in accordance with Section the open public meetings act 231 F 1975 notice of this meeting was posted on the board designed for that purpose notice was transmitted to the official newspapers provided by resolution adopted January 6 2024 meeting notice has also continually posted on website I have a roll call yes mayor council council president Morgan here councilwoman Phillips here councilman aison here councilwoman Russo here councilman vagan here and councilwoman Haron is absent but excused and mayor thank you thank you please rise pledge aliance I pledge allegiance to the flag United States of America the for it stands na indivisible please remain stand for a moment of thank you please be seated I'll now opening for public comment on agenda items only that's public comment on agenda items only please step up to the microphone your name and address the all right not seeing any public comment on the agenda items we'll close that public comment portion and we'll move into the caucus work session first is an anal census so I just wanted to I know many of you are aware that um our new CFO has suggested conducting an animal census in town we haven't done one in many many years um and when it was done it probably wasn't done as thoroughly as it will be now we have a new animal control uh company and they are going to conduct the census during the summer months um they'll be going door too they'll be in uniform um they'll have IDs they'll have burrow issued IDs as well um and they're basically going to be conducting a sensus so we are hoping to increase the licensing significantly by doing that our numbers are pretty low um for what we are pretty much aware that you know there's a lot more than 236 dogs in town so um you know it's a um a public health issue and it's a animal licensing is required by State Statute and a way to enforce this is to conduct an animal census so um just wanted to mention that um I know many of you are aware but I also wanted to mention it you know in in public so that it's on the record okay you have any questions put something on the website oh yes we we will will be very exhaustive in explaining and preparing as we we do whenever we're doing anything so we will do that for sure thank you so much sure Kelly also dogs cats any other animals no hamers all right election polling locations so um over the years um some of you may remember that we um were trying to come out of the schools for uh polling locations we were unable to do that on the west side of town um so we have two districts in Glenn View school and they're six and seven um the hope is to come out of the school entirely uh so I've spoken with the mayor and I've also spoken with John Schmidt from the county clerk's office um and for you know to discuss what my proposal is and that would be to take District 3 which is currently in the community center move that to the cabin and take six and seven which is currently in glenv school and move that to the community center um we they're both you know Ada accessible um John Schmidt agreed that this is something we should probably do or consider and um I do have meeting with the Board of Elections to come out to take a look at both locations um to see you know if they are in agreement we're also going to go over to Glen viw school so if they can compare the facilities um the community center only had three in it so it was a lot of space for them so you know I was thinking that it would move right across the street to um the uh cabin and then six and seven would fit comfortably in the community center uh something like this um is has to go to the Board of Elections for approval um if they are in agreement and thinks think it is a good idea it would go on the agenda for um uh the Board of Elections and they would meet and and officially approve the likelihood of them approving seems to be high as they want to come out of all of the schools so that is something that I wanted to put out there to everyone to see if anybody had any thoughts you know um how come they want to get out of schools uh man for safety for the most part I mean a lot of this came around the time that there were was a lot of school violence as all of you I'm sure recall school shootings um and they were is to get them out of schools and I've had a number of requested changes for that in fact even appealed one unsuccessfully to the board asked them to change their mind on something and they would not do that they wanted out of schools they and they do they want out of schools so there's also some Statewide discussion about making it a h School holiday so schools are empty so they could use it for that purpose but that doesn't really got right and the primary election school is in session are they are they planning on making this change part of the primary probably if we're going to do it we would do it this year we would do it before both both elections the primary and general um but again it's going to depend on the timing of you know when it would get On The Board of Elections agenda if it's approved all of that so I would say that that would probably be likely yeah I mean I just think it would be a good idea to have it for the primary since this is a presidential election year correct probably have bigger numbers we want to see if the C the cab could sustain that kind of I I believe it could um parking lot the parking lot um I think is big enough um and yes I understand certainly with the presidential election the numbers will be higher for certain um but with the parking situation over at Glen View It's actually an improved situation so um you know I I've been hoping and wanting to come out of Glen View for the longest time I there just wasn't there just isn't a location anywhere around there that is handicapped accessible so obviously we're going outside of the district lines but the Board of Elections has been approving going outside of the lines for this very reason they want to be out of the schools and certainly with the size of our town it's not you know it's not a big difference we would obviously you know publish and notify everybody and do everything we can to make notification it's also printed on their ballots uh sample