Okay, it's recording. Okay. All right. Good evening everyone. Uh, this meeting is being held with the benefit of public notice as required by the open public meetings act. Madame clerk, would you call the
role? Mr. Caribelli here. Mr. Whan here. Mr. Kai here. Please note that Miss Phillips and Miss Rapro are absent today. And would everyone please rise for the flag salute and the invocation
to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Can we please remain standing? Dear God, we pray for peace in our
world, in our nation, and in our hearts. Help us to act with civility, to speak with kindness, and to live out the call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Grant us wisdom in our discussions this evening. Help us lead with integrity, compassion, and fairness, always keeping
the well-being of those we represent at the center of all we do. We ask all these things in your holy name. Amen. Amen. We have some amendments to the agenda since it was posted to the website. Uh there's a change in the title of the
following uh resolution. I believe there's just one word that was changed. Uh CA6 item 25-319 is now titled a resolution providing for the insertion of a special item of revenue in the calendar year 2025
municipal budget from state of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Hamilton Township Fire Division Fire Apparatus Acquisition $1 million. Uh, and being removed is CA29
25-342 resolution establishing a contract for the purchase of one 2025 ventra 45 RC tractor with accessories through Crestston Cresten Hydraulics Incorporated for the Department of
Public Works utilizing the Sourcewell National Pricing System contract #11 12624-TC not to exceed $91,46540. And being tabled on first reading is
ordinance 1 25-014. An ordinance of the township of Hamilton in the county of Mercer, New Mercer, New Jersey, providing for the acquisition of computers and/or laptops for the Department of Information and Technology. End of life cycle project
and the acquisition of two police SUVs for the Department of Public Safety fully funded by capital improvement fund for the total amount of $250,000. Can I please have a motion to the amendment of the agenda?
Yes, council president. I'll make a motion for the amendment to the agenda. I'll second that. Madam clerk. Mr. Caribelli. Yes. Mr. Whan. Yes. Mr. Ty. Yes. This is 300. Next, we are on to minutes. We have minutes from May 20th of 2025
for your consideration. Any questions or comments from members of council regarding the minutes for May 28th? No. Any members of the public with questions or comments regarding those minutes? Seeing no members of the public wishing
to ask questions or make comments, I'll entertain a motion. I'll make a motion on M1. I'll second. Madame Clerk. Mr. Caribelli. Yes. Mr. Whan. Yes. Mr. Kai. Yes. Passes 30. Communications. We have a joint proclamation honoring the 35th
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. thriving with the ADA, a future without limits. Do I have a motion? I make a motion on uh C1 under communications. I'll second that. Madame Clair, Mr. Caribelli, yes.
Mr. Whan, yes. Mr. T. Yes. Passes 30. Resolution number one. We have a resolution 25313. Resolution endorsing the township of Hamilton's fourth round housing element and fair share plan.
So this is uh our affordable housing requirement. Uh we have a 10-year time period to adhere to this. Uh we were given a number of affordable houses um affordable units uh that we would be
required uh to have built over the next 10 years. Uh we proposed a lower number. At that point, we were sued uh and have come to an agreement on a final number, which I believe is still lower than the
original number uh that was originally requested. Uh any members wishing to comment? Do do you have a statement on this, Joy? Nothing. Any questions from members? Yes, ma'am. you'll come on up here
and if you would give us your name and address. So, uh they're they're going to be um so there how many total units in this? 520 520 units. So, they're going to be in
various developments throughout the township. And a couple of uh current developments. Um in fact, we have on the agenda tonight include uh Our Lady of Sorrowos. Uh if you're familiar with the
um convent there. Yes. It backs up to my yard. That's why I'm asking. Yeah. So, that is uh that's an agenda item as well. So, we're going to be touching on that in a little more detail. Uh, but we're going to get 50 units of affordable senior housing uh at
that location. And then, uh, there will be affordable senior units built over at St. Rayfields. Uh, we're going to get a bunch of units um from our transitoriented development and I think that is a pretty big chunk uh with those
three developments of our requirement. So, with this resolution, are you asking for approval of this with this resolution? Yeah, we we're we're approving uh a yes vote will will endorse our our fair
share housing plan for our required units. Okay. It's not it's not for specific locations. It's for the overall number that we have to build over the next 10 years. Okay. And will the public have the opportunity to vote on the specific ones
that may potentially impact those uh that community? That's our responsibility u to vote on those types of matters. It's not something that goes to a referendum. Well, will the public have the
opportunity to comment on the plans for those prior to the approval of those plans by this committee? Well, you're here. You're here tonight. Excuse me, not to interrupt you, council president, but it'll go back to the planning board. Okay? And then the
developer will present the plans to the planning board. And that will be a time for residents to come to the planning board meeting and ask any questions they may have for the developer once he presents his plans to town. Yeah, we don't we don't have specific,
you know, schematics yet. We're we're in a very preliminary phase of this. You're here. You're welcome to make your feelings on that known to us tonight. Um it is an agenda item. It's a part of the consent agenda. So, we're going to be um
getting to that next. So, you're welcome to share with us. I can tell you our director of economic development is here. Um they have um surveyed many of the residents in uh properties adjacent
to OS and yes they've surveyed my property. I'm sorry they've surveyed my property. Not surveyed like land surveyors. I mean talked to No, they actually went in my yard and took measurements and did things.
