Uh, this meeting is called to order in accordance with the open public meeting act. Notice of this meeting has been provided to the home news review, the SCAR ledger in the Highland Park Planet on January 8th, 2025 and was posted on
the Burl's website at www.hparl hparl.com and on the bulletin board at Burl Hall 221 South 5th Avenue, Highland Park, New Jersey, and has been has remained continuously posted as required by law.
Fire exits are to my left and right of council chambers. I would like to lead us to the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. Thank you. A roll call. Mayor Foster. Council member George here. Council member Hail here. Council member Hurst here. Council President Kim Johan here. Council member
Ponic here. Council member Vargas here. Burough attorney Berlin here. And administrator Her here. Um and uh just for here the mayor says she will be running
a few minutes late tonight. And for approval of the minutes, can I have a motion to approve minutes as distributed January 4th, 2025 regular meeting? So moved. Second. Roll call. Council member Dors, yes. Council member Hail, yes.
Council member Hirs, yes. Council President, yes. Council member Ponic, yes. Council member Vargas, yes. And council reports. Um, council member Vargas, do you want to start us all?
Sure. Thank you. Um, hello everybody. My name is Roma Vargas and I serve as a council for the arts and recreation um portfolio. We have a few events coming up that you might like. The arts commission's learn and create series will have its next event on Sunday, June
29th at 2 p.m. at the Highland Park Library. The topic will be embracing imperfection, the art of wisabi. It should be interesting. um the collaboration with the Highland Park Library continues as part of the color our world our world um crafts are dark
at the library series um they will have collab actually they have an event tonight that um there was mandala art which started at 7 p.m. Um and their next one will be on July 29th at 7 p.m. that will be collaged with Rolanda. And
there's one coming up also on August 19th which is called Tom Gnomes with Sherry. That should be cute. Um as a reminder, these are all free events. So please reserve the dates um and stay tuned for more programming from the arts commission. Last week um the department
of aging held its annual senior prom which was an very enjoyable event. There was a buffet, photo booth, DJ and lots and lots of fun. Thank you to Kim McGra and the team for organizing this beautiful I had a great time and there's very silly pictures of me dancing somewhere and I hope they never become
public. Um I know I had some on her phone. Um um dates the fireworks at Donaldson Park is coming up on Thursday July 3rd. first performance. Um, also the first performance is part of the Parkside
concert series is scheduled for July 17th starting at 6 PM and the first act will be forbidden tropics and Afro Peruvian Jas. Please check out their bio on the borrow page wwwpbar.com. I have had the pleasure of listening to
them before and it is really really great music. So we hope you come out and support. Also, the Department of Recreation Staff is busy preparing for summer camp, which starts, I believe, on July 7th. So, if you haven't enrolled your kids, please make sure to reach out to them um and see if there's any spots
available. Their number is 7328190052. And that is my report for tonight. Thank you, Council Member H. Thank you very much. My name is Matt Hail and I chair the economic development uh committee. Excuse me. Um, a couple
things tonight. First of all, the zoning and or board of adjustment needs new members. Uh, uh, the board of adjustment is is uh looking for both uh regular and alternate members. Uh, it's a great way to get involved um and and learn about um the processes for getting building done in Hannah Park. There's several
slots open. So, if you're interested um please fill out the volunteer application form on the website and get it in ASAP. Uh, next up is Third Street. Um uh the big news is that uh with the pedestrian plaza we have met with um Arterial which is our landscape and
engineering design firm um about the pedestrian plaza. Um we had a great in initial internal work session um where we help to sort of clarify some of the key questions about the space um and sort of meet and introduce staff to each other um so we know how the workflow is
going to go. Uh next up is that there will be a series of small key stakeholder meetings. These include businesses um uh in and around South Third, uh homeowners uh in the neighborhood, Main Street, of course, um our engineering, planner, code enforcement, police and fire departments
um as well. Um so this is where the the team gets to hear about ideas, uh needs, hopes, and dreams of these key stakeholders. Um there they'll they'll go back um uh identify different possibilities and concepts um which we're going to share widely um with with
the public. Uh the goal is again uh to make sure that we've got um all the information from uh various stakeholders. Um they'll then turn around and and and create a a a sort of mockup and concept ideas. Again, we'll sort of put that out to the public. So,
it's exciting to see this project. It's been on the books forever, but exciting to to get it uh moving. Next up is um we we know and we've heard that there's there's quite a bit of concern about what's going to happen with the right property. Um and we share
