bring the Monday, April 6, 2026, Township of Hamilton committee meeting to order. Please rise for the flag to me. Aliance 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. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided pursuant to the New Jersey open public meetings law by posting a notice of this meeting on the bulletin board in the municipal building and by transmitting notice of this meeting to the press of Atlantic City Star Ledger
and Atlantic County Record on January 6, 2026. >> Mr. Aken >> here, >> Mr. Cheek >> here. >> Miss Thompson >> here. >> Dr. Witherspoon >> here. Mayor Patali >> here. We have a moment of silence for private reflection.
Thank you. Uh proclamations. We have a proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Deputy Mayor. >> Yes. Whatever.
This is a proclamation most critical point of contact with citizens emergency. Sorry. All right. Whereas those highly trained and professionals serve as the vital link between the public and emergency
responders in including law enforcement, fire services and emergency medical personnel. And whereas telecommunication communicators demonstrate extraordinary dedication, skill skill, compromise
while managing high stress and often life-threatening situations. providing a calm reassurance and life-saving instructions to those in need. And whereas public safety telecommunication communicators work around the clock
providing an essential behindthe-scene link to the safety, security, and well-built being of our community. Whereas it is both fitting and proper to recognize the commitment, professionalism, and the invaluable
service provided by these men and women. Now, therefore, we the Township of Committee of the Township of Hamilton, Atlantic County, State of New Jersey, on this day do hereby recognize April 12 through April 18, 2026 as National
Public Safety Communicators Week. Thank you. anything. >> No. Well, thank you everyone very much. We appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chris. You >> good?
Okay. Guest presentations. We have none. Addition, deletion of late agenda items to be considered for action tonight. We have an addition 9G resolution to appoint Brooke Sedan as an as needed hourly employee at
a rate of $25 per hour not to exceed 25 hours per week effective April 7th, 2026 through June 30th, 2026. >> So move second. >> I have a motion to second. All those in favor? I I have
Early public comment. We have Frank Roby for the budget. Frank Roby, 309 Farragate Avenue. Um, obviously I haven't seen your budget yet, but I'm just here to encourage you
to keep it down. Um the economy is not the best except if you're a villain might be better for them. ACA is has much higher rates now. Mine doubled. Um South Jersey Gas Lents,
housing, you know, all of it where or so do your best. >> Thank you. >> Hear you >> for sure. Thanks, Frank. Christopher Gray for the budget.
>> Uh, good evening, ladies and gentlemen of council. Uh, my name is Christopher Gray. Address is 2057 Briggs Road, Mount Laurel Township. Uh, I am the attorney that represents your PBA Local 77 police officers. Uh, earlier today, you should have received a letter from us kind of
detailing why we're here and what is going on. And I can tell you that the reason that we're here before you tonight is because your officers care. Because your officers want to work out a contract that's fair for both the township, the taxpayers, and your officers.
All these years have gone by with record inflation and the current PBA contract has not kept track with that. We've gotten to the point where our contract positions between where the township is and where the PBA is is down to $100,000
over four years. And the reason that the PBA needed to make those changes to get the contract where it is is to prevent some of your officers from essentially losing money that they would have made had the current contract continued. So, we went through and provided you
information about where our proposal costs, where your township proposal costs, what the differences are. We also went through and figured out the differences if we were to go to interest arbitration. PBA didn't want to do that. We didn't want to have to do that because we were
hoping that in every other regard that we've had with this council, we've been able to work stuff out and resolve it. I know I sat here probably two years ago when several officers were were facing charges and township did the right thing and kept them in pay status and we
appreciated that. I think we didn't even say a word that night. We were able to work it out and we've had a good rapport ever since. That's why before filing the body met and decided we wanted to come here and and and bring this back to you to see if there's a way that we can get
a deal done on this to get us to the position where we can get a contract in place. We're talking about four years and $100,000. So $25,000 a year is how far apart we are. That $25,000 makes all the difference to some of your officers.
We want to be able to recruit. We want to be able to retain. We want to be able to be competitive. You know, public safety is important. We understand you value your police officers. We understand that the public, you know, when those dispatchers are getting calls, they're sending out these
officers. They're the ones that are going out on harm's way. They're the ones that are taking care of all the residents here. We uh tried to broach this and asked to do it in close session because, you know, we thought negotiations could take place in such a format. We were told that the preference
was for us to bring it here. So, we sent you the letter detailing uh all the financial conditions of it. I sent you all the Excel sheet showing all the cost outs and the differences and over a $16 million deal to let $100,000, you know, break this and force us to go
to interest arbitration. We didn't think it was worth it. We thought coming here at least one time trying this beforehand. Um, we also wanted to bring to the council's attention just what happened with the uh Atlantic County uh prosecutors investigators. Their contract settled in interest
arbitration. And if you apply that settlement to your officers, it's going to cost this town over $400,000 well about $380,000 more than where the township's currently at. If it settled it uh two and a half percents across the board, which is
where most the interest arbitration are, that would cost the town $70,000 more than where the PBA is at right now. So seeing the the grand scope of of the deal and the work that went into this, we had all the other terms done and we just got hung up on some salaries that really punished members and those
members will probably talk later during the open public session to let you know the impact that it has on them and why the PBA had to fix the proposal that was done. So we hope that you will take a hard look at this. Um we really want to
to work this out and not have to go through those processes. it's going to cost cost both parties more than what the difference is. And we we hope that uh you'll take a look. Uh we gave you everything we have, every piece of information, the Excel
sheets, how we did the numbers, just to show you. We we asked for that from from your your staff and they couldn't send us their cost outs. So, we gave you everything we had. So, it's not normal for me to normally send all the Excel sheets of all the different cost aversions and all the different comparisons showing you this is a good
deal and we don't want to lose this deal and and put this in the hands of an interest arbitrator who can tell both of us what it's going to be and how much it's going to cost. So, hopefully we can we can get this done uh get back to the table and prevent interest arbitration from having to occur. So, we thank you.
I'm sure later some some members will talk about how they're personally affected and why these changes had to be made and why the $100,000 difference exists. Um, we did not want you to lose officers. We did not want people to leave. We wanted to keep them here. We wanted to fix your bottom steps to be
more competitive. We wanted to give you a competitive salary guide. We wanted to do these things to fix things and to make this place attractive for new officers and to be able to uh retain the ones you have and also keep a good morale here. So, we know you've listened
to us uh through the years. That's that's why we're here. Um most times we'll just file a petition, but we wanted to give you a chance to make this work. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I think that's it. >> Okay.
Uh moving on discussion guidelines and criteria for proclamation requests establishing a proclamation >> subcommittee. This was something that's been getting bounced around for several weeks now,
actually almost into last year. Um and um talking with our solicitor uh he kind of guided us and uh said the best route here is to create a subcommittee for proclamations so that
they can be reviewed gone over and uh then sent to the whole committee for that proclamation to move forward. So I would just like to move forward with that proclamation subcommittee.
>> Are you asking us can we speak? Yeah. So who is on the committee? Are you appointing? >> Yes. I I would appoint um at our solicitor suggest and it's it would be two members from committee. um our administrator
and if need be, if we do need any guidance, then we would have uh discussion with our solicitor as need as needed. Well, I I since um this is uh something that just came
sprung on on me, I think it's um interesting that you would create a subcommittee to tell the committee whether a proclamation of their chosen is worthy to be given out to that person, team, or organization. Um I think you're trying to take our
rights from us. Um, I think you should name one city that does this. I don't think there's one that you can name. So, I think this is very disrespectful. Um, my thing is I might not know every
27,000 plus constituent personally, but I represent every last one of them. And if someone in this township I feel measured up to uh deserve impation um then as an elected official I have
the right to give them one. Um and you have the right not to sign it. So I I don't agree with creating a subcommittee. I mean we couldn't even agree to create a subcommittee for the ring control for the quality of life for
our people. So now we're going to create a subcommittee on this agenda. Well, I think um for one member of committee to say that they want to give a proclamation to somebody, um I think
it should be discussed beforehand to kind of go over and see if that person um just do a little little investigation and see if everything, you know, if that
person deserves it. Um because they give a proclamation from committee if not all five members of committee are signing it then it's not really a proclamation from committee and at any time any member up here can write a letter congratulating
uh a singular person um a team anything for anything that they do. So, I'm just trying to um create a way a path so that there's no
um I don't know what the proper word would be. Um aggravation or indecision by somebody else sitting up here that they feel they don't want to sign that proclamation. Um
and this is just a way to kind of give it a little bit of control and also I want to keep the proclamation proclamation should be special and if we keep doing proclamation after proclamation they're not going to be as special anymore.
