They did. >> 6:30. Let's get the uh meeting started. This meeting is being held with the benefit of public notice as required by the open public meetings act. Madame clerk, please call the role. >> Here >> please rise for the salute to the flag
and the invocation. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Dear God, as we gather to conduct the
business of Hamilton Township, we humbly ask for your guidance, wisdom, and discernment, we give thanks for the residents of Hamilton, for our families, seniors, veterans, business owners, first responders, healthcare workers, educators, public employees, and the many volunteers whose dedication and
service strengthen our township each day. May our work this evening reflect respect for one another and a commitment to the common good. We ask all these things in your name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Okay. [laughter] >> Okay. There have been just bear with me.
Uh we have some changes. There has been an amendment to the agenda since it was posted on the website. Removed from the agenda is CA16 which is 26-291. That's a resolution approving a second and final one-year extension to contract
23442 with Ted Dolce, Waters and Bugsby and Joseph Jingalian sons, I'm sorry, NJ Fletcher Kramer and son for underground infrastructure, new service repair and emergency repair for the department of WPC not to exude
exclude, excuse me, not to exceed 950,000. CA25 is 26-30 resolution authorizing the execution of a contingency agreement for professional legal services with the firms of Baron
and Bud PC, Simson and Susman LLP, Young and Partners LLP, and Folkman Law Offices PC outside council to serve as special project attorneys for litigation arising from injuries and damages related to and caused by firetruck
manufacturer and other defendants unfair and anti-competitive business practices in violation of antitrust laws. Additions to the agenda include CA25 26-291 resolution authorizing the acquisition
of solar project including the assignment of agreements between Hamilton Township and Solops Hamilton Solar Redevelopment LLC to NJR Clean Energy Ventures 3 Corporation resolutions 26233
26234 and ordinance 26-2 and approving Amendments to contracts. Bless you. >> Right. >> Can I please have a motion to the amendment of the agenda? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Mr. Carelli. >> Yes. Mr.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. And before we move on to the next one, uh I want to wish a happy early birthday to uh our very own sixth council member, uh Miss Janice Galanic. We'd like to wish you a happy birthday
and uh appreciate you being here. And going out of the order uh on the agenda that you see in front of us, uh we are going to start with ordinance 426024, ordinance authorizing the lease of a portion of Hamilton Township property located at 1750 White Horse Marshall
Road, the municipal complex to the Hamilton Township Board of Education. I believe we have some dignitaries in the back. Uh Dr. Roco, if you would like to come forward. School board member. Oh, I'm sorry. School board members, uh, Dina Thornton
and Mr. Cananka, if you'd like to come up also. >> Oh, Christina, I didn't see you. I apologize. [laughter] >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. Um, Gordon, Alisonation.
Um, so first I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here this evening. Um, I just want to make a few comments on the proposed lease agreement between the Hamilton Board of Education and Hamilton Township Hill Complex. Um, we would like to truly thank you for the
opportunity that you have given to the board of education. Um, this is such a wonderful opportunity not only for the board of education, for the township, for our community. Um, and we are looking forward to the continued success and the continued partnership with the
township. um for many years to come which will benefit our community. So we again we would like to truly thank you for the opportunity. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening council. Um, as part of the negotiating team for this uh particular
project, I want to thank uh Miss Monzo, uh the mayor and all the support from the uh the township and the uh the the four people behind or three people behind me uh for the uh amount of work
that it took for us to all come to an agreement that is beneficial for this township and for the the uh the population of community. Uh unfortunately, not there's another unfortunate thing, but uh our former
business uh this was business administrator uh Katherine Atwood has uh retired as of June 30th. She was also a big part of that uh that negotiations. So again, thank you very much. Looking
forward to a long prosperous relationship and uh good luck to all of us. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right, Rich. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Good evening. I also want to share in the story and Mr. Ginka's
remark. This has been a long process and I appreciate the opportunity to have worked together with the township to bring it to fruition and I look forward to the joint partnership to come. I think that this is a step closer to revitalizing our schools that will help
our children learn better. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, council, and thank you for having all of us here tonight to speak. Responso, mayor, council members, I want to thank all of you for the collaboration that we have had together for over two years. Having us have a
seat at the table is greatly appreciated. Being able to sit down and talk about how this building can serve the community, the whole community from the town government to the board of education is greatly appreciated. From the board of education's perspective, we
are combining two buildings. Now, the community needing either the board, my office, curriculum office, HR, special services, and other departments can come to one location. At the same time, if they need you, they can come there.
Also, we appreciate the opportunity to work with you. We look forward to the opportunity when we all move in together. And as my board members have said, a long and prosperous time together. Thank you. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Before I open it up, uh I'll open up council comments uh prior to opening to the public. Go ahead. You go first. Council President, I'll just say um although I haven't been intricately involved with this uh ongoing process, um I know the school and the administration and the administrative
officials have been at the table with our team here and I'm I'm just thankful to be a part of this process. Um um you know, I think it's a necessity for our community. I think it's um um an important um you know as we move forward
we've we've foregone the days of the corn farms and and we've transformed ourselves into one of the seventh or eighth largest populations and we have you know um a burgeoning community uh with different needs and to have a central location where we can access
whether it's a school issue, whether it's a permitting issue, a zoning issue um at a at a really you know, the center of the of our town. Um, I think is and have a good community space. Um, not to say that well, this is a little bit
[laughter] not the best space. Um, but but just to have um, you know, a better space for our community um, is something that I think is important. And so I stand with you. I appreciate your comments this evening. Um, and I I'm thankful for the
administration for all that they've done uh along the way along with our mayor uh Jeff Martin. So that's all I wanted to say. Um, just echo a little bit on what Councilman Caravan said. Um, you know, being naturally we're probably the
eighth or ninth largest municipality in the state of New Jersey. We have one of the largest school systems in the state of New Jersey. and to come under one roof and anybody that's been at either one of them schools and I'd be dating my age. I went to kindergarten on Park
Avenue um you know back in the early 60s and uh you could see that the buildings are they're not adequate. This building's not adequate. That's not adequate. We we need to show that hey, you know what? We're the one of the biggest municipalities in the
in the state of New Jersey. We need to have facilities that we need to be proud of. And I think at the end of the day when this is all said and done, I think the residents on they once they have a chance to to go to that facility are going to appreciate not only the workmanship and craftsmanship is done
because this job as a former trades person myself um that job had a project labor agreement on it ensuring that local trades skilled local trades people had the opportunity to work on that job in their hometown. You know, many many times people have to go to work in other
towns, but to have an opportunity to work in their hometown is tremendous. But one other thing that we did, not only with the PLA, is we did a 30-day payout to our contractors, our subcontractors, to make sure that they're getting paid in a timely manner,
that the GC's ain't holding their money. So, that was one of the most important things we did. And I'd like to say, and I don't know many municipalities that ever put that into a project labor agreement. I'd like to think we were probably one of the first to do 30-day
payouts to subcontractors. Um, I'm proud of all the work that went into that by this administration and with with the schoolboard administration, everybody coming together to um build what I think is going to be a fantastic facility, one
that we all could be proud of. >> Thank you. Uh this building has served our community for the past 100 years. Uh the township library was originally in the basement of this building. That's how much uh this community has grown in
the time since this building was first built. Uh and I'm looking forward to working in a new building that is going to serve our community for the next 100 years. I want to thank our superintendent and our school board members uh for the extraordinary level
of cooperation uh that has resulted in uh this arrangement that is uh going to benefit the community uh in a multitude of ways. Access to services, but also financially. Uh we're going to be
recognizing uh financial benefits and savings uh for our community as a result of this uh cooperation between the school board and the township. And uh we're going to be able to repurpose this property and I'm looking forward to
seeing that happening in the future. Uh so uh this is a milestone moment. I'm proud uh to to be here uh this evening to be a part of it. Thank you. >> Uh thank you to all my colleagues on council and to the board and of course
to um Dr. Roco. I just want to also I mean you guys have said everything I was probably thinking, but I do want to thank the administration, thank the board, I think Dr. Roco and everyone who's been involved. Um try to make excellent points of being able to keep our labor local has been a huge um and
just seeing the progress that we've made. I know along the way it's only been better and better as it's come along. Um but you know as a resident with two kids who went through the Hamilton Township school system and have had to get permits and have had you know as we all have to be able to have all of
us under one roof. Um I just think it also shows our community how unified we are as a community. We're here together it's not the board of ed and then the township separate. we work together collaboratively and I believe that will only grow under this um under one roof
and and again it's just going for our residents I I can't think of a better and more than 20 years ago when I moved here would I have ever thought that Scott strip mall was going to be our new municipal complex and never would have thought but um what a great job that they've done and you all
have done in negotiating this so I just want to say thank you >> I'm going to take a little lighter Uh, no offense, but we'll start off with a little humor. Um, I saw the World Cup was selling uh their turf for about $300
or $400. Um, I'm thinking about selling the wallpaper. [laughter] I'm not sure we're going to get that much. maybe three or four dollars, but um we will take offers. Okay. >> But um really it's it's a testament to the cohesiveness and um the workability
um the friendship and and and just the business partnership that we have together. Uh it's nice to see the solidarity that you're here and uh we look at uh also coming and supporting you as well. So thank you for being here. Uh we did move you up because I know we have a long agenda and I know
you have uh other stuff to be attending. So, um, that's that's really all I have. Uh, do we make a motion already? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Any any members from the public wishing to comment? I thought we did that already because they were up there.
Seeing none. >> Council President, I'll make a motion to move on ordinance 4 26-024. >> No, no, no, no. 24 >> 26024. Did >> you get it right? Okay, I'll second
that. >> Mr. Marabella, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> We would like to thank you for uh joining us. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, moving into our normal
agenda >> discussion. We have the presentation of the orders reported by police and company. >> Uh, [laughter] all right. My name is Bob Switcher. I'm a partner with Cleaning Company. Uh, we just completed the 25 audit. Is that
microphone on? >> Excuse me. >> Trying to make sure the microphone's on. There you go. I got it. Yes, I hear. Um, so I was I was I was here not too long ago actually. Last year was our first year and it took a long time for us to get the audit done. I think I was here in November. Um but this year uh we're
having more knowledge of what goes on here in Hamilton and the records are better on top of that. It was a much easier audit. Uh everything's done. The the due date was moved to August 31st this year, but it's done well in time. Um just a little talk about our audit process. Okay, we're here to determine whether your financial statements are
fairly stated and whether you're in compliance with the rules and regulations of the state of New Jersey. And so we test the records of of the township to see if in fact they are in compliance. I'm happy to report that they unmodified opinion. That means it's a clean opinion. Uh there's no issues there. As far as the compliance, we did
have two areas of non-compliance that you'll have I think you have a corrective action plan on the agenda later on. Uh one dealt with your fixed assets. Uh you're required to any assets over $5,000 you're required to keep a listing of those. And the hatch has not done that for many many years. and uh
it's a very cumbersome task and with the idea of moving into a mun new municipal building, it makes sense to hold off on that until you move into the new building and not have to count things that are you're going to get rid of ahead of time. So, I think that, you know, it'll probably be around for a while. Maybe by 27 you'll get it done.
Um and then the other one dealt with some re uh some items in the tax office as far as reconciling uh leans and things. So, we have somebody from our office working with your tax collector to try to get that rectified before the end of this year. So it should be taken care of. Um overall uh the town's in
very good financial shape. Um which is helpful for bond ratings and things like that. When you do offer notes or bonds you know you have a good rating your interest rates going to be lower and attachment is in good shape with that. Um other than that you know I'd like to thank uh you know the administration and the finance office. They did a great job. It's really uh you know we were
here last was our first year auditing but we were here years back trying to help out in finance and it was a mess. um you know we Jenny and the team came into at that point it was it was and it's really been cleaned up a lot um you know from from our perspective as the
orders just seeing what was there before to where we are now it in in two years has been leaps and bounds I imagine get better going forward so I guess just want to thank them for that also I'd be glad to take any questions for anybody on council about the audit process or the order anything like that >> anybody have questions
>> I was just going to say council uh president um Bob the one issue that and I remember I I you brought to mind uh was the one corrective action uh plan for the one item that deals with I think the is it inventory of equipment and also
>> and and also um tangible things that we're going to bring over to the new municipal building. We then should then keep a >> a log log of that information. >> What most towns do is you get a company come in and they take the first inventory for you and then as you
purchase things you add them to that. Okay. because you didn't have a list forever. As far as anybody else here has ever been, they've never kept a list. So to start from scratch and the point being, you could do it now. You're inventorying stuff that you may not even keep. So why pay to have somebody come in and take care of all that for you
that you're just going to throw it out, wait till all the new stuff is together. Then you go around, they'll go to public works, all the things that are over $5,000, then you have an inventory of it, and you're able to keep track of what's going on. >> So you keep maintain a value and a depreciation rate on them. >> Don't appreciate it. you know, we're not actually some some of the companies
actually do it. You're not required to under New Jersey statutes. >> Okay. >> Okay. In a normal business, you would depreciate it, but in New Jersey government, you don't depreciate it. But again, it's just it's it's it's another control. Okay? It's a control. If you have a listing, okay, ideally, what you do is you have a listing and then you go
around and spot check. Okay, are these five things in this where they were or did somebody walk off of them? Now, you know, the things that people are going to walk off are probably lower cost items, so they're probably not going to be on that listing, but again, it's just it's just another control to have in place to keep your assets in line. >> Thank you.
>> Sure. >> Very good. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Good job. >> Thank you. Have a good night. Ma'am ready. Next for consideration we have the minutes of May 5th and May 19th regular
council meeting. >> Council President, I'll make a motion to move on the minutes of May 5th and May 19th. >> I'll second that. >> Mr. Carelli. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Phillips. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Communication C1 is a joint proclamation
for the month of July recognizing the anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act. We've seen this year is the world works better. >> Council President, I'll move communication C1. >> I'll second. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Resolution 124 page 275 is a resolution approving the removal of the Texas laboratory license 01 license issued to Green Analytics H LLC for the remainder of calendar year
2026 June 18th 26 and December 31st >> motion please >> I'll make a motion on resolution 126 >> sorry >> any questions or comments from questions or comments on resolution one
um from the public. Should I talk? >> No, I'll take a motion. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to move on resolution 126-275. >> I'll second it. >> Mr. Parabell. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Phillips. >> Yes. Mahara. >> Yes.
>> Next consideration we have consent agenda items EA1 through CA43. >> Only 43. Oh. [laughter] >> All right. Running through this list one through seven. Uh there's a several
grants. Uh $1 million for a fire apparatus. Uh $50,000 for smoke detectors and CO2 uh detectors. Um I'm sorry, carbon monoxide detectors.
Wrote that down. Uh 650,000 uh for breathing apparatuses for our firefighters. uh also a drive sober or get pulled over grant. Nine, temporary uh fee waiver for the shelter for August 1st to the 31st.
