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. Good evening and welcome to the May 13,
2025 regular meeting of the Jackson Township Council. Pursuant to the provision of the New Jersey Open Public Meeting Act, adequate notice of this meeting was properly provided by transmitting the notice of the meeting on January 28, 2025 for publication. Notice of this meeting of the township council has been posted in the quarter
of the municipal building and in the office of the municipal clerk. We'll begin with a roll call. Council member Belli here. Councilman Sergeant absent. Yes. He did notify me earlier that he wasn't feeling well.
Councilman Paul Mary present. Council Vice President Bernstein here. Council President Cune here. Also present this evening is Township Attorney Mr. McGucken, myself, Township Clerk Martin, and Deputy Clerk Jen Carelli. The next item for tonight's
meeting is an update from the Department of Public Works, Mr. Shan Bolinsky. Council President Q. Thank you. Jackson Township DPW Shawn Bolinsky would like to update the grades. The upgrades to the Field of Dreams playgrounds are complete. The playground is open for the
children to en enjoy. DPW is working on the removal of the site work on uh Johnson Park playground construction is set to begin next week. Our clean community spring uh cleanup event was a huge success. We had 245 participants, collected 173 bags of litter and reward
participant groups with a total of $14,500 in many grants. I would like to thank everyone that volunteered their time to help keep Jackson clean. Our bulk and brush collection is right on schedule. We appreciate the cooperation of all residents in piling uh place
curbside neat within the guidelines. effective 512. We will be unable to accept waste oil at our township transfer station while undergoing repairs and cleaning. Residents may bring their waste oil to the Northern Recycling Center located at 601 New
Hampshire Avenue in Lakewood. And this is just a reminder and announcement on June 10th, the meeting is rescheduled to June 12th due to our primary election and this uh room, the council room will be used. So again, we are rescheduling that meeting to June 12th, which is
Thursday, same time, same place. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank you. The next item on tonight's meeting is an excuse me, um is a the proclamation portion. Council President Cune. Yes. Hi. So, as you can see, we
have a bunch of amazing young athletes here from our Jackson Wrestling, Lady Jag Wrestlers, along with Assemblyman Suiki. and we collectively together with your coach would like to give you certificates and proclamations. So, we're going to call your number uh assembly man if you can come up and
coach if you can come up First up, Madison, sister. Next up, praise God. Sister Ariana. Alo, Marlo. Senior Margo, Lily Claus. Victoria,
Alberto, Molly Nappa Elsie McGley, Senior Dominique Lopez, Savage, Alison, Depressa, Riley Bourne. Junior, Ferrari. Oh yeah, I I don't know. Can I move it? It's
like propose a motion to to move the to redecorate. I guess this is Can I get a motion to move a Alex? Can I get a motion to move this just so to
move? I'm teasing. I got a bunch of And the jack Holy Ghost. Thank you everyone. Congratulations. Thank you. Yes. Our next presentation is going to be
with JCPNL. Mr. Price. We're just going to let the ladies get out or not get out, but leave. Exit. It's a It's a It's a play on words. Are you on the assembly committee
oversight? Hello, Mr. Price. How are you? How are you? Good to meet you. Good to see you. Yes, there's a face behind the text message. Yes, are we ready to go back into session? Yes. Oh, sorry. Okay. Hello, sir. Thank you for coming. We appreciate it. We
have a representative from JCPNL here, Mr. Robert Bryce. We are He has a presentation up on the uh wall on the screen so that we can have a presentation going while council is going to ask a couple questions. This is going to be a five-minute presentation. I do have a couple questions that I've
prepared. Um if you want to do maybe a twominut opener and then I'll go into the questions and then uh we're not going to take any resident questions right now, but at the end if they have any questions, if you're still here, you can answer them. If not, I'll take note of them and I'll email them to you. If you could kindly just answer any uh questions that they wouldn't have. I
know that there was a resident that was here, but looks like Oh, there she is. I didn't see her. Okay. So, we had a good discussion so far. That's what I figured. I I didn't see her over there, so I thought maybe that her answers were um that she had got some answers, but I see she's still there. So, go ahead. If
you want to do opening comments and then I'll go through with the questions. Okay. I want to thank you tonight for inviting me. No, thank you for coming. What we're talking about at your request is uh what residents are going to see come June 1st, an increase in their electric bills. And I'd like to go ahead and explain what the root cause of that
is. Um up on this uh screen right here, I have a picture of a bill. It's important for residents to realize that there's two charges on your bill. One is generation, one is distribution. JCPNL
is a distribution company only. After 1999 with deregulation, New Jersey was one of many states that deregulated utilities, they they separated distribution and generation. So, a distribution company such as JCPNL can no longer be involved in the generation
of power. It's totally separate. On that bill, you'll see two different charges. Uh JCPNL, we're we deliver it. We're the delivery people. We're the Uber people that bring the food to the house. the the generation people, they're the restaurants that produce the food.
So, as of right now, JCPNL within the last four years has only had one increase uh of 3.6%. That kicked in last June 1st after we went before the Board of Public Utilities at a rate case hearing. Uh in that rate case hearing, uh they
discussed everything we needed, projects, operating costs, and determined that a 3.6% increase was reasonable. again that was our only increase within uh the last four years up until now even we don't have an increase this year last June 1st also what happened
was it was the first of several what's called BGS or basic generation service increases that is determined by the wholesale auction that the board of public utilities overseas for the uh generation costs generation costs are
administered by a company called uh PJM Pennsylvania, Jersey, uh Maryland, but it oversees many more than that. Sees 13 states and uh the District of Columbia. It is the uh biggest grid provider in the United States of America and
oversees about 70 thou I'm sorry 70 million uh residents o of of the country. So they oversee the uh the preparation of the bid to the board of public
utilities for the wholesale auction. What happened last year though was there was an increase that resulted in a believe it uh 7% increase uh on a total bill. Yes. Okay. That's a lot. That's a
Yeah. I'm sorry. I know I'm getting close from res. I I just want to go back to what just a couple comments before you said because we said we going to be a Q&A not really a PowerPoint. So you're saying that you're the Uber driver, right? You are electric. So there's a high fee in the Uber driver. So I don't
that's why you don't use Uber. All right. Bad example then. Well, I'm just saying that's you said it was not me. But I'm just saying I mean do you really want to be an Uber driver? Because you know what? I would just drive myself and save that fee. So So Tony, can you go to the next uh chart too, please? No, I I am I just I'm trying to
understand before we get boggled down into because you and last year there's a fee, this year's a fee. I'm seeing so what we continue to charge is we had again our increase in our delivery charge was 3.6% last year. Okay. On June 1st as well, uh the basic generation
cost increased 8.7%. What's going to happen this year on June 1st is there's a 19.9% increase. Uh that all goes to the basic generation. These two charges that you see, the 8.7% and the 19.9 are going to combine June 1st for probably a
32.2% increase since last June in the electric bill. JCPNL is only uh responsible for 3.6% or a little over 10% of that charge. The rest of it is a pass through. We see nothing with that that we just collected
um for the uh the basic generation services for the uh so yeah. So the the BGS rates it says uh default rate for non-shopping customers. Yes. So is that something that you can shop for different as you said restaurants that
you could go to and keep you as my Uber driver, right? Because you just got real cheap. So I'm back to Uber, right? I'm not driving myself. So if I'm going to go and I want to shop restaurants, if I want to go to a three store, I'm still going to get the same electric that I'm getting at a fivestar. I'm just using a different provider. Correct. Yes. So what our charge is is it's the default
charge if someone chooses not to go with a third party. Now again, I um before we leave, I'll just touch on third parties real quick. Okay. But I'm interested in the third parties because I understand I'll touch on it now then. Yeah. Whatever can save people money, I think that's what they're going to be asking about. And this is a great presentation.
So I do take So what we want to do is we can't recommend or recommend someone does or doesn't go to a third party provider. Uh so what we do though is tell them do your due diligence please. There's good ones out there and there's bad ones out there. The first thing I recommend is go with one that you know
somebody is already with. Um there could be we're starting to hear right now because sharks smell blood in the water. There's a lot of people coming out of the woodwork. So, we want people I'm worried about our senior citizens to be honest with you. Yeah. A lot of people are talking about getting calls
unsolicited. So, we want people to be aware. Please do your due diligence. Look into it and make sure that you're going with a reputable. And again, we can't tell you who to go with and who not to, but all I can tell you is know somebody else that has good experience with that company. Can can you give us any recommendations that we could
possibly put on our township website of companies that you know? So, so I'll give you this and a couple tips we have. The first thing is it's just like any other bait and switch that that you get with any other watch the introductory rates. Look for the terms of the contract. Don't sign into a real long
contract. Uh again, the biggest thing going back to and this is what I keep going, find out somebody that's had good experience with the company for a long term and and that's probably your best, you know, source of uh a reference for that company. um watch out for fees because they may
have the the the certain charges. Find out what the monthly fee is and go with that. Now, the other thing that is out there is municipal aggregation where towns have are have been going out getting um you know soliciting fees from from uh
providers. Towns are not having success lately finding anything cheaper than the the the default charge that we have. I know Manchester just went through it. I believe two years in a row Manchester went through it. They tried to they had it for many years. It expired the end of
23. I believe in 24 they tried it to get a new bid and I believe this year they did too. Plumstead also is another uh local larger town that had municipal aggregation but again they're not using it because they're not finding the the uh you know cheaper service out there.
So council president absolutely please council. I I guess it's almost like a two-part question or maybe a statement. So, I like the fact that you started off by saying your distribution because the rates are going up in generation and you didn't want to get killed with questions as to why if you're not involved in generation who is the main generation
that you distribute is it like where do you get coming from? We get it all through the through the wholesale auction. It comes through PJM. So, PJM has many different providers and gener generation companies. It's nuclear, it's
coal, uh it's gas turbine, it's hydroelectric. They have many different sources that they uh that they uh get it off of. Here's where the the issues going on. It's just like any other supply and demand issue. Demand for electricity is going up for electric
vehicles. Um uh data centers is a huge consumption. Uh but the supply is going down. The reason the supply is going down, a lot of plants are going offline. Gas, coal, they're going offline. They're not being Why is that just the
governor's energy policy? So, not not not our governor because again, these are all regional. So, it is our governor administered by um FK. So, FK has certain guidelines on a lot of these plans as far as useful
life. So, a lot of them are ending their their useful life. They're entering 20 30 years. So they can't be considered for the auction anymore. There's a certain limit on it. Um and then just as far as the, you know, the the cost of running those plants. So when something
goes offline, there's no backup plan to And nuclear, doesn't that last a very long time? Like there's no backup plan to fulfill that gap because we're going up 20%. Like what's the what would the strategy be? And why are we so behind?
