back in the room here. Um, we have uh first order of business is the recognition of uh resident who's turning 100. >> Do you know what date that is? >> Um, on the proclamation iPad.
Mhm. >> August 13th. >> August 13th. Okay. So, it uh tomorrow. Okay. How's it tomorrow? Uh happy 99th for last day is 99. Um >> I've never heard it worded that way.
>> As I always used to say when it was when it was one of my kids birthday, I said, "Congratulations. You have the longest to wait now until your next birthday of anybody in the world to wait the longest." Okay. So, happy birthday. Happy 100. quite an accomplishment. Um, you must
have done something to keep your attention. I don't remember. But anyway, uh, let's move on to the approval of the minutes. Uh, we'll do them quickly individually. The council minutes uh, for June 17th, 2025.
Can I get a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Those in favor? >> I those are approved. The council minutes from June 25th, 2025. Can I get a motion? Motion >> second. >> Second. >> Those in favor? >> I I have it. Uh the closed session
minutes from July 8th, 2025. Can I get a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I passed as well. The council meeting minutes from July 8th. >> Can I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Those minutes have passed as well. It is now time for the initial public comment and it is three minutes one topic per speaker. You state your name and
presence for the record please. >> Lauren Mitchell 73 Ber um somehow I became the spokesperson for I don't know it's my job. Um but you have correspondence that we sent the last letter. So just a couple things.
First off, I I really want to thank you all. Really heartfelt thanks because this is the first time. I mean, well, we we were always asking, but not formally. That was our mistake. But still, you've been the most receptive and we're really happy about that. And everything we've
asked you, you've considered, you know, and I appreciate that. That said, um I just have a couple a couple of things um to run by you. First, thanks for the the fake cameras. I think they're gonna be fantastic. I know. But
>> they're real telling everybody. Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. Um but they're great. Um hopefully they're going to be a deterrent because we've had, you know, vandalism there for years. So hopefully that'll help. Um a couple other things. You know, sometimes
you're there all the time and you don't see things. We all of a sudden noticed that signs, town signs, the metal signs that had been on Kinder Mack on I believe both right both sides of the street. >> Yeah. >> With an arrow to Sapienza Gardens
disappeared. I don't know if it was kids. Anyway, so there are people that literally come up to us and say, "I didn't know it was here." Um, and I don't know where it is. And since it's owned by the town, you know, if we could get those signs back, especially if we have events, people are like wondering
where is this place? So, if that's possible, I I would appreciate that. Um, the other thing I wanted to ask um is I had I had sent uh a previous letter that had a sign because I I do um with a
hiking club and we were hiking. Actually, it wasn't even a hike. It was a walk. I didn't even know this place was there. see T-neck conservancy. Um, and they had a fabulous sign that kind of handled everything like no motor vehicles, take your waste with you, whatever. And I think I included a photo
of that and Mike, you put up signs, but I'm asking for something more permanent, like another town sign. First off, it sounds important and impressive and it's, you know, it's the town is watching. Um, so I think it'd make a more more of an impact like at the
entrance. Um, so that should be on the previous letter. I can tell you what date that was. Um, that was December 1st. And I have I I know you can't see it here, but this is it was a
sign. So, it says real quick, um, please protect and care for the environmentally sensitive areas. Stay on paths for your safety. Do not do not enter during storms. Blah blah blah blah. Paths for pedestrian use only. No bicycles or motor motorized vehicles. Um pick up
your wa pet waste and litter, you know, and whatever. Whatever. >> Are you a problem? An ongoing problem? >> Yeah. Yeah. Um one of our one of our trustees actually lives in the area. She's not here tonight. But yeah, she's run in there, you know, try to try to
get them to stop. >> So we we so so we have the proof of the sign already. Uh the same sign that you're talking about. Um, this is what we will be printing out >> on a on a permanent metal sign. >> It's on permanent metal sign.
>> The same same the same wording that that you gave us. >> Yeah. >> It's going to be 24 by 30 and it will be posted. >> That's awesome. I think things like that really will deter people. Um, one other thing I want to ask and actually not asking for anything this time. Um, on on
that that same one I had a message center. So, we've had scouts do message centers and they're like with lumber and cork and they they keep breaking and falling apart. So, with the gratefully um $1,000 you gave us and then we'll add
to that. Um um we want to purchase, you know, a weather, you know, all weather one that has locking doors. Um and I had I don't know why. I think it's from when I was still working. I had this uh company um they go to like
municipalities. They have everything from um swing swing sets and whatnot. And I wanted to ask you if you got a discount with a company like this that we could, you know, maybe get a break on these. This isn't old. This is 2019, but
I I looked up their more recent ones. They go like from 1500 to 2,000. And they have like a 20-year warranty or something like that. >> So, we work with only state contracts. So, they they'd have to be certified. We get lower prices. Yeah, >> I don't know what company that is.
>> Uh, this is Barco. >> Yeah, I don't know if there's >> So, maybe I could just call you and talk. >> You can call me anytime. Yes, ma'am. >> And maybe if we can get a better deal on that. And then lastly, down quick. Um, the doggy days is this is on our website is um October 19th. Um, we need judges.