ballots that they get so you know when we when we moved uh to the VFW for district one uh we didn't really we didn't have any problems with people not knowing where to go uh again we do as much as we can ahead of time to make sure that everybody is informed and aware so I just wanted to mention this to you to see if anybody had any feedback uh any concerns since some want that good you can get it out tomorrow so I can get my sandwich [Music] yeah I mean you just don't have the volume you used to but again I certainly understand in the presidential year you know I don't know you know I think I think it would be fine I really do yeah um but you know I I would be much more comfortable just being out of schools altogether agre I'm always worried about it you know so so so that's it that's all okay sure than uh no other caucus items move with the approval EV January 6 2024 reorganization meeting minutes may have an appr may have any motion to approve the minutes of the January 6 2024 reorganization Move Motion by fav and a second second second by councilman Phillips all those in favor oppos all right next look for the approval of minutes of January 16 2024 business meeting I have a motion for the approval of minutes January 16 Move Motion by councilman have a second second by Council all those in favor any opposed or obained thank you next uh I have the approval of the executive session January 16 2024 business meeting I have a motion please for the executive session minutes motion by councilman Phillips have a second Russo second second by councilman Russo all those in favor oppos thank you next we have the bar thank very much we submitted our written report uh before I get to the WR report just want to note that we had a couple very very successful engineering committee uh meetings where we really have made a lot of progress in terms of look forward on how to effectuate some of the goals and objectives and I just want to thank coun andoun for those meetings are very very helpful to our office on how to get from point AO um in terms of the report uh local Recreation Improvement Grant uh applications are uh coming through by February 27th I understand we're going to have a discussion about our application um later in the meeting um this year 2024 employ funding application as you recall we were successful in receiving $268,000 Grant uh we have pray work submitted into the uh the burrow um and we're um just awaiting our Direction uh but in the background we're already moving forward that's going to be re from St Martin hopefully Brar to prospect Bridge uh open space uh significant progress on the uh girls major and minor softball fields we're hoping within next week or so to have a meeting with Recreation committee members to go through exactly what those fields are um the de soccer fields with everyone's permission I'm going to take that off subse reports we're done just want to get that off and try get report um we year local R recation uh if you recall we received $76,000 that's grant for the all accessible playground equipment I'm going to get with you sir in terms of reviewing some of that equipment selection that we're looking to put down there at H so give me about a week or two we uh we're working with State contract Defenders um to get the biggest bang for a buck okay in terms of what we can put there playground equipment is very very expensive so we're trying to see if we can maximize um and make it attractive uh as a supplement to the equipment um in terms of te Highway not a report but talk County engineer today um their design is substantially complete they're looking for a spring bid and award so we can see a lot of activity probably Paving this summer l king sideway well shouldn't say that the initiation of the utilities so we're going to see construction activities we also also New Jersey Mark water doing all their work um I understand PG substantially completed or will be moving to finish whatever they need to finish up uh so Count's looking to award it this spring and hopefully we can get that road repa to be done with any idea how long any idea if uh any stretch of Kings Highway through town is going to need to be shut down and if so for how long the detour plans have not been established um that'll be part of the submission that we're going to be receiving and reviewing have the power Ser so I'll be able to report more once we have the actual plans in hand I would expect that will be detourist because they are going to be doing significant excavation uh for the C uh uh the current d m funding uh we we have completed the section of St Martin that's going to be constructed this spring I'm sorry this summer fall we're expecting a spring bit on that um devel block grant um we are working with the CFO to close out the project on the grant that we already received for uh the last Grant we received which is a 2021 Grant uh the the only application we can make because we do not have qualified sensor straps within the Farrow is for AA accessible U improvements the only Ada accessible improvements that we have is additional handicap ramps especially going out from school we still have several dozen unless someone has a different suggestions so discussions with Kelly with regards to mov the polling locations and the gravel lot at the cabin does that it does not so Kelly was coming up to fil in right before the meeting uh there are parameters set by the the federal U uh the federal uh federal guidelines that it really has to be almost 100% sucessful improvements uh for it to ur this uh AG gravel parking lot I could probably get the hand parking spaces paid for but it's such a small uh amount it would not be really a good application to the county because they're looking somewhere between $150 to $250,000 worth of awards um it's been several years since we received the grant um I think our best application is so handicap ramps especially and Luke and we have not we have completed the majority of the handicap ramps around the schools but not all of that for all the uh the walking paths that are our SCH so well so we'll make that application unless there are any objection we'll proceed with that we'll have a resolution for you