Oh god, that's loud. Check. One, two. Check. Check. Check. Hello. Check. Check. Check. Check. Check. Where is it? >> Hello. >> Hello. Check.
Check. One, two, three. Check. >> Check. Check. What happened now? Well, he act one, two,
Louder. >> 56 >> 78 8675309 personality. At least sorry. working system.
You got to pay. Oh no. All right, I got it. That's okay. No, no, no. This is a great I went and got a time. What's that? Thank you.
You might want to know. You can join us. >> We come back. It's >> going to be an hour. Oh my god. Why can't Why not? How come this isn't working?
>> It's on. Set. >> Testing. >> Testing. I think I was my arm. tonight. Waiting up tonight. You have no idea
about an It's December 17, >> 2005. 7 p.m. Roll call. >> Bennett >> here. >> Leosa >> here. Mey >> 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 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. Herefore, adopted and posted on the public bulletin board at the municipal building, emailed to the Herald News, the record, the Gazette, and all persons who requested the mailing of such since November 19, 2024.
Close session. Pursuant to NJSA 104-13 and the attorney general's formal opinion 29-1976, I entertain a motion to adopt resolution CSO4-25 that the public be excluded from this portion of the meeting in order to that the council may discuss a matter of
personnel/hiring and affordable housing litigation. Items to be discussed in close session can be discussed when the public when a course of action has been determined or decision has been reached. Have a motion. So move second. Motion by Shar
Sasso. Second. All in favor? I. Motion carries. We good for sound? >> One, two. >> Okay. Can I have approval of the minutes for the regular meeting of December 3rd, 2025? >> So moved. >> Second. Motion by WKI, second by Scar.
Any comments on the minutes? >> Roll call. >> WKI, >> yes. >> Skiara, >> yes. >> Sasso, >> yes. >> Millie, >> abstain. >> Leosa, >> yes. >> Bennett, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Public comment and open the meeting to the public. If anyone wish to be heard
on agenda items, >> agenda. >> Agenda. Go ahead. underneath first. Yeah. >> Should be green at the bottom. >> There you go. >> Thank you. I have Jack Lure. Uh 319 Van
Winkle. Uh, I just wanted to ask a question about um R1 19225 authorized 2026 acquisition of MR vehicle for HPD. There's a military surplus organization
and you can put in requests for pieces of equipment that you would like to receive and then there's a lottery that they pick and so this is to put in the request for that vehicle. Uh it's like an allpurpose heavyduty uh >> a tank. >> Like a tank.
>> It's a high vehicle to go into flooded areas to evacuate people. >> Um they're not purchasing it. It's just to put in a request to get one free from the military if it becomes available. >> So my my concerns, my questions really
have to do with the possibility that this will be seen as militarization of our police department. Um, I don't really see that. Well, first of all, do we already have one now? >> No. No. >> I don't see the need for a mresistant ambush protected vehicle. I don't think
we have mines in town. Um, I understand these things weigh from 15, maybe as much as 24 tons. Um, I wonder what it may do to the roads if it's used. I wonder how safe it is to be used up in the hills where we have 4 ton limits.
Um, I understand some of these vehicles have a high center of gravity and are prone to tipping over. Um, I'm not a conspiracy theorist who thinks that there's a desire by government to come and take our guns away and militarize
everything in the country, but I think it isn't maybe a bad a bad look uh to be bringing in a military vehicle like this. understand they have combat locks on the inside and if there were an
accident where the vehicle's inhabitants were uh disabled it would be extremely difficult to get in there to help them because of the the u the way the thing is protected from ambushes. Uh the purpose as it says in the
resolution is uh for active shooter incidents, barricaded suspect incidents, hostage incidents, confined space incidents, swiftwater rescue situations, search and rescue missions. Um I just I
want to ask the question, is this something that's been talked about? I've been coming to a lot of these meetings and I have >> No, you would you would you wouldn't hear it being talked about because this is a request from the police department and it's an internal police request. >> Okay. >> So, it's not something that the public would be discussing or being include in
the discussion. So then all I would ask the council is to consider tableabling this for a little opportunity for the public to become aware that we're about to put in for a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle and give us a chance
to think about it, talk about it, give you a chance to >> but it's not something that we as the public, this is a police item, you know, we don't include you in the purchase of police cars either >> or trucks, you know, vans and and things like that, guns, you know, they're looking to buy new guns. are we going to
question what kind of guns they want to get? I mean, this is not a purchase. This is just a request and if we get it, we get it. It's not the first time we've put in for military uh surplus equipment either. So, respectively, u this is what they're looking for us. They've asked us
to consider and we're going to vote on it. So there is a reason why the civilian council as you identified yourselves in this resolution is required by the state now to to authorize this kind of a request.
