Adequate notice of the March 12th, 2026 regular 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 the bulletin board in municipal building 1000 route 10 township of Hannover and by posting the scene on the official township website
and by delivering such notice to the following newspapers Morris County Daily Record Hannover Eagle and by following the scene with the township clerk. >> Roll call. Committeeman Cahill >> here. Committeeman Feramosa >> here. >> Committeeman Francioli >> here. >> Committee Mahelco is excused this
evening. Uh Mayor Gallagher >> here. >> Four members in attendance. >> Please join me for the pledge of allegiance. And if you would please remain standing to have John Farasco lead us in a prayer. 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 to keep us all safe. Also bless our township employees and residents.
Lastly, please let us pray for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who stand vigil over us always. Amen. >> Thank you, John.
Okay, here we go. >> Okay. Good evening, everyone. First on the agenda is the approval of the township committee meeting minutes of February 12th, 2026 and February 26,
2026. May I have a motion to approve? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> So approved. Next is the public hearing and adoption of ordinance numbers 5-2026 6-2026 7-2026
8-2026 9-2026 10-2026 11-2026 12-2026 and 13-2026 I'd like to begin with ordinance numbers
5 6 and 7 proof of publication ation that the ordinances and their notices of introduction appeared in full in the February 18th issue of the daily record. At this time, may I have a motion to convene the public hearing on ordinance numbers 5, 6, and 7 only?
>> So move second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Is there anyone in chambers wishing to be heard concerning ordinances 5, six, or seven only? If so, please state your name and address for the record. May I have a motion to close the public
hearing? >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? Public hearing is closed. Now an adoption. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance numbers 5, six, and seven? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Roll call. Committeeman Cahill. >> Yes.
>> Committeeman Faramosa. Hi. >> Committeeman Francioli. >> Hi. >> Mayor Gallagher. >> Hi. >> So adopted. Next, I will do ordinance number eight. Ordinance 8-2026. Proof of publication that ordinance 8
and the notice of introduction appeared as a summary in the February 25th issue of the daily record. I'd like to state for the record, ordinance 8 was sent to the Mars County Planning and Preservation offices. Ordinance A 20226 was also referred to the planning board
for their recommendation and referral and the letter dated February 24th, 2026 from planning board chair Michael Critley. It is stated that if adopted, ordinance 8 would amend chapter 72 affordable housing of the township code by amending the provisions for
affordable housing units and affordable housing developments. The proposed amendments are intended to provide consistency of the township's regulations with recent rec recently amended state laws. The planning board has also determined that ordinance 8 is substantially consistent with the master
plan. At this time, I have a motion to comp convene the public hearing on ordinance 8. >> Move. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Anyone in chambers wishing to be heard concern number eight only, please
state your name and address for the record. May I have a motion to close the public hearing on ordinance number eight? >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Now an adoption. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance number eight? >> So move.
>> Second. >> Roll call. Committeeman Cahill. >> Yes. >> Committas. Committeeman Francioli. >> I. >> Committeeman Mahal. I'm sorry, he's not here. Mayor Gallagher. >> Hi. >> So, adopted. Next is the public hearing on ordinance
9-2026. Proof of publication that ordinance 9 and its notice of introduction appeared in full in the February 18th issue of the daily record. I'd like to state for the record that ordinance 9-2026 is a land use and development ordinance and
was sent to the Mars County Planning and Preservation Office and the five contiguous municipalities as required by law. Ordinance 9-2026 was also referred to the planning board for their recommendation. And in a letter dated February 24th, 2026 from planning board
chair Michael Cridgeley, it is stated that if adopted, ordinance 9 would amend section 48.1 in chapter 166, land use and development of the township code by amending the provisions for the collection and expenditures of mandatory
development fees used to assist in the development, maintenance, and administration of affordable housing units. The proposed amendments are intended to provide consistency with the township's regulations with recently amended state laws. The planning board has determined
that ordinance 92026 is substantially consistent with the master plan. At this time, I have a motion to convene the public hearing on ordinance 9-2026. >> Motion to convene. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Is there anyone in chambers wishing
to be heard concerning ordinance 9? Please state your name and address for the record. >> May I have a motion to close the public hearing? May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Now an adoption. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 9-2026?
>> So move. Second. >> On roll call. Committeeman Cahill. Hi. Committeeman Faramosa. Hi. Committeeman Francioli. Hi. Mayor Gallagher. Hi. So adopted. Just give me one second. Sorry. Thank you. >> So far so good.
>> So far a few more to go. Next is the public hearing of ordinance 10-2026. Proof of publication that ordinance and its notice of intro in introduction appeared in full in the February 18th issue of the daily record. like to say for the record, ordinance 10-2026 is a
land use and development ordinance and was sent to the Morris County Planning and Preservation Office and also sent to the five continuous municipalities as required by law. Orinance 10, 2026 was also referred to the planning board for their recommendation. In a letter dated
February 24th, 2026 from planning board chair Michael Critley, it is stated that if adopted, ordinance 10-2026 would amend section 108.1 in chapter 166 land use and development of the township code
by amending the minimum set aides of affordable units and a new multifamily residential development. The proposed amendments are intensely intended to provide consistency of the township's regulation with recently amended state laws. The planning board
has determined that ordinance 10 is substantially consistent with the master plan. At this time, may I have a motion to convene the public hearing on ordinance 10-2026. >> Motion second. >> All in favor? All right. >> Anyone in chambers wishing to be heard
concerning ordinance number 10 only? If so, please state your name and address for the record. >> Thank you. Second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Now adoption. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 10-2026? >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Roll call. Committeeman Cahill. Hi. >> Committeeman Faramosa. Hi. >> Committeeman Francioli. Hi. >> Mayor Gallagher. Hi. So adopted. Moving on to ordinance 11-2026. Proof of publication that ordinance 11
and its notice of introduction appeared in full in the February 18th issue of the daily record. Like to make a note that the record for the record that it is a land use and development ordinance and it was sent to the Morris County Planning and Preservation Office as per the law. This ordinance was also sent to
the five contiguous municipalities and was also sent via certified and regular mail to properties within 200 feet as required by law. Also, ordinance 11, 2026 was also referred to the planning board for their recommendation. And in
the letter dated February 24th, 2026 from planning board chair Michael Critsley, it is stated that if adopted, ordinance 11, 2026 would amend the provisions pertaining to the existing AH2 affordable housing overlay district in
chapter 166 land use and development of the township code. The proposed amendment would amend the regulations for the ex existing AH2 zone to allow for inclusionary age restricted development with a 20% set aside for
affordable housing. Currently, the ordinance requires 100% age restricted affordable housing. The proposed ordinance would also eliminate the minimum requirement for 60 dwelling units in recognition of the pres presence of wetlands within the zone.
These changes are consistent with the newly adopted a housing element of the master plan. The planning board has determined that ordinance 112026 is substantially consistent with the housing element of the master plan but inconsistent with the land use element
of the master plan which recommends the existing AH2 zone requirements. Once the township's newly adopted housing element and fair share plan receive compliance certification from the state, the planning board intends to amend the land use element to be consistent with the
housing element. At this time, may I have a motion to convene the public hearing on ordinance number 11-2026? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Is there anyone in chambers wishing to be heard concerning ordinance 11-2026?
So, please state your name and address for the record and you have 4 minutes to speak. Hi, my name is Laura Cotch, 7 Grisnol Road in Cedar Nullles. It's my understanding that this ordinance will allow an overlay in an area where there
is currently um there are currently offices and it will allow housing to be built there in an area that has wetlands and environmental constraints. Will the wetlands and on the river
corridor and the um buffers be protected and can you guarantee that they will be protected as environmentally constrained areas? >> Thank you, Jonathan. >> Um ordinance 11-202.
