Heat. Heat. call to order. I hereby call this meeting council council to order. Opening statement Diane. This meeting is being held in accordance with public law 1975 chapter 231 open public meetings act. Adequate notice has been provided in the manner prescribed
by law. This agenda is complete to the extent known and formal action will be taken. I'll begin with a roll call. Councilman Fischer here. Councilman Nadell here. Councilwoman O'Donnell here. Mayor Leio here. Thank you. Resolution 25-243.
Mrs. Bennett, is there a need to go into executive session this evening? There is. Uh, mayor, we're in executive session uh in connection with personnel. Uh, motion to enter into executive session. Motion to go into executive session.
Second. Counciloman Fischer. Yes. Councilman Nadell. Yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell. Yes. Mayor Leia. Yes. Thank you. Roll call. Councilwoman Fischer here. Councilman Nadell here. Councilman O'Donnell here. Mayor Leio
here. Thank you. May I have a nomination for deputy mayor? I'll make a nomination. Delighted to nominate Sue Fischer for deputy mayor. Second. Second. Councilman Fischer. Yes. Councilman Nidell?
Yes. Councilman O'Donnell. Yes. Mayor Leio. Yes. Thank you. Now, oath of office for deputy mayor Fiser. They're going to get sworn in. Do it here. Go down there. You can do whatever you
want. Here's your husband. Oh, I don't have all over. Put your left hand on there. Raise your right hand. I, Sue Fischer, I, Sue, Fischer, do solemnly swear affirm do solemnly swear or affirm or affirm Thank you. that I will faithfully
That I will faithfully impartially impartially and justly perform and justly perform all the duties of the office all the duties of the office of deputy mayor of deputy mayor to the best of my ability to the best of my ability. and that I will constitution and that I will support the Constitution
of the United States of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey that I will bear true faith and allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same to the same and to the governments established and to the governments established in the United States
in the United States and in this state and in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people. So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations. Thank you. All right. I'd like to um open the floor for the nomination to fill our vacant
council seat. Um, the process was passed along to the Republican committee members to provide us with uh with three names, which they did, to fill former council member Fred Gazer seat. For those of you who don't know, he did
resign. So, do I have a motion? The nomination. Nomination, I'm sorry. Like to nominate Mike Rebel. I'll second. Any remarks? Yeah, I'll make a few remarks. So, I was
pleasantly surprised with the list of the three candidates we got. Uh, I think all three gentlemen on that list are qualified to fill the fill the seat and it was extremely difficult to try to narrow down who we think was best uh to
fill in. Uh, if this vote goes through for Mr. rebel. I think we're going to be in good hands moving forward. But the other candidates, all three candidates currently serve on boards. I know all them personally, and I think that all of them have the best interest for Howell. So, we couldn't
have gone wrong with any of them, and we just only had one seat to pick. So, that's a I I concur with uh Councilman Adele. uh three great gentlemen, three great candidates that are already serving uh
the township of Howell. I had the honor of serving with Mike and with uh Chris Mercer on the planning board. Um and the other candidate, Mr. Kabarakis, is uh already doing so much uh for us and and the party. Um so again, just it was a
difficult decision because all three candidates were so good. So thank you for that. Just very quickly, uh I also concur, but uh his experience of the planning board and zoning board is a invaluable asset when you move to the council seat. Gives you a very good foundation uh as a
stepping uh stone to fill this seat. Although varied uh responsibilities and responsibilities uh those responsibilities are quite varied. Uh still what you gain in those seats is invaluable as you go through the decision making. And I think that Mike
is definitely um he is robust, he's eager, and we're very happy and very honored to have him join us. So, thank you for your input thus far, Mike. Okay, I have a motion and a and a second. I'll begin with a roll call. Councilwoman Fischer,
yes. Councilman Nadell, yes. Counciloman O'Donnell, yes. Mayor Leio, yes. Congratulations, Mike Reubel. Come on, if you can meet me on the floor. Looks good. Looks good. Let's do it together. Sure. Just put your left
hand and raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Mike Reubel, I, Mike Reubel, do solemnly swear or affirm do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully that I will faithfully and partially impartially and justly perform and justly perform all the duties all the duties
of the office of council person of the office of council person to the best of my ability to the best of my ability and that I will support the Constitution of the United States and I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and that I will bear true faith and
allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the government to the same and to the government established in the United States established in the United States and in this state and in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of people. So help me God.
So help me God. Congratulations. Thank you. All right. Uh, first I'd like to thank uh the other two nominees, Chris and John. Both talented, highly qualified, could just as easily be up here as me speaking to you right now. um just
wanted to thank them for their commitment to the town uh and to continue to serve. Um I wanted to thank the uh council of course for um selecting me to uh fill the vacant space on the council. Uh it's it's an honor
and a privilege uh to be given that responsibility. I'm really eager to get in there and and get started, hit the ground running. Um it's uh it's very humbling to be given that trust. Um to the Howell Township residents, you're
probably wondering who am I. Um uh I will be hanging back after the meeting if anyone wants to chat with me just to get to know me. I want to get to know just as many of you as I can. I want you to know that I am always open to talk and I want to hear as much input from the town as I can so that we could
better do our work. Um, I think we have an excellent mayor, excellent council that are working towards the same end goal. We're trying to maintain the character of the town that we grew up in, that we moved to. And um, I want to be a part of that. I
want to help the town be a part of the solution. Um, I'm very encouraged as well uh, just by the turnout at all the council meetings. Um there's a lot of uh township interaction with the residents and I think it it takes a village to do this job. It it's not just the five of
us up here. It's getting the input from from everyone else to understand um you the intricacies of what's going on so we can make the best decision to help the town itself. Um and uh it makes our job easier and uh it sets a high bar. So I
hope that my actions speak louder than my words and I earn your trust and your support. Thank you. Get up. No problem. All right. Does he have an agenda over there? Yeah, he does. Please rise. Uh, pledge
allegiance and individual prayer. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you. We have a presentation over overdose awareness day August 31st and prescription misuse. Okay. Christa Riddle, please come forward. How Town Township Alliance Coordinator. Good evening. I am Christa Riddle,
coordinator of the How Alliance for Substance Use Prevention and Mental Health Awareness. I know many of you are familiar with me delivering prevention and wellness messages at council meetings. Tonight, I will take about five minutes of your time to observe August 31st is overdose awareness day in Howell and to overview the concerns of
prescription misuse. Our annual Purple Flags Memorial will be displayed in front of town hall for August as part of Prevention Coalition of Mammoth County's Overdose Awareness Day observation to remember loved ones and community members lost to an overdose. Howell is
one of 52 towns proudly participating in the initiative. To also commemorate Overdose Awareness Day, the alliance is hosting a free Narcan training August 28th at 6 PM at Town Hall for those in need. Free Narcan kits will be given to participants
in light of overdose awareness day this month. My other topic on tonight's agenda is prescription misuse, which plays a serious part in the painful journey of addiction and overdoses, a problem that affects us all and more often than not takes root during the
teenage years. It is important to remember that not all fatal overdoses stem from street purchased fentinyl or other opioids and that most overdoses are unintentional. At the July 29th council meeting, the prescription drug Xanax was mentioned to
the public. While I did not attend or watch the meeting, over a handful of community members, professionals, and even youth who heard or knew about the comment expressed concern to me, including during National Night Out last week. In my professional capacity for
How Township, I have an obligation to share with the same audience some of the evidence-based facts surrounding prescription use and misuse, as this very topic sits at the start of many lifelong struggles with addiction. While addressing this issue is difficult for
me tonight, the nature of my work is often uncomfortable and controversial due to substance use and mental health stigma and personal opinions on these subjects. However, my commitment to substance use prevention, the future of our youth, and community wellness
outweigh my personal discomfort. I present this information without any judgment for those taking Xanax or other prescriptions by doctor's orders. I also hold nothing but compassion, concern, and support for individuals and families impacted by any type of addiction or
substance use disorder. When a community leader, parent, and youth engaging adult publicly and casually mentions taking one of the top misuse prescription medications, it carries influence and lowers youth risk perception of taking brain impacting substances. This is