Why is that? the I called the church and they said, you know, they were doing some redevelopment and could these people take a look at my yard. I said, okay, just that I'm not, you know, approving
that, but I said, okay, you can look at it. Yeah. No projects. Uh I'm sorry, Council President, but no project um any of these projects that we're talking about this specifically if you're talking in reference still or less project is going to um infringe on your property line.
Um that's Yeah. And I I know for 100% certainty that that's not going to happen. Well, that was not not infringe on my property, but you know, the location of the lighting, the you know, where the the people are going
to park, the um the noise, the landscaping so that you know it kind of hides that because I am like directly there. Well, I would say this as it pertains to the actual uh project in and of itself,
that plan when it goes before the planning board, um you will be notified. Uh so you can come to that meeting and and voice your you know whether you have a concern or you just want to see conceptually what that looks like. Uh there will be opportunities for you to attend that meeting uh which will appear
before the planning board. Okay. Anyone living within 200 ft Yeah. of OS is going to receive a special notification uh for the planning board meeting and will we have an opportunity in
advance of that vote for approval to take a look at the detailed site plans and so forth because I do have some concerns. My son is a a landscape architect and he had some ideas uh for
the neighbors. Um you know that might be helpful. Yeah, you are going to have the opportunity to Okay, see the plans. You can um uh they're going to discuss them in detail at a planning board meeting. Uh additionally,
residents can go to uh the office and see the plans. Do they make that available? And I just I can I just I'm sorry. Do you mind if I just have director Duma address maybe? Well, why don't we why don't we hold off until we're actually talking about it or
less. We don't want to get Okay. Yeah. That's fine. It's kind of It's true. It's kind of this is this strictly this resolution that we're considering right now. It does touch on OS. It does. Right. That's why I have some concerns and I I I appreciate you coming up right
now, but we will get back into it and I'll let I'll let uh Director Dumont um you'll let Director do I'm sorry. Okay, that's fair. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, sir. Jeff Seb Hemstead Road. Uh it's in
reference to the same thing that we're dealing with except St. Rayfields uh is behind my house and several of the people that I'm with here today, their homes are also directly involved with this construction. Um I've been there approximately 34 years. We have a
terrible water problem with the construction site that this building is going to go on with water runoff. It's affected our backyards, our basements. We have pumps, things move, fences. When this building goes in and this 100
plus parking lot goes in, this water has to be displaced and we're extremely concerned that it's going to come and take out our houses and we want we don't see anything and we've listened to the last meeting with uh Fred Dumont spoke
and we've actually some of us have actually spoken with him. Um there's no contingency that we see in any plans for water to be rerouted away from our homes. Although it does look like there's a nice little pond out front that doesn't do anything for us and this
is going to be a big concern besides many other things, parking lot lights in my backyard all night. Uh but the water right now for all I'm going to talk about there's other people here. um we'd like to know uh and we saw people out there and I will have to say that
I'm very disappointed at uh community as in our leaders and the church. This has been in the works for a couple years now. Nobody's ever came up to us. Nobody nobody ever told us there's a 70 unit complex going in our backyard with a 100
plus parking lot. And it, you know, it tends to lead someone to believe that uh you didn't want us to know. and the uh 200 f feet for the variances. Um I'm at nine and it runs to four houses together runs to and um we were left off that
list. I don't know why that was but again just seems to believe like the us the four um nobody wanted us to explain that point one more time. I'm sorry I didn't follow you on that one last question. There's a uh list for 200 feet for the bearings. the letters will go
out. My house along with the three other ones that are most directly impacted by this build left off the list. Your property is on Hemstead and backs up to St. Rfield's property. It's within the 200. Hold on. Oh, yes. Hold on. You So your property backs up to St.