>> Uh it's not something that the police department can do on their own. >> No, because it's the receiving of a goods and and a dollar value just like a grant. We have to provide a resolution to accept a grant. I mean that's that's why we are involved. So I would simply
respectfully ask the council to consider is this a step that you want to take right now or does it require a little bit more thought and perhaps an opportunity for the public to weigh in on whether there should be this kind of a percept possibly perceived u
militarization of our police. That's >> I don't see it that way. >> I can I can maybe shed a little bit more light on it. just vehicles like this with the like the council president said, we have to put in something to the federal government that, you know, we'll be willing to take take on something
that you're you as a federal government, you know, is going to get rid of. Uh it doesn't cost the bureau uh any money. The only the only the only money it might cost is depending on where or what what military base it's coming from. uh
and and and that that alone would be, you know, whether it's it's flatbeded out or what, there's a lot of communities in this whole area that have them specifically for flooding. Uh there's many different uses as you just read that's in the resolution, but
there, you know, it it's something that uh we've been asking for uh with the resolution, I would say, going back the the last four or five years. So, I just had not seen that. I'm sorry. >> This is not the first time you've already >> This is not the first time that that
it's that this is coming up. It It almost comes up almost every year, sometimes every two years. >> Okay. >> It's like a yearly request to put in for there was a bunch of other items they were looking at uh as well. >> Yeah. >> Surplus trucks. Um, I am aware that the
New Jersey ACLU has been on record as opposing this kind of militarization of the police. I know that there are a number of towns in the state that have voted to uh not to do this kind of thing. Um, and there's been a fair
amount of uh public push back when towns have actually ended up with these vehicles. Um, >> Mr. Let me ask you, why do you say it's a militarization of the police force? If if you're in a trapped in a swift order thing, I want a heavy vehicle with a high tire that's going to help save me
or if we do have a hostage situation or an active shooter like a Brown University, why wouldn't we give the police any tool that they could use? It's your perspective on how you're presenting it that makes it sound like we're trying to militarize our police department and all we're trying to do is give them any tool
they could use to protect us. And it's not only the police department that uses it in other communities. The DPW uses it for us for accidents for other projects and other items that they're engaged in in
their daily work. >> So I want to say thank you for taking the time to listen to me. U and I know you're busy. It's positive. Don't make and I would just like to add to let you know, Mr. Laura, that this is an item that will cost the bureau nothing. And when and if we decide we have no longer
any use for it, we have the right to sell it for whatever monies we can get and it goes back into our kitty. >> Thank you for your time. >> Anyone else wish agenda items? Seeing none, we have a
motion to adjourn the public comment. >> So move. >> Uh motion by Millie, second by. All in favor? I. >> Motion carries. Adoption of zoning ordinance 2376-25, an ordinance to amend and supplement chapter 540, zoning code of the bureau
of Horththorp County, New Jersey in regulation or regulating pre-existing structures. I 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. Anyone wish to be heard on this ordinance.
Seeing no one, I entertain a motion that the public hearing on this ordinance be closed. That be resolved this uh This ordinance was posted in the bulletin board in which public notices are customarily posted, published in the record and made available on the burough website and available to the public and therefore be it resolved this ordinance
be adopted and the clerk is authorized to advertise the same according to law. Have a motion. So move second. >> Motion by Sierra, second by me. Any discussion? Obviously this is to replace a section of the code that disappeared when we rewrote it,
>> but we tweaked it and made a little >> We made a little tweak. >> Made a little better. We made a little uh some adjustments that I think really make this again we we want to make it easier for our residents to improve their homes sensibly and this really does that >> and not need a variance every time you
do a little bit. >> Roll call. >> Bennett, >> yes. >> Leosa, >> yes. >> Millie, >> yes. >> Sasso, >> yes. >> Skiara, >> yes. >> Wii, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> All business. Joe will start your way. >> Excellent. I'm only going to give you
one item and the only reason I'm bringing it up again is because I know we're going out for bid and I just want to remind everybody if you don't know enough, our garbage trucks dump sludge every time they do a pickup. So, please keep that in mind when we go
out to bid. The current vendor does not hold to our rules of not before 7 a.m. making sure the plugs are in. Please, we're going out to bid. It's going to be a three or four year contract. I five-year contract. Please keep in mind
we do not have a friend in B&B. We pay him to squish it at your house. Like, I can't top that. So, you sure you don't have old business? >> Please. We talked about it earlier.
>> I'm drawing a blank. That's fine. Brena, >> no. >> I'm good tonight. >> Go. Go. Frank. >> Bruce. >> No. Hannah Marie. >> No way. >> No. No. I have nothing. >> I have old business. >> The thing that you forgot that you
mentioned. >> Okay. >> Last meeting we talked about the uh potential plan for our steep slope uh addressing for various town areas. >> Mhm. We were supposed to have a review
and report back from engineering DOT to see if what we want to do is acceptable. >> Has that come through yet? I'm just following up so anybody's following at home will hear that >> we didn't just drop it. We're waiting for a reply. >> Yes. Our engineer is going to give a report tonight.
>> Um and from that report that'll give direction for us to go to the um traffic study. uh not I'm sorry to the traffic engineers uh so that this way we make sure that everything that we've met with
Joe about uh is is okay to do so we don't have any problems in the past. God forbid if there was just a regular car accident or something and there was a the sign was put in the wrong spot. So that uh that'll be coming up uh shortly.
Uh uh and we'll we'll have the report for the full council. >> Just following up in case anybody's watching at home. >> No problem. >> There you go. Thank you. >> Uh that concludes uh old business, new business. Dominic, >> no. >> And Marie, >> no.
>> Bruce Marina, >> I do. >> I do. >> We're on a roll. >> I know. I'm sorry. Um, I just want to let everyone know, it was in the mayor's letter, we are collecting Christmas lights at the recycling center. Um,
there it's going to uh a better way of recycling. So, bring your old lights. I just want to let everyone know, which was news to me. We learned this at the commission. We take lights all year round. Anything with a plug, we take at
the recycling center as electronics. So, we have been able to take string lights. Yes. I it's official. It was Thursday night from our recycling coordinator. My environmental commissioner said, "We collect them year round." And if you look at the flyer that was in the
mayor's letter, we collect string lights all year round. So um we're doing the special because um a better way of recycling or using it, but please bring your string lights that are bad. You don't have to put them in the garbage. Just bring them to the recycling center.