particularly concerning when paired with a remark about increasing the usual dose taken prior to meetings to get through the night's challenges while serving our community. Prescription misuse involves several different factors, including taking someone else's prescription with
or without permission, taking your own prescription in higher doses or more often than a doctor prescribed, mixing a prescription with another substance, or taking pills obtained through someone else, either for free or for money. People often abuse medication
to feel differently, gain confidence, alter their perception, escape reality, mitigate stress, or experience a high. Mistakenly thinking that medications are safe to misuse because they come from a pharmacy. Prescription misuse also frequently starts within the home where
medications are easily accessible to family and guests. About 16 million Americans ages 12 and over misuse prescription drugs in a year and around two million of these people suffer from addiction. Xanax and other benzoazipene
depressants, opioid painkillers like oxycottton and percoet and stimulants like aderall are the most commonly misused prescription drugs for youth and adults. They are also the most commonly counterfeited pills on the black market and account for many fatal and non-fatal
overdoses. In fact, there the one in their one pill can kill campaign, the DEA warns that two out of every five counterfeit pills with fentinyl contain a fatal dose. And that is often nearly impossible to differentiate today between black market fake pills versus
legitimate pharmacy obtained prescription pills like Xanax, Oxycottton, and Aderal because cartels and dealers have perfected their manufacturing and pill presses. Scarily, cartels pose as youth to sell these real-looking pressed pills on popular
social media apps where teens think they are buying pharmacy issued Xanax or Adderall from a friend of a friend, unaware that their purchase may contain deadly fentinyl. It is a fact that Xanax is a prescription associated with a high risk of abuse and addiction and serious
withdrawals requiring medical care. It has a high risk of dependency even when taken as prescribed and these concerns increase the longer it is taken and the stronger the dose. Taking a mind-altering prescription
medication is a serious matter between patient and doctor and should be reserved for personal discussion. Xanax's effect on decision-making and judgment is also a cause of concern when it is taken before making critical legal and financial decisions that impact
others. It is a fact that Xanax impairs cognitive function. If it didn't affect the central nervous system, people wouldn't take it. As a health related and riskrevention professional, I have a duty to promote the safety and well-being of our community members,
particularly the youngest ones who take in and copy what adults and authority figures say and do. Remember, the brain takes until at least age 25 to fully develop. Whether the information I present is popular and well-liked or
not, it is accurate and an inherent part of my work for Hal Township. May I have a May I have a motion for acceptance of minutes from the July 15, 2025 uh meeting? I'll make a motion to approve regular and exec minutes from
July 1525. I'll second. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Rubble, uh, abstain. I wasn't here. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Fischer, yes. Mayor Leio,
yes. Thank you. Acceptance of minutes from the July 29th, 2025 meeting. Okay. I'll make a motion to uh accept regular and exact minutes from July 25th, 2025.
A second. Councilman Nadell, abstain. Councilwoman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Rubble, abstain. Deputy Mayor Fischer, yes. Mayor Leio, yes. Thank you. On to reports of township department
officials. Uh, what do we have? Diane first or Mrs. Bennett or I have nothing. You have nothing. Our new township manager. I have nothing. Nothing. Attorney? Nothing at this time. Nothing at this time. Okay. So, now
we're on to hearing of uh the citizens public comment uh consent items. So, I'd like to open the floor for the hearing of the citizens and public comments. Each p person shall first give their name and address to the clerk. The council should be addressed as a collective body and not as individual
members. Each person shall have one turn to address the council and comment shall not exceed a total of five minutes. Speakers shall be notified when their time has run and no time extensions shall be permitted. Mr. F photo Greg Bodell 8 Pedal Patchet Trail.
Good evening, Mayor and Council. I just have two things two things to go over tonight. Uh number one regarding proposed ordinance 025-35 which is uh regarding revisions to the existing chapter 211 nuisance ordinance
being introduced tonight. I would ask the council to comment on a request I have. I see that the decibel levels are clearly defined in chapter 211. But my request is to allow law law enforcement to be trained to operate and read and to carry the same decibel readers that the
noise control officer carries. Too often I have witnessed or heard loud music from over five houses away on a weekend. I know the Taptic Cove denotes maximum decel readings next to adjacent properties, but I'm certain if I can hear it from five houses away and not be
able to carry a conversation outside my house on my deck with another person due to said music, the odds are probably good that the decibel levels are being exceeded. The issue is that the police cannot enforce the current code because they do not carry decibel measuring equipment. Those devices are currently
operated only by township personnel. The police say they can only give a warning to turn it down, but once the police leave, the music resumes. The police need this equipment because the township is closed on the weekend and those personnel are off, leaving us residents to ask the police for input and they are
limited in their capacity to enforce the current ordinance. The second item I have tonight is a question for the council and township attorney. I just want to know what happened to Valerie Vargas' proposed ordinance she submitted to the council
on July 15th. Additionally, I was looking forward to see if any of my suggestions were proposed for implementation. I was led to believe this ordinance and said revisions would be introduced tonight. When will this be introduced? Now, if the township attorney and council are hesitant to bring this
ordinance forward due to possible unconstitutional facets facets within said ordinance, I say this. Valerie denoted several New Jersey towns that are using this type of ordinance. And correct me if I'm wrong, I'm presuming she gleans some of her language from those ordinances. I don't know how long
those towns have been implementing their ordinances and if any lawsuits have been brought against them. Can the attorney comment on her knowledge of what other towns have been experiencing and or if lawsuits are pending regarding their rental laws? Regardless of what the township attorney has found, this
township can cannot just sit by and wait and wait and wait for a quote perfect ordinance. The council and attorney must act now and introduce and adopt Valerie's ordinance or a very comprehensive adaptation of same. And I say this with no disrespect to Valerie.
I don't believe she's an attorney. She's a resident just like the rest of us. But she did a great job compiling an ordinance that best represents the rental modifications we need. If the township attorney or council believes some aspects of our ordinance are unconstitutional,
the township attorney is the legal professional whose job it is to represent the citizens of the town and as such to modify Valerie's ordinance so that it comes as close as possible to her original proposal but remains constitutional. Again, as I stated
before, be proactive and not reactive. And that should happen immediately. The more we wait, the more the standard of living decreases and erodess the town's fabric. Thank you. Richard Krook. Okay. Good even Can everybody hear me? Yeah.
Good evening, mayor and councel. So, uh, your name and address for the record. Yeah, I'm I'm getting to that. Richard Krug, Sammy Drive, How, New Jersey. Um, I'm keeping it kind of light today because I've seen some good progress.
I'm very happy about my brand new paved road that I have in the Heritage Point. I think they did an excellent job. contractor that you got doing that is very um uh capable. Um the house across the street from me that I've been
speaking of for the last two or three meetings apparently uh one of your town inspectors stopped and saw me outside and said to me, "Do you know if they're home?" I said, "Ironically, I don't believe that
they are home. There seemed to be a way somewhere because I haven't seen any activity there. And uh he asked if there was access from adjacent properties to view the structure in the backyard. And I said, "We can ask the neighbor over
there. I know him well." And he was very willing to allow him to go in and take photographs of it. Unfortunately, I did not speak with him when he left. So, uh, his father did see me yesterday and told
me they sent an NOV or wrote up an NOV for the for the structure in the backyard. And, uh, but this is something I spoke to the town attorney about. I exchanged phone numbers with her. I I'm not sure that everybody who works in the building
department understands the police powers that they actually have. And uh so he didn't gain access to the inside home at all, but he did look at the property and went in the rear and made some
observations about the structure that's uh in question here. Um, I don't see any placards on the building because normally when I do this job, if there's a violation that's going to send out, there would be a stop work order
that would be posted on the building to cease any more work there. And um I I just don't don't see that happening. So, I'm wondering if uh I'm also wondering when the NOV was
sent, wasn't a notice to pay penalty included in that? And so, from pictures that I've seen of other people uh that took them from their window, there appears to be at least building component to this job and electrical.
So, that would be uh up to a $4,000 fine. So along with the nov I believe the proper way to handle these things to discourage other people from following suit the same way would be to send the penalty out immediately.