>> So my understanding then was that we were going to limit the proclamations which I don't have a problem with. We can limit the proclamations to one per meeting, but I don't agree with an outside subcommittee
telling us whether a proclamation is worthy of the person that we choose to honor because somebody else on the dis has a personal problem with them because I think that we're smart enough and we're representing and we're voting in to pick someone that we've already
vetted to feel like they're deserving of that So if you want to limit the amount of pocketations, then that's fine. I don't have a problem with that. >> Okay. >> I guess it the only qu the only thing I
have to input on that is you guys do decide to limit the amount of proclamations you're putting that I guess you're essentially putting that burden on me, right? So we get a certain amount of proclamations, requests come in, then it would become up to me who gets
on the agenda, who doesn't get on the agenda, and I don't know who's being honored. I just get the I just get the requests, I read the the bios, and then, you know, if I get three of them, so it's like who gets bumped, who doesn't get bumped, who do all we get three, do I do all three at the meeting? Um the
worst thing that could happen is uh not everyone on committee. You do a proclamation and not everyone signed. >> Yeah. But my thing is this is what I'm saying. If we have an understanding right now that we going to do one proclamation per meeting and we understand that right now, then we would
know not to go forward with so many proclamations for that certain meeting because we already have an understanding. That's what I'm saying. I mean, we're we're smart enough to have an understanding to know that and respect each other's pockination if we have that understanding.
>> Well, part of the discussion is coming up with that understanding because right now there's no understanding. We just we need to discuss it. Even if you guys decide not to do a subcommittee, we need to discuss if that's what you want to do because right now Carl suggested one a
meeting, but that doesn't mean that's what we're going to do because he's only one member of committee. So you just need a consensus of committee how you guys want to handle populations. It's not just up to Carl. He brought it here. It's up to all five of you. >> He brought it here, but then there's a whole resolution is sitting in front of
me. I mean with a number and everything. So I'm just saying >> well we have to have some type of >> guidance on who gets a proclamation. So conversation was that well you what do you mean guidance on
who should get a proclamation? The point is if a if a committee person puts up a person of their choice it's not going to be for somebody else to say oh no you chose that person and I don't like that person so we're not doing it. What I'm saying is my understanding is is that
you're saying there's too many populationations. You know you feel like there's we're just honoring too many people. We're just doing too much for the people. So basically if if we limit it to one pockin nation per uh township meeting or however you want to limit it
to but I don't think somebody should come in and control us and tell us what we should do for the people. >> I so I don't think we're trying to so we're just trying if you're going to limit it to one. My question is how do you get to the one but is it first come first serve?
>> Yeah. What if all five >> That's my That's my question. I if you want to do three that's fine with me. I'm just How do you get >> I'm just saying respectfully. If I put if she put if the committee if the mayor puts in one before me, I don't get mine in time, then I know I have to wait. It's just a matter of respect and then I
know have to wait. It's no control. We don't need to control or have people of the mayor's choice come in with the subcommittee and all. It's not it's un it's not even necessary. Well, I don't know that it's necessarily one person sitting up here can decide
should be able to decide who gets a proclamation. You're right. Be all five. >> Exactly. >> Should should agree to it. So, I think you have to have some kind of a committee to look at it first and then move forward from there. >> I don't think so. >> Maybe that committee can look at it and say, "Hey, uh, can we have a little bit
more information about this person?" Um, uh, more of a bio from them, stuff like that. And back to what I said, what is your reference? What other city does this? What is your reference? >> I don't have a reference. >> Right. That's my point. So I don't think that this this is like a control thing
to me. To me, this is a control situation and I don't I'm I'm not agreeing with I'm saying to you if it's this if you're you're saying one thing and then you're saying, you know, we should water it. I mean, we shouldn't water it down. So limit the proclamations, then I'm trying
to agree with that situation. That's what I'm seeing. >> So can I ask so if a proclamation comes in and two committee committee persons don't like the person not don't like the
person but would rather not sign off on that proclamation. Does that proclamation still go through to that person? >> It should. I mean that you got to own you got to own why you don't want to sign for that personal proclamation. You shouldn't limit why I as a committee
want woman woman wants to honor someone. If you have a personal problem or you have different issues why you don't want to sign a proclamation, then you own it. But you shouldn't limit me from honoring a constituent because I I cuz I feel they fit the criteria to be honored. I
mean, that doesn't even I don't understand what you're saying. >> I don't feel I don't feel you're being limited by this. Like I said, a subcommittee and I'm not for against yet. I'm just saying a subcommittee would look at the committee person's proclamation that's put forward, do some
research on that person to see if it's, you know, a person that should be brought to committee to be put on a proclam a proclamation. >> And to me, that's a form of >> distinct thinking. You got outside citizens that's trying to tell a committee person who they should honor and who they shouldn't honor. And I
don't think that's fair. >> I have a question. Go ahead. Does the subcommittee make the recommendation to committee? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Exactly. Okay. >> Because it's a proclamation from the townships of Hamilton.
>> So if not everybody up here on the deis agrees to it, then I don't think they should get the proclamation. >> Let me ask you a question. Can a committee person by theirel give a proclamation? >> Yes. Well, not a proclamation. You can you can write a letter of >> congratulations. >> Right.
I sent two of them out last week. >> That's good. That's nice. >> Any other questions or comments? >> We're not the the whoever the subcommittee that you choose to be on this committee, mayor, we're not making a decision to eliminate. It's just to
get more information and then bring it before the full committee. Is that it? of discussion. The way it's written now is that any proclamation request would go in front of the subcommittee. That proclamation request only agenda if the
subcommittee alternative is all there's only two members. So after the subcommittee size it comes before the full committee >> not for a vote. come in front of just as proclamation.
No vote on proclamation just like this evening. There was no votes right could implement a rule where you all meet a subcommittee. Thank you. Yeah. Any other questions or comments?
>> I have I think it would it should be that the subcommittee makes a recommendation to us. We as committee five of us yay or nay the subcommittee turns around says yeah
they should get a proclamation at least we should have a little bit of say like okay I agree or no I don't agree yet after that then we move forward >> and I and still it still comes back in front of the committee so what if we
have three of them say oh well you know you whispered to this person and say, "Oh, I don't like this person, so don't go." Like, it's still being controlled by outside sources or being controlled by the committee when it's not even set up like that. It's not even set up like that.
It's like we're taking control out of what we think is on our mind or what we feel the criterias are for a person that we feel we should honor and just giving it giving it away. I just I just feel like that's not fair.
If you if you have somebody, Mr. Mayor, I respect you enough to believe that that person that you feel like should get this proclamation should get the proclamation. I'm not going to, you know, say, oh, they didn't check off all these boxes
and this and that and the other. No, because you felt that person should was deserving based on your criteria that you put in. >> Do you agree with the draft? >> No. Because he's saying the draft is saying that the the solicitor, Mr. Solicitor is
saying that the draft is saying that they make the recommendation. >> No, I'm talking about the draft. >> The last page of the criteria. Do you agree with the draft? on the last page of 3A. on 3A.
It starts off. Both members of the subcommittee must approve a request form for a township proclamation to be presented. That right, the first sent the first sentence, I can't even get past that. for history for history recognitions
like women's history black history month whatever >> it says for history okay I agree with that >> okay >> that's fine >> the a the honor and athlete or sports team but they have won a championship or >> I do agree with that >> you do agree with that >> yes
>> historical preservation proclamations >> will be approved and signed by the township committee but shall be presented at the record the schedule HPC meeting >> I I agree with that. >> All right. So, and then do you agree in lie of proclamations, any member of a
committee may write a letter of congratulations on their individual perhaps >> was everything. >> Yes, I I do agree with that and I think that's something that should be amongst us as the committee not to go to a sub and then have them come back and say,
"Oh, well, this is worthy and it's not worthy." So, I can I can adhere to to the mass for >> so you feel that any member up here if they say we want to have a proclamation for somebody we should all just agree to
it >> no I said you got the right to sign it or not to sign it that's your right what I'm saying is is that I don't think we need a subcommittee to tell us that we're not entitled >> to give out that proclamation based on
whatever criteria they feel you know the person has or doesn't have. That's what I'm saying. >> But I think a proclamation from the Township of Hamilton should be agreed upon by all five members. >> It should. You're right. But I'm just
saying that I don't think we need a subcommittee. >> So who would who would approve it? So basically, you're just saying, all you're saying to me is there might be a situation where somebody put one of us put up a proclamation and and none of us
and maybe one don't sign it. So you feel that that's not right. That's basically what I'm hearing you say. And I'm saying if you choose not to sign it, then you own it. You you own your reason why you don't want to sign it. But why would should we not give out the proclamation?
