Okay, that's good enough. Gav Gav Janice. >> Good evening everyone. >> This meeting is being held with the benefit of public notice >> as required by the open public meetings act. Madame clerk, would you call the role? >> Mr. Carabelli
>> here. Mr. Phillips >> here. Mr. Carol here. Mr. P here. >> Mr. Whan is back. >> Uh, would everyone please rise for the flag salute and the invocation? I 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. >> Gracious God, we thank you for the brave men and women who have served our country with courage and honor. As we
celebrate Tomorrow Veterans Day, bless them for their sacrifices, their strength, and their devotion to protect others. Grant them peace in their hearts, healing in their bodies, and comfort in their souls. May we also pray for our country and township. And may we always seek unity rather than division.
We ask all these things in your name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you. Uh there's been an amendment to the agenda uh since it was posted on the website. Uh we are we have removed
consent agenda item number eight 25-450 which was a resolution providing for the insertion of a special item of revenue in the calendar year 2025 municipal budget from state of New Jersey department of community affairs Hamilton
Township Fire Division apparatus acquisition in the amount of $1 million. Uh this item was actually adopted at the August 19th council meeting. Um so therefore, can I please have a motion uh
on the amendment of the agenda? >> I'll make a motion on the amendment. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Paravelli, yes. M >> Phillips. Yes. >> Mr. Po, yes. >> Tai, >> yes. >> For your consideration, Councilman, we have the minute for September 16, the
regular meeting minutes. >> Some move. >> Second, >> Mr. Carave Phillips. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pero. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tyler. >> Yes. >> Communication for consideration of C1 is a request of to conduct tag day
solicitation from the Hamilton Wild at Caesar's Bagel and Delhi at 110 block road on Saturday, November 29th. And then we have proclamations in recognition of the month of November. We have national diabetes awareness with the theme diabetes and well-being.
Pancreatic cancer awareness month. We can see shine a light early detection saves lives. We have the world day of remembrance for rogue traffic victims. Raise voices not seen. Uh we have the public health thank you day celebrated November 24th. And we
also have small business Saturday um recognized on November 29th. And item C3 is the acknowledgement of receipt of documentation for amendment to alcohol beverage control license 10330033. This is the OPAC steakhouse. This is a
change of the chief financial officer. >> May I have a motion? So move second. >> Mr. Parabelli. Yes. >> Phillips. Yes. Mr. Pero. Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Next, we have resolution 125-441 is a resolution author authorizing the
issuance of a one-year class cannabis cultivator license to Urbanore LLC, license number 113 C-00001-001. >> Uh, questions or comments? >> No. >> Any members of the public with questions
or comments on resolution 125-441? Seeing no members of the public wishing to comment. >> I'll make a motion, president, to close the public comment and move on resolution 125-441. >> I'll second the motion.
>> Mr. Parabelli. >> Yes. >> Miss Phillips. >> Yes. >> Mr. Peter. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tai, >> I'm going to abstain due to my work with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. 301. Resolution 225-442 with a resolution approving the renewal
of the class 2 manufacturers license issued to Sun Extractions Inc. license number 113-N-002-001 for the remainder of calendar year 2025 August 1st through December 31st and calendar year uh 2026 January through
December. And this is for 9A South Gold. And I guess this business started in August of this year. Is that correct, Kathy? Is that's why is that why it shows up as August? >> So this is this is where we're trying to
put all of the renewal >> on a calendar year. >> On a calendar year regardless of when they got >> this has already been exist. This is a renewal year and then it'll renew it for another. >> Okay. Just wanted to confirm
Any other questions or comments from council? Any members of the public? Seeing none, >> Mr. President, I'll move uh resolution 252. >> I'll second that. >> Mr. Carelli? >> Yes. >> Miss Phillips?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Capra? >> Yes. >> Mr. K. >> I'm going to abstain. >> Okay. 301 for your consideration for the consent agenda. We have CA1 through CA30 with the exception of CA8 which is
removed. So, uh, today's consent agenda item has, uh, several hundred,000 in additional grants, um, tax sale certificates, uh, continued work to upgrade our water
pollution control um, uh, facility. uh continued progress on cleaning up uh the brownfield at the uh former Neapara site uh in Brmley
um and a planning grant. Any questions or comments from council? I should have looked at this one a little bit closer when I was looking at my notes, but um I just had a madam clerk, I just had a question on CA2 and
CA7. They're t two different grant special um one's authorizing the execution of the application and agreement and the other one is actually the insertion of the special revenue. >> Okay, I got you. >> Yep, I just wanted to double check. And then
um I had one other question. Oh, I thought I just wanted to just mention um I appreciate the administration working to in CA20 to see the you know reduction that was
agreed to with the interstate waste >> that was you know it's a big contract. So there's it's good when we see uh you know a slight decrease in you know um we're not and and just to confirm no one in
Hamilton is going to lose a pickup day from this. >> Correct. >> So I just want to emphasize that. >> Yeah. The child's just going to be getting the word out. Right. >> Yes. >> So that that's >> of Jan. >> And Jan one it will happen and um some of us will change our
>> pickup days >> pickup days. Anybody who has the Saturday day, there are going to be no more >> Saturday pickups. It's going to be Everybody's still going to have two pickup days a week, but no more Saturdays. Any questions or comments from any
anything else from council? >> No. >> No. >> Anything from the public? Any questions or comments? Janice, could >> you explain TA 19 about the five? >> Could you step up to the microphone please. Janice here as well.