>> Sorry, >> that's right. That's my fault. 11-2026 is uh an existing overlay. We're altering the the standards on that. Um, this was a third round site. Um, all development would have to comply with wetlands, repairarium buffers, storm water requirements. Those are state
regulations and this does not exempt um that any development from complying with those requirements. >> Is will that be is there a specific redevelopment plan written for the site yet? I I believe
this pertains to a site on North Jefferson. >> Uh no, the uh ordinance 11-2026 is not um I don't believe that's is that North Jefferson? I don't believe that's the correct ordinance, >> right? >> Um this is not a redevelopment area.
>> This is not a redevelopment area. This is an existing overlay that we're just modifying. Um and it is there is no development plan at this point in time for this property. >> Right. Okay. Um, can you guarantee that when there is
redevelopment that those areas will be protected according and can it be written into future redevelopment plans for that area? It >> it it will be it will be required that they comply with law, state laws, repairing buffer requirements, wetlands, storm water protection requirements, all will be required no matter what. It's
always a condition of compliance with any development. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else on this one or any of the other ones that we already introduced and approved?
>> Motion to close. Second, Christa. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Now on adoption. May I have a May I please have a motion to adopt ordinance 11-2026? >> So move. Second. >> All in favor? >> Oh, I'm sorry. I had to roll call. I'm sorry.
>> Committ Cahill. Yes. >> Committas. Committeeman Francioli. Hi. Mayor Gallagher. Hi. So adopted. Next is the hearing public hearing on ordinance 12-2026 proof of publication that the ordinance and its notice of introduction appeared
in full in the February 18th issue of the daily record. I'd like to state for the record that ordinance 12-2026 is also a land use and development ordinance and was sent to the Morris County Planning and Preservation Offices as per the law. Ordinance was also sent to the five contiguous municipalities.
is also sent via certified and regular mail to property owners within 200 ft as required by law. Ordinance 1226 is also referred to the planning board for their recommendation or referral. In a letter dated February 24th, 2026 from planning board chair Michael Critley.
It is stated that if adopted, ordinance 122026 would create a new AH3 affordable housing overlay district in chapter 166 land use and development of the township code. The proposed amendment would permit up to 120 non-age
restricted inclusionary townhouse and stack townhouse dwelling units consistent consisting of up to 96 market rate units and up to 24 affordable housing units. while also retaining the property's owner's option to develop in
an ordin accordance with the existing OBRL zone standards. The planning board has also determined that ordinance 122026 is substantially consistent with the newly adopted housing element of the master plan but inconsistent with the land use element of the master plan
which recommends the existing OB RL zone requirements without any overlay housing zone. Once a township's newly adopted housing element and fair share plan receive compliance certification from the state, the planning board intends to amend the land use element to be
consistent with the housing elements. At this time, may I have a please have a motion to convene the public hearing on ordinance 12-2026. So >> moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Is there anyone in chambers wishing to be heard concerning ordinance number 12?
Please state your name and address for the record. >> Eric Hyder Whippony. Uh what was the uh total housing units at that you were talking about and how many were uh affordable?
Jonathan, do you want to take this? >> Yes. Um for >> 12 >> 12-206 um there is a maximum of 120 units in total including a 20% set aside uh which would equate to 24 affordable units.
That's the maximum >> 120 max. >> 120 max. That's correct. >> And then 24 would be affordable. >> 24. Yes. Mandatory set aside 20%. >> Thank you. Thank you Gary. Anyone else?
Okay. May I have a motion to close the public hearing? May I have a second? All in favor? Now an adoption. May I please have a motion to adopt ordinance 12-2026? >> So moved. Second. >> A roll call. Committeeman Cahill. >> Hi. >> Committee. Hi. Committeeman Francioli.
>> Hi. >> Mayor Gallagher. >> Hi. >> So adopted. Ordinance number 13-2026. proof of publication that the ordinance and its notice of introduction appeared in the summary in the February 25th
issue of the daily record. I'd like to state for the record that ordinance 13, 2026 is also a land use and development ordinance and was sent to the Morris County Planning and Preservation Office as per the law. This or ordinance was also sent to the five contiguous municipalities. I'd like to also state
for the record that a courtesy letter of notice of introduction was also sent via regular mail to property owners within 200 ft of the property. And I do apologize. It did say the wrong time on there. So, I do apologize for that error. Ordinance 13-2026 was also
referred to the planning board for their recommendation. and a letter dated February 24th, 2026 from planning board chair Michael Critley. It is stated that if adopted, ordinance 13, 2022 would adopt a proposed redevelopment plan for
the designated redevelopment area located at 41 Ridgedale Avenue. The redevelopment plan proposed by ordinance 132026 is intended for state to be stated in the plan to facilitate the redevelopment
of a site for attractive highquality non-aggerrestrictive inclusionary residential rental development and associated site improvements in a manner that affirmally addresses handover's affordable housing needs while at the same time complements the site's
surroundings developments patterns and conditions. The planning board has also determined that ordinance 132026 is substantially consistent with the newly adopted housing element of the master plan but inconsistent with the land use
element of the master plan which recommends the R-40 NZONE classification and policies for that site. Once a township's newly adopted housing element and fair share plan receives compliance certifications from the state, the planning board intends to amend the land
use element to be consistent with the housing element. At this time, may please have a motion to convene the public hearing on ordinance 13-2026. So move second. >> All in favor? I. >> Is there anyone in chambers wishing to
be heard concerning ordinance 13-2026? If so, please state your name and address for the record. Laura Cotch, Grist Mill Road. Um, I reviewed the redevelopment plan and there's an error on page seven. It says
there are no environmental constraints on the land. However, when I believe his name is Joe Burgess, is that right? or Bergus Burgess >> Burgess when Joe Burgess and associates
conducted the study for um to determine what was on the site for redevelopment in April of 2024. 17% of the site, which is um I believe 77 acres, was listed as environmentally
constrained land with um wetland buffers. And yet in the redevelopment plan, it says that there are no constraints. So there's a big discrepancy there. I'm requesting that the redevelopment plan be amended to
accurately reflect the environmental constraints on the site. >> Jonathan uh more blaze I can answer. >> Okay, go ahead. >> Please. >> I think I can answer that. When the
redevelopment study was done, the consultant that you referenced was basing their estimate and it was just an estimate of wetlands based upon D's wetland mapping. D's wetland mapping
is an estimate. Um, and it's a rough estimate at that. Um it's based upon soil conditions that based upon soil mapping and based upon topography and other things with aerial photography.
If you look at that map, you'll find areas that are identified as wetlands that are actually buildings, parking areas. Uh and when D then gets an actual field survey of the wetlands, you'll often find that
the wetlands on the D mapping versus the wetlands that the D says this is where the boundaries are frequently disagree. That's what happened here. Um the original study was based upon an approximation of wetlands based upon the
DP's mapping. Subsequently, between that study and this ordinance, um they had access to more uh detailed and current uh mapping that showed no
wetlands on the site. You know, that's why the different information. If you remember, there was a there was a site plan approved a couple years ago, 3 years or whatever years ago for the housing development on this same property. As part of that site
plan, the developer had to identify any wetlands on the property or even adjacent to a property where there might be a buffer, for example, and there were none. >> Yeah. because the developer had to identify wetlands. As we know, and I've talked about this many times standing
here in the same place, there has been no letter of um interpretation. The NJ DP has not been to the site. It's in the developer interest to say that there are no wetlands and no wetland buffers. The
person that you hired to conduct this study said that there are wetlands and wrote it into the study and said there are wetland transition areas on the site. And I think it's very suspicious
um to make that disappear at this time. And I don't think it's honest. I would I'm asking if this can be looked at again and we can get the proper information in order to proceed. I would
also like to know if you will look into this matter. >> Jonathan, based on what Blaze said and based on what Morris said, if there's a discrepancy, it's our responsibility to adhere to the law that is in place
like you made clear before. Correct. >> That is correct. >> This is something that can't be swept under the carpet. >> Correct. So aside from the redevelopment plan, you'll have to come in for site plan as well or that process um there may be a requirement and I believe there is a requirement for weapons
delineations um to be to be confirmed at that point in time either as a condition of approval or as a condition ultimately beginning construction. I don't think there is a requirement as because I've asked before and I believe it was Bise who said there is no requirement.
