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It's 7:00 on April 5th 15th, 2026. Roll call. >> Bennett >> here. >> Leosa. >> Neie >> here. >> Sasso here. Skiara >> here. Matthews here. >> Please rise and join us in the pledge of

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allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic which stands one nation under God, indivisible, liberty, liberty and justice for all. >> Adequate notice of this meeting has been

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provided by the annual schedule of regular meetings. is herefore adopted and posted on the public bulletin board at the municipal building, posted on the official burough website and emailed to the Herald News, the record, the Gazette, and all persons who've requested the mailing of such since November 17, 2025.

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Approval of the minutes. Have approval of the minutes for the regular meeting of April 1, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Skier, second by Mey. Any comments? >> Roll call. >> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Sasso, >> yes. >> Millie,

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>> yes. Bennett, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Public comment and open meeting to the public. If anyone desires to be heard on agenda items, I dare you. >> Anyone wish to be heard. Seeing no one, I entertain a motion to

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close the public portion of the meeting. So moved. Motion by Sierra. >> Sasso. Second. >> Second by Sasso. All in favor? I. >> Motion carries. Adoption of ordinances. We have none this evening. Old business. Mike, we'll start your way. Uh thank you, council president. Um just want to

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follow up from uh last meeting. Uh an update, mayor. Um you I asked about the uh widing of golf. We're going to reach out to the county and uh see where the status is. I wanted to follow up on that. >> Absolutely. >> At the Wawa

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>> the Gala Road by the Wawa development. >> Yeah. Uh I spoke with our engineer and I spoke with the county. Uh the county did not uh approve it uh according to our engineer. >> Okay. Do we have any other options available to us?

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>> Uh I I don't think so. Uh because they according to John they look they looked at it and it's too congested. It would be too congested going another lane into the right lane right now. So, uh, they said they had a discussion at it, uh, on

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it at the, uh, at the county meeting and they they said no. >> Well, I I there's a surprise. >> I'm not No, I'm not surprised at all. But I I think what the the issue was is if the Wawwa would take some of their

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property to form a lane into their business that would relieve some of the pressure of the traffic cuz even now without Paul's Mo has not been really in business for quite a while and it's very very busy at that intersection.

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They didn't want to at the planning board meeting. >> They didn't want to what? >> To do that option, the applicant. It was only if the county was going to do it to tell them to do it. So, they got the answer they wanted.

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Okay. Uh, also I wanted to also follow up. Uh the last two meetings I mentioned um and inquired about the amount of tickets were given to uh the resident on Diamond Bridge and how many fines he has paid. I'm just looking for a status

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update on that. >> I don't have the information tonight. I will look into that. I don't know how many of those summones were paid and collected. Um but I will look into that. >> If if you could do that, I appreciate I will. >> That's all I have.

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>> Two weeks. >> Bruce, >> nothing. Sir Marie. >> Yes. So, um, in congruence with Councilman Sierra, can I just get clarification what was asked of the current owner of the old

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Paul's Vavo with reference to that congested area? So, I understand what they said no to. >> I don't know because I wasn't at the meeting. Well, I was at that planning board meeting and they >> our planning board meeting or the county meeting? >> The county meeting, sir. I just like clarification for myself and our

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residents. >> Well, the planning board meeting. >> Well, >> they acted like they'd never heard about it before, which I doubt was the truth, but I just want clarification if you don't mind. >> Well, at the county meeting, what I just said, they they did not approve it. There was explanation from our engineer

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and from the county engineer, and the board, from what I understand, the board said no. I I I I hear I understand sir but I know what our thoughts were as a burrow. Um but I don't know what was asked of them. So is anybody able to answer that? I just want a

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clarification. >> I can't answer it. I wasn't at the meeting. >> Well, who proposes that? >> I spoke I spoke to our engineer. >> Joe, would you be kind enough to just clarify? >> There's some gray area here that

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I would like clarification on. Um uh did you speak with John is handling it? >> Okay, that's why. All right. >> He's a planning board attorney. >> I'm not completely familiar with the matter at this at this time.

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>> Okay. I I can only speak for myself and I think a lot of uh elected officials that we realize that it's already a very congested area and the only thing that would potentially give some relief would be

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some additional land and it's a very short um leg there. Um so yeah, of course adding another lane into the same very congested land is a hard no. That's why I'm trying to get clarification. So, if

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you I Joe, I appreciate you. If you can just let me know what they said no to, then I could have a better understanding. >> I can get you an answer on that. >> I appreciate that. And my other question was um um to Burrow um attorney,

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as we um all very well understand, the um resident on Diamond Bridge has we've heard multiple times 250 summones and continues to get them daily. Has he ever appeared in the Prospect County Pro Park Court?

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>> He's been in Prospect Park Court multiple times. There was convictions uh attained in Prospect Park Court. The judge imposed fines. The judge also ordered him to clean up his property,

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gave him a deadline. When he failed to clean his property, we went back and asked that he be held in contempt. The judge gave him additional couple of weeks, two weeks to clean up the property when he failed to do so. Judge

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Abdulhadi permitted us to enter his property to clean it up. He obtained an initial injunction to stop that. Judge Boro Stanton and Pay County then allowed it to go forward but only as to the

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items that appeared in the pictures when Judge Abdulhadi made his decision and we will continue to pursue the same kind of claims. Uh whether it's we are looking at moving it from Prospect Park at this

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point because frankly his antics have clogged up the whole court system which is what he does. We agree. Um, and I'm just trying to, you know, we've talked about this ad nauseium, but again, once again, I'm just trying to get clarification, not only for myself, but

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for our residents. You went into great detail the last time we spoke about this, which I appreciate that. Um, I'm talking too close. Sorry, guys. Um, that there is the superior court case. that is not what I'm referencing, but all of

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the summons that our code officials continue to write, which is hard work, and we appreciate that. And um you express to us that that's up to, you know, it can't be held in our town. It's held in Presto Park.

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He's showing up. I understood what you told us last time. So then fines are being infor put in place. >> Yeah. I don't have though. Councilman Scary asked me the specific question. How many convictions? How many times did he pay? Is he in default in his payment

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obligations? I don't have those answers. I will get those. >> I understand. >> We would, you know, just for the benefit of everybody like a running total if possible and of course mayor always ensures us that summones are issued as

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often as possible. It is definitely a thorn in every person's side, especially the hardworking um people of the town. >> That's all I have. Thank you, >> Dominic. >> Okay. Any old uh No, that was it. >> Okay. New business?

