like to bring the Monday, May 18th, 2026 of Hamilton committee meeting to order. Please rise for the >> flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation
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 Pati >> here. We have a moment of silence for private
reflection. Thank you. Proclamations, we have none. Guest presentations, we have none. Addition, deletion of late agenda items. We have additions AA business registrations,
Boot Barn Incorporated, Consumer Square Shopping Center at Work Western Clothing, Boots, Accessories. Two, Cape Country Living LLC, 6953 Harding Highway, Home Furnishings, Furniture, Kitchen Dealer. Three, Jack
Lion, transient vendor license equipment auction at ACRC, June 20th, 2026 through 7 through July 3rd, 2026. And 13C, executive session, proposal to negotiate cell tower lease
agreements, contract negotiations. I have a motion. >> Motion second. I >> have a motion to second. All those in favor? I >> against eyes have it. Appointment of municipal clerk. >> A resolution to appoint Jane Bash as our
municipal clerk. >> I have a motion. >> So move. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call, >> please. >> Mr. Aken? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cheek? >> Yes. >> Miss Thompson? >> Yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon? >> Yes. Yes. Mayor Patali. >> Yes.
>> Oh, yes. >> And moving on to the administration of the oath of office to Jane Bash as our new township clerk for a three-year term effective June
1st, 2026 through May 31st, 2029. Raise your right hand and repeat after me for the oath. I, Jane Bash, do solemnly swear >> I, Jane Bash, do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and that I true faith and allegiance >> to the same and to the governments established in the United States >> to the same and to the governments established in the United States >> and in this state under the authority of
the people >> and in the state under the authority of the people >> I do further solemnly swear >> I do further solemnly swear >> that I will faithfully >> that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly perform all duties >> and justly perform all the duties
>> of the office of township clerk >> of the office of township clerk of the Township of Hamilton. >> of the Township of Hamilton >> for the term >> For the term >> June 1st, 2026 >> June 1st, 2026 >> through May 31st, 2029 >> through May 31st, 2029.
>> According to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS. Welcome aboard. >> Thank you. early public comment.
>> We have Maria Newman for 4B. Good evening, Township of Hamilton committee. Um, members, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak. My name is Maria Newman. I reside at 2317 Primrose Court in East Landing. I am here this evening to address the Township of Hamilton Committee on a
matter of urgent public concern, the threat that data centers pose to our community, and offer a true solution that hopefully his committee would seriously consider. I come before you not only as a resident who cares deeply about this township, but as someone who has been closely following developments in our region that directly affect the
health, safety, and quality of life in pe of the people like myself who call Hamilton Township home. I would like to talk to you tonight about data centers, what they are, what they do to the communities around them, and what neighboring municipalities are already doing to protect their residents. I truly would like to encourage and
propose that the township of Hamilton would do the same. What is a data center? A data center is a physical facility that houses and runs large computer systems. They require round-the-clock cooling systems to manage temperature and humidity, backup generators in case of power outages, and
in some cases turbines for power generation. These facilities operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that constant operation comes with serious consequences. A data center under construction right now nearby in Ryland has already raised alarms among residents and community organizers
throughout South Jersey. The concerns are not hypothetical. They are documented. They are measurable and with serious consequences and a true impact to the surrounding community quality of life. What data centers do to communities first your utility bills. According to an analysis by Bloomberg,
in states with a high concentration of data centers like Virginia, electricity presence have increased as much as 267% over just the last 5 years. Why? Because utilities must rapidly deploy expensive infrastructure, power lines, transformers, and pay premium market
rate prices for energy. That cost gets passed directly to residents and small businesses. Second, water consumption. New Jersey is currently under a drought warning as of April 3rd, 2026. According to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, this is not the time to invite facilities that
consume water at extraordinary rates. A midsize data center consumes as much water as a small town. Larger ones require up to 5 million gallons of water every day, the equivalent of a city of 50,000 people. For context, a metadata center planned in Wyoming will use more
electricity than every home in that entire state combined. We cannot afford to share our most limited resources with facilities of this scale. After that, data centers generate significant noise pollution primarily from diesel generators and HVAC systems. Internal
noise levels can reach up to 96 dB which is well above the 85 dB threshold that is considered harmful to human hearing. This is a health hazard and air pollution is truly alarming. Exposure to data centers air pollutants have been linked to hospitalizations, emergency
room visits, increased medication use, lost school days and lost work days. A recent scientific model projected that US data centers by the year 2030 could contribute to nearly 1300 deaths annually representing a public health burden of more than 20 billion dollars.
These are not statistics about far away places. This is our backyard and these kinds of outcomes we are inviting we are inviting in if we do not act now. Our neighbors are already taking action and local governments in Logan and Monroe Township and the city of Milville have introduced and passed ordinances to ban
data centers in order to protect their residents. M municipalities in Camden, Cumberland, Glouster and throughout South Jersey are moving to address this threat at the local level. The township of Hamilton should not be left behind and our residents should not be left unprotected. Tonight, I am respectfully
asking this township committee to take a bold and necessary step, pass a resolution in support of banning dating centers in the township of Hamilton. Such a resolution would send a clear message that this committee prioritizes health, safety, and financial well-being of our residents. It would align Hamilton Township with the growing
movement of South Jersey communities who are refusing to allow these facilities to take root without regard for the people who live nearby. We have an opportunity to get ahead of this issue before a data center is presosed, excuse me, for our township, before the construction begins, before the noise starts, before the water bills climb,
and before the health consequences set in. So, I ask you tonight, members of the Township of Hamilton committee. Is a resolution to ban data centers in the township of Hamilton something you would consider supporting? Our residents are watching. Our neighbors are acting. And the time to protect Hamilton Township is
now before we are forced to react rather than to leave. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> That's it. Okay. Thank you. Moving on.
Discussions. Formal action may be taken. Presentation of the 2026 capital program and introduction of the 2026 capital bond ordinance. Brett So, the 2026 municipal budget provides a
required 5% funding for a $2 million capital ordinance. uh million dollars. It takes about $100,000 in money for our operating budget to fund this. Uh this year we're looking to improve roadways uh in the town. Several
road we're actually working on uh phase one of this year's road program. We're going to go out later on in the uh summer for phase two. Hopefully pave in the fall. We have several roads to make. We're also looking uh into
recreation planning and expansion out of the BB track loan and also into some public works. So this year we're looking to pave uh about 1.25 million in roads. This would
be part of the phase this would be the phase two program. Phase one is like I said currently underway. Most of this was most of phase one was funded last year through last year's capital. I I talk about this every year. Money
that we've gotten in grants throughout the years to fund roads to offset the taxes that we set aside for paving. This year we're going to be using 206,000
NJ dot funds for Batpock Road. We also got DOT money for sidewalks along drive. We're actually applying for phase two to extend those out beyond. We also got $188,000
this past. I guess we got it. We just we just got that actually. It's um Misper Road. That's Misper Road phase one. Got 188,000. Right now we're putting a design together to go out.
We do plan on using some of the 1.2 to extend out the phase one road to try to get a little bit more paving out there. So this year we're going to use 527,000 grant money.
