This meeting is called to order in accordance with the open public meetings act. Notice of this meeting was provided to the home news, the STAR ledger and the Highland Park Planning on January 7th, 2026 and was posted on the burrow's
website at www.hbarl.com hbarl.com and on the bullington board at Burl Hall 221 South Avenue, Highland Park, New Jersey, and has remained it continuously posted as required by law. Fire exits
are to the left and right of council chambers. Um, >> okay. Would you like to lead us in the pledge allegiance? >> Oh, me? Yes. I thought you were waving as you would like to
>> that's called a volunteer 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. >> And let us pray that we remember that
and reestablish. Yes. >> Roll call, please. >> Mayor Foster. >> Council member George here. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member Hurst >> here. >> Council President Kim Johan >> here. >> Council member >> here. >> Council member Vargas.
>> B attorney Renault >> here. >> And B administrator Ha >> here. May I have a motion to approve minutes as distributed February 17, 2026 regular meeting and February 24th, 2026 work
session meeting and executive session. >> So move second. >> Roll call. Council member George, >> yes. >> Council member Hail, >> yes. >> Council member Hirs, >> yes. >> Council President Kim Johan, yes. And council member Stone, >> yes. Um, council reports.
I'm going to start with Councilman Hail. >> Thank you, madam. Most excellent council president. Uh, as my shirt says, I'm Matt Hail. Uh, I chair the economic development committee. Uh, so first up is that now that the snow is hopefully gone, uh, the
farmers market is back. March 6 was the opening day. Tends to start out a little bit slowly as the vendors come out of hibernation. Um, but still lots of good stuff. So, come on down. I know it's only March, but it's never too early to start talking about things coming up. Uh, the street fair will be on May 3rd
uh this year. Always a great event. Um, and then on May 21st and 22nd, we're going to have our spring planting days. This is where we bring back uh to life the huge pots around town. Um, if you'd like to get your hands dirty, um, please reach out to Main Street to sign up for
a planting shift. Uh last week we had a excellent meeting um on uh to explain some of the proposed changes to our plan for Buckwood's development. The presentation is available on the Burough website. I wanted to thank Terry and our redevelopment attorney Joe Bowman for
their excellent work on this. We believe that this project will accomplish two of many goals that we have for it. First, it will eliminate a potentially expensive lawsuit while at the same time maintaining the basic size and shape of the development. In addition, it will now have a public tot walking trail, two
entrances in and out of development, and most importantly, I think a road will finally be connecting the fifth and the seven fifth and through 27th Avenue, um, which was not created decades ago with the express intent of segregating one Highland Park community from another.
So, this is a great accomplishment. Um, I also want to thank the many, many residents who attended meeting, many of them neighbors of the Buckwoods property, and truly appreciate the smart and essential insights that they had and have about the structure of the property, the construction, and the
thoughtful ways and ideas that they brought to the table. We still have a very long way to go before anything happened um on Buckwoods, but I'm excited to have the local residents who know and care along with us to make sure we can make this the best project possible. Um, uh, thank you to all of
them again for constructive comments. Um, and I look forward to hearing from them as we hopefully move forward on this project. Uh, speaking of projects, tonight on our agenda, we are authorizing our planners to start doing redevelopment studies of Cleveland
Avenue as well as the Sonoka station surrounding properties. Once again, in order to create a redevelopment plan and ultimately a redevelopment agreement, the first thing that is needed is a redevelopment study of the area. In order to qualify for any type of redevelopment agreement, the properties
must meet a set of criteria identified by the state of New Jersey and the planners. And so tonight, we're authorizing uh hopefully our planners to start that process. Um and then if you remember last month I said I was going to continue to give monthly reports on various aspects of
code enforcement. Um I promised uh uh last month that this would be a lot shorter. So here we go. Um first of all our code uh code office received a total of seven complaints in February. Um which I think as I said last month seems
like an average Tuesday afternoon on Facebook. Um, but it's just a reminder that if you do have a complaint um and and would like the code office to investigate, please do it through the report concern link on the bureau website. Uh, we issued a total of 72
permits in February uh with the most being electrical permits um which brought in about uh a little over $13,000 in permit fees. Um last month we conducted a total of 93 inspections again with electrical being the most prominent accounting for about 44% of
the total inspections. We also noticed a slightly lower pass rate on the inspections than last month or about 80% pass. This month it was only about 60% with about 20% failing about 20% needing minor adjustments to pass. Um, so this is just a reminder of the importance of
dealing with licensed and reputable installers um, uh, as you do renovations and changes. Um, and then lastly, violations issued. In February, the code office issued 34 violations of which 33 included fines. Um, many of course were
snow related, which thankfully and hopefully is gone and passed. Um, and with that, thank you, Madam President. That is my report. Thank you, Council. Councilman Hirs. >> Thanks, Council President. Uh my name is
Matthew Hirs. I'm chair of the public works and public utilities uh committee. Uh and I hope everybody is enjoying this beautiful warm weather. It feels like it has been eternity since we were in 12°ree weather, but it wasn't. It was recent. So, uh get out there and enjoy.