>> There is there is a there is a requirement in our completeness checklist that you indicate the presence of wetlands to the extent known and that if there's any and then but I
say not anybody can do that. We either require there are some lots that we know are not wetlands. All right? So, it it's handled on a case-byase basis. If you're on the top of a mountain and it's a desert, we're not going to make you get
an LOI from the D or even have a field survey done by an environmental consultant. If you're in a swamp, we're going to assume it's wetlands and we're going to make you get an LOI. Then there's this whole gray area in the middle where you might you might not be.
In those cases, we typically require a stud field study by an environmental consultant to identify their best estimate as to where the wetlands are. If there's any doubt in that regard, then we will make it a condition of
approval that they have to go to the D get a letter of interpretation to identify the boundary of the wetland and the classification of the wetland cuz otherwise we' be in violation of state regulations. But we cannot by by state law, we cannot require that they get
that LOI before they file their application. We have to make it a condition. >> That's what I thought. So, so what Blaze is explaining is as a condition of approval would and and this redevelopment plan does not wave any state NJP state regulations. We cannot
>> the state trumps our municipal plans of course. Yes. >> Yes. So what police is explaining is in the situation that you raised an issue up there may be a environmental uh restriction on there and we'll we'll look into it further during the site plan process that can also be addressed
but to to invalidate or withhold the entirety of a redevelopment plan for what was estimated. >> I'm not asking for anything to be invalidated. I'm asking if it could be amended. >> Okay. At this point in time, the the issue as to the environmental
constraints, they not they appear to be rectified. Nonetheless, they will be revisited during the site plan phase. This is not granting someone to be to be able to build the the development tomorrow. This is the start of the process. >> I'm just stating my concerns that the
redevelopment plan now is discrepant and says that there are no environmental constraints on the land. It is a concern. I think we need to take a look at this further. My opinion and likely the opinion of many people in town.
Thank you. >> Duly noted. And we will do our due diligence, Jonathan. >> Absolutely. >> Is there anyone else that would like to speak regarding ordinance 13?
>> Seeing none, motion close. >> May I have a second? >> All in favor? Now an adoption. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 13-2026? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Committeeman Cahill. >> I. >> Committeeman Faramosa.
>> Hi. >> Committeeman Francioli. >> Hi. >> Mayor Gallagher. >> Hi. >> So adopted. Next on the agenda, the township committee has decided to withdraw ordinance 15-2026 due to substantive changes to the
ordinance once it was introduced. The township committee will reintroduce the ordinance 10A as ordinance 19-2026. So may I have a vote on withdrawing ordinance 15-2026 may please >> second. >> Thank you. And may I do roll call?
Committeeman Cahill. >> Yes. >> Committee Baramosa. >> Hi. >> Committeeman Francioli. >> Yes. >> Mayor Gallagher. Hi. >> Ordinance 15 2026 is withdrawn. >> Okay. Moving on to the introduction of the new ordinances. Ordinance number
17-2026, 18-2026, 19-2026, and 2026. I'll read the titles of each into the record. Ordinance 17-2026, an ordinance of the township committee of the township of handover authorizing
the resurfacing of a portion of Elgangquin Parkway from Melan Lane to New Jersey State Highway Route 10, the Whippony section of township and appropriating the sum of $196,290 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation's
fiscal year 2025 municipal aid program and 385,000 from the township's 2026 current fund budget. Ordinance 18-2026, Ordinance of the Township Committee of the Township of Hanover, authorizing
1.5% increase in the appropriation limit of the township's calendar year 2026 current fund budget and further establishing a cap bank all in accordance with NJSA484-45.14. Ordinance 19-2026, Ordinance of the Township of Handover,
Mars County, New Jersey, amending section 166-141. Regulations applicable in all zones in article 20 signs section 166 through 189.10 10 other requirements in article
32B O-S office services district in chapter 166 of the township code entitled land use and development in order to amend the general regulations for sign illuminations and to amend certain
requirements for hospitals and large ambulatory healthc care facilities in the OS zone district. Ordinance 20 2026. That's a big one. Hold on. Let me get to it.
An ordinance of the township of Hanover, Morris County, New Jersey, amending section 166-4, definitions and word usage in article 2 definitions. Section 166-15, multiple principal buildings on the same
lot. Multiple principal uses within the same building. Multiple drive-in or drive-thru uses on the same lot in article 19 general rule provisions section 166 through 195 prohibited uses
and section 166 197 performance standards in article 34I industrial districts section 166-203.4 Four required conditions in article 36A
I-B2 industrial business districts section 166-207.8 8 prohibited uses in article 37 C I-5 industrial district in chapter 166 of the township code entitled land use and
development in order to amend the definitions of motor vehicle repair or maintenance establishment. Amend regulations for multiple principal buildings on one lot and multiple uses within one building.
delete certain prohibited uses in the I and I-5 zone districts and to delete the prohibitation of access of minor streets in the Iz zone district. The public hearings for all of these
ordinances will take place on April 9th at 8:00 p.m. And at that time any of the public may make any comment regarding any of those ordinances. Now on introduction may please Oh thank you
and on roll call for introduction. Committeeman Cahill. Hi >> Committeeman Feramosa. Committeeman Francioli. Mayor Gallagher. Hi. So introduced. Thank you. Next is the introduction of the 2026 current fund budget in the amount of
33,813,7541. Thanks. So 1 cent. The budget will be further considered for the final passage at the April 9th, 2026 meeting at 8:00 p.m. at which time any member of the public may be heard concerning the budget. A synopsis of the
budget will be published on the township website in accordance with law and copies of the budget will also be available in the finance office for review and also will be posted to the township's website. At this time, I'd like to read into the record the title of resolution 62-2026,
which will establish the date of consideration of that adoption. Resolution 62-2026 is a resolution introducing the 2026 municipal budget and sending forth the date and time of the public hearing and consideration of adopting the 2026
municipal budget. May I have a motion to introduce and to establish the public hearing date and consideration of adoption of the 2026 current fund budget on April 9th. >> So move. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> On roll call. Commitment Cahill.
>> Hi. Committeeman Fer Mosca. Hi, >> Committeeman Francioli. >> Hi, >> Mayor Gallagher. Hi. >> So, introduced and established a date of the public hearing. Next on the agenda, we have the resolutions 63-2026 through
80-2026 as a consent agenda. Does any member of the committee have any questions regarding any of these resolutions? >> Motion to move. Second. Well, on roll call to approve the resolutions as a consent agenda.
Committeeman Cahill. >> Yes. >> Committeeman Faramosa. >> Committeeman Francioli. >> Yes. >> Mayor Gallagher. >> Hi. >> So approved. And the last is to pay the bills in the amount of 5,633,8765. Could we please pay the bills? >> I will make a motion for our esteemed
CFO to pay the bills. >> I appreciate that. >> All in favor? >> Our bills are to be paid. Mayor and the members of the committee and the public, thank you very much for your time and that clears my part of the agenda. Thank you. >> You did an incredible job. Thank you very much.