We plan on uh out at Leafy Track, we plan on building a third hockey court. Bob's actually looking into the design for a third hockey court. What it would take to illuminate a third hockey court,
scoreboards. The other thing that we're looking to do out at le similar to what we're going to do with code but a little bit larger size of the facility this is going to deck system
>> the walking pad >> and the walls right >> the walls around we're going to purchase uh a new dump truck for public works this year. So, public works breaks the town down into seven sections. Police break it down into five. We break it down. Public
works breaks it down into seven. Right now, we have six dump trucks. We had one go out of service this year and it was actually auctioned. Need to replace that. It was a 2005. We're going to use $150,000 for capital and hundred,000 in our snow reserve
fund. We have roughly half a million dollars in there. Um, we put around 125,000 a year into that fund. We did have a tough winter, but we we do have extra money in there that we could use towards towards this truck. Essentially, it's it's a pay as
you go. Um, using township funds instead of going out bonding for the whole vehicle. As I talked about at the last meeting, we're going to purchase and out two police interceptors. This was not This was pulled out of this year's capital
program and put into the pay as you go program. $160,000 that we won't have fun this year. We also pulled out $45,000 for an admin vehicle that we're going to replace for sale.
So, if you wish, tonight we'll introduce the capital budget. the next meeting June 1st we'll have the public hearing and if there's no amendments adopt roughly 20 days after adoption around on or about June 22nd we'll be
able to fund >> any questions any questions comments Thanks. >> Do I hear a motion to introduce the um budget ordinance 2136-2026? Second.
>> I have a motion in a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Cheek, >> yes. >> Miss Thompson, >> yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon, >> yes. >> Mayor Pati, >> yes. >> Oh, yes. >> Moving on. Robert Goodman is going to give us a
presentation on data centers. Uh this is something that that we have been kind of bouncing back and forth now. Robert gave this presentation to the uh subcommittee the uh redevelopment
subcommittee uh what two weeks ago I think it was >> correct >> and uh I believe you made a couple of adjustments and uh go ahead and make that presentation to all of us. So it's um this is a little bit more along the dialogue line in that sense that it's
going to provide a little bit more dialogue about what the incipitient uh risk are with the data centers. a short conversation with council witherspoon beforehand explaining the framework that if this is something we have to respond to and you know we certainly see that
there's a lot of public interest here and even yesterday the governor was u you know speaking about this very issue so it's very possible that you know there could be action be taken at the legislative level in the absence of that we believe that Hamilton Township should
take a pause study and understand the issue as as we know and have been advised you know outright prohibitions could be challenged in court. Uh if we take this approach and we take a you know careful
due diligent period for study and research and understanding we can go through a phase process and decide you know whether we're going to prohibit or allow with prohibitions or allow with specific standards.
So, let me walk through this and u explain it. The idea is that we should be prepared and not overreact to a lot of uh the risk that we're seeing in other communities and obviously you know what we've heard a lot about what happened over in Vinland has you know
been somewhat unsettling and this is not anything we would look to repeat and if we were to allow something like this it has to earn the public trust and accountability before them. So really I see this at a high level. Uh
you know in terms of just evaluating the correct policy to support that find the rules before an application defines them for us. Um risk control we should understand what the current capacity is what the environmental and cost impacts
would be before we make any commitment along these lines. And I see this as a four-path route and and that's just to start with a pause, step back, do the appropriate study with our professionals and what standards are out there and
start forming the early framework and scaffolding of what would be good policy if we had to respond to a data center application coming before us. So as part of this, you know, it's going to be labor to this, but I just want to just kind of simply say that we're look,
we're evaluating whether and how data is should be considered. This is not approving development. This is to give the governing body the framework to understand what needs to be decided, what the risk are, can they be mitigated and then again through a gated process
decide to either continue along that path or come up with an ordinance that has limited prohibition or full prohibition. Now, it's my impression and and I think we're mostly prone to this because we are the
largest land area township in the state of New Jersey. And I can tell you that there's a lot of technology companies who are taking a look at that who would be investing in data centers and just understanding that you know we're kind of a a high pro profile for development.
What's driving this is AI demand and you know we don't think that you may have you know municipalities that prohibit it but the future's going to go ahead no one's going to stop using their cell phones and the computing power behind it. So if we have to step into the
future let's do it on terms that we know won't be you know dangerous to our own residents. Anyway, as it stands today we don't have any hard and fast rules. um around data centers. Um nobody has approached this
to date but that could change. In terms of the gap is what we lack today is we don't have any defined standards around this and very few communities
have actually uh done this work. There's kind of loose threads of it starting to emerge. I myself have identified at least 18 engineering standards that could mitigate these risks. But it doesn't give you the complete picture. We have to work in cooperation with
power and utility providers to be able to enable a technology of this scale. Uh it's pretty clear to me that Atlantic City Electric doesn't have that capacity today to support it. Um
anyway, the problem is that an application could be advanced before standards are adopted. I think if we give an appropriate time for studying research, you know, we may be on the vanguard of being able to identify what those standards are, what they should be, and how we can kind of protect
ourselves from any liability and the risk of any tort from an unfocused application coming in for a data center. is going to impact energy noise as one one lady advis you know there's millions
of dollars of water that are usually charged into a closed loop system like this uh that are permanently taken out of um you know supply and have to remain so in order to be able to keep the cooling standards up. And then there's just the bigger issue about who's paying
for all this. you know what we've seen in other communities uh we saw this as early as maybe about a dozen years ago when uh you know cyber cyber mining started to take place in the Bitcoin frenzy and we build these
huge Bitcoin mining facilities data and all the all the expense ended up going on to the rateayers not to the developer so we don't want to see cost shift like that happen. If somebody wants to come in and build a data center, you're going
to have to pay for the infrastructure to support it. Anyway, again, I'm advising that we do not rush. We do not overreact. Let us get a framework around this. Let us define the rules and keep everyone informed about if this is going to
happen, how it'll happen, and if it doesn't, what we're going to limit and how it'll be limited. Again, I see this as four phases. I see an initial phase where by which we're going to spend a lot of focus time on
studying and research and I'd like to be able, you know, if you approve this measure tonight to be able to come back in about two months time and give you a report on where I think we need to go and what we need to focus on and then an additional anywhere from uh two months
to four months to really give it a very very rigorous study. Um, and from that I think we could start seeing the initial framework of what policy would be involved. Um, there's two ways we could do this. We could draft an ordinance with those
technical standards that's very very involved. Um, probably with some discussions I had with our solicitor today. You know, it might be better to actually have something that is like a a a standards manual that applicants would have to abide by and just change the
ordinance saying that anybody who does data center has to abide by this standard. And that's going to be a little bit more flexible than trying to dump all these standards into the ordinance. Anyways, my thinking is that sometime by the end of the year, we'll have enough
information to have studied this completely, establish policy. if this is the direction that mayor and council would like to go and come up with a decision. So again, pause ordinance
prevent if we do something along the lines of a ordinance now or in the next meeting or so an ordinance that would provide a moratorum or even a resolution that could support a study period. um that will buy us time to get all the
study and research done that we need to do and it also shield us somewhat from you know any data center developer coming in and uh you know putting a speculative application before we're ready to even take a look at it. This will again create more time for due
diligence and you know we can say that we took our time to come up with the right policy to support this in terms of what we'd have to study. You know, there's four pillars I see that really have to be addressed. One is the
