You can get ready. All right. Good evening everyone. I'd like to call to order the board of commissioners meeting November 24th, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. In accordance with the open public meetings act, notice of this meeting has been sent to the retrospect and posted
on the Burrow website, Burough social media platforms, and posted on the bulletin board in Burough Hall and is being held in person as well as via Zoom. Would you please rise and say the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence. >> 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. >> All right. Thank you. Roll call. Commissioner Cole,
>> present. >> Commissioner Troy, >> present. >> Commissioner Sidell, >> present. >> I pray that everybody's turkeyy's moist. Um, so we're going to skip the certificate of appreciation for for Scott. Uh, it'll be moved to the December meeting. He wasn't able to make
it tonight. U, so the next thing on the agenda is the appreciation of 50 years of service. Woohoo. What is that? the golden anniversary. Right. Well, >> for Kevin, David, and Willard, and I'm going to turn it over to Commissioner Troy uh to do the honors.
>> Yes. So, uh if we can have uh Kevin McDonald, David Griffith, and William Willard Shaw step forward, please. and uh we'll read this and then uh we'll uh hand each of this to you and we'll take a picture with uh chief and then
we'll ask members of the fire department to stand up as well. So the burough of Hadenfield cert certificate of appreciation presented to the three gentlemen before us tonight by the board of commissioners in recognition of your 50 years of dedicated service to Hadenfield's fire department haden fire
company number one. Your unwavering commitment, bravery, and service to our community have made a lasting impact. We celebrate your achievements and contributions over the decades. Mayor Sidell, myself, and uh Commissioner Cole, your peers, and a grateful public,
thank you for a job well done. Your service to residents of the burrow of Hadenfield while representing the Hadenfield Fire Department is exceptional. Thank you for your selfless dedication and courage. A round of applause, please. And just uh one thing before we do take
the uh the pictures. Well, I do have everyone's attention. Uh I want to thank uh the entire uh fire department for uh the response this uh this past week at Hadenfield Commons, which was uh quite a sight to be seen. I was not here, but I
was getting reports of it uh in real time from Chief at at uh 5:30 in the morning. And so I want to thank everyone who participated in that. Even if you're not here tonight, the members of the fire department did participate in that. That was a a huge effort to get that under control. And the response time was under uh two minutes. The first
responders, right? Under two minutes. Uh so I also want to thank uh the uh police department uh the EMTs uh Cherry Hill, Westmont, Lawnside, Audabon, Haden Heights, Somerdale, Magnolia, Collingswood, uh Pence Hawen, and
Oakland who uh had uh various people participating with it as well. So uh thank you all very much. Thank you all very much for your years of service. Did you start this when you were what like like seven years old or no? How old were you? You don't age.
All right. Um, no, but uh, thank you very much for the the hard work and dedication to our community. And, uh, let's present these awards. >> Did you do play under the desk when your dad was married? >> Thank you, sir.
Thank you. >> And maybe you open that up and show >> the pass first. behind the first stand. Much easier. Much easier.
It's like a dozen 345. >> Hey, what's going on, man? How are you? Nice to see you, bud. How's everything going? Yes. Get the app. Yes. It was the last one
to seven minutes each. >> Nice. Yeah, which I think he should keep doing. >> We'll talk again. >> Even though techn >> his allegations are against me individually. >> Yeah.
>> So it makes cleaner. That's That's what I said. >> Yeah. >> Send him a text. >> Yeah. We just got the order. We had just gotten the order and he and he and he sent it. So, it makes sense just to let him keep. >> That's what I figured.
>> But I just wanted to confirm it with them. >> There's one more picture and then and we'll get moving again. All right. Super. Thanks, Butch. All right. Next, we're going to wave I'm I'm going to ask for a wave of the reading of the
minutes and approve as submitted for the commissioner meetings of September 29th and October 7th, the commissioner work sessions of October 6th and November 10th, and close sessions for October 6th and November 10th. Can I get a motion? >> Motion to wave reading of minutes and
approve as submitted. >> I'll second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor. >> Commissioner Troy >> in favor. Commissioner Sidown >> in favor abstaining on October 6 commissioner work session and close session weeks ago.