Uh just a few items, uh tonight. Uh we'll keep it short. Uh the shade tree advisory committee um uh meets next uh next Wednesday, March 11th at 7:30m uh on Zoom. Please or on teams, please find the link at www.hbv.com.
Uh Woodbridge Avenue construction has resumed. So, and uh striping is in place, so please take care uh over there. Um uh just like if you were if if you see a violation, you can also report a pothole. And t the season for for you
know the potholes to really make their uh to to rear their faces, particularly with the smelling ice uh and um uh and and and fresh off of the snow plows. So our crews are out there on Wednesdays. You actually you'll probably see that some more egregious potholes around town
have been filled today. Um and uh please keep uh reporting them because we need to know about it before uh you or me or anybody damages a rim and certainly I am not immune uh to damaging tires on not just in Highland Park. It really is everywhere. So it's important that we
all just uh you know stay stay vigilant and report those. Um I wanted to point to a few items on the uh agenda tonight. Uh three resolutions. Um I'm going to start with uh 11E 32676. That's a resolution authorizing emergency water
main repairs on Highland Avenue between Ryer Place and Highland Avenue with Vinci Plumbing. Um just wanted to also make make a note that we would that you know as as as the warm weather comes and things start to thaw. We have we have seen you know um pipes fluctuate and we
have seen our share of water breaks. So please stay uh alert to that. If you don't get the bros nixel notifications notifying um of water main breaks and construction and potentially boil water advisories, I strongly recommend that you um sign up at the at the bros
website www.hbbo.com. However, Middle Sex Water um our water utility company has been is is is fantastic when it comes to customer service and they make make sure that they get out there doortodoor uh so everybody knows what's going on. Uh, I
wanted to point to 11J. That's resolution 32681. That's a resolution authorizing the purchase of a new garbage truck with sanitation equipment corp and Hudson County Motors for the Highland Park Public Works Department to which I am chair. I want to thank
Council President Kim Choan who chairs finance, Terry, the mayor, uh, and and my esteemed colleagues on the public works public utilities committee. This is a big deal. It's always a big deal anytime a small town buys a big piece of equipment and this is one that we
desperately need. And then I want to save the the the best for last. Well, it's not the best. It's it's it's just very interesting to me. Uh and something that we worked on, so you know, I want to I want to explain it. Uh 11A uh 32672. That's a resolution requesting permission for the dedication by Ryder
for donations for sustainable park committee community events and awareness. And what this allows to us to do is that you know we have some really engaged uh plugged in uh boards and commissions. Uh and I happen to be liazison to a few of the really strong
ones uh you know that are really out there in the in in the community including Sustainable Highland Park. Uh Sustainable Highland Park is the Highland Park's green team. uh and basically are tasked to help earn our our our sustainability points that make
us uh that that that that give us um uh that make us more eligible for state grants uh and and other grants. Uh and obviously Terry Ober and her team work worked hard on on on amassing those uh sustainability points uh through administrative actions as well. Um, but
you know, when we have these groups out in town developing relationships and making connections, we have it, go figure, it attracts more volunteers and more people who want to support. Uh, so we get a really frequent question about how can I can I donate money? Well, it's
the town we can't. Uh and so we have to get permission to actually we have to get permission from local government services at the department of community affairs to actually declare a dedication by writers so folks can contribute for specific purposes. So like our our adoptive drain program or our um uh uh
community cleanups. That's what this goes to. It doesn't go into the general fund. It's for specific programmatic needs. So once we get uh permission from the state for this, we'll have the opportunity to uh to allow folks to, you know, be engaged in however they want.