So, that means if any of you want to come, that would be great. Um, so that's um one to three on um September um I'm sorry, October 19th. Um, so we need judges and then I think that's pretty
much it. Anything else I missed? Anybody? >> Yes, the brook. That's another sil that's a constant thing, you know. Um, on the on the other side we had we actually had a pond and it it went through succession. It's really not a
pond anymore. You know, everything overtook. I mean, it's a natural course, but we don't want it to be on the brook because, you know, if it does, it could impact people, you know, above above or below that area. Um, and then, yeah, I I think um, you know, the flooding drives
silt in there and then, you know, kids I mean, I my kids did the same thing, you know, constantly throwing stones and then you have a buildup of it, especially when it rains, they maybe there's a, you know, um, a curb in it and there deposits there. So that needs to be like d snagged the the brook, you
know. I don't know for the people, you know, living there too. >> So I think that's I think that's it, right? But if we can any we have any judges tonight? Anybody? >> Oh, you have two judges that were up here last year. And you actually have a category winner from last year. >> Yes, me. My Lucy.
>> Lucy. Which one? >> She won the contest for the scariest costume. >> She was a Chucky doll. >> She was I remember that. Yeah, >> she's 8 pounds. She's Chucky. >> And and you know the power of force servitude out and you can improve on that because I'm giving you such
advanced work. >> I think as a winner she should be forced to be a judge. >> Oh my god. >> That's that's very good. >> Good PR. >> I'll be there to judge for servitude. That's the result. >> Thanks. >> You can get me too. >> What do we need? We just need two, right? Or we have three. We had three to
break the clock. One, two. >> You know, >> I'll do it. >> There you go. >> I'm counting on you. >> Uh I think that's it. Do you have any questions for us on anything? >> No. Okay. Thank you. >> Um, do we have any
>> We're going to bypass that. And since I since we do have uh Sienza Gardens as part of the correspondence, uh, let's just file receive it. Uh, the letter. Can I get a motion to receive? >> Motion to receive. >> Second. >> Those in favor? >> I >> I
>> We have received that. Now, let's get to the professional reports. Um, we don't have the engineer here tonight. Um, John, did you want to say something also? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we'll we'll add you instead of the engineer. Let's start with the police first for July.
Chief Woods. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, this is the monthly report for July 2025. Uh, so our community policing unit, uh, we did our we did the Hillsdale summer camp tour of, uh, PD headquarters, which went off very well. A lot of kids. Um, we also prepped for National Night Out,
which just passed. Thank everyone for their involvement with that. Uh, as far as traffic and patrol goes, Hillsdale police responded and opened up 736 calls for service, 83 motor vehicle stops, 10 motor vehicle accidents, uh, we
conducted 13 selective enforcement special details, uh, conducted eight uh, parking enforcement special details, responded to 50 medical calls, 25 citations, and written warnings. We had one adult arrest, 143 property checks. Our
detective bureau uh conducted 47 case investigations. They closed 29 of them. Uh one resulting in a charge. And our firearms unit uh did a background investigation andor um for a carry concealed or firearms permit for
uh eight different applicants. >> Questions? >> I I personally want to thank you because you also gave us previous months. We now have a comparison y >> as to where we stand. Um, >> anybody up here have a question for the chief?
>> Well, I do want to thank the the police department for putting on a great show the other day. >> It was a fantastic event. It was very well attended. >> Uh, the hot dogs were amazing. >> Yeah, it went over well. Sergeant Sers, Officer Alfieri, and Officer Rodriguez,
they spearheaded that and did a tremendous job. Thank you. >> Public works. >> Okay, so we got the uh nail drag and the mat for the baseball fields was ordered.
Just uh awaiting delivery for it. I reached out the other day to see where it's at. Waiting to hear back from them. Uh big one is Centennial. After consulting with the bur administrator and Collier's engineering
along with subcontractors, rather than replacing the pump, we're reconfiguring the piping to increase the volume of water to get the sprinkler system uh to be able to cut back on the watering times. >> Okay.
>> So, Barry, that's going to resolve the water pressure issues and uh >> yes, it's more a volume issue than it was a pressure issue. Uh we took care took delivery of the uh new muler specifically for Centennial and it's uh it's working fantastic.
We also began repairs on the nature trail the closed section. We also took delivery of the new bucket truck last week came in and I have scheduled the inservice training for September 4th was the earliest I could get that before we
could put the truck in service. remove uh four more dead trees and one dangerous tree on Cherry Place. The park mobile spaces have been uh repainted in a brighter green so that uh enforcement can begin on that.
Uh almost done with the uh painting of bulkheads, crosswalks, and parking uh spaces around town. I'm sure everybody's kind of noticed the nice bright white paint uh all over. New garbage cans. That was a big one.
Those went out. All the new garbage cans went out. All the ugly, dirty ones are gone. >> You're talking about the ones in the downtown area? >> Downtown area. Yeah. >> So, there's smaller cans with a smaller opening. >> Correct. So, that hopefully we can deter
some of the uh residents and apartments putting their household garbage in those cans. uh Pasc Road and Saddle Ranch. There was a uh manhole cover that was replaced
along with uh pothole repairs on that same day being done. >> That tree was just Wasn't that just recently repaid? >> Yeah, they were It's an old manhole cover going back to the 60s when the sewer systems were first in Yeah. first
installed in the burrow. And if anybody hasn't noticed, the new railings out front have been installed. Uh just moving on with the revitalization outside Burough Hall. >> Excellent.
>> Um yeah, I did hear from one local business, just so you know, um along Psville Avenue, you did both sides of the street at the same time that people couldn't park. >> So there were people that were complaining saying, "I can't, you know, a couple of the business like our customers can't park their cars and So
just for future notice, maybe you do one side >> one side. Yeah. In the morning and then they could do the other side in the afternoon. >> Anyone else with any questions? >> Yeah, just a a general question. We What's your view of our preparation for the leaf pickup?
