This meeting is called This meeting is called to order in accordance with the open public meeting act. Notice of this meeting was provided to the home use tribune, the Star Ledger and the Highland Park Planet on January 8, 2025 and was posted on the
borrow website at www.hpbar.com at hbar.com and on the bulletin board of borrow hall 221 South 5th Avenue in Harland Park, New Jersey and has remained continuously posted as required by law. Fire exits are to my right and
left of council chambers. Offician 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.
>> Mayor Foster, >> yes. >> Council member here. Council member Hail, >> member Hirs >> here. >> Council President Kim Johan >> here. >> Council member Castonic >> here. >> Council member Vargas >> here. >> Attorney Ramon >> here.
>> Administrator >> here. Those minutes. May I have a motion to approve the minutes from June 17, 2025 work session, June 24th, 2025 regular meeting. July 1st regular meeting and
July 15th regular meeting and executive session as distributed. >> So move second. >> Welcome. Council member George. >> Yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member Her. >> Yes. >> Council President Kim Johan. >> Yes.
>> Council member. >> Yes. >> Council member Vortex. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh council report. Council member George. Give me a second. My computer's a little slow. So, with regard to public safety, uh,
thank you for the Highland Park Public U Police Department for running another successful junior police academy. I just spoke to a lieutenant was fully enrolled uh this year. The participants gave uh and parents gave a a great feedback learning about investigations, traffic
and safety laws, fundamentals of what the police do and also to observe the absorb the community oriented spirit with which our officers engaged themselves in the project. Like to thank the parents also who took the time to facilitate their children participating
and I hope that the academy gave an experience that will endure to everyone. Uh congratulations to the Highland Park Police Department and all the public service groups from the Bonoan County who made for a very successful national night out on an absolutely beautiful evening. The crowd was very large this
year and all of the public service groups reported to me that they had a lot of interest in what they were supporting and uh presenting to the public. The county also had public safety equipment along with our fire department to make the displays more accessible and more interesting for all
of us including the kids inside all of us. We are actively in the process of hiring for a number of police positions infill sub positions which will become open and hopefully uh promotions as well as under the grant to allow us to hire for community policing. There'll be more
information as that process moves along. The Highland Park Police Department is also putting together together a back- tosschool assistance program in cooperation with the administration's uh recreation department and other administration for back-toschool
backpacks. Captain Carbelloo advised me today that the details are being worked out and we will put up that information on our website and it'll also be on the Highland Park Police Department website. On another note of great interest to the public, NJ do corrected the signs at
North Fourth for the no left turn signal. We hope to see that some of the turning issues there are corrected hopefully and I hope that we'll see behaviors there and all along Ron Avenue improved. With regard to the fire department, welcome to Darren Dherty
who'll be appointed as our latest member of the volunteer fire department by the mayor tonight. The mayor thanked the fire department for its recent response to 11 Raritan where a fire was reported. The turnout response showed how far our efforts to revamp and revitalize the
fire department and how it has come to run itself and administer itself have come. Seven full-time firefighters and seven volunteers responded and thankfully the smoke and alarms were traced uh to a faulty washer. But it shows that we have become more and more
able to meet our own public safety needs as we also undertake redevelopment to increase uh housing uh affordability and more and more residents uh participating in different kinds of housing. We're
able to take care of all of that. With regard to the library, the library just hosted a homebased activity with the Highland Park Arts Collective opening this past Sunday from 2 to 4. The artists are all lo local residents. It's a non-affiliated group and they
presented their representative works and explain their process uh to over 40 people who participated. Uh the books are ordered for the and have arrived for the community reading project. The heaven and earth grocery store uh and the library is moving ahead now to
finalize the details for the townwide exploration into culture, difference, and community in cooperation with uh uh human relations commission. I'm sure I'm sure we'll hear more about that and mayor. Thank you. That's my report. >> Council member George, can you give us a
timeline on the pavers at the library? >> I'm sorry. On the >> pavers at the the the work that's being done the >> pavers uh as of yesterday, I'm sorry, as of Sunday were done. I think there's just a little bit more trim work um and some of the edging, but I was also there
when the crew was working during the week uh where they were laying the under surfacing and they really uh were doing quite a job. They went down below where the pavers were uh below into the subsurface and compacted everything. Uh
also the pavers now cover the entire area so there are no um disparit edges between concrete and so on. Um, the design is very nice. It's sort of that coastal design that was there. Uh, the stansions with the lights are still there. Um, I think there's just a little
bit more trim work and maybe some landscaping by DPW, but the work is really nice. >> Thank you. We got some emails about when that would be completed. Thank you, uh, Council Member Pelic. >> Thank you, Mayor. Good evening,
everyone. Uh, my name is Jason Pelnik. I chair the Health and Human Services Committee. have a very very short uh report for tonight. We just wanted to speak to a couple items on the agenda. Uh first up, the ordinance requiring first reading. Um item 12A. Uh that was something that the human relations
commission and I have been um talking about for a bit of time now. Uh it's really just basically uh something to rightsize the commission. It currently is supposed to have 21 members. We're falling far far short of having a forum. Um and I think it's been that case for a
little while now. Um, so we looked at what other towns are doing and we came up like a happy medium kind of right in the middle of what most towns do for their human relations commission. So it was vetted by the commission. It was vetted by the health services committee. Um, everyone is supportive. Uh, so I
just asked my colleagues to support it tonight. Um, it'll allow us to conduct a business in accordance with all private protocols. Um, and just one other thing to notice that even with sort of lowering the numbers of members on that commission, we still have a couple of vacancies. So, if anyone out there is
interested in participating in uh events to bring communities together, um, they saw a volunteer application on the hub.com website. Um, and then the only other thing I just want to add because this was a priority for the commission of universal access was that we have the
resolution to put out a request proposal for the safe to school project. Um, that is, uh, something I know that staff here and everyone has been working real hard for a long time to make this a reality. A lot of bureaucratic hurdles along the way, but we're finally getting there.