Um there's a few boards that do have kind of a legacy uh dedication by Ryder and from the arts commission, but I just think that this is a very exciting and uh you know, creative um way to think about, you know, widening our resources in in in tight times. Um, and on that I
was at the um I'm wearing my I'm wearing a suit today because I was at the state house uh for the governor for Governor Cheryl's um FY27 budget address. Uh you know, we're expecting about a $60 billion budget um which is up about a
billion and a half from from from last year, not necessarily due to expenditures, but because of just increasing costs, particularly with health insurance. New Jersey, you know, is in is is in tough financial shape. Um uh and we have done a really great job uh you know with you know funding the
pension fund and getting and getting uh and getting our state back in financial order but it is a drag on our budget. It's a it presents major budget constraints. So it's really important for us to hear what the governor is saying and to take cues on how we can
generate our own resources how you know where where the revenue comes from. There was some discussion about um removing uh quote unquote Christmas tree items. And these are these these are these funds that are appropriated to local to to localities to achieve um you know cap capital one needs particularly
in Highland Park. That's what we use it for. Uh so you know it's um you know understanding that the state is in tight budget times um but also understanding that there that there are ways to be creative uh and ways to think outside the box when it comes to developing uh additional resources. But um if you
didn't watch if if folks at home did not watch the um did not watch Governor Cheryl's budget address, you can find it on YouTube or on her website mj.gov. Uh she was very good and I think that level of clarity and and and and methodical
approach to governance is going to do New Jersey very well right now. Um so it's just important for us all to pay attention uh see what the limitations are and see how we can um better resource our town. That's my report. Thanks.
>> Thank you Councilman George. >> Thank you Council President Kim Chan and good evening everyone. What a great evening to enjoy after the cold wet weather and the deep snow. I'm Phil George and I serve as the liaison between the burough council and all of
our unit and the services in police fire um uh first aid squad um at the police department at the public safety meeting this morning we discussed a number of uh issues uh in the most recent stor just
to explain how things worked um under the plan that we have between um the administration uh public works and the police department. Uh he fire department. Um the police department and public works uh worked closely with each
other. Uh once the snow hit about two to three inches, which is kind of our emergency mark, uh the police send out the Nixel reports and then they as the snow got deeper, uh we'd circulate around town with our loudspeakers literally telling people, "Hey, you need
to move the blue car with license plate number blah blah blah." So that we get the cars off the streets and try to avoid some of the problems we had last time. Fortunately, the snow did melt a little bit quicker. Um but we we did manage through that. We towed uh 18 cars
and issued 48 summones um on the vehicles that we weren't able to get people to move. Uh but we did manage to have a much clearer street this time around. Uh some interesting news, the police department along with keep middle sex
moving is having a sticker contest for the third and fifth grades um for uh active moving. Uh it's a the participants can draw a a drawing that they would like to be see as as a
sticker uh to to set u support walking, cycling and and now as we call it rolling which is all of the electric um scooters and and and onewheelers and so on. and the winner gets chosen and the county will print a sticker and
circulate it all over the county which is a a really good thing uh for our students to join in. the 7th through 12th grade version uh through the and the entries are on the our website now for the police department and the
Facebook page is to shoot a video for the same types of presentations which will then be shown on the county site and and some of the uh the local uh public stations. So please check that out. It does look like a very
interesting program. Um, we also send out congratulations the new Middle Sex County prosecutor, Linda Estraella, who was appointed to fifyear vacancy term recently. Um, and finally, you'll notice on the resolutions on the consent agenda
is to delete a handicap space. Um, just so the public understands, we're not actually reducing u handicap spaces to reduce ADA compliance or anything like that. Um, under the state statutes and under our local ordinance, we can assess
periodically our use of handicap spots. In this particular case, people in the neighborhood said this handicap space was no longer used, but it was still there. The person who had been using it had been along the season. So, uh, we did a traffic study, which is required.