>> I thought I thought it was simple enough I could just ask. Oh, Janice Ber Trinity Avenue Cornell Heights. What's a CA19 rejection of bids of an abandonment of the flag pole replacement? What the heck does that mean? >> Well, what it means is we uh are going
to be replacing some flag poles. We didn't receive uh satisfactory bids for that work. uh the the only bid we got was like a six figure amount of money. So, we're we're pushing the pause button on that project and we're going to come
back to it and and try to get some better u more cost effective bids for that job. >> Six figures just to replace a flag pole. >> Exactly. That's why we're canceling that for the time being for the moment.
>> And where is this flag pole? Well, there there are several flag poles throughout uh the >> Veterans Park. Yes. >> I wouldn't be surprised if it was Clockner Road entrance. There are a lot of flag poles there. >> I think it's just there. >> Yeah, that's
>> No, it was a very large number that was outside of our budget, >> I would say. Sounds like it. Okay. >> We we still have flag p and we'll eventually have new flag polls. >> Thank you. >> But not today. Any other members of the public with
questions or comments? Thank you for joining us, Director Dumont. I was hoping to give you a night off tonight, but thank you anyway for joining us. >> Mrs. Maz, so it's vital. It's vital. It's true.
>> And thank you also, Chief, for joining us. We have the chief of our fire. >> Budget chief. >> We're not ready for budget season. >> Workshops are a few months away yet. >> Let's get through the holidays first.
>> Okay. Uh seeing no members of the public with any additional comment. Can I have the motion on the consent? Council President, um, seeing, uh, further comment by the public on on our consent agenda, I'd look to move CA1 through >> CA30.
>> CA30. >> I'll second the motion. >> On the motion, Mr. Carelli, >> yes. >> Phillips, >> yes. Mr. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Ordinance 125-022 is an ordinance amending and supplementing the code of the council of
Hamilton, New Jersey, chapter 485, vehicles and traffic art to consume parking section 485-9 repealing handicap parking space spaces established at 199 Apple Drive by ordinance6058,
26 Field Street by ordinance 03-032, 395 Massachusetts Avenue by ordinance 12-05 and 429 Wilford Avenue by ordinance 01-027 is the second reading and public hearing.
>> Questions or comments? Any members of the public? Seeing none. >> Council President, I close the public comment portion and move ordinance 125022 on second reading. >> I'll second
on the motion. Mr. Caribell, >> yes. >> Phillips, >> yes. >> Mr. Carol. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ty, >> yes. >> 40. Ordinance 225-023 is an ordinance amending supplement code of the county of New Jersey. Chapter 485 vehicles and traffic article 2 parking
section 485-19. He's establishing handicap parking spaces for 51 Andrew Street, 637 Burb Avenue, 250 East Franklin Street, 306 Mlen Avenue, 208 Norway Avenue, 16 Oregon Avenue, and
2333 South Avenue. Second reading public hearing. >> Any questions or comments from council? Any members of the public wishing to make comments or ask questions? Seeing none, >> council president, I'll make a motion to
move uh to close the public comment and move on ordinance 225-023. >> Madam cler Oh, we need a second. >> Second. >> Oh, there be a second. Thank you. >> On the motion, Mr. Caribelli. >> Yes. >> Phillips. Yes. >> Mr. Pero. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tai, >> yes.
>> Mr. Zero. Ordinance 325-024 is an ordinance amending supplementing the code of the township of Hamilton, New Jersey, chapter 215 C. Section 215-1 municipal court says in second reading >> and this essentially mirrors the fees of
the New Jersey um motion picture and television commission. Correct. >> That is correct. We worked with the state to uh make sure everything was correct. What we're doing on this one is uh we are uh removing the old verbiage
and then uh in the uh ordinance one we're going to be replacing the verbiage with the >> is what I see here. We're just removing a lot of verbiage with the >> all Yeah. All the fees are now in in the clerk. It it makes it a a better place
instead of people having to jump back and forth on ordinances. They always know fees are in 215. So that's that's why it's here. >> Okay. >> Any questions or comments? >> No, sir.
