Everybody ready? Yep. Good morning. I hereby announce that pursuant to section five of the open public meeting act, the adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the notice which was sent to the Asbury Park Press, the Two River Times, and posted on the Bolton board in township hall and filed in the township
clerk's office on June 24th, 2025. Mayor Foster is not here today. Miss Lamount here. Mr. Prevadudo here. Mr. Lucarelli here. Mr. Romano here. Deputy Mayor, you have a quorum. Thank you. If we could all please rise for the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance 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 if we could all please remain standing for a moment of silence in honor of our troops and first
responders who serve us both home and abroad. Thank you. Okay, I believe we're going to start um we have Kendra in regard to our um fair share housing. Um she's available only
from 10 to 10:30 this morning. So, we're going to deviate a little bit from the schedule on our agenda so that we can accommodate a call with her and she can be part of our meeting. That's right, Deputy Mayor. So, um, uh, item nine on today's agenda is a resolution endorsing
housing element and fair share plan. Um, this is a document that's required to be submitted by June 30th, um, under the 2024 law that was adopted by the legislature governing the fourth round of affordable housing. Um, this plan was put together um by the township. It was
provided to the planning board and was submitted for um their approval last night because it is an amendment to the master plan which I understand went forward. Um Kendra Lely is our township planner and um put together that plan and presented it uh to the planning board yesterday. So we have the benefit
of her here by telephone to speak to it a little bit if that's good with everyone uh to provide us an overview of uh what we were able to put together for the submission. Hi everyone. Um, so yes, uh, Mike, last night the planning board did adopt the
housing element and fair share plan, uh, addressing the fourth round obligation. The fourth round obligation is 106 units and that's called the prospective need. The township also has what's known as a rehabilitation need of 129 units. Um,
I'll I'll address the rehabilitation need first. Uh, you do have an existing real rehabilitation program. Uh that's essentially a program that the municipality provides funds to um provide up uh rehab of any major systems
of houses that have low and moderate income uh families in them. Currently um the I will say that the 129 units um exceeding the prospective need of 106 is a little unusual, but um it's based upon
census data data. uh your construction official did what's known as a a a structural condition survey and uh that basically is a windshield survey of the units in the municipality that would
meet the criteria per the housing uh regulations uh that would be considered poor uh in poor condition. And based upon that con that structural conduct condition survey he found that only four units met the criteria. Um and so
therefore we are adjusting that number down to four units. Um in addition to that you all have uh rehabed three units since your previous third round judgment of compliance. So your rehab obligation actually is being adjusted from 129
units to one unit. uh you will provide continue to provide funding for anybody interested in uh taking advantage of that rehab program. The folks that do must be qualified as low uh and moderate income and they must have a uh lean
placed on their house for 10 years um for the provision of a minimum of $10,000 to fix at least one of those systems. So that's the rehab obligation. Your perspective need obligations 106 units. Uh this was a mediated number. Uh
we originally your original number uh came from the DCA Department of Community Affairs based upon the fair housing act methodology. That number was 133 units. Uh we reviewed that and indicated that we thought it was um something less than that. We were I
think we believe that it was 98 units based upon review of the factors um that created the the obligation. Uh back in March, we uh per the Fair Housing Act, uh we indicated that we thought you as a municipality uh believed that it was 98.
The Fair Share Housing Center as well as the builders um had had objected to that number. Through mediation with the program, we settled at 106 units. So that is your perspective need. The superior court judge uh provided that as
your number, ordered that as our number. The proposed plan to address the uh prospective need uh includes basically three mechanisms. Uh one is extension of controls on 17 units. You actually
extended controls on units back in the third round over with over a 100 units. Uh extension of controls basically means that there the affordability controls or the D restrictions are coming due during the um the period of time of the fourth
round. The fourth round runs from uh July 1st in a in a couple of days uh 2025 to June 30th, 2035. So a 10-year period. So during the 10-year period, if any existing uh deed restrictions are
are being u uh expired, meaning they've run out of their 30 years, the municipality may extend those. So basically, you're able to take credit for units that exist. You don't have to build new units. So you don't have to uh zone for uh inclusionary zoning that
would um provide for 17 units. So that's one of the mechanisms that we will take advantage of. In addition to that, there is an inclusionary um senior uh development. Everybody is aware of that. That's the Vonnage site or CHA 23 Main
Street. Um there will be senior units there. 31 units are are the um ability for us to take advantage of now as credits. there is a max that we can take advantage of or take credit for and that's 30% of our obligation. Um so
while they are providing 48 affordable housing units 31 will be addressed or at least satisfied um put towards the satis satisfaction of the obligation in the fourth round. The remainder will go to the fifth round. Yes, we will have a fifth round most likely and that will be
uh in 10 years from now. So those credits are called surplus credits and um they don't get lost. They will be addressed in another round. Um the other thing that we are getting from the CHA Vonnage site is 15.5 bonus credits. Uh
and that's because the Fair Housing Act allows you to take uh half bonus credits up to a maximum of 25% of the number of units you you are providing for any redevelopment of an existing commercial um property. And that of course is what is happening
here. The third project is um actually a project that was part of the third round. It was an inclusionary project on Route 35. The developer did not move forward with that project. Um we actually uh had to deal with a deficit because that did not that was no longer
considered a realistic project, meaning it was not under construction. It did not receive site plan approval. Um so even though we have deficit units coming from the third round with these three projects or mechanisms we are actually um realizing a surplus of credits
towards the fifth round. The the route 35 project which was an inclusionary project will become what's known as a 100% project. You all have done this in the third round. You had 100% affordable housing project um through the Walters with the Walters group in the third
round. Uh and so we are talking with the Walkers group uh and looking at doing a 100% affordable housing project on this site. The good news on this one is that uh originally they were proposing 170 total units of an inclusionary project.
