You're all good. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, good evening everyone. This meeting is being held with the benefit of public notice as required by the open public meetings act. Madam clerk, would you call the role? >> Mr. >> Here, >> here
>> uh would everyone please rise for the flag salute and the invocation. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Gracious God, source of hope and mercy. May we as a community use our talents to uplift those who are most vulnerable in our society. It is through our words, but most importantly our actions that we commit ourselves always to you. Finally, as we approach this holiday season, may
you come to those suffering through depression and sadness. We ask all these things in your name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> Communication. Uh for your consideration, we have C1 presentation to the New Jersey Municipal Managers
Association NJMA inter internship award for a new process on behalf of the NJMA to Samantha Senara. >> Okay. And who's going to be doing the
presentation? Well, I was just going to start off and let you know that I belong to the New Jersey Municipal Management Association and every year they do awards for uh public uh employees or professionals and so we were they have
one category for interns and we were lucky enough to have fabulous interns again this year. We've had other good interns, too, but this one happened to have been nominated for a an award and she worked with us in our HR personnel
office. So, I'm going to call up Steven Gould, our personnel officer, and he's going to present the uh the award to uh to Samantha and if we could get a picture afterwards or whatever because they'll put that in the newsletter for the NJMA.
>> Great. Steve, thanks for joining us. Happy to be here. Um, >> is that microphone on? >> Yes. >> So, I'm tall. I have to lift it up. Um, so, uh, Sam, uh, came to us over in the
beginning of summertime from the, uh, county work program that's set up for high school and college age, um, residents. Uh, just by chance. She happened to get, uh, assigned to Hamilton, um, and put in our office in HR. and we have been lucky enough to
have her the entire summer and she has continued to stay throughout the school year through the county program. Um, as a fellow Hamilton West proud alum, um, it's my privilege to give this award, which is a plaque and a check for $1,500
to another fellow Hamilton Hornet. Sam, come on up. Any remarks? Sam, you have to say something. >> I was expected, but um I'm very thankful for the opportunity to work with people
in the township. It's very it's a very great thing to me and not a lot of people get to do it and I find it very like a good experience to have worked with everybody here especially with Steve with Kathy with Joy and with Karen. It was very nice meeting you guys
and I hope to work with you guys like forever >> and I really enjoy being here and thank you so much. >> Congratulations. Don't run away. Come around. >> Just further reinforces that West is
best. >> It rhymes. >> That's the only reason they use that. >> Well, you're the only one. >> Got it. >> Send your picture.
>> Come there. Yes, the audience got >> fine. You did a great job. Okay, one more. Perfect. Thank you. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Moving on. >> Yeah. I I want to thank everyone for joining us. I don't want uh Sam, you or your family to feel obligated to stay for the rest of the meeting. You're welcome to stay, but you're certainly not obligated to stay. So, thank you uh
for joining us. And yeah, we'll move on now with communication C2. >> Communication C2. We can see the documentation for alcohol beverage control license 103300410. Galaxy Restaurant Catering Group, GDF. This is the public of the corporate
officers and the manager. >> Motion to accept communication C2. >> I make that motion. >> I'll second that. >> On a motion, Mr. Parabelli. >> Yes. Mr. >> Phillips. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr.
>> Yes. Now, there has been an amendment to the agenda. >> Oh. Uh, I said I I said except C2. I should have said except C1 and C2. Okay. Did he didn't hear you missed that one? Okay. >> Another do a vote for C1.
>> I'll make the motion to accept communication one. >> I'll second the motion. Mr. Pell, >> yes. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. And uh there has been an amendment to the agenda since it was posted on the
website. Uh we've added uh consent agenda item number 17 uh 25-489 uh which is a resolution providing for the insertion of a special item of revenue uh in the calendar year 2025
municipal budget uh state of New Jersey Attorney General's opioid settlement grant in the amount of $43,0001 uh20. Can I please have a motion uh to the amendment of the agenda? >> I'll make the motion.
>> I'll second that. >> On the motion, Mr. Carbell. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Way, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cox, >> yes. >> Next to your consideration, we have consent agenda items CA1 and CA17.
