I'm sorry. >> Thank you, Joe. I started the stream, Greg. >> I I started it. Yeah. As crowded as I thought. Not as crowded as I thought, but That's it. Whatever.
And we're streaming already, just so you know. You're gonna ask him to stay here all night. >> Hey, >> you ready? >> I'm ready. >> Good evening everyone. I hereby announce that pursuant to section five of the
open public meetings act that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the notice which is 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 January 6th 2026. Mayor and Prevadudo
>> here >> Mr. Foster >> here. >> Mr. Bontempo >> here. >> Mr. Romano >> here. >> Mr. Vanderham >> here. Mayor, you have a quorum. >> Thank you, Wendy. Would everyone 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, justice for all. >> Now, a moment of silence, please, for our men and women in uniform that keep
us safe at home and abroad. Okay. So, we have a lot of special guests here this evening and we're very happy to see all you guys here. Um, I would like to introduce Paul. Uh, and we're going to have a presentation from the Young Speakers
Academy. Paul, >> thank you so much, Mr. Mayor, and Wendy in particular. Thank you so much for all of your help. My name is Paulie Rafage, and for the past eight weeks, I have been torturing these children, teaching them about public speaking, using their
body, as well as vocal variety. I am so proud of the progress that these kids have made and I'm sure they are so excited to showcase their talents for all of you tonight. So, we're going to get started. Our first speaker is Ythar.
Take it away, Mr. Ythar. >> You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player in all of hockey history. I learned this because I just love sports. I started travel hockey when I was four, basketball and soccer for fun when I was
around six, and I'm a part of the home competitive swim team. Sports plays a big role in youth development. There are three main reasons why. One, sports can teach you hard work, confidence, leadership, and discipline. Two, it
keeps you away from technology and electronics addictions. Three, you can make new friends, have fun, be healthier, stronger, and faster. That is why I feel like sports is the best thing for youth kids. From here on out, by the
end of 2026, I hope everyone in this room tries one new sport. In addition to Homeell sports, I think we should add a roller hockey rink in Homeell. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up to the stage is Gabriel. Take it
away, Gabriel. Have you ever seen a slow typer? Well, I have. In my opinion, I think that the Homedale School District should add typing classes so that way kids can learn how to type properly and also not fall
behind on online projects. For example, one day in class, I was typing my essay in social studies and I looked over to the person next to me and I see them extremely behind, slowly typing. If they had learned to type properly, they would have not been behind on their
project. The Home School District should add typing classes so kids do not fall behind on school projects and learn how to type properly. Thank you. >> Thank you, Gabriel. And next up, we have Emily. Take it away, Emily.
When all you do with a book that's other than reading is flipping a page, you end up with a paper cut. Ouch. But don't think that reading is negative was just a little paper cut. Reading is very helpful. Let's dive in and see why. Reading is helpful for many ways. For
example, reading can help you learn. Reading helps you with mostly anything, including math. Reading can give you information about lot of stuff. Also, reading can teach you lessons. The frequently used lessons in these books
are never give up and be honest. Even fantasy books can teach lessons. Reading can also inspire you. It can't just stand up and start saying random things. You just have to read the book itself. It might be telling you how fun it is and reasons why.
Lastly, reading will keep the boredom away. Reading can entertain you when you're bored. There's a million types of books that I can't list them all in this typical piece of writing other words speech for this case
and so I'll list a type of book graphic novels normally chapter books will be good for reading homeworks but you don't always use books for entertainment you can use books to research too not always
social media lastly reading will keep the boredom away can Oh, wait. Reading is truly wonderful for these reasons. There are more reasons, too. So, the next time you open a book, you should think about all these purposes a book can have.
And our next speaker is Sarah. Sarah, take it away, Sarah. Today I will talk about protecting our environment. Our beautiful world needs fresh air, clean water, sustainable food to survive. But now trouble has come.
People cut down trees, poll the air, destroy the home of animals. They are gradually destroying our beautiful world. But small actions can also make a big difference. We can save water, save electricity, use less plastic. plant
more trees. At the same time, we can also tell our family and friends to do it together. These are all things we can do. The earth is our common home. Let's take action together and do our part to keep our earth beautiful.
The planet is changing. Are we? Thank you. >> Thank you, Sarah. And our next speaker is Kabir. When I moved to Home Doll in 2024, I knew I was in for a good time. The schools here are awesome, and the teachers somehow make learning so much
fun. I have amazing friends who make school feel like one big adventure. I've enjoyed my time at Homeell. Homedale is a wonderful town with so much to a hoff to the chess club in in the bell works which I had so much fun at to the playgrounds in Homeell Park which was
also so much fun to the police academy which I participated in. I feel lucky to be able to grow up here. Few ways we can improve home are adding a cricket pitch to any of the parks in Homeell. Having roots from India, I most passionate
about cricket. After all, it's the second most popular sport in the world. I dream of having my own home doll cricket team one day. Other additions can be adding a zipline and having a dedicated bike clean even more special. Thank I thank you for
making Homedale a great place to live in. And our next speaker is Raphael Did you know that only 12% people in homes don't cook? I think you should add cooking weekly cooking classes in elementary schools
because first cooking is cheaper than ordering out a valuable skill for later. Second, you can add whatever spices you want onto your food instead of just hoping that the restaurant you
Lastly, kids could use other subject subjects in cooking like for math need to know fractions and ratios. For example, I was playing chicken with my dad. We were cooking chicken to save
money and eat healthier. I got to pick a spice to go on the chicken and put all the ingredients the precise amount of each ingredient. So, I think you Thank you, Raphael. And our next speaker
is Clara. Class pets are the best. When I was little, I had five pet fish in my classroom. My favorite out of all of them was Diamond. She was a beta with a diamond pattern. It was super duper
pretty, but I was upset. I took a peek at diamond and she made me happy. She also flipped my friend upside down. Like they say, diamonds are a girl's best friend. But when I moved, I realized home schools don't have class pets. Here
are three reasons why I think home schools should have class pets. One, the kids can responsibility by taking care of the class pet they have. and maybe bring it home. Two, you can have fun schoolwide activities like a class pet race or have a class craft for a pet
like decorating the cages for certain holidays. Three, they're just plain fun to play with and are the best friends when you don't have human friends around. In conclusion, class pets help you learn responsibility, have fun, and can be a backup besties. And those are
my reasons that home schools should have class pets and that you can consider adding them. Great job, Clara. Our next speaker is William. Take it away, Mr. William. Do you remember school? I do. I will
tell you why I like school. First, you can learn stuff in math, literacy, and social studies. Uh, if you do good stuff, you can you can get rewards. Like one time I listened to the teacher all week and I
got a certificate. But sadly there are bad stuff like detention. Like one time I yelled out loud and I got in trouble. That is why I like school. >> Great job, William. And our last speaker
is Brooke. Brooke, come on up. These are four reasons why I think we should have chickens at Homedale schools. One, you can get fresh eggs to and for free and you can use them to
make the egg patties at the for the school lunches. Number two, you can learn responsibility for taking care of pets. Like I got chicks the other day and I already filled the food bowl and the water bowl.
This helped me learn responsibility for taking care of pets. And number three, you can give all your food waste to the chickens. They'll eat bread scraps, even eggshells,
and fruit that you don't eat. This could help the environment and can reduce waste at Homeell. And fourth and last reason, you can kids can learn about the life cycle of chickens while playing with a little
chick. This is why I think that we should have chicks at home schools. Thank you very much, Brooke. I want to say again, thank you so much to the committee. Mr. Mayor, Wendy, thank you so much for all of your help. I am
incredibly proud of these kids. You have come such a long way. And a big thank you to the parents. Thank you. Thank you for trusting me to teach your children. This has been a very big honor for me. Thank you all so much.
>> Paul, why don't we take a picture with the kids? >> Okay. President, Vice President Yes. >> Why not, man? >> You're decent at pickle ball. It's like a bat, right? I saw that.
>> Bye. >> Bye. >> Bye. >> Yes. Yeah, he's going to close the door. also ready. >> Okay, folks. We're going to ask now for public comment for agenda items only. Um
we are going to just sort of go back to our normal rhythm where we get one question per person in a threeminut limit both for this part of the public comment and for public comment at the end as well. So if anybody has any public comments on the agenda items by all means
going once. So okay >> yeah many times we don't get to lift this very often. So this is good. I'm going to take advantage of this. >> Well thank you guys. Uh, >> sorry. Name it. >> P. Exactly. P. Ready. Seven Rustic Lane.
Uh, for those that don't know me in the room, I've been on the school board the last 11 plus years. I currently serve as president. Uh, did that three years ago, so, you know, it's been around a while. Youngest kid, graduated last year, so I'm now a regular taxpayer like a lot of folks in this room, which is pretty
cool. Uh, what I want to say is, uh, you know, I made a point not coming to your guys' meetings over the years. You know, I usually stay in my lane. Uh, and then speaking, I never speak at your meetings, but I thought it was important tonight just to speak uh on behalf of the school board and in appreciation and
thank you for the ordinance and the resolution that you put up there for uh selling or buying Addie Ler's house. And for those in the audience that don't know, uh 201819 when we had the 2020 referendum, we purchased that house. And one of the main reasons we purchased that house was okay, we didn't want
7-Eleven, Khan Academy, and whatever other business that could possibly purchase it. So, you know, we had really no plan when we bought it. We, you know, maybe we make a board office, maybe a historical society, whatever it was going to be, but it's been we've been taking care of it a bunch of years and, uh, I think this is a great win-win for
the town. Obviously, the town and a lot of people in town should be aware that we have about a $5 million deficit. In the last two years, we've been taking out of our reserve and capital budget. I believe a million dollars to the date. And right now, our uh, reserves are definitely empty. So this is definitely
going to help for that and whatever other opportunities we might need to use the money for. So on behalf of the board, the administration, just want to say thank you. Appreciate the support. I continue the dialogue that we've had for the last year and the last bunch of years. It's very important and helpful and uh I think there's great opportunities with that property and
what you guys could do with it and uh I look forward to it. So thank you. >> Thank you, Pete. And I just want to just uh quickly say one, I very much appreciate the partnership we have with the board of education. I do also want to mention this was an idea we floated back last year with uh then mayor Foster's permission to the former board
president Chris Deari and and Alison Ley vice president. We re-engaged this year with you guys on this and and um you guys reminded me of it actually which I appreciate. Um but you and I and I do also, you know, want to be very clear. Um you know, it is I I want to apologize
a a little bit. I I didn't mean to be as specific as I was on the use of the dollars for the social med with the social media post I put out there. The fact of the matter is we don't weigh in on board policy. The the million dollars that will come out of the purchase of uh Add's House goes to whatever priorities the board thinks it should go to. And so
uh working fast, I I uh I I sort of misspoke or mistyped with some specific items on there and I do apologize for that guys. you know, we we trust you obviously with the money and and uh you know, whatever you think the priorities are for it, you know, we support that and you know, we'll continue to support our schools.
>> Any other public comment? Yes, sir. >> Patrick Tuska, 56 Line Road. I too support the purchasing of the uh property now that it uh from the board of education from the open space funds. That's exactly what the open space funds
are for. It will keep it forever as preserved uh land and Homedale could find a very good use for it at some point. Thank you. >> Thank you. And it's and it's a good point. Uh Pat, the we are purchasing this out of the open space fund. It was
a fiscally responsible way for us to do this. Um it allows us to purchase it and bond over 40 years. Um and it's money that we can pay off quickly. Um, but that as a as sort of debt service won't be it'll have marginal impact on our on our overall budget and so we can manage it more effectively that way. The other
benefit of the open space fund being used for this is it legally restricts the use of the property. So to Pete's point earlier, you know, a 7-Eleven can't go there, right? This is going to be the house as it is or it's going to be open space. It's going to be maintained. You know, there's very little that can be done. Uh, which I
think is important considering it sits right in front of our school and in the center of our town. Anybody else for comment on agenda items? Mr. Little. >> Uh, Bill Little, a Coventry Square. I just had a question about consent agenda
item 82, the one with the tree replacement trust fund. I couldn't quite figure out what it was meaning. It looks like some just some kind of proforma thing that sets up if the money comes in it goes over here and blah blah blah. But could you expand on what that's for
a little bit? >> Mike, you want to hit that one? >> I might defer to Chris if that's all right. >> He's raising his hand for it. Go ahead, Chris. >> So, yes, no problem. So, yes, we did the tree ordinance last year and when we did that, we we need a place to put that
money because the it's specific. That money can't just be used for anything. Well, as you guys all know, and we're not thrilled with it, but we we're we're kind of stuck with it. The um resilience project that JCPNL did, um they were going around cutting trees. Well, they
cut um $27,000 worth of trees. So, that fund is now going to be heavily funded by JCPNL, and that allows us later on to go ahead and and plant some trees in other places. So, um that's all we're going to use it for. So, it's going into a trust and uh as needs come up where we
want to replant trees, that's what we're going to do with it. So, uh JCPNL was just like anybody else. They're a private company. They do do public stuff, but um they're a private company and they have to pay the bill. So, they have for each one of those trees they took down. >> Good. Thank you.
>> Yes, ma'am. >> Uh Jenny Blumenthal, 41 Stonybrook Road. I had a very similar question for consent agenda number 81. What is the mayor's ceremony donation fund? >> That's a new one on me.
>> You planning on having a ceremonies >> serving champagne? >> The there was um an ordinance on tonight actually that addresses uh wedding ceremonies. So, under state law, the mayor is authorized to perform weddings. Uh the legislature added that the
municipal clerk is now authorized as well to perform weddings. So we saw fit to update the ordinance to establish that the mayor and the township clerk pursuant to state law may do that. There's also >> they've been doing it for decades. >> Correct. >> But not the clerk, right? >> Not the clerk. But the um there's a
provision in the ordinance that asks essentially for a donation uh that goes to support fire or first aid uh when someone books a wedding. This just clarifies the resolution um allows for the establishment of that revenue. So, anytime there's a new revenue source,
you technically need to do this resolution and and submit to DCA. Actually, >> it doesn't say. So, and it doesn't say what the mayor is supposed to do with it. Have champagne for the bride and groom. >> No, the money the money is going to come into the township and then it'll be
utilized for those those purposes to support fire and first aid. >> Oh, it should say so. Otherwise, we're all sitting here scratching our head. >> Unfortunately, yeah, understood. The resolution is kind of a pro-formal one that DCA requires. So I think it just followed the DCA language just like the
other one. And uh >> like it conveys no information. >> That's usually what ordinances that need to resolutions that need to go to Trenton. They're like ask questions. >> Understood. >> Your idea is better Jenny about the champagne though. >> Yeah.
