Adequate notice of the October 9th, 2025 meeting of the township committee has been provided in accordance with the open public meetings act by posting written notice and agenda of the meeting on a bulletin board any municipal building 1000 route 10 township of handover and by hand delivering mailing
or faxing such notice to the following newspapers. Morris County Daily Record, the store ledger, Hover Eagle and by following the scene with the township clerk. >> Committeeman Cahill is excused this evening. Committeeman Feroska here. >> Committeeman Francioli >> here. >> Committeeman Mahalo
>> here. >> And Mayor Gallagher >> here. >> For members in attendance, >> if you would please join us for the pledge of allegiance. And please remain standing for our prayer led by Deputy Mayor Mike Mahalo. 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. Almighty God, please watch over and guide this governing body with an abundance of wisdom and understanding to help make the best decisions for our
residents. Please bless our first responders and township volunteers who help keep us all safe. Also, bless our township employees and residents. Lastly, please let us pray for the men and women of the US armed forces who stand vigil over us always. Amen. Amen.
Thank you, Mike. [Music] Good evening everyone. I'd like to begin tonight's meeting with two letters of communication. First letter is from Corey Paul's resigning from his position from the public works department effective October 17th, 2025.
Second is a letter from Alicia Simone resigning from her position as deputy court administrator for the violations department effective October 31st, 2025. May I have a motion to accept both letters, please? Move. Second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> So approved. Next we have the approval of the township committee meeting minutes of September 11th, 2025. May I please have a motion to approve the minutes? >> So moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> So approved.
And next on the agenda, we have the public hearing and adoption of ordinance number 24-2025. proof of publication that ordinance 24 2025 and its notice of introduction appeared in the September 17th issue of the daily record. I'd like to state for
the record that ordinance 242025 is a land use ordinance and this ordinance was sent to the Morris County Planning and Preservation Office as required by the municipal land use law. This ordinance was also sent to the five contiguous municipalities as also
required by law. Ordinance 2020 20 2425 was also referred to the planning board for their recommendation. In a letter dated September 16th, 2025, the referral stated that if ordinance 24-2025
is adopted, it would amend the development standards for multifamily residential development in the B-P2 zone located in the intersection of Paripony Road and Whippony Road. The current standards are based upon the earlier
concept. Subsequently, the township as part of the third round affordable housing court settlement agreed to permit a different housing development, but before the regulations could be amended, the development was approved by the board of adjustment. The the development now has been built and is
occupied. The planning board also determined that ordinance 24-2025 is substantially consistent with the master plan. Since both the land use plan and the housing plan elements recognize the third round housing settlement, both the land use plan and
the planning board's re-examination report recommended amending the zoning regulation to better match the approval of the development. At this time, may I have a motion to convene the public hearing on ordinance number 24-2025? >> So moved. Second.
>> All in favor? >> I. >> Is there anyone in chambers wishing to be heard concerning ordinance 2024-202? I'm sorry, 24-2025. If so, please state your name and address for the record. Seeing none, hearing none. May I have a
motion to close the public hearing? So move. >> All in favor? I I >> now on adoption. May I have a motion to please adopt ordinance number 24-2025? >> So move. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> On roll call
>> for that. >> I'm sorry. >> Committeeman Phamosa. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Committeeman Francioli. >> Hi. >> Committeeman Mahalo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Gallagher. Hi. >> So adopted. [Music] Next on the agenda, we will introduce
ordinance number 25-2025, 26 20225, and 272025. Ordinance 25-2025 is an ordinance of the township of handover, county of Mars, state of New Jersey, amending chapter 300 from the township code entitled
nuisances in order to affirm the township's intolerance of bullying and harassment in all forms. Ordinance 26-2025, an ordinance of the township of Hanover County of Morris, state of New Jersey, creating chapter 175 of the township
code entitled electric bicycles and scooters in order to regulate certain electric bicycles and scooters within the township. Ordinance number 27 2025. An ordinance of the township committee state of h I'm sorry, township committee of the
township of handover in the county of Morrison, state of New Jersey. authorizing the replacement of the two existing Galaxy boilers and two pumps in the Whiponong library with the installation of two new pureless boilers and two new pumps and further out
authoriz authoriziding I'm sorry authorizing the appropriation of $50,000 from the unallocated portion of the 2025 capital improvement fund and all prior years for the financing of this improvement.
I'd like to state for the record that all three ordinances and their respective notice of introduction will be placed in f full in the daily record in accordance with law. The public hearing is scheduled for October 23rd, 6 p.m. Is that what we decided? At 6 p.m.
If any other member of the public would like to be heard resign regarding these ordinances, they will be given the opportunity to do so that evening. May I please have a motion to introduce ordinances 25, 26, and 27? >> Chris, I'd like to move and I would also like to make two comments.
>> Sure. >> For 25 and 26, if I could. >> Mhm. >> Uh number 25 is very important cuz uh when I was on the board of ed with committee uh committed when New Jersey had harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy in
place. In theory, it was very good, but again, Trenton doesn't know our children as well as we do and as well as our school districts do. And as we went through the process, it became a very helpful tool because although you can't
regulate behavior through law, you can encourage good behavior through good policy. So, Hanover Township, I believe, is at least one of the first municipalities to recognize harassment, intimidation, and bullying. And I don't
know if it was because of CO when a lot of people stayed in their house for a very long time, but I truly believe nice people got nicer and mean people got meaner. And we have quite a few problems in Hter Township and our surrounding municipalities
regarding behavior and threatening behavior. So, I think this is a beautiful, beautiful piece because Hannover Township is on the forefront working with the mental health association, with symposiums, with our schools, with the sheriff's department, with the mayor's wellness campaign, and
almost any group that wants to work with us to make our residents feel safe, be more confident, and feel stronger, respect themselves, and therefore they're more apt to respect others. So, that's a beautiful, beautiful piece that we're putting forth, and I'm very happy about it. The next one is the ebikes.
