passed on first reading and that said ordinance shall be considered for final passage at a meeting to be held on June 3rd, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as
the matter can be reached at the regular meeting place of the city council and at such time and place all persons interested be given an opportunity to be heard concerning set ordinance and that the city clerk be and she is hereby authorized and directed to publish set ordinance according to law with a notice of its introduction and passage and
first reading and of the time and place when and where said ordinance will be further considered for final passage. Thank you. Resolution 234-25. It's a resolution for the introduction of ordinance number 29-2025, an ordinance fixing and
determining municipal class, position, title, and salary ranges for certain contractual and non-contractual officers and employees of the city of Hackinack. Need a motion, please. Second. All in favor? I should employers of the city.
Steve, good question. So, was there a conflict because of uh Leo Jr. working here on this for should he abstain? This is 234-25. Yeah, I would say anyone with a family. So, let's go with a roll call. Yes. For actually, it's going to be two of them.
You two, J. Yeah. I mean, you can have three ordinance with three. Yep. Okay. So, we have an intro of Deputy Mayor Constrino, a second of Councilman Betaglia. We now need a roll call. Council Councilman Bagley's itself. It should be that was okay. So we now we
have a second of council member von Rudenberg. Yes. And now we need a roll call. Council member von Rudenberg. Hi. Deputy Mayor Kistrino. Hi. Council member Bagia. State. Council member Carol. State. Mayor Leos. Hi. Be it resolved
that the above ordinance being ordinance 29-2025 is introduced is now passed on first reading and that said ordinance shall be considered for final passage at a meeting to be held on June 3rd, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. or soon thereafter as the matter can be reached at the regular meeting place of the city council and at
such time and place all persons interested be given an opportunity to be heard concerning said ordinance and that the city clerk be and she is hereby authorized and directed to publish said ordinance according to law with a notice of its introduction and passage on first reading and of the time and place when and where said ordinance will be further
considered for final passage. Thank you. Resolution 236 235 I'm sorry 235-25 a resolution for the introduction of ordinance number 30-2025 an ordinance opting into the garden state cpace program to facilitate
facilitate financing of cpace projects need a motion please offer second all in favor I I opposed we resolve that the above ordinance being ordinance 30-2025 is introduced is now passed on first reading and the set ordinance shall be
considered for final passage at a meeting to be held on June 3rd, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as a matter can be reached at the regular meeting place of the city council and at such time and place all persons interested be given an opportunity to be heard concerning said ordinance and that the city clerk be and she is hereby
authorized and directed to publish set ordinance according to law with a notice of its introduction and passage on first reading and of the time and place when and where set ordinance will be further considered for final passage. Thank you. Resolution 236-25. This is a resolution appointing
Christine Behey as tax collector pursuant to NJSA48 9-142. Thank you. Resolution 237. We need a motion. We need a motion. Sorry, I'm like I'm buried in paperwork over here.
Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. Resolution 237-25. A resolution authorizing a 2025 emergency temporary appropriate appropriation for the temporary budget. Need a motion, please. Offer. Second.
All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Resolution 238-25. Resolution authorizing refund of police unallocated cash. Need a motion. Offer. Second. All in favor? You need a roll call. I'm sorry. Roll call. Jerry.
Council member von Rudenberg. Hi. Deputy Mayor Kosino. Hi. Council member Paglia. I. Council member Carol, abstain. Mayor Leos. I. Resolution 239-25. It's a resolution authoring award of contract to HQW Architects for the
Johnson Park Construction Services. Need a motion, please. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Resolution 240-25. It's a resolution awarding contract for engineering services for Anderson Street
streetscape project Janeia Engineering. Need a motion, please. Offer. Need a second. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. Resolution 241-25. say resolution for the governing body
certification of compliance with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's enforcement guidance on the consideration of arrest and conviction records and employment decisions under the title seven of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Need a motion, please. Offer second. All
in favor? I I none opposed. Resolution 242-25. This is a resolution authorizing tax refunds for state board judgments. This was from the 5620 meeting 25 meeting.
Need a motion? All in favor? I I none opposed. 243-25 resolution authorizing tax refunds for state board judgments and this was for this meeting. Need a motion, please.
Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Resolution 244-25. Hang on. It's the Main Street Alliance. Yeah. Resolution adopting Main Street Business Alliance 2025 budget. Need a motion.
Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Resolution 245-25. It's a resolution authorizing tax appeal attorney to settle the cases that were scheduled for trial or settlement. Need a motion, please. Offer. Second.
All in favor? I I none opposed. Resolution 246-25. This is a resolution for authorization for acrude time payout of $20,6386 to DPW retiree Ramon Vincente.