Uh, and very much looking forward to seeing that move forward. And that mayor is my report tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor. Um, good evening everyone. My name is Roman Vargas and I serve as the leazison for the recreation arts commissions and departments. Um,
first a reminder that Parkside concert will be happening this Thursday at 6 PM in Donaldson Park Grove One. Performing will be, and I hope I'm pronouncing it correctly, Cook Nuts and Christine Elise, bringing an exciting mix of
hiphop, soul, and new age music. This is a free concert and there will be select food vendors. Um, and it's a perfect chance to go outside, enjoy great music, bring some friends, bring your kids. A playground is right nearby. So, please support these community events and um
the efforts that are um put into organizing these. Um on the arts commission um they we will be having um the arts commission meeting this Thursday at 6 PM at the Highland Park Library. Members of the public are welcome to attend and we encourage um
people to attend and give us your input as we meet tonight. Um, the arts commission is also hosting a paper marbling workshop here at the community center is um is targeted for kids. Um, I stopped by a little bit and they had a nice crowd of kids there getting um I I
unfortunately I don't remember the name of the of the instructor. I think her name is Bertise, but she was doing a great job of getting those kids very excited for the activities that we're about to do. Um, so I want to thank the organizers, the instructor, and the community center staff for always um,
making an effort and making space for these types of programming. Um, on tonight's consent agenda, you'll see a resolution authorizing applications for grants that the historical commission is pursuing. This includes the New Jersey Historical Commission 2025 historical
markers program, 250th initiative. The proposed marker would be placed on river road um near the environmental center um marking the site of a former Hessen forces camp during the revolutionary war. I ask my council colleagues um to
please support this resolution and I commend the historical commission for their dedication. They're also continuing to work on their community history grant and and as well as planning an indigenous people's day event for October. They're very very busy. Um, and I thank them for their
work. You'll also see resolutions for grant applications from the municipal alliance and for the arts grant submitted by the department of recreation community center. My thanks to the outstanding team at the community center for their efficiency and commitment in pursuing these grants. Um,
we both have essential and enjoyable programming in Sah Park and they're already working on the schedule of Park and in July and the fireworks in the park as well as many other um programs they have for next year. So, they're already marking their calendar. So,
they're very diligent and I appreciate that. And as always, I encourage everyone to stay connected um through our social media website for details on upcoming events and to share them with friends and family so that more residents can be aware of the wonderful things that are happening in the bureau
and enjoy the wonderful work and efforts of our clinicians and departments. Um and that is my report for tonight. >> Thank you, Council Member Hail. >> Thank you, Mayor. My name is Matt Hail and I chair the economic development committee. Um, normally towards the end
of summer things get a little bit slow, but we are picking up. So, we've got a lot to to talk about tonight, but before I wanted to jump into that, um, I just wanted to to to tell everybody about this amazing shopping experience I had about local shopping in Park this week.
Um, uh, uh, I I was able to um, I I had a list of things that I wanted to do and as I was going over it, I realized that I could do every single one of them right here in Highland Park. And not only that, I can every single one of them between Fourth and Fifth Avenue from Highland Park. So, I figured I'd let you know about that. Um, this dress
shirt was dirty, but I sent it to the cleaners at Highland Park Cleaners at 412 Ron Avenue. They cleaned it very nicely, and I got to wear it tonight. So, um, that happened right away. And then um uh at the same time, my son uh went to sleepway camp um and he goes for about a month and he sent him with two
enormous duffel bags filled with clothes, bathing suit, sheets, towels, and he probably only wears one bathing suit and three outfits and the rest of it he just throws all over the place. The whole thing smelled like camp. So rather than me taking it to my own laundry, I took it to University of
Laundry, which is at 410 where right next door. Um they do a fluff and fold. What a country. It's amazing. um drop it off three days later, all clean, all folded. It was fantastic. I was It was amazing. Um and after that, I really, really needed some stamps because I used
my last one to send my son the letter in the vague hope that he might write back. Um uh he never did, but I was out of stamps. So, I had to go to the post office, which is at 406 RAM when I bought some stamps. Um uh and there was no line at all. So, I was feeling super
super lucky. So, I went back a little bit to 408 Rarity Avenue to the bus stops here and bought a lottery ticket. Um, I I I I don't know if I've won yet, but if I do, I will be sure to let everybody know. But literally 15 minutes out there, >> share the
I will definitely share the wealth with people I like. Um, no. Uh, four stops, four errands, 15 minutes, all inside of Fourth and Fifth Avenue. But I am not done. Um, I needed some food for dinner. So, where did I go? I popped over to Superfresh and did a really nice grocery
shopping. And it's really cool to get good food. But >> I have to say the coolest thing that I have ever seen and ever bought in Highland Park is right here. Can we zoom in on this? They have a limited edition
designer Mr. Potato Heads. And this Mr. Potato Head is the dude from the Cohen Browski's movie The Big Labowski. This is the dude, right? and the dude abides. >> How this 1998 classic not been uh did
not win best pitcher or Jeff Bridges for best actor or John idol role on Chavez Goodman for best supporting actor is a complete mystery to me. But I do have this Mr. Potato Head. He's going to stay here from now on right here. Mr. Potato Head from Super Fresh to remind us to
shop local. So that was a exciting week. I had five stores inside of an hour. Got all my stuff done right here in Highland Park between fourth and fifth. I encourage everybody to do exactly the same thing. Um, okay. Now, on to some other real stuff. Um, you'll notice on
the on the uh consent agenda tonight is um uh about poll banners. Um, this is something that um the banners that go up on the the light polls. Um, I just wanted to say a real quick shout out to the Main Street Design Committee and particularly to Giza Shank and also to my colleagues Norma and Matt for their
input into these um banners. It's going to be exciting to have banners all up and down um Raron Avenue. Um so thank you for that. Two other things that are important. Um uh so this Thursday, August 14th, at 7:30 p.m. is a planning
board meeting where we're going to hold a public hearing on whether or not the Sonoko Station and a few other surrounding properties meet the statutory definition for condomination area in need of redevelopment. Um uh as we've mentioned again and again, our preferences is always to work with property owners to develop and
revitalize their vacancies or underutilized properties. We're going to continue to into this case, but sometimes this process is needed to push the ball forward a little bit. The planning board will have testimony about the properties, their condition, and their history, and then make a recommendation about whether they meet
the legal criteria um uh for this designation, and it'll come back to council. Um this has been a very long time coming. Obviously, um I was struck in, uh in in the write up that our planner did um about this um a couple