I'm going to tell you, I'm going to thank Fl Park Park Mayor Mark Taylor. It may sound as if it's an overstretch to try to regulate ebikes, but they're they're a terror out there in the street. And I'm not going to say what city it is or what municipality it
is, but this year during a summer concert series, a 2-year-old boy got hit with an ebike and he has brain damage. And it was a young person flying through a field enjoying a concert in his own way on his ebike flying and he heard a
2-year-old boy that has brain damage. Now uh we see the way that people ride on the streets without a lot of regulation and without helmets. The helmets is a very very big deal. RPD rewards our youngsters for wearing helmets with gift cards I believe to
7-Eleven and different places in town. But I think we all have to work a little harder because one accident hit one pothole and it can change a family's life forever, not just that young person on it. And the last point is it is being looked at by the county and the state
cuz when we were younger, and I don't want to date myself, when you had a moped and we couldn't afford them, but you had to get licensed, you had to get insurance, and you had to pay attention to regulations in order to ride that moped. So again, I'm going to say this
is a beautiful, beautiful piece and I want to thank in public Florence Park Mayor Mark Taylor for jumping on this, putting together a beautiful piece that we took and use as our model. We adjusted it a little bit. I hope it's adjusted enough so we can all call Mark
tomorrow and tell him that ours is a little bit better, but but we got to aay it. But Christie, those are my comments and thank you very much and thank you everybody. >> I second the motion. >> Thank you. And and to piggy back some of the mayor's comments or something, I was at a meeting last night with uh part of
my committee had neighbors who lived in the upper portions of uh um M Road and uh we have couple of neighbors up there that want spruce tree spruce street buttress at the very end of the culac
where the paths to the schools are concerned, right? because several of those neighbors said they were almost knocked down by motorbikes and trikes for the kids that come racing through there. So to hear that firsthand right here in our town, yeah, we've got a real
problem. And the last thing is the prosecutor's office is working on an educational piece that they're going to be distributing and most of the school systems are going to take that educational piece very seriously. share
it with their students and share it with their students families through the the ebackpack. So, it's going to be all hands on deck and we all have to work together because anything can happen at any time and if we can do something to at least make it less likely, I think
that's what we should do. But that's my opinion. Kristen, that's all. >> Thank you. Okay, so we had a motion. We had a second. I'm going to do roll call, please. Committeeman Feramosa. Hi. Committeeman Francioli. >> Hi. >> Committeeman Mahalo. Yes. Mayor Gallagher. >> So introduced.
Next is the resolutions as a consent agenda 194-2025 through 203-2025. Does any member of the governing body have any questions regarding any of the resolutions present on this agenda?
>> Motion to approve. >> Thank you. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Roll call. Committeeman Farasa. Hi. >> Committeeman Francoli. >> Hi. >> Committeeman Malco. >> Yes. Mayor Gallagher. Hi. >> So approved. Thank you. Next, we have to pay our bills in the amount of 6,33,454
[Music] 53 cents. John, can we pay our bills? >> Pay the bills. >> John, you pay them your money. No. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Okay. Paying the bills. And next we have
raffle applications. RL3497 Maui Road School 50/50. RL3498 Handover Rotary Club Tricky Tray. RL3499 is also a Handover Rotary Club additional prizes. RL3500 Salem Salam
Shriners Bingo and RL3501 Whippony Park High School PTO calendar raffle. May I have a motion to accept the raffle applications? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I mayor and the members of the committee. That clears the agenda and I
thank you very much and sorry I was a little tongue tied tonight. >> Thank you very much. Well, it's because of your Yankee loss last night. We're going to give you a little bit of the slack. >> I appreciate that. Thank you. Putting out there in public. >> Okay. Other business. John, you have anything for the public? >> Yeah, I I'll be I'll be quick on it.