Um, so any light bulbs down? No light bulbs. No lights. Light. No, it has to be string. String light. >> No, I'm I'm saying do we recycle? How does one get rid of a fluorescent light bulb? >> Home Depot. We went through this 100 times. >> Yeah, we don't take them anymore. You
have to go to Home Depot or something. >> You take my bad Christmas lights. >> Listen, I What can I sell you? >> Okay, >> but anything with a plug electronically we can take at the recycling center. So, I just want to let you guys know, read the letter next week with the flyer.
>> Thank you, Raina. Because we we we put it in the Friday letter. We we continue to do it. We also send out nixls. So, just if somebody doesn't get the Friday letter, at least hopefully they'll get a nixl and this way it'll educate them and and then we can uh increase our recycling.
>> Yeah. So, thank you. >> Uh I only have one thing. Um, I'd like to wish our burough administrator since this is his final farewell meeting. Oh, wait. We have a special meeting though. He'll be at >> but his last general council meeting.
The best of luck. We appreciate working with you. Thank you so much and happy holidays. >> Thank you, >> Joe. You ready? This one's a doozy. Fire alarms. We go to multiple sites in
this in this town over and over and over again. >> Whose we >> uh the organization I've seen them drive by in red red vehicles. We don't find anyone one time, three time, four time, five
time. No, there's no consequences for let's say a new vehic a new building 204 Wagar Road. Constantly fire alarm going off 200. No, there's nothing that stops them. 2:00 in the morning, 4:00 in the morning, there's nothing to find that
organization to fix whatever their problem is. They just keep doing it over and over and over again with no end in sight. >> Don't we have >> Nope. It came off the books. >> I think there is ordinance provision. >> I asked we had a whole conversation.
>> I asked it came off. I will I will take a look at that issue and then I would discuss that issue with our fire people because I don't want us to be the ones making the call. There might be some reason why it's inactizable or not. I
will look into it. >> I asked you're sending I'm watching these vehicles go by with their red lights on time and time again to the same not good business owners who refuse. Okay.
>> And I'm not saying go after our residents. I'm I'm saying go after our business owners that don't care enough to fix what their problem is. >> Are they are they doing it on purpose? No, >> Councilman. >> No. But there was an ordinance provision. >> To the best of my knowledge, there still
is. If you have I think it was like three false alarms in a particular period of time, you would get a summon. So, I'll have to look at that. If it's been excised from our ordinance, it may have been accidental. I'll look into it. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> Know what that's like? >> Two weeks. >> Two weeks. Okay. With that, we'll turn to the administrative agenda presented by Mayor Lane. >> Thank you, Mr. President. We had our first snowfall of the season
and I wanted to thank our DPW for the great job that they did. To the residents who move their cars off the streets for our DPW to get more effective plowing, I thank you all. Operation toy train arrived in Hawthorne
last Saturday. To all who gener generously donated, I thank you. We met we had many organizations meet the train with with hundreds of gifts. The toys for tots program is run by the United
States Marine Corps Reserve. There are so many events happening in December. I am going to refer you to my to our website and my weekly letter for further details. Many of you have asked about the Santa
Run that will take place on Saturday, December 20th at 2 p.m. Details can be found on our website and in the Horththornne Fire Department Facebook. The Burough offices will be closed half
a day on Wednesday, December 24th and will be closed on Thursday, December 25th for Christmas. The offices will be closed on Thursday, January 1st for New Year's. At noon on January 1, I will be
sworn in as mayor for the second term, and the Burl's reorganizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 7th at 700 p.m. here in the courtroom. I would like to take this time to
publicly thank my burrow administrator, Eric Mau, for his many years of service and his dedication to the burrow of Horththornne. I had the pleasure of working with Eric for many, many years when I served on
the council. Eric's plan on retirement four years ago at the end of Mayor Goldberg's tenure, but I graciously agreed to he graciously agreed to stay for my first term.
Eric, thank you for your support. It was a great four years. I wish you all the best in your retirement and I hope you enjoy every moment. You certainly will be remiss. You certainly will be
missed. On behalf of the Horththornne family, best wishes for good health and happiness. You'll be missed, Eric, a lot. And that concludes my report. I turn it
over to our attorney, Michael Pasqua. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, I do want to send out a couple of things. First of all, condolences to the Sinning family. We lost one of our own in Bernice uh the other day and uh she was a lively soul,
Gary's true compliment and uh she'll be missed. And also Lee Palameo who is in our community for a very long time, my godmother uh she passed away also. So condolences there. Um and I do want to report on one issue and that is
affordable housing. I will try to not give a lot, but simply to say this, we met in executive session earlier uh for a variety of reasons. One of which was to discuss where we're at with our affordable housing litigation. We have until December 31
to conclude our affordable housing litigation by way of settlement or have a remedy imposed upon us. That remedy could include, among other things, and likely would include stripping of us,
stripping us of the immunity we enjoy from builder's remedy lawsuits. The law is unfair. The law is slanted without question towards uh people who are advocating for the affordable housing.
And while none of us have a real problem with the notion of affordable housing, it's developerdriven. And developers are not driven by the goodness of their hearts. They're driven by profits. So to be clear, it is not that we are opposed
to affordable housing as a concept. It's opposed to the overdevelopment of properties that occurs as a result of the efforts of those in Trenton to tell us what we need to do in our community.