>> Uh we're right on track. The mechanic is gone through or presently going through all the equipment, servicing it, the uh two new trucks, the issues that we had. um that since they were delivered, they've all been taken care of with the
uh manufacturers. Uh I got uh some uh the quotes for the leaf dump >> that came in. Um that has to that'll be on next month's agenda for resolution.
>> So we're moving right along. So, you feel you have the resources as well? >> Mechanical as well as human. >> Okay. >> Yep. We're all We'll be all set for that. >> Anyone else? >> Yeah. Barry, uh just a couple of things. Um for Centennial Field, can you just
talk about a little bit about the company that was brought in to uh address some of the pests that were on the field there? >> Uh we brought in Go Organic >> to uh take care of the that entire complex. Um, previous contractor kind of was just
doing the the normal, not doing anything extensive. >> Mhm. >> So, I removed him from there and we put Go organic up there. >> They're going to address any issues that >> they're taking care anything any issues that are up there. They're treating for it. They just fertilized uh today.
Friday, they're going to do their triple aation core aeration seating and dragging on the field. So that's going to be ready to go. >> Gonna be ready to go for soccer. Yes. >> And and also with regard to all this rain that we've had over the last few weeks, I noticed a lot of the equipment
was moved over to the commute a lot. Did we experience any breach of water? >> None. >> It was just a uh >> Yeah, just to be honest, we'd rather be safe than sorry. >> Yeah, one of the storms was worse than the other. But >> the second storm that didn't occur,
>> right, was significant. Yeah, I was I was >> orchestrating a lot of that with my foreman while I was in Pennsylvania sitting in a tent in the rain. >> Yeah. Is there more work that needs to be done to the DVW? I know that you
>> Yes. Yeah. There's another another phase with all the uh technical electric plumbing. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions? John, you want to get you can either go there or you can come up here.
>> Sure. >> Saw your stuff on Facebook. >> Yeah. >> So great. >> Great. >> So I'm here to report on some of that and some other basic things. Uh so first off, we have our uh annual Super 50/50 fundraiser scheduled for drawing this
Sunday. Um and we are officially sold out. So we have sold all 10,000 tickets. Um, so we'll have two winners. The first taking $8,000, second taking 2,000, and then the core will make the $10,000 off of the profit. Um, that is this Sunday
at 2:00. So, if any members of the council or administration want to come, uh, we'll be at our building from around 12 to 2 and you guys can be there for the drawing. It's at 2:00. Um, just some basic information. Um, I had posted some of this on social media. So for June, we
had 87 dispatches answered by our department. Uh we missed three calls for the entire month. Two when our volunteers were out of service. Um and one when our uh PDMs were already on another call. Actually, no, sorry, one when our volunteers were on another
call. Um were >> those internal to Hillsdale or >> Yeah. So those would have been three calls in Hillsdale that we missed. Two when we didn't have a crew and one when we were already on another call for service. And where do they roll over to? >> They they will basically go to the
closest available. Um I will say that for June, I believe the two of them were answered by volunteers and one was answered by a county ambulance. Um of the 87 calls for June, 45 of them
were volunteers, 42 were PDM, uh Monday to Friday daytime. Of the 42 PDM calls, 19 of them were for Riverville on part of our mutual aid agreement with them. Um, of our total 87, 32 of them were
considered mutual aid. So, as I stated already, 19 of those 32 were uh the pdium to Rivervale. We then had nine times where the volunteers responded to Washington Township, three times where volunteers went to Westwood, and then only one time where our volunteers went
to Rurville. For the month of June, we had uh 1585 volunteer duty hours and over 512 and 512 scheduled for DM hours. Um, our numbers were pretty high that month because we also had our volunteer
EMTs, staff, EMS at the junior police academy or leadership academy. Um, so we had two volunteers every day with the police department and we also had our pdiums there. So our pdiums were able to remain available for calls in the burrow. Um, or if we needed any sort of
swift transport, they were already there. Um, we also helped train the lifeguards at Stonybrook this year in basic first aid um before their season opened up. So July, um, believe it or not, was actually our slowest month of
the year. We only had 66 calls. Um, and of those 66, we only missed one call. Uh, it was our PDMS were already on another call when this that one came out. They responded back from the hospital, but a county ambulance had already beat them on scene and had the
patient in the back, and they agreed to not take them out of one ambulance and put them in the other. So, um, of those 66, we had 36 were volunteer, 30 were pdeium. Of those 30, nine of the pdeium calls went to River, uh, Rivervale, and
only 14 calls in total for that month were mutual aid. So, nine of the pdium to Verville and then five volunteer calls to Washington Township, nearly 1,600 uh volunteer member duty hours and 559 pdium. Um I am pleased to say at
this point in the year we have already surpassed our entire call volume from last year. Um so we are already over 570 calls for the year. Um, and to help prove the
reliability of and the, you know, speediness of what our prediums have been able to do, um, I just this month have actually ridden two pdium shifts just to make sure I'm part of the process, making sure what's going on with everybody. Um, and me and my partner, we had a successful EpiPen
deployment on a patient who had multiple yellow jacket stings without their own EpiPen. They knew they were allergic, but their doctor said, "You're not that allergic." But when you get stung upwards of 20 times, you become that allergic. Um, so we actually answered that call as the second of three calls
in a row. We every time we got to the hospital immediately turned around and took another call in town and our third call in a row was a rollover on the Parkway. Um, so we are consistently in service within one to two minutes of dispatch time and on scene usually in