Uh we would be providing 80 up to 80 units family rental units on this property. So so reducing the number of units. Uh all hund all units will be affordable. We receive 11 bonus credits because we are max we will be maxed out but you receive a full bonus credit for
each 100% affordable housing unit. Um the municipality is in the process of working with Walters Group and then also going to be moving forward with uh trying to secure the property uh either through uh negotiations in in purchasing
the property or potentially uh through you know find ability to to uh condemn the property through eminent domain for affordable housing purposes. Um the this property is 7.7 acres and it's uh will wind out to be about 10.3 units per
acre, a lower density than what was originally proposed. Those are the three projects that um that we reviewed with the planning board. The planning board adopted it and I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Hey Kendra, this is Rockco. I just have
a quick question for you. Um I'm not sure if you can hear me this way or through the microphone. So I'm doing both. Um can you just remind me we have the Route 35 project. We have Vonnage. What was the the other site? Extension of controls I think. Extension referencing. And what is extension of
controls? Yeah. Three three I always call them mechanisms. While two of them are projects, the extension of controls is what I consider a mechanism. And just for for clarity, what does extension of controls mean in later?
control is is basically um every time a unit is considered to be a credit towards your affordable housing obligation, two things have to occur. One is that that it has to be deed restricted for a minimum of 30 years um to be available to only low and moderate income households. Once that 30 years is
up, there is an opportunity to extend those controls uh for another 30 years. uh you will and the Fair Housing Act requires the municipality provide a minimum of $20,000 uh to the owner of that home to extend those controls. A
new deed would be filed uh and and then that unit will continue to stay affordable uh and it saves the ability to have to build new units. You're using existing housing stock uh to meet the obligation. Great. Thank you. It's helpful. And
Kendra, it's it has to be extended for 30 years. It can't be extended for 10 years. No, it has to be extended for 30 years. That's the minimum uh requirement. And the municipality would be required to pay the homeowner for
that extension. Yes, the there's there are new regulations um the uniform uh uh affordability uh controls through the the um DCA there. We have emergency we have we have
new regulations that and I'll just put it this way that require a minimum of $20,000 per unit u to provide to those homeowners to extend those controls. So yes, it is it is a new requirement. I think just to be clear the any cost of that nature would come from the
affordable housing trust fund. So that would not be a general fund expense that taxpayers are bearing. Correct. Yes. You have a very healthy trust fund. You have plenty of money. Um and we did a we did a draft spending plan indicating that um
that we would be providing $20,000 per unit. Okay. Thank you. Any other question? Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Hey Kendra, this is DJ. Um so regarding the Route 35 project that would be a similar project than what we
did on Middle Road in in um on the border of HLA. Correct. Correct. Yes. They the um the if we use Walters Group uh it would be all the units would be um available to low and moderate income households. The the financing for that
would be very similar. They would go for what's called low-income tax credits uh which is a very competitive program. uh and that is uh you know that that usually finances the chunk of the u the cost of the project. Uh they would also
receive um conventional financing. The municipality will provide u a backup for that as well. With a 100% project in order to get the bonus credits uh the town either has to provide the property uh or andor provide a 3% of the project
cost. And so in this process, uh, most likely, um, not only is the town going to be potentially buying the property to in order because you don't have existing property to do this, but um to buy the property to donate it to the nonprofit and then potentially provide uh any any
gap funding that's needed to um construct those units. Okay. Thank you. And then I mean by my quick calculations between those just the CHA property if that were to uh move forward and the Route 35 project if that
were to pan out over time that would satisfy our fourth round obligations. Is that correct? That that's correct. And then your extension of controls um also then gives you a surplus of over 34.5 units towards your fifth round. Okay.
Thank you. That uh sounds good. Sounds good. And just for clarification, there's a very small percentage of the CHA property that's going to have credits going towards towards Trenton mandated housing. Just because I know there's been some misinformation, confusion that's gone around. So I want to make sure people understand that part.
Do we? Yeah. Since we have the benefit of Kendra, perhaps deputy mayor, we could have the public comment on agenda items, including specifically uh this particular agenda item. Sure. And before we get to public comic, I just I want to make sure I can put things into context for everybody really
quickly. The last round, if I'm not mistaken, was 10 years ago. None of us were here. Um Mike, not even you, I don't think. I bet by the time it was settled, I was here, but Okay. All right. So there the the home So this is this is statemate mandated stuff, right? The last time this happened, Homeell
approved, I think 260 uh units, Trenton mandated units. Um, we took a couple of extra I would say certainly one or two extraordinary steps when faced with this one. For context, when Trenton mandates, for example, 100
affordable units, they're really saying in many cases could be 500 because builders need to make money, right? And so when you build a 100, they need to build market rate homes as well so that they can make money off of the off of this process. So um you know the 260 you know but what Trenton doesn't do right
is pay for your infrastructure improvements. They don't pay for your expansion of your schools, your roads, your more police, firefighters etc. when they sort of force you to increase your population and the number of doiciles in your town. Um so the last round had approved 260 units. You know this time I
think extraordinary work negotiating the number down from what we were mandated to from 135 or 136 to the 106 that we currently have. I think in addition, we've blunted the ability for developers to sort of quote unquote make money off of affordable housing by ensuring that, you know, we've got the 100% affordable
going in and by ensuring that a small percentage goes to, you know, a potential redevelopment program. Further to that, we're the only uh this is the only governing body in 40 years that actually sued the state over the obligation. Um we started it last year and Mayor Fosters continued it this
year. Now it's going to is it still in federal? Yep. the court. Mike, so I just want to make sure you guys understand that this, you know, we've taken as many steps as possible to fight this battle. Um, but we also had to be responsible, you know, uh, uh, stewards of the township and have a plan in place
because if we lose in court, we can't not have a plan. So, we operated on parallel paths to try to ensure that we're doing we're operating in the best interest of the town. One is the more desired outcome, right, which is to win and blunt additional development in Homeell. uh but the other is the responsible uh path that we're taking in
case we lose in that situation. So I just want to lay out the context of this entire situation for everybody so they understand what we've done in the past and where we are now and what we're trying to do to you know really prevent as much development at home as possible. Thank you. Yeah. Well said.
Um, at this time we invite the public with any comments regarding the proposed resolution uh to accept the uh fourth round housing element and fair share plan. Okay, come on. Come on up.
Patrick Tuska, 56 Line Road. I reviewed the plan uh and I congratulated uh Kendra last night. It's an excellent plan uh to address the fourth round for housing. I want to make note that um it
it's really just two uh two projects that are excellent for Homedale. One project being the Vonnage senior housing complex that provides a lot of benefits including the first state um five acres
and a senior um facility inside there. And then I think equally as well to make a standalone all affordable housing of 80 units like the cornerstone. Cornerstone came out excellent uh by
anybody's standard. It looks great. fits in uh perfectly uh on Middle Road. It's it's excellent if we could uh complete 80 units of affordable housing like that with this same developer with Homedale.