That said, uh, Council President, I can announce that we will be having a meeting on the 22nd, which is Monday, not Tuesday, of next week at 700 p.m. here uh where I
will be discussing with the council the recommendation I have for a settlement of our litigation uh with both fair share housing and with Dugan Development at the Pan Chemical site. Um but the it's been a lot of
work. I can't thank John Sabo enough. He also tried to retire. He stayed a little longer. Um, but uh, he has seen us through this process. And again, stay tuned Monday 7:00 p.m. I do have one
final thing I need to say. Um, rather than give more detail in my report, I do want to take a moment to recognize the end of an era in our community with the departure and soon to be retirement of Eric. Um, he's going to hate this, but I
do need to say a few things. if you can indulge me. Um, Eric leaves as a beloved figure and I got to be honest, I never imagined 20 years ago when I first met him that beloved would be something
we would be saying. He never imagined the word beloved would ever be attached to his name. I do so totally against all odds and against his will. But he is um it's not because he's so smart. He's one
of the smartest people I ever met. It's not because he has such fantastic financial acumen. He does. It's not because of anything like that. It's because you guys don't realize and
people don't know this. He's he has a natural kindness that comes through. Maybe it's a Midwest thing, but he brings a kindness to the job that most people would never imagine. I want to share one story. Um, we were looking at
changing healthc care plans a few years back and there were forces in this building pushing like crazy to change the plan because it would save the town money because it would save people perhaps money. And Eric's word was
simply this. Unless I know that Colleen Hansen and Mark Sloopmaker will lose none of the benefits they currently have, I don't care what it costs. We're keeping our healthcare. And that's the kind of person Eric really is. Um, a
kindness and a good spirit about him that is much more than you would think behind that giant brain and all the other things. So, 20 years. Um, fantastic job. Our town is indebted to him. I'm indebted to him. He made me a
better lawyer. And I want to just tell you, my friend, I wish you the best and health, happiness, and a joyous retirement. Well done. You left the place better than when you got here. That's all I have.
>> Do you want a hug? Thank you, Michael. And >> now throwing it over to our engineer, Joe Burn. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh the 2024 2025 road program. Uh that's including forth,
Ethel, Annette, Frederick, Florence. Um DLS is working on addressing uh punch list items including uh guide rail installation and remaining inlet work. Uh and that's currently ongoing. um the 2425 local aid project which
covers uh roads like uh Hawthorne Avenue, Westervel, North Wong, Grand View. Uh North Wong and Grand View have been paved and the guide rail along North Wong is currently set to be installed in late January. However, our office is pushing uh to have it
installed earlier. uh portion of North Wong will need to be remilled and repaved due to an issue uh with the asphalt quality from the plant. Uh we basically got the end of a batch and normally the plant will throw
that away, but they seem to have shipped it out and it's not the kind of thing you can tell until it's laid out and weather starts to affect it and it's set. So, um, our office and the contractor will be monitoring the
condition of that during the winter and as soon as weather allows this season or early spring, um, that will be remil and repaved. Um, Lafayette Streetscape phase 3, uh, we're
currently waiting on a date from PSENG to power on the new lights. Uh the decorative planters have been installed and the benches will be installed by the end of the week. Uh the PSEG gas main and service line project. Uh the gas service lines continue to be installed
along Wagner Place between Hawthorne Avenue and Midland Avenue. And the Hawthorne Heights private development project. Uh sanitary construction is moving soil from the site and police are currently present on Gothal Road uh to provide traffic control when trucks are
coming in and leaving the site. Um, as far as the uh steep slopes uh specifically uh Fairview and uh Gothal Hill, um Boswell is currently working with the traffic bureau and we're
examining the impact of the placement of additional traffic control devices and signage um in effort to increase the visibility of uh signage and regulatory signage as well as further deter truck traffic from entering Fairview
Avenue in the first place. Um, our office has reached out to different manufacturers to see what systems are currently available. Um, and some definitely have some promise. We're currently looking into pricing as well as uh potential placement just seeing
where the infrastructure exists for, you know, powering and maintaining the systems if they require power. Um, and we've also reached out to other agencies that have experienced similar issues to see how they address them.
We're currently examining all those options and compiling not only, you know, potential effectiveness, but also, you know, pricing associated that way we can kind of order, you know, what options should potentially be looked into and
implemented first. Um, and concluding my report, um, on behalf of everyone at Boswell, it's been an absolute pleasure working with you, Eric. Um, my tenure working at Boswell
with you has been comparatively short to the amount of time that Boswell has served as engineer and Hawthorne in conjunction with your tenure. But everyone at my office, it's
you talk with anyone, it's an absolute pleasure working with you. You've always had your pulse. You've always had your finger on the pulse of the community. Um, and you always have a solid knowing of everything that's going
on in town. You're a resource of knowledge that is going to be sorely missed. Um, and our office will work diligently to maintain and keep an eye on and improve the things that you've built up and
safeguarded in the burrow of Hawthorne. Um, and I just want to say on a professional level, it's bitter pleasure working with you and relatively early in my career. So, I don't have quite the
experience level that someone like Steve, having been in the field for decades, would, but I can tell that I've been working with, you know, franchise player like a real Michael Jordan in the field. And hopefully uh I don't think we're getting another Jordan anytime
soon anywhere in the state, but I'm really hoping, fingers crossed, that the next guy's, you know, LeBron James or something. So So thank you, Eric. >> Thank you, Joe. And now turn it over to our
administrator, Eric Mau. >> Uh thank you, Mayor. I want to encourage everybody to get comfortable. Um, Michael may have spoken a little too soon by saying I I was leaving in Beloved. Um, because you haven't heard
my final report yet. >> Oh, no. Is this my time? >> Yes. Yeah. >> Um, uh, before I uh start, I'd just also like to offer my condolences to the Sinning family and thank everybody for their kind remarks tonight.
Um, I do have an answer for Joe, even though Michael's going said he would look it up. Uh, um, in our code book one, chapter 125-5 deals with fire alarms and and >> impulse alarms.