Tonight, it's all about ease. We'll begin with environmental and green team. The environmental green team held a very successful free paper shred day event. At that event, they collected over two tons of sensitive uh materials and some,
you know, just paper. It was all shredded, environmentally responsible, getting out of the waist stream. So, kudos to them. They also importantly raised 500 lb of food, which went to the Interfaith Food Bank along with donations. So, good job environmental
green team. Next one up is EDAC in our our EDAC um group. They had a very very well attended local business networking event that was last evening that was held at a facility called All Seasons
Golf which is located at the Sedenols Mall. And at that facility, we were able to host close to 100 people, came in, interacted with one another, and talked about handover, what handover was doing, and how they might be able to improve their businesses in handover. So, it was
very well done, and we thank EDAC for coordinating that. And a special shout out to All Seasons Golf for hosting that event. Engineering. engineering is in the process of finishing um key roadways in
this town, major roadways. And the major roadway that was just completed was Popppler in the top portion of Countrywood. Um very difficult reconstruct job. This was no simple grind it up and pave it. So that's been completed. Good news. And we're now
anxiously awaiting Alangquin Parkway and Horsell's Road and hoping that the weather cooperates. so that we can continue uh to improve our roadways in this town. The last one is an appeal for support
for something we call near and dear Operation Street Light. Operation Street Light is all about safety. Safety is important, especially as we're walking now. It's getting darker. It's the fall and when you're out there walking and you see street lamps that are out,
please go to the JCPNL website and please go to the link. It's very easy. List and report what you see. It's as simple as the address and there's a number on each one of those polls and it'll make a big difference in terms of
improving safety in your immediate area. Mayor, that concludes my remark. >> Thank you, John. Ron, is everything >> good? Very good. John, by the way, second the idea on the EDAC uh networking meeting that was uh held uh last evening that was uh very very
successful and kudos to all that participated in that. Uh had Marstown airport there had many of our local uh real estate, banking businesses, etc. and a lot of new faces that I saw. So, great job. Let us keep it up on there, too. Uh from the board of health
standpoint, everything seems to be in order. Uh we reached out once again uh to Dr. Zach Mendelson from uh Laser Vision uh who was agreeable to once again putting on an eye clinic for us. Perhaps we'll do something this spring
uh and uh our seniors took advantage of that last year was very successful and uh the opportunity with no cost to the seniors uh take an examination like that and head off any potential problems. Uh beyond that, our Stony Brook Farm and
Garden is doing well. Uh we closed out a great season. Uh that garden too provided 800 lb of vegetables to the interfaith food pantry. Uh we're expanding the garden presently. Uh we uh
administrator advises me that we do have approvals from JCPNL underneath their power lines uh to continue the expansion. Uh the expansion will give us an opportunity to double the size of the garden. Uh not that uh we have immediate
use for it, but right now 100% of the garden beds that we now have are sold out. So uh coming into next year, we want an opportunity to uh give everyone uh a chance to own a own a garden. If you uh are an apartment dweller, and we
have many of them coming into town. If you're a condo owner and you don't have uh the ability to have a backyard where you can have your own vegetable garden, uh you can contact us at through recreation uh and get details on getting your own garden right here at Stonybrook
and it's great opportunity for you. Uh Marstown Airport, Cory informs me that uh all of the nuisance work of uh getting the runways repaved, etc. is complete. Uh we're happy about that. And it was unfortunate that we had a lot of
complaints through the summer with overflights because of changes of runways while they did the repaving on there. Uh I might remind us too uh from a greedy standpoint, Marstown Airport is probably our second largest taxpayer in Hanover Township. Um
transportation committee on the on the county level. We're meeting once again. Um are still our focus is on Route 24 Park Avenue and Columbia Turnpike intersection. That's been uh approved for funding by the state. We're still waiting for the state to sign off on
that before we can get going. But uh Mr. Mayor, that's my update for now. Thank >> Thank you, Ron. >> Michael Mahalo. >> Thank you, Mr. Gallagher. Um just a couple things going on. Um for you guys that are here tonight, hopefully you notice we have new art in
the hall. We have a new display going on. Very nice artwork if you get a chance. Uh anytime the business hours of the building that they're open, so anybody's welcome to stop by and take a look. Um seniors, we have a senior lunchon coming up. It's the 55 year anniversary of our
senior club that's coming up. So if you're of age, you are welcome to go. Although you better hurry up uh contact recreation real quick because uh it's coming up on the 15th. So it's uh coming up quick. Um, construction on the splash pad has
begun. Uh, that should be complete by hopefully by the winter time. We're crossing our fingers and then it'll definitely be ready for next season. Uh, we have a new project that'll be starting soon. The, uh, Central Park rink will be starting at the end of the month. Uh, we have a date of the what we
say the 27th, right Jar? >> October 27th is >> Yeah, October 27th. I'm going to begin the construction on the Central Park rank. And just so you uh fill you in on what that is, um it'll be a rollerblading area that will have a lip and we can flood it
with water when it gets cold and then you'll be able to skate on it when it when it freezes. Um if you guys are familiar with Central Park, we used to have a a rough area there that we flood and it would freeze, but it would take a while because it was it was dirt, it was ground, so the water would sink in. We'd
have to flood it, wait for it to freeze. It would take a a couple couple flooding sessions to really get a good ice. Uh but now we'll be able to flood this rink, freeze overnight, skate on it the next day. When it warms up, pull the plug, let it drain out, and we can go back to rollerblading on it. Uh it'll
also give us a nice flat area where we can have uh craft fairs or garage sales or any other rather than tying up one of our parking lots like we often do now. So, it'll give us another area that we can uh uh have some events in. Um,
mark your calendars again. Masquerade at Malipartis Park, Saturday the 25th, 2 to 4:00. Uh, youngsters come out, get some candy, go trick-or-treating around the park. It's a really uh really wonderful event. All of our local um clubs have a
booth and distribute candy. Uh, so anybody's welcome to come out and and and check that out. Um whether we realize it or not, this is the last public meeting we'll have before the election next month. So, I want to uh wish our two committeemen
that are running uh good luck. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much for your service. You guys have been doing a great job and we wish you the best in the with the election coming up. But also remind everyone, get out and vote. >> Uh it's important to vote. You guys come, you yell at us over different items and a lot of it's out of our
hands, specifically the highdensity housing that is imposed on us. And there are two candidates and they have two polar opposite opinions on this. Um, but again, get out and vote. It's coming up. >> Thank you, Mike. >> That's all. >> Thank you, Mike. Thank you.