Like I'm not I'm not even that it's not even adding up to me. >> But it's not a proclamation from the entire township committee if everybody doesn't sign. >> I've seen proclamation where >> but it it >> but it's not proper.
>> It's not right. That's what y'all say then saying it's not prop. Okay. You can >> it's not proper. >> All right. But I'm I'm just I'm just thinking I'm just saying that this is a form of control. >> This is a form of control. I don't think this will the way a subcommittee be should use, you know, and I'm back to me
asking for a subcommittee for conversations on equality of life for our people and you guys denied that. So, I I'm I'm just not agreeing it. And I told you I agree with the last four, but I'm I'm not agreeing with this. >> But but it's coming with the assumption that we're not going to agree with the
proclamation. That's that's what I'm hearing that the subcommittee is not going to agree. Who's saying we're not going to agree? with the >> it's coming with the assumption that all of the committee people are not going to agree on somebody's proclamation.
>> That's what it's coming with too. >> Okay. I I I >> I just think that there needs to be some type of guidance behind the scenes to to look over a request for a proclamation to go over
the information to see if you know if that person meets the quasi criteria that's kind of created. Um, and it's it's hard to write criteria to meet because there's so many
different reasons why you would give a proclamation. It's really hard to put that everything in writing. It's kind of vague. But I also think that we we need to have some mechanism to
introduce a proclamation to get a proclamation on onto the agenda as Brett said. Otherwise, you know, all five of us could be saying, "Hey, this meeting I want this proclamation." We end up with five proclamations. >> And I just told you that I don't have a
problem with us limiting the proclamations. Like you're saying something that I just told you that I don't have a problem with. So you're just saying it. >> So So we'll leave it. You think we should just leave up leave proclamations up to Brett and Brett should just automatically put them on the agenda?
>> No, I think that you as four out of five that I said I'll agree to. I think that amongst us committee the five committee if we adhere to what's typed out here on this draft and amongst us we have a
criteria then that's what we should do and that we should and then we should agree on limit it to like you know once a month or twice a month for the meetings however I don't have a problem with that >> but the way we signing on before was it
legal? >> There's no guidelines, >> right? I mean, before we had a form that we were signing off on before the proclamation, we were all signing it. We were reviewing it and signing it.
Even if even if it's just a form, you're not meeting. You're still signing a form saying I agree to this and that's that's a no no. We can't do that. >> That's a no no. >> That's the purpose of the subcommittee. >> That is nowhere else in county.
>> Excuse me. I said it's nowhere else. There's no other city in Atlanta County that has this. That's what I said. >> Be trailblazers. >> This is a that's a control situation. You need to move >> point of order.
>> Okay. Uh do I hear a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> I have a motion to second. All those in favor? I >> I against >> me. >> I'm sorry. >> Yes. Um
me and Dr. Withers. >> Thank you. Okay, discussions. Bud Zuka Dispensary LLC presentation resolution and redevelopment agreement.
>> Good evening. Um before our applicant um gives this presentation, I just want to give a little overview for committee. Um, for those of you who were not on committee when this project first began, um, the applicant, um, Bazooka Dispensary AC
LLC, uh, responded to an RFP, uh, for a class 5 retail cannabis license. Um, they received a resolution of support from committee. They entered into an escrow agreement with the township. Um and through that um they came back to
committee with a request for a sightsp specific redevelopment plan. Um committee agreed to that. The redevelopment plan was adopted and since that time a redevelopment agreement has been negotiated. Um Cass Verde
dispensary LLC was the initial um entity. Uh but there was a provision in the escro agreement to allow an assignment. Now the assignment is really um name only. The entity is still formed by the same exact um ownership and that
structure has not changed. It's just they're doing business as BZUA. Um so this evening as part of the redevelopment process before the redevelopment agreement is going to be authorized by committee. Uh the redeveloper is here to do his
presentation to explain to committee uh what the project entails to briefly review what the site plan will look like. They are required um to go back to the planning board for a full site plan approval pursuant to
the municipal land use law. uh and the the planning board has full um purview over that pursuant to the redevelopment plan and any aspects of the underlying zoning that still apply. Um and then um after the site plan approval, that's
when they would be able to begin their construction. Um so this evening they're here to get approval as part of the resolution that um is here for consideration. There is mention of um I'm sorry as part of the redevelopment
agreement there is mention of a second resolution of support and that is not required and I apologize for having that in there. That was part of a draft and I did not remove it. So that will be removed before execution. Um, so that is
the fourth to the last whereas clause before article one on page two of the redevelopment agreement. So it says by way of resolution number 2026 and there's a blank um received a letter of municipal support and that is not required.
>> Okay. >> So that's going to be removed. >> Page two. >> Page two. And if you count up from the now therefore one, two, three, four. >> Yeah, at the bottom. >> Yeah, by way resolution and there's a blank there. So that that clause does
not need to be included. And I wanted to bring that to your attention before you um take a vote on the resolution and the agreement. You have any questions on that? >> Turn it over to >> turn it over. >> Uh, good evening. My name is Lou Magazoo
and I represent the applicant. Uh, and I thank first of all um council for u her terrific efforts through this as well as Mr. Null and Mr. Goodman are not here. It's been really a a long but u very thorough process. Uh when we first began
and some of you may recall this was the binder that we submitted for review. Uh what I'm going to do tonight with your permission condense that to about three minutes of an overview because uh there are some members who were not uh part of the uh uh the original presentation. If
I if I may, mayor and members, uh I represent uh it was originally Cassa Verde Dispensary LLC, now Bazooka uh Dispensary LLC. The reason for the name change is in since we've been here, we've actually opened up a store in North Jersey with that name and we're
developing a reputation as a brand. Uh so that's why we made that name change. Uh as council indicated, we did a 38 page application which in response to an RFP and were chosen as a consequence of that. Uh part of the reasons I think was the proficiency that we showed uh and
again this is in detail the proficiency we showed in this area. We also in addition to Mr. Tunador who's here we also have Matt Marovich who was a resident of Vetner uh in Atlantic County uh with 20 years experience in uh real
estate um acquisitions. Um Mr. Tunidor and his family have been involved in uh have over 50 years of experience working in legal retail cannabis markets in um Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and
Nevada. And although cannabis has only been legal in those states for about 10 years because they've been most many of them, that's why I say cumulatively about 50 years. Uh we've done the research u to obtain approval uh from the New Jersey uh Cannabis Regulatory
Commission. Uh we've invested in technology. Uh we've invested in security. Uh we are 95% Latino owned WMBBE as approved by the state of New Jersey. Uh we have a uh
we have a team that has worked uh in cannabis uh throughout the state. Uh some of those folks uh actually Jay Schula who uh works in this county is our engineer. We have a security expert that uh has prior uh experience in this area and I've done about two dozen of
these applications. As I said uh since we first applied to Hamilton Township uh the Tindor family has successfully launched a retail sales store in Elizabeth, New Jersey uh since Jan in January 25th, 2025 and operating successfully uh in full compliance with
all local and state laws. Uh we also have a security plan and financial plan that will have to be approved by the state uh cannabis regulatory commission. What I'd also like to do is show you some pictures about five slides. And by the way, I think we will need a resolution acknowledging the name change
be because we did when we go up to CRC approval, we'll need a resolution that will say that the township um committee does acknowledge that. >> So in the resolution for approval this evening, Mr. Um there is a statement that um the township designated casin
and um Cer has assigned it rights to the property and the township has negotiated the agreement with the >> I appreciate that but I think we may need also a standalone resolution just to indicate the support of the township committee for this application just for the CRC purposes not for the
redevelopment purposes and we it doesn't have to be tonight we can do that as we move forward. I I do have a question. >> I'm sorry. >> I do have a question, Mr. Mag. >> Yes. Yes. Committ one. >> Uh in the agreement page two, they're referencing both names.
>> Yeah, I did that as the executive summary to indicate that we started as Caverie, but we're now going to be known as Bazooka. And if I may, I'll just go through the couple of slides here. May I? >> Is that clear for you the the response? >> Not really, but I'm going to get it.