>> Okay, it's on the books, Jeff. >> It's on the books. So, we'll have to deal with >> We just have to look at enforcement. >> Okay. Um, Mayor Lane, members of the Burough Council, Michael, Lori, Joe, and
everybody else who may be listening because they don't have anything better to do on a Wednesday evening during this holiday season. Is with no little sadness that I give my final report to the council tonight as Hawthorne's burough administrator. Uh, let me start with the easy stuff.
W leaves in wards one, two, and four have been picked up three times completely, while ward two is half done for the third time and should be completed by Friday. This is one more pickup than usual and quicker. The use of a borrowed garbage truck has made a huge difference in this operation. The
bureau should look to purchase a good used garbage truck for leaves, Christmas tree collections, and collection of branches after storms. As it always does, the DPW responded to this weekend snowstorm quickly and efficiently in order to keep our roads safe and
passable. This time, however, it was not just Burough Roads. We received a call from the county saying that they would be unable to get to the county roads in town and asking could we help. Of course, we could and did. In return, the county is providing us 75 tons of salt
to replenish our supply and waving charges for traffic signs they have produced for us under a shared service agreement. Cooperation among governmental entities helps everyone. I'm going to skip a few things.
All trees purchased for the 2025 fall tree planting have been planted. Several trees will be moved Monday at the request of property owners. Uh the bureau attorney, Jen Scully, and I will be working on a revised RFP for recycling. Michael, we need to schedule a time to do that. Uh
there were no attendees at the optional pre-bid conference for our garbage and recycling collection build bid I held on bid I held on December 11th. Three bid bid packets have been picked up or requested. We'll be contacting other
haulers who might be interested in bidding. Bids aren't due until January. As I've stated before, the results of this bid will have a major impact on the 2026 budget. Bids for phase 4 uh water lines uh service water service line
replacement are due tomorrow and will be awarded in January. The NGIB is in the process of reviewing our application for low interest financing for phase 5, a process that unfortunately takes a significant amount of time so that we are unlikely to be bidding until spring
or perhaps even summer. Uh, I'm working with the engineer and the DPW to aortion the remaining galvanized service lines among phases 6 through 10 so that we have a complete plan to finish this work on time by June 30th, 2031.
Bids for replacement of PAS uh treatment media and destruction of the old media will be received in January for a contract uh um for new resin that's needed over the next two years. Uh the bureau and the fire department have been
awarded a FEMA assistance to firefighters grant for swiftwater rescue training which will be included in the 20126 budget. I'll skip the next line. We don't want to hear about that. Uh on for agenda items, uh resolution R186 engages to do
phase six service line design. R 187 authorizes a shared service agreement with with Rididgewood to perform bacteria testing for our water utility. R 188 authorizes a shared service agreement to sell brine to Loi. Um resol
Lucian uh um R 192 uh actually there's 192 and the one I think that Mr. Lur spoke about. Do I have my numbers right? That was 192. >> That was 192. 191 um authorizes participation in the surplus equipment
uh acquisition generally. R 192 has been discussed. R 193 approves a change order with a cost reduction for Delerica for their emergency water main work on Gothal Road. I apologize for providing this resolution after close of the agenda, but I couldn't let my final
meeting pass without doing this one last time. Uh, resolution R1 194 approves year-end budget transfers reviewed and approved by the finance committee. Resolution R125 authorizes other transfers,
transfers of unspent money for snow removal in the 2025 into a reserve where it can be used if necessary in a future year and also money from um that was been collected um um for uh administrative and vehicle fees for
police off duty work um to move it um from the trust fund into the current fund. Um, and to back up just a little bit, resolution R189. It is with great pleasure that I present for you your consideration what may be
the antenna lease that finally fills up available space on the long view tank. It's actually an expansion of a current lease with a company called Eastern Dragon to add a second and third position for a total of 43,000 more per
year in rent. I want to take a quick look backward over the past 20 years. >> Oh boy. >> Um to remind everyone listening just how much has been accomplished by the elected officials here tonight, their predecessors, our staff, and our
professionals. We've done a lot in public safety, replacing all of our fire apparatus. The police department achieved accreditation. Body cameras, body were acquired by the HPD and have been in use ever since. Manpower in the
HPD was increased from 30 officers to 39. Um, and the bureau undertook and completed an upgrade of the radios and radio system serving the police, fire, and ambulance uh um emergency services. We've made many public improvements,
many um involving grant funds. In my first year here, I discovered that the entire road program for that year was one block of Bu Bua Vista using state money and then paving the Boys and Girls Club parking lot. In my encouragement,
the council embarked on an aggressive road paving program resulting in paving and curb improvements over on over 90% of our road miles over the subsequent 19 years. Um, with CDBG funds, we've constructed 88 curb ramps at virtually
all intersections. Two phases of downtown streetcape improvements have been completed with the third nearing completion. Install something we may have forgotten. Installation of gated railroad crossings on three streets resulted in Hawthorne no longer having
any unprotected crossings. Um, we've also dealt with our recreational facilities. I won't go with everything, but we have uh veterans field was constructed and lighted. We have lighting at WAG 4. We did um townwide uh
um replacement of fencing and back stop on on ball fields. New bleachers for WAG 2 and three and the football and lacrosse ble bleachers at Franklin Field. Um and we've awarded a contract for new bleachers at Wag 1. A new court
surface was installed on the tennis courts. A new improved roller hockey rink is awaiting final closeout. A playground was installed at the Hawthorne pool complex. Improvements were made at the pool itself. An expanded pool deck with snack stand, a new pump to circulate water. Water
features for the kiddie pool and bathroom improvements are now in the works. And in case you haven't heard, the burrow constructed a band shell. What? Now the site of a significant slate of summer entertainment and managed by our wonderful bandell
committee. In the water system, we've constructed a PAS treatment system to comply with state regulations with a significant portion of the cost being funded by a combination of principal forgiveness by the NGIB and settlement proceeds resulting from lawsuits the
bureau filed against Pete Boss manufacturers. Three phases of a water service line replacement program manded by the state have been completed. Mandated only because of a legislation legislative determination that galvanized pipes are lead despite in