30 39% we're going Why? Yeah. What's the 32 is the backup plan still very significant plan. Who plans this? Is it JCPNL? Is it the third party? Is it the state of New Jersey? Who So this this is out of JCPNL's hands at this point. This falls kind of under federal
regul federal energy regulatory commission for running the the generation facilities. It goes through PJM. Now again to to give PJM a little bit of a pass here by FK guidelines. PJM is a a zero uh profit pass through
entity as well. They get none of the So who is making all the profit because it seems like everybody's a pass through. It would be on the generation side. Okay. It would be on the generation side. So New Jersey is using more energy than it's producing and that's why we're paying a lot of more money. So I think I could cast that net wider. I think the
the nation is using more energy than it's producing. I have a question. Do you think that this is push pushing people to go to solar? It's an effort to make because solar I think is a different process. Correct. individual solar or um
it may I mean that's an individual um just I mean I'm not a fan of solar personally. Yeah. I'm going to go back to the same advice I gave for to check on there. It's I'm just saying you you had said that. I'm just saying because I know if it starts getting I'm worried about our senior citizens. I'm worried about them getting you know the calls
and this and that. You're going to save money. You're going to save money just like what happened with solar, people going door to door and all of a sudden you sign up and next thing you know you have, you know, solar panels and you have a roof that's no good and you have this contract that you're in that you can't even get rid of. On this morning's news they had a about a big company.
Oh, it's it's just a thing that is I'm going to Thank you. Yeah. I just want to give council all uh um a chance to ask some comments and and ask some questions and then I'm going to wrap it up. So, in addition, I have a video, four-minute video kind of compressed of what I'm presenting to you with a lot of other
information, too. And we're going to provide that to you. You could put that on the municipal. We're going to put that on the town website. Uh, Madame Clerk, if we can that video if we can put on one more. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, absolutely. Question. So, first of all, thank you for coming down. I appreciate it. It's good to finally meet you. Um,
our bills are going up. Um, it's not a secret. We We're working on some of our infrastructure upgrades. And one of the I'll use a word excuses that continuously comes up is well the JCPNL polls to get those polls moved it's 12 months 18 months 24 months we've been involved in various things over the
years we're as taxpayers we're paying a lot of money. Are you guys internally in JCPL growing your your your your workforce and your teams based on like where's all the money going? So so the first thing is are you are you talking about road winding projects? Well everything for
the polls. I mean everything. It's not a secret. There's parts of town that doesn't have enough power. When there's a storm, it goes down. I mean, if not for the fact that you're reachable, we'd be still be out from the last storm. Like if you need a pole changed and a project's going and they're doing and they're pushing it back, I mean, whatever. And they're pushing it back. Takes two years to get or if a storm
when we have a storm and people lose power, which we've had and if not for the fact Mr. Rice answers his phone, we would probably still have blackouts in parts of town. It would just it it takes days to get anyone on the phone. So, I know it's a separate separate real quick. our our our storm restoration in
the last six months I want to say is has made tremendous strides and I'm going to tell you why the company and by the company don't forget JCPNL is part of First Energy a five-state you know entity with 10 different companies within it but as far as both First
Energy and JCPNL in the last two years we've had significant leadership change starting with the leadership out in Ohio under First Energy and then trickling down with new people put and most key positions up into and including our new president and vice president here in New Jersey. Uh we are
making tremendous strides. Um as far as for those of you who don't know what my role is during a storm is to communicate with you know emergency services and the elected officials. um the information that's become available to me and the information I'm passing on is better is
better information in in in the respect that it's quicker but also it's good news on delivering I'm delivering a lot more restoration more rapidly to people um and there's a lot of steps that we've taken with that it's on the management side uh it's how we address the issues
um and and we're definitely making progress on that and we're going to continue to um we just had a reorganization uh where you know we did have some people uh let go from the company. We had some people reassigned um and that was one of the first phases of the new
management taking place. What they're also going to be doing is bringing on additional people in other areas. Uh one of the key areas being linemen that they're going to be bringing on. Uh they're introducing a new apprenticeship program uh for new linemen to bring them into the uh the company. So we're definitely making a lot of big steps
with this new leadership in place. Thank you. And again, I I repeat, thank you because I know you're always reachable no matter what time of the day is. We do appreciate that. Any other questions on the council? Appreciate it. Thank you, sir. We appreciate your time. Thank you. And I'm available any other time you need me to come. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. During public comment and then if he's not here, I'll write during public comment. And then if he's not here, I'll write it down and we'll get you an answer. Thank you, Council President Cune. Are there any additional uh comments before we move on to the next agenda item?
We just have council opening comments, right? Okay. So, okay. I just wanted to take a few moments to share what's been going on around town since our last meeting. We've had some great community events recently, things that really brought people together and showed the
strong spirit of our town. We had opening day for United as one Jackson Hullbrook Little League and it was great to see so many people and families come out to support and enjoy a great day of baseball. We also launched our farmers market which was a huge success with over a 100 people showed up within the
first 15 minutes. That said, I have received some concerns about the location. I hope our recreation department can work with our police department to review the feedback, especially working regular um regarding traffic and safety uh concerns to our residents. With the summer months coming
up, we also need to make sure that the justice complex parks and fields are available to use while still supporting the farmers market. From what I understand, a recom um from the police department recommendation has been made to relocate the market to our well um as
well as our summer concert series to Johnson Park. I'm sure the recreation department is already reviewing this and I hear and and if I hear any updates, I'll be sure to share them with the residents. I also wanted to take a moment to express my deep concerns about the situation with our Jackson food
pantry. The food pantry reached out to me. Joy from the food pantry reached out to me on Friday afternoon and over the weekend. Um, at my request, I had Joy send me an email to set the record straight. There has been a lot of misinformation circling around on
Facebook, and it's a shame that our mayor would blame the council for a decision that only the administration has the authority to make. We, as a council, do not have the power to relocate or shut down the food pantry. However, we do have voices and we do
advocate for the pantry for the food pantry to have a permanent secure location and a forever home. I know some of my fellow council members will be speaking on this as well, but I wanted to make a strong call to action. This nonprofit organization feeds around 180
families and what's happening right now is simply not right. I've reached out to the township engineer to see if we can identify a new permanent and suitable location for the pantry to operate from. This is something that we must get right, not just for the organization,
but for the residents who rely on it. I want to go through a couple emails, so bear with me. I do have traffic and safety real quick. Brewers Bridge Road, they had it out from April 18th to April 24th. The average uh percentage was 45 miles an hour. 40 miles an hour, I'm
sorry. the road was 45 and there was 8,051 cars on that road daily. So 8,000 cars daily. Um Nature Boulevard between April 10th and April 16th the average speed was 34 miles an hour or 38 miles
an hour and there was 1914 vehicles on that road daily. So the next thing I want to get into is some emails. Okay. So, um on April 10th, I sent an
email to the mayor saying this is not allowed according to the employee. This is policy and procedures. Mayor, this is not allowed according to the employee handbook. Correct. Why are these issues not being addressed by the administration when the business administrator, as you can see, we have
no mayor and we have no business administrator nor an assistant business administrator administrator at this meeting. I don't think we've had a mayor here in a year. um exactly your new word your words to me were and this is in an email to him because he stated it right to me there's a new sheriff in town so
I'm asking him where are you at because you're not here and you're not answering your emails or your concerns of your residents and it's a problem so after that the followup I did he gave to me which I don't understand and said it was uh the same day at 10 o'clock at night
council president thank you for your offer I didn't make you an offer I asked you to show Um, after the Passover holiday, I would like to invite you to the you and council vice president to meet and discuss all the issues and gaps that have slowed down the challenges we face
as the governing body. Okay. So, that I got. Then I said, "Mayor, can we get something on the calendar? What works for you?" That was on He sent me an email on May 10th. I never heard from him. So, on May 14th, I sent him an email following up. Then again, I sent another email and I did it with high
importance and I said, "Mayor, just following up here, this is April 24th. Never heard anything." So then I hear from him on April 20, that was 10 days in between. Then I hear from him at 3:00. We should be able to meet one day next week and catch up. I have not heard
from the mayor since April 24th at 3:00. So I just want to set the record straight on that because I'm not going to be lied about. Next thing we have is what happened with our emails. So our town had email for four not our email was down for four days. It's unacceptable. It's absolutely
unacceptable. Our police department had no emails. Our council had no emails. Our administration, our professionals that are township employees had no emails and had no communication with the administration. Finally, on Wednesday at 9:00 in the morning, and anybody can contest from the clerk's office, I went
in and I sat down with our business administrator. and I don't need to look at these emails to say what I'm going to say because I know it's the truth. I went into Miss Novak and I said, "We need to address our DE department heads. I know in this form of government, I'm not allowed to walk into every office and do it, but I'm going to do it
because they need to know what's going on. People are concerned. They have no idea. Why do we not have emails? We we're being told that it was a um it was a global outing for Microsoft. Then we were told we were hacked. No answers, no communication asking, has the prosecutor's office been notified? Has
the FBI been notified? You have our police. You have our personal clerk's documents. Nobody know knew what was going on. We got no answer. So then finally Samantha said, "Miss Novak said she would go." We went to every department after we visited the police department and director Candido's here
and he can contest my phone call. I asked him, "Can you please call the mayor and maybe get your IT guy over to our IT guy so they can work together and get this email up?" And I want to thank you personally, Director Candido, and your IT guy, because I know after about two hours from our phone call, uh, first
the guy was over there in 20 minutes, and within two hours, our whole town had our email up. So then, Vice President, Councilman Bernstein, and myself continued to ask, "What happened? How is this? What's going on?" There'll be a third party investigation. We still have not heard what happened to our emails,
and it is not acceptable. Do we have encrypted emails? What do we have going on? What kind of systems are we using? Are we upgrading them? We have internet. Every department has internet issues. So again, that is the truth about that. Next thing we're going to go into is open space. So I've asked for an audit
of our open space money. We're going for there's things that I'm seeing on the bill list now that I have to sign it because we have no business administrator. Um I So I'm the second signatures on all the bills. So I get to see exactly what's going on. I've been questioning it and I I I have that right. Right. I'm the council president. We are council. We are the purse to the
town. Right. So, we have to really look and see where our money is going. So, I'm questioning where is it all going? So, I did not get an audit request that I had asked for, but I got a statement of the account. I looked over it. I'm not an accountant, you know. I I briefly looked over it and I did question there
was a $2.1 million levy that was put into didn't understand it. So, I did call our new CFO. She graciously explained it to me and said that was from taxes. Um, that was put in and that was put in in November 11th on 2024. Then I was going through and I'm looking at all of this money that we're spending