I'll get it. >> Okay. I'm I'm gonna watch the slides, but what I'm saying is I was looking for it just to say bazooka >> and not both because it looks like it's both. >> And I apologize for that confusion for my writing. I tried to make it clear and
maybe I didn't that uh we started out the application was casi since that time in March of this year we changed the name to Bazooka. So what I tried to do in the executive summary is indicate that Casverie and Bazooka are the same entity and this is just a name change.
There's no change as to the principles. >> I got that. >> Okay. But I apologize. >> Talking about the redevelopment agreement itself and not the executive summary. So I can I I'll explain when Mr. Max is finished. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. So this just is indicate that we're in a proper zone
which is an important point uh both in terms of the township and the state. They want to know that you don't need to get variances. And this area is zoned for um uh for uh retail cannabis. And this is just and what I'm trying to do is give you in a couple of minutes what the planning board's going to get
significant testimony on. This is what the uh the area is going to look like, what the site plan is going to look like. This is by the way been extensively reviewed by your professional staff, by your engineers for approval with respect to the amount of parking, uh the e eress and essress
of vehicles. Uh and so th this will be uh frankly the first template, but there'll be much greater detail what the planning board is going to see. Uh this is the where the building was. This is where we're going to go. You're probably familiar with this restaurant or at least was a restaurant once. It's a
burned out husk of a of a building now. And this is what it's going to be replaced with. Uh very attractive uh good curb appeal with respect to 323. This is interior. Um, some folks of a certain age may have a certain recollection of what these type of places may look like. They look a lot
more like going into a AT&T store or iPhone store or Comcast store uh in terms of customer service. Uh, and you see the quality uh of the interior. Uh there's also by the way and uh a security CRC requires that uh ID is
prevent presented. there'd be a security person that before anyone comes in to make sure that they are of sufficient age. What I just wanted to do was to give you a flavor of what we're presenting uh to kind of match and supplement uh what we're doing with the redevelopment agreement because I recognize that this is cannabis. I
recognize that there are different members of the committee that weren't here previously and I wanted to at least give some background in that regard and I tried to do it as briefly as possible but I am available for any questions. >> Any questions? Anybody?
I I I don't have a question, but in this agreement on page two, three, and four, and five all the way to five,
it is presenting this presenting both is what I'm saying. It's not presented just bazooka. >> You mean just in in this book? >> Yes. >> This is just the executive s summary. This isn't our in the book >> agreement. >> Yeah, that's not our agreement.
>> Yeah, that's not the agree the redevelopment agreement itself. But the redevelopment agreement does mention >> okay >> that it is by and between Bazooka dispensary AC LLC as asin of Cassie dispensary. And the reason for that is
to ensure that if there are any questions about how Bad Zuka got here, we have a redevelopment process that we have to follow. And so Cass Verde is the entity that started that process by name, >> right?
>> But Zuka is the same entity. The formation of the entity is the same people. They're just changing the name, but we're dealing with the exact same people. And so I wanted to be clear in the redevelopment agreement and the
recital for that so that everyone who's looking at that understands we went through the correct process that we didn't skip any of the steps that are required under the law the code for that the township and that somebody can trace
back the steps that we took and make sure that committee there are no questions for committee at some point in time. Why is Budsuki here and Cassie is the one who got the support or Cassie is the entity that submitted the response to the RFP? And so that's why in the
redevelopment agreement we mention both entities and I mention that they were assigned and that the committee is aware of the assignment and it does not object to the assignment. >> I don't I don't object to the assignment. I don't object to the the new name. I just
>> you want to make sure that we're clear and and and it's correct it's for the history of it and then if you look at um the see what number uh yeah two you'll see that there is um
from the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services it's a certificate of amendment >> page two of >> it is tab And it it states that the previous name was Cer Dispensary LLC and the amended
name is Bazooka Dispensary AC. And so that's why Mr. Magazu has all of that information in there as well so that when someone's looking at this, they they understand the process and how we got from Caserde. We took all the necessary steps, followed the procedures
correctly, and the change is a name only. >> I got it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I understand that. I I mean I understand but when you first look at that >> I know it can be confusing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. It is not >> It is. >> All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome.
>> That's it. >> Any other questions with regard to the content of the agreement? And as Mr. Magazoo said, there's a safety and security plan that gets reviewed and approved by uh the chief of police for his designate. Um and so that
all has to happen before um operations can begin. Um they have to follow the odor mitigation requirements that are not only in the redevelopment agreement but also in the township ordinances with regard to odor. There are any complaints, they have to be addressed um
within 48 to 72 hours. But I don't believe we haven't had any complaints at >> I I I do feel that this I get it. >> I get I get it. I see it on page two
that change, but I think the paperwork should reflect that. You know what I'm saying? in the >> in the binder that was given to us tonight. >> Understood. >> That's all I'm saying. >> Should reflect. >> Yeah, I understand. I I I'm sorry that
it looked that way. Uh the way that I had written it was it started with Cassie. Bazooka had the name change. I indicated the name change. And what I did though was I called it Casverie/Bazuka throughout so that it was clear that it was the same entity. I apologize for the confusion. That was the reason why I did
it that way. So it would be clear that it was the same entity and not a second entity or distinguished entity. >> You have to take action this >> uh there is a resolution for your consideration this evening to approve um the redevelopment agreement and
acknowledge um the concept plan is in conformance with the redevelopment plan redevelopment agreement and that you are okay with him with the applicant submitting to the planning board. Just one question. >> This is the resolution saying that this
is the name change. >> This is the resolution that acknowledges the name change in the redevelopment agreement and approves the redevelopment agreement with Buduka. >> Okay. >> And then Lou believes that we have to have a
separate resolution >> for clarity with the CRC. It doesn't have to be tonight. We can come back and go through process because we've got plenty of time. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So you have a motion moving. >> Yeah, he has a motion. Second. >> Did you motion?
>> Oh, you second. Okay. >> Motion a second. We have a roll call vote, please. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you, Mayor. One other point. I've
done two dozen of these. You've got the toughest council that I've ever dealt with on the other side. Respectfully, I say that. So, she's earned every dime. She's >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thanks, Emily. >> Moving on. 2026 municipal budget
presentation. Shut the lights off. We can't read. >> That's That's too dark. >> Yeah. Let there be light. We need a little more light. I can't see. He's on it. That's
Yeah, that's good. >> Perfect. Well, >> that's good. >> The cannabis. This is our third and final. for cannabis, but it's still right. 2026 budget introduction. >> 2026 budget sees familiar challenges.
Um, we're going to talk about challenges of developing a budget. >> Are you speaking to the mic? No, >> like not really. >> We're going to talk about challenges with developing a budget during strain times, how we got here, >> what's in the budget, and what we're doing to try to make it work, and some
of the solutions. >> Uh we're like last year, we're seeing a steady increase to the cost of goods and services. Uh this includes employee expenses and their impact to this budget. Like yours, the township expenses never
seem to go down. So, we need to constantly shop for the best prices on goods and effectively manage what we have. Some of the things we're going to talk about, uh, recruiting and competing with other towns and the private sector to secure qualified employees. Employee
health insurance rates, they're up this year. Talk about that more. Uh, pension payments are up this year. uh the costs of vehicles and equipment maintenance is up and the fluctuation
and increases in utility costs. You've seen everyone seen the cost of gasoline, electric, uh natural gas all on the rise this year and our solid waste uh services went up this year as well as landfill use.
Uh the other uh challenge that especially Hamilton Township has seen in the last since COVID uh the loss of our brickandmortar retail in the uh design commercial zone. Um and tax appeals tax appeals hit us
pretty hard last year. The other thing that we lost last year was our dialup tax from Verizon. Our dialup dropped below 51% downshift. So we lost $9 and a half million dollars them and addition to that we lost uh 21,500
in ratables through taxables. It's a $31 million ratable loss. Uh this is going to impact this budget 1.6 cents. plan designs for the state health benefits increased uh depending on the
plan that the individual employer was on or their families. Uh they increase 36 to 55% in 2026. This impact to the township is about $125,000.
Um we've heard about double digit increases coming down the road for next year. We're looking at that. um looking around seeing, you know, what other options are out there for for the township. Are we going to stay in state healthcare? You know, if we have the option to jump out, we're going to look
at it. I'm not saying we're going to, but we're going to look at all of our options to try to save money. But whatever we do has to be in kind. So, we have to provide in kind talked about this utilities increase in 2026. We're preparing for 2027.