Need a motion, please. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. Resolution 247-25. It's a resolution authorizing payment by the city to Virgil Ulysi pursuant to previous agreement and general release.
Need a motion, please. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. Resolution 248-25. It's a resolution authorizing refund of prior year revenue. Need a motion, please. Offer. Second. All in favor? I
I. None opposed. Resolution 249-25. This is a resolution authorizing deviation from annual surplus policy. Need a motion, please. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. Hearing
none. Resolution 250-25. It's a resolution authorizing calendar year 2025 budget to be read by title only. Need a motion. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Resolution 251-25.
Resolution authorizing the 2025 municipal budget introduction. Need a motion. Offer. Second. All in favor? I. I. None opposed. Resolution 252-25. This is a resolution authorizing payment
of bills from the previous meeting. Need a roll call, please. I need a motion first. Need a motion. Offer. Second. Roll call, please. Council member von Rudenberg. Hi. Deputy Mayor Constrino. I. Council member Baglia. Hi. Council member Carol. Hi.
Mayor Leos. I abstain. Resolution 253-25. This is a resolution authorizing payment of bills from the May 20th meeting. Need a motion. Offer. Second. Roll call. Council member von Rudenberg. Hi. Deputy Mayor Castrino. Hi. Council member
Vaglia. Hi. Council member Carol. Hi. Mayor Leos. Hi. Does anybody have any conflicts on the consent agenda before we move forward? I know J, we got to pull uh 255-25 and 263-25. Right.
Any other conflicts? Okay, hang on. 263 you said. Mhm. 263. Okay. 255. Okay. The following items are considered to be routine in nature and will be enacted in one motion. Any item requiring expenditure are supported by a
certification of availability of funds. Any item requiring discussion will be removed from the consent agenda and consent agenda items will be reflected in full in the minutes including any exceptions and/or additions. The consent agenda consists of resolution
254-25, resolution authorizing leave of absence for Genesis Lou from April 25th, 2025 to July 21st, 2025. Resolution 256-25 is a resolution extending leave of absence for Leroy Montgomery from May
16, 2025 to June 29th, 2025. Resolution 257-25 is a resolution authorizing recreation refund for park permit. Resolution 258-25 is a resolution authorizing the building department permit refund. Resolution 259-25 is a
resolution authorizing raffle license. Resolution 260-25 is a resolution to endorse CDBG project application submitted to the Bergen County Division of Community Development for the Johnson Public Library. Resolution 261-25 is a
resolution authorizing release of escrow funds for 70 PFly Road. Resolution 262-25 is a resolution authorizing release of performance and safety bonds Midtown Bridge Lot C. Resolution 264-25 is a resolution authorizing the
issuance of requests for qualifications for pro professional services to the city of Hackinac. Resolution 265-25 is a resolution revising the mayor and county committee of the whole regular 2025 meeting schedule. And resolution
266-25 is a resolution authorizing the submitt of award extension request for LA 2023 MA Hackinac City Grand Avenue pedestrian safety improvements project to New Jersey Department of Transportation. Okay, we need a motion motion to adopt
the uh consent agenda as it was just read. Second. All in favor? I I none opposed. So now we have uh 255-25. Yep. Hang on one second. Okay. So resolution
255-25 is a resolution authorizing extension of leave of absence for Michael O'Neal police officer from May 10, 2025 to June 1st, 2025. I need a motion, please. Offer. Second. Roll call. Council member von Rudenberg.
Hi. Deputy Mayor Castino. Hi. Council member Taglia. Hi. Council member Carol. Abstain. Mayor Leos. Hi. Now we need resolution 263-25. It's a resolution authorizing the awarding of a co-op contract for the purchase of an upgrade package for the Hackinack Police Department's drone
equipment. Need a motion. I'm sorry. Need a motion. Offer. Second. Roll call. Council member von Rudenberg. I. Deputy Mayor Panistrino. Hi. Council member Baglia. Hi. Council member Carol. Stay. Ross.