Uh uh donating the land by acquiring it through eminent domain would would be a great way to really get ahead of the the uh affordable housing u challenges. We
with those two projects we essentially complete the the fourth round said and done. Uh of course the lawsuits will go done but I don't think um Homedale will have any issues going back uh going for the next 10 years and it will keep
Homedale Homedale. Um I think those projects are a benefit to Homedale and and in no way uh changing the character and the nature of the township. Thank you. Well, thank you Pat. That's the That's the goal. So, thank you.
Anyone else? Seeing no further, I guess. Is there we have a motion to uh approve the resolution? Motion. I'll second.
Mr. Imprevadudo. Yes. Mr. Lucarelli. Yes. And uh thank you Mike and Kendra and Andy Bear. I think I'll throw that in there. and the and everyone and the mayor Foster on on their work on um putting this plan together. It's a great plan, you know, for Homedale. Thank you.
Yes, Mr. Romano. Yes. Deputy Mayor Lamount. Yes. Okay. Resolution 2025184 has been successfully passed. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Kendra. I think we're good with uh everything on that. All right. Thank you everyone. Have a
good Thank you, Kendra. Okay. I think next we have the approval of the minutes. Yes. From May 13, 2025 executive and public. That's correct. We have a motion. Motion. Second. Mr. Invado. Yes.
Mr. Lucarelli? Yes. Mr. Romano? Yes. Deputy Mayor Lamount? Yes. Thank you. The minutes have been successfully passed. Okay. Uh, next we have any public comment regarding agenda items? Any
public comment for agenda items? Seeing none, close public comment. Uh, and do we have questions? Motion to approve agenda. The agenda items. Motion. Second. Second. Just to clarify,
that's the consent agenda. Consent agenda resolutions 2025 165 to 175. We had a motion and a second. Mr. Empreadudo. Yes. Mr. Lucarelli? Yes. Mr. Romano? Yes. Deputy Mayor Lamount? Yes.
Okay. Resolutions 2025 165 through 2025 175 have have been successfully passed. Do you want me to take this? Yeah. Next is uh resolutions for the ABC license renewal for the 2025 and 2026 year. This
would be for resolutions 2025 176 through 2025 183. Okay. Any public comment? Nope. Motion. Oh, motion. Sorry. Motion. Second. Mr. Pravido? Yes. Mr. Lucerelli?
Yes. Mr. Romano? Yes. Deputy Mayor Lamount? Yes. Okay. Resolutions 2025 176 through 2025 183 have been successfully passed. Thank you. Now we move on to departments. Okay.
Committeeman Romano. Oh. Oh. Oh. Sorry. The nervous jitters. Excuse me. Would you like to go ahead? Sure. I'll be quick today. Um I have uh I met with CFO about the budget request that we're
put in. We meeting um a meeting department of each one of them have that big list but you know make sure we're doing the right thing. Um so what we're doing is
we're going to meet each department and then um once we have that actual capital program we're going to try to get will yeah good so I'm loud everybody. heard
me. I'm loud enough. Okay. Um, so that was that was the one thing. Um, hang on. Let me just lost my my train of thought here. Uh, on Monday, we we evaluated the storm damage um that we had from the 19th. Uh, that was pretty extensive throughout the
town. Um, with the number of trees and brush that came down, the decision was made to um move forward with a a second full brush pickup that will start at the end. We're in D right now, section D. We're going to start it on the 7th um after after uh the holiday and we're
going to start over again. We're going to go from A through uh D again. So, uh we have advertised it so our our our residents are aware um and get that stuff picked up because again it it it just builds up and and we do have the funding under our storm account. You know, we do have a storm account that is
outside of our budget that is is well funded um for situations like this and uh we'll we'll take care of that. Um, and then now that the 2025 budget has passed our operating or our OEE budget has passed, um, it's time to begin
looking at 2026, um, I'm now looking and evaluating it myself to see where we are. Uh, the next step would be in September, department has going to be meeting and they're going to be starting to come up with their budgets. Uh, my, um, I'm going to task each one of them to come up with a
a solid budget that we um, we've looked at and made sure that the spending needs are are needed. you know, I don't want to exceed areas um that may have been there in the past. If we're not spending that money um or it's not needed, then we're going to need to re-evaluate that. And it may only be a few dollars here, a
few dollars there, but when you add it all up with all the departments, um you know, we're looking at another 15% on state health benefits. Um so that is a a a major concern. So when we save in one area, we can use it in another area. Um and then finally the state health
benefits program as you all know are is looking at another 15 to 18% raise. Um I know that there's a lot of um uh people working on that right now. But on our end we are bringing in the benefits uh the sorry the benefit card or the
difference card people uh in July. They're going to be giving a presentation to our employees. I will uh also send it out to the uh committee if anybody would like to hear it. Um, basically it's a program where our our uh our employees would have the option
to go into a lower, less expensive plan and we would cover the remaining costs. Um, it's a proven it's been proven in many towns. I did have it in in um, Shrewsbury. Um, and uh, they the town probably saved about $100,000 on a small
town like that. Um, but it is a huge savings for the employee. It's actually almost a 20% savings per employee. Um, and it's the same coverage. It's it's kind of taking the the risk that, you know, the out-of pocket will never meet the full $14,000.
