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 June 9th, 20 26 regular meeting of the Jackson Township Council. Pursuant to
the provisions of the New Jersey Open Public's Meeting Act, adequate notice of this meeting was properly provided by transmitting the notice of the meeting on January 9th for publication. Notice of this meeting of the township council has been posted in the corridor of the municipal building and on the township website and in the office of the
municipal clerk. We'll begin with a roll call. Council member >> here. >> Councilman Brassie >> here. >> Councilman Pollock >> here. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary >> present. >> Council President Bernstein >> here. Also attending this evening is Attorney McGucken, administrator Tayor
Feno, and myself, Sandra Martin. The first item on the agenda is a small business recognition. Council President Bernstein. >> Council Vice President, if you don't mind. >> Thank you, Council President. Tonight, it is the council's pleasure to recognize Picone Automotive and its
owners, its owner, Carmelo, and his family as Jackson Township small business highlight uh recipient. For years, Carmelo and his team have built a reputation of honesty, professionalism, and outstanding customer service. As lo as a locallyowned business, Pone
Automotive has earned the trust of countless residents by providing quality automotive care while treating every customer like family. Small businesses like Pone Automotive are the backbone of our community, creating jobs, supporting local families, and helping make Jackson
Township a great place to live and work. Please join me in congratulating Carmelo and the entire Pone Automotive team on this welldeserved recognition. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. If you don't mind to come out. >> Now, if we can have you all come up with your family, we'd like to take a picture
with the council. >> And I just want to recognize the young lady who I was told is a big part of the family team over there. So, congratulations to all of you. We will now hear opening comments from the township council starting with Council President Bernstein. >> So, thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm going to
keep my comments very brief. I just want to take a moment and recognize the small business. We look forward to continuing to see more small businesses be recognized here in Jackson. Um, additionally, I just want to take a moment and and ask for everyone have our troops overseas um in mind. Um, I know a
few minutes ago I got a text message that I was here already that um that the um US forces retaliated against um Iran for that um incident that occurred yesterday and uh it's a crazy universe that we live in and just everyone please have our troops overseas in mind.
Additionally, I just want to take a moment and recognize the members of our fire department which are here. I know how hard you guys have worked over the past couple years to get to this place. There's been a lot of bumps along the road and the fact that we're here I think it was I just asked this about a three-year process and I think it's exciting to see. So, thank you for all
of your hard work. Thank you and have a wonderful evening. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Thank you. Uh just for the Pone family, congratulations. You've earned this. Um you you're free to stay here for the entirety of the meeting. If you'd like to to leave, you can do that as well. You don't have to feel obligated, but
you're welcome to stay. But congratulations. Uh otherwise, we have a lot of business to attend to tonight. So, I'm going to wave my comments for the rest of the evening, >> Council Member Belli. >> Uh thank you, Clerk Martin. I want to
echo Council President Bernstein's um remarks regarding our uh troops. God bless our country and our troops that keep us uh safe and secure 24/7. And um they are in our prayers and uh please keep them in your prayers. And thank you for uh all of our uh servicemen and
women and uh including our fellow colleague. Thank you for your service, Councilman Brussi, to our great country. Can't thank you enough. And uh I'm going to try to keep my comments uh short. I did have uh an article that I read uh in the Brick Times this week, uh Jersey
Shore online. I noticed that it was in the Asburg Park Press as well about a significant change affecting our tax bills that could be on the ballot this November. Ocean County commissioners are considering a voter referendum to uh increase the open space tax. Uh
currently it's set at 1.2 cents per $100 of assessed uh property value. And uh the proposed rate would rise to 2.2 cents. This would result in an estimated annual increase of $40 for a $400,000
assessed home, $60 for a $600,000 uh home, $80 for an $800,000 uh dollar home. You know, property values have increased significantly since 1997 when the last open space uh tax was voted on by Ocean County voters. And of course,
uh land acquisition costs have also increased as well. So that is why this is uh you know being considered as well that this vital tax revenue helps preserve land from development safeguards forests and wetlands protects our water supply across Ocean County
including Jackson's. So I'll provide further details I'll share with them uh with the uh residents of her town or colleagues uh as a general election. Thank you and have a good evening and congratulations to the Bone family on uh your business and serving uh the
residents of our town. Thanks. >> Good evening, >> Councilman Brazie. >> Thank you. The Picone family over the years, you've earned a reputation that's superior to a lot of people in that trade and the honesty and the people have trust in you and you've been there
a lot of years and I trust you'll be there a lot more. You do a great job and it is recognized throughout the town. Congratulations. And my colleagues here all mentioned the armed forces tonight. And yes, there's some activity and we seem to think of the armed forces a little more when something's going on
and you reflect on the armed forces and what they're doing out there. In my opinion, you don't have to wait for something to go on. every day if you could just other day at home at a barbecue or anything just think of some freedoms and mention it to the kids how we have the freedoms we have and that
the armed forces we have today and yesterday and in the future will preserve these forever and that's what we're doing and you got to think of the armed forces not because they're busy today they're busy every day preparing if they're not in battle but always preparing for it and always out there to defend our freedoms thank you for coming
out have a safe trip home >> Pollock Good evening. Uh, anybody who knows me knows I say things very outright and in the open. Uh, that's the way I am about everything. There's a budget tonight. There's been a lot of talk today whether we're going to actually even vote on the