Hi. Okay, that was a lot. Where's my I apologize for my mix up. Had a lot of paper I was trying to follow. So, need a motion to open to the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I
un opposed. Anybody from the public, please come up forward. You will have three minutes. Give your name to the clerk, please. Ellen Nimchek, 214 Clinton Place, Hackinack. I just had a question
regarding um a two 25 240-25. It has to do with Anderson Street. Um a resolution to award this to a construction company. It doesn't matter what company it is, but it's on Anderson Street. And I just wondered
who's paying for that construction. Is it the city who's paying for that? Which what's the resolution? Which number was it again? I'm sorry. For the net 240. So you're talking about the resolution authorizing the water of contract. Stop the you
stopped the clock. Mhm. So, there's a streetscape project planned for Anderson Street and there's an it's getting engineered by Neglia Engineering and that would be I don't know if that's directly at
22525 we there was a a resolution um well it was a final adoption of ordinance for bond and that bond was a $1.5 million bond of which we've received Department of transportation grant money for 1.3 of that. So even
this was later. This was later. Yes. But this is just the the 240 is part of the street. It's part of that. Yes. Yes. Because um so then you know as we go through then there'll be a spend plan on how that's going to be accomplished. Okay. Because um two big apartments are
have gone up on on that floor on that. No, this is this this is not this is to do with um adding the lighting. Uh I think we were doing some pavements. Jim is here, the CFO. There was a number of improvements to this is ex Anderson just like we did some work
in the parks with these grants trying to get Anderson Street uh I think it was trash recepticles. Um a bunch of things nothing to do with the developments on Anderson Street. These are general improvements to the Anderson Street itself.
Well, it just makes me wonder why all of a sudden we're having these improvements because these two big apartments are are going up and now suddenly there's interest in in this street and um you know now we have we're
issuing bonds for this but we have grant money. I mean we're getting 1.5 million. You said bonds also, right? Yes. Because we're the way it works when you get a grant. All right. the that you only receive the monies when the work is done. So, what we have to do is we have to bond for it until the work is done
and then you'll receive and then we receive the 1.3. So, we're getting $1.5 million worth of things done to Anderson Street. Um, and really it's only going to cost us a couple hundred,000 to do that. And the reason is, you know, we focused on streetscape for Main Street.
Our our intention is to move that throughout the city where there excuse me where there are local businesses and where there's foot traffic and we need to do some improvements curbing lighting trash recepticles plantings you know so we're as we are making the project in
streetscape and the streetscape pretty much on main street is accomplished so that was it was a natural extension because Anderson Street intersects Main Street but that would be our next area and we'll continue to do that throughout. Are there going to be trees and things like that? Because um uh I'm
concerned that the city is going to be paying for all of these trees and things like that that might be on these apartment buildings. And why wouldn't they just do their own pay for their own landscape? Yeah. I just as part of the site plan approval for the buildings, there are streetscape requirements for
trees, for street lighting, and that's all included in their cost. actually because of the age of the city and the age of some of our trees, we actually set up we actually took um $50,000 and put it aside in a fund just to replace trees throughout the city. So the
actually the shade tree committee is responsible for going throughout the city and coming up with plans as to where we're going to be putting those trees. Some that were were were lost due to weather and some just decaying from age. So, we actually took um the the first payment that we received from our
retail cannabis store, which was $53,000, and we took that money and put it aside specifically to put more trees throughout the city. But the ones on Anderson Street that are relative to the buildings, they must do that in accordance with the plan for the city. They must supply the trees. Yeah. It
just seemed to me that these all these apartment buildings that were put up, it seemed to me that they could have contributed more for trees and more for this landscaping and having these um driveways coming in so that people can
get off the street to make deliveries instead of our town having to pay for all of this. Again, all of the included every development has paid for those. Anything that's done to the street, anything that's done to driveways, everything has been paid for by the
developer themselves. And that's all part of the site plan application that they must pay for those things. But would have that help lessen our our town requirement to have trees if they are doing it because they would have it on their property already. So then that should lessen what we need in the
street. Absolutely. But we've lost trees throughout the entire city in residential areas throughout the entire city due to aging and due to weather and and storms etc. And that's why we put took money and put it aside so we can certainly invest in restoring those
trees because we're beautiful city because that big white building that big apartment building I don't see anything there in the way of uh trees. Nothing. It's like a big blob there and I don't see anything that looks decent at all.
And so that's why I'm questioning about this. It's does nothing there except sit there like a huge huge I don't know what bomb of a building. It's horrible looking. So building I'm wondering on
Anderson. Yeah, this white building. So it's a new building. The building the trees have to grow now. They're they're all planted. Well, there doesn't even look on Anderson like there's any room for it. It looks like there's a bunch of uh nothing all along the whole middle of that. There's not trees there. There will be trees planted. So, we're not
going to go back forth. You have 30 seconds left. Okay. But then that means then the city is going to have to be paying for that because they did not put it on their own. Correct. You've already been told the developer pays for the trees. We're not supposed to go back and forth with you. Have three minutes to say your piece. We will answer it afterwards. All right. That's the way
it's supposed to work. That's I just had questions on that. Thank you. answers. I'm sorry. Uh, Philip Carroll, Coolage Place, Hackin Sack. I have a lot to go over and hopefully in the 3 minutes I can. So, uh, Russo Development,
um, how many residential units are going up at that property on the Sears? Could does anybody know? And what is the percentage of low income? Answer at the end numbers. Answer at the end. At the end. Okay. Say we want you to have
your uh where are we? Uh purchasing equipment for the DPW is spending uh $1.2 million. Just want to know where I can get the list of things that we're buying.