different lines. Um in 1977, the planning board approved the installation of gas pumps and holding tanks that could accommodate, and this is a quote, unlimited gasoline required by many new cars today. Um and in doing that, they said this would eliminate
from Marinon Avenue one of the worst eyes in town. So that was 1977. So hopefully we're going to move this forward. So again, this hearing is Thursday, August 14th from at 7:30 p.m. There is a Zoom option. Um but because planning board
meetings have uh some legal ramifications, if you're interested in speaking, you have to be there in person. So again, that's August 14th at 7:30. To wrap up, I just wanted to give an update on our process for South Third, the pedestrian plaza. Um over the
last several weeks, we've been holding a series of key stakeholder meetings and focus groups um about the third Third Avenue project. Um these are led by Ratuja Vartek, our assistant economic development director, and our partners at Arterial. Um and we've heard the hopes, dreams, wishes, desires, and even
some fears and worries um about the coming pedestrian plaza. Um, our team has met with folks from Main Street, representatives from our boards and commissions, including sustainable Highland Park, the environmental commission, the historical commission, the arts commission, and universal access. We met with residents who live
on third, as well as business owners in the area, and all the burough department heads joined um another meeting. Um, and then, uh, tomorrow we have our last one with the main street design. Um, and I'm not going to talk about each one of them individually, each of those meetings. Um
but we've had um uh lots of different discussions among other things the needs of the farmers market and town movie night and evening markets. We got suggestions on the preferred types of pavers, bio swailes and rain gardens. We've got suggestions for landscaping um uh uh planting and other tree
preferences. Uh we discussed water fountains and even naming opportunities. We talked about public art and sculpture options. We talked about how to hide electrical cables um and to make sure walkways and seating are accessible to everyone. Um, we talked a lot about a right aid cut through, communal trash
options, traffic flow, and yes, all things parking. Um, went into fairly significant detail about police fire needs. We heard about the need for PA systems, portable stages, noise reduction, lighting needs, even climbing walls and dungle fans. Um, and yes, particularly we talked about toilet
options. So, there's a lot on the table. There's a lot that's out there, but it's been great to get out um, uh, with key stakeholders. Um, I just wanted to thank Ruja and Arterial for for all of their work in putting these these meetings together. Um, all their work in collaborating to to get all this
information. That information is going to be um given out to the public um or a a on August 20th from 6:00 to 8 at the Highland Park Community Center. Um, this is a communitywide meeting where everyone is welcome to come and share
your thoughts about uh our great new public plaza. um at the community center. We're going to divide it up into different stations. Um the idea is that no matter what you know about the project or where you come to the project, you're going to be able to learn something um about its history, where it is today, where we're hoping it's going to be in the future. Um we'll
have stations about broad overviews, another about what's there um and some of the history. Um and then we're going to also have sort of um some sample pictures and drawings of possibilities. Um and the goal is really to get good sense from people who attend um what the
preferred kind of look and feel is for the plaza. Um so this is a great opportunity for everybody to come out and help shape what this plaza is going to look like, feel like, and how it's going to be used. Uh this is again at the community center um August 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Um please join us in
that. Um, after this meeting is over, the plan is we'll art and our professionals will go back. We'll put pen to paper or CAD drawing to computer screen. Um, and we're pretty excited to be moving this process forward. So, please comment out for for that this week. And that's all I have. Mayor,
>> thank you, Council Member Her. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Council H. Um, now I just have the Mr. Potato Head song in my head. uh uh and I'm not going to sing it for you, but you know, if you're on a certain you grew up in a certain time and age, you would know it
specifically in the 80s. Um my name is Matthew Hirs. I am I am the chair of the public works and public utilities committee. Uh nice to see everybody here tonight and my wonderful colleagues. I I actually do want to start off with one with with one thing
about National Night Out and Parktock. Um it's been really amazing this summer um to spend some time with the community to interact with folks and to see you know Burough employees burough staff lieutenant soda I mean the the wreck department uh at Nashville right out it
was wonder you know I don't I don't I'm not I'm not I'm not they're not my portfolio anymore so it's just really wonderful to reconnect uh with with with folks in that way um and I hope everybody is getting the experience to do that as well uh because you know the when we go through the agenda and when
we talk about the really great things that are happening in Highland Park. It is a stark and shocking and somewhat disorienting contrast to I think our daily lives and the consumption of information that comes in particularly with what's going on in Washington DC
and around the world. So, it really just speaks to the importance of getting involved, getting your hands dirty, getting down uh, you know, in the weeds in your community to make is to to to make this place and places like ours the best as possible. Because I honestly
believe that the thing that is going to sustain our democracy moving forward are these are our smaller jurisdictions that are going to have to do the work so we can live lives comfortably and with dignity without the air of nonsense that
happens all over and you know threatening nonsense too. I don't mean to downplay what you know what's going on, but this is really what is going to keep everything moving is is our our local governments, county government, state government functioning in tandem and making sure that we are providing
the best resources for residents um uh always. And so I did just want to state that because I think a lot of us, you know, are are particularly concerned with what's going on every day uh in the world and it's distracting and it's distracting to us, too. But please know that, you know, everybody up here and
mayor and all of our employees and the community have the community's interests at heart and are working as tirelessly and as hard as we can to make sure that there is stability and set expectations and that people can continue to enjoy living um and working and raising a
family in Highland Park and shopping in Highland Park, which is also incredibly important. Uh so uh uh just wanted to get that out of the way. uh sustainable Highland Park which is part of the public works portfolio will hold its regular monthly meeting on August 277th in the Heshi Burman conference room here
at Burough Hall. Please come on Sunday, August 17th at 9:00 am uh please meet uh members of Sustainable Hand Park and our Cracker Jack crew uh as in in the high school and middle and and middle school parking lot for our next community
cleanup. Uh this is an incredibly successful program whether it's one person who shows up or six people who show up. The fact is is that it happens almost every Saturday and it's and and and it's and and the and the uh the commitment of our volunteers is profound and inspiring. Uh so please come.