And the way it was explained to me is that you have to be pretty bad shape to spend that out of pocket. So, it's working in a lot of counties. Um, at first when I heard about it about four years ago, I was a little skeptical. So, I wanted to see it kind of play out and it's played out pretty well. So, and
it's not something required. the unions have to agree to it, but no single employee has to take it. So, they'll still have their option of keeping the one they have, but if they do choose to save, they save more than they actually are the bigger bigger beneficiaries of
the the change. So, um we're working towards that. Uh we're going to have the dates and I'll send them out. And again, if you're if you're available and you're willing to join just to listen um and ask questions, please do. And that's it. Thank you. Awesome. Thank you, Chris. Uh I have just one quick thing for the
administrator. Chris, again, fantastic job by the DPW and uh the police department, everything during those storms, but one thing I just noticed, uh stuff that did fall down, debris, uh branches. I'm still seeing some stuff around town, particularly on South Holland when I go to work every day. Um,
and I don't know if the DPW is doing that or if we are contracting a tree service to remove those things and and and get them, you know, or shred them and, you know, get them out of there, but if you could just look into that. Um, the stuff's starting to brown up now that fell. So, you know, just it's an
eyesore. Absolutely. We we we're going to be we're working on a lot of that. I know there's still I know we had uh on Hilltop, I believe it's Hilltop. I'm learning my road still. Hillrest. Hillrest, right? I was there and they had a large tree come down and I was there looking because I was looking for the road situation that we're looking over there and I was like, "Wow, this is
they they cut it all up and it's blocking the road." So, I actually had them go out there and do that work ahead of time. So, I will have them again go out to certain areas that we see that need to be done right away. We'll get them done and then we'll finish the rest afterwards. So, appreciate that. Thank you. No problem. And Chris, I have one
as well. Can we repost on social media or the website the requirements for the brush on the street? You know, I know in speaking to the DPW, it's been a problem with the size of the brush and the piles being put out. Absolutely. I'll have um our PIO um work with uh RDPW to get
those rules and regulations put up uh ASAP. Thank you. Thank you, Chris. Okay. Yes. Okay. Um next we'll move on. Bill isn't with us today. We'll move on to professional reports. Michael, anything
to share? Yes, just one update. Uh deputy mayor, uh the township committee at a previous meeting adopted an ordinance authorizing the uh condemnation of the Papis farm property. I just want to report out that uh we did go ahead and file that in superior court earlier this week. So the uh
condemnation proceeding is now pending. Fantastic. Thank you. Okay. And our engineer is not with us today, so we'll go ahead and move on to boards and committees. Thank you. Thank you. So, starting with the
Homedale Library, uh we have a couple upcoming upcoming library programs for kids and teens. Uh stage a story on July 10th at 11:00 a.m. uh where they can act out stories and creative drama workshops. The New Jersey Snake Man is coming July 28th at 6:30 with a live
reptile program. Slither on in for an unforgettable adventure. Impressionism lecture and art class. June 26th at 6:30. We have a Zoom online art class. learn about the impressionist movement and draw along your own version of Monaet's famous waterlies and bridge
paintings. From the board of ed, uh we had our end of the year wrap-up. The school district congratulates all students transitioning to new endeavors and educational journeys from our preschool and kindergarten moving up ceremonies to the middle school graduation and high school commencement exercises which took place last
Wednesday, June 18th. The district conferred middle school graduation certificates to 240 students and high school diplomas to 243 students. Over 200 of our high school graduates made lasting memories at the annual project gradu graduation event. Special thanks to the project graduation chairpersons
Loren Tivon and Renee Lutrell as well as to all the volunteers and donors who once again made this important and special event possible. The future plans of our graduates. The class of 2025 was one of the most exceptional academic standing, sending students to a wide range of outstanding
institutions of higher education as well as military trade schools and workforce. Among the very many fine institutes that this year's graduates will be attending are Columbia University, Princeton University, Brown University, Northeastern University, Bernard
College, Cornell University, New York University, University of Notradam, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Boston College, University of Miami, UNCC at Chapel Hill, and Villanova University uh University.
from the veterans committee. Um we actually had our second veterans event uh yesterday here at town hall. It was a a well attended event. It was larger than the last one. We had 21 homeell seniors join us veterans join us. Um it was a great forum. We shared a lot of
funny stories and we were able to catch up on a lot of the going on in town. you know, among the topics we we covered, um, a question came up concerning veterans benefits that I couldn't answer regarding the $250 a month veterans benefits. I did communicate that this to
Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn and Jerry Sharfenburgger, and they're researching that for me to see who we talk to or or how we petition a change there. Uh, we spoke a little bit about the Homeell 250th event. I spoke at that event and we had the banners from the event up here going over some of Homedale's
Revolutionary War history. There were some questions about the Crawford's Road expansion which we discussed. Um they also brought up the uh this is for you Chris where the polos are that they were promised. So we we kicked that one to the budget and said we just approved the
budget. There were questions about the Depalma Farm. So, you know, we were able to go over the township stance on that and uh you know, generally we have a couple tentative plans for the veterans event uh for the veterans uh at the end of the year, including a bus trip. Um you know, possibly bringing them to the
uh the Battle of Mammoth reenactment. So, we have some cool things planned um have a little bit of budget. We might also bring in a keynote speaker. I believe we spoke about that. So, it was a good event all around. Uh we're adjourning for two months, so we're taking the summer off and then we're hitting it back up in September. Thank
you, Deputy Mayor. Thank you, Committeeman Prevadudo. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. From the Homedale Police Department, uh this year's National Night Out event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5th, weather permitting, from 6:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m. Residents are invited to come out and meet members of the police department and their neighbors. It's a fun night full of activities, music, food, information, and community. We look forward to seeing everyone there on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 1st and 2nd. Bethany Road will be closed from
Telegraph Hill to the Garden Trailer Park. The closure will begin at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be reopened both nights once the work is complete. Residents in the area will be able to access their homes, but there will not be any through traffic over the railroad tracks. The reason for the closure is due to utility work being
done on on the new Bethany Road development. Follow our social media for changes or updates and please plan an alternate route or follow the detour signs during this time. from the Homedale Fire Department. The fire department is selling custom engraved bricks to help fund a 911 steel memorial
monument that will be erected in front of on the front lawn of the Crawford's Corner Fire Station. The custom pavers cost $125 and will be installed as a permanent part of the memorial. Please check our website and social media pages for information. The fire department placed a used
clothing bin in the Centerville Road Fire Station parking lot. We we accept all clothing, shoes, belts, purses, blankets, linens, and stuffed toys. Your donations of of used clothes raises money for the Homedale Fire Department. So, please help us help the township by
donating. From the Department of Public Works, as uh the Mr. Administrator mentioned, due to last week's storm, Homedale Township has scheduled an extra round of brush collection to help with cleanup. The schedule is as follows. Section A, Monday, July 7th. Section B,
Monday, July 14th. Section C, Monday, July 21st. Section D, Monday, July 28th. Please remember to follow all normal brush collection regulations. Limit of three piles at the curb. Brush piles should be no larger than 4t high, 4t
wide, and 6 ft long. Maintain 6 f feet of space around each pile. Branches should be no thicker than 6 in in diameter. To find your section based on your street name, please visit the public works page of the Homeell website. A reminder also that there will
only be one large item drop off event per month in July and August. This Saturday or not this Saturday, Saturday, July 12th and Saturday, August 9th. Um I also on a personal note want to thank the board of education for adjusting to the weather and it's obviously Superintendent Casone on the work they
did. Uh my son graduated Homedale High School last week. Um and so they had to adjust on the fly due to the heat and the and and and of course the stormy conditions coming in. I think they did a fabulous job. Uh and really uh you know really impressed by the work that they did there. I also want to thank uh
Assemblyman Sharpenberger or Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn, Committeeman Romano. Uh we were able to attend the sort of the kickoff for the 250th anniversary um of America at uh the Hondell Community Church where we dedicated a couple of grave sites to
Revolutionary War veterans. um committee morano had the pleasure of speaking there, but it was a really impressive ceremony and it was great uh and thanks, you know, obviously to our 250th committee here in Homeell and to the Daughters of the American Revolution for putting that all together, allowing us
to attend and and really um embrace an historic event. So, uh Deputy Mayor, that is all I have and congratulations on your graduate. Thank you, Committeeman Lucarelli. Thank you. Um just have a few things from the uh
Humell Swim Club is back is is uh I'm sorry is has begun its full schedule. Um and the club is now open 7 days a week and memberships are still available. Uh summer recreation program the program kicked off yesterday and the kids are having a great time even with the heat.