>> Anybody else? Yes ma'am. >> Hi I'm Chandra 57 Oaks Drive. Um really quick question about the ordinance uh with relation to the Atti Holmes house right um when it was purchased by the BOE at that time it was very odd that a a house would be purchased by the BOE
but notwithstanding that I understand you know your impetus to buy it and I think it's a very uh lovely quite generous impetus I understand that it's a bond right that's being paid through the open source fund but does that mean there's a tax later on as like through
the years or there will be no tax on taxpayers. >> No, there shouldn't be any tax associated with the >> it's an existing tax you've already paid. So yeah, um so it's it whatever we have left over in that trust as it comes in, you know, it could use for different things. The the bond itself will be paid
back through the open space trust. So it's not so it's not a new tax, it's a tax you're already paying. Um and what's nice is because it's open space and it is property, it is a real property, um it can be paid off over 40 years. And so that's not going to change our taxes. >> It will not change your taxes. No, it's
it stays where it is. >> All right. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else for public comment on agenda items? >> Mr. Weissfeld. >> Which was this one? Matt Weissfeld. 10 Riverside Lane. >> Agenda items only.
>> When did we lose class pets? Is that serious? >> I I guess so, man. I don't know. I've been in school in like 30 years. >> We had the guinea pigs. We had all the other stuff and everything. I think it did teach responsibility. And just to throw out there, the chickens tax write off. We could sell this whole thing. We turn Homeell into a farm. We get enough
chickens, we get free eggs. Not a bad idea at all. Um, really quick, because I'm a little behind on the whole house thing that just happened. Uh, um, is this about like other stuff like the Kohl's property and things like that or is that later? >> No, no, that's entirely different. >> Okay. Then with the the house things, I'm getting caught up on that and
everything. So, uh, and it's a great idea. I like who who did that? Like, you know what? like what what started all of that and everything like you know I mean it's a >> yeah so so just Matt just because you weren't here I think earlier we are going to keep everything to three minutes this time around um just so you know but uh but yeah no look this was an
idea we had >> I'm not campaigning all the other guys seem to have why not >> no no I just look this was an idea we had last year as a way to help the schools out and also protect you know the property there um the previous board you thought it was a good idea the current board thought it was a good idea and and actually reminded us of it as as
a concept and it's something that is, you know, fisc it's something we can manage fiscally through the open space fund. >> But that's kind of BS though because this was kind of not really addressed last year. This says I I'm only saying it because again I'm >> No, it was just an idea last year. >> No, no, no, no. I mean, as far as like last year I mean because I was talking
to other board members who are not here. Uh, okay. Not here in general everything before I said everything else where it just seems like this was something that was trying to get done last year. And again, all good all around. It's just that it's an election year. So now all
of a sudden we're gonna have all sorts of stuff going on and all wacky and you know with something as big as this and again I just don't have the info. So I mean again I'm like you know cream crayon notes. >> Well look first of all every year is an election year in home right. I mean that's right. So I don't think that that
has no bearing on this whatsoever. Last year Brian as mayor committed the 600,000. You know again we ended up paying for it. It had to get bonded. It took took a minute but that was a commitment Mayor Foster uh uh drove. We've been paying for etc etc. So every year's a lecture at home though, man.
This like one one plus one doesn't equal two on that. >> Okay. I just I just thought it was interesting that the time limit did not even exist last time to the point where people are addressing the audience and everything else. And uh and by the way, I'm actually not annoyed about that thing. I got something completely different, but I'll save it for later.
So anyway, with that being said, thank you because I'm I'm getting caught up on the house thing. So, but let's get some chickens. Let's get some class pets. And thank you for the time. >> Thank you. Anybody else? public or agenda items
only. Yes, sir. U Ron Emma, 32 Ladwood Drive. And in full disclosure, I'm sure you know, I have filed a petition to run for township committee. Thank you. Uh question on the house. It seems to me that though it's a a grand
gesture, it doesn't really solve the BOE's revenue problem. It just transfers ownership from them to us. But I still think it's a good idea. But my question is what happened who apparently what what is it going to be used for? And the
upkeep to bring it up to code has been bandied about up to a million dollars to bring it up to ADA code, lead paint, etc. So is that now obviously the town's responsibility and what is it going to be used for this? That's number one. And I have a second question about the
prosecutors. Uh I believe Kima Mountain was appointed town prosecutor this year at a salary of around 50 grand and now you are appointing three alternate prosecutors. So my question is that's
not going to cost those three alternates are going to use part of her salary, right? It's not it's not an addition to her salary. Is that correct? And the second question is why do we need three alternates? Have we ever had three alternates before? Has the case load
tripled? Like why do we need three alternates? That's it. >> We have had we have had >> three. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Okay. And also the um the administrative office of the courts requires the alternates to be on a resolution or else
court can't move forward. So that's part of the reason that there were three names put up just so that if there's ever an issue over the course of this year presumably one of the three would be able to serve for the day. >> Yeah. So in in relation to Add's house um you know right now the intention is
we keep it as is. If we feel a need to that you know to use it for some kind of public purpose it'll be brought to code. In the meantime, we, you know, we felt like we were helping to contribute to the schools and we were going to procure an, if you want to call it, an asset, you know, procure an asset in doing so, that there's about three acres of
property there if I'm not mistaken. Um, and so we'll, you know, first and foremost, it was how can we help? This is a good way to help and we'll, as we did with Potter's Farm and and everything else, we'll we'll plan as we go. >> Totally agree. It's a good idea, but I just worry about the upkeep. If you do
have to bring it up the code, it's now our problem. >> And any upkeep comes out of the open space fund that we currently have. So it's not going to be an incremental cost of the taxpayers as we maintain it. It'll come out of that same fund that we're using to purchase it. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am.
>> Hello. Hi, it's Sarah Cho at for Putinham Court. Um I guess addressing your post that came late last night. Um, a lot of us only heard of it kind of through the grapevine. >> Um, >> I just Is is this going to be tied to an
agenda item because this is for agenda items only. >> Yeah, it's for the Atti House. >> Okay. >> Um, why was that decision made at the 11th hour and why was it tied to courtesy busing um and you know staffing
issues? Um, and I understand before I came you said that you had misspoke. Um, but was that statement based on a conversation you had with board member uh board of ed members or was that something that you um assumed would
happen? >> No. So, so there so there's to answer both your or two parts of your question. So, one, it wasn't done at the 11th hour. something we've been talking about on and off for about in in con you know in in seriousness um for about a month um give or take I think um so we just
were able to ensure that we had the right uh pieces in place to get it on the agenda to introduce it tonight so I wanted to make sure that people understood we were doing that that's why it wasn't an 11th hour thing it was we had to go to bond counsel we had to get certain things done in order to go in
that direction so it's been talked about for quite some time and we able to and as we got up to this, we were able to execute it in line with budget expectations and timelines. Um, we have had conversations with the board of ed in the past about uh courtesy busing
specifically and other items. My mistake, um, the conversations had evolved since then. Um, and my mistake very simply was, you know, truth be told, I shouldn't have said anything other than we're looking to help with the challenges they have. I don't weigh in on what the board does with the
money. Um, we provide half a million in operating relief every year. We don't ask where that goes. This million dollars is up to them and their priorities. So, I I misspoke on that. That was part of earlier conversations. The priorities shifted or the the expectations may have shifted. That's up to the board and and how they want to
handle it. >> Okay. So, is that um sale, you know, if it's voted on to to happen, um what other I guess conditions are there going to be or is it just a straight up, you
know, here's the cash and here's the real estate? >> Um I don't have any intention to put conditions on it. We said we would help and this is how we're going to help. Pete spoke earlier and spoke a bit about what he intended to do, what what he and the board intend to apply it towards. Um, and we support that if that's her
decision. >> Um, thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Mr. Franco. Got to do pretty. You have to get pretty low for that one there. Pete Franco, five Hopwork Lane um to the
alternates for the prosecutor. I think the optics of having Kim's husband up there is just a little just doesn't look good. Um to the uh the atti house. Um when you talk about the open space fund, about how much are you guys from that fund would go towards this?
>> Someone talked about renovations down the road if it needed be. >> Right. I'm sorry. So, I'm not sure >> the cost. In other words, how much of the you said you would use open space fund money to >> we've got what 2.2 million in there now, Chris, give or take. >> Yeah, we and again we we this year alone, we're getting $700,000 more than
we did in the past. So, it it it does increase over time with the ratables and stuff like that. Um, but to know exactly what it would be would be, you know, hard to say if we don't even know what we're going to do with it if we we do anything with it at any point. But in other an older home like that, if there's lead, if there's a speestous, if
it's got to be brought to code, and if you know, someone mentioned say a million dollars. >> Yeah. And sorry. >> Okay. >> If that needs to be done, then it'll come out of the open space fund to do it. And we'll do it over a prescriptive sort of path. Okay. >> Not all at once that we're not going to drain the fund all at once if we want to bring this thing up to code. >> The purchase of the home, you're using
open space fund money for the purchase. And it's what, like 50 grand? >> It's a million. >> It's a million over over 40 years. >> You're taking a bond. >> Yeah. Over 40 years. >> Okay. We don't know. We don't know what the the rates are at this point because we haven't gotten that point yet. >> But over 40 years, a million is going to
cost essentially three or three million. >> It could, but it depends on when we pay it back. Listen, we take we often will take these and we'll pay them back faster. No, >> I just I you know, from the outside looking in, I just think, you know, I I know that they need money and I know you say it's protect open space, but again,
back to the pilot, it just seems that you're protecting the pilot money. So rather than finance our future away and issue bonds, this just seems to be a common word for something. We need something, we're going to bond it. A sewer, we're going to bond it. A firehouse, you know, potentially over uh at the Vant, we're going to bond it. It
just seems that it's we're going to be writing checks that we can't cash right now. And 30 years from now, we're still going to be paying for this stuff off. I just think that again, you're protecting that that box with the pilot money. And I think we should unload it on the schools again. That that's where I'm going with this. I I think to to take a
bond for something that we can't afford now, maybe we just shouldn't buy it. >> But okay, I appreciate your comment. I mean, but from your perspective, it sounds like you think we can >> can buy it. >> That's what it sounds like. You said we can't afford it. >> I'm saying if we can't afford it now,
right? You're going to basically take a loan for it. You guys are making a great gesture to to basically give the board of ed a million dollars. Like, but it's really it's not a million dollars. You know, you escalate that uh you add interest into that. uh you add in down the road future repairs if we if you
guys are you know whatever money it's going to cost to repair it is it gonna be another bond down the road there are we going to be taking to finance this >> well we we also need so two things I think one from the open space fund alone you know one one key component of this was as I said earlier it constricts the abil the use of the property >> understood >> right so that that's one so that means
look 10 years from now it means a different township committee can't turn around and say we should put a I don't know you know a hotel there or make something up right so it so that's the b To me, that's the primary benefit of leveraging the open space fund. The second benefit to it is it's not a, you
know, by bonding for it, it helps us manage budget impact this year in andout years as opposed to pulling a million dollars out of any cash reserves we have and ultimately negatively affecting our bond rating >> because our because because those dollars are depleting >> and our bond rating is going to take a
hit if we don't make sure we're not smart about how we do these things. >> Okay. >> Anybody else? Oh, just one Sarah if if >> no just one not just one per topic you could ask at public comment. >> No Sarah no is a is the money go
>> Sarah >> only one question per topic when we when we go to public comment you can ask again. >> Okay thank you. >> All right >> Mr. Deari Chris Deari 7 Oaks uh to Roco and Brian for two guys who
this is about Eddie Add's house uh which we spoke about uh quite often on my tenure at the board. Um I appreciate the gesture. I appreciate that uh board leadership Pete and Kim have continued to uh manage this relationship between
the township committee which is um proven to helping out the schools. But for two guys who were not even around when the pilot originated, you guys take a tremendous amount of heat for uh what was structured that you had nothing to do with. And over the time span of me
getting involved, uh I didn't know anything about the pilot until I got involved. And then you learn about it and yeah, you initially say, "Oh, why isn't the schools getting money?" And then you start communicating to members of the community, not just people in the schools community. You have to look at this at a macro view, the greater good
view. And you start to recognize now we have put out there um through census data that 70% of the households in home no longer have children. And when you're out there speaking to people, I actually bumped into a senior citizen today at Bell and she said, "How could I get some relief for the tax money I sent to the
schools?" And that's that's a common thread. And I think that when we're communicating within the schools community, we need to remember that there's a whole other community in Homeell that's also supporting the funds and the taxes that support the 69% that goes to the schools. That's an $80
million budget. But I do appreciate that you guys have continued to support the schools like nobody else on that day has ever and and and that should be recognized rather than you guys getting attacked for how that structure um was created. So, uh thank you for that. For
the board, um they've got a tremendous amount of tough decisions that they're not responsible for. Um we we've spoken over and over again about what's going on there. There's really no money for us to do anything or for the board to do anything with that school. Um, so it's great, I guess, that the town's taking it over and I hope that it just all
works out for the entire community. So, thanks for the continued support and thanks to Pete and Kim for uh continuing to keep the engagement and that's very important and hopefully that never stops moving forward. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Yes, I see some in the back.
Oh, what? I'm sorry. >> It's It's It's for agenda items only, Mr. Pippi. >> Oh, isn't this agenda? >> No, >> because he just did it. He just said, "Thank you for >> He spoke to Addie's house. He spoke to to Add's house." >> He said pilots >> that you guys had nothing to do with the
pilots prior to, but aren't you pushing for this pilot? >> Yeah. Yeah, and the schools. >> Yeah, and the schools are getting a piece of that. >> Anybody else? All right, let's move on to the consent agenda. >> On the consent agenda, it would be for resolutions 202678
through 202688. When can you pull um for separate discussion 84 and 86? >> 84 and 86. Yes.
So this would be Do we need a motion to pull them? No. So this would be for 202678 through 202688 excluding 202684 and 202686. Okay. Motion. >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Mr. Bontempo. >> Yes. >> M. Mr. Foster. >> Yes. >> Mr. Romano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Vanderham? >> Yes. >> Mayor and Prevadudo? >> Yes. >> The specific uh resolutions for the consent agenda have been successfully
passed. >> Okay. >> Do we want to have discussion on these two? >> Chris, can you give just a little insight of on 84? What what what is cable vision asking for? >> Do you want mine, Chris? >> It's
This is something that we're just renewing, I believe. So, that we're required um to give them the right away. We just have to do it by resolution. We were it's they're up for their renewal on that. So, it's just giving them a rights to get into our rightway to do uh whatever work they actually need to get done. I mean, it's it's pretty standard.