actuality being steel pipes coated with zinc. Uh there are no actual lead pipes on service lines in Hawthorne. Seven more phases of this project are scheduled for completion by 2031. Two of the Hawthorne Water Utilities
three steel water tanks have been rehabilitated and painted with a contract recently awarded for the third. Uh skip a little a little bit. Um the size of the DPW garage was tripled to protect our fleet of vehicles
to extend their life. Uh renovation of the municipal building was done to make it more secure and more efficient for serving the public and improvements for the um police department offices are planned. Um we bought out three frequently uh flooded homes on Payic
Avenue using grant funds. Um we have wonderful events, Hawthorne Day, um 911 memorial and memorial service, both thanks to uh the late Mayormeritus Richard Goldberg. We have the band shell concert series which I mentioned. Um
we've had three success successive redesigns of the burough website over the years each with significant improvement over the earlier ones. We've achieved and maintained silver status and sustainable jersey thanks to Raina and her her uh team. Uh
we instituted background checks for recreation coaches as a protection for our children. Uh we developed and implemented a cyber security plan to protect the bureau's IT infrastructure. A grant-f funded neighborhood preservation program coordinated initially by Ellen Brogno and subsequ
sub subsequently by Nancy Agnello has made aesthetic improvements at the pool complex and in the downtown most recently with the implementation of a of a of a facade program that is improving a number of storefronts. Uh
um and my favorite topic of course is budget and finance. Uh despite funding and accomplishing all the items listed above, plus others I'm undoubtedly forgetting to me mention, the bureau for years maintained modest annual tax rate increases, rates that have only recently
ticked upwards in response to increases in health benefit premium, inflation generally, and higher interest rates on our debt. The bureau has been creative in finding alternative revenue sources rather than relying exclusively on property taxes. Most notably by turning
the Long View water tank into a cash cow with antenna leases that now generate over 3/4 of a million dollars in annual rent. um improvement in the bureau's financial condition has been made as as we've
increased and then maintained a healthy fund balance even while using significant amounts of this surplus to fund capital expenditures rather than simply issuing more debt. Uh this has led to an upgrade in the bureau's bond rating which in turn helps hold down the
cost of borrowing for capital projects. And I s sincerely hope that Hawthorne's residents appreciate the efforts of their elected and appointed officials, their professionals, and the municipal employees and volunteers to produce such
significant accomplishments. I am proud but yet humbled to have been permitted to play even a small part in all of this. And now it's time for me to name names. I want to thank former mayor Pat Botbio
for bringing me to Hawthorne and then mayors Goldberg and Lane for whatever shortage of good sense led them to keep me on. Um I'm thankful for the cooperative working relationships I've had with all council members in more or less alphabetic order. They are Bruce
Bennett, John Bertollo, Rich Goldberg and John Lane again, Raina Liosa, Frank Matthews, Dominic Mey, Mike Sierra, Shirley Shortway, and the late Gary Sinning, and of course, Joe Watki. Um, I I would note that I think 37 times
during my 20 years here, a mayor and council members have run for reelection. All 37 won. To me, that tells me they're doing something right. Um, the council has been abley assisted by their burough clerks, Gene Millie,
Sue Wakowski, and of course, Lori Fernandez, plus current deputy Nancy Salisbury. Although employee employees of the council uh and not the administration, they have always been helpful to me as well. Leadership comes not only from elected officials, but
from the department heads they employ. I have benefited from working with all of these in my 20 years here, including finance directors first Mary Gene Hwitt and now Lorie Foley, public works directors Ronnie Tatitham, although he never held the title, Joe Clemente, Bob
Scully, and currently Bill Hathler. Police chiefs, the late Marty Boyd, Bob Scully, Rich McAuliffe, and Jim Neper. Just one fire chief, Joe Sparanza. And of course, Burough Attorney Michael Pasqual, a good friend and adviser who doubles as chair of the bandell
committee. She's not exactly a department head because the library is a quasi separate entity, but library director Monica Smith has made many contributions to this community. And we have had justice from our municipal court judge John Miola who is also presiding municipal judge for all of Pay
County and a succession of able court administrators Christine Orvitz, Erica Will and Nora Curry. These people are all paid, but Hawthorne is what it is because of its volunteers. The Hawthorne Fire Department, which
remains a strong membership and keeps us safe despite rising training requirements and call volume. the Hawthorne Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a recreation program featuring a volunteer board led by longtime chair Bob Kapasqual and part-time secretary
director Jane Tenate. While most towns rely on a full-time director and a host of volunteer coaches, our wonderful environmental commission and green team led by Raina Lossa, our shade tree commission, our library board, planning board, zoning board of adjustment, board
of health and municipal alliance. Okay, >> my earlier list included lots of projects and new initiatives, but the bulk of everyday work is handled by yet another group of people. These are our employees who would routinely defy the frequently negative stereotypes of
municipal workers. We have one of the finest, if not the finest, police force in the state. We have an often unappreciated DPW who does it all. Water, sewer, storm water, recreational fields, leaf pickup, snow clearance, supporting public events, often in the
worst weather conditions. We have inspectors who endure criticism because they do their jobs. And we have our office staff who go out of their way to make sure our residents get the help and services they need. The bureau also has a an excellent group of contracted professionals whom I have
relied on heavily over the years. The brothers swishers swisher of our auditing firm Subly Clooney, planner John Zabbo, bond council Matt Jessup, labor council Jim Kruzenowski, our grant writing team at Capital Alternatives, and the whole crew at Boswell Engineering, Joe Burn, Joe Pamante,
Jazelle Diaz, Jeff Dwan, Chris Casey, Jim Woodward, Frank Rossi, and the rest, not to mention Dr. Steven T. Boswell himself. And then finally, there are the three people without whose assistance over the years I could never have been successful
in this job. Charlene Elvin, Ellen Bragno, and Jen Scully. Many, many thanks to all three. Why do I choose to mention all of this in my final report to the council? It's because well I just want to keep you
here a lot longer but it's also because all of these accomplishesments take a team effort and I have been blessed really blessed to work with such a fine and extensive group of people all of whom have made my job here easier and
quite frankly a joy and I would be remiss if if I failed to mention one other person someone who seldom has ever been to Hawthorne few of you who have ever met the love of my life and life partner Michelle, who has tolerated my long hours and occasional
bad moods being my rock for most of the past 20 years. And that does it, folks. I'm sorry it was so brief. Eric, >> is it December 31st here? >> Eric, I'm glad you only retired once.