budget. We're going to table the budget, tax increases. Um, I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen with this budget tonight. It's going to be hard to see, but I'd like our leadership to take responsibility. Well, who's not here right now, but take responsibility
for where we are at today financially. And if you present this budget, you support this budget, stand behind the budget. All right. I've questioned all the spending. I've questioned the decisions. And we were we were pushing $5 million
softball fields a couple months ago. And when we look at the budget, we're like, "Oh, we're not in a great financial place." It makes me question what are we thinking? What's the decision-making going on? Who's thinking about the future? Uh, so I have a lot of concerns
and I don't know if I could put my name on this budget, but there's plenty other stuff to talk about, too. Uh, last meeting was very interesting. I got to tell you, last meeting came claims of and accusations of anti-semitism and hate and demands for denunciations from
a man connected to Council President Morai Bernstein and Assemblyman Avi Schnal. Let me note to everyone that Bernstein and Schnal were involved in the lawsuit and political movement that changed our zoning laws and it's a major reason for so many of the problems we're facing today. You had the vice chair of
the planning board, not great leadership there, by the way, who's also involved with the Republican club, who our council president is head of. He came in making accusations at me because some Facebook page that I have nothing
to do with made fun of him. Uh, these claims from both people are based off Facebook comments and posts from strangers on the internet that I don't know. I'm not even on Facebook. It's crazy. We have so much going on and this is what's happening. We're not focused
on the budget. Nobody's questioning development, zoning, missing person's cases. Uh I'm not responsible for the speech of random strangers on the internet. It's not my job to denounce everything on the internet that offends someone. I speak for myself and I make
my voice heard every single time I'm up here. But I can talk about some real things, okay? Not stuff from the internet from strangers. And this is stuff that needs to be talked about more. All right. Uh let's see if anybody wants to denounce these things. Does anyone want to denounce the overdevelopment and destruction of the
Pinelands, which some people up here voted for and planned intentionally? Does anyone denounce Morai Bernstein for deliberately planning the overdevelopment of the Pinelands to benefit his developer friends? Does anyone here denounce Mayor Jennifer Cune
for promising a thousand reward for a missing young man and never giving it? Does anyone denounce Morai Bernstein for having a political action committee with major developer Morai Iicorn and taking a ton of money from conflicts of
interest? Does anyone denounce Jennifer Cune for violating a resident's First Amendment rights and having them removed from a meeting after bringing up that she's dating a police officer which resulted in a lawsuit? Does anyone denounce Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sedakei, who's deeply connected to our
mayor and council president when he came here to swear in our appointed mayor and made comments gloating about overdevelopment of our town and tripling our population? Oh, his engineering firm also does business with the town, by the way. Does anyone denounce Lakewood leader Richard Roberts, who donated, I believe was
about $70,000 to the council president's political action committee. He said he toppled the Jackson government, by the way. And he's on video justifying Jewish children not playing with non-Jewish children. Does anybody denounce those things? But these are only a few things
that have been going on in this town. You see how this works? But there's a huge difference between what was tried on me. You have a coordinated political attack against me based on Facebook comments and posts from random strangers on the internet. I bring up things that have been done,
people they're actually connected to, real things. People are sick of this. You don't get to simultaneously be the victim and the bully. The claims of anti-semitism or hate to try to silence others because this has happened before last election to other people who ran
lost its power and it's certainly not going to work on me. I will speak my voice. I will speak for the people up here. You can call me whatever you want. I know who I am and no matter the labels or pressure or madeup controversy, I'll
keep fighting for my home. Thank you. >> The next item on the agenda, >> before before we go further, I just want to make a statement. I've been sitting up here for 6 months. Um there are a lot of towns in surrounding areas that their their council meetings have become
circuses and chaos. I've done my best to be respectful to um to stick to the to to government issues and policies. Um when I was on council for over a year before I ran for office, I had many opportunities to use this platform for politics and create cute videos labeling
and calling everyone corrupt, etc., etc. I never did it and I'm not going to continue to do that now. Thank you and have a good night. >> M council president, I have a question for the attorney. Mr. McGucken, Mr. The pilot brings up respectfully a lot how we're destroying the pylons. Is
it true or not that no matter what we approve or say that we want to put in the pylons, it cannot be built there until the pylons approves it? >> That's correct. >> So, it's not us destroying the pylons. If you have a problem with the pylons decisions, take it to the pylons meeting. Go there. That's where the problem is. The pylons have the
authority. We don't. We can say you want to put anything there. We can't do it till the Pineelands approve it. Thank you. >> But it was planned in the Pinelands. So >> that's a different distinction. >> So Councilman So Councilman, there was >> So Councilman, there was a two-year process that took place that the entire
planning board was part of. The planning board committee was part of and yes, this council voted on ordinances. You were not involved at that point in government in Jackson. And for you just to lob accusations, I think is highly highly inappropriate. Sorry, I have a good >> just facts. You planned it in the
Pinelands. It was planned. Overdevelopment is planned in the Pinelands right now. No, the town had an affordable housing plan that was mandated that was signed into law by members of this council. Myself and Mr. Brley are the only members from that former council who were who were part of that council. Mayor was a council
member. So, she was part of that vote who it passed 50 accepting the number and the planning board together with their professionals together with the various developers who came forward as for advertise. There was no deals made in dark smoky rooms and those allegations are getting stale already.