>> Just one quick update. There's a lot going on in Hatter Township and I'm sure most of the people know about some of our big battles and some of our big initiatives and I'm not going to go into too much detail tonight, but the most important detail that I have for tonight is this
one. I referred before to the mental health association and the work we're doing with our schools, our families, and putting quite a bit of emphasis on understanding our aging family members cuz it's very, very difficult and we all go through it. But there's a very big
event this Saturday. It's called Out of the Darkness Community Walks. And this is a very important initiative for Hannover Township because we have a family in Hanover Township that lost one of their family
members. And I'm asking whoever would like to walk with us to please join Team Brandy for the Mars County Walk Saturday, October 11th, 2025, Cougar Field in Cadam. Check-in is at 400 pm.
The event time starts at 5:00 p. p.m. And this walk is in memory of Brandy Angelberger and her family. Um, we do quite a bit in Hover Township with suicide and we never use the term
suicide prevention because you never want a family to think they could have done something to prevent it. But you can try and work very very hard to understand some of the telltale signs that somebody is struggling. But when we work with it, it's usually for 10 to 14
day stints. And at the end of that, I will always go home and say, "I'm glad that's over." Because it's dark and it's sad and it's heartbreaking. Well, a lot of families don't get to go home after 10 to 14 days and shut it off for 6 months. So, it is real.
This is a beautiful family that had a tragedy and we're standing and walking in lock step with this beautiful family. And if anybody would like to join us, please join us. You can walk with me and any of the people that I'm going to be there with. And that's all I got for my
public comments, guys. And I have one request. I see we have one of our scouts back there. Sir, the next agenda item is public comment. So, I'm going to invite you to sit where Committeeman Cahill sits and get to see what we see, get to
hear what we hear, and enjoy our community on a different level. So, let me get your chair. Please come up. You got my [Music] >> Guys, should we ask our scout to have a public comment? >> Would you like to address the uh the
public? >> Put you on the spot. >> Hi, my name is Will Stalker. Uh I'm a boy scout from Troop 155. uh based from the the American Legion Post 155 and I'm just here um I'm here to complete a
requirement for uh my scouting journey. >> Thank you very much. Come out. >> Okay, you ready? Okay, here we go. I'd like a motion to open to the public. >> So moved. >> Second. All in favor? >> I the floor is all in favor.
>> Okay. If anyone would like to address the governing body, please step up to the podium, state your name and address, and you have four minutes. Thank you. >> Yes. Hello everybody. How are you? This is Lindsay Hollerin. I no longer I know
I'm no longer a resident at the red carpet, but I still do outreach work. Um, I have started for Miss Bard bringing food every Thursday to the residents there.
And apparently Nyak does not want the residents that are in need of food, um, toiletries and other necessities and outreach. Um, he doesn't want them receiving that. I got a police uh call
today from the police officer. Um and I know for a fact the police did not want to call me about this and tell me that I'm trespass. And if I show up there in the property again, you know, obviously I'm arrested.
Um and when I come there, I'm ultimately just bringing food to the people that have asked me to bring it to them and signed up for the service and then I leave. Um, I would like to have a resolution
in lie of that because regardless, um, food insecurity is a big thing over there. Hygiene and other essentials are big insecurities over there. Um, personally me, the people that are behind this pushing Nyak, they have been
trying to receive my address to still harass me. And if I was to like let's say show up there and be like, "Oh well screw this. I'm going to go then obviously I would get arrested which would generate a police report which they could over request and then get my
home address. I'm not stupid." So, I was thinking um because I'm worried now about Terry, Miss Barb, that if she starts coming over there that she'll be next with us, that maybe on Thursdays when I pick up for the families at Table
Hope, if I could drop off at least to the Hanover Police Department and maybe the police officers could bring over the food over there or maybe if they escort me over there to bring the food to the residents that are in need of it. And
the resources, you know, even though they have a whole plethora of resources that they're still at hand, they're still new to it, they're still scared of it. Being homeless is so traumatizing. You know, I know you guys know this. Um,
especially for me, it took a lot of work just for the 19th of explaining nobody's coming to hand you. So, um, and I know a lot of the residents there, they don't have working cell phones and there's no phones in the room. So, they can't pick up the phone
because these workers that they're connected with are busy trying to do their job. So, then they contact me with all the questions and I clarify with them for answers or find and at least establish resolution. Um, I'm the
goeteen between the homeless clients and TA when there's, you know, lack in their workers. Um, I have a couple people that I speak with, um, I don't want to say work with because I don't have a job
doing this, but that I have built a professional relationship with that I can go there and be like, okay, well, this client, this client, this client is having problems with X, Y, and Z worker. And by them doing that, it is preventing
me um from helping these clients get out of this and even connecting them to mental health sources. So, I was coming to you guys with a resolution and the only thing that I could think of is to bring
the food. Um, already bagged with the room numbers. Already let the residents know be back at 2:00 with your room number and the police will give it to them because that's the only thing that
I can think of or have an escort because when I am there, I am not bothering nobody. I am not going in buildings. I am there speaking with different person that >> what we'll do is we have Robert. Robert,
if you could um talk to Fred and maybe uh the chief uh we thank you for saying that duly noted and uh we will look into that. >> The only thing I'll say, Lindsay, is uh I think it's a a great idea. I think the issue will be the township also won't
have permissions that a private person wouldn't have and so maybe there could be some kind of compromise where a separate place is set up where you know a meeting place >> the problem is they don't have vehicles >> I Yep. That's the problem and thank you.