five to six minutes from dispatch. So, it's been a a tremendous thing that the burrow put in place. Um, and we've had nothing but positive feedback from all the patients we've interacted with. Um, and one last thing to note, um, and I feel like this is actually pretty
significant. Um, so I've been a member of the department for 17 years now, and in those 17 years, we have never had a 100% staffing ever, but for the month of July, we did. So between our volunteers covering nights and weekends and our
pdiums covering Monday to Fridays, uh for the first time in what I probably believe to be the history of the core, we were staffed 100% of the time. I will sadly say in August it's not happening because we already lost some people for relocations for jobs and whatnot. Um but
it was nice to have that happen and be able to show the members like this is possible and something we're going to continue to strive to do moving forward. Um, are you tracking volunteer hours in Riverale like like that in the calls that they're making too? Because there
was a concern from the volunteer side that they thought that when we went paid that there would be no more real service being done by the volunteers. >> Yeah. So, their volunteers um are still taking calls. I believe I don't know the exact date, but I want to say it was
around the beginning of May. Um I think their their one of their social media pages for River Ambulance posted they had at that moment taken their hundth call of the year >> and that doesn't calculate into the 500 and something calls that >> correct. So they had just taken their 100th call. We at that point had been
over 450 or something like that. So they're still seeing call volume. Um they're still getting out there. Um I would say I don't have the exact number but I would say at this point between our volunteers and pdiums we've probably also done
a hundred or more >> okay >> calls in in Riverville >> members of council questions >> no thank you very much appreciate it >> we're going to move further actually we're going to go back to something that
was in there in in the uh in the group uh in the agenda for discuss discussion which was the downtown revitalization. And so we're going to turn this over to Melissa Maza Chong. >> Sure. >> Uh who will lead us through it as part
of our our our efforts to beautify and renovate the downtown area. >> It's all you. >> All right. So, our downtown revitalization committee um has been really busy. We've been meeting with developers and discussing exciting projects that will shape the future of
our downtown. So, just to ensure that the charm is front and center, we've created a facade style guide, and it's a quick visual resource that will inspire some of the businesses and the property owners as they make improvements to their buildings. This guide provides
visual examples, design ideas, and it reflects and preserves that unique character of our downtown. Um, ensuring that there's a cohesive and visual appealing Glint Streetscape. Um, it also incorporates valuable feedback from the planning board, including updates to
align with the current zoning language. Um, and this document that you see here linked here is um, it's a living document. Um, it's going to continue to evolve as our downtown grows um, and new opportunities arise. So, this is again something fun and exciting and we just
want to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to take a look and see what we envision for the future of our downtown and the look and feel. And again, it's really just to remain cohesive and ensuring that everything has that look and feel that we want to keep and preserve.
>> Okay. Is there other questions? >> This is this is the look and feel of our town going forward, >> right? >> Like I said, it is a breathing document. This these are things that we can involve as we move forward. We just want to make sure we have a guide, something
>> so it's it's linked here. Um, at what point are we going to sort of set that out for the burrow for the residents to see? >> I think mayor wants everyone of the council members and yourself say this is what we want and the planning board says this this works for us >> and this isn't going to be readopted as
we don't have to modify the master plan again. >> This is just for guidance for guidance. >> No, I I understand I just want to make sure everybody understands where we are with that that it's not going to require >> eventually I think when they redo the master plan uh parts of this components of this document would would probably
have to go into the master plan >> eventually. >> But this is this gives somebody a developer who comes into town a quick and easy style guide to know where they're going to go, what we want to do. >> It includes visuals of some of the elements that you see downtown. some of the bricks, some of the, you know,
whatever the material coloring, there is a there is a um color palette that we should abide by. Um and also recommended color palettes. So, there's things like that that's specific to just the look that we want to make sure that people are bringing in. >> Okay.
>> Anyone? >> Just one question. >> Just want to give a big shout out to uh to the counciloman Maza Chang. She she did a amazing job on this. >> Yeah. >> Take it. >> No, no, no, no. Cheers. But we we all recognize that uh the work that you put
into doing this and uh it it has not been un unnoticed and thank you so much because >> it it's really just key as you know with with affordable housing that's coming in and all the businesses that are are going to be
being created and facelifts that are going to happen and new housing that's going to come in. This is really going to help not only expedite the process but really beautify our town. So, thank you very much for it. >> Of course. >> Mike, do you have anything else you want to add to it? >> No.
>> Okay, great. Thank you. We're going to go on to the committee reports. Uh let's start with our council president, Clemente. >> Yes. Uh we had the recreation uh meeting last week. Um I don't want to be redundant, so I know that uh Vie Gasali
is going to update us on the Bant Shell uh memorial field. uh the nature trail and the community center uh as well as talk a little bit about a playground that and I think you have everything all that on your list, right? >> So, you're just telling me what he's going to be doing.