>> No worries. >> Before we open to the floor, I would like to ask Fred or Jonathan to just take the floor and explain why we had so many ordinances tonight, the importance of the March 15th deadline, and what
that may mean now for Hannover Township. Craig, do you want to do you want to start and I'll fill in afterwards? >> All right. So, um, as many of you know from our prior meetings here, uh, the the New Jersey governor and New Jersey state legislature adopted,
uh, what's public law 2024 C2 in March of, uh, 2024. That was a total revamp of the affordable housing laws in the state of New Jersey. As part of that statute that was adopted, the state legislature established a a set of deadlines for
municipalities to become uh uh be brought into compliance with the updated laws for what's called the fourth round in quotes. Um affordable housing rounds are broken into um sorry, affordable housing obligations are broken into uh series of rounds. They used to be at six
uh years, now they're at 10 years. Um the fourth round began on uh July 1 of 2025 and it continues until June 30th of 2035. Um the township um as part of that process um had certain deadlines to
meet. Um the first deadline was January 31st of 2025 to determine its fourth round affordable housing obligation. Um and then the next um set of deadlines was for challenges and then there was a
set of deadlines for resolving those challenges on the municipalities allocated obligation. Um initially the DCA set the the township of handover's obligation at 544 units for the fourth round and a present
need obligation of 69 units. Sorry, perspective obligation of 544 units and a present need obligation of 69 units. The township did not agree with that number. We fought that number. We're able to reduce that number on our prospective need and our present need um
for the fourth round affordable housing obligations down significantly. For the present need obligation, which is the existing units in the town that um are occupied by qualifying very low, low, and moderate income households in need of significant structural repairs or
major uh major um habitability uh needs. for example, plumbing or lacking of a kitchen um or a essentially a failing roof system or structural uh system. Again, the DCA set our number was 69. We reduce it down to 10. Um respecting the
obligation, as I was saying before, which is the large number, that's an estimate of the regional obligation for municipalities allocated to each municipality in the region. We're in region two which is comprised of Essex, Warren, uh was it Union County as well,
Blaze? I always forget that part. Um but yes, Essex, Essex, Union, Warren, and Morris counties and uh Sussex as well, right? In Sussex, I think. No, you can't remember all of them. Sorry. Uh nonetheless, we are allocated a portion
of the obligation for that region. Um and uh we fought that number. We reduced it from 544 to 461. Um from there we had an obligation to meet um or devise a plan to meet our
obligation of that 461 units. Um we had adopt our housing and fair share plan by June 30th of 2025 and upload it to the uh the program the affordable housing dispute resolution program. That program is compris
um that's comprised of retired judges that have a familiarity with um affordable housing laws in the state and um they also appoint special adjudicators which are are planners like like Mr. Branchow um to assist in that
process um instead of going right to court disputes and legal disputes with challengers. Um they allowed challengers or interested parties including a nonprofit entity known as Fairshare Housing Center to challenge municipalities plans to challenge the obligation numbers and uh to challenge
how municipalities were meeting their obligation. So municipalities again we had adopt our plan by June 30th of 2025. Challengers were allowed until August 31st of 2025 to file challenges. Um there were so many challenges that were
filed across the state that it actually collapsed the uh the court's um filing system. Um so uh the township had um four challenges in total. Um we had u
fair housing center JMF and um I'm sorry three other challenges that were filed. So five in total. Um we participated in the process. We had multiple uh meetings uh mediated meetings between with the special adjudicator and the special and
the program judge. Uh we were able to reach a resolution with um one of the predominant challengers um by December 31st and um ultimately by the way fair share housing center sought to strike the township's immunity from
build a remedy and exclusion and resoning during that process. Luckily, um, we were able to devise a very strong plan. Uh, the administration and the township committee and our professionals were able to devise a very strong plan. We were able to defeat the majority of
the challengers um claims and ultimately the program judge did recommend the continuation of immunity um for the township and allowed us an opportunity to revise our plan. We have a deadline of March 16th. It's actually really
March 15th of the statute, but unfortunately the legislature didn't realize that March 15th is a Sunday. So the county mount Laurel judge moved it to March 16th. So we have a deadline of March 16th to adopt our revisions to our housing and fair share plan and all of our implementing ordinances and
resolutions to meet our obligation. Once we do that, which we did tonight, I have to go run to the court system and upload all of our ordinances and our plan and our resolutions to the court system. And from there, although it's not entirely clear from the legislation or any of the
regulations because they failed to do some work at the state's level, um we have uh or likely or potentially likely to have a uh what's called a final compliance hearing. We're not sure when they will be scheduled, if there is going to be one scheduled, but if there is one, it would probably be not until
May. Um, with the goal of obtaining what's called a final certification of compliance and repose that entitles us to immunity from what we call exclusionary zoning and build a remedy challenges um for the foreseeable future, really the next 10 years. Um the
township worked feverishly with a uh crazy deadlines to address those um requirements. If you missed any of those deadlines, by the way, automatically um we lose immunity. We're stripped immunity automatically and a builder can sue us for a builder remedy. Um I don't
know if you've seen um some of the prior meetings I that I've attended and given some answers on what a builder remedy is. a build a remedy essentially if it's granted by a court it allows a developer to come into a township and uh develop
um highdensity um affordable housing uh or highdensity development with affordable housing substantial number of affordable housing units as well part of that um and they would not be subject to the uh or limited subject to the township's zoning ordinances um and
often times they appoint a special hearing officer to sit in in the sho shoes of a zoning board adjustment or planning board to review the proposed development and essentially grant not a rubber stamp but close to rubber stamp on the approvals for that development.
And until um those developments um meet the township's obligation, we don't have much say in it. Um so for the municipality, it's a huge loss to control our destiny if we get a builder remedy against us. So your goal is to
comply to control your destiny and your zoning uh is your zoning powers. Um we have met every single deadline to date on every um throughout the entire process and um as a result of tonight I do believe um there is a very high
likelihood that we will be obtaining a uh final uh certification of compliance and repose entitling us to that immunity. So, it's a great job and great job well done by the township committee um uh the administration and all the professionals
are getting this done. It was a major uphill battle for all municipalities throughout the state with the exception of approximately 67 which are called urbanate municipalities. They do not have what's called a perspective need obligation. They only have a present need obligation. Um we were allocated a
portion of those uh the urban municipalities in our regions. um obligation as us as well as many other municipalities. So a large portion of our fourth round obligation for perspective need is actually from those urban municipalities including Mont
Clair Hoboken and NOR >> Jonathan great great job and thank you so far but I have one thing to ask before we bring Fred in. I'm really looking forward to having Fred come in. So with the number that we initially
were going to be obligated to provide, >> yes, with that being the 20% set aside, what would that have made our total units forward to New Jersey as our fourth round? This is very important for the public to hear. If if we did not succeed in reducing our perspective
obligation from 561 to 461, our obligation would have been uh so you do 561 * 20%. Or really really what you did was 561* 5. So 561* 5 we would have had to um zone for and allow for the creation.
Yeah. 2,85. >> 2 what? >> 285. >> Okay. Now what is our total number now with the way we handled this? >> So we have a gross perspective need obligation of 461. However, we took a vacant land adjustment. A vacant land adjustment is what we're saying
essentially is that we do not have enough vacant available developable and approval land in the municipality to meet our entire obligation of 461. we are able to reduce our perspective um I'm sorry um or or adjust our our 5
sorry 464 unit um or 461 unit OB uh reduced obligation down further to have what's called a realistic development potential meaning um enough uh land to reszone now for to
allow for uh a development of a total of 139 affordable units. So we went down from essentially 461 um to an RDP or real estate de development pot of 139 units. So what's our total build in round four compared
to what it could have been? >> That that's before we taken into consideration credits and other items. Um mayor >> um we have a ton of extension controls that are already that were being applied um towards these. So, uh, the total number of units really what we're
looking at here, affordable units in total here, there's a significantly lower number than that. Um, Blaze, do you have the total number of units? I have some of them here. I don't have all of them. >> Yep. >> Well, let's just talk about the
affordables. It's basically it came down to 105 is what I have it for as revised. 105 affordable units. um that doesn't take into consideration um the Bayer South Campus um site that we had um approved previously as a
proactive measure. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I think it might be time to bring in Fred. Fred, >> ladies and gentlemen, Fred Samuel. >> Okay. >> Yes, we can hear you. Are we okay? All right. And I'll add right along the last
one discussion here, the the state's obligation, and it was an obligation and a mandate to the township would have put us at 2,800 units. And that probably for the next 10 years and at the end of the
day based on everything Jonathan said the extensions projects in the past maximizing credits it's like trying to minimize your income tax return and do it legally. the two there's two new projects that
lock us in for the next 10 years and they total 176 market units and then you have 44 affordable units. That's that's the two new projects. And just to put that in perspective,
historically, because it's such a desirable township, 1990 to 2000, 936 new residential units. 2000 to 2010, 404.