Uh 12 is an online auction uh for surplus properties and material. Uh 14 adding vendor purchases of an equipment. 17 is uh item for sludge disposal.
Um 1920 19 through 22 are all change orders for uh paving jobs. Uh all are decreases uh saves uh approximately $217,000 which we all like.
Number 20, which is also one of those paving jobs. We did have somebody come to a past council meeting and complain about one of the roads uh that was paved uh or that needed to be paved. Uh we did not pave it with this job and they are giving us money back because the road is
going to be paved once PSEG uh puts a new gas line in and PSEG is actually going to pay for the paving. So two jobs. So we just pushed the job off and then PSEG is going to put the gas line in and pave the road. So it saves us money. Why pave it? Rip it up and then
repave it. So we're saving money there. Um 24 is a small increase. That's for a WPC uh project. That was a small increase of 13,026 is a project we're all proud of. Uh
that's the cruiser road property um that we purchased. That's the demolition of that um that structure there. 27 is a fence uh for DT DPW around their maintenance yard. Uh 28, another one we're proud of,
three-year contract with the Wilson Center. 33 uh was a leak uh right uh route 130 that was emergency work. >> Uh then we have some refunds and overp payments. 42
um is accepting and approving the corrective action plan uh for the audit and 43 is the certification to the local finance board for the review of the corrective uh action plan for the audit. Uh questions or comments? I know there's
a lot. Anybody from council wishing to uh begin? >> Just just one question and one comment. Um on the sludge removal is our ultimate goal, right? We we purchased I I think I may have asked um um our director that before. I mean, we're paying a lot of
money for sludge hauling, right? And we went and purchased containers, right, to to haul the sludge ourselves, right? >> Are we any closer to starting that or we have? we started it and this is addition to it. >> We have this is the continuation of the
contract that we had in place before we got that started. So, we have gotten it started. It's running very well. >> Uh but we keep this in place and we keep renewing it to use it just in case. >> We have more than we only have one
driver and one rolloff that's taking the the making these trips. Okay. So, if we needed more than that at any given point or for whatever reason that person was off or we were down uh the vehicle, then
we would use this contract. It's only we don't pay it out unless we need it and use it. So, it's really just in place as a safe. >> Okay. That's that's perfect. And I just wanted to make one comment and and it regards paving and obviously and like
council president Papero stated was u you know one of the roads wasn't being done because uh public service had to run a gas man and one of the things that this council and this administration fought to do was to make sure we ain't disrupting our roads. The last thing you
want to do is pave a road. And whether it's Trenton Water or Aqua Water coming in or in this case, public service, no sooner you get done paving a road, then you're tearing the road up again. So, you know, does it happen occasionally, you know, especially if there's a break,
it might happen, but to get all utilities [clears throat] done before we pave the road is very important to do. So, um hopefully we continue in that manner. And uh and the good thing is the gas man will be replaced and that road will be paved uh next year. So
other than that, that's all I have. >> I guess my Kathy, I hate to put you on the spot here. If you don't know, that's fine. But I mean, we have several grants that are on on the docket tonight, which I think is great. Um are they like the childhood lead grant, the recycling tage grant, are they similar in pre previous
years? I didn't do my homework until actually research back go back a year, but like is this something that's kind of the same typical things that we're we're seeing? There hasn't been a reduction. >> No, there hasn't been a reduction in them. And again, we're not sure exactly how much we're going to get any given
year. And we were happy though with the the health ones. A lot of times those we're not sure they're going to be renewed and whether they're going to find the money for that, but in this case, we did for that one, which is good news. Um, and the recycling grant is money that we get back depending on how
much we recycle turn in and all of that. So, that's been very consistent. We have a really good recycling program >> within our public works department. >> Okay. >> That actually leads into my uh question I was going to ask which is the uh
public health infrastructure grant. Is there a specific project that we have uh earmarked? >> Which number is that? Because I wanted uh C83 >> and I want to commend the administration for uncovering several hundred,000 more
dollars in grants. I have to give credit to all of the departments and the directors and the divisions because we have our directors and even supervisors down to the supervisor level are very seeking out grants >> and making sure that they're handling
the grants that we do get properly in terms of reporting and use because >> a lot of times they won't renew it and you won't have a chance at getting it again if you're not following all of the rules. So, it it's not easy, but they do a great job. They they work on it a lot,
and they love doing it because it really helps us serve the public so much better. Um, I don't know off the top of my head what this is for. Um, it's for the $119,372. So, I can I can get an answer for you
and I'll I'll give it to all of you. Um yeah, I just wanted to you already highlighted President, but just um see happy to see the New Jersey state budget included grant for our fire division of $1.1 million and the decreases. Um
always good to see just to clarify on the CA26 the that's open space that was donated to us or we acquired we bought it. >> We bought it. >> That's open. Just so everybody know I just wanted to point that out. That's open space. That's that's preserved on
cruisers. So once we have those dwellings down, that'll that'll remain that way. >> And by the way, that's a a project that a developer was trying to build a warehouse on that property. So that's a warehouse that we prevented uh from being built and now are going to be
preserving that land as open space. >> Look, Councilwoman Phillips, the property and that we're looking to take down fronts on on um Koozer. >> Yeah. And it's a it's basically dilapidated about
I was just saying once it's once it's like I just wanted to be clear for the public that it was it's going to remain. >> Yes. >> We're not demolitioning anything to build anything >> anything. Correct. >> Um and just on behalf of um on being on the board of the John Wilson Center, I'm very happy to see the three-year
contract. Um as you know many people are aware, you know, there's many needs in our community and they really um they're so important. We had a very successful trippy trade this year. It was great. So word's getting out more and more, not just to fund raise for the organization, but also so people know where to come to
get help. So I'm very happy to see that. That was all I had. >> Any members of the public uh wishing to comment coming up. >> Juliana Carella um CA9 about waving the fees. So I understand this is part of
the clear the shelter campaign. Normally I'm not for waving fees, but I understand why it's being done. But my uh concern is more that if we're going to generate all these applications when the current applications aren't being processed, it's just going to make people more upset because I went twice
this past week trying to help someone get a cat that is actually already sponsored for adoption. And both times I took her, no one was able to process her application and also on all the days that she called and stuff as well. So, I'm just worried that if we're promoting waved adoption fees and we're going to
get all these more people applying and they're not being answered, there's already like some outrage about that. So, I fear that's just going to get worse. >> We'll have to look into this. This is the first I'm hearing it to thank you for raising this as an issue because >> why would that be true?
>> I I don't know. So, I I can't imagine. I mean, we clearly have staff there and they I don't even know who's responsible for that. there's multiple people and something is just falling through the cracks. But let's find out because that's something that I'll look into
starting tomorrow. >> Thank you. >> Come on up, please. >> Lisa Williams, I also want to comment on CA9. I've commented multiple times when we do this that fee is not our issue. Um, you know, you factor in what Juliana
and her friend went through. We lose people to adopt to other towns and other counties when they get frustrated. And our animals continued to sit in cages. >> And a month ago, we had a board of health meeting where they said they were going to go back and update the bios. I
just counted them. Out of 32 cats, you got 22 cats with no bios. So, we wave fees, but we don't do anything to find these cats homes or these pets homes. I reached out on a post today because I saw a dog in one of the videos Juliana
did and it wasn't posted on the website as a found stray. It's a yellow lab. The dog is still there. It's being spayed tomorrow. So, some dogs get posted on our website as found stray. Some do not. I was curious about the little tiny senior dog PJ because it never showed up
on the website as well as a found stray. And a volunteer had posted so I knew it existed. And then I saw that the volunteer update it went to rescue. We're not giving owners fair shot at getting their animals. We don't do our job. The shelter manager sat up there
and said, "I will get this done this week at on that meeting." 22 cats. One's been there since March, some since April, some since May. I don't agree with waving fees. I I totally support clear the shelter, but not in our town
because we don't do our job first. >> [clears throat] >> Anyone else from the public wishing to comment? Yes, ma'am. >> Hello. How you doing? Lori Sarnney, 62 Aspen. All right. So, I came um last month uh May 24th, I applied to be a volunteer at the animal shelter. June
16th, I believe the board meeting was. I did give concerns about the no response to the email. I want to say Danielle did email me back about a week later. In the email, it did say when the position was filled. Um, I would be reached out to about orientation and being able to help as of now. I still have not been
contacted. Do you know if the position has been filled? >> I do not. >> I think it's I just heard today. >> Okay. >> Yes, we've brought in somebody and I don't know what at what stage, right, that her on boarding is, right? So
again, I can get a better answer for you in terms of the timeline now going forward. Okay. and what her priorities are going to be in terms of going through the applications for the volunteers because right I I think my concern is it's been a long time I'm a
teacher so summer I actually have time to help and volunteer so it actually is just like frustrating that I want to do something good and can't and I feel like we should be the town that has the most volunteers that would be really cool so I will be I'll wait I'll come next month and see if I'm responding to hopefully I will
>> I'm hoping you get an opport because this is somebody that has experience is doing it as well. So, we're hoping that she's going to hit the ground running. >> Okay. Also, just a random question on the website, um it says due to overwhelming number of dogs in the Hamilton shelter as of June 14th, 2024,
they're closing dog intakes to surreners and public drop off stray animals. Is that still current? Is that still apply? >> Yes, we changed that. Yes. >> You have to change that. >> We have not changed it back. It's it's still >> All right. Thank you.
Any other questions or comments on the consent agenda items only? >> Seeing none, do I have a motion, >> Council President? Seeing none, I look to close the public comment portion and move on uh consent agenda item CA1 through CA43.
>> I'll second that. >> On the motion, Mr. Parell, >> yes. Mr. Ty, >> yes. Mr. >> Yes. Phillips, >> yes. >> Yes. Next we have second reading of public hearing ordinance
012. This is an ordinance amending public New Jersey chapter 45 vehicles and traffic article 3 traffic regulations [clears throat] section 45-24 oneway street. >> So a motion to remove.
So first we uh because this was tabled we need a motion to uh remove from the table. >> So moved >> second. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Phillips. >> Yes. >> No.
>> I'm confused. [laughter] >> I think we needed >> was the motion to remove not to vote. >> I'll vote yes. I'll vote yes. >> Continue your discussion. Any questions or comments from council uh prior to
uh my opening remark? >> Well, this is um the oneway street. >> Yeah, this was the uh ordinance that proposed making a street a temporary one-way street. Um it's opening up uh traffic problems. It's opening up
potential accidents. I've just never heard of a temporary one-way street. Um, we're asking people to put their phones down and pay attention to the road. Um, this is a terrible ordinance. You can tell how I'm going to vote. >> I I'll welcome anybody uh anybody try to
persuade me or any other comments to persuade. >> No, for council president, the issue was this was um that that this was even brought up was because it was near a school, right? there was that you know and that's why they were trying to come up with a way to the flow of traffic
with some of the parents picking up their children stuff like that so that's why this was but council president makes a really good point that that that you know >> we have found an alternative >> so any questions or comments from the
public >> uh every year just uh to put it on the record every year we do adopt a traffic plan Um so the traffic plan would be that the police have the ability to change traffic, shut roads down. Um so
we are going to adopt this road as uh into that plan so that they can just close the road down for 20 minutes or 30 minutes every day as kids get picked up from the school. No need to make it uh to put a sign up. The sign was going to be a paragraph long and we want people
to read that while we're driving and trying to avoid grandparents and kids. >> Not a real great great idea. I thought you were left. [laughter] >> Uh, do we have a motion >> to reject it? >> No. >> Wow. >> Motion to vote. I just need a motion.
>> Okay. All right. Seeing no more comments from the public, I move on ordinance number 126-012. >> On second reading. >> Oh, sorry. I'll second. >> Mr. Parabelli. >> Wait, just to make sure. I'm I'm voting
I'm voting this down. Correct. No. No. [laughter] >> No. >> No. >> No. [laughter] >> I thought about it just to wake everybody up. >> I don't know if you're voting no or not.
[laughter] County approval 9.9 $9,900,000. Therefore, [snorts] an authorizing issuance of $9,45,000 and general approval of bond notes of
the township to finance space. Second read >> questions or comments from council. >> Any specific areas that this is being used? >> No, this is the requests from all of our departments and divisions. Okay.
>> So, we kind of call it a multi-purpose capital ordinance. And so, it has a number of things in there. You can see in the detail of the ordinance, right? All the different categories of things that are on our capital project list for this year.
>> Everything from tech to park improvements and and various miscellaneous other >> um >> equipment of expenses. >> Yep. Vehicles. >> This was all the fun we had during the budget cycle. >> Yes. >> We went over these items. So,
>> things we already approved. Yes. >> Uh as far as capital >> you reviewed along the directors. [snorts] >> Anybody else? Any questions or comments from the public? >> Madam clerk motion.
>> Uh council president, I'll make a motion uh seeing no members of the public uh wishing to comment that we close the public comment portion and move ordinance 26-022 on second reading. I'll second on the motion. Mr. Parabell,
>> yes. Yes. Mr. Whan, yes. Yes. Mr. Paper, >> yes. Ordinance 3.623 is an ordinance in the county of Hamilton in the county, Missouri providing for the township wastewater treatment system and for the township
appropriating 8,32 330,000. Therefore, authorizing the issuance issuance of 8,330,000 until utility bonds are not with the counc second reading of public hear. >> Questions or comments from my
colleagues? >> Our director Kerry uh at water pollution control has uh spelled out a multi-year plan of of critical uh and necessary improvements and this is a part of that plan.
>> Agreed. Jimmy, just one comment and you know I know sometimes I beat this a little bit but we approved on our municipal building a project labor agreement ensuring that we get skilled trades people on these projects and I'm
hoping that the township administration will commit to a project lab agreement on this particular projects which is now the law in the state of New Jersey on wastewater treatment facilities. >> Okay. Well said. Any questions or comments
from the public? >> Do I have a motion? >> Council President, seeing no further comment from the public on this ordinance, I'd look to move um on second reading um and adoption ordinance number 326-023. >> I'll second it. >> Motion, Mr. Parelli.
>> Yes. >> I Yes. >> Mr. Whan, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pero, >> yes. Ordinance 5 26-025. An ordinance authorizing the settlement of litigation and authorizing the county to enter into an agreement with DW LLC
for the acquisition of land premises improvements and fixtures located at 1768 street in the township of Hamilton designated as block 1637 of the Hamilton County tax map for the public purpose of affordable housing and the protection of public health and
safety purchase price of $200,000. questions or comments from council on ordinance 5. >> I just have one quick question. This was based on our appraisal. >> The appraisal was a little bit lower, >> but you can go >> but in order so this was an eminent domain action, right?
>> Uh this just to step back a little bit for anybody in the audience. This relates to the 20 I think 2015 fire that took out almost a full block um on East Bay Street. [clears throat] We have spent now six years either arms length transactions, tax sale
foreclosures, and now now we're at the point of eminent domain. This is one of the eminent domain cases. Um, and so in order to settle the case, we were able to offer a little bit more than what the appraised value is, the market value, because actually in reality, it's been
going up since this all started. Um and so we we believed that it was a it was a fair negotiation of our for the settlement of litigation and to buy the contract. >> Is this is this the last piece of that that block that has to be negotiated?
