Yeah. >> Switching it up tonight. >> Can I switch it up then? >> Okay, we're good. Yep. >> Okay. At 7 o'clock, I call tonight's council meeting to order for March 4th, 2026.
Roll call. >> Bennett >> here. >> Leosa >> here. Millie >> here. >> Sasso here. Skiara >> here. >> Waki >> here. >> Matthews >> here. Please rise and join us in the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the annual schedule of regular meetings. here for adopted and posted on public bulletin board at the
municipal building posted on the official burough website and emailed to the Herald news the record in the gazette and all persons who requested the mailing of such since November 17th 2025 approval of minutes we have none this evening public comment open meeting to
the public if anyone desires to be heard on agenda items come forward state your name seeing no might entertain a motion to close the public portion of the meeting. So moved. >> Oh, okay.
>> Is this on agenda stuff or a subject? Okay, then come on forward. Hi, my name is Kathy Mazaka and I just wanted to ask um if with the the way they're talking about the Lafayette um they're going to put two two more
buildings there and more people. I'm just curious about how it's going to work with um the congestion of the streets. That's my main concern. It I just Yes. I'm just wondering how the
congestion with the streets are going to how they're going to manage with having all of these housing and also um the um the if they're going to be parking. Is it going to be parking
um somewhere where the people can park? All the parking is going to be on site for them and their guests. Um there will be parking studies that come forward. You know what what we're proving tonight is the plan to say this is what we would like to go there. There it's not a
particular floor plan that has specifics. You know, we've seen conceptual plans to this point, but >> traffic uh water flow things like that will be >> submitted for review by the engineers and uh and us as well. So this is really
uh writing the recipe before baking the cake. >> Okay. I Well, I because I live on Arlington between on Arlington and War Burton and we get a lot of traffic already. >> Yes. >> And that's one of my main concern is uh
the parking is terrible and that's one of my concerns and then just trying to get around even onto Lafayette sometimes is hard. Um, that's my one of my concerns. My other concern was So then this is I'm going ahead of time, I
guess. >> Okay. Um, my other concern was the um the schools and will they be able to fulfill the amount of children that might come in >> these that property has not come to us
to tell us uh >> unlock yet over here. >> Correct. This is just the plan that we're laying out. >> Okay. But I will tell you the property that came before us for pan chemical um they have their experts that say based on the number of one and
twobedroom apartments which are the bulk of what's there and the amount of the rent the not affordable ones um they typically have four to six kids in a complex u and >> I don't know if I agree but that's the
testimony our attorney has done things in north tale for them and they said that they've pretty much come in in the numbers of what's been presented. I'm skeptical too because when Lafayette Hills was built there was a little more kids than but they said that was because
they were condos and there were two three bedrooms. You're going to have a family live in that. Whereas if you have a one or two bedroom and you're paying $4,500 a month for it, it's really not something a family's going to pay for. They're going to go get a house at that point for the amount you're spending.
>> Okay. It was just so that I am I guess jumping the gun on >> Yes, there will be uh traffic studies and all that with children generation. >> That's one of my biggest concerns and parking because they are parking. There's we have a lot of parking on
Arlington Avenue that is um they're they're all over the place parking and you know it's for Carlos. I I don't have any problem with businesses or anything like that, but I don't know if you add
more to the area here. It might, you know, create a lot more parking problems. >> That was the problem. That's what I'm feeling. >> But all parking for the residential units will be on site. The first floor that they're talk about for the where the building is at the moment will be
commercial below. And obviously, you can park in front just like you park in front of any store on Lafayette Avenue. >> Okay. All right. Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> Anytime. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wish to be heard? Seeing no one, I obtain a motion to
close the public portion of the meeting. >> So moved. Motion by Skier, second by WKI. All in favor? I. >> Motion carries. Adoption of ordinances. And we got a bunch of these. Ordinance number 2381-26, an ordinance approving the redevelopment
plan for One Washington Avenue, block 28.01, 01 lot one. I'll now open the meeting to the public. If anyone desires to be heard regarding this ordinance, please raise your hand and be recognized. Come forward to the microphone, state your name. Seeing no one, I entertain a motion this public hearing on this ordinance be
closed and it be resolved that this ordinance was posted on the official internet burrow website and at the clerk's office in the said municipal building to the members of the general public who shall request the same. Have a motion. So move. >> Motion by WKI. >> Second. >> Second by Leosa.
discussion. Obviously, this is the plan for the redevelopment of the pan chemical site. >> Well, it's on my old business, but I guess I could revisit it. Passing the ordinance for the redevelopment, the company that's choosing to do the
redevelopment. They done with the soil movement. >> Um, I don't know that, but it's not really tied to this particular discussion, >> right? But I can tell you that I'm not aware of them having done anything. Vince, I don't know if you have anything. No,
>> I have reached out to uh the property owner and trying to get information on that and I have had nothing but crickets so far. So, I have to I'm going to have to go on to the next step of >> Would we want to hold off on No.
>> No. I don't think I heard I heard Raina. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I would say no. We we that's not an option. But um I will say, you know, if this is adopted this evening, um I have no problem reaching out to the attorney and to the developer
indicating, look, okay, you have an approval to go forward. Now, you need to do something for us here. I have no problem doing that because they still have to deal with us on a lot of other issues including a site planer review in you know so they need to do their end.
>> Yeah. This is just the recipe. >> Got it. >> As if there is no person cooking yet, >> right? This is our obligation and we just want to get it done and we've settled with him. But all bets are off
at at the end of this meeting. full force needs to be done and taken care of at that property. >> You need it up. >> I'm on team Rain on that one. >> Yeah. >> Wait, hold on. I I didn't get my
question. I wanted to I would like to make it crystal clear that this developer purchased the property with that open permit, which we know is not the normal procedure. So, they assume the responsibility for it. They're not doing us a favor. That's their
responsibility. So, they should have been doing it and they must do it. And then, yes, of course, if they don't comply, all bets are off. >> They did cut down a tree. >> They've done a lot of things.
Whether it's appropriate or not is a big question. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Paul. >> WKI, >> still yes. >> Skiara, >> yes. Sasso, >> yes. >> Millie, >> yes. >> Leosa, >> yes.
>> Bennett, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Ordinance number 2382-26, an ordinance approving the redevelopment plan for 471-491 Lafayette Avenue, block 131, lots 3, uh, lots 4, 5, 6, and 7, and blocks 132,
lots and through eight. >> Now, we have bugs now. >> Oh. I now open a meeting to the public. If anyone desires to be heard regarding this ordinance, please raise your hand to be recognized. Come forward to the microphone. State your name.
>> Seeing no one, I entertain a motion that the public hearing on this ordinance be closed, that it be resolved that the same uh ordinance was posted on the official internet burrow website and that the clerk's office in the said municipal building to the members of the general public who shall request the same. Have a motion.
Motion >> motion by Leosa >> Sass second. But I I do have a question before we pass it if I can. >> Yep. >> With rel because I'm still, you know, dare I say learning. These ordinances are I'm going to use the phrase broadstroke.
It's not I know why we have to do it, but it's not um locking in any numbers with reference to these two properties. Am I correct? Well, this is our plan that we want what we want there, not for any particular person developer just like
the last one. Even though it was developer questions, they really were impertinent to this ordinance. >> That's what I wanted to understand. Thank you so much. I'll second. >> Roll call. >> Bennett. >> Yes.