2010 to 2020, 824. Now, we're talking about this township committee took every intervenor and said, "All right, we're going to put you against each other. Whoever gives us the best proposal which will minimize high
density development and have us achieve our goal of compliance. That's who we're going to go with. And we kept going back each time to each one of the interveners and developers and said you we don't really care what you think you could build. The township
community said we want what's best for our residents and we want to minimize its impact. So he came away with the two projects that were approved uh as part of the plan. They still have to go for planning board site plan approval and uh
they have to comply with all laws and regulations. There's no waiverss. It just gives them an opportunity to build. But you go from those numbers historically 800 900 the 2500 2800 that the mayor mentioned that was on mandate.
And after all of that, with with some really good work by the township committee, you're down to market units. Market units that are going to impact municipal services in the community of less than 200 units for the next 10
years. And that in itself, you know, it's it's hard to take sort of a a successful lap when it comes to affordable housing. But, you know, for all the interveners and all the work that's been done, I really applaud what
this governing body has done for the residents to talk about less than 200 units. And when I say the next 10 years, it's because by doing this, if we obtain certification and compliance, then no developer can come in and force a zone
change for housing and affordable housing because the township has met its plan and its compliance. It's a great accomplishment, mayor, and to the township committee because if you look across the county and you look at these obligations and what everybody's gone
through, and you're coming in with for 10 years a total of less than 200 new units in a township that's had so much development pressure, I think it really deserves, you know, those type of accolades. And keep in mind, the governing body also went to the United
States Supreme Court to say this mandate is not one which we agree with because there's almost 60 towns that are exempt, 60 cities that are exempt from these rules and regulations. The Supreme Court turned it down about 2 weeks ago, but
the governing body followed its promise that it would fight. And so, and you know, as as Jonathan mentioned, we had a success, a big success for these extensions of controls so that we kept already affordable credits and these
units that are already in town. We're able to count again going forward. So, you don't have to build five additional affordable units every time you have one credit. That's a tremendous amount of units going forward. and we just
received that decision 10 days ago after 4 years of litigation and again a fight. So I think the governing body has been compliant. It's not as if it's saying we're not going to do this and the mayor always says we could kick the can and create problems, but it it fought the
fight and at the same time really minimize the impact and the impact on the community going forward. these these projects at least they will not change the character of Hanover Township for the next 10 years and I just have to say you have to be in executive session
because you don't want developers you know you'd love the public to hear this about all the strategy you talk about and all the the properties you try to protect and and try to minimize the development but if you were in there you'd hear the governing body keep saying well this isn't going to work
this isn't going to work until finally it said all right we are going to see which developer is going to make this best for handover at the end of the day and minimize the units and I think you really did that when you look historically and you look at what other municipalities have had to do. Thank
you, Mayor. >> Fred, before you go, I just want to have you conclude with one more thought. First of all, through this whole exercise, individually, we've all said we feel as if our hands are tied. But our hands have never been tied. Cuz I said since I
was in fourth grade, if I go down, I'm going down swinging. And Had Township has been swinging. And Hatter Township has been on the offense. And Township has been looking at every single option over and over and over again with the
best people we can possibly get. Fred, Jonathan, Jeff, these guys are are the best. They also called in quite a few resources and we worked very very hard. So I want to say that I'm proud of this. We have one more step to announce it.
And I want Fred to conclude by something that we've been arguing about. And I think that argument is almost over because Jonathan made it very clear and Fred repeatedly makes it clear. When you're not on this side of the day, you can get away with just say no. Just say
no. We don't want any more housing. But if we quote just said no, we might be heroes for two or three days, but the state would have zoned for us and we would have gotten thousands and thousands of units. So, if anybody even
implies that we didn't do our best and we didn't do our due diligence, and guess what? We didn't go down swinging, we're standing tall because if this goes through, we have a very, very good deal. And we're still not taking a victory lap. But it was a team effort. I'm
extremely proud of this. And I will compare this record to any other record in North Jersey, maybe even the entire state. So, that being said, Fred, what happens? This is the last time I'm going to ask you because we all still hear it in the field. What happens if we folded
our arms and said, "I'm just going to say no." What happens, Fred? Uh, I would have said that the 2,800 units until you exhausted that with developers coming forward and going to the court going past the township committee and
the planning board and our zoning ordinances, we would have had developers continue until they reached 2,800 units and uh our affordable obligation that we started the round with. So, you would have had almost 3,000 new homes uh
before it was over. That would have been the rest. >> Fred, thank you very much. That was great. That being said, I would like to open to the public. Motion second. >> All in favor? I. >> If anyone would like to address the
governing body, please state your name, address, and you have four minutes. Dale Cowi, 22 Troy Hills Road. In regard to the affordable housing, once they're in the housing, does anybody review their finances to say that they no longer qualify for it
and they should move on so we can use that housing for people who need it? >> Jonathan or Fred. >> Oh, you know what we'll do? We'll we'll take all the questions about affordable housing and we'll we'll give you a lightning round of answers at the end. So, is that Do you have another
question, Dale? >> Well, is there an ordinance to do that? We will answer that at the end of the lightning round. >> And if there is not an ordinance, can the town write one to review it every 5 years so that we don't have people living in them who can well afford not
to be there? >> Thank you, D. Thank you. >> My name is Bill Miller. I've been a resident of Hannover Township for 40ome years. Had kids go all through the school systems. have families and children residing in the system here.
And even now to the point of having a great grandchild in this and living in a Han Township, I have a big investment in this town of my family lives here. Um I gave uh Mr. Gorgio letters that I
hopefully will get to the council members. And I have a few concerns. And one of the things that sparked my even getting up here was I saw the pleading of our fire company and first aid squad asking to pass the budget and I'm
saying, "Boy, things must really be tight because that is kind of like a plea to vote to pass the budget." I'm very happy that it did pass because it's dividal for our community. And just in walking in my neighborhood, I talked to someone and they said, "Our
community garden." And to get right on the record first, I am a big supporter of the community garden. I think it's a good idea, a good concept. My wife and I are a gardeners and I like to see that. But he said,
"Well, we're going to expand it." And I expand it. Why? And I've see that garden probably more than anyone here because it's right across the street from my house. I see
it all the time every day. And many of the plots weren't used. There was 77 last year. I don't know how many there are in total, but there's 77. As of last week, there was only 58 signed for it.
And my question is the expansion. And then I started thinking about the monetary end of it. And I know it's little what people have to pay for one of those plots. And I'm going, if
77 people paid $25 or whatever it is, that's $1,900. That doesn't come near the cost of what's there. It cost me $500 to get water out to my garden. And you've got an extensive network of piping out there, electrical work, very
serious fencing, and I wonder why why expand the garden when it's not 100% used now. And that's my tax dollars. So, so I'm concerned with that. Um, there's a big flood light there.