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>> No. >> Henry, >> I I have one question. Mayor, the um coming down Ray Extension took off a road where you made that left turn lane um between um the auto repair and the gas station.

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Will there be a lead left turn on the light at some point? >> Well, there's a there's a there's a delayed green for the people on Ray Avenue heading west. >> I know that. Yes. >> But the wiring under the ground was

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unable to be pulled out of the pipe >> because there's a break someplace. >> Gotcha. >> So, what they did was they went overhead to make the light work. And that's why we put a delayed green facing Ray

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Avenue, facing the east uh east side of uh Ray Avenue, >> which we understand why that is, but I but I know the setup was to at some point I believe and I'm doing this for the residences obviously to at some point then have will there be a lead

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left turn or no? >> Well, first it the street's going to have to be dug up. Uh we have to coordinate it with the county because all new conduit has to be installed. Uh we don't want to we didn't want to take a chance in pulling the wires out because then we could do more damage and

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then it then we're stuck with uh possibly a light that's not working. >> Oh, but mayor that's a county road. Won't they pay for it? >> No, >> but it already is a lead left. >> No. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It doesn't have a lead arrow, but once it goes

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>> Okay, maybe I'm using the wrong vernacular. That's what I mean. Would I say that? >> It is a lead left turn. You could also go straight early if you want. >> Well, straight is in the right lane. >> I know that in the lefth hand lane, you can't make a left. >> You know, the people coming uphill have a red light yet while you have your 13 seconds or 14 seconds as a lead left.

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>> My apologies if I'm not explaining. >> Doesn't have the little arrow. >> I meant will there be a green arrow? >> No. No. >> Ever? >> No. >> Okay. for the residents because they're questioning why it's taking longer when you're coming up Rayav from Lafayette

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and we know why but um I thought that there may at some point be a green left so thank you for that explanation. >> You're welcome. >> That's it. >> Can you beat that? >> No. >> I Why you pick on me? >> Okay. Yeah, I have a just a few small

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>> um may if you could look into this. I had a resident approach me. It lives on Birchwood Street. Um he made a a claim that the street sweeper comes up but just goes down the middle of the street. I don't know if there's any truth to it but maybe just talked to uh to Bill and

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just you know >> just get it clarified and you know >> I I this he said there was no cars just going down the block. Okay. Well, there are a lot of cars that are parked on the street. Even if there's a sign that's that's in been installed for that street

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to and given the time that the sweeper usually would go would uh be at go go go curb to curb. Um right now there's a lot of streets where there's so many cars parked on the street that's the only way he could do it is actually go in the

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center of the street. He can't go too close to the car because we don't want to have a damaged car and have have a problem that way. >> All right. So, if if this street that we're cleaning does have a sign, are we now enforcing it and taking it taking the

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>> BPW and the police work together on that so that there's a a car or an officer going with the sweeper in front of the sweeper to issue summones to the cars that are parked as long as there's signs there. >> So, there's some coordination with that. Okay. Great. Okay. Uh, next I know we

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spoke on Saturday uh about the uh the issue I observed coming down Ryav extension in North Wong. >> Yes. >> Where um as I said to you I was coming it was on I it happened on Friday but I spoke to you on Saturday uh at the uh

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softball baseball uh grand opening. Um there was five cars in front of me. Nobody it was 3:46 in the afternoon. All of them made the left. the two cars in back of me when I proceeded to go in down raong. Uh they also and we talked about some

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potential, you know, changes uh that could be made. Has anything been done? Do we know where we're at with that status? >> Yes, actually there was a lot done because I had a meeting with Captain Carr. I had a meeting with Lieutenant Hogamood uh going over everything. Uh, I

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asked the lieutenant if he could contact the county because I wanted I brought up what you had mentioned to me with regard to putting cones there. Uh, and uh, the county said we're not allowed to put cones there on the double yellow line. Uh, we're going to try to put see if we

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can get away with delineators, but I think that delineators actually uh, the people ride over them as it is. I mean, that's why I thought cones would be better, but uh we're going to try to talk to the county and see if we can get

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some type of uh fix there so we can impose. And we're also getting a new sign put up uh and we're we're uh I have to talk to Bill because what I want on that sign is LEDs

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uh to let the people know that the lights are going to go on for the time that 6:00 to 9 and and 3 to 6 that you can't make a left-hand turn there and cuz they we can put it on a timer uh and it goes 5 days a week. >> Well, that may help. The sign the sign

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that's there now is kind of small. Bill, Bill already ordered the sign. >> Okay. If it's Is it larger than the one we have? >> It's much larger than the one we have. >> And as far as the uh idea of delineators or I even said a saworse blockade was

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really on Wong on the Wong side, it really wouldn't be on Ray Avenue, but it it would prevent because that that street is extra wide. It curves out. So people coming up Ray that want to turn on Wong, they could still do that and it wouldn't block them at all. >> Correct. But people coming down Rayab

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that want to make the left you can put either you want to put delineators, you want to put cones, you want to put the sawus, something there, but it have to it you would need manpower to go and put it up there at 3 uh in the morning and and then take it down and then put it

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back up later on in the afternoon. Unless you have another suggestion. I mean, nobody's listening to the signs right now. I I I just what I just said was the the shift starts at at 7 o'clock. The shift that's on during the night, they can they if we're allowed to

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put the cones up and and we I was told we can't. So, but I'm going to do we're we're going to do a little bit more investigation with the engineers from the county and some of my contacts with the county because uh our police

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department already told us told me uh yesterday and today uh that there's no that we can't do it. But you you we have to we already worked it out if we could put cones there that the shift going off at 7:00 would put them up at 6:00 and

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the and then the shift going being on at 9:00 would take them down. Okay. >> And the same in the afternoon. But uh you know we're we we're we're working on it. We're doing some investigation on it. We just don't have an answer at this time. >> All right. Well, I appreciate your work on that and just kind of fill me in

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where you go. >> If I can. Um on the way home yesterday leaving here I go up Ray Avenue extension the PD had four cars stacked up on North Wong and they were given tickets so they are doing some enforcement out there.

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>> No and when they do it's successful it the fact is that we know we we can't afford to police that full time. Let's be honest about it you know. So you want to look at other other avenues that you could do in between like here was a

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complaint so obviously the police you know you told the police and they're on it and that's what they do. They do a great job but the fact is that we we can't afford to pay policeman to stand there and give tickets out. So um that's why I'm using some of this. The the only small issue I had I know we brought it up at an audience meeting uh Vinnie you

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might remember this about the end of Ryav extension right before Golfer Road in >> Yeah. So, we know where the status is. >> Spoke to >> I spoke to uh the DPW director about that. We have to fill it with some type of liquid.