>> You all planned that Mr. Mucken >> and you're not taking responsibility, >> Mr. McGucken with the Peland and the RG2 districts and stuff. Didn't they zone that for high density? >> Historically, they have changed the density and zoning in various parts of
the township to suit the Pinelands needs including adding density and then decreasing density in other areas. >> And I think in about 2007 they approved affordable housing in the RG2 zones. >> That that is correct. So once again, take it to the pellets for once. Thank
you. >> The next item on the agenda is comments by administrator Terrafano. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm going to reserve my time and jump right to the prepared statement on behalf of Mayor Jennifer.
I apologize for not attending as a guest due to a conflict in my schedule. However, be reminded that as a council member, I was president at every meeting. Moving on, pursuant to the New Jersey local budget law once administration has proposed the municipal budget to the township council, it is the responsibility of the
township council and only the township council to finalize the municipal budget. Council may approve the budget as is, can increase or decrease any specific line item in a proposed budget and may amend the budget in any way they deem appropriate. If they wish to increase taxes, make any cuts or make
any other changes, they are free to do so. And I as a mayor have no say in those changes. It is now their budget. Five weeks ago, I presented my budget to the council and it was introduced by them. Council has had five weeks to review it, to ask questions or amend it. If they want more time, they can adjourn
it. Tonight, they have the chance to put their money where their mouth is and change the budget budget as they deem fit. If they want to cut spending, now is a time they can do so. If they want to raise revenue, they can do that as well. All posturing, political grandstanding, or fingerpointing cannot
change the simple fact that if they want to make changes to the budget, now is their chance to do so. The final adoption in terms of the municipal budget by law can only be done by council. If you don't like it, change it. Thank you, Mayor Jennifer Keune. >> The next item on the agenda is an update
from the Department of Public Works. Council President Bernstein. >> Sure. Thank you. Um, the Department of Public Works is pleased to report that township operations continue to run efficiently and remain on schedule. Residents are reminded that bulk and brush collection services are proceeding according to the established schedule. Beginning Monday, June 15th, crews will
begin bulk pickup in zone 8 and brush pickup in zone 7. We appreciate residents continue cooperation placing materials curbside in accordance with collection guidelines, helping us provide dependable and timely service throughout the community. Ocean County recently hosted another successful
document shredding event at the Jackson Municipal Building on Saturday, June 6th. The event served approximately 380 residents, providing a secure and convenient way to way to dispose of confidential documents and sensitive personnel information. Looking ahead, the Clean Communities Program will
conduct a townshipwide roadside cleanup on Sunday, June 14th, with participation from numerous local nonprofit organizations. Residents can expect to see volunteers working alongside roadways and throughout the community to help keep Jackson clean. Motorists are encouraged to use extreme caution and
remain alert while traveling as pedestrian safety remains our highest priority. Thank you. >> The next item on the agenda is the fire district consolidation. So, I'm going to ask if there's any um Attorney McGucken, I know the attorney for the fire
district is I know you have him on speed dial and uh available. Um do we have I guess we should open the floor to the public. >> That's correct. This is a unique um process and very few towns have gone through this. Um this is consolidating
proposed consolidation of two fire districts. Mr. Richard Brazow is the attorney representing the fire districts. I dare say he has more experience in this than any member of the state government. Um and in fact he has advised the state government on how these matters work in the past. Uh Mr. Brazzle recently had surgery, but he
represents both Jackson Fire District number one two and three. Uh I believe there are maybe representatives of the district who are present as well. Are they here? >> Yes, in the back. >> Okay. Um and I know Mr. Brazil wanted to be at least be on the phone. Um do you
have them on the phone? You want me to get them on the phone? Mrs. Mock, do you mind getting him on the phone? >> No problem. >> I if if just for the public, I just want to read into the record the resolutions passed by fire district 2 and fire district 3 just so people understand a little bit of the background to this.
Fire district number three in the township of Jackson. Um the fire district has engaged in discussions relative to consolidation of the fire district >> and whereas the fire districts believe it would be in the best interest of the of the public if such a consolidation was enacted and that therefore be resolved by the commissioners of fire district number three in the township of
Jackson as follows. The fire district formally endorsed the consolidation of fire district number two and number three by the merge of number three and number two. The fire district hereby authorized such action deemed appropriate to facilitate the consolidation of fire districts as referenced. And then it was signed by um
um um chairman Frank Harrasa um um commissioner Kagan and commissioner uh Muire and Commissioner Sadley and Commissioner Leo Boy were absent during that meeting. So it was passed unanimously. Additionally, Fire District 3 passed a a similar worded ordinance and it was passed also by their by their
board um unanimously. So, I just wanted to keep everyone informed on that. Now, we have the attorney from the fire district and we'll hold up and uh >> I guess Mr. Council President um by statute a public hearing is required. Any member of the public wishing to comment on the proposed consolidation,
now is your opportunity uh to present those comments for consideration by the council. Council vice president. Seeing no one come forward. I motion to close public forum. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I.