>> I was not in attendance. I was at the Phillies game. >> Um next I want to make a motion to open the floor for public comment for items listed on the agenda. At this time uh you can make comment on anything on the
agenda from items A through um LH. Uh, so I'll I'll make the motion to open the floor for public comments. >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor.
>> Commissioner Troy >> in favor. >> Commissioner Sidell >> in favor. I welcome anyone to the lect turn for five minutes on agenda items. Seeing none in the room, I move to Zoom. Any comments on public agenda items?
Seeing none, I move to close public comment period on items listed on the agenda. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor. >> Commissioner Troy >> in favor. >> Commissioner Sidell >> in favor. Uh next, our first readings on three ordinances. And as a reminder,
ordinances are introduced in a meeting and then held for public comment for 30 days and then brought up in our December voting session for possible adoption. Uh so first I am going to call for the adop
for the introduction of ordinance 202513 to amend chapter 9 entitled claims payment to or payment of to provide regulations governing direct deposit for burrow employees on its first reading. Um can I get a motion?
Uh motion to uh >> introduce >> introduce uh ordinance 2025-13. >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor. >> Commissioner Troy >> in favor. >> Commissioner Sidell
>> in favor. We have a new bank. Uh so we need an ordinance to allow them to make direct deposit payments on our behalf to the employees. Uh next ordinance is 202514. the introduction of an ordinance to create chapter 58 entitled third-party
payroll services uh in its first reading. I would like to make the motion. Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor. >> Commissioner Troy >> in favor.
>> Commissioner Sidell >> in favor. This is an ordinance to allow the bank to actually pay the payroll and for us to transfer and for them to spend money on our behalf, our money on our behalf. Uh, ordinance 202515,
a $230,000 bond ordinance for various capital improvements in its first reading. And I will list the capital improvements uh before I call for uh a vote. And that would be
police radios. I'm chewing this for memory until I can find it. Uh so it would be Oh, in the front. Okay. So it' be for $12,000 for >> No, >> I'm sorry. Wrong wrong wrong list.
uh >> a feasibility study for the firehouse including all related costs and expenditures incidental there too. It's something we talked about at our work session and that's the study to make capital repairs to the firehouse which
is a historic structure. Uh also the acquisition of equipment for the police department uh including and for the public works department. Oh, I see you grouped them together. >> Yes. >> All right. That that's even better. So, uh, the including radios and a stake
body dump truck, including all related costs and expenditures, uh, into totaling $230,000. Um, I'd like to make a motion to introduce this ordinance. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor. >> Commissioner Troy
>> in favor. >> Commissioner Sidell >> in favor. Sometimes you have to buy the whole truck. Sometimes you can just take the whole body off and put a new body on. And that's what that's cheaper and that's what we're doing. Um so next these are resolutions under the consent
agenda. These resolutions below have been placed on the consent agenda by the board of commissioners and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless requested by a tier Frank or myself. Um resolution 164 authorization
to approve budget transfers. 165 authorization to pay vouchers. 166 authorization to approve tax exemptions for 27 Heritage Road, 16 Lafayette Avenue and 20 Lafayette Avenue and cancel fourth quarter taxes for 2025
and all taxes for 2026. The authorization to issue checks for the overpayment of taxes. The authorization to approve general event permanent applications of various types. The the authorization to approve the appointment of the environmental commission member
to the planning board. The authorization to appoint a procurement card program administrator and adopt official policies governing the Bureau of Hadenfield's procurement card program. The authorization to adopt policies and procedures for governing purchase orders. the authorization to sign
agreements to enter into the New Jersey Cooperative Purchase Alliance through Bergen County and the authorization to sign collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Local 3249 Emergency Medical Technicians.