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>> Yeah, he said it has like a resin or something like that. >> Some type of resin. Yeah, you can't patch it cuz it it's there's not enough depth in it and it's just going to come pop right off. So, you have to put some type of adhering liquid or tack or something in there. >> Maybe with the warmer weather now, we might have to do that. >> Okay, that's all I have. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. When I tell you the county answer is going to be no. >> So I have nothing for anyone. So we'll turn to administrative agenda presented by Mayor Lane. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Now that the winter is over and we are

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welcoming spring and nicer weather, I ask members of our emergency services to join us tonight at our council meeting in order for us to thank all of them and everyone who stepped up when the call came in that the burrow needed everyone

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on board during a very challenging winter of 2026. Our emergency service personnel are the best of the best. Tonight, I have a proclamation for each of them. Afterwards, I asked them to take the proclamation

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back to their organizations and share their share it with their and and the appreciations. Vinnie um share my appreciation, Vinnie's appreciation, and the entire council's appreciate appreciation on

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behalf of all of our residents for all they did during the most challenging winter we've had in a long time. And at this time, I'd like to call up Chief Sparenza, Captain Carr, Director Heler, Matt Fencart, Chief Neber, Joanie

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Houston, and Tim O'Brien. Please come up. Stay here cuz the c the camera is there. >> Okay. >> You should know this. >> Whereas can they hear me?

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>> What? >> Huh? >> Huh? >> Second base. Whereas the first responders of the Burrow of Forthornne are police department, office of emergency management, ambulance corps, firefighters, department of public

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works, 911 operators, fire department ladies auxiliary and other emergency personnel stand on the front lines of our community, selfishly serving and protecting the citizens of the Burrow of Forthornne at all times and especially

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in times of crisis. Whereas our first responders work tireless tire tirelessly during the bitter cold and a long winter of 2026. Specifically during winter storm Fern of January 24th through 26 and the blizzard

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of 26 from February 20 22 to 23. Ensuring the safety of our residents whether it be cleaning our streets of snow, answering emergency calls or standing by if needed. going above and beyond what was asked of each and every

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one of them. And whereas our first responders respond swiftly and cou courageously to emergencies, often putting their own lives at risk to ensure the safety and well-being of others, whether in natural disasters,

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accidents, medical emergencies, public health, or safety threats. And whereas it is the public interest of citizens and civic leaders of the burrow of to gain knowledge of the maintain an ongoing interest, understanding and

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appreciation of the importance of these first responders. Now therefore, be it be it proclaimed that the mayor and council of the Burough of Forthornne do hereby recognize those individuals who tirelessly work day and night 24/7 to

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keep the burrow of Forthornne safe during the challenging winter of 26. And we thank them for their dedication and selfishness service to ensure the safety of all the residents as they serve and protect us during the winter months. I

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just want to thank all of you and all your your members for the great job that you do for the burrow all the time. Not just in the bad winter, but all the time with the fire department, the ambulance core, the police department, ladies auxiliary, uh we have had some real

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tragic fires and bad ambulance calls and police department always always there to assist and do everything that they can to help us. So, I just want to say thank you. I have proclamations here that I want to give to everyone to bring back

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to your uh your respective uh organizations so that this way you can uh you can be uh we're thankful of what you do both the mayor and council uh on everything that uh that that I don't know what else to say but thank you very

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much for all the hard work that you do and all your members that that are that are volunteer and I know the police are paid but uh the volunteers years is uh is enormous. So, thank you so much for everything that you do. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you for all you do. >> Stay here. We'll take a picture or something. >> I think they did already something >> or something something go in the middle. >> Yeah. Yeah. Turn >> the prom picture.

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>> Just official photographer. >> Love it. >> Thank you everybody. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Yeah, we'll take it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. You got it. What's that? >> I thought he was going to be here

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tonight, but we also get one from the county committee for him. >> I wish he gives up. >> I wanted to go to the funeral, but >> at this time, I'd like to call

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Lieutenant Matt Hogamood up with his with his family. >> Could I have a motion for the appointment of Detective Hogamood? Move second. >> Uh motion by Bennett, second by >> everybody else here.

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>> That's right. >> Yeah, you give it to me. >> Yes, >> Lane. Oh my goodness. Sorry. >> Wow, that's a tit. Wow. Only five years ago. >> Hang on.

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>> I don't think she voted for you, mayor. >> Oh my god. It's in here. Couple spots again. >> Yes. >> Sasso. Yes. Millie. >> Yes. >> Skiara. >> Yes.

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>> Matthews. Motion carries. >> Okay. Sir, raise your right hand. Repeat after me. I state your name. >> Matthew Ogmood. do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution

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>> and the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey >> of the state of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments >> and to the governments >> established >> established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people

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>> under the authority of the people >> and will perform the duties of >> It will perform the duties of >> captain >> captain of the police department >> of the police department >> of the burrow of Forthornne >> the burrow of Forthornne >> faithfully >> faithfully >> and partially >> and partially >> and justly >> and justly >> to the best of my ability >> to the best of my ability

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>> so help me God >> so help me God >> congratulations that your dad Does he get epilelettes or something? >> Yes, but not until October. >> Okay. At this time, I'd like to call Sergeant Spone up with his family, please. >> Could I have a motion uh to appoint

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>> Bone to the rank of lieutenant? Motion by Mey. Second by >> Sasso. >> Roll call. >> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Sasso. >> Yes. >> Millie. >> Yes. Dennet. >> Yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries.

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>> Okay. Ready. >> I state your name. >> Ian Span. do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution >> that I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey >> of the state of New Jersey

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>> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and that I'll bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments established >> to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in the state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and will perform the duties of

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>> and perform the duties of >> lieutenant >> lieutenant >> of the Police Department >> of the Police Department >> of the Burrow of Forthornne >> faithfully >> faithfully >> and partially >> partially >> and justly >> justly >> to the best of my ability. >> Best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations.

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>> Don't go. Don't go. Congratulations. Congratulations. We all Now I'd like to call Detective Derano. Can >> I have a motion to appoint Joseph Dorano to the rank of sergeant? Motion by

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Bennett. Second by Scar. Roll call. >> Bennett. >> Yes. >> Sasso. >> Yes. >> Millie Skiara. >> Yes. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Hi. >> How are you? >> Good. How are you?