Um, and as a result, we're removing that to open up another public parking space in that area. that handicap space actually goes back into our reserves uh to use for in in in the event that we want to put another handicap space in
that district. For the fire department, we had 58 calls uh for the 28 days of February. That's pretty high volume. Um anything from um particularly minor issues, the smell of gas um on up to um
uh any kind of potentially serious fire risks. Uh we answered 17 calls for service in the 24-hour period during the last blizzard um that we had hopefully the last blizzard of 2026. Um and we had
full staffing at the firehouse for the entire 72 hours of of the blizzard emergency. Finally, with regard to the fire department, uh last month's uh departmental drill focused on the use uh
and training for the self-contained breathing apparatus and mask confidence training. Um as you know, as you've seen the pictures, the firefighters answering a fire wear about 75 pounds of turnout, what's called turnout equipment,
including the coats, boots, the hats. But then in addition, there's the breathing tanks and the mask and so on. Having tried it one time, I'm not physically up to it. I don't know how these guys do it. It it is tough, heavy. Um, and part of the program is to get
keep them familiar with using it so that they're um you could dive right in uh get get ready uh during an emergency without any uh hesitancy, you know, with putting everything together. Finally, with regard to the library, the
inaugural event for the Between Two Worlds townwide book reading was the musical program. We had over 70 people in attendance at the library for the initial event, which is something of a record for the program. Uh the next uh event is this uh
Friday, March 13th, 1:00, is the movie Limbo as part of the program for Between Two Worlds. It's an offbeat observation of the refugee experience on a on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of arrivals await the results of
their asylum slaves. That's Friday at 1:00 at the library. The next event after that is Tuesday the 17th at 7 7 p.m. is the journal writing program to show on how several types of journals can can be maintained. uh that's
inspired by the main character in the novel uh that we're all reading who is struggling to learn a new language and cope with different way of life in the United States and one of the underlying themes in the book is the maintaining of a journal. So those are the events that
are going on in the next couple of weeks. I hope you'll attend them and good luck to everybody with the spring coming up soon. Thank you. >> Thank you council president and acting mayor. Um, just have a few updates for tonight. My name is Jason Selnic. I chair the Health and Human Services
Committee. Um, like I indicated, there's a couple things to report in that area. Uh, first I just wanted to note that the next monthly meeting of the board of health is coming up this Thursday at 7 PM. Um, they'll be meeting over Google Meet and you can access the link on the
website hbro.com if you're interested in listening in. Um there's also a vacancy at the moment on the board of health and so if you're interested in u participating and working on public health issues um facing our town encourage you to go to
the burough website and find the volunteer application and submit it to a clerk. Um, next up, uh, just want to note that the human relations commission will be meeting the following week, Wednesday, March 18th, um, at 7:30m. Um, they hold a hybrid meeting, uh, which
will be held at the lower level conference room in person here at Burrow Hall and then also over. And if you're particip if you'd like to join remotely, uh, the meeting link can be accessed at our website. Um, and then also State of Human Relations Commission. Uh, on
Sunday, March 22nd, they'll be co-hosting the Highland Park DEI cookie exchange from 1 PM to 3 PM at the Highland Park Community Center. Uh, this event aims to show support for DEI in a sweet way by bringing and exchanging cookies from all different cultures. I
think everyone should try to come um early. Uh, I will try not to eat all the cookies. Um, and lastly, uh, same again on the human relations commission. They have a couple of vacancies. So, if you're interested in working on events and programmings like that to help bring our community together, please submit volunteer application available through
our pro website. Uh, and that was all that I have for tonight. >> Okay. Thank you. And we don't have mayor's report, but I have my report. So, um, good evening everyone. My name is Stephanie Kim Chan
and I chair of finance. So before we get into the agenda, I want to recognize um women's history month. And as we recognize women history month, it's worth remembering that women's progress um as a chair of finance and
women's progress in finance wasn't only cultural, it was legal and practical. While women weren't broadly barred by law from opening bank accounts, access to credit was a different story. For
decades, women were routinely denied loans or required to bring a male co-signer. That was even their uncles, their brothers, or whoever they can find. So in 1974, the Equal Credit Opportunity
Act made it illegal for creditors to discriminate based on sex or marital status, which was a major step forward towards financial independence, helping women build credit in their own name, buy homes, and access to capital. This
history is a reminder of why fair access, transparency, and financial inclusion still matters today. Now, a few key items on tonight's agenda as it relates to finance. We have our
temporary budget amendment. Um, that's to maintain operations until the budget uh regular budget is adopted, which you will be hearing uh more of. And then as Councilman Hirs mentioned, our authorization authorizing the
purchase of a new garbage truck um and uh to support reliable sanitation services, which was much needed. Also grant support. So supporting the you drive, you tax, you pay um distracted driving crackdown for the month of
April. um with the state reimbursement up to $7,000 for this um enforcement. We also have a project closeout. The final payment estimate for the community center roof um is also on the agenda.
And also just wanted to give two announcements on uh regarding some state level items. So New Jersey offers a free online filing for many residents. This is your online uh taxes. So, you can check the Division of Taxation's
official online filing options to see if you qualify and can file at no cost. And also wanted to make another announcement that maybe some of our residents could qualify for. Airbnb is offering $750
for new host or hosts with no active listing as of April 1st, 2026. and eligible North and Central New Jersey locations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. So, this is worth looking
into. Maybe have a spare room, college kid, someone's there. I don't have the space. I wish I had the space, but um that's our location. So, thank you. And that's my report. Um burl administrator, do you have a report?