Uh gasoline and diesel's up. Uh electric, street lighting, all these expenses. Cost of retaining employees and competing with neighboring towns in the private sector. It's harder than ever to maintain our existing workforce and fill
vacancies. Right now, we have vacancies here at town hall. We have vacancies in public works. We've had vacancies in public works for three years. public works. Uh we're dealing with contractual obligations, training, uh
certifications, uh equipment. We have to provide the employees certain equipment to do their jobs, healthcare and pensions. We have a lot of third-party contractual obligations. We have our fleet maintenance that's set to be rebid in uh
summer. Uh we're projecting out a 20% increase on that. Uh the last time we bid it was during CO or right before it. So uh cost of parts and labor have gone up significantly since that bid. Uh it's $646,000 annual contract. That put 20% puts us at
about 130,000 increase. Um HVAC, plumbing, electrical and tree removal are off this year. snow plowing. Um 2025 this winter hit pretty hard
lost a lot of our our reserves and snow plowing. Uh solid waste yard waste recycling collections up 180,000 this year and all of our insuranceances are up. Software licensing uh for all municipal
offices has increased in 2026. uh cyber security and insuranceances up like every other year we have um we have to maintain all of our parks our our infrastructure our buildings uh this year we had new D requirements come down
we have to uh provide them with GIS mapping for storm water and drainage that was a significant increase earlier in the year actually last year came through and I think it's first quarter this year.
So in order to balance our current revenues against expenditures, the 2026 budget will need to include a 3.4% tax increase. This year's budget will be 33,62,764 and it is balanced the same on the other
side of the expenditures. This this graphic shows the assessed value change. Um this is basically just showing you a graph from last year to this year. Uh what that loss of gradables did to our budget, how it impacted it and uh shows that that
shortfall over there on the bottom right. Budget change. This is a budget change comparison from 2021. Shows that uh you know the projection how it projected up this year. Um
pretty steady but uh nothing nothing real alarming but it's steadily going up. This shows the uh operating surplus that we use in the budget every year. Last year we used roughly 4.15 million. This year it's the
same. Uh to use that kind of surplus, we have to get that kind of we have to project out that we're going to receive that surplus back this year. So uh we we do project that we'll be able to recover the 4.15 million. So, it's important for the public to
know that we didn't start at three and a half cents. We made big cuts and changes to end there. Made sustainable structural cuts to this year's operating budget. Modified our solid waste and recycling contract with the ACA. Received approval to join the NJ direct high healthc care
plan card option. We moved from the Atlantic County GIF to the statewide shift. We have two less employees on the roster in 2026 due to attrition. 2026 we will see a full year savings with the secession of our construction
official retiring, consolidation of duties, and cancellation of our third party inspection contract. Remove the captain position from the police department and replace it with full-time lieutenant. We've also had several high ranking retirements throughout the
township that yielded lower salaryments. Most staff this year moved to the higher deductible insurance plans. Um this is the same coverage but just much lower cost for both the employee and the township. We transitioned from the Atlantic County joint insurance fund to
the statewide insurance fund. This saved us $124,000. took a hard look at our solid waste and recycling programs uh to try to reduce operating costs because we proactively switched to totters. We didn't have to
switch to toers, but we did. Uh we did increase um last year and five years prior. We we bought this first. We started out with the uh trash cans and then we got the recycling totters. Um because we did this, we're going to go fully automated by the end of this year.
That move is expected to save us around $300,000 in operational costs. 2026 budget has a lot of positives and the township's moving in the right direction. Let's talk about some of those positives. Redevelopment in 2026. Um we have the
redevelopment of the R Atlantic City Racecourse and that is set to begin this year. We're in talks with the ownership of the mall about its future and potential uh redevelopment projects that could be possibly done there under
undertaken there. There's also talks of redevelopment of various parcels in the design commercial zone. I believe uh passive rarities within that PC zone. Um there's quite a few properties down there that um are
true redevelopment areas and true there were buildings there at one point and we have a couple developers that are looking to come in and redevelop down um beyond Cologne Avenue. We're looking forward to the
groundbreaking of two previously approved cannabis establishments. uh continuing our efforts with negotiations um and helping the the ownership of the wheat facility through some of the regulatory hurdles that they
have at the state level. And this year we will have a capped uh landfill and maybe a solar field out the uh landfill site, the industrial park. We did add 23 commercial variables this year. I'm not going to read through all
these u but we did we We added uh a lot of these went went from retail based to service based. So moving in the right direction there. We're continuing to look at new revenue sources. We're renegotiating two of our cell tower leases and possibly adding a
third in 2026. We're renegotiating our shared service agreement for uh dispatch in Egg Harbor in Egg Harbor City as well as our IT services over there. looking at all grant opportunities and
looking for solutions to offset the loss of retail and again add more serviceoriented variables to the town. Some of our goals um 2026 we want to look to try to make Hamilton a nicer place to live and visit. We're looking
to enhance uh efforts on property maintenance and uh collaborate with the courts to see some of these issues through compliance. Um, it's been very challenging. Uh, we did have a couple meetings earlier this
year with courts and we've expressed our issues with property maintenance, zoning, construction violations, things like that. And they've uh noted it and seems like some of those matters are pushed.
We're looking to revamp the role of duties and job description of zoning officer. Um, consolidate a lot of these different functions under him. Look at that. We're going to bring that back to committee for consideration.
We continue to invest idle funds. Last year, we got about 100 or $890,000 interest on some of our funds that we have sitting in bank accounts. Uh we're looking at all shared services opportunities with neighboring towns,
the schools, and the county and uh continue to reduce that paying down about 1.5 million investments. Fire um as we've done in previous years, we continue to invest in our volunteers, our four fire companies, township fire
department, the township of Hamilton Fire Department as a whole. Uh we're actively seeking grants to offset equipment costs uh looking for ways to recruit new volunteers and uh this year we've uh invested quite a few dollars into our dive team to get
them some advanced certifications that they need to uh compete with neighboring counties. This is a uh pie pie chart that shows the um portion of your local tax versus
the county tax and the school tax. So this year 27% of your township tax is going to that's 27% of your tax bill is actually from the township. How much will this budget cost the
average taxpayers? So assumed assuming um a house that's assessed at $168,000 which is the average home in Hamilton Township, this homeowner will pay 1748 municipal taxes. That's about $61.31
more than they paid last year. How is that 17 $1748 spent? This just breaks out the uh tax among all the services that we provide. utilities, public safety, public works, general government, capital improvements,
uh our statutory requirements, and our insuranceances. What do public safety services include? Police protection, fire protection, rescue squad, emergency management, court services, animal control, and code enforcement. What do public works services include?
They include road maintenance and construction, stormwater inspection and maintenance, flood mitigation, oversight of the Len Lenipe Dam, park maintenance and construction, recreational facility maintenance, snow removal, roadside litter abatement, and clean communities.
Public works services also include solid waste, which is your weekly trash collection, monthly bulk collection by bi-weekly recycling, landfill fees, yard waste collections, and public education.
General uh government services include administration, the clerk's office, vital statistics, finance, our audit, risk management, legal and engineering, plan the planning office, the zoning office, construction, fire prevention,
code enforcement, tax assessment, tax collection, and IT. What else is in the budget? enhancing all existing services while keeping them affordable. So, you know, trying to do more with less, investing in community
development, maintaining and improving the township's infrastructure, and continuing to invest in our employees. This this budget includes funding for public events, the Cove beach and swimming, the September 11th memorial, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, holiday tree
lighting, national night out, rabies clinic, and public works and police services for the Halloween parade and hometown celebration. This budget provides 5% of the required funding for up to a $2 million capital ordinance for roadway improvements,
drainage improvements, improvements to our municipal infrastructure and complexes, recreational planning and expansion, public works equipment, and emergency service equipment. This year we're going to look as we, you know, we began last year, but working
through the Pinelands requirements and the application to get a second phase out at the Levy tract. Uh we're looking to expand the parking, lighting, add some additional sports fields, and with that, we have to do some drainage upgrades.