There's always if you can't if you can't come this Saturday, there's always a next time. Um gloves, buckets, and other supplies will be provided on Sunday, August 24th, 11:00 a.m. to 3 pm. Um join us on a little field trip. uh uh with Sustainable Island Park. We're going to
be going to the Ruckers Cooperative Extensions of Middle Sex County Earth Center Garden Arts and Music Festival in Davidson's Mil Pond Park uh over in North Brunswick. Uh Earth Center Garden Arts and Music Festival offers fun for the whole family and is filled with
family oriented activities, live art displays, and local musical acts. Um, I did just want to talk because this is actually this sounds an incredible uh event and it's a it's and it's uh it's it's brought to you by the county. Um, activities for uh for the kids will include the recycling magician and paint
a pot. The arts institute of Middle Sex County will offer a share your food waste kitchen demonstration with the bounty of the season. A food and ice cream truck will be available on site, but kara picnic lunches are also welcome. There will be garden tours, the butterfly house, demonstrations, live
music, and other activities. Uh, bring some, if you're keeping a garden, bring some outstanding collections from your garden for the greatest of the garden competition. I was at the Middle Sex County Fair last week um uh and they had a uh they had a Jersey Fresh uh garden grow competition, and I swear some of
the zucchini and cucumbers that I've grown to compete. So, so, so don't don't count yourself out. Um, hike or bike through the county's most beautiful park. of the picnic lunch, take advantage of the on-site food trucks, and learn also learn more about the Ruckers Cooperative Extension in Middle Sex County. It's a phenomenal
organization, and I've interacted with them in very different ways over the years, and they really do a lot. Uh www.mmix countyj.govextension. Follow Sustainable Highland Park on Facebook and Sustainable Highland Park on Instagram with the handle sustainable
Highland Park NJ. Uh bulk pickup um um is coming. It's just around the corner, by appointment only. And our uh our crossing guards here are reminding me how close to September we actually are. Uh bulk waste collection will be by appointment. Uh pickups will be scheduled on Wednesdays in September and
October. Uh to make an make an appointment now if you anticipate the large volume of bulk. Uh particularly as you know, leases expire, folks are moving. If you if you're a renter, this is your opportunity to lighten your load. If you're a property owner, this is an opportunity to keep your property
clear and maintenancefree. Um uh but please to make an appointment, please call public works at 7322479379. Each household may request up to two collections per year. I've done one and I anticipate using one more, but the one
more is it won't it won't necessarily count against you because the week after the town garage sale, uh, Tuesday, October 21st and Thursday, October 23rd, there will be a bulk pickup where no appointment is necessary. Uh, recycling will not be collected during the week of
October 20 through October 24th. Uh materials may be placed out at at curbside no sooner than one hour before sundown of the day prior to scheduled pickup. Materials not properly secured, bundled, and unacceptable items will not be collected. Materials put out for
collection without a scheduled appointment or on the wrong date will also not be collected. Um that's the you know the these these guidelines uh you know may sound strict but they're also but they're obviously very important from a safety standpoint uh and from a you know neighborhood standard st
standpoint but also from a public health standpoint as well because oftentimes a lot of items are left on the curb uh that don't have scheduled pickups. Uh folks may anticipate them you know that that that someone may come by and pick it up but that's not always the case. So, just be mindful of the items uh that
that you do leave on your on your curb. I did see some Facebook activity on on on the subject. And I think if everybody kind of sets their expectations, knows what's expected, knows when the pickup is is is coming, and knows how to schedule it, then we can really uh, you know, we can all work together uh to
make sure that this is successful as possible because after the bulk pickup, after the townwide um garage sale, as you know, there is a lot of there are a lot of items and materials uh that are left on the curb. Fortunately, most of them are actually taken uh before our uh
uh public works crews come come up. So that is good. I did just want I mentioned National Night Out. I wanted to echo thank you thank Councilman Hail, Terry Hobar and the mayor. Um really looking forward to the third South Third Plaza Forum. Um, a few years ago when I
was liaison to the historical commission, we um uh we we got a New Jersey Historical uh grant uh for to do a survey to do a um an inventory a historical inventory survey of all the
properties downtown between second and fifth, I guess. Um and uh you know no no no no spoilers and there were no and there was nothing shocking but it gave a really great it gave a really great look at um into the history of some of the buildings. Uh but then also the nature
of Highland Park. You know Highland Park was really design truly designed not only as a bed community in New Brunswick but but to serve car sales and automobile traffic. That is how Highland Park was formed. That was the intention with a single spine down the center and
there were a lot of you know and there were a lot of c you know there there were a lot of retailers with big bay windows that we can still see remnants of around town. So in you know making Highland Park more pedestrian friendly more town oriented this is the work uh
and really looking forward to seeing the fruit of that work or at least the start of event on the 20th. um the uh outdoor movie theater. I did just I know this is this is Councilman Hail, so I'm not stealing any thunder, but I I I just wanted to, you know, also express my my
my love and affinity for the outdoor movie theater. Um uh Councilman H reads the uh reads the movies that are coming up journals reports. And again, it's another opportunity to spend time with your community uh and to also just kind of,
you know, you know, um uh make contact with folks that you may that that you may not normally make contact. We have a wonderful crowd of volunteers uh that work that that that work with moving that help set up the chairs that help clean up afterward. And I did want to want to give a special shout out to Greg
Arlotti and John Turner uh for for always showing up uh and being present and being helpful. Um, I want to just congratulate Joyce Leslie and Ellen Walsh for their appointments to the zoning board. Um, both bring uh really
valuable insight uh to to that board and um looking forward to their deep experience and expertise. And um that's my report. Mayor, I did just want to ask though if uh uh Sher Hov, if you would just during your report if if you would just mind it just just give a quick