It's it's one of those we were talking about before where we get them sent to us and we're basically told you have to do it, but you have to do it by resolution. So it's it's for them to be able to put fiber >> fiber or make repair stuff like that. Yep. Absolutely. >> 86.
>> Okay. >> Actually, should we vote on 84 before we go to 86? >> Yeah. Do that. >> Let's have a motion. Moved. >> Mr. Vontempo. >> I need to recuse myself on 84 when >> Okay. Mr. Foster. >> Yes. >> Mr. Romano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Vanderham.
>> Yes. >> Mayor and Prevadudo. >> Yes. >> Okay. 202684 has been successfully passed. Thank you. >> 86. >> So So uh Chris, so this is supplementing what we approved in the January 5th
meeting. Correct. it would be for the to be a substitute for the the prosecutor if she can't make a an occasion or a a court session or if there's a special session. Um I can I can attest that that every town has to do this. Um you know
we for a while towns weren't doing it and it really made a big problem for the courts. It delayed things. Um so the courts came down and said no this is what you need to have in place. And often listen there isn't I got to be honest with you there is not a lot of prosecutors out there anymore. Um,
they're hard to find. Uh, it's it's a it's an unforgiving, I guess, job and not too many people want to do it. So, the list isn't surprising to me. I don't know what where you're going to find them because a lot of them are already subbing for other people. They have court the same days, so you have to be available for those days. And if you don't have three, that's when you run
into a problem. Well, I already I already subbed for somebody else that day, so I can't make it. And we can't we cancel court sessions. Things fall behind. And there is restrictions. And I know Michael can attest to this as well. uh things have to be heard in a certain amount of time or they can get thrown out like DWIs. They're all requirements.
So I think that's why the courts are pushing for this. Um again, we're kind of guided by whatever the state says and we're following that rule. >> So So um familiar with Cosg Grove because we appointed him a couple years ago, Mike, but the other two I'm not
familiar with. I didn't get a resume. >> This actually didn't come through me. This goes through the courts. Um, so I didn't I don't know how they were chosen. Um, but um, and I believe that they just go on as regular appointments. I assume, Michael, that's the way it would be. But they're approved already
by the courts as they're already sitting prosecutors in other towns. So that's why that usually how they work. Uh, in the past, I've seen what they used to do is like, oh, I'll just call my friend to cover me. That doesn't always work because they're not available. So, okay. >> Okay. Motion.
>> Motion. Second, >> Mr. Montempo, >> no. >> Mr. Foster, >> yes. >> Mr. Romano, >> no. >> Mr. Vanderham, >> yes. >> Mayor Prevaduto, >> yes. >> Okay. Uh, resolution 202686 has been successfully passed. Thank you. Next is
introduction of ordinance which is a bond ordinance 202611 which is providing for improvements to various township roads by and in the township of homedale in the county of Mammoth state of New Jersey appropriating $300,000 therefore
including a $250,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation in connecting with the the safe streets and roads for all grant program and authorizing the issuance of $50,000 in bonds or notes of the township to
finance part of the cost thereof. This motion is to adopt on first reading, publish on the Homeell Township website, and set the public hearing for April 14th, 2026. >> Chris, just before we get into this, this this grant was procured in 2021. >> This grant was Yes, it was procured in
2021. It was advertised, it was awarded, there was several uh news articles on it. Uh I guess the committee back then had done two ordinances uh for safe streets and um this was going towards that um because it was a joint grant
with other communities. Uh there's several communities in in it. I believe Highlands being one of them and Mammoth County. So Mammoth County has the overall larger grant of it and then we're supplemental grants under theirs. So it's it's a whole plan and uh I believe CME actually was the uh engineer
at the time and they are the ones who applied for the grant and did all the reporting and stuff. So yes, this is and again it is for a study. Um but if we get this study done, it can lead to implementation grants like hey we need crosswalks here, we need new lights here, we need bigger lights here. Um we
can actually apply for them but these you have to go through the this part of the grant first. >> So there's a mapping component that comes with this >> 100%. That's and that's why uh a few months ago the committee approved um a engineer um to actually start to work on this but we did put a stop to it just
recently until this this bond is actually approved because I can't move forward then. So >> Chris, we've also had I guess a bunch of complaints and some issues with some of the roads and streets and towns. Is is it my understanding that this would help alleviate some of those issues? >> Yes, deputy mayor. There's going to be
So this I guess these came on been going on for years. I mean, prior to me getting here and prior to most of of you being on it, I I believe these problems were were on for many many years. And that's why they came forth with those two uh resolutions back in 21 um requesting, you know, us to go after
grants like that and and make a safe school plan, a safe street plan. Uh this just allows us to get that plan and then allows us to go for implementation later. >> Thank you for the clarification. >> Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> We have a second. >> Second.
Mr. Vontempo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Foster. >> Yes. >> Mr. Romano. Um, >> I'm going to be a yes. Ow. And you, but I want to see if I could walk something on as well after. >> Okay. Mr. Vanderham? >> Yes. >> Mayor Prevadudo? >> Yes.
>> Okay. So, ordinance 202611 will be set for public hearing. >> Yep. >> Are you asking for the floor committee, man? >> Yes. >> Yeah. I'd like to see if we could vote on the if we could duplicate the bailout package we gave the BOE last year in
relation to the courtesy busing since there was language specific to preserving the courtesy busing. I think the house is great. I know we all had meetings with different people throughout the the year. Last year I had a great meeting with Ray Kim, but one of the things I liked about the the package we did last year is that it had language
specific in it that said that if the money went through that there had to be courtesy busing preserved. So, I'd like to take a vote if we could pass that same language verbatim this goaround to make sure that the township doesn't lose courtesy busing. >> I mean, we can go for a vote. My my
opinion is that, you know, the board is right to do with what just just an opinion. The board has a right to do with the money that they see fit and they might have different priorities than they did a year ago, but we can go for a vote on that. >> Yeah, I'll I'll second it.
What is the verbage exactly? >> Yeah, just to be clear, I'm not trying to question anything. I just want to make sure >> I'd like to take the verbiage the exactly how we wrote it last year and copy it and just update the address because there was specific language in there that tied it to preserving courtesy buses. So last year there was a
shared services agreement done that um provided the board of ed with I believe it was $600,000 towards capital and there was a condition in the shared services agreement that the courtesy busing would be maintained for um last
school year. Is the motion here relative to a condition on the proposed purchase tonight or are you proposing a separate shared services agreement? separate shared services agreement >> and for a certain sum the same sum certain or is >> same s some I just wanted to go towards
the courtesy busing >> I don't think I'm prepared to vote on that tonight I think I'd actually prefer to get the opinion of the board of education and what they think the pri their priorities are before I have an opinion on whether or not we should be voting on this I don't want to force something that they're not in favor of it's going to be it's going into their budget >> I I agree with that 100% we've we've had
discussions throughout the year throughout last year about how we can help them and how we can assist them forcing It's down their throat. I'm not comfortable with it at all. >> Well, I I think the language was Mike, you said it was for for multiple items, including courtesy busing, correct? >> No,
>> it wasn't that. Yeah, the the the the shared services agreement was it was intended to be a one-time support of capital needs because the board actually um appealed to the township committee contending that a lot of the recreation
that goes on in Homeell is in support of extracurriculars that are not necessarily school specific HYA and the like. So the thought was that based upon a lot of the capital expenses they've incurred, the township found that to be a township purpose because you know the
township needs to have a nexus to supporting township funds. So that was that 600,000 was computed based upon that and the board of ed was required to provide documentary evidence of that 600,000 being attributable to that um as
a condition of receiving that funding ultimately because it was pursuant to a bond. Yeah. So, I I can't see why we wouldn't vote on this. It wouldn't do anything but benefit the schools. >> Well, I think it's up to the board of education to make that determination. >> I I think preserving courtesy busing is a priority for many citizens here, and
I'd like to vote on it. >> If if we're going to if we're going to lose more teachers because of courtesy busing, I'm not in favor of that. I would My kids would also be subject to that. So, I'm not comfortable with losing more teachers because of that. If we can't settle the budget, >> I'm not suggesting this in lie of the Atti House. I'm suggesting this in
addition to the house. understand exactly how but giving them more money and forcing them to do this might lose other teachers jobs and I'm not comfortable and I'm not ready to do that. >> I I I disagree. >> I I would I would say Mike is protocol
with a motion and a second to to get a vote >> committeeman once the discussion is concluded among the committee then uh the mayor would call for a roll call vote if >> I'm sorry. So are you suggesting 1.6 6 million or 1 million for the Atti House and then 600,000 for or whatever the
cost of >> Yeah. Well, the Atti House is a is a bond through the open space fund. Right. So, there's that. And I'm saying in in addition to that, I'm suggesting we renew the agreement we had with the board of ed last year to preserve the courtesy busing. So Joe, I'm just trying to Are you talking about the million
dollars, the million30 that we're going to use to purchase the atti lker house comes with the condition of preserving privacy busing. >> No, you want 1.6 million to go to the schools. >> Yes. >> Okay. Where are we going to find the other 600,000? >> We'll find it.
>> Well, I'll tell you what. We got budget season coming up. So I my my belief is we should table the discussion until we get to budget season and open the budget up to the to the township. So, is that uh do we have to have a vote on tableabling or can we just table the discussion to the next meeting? >> Well, how does it how does it work? I
mean, the ready is here. How does it work? Their budget. Don't they have a budget meeting tomorrow? >> How could we table it? >> Well, it sounds like you're really forcing their hand. >> I'm not I'm renewing the same agreement that we gave them last year. I want I want to renew the same agreement. >> Yeah, but you're asking for in addition
to the 1 million that we're approving tonight, how can we approve another 600,000 without even looking at what our budget is for next year? because their meeting is tomorrow. No, our budget, the municipal budget, >> like raising taxes on people because we're not going to land. >> We have to find it.
>> We do. I mean, I mean, if you want to lay off police officers, >> if if if they don't if we didn't agree to it, I mean, what are the the the agreement with the Audi House doesn't have any provisions in there to save the courtesy busing? So, if they don't have the money to preserve courtesy busing, why don't we just renew the agreement we
have last year and figure it out? >> I don't understand. Well, because just figuring it out and sort of throwing it out there isn't isn't really much of a plan, right? >> But there's a need. >> We will figure it out. We will find the money. The township is not in debt. We could find the money to do it. >> Township's not in debt, but the surplus
is declining. >> Well, then it needs to decline another 600,000. I don't we we can't lose the courtesy bus in >> favor of raising taxes for it. >> If we have to do so to preserve courtesy busing, yes. >> Okay. >> I think we have a different perspective. Hey, this is our discussion, correct?
>> Yeah. >> So, Mike, what's the protocol on this? Do we end up having to now vote this thing down if we don't agree? >> It sounds like it's two separate items. >> It does to me as well. >> Right. So, are we are we approving the we have to vote on the the bond? >> It's a second. He wants to walk on a
resolution. So, we approved the initial bond at his house is approved, >> right? >> No. >> Because he wants an additional 600,000. It's just an entirely separate thing. The one >> Add's house is not approved. The introduction is approved. Has not been approved.
>> The the introduction has not yet occurred. >> No, it did. It did. 20261 is being it was >> 11 is not Patty's >> 13 is right. >> 13 12 and 13 are um I I don't want to get in the way of the committee's discussion. The only thing that I will point out from a legal standpoint is
that the way the 600,000 shared services agreement was done last year was that the 600,000 was bonded. So in order for a shared services agreement to be operative, and allow for the 600,000, there would need to be a bond ordinance prepared, introduced, and finally
adopted that would support that funding. So I just throw that out there just to be clear on what we did last year. >> So if we repeat last year, that's up to you guys. So if we repeat last year, we can't we can't even vote on this thing to introduce it right now. >> There's no way it would be effective because you would need a bond ordinance
prepared. You cannot introduce a bond ordinance by title. So we'd have to have bond council prepare such a bond for a subsequent meeting. >> So we you could certainly make a motion to direct that that be done if that's the desire, but I just want to be clear on on that. And otherwise, if the
600,000 is not being bonded for um you know, I would defer to your CFO to establish coming out of the general fund for the the calendar year budget. >> Yeah. And that's we're not we can't pull more than half million dollars out there without understanding the implications of that. So, it's going to have to be something that we bond for
>> uh if we go down that road. So we approve the introduction of the ordinance >> or vote on it vote on the >> right now on the on the table before the governing body is I believe committeeman Romano's motion. So, so his motion needs
to be according you Mike is needs to be to have a bond ordinance created. >> That would be if you're asking me how to make last year's arrangement operative this year. I would suggest that there are two action items that would need to
be approved. The first would be a shared services agreement with the same language, which I'm not disputing would if you're saying it's a copy paste job, it's a copype job. The other would be a bond ordinance to introduce and then finally adopt to support the 600,000
because otherwise there wouldn't be the CFO wouldn't be able to certify to the funds because they wouldn't be there. >> Got it. >> Okay. >> I I think also just so we all know you have to also make sure that they're specific to what they're going to be using that bond for. So without that knowing that tonight would be a
difficult also. So we would need to get from the school what they want to use that bond because we have to show the auditor what we're using that money for. That's why we asked them to give us receipts on what we just did. It's a bond. It's not a uh it's not just money out of our our our budget. So
>> So if it's busing, we could get an invoice from the school from their vendors stating that the cost for their busing is >> you can bond you can't bond busing. >> Yeah. I don't believe what you what what happened last year is they bonded uh maintenance certain upgrades and
maintenance and they took the money they were going to do for maintenance and slid it over. So it was it was like a shuffle around the money. So that's why we would need to know what they're going to do with the 600,000 and then they can we can say all right yeah if if you guys agree to it then we absolutely could go
ahead and and put it up on a bond but I just need to know what that is and I will do whatever you guys want me to do. >> Okay. So, >> all right. And then we're gonna have to listen, even to move this forward, not only do we need a bond, we have to coordinate with the board of education to see if there's something they can do with it. So, it's not >> So, Mike, what's the >> order of operations that
>> they'll find something to do with it? >> I mean, I don't think Pete I mean, I could be wrong. Pete, do you want to just stand up and start shooting from the hip on this? Like, I don't like I'm aware of I'm aware that they're they're in debt. I'm I'm just >> You give me a minute. I can't see how they couldn't find something to do with
it when they have that much debt. >> I'm not saying they couldn't. I'm saying that we're not going to pull $600,000 in cash out of the general fund and not know the implications of that. If we have to bond for it, we have to go to bond council as Mike just said. And then in order to do that, the board of education has to come to and in addition to that, the board of education has to
come to us with specifics around that. This isn't just a walk-on, throw it out there kind of thing is the point. >> Only thing I would say is absolutely not going to talk about, you know, on behalf of the nine members on the board of ed because that would be totally out of my mind. We have a meeting tomorrow. This is something we could discuss tomorrow
in executive session. Uh what I can tell you is, you know, thank you. You know, we do have a $5 million deficit. Obviously, any money can help. Obviously, we've used our uh you know, reserves the last couple years to pay for it. So, anything would be helpful, but yeah, we would need the whole board to talk about it. And you're exactly
correct. Last year, we used it for maintenance because you can't use it for busing. And the only thing I'll say about courtesy busing is this. Every year when we had our audit, the Mike Patrio, who was the BA for 20 years, they would get flying car colors, A's across the board. The only thing that would get picked on is this courtesy
busing thing over here is financially irresponsible according to state statutes. And we've been doing it for years and years and years. Why? Because we've been able to. We're at the point in the road that we don't really aren't really there anymore. And what deputy mayor Foster said about, you know, is it more teachers, more staff, or is it
raising taxes? It's, you know, we're at a very difficult spot. So, it would be one thing we'll bring back to the board of education, the administration. Sure, Dr. Casone will be very interested and happy about the suggestion. But yeah, I mean, you know, and then we'll find out, hey, if you can do it, how it would be
uh attached and how it would work. But >> so, Pete, I didn't realize that. So, the state auditor says that courtesy of bustings are actually a red flag. >> For the last 12 years or last 11 years, I sat on the board. You know, we get our QAC and we get all the uh the finance uh uh auditors every year. And every year, Mike, my patrio would get an A+. The
business office has done a tremendous job. And the one thing and Brian was on the board back in the day, they would point to courtesy busing every year. If you're two and a half miles from the high school or two miles to any of the elementary schools, that's technically the the state would say you should not
be busing those children. I know my kids graduated. You know, we you know, we'd be walking to village school or whatever was where I would be. Uh but we've always had it because we our budgets weren't where they are now. You know, I know about 15 20 years ago, I understand it was not courtesy busing. So if you live close enough to Village or Indian
Hill, you'd be walking back then. But for the last 15 years at least, we've provided those services. >> So yeah. So thanks. >> All right. Thank you for the context, Pete. It's helpful. >> So I think the motion from my vantage point is to adopt where we at Wendy 11
or 12. >> No, we we just did >> right now. We still have >> We did 11 motion on the table. >> Mr. Romano's motion is on the table >> but and and the motion Joe again is >> I want to extend the same agreement we
had verbatim with the board of ed the 610,000 with the condition that we preserve courtesy busing. >> All right. We can't I mean from my vantage point we can't vote on that because Pete needs to sit with his board to apply the conditions to it. So I mean I don't I could be wrong here. How can
we vote to do something that we've had no discussion or coordination with around >> additional to them approving it? I'd vote to table the discussion until the board's had a chance to meet. >> You You have a right to make a motion to table. >> I'd like to make a motion to table.