>> If I if I have anything to add, I'll do jump in. >> Yeah, I'll jump in. >> Uh I just want to provide some dates that were discussed. Um uh on August 15th, we're gonna the fall brochure is going to be released. It's going to be uh found on the uh burough website. Uh things like robotics classes and chess
classes are going to be listed. Uh we have the fall festival that's scheduled at Beachwood Park on September 13th. Um there's a movie night on August 26th. It's going to be one of the Karate Kid movies. Uh looking forward to that. Uh summer camp ended and it was very
successful. Uh it delivered about $100,000 for to the WCK commission for uh so that we could use that for WCK purposes going forward. Um >> above and beyond the cost. What >> above and beyond the cost? That's margin. Yep. >> Okay. >> Uh which was a very good thing and uh
and Dan Ki who's our rec director did a very good job with that uh managing uh the facilities and everything that's been in flux with the school. Um and then uh I think that and then I think that's it and then I I'll jump in when uh Mike talks about all the other
things. I just don't want to go over everything twice. >> So >> okay, Councilman Kleti. >> Thank you, Mayor. uh start with the environmental commission uh specifically grants. So in June uh we had notified the council that the environmental commission had worked with our
superintendent of the Hillsdale Board of Education, Robert Lombardi, regarding the NJD grant for trees at both Smith School and Metobrook. On July 17th, we found out that we were actually awarded $66,000 for new trees. So big thank you to Mr.
Lombardian team and the environmental commission for that. A beach uh Beachwood Nature Trail update. So, the actual winning bid for trail 1.0 was $83,000, which is in tonight's agenda for us to vote on. Um, I think Mike will provide some some more detail
potentially later, but after discussions with him, our total budget for 1.0 was 240,000. So, we're significantly under. Uh, so those funds could be utilized for Beachwood 2.0, uh, which we originally moved funds away from for the, uh, for
the band shelter. So, really good news there that we can probably get both of these done. Um, >> can I can I ask a question about about the board of ed stuff? Um, do is there an update as far as getting power to the trailers and
>> I'll give you that. >> Okay. That's going to be down that way. Okay. Go ahead. >> Okay. Uh in terms of lantern uh lantern flies, the environmental commission worked with the DPW to produce a video uh intended to inform the residents uh as to how they can obtain these uh these
traps for these invasive spotted lantern flies. Uh the video has been approved by the DPD and I believe um the mayor will it be on the week the weekly email >> to to the blast. Yeah, I thought I if you don't have the email I'll send we'll forward it on. It's a great video. It's
really informative uh to put up there and basically that the DPW is offering these the ability to trap and dispose of the lantern flies, right? Yeah. Okay. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Uh fire department, two quick
updates. July had 35 calls year to date. There are 202 compared to 134 in the prior year. Um you know, only 10 of of of that increase is related to the new box alarm program that they put in place this year. The rest is just an increase in activity. And the George White
temporary modular classroom evacuation of fire apparatus placement has been agreed between uh Captain Solda of the fire department and uh Mr. Lombardian staff. So that is now done. Finally, Pasak Valley Board of Education uh their last meeting was on July 16th. Their
next one is on August 25th. I think um what was important in the July 16th meeting was they spoke about the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment. That's the NJ GPA test that the 11th graders take uh to determine their graduation readiness in both math
and ELA. And in summary, uh the scores for the school were were excellent. They were meaningfully better than the state average on both math and and ELA. Uh if anyone cares to look at the detail of that, they can just go to the July 16th video on YouTube and see the details.
>> That's it. >> Any questions? No. Councilman Fox, >> Stony Brook Pool will be closing 91. They're going to have their senior splash week, the week of 9:15 for uh senior residents could sign up for $20 in community pass or call 20113585065.
Uh they could use the competition pool from 10 to 3 p.m. >> Is that interfering with drooling the pool or to the dogs? We're good. >> Quick quick question. Yeah. Do >> you know what the uh the registration totals were for the uh >> I don't have that. They'll I'll have
them next meeting. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Councilwoman Mazachan. >> All right. So, for ambulance, I just want to thank Chief Bey for being here tonight and his crew. Um big achievement on that 100% shift coverage. So, thank you for that and for all that you guys do. So, very impressive to hear all
those numbers. Uh for the board of ed local, there was a local board of ed meeting on the 17th of July. So, um, it feels far away, but here are some updates. As far as the Hillsdale, uh, recreation camp, it wrapped up its session at George White Middle School on the 1 of August. The program ran
smoothly. It was a great example of a great collaboration between the district and the, uh, local recck department. Uh, as far as elementary school preparations, and Blanch and Mebbrook have been getting their full summer refresh and prep for the new school year. classrooms, the common areas, all
facilities are being deep cleaned, repairs are underway, and preventative checks on systems like the HVAC and plumbing are being completed. Uh there was an email shared on August 1st where the district provided families with updates on the construction of uh George
White Middle School and and also preparations for the elementary schools. Uh the George White construction modular campus is targeted for an August 22nd completion. As of then, they were awaiting the PSEG transformer. So, I'm
not sure where it's at now, but uh hopefully in the next few days. Uh middle school is expected to open on time with no remote learning planned. As far as operational uh updates, asbestous um abatement begins on September 8th. The gym will be closed until at least
January 2026. And um thankfully thank thankful to the Hillsdale United Methodist Church there uh we're going to be hosting our lunches there. Sixth to 8th grade will be having lunches across the street. Um and that's it.