>> Any opposed? >> Council, in front of you uh on your agenda is a resolution um authorizing and consenting to the consolidation of the two fire districts um in accordance with the plan that has been presented. Um and council will be appropriate at
this time to consider that resolution. Madame Clerk, may >> I have a motion to authorize resolution 168 2026 authorizing and consenting to the consolidation of Jackson Township Fire Districts number two and three pursuing to NJSA 481490.2.
>> Motion second. >> Councilman Blli, >> yes. >> Councilman Breie, >> yes. >> Councilman Pollock, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary, >> yes. >> Council President Bernstein, >> yes. And I want to thank all of the members of the fire district for their engagement, their involvement. Um, those
who are here and those who couldn't be here tonight. I know this was a long journey and we look forward to continuing to work and support you guys in your in your amazing endeavors. And uh, have a great night and I see Mr. Tremor coming in. So, Mr. Tremor, it passed unanimously. Consolidation.
>> Mr. Council President, pursuant to statute, the township will now submit the plan to the local finance board. And I have already spoken to Mr. Bradlo. We will let you advise you when the local finance board will consider the matter. Um and Mr. Brazzle will be able to be present for that as well. >> Amazing. Thank you. And at this point,
no further action from the governing body on this matter, right? >> That's correct. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. The next item for tonight's meeting is the second reading and adoption of ordinance 202617 exceed the municipal budget appropriate
limits and to establish a cap bank NJSA4845.14. 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 to speak and may only speak once. May I have a motion on the public comment? Motion second. All
>> in favor. Any opposed? Hi, Sheldon Huffstein, Jackson, New Jersey. Speaking as an individual, not a board member. I think it would be a good idea to explain to the public what this means. This cap, uh, according to the
ordinance, you're increasing the cap to three and a half% and you're raising three quarters of a million dollars. Where is this money coming from? Uh, what will it be used for? Is this beyond the budget amount? And if used, when
will it be paid? Will there be an increase in taxes this year, next year, or the year after? And uh basically, if the reason you're using this is for an emergency, uh I think we used to have
something called a reserve reserve fund. Hopefully, there's still something left to use in an emergency. And Mr. I remember years ago you used to be the council member who voted against this. So I was surprised on the first reading you voted in favor of it. Thank you.
>> Okay. So M attorney mccucking um and our CFO would you mind uh answering uh Dr. Hoffstein's questions? >> Sure. So that >> your mic's off. go off. >> Hello. Okay. So, that that ordinance that's not actually raising any type of
taxation or anything. So, within the budget, we are required to follow two standard cap laws. One is the levy, which would be the amount to be raised through taxation that's on your tax bill. The other which you hold in your hand is for appropriations.
So that just allows the municipality, it allows them to to increase the appropriations within the budget because the um budget law limits the amount. So the state will put a cap on it based on
the um the cost of living adjustment and they allow and they allow us to go up to three and a half%. So this year they said, "Okay, the cost of living adjustment is 2%." But by law we're allowed to go up three and a half%. So we did an additional 1
and a.5%. It has no impact on what your taxes are. It has to do with appropriations. Of course, your taxes are based on um we come up with the appropriation amount. Okay? And then you have your revenues that are going to offset those appropriations. And so we
have things like surplus usage um different uh revenue collections. We have um our uh interest on investments that comes through and then ultimately whatever we can't cover comes under your
uh amount to be raised for taxation. So I'm not sure if I made that clear enough for you, but that's not an amount that will be raised through your tax bill. So, it's already built into our tax bill.
>> The money has to be there someplace. Where did it go? >> Well, it's not that. It's it it's based on the expenditures for each department. >> So, yes, I guess in a sense it's already into your tax bill. Yes, that would be that would be
>> spending what is being raised or they're going over budget and creating a deficit. >> Not exact. Not exactly. Do you want to take that, Matt? >> I'll just further that a little bit. Um, so within your budget, you have two areas. You have an inside cap
appropriation and you have appropriations that fall outside cap. We're talking about the ones that are inside your cap. Right now, for every year in the past that I've known, Jackson has passed this ordinance. So, it's always been up to the maximum
amount that it can be raised, which in this case is 3.5%. So if you were to vote this down this year, then it would actually be a decrease of your inside cap allowable amount from the prior year in this case.