Uh table of organization for the uh police department. want to know where I can find that. And then uh resolution 234.25 uh the positions titles salary ranges where can I get that and who got
those raises? And then um Johnson Park, the construction services. Um how much? And I see the company, but I just need
to know how much. So I'm going to stop there. Okay. I think your first one was about if I have I have a lot of notes. So, I think your first one was about um Sears property, which I think the I'm pretty sure the redevelopment plan was a maximum of 325 units, but the plan
currently is just about 300 units. Um that is uh uh an 11% pilot to start with escalators throughout. I think that was part of your question. Yes. Um then I may have them out of order, but I made notes. Okay. Then you asked about the
DPW purchases. Um, we're buying two DPW pickup trucks. We have one sewer back truck, but we're adding another one because um rather than paying someone to come in with that, we found it to be much more cost effective for us to do it ourselves. Okay. And then we're also um
purchasing two trailer mount two trailer mounted storm water pumps for when we have when we need we have a requirement for an emergency to help offset flooding. So, that that totals up to to those numbers. Um, as far as the police department, um, we are changing the
table of organization to go from three captains to four captains. So, we're adding a captain. Um, and we're keeping the number of lieutenants the same. And police officers, we're increasing from 80 to 85 officers. So, that's the change. Thank you for that. That's the
change there. Of course, we continue to support our police always. Um and then the the uh municipal class position title and salary ranges. This is something that is done annually. And what's done here is we've just settled a number of contract union contracts. And
when that happens, our salary uh ordinances are current and reflective of what the actual expenditures of the city are for salaries and it's part of our CFO's budget making sure that everything conforms. So there were you know uh I think Jim was it about 2% that we added
our CFOs here salaries some the average to the salary ordinance increase well no the salary ordinance now just reflects everybody's salary now that all the contracts are seven correct but so we saw like two I
think to 2.75% increases in some of the recent contract correct most recent contract was fire and they were about 2.75 We we've usually run like two to two and a half percent increases with the unions, but you know, with the economy where it is, we we've gone I
thought you said I think you as said you were I'm well I'm I'm well aware of the salary contracts between the fire police. So that's and other unions. So that's what h that's talking about non-union raises that just occurred for some of the people that are
sitting here in this room today. Where can I get a copy of those raises that just were given were just given out this week? I'm going to let the CFO Is the salary ordinance online yet, Jim, or um
it's in the the salary ordinance itself is in the booking up there. Is that up to date for today? The salary that's what we just adopted. It's the it's the range. Okay. I'm just introduced. I understand that there were raises made
within the last week to several different positions within the city. Um, well, I know that's what I'm asking. So, I could just open it. I can't get the information from Mr. Mangan.
Do you understand the question? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. The raises that were Go ahead. Okay. The raises that were given this week were promotional increases. There weren't changes to the salary ordinance because the ordinance already had the increased salaries. Okay? So, if you want to know who got an
increase and how much they got, you would need to open that. The salary ordinance won't tell you that because the salary was already set. All right? It's just who got it. That's what's different. That's not in the ordinance. Okay. Can that help? Not really, but
thank ordinance. The ordinance gives you gives you a title. All I'm saying all I'm all I'm saying is we have two two meetings to go and I understand that there were salary increases just created
by the council for some municipal workers that are working right now. I just wanted to know what those raises were, not contractual, what the bonus raises were. Let me answer
real quick. Let's stop the clock right there. The only reason I'm answering this council does not give raises. All right, this is city manager city manager. Let's not get convoluted and pollute this with the council's throwing money at people. All right, this is government. It went through the city
manager. Whatever he did, he did. City manager, you know more than us because I don't know of any races. So you But it's an innuendo and it's not fair. There's a resolution on tonight where you appointed a new tax collector because our tax collector is retiring on July 1. That's right. Okay. So, that person got
a promotional increase that created an opening for a deputy tax collector. All right. So, the tax clerk then got a promotional increase to be the deputy tax collector. She got a promotional increase. That's it. There's no bonus. Okay. There were promotional increases
made that were due to her retirement, but there were no bonuses that you none that I'm aware of and I do the payroll. Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. Okay. I I just have a question and correct me if I'm wrong. I think Phil asked one other part of that question that I don't
think was answered. I think he I think he asked how many affordable units were in that new building. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. I thought I took the notes, but I missed that. Yeah. The the uh in the Sears building. Yes. Okay. The Sears
building will make a contribution to the trust fund, which is 1 and a half% of the assessed value of that building. But they are not going to include any affordable housing within that building. I just have a question again. It's been nine years. Why are we always allowing people
developers to put money into a fund rather than just simply asking for 10 to 20% as was asked I don't so it's so difficult about that to put 10 to 20% and out of all these buildings that we put not one is there something wrong
with people who don't have can afford luxury apartments that we can't put a few apartments in each of these buildings that's a major issue everybody puts money into a fund. It's like they don't want to deal with people who make affordable salaries and that's the majority of people in the hacks act.