Rayfields and you did not receive a letter. No. When they come out, we we weren't on the We are not on the mailing list. That was correct and now we are, but the four main houses aren't on the list. Coincidences. Uh, I don't know. So, we
want and we are going to fight for some type of water to be taken care of back there, whether it's a ravine or something, but it's got to be in place or we're in trouble. Um, and it may cost us our homes. And once this construction starts, if we decide that we can't
handle this water coming in, we can't sell our homes. Nobody's going to buy anything there when this construction begins. And we're probably looking late into the 227, maybe even into 28. And there's going to be a lot of stuff with that. And uh we don't want this. This is
this is a bad place to build it. It's just a bad place. I just can't believe that with the waters situation there that uh they're they're actually even thinking about it. So that's all I have. There's other people to speak. I'll let that turn.
Who else would like to Well, Let's let's how about how about I I'm aware of that and and there's kind of a loophole here because it is pertaining to so and again right now
we're not talking about St. Rayfields. Right now, we're not talking about uh OS, but I'm giving you leeway because we are talking about the 10-year housing plan at this time. Feel free to make your comments. I'm going to give you leeway, but normally we ask people to
stick specifically to the matter at hand, which is just our at this point our statemandated fair share housing plan. Cindy Aster, 5 and 7 Hemstead Road. I own both properties and yes this does affect us even though it's 10 years down the road.
Okay. Not that it's 10 years down the road. Well, whatever you guys it's our all-encompassing tenure plan. Okay. So, where can we look at the survey information? You did a ground study for the dirt. We have high water table. As
soon as you start digging five and six feet, you're going to hit water. Okay. We've all done this. 10 thousands of dollars in our yards to move this out. Um, we also have deer, we have environmental, we have bats, we have everything in the field. Where are they
going besides the rats and everything moving into our houses? Now, I understand that this is a $8 million property and that, you know, you're building on a certain section, but who's to say this builder is not going to
build down the line on Hempstead? All right. It's a bad area. You people don't understand. I don't even know what what surveys you had, but why can't we find out what you've doing? You ran gas lines last year already. And to my knowledge,
it was for the convent and the rectory, which nobody's in there. There's no more nuns. There's no more priests. Those buildings are falling apart. Why can't they be repurposed? Okay. You got maybe the the convent is
used for certain individuals. We're not notified about that. And then we talk about the parking lot. Then we talk about the lighting. It's on and on and on. And yet nobody has given any answers or courtesy. And I've been a
resident for 62 years there. Thanks. Director Dumont, do you have you did you hear anything there that you can address at this time? This is Fred Dumont, everyone. Our
director of economic development. Thank you, Council President. Now, Fred, can you talk a little bit about uh the the transparency involved in development projects and the the process because we we're actually very early uh in the process should be
talking about the specifics of this particular project, but can you talk in general about how they can access that? Absolutely. So I met with uh Miss A Stewart and the gentleman here month ago, three weeks a month ago and uh they came in to see me. So we talked about
the project. Um this whole idea was presented to me in February by uh a member of the finance committee at St. Raills. Uh that began the township's involvement in this in February. And uh Thank you.
So we did some some uh I went out there and we walked around. We looked at the property, met with the finance, met with the uh priest, met with the dascese and uh then we reached out to some uh some developers and interviewed them, wondered who was the best. Then we gave
that a couple recommendations to the parish and then they have met with a developer. There is no survey. There is no con there's no plan. There's the concept plan that I showed those two um when we met like three weeks ago
like conceptual drawing. It's a conceptual drawing where location the building. Since then the building the whole uh project has been downsized. It's still 68 units. The convict is included in the building and that's going to be repurposed. Saving the
adoration chapel and the rosary garden but using uh the rest of the building for community center for the development and for the uh and for the parishioners of Paris. Um we will install as per all
D regulations and Hamilton Township, we will make sure the developer installs all safeguards against any water issues. Um it was brought to my attention by Miss Aster that there was water problems there. Uh we are not I mean we're behind
Miss Aster's house by more than 100 ft but no other we're not the project's not behind any other house on Hemstead. Original proposal to us was 120 units along Hemstead. We shot that down and it's a project in works. As far as
notification, um, we have urged the church to inform their parishioners and the neighbors. We actually set a date and then the church agreed to it of Thursday night and I'm hoping all all my hearers got that. The
project, the manager, they will be there release more details now, including the sale price and and all things like that. Um, but nobody can say there's anything being done because it would have to go through my office and nothing's been done. Only conceptional. Uh, there is a
planning board hearings. Um, uh, I'm sorry because they downsized the project that kicked it to uh, zoning board because it's under F, so they have to meet that. I'm going to guess I think it's August 22nd, but all neighbors will be notified that there is a
pre-application meeting Friday. will where we will find out more about the project but we will assure like we do any project that all D and township ordinances for uh storm water will be met stringent this has to go through the zoning board has to get approval to
zoning board and then uh the reason for the accelerated schedule is there's a deadline to get state financing of September 2nd and that's everything I related to anybody who's called and the um our engineering department