>> Table is a privilege motion. So you would call for a roll call on table. >> Roll call. >> No. >> Okay. This is a motion to table the the resolution made by committeeman Romano. >> Mr. Vontempo.
>> No. >> Mr. Foster. >> Yes. until I know that this is not going to impact more teachers being laid off or taxes being raised. Yes, >> Mr. Romano. >> No, >> Mr. Vanderham. >> Yes. I think we need to see the municipal budget before we vote on
600,000 going to the schools. Sorry. I think the school should have a saying that too, >> right? Yeah. >> Mayor and Prevaduto. >> Uh, yes. Thank you. >> So, we tabled >> the motion from Mr. Romano, correct? >> Yep.
>> Okay. All right. Okay. Next for the introduction of ordinances is ordinance 202612 which is which is authorizing acquisition of block 26 lot 5 on the tax map of the township of homeell 34
Crawford's corner road. This motion is to adopt on first reading publish on the home township website and set the public hearing for April 14th 2026. >> And a motion >> moved. Second,
>> Mr. Bontempo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Foster. >> Yes. >> Mr. Romano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Vanderham. >> Yes. >> Mayor and Prevadudo. >> Yes. >> Ordinance 202612 will be set for public hearing. Next is for um bond ordinance 202613
which is providing for the acquisition of certain real property buyin in the township of homeell in the county of mama the state of New Jersey appropriating 1 million 301 million30,000 thereof of and authorizing the issuance of 980952
in bonds or notes of the township to finance part of the cost thereof. This motion is to adopt on first reading, publish in the on the Homedale Township website, and set public hearing for April 14th, 2026. >> Get a motion. >> Moved.
>> Second. >> Mr. Bontempo. >> Uh, yes. >> Mr. Foster, >> yes. >> Mr. Romano, >> yes. >> Mr. Vanderham, >> yes. >> Mayor and Prevadutoo. >> Yes. >> Okay. Bond ordinance 202613 will be set for public hearing.
Next is hearing on ordinance 20268 which is an ordinance regarding marriage and civil union ceremonies. >> I get a motion. Oh no public hearing. Sorry I always do that. Public hearing on this. >> Going once, going twice.
>> Okay. This this motion is to adopt on final reading and publish on the Homedale Township website according to law. >> A motion. >> Move. >> Second. >> Mr. Bontempo. Yes, >> Mr. Foster. >> Yes, >> Mr. Romano. >> Yes, >> Mr. Vanderham. >> Yes.
>> Mayor and Prevaduto. >> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance 2022608 has been su successfully passed. Thank you. Next is ordinance 20269 which is an ordinance amending chapter 30 section 57 titled drainage.
>> Public hearing on drainage. All right. Can I get a motion? >> Oh, there's one. I'm sorry. I didn't see that. Ambound Tempo 22 Grand View Drive. Can you just go into some detail on what drainage is and what exactly
this section or property is? >> Chris, you want to go for that? >> Okay. So currently we have multiple um you know when somebody comes and wants to put a pool in their backyard, they want to put um you know landscaping and they want to get one of the really like
done up backyards. Um they're not required like a developer to come in front of the board to make sure that they're not going to cause water hazards to their their neighbors cause flooding from what they put back there. There's certain things that they can do and they're not they haven't been getting
looked at. So, in the last couple years, the town has been having an engineer look at it, but it's cost the town money on on our end. Um, and by that, I mean that we're paying for the people to have this looked at by one of our engineers. Um, currently that is a cost that we
don't we we don't want to budget for anymore. That shouldn't be on the town if you're putting something else in your backyard that could cause flooding and it should be reviewed. So, this does what this does, it allows us to have a checklist that you have to meet to make sure that you're not going to cause issues. It has to be reviewed by one of
our engineers and the payment for that engineer would come out of that an escrow and not out of the township coffers. >> So, if a a private if somebody who owns a home wants to put in ground pool in their house or an above ground pool, >> yes. uh they don't have to permit for
that at all or go through the >> Well, they still have to permit, but even when they have to permit, it doesn't have an engineer attached to that. This is attaching an engineer to it. Technically, they only have to get construction at that point. And construction is not looking to see if by putting this pool in, is it going to cause flooding on your neighbor's
property as long as it met meets certain standards, we never we never >> as far as a building envelope and permeable surface goes. >> Yeah, exactly. And the concern is it's been happening. It started happening more often. So, >> doesn't the zoning board >> they're not there? don't they don't regulate the one-offs like that, the
pools and stuff like that, especially if it doesn't because even though it may say it's not it's still good on pvious coverage, you might be doing something that's not appropriate for the the land. So, the engineer would come back and show this is what you need needs to be done or your engineer needs to change
this on your end if you have one. For example, I have one now that's coming through that the engineer that did it for them, their calculations are wrong. Our engineer caught that. And if the if if the the builder comes and takes those blueprints, they're going to build something that's going to actually be
detrimental to either them, the homeowner themselves, or their neighbors. So, this will prevent that. We're doing it anyway, but right now, the town keeps paying that bill where it should just be part of an escrow that that people put out for like any kind of permitting. >> So, the homeowner is going to be paying for the engineering,
>> right? That and just to make sure it's safe for them and for the neighbors so the neighbors don't get hurt by this with their water. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. Do I have a motion? >> Any other >> any other comment? Sorry. >> Okay. Do I have a motion? >> Moved.
>> Second. >> Second. >> Mr. Bontempo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Foster? >> Yes. >> Mr. Romano? >> Yes. >> Mr. Vanderham? >> Yes. >> Mayor Prevadutoo? >> Yes. >> Okay. 202609 has been successfully passed. Thank you.
Next is hearing for ordinance 202610 which is an ordinance a amending section 30-16.6 titled fees >> public hearing on fees seeing none have a motion >> moved second
>> Mr. Bontempo >> yes >> Mr. Foster >> yes >> Mr. Romano >> yes >> Mr. Vanderham. >> Yes. >> Mayor and Prevadudo. >> Yes. >> Okay. Ordinance 202610 has been successfully passed and will be published in the Home Del Township website. Thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on to our
administrator. Anything we missed this evening? >> No, I think we got it all for now. Um I I do want to say that I know in the last meeting some people brought up potholes. There was a couple items that were brought up. Um we we actually put down 50 tons worth of um uh pothole repairs
throughout the town. It's been pretty pretty hefty. I I know that that we're still we're still going though. It's it has it's not it's a neverending process. Um I'm glad we finally got to Miss Joe. I'm sorry about that. Um I kind of lost track of so many people asking me to come out and and get it done. We're
going to continue doing it. Um, and like on your property, we're actually going to come out and we're going to make a a real repair there this summer. Um, I I I got a couple more this afternoon. Um, but we are we do we are aware of it. Another thing that was brought up last meeting, I know um Mr. Nella was with
the with the tree. Actually, that's a county tree and it was checked. It's safe, but they are going to remove it. They just haven't gotten to it yet. So, he confirmed it was safe for now, but they are going to remove it. The county said they will remove it supposedly. Also, the county was again out today on Homedale Road um filling potholes.
Another issue is that the uh the manhole covers um they're we got an email from them today telling us that there are manhole covers and they're not theirs even though they're in the middle of their roads. So, we we're we're going back and forth. We're going to deal with that. But, uh just so you're aware, we
we'll work through that one. Um and uh we're going to work on raising especially the ones on Crawford. that one. I let our our contractor know. We're going to have that done before the project's closed down. >> If you see a toll, I'm not in charge of them. No, not in charge of anything. Definitely not. Yeah. But if you could
send me um what if there's a problem with it, I'll I'll reach out to whoever is that owns it. Okay. >> Yeah. All right. I think I hit it all. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right, councelor. >> Uh sure, mayor. Just one item to share. Um, at our past couple township committee meetings, we've heard public comment from the residents of Miller
Avenue, um, who are concerned about an approval by the Hasllett Land use board for a seven brew um, coffee drive-thru location, I guess essentially in the median uh, for the Miller Avenue jug handle. Uh I just want to report out
that we did look into the approval and just like any land use board approval there were um a significant amount of conditions that were imposed both in the board resolution and through representations on the record. So, um, on behalf of the township, we did send a letter, uh, to the applicant, um,
imploring them to comply with the restrictions that were imposed upon them by the HLlet land use board. Um, and that, you know, essentially the township reserves all rights if those are violated. Um, so we did look into that to advocate on behalf of the residents who came to uh, the recent meetings on
that. >> Thank you, Mike. Moving on to the committee, Mr. Bontempo. So I have a update on from information technology. At the last meeting I discussed our shared service agreement with Neptune City to provide them with a
comprehensive information technology support. Uh beginning next month we're going to be additionally be entering a shared service agreement with the burrow of little silver. So Homedale is increasingly becoming seen as a blueprint for municipal governance. and
by proactively seeking out shared service agreements and providing local governments that can maintain highquality services while reducing the burden of the individual taxpayer. Um there's also going to be the installation of cameras at township
parks. um public safety. Our information technology department is working with the administration public works recreation to plan the installation of security cameras at our municipal parks including um you know Crawford's Hill
recently acquired and Robert Wilson Park. So they're going to be going up in probably the near future as um as more people are getting out and about with hopefully better weather. That's it. Thank you very much, >> Mr. Romano. Starting with community development, we
have a March Madness amnesty program. So if you It's backed by popular demand, Community Development will once again be holding its March Madness amnesty program, allowing those who conducted work on their property without getting a permit to rectify the situation without penalty. There is a limited time penalty
amnesty. Uh from now through April 30th, 2026, Homedale Township is waving all penalties for homeowners who performed work without the required permits and inspections. This program allows residents to rectify unpermitted work such as finished basement, kitchen remodels, or water heater replacements
without facing standard fines of up to 2,000 per violation. Addressing these permits now prevents legal and financial hurdles during the property sale process, ensuring that your home meets standards. Residents can apply for permits via the Homeell Township website, by phone, or by visiting the
community development department on the second floor of town hall. from the library. On Tuesday, May 19th, the Homeell Library will be hosting an emergency preparedness seminar. Learn how to identify local risks, including the new know your zone, hurricane evacuation maps, and gain the skills to
build a family go bag, which I have, and a comprehensive disaster plan. The library is hosting this session in conjunction with the Mammoth County Department of Health and Human Services to discover that specific supplies you, your family, and even your pets need to stay safe during an emergency. Thursdays
are game days at the Homedale Library. We've heard your feedback. You want more ma jong and you want more bridge. Every Thursday is game day at Homeell Library. We have five tables of space and supplies. Join player le casual games from 9:30 to 12 every week. The Lumen
Strategy Group chess club also meets on Thursdays from 5:00 to 8. All ages and all skill levels are welcome. April's book club meeting will be on Tuesday, April 14th at 10 a.m. and we'll discuss the book The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis. May's book club meeting will be on Tuesday, May 19th at 10 a.m., and we'll
discuss the book Shelterwood by Lisa Windgate. This month's book display themes include Read Across America, it's adult non-fiction. Learn about robots, baseball, staff picks of adult fiction, books set in Ireland. Please note, the Homeell Library will be closed on April
3rd and April 17th. from public works. A reminder that the first large item drop off event of spring 2026 will be on Saturday, April 11th, between the hours of 8 am through 2 pm at Bell Works, lot number four, 101 Crawford's Corner Road. From the recycling office, we have some
notes and reminders from the recycling office based on some questions we have received over the past few weeks. Residents are responsible for providing their own recycling containers. They cannot exceed 32 gallons in size and should be marked with a township recycling sticker which you can obtain at town hall. Recyclables should be
placed should not be placed in plastic bags. Items in plastic bags will not be picked up. To ensure smooth collection, please flatten all cardboard boxes. Uh weather con considerations. If the weather is windy, please take extra care to secure your recycling containers and
items so they do not end up littering the street. Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you, Mr. Badham. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, veterans committee, the next veterans coffee and conversations, it was mentioned last meeting as well, is this Thursday at 10:30 in the senior center. All veterans
and gold star family members are invited to attend. Um, enjoy coffee, bagels, and pastries. If interested, please contact the rec department. Homedale Heritage Committee. Uh, the committee will be holding a kites festival in conjunction with the Homeell Harvest Fest this fall.