on these beautiful, beautiful, beautiful parks. And I think it's amazing. And I think the kids are happy. I'm seeing them all play. I visit them. I look at them. They're gorgeous. But why are we not using grant money? Why? Because we got denied for grant money this year. We lost a grant for $750,000. That's why I'm starting
looking. I'm saying, why are we constantly spending our open space money for parks when we have grants? We have millions of dollars out there. It's because we can't get approval for a lot of these grants because we're in compliance for over a decade. There's things Vista Center, Johnson Park,
there's things that we have we are in compliant for and if there's anything if we don't dot an eye or cross a tea, we're getting denied. And yes, again, we did get denied for $750,000. So, I think that's why the last year and a half there hasn't been grants submitted. We've been using our
open space money because I personally believe that administration knew, and this is our previous Mr. that we were not going to get approved for these grants, that we're going to get denied. So, instead of doing that, spend the open space money that our taxpayers are putting in there instead of preserving land. Next, I will say on a positive
note, I did get the number that's going into here that we can start preserving more land um for 2025 is $4,329,36024. That that will bring with the total that we have about 3.9 in there right now. So, we will start bringing it back, but we do we want to
use grant money. I'm on a call every month for two different departments with their grant writers trying to get grant money. And I think we all need to just really start looking in. And that's what this council is doing. And that's what DOE is about. It's about looking into where our money, where your money is going as taxpayers. And I think it's
very important. Um, that goes into the budget. So, Councilman Bernstein and myself had a meeting with the with the uh auditors, the interimm CFO, and the new CFO. And we sat there for I'm going
to say an hour and a half to two hours and went through everything. So, in the audit book, which I do have, okay, this is the book. All right. This is what your audit does. I read it and look into it. We found $1.4 4 million give or take
of funded unused money from ordinances that were approved since 2007. That's $1.4 million of improvements that could have been made that is sitting in an account that is not used. That's unacceptable. We cannot have that. So, I know, you know, if I'm going to ask
questions, I'm going to keep asking until I can get some answers. And thankfully we do have an interimm CFO, a a new CFO and an auditor that was ready, willing, and uh able to answer all of our questions. So I am not going to go into the additional fundings that we had
found and stuff like that, but I will save that for the next meeting because I don't want to, you know, keep everybody here forever. But the last thing is is the grants. I did get a recap on the grant money. We are trying to look for infrastructure for grants for our police department and also for our EMS which
our chief is back there. Um and I just want to make a little statement in regards to him and he is going to be a guest speaker at our next meeting. So I would hope you all would come and support him. Our EMS is struggling. It's it's it's been talked about before and you know this council and you know we're going to put pressure on the
administration. We don't want to lose our EMS. Okay? It's not mandated. I've said it before. It's an honor that we have them, but that's why we do have him on our grant meetings. And if there's anything that we can do, it is a paid by the township, but I have them on there because I feel that, you know, it's very
important that we have they need new equipment, they need new apparatus, they need not a lot of new stuff. So that's all I have. Thank you, Council Vice President Bernste. Thank you, Madam Clerk, and thank you, Deputy Clerk, for being here also. when I see
other members of our clerk's office in the crowd. Thank you all of you. Um really after council president, I don't know that much to add, but I'll just mention a couple of things. Um I want to thank um Commissioner Sedi, um Mr. Ree and Mr. Jenke for coming down and meeting myself and the council president
and some residents on Bartley Road. Um the county has continued their commitment um to do more for Jackson. Um they are looking at some infrastructure and safety upgrades. Um right now they're doing a full throttle study together with our professionals from TNM
um on Bartley Road. Um and we continue to encourage residents to email any member of council with any issues that you notice. Um and we will definitely continue to forward it to the county and continue to put pressure on on our county officials to continue providing uh for Jackson. Um in conjunction with
that, I just want to really echo what council president said. Um there's a resolution supporting a resolution 164-2025 full compliance with the development of Jackson efficiency initiative. Again I just want to repeat I think it said this by the last meeting the purpose of this um initiative is not
no one up here um at least myself I'm speaking for has alleged corruption. What we're asking for is every once in a while oversight is required oversight is needed on on the agenda is actually a resolution to start a sidewalk project for Bethl Church Road. It's going to be
a million over a million dollar project. Our town is desperately in need, especially with some of the state cuts. Um, for more sidewalk infrastructure um, and it's something which is very much needed. When it came up about two years ago or a year and a half ago, when I first got on council, I was told there
is no money in the budget for it. Councilman, wait till next year. When the initial budget came out for 2025 and we got it in our mailboxes about three weeks ago, there was nothing in there to address this growing need. So council felt this um or and members of council feel that sidewalk infrastructure is necessary. When we sat with our auditors
and our temporary CFO, we realized actually the money was sitting there in the account. It just hadn't been used. We're not in the business of saving money. We're in the business of utilizing our tax money for infrastructure upgrades and for safety initiatives. So, I'm very happy to see that by oversighting and doing what our
job as council is and working together, um, we're able to discover areas where we could possibly save money. Um, additionally, I just want to take also moment to thank, uh, Assemblyman Siki, former council president Suiki. Um, I used to come back to those meetings when he was here, and it's great to see you back here again. And and anyone ever
watches any of the hearings from our wonderful friends down in Trenton, um the Assemblyman is a great friend and advocate for all Jackson residents fighting for our fair share for our schools. And I'm sure I don't want to steal Japy's thunder, but we appreciate you coming down here. We look forward to seeing you here again. Thank you, sir.
Uh a a couple of uh other quick things. Um, I just wanted to mention there was also a meeting in town hall about a week and a half ago um with members of law enforcement and members of the um council president together with uh Mr. Kravitz from the LSTA brought in all the
private school vendors making sure that everyone's on the same page and on has same understanding of dos and don'ts in Jackson Township. And I think it was a great meeting. It was long overdue and um looking forward to continued cooperation um between residents, vendors, schools, and everyone else who
who travels through our town, making sure that everyone gets to and from school and work safely. Thank you and have a good night. Council member Belli, uh thank you. Uh much congratulations to the Jackson Lady uh Jag wrestlers who were uh here earlier. like your parents and uh
coaches, our town is very proud of you and your accomplishments and um we hope they keep up the great and amazing teamwork and we're sure that they will. It's also al good to see Selman Siki here to um present them with a proclamation. I want to thank you for
your efforts in Trenton um you know speaking out on uh the best interests of our town. Um, also as uh, council president Ke had mentioned before, our township is actively pursuing more um, permanent place a venue for a food
pantry. Um, want to ensure that the township is doing that diligently. We're providing uh, and meeting a very important need in our town. And um, Memorial Day is coming up. Uh just want to encourage you all to join us at our township's annual Memorial Day parade uh
which will uh which is on Monday May 26 to honor our veterans and fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. It's always a great and solemn event and hopefully we'll get great weather for it. Uh the parade route as every year starts at Homeman Elementary School. It goes down Manhattan Street and into
Johnson Park and that will be followed by a memorial ceremony in the park. There will be food, food, vendors, giveaways, live music, children's activities again this year. Anyone in participating as a vendor or participating in the parade on Memorial Day can please reach out to Sergeant
Mike Basso at um mbassojacktwj.net. Thank you and have a good evening. Councilman Pomeary. Thank you. I'd also like to congratulate the Jackson Lady Jags wrestling team as well as their coaches. I'd like to welcome everyone
here this evening and I'd like to uh just welcome Assemblyman Suiki who's a fierce advocate for Jackson. I watch him uh every chance I get and he is like a lion uh in the state for us. Over the weekend uh I was contacted
by residents and saw posts on social media regarding the closure of the food pantry here in Jackson. Like many of you, this news took me by surprise, and I'm sure it did the same for my colleagues on the council. While this issue does not fall directly under
the purview of the township council and is instead an administrative matter, we have been asked to assist and we will, just as we have in the past with other matters that technically fall outside of our jurisdiction. There are times when people question why the council steps
into areas that aren't traditionally ours. But the reality is when the council doesn't engage, too often things fall through the cracks and that's not acceptable. Not when a vital resource like a food pantry is at stake. So we are doing what we must to
help find a solution and we will continue to do what's necessary to keep the government moving forward. But again, we must all work as a team and I know this council is prepared and willing to do so. Thank you. Council
President, could I add one thing? Something I forgot to mention. I really want to take a moment. Two of our my colleagues here are very humble. Um about a month ago or even before that, um we got word that there were issues in the food pantry and I know Councilman um Paul Mary and Councilwoman um really took it took it upon themselves with
some of the rodents that were there. Um, unfortunately there were emails before that were ignored and it took a little bit of pictures and other gross things to make make that change. Immediately after that was discovered, Councilman I think it was Pel Mary reached out to the board of ed and the board of ed was actually at that point able more than
more than willing to host host a food pantry. Unfortunately, administration wanted them to stay locally within the within the senior center. I and council I'm just going to finish for a second. Um I I received a phone call around 5:45 from actually one of the board board event members on Friday and I usually
try not to take phone calls so close to sundown and it was in a panic really. It was call me Morty right away. Um we have an issue with the food pantry. They were given notice that they have to shut down. Um immediately I told her you know please reach out to Jeppi. She's like I did it already and I just want to make sure council is aware of it. And when I
turned my phone back on right after sundown I had missed calls already from council president and from and from my colleagues that they really really are taking it seriously. And I know it's been multiple conversations. I had a conversation with Councilman Burelli today about it, seeing what we can do. And uh council definitely supports our our food pantry, but I really special
kudos to my colleagues for uh spending their whole weekend trying to find ideas and on how to accommodate them. Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Any further council? No, Madam Clerk. Thank you. The next item of business is
the second reading and public hearing of ordinance 202511 introduced on April 22nd, 2025. Ordinance 202511 amending and supplementing chapter 3 of the township code of the township of Jackson entitled administration of government. At this
time, if any member of the public has any comments to make, please address the council at the microphone and state your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have five minutes and may only speak once. May I have a motion to open public comment? Motion. Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Motion approves.
Seeing no one come Oh, someone is coming forward. How you doing? My name is Cliff Talmage. You guys are sitting here. Gentleman from JCPL comes up here tells us we're going to have 32%. Sir, this is only on the ordinance. I This is an open com. I understand that, but you're not asking
the right questions. I know, but we can't we can't do this. This is out of order. We have to go by the ordinance. So, right now, we're having open for to pass an ordinance. Once it comes to open comment, you can come back up. Yeah. Sorry, it's just the wrong time. It's almost there. It's almost there. We just got to go through these ordinances.
Okay. Seeing no one come forward on this ordinance, make a motion to close public comment. Motion. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202511? Motion. Second. Councilman Blli. Yes.