>> Good evening. No, I don't have a report. Burough attorney. >> Uh thank you. Um my report will be very brief. It's just to once again review the uh agenda. Um and especially for the upcoming public participation. Uh there are two opportunities for the public to
speak tonight. Uh the first one is coming up. It is um on any item on the agenda. That's your items on ordinances on first reading as well as your resolutions. Uh at the end of the agenda, you'll see a second public participation that gives you an additional three minutes and that's on any topic that you wish to bring to the
council. Uh as a reminder, uh when comments are made to the council, they are just that their their comments. The council will hear all the comments. Uh and then they they can choose their discretion as to whether or not they want to respond to them, answer any questions. Um and we we do that uh to make sure that everyone has an
opportunity to to make whatever comment that they need to make without having too much action. Uh, Council President, that that concludes my >> Now it's time for public participation. 21 minutes total, three minutes per speaker, limited to items on this
agenda. Comments from members of the public attending the meeting in person will be heard first, followed by members of the public attending the meeting via Zoom. I'm Mary Madison Avenue asking you to
table resolution 32678. Please don't rubber stamp the renewal for Blackburn. There's a lot of information I'm going to give you. You need to digest it please before you go forward. I have copies of everything for you. This dispensary was given several golden passes to open in the first
place. Gail Mitler for seven months she was still mayor never mentioned her son was involved in the pot shop. Section 2F of their application appears to have false information on it. It says Arnold Weinberg is a co-owner of all colors. This has been brought up twice to
council and nothing has been provided otherwise. Uh state business registrations and LinkedIn profiles do not substantiate this section of the application. Another big golden pass uh in February 2023 when you approved their first license. It
appears to have been done without a quorum. Six council members were present. Canever was a no. Kim Choan and Pastor abstained. That's three out of six with no affirmative vote. Elsie as mayor did not vote at all. So even if
you thought it was a tie, it still was not to go through and it did. and in violation of the HP 2023 rules of order. Neither Kim Choan nor Piston gave their reasons for abstension on the record. That was the rule at the time. The Golden Pass continued as the minute
meetings in February were falsely recorded. It falsely lists Canava as a yes and Kim Choan as a yes. Again, Canava was a no. Kim Choan had stained. The false information was perpetuated again the next month when council
members voted the false minutes through. This means this dispensary should not have been given its first year license in the first place. So, not only did it spend all of 2024 getting extensions from Highland Park once it finally did open last April, it has not been the
best neighbor. I'm also giving you a compilation of the potential advertising violations, including they are using New Jersey Department of Transportation traffic signs for their own signage, among other infractions. And last, but not least, you're going to
get copies of some sample testing of their products. 11 products were were sampled at Blackburn. Six of them failed, 54%. Interesting, too. They claim good neighborliness is important to them. That's the word in their application.
They have not been a good neighbor even with these golden passes. One of their pages claimed they asked residents within 1,000 ft if they would object to being there. These names are from River Road South South 6th Avenue Cedar A. These are not within a th00and ft.
Again, it went through on the application and it shouldn't have. Please do not rubber stamp it. Please table it until you can review this information. We don't need this in order to survive in Highland Park. Please consider this carefully. Thank you so much.
And uh I'll give the packet of everything I've just talked about to the attorney if you can make copies and I'm sure everybody please receives it. Thank you. Um Melissa Gorduke Lewis Street. Um I'm
speak on speaking on 11G. Um, so the residents on Lewis and Cra and Wbridge, not Cra, uh, Hilton were finally notified. So, I spoke to them. They
filled out paperwork. Um, they couldn't come here tonight, but they wanted you to know that this they're not functioning well with this environment because of what's going on. um the litter, the smell, um their qual quality
of life is deteriorating and um they would have been here and I would have if I had more time I would have gotten more names but um what I usually do is I bring them their packages back and I say here you
know like you need to do a better job remember I told you drag a bag drag a a garbage can to the side because they're walking down the buck and dropping as they go. They're walking down Crow, dropping as they go. Um,
this yellow tube was found in Cary Park. That's the only one from Carsey Park. The other one was on the lock in in a driveway. Um, these were found um next to Acme Auto Body, which is the top of Crow, which is Highland Park. And in
their application, they're saying that we're going to reuse materials and they're not reusing materials. It's being dropped all over the neighborhood and it smells and I walk with a dog. So, these are the ones that I found in
50 ft of um Irving School across the street. Um they look like they're M&M jars. the one that was at the bottom of the at the bottom of the slide. I thought it was an Eminem chart, but I went back a day later and it was still there and I
picked it up and sure enough it says Blackburn and it's it's two splits and you can smell it from over here. Um, these are pictures of everything I found. um they didn't shovel um their
driveways, so everyone was parking at the bar. The bar is losing business. The bar wants to put stickers on cars saying, "Please get out of my driveway. No one can park here." Um >> 30 seconds.