>> So, uh, that special, uh, revenue item isn't the only special revenue item on the agenda tonight. We also have uh $487,000 in grant funds from the state of New Jersey Department of Transportation
which is going to go uh toward the improvement of Ker Road and uh let's see the solar
is consent agenda item CA15 is uh a resolution authorizing ing uh the in installation of uh solar panels on several um several municipal buildings. Uh this
is going to be done at no cost to the municipality. Um we are going to work with a contractor who's going to install the um solar panels. We have the
option to either charge them rent for using our roofs or uh accepting electricity from the solar panels at a discounted rate. Um it's a 15-year agreement. Uh they will be responsible
for the maintenance of uh the solar panels and in part for the maintenance of our our roofs uh as a part of this. Um and we'll either get rent or a discounted. I don't know if that decision's been made. >> I think the intent is to do a power
purchase agreement, meaning that we will purchase it. And just to let you in on the process a little bit, we treated this as a concession under the law in New Jersey. And so we put it out to RFP to a bid basically. And part of the
evaluation was awarding it to and making the recommendation for you to award to HESPA because their rates were lower than than what they would be under the other bid that came through. We got two bids and so this one is the one
recommended because it was better for the township and better for, you know, us being able to get lower rates on our energy needs. And we're going to be providing a larger portion of uh the municipal energy supply from renewable
energy uh which is also always always a good thing. >> And in case uh Councilman Whan was going to ask, we're going to do uh they're going to construct this under a PLA.
So, um, a project waiver agreement because it's a pretty big project and so, um, we like to try to do that with every one of our big projects and so that will be also very good for us. >> Kathy, have we identified the buildings
uh or facilities that will be selected for this? >> We have identified those and I can't tell you what they are off the top of my head. So, um, >> is the list in the collateral? I think the list is it >> it may be in the in the back. >> I want to say it's like nine different
buildings that we have. So, they went and did uh both anybody that was interested in bidding went around and looked at the different buildings to see what the layout was and all of that and how much >> right they were going to have to control.
Exactly. >> All right. Well, we'll we'll get that information for you, Councilman Carbelli. >> Any other >> I think it is here. >> I'm going to open it up to uh comments and questions on the entire consent agenda uh for council.
>> I have no questions, sir. >> I have no questions. Council president. Okay. Yep. >> Good. All good. >> And um I'll open it up to members of the public with any questions or comments on
the consent agenda. Come on up, Janice. I'm going to mention too, we have uh a resolution uh in support of uh our 250th uh anniversary uh of our of the birth of
our nation. uh so that we can participate in some of the activities as a community uh around that >> yes John 432 at Trinity Avenue Cornell Heights. Um just a question uh the two sculptures sculptures that are being
approved are they new or are they ones that we already have? >> They're they're in place. Yeah. >> They're the they're the existing sculptures. >> Where are they? >> Are they the ones by the train station? One of them is right in front of our um
health department. >> Okay. >> Cuz I didn't know whether they were new or >> or the God Bless America. I don't know where that one is. >> So, um they're always nice to look at. Okay. All righty. Thank you. >> Thank you.
Any other members of the public with questions or comments regarding the consent agenda items? >> Seeing none. >> Seeing none, council president, I look to move um CA1 through CA17.
>> Second motion. >> Madam cler on the motion, Mr. Caribelli. >> Yes. >> Phillips. >> Yes. Mr. Whan, >> yes. Mr. >> Pero, >> yes. >> Mr. Ty, >> yes. 50. Next, we have ordinance 125-025 and an ordinance amending supplementing
the code of the township of Hamilton, New Jersey. Part 3, land use legislation, chapter 550, land development, article 4, general regulations and design standards. Section 550-117, tree removal and replacement and repealing the previous section 550-17,
natural features and tree preservation in its entirety. This is second reading and public hearing. And this is um an ordinance that is is going to uh require residents who uh are cutting down um a
certain number of trees to get a permit for that and to let us know that they're going to be doing that. Uh any questions or comments from council? >> We have our director here. I believe uh was going to make a statement. Thanks for joining us. Director Duma, did you
want to make a statement? Thank you, Council President. I received several calls from members of council about this ordinance. So, I um I'm here to address those concerns. If I can give you some background information, um this is mandated by the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection. There was a May 1st deadline for this ordinance to be uh approved. We are late. The reason we're late is because we've had vigorous conversations in staff about um this proposal. Uh the um the sample and
recommendation from D was very stringent. It called for up to a $2,500 fee to be paid for any tree being taken down in the town. Uh members of our staff were in favor of it, members were
not. Um and in the end you have what was the consensus for our town. Um we considered the welfare of the residents that how costly it could be if you had to pay to take down a tree in your in your
property. So we put in several exceptions that we think address all the needs of our of our residents. And if you have it in front of you, the exceptions are on page eight. >> And they talk about exceptions for invasive tree species or any tree less
than 4 in hazard tree which can be uh removed. And most times in on a property that's what's taken down. A tree is hazardous to the homeowner or or your neighbors. And there also allows a resident to remove four trees of less per acre. And I was asked if it what if
it's smaller than an acre. It still applies to four trees. and um within a 5-year period of time. So, we believe it's a very reasonable policy. We believe it addresses the situations where we have a homeowner who goes in and takes down 20 trees on their
property. We have an enforcement provision which we never had before. So, for those those reasons, uh I'm recommending the adoption of this uh ordinance. >> Thank you, director. Any questions for Director Dumont from members of council?
title. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for >> Fred. Uh don't go too far. We might have uh let me see. Uh do we have members of the public with questions or comments? Janice
J2 Avenue Cornell Heights. Um on the stream removal. So you just for clarification, you can have a a tree removed and it won't cost you anything off off your property or up to four trees and you only get charged if it's
more than the four. So there are provisions to remove more than four trees if it's dangerous or dying or whatever, you remove those trees. But if they're healthy trees, you can remove up to four trees over a 5year period of time without going for a
permit with the tent. Okay. All right. >> So, so like if you had an old tree was ready to fall down. >> That I have a gig open that start getting rotten. That's something. >> That's not one of the four cut down. >> That can be taken down at any time.
>> If you have four health, you can remove four healthy trees on your property over a 5year period without any penalty at all. >> So, >> uh Fred, I'm sorry. Uh, I just want to point out too, uh, residents can avoid the fee by replanting.
So, they can you can if you need to take a tree down, uh, maybe it's not an optimal location, maybe it's growing too close to your house, whatever the case is. Uh, if you are able to replant a tree elsewhere on your property, uh,
you'll be exempted from from the fee for that. >> Even if it's just one tree, there's no no fee for just one tree, right? There's no fee for just one tree, >> right? But you know, like >> four four trees >> or trees, you know, that are like 50, 60 years old and they're, you know,
>> any dangerous traits that you remove without counting towards your total of four. >> Okay. I would never take down all I ever want. Okay. >> So, you can take that down. >> Okay. Whatever. Right. Okay. Thank you. >> You want us to come out tomorrow and >> No, so far it's healthy. Every now and
then we get a big branch, but so far so good. So just and again just this is for that homeowner who would go in and have 20 trees in her yard say I don't like trees I don't like raking leaves I'm taking down all 20 trees. Well we're against that because that's not healthy for the environment. >> Okay.
>> But we also did we believe this is a practical plan for our taxpayers to consider us with their >> very good. >> Right. >> Director I appreciate uh you being here. Um I was the one that had most of the issues uh with it. I appreciate your
explanation because it really clarified everything and I appreciate you taking your time out to be here tonight. >> Do I have your vote, Councilman? >> I guess we'll see. >> I I'll come back again. I'll sing a song. I'll
thank you again. >> Any other questions or comments regarding ordinance one? Uh, okay. Seeing no additional members of the public wishing to comment, >> I'll make the motion to close the public
portion and uh move ordinance number one. Hold on, let me get the number. >> 2525. >> On second reading and adoption. >> I'll second >> on the motion. Mr. Farell, >> yes. Phillips, >> yes. Mr. >> Who,
>> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Z ordinance 225-026 is an ordinance amending and supplementing the code of the town of Hamilton New Jersey chapter 160 commercial filming and or still photography permit is the second reading and public hearing
>> questions comments >> no >> uh this is this is a uh an ordinance u to bring us into compliance to to declare ourselves film ready uh the the
film industry is is a growing uh industry in New Jersey. Um, and Hamilton is with this ordinance positioning itself to be a part of the economic benefit of that and the jobs and and everything else that comes along with
that. So, any members of the public with questions or comments on this ordinance? Seeing none, >> council president, I make a motion to close the public, excuse me, comment and move on ordinance 225-026.
>> I'll second it. >> Madam clerk, >> on the motion, Mr. Caribelli, >> yes. >> Phillips, yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Conro, >> yes. >> Mr. P. >> Yes. by a hero. Ordinance 125-027 is an ordinance amending supplementing an ordinance fixing the salaries and other
compensation of the officials and employees of the San Hamilton in the county of Mercer state of New Jersey. This is first reading and introduction. >> I make the motion to um on first reading to move on first reading ordinance 125027. >> I'll second that.
>> On the motion, Mr. Perelli, >> yes. >> M. Phillips. >> Yes. >> Mr. Whan, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Pharaoh. >> Yes. >> Mr. P. >> Yes. >> And now we will open it to uh general comments from members of the public. No one has signed up.