this concern and we just wanted to make sure that um everybody knows that the the town is in in in very close um contact with the property owner. But I also wanted to remind people that it is important to remember that this is a bankruptcy proceeding for writing. Um and that means that there's likely to be
some steps and and procedures that that need to get followed. Um, write a has an active lease and that is an asset which uh is part of those bankruptcy proceedings. They can try and sell that at auction to raise money to sort of help pay off their creditors. Um, so it
is frustrating and it is um unclear uh that that we know that. Um, but we really just want to make sure that that we have to to sort of make sure um these various bankruptcy proceedings occur before um uh either the landlord or or
the town can kind of jump in. There's a lot of potential different scenarios about what's possible at writing um and what might happen. I I I understand that there isn't um that the the level of certainty isn't there and it's a little bit um uh frustrating that this is happening, but I I just want to make
sure that everybody knows that we are very much uh connecting with the landlords, staying on top of the situation. There will be an FAQ about um uh everything that's going on with Write Aid. Um uh we're just going to put that out shortly, so check the website um for
that FAQ. Uh couple things uh in new businesses. Uh there's some movement down on Main Street. Uh the Wells Fargo building I believe has a new tenant. Looks like a physical therapy healthc care concern. Um often with kids um uh more details on
that to come. Um it is also possible there might be a new restaurant coming to where Safe Drugs was. Um and a new pharmacy coming where Berkeley Bakery is. Um these are all in the process. They still have to do renovations. They still have to do some fixing. They still have to do some permitting. um we were
helping all of the concerns um along the way, but it's exciting to see some changes coming to our our downtown. Um then in terms of Main Street, I always remember the farm Friday Farmers Market. Uh but I also wanted to highlight that there's some really interesting movies coming to the outdoor movie theater.
Total Recall is a classic Arnold Schwarzenegger masterpiece where he plays a shy retiring librarian. Oh, wait, no, sorry. He plays a guy who likes to blow things up, but it's really fun. It's really really cool. Um uh uh and it takes place on Mars, so that's
kind of cool, too. Um it's a fun movie that airs on July 19th. Um and then um August 2nd is an underground documentary called Defcon, the documentary. Um and I just wanted to ensure everybody that this is not a movie about the current
state of the world. Um it is simply a movie about a um someone snuck in a camera to a hackers convention. Um, and so it's supposed to be quite good uh about about that. Um, some crazy funl looking loving hackers. So those are fun things to do in Highland Park. Um, and
uh take some time to to shop local. Uh try and shop local three times a week. Come to the movie theater. Come to the farmers market. Go out for our new businesses. Um, and then also please make sure to uh be careful with the heat. It's really hot out there. That's what I have. Thank you. Um, Council
Member H. Thank you council president. Um thank you male for for for explaining right a too. Uh I think that's really helpful and it's really helpful because it is complicated and it's it's all these external things that you know we have to keep our eye on. Excuse me. Um cler
please let the record show that the mayor has arrived that thank you. Well, now that the mayor is in the audience, please continue with your report. Thank you, everyone. I have to be on my best
page. Uh my name is Matthew Hirs. Um I chair the public works and public utilities committee. Um uh thank you. Welcome to our guests. Uh to uh just kind of get a better feel for the nuts and bolts here in town. Um so
uh in as as as liaison to uh to public works that concludes uh the department of public works. So I'm going to go through a little report out on our activity this uh this month in public works. So um with sanitation uh there were 375
tons collected nine collection days that were all delivered to the county landfill. Uh uh and um uh uh that's total on the south side. is 208 times collected in landfill over five collection days. In the north side of triangle, it's 167 tons collected in
landfill over four collection days. So the satsiders, we uh you know we we prepare uh the business district is is collected with both southside and north side and triangle collections. Uh and so uh and for recycling there's a total of 97 and a half tons collected in the month of June. I'm sorry there's smaller
numbers were were monthly. Uh we're in the month of June over 10 collection days delivered to Republic Services, formerly Colgate Recycling Services. Uh that's a year-to- date total of 423 tons. Uh Southside 47 tons uh this month, North Side 50 times uh this month
and um year to date 191 times for Southside 232* 4 North Side. Um uh sweet sweeping. Uh so you've seen our sweet our our little sweeter poking around. Uh well, we do have 31 miles of roadway that get collected with debris.