Uh the same home continues to park cars on the wrong side of the street. We almost had a head on the other day because one of them pulled out and they're they're pulling out into oncoming traffic. So, you know, maybe that's the solution. If everybody wants
to drive on the wrong side of the road, let them all move to England. Okay. Um, an officer stopped the other day cuz we called about it and he and he knocked on the door and he gave him a warning and I think the warning stuff needs to stop
already. You know, they're here, they know what the law is. uh execute the law. And um Councilwoman, I'm sorry, I can't see your name. Evelyn, right? Yes. Yes. You brought up a point. I watched
you on on TV on the rerun. Definitions. Okay. You you brought that point up. It was a very subtle point, but it was probably one of the most important things that uh I heard anybody say here because you said people need to know
what they're talking about and they need to define the entities that they're concerned about. And I heard last time we were here all kinds of discussions that are overlapping in terminology between group homes and and multiple
families living together. uh and so it becomes a big mess to decipher. So I think everybody needs to make sure that they define what it is that they're questioning. If there's a house that you believe is single family home, but there's uh obviously multiple people
living there, well, you know, then the landlord need needs he needs to register as a landlord. I believe that that's your rule here, correct? You have an orance that requires uh property owners if they're going to uh rent out to register as a landlord and then they're
subject to inspections and uh I know in Long Branch town is that done. Okay. Thank you. Very good. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else like to come forward? Ladies first. Ladies first. Proper etiquette.
Unless you're identifying as something different nowadays. I don't know. Um, my name is Renee Kalandrillo. I'm at 182 Newberry Road and honestly, I really wouldn't even be here, but I can't sit in my yard no more. The noise is so
loud. Fireworks are going off. There's a multiple family behind me. And I can't even sit outside and enjoy my yard. So, that's why I'm here. So, I hope we could do something about it because I'd hate to see how it'll go down, but if we
don't, it's going to. So, that's all I have to say. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council. I identify as Mark Paresi. I also identify as a a donut. No, I'm just kidding. Um, no, I just wanted to
congratulate uh, Councilman Mike Rebel uh, on your appointment to council. Look forward to seeing you uh, up here doing the work. I've obviously seen you uh at the zoning board and the planning board. You're very engaged, very intelligent, and uh and I think you're a nice addition to this council. So, I'm glad
that you were selected. Thank you. I appreciate it. Yeah, you're welcome. And uh congratulations, Deputy Mayor Sue Fischer. It's nice title. Deserved. Um a couple things. Uh I know that we have a new interim manager. I was able to meet him
at the last meeting, although he wasn't introduced at the meeting. So, I was hoping at some point tonight, uh Mr. John Gross, if maybe you could introduce yourself to the public, uh, that would be nice. Um, I also, uh, have noticed that for the last several meetings, uh,
Deputy Manager Matt Howard has not been here. Um, I know I know that, you know, for as long as I've been coming to these meetings, he's always sat over here with the professionals and offered uh some updates as to things that are going on
in town, as well as, you know, offered us insight as to what's going on. It's my understanding that he holds three titles in this town, uh, as a director of community development, uh, land use officer, and as deputy manager. uh he's obviously very knowledgeable about stuff
that's going on in town. I know there's a lot of other stuff going on with, you know, notices of tort and whatnot, but it occurred to me that, you know, for somebody who's an employee of this town that holds three very important titles and has a very deep knowledge of stuff that's going on in this town, that they
should be here at this council meeting to apprise the council as to things that are going on. uh especially when we're introducing and adopting land use ordinances uh that he's the land use officer and you know if the council or the public
have any questions regarding land use matters it would seem that the land use officer should be here to answer those questions as as best he can. So, uh, I I wanted to say that and, um, I look forward to, you know, seeing
the the progress that we're we've been making over the last few months continue. Thank you. Anyone else? Good evening, council. Ira Thor to Maline Court and as many of you know I'm also the vice president of the board of education um and longtime member of the
board. Uh I know the resolution 25237 is on docket tonight for the renewal of our shared service agreement uh between the township and the board of ed for our school resource officers. You know, obviously I expect this to continue uh
to be approved and as it has been uh every year for for many years now and I just want to thank you in advance for your consideration of this. You know, I speak to many of you uh offline um you know just about the challenges that you know we are dealing with as a school system because the lack of funding from
the state and how that's obviously uh been filtered down to us as taxpayers because of the state um not funding its fair share. But I think shared service agreements like this between the town and the schools is critical in this day and age. Nothing is more important than
the safety of our children. And the fact that I think Hal is a leader in this area about how we can work together to ensure that our kids can worry about being kids and and learn and go to school every day and not deal um with any safety issues because of how
seriously we take this as adults behind the scenes is certainly commendable. So, I want to thank the council for their longtime partnership in this area. Um, again, this allows our kids to go to school and be kids and learn and not worry about their safety and it also
obviously is a huge sigh of relief, I think, to our parents knowing that their kids can go to school and they are as safe as any children in the state of New Jersey. So, thank you for that. I just want to come up here and publicly thank the council for that. Mike, uh,
congratulations to you on your appointment. Um, obviously as Mr. Priesty said, I've seen your work on planning board and um, wish you a lot of luck. Um, and you know, look forward to see you being successful up here. And Sue, I've obviously known you for a long
time. You know, back to schoolboard days when you know, you were coming to meetings and, you know, certainly were very helpful to us and congratulations and your appointment as deputy mayor. So, have a great night everybody. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Thank you. Anyone else?
Jim Barton, 11 Diamond Lane. Um, I was sitting here. I was going to come up and and talk, but I just wanted to, I guess, ask a question. I know we did a lot uh the last few months with the ordinance, and it's up for um it's been approved and then for public comment, I guess, next month, and then it'll go into
effect. But I guess what I heard a lot was how well we tried to enforce the ordinances on the books. We had a lot of push back, right? We get taken to court, the fines reversed. We can't ask for you can't ask for who lives in a house. Sanctuary state rules. Can't they open a
door? You can't inspect. So Oh, so um yeah, sorry. So, uh, what I was saying was that, uh, we heard a lot about how we, um, uh, that when we try to enforce the codes that there's a lot of push back. The the courts reverse fines. Sanctuary state rules mean you
can't ask ID to verify who's on a permit. You can't inspect the house if they don't open the door. So, I trying I wanted to understand what is the plan for that for enforcing the code. Uh, and if there's some strategy that can't be discussed, I'm okay with that, too. But I don't have I didn't have confidence
coming away that once we have the ordinance passed that we'll actually be able to enforce it. I think that's the next step is starting to have that plan. What I shared after the meeting off the record so I'll put it on the record was that when you consider when you have a tax assessment done if you don't open the door the assessor assumes you
finished off like happened to me closed off my cathedral ceiling and I got a higher assessment. So until I came in I proved that I was in compliance I was penalized. So my question is, well, if you have to inspect the house, why isn't there a rule where if I can't get in, I'm assuming it's not safe, not the
code, fire code. It's not safe. And therefore, there's a a fine within 10 days, 20 days, 30 days that then is enfor that that then is enforced, which the court will reverse anyway, but it will be more of a nuisance for the landlord then to be able to get have access to that. So you can actually
ensure that it is to code. So that's I just want to hear about the plan for enforcement. And then my analogy which I don't know why I couldn't apply to a landlord. Thank you. Anyone else? Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh Joe Debellof, 41 Lions Court in Howell.
First, congratulations to our new council member, Mr. Reubel. I know you will serve with distinction and integrity and appreciate your service and my dear friend Sue Fischer on on deputy mayor. I just wanted to say thank you to the governing body for taking
this illegal rental issue so seriously. I know you have talked about it. Uh, I would encourage you, as I think you will, to fight until hell freezes over and then fight on the ice. This is unacceptable. It's unacceptable what has happened in
this community. You read in the newspaper in Brick, in Jackson, in Tom's River, and otherwise, private equity business people that are not scrupulous have come into this town and they're trying to on the backs of our residents
turn this into some for-profit housing haven. And they should not be allowed. And if they're here illegally, let's call ICE and get them the hell out. And so I support the five of you, in particular, Councilman Nadell, who has
been saying this for months and has been unfairly ridiculed at times for his hard work and his dedication to protect our town. So I encourage the five of you to continue to fight. And it's only on unconstitutional if somebody sues you and it goes to court and they say it is.