Uh there are still spots available uh in the next 5 weeks. So, it's a great opportunity for the children to make new friends and enjoy activity-filled week at Crossfarmm Park. We also have a summer
um hang on here. Uh summer barbecue. Um due to the schedule of the recreation staff, the senior barbecue was moved from today to Tuesday, July 8th. The event is open to any Homedale resident age 62 or older. Please call the recreation department for more
information. And also on June 13th, the emergency services had their um their their night that we get that the township uh gives them uh at the swim club. The members of the home first aid squad and the fire department and chewed exclusive use to
the swim club and food from the snack bar. DJ Steve from No Limit Entertainment provided the music. Uh this is our way to say thank you to the people and the volunteers who give countless hours to the township and I'm I'm particularly proud about that. That was something that uh when I was mayor,
I I spoke to Bob Ward about and initially we wanted to do a barbecue up at front of the new um uh fire department and have something an event for both uh first aid and the fire and then the conversation, you know, kind of led to us having it you giving them the
exclusivity at the uh swim club. And I'm happy that we continue to do that. I think it's a it's a nice uh night for for the volunteers and their families to uh you know it's a little bit of a thank you from from us and the and the residents of the township. So I'm glad that was a successful event. That's all
I have for you. And I also had a graduate but that's okay. Oh, congratulations. I don't know why I did didn't dawn on and we're lucky that uh they did move it inside. Uh, I know some I I read in the paper or the patch the other day that Rarin had to do it like last minute because of the heat. And
also um I know that there were some issues in Freehold Township with uh some um elderly people were outside. They they decided to continue to have it outside and there were some uh um people that passed out and etc. So uh I know it's a tough decision. The student the
students weren't happy but uh it was the right decision to make and it was a nice event. Yeah. Thank you. and committeeman if I could just say uh you know what you initiated with Bob at the swim club has been fantastic. I was able to actually attend briefly with Mayor Foster and they are incredibly thankful to have
that time at the swim club and the exclusivity. So, uh that is definitely, you know, something that's going to live on. Thank you. Okay. From the community development department in regard to the
facts regarding tree removal, I know there's been a lot of questions about it. So the uh community development department put together a whole list of frequently asked questions so that you can review it yourself. You can log on to our website and hopefully it will
help you answer any questions you have. But of course if you do have further questions you could call over uh to the department. You could reach out to us and we'd be happy to further help you with that. Um, as mentioned earlier, the Homeell 250th committee, our kickoff
event was a great great success. Thank you so much, Committeeman Romano, uh, for being a part of it. Unfortunately, I was out of town and I was pretty bummed that uh, I had to miss it. I participated in in a couple of the meetings for for planning and I have to
say the enthusiasm is amazing. Everyone's very excited about all of the upcoming events over the next year to celebrate our 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. And we've put together some different ideas for events. Um we have on the in
the works a revolutionary Homeell trivia night. Uh something called Unear the Revolution, Homeell's Scavenger Challenge. brushes with History, Homeell's Revolutionary Mural Challenge. And then
we're planning to culminate our year celebration with a bus trip to the reenactment of the Battle of Mammoth and a Homeell 250 Freedom Fest cookout and picnic next summer. So if anyone is interested in participating, whether
it's a few hours, whether it's on a regular basis, we're actively seeking volunteers for a whole bunch of different roles. So there's no amount of time that's too little. It's great. Meet new people, share your ideas, and um
it's just it's going to be a great upcoming upcoming year both within Homeell, countywide, statewide, and across the country. Um, I want to offer a special thank you to the folks that participated this weekend in the kickoff
event. Um, there were numerous members from our Homeell 250 committee, the Middletown chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as mentioned, Committeeman Joe Romano, and I have to say I loved the pictures, especially with the hornet.
Um, Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn and Assemblyman Jerry Sharenburgger were a great part of it. Um, Peter Maner of the Homeell Historical Society, Jake Rue and the Sons of the American Revolution, William Fields, Diane Lynn, and all the
staff of the Homeell Community Unit United Church of Christ who hosted the event, as well as our Homeell Police Honor Guard, the Homeell Green Team, some updates. The green team continues to work on the
community energy planning. The next meeting will be July 17th. The green team is also beginning work on the local government energy audit application and the next regular meeting for the green
team is Monday, July 14th. As usual, it is open to the public. So, anyone interested, please feel free to uh join in for the mayor's report. Um, the Daughters of the American Revolution are
presenting an award or have presented an award to a police cadet. Um, it is their youth citizens medal and it's presented to an individual of school age who exemplifies honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism.