It's a small thing, but it's a big thing because it's from dusk to dawn, 20 all that time, 365 days a year, shining right down my street. And I drive at home at night, and it looks like a train's coming right at me. I asked for
something to be done about that. You can't walk in my yard without flood lights going on because they're sensors. I don't see why the town can't have a sensor on that system when if someone's in the garden and you need that kind of security. Okay, have it so it just goes
on when it's needed but not on all night long. I mean, everybody complains about electrical cost. Oh, okay. That's concerning. Now, the next thing is with the wet lands. I looked at the plat drawn up for the
expansion of the garden. The wetlands there are going to be right next to the new garden expansion. Now I have witnessed and watched Jersey Central Power and Life spray
heavy defoliants all over that killing some bushes up to one inch in diameter. Kills them pretty quick. It must be some pretty powerful chemical. I wrote the town. I wrote the mayor.
I wrote the EPA who got back to me. And then I also wrote a few other people saying, "What's it?" Oh, it's safe. It's safe. Well, my brother is dying because safe chemicals used in Vietnam
are okay. Don't worry about it. It's safe. Okay. My cousin's dead because those chemicals are safe. Don't worry about it. Um, those chemicals aren't safe. They're going to be sprayed right next to that, especially the expanded area of the
garden. I also mentioned to the town back when I wrote the original letters that everyone on my street on Fanic Road has wells and that wetlands has water in it. A big part of the air. I'm concerned about my
health and my neighbors health and I don't know who else uses well water around here but it's it's being sprayed. I get the big brochure about all the environmental stuff the town sends out how you have to
recycle this and pick up after your dogs and don't use the for that's great. You've got a company that sprays through the whole town all this defoliant and I don't care what it is. If it kills
trees, small trees, it's pretty powerful stuff. And that goes in the water and that goes in the ground and that goes in the river and maybe your kid plays in it. That's not funny. And I asked the town to do something about it. I got no response.
EPA got back and they said the only thing they found wrong was of the six guys that were spraying, one of them wasn't certified, but it's okay. Don't worry about it. And I'm saying it's okay. First of all, I gave letters that you
all will have pretty much my my thoughts. >> I'm going to ask I've seen the emails going between us. Joe handled it very well. Ron answered quite a few of the questions. I don't know if he answered them to you or
answered them to Joe, but Joe and Ron, if you can just take this and answer a few of those questions. Um, yeah, Bill, let me try and respond to your questions. And by the way, you have a very uh some valid arguments uh some of
which we can take a look at regarding the lighting, etc. But let me start off with this. Uh there's not a tax dollar of your money spent in the garden. Open space funds pay for any expansion in the garden. Uh the garden was originally properties that we don't. So we didn't
acquire the property was on our books already. Uh on that being said, uh the uh expansion of the garden was looked at not because we have more gardeners. You're absolutely correct. We do not. But we had an opportunity to take
advantage of the expansion. because Jason gave us an opportunity to push out further near their power lines. They gave that permission to the administrator and so we took advantage of it strike while the iron's hot, so to speak, if we are to expand in the
future. We're not going to expand at a time when already we have a backlog of gardeners who may want it. But I'm going to tell you that it's a seasonal thing. So our gardeners usually at the end of the uh term uh of the year uh there's a
period where they have to resign up for the gardens. So at uh at its peak out of 144 gardens some uh 88 gardeners some take two gardens by the way. >> I know. And then we have other uh plots
that are given up to the open spa the u uh food kitchen. The uh uh food kitchen has four gardens that they take care of. We also have several of the gardens assigned to some of the group homes, at
least one that I know of, uh for special needs programs that they use and they come out and they they farm and they learn. A future expansion of the gardens. We're expanding into areas of education for our youngsters. What we'd like to do is get hands-on applications
for the kids in schools and we're working with schools now. Can I just teach you one thing here without interrupting you? But I just my thought that is being built in my front yard. Fanic road and the Fanic family of which my wife is
>> speaking into the microphone door. >> Just pull towards you. >> It's okay. Better. >> Oh, that's a lot better. Okay, Fanic Road has pre-existed the high tension wires and it's pre-existed the Department of Public Works. You've
pre-existed all those things. So, everything that's being built by the town is being It's not like we moved in when it was there. The family has lived there before any of this existed. And my concern is that now there's
development right across my street. That extension is going to be for myself to the mayor close to my front yard, close to my property. Now you go over there and look at that garden and you can go right now because the spotlight it makes it like daylight
over there. It's a mess. You ride down 287 and look at Marstown Garden, Community Garden. It was like a trash pile because what happens is is when the renter tenant gardeners leave in the fall, they just
drop everything and walk out and all the fallen down treas trelluses and all the dying and there's quite a bit of substantial amount of food that rots on the vine over there and it's just left and it's just all there. It's a mess. And maybe in the spring they'll come
back and they'll they'll clean it up. But they haven't cleaned it up now. That's what I look at my front yard. I know where some of you people live. You live in nice residential areas. And this is what this town is noted for. That's in my front yard
and it doesn't get cleaned up, you would all complain. You would be standing right here now telling somebody else, "Hey, look at the mess over there. Why doesn't the town take care of it? Now, the mayor Galler, he's been great in helping me because he knows how I
felt about the eyesore, about the Department of Public Works and things like that. You know, I've I've been talking to you for years on that. Well, now something else is going there. What I'm asking for is a buffer so that I
don't look at it and I'm asking for some sort of schedule should go on where that gets cleaned up. >> You know what I'm going to do? And you know my word is good. I've been to your house. I spent quite a bit of time looking at this and talking to you, but in the past, not lately. I saw the
emails. I saw the back and forth with Joe and Ron. Why don't we leave it there because of out of respect for time cuz we we do have a 4m minute, but I know you were communicating with us and I wanted you to say your piece. Uh, tomorrow morning we will book time with
you and even if I have to come stand on your front lawn with you again with Ron, uh, we will we will do it. We we're here. We listen to you. Our job is to serve Hanover Township and uh your concerns are not falling on deaf ears.