>> We have one more. Okay. And that's also an eminent domain litigation. And um and then and then we're very close. And so we've actually not only bought either, you know, bought or or somehow taken ownership of that whole [clears throat] strip in front of East
State Street, there's actually we bought an arms length transaction, there's a piece of property behind those houses. So there's a corn there's a business, there's a garage, there's a triangle. And so we're going to take that down. We now own that as well. We're going to take that down as well. So what will
enable this to happen is when we build affordable housing there, the owners will be able to drive on that road directly behind it and be able to come park and be able to come in. So it actually provides a much safer, better piece of property overall for affordable
housing. >> But once that's once that's completed and we finalize everything, we'll be able start moving forward with actually seeing some development good development in that area. >> Absolutely. Yeah, we'll be able to take down the rema remainers of the houses and that that piece of parkway in the
back and then affordable housing will be built and uh we'll put the restrictions on it and it'll be it's part of our part of our plan and it's it's a great renovation of that whole area. We're very excited about >> good. Yeah. I just I just want to uh
thank our township attorney um for the tremendous amount of work over the past several years um that has gone into and continues to go into uh this project uh to
consolidate all these postage stampsized properties. Um in some cases the ownership wasn't even entirely clear. Um, and so a lot of work had to go into um getting rid of an eyesore for this
neighborhood, a burnedout property that sat neglected for several years before Mayor Martin came into office. Uh, under Mayor Martin, the the legal team has been doing the hard work uh to get this project done. Uh this is going to be a
nice improvement uh once we have reached that point where we can uh build affordable housing. It's going to help us uh meet our affordable housing need. Um and it's going to just beautify the neighborhood too. So I'm looking forward and uh grateful for the continued
progress on that. >> Question. >> Thank you. >> Questions or comments? questions or comments from the public. >> Do I have a motion? >> Council President, seeing no questions from the public, I move on ordinance
number five 26-025. >> I'll second that. >> On the motion, Mr. Carabell, >> yes. I >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. described here. Ordinance 126-026 is an ordinance adding and amending
supplementing the code of the council with panel New Jersey part 3 land use legislation chapter 550 land development article one title section 550-8 detention centers marshal facilities fresh facility scales and first reading
and introduction >> motion please >> I'll move ordinance 126-026 on first reading >> I'll Second >> on a motion. Mr. Caraval. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
We are ordinance 226 jersey 7 is an ordinance amending and supplementing the voter protection of New Jersey part two general legislation chapter 73 jewelry precious metals gem secondhand goods 27 dealers responsibilities requirements
and establishing a 10day waiting period before sale first reading instruction sorry take a motion to move on ordinance two on first reading and introduction 26-027 >> a Second it >> on the motion. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Ordinance supplementing New Jersey 45 traffic article two parking section 45 establishing a handicap parking space at
209 Norway Avenue. First reading and introduction. Council President move on ordinance number three 26-028 on first reading and introduction. I'll second that. >> On the motion, Mr. >> Yes. Mr.
>> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. 426-29 ordinance amending supplementing the code of council parking section 25-9 for parking at all times on certain streets establishing no
parking zones on Randall Avenue and Avenue. >> I'll make a motion on first reading and introduction of ordinance 426-029. >> I'll second that. >> On the motion, Mr. Paravelli. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. [snorts] >> Ordinance 26-30 is an ordinance authorizing the private scale of real property known or designated as block 21102 block 64 located on Peter Lane in the township of Hamilton County.
First reading introduction. >> I'll make a motion uh council president to move on ordinance 526-030. >> I'll second. on the motion. >> Yes. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Phillips. >> Yes. Mr.
>> Yes. Resolution 1239 resolution referring to the code to the code amendment to the code part 3 language legislation chapter 550 land development article one item section
550-8 detention center facility correction facility boards 405-26 >> questions or comments from council just a quick comment for the uh public we're
we're forwarding this to the planning board uh with this resolution. Uh this is uh pertaining to ordinance 126-026 and and what we're doing there is we are specifically prohibiting
uh corrections facilities, jails, uh detention centers in any zone in Hamilton Township and also expressly prohibiting warehouses from being used for temporary or long-term uh detention activities. Isn't that one zone uh
excused for that? >> Uh no any zone or expression for sorry the way it's written is uh subsection A is non-municipal detention centers non-municipal detention centers facilities correctional facilities jails
and prisons are not per pro permitted use in any zone and are expressly prohibited. >> I thought RD was still allowed. >> Not according to the way it's written. >> Okay. The backup material is not in the We don't have that yet, right? >> I'm sorry. >> We don't have the backup yet for that.
>> Sure. >> Is it with the ordinance? >> Not Oh, like is it [clears throat] not? >> It's not in the ordinance. >> What's not in >> the backup material is not with ordinance one right now? >> They're they're in in the pack in our in our
>> I'm sorry. >> In our in our agenda packet. >> Oh, that's what I got. Oh yeah. No, there there there is a memo attached. >> Okay. Thank you. I got nothing. [laughter]
>> Just follow. I want to look at this first. Just give me one second. Do you have yours pulled up that I can look at? >> Yeah, I have the uh memo for you. >> Our wonderful wife. It's
Hard loading. Let's see. This is >> I think it's under the ordinance of 26. >> Yeah. Sorry. >> Want to make sure we spoke accurately. >> Hel. Okay. Thank you.
I didn't see that. Any members of the public wishing to comment on uh resolution 126319? Yes, ma'am. Janu Cornell. I I'm I'm very glad that you did this because like that empty warehouse at Gongolium. I was beginning
to get a little paranoid that all of a sudden we're going to see immigration people and everything in there being held. So I was glad to see this is going through that we're not going to allow that kind of stuff in this township. That's stupendous. Good job. >> Thank you.
>> Anyone else from the public wishing to speak? Seeing none, do we have a motion? >> Council president. I'll make a motion on resolution 126-319. >> I'll second. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Miss Carell, you're up first. >> Okay, the shelter. So, let's start with one of the most frustrating parts of this entire situation that the township continues to double down on a flawed
process while residents are actively offering help and reasonable solutions. I've repeat I've repeatedly offered various types of support, including to personally pay for legitimate independent evaluations for the red designated dogs. Friday, I met with Mayor Martin and he agreed to request an
estimate from an outside evaluator and trainer that I provided to him. I do not know this person. I found them through the IAABC, which is the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, where she is an actual certified dog behavior consultant, not just a member like Laura and I both paid
to date. I appreciate that step. However, there is a major problem with the process as it was explained to me and everyone needs to understand it. Even if this outside professional comes in with these verified accreditations way more than I've been able to verify for the current trainer, the current
trainer, Laura, would still retain the final say, meaning Laura could completely disregard the professional's findings and continue classifying the dogs however she chooses. We cannot bring in a more qualified outside professional, call the process independent, and then allow the person whose original decisions are being
questioned to overrule the results. Merlin remains one of the clearest examples as to why this matters. His reports from the training institute describe a dog who is learning, progressing, and responding to training. This does not mean he had no behavioral challenges. It means those challenges required someone to actually train him
and give an honest assessment of the entire dog, not just a label that followed him without opportunities to improve. Every positive report about Merlin further calls the current evaluator into question. residents were promised in this room a neutral third-party assessment. Watching your
friend handle a dog and then writing an opinion is not the same as independently evaluating that dog. And if the township considers the outside assessment meaningful, then the actual findings need to matter, not just the parts that support decisions already made. Take Lockwood and Maverick for example. The
report described both of them as not appropriate for novice handlers. That does not sound like dogs who should be completely restricted from every experienced volunteer. So, why are they still being treated as though no qualified volunteer can work with them? Why have they not been moved to yellow? And at the very least, why is Steve not
still permitted to work with them? The township cannot use Amy's report to defend keeping dogs restricted while ignoring descriptions in that same report that suggests a dog may be appropriate for experienced volunteers. Either the full report matters or it does not. I am also now hearing from
multiple people who applied to adopt animals after seeing my post. days or in many cases weeks have passed without receiving follow-up. These are people who are actively applying, calling, leaving messages, and emailing the shelter because they want these animals. The township cannot continuously say
that the shelter is overcrowded and desperately needs adopters while allowing willing applicants to sit unanswered. And then there's my Oprah request for the third party evaluation. I was told the township did not have it yet and my request was extended. And then later it was closed, saying that
there would be no report. Only after I raised the issue very publicly online was the report produced. I then requested the original email which confirmed that the township had possessed it since June 9th, the same day that I requested it. That document should have also been responsive to other related requests, including mine
and fees, but it was not produced. And this is completely unacceptable. And to be clear, my concern is not with the clerk's office. I understand where the information came from and who participated in the decisions. And I intend to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable. The growing response to my petition makes it
clear that concerns about the shelter and lack of accountability from this township are not just ours. And if anyone is waiting for me to lose interest, get hired, or move on, that is not going to happen. I will continue asking questions and sharing what I uncover with the public. The people in this room are not the enemy. We are
residents offering time, money, expertise, connections, and solutions. So, please stop treating us as a threat and start using us to make this shelter better. >> Thank you. Who's treating you as a threat? Who's treating you as a threat though? I don't think we have. I think we've been
welcoming to your comments and taking them under adisement. >> I think the next speech will address that a little bit too. But I mean, at the last meeting, you were basically accusing me of making up lies about the water situation. >> I didn't accuse you of anything. >> You said I was making uns substantiated
claims or whatever the exact words are. I'd have to look back at the thing. You said I was saying it without evidence and then I offered to send you all of the evidence. >> I listen, I welcome. >> When I go to the shelter, they are not
happy that I am there. [laughter] They are not happy. >> I go back to her statement. Um I a couple questions. Well, one thing I'd like to find out. I mean, this is twice tonight I've heard about adoption procedures that people want to adopt
that's being held up. So, I'd like to know maybe tomorrow what what the problem is because that that can be concerning. >> Yeah, I can talk on it more. >> And then the other question is because I've asked it, but how did you get the report on Merlin? Because he's still
being evaluated. He's still with the trainer. Is the report out yet? >> So, it there's no final report on that. We get updates and I think that's what you got. I I got the Oprah request from Bark sends updates each week about Merlin's training, but I was referring
to the third party evaluation that Amy did lead the way training, which is what was withheld from me for over a month. >> We could get them update. I'd like to see them updates, too. >> I have a they could forward it to me. >> I'll I'll be happy to forward them to you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, that's a good
>> I just like to comment on the first one. I went to a shelter today, spent about an hour and 15 minutes there um and spoke to them about uh that exact top well that was one of the topics. >> Um
so to alleviate the uh potential people from being frustrated and leaving, I offered a solution of why can't we have uh people who are uh potential dog walkers or animal people want to come and take care of the dogs. no volunteers
uh to call if they know they're going to come. Sometimes a Saturday is busy and we're already short one staff member. So I said, why can't we have some volunteers call ahead if they know they're going to come? This way it alleviates that, hey, sorry, we can't get to you right now cuz we're busy. If
they already know they're coming and they're working on something, they can at least take that 5-second break to say, okay, here's the dog. Uh as far as the volunteer um somebody coming to look to adopt the dog, it it is a a problem. Uh, I think the more um obviously staff
that we can get, if there's a way that we could alleviate some of that work to maybe help them, but I would like the information on it, too. Uh, because that was a question that that we had right off the bat today. Why uh why do people get turned away? Um, if you're busy, if
you need help, say something. You know, those types of things. >> Yeah. And especially if you're there to see a dog or see, you know, one of the animals or whatever, we should be able to accommodate that. And I think again, you know, I think incorporating the
volunteers in some of that is good suggestion and will probably be, you know, looked at very closely. But I'm going to find out tomorrow what their process is. And and again, >> I can tell you what they told me. terrible that this is the first I'm kind
of really hearing about that being an overall problem and so [snorts] and it bothers me as well. So, and I know that it bothers all of you and >> and and I also attended today with uh council president and and listen they they were it was a great tour. It really
was. We got to see the cats. We got to see the dogs and try to interact with some of them. Some of them you can't interact. I mean, you know, as soon as I hear you, the barking all starts throughout the kennel. So, it's it's kind of entertaining in a sense, but, you know, seeing some of the red dogs
and reading some of the problems that they have, um, and some of the other dogs, their evaluations and whether they could be adopted to, you know, a a a home where it's just a husband and a wife, you know, without kids and without another pet. Some some of the dogs don't
interact with other dogs. So, you know, in the hour that we were there, you know, I got a little bit of an education, too. You know, because I always raised the dog as a puppy, right? You had a dog as a puppy. It was easy. I I never had an a dog, a rescue dog. I could only imagine how difficult it must
be at times. And if you if you have the patience um to spend with that that animal, I'm I'm sure that, you know, you could do tremendous things with them. I mean, a lot of people have rescue dogs and I I I know many a friend that has a
rescue dog and and they've been very uh um adaptive to their families or to a single person or a married couple or an elderly couple. Um I did see some of the red dogs that that that would get up to the fence where you can actually kind of
scratch their back a little bit, but that doesn't mean I could take that dog out of the kennel and take him for a walk, >> right? Number one, I don't have the training. Um, or would I feel comfortable doing it? Um, so there's a lot of variables that that go into this.
Um, you know, it's there was a a dog that just had been brought in um was dropped off. So, it was in a cage and they kind of had it covered in a sense because a couple of the dogs were covered in ca, you know, in the cages that they were in. But, you know, one of the attendants kind of said, you know,
the dog was kind of going bonkers. But, you know, was got a treat and kind of fed fed him a treat through the fence and through the cage and he calmed down for a minute, but guess what? He went right back to barking and being aggressive and and and I and I get it. You know, he's in a new environment. Um,
but one of the things we did, we toured the the outdoor facilities where the dogs had to run and we asked about some suggestions about how we can improve them areas and uh so I I think they're going to come back with some some good ideas there. We we actually talked about some of it costs money,
>> right? And we only have so much to budget for the for the shelter itself and we're doing the best we can. I think all the employees there are doing um the best they can on a daily basis. Um, I think Pat's idea was tremendous because
people get discouraged. You go there on a Saturday, maybe you're short staffed and they want to take a dog out and they ain't getting to him right away, right? So, what happens? The person leaves. So, I thought his idea of scheduling calling in and saying, "I'd like to take the dog
and take the dog out for the day." I some people do take the dogs. Um, I'm going to pick the dog up at 10:30 and I'll be back at 1:00. Right? So, they take the dog and when they get there, they know that so and so is coming here at 10:30 to pick up the dog. I thought that was a great idea and we're hoping
that they're going to move forward with that and try to get the ball rolling there to streamline the volunteers so they could get in and get out. Last thing we want them to do is have to stand around waiting. So, I I thought today's visit was very productive and uh
and like all the council, we we we're listening to the concerns >> and we want to address the concerns and hopefully, you know, we could get some resolve, but it it, you know, I think it takes cooperation, you know. Um I think it takes a a point of where we
collaborate together on the more and I'm not saying by any means I'm not taking anything to say negatively. I'm not >> okay. But I think the more positive influence that we can have instead of you know negative negative let's let's
look at some positives and we need to produce positives too to make people feel like things are moving forward. So um hopefully um Kathy will get information tomorrow on why these adoptions are being held up. Do you want me to elaborate on what they told me or
>> I'd be happy to take your detail that that you have because that that has I want to find out overall right all of the applications but if you have specific >> both times I was told that Nolan's the only one that processes uh applications and it's my understanding that he's a
part-time employee >> applications to adopt. >> Yes, applications to adopt. And when I went, [clears throat] what was th last Thursday's date, the 16th, um my friend had uh handed in her application, I think on like Monday or Tuesday, and we asked them to pull it up to see if they could review it while they were there.