will have a role in ensuring uh that any water runoff is going to be handled in in uh a manner that will least impact our our residents. That is correct. So, we're sending it out to a consultant for review and then
those results come into our office for review by both our principal planner and our township management. And I just want to say I understand the concerns of folks living along Hemstead without without having much information to go on yet, right? I understand that there's a
slope there and your houses are at the foot of the slope. So you might already have some drainage issues and so uh I appreciate your transparency, the fact that you set up the town hall Thursday to discuss in as much detail currently
available. uh the plans for um for the for the project and uh I might sneak in and sit in the back of the room and listen as well because I want to um have as much information about this. So my message is clear. It's the same whenever
we talk about this. Everybody gets scared. Affordable housing. What am I getting next door to my house? Well, this is 68 senior affordable housing units hopefully that are connected to parishioners. So, a widow, a widowerower gets a chance to uh sell their house,
move into an affordable housing unit, 1350 to,400 a month. They get to take their house and sell it to somebody else. Now, a young couple coming in. We're starting a new family. So, it's redevelopment over and over again. Uh I guarantee guarantee personally and
professionally that we will remedy their water situation because now it gives us a chance to improve the property. We could not before and I've never heard of water situations on EPS. Never. But now we get a chance to analyze it and put rain gardens. Uh gentlemen mentioned the
pond. There's a they're playing a basin out up front. Rain gardens are my preference. Those you sit on a planning board heard that they're they're attractive. You know, it's not no danger to a child wandering in there. There's a lot of good reasons for it. You know, and I know not these people, but it's
this has become a little bit of a political animal. And that's wrong because the church, if you heard my testimony from the council, I said the church is hurting. It's hurting very bad. This is an influx of of a large amount of money which will keep that
church and school open for a number of years here. And I think that's a great great thing. So I just would ask everybody look at the facts. Don't listen to the rumors out there. I've seen them. I've seen the emails. I've seen the text messages. They're not true. All right? It's the first time
that that property will ever pay taxes. First time for that. So, it's a benefit to everybody in the area. An improvement. You know, I've walked that property a long time. I've been out there in that parking lot. It's run down. This developer have an obligation to improve the entire canvas and he's
only purchasing 4.3 acres. Originally, it was seven. Before that, it was 12. Now, it's down to 4.3 acres. This is not a massive unrolling development. two stories high. All right, that's the conceptual. And I'll open my office at
any time before, during, or after hours, so everybody can see what we see. But I'm communicating to you now what we've seen, what we anticipate to see, and what's going to happen in the future. Fred, uh, you know, you and I have worked together for several years now. You've worked closely with council
whenever we've needed, uh, information. I appreciate that, and I know that, uh, you'll continue Excuse me. Rick, I'll punch too. I want to come up and I'll get plug you too, Bob.
Yeah, that was good. It wasn't that good. It was good. I I appreciate your response in this. Uh you'll you'll you'll stay nearby. I'll be available if any of the residents want to ask any questions about All right. Thank you for Who else would like to get up and talk
about the 10-year uh fair share housing plan or related items? Everybody's good. Okay. Seeing no other members of the uh public wishing to comment, I'll entertain a motion on
resolution 25-313. I'll make a motion. I'll second. Mr. Caribelli. Yes. Mr. Whan. Yes. Mr. Ty. Yes. Passes three. Next we move on to consent
agenda item CA1 through CA28. Okay. So on this we have um another redevelopment item uh the AMC
um property that's u let's see that is CA26 for those who are following along. Uh there is a proposal to bring a medical facility. Uh this is going to be a very
exciting um development for the township. Uh it's going to bring good jobs and good services to our residents. Um so that is one item on the um
on the agenda. Any other items that u comment? No, that was the and that was the big one. Council President, I'll just mention there's um you know an item that we established in agreement with uh between Hamilton and Robinsville for the ecological center. Um that's an ongoing
9-year agreement. Um a one-year options to renew uh has an uh 2% increase in that. Um appreciate the partnership with Robinsville and the ecological center. And then um you know, we have some actually de decreases on some projects which is pretty good. some of our paving
projects and yeah and then um you have some refunds that's all I wanted to mention the big one was 339 which you mentioned so the um OS project it is going to be
50 senior affordable units um any questions or comments on any of the consent agenda items come on up Janet Maser for Holly Drive, Mercerville. Um, just some things that this group had
brought up that I would like to record as some of my concerns as well. Um, currently I do not have a water problem and there is a small slope um from you know from the convent into
you know by my yard and my expectation is that there will be no water um problems you know once this you know and if it is approved um also my concern is the parking the lighting location of
trash trees and landscaping as I have mentioned before and we would like the opportunity to see those detailed surveys and plans including doing the detailed surveys with measurements for the water runoff. And then lastly, I
know this has occurred in other communities within New Jersey. Um, will there be a tax reduction for property taxes for individuals where these buildings impact those residents
directly? No, we are going to be uh realizing some revenue. Not exactly tax revenue. It's it's pilot uh revenue. Uh but we are going to be um realizing the equivalent to uh some some new tax
revenue on what was previously non-t taxable property there. So across the state of New Jersey, there is no consistent rule for um property tax reductions for neighborhoods that are directly impacted by um something like that.