2026 road improvement program. Um this year's budget will fund up to a million and a half dollars for road and drainage improvements funding sources in in addition to capital for 2026. We have $26,000 for Babcock Road. That's
through the NJ DOT state aid. Uh same thing with MSP road phase one. We have got $185,000 at the end of last year for MISP road phase one. We have a safe streets to transit grant for Dennis Foreman Drive. This is for sidewalks for 133,000. And
we just received notification from the ACIA that we got CDBG funding for a new 88 playground at the Cove in the amount of $150,000. Uh so we're going to plug in $674,000
in grant funding uh in addition to the uh $2 million that we're going to bond this year. for capital projects grant applications out there. We have a DCA grant out for 100,000 for the hockey the third hockey court at the weepy
tract. Um we have a a DOT municipal aid grant application out for 350,000 for road paving. And we have another uh grant application to close the landfill in the amount of uh 798 uh 798,000 which
will go to uh finishing off the landfill cap. We're continuing to explore new grant opportunities in 2026. Uh federal and state road restoration grants, safe streets to schools, and transit grants. energy efficient energy
efficiency opportunities. We're looking for grants for uh converting all of our street lights to LEDs and we're also looking at solar canopy grants for our parking lots here at town hall and possibly out at some of our recreation facilities. Um grants for public safety,
grants for recreation, um for example, the D and Green Acres grants that we've gotten in the past and various grants for our fire departments. ongoing capital improvements. This is underway. We're reconstruct We're in the
process of reconstructing the historic train trestle bridge. Right now we're in preliminary engineering and uh the engineer is submitting starting to submit all the required permits in 2026, but there's over 20 permits they need to get to
that. So that's going to be that's going to be a process. 2026 road program phase one. Uh this is actually on the agenda for tonight for award. Uh this is Babcock Road's actually uh separate bid, but it's it's
actually on here as well. Babcock Road. We're going to call that phase one. It's going to go from 559 to the H school. We're going to be paving part of Grally Run Road where we had a stormwater pipe failure over the this last spring. We had a stormwater pipe failure out there.
Old River Road. We had some drainage improvements out there. We're going to pave from 559 up as far as we can. I believe it's to that first Shark Bend. Um phase, this is actually phase two of Harley out to Bears Head Road,
Springer Lane, Mammoth Drive and Harding Lakes, Key West Avenue out in Mispa, and Gail Avenue in um sustainability programs. We anticipate this year uh receiving anywhere from $85 to $100,000 in grant
funding for 2026 for clean communities initiatives. This is what pays uh our volunteers and public works to go out and and clean up the litter on the side of the roads looking to into increasing um our litter abatement programs and add
to our 18 volunteer groups. Please volunteer. If you know anyone or any nonprofits that want to get involved, please get involved. contact public works. Uh we're looking to promote our rigid plastic, our metal collections, and our
recycling programs this year even more. Uh also enhancing public awareness and expanding the efforts of the sustain the sustainability team. this budget. We continue to invest in in all of our our services, our public
safety, um our our community events, our infrastructure, and uh the Cove and our Hometown Heroes. Timeline of the budget tonight, we're going to introduce hopefully if the committee's good with it, the public
hearing will be on May 4th. there's any amendments um we'll have to adjust the adoption date but if there are no amendments uh May 4th will be the adoption questions or comments you've done a great job because we were
up 67 cents and to get it down to 3.48. I didn't think you could cut it anymore, but you did. So, you've done a good job. Thank you. Anybody else?
Yeah, I want to commend you and and Nick and everybody, all the department heads and everybody who went through and cut what they could and understood the the assignment to try to keep the increase in taxes as
low as possible. Um, we do this, we've been doing this uh year after year. You know, we start out with six, seven, eight cents and we find a way to whittle it down as much as we can. Um, and I kind of scratch my head and figure
out how we can possibly be whittling anymore, but we seem to do it. >> It comes down to change. People don't like change. Um, this year we moved, you know, we moved people move people's healthcare. We moved from an insurance
fund that we've been a part of for 30 years to a statewide fund. You know, a lot of unknowns with those kind of moves, but we're looking to save money. Save us $125,000 this year. um made some tough decisions with our solid waste contract, but um saved the
town a lot of money. Um >> yeah, got me quite a few phone calls. Thanks. >> You guys invested in those toers. They were a pretty big expense. We did get some grant money for those. Um but it's going to pay off by the end of this year.
>> Absolutely. Yeah. >> So, right now you're we are in the uh state health plan. Correct. >> We are. >> But you're possibly looking around at that. >> We've been looking around at that for the last couple years. Um our experience rates high. So, we're unable to leave
state healthcare. We can leave and get a better deal for the employees and better deal for the township. We'll explore it. Right now, we're not going to use I would I don't want to use the word stuck, but we're stuck there. >> Right. Luckily, we did get approved for that
difference card program. Saved >> saved a significant amount of money for the people that did move. >> There's they're talking about double digit increases next year. Not like this. It sounds like >> 10 or 20%, but this year it was 36. That
was the lower side of it. >> It's on you're looking it's on the radar possible. Absolutely. >> Anybody else? >> I hear a motion. >> Motion. >> Motion. Second. >> Yeah. >> Have a motion in a second.
Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ch. >> Yes. >> Miss Thompson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Withers. >> Yes. >> Mayor Patel? >> Yes. Public hearing. Adoption of ordinances. We have none. Introduction of ordinances.
We have ordinance 2131-2026. An ordinance amending chapter 105 article 4 of the code of the township of Hamilton entitled cats.
Mr. Solicitor. >> Yes, mayor. Strengthens our portion of the code to address issues that council cat population. This just enhances it also designates some penalties and conditions
where the cat population has properly and as I discussed before um there's a lot of phone calls about various issues with feral cats and this just gives us a little bit more teeth um to try to get
things moved along properly and these Cats taken care of the way they should be. >> Sure. You making it? >> Sure. >> Make a motion. I >> have a motion. >> Second. >> I have a second. >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Chief, >> yes. >> Miss Thompson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon. >> Yes. >> Mayor Patelli. >> Yes. >> Award bids, contracts, change orders. Resolution to award bid 2026-06 for the 2026 road improvement program
phase 1 to Arowak Paving Company in the amount of $700,900. >> Make a motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Chef, >> yes. >> Miss Thompson, >> yes. >> Dr. Withers,
>> yes. Mayor, >> yes. Resolution to award bid number 2026-05 reconstruction of Babcock Road phase 1 to Arowak Paving Company Hamilton, New Jersey in the amount of $223,700.
>> Motion. >> I got a question. >> Second motion second. You have a question. There you go. >> Thank you so much. Um how much grant um um how much of the grant amount did we receive?
>> So this is we we got a grant last year for 206,000 for this. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Chief, >> yes. >> Miss Thompson, >> yes.
>> Dr. Yes. Yes. Consent agenda have A through H. Motion A through H. >> Second. >> I have a motion to second A through H.
Any questions, comments? All those in favor? I >> against? >> Eyes have it. personnel. We have appoint Jesus Cardona to the position of full-time police officer. So move
>> second. I have a motion in a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Miss Thompson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Appoint William I'm going to say it wrong probably. Mano
to the position of full-time class 2 special police officer not to exceed 11 months. So move. >> Second. >> Motion a second. Roll call vote, please. Mr. Aken. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Dr. Patel.
>> Yes. >> Resolution to appoint Amanda Er as youth services and protection coordinator at $56,000 annually effective June 1st, 2026. >> So move. >> Second.
>> A motion and a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cheek. Yes, >> Miss Thompson. >> Yes, >> Dr. Witherspoon. >> Yes. >> Yes. Resolution to hire Travis Bowen as a regular full-time truck driver laborer.
$20 base $20 base hourly rate plus other compensation for possessing and maintaining a CDL class A license at 96 cents per hour effective April 8th 2026. >> So move second.
>> Motion in a second. Roll call vote please. >> Mr. Aken. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cheek. >> Yes. >> Miss Thompson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Yes. >> Yes. >> Resol resolution to promote Joshua Pierce as a full-time facility maintenance carpenter for the public
works department at 2404 base salary rate plus other compensation of $1.20 per hour skilled journey person carpentry effective April 7th 2026. >> So move second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call
vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Miss Thompson. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Appointment to senior advisory committee. We have a vacancy one-year term
effective 126 through 123126. Motion Katherine Lewis. >> A second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Cheek, >> yes. >> Miss Thompson, >> yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon, >> yes. >> Mayor Patali,
>> yes. >> Got it. Thank you. Goodness for you. Uh 9G resolution to appoint Brooke Siden as an asneeded hourly employee at a rate of $25 per hour not to exceed 25 hours per week effective April 7th, 2026
through June 30th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion in a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Chief, >> yes. >> Miss Thompson, >> yes. >> Dr. Withers, >> yes. >> Mayor, >> yes. Approvals
minutes regular meeting minutes of March 16, 2026. >> So move. >> Second motion to second. All those in favor. >> Against eyes. >> Minutes executive session meeting minutes of March 16th, 2026.