>> Okay. We're going to be film ready. >> M. Can I get a motion? >> Council president. Uh, seeing no further comment by the public, I wish to move on second reading. Um and uh second on second reading ordinance number 25-024. >> Thank you.
>> I'll second the motion. Madam cler >> yes on the motion. Mr. Parabelli. >> Yes. >> Phillips. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pero. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tai. >> Yes. >> 40. Ordinance 125 026 is an ordinance amending and supplementing the code of the county for New Jersey chapter 160.
Commercial filming and or still photography permits. First reading and introduction. Can I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion on um introducing ordinance 125-026. >> On the motion, Mr. Carbell. >> Yes. Mr. Phillips. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pharaoh.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Todd. >> Yes. >> Do we have a sign up? >> I did not. Who put my name on that? I talk enough. I don't I don't need uh any additional
any members of the uh we've reached the uh public comment portion of the meeting. Any members of the public wishing to ask questions or make comments at this time? Steve
Steve Clay Wolfpack wrote, "Uh, last month the contract that governs our animal control officers was just renewed under the last administration. The limitation of the contract was used as the excuse we couldn't provide after hours or on call animal control. It was
used by this administration after the contract was renewed in 2021. So, can somebody tell me what was changed in the contract before it was renewed this year to make the contract not be a hindrance to providing animal control?
>> Sure. >> Question. >> Well, for a couple years I've stood up here and asked about the lack of animal control coverage after hours or on weekends. The contract was given as the excuse. >> That wasn't the only excuse, if that's
what you want to call it. not be recall much of the answer was about that we're not required to according to state statute provide that in the manner in which you're talking and so uh we don't choose to add a
second or third shift for animal control to have 247 coverage and so I haven't done I mean I haven't not heard any recent complaints about our ACOs after hours not responding, but you know, we
can always check on that and see if there's been any issues or problems. >> I believe a specific, and again, it wasn't the only one, but it was whether or not somebody would be on call. So, there was no provision in the contract for on call or standby.
And we did a little dance with the definition of on call. And it turns out the definition given was you can call them if you want. they're just not required to answer. So, is there an on call provision or just
like nothing was done with the contract to address this? >> We have a protocol that they follow for after hours calls that come in and they're contacted all of them and they respond accordingly >> but they're not required to respond. So
>> no, nobody's required to respond >> again by not by um you know, but I think that there's been a protocol put in place that according to the protocol, they are required uh required to respond as to whether they could respond to this
call or not. >> No, there's I did not read any. >> There is a protocol in place. Director Fitzgerald has put that in place >> a long time ago. there the provision is that they get called. There's no provision that somebody actually has to answer their
phone or who that someone might be. >> And then we had we had we had several instances where nobody answered and then >> that process just ended. And then we had >> documentation on those times that nobody responded because I you know I I'd
always like to accept that from you because that's what we need to know in order to then go to the department and say what part of your protocol fell apart here or if it did fall apart. >> I I've brought them in the past. I haven't tracked it recently because it
came down to we can't have anybody be on call because there was no provision in the contract. Well, that is not entirely true, right? There's a standby protocol in the in several of our contracts that they the employees there may fall under,
but it it's what the procedures that we put in place that directors put in place when they're running their departments. There's no requirement, no state statute, no requirement for us to have 247 coverage. However, when you brought
up problems in the past and it may have been that we weren't getting a proper response from anybody after hours, uh, but the director there took care of that with a protocol that again, there's somebody that gets reached out to if
it's a call that is that requires an acco and we had some disagreements on whether on what calls are included in that or not. But regardless, if they're required as an acco to respond to a particular
call after hours, there's somebody that gets called first. If that person doesn't respond, then you know, a message goes to all of them and they're required to respond back and say
whether they can pick up this call or not. Okay, that may have been a change after that after it was after it was published result of what you brought to the attention of this council and to that department and so it was done way back when when you first brought this
up. It it was, but there was no provision that anybody actually had to respond because there were instances after that that I brought it up >> that they can't they could have just ended. So, >> respond or not. >> Then that's so hold on. There's a discrepancy. You're saying respond and you're saying respond. Responding as far
as answering the phone, yes, they have to do responding. As far as having to come out, they don't because it's contractual. They are not unless you're going to pay standby pay, right, on call time, which could get expensive, right? They can they have to they they can make
a they can have an agreement that they're going to respond, but the response could very simply be, "Sorry, I'm not available. Hey, sorry, I had a beer already and I'm not I'm not coming because I can't drive." >> So, that's just to just make sure that we're clear with the respond. they're
they're required to answer the message back as to whether they can respond to the call or not. >> Right. >> Okay. And so, and again, I haven't heard of any issues since
several years ago when this protocol was put in place. And if there's problems going on now, I'd like to hear about it just because then we'll revisit it and say, is this not working anymore? um and that type of thing. But make no