Well, you know, I'm not sure what you're referring to statewide. Uh no, because you live next to OS, you're not going to get a tax break. They're going to they're going to build they're going to take the convent and they're going to build 50 units of senior housing in the
convent. They're going to add on to the back. It's going to be L-shaped and they're going to keep the soccer field. So, there's still going to be a lot of open space. I downloaded those pictures. Yes. Yeah. So there are only a few houses
that are actually going to be anywhere near the building or the parking lot and the rest are going to have uh the soccer field buffering between them and the the property. So, okay. Cuz I my sister uh when she moved
in her house 30 years ago and I've been in mine 31 um she lives in Skilman and she does have she's had for 30 years a tax reduction. What does she live next to in Skilman? Um there is a um they just built
affordable housing near there and township uh buildings. They just built 30 years ago. She got a tax break. No, they they're that's the skilled the former reform school out there. The school for boys. No, she's on Red Fox Court. So, Red Fox
Court, that neighborhood right there that butts up to those buildings. Again, there's we're not I I'm not familiar with the law that you're speaking of and that's not anything that we're going to be doing.
Council President, I'll just say if if you can reference uh that part if if you can find for me that particular I like to just know what that is and you know um I would respectfully request if the township could make that consideration. Okay.
I think residents would be um pleased with that if the township could make that a consideration. I just like to know more. Sure. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Janice Jan 42 Avenue Cornell Heights. Okay. Um
I'm glad to see AMC is doing something. That's good. That's going to be one huge medical facility because that's a big building. Is there somebody like they're tearing down that building? Pardon? They're going to tear down the existing building. Oh, okay. You know, probability. It's actually
early. There aren't finalized plans yet. Uh, but the expectation is they'll just tear down. Oh, okay. Okay. And we don't know who's it would be like. We don't know if it's Capital Health or anybody like that. We don't know. We're not We're not going to uh say
until things are finalized. Okay. So, actually, we're days away probably from a public announcement about that. Okay. Well, that's good because that's been empty for so long with utilized and all that. It's going to be it's going to be a nice development for
Hamilton and very, you know, it's it's been the focus of of this council and this mayor uh to focus on redevelopment of properties like the AMC of some of the um you know, older
industrial properties throughout the township, the uh vacant shopping center that we're rebuilding, uh a new municipal building Um, yes. So, you know, redevelopment has been our focus and this is going to be a nice
redevelopment project. Okay. Very good. All right. And since that's near me. Okay. And then the other one CA11 to 19. How many liquor licenses are we going all to the same person? Are we going to be doing a live drinking or
what? They're all old from 2017. From 2017. But why are they being renewed from so far back? There was there actually is an explanation for that. There was a u just renewed from last year, but this is from
2017. There's like nine of them. Well, there was a hold up. Um do you can you recall the specifics of why there was a hold up on that? You got it. Anthony's got it. Oh, Britney told me so. Doesn't matter.
So, go ahead. Okay. So yes, there was some financial issues with the applicant and he had to settle some stuff with the state and it did take a couple years and now he's allowed by the state to currently have his license. So we must pass an
individual license per year to be able to give him his current license. So we have to basically backtrack a little bit. Oh, so this is all for one license. It was for an inactive pocket license. So it wasn't like an establishment was still open. It was a pocket license. So
it was just for this gentleman to still hold it in his pocket and bring it up to date. Are we getting a fee for each year uh retroactively? Yes. So there's some fee income for us. That's unpaid over those several years
that it was had matters to take care of with the state. I was going to say I can't imagine one person having that many licenses. We'd be some drinking township. Okay. All righty. Thank you. We have a few bars. All right. Any other members of the
public wishing to ask questions or make comments on the consent agenda items? See no members of the public wishing to comment. Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion uh council president on our consent agenda items CA1 through
CA 28. I'll second. Madam clerk, Mr. Caribelli, yes. Mr. Whan, yes. Mr. Ty, yes. passes three zero. So, we're going to move on to ordinances
in second reading and we have tabled ordinance one. So, we'll be skipping ahead to ordinance two. Okay. So, for the record, ordinance number one 2512 has been tabled into the next meeting.