explainer of item 13 L on the um on the So, that's my report, Mayor. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council President Kim Chan. >> Um, yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um, tonight on the agenda, we do have a resolution
to accept the 2024 audit. Um, I'd like to thank this the staff here, all the department heads that um had to be, I guess, a little inconvenience. We all know um the process of audits the full
audit will be um available online and um audit was uh satisfactory. So thank you to um the staff and especially the finance team and sorry I forgot to say my name. My name
is Stephanie Kim Johan and I chair finance and I also with um everyone now have received um the increase in the PSEG bills. I wanted to um remind everyone
about some payment assistant programs. Uh PSENG has the universal service fund. Applications for that is accepted year round. US uh USF helps make uh energy
bills more affordable. Um income eligible customers can receive a5 to $180 monthly uh credit towards their bill. We also have the lowincome home energy assistant program. Um that application
period is currently closed and will reopen October 1st, 2025 and applications are accepted from October 1st through June 30th. Uh this program um helps customers with um winter
heating bills and medically necessary cooling costs. And uh so homeowners and renters are eligible. You do not have to be behind on your bill to apply. Income eligible customers can receive an
average of $350 towards their heating bill and $300 towards medically um necessary cooling costs. Uh lastly, there's the New Jersey lifeline for seniors and dis disabled
adults. Those applications are accepted yearly year year round. Um, and it, uh, New Jersey Lifeline is a $225 yearly electricity or gas payment credit for seniors or disabled adults. To
qualify, you must be a New Jersey resident 65 years of age or older or 18 years of age and receiving Social Security Title 2 disability benefits. All of these programs um can be found on
PSCNG do uh.com New Jersey psg.com/paymentass assistant programs. Also, while this really isn't in my area, but I did want to report because it actually did uh affect my family that
um direct quote from the New New Jersey Department of Health compared to recent years for uh for reasons that are not clear. We have seen an increase in the number of hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks from May to June of this of
July from this year with 127 outbreaks across New Jersey. Um, so hand foot and mouth affects children under the age of five. I think maybe I'm the only one under here, but um, so just it's a just
wash your hands. I know the kids come home. It's a you know, a simple thing, but it's spreading fast. And lastly, on piggybacking on um Council Councilman uh Hail's Main Street
stories, I also have a story, too. I go to um Eyebrows, which is at 320 Ritan Avenue. Um there's a stylist in there. Her name is Jay. She only works on Saturdays. and I um so I have to run
over especially on Saturdays for I asked her why do why can't you work any additional days come to find out she's a student at our county vote technical cosmetology school and uh she does makeup artist stuff and she has they let
her work there on Saturdays and um she says she's making good money and she loves it here in town you always have a wait and you usually have to make an appointment better. Um, so it's good to see that um, Highland Park um,
businesses are also offering summer jobs and um, you know, they're making this money. She said she purchased her car, you know, with these funds from, you know, us, we love to get our eyebrows and makeup done. So, and her name is Jay if anyone wants to visit her. And that's
my report. Mayor, enjoy the rest of your summer. >> Thank you. uh for attorney's report. >> Uh thank you, mayor. Uh I don't have a report just as a I'll do my little housekeeping and I swear I'll keep this short. Um for today's agenda, uh for the
members of the public that are here, you'll see uh there are several different opportunities for members of the public to come and address the council. The first one will occur right after reports. That's the public participation. That affords any member to speak on any item that's on the agenda. that your ordinance is on first reading and your resolutions or any
other topic on the agenda outside of ordinances on second. Uh at the end of the meeting, there'll be a second opportunity for members of the public to speak. That will be for any topic that you wish to bring to the council's attention. Uh and again, you'll be afforded three minutes. Tonight, uh we
have an ordinance on second reading, and that's the film ready ordinance, uh is the the brief, uh title of that. uh on ordinances on second reading. You will also be afforded the opportunity to speak on that ordinance alone uh to put your opinions on on the record as to your thought on that particular
ordinance. >> All I have >> Thank you for administrator. >> I don't have a report but at uh council member Hershey's request I'll address uh resolution 8251 197 on the agenda or 13
L. Um it's a resolution authorizing extension of local support a class flagged retail license for Floral Highland Park at 85 Ritan. Um they've requested one additional extension hopefully. Uh they're I would say I
didn't have a chance to check in with code enforcement to see what percent done but they're nearing completion on the renovations of the space but they're just not ready to open yet and they requested an additional extension. We typically give them in six month chunks. So, it's another six months being
requested at this time. Um, and so it's a recommendation that they've otherwise kind of met all their obligations and are progressing and it's appropriate to do so at this time. >> And my report is very very brief. I'm piggybacking on a lot of things that was
said and especially for National Night Out. was a huge success as everyone noted and I was just so happy to see the cross collaboration of county and our local public service team here in Highland Park. How well they came together and made it a huge success for
all the kids. They were super happy and a lot of people was that was awesome. And then um the police academy this year I know one of the favorite things that the kids write to see is the helicopter. Away from doing CSI crime scene investigating stuff they love the helicopter. So I heard a lot about the
helicopter. They were super excited about helicopter coming to Highlander Park. So kudos to the police department and the the summer academy that you they do provide. Piggybacking on what council council president uh Stephanie Kim Chan said about public service utilities that
it it continues to go through the roof as we are all feeling it. But the we have a program called community solar and please look out for your community solar. Um, I don't think we're going to be impacted. I think our funds are secure. So, for those who all of us who
are interested in having solar, please check out our website and look about the community solar program that we have. It definitely will help with some of the high cost of we are all seeing an uptick of electricity. And that's my report. Thank you.