Storms get clogged and it's really important to be out there. It's also important to follow the um uh the signage and make sure that you're not parked on on street sweeping days where where parking is prohibited um because that uh results in less effective street sweeping. Uh but this month in June in
June uh there were seven day it was there were seven days of service 135 miles of road swept and this month 484 miles year to date. Uh this month uh the street sweeper removed 16 uh loads or 72 cubic yards of material. Uh and that's
60 loads or 259 cubic yards of material for the entire year. So just to give you an idea of uh you know some of our operations there and we're always looking to try to improve as well. And um I did want to acknowledge that some folks did reach out um about uh recent news uh regarding the uh county
recycling program. Uh it is something that the bureau is looking into uh to partner with, but um uh there may be considerations that affect our decision one way or the other. So I just wanted to just mention that in case you saw uh any recent headlines. Um, Sustainable
Highland Park will host its regular monthly meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 25th, at 7:30 p.m. here in person at Burough Hall in the downstairs conference room. You can enter the building on the south six side near the community center. And you can also participate in the meeting on Zoom and
the link is available at www.hpb.com. And just some save the dates uh through Sustainable Highland Park. July 5th, there is a community cleanup. Let's come together and clean up the woods at the bottom of Sat 7th Avenue. Meet at the entrance of the paved path at the intersection of Sat 7th and Donaldson.
Gloves, buckets, and other supplies will be provided. That's at 9:00 a.m. At 11:00 a.m., uh we will meet at South 7. Oh, I'm sorry, my apologies. That's 9:00 a.m. Uh uh July 17th, uh please save the date to add color to your garden with
native plants. Uh join us uh at the Highland Park Public Library to learn more about the importance of native plants in our ecosystem and the need to add native plants to our spaces. Uh return presenter and master gardener Sue Tar will introduce some of the many colorful native plants that can beautify
your space and support native bees, butterflies, and birds. Um our boards and commissions are stocked with some really terrific experts who are also obviously very community-minded. So, attending these meetings, you might get some really great tips and tricks. Uh,
but then you can also, you know, if there's anything that we're reporting out here, feel free to approach us and we can we can help connect you. Uh, the uh the bureau does have a uh has has a gas leaf blower task force to explore the ideas of putting guard rails on gas
powered leaf blower use. That's composed of members of sustainable Highland Park, the shade tree advisory committee, and the uh Highland Park Environmental Commission. Uh the task force will host another informational and feedback session this Thursday, June 26th, 2025 in the Ida Kersner Kushner media room,
formerly the community room at the Highland Park Public Library at 700 p.m. Um this task force is really uh if you remember before uh the plastic bag ban went into effect both locally and statewide uh sustainable Highland Park led uh an informational campaign and
engagement campaign. Just really answering questions, showing how these initiatives can be implemented locally and what some of the challenges or considerations have to have have to take before making a decision. And that's kind of where we are. council has not been presented with with with any of the
findings, but the gasar leaf blower task force uh is collecting uh data from other municipalities uh connecting with um uh other decision makers that have you know made made similar uh efforts in their communities. Um and it also does
tie into a statewide effort because we always prefer when there's state level guidance for these types of things. I mean, it's also important for towns to act on their own and take the lead, but when there's a when when when when we have allies in the legislature, you know, who might agree with us, it's it's it's great if they can help sh the way
as well. So, Senator Bob Smith um and uh Assemblywoman Tucker sponsor S27 uh that would ban some gas leaf blowers for most of the year uh in New Jersey and it provides credits for up to 50% to people who buy electric ones unless