So, ordinance number two on second reading is 25-013. Okay, we're going to vote on that to table it. So, okay. Can I have a motion to table ordinance one? Um, make the motion to table ordinance number 125-012.
I'll second that, Madam. Okay. Mr. Caribelli, yes. Mr. Whan, yes. Mr. Ty, yes. Passes 30. Ordinance number two on second reading is 2513.
Ordinance adopting the Our Lady of Sorrow study area non-commendation redevelopment plan for a portion of an area in need of redevelopment pursuant to NJSA4A 72A-1 block 1666
lot 80. Any questions or comments from members of the council? N members of the public. Any additional members? We're we're on OS now. We're We're on the Would you like to come up? Well, not
apologies. Just one last comment. Um I have to state your name again. Janet Mer for Holly Null Drive Merc. Um, right after the first meeting that this was brought up, I had asked to see the
slides that were presented, I physically went into the township office, was told they weren't available. I kept following up frequently, finally got access to those photos and I was told that there wasn't any redevelopment plan to share
and someone in this meeting just shared it with me and that was dated in June. So, I'm disappointed that when I had called several times and showed up physically, I wasn't given the opportunity to see that plan. I share your disappointment. If there
was something available, uh, it should have been made available to you. So, I don't have an explanation for that. We would have to look into it. Fred, do you have something? If you could share that with me, I'd
love to see it because we just finished your development plan and that's what you're voting on tonight. Okay. So, please, please share with me that what you have. Sure. because this is what we're presenting to
you tonight. This is the draft. Yeah, this is the Who gave you this? Guys, please don't play popix with this stuff. It's important stuff getting senior affordable housing in that's a
great final versions being submitted. Okay. Absolutely. Stop by my office tomorrow and I'll have the desk. So the explanation is when we're still developing plans. We don't share it until we have a final draft. That's the
explanation. So yeah. Any other members of the public with questions or comments on ordinance to uh 25-013? Seeing no members of the public with
questions or comments. Um I council president, I'd like to close the public comment portion and u move on second reading um 25-013. I'll second madam clerk. Mr. Caribelli. Yes, Mr. Whan. Yes,
Mr. Ty. Yes. Passes 30. Next, we are on first reading and introduction 25- It's ordinance number two 25-015. Ordinance amending and supplementing the
code of the Township of Hamilton, New Jersey. Chapter 485, Vehicles and Traffic, Article Two, Parking 45-9, Parking Prohibited at all times on certain streets, Eaten Avenue. May I have a motion? Council President,
I'll move on ordinance 125-014 on first reading and introduction. I'll second that. Madam President, Mr. Caribelli, yes. Mr. Whan, yes. Mr. Ty, yes. 30. Sorry, Brandy. Do we need to do anything
for ordinance one like we did for uh the second reading ordinance? Do we need to do a motion? We just put it's just been pulled. It's the table so we don't need a motion. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Ordinance number three. Ordinance number 325-016.
Ordinance amending and supplementing the code of the township of Hamilton, New Jersey, chapter 485, vehicles and traffic. Article 2 parking 485-19 Handicap parking we are establishing spaces for 13 Adella Avenue 8 Charlotte
Avenue 1536 Jennese Street 149 Joan Terrace 56 Lafayette Avenue 57 Lafayette Avenue 302 Lafayette Avenue 438 Lynwood Avenue 473 Lynwood Avenue 184 Main
Street, 27 Parkinson Avenue, 24 Perry Avenue, and 446 Schiller Avenue. Do I have a motion? I'll make a motion on ordinance 325-016. I'll second. Mr. Caribelli, yes. Mr. Whan, yes. Mr. Ty,
yes. Passes 30. All right, we're going to Nobody signed the list. Uh we're going to move on to public comment. Any members of the public
who would like to make comments or questions on any topic whatsoever? We got somebody coming up already. Good evening. My name is uh Gerard A. Cassell. I live at 15 Hardwood Drive,
Hamilton Township 08619. I've been a resident of Trenton, Chambersburg, and Hamilton all my life. And I have been very, very upset as I talked to my good friend, Mr. Caribelli,
about rent increases. I've been to the governor's office a year and a half ago. Last year I was given a 10%. This year I was given a 12%. Something needs to be done for the
citizens. I'm not saying I can't pay. I can pay. I have a mortgage of $450,000. But with the house situations being since CO and everything, the homes in
Hamilton and Robinsville have gone up greatly. I've been to the mayor's office three weeks ago. I spoke to his secretary and I'm not going to go away. I think the citizens and myself, my aunt's 89 years
old. She just told me my rent went up 7%. Trenton has got a 5% across the board. And I want to tell you something. I think you guys from the mayor to the council are doing a great job. And I want to tell you something.