The event will highlight the global history of kiting, particularly the Japanese and Chinese traditions that date back thousands of years. A member of the committee will be visiting Washington DC in the next month to learn from the upcoming National Kite Festival. Stay tuned for more details.
Uh the committee has installed a special display at Homeell Library commemorate commemorating Irish Heritage Month. It will put it will it was put together by some of the Homeell Irish families and will be on display through March 31st. Please stop by the library to check it
out. Homedale green team. The uh green team will be presenting their draft of Homeell's community energy plan on Monday, April 6th at 7 p.m. in the Homeell conference room at Bo Works. All members of the public are invited. Your input will help us to improve this vital
plan for our community. If the time isn't convenient, uh but you'd like to review the plan and provide feedback, please email the green team at greenteam@homedell.gov. That's it. Thank you. Thank you, committeeman, deputy mayor. >> Thank you, mayor. Couple of highlights
uh for the board of education. Last weekend, Homedale High School's Alex Reyes captain an incredible wrestling career with a third place finish at the state tournament. He's the only wrestler in school history with four district titles and also claimed a short conference title and three regional
championships. He finishes as Homeell's all-time wins leader with 163 victories. I think you saw that last victory, didn't you, Gary? >> Absolutely. >> Very cool. Congratulations, Alex. Homedale High School Johnson G, who I mentioned at last meeting for winning the state fencing
championship, was named New Jersey boys fencer of the year, recognizing an outstanding season of excellence on the state stage. He was ranked number 20 walking into that tournament and he took home the state championship. Congratulations, Johnson. The Sats Middle School girls basketball team were
crowned champions and queens of the shore at the Run for the Roses Invitational, capturing the title for the second time in three appearances. This is an annual tournament that features the top middle school teams from the Shore Conference. Individual honors included MVP Blake Gando and
first team all tournament honors for Josephine Sereni. Congratulations to them. Village School's ReadAcross America initiative resulted in a donation of 5,342 cereal boxes to lunch break in Redbank, highlighted by a student-led cereal box
Domino event celebrating community service and school spirit. Very nice job. A new kindergarten sensory walk was installed at Village School through a Hackinac Meridian Health Mini wellness grant designed to support regulation,
focus, and readiness to learn through structured movement and mindfulness activities. SAS principal Shantel Simelli was recognized by the New Jersey Association for Middle Level Education as the 2026 Middle Administrator of the Year, honoring exemplary leadership and
commitment to student growth and school climate. Congratulations, Shantel. From our recreation department, the extravaganza egg hunt will take place at Crossfarmm Park on this Saturday, March 28th, and is completely sold out with over 600 children registered. Hopefully,
you're attending. It's a great event. HYAA will be hosting their Hornet Fest on Friday, May 8th from 5 to 8:00 p.m. at Crossfarmm Park. This event will include inflatables, food trucks, music by DJ Mel Houston, and more. The Billy Deo Foundation will be hosting
the inaugural Billy Deo 5K runwalk on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 at 900 a.m. The event celebrates the life and legacy of Homedale's own Billy Deario, a proud Homell High School graduate whom we tragically lost last year. To honor his memory, we are coming together to turn
tragedy into hope. Funds raised by the 5K will go to support the families of victims of violence. The 5K will notably start and conclude on Billy Deo Boulevard and will take participants through the throughout the Homeell community. Information on the race and the Billy Deo Foundation can be found at
billy deoofoundation.com. We are encouraging all members of the Homeell community to participate in this event. The good news, the lights are back on at the courts at Bailey Lane starting tomorrow, March 25th. The lights are activated by a push button system located on the far side of the
volleyball court. Court users will push the silver button for their court area to activate the lights. The lights will remain on for 60 minutes. At 50 minutes, a strobe light will warn you. Your time is running down. Player can go and hit the button again for another 60 minutes of play time. Power goes off at the park
at 10 p.m. So, the lights cannot be activated after that time until the next day. We ask that you only turn on the lights you need for the courts you are playing on. Security security lights remain on until 10:30 p.m. That's all I have. Mayor, thank you.
>> Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh we had our community cleanup on Saturday. It was a great success. Volunteers tackled areas including Middletown Road, Centerville, Crawford's Corner, Aerson Park, Mccamell Road, and Telegraph Hill. Big thank you to all of our neighbors and residents who came out. Thank you very much for that. It
was a great day. Um, and based on how quickly and thoroughly we filled the dumpster, it's pretty obvious we made a real impact in clearing trash from our streets and the greenways uh post, you know, a rough winter. Uh, and a special thank you to the recreation department and public works team for organizing and executing
the event and to the scouts of PAC 131 and troop 331 for their participation. So, thank you kids on that as well. Uh, I also want to take a moment to wish everyone Eid Mubarak. To all of our neighbors who celebrated this week as the season of Ramadan comes to a close.
May the year ahead bring you peace, joy, good health, and continued blessings. This month's mayor mayor's office hours will be held this Saturday, March 28th, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the township committee conference room. The first two have been really positive and constructive conversations. Once again,
we invite all residents to stop by with questions, feedback, or suggestions. have been really pleased uh with the response there. You know, it's it's a great debate. Um the Homeell America 250 committee uh join the Homeell America 250 committee
as we continue celebrating our nation's 250th semiquincential anniversary with a townshipwide adventure. The 250 committee has been hard at work creating an American Revolution themed scavenger hunt that will take participants to Homedale points of interest related to
the Revolutionary War. Participation in the scavenger hunt is free and we'll utilize the Goose Chase app to track everyone's progress. This is a great event for families, friends, and neighbors to form teams to learn more about the history of Homeell and we're hoping to have over 50 teams
participate. The event will take place throughout the entire month of April and can be completed at any time at your own pace. There will be participation prizes for all teams as well as prizes for the first, second, and third place teams. Winners will be honored at township committee meeting in May. Flyers for the
Revolution era scavenger hunt can be found on the table in the lobby foyer as you exit tonight. For questions, please contact the recreation department. And once again, that is the Goose Chase app. From the police department, construction scheduled for South Holland Road has been cancelled this week. Please watch
the township and police department social media sites for information on when work will be scheduled to resume. Earlier today, sixth grade students from St. Benedict School graduated from the LEAD program. LEAD, which stands for law enforcement against drugs and violence
program, was instructed by Keith Pla, who serves as a special law enforcement officer at the school. The program teaches kids how to make healthy choices, resist peer pressure, and avoid drug use, bullying, and violence. Taught by specially trained police officers in a 10-week in-classroom curriculum, the
lead program focuses on helping students to develop social and emotional skills. From the first aid squad, the home first aid squad's approaching its 300th call of the year so far. Several EMT volunteers attended hero reader of the day and read to our school children at
Village School. Uh, and from the fundraising side of the house with the first aid squad, look for the squad's 2026 donation mailer in your mailboxes. Homedale First Aid does not and has never build for their service. A HFAS is made up of neighbors in your community
who volunteer their time to ensure this remains a free service. Deputy mayor was a driver for them for quite some time. The squad relies on the generosity of residents and donors who continue to provide emergency medical services with the best possible equipment to our residents and guests in Home. The squad
is accepting applications for people who would like to become EMTs on our squad. who must be 18 or older and ambulance drivers who must be 21 or older. That is all I have. Wendy, if you want to introduce your statement for public
comment. >> In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, this is a public comment period for public comment on any governmental issue of public concern. In accordance with resolution 2022-17, public commenters are asked to raise their hand and wait to be recognized by
the mayor before coming forward and making public comments. Commenters are asked to state their full names and address before commenting. Public commenters are limited to one comment, not to exceed three minutes. Comments should be directed to the mayor and township committee. If appropriate, the
mayor may direct and and recognize a staff employee or professional to respond to comments either at this meeting or in writing after this meeting. >> Thank you, Wendy. >> I see a hand up. Mr. Yanello, >> Jaylo 18 lightwood drive. Um, Mayor and
Pervadoodle, you were um that came out slow. You were um you're well regarded in the community for being relatively flexible in the Q&A. So, I'm just curious what was the catalyst for start starting to lock it down now? >> Well, look, I just think that first of all, I'm fine, as you know, I'm fine
with having conversations and doing these kinds of things. I do think we want to be respectful of other people's time, and I think that 3 minutes is plenty for for someone to get the information out or the question out or the comment that they need to. So, I think it's just a matter of respecting everyone else's time in the room to make sure that not one, two, or three people
dominate the discourse. >> I think three is a little tight. Maybe you'll be a little flexible. Three to five. Um quick question roughly speaking for the pilot money let's say it comes in seven million a year now I know it may be less um what percentage of that is in the fixed budget or used by the
fix fixed budget now at any year roughly >> well it's completely rolled into the fund Chris right so it's 100% >> so it's >> okay so you're using up that full amount right for for operating not just buying land and stuff >> wow that got absorbed pretty quickly
>> yeah I mean look it's been and It was in 2022. I'm going off memory a little bit. >> Can you pause the timer? >> Sorry. Well, you want to get all your stuff out for >> No, no, no, please. I That's I like the Yeah. >> Yeah. In 2022 was at about $6 million. Since then, it's it's it's plateaued to
around seven. >> Okay. >> Um so, but that money since the dollars started coming in was folded into the operational budget of the town. Um so, unwinding that is, you know, it it's it's part of the operational budget. So anything we do from that has impact. So
for example, one could argue, right, we're we're we're taking well, not argue, we're taking half million dollars a year and that goes to the school's property expenses for the CLO, right, for for that in order for us to I think responsibly find ways to help the schools. Bonding through the open space
fund for Add's house, um what Brian executed last year as mayor is another responsible way to do it because if we start pulling the sheer dollars out, we have to make it up somewhere else or we have to look for additional cuts, right? and and that's just because it's part of the operating fund or you know the money
we have the cash we have to for case emergency issues or whatever gets depleted that gets depleted to a certain point we lose our bond rating which helps us bond at a low interest rate so there's implication of these things that's why you know I respect Joe and committ Romano it's why I disagree with his perspective that we'll just figure
it out a $600,000 hit means we we we we pull from somewhere else right it's not magic so you know again it's just a respectful disagreement with myself and the committeeman Okay, one more for you and quick for him. Um, the the the woods of our town or the backyards of people that have woods look like a disaster
area and is there any FEMA money we can get as a town or is there any plan to clean up the woods after this blizzard? Because as you drive around, it looks pretty bad there. I would say we lost almost a third of our tall brush and trees from this blizzard. Have you
driven around and seen it? It's bad. >> Driven around? I've seen my trees take a hit. >> Yeah. No, I mean it's really bad. It looks We look of all the towns around here, it looks just about the worst. And I'm not saying it's our fault, but we took it hard. Is there any plan to clean it up or encourage residents to clean it
up? And is there any FEMA money we could get from that? >> Yeah, I don't know, Chris. Is there any type of grant money or any type of federal state assistance we can get there? >> It didn't happen. I mean, they they did call for a state of emergency. I know that the governor put that out, but there was nothing that came forward yet. I don't think it will. Um, what we could do is just encourage residents that when
we have our brush pickup, as long as they meet the, you know, size of what they're putting out there, like the quantity is not the issue. It's mostly the size so our guys can handle it, we'll pick it up, you know, and and I think that maybe we need to we'll put out something. Hey, you know, we encourage you to clean up your your your
wooded areas that especially the ones that face people's other people's properties or the roadways because I agree. I see it. >> You go down Middletown Road. I mean, are do we have a plan or will we have a plan to clean up those trees that are all down along Middletown Road? >> If if there are >> and it's going to cost money, obviously, a lot of money
>> if there are we we're going to evaluate them to make to get that taken care of. We can't go on people private property or county, but we we can encourage that. And as I said, we are encouraging the county to do their part on their their parts, but are we're taking like, you know, we're going around taking on notes
on everything right now to see where we can go this summer because there's a lot to do. I mean, we have a lot to do and and and uh it was a rough year. It was really, really rough. Um I'm hoping that um you know, people take advantage of the the brush pickup that's that's starting uh this next month and um we'll
get it out that hey, if you have just cut it up into the proper, you know, encourage them to put it out so we can get rid of it. So, >> yeah, real quick, that tree, I'm glad they're ultimately going to take it down cuz they may not feel it's safe if their kids were driving under that all day long. >> We actually went out our leaves on it and some wind. that tree's coming down
at some point. >> We had somebody on our side look at it to say, "Yes, for now it's safe, but it needs to come down." And they agreed they just need to get to it. >> And real quickly, those potholes, if if it was going to be our responsibility, why didn't they coordinate with us? I mean, what agree. >> And you guys are friends with the with the
>> Yeah. I don't know if it's even a matter of friends. Remember, we haven't gotten to that level yet. This is the working level where I am at coordinate better. Those potholes have to be fixed >> on home. I We agree. And we agree that they have to be fixed especially in where they just made them higher. They made them basically dropped them lower
by making the road higher. >> I meant man. Yeah. So we we we'll be discussing it with them tomorrow. If we don't get that, we'll go up above them. >> Okay. And then last thing, those the potholes like Ladwood Drive coming out of village school. That's county potholes. They're still working on them, I hope.
>> Yeah. Countyy's out working on them, but we have a few. We have uh Eli or I call it Eli. Yeah, Eli over by Eli. >> Um that's a big problem there. I don't know if you noticed that. That's a huge problem. Um, yeah, I'm trying and that's right at the border there, too. But I'm having the water company come out because it keeps happening. So,
something's either eroding under it or something, but we're gonna have the engineers actually map that one out. We just can't have these roads keep doing what they're doing. So, >> yeah. So, so wrapping up, mayor, and we have to have a plan to clean up this town because it looks horrible. It looks like the Wizard of Oz to some degree. >> Yeah. Look, we're just coming out of a
harsh winter. It's been raining. It's been a lot of stuff. So, the cleanup will happen. It's going to take a minute. I know it's going to cost money, but it's >> Well, listen, we have time, we have resources, you know, and if there's additional money, this is part of the reason why we want to be careful with how we're spending. >> Thank you.