Councilman Paul Mary. Yes. Council Vice President Bernstein. Yes. Council President Q. Yes. The next item of business is the second reading of public hearing of ordinance 202512. This ordinance was introduced on
422 2025. Ordinance 202512 amending chapter 10362 schedule 18 speed limits. to include an additional street to be subject to a 25 mph speed
limit. At this time, if any member of the public has any comments to make, please address the council at the microphone and state your name and address clearly for the record. You will have five minutes and may only speak once. May I have a motion to open public comment? Motion. Second. All in favor?
Any opposed? Motion approved. Yes, sir. Seeing no one come forward and make a motion to close public comment. Second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion approved. May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202512?
Motion. Second. Council member Belli. Yes. Councilman Paul Mary. Yes. Council Vice President Bernstein. Yes. Council President Cune. Yes. The next item of business is the first reading introduction of ordinance
202514. 202514 amending chapter 3101.1 entitled director of public safety. Council President C. Are there any comments? Yes. Uh oh. So this is a reintroduction. There
was an error that was found by a resident that came up to our last meeting in the language and the way it was directed that it has to be it's um the ordinance amends the public safety director ordinance to establish the safety director as the appoint authority instead of the township business
administrator. As you see, we don't have one. So, we are updating it and now it will be corrected. So, we're reintroducing it for the first reading. Thank you. Motion. May I have a motion to table
202513 ordinance um entitled director of public safety motion to table just to be clear. So she's tableabling the one that we introduced last time. So that's no longer on the table and then we're reintroducing the new one just to be for clarity. And yes second
Councilman Blli. Yes. Councilman Paul Mary. Yes. Council Vice President Bernstein. Yes. Council President Cune. Yes. Thank you. Are there any questions or comments by the township council regarding ordinance 202514 introduction?
A motion to accept. Motion to accept. Yep. I'll make a motion to accept. I'm sorry. Can I have a second? Councilman Brelli. Yes. Councilman Paul Mary. Yes. Council Vice President Bernstein. Yes. Council President Cume.
Yes. The next item of business is the first reading and introduction of ordinance 202515. Ordinance 202515 amending and supplementing chapter 244 of the township code of the township of Jackson entitled land use and development
regulation as to amend 24432 entitled performance safety and stabilization and temporary certificate of occupancy guarantees and 24434 entitled approval of performance guarantees. Council President Kuner are any comments on ordinance 202515.
I'm going to ask our attorney to please read. Oh, this is yours. the bond. I'm sorry. Okay. So, this is the ordinance. This ordinance is chapter 244 for the township code amending. This section requires developers to file a performance guarantee with the township
engineer before receiving a final plat approval, recording subdivision deed, site plan approval, or a zoning permit. Council president ask question. Yeah. Um, how did this one come about? I'm going to actually let the madam
clerk answer that as it came about from her office and finding a couple gaps of there's quite a few. There's actually going to be four ordinances that are removing things that should not be in the clerk's office and then putting them in the proper department such as our engineering department. Um, I I guess I can go into section two is going to
outline the duties of the municipal courts, which includes collecting fees based on the township engineer certificates, placing the bond approvals on the township council agenda, submitting documents to the council, and maintaining all original documents. None of the above that's in section one is
not the duties of the clerk. And we want to keep the clerk, she's very, very busy office and we want to give her the duties that she has and everybody else should get the duties that should be in their departments. Therefore, we have no gaps. So again to clarify this this removes it from the clerk's office. Yes, we removed it to the engineers
department which are who which are the ones who are actually involved with development. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve ordinance 202515 on the first reading and introduction to authorize the notice of the public hearing to be
held on May 27th, 2025. Motion. Second. Councilman Blli. Yes. Councilman Paul Mary. Yes. Council Vice President Bernstein. Yes. Council President Q. Yes. The next item of business is the first
reading and introduction of ordinance 202516. Ordinance 202516 amending and supplementing chapter 244 of the township code entitled land use and development regulations article 7 Pinelands area requirements. Council President Cun. Are there any comments?
I'm going to let our council answer. This ordinance revises a previously adopted ordinance that established standards for the development of private schools and houses of worship uh with or without a residential component in the Pineland zones. This ordinance arises from comments and recommendations that
we received from the New Jersey Pineands Commission as part of its ordinance review process and addresses such issues as building height, accessory versus conditional use designation, building density, and septic standards. Thank you, sir. May I have a motion to approve or
202516 on first reading introduction to authorize the notice of public hearing to be held on May 27, 2025? Motion. Second. Council member Belli. Um regarding ordinance uh 16-2025. My continuing concern in
particular is the impact it would have on the environmentally sensitive Highlands areas in our town of Jackson, particularly um the residential housing component. We don't know the number of units, campuses that it could be, potential impact that it could have on Jackson's Highlands
environment in existing residential areas and neighborhoods nearby. Um, also I can't vote on something I don't have definitive information on. Uh, I voted uh no for something similar um when it came to the nonlands areas of
our town and um we'll do the same here on the Highlands ordinance in this case. Councilman Pomeary, I would just like to comment and say the uh the Pineelands ordinance has been under review for several years, long before any of us on
this current council with the exception of Council Member Elli began our service. The initial negotiations were led by then council president Fleming and later continued under council president Chisum, ultimately resulting in an agreement. After years of effort
and good faith negotiations by prior councils, I cannot in good conscience disregard the groundwork that has been laid. I vote yes. Council Vice President Bernstein. Yes. Council President Cune. I just want to
um make a a statement to Councilman's BL's statement that he didn't wasn't informed and what didn't know the information. I've pushed this off. I had an executive meeting to this ordinance alone for any questions and answers. I
have given this council I wanted to make sure that Councilman Paul Mary also wanted him to be educated. So I we we had our attorney come in and literally we designated an entire half hour to this ordinance. So I find that insulting that you would say that you didn't have time and you weren't informed enough
because I take pride in informing you guys on every single thing that goes on this agenda. I never ask you how to vote. I never say how to vote. I just say, "Is there any questions? Eric, can I get you any more information?" So, I do say respectfully that was insulting. I vote yes. Council President, yes, sir.
We all have a vote up here on the council today. Jackson residents entrusted us with and I'm exercising it. Thank you. I don't care for you criticizing me if I'm not voting in the affirmative along with my council. We're going to have disagreements from time to time, but I think that was just
respectful for what you just said. So, so thank you. You're welcome. Council President, I have a question for the attorney. Yes. Um, the previous council negotiated this. I was under the impression and they signed off with the DOJ and NJAG in regards to this prior prior to this
coming here. That's correct. We actually adopted an ordinance uh about two years a year and a half ago um for both the non-pinelands area and the Pineelands area municipality at one time. Those ordinances were approved by the Department of Justice, the uh private action plaintiffs, and the New Jersey
Division of Civil Rights. Um the ordinance as to the non-Pands as to the Pineelands areas requires approval by the Pinelands Commission before it can take effect. Pinelands Commission entered into negotiations with the township um which have gone on for a well over a year as
to changes they wanted to see with respect to the nonpelands areas. Those changes have been forwarded to the Department of Justice. Department of Justice has indicated they have no objection to that, nor did the private action plaintiffs. Um, so this is the basically the cleanup of the ordinance that was previously done based only upon
the finance commission's concerns that they raised. Now, could you just um go a little further? And now, this was again negotiated by a previous council, but it's here with us now, and it was approved by the DOJ and the NJ AG, I'm sorry. Um, if we were to not vote for this,
what would the ramifications be if this got shot down this evening? Please tell us for the uh town to hear. Well, if there were not sufficient votes to introduce the ordinance, I am sure the department of justice and the division of civil rights and private action plaintiffs may wish to institute
reinstitute the litigation that had previously been resolved because this is a condition of those settlements. Okay. So, this could have been extremely costly for us. If the ordinance was never adopted, it could become costly and more litigation.
Thank you. Can I just council president, can I ask a quick question? You ask it or I'm gonna ask. Okay. I'm just going to ask a question. I recently reviewed the budget was there was a line item in there that really stood out that actually made our budget extremely difficult for us to balance for this coming year. It was like 2.4 million or
$2.5 million that we $2.2 million that we paid out. Who has that paid out to? Mr. McGucken. I don't know which one. I'm sorry. You're talking about We're talking about the settlement to part of it went to the Department of Justice. Part of it went to the private
plaintiffs. Uh a good portion of it went to their attorneys. Did that include the part that we paid our attorneys like for the regular legal work that you and I do not. So my understanding after speaking to our our professionals was that it does and it just includes what was paid
out to to the others to the litigants different line item. Right. Okay. Thank you. Further, council president. No, ma'am. Thank you. The next item of business question. The next item of business is the payment
authorization bills and claims. I would like to note the following extension extensions including Councilman Belli's AE T1 D E L1 NJ6 R U T14 and T R E 08. Are there any
questions or comments by the township council? Yes, madame clerk. So, I have questions that are going back and I'll just for transparency, um I was asking today when I got the bills and claims and was reviewing it, there's a bill on
here for Civic Plus for our recreation software. Our recreation department has a an employee and a and an a clerk in there. Um and it's for $8,77344. So I asked this department and I said, "Can you please let me know what you use
Civic Plus for in recreation?" The response was, "Hello and good morning. I wanted to share some information about Civic Plus software. It is the most up-to-date software available and offers many advanced capabilities for recreation management.
Our department has been utilizing it and we have found it to be highly effective." So my reply was, "Thank you. I'm seeking clarity for regarding the Civic Plus software and how the recreation department utilizes it to
justify the annual expenditure of $8,73344. Could you please provide me some examples on how the program is used and how long the department has been using it? Additionally, does Civic Plus integrate with any other software systems? if you could please be
specific. This is on the bill's list for tonight's meeting and I'd like to I'd like to appreciate a response prior to the meeting. So, I am going to ask my fellow council members I I would like to table this and not pay it until we can get some clarity. um especially since the ordinance was just passed for our
recreation to no longer be its own department and it will be under DPW and DPW will be now looking over the bills and the claims and anything that is done with the recreation you know the farmers market where their concerts are they'll
just that will be the head of that department and and everything the final approvals will be coming from DPW as well as the senior center just to kind of just keep everybody moving forward and growing. growing, but growing properly and not wasting taxpayers money. Um, and again, if if I could make
a motion to table, I guess I don't I just What do I do? I do the number P24 um 02051 and it goes to Civic Plus in the amount of $8,77344. Not saying I don't want to pay this bill. I just want to get some
clarity that if it there's no other department, as far as I know in my due diligence, there's no other department that is utilizing this. And I have to say I am not seeing $8,000 a year worth of I guess I don't know if it's Mark. I don't know what it is. Well, council president, I would also like to find out
for $8,700 if the only department using it is recreations, there must be multiple users that are accept that can be used. Hopefully, if so, maybe other departments would be able to to use it if they if they so chose. I I would love so. I know our clerk's office doesn't have any any of these programs and we
are the hub of the town. So, I would hope that maybe we could get, you know, we got a copier, so maybe we'll get some civil laws. Um, so I'm going to again I'm going to make a motion for that to be removed from the building. Thank you. Council member Belli, yes. Council Paul
Mary, yes. Council Vice President Bernstein, yes. Council President Q, yes to having that removed and yes to the rest to be paid. Oh, never mind. I was separate. Sorry. I think we're separate motion to Okay. Thank you. Um, are there any additional
comments? No, ma'am. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the bills list and claims for the extensions noted and tableabling the civic plus P240 2051.