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>> How are you? >> You happy with your dad? >> Looks just >> Yeah. >> Hold it together. >> Okay. >> I My name >> Joseph Dedrono >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear

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>> that I will support the Constitution >> that I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> in the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey >> of the state of New Jersey. And I will bear true faith and allegiance. >> And I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same. >> And to the governments

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>> And to the governments >> established >> established >> in the United States >> in the United States. and in this state. >> and in this state. >> Under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and will perform the duties of >> and will perform the duties of >> sergeant >> sergeant >> of the police department >> of the police department

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>> of the burrow of >> of the burrow of >> faithfully >> faithfully >> and partially >> impartially >> and justly >> justly >> to the best of my ability >> to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. You can shake hands. Yeah, sure.

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>> Thank god it wasn't good. >> Did you break my last me? It's a secure victory as well. >> Last meeting. >> I thought he knew something I didn't know about.

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Brian. >> Yep. >> Can I have a motion to uh make Brian Choy as a probation officer for the Burough forth? >> Motion by Scar. Second by Mey. Roll call. >> Yes. >> Dasso. >> Yes. >> Millie. >> Bennett.

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>> Yes. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Brian, please. But he's tall. Yeah. See him? Hi. Hi. I don't know.

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She I ain't giving it up. Hey, I state state your name. I, Brian Choy, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New

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Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> to the governments established >> to the governance established >> in the United States >> the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority authority of the people

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>> and will perform the duties of >> and will perform the duties He's of >> police officer >> police officer >> of the police department >> of the police department >> of the burrow of thorn >> of the burrow of Hawthorne >> faithfully >> faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> to the best of my ability >> to the best of my ability

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>> so help you guide >> so help me God >> grant >> let's take a picture with Nice. >> Thank you. Okay. >> You're welcome. >> Uh yeah, >> wife put it on. >> Yeah, she can put it on. Good.

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>> Right now. The pin goes straight in. Sure. >> All right. blank award. >> Very happy. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations.

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>> Congratulations. >> Yes, sir. >> That's for your Okay. >> Okay. >> Next up, we have Nicholas Parlotti as a probationary police officer for the Burthorn. Have a motion. >> So move.

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>> Motion by Scaras, second by Bennett. >> Roll call. >> Bennett. >> Yes. >> Sasso. Yes. >> Millie. >> Yes. >> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. Ready. >> I state your name.

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>> I. Nicholas Parlotti >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution >> that I will support the Constitution >> of the United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey >> of the state of New Jersey. and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> I will bear true faith and allegiance

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>> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments established >> and to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and will perform the duties of >> will perform the duties >> police officer >> police officer

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>> of the police department >> of the police department >> in the burrow of fourthorn >> the >> faithfully >> faithfully >> and partially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> to the best of my ability >> to the best of my ability. So help me God. Congratulations. >> You do the honors.

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>> Thank you. We'll take a picture. Congratulations. >> Yeah. If anyone would like to leave now, you're more than welcome to. Or you're more than welcome to stay for the rest of our meeting. >> Really? >> What did we do?

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>> I got to say I'm a little hurt. >> We showered. >> Not you. I think we're going to wipe the room. >> Not you. They're leaving before the mayor. So, he'll go. >> He was Did you get your Did you get your

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half badge? Yes, sir. >> Okay, good. Yeah, good. >> Somebody should have taken a picture from here. >> We could use that in the future. I'm pretty sure my eyes are killing me.

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Yeah, allergies bad this year. >> Oh, that's true. They have a different configurations under that was too close to the street. Looks nice. The drawings look nice, don't they?

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>> That one's not bad. >> I think I like that one the best. >> Oh, that's what it looks like. >> Yeah. >> And that's what they wanted to look like. >> Well, there's other options, too. >> I like that one. >> That one's nice. >> Yeah. Got the brick in it.

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>> Pavs are going to be extremely like >> I like the white pow. >> Yeah. But no, it's uh stamped concrete. We can make it to look like papers. >> If you do the papers, you can actually sell a brick. >> That's true, too. Did that at the high school?

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>> Yeah. You know, >> like that. >> Uh, you're staying currently. So, >> you get bonus credits. See, I like this one, too. >> Put the uh

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the uh Yep. >> At this time, I would like to introduce our uh MPP coordinator, Nancy Agnello, to give us a fiveyear implementation plan overview.

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>> Shirley's outside. What are we waiting for? >> You want Oh, yeah. >> What's too loud out there? >> I have it on, Laur. >> It was on. >> Yeah. Oh, you only punch your button to make it green. >> I'm new. You do that

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>> with that. >> Now you tell me. >> Is it on? It's on. Green. Let's go. Hi everybody. Good evening, council, mayor, attorney, administrator,

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everyone. Hi. Come on up. Okay. So, tonight we are here to share a very high level overview of our MPP implementation plan that I believe you received in your packets. Uh, so we're just going to go over some of the

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highlights. Um, as you know, this year marks the fifth and the final year of the neighborhood preservation program grant. I just want to begin with a sincere thank you um to those who were so dedicated to apply for this grant and

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find this grant and I believe that's Mike Sierra. So we like to thank you Mike and thank everyone who worked on a committee with you to get all the groundwork done on it and we also especially want to thank Mayor Lane for

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his continued support of the MPP committee and stakeholders throughout the years. I also want to recognize our stakeholders particularly our steering committee who are the subcommittee of the signage and the facade program which really has

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taken up a lot of energy a lot of um review of plans and so on and so forth for all the storefronts that you see that are coming to fruition and are going to continue to for another year. Um at this time let me just say um Heidi Aean who couldn't be here is on the

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steering committee. Um, Annie Hull, Mike Mariani, who couldn't be here, Pat McDonald, and Shirley Shortway English, and they're right here behind me. So, thank you. You guys are amazing. Um,

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they're a very, very dedicated and um, committed group of people. So, we got a lot of work done with them. Over the past few years, we've truly built upon what what was the foundation that put that was put in place by the original stakeholders and the council people who

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worked on it, including the burrow administrator. Um, especially also Ellen Brogno and John Pollo who were the beginning the ones who always who put it down who put down the basics of everything and

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got the um got the surveys together to see what the town people wanted and so we've tried to satisfy that through each year. In the last two years, we have completed and improved 15 storefronts with our signage and facade initiative.