This past week, they presented the medal to police cadet Cameron Canalon. And in the words of patrolman Quaglia who oversees the cadet program, Cadet Connalan is a dedicated and hardworking
member of the Homeell Township Police Cadet Program. She is a natural leader who never misses a meeting, even choosing to attend on her 17th birthday, showcasing her deep commitment to law enforcement. Cameron consistently goes above and beyond in her training and
responsibilities, always striving to improve and support her fellow cadets. Congratulations to Cadet Cameron Canalon on her award. Thank you. Okay. Next would be public comment. And I'd
like to read this small phrase. In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, this is a public comment period of or public comment on any governmental issue of public concern. In accordance with resolution 2022-17, public commenters are asked to raise their hands and wait to be recognized by
the mayor before coming forward and making public comments. Commenters are asked to state their full name and address before commenting. Public commenters are limited to one comment not to exceed three minutes. Comment should be directed to the mayor and the township committee. If appropriate, the
mayor may direct and recognize a staff employee or professional to respond to comments either at this meeting or in writing after this meeting. And for this meeting, it would be the deputy mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone have any public comments? They'd like to come
forward. Come on forward, sir. My name is Rich Farway, 95 Iris Court. Uh, can we can we lift that microphone? Is it It's on. Yeah. I just want to lean over. I just wonder if we can make it
smaller. Okay. Thanks. All right. Uh this is my first meeting in 25 years. Welcome. Uh I have a interrelated
comment and I notice I'm only supposed to be able to relate to one and maybe this has been discussed a few times, but I I'm here about the overrun deer problem.
uh we can't even plan anything anymore. And I know for the past 50 years, residents have taken over the deer land, build their houses, etc.
Now things seem to be reversed. Now we have 10 foot deer fence all over the town, all over uh There's no complaint about
private farms. I mean, private farm is just what it is. But I do have a complaint about green acres, specifically the diploma farm
where I think my tax dollars used to put that fence up. Maybe not. Uh, and that's the basis of my complaint, I guess you would call it, is we're just,
you know, now all the deer are forced into the residential areas. They have nowhere else to go. Thousands and thousands of dollars are being damaged. You can't find an AR that hasn't been eaten unless there's a fence
around it. So that's all I have to say. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, sir. May I Mayor, Deputy Mayor? Um
that that is is definitely is a major problem in in Homedale. But it's not just a Homeell problem, unfortunately. It it really is a county and a and a statewide problem. Um my own yard is gets decimated. Um, you know, I run a
nursery and, um, we can't sell about half of the, you know, species of things anymore just because no one in this area will buy them and plant them in the yard because they're gone in a week or two. Um, it it's it's crazy and and it's it's a it's
because of the deer population in general. Um, and it's because of um there's there's so much less hunting in the state. um the the younger generations don't don't hunt particularly or even the older generations that used to hunt more
uh don't have the time, you know, to hunt. So, it the the um it it it's crazy and and the state allows a lot of extended permits and extended seasons to curb the population, but there's just not as there's just not enough people
hunting anymore. And that's the biggest problem. Um, I don't particularly believe that the the the the deer fencing around the farms is uh exacerbating that problem, but I I know it doesn't help it. Um, but uh I I think
it's more uh of a general problem that we have to statewide that there has to be some type of uh uh you know, at least um something there on the state level that helps with this. Um, but uh I do agree with your concerns and um I know
there's a lot of residents that have these concerns and um it's something that we're always I guess considering or or looking at but not many options for us on the on the municipal level to really work with. Not not many tools in our uh in our tool bag so to speak.
Sure. I'm glad you said to know I'd ra He told me that he had all the paper. So it might be something to consider.
I don't know. It is something that we can talk about as a committee. I know the county park system does allow bow hunting uh in Homedale Park and a couple of the uh uh Harding property. There's a couple properties in Homedale that they do have, but they do allow some seasons,
not Harding property behind it there. Um but it is something that we can talk about. There's not a lot of areas that we could allow it, but uh it's something that we could at least uh speak with internally and see if there's any options there. Thank you. Any other comments? Come on
forward, Jay. Um, I wasn't going to comment about the deer like I've had done in the past 20 times, but um, Jay, I Jay in Lo8 L would drive, but I think this is another example of where Yes, I realize like you
said, Mr. Lugerelli, it's a state state could could work with this, but I think this is another example where our county could take this more seriously and focus on this. Like I've also said, the county could take our street light out epidemic
problem throughout all of the towns in Mammoth County and take it more seriously. Um I, you know, we get their wonderful newsletters and we get their mobile vans and we get all these other things, but
there's some very big elephants in the room that the county should address. And I know many of you have good relationships with the people in the county. And I would again encourage you to take this more seriously. Respectfully, landscaping is the last
problem I see with deer. It's them running out. It's the car accidents. It's our insurance rates in this area. It's the potential for a kid who's not a great driver at night on 520 to just get railed into a tree because a deer jumped out. They're they're all over the place
and I I think that should be taken more seriously. um about the storm. Sorry I missed the meeting. I'm having tree work done and other work. I'm running around today. But um that storm was really bad particularly in the Ladwood area. We think there were 90 to 100 mph winds. My
big heavy Weber grill went basically airborne. Uh one of my neighbors lost like seven trees, another eight trees. But I want to thank the DPW. Maybe you guys did already. They did a great job. I was out there in the streets with them at 10:30 at night trying to move some stuff. Uh, so they did um a great job.
Um, the other thing I just want to revisit is these somewhat monster power lines that are being installed that we talked about from JCPNL. I get that there's only so much we can do. We've tried these uh arguments with
what the BPU is allowing, but if you look at some of what they're doing, some of these big poles on Route 34 have like six to eight super thick metal high tension wires with cones that are
supporting them. I mean, we need to really look at what they're going to put as they traverse through our town and maybe have a conversation with them like, "Hey guys, can we make this look halfway decent?" Um, I just don't think we should roll over and say, "Oh, okay.
