Please rise for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Good evening and welcome to the November 25th, 2025 regular meeting of the Jackson Township Council. Pursuant to the provisions of New Jersey's open public meeting act, adequate notice of this meeting was properly provided by transmitting a notice of the meeting on January 28, 2025 for publication, notice
of this meeting of the township council as a post in the corridor of the municipal building and in the office of the municipal clerk. We will begin with a roll call. Councilman Belli >> here. >> Councilman Brassie absent. >> Council vice president Paul Mary >> present. >> Council President Bernstein
>> here. Also present this evening is Mayor Cune, Attorney McGucken, and Veronica Dagner. The next item on the agenda is the oath of office of Councilman Pollock. >> Mr. Pollock, >> come on. photo
just holding the Bible for you. >> Bible. >> Here you go. Thank you. Please repeat after me. >> I, Christopher Pollock, >> I, Christopher Pollock, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same. and to the governments established >> and the government established
>> in the United States >> in the United States >> and in the state >> and in the state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> and that I will faithfully >> and I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties as council person
>> perform all the duties as council person >> for the township of Jackson >> for the township of Jackson >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. We will now hear opening comments from the township council starting with Council President Bernstein.
>> Thank you, Clerk Martin. Um, first of all, congratulations to Mr. Pollock and to his entire extended family and team. Welcome. We look forward to working with you and getting a lot of lot of wonderful things done for the taxpayers of Jackson. Um, a special thank you to all the residents who donated by the
food drive that was held, I think it was two Sundays ago. Um, a a an especially big thank you to Joy from from the food pantry. Um, we managed to put together, I think, close to $5,000 in donations and an entire truckload of delicious,
healthy looking a lot of pasta, a lot of sauces. Um, thank you to everyone, to my colleagues here at DPW for for sending some some of their staff down to open the building to get everything ready. It got cold and windy as the day went on and uh I appreciate everyone who managed to make it out there and we look forward
hopefully in the next couple weeks on announcing another one before the holiday season. Um so thank you to everyone who managed to come out. Um a quick Rova Farms update. Um the engineer did send me Mr. Quinn a video of the
renderings. It was actually really cool. Um but when I looked at it, there were a couple things that weren't 100% accurate yet. So he said hopefully by the next council meeting in December that will be ready to show to the public. But in the meantime, the drainage design and landscape designs are underway. The the the engineers are working on the D
permitting packages and next week they will be digging the test pits with the DPW which will hopefully save the township a couple dollars for drainage and structural design. So that's moving forward. Um, as everyone may have seen this past week, we put out a press
release on the town website. Um, that the rental list is now available. Um, that idea came up um on the day of the food drive. I met with Councilman Pollock and it was brought up. It was a great idea. We right away ran to the mayor and the mayor instantly approved
allowing that information to be public, something that should have been really public for years. Um, it's a list of all the rentals in town. And really the purpose is besides for transparency. If you see a rental in your in your neighborhood, you're not sure is it legal, not legal. The first thing to do is check on that list. It's about 1,900
addresses on there. It may take a little bit of time to figure out how the list works. And uh we will be reaching out to code see if there's any way to make it a little bit more user friendly. Um, but it's a list where you can go through it and see um if an an address in your
neighborhood is is registered or not, which is a definitely a very necessary first step. Um, additionally, just people have asked me about putting more information on that list. Right now, it's just addresses. When code first sent me the list, um, it had on it not the tenants names, but it did have the
landlord's names and the management company names. And after speaking to legal and to code enforcement, they had concerns with that. So, as of now with just the addresses, if it ends up being differently, we'll obviously update the public. Um, additionally, many people have asked about with some of the rental
issues in town, which I'm sure is going to be a continued subject of conversation. Um, the mayor has authorized our code enforcement department to start having extended hours, many of the rental issues in town are we it's hard to to really tackle during during the workday. So, we're going to be working with our code
department um and the members of the governing body and administration to hopefully add some hours. so they can be around to hopefully find the issues that we all see with our own eyes, but sometimes during the day it's harder when people are at work or people are children are at school. Um, a couple quick small other updates. Um, the
township um also announced that there are some minor upgrades or changes going on to South New Prospect by Louisiana Parkway. Um, so just be mindful if you're driving in that area over the next couple days that there are some traffic there may be some traffic detours. Louisiana Parkway was closed off part of the day today and I'm sure
over the next couple days there'll be more. Um there were multiple residents who reached out asking there was another accident on South New Prospect in Citadel and I just want to give everyone an update. Um we reached out to the county and asked them what they can do. Um the county said a quick fix would be
to add additional striping um advanced warning signs and perhaps a flashing light a stop sign in each side of Citadel Drive which is a temporary fix. Um and they went through the numbers. I just want to bring out for for the for the residents here in 2023 there were
five crashes in that area. In 2024 there were six and unfortunately in 2025 which is not over yet there were already seven. So that we are working with the county to see what we can do on this busy roadway which unfortunately has been having a lot of different uh accidents. Um really just as the year we have one
more council meeting this year. Um look forward to hopefully seeing another similar sized crowd. Um but over the next couple weeks I look forward to reaching out to all my council colleagues as we start planning for the 2025 years to figure out where everyone would like to put their talents in their time with regard to liaison to some of
our different departments, some of our different boards and um I look forward to hearing constructive uh feedback from all of our residents. Also, thank you and have a wonderful night. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Thank you clerk. Congratulations, Councilman Pollock.
Look forward to working with you. I'd like to also congratulate Manga on celebrating 10 years at their Jackson location. Manga was our August small business highlight and is great to see them continuing to grow and succeed. Tonight, we'll also be recognizing another outstanding local business,
Bella Italy, our October small business highlight. Jackson is fortunate to have so many wonderful small businesses and it's truly a passion of mine to visit them, meet the owners, the customers, and learn more about their stories and their impact on our community. Another
area that is absolutely essential to the strength of our town is our public schools. Over the last eight years, the Murphy administration has put the Jackson School District at a significant disadvantage, cutting state aid by more than 54% despite only a 15% decline in
enrollment. These cuts have forced the district to make incredibly difficult decisions. But I want to acknowledge the board of education, the administration, our teachers, and all staff. They work tirelessly to do the very best they can with the limited resources they've been
given. Supporting our schools has been a personal passion of mine in every role I've held. Whether it was attending assembly budget and finance committee meetings in Trenton to advocate for Jackson or working here on council to cover the cost of our two SRO's so the school district could redirect the
$235,000 to students and teachers. We must always do our part to support our businesses, our school district, and all who make Jackson what it is. And that includes supporting each other. Even when we disagree, we should do so in a way that
does not tear one another apart. Jackson is a great town, and I and if we all work together, it can become an even greater one. So, thank you, >> Council Member Elli. >> Uh, thank you, Clerk Martin. And congratulations and Councilman Pollock.
excited for you as you begin uh this honorable journey. I look forward to working with you and our town's governing body um to serve uh all the residents of Jackson. Um our town is uh sponsoring an annual Christmas tree lighting on Saturday uh starting at 4
p.m. on um uh December 6 here at Town Hall. Jackson's own Santa Jim will be in attendance and the Jackson Baptist Church choir will be there. I've heard them sing. They are very good. And the manura lighting will be held at town hall here on Monday uh December 15th
starting at uh 4:40m. I hope you can join us at these uh great holiday events in our town. In closing, I just want to say I'm thankful for my health, family, and the honor of serving as a councilman for you, the residents of Jackson. I want to wish you all um our fellow
residents a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. It's great to see this uh crowd here. Take care and have a good evening. Councilman Pollock. >> They didn't expect me to be sitting up there with them, but we are here today. Uh, I got to say
I am very happy to serve the people of Jackson. Honestly, I'm not necessarily happy to be here. This election woke up a lot of people. The results were not subtle and there was a mandate. The residents of Jackson sent a message that
they're tired of how business has been done and they want change. I didn't run because I like politics. In fact, I can't stand politics. I can't stand politicians. And I think most people feel the same way. I can't stand what politics has become in this town, Ocean
County, New Jersey, and even on the national level. And I'm going to say something that most people in my position would never say in a microphone on day one. I don't trust all the people who've been making decisions for that town. All right. I know you're not supposed to talk that way once you get elected. Supposed to
smile, shake hands, and pretend everything is fine. After this election, you know, everything is not fine and we definitely need changes. And I think they heard the message a little bit. I didn't get elected by playing that game of being nice and being friendly. I got elected by telling the
truth. And the truth is, there are problems that we need to fix. I understand this job isn't easy. And no matter what you do, some people are going to be unhappy. This position isn't about power. It's not about status. It's not about being important. It's a position of service. Service to every
resident of Jackson, whether they voted for me or not. Now, this isn't my council seat. This is the people's council seat. You trusted me to sit in it. And I intend to honor that trust. I hope I can work with the other members of this council. I hope we
can make good decisions together. I hope we can put aside the inside politics and serve the people honestly. But whether we work together or not, I'm going to do what I came here to do. Fight for the people of Jackson, not developers, not special interest. To the people of Jackson, thank you for believing that
change is possible. Thank you for refusing to stay silent and thank you for giving me this responsibility. I will never forget who sent me here. Thank you. [Applause]
The next item on the agenda is comments by honorable mayor Keune. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. Um, welcome, Councilman. Um, newly sworn in. um your speech if you realized you said that
town not our town. This is our town. It's not that town. >> Ma'am, you want to start this in the beginning? >> Is this how you want to start day one? >> This is how you want to start day one. This is why no one likes you and no one wants you in this position. >> Order. Order.
>> So, >> you hear that? You hear that? >> Understand we're not playing these games anymore. >> Councilman, it starts on state order >> as I was saying. So, what is going on right now? We are currently looking as administration to acquire 4.5 acres on
Patterson Road. We just got the appraisal back and it overappraised. So, that will be coming to the next executive meeting. Um, and the township will hopefully be able to acquire some open space. Next, we are working I was with on a
Zoom call for an hour today with the uh New Jersey D regarding our Johnson Park uh landfill that has been uh unressed for uh I believe 60 years, 50 years. So, according to the D um they have never really sat with anybody from the
administration to look at moving it forward to closing it so then we can finally start to use our parks. Therefore, the application is in. They anticipate us to have the approval um with the leadership of our engineers um by the end of the year. That is something that will be amazing. So
therefore, we can start using Johnson Park for the hub it is, which um is something that we're looking forward to. We can then do improvements and um hopefully put the pavilion and stuff that we wanted on that park. Secondly, I have uh emails from restaurant uh from
um a resident regarding our code enforcement and our police department. I'd like to read them. um in the recent events um with council and administration working together, they wanted to take the time to commend the swift and effective action of code enforcement on a matter that I called on with I don't want to say the code
enforcement's name just for legal purposes on a situation that was happening directly across the street from me. Two illegal rentals that are now LLC's. The properties in questions were throwing massive garbage around and leaving it on the lawn. They were also renting two homes that had the same property without filling out any permits
with town. The day I had called, the same exact day that code enforcement came, they did the investigation, they did their due diligence and they did an amazing job. I spoke to Tom directly. I'm sorry. I spoke to the code enforcement directly. He was empathetic, understanding, and very knowledgeable. He assured me that he would get to the
bottom of this and he did exactly that. So, we want to thank the officer from code enforcement for doing that. Secondly, uh the same resident called to compliment the Jackson Police Department on their outstanding professionalism and people skills. He wanted to give the department a well-deserved shout out and
expressed that he feels very secure living in the township because of the services that he receives. Lastly, we implemented um lights out and new lights. So, that system is in process with the engineer and going very very well. I would say lights out reported in
2025 and I think council president it's been implemented for I don't know a couple weeks. um 63 have been reported and will be sent to JCPNL for correction. In the previous years of 2023 and 2024, there was only 16 that were actually reported. So, thank you
and have a great evening. >> The next item for tonight's meeting is an update from the Department of Public Works. Council President Bernstein, >> thank you. Um leaf collection is proceeding as scheduled and our crews are working very hard on this task. We are currently working in zones five and
one. Please do not be alarmed if you see crews working in your area before your schedule collection date. We are simply trying to stay ahead of schedule. We will return on the advertised schedule start date for each zone. For all residents in zones four and two, which were the first zones that started really before all the leaves were off the
trees, we are planning to return for a secondary and final pickup starting December 8th. Please also excuse the appearance of the municipal building. Our buildings and grounds crews are currently working on some renovations. Lastly, we appreciate everyone's input on the street lighting issue in town and urge all residents to continue reporting
outages by emailing lights out atjacktwpnj.net. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. >> The next item of business is the presentation portion of the meeting. Council President Bernstein. >> Yes, Mayor Kean.