Thank you. Thank you. Next person please. Good evening again. Still Cassine Gaines. So, I just wanted to um clarify some of the points because I
understand um the statement that was made that there was an innuendo or misrepresentation about the council giving out raises. There was an ordinance that was approved that did extend the range of salaries for people
who were off contract. So while the council is not saying this particular employee gets this salary, the council is extending the maximum salary and
allowing for the city manager to grant people salaries that exceed the one or 2% that was mentioned before. Some of those are that you're shaking your head. No, but it is it is correct. So, some of
those not all of those and not even the majority of them, but there are some that do exceed the one or 2% that are off guide off-c contract salaries and that is the question and that was something that was approved tonight by this council. So, I just want to clear
that up. The other thing that I want to clear up because I know there was a lot of confusion about this, I read on a number of flyers, some of them had my face on it, that there was $100 million in taxes that was brought in from
downtown redevelopment. However, these are tax exemptions. We approved a tax exemption today. And for those of you that don't know what the word exempt means, exempt means that you are circumventing, you are not paying taxes.
I would think that that's something that we can all agree on, but as an English teacher, I just want to help out with that. The other thing I want to help out with is pilot payment in lie of taxes. That's instead of that's not taxes. So
that's a misrepresentation. That's an innuendo. as you said, but the biggest thing that I want to highlight is that when we're talking about school funding, it is 100% inaccurate to compare state aid to
giving out pilots. Pilots are within your purview. That is not equivalent to the school system receiving state aid. The council is deciding to circumvent paying the school system. The school system shouldn't have to ask.
They shouldn't have to come here with a tin cup and ask you for money. They should get their fair share because everyone should be paying their fair share. Thank you. Thank you. Let let Jim let Jim just answer. Let let
just Jim, would you just answer about the salary guide so we get to Let me just answer on the the salary ordinance because I wrote the salary ordinance. The um in the last 12 months, we do the salary ordinance annually. In the last 12 months, we've settled labor contracts with most recently with firefighters.
Before that was fire officers, before that was white collar and by extension are the non-contractual um and before that was the dispatchers. Okay. So, what the salary ordinance reflects is everybody's current salary
as reflected in the labor contracts. Okay. The white collar employees received a two and a half% increase. Okay. And then come January 1st, white collar employees got a two two and a half% increase. And by extension, non-contractual employees also got a 2
and a.5% increase. That's what's in the salary ordinance. Okay? So the maximum is the salary that everybody is receiving right now. Now, it's possible because I wrote the ordinance, it's
possible that I may have missed one and there may be one of the, you know, 435 employees who may have a range that's slightly higher than their annual salary. I don't think I missed any because I I looked it over a few times. Okay? And if it was, it was just an
oversight. But the intention of the salary ordinance is to reflect everybody's salary as it exists today. Okay, that's what it's supposed to be. Okay, and I'm pretty sure it is. Um, if
you're aware of any, let me know and uh and we could always amend it, you know, uh, next time before adoption. It would be not a material change, so we wouldn't even have to reintroduce it. Okay. If I could just make one comment, mayor, um I'm certainly not an English teacher and
it is certainly not my area of expertise, but if you look up the simple definition of tax, a tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services,
goods, and activities. And that's exactly what a pilot is. It's a mandatory payment or charge collected to support the general government services, goods, and activities. So, I hate to disagree with an English teacher, but if
you look up your definition, you're going to find that is the definition of attacks. So, with that, and I just want to add to that, you know, Mr. Gaines, you're not coming to the city with a tin cup. every
municipality across the state of New Jersey and across the country probably who doesn't have uh separate elections they call for a a budget hearing and a you know a referendum to pass a school budget goes to their city and pretty
much gets what they want. It's not that's just the way that's the way the system works. You give your budget, you bring it to Jim, he adds it to our budget, you add the county, and there's your your city budget bas your city tax
base from there. So, we're not it's not a 10 cup situation. So, there's a lot of, you know, a lot of deception going on with, you know, the word the use of the word pilot. It it's it's nonsensical to think, you know, I can't tell you how
many times these buildings aren't paying anything. I mean, that is, come on, guys. taxes. Okay, by my definition with a lot of it, too. The just look up any definition. I had four of them here. I looked at they all basically say the same thing. We're not going to argue
back and forth. That's our turn to speak. Your turn to speak is when you come forward. Go ahead. Go ahead, Mr. Ziza. Kenzie. So, wow. You you really have been here a long time. You know, I remember when Leo's wife was getting singled out for pay raises. Now his son's getting singled out for
payraises. That must be a real morale boost for the rest of the city employees who did not get a pay raise tonight. Good work. I want to make it clear. No, it's my time. No back. I want to make it clear that what I'm about to say does not apply to Councilman Carol who has more integrity in one pinky than the
four of you have in your entire bodies collectively. I want to I want to publicly commend the voters of Hackinack who obviously paid attention to what has been going on in Hackinack for the past 12 years and who decided to throw you out of office by the largest margin in the history of the Hackinack City
Council elections. In fact, you're the first sitting mayor in 50 years to be thrown completely off the council in a re-election bid. Congratulations. The two words I heard most frequently about why masses voted against you were corruption and
incompetence. But I think it goes deeper than that. I think it has a lot to do with personality. You are the meanest and nastiest group that has ever served on our city council. At times throughout your tenure, you have displayed racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and homophobia.