retain money that they get from violations. So there is state there there is there there is considerable support there's a lot of co-sponsors on this legislation uh for a state a state-led effort but because um actions like these can help Highland Park
standing in our sustainability certification uh and our ability to um generate more money and to to have access to more grants. These initiatives are really important to explore and I do think it could be really impactful. I do think that um a lot of us learned a lot,
you know, knew a lot about the noise uh and the particulates that gas power leaf blowers let off, but I think when we were all home during COVID, uh a lot of us got a better feel for just how impactful and how disruptive it can be on on on many levels. Uh and it's not
really a vanity issue. It really can directly impact one's health, one's level of concentration, and so forth. Um, the Highland Park Environmental Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 2nd at 8:00 PM on Zoom. Go to www.hbro.com
[Music] for the link. And I did just want to thank um the human relations commission, the mayor, and my council colleagues for another great um Jeene flag raising. Uh these flag flag raisins are among my favorite activities in the time when we
can fly the flag high as a symbol of our support for for for those of us for for those of us who have particularly been marginalized or felt any oppression or feel unsafe. It's really important that we consistently and routinely uh uh illustrate and
announce heart as a safe place. That's my report. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, mayor, and thank you, Council Press for the for the first few minutes. You did excellent as always. Um, so good evening everyone. Um, my name is Jason
Selmic. I chair the council's uh health and human services committee. I have a fairly brief report for tonight. First, just picking up where my colleague uh Kersh left off. I just wanted to thank human relations commission and burough staff. Special shout out to Harry and Kim for all their hard work putting
together another series of successful flag raising events this year. Um we had the Caribbean American Heritage Pride and June flag raisings just this month and lots of burrow residents turn out to enjoy. So thanks once again for all your help making these events happen. Uh
second, um as we're approaching that time of the year where dangerous heat waves like the one we're currently experience experiencing can occur, I just wanted to caution people to exercise caution, stay hydrated, and to stay indoors when possible. Uh if you
are in need of a place to cool off, you are welcome to stop by any of our municipal buildings during our regular business hours, uh namely the community center, Burl Hall, and the library. Um, we're also grateful to our community partner, the Reformed Church of Highland Park, for making their quilt room available to residents during this
evening and weekends. Uh, the hours for all these buildings are as follows. The community center in Burough Hall are open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. Uh, Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. closed
Saturday and Sunday. Uh, the library is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 900 pm. Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday from 1 pm to 5:00 pm. Uh the Reformed Church of Highland Park uh
quilt room is open daily from 7:00 am to 900 pm. Uh relatedly, the state department of environmental protection has declared tomorrow an air quality action day for ozone and advises that sensitive individuals including young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory diseases such as asthma are
advised to avoid strenuous activities during the afternoon and early evening. Uh, and lastly, I just wanted to note that the commission for universal access will be meeting tomorrow at 5:00 pm in person at Burough Hall in the Fishbowl conference room right across from here,
the uh council chambers, as well as on Zoom. Uh, the link is available on the Burrow website, hpb.com. And also tomorrow, the human relations commission will be meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Burrow Hall in the lower level conference room here at Burough Hall.