And that is a great point that you bring up. But if Nyak want to bring the police into it, which he did by saying he doesn't want me there and the police comes in with a
resolution, then he is outright stopping people from ending their homelessness and their hunger. Um because it's children here, too. We'll see what we can do to find a compromise on that. >> And also, by the way, please don't talk bad about the team this year.
>> What was that? I can't hear you. >> He likes >> He's good. He's good. Yeah, he was just making it bad. >> I miss you guys. I do miss you guys and you might see me on >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> You know, I'm only a town away, guys.
You know, Brian Cahill periodically jokes that we're a couple years away from yelling, "Get off my lawn." And um last night I was watching the Yankee game, and I can't believe how many strikes they watched. I was in my house yelling, "Swing the bat." If you swing
the bat, you you can probably hit the ball sometimes, but I'm not an athletic guy. >> Okay, move on. falling over into appreciate that. >> Good evening everyone. Can you hear me
or you need my outdoor voice? >> Uh Christie, can you turn the mic up a little? >> It's on. Just adjust it. >> Hello. >> Yeah, that's good. >> The little switch. Good evening everyone. Terry Beard, Whippy section of Hanover Township. Um,
first I would like to thank the mayor um for taking the lead in helping with the people at the assorted hotels here in town because
I've been barking for 2 years and he's finally able to get all the people in the right place in the room to get things moving along to help the people there get actual housing and overcome the hurdles to the housing that
bureaucracy has really put in their place in the in their way. So I really cuz it seems like you know all this time all these years nothing seemed to have been able to be done but it takes somebody one person to actually take
that lead and that's you Ace you took that lead and I really appreciate it. Um, sorry, this suicide thing's got me a little messed up. Um, in reference to the hotel,
um, I'm a proxy for Table of Hope to take food over there every Thursday. And because of medical problems in my family with my daughter and stuff, Lindsay's been in my state to to go there to deliver to particular families, you
know, and I it's for particular families. They're all signed up, registered with table of hope to receive the food and everything like that. Um there's all official paperwork and all that stuff that goes along with it. And um you know, my fear is that now because
I've been going there for such a long time that uh I'll be next to be trespassed uh from the place. I mean, I've got three cases of toiletries in the back of my truck right now that I was, you know, hoping to take over there to tomorrow. Uh I don't usually just
take it over just to anybody. I do reach out to people and have them come out to me. I never go in the hotel. So I am like going there for particular people and that's how I've always been through my entire time. I don't just go and like
just dole stuff out of the back of my truck. I'm not like that. I I like organization. Um and uh so you know my fear is that I will be trespassed as well because of of going over there and trying to help the people again try to
get out of the hotel and into housing. Um, I weekly have been in touch with everybody that I have phone numbers with and contacting them and the people that are involved in this transition and I'll call it a transition because it's not an
easy hurdle to overcome and there's a lot of many moving parts from the state on down to the town that um the people are so appreciative. You can't imagine the the the the
emotion that's coming from these people to me through many phone conversations and text messages as I'm checking up on them to make sure the process is moving along and that they're not having a hurdle that they can't overcome or direct them to the right place so that they can get the help that they need to
get to that next place. A lot of has to do with paperwork, social security cards, birth certificates. A lot of these things are all lost when people are homeless. they they lose all their necessary paperwork. They lose everything. You know, it's in a storage facility. They can't pay the storage
facility. Everything's gone. So, I appreciate everything that the town is doing. And um you know, if it wasn't for you, Ace, this stuff wouldn't be moving along. And um a lot
of people hopefully at the end of this journey will finally be able to rest their heads on a bed. Thank you, >> Terry. I just want to say thank you. And uh I'm usually I'm I'm typically better
at when somebody's giving me a hard time than saying something nice. But um I I do want to I want to thank you. If it wasn't for you beating this drum meeting after meeting after meeting, uh, I wouldn't have explored it the way I did, and I think if we didn't have Senator
Pacio open a lot of doors for us, um, I I know we wouldn't be where we are today. Senator Pacio, I always say Sheriff James Ganon is Hover Township's big brother. Senator Pacio is now Hannover Township's big brother. And we've been
on the phone 7 days a week, I think 44 days now. uh with the state, all different groups from the state, and we have plenty of big meetings coming up. Another one tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. And I'm going to thank you. I'm going to thank Senator Pacio. And we have an incredible
team here with Christa Dei Giorgio and and Chief Lock. I mean, we're together all the time. And we're working very hard. And Dean Martin said, "The harder you work, the luckier you become." And we're starting to feel like we're getting a little bit of momentum here. And hopefully we're lucky. And as I
said, it's it really is a team, but there's always got to be the team leader. There's somebody driving the bus. >> You know, there's always there's somebody, you know, on the seat that got the, you know, the the hump in the back when you get over the the big bump in the road and stuff like that, but
there's always somebody that has to drive the bus. And you're a great bus driver. >> Thank you. I appreciate that very much. >> Anyone else? Motion to close. >> Oh, shortly.