>> Leosa. >> Yes. >> Millie, >> yes. >> Sasso, yes. Skiara, >> yes. >> Waki, >> yes. Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Zoning ordinance number 2383-26, an ordinance to repeal and replace
chapter 540 zoning article uh 24 or affordable housing and the code of the bur of Horththornne. And now open the meeting to the public. If anyone desires to be heard regarding this ordinance, please raise your hand to be recognized. Come forward to the microphone. State your name. Seeing no one, I entertain a motion of
the public hearing on this ordinance be closed and that it be resolved that the ordinance was placed posted on the official internet uh burrow website and that the clerk's office in the said municipal building to members of the general public who shall request the same. Have a motion.
This ordinance is basically revising our affordable housing because they changed the percentages from 15 to 20 for rental or uh lease and basically they wrote a a master uh ordinance that basically said
put your name here and replace your old one. Yeah, this is the right this is the DCA model ordinance which they are encouraging every municipality to adopt and those who don't will have a non-compliant ordinance of
>> that's a nice word encouraging. >> They're encouraging. >> Pretty much everybody has to do this for the residents information. >> Yeah. >> It was difficult to explain at the planning board last night of what the difference was. There's not a lot of differences, but they shuffled the deck and they
>> Yeah. >> You know, and I'm sure John said the same. >> Most we came up with was the percentages are now equal. >> That's the biggest substantive difference. Everything else is words, >> word games. Somebody made money doing it.
>> So, can I have a motion? >> So, move second. >> Motion by Scar. Second by WKI. Any discussion further than what we just had? Roll call. >> WKI. >> Yes. >> Skiara, >> yes. >> Sasso, >> yes. >> Millie, >> yes.
>> Leosa, >> yes. >> Bennett, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Zoning ordinance number 2384-26. An ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 540 zoning ordinance of the Burough of Fortthornne, Pate County, New Jersey, amending various sections
regarding affordable housing. I'll now open a meeting to the public. If anyone desires to be heard regarding this ordinance, please raise your hand to be recognized. Come forward to the microphone. State your name. Uh, this one's pretty much the same as the other one, but I don't really know the difference. >> Yeah, this one, uh, Council President,
is the local ordinance sections. We have a couple little sections we're fixing. We have a townwide ordinance that says anybody who develops five units or more of housing has to include an affordable unit for each
five. Uh it originally said 15% for rental, 20% for purchase. Now it's 20% across the board. We are clarifying that on Royal and Grand Avenue. Again, same thing 1520 to straight out 20. And then
the two stories that are permitted in the B2 over a storefront, same thing, 20% set aside. Um so that's really the gist of this ordinance. So, we matched up the local ordinance to match the
state statute. >> There you go. Have a motion. >> Donald jump. >> Motion. >> Motion by Leosa. >> Second. >> Second by Skira. You >> can tell we're not too excited about this >> discussion. Yeah.
>> Thankful. >> Definitely. >> Bennett. >> Yes. Leosa, >> yes. >> Millie, >> yes. >> Sasso, >> yes. >> Skiara, >> yes. >> WKI, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries.
>> There was not a lot of excitement last evening regarding these four ordinances at the planning board to find it in consistent with our master plan and state regulations. But when it was explained that we're basically um are being forced to do this and we really don't have a choice.
Um, they sent the letter of approval of consistency or non not inconsistent with the master plan. That's why we're voting on it tonight. Ordinance number 2385-26, an ordinance to further amend and supplement chapter 444, streets and
sidewalks, article 5, snow and ice removal, section 414-14, uh, 444-14, removal required to include removal of snow and ice around fire hydrants located upon adjoining lands. It's disappointing that we even have to
have this ordinance that >> you live by a fire hydrant, you clear it out. Um, common sense. It's the life you save could be yours. So, now open the meeting to the public. Anyone desires to be heard regarding this ordinance, please raise your hand and be recognized. Come forward to the microphone and state your name.
>> Was there a motion? >> Not yet. >> What? >> No. >> We're public. >> Sorry. >> You jumped the gun, sir. >> No, I'm sorry. >> That's okay. I was going to say I was going to say because you made this this statement you made.
>> Well, I I couldn't pass it up. I'm sorry. >> I get to read it. I get to chime in. >> Yeah. Okay. Got it. >> I'll now open a meeting to the public. If anyone desires to be heard, raise your hand to be recognized. >> Seeing none, I entertain a motion that the public hearing on this ordinance was closed and resolved. This ordinance was
posted on the official internet burrow website and at the clerk's office in the municipal building to the members of the general public who shall request the same. Have a motion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Skier, second by WKI. I have a question. Shoot. What determines how
much we have to clean? I mean the hydro is there circle. >> Three foot. It's spelled out >> 36 inches. >> 36 inch circle. Is it in here? I didn't see it. >> Yeah. 3 foot radius. >> Yeah. So we going to measure that. >> I think we'll take 28 but you do some things
>> right. >> Uh discussion. >> Yeah. >> Um I know we have to do some clarification on simplification on the some of the language. Yeah. >> Uh, Michael, could you clear that up for us? >> One of the things we discussed at ordinance committee yesterday. Yesterday,
>> yeah, >> was I forget my running together. Um, is that the way the ordinance is worded, it says you can't throw snow in the street from your sidewalk, from your driveway, from your driveway apron, from your car,
from wherever. And so the thought was, why would we have such a ridiculous definition instead of simply saying no throwing snow into the street from your property, period, which would simplify
the ordinance and take out all the whatifs, maybe buts, and what have you. It's my estimation that that is a clearer definition of what the intent was all along. It does not require
readvertising, renoticing. And so the notice uh the ordinance as it presents to you is to simply say that no snow in the street from your property. And so so that would be the amendment to the
ordinance to and that would include from your car, Joe. I know that was one you had. Everybody had a particular piece of their property, but why not just say the property? >> It's prohibited to throw snow in the street. That that's basically where you go. >> Okay. So,
>> and not on the fire hydrant and definitely not on the fire. >> I guess the way I'm perceiving what you're saying is that, you know, you would think the person who's parked on the street or in their driveway drives it out. You're going to go after the person, but on my street, we get a lot
of people who whose house isn't, but I'm thinking now property as in your car is your property >> from your property. So, if the snow comes from your property, can't put in the street. Now, there will still be the provision in there. You can't back your car out of the driveway and clear it off
into the street >> where where if I if I live on Lafayette and I park on Elberon A, I'm supposed to shovel it onto the person's yard? >> No. If if the you're parked on the street, it doesn't cover it. This is if you are parked on your property,
>> your land. >> You can't back your car into >> My point is a lot of the cars that park on my street don't live on my street. They live on Lafayette and May. So, they're going to shovel their snow onto my property. >> Well, they have to put their snow somewhere. I mean, there's nothing you
can do about the fact that if a car is legally parked on the street, they can't operate the car unless they clear the snow off it. >> Yeah. But they'll push it into the grass in between the >> Can I just make Maybe I can clarify this a little bit. The purpose of this is not to put snow in the roadway where the
cars are driving. That's the purpose. >> So, we're trying to make sure we don't create another safety hazard uh a hazard for vehicles. now. So, yes, I mean, even when cuz I clear two two other famil
family's homes besides my own and I throw the snow on the grass if it's my grass or it's their grass or whatever it is. So, I'm not throwing it on the sidewalk. I'm not throwing in the street. >> So, just kind of be conscious not to put it in the roadway.