Yeah, I mean, if if Mammoth County rolled over, we would have those monster power lines along, you know, that whole thing." So, these these polls are really big. They're probably not needed to be that big, but if we're going to have them, we need to have an active voice to
to what this looks like. All right. Thank you. That's it. Thank Thank you, Jay. And those, you know, we'll we'll go ahead. it the the problem with the deer. Um I think it there's a consensus that there is it's an issue and we'll we'll
talk as a committee and and see how we can engage the county and what we what we might be able to do with that. Um power lines I I couldn't agree with you more. I'm right there by 34 and they are the most hideous thing and it's very very it's disturbing to me. So, I I
understand I don't know that there is much, but we'll we will go ahead and we will Chris, we can talk a little bit more about what if there's anything we can do or at least make noise about it so we're not just um being complicit
about it. So, thank you. Anyone else? Your turn. Patrick Dealama, 32 Center Road, Homeell, New Jersey. Um, our family with the Deal Farm is very disappointed in the outcome of you putting it out to
bid. Our family and especially my father who gave it to home to go out to b purchase is 93 years old and is disappointed that he did that because
our family did not have to let Homeell get it. We could have gave it to a builder. A builder could have been there and it could have been all houses. All right. So our family is very very disappointed in the outcome of what you
decided in the last meeting in the last minutes of it. All right. That wasn't fair that everybody left the meeting and you went in executive session and came to that conclusion and Mr. the mountain.
You were going to table it for two weeks to talk about what you could do and in what 10 minutes you came back and decided that you were going to put the property out to bid. So, how do you decide that in 10 minutes? All right.
But our family again has been in this town for over hundred years. Way over hundred years. All right. And we didn't have to do this. We gave it to them because you were going to keep it as a working form and we were going to be
able to form it till we were done. And that's what the last committee told us. All right. And I know you were not there 25 years ago, but this farm was the first one that was ever bought by Homedale. Nobody had a clue of what to
put in contracts. No. And the committee even said that if you could find people from that committee, we don't know what to put in the contracts. So, a lot of stuff didn't get in there. That's why they were we were told when we were done
after the 25 years, we could extend it for 5 to 10 more years. That's what we said. We're not going to go more than 10 years. So that's why this is so disappointing to our family because what we were told and every farm that was
bought by Homeell Township after ours has benefited where the FNF farm had got 10 years free rent before he left. All right. We've been paying since day one. All right. Kalen Farm is lifetime
rights. I know that's a different situation, but m Homedale put money in that. So, our farm has we have gotten screwed by Homedale Township. All right. We're not asking for a lot. We're asking
for five years. Okay. To be to to make up money that we lost because of deer that 50 acres of pumpkins I planted devastated. So, how do I get that money
back? seed uh plowing fuel. DJ knows. So, we're not our family isn't asking for a lot, but my thing whole thing is how can you go to an executive session and in 10
minutes decide to put a farm out the bid when you said you had to look into it. So, that's my very disappointed in And if we knew what this was going to be
right now, we would have never sold it to home. Okay. Um, just for your benefit, sir, this was not something that has been an impulsive decision. This is something that has
been talked about over time. has been part of of of the committee and and considerations. Um council as everyone knows has been involved in this. So it is not a spontaneous
decision. Um I don't know if they Yeah, I don't think I don't think I have anything further to add mayor except that obviously an executive session is attorney client privilege. So we're not going to Excuse me, sir. I mean there's no there's no talking there's not even a meeting with us. There was there's not
even like you can't even uh if there's like three different scenarios you like farm you have three different or four different uh contracts. We're not even talked to to see what we
can do to come up with something. Respectfully, if I could just uh deputy mayor through you, um a February 13th letter was sent to um 32 Centerville Road. Um and at the conclusion of the letter um actually you did get it. There
was a FedEx tracking that confirmed it and the police department subsequent to your follow-up handd delivered it to you. The letter said at the end of it that if you wish to discuss options, please contact my office and we could set up a meeting with the appropriate township officials to discuss this further. We recognize that the import of
state law requiring bidding is not um you know the desired outcome by the by the tenant and the township has done everything in its power to try and uh maintain collegiality and to cooperate. So, uh, respectfully, a letter was provided outlining that and I did speak
with your former attorney as well as your current attorney on the matter. I didn't get forward, ma'am. My name is 47 Vanra Road in New Jersey. I hate public speaking, but I have to do this.
Just for your information, the situation with the letter, I was there. So, there is a main mailbox on the road, it was not delivered to that mailbox. There is a mailbox that you pull all the way up to the top of the farm. That mailbox he does not use and that's where we ended
up finding it by accident. So, he really did not know for quite a period of time that he received the letter. Secondly, since we are celebrating the 250th year of our country, I don't know if you're aware of this, but the Walling
family deed this property to the so property, the connection to the family, um, Mr. to him isn't just about the lands for farming and making money.
This is where he grew up. He was in I don't know if any of you had a very close relationship with your grandmothers. I did. He was in that farmhouse from the time he was 10 years old eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. His blood, sweat, and tears of his
family are in that soil. The history of our town is in that soil because of their family. I'm begging you all, please look into your your hearts. Please try to figure
out a way to allow them. His father's 93 years old, do please do not let that man's die with them losing this arm. I beg you, he goes to this farm there. We've talked to senators to to to um
former mayors. Everybody said to us, "If this was me, I'd find a way to make it work." I'm telling you, you can't imagine the number of people that we spoke to. Please, I'm begging you, find it in your hearts to try a porcel just
allow this man to die in peace. He feels like it's his fault because he believed the council at that time when they said with the gentleman's agreement and and I'm not fighting with you with none of that. I'm just telling you that's what
they told me. He's 93 years old. I'm begging please try to find there's a process that has been put in place and it's suggested that
you follow the process so that there is a chance for continuing. No one no one has said you can't participate in the process. There is
a lease that was signed. It's a legal document. So there are two different perspectives here. There's the legal perspective and there's an emotional perspective.