And until it is proven unconstitutional, then I know you have the support of this community to make the tough decisions to do what's right to protect our family, to protect our children, to protect our property, our schools, and our homes. And I look forward to this next meeting
where I would imagine there will be a package of ordinances and plans to put into place a way to take back our town. And I know lots of people watch these meetings and people from other towns watching what you're doing. I'm glad they're watching because they need to
know we will not tolerate this kind of unconscionable behavior in Howell Township or I hope anywhere in Mammoth or Ocean County or in New Jersey. It needs to stop and you have my unqualified support and anything I can do to help to see to it that it does.
These are not easy jobs. I get it. You have to hear from people who are not happy. Nobody typically calls to say great job or thank you. That comes with the territory. These next several months for all of you are going to be tough. You're going to get people who are going to threaten this town. They're going to
threaten to sue. They're going to threaten to sue you personally. In fact, some of them have already tried to do so. What a bunch of malarkey. Don't back down. Continue to do what's right because when you do what's right, the community will be behind you. I can
assure you of that. I appreciate the service that you've given this community. And again, we all stand with you in protecting Howell Township. Thank you very much. Anyone else? I'm seeing no one. So, motion to close public comment, please.
I'll make that motion. I'll second that motion. All in favor? I response to public count comments. Uh who would like? Mrs. Betty. Yes, mayor. Uh just for um everyone's efficacy, there should be an ordinance
in the back of ordinance Diane is 025-39 on the front table for your reference. That will be added. That is a merkantile ordinance specifically uh addressing uh
the um hold on one second uh the mercantal specifically addressing uh the rental property uh uh uh owners uh in terms of reviewing and when I reviewed what we
already have we didn't have a mercantile license that um specific specifically addressed uh mercantile licenses for the businesses that operate these rental companies. That is where we have fallen. That that was the hole in the
ordinances. Right now, we don't have the ability to bring them to the table in terms of in uh court to have a representative of the companies that are governing these rental rental youing
fruit. So right now we've just put on an ordinance and today we will be adopting that ordinance and the planning board has approved that ordinance dealing with the sober living uh facilities and we have stopped the clustering. That was an issue that I know that was very serious
and we we address that immediately. It was approved by the planning board and we will move forward with that. This ordinance now will govern um the and the lensure of the companies that are dealing with the rental units. Um it
will provide a um a person to be as a will identify a person that we can then bring into court and if there is an issue and how they are addressing um you know how they are operating uh the judge will then be able to and they're spared
to appear the judge will now be able to um put out a warrant for that person's arrest. That is huge. Um, today we're also going to be addressing the nuisance ordinance. And I'm for I do not mean to with any disrespect. I'm trying to get the names
down. Uh, but I believe it was the first person that spoke with. Yes, your name, sir. Greg. Greg. Um, you're absolutely right. That was an issue. And when I reviewed the ordinances, I saw that we had only the desol state ordinance. That is a good
ordinance to have. I'm not saying that is not, but that is more of a business or ordinance. That's not going to take care of our parties at 10 o'clock at night on a Saturday. You should all be able to have the quiet enjoyment of your homes. And that should be at the
discretion of a police officer. I do not need a digital meter to tell me if I can hear a party in my in my house that that is not a nuisance. That's why this ordinance is on today. Exactly what you were talking about is going to be
addressed. We're introducing it and hopefully we'll be adopting it the next meeting. um in connection with uh the Vargas proposal. I will not be very popular here because I did go through that proposal and I am an attorney
clearly and unfortunately that proposal has has you know has a lot of things that are actually duplicative that we already have in our ordinances and I need to be very clear about that because I don't think that
that's been messaged correctly. Our ordinances, if you take our ordinances in Howell Township, they are being copied by all over the state. Our ordinances are very are very good. It's an enforcement issue and it's it's it's
it's a issue with and we have you will talk I'm sure the the man manager will talk about this in in a minute but we need more code enforcement officials and we need to be looking at these ordinances and what we can do with these ordinances and working together with legal and code code enforcement which we
have been going back and forth since I've been this is my third meeting here we've now gotten three ordinances that two one ordinance is going to be adopted two ordinances are going to be introduced and we need to look at the ordinances that we already have. In September 21, 2021, we we we adopted an
ordinance that regulated short-term rentals prohibiting anything less than 90 days. That was a positive. Then we went further in February 24, 2023. We did an ordinance amending um again our rental chapter uh defining the maximum
maximum occupancy. it it that occupancy cannot be more stringent than state guidelines. But we we we we we codified that. Then in October 24th, 2023, we did an or another amending ordinance to the
to our rental chapter providing for the revocation of rental rental certificates upon violations, excess excessive consumption of municipal services, nuisance, premises unsafe, and procedures to appeal revocation. We need to focus on that. We need to document it
and and and move forward with with our code enforcement officers. And in July of 1 of 2021, that was a major overhaul of our rental chapter. That is what is being copied
throughout the state. And I applaud whoever was on the council in July 1st, 2024. It's one of the best ordinances I've seen written. Um, and I'm again I'm not going to know names, but I I believe it was
perhaps Jim Barton. Is that the right name right there? Okay. So, what you talked about was basically what I have talked about with code enforcement officers is that it is a violation in itself if this ordinance requires inspections. If we have an
issue and we go and we knock on that door and there and they don't open that door, that in itself is a violation. You're absolutely correct, sir. And we should be enforcing it and we will um moving on to the Vargas proposal. I can
go through if this community wants me to the issues that I have with this proposal. Um, again, I believe a lot of things are duplicative, but we did mention that there were towns that have ordinances that this might that these things were lifted from. I will go
through those ordinances. I'll go through those towns. Wall Township, I can see that there some things were lifted from Wall Township. A definition of family, um, it just can't be enforced. Just because it's something's in an ordinance, it it really doesn't mean that it will survive a legal
challenge. And I'm not here to give you false hope. If if if you're you're bound in a single family home, it really that that that that verbiage single family home, unfortunately, that's outdated. And again, this is state law. It is just
a matter of occupancy. You can have 10 men that are unrelated living in a house. As long as that occupancy limit is is met by the state, as long as they're under the occupancy, I can't I can't change that. And if I were to codify
that and put it in an ordinance, I'm doing nothing but wasting the township's money and the township's time and again giving you false hope. I I wall may have that on the books. Wall just hasn't been challenged.
I we are right now under scrutiny and we're being viewed and and I know anything that I'm putting on is going to be looked at at a high level and I I don't want to give you false hope. That is not a family is not is not something
that we can define and regulate by ordinance. Um Montlair the provision cited does not stand for the province that was stated in the Vargas propo proposal. It states not related to the owner. So that that's a little bit miscon misconstrued.
Keyport bans rooming houses. That's completely illegal. Just hasn't been challenged. It's just completely illegal. Uh I believe another one was um Haladin. The definition of a rooming house is for licensing purposes. Again,
I understand Mrs. Vargas is not an attorney and I and I I really I I know she put a lot of hard work into this proposal and I and I I reviewed it. Uh and I and I put a lot of thought into it, but I'm doubtful that some of these provisions in these ordinances have have
ever been enforced. Um they may not have been challenged. Uh but because they're in rep and they're but just because they're in the code, it it doesn't make there's no presumption of validity here. Um, you're not paying me as your township attorney to just make you
happy. You're paying me to make things legal to tighten it up and to do the best we can under the under the the guidelines of the Fair Housing Act, the state guidelines, and the, you know, the
the restraints that that the municipality has. And I'm I'm doing my best. I'm doing my best. Um, in connection with again the sober home and living, I heard you. Um, I believe that the manager, the new manager will speak
to it. We have progress. We have progress. Things are moving forward. Um, again, I I all of everything that you're saying when you come up here, I'm listening to it. I'm researching it. I'm taking it seriously. I I just don't want
you to think that we don't have things on the books right now. That is I believe the township of how mayor and council, you guys have one of the strongest rental provisions and
ordinances that I have seen in I represent over 80 municipalities in several different capacities in in the state of New Jersey. So it is I I would recommend wholeheartedly obviously that we introduce these two ordinances, the
merkantile and the noise nuisance ordinance today. Um, I also recommend that we adopt the uh silver living house uh ordinance uh preventing clustering and and proximity to schools. Um, I will continue to look for any anything else
that we can tighten up. But in terms of what we have, it's an enforcement issue and I would beg that we would get more code enforcement officials to carry out what we already have and I will work continue to work with them. But again,
the ordinance that that I'm sorry, sorry, in the back that that you brought up. You're right. We if you knock on that door and we can't get in, that should be brought to court immediately. Um, I think that's it for right now. Can I ask a question?