>> Understood. But again, this is from the private property, your property. It's not going to cover your situation, Joe, where you say somebody's parked on Elberon and they clear the snow, some into the street, some into your property. >> No, because that's what the problem is,
and that's what I brought up last meeting is that all these cars that don't belong on, they belong on Elberon. They're allowed to park there, but they dump the snow because they figure, I guess I can't throw it onto this person. I feel like putting a sign. Feel free to put your snow on my property because I
don't want it in the road in front of my house. Yeah, I don't know how we would regulate that one. That will not that's not covered by this ordinance. >> Okay. Roll call. >> As as it is amended. Correct.
>> It is amended. Yes. Thank you. >> Wii. >> Yes. >> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Sasso. Yes. Me. >> Yes. >> Leosa. I really don't know. I'm going to abstain. I just don't necessarily agree.
I don't necessarily agree doing this. I think we need to do education before we start putting an ordinance in and then expecting. It's been a long time since we've had a lot of snow and uh I just I think this is
just maybe a little extreme. Okay. So, right now we abain. Abstain. >> Abstain. Thank you. >> Bennett. >> No. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries.
>> Old business. Joe will start your way. >> Thank you. Uh, vehicles parked on 85 Wag are still there. Any update? >> It's in my report. >> Excellent. Thank you. Valley National Bank Fairlon property. >> Joe, I forgot about it. >> Okay, >> I will. >> I'll take it.
>> I'll call him tomorrow. I'm sorry. That's all I have is old. Mike, no. Old Raina, >> uh, not tonight. >> Bruce, >> no. >> Anna Marie, >> nothing tonight. Thank you. >> Dominic, >> I'm okay. >> How about new business? >> Nope. >> And Marie,
>> nothing. >> Bruce, >> no. >> Raina, >> um, just want to really make a shout out to our new OEM coordinator, Matt. Um, he's really done a lot of good job coordinating with all our first responders and just really communicating with the public. um with the Facebook
and the website. So, I just want to give a shout out that um I think that was a good um change with the coordinator and just more responsive and just really um engaging with the public and with us. So, thank you,
>> Michael. Not tonight. Show >> it's old and it's new. Old the tree the signs for 204 Wag on the exit to main street side in your report. They no they were given uh a notice the
day after the not the last council meeting but the one before that. Um and what the uh Jerry's brother's name >> No, that's his son. Um
his Jerry's brother was going to handle it. He was going to call traffic safety and they would put the sign back up. Uh we'll follow up with it tomorrow, but they did get a notice from property maintenance and a notice from traffic. >> Excellent. And then the new part of that
is that the only one sign that was still remaining got knocked down by the guys who were taking the trees down on Wagon May. There was only one left that I guess they didn't take down and it got knocked down by the uh whoever's taking the trees down at the pool.
>> Ashund ash bund. They're actually taken. I thought we >> They No, we they took them down at no cost to us. >> Okay. Well, I know it's in my They butchered them >> after. I have it in my report. Jody sent me a report. You're going to love it. >> Okay. Can't wait. Anything else? >> No, sir.
>> Then I will pass and I'll send it to the administrative agenda. >> Thank you, Mr. President. There was a meeting here with our shade tree commission, our arborist Kevin Alberta Alberta, our burough administrator Vince, our arborist uh the
arborist from Ashbon PSENG and its foreman PSEG vegetative engineer Emily Mourin uh to review the trees on Wagawa Road and the trees throughout the entire burrow. Ashbun was a was asked to
take down the trees on Wagawa Road and will ask Kevin DS to come and grind the stumps. Our arborist Kevin Alberta will follow up daily with the with with Ashbun to see how they are doing and Kevin has the authority to stop them at
any time and get back to the administration if there are any problems. I am proud to announce that Hawthorne has one again once again been awarded the 2025 healthy town up and cominging designation from the New Jersey Healthc
Care Quality Institute. During the course of 2026, we will be working towards raising our destination to a healthy town as is as I am adding programs throughout the border through our board of health to our residents
young and old partnering partnering with Valley Hospital Community Health Program and St. Joe's Medical Center. And I have more details next month. Kelly Ruffle Sake County has asked me for a meeting to meet with me later this
month as she wants to bring us up to date for the proposed enhancement of the north end of Gothbrook Park and I will report back after the meeting. Phase two of our hometown heroes program is accepting applications through this
Friday, March 6th. Our website has all the information. New Jersey League of Municipalities invites high school juniors and seniors to participate in the 32nd annual Lewis Bay 2 Future Municipal Leader Scholarship Competition. Essays must be submitted to
me by Monday, March 9th. Information can be found on our website or the League of Municipalities website. We will hold a blood drive in memory of firefighter George Lauder of Horththorn Fire Company number two on Wednesday,
March 11th from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 10 Lwellen Avenue. Please call 1800 9332566 to make an appointment. Hawthorne senior residents. The annual Hawthorne senior dinner and a show will
take place on Thursday, April 23rd at 5:00 PM. Horththornne High School will present a dress rehearsal of Anything Goes. Thorne senior residents, you are also invited to Lincoln School dress rehearsal of Beauty and the Beast in the
high school auditorium on Thursday, April 30th at 6:00 p.m. Please re please RSVP to Lori or Burough Clerk at 973-4274493. In speaking with our property maintenance inspector regarding 85 Wagore Road, the approval for the
certificate of compliance was issued in 64 2013 to allow 24 cars to be parked. There are no approvals for any other cars to be parked in the lot next to the adjoining lot. So the other parking lot
on Gal Road was sent a notice of all the vehicles to be removed or summones will be issued. Now I'll turn it over to our attorney, Michael Pasqual. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, want to report on two matters. It be a little lengthy, but
so be it. Um, it's really the opposite ends of the spectrum. It's what we as elected and appointed officials have to deal with. I'll call them the threats from without and the threats from within. Um, you tonight adopted the
ordinances that finalized our affordable housing settlements for the fourth round of affordable housing. Um, on your agenda is also a resolution for your consideration and hopeful adoption, which is the endorsement of the housing
element and fair share plan, which the planning board approved last night. Uh like many unfunded mandates and statemandated actions, everything we've done with affordable housing is forced upon us. We
don't get a vote or a choice. Uh we have obligations we have to meet as a municipality and sometimes we have to make choices that we don't wish we have to make. But as an elected body, all of you have made choices to do what's best
with the burrow, even if it doesn't sit well with you. For that, I commend you because uh the town will be immunized from developer lawsuits for the next 10 years, and that's a good thing. Uh we
did approve the property by the train station, the former pan chemical site. Uh, in that case, the developer had the proverbial gun to our heads, which was the force of the courts behind him. At the same time, we made lemon aid from
lemons. We took the property and we said, "Fine, but let's do some smart things here." We insisted that a four-story building be at least 8 ft into the ground so that its appearance will be that of a three-story building, which is much better in that
neighborhood. We insisted that the developer restripe, repave and reconfigure the commuter parking lot, which it adjoins to make that a more attractive, more functional uh part of our town and also to get some cars off
the road because again that is a concern whenever you develop. Are you going to create as uh Kathy said traffic and parking issues in the neighborhood? So that was a smart thing. We smartly said to them, "We're concerned about your
parking. So, you're going to lease additional spaces from us up the street to make sure there's spillover parking because while we all know that the RSIs requirements may or may not be a good thing, they often don't work. And
because of that, in practical experience, we're insisting on additional parking, which the developers agreed to. You're going to see a mall, if you would, a 25- ft wide entrance way
to the development that will tie in to our train station. We focused on a kiss and drop lane, so to speak, so that people getting picked up and dropped off at the train station and in fact safely be dropped off out of the lane of
traffic and in a separate lane. All of these things were examples of this council, this administration taking a state mandate and making it work to the best you could for the people. What we're doing on Lafayette
Avenue is better because we don't have the same kind of threats. We had fair share housing that we had to deal with and we did negotiate with them, but the bottom line is we've created an opportunity for senior housing, something we as a community really need.