available uh capacity that the utilities would be able to provide and what time frame they could do it. I think the honest truth is just in my initial take here is that it could take as much as 5 to 10 years before ACE would be ready to be able to support this business. Um I'd
be very surprised if they they could build out that fast with all the given demands that they have today. There's also the idea of, you know, if we were to allow this, what would be considered a suitable site? Well, you know, the industrial business park comes to mind. It's an all commercial area uh
that is currently zoned for light industrialization. It has a natural buffer to homes and schools and the parcel size are large that could support a data center. The other issues that we have to study is obviously around the water cooling, the
noise and the potential sound that these things can generate. And uh also I think in this process we'll probably have a much greater awareness of who's actually doing this work in the marketplace and really starting to take a look at their performance in terms of
how they do this in the communities where they are and what they're managing. Anyway, so there's a couple of tools that I see that would be needed. One is a utility impact study and this is really one of the key questions that have to be asked up front for any
developer thinking of bringing a data center anywhere. Uh you know how can this be supported in terms of the power generation required to operate such a thing. Uh you know the questions that really have to be answered is what the load pro profile would look like and and
what peak demand would look like. What's the existing grid capacity today? what upgrades are needed to be able to just deliver the power where it's needed and you know what does that timeline look like? Biggest question out coming out of this is who pays as a principle of
policy. It should not be spread upon the rateayers and residents of Hamilton Township. The next um element that I see is and it's it's really more of a fabrication out of whole cloth and for lack of
anything else that I can find out there, but I see something that would be called an infrastructure investment study in cooperation with the utility impact study. And this is the one where we'd really be taking a hard look at the standards to support the type of operation that would be tolerable. Uh
we'd be taking a look at what cooling systems are involved, what impact this may have on wastewater or graywater systems. Um you know within the township, what impact this would have on transportation uh not only within a site but how it impacts it around the site
environment. As was noted earlier, you know, some of the noise of these places, especially those that have codegeneration on site, the noise can raise itself pretty loud and can be heard quite a distance. We also just have to understand, you know, what, you know, is there going to
be a net cost of being able to have this type of business in the town and sure that it's not negative. Anyway, again, this is something and this is where I've done a lot of the study where I believe that a lot of the engineering standards could take care of a number of risks that are associated
with this, but they'd have to be defined by the developer before we even get to a place where we can even consider it as a business in terms of what I see as a deliverable at the very end of this is uh understanding the existing conditions
what the utility impact standard would tell us about local power providers. The standard that I just proposed before would give us a clear picture about infrastructure cost and what risk are being mitigated through approach of
those practices. Uh approving what sites would be allowed if we were to allow them here in the township and then work all that into drafting a framework ordinance to support this. And uh again at the end of the day you'll have the option to allow
limit or prohibit based on that but you'll have it fully informed. I won't bel labor these but these are the key risks that I see grid capacity rate payer cost noise water cooling and
again just the accountability that's required before the public if if we have to contend with applications that want to do this type of development and we have to understand what the possible paths are to mitigating those concerns.
So in terms of actual policy development and getting behind this we we would have to basically define data center is a rather distinct use. It's different than any other type of commercial or industrial uh you know development that we've seen
to date. again that has some similarities to uh cyber you know Bitcoin mining but these are much much larger and uh on a scale that's really quite different. We'd also just have to be very careful about where we would allow
these. How many would we allow these you know we'd have to have these studies the utility impact statement as well as the infrastructure assessment that you know a standard that they have to meet and ensure that this cost of development doesn't again fall upon the rate payers
and residents of Hamilton. So again at the end of the day my my belief is that if we follow this road mapap and this path and address these issues you'll be mayor concert should be in a good position to make an informed
decision about which way to go and the way I see it right now is to allow with strict conditions again mitigating any risk involved limit the scale of these potential applications which may make it unattractive for developers But, you
know, it's our town. We we get to set the standards or you can do as others, although it does possibly run a risk of tort liability is uh prohibit them outright, but they'll be informed and be able to do.
At this point, I'll open it up to mayor and council if there are questions or areas of discussion that you'd like to understand better. Mike, so in talking with Ken and and Robert, like right now, if somebody were to come
in and wanted to do a data center, as long as it met everything zoning wise, there's really nothing we could do to stop it because we don't have anything. >> The the risk is that we'd make a we make a bad decision through the board. That's the risk, right? And then that would get
that would invite mitigation >> and that's that's what we're trying to avoid here. >> That's correct. as you see data centers emerging throughout the state be proactive rather than reactive because we don't have anything in front of committ
this will allow if you chose to move forward put a temporary moratorum so we can look into all of the potential issues that you see that are popping environmental impact social impact financial impact there's a lot that could go into it so by allowing us to
slow down, take a closer look at this to create those set of standards here, modify that by ordinance so that we have the ability to address it if we got an application rather than SCR. And on the other hand, if we just came
out right now and said, "No, we're not doing data centers," they could we could get sued because we didn't do our due diligence. And why did you decide that? Am I wrong? And >> anytime that you do a blanket prohibition, especially for something,
whe take the opportunity to do a full due diligence, determine whether there should be a full prohibition or should be modified or completely um there's no harm in doing because we have the ability
the informed opinions to do my advice to do something. >> Now we could do a resolution moratorum and that that would just be till the end of this year >> and at that time hopefully we would have
enough information to move forward with an ordinance or we could do another resolution giving us more time. >> That's correct. Mayor >> was that you hear me? So an ordinance would cost ordinance is is we don't want to do a bad ordinance.
>> That that's correct. So >> it costs money. ordinance obviously has a a more financial burden on it than a resolution would be an ordinance is much more permanent resolution sunset time. So any move forward with a
temporary moratorum per se to the end of the year then we could obviously readress it at that time. We always readress early uh but it would give us that due diligence period. So committee as part of this discussion wanted to direct us to move forward. we would have
something whether it be a resolution or some sort of quasi organization but I believe that we're pursuing and looking to a temporary resolution time but the thought process of doing something you wanted to do full prohibition or a modified prohibition in
the future an ordinance that would codify it. >> Anybody else have any questions comments? Yeah, I have a whole bunch of questions, comments. I'm just trying to get it all together because this is a lot. Um,
I kind of did my own little study here and I'm going to just read some stuff that I highlighted um concerning these data centers in New Jersey. Um, so I have here data centers are driving
up electricity prices for families and small businesses and uh lawmakers can require them to pay more to offset those increases. But as it stands right now, there are no
safeguards in place. Um because of AI data centers, communities are facing higher costs, a more unreliable grid, more pollution, and a lack of transparency that makes
holding these companies accountable nearly impossible. New Jersey families and small businesses are already paying to sub subsidize them through higher electric bills. Uh data centers use a significant amount
of energy be but lack but because of a lack of transparency and energy reporting exact data is unavailable and the energy usage of data centers can vary widely.
Precise water usage figures are difficult to verify because data center companies are not required to report them publicly. This lack of transparency is a problem for a state that has experienced several droughts in recent
years, including the 2024 the 2025 drought that resulted in crop losses and increased wirefire risk. Plus, we have uh farms here in Hamilton Township. So, my point where I stand
with the data center situation is that I don't want a data center in Hamilton Township. I don't even need to sugarcoat it. I want to be very transparent. I don't want a data center here in Hamilton Township.