>> We're going to do uh we had a poster for um community or clean community at Elm's school and all the elementary schools. They all um submitted posters and we have the top three winners which we're going to announce. Miss Baron
Thank you. >> So, we have um Maximus for Elms Elementary School. If you can come up Next here. >> Second place from Homeman, we have
Avana. Vana, are you here? I think there's kids outside. From Homeman. In third place, we have Matthew [Applause]
Alina from Switlick, first place. Is that you, honey? Congratulations. There you go. Katherina, if you're here from Switlick, please come up. You got second place. Angelina third place, Switlick, if
you're here, please come up. Congratulations. [Applause] >> You're welcome. Thank you. >> Olivia, first place. Johnson, if you're here, please come up. [Applause]
Sargie second place Johnson. Thank you. You did a great job. >> Natalie third place for Johnson. [Applause] Thank you so much. You're welcome.
Laya first place. Laya first place. Crawford. Good job. Thank you. Good job. >> Anna. Second place. Crawford. [Applause] Dominic third place, Crawford.
[Applause] >> Good job. >> Thank you. Great job. >> Jimea, first place, Halman. Sophia, third place, Elms. Congratulations. Great job.
>> Salvador, first place, Elms. If we can get all the winners of the kids up here just so we can get a picture of you with your certificates. If all the kids can come up and take a picture with counsel. It's close Round of applause.
>> Great job. Great job. >> So to all the children, congratulations. Feel free to leave um so we can continue the meeting. We'll take a 30 second break. So you guys you guys could all leave or stay if you want. Yeah. >> Okay. So, let's continue with the
agenda. You'll call the answer. Madame clerk, you can continue. Thank you. >> The next item of business is the second reading of public hearing of ordinance 202540. >> No, madam clerk, it's presentation still. >> Excuse me. I apologize. Thank you. The
it's uh the next item of the business is a small business recognition portion. Council President Burnsley. >> Um council vice president. >> Council vice. >> Thank you. Do we have someone here from Bell Italia? He confirmed with me, but I don't see him here. Anyone from Bella Italia?
Okay. Maybe he had something come up. Uh I'm going to read it anyway and uh I can bring it to his business. Uh hopefully he's okay. He confirmed just the other day with me. So, I want to congratulate Belell Italia for being small business of the month October 2025. Your dedication to excellence and
commitment to our community exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship in Jackson Township. We appreciate your contributions and wish you continued success. I also had wrote um I just wanted to congratulate his family. It's a family-owned business, a true staple to our community known not just for
great food, but for great people. They've built a reputation of quality, kindness, and commitment to Jackson that goes beyond their front doors. So, we're grateful uh for what they bring to our town, and it's a pleasure to highlight them this month.
>> Congratulations, Bill. It >> Thank you. >> Thank you. The next item of business is a second reading of public hearing of ordinance 202540 amending and supplementing the municipal code of the township of Jackson so as to amend
chapter 244 entitled land use and development regulations so as to revise residential density standards in the highway commercial mixeduse zone. At this time if any member of the public has any comments to make please address the council at the microphone. State
your name and address clear for the record. You may only you may only have five minutes and may only speak once. May I have a motion to open public comment? >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Council. Seeing no one come forward. I
motion to close public forum. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202540? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Blli. I'm glad to see this
being done reducing the residential density that's potentially uh implemented out there between the 195 and harbor. It's a very uh >> Mr. Brley, just double check your mic is on. >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah, now it's better. Can everyone
hear? I'm glad to see that we're reducing the potential uh residential density out in that very busy area of her town, especially during the summer months between the 195 corridor and Hurricane Harbor. So, I vote in the affirmative. Vote yes um on this
ordinance. Thank you, >> Councilman Pollock. >> I vote yes. This ordinance lowers density and this is what we need more of. I hope this standard of lowering density is carried to every project and on every developer no matter who they
have ties to. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary, >> I would just like to concur with everything that Councilman Burelli said and I vote yes. >> Council President Bernstein, >> I concur with all three of my colleagues before. I just want to thank attorney McCain for getting it to this point. So
yes, >> thank you. Motion carries. The next item of business is the second reading of public hearing of ordinance 202544. Ordinance 202544 amending and supplementing chapter 103 entitled vehicles and traffic article 14
schedules. 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 clear for the record. You will have five minutes and may only speak once. May I have a motion to open public comment? >> So moved. Second. All >> in favor? I.
>> Any opposed? Council >> seeing no one come forward. I motion to close public forum. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> I. >> Any opposed? May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202544? >> Motion. Second.
>> Councilman Belli. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> I'm going to abstain on this. I wasn't here for the first reading. Um so that's me tonight. Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein.
>> Yes. And again, just a thank you to our professionals for this was an ordinance that came out. I mentioned it by the last council meeting came out through a planning board application that there were concerns that the planning board put certain restrictions on the applicant and uh they they applied to the council and the council all agreed
to ban parking um in front of that application. So yes. >> Thank you. Motion carries. The next item of business is it second reading of public hearing of ordinance number 202545 repealing ordinance number 2121 and reinstating all prior
provisions of chapter 2986. 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 opposed? >> Council seeing no one come forward. I motion to close. >> May I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? May I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202545?
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Council member Alley. >> Um, Council President Ernstein, didn't the state have to intervene? and this is why we're making the change. >> So yes, um I'm just going to give the background how this came how this came to our desk. It came while council the
mayor was still council president. Um there were multiple complaints or made to code and to our building department and to our PD about noise on the western side of town near off by off of Anderson in that corridor and upon research we realized that there were certain ordinances that were enacted I think in
2023 that DCA actually informed the municipality at that point that it were they were in violation of DCA policy. Unfortunately, for some reason that was never passed along to council. Um, and now we are repealing it as per the guidance that we received from our legal
team and the DCA. >> Thank you. >> Yes, council. >> Thank you. Council vice president President Paul Mary. >> I call this a quality of life ordinance. I vote yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes.
>> Motion carries. The next item of business is the first reigning and introduction of ordinance 202549 amending chapter 24412 entitled fees with respect to lot uh consolidations and mergers. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments on ordinance 202549?
>> Yes, thank you. This ordinance, if adopted, would establish a fee to be paid by a property owner who merges or consolidates lots, thereby requiring a change to the township tax map. This fee would cover the cost of the tax map changes incurred by the township so that the cost is borne by the property owner, not the taxpayers. It results from a
recommendation of the tax township tax assessor and is similar to recent changes made to the ordinance requiring such costs to be paid by a developer resulting from approved subdivision. And again, I just want to thank um our tax assessor um Mr. Maher for being uh um
really um not not giving up. Um he wanted to get on the last meeting. Unfortunately, just didn't happen. So he followed up and this really would just make sure the town would probably save a small amount about $10,000 a year that would be put on the developers or the home or the land owners and not on the
taxpayers. >> Are there any questions or comments by the township council? >> May I have a motion to approve ordinance 202549 and first reading and introduction to authorize the notice of the public hearing. >> Motion second. Councilman Blli, >> yes.
>> Councilman Pollock, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Palm Mary, >> yes. >> Council President Bernstein, >> yes. >> Motion carries. The next item of business is the first reading and introduction of ordinance 202550 amending chapter 103.279
establishing an additional one-way street for South Boston Road from Bennett Mills Road to Tilford Street. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments on ordinance 202550? >> Sure. This ordinance, if adopted, would implement the change recommended by the Jackson Township Police Department
together with our engineering department to ensure that South Boston Road shall be a one-way street in a westerly direction from Bennett Mill Road to Tilford Street. >> Are there any questions or comments by the township council? This was also a recommendation made from the traffic safety unit as well in our police
department um regarding the uh public safety in respect to public safety in that area of our town as well. So just want to correct >> emphasize that. >> May I have a motion to approve ordinance 202550 on first reading and introduction
and to authorize the notice of the public hearing? >> Motion. >> May I have a second? >> Second. Council Belli. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Yes. But if there's issues, I would like to hear from the people who live in that
area. I did stop by and drive through there, and I understand the concerns, but I'd also love to hear more from the people. And that's that's what this government should be run on. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> I vote yes. And on the second reading, of course, anyone that wants to come out
and speak, come out, let us know how you feel. That's what second reading's for. I vote yes. Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. And I just want to add, I spoke to Mr. Kunliff, our engineer. Um, there obviously are residents in that area who have very valid concerns. Um, our engineering department really went
through a whole litany of different ideas and trying to rectify the safety issues and the traffic issues for that for that area. They send us I think there were five different proposals that really came from residents there. Um, so we are looking forward to hearing from the residents and we will have Mr.
Kunliff here addressing any of the questions. And in the meantime, if any resident has any other ideas on how to best address some of those issues to please send an email and Mr. Kunliff is uh he said he's he's hit the max and how many ideas he can think of. If anyone
else has any other idea that won't cost the taxpayers one about a million dollars, he's more than happy to hear it. So, I vote yes, but looking forward to discussing it further. >> Thank you. >> Excuse me.
The next item of business, thank you, is the first reading and introduction of ordinance 202551 establishing summer camp fees and amending chapter 30438. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments on ordinance 202551? >> Yes, thank you. This ordinance, if adopted, would increase the fees for the
town of summer camp registration in order to reduce the amount required by taxpayers to subsidize this program while still providing a cost less than charge by surrounding municipalities or other public entities. And I just want to um add to that for a second. So I had a meeting um a couple weeks ago, about a
month ago in the mayor's office with members of the summer camp program. Um this recommendation came from them and now with some of our new members of our recreation department. We had conversations um with many most of the members of the governing body here obviously separately. Um, and I
understand it's a difficult decision to make sometimes to raise raise the cost, but unfortunately sometimes it's a necessary decision and I appreciate all the hard work and I'm going to be reaching out to them with the clerk after the meeting asking that a rep from the recreation department and the summer camps can come to the next council
meeting also and give a little presentation to the public why this they feel this is necessary before we vote the second time. >> Are there any questions or comments by the township council? No. Madam clerk,
>> may I have a motion to approve ordinance 202551, a first reading and introduction to authorize a notice of the public hearing? >> Motion. >> A second. >> Councilman Browley, >> yes. >> Councilman Pollock, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary, >> I'm still gathering some additional
information. So, at this time, I will be abstaining from this ordinance. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. The next item of business is the payment of authorization of bills and claims. I would like to note the following abstensions. Abstensions include from
Councilman Blli AE1, EY1, NJSO4, NJS13, RU, RU9. Are there any questions or comments by the township council? If I could if I could just say one
comment. Um the bills list is is gets lengthy at the end of the year. A lot of different departments put things in there at the end. Just making sure the bills are paid before the end of the year. And I really want to take a moment and thank the clerk. Um I spent a lot of time I try to do it early. It doesn't always happen before the council too
much before the council meeting. It's really fascinating to really go through what every expense is so you have a better understanding of how municipal government works. So thank you madam clerk and I look forward to doing it every two weeks. Thank you. May I have a motion to appeal uh to approve the bills and claims with the
abstensions noted? >> Motion to second. >> Councilman Bradley >> with those ex um exceptions. Yes to the rest on there on the agenda for the bills and claims. >> Thanks. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary.
>> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. The next item on the agenda is the consent agenda listed for tonight's consideration or resolutions 348 through 359 2025 listed by title. Council
President Bernstein, are there any comments on the consent agenda? >> Yes. Firstly, does anyone from the public want any of these consent agenda resolutions taken so we could have a topic and then um we'll discuss it up here and then we'll put it back in. So, Mr. Martin, I see you raising your hand. >> Yeah.
My question is what does >> Sure. Thank you. Um any other Oh, >> sure. >> Sure. >> Sure. >> Does that mean today we have an unqualified >> and
Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. I see the resident back there. Just tell us what which one you want us to discuss. We discuss it up here. Just >> Sure. So, comments will be at the end of the meeting, but now we'll just uh we'll we'll uh just have that um open
conversation here. So, um Madame Clerk, so I'm just going to address it and then we put How does it work? We put it back. There's a gentle >> There's a gentleman in the back. Yes. 352. Perfect. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Um, Madam Clerk, so I'm just going to, I guess, address some of those resolutions
and then um then we can, I guess, put them back in and then vote accordingly, right? Is that the way it works? Min, is that the way it works? >> You would take a separate vote on >> Oh, >> yes. >> Okay. So, should we vote first? Vote on the >> balance.
>> Yes. So, we're going to vote on the balance of the consent agenda first. >> Sure. Mayor, >> unless any of my colleagues have any comments, which I have a comment on um 354 um which I just want to mention quickly. 354 um unfortunately sometimes when you
sit up here, we have to make some very tough decisions that um aren't always easy decisions to make. So, we all know that there is a in New Jersey there's COA and there's a state affordable housing. So right now the state in their lame duck session um the Democrats are pushing through a bill that if it passes
and I've spoken to in the past two weeks a couple of our Republican assemblymen and a couple of the Democrat assemblymen just to gauge where this is going and they're unfortunately pretty confident right now this may go through. This would allow a developer, as long as they're a registered nonprofit organization, to build 40, that's 40
units per acre um as part of an affordable housing plan with a 20% set aside, which basically means apartment buildings um as part of their affordable housing plan. Um I don't think anyone in Jackson likes the concept of have or
very few people, I'm sorry, um I saw certain people in the back. Um very few people like the concept of having to build affordable housing. But one thing we I think we could agree on if we have to build it, we want to build it smart. We want to build in a way that we can control. 40 units per acre is not smart development. So this is a resolution
calling on the state to rethink what they're doing. Remember that Jackson is not Newark and not Trenton. And hopefully they will, if they do decide to proceed with it, leave our suburban towns out of that uh out of that uh whatever you want to call 40 acres per
unit. So um that's that that's what I wanted to discuss. I also wanted to bring up R59 2025 which is a authorizing to to put out a bid for our recycling. Um we we we trying to gather some information currently if if residents
are happy with the recycling services or not. We obviously when you put any question out you get mixed reviews. Um but um it was something that um we technically have a fourth and fifth year to our current contract and we just
wanted to felt if we put it out we maybe have a possibility of maybe getting a little bit of a lower rate and I will tell you that the vendor that we currently use did reach out and ask if we're willing to negotiate our rate a little bit so maybe we can get a little bit more for the taxpayers. So that's that. Council vice president
>> if Yeah. I just I want to just also reiterate on resolution 354 2025. Let's be clear. This is a disaster. This this Senate bill 4736 is an absolute disaster. This would allow for high
density apartments in Jackson. 40 units per acre. So, I'm happy that my colleagues here, council president, we support opposing this, completely opposing this and and this resolution will go to um every legislator that we
oppose this and it will be voted to everybody in the state legislature. We need to be very loud about this. We cannot have this pass. You we will look like Manhattan. So, uh thank you for putting this forward, council president. Uh I can concur with you 100%. This is
clearly a 100% disaster. >> Any other council members? Mr. Brley, >> I get to comment on all of them right now. >> Sure. >> Okay. Uh well, I'm going to echo your sentiment on uh 354
2025. Um strongly oppose this bill and I think we're all sick and tired of the state forcing more and more development on our towns. We want more local power to decide our town's needs and wants, not some suit in Trenton who's never even been here. And
resolution 352 2025. I did have some concerns about this. I spoke with council president. I spoke with our engineer. Um it seems like we're making up some of the mistakes of the past. Um, but I think we're doing it in a good way because we're essentially doing a land
swap with green acres. Uh, because they decided to build on land they shouldn't have built. Uh, and I'm good with this because we are going to do that land swap with green green acres, but they're going to be preserving the land. So, that should be one of the utmost priorities and the the council is doing
everything they can to fix the problems. So, Um, anything else? So, I just wanted to >> I I do have more. All right. >> Um, now, uh, resolution 355 2025, uh, about
the new, uh, purchasing agent. I'm not really sure what happened with the last purchasing agent. I do have a concern that a lot of people are either leaving or being removed from their positions. I'm not sure what's going on within the town. I'd love to find out eventually.
Uh and then on 357 2025, uh we're approving a purchasing agent to bypass the council with purchases under 53,000. Uh I'm not against efficiency or streamlining processes, but when a lot of people are getting shifted around, people are getting taken out or new
people are coming in, I'm a little weary of giving them kind of free reign. I'm not a big fan of government and not a big trust in government. So you'll hear a lot of that from me through all this and I think the rest uh I'm good. >> So I'm just going to elaborate on a
couple questions that I think residents had and then the process is we vote on the consent and then we vote on the separate ones. Um with regard to R52 2022. So um Councilman Pollock was correct. We had a conversation myself
and Mr. Kliff with Mr. Pollock today and this has been an ongoing issue that the mayor um really discovered. It really came to our attention um about 6 months ago when we applied for a green acres grant which would have enabled us to get about $850,000. I think it was a Jake's
Law grant which is a state grant that many municipalities get. Tom's River got it last year. Many of our surrounding towns have gotten it and we were all excited. We found it. We applied for it and then we didn't we we we were denied without really much of a reason. And so we went back to some of our professionals. They brought up this
issue that unfortunately which I know was addressed publicly with a presentation in August um where the township made some mistakes about 15 20 years ago and because of that we we are frozen out of getting any green acres state grants at currently. Um
unfortunately we have to fix this but like Mr. Pollock said the the advantage is whatever we end up giving to the state is going to be preserved forever by D and will be preserved property. So, while we may have to give property to the state, at least it will be preserved and it won't be a state house. It won't be anything else built on it, which I
think is a is is an advantage to to the to to the state and to the town. Um, I know the mayor is working tirelessly with our engineering department on this project. I know there's going to be this is just authorizing the next step of it and hopefully, um, I did ask our engineers because we we got a lot of
questions about this process if they could write up a little bit of a summary in layman's term that we could hopefully post on the agenda, sorry, on the website. um a the process that we've gone through and what the next steps are and really explaining in layman's term exactly what this is going to include. So hopefully we will have that within
the next couple days so we can post that and anyone has any questions feel free. Um and then um with regard to um qualified purchasing agent um I'm not going to discuss personnel publicly um but I look forward Mr. Councilman Pollockin maybe discussing that, you know, behind closed doors so we can have
a little bit more information. But, um, we are in the need of a qualified purchasing agent. And, um, really just thank you to the mayor and to to all the other staff here for finding someone who's actually going to be, um, currently stepping in at a much cheaper rate. I think it's about $1,400 a month,
which is a lot cheaper than having to pay healthcare benefits or anything else to anyone. So, that's hopefully a savings for the municipality. With regard to the to the to the I think the number is 53,000. Um my understanding is that is the state number. Um madam clerk, could you could you elaborate on that for a second if possible?
>> Yes, that that is the bid threshold. >> That is so it's a state mandated threshold. >> That's the state. >> Do we know why the state raised the threshold because I think it's a valid like you obviously want checks and balances. >> Attorney McGuckin, would you like to take that? >> The under the statute, the state can raise that threshold annually based upon
inflation and everything else. Oh, um here you want. Sorry about that. Um by statute, the department can authorize um the increase in the QPA limits for purchases based on inflation.
It's gone from it used to be $12,000 a year. It's been increased over the years. The last one was up to, I believe, 47,000. They've now raised the limit again as a result of inflation and cost. uh it uh the state has authorized that to be uh permitted by only if you
have a qualified purchasing agent. If you don't have one, the limit is like $11,000. >> Just just to address Mr. Martin's comments about the qualified purchasing agent, um is there something as a non-qualified purchasing agent that we're allowed to hire?
>> Qualified purchasing agent. A qualified purchasing agent means they have passed the state test and they've been licensed by the state to serve in the capacity as a purchasing agent. So if you do not have a qualified purchasing agent, you are not subject to the $50ome,000 limit. You're limited to 11 or $12,000. I can't
recall the exact number. Um almost every town, certainly any town of any major size has a QPA. Um and it's usually an expensive proposition to obtain one. And this process here allows us to essentially contract with a company to do it as opposed to an employee
requiring benefits and so forth and so on. >> Thank you. So, we're going to have public comment at the end. Um, that's just the process currently. Um, anyone else on council have any questions? >> Uh, Council President Bernstein, >> thank you. >> I I know we went we've made comments uh some some of you made comments already
regarding R352- 2025. Um, I also had questions and I appreciate the township engineer um reached back out to us to inform us this is pre-application to the state of New Jersey. This is the next step in the green acres major uh diversion process
to legalize the Jackson uh compost facility to rem remain at Jackson Mills Vista Center site and um and also um to you know maintain the gravel driveway retaining walls which serve Crawford Rodriguez Elementary School as well.
um it's just uh to legalize both of them then with the land swap and all that with the land there that's going to you know be preserved and protected and um also you know prevent private development from occurring as well. So, I just, you know, wanted to uh mention
that regarding that. And then I concur with all of you on R 354-2025 opposing the Senate bill um S uh 4736. Um you know, we want to try to maintain the suburban character of our town as
best as possible and this would just uh just create a nightmare in towns like uh ours like Jackson and and other towns as well. Um, so and I just want to add one thing that I think the ratio that for a to fix this
this problem would be about a 10 to1 ratio that we have to give back to the state. Um, I think right now one of the properties that's being examined would be I think if I remember correctly, they said it's in the pinlands about 500 acres. It depends on obviously in the Pinelands properties sometimes a little bit um less expensive. So you have to
get more acreage in order to hit that number. But I'm sure our engineers will continue to update us as the process goes forward. >> Madam clerk, >> thank you. Um, so may I have a motion to authorize the consent agenda, um, the balance of the consent agenda with the
exception of 352, uh, 354, 355, and 357, which will be voted on individually. Correct, Attorney McGucken? >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Motion. Second.
>> Councilman Browley. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. And I want to thank a resident. I'm not going to mention his name who actually brought this to the attention about six months ago about this process because it was great to have an open conversation about some of the things that we usually in the past didn't
happen. So, thank you to that anonymous resident. Yes. >> Thank you. Motion carries. May I have a motion to authorize resolution 3522025 supporting the Senate House Commission pre-application to the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection for the Jackson Mills Compost Facility and Camp Joy Major Diver Green Acres Encumbered Local Park Land. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Bradley. >> Yes.
>> Councilman Pog. >> Yes. Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> May I have a motion to authorize resolution 354205
opposing the Senate Bill S4736? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Brley. >> Yes. >> Councilman Paul. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. and everyone, all residents in Jackson, please email all your legislators because it's the only way we
even have a fighting chance. So, yes. >> Thank you. Motion carries. May I have a motion to authorize resolution 355 2025 appointing a qualified purchasing agent? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Brellley.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Abstain. Council Vice President Palm Mary. >> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein. Yes. >> Motion carries. >> May I have a motion uh to authorize resolution 357205
granting authority of approval of certain purchases through New Jersey state contracts andor purchasing cooperative for 2025. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Council member. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> No. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes.
>> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. Motion carries. 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 have five minutes and may only speak once. May I have a
motion to open public comment? >> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? >> I I. >> Any opposed? >> Come on up. Before um Madam Clerk, I just want to um just reiterate the way I've been doing it for the past couple meetings. anyone asks questions, I don't want to take away from your five minutes. I'll be writing them down and
then hopefully we'll be able to answer them when you're done. So, >> go for it. >> Okay. I'm gonna My name is Michelle Ryson. I am a Jackson resident and a taxpayer. Um, I first want to address resolution 355 appointing a QPA. We're
appointing a consulting group, the Canning Group, and we're appointing Sha P. Canning as the QPA. Um I did not see anywhere on the League of Municipalities that this position was posted. Um also we are civil service town. Was this
posted within the township? Um also on the township website it states Nidia Dalmichi is the qualified purchasing agent. You cannot have two qualified purchasing agents appointed for a town. There also needs to be a individual
resolution appointing that QPA. That's one. The second resolution I have a problem with is resolution 356. Um the byboard national purchasing cooperative that is a national co-op. We
must the township must be a member of this national co-op. I don't see anywhere in this resolution the resolution where it states the township joined this co-op. Um, and we also there's requirements when a national co-op is being utilized. You have to do
a cost comparison and you have to show the savings because we really should be utilizing a local or a state contract in which there is a state contract with many local um vendors that provide this type of equipment.
My next resolution is 357. Um in this it's saying about the bid threshold up to 35,000. Uh there is a window contract between 175 and 50 I mean 53,000 the QPA
threshold. Um the named QPA is not mentioned in this resolution which they should be. Also I disagree with the attorney. every five years the state increases the bid threshold. It's not, you know, $1,200 or $12,000 as how how
he said. And there must be a resolution stating that the township is going to increase that bid threshold for um all purchases and again that named QPA must be in that resolution.
Um my next resolution is 358. It mentions that um Sean Canning is suggesting that they utilize an ebidding platform uh to receive bids. There are
certain requirements that the state put out in an LFN. I apologize I don't have that LFN number that the town must look at these ebidding platforms. You must do it properly and you must name that e bidding platform by resolution. Um, you
have to get quotes and so forth. Um, so that's it with resolutions. Do I also talk about a bill list that I'm not happy with? >> Sure. You can talk about whatever you want. It's your time. >> Perfect. Um, I'm looking at a bill list for PO2501546. It's uh the off the It was for the
clerk. >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry if you could just say that again. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. Uh, purchase order 25501546. It was utilizing the clerk's office materials and supply budget account and it's actually the office supply account.
036 is office supplies. I see an office refrigerator. We are taxpayers. We do not pay for individual refrigerators, microwaves for departments. If departments want a coffee machine, if they want a refrigerator, if they want a
a microwave, they pay for it. The town is required to provide a local um you know, help me out here. Lunch room. Thank you. And there is a lunchroom. I believe there's a microwave. I believe there's a
refrigerator. I'm a taxpayer. I'm not paying for everybody's individual refrigerators, coffees. And if people are buying curic coffee cups, no, I'm not paying for that. Okay? And if you had a qualified purchasing agent sitting in an office, they would be reviewing
these purchases and it would be denied. So appointing a consultant is wrong. Okay? So I'm just saying you need to advertise it. You need to get someone in here that is qualified. [Applause]
Okay. Okay. So, I just want to address some of the Oh, you still >> Sure. >> One more time. >> Oh, no. No. I did say. >> Okay. So, I just want to address some of our questions and some of them I'm going to defer to the attorney because I don't I don't know if I know the answer. Um
so, um with regard to the um the byboard, the township actually passed a resolution. I think it was a month ago month ago um being included in the byboard co-op. It was on It was a resolution I I'm almost positive two meetings ago it might have been last
meeting but I have to pull that up. Um with regard to the QPA and with the bidding council legal council um if you could address that >> QPA has a QPA has to be licensed and certified.
Uh and my understanding is Mr. Canning has that certification. I I didn't understand the rest of that question. >> Okay. And then um with regard to um just the refrigerator. So when I first came into office about two years ago, the
first time I ever went through any of these orders, I saw a lot of water in one of our departments. And I was also and I said, "Why are we supplying water?" And what I learned and um we we don't all have to agree with this, but I learned it's important to try to make employees happy. And um which is something that I think um everyone in
this council and administration, we want happy employees. And sometimes there's certain I'm not going to call them benefits, but certain work um work environment things that you do whether it's once once in a while by a staff by a staff meaning they they have lunch um and other things that do go on. And I think there are many departments in our
building here that do have refrigerators and I'm I'm I I personally didn't have a problem but I understand your perspective. >> I have a problem. >> Yeah. And also they used to supply water here years ago and it was removed because taxpayers shouldn't pay for bottled water for employees. If they
want bottled water they could bring it in. Also you can install just like at the gyms you have those uh instant water that you provide and that's open to the public. So it's public use. It's not just for employees. So, I suggest you
install those type of of fountains and get rid of the bottled water if we're paying for bottled water. I also forgot one more thing. >> Ma'am, I'm going to give you another 30 seconds. Okay. >> Okay. November 13th council meeting, Mayor Jennifer put on record some things to look in town hall. One being
doors being replaced would be funded by opioid grants. I reviewed the opioid grants uh recommended usage and it is not for doors. It is for individuals what opioid problems is for housing them. It's for prescriptions. It's for
rehab. Um things like that. So before grant money is being used, I suggest that the QPA, the CFO, look at the approved usage before these items are processed because you're violating. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. So, Attorney Mccucken, if you COULD [Applause] >> I would have to review the exact item in question, but there are requirements as to what the opioid funds can be used for, and I'll be glad to review it if necessary. >> Thank you. And if there's a problem, if you could let us know. Thank you. Mr.
Brandon, >> could you please uh explain the oneway thing with South Boston again? Is it only going to be going from Bennett Mills back into Tilford? >> Correct. The way the ordinance was written was it could only come from Bennett Mill towards Tilford Westbound.
Uh I'm sorry that's eastbound, I think. Um but yeah, you can only come from Bennett Mill. There would be no more making a left turn from South Boston onto Bennett Mill, which we know there's been multiple accidents over there. If this if this goes for a second reading, >> there's there's no possibility of expanding and widening the road eminent
domain or >> so. Um let me see if I can pull it up for a second. That's a great question. Let me let better yet let me let me give you your five minutes, ask your questions and then I I don't mind answering. >> My my basic point is between West Lake and Winding Ws alone, you're affecting 2,000 people that come this direction to
pay their taxes. And I'm sure most of them use that Beam Avenue to South Boston just to come down here to pay taxes. So, what I would say is I I based on the development of South Boston Road, I think the residents on South Boston Road would not be happy to hear that the 2000
cars are using South Boston Road as a cutthrough, which is part of the reason why part of the reason why we're here. Um I'm I'm going to read um Miss Ben, any other questions or is that it? >> That's basically it. >> Yeah. So, I'm going to read about um
let's see if I can pull it up here. If not, here about here widening the roadway installing sidewalks on one side of the roadway for a South Boston roadway. Disregarding the safety concerns raised by this office and this is from our engineering department um and the police department traffic safety unit. We evaluated the
visibility and making South Boston road a two-way roadway. The following work would be required. The roadway would need to be widened to a minimum paved width of 20 ft. We also recommend installing sidewalks along the route to clearly separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic. South Boston Road appears to have clearly been a dirt road that was
later pa p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p paved without a formal engineering drainage system. Currently, runoff drains to lower areas in front of yards along the route. Adding curbon sidewalks would act as a barrier and cause ponding and flooding in the roadway unless drainage is provided. Storm water recharge infrastructure
would therefore be required to address this at an estimated cost of approximately $285,000. Approximately 30 significant mature trees would need to be removed to install curb and sidewalk. We estimate tree removal costs at about $75,000. This impact is unavoidable as there are large trees in both sides of the
roadway. We estimate the total construction cost to be the range of 620 to $685,000. We estimate the cost of professional services including survey, design, permitting, and construction, administration, and inspection to be in the range of 80 to $110,000. So final
number that would possibly cost to be close to a million dollars. >> Okay. [Music] Can I uh comment? >> Um Mr. Pollock, >> uh making these decisions is extremely difficult and no matter what you do, somebody's going to be upset. We
understand that and I'm glad I I had a conversation about this earlier a little bit too. Um I would love to hear from more residents. Um and I appreciate the public comments. Um me, I I think these meetings are running much smoother with our new council president. Uh, I think
that people are being respected more and I'd like to continue that. Uh, and on things like this, I want people to get involved, speak up because we need to hear from you. There's things we don't necessarily know. You know, um, I I went down that block for the first time today because I need to understand these
things. But we're not going to always fully understand this. We need to hear from you, the residents, because I personally want this to be a partic participatory type of government where you really have a voice. And um thank you for all the help. >> And I just want to add one more thing on
on that note. So we definitely want to hear from everyone. Um the next council meeting is approximately a month away after the holiday season. Um um and or middle of the holiday season, but um not till the middle of of of December. Council, we instituted we almost done a
council chambers where um I know Mr. Pollock, we haven't yet advertised your hours, but each of the council members has hours that they're available. Um and we're looking forward to residents coming down. We also talked about possibly instituting quarterly a question and answer session at the end of a council meeting. So more less
formal um session for maybe an hour, hour and a half. So we definitely want to hear and I think we're happy to see more residents there. Go for it. >> Good evening. Good evening. My name is Alex Marco from Bretwood Drive. Uh tonight's more of a PSA. So I'm here tonight representing
Knights of Columbus out of St. Monica Council 11529. We are running our annual St. Jude's fundraiser, Christmas tree, wreath, and grave blanket sale over on 138 138 North County Line Road uh about Premier Design. So, all proceeds will go to St. Jude's. Um you know, we celebrate
life as Christians, but also this is a season for thanks for our fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters who have passed. So, if you're not Christian, we still do sell great blankets as well. So, please come by. And we do have some uh Santa Claus and other stuff for the kids on the weekends. So, see you Black Friday. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And I would ask you, I forgot
your name, but if you could email me whatever um >> if there's anything, do you have a flyer or anything? And I will send it over to administration and >> I emailed you on calendar. >> Okay. So, >> thank you. >> My name is Fred Marorrow. I live on Bay
Avenue and uh congratulations, Mr. Pollock. And I have to apologize for what you're about to hear, but I think this has been a big joke tonight about you wanting to listen to us because when this whole project with South Boston
Road came up, we voiced our concerns, our opinions, our fears, and we were totally ignored in that vote. This is something now all of a sudden you're talking about a one-way street that was already designed.
It's already been constructed and you're going to tell me the vote's not going to go through. How much faith do I have in this government? My fears are for my kids, my grandkids,
and for my property as well. I live right at that target that you are proposing to plant. Thank you very much for listening. [Applause]
Adamite. I live in Jackson, New Jersey. Uh, and I just want to make a comment before I speak. Uh, I was appointed to our township's environmental commission. I'm not speaking in a formal capacity. I'm just speaking as a concerned resident. Um, I went to kindergarten at Jackson Memorial. Um, I went to Jackson
Liberty. I graduated, went to college. I I was born and raised. So, I'm just speaking as a concerned resident. Okay. Just for the record. Um, my particular concern is on 352 uh 2025. I just have some questions on the Camp Joy stuff. Um, can >> second, Adam, if you could stop a
second. You said 352. >> Yes, it's about the land swap around Camp Joy. I just want some clarification. Um, do we already own the acreage being swapped? >> If I could just stop for a second. It's not a >> Can you stop the clock, please? >> Yeah, if you if you don't mind stopping the clock for one second. It's not a
land swap. Um, it's right now we're trying to we're not up to the Cam Joy is gonna stay Cam Joy. No, no one's there's there's no one up here that's there's no intention whatsoever to touch Cam Joy and there's no >> It says that we're going to unpreserve 8
acres of land. >> Is that Isn't that correct? >> I'll let you continue. What? >> No, the order the the resolution it says we're going to unpreserve eight acres of land. >> Unencumber? >> I'm sorry. >> We're gonna unencumber. >> Could you elaborate? Sure. Um, Mr.