KY coming up soon to um in our report is also about the road projects another item I would like to take off our uh Engineers report is The Pedestrian approvement at the station and The Atlantics you see the additional uh uh p markings out there in the roadway County SS the weather breaks will we out there finishing up those Pavements uh and then that'll be complete so for the purposes here I'll take it off this report I'll for up anything that comes up sub and then other than that we'll rely the rest report any specific questions thank you sir all right uh next unfinished business we have the public hearing and final adoption of ordinance 2024 1538 an ordinance bar Heights County of Camden adopting a Redevelopment plan for certain properties within the bar KN that has been designated area in need of Redevelopment St Mar I have a motion to open the public heing of ordinance 2024 1538 pH motion by councilman Phillips may I have a second second second coun on now open the public hearing portion of this uh ordinance 2024 1538 if you'd like to make a public comment please step up to the microphone state your name and address for the record mayor would you be able to talk through a little bit about where this is in the process because this is kind of the next stage of this process I can I'll public hearing okay sorry that's okay I wasn't sure a motion uh no may have a motion to close the public hearing not seeing any movement Mo by coun or Pagan I have a second right second by Council Addison all those in favor all opposed obained all right thank you uh yes so just update before uh move for a motion on this um the process after an ordinance will be adopted adopting the Redevelopment plan which is the Burrow's plan um for that site that any potential developer who would like to take advantage of that Redevelopment plan would then need to enter into a Redevelopment agreement which is like a contract for the actual development of the site um at which time you can because it's a contract it will mirror much of what the Redevelopment plan is but it can also have other additional stipulation so hypothetically you could say we want a parking requirement of X um we want the paint to be blue we want the building only to be this big or this or this far set back we want this much dedicated space to um whatever it literally can be you can be super specific you but the idea is that the Redevelopment agreement is just like negotiating a contract so that would be between mayor and Council and the redeveloper um if the only way for a developer to take advantage of the Redevelopment plan this ordin for passing is they have to enter into an agreement so if someone else just wanted to come along and develop the site they would and they didn't want to enter into an agreement they would be would not be able to take advantage of the Redevelopment over overlay that is overlaying on top of the existing zoning that's permitted in that area is that tracking I than had study for three years foring there yeah then they would have to ask for variances and things like that otherwise if they comply with conditions of the overlay it's like a byro application meaning they don't need any kind of waivers or variance so we're not establishing the conditions of the overlay right now no so that's so yeah the overlay ordinance so that was the redevelop that was the Redevelopment plan that um Leo GRE worked on that is what this ordinance is so the ordinance that's the overlay that's like just like our Ken doing it's hey this is this the max of everything these your limits right right so anything if we're to I'm not have to go before planing board for a variance request it needs to fall within those parameters right but the only way you can take advantage of those parameters and not the general zoning parameters for that area is if you enter into an agreement with the par so just for for for today's purposes we already have an agreement with the developer for this particular location correct that's anou so that's a just an an agreement to say We'll negotiate a good faith not a binding agreement for develop so if so we haven't entered a formal agreement then with current proposed development and should that fall through and another developer be interested in the property the plan that we are considering approval tonight would only apply if that other developer agrees comes to an a memorandum of agreement with the town to comply with that plan so they I don't know that they would have to enter into it like you do we do theou because typically with theou is they front many developers and front the cost so let's have that play as the current developer who did do anou with us funded most of the plan design right so that's the benefit this is so that every idea that comes down the pike we don't have to waste not that I get paid anything but not my time or Regina's time or but more importantly it's not wasting taxpayer money on an engineer a planner our legal council being there so that's why so never use the word um so the idea is that that's why you want the m so I don't know that you NE enter anou a devel fuge developer could just say I want to do a Redevelopment agreement with you and take advantage of the existing I just want to understand the ramifications of what happens if we approve and something that and that falls through these are still these are still the parameters this the Redevelopment plan that's on that site is an overlay but for anyone to take advantage of it doesn't matter if it's the curent one that we have been we're onor with or a huge developer that comes down the pike no pun intended they would have to enter into I'm as funny as Howard aren't I they would have to enter into agreement with us which is like a contract negotiation and so is is the T via the planning board or Council or any other committee or commission restrain from uh any additional requirements on this development say that again to sure I mean we have this plan it's a broad plan basically sets the outer limits of what they can do correct going forward if this gets approved are any of the town's government governing bodies whether this Council planning Bo or anything else are they restricted