And now it's time for public participation. 21 minutes total, three minutes per speaker, limited to item on the agenda. Comments from members of the public attending in person will be heard first, followed by those who are attending on Zoom.
>> On Zoom, I don't see any hands up on Zoom. We got a in person hand please come to the microphone. Please approach the microphone and and your name and address. >> Hello, my name is Dorine. I'm an Edison Edison res, but I wanted to
give you my comments. Um, coming into kind of My car is completely enveloped in hot smoke. Not from one person smoke. It was really offensive and I had it roll all my windows.
I was startled when I heard Highland Park was opening another pot. I um from my way I see it Highland Park is encouraging smoking pot. I do not want to travel in Highland Park nor do any business in high park as I do not
want to be on the same road with anyone who just smoke is a collision waiting to happen slows down your reaction time impairs and judgment of distance and decreases coordination which are essential when you're behind the wheel of car and just
a few days ago I just saw a Tom's River resident smoke coming in his car and hit someone who died. I could go on a couple more. Studies suggest that dispensaries, especially due to high cash volume,
valuable products can become a target of crime. And that's concern. Some businesses near dispensaries have reported issues such as a hot smell permeating their profits and increasing avoiding heading to a loss of business
or even relocation. And then the prolification of dispensaries could increase access to and supply among despite regulations intended to prevent this appealing to you. I don't I don't
really understand why you have so many dispensaries in Highland Park. I used to do a lot of business in Highland Park. I'm not doing it anymore. >> I'm Melissa Gu. Um I live on the corner of Crow and Lewis where we need a
spouse. Anyway, um I'm I'm asking you to turn down 88-25197 uh for Floro. Um this will be our five fifth pot shop. And I live between two pot shops.
So I have opened the door and been smacked in the face with the smell of somebody that just walked by. They seem to buy their product at Mana and then walk down Crow and drop um the papers and the little I have pictures in my
phone of all the garbage and it will say on it that this is herbal product on it and um an article was just in Newsweek this week that um um spot smoking can cause heart heart disease and another
ailment and Um, also my church is right there at Ana. So when they pull out straight um to get on to prowl where I've already been hit, I was hit on prowl. Um they pull right in
front of my church and out to group 18. And we have little ladies coming out at five at six o'clock on a Saturday night. That's when we have church. Um, I just I really wish that we could
concentrate on something else for our empty businesses. I realize we need to fill them, but I'm really concerned that we're turning into something that don't be turned into. But thank you for your consideration. Mary Madison, I'm glad that someone else
mentioned the um THC impaired driver that killed somebody in South River. I was going to mention that as well. Um so instead, I'm going to start with something else. Person who couldn't be here tonight sent me a post from
Park Facebook. He asked me to read it. describing walking their dog. Uh they lived down in the apartments located on South Six. They walked up uh the street to the corner of Benner, crossed over to the other side of South South six and back. They say, quote, "I won't be going
that way anymore because their dog picked up what the vet described as either fentinel or marijuana on the walk." Um the vet said that this has become a real common issue lately. They're seeing many pets brought in for this. Um riders for
a horrible experience. They thought the dog was going to thrive. This is something we actually mentioned to you a couple years ago that we're a very dog friendly town and bringing in all these recreational marijuana locations really actually is not only a risk to every
child in this town, every adult in this town, you should actually all the pets in this town. Um the poster responded back saying um please notify the police of this incident. Quote, "I'm sure there are kids in the area. We know there's kids all over in the park. So, if this
wasn't actually conveyed to the police yet, perhaps you could consider this an incident report also as well. Um, the next thing I wanted to address is again regarding, you know, resolution 197 and the fact that we do not need another
fifth recreational marijuana trafficking location in this town to be able to vote no. Um it appears that your fifth location um has some big names attached to it. Uh for example, everybody knows Brett Tansman by now is our developer
for track six. His father Roy Tansman, son of former Highland Park Mayor Herb Tansman, is on the advisory committee for your proposed fifth pot shop. Yeah, that's very concerning to have some of these names that we're doing business
with for developers also involved in applications you're approving for recreational marijuana traffic. Um it's really interesting too. It seems very in Congress um given uh Mr. Tansman's what's here quote dedication to the
birth New Jersey Jewish community um completely in contrast to what the dog has described if they've told you specifically in a letter u we are united in our opposition to these initiatives I also want to mention speaking of
inongruent information um the Gil Mitler location recreational marijuana location of her son and one of her employees The application for that business references Arnold Ryenberg as quote an
owner of all colors. Um, I have nothing to show that he's actually an owner of all colors. If you have something to show different than that, that would be a really good time to present that information. >> Did they say time for
>> Oh, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Yeah, there's a hands up and just for the record, we have five uh attendees from home. Colleen Tyler, your hand is up. I'm going to call on you. Please state your name to confirm it's you.
>> Uh my name's Colleen Tyler. I'm at 142 North 6th Avenue. And I'd like to speak um on behalf of the resolution 825197 resolution authorizing extension of local support of a class 5 retail
license for Floro Hila Park LLC to operate a retail cannabis business at 85 Ritton Avenue. And I would also like to echo the previous speakers and in my um
uh being upset about the five of these businesses being allowed, not even being allowed, but being encouraged to set up in Highland Park um without uh public um approval. There's never been any
referendum um uh asking the people of this town, do we want any of these businesses and if so, what are the conditions? These decisions have all been made by the previous um mayor and council and supported
wholeheartedly by the current mayor and council. These are not supported by the majority of Highland Park residents. Um, in fact, you know, the handful of people that are speaking tonight will will um give proof to the idea that
there is strong resistance um to turning Highland Park into a pot headquarters. And surely five uh cannabis dispensaries qualifies us uh for that dubious honor. Um it's
affecting our reputation as a town of being familyfriendly. Um, it's affecting our housing values. It's certainly affecting daily lives of many people who are in immediate area of these pot shops. There's no earthly
reason why this town needs five marijuana dispensaries. We do not need it. We don't want it. Um, you know, we're kind of helpless against the mayor and council because they've decided for us that this is what we're going to
have. But believe me, there is strong resistance to it. That's all I have to say. >> Anyone else? >> No. Mayor. >> Okay. See none, may I have a motion to close public participation?