McCucken, I just want to make sure I I use the proper terminology, but I'll let you ask your questions first. I'll answer. >> Yeah. I just >> because then who how are we replacing the land that we're unpreserving? >> We can you agree that it's the law we
have to replace the land of equal or greater value if we unperve green acres? >> Yeah, that's the law, right? I I'm asking a question. how what funds are we going to use to replace the land that we are going to be unpreserving?
>> So, if I understand correctly and Mr. McG correct me um is that we're we in order to be able to continue utilizing our green acre funding >> which which right now is frozen because the town went ahead and put on a
Greenacres property things that didn't belong on Green Acres property. We which the resolution arguably admits we un we there was unauthorized use of the land. >> Correct. So we admitted to the unauthorized. Yes. Okay. >> And >> now we have to we have to go ahead and
give to the state um 10 10 times the value of that of of the property that we stole. I'll use that term. Correct. >> We have to right and and which budget which funds are we going to use to do that >> to to make I understand you guys want to make the compost facility operational. I
don't agree with that. I think Green Acres exists for the this the epitome of Green Acres is land preservation. I think it's a win for the town and a loss for the residents as we now lose the preserved space. So, when you guys are going to replace that space, what funds
will you use to replace that space? >> So, I'm going to let Mr. Mock do you mind answering? I think you asked that question >> because just just for the record, we will be using funds from the township to remediate a township oversight error. Right. We weren't supposed to develop or do anything. Correct.
>> So now we need to >> Mr. Pollock. So I was asking a lot of these same questions earlier. I spoke to the engineer >> and you stop the clock, please. >> From my understanding is that uh we are using township land. We're not using money. We're not going to be spending a
bunch of tax dollars on this. So you're saying that we own the land already that's going to be uh taking part in the exchange. We're not purchasing any land for the exchange. >> That is what I understand from the >> land is going to replace the 8 to nine
acres. Could would you mind bringing the resolution up? It might clarify for all of us. >> I'm trying to be start the clock and the resolution. Could you please stop the clock and ask the IT person to go to 352-2025
please respectfully because I want to make sure that I'm reading it correctly also. I don't have it here. I don't have it here. >> Yeah, there was in August. I just I don't have the documentation here. It sounds like we just lose 9 acres of
preserved space and then we have to use our tax money to replace that just so we can make sure this compost facility stay. >> So Adam, I I hear your question. I I I don't think you're right, but I have to get back to you on that. >> It's a concern. It's not a question. >> Sure. >> Well, from my understanding, they do
have particular land they are looking at. Offhand, I don't know. I'd have to go through. >> It's not in the resolution. respectfully the resolution I could bring it up actually give you know what it just to save everybody time um in the now therefore be it resolved
section uh number three states the township of Jackson acknowledges that in order to obtain the approval of Jackson Mill's compost facility and a portion of Camp Joy facility major diversion all substantive and procedural
requirements under the law must be including compensation requirements. So, we we legally have to compensate uh this unpreservation of the 9 acres. And I just want to make sure that we're not going to use our open space funds
to on to to pay back our mistakes because again, this is a township oversight error. This has nothing to do with the residents. We should not be using any our taxpayers pay into open space funds every year so we can have parks and refuges. I want to make sure that we're
not abusing that budget. Um uh an even bigger concern is I can ask you a question. What is stopping Jackson from putting this ordinance into effect right now? Are there any outside agencies that are stopping us from just doing this?
I think there's two agencies that we need to apply for to get this into effect, right? >> I'm sorry. You put what into effect? >> I think I think we need to reach out to the state assembly, right? We need an approval this there's two approvals that we're seeking, right?
>> I guess what I'm saying is what kind of precedent do we set as a council that greenlights a resolution when the state hasn't really gave us permission to do what we want to do? >> I understand. It's kind of it's kind respectfully just because I don't have a lot of time. I'm not trying to be rude, Mr. McGomery. Um it's kind of the issues
we see with the with the development, right? Like a lot of permits aren't being vetted out and site plans are going through without proper uh uh vetting. So I guess if if if this whole if if this whole thing depends on an
approval from the state assembly and um who's the other uh agency that we need to apply to? >> The state house commission. >> The who? >> State House. State House Commission. >> How? Okay. Yes. Thank you. Um I guess if they haven't gave us the approval, why would we even vote on an
ordinance pertaining to it? What if they both say no? Then this ordinance is just I get dead in the water. But what kind of precedent do we set? It's kind of like build now, >> check for compliance later, right? >> I'll answer your question, but I don't want to interrupt you. So you tell me
when you're done. >> I unfortunately have more concerns than the 11 seconds that I have. But I think that uh I think you guys get the gist of my concerns. So this is not an ordinance. We're not doing anything other than making the application. And actually what the a what the resolution
authorizes is a pre-application submission to the department for them to review our request. They will never approve it unless we meet the requirements of the state house commission, which is a 10 for one replacement. And the attachment tends to use land it already owns and will
encumber those lands against development for future purposes forever. And those lands are the ones well yeah forever forever right the green acres were forever right it's >> so what we're doing is making the application and that's all this authorizes the state house commission
would have to grant the approval they will not grant the approval until we identify all the parcels that'll be deed restricted against future development. Yeah. >> And and is there anything you can do to like kind of u like how can you ensure the deed restriction will will be taken into effect? Would you say that the
green acres was supposed to be preserved forever? >> That's for green acres to decide. There's a process where if you are going to take something that was previously preserved and use it, then you have to pay 10 to one for what you're taking. And that process could happen again in 50 years. Certainly could happen.
>> Understood. It's a it's a terrible consequence we have to face especially um as residents right. So we want to make sure however we're going to compensate for that if this we do go through with it. Please don't use the open space fund. Please don't use the open space fund. Please don't use the open space fund. Please do not use the
open space fund. >> Thank you Adam. I I was asking very much a lot of these same questions. >> Uh what I understand is we're not allowed to use the open space fund for that. So uh you know I'm asking the same question. I I appreciate that.
Thank you, Chris. Thank you, [Applause] >> Tom Gillino, Cobain Road, Jackson. Uh, Mayor Keane, congratulations on your appointment. Mr. Bernstein,
congratulations on your appointment. Mr. Pollock, also congratulations on your appointment. So, I'll be brief. Uh, council president, you say coming to a compromise in the neighborhood on the Mike Calderice podcast recently now that
Chris was elected. How is that even a conversation when you had a giant warehouse built right on West Commodore Road recently among other projects literally across the street from residential homes? What does that do to their value?
There wasn't compromise there. How how about the usage at 21 Alana Drive where the roof was taken off the house and the house was extended with all sorts of windows where it now looks like maybe at least a 12 to 15 bedroomedroom parcel on
the end of a proper on the end of uh Alana Drive. Okay. Um, these are just two examples alone that lend that don't lend anything to the play nice interview with Mr. Calderice regarding being inclusive. Then there's
390 Cobain Road, which is still getting reviews on Google as a commercial petting farm and is still a synagogue on Friday and Saturday and a forale farm selling his animals. Recently, Jackson PD ticketed 390 Cobain Road for
excessive dog noise after 10 p.m. As we all know, the ordinance exists. And JPD found uh found 390 to have 13 dogs and not five as township code. Eight dogs were removed. Suddenly, the
owner who is an LLC stated that the dogs had babies. Is he running is he running a kennel or is he a breeder? Because that's another issue. Okay, Mr. Jeff Papuro, who some of us will probably know zone uh is in charge of the zoning
department, served 390 Cobain in the past with summones after it was brought to his attention that in an R3 residential neighborhood, as Miss Miss Ke will attest, she knows. Okay. Um, he had three 64 seat school buses pull
into his circular driveway like they were being dropped off for school. I didn't know I had a school across the street from me. Okay. Meanwhile, they were there for a field trip to his petting farm. Okay. Upon seeing this, I immediately went over to Mr. Prepuro, which is approximately six minutes from
my home, his office. um and he declined to come out in real time to see what was going on. He would have saw himself firsthand that these school buses with 64 children that I have video
of were on a residential property arbitrarily just and he charges them for this by the way. Okay. Anyway, so Mr. Propo dropped the summons that he he had originally committed to on the premise
that they were shut down. Okay. But as Miss Cun and I have had conversations about um this this continues to go on. She actually in real time while we were on the phone looked it up herself and saw for herself and said what is going
on here? Okay. So with that being said, I constantly get assured that it's shut down. It's not happening. Just last week, there was another review posted on Google. Okay. I tried having a friendly conversation with the LLC owner. Okay. Of course, it's deny, deny, deny. Push
the food around the dish. And to be honest, I'm getting tired of it. Okay. I've lived here 25 years. Peace and quiet. I can't even open my windows at night anymore. Okay. I have a family. I have a ch I have a daughter that works at community medical. She's got to be there 5:30 in the morning. You're all
you're all parents. How would you feel about that if your child had to be somewhere at 5:30 up at 4:45 and at 1:30 in the morning you got dogs barking because he's protecting his animals. Okay, that's not my problem. When you moved in a few years ago, you knew the
lay of the land. This is an R3 residential property. Okay, but you're trying to do this and say, "Get out of my way. I don't care about you." Okay. Unfortunately for him, I don't really It doesn't bother me one bit. I stand here all day and talk about this. Okay.