Uh, hopefully we'll have time for dinner. Uh, that's my report for tonight. I hope so, too. Council member George. Thank you. I just want to warn Councilman Hail. You may be making fun
of Arnold Schwarz Schwarzenegger even though the remake was even terrible. But remember, the newest hit science fiction movie is called The Librarians. Watch it. Don't make fun of my librarians. Good evening everyone. I'm
Councilman Phil George and I'm leazison to our public safety agencies and organizations. Uh a warning from the chief and the fire chief. Please practice safety in this heat bank. The police department reminds us to keep hydrated and that includes in our
vehicles. The heat is so high you may not realize the temperature is building even with your air conditioner blasting and you're stuck there like River Road tonight for 45 minutes in the shade at the park. The outside thermometer was
106 degrees. Be careful, please. And police and fire. The statewide warning is if it is just too hot and it's getting to you, give it up and do it later. Although cool off, relax, and hydrate. for the fire department. You'll
see on the agenda tonight, items 11 and P, we have two grant applications. Uh once more, the bureau is exploring ways to expand our services, but through grants. One is the fire department's FEMA safer grant, which is staffing for adequate fire and emergency response,
which could provide up to $335,000 over three years for a full-time firefighter. There's a matching provision over the three years of the grant which allows a permanent transition to staff. We're also put out a grant from the statewide
insurance fund which is our insurance fund which provides general safety and loss prevention training. This is our insurance fund's effort to promote safety through small fixes which could assist us after work in a safer environment. We provide fire hydra
connectors, traffic control gear, and a lift gate for one of our trucks for the princely sum of $5,800, but it goes to safety. It reduces our premiums, and it certainly will assist our staff. another way that we're seeking grants to um economize for the
librarian uh for the library. We like to thank uh trustee Pi Wade for her active and engaged term as a library trustee and the program she brought to fruition during her short term due to a career advancement. It's a loss to us. Um but
um we thank her for her service as a trustee. And if you're interested in screening for the position of trustee as a mayor's appointment, uh please see the burough website, the library website or contact myself or the mayor's office to Mr. Glazer by burough email. The library
trustees cons continued their invitation to municipal officials uh at their monthly meetings to present a brief synopsis of the role and responsibilities within the burrow. At the trustees meeting last week, um our our esteemed burough administrator
presented uh the tasks and obligations of the burough administrator and some of the larger uh uh programs that the bureaus engaged in. Um this program results in a great increase in cross knowledge and crosspollinization of all of the burough's agencies by
sharing knowledge and infrastructure for planning. Um the Mr. the Bish School library director wants to uh maybe remind everyone the trustees have approved the PA improvement for the front of the library. Uh the entire front of the library will be repaved
with palos. Uh the concrete circle will be removed so it's all paved. Um we'll announce when that starts, but uh there'll be a temporary inconvenience for using the uh uh north second entrance for a while uh while the uh improvements are put into place. Um and
so for the summer reminding everyone the summer library season is kicking in uh as of uh this weekend and the hours of reminder are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday and Friday is 10 to 5.
Saturday is 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. Uh we will be closed for the 4th of July. However, um the activities, looking at the calendar, uh the summer activities, there is at least one thing scheduled
almost every day, including weekends through August, uh and ages from infants, uh in in arms right up through adult programming. Um everything from the the science heroes that was today. Uh the program was a great program. Um
it was the in search of the missing color was today. Excellent program. Uh this is a a professional program that travels to libraries and was the kickoff for the summer season. Uh finally, with regard to our safety walking and cycling, uh they're working on the
policy recommendations for adoption, uh in part for sustainable Highland Park silver or possibly gold certification, but also to regularize the recommendations for safe walking and cycling and make it more uh of a standard to be applied across the board
for our programming, for our behaving, for our neighborhood improvement, and for our redevelopment program. It'll be including ebikes and e- scooters and other alternatives to motor vehicles. And that's my report. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, council president.