And when you realized during this campaign that you were about to be thrown out of office, those traits came out and you resorted to the dirtiest and most disgusting campaign literature ever distributed in a Haggusack City Council campaign. Did you really believe that
making up crazy stuff about selling Fini Park to developers and building 25tory buildings, residential neighborhoods, and smearing casino gains and smearing my family would somehow make voters magically forget how bad you are? It was
pathetic watching you flail about trying to cling to power when you couldn't even get volunteers to collect petition signatures for you. You had to pay people to do that. And when you ended your campaign so disgracefully, you confirmed to voters that they were
making the right decision decision in directing you to the exit door of city hall. Your legacy will be both having suffered the worst beatd down in Hackinack history and the stink that you leave behind as a result of your shameful conduct. I have the same two
words for you that thousands of voters apparently had on their minds when they cast their ballots. Good riddance. On July 1st, let Hackin Saxs healing [Applause] begin. So, next person from the public,
please. Seeing none, motion to close to the public. Offer. Second. All in favor? I I. None opposed. Good evening everyone. Thanks for coming out. Um just want to focus on some of the positive things earlier today. Um want to start by congratulating coach
Catrell who both coach Catrell's um to establish a high school program in short such a short amount of time and have so much success is is very rare. Um but that success is definitely due to her compassion. Um her dedication to the the
sport. Um, when I first started on the council, I remember Coach Catrell approaching us about starting um, ways to support the the fruit team, and she from the get-go is just so passionate about it, and we appreciate her service. Um, you know, I just wish every coach in Atensac was like her. Um, loves her her
sport, loves her athletes, and it it shows because of their success, and I I wish she could be a mentor for many coaches. Um, thank you to our wonderful clerks, Debbie, Allison, and Dela. I don't know what we would do without you. um always a great support for us, always um working behind the scenes, but most
importantly sharing a lot of laughs with us um and keeping us grounded. We appreciate everything. Um and I'm definitely going to miss our our conversations and laughs. Uh looking towards the end of the month, uh our Memorial Day ceremony, it's always a very nice ceremony. Um a moving time when a lot of our veterans in the city
come out and spend some time together and remember those who have passed and it's just a really nice time if anyone could get there. Um, just a reminder about the weather being nice. Uh, we have a lot of kids out there, a lot of pedestrians, a lot of people biting riding bikes, the e scooters, and there's still just a lot of cars
speeding. Um, the other day I saw two two cars blow a stop sign and just keep driving and they're just driving way too fast. So hopefully um, increasing that enforcement and and giving out a little bit more tickets because I, you know, I just I see it every day and and the more kids that are out there, it's it's just
it's a tragedy waiting to happen. Um, that is it for me. Have a good night. Thanks everyone for coming out. Oh, thanks Steph. I agree. It was very exciting to hear about the success of the road team. Um, you could just see on everyone's face how happy they were to be here and how eager they are to
continue in their sport. Uh, again, thanks to the coaches, both who are if they're next door neighbors of John, they're across the street from me. So, you know, lovely family and they really found a sport that they were dedicated to and really loved and enjoyed. Uh, of course to the clerks being clerk week.