>> How does that affect the individual? >> So in this case, if this was not to be voted through, then an additional $700,000 would have to be cut for appropriations inside your cap. that would have to come from the departments,
whether it be salaries or other expenses that make that up. Monies that were in the budget last year that now would not be in this budget. >> You say it sounds like a slush fun. Thank you. >> I guess no podium still.
for the people. >> Eleanor Hannah, Jackson, New Jersey. So, I reviewed the 2026 municipal budget and I'm here tonight because the numbers tell a different story that our governing body is not has not explained. So, I'm going to start with basics. This
budget asks us to spend 62.9 million, a 5.2 to increase over last year but in no way to fund it except but for taking whatever surplus we taxpayers have acrewed over the year what I have found first administrative
and executive salaries jump 49% in a year from 389,000 to 581,000 with no explanation no justification in the budget message just 191,000 increase for the people running this
town while trying to hide the hiring of confidential assistants or clerks that we never had before. All while all while while other residents are struggling with rising costs. Second, the number of new lawsuits increased have caused by this
administration has substantially increased our municipal insurance costs and deductibles. Now, there is a brand new line item this year for legal jud judgments for $938,475. That means this township lost nearly a
million dollar in lawsuits last year alone. Then add to the 585,000 already budgeted for legal services and we're spending $1.5 million on lawyers and losses. That is not bad luck. That is mismanagement.
I will note also that on page 43 of this budget, it states that in 2025, this administration had preserved 43.33 acres of land. That is a lie. You preserved
maybe four, but I do definitively know less than a quarter of an acre for $400,000 is what you did. So, I don't know if chat GPT was being used when developing this budget because that keeps on showing up, but it wasn't done
through open space. Third, the open space fund will be sitting on over a million dollars at the end of next year, which includes 7 million in reserve with no plan except to piss it away on improvements to lands it was never intended for. The true intent of this
fund was preservation of our land and our history. It has been mismanaged and manipulated by an by an attorney's legal verbiage to fit the narrative they want. That does not make it legal. It is clear this
administration has no intention on historical preservation or the preservation of lands. It is clear that other projects such as ROVA is not appropriated in this budget. Instead,
there are appropriations for other engineering firms who are deeply connected to the development of Jackson. In 2025, uh funds were paid to these engineering firms that are deeply tied to members of
this administration. This trust fund, our open space trust fund, has become nothing but a piggy bank. cashing in on our money without accountability while residents are taxed $4.3 million each year. At what point is
enough enough? And maybe give it back to the people if you're not going to use it appropriately. And finally, two storms this year triggered $3.2 million in emergency spending that bypasses our spending cap entirely. Whether or not the storms were foreseeable, the lack of
any emergency reserve fund to absorb them is a planning failure. And in this budget, what I see is $130,000 allocated for the future if there is another such storm. Residents deserve answers. I'm not I'm asking this
governing body to justify these numbers tonight. I also want justified millions of dollars that are in every single part of this budget that says quote unquote other expenses with no accountability to
where these millions of dollars that say other expenses is going to go. Thank you. I just want to clarify one thing before you speak. This is on the budget cap ordinance. So, and this is not the budget hearing >> unlike the previous speaker. I realize
that. Okay. >> Um, this is Joseph Sullivan, 31 Cathy Court here in Jackson. Um, I just want to ask, as I recall, you know, I've attended many of these meetings over the years. I seem to recall every year we establish a capback. Am I wrong in that?
>> Have we had >> Mr. Hman, could you answer that? You, Mr. Hullman, you've been you've been here the longest. >> Yeah, that's correct. >> Yeah. So, this is not something unusual, different, or um wizardry or gadgetry. This is just a normal process that has
been done every year in Jackson Township budgeting. Am I correct? >> Yes. It's not only common in Jackson, but throughout the state. >> Yes. So, once again, everything's politics now. uh thanks to Batman up there. But um I will say this, this is
normal. It's done every year and there's nothing special or unique about it. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> So, I just wanted to piggy back. >> You say your name, please. >> Carlos Martins. >> You don't have to swear. >> Jackson. I'm on the zoning board, but
I'm here as a resident. Um I wanted to piggy back off Miss Mr. Hoffstein's question because it wasn't clear to me and I'm trying to learn as much about this budget budget process as possible. So this cap I think I heard a number like we'll increase our appropriations
by 700,000 >> approximately. >> Approximately and that 700,000 is it in the current budget or not? >> It is presented in the current budget right now. >> Okay. So if we had already passed that budget would you even need this cap? You
couldn't pass the budget without it. >> You couldn't pass the budget without it. That just seems okay. But it is in the budget. So we don't have to generate any additional revenue to pay for this 700,000. >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you, council.
>> Seeing no one come forward, I motion to close. Vote for >> second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202617. >> Motion. >> Second. Councilman Brellley, >> yes. >> Councilman Breie,
>> yes. >> Councilman Pollock, >> you're raising the spending ceiling. That's what's going on with this. Um, I see the situation we're in. I am voting yes, but I'd like us to hopefully get off this trend of raising the spending
ceiling every single year. Um because some people have principles, some people don't believe in spending, spending, spending, raising, raising, raising. You see it everywhere in the national politics, wherever it is. Um I'd like to see us really, really focus on fiscal
responsibility. >> Council Vice President Paul, >> I would just like to reiterate what I stated two weeks ago. Um, and I I was referring to something that Councilman Burelli said about some of the additional services we have. If we
revisit that when those contracts are over, um, and we find them not necessary anymore, I have no problem revisiting those additional services. And if we need to eliminate them, that they're not something that is a, you know, a priority to our town, then I'm fine with that. As long as the residents are okay with that as well, and we could
definitely cut back on some of that. Uh, but I do vote yes on this at this time. >> Council President Bernstein. Yes. >> Motion carries. >> The next item for tonight's agenda is the second reading and adoption of ordinance 202619 confirming the vacation
of a portion of certain right ofways and paper streets. At this time, if any member of the public's any comments to make, please address the council at the microphone and state your name and address clear for the record. You'll have five minutes to speak and may only speak once. May I have a motion to open public comment? Motion. Second. All >> in favor? I I.