And they said they were only printed out until the sixth. So that's 10 days that they weren't even printed. And the ones up until the six weren't even processed yet. Um and then yeah, every time I was there, I basically just said, "Is there anyone I can talk to?" And then they'd be like, "Oh, let me go get you an answer." And then I would wait for like
30 minutes and then I would start flagging down employees because no one came back. So >> yeah, they b I this is not a criticism of Nolan by any means, but everyone was blaming him. Not blaming him, but saying that it was his responsibility. And I was like, isn't he a part-time employee?
Like it just doesn't make sense to me. >> I don't think we're into the blaming and I know that you're not either. So it's fine. We'll we'll look at this the whole process because look, if there's one more process Yeah. that really needs to be looked at and redone. >> Yeah. Because I don't want to keep like
I post these animals and people message me and say they applied for them and then they're getting mad at me which I can take because I'm like this is not my fault that they're not responding to you but like I'm then trying to follow up too and then I can't get answers for them either and it's just frustrating. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you >> Kathy. Um do we have any updates on staffing since the last meeting? So just on the um the coordinator, the volunteer coordinator. So again, I believe it was this week she was starting. So I hoping
that again she hits the ground running because she's done this before. >> But we're still down I think in ACL. We were >> so we are down an ACL. we have somebody in that acting capacity that we think is going to be promoted to that, but then
that will open up a um a full-time animal attendant position. So, we're going to end up having to fill that vacancy as well. And we have another staff member who's out on. So, that creates, you know, a gap in there, too, that we can't do anything to fill that,
right? So, thank you. >> Anybody else? Uh, next up is John Tartagley. [clears throat] Good evening. Good evening. John Tartaglia Mercerville. If you're not aware, I am Juliana's
husband [laughter] and a lifelong Hamiltonian. I understand that members of council are not required to personally visit every township department and that you have jobs and schedules that may not allow for visits as often as my wife goes. So Lisa has
asked several times during these meetings whether members of the council have visited the animal shelter. Considering how much time has now been spent discussing the shelter, you think the people sitting in front of us would want to see it for themselves? Well, it sounds like you guys took some uh
measures today. Um as to make decisions, evaluate concerns, and determine whether residents are accurately describing what is happening here. How can you confidently do that if you not have personally visited yourself?
And Mr. Tai, at the last meeting, you and the public health officer appeared to suggest my wife was making accusations she could not substantiate in regards to the water situation. My wife may not be 100% correct about every single conclusion she reaches.
None of us are perfect, but she does not stand here and publicly make claims without records, emails, report, photo, or video evidence supporting what she is saying. And she was not certainly wrong about that one. Luckily, thanks to a member of the council, it was fixed
immediately as it needed to be because it was illegal. Quite frankly, the amount of evidence she has uncovered should concern all of you. It concerns me and I live with her. I see how much time she spends reviewing things and making sure she can support
what she says before saying it publicly. So rather than dismissing her concerns as activations, I would encourage all of you to look at the evidence she has provided and investigate the issues for yourselves or better yet call for third party investigations like she and
Justine Justine, sorry, brought up at last time. With that said, I have two direct questions and I would like an answer from East Ocean sitting in front of us. Sorry. >> I need some water. [laughter]
Excuse me. First, when was the last time you personally visited the township animal shelter? Sounds like a few of you have been here today. Um, would any other council members like to comment on when they may
have the last visited? >> May I was there in June? >> It's been several months. November. >> I I have not been there this year. >> Okay. >> I I've been there. I think it was there last year. >> And council whining in I mean sounds
like you went today spent about an hour and 15 [music] minutes but before that have you been there frequently before that or >> probably beginning of the year? >> Beginning last time. >> Okay. >> I wouldn't say frequently but I've been there in the past few years different occasions.
And second, um, do you believe that the so-called neutral third party assessment was truly independent? And was it honestly what residents were promised in this room? >> On advice of council, I would I would ask you not to respond to that question.
>> Well, hold on. Wh why why can't we respond to that? >> We haven't seen the report. So, how would we know if it was independent if we didn't see it? Right. I didn't see any report. >> Did you? Well, I have an understanding that um the third party observed
um the township employees handling the dog. Isn't that right? >> That wasn't >> No, a township. >> It was Laura, >> right? >> Laura, >> she's the consultant. >> So, this So, we had a third party
observe the consultant that we had already hired. Again, [clears throat] I do not want anything on the record that they may use against you in any f future litigation. >> I think it would be bi.
>> So, look, we're we've been advised multiple times by council now not [clears throat] to comment. >> So, I'm not going to say anything further on that. >> Okay. >> And if you haven't gotten the report, I'll be happy to send it to you. I should probably do it.
>> I I I really don't understand the sensitivity from a legal standpoint, but I'm going to abstain from comment. >> I I just would like to see the report before I say anything or don't say anything. >> I agree. >> I'll be happy to comment after.
>> Okay. Thank you. [laughter] >> Yeah. I would also just like to uh say it wasn't my intention to insinuate that you were lying at all. Uh
my intention is to be receptive to the criticism that you bring. Uh I actually think a lot of the criticism has been helpful to us. Um, and I think we all strive to be receptive to criticism because we do want to see these
facilities um, function as well as they can. Um, and that's that's my intention. Um, and I think that's the intention of everyone here. Anybody [laughter] else? I'll wait under Justine. You're
Justine Chartis. Hello everyone. More than a month ago, we submitted a list of questions regarding the animal shelter and specifically requested written answers. Still, we do not have those answers and our list of concerns has only continued to grow. We do not expect
every member of council to personally know every operational detail about the shelter, but we do expect council to exercise oversight, direct these questions to shelter management and the appropriate departments and hold them accountable for providing complete
answers. We have attended meetings where council members directed questions to shelter for followup, yet it appears that even council did not receive meaningful answers. Why is that acceptable? Where is the accountability when residents submit questions? Council requests follow-up and shelter
management still does not respond. We asked who is responsible for dog classifications, behavior plans, rescue outreach, website listing, social media, and public communication. Now, we also need to know who is responsible for
processing adoption applications, how applications are tracked, and what prevents interested adopters from receiving timely responses. We requested plain language statements explaining every dog's color designation, why the dog received that classification, what
behaviors led to it, what the dog is working on, and what measurable progress would allow the classification to change. We also requested the completed association of shelter veterinarians internal audit. Has that has the shelter
gone through the ASV checklist? If so, where are the findings? If not, where? When will it be completed? We still need answers about social media. Is the person managing the shelter social media visiting the shelter or communicating directly with the people caring for the
animals? Recently, a dog was promoted on social media for adoption, but that dog was already adopted. Also, the social media page gave the wrong address of the shelter when asked about about where to send donations. There was also another post that was
referencing adoption of dogs and the picture was promoting cats. That was all within July actually that raises serious concerns about whether the person person publishing adoption information has current accurate information from the
shelter. Again, a simple solution, create a space where workers and volunteers can submit pictures and videos. Volunteers are already posting pictures and videos every day. Use what you have. Why are they not being reposted by the shelter social media page? Since we submitted our questions,
more than 1,600 people have signed the petition calling for transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform. And the majority are Hamilton Township residents. Your residents want answers. Not responding does not make the concerns disappear. It creates more
confusion, more distrust, and more questions about who is actually responsible for ensuring that basic shelter operations are completed. If shelter management does not answer residents or even council, what consequences are there? If no one is
required to respond, meet deadlines, or take ownership, how can residents have confidence that anything will change? Silence is not transparency, and delay is not accountability. So tonight, I'm asking council to direct shelter management to provide written answers to the questions already
submitted, complete the ASV checklist, plain language explanations for every dog's color, and clear information about who processes adoption application. Please provide a specific deadline, and then hold the responsible people accountable for meeting it. It has been
over a month. We should not still be waiting for answers. >> A question. What was the address given? You said the wrong address. >> I think it was this building. >> They gave this building. >> Well, they come to finance, which is this building. >> The donations. >> The donation. It's a check or it's a
check donation or you talking about like supplies? >> Supplies. >> Supplies. Supplies would probably go to the shelter. >> Yeah. >> If it's a financial donation, if people are writing checks, then it would come here to the finance office. >> Um I have to check the thing again, but >> I have I have a couple other things.
Yes. Um the post uh with the dog being adopted, how long was the post posted after the dog was adopted? [clears throat] >> It was the next day, right? It was done on a Friday or Saturday or Saturday, Sunday. >> So, I'm not I don't know if the post was
scheduled cuz I know the website that I the page that I run, I schedule posts, right, for things that I know I have to do it. Somebody taught me how to do that. >> But [laughter] I didn't learn it on my own. >> No, I totally get that. We're missing but we're missing the point that the dog was adopted. Like the great point of
this is the dog was adopted >> and we can't complain that it was a day late, right? Because maybe it was scheduled and I don't know the case. But let's focus on the on the good part of it, right? The dog was adopted. >> Yeah. Well, they can they can post success stories. Like I'm not like that's I work with a couple different rescues and
>> just because there was a cross in time of the dog being adopted >> and that post >> we have to celebrate the fact that the dog was adopted and accept that sometimes mistakes are made, right? >> They could have did that, but also it's the fact that they're just taking the pictures and the bios off of the website
and that information is outdated and they're not getting any new content to post. And that's like the real issue with the social media is that there's no videos and they're just taking pictures and bios off of the website and we've hear so much that the website is outdated and no one's updating it. So
like that's the real issue. It's not that the dog was the dog was already adopted and they posted it. It's that they're not getting relevant information from the shelter. >> Okay. I wouldn't even brought it up. I was just going based on on Yeah. Um your speech. Anything else from council?
>> Yeah. Look, obviously newer videos, right, are going to if you're if you're trying to promote something, you want the most upto-date and you want things new, right? I I understand that. I appreciate the comment. >> As far as the uh questions being answered, uh do you know if shelter management they have copies of this? Is
this something we're going to provide? Is there any information there that we can um present answers to? So if if we have anytime we get a request for any information, if we have documents and or something written that we can turn over,
we're required to when we do that. We've answered hundreds of Oprah requests just on the animal shelter. And so and we treat every request like that as an Oprah request. But but again, a lot of times people want more than what the law
allows us to to provide. And so, you know, I I'm just sitting here trying to think, is there a way for us to, you know, easily answer some of those questions or all of them? I mean, and again, I I don't recall them off the top
of my head, and thank you for giving us an idea of what some of them were. Um, but I'm not sure that there's a responsive document to that. So, short of somebody at the shelter sitting down and writing out or typing out whatever
what an answer is, a lengthy answer to these questions, which are are pretty detailed from the sounds of it. So, you know, I don't know that we've allocated somebody to take the time to do that at
this point. So, we've gotten to the point where the up the website has been updated. I saw even the stats uh for June are now updated on the website. Uh we had asked for that and they came through. Could we put that chart um you know the descriptive chart of where the
dogs belong? Is that something that is not public record? >> So, it it is not because again I believe that comes from the outside consultant. The outside consultant owns that information. we get that from them in
various ways but and and but most of the time it's the notes that are included in the animals record. So I don't know that we get documents directly from um Laura
because again she's a consultant so she owns the data that she does and we don't have the ability to turn that over. If I'm saying anything wrong please tell me but I I think that's my understanding of it. And so what's in every animal's
record is the information that we get from these sources that we document in there. And it may not be as detailed as you like, but that's, you know, [clears throat] that's what we get and and that's what we end up recording on our documents.
>> I just I want to jump in. Uh just a couple of couple of comments. one, if we're paying a consultant, we ought to own the data that's being provided by that consultant. And if we don't own the data, then future consulting contracts
should specify that that's our data. They're producing the data for us. >> I'm saying it wrong. I don't think, and again, I don't know how she takes notes on when she does an evaluation. I don't know what she does, but she provides with us afterwards her evaluation on
that, which we do record in the animals and pet point, but in the animals record as well. It's always >> and that's public information, >> correct? And we've provided those anytime that it's been asked for. And again, it just may not be as much detail
as as you would like. And you know, maybe that's the discussion we have to have with our consultants at the time. and say, you know, this is how we'd like the detail or we'd like more detail. I I don't know, you know, the complete answer without seeing everything that's
in there. So, it's not like our consultants are keeping anything from us. They're not. We just don't get it in that format that I think is expected. And so I mean if there's something that's not in an animals or dog or cats,
you know, let's talk about the dogs because that's what Laura does the evaluations on for the most part. you know, if there's something that's not detailed enough in there, you know, I'm certain that we could ask for more
detail if, you know, there she's willing to give that, but you know, at this point, I think we're looking to do, right, the third party evaluation's another one which I know that you discussed, uh, Juliana, with the mayor and, um, I believe they've reached out
today and I don't know if they responded to you yet with uh the proposal and we're trying to get a couple of different proposals for that. So, [clears throat] >> do we have someone specifically that's daily working on the social media portion and
>> Yes, it was being done by um an employee at the shelter right now. They the shelter provides some of the information, but that's done through uh the mayor's office and through the administration. So, and there has been just to acknowledge there's been an
improvement in uh what we're doing. Um some inaccuracies were pointed out. Um I think I think the most important point is that we are promoting that we have animals available for adoption. Um you
know, I I share the concern about if there are obstacles to adopting. >> Oh, I agree. >> That's the applications. I I have to look at that. >> That's it just seems like well like you said there may be some training that
needs to be done that you know the we need to be public focused right and responsive to the public when they come in and you know there should always be somebody at the shelter who's going to drop what they're doing to talk to a member of the public when they walk in
the front door. People shouldn't be made to wait around for long periods of time before getting a response. We're we're over capacity. We should be eager to interact with the folks who want to adopt animals. >> Yes. But it's also a balance, right?