>> Excuse me. >> Excuse me. Can I speak? >> Is open. Yes. >> Okay. Um, I have a question and it's to the committee. Uh, the issue with Forest Way and the road being open one
way as opposed to totally open. Why are we still discussing this? Um, I was a little bit annoyed when I heard that the discussion had surfaced again, but I became more upset when I listened to a township committee meeting on May 11th
of 2023 where the um the road had already been closed 8 and 1/2 months and there were a handful of people that came and wanted to have it reopened and wanted to explore that and at that if you I would
like everybody if you have on go back and listen to that committee um meeting from May 11th of 2023. It was exactly like Tuesday evening. Everybody there were same people were there. Same comments were made. Um um
Mr. Francioli had uh not had uh explained that uh to the people that were there that the town spent two and a half years exploring you know doing this. Uh there were many meetings, there were um uh surveys done uh that they met
with the transportation department to make sure the busing wouldn't be an issue for the kids. Uh there was so much that was put into this and it was not an easy decision and the decision was made as a compromise to go one way. So I I thought at that point it was sort of a
done deal. Um, and that was the second time that it was brought up to the township committee and the township committee, I guess, discussed it and felt that there was no compelling or new information that had come forward that would change that decision. So, again, I
guess my question is why is it still surfacing? Um, is there an endgame to this? Uh, I I just don't understand it because it's frustrating. I think it's giving false hope to the people that are coming here that this is going to be reopened again if there is no new or
compelling information or nothing that's coming forward to say or this has changed to you know change that decision and I think it's frustrating to the people that were involved in this years ago put a lot of effort and worked in you know with this and went to all the
meetings and I think it's also frustrating to the people on the street and not only forest but locust and um you a lot of the other streets that are happy with the decision and see a decrease. As a matter of fact, um Mrs. Layman was here uh on Tuesday and
she said that the traffic on her street on Popppler had actually decreased which was not the consensus that some people were saying. She stood up here and said traffic I see a decrease in traffic. So I don't understand what has changed that we're still you know exploring this. And
one other comment I want to make is um when I looked at that uh relooked at the May 11, 2023 township committee meeting um mayor and Mr. uh Malco, I believe you both had said at that meeting that we will continue to monitor and revisit
this issue. And I didn't realize that and I thought to myself, why are we revisiting this issue? Why are we continuing to rem re remmon monitor a a decision that's already been made by the township committee with 2 and 1/2 years of um a lot of effort with uh surveys
that were sent out with um meetings multiple meetings with the engineering department with uh a lot of expense by the town to have traffic studies done. Why are we still entertaining this? I guess I need clarification on on that.
>> Okay. Is is that time up? >> She had 9 seconds. >> You have 9 seconds and then I'm going to rebut. But it's not >> Well, the last person I think had more than me. I wasn't timing, but >> Well, this is a comment and then a response, but it's not a conversation like the other day. The other day was a So, here's the answer again because I I
made myself very very clear. For the last year at least, people have been asking me about Forest Way. >> I don't want to interrupt you, but I understand what you're saying. My question to you is not the people are coming to you. I understand. Let me finish. I understand the people are
coming to you. They have a right to come to you. Everybody has a right to come to the mayor. I'm asking you why a decision that was made over 3 years ago and was done with no new compelling information, nothing has come forward to change that decision. Are we still revisiting it?
Why are you not explaining to these residents, these few handful of people, they're coming with an issue of convenience that this was not a convenience issue? This was done for safety of the community and that nothing new has changed. If something new
changes, come back to us. That's what I don't understand. I'm not complaining or saying that you shouldn't be talking to people. You should be. I'm asking what has changed. >> Okay. Well, well, I'm going to answer and now this is my time.
My job is to represent 14,700 people and even the businesses during the day. And what I do is when somebody comes up to me and has a concern, whether I agree with them or not, I give them the time a day, right or wrong, I give them the time a day. I agreed to talk to two or
three people 7 months ago that had concerns about Forest Way and the one way. We were going to have a a sit down in town hall. It got postponed. postpone, postpone. It was going to be a nice conversation. Then Sunday or Monday, it broke in
Hannover Township that Gallagher was announcing Tuesday at 3:30 he was going to be closing down Forest Way. I had about 35 phone calls on Monday night from a church hall in town. I can't
close Forest Way. You don't have the authority. I can't believe you're going to do this. All of a sudden the town all the town phones were lighting up. Everybody wanted to quote come to the big meeting. Wasn't a meeting. It was a conversation. I have conversations with people 6 days
a week in this position. Sometimes seven. So where we were going to have a nice meeting where residents get to voice their concerns, which they do all day, every day to every one of us because we are in the community. We're not professionals that go home at night
four towns away. We live here. A lot of us work here and this is our town and we're honored to serve on this level. I even had a phone call saying, "Well, I'm not coming if you're going to have opposing views on this road closure." I
said, "Why didn't you invite me?" I said, "I didn't invite anybody. The reason people are coming is because they're aggravated because they were told that I was closing Forest Way." And I said it was a terrible, terrible, terrible rumor that upset people and I
believe was an attempt to hurt me and put me on defense. So, we had a conversation the other day, which I will do again. Now, listen, I know you're not satisfied with this answer, but the point is, if I got a call with somebody with a concern tomorrow, I would call them back. And many, many people that