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We've enhanced our downtown streetscape by purchasing new planters and filling them with beautiful seasonal plants for the downtown area. We've also created some community events that were pretty much held at the library and that was to bring in new energy and visibility to

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the downtown and also to the local eeries who um would be stationed there during the concerts and so they got some exposure. So now in our final year as um as we close, our plans are to continue the

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beautifification efforts across the Gateway District, including Diamond Bridge Avenue, Lafayette Avenue, um the pool area, and especially the pocket park. We're going to try to give it a big wow as you saw it fall. Um what what they came up with, what our um

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landscaper did, we're going to continue that through the next four seasons. So, we ask you to get ready for some really nice things that you're going to see. The signage and facade program initiative, while it's suns setting this year, we still have plans for an

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additional four storefronts. So, be on the lookout for that. But now, last but not least, and I believe you have the packets I just gave to you, um, in in regard to the pavilion and the space, common space, uh, we are

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going to move forward with that development. And what we're planning on is not only the pavilion, but a very enhanced green space that's behind the library. It's going to be a dedicated space for events and for gatherings and

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everyday community use. Uh we're looking to break ground within the next two months. NP is going to take the lead with the project, but it is in collaboration with the Lions Club and the Rotary Club whose early vision and fundraising efforts

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helped to inspire and support this project several years past. So, we're all really excited about it finally coming to fruition. It's been a really great journey and we are really proud of what we've we've accomplished together. and we're even more excited that we're leaving behind

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something that's truly meaningful for this community. So, I hope you guys like what you read in the plan and I hope take a look at the artist rendition. It is a rendition, but I like the first page and we're going to try to get as close to that as we can. The greenery is

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nice. The tables and chairs um they look spectacular. May we may be asking for donations, but um we're excited about it and we hope you guys are too. Thank you. >> That's it. >> Thank you, N. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your committee. They're

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doing a great job. >> I'd like to start by giving our condolences to Councilman Joe WKI on the passing of his mother, Linda, last week. Joe, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. Just a

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reminder that the annual mayor's dinner and a show is taking place on April 23rd. And I am looking forward to meeting our Horththornne senior residents who signed up. The townwide garage sale will be held on Saturday, April 25th. If you want to participate,

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you may sign up by noon this Friday, the 17th, at Burrow Hall. The annual mayor's walk for wellness will be held on Sunday, May 17th, at 1:00 p.m. at the high school track. Please join us as a

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warm-up comp compliments of Retro Fitness, and we then walk through the park. And that concludes my report. And I'd like to call on our attorney, Mr. Michael Pasqua. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, condolences also

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to Joe and his family. Um, among Joe's many good qualities is he was an exceptionally good son always, and he is, uh, his mom will be missed. Uh, congratulations to Captain Hookmood, Lieutenant Spone, and Sergeant D.

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Geronimo. three outstanding uh officers in a very very good police department and uh one of the mascots of the police department I believe turned 60 today and that would be Gina Brown. So happy

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birthday Gina and congratulations on a landmark celebration uh to you and if you're unhappy I announced your age um live with it. Uh uh to spoil the front, I've already

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made my report with regard to a couple of other issues that have come up at past meetings. I actually have a meeting scheduled tomorrow with the attorney who represents both Dugan Development and the Franklin on Gothal Road to address a

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couple of open issues there. our uh former special master now special adjudicator Christine Kafone has wanted to do this to schedule this meeting. My purpose in the meeting is to make sure that they address things they need to

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address with regard to the Franklin. There's an ongoing issue which we will address in the construction details which we will get from them and we will also insist upon a date now for the removal of the soil from the property

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and close out of the permit on the property down by the train station the pan chemical site. So that meeting will take place tomorrow and hopefully I will have final answers there. Uh tax appeals were filed. They were due and received

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by April 1st. Uh Tim Henderson and I have hearings at the end of May on our county appeals. We have about 27 or 28 different appeals filed. A lot of them were residential appeals. Um many of

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which we're not really sure that they have particular merit, but some do. where there's merit, we work with our taxpayers to adjust. Uh there will be a couple of cases that we're going to recommend settlement in the coming weeks which we'll bring to you, but overall

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our tax base is growing and uh so it's good news for our taxpayers in Hawthorne that we have a growing base and we're going to keep it that way. Uh the band shell committee will have big announcements coming up. But again I asked everybody to circle the date July

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11 and details will follow. People are saying well what are the details and I said what part of they will follow are you missing? But uh they will follow. That concludes my report mayor. >> Thank you Michael. And turn it over to our engineer Joe Burn.

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>> Thank you mayor. the 2425 road program which covers streets like uh 4th Avenue, Ethel and Frederick uh Highest Drive, McKinley. Uh the top soil and seating has been completed. Um the replacement of the bush on Tonia Terrace uh will be

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sometime next week and the replacement of the spald slabs uh to complete the remaining punch list items will likely take place sometime next week as well. Um the 2425 local aid project which includes Hawthorne Avenue,

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Westervel belt, North Wong, and Grand View. Uh North Wong Drive has been remilled and will be repaved this week. Uh test pits will be performed for the guide rail uh once paving is complete and PSEG has removed the utility pole

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near the intersection of North Wong and Ray Avenue extension. Uh the lead service line removal phase 4 project. Uh the contractor is currently on Lafayette Avenue and Rhea Avenue performing test pits. Uh replacements are also ongoing on McKinley and

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Westerbelt and the contractor has been having some difficulty communicating with uh the remaining residents on Westervelt uh for service replacements. So if anyone on that street is watching, just uh be mindful of the phone and of the front door. Um and we'll work with

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the contractor on getting in touch with those remaining residents to get that resolved. Uh and the Wagar one uh the Wagar field one bleachers uh the construction on that project has been completed and estimates and closeout documentation is

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currently being prepared and processed. And that concludes Mayor Portman. >> Thank you Joe and now I'll turn it over to our administrator Vince Caruso. >> Thank you mayor. Uh McFarland a is going to be uh CCTV next week. Uh this is in

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regard to we've had several sink holes over a period of time. Uh just last week we had another one. So we think there's a break somewhere in there. So we're going to send some cameras in there and see if we can find out what's going on on that property. Uh on that street, I'm sorry.