And so uh we are creating that opportunity. We're extending our NPP district. We're extending the development. We've seen great development. Look at what they did at Villa Rosa and the uh pep place. All the places across the street. A facelift
that makes the place look so much better. Carlos Bagels. Um what a nice addition to our community. So we're seeing people develop. We're hoping to continue that development with some retail, with some foot traffic to
support our stores, um all the kinds of things that we do want in our community. Again, taking a situation that we have to deal with and making the best that we can. So, I do commend all of you for the hard work you've put into this. Nobody
feels that the way the affordable housing statutes are created are fair. They put too much stress on a community like ours that's fully developed to integrate housing where we already have all manner of housing running from very
expensive housing to much lesser expensive housing. It is hard to find housing. I get that. But to force 10 pounds of groceries into the 5B bag is not the right answer. Uh we've made our voices known, but you've done very well.
So I congratulate all of you uh for your hard work. I thank John Sabbo uh our planner who was exceptional and worked with us through his retirement which his wife is not thrilled with but he stayed with us. Uh our burough clerk Glory
who's also our housing coordinator and liaison for her tremendous efforts. Jim Papmos, um Andy Koh, who sat in with the planning board, uh really stepped up while Sophie's on maternity leave, and Sophie quarterback from home as well.
So, uh a great effort. So, thank you to all of you. On the less positive and the local threat, if you will, um we did try a two-day trial with uh Phil Spoiled with the atrocious condition of his
property. It was brought to the superior court. We tried the case. Judge Barnes issued an opinion. Um, it unfortunately did not go in our favor. Mr. Spoiler's case was dismissed.
He sued the burrow trying to claim that he was entitled to rubbish back that was removed from his property. That was dismissed. But our affirmative claim to allow us to enter his property to remove
trash and debris was denied. Now, what the judge did and and it's important to understand this. Um the judge felt very much that this had not been ordered by a superior court judge in this state before. And that's a true statement. It
had not. And while he's not afraid to stick his neck out and make law, he did feel that this kind of decision is better to come from an appellet court, from the appellet division. Um, he did not say, "Please appeal me." But he did
indicate in his decision, I would have no real concern if a higher authority decided this is appropriate. I do believe this is something we should appeal. I know the mayor has already expressed to me his desire for that and
I will ask all of you for your confidence and vote that we continue this fight. Um I'm going to just tell you what the judge said in his opinion. He said there was an accumulation of drunk pieces of broken fence pallets
appliances indoor furniture assorted scrap metal and all manner of assorted debris. He called the condition highly problematic, unsightly. And when he looked at this property, when he stood across the street, he said the view from
the driveway was appalling. That was his actual word, appalling. It's an appalling condition. Unfortunately, he did not feel that he had the authority to allow us to enter private property to do something about it. I do believe that
the law does support our position. Um, and I have every intention again to ask you for permission to appeal this. I also am encouraged by what he put in his opinion. There is nothing he said in my opinion that stops you from continuing
to issue summones, from stepping up your efforts because it is an unsightly condition. It does not belong in our community. So, we will be redoubling our efforts to again prosecute this matter in our courts. We have some plans for
doing that going forward. And we're not going to stop until Mr. Spoiler cleans his property or we clean it for him. So, that is all I have to say on the subject. I'm not happy with the outcome, but we're not done. And that's all I have. Mayor,
>> thank you, Michael. And now we'll turn it over to our engineer, Joe Burn. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Uh the report for this uh session isn't um especially long. Um cold weather recently isn't conducive to making
progress on projects that you know need to go into different stages of construction. But with the warmer weather coming along soon, uh I think it's supposed to be 70 next week. Uh hopefully we'll start seeing some real movement on a few of the projects. But
for now, uh, the 2425 local aid, uh, project that concerns, uh, Hawthorne Avenue, Westervel, North Watch, Grand View, uh, test pits were performed on Grand View, North Wong for the guardrail installations in the spring and, uh,
punch lists have been generated and paving along Cawthorne and Westervelt will take place this spring. And the Wagar field one bleacher project. Um, weather has previously delayed the project start. Um, but a meeting is
being coordinated for early next week to get construction going on that. That should be a relatively quick project to go through. Um, bleachers, I believe, are due uh early next week to arrive on site. Um, so there shouldn't be any waiting on
those. Um, and that concludes my report. Mayor, >> thank you. And now I'll turn it over to our administrator, Vincent Cruso. >> Thank you, Mayor. First on for tonight's introduction is the uh 2026 salary ordinance. I just wanted to let
everyone know that the numbers you are looking at to the right of the employees title are a maximum range of salary, not necessarily the employees actual 2026 salary. that is set by payroll change forms
which are reviewed and signed by me and then go to finance. So just as everybody might look at it and you see a large number to the right that we had not discussed that is a range. It is not their actual salary. A representative uh from Millennium was
on site. Uh this is just an update on the LEAP grant for our fiber optics uh coming in on behalf of the Pay County. Um the uh testing was successful um and they will continue to update us on the project as we move forward. The
next step is for them to install the hardware to interface with the uh fiber optics that are being brought from the street to the building. Um my office is currently reviewing our wireless plans to identify any potential
savings. Um, we had a meeting to discuss our various options with another carrier just yesterday and are awaiting quotes, but we anticipate some significant savings over our current pricing simply because um the plans and equipment uh
haven't been upgraded or modified for years. So, we're on some really old plans that are actually um the carrier is charging us per minute for some cellular and tech services, which is ridiculous. Um, so we're going to be hopefully uh
once we get the actual numbers, I'll let everybody know about that and we're going to switch over to a different carrier. Um, had a meeting schedule. I have a meeting scheduled with our risk manager um to review our claims and the GIF updates. We also wanted to to intend to discuss
uh if there are any options out there for cost savings regarding uh the health benefits plans. Um, I had a meeting with our pool manager and assistant pool manager yesterday. Um, we're looking I'm sorry, we're looking forward to roll out of a
new um, web-based membership system and application platform. Um, this information will be sent out within the next few weeks as we are nearing spring. And lastly, uh we have we are about to
contract with Iris Environmental who will be testing the entire uh burrow hall for potential lead asbestous and air quality within the next month or two. That's all I have. Mayor, >> thank you. And now we'll turn it over to
the uh council if you have any questions for us. >> Any questions for the administration? Mike? Um uh yes, I do have uh question and statement. Um Michael, with the the summons that we're giving, um the
property on Diamond Bridge, is there any payment to these summons yet? >> I don't think he's ever paid any of the fines that he owes. >> Have we leaned it? >> It's up to municipal court to take those
kinds of steps. I'll look into where we stand with all that. I don't know the answer. >> Yeah, I'd like to know. I mean I mean I know it's it's quite a bit. Maybe we can get an idea of how many summones there are and what the amount is and you know is there another course of action we should be taking. We're just writing
