Adequate notice of the December 11th, 2025 meeting of the township committee has been provided in accordance with the local public needs act by providing written notice and agenda of the meeting on a bulletin board the municipal building 10 township by hand delivering mailing or faxing such notice to the
following newspapers. Mars County Daily Record the store ledger had recall and by following the scene with the township clerk >> roll call command mahill >> here. Committee manosca >> here. >> Committee Francioli >> here. >> Committee man Mahelco is excused this evening and Mayor Gallagher
>> here. Four members in attendance. >> Please stand and join us for the pledge of allegiance. And please remain standing for our prayer led by John Famoska. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 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. You want to read the uh presentation? Okay. We're going to start tonight with a special presentation. distinguished
service plaques to nine members of the Whipony Fire Department who responded to a Scotch Planes issue for mutual aid swiftwater rescue on the night of July 14th, 2025. Brian, so yeah, if I may, I just want to read
something very quickly and then I'm going to ask the mayor to join me to uh present the plaques. Um, so just a background story for those of you that aren't familiar. On the evening of July 14th, members of the Whippy Fire Department swiftwater rescue team were asked to respond to Scotch planes to assist with reports of over 40 vehicles
being trapped in the water due to intense and sudden flood flooding. Five Wine Fire Department members trained at the Sith War as swiftwater technician level, the highest level, and four support staff members responded in rescue apparatus, which included the department's Zodiac rescue boat. They
were Deputy Fire Chief Derek Sheer, Captain Jack Koba, Lieutenant John Gthins, Lieutenant Joe Santini, firefighter EMT Ben Bradley, firefighter EMT Mike Calli, firefighter EMT Kenny Mohler, and firefighter Guy Kusmano, and
firefighter Anthony Santini. In coordination with the Mars County Mutual Aid Coordinators Kevin Lowry and James Schultz, Whip Swiff Water Rescue Team positioned themselves on Route 10. Once at the intersection, the boat was promptly put in the water and Deputy Chief Derek Sher, Lieutenant John
Gthins, firefighter Ben Bradley, and firefighter Michael Cowi began rescue operations by assisting in removing people from their homes, businesses, and vehicles and getting them to a safer location. While on scene, Whippy Rescue assisted between 15 and 20 people
trapped by the flood waters. In addition, there were two other potentially life-threatening situations in which Whippy Fire was called in to assist. Fortunately, no one was hurt and no first responders lives were put at risk. After the rescue operation was complete, the team members uh assisted
others with overall cleanup and were released around midnight that night. So, on behalf of the township committee and of course on behalf of of of the township residents, we thank you very much for for stepping up and and helping our fellow communities and basically demonstrating what it means to be a first responder. And with that said,
while you nine are here to be honored, I mean, it goes without saying that we are very grateful to all of our first responders, uh, all of our volunteers, all of our firemen and EMT and police. Uh, you do a special job and and and we really do appreciate and understand how important you all are to us. So, thank
you very very much. Okay. So we have set up there. Yeah. Heat. Heat. HEAT. HEAT. HEAT.
All right, let's go. HEAT. HEAT. HEAT. HEAT. HEAT. HEAT. Thank you very much. Heat up here. Thank you. Everybody like to leave.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. window coming here. It's right here. Okay. Good evening everyone. First on the agenda is the approval of the township committee meeting minutes
of November 13th. May I please have a motion to approve November 13, 2025 meeting minutes. So >> moved. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> So approved. Next is the public hearing and adoption of ordinance numbers 29-2025
and 30-2025. Proof of publication that the notice of introduction of ordinance 29 appeared in full in the November 20th issue of the daily record and ordinance 30 appeared in full in the November 28th issue of the daily record. At this time, may I
have a motion to convene the public hearing on ordinance numbers 29, 2022, and 30-2025. So moved. >> I have a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Is there anyone in chambers wishing to be heard concerning ordinance 29-2025
or 30-2025? If so, please state your name and address for the record. >> Motion closed. Second. Wait, wait, wait. >> Hello. My name is Christine Gaddy and I'm a resident of Cedar Nolles. I want to thank the township committee for
their service to our community. I know it's no easy task and you all put in a lot of time and energy and all you do and it's truly appreciated. I want to voice my support of ordinance 29-2025. I want to especially thank all those involved in seeing this through,
especially Mayor Gallagher. The community has been very vocal about the major crime concerns at the red carpet in the red carpet in property owners have been openly violating our regulations for many many years and have put a huge strain on all of our resources. I am interested in hearing
more about the plans for this property and hope you can go into more detail tonight. I hope our township fully enforces our hotel regulations for all hotels in the township. Enforcement is key and lack thereof unfortunately brings us to situations like we've had there. Thank you.