My grandfather and Mr. Caribelli Senior and Mr. Tai were good friends. And when my grandfather went to neither one of them, something was done. I want something done. I want it on the
agenda next month. I want to stop my landlord, who's a slum landlord, right in his tracks. I was told from a lady very nice in the mayor's office, "If you need assistance,
I don't need assistance. My wife works for the sheriff's office in Mercer County. I work for the Delaware Joint Bridge Commission as a corporal, but I feel 12%. 12%. I only got a 4% raise this
year. Come on. I mean, Hamilton is a beautiful township to live in and like I said, you guys are doing a great job. Uh, from the mayor to the council, I've been a
Democrat all my life and I'm not asking. I need something done. I need something done. Not only for me, for the people that maybe can't afford it, that are on social security, like Mr. Whan said he had know somebody that went up 8% 9%.
Okay, let's not put a deaf deaf ear to this like the governor. I've in the governor office two times with the past year and a half and maybe he's got property now. You got we got to have some kind of
premier five 6 12%. I'm very sorry. And like I said, I will be back next week. Anthony, not August, September. Please. I need your help in this matter.
Thank you for your comments, Mr. Thank you, Janice. Janice, 432 Trinity Avenue, Cornell Heist. Did something happen at the Merc post office that it was locked on Sunday? It's always open that you can go
in and drop letters off and the door was locked and uh cuz I was happen to go started to go in and this gentleman said me it's locked. I said no it's never locked it's always open and sure enough it was locked. He says you have to go over to the mailbox which you could hardly find. And of course the pool thing was locked
and they just had a slit to put the envelopes in so people can go and steal them. But I always like to take my mail into the post office because it's safer. But it was totally locked up and it's always open on the weekends. So, uh I was the post office itself is closed, right? Yeah. The Well, they always have
I'm not familiar with Yeah. what when you go in where where the the the men are who take care of you, that's all locked up and where the cards and all are and you can just walk in, you can go into the slots where people have boxes can go into their, you know, mailbox. But it was totally locked
up and I just thought that was very odd. I thought maybe something had happened that they I'm not aware. Is anybody aware of anything? Not aware. Okay. My next meeting because you know it's always open. Yeah. That's what I liked about it, you know.
And so what I thought to you maybe they had some vandalism or something and you decided to lock it up. I was just curious about you guys always know everything. Okay. Thank you. I usually go out to 1:30. Any other members of the public wishing to
ask questions or make comments? Seeing none, we will move to council comments. First, we're a small group tonight. I just um you know, I I appreciate those members that of the community that came out this evening. Um I'm very familiar
with uh both properties. Um, and I've looked over the OS project a little bit more so than St. Great Fields because I I still haven't taken a deeper dive into that project, but my sons play basketball at St. Greyfields. My my uh
my second parish is OS. I go there frequently, so I know very well both those properties. Um, one of the things that I think that um, what what will come out of this discussion, uh, we have Thursday's public hearing, which I think
is a positive thing and brings to light sheds some further light on these projects. Um, I think that you, uh, heard tonight from director Duma, I think, which will happen from the mayor. Um, there will be complete transparency during this process. Um, I don't think
anyone's trying to pull the wool over neighbors. uh eyes on this project. This is something that's in, you know, um something that we're going to be uh very transparent on and communicate well with the community that abuts this these two developments. Um
and I think Thursday is a good first step. Uh the public that um public hearing uh or not public hearing, but just a public event that's going to be at uh over at St. Rayfield. Um I appreciate Director Dumont speaking a little bit on the project. I know I I
can understand the concerns um immediately when there's a development that's adjacent to, you know, your neighbor uh or your your property. So, uh I understand those concerns. I think those concerns hopefully through this process will be alleviated. Uh there's
be there will be ample time uh during this process um uh during public hearings, planning board meetings, discussions on the project as they move from conceptual to actual concrete drawings and what they're going to look like um to voice some of your concerns.