>> I didn't realize you can still >> All right. We'll She's She already set up. Well, we'll take >> There you go. Hello, Janette Berseron and um Deacon
Drive. Um just following up on an email I had sent a couple of weeks ago to members of council about supporting the climate super fund act which is being considered by the New Jersey state legislature. Um I'm hoping all of you got the email and um
notice that there are links to both the legislation and the letter to sign on for your support. It's important that we get the Climate Super Fund Act passed by um the legislature and the governor uh by the end of his term um so that we can
move forward with gaining funding to mitigate all the damages that are done by um the changing climate and the storm that we have been suffering. Does the um
is the um state legislature gonna going to get the legislation on the governor's desk by the end of the year? We are working on trying to get the sponsors of the bill to work with the um
Senate leader and the assembly leader to put forward the >> excuse me >> having your letters of support would put more pressure on them. That's why we're going to the town and there are a number of towns that have already signed on to
support All right. Well, it is we'll take it under consideration. Um, you know, if it's something, um, that we're able to do, uh, if not at the next
meeting, uh, then then at a at a meeting soon. It may not be, we only have one meeting left this year. Uh so um but we will take it under consideration. I
pretty appreciate you bringing it to our attention. Um I share your concern um regarding climate. Um I happen to think it's it's it it's an issue that underlies all other issues.
um whatever you know someone's concerns may be um without a stable climate um you know it's it's going to be hard to make progress in any other area uh as a
society and as a democracy. So um I'll take a look at it. I'll be seeing you. So um I know that you you're on our green team. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Uh for that volunteer work that you do. Um so I'll be seeing you and I'll I'll
follow up with you. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> Yes sir. Good evening everybody. >> Good evening. >> We are not here to and complain. We are here to ask for the town council. So I am Jeff Boach and this is Juan Class 77 Christine Avenue. So, we are
here on behalf. We have an amazing town resident who will be turning a World War II veteran who will be turning 101 years old on the 15th. So, we're here to ask the council and the township for our support to support this gentleman. He presently resides at Aelia at Hamilton
over on Kruzer Road. So, we are planning putting together a driveby happy birthday celebration. Here you go, ma'am. So, we're planning a driveby event to go by and help celebrate this individual uh this fellow comrade for his 101st
birthday. He walks with a walker, but he's still lively. He lives in the uh just the adult living side. So, he's still very independent, still has all his commodities with him. So, once again, we're asking for the town council and the township support uh in this on
uh Monday, December 15th, two weeks from today or from yesterday rather. Um, I wish we had known sooner because I would love for us to do a resolution in honor of this gentleman. Uh, probably the last
living World War II veteran. >> Uh, certainly in Hamilton, uh, among the last in the state. Um, and I would I would love to be a part of honoring uh that service and and doing anything we can uh to honor his service to our
country. and thank you for your service as well. Uh we appreciate uh the BFW. You guys have been stalwarts in the community uh for many years. In fact, you you sponsored my first baseball team in the RBA >> over 490 post war anyway. >> So, thanks for that.
>> Thank you. >> Yes, we actually learned about this individual only within the last two weeks. >> So, we would have come a lot sooner had we have known. that uh Juan provided a little event over at Aelia and that's how we come to learn and be introduced to this individual on Veterans Day.
>> So, uh drive by on Monday, December >> 15th, that'll be between 3:30 and 400 p.m. right before their dinner time. So, they'll have the residents, they'll be in the lobby, and if we can, we're looking to see anybody from the community drive by with banners, signs, whatever to to honor uh this World War
II veteran because yes, there is a spare family friendly. the youngest one still alive or 99 years old. >> Um, Monday, December, >> the next day is our meeting. >> 15th. >> 15th. >> Oh, yeah. You know, we might be able to uh put something together by uh December
16th is our next meeting. So, we could do a belated uh recognition of him uh and put it on the agenda. If you'd like to join us at our next meeting. >> Sure. >> Um, >> we can work on that. the evening maybe a little >> slower there for him, but we can do the
best we can. >> Something to add. Um >> I'm one of the guys that was uh working with veterans and it so happened that we were on the PTSD group out of the BFW and they called me up and say our
counselor is moving so they needed somebody to run the program. So every second Thursday of the month, I I will meet with them and we, you know, general conversation and there's about 35 of those gentleman's in there and ladies. I
believe it's two or three female veterans in there also. Um, so it' be nice if we known in time we could ask for a proclamation, but if you can get it in there, we'll go out of your sector and present it. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. If if Let's let's uh if we can get your contact. >> All right, perfect. Uh cuz >> here does he have a copy of this? Give that to me. >> Thank you. >> Anybody want to keep it, Rick?