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion and a second. Roll call vote, please. Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Thompson. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. bills. Bill list total 3,281,5747.
So move second. >> Motion in a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ch. >> Yes. >> M. >> Thompson. >> Yes. >> Dr. Withers. >> Yes. >> Mayor Pat. >> Yes. Reports. >> Mr. Administrator. >> Nothing to add.
>> Mr. Solicer. >> Nothing to add this time. Mayor, thank you. >> Mr. Engineer. Nothing bad. >> Township committee. >> Come on. >> Uh, township committee members. Uh, committeewoman Thompson. Change it
up. >> That's good. >> So, I would um like to report that I attended uh the Hamilton Elite basketball game. Um, they had the coaches versus the players at the Davy
school and I had the honor of being a guest coach and I had so much fun um with the uh young fellas that were playing and um we didn't win but we we definitely gave them a hard uh way to
go. Also, I um had the pleasure of being here when the new fire truck arrived for Amaze Landing Volunteer Fire Department and um checked out all the bells and whistles. I actually learned a little bit about the lighting and and the
waters out and inspected. Um, also I want to give a shout out to the full-time officers, Dylan Horsey and Michael Ball, who graduated the police
academy on March 12th. Um, and that's it. >> Very good, Deputy Mayor. >> Yes. This last couple weekends, the rowing regato on Lake has been very good. The weather has been good and it's
very enjoyable to see high school athletes at that level. It's very nice. I've been there. Zoning board meetings, the dam Brett and I went for the inspection for the punch list and whatnot. That's looking really good.
Woods Landing had a function that basically thanked us for the cooperation and their understanding that we had with them battling to finish that project. That was very nice. This weekend there was a Easter egg hunt
by the Merchants Association Gasco Park. That was extremely nice. Another beautiful day. And then seeing little kids run around and be active. I was at I didn't make the delivery of the fire truck. I was out of town. On the way home, I stopped and saw the fire
truck that night. And that is very nice as well. And then last but least, NASA. I'm going to show my age. In second grade, I remember taking my chair, walking down the steps. The whole school was in Mrs. Muny's class to watch the
liftoff. And it's now we're going around the moon again. And that's God bless America. And that's all I have. >> Very good. >> Mr. Raiky. >> All right. So, first, uh, I want to give a shout out to Carousel Collectibles and
Creative Studio right in our downtown. Um, they had their oneyear anniversary. It was great to see them do a ribbon cutting because I don't believe they had one when they first opened. So, that was nice people there. They had some vendors outside. That was great to be there. Um,
speaking on the downtown again, I attended the first Friday, which is uh every first Friday of the month. Our downtown businesses are trying to promote themselves and get out with outside vendors and themselves and uh I did attend that and it was it was an
awesome thing and I hope that continues. Um, it's nice to see those businesses kind of work together in conjunction and uh all help each other out, if you will, and uh bring people out, you know, for uh for them and our business, for the town. It was great. Um, I also was here
with the fire truck uh when it was delivered that a monster beast. I heard it was three years in the making before my time on here. So, it was awesome to see that great addition for our uh fire company. Um, I attended many Easter
things, the egg hunt and, uh, pancake breakfast and all that stuff. It was great to see, you know, community, you know, people doing things for our community is just an awesome thing. Um, the other thing that Horizon's Woods Landing I attended with, uh, Mr. chic.
Uh great to see that community. They're so happy with, you know, the township committee what they did for them, you know, to change from the I think it was called Fernmore. >> That's the new people. >> Fernmore is the new developer. >> Okay.
>> The first developer went bankrupt. >> Oh, okay. I thought that was Furmore. Okay. I'm sorry. I got it wrong. But it was nice to see the the community in there celebrate themselves and celebrate with the township, you know, because I heard that the township did a lot for
them to further that to get them to where they have to be today. So that was a that was another great thing. Um my first uh meeting with the League of Municipalities, >> I attended with Dr. Witherspoon and Miss Thompson. It was great. um hopefully
many more. A lot of conversations and uh it was great to get out there and meet and greet different people and see different people. So um on the budget, great job guys. Uh Nick, Brett, I know we did have a meeting, you know, and they kind of steered us in the right
direction uh with the budget. Uh me as a newcomer up here, I think my experience with the BOE kind of helped me, you know, settle in to see where things move and what you have to do. And you guys did a great job with the number that was
first given and what you got, you know, you got it wheeled down to. So kudos on that. >> Dr. >> Yes. Um I was here also with the fire truck. I was looking for our picture.
They're all four of us to be uh one of the uh but I'm sure it's coming. Uh it was very nice. That was the first time I've ever seen a truck received and how excited the firefighters were. Uh I believe that the tanker 19 will be going
to MESPA after some work that is done within within the next three weeks to a month. Um, so I'm excited about that because they wanted that tanker back in MSPA, you know, um, they have different a whole different situation.
They don't have um, fire hydrants and things of that nature. So, I'm excited that that will be um, coming up. Um, I want to thank uh, Pastor Robin from the First United Methodist Church here in Maze Landon who coordinated the uh,
Easter egg hunt. We've had so many Easter egg hunts. I I mean, maybe five. I went to the one with POW, which was in the police department, which was great. >> Um then there was one with um kids that were blind,
and then there was the one we had this week, and then different um communities in our community had East. So hopefully one year I would like to see us do a gigantic one where we can bring it all together. But it was very nice what
everybody did do and this just to see the kids very excited and running made me happy as well. On this Wednesday, I normally do not miss or try not to miss the police officers I believe are being recognized
with awards. Uh I will be out of town. I will not be here. But we want to congratulate all of those that have stepped up and done what they needed to do and we'll be recognized on Wednesday. I believe that's at 5:00 right here in township in the hall.
Right. So that's going to be on Wednesday. Uh the on Friday um the Atlantic County officials meeting will be at Martins's in Lansville. I won't be able to make that this time.
Uh but they are looking for other committee people to show up. So whenever you all can show up to those meetings that would be great. Um they asked me did I tell everybody I said they know they know.