>> Okay. And um they're they're not being they're not complying. And what they were told when the owner of the bar went over was, "What are you going to do about it?" Um, if you have me towed, you can't have me towed that fast. I'll be out with my purchase before. Um, but I
can give you all these pictures. You can clearly see Blackburn. And um, the children just dropped them. Um, and also I found a a package of tobacco. Um, it was just laying there open and my
dog could have eaten it. Okay. Um, there's one in here that says extra street. You can barely read it because it was a date disabled man. >> And I know you don't want these, so I'll take it to Blackburn. >> I'm happy with the photos next. Okay.
following Tyler 142 North 6th Avenue Park. Um I've come up here as much as I possibly can to express my um dismay over the decisions this council is making in relationship
welcoming all the pot shops into our town. they bring aside from uh some revenue which I have no idea where that revenue goes. I've asked but not received any answers. Um there's no obvious reason why we need to have the number of hot chops that we do and
there's no obvious reason why the mayor and support these businesses. They're absolutely bring nothing to the town. there's nothing of benefit that they bring and they bring pose a big danger
in addition to not bringing anything worthwhile. So here again, I stand and ask you to please have a little bit of courage and vote against resolution
32678 authorizing rainbow for business license for Blackburn to operate personal use of this business. It's really bad for the town. um mother to two kids in town, one in
public school, two in private schools and I have um huge concerns of a part child to be a primary school. Uh we want to keep our children safe. We're 15,000 um people in this town and we already
have four pod shops. How many pot shops does 15,000 people um borrow means? There's plenty of room for other businesses that don't endanger our kids. So, um I would like the council to uh
reconsider providing the license behalf of the um Jewish community in Islam. Thank you. >> I just want to give this to somebody because I don't want to take it back to them. I've been there a million times and they're not listening to
>> who volunteers on council to take it into black. >> I I go there like every other day with with some garbage for them. >> No one volunteers. >> Thank you. >> And we're going to check next week to
make sure you dropped it off there. >> I'm sorry. >> It's not the first time someone's giving you trash. trash. >> There are five attendees, but no hands raised. >> Seeing uh no further comments, may I
have a motion to close public participation? >> So move. >> Second. >> Roll call. Council member George. >> Yes. >> Council member Hail, >> yes. >> Council member Hirs, >> yes. Council President Kim Johan. >> Yes.
>> Council member Persona. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh ordinances requiring a first reading. Clerk, uh, please report on introduction of ordinance number 26-2126. >> An ordinance amending and supplementing
chapter 278-17 parking on street accessible parking spaces within the burough final park has been introduced by the public safety committee for consideration of passage on first reading by title. May I have a motion to approve ordinance
number 26-2126? So move >> second instruction authorizing publication as required by law and set up public hearing for March 24th, 2026. >> Council member George,
>> yes. >> Council member H. >> Yes. >> Council member Hirs. >> Yes. >> Council President Kim Johan. Yes, >> council member. >> Yes. >> Consent agenda items. Would any council members like um to
remove any items from the consent agenda for a separate vote? May I have a motion to adopt the following consent agenda items 11A through 11P? >> So move second.
>> Roll call. >> Council member Gorge. >> Yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member Hirs. >> I'm a yes. But I do want to just acknowledge, you know, the the feedback that we've heard today and I want I want I want it to be clear that that that it
is heard. I know um Melissa has has has expressed concerns about uh litter in Carsey Park stemming from um stemming from Blackburn uh and um uh I know there's parking considerations over there too uh particularly when it comes to park pubs. So you know you know
Whipridge Avenue is a very special corridor in in Highland Park and it's important that you know we we do our best to make sure that uh Woodbridge Avenue is walkable, presentable, familyfriendly. There is a school right there. um you know and I think you know and it's important that our retail
actors you know uh operate um with respect to the community that's not to say that they're not but if there are issues that residents are are reporting I think we have to um uh follow up you know uh in the short term just like we do with the with the service stations and auto body shops when they park on
the street uh we got to go we we have to go in and do a check um because if they do want to if they you know these stores you know the way that our law is written requires requires buy in each time there's a license renewal um uh the way our law is required. That's not the
state law. Our law requires that we do this buy in each time the license is renewed. And I think that raises the standard on the retailer to to to show its work and show, you know, that that they're responding to community input. So, I would like to see some followup uh
with the concerns that we've heard tonight. And so, um with that, I am yes to release. Council President Kim Johan. >> Yes. >> Council member Poni. >> Uh yes. And I just also echo those sentiments regarding the littering and
issues. Something we should look into. >> Resolutions requiring a separate reading. May I have a motion to adopt resolution 3-26-88, resolution to approve budget transfers. So move.