>> Any questions? >> No. Councilman Rico. >> Uh thank you mayor. Uh the access for all committee met on July 28th. We talked about the budget. They still have about 85% of their budget remaining but that was before the strawberry social. So, I presume their budget will will have gone down. They're still uh seeking
a meeting with the Hillsdale School Administrators to further communication and cooperation on matters pertaining to special education. Um they celebrated a new addition to the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. You might know that that person the person who
heads that is Paul Aronson, but we have a member of our own committee, Janna Murmur, who was uh appointed to uh to the committee. uh not to replace Paul necessarily at that level, but she's on the committee now and she was highlighted in a recent article about her in People and Families magazine. Uh
I updated the U access for all folks on the plans for Memorial Field, particularly the accessible playground that will be constructed in the southwest corner um of that field. They are not going to have a meeting in August. Their strawberry social was held at the library on August 5th. It was a great success. It was well attended by
families in Hillsdale as well as neighboring towns who have children with developmental disabilities. Um I think I want to really thank David France, our library director, who was instrumental in providing space and also helping that very night set up and then take things
down. Uh it was it was a good event. Um another event like that is being planned sometime at the library in the fall. Uh the finance committee met on August 7th. The bureau continues to be on target with the utilization of its appropriations with departments generally adhering to levels that are
reasonable for the 7th month period ending July 31st. The CFO gave the committee his assessment of our present situation as well as updated the committee on the preliminary results of our 2024 audit which was conducted by Lurch Vincy. There were 10 audit
exceptions. Uh some of them are repeats but all are pretty much regarded as minor with one exception. uh and even that arguably wrote a minor um the CFO is drawing up a remediation plan for for all these uh issues and that will be shared with the committee and then
submitted to the mayor and council for ratification. That's the normal process. We as the mayor and council need to approve uh that uh that remediation plan. The committee asked the CFO and the BA to draft up an ordinance to allow a specified but small portion of the recreational trust fund which has about
a little over a half million dollars in it at this point um to be used for the purpose of improving burrow assets utilized by the various recreational sports teams. Um but I understand from a recent email from the CFO that there's still some uncertainty about the the
actual amount. It we thought it might come up in September. Maybe it won't, maybe it will. I'm not sure. But um I think the idea is a good one. Um so that's it. >> Okay. Any questions?
Okay. Um BA Cassali, would you like to give Clemente's report now? Council president report. >> Let me give the council president's report. >> Council president's report. You want to give >> provide as much detail as you can. >> Yes. >> There you go. There you go. >> I got it. Uh first I want to thank the
police department on a very successful national national night out. Uh everyone seemed to have really good time and we were one of the few towns that you know that did that. So uh that was very nice done nicely done. Um to go into the
council president's report on memorial field u so we are progressing on schedule slightly ahead of schedule uh for the design of the field. We have held several meetings to select amenities and uh working with vendors on the different
uh product that we are going to be using uh down to the color of the benches down to the uh very very specific. That's what will go into uh the plan. Uh we've been talking to u the pivot turf company. They are in the co-op. We can
use them. We don't we don't have to go into u a public bidding process. So >> that was okay. Yes, it will speed up the process uh immensely. So that's that's that's very good news. I presented that also to the U recreational uh you know
commission. Uh we're all seem to be on the same page going with the pivot. So that's uh that's moving forward there. >> And that's that's a no fill r no fill rubber. >> There's no rubber >> no pellets. >> No no pellets that that will fly all
over the place. Uh on the band shell uh we are actually working on a design uh to use the same structure, the same foundation uh but rebuild it where uh with a roof rocks and I actually just
got uh uh the first uh the first quote u which I had to you know get off the floor after I read it. Uh $530,000. Um >> so we have to look at different options there. Uh so so the vat shell is uh but
what you see now we cleaned up you know the beams and we painted it u I think we will keep that in the next in a few months and we'll probably start work on that later this year to get it ready for next year but we do have to work on the pricing. >> Okay.
>> Uh Centennial Field uh the superintendent gave a a debrief on that. We're changing and someone had a a question on the pressure. We found out that there pipes of different sizes connected to each other. So 2 inch to 4 in to 1 in to 4 inch. So that's what
affected all that. So we we're spending some money now actually uh from the fund to fix all that. And they started this morning. >> They should be done. They'll be turning the water back on tomorrow. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There's some sprinkler heads that were broken too, right? >> That's all fixed. >> That's all fixed.
>> It's all fixed. Uh the community center. >> Quick question about the sprinklers. Is there a way to turn those on and off like uh via a cell phone or can we set that up? >> There will be as soon as uh we got this
water situation under control. Uh the a contractor will be coming in shortly to install the new control system which is uh Wi-Fi based. Yeah, we yeah you know we had the meeting with with all the
vendors excuse me and there'll be a hot spot there instead of the Wi-Fi. If that works then then we'll keep it. If not then we have to bring in the Wi-Fi. The community center uh they closed up all the walls. Um, and the I don't know
if I reported on this before. Uh, the developer is going to donate the entire kitchen installed, which is about $15,000. Uh, it will be like a one-bedroom kitchen. Um, so that's in progress. Uh, we seeing it once a week. We'll go back
again next week. Uh, we will have uh cameras inside. We will have a um overhead projector. Um, and we should have uh the custody of that probably sometimes first quarter of next year.
We're shooting toward April, May. >> What's the lead time to buy like furniture and going through >> in progress now? So, we're going through that now too talking to vendors and you're trying to get all that. It'll be just uh tables and chairs. There's really no there's there's nothing else.