Thank you. Anyone else? >> Gary Ker 16 Leris Whipony. Um, also in support of this ordinance, I just have one question. How are we going to finance this? >> Fred, would you like to talk about that now?
>> Financing. >> The financing would likely come from uh the affordable housing trust fund. Uh now the purpose of this ordinance and the acquisition uh either by way of negotiation or
condemnation would be um to help the township meet its affordable housing obligation. So by doing that the the the fund that could be utilized is the affordable housing trust fund. The trust fund is actually it's not taxpayer
dollars. The trust fund comes from developers over the years for commercial development. they contribute to that trust fund. So, there's a balance in that account and what the administration is looking to do is utilize that balance
and some of the funds in that account toward the acquisition of this property. It may be over time, say if there's a a loan or a bond and then funds would be paid out of that account. Now, I don't want to say it in the way like the entire balance of the account is
available because there's a lot of different committed uses under various affordable housing obligations. But to give you an idea of already what's been collected, it's a serious account. There's there's nearly I think almost $5
million in that account. So, uh so the town is ready to move forward if need be it and utilize some funds from that account. Thank you. Sure. >> So, Fred, to just um piggy back on to
Gary's question. >> Yes. >> With the way this structure is being laid out, there is no opportunity for taxpayer funds. We are going to be using these funds and these funds coming in at a later date from this type of program. >> Yes, that would be the initial goal, mayor. I mean that that could change but
at this point that's what it's been discussed with the governing body and the administration that in fact that's where hopefully those funds would come from. Yes. >> Exactly. >> Hi. >> Yes. >> Good evening gentlemen. Uh Carol from Shenko New Jersey. I wanted to I wanted
to thank you for all your efforts in this regard for ordinance number 29 2025 and I want to thank you for doing this for our community. It's very much appreciated by so many. Thank you. >> Thank you, Carol.
>> Anyone else? >> Lindsay Hollering, community advocate. I'd like to say thank you to all of you guys for what you're doing with ordinance 29 2025. Um, a big question though that I do have
um cuz a lot of people, you know, from ask me is when do you think it'll all be done and closed and and things of that nature? >> You want to take a swing at that?