summons. It's it's like tissue paper right now. It doesn't make a difference. Well, the the the one thing that the judge did indicate is we had an order from Judge Abdulhadi which did allow us to go onto the property and remove items
at his cost and expense. So that a a municipal court judge did issue that order. A superior court judge, Judge Sono Stanton found it a valid order. So Judge Barnes literally wrote, "You do have an avenue to continue in this
fight. The downside we had there was Judge Bono Stanton said only remove the things in the picture that was there. And of course he rotates his junk. Um so that you're not sure what's there which day. Gets to play shell game. But we
will do what we have to to address that and including that possibility. We're not going to stop and uh we will have them back in court as well. >> I mean the pressure from from the summons might might push this thing a little bit forward too. Yeah, we're going to come at it from every angle. I
know it's very frustrating to all of you and I know that Mr. Spoiler keeps thinking I'm winning and he's an embarrassment to our community and that he can get away with this. Somehow he
takes joy in doing this. I don't get it. I don't get why anybody would want to be uh doing this to his neighbors, but he doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Michael, there were a lot of summones issued, right? And the
summones are continuing every day. >> Yeah. But >> um with pictures and uh I know I thought in the beginning uh like maybe two or three years ago, I thought some summones were paid
through Prospect Park because that's where the court was. >> Okay. But we can, like Michael said, we can check on that tomorrow with the court and see, you know, here to see what the if anything >> I'd be curious and what's our next call for action maybe to start collecting on
that. That might put some pressure on him, you know, having to clean this up. I I think we have to we have to really address it. Uh the other suggestion I have is, you know, if pictures are important to a judge or magistrate,
maybe we even get we ask the police for drone pictures to be flown over and get to see what they they have that you can't see from the street level. >> I I I I defer to Michael, but I think there's >> there's a problem with a drone on private property,
>> right? We have some concerns about whether or not that is a >> he doesn't own the land, right? He doesn't he doesn't own the air. >> I'm just I'm just telling you there's concerns about it. We'll address it with the police. >> Um yeah, I'll have to get clarification on, you know, who owns the air above
your >> It's It's a very dicey issue. We will discuss it. >> Okay. >> Vince, maybe maybe Vince would know something. >> Yeah, there's um >> Oh, thank you, Vince. >> Yeah, there's uh there's case law um on
these type of things. Um there was a case going way back when drones first came out where um the DEA was using them and they were flying over farms and spotting marijuana fields um and they found that that was a violation of
constitutional right. It was a uh illegal search by using the thing. um that could very well be the same type of situation you're dealing with here is that you can't you can't really um view
nobody owns the air. You're correct. But the camera, you know, we had a drone system when I was in my former municipality. When they're flying to a location, the camera has to be up. It can't be pointed down on the properties as it's going. >> Yeah. But if they went right up on the
county road and took a picture on his property, you could >> Well, you could take you could take the picture, but whether or not it would be admissible as evidence would be would be the problem. >> So, hypothetically, if we had a really tall property maintenance person taking a picture, they're able to get more.
>> If you could see it from if you could see it from the roadway, that's a different story than using something, you know, that's up in the air focus. What so what happens if they got up on I'm just using neighbor roof. >> Yeah. Or they got up on >> the house is for sale next door.
>> There there there's lots of concerns. There's a reported case involving uh I was actually prosecuting the case in the Hawthorne Municipal Court on behalf of Wayne because of a conflict. There's a case out there where the concern was
raised the validity of a search from a neighboring property. There is there are really are concerns about whether or not these constitute unlawful searches. Um and you know as Vinnie said that the case law is out there that makes these
questionable. So >> how many times did Councilwoman Sasso bring up the fact that they got the guy who's taking video? She brought it up like 10 times that the they won't turn off their their their cameras on the front door and that they keep pointing them in the backyard or
the sideyard. Remember that council? >> The problem is illegal search and seizure means the government. The government can't use it powers. A private person uh might be violating your rights in some way, shape or form,
but it's not a constitutional right in the same way it would apply to a government. governments are subject to the constitution that private individuals often are not. So hypothetical I'm not you got my curiosity. I'm sorry.
I apologize everybody. >> No, cuz I'm going to add to it. >> Uh because all right. So if a private citizen decide to do this and we as an elected official say, "Hey, you know, this was shown to us. We didn't go do it. This is out there in public. It's
>> still being used by the entity. But you can't take those pictures. >> No, no, we're not. We didn't take We just They're out there. I'm not saying that. You can't take those pictures from that person who took them and show them in court because you didn't take the pictures.
>> Let's just say we get the pictures. How do we collect? >> No. Mayor Mayor's right about the fact authentic authentication is required. Photographs have to be authenticated. So, unfortunately, All right. I've
beaten this. understand it's >> I'm trying every >> I understand. >> Let's move on. Let's move on. Uh the the only thing I have is I wanted to thank Vinnie. I really appreciate all the followup you given us through our emails. Thank you. It's much appreciated. That's it. Thank you,
>> Raina. Rea. >> Oh, I thought you didn't have anything. >> No, I think I just wanted to ask clearly he has been ticketed. He's got enough to wallpaper this room. How do we collect Well, being ticketed is one thing.
>> You know, we've been you've had success in the courts >> with this same, you know, different different tickets. It's irrelevant. Hold on. >> And how do we collect >> for? You first have to get the judgments. So, we've issued lots of
summones. We've only had a handful of matters tried to a conclusion. will continue to issue more summones and try those to a conclusion. You can't collect until you win. >> So, the ticket is not collectible.
>> Well, you can't just issue a ticket and then collect. You have to you have to go to court. >> Wait a minute. So, somebody gets a ticket so they don't have to pay it unless you go to court. That's what you're saying. You can't collect. >> That's correct. So, if you get a parking violation, you're not guilty until a
judge says you're guilty and then we can collect the money. Um, if you don't show up, >> you're not listening to this meeting because >> But that's the law. I mean, that's that we always you have to go to court >> and failure to appear, >> right? If you have a failure to appear,
you win. >> That changed under reform. So every time we hear 250 tickets have been issued, >> we got nothing. >> No, but the the issuance of the summons is not enough. Then you have to prosecute your case. >> Okay.
>> And then the judge may impose a monetary fine which we can then collect. >> Have we been pursuing? >> We keep issuing them. Yeah. >> Issuing No. No. But h but are we pursuing to get payment or the judgment on the uh >> We are pursuing prosecution. Yes, on
those >> we're Yes. And we're having some additional discussions which I will not be talking about here, but there are additional discussions regarding how to handle the flood of tickets and what we need to do
about it. So, uh, we we'll keep handling it. >> We need him to clean up his property. That would stop it. >> Those are also criminal violations, not civil. >> That's what I was going to ask, Michael. The case we just lost was that a civil >> civil?