>> Second. >> Hold on. Council member George. >> Yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member H. >> Yes. I do want to follow up uh with some of the concerns that were raised though. >> Council President. >> Yes. >> Council member Ponic.
>> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> Uh there will be another um opportunity for you to come up and speak after we go through this proceeding. Thank you. Okay. Now we're going to move on to
ordinance requiring a second reading. Cler, can you report on ordinance number 25-2115? An ordinance to amend chapter 247 title licenses to create article 5 titled filming in the municipal code of the burrow of Highland Park County of Middle
Sex, New Jersey has been duly advertised for consideration of passage on final reading by title and affidavit of publication are on file. >> Now it's time for public public hearing on this ordinance. If you would like to speak, please come up to the microphone
and announce yourself. Anyone? I don't see any hands. >> Okay, seeing none, may I have a motion to close public public hearing on ordinance number 25-2115? >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll. >> Council member George. >> Yes.
>> Council member Hail, >> yes. >> Council member Hurst, >> yes. >> Council President Kimhan, >> yes. >> Council member Ponic, >> yes. Council member Vargas. >> Yes. >> May I have a motion to adopt board
number 25? That's 2115. >> Second. >> Council member George. >> I just want to note that it may seem farfetched from saying, "Oh, she's nice to do filming." Um, two uh happen to be council of clients have actually had
filming and in one the crew descended and in one day relabel the council chambers to look like a place in the 1960s in one day. Um, and brought in business uh for all the local restaurants and another one uh in a town
where I prosecute. They descended on the town and actually were trying to prosecute in the courthouse while they were filming outside. It really happens. It's really good and the state is really backing this and I wholeheartedly vote yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yeah. I just think this is a great
opportunity for us to to get in the forefront of of a great industry that we're trying to grow in in uh in New Jersey. I'm obviously very big movie fan. So, let's get as many movies as we possibly can here in Park. Council member Hurst,
>> Highland Park is star worthy and worthy of a movie set. Yes, >> President Ken Johan. >> Um, and Netflix, if you're watching, I know School of Games is coming to the US, please pick Highland Park. Can you
say my health? No. Yes. >> I feel very excited for this. I think Highland Park is ready to be film ready. and council member Vargas. >> I feel I feel so pressured to make a speaker. I'll just say yes. >> Okay. Ordinance required first reading.
Clerk, please report on ordinance introduction of ordinance number 25-22116. An ordinance amending chapter 9 boards, committees, and commissions, article one, human relations commission by amending subchapter subsection 9-1,
appointment of the code of the Burough Island Park human relations commission by the administration committee for consideration of passage on first reading by title. >> May I have a motion to approve ordinance number 25-2116?
Okay, got you talking about this one. Second >> roll. >> Council member George. >> I'd like to thank Councilman Pelic and the administration for their work on streamlining this uh committee so that
it uh works and continues to provide significant and important uh work for our town. Yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member. >> Yes. >> President. >> Yes. Council member Pristonic.
>> It's not a race. Yes. >> Council member Morgan. >> Yes. >> Okay. Consent agenda. May I ask members of the c of the public, I mean of the council if they would like to pull any of items from the consent agenda for a
separate vote? >> No. May. >> Okay. Everyone says no. May I have a motion to adopt the following consent agenda items 13A through 13P? >> So move second >> resolution require
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Roll call. >> Council member George. >> Yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member Hurst. >> Yes. And there are items to follow up on. Please be in touch. >> Council President Kentan. >> Yes. >> Council member Ptoic. >> Yes. >> Council member Berg.
>> Yes. Resolution requiring a separate reading. Clerk, may I have a motion? May I have a motion to adopt resolution 8-25-202 chapter 85? Resolution requesting a change in title in a title text or
amount of appropriations. >> Motion to adopt. >> Second call. Council member. Yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member Her. >> Yes. >> Council President Kohhan. >> Yes. >> Council member Piston. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes.
>> Okay. >> Then we're going to move on to appointments. >> We're going to I'm going to ask table the mental health commission um appointment because we are going to be doing some restructuring of the mental
health commission. May I have a motion? So motion's table. >> Council member George. >> Yes. >> Council member Gale. >> Yes. >> Council member Hirsh. >> Yes. >> Council President Johan. >> Yes. >> Council member Gonic. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes.
>> And now we move on to crossing guards. Karen Aaron. Jennifer Carlo. Terresa pot. Carlen Gee. Carol Gordon. Christopher Lopez. Lucil Morris. Jacqueline Ryan. Deborah Red Smith and zoning board and zoning board of
adjustment we going to appoint alen Walsh alternate number one and Joyce Leslie alternate number two and there's no confirmation needed and volunteer fire department Darren may I have a motion to confirm >> roll council member George
>> yes >> council member Hill. >> Yes. Council >> member Hir. >> Yes. And nice to see you in the crossing guards. Um it's we still have less than four weeks left. So so nice to see you and looking forward to back to school. >> Council President Kim Johan. >> Yes.