from any further limitations or other requirements that need to be implemented on the develop so yeah so no like so mayor and Council would have ultimates that's the whole point of Redevelopment so before planning board had ultimate say right so before Redevelopment planning board has ultimate say um with Redevelopment mayor council have ultimate say so this governing body will be the one that will that ultimately put the final stipulations with that if you're referring to like an HP City so because of that St Mary Falls in a historic district it would be required to go before HPC for uh so it has to go back to planning board even if it's very spr it goes back to planning board for site site approv site that triggers an HBC visit as well prior to that planning board case and that's what I'm getting so goes back let's it goes back to the planning board for site there are aspects of there are aspects of that project that plan board disagrees with they can they can make further requirements on the developer you know obviously so this just like we have Highway commercial District this is a a zoning ordinance and that's the plan is so this is the rule book that the uh planning board must follow in terms of reviewing whether any the SP relief is required once the redeveloper is named as redeveloper which is the the provisions of the plan then that zoning is in effect for that Redevelopment on that parcel the planning board can not supersede those requirements and make anything more restrictive the other parts of the ordinance are still in place in terms of stor drainage and all the other performance standards but the setbacks uh where the building could be the maximum floor area ratios everything that's in this Redevelopment plan that sets the overlay zoning is the rule book and the the planning board cannot make it more restrictive also the historial historic commission has to follow their guidelines and only review what they're permitted for review which is already contemplated in the plan so I don't think it is no so it do yeah so the the re plan says that would take it all developers would take into consider hisorical guidelines and set forth if you're referring to like a consult on design features that is we would negotiate design features into a Redevelopment agreement with the potential developer does that make sense not really so like if I have similar to what we did with 501 503 we'd say they came they presented ideas there was feedback from HPC that gave options on the table and said like we would like this we don't like this so forth you know all different features HBC submits a list of recommendations to um mayor and Council and to the planning board you know it set forth and said hey these are our rec General overview recommendations we will use those recommendations in the negotiations for the final agreement uh and just like anything HPC is a guide you know is offers guidance um so that you're going to we would put them in as stipulations within the agreement if you would like an agreement with us to develop a property this is part of the agreement this is part of the contract right does that make sense just like parking spaces could be so at the end of the day the ultimate review of whether the the plan gets approved is going to be on this this was this all Redevelopment and it will be through a negotiating process yes so we would negotiate with developer to create a Redevelopment agreement uh Emily given M given is our attorney that would represent negotiation developer would have an attorney and we would work through a NE uh Redevelopment agreement and that would come here and it would be adopted through resolution so to Circle back your question the uh historic commission would not be able to essential they can make recommendations they wouldn't have the power to change what would be permitted under the Redevelopment plan and as negotiated by mayor council the HBC never has that power and also I just want to and then the planning Court could not change it either because as long as it complies with this ordinance and they already determined that it's consistent with the master plan and already brought the feedback so it really is the control will be under the Redevelopment entity uh but this plan is this is your guideline this is the zon and we are the Redevelopment entity that's the big thing so like we gives gives the power like control back to Mayor and Council here in the sense of kind of Ling out the road map what what you want so the overlay the stipulations of the overlay zone are in the Redevelopment plan which is on file but it's not specifically listed in here but it's it's referenced in there it's referenced in there yeah so I don't yeah yeah haven't had an opportunity yes so planning board reviewed the plan they presented a case um by Emily given with M given who's the Redevelopment Council and rder uh who was the planner who wrote the plan she presented it to the planning board the last planning board meeting who looked at it from a master plan Conformity review um and the board voted an approval um unanimously across the board and I think I'm there was Tred there was any major questions or stipulations I with some with some minor stipulations and some veteran areas at Jason to the uh East Avenue School for staging of parents expanding the things like that but nothing nothing it was additional recommendations but the finding was that it's consistent with our master plan and referred it back to council for this this public Hearing in second reading y yeah the general one I was to say was exactly in regards to setback from the actual property line I had to defer back to one of our old discussions like that we had in regards to that it was all it's all written in there okay um and then in terms of a process moving forward what's like the so they go back and they have their they what's the process when does the public have an opportunity to provide input again uh would be when we put AEL agreement in motion um be the next opportunity so we would have a Redevelopment agreement would post it we negotiate and then just like any negotiations dep labor union or so so um so we put a resolution forward the