Because we are over capacity. When we in years past when we weren't at full capacity, right, it was probably a little easier to do. So, and it may be more training or more discussion with, you know, the employees that are there to talk about that, you know, and so and
and maybe give them some ideas on how to I don't want to say manage their time better, but maybe manage their time better because it's still >> right when when they're there. And so, um, but I agree with you. I think, you know, to look at the priorities would be
a a good exercise for all of them. I have no one left on uh the list. Anyone else wishing to speak uh during open comment? Yes, Lisa. >> Lisa Williams Hamilton. I'm not nearly as organized as these guys. I wasn't really going to comment on a lot of the
stuff. Bod was posted on Sunday and had already been adopted. That's the dog. The post for uh donations was a July 10th post requesting stuff. Somebody asked where do I, you know, where's the shelter? Let me just pull up my screenshot. I'm the one that found it
last night because, you know, I've got nothing better to do at 11:00 at night. Somebody said, "Which places are the drop off destinations?" The response from the shelter page was, "The shelter is located at 2100 Greenwood Avenue in Hamilton." I responded, "Shelter, the shelter is not on Greenwood Avenue. The
address is." So, somebody put the wrong address. So, I guess if anybody here got bags of dog food, they're probably confused. This is why. [laughter] Um, the shelter has been over capacity since at least 2023.
And sadly, I've been going back and watching old council meetings. So, I watched the health board of health section, the public comment, and I watched starting January of 24 where we got them the um update. Um and it's been
over capacity since at least 23. So also since at least then during budget hearings you guys have offered staff. It is always turned down. I don't understand why. So my question is what is the
budget process that directors and managers are given? Because I don't understand why Chris always says that we'll be okay. like who is telling him that adding staff is not good? You know, we hear at every board of health meeting
they [clears throat] talk about the capacity in the shelter and it takes 15 minutes per animal to take care of it and they calculate how many hours that is January 16, 2024. They said it was 22.75 hours just to do the bare minimum. We've heard even before that about how
we're not required to walk dogs. We only do the bare minimum because we're short staffed. I don't understand how this has been allowed to go on for so many years. So, can somebody explain to me it's not a needs assessment when they come to you guys the needs by then someone's been told don't accept
additional staff because I don't get it. How are directors and managers told to build budgets in this town? I I think they're given a direction at the beginning of the the new budget process because it's really kind of a
rolling process. But let's say when we start the budget for the 27, they'll be given some direction, right? And so nobody tells them don't put in for this, don't put in for that. It's an honest request for what they feel that their
operation needs to whether it's the animal shelter or public works or police or fire or any of them. So um those requests come in first. We pull them all together eventually and we meet with all of them first as well. When I say we, I
mean administration as well as the mayor's office and then um you know it eventually comes to council and they do their budget workshops where they get the directors in front of them as well. So, so again, I'm confident that they're
asking for it if you know, you may not always agree and maybe it's a department director or division uh manager that is coming to us and doesn't want to increase their budget for whatever reason. I don't know. And and so, but I
I have to trust them that and I do trust all of them that they know how to run their operation. Um, you know, it's staffing is a tricky thing and I'm sure you know that you worked for many t a long time in finance and so you
understand that and you know the animal shelter as well as many other departments and divisions, right? You can't always staff for your worst case scenario. And so and and maybe that goes into it, right? And
>> can I run out of time? just throw one more thing in this because we're going to >> Yeah, I didn't mean to take up your time. >> Unless somebody pause my time. >> We'll give you more time. >> There is We >> Oh, okay. Go ahead. Sorry, Kathy. I didn't want to lose. We have a history of this being a bad situation in the shelter.
>> Go ahead. So, sorry. I'm not familiar with the history of a bad situation, but I do know that we've made significant changes and you know that too since 2018 and and prior, right? And so while I am
not one that always reps on their laurels on that because I love to see progress and and move forward, I think we've continued to do that. And when we get issues that are brought before us, you've brought issues. Stephen brought issues. >> And honestly, mine never got addressed till Juliana started. I bring the same
thing every single time. You know, even tonight, we got 22 cats with no bios and we heard at the last meeting they were going to be fixed that week. Hello. That was a month ago. The stats, they went up today. I've been looking for them every single day. They went off this morning. They weren't there on Friday, you know. So, it took three weeks to post them.
But we know that this shelter's been over capacity. We've raised social media. Thank goodness we've got something. It's much better than we had. The adoption application thing is ridiculous. When you vote to reclaim a pet in a shelter
in New Jersey, the first >> municipalities are allowed to charge what they say is the cost of bringing the pet in for the first day and then a $4 maintenance amount for every day. So, >> so even if you use $4 and you calculate
how many days some of these animals have been there, that's a cost to the taxpayers. You know, that's a $4 statewide thing. It's an old number, you know, but it's an average of what they say it costs to care for an animal per day. So, we have, you know, over
capacity and if we could get that down, we could ultimately pay less to run that shelter. But it's been since at least 23. And you know, I'm going to go back and I'm going to watch all the videos that are out there and take my little notes because this has been going on for
so long. >> The capacity, you know, not a is not uh you know unique to to Hamilton Township. >> I don't care about other towns. I live in Hamilton, but I'm just saying that the over capacity is no surprise because
that's been the case since 2023. We we had a couple years in there during COVID where we did weren't over capacity because of the phenomenon of people wanting animals during that time. It was wonderful, right? But then after the fact in 2023 and all, and it's not just
happening here now, I'm not trying to excuse anything. We would love it when they're not over capacity. This has been a long hall and we didn't know if it was going to lighten up or not. We had no idea. We still don't know. So, but I
agree with you. If the applications are not being responded to, that's our big priority here. Let's get these animals adopted. There are people that are interested. So social media posts are great, but if we're getting responses to those social media posts and we're not
acting right away and we have to act right away. So I'm committed to finding out how do we do that better? Do it, please. Period. Right. But let's do it better and I want to continue to keep doing things better. I don't care if we
have to go through the entire standard operating procedure for the animal shelter. and let's review it all. >> I think you need to. >> I I think we might need to. >> You know, I I think that for all of your time, you probably would like to stop listening to us bring up the saint.
>> No, I enjoy it. >> I don't mind IT. YOU KNOW, [laughter] >> this is a thing. >> I mean, I think I don't want to be here having to raise this issue. >> But I I got a question for you, though. Lisa, you you said there's how many cats listed? >> There are 32 cats on the website. 22
don't have a bio. Let me just explain what a bio is because you might be making the same thought that Pat made many many months ago. There's a picture and there's a chart, but underneath that, the bio part I'm referring to is something about their personality. So, start at the bottom and there's 10. The
top 10 have bios. So, scroll. >> I'm I'm I'm reading it and that's what I'm just trying to get I get the gist of it. You hit on Tabitha and it comes up and you can read about Tabitha. Let me let me let me let me talk please, Lisa. >> Sorry. >> Okay. So when I push on Tabitha, I get
this information. Talks about it's a cat, the breed, the age, how long, you know, two months, gender, size, color, is have been declined, unknown. Uh, it's at the shelter, cat adoption room, intake, it came in on
626. You're saying it should have more information regarding the cat's behavior and like they do on the assessments. I've read the dog assessments. >> Yeah. which >> pick the first >> which which I I I see it here. So
>> you'll see on one of the ones more to the top of the cat list, >> right? >> You'll see that same chart and then scroll down. It'll tell you about the type of home or the personality of the cat. >> Yeah, >> that's what I mean when >> I Okay, I I I see that. Okay, so that's
legitimate. My my my question is and might be Kathy or somebody else might have a better answer for me. I go to adopt a dog. >> Do you watch me? ADOPT. >> NO, [laughter] >> I'm being perfectly honest. I don't have the time. But anyway, I love dogs. I
have dogs. Labador retrievers. Okay, I want to get into all of it. >> I go in and apply to to adopt a dog. >> It's not just me filling out a piece of paper and saying, "I want a dog. Here's where I live. I I think that dog's cute. I want him. Uh, can I take him home
today?" Is there what what goes into it? Do they have to do they do a background? Do they look into me? Uh have I have I brought dogs to the rescue before? Is what's the process? Um I don't think it's just as easy as filling out a piece
of paper and saying I want to take uh you know Spot over here home because he's cute. >> You're accurate. I don't know the the exact process and and how much time and it may be different depending on the applicant and their experience etc. I
don't know how much they look at, but I do know if it's I, you know, if that process is taking too long that you lose interest and go somewhere else because as we just talked about, >> sure, >> every other shelter has an over capacity
or at capacity and so you can go anywhere and adopt even though you came to your hometown to adopt. So, I want to make sure that whatever they're doing that it's still safe and still appropriate, but at the same time, let's get it done fast.
>> So, hence like reading bios in the past, and today was the first day I read a bio on a dog. I've been there in the past. Okay. But you read the the information about, you know, is it friendly with other animals? Is it good for kids? This there's like a a criteria, so to speak.
So for instance, I might like that particular dog, >> but he's not good with children. So obviously, I can't force the issue and say, "Well, that might come up somewhere. >> I I I want that dog anyway. I know I'll be able to handle it. I have two kids. I
got this." We have a responsibility too to make sure that God forbid we just let that dog go with that family that wants them because that the dad thinks he can handle the dog and next thing you know Junior is bit >> and bit bad or whatever. >> I know,
>> right? Or attacks another dog. We have a responsibility to make sure that that dog is going to the proper home. So I would think at times that could hold up that process possibly. Um, let's find out how long. There is no excuse. We We need to >> what's really holding you.
>> That's right. To make sure that these animals are getting adopted to the proper families that are looking to adopt them. And you know, I I I don't want to belabor this much longer because it's it's a sensitive subject with many people in the room and I get it. But
>> yeah, and I don't want to I don't want to beat a dead horse, but when people walk in the front door, how they are treated by our township employees when they're looking to adopt or volunteer and they're turned away, >> it matters. >> Turned away. >> Yep.
You have to look at it as it's a business and the people coming are your customers. I mean, our application is pretty simple. You know, some rescue applications are four or five pages long. They want your first born. Um, you know, ours is pretty simple. I've not in
this administration adopted dogs from our shelter, but I have in the past. So, there's I've adopted two. It was also a simple application. I've adopted birds from our shelter. It's the same application. So, they if you have a a a current vet, they get a vet reference. It's [clears throat] not they probably
would take a friend, you know, another reference, but it doesn't ask for another reference. It asks for a vet reference. And they just, you know, look to see if it matches up. If you rent, they have to get your landlord's approval. It's nothing that justifies 10 days of applications not being printed. You know, we have a very supposedly very
full shelter. Like, we need and I asked a couple of meetings ago, Council President Paper, please form a committee to look at how the shelter is operating. I mean, somebody needs to do this or you're going to hear speeches, I think, for a very, very long time. Um, and it's
not going to go away. I mean, I went away for almost a year because I just got tired of raising the same issues. I know my time's up. I'm going to leave. I'm thankful. >> We were, but since everybody was also talking, I wasn't going to cut you off since I didn't cut them off. >> It's okay. Oh, I'm thankful that others are raising the issue. So, maybe I could
just stay home and uh it's much easier in my opinion to adopt a rescue than a puppy having just having the 18-month old puppy at home. So, [laughter] >> we'll see you next month. >> Sure. >> Anybody else wishing to speak? Uh gentleman here,
>> just state your name in the town you live in. You don't have to state your address. >> Uh Cole Solac Hamilton. >> You can raise that up if you would like. Also >> All right. Thank you. >> Welcome. >> I just wanted to um address some concerns about the wastewater treatment facility. I don't think that we should
be discharging the amount of ammonia that we are discharging in the facility. that can lead to utrification which can deplete oxygen levels and kill fish and other aquatic insects and wildlife. And the facility has received multiple
citations of the levels of ammonia and that are being discharged um and affluent into our waterways. So, I just um came up here to request that somebody needs to look into that because it is a big
concern and um we can't be, you know, just dis just discharging things that are over the limits um and we're just not doing anything about it. It's been like this for quite a while. So, >> we we appreciate you coming. We also were made aware and I know uh that is
being worked on. That was a concern of all of ours. >> We were made aware of that earlier in the spring. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> You could have came up and took the picture from up here if you wanted. [laughter] >> Um, you're up next. >> You don't have to state your address.
Just to tell. >> I I wanted to apologize. I'm new to town council meetings. So, when you said anyone from the public and I was asking all my questions and I got back my apologies. >> Very embarrassing. Okay. >> Um, just a couple random questions. I
know we're talking about social media. Lorie Sarnney and I will not give you my address like I did last time when I we respect your privacy. >> Hamilton um who is in charge of the social media? Is there a clear person or is that just the township? >> Do we have like a person in charge
>> for the shelter or >> animal shelter? Yes. Well, it's a couple of people, but I think the posting, if you want to talk about that, we have an employee in the mayor's office that is okay. Is handling that, >> but she gets the information from the
shelter, correct? Those folks, >> she also engages somebody else that works in the uh mayor's office that helps her create the post or the content. That goes >> right. I I respect that. I feel like we live in a digital world now. Okay. So
for the members of the staff or the council, how many of you have a Tik Tok account? >> There you go. All right. [laughter] It is all about >> I only say it is all about social media. I've mentioned many times I'm a teacher. I don't agree with it, but even our kindergarters are getting iPads. It's
all about social media. So just as a I feel like we should be looking into what other shelters are doing. I know we're worried about ours, but um Burlington County, they had a nonprofit all run by volunteers. the whole Tik Tok page. It's all about adoption success stories. You
click on their um on their link, it goes right down to um volunteers, fostering applications, adoptable rescue cats and dogs, shelter cats and dogs, friends, rescue dog wish list. Like it's what we need for the shelter. I think it would
like bios is not hard. I feel like every answer seems like it's just not that hard or not that complicated to get the bios done, to update the website, to hire a volunteer coordinator who you're paying 22 bucks an hour to do an allound job. So, I mean, kudos to that woman.
So, I just think that we really need to take a step forward into the digital world, even though I don't like it, but that's just where we are now, and I think we'll be much better for it. >> Thank you. I um I visited I visited that Burlington shelter uh back when we were
originally looking at ways to reform, you know, how to reform our shelter. It's a great shelter. >> It's a county shelter. >> Uh it's a bigger building. Uh they have these separate visitation rooms where you can sit with the animals in comfort.
Uh when you're trying to figure out who to adopt, it's a great uh facility. Um they get resources from all the towns in in that uh county. >> I feel like just like you know obviously
a joke but not a joke. I mean like me and Jules could run this and we could get this social media thing going quick. >> I was going to say is there anyone in this room who would be able >> Exactly. I feel like you have to you got to go to where the people are you know and I feel like with the shelter itself um being a teacher obviously being in
many schools you got the best staff in the world. If you don't have a great leader, it's not going to work. So, that's just what I'm hearing about the shelter. Just seems like a lot of excuses and things could be taken care of right away. So, I'll be back next month hopefully letting you know that I'm a volunteer at the shelter. If I
don't hear something back, will we take it seriously enough that they are not doing their job? >> You don't hear something back about what? >> About my volunteer application that I submitted in May. >> I'm going to take care of it. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Have a good night. >> Thank you.