Um, there's two conference rooms. So, we'll have two conference tables and chairs. >> Yeah. What about light lighting fixtures? >> It's already built in. >> Okay. >> It's already built in. >> We talked a little bit about making it feel like Hillsdale and potentially creating a committee, you know, a
community center committee to >> um personalize the space a bit and make it feel like us, right? So, you know, at some point >> Yeah. So, we need to involve the the seniors, uh the rec commission, uh even the schools. Uh I think it's important that everyone has a hand in this and
whether it's a a m you know something that goes on the wall or you know the furniture style. >> I'm happy to be that committee but >> you are it. >> Okay. >> There already is a community. We we we created one back in January >> wasn't for this was just this is a specific community.
>> This is specifically for the right. >> Okay. And maybe I thought that was >> okay. uh the playground at Memorial Field. Uh a very generous donor has also offered to donate the entire set. Uh we are now working with vendors on our options
which are really very limited just because of the size. Uh the total footprint of the play area is 6,500 square ft. So that limits it to few and then further it has to be ADA compliant. That limits it further. So we're down to
three options. Uh so we're working with the donor uh on their first choice and then all three of them are about the same. One has a slide on this side, the other one has a slide on that side. And this uh borole landscaping
>> with the rest of memorial we we had a conversation about is potentially gutting the fieldhouse before the construction actually or during the construction >> during the construction. >> Right. So I I spoke to the HBSA and they're all for it. Yeah, actually get
with uh football because they have a lot of the equipment stored there. >> But I think it would be better to do that while we were working on it as opposed to later when the field's already built and >> that's the plan. Right. >> Right. >> So we found the plans, the old plans, the original plans >> when that was built. So we're saving
some money in surveys and things like that. So we will doing it while while the work is being done. >> Absolutely correct. >> Governor President, are you going to move in? >> Yes. excellent that >> uh borrow whole landscaping outside. Uh
the landscaping is very tired. So we uh we do have some money that was budgeted for for uh for more work uh on border hall. So you'll see in the next probably two weeks or so. We'll be removing all the landscaping around here uh redoing
the walls and adding new plants sometimes I guess in the next month or two. >> So you'll see some changes there. >> It'll be shortly. Okay. Uh for East Central Avenue, you'll see down the street here. We we did have a few complaints on the site not being u you
know cleaned up. They have done amazing job. So you pass by it, it's it's it's an active work site, but it's a clean work site. So if there's issues, please let me or the mayor know. We'll follow up on that. Very quickly, a few more
things. You know, two things. you have uh resolution to approve Beachwood Nature Trail. The bids came in between 83,000 and 300,000. Same specs. Uh different companies have different ways and different different
margins. So, it's for uh the 83,000. The remaining money that we budgeted will go to 2.0. The rest of uh the trail. Uh we're trying to use the same DAP permit so we don't have to go for a second permit. uh that's in progress. And
lastly, uh you also have a resolution to approve a new construction official, Keith Dalton. Uh he's a certified uh he actually has more certifications that that's needed. Uh but I do want to thank Michelle Wood for her 29 years of
service to the Borl. Her last day is on on Friday. And that's all I have as mayor. Mike, quick quick question with regards to the the third party that you brought in to administer some maintenance to Centennial. How much is that
>> for go organic? >> Yeah, for >> it was like $5,000. >> So that's going to be 5,000 they're going to be working on it a year or is it just the one time >> just in the beginning because we we were losing some of the field because of overwatering and underwatering and the
real heat. Uh, so they had to treat it chemically. That's what they're doing now. And then, but the system that's going to cost us more money is the actual Wi-Fi operation of the whole system. It's it's in the budget. We budgeted as part of the maintenance of the field,
>> right? But is the DPW in years forward? And is the DPW going to do what organic did or are we going to bring them in every year to >> the field? No, we're the DBW is uh not capable of doing that because we don't
have somebody on staff that has the certifications to put down pesticides and fertilizers. >> All right. So, the third party will be part of the recurring maintenance that we >> they're doing the chemical maintenance. We're doing all all all the cutting. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> Any other questions for the VA? >> Good job. >> Thank you. >> Good job. >> Did I do your report? Fine. >> You got his report done? Okay. Okay. Great. All right, >> we're going to move on to the introduction of ordinances. 2522, introduction ordinance of the burrow of Hillsdale, uh, County of Bergen, State
of New Jersey, adding chapter 235 to the code of the burrow concerning leadbased paint inspections. be it resolved that ordinance number 25-22 does now pass a first reading and that said ordinance be further considered for final passage at a meeting of the mayor
and council in municipal building 380 Hillsdale Avenue, New Jersey on September 9th, 2025 and at the same time a place uh in place all persons interested will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning the same and the clerk is hereby authorized and directed
to publish said ordinance in the Rididgewood News andor Bergen record once at least one week prior to said hearing with a notice of its introduction and of the time and place when and where said ordinance would be considered for final passage. Can I get
a motion to uh it says to adopt but to introduce uh 2522? >> Motion to introduce it. >> Second. >> Second. >> Uh will the clerk please read the role? >> Council member Rico? >> Yes. >> Council member Chromuk is absent. Council member Kleti.
>> Yes. >> Council member Fox. >> Yes. Council member Mazich. >> Yes. >> Council President Oso. >> Yes. >> 2522 is now introduced. We're going to go on to 2523. Capital Ordinance of the Burrow of Hillsdale in the county of Bergen, New Jersey, authorizing the undertaking of various improvements to
Stony Brook Swim Club in, by, and for the swim pool utility of the burrow. appropriating therefore the sum of $50,000 and providing that such sum so appropriated shall be raised from the swim pool utility capital fund balance.