>> Any opposed? Elanor Hannah, Jackson, New Jersey. Um, I just believe for the record, the people of Jackson Township should be aware specifically where these these paper streets are located
and why this is being done. >> Sure. Are you done asking? >> Sure. So, these uh three paper streets are located on the Christy McAuliffe Middle School property. Um this is being done as per there was a request from the board of ed um superintendent actually
the new superintendent Mr. Beginsky sent it on behalf of the district. Um is that when they were doing a title search um it was determined that in 1973 the municipality um started the process of vacating these roads and never fully vacated them. One of these roads is actually under an existing building. The
other two are part of the parking lot and within the wetlands and the buffers over there. And um and we are just uh the district reached out to the to the council and asked us to finish that process that was never finished. >> Okay. So then all the other paper streets such as Adrien Barnes, Carmen,
and Elder have been already vacated. >> Um >> I have the original maps from 1950. >> So these are the three that the district requested. Mr. Attorney McGucken, I don't know if you have any more information, but I didn't go through anything else. >> I don't know what other ones were vacated back in the back in the day. All I can tell you is what the request was
and we reviewed it and paper streets are on their property and should have been vacated back in the 70s. >> I I just feel that it should have been clarified for the people. >> Sure. Thank you, >> council. No one come forward. I motion to close. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? I have a motion to uh to adopt ordinance 202619. >> Motion second. >> Councilman Browley. Um >> just a question. Council President, >> Mr. Mun, do they have to be specified in the ordinance for us to vote on it?
>> They are specified at three. >> I mean specified like it's near like it's on a they're paper streets. So there's we're not going to do surveys of them. Okay. >> Um they're just paper streets shown in the township tax. >> All right. Yes. Thank you,
>> Councilman McBrussie. >> Yes, >> Councilman Pollock. >> Um, does the township or the board of ed own this property? >> Currently, the board of ed owns it. >> Board of Ed are we selling this property? >> It's No, it's not a real street. It it was they they they eventually plan to
have these streets, but like literally one of those streets would have to go through Mclliff. It doesn't exist. >> It goes currently goes through. >> It goes through Mclliff. So >> in the 70s before Mclliff was there, they they maybe were going to do this, never came to fruition. They built a school on it and now the buyers want to
make sure we vacate. >> There's a title issue. >> Title issue. >> Okay. To help the board of ed sell it, I'm assume. Well, the board of ed is going to sell no matter what, but the the uh the folks that are purchasing it, if we don't vacate it, they have the
opportunity to renegotiate, and it would cost the board of millions in renegotiations. So no matter what they're going to sell, but if we don't assist with their request, instead of the proposed deal they made for whatever was 40, it'll be it'll be less, but they'll still sell, but they'll lose money.
>> Okay. Thank you for clarifying. Yes, >> Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes, >> President Bernstein. >> Yes. And thank you, Attorney McGuckin, for all the research involved here. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. The next item on tonight's agenda is the second reading
adoption of ordinance 202621 amending chapter 10345 prohibiting parking along the entirety of Woodland Road. 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. Currently, for the record, you have five minutes to speak and may only speak once. May I have a
motion to open public comment? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Council seeing no one come forward. I motion to close public forum. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> I have a motion to adopt ordinance 202621.