I just I just want to ask you that was a a very good comment. I actually um got an education today and I showed my age with my kids. Um and Tik Tok is an amazing resource. I mean that they use and they're constantly on it. Um and I
think it's a good idea for uh for us to consider. Um yeah, I I I got a lesson at lunchtime today with my son. Um, my one son posted something and and he got so many views or followers and and we got into this whole discussion today at
lunchtime. So, it was timely that you said that and I feel like I'm 95 years old now. [laughter] >> We'll get you coffee. >> Like the Burlington Tik Tok, I have almost 15,000 followers over 500,000 likes. That's a lot of love to give animals. And along with like the s the success stories are just as important
when I'm scrolling on Tik Tok. I I will watch a success story and that makes Oh, let me look into the show. You know, I just feel like we just got to go with the times, you know? It's I don't agree with it. I I think kids should be writing with a pen and paper. Nope. They're typing in school. But I don't agree with it, but that's the way of the
world. [laughter] >> I'm with you. I'm trying to help the change. They don't want to listen. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [laughter] You get teacher of the year. John [laughter] >> you can't get it every year. >> I agree with you though. [laughter]
>> Janice, you're up. >> Animal people done. >> Well, they can come back up. Come on up. >> No, [laughter] >> that's all right. Come on up. >> Dad is going to Cornell height. >> You can move that mic down. [laughter] >> Yes, sir. Okay.
Oh, uh, thank you for my birthday gift of clock the road being paved. That was very nice of you. And, >> [laughter] >> uh, >> just got it done. >> Greatly appreciate that. And, uh, for the well wishes that made my day. And, uh, uh, the tree pickup, the branch pickup,
is that supposed is that like every two weeks or so? I was told it was like every two weeks. And my neighbor cut down these huge branches off her tree because they're interfering with her wires and she had them all piled up in the side of the street. And so I called and they says, "No, they had to be 4
foot length and tied up." I mean, you got a branch like this big with 24,000 branches hanging off of it. I mean, how you going to do that? They always just came and picked it up. And so, uh, I I said, "We just leave it there." them down the and and my neighborhood
everybody just puts the branches and you know and leaves them and they eventually do come and pick them up. But I had branches picked up in the first week of June and these branches were not picked up to the second week of July. And so by
then all the leaves were dead. So when they picked up the branches, the streets covered with dead leaves, >> which you now have to clean up on your own because if they had picked them up in the two or three weeks, the leaves were still green and everything would be gone and beautiful. But you could see every brown pile where they picked them
up. So they do, right? You're allowed to just put it there and they will come and pick up supposedly like every two to three weeks. You can't tie everything with, you know, all these little branches sticking off of everything and all. Well, I think it's supposed to be in bundles of a certain size, but they
may have picked up just anything in the past. But again, a a a large branch or a large pile is going to take a different uh machinery, different vehicle, and different crew than if they're in
smaller uh bundled piles. So, that could be why it was delayed so much because >> Okay. And and again, I'm not familiar with the schedule exactly how they do all of that. So, um it's worth a question to public works about that. >> Okay. Are you I actually spoke to Chuck
this week [clears throat] on this exact matter because um in my neighborhood, in fact, my own backyard, we had a major tree come down in my neighbor's fence. That was our tree and that was my So, I know he what he let me know is they're working through different zones. Um, so he might be able to if he if he
wanted us to get in contact or if the resident wanted to because he was I said like I knew someone you know who was looking and um he would need to know the address to know like what zone they are and then he would be able probably it seems like he'd be able to give an approximate like they spend a certain amount of time
>> again I don't know if they're holding fast to what's in the ordinance because the ordinance basically says you can only have these four foot lengths >> um and so you know But that's basically impossible with some of these branches. I mean, you have a branch like that big, you need a
saw to cut it off, >> you know, and you sit there forever trying to get it down. >> I mean, so they need to come around, you know, and like I my neighborhood, they all always just put them in piles, you know, and then they usually do come and pick them up, but that was usually a lot
quicker than what they're doing now. Well, and there also might have been delays because of a weather event because we had a lot of [clears throat] water and trees down in other for from other weather events. I don't know if [clears throat] that was >> there's trees down all over town. >> Yeah.
>> And that that was the impression from >> and that's what happened. I'll take them off of the brush crew to go do the cleanup of after a storm. So, I don't know if that coincided and made it delayed as well. But I'll talk to uh the director tomorrow. >> You know what I mean? you know, but I
have a feeling that they're sticking to what's in the ordinance and it may be, you know, just a little different than what they've relaxed and done in the past. Yeah. But then then what are you supposed to do? >> Well, Janice, you hire if you have to. Yeah. I mean, I'm glad they got them
finally. You know, usually they do come around eventually, like every five >> I was going to ask you, Janice, have they left branches on your curb because they weren't bundled a certain way? Have they have they left branches? >> Well, I don't have that many to bundle, but uh
>> Well, I'm saying the piles of branches that you're talking about, have they left them? >> No, they did end up picking them up >> because there were four huge >> Okay. >> huge branches. Yeah. I I think >> so. And >> with the weather, I think it was there was so much >> Oh,
it's not only the weather. The weather contributes to it, but remember that they only have so many crews that they send out to do that. And this is a very big township. So I think you said in the beginning of June they did a pickup, right? And then they didn't do one again
until July. Well, think about how many streets are in Hamilton Township. It's almost like plowing the snow, right? How long's it take to get to certain areas and and then and at that point they still have a lot of trucks on the road plowing, but we're not putting all our
resources into picking up branches throughout the town. there's a certain crew that probably does it with public works and it might take them some time to get there, but there has been times and I know I've called I've had some people ask the same questions and like uh Kathy said uh they do require some of
it to be bundled up. Now, you know, listen, some people cut huge limbs and put it in the thing and expect the town to come up which means they have to come out with a machine that that front end loader that's got that claw on it or whatever and they pick it up then they got to put it in a truck and all that. So, you know, and and then again, how
many people are having their trees cut or trimmed and the person that's doing the trimming, the company that they hired are putting it to the curb, too, right? That's what I thought would take. >> Well, they're not allowed to do that, right? They have to That's that company. >> What are they supposed to do?
>> That company that takes the tree down or cuts your tree limbs, comes out and trims your trees, they're required to take them personally, not not you. >> They dispose of that. >> Yeah. They have to dispose of >> say that's because I thought our town if they pack tilted and did the to our
township our township wouldn't take it because they were a company. >> Right. >> Right. Right. >> You're going to spend your entire four minutes of your birthday meeting talking about trees. [laughter] >> Sorry. >> What are you doing for your birthday? >> I'm going uh Thursday my girlfriends are
taking me out and Saturday my sister and brother-in-law are taking me out. >> Very nice. We hope you have a good weekend. I will. And uh I must say when we move into the new building, I will miss the coziness of this room. [laughter]
>> Now you're you're going to walk you're going to walk into new building. [laughter] >> Look at this. >> For only $300, I'll give you a piece of wallpaper. >> Thank you. >> Well, and you'll be able to walk in. No elevator needed. And do we know what we're doing with this building?
That's up to the board of >> I got some ideas. [laughter] >> Oh, okay. Because it is like historical, so to speak. >> It is. It is true. >> For for the record, even when our meetings get tense, we appreciate seeing you come to the microphone because we know you bring a sense of normaly to us.
So, [laughter] >> I hope you have a happy birthday and I hope you have a great weekend. >> Thank you so much. Made my day. >> You're a Leo, right? She a Leo. I'm trying to think. [laughter] >> I know. You and I, you and I have the same birthday. >> Yeah. Anybody else from the Anybody else
from the audience wish to speak? Steve, come on up. >> Your birthday's your birthday. >> I am coming. >> Steve Craig, [clears throat] Hamilton Township. >> So, at the May council meeting, uh, Councilwoman Phillips recounted how she
met with the shelter management regarding the disposition of of many of the dogs. um and stated that she was told all the dogs get an assessment and then and if they are anything other than green are assigned a plan. So there is a
plan for every dog and the shelter's taking them all out and >> I don't believe that that's what I stated at all on my notes but I watched the video again this morning. Um but in in either case that is the
shelter's policy. It's been the policy since 2020 and I've stood up here many of years talking about how that's not done. Um, >> so when the when the dogs get an assessment, right, any dog that is not
green, meaning he's blue or yellow or red or however many variations of red they have this week, they are supposed to be assigned a behavior modification plan. And you'll see in the assessments in almost all of them it'll say behavior
modification required. But I've asked many years what mod what behavior needs to be modified and who's doing it and how and when they're supposed to be assigned a plan. So from May 19th at that meeting I you know
I I call BS because it is we know for a fact that Merlin had no plan. We know that Merlin [snorts] sat for months and months and months with no plan and without all the public exposure probably would have sat many more months. We know
Maverick was changed from yellow to red which essentially meant nothing more than the one person who walked him n was no longer allowed to walk. And we know he didn't have a plan because he spent the next 45 days in his kennel without coming out. So I went backwards from May to about
February and there were seven assessments that were other than green. Three of them had plans which over the years is an improvement. From then forward to July which is what
my latest data there were five dogs assessed other than green. Only one has a plan. So it's still not being done. um that the that they would say that,
you know, and I've watched them where they've kind of misled you many times or given you um not quite correct answers, but to see them just flat out lie and say this is being done when it clearly is not is a
bit concerning. Um, and we know that one of the questions was, at least for me, uh, beginning last year when I first started raising the issue of Merlin, we were told he was getting a second
assessment already scheduled, but it took 4 months before the trainer even looked at him. And we, one of the questions is why, and we've never gotten an answer to that.
Every other dog that came in after June within days was given an assessment. Some were given two assessments. Basically, everything that could be done other than have the trainer look at Merlin, who was
already scheduled, was done. So, it's almost a rhetorical question at this point. That's what happened. They wanted to do everything except address the issue with Merlin. which we now know
his behavior was at best exaggerated. We didn't hear anything about other than leash biting until this year. We anything about it for the year. The assessment the trainer originally gave him last September when she first looked
at him mentioned nothing about uh intensity or trying to bite anybody. It was exactly what I had said for multiple months before that. The same experience I had documented the three times I had him out. The same experience the staff
documented when they had him out. So all of this is at its core caused by a a complete lack of honesty by the shelter management. And I think that underpins everything that gets
raised here about the shelter time after time after time. >> Do you want to respond or can I ask a question first? >> Ask a question. >> I know you want to respond. Um, have we
come up with do we have a a way to speed up when the dogs are evaluated? I know that the trainers there certain amount of times and different people are there. The the fact that it was 4 months is a long time, right? >> Absolutely.
>> You know, just a longer time to get more energy. Is there a way to speed up that process to at least get to where we have to go? >> Yes. The answer to that is is yes, and it has been done. So again, notwithstanding the history, right?
because every dog has a different history there. But it is on um but number one shelter management does not lie. Okay. They give their best assessment of what they're they they are doing with any particular animal. They
get pumped for lots of information all the time. They respond. They may get frazzled sometimes because it's high stress sometimes for them. So um but that's no excuse. They don't lie to you. All right. Everything in Merlin's record
was documented. There was every time the and and there wasn't a ton of times, but every every time Laura worked with Merlin or evaluated Merlin, it was noted in Merlin's record and everybody had access to that. You all had access to
that when you asked for it, right? And and so we did that. And we talk about a behavior modification plan like there's a piece of paper for every dog or there's not. All right. They have a spreadsheet that they work on based on the evaluations that talk about each
individual animal when their assessment is done what their issues are, right? That are common to some dogs or whatever, whether they have stranger danger issues or some of the other lingos that I you probably know much better than I do. Um, and those are all
documented. so that when the trainer gets to work with them, they know what they have to work on, right? They're not going to work on a leash issue if the animal has a stranger danger issue. They're not going to work on a stranger danger issue if the animal has a leash
issue. Okay? So all of that was documented and I think a lot of it is people didn't necessarily agree with right the evaluation that was put in by one person and so thankfully right Bart came along and
probably because of some of the additional attention that came from Merlin and said let us take a look to see if this is you know an animal that would qualify for our program and they felt in their report and their evaluation
that Merlin would qualify and probably do well. They've done that for other dogs and we have good success stories with bark and train, you know, to go to their bark and train program, but we've also had some that didn't do well, but
we tried, right? Because we got an evaluation from bark that said we're willing to try this, right? And and so and they know what their issues are too when they come in and what they end up having to work on. So, I can't comment on,
you know, the the professional evaluations because I'm not a professional in this area, right? I do a very different thing. I don't know what it takes to do that. All of you are much better with that, I'm sure, because I you you deal with that more. I don't do
behavior assessments on animals, so I can't really comment on that, but I do know that we document all of that. And and I think it's a good thing that we're getting other folk to look at it, other evaluators to look at them because, you know, we don't want But to answer your
question too, right, Laura is a very part-time consultant, came here on a regular basis and, you know, did what she could do. And so, uh, we had a meeting with her recently and she
expressed an interest in be needing more time to do the things that really needed to be done. So, we doubled the amount of time that that she's coming that she requested it and we said, "Yes, fine. Let's do that because we think that that'll be helpful." So, you know,
hopefully it's not going to be four months that an animal doesn't get any, you know, training from her or any attention from her. And in fact, I think she made a commitment to us to be able to see, you know, again, to be able to
work with every one of the I believe the red dogs. I don't know if she extended that to other colors as well, but at least uh once a month with all of them to to do that. I believe in the last
couple of weeks that we approved her working more time, she's actually worked more with them than she had in the past. So, so, >> so again it all being documented so that we know you know what she's doing and
you know where but but also those evaluations that she does it's not like you know she's the only one that can do anything. It goes to the to the animal attendants as well so that they can see what the dog's issues are. Some animal
attendants are allowed to do more than others because they have more of a comfort level with this dog rather than that one and all of that. But, you know, they all work with all of these and use that uh those assessments for each animal to be able to know how to handle
them better. And you do the same, right? You you determine a lot of it by yourself as well because you work with them a lot. But you know so so they're paying attention but it's probably not as much as you know >> how many times how many times like for
instance >> Merlin's away right now being evaluating trained not evaluated but being trained >> now if this after his six week period if his evaluation doesn't come back good
what's the next step besides a rescue right a rescue take them. >> That's the next step. And it's and it's it's a rescue. And we've had dogs that haven't passed >> right through that program. And we've had to have discussions with the
professionals and bring that all to to to you all too to let you know if there's decisions being made about certain animals. So, >> can I can I just clarify something, Pat? Almost all the evaluations or
assessments are [clears throat] are done rather quickly. It was only Merlin who was already scheduled >> who waited four months. >> Why? >> That was the question. >> Okay. >> And that's why it for me at this point it's a rhetorical question because he
was already scheduled. We had dogs who got assessed within two days. We had dogs that got an assessment and a reassessment in that time period. >> Can I? >> Sure. you would like to answer. That's okay. >> I know part of one of the things with Merlin, I know we're focusing on this
aspect of it, but if you look on his medical record, he also needed to go on behavioral medication >> that took several months in order to get in his system to find the right dosage. I don't have the documents in front of me, so I can't tell you when he got the
medication, when the doctor provided it, how long it been. I know they had to up his medication. He's on several medications. So you have to it's not just we can't look at one thing and say well they're doing everything wrong because of this. You got to look at the pal totality of the circumstances. We
have to look at the fact that we have to the medication. We have to look at the fact that there's the the the the evaluation and how you going to do an evaluation on a dog that you can't control because he's not high enough on the medication. So there's dual parts that we need to look at. And if we're going to talk about these dogs, I would
like to talk about these dogs and the totality of the circumstances and not looking at one aspect of it that's not giving you the full picture. Fair enough. And that's that's fair. I the one thing in the in the totality uh question that Steve raised is uh the
behavior modification plans and the lack of behavior modification plans being in place. That is something that we've been told. other if I could speak to that just since I was referenced from >> Please do. >> So see I honestly don't remember saying
anyone but green but yes I can I I 100% agree with you. I know in my notes I had that I was told by Kathy and Chris that any dogs that had especially the red dogs had a behavior plan. >> I maybe we need to clarify what a
behavior plan is. maybe a behavior plan to me, >> especially coming from teaching, you know, and maybe a plan like like you're saying like he's going to be medicated, we're going to wait 3 months, we're going to do a reassessment. Is that feas that sound more like what you're looking
>> So So there's on the assessment. Okay. >> Right. It'll it'll go through this dog happens to be blue. Um it'll say behavior modification required. It'll say assign treatment plans if any. And of course, this is blank. because there are none. Most of the
plans are actually pre-written. How do you deal with a dog that bites a leash? How do you deal with a dog that pulls too hard on the leash? Those are pretty generic training plans. >> And if they're in here, you know, it shouldn't just be the trainer we have to pay to to do this.