>> Rick, keep it. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. We want to uh make sure that we include uh as Councilman Per pointed out background information about the gentleman >> which I included in the >> So thank you. I'm just saying this but
thank you. >> Thank you very much everyone. Great. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any other? Uh, yes, Janice. Janice, 32 Trinity Avenue, Cornell
Heights. Okay. I just He is He's getting a Tranonian to, you know, get involved, too, which would be really great. I have a question. What are they doing across from Train and Sculptor's Way? That big empty lot. That's not going to be a warehouse, is it? Because they got the
whole thing dug up. >> No, it's Is that Rivian? >> Yes, >> that's Rivian. That's the electric uh car. >> It's like SUV. >> It's like a >> like a truck SUV manufacturer.
>> Yeah. And so they're they're going to be I don't think they're doing any manufacturing there, but they are >> going to have vehicles there to to sell their vehicles, their electric vehicles. >> Oh, so it's going to be like a showroom then and and the cars to buy. But in
other words, >> final plans, but most likely. >> Oh, cuz I mean that's a big piece of land and I'm thinking, man, they're really What are they doing? >> Testing. They'll be parking a lot of cars in. >> Oh, okay. All righty. I just was hoping it was not another wonderful warehouse
that's going up like by us, you know, that would be so stupendous. Uh so, uh Okay. Well, that should be interesting. Okay. Thank you. >> Thanks, Janice. All right. Uh seeing no other members of the public wishing to comment, we'll move on to council
comments. >> Everybody always looks at me first. >> You never get the go. >> Okay, I'll take it. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Um I This is a very short meeting, but what a great meeting tonight that we get to spend time
celebrating um both our intern and now to know about this um almost 101-year-old veteran that's right in our own community. So, I look forward to celebrating his life and his commitment to our country. Um on another note, I'm just very excited for Winter Wonderland
coming up this weekend. Friday at 6 o'clock is the tree lighting. Who wants to join us? I'm sure they got me my fancy glasses so that we can see all the Santaas and the like. I like those. Um, but hopefully you can join us. I think it's supposed to get pretty cold on Friday for bundle up and just thank you
for coming out tonight. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Okay, I'll go. Um, again, I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving with family and friends and um I guess we skated a storm. It went to the north, so we got lucky this time. Uh hopefully we
don't have uh many many months of inclement weather, but uh if and when that does happen, just make sure you're safe out there and uh we'll see you soon at the next meeting. Be safe. I'm also going to be very brief tonight. Just wanted to uh hopefully everyone had a
nice Thanksgiving and uh um and uh just uh thank you for coming out this evening and for your comments. Um appreciate all that uh you you know invest in the community. Janice especially, you've been obviously a stalwart. You're here all the time, but uh appreciate you uh
as well coming out this evening. Thank you. >> Just want to quickly congratulate our intern again. Uh it's a great honor, but also uh want to thank our team. Um it was nice to see so many people from the township administration show up uh to be
a part of that. So uh thank you to to them and director Dumont for coming and answering our questions. And uh as the year comes to a close, you look back on uh things uh that that we've accomplished and things that we're, you know, still looking forward to. Um just
want to take the opportunity to uh thank Rick for the year uh that he has uh led us. >> Uh it's been a good year. Uh we had some challenges that we worked through. Um it was a long budget season that we got through uh together and I just want to
take the opportunity to say thanks for um for being the leader that we needed during those times. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. >> I beat everybody so you guys can all say it next meeting but I beat you. So >> you always got to do that. >> Thank you for for your support as vice president this year. Uh I am looking
forward to passing the baton, passing the gavvel, so to speak. We'll see. and I'm I'm confident uh that you will lead us well next year if you uh choose to accept the assignment. And um uh it has
been a good year. I appreciate the work of of all my fellow council members, uh the volunteers in the community, um the administration. It's it's been a good year. I mean, this uh agenda today
is is an example of the work that the administration has done. Another half million dollars in grant money uh to support uh programs that benefit our our community and our residents. And there's more coming. We're going to have another
million dollars in I don't want to jump the gun in in saying this, but another million dollars in grants on our next uh on our next uh agenda uh in our next council meeting. Uh so we're going to be finishing off the year with a bang. Um
and then the first of the year, we'll have swearing ends for myself and Councilman Whan and Councilman Caribelli. Congratulations to you both. uh congratulations and I'm sorry, right? No, but um probably the last
swearing in in this uh building >> when you think about that, right? So uh progress continues to be made and thanks everyone for attending and this meeting is adjourned. >> You couldn't wait to do that. Cincinnati.