>> Second. >> Roll call hall. Council member Dor. >> Yes. >> Council member. >> Yes. >> Council member Hirs. >> Yes. >> Council President Kim Johan. >> Yes. >> Council member Ponic. >> Yes. >> Um resolution authorizing amendment to the
2026 temporary budget. May I have a motion uh to adopt or reject resolution 3-26-89. Resolution authorizing amendment to the 2026 temporary budget.
>> Motion to adopt. >> Second. >> Roll call. Council member George. >> Yes. >> Council member Hail. >> Yes. >> Council member Hirs. >> Yes. >> Council President Ken. >> Yes. Council member Ponic. >> Yes. >> And appointment safe walking and cycling
committee. Catherine Hall. And community emergency response team Janet Hold. May I have a motion to confirm? >> So move second >> and roll call. >> Council member George. Both these
volunteers uh have been participating in these committees. Uh Miss Bull is great member of safe walking and cycling which is really moving ahead with their agenda and Miss Bodell great addition to the emergency response team. Yes. >> Council member Hail.
>> Yes. >> Council member Hirs. Phil, I I'm really happy to see Katherine on on Slack. I think it's her insight is extremely important and she's a neighbor. I'm really forward to her work there. Yes. >> Council President Kim Johan.
>> Yes. Council member Christo. >> Yes. And thank you volunteers. >> And now it's time for our second public participation. Three minutes per speaker on any topic. Subject to 900 pm
conclusion. Comments from members of the public attending the meeting in person will be heard first, followed by members of the public attending the meeting via Zoom 142 North 6th Avenue. Um I just wanted to comment on how these decision this
decisions are made through the council the way the agenda is set up and you know it just I have yet in a few years that I've been coming up here whenever a pot shop renewal was up I
have yet to see anybody um actually take this resolution out of the consent agenda. and have an actual discussion about it. We've got strong input. I mean, almost every meeting where this there's a new
pot renewal, there's strong uh opinion against what's happening in high park and the way meetings are set up, you you don't get any response at all. I mean, basically, okay, we got one
response today, but normally it's just rubber stamped, you know, it's stuck in the middle of the consent agenda along with parking regulations and other ordinary day-to-day things. This is a really important issue and um it's
important to a lot of people in Highland Park, especially people with children. Blackburn, literally across the street from an elementary school. Um, it didn't have to be that way. Um, Highland Park voted when this made first made a
decision to bring pot shops into Highland Park. The conscious decision was made, we'll do a handsoff. You can do whatever you want. You can put your pot shops wherever you want. We're we're going to encourage this business wholeheartedly. I do not know why that's
the case and no one's ever said why. There's no reason for it. But burying it in the consent agenda is so counterproductive to having an actual give and take with the community. Um, I would think for responsive government,
you would want to have concerns, legitimate concerns that are brought up addressed and have some kind of back and forth discussion about it rather than just burying it in the content agenda and rubber stamping it
every single time. I have a big problem with that. the way the way this operates the way you're operating um this with this issue, but it's a big problem. I don't know that anything's going to
happen to it, but I'm going to go on record as saying this is problem. Mary Baution Madison just to follow up on what was said here. Um, again, it's just really incredibly disappointing that
someone, a resident hands you a packet of information to review, just asking you to table a resolution until you have a chance to go through it and you don't even do that. I I guess, you know, I'd like to hear
from you as to why are you choosing not to even look at what has been handed to you? before you uh adopt all of these resolutions, what would be the problem in tableabling it, looking at what has
been given to you. That is my question to you. I hope you will each answer these questions. Thank you so much. Terry, anyone on Zoom? >> No, we have four attendees on on Zoom and no hands raised.
>> Um, seeing no further comment, may I have a motion to close public participation? >> So move. >> Second. >> Oh, I said I'm sorry. >> You you can't second actually. >> Oh, I call for the motion. Someone else.