You certainly can. um separate from Valerie's proposal in July I I had noted a uh request to I know the annual the inspection of rental properties is annual right now and I I
requested the observation maybe can be changed to six months at a minimum and if there's violation three months every So that did come up sir yes we we looked at that and and again that's a manpower issue um I I really do believe that you're you're right we could look at
that. We can have a byianual inspection and we will look at that. Um, but quite frankly, what we're getting is a complaint and then we then immediately we can inspect and if we can't get in there, we're going to cite them and they're going to
court. But if you can codify it, that helps even more. I and we're looking at that. That is not something that's not off the table and certainly constitutional and I have no problem with that. If the council would like to do that, we can. But I I do think that right now what we have in
terms of annual inspection if we do bianually I do not want to put an ordinance on the books that we can't handle without the manpower and with having a bianual inspection of all of the uh of all the rentals we have to be
able to do it and we have to have the manpower. So the manpower probably comes before I codify that. If a landlord sees that ordinance, he's a little more scared if things go wrong if the inspections are, you know, increased. I I understand. And and I and and again,
what this is why I put the merkantile ordinance on as well. We can't just be going for the landlord because we got to be going for the property management companies, too. And I think I see that that property management company, if they're they're having multiple rental units under them, I want to go for the I
want to go for the big guy. Good evening. My name is John. I think it's on. Oh, there we go. Good evening. My name is John Gross. And at the last council meeting, the count mayor and council uh appointed me as the interim town manager
for the township of how. Uh I'm actually pretty excited to be here. It's uh I've originally from Mammoth County and uh always have admired how and and and really look forward to uh working with
your the citizens as well as the council and the mayor. Um I'm really committed. I I've heard now over two meetings uh bringing out 50 to 60 70 people out uh at a meeting. It's it's it's um gives me
pause uh to understand that there's serious issues out here that need to be addressed. I can tell you that um I've been here a little over a week. Uh we've already started to to dig into those issues. Uh, and one of the things that we're going to be doing moving forward
is I'm going to be working with staff to review these new ordinances, the old ordinances, uh, our procedures to see if there's anything that we can be do to give them the tools to to to accomplish the goals better. Uh, and if there's any any new procedures or things that we can
do uh, in in order to get get a hold of these these leg legitimate issues. Uh we're committed to enforcement and um again we're we're we're going to be focusing on that during my time here. Um
but it's not just what we're going to be done going to be doing. What we've already done um I've already reached out to DCA in reference to a particular property here in town. And I wanted to get a a face-to-face meeting with them so make sure that they understood our
concerns as they begin to deal with it. Um we we've reached out to them and they they are committed to working with us. Uh I do believe that we will end up with our face-to-face meeting with them. Uh but they they certainly have given us
the encouragement that we need that they're going to uh work for the residents of of of of how so looking forward to that. Uh, another issue is we've already looked at started looking at ways and and to find the funds uh and
a methodology to hire u part-time code enforcement officers so that we can get coverages on nights and weekends uh and to expand to be available to do the enforcement. Um, I hear you loud and clear and I understand that that the the
the legitimate enforcement of our ordinances is the highest priority. And so as I I commit to you while I'm here that that will be focused on every single day. Nothing. It was all covered. Have one.
Uh, yeah. I just wanted to uh be sure that everyone understood clearly. I realize that Mr. Howard has not been attending um our actual meeting uh in public the last few meetings. Uh it's important that public should know that.
You're right. He he wears several hats, but he does come to the executive session. So, um council is always apprised. I wouldn't I don't want the public to think that we are lacking in the information that we need, you know, to further deliberate and make decisions
and to go forward with the ordinances and other things uh that protect the township. So, um his input is still clearly coming our way. Um my understanding is that by contract he was never directed to attend meetings. Maybe
that's something that we want to readress to ensure that he can come to every meeting. Um but it's important that you know that he comes to the exact where we iron out uh situations you know get the information that we need uh we have so uh just want to be sure
everybody understands that I feel that we are going ahead with the most informative data that's available not only to the professionals but it comes right down the line to us as you heard the attorney and the interim manager speak to um so Mr. Howard has been
apprising us. So, just, you know, I I'm hoping that helps alleviate any fears that people think that maybe we're not getting all the correct information and we are those lines of communication are open and flowing. Councilman Adele, I'd just like to say to the community, I have spoken to Matt
Howard daily since I have started here. So, I we are in constant legal and code is in constant uh back and forth. just um I'm we're not in public comment anymore. Mayor, are you want to cut us off?
No, I I don't at all. I I just want to make sure you're okay. Listen, we've done this the last couple meetings. Okay, let's not start it back up. Everyone's questions are being answered. And well, you didn't come up. If you wanted to come up and say something, you
should have came up and said something. But I'm not We don't want to do this. Listen, we don't want to go back and forth. We want to give we wanted to give everyone a chance to come up and speak. And you know, you didn't come up the first time. Is it something we could address after the meeting? Sure. That's all I'm asking. I'm not You know,
we'll be happy to. We had We had We had the open comment, but why is it secret? Because there's cameras and audio. Ian, anything? Yeah, just going to make some comments on resolution 237 that Mr. Thor spoke
about. So, I'm extremely proud to be part of this and the council is part of this shared service agreement to provide the class 3 uh armed security police officers in our school buildings. safety, quality of life, especially for
our children, families in town, is one of the utmost priorities of myself and the rest of the council. So, this is something that I look to continue doing with the school district as long as I'm sitting up here. This is something that will never be negotiable as far as providing the safety for uh students in
our district. Mike, uh, I know I'm still getting up to speed up here. Um, the duplicative items you mentioned in the rooming and boarding houses, is are they, um, in a document somewhere that we can review as well, just so we can see what they are across
the different townships. You mention you mentioned that the the ordinance that was brought up by the the uh, what is what was constitutional is in already in our ordinances. That is what I'm saying. We what we have in our ordinances are is a very stringent
rental uh schema and it it's just an enforcement right now issue except for the three ordinances that I've identified. The other issue as that gentleman said we could up our inspections but what we have right now
is very strong ordinances. what I saw when reviewing them, we did not have the mercantile ordinances that covered the property management companies. I'm sorry, can you hear me? We didn't have that. So, that's why we didn't we also did not have um a
ordinance. I don't know if you were were watching the last few minutes. We didn't have an ordinance that covered um the clustering of sober living homes. Yeah. Some comments on that one, too. Yeah, that that now is in now that will be in place if you if you choose to adopt it tonight. And we
illegally. That's a fact. Sir, you cannot speak at the same time I'm speaking. Plus, you can't keep me quiet either. I can. I'm the attorney and I will keep you quiet if we sir. There's no need. Listen, the last
three Listen, I'm speaking now. Okay. The last three meetings you've come here and we've talked to you through throughout the meeting and after the meeting. I don't like the line. So just come up and speak when you have the chance to speak then. I don't like the who's I am extremely sir. Sir
the house is done in sir. We can do a lot of things at once but we can't talk at the same time. To you or anyone else in this council. In fact, if anything I appreciate and respect each and every one of you. I just have feelings. My whole community has feelings. Nothing's getting done.
Sir, you may sit down and listen to the meeting or you may talk during public comment, but you cannot talk when public comment is over. It is just procedure. It is not personal. I apologize each and every one of you and I apologize because as things come
up, people start having questions. We are again we're having public. I will answer that one question. You Yes. If you if if the council wanted to change the agenda and have two public comments, they absolutely can. But right now, I'm working with an agenda and I have to
keep it this way because if absolutely every one of you jumped up and started talking, nothing would get done. I apologize to you and everyone else here. You're doing a great job. I thank you very much. Okay. All right. Here, Mike. Any other
questions, Mike? suggest the support board of ad meetings. We do have two public comments for that very reason. I understand that. Yes. I would recommend for future agendas that the council considers that as an option. Well, I'll certainly speak with the council, but this this agenda right now has one public comment and I I just need
to stick to the agenda. Every one of your ideas, every one of your I am listening. I'm writing down. I'm researching. I can't do it if everyone just up and down and spoke. I appreciate the consideration. Thank you, Mike. Anything else?