Um, I would like to see if my colleagues would like to create an ordinance making it a law that they can't come here like they've done in various other municipalities throughout New Jersey. And I'm saying this because I'm
concerned about the quality of life, the amount of money that the working families here would have to put out to um accommodate this this uh these electricities, the water cooling, the
water bill. It's ridiculous. The environment itself, we first of all, Hamilton Township protects the pine lands. So that's the situation. I mean, we need to consider everything. So, I'm not going to sit up here and say we need to do more research. We need to think
about it. We need to, you know, hold off and everything else. No, I don't want the Donna that are here. I think we should create an ordinance. Um, making it a situation where it does not come here at all. And that's where I stand at. So, you guys can say where you stand
at, but that's where I'm at with it. I'm on the record for saying that. Rich, >> so my thoughts, I love the presentation. Like I said, they're new and upcoming these data centers. So again, we don't know the ins and outs. Um, I'm not
totally against. I like the pause what you're saying for a year. I guess you guys were talking to get some information together and then when that information comes to us we can decide whether we want to move forward or prohibit or limit and I I like that idea
because you know I technology is moving quick like I said and who knows down the road if things will change you know to where these centers are needed and they're changed to where they're better than these new
ones that are coming out maybe something's going to be different. So, like I said, with the pause and finding out the information, um I'm I like that and I think that's the right direction. Uh you know, I don't know legal wise, like we were talking if we were to kill
this totally, somebody could come and you know, possibly sue us or something else. So, like I said, I I like the pause to find the information on it and then move forward from there. >> Yeah. Now, I'd also just state, you know, I saw this breaking down into
four phases, you know, where we're going to have some definition around this and these are your options at any one of those. You could get to 60 days from now and come before you with a report and you know, you don't like what you hear or you think there may be too many
risks. These are your options. >> You can stop at any time. >> You know, uh, mayor's asked me to take a look at this. I'm certainly, you know, doing my best to keep up with what's happening and u and understand the market a little bit better. Some of the things I'm finding are a bit surprising
and I'll be able to elaborate on that at the next report. But I I would encourage at least going to the next phase, you know, and get some more research behind this. >> Like we said, I mean, getting in front of this, you know, is perfect, you know, because it's coming, you know, so to
have all this information would be so beneficial. >> Yeah. and the mayor's request was actually somewhat precient. It was even before there was all this coverage that we now see. Uh so kind of glad for the opportunity to, you know, I think there's a way to kind of do this and do
it the right way. If we can do it the right way, then you have the best of all choices. >> Dr. I did like your presentation. I am not for data science for the record. Um the lawyer, our lawyer Ken
Warren said that we could possibly um be in litigation if we haven't done our due diligence and we want to make sure that we've done what we're supposed to do. My answer is still going to be no,
you know, whatever happened. Um but I want to make sure that we have done everything that we're supposed to do. So if someone comes in and if we if our answer is to prohibit totally, we've done our due diligence. I do know that
Atlantic City Electric, you you talked about the grid, it cannot handle the solar right now. >> That's correct. >> So that's that's an issue. So to bring this in would be it just they're nearly impossible you
know to do if they can't even handle the so solar right now. So based on that um I do think we should do the study but again I'm not for it because all of this would who would pay for it?
You know we need to have all of that in place to say to make a a quality decision. I mean, even though I've already made my decision. No, but I still want the facts, you know, to support the decision that
you feel as if a temporary resolution is the way to go. These are worldwide companies coming in, worldwide. We don't even know they came. We don't even know what the requirements.
He said temporary. We all have the same issues. We all have the same foresight. But we adopt something right now. It's quite difficult to change it where if we do a six months, we can see where the
trend is going. We can combat the trend and make up what we want so that they have to come in and ask permission from us to do what they want to do. then we can say no. We don't
have that mechanism in there. They can come in and say you don't have that mechanism. So how would you say no to this? And and I mean they have endless pockets. They have endless pockets. They can change the game
worldwide in Washington. So as long as we keep the door open and we keep up with it, I think that would be our most economical plan rather than lock it and in the year
2030 it's a whole different game. That's that's how I >> I have other questions. So if we do a resolution to what did he say to temporarily pause
Then that would give you our professionals time to do the studies what needs to be done. >> Correct. >> I understand. Then we can always change that as well as time goes on. >> Absolutely.
>> So we can keep up with the times, right? Mhm. >> Yes. >> I I need I need clarity. Clarity because we talking about somebody saying something about litigation and lawsuits and I'm just trying to I need you um Mr. Solicitor to
please help me here. What how do we have or how are we preventing or how is this would it make it be a lawsuit or some kind of litigation? Where where is that coming in from? So,
so what could happen is when you have a novel issue and it's not well informed in terms of putting together an ordinance codification process if we don't cover all basis and we leave things open where there could be either
loopholes or cracks through uh shield I would uh say you could open yourself up to litigation as well if you don't do a period of due diligence take a look at all of the rationale behind putting together in a prohibition or total ban and uh that could lead to issues in
terms of litigation uh as well. So whenever we have something brand new and what we're saying for a specific business like this uh we don't want it. It's always beneficial for us to take a look at the reasons why so that when we put together the ordinance you've seen
the word has whereas claus is in there it would be a well basis of a rationale why we do not want data centers here in township and the steps that we took to be able to do the research what we're asking committee to do is allow us to put in a temporary
resolution for moratorum which means we hear your points of we don't want data centers here now but that resolution is temporary while we do our information, our research, be able to present back to you so that you can make an informed decision saying yes, we want data
centers. No, we don't want data center. Maybe we want data centers, but they're going to be restricted based on these specific specifications. Um, and we would just like a little bit more time be able to circulate that information. But what prevents a company from coming
in while we're on our temporary hold and buying up a whole bunch of land and then all of a sudden we're just we're doing our research. They bought the land. We can't stop them. Can't they come in and just buy the land and then we look up and they say, "All right, we have the land. We want to just put it there
because we don't have ordinance on file saying that we don't want the data centers to come here anyway." So I guess we're going to put together something the next meeting whether it be ordinance resolution but a temporary basis rather than a permanent prohibition. So we're going to put a moratorium and say we
don't want that centers here for this period of time before the expiration of that period of time myself Mr. at at different intervals based on case. He just outlined of reporting back to you for you to make the determination whether you want that moratorum or
prohibition to be permanent or whether you want it to be restricted and modified or whether you want us to pull back and say no based on the research we allow data centers here in Hamilton Township. So, we're going to put a a temporary freeze in place with your permission at the next meeting and
meeting after so we can draft it saying no data centers for this period of time as we go through the due diligence and you're going to make an informed decision expiration of that period saying yes data centers no data centers maybe if they fit these qualifications.
And if I may add a rejoinder, just simply about commercial real estate development. And as we know, there's only one zone in the township right now that could support it conceivably, and that's the industrial business park.
And virtually every land sale that goes on there is it a contract is written to purchase, but it's usually contingent on obtaining approvals, especially on bare land. um nobody wants to get locked into owning land that they can't use. So I
don't I don't see that you know I understand the concern. I don't see that scenario emerging. But nonetheless, Mr. Solicitor is correct that you know this will um you know if someone decide to to say we won't hear their application or
won't take their application for a data center while we have a resolution like this in place. uh you know judge would dismiss it out of hand saying you know this is a reasonable thing. These people are trying to figure out the best way to do this and they should be allowed to do it.
But are we okay? So we have we have you even set a limit of I'm listening to you but I'm just saying like is he So are you saying Mr. director that you're going to come back the next meeting with more information.
>> I think I'm going to need about 60 days to give you a much more detailed understanding. You know, if you if you told me to find a way to prohibit data centers, you know, I'd go do that. >> But I've been asked to kind of weave an
unusual navigable course that doesn't preclude it and doesn't approve it. I'm trying to come back to you with facts, things that you can make decisions on, >> but but just for credit purposes, we're going to come back in front of you with
either a resolution or or or a basis uh ordinance to be able to say we're putting a moratorum, temporary moratorum data center. So, that will be coming in front of you either at the next meeting or the one thereafter setting that so we can go through due diligence. So, if you'd like us to move forward, that
that'll move quickly for you. Saying no data centers for this period of time for at least Hamilton Township. So, that'll go that'll move quickly. >> That'll move tonight or that'll move? >> No, that won't move this evening. It's only for discussion this evening. It'll have to be at at the very next agenda. Um, but it's not in front of you this
evening. It's only for discussion. And I just feel it's some kind of gray area here that I know I'm missing because I'm just if we're saying to me it seems like we're some of us are saying we don't want them and then some of us are saying
well let's just see what the technology is out here and then go from there. But then we're also saying we might not even have the land but then we're saying that we need time to see and talk about it. Meanwhile, some people said that they can just come in and buy the land, you
know, like once somebody comes in here, buy the land, you know, with the technology. Some of them, they don't need to be as big as I guess the other ones they have. You know what I mean? Because there's new technology coming all the time. So, they don't need a mass amount of land too for some of them. You know what I'm saying?