>> Anyone else? Uh, young lady in the back and then this gentleman to the right. That was you. Sorry. Yes, ma'am. >> Good evening. My name is Allesandre Mediago. I live at 7 Hillrest Road. Uh, no one's called me a young lady in a while, so thank you for that, Mayor and Pavutoo. Um, first I would like to say
thank you very much to Mr. Romano for your comments to try to help with courtesy busing. I'm going to talk to you today about courtesy busing. Um, I came here last year when Mayor Foster was mayor and said the same speech. I would like to again plead with the
township committee to help the board of education. It's been an emotional roller coaster ride for me over the past 24 hours because I woke up this morning to your post and then you just said you misspoke. So, okay, down we go again. Then we had your emotion or movement, whatever it is you call it, and now it's
tabled and the clock is ticking for the BOE budget meeting tomorrow. I'm pleading with you to please consider any other means to help the BOE because clearly the BOE has not been able to maintain their budget for a courtesy for the courtesy busing and the language
that they use how it's a luxury. Yes, the auditors have brought this up, but that's the auditor's jobs. They are looking for cracks where they can find money for the BOE. The auditors are not part of our township. They're not our residents. It's not our children who are walking down the road. Again, I live at 7 Hillrest Road. My daughters are 11 and
seven. They will be going to Indian Hill and SATS next year. I live 1.6 miles away from SATS. My oldest daughter has a diagnosed neuroprocessing disorder, ADHD, and anxiety. And now she has to walk down a county road with no
shoulders. There's no sidewalks. Uh I travel two weeks out of the month for my job. My husband's a union electrician. He has to clock in at 5:30 in the morning. She's going to have to walk. Would you want that for your daughter?
I want you to think about that. And I'm not the only one like this. And I'm we're all here in Homedale right here at Crawford's Corner. How many accidents happen there? How about I live on Hillrest and Homeell? I've seen more accidents than I can count. And also Crate Myrtle and Homeell Road. Accidents
all the time as people shoot across Homedale Road to get across Crate Myrtle. Those are the routes my daughters are taking. I'm just pleading with you. Can you think of any other any other ways to help the BOE? They this courtesy busing is also going to harm our town. What is
that going to look like without busing anymore? How are we going to get the infrastructure? Are we going to be putting in speed bumps everywhere? What are we going to do? The environmental impact that there's be a traffic analysis. There's going to be other ancillary costs that are going to be in place. Have we thought about what
it means for our town to no longer have buses? This luxury that our kids have, is it a luxury? It's part of our community. It keeps our home values up. It's part of the allure. It's their access to education. Please, I'm asking you. I respect you all so much. You take
a lot of heat. Please, I'm asking. Can you think of any other means? Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Uh James Churchello, five book Lane. Uh, my question is regarding the construction that's been going on on Long Street and Roberts. Seems like
they're pretty much wrapped up there and I just wanted to know when they're going to be demobilizing. Uh, also on Long Street, there's a lot of traffic cones that are all busted up from people running them over. There's chunks of them all over the place.
>> Chris, do you have a timeline on that? >> That's the JCPNL stuff you're talking about. The the power lines that we're doing, they're still going. um they have to be wrapped up no later than the first week of May. So they're finishing up what they're doing. Then they have to come through and clean up and then they have to start decommissioning the old
poles. I know you see a couple areas where we still have a lot of old poles, the double poles that are there. They have to be removed. So I will get some information on that and have it to you guys for the next meeting um to let you know um where they're at when about coming back for it and everything like that. But we just had a meeting with
them the other day because they wanted to close roads that I I didn't think were appropriate during school hours. So they were here and they told us that they're trying to wrap up by the first week of May because that's what their contract says. So I will reach out and if you don't if you don't want to wait
till the next meeting, give me a call um on Thursday in the office and I should have some answers for you. >> It just look like the corner of Long Street and uh you know Roberts looks like it's pretty much like an abandoned site at this point. Yeah, they they're moving. So, they're just trying to move through as fast as they can and then
come back and finish their cleanup. Um, but we'll we'll double check and see what's going on with that. And, uh, I'll make it so it's a safety concern. See if they can get out there faster. >> All right. Thanks, bud. >> Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Uh, Sarah. >> Hi, I'm Sarah Cho at Fort Putnham Court.
Um, so I was doing a little more research on Pilot and cuz I frankly didn't know much about it. Um, and it's it's actually good, right? Like it's good because you get more money from these developers than you normally would
um versus taxes. That's my understanding. I don't know if that's right. Um, I also wasn't aware that the Vonnage uh development is actually going they're going to be paying pilot >> um >> and part of that to the schools. Yeah. Okay. Um,
>> they're paying pilot and we've committed a percentage of that to go to the schools. >> Okay. What's that percentage? I wasn't >> I don't recall. You were >> we did uh the schools are currently receiving approximately $245,000. So, we kept it the same as that with the escalators going up each year.
>> So, it starts at 245 and increases. >> Do we know what percentageal total? >> The escalators are built into the uh the pilot agreement. I think it's three or 4%. I don't remember exactly off the top of my head, but it's Okay. >> Sorry, Sarah. Go ahead. >> Oh, no, no, that's fine. So, I guess um
I'm Asian, but I'm not that great at math. What's the total amount that you would actually be getting from the Vonnage uh development? Like, what's the pilot um amount, I guess, per year that you'd be getting cuz I think Bell Works is like seven and a half. >> Yeah, it's it's nowhere near that. No,
Bell Works is around seven and that's a combination of the Regency, which is the 55 and over, and the building itself. And then there's the 40 single family homes from that development that pay standard tax rate, >> right? >> Um then we also have Beayshore Hackinac Meridian pays a small part of our pilot
as well of a pilot. We roll it into the pilot money. That's a small percentage of that as well. Um this will not be anywhere near that size. Chris, are we like 2 million a year? >> I'm thinking it's about 2 million. I don't have the exact numbers because it is es that does >> and it's got to escalate. It doesn't start that way, right? So it it's it
takes a while to get to that point. Um, but remember, so when if I know it's confusing and it goes back and forth a lot, but the school still gets their taxes. So it doesn't matter if we don't get taxes from there, they're still getting the same amount of tax. It just
gets filled out over the rest of the taxing the people getting taxed. So by giving anything towards the school, it's an on top of that, >> right? So they the school will get their taxes plus the two the 250, >> right? Okay. So, if they if if they're
still going to pay so they're still getting their 69% from the entire tax pool, right? It just means that that that facility is not paying it. It goes over the rest of the taxpayers in town. So, when we keep ours down, the rest of
the town that then we don't go up, then you don't get the the bump on us. You might get it in some other way, but not on from the town. As long as we can keep ours flat. >> The schools always, regardless of what the school budget is, they always get their money, right? That's that's number one. >> Yeah. >> Um and number and so what that's what Chris is effectively saying and then
what we commit from the pilot goes on top of that as an additional fund additional I don't say fund but additional revenues if you will. >> Right. So I guess if Vonnage was taxed like the rest of the town you can't you couldn't >> it wouldn't change anything. It would still be that you'd still sit the same
amount of money. >> 240. Is that why you >> No, you wouldn't get the 240 if it was taxed at the rest of 10. You'd get your 69% you get now. So, it's currently getting like 233. It would get that and then the property would continue to depreciate basically because we actually got reassessed down right before the
current uh company purchased it and it got down to I want to say about half a million dollars and you figure 67 69% goes to the schools on that 500 right thereabouts. Um and it was a similar dynamic with Bell Works. Without a pilot there'd be no Bell Works, right? So that
was down to about half a million or $600,000 in total tax revenues with back then 66% going to the schools. Um so and then again these things continue to depreciate. They get assessed down and then the revenues drop in courtingly.
>> So I guess is it fair to say then the Vonnage pilot money you've already kind of set aside an amount to go to the board of ed versus the bell works. >> Yes. There's no like set agreement. It's just kind of like year by year you're
assessing what the needs are and you're giving out. >> We assess what we can do yearbyear with the bell works and and hacken sack meridian and all that and all that money because it's been folded into the budget for a decade. Um so anything we do anything we provide to any part of the town any you know we always have to figure out how we're going to budget for
it what the consumption choices are that go in accordance with it. with the pilot for Vonnage, we already when the money starts ticking up as that get as that increases occupancy, we're already planning to make sure we carve out to the schools and that goes there. So, it's just a different way in which we've executed than we did last time.
>> Um, and I guess that agreement though, is that with the board of ed is the percentage that you're Okay. So, could it be possible to have then a secondary contract with a board of ed if we want to for for example if the public is
saying like we want more of a percentage um to have that discussion? >> I think there's a number of ways things can be done. I think look frankly and we've said this before and and it's I'm not talking out of school. If there are specific things the board of ed wants to fund, they can put it to referendum and have the township vote.
>> It's not just where where the pools of money come from. What are I guess but what are the um the the implications with respect to the state when you do that like versus um like if you're raising taxes and I'm not I I don't know what I'm talking about most of the time
but I really do want to understand like what's the best way because you know in doing more research I'm like you know what pilot was probably a good idea because it does generate more money than if you were to tax you know these no that's can you
>> the town keeps a larger portion of the money. >> So, so, so for example, right, I was here and we did the Bell Works pilot. We gave the developer a discount because his startup for the building because his
startup costs were very high. It was a vacant building, one zone heating and air conditioning was falling apart. There was a flood in the basement, you know, down where the where the theater was. So, so we needed to incent him to try to help him because the cost was astronomical to create what it is today.
Okay. But it's less than we would normally receive if we went through a regular conventional taxes where roughly right follow this. 69% of the money would go to school, 15% go to the town,
15% go to the county, and then we also have small percent that goes to board of health tax that you're taxed on, a library tax that you're you're taxed on, and open space tax when you do the pilot. You don't pay those. >> Okay? So, so you're so you're so the
number that comes to th all those buckets gets eliminated gets discounted down and then it only goes to the town and 5% to the county and and they're exempt from paying everything else. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. And how long is that agreement for
per 30-year agreement? Now the one thing that has to be really strenuously I think understood is that to committeeman's point without the pilot there would have been no development and the largest unoccupied office space in the country would likely still be unoccupied. Right.
>> Right. Now similarly in dealing with vaage we were facing two dynamics. We're ding we're dealing with a building that was deprecating in real time right in a prop on 88 acres and 350,000 square feet while we were fa running headlong into an affordable housing mandate from Trenton. >> Right.
>> Right. So when we looked at all the options there, right, we had to incent, we we thought it was it was appropriate for the pilot to be part of that effort in order for the owner to build something there that can be of benefit or be something that can be a benefit to
that property. Right? So that's the, you know, that's the the the way in which it's been thought about and that's the way it's it's been calculated. Now, what I said two years ago is what Mayor Foster, when Brian was mayor, followed through on, which is with this pilot, as we go through this, we will keep the schools whole or better. And that is
what we that's what I said two years ago, and that's what we've done in this regard. So, whole or better is is what we're going towards. Now, again, if we don't have a development there, there are two options that would have happened. Either there'd be 700 apartments mandated by the state that go there, >> right? or the the the property would be
vacant and it would continue to deprecate in value and therefore hurt revenues, right? So, this held the line and then grew it is the purpose. >> I heard there was going to be like a bubble built and that was shot down. So, I do I do think that that was probably the least evil of all the choices. So, and I heard it's going to be like
beautiful and it's going to be a prominent you know >> we're going to do an open house for everybody in midappril so that you guys can walk it and see the designs and everything. >> Yeah. So I guess a last point there are five four other towns um in New Jersey, Princeton, Hoboken, Woodbridge and
Monontlair who also you know have pilots and they've um successfully uh entered into a shared services agreement with their board of ed. So that would be great to see. And if if I guess you're making the board of ed whole, does that mean you're paying for
the 5.5 million deficit? when when I said whole or better, whole to what they were getting. Um, whole or better to what they were receiving, but but I I appreciate the the effort on that one. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Sarah. >> Yes, ma'am.
>> Hi, I'm Hannah Thomas Kip from 22 Winding Brook Way. Um, first of all, thank you for in the past working with the schools to provide courtesy busing for last year. I live very close to Village School. I have children that are still in Village and will be there for
the foreseeable future. I'm a parent, first of all, but I'm also a small business owner. I have several concerns about busing within the town in that first when you're driving through Homedale at the start of school or the end of school, there's traffic safety
concerns that are very apparent. Traffic has increased a lot on Newman Springs Road. Since I moved in eight years ago, um, also as you drive past the high school and middle school, traffic also there, it can be quite bad at the school
time hours. The times that schools start have changed since I was in like earlier today when you talked about how um, courtesy busing was not always the case. 12 years ago, it w you know, you had it was not um, offered to parents. Well,
Times for school have also changed. So, traffic patterns have changed and I'm concerned at how students will continue to get to school um as well as parents that are working like myself will kind of navigate the time crunch that we
incur as a small business owner. Being available during normal business hours is incredibly important to me and it allows me to continue to serve the clients that I work with. Um, and so I just would like to request on behalf of other parents that are in the same position and town members that you
consider and move forward with extending courtesy busing back to parents for the future school years because it is such an important safety um concern for me and as well as like a working parent concern. >> Thank you. Uh, I see someone's hand up. Yes, ma'am.
I'm sorry I'm going to have to read this to you and I know that it's difficult to consume a read. >> Ma'am, can you just do your >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Um, my name is Robera Calfman. I live at 13 Chestnut Ridge Road, the old manor section of town. I served on the home
delts planning board for five years and on the environmental commission for 16 years as HC chair in 2001 through three. I helped author and facilit authorize author and facilitate the passage of Homedale's wastewater management plan.
So sewers are my thing and I'm here because in the end of January you all of you expressed a desire to serve and help uh facilitate and pay for the wastewater management handling on the bondage property through sewers rather than a
state-of-the-art package plant with proper septic. Uh I just want to say that in the state uh the county plan, the county future sewer service plan, the state development and redevelopment plan, all this area is a discharge to
groundwater. It means that sewer lines should not be in there. There should be conserved as a low growth area. So let me read you a statement that I've been sent to read you. I'm tonight I'm speaking on behalf of Citizens for Informed Land Use a 28-year-old local
nonprofit that advocates for th thoughtful land use and preservation of our natural resources. Since our founding in 1998, Citizens Celu has consistently and vigorously argued for one core principle of land use policy,
preserving the quality and quantity of drinking water by protecting the swimming river reservoir. specifically by upholding the value and effectiveness of septic systems and exercising extreme caution in considering any extension of
sewer service. These principles are rooted in the protection of natural resources and the prevention of highdensity development goals that have long guided Homedale's planning framework and protected our community from overdevelopment.