And as the township committee, we have legal obligations whether we like it or not. There are legal obligations that we have to follow through with. So no one is saying we do
not want the Palma Farms to continue there. What we need to happen legally is for the process to be followed and that's
what we're doing. And Pat, you know, I I know what you're going through. I know how hard this is for you and your family, okay? We've known each other since we were since we grew up. Um it's unfortunate that this committee is
the one that is dealing with this at this moment and obviously we're not you know 25 years ago when your father and your mother and your uncles and your aunts and you know they signed that lease you know we're we're we're kind of
stuck in a in a position here and you know it's hard because we can we can't just do what we want to do. We can't do we can't just do uh we want to do this for Patrick because of his hardship and his family. Um we're just you know we're
stewarts of the township. So we have to just do what we were elected to do and you know and and do the best that we can. But a lot of it comes to legality. You know a lot of this is comes from what we're bound to do by the law. And
you know, if our legal counsel is telling us that this is a contract, a lease that expired with no extensions um in it and that the process is to now put the property out for a public bid because that's what the laws dictates,
you know, we're we're bound by that and we and if we were to go against that, especially now publicly in any way, shape, or form, I mean, that's that's uh that is is not what we're elected to do. We're not elected to have favoritism or
go against the law. You know, we have to follow what we feel is right. And it's a very unfortunate situation. I feel terrible. And you and I have been talking about this for well over a year, if not a year and a half. Um and uh you know I'm sorry that this is what's hap
you know that this is the way things are going but you know at the end of the day you know your family had a lease and that lease expired and unless there were you know other things that that that maybe could
have happened but I you know I don't know what those are. this is where the road has led us to now and it's unfortunate and we apologize for your hardship and what you're going through personally. Um, and it's unfortunate and I wish I really
wish that you that when they signed that lease that they did put in if there was some type of an agreement that they put that in the lease. I'm just that I'm just I'm just trying to tell you we can't go by what was said 25 years ago. You have to realize it was
the first one that was done and we we understand that that they didn't know what we understand that Pat, but I don't that doesn't change what we can do. Again, I've done my homework as well, right? Pat, come up. Come up and and speak if
you're going to speak, please. I've done my research as well. All right. I have talked to past committee people, other towns, other mayors, South Jersey people that will deal with farms, and everybody has told me the committees
could do whatever they want. They just have to want to do it. They have to want to do it. We're not going to we're not going to do something that we want to do with our hearts if it's illegal. So, I'm sorry, that's not going to happen. If if again I ask every
everybody I ask lots of people senators again you the committee could do whatever they want. You do things behind your executive sessions just like your horn telescope. That was a done deal. Okay. That got all turned around. Yeah.
You're comparing apples and bowling balls, Pat. But I apologize, but like I said, this is we we can Yeah, we can do whatever we want, but we're not going to do something that's illegal or against the laws. And that's what we're being advised to do.
Come on, fell the terminator for a second. Patrick Dina, 56 Line Road. Um, I want to comment about the um Crawford Hill horn antenna that is a national historic
landmark. Okay. Uh that was um owned by uh Bell Labs and put in uh and it's been recognized as the cradle of big bang cosmology measurements. It made
a measurement that it has profound implications to how the universe was created. Okay. To say um when it was when the new owner proposed to do town houses up there, I think the
community came together and the world came together to uh make sure that the horn antenna was saved. That's what was done. and Homedale, the Homedale committees acted in unison with
um the public and uh the community worldwide community to preserve the horn antenna and Homeell uh acquired it eminent domain u and it's now Robert Wilson Park. So to
conflate uh the hornet the homeale horn antenna and Crawford Hill with the uh lease situation going on on Centerville Road is um is beyond pale. Thank you. Thank
you. H we're supposed to you're supposed to come up for one comment and I I said no to Jay. Why don't we finish uping? that. Okay. Any other public come on forward?
How you doing, Lance Loopy? Line Road. Um, excuse me. Excuse me. Just one comment. Uh, the corner of Line Road and Bethany, there's a couple potholes there. So, hopefully that that can be addressed.
That's it. Okay, they reached out to Hasllett. I believe it's on the HLlet side. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Okay. You want to make one more? Come on up. I'll let you make one more comment if you wanted. Ma'am,
you you wanted to come back. All right. There would be no America if the Walling family hadn't fought in the Revolutionary War. So, he's trying to diminish what we're discussing here as far as history. And that to me is just ridiculous because there wouldn't have
been whatever that I never attended these meetings before. Whatever it was that he was saying that that you saved in Homedale if the Walling family hadn't fought in the revolutionary war and we have America. So, I said that. Thank you. I don't I don't believe that's what's being insinuated. um you know the
property is going to be preserved as a farm you know we can't develop it I don't think that's what he was insinuating okay I don't yeah it's I don't think this is the proper forum if you folks you're free to go outside and talk about it if you'd like Jay out of fairness I'm
going to allow if you want to come up you have one more com just come on and then no I can't Jay you know 18 job you're being very generous who complained was it? Oh,
always love you in um um Mr. Imprevo, just now that the election's over and all the noise and all the this um to the best of your ability, where does Vonnage stand? I mean, are they funded? Is the first phase going to happen? Are
is part of the committee going to have a look at at what it looks like? Um there's a lot of questions out there. It doesn't look like they're spending a dime to maintain the place and probably I wouldn't either till I was ready to go. But where does it stand like realistically? I'll let Mike speak to the the process because I don't want to
make any missteps there. But I will say I've spoken to Mayor Foster about reigniting the ad hoc committee for review of the aesthetics. Yeah. You know, this way we can get that sort of going again and make sure that we've got I mean, listen, everyone's going to have a different opinion, right, as to what looks appropriate and what doesn't, but to at least come to some resolution on
certain things there. Yeah. Um, and I do know that the owners are amanable to doing that. We just haven't kicked that off to initiate. But Mike, if you can speak to the process. Yeah, they they've provided us uh with various information consistent with what was uh shown on the screens at a past township committee meeting. Um, we've actually exchanged um
I think we have their signature to the redevelopment agreement itself. And um once we have all the documents, special counsel Andy Bayer's handling the documentation on this one. Uh the township committee will issue a letter uh advising them that they've completed their obligations to the committee as
the redevelopment agency. That will then free them up to make application to the planning board for site plan approval and I believe they need subdivision approval as well. Um they've advised that they are going to make that application imminently once we provide that sign off which we're prepared to do with you know in a matter of days. So,
uh, that will be on file with the planning board. The planning board professionals will do their review, and I would anticipate, um, a meeting of the planning board probably in a two-month time frame to hear that application. Okay. So, there's no sense at all that they're hesitant or possibly not moving
forward. No, they're moving. Eager to continue the process and move forward. Okay. Thank you. That's it. Thank you. Any other further public comment? Seeing none, we'll close the public comment. And um deputy mayor, uh if the committee would entertain a motion to go into
executive session to discuss uh real property um acquisitions um for open space and the committee will not be coming back out of close session for any formal action. Motion second. All in favor? I. Thank
you. Thank you folks. Can we just do it? It's all