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The 2026 road program bond ordinance should be on the agenda for the May 6th meeting, our next meeting. Um the I come to realize that um the burrow complex emergency evacuation plan as

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well as the library and the DPW facility plans needed to be updated. They hadn't been updated in quite some time. Um, so, uh, I worked with Chris Debella and I'd like to thank him for that, um, in getting these plans up to date and they

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should be, uh, posted and we're going to start having some drills and some other things in, you know, the main complex. We haven't had any fire drills or anything like that in a long time from what I'm told. Um,

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on tonight is ordinance 2388-26. uh is scheduled it's scheduled for introduction. Uh this ordinance revises some of our pool fees uh for the 2026 season, including the addition of a 3-day and 5-day guest pass

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option and a discounted 10day gu uh guest pass rate. It also reduces the 1-day guest pass fee for weekends and holidays from $25 to $20. And regarding pool operations, we are continuing to

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work on the launch of the completely new online registration portal. We have a meeting with the vendor this Friday to iron out a few concerns and we intend to have the system up and running uh prior to the pool opening. That's all I have

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from there. >> Thank you. Now, Mr. President, I'll answer any questions that the council may have. >> Did you announce the event that's happening Saturday morning at the high school? No. >> Celebration. >> Celebration >> between 10 and two. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I didn't know if I missed it, so I

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wanted to say it in case you didn't say it. >> Questions? >> Uh, no, I have no questions. >> Uh, oh, >> I'm good. Thank you. >> Trouble. >> Uh, tax appeals. Since we're on a finance committee, do we have a lot of

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them? Cuz we didn't budget any money. We we have a number of them, but nothing uh that is too big. The the only one that's substantial that we are dealing with is one we anticipated, it's been ongoing for a few years now on the complex that

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Mr. Bedron built at the 204 WAG. Um we're looking to work something out with the taxpayer really to set the taxes going forward. Um it's okay that there's nothing in the budget because frankly we're not seeing refunds of a magnitude

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that we're going to have to budget a separate line item. Uh but there will be refunds. There's no question. But um I think we'll be okay without it. >> All right. And then one more in the paper this weekend one Washington place they were saying that the soil piled up.

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Is that what you're talking about? The the piles of >> Yes. >> contaminated soil is still there. >> Yeah. the the soil is still there. The clean the permits are not closed out. Uh the about 5 weeks ago, the property

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owner said, "I'll take care of it in 3 weeks and it hasn't happened." >> So that's one of the reasons why I'm meeting tomorrow with the developer attorney to say enough with the talk. Give me a a date and that's what we'll

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do. >> Thank you. Thank you. The Gothal Road complex is now called the Franklin. It >> is called the Franklin. >> First I'm hearing of it. >> Yeah. There's signs up on if you drive by driven by that. >> It says the Franklin. Yeah. Just about

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every 5t there's another sign that says the Franklin. >> I'm impressed. >> Yeah. So they came up with this name a few uh months ago. >> Fair enough. I do. Mike. >> Yeah. Now now I have a question. Uh just piggybacking on what what uh Councilman

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Millie was talking about. Um if they continue to refuse to remove the soil, now obviously they want to sell the development or whatever they have to build on development. They're going to need to do this, but do we have any other resources to expedite this matter other than just saying pretty please?

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>> We No, we have plenty of options that we can do. Listen, the developer was obviously looking for his approvals. They're in place now and there were issues obviously this winter with doing a whole lot of stuff. Well, winter is

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done. It's time to do it. So, if you know to to tomorrow is the last time we're going to ask next time we're going to tell. >> Good. Thank you. >> That's it. Mayor, >> thank you. That concludes the report from administration. >> Can I have a motion to record the

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administrative agenda? >> So moved. >> Motion by Scar. Second by Sasso. All in favor? I I >> motion carries. Um an introduction of ordinance number 2388-26, an ordinance to further amend and supplement the code of the burough of it

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to revise various rates set forth in chapter 220 fees section 12 parks and recreation. Uh our administrator explained basically what we're doing there. Be it resolved, this ordinance has now passed first reading and said ordinance be further considered for final passage at the meeting of the governing body in the municipal building

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445 Lafayette Avenue, Horththornne, New Jersey on May 6, 2026 at 7 p.m. which time and place all interested members of the public who desire to be given an opportunity to be heard in connection with the said ordinance.

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And during the week prior up to and including the date of such meeting, copies of said ordinance will be made available to the burough web on the burough website and at the clerk's office in the municipal building to the members of the general public who request the same. You have a motion. >> So move. >> Motion by scar second by me. Any

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discussion? >> Calliara. >> Yes. >> Sasso. >> Yes. >> Millie. >> Yes. >> Bennett. >> Yes. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Resolutions. We have consent agenda MR2-26 and R68-26.

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MR2-26 is to install a handicap parking space on block 261, lot 5.01. R68-26, acceptance of the year 5 NPP program. I have a motion move. Motion by Bennett, second by Scara. Any discussion?

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>> Five years went by quick for that program, huh? Did >> Yeah. Roll call. >> Bennett, >> yes. >> Millie, >> yes. >> Sasto, yes. >> Skiara, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Reports of special counsel committees.

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Michael, uh, I don't have a a committee report, but I would like to everybody on the audience committee to look at your schedules for next week. Um, I can tell you right now I have Monday and Thursday open. So, if anybody else has any conflict, maybe just email us and saying

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what days you're available from them too. That's it, >> Bruce. No, sir. >> Marie, >> I would just um like to remind everybody that Saturday is Cell Earthbration. And as I mentioned before, on your way to

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the high school, please recognize at every corner, our ambulance core people. We they're having a tag day. They do rely on all of our donations. So, dig into your change box, your dollars, whatever, and donate at every corner. I mean, I also want to extend my heartfelt

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condolences to Joe Wataki. He is a very good son and uh this is a hard loss for him. So, we will surround him with our um heartfelt condolences as we only know how to. That is the end of my report. >> Dominic, I too would like to extend my

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condolences to the techie family for the loss of their mother, excuse me, and grandmother. Uh this weekend, my wife and I had the privilege of going to Washington DC. We buried Captain Pete at the uh Arland Cemetery. He got all the military honors. He loved it, you know.