Motion. Second. Council member Ali. Um, abstain on the bill bender numbers that you had mentioned and yes to the on the bills and claims agenda. Councilman Paul Mary, yes. Council Vice President Bernstein, yes. Council President Q,
yes. Thank you. Motion approved. The next item on the agenda is the consent agenda listed for tonight's consideration or resolutions 164 through 181 2025 listed by title. Are there any comments, Council President Q? Yes. I
would you like to go first or you want my thing? It's up to you. You could go first. No, I always go first. Do you want to be the first person? You go first. Okay. Thank you. Wow. Um I just want to take a moment and really thank some of our professionals. Um um we were initially trying to get some grant money for some of the sidewalk infrastructure.
Um I think the town actually has a federal grant for I think it's from the NJ dot, sorry, from the state to repave Bethl Church and we didn't want to have to draw um break it up twice. So we were rushing to get a federal grant. Unfortunately, by our last two grant meetings ago, um the last one I was
unable to attend. um the we were informed that we would not be able to get the federal grant or better yet it would take between 10 to 12 years or something along like that to to possibly get some of the infrastructure for that road. So we instead we are applying for some federal grants for other roadways in town that may not have an immediate
need now but we're foreseeing in the future we'll have safety issues. So we're we're putting that in. Um so I appreciate that. I a special thank you also to council president. um I rotate on on those calls, but any other council members more than more than happy I'm more than welcome to sit in on those monthly calls um in order to make sure that we're engaging with our um colleers
with our with our um team. And special thank you to Mr. Bolinsky um Director Candido and TNM for for joining in on those calls, trying to utilize every dollar we could. Um also a special thank you for R1 1712025, which is a um a an agreement with the board of ed. I think
the councilman um Jeppi, I'm sure you'll you'll talk about that in a second, but I appreciate all the hard work that went into that one. And um the last one I just wanted to bring bring a special shine a light on to is R166-2025, which is a traffic calming options for Pittney Lane. Um I I
received an email about six, seven weeks ago from a resident. He forwarded me over two and a half years of emails that he was being ignored on. Um and as soon as we reached out to our engineers and our PD, they right away said, "Now, this this is an issue. Um, we are going to be introducing an ordinance to make parking
on one side of Pitney Lane. Um, in addition to the traffic, um, calming measures, which I'm hoping we can maybe get out to the public, which are going to include striping and, um, and I think speed uh, signs and other things that hopefully and obviously hopefully increase enforcement. So, um, I
appreciate all the hard work that went into getting some of these, um, um, resolutions together. So, thank you. That's it. All right. I first I I have a speech that I want to make regarding the Department of Jackson Efficiency, our Doge, but I first want to say uh
Assemblyman Suiki, I never got to say thank you so much for coming and and uh joining us and giving out the proclamations and your awards. Thank you for recognizing and always showing up um to council meetings and to Jackson events and the Jackson residents. So, we appreciate you seeing you, especially, you know, I know you're a busy man, so
we appreciate that. Also, the men and women in the back, our young explorers, our Jackson Explorers Program, resolution 173-2025, and I want to recognize Director Candido and Officer Musha. I know I'm saying that right, but he
reached out uh to me and I reached out to the CFO and the the problem, what's going on and what we're knowing is the right people are reaching out when they're getting denied for grants. So, our poor explorers back there lost their grant money and we had 10 of these young
men and women that want to join and be, you know, officers one day and their grant money was gone. And it's about $750 a kid. And if you can look at those kids, I'm so looking at their faces, we're so excited that we were able to find the money, work with the town, and uh get you guys into the program. And I
look forward to in a couple years hopefully swearing you guys in and you guys being men and women of the Jackson Police Department. and thank you for coming and standing back there so quietly during the meeting. We really appreciate you and uh we will be looking for grant money.
We've added you guys into our list when I speak with Director Candido. So, thank you again for coming and and being so respectful to saying that's a great way of saying thank you. You don't have to say thank you. You just have to show up. So, I appreciate that and now so does the council. So, now we're going into resolution
164-2025 Doge. the Department of Jackson Efficiency. Tonight, I'm proud to speak in several important resolutions that reflect our commitment to transparency, safety, and environmental responsibility, environmental responsibility, and overall efficiency under the Department of Jackson
efficiency. Doge resolution 164-2025 urges full compliance with the Doge initiative, reinforcing our mission to hold departments accountable and ensuring long-standing issues and final are finally addressed. Take Johnson Park for example. It's essential it's
essentially a landfill that has been neglected for years. Resolution 169-2025 directly addresses this by assigning a project to TNM associated to manage the solid waste landfill closure and permit application process. This is the kind of
action that DOE is designated to do and to bring forward after years of inaction. We also have the Vista Center where a grant opportunity was lost simply because it wasn't properly handled again under our current governor's or current sorry governor's
current mayor's tenure. This is a long over decade that has just been ignored and we're not addressing it. There are missing opportunities that DOA is working to prevent this going forward. Resolution 165-25 authorizing agreement with TNM associated for engineering services
related to the major green acres uh division focusing on Jackson Mills compost facility and Camp Joy project. Another long overdue item finally getting the attention it deserves. Resolution 166-2025 moves forward with the plans to
improve traffic safety by authorizing bids and the engineers serving in the traffic calming options on Pittney Lane. It's a bad intersection there. R67-2025 assigns a project to TNM associated TNM associated for designing
and construction oversight and new curbs and sidewalks along Bethl Church improving infrastructure and pedestrian safety. Resolution 168-2025 engages French and Parelio associates to perform monitoring and testing at the former uh
Leggler landfill, ensuring environmental compliance and public safety. We're just ignoring that as well. Together, these resolutions reflect the proactive steps we are taking to move Jackson forward through real action, not just words. I urge my colleagues to support these measures in full alignment with the
goals of the doge and the exponent in the exceptions of our expectations of our residents. Thank you, council president. If I could just finish up one thing before I'm sure my colleagues have anything to say. So I was looking earlier at at at um online at the former
government and the statute is very clear. Any council member may any time require report on any aspect of the government or of the municipality by making a written request to the mayor. And that's really what we're doing. We're asking for documents. We have an idea of why things are being made. I think the perfect example is last council meeting, council passed a
resolution um saying moving ROA forward. ROA had stalled. I had sat on that committee last year where we were told there were environmental restraints that said it never could be built. I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen. That just wasn't true. That's not accurate. ROA could be built. It just took a will. It took away and yes, it will take time. We should
have as a town applied for some of the D um um permits over two years ago, but no one filed those permits. So, unfortunately, nothing ever happened. Everything that the residents had been promised, everything that had been designed, I think again the assemblyman, I think when he was councilman started that project. Um and we're hoping that
that project will will move forward this year. I know this year Nino and and Jennifer are are are the liazison to that committee, but there's absolutely no reason why that project hasn't moved forward in two years. So, I was proud of the fact that we were able to research it, get the documents, and then council does have the power and the ability to
put things on the agenda if other other aspects of the government don't want it to move forward. So, we were sick and tired of waiting and we're proud to fulfill the promise that previous governments made and we weren't going to let politics get in the way. Thank you. It's I just want to add to that understanding our what we could do and
as long as we had a prop proposal from a professional, we could get it on the agenda. So that's why you have six or seven of the cleanups on this agenda all at one because we don't want any of our professionals to be told that they can no longer send us proposals. So now that we have everything, we put it all on one
agenda and we will move forward and we will get this done. And that's why we've been looking over the budget and going over. So these are the underlying things that you guys don't know that we truly are thinking about. We do care about your taxpayers money and we do look into everything and just alone finding $1.4
$4 million in capital and there and and even the people in the room were like, "Yeah." So, thank you. If I can. Yeah. Um I'm just going to expand upon just a little bit on resolution 171, which is the shared
service agreement between the Jackson Township and the Jackson Board of Ed. It's the um use of the uh township cellular tower. This is a a simple resolution with a great impact. the board of ed uh received a grant and they can upgrade their CB radios uh at their
two transportation depots as well as all of their buses, but uh they were they were told that the best way to get the widest reach would be on a cell tower. So they reached out uh they reached out to administration and the administration did approve that and it got on our
agenda. Uh and we are going to vote on that and what that will do is it will allow for very old CB radios to be all upgraded. they can have a better use throughout all of Jackson, which is 100 square miles and even further. And not only that, but this will allow for a bus
now to have a direct line to the police department emergency services. Before they'd had to have to call the depot and then the depot would have to call in an emergency. So now it's direct, it's faster, and it's just all in all safer for the students riding those buses. That's for resolution 171. And I do also
want to touch on um resolution 164 which uh is the doge. And the purpose of the doge resolution is to provide greater transparency uh not just for the council but for all of Jackson residents. It opens the door for meaningful conversation and better understanding across departments. One area where the
Jackson do has already proven helpful is our ongoing budget review. We received a proposal uh the proposed budget just a few weeks ago and the budget committee met as my colleague said just last week to discuss it and during that meeting
they advocated for several different important changes. One change I personally pushed for is to have the municipal budget cover the salaries of the two school resource officers currently utilized by the Jackson Board of Education. Doing so would save the
school district approximately $234,000 money that could be redirected towards future uh student programs and services while still ensuring student safety through council support. And I'm excited to announce and I came here actually an hour early to get the
revised budget which is here and I was looking through it and it's in there now. Hopefully it stays there but it's in there. So that would be that would do a great service to the board of ed council. That's a conversation that we have to have next and assisting the
board of ed which is very important. Uh so this is just one example of how collaboration and transparency not control could lead to better outcomes for our entire community. And just to say this is a line item. So uh to just uh to reference something I want to make sure Mr. M Mr. Director Candido is aware
of this is not taking away from the police budget. he will still be able to hire his new officers. This is a line item of separate support so we could keep the Jackson school system safe as well as hire our new officers and keep our whole town safe. So, it's really important. Thank you.