That's why you have volunteers. So, they should be handed out. And we were promised years ago those things would be in a binder in the lobby, etc. with all the dogs, which has never happened. But I do want to clarify for the totality of everything. >> Hold on. You're out of time. Let's see
if everybody has a first shot. >> Got it. >> And I know we went way over time, but everybody else was talking, so I let you keep going. Let's see if everybody shot and then you come back up and we'll discuss that. >> Don't go far, Steve. I don't think anybody else question. [laughter] >> Anybody else want wishing to speak for a
first time? Oh, >> I'll be thrown, Steve. >> [snorts] >> Uh hello Amanda Elely uh Hamilton resident. Um I am just concerned with the lack of accountability happening here. I am
concerned with the defensiveness against people who continue to volunteer at a place and be met with such resistance. I am deeply concerned about how we are just like not up to date on times. uh like
Missernney said about social media, like why um Kathy said that the somebody in the mayor's office is running the social media and not somebody directly in the shelter. It's just very concerning as a resident that
these things are not being answered. Um Mr. president. Last time when I came to the meeting, it was my first meeting I attended. I heard you ask Danielle to do the bios and to hear today that they're still not completed is concerning,
alarming. It's concerning hearing about this adoption process that we have people interested in animals and not being given an opportunity to adopt these pets. I think I am concerned by some of the apathetic attitudes um that
I'm hearing today um which is not moving us forward to a solution for the shelter. And I think social media wise we're having a lot of people willing to give their time energy willing to collaborate. And I'm just like unsure of
the resistance that's happening and why some things that I feel like would be inexcusable. Like as a teacher, these animals don't have a voice. You have people coming to voice concern for animals that have no voice. We heard last meeting about some of the just like
sheer negligence happening to these animals. And I would just ask that like we really look into our hearts and be able to like move forward to a solution because these things are it's just plain not okay. not okay. And if this was your pet or your child, it's not okay. And
just because it's an animal that doesn't have a voice does not make it acceptable. And I think um Kathy, to be honest, like when you said that like management can't lie, I'm like really concerned as a resident to to sit in the audience and hear you say something like
that because I don't think you actually can say that that like we don't know that people can lie. People are human beings. We all have the capability of lying and hearing just many times through social media of
things that have been said that are present or behavior plans documented and then those things aren't there. There's just so many um examples of evidence where that's clearly not the case. And I would just
ask that like we do better mo moving forward with this situation. Thank you. >> You're welcome. And uh I was going to address the bios uh during my public comment because and I'm going to uh but I agree with you. Um the lack of
following through is unacceptable. The fact that someone sat next to me and said it was going to be done and it's not done for a large percentage um is not okay. Um, I I'll save the rest for a private conversation.
>> I I I just you you mentioned the word apathetic meaning us when you were you directing that towards council not being apathetic. I I think like more just um like like maybe apathetic is the wrong term. Like
I can feel like the tension um when certain people come up to speak almost like the people who are having courage to raise the voice about something that is going on that's clearly negligent that it's like there's more concern for why that person is speaking out instead of addressing like the root of the
issue. And that is like really what I would like to see happen. I'm really glad to hear that um you Councilman Whailing went on a tour today um with the president and I think that maybe like all of us having more opportunities to go to the shelter not just like for a
specific tour because sometimes those things can be like a dog and pony show especially like I know you've been in education. We know how those things go. um having opportunities to see what's happening on a daily basis because
it should not be this difficult. It it should not be this challenging to get animals adopted. >> Even in a perfect world, it's probably still a challenge to get animals adopted. In a perfect world, >> it can be and I'm not arguing with you that, but I'm just want to make real one
quick statement. Before I ever became a councilman, I think Everyone up here, I'm almost positive, was on council when they fought the fault the fought the fight with the past administration to make the corrections
that are made currently. This council did fought the fault fight right was in the papers. It was every day you to picked up the Trenton. It was something new and they took this on to fight that fight to make the improvements. no kill
shelter, a lot of things that were changed. And I I I can't say that that I can say that, you know, when I came on council, you know, I I can't be happier to serve with my fellow councilmen and council um colleagues. Um because we sit
and we do listen and we do try and get the answers. Is it is it always come back in a timely manner that everybody wants? No, it doesn't. Okay. But, you know, I I I think we've heard some comments and some questions that we're looking for answers. And I think we've all responded that Kathy, can you get us
the information? We want to know why is it taking so long for adoptions to happen. So, to think that we're not listening, I I I beg to differ with you. >> I I do believe I do believe you're listening. I I just would like to see the the leadership at the shelter being
held more accountable because believe it or not, like even with few people, when you have other places locally that are they're running great organizations on the backs of volunteers that are not being paid to do these jobs, our shelter is just capable of so much more with
people who can delegate and be able to appropriately do like [laughter] delegate task. No, again, nobody's arguing the fact. I think we all have questions that we want answered and hopefully we're going to get them answers, especially since we're
overloaded and we're and we got people I'm hearing for the first time. We have applications that are not being uh addressed in a timely manner. I want to know why. I think everyone up here wants to know why. So, we are listening to what you're saying. >> Okay. So, I just want to make that clear that we are listening.
>> Don't take our frustration with certain people that we don't want people coming to the microphone. Mhm. >> I would actually like um barring a rice notice or whatever I'm going to be told I need. I would like a written mo written explanation as to why uh 22 bios aren't done when they were told to me two months ago they're going to be done.
I want it in writing. >> You do what you have to do. Give anybody any kind of notice you want, but I would like that in writing why they didn't do their job and why they didn't do what they told us they were going to do in an open meeting. >> Agree 100%. I would like to like encourage them too that um
I know with like um AI is like you know not not great for some things but when when you're looking at um Lori mentioned about like Burlington County animal shelter like every day they are doing a post with a dog that's available they're consistently daily posting adoptions
that happen and they're definitely following some sort of like template. So if they could just generate one template and be able to work off this. This isn't something that somebody's going to need to take hours of their life to do. it should be quick and easy and get this out so these animals can get into homes
because hearing that the veterinarian is um prescribing tons of medication to animals who have not even left their um kennel in months is also concerning as a resident because who's not to say that we're not overmedicating these animals
because they're just under stress and anxiety from a shelter environment and from not being able to get out of the box. I think we'd all go crazy. So, I would just like to see um I'm willing to collaborate. I would like to see more collaboration, whatever we could do to
help the shelter to move this forward in a positive way for the animals. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Any other first- timers would like to come up and speak tonight >> about the fireworks that on Fourth of July, how nice they were. Anybody?
[laughter] >> It was hot. It was hot on July. Any anybody would like to speak for a second time? >> Um, we're we'll we'll go with the same order. We'll start with Jules and then, uh, Lisa, >> I I'm old. I got to use some mentoring. Sorry. [laughter]
>> I'm not the only one. >> No, no, I believe you. Um, Joanna Carella, um, uh, I want to circle back to your statement about them not lying. I think in the last meeting at the board of health meeting we proved that they were lying because you know they said that the water situation was not
happening and it was and they didn't even have the equipment to do it. Um, they also said that the kennels are only shut for I forget what they said. 10 or 15 minutes while they're cleaning was their statement, but I was there. No, I think they said 45 minutes. >> 45 minutes, whatever it is.
>> 45 and we corrected it the very next day. And >> well, I was there yesterday. I was there yesterday for over an hour and the dogs were outside, locked outside the whole time um in this heat, which is a whole other topic if we want to talk about the
temperatures. Um but and the air quality that's like a whole other thing. But yesterday I was there for like an hour 15 minutes and they were locked outside the whole time. So it might have got with with water but this heat. Yeah. Different issue. But still like if it's
truly that the 45 minutes or whatever time frame was given again I was there for over an hour and it that's longer than 45 minutes. So it clearly was not fully corrected. Um what else was I going to say? Oh, I thought it was funny that Chy brought up Tabitha because she
was adopted over a week and a half ago while we were there. Um, so the fact that she's still on the website is kind of comical. Um, our list too wasn't about specific dogs. Like yes, it did have stuff about like explaining their classifications, but most of the list that we provided was about like
responsibilities, who's responsible for website listings, who's responsible for different things. So I can provide the list again. We did hand it directly to Chris at the last meeting. Um, I don't know if that counts as on the record. I thought it did because we were in a
meeting. Okay. Um, so that and then, um, oh, Bodie, the dog that got adopted. I don't want to harp on it too much cuz again, we're very excited that he got adopted, but I think when we're talking about this adoption process, like he clearly did not just walk in and get adopted in one day. So, if the social
media person was actually talking at the shelter or to the shelter, they would have known that someone was already in the process and he wouldn't have been posted in the first place. >> Well, there's multiple applications that come in for dogs. So, there could be >> Yeah, but if someone has multiple applications, why are we promoting them?
>> Because they all could fall through. We all know that there's bad people out there trying to get dogs, right? >> For sure. And then my last thing real quick, is there a potential to live stream these meetings when we move to the new building? Because a bunch of people weren't able to come tonight because of the weather and they were freaking out at me that I wasn't live
streaming, which I don't want to do. Um, but they would really like these meetings live streamed so that they can attend. >> Even if they live streamed, uh, we wouldn't do it to resume. Uh, so it'll be like YouTube, right? Like we do now, >> whatever. They just want to see it in
real time. I think the board of ed they they stream it so the public can't interact with it. Yeah. >> Yeah. I think they're fine with I think they just want to see it in real time. We were during COVID, we were I think we actually were uh live streaming and we got feedback from DCA, from the
Department of Community Affairs that uh we had to stop doing it the way we were doing it because you have to allow for public comment and if you have people remote and and we were having to like take written comment and read it into the record, which means somebody at home
could type any old thing on their computer and then somebody up here has to read it. So, we discontinued doing that and if we found some way that logistically works. >> Yeah, if we could just look into that, I guess more a topic for when we move into >> Yeah, because I don't want to be in
charge of live streaming. [laughter] Thank you, >> Lisa. Come on up, >> Lisa Williams. I'm just going to talk about brush pickup. Excited. >> No way. >> I know, right? >> No way. I just wanted to comment since
Janice brought it up that we definitely have much longer lead time in getting brush picked up. It used to be a 10day rotating cycle and I'm just going to read you a hamstat thing on that happened on my street earlier this year. It's just so someone on May 4th did a
hamstat request um saying that brush had been out for a month and it got you know sent to someone on the 5th. they said will pick up soon. On the sixth, they picked it up with the truck number. Just that one house. Every other house on the
street did not get picked up. So, when I'm driving home from work and I see their brush is gone and mine is still there. I pulled it up and hands that to be like, "How did this happen?" So, I responded. This is a ridiculousness that goes on. Okay. Um, can you come back out and pick up the rest of the street? Does
everyone have to submit separate requests? I did that. My comment was May 6 that 8:10 p.m.ish. Uh May 8th at 3:36 picked up truck number same truck number as above. I responded back at 8:30 at
night. No, they only picked up house number blah blah blah. The rest of the street needs to be picked up. The garbage men took some of it. We haven't had neighborhood brush pickup since March. So, please keep that in the back of your mind. Like, >> it's crazy. I think my garbage men feel
bad for me because I don't put out a lot of trash and then they took some and the next time they took the rest. Like I do my own trees. I have to do trees for two and a half other properties that have weed trees. Like I understand if somebody has a beautiful nice tree and
it hangs over your property, you're responsible. But seriously, if you have a weed tree that is like less than a maybe a foot from your property and you let it grow or there's a house in the back corner of mine, one that you came out for the dead magnolia tree,
>> there's a a green giant arborite in a section that's like six feet. Like are you kidding me? Like from my property line, my shed you the tree you thought was dead, but it's not dead. It's a female boxer. tree. My shed is full of bugs every
single year. And I cut that. So I put a brush out. I cut it. I bundle it. I do it right. It sits for months. Like it's crazy. Thank you. Sorry. [laughter] >> Anybody else wishing to speak for a second time?
>> Come on up, Steve. [clears throat] No, you have to remember where you're in little. [laughter] >> That's all right. >> He's got bookmarks. >> Oh, yeah. Right. He's got a little Steve Clay, Hamilton Township. So, I just want to clarify something again about Martin [clears throat] before I asked for his
color to be changed or for me to be able to walk him without staff assistant. I had taken him out three times. I introduced him to other staff, as I've done with a lot of dogs. He didn't need medication. I proved I could handle this
dog with no issue. So that's part of the totality. And rather than drag the conversation of Merlin out for the next two dozen council meetings, I'm going to make a proposal. His case dragged on for more than a year
and it encompasses several systemic issues with the shelter. I think >> I would be willing to meet with uh shelter management and at least one council member to go through the
totality of Merlin's case to settle this cuz it's not going to get cleared up. Nobody's going to provide me an answer in a four and two minute increment once a month. I think that is a reasonable request to move to a slightly different I'm
sorry. Go ahead. >> I I I wanted to settle what >> you want to sit and discuss the Merlin background with shelter management and one at least one of us >> two of us could sit >> but at least one but why did Merlin wait
four months to get an assessment if he was already scheduled? Why did he sit in his kennel for five months? >> I'm willing to sit in that meeting. Okay, thank you. Um, to slightly shift a previous conversation tonight was um, I think somebody requested in one of their
questions, which was one of my requests, is a plain language statement in the assessment that says how that dog's behavior meets the shelter's definition for that color. It's been something I've been asking for for a while. We've
agreed it's a reasonable request. It's It's still not in there. It's I think that's what you were alluding to, Kathy. >> Okay. >> That's there's no reason that the trainer can't make a single statement of why I read the assessments. Most of it's
gibberish. It's just copied and pasted from the test results, just strings of words. It doesn't say, "Okay, based on all of this, this is why he's red or yellow or blue." And if you don't have that, how do you know you need to change it? Um, so I'd still like to see that.