>> Yeah. you know, it really depends on um it could be rather quickly if there's a negotiation that's favorable uh to the township and if it's has to go a different route, that process by eminent domain takes takes longer cuz it has to
go through the courts. So, I think it could be anywhere from 3 months to 9 or 10 months if I had to give a a gauge at this stage, but you really don't know until um you you get into those negotiations. And certainly that
that's a step that'll have to be taken. >> Okay. >> And Fred, if you want to please take a minute and explain our arrangement and our legal agreement that would prohibit children from coming back into this motel throughout this exercise. And you know, mayor, I think what I'd like to
ask cuz I do want to explain that, but I think for the purposes of this public hearing until you close it, then I'd like to because this acquisition, so that it's very clear for the record. Um, I know there's other things that have been referenced about what's gone on at
the hotel and nobody could probably speak more to that than than the mayor and some people like yourself who've been there. Um but at the same time this ordinance because it's very sensitive to why the township is acquiring it is because there's a fourth round
affordable housing obligation. It's always been a very significant obligation to handover township because of its desiraability and the governing body believes that this location would be a very helpful piece of property to acquire to
construct affordable housing. We say con or or reconstruct based on the existing structure and convert it to housing. Not you know >> I know >> what maybe other what what maybe uh was tried to be used as housing but for what
I would say real a affordable housing units in accordance with the state law and the and the guidelines to live there. So, uh, from that standpoint, it's been identified, especially with so many different, um, property owners that have sought to join the affordable
housing, um, matter of the township, we have at least five different entities who have been interested. So that the governing body thought, well, here's a property that uh might be a very good desirable location and a property that
uh would would lend itself to some affordable housing o opportunities for the township to acquire the property and take control of its own destiny. >> Yes. Yes. No, I totally agree with that. And the and the mayor the other part I'll answer right after the public
hearing only because if there's a record on the vote it should be more towards the purpose and then I'd be glad to answer that because it's still relevant of course and the reason why the timing one is a very difficult question because we've been asked about the timing and we
the only thing we have to line up our timing is our agreement because it has a start and a stop. >> Yeah. And that's why I asked Fred if you could look at the arrangement and the agreement just for timing. But the timing there's a few variables and we're going to be as aggressive throughout the next few months as we have in the last
few months. >> Okay, good. Great. Thank you guys, you know, for all that you guys are doing. um it is more than appreciated and it's something that needed to be done and as sad as it is, you know, I still know a
lot of people that live there that aren't good people, but even they're like this, this has got to go. So, thank you guys very much. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Mary Beth Havi, 22 Troy Hills Road. Um, when you say negotiate,
could they keep you? Could they the state do something so you wouldn't take it away, you know, to buy the property? Could the state get involved and they get to
make you an offer or make an offer so it wouldn't go bye-bye? >> You know me well enough to know I have a comment or two, but I'm going to ask Fred to handle this one. Yeah, I we are not really count the state has been very responsive to Mayor Gallagher and as far
as the issues about placement of families and things, but as far as acquiring the property and things of that nature, I think the governing body's position was uh it would be something that the township would want to control the destiny of that property. So, uh, if you get any other agencies
involved, then they'll have the final say as opposed to this governing body and I think they wanted to have to control the destiny of the property for for affordable housing purposes here and not utilize any state money at this point. >> Okay.
>> When will people start stop going to that hotel? as the hotels. Has he uh given any indication to that? >> I I think I I could answer that, mayor, after this public hearing. Let's do it after.
>> Yeah, I it's an irrelevant question, but >> I I'd rather answer when the public hearing's done with this ordinance if that's okay. I can answer it. >> I agree. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Hi, Christine Egger. I'm a resident in town. Uh quick question and thank you.
Um we definitely support you. Um my question is wasn't a portion of the housing going to be for seniors and does that count towards affordable housing or no >> on this property? >> Yeah, on this property it would be senior um housing. >> Do you want to answer that?
>> You hope you hope that be the case, but candidly it's whatever affordable housing obligation gets imposed on the township, you really want to keep it open for whatever it might be. Yeah. You know, in other words, let's just say the
rules change uh and there's some type of obligation that says the town is capped out. If you limit yourself and say, "Well, it's only going to be senior," then you could have a problem. Somebody could say, "Well, now you don't need the property cuz you've met your senior quota." Candidly, the the governing body
saying, "Let's we're going to say it's for affordable housing right now." If I had to uh at this point estimate if that would be the case for senior housing, I think it probably would be based on our plan. But in the event that there's some other
need, then we want to keep that door open so that we're not somebody can say can't say well you only needed it for senior, you have senior. There may be a you know what would be a family use uh potentially if that if it came to that but understand
let's just say it's senior or family use it it would not be in the current setup that it is now it would be totally overhauled reconstructed or or torn down so >> livable places nice thank you
>> anyone Okay. May I have a motion to close the public hearing? >> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> I'm going to take two separate votes for both ordinances. On adoption, may I have a motion to adopt ordinance 29-2025?
>> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> On roll call. Committeeman Cahill. I. >> Committee man Francioli. I. >> Committee manosca. I. >> Mayor Gallagher. I. So adopted. Next. May I have a motion to adopt
ordinance number 30-2025? >> So moved. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> On roll call. Committeeman Cahill. >> I. >> Committeeman Baramosa. >> Hi. >> Committeeman Francioli. >> I. >> Mayor Gallagher. >> Hi. >> So adopted.
Next on the agenda, we have resolutions 227-2025 through 233-2025. This will be a consent agenda. Does any member of the committee have any questions regarding these resolutions? May I have a motion to pass the
resolutions as a consent agenda? >> Second. Resolutions are so approved. Next we have a raffle application RL 3505 for the Gonda Prince Hall Shriners for a raffle application. May I have a
motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Raffle is so approved. And next we have to pay our bills in the amount of 5,454,326.86. May I please have a motion to pay the bills? John, would you do so? Motion for
the CFO, Mr. Espazito, to pay our bills. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> bills are paid. Mayor and the members of the committee. That clears the agenda and I thank you. >> Thank you very much, Crystal. Great job. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we're going to open to the public.
I have a motion open to the public. >> I have a second. All in favor? I. >> If anyone from the public would like to address the governing body about anything, please step up to the podium, state your name, address, and you have four minutes. James Hark with Cedar Hills Fire Department. Um, just wanted to extend an
invite to the township uh committee that on Tuesday uh December 16th at uh 6:30 p.m. we are doing a Hanukkah celebration in Manura Lighting at our firehouse. Um so we hope you and the public will come join us on that evening. Thank you. Thank you, James. I would just like to
thank you for everything you do more and more in the last few months. I'm starting to understand your role and I think you do a great job and thank you for everything and merry Christmas to you and your family, Mr. M. Merry Christmas. Anyone else? Gary, you're smiling away back there.
You got anything else for us? >> Okay, seeing none, hearing none. Motion to close. So move Second. Second. All in favor? I. >> Okay, guys. If you want, John, we'll start with you. Take a minute or two to address the public. Engineering. A quick
update on roads. Road paving for the season has been completed. Um, we had to halt because of the weather. Top of Horsel Road got done. That was a very important road for us to complete. Uh, B Meadow Exit Drive was done. Al Gangquin
will be completed in the spring of 26. Planning department um we have underway at 190 Park Avenue uh a new uh building that will house 60 affordable units for seniors.
planning department will be conducting a re-examination back evaluation of the master plan uh with emphasis on developer regulations. There's an important bill in assembly. This township committee spends a
significant time uh working on try to how we optimize affordable housing. There's a bill in the assembly called A5483. This is an important bill and we would like your help in facilitating um
expression of your support for this. What this bill means is that when there's a community in need of affordable housing, another community who has affordable housing funds can send those funds to the community in
need. So, this is a great opportunity uh for us to provide affordable housing in the area in greatest need. Uh please phone or write to your assemblymen about this. The environmental uh green team um
is planning on a redo of something very successfully that we brought back called a tree giveaway. Uh so we were able to give away trees during our uh handover township day celebration and over 40 people received trees as a result of
that. In addition, the green team working with the environmental commission successfully installed something called the gander dispander. What is a gander dispander? A ganer dispander is a laser uh float that was
installed in the pond at B Meadow that will um move the geese out of the area and the real benefit of that moving the geese out of the area is a significant reduction in the mosquito population in
that area. Uh this was led by Arthur Buches who is an Eagle Scout candidate. It was supported by the Whippony Fire Rescue team and in addition Chris Mattis, green team
co-chair. Wishing all the best for a wonderful holiday season, a very merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and all the joys uh this time of year. >> Thanks, John. Rob, >> thank you, Mayor. Uh just a few details,
just a few items. Uh just want to bring you up to date with the Morris County Transportation Committee. Uh we met last month. Uh we are going forward along with the county design on the redesign of the Route 24 Park Avenue or Columbia
Turnpike intersection. As most know that's five lanes that come together off of Route 24 and it's been a source of great problems to us for years, accidents, etc. So it's uh been funded. We're just waiting for the uh DOT to
release those funds and then we'll go forward with the initial designs. Uh on that note, we're also examining the issues that we're having at peak hours at Route 24 and Hanover Route 202 and Hanover Avenue. Uh the back up there, as
most know, go from uh 202 backs all the way up almost to the lows. Uh, I think we're going to try and coax them into acquiring some additional property for a dedicated right-hand turning lane off of uh uh Hanover Avenue to relieve some of
the congestion there at Peak Hour. Uh we have a great opportunity coming up. We're working with uh Ark Mars. We've been partnering with them, as many know, on many group homes in our town. We also have a unique opportunity that we're looking at now uh for being one of the
first towns to entertain the idea of a dedicated handicapped park for handicapped special needs individual. Uh we have lands that are available and uh Ark Morris is moving forward on funding.