So um once again, I appreciate you coming out this evening and bringing this to our attention. And I know this is um you know first and foremost in in on on your agenda and um it's an important piece you know to what we do as council members here trying to put
together uh you know working with our administration and putting together a fair share housing plan. Um it's an obligation that we have to provide a 10-year plan. Um, and uh, you know, I think this would is is going to be a
very positive development for the community, a very good development for senior affordable housing. Um, but obviously we don't have those plans in front of us right now to speak what exactly the this p these projects going to look like. Um, so once again, thank
you for coming out this evening. Uh, there's a process in place. Um, and uh, look forward to seeing all this. So, thank you. I guess I'll elaborate a little on more what Mr. Caribelli said, and I I I do
appreciate uh, the public coming out tonight and voicing your concerns. I understand probably if there were development behind my house, I'd probably have the same questions, right? So, whether you have development at OS or St. gray fields or wherever you're
developing within the town, whether it's redevelopment or new development. People always have questions and and we get it. Um, but you know, I feel confident not only in in the administration, but in Fred's department that he will hold them accountable, the developers, you know,
whether it's during preconstruction or as as construction starts, you know, hey, at the end, hey, we're not going to have a water problem, right? you got a tension problem, but hey, we're having water problems now during the construction, right? Whatever the problem may be, you're getting water on
your property or in your yard and you want it addressed. And I feel confident every time that if somebody called up with that that situation and needs to be addressed, he's going to address it for you because and and we'll address it. You know, we last thing we want is
people being inconvenient during a construction project that they're not too happy with to start with, right? Just it's it makes matters worse, right? All of a sudden, you're you're building something, you didn't want it. We promised everything would go smooth, but yet here it is, construction's going on,
and you got problems right away. We don't want that. We want we want everybody to be happy at the end to say, you know what, the township did a good job, the contractors did a good job. It's going to benefit St. Gfields. It's going to benefit LLS wherever it, you know, it's going to help people out.
It's going to give seniors an opportunity. You know, we're just talking this gentleman, Mr. Cass was talking about uh rent control where they're going to have it's going to be it's not it's low income, but it's going to be set up for seniors. You know,
people that have maybe lived in Hamilton Township their whole life, but they need to move and they need to downsize, whatever that case may be. that they can still call Hamilton Township if they're home. So, I think that's a good thing. Um, I'll just finish up with a we've had
some really tremendous hot days. Um, especially, you know, our seniors, be careful out there. Um, if you're having any problems, don't be afraid to ask for help. Um, but be careful more than anything because we we don't want anybody getting getting sick or with this heat and we don't know how much
longer it's going to last. And with that, I hope everyone has a great night. Thank you. Um yeah, just to echo uh Councilman Carbelli and Councilman Whan, it has been a focus uh for me as an
elected official uh and I think for my colleagues as well. Um we've we've talked about redevelopment um redevelopment that makes sense for the community. uh a focus on um
you know but but the focus needs to be on protecting uh quality of life for our residents. Um there was talk of affordability. Um and all these things come into play with the topics of discussion tonight. Uh these these
senior housing developments are an effort to uh keep Hamilton affordable for uh folks who have raised their families here. Uh we want them to be able to afford to continue to live in our community. That said, uh we never
want for there to be uh a negative quality of life impact to the neighbors of any new development or any redevelopment. And you know, I am confident that our our township professionals and Fred's office, our
engineers, uh that they will be looking at the issue with the water uh displacement. Always an issue with construction. Uh and it's something that um you know, our professionals will be keeping an eye on, will be keeping an
eye on. We're here to address any concerns, but you're also going to have as more details come out on this, you're going to have the opportunity to address uh the specifics of of your concerns uh at uh either planning or zoning uh as
the case may be. Uh there will be a forum where these things are going to be discussed in detail. As more details become available, they're going to be made available to the public uh through the office of economic development. So, uh, I do want to thank everyone, uh, for
coming out tonight. I want to thank everyone for your concerns, uh, whether it's OS or St. Rayfields or, um, any other matter. And, uh, we're meeting once a month through the rest of the summer. So, come back and see us in
August. Um, probably here. Uh, I think we're going to Yeah, I I think the uh elevator and the air conditioning are working at the moment in the municipal building, but I don't know we want to roll the dice in August on those items continuing to
work. There's a there's a reason that we're building a new municipal building. Uh, is that why you held the meeting here tonight? Yeah, the uh HBAC wasn't working in our second floor uh council chambers. Um, I was just wondering why we held at the municipal building.
Normally, we're at the municipal building. Uh, we moved the meeting here, uh, just because of, uh, well, the HBAC wasn't working at all. So, um, I want to thank everybody for coming out tonight and this meeting is a journey.