>> Mayor, just uh two responses to Mr. Miller. Uh, we spoke twice, Bill, as you know. Uh first of all on the spotlight that shines from the community garden that's going to be redirected as I told you number one. Number two with regard
to the insect insecticides or pesticides I've spoken to our health administrator about that. He's going to be contacting JCPNL. He wants to speak to them about that. So we'll try to get more information. Now, I know you said you have asurances from the United States
EPA, and I don't know about the NJB, but we'll try to get some information from JCPNL on exactly what they use at the garden and throughout the town. In fact, they probably use it throughout the uh whole JCPNL corridor, which goes
throughout the state of New Jersey. But um we have taken some action on some of your concerns and we'll uh certainly look to see what else we can do. >> I never like to make promises and guarantees but we'll look into it. >> Thank you. We might take note
are all organic. There are no chemicals on the part of the gardeners in that garden. There are no insecticides. There are no uh weed uh removal products etc. It is not allowed in the bylaws of the
garden. Uh and as far as the upkeep of the garden is concerned on uh annual meetings that we've had with the gardeners and by the way with our corporate neighbors who have come in to do community affairs work. They've helped us with wood chips on the paths in looking at our garden and I've
investigated gardens in Mars Plains in Marstown who has four beautiful gardens as well. One of the were the top as far as maintenance of the garden. That doesn't make it good if it's one of the top cuz you go look at it now. But we will we will schedule a meeting with you. I will personally schedule a
meeting with you and I will give you timelines on how long it's going to take us to adjust that light. I'll give you a deadline and when it comes to the pesticides, Joe Georgia will be on it. We will get we will get in touch with them and by the time we stand on your front lawn and I will have answers for
you. One thing I want to thank you all because you do an amazing job here running this town. >> Pick the microphone up which I just heard. You have to >> God bless you. I mean you do good. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Okay. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Johno to Lexington Court. I just have a comment and a question. Uh first comment is that uh uh this committee already knows my disdain for
expansion in this town. So what you guys have done I understand the state of New Jersey has put a gun to your head and there's pretty much not much you can do. It's how many bullets you can dodge. So thank you very much. Okay. My other
question is and this is just for my own knowledge and it could be for the public's also um why is it that in your resolutions like for instance resolution 692026 a resolution authorizing the refund of
redemption monies to an outside lean home concerning a property um why isn't like an explanation for the reduction >> what resolution was that Uh I'm giving that example 692026
the redemptions come when the finance office has to have a tax sale every year. There are leans put on properties and the state requires us to calculate the redemption fee and we're going to reissue the money back to the lean holder. So we have to put in resolution
four. So, is that based on the based on the sale of the property that they've paid in advance or >> No. What happens if they don't pay their taxes, they go to tax sale and somebody comes in and pays their taxes? >> And if they don't redeem in 5 years, that person can actually foreclose on
them. So, when they go to redeem to get the tax sale off their property, they have to pay us so we can reimburse the lean holder and remove the certificate. Well, that's a pretty interesting and I know we have business that's a pretty interesting business model considering
that the township has to front that. Does that include interest? >> I mean, it affects the the budget. It's a debit from the town's account. >> Yeah. That's why we have to have, if you ever look through our budget, we have a reserve for uncollected taxes of over $4
million every year. And that's because not only do we collect for ourselves, we collect for the schools, the fire districts, the county, >> right? >> Whether you pay your taxes or not, we have to turn over those funds to the other organizations. >> Mhm. >> Naturally. >> So for us not to be in the hole, the
state requires us to add a cushion basically to our budget. And when people don't pay our t their taxes, that's what causes that. >> Right. So So you have the cushion to actually pay it, right? >> Okay. So, so basically you're you're
saying that in this particular case little didn't pay their taxes. >> So, a person came in or usually a bank or corporation comes in >> and we have a tax illness. They bid on >> paying the person's taxes off. >> Okay. And and does the township have a
recourse? That's our only recourse is for tax sale because then somebody will come in and pay that person's taxes and then they'll Oh, we'll be whole. >> Okay. So, you've made you've been made whole. >> We've been made whole. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> And then to pay that person back, we have to do it by resolution.
>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Silio. >> Anyone else? Mary Beth Cowie, 22 Troy Hills Road. Um, I just wanted an update on the hotels, motel on Route 10
that you were you brought over the red carpet. What's the status of that? Are you still here? >> Just one more. >> Okay, Fred, we have a um a question
about the status of the condemnation of the motel and uh either you or Jonathan handle this one because as we've said before, we're in litigation and we have to be very very careful. But your attorney, Jonathan's attorney, if you could please address it for a minute,
I'd appreciate it. >> Sure, be glad to. Um the township committee adopted an ordinance last fall uh to acquire the hotel either by acquisition and contract or by condemnation.
At the same time, the governing body authorized a special condemnation council as well as authorized an engineer to review the property and it's whether it's buildable. and those inspections have gone forward
with the cooperation of the property owner and their attorney. So right now that's where we are. I can't comment any further because it's so sensitive that it either could be acquired by acquisition or if need be it
by a court action and condemnation. Uh but right now we continue to take uh the steps necessary to evaluate the property and uh reserve the right either a contract or condemnation. So that's where we are and we're we will have
continuous updates for the governing body. Some of it may be just an executive session because of the sensitivity, but any formal action such as if there's a contract or if there's a
condemnation complaint that is filed, that all will be done by the governing body in a public meeting. So that's where we are. We continue to do our due diligence and move forward. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
Got it. Um, another question regarding that type of property. You also said back in the fall, I think it was, that people couldn't stay in more than 30 days
in on those properties. Is who's checking that? Who's coming down on it? If it has to be building health department, health welfare like >> actually we have a very complex system in place and Jonathan or want to
have Fred answer this. Fred still with us >> Fred I don't think you're going anywhere tonight Fred. You're stay >> explain what we have in place. I'd appreciate it and so would Mrs. Scott. Yeah, we've so the question is what what
is the arrangement right now or what's what's in place or hotels >> the ordinance the enforcement >> after 30 days >> 30 days >> and the we have two >> yeah there's two enforcements that are going on one is the hotel ordinance
>> itself and the other is uh based on some decisions that came down from the courts last year enforcement of the length of stay uh for the hotels. Uh right now we have agreements in place with both
hotels that they will not violate the 30-day stay limit and um they will cooperate and provide us with information so we're aware of their compliance. and that's um in place now
for the next few months and there'll either be further court action or this compliance will continue. Uh so right now and since sometime last November, we've had in place the
appropriate guidelines where and procedures where no one can stay beyond the I believe it's the 30-day limit. And that means there'll be no long-term placements or uh enrollment of school children uh
because it is not considered a residence when it's that short period of time. There's some limited exceptions when there's real cold evenings where they would accept placements uh for a short period of time but not more than the 30 days. It would be a few days. So that's
where we are right now. uh for the hotels who in the past had long-term stays, they do not have them right now and we hope that we'll continue that compliance going forward and we won't have to revert to the courts. Uh but if
we do, the governing body is ready to do so. >> Who's enforcing it? Who is enforcing this 30-day what? Um health department, building department. All right, Fred, the last part of the question and then we're going to move on is who is actual
actually enforcing this? Is it the police? Is it the health departments? Is it the building department? Who's enforcing this? >> Well, it's it's a whole host of helpful uh individuals in the administration and our office and the police. Joe Giorgio,
Christa the Giorgio. Well, you know, everyone is and we have information coming from their legal counsel and like I said, the police as well. So, and we even get communications from uh for an example other entities such as
the school if there's any suspicion that someone has in fact uh is new to the district and is trying to reside there. So, it's um it's been a collaborative effort and it will continue to be so. We get a lot of different communications
and updates at all times and of course the mayor's on every single piece of correspondence along with Joe Georgio. >> Anything else? >> Uh yeah, one last question to Commissioner or committee man, Mr.
Cahill. The other night you spoke at the Whip Fire Department about this consultant coming in, which is great. Just have a question. Does this gentleman h I never say his name right. So this gentleman does he have a time
frame as to when he's going to report back to say you or the mayor or the committee on his um report like does is there two you know did you give him a deadline since it's coming down to the
wire on reporting to the DCA on this? >> Yeah he gave us an estimate of four to five months. We're pushing them harder than that, but that's that's the rough estimate. >> Four to five months. Okay. Because then it wouldn't be done then by the year >> in that round. But in you know the going
to the DCA is is a cyclical thing just if we don't make it in April or June we can do it again. You know it comes up >> I know it only comes up at the budget. >> But we want to do this right. We had, you know, we had uh very deep and significant discussions with him and tried to explain exactly what we wanted.
No, as I explained at the Whippy Firehouse, you know, we're not asking him to put together a plan with new firehouses and all that. But it still takes time. It's very, you know, between the two budgets and the consolidation plan, all the, you know, we spent three years putting the consolidation plan together. So to ask him to take it in 30
days and come with a recommendation would be realistic, >> right? I didn't know if it would be done before June 1st. >> Would be nice. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> And Brian, thank you for taking this on. You're doing a great job. Really
appreciate it. >> Hi, I'll be really quick. Um, would Fred mind just talking about the 200 units again? I'm just trying to get my head around it. He said something about 200 units. >> Fred, are you sure >> being the number? I I want to understand. Thank you.