>> It was a an attempt to use the civil court in addition to the criminal process. And the judge's ruling was you can keep using the criminal process. That's that's viable. I'm just not seeing a way to make the civil case
happen for you. So when you don't mow your lawn and we send a >> landscaper there to mow it for you, that is a criminal remedy. >> It's a violation of the code. So code violations ultimately
>> that's what it's doing. So can the person who's grasp say I want my grass back? You you didn't have a right to come on my lawn. >> Which is why the court dismissed Mr. spoiled those claims because we were totally authorized to go on that
property. >> Well, bank owned properties that didn't maintain their their lawns and we mowed it and give them the bill for the landscape. >> Correct. Cuz we have an ordinance any different than what we're trying to do here >> because cutting grass
>> because grass cut grass is probably not the same as lawn furniture and strewn about personal items. It would be nice, but entering somebody's property for that purpose, you're going to have a harder time than cutting grass. >> We we have another uh situation on
another property where they don't rake up the leaves. They they don't they don't cut the grass. We send out a landscaper to clean up the grass. I'm sorry, clean up the leaves, cut the grass, and then we lean the property.
Wait, how do you lean the property if you haven't gone to court and won a judgment? >> Well, you go to court. >> It's a totally different situation because that's >> there's differences because this is a notice of violation. It's it's a different thing and we have an ordinance
that specifically allows us to enter property to cut grass or remove leaves. There's no ordinance that we can adopt that gives us the authority to enter onto property to remove items because we
don't like the way they look. And that was the judge's biggest problem. What stops and and it becomes a long-term problem. At what point, you know, the state doesn't have the power to just enter somebody's property because
somebody else doesn't like the way it looks. I'm trying to find I'm trying to get a message of positivity out of you, but I'm not receiving it. I want to say, listen, we we've been successful in the past because >> the Pro Park judge saw two times enough evidence to allow the town to go onto
his property and put the dumpster there and try to get it cleaned up and it he didn't want to pay whatever and that's how we wound up in the superior court. Correct. >> Well, he stopped. >> No, there's differing circumstances. So you did get a message of positivity
about I know in the past but but I'll give you the message. The message is we are going to keep prosecuting these charges where we know we have had success and we're going to continue. The success unfortunately is not longlasting. So we have to find ways to
try to make it more of a fulfilling experience than what we've had. He ties you up in court because he has. The good news is we now have a track record. We have judges who have ordered these things. We call it in the law race
judicata that we've already settled the issue and so therefore we can go back again without having to always prove the same things because it's happened before. So we do have the compiling effect of doing it multiple times. Um,
but again, as Bruce said, this was a an attempt to use a civil remedy in addition to we're going to use every tool in the toolbox until uh we get it fixed. >> Any judgments that we have in the past, please, any judgments we have in the past,
>> kindly assure us that the lean will be executed. >> We will look at all that. >> Thank you, >> Mike. So, so the question I have is reg regarding these summones and us going to court.
The person gets a summon today. Typically, they have if they're going to fight it, there's a court date. What how long does that process take? I mean, if we have uh quite a bit of summones issued this
individual over the course of many, many years. >> So, here's what we're looking at. the the first there has to be a notice of violation when the in other words you have to give fair warning clean up your property or you're going to get a summon. Got it?
>> We give the notice of violation then we issue the summons. The summon then goes to the municipal court and gets put on the docket. The problem we have experienced is that our municipal court judge here had a conflict of interest because he represented Mr. Spoiler's
father who previously owned the property. So therefore, we've had to move the cases to another municipality. We are looking at ways of streamlining the process because it is difficult for a municipal court in another town to
schedule 250 cases on our docket while they have all of their cases. So that's the angles that we're looking at. Uh again, I'm not going to discuss it any further than that. We are going to look, Michael, to try to streamline and speed
up the process so we don't have a year between the issuance of the summons and the trial of the case. >> Sounds like it would be easier to replace the judge in Hawthorne. >> Michael, I we're not doing that. >> No, I I really appreciate it, but we're
beyond streamlining at this point. I mean, I'm just It's frustrating. >> I mean, it's it's not just new. It's It's years. >> Did you have anything? Yes. >> Quickly. >> Yeah, quick. I'm I'm with you. 85 Wag.
Now, I know the zoning judgment was for cars. I brought up they're very large trucks, not vehicles, trucks. And the the zoning adjustment was for cars. I made it clear
that they're trucks. They're cleaning trucks. They're road cleaning trucks. I don't What do you call them with the brushes? That's what street sweep street sweepers and those are not cars and he's I guess repairing them, fixing them and selling them because that's what he does
at Abd or the building. >> Please, >> what I understood from you, you said the vehicles in the fenced in area, >> they are vehicles. You're absolutely right, but they're not cars. >> Okay. So, it's vehicles. >> The zoning approval was for cars.
Okay. >> And and that doesn't have any trucks there is what you're saying. >> That dirt is directly over the waterway. How much weight can we put on that dirt before it collapses into the water? Well, the fenced in area that has the 24
that had approval for the 24 cars is up not over where the brook comes through and makes a turn under the building. It's up further. That's where the the fence is. And that's where the cars are. >> The cars are parked on the collapsing cement.
>> Well, you said in the fenced in area. >> In the collapsing cement. Is in the fenced in area. I'll take pictures. I'll be happy to. >> No, I now I know what you mean. But I I I looked at the fenced in area with the gate. >> The gate starts on that that roadway that goes between the the
>> the alleyway >> the alleyway. And it goes all the way almost to the used car lot. >> Correct. It goes well it goes to the end of the driveway. >> He's has those vehicles on the collapsed cement. >> Okay. >> And it's just a matter of time before
that cement completely collapses into that water. >> Then you won't have any more vehicles there. >> No, that water's not that deep. >> I'm sure Dominic swam in it many, many years ago. >> No, no, no. I got a couple more. Come on, Joe. We Oh, you listened to Michael
for 25 minutes. He gave an Eric report. Use it or lose it. All right. the p the pitching batting cages we just had installed down by uh Wag, they never took the netting off of it. So when the heavy snow came, all the poles that we just
installed are now bent in. >> Oh jeez. >> Okay. Now that the snow is melted, you can see you can see the the I don't know what they're called. The fence arms. >> They were they were the new poles that we bought.
>> That is correct. for >> are they called uprights? >> No. >> No. >> I thought they were poles because they >> whatever they are, we installed them. They never took the netting off. So the weight of the snow that came for this blizzard bent them.