Anyway, so you people are all off on the weekends and that's when this individual is running his business full boore. Okay, I have countless videos in my phone of this guy having a in and out. He has a circular driveway, double entry. They're in, they come out. It's
almost like clockwork. Okay, and he charges them. He used to have a sign that said $11 ahead. I went to Propuro and had it taken down because this What are we doing here? I'd love to have you come over for coffee like I've had conversations with M Miss Keen and say, "Hey, you know what? Let me charge you
10 bucks for the Starbucks with the whipped cream." Okay, you understand the point of what I'm saying? >> Sure. >> And f and finally, >> I'll give you another 20 seconds. >> Okay. And finally, I know the township council put out a memo that on January 1st, 2026, they are going to be seriously cracking down on the illegal
rentals in Jackson. What are you doing to hit the road hit the ground running on this issue which goes into effect in 36 days? And it also in part it's a large part of the deterioration in this town regarding safety and quality of life. You can start with one Alana
Drive, two Alana Drive, 15 Alana Drive, 451 Coobane Road. Every single one of those is listed as a primary resident home. >> Sure. >> Nobody lives there that owns those properties. >> Sure. Thank you. Um, so I'm just I just
want to address um So I'm I'm just going to address your your comments and concerns in backwards to forwards for a second. Um the one thing I can definitely tell you that everyone on this day is no matter what is united on is our illegal rental
issue. So with regard to um what are we going to do? So just to to elaborate on that ordinance. So, um, the mayor's office together with I think our clerk's office today say was preparing the RFP, sorry, not the RFP, the for the legal municipalities to advertise for the rental inspe inspectors, um, with the
goal being that by January 1, those inspectors will be hired to be trained to be starting to work at the end of January, beginning of February. Um, unfortunately, that process takes time and, um, we had to follow the various ordinances and it took about six to eight months to get that entire process
ready to roll. Um, currently we have a fully staffed code enforcement and um, I understand the frustrations. I think if I remember correctly, I was on a couple of those emails from co from with regard to that petting zoo. If someone's illegally using their property um, it needs to be reported and needs to be continuously reported. I'm going to ask
our attorney because in this form of government, council does not give instructions to our um, and I don't think the mayor does either to our department heads on what to enforce and what not to enforce. But I'm gonna ask our attorney if he can possibly um through the mayor's office follow up with Mr. Porro tomorrow because what the
resident is is is um describing should not be going on in a residential home unless they went in front of the board and seek the use variance, which it doesn't sound like they ever did. Um with regard to um you mentioned a couple of other addresses, I I would ask you again to
please report it. Um CC the mayor, CC any of the council members, and I can guarantee you that all these council members will make sure it ends up at the right department. Um, we're not in an enforcement. We're in the legislative body over here. Um, enforcement falls under the mayor and it's her job to ensure that our departments are
enforcing our ordinances. And I I am very um confident that hopefully this new department working together with our code code enforcement department hopefully we will start seeing some results. It's I I know no one wants to wait two months. Um, and I'm hoping people understand that we are going to
be taking this seriously. With regard to what are we going to be hiring, um I think everyone on this day is including the mayor, including all the council members, want to see people who are actually going to focus day and night on the rental issue and crack down on it. Um I'm I'm just
so So, so yes. >> Yes. So, >> yes. And and and I just want to speak because it's a recorded meeting. Um I will follow up with the mayor tomorrow and with our code department and our zoning officer to find out where that
investigation is holding um because that shouldn't be going on and uh we will make sure that the chief of police is included in that conversation. Also with regard to you mentioned other applications I I don't think it would be Mr. McGuckin there was an application which he's referring to in front of the zoning board this week for a warehouse
um which I think got preliminary approvals did not get final approvals. Being that council appoints the zoning board, I don't know if it would be appropriate for me to respond. Um, >> there's an application pending before the board, you really can't comment. >> Okay. >> If there's an application pending before
the zoning board, the council would not be permitted to comment upon that. It's pending before the zoning board and they appoint the zoning board. >> Okay. Thank you, Carlos. >> Uh, sorry if I council respond. I think you air a lot of the frustration that a
lot of people who live here feel. Uh illegal uses of residential homes, the the boarding houses. These are all huge problems. This is things I've been talking about, council's been talking about, and of course the residents been talking about. And uh we need to work together with code enforcement. We need
uh the participate participation of the people as well to report these things. Uh I was stopped by code enforcement this morning and had a meeting with them. Uh because what needs to happen in this government is we need cooperation. We need to work together. I just went in there and sat down and said, "Hey guys,
what are the problems? What are the issues you're facing?" Because their job isn't always easy. And and people need to understand that. It's not just like I report something and boom, it happens. I wish it worked like that. We all did. Uh but they're working hard. I was happy to sit down and talk with them. Uh and I'm
hoping to find some solutions with them. We have to work together. We have to communicate. You can't sit up here and blast a department for months and months and months and then expect them to do a great job. You have to go in there and actually speak with them and say, "Hey, how can we work together? How can we fix
the problems?" This is what's been missing from this government. And I know some of us are trying, but what I've seen in the past, I Why do you think I'm here? I got pissed off and I ran and I won. And I now that I'm here, I'm hoping to work together with everybody to make a true positive difference. And thank
you for raising those concerns. Please, let's get those addresses, the code enforcement. Let's get these things happening. Uh, council president has been getting code enforcement to work some evenings now. We've actually been speaking about the possibility of the weekends. So, you know, we're trying. We're talking. We're working together. It's going to take some time, but but
we're working on it. >> Council Vice President, I think Council Vice. >> Yeah. Um, and just to reiterate what uh what Councilman Pollock said, um, you know, report these to the departments, but also copy one of us just so we we have some, you know, some eyesight on
this because if you don't get responses, then one of us could just reply, hey, you know, can we get a response? Uh, copy the mayor. The mayor, you know, is very responsive and we'll we'll reply right away. So, just we're all we're all working together. It doesn't happen overnight. We we're let we're laying the
groundwork with the Bureau of uh housing. So, that's going to be helpful. We're going to get that going. But, it's not going to be perfect because this issue didn't happen yesterday. It's been growing for many years, probably more years than any of us have been on this day. So, we need to now peel that onion
back layer by layer. And as we find more issues, we'll have to uh amend ordinances. We'll have to create new ones. We'll have to like we're doing create a new department. But, we're going to work together. again the feedback from you emailing uh your the respective departments and your
legislative body and the mayor will help us to to have eyesight on it. So thank you >> and I just want to echo that is that in this form of government we will follow up with the mayor so she can have that conversation with Mr. Poor to have a better understanding get that information to us if there was an investigation as summon issued what what
changed and then you know we can figure out where that gray area and where that loopholes are so we could hopefully because we're all on the same page. Council President, really question regarding the Bureau of Housing. >> Sure. >> Are those civil I think it might have been asked before and you know and if it is civil service the process can take
>> a pretty long while. Um are those positions civil service? >> Mr. Attorney Mucken I know you were asked this by a previous >> My understanding is that they likely are and I believe Miss Cypriani was reviewing that. >> Okay. So it might take a little bit longer um going through the process with
the state regarding >> correct starting it so we can move it forward. Thank you Carlos. >> All right. Um okay one is Oh Carlos Martins Carlos Martins. >> You don't have to swear.
>> I am a member of the zoning board the zoning board of adjustments but I'm here as a resident. >> I'd actually like to give my full address if I could. Go for it. Okay. So, I live on 406 Cob Bane Road and if you heard any of the testimony, there are a
lot of my neighbors here today complaining. Um, even though I'm on the zoning board, I believe because, and you correct me if I'm wrong, because my neighbors and potential are so close to me, I will not I'll have to recuse
myself anyway, right? So, I think I could comment or can't I not? I don't want to be thrown in Gator Alcatraz. So, you tell me what I gota what I can do and can't do. >> So, if you believe you're going to have a conflict before the zoning board on the application. Yeah. I I mean, you're
free to say whatever you want, but you could be putting yourself in a problem. If that board denies the application based upon comments you make to this council, >> right? >> I'm concerned that and if it goes to court, we would be in a worse the board may be in a worse position. >> Like I said, I'm going stay away from
>> Thank you for asking. Go for it. Next. So, uh, so just know that I live on 406 Coobe and a lot of my neighbors are here. Um, okay. So, I did forget my reading glasses. So, most of this stuff is going to be coming attractions for next year.
Okay. But I just want to put this on the table. Um, one is probably is going to shock Mr. Paula. Um, we have issues. I think they're personal issues. Um, but I do congratulate your campaign and everybody
that voted for you. I will. Thank you. Oh, okay. Now we can talk. >> They're a nice shade on you, too. >> I look good. All right. Um, so I do want to cr congratulate your 12.8,000 voters that voted for you.
You guys won. Um, and I also like to congratulate I think Elliot who ran a great campaign. So, um, and I look forward to working with him. I'm a nobody, so, but I'll I'll willing to help on a few things that are on your
list that, um, that I agree with and I'd like to help. Okay. Um, so coming attractions, um, I would like for the council, everybody here, I think, has run on the concept of
we fight over development, right? It's very easy. It's like saying you run against murder. Well, duh. Nobody wants murder. Nobody wants overdevelopment. But I haven't heard from you guys. What What is over? How much is too much? What
does that look like? Right. Is it in 15 years our population doubles to 120,000? Is that overdevelopment or is that okay? I would like some of that. So, as you probably all know, I'm an accountant financial. I like numbers. to me words
with no numbers next to them are just nice fancy political words. They don't mean much. So, uh I would again you don't have to answer today. It's probably a much longer conversation but now that I can read I'm I'm bringing that out. Um
a second. Yeah. Right. The final development. Um yep, we got that. Okay. Give me just one more second. Sorry. This is going to be really quick. Um, yeah. So, I do want, and this will take a while, but there's been a lot of
>> bad comments about the planning board and the zoning board. And like I said, I'm on the zoning board for this meeting today. I would just like for everybody to remember that all the members of the planning board and the zoning board, we are all volunteers.
We don't make one penny out of doing that. Um, I can tell you I have no backdoor deals with uh developers or anybody else. Right? If I have any financial interest, it's maybe in Manhattan, maybe in Westchester where I come from. Not in Jackson. The only
thing I have in Jackson is that my wife one day comes to me crying and asking me, Carlos, can we ever retire in Jackson? I'd like to retire in Jackson because we like our home. And when we see everything that's going on in our home, you know, in around Jackson, well,
one, the taxes are crazy. Luckily, that's not we can handle it, but everything that's changing. How much is too much? How much is overdevelopment? Um, I really would love an answer to that. And but you have a lot of time. Please don't don't answer today. And by
the way, I I I do appreciate um that podcast with Mike. I forget his name that you did, right? Um, you know, everybody criticizes you. You can't win everybody, but at least you're out there and you're taking those hard questions and and and that's how we should all do
it. Thanks. Anybody else? >> So, um, I just want to address a couple of questions that you asked. Um, with regard to what is overdevelopment, I think that's a great question. I think if you ask each of us, you'll have to a certain degree similar answers, but different answers. The one thing I think
we could all agree to is that 200,000 people of that projected growth that was mentioned by council meeting is bad development. It's that is overdevelopment and it's something I think unanimously I'm look around. I think we everyone everyone is in agreement and no one supports such planning. Um unfortunately as we said
before when it came to the schools and we said about that resolution pertaining to 40 units per acre. New Jersey is not exactly a town a state that supports suburban lifestyles. It's it's something that the state doesn't believe in I guess. And um we need to elect more and again I don't want to play politics up
here because I certain residents will will email me tomorrow saying you you can't go ahead and start supporting certain parties over other parties. Um but we need to get better elected officials and more or more of the certain letters in there um who would support keeping Jackson a rural
community and wouldn't support um affordable housing mandates. Um, we're going to address more of that going forward because I think it's an ongoing conversation I think the public should be engaged with. Um, I can tell you I had a the opportunity of being on part of a court hearing today pertaining to
our affordable housing mandates where Jackson in my opinion provided everything we were asked to provide. And the judge basically said on the phone, I want you guys to consider more. And I'm like, why would we consider more if we hit our mandate? We had a thousand affordable housing units. Why would we why would we why would we have more? He
said, "Well, before we get to the real settlement, to the real, you know, the court hearing, I want Jackson to consider every basically every developer who who made a request." I think that's unfair, but that is the way the courts rule. Now, I'm going to push back because if we did our job, there's no reason for us to add an iota more. Um,
and I don't think it's something that our residents want. So, that's a short answer. I think if we go around the deis and asking everyone what is over the mountain, we will be here till 11 o'clock at night. I think that's a conversation we could have after the meeting, people stick around and more than happy myself to stick around a little And I'm sure some of my colleagues are also. Um, I just want to
address quickly. I know Adam asked questions before. Um, Adam the engineer emailed me since you spoke. He asked the engineer Charles Conliff asked if you can reach out to his office tomorrow and he'll provide all the documentation so you can be up to date with all the all the the issues that you brought up. I will send it to you. I have your email
address. >> May I respond to Mr. Martin? >> Sure. >> Uh, Mr. Martins, uh, really good comments. Uh, great questions. I I appreciate it very much. Uh, I think that's that's a huge question we should be discussing and talking about. I'm hoping the uh question and answer town halls we're talking about, we can
actually discuss those things and like I said, everybody participate, be a part of the conversation. We're here to serve you and that needs to be number one priority. We have to have an understanding that like I said, the job's not easy. We have the state coming down on us. We're dealing with court cases. He's having to argue about
affordable housing. Uh, it's not easy. Uh, but we should all always have a conversation. And you know, you got to understand one side, the other side, and end of the day, it should always be what the residents need the most. We have to try our best for it. Um, uh, Attorney McGunkin, uh, may I comment on the
planning board? Uh, not about any applications or anything like that. >> You're free to say anything you want. Um, the planning board is, uh, there's one member of the governing body who sits on the planning board. Um, other than that, it's a mayor's appointment. So, >> thank you, sir. Uh I I'm very unhappy
with the planning board to be honest and I understand their job's not easy. Uh they're shackled by very strict tough laws at times and they do have to make tough decisions that a lot of people are not going to like. But what really upsets me is the way they treat the people. Uh sometimes I go in there and
I'll listen to it. I'll go online. I'll listen to it and I'm not sure who they work for. Do they work for the applicants or do they work for the people in the town? It it it does not sound like they're working for the people in the town sometimes. And that's very upsetting. and the way they speak to people is is fairly reprehensible. Uh
I've witnessed our attorney liken somebody to their young child during comments. That's not right. We cannot speak that way. We cannot act that way. And yes, I got up here speaking tough, but you need to show respect to the people who live here, the voters and the
taxpayers. That should be number one. I do think we need a change in leadership when it comes to the planning board. I'll just say it outright loud. I don't care. I'm here to speak the truth. I'm here to speak what the people feel and that's what I'm gonna continue doing. >> Thank you, Mr. Martin. Mr. Mr. President, can I have a word?