You set a new record for your longest report ever. Yep. You topped the Chris Atelli report. You will be missed. >> It was awesome. Well done. >> Anyone have questions for the administration?
>> I got lots of answers. >> I I I actually do. >> Oh, I really do. >> Eric, real quick. The fire department, the the FEMA grant, how much is that? >> 25,000. >> 25,000. Okay, great. Thank you. And
Eric, thank you for your time here. We've worked a long time way before I came on council and I appreciate everything that you've done and just wish you a very happy and healthy retirement and please stay in touch with us and all the best. Thank you.
>> One thing I promise DPW snowplowing was amazing. I woke up. I went to work. I leave here. I drive from here. I go through Feralon. I go through Clifton. I go through Patterson.
I go through Belleville, Bloomfield, and Newark. It was a couple times I thought I was actually going to die because the roads were just so bad. But our DPW did an amazing job. And I thanked them at Puzos
this afternoon. And I thank them again. Eric, you got me crying, man. Eric, I want to thank you for all the years. I really loved working with you. >> Thank you, >> Michael. >> Um, I'll once again say thank you, Eric,
for all your dedication and hard work to keep this burrow running on the uh on the track like we needed it to. Um, I wish I wish you the best in your retirement and uh I want to wish your wife my condolences for having to have
to put up with you for the rest of the time. But the best of luck. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Bruce. I was going to schedule a public works committee meeting, but I figured now I'll let you go. >> Yay.
Eric, you truly are a testament to how this town has run, how well it's run all this time. Your report says it all, and I hope that everyone has listened and they now understand how we're able to operate so well. Um, but you will be
very missed. We have very big shoes to fill for the next person. Um, and I have to tell you, I was I will miss your desk because mine looks just like it. Um, I think that means something great, but I wish you all the best in your retirement. And yes, we will be checking
in on your wife in the future. She may put you out for a part-time job, in which case you can come back here once in a while. We'll put we definitely will always need Eric Mau here in Hawthorne. I wish you the best, my friends. >> Dominic, Joe, you mentioned about a
Fairview Avenue. What were we looking at? Something for >> the things we submitted from the ordinance committee. the suggestions. Okay. I don't know if that Okay. All right. And Eric, thank you, Eric. You made my job as chairman of finance for a lot easier. Your door was always open.
Anytime I had a question, you were there. It took a long time, but you were there. But thank you, Eric. You're welcome. >> That it Joe had a question. You mentioned the lights on Lafayette. Did they give you an estimate? Is it going to be this year that they'll turn them on? What's the whole
>> Um, it it's PSEG. I mean, is it flipping the switch? Are they making a connection? >> Everything's all set up. >> They're all connected, right? >> Yeah. It's just a pro. >> It would be nice to be able to use them. We put them up. >> I I'll reach out to them again tomorrow and push for >> Was the work all inspected, Joe?
>> Yeah, >> it was inspected. >> Yes. >> My guy who didn't fail it. >> Excuse me. >> Okay. >> It's an electrical inspector doesn't have red stickers. >> He's not retiring. Eric is here in trouble.
And Eric, I had one quick question for you. Your last question. >> Does the Liso program have uh garbage trucks that may be available? >> Maybe >> because you mentioned obviously that worked out really well since now that we're renewing that program,
>> uh maybe DPW can keep an eye on there to see if one pops up. >> Well, we'll explore various options. We we think that if we have to buy something, there should be something that's available at a fairly
low end cost. Hopefully, one that does not leak sludge inside. I was thinking B&B might happen with I have to say for our use um it's not something has to be
available every day year round and so something that is surplus to somebody else may be very useful for us to use seasonally and particularly if if we can shift to something else should it go down whereas a garbage company can't
switch to like a pickup truck or a dump truck should they their garbage truck go down. So, we we think there's options. >> Thank you. And as everyone else said, you will be missed. It's been a pleasure working with you, but we did have a special meeting coming up. Does that mean you're not going to come?
>> I won't give a report. >> Well, maybe I might ask you a question. >> I might. And I might I may or may not give an answer. >> Well, maybe I'll see you then. Anything else, Mayor? That concludes with the report on administration. >> Could I have a motion record?
>> Motion by Bennett, second by >> Sierra Wki. It was somebody yawning. Motion. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries. Resolutions. We have cassette agenda R Mr06-25
R183-25 to R195-25. Thank you. >> Mro 625 is the removal of a handicap space at block 52, lot 15. R183-25 is property tax deduction for a senior
citizen. R184-25 is taxexempt status for veteran. R185-25 tax exempt status for veteran. R186-25 is the professional services for Boswell for the phase uh six lead line replacement planning and design service.