Sure. Just a um few reminders and announcements. Um the uh second quarter uh water sewer bill is due Monday and um forgot because I had to run the meeting
today. Um and and a few announcements from our downtown vendors that I just recently frequent. Um Me Too now has a happy hour um from started uh June 11th through
August 7th. Um every Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 7 they have a buy one get one 50% off on their select items. Um, and then Aki has brought back their
seasonal ice cream selection. And Dee, because I go here and they asked for and Dee has a new item of H spinach and tomato on there that he forced on me, but but it was it was
actually good. But they have a new item on their menu. Um, so check it out if you have time. And um also just wanted to um remind
everyone that the um anchor grant uh the anchor benefit application is still open. Try to get them in as soon as possible. So please go on the state website and um apply there. And I will
be um and one more one more announcement from um Sunday, this Sunday at the community center. Um there's going to be a
Highland Park DEI cookie exchange hosted by uh Gary Leslie who used to do all of our video uh video videography for the council meetings. It's a um uh bring
cookies from all different cultures and exchange them as a symbolic support for diversity um equity and inclusion and then if you're comfortable you can say a few statements about it. I uh I love that and I look forward to going. I'm gonna probably pick up something
storebought but I'm going to bring you something and that's my report made. Thank you council president. I am so happy that you're reporting in all the places that in town so people know that we are really shopping in these stores and we're really promoting and supporting local business. Thank you.
They have deals. See they have deals. So check out our check out our our restaurants, check out our eeries, our local shops. They are great deals. Uh B administrator report. Uh yes. Thank you, Mayor. I wanted to point out on the
agenda there is a ordinance on for introduction. may look a little familiar because we had thought we were going to introduce it a few weeks back. Um, but we needed to incorporate some feedback from both the state's film ready commission and I should mention the
ordinance is rather boringly titled licenses an amendment to a section of our existing code uh to add a section called filming. And the reason we're doing that is we're going to be participating, assuming House will support it here, in the state's film
ready uh ordinance and film ready program, which includes this model ordinance as well as um a number of other um initiatives to kind of promote Highland Park as a possible place for uh films to be produced. And there they
have there's there's places for there's space for all kinds of communities, ours being one of them. So, I'm really excited this is on tonight. One one issue that came up as we were developing the ordinance was in particular to smaller filmmakers and we met with the
Fereetti Commission folks to see if we had within our within this ordinance enough power to wave some of the permitting requirements for smaller kind of dimminimous filming operations meaning a couple hours handheld u you
know uh cameras etc. And the answer was yes. And so what we will do is as we plan to roll this out, we'll make sure that in all the permitting and on the information on our website, it's very clear, you know, there's these different categories and what you have to do. So
we're we're actually becoming welcoming to these small filmmakers of which we have many in town. So that was one reason that was really important. So I'm really excited that's on the agenda for this evening. And so I guess we're introducing tonight and then we'll have to wait till August to adopt because our
meeting's too close uh next week to to vote. So uh you know we'll have plenty of time to mull it over and have our public hearing at the August meeting. Um the only other thing I wanted to mention was we had a really great meeting with the chairs of all these wonderful boards and commissions that you heard being
reported out at our meeting tonight. Uh it was a meeting with staff and those chairs to help walk them through uh what's you know protocol how to do purchasing and also and much more importantly to make connections amongst those boards and commission members. And
so it was a great meeting. We're going to get back on track and do that at least annually plus our volunteer appreciation event at in May in the winter. Um but things like the leaf blower task force that was mentioned earlier, those are those cross, you know, group uh collaborations that
really uh speak to kind of the value of these boards and commissions and kind of elevating different policy and and programmatic uh uh goals. So I just wanted to thank everybody for participating and um you know look forward to working with everybody moving
forward. Thank you. Thank you. Um, I want to also say that I met a few people in town that told me that the the workshop was really really educational and they really thank you for going. So, I want to let you know that people really appreciated words in commission