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Brellley. >> Um, as I mentioned in the last meeting, this was brought to our attention uh by residents who live in the area in particular and it's become a public safety issue and it's a it's a solution to it. So, I'm glad we are addressing it. Uh, yes. Thank
>> Councilman Brezie. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. In this particular matter, I will be voting yes. But I think we really need to find a more permanent solution moving forward instead of blocking and no parking on every street. We need to figure out a
better way. But for this particular one that I did see and visit. Yes, >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. And I would just want to ask our business administrator and I see our engineer back there also and members of our DBW if we could make sure that as soon as this ordinance is signed and
goes into effect, whatever the appeal process is, that the signage goes up. I see our chief of police here hopefully and our traffic safety unit here. Um this really came based on a little some of the conversations they went down multiple times and they brought up the safety concerns and said we don't have an ordinance to enforce. So council is doing their job now. We're we're writing
the ordinance. We're asking administration and our law enforcement department to do their job and enforce the ordinance. Please. So I vote yes. >> Carries. The next item for tonight's meeting is the first reading and introduction of ordinance 202622 amending and supplementing chapter 251 of the
township code of the township of Jackson titled licensing to establish requirements related to delinquent property taxes and property owner licensing. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments? >> Yes. So this ordinance if adopted would prohibit the issuance of a license or a permit by the township with respect to
any property if the owner of the property has any delinquent property taxes or municipal assessments on such property. would also permit uh prohibit the uh the sorry it would permit the suspension of such license or permit for delinquent taxes or assessments. So um this ordinance just want to thank the
mayor is again just to say it in layman's term is that if you're behind in your taxes um the township could withhold the permits that you may need for your next steps of your project whatever they they may be. >> I have a motion to approve ordinance 20 2622 on first reading and introduction
and to authorize the notice of the public hearing. Motion >> second. >> Council Brley, >> yes. >> Councilman Breie, >> yes. >> Councilman Pollock, >> yes. >> Council Vice President, President Pulary, >> I think this is a no-brainer. I like this a lot and I think we need to do more of this. Pay your taxes. If not, we
will withhold permits from you. So, yes, >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. >> Carries. >> And I guess everyone should pay up your taxes fast. >> The next item for tonight's meeting is the payment authorization of bills and claims. The following abstensions are as followed. Council Vice President Paul
Mary V141764 and V141780. And from Council Memberelli, AE T1, EO1, NJO4, NJM6, NJSO4, and RU4. Council President Bernstein, are there
any comments? >> No, Madam Clerk. Madame Clerk, is I'm sorry. Uh, council president Councilman. Sure. >> Uh, was that from the last bills and claims? I only had two for this one. >> My apologies. >> He said you only had two abstensions
from this meeting and you listed more than two. >> You want to have more. You can read them off. I think that was from the previous meeting. >> Councilman, do you have Do you know which two that you could just read instead of >> AE2? I'm sorry. AE t01 and de01.
That's two. >> You're welcome. Thank you. So, just correct the record on that. >> May I have a motion to approve the bills and claims? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Councilman Browley. >> With those abstensions on those two, yes to the rest on there. Thank you. >> Council Brie, >> yes.
>> Councilman Pollock. >> Abstain. Council Vice President Palm Mary. >> Yes to the rest. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. >> Approve. The next item on the agenda for tonight
is the consent agenda. Listed for tonight's consideration are resolutions 169 through 176 2026 listed by title. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments? >> Yes. Before I ask my colleagues if they have anything, I want to ask we have our engineer here. Um I would ask our
engineer if you can come up for a minute. I want him to address um one of the I think it's R1712026 which is a um a contract with TNM which is where our engineer works with regard to Forest Drive outfall replacement. If you could just elaborate on that for the council and for the public what that is.
>> Yes. And I apologize for my tire. I didn't get a chance to get home and put a shirt tie tonight. Uh so uh obviously anyone that lives in town knows that last July was a pretty uh significant um summer from storm events. We had two or three where we got a couple inches an
hour in. Uh couple inches in less than an hour. Um Brookwood Parkway, uh Timber Court, uh Coraluh Road and Forest Drive. As part of the 2024 drainage program, we're addressing the issues at Brookwood Parkway and Timber Court. Those are much
more straightforward. It's a matter of we don't have enough surface inlets to collect the runoff to get it into the piping. Um this issue is a different animal. Um there's a 36 inch diameter alpha pipe that is under a foot of water in uh tributary to the Matita conchk and
the pipe is completely under three foot of sediment in the stream. It's 60 years of runoff coming from Brookwood 4 80 plus acres of drainage area through three separate outfoles that have just buried this pipe. Um you know under normal storm events a corrugated metal
pipe over time develop holes some that water goes into the ground. When you get three, four inches of rain in less an hour, there's only so much water. It's like a bathtub. If you plug the end of the bathtub, the water has nowhere to go. Um, one of the residents I know is here tonight. They've been dealing with
this over the last couple years. Um, we have a proposal to go get full out environmental permits for the stream cleaning to replace the outfall. Um, it is a lot of money. It is a significant undertaking and it's something that if it's not left unressed is going to cause
significant property damage to private property owners. Um if authorized we are going to expedite with D to uh try to do this under emergency work through emergency permits where we're hopeful that it's not going
to be that full number. I can't speak for what the minds at D are going to say when we go to have and submit these applications. So the number you're seeing is a worst case situation. >> So basically gave extra just in case. >> Correct. Now uh in the time since we wrote this proposal in February, we've
met with a couple contractors to kind of talk about methods and means on how they would do this work. There's going to be significant deodering required. When we wrote this proposal, we were thinking this was going to have to be concrete pipes replacement the whole way out. That's 8 foot sticks. That is a significant amount. >> How how much what's the like the