If that be the case, we'll partner with them uh on doing this very unique and very needed uh park that will add to our B Meadow area uh should that come through. Stony Brook Farm is doing great. We're expanding. We're uh looking
at uh additional gardens for the coming year. Uh if anyone is interested in this spring, uh please let us know through recreation 428-2454 and uh join us in planting some vegetables for yourself in this coming
year and enjoying a great growing season with the rest of us. Uh my apologies to our library staff and our members of our library. As you know, the township is having some difficulty with the heating system uh over the library area. It is
40 years old. 40 years old. So, uh I think we've got about as much out of it as we possibly can. Uh we're working on that and hopefully we've got the equipment. Hopefully, we'll be back online with another day or two. Uh until then, the library is closed tomorrow and
it will be closed uh until we're confident that the heating system is back and and operational again. Uh mayor, thank you. That's what I have. Thank you. Thank you, Ace. Uh so just once again, congratulations again to the nine whippity firefighters and their
courageous actions on July 25th in Scotch Plains. Um, but also I just also want to congratulate um the former or retiring business uh administrator for district 3, Jim Schultz. Uh, his retirement will become official on
December 22nd. Um, he's been with the district uh for 22 years. Uh, he started as the administrator about a year before I started on the committee, so roughly 9 years ago. Um, just did an outstanding
job. um his replacement, James Hark, is doing a fantastic job as you saw when we just uh stood up there a moment ago. Uh he's doing a great job as well. But I just wanted to uh uh give a shout out to Jim Schulz, who's great, he is a great guy. I'm sure we'll see him around. Uh but he did an outstanding job for the
district and he'll be missed. Um just a point of fact, on Friday night, beginning this Friday night, the annual drive sober or get pulled over law enforcement campaign begins. Um, this is something that happens every year and there are certain municipalities that
get funding from the state to fund extra patrols and that can mean anything from uh just additional patrols on the roads to checkpoints and that sort of thing. While this year Hanover Township is not the recipient of any of those funds, I can assure you that the Hannover Township Police Department will remain
diligent as they always do every every year uh this time of year particularly. Um so you know please think twice about uh drinking and driving. This particular campaign state campaign does end on January 1st. Uh and lastly the uh during our work session I just wanted to share
uh out here uh we discussed some plans that the landmark commission is having around our 350th uh birthday here in Hanover Township which coincides with the 250th birthday of the USA. um they've come together with a number of items and a number of activities that they want to do
beginning January 1 and running through the year uh and culminating with uh some extraordinary events during Hannover Township Day. Uh so we just talked about it amongst the committee from a budgetary standpoint and how perhaps the recreation department can assist them. So I just wanted to bring you up to
speed on that and and look for more news on that going forward. And then last but not least, I do want to wish everybody a very very merry Christmas, happy holiday, happy Hanukkah. uh and looking forward to a great new year in 2026. Thank you, Brian. Before I have my
closing comment, I want to just acknowledge Deputy Mayor Mike Mahalo for all of his work on this ordinance and much of the work that we've all put in for the last several months uh to get to what we think is a very very good place for many many people. I also want to
thank Christa Deorgio because uh it's been a heavy lift and Christ is a very very big part of this team as is the chief chief Mike Lock. So Chris, thank you for all your great great work for real. Uh before I close,