There you go. >> Roll call. Council member George. >> Yes. >> Council member H. >> Yes. >> Council member Hirs. >> Yes. >> Council President Kimcha. >> Yes. >> Council member Piston. >> Yes. >> Um
so actually um Mary I I've heard and um Miss Tyler your comments. I think this license was expiring within next week as well too. So that's why it was on the agenda. Um and these the conversations
that we had about when the state um I think maybe was that in 21 or 22 wanted um municipalities to make decision whether you were going to accept marijuana shops or not. That was when those discussions were had and that
is I think multiple discussions were had. I think even that whole summer we discussed um allowing these businesses and I know economic develop it almost went through every committee. Uh so I I
mean at this point these are brick and mortar businesses and any complaints like I think Councilman Hurst said should be followed on up on just like we follow up on any other complaints with businesses have. The question I asked
was, why are you each willing to not even look at a packet of information given you before voting, even just to table it? If your excuse is that because the license is due next week, you'd rather put
through a license for a whole another year than look at the actual information that is that is det very detrimental, false in this process and that doesn't speak well of the
integrity of this council. you're willing to put through perpetuate false information, samples that failed, advertising that is violative, all because you have to rush through for next week, then put a special meeting in
in between. >> Sorry, the the parliamentarian is going to get just for two seconds and I I I'm not looking to stop anything, but I just as a reminder, the public participation aspect has has expired. So, >> how could I address the fact that she's not answering the question and none of them are doing what we ask? ipation uh
portion is your opportunity to address the council. This is the council's opportunity to respond to you. >> She her comments are after I spoke. >> Ma'am, I I can't answer your question if you're not going to allow me to answer the question. So, the public participation uh portion of the meeting gives the public the opportunity to
address and bring forth any questions or concerns that they have to the council. It is now the council's opportunity to respond to those uh and offer, you know, whatever insights they choose to do. That's the conclusion of the the interaction. Now, it doesn't mean that you are barred from reaching out to the
council thereafter. You certainly are entitled to reach out to the council members uh through their emails, telephones, however many interactions that you have, but for the purpose of this meeting, the public portion has concluded. I'm trying to give you a few minutes and and you guys are having a back and forth and I and I tried, you know, so but I don't want it to
>> kind of burn further and further and further out. So, I just wanted to I know you were trying to wrap your point up and then and then council president was providing an answer. Um but that's >> is it Phil has suggested I come back up to the microphone is that >> the the >> to the extent that there will be statements um whether the
parliamentarian allows it to go forward I want to make sure that the citizen is on the record that her statements are on the record she's sitting back over there I don't think we were picking it up. No, no, no. And I and I understand and I can appreciate where you're too and like I said, it's normally the public portion is gone. There was a little bit of and I
I understood it and and I'm not again I'm not trying to styy anyone from having a conversation. Um I just have to kind of make my two cents of the public portion has concluded. Council president's made her comments. Um I don't know if there's anything more to add in this particular conversation. If it needs to continue on, it can continue
on kind of after the conclusion of the meeting. You're certainly welcome to continue. There is a way that I as Phil has I really appreciate that Phil that you suggested my comments can get on the record at this time that um your answers h were nothing to do with the questions
I asked nor I asked if each council member could please address why they were not willing to look at all this information before they were even voting. >> Your your request is on the record and this this is all on the record as well. No, it's not.
>> But her answer had was not related to my question. She started going back to 2021. >> Yeah. Other than the fact that she said they were coming up quickly on the license. >> All the more reason to look at the information you're given and not just rush it through.
>> You're you're I I understand where you're coming from. >> Are my comments now on the record? >> Yes. Transcript. >> Yes. >> Okay. Great. Thank you so much. >> No. Yeah, you're there on the record. >> Thank you, Phil. I appreciate it. Council President, may I respond? >> Yeah.
>> Um, thank you. Thank you, Mary Rifka, Colleen, Melissa. I like I take your presence here to heart and I know it's genuine and I want you to really understand that and I also understand your concerns. Um, the way that I, you
know, and and I I I don't know if I can directly answer your question, Mary, but I will answer I will answer the best that I can. Um, this process is frustrating. I will I I will say our our local ordinance is written in a way that requires the entire council to vote each
time uh um a a license needs needs needs renewal. That's not required under the state law. It can be this this is a minister. So So essentially what you're seeing is more of a ministerial um vote rather than a referendum on the on the
value of the store. um it's it's more administrative and that's why unless there is a gross violation of of something you know we we really would have no reason to reject um uh uh this this um this resolution. I will say
though at some point though I would like to see our ordinance re rewritten uh to address this and and streamline it and perhaps even create uh a public feedback process. I'm also interested to know um about the revenue as well and I think that's a good question. Um, but I will
say that that this that that these resolutions might feel like a vote and a referendum on whatever it is that we're voting on. Um, but in this case, it is it's it's other in most towns, this would be an administrative action that would not
require the votes of council. So, I it's an opportunity to to to come and express your your your your opinions, and I I respect and appreciate that. Um uh but you know this is this is rare in New Jersey. Uh and so perhaps that's
something that we can look at and maybe better streamline the process and at least make you know the public more aware that this is happening. >> No further comments. Can I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So move second.
>> All in favor? We are ajourned. >> We are ajourned.