>> Just just because they purchase land township does not build us. >> Okay. zoning. So essentially what an ordinance permanent band ordinance would do is create the zoning so that it would not be permitted use in that uh either in
that area or townshipwide. So that would be a a permanent prohibition. That's what we're looking for to see whether the township wants to do that. At this point we're putting potential developers on notice of saying while we're going through our due diligence period, no data centers. So that's what a temporary
prohibition or temporary moratorium is. That's what we're asking committee to allow us to do as of right now. Say during our due diligence period, no data centers. At the end of that due diligence period, committee will make a decision of whether that prohibition is going to be permanent, whether it's
going to be modified and we say, well, we like this, but we don't like this. That's development specification or based on our research, we're fine with data centers. We're allowed that will be at the end of that due diligence period at the immediate moment
because of this is a merging issue. It's been brought we were at task to bring this in front of you saying because of the concerns we've had we want to pause and say no data centers in Hamilton Township let's do that while we go through. So that's what will come in front of you
next meeting after hopefully by the next meeting is a resolution or ordinance saying no data centers as of right now while we go through that. >> Okay. Thank you.
And and Mr. Goodman director um your presentation is awesome because you know it's a wealth of knowledge. You know it's just basically I'm just looking at quality of life. I'm just thinking about >> I think you're raising very very
important issues that we have to address. I mean >> I've got a handful of categories uh that represent things we have to resolve >> but I suspect we're going to find a bit more as I do more research and that's what I would like to bring before you at
a later date so you can again make an informed decision. >> And you think you need about 60 days? >> I think so. Yeah, I think I can be back here probably by the end of July, I believe. Okay. >> Most likely.
>> No matter what you guys do, we're going to be in a much the township is going to be in a much better situation they were 20 years ago. >> It's this is completely proactive. >> Yeah. >> No one called and asked, you know, what are the chances of me building a data
center township? This is something that we talked about that we developed came up discussion and we want to get ahead of so pause this we get Robert looks into this looks realities
make sure we're not one likes first start how many years ago It would have been easy to say, "I don't want campus. We don't want campus." We probably would have got sued if we passed no campus. We have to make sure the lawyers look
into it. We all look >> exactly. >> All right. So, is there a time frame date? I know you say 60 days, but is resolution going to say from this period to this period? >> Okay. And the extradation date you're looking
like >> my suggestion. >> Yeah, I think that's a realistic time frame. >> That doesn't >> we could change that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I way the way I see this is that you're going to be exposed to new facts. I know I am and
I'm going to be bringing them here for presentation for you to understand. Um and those facts may have you want to change the timeline, >> may want to change the direction or go down any one of these three paths. You know, you'll you'll have enough
information, you may believe you have enough to decide this. So that's why the idea was kind of phase this out and if we get as far as defining standards then you know we're we're we're being as Brett said we're being proactive. We're
identifying the risk and we're looking to solve them. You know, something that um my my uh colleague here uh of Watkins has shared is that you know the practical reality is that if somebody came in today with an application, it'd have to be heard before the zoning board
because it would require a use variance. Not only that, it most likely would have to go through the redevelopment committee because it's kind of a new beast and would be certainly outside the scope and there may be special accommodations that would be necessary to support it. And I think the thing
that's a little bit more terrifying is if that happened, uh, we'd have to be kind of doing this with a gun to our head. We'd have to be making these standards up on the fly, and I can assure you it would be imperfect and risky.
So again, I think this approach is a little bit more cautious. Again, if you just keep bringing facts to the table and you decide which direction you want to go, nobody can nobody can sue the township for taking a reasonable, rational way to do this.
>> Anyone can sue the >> Well, take it from the lawyer. >> Yeah. And I I I think uh we're in a in a good spot right now because there's other municipalities that are doing the same thing. They're investigating.
They're probably I'm going to assume they're drafting ordinances and as those ordinances start to come to light, we will be able to take that information, learn from it, move forward from that and and see what happens
there. Also, I've been looking at this for quite some time. Like Robert said, I brought this up and said, I think we really need to dive into this, figure out what's what's true and what's not true. You go on the internet, and that's basically how you learn. You go on the internet and start
looking. And if you want to be against these things, you can really quickly find all kinds of facts to prove that you don't want them. And if you want to be pro data center, you can find all kinds of facts that say
data hunters are good. So it's time to really, you know, this is that Robert, Bob, whoever else start looking into this, find the facts because I go on and here I am. I'm using I'm using AI
to learn a lot of this stuff. You know, AI will tell me some things and I'll I'll take that and I'll go, "All right, now I'm going to go in that direction. So, I'm uh I guess I'm guilty of us needing data centers. So, um I guess if the data centers really started to learn
and became Terminator, they could kind of guide me on where they want me to go. But, uh that's that's why I want somebody who has I'm I'm hope Richard Pearson isn't listening, but I did that Richard's time. Somebody who's actually doing it on the time that they're supposed to be
doing it can actually really work and do it do the due diligence that we need done. Um, I mean I I I hear Comminoman Witherspoon and I mean Dr. Witherspoon, Comminwoman Thompson saying, you know, they're against it. If I had to make a
decision right now, I'm against it. But I also want more information to to guide us on on where we need to go. And um so I think mo moving from here I think the right thing to do would be a resolution pausing it through the end of the year.
I don't know what if if we did it could we do it further than that or would a resolution because it's the end of of the year >> most likely it will sunset >> right it would sunset so I think I think that's the furthest we can go with a resolution if we went the ordinance
>> the ordinance will be in place >> it and and like I said it it would take longer to make that happen cost us a little bit more money so I I make the suggestion that we do a resolution pausing data centers through the end of
the year. That's Well, obviously we can't do that tonight, but asking you to go ahead and do that. >> Is everybody okay with that? >> You like that? >> Okay, I'm I'm okay. >> Okay, very good. Robert, thank you for your presentation. It was awesome.
You're welcome. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you, Director Goodman. Uh, moving on. 4C. Resolution authorizing renewal of class five cannabis retail license to Columbia Care New Jersey LLC,
also known as the cannabis. >> I hear a motion. >> Motion. >> Second. I have a motion to second. Any questions, comments? Hearing none. Can I get a roll call vote, please? >> Mr. Aken? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cheek? >> Yes.
>> Miss Thompson? >> Yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon? >> Yes. >> Mayor Patali? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cheek? >> You've seen. Okay. Four yes, one abstain. Motion carries.
>> Okay. 5A public hearing ordinance 2133-2026 an ordinance amending chapter 60 officers and employees article 26 of the code of the township of Hamilton to create the position of
municipal enforcement officer and establish the qualifications powers and duties. This is a public hearing. Anybody from the public wish to speak? Motion to close. >> Second. >> I have a motion to second. All those in
favor? >> I have it. >> Sure. >> Second. >> I have a motion in a second. Any questions or comments? Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Cheek? >> Yes. >> Miss Thompson? >> Yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon? Yes. Mayor Patel? >> Yes. >> Yes. 5B public hearing ordinance 2134-2026 an ordinance amending exhibit A to
article 2 of chapter 66 of the code of the township of Hamilton Township of Hamilton's chart of organization to provide for the creation and amendment of certain positions and maximum salaries municipal enforcement officer administrative
enforcement officer and Cove Deputy Day Manager. It's a public hearing. Anybody from the public wish to speak? >> A motion to close. >> Second. >> I have a second. All those in favor? >> I >> against eyes have it.