I want to ask Fred Samuel to please take the floor and uh touch a little bit on what you wanted to touch on during the public comment section. >> Uh yeah. Um, mayor, there were some questions about, you know, enforcement and things of that nature, and that's
separate and apart from the township's efforts to acquire the property, but it's still as very much relevant. From March of this year, there was a comment about whether there's the enforcement of the ordinance. Um, I can say that uh on
every aspect when it comes to this matter, the township has turned every single corner and that started with the ordinance amendment in March and that ordinance amendment going forward on the hotel ordinance and then with the
administration and numerous departments uh seeing to it that everyone submitted an application and complied, inspections were made and then when we ran into resistance A lawsuit was filed in federal district
court. The township has not only one set of legal counsel, two sets of legal counsel. It was uh to bring in an expert in the area. Uh in that case, it is the hotel, the red carpet hotel, and again that's and it's
known as JSK is the owner. And in that case, it's still in federal district court. It's about enforcement matters. The only decision we have from the court is the township wanted this decided in federal district court and the hotel wanted it decided in state court and
that took a few months but the court decided that uh it agreed with the township. it would be heard in federal district court. And in the meantime, there's there was numerous efforts made almost on a daily basis
uh by led by the mayor uh to and and different elected officials and and I just have to say as well as uh Senator Ponacio was very involved with with Mayor Gallagher to get down to Trenton, have those meetings. And it wasn't just the meetings. What emanated from that
was relationships with myself, with the administration, uh with the mayor, uh to help work out a very good transition in place for the families. Then the mayor met with the
families with the state agency involved and what what happened was just on a daily basis in all different ways and the mayor spoke to a number of residents that were very helpful to provide information. Um we even retained a um an
expert as a township with the support of the township committee about housing conditions and things of that nature if need be it. Uh but but along those lines uh what what started to culminate was a transition of the residents and then on
our side seeing that the litigation was moving in a certain direction. We also working with uh Bla1 Blanchow and Sean Donlin went back and dug up a number of records on all all hotels and determined that uh there was some zoning issues
that could be addressed as well in conjunction with some decisions that were recently rendered by the superior court. So with that, Mr. Donlin then um made certain determinations about hotels and and stays. And to that end, we do
have an agreement uh with at this point one hotel and I expect more thanks to the support of the governing body that at at this time uh restricts any long-term stays, any placements by state
agencies for a long term. Any placements that would result in uh what would be a definition of a resident or school children uh that would not be permitted. We have to remember a hotel otherwise has a right to have guests for a short
term and that we have no right or say to say anything as long as they're compliant with our our ordinances. Uh so that will continue and they may be you know from different agencies but not state family placement
agencies like for an example uh during the cold evenings. One of the things that was discussed and we didn't want to get in that way was there's some legitimate and I don't say rightful short-term stays when the nights are very cold that the the hotel works with
different state agencies and that's still permitted. Uh but as far as the long-term it's not. And so that coupled with the continued working relationship that I have to say thanks to the support of the governing body but it's really been with the mayor on a daily basis.