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So that's what he wanted to do. So that's it was very nice. It was very nice. >> Are you my echo? >> Very good. Um I just want to let the I guess piggyback on the mayor on the 23rd. We're having the mayor miss

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alliance dinner and rehearsal. The mayor is going to speak for a few minutes. Very short, right? And that's on the 23rd at 5 5:30 5:00. Thank you. That's all I have. Okay. Uh

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planning board is scheduled to meet next Tuesday. We're out of sync with our meetings uh because of where the first started. Um Chamber of Commerce wants us to announce that the spring fling contest is still ongoing. And on Tuesday, April 21st from 5 to 6:00 p.m.,

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we're having a networking event at Day Carbone, 142 Gala Road. So, anyone interested, um, give us a heads up and just so we can give them a little headcount for some finger food to be prepared. And that's all I have for committee

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reports correspondents. We have C1, a new firefighter applicants, Jordi Corales to company 3, and Kayla Algarin for company four. Have a motion. Move >> motion by Bennett, second by Skier. >> Skiara, >> yes. >> Sasso,

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>> yes. >> Mey, >> yes. >> Bennett, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Bills. Have a motion to approve the bills and forward them to the treasurer for payment. >> Motion by Millie. >> Second. >> Second by Sasso. Any questions on the

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bills? >> Too high. >> Too high. >> Roll call. >> Bennett. >> Yes. >> Millie. Yes. >> Sasso. >> Yes. >> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Public comment and I open the meeting to the public. Anyone desires to be heard,

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come forward to the microphone and state your name. >> Sir, gentleman in the back just ran to 907 Lafayette. half on fire. I promised the mayor give you guys a mic's not on. >> No, it was on.

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>> It was on. My bad. >> Maybe you're just not close. I'll hold it up to you. >> Oh, >> yeah. There you go. >> Oh, okay. >> I promised the mayor to give you guys some type of like quarterly report of what's going on with the department. This way you're up to date with it and

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things are going on. The department so far is responding to 237 calls for aid in 2026. This by far is the highest number we've ever recorded for a calendar year. Uh at the current pace, the department will set an all-time record response for this calendar year. And I hope for some

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reason we slow it down, but yesterday with five runs, you can tell doesn't seem like it wants to do that. Serious incidents unfortunately on increase again for 2026 began December with that last fire on Gael Road recent house in Westville and the significant fire on a

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railroad sighting yesterday. So unfortunately we're our activity is pretty high and it's uh not getting much better as time goes on. We've required mutual aid over four times already this year. We've probably called that in two years in comparison to this. So four times we requested addition assistance

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to uh the burrow as well as outgoing mutual aid. It's been probably about a dozen times that Horton has responded to as far as Butler. So you can see where we're going with the departments. Our secondary assistant chief units which uh gratefully were put in service recently have successfully reduced us by six

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calls which would have been stress to not only equipment our members. So there is some evidence that this is going to work and we hope that it'll continue to do that and reduce the call volume and save us from putting the uh bigger trucks on the road and getting our members to have to respond to the firehouses.

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uh for upcoming activity our we're going to push our firefighters to or especially our officers do fire ground drill instructors. This came up at a county meeting that there's some indication that the state's about to launch amongst other things a plethora of new requirements for not only fire and EMS. It's going to be a very

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stressful period for fire. But their answer is pretty stable in this one. They say, you know, you're training your younger members who gave you the certification to do that. Really, it's just experience. And that's experience in a liability suit does not I think I'm right does not protect us very well. So we're going to push them through the

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certification. A fire ground instructor which is a state required certification. Not required but it's a state process. We think it's going to be required in 2027. We're going to get it done now. So our guys are going to start in May. It'll be a couple nights uh that they'll be out of town doing that. They'll take care of it and we'll go ahead and get that

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certification in place so it protects the barrel and our members going forward. are granted money for the swiftwater and flood water awareness and operational as well as technical level. The process is finally beginning. I don't think we're able to draw any money at a Department of Homeland Security yet, but the money has been, you know,

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it's guaranteed to the bureau. It's approximately, I think Vincent, I think it's 23 or $26,000 that's coming into the barrel for a grant. And majority of my members, including some from Glenrock and possibly even Ridgwood, will be parlaying with us to make this a program that would be beneficial to not only us,

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it'll teach us about swift water, flood water operations and keep us a lot safer when we have the incidents that can that go forward. Once the building is vacated at PS Motors, we hope to go ahead and use that for at least several training events. And I think the cooperation from the incoming WAWA was there. We hope to

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continue with that. And on behalf of the department, I'd like to thank our ladies auxiliary because they've been called out more this year than probably ever before. Our Hawthorne EMS, police department, and OEM have been tremendous. You guys, Burough administration, the mayor, we've we've been pretty lucky to have the

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cooperation that we've get, and I'm proud of that, and I'm happy we continue to do that. Unfortunately, and one of the things I have to report to you that I've been talking to some of our council people about is the phone. It was probably one of the worst decisions I've ever seen the state of New Jersey make and it continues to be something they're

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continuing to do. Uh we gave up 240 gallons of foam. We had no choice. If we didn't give it up, the burrow would have been on hook for it. It would have probably been over $30,000 to take this foam away. They took it away. Bill from DPW and DPW members were able to take it down to Lawrenceville, New Jersey and dispose of it. It was

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taken away from the state and going to problem is when you took this away if we had a tanker that rolled over on 208 a fuel tanker we have nothing to put it out with. Nobody in the entire state does except for the airports which are not allowed to leave premise because if they leave premise it's a POS

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environment. It leads to a massive cleanup and they're not going to do it. So the airport tenders are no longer being dispatched for any kind of significant fuel incident. So, we're kind of blind. If we have a fuel tanker, god forbid, go over on 208 or any place in town, even a tank car that's coming

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through on a rail, we really have nothing to defend it with besides water. And that's going to take a lot of activity to try and curtail that. And this is a complaint that all the chiefs in the county. It was a lengthly meeting going over the department or echoing with the division of fire as to why this

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happened. They can't even answer it. Somebody pulled the trigger from the state level, Governor Murphy to Governor Cheryl, and they just continue with it. And here we are. We have we're blind. We're basically have nothing to work with on any kind of fuel type fire. So it's at this point the green foams that are coming out are basically New York

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City tested them. They're trash. So they're not really working to the ability we are. So until we find something an alternative in the industry, we're kind of in a bad way. So it's just an FYI. But all the POS foam has been removed. It would have cost us a significant amount of money if we

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would have kept it, which we're not in a position to do. >> And that's it. I appreciate everybody's help. And the goal is to Mr. Wki as well. >> You'll have the same problem if an electric vehicle catches fire, won't you? >> Well, there's no way you're putting out an electric vehicle. I mean, people have talked odors. You can get this tool, that tool,

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>> a lithium battery fire, which possibly something to do with Westervelt. We don't know that yet, but >> uh they're catastrophic. As you can see some of the videos on YouTube, New York City is not available to ordinance them. So, we're not going to be able to ordinance them. So, we're kind of they're trapped as well. As technology