Um I just would like we have to add a resolution, a new resolution that was left off the agenda. Um we want to I'm going to let the attorney take it from here. Sure. will be resolution 182-2025, a resolution authorizing a grading license, soil export permit and
execution of stormwater basin agreement 217 Brewers Bridge Road, block 14101, lots 19 and 21, how Jackson Pines Corporation whereas in accordance with approvals previously received from the Jackson Township Planning Board, the attachment has received a proposed
stormwater basin agreement for this property and an application for a grading license soil export permit where set agreement has been approved by the township of attorney LIC application has been approved by the tantrup engineer. As the performance and maintenance guarantees for this project have been submitted in acceptable form and
therefore be resolved that the mayor tantric clerk and such other officials of the township as may be required are hereby authorized to execute said stormwater basin agreement and grading license so export permit be further resolved that copies resolution should be for the following one. Charles Kliff,
tup engineer, Sandra Martin, tup clerk, how Jackson Pines Corporation, Park East management contractor. May I have a motion? Do we have to accept it? Motion. It's a motion on everything or just a motion. It just Yeah, it just gets it gets added. So,
I'll make a motion to accept all. Yeah, I second that. Councilman Brellley. Yes. Council Paul Mary. Yes. Council Vice President Bernstein. Yes. Council President Keune. Yes. Motion approved. Thank you. At this time, if any member of the
public has any comments to make, please address the council at the microphone and state your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have five minutes and may only speak once. All right. Anthony, if you could just get the clock up there. Start before the pocket. You can start.
You could start. The clock's just gonna wait. I'm sorry. Say your name. Just say your name. My name is Cliff Talmage. I came here for another reason, but I didn't notice gentleman from JCPL was here. You guys are all sitting there asking some minor questions, which tells me you really don't know anything about
the cogens and how they operate. The question you should be asking the man is, okay, are our electrics going to go up 32%. approximately give or take a few pennies. Well, I know for a fact I've
been to their cogens and some of them are no longer in existence. They've taken them out and he sat here and told you guys some of them age out. Well, here's the question you should be asking. Why haven't any of them been rebuilt? Why haven't any of them been replaced? I know. Sir, you
have to address your comments to to the council. I'm saying I know of a couple that aren't existing anymore. I've been to them and a lot of that has to do with the president administr or past administration, the Biden administration to be exact. Oh, we can't have coal. We
can't have fossil fuels and they're gone. But they weren't replaced with anything. So, this is the reason why our electric bills are going to go up because they can't produce what we need. That whole BS that they were feeding the public, sitting there saying, "Oh,
electric cars are the way to go." The batteries aren't what they need to be. The electric grid can't handle that. And if anybody has anything they can prove otherwise, I I'm telling you, this is for a fact. I've seen it. I've been to
these cogens. There's not a hundred people working at a cogen. You go there, there's maybe I'll say 10 at the most I've ever seen. They were coal fired, they're gone. They were natural gas fired. They're
gone. What has JCPNL done to help produce more energy? Nothing. They're following what the administration told them to do. President Trump has came in and said, "We're going to use coal. We're going to use gas. We're going to
use natural gas." Why aren't they petitioning the government and saying we have a need right now, an immediate need to get these things built and get them done instead of no, the easy way is well, we got to do what we got to deal
with here and that might cost us a couple dollars to have to do. So, we're not going to do it. We'll just keep raising the prices. Well, you know what's funny about everything? Water bills gone up, sewer bills gone up, electric bills gone up, gas bills gone up. How many people's paychecks have
gone up to keep up with the inflation? None. You work for somebody, unless you're a white collar worker, you're getting pennies on a dollar for a raise. Woo, there's a big raise. Can't even buy a loaf of bread. But there's nobody addressing
what these companies are doing. Justify a 32% raise. Justify it. Tell me where that number came from. Oh, well, it's not JCP now. It's our distributors, our producers of power. Why are you allowing that to happen? Why are you not doing something
cost-effective, cost cutting? Why aren't you building new cogents? These are the questions that need to be asked of the people, not just sit here and say, well, you know, this, this, and this, and uh, I guess we're getting a 32% raise. That's that's nonsense. I know
Jackson is only one part of the state. A lot of your problem here and and you guys need to know this and you probably do. You just don't admit to it. The problem here is the state government. The problem here is the Democrats and their stupid agenda. They don't give a
damn about any of us. And you can see that every day. Murphy is a joke. I can't wait for the guy to go. I happen to know things about him. None of us know because I used to live by him. for people to put people like that in
office, you're a blithering idiot. I'm not saying Trump's the the world's uh savior here. He's not. And the last thing I'm going to say is, and I'm going to direct it to all of you, and you can throw me out afterwards. If you guys got in or office
squables, do it behind closed doors. It's unprofessional. We know that the mayor's not here, the administrator's not here. Hell, every time I've came here, there's been nobody sitting over there. But when you guys sit there and actually belittle each other and downgrade everything and oh well this one's not
here again as usual. You make yourselves look like children. This is the public. Very few of us are here but we're the public. We're having you people in office to help get this this city straightened out. Don't make yourself look like
fools. You got a problem with each other? Go behind closed doors. Have it out. Hash it out. Call each other anything you want. when you walk out, you're still council people and you need to act professional. That's not professional what you guys were doing any of this. So that's what I have to
say. Thank you, sir. Good evening. Good evening. I came here to talk about Oprah obstruction, but I got thrown for a little bit of a Did you say your name first? Yeah. Admin Kaufman. Okay. Oh, okay. Um, I got thrown for a little bit of loop with the talk about
the mayor. Um, there are options to deal with that empty seat. Um, and I understand that one of them is a recall petition and I'm going to ask my Jackson neighbors for two co-sponsors and I'm going to get a notice of intention sent
to the clerk. I'm going to see what I can do about getting that chair filled because not having a may here is unacceptable. Not getting things done equally unacceptable. Um, also the talk about the alleged uh hack or the email going down. Nobody has
to worry about it being reported because I sent a letter to the New Jersey State Police Cyber Team unit and the FBI and asked them to look into it because conveniently the obstruction of my Opras coincided with the email crashing
literally the same day if not the day after that that expiration date hit. I find it pretty convenient that the tax assessor and the reevaluation plan resulted in my property being reevaluated from 400,000 to
920. That's 520,000 more. I sent an Oprah. I was very specific of what I wanted because I did my research. I got nothing. I was told there were no records. The tax assessor did a revaluation on my property and
there were no documents. So, how did they come up with that formula? What numbers did they use? What comps did they use? I got an an email with some Oprah information. I guess that the clerk's office or the town
thought they had to send me something and it was a co-mingled mess. It wasn't just regarding my tax issue and the and the revaluation, but in that I found some emails that I think I might not have been intended to get. One of them
was the vice president here saying that all Oprah is going to go through outside counsel. Why is that? Why would this town use taxpayer money to pay outside counsel to review opers that I'm legally entitled
to? That attorney reached back to me and denied my OPER request. She does not she does not possess the authority to do that. So the clerk's authority was passed on to the vice president and
outside counsel and they in writing obstructed my legal right to find out what exactly is going on. And in that email dump that I got, I have some very disturbing emails that again I don't think I was intended to get. There were conversations going on between an
engineer, I believe a developer, could be a realtor, but it appears to me that my property was targeted. Why? I don't know. There's development going on around me. I get a lot of phone calls. I get a lot of
offers. Are you willing to sell? I'm not I'm not going anywhere. But it's very disturbing to me to know that the clerk's authority is being handed off to others. And the process of getting
anything from this town is like pulling teeth. I send emails. I hear mention about residents sending emails. We finally got to them. I've been here for 10 years. Nobody in this town has ever answered any of my email.
I went to the school board during CO. I told the entire school board what they were doing wrong. Nobody answered. Nobody listened. And after everything went by and they realized most of what they were doing was nonsense, a few of them admitted that I was
right. But again, no one answers. We have a house painter for a mayor that doesn't show up. I'm going to see what I can do to fix that. During co I was the guy in the orange and hoodie that stood there and told them all that they weren't doing their job and that they were tormenting our children over things
that were not true. They refused to listen to science and deal with any of it and protect our kids. They made them wear masks. They tormented them. They psychologically damaged them. And nobody would answer me. And I don't understand what it takes to get people that get
into a position and are expected to answer to us to actually answer. I don't ask silly questions. I don't rant. I don't rave. I send very specific questions because I do my research. I know right now based on what you said about the mayor, it took me three
minutes to sit there and look it up. I know what the process is to remove him. Maybe it'll happen. I might be the guy in the orange hoodie sitting in that chair one day if somebody co-sponsors what I'm about to do because I'm going to do it. I don't say anything I don't mean. I told everyone I reached out to
what was going to happen. This is the lawsuit you're going to get. Thank you. I I just would like to make and I I just want to make a comment to you. You spoke with me. I just want to confirm because you said that nobody ever responded to you and I responded to you right away because you put your number on there. With with respect, you called me
initially because of the wording I used in an email. Yes. Forewarning me not to come here and be disrespectful or curse. And I told you yes, that's not who I am. Correct. I would never come here and be disrespectful. No, I sent an email because I'm getting responses from
attorneys who are obstructing me. They don't have the legal right to do that. But I did I just wanted I just said listen come to the meeting. Please come and do I said the only thing I said please don't talk about our families and and and curse that. Exactly. And that's exactly what you said. But I just want to do it today. Just want to put it on the record. I did call you I responded
to appreciate you taking I think that I got the call because of the wording I use. But there's sometimes where I say something because I want that reaction. I wanted somebody to pick up the phone. I did it because I'm council president and it was going to be my agenda. What you were going through was none of my, you know, that was that was between you
and the attorney. But thank you. I appreciate you calling. Thank you, sir. Could I ask a great question? How long have your been open issues been going on for? It's been on for a long time. Six months. A year or two? It's one of them is close to a year. No responsive records from the tax
assessor. The the open request was submitted. was responded to. We believe that that response was appropriate. I understand Mr. Coffman is not satisfied with that response, but it is the appropriate response. No responsive records from the tax assessor attorney. As a tax attachment attorney's office, the municipal clerk often refers legal
issues regarding Oprah because there are numerous exceptions all of which are based on case law and we do provide legal advice to the clerk with respect to those uh Oprah requests when needed and that's what we did here. Thank you, sir. Council President, if I could just say something for just for for my colleagues on council just so to be
aware of. When the clerk came in, there was a a an abundance of Opas over 450 Opas and a lot of them were were not being responded to. So council provided her ample support. We reached out to Mr. McGuck and we asked if we could add additional legal help so she would so we can get responses earlier. So, actually
that that email that you're referencing, and I'm more than happy to discuss it later, was actually an offer to the clerk letting her know that there's more legal more legal um teams available to help her and that she Mr. McGucken is our municipal attorney and there's extra additional lawyers to help. So, thank
you to help transparency. Ready? Yes. Jim Slakia. Um, first in regards to the ordinance that was reintroduced, the information you gave was not the reason I brought it up at the last meeting, but in the new ordinance, uh,
section 3-101.1, letter B, number 10, that was clearly changed from the previous ordinance because I said it looked like we had two people doing the exact same job. Correct. So, it wasn't just the fact that he didn't have anybody report.