>> I I can answer that, Fred. It's it's it's actually there's two it's it's it's actually 220 total um that that are we we are working through right now. It's 220 in total which are the uh 80 South Jefferson that was talking about and the
uh the the other property at at 40 41 um uh uh Bridge. Yeah, it's um it's 80 at the H2O site that are going to be M market units and 20 affordable and 96
at the um Jefferson Road site and 24 affordables. So if you take the 80 at the H2O site and the 96 at the Jefferson road site, you have market units of a total of about 176. And
that's the number of market units for the next 10 years that are part of this plan for new projects >> and then that meets our total need. >> No. So, we have a vacant. No, what we're talking about here is we already
proactively approved the Bayer site. That was the redevelopment um that was done previously that was done in anticipation of the fourth round to help assist us in getting to the numbers we needed to get to. >> So, when this goes through the final
step in court, I believe Laura's question was then we meet our need. >> Correct. Correct. Anyone else? >> And I know I I'm I'm going to answer Dale, right? Yes. You had the question
about the issue on checking to see once someone is placed and a a qualifying low moderate income household is placed into a unit either by purchase or rent. It's a great question. It's a question that comes up all the time and I wish I could gave you a better answer. the state has
made a policy decision that you don't have to income check them once they do qualify and they purchase the unit. It's as if they own the unit just like anyone else. Um >> one one second for rentals is the same thing. Um I have asked multiple times
the state to address this the issue specifically on rentals on the ownership units. You only permitted to own one home at one time. It has to be your primary residence um for uh 9 months out of the year. I've had situations in the
past where we have found someone who is not living in that unit. They're illegally renting it. What we do is um again we have to investigate it. We have to have the proofs available to assure that they are living there, that they are properly owning that unit as their
primary residence. And if they are not, there is a process in place through our administrative agent. It's called um what we do is we say number one, hey, you have this. You're obligated to do this. It's supposed to be your unit. If you are not residing there, you must sell it to a qualifying low moderate
income household. And we administered the resale process. Um that we have a process for enforcement, which um we can discourage them of their illegal rental profits. Um, I've had multiple cases um since uh I started doing affordable housing work
in uh 2010 to address those issues. Um, they are hard enforcement issues. Um, we're going to be revisiting that again. Um, sometimes you have to get you have to hire a a a private investigator with that process because again it is private property. >> I'm going to use your own words against
you here for a moment. You said the state is we don't have to. >> No, no, we are not allowed to. >> You said we don't have to. >> No, no, no. We are not allowed to do income qualification processes with ownership or rental through the state
does not permit you to do that. That is a state regulation that we're implementing. We cannot we're preempted by it >> and there's no way we can approach the state to get that recorded and what will municipalities take part of it. >> We we have submitted um respon uh public comments on their last set of
regulations. I submitted about a 40page um submission to the state. Um they did not dig into any of my points in well they took a couple but not most of them no and um the response I had from other attorneys too about this was they they
found it a very odd um response to public comment process because it was very adversarial in their language that they did in response to our public comments. Um there were oh um in the regulations they're called the UHACK regulations, uniform housing affordability controls. And the reason
why they're called the uniform housing affordability controls is they apply throughout the state. Um they were adopted in December of uh uh December 15th of 2025. So literally while we're doing this entire process, the state is creating these new regulations that we're trying to figure out in
anticipation. And um the response document um was longer than the regulations because there were so many comments and objections on the regulations and they did not take those into consideration. >> Okay. I have uh me too.
Just one question with the hotel 30-day ordinance. Is there anything in there to prevent them from going hotel hopping intel? 30 days at red carpet 30 days at Scottish in 30 days at extended state. Back to red carpet. Scottish in extended stay.
>> Jonathan, I I didn't understand the question. I'm sorry, Dale, cuz I was I was waiting for Fred to answer the third. >> He's asking if they can move from hotel to hotel. >> No, that that won't work here. That that we don't know the understanding we have in the agreement. They can't move in and
move out and things like that. And I want to be careful what I say about all this because it is in litigation. We're trying to make sure we answer everything. But no to that question. Uh they cannot um sort of hopscotch. >> Okay. It was just a question because it puts a strain on the other resources in
the town if you're trying to make things easier. That's all. Thank you, >> Dale. You have to be a little bit surprised how quiet I am on this one. Huh. We We all have our marching We all have our marching orders on this one.
>> Thanks, D. Anyone else? All right. Jaro again. Um, I'm going to play devil's advocate in reference to what you're saying. I I understand where he's coming from, okay? But let's assume, okay, let's just assume that
that hotel is being used by somebody from one of the corporations here. He's obviously going to be staying more than 30 days. He may stay for a year. It may be a temporary transfer. you don't know whether he's a technician or
whatever the case is. So, I'm playing devil's advocate. We all know what we're driving at with that extended stay and the issue with the red carpet, but again, I'm playing devil's advocate. What happens in that particular case, you're going to kick somebody out who is
a legitimate person who needs some place to stay because his crime is somewhere in Germany, it has to be it has to be applied uniformly throughout. So, we have we have a we have a the zoning in place for that. Correct. Blaze is it's limited. It's not long-term stays. It is
limited stays for for for the 30-day max. I'm glad you pointed that out, Jonathan. And you and Fred can stop me. But we differentiated right in the beginning the difference between extended stay and not extended stay. And this is not designed for extended stay. And there's
a lot of reasons why it has that classification. So what you're saying is valid, but this is not designed to be extended stay in the first place. That's all I'll say, Jonathan. >> Well, that's fine. I was just trying to differentiate with what the heck is
going on because a lot of these courthouse court what is it? Uh courtyard places or whatever the case is um is is usually for people who are working
somewhere. They live somewhere else, but they're working somewhere temporarily. So that's why I'm asking the question. We we know what the issue was with the red carpet and I just don't want to go down that road. I'm just asking that question. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Did Did you come in late tonight? >> Did I? >> Where's your cookies for us? >> We did come in late. He had a fire call. >> Oh, okay. >> So, we did honestly. Um, next time, I
promise. Ebikes. The ebike rules are out there. Correct. >> Mhm. >> How How have they been sent out? Through school system, through email. I saw it on Facebook. I'm just asking and
>> I think the board of ed was doing someformational too to to the uh the parents as well on this. >> Did Yeah. Did we >> I I believe so. It's part of the state program. >> How did they get check on that to make sure? >> Paper
computer. We were walking the other day and we stopped. We tried to stop four kids that were illegal on the bikes. Troy Hills and Sons, that one kid stopped cuz he heard me yell about being on the sidewalk.
>> Knew nothing about it. >> Well, what I could tell you, >> the other kids had no helmets on and they were speeding down Troy Hills Road. >> Brian is leazison to public safety and I'm sure Brian Brian doesn't have the answer now because everything changed once the state made this a law because
the law is different than what we put forth as a municipality. But I know that the prosecutor's office was being very aggressive with education. Okay? >> And even Sunday, I spoke to the scouts and we talked about safety cuz that was one of their scout laws, right?
>> And I talked about the ebike and they thought that we were like older and we didn't understand how cool it was. and I asked them if they would want to be ambassadors to Hanover Township, their entire pack and any other group of scouts to help people um and remind people that they should wear a helmet
and why. We have a big bike rodeo coming up with the mayor's wellness campaign and everybody that comes is going to get a free bike helmet. So, I think there's quite a few hands on deck here trying to educate and again, even with the mayor's wellness, we talked about the importance of getting the information to the
parents, but you know, even if a parent sees a kid riding an ebike with a helmet on, they might throw that helmet on the side of the house and ride down Reynolds Avenue cuz they think they're cool. So, it's a new law. It's very concerning. >> When do you go in effect? Does anybody know March 1st or
>> it it was signed on in Jan on in January 20th? It's taking a there's a grace period. It's July 20th is the grace period date. >> So they can do whatever until July that we put a law. We have we have our own ordinance as well. I'm talking about the
state law. >> So keep pulling him over and keep yelling at him. Mrs. Kelly, >> thank you. Thank you for doing it. Anyone else? Hearing none. Seeing none, motion to close. Okay. All in favor?
>> I motion to adjurnn. Motion. >> Second. All in favor? That's it. >> Fred, thank you very much. Welcome back, Fred. Thank you. Appreciate it.