>> Council member Kristani. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. Now it's time for the second public participation. Three minutes allowed to speak on any topic subject to conclude by 9:00 p.m. Comments from members of the public attending in person will be
heard first followed by those members attending via Zoom. >> Thank you. Yeah, I just I just wanted to continue where I left off on previous comments. Uh again just to reinforce the application for Dale
Mler's son property recreational marijuana trafficking property has a statement here. Arnold Weinberg is an owner of all colors that I have nothing that I've shown in the state records for business
registration etc that supports that statement. So, if this is not correct, how did this get passed through behind the part? If it is correct, if I'm missing something, please send it to me. I don't want to
have the idea that this is incorrect information, you really need to know. I am not aware of anything showing he is an owner of all colors. And that is on this high park application for recreational marijuana pot. Um the other issue again
as you've heard tonight um the quality of life in Highland Park, you know, has all these little nuances of things that don't always go very well when you bring in um multitudes of recreational marijuana facilities. And I want to again alert your attention to the
statistics um for Highland Park Burough uh showing a 56% increase in DWIs uh and a 19% increase in individuals. To remind you, the DWI is the same as a DUI
refers to alcohol, narcotics, prescription drugs, or other drugs, including marijuana and edibles. That's the exact language of it. law. Indictables include burglary. Uh
more severe ones as well, murder, aggravated assault, arson, rape, fraud, and kidnapping. Um we have asked the bureau to kindly give us the background to these statistics and the bureau has been refusing. Um
Highland Park always prides itself on this transparency notion. Um we have asked repeatedly to have this backup information and the question would be why are you not
providing it? Is there something that you do not want the public to be aware of regarding this 56% increase in DUIs? Um, if there's 30 seconds to >> if there's nothing there,
provide the information. If there is something there related to these recreational marijuana sites that you've installed, um, that's something you need to be aware of as well. So, hiding this information doesn't seem to do any good for anybody. Please um, kindly release
this information. We've asked it all to be redacted. Of course, no personal information, but this should be of interest to you why we've had a 56% increase. >> Thank you so much. >> Um Melissa Guk, I live on the corner of
Crowell and Lewis. I just wanted to um deal with the speed on Crow and that we recently had a girl that was hit. Um there's a sight line that the person coming to the corner can't see around
and that's what happened. So maybe we need um bigger yellow boxes. Our yellow boxes are all worn out and uh maybe we need a stop sign. The juvenile said that she didn't stop because there
wasn't a stop sign, but there's a stop sign up the block, but there wasn't a stop sign there. Okay. So, I don't know what we can do. But, um, I'm starting to have hot cars going up and down fast and motorcycles. And that's where the deer
come up from the from the ravine. And there's going to be some. There hasn't been anything there in years, but there's going to be some. Thank you. Yeah, there is one hand up. S Baptist, if you could say your name to confirm.
>> Hi. Uh, this is Sal. Baptist. Um, I live on Ritan Avenue, right across from this floral uh cannabis shop. Um,
and I'm sure you have gotten very tired of me, you know, zooming into these meetings to say, "Hey, not everyone in town wants a million cannabis shots.
Some of us are allergic and I am one of these people. I get severe asthma attacks." And yet, like, I don't know. Why does it not matter to any of you that you are literally hurting residents of this
town? Like what is it about these shops that in so amazingly wonderful that you don't care? And I'm not even the only person in my building who is severely allergic to
pot. It's just that the other person is not as loud and annoying about it as I am. Do you even know how many people you are hurting
in this way by having all these shops, all these dispensaries all up and down Raritin? I used to walk up and down Raritin every day for work. And I'm glad that I don't work in town anymore
because I would probably die. And I'm not exaggerating. I would have severe asthma attacks if I had to walk up and down Raritin like I used to. And you pride yourselves on having a walkable town, but it's not
walkable anymore if you're severely allergic to marijuana. So, it's not walkable anymore. And meanwhile, you concern yourselves more about, you know, buying property
and not charging property tax to businesses in town, thereby putting the burden of paying for everything on the residents of town. and we get no
say. There's so many people who do not like this amount of pot and you completely ignore us. Every council meeting, every petition, the lawsuit, you just completely ignore all of us. What do we have to do to get your
attention and maybe get you to rethink this? What do we have to do? All right, that's me. I'm I'm done. Anyone else? Okay,
>> see there's no further. May I have a motion to close public participation? >> Second. >> One second. Somebody else just put their hands up. >> Yes, please. I want to talk about
I apologize this trip will finish. It's absolutely Please stop increasing and spreading the shops here. We have enough shots. Please stop
to sign the next shots totally against. Thank you. Now we're going to go back to closing public participation. May I have a motion to close public participation? >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Council member Zors.
>> Yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member H. >> Yes. >> Council President Kim Johan. >> Yes. >> Council member Pone. >> Yes. >> Council member Vargas. >> Yes. All righty. Um, a number of concerns that was brought up. Um,
we heard a lot about the the marijuana dispensaries here in town and um, I know there's a council member who wishes to speak, but also before we go there, um, council member George, there was some concerns about possibly increase. So,
could you take a look at that and uh with the police department to see if there's what kind of increase there may have been in DWI based on uh consumption of marijuana? >> I will, mayor. I already made a note to do that. We'll be one uh meeting with
the chief of the next week. We'll discuss that. Number one, >> thank you. And then I I believe that council member Hirs had a comment that he wanted us to make. >> Oh, no, Mayor. I I thank you for that. I think um um um Melissa's comments
regarding traffic um in in her area specifically, I'm not sure if that's captured the attentive attention of the public safety committee. Um but it is it is certainly problematic over there. Um lack of stop signs. Speed consideration would be would would be something worth
worth looking into. and the traffic circulation, the new configuration behind White Rose and Blackburn, I think, uh, particularly as it as it directs you toward Cary um, I think probably deserves a look and I know that you've you and John have done a lot of
walking and thinking about that. So, I I would I would just urge urging Melissa to, you know, formalize your request to look after. >> Thanks. Thank you. >> And um we've heard a lot about the pot
shops and we've had this conversation on many occasions about the dispensaries. they were approved and um we have given Flora their extension and at this time there's nothing more to be said about the the pot shops that are have been
approved in town and this has gone back I think three or four years now that this all was done and I've said this on many occasion that the voters in Highland Park the residents of state of New Jersey and 73% of Highland Park people voted to have the pot shop here in town
with that said may I have a motion to adjourn So move >> second. >> All in favor? >> I >> have a good rest of the summer everyone. Our next meeting is scheduled for September 2nd at 700 p.m. And just a quick reminder on the 20th, come on out
and see what's going to happen with South Blossom. Thanks everyone.