>> Okay, that is all. >> Dominic, I lost my train of thought. Michael, one Washington Avenue. Did I hear you say they're parking off the property? We're leasing them. There's parking on the property beneath the building, but
because we were concerned about the number of parking stalls they had, part of the uh or redevelopment plan is they're going to also lease from us parking on Grand Avenue as overflow parking. So that at least for the first
couple years they're open, we're going to monitor to see how their parking is going so that additional spaces will be available for overflow parking on Grand Avenue. >> Wasn't the Goldberg rule you can't park it. You can't build it. >> Well, I understand. >> Well, they say they can park it. That
was the extra spaces was me, >> right? Frank actually insisted upon it. >> Frank >> and then he walked and go ahead and we ended up getting it. we losing money in because that's uh parking >> we're not using it. We just gave a little break on the price. I said we're
not trying to make money. What's the biggest argument people in that area going to have if the parking numbers don't work the way they say they were on street parking taken away from theirs. So I wanted an area where we could say go park over there your numbers didn't work. So that's why there's a
requirement to rent >> 12 >> 12 12 additional spaces at a discounted rate, but it's in the out of town commuter parking section, not not the in town commuter parking section. So it's on Grand where they got to walk.
>> There'll be signs and there'll be signs posted overflow parking for them >> unless they park illegally in the New Jersey Transit lot. But that won't be our problem, right? >> Somebody else. No. And even Transit's problem. >> New Jersey Transit. We've added 12 spaces in that lot above what's there
now. >> Yeah. But >> that's not for resident. That's for >> No. >> And at night time, who cares? >> So, it's going to be designated spaces for the one Washington development. >> Yes. Yes. >> Where will the non-resident Parkers go?
>> There's 45 over there. >> There there's so many spaces. is we have so few non-resident stickers these days um that >> they're parked from Washington Street up to Matland AB and above on Grand every day
>> that's >> that's not us >> town of town no Grand AB is non-resident >> that's where we're making them park not >> so those non-resident parkers that park on Grand >> from Washington Street to Mland
>> she's right she's got a good question >> now I have to move up Because >> we didn't say we're putting them. >> We didn't say which of the states. >> I just, you know, >> we didn't say it's the first 12. >> All right. Thank you. >> We just said 12. >> It's a damn good question. >> We need to be aware of what the dynamics
that are actually happening there. >> And again, I mean, the hope is that they're right and their parking works in a year from now or two years from now. So, fine. You don't have to lease the spaces anymore. >> 100 spaces there, give or take, and we used to get 50 at best. And now we're
down to maybe 20. >> We have out of town. >> I think we have less than 20 out of town stickers these days. >> So, uh, Michael, I had one question for you on R5226, the endorsing of the housing element plan. >> Yes, sir.
>> We passed our ordinances as statutoily required. >> Yes. >> This is a resolution. >> It is. >> That says we're endorsing this. Is it required to be endorsed? >> It is. Well, there's a question about whether it is most of the attorneys who
do this work do believe that it because it's satisfaction of your affordable housing obligation, there needs to be a council endorsement of it. The planning board passed it. That's required. >> I get it, but we just passed the zoning ordinances, which is a council. Oh, but
but the thing is the housing element fair share plan includes in it all of your compliance mechanisms for the fourth round of affordable housing. Everything that you've approved, I have 48 hours to upload that into the court
system or we lose our immunity. One of the things I have to put in is the housing element of fair share plan, the resolution of the planning board. And it's my belief that the better practice is to also do it with an endorsement of
the municipal council. So as much as I know you want to have a chance to say no, I do believe this is a mandatory element of what we submit. And by the way, when we adopted it in June, we did the same resolution. This
is just the amendment. >> The torture just never ends, does it? Well, hopefully it ends with the vote on this. >> I've heard that so many times in the years I've been up here, >> Bruce. I say hopefully. >> Anything else? >> That's all we have from administration.
>> Okay. Have a motion to record the administrative agenda. >> Second. >> Motion by D Mey, second by Bennett. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Introduction of ordinances. We have ordinance number 2386-26
an ordinance fixing the 2026 salaries wages and compensation of the employees of the burough port county of pake state of New Jersey be resolved this ordinance is now pass first reading of the said ordinance and be further considered for final passage at a meeting of the governing body at the municipal building
445 Lafayette Avenue Horththorn New Jersey on March 18th 2026 at 7 p.m. at which time in place all interested members of the public who desire to be given an opportunity to be heard in connection with the said ordinance during the week prior and up to including the date of such meeting
copies of said ordinance will be made available on the burough website and at the clerk's office in the municipal building to members of the general public who shall request the same have a motion so move motion by Wki so second >> second by Sasso
discussion >> I had I had some questions but uh Vincent. >> Yeah, there's there's ranges though. >> No, he on a lot of things. >> He helped me through it. >> Got it. >> Oh boy. >> Vocal. >> Dominic. >> Bennett. >> Yes.
>> Leosa. >> Yes. Millie. >> Yes. >> Sasso. >> Yes. >> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Wii. >> Yes. >> Almost acting more and more like Marge down there. >> Five minutes. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Sorry, I didn't hear you.
Motion carries. >> Resolutions. We have the off consent uh R46-26 emergency temporary budget appropriation. Have a motion. >> So move. >> Motion by Millie. Second by Sierra. Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Waki. >> Yes. >> Skiara.
>> Yes. >> Sasso. Yes. Mey. >> Yes. >> Leosa. >> Yes. Bennett. >> Yes. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Cassette agenda R47-26 through R54-26. R47-26 is a tax court appeal refund. R48-26,
dedication by Ryder. R49-26, acceptance of a green communities inventory grant. R50-26, acceptance of a green communities forestry management plant grant plan grant. R50-26 is emergency pump repairs at main uh
sewer station to Jersey Central Pump. R52-26 is accepting, not endorsing in my mind, the housing element and fair share plan amendments. R53-26 is authorized CAC grant writers to
submit the 2026 LTPF grant application for downtown revitalization and pedestrian safety improvements phase 4 and R54-26 is authorized CAC grant writers to submit the 2026 Lif grant application for downtown
revitalization and pedestrian safety improvements phase 4. Have a motion. Sasso move. Motion by Sasso, second by WKI. Any discussion? >> Yeah.