>> Your pleasure. >> Motion. >> I have a motion. >> Second. >> I have a second. Any questions or comments? >> Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Cheek, >> yes. >> Miss Thompson, >> yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon, >> yes. >> Mayor Patel,
>> yes. >> Oh, yes. Ordinance 2135-2026, an ordinance amending article 1 of chapter 301 subsection 3 regarding parking restrictions on certain streets of the code of the township of Hamilton
to allow for a temporary suspension of parking enforcement for certain events. This is a public hearing. Anybody from the public wish to speak? Motion to close second. >> I have a motion in a second. All those in favor?
>> Against? Eyes have it. >> For pleasure. >> M motion ordinance. >> Second. >> I have a motion, a second. Any questions or comments? >> Just one question. >> Certain events. Do we have an example of
event that we talking about? >> Vote races. >> Vote races. Okay. Cardboard vote rata. >> That's it. >> Okay. Anybody else? Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Cheek,
>> yes. >> Miss Thompson, >> yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon, >> yes. >> Mayor Patelli, >> yes. >> Oh, yes. >> No introductions, no word. Consent agenda. Still making sunshine. >> Yeah. And then
I'll motion a one through three. to E. >> Hold on. >> One through three. >> A one through three
>> on the on the late agenda. >> Agenda. >> Oh, okay. >> Second. >> So, I have a motion for A through 8 A through E. >> And we have a second. Yeah, I got the second. >> The second.
>> All those in favor? I >> I have it personnel resolution to amend 2026-01 173 from that was passed May 4th, 2026 to correct a typographical error on higher
cove staff for 2026 season. >> So move second. >> I have a motion in a second. Uh roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Cheek, >> yes. >> Miss Thompson, >> yes. >> Dr. Witherspoon, >> yes. >> Mayor Patel, >> yes. >> All yes.
>> 9 B. Resolution to hire Naen Irwin as a full-time planning and zoning clerk for the Department of Community and Economic Development effective June 1st, 2026.
>> 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 Pati, >> yes. >> Oh, yes.
Approvals minutes regular meeting minutes of May 4th, 2026. >> So move >> motion and a second. All those in favor? >> I against >> bills. Bill list total 7 million
668,14863. >> So move. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken. Yes, >> Mr. Chief. >> Yes, >> Miss Thompson. >> Yes, >> Dr. Witherspoon. >> Yes, >> Mayor Patel. >> Yes. >> Oh, yes. >> Reports,
>> Mr. Administrator, >> I just want to congratulate you. >> Solid deputy, >> Mr. Solicitor. >> Mr. Engineer, >> I agree as well. >> Congratulations. Jane. Um, just a couple updates on the
roads. Uh, so River Road and Gravaly Run were mil uh today and they will be paved on Wednesday morning. Uh, so they should be uh all cleaned up before the week. >> Thought we had some base repair out there. >> Uh there's a little bit of base repair
on River Road. They did that today. Um, fortunately grally run was very thin asphalt. Uh, we were surprised how thick it was. It was only an inch. So, there's a couple areas there that we're going to box out and and
picking up a little bit, but nothing too drastic. Um, Dennis Foreman Road uh bids are coming on Thursday, so we'll have a report for next meeting on those. And, um, I want to thank Mr. Goodman for that
data center presentation. um a neighboring municipality is working on the same uh information as well and um I'll be happy to work with Mr. Goodman on on this. It's definitely something that's coming uh no matter what and want
to be ahead of it. Um and like he said, it's it's prohibited. It could go to a zoning board application and whether it gets presented and board denies it could probably end up in court. a zone that's
similar in use like the industrial park even though it's not permitted there. Uh it does hold you for it. So this putting a pause uh basically warns the developers listen just just wait
thank committee members uh Dr. with it. >> Yes. >> Um again, first I would like to also congratulate chain and um so I know that you've already been doing the work and would know that you'll continue to do a great job. So
congratulations. I I attended the um mixer supported by the Rudy Club and the Maze Land Merchesen Association at Lake Lipy a couple weeks ago. It was very nice. was very very nice and ACA was there and
it was really nice how they had all of the resources and the businesses and all of that. It was just a nice event. It was a nice event and I was glad to be there. I um attended the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Interfaith Prayer
um breakfast at the Lynwood Country Club on Friday. That was very nice. There was a lot of law enforcement and some interfaith um people there. And what they're trying to do, this is the fourth one, is to bridge the gap between
interfaith and law enforcement. And so the idea was good. It was very nice. And while I was there, someone says to me, "I'll see you at the ribbon cutting at 2 o'clock." And I said, "What ribbon cutting?" They said,
"Acit." I said, "Well, I didn't know anything about that." And so, but I will go. So, I ran to the township first to make sure that there was not an invitation inside my mailbox that I didn't look at. Then I went and looked
at the my email to see if anything was there. There was nothing there. So, I did attend and represent Hamilton Township. It was at the last minute, but I showed up and sit on the front row. It was a very very nice event. Um,
it's 153,000 square foot facility, state-of-the-art. Everything was done by the the youth from ACIT. They sung the the national anthem. They gave you a cornerstone as a gift.
The the youth prepared the the orurbs. It was very nice. Um, there Mr. I have to say, Superintendent Dr. Gunther did apologize uh for not recognizing me as an uh elected official, but I didn't I I
didn't get been out of shape. I just said, "Okay." I just said it was okay. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, well, really wasn't, but it was okay. But he did apologize for that. So, uh, but I did represent Hamilton Township. I
did, you don't you didn't see me in the ribbon cutting because they didn't invite me up there and I didn't want to like bust my way up, you know, push my way through, you know, you don't do that. I have a little class here, you know, but, you know, I was there and I smiled and I was happy about it and it
it is a beautiful place and they did do a tour. So, if you haven't been there, it's something that you do want to see. and they can have additional 450 students and u that's good. Of course the schools don't like it because they're taking uh money from school districts but
people parents have a right to have an option and so do children. Everybody's not going to go to college you know. So it's it's a beautiful thing. It used to be vote tech now it's ACIT. All right. So that was beautiful. Monday, uh, Memorial Day, uh, we'll be at, well,
I'll let the mayor talk about all three locations. >> Oh, >> no. >> No. Only reason why I'm talking about the one at Memorial Park is because I'm singing the national good >> at 12:00. >> All right. So, I'll be there for I mean
11 o'clock. 11 o'clock. I put the Thank you. Thank you. at 11:00. they they they will be having the uh memorial service on that day. So, at the memorial park, the veteran service at the memorial park
on uh Memorial Day at 11 a.m. All right. And that's my report. >> Very good. Thank you, Mr. Drake. >> Sure. >> So, first, uh I want to thank the volunteer fire companies out there, the rescue squad, the HTPD, and the township
dispatchers. Uh, you know, I'm not much of Facebook, but I did see it on there that you all worked as a team with some uh issues that were in the township. I like to see that teamwork together. Um, it's great. Uh, I always say teamwork makes the dream work and it was nice to
see you all working together. Um, I know there was that fire out in Estel Estab out there and that's where I think the teamwork came into play. I just want to say thanks to them. Um, I want to congrat congratulations say congratulations to committeewoman Dr.