Um, can I jump ahead to the the CSLRs or do we have to go through the all these ordinances peacemail the ordinances? You can I'm sorry, the cooperative sober livingings because I had I had a bunch of comments on it from when I was at the planning board. I I emailed them and and I addressed them I believe I I
answered them all but I can answer them again. Sure. Yeah. Thank you. Um, so the um there can either we don't need that. We don't need that. Okay. So, Councilman, yes.
So, I'll just go go through them again. Uh, just so everyone here, they might not have been at the planning board meeting. Just so it's on the record here as well, so everyone can hear what I had to say. Um, can we put zoning guide rails on this ordinance? Uh our ordinance is written it's as a conditional use for
all residential zones. Uh for instance, Rockway ordinance 2305 uh advertise 362023 allows CSLRs as conditional use only in business districts and residential professional districts. Um I'm not going to go through all of them, but there's several
other um townships that I had researched where they're only in specific zoning areas. Um, so I wanted to ask if that was something we could address because right now it just says it could be in any residential. Certainly, Councilman. Um, I would not recommend placing any guardrails on the
conditional use, although uh, other municipalities may have adopted this type of restriction without apparent challenge. This type of restrictions opens up the township to litigation as prohibited by the Fair Housing and Discrimination Act.
Okay. So, the DCA as of 1625 requires paid staff to be at the CSLRs from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Um, can we stipulate a minimum ratio of paid staff to disabled individuals to ensure they provide with the necessary care 5 to 14:1 uh or at a
minimum one housing manager per cl or is that the responsible responsibility of the DCA? That's the responsibility of the DCA. Okay. And in relation to that one, kind of going back to the zoning guard rails, um, if there's paid staff now required, isn't by definition of the ordinances,
it has to be a business or residential professional use and can't just be any and all residential zoning for the CSLRs. Can you repeat the question? So, there's required paid staff to be in
the CSLRs now. And if there are required paid staff on the premises of a property, isn't it supposed to be only within a business or residential professional district and not all residential districts by definition of the zone?
Yeah, as I I I think I've stated previously, any regulations that treat CSRs differently than other residential dwellings will be subject to the Fair Housing Act. Um we are we are very much regulated here by federal law. um this policy decision that the
township it's a policy decision I guess the town should be could consider but we are in dangerous territory treating them differently. So, you're saying some of these things are in other towns, right? But there just haven't run into this. I mean, do you have statistics or anything like how how often has this, you know, been run
into what? Yeah, I I don't have statistics. One of my one of my thoughts on the whole issue is what's working and what isn't working elsewhere and let's not fall in the same traps and let's try and tighten up some of the loopholes. And I'm sure and I
understand I'm sure you're doing this in spades. I'm just trying to Yeah. So, so un unfortunately c Yeah, unfortunately councilman as an attorney I get this a lot in different towns that this ordinance is here. This ordinance is here. It just hasn't been challenged or most
likely not even being enforced. It's not even being and that's why it hasn't been challenged. I don't I'm not in the business of putting ordinances up that are unconstitutional because that's not why I went to law school. That's not why why you're paying
me. I I'm I am here to make the strictest laws that we possibly can that can I can if challenged I can defend in court and under good conscience. Um so I'm I'm I'm recommending this ordinance. I've written the ordinance to where I
feel is and I do I feel like I what? Yes, I may get challenged but I feel I'll prevail in court. And that's that's the whole point is is for me to put up forth an ordinance to you that you can utilize, you can enforce, and if someone
challenges, I will win in court. Okay. Um, thank you. You're welcome. Uh, finally, uh, can we is there any way to increase the distances between the CSLRs? Right now we have uh one of the stipulations in
there that you have 300 ft from an intersection on either side of the intersection. So essentially the back corners of the properties are only 150 ft away. Again in several under other townships they have as much as 1,000 ft apart from the exterior property lines.
And this just serves to um again put guide rails that there isn't one of these CSLRs on every block in every residential zone in the town. Mhm. Um, so how how does that stack up speaking, you know, is it is that unconstitutional that like where do
those distances come from? Is that come from the Fair Housing Act or upper bound and lower bound? Yeah. So So yeah, you're correct in that it's property line to property line in terms of from schools. Um, and and by the when I say schools, that's all schools except for home schools, just so
everyone is aware of it. I'm not talking just about your town, your your your general schools. if it's a Montasauri school, if it's a, you know, any nursery school, if it's, the only thing that wouldn't apply would be home schools and it's property line to property line. Um, and in connection with the clustering
between the sober livingings, it's property line to property line. Um, because that's not how it was written. It was written along the frontage of the property. It's property line to property line. That's how it will be that's how it will be enforced. That's how that's that's But that's not how it's written is what I'm saying. it it's how it's written is
how it's it's and how it's enforced. There's other guidelines to enforce these types of ordinances. I could include a more specification if you wanted that, but I'm telling you enforcement is is property line to property line. You go by the tax map.
Yeah. I mean, I just I' I'd prefer not to leave any uh leave anything to the imagination because other again, other ordinances say specifically property line, exterior of property line, exterior of property. So, so Councilman, I would ask I would implore that we we um adopt this
ordinance because I need this on the books. Okay. Um if you want to amend at a later date, we certainly can, but I need this on the books now. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Appreciate it. Deputy Mayor.
Um, just to uh acknowledge one of the residents that spoke about enforcement because we do have these ordinances that we've worked very hard on. Um, and to repeat what Mr. Gross has already said, we we are going to hire. We we wanted to
do this a year and a half ago. We had asked for code enforcement officers willing to work different shifts because we realized people aren't home during the day because they're working. We're going to work on that, right, Mr. Gross? Um, so it's out there. We're looking for part-time code enforcement officers and
also willing to work the weekends. Um, so we can actually start enforcing the the ordinances that we do have. And um, ICE was mentioned. Um, ICE was here in June after the after what happened on June 5th. Two people were taken. I have
asked I had asked the previous township manager if he could please write up a letter. we had we had asked and he had agreed. I don't think that ever happened obviously, but I definitely think it's time to reconsider that as well. Um, until Jack Chedarelli wins in November,
we're still a sanctuary state and uh we have to do whatever we can to protect our town. So, thank you. Well, I'm going to just bring up some comments that have been made obviously the last two or three meetings just so
we're clear and uh and we're crystal clear and precise to what Mrs. Bennett has said tonight and our new township manager. We we will and need to follow, you know, the laws.
We don't want to get the town suit into oblivion. But in, you know, maybe some cases here and there, if we are having issues with maybe one or two houses that will just not comply and and we have to push the envelope envelope maybe a little bit,
you know, then, you know, we'll we'll address that. But as far as enforcement, you know, it's going we're going to have to change our tune here and it's going to be zero tolerance. All right. No, there's no more warnings because the warnings are getting us any,
you know, nowhere. And we know that. So, being nice doesn't get you anywhere. And unfortunately, the landlords need to hold their tenants accountable. You know, you would, you know, it's common sense that the tenant would think I can't have 20 people or 25 people
living in a three-bedroom house. But, you know, obviously that common sense is not going, you know, into into certain people's homes. Um, the landlord's job because they own the home is to enforce the ordinance ordinances that we have on
the books. It's his job to stop their monthly, bimonthly, whatever he's got to do to collect his rent or her rent and maybe walk through the house and make sure that the tenants aren't causing a problem or breaking the laws that we have on the books. Now,
80% of our landlords, maybe 90%, I don't know, are doing the right thing in the town. Okay, we have a lot of landlords. I know a bunch of landlords and they're very strict to the occupancy rule. Okay. To um
you know the quality of life issues, keeping the homes you know well maintained to their ability and not being a nuisance to their neighbors. But folks, not everyone's going to follow the rules. We know that. Okay. So, the
select group of landlords that want to keep playing games, okay, and we have to repeatedly go to these homes and deal with what's going on. We are trying to, you know, tighten everything up, give the police a little bit more teeth with
the the the noise ordinances, okay, without the device. And Mr. Fro Mr. control there like you said. Okay. Whatever needs to get done, it's it's it's we are trying. Okay. It's enforcement, enforcement, enforcement.