You know, what would we do without you two? You keep us in in you have our schedules lined up. You get your dockets done well and many other things aside from what you do for us, all that you do for the city. So, uh, again, you know, thank you to all to to everyone
involved. Uh, girls and other other young ladies that participate in the office as well. You have a great support system. Thanks to the Main Street Alliance for presenting a budget that's clear and shows buyin from all the businesses, the building owners downtown. I think Main
Street never looked better. Uh I think you're doing a great job, John. I think the support you have from the Main Street Alliance is helping you do a great job and I think the support from the city as well. We look forward to another great year with uh new things you have planned for the main for for what activities in Main Street
throughout the city. Thanks to Jim. I think you did a great job. I know finance committee I worked with you on keeping this budget as lean and mean as it could. Seeing a less than 1% a 7% increase in the levy is great and uh with considerations of things out of our
control health insurance um pension issues you know it it's becomes a challenge every year not just for the city of Hackinack but for municipalities throughout the state. Um, I look forward to hearing more from you about your presentation for for next
time and I think that's great. Um, I'll only say a few words or try to only say a few words. Everyone knows that's difficult for me but um the schools whatever the schools need that m that request comes in and that request
is always always accomplished. So there's never been a time during our 12 years together here in office that anything has ever been questioned. Whatever the schools need in their budget is always what is supplied to them. So I want to make sure that
everyone understands that with full certainty. The amount of money that's received in the pilots, which was close to $10 million last year, and with our projections within the next five years, that 10 million will grow to almost $20 million. As Jim pointed out, if anyone
was at the cow meeting, you can just look at the revenue page in the city and you can see that that money is directly subtracted from the city's tax levy. And that has enabled the city to have we had three years in a row post prior to COVID
where we had a 0% increase on the city side. And that's difficult to maintain, but we have been able to keep that number under control by having that income coming into the city. And that was very important to stabilize taxes
here. I know folks are saying that the schools are suffering because of this. The schools again, they receive every penny that they ask forth to support the schools. That has always been true and as far as I know, will continue to be
true. And if you just want to think about basic math, say that $10 million was taken off of the city's reduction of taxes and it was put to the school. If they reduced their taxes by the five
million, guess what? Would there be any change in taxes at all to the taxpayer? No, there wouldn't be. And if that $5 million that was given to the schools was spent by the schools, then there would be an increase in taxes.
I'm sorry, this is not your turn to speak. So that is basic math as simply as I can explain it to you all. I think that you we the the the um the vision here that this council has been able to
accomplish. I'm very proud of our legacy. Some of you here may not feel that way, but we are also entitled to our opinion. Main Street never looked better. City finances never looked better with a double A+ credit rating
for when 12 years ago we were close to bankruptcy with unpaid tax appeals that have all been paid off of over $30 million that was in a box in a drawer for not complying and making those required payments. So, where we are
today financially, what our downtown looks like, what our Main Street Alliance has been able to provide, the parks that we've done, a brand new Eminem recreation building for our children that is second to none in Bergen County, the performing arts
theater, and all of the work in all of the parks. 179 streets, 179 Leo, he's my paving guy. 179 streets have been paved in since our administration. So if you want to say we are not taking care of the residents and listening to the
residents concerns, I'm sorry, but I think that data and those facts support that we have been. And the sewer, of course, the sewer separation. I'm sorry. Yes. And you know there you want to talk about negative comments. Just one explanation because I
think it's worthwhile. There was some flyer sent out about debt and I have my my CFO here to back me up that you know you you I explained before I think there was someone here I think the woman sitting in the back that asked about why we're bonding and I explained that we have to do that because we're getting
grant money back. Just so everyone knows we bonded for 96 $96 million for sewer separation work. of that $96 million, we are only paying $28 million back. So,
yes, that was a huge increase to the debt service numbers. If you want to look at numbers, and I'm a numbers person. That is how we're able to accomplish things. We have a good relationship with the D, with the EPA.
We are one of three towns that still have combined sewers. We are the only one that has the others have plans. We are the only one that is accomplishing it. And I'm sorry, Reverend Davis, to hear you're so unhappy when I think the
work that's been done to alleviate those sewer issues, the quality of life issues of having raw sewage back up into people's homes, something that has been known to be occurring for the last 30, 40, maybe 50 years, is has been
addressed by this council and has been addressed without raising taxes because we're bringing money in to support that. And that is the state's tool that it provides to cities that have these serious issues so they can fix them. And
I and all of us sitting here are proud that we've been able to do that and want to hope that you will continue to do that initiative when you take office. My only No, you're not to speak now. You're not to speak now. My only feeling
for this, I wish you all well. All I care for is the good of this city moving forward. I thank everyone who came out to vote and I hope that you take some time to have a transition meeting with this team. Not that you need to do
anything we say, not that you need to follow anything that we've done, but I think the understanding and I personally would be very happy to sit down and just have you understand a little bit more about what happened here in the city,
why we've done some of these things and where it is, so that when you make your decisions going forward, you at least make them with the understanding of what happened. I think it will save you a lot of time and money to hear it from us for
free rather than have people dig through things and perhaps misunderstand or misrepresent them. When we came into office 12 years ago, we announced our transition team and we worked closely, our transition team worked closely to learn things. I pray that you will do
the same. I am offering myself and I believe anyone that sits here to make oursel affordable to you folks to be able to achieve what you have planned to achieve. Thank you everyone for coming and I'm sorry if I talk too long.