mistake about it, they are entitled to overtime and they do get overtime when they respond to an after hours call. So it's not like they're not getting compensated for it. There's just no requirement in our protocol and in our
management of that division to, you know, have standby pay. There's not it's not part of our our process at this point. >> Okay. not for that condition. >> Yeah. So there there were instances after I had dropped them because the the reason given was there was no standby
provision in the contract. So I I stopped. My understanding of the policy as it was published was the health officer is contacted, he approves whether or not an acco is needed and dispatcher goes down the list. And we had several instances they went down the
list and nobody answered or nobody was available and then everything just stopped. Well, no other protocol was put in place that the director herself >> messages all of them. She has a messaging system with all of them and she was requiring them to
um reply to her her message. >> And and Steve, just so there's certain things that are there's three ways that things could be negotiated, right? It's either mandatorily negotiable, meaning it has to be negotiated, permissively negotiated, right? It means it can be if
both parties want to negotiate and there's stuff that's preempted by law that you can't >> right >> forcing that we can't just jam the schedule down their throat because if they don't want to be on call saying I'm not going to be on call we it's permissively negotiable right it's not like like a um your retirement benefits
right with pensions that's mandated by law it's preempted by law you can't negotiate it your hourly pay or your work schedule right if it's your regular work schedule it's mandatorily negotiable them coming and going to a union and saying, "Hey, we're jamming this down
your throat." No, we're not because we have law on our side. So, while they tried to do it, they can't force the people to be on call. No, but that again there there's more than that. There is the there is a statutory requirement to
provide the service. So, whether you provide it by mandating it in a contract or or another policy is fine. I can't dictate that. But the answer I was given multiple times was the contract wouldn't allow for what we needed to do. If that's no longer the case, I'll go
reread the policy. But that was the last answer I was given. >> Where are we with um we had a shared service agreement that was floating around for a long time. Trenton said they were going to back us up. We >> I don't know. >> Do we have any shared service availability with anybody? >> I don't I don't believe so. No. But
again, I have not heard of any recent problem with us not responding after hours. >> Agreed. However, I was just thinking if we can do a shared service agreement where we have other towns backing us up, >> we back everybody else up for literally everything. It would be nice for
somebody to provide us some help. >> We could look into it again and see if that's an option for us, but you know, again, I'm not sure that there's an issue at this point with that. And you know they may want to do standby but we
don't have a provision for that. We do standby for a couple of other divisions but not for not for >> right. >> We do it for the court municipal court and we do it for WTC which is a 247 operation.
>> Hey Steve, we'll we'll bring you back up in two minutes. >> I I got my answer. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. I'm sorry to make it longer but >> Okay. Appreciate it. Any other Janice? >> Janice Klein, 432 Trinity Avenue,
Cornell Heights. Do we know how many trucks are going into the new warehouse at Congolium? >> No, I don't know. Depends on uh >> I mean, how many bays they have. I don't know how many tenants they have um and
how how many trips they're going to have per day. No, we don't have that information. >> No, I was I mean because originally it was going to be 40 trucks, but then there look like a heck of a lot more bays than 40. >> I don't think >> I mean, you know, 40 openings, you know, for the trucks to come in. It was be 40
truck warehouse, but >> I don't know. I I It has more than 40 bays, so it had to >> Yeah, that's why. Yeah, it was a lot more. So, I was wondering how many more they had. Well, it was approved for however many bays they have. I I promise you they did not build more bays than they were approved to build. Uh our
director would not have allowed them to get by with that. I can promise you that. >> Okay. And um I mean it is looking very nice how they're doing things. >> Good. >> But uh you know planting trees, of course, I don't know who's going to be taking care of all these trees and everything, but they're planted all over
the place. I mean it is looking all the trucks will be in the back not in the front so you won't see them but and they they put like a side lane another extra lane on and then it like fades and then the concrete is right next to the road. That makes me nervous because I'm
thinking if it's a truck, you know, and they don't see that concrete right there next to the lane, they're going to hit it. So, uh, I just thought they could have backed it up a little bit, not made the the curb right even with the road when you had this wide lane and all of a sudden it's into this single thing going
up to 29. >> Are you saying right near the intersection there? Right where the jug handle is. >> No, not where the jug handle is. Further down. >> That's further down. They have they have a V entrance. Well, you know, you can go in, I guess, and come out. >> Oh, yes. I know what you're talking about. >> Right. And they they made like an extra
lane there. >> Yes. you know, I guess for them to to swing and move. >> And then all of a sudden when you're getting to 295, there's not the freedom there. All of a sudden, the concrete's there. And I'm think when I'm driving, I get nervous. I'm thinking, you know, if you ride near the edge, you're going to hit the stupid
thing, you know. So, I was surprised that they did that. But, um, >> the merge lane. >> Yeah. So, uh, but we shall see how it works out. But, uh, >> yeah, it's interesting that they would make the trucks merge all the way into
traffic if they're just going to go back to the right to go on the highway, but I'm sure they had their reasons for >> Yes. >> Yeah. I don't I don't >> It just seems weird, you know. >> Yeah. >> But other >> Well, if there if there's an issue, you know, that's the type of thing that
could be >> Yeah. on once they get rolling. >> Yeah, >> it turns out to be >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, John. >> Any other members of the public with questions or comments?
Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to council comments. I'll kick things off. Um, so I just want to thank everyone for coming out this evening. Um, had a few events I just want to just mention that were, you know, really nice. The
community came together. One, we had our economic development uh, award ceremony. Um, and that was a really great event to really showcase some of the fine businesses in our town nonprofit organization. And also our beautifification award went to Hamilton,
our public works division, which is uh um something that director Thomas and what he does there for that office and that team that they've built. Um really uh um welld deserved recognition. Uh in addition, I just wanted to just say uh to all the veterans out there, have a
have a happy Veterans Day. Um and also there were two events on Saturday um that really were tied to uh military service. one was the dedication of the space force monument. Um I know some of my colleagues had the chance to be there. Um really beautiful monument. Um
and thank you to all the people that made and public works was involved with that process as well. And then also then Robert Wood Johnson in conjunction with the uh Rotary Club of um Hamilton Robinsville had their um had their event flags for heroes um and uh really nice
to highlight some of the veterans that um have given so much. So, and finally, I just want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving because I won't see you until >> the meeting. >> There's no meeting. This is the only one this month. >> Oh, I would wish you all a happy Thanksgiving.
>> So, happy Thanksgiving to everyone and we'll see you in December. Uh the first Tuesday in December 2nd. Thank you, Alex. >> Thank you, Councilman. >> Okay. Um I'll keep my remarks short as
well. We kind of said it. The only other business I wanted to highlight too that was such a great um was to highlight the small business of the year which was Brookwood Cafe. I think we're all very familiar with familyowned owned by two teachers. Um so great to see them be recognized for all they do. They highlight art in the community. They
work with schools. They do a lot of fundraisers and very tied in with the community. Um and again also just it'll be an honor tomorrow to honor Veterans Day and all of our veterans. So happy Veterans Day. And um yeah, that's really all. And and thank you to the gallery
students who were here tonight to join us and everyone else who came out. And I wish everybody a safe and happy Thanksgiving. I'm going to do a little different. I'm going to start off by thanking and congratulating my colleagues. Um last week was a big win. Kept the team together. Nobody works harder than you
three. I think um Nancy and I both um can appreciate how hard you work, right? You lead by example, always prepared. I know Chudy's not here tonight, but uh we're thinking about him and uh want to thank everybody else for coming out and wish you happy Thanksgiving.
Um so, uh there's there's a list of uh as we head into the holiday season, it's often a time when uh folks need a little more help, a little extra. Uh there are um there's the Wilson Center.
>> Yeah, that's definitely true. >> Food drive. Um >> do you mind council jump in? >> Um yes. So the Wilson Center is holding a food drive currently. Um and on the 24th we'll be distributing um 225
Thanksgiving meals that include a turkey, all the sides, all the trimmings, including um pies that are donated by um Stone Terrace and um so the number just keeps going up every year. I think we started when I definitely under 200 maybe 150 175 and
just goes up every year and we and the slots were filled very very quickly this year. elves. Um I know they appreciate any donations whether it's food towards the meals monetary. It all helped. So and thankfully we the we also seen an increase in need due to the freeze on
the SNAP benefits. Glad to see that they were reinstated at least temporarily. Um but that's another I want to say crisis that they're helping uh our community to face. So just keep that in mind please. Thank you council president.
>> Thank you. Um, with that, I'll wish everyone happy holidays and we'll see you next time. This meeting's adjourned.