Uh was before was there any discussion on any of these items? >> Can we just get an elaboration on 170 and 172 just for the record? Sure. Um 170 I'll I'll lump 170 and 171
together. Uh the PCard program, there's a lot of things you buy online these days that can only be bought by credit card and u the bureau doesn't have one. So this is the PCARD program that will allow our purchasing agent uh basically our bureau administrator and our CFO or
just our bureau administrator under the offices of the CFO to purchase very specific types of things that are listed in the resolution. Um and it gives uh policies that govern those purchase
orders. So that's 170 and 171. Would you like to explain 172? Sure. >> 172. Sure. >> Um, so when you go to purchase large items that are over the bid threshold, there's a number of ways you can do that. The first way is you can go out to
bid. We can go out to bid ourselves. We can authorize going out to bid. We can advertise, take bids, um, and award to low bidder or best case, you know, best solution, uh, depending on on what exactly you're going out for. Um or you can buy something off a state contract
which we often do. The state has already gone and done the work for you and and you are able to without going through a process purchasing off the state contract. There are a number of entities around the state. Um the Camden County being one, Bergen County being another. Um there's a school associations,
there's some federal programs all that are co-ops and they basically do the same thing that the state does for us. They go out to bid for a number of items and then you can join that co-op to participate in their contracts. Um and so uh Bill Ober, our public works
superintendent, uh determined that the best place for us to get our new stake body is through one of those co-ops already. Um we had it was one of the ones that we had not been a member of yet. And so this is enabling us to to participate in their co-op and
be able to use their contracts moving forward. >> Beautiful. Thank you. Thank you. I'll point out the event permits because I've been asked a lot of this the last few days. Uh, one of the items that we will be approving will be the lighting of the manure on the 7th night of Hanukkah.
Sunday, December 21st. So, down at Library Point, we'll be lighting the Christmas tree on Friday at 6 p.m., uh, the manure will be lit on December 21st for the 7th night in in association with Shabbad of Camden and Burlington counties. And on the 14th of December will be the installation of the manure
and crutch. >> Okay. Oh, they changed the time. Okay, good. Thank you. >> Corresponded with the Eagles game. >> Oh, that's actually pretty important. So, uh I just wanted to point those out. Uh so, can I get a motion? >> Commissioner brought that to their attention.
>> Wise man. >> Sorry, I thought it was a All right. So I I'll make a motion to accept resolutions under the consent agenda 164 through 173. Can I get a motion? >> Motion. >> I second the motion.
>> Okay. Uh voting on that uh motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor. >> Commissioner Troy >> in favor. >> Commissioner Sidell >> in favor. Um next item, item K. Uh public comment on all other matters. This is your five
minutes to to to bring to the commissioner's attention any matter or any question you'd like uh to bring to our attention. I'd like to make a motion to open the meeting for public comment on all matters. Can I get a second? Second.
>> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor. Commissioner Troy >> in favor. >> Commissioner Sidell >> in favor. All right. Invite anyone up to the lect turn? I think somebody's going to have to.
What are you here for? Come on up. You can tell us. >> You can use it as therapy, too. >> Uh just name and street. >> I'm not here for a back for boy scout to
learn about community more and I have some questions with Mr. Um, and then I'm here to review what's happening at the meeting. >> And which troop are you? 64 or 65? 65.
Right on. All right. Thank you. >> And uh, you did a great job. Very insightful questions and I appreciate the time. Thank you. Thank you for reaching out. Any other comments? No, >> please. name, street, or name in town.
>> Uh, my name is Aaron. >> My name is Aaron Jones. I've seen me here dressed Jesus before Mr. Rogers. Um, I live on Chester Avenue in Dun. I'm not a res.