All right. Uh also on the 17th Atlanta County League of Municipalities will be having their meeting also. And there will be uh our annual free rabies clinic will be held on April the
25th and that's done every year. All right. And now I have a dog. I shouldn't say I have a dog. My family has a dog, you know. So that's going to be held here. Um I think that's a good it's a good thing. So I'm sure more information
will come out with the time. >> That' be from 9 till noon. >> From 9 to noon. And where would that be held at? >> In the parking lot across the street. Look for the big white tent. >> Oh, the parking lot across the street with a big white tent. All right. And um
again, I want to say thank you to Nick and to Brett and for working on the budget and getting it down from 6 to 7% because from six and seven cents down to where you got it because I said I can't see what you can cut. there's nothing
else that we can cut, especially losing $31 million in ratables, but you found a way to do it. So, thank you very again for a job well done. That's my report. >> Thank you. Um yes, uh police award
ceremony Wednesday 5:00 here in town hall. Um kind of used to the old chief doing it. Let's see how you make out. He's uh you know, Greg's kind of a little comical. See how uh how he you follow through
with that. >> Um yeah, it was it was uh there were a lot of Easter egg hunts this year. Um we had some good weather over the weekend. I attended the one there at Haskell Park. That was great. that was um Methodist Church uh Pastor Robin and uh
Maze Landing Merchants Association I think was involved with that also and uh did a really nice job and um getting that fire truck from Maze Landing that the new the new tanker that was that was a heavy lift that was uh you go back
three three and a half years ago how that all started and it's unbelievable that it takes three and a half years three years to get a a piece of equipment that pretty much every single town in this country needs fire trucks and it
takes that long to get these fire trucks. I saw uh something I think it was on 60 Minutes talking about that whole process and what's going on with that. So, if anybody's an entrepreneur, you might want to go start your own firetruck company because you do really,
really well. Um, so it's just it's good to have that here and uh it's going to take them uh probably I hear about two weeks to get it all set up, get it out on the road and of course they got to train on it, learn how to learn how it works. Um,
everybody, all the operators have to get certified. So I'm sure you'll see it driving around pretty often um with those volunteer firefighters learning how to operate that piece of equipment. Um, and once again, good job with the
budget. Uh, hopefully there's no changes over the next two weeks. No, four weeks, but we'll we shall see, right, but good job. Like I said earlier, good job to all the uh department heads. Um, this
time of year is tough for everybody and I hate to see taxes go up on everybody here. I mean, everybody here pays taxes. I know not everybody lives in town. I'm sure your town's taxes are probably going up, too. It's uh it's pretty much everywhere. And uh as Brett said, it's
just the cost of living with everything between fuel, electric, it's just there's insurance, everything. It's I don't I don't know when it's going to stop, but hopefully it stops soon. Um with that, uh Reagan, I'll see you
later. Maddie, I miss you and I love you and I hope to see you soon. And we will go to public comment prepared a statement. Good evening everyone. Um I'm Officer Tasha Cannon. I want to start off by saying thank you to
my colleagues for showing up today in support. Um and I want to thank you all for this opportunity to speak here tonight. I want to address uh the proposed contract that was brought before you guys um specifically the salary increase as I move forward and
other officers move forward in the step guide. Um over the years I've done more than my core part of my duties going above and beyond with serving within the community showing up on my personal time volunteering my time. I work to build
very strong relationships, bridge the gaps within the community, and be a voice for those that aren't being heard, and also representing those that look like myself. Um, I'm also a resource officer. I'm in the schools dealing with the children
every day, building bonds, and potentially looking for future candidates to join us up here today. Um, I am also a member of the POW board. These roles are time time that I take like I said to give to everyone whether
I'm being a friend or whether I'm being here for children or my own members of the community. But um I want to address some things tonight and one would be definitely the pay. I'm one of the officers that the decisions tonight are
negatively affecting greatly and like you said the cost of living is going up. did a good job with the budget. I agree. Um, your decision definitely takes a toll on a lot of us and not just myself,
but Officer Boyd is our K9 officer and he will end up owing the department or the township money with this contract. Um, sorry, a little nervous. I would normally never stand up here and
I know a lot of you have seen me out in the community doing my job, which I do for fun because I love to do it, not because my uniform. Um, I would like for you guys to please consider the contract that was brought
before you so you can see because I do believe that maybe you guys didn't have enough time or adequate time to review it or understand it or see the numbers. I'm speaking not just for myself. I'm speaking for my whole department and I'm also very impactful in doing that in the
community, hence my name, Miss Impact. So, please can you consider that? Look over it, think about it before you give us a strong no. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Mayor Committee. My name
is Ray Threel, former township resident and a current business agent for PBA Local 77. I don't know if you were expl explaining the process of how we got here tonight. Um, we were in mediation. Um, a deal came together. It was late.
We were here till like 8:00 at night that day negotiating and it was kind of all thrown together very quickly. Um, and both sides looked at it and said, "Okay, that's something we can live with." It happened so quickly. There was a couple officers that were overlooked in how the deal came together and the
way the steps would move and they would have been adversely affected. Some of them, one of them you just heard for from would have actually lost money with that deal. Obviously, I don't think it was anybody's intention for somebody to lose money in a new contract. So, alls
we're asking for is for you to please take a look at what our attorney sent to you. Um, evaluate it. it it's probably the cheapest option available for everybody at this point right now. Um, and we appreciate you taking the time to listen to us tonight. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Anybody else? Teresa D. Rose from uh Holly Street in Laureldale. I have two positions uh pertaining to solicitor Kenneth Warren addressing the feral cat situation in the township. I'm here to say for all
cats lives matter and uh their lives are difficult and the struggle is real. They should be protected from harm and abuse. So where can we find your uh changes that you made? And um also um other than the rabies clinic, are there any uh
additional assistance to those caring for the cats because people do this on their own money? >> May I respond? >> Absolutely. >> So the ordinance was on for introduction tonight, so it's going to be posted and published so you'll be able to see the entirety of it. I know that we worked at length regarding this feral cat
ordinance. It's regarding establishing parameters for the care of those cats including what is sufficient food and water and care. So, I believe that it's going to address your concerns. We'll be happy with at least we hope you will, but it will be posted after this meeting >> because I saw that you had um there was
already established guidelines, but then you made changes. So, >> correct. Yeah, we we strengthen that as well. So, it should be posted. She be able to review it and it's going to be one for uh a public hearing and adoption on April 20th, 2026 for public hearing. >> Yeah. Because people do this out of
their own time, their own money, and you know, we don't want to you know, discourage people from doing it, you know, to make it too expensive, to make it too unable to be doing it. And I have another position that um I
agree with and support Tracy Thompson, her views regarding the proposal for a subcommittee and oppose the idea for a subcommittee. um due to all public suggestions are not considered and uh I know that for a fact
for uh 2024 uh I had a proposal and it was not considered. Um and also since they're going to be doing the subcommittee will they be paid additionally or compensated additionally? >> No.
>> Thank you. Anybody else? >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I >> against. Do I hear a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Second.
>> Motion. The second. All those in favor? I >> I against makes a good volunteer. Um, someone who's very dedicated, uh, loyal, um, somebody who understands that there's a commitment involved and, uh, they have
to have the support of their family as well to be able to come and go, uh, at the drop of a dime when somebody else is, uh, in need. My name is Glenn Warner. >> Uh, my name is Larry Burch. >> I'm Frank Roby. >> Hi, my name's Louis D. Martin.
>> My name is Christy Litzy. and uh I'm recently the uh appointed as the new fire administrator for the township of Hamilton. >> I've been with the department for almost 30 years and a senior captain. >> I'm one of the safety officers for the department as well as a firefighter.
>> I am the chief of the Meline Volunteer Fire Company. >> I am firefighter and secretary of the way Volunteer Fire Company. >> I started doing this when I lived up in Maine where there's very few people. Um the town I lived in was 230 people and
so that's they were looking for help and so I I volunteered. >> My biggest inspiration to volunteer is to help other people um help the community >> back in October of 73. I uh I don't know. I seen the fire trucks going
around town and everything like that and I was really interested and then I joined and it's been 51 years later I'm still here. >> It's something I grew up with. My father is 40some years with our company. Uh I grew up with the ladies auxiliary as well. And then uh five years ago I
decided to go through the fire academy as well. It's just something that's ingrained in me. >> It's important for people to get involved with their community because this is where we live. This is everybody. It's your your neighbors helping neighbors. And uh if nobody's
there right now, volunteerism across the country is down. And uh it's getting to the point where if somebody called and needed to help but nobody's coming out. >> The volunteer uh is is running very low. So we are always looking for volunteers to help
out. I think everyone needs to do that. There's not enough people right now volunteering for whether it's fire fire department or other things and people need to get re-engaged into you know helping out the community. >> Well, anybody can be a volunteer if
they're willing to put the time in. uh you have to be committed and it's a big commitment you're going to take. Um but it's very interesting and we have a lot of fun. >> Your local fire company, find out what their meeting nights is. Ours are Monday. Um each company in our our
township has a different night and you just show up and you talk to them and you meet with the chief and all the guys and kind of get a feel for it and see if it's something you'd be interested in. So, you could go to the town hall over here and talk to the fire administrator and he'll set you up with an application.
>> If you're uh want to become a member, uh we also do junior members. Um yeah, come down here Tuesday night and get an application. It's really important to uh step up for your community and even if you don't do it on the fire side, there's EMS,
there's all different services, you know, public services that you can do. Uh and we just we need we need the next generation to come up and um you know, start taking the helm. >> We've had many impacts. Uh motor vehicle accidents where we help people get out of cars, uh fires where we help save
property, animals that we pulled out of houses. You don't get paid for it, but the payment that you get inside is worth it completely. And it's one of those things, you know, if I didn't volunteer, who would be here to take my place? And what if it was your house? You know, growing up, it's always, well, what if
it was our house? And it just it's the most fulfilling thing I've ever been a part of. If you were interested in becoming a volunteer, you can go to any one of the uh four firehouses. One's in Maze Landing. The second one, uh, Weimoth Firehouse is up off of the Blackhorse
Pike. Laurel Dale Fire Company is, uh, off of Route 50, right by the expressway entrance. And then Cologne is, uh, down, um, on the other side of the expressway behind the mall. Or you can come to my office. I'm in the township, uh, the
main building there on 13th Street, uh, the fire administrator's office. I'd say dedicated. They're very Yeah, they're dedicated.