Be it resolved that set ordinance 25-23 does now pass a first reading and that said ordinance be further considered for final passage at a meeting of the mayor and council in the municipal building 380 Hillsdale Avenue, Hillsdale, New Jersey on September 9th, 2025. And at said time and place, all persons
interested will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning the same. And the clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish said that ordinance in the Rididgewood News andor Bergen record once at least one week prior to said hearing with a notice of its introduction and of the time and place
when and where said ordinance would be considered for final passage. Can I get a motion to introduce 25-23? >> Motion to introduce. >> Second. >> Second. Will the clerk please read the role? >> Council member absent. Council member
Kleti. >> Yes. >> Council member Fox. Yes. >> Council member Mazatan. Yes. >> Council President Oso. Yes. >> Council member Rico. >> Yes. >> 25-23 has now been introduced. We're going to move on to our resolutions on the consent agenda. 25211
through 25221. Does anyone want to pull any of the resolutions? Having seen nobody, uh, can I get a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Will the clerk please read the role roll? >> Council member Kleti, >> yes.
>> Council member Fox, >> yes. >> Council member Mazich. Council President Oso, >> yes. >> Council member Rio, >> yes. >> The consent agenda has passed. There is nothing uh off the consent agenda. It is time for public comment on any topic
that someone would like to speak on. Three minutes. Please state your town and residence for the record. Would anybody like to address the council? Any topic? Here we go. Great. >> It's great to hear that improvements.
Oh, Lorraine Thalman, 238 Liberty Avenue in Hillsdale. It's great to hear about improvements for the town center. The town has been used over the past several years for TV shows.
One on the positive side and one on the negative side. All focused on the center of town. One like a road run downtown and one is the neighborhood town. So you had two aspects there. It's nice to see that it's going to be coming around.
It's it's a great town. The only thing I think we should do besides that is focus on the safety in the business district because I myself am in that area a lot and you'll see during busy business
hours a lot of people making U-turns in the middle of the street. You have children that are walking there. I've seen people down by the Shell station that crossing there during the school week. people coming out of the side street, the crossing guards there trying
to stop the cars and they just ignore them and go by with the kids crossing the street. >> Okay. So, a focus I think you know maybe to make people more aware they should be a little more cautious on their driving
habits. I mean they come out of the King Shopping Plaza, they don't stop for the stop sign. Uh stuff like that. It's for the safety of everyone, for the children, for the adults, everyone. It will make it a safer town. Uh the other
thing is Liberty Avenue. Liberty Avenue is a washboard around Beachwood Park from Huldrum down to Evergreen. I know the DPW has been there every few weeks putting patches in, but
it is a washboard and that part of Liberty Avenue is used a lot for the activities. You have the events there and you're going to have one in September. People use that street all the time to park their cars. Children walk to school,
walk from school, adults walk, bicycles, everything. So even though it's not a main drag, it is utilized a lot. And if something could be done with the street besides the patching, because it is a washboard,
all you got to do is just take a ride down the street from Huldrram down to Evergreen and you'll notice it immediately. And the DPW has done a wonderful job patching all the time that they've had
to patch. So, I just want, you know, it's for safety. It's for the safety of the children and adults. >> Okay. Thank you. And that's it. >> Anybody else want to be heard? >> Seeing uh nobody else wanting to be heard, it's council commentary time. Uh
I I'm going to start it. I want to remind everybody that the planning board this Thursday starting at 7:30 is going to be reviewing in this very chamber the self- storage facility. So all those I'm sure there will be people that are
there. Um and so I want to make sure we all know that that's probably the big item that's on the planning board's agenda and I think it's relevant to have everybody know. Happy 100th again. Um let's start. We did we were there before. Let's go down this way. Council
commentaries. Councilman Rico. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, you know, summer flies by too fast. Here we are in mid August. Uh, I want to wish all our residents who are returning to college are starting their freshman year uh a very rewarding and academic year. want to uh thank Michelle Woods for all the
efforts that she's put in over the years uh to keep our construction department uh administratively sound and and I think that it's very important and she did a great job overall on that. Uh I want to compliment my uh my granddaughter Gianna who shocked me in a
video call last week as she showed me her arm in a cast uh due to a broken elbow. She accepted it far better than her grandfather. Uh, and but she's looking forward to the removal of her cast, entering third grade, and then continuing her gymnastic
endeavors, which I hope do not include another breakage. Um, and finally, uh, want to wish everyone here a great Labor Day because that's coming up, uh, before our next council meeting. Thank you, >> Councilwoman Mazich. I just want to thank the Sapienza Garden uh board for
being here tonight and for their commitment to preserving this treasure. Um I completely agree about the signage. Um having hosted my events myself at the gardens, um I know how tricky it is to even get there or even find it on Google Maps, you can't really find it. So um
we'll work with you guys to make sure that it happens. Um and thanks for keeping an eye on it for us. Councilman Kleti. >> Thank you, Mayor. I just want to congratulate Michelle Woods again on her retirement. That's it.
>> Councilman Fox, >> no comment. >> Council President Osa. >> That's it. Okay. Well, we That was a That was a quick through. Um, can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> Sure. Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Second. >> Anybody want to stay here all night or
can we agree everybody? We're going. >> Okay. Okay, the next meeting is Tuesday, September 9th at 7:00 p.m. in these council chambers. Thank you for those in attendance. Thanks for who's watching this on YouTube. And thanks for everybody watching at home.