were at that meeting, including you, I reached out and said, "Do you have any more concerns? Is there anything else you would like to talk about?" So, as far as me having a meeting, that's my prerogative. And as far as me having a meeting here and and look at information the concerns of any resident has, that's
actually my job. >> Okay? Let me just say, you need to go back and listen to my question because that's not what I asked you. You went through this whole big thing and maybe I didn't articulate. Let me finish. I asked why since nothing has changed and a decision was made three 3 and 1/2
years ago is this being still entertained at what point does town say we have done this it's been litigated we made a decision nothing new has changed that was my question I didn't ask about the meeting on Tuesday >> are you familiar with Lindsay road in
Floren Park >> no I'm not >> okay Lindsay road in Floren Park was a oneway for about 30 years they decided at one point you know what so many people are cutting through that shouldn't. It's creating traffic in other areas. Let's just widen it and open it up. And now there hasn't been a
problem since 1985 when they made Lindsay Road and Bill Burn knows Lindsay Road in Florence Enley Road in Floren Park in Livingston. Are you familiar with Brookon? >> You know >> Brooklyn in Livingston was a project for my father-in-law when he was a traffic sergeant. They made it one way during
drop off and pick off to pick up to a school system. When you make any decision, you have to also be able to look at it, evaluate it, see if anything's changed. And to your answering of your question, I gave it to you today with Joe Georgio. You asked what has changed. When this was
implemented, we had about 40% capacity in the condom in the condos that are there. Now they're at 100% capacity. >> Good. I'm glad you said that because that's not a positive for the other side. That's a positive for the side to keep it one way and to maybe close it totally. That's a positive for me. He
says, "I want to talk to you about something that's concerning. >> Should I say no? I'm not interested." >> I'm not asking you that. I'm saying, "What are we going to do with this? Is there ever going to be a finality to this?" That's what I want to know. I don't know why you're not understanding my question. Is this going to be finality? because I thought there was a legal term
that says once something is decided that you don't go back on that decision. It's not relitigated unless there is new compelling information, something has changed to make you go back and revisit it. And maybe I'm wrong about that, but
the lawyer would know. There would be >> Can I jump in a second, please? >> Sure. >> No, I wasn't at the meeting >> and conversation. >> I'm not talking about that meeting. I just want to know when's it going to be done now. Well, we're we're not you had a conversation with with some residents.
It has not been on our agenda. We're not addressing this again for exactly the same reason you're saying. I don't have so so so no new information has been brought to us. Not to me at least. And if it does, then we will look at it. We will examine it. And as we should with anything, we should periodically look at it.
>> I agree. having the mayor agreeing to meet with somebody that again he should even if it is a dead issue. Um but I >> I totally totally agree with that with you. I'm just saying I think by revisiting this all the time. So it's a
dead issue right now unless there's newer compelling information that comes forward. That's what I wanted to clarify. That's all I'm asking. >> Brought to again it's not been brought to the committee. Uh engineering I don't think there's anything on your on Yeah. So this is not he heard the the the com
comments from residents. >> Okay, that's all I wanted to find out that as of now this is still a dead issue. There's not re being revisited because your understanding is there is no new information that's come forward to reopen this and it's not a
convenience issue. It was never convenience. It was safety only. >> Yeah, that that's my understanding of it at this point. >> Okay, that's what I just want that was what I wanted to clarify. You know, the the mayor had a >> I don't know. I'm not I we've already discussed that Tuesday meeting. I wasn't even discussing that. >> We we do have to move on because I'm
done limit. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Anyone else like to be heard? Yes. State your name, address, and please take four minutes. >> Sure. Hi, Mary Jacobski, five-seater run. >> Speak into the mic. Yeah. Up.
>> Hello. Mary Jacobowski, five seater run. uh in Cedar Nolles obviously. Um I wanted to first of all thank uh Mr. Gallagher for um listening to I had reached out to Mr. Gallagher about uh
the closure on American Road and Forest. I live on Cedar Run so obviously you would think this is an inconvenience for me. Um and that is not why I brought it forward. I wanted to talk about it and see if this is something that can be
looked at. Um I think when we made the decision there wasn't enough data um at the time and the big concern was driven by the new condos coming in and I think that the condos are occupied and I also
feel that if safety is an issue let's address safety. closing a road um in one direction that has created traffic all around Cedar Nolles is really something that has to be reooked at. So, I am
requesting that the town re-evaluate this in the best way possible because it is not fair to the people on Apple Tree, on Countrywood, on Manganger or on uh McNav um that they are now dealing with
all this through traffic. So, I think I'm asking for the town to revisit this and look at the data. And I think if we have a safety issue, I think the safety needs to be addressed. And I did hear uh
Mrs. Allen speaking last when we talked uh tried to talk on Tuesday about safety of her grandchildren. And I believe that safety is important. I work for a company that safety is the number one um
part of our strategy. And I feel that the grandchildren of every resident in this town is important. So I think that the children on Manganger, on McNab, on Apple and Countrywood are just as important. So I bring this forward. I
would like the town to re-evaluate it as it has become a problem for everyone to come through the other areas. Ridgedale Avenue, Handover Avenue, Horse Hill Road are very dangerous with all this traffic
now. And first and foremost, I want to thank you uh Mr. Gallagher for listening because that was really the intent of uh my reach and my husband. We just wanted to talk about it and it's not because we live on Cedar Run, it's because we live
in Cedar Nullles. Thank you. >> And thank you. And not only am I available all the time to talk to you, the entire governing body is available to talk to anybody about anything almost any time. And thank you, Mary. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else?