Um, and I I mean daily because I think I got a lot of calls on Saturday, Sunday morning. I don't know. >> You did. You did. >> But but for a good purpose because he really wanted to make sure that, for example, if there was a change in state
government at the end of this year, he he was really trying to hurry to make sure we got all the answers we could get. So nobody would say, "Well, now we have different people coming in." And that could still happen. So there's a real push there. And so the transitions have continued. The enforcement is on
two different levels to the fullest extent of the law. Thanks to all the support. I mean when I say support like the mayor said you know the administration uh Joe Christa Blae Jerry and and you know Christa was involved very much with
the licensing uh and and that's with the mayor's you know daily interaction with all of us about this. Uh so I think it's really been uh an an enforcement on on all ends and something that was asked of me as well by a member of this governing
body um Mr. Farah Moscow was well we are looking at all the hotel and we are uh we're still working now with another hotel in town uh to make sure that they are compliant and we're in discussions to hopefully have an agreement in place
as well and to make sure that they they also abide by uh the law. So that's what's happening in Mayor I think we've seen throughout the state you know a lot of times through this process I think the hard thing is residents you would say call enforce the law enforce the law
well we're seeing a lot of towns that are adopting ordinances but the real difference in handover has been the ordinance have been enforced that's probably why we're in court and that's why we also have agreements that the governing body has said all right
there'll be a stay and and that's why you have with the reach out um by the the governing body and by the mayor to to state representatives um so we're seeing the transition so the transition
of families and with a lot of care uh so I think all of that and I think we've also tried to really listen to the board of education and hear what the concerns are we attended a board of education meeting in the event there were questions uh but that's all, you know,
it it's just been a collaborative effort. I think it's everybody unanimously has responded to that uh and and that effort, but um it's it's, you know, really an accomplishment for the township and it's happened in a way where, you know, the families in between
don't get hurt. Hope they're going to hopefully be in a better situation and and that's the sensitivity that the mayor has shown about this throughout the process as well. uh passionate about this needing to be in a better place but also to care for the families. So that's
that's how it's it's worked and I think you have a count mayor. There's about 115 straight days. >> Yeah. I guess when I >> from when we when this really came forward to the governing body in March and um you know was was we were advised
with with Joe Giorgio and in a meeting and yourself and myself and and it went from there all of us. >> Thank you Fred. I appreciate everything you've done through this whole exercise and we're not done yet. Um, a lot of people have called G called me up and
asked me what we're doing, how we're going about it. And I said, it's no longer talk. We're getting a lot of lot of um movement in the right direction. And I said, however, we still have a lot more work to do and we're not going to
take our foot off the gas. And before I make my last two comments, I want to say you you you hit something pretty good. The way we came together was incredible. And I said at a board of ed meeting, there's two kinds of people and two kinds of problem solving. A, there's the
person that wants to figure out whose fault it is, and that's okay, but that doesn't really solve the problem. Then there's the kind of person that wants to look at the issues and work very hard with every resource they can and every person they can to come up with a good resolution for the problem. And we work
lock step with a lot of great people, very smart people. And it looks like we're going to get a very good result because of that. And uh it it was 7 days a week for pro just about 100 I think tomorrow is 115 days, Fred. So you're exactly right. Uh before I make my
close, I want to say that the Whippony Pake Blood Remediation Task Force is the only thing I'm going to report on before my holiday message. Um two weeks ago, Friday, we received another $1.2 million. It was requested that myself and a small
team want to meet with New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Chattam Burough, and Chattam Township. And it looks like this is going to be a much bigger initiative in a much uh wider range of areas which is going to benefit everybody because you simply just can't clean your area.
You have to look upstream and downstream because it it's all affected. So, that's going very very well. We're going to have a busy winter and we're looking at different programs on what we can do to hit more areas and uh once again Kolio's engineers is a major part of our team
and and thank you to them and thank God for them. So, Bill Burn is going to like my last message. Holiday season is here and what's interesting and beautiful about it, it's also very very sad for too many people. A lot of people are lonely. A lot of
people lost a lot of loved ones. I'm going to recommend and I say that I have to do it too. Pick up the phone and make a phone call. Somebody wants to hear from you. Sometimes you say, "Believe it or not, somebody wants to hear from you." But somebody wants to hear from you. So pick up the phone, make a phone
call, check on them, let them know you were thinking about them. Ask if they, you know, hey, you want me to stop by? I want to see you. I'll bring you a cup of coffee over some Dunkin Donuts. That phone call can really light somebody up. And we work a lot with the mental health association. And again, as beautiful as the holidays are, it's also very, very
dark for too many people. So, let's get together and all make that one phone call and it'll make somebody very, very happy or more than one person. That's all I got. I'd like to uh ask a motion to journ. >> Second. Second. All in favor?
>> That's it. Thank you. All right.