Um, can I have one more minute? One of the other things uh about the short staff uh um shelters and not being able to get dogs out for volunteers on the weekends. Previously, uh uh myself and there was
at one point another yellow volunteer were occasionally asked when they were short staff, can you get these dogs out for these volunteers? And I've always done that. um that ended last year for no specified reason that was given
to me, but it happened immediately after the trainer called the health officer that I was talking to an animal attendant and the police showed up. Nothing was said to me directly. The staff was told no. I used to be uh
given the key, I would go unlock the door, return the key, and take my dogs out myself. Occasionally they'd ask me to take dogs out for volunteers. That was told to stop. Not to me directly. It was kind of a whisper. Everybody was now afraid to let me have
a dog. I had taken dogs out for volunteers. I didn't assign the dog to volunteer. I was asking you get this dog for this volunteer. And that worked well. There were many volunteers who wanted to work up a level with the dog. So I would walk that dog with them and
at least introduce them. That all ended because the police showed up for me talking to an animal tenant and there's still been no answer for why that happened. But for them to keep complaining they're short staffed and they can't do this is
is just nonsense at this point. We keep talking about >> nonsense because they're not staffed short enough or >> well that and and if they're saying they don't have resources and I'm standing right there. If we keep hearing that, you know, this dog can't be handled by a
novice or we need trained people to do it. >> Well, I would I would hope that now if we did in fact hire a shelter volunteer coordinator that the application should be processed and a lot of these problems
should not go by the wayside. So, we'll wait. >> I hope. Yes. But I can also look into like your role in assisting and I don't know what triggered it. >> It was the police showing up.
>> It was literally the next day it happened. They show up on well two days. They show up on a Thursday night. Saturday morning I went to get a dog and there was you can't have the key. We're going they don't do anything other than unlock the door and walk away. I still
get the dog out and there are still eight or 10 always kennels that don't even have locks on them. So I get them out. So why all the nonsense >> that you're looking in? >> I take them from the outside. It is a total ridiculous
petty retaliation. >> It is. It is Kathy. What What other justification is there for it to happen right then? >> We're not going to go back and forth. We We hear you. they are going to work on this. But you did bring up a good point and I think my point is very simply you
brought up the police. If the police officer gets sent to a job and he doesn't show up, there's repercussions, right? >> Sure. >> If the bios are supposed to be on the website and they're not done and they
said they were going to be worked on, typically there will be repercussions. If it's good for one township employee, it's good for everybody. I agree 100%. >> Okay. >> I know where you're going and I agree. >> Thank you. >> If you want to schedule the
>> We'll do it after the meeting. >> Okay. No, I was just going to say if she wants to do it, just send it to me. >> Let me know how it wishing to speak for a second time. >> In the back, you have nothing. Just came to witness tonight. [laughter] >> Okay.
Okay. Going once, going twice. >> You want to start us off or you want to go first? >> Sure. Of course. Where do I start? [laughter] Listen, I I get it. I you know you know I got on council a few years back now and it it seems
like yesterday but it's been probably about 5 years at least now that I've been here and listened to the public when they have problems and and it's a good thing. I just, you know, I I there's so many things that we have to worry about, right? And we're
concerned about the animal shelter. You know, I'm concerned about a lot of things. I'm concerned about I used to be concerned about, are my kids going to be able to afford a house? Are my kids going to be able to have a job, a secure job for their family? Now I worry about
the future for my grandkids. You know, the things that are happening around this world, we don't talk about here in a council meeting, right? We got an ongoing war overseas. We're spending trillions upon trillions of dollars. We're watching gas prices go through the
roof. We're watching food prices. People can't afford to to to to go shopping. You get two bags of groceries, cost you $100. You worry about so many things. We talk about social media. I'm the biggest propo proponent of social media. Okay. I
think it's uh our our kids are indoctrinated into social media, Bookface and all that other stuff that's out there, you know, Tik Tok we're talking about. I just got off of using crayons, but you know, I do I worry about the
future, but yet we're talking about everything, you know, with the animal shelter, which is good. and and we're we're trying to respond to them comments and we're trying to get the answers because truthfully, I don't want to talk about this every meeting. I really don't. I want to talk about other
problems, public safety. I want to be able to talk about kids being able to go to the park and as a parent, you feel safe that they could go there on their bicycle. Okay? We don't talk about them here in in meetings. Okay? And that's disturbing to me because our focus
should be on many things. And I think as council members, our focus has to be on many things besides the animal shelter, which we are focused on. I don't want anybody to take what I'm saying wrong, okay? But I worry about so many things. You know, I'm glad that Hamilton
Township banned cell phones in schools. Thank God kids will actually be able to add and subtract without using their phone. What's this world coming to? You know, I want to see a kid drink out of a hose or go play kick the [laughter] can or go play be able to jump in a mud
puddle without getting yelled at. I mean, our our world is is is changing dramatically and it scares the living hell out of me. Okay, I'm a short-timer. I look at it. You know, I I say we all we're all giving quarters and I'm in my last quarter, okay? And I'm going to try
to enjoy my life. I'm trying to enjoy my grandkids and but I'm scared for their future, okay? And we all should be scared about what's coming up because Lord has no idea what's coming down the road. You know, politics is is is it's
changing every day. You know, progressive movement, you know, you name it, it's happening. Okay? And these are things we all should be focused on. And I'm sure you are. I'm sure you are. I know that you are focused a lot of the questions that we hear on the animal
shelter. I get it. And and I don't want to bel labor this anymore. I think we're getting our point across that we want answers. Okay. But there's other things that we need to be concerned about. You know, we need to be cert concerned about our kids, our grandkids, what the future
holds for them. Okay. Along with our animals. So, I'm going to let's just end it there. So, I've said enough tonight. >> Thank you, sir. >> Council President, that's a tough act to follow. Um, no. I I I think though Chy
um really does make some good points. I think that I I appreciate the folks that come to the meetings and I'm sorry I had to leave a little earlier from our last meeting because I didn't hear all the comments that were made. Um but you know, I think that there's some
really lowhanging fruit items that we can really see through. Um and I know you've been bringing it up in the bios. I know council president's a little bit upset with that today, but I I agree with him. I mean, and then and then I thought the one comment about um social
media and just Tik Tok and putting stuff um although I'm not a you know a user of that um or do I have that app on my phone, I I I think it's you know I think that people use it and and it's a way to um you know potentially could adopt dogs
or cats and it brings more attention to our animal shelter. And then just and and Merlin was a particular case. I know Jenna mentioned this um that Merlin was a particular case, but you know just doing the evaluation a little bit. Expediting that evaluation process I
think is um is important. Um and and honestly some of these items can be addressed. You know it doesn't have to take a lot of a lot of money to you know to dedicate to the animal shelter. It could be just having, you know, an intern who's really skilled in, you
know, wants to have a, you know, a a career in marketing or whatever. So, that could come in and potentially assist us there. But I think that if it can't be done with our internal staff right now, I don't think it's a it's a really huge insurmountable hurdle. Um, you know, it is a little bit frustrating
because it's some some of the topics that we hear every meeting. Um, and I I just think there's a little bit of resistance and that shouldn't be there uh for some of these um quick fixes that could be really quick. Um, and I I think
that um, you know, Chel hit the nail on the head. So, I also want to say um, we had change the topic. Um, I also want to say that um, you know, I know there's a lot of division in our world today, especially in our country, but it was really nice to see being at the July um,
on July 1st, being at the July 4th fireworks celebration, just saying, you know, people are proud to be Americans. You don't have to be a Democrat or Republican or independent. That's the most stupidest thing I I ever heard that you have to, you know, align with a particular party to love this country.
Um, and it just it it's the imbecile information that you hear on the, you know, um, just through social media, [laughter] but you know, you know, you see it in Facebook, whatever. It just it's it's frustrating um that I'm a
proud American um um you know family members that serve this country and it was beautiful thing to see that um that we all came uh come together for um our two 250th anniversary and something that we should all be proud of. Um and so uh
we want the best for this country and and our our township. So thank you all. >> Yeah. So, I I'll echo uh Councilman Caribelli that uh if you don't go to our Fourth of July fireworks, I encourage you to go next year. It's always a great
community event to see everyone come together uh the way that we do. Um you know, every single person that I have the privilege of serving on this council with, I know that they're all serving because they care deeply about this
community and uh we do care about the feedback and the input. Um, there are times when we are going to push back on you when you're up at that podium because we want to make sure that we understand the issues that we're talking about. We want to make sure that we're
getting the best information to to act on and react to, you know, and and there are a lot of things that we're talking about like for example the volunteer program uh and you know the frustration with uh there hasn't been a volunteer coordinator. The reality is that pro
that position didn't even exist until this mayor created that position. This administration created that position. Um and we have had a vacancy and it sometimes things do take longer than we want them to to have these types of
positions filled. But you know the fact that we have a volunteer coordinator is an improvement over what we had prior to that. Um, the fact that there are just errors in social media posts,
the fact that there are social media posts right now is an improvement over what was happening, you know, not too long ago with that. It's an improvement that's been made. There's more improvement that can be made. You know, maybe we can look at the Burlington shelter and see how they're doing it and
maybe copy, you know, what they're doing, right? And learn because there are some great shelters. I think ours is a good shelter. I think we have room for improvement. That's always going to be true. Um, but certainly where we can kind of uh take a practice that's
working in another place and apply it here, we want to do that. Um, you know, as far as social media, I think you raised a good point. We should be platform agnostic. I don't happen to be on Tik Tok. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be on Tik Tok. Um,
and >> I don't know what Tik Tok is. [laughter] All right, we're gonna have a little after meeting >> and and uh also as Councilman Caribelli did, I'm just going to uh change the subject for a quick minute and point out
um you know some of the uh progress that we made in this meeting today uh with the uh preservation of open space. uh the work that we're doing to improve open space, avoid warehouses, avoid um
having detention centers that we don't want in our community. Um you know, investing uh $8 million in our water pollution control. This is all important work. Um and this is an administration and a council that hasn't
shied away from doing the hard work. And the shelter is a tough facility. It's a bad day for a dog when they wind up in the shelter. I don't care how well a shelter is run. Uh it's a hard thing and it is a high stress job. Um and I I know
I'm always open and I think everyone's always open to how we can continue to improve um at this facility. So uh I want to thank you all for your input. I know it seems like it gets a little acrimonious at times uh but this is the process right they say um what do they
say about democracy you don't want to know how the sausage is made you just want to uh you know and this is it right this is how it works right we get the input and we work to uh respond to that the one constituent meeting I had this week was about the shelter so it's not
you know it's not that we're not thinking about this or working on it um we are and we we are taking your input and working with the mayor's office and the administration to uh make improvements that uh need to be made. So, I thank you all uh for your
participation and I'll see you at the next meeting. >> Thank you. >> Um I'm going to try to keep it short, but um just of course I I want to thank everyone for coming tonight. Um the shelter is, you know, such an essential
part of what we do. Uh my first year out of college, I worked at a bank. That was not my career obviously, but um someone told me back then when when you're working with someone's kids, animals or their money because I mean I can tell you you're in a bank, you see a whole different side
of people. Um but it's a passion, right? It's something we all care about and we're working towards and um you know I think some of the frustration comes from too just like some of the inconsistencies of maybe what we're versus what you see you know um and I
think just clarity like people throw around the word transparency like nobody's business but really we we just want a consistent message of you know what's really going on. So we will definitely be looking into that. Um Cole, I wanted to thank you for coming
out to talk about um our water pollution control center. We if you ever want more information, we're happy to. And I'm probably the nerd on the on the crew that was like fascinated by our tour years ago. And whenever Carrie, our director, comes in person and explains,
maybe it's the teacher and me, but the science behind it. Um but I I do know this is something they are working toward. We we all know the state limits also are going to be more and more limited. So um all of these approvals um
and improvements that we're making at the water pollution control um is of course to attain you know those successful levels. But it's great to know that your eyes are on it um and please come back again. That's really important to us. Um, and kind of
difference between two go back to 250 years and patriotism and Tik Tok for those who didn't get to see it. I actually um a positive Tik Tok was some of the patriotism that I saw some people feeling was seeing Europeans coming here
>> for the World Cup and appreciating things that we take for granted every day >> and just feeling if it was tubing down a river or going to a wawa or just things that we don't think twice about that we just get to enjoy here in America and we
have all that history here. I want to encourage people. We have events going on here in Hamilton. Um I recently finally went over to Princeton Battlefield, spent my own time learning more about um so I just want to encourage everybody, you know, just take that moment and appreciate what we do
have. We are very lucky and the fact that you're here and you're able to express your opinions and we all have a part in this process. I just think it's really important we remember that as well. Um, so with that, I'm going to say good night and have hopefully the weather's good outside. I don't hear
anything. So, [laughter] [clears throat] >> I have my own problems with the shelter. My biggest problem with the shelter is what I faced today. I walk in and I have the devil on one shoulder saying, "Take them all." And then I have the angel on the other side saying, "You'll be
sleeping in the doghouse." [laughter] I don't think anybody likes to go to the to the shelter and see dogs left behind, right? like even walking out of the shelter, you're looking over your shoulder, taking that last look like, "Yeah, I probably could take that dog home." We we appreciate everybody having their opinions, right? A lot of people
maybe that haven't been here back in 2018 and 2019 when this was really bad. It's a lot better than it was. And um seeing the people that work there work as hard as they do and interact with us and giving us every answer, literally
bending over backwards to get us what we needed is good. The things that are falling short are not good and it's not acceptable. It's not acceptable to any of us as a resident, as a taxpayer, or as a colleague of mine. We're all in the
same boat and I believe even the administration feels that way. So, we appreciate all the um the info. We appreciate all of the material you give us and um we're going to keep pushing forward because that's what we do and you can hold us to that.
>> Um I appreciate everybody coming out. Uh I'm sure there's a lot of other places that people could have been tonight. Um I I think we have to at least uh give one last happy birthday. uh 20 happy happy 29th birthday to our uh sixth
council person. Uh we you know we wish you nothing but the best and um we will follow up on the application tomorrow and if you have anything else um send us emails or text messages because that's the best way to get in touch with us. Okay. Uh I have nothing else. I hope the
next time we see you is going to be uh August. So I hope everybody has a good month and uh we'll see you soon. your lay.