Uh, just as an aside, I want to remind you that if Mayor David Chai had not had the forethought to have a townwide redendum, we would be looking at a southern home deal that is full of golden age communities. I'm of golden
age. I shouldn't object, but that is the situation. These principles, let me go back. Uh, the Swimming River Reservoir, as another aside, and I imagine most of you are aware of it. Not only are we all drinking the water from the Swimming River Reservoir, but more than half the
county is drinking the water. And more than that, we have 3,000 new units coming in in the eastern part of the county, another 200 on the uh racetrack there. This is a severe drain on our watershed
and we would like to see you reconsider your decision to ask for a force main and support and fund a force main for the developer and rather have us take care. >> It's okay. No, keep going.
>> Thank you very much. and rather have us do what is appropriate for the watershed and put in a state-of-the-art package plant with septic fields that would serve the community and recharge the groundwater. These principles are rooted
in the protection of natural resources and the prevention of high density development goals that have long guided Homedale's planning work. The proposed installation of sewer infrastructure at 23 Main Street, the former Vonnage side site, will have a profound and lasting impact on land use and environmental
health health. Unlike septic systems, which allow water to percolate back into the ground and recharge local aquifers, sewers permanently remove water from the watershed and transport it elsewhere, courtesy of Beayore, Beayshore Sewer
Authority, ultimately discharging it into the ocean. This loss directly affects the water availability for home nails reservoir and our drinking water supply. Equally concerning history has repeatedly shown that high density
develop that follows sewer installation impervious cover non-source pollution and a corresponding decline in water quality. The CEO has long opposed the extension of sewer service into southern Homedale because it opens up previously
protected areas to incremental and higher density development. Although the township has stated that that this extension, which brings sewer service a mile and a half further south, will be limited in scope, indeed restricted, and sized exclusively for the current
project. CEO finds these assertions to be inconsistent with historical precedent. Homedale is already experienced a nearly identical scenario. Sewer infrastructure originally approves solely for Bell Works building was later
extended to serve new surrounding townhouses. I should remind you 220 units on the belt route. This was a 4 inch main absolutely there only because the clean rooms in Bell Labs could not
be properly according to Bell accommodated by their on-site package plant. Therefore, the building was accommodated. I remember being in front of the county and arguing that it should not extend to all 475 acres, but it did.
So we now have 220 or plus houses on there that supported by sewer service. If indeed that had continued and we had not had the foresight and mayor chai had not had the foresight to have a referendum, we would have found 550
houses on the chase tract and 186 houses with inverice down right opposite vonnages. Gentlemen, we have long opposed the extension. At the time, the public was assured that sewer service would never extend beyond
Bell Works. We know that it got assurance. I mean, Bell works was supposed to Bell Labs, the building itself was supposed to originally been 10% coverage. Once sewer infrastructure is installed, the pressure to expand its use is foreseeable whoops. Ah, and
inevitable. While the township now claims this project will not establish a precedent, our history of course says otherwise. And CEO acknowledges and appreciates in response to a sustained public outcry that you, the township,
has finally taken steps to address the legitimate concerns about the drinking water contamination at the Vonnage site from the antiquated on-site wastewater systems, including detergents and pathogens and other emerging contaminants. However, we believe
there's a viable, less damaging alternative, and that is indeed to go the other option that you spoke of in January. I'm afraid I have to sit down. Obviously, I've been talking too long. I wouldn't have to sit down, but I
apologize. See, and the far less damaging alternative, the use of modern package plant with an on-site leech field. Such a system would effectively remove contaminants from wastewater while preserving groundwater recharge, protecting the integrity of the
watershed and remaining fully consistent with Homedale's master plan and the townships. >> Last page, I promise. >> Well, I have the 80 pages when we sat down a couple years ago that you gave me and I read that so I know you can. >> Yes. Yes. When we went when when we when
we tried strongly to to defer the uh high density down at that location. Yeah, >> wastewater management. Okay, this approach addresses public health concerns without compromising one of Honell's most environmentally sensitive areas. And of course, I'd like to refer
to that young woman, Sarah, who said as we first came in here, the earth is our common home. And that's a beautiful quote, and she did a lovely job. I guess she's an eighth grader or sixth grader, whatever. Uh the cost of this
project would be minimally funded. Celu is concerned about the proposed financing structure of this proposal. The cost of this project would only be minimally funded by CHA, the developer, with over a million dollars drawn from the township's COA reserve trust fund
and over $4 million financed through a township bond to be repaid over 30 years via a special assessment. This proposal commits future residents to decades of repairment and shifts repayment and shifts the financial burden onto
taxpayers rather than placing it on the developer whose project necessitates the infrastructure. Instead, the township should place far greater responsibility for funding this project on CHA. Public debt should not be a default solution
for private development. Home Homedale's wastewater management plan and master plan were not written casually. They reflect decades of deliberate and informed decisionmaking rooted in science and the understanding that land is Homedale's one truly
irreplaceable asset. These documents were designed to safeguard environmental integrity and to prevent choices that could cause permanent harm. Incremental exceptions erode their authority and invite consequences that cannot be undone. CEO will continue to stand
firmly against the dual threats of environmental degradation and overdevelopment. And we urge the township to reconsider this course of action and pursue a less invasive and a more responsible wastewater solution. demand greater accountability from the
developer and recommmit to the planning principles that have protected Homedale's land and water for decades. I thank you very much >> and uh do want to remind all of you that we were forced the town was forced to
declare everything north of the railroad tracks as planning area one in the state development and redevelopment plan. We lost the suit that Hasllet uh brought against us and then we now have a 100 units up there which is great of affordable housing. But this area
planning area one with sewer service with available high density basically density permissible large Newark is the area where we should be looking to and I'm glad that you have increased the next 100 or 80 units of affordable
housing there and I would like you to take a look and see whether we couldn't shift the burden where we have the infrastructure where the sewer service where the transport transportation, where the food supply is, where the grocery stores are to that area. Last
comment, I appreciate that 80 100 80 unit 100% affordable project. Hopefully, it will come through. We have another affordable housing project adjacent in Hllett and you have a Kohl's
uh strip mall there that intermittently is not fully occupied. I would suggest to you that money well spent if we could get an arrangement with Hasllett would be to hire an urban designer to look at all three projects, the existing one and the two that are being developed because
we could create a very effective perhaps three fourstory uh apartment units with stores below that could really become a mini village and uh and a real asset to the town. >> Thank you very much. And folks, I just
very quickly Yeah, by all means. So, just very quickly, I am gonna we did have our hard and fast rule, but Miss Kaufman's been around for a long time and she's, you know, certainly been a member of the community and and someone who's had a great deal of concern and care for our community. So,
we afforded her the uh the opportunity to speak and and I do appreciate again the time we spent together. Um, I do want to make one clarifying point, um, which is that the the sewer, uh, line going in, as we talked about as many times over, um, is not only going to be deed restricted, but only large enough
for the vonnage property. We've talked with our lawyers, our engineers, and everybody else that this will not set a precedent for high density development downtown. And also, it's not coming out of the taxpayers's pockets either. So, I just want to make sure we have a cl that we clarify that point. But, Miss Kaufman, as always, I appreciate your
commitment and your thoughts. Anyone else? Yes, ma'am. >> Hi, my name is Jessa Quan. I live at 43 Stony Brook Road. I moved here about 15 years ago or 15 months ago and the draw of the Homeell schools and the busing
safely to take my children to those schools was one of the things that really brought us to this area. And we love it. We love the community. We love the town. I implore you to find a way to continue to safely fund busing for our
schools so our kids could get there safely. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Kristen Solero, five hotbrook lane. Um, I recently announced that I'm a candidate for the Homeell Township Committee, but
I'm here tonight as a private citizen. Um, tonight I want to point out a theme that I see, and that is that the township is failing to come up with solid plans for the future, which creates problems, and then we're putting it on the taxpayers to pay and solve,
all the while not taking our concerns seriously. Bond after bond, the TC is looking to the taxpayers to pay the bills they incur to solve the problems they create. We came here so many to so many meetings to ask for what's fair, for funding that
should go to our schools and our children, to ask the TC to do what's right after they stepped in and intercepted funds that should go to our schools with a wave of their wand and a magical pilot program. Pilot programs are meant for blighted areas. I don't see any blight in
Homeell. Has anyone realized it's offensive to even suggest such a thing? Building here is about as risk-free as it gets. But the TC doesn't want to give up their pilot money. They love it. They love the talking points they squeeze out of it year after year. So when a TC
member does a video or speech telling you there is no increase in the tax rate, the Homell taxpayers need to know what that means. I ask the residents, given inflation, haven't your costs go up some exponentially. So, how is the TC doing
it? They must somehow have more and more money. The TC said, "The pilot money is ours, no matter how we got it. Let the schools go to referendum," they said. "Put it on the taxpayers. That's what that means." Now, the million-dollar house on Crawford's Corner, their latest
band-aid for our schools, the taxpayers are paying for that. So without you agreeing to it, they did put it on the taxpayers. Bond after bond, they created a mess with vonnage, a public health disaster of contaminated drinking water and effluence sprayed into the air to
fall on our roads, parks, lawns, pools, and carried for miles. Did they ask the tough questions to safeguard public health? The professionals they hired and we counted on failed us, but served the TC. They hoped no one would notice, and just like that, they would get even more
pilot money. the magical force man that is the answer to solving the water contamination probably problem they created at Vonnage taxpayers are paying for that bond after bond so beware taxpayers I don't think these are the perks you expected from living here but
just like the magical pilot programs the money comes from somewhere and those bonds are issued on your backs we wanted great schools and strong property values we're getting bond after bond and smoke and mirrors to temporarily band-aid over problems
It shouldn't matter that some people up there didn't make or orchestrate the pilots. Every day you wake up, it's an opportunity to look at the facts and do the right thing. If our tax formula says 69% of our taxes to go should go to our schools, that is the right thing. Just
because the TC got the money first doesn't mean they earned it or deserve it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Deari. Chris Deari, 7 Oaks. In my opinion, the pilot money is not responsible for the school's deficits. And since the pilot originated, the
schools have gotten more money than they've gotten before. Um, it was mentioned at Monontlair, I guess, recently awarded some pilot money to the schools. Well, they just had a referendum in Montlair and it just barely passed to give the BOE $12.5
million one time to get them through this one year to get through their deficit. The second referendum did not pass. It would be a uh residual tax increase. So, that community decided we're no longer going to be giving the schools money long term. So, they just barely bailed them out to get through
one year. We could end up having a similar problem here um if they continue to push with the pilot. But I do want to make a suggestion to the township committee. Um the board of ed is only able to send um send uh information out
to the schools community. All right. The schools community I estimate is probably 25% of Homeell. So there's another 75% of Homeell. 70% of Homeell don't have children in their households who are getting not much information at all about the schools. Um, what's important
for the schools and for us to all recognize is we need that broader community support to preserve homeell schools. We're going to need them. We're going to need those people. And what I recognized when I communicated with a lot of those people is when you take the time to explain to them why the taxes
are going up, where the money's going, they actually become a lot more understanding to wanting to support the schools. But the problem is is they don't have any information. So my suggestion is if the township committee could work with the board of ed to start getting more information out to the
broader community especially when the budget rolls around all those presentations they should they are they are funding all everybody in home is funding these schools so they should um deserve to see that information so I think it's time for us to get that
information out and as I said the BOE they don't have that capability um so I know the schools are going be looking to put out a really big referendum soon. And I'm telling you, it is going to be important to make sure that all these people that are complaining about the tax moneyies going
to schools get behind these referendums or else our schools are going to be in a lot of trouble, a lot more trouble than they are now. In my opinion, the deficits are not going to go away. They are going to continue. I've seen it happen in a lot of these other school districts. These costs are not stopping. Health benefits is probably the biggest
key driver. 35% this year. What happens if they go up another 35% next year? What are we going to do? lay off another 27 teachers. My whole plan was to try to negotiate a fair labor agreement where we keep and retain all our staff. And now over the last 20 years, we've lost 22% of our student population. I
mentioned that last meeting. We can't ignore this. It's something we need to continue to consider. So, we do need that broader community support to keep getting money to these schools. I'm going to switch gears a little bit now that I'm here tonight. I cannot be the only >> Hold you to three minutes, though. >> Please. I'm gonna need a little bit
more. I Oh, Wendy, come on. Help me out. I cannot be the only person in Homeell who has noticed over the years these eight trees on Crawford's Corner right by going up to South Holland that have been dead. Okay. I I can't stand looking at them when I see them. If you guys
give me the authority, I'll head over there with my chainsaw and my son. We'll get them down in one afternoon. But seriously, one fell and that hit the sidewalk and the street. And that sidewalk is a very active sidewalk for runners, bikers, um, bikes, everything.
So, I really please look into getting those trees out. It might be the responsibility of the households, but I I really anything we can do to do that. Also, I don't need an answer tonight, but if we can continue to keep Capard Alley, that water stream that just keeps eroding that creek, please keep it on
your radar. The street is a complete mess. We continue to be told that we want to fix this first problem before we redo the street, but year after year it's not happening. So that's something else I wanted to mention. Um, another mention is I started a home mountain biking club last year. I first want to
give a shout out to any person listening who's responsible for maintaining those uh um Rasmassin trails. I I can't even think right now. U Ryman trails. Wonderful trails for our community. We had an incredible turnout. I'd say anywhere from fourth grade um through
high school, you can uh find the information on homebell recreation. It'll come out. So, please if any of your children want to get involved, we had a we had a great turnout. And uh my last comment is I know that there's the homebell history scavenger and I really hope that we're going to include a key
history lesson when homebell voters went out and preserved the township form of local government in 2022 because that was a key moment in Homebell's history. that that township government, the one that we're looking at tonight, has been operating well in this town for now 170 years. Homedale, one of the most
desirable places to move to and live in all of New Jersey. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. And Chris, let's take a look at those trees on uh on Crawford's. >> Yeah. Yeah. Appreciate that. Any other >> Let me just see if anybody else wants to
speak and then Sarah, we we'll close with you, Mr. Weisefeld. Hey guys, uh 10 Riverside Lane. All right, I swear this was the actual reason I came. Had nothing to do with pilots, nothing to do with anything.