I do consider myself to be one of your neighbors. major thing that I wanted to come down here and speak about and get your thoughts about tonight is the fire that happens last week. I mean before anything else I just
wanted to uh to take a moment to thank the public for the incredibly quick response about two minutes to acknledge even this is a terrible
about temporary resolve. I'm not sure how much you're already aware of those bills. I checked about $60 for 22,000.
that number. I guess I I just want to come down here and say that very difficult. Don't understand that we are living in a world where your house can burn up
and I'm a I'm a mental health counselor. You know, here in the community goes out to know that I'm eager and willing to do all that I can. I've been in contact with person who's in charge
directly to the any information that I should be aware of best. I would love to hear your thoughts. >> No, thank you. Well, it shows this the spirit of the community to step up and and rise to the occasion. you know,
unfortunately, calamity can, you know, befall anyone at any time. Um, and the social safety net of your neighbors and people that care, um, are is very strong in this community. So, I mean, immediately people were reaching out to
find out how it can help. It's good to see that u Mr. Guzman and the Hadenfield Commons people, you know, really around their community and try to draw in resources. I would say that is probably your best bet. you know, as much as we do, um, you know, we're here to protect
the public safety, you know, in all the regards, whether that be police or fire, once the fire is out, you know, that's where the Red Cross comes in. That's where the insurance companies come in. That's where, you know, your neighbors and that helping hand comes in because
everybody wants to help. Uh, so that is your best that is your best resource, right, to the people that are directly affected and it sounds like you're already doing that. Reach out. So that's probably the best to do. Thank you. >> Uh so I know that uh the Red Cross is
aiding so they have communication presumably with all the people that live there and on a firstname basis and also the management company of it. So, uh, I would say that, uh, maybe asking them or whoever the representative is, see if you can get in contact with them and ask from a micro level if there's anything
that that you can do to help versus just, you know, giving money to them or something like that. That would, you know, presumably I don't know how it works, but maybe not go directly to the uh the town of Hadenfield. And I I know that there are are several uh like outreach initiatives by people. Um I
know at at um there's another group of people who are uh trying to procure uh gift cards to give to some of the people um and whatever else. Um so I mean I know there are people out there doing things. Um I think if you just kind of keep your you know ear to the uh the
ground there you'll you'll hear about the activities out there. Thank. >> Yeah, I think the response has been wonderful from the community and really impressive from the fire department and all the neighboring towns. Again, gives you a sense of, you know, we we are not
sitting alone in the middle of an island. We're connected throughout the region. So, that's really wonderful. Um, I just want to make sure that the folks that we're trying to help um want the help. So I if we can reach out, you know, if you can reach out to the folks, if you have contacts of those who in the
community have contacts, um maybe asking them what kind of help they need before we sort of push help on. I know how I can be in these situations. I like to keep to myself and um so I I would just want to make sure that we're respecting privacy and what the what folks are
going through in the grief. Um but I do appreciate people's willingness to help. So that's wonderful. All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other comments from the floor? >> Okay. We'll move to Zoom. Uh would
anyone on Zoom like to make public comment on any matter? Seeing none, I'll move to close public comment on all matters. Can I get a second? Second. >> Yeah. >> Voting on that motion.
>> Commissioner Cole >> in favor. >> Commissioner Troy >> in favor. >> Commissioner Seidel >> in favor. We will have a close session tonight to discuss a contract and >> litigation. >> Litigation. Um
before we we make a motion to go into close session, there's two things. There will be no action taken when we come out other than to end the meeting. Uh but before we go in, I'll invite uh reporters in attendance or online to uh ask any questions they might have.
All right. Super. David, you here as a resident or as a reporter or a spectator or background for the dinner music? Yeah, we're we're dinner music tonight. All right. Uh so that so that being said, happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Um I
hope that your uh your turkey day is better than mine that because mine's going to be great. Hopefully yours is even better than that. Um I will now make a motion to go into close session for the item for the reasons I I already
expressed. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole >> in favor. >> Commissioner Troy >> in favor. >> Commissioner Sidel >> in favor. And like I said, we will only be coming out to adjourn. So, thank you everybody and have a good night.
>> Happy Thanksgiving. >> Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving. >> Hey, Robin. All right. I see you.