And to the residents out there who I've spoke to in the past couple weeks since the last meeting who are just completely disgusted and completely disenfranchised about what's going on. Okay. I am disgusted with you. And this council, I believe all of us are, you know, Mr.
He's new. He's okay. We we all feel the same way. Okay. So, the small group that is just non-stop with the issues is the group the township needs to address at a higher level without,
you know, breaking any laws or constitutionally affecting the the the tenants or the landlords. There's so much to this, right? Just like criminals, the criminals have more rights than the victims. And whose fault is that? that's our elected officials at
this at the state level and the federal level. It's it's ridiculous. Okay. But we do have to follow, you know, certain protocols to get, you know, things done. Um the zero tolerance is the zero tolerance. That's how I feel and I hope that is going to be enforced. I think
we've been doing that already. Okay. And as far as passing information on, if you're if you're if you don't want to call the township yourself because you you feel that your name is going to get put out there, which I don't think we're is that we're allowed to do that anyway, you know, as far as if someone calls and
complains about something on their block, we if that person that they complain about, are they allowed to call in and say who complained? Should not be. That's not a That's not No, you can anonymous make a complaint and we have a duty to investigate. Okay. So that's, you know, I've
encouraged many residents to email me personally at the at the township email or this entire council with your complaints if you don't want to do it yourself. It happens every day and I will pass that on to the chain of command to our township manager and he
will pass that on to the department that it needs to go to. Whether the grass is 3 ft tall, you're parking on the lawn, you think there's 20 people living in a three-bedroom house. Okay. If there's all sorts of stuff, violations, okay? So, I encourage you to speak up. All
right? And you know, unfortunately on a lot of streets, there's houses for sale and then they sell, then they're empty, and then there's a three or four month period that they might be empty, and then the grass is 3 ft tall, 4t tall. I went by a couple houses today, and
that's the case cuz they're vacant. you know, that's a legitimate concern that we need to get on. So, whoever owns the home needs to, you know, properly, you know, maintain it. I I have spoken to a few more gentlemen from the Orthodox
community that live here and they are they're concerned about what we're concerned about. They're living here in the neighborhoods like we are and they want the enforcement. Okay? And that's great to hear, okay? But we can't
control everyone that's buying the homes, whether they're just a regular couple, it's a group, it's not a group, it's whatever. It is what it is. You know, you have to follow the same rules that everyone has to follow. And I've said that in how many meetings. What's good for you and what's good for us and
good for everyone in this room should be good for everyone. But you you're going to get, you know, unfortunately a handful of people or more more than a handful that don't care what we have to say, don't care about our ordinances. And that's unfortunate. So that's what
the code code department's for. That's what our officials are for. All we can do is tighten everything up. Some of you might not be happy the way we we tighten it up because legally it's got to be tightened up the right way. And you know, I'm disappointed too with some of
the stuff. And you know, if we got to keep going through the same house over and over and we have to keep writing fines and they got to keep paying the fines or what they want to go to court and fight it and we have to challenge them in court and then hopefully we uh we win. If we
don't, that's unfortunate, too. But that's the, you know, that's out of our hands. That's the at the next level. So, uh I I just encourage everybody just to be patient. Okay. The last three meetings have been it's been heated. Um, and as far as a gentleman and his wife who who left, you know, I know he's
upset about what went on on his block, but there's a procedure to follow to what was could be done and not be done for what they were doing on that block. They just can't snap our fingers. We can't just send the police there and kick the door down and grab everybody and rip them out of the house. People
have fourth amendment rights just like you. I don't want anyone coming to my house and accusing me of something and I'm not doing it or even if I am doing it. you want to come in my house, you're going to come in with my permission or a warrant. And everyone here, we all have the same rights, okay? No one has
different rights than any anyone else. Okay? But the rule breakers that are constantly taking advantage of what's going on in this town with these rentals, there's it's it's needs to be addressed. And it's zero tolerance,
folks. Zero tolerance. Enforcement. Enforcement. Enforcement. And we've been saying it for this is the fourth meeting now in a row. Okay, we're trying. And all we could do is try and sorry that it's not as as speedy of a of a of
a of of a result that everyone wants or that they need, but we have to do it by the book. If we don't do it by the book, it's going to, you know, it's going to cause problems for the town. And we don't need any more problems than we
already have. And I uh you know, like I said to you guys multiple meetings, I don't like what's going on. None of us like what's going on. And it's it's it's unfortunate that we have to even even tolerate it. living in a nice neighborhood, paying thousands of dollars in taxes, and you expect, you
know, your neighbors to keep up their homes and not take advantage of the ordinances that are on the books and, you know, that I even have to make a phone call and and and and say, "This house is being reported with 18 people, 19 people in it." Or a house the other
day that I got a phone call, a box truck pulled up and they unloaded 20 mattresses into a garage. Okay. Every complaint goes to the right department and it it's a process. It's documented. It's g given to an an
official and then the process starts. Okay. Can we just go there and, you know, open the garage? No. Can we go there and knock on the door and ask to come in? If they let us, that'd be great. And if they're violating, we're going to find out. But, you know, I'm going to go back to the landlords, okay?
Whoever you are, it's your job to make sure your tenants are following the rules and that's it. You make a massive investment in buying a house for 67 $800,000. Okay? And then you think as as this
landlord, oh, I'm going to charge four, five, $6,000 in rent. So, this house gets filled up with 20 25 people because how the hell is the is the the lease person going to pay that kind of rent? Okay. It's impossible without filling it with multiple individuals, whether
they're family, not family, and then we're we're restricted by the fair housing laws and the acts on what we could even do. And and who could live there? You know, you would think whoever's on the lease should be living there. And that's not the case in in in
in some cases. We know that. But getting it checked out and getting it documented and getting it, you know, factual to to bring to to to a fine and go to court with it is a process. And I, you know, I don't I don't like the process either, folks. But that's, you know, we have to
do it the right way. And, you know, I I'm just here. We're all here. We're trying to work for the town. Okay? Our professionals hear you. you you you are they here to talk to you? They're here to explain things that are
out of our you know out of our uh pay range as far as knowing what the laws are and what the laws aren't and you know I sympathize with the people that that that are having concerns. But this this noise ordinance is going to be very
very very productive now for the police department to go to to go to a residence. Okay. And they don't want to comply you write you go there you warn them they don't do it. write the ticket or you just write the ticket, you know, no warnings, right? I I rather no warnings because warnings just are
are just like a slap on the wrist and that's it. That's that's not productive. Okay, folks. And you know, like I said, it's it's it's hard to sit up here and and and and answer everyone and then every day when I'm out in the neighborhoods dealing with everyone,
believe me, it it's become a full-time job. And because I don't currently work, because I am, you know, going through some recovery issues with some surgeries I had, you know, I don't stay in my house all day and hide from the public.
I'm out every day in neighborhoods. And it's actually a joke in a couple neighborhoods that I go to certain spots and it's like, "Oh, you want to hang out with the mayor, just go over here. He's hanging out there from 11 to 1." Or, "You want to hang out the mayor, go to Big City Bagel or go to Farmingdale." You know, listen, I sat today with
residents of the equestrian community. One resident came in today. Four hours at JB's Diner, folks, on his concerns. Four hours. If you break down what we make, it's like $3 an hour. Okay? It is
what it is. But and he wants to have a meeting now moving forward with Mr. Mr. Gross hopefully next week and the week after. He has some concerns and I said, "Listen, bring your concerns to the town hall. I'll come to the meeting if you like and we'll sit down. We talk together, Mr. Gross, and you can answer his questions, right? You know, you
know, we're all available. We'll we'll we'll meet you and we'll talk with you after each meeting. We've been coming down and speaking with you. We're here. We hear you, okay? And and you know, we we're here to serve the town. That's why we got elected.
And uh that that's it for now. I just uh I want you guys to know we're trying. Okay. We're going to move on to consent agenda items. Does anyone wish to vote on any consent agenda items separately? No, sir.