That was the statement that I had to read. That was the statement that was prepared for me that I had. That That's my That's a minor. Um although Mr. Pomeary kind of touched on it. One of my comments today was to try and get an update where we are on the budget. We're now three weeks later than I was here
last time asking about the budget. We are still not approved. The budget is supposed to be completed by April 30th. There was some talk that we had verbal approval for an additional month. I don't know if anybody ever looked into it. So you can that after the fact if
you'd like. Um, the other thing is we've talked about a lot of things tonight. Uh, you've updated us on a lot of things. The one thing I'm kind of surprised I haven't heard a word on is the two big events that we've had in the last four days in this township and that
is the bomb scare over at the retail center and the bomb scare at St. Alawishas Church. If Director Candid I know he's here. I'm not I'm not looking to put him on the spot, but the fact that I don't know if I can actually respond to that.
The big reason I'm here, um I've been coming for a year and a half now, probably. I think that's how long. Um and one thing that I've always been confused with is the consent agenda items. They're put on and they're voted on and the public never ever has a
comment gets to have a comment on it until after it's voted upon. And I always thought that was strange. Well, I found out it is strange because by doing what you're doing with the consent agenda, you are violating the township code. And
I will read to you exactly how the township code reads. Um, it's item 3-9, letter B, consent agenda. Items listed on the agenda which are considered routine by the council shall be placed under a subheading entitled
consent agenda. Prior to voting upon any item on the consent agenda, the president or presiding officer shall open the meeting to the public and the council to entertain requests for
removal from the con consent agenda. It then goes on to say that the only ones that can actually request removal is one of the members on the council. So if I had an issue with the consent agenda, I could state my case. And if one of you disagreed with me, you would say, "Let's
remove it and talk about it separately." I've been coming here a year and a half. I have never heard it open to the public. And I'm sure it probably goes beyond the year and a half that I've been here, but I'm only going to speak to the meetings that I've been to. So, it kind of, you know, you're
looking at Doge from you're taking the administration. We are the public. You work for us. I'm going to make sure you guys are following rules that are stated within the in the um township code. I I commend the township clerk because it seems she's going through it and finding
items and trying to get it fixed. I know how hard it is to read the township code. I get through about two pages every day before I want to fall asleep. Um, which is why I come every meeting with one new item. uh instead of having them all listed at the same time. So, appreciate that though. My item tonight
is the consent agenda, Mr. McGucken. I don't know. Uh I'll I'll take a look at the ordinance. Um you're right, it's been the same way for at least the five years I've been here and probably before that, but I'll take a look. And just so you know, I know last at the last
meeting, uh you talked about how the um code that's out on the website is not the most updated one. I challenge that because there have been updates made to the code for all the all the ordinances that have been approved for 25. So if
you're adding the 25 stuff to the ordinance on the online stuff, I have to we don't do that. So that's it. And I did look into that. I did look into that and it was it's like, you know, we're going to have to hire a whole new staff to clean that up. I think that was Yeah,
it it's it's just it's I we can't control what's been done for the last 20 years, but we did I did look into it and you are there's there's 19 different director um ordinances in there and it's it's it is very very confusing because
the clerk we need to get a a tantrum code that's up to date out on that website. So, council president, if I could just ask a question to address his his question. We had discussed with the mayor I think about six months ago, right? um about hiring like a special legal team just to look at our code book and making sure it's updated. Is that
something we could maybe have a discussion about? Because I if that if we just want to make sure that when resident looks up the word Jackson code book, all residents are getting the same exact code. That's the problem is you're not. So, we will look into it and get back to you. How if I'm looking online, anybody that looks online should
be getting the same code book. It's if well depending on what what you put in the search bar because I know that the clerk right on the on the website it has township code and if you click on the township code that's where that's what's coming up. Madam clerk. Yeah, please. Thank you. So the township
code the code book itself is updated annually under new laws is where um the new adopted ordinances are listed. What I believe you're referring to is a folder that No. Okay. It's a link you
can it actually look I'll show you after the meeting if you want to look I'll if he can keep put up the website I will show you after we'll look into it and then we'll let you know. But it's clearly it takes you to a code and we've had this discussion. It is not up to date but but for some reason again
that's we have to look at it. There were 25 codes that were so council president if I could just address this first issue of question about the budget. So just a followup after that meeting council did reach out to the administration ask if we asked permission to meet with the CFO temporary CFO and the auditor to go over
the budget. After about a week I sent a follow-up email. I got a response that this is last week Thursday that Friday Friday afternoon they have time. I cleared my schedule. I wasn't given a time at 1:00. I sent a follow-up email. This is last Friday asking um when are we meeting? Um I got an email at 3:30. I
am Sabbath observant so it was a little difficult. I got an email at 3:30 that um 3:30 in the afternoon that the auditor is available now for a meeting. I wasn't available Friday afternoon at 4:00. Um and we followed up in the beginning of the week. I think we met Tuesday. Council President, was it
Tuesday? No. Um Tuesday. No, no, last it was last Friday. It was we I I have the budget. Listen, and I don't want to get into it into this meeting because it's going to be it's a whole another conversation. Hopefully, next I have all the requests. When when is the presentation of the budget? I am. Again, I'm not answering that because we're
just not ready. We are not at a place. It's it's it's just going to open up a can of worms and I don't want to open up right now. Do we have authority to go beyond the deadline of 30th? I can think there's numerous municipalities that have not yet introduced their orders, their budget. I've asked I've asked numerous ones. We we we have to look at
it there. It's it's a lot. It's a lot. It's a lot. I understand it. We just got We just We just got it. Listen, we all have a lot. All right. I just want to be respectful of everybody's time, but the attorney does want to respond to your code question, sir. Sir, I'm sorry. If you go on the township of code, hit the
button like you did, didn't you? You got to go to the end of it and it says new laws and it lists the ordinances that are not yet in the code book and it says right in there, these have been approved. They will once they're back into the code book, it'll be removed from this list. So, there's a list of new laws, every ordinance that's been
adopted, which is not yet in the code book because it only gets updated annually as the as the clerk Martin indicated. Okay. Well, thank you. In regards to the my item, it's not something you changed this year. So, it should have been I understand. But the question as to the new laws are in
there. Okay. Thank you, sir. Hi, ma'am. If you can just state your name and your address. Good evening. Good evening. My name is Gail Carlson. I live at 95 Pebble Beach Boulevard and have for over 21 and a half years.
Um, I'm here tonight as a friend of the food pantry. I have worked there probably the better part of 20 of these years and I've seen many directors come and go, but I see the dedication that volunteers, the
directors have, the work they put in behind the scenes. And there is no doubt in my mind there is a need for this food pantry. and we have 102 square miles. we
can't find room to feed the people who haven't got enough money and they they're just so dear thanking us thanking us thanking us and I want you to know it's very important
effort and I appreciate any help you can render because Joy the present director she she broke down last night on with me on the phone and she's a wonderful woman and she and her husband
both give a lot of time and her family as well. But I want to support her. I want you to know how much I think it's a worthy effort. And the Bible says, "Feed
my men." And that's my last remark. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Michelle Shabberta. I've lived here for 57 years all my life. I just pretty much have one
request and I hope you can work this out. I've been kind of tossed around um trying to find out what had happened on our street on Elm Street with the lighting. I did speak to the gentleman behind me. Unfortunately, he is told to do what
he's supposed to do from township between engineering, zoning, code enforcement. May I approach the fence to show you my pictures or hand them to you? Sure. I've lived there all my life. Born and
raised. I'm a second generation. I have my children who are third and I have my grandchildren who live reside here in Jackson. Fourth generation. Um the Crawford Vriga school is named after my father. I was one of the slogan contests that started back in eighth
grade at Carl get Jackson a place for all season. My request is I love my town but I do not like what just happened on my street. I enjoy my nights. I like my night. I love looking at my stars with
the lights that happened. There was 10 lights put on our street where there was none. There was always one at the corner. There's one on Maple. There's one. I heard that there was a complaint. The complaint back in
2023. I did lodge a complaint back in 2023. I have my police report. I have my pictures. The neighbor lit up all of Holly, my street, Elm. And I didn't like people blinding
my inside of my house. I'm glad that I'm on the other side of this poll because I feel bad for the person across the street from me. I don't object to the lights. What I object to is how bright they are. I live in a residential. I do not live in a
park. I do not live in a stadium. So, all I'm asking that the lights can be reduced. According to him, they could put lower LEDs in. I don't think we needed one on every single telephone poll when one wasn't on every single
telephone poll. Isn't there anything like I I have an email. I have an update um that Charles in regards to Lake Enino the community they received numerous complaints regarding this and we have spoken with Charles at TNM who advised
he will be speaking with JCPNL about possibly installing a lesser watt bulb so that they are not so bright. He took a ride through the neighborhood himself and witnessed the brightness. He also stated that Mr. Robert Bryce will be in attendance tonight, so he should hopefully be able to answer any
questions regarding this. We spoke with this about this this morning. This came from uh Miss Novak, the assistant business administrator. It was left in my inbox at um 3:39 today. Um also saying that she wasn't able to attend because she doesn't she's she's not
she's not feeling well. Um so that they're working on it and I believe you spoke with him. So hopefully we can get lesser watts and maybe it's it's so it's just this kind of goes through what we go through up here and and I'm not in administration. I'm in council so I do ordinances and resolutions, but I can
tell you that our emails come and like you are like these are too many lights. I don't want these lights. I want every other light. And then you have your you have the person next to you that says I want all these lights down here. And I think it's a happy medium that really is very hard to find right now because we
are a growing town and there's so many people that want different things. some people that, you know, want curbs and sidewalks down the whole street and somebody's like, I don't want a curb and sidewalk in my in my on South Cooks Bridge because I live here because I don't want people walking in front of my house. So, it's a common we just have to
come together and come to a meeting of the minds and say, "Okay, maybe we can lessen the voltage and do every other light." So, therefore, it's not as bright for you, but it also allows people that maybe are want some lights on there and it could and I don't have a
problem with that. I just want, you know, the it's supposed to light the street, then it should be facing down lighting the street, not people's homes, not, you know, like I said, I lived there all my life. I It's a great neighborhood. I I told you when you first came in, I like, you know, I know very well. So, in So, let's look at
that. We have this, we have this solution, and um we're going to speak with Mr. Bryce. We'll follow up with Mr. Bryce and the engineer and you know, if if you know, well, he can't make a move without the administration. We will speak to him in the next couple days. We have his We have his cell phone number.