It's about Colts because as a business owner and actually you brought up a really good point because >> you can't hear him. Anyway, >> I've said before I'm very shy. And guys, I got to be honest. When I get
frustrated, I get frustrated with myself because again, I know that deep down you guys all want to do the right thing. We just happen to have different opinions. Nonetheless, the thing that gets me, the thing that's had me like reeling a little bit today, and again, I'm hoping I'm wrong. I didn't realize you have a Saturday thing, so maybe we can discuss
this. >> Sure. Kohl's. >> You gonna bring bagels again? >> Oh, absolutely. >> All right. >> Well, not Kohl's, the Kohl's lot. >> And again, guys, I really miss a lot more than you all realize. I'm just trying to get caught up on this because I believe there was a zoning thing, a change from the last meeting. And if I'm
understanding this right, this is where it was changing the mix zoning of resident and commercial and making it only residents. And this is the area I'm talking about. That's the affordable housing, all the other fun stuff. >> Yeah, we reduced the number of homes that were designated for that area from 170 to 80. But did it change the zoning
of the the residential commercial the mixed zoning part? >> It's not going to there's going to be no commercial. >> You just killed the value then. Uh so >> the value doesn't matter. It's going to be an affordable project. >> But it's like the land the guy that owns the property is he going to sue us because I know that if I went again I
don't know if these numbers are right guys. Seriously I'm just like trying to understand this. I'm a business owner who has wanted to move his businesses into Homeell. Actually since Mayor Hines married my wife and me. He gave me the idea. That's where I started up at the Horn Antenna. That's a story for another time. Anyway, the point is this scares
me because if I was a property owner and I bought this whole big thing. I believe the guy played ball with you. I don't know. None of my business as far as doing buildings and things like that. But if I went from having a property that had commercial and I suddenly lost it in a meeting that I don't know if you knew about or not, but I just know that
I would have been at this meeting if it was my property because then that means my property just went from $18 to$23 million ballpark chat GPT but nonetheless we all seem to do it. So whatever uh down to roughly 3 to5 million are we doing
imminent domain? And then I saw a whole bunch of stuff on Facebook which got me even more excited and that's why I was just like wow. That's why I just want the clarification. >> Yeah. Matt, here's the clarification. I'd say it's twofold. I think one um as I mentioned um this property was designated for affordable for quite some time with 170 units plus commercial.
That obligation was not fulfilled. Okay. So as we stood >> by the developer by the developer. >> Okay. And Mike I I I don't want to get us in trouble but >> that's factual. Well, I think that's the extent to which we can speak to it and I've mentioned at past township committee meetings that uh there is
threatened litigation involving it, which is not entirely unusual when dealing with affordable sites, but that is the the factual reality that the the property was zoned to comply with the third round. Uh the developer did not act upon that zoning.
>> So, it wasn't acted upon. We had decisions to make. um and we reduced the obligation, negotiated a reduction of the obligation from the state and found what we believe is a responsible plan for this. Now, this isn't anything anybody wants to do as you know, Matt, we've talked about it.
>> Absolutely. >> Right. Um but it's our job to figure out a way to to to make this work if we, you know, as we sued and we lost, right? Or they wouldn't hear it. True. >> Um and so that's the path we took. Now, if you want to talk about I mean listen and just speaking I don't want to say in
the abstract but just about eminent domain um what we do with that property how we how it goes down we'll see right there's to Mike mentioned this >> oh no no as a business owner I need to know this because if this happens here I will never move my business here I'm serious >> goofball Matt stopping for a second and
saying I will not be able to trust this town and if I can't trust this town I don't need to be in this town and I'm getting a little excited and you agreed me with on this one when I heard and I Pat I do agree with there's a lot of options. But if I'm deciding right now I'm going to private school and I can't ever bring like my student my kids my
all that fun stuff. Um and and I know I can never bring my business here. I could just move now because that scares me the fear of will this guy be up for imminent domain. And I mean do do you got I would I would say listen I I can't speak to that to to to the specifics on
that to Mike's point. All I can tell you is factually where it stands. What I can tell you about eminent domain is and the use of it without it we'd have a 100 town homes on the horn antenna and we'd have a dementia center or potter's farm >> but there's no way that like you could okay I get the fact he didn't meet the obligation but could it have been done
without destroying the value of his property making it easy >> I don't know that we've destroyed the value of his property or not I really >> absolutely no no from a business standpoint that's BS you just ruined this guy if he didn't play ball I understand that's my time yeah >> and I'll come Saturday I swear to God
come Saturday we'll talk about I I want TO KNOW. I'M JUST LIKE, WHOA. Thank you, guys. >> All right. Yeah. Yes, ma'am. >> That's a tough act to follow. Um I'm Chandra. I live on 57 Oaks Drive. Um I live off of Crawford's and I get to go
to Bell Works with my dog and my son, but I take my life in my hands whenever I try to cross the road because people think Crawford's NASCAR. Um, with that being said, I also am concerned about the fact that um, our special blessing
will be removed um, because of budget cuts. And I do understand and welcome your plans uh, to buy the Addi Homes House and to you know give that you know particular uh, pro profits to the BOE to do what they will with it. I appreciate
that. But I have to say Mr. Romano's idea is also worth exploring because you know the idea of of the busing is not just a school issue right it's a municipality issue you take that out which is not statutory right it's not a
statutory obligation I'm within the two-mile zone so I I'm here for that reason we have to walk right and uh not only do I have to take my life in my hands when I cross the street um there is no c there are no crosswalks there aren't reliable contiguous streets that
go to the schools, right? So, uh there aren't stop lights. Um we have young families moving in who I see them cross the street with their strollers and I pray for them, right? Um and so that's part of the reason why I think Mr.
Romano's idea has merit, right? I understand your your point of view, but I think from a larger context, you know, most people like us move to Homedale for for the schools, right? Belros is awesome, but it's really the schools that we come here for. And so to help
the board of education um meet their budget issues is, I think, not just a like a school budget issue and your issue like your your particular town council budget issue. It's really a taxpayer issue, right? Because at the
end of the day, our property values are inextricably tied with school school rankings, right? If homeale schools go down, there goes my property values, right? And to the folks who are retired and who have no kids in school system, I get it, right? But let's think of it
this way. If people, you know, if they want to sell their home, the people who are buying their homes are young families because of the school system, right? So if the town council um considers supporting the schools from a longer more sort of planned point of
view like shared service agreements, plan it as part of your budget, right? And work with the BOE to develop a longer relationship. We don't have to worry. You guys don't have to stress about band-aids or oh my god, the BOE needs help, let's fix this now, etc.
Right? This can be a longer term planned event that ultimately will benefit taxpayers, right? It's a it's a property value issue, not a school Thank you. school issue or like your your budget issue. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Yes, Sarah, Sarah, and then Mr. Trusquita, and then I think we'll wrap it up. Um, >> so I um I had some Oh, sorry. Sarah Cho for Putinham Court. I had some people reach out to me um and ask about like
line items on the budget. So, I'd like to raise that. Um, and I don't know if this is, you know, I I would actually love like kind of an explanation of these line items and then maybe um some roundtabling to see if
there's alternatives to make the budget leaner. >> Well, I'll tell and and by the way, I don't mean to interrupt you. I just want to tell you what the process is. The process will come about that we're going to introduce the budget for the public to see. We'll talk through things within the budget itself. It'll be fully
transparent and fully visible for people to review and then ask questions on before we vote to adopt the budget. And that'll take like a month before we even get to that point to adopt. So, we will have a process in place where it can be reviewed, questions can be asked, you could ask even ad hoc to any one of us
via email prior to meetings or things of that nature. So, it's not something we just like throw up and and approve. It's introduced, reviewed, >> reviewed again by the the committee as well as the public and then there's discourse around it. So is today like the introduction and then or when no we
don't the timeline >> the the timeline is typically what is the first meeting in April Chris? >> The first meeting that happens after the May 31st date. So March 31st date. So anything the first April meeting after March 31st >> that's when it gets introduced
>> second depending on what we have or what we're going to do today. >> Right. That's when that's when the public that's when the actual budget document is introduced to the public. >> I see. And then there's within like 30 after like 30 days >> it has to sit on the police for 28 days. Yeah. So it sits on the streets for 28 days and you can review it and then at
that point there's a hearing. >> Yeah. And so so and I apologize for interrupting but I want you to understand that like there is a we we ensure a very transparent process with this right >> to make sure that people can weigh in and ask questions. >> No, I love that input. Um may I just
raise three questions? >> Do you still have time? Thanks. Um, do we do we use WebEx? Because I don't when I looked at the budget, it said that there was WebEx, VMware, and Adobe conferencing systems for like 60,000. Is
that >> It's our phone system. >> We use WebEx for our phone system >> through the entire building. >> Do you use your cell phones though or do you use land? >> We have to use land lines. We have to have landlines. So, yeah. So, so WebEx is our phone system here.
>> Okay. Wow. That's 60,000 a year. >> It would be a lot more if we were in the old days and it was a VoIP. It would be a lot more than that. >> Really? So that's like a normal cost >> for a town this size? Yes. >> Wow. Wow. Yeah. I just don't know. Which is why I'm like that seems like especially
WebEx. It seems so outdated, you know? I don't know. I I didn't It's pretty modern. It's just it's just newer. That's just technology we're using. We actually I can get my phone calls to my phone, but it's I still use the the desk phone. So, right >> Chris, you mean it's Cisco Cisco? You
mean Cisco? >> No, we're using Well, I I don't know if it's WebEx is the the company we use now. I don't think we use Cisco anymore, do we? Wendy, that's old, right? >> I don't know. I know like my voicemail is WebEx. >> Yeah, it's WebEx. Voicemail and everything. Even the even the voiceover IP is through WebEx. So, everything I get is through WebEx. So, I'm not sure
for sure, but Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I just don't know. Maybe if there's cheaper options, that could be something. There was a um for the daddyaughter dance, which my husband has gone to with my older one and will go to with my younger one hopefully. Um there
was like a $17,000 bill for that. Is that is that accurate or is that something that's like >> I don't think it shows the revenue we received for it though. >> Yeah, there's always revenue that comes in with that though. You we when you get a bill, we pay that bill, but we still have to pay it out of our bills.
Butcher. Okay, got it. So, because I was like, I think we paid for that, like the ticket itself. Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Um, and this is kind of near and dear to my heart because my my dad owned natural cleaners in Middletown growing up and we would have cops come to our,
you know, um, dry cleaners and it was like, it was one of those things where he just met everybody, you know, the whole the whole police station. Um, but I noticed like there's, you know, a pretty high dry cleaning bill, which obviously I, you know, I want Home Depot
cleaners to get, but is there an alternative to maybe um, do that? >> We actually go out to contract on that. The only one that gave us any quote on it was Homedale Cleaners. >> Homeell. Okay. You You might want to try natural cleaners. >> Okay.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Troska. You want to close the show here? One more after. >> Oh, one more after. Okay. >> All right. >> Patrick Tuska, 56 Line Road. I want to comment on the uh use of eminent domain.
Uh we've Homell has used eminent domain for outstanding purposes. First of all, eminent domain is in the United States Constitution that the public can acquire um uh land if it's for public use. And
Homedale's first use of that, I believe, was up at Crawford Hill, which was an obvious >> Actually, it's how we got the swim club 50 years ago, 60 years ago, whatever it was. >> I I want to talk about um the uh comment about the uh using eminent domain over
on on route >> using eminent domain over on Route 35 to meet our uh affordable housing requirement. court after court has uh affirmed that you can use eminent the
municipalities can use eminent domain to build their affordable housing mandates. And so this is pretty clear. This particular um owner had a a mandate to build 170 units to meet our third round
obligation and blew us off. The fourth round um requirement we have 80 units. It's all affordable now. So, it's a lot riding on it for Homedale. Uh use of eminent domain to uh to get the
property and to make it into the project that we have that will meet the state requirements is a great use of imminent domain and it would uh meet our requirements and it would uh move the uh plan forward. Thank you.
>> Thank you. I saw a hand up. Peter, is that you? look like you're hobbling these days, man. You all right? >> It's Yes. Yeah, it's just an injury. Um I can't do this. Okay. >> I should
uh Patrick, I think imminent domain is a bad idea. Sir, can you you're >> sorry. Yes. Peter Franco, five hopper claim. >> Sorry. >> Okay. Uh what was that? >> Yes. Okay. Um back at the last meeting, we spoke about these key cards that were
installed. Um was there a final tally on how much that cost us? >> I believe it was 164,000. But it wasn't just the key cards. It was the camera system. The camera systems the PD uses to uh the dispatch center uses. It also go to the county. once we go to the
county. So, the original cost of it before I got here, they were looking at a $400,000 system. We were able to get it down to the $164,000 system and uh it was approved by the uh committee. Um the
Bell Works or actually the the Vonnage building uh do you guys have an estimated value of the improved project after say all four phases are finished? Now, Eric might I don't have one off top of my head, Chris, because I know you guys mentioned >> it would have to be 30 years from now.
So, whenever he he it's in his it should be in his report. Yeah, >> because I think >> 195, Patrick, is that what it said? >> Well, the if well, according to the what they were saying was uh I think the building with 106 beds was going to be uh 87 million and then there were 65
cottages. I think they were saying they could go north of a million dollars if I'm correct. And then you have the value of the two buildings that they're adding to it. I'm just, you know, going back to this whole uh tax situation. If you took a $200 million when you factor in the two, three store units uh buildings, the
nursing facility and the extended care um with a regular tax base, the amount of money that the schools could bring in from that and you know and the town not as much but you know at the tax rate and then the 68% uh based off 200 that that puts like $2.5 million into the school
system. >> But it also assumes that someone would take that property on at the regular tax rate. But it's home though. I mean, we're forgetting where we are. >> I am not forgetting it in the least. >> Okay. And then uh the other thing is
back to the vaage. Uh and it's it's pretty funny that the um the feasibility of the builder, Mr. Kan at CHA, uh, you know, with the the money problems that he had run into, uh, whether he still has them or not, um, accounts receivable, um, actually reached out to
me from a company that they just beat for over $80,000. Um, I know you guys don't want to hear this, but it's just when we're fronting and we're helping these people and inviting them into our communities and they're building our backyards, um, and they're beating everybody along the way. I just I I feel
like, you know, we could do better with this and and hold them accountable and just raise our standards better. Like, you know, like a developer, like who knows what's going to go on with the Kohl's property and, you know, what developers that you guys already have lined up or or whatever. It's just, is this indicative of where that's going to
go? Um, and that's all I have to say. >> Thank you. I >> think we're good.