>> One second. >> M Mr. President, >> council vice president and councilman Brley. >> If I could just say, I think, you know, we know for sure that Trent thinks we're a piggy bank. We pay our income tax. They take it through S2 and repurpose it to Newark. We fulfill our mandates for
affordable housing that the state put on us. They come back. They want more. So, we just need to continue as a town to push back. Elected officials will do so. We ask the public to do so in terms of emailing, reaching out. We could go down to Trenton and petition. I did that on
the board of ed. We could do that here. Whatever we can do, we should all be doing and working together because again, we're just an open piggy bank to trend. They see us and they want more, more, and more. They want to take from us and give to someone else. This is not a socialist society. We're a democracy, a republic, and we need to fight for
that because we're losing it every single year with trend control. >> Council Councilman Burley, >> Council President, uh, regarding Carlos's comment, and Carlos, you may have heard of this. Luckily, Jackson does have something working in its
favor. We have like 44 to 46% of the land available in our town is wetlands. So, we have that going for us. But with the rest of it, we got to do the best we can. And I think we all are trying to do that um on the governing body and protecting um um the rest of it. So, and
again, we got to start reigning in what the state is mandating uh for us to build and because it's something that's not only our facing something that our town faces, but it's other towns as well that are facing uh the affordable housing mandates and um you know, things
need to change, but I don't think they're going to change any time uh soon as we see you know from these past election results unfortunately. So, but we got to fight the good fight on the local level and um try to fight back against some of the uh you know I call
unfair housing uh mandates, not fair housing. >> Next, of course, Carlos, wait next. >> All yours. Hello. My name is Joe Drosmo live in Jackson. Bless you. Jackson, New
Jersey. And I just wanted to comment on the uh historic win for Councilman Pollock. Outspent, outmanned, out advertised, still won by over 5,000 votes. Now, what I'm not here to talk about is a post campaign discussion, but
what I do want to talk about is why that happened. What is the interpretation of what we had just seen? Pretty impressive. Um, and I think that people want change. And I'm probably going to echo some of the same sentiments that other people echoed. Play by the same
rules. Everybody wants change. And there's a gentleman I feel for in the back because I have two LLC's on my street within close pro proximity to my home. One of them brought in mice and roaches and the other one has eight cars
on the grass in a three-bedroom home and they left all their garbage on the front lawn. Thank God for code enforcement. You know, I got to say that sometimes I see the shifting of planning, the zoning, zoning to code enforcement and they have to bear the brunt of fixing
what nobody's pushing back on. I'm very passionate. I'm very excited right now. Um, but I am echoing the sentiments that a lot of people are speaking about and I hear it in the speakers. Did you see the video of the planning the last planning meeting? There was some fireworks and as
I was leaving I saw a bunch of police cars pull up. somebody, I believe, called the police. There were no threats, but there was passionate discussion with the residents. Chris, you're right. And I did hear that comment, and he did liken him to a four-year-old. I heard it and it's on
the recording. You're welcome. Um, what our concern is, and I don't know, Carlos, when you were on it, but I know that last year, and Mr. Councilman, Council President, I'm going to talk to you afterwards because you actually want information the last time I spoke. It's all on video. So, I don't want to say
the name in front of everybody, but it was a certain petitioner who got their way. And what I've seen in I I've been five zoning meetings, I've been in five planning meetings, and I have better things to do. And I see that these people don't have their stuff together. Questions are asked, and they just
rubber stamped them through. There's one person with a conscience on the planning board. [Applause] There's one person with a content in the zoning board, but everybody passes the buck. And here's the scam. I worked in local government for 25 years. I know
how it works. I've been to many. You're laughing, right? I've been to these meetings, okay? Um, a petitioner comes in, they got 30, 40, 50k to spend. They get a firm to come in. They got their own attorney, their own engineer, their own hack traffic person, their own hack
environmentalist. I saw them do it on my street. They sit in their car. They take a look at the property. This isn't against you. This is against these firms. They come in, they shove it down the throat of the planning board, and nobody pushes back. Nobody, you know, Adam, thank thank God for Adam because
he pushed back against the biologist. I was there at that meeting, too. It's very frustrating to watch. There's dysfunction on the boards and you you people need to address it. Now, in all fairness to you, because I'm a man of faith and I try to be as fair as possible, a lot of this stuff happened
before you guys. Somebody said that. You're absolutely right. But let's not continue the dysfunction. I'll give you an example. I said this the last time. I worked for a police department for 25 years in Middleis County. We had a developer coming in looking to destroy a ton of acres in the town that I worked
on that I was in in uniform. And our lieutenant of traffic came in this, let's get original here. He came into the planning meeting and testified about the damage it would do with the traffic patterns and the lights and all that stuff. and a bunch of us supported what
he was doing. So, there were two officers in uniform and and we came to support him. And you know what? It worked out pretty well. We have to You could steal that, by the way, if you want that. Um, but we have to get original about how we fight for the residents of Jackson. Okay? Everyone has
to play by the same rules and everyone is tired of what they're seeing. So, I think I'm probably almost out of time, but listen, um, that that's all I really need to say. Um, again, we can speak in generalities how we don't want overdevelopment and we don't want the
developers to take advantage, but I've been at these meetings and there's very little push back. And even when people raise objections and the petitioners don't have their stuff in order, you know what you tell them? We're going to vote no until you come back another time and have your ducks in a row. But nobody's doing that. So, I can I can
express to you the dates. I can show you the videos. It's all on video. We we can talk platitudes, but we've got to do something. And we got to do something about these LLC's, right? They just come in. LLC's weren't uh in instituted so they could become slum
lords and take over townships like they're doing here. So, God bless you all. I'll be praying for you and uh have a nice night, Mr. Benn. I want to make sure everyone has a chance first. Hello everyone. Donnie Edelman, 206 Willow Point. Couple of things. Chris,
congratulations. I do want to make you aware of something though. It's my town. It's your son's town. >> Everybody here. >> It's their town. I don't know if I can get you to apologize to Mayor Cune for the reaction, but apologize to us
because it is order. Or order order everyone. Let him speak. Please let his five minutes. We'll talk our town. You just had a big c you just had a big uh speech about taxpayers and bring it back to the people. Please recognize everybody put you up there to defend us,
to help us. So please, it's your town, too. It's our town. In the future, it's always our town. All right. Next. Um, can we get rid of the shrine to our former mayor who was forced out in the back there? You know,
we could maybe send some of his awards, his trophies and stuff, put in a box, send it to his house. Um, as far as the other lady who said, "While I'm not crazy about paying for coffee and refrigerators or microwaves,
it is part of uh, you know, just what people do. I mean, maybe we shouldn't be paying for their coffee pods if they're doing kurss and stuff like that. Um, next with the resolutions that were up there before the DUI enforcement.
I in my other job, I deal with uh Chief Schneider and uh Sheriff Massenardi a lot. It's a well-known secret that JPD has been very very against setting up drunk
driving checkpoints in this town for a a couple different reasons from what I've heard. Do you think maybe with this resolution we can get them with considering we have a major highway and we're on the way back and forth to the shore that we have some DUI enforcement?
Plus, you see it all the time. Next is the grant that I didn't have a chance to bring it up the last time, the $875,000 to hire about nine new cops. Who's going to pay for the other 19 plus years of their service plus their benefits plus
their retirement? $875 sounds great, but that wouldn't pay for one for 20 years. It just wouldn't. Um, in regards to some of the other things that have transpired in regards to, let's say, the Cardali property over
there and the building of that, I would like to say that maybe the town's people should get a petition going so that this way we could file a petition so that when there's a major lawsuit, you guys are going to lose
whether it's the cost of building the place or the full full boore plus the penalty. ies that you guys pay through subjugation lawsuits rather than the taxpayers of this town be up would be on the hook for millions of dollars because
the way it's set up and due the way that the penalties are. I know that maybe the attorney didn't you know notify you all this if he sues you and he sues you for 120 he can get up to 360 but basically the long and short of it is is that Jackson's going to be paying to build
those 1,400 units cost of you guys. So maybe we can get a petition going so that we don't have to be responsible for it. Next, um it's a well-known fact in town that there are cannabis sales m vending machines set up at many gas
stations. I've spoken about it with former director Candido who informed me that it is not a legal issue. It is a tax issue. I have proven multiple times that even that small child right there, provide he had his father's identification, could put it in the
machine. If he had money, he can go buy drugs. All right, let's get rid of it. Let's get make the police actually go do something. take those machines out and actually go after the people who are, you know, running the machines and putting them in their gas stations because every noncorporate gas station
in town is either selling drugs directly or they have these machines in which case children can and have bought drugs. All right, it's as simple as that. While we're on the topic of that, because the school funding is dramatically short and we're selling schools, it's about that
time where New Jerseyy's opened up and given the town councils of the state an opportunity to reconsider cannabis sales legally in town. And I think maybe considering that a lot of the sales come
with a 2 and a.5% tax that the town gets to keep. It's not a sales tax, but it's directly to the town that we consider doing this. I know that there are quite a few towns that are making millions of dollars a year. And when we're talking about at the board of education meetings
when the taxes are going to be going up 30%, 40% because of just the school funding formula and everything, it is something to consider. It is a vice, but well, if half the town's smoking weed anyway, we might as well. >> All right. And just one other thing, D,
>> 10 more seconds. >> Uh, Mr. McGucken, I just want to speak to you after the meeting. I have a I have somebody I know that's been trying to access your office. They have they're resident in Seaside Heights and the gatekeepers are not getting it, letting the messages get through. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Edman. So, I just want to respond to a couple of the
points that you just made with regard to the resolution about the drunk driving um with the cooperation with the county. So, the way that resolution came about is that it was sent um the Ocean County Sheriff sent it to our to our chief, Chief Guns. Chief Co sent it to the mayor who asked me to put it on our agenda. We absolutely support it and I
know that the language if I remember correctly in the email was the chief is extremely supportive of it. So I'm assuming if he's supportive of it of it there will be full cooperation between the county and and municipality in ensuring that um that is followrough which includes checkpoints. With regard to cannabis um being sold in vending
machines um maybe I'm going to the wrong stores. I haven't seen it but obviously >> you can go right to the BP right around the >> I'm just going to respond to you. So obviously I'm going to ask the mayor to follow up tomorrow with Chief Kun and our our law enforcement and look into that because that would be a problem. With regard to overall legalizing
cannabis, I'm sorry. I'm going to continue to be a no vote on that. I am not going to fund the destruction of the next generation to save our to do anything. It's not that's not what I'm going to do. I'm sorry. You got the wrong person. Maybe I'm oldfashioned, but I'm I'm not going to support um as long as I'm council president um putting
such a thing on the agenda. Um with regard to um development um I am going to continue to support ordinances that look at net acre sorry that look at net acreage versus grow gross acreage. I don't believe we should be calculating in the density undevelopable land um um
buffers wetlands and and structures that were already built. So I am proud of that ordinance and I am proud of our legal team and I'm pretty confident that we're going to continue to be able to develop continue to be able to um to support our position in court. Um if we took the position where we fought the
state and everything, we would we would have the lower hand. Um but we are going to ensure that Jackson passes ordinances which are legally sound and that are easily that are defensible and I think it's something that unanimously this council and this mayor will will will fight and I hope to prove you wrong.