Well, congratulations to the rowing team from the high school. You know, I used to do that myself when I was 14, 15 years old. And thank you Jim. Thank you John. you know for all the work they have been doing in ministry
and I think that Jaxis I used to say he can put the head in the pillow when he go to sleep and I do the same I think in the last 12 years I think I contributed I am proud what we did okay and like a Kenny used
to say Leo don't get mad this is only a game okay I play the game we've been here 12 years and I think that we contrib contributed to see a better city. Okay. So, thank you for coming. Good night.
J, I would like to thank the clerk's office and congratulations guys to do a fantastic job. I would like to congratulate the Hackasac United team for running and
winning a fair and competitive campaign. Now you must set your sights on running this great city of Hackinac. As you begin your journey, be honest, be
transparent and treat everyone equal, no matter what part of Hackinack they are from. Racism and or racial remarks have no
place in Hackinack, especially in our city government. I would like to thank everyone who has attended this meeting physically and remotely. Take care, get home safe, and God bless.
Thank you, Chair. So, I especially want to thank MNA and her daughter uh Kira, the Hackasc crew team. That was a dream of somebody that came true in this city. I thought it was a a lot of great work went into that and
it was uh they're quite successful and I'm so happy that we acknowledge them tonight. Jim, thank you again for your budget work and all your work as CFO. It's always spoton. Um, can't wait to see the PowerPoint that makes it easier for a lot of people to understand
things. Yeah, but I just found out I lost a week in the presentation. No. Yeah. So, I I just want to I want to make a point on on city money. Let's Kathy made me think of it when she talked about the tax appeals, the 33 million we found
when we came in. So, let's break that. Let's just make it a flat number. $30 million. All right. So, $30 million was paid back. Now, that $30 million was paid as taxes. And let's just break it down to where the city's 45%, the
schools are 45%, the county's 10%. So, the schools of that 30 million got 45% of that money. The county got 10% of that $30 million, $3 million. And the city
got 45% of that money. But when it comes time for tax appeals, we don't go to the school or the county, give us your uh, you know, our 10 million, give us a school of 45%, give us 45% of this tax appeal. The city pays the whole thing
back. That's a considerable lump sum. In other words, the schools would be paying close to $10 million of that $33 million. All right? But no, the city pays that. So that's, you know, and does it matter? No, because it all comes out
of the same pot at the end of the day. It's the city tax between the county, the school, and the city. So, we could go back and forth about who gets what, what money goes where, but at the end of the day, the taxpayers are paying no
matter where it's coming from. There's one kitty here, guys. It's one big buy. So, I just wanted to make that clear. um affordable housing. If you look it up, Hackinack is one of three municipalities in this county that meets their fair
share housing obligation. All right, I'm proud of that. It took a lot of work to do it. And not only do we meet our fair share obligation, we now have it to the point where all the overlay zones that we created that include 10% affordable housing, which moving forward this city
will keep developing hopefully. And these outlying areas, these overlay zones have a requirement of 10%. All right? And that will just increase the amount coming in the so our obligation will I'm sure always be met.
Um and like I said, we we are on the other part of that is we're inclusionary or not inclusionary. We are uh preference just to hack residents. All right. Hardly any communities in the
state of New Jersey have have residency preference for their affordable housing. You have to open up to two other counties besides the county counties it's in. Hackinack could build 200 affordable units tomorrow. You may have five people from Hackinack living in there because we don't make that
decision. All right. We don't get to make the decision who moves into those apartments. The state does. All right. that it's Bergen County and two other counties, ma'am. That's a fact. Um, clerk's office. Congratulations on
clerk's week, uh, clerk's month. You guys do a wonderful job. Anytime we call and ask, you're you're you're right there and you answer back quickly. And, uh, you know, I've seen you lose your voice. I can't tell you how many times reading ordinance after ordinance and
resolution after resolution and even when you're not feeling well, you're doing it. So, thank you and and Ally and your team and uh you've been nothing but professional since we've known you. So, thank you so much. Appreciate it. And with that, I need a motion to close.
Offer second. All in favor? I I. None opposed. Everybody have a safe trip home. Thank you.