meet and I cannot wait for movie time. I'm super excited about that. Um, Laura attorney's report. Thank you, mayor. There's no report from legals yet. Oh, my legs. Well, it's a short one, but
this is a really this a this is a really really really good one I want to report on and um I'm going to read it to say you can say I'm a little bit biased or proventional about when I see Highland Parkers doing well and especially
Highland Park teams and I want to recognize a Highland Park team that has gotten to second place, knocked it out of the park and her name is Had Adasha Rich. Adasha is an active member of the
mayor's teen advisory council and she won second place in the high school division of the USA Shidan Tanach held in Riverdale, New York in May. This is a very competitive series of quizzes and
tests that test students their knowledge of characters, stories, and the commandments of the Torah. Hadasha accomplished this all with a remarkable amount of skill, talent and technique because she was currently a public
school student and within a year she was able to move in and to study this and to win second place which is a very huge honor. So congratulations Hadassa. You make us all proud and you put Highland Park on the map. With that said, I would like to give her a huge round of
applause. Thank you. And um little bit of update. Um Upper Raritin, we have talked and talked and talked about Upper Raritin for a long time. And Upper Raritin, we were supposed to have stripings and paintings and the road work road work
done this summer. However, when we spoke with the state DOT, they advised us that the work is going to continue, but their backlog in their maintenance department. So, it is is it's on a maintenance schedule, but with all the rains that
we've been having, it was not able to be possible. So, they're telling me that the painting will happen this fall, the striping on the roads and the cosmetic pieces. So, that's going to be happening this fall. So stay tuned and I'll keep you updated as soon as I learn more. Um,
also I met with the county um last week last we had a meeting with the county Terry and I and one of the things that I'd like to do is to keep reminding them that Highland Park is here and the commitments that we have made to
Highland Park to make sure that those commitments stay in place and anything new anything that we can collaborate on especially as we see budget cuts from DC how we can work together more closely do more shared services projects and u the meeting went very well and we
have some things that we're going to be collaborating on. I'll keep you posted on that. And that's my report. And now it's time for public participation. 21 minutes total. 3 minutes per speaker limited to subject
to items on this agenda. Comments from the members of public attending in person will be heard first, followed by those on Zoom. Anyone in Zary? No, mayor. There are four attendees. Hands up. Okay.
Okay. See, there's none. May May I have a motion to close public participation? So move. Second. Council member George. Yes. Council member Hail. Yes. Council member Hir.
Yes. Council President Kimcha. Yes. Council member Piston. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. Okay. Now we move on to ordinances. First reading. Clerk, please report an ordinance on introduction of
introduction of ordinance number 25-2115. An ordinance to amend chapter 247 titled licenses to create article 5 titled filming in the municipal code of the burrow of Highland Park County of Middle Sex, New Jersey by the economic and
planning committee for consideration of passage on first reading by title. May I have a motion to approve ordinance number 20-2115? Motion second. Roll.
Council member George, definitely yes. Council member Hail, absolutely. Yes. Council member Hirs, my best job to this day was talking about port movie theater. So this council member Vargas. Yes. Nice and short.
Now we move to our consent agenda. Um I'm ask any member of the of council is there anything that they would like to pull for a separate vote on the consent agenda? No. Okay. Okay. May I have a motion to adopt the
following consent agenda items 11 A through 11 Q? Roll call. Council member George. Yes. important item is our uh county being maintained and mandatory vote. Council member Hail. Yes. Council member
Hir. I just wanted to point out 11H. I wanted to thank Councilman Hail and the planning board for adopting the rural fair share plan for four. Um so, Council President Kim Chan. Yes. Council member Panic. Yes. And I just wanted to
note that the um I'm very excited to see the diesel modernization program ran on there because that will go to help support our community bus. So very excited about that. We'll make a note less excited to see that we're going to be approving another extension for an active ABC license. So we I understand I
think our discretion is limited here. Um they satisfy the statuto process voting yes but hopefully we would get some use out of that near future. Council member Vargas. Yes. Now it's time for a second of public
participation. Three minutes per speaker on any on any subject subject to conclude at 9:00 p.m. Comments from members of the public attending in person will be heard first followed by those on Zoom. Please address your name and address.