Thelma Witherspoon on her Peg Roberts Outstanding Elected Official of South Jersey award. Congratulations. I know you're always out and about. You know, you go everywhere here, there, left, right, up, and down. Uh, I am shocked
that they didn't recognize you over at ACIT with all what you do and all you get. So, I just wanted to say congratulations on that. Um, >> my last thing, it's something different. I just wanted to give a shout out to Allegiant Air. So, I flew them out of
ACY um not this past weekend, the last weekend before um to Florida. I seen my uh niec's graduation from college and I had absolutely no problems flying out of ACY with them. So, I just want to give them a shout out. It was maybe a
10-minute blip of hesitation at ACY for departure, but other than that, smooth in. You >> had to throw that in there, didn't you? >> Well, it was 10 minutes. >> Smooth in, smooth out. We didn't fly into a big airport. It was the Orlando Sanford one we flew into, but I I give them a shout out and hopefully they
continue to grow. I know I'm hearing different things with Sun Country and all that breezes now. And so, it's a good thing. So I just want to let everybody know I had a good experience with Allegian out of theirs and that's why I report. >> Very good. Committee woman Thompson.
>> All right. So um I attended the regional businessto business mixer on May 6 um which was right here in Mandon by Lake. I was able to make some contacts and engage with a provider whom
I believe will be of value to our workforce development community which I have to talk to you about Brett on May um in the future. So on May 9th I was at the resource fair and carnival which was at our George Hes school. Um
my time there was uh so much fun surrounded by pony rides crafts and musical activities. Plenty of families were there attending and they received a ton of information from the more than 50 resource tables. On the same day, I ran
over to the Oakfest and was engaged with the chocolate chickens from Hamilton Sustainable Team where I learned from Susan Lazard, who's right here, just so happens to be, that these are a rare breed of chicken. So, I was really uh
fascinated by these chocolate chickens and everything um along with a lot of um other information that she was giving me about the chickens. It was a great pleasure meeting with the members of the First United Methodist Church, which is
on 611 Main Street, Maze Landon. They're also known as the church that does stuff. I told him I was going to shout them out. They are the church that does stuff with pastor Robin Clark. They provide the community with they well when they were there they were providing
the community with packets of seeds to plant a pro a variety of beautiful flowers. I will note they also um maintain main street food uh pantry. On the past Saturday I was also I went
to the Holy Cross Cemetery. It was um armed forces day and I was there and to um give a prayer and put flags on the veterans uh tombstones
um which I always uh feel a lot of um pleasure and I feel like um because I come from a veterans family um that this you know is something that we need to do to honor our veterans and to also So,
um, when we do like they do the reads or we do flags or anything that we I usually sh their names out, I read their names, the family names on the tombstone and then I say um, you are not forgotten and ask God rest your soul and your spirit. So, I think that's very
important that we do that. Um, finally, I would like to make an announcement that the Maze Landing Merchants Association presents the the 27th annual hometown celebration. It's going to be on Saturday, June 27th from 10:00 a.m.
to 400 p.m. at the War Memorial Park here in Main Street in uh 50. I also uh want to shout out um remember reading something with director Tilly and Brett get they one of the constituents was talking how well they were maintaining
the park and they was like Brett was very responsive and how he called about you know doing things and cleaning up and stuff at the park and he was really happy about the service um he received from our business administrator and he
was happy about the work that the public works had done. So, we did receive acknowledgement and a letter and I wanted you to know that. So, thank you so much. >> And that's it, >> Deputy Mayor. >> First of all, congratulations to Jean.
It's quite great that you fill in a big set of shoes and it's nice to have you. Next was I was at the businessto business mixer at Lake Lannipe and that was very nice as well. And it was cleaning Babcock Ruth.
>> Everyone get a Waw Wa bag, please. >> Keep it in your car. >> Yes. It's the second or third time I did Babcock and it was nice. And then from there went to the Oakfest which was just as nice and always that's a nice event.
Then I went to the first time the Atlantic County Rowan Championship at Lake Lopey and being an athlete in a family of athletes, it's just nice to see young high school kids with their families in
a pure environment. Just the whole family enjoying themselves and it was just nice to see county first class county athletes. Then last on Sunday, I will not be at Memorial P to hear you, doctor.
>> Only on Memorial Day. >> Monday. >> Oh. Oh, it's Monday. >> Yeah. >> I thought it was Sunday. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Hey, I have a daughter turning 40. I got to be there. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I'll be there Monday then. I'm sorry. >> And that's all I have.
>> Very good. Thank you. Um I also attended that that mixer. Uh that was nice to have it here in town. Um it's really good to have all those people come there that um and and meet different people and get to know what resources are out
there and ever at Lake View Manor. Shows off that the the park there and it's really nice park. Um attended Oakfest, picked up trash with Rich. Uh went to the resource fair. That was a busy very busy day. Also went to
the rowing championships. um and was fed quite well by the Orest team. So they I'll tell you what, those people know how to put some food out and there's no doubt that that is that's those regatas, especially that one. That's a big one. It's all it's always
on Mother's Day. Um it brings economic activity to our town. There's no doubt about it. There's thousands of people there all day almost all day long. So it's it's nice that they they come here and they do that. Uh, I also went um the past two
weekends were the Robert Denaflio um street hockey tournament and that's two weekends long actually. I think they they play some games during the week too. Um teams from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, all over. I
think it was over 70 teams. And that's another uh economic driver for our town. They're going down. I walking around there, you hear the people talking. They're going they're going down to the Olive Garden. They're going to the mall. They're shooting over to Dicks to pick up uh another hockey stick. They're you
know, you hear it. There's they had food trucks out there. Really great to see that. And every year that that tournament seems to get bigger. So, um that's really great to see that happen. Um as Eric said, shout out to our first
responders, Estelle Avenue. Uh, I also want to give a shout out to Richland who helped cover because one of their firefighters was injured. Um, I don't know if you've heard anything how he is. I know it was just a cut on his hand, but nonetheless, um, volunteer
firefighter got hurt and, uh, we hope he, uh, he doesn't have any longlasting problems with that and, uh, thanks to all them. I think Darthy was out there too, correct? >> No, no, Darthy. Okay. Oh, thanks Darthothy. Anyway, you can
Mil May. Yes. So, thanks to Mil. Uh, good job you guys. That was that was, you know, middle middle of the day. That's one of the ones you get scared about and uh you guys did a great job. Um, did I have something else? Memorial Day
was already talked about. Looking forward to that. and Jane, congratulations. I hope you'll stay with us for a while. I'm sure you will. And uh I guess we'll be saying goodbye to Rita at the the
next meeting or the meeting after that. Going to have a little something for for Rita, I hope. And Reagan, I will see you later. Maddie, I miss you and I love you and I hope to see you soon. And with that,
we'll open it up to public. I just wanted to take a moment to thank the township committee for listening to my comments earlier. I appreciate your spirited conversation concerning the matter. I really do. Um, as a resident of Hamilton Township, I'm here. This is
where where I live, where I work, where I'm raising my baby. Everything's important to me and not Can >> can you speak into the mic so that the people at home can hear you? >> I got you. I'm so sorry about that. So, um earlier I wanted to be respectful of
the time in order of the agenda. I do have copies of my statement and I'd like to hand them out again. I just wanted to say thank you for the very very spirited conversation and that it's being considered. Thank you >> and thank you for coming and speaking.