I know. Speed dial. I'm sure. Um I would appreciate it. Let me give you your pictures back, ma'am. No, not a problem. Thank you. Okay, sorry. That's okay. Uh, my name is Reverend Victoria Pruner. I live at 755
Reed Road and have lived in Jackson um a while, six, seven years. Um, before that, I was a Tom River resident. First, I want to thank you all for your commitment to serve as township council people. It's something I'm not doing, so
I appreciate that. And I also want to thank you that as a council you seem to be on it, but I still want to bring it forward again is the food pantry. Um, if you didn't do it, I I I think it's
important to find out who believed it to be so necessary that we pushed the Jackson Food Pantry out to nowhere when we have 100 square miles of people to serve. And some of them are really
struggling. And I'm concerned about that. And I hear your concern, too, which brings me great hope. But I don't want you to, you know, I know with after being here and not just listening online because you don't listen as well. Um,
you have a lot on your plates. I just don't want this to fall through the cracks. It won't, ma'am. I appreciate that. And again, thank you for your service and for your service assembly. Thank you. Anyone else? Carlos. the
end. Carlos Martins, Jackson, New Jersey. Um, okay. So, when I first started, I think it was like a year ago, I started coming up here and talking. And for anyone that remembers, I mentioned that um I was going to divide my analysis
into the good, the bad, and the ugly. Just for the record, I haven't been able to get to the ugly yet because of time constraint. We're not complaining. and uh probably won't happen tonight either. Um but luckily a lot of my residents, fellow residents have brought up some of the ugly things
like the JCPNL and other um and actually I think you guys brought up some of the ugly things also. So that's good. Um so I can't help myself. My mom told me always start with the good and then lead into the other things. So some things that I've seen lately that that are good
um I feel are good. We always talk about social media and some of us like to refer to I'll use Facebook as an example. We have Facebook, we have Facebook, right? And I I would even say we have a hate book as well. Yeah. Um I do encourage the council I I've seen
some activity lately that I'm encouraged by to not allow the fake book and the hate book to silence, you know, the the other the Facebook, right? Uh to put put messages out there. Um, I don't want to point to any specific council person,
but I know one that uses it uh very well and and I appreciate that and and puts comments out there and gives us information. It's not just, you know, everybody's kittens and puppies. Um, you know, you know, not just to do the politically correct thing, but actually
puts things out there that are important like the Doge, right? Um, it's not pretty. U maybe it's not even politically correct for you guys to come up here and and talk about our some inefficiencies, but it is important for the town and I appreciate that. So that
was the good. I can't help myself. Um okay, some of the bad stuff I'll just touch some points. Um the mayor, I have to agree. Um so I think we pay a part-time mayor some we've deemed that they're worth about $30,000 or something
like that. Part-time 32. 30 32. Okay. So, rhetorical question is how much should we pay a no time mayor? No time. Never here. And from what I hear going on, even back door, there's nothing happening. That is extremely
frustrating. Um and um I heard somebody say about recalling the mayor or something, whatever I need to do because I just see no action at all. So anyway, rhetorical question. Um, what I did come specifically to talk about was the Open
Space Trust Fund. So, I think Miss Cohen took a lot of my thunder here, but um, I I guess the real question I have is if I want to get more information about it, right? So, I got the code. Got the code here. I printed it out. You're going to tell me it's not updated. No,
no, no. What's your question on it? I've looked into it, so I might be able to You did? Okay. So one of the questions is it's very specific the utilization of funds and it's very specific about acquisition of the property not maintenance of the property not building anything on the property only use the
funds for acquisition it's very specific so it's that's not updated so you can use the funds for parks I knew you were going to say that no no you can use the for to purchase parks and recreations to purchase acquisitions yes yes not maintain
right not develop in any So, I can tell you that I requested an audit of the open space um account and I I got the monies, but I'm still looking into it. So, if you ask your questions, I will write them down and I will get them answered. I'll I'll send an email. Yeah.
I mean 20 29-3, which talks about the utilization of the funds, right? Separate from I'm with you. Yep. Separate from 29-4, which is utilization of the land. Okay. So the funds should only be used to acquire land. That's it.
You you want to you want to put something on it. Those funds come from somewhere else. I will definitely Anyway, yeah, if we could look at that and then at the very end, what also disturbs me, the sale of the property. So we go through all these lists of what you can use it for and you can't use it for and then we stuck in there one
thing. Unless it is needed for another public use. What is that? And who determines if you can use it for anything else? because you've just negated all these criterias. Well, I can So, so wait, I want to ask you because I I you know what, that's a great question. I sent an email to the engineer asking that great
question because we do have some properties with houses on them. And I'm asking if the food pantry can have them. So, that's what I'm looking into if it's applicable if we can get the food pantry to a designated spot and maybe a parcel or something that we can maybe put uh a trailer on or something like that and
they have a home to go to and looking. So, I I'm literally just exploring that now. But that is a question that I'm asking. Good. Yeah. My time adding to all the other bad things. Council president, if I could just add some more good things, too. But if I could just add one thing, I think come to the next meeting. We love the good things. If I could just add one thing. I think it was when I think it was assemblyman was the
council president. The town passed a referendum to to raise money for open space. I definitely know that the intent and it passed overwhelmingly. I think it was like 65% of the residents voted for it. The intent of that vote, I remember being by the council meeting when it was explained, was in order to purchase open space. The council, previous council,
council president was on it. Mr. were on. It passed a ordinance to create an open space committee. Um I was on that committee last year. Unfortunately, um it was after three or four meetings, we realized it was a waste of time because we were told that we weren't allowed to negotiate with anyone. We weren't allowed to really do anything. And and after going to three or four
meetings, we basically stopped going. Um and this year we we um we last year the town went ahead and bought and bought parks. And we can talk about if that's the ideal and the shame of it all was we could have used grants to pay for those parks which by the way were many of
those parks were put in our schools which are actually one of those schools is actually sold to a private school. So you think about it we took taxpayer open space money we bought a park we put it in a public school which was sold to a private school um which not going to use it doesn't make any sense. So we we definitely support a proper oversight
and an audit which council president has requested. Yeah. Yeah. I appreciate that. So those are the good things. I'm glad you guys are on top of it. Thank you very much. Um I did have other things but next time time is up. Thank you sir. Seeing no one else come forward, make a
motion to close public com. Oh, I see one resident. Hi. Address um 53 Ding Lane in Jackson. And um yeah, that's you know my parents address. Um Lisa Pereira 53 Ding Lane Jackson. Um, I
taught in Marbor High School 19 years as a marketing education teacher, coordinator, deck adviser. I lived in Jackson 32 years. I owned two brand new homes. I was married 16 years and um I was um I am a parent, a mom and um I was
like I said a teacher and I subbed in all the schools in Jackson years ago. I know many of the teachers um in all the schools, elementary, middle school, high school. Um I have master's credits in administration guidance. Um, I'm certified in special ed, elementary ed, and something very terrible had happened
uh years ago that Judge Hopkins took my home away. And um, it was um, de it's been devastating and I didn't know anything. And I use the example that um, a 10-year-old can read a credit report, H O S I N G, and um, there was no debt
on my credit. So, I should have called the state police on the spot. I took a year. I went to court. Every time I went to court, I paid $50 in Tom's River. And um yeah, it's it's been devastating and um it's hurt um family traditions,
gatherings. Um I use a quote table of conversation that um celebrations, you know, haven't happened in my home, holidays, birthdays. Um people, friends and family haven't opened doors like they should. Um people, you know, uh people have collected a lot of donations
and a lot of people steal and it's unbelievable because there's a lot of cash and people work and have meetings at um hotels and restaurants and um it's uh yeah, it's it's it's unbelievable. So, our family's gone through a big crisis and um you know, there has been a
lot of people that have pulled together, but also a lot of people have stolen and um they have to come forward and they have to pay, they have to give us um you know, the donations that our family deserves. And I believe in Jackson you have to have a permit to collect donations. Um that's what you know I've
been told. Um I am also on the board board of elections and um I've been on the board of elections for a long time in Jackson. Um let's see. Yeah, just a big thing is that um people have to um you know family and friends
have to pull together and um not be judgmental and um it's very important that people don't aren't jealous or envious of other people. There's a lot of people out there that sometimes, you know, just want what other people have. they're just not satisfied with with the what
they have and um they just don't appreciate um you know what they have and there's just people that just pick up the phone and just randomly just constantly just like to report that uh different things to to law enforcement when they have to there's called defamation of character. There's
privacy. There's confidentiality. People have to obey HIPPA laws and um people have to be mature and they just have to be put in their place. So, it's up to police in in um and law enforcement in the towns to um make sure that these people are acting properly and they need
to be reported. The people that you know aren't minding their own business and breaking hippo laws. Um you know, Skype is out there, but Skype should be used properly. Um man that I've been seeing for years, Dr. Frank Savage, his nephew is Lauren MacGyver. He's a captain in
Point Pleasant. And um you know, they're highly respected people. And um yeah, they they you know help and I I report safety and you know health to um to him often and he um you know really um helps helps the community and
society. He lives in Tom's River and like I said he's a captain Warren Maccgyver in Point Pleasant. Um I have a a 50 it's almost 59 pages document um uh for my pension. I'm getting a low pension in the state of New Jersey. And
I have letters uh from uh um President Donald Trump and letters from former President Joe Biden. And um I'm hoping they they they changed this soon and up my uh pension a lot and I'm not getting any coordinators pay. I brought um Marboro High School marketing to Marbor
High School back years ago and I was a teacher coordinator, visited the students on their jobs, helped place them, they helped get their own jobs. I knew the students there, the assistant managers, the managers, owners of the businesses and I was a decade adviser. I took students on competitions to regional states, nationals, went to
Colorado, Florida and a lot of times states was overnight also and that's a great uh big responsibility, a big liability. Um I did meet Donald Trump also um in Atlantic City at one time. So that was exciting before he was president in the
casino in Atlantic City. Um, let's see. Um, I didn't want to know when the board of education meeting is. Third third Wednesday of every month. Okay. All right. Because I was Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for attending. Appreciate it. You have a great night.
Thank you. Seeing no one else come forward, make a motion to close public comment. Motion IT approved. Motion to close. Motion to close. Second. I I Have a great night. Have a great night,
everyone.