other opportunities for feedback would be if there was uh at the HBC meeting and thee [Music] comments I have a motion for adoption of ordinance 2024 1538 ordinance of the bar height of C adopting a Redevelopment plan for sh properties within the B Heights and designated area need of Redevelopment St Mary I have a motion please PHS Mo motion by councilman Phillips I have a second second second by councilman yes mayor council of President Morgan yes Council Phillips yes councilman aison yes Council Russo um I'm gonna abstain and it's just because I haven't had a chance to that okay thank you counc yes thank you you moving into new business we have an introduction of ordinance 2024 1539 ordinance establishing a SE Department within the bar of P Heights County of can state of New Jersey authorizing the adoption of C connection fees and sewer service charges public hearing and final adoption board 20245 39 is scheduled for Tuesday February 20th 2024 at approximately 7 p.m. Municipal Building located here at 625 625 station AV New Jersey they have a motion to introduce ordinance 2024 1539 motion by councilwoman Russo second second by councilman I have a roll call council president Morgan yes councilwoman Phillips yes councilman aison yes councilwoman lusso yes councilman pan yes thank you thank you again public hearing and final adoption of ordinance 2024 1539 is scheduled for Tuesday February 20th 2024 approximately 7.m here in the municipal building located at 625 station AB hat Heights New Jersey next we have introduction of bond ordinance 2024 1540 Bond ordinance authorizing the installation improvements of VAR sidewalks of the p height County of C New Jersey appropriating a sum up to, 24,100 therefore authorizing issues of General obligation bonds or Bond participation not notes the B of has Heights County of cden New Jersey an aggregate principal amount of up to 2,135 695 making certain determinations in covenants and authorizing certain related actions and connections with the foring public hearing final adoption Tuesday February 20 located at 6 Station New Jersey have a motion to introduce ordinance 204 motion byoun may have a second second by council president Morgan have aoll call Vote Yes mayor council president Morgan Council Phillips yes councilman yes counc yes Council yes thank you thank you again public hearing fin adoption binance 2024 1540 it is scheduled for Tuesday February 20th 2024 approximately 7.m Building located at 625 station 19 public uh my fa I'm sorry introduction of ordinance 2024 1541 ordinance amending chapter 1252 of the code of the bar Haden height entitled animal licensing fees exemptions may have a motion for ordinance 202 to introduce ordinance 2024 1541 Philips moved motion by councilwoman Phillips we have a second second second by councilman I have a roll call vot please council president Morgan yes councilwoman Phillips yes councilman aison yes councilwoman Russo yes counc yes thank you thank you resolution uh public hearing final option Bo 2024 1541 is sched for Tu February 2024 here approximately 7M municial Building located 625 station Jersey now have a motion for resolution 2024 61 resolution Charles gity of New Jersey is patrols Municipal Community law enforcement officer for bar P Heights resolution 202462 a resolution authorizing submissions of a Grant application for Governor's Council on drug abuse dedr Grant resolution 2024 63 resolution had night Municipal Alliance submission of Grant application Governor Council of alcoholism drug abuse and the division of mental health and Addiction Services dmhas youth leadership Grant resolution 2024 64 resolution authorizing payment of bills and claims for first half of February resolution 2024 65 resolution providing for a meeting not open to the public in accordance with the provisions of the New Jersey open public meetings Act njsa 10 Co and P2 one matters related to potential implementation of the K9 program with a headline speed8 and two matter related to application for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs local Recreation Improvement Grant discussion expect to be about a half hour duration formal action may be taken on the forgoing items following executive session I have a motion for those resolutions please motion by Council pan I have a second seconded by Council oison have a roll call please yes mayor council president Morgan yes councilwoman Phillips yes councilman aison yes councilwoman Russo yes councilman yes thank you thank you I'll now open it up for public comment that's public comment on anything at all please step up to the micophone state your name and address for the record not seeing any public comment I'll close the public comment portion and we will recess into executive session I just kindly asked um everyone to exit the council chambers until we're concluded our exective session B exception St for GR we knock you guys out first and then after have a motion to come out of executive session counc second second by counc all those in favor thank you based on our CL session discussions believe we have one resolution to introduce and solicit will name only would be this by title only be a resolution authorizing the acquisition based upon the presentation that we received from our Police Department for a to Institute a K9 Officer program and indicate that the uun cost to initiate that program is approximately $188,500 however it should be noted that there's approximately $30,000 in an asset forfeiture account that needs to be utilized for such purpose or similar purposes and it would be the approval would be conditioned upon using that asset forfeiture police fund for the acquisition and initiation of the startup of this program and it would be appropriate because we'll be expending money to uh have a motion to authorize I have a motion to motion for the resolution be4 66 66 66 right yes by second second by Council Phillips I have a roll call Vote Yes mayor council president Morgan yes Council Phillips yes councilman aison yes councilman Russo yes councilman Pagan yes thank you thank you anything else to ask have motion to by Pagan have a second second by council president Morgan all those in favor thank you