Thank you. Thank you. >> Hello. >> Hi, Sue. >> Uh, Susan Lazaric. Um, you know my address or >> No. >> All right. Susan, give up. >> Brett. Brett's my neighbor. Um,
absolutely. uh with the data center. I hope you figure out a way to do a moratorum whatever you do with resolutions or whatever. Um I don't know that all of you have heard Lake Tahoe residents are
losing their energy supplier to data center boom. Um Atlantic City electric no you know Dr. Witherspoon mentioned it can't handle it. The grid can't handle it. You know, I think um our previous governor was depending on offshore wind
and poof, that's not happening. But anyway, can't handle it. Uh questions about it. Who pays for electric grid upgrades? Will local residents face higher utility bills? I mean, they can't handle their electric bills now. We've got amazing aquafer. We got to take care
of it. You know, water, you know, all that stuff. So, I hope you find a way. I mean, I know we need the ratables, but at what cost? >> Um, like you, I like looking at AI, but um, at what cost? You know, I mean,
Microsoft, Apple, Google, they don't care about us. They don't care about any of us. They just they're doing their thing. Um anyway, and the other thing I wanted to mention, oh, and the other thing with that is like make sure if you're considering this, I mean, I don't
know how much more data you need. It's out there, but make sure that you, you know, require full public discosure of pu uh projected energy water use, independent environmental impact studies, that kind of stuff. I mean, it sounded like in uh a lot of the public
was blindsided over it. What happened? they made deals behind, you know, I don't have all the facts with that, but that's my understanding. Um, as far as road stuff, I was thinking I don't know if you um work with Cross County Connection anymore, if you're doing any
work with them, because they offer uh and and I and I'm mentioning that because I certainly as a resident, you know, as transportation becomes more expensive, as people are, you know, can't afford to drive cars maybe, um, I think we need to consider bicycle and
pedestrian. And I know years ago we wanted to do um you know look at that to do an audit of that but cross county connection um just to do a little screenshot um for local governments if you don't know him. Patrick Farley came.
We did a >> Carl. We did the walk with Patrick Farley. He's amazing. He knows everything. Um the Cross County Connection offers for local governments, bicycle, pedestrian planning and safety, road safety audits. Um
they can help with grant services. I mean, they're a good resource. I hope you're using it. And that walk that we did, I mean, the the um green team's website page is a little outdated. Needs to be updated, but if you look down
hidden down there, >> that report's in there. >> The information is there and there's a lot of good information. And Patrick just he's just amazing. He knows a lot of information. I hope you're uh you look at that that's there and consider, you know, hooking into I don't know how
much money they have, how much funding because funding's getting cut, but it's a good resource that I hope if it's still available, they utilize it. So, >> as a matter of fact, we just Brett, we uh worked on a letter to the county for Main Street trying to get a crosswalk at
Anthorne. >> Good. >> Um and trying to get them to uh repaint the existing striping that they have. >> Um and that's been going back and forth now for how long? We've been kind of back and forth and finally we were told put
it in writing, send it to um Dennis Levenson, which we did we did today. Hopefully at least we get some of that moving because we have so much we have economic activity on Main Street now. You know, it's it's building up. >> Yeah. Keeping pedestrians in mind.
Absolutely. >> Yeah. And that was one of the that you know, we walk down Main Street. We talked about that different things that could be done. It's it's you kind of think that it's something that you can snap your fingers and it happens. That's just not the case. Um course you know that you don't own that street. And even
streets that we own, we can't just, you know, there's things you have to do. >> When I used to do dog training, it was repetition, repetition, >> repetition, repetition, repetition. Well, a lot of repetition >> while we're while we're paving, you know, I was up in Monroe Township. I go up there occasionally. There's a organic
farm that I love. Um they've got so many pedestrian um you know on the side of the road green their green stripes I mean I don't know how much more it would be to maybe do some striping on your but anyway that's you know just wanted to mention
cross it's a good resource and keep the pedestrians in mind >> we'll look into it >> and and we were going to look into that um red tree too >> so I wanted to ask you did you right out front yeah >> there's a tree there already >> there is a tree there already >> right are you talking about the little
the little circle >> where the where the where the handicap walk is. >> Yeah, >> there's a tree in there already. >> So, who what is it? >> How long has that tree been there? >> Wait, I'll go look. Is it Go look >> because it wasn't there last time I looked.
>> Anyway, I hope it's a native. >> I just want to make sure we're looking at the same thing. So, take a look and you let me know. >> I hope I hope it's a native tree if it is. All right. Thank you guys for all you do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, Teresa D. Rose from Maze Landing
Laureldale. Um, data centers are like eating the cake without trying to get fat. You know, you want all the stuff, the AI, and you want all the bitcoins, you want all that stuff, but you don't want to get fat because they are they're really troublesome for the environment.
They really um now they they are um as far as jobs uh once when they want to make them there are a lot of jobs because they have to clear all the trees, they have to buy the land. It's you know a lot of money
going in but then once they're established there's no jobs. It's like maybe five people running the place because they're already you know what what is there to do? it's already self-contained like um nuclear power plants, it's only a few people you need
to do it once they're established. But um so with the foreseen revenue um establishing them once they're established there's they're not really giving us anything but more bills and
then um even though the presentation with Robert Goodman was very good. Uh there there's um I did a presentation years ago on electromagnetic fields. So, with all this data center, they're going to be
emitting a lot of electromagnetic fields, such as when they tell you, "Don't put the cell phone in your front pocket because you get testicular cancer. Don't keep them on your ear all day long because you get brain cancer." Well, these data centers, as big as they
are, how much extra electric is going out into the the atmosphere that's going to be causing because usually like trees are going to buffer trees, rubber, whatever are going to buffer the you absorb the electromagnetic fields. if
we're cutting down all these trees and putting in the Amazon uh fulfillment center and everything else, what's going to be, you know, offsetting these electromagnetic fields because they cause brain cancer and everything else? Um,
>> the thing about >> it's true. >> And then there was another thing about the leapy field. um if we're going to put another field there, are we going to be charging um the the um kids from
other other towns? >> We already do. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah, cuz I was thinking like help with the trash clean up, you know, stuff like that, you know, to help with our our our um property taxes. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Sorry. Um, there's no tree in that little circle. And if you wanted to, I would certainly be happy to advise on something nice and something native if you wanted >> something a shrub or something nice in there.
>> Don't even say that. I heard that. >> What? >> I was >> You don't want to know. Maybe I do. >> No, >> she's going to clobber you, Brett. And I'm going to let it happen. >> I said Bradford pair just to get
>> Yeah, we have lots there's lots of those. Um, Mr. Cheek, did you pick up cigarette butts when you were um >> Yes. Yes. >> So, do you know that the one of the green the one of the new green team members >> Sorry, >> one of the new green team members is working on um a cigarette butt.
>> I was walking with her. That's why I was picking up cigarette butts. >> Good. >> She shanghied me. You want to know about the filter? >> I don't know. >> Okay. >> I know. So, good, good, good. All right,
that's it. >> Anybody else? >> Motion to close. >> There we go. >> Second. >> I have a motion in a second. All those in favor? >> I against. Uh we will be going into executive session.
>> We do anticipate formal action coming out. Um >> now do I hear a motion to go into executive session? >> Motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those in favor?
>> I against you. >> Good. Sure. Hear a motion to come out of executive. >> Second. >> I have a motion to second. All those in favor? >> I against.
>> Now what? >> Sorry. I hear a motion to approve theou for PBA contract. >> Motion. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Aken, >> yes. >> Mr. Chief,
>> yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Motion to adjurnn. So move. You have to do the other. >> Oh, okay. >> I was looking at the towels.
>> A motion in a second. All those in favor? >> I against. >> Thank you everybody. >> Thank you. Thank you. What 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 is 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 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. some 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.