Correct that to be galvanized service line replacement. 187-25 is to authorize shared service agreement with Rididgewood for water bacteria testing. R1 188-25s authorize a shared service agreement with Loi for the sale of
brine. R189-25 is authorized the lease agreement for Long View Tank Eastern Dragon. R1 190-25's change order one and project closeout for the Wagler road uh two and three bleacher improvements. R1 191-25's
renewal of the Liso program for the 2026 for HPD. R192-25's authorized 2026 acquisition of MRAP vehicle for the police department. R193-25 is a Gael water main uh change order to
Delerica and Suns. R1 194-25 is budget transfers and 195 is the end of year transfers. Can I have a motion? >> So move second. >> Motion by Millie. Second by Sasso. Any discussion? Discussion. Discussion. I just like to point out that uh although
I am going to vote yes for the MRAP vehicle, nothing comes for free. I know another community for which I have a residence in that they got one and it was nothing but a financial um
hole in the water where they just had to keep putting money and money and money just to keep it afloat. The military isn't my sons are all in the military and the military does not give anything away for free. So there must be something wrong with it. So, I will vote yes because I could see the many
benefits of our flooded area, especially on Wagar Road, and the use for it. But I disagree that it's coming for free because nothing comes for free from the federal government. >> Well, technically it comes for free, but it'll cost us.
>> I think we pay for shipping, but uh >> Okay. >> I do want to just point out one thing, too. I know Eric in his uh wonderful report mentioned that R 19325 was a negative change order. Um the first of
the change orders 19025 was a negative change order. 1932 is actually significant increase uh change order because we looped the system through the Christian Healthc Care Center, add an extra fire hydrant up there as part of
the looping. So that is a permissible increase, but it is an increase. That's all. I hate to correct Eric on his last report, but >> hopefully it's your last night. Nice job. >> I saw what you did. Good job, Michael. Appreciate >> trying to take a little more credit than the
>> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Sasso, >> yes. >> Millie, >> yes. >> Leosa, >> yes. >> Bennett, >> yes. >> Matthews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Reports of special council committees. Dominic will start your side. >> Nothing. >> Well, I have a couple. Sorry, be quick. I'm sorry.
>> Our ambulance corps is entering their 94th year of service in Horththornne in 2026. And they would just like to say to everyone, thank you for all of your donations throughout the year. Please keep them coming. That is how they stay uh able to service us. This year they
have taken 1145 calls thus far, which equates to 19,000 volunteer hours for our town. Um, moving on to the Bthone Board of Education. They met yesterday. I'm sorry. Yes, yesterday. And they just would like to remind everybody to please
attend two events this Friday night at Roosevelt School, the Treps Marketplace from 6:30 to 8:30. Um, cash only. You'll get to purchase handmade items from our um, fifth grade
entrepreneurs. In addition to that, at the high school at 7 p.m. this Friday is the Hawthorne for holidays. Um, please bring a non-p perishable item. So, it's a holiday event and you get to bring a holiday uh item and it's a cash
bake sale event. >> That's a fundraiser for them. And last but not least, mayor and council and I would like to thank everybody who has participated in the holiday decoration contest. We have over two We have two dozen homes that are on the list. Go to
the website to check out the homes that are on our list. Drive by, check them out. You can continue to vote until the 20th. All you have to do is log on to contest at e I'm sorry, contest at horththornj.org to vote. You can vote as
many times. There's no limit. And we will be announcing and visiting the winners on December 23rd. That concludes my report. >> Bruce. >> No, sir. Reena, >> nothing tonight. >> Mike, not tonight. Joe,
>> board of health, the report was emailed to all members of the council. And lastly, tree sales continue down at the pool. They are green and beautiful. Come on down and buy. Any specials?
As soon as I get my salary paycheck, I'll let you know. >> Okay. Uh, planning board meeting last night was cancelled. And the chamber uh wants to say thank you to all who participated in the 40th Santa parade. And the annual company of
the year dinner is on January 30th at Macalus. And once again, they're going to be honoring Angelina's and Salon TG. Contact the chamber office to purchase tickets. Correspondents, we have C1 firefighter applicants Brian Vasquez to company 4
and Kareem Cahil to company 1. Have a motion? So move >> second >> motion by me. Second by Leosa. >> Roll call. >> Bennett. >> Yes. >> Leosa. >> Yes. >> Mey. >> Yes.
>> Sasso. >> Yes. >> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Wki. >> Abstain. >> Matthews. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Bills. Have a motion to approve the bills and forward them to the treasurer for payment. Motion. >> Second. Mey. Second by Leosa.
Discussion. Roll call. >> WKI. >> Abstain on the fire department. Yes. On all others. >> Skiara. >> Yes. >> Sasso. >> Yes. Me? >> Yes. >> Leosa? >> Yes. >> Bennett? >> Yes. >> Matthews? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Public comment. And now open the meeting
to the public. Anyone desires to be heard? Come forward to the microphone. State your name. Seeing no one, I entertain a motion to close the public portion. Move. >> Motion by WKI, second by Skier. All in favor? >> I.
>> Motion carries. Our next meeting is the uh reorganization meeting at 7 p.m. January 7th, 2026. That's our next regular meeting. We're having a special meeting on Monday the 22nd at 7 p.m. to discuss our affordable housing u
obligation slash agreement. Yep. Have a motion to adjurnn. So >> by wki, second by scar. All in favor? I. >> Motion carries. >> We're adjourned.