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goes on, I hope somebody will come up with something that can act as a a battery deterrent. But once a car fire catches a lithium battery car fire, it's going to burn until it burns out. Most departments are taking it to a safe place with the rescue truck. They'll drag it and let water flow around it. So they'll have an exposure problem and the

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car will burn out up to four hours. So it's >> Joe, what did they do with the train that tipped over in North Burton the other day? >> Uh minimal fire department response, no leaks for Yeah, we've had that happen here. Oh god. Several years back by Premo, two cars went over, >> turned over. >> Truthfully, it's really long as there's

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nothing burning or nothing leaking, it's it's the railroad doesn't even bother. >> Does the railroad help us at all? >> They will. Yeah, they will. I've never had a problem with railroad. We're getting railroad training right now. We're going through another process of railroad training, including we're getting ready to do some railroad training with the New Jersey Transit cuz on the New Jersey Transit cars coming

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for 27, our lithium battery packs underneath each passenger car. The thought process on it is brilliant. And I really have to agree with that. If you're going through the Port Authority subway or the tunnels and you have a failure of an engine and that the car shut down, they have batteries for up to eight hours. So they can keep the cars

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lit, keep everybody safe without the electric running through, of course, the rails. So it's a pretty cool idea as far as that, but it's also a lithium battery pack underneath the size of a Volkswagen. So we're working with them, scheduling some training with them and we're actually doing some CSX New York

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Susana on on uh training with their rail services as well cuz rail for us what comes through Horththornne is pretty it's on the way to Butler it's pretty ugly stuff. >> The oil trains that come through here >> they notify us when they do that. It's very rare but they when they have a diversion upstate they actually will

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call us. We'll get a phone call through fire department actually the chief's line and they'll tell us that the car is coming through. If you ever seen them come through, they have security on the rail almost every crossing. There's somebody out there like this and they're watching that car go by or that train go by. Uh I haven't seen it in quite a

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while now. So it's I'm told we might be getting a super locomotive coming through town. We're not sure yet. Mr. Boo knows that. And that's that would be a treat for Horththorn to see this monstrous locomotive being transferred. But that's not a hazard. That's just something to look at. But we're we're trying the best

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to to stay ahead of the curve with training. You know, it is unfortunately it seems like the Division of Fire is adding time to our firefighter one program, which is our new entry from 400 hours to 420. The argument at the county meeting was how much can you push our members to before they say, "I'm not

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going to do this." >> And it isn't a volunteer thing by any means. There's pay chiefs there and they're furious like, "How do I pay for the 20 extra hours of overtime?" I agree. Nobody comes up with the funding for this. These our officers have to go what's called hazmat incident command

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which is a four-week program and there's no funding for it. And I I say if you're going to require it, you need to fund it. But it's that's I'm arguing against a hurricane as though it's not working out too well. So we're sending our guys. We're taking care of the process. >> Thank you, Joe. >> Again, thank you guys. Appreciate >> I have a question or two if you don't

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mind. We started this conversation. We didn't get to finish it. So the PE the foam that was always used and even though 208 we all know is a state highway but it runs through our town. So of course if there's a emergency we're going to respond first. >> Why did they remove it?

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>> It's POS. It's all POS phone. >> So they remove it without giving there's no one has come on no one's created a supplement. So they've rendered every fire department arm and and legless to put out a fire. The the thing with this

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is 1% of POS entry into the soil is from firefighting. 1% >> that's it's it's an insane number. I mean clothing everything you wear has POS in it. I mean it's >> the running is like our foam was the detriment. It's not it's really not. It

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doesn't get used. >> I think we used foam once in the past 20 years and that was a minimal amount for uh when we had the machine shop like went down on Fifth Avenue. >> But the one time you need it and you don't have it, right? >> We don't have it. The new foam is being tested, the green foam they call it. New York City has been testing it adamantly

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and they're finding nothing works with any veroxity. It doesn't stay put. So the fire just regenerates and that's a huge problem. Now your firefighters approaching on everything just regenerates and you have fire. So >> we'll be talking about this for many many conversations. I our biggest conversation moving forward was going to

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be about you know the charging stations that are mandatory at all new developments yet there's no mandates. How far does it have to be from the residential building? This is what we're going to reach out to you for. And we're listening to you, Joe, because you run

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an outstanding department. Um, it just is. Can I swear on microphone? Nope. It's crappy what you have to deal with. And um, you know, um, I thought the worst thing you had to deal with was the batteries that can't be put out. you know, if you know, haven't I'm not pro

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or against anything, but if you have a a car, an electric car that's on fire, my understanding was you the best you could do is put it into a metal container and let it burn out for 2 or 3 days. Correct. >> Heck, if it's 4 hours, it seems to be an improvement, but there's nothing you can do otherwise. >> Well, the industry is actually

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thankfully the motor vehicle industry and I think it's uh Kia and Hyundai are leading the way. They're coming up with a lot of salser where they have packs that are encased in gel and the incident of fire is starting to reduce itself and Tesla's another one. They're starting to lead the way in finding ways to protect

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that battery pack from catching fire. But it's going to happen eventually. I think gasoline engines still have a lot more fire capability than a battery pack. But but the POS foam situation, it was really in POS and firefighters gear is another thing they threw at us at this meeting in 2028. All gear has to be

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POS free. We have a 100 firefighters in Burough Horththorn. You all know it's $4,000 a set. Where does that money come from? It's not going to be granted. You know, the these ideas that somebody's thrown out there, they're not being thought out properly. And I think there's going to

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come a point in time I'll reach out to the mayor and administrator and we start to fire off letters complaining from little old bar of Horththornne. But if all say county does it, all Bergen County does it starts to make an impact. So >> we agree, Joe. And and as I remind our residents all the time, not every town has one fire department. We have five

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and they do it because they care. We will continue to work with you um to help as much as we can. And thank goodness we have some representation now at the Senate level and at legislation. But I am my rosecolored glasses have been falling off and I ran over them

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with my car. Nothing happens quickly. It's years to get something positive done. A benign thing. So, um, you will get more accomplished with us, um, your mayor, uh, the administration and the council because we all live here and care. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you for the communication.

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>> Thank you very much. >> Got it. Thanks, guys. >> Oh, sorry. >> Anyone else wish to be heard? >> Seeing no one, I entertain a motion to close the public uh portion of the meeting. >> Motion by Bruce uh uh Bennett, second by

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Mey. All in favor? >> I. Our next council meeting is Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 7 p.m. >> Have a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion by Millie, second by says so. All in favor? I. >> Motion carries. We're adjourned.