>> I just say every just because everybody agrees doesn't make it correct but I guess we'll find out. >> And council vice president. >> Yes. Thank you council president. U so I I would agree with Miss Adelman on the point of the drunk driving checkpoints. the chief is is okay with it. It's up to his, I guess, discretion to roll that out with the mayor, of course. Um, if it
keeps our our town safe, I I would wholeheartedly support it. Um, and the the point you made with the fighting developers, we're going to lose. The council should pay for it. If if what Mr. Council President Bernstein said, we have sound ordinances, then we won't lose, but we will always have to stand
and fight if they want to push us around. If not, you're going to have 40 apartment density housing here. So, I think the vast majority of this town, including myself, want to see us fight more. And that's what I think we're going to do. >> In terms of the gas station selling marijuana in vending machines, but then
you want us to sell marijuana anyway legally. >> I don't It's one thing it's one thing to sell it in a store where it's monitored. Another thing children here in this town, I do not want to be a town that sells marijuana. Like Council President Bernstein, as long as I'm on this deis, I will forever be a no vote to selling
marijuana legally in this town. Okay, then let's just make sure we get it out of the kids' hands. >> Yeah, Mr. Adelman. >> Yes. >> Before Thank you for your comments. >> I was part of a council years ago that passed an ordinance um supporting the
prohibiting prohibiting the sale and manufacturing of recreational marijuana. So, I want to concur with my council colleagues. Our police department was totally behind us on that and we will continue to be um you know opposing such a measure. I don't really know if it really generates that much money as you were saying though.
>> Millions of dollars is isn't wrong. >> Making money is isn't always the right way to go. >> Well, sorry. >> We could agree to disagree, but either way, >> we're going to play. >> You guys are the ones in charge. Just as long as I said as long as we can make sure that the wrong people or the wrong
people are not getting it, then I think we're okay. >> Max. >> All right. Have a nice night. Mr. >> I'd like to address the comments directed at me. I do apologize. I did actually misspeak. Believe it or not, I'm a little nervous being up here for the first time. You know, I do apologize
for misspeaking. I do not apologize for speaking back at the mayor because if she wants to sew division, create problems, I'm going to talk back. I'm going to fight back. That's why I'm in this seat. Chris, my thing was just making sure it's all for the town, all
for our town. You know, it's all about everyone here. It's all about children. It's all about the nonsense that we're dealing with. All right. Again, you're there for us. It's our town. It's your town, too. But it's collectively it's our town. Mr. Adamman, you can talk
after if you want. Next. >> Just by a show of hands. Anyone else want to speak for a first time? Okay. I know Mr. Bannon. Still one more. Two more people. Okay. My name is Ben. I live on Lou, Louder. Louder. >> My name is Ben. I live on South South Boston Road.
Um, I want to talk about this turning South Boston Road into a one-way street. You all know that this plan is flawed through and through, and yet you're still continuing to go on with it. I shouldn't have to tell you what's wrong with this plan, and back and forth
emails explaining, "Nobody wants to live on a one-way street. I have anybody knows that you design a one-way street, if you're sending us east, there has to be a way to come back west. There's no way for us to come back. I have seven intersections that I have to cross through in order to get back home. The
new intersection you just created with the Muse, Beam Avenue, Castle Avenue, Laurel, Georgian, Dennis Mills, back to South Boston. How do you justify that? How do you just send us off somewhere to nowhere? I can't get back home.
This is ridiculous. And then you introduce the ordinance by telling us email with suggestions and we'll take a look at it because we're out of suggestions. I emailed I provided suggestions and I was told a big no.
I'll bring it up. I have the on October 17th 5:05 p.m. I sent a suggestion turning South Boston Road have the mused traffic directed down South Boston
cut off Beam Avenue alongside Terford with whatever you want. Put a curb there. Put a guardrail. It doesn't cost much money. 5:09 p.m. the township engineer responded, "We're continuing with the previous plan. It's
final." So, when exactly in those four minutes did you even consider my suggestion. Another resident, fellow neighbor, chimed in at 5:45 p.m. and addressed the council directly and
asked, "What's wrong with my suggestion?" Councilman Bernstein responded at 5:50 p.m. addressing the township engineer. Is it possible to have this done? Let's look into it. At
6:05 p.m., Mayor responded, "Plans final. We're moving forward as is." So, when exactly are you going to sit there and listen to our suggestions, look at it instead of just continuing with the work that you already did? The work's done. What are you going to undo it? You
spent half a million dollars. Thank you. You should vote based on this. If you lived on these streets, if any of you lived on either South Boston or Beam, this would never happen. You would never make it to the table by
having one-way streets. Who wants a one-way street? We're in a rural area. What are you doing? Vote yes and show everybody how you don't even care about us. Vote yes and show us how disconnected you are from
the people of Jackson. Vote yes and show us how out of touch you are with what's going on on your streets. Thank you. [Applause]
I think there are two more residents who raised their hand. You want to come up if you didn't speak yet? Good evening. Ryan Archer, resident of Jackson Township. First, I'd like to wish the council members a happy and healthy holiday season. Uh, as you know, I've been coming here for about a year
on and off questioning the legitimacy of the consent order that was signed by this township. Not in the sense of that I disagree with the terms of it in the sense that the township did violate lad and rupa laws but the fact that there's evidence that the signers of this consent order might have been under
influence. I'm continue to explore those options, extract the information from you people. Appreciate your time and energy and I will continue to do so until I find out the truth. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause]
Evening Jackson. >> Just closer to the mic so I could hear you. Sorry. >> Evening Jackson. Jose Cruz, Cedar Swamp Road. Uh, my issue today is with R357. Frankly, can you explain that to me in simple terms, Mr. President?
>> Sure. One second. >> Just got to find my agenda here. It's a mess. >> 357 >> Oh, sorry. I found it here. I apologize. If you just hold it on, I don't mean >> it. Hold the clock for a second. Okay. So, granting authority for approval of certain purchases through New Jersey
state contracts. Um, Mr. McGuffin, could you explain that? >> So, so the township can go out to public bid for certain items. You need a dump truck, you need a car, you need this or that. Um, the state has state cooperatives uh where they establish
contracts with vendors for I'm going to use cars for an example. Um, and if you wish to use the state contract, you can go directly to the dealer who has to honor the state contract rather than go through the bidding process preparing bid specs, going through bids to award a
contract. the state essentially does that in advance for the year and that's what the state contracts are and that's what this ordinance would permit the I'm sorry the resolution um authorizing the QPA to make those purchases through those cooperative
agreements uh through those cooperative bids at the state level I'm not a big fan of big government I'm not I don't like government at all and frankly would this not create a loophole for some people if uh backdoor deals.
>> Uh actually, it saves taxpayer money, time, and effort because the state does the work for the three 560 some municipalities. I'm just going to say the town needs a port explorer for its police department. The state goes out and solicits a price for that in the
beginning of the year from every dealer in the state. They get the lowest bid. And now if you want to use a state contract for that, you call the dealer and say, "I'm going to I want to purchase a 2026 Ford Explorer off your state contract." Otherwise, the township would have to prepare bid
specifications, send the bid out, wait for bids to come in from various uh contractors, uh various dealers, and then have to select from one of those. Um that would take a longer time and probably more expensive. Uh that's the purpose behind it. Um, and I can't
explain I think any more than that, but that's what it's for. >> My only issue again is circumventing larger government would allow us to have one-on-one contact with individuals asking for contracts or other >> I'm sorry I can't hear you, sir. >> My issue is that we may be circumventing
large government. Yes. And preventing us from spending specific funds. Yes. But however, we be individually going from one person to another. So there would be the ability to have deals with people we may know or don't know.
>> Second comment. However, by law, the township can't just go out and buy a truck from a local dealer. They have to do a bid. And that bid is open to anyone in the state. Any car dealer in the state has the right to bid on that contract. So if we want to bid for a small SUV for the public works
department, we have to offer that bid. We would have to make that a public bid. any dealer in the state can has the right to bid on that project and we have to accept the lowest bid received. So if the the dealer's in Mawa and they give us a better price, we're obligated to take it from the dealer in Mawa.
>> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I just Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mock. I just wanted to add one more thing for a second. Um, residents, before we talked about reaching out to the state, um, um, um, Mayor Cune, if we tomorrow, I'm going to try to get us a list of all of
our legislators and their email and their contact information. They can maybe post it on the town website under a separate little box. Um, we have two great assembly men who represent their town. We have a great senator. Um, and I obviously I think they know that that we're fighting, but I think if we can update our town website to give people
that contact information, I think that would be a important step. Um, we got to continue making noise. Anyone else? I didn't speak yet. Mr. B, I'll give you one more round. >> Can we give him three minutes? >> Thank you. >> Back to South Boston. When would this go
into effect? >> Sorry. >> When would this go into effect? The one way? >> So, if the ordinance passes um which, um, it would be meeting in December and my understanding is after it goes into effect, it needs to be signed into law by the mayor. >> Signed into law. It needs to be signed
into law. Then it has to be signed, meaning the public works has to put the signage out. Normally in such situations like this, the police department will do um some warnings for people in the beginning, but it would probably take about another two months or so after they if they if the ordinance is adopted.
My my suggestion then would be at the corner of Beam Avenue and South Cooks Bridge, you post signs that two Bennett Mill uh two Bennett Mills continue straight up the road at which point you can tell them to turn on Georgian or Gold Weber or whatever in order to get to Bennett Mills because I'll tell you
right now GPS I don't care whether you're Door Dash or whoever you are. If you're going to Frank Applegate Road and you're coming up Cooks Bridge, it's going to tell you turn left on Beam Avenue to get to Frank Applegate. It's the shortest shortest point out. GPS is always going to instruct people the
wrong way. So somewhere around that corner of Beam Avenue to get to Bennett Mills Road, there's got to be a sign directing people to continue straight ahead. That's the only only uh resolve I can say because GPS is always going to tell people turn left at that beam that beam
intersection to continue out to South Boston to get to Frank Applegate. >> I agree. Signage is going to be necessary. I agree. So sign is going to be necessary. >> Anyone else? We'll give you another three minutes. >> Uh Michelle Ryson, Jackson resident. Uh
I just want to provide some information to this current council. uh back in I think about 200 2000 the state came in and audited the township um under the local public contracts law to see if we were
providing p purchases correctly and we were not. Uh the state wrote up a report stated that it was um strongly suggested that the township create a purchasing department and have a purchasing agent which they did. Um, it looks like we've
gone back to 25 years ago because I don't think there is a purchasing department and that's why the things are being done incorrectly. I wanted to comment again on resolution 356. Um, you also have to advertise for 20 days prior
to awarding a national co-op. Not sure if that was done. So, this resolution I feel you should pull. Um, and also there was a comment on the last meeting about having one entrance way and exit way for residents. Um, you should check into the
fire code to make sure it's safe because I don't know how they would look at that. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, council. >> Seeing no one come forward, I motion to close public forum. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I have a motion to close.
>> Motion >> second. >> All in favor? I >> thank you everyone for coming. Have a good night.