>> Rosemary Randolph, eight evergreen lane um I just want to say ditto to everything that she just said. I don't want to keep everybody, but also to thank you for at least giving some of us who uh wanted to speak about it an
opportunity to try to sit down and have a calm talk about our concerns for the neighborhood and the one way out. And yes, some people do have a convenience issue. Some other people have a safety issue. I agree with her that all of the
other traffic on the streets, I can't see how it's helping them. Um, but I thank you for at least listening to our concerns and giving us an opportunity to try to speak. And unfortunately, we were not able to have
a calm meeting and explain to you uh what our concerns were completely because it ended up just into another screaming match. Um, but I think maybe she might be right. There are so many new residents in the development. So many of the houses have sold. So many of
the new people who live there are not aware of the past of all of the things that have happened didn't know about all of this. And I I think maybe it is time to take another survey, not a traffic survey, but a residential survey of a lot of people over in Cedar Nolles and
see really what they think of it. not only Forest Way and the Culdeacs, but some of the people on Apple Tree, people who are getting the extra traffic on Manganger, McNab, Countrywood, see what they think and you know, let's take a look at it. That's all I have to say.
Thank you. >> Thank you very much. And again, we're always available to you on any issue. Anyone else? >> You know what? We we really can't be we really can't because it it we we have to keep it very very structured. The other
day was a conversation. It was very different. Um even >> though the person that you hired said that the traffic was less would be more if the if we um open the road up. >> Yeah, we have access to all the traffic studies. John, would you like to say anything before we close out? Yeah, I I
think I think we spent a significant amount of time, every one of us, trying to determine what is the best possible decision that we can make to protect
the entire area of Cedar Nolles to include Countrywood, to include the area known as Trailwood, to include all of the access roadways and that was done
with a a great deal of attention with our engineer who is a traffic engineer. It was done with in console with our police department. It was done
along with our board of education in terms of bus routing because we went into this with what is what is the best thing that we can do as a result of a change. We're required many
of us sit on another board called a planning board. We're required to assess what is the impact of what's going to be built. We can't have the luxury of saying, "Hey, you know what, Hanover Township, let's see what happens when
they build that and after they build that, we'll make our changes." So, I think we were very proactive. We were very strategic. I think the business administrator uh reached out to over 300
people, which is bigger than Trailwood, and got responses and tabulated the responses. And I'm not going to get into who said what and how many, but I think what was achieved here was an improvement for safety for the entire
region based upon the study that was presented, the traffic study. And I think at the end of the day, if there's anything any of the five of us can do is to stand for safety. And and safety is preeminent. And at this point, if
somebody wants to talk to me about it, I welcome it. Um, but that's all I can share without going into rehashing. three meetings, public sessions, numerous um meetings with our police department, numerous meetings with our
engineer, numerous meetings with with a a a professional uh traffic uh study that that took place. And I I think that at that point in time, we made a
difficult decision and a decision was a compromise. The majority of people who answered the survey which Mr. Giorgio put out they wanted it shut down. They wanted the whole road shut down. We felt it would be a good compromise to understand the
nature of the problem and by understanding the nature of the problem afford a solution that also could be workable. So I I thought we achieved the compromise. >> Ron Mike any comments before we >> I really can't add to what's been said.
Um, as John said, uh, the township did its due diligence in many, many ways for public safety. There was no question about it. And, uh, I'm proud of the fact that we tried to do that due diligence in ahead of the development of the
project that was taking place. Uh, we knew the impact of the project. We knew how many units were going into the project. We knew what the potential traffic off the site would be. uh and this was the result of uh of all of
those studies was to say uh the the best way to uh reduce the impact of that was to control the access to American way from forest that having been done but my opinion and I always had it with this
committee is there's nothing cast in bronze but uh am I am I a proponent for reopening this if there's a public safety issue that has risen because of this or if there's something that has changed that would make our uh public
safety department re-examine this, I am more than willing to look at that and uh evaluate whether or not it warrants uh any further attention to this area. But right now, I'm satisfied with the outcome. Thank you,
>> Michael. I agree. Everything else has been said. The last thing that I'll end it on is this, and it's a job that we have that that is also very interesting in that we have to make calls, very difficult calls. There's a surrounding municipality where there's a street that
everybody said there there should be a sidewalk. There should be a sidewalk. A 9-year-old girl got killed on her bicycle. And guess what the governing body did 2 months later? They put in a sidewalk. We put in a sidewalk along Reynolds
Avenue. cost us $380,000. It was about nine and a half years ago. People said we were crazy for doing it. However, retired deputy chief Steve Bulkar was the top crossing guard. He called me every half a day and told me how many
children were walking on that sidewalk. We were up to 220 because the children were no longer going to Mary's Deli, Reynolds Deli, or Joel's back in the 70s. They were walking to Quick Check. We created a new destination. We created a very safe passage for the children to walk to
QuickJack. So, we do have to make a lot of tough decisions. However, we were also told not to put the sidewalk there. We were also told that we can spend the money in a better area and we need to, but we have to make some tough calls sometimes.
But you know what? Nobody's perfect. And I'm going to end it here. I am always available to talk to anybody any time. And I could say that about everybody on this day. I don't ask you which side are you on before I agree to take a meeting with you or not. I don't do that. And
unfortunately, our meeting the other day became explosive because prior to a very very good conversation to people cuz we a lot of us know each other. Um and and my uh we know Mary. My daughter grew up with Mary's daughter. She was concerned and
wanted to talk to me. I thought it was that's my job and she's my friend. However, it was unfortunate that a day and a half before that meeting, it was it was put out there that Gallagher was going to announce at 3:30 he's closing Forest Way to all traffic. That put me in a very
very bad spot where people were mad and showed up many many more than we're supposed to come to a very quiet private conversation about concerns of our residents. So, that being said, we good? >> Motion to move. >> Second.
>> Second. All in favor? >> I >> I Okay. Glad came up. Good job. Well done. Hey, good job. You want to do this one?
How you doing, St. [Music]