I am seeing no. So, resolutions R-25-226 all the way to R25-242. May I have a a motion? I'll make a motion to approve those resolutions of forementioned. Second. Councilman Nadell. Yes. Councilman O'Donnell. Yes. Councilman Rubel.
Uh, abstain. I wasn't present for any. Deputy Mayor Fischer. Yes. Mayor Leio. Yes. Thank you. The consent resolutions pass. On to unfinished business. Public hearing adoptions of ordinances. Ordinance 0-25-30.
an ordinance setting forth and amending and supplementing the salary range schedule for the salaries of certain officers and employees of the township of how the public hearing on ordinance 25-30 is now open if anyone wishes to comment on this ordinance. Please come up to the podium. State your name and
address for the record. Seeing no one, may I have a motion to close public? Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 25-30? Motion to adopt ordinance 2530. I'll second.
Councilman Maidell, yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Rubel, yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer, yes. Mayor Leia, yes. Thank you. The ordinance is adopted. Ordinance 0-25-31,
an ordinance authorizing the leasing of certain capital equipment by the township of Howell, New Jersey from the Mammoth County Improvement Authority and execution of a lease and agreement relating there too. The public hearing on ordinance 0-2531
is now open. If anyone wishes to comment on this ordinance, please come up to the podium, state your name and address for the record. Seeing no one, may I have a motion to close? Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I. Motion to adopt 25-31.
A move to adopt ordinance 25-31. Second. Second. Councilman Nadell. Yes. Counciloman O'Donnell. Yes. Councilman Reubel. Yes. Mayor, excuse me. Deputy Mayor Fischer. Yes. Mayor Leio. Yes. Thank you. The ordinance is adopted.
Ordinance 0-25-32, Ordinance authorizing the guarantee by the Township of Howell in the County of Mammoth, state of New Jersey of payment of principal and interest on the capital equipment lease revenue bonds series 2025, Howell Board of Education Project
of the Mammoth County Improvement Authority. The public hearing on ordinance 25-32 is now open. If anyone wishes to comment on this ordinance, please come up to the podium. No one close public portion.
Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I I. Motion to adopt 25-32. Motion to adopt ordinance 2532. I'll second. Councilman Naidown. Yes. Counciloman O'Donnell. Yes.
Councilman Rubel. Yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer. Yes. Mayor Leio. Yes. Thank you. The ordinance is adopted. Ordinance 0-25-33, an ordinance amending chapter 188, land use of the Howell Township Administrative Code to supplement with
regulations regarding cooperative sober living residences. The public hearing on ordinance 25-33 is now open. If anyone wishes to comment on this ordinance, please come to the podium, state your name and address. No one.
No one wants to comment on this ordinance. Sober living homes Answer answer deep. You want to say something? I thought you maybe got some laryngitis or something. You know, last three meetings we've been having nice
conversation. Yeah. First of all, want to thank you for uh considering the ordinance and um your name and address, please. It's the chapter name and address sorry in the deep core.
Thank you. Reuben code. So I want to thank you for passing the recent ordinance addressing land use for cooperative sober living residences, boarding houses and rooming houses and amending chapter 188 land use for um uh use of the Howell Township
administrative code. Uh we recognize that this is a right uh step in the right direction. So after um the town manager's comment um this brings us to one of our biggest concerns the conflicting information
between the state and the township at the last meeting township meeting and as well as today we were told that shutting down this facility fall under the state's jurisdiction. However, the state has told us directly that in their view
they have no authority to close it and this responsibility fall under township's jurisdiction. This contradicts and is not just confusing it leaves our community in a limbo unsure who is truly
accountable for our safety. More troubling since the state's involvement the behavior of for ribbon court has escalated. Some residents have been in engaged in actions such as taking pictures and videos of neighbors. Uh
they have made residents feel intimidated and harassed. This conducts unwanted, invasive and created a sense of hostility in our own neighborhood. Even more troubling, there was a hit and run incident. A ve a van associated with
the property. It struck the car of a neighbor's child with enough force to shake the vehicle and left without notifying the owner. Based on our understanding and review of the video evidence, just like the ma'am said other day, we have this uh the evidence that
we have, this appears to meet the definition of hit and run under New Jersey law. So we have done our part. We have documented activity, collected evidence, provided it both to the state and the
township and engaged in good good uh faith in at every step. But now it is time for the township to take the next step. The state has told us that in their view closure fall under township's jurisdiction. You have the authority to
act and we respectfully ask you to use it. We need to bring this matter to a to a close for the safety of our family, integrity of our neighborhood, and the trust of this community. We ask that you have you move quickly and decisively to
shut down this facility. Together, we can restore the safety and peace of the residents of Reuben Court. Thank you. Any question for Mr. Bennett? I actually I Mr. Gross can answer this. Oh, good.
You um I'll be h happy to speak with you uh with with specifics after the meeting, but as I mentioned before, uh we did reach out to the to the DCA uh on some specific matters, this being one of them. And um I don't I don't want to
preempt what they're going to do because I don't have it in writing yet, but I'll certainly be willing to share with you uh the information and I think you you will be encouraged. Anyone else? Seeing none, motion to close public. Motion to close public.
Second. All in favor? I. Motion to adopt 25-33. I'll move to adopt ordinance 25-33. Second. Council Nadell. Yes. Counciloman O'Donnell. Yes. Councilman Reubel.
Yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer. Yes. Mayor Leio. Yes. Thank you. The ordinance is adopted. Introduction of ordinances. Ordinance 0-25-34. An ordinance amending the Howell Township Administrative Code to create
chapter 330, public events for the regulation of special events and block parties. A public hearing and adoption is set to be heard September 16th, 2025. I'll make a motion to introduce ordinance 25
uh 34. Second. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Reubel, yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer, yes. Mayor Leio. Yes. Thank you. The ordinance is properly introduced. Ordinance 0-25-35,
an ordinance of the Township Council of the Township of Howell amending and supplementing chapter 211 of the revised general ordinances of the township of Howell entitled nuisance as to create a new article three entitled noise as nuisance. Public hearing and adoption is
set to be heard September 16th, 2025. Motion introduce ordinance 2535. Second. Councilman Nadal. Yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell. Yes. Councilman Woodell. Yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer. Yes. Mayor Legio. Yes. Thank you. The ordinance is properly
introduced. Ordinance 0-25-36. Ordinance amending chapter 150 fire prevention to include chapter 150 article 3 certificate of smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm, and secondary power source compliance and amending chapter 139 fees. Public hearing
adoption is scheduled to be heard September 16th, 2025. I'll make a motion for ordinance 25-36. I'll second the introduction. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Rubel, yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer,
yes. Mayor Leio, yes. Thank you. The ordinance is properly introduced. Ordinance 0-25-37, an ordinance authorizing traffic enforcement upon real property located at 308 and 413 Fairfield Road in
accordance with the request of the property owner. Public hearing and adoption is set to be heard September 16th, 2025. Motion introduced ordinance 2537. Second. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Rubel,
yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer, yes. Mayor Leio, yes. Thank you. The ordinance is properly introduced. Ordinance 0-25-38, ordinance authorizing traffic enforcement upon real property located at block 3, lot 25.01. In accordance
with the request of the property order, the public hearing and adoption is scheduled to be heard September 16th, 2025. I'll make the motion to introduce ordinance 25-38. Second. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell,
yes. Councilman Rubel, yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer, yes. Mayor Leio, yes. Thank you. The ordinance is properly introduced. In addition to tonight's agenda, ordinance 0-25-39, an ordinance of the township of Howell, chapter of Mammoth, excuse me, county of
Mammoth, state of New Jersey, amending chapter 178, housing code, rental properties of the township code of the township of as to create article 1A, mercantile licenses. Public hearing and adoption is scheduled to be heard
September 16th, 2025. Motion introduce ordinance 2539. Second. Councilman Nadell, yes. Councilwoman O'Donnell, yes. Councilman Rubel, yes. Deputy Mayor Fischer, yes. Mayor Leio, yes. Thank you. The ordinance is properly introduced.
And that's it for ordinances for this evening. All right, folks. Next regular schedule meeting is going to take place on September 16th, 2025. The executive session begins at 6 p.m. and the regular session will begin at 7
p.m. Uh I am seeing no no further business before the council. May I have a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I