Hi, my name is Seth Shakur 2011 South. Hi, my name is Madnik uh 216 uh Graham Street South. Good evening council members. We're here as representatives of the high school student congress and we're here to talk
to you um about something that the student congress worked very hard on this year um and that is um lowering the voting voting age for board of education elections. This is an example that's been seen throughout the state. We think it's something that could be very important for the town and increasing
these civic engagements as well as bringing good. Yeah. So over the past year, student congress has been working closely and had many meetings with vote 16 in New Jersey. Um and you might have heard of
vote 16 in New York. Um, and it was a very active organization that worked with uh high school students to allow uh the passing of an ordinance to have uh 16 and 17 year olds able to vote in
school board elections and that infranchised over 7,000 students in Newark um to vote and has been recognized as a model for civic engagement among teens across New Jersey. So we're trying to get that in
Highland Park as well. Also throughout the year we've worked with vote 16 to develop legal framework for this. Um and through that as well as legal analysis from the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice and as demonstrated in Newark municipalities do
in New Jersey who have the power to lower the voting age in school board elections. So this is something that could be done by this council. Yeah. So research um and evidence supporting this change is clear and very compelling. Um it shows that voting is a
habit and when people vote in their first eligible election which very easily could be um students voting in board elections at 16 or 17 years old. Uh people are for far more likely to vote throughout the rest of their lives
which is something that we really want to encourage. And in cities and countries that have lowered the voting age to 16, turnout among 16 and 17 year olds has consistently exceeded that of older voters. Um, and in Tacoma Park,
Maryland, turnout for 16 and 17 year olds was more than double the overall rate and similar results have been observed internationally in Austria, Scotland, and Norway. A recent study from Scotland found that young people who voted at 16 or 17 were significantly
more likely to keep voting throughout their 20s compared to those whose first election was at 18 years old. And then locally to tie that into Highland Park, we conducted surveys this year with over 200 students who would be in this voting population that are in
the high school. over 90% of them did was a support for this um uh this resolution and allowing 16 17 year olds in this town to vote for elections. 30 seconds. Not only that, but we've gotten a lot of support from teachers within
Highland Park High School who live in Highland Park and they think that this would be an act of civic engagement for our students and it would really allow students to voice their opinions and improve the school how they see fit. And then finally, uh this reform will
increase voter turnout partic particularly in local elections where participation is often low as it has been in recent years. Um by engaging student engaging with students whether high school um supported by teachers, family and civic education which we have
voter registration drives every uh season in the high school. This is a way we can increase youth voter turnout as well as civic engagement as um our students become adults. Thank you so much for your time and consideration and we urge you to lower the voting age for board of education
elections to 16 years old. Thank you. Any anyone on Zoom? Oh, sorry. I was just thinking um No, mayor. There are still four attendees but no hands up. Okay, seeing there's none, may I have a motion to
close public participation? So moved. Second. Welcome. Council member George. Yes. Council member Hill. Yes. Council member Hir. Yes. Council President Kenuhan. Yes. Council member Castanic. Yes. Council member Vargas. Yes. I just
want to say that I have been following Nor votes. Um I I watched I followed them. I followed the students that led the the vote in Newark for the voting for board of ed to vote and I watched the results of the election. I've been watching. And I thought it I thought
it's a a good exercise in civics because we don't teach civics in school anymore and this is one way that young people can get involved civically. I do love the idea. Please share whatever information you have with us so we all can take a look at it collectively and
um we'll review we'll go to committee and we'll discuss and we'll get back to you at some point. Thank you. Thank you for doing this. Um okay. May I have a motion to adjurnn? So move. Second. All in favor? Oh, everybody's in favor now,
huh? We agree. I'll give you my email so you can email me the information. Okay. Thank you.