>> What happens if we don't approve 52-26? >> And it makes our housing element and fair share plan something that I cannot submit to the state, which then makes our settlement invalid. >> We did we did already vote and approve
it. Even though sorry. >> I'm sorry. I apologize. >> See, my my my issue I have is that >> I a gun's been held to her head. We're doing this, >> but now we're telling we're endorsing that we're doing it. And >> that's not sitting right that's not
sitting right with me. But a resolution a resolution saying we as a a body believe a certain way. >> I don't have a choice. So I don't have to, you know, for me to actually say I'm feeling a certain way. That's what I'm saying. If we have the approval, which we already voted on and approved, why do
we have >> We passed the ordinances. >> You passed the ordinances, but the housing element affair share plan is what contains all of the compliance mechanisms spelled out. Part of the settlement agreement, the most important document in all of this is the housing
element of fair share plan. >> So, in other words, they're telling us we're going to screw you and you're going to thank us for it. Well, listen. If you guys are reading the word endorsement in a way that makes it sound like you love it, and I guess if that's what you think endorsement means,
>> that's fine. >> To accept it. >> I don't think acceptance is the right word because you have to authorize it. Submit. >> We're still voting. Yes. >> So, you want to change the language of the resolution to make it sound like you
don't like it. >> Let's look at it. >> Yeah. What about endorsing? We authorize the housing and fair share plan. >> Authorize. Then I would recommend the wording be changed to say that you authorize the submission of the approved
housing element and fair share plan to uh the court system. >> That would work. >> Less painful. That's all it is. >> No, that's less painful than endorsing. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. But the Hold on. It says reading it says that whereas the
municipal council thereafter endorsed the plan by the adoption of R105-25 at the regular meeting of June 18th, 2025. >> You did. >> Now you change. Now you don't want to endorse this one. >> But why have we got to use the word endorseed? We passed it. We just being
amended. It's being amended. We're amending it now. >> We're amending it. But I'm saying our objection is the word endorsed. We're passing it. just we just don't like it. This has been so painful. We're bloodied. >> That's fine. >> You liked it in June, you don't like it
now. That's fine. So, you voted on the word endor the word endorsement was there, >> right? Everybody's getting upset about the >> authorized. So, the language so I'm clear on this council president >> is the submission
>> of the adopted amended housing element and fair share plan to the affordable housing program. >> Okay. >> No, this is fine. That's fine. That that
that is an that is a tacid endorsement and not an active >> make sure we're still compliant >> resolution itself where it says within the paragraph that we endorse. >> It says it in two places. So, I will change every time I see I'll use my
spell checker thing. Whenever the word endorse comes up, I'll get rid of it. >> Thank you. Roll call. >> Um, Senator Bennett. >> Bennett. >> Yes, with the changes that we just
discussed. >> Leosa. Yes, with the changes. >> Millie, >> yes. >> With the changes or no? >> Uh, Sasso, yes, we're complying, not
endorsing. >> With the changes, Lori >> Skiara, >> yes, with the changes. >> Waki, >> yes, with the changes. >> Matthews, >> no. I knew he was going to do that because he can. >> You're gonna vote no on just the one of
them, Council President. Or >> just no on 5226. >> Okay. >> Or 52. >> But nonetheless, I will need you to sign it. >> You got to come to my office then. >> I I have literally have a 48 hour
requirement to have it signed. So So somebody's going to have to get this to you for signature. Dominic reports to special counsel committees. >> I'm okay. >> And Marie, >> I am as well. >> Bruce, no.
>> Reena, >> I'm okay. >> Michael, >> uh, the audits committee met last night. Uh, we continue to discuss the snow removal uh throughout the burrow. As we talked about the ordinance that we had here earlier, um snow emergencies in no
parking areas, uh the administration will confirm with the Department of Public Works and police, which I know Vinnie had already reached out to them, uh that all the streets affected on the list and any changes will amend the audience ordinance. Uh moving forward, we also discussed the simplifying the
language. Again, we've talked about that already about the snow in the streets. other other discussions related to snow on a corner properties and crosswalks and snow clearing um and prohibiting plowing onto someone else's property. Uh
we will address these issue at future meetings. It was also discussed about creating a v uh a vendor list provide uh uh providing snow removal to residents who are unable to do it. Um the administration will evaluate the
potential of also considering a snow desk when we have a situation where the burrow is offices is closed and they have um a you know it's called a specific number as a snow desk that's under consideration. Uh we continue to
discuss the Fairview Avenue um uh traffic issue and we're waiting on a traffic study from Boswell Engineering. Let's get on that, baby. All right. Uh we also had uh some more discussions on illegal apartments that seem to be uh on
the rise in the community and how we're going to handle them. And it concludes my report. Joseph. >> All right, Dominic, buckle in. I'd like to first start. This is Sha Tree and this came from Jody first. You've covered everything for
numbers one and two and thank you very much for all that you've done with the shade tree commission for the trees that are being taken down and being planted on Wagar Road. Con number three, consistent with our receipt of a $20,000 grant for completion of our community forestry management plan. Our townwide
tree inventory will soon begin as a resolution. It is completed and passed. The inventory will be implemented. I believe she asked if it would be able to be on tonight's day. It didn't make it, so I'm assuming it'll be on the next one. Integration of our urban forest plan in our burrow. We also learned that
the burrow already has the necessary so software SRI ArcGIS software that the DPW uses for storm water management and will be utilizing the same software for tree management inventory. This is a big savings to the burrow. We met with Ted
Kazinski at last night's meeting to discuss the undertaking and we are excited to receive the $20,000 grant and to move forward on the inventory of our trees. Jody further says we look forward to the
18th April 18th cell earthbration where we will be giving away a white dogwood seedling for residents to plant. happily to report Columbia Bank will be donating at our annual Arbor Day tree planting and we're looking forward to the high school as a location involved. We're
hoping to plant the tree on Arbor Day, April 24th, and that's a good picture day. So, please confirm the date as soon as Colombia confirms it with us. We're also looking to participate in Hawthorne's 250th anniversary celebration by way of planting the
historic Liberty Elm tree, which would include a ceremony to honor Hawthorne. This will be acknowledged by the mayor in the Burough Hall and near the tree and a ceremony of the sons and daughters of Liberty, all in historic garb and a reading of the Liberty Tree poem. More
details to follow. And then finally, as always, if anyone has any issues or any street trees that need trimming, please call or email Shade Tree Commission at the burrow's website. Thank you, Joey Demarco. That is all.
>> Okay. Excellent. >> Uh last night at the plans board, there was much discussion and the recommendation for consistency with our master plan for the four housing ordinances that uh we approved. And there was also a notice of violation given out to a conditional approval for
the body shop on Wagger Road that was just approved last meeting. Violation already. >> Wag or goal? >> I'm sorry. A golf. >> Yes. Yes. >> Already. >> Already. He had more vehicles on there than his he said his application was
going to have. >> I'll bet you some of those vehicles he parked at 85. I will guarantee you. >> Well, he didn't park enough over there. I'll bet. You better take a proper picture, Joe. >> Yeah. So, so that that was planning board. And last night, the chamber also had a networking event at Billy's
Midway. Uh it was attended by about 25 people. It was a nice mix of different businesses. And our next uh networking event would be on Tuesday, April 21st from 5 to 6 at Day Carbone. So, maybe we'll get some good food.
And that's all I have to report. Correspondence. We have a C1 2025 tax collector annual report. Have a motion. >> Motion. >> Motion by Sasso, second by uh Skier. Any discussion?
We're up to 99.62 or something. I think the percentage was pretty darn good. >> Very good. >> Yes. >> Skiara, >> yes. >> Sasso, yes. Mey, >> yes. >> Leosa, yes. Bennett, >> yes. Yes. Matthews. >> Yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Bills. Have a motion to approve the bills and forward them to the treasurer for payment. >> So move. >> Motion by Skira. >> I'll second it. >> Second by me. Any discussion? >> Just a question for the Michael. >> Yes. >> Do I have to abstain if I'm on a leave
of absence? >> Yes. You're still member of the fire department. You're just on a leave of absence. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. Roll call. Bennett, >> yes. >> Leosa, >> yes. >> Neie, >> yes. >> Sasso, >> yes. >> Skiara, >> yes.
>> Waki, >> abstain on the fire department, which I hate doing, and yes on all others. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Public comment. Now open the meeting to the public. Anyone desires to be heard, please step forward to the microphone. State your name. >> Seeing no one, I entertain a motion to
close the public portion of the meeting. >> So moved. >> Whoa. Motion by Wki, second by Sierra >> Dominic down there. All in favor? I. >> Our next council meeting is Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 at 7 p.m. Have a motion to adjurnn. >> So move.
>> Motion by Wki, second by Skeira. All in favor? >> I. Motion carries. >> We're adjourned.