footage? >> It's about 250 ft for the outfall. Oh wow. Uh there's also other drainage pipes that that connect into that that are probably undersized. There's also needs additional surface drainage. So you have the issue with the stream and then you have the alpha which is blocked but also there is collapse. There's a
buried structure that's been ground penetrated radar. DPW has filled in it in over the years and it's just you know basically the perfect storm. >> So council vice president >> how many homes does this affect if not addressed? So, uh, there's one home that's immediately impacted by this
where under the three storms, they had sections of fence blown out. Uh, their entire their backyard was underwater for about two hours until it drained out. Uh, the road was completely submerged for at least an hour. um the inlets in the street which are bolted to the
frames and this cast the castings are cemented to the inlets uh which weigh about 500 to 700 lb completely blew off the structures with how much water was coming to uh to this area. So it takes a significant amount of force and mother nature for that to happen and it's
something that uh needs to be addressed. We will, if authorized, we'll do our best to expedite this. And uh, you know, I know we have a resident here. I'm sure he was watching the radar this weekend with the storms that were coming through. I was watching it, too. And I
couldn't sleep of it, too, because I'm invested in this now, too. I don't live there, but I've been on the phone. I've met with the residents out there, and it's something that needs to be addressed. And, um, I wish it was a simple solution like Brookwood and Timber Court where we just need to add more drains and more pipes. This is a
more complex situation. Do >> you don't mind me just asking when were you I mean obviously I see the resident there. When were you alerted to this issue? I know the mayor brought this up to me a couple a couple months ago, but >> so so uh two years ago a project started on North Carolina Drive. There was a 36
inch diameter drainage pipe on North Carolina Drive which drained to this system that was replaced under a DOT contract. Um towards the end of that project being designed and going out to bid, this issue was uh made aware to the township. Funding limitations, change in
DPW administration, things like that. Um it it was not didn't happen that time to be transferring for you. The permitting part of it was probably something and the price that you see there was probably part of a factor of it, too. Um it corrected an issue with a drainage
issue on a neighbor's property, but unfortunately the water is now just to the next choke point. Um it's something that significantly needs to happen. Once I personally got involved with this and became aware of this last summer, like I said, there's this there's Brookwood Parkway, Calu, Timber Court. We're doing
our best to, you know, try to plug every single hole at a single time, but you know, there's only so much that can be done uh within constraints of, you know, municipal budgeting and things like that. >> Does anyone else from council have any other questions? >> Okay. Thank you. We'll let you know if
you have any other questions. >> Thank you. And then, madam clerk, I also just wanted to take a moment and um just recognize um R 174, which is appointing a resident to um to the zoning board. Thank you, Councilman Belli, for uh u for bringing that for uh following up
and seeking. We're always looking for more residents. There was another resident who reached out probably a couple hours later, applied and I had a opportunity to meet her and we're looking forward to hopefully finding more places that we we do have more places. Hopefully, we could we could have more resident involvement. So, we continue to encourage residents to apply
to any of our boards and um hopefully we'll we'll get to know more of you. So, that's that's it from my end. Does anyone have anything they want us to pull from there for a discussion? Miss Adam, which one? >> You said 172 2026.
So, um I did you hear Miss Sam? Which which one? Which which one what? >> Yeah, it's tax refund. Yeah, but I'm just Which one is her? Um, Miss Adam, was there something specific on there? Which I didn't hear you fully.
>> Oh, $15,000 to Collegric Real Estate Tax Services, various blocks and lots. One second. So, um, one second. I'm just reading. So the notes that I have from the tax office, tax collector's office is that
this was an overpayment on on multiple properties. One was right to bow LLC at all. One was um Shapiro Alexander and Vera on block 701 lot 442 for 2,800 for they pay twice. Um, and then I have
another one for $5,000 on block 5808, a lot one and a whole list of things that this uh CGI overpaid. That's that's what it is. >> They're representing multiple group mult multiple properties in town. Correct.
And >> okay. and Attorney Mccullin. Um, Miss Hannam is just want to um reference this one over here. It's multiple ones. Is this a correct form of of the way the >> It can be done that way. Absolutely. >> Okay. Thank you.
So, we're going to pull it off and vote on that one separately, Madam Clerk. >> That would be 172. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to authorize the balance of the consent agenda without resolution 172206?
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Council member Brellley. >> Yes. >> Councilman Bresie. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes.
>> May I have a motion to authorize resolution 172206? >> Motion second. Councilman, >> yes. Councilman >> Breie, >> yes. >> Councilman Pollock, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Porary, >> yes.
>> Council President Bernstein, >> yes. >> Thank you. Excuse me. >> The next item on the agenda is the public hearing of the 2026 municipal budget and budget amendment. Council President Bson. >> Yes. So before we um have it, Attorney
McGucken, if you could just elaborate on the process, we have a budget amendment and then we obviously have the municipal municipal budget. Um we have first of all for the public, we have our three professionals here. We have our CFO, we have our auditor and we have someone from our finance team um who helped
create the budget. Um auditor, okay, from the auditor's team. Um I don't know your name. So Anthony, Matt, and Janette. Um, and um, I think the um, D, can we just go through the process? We're going to give the residents the same five minutes and we're the I'm
going to ask the professionals to write down any questions. After we go through everyone's questions, then if you guys could uh, um, respond to everything accordingly. Attorney Mccucken, anything? >> Only thing I would say is the budget amendment would have to be adopted first before you adopt a municipal budget, assuming there's one being adopted. Um,
so that would be the first thing, but it would be appropriate to have an uh, public hearing first. Okay, Madam Clerk, >> at this time if any member of the public has any comments to make, please address the council of the microphone and state your name and address. >> Is this just on the on the this on the
budget or on the budget amendment? >> Are you doing the I just need clarification. Are you doing the public hearing for the budget and the budget amendment? >> Resolution 167-2026 is a first a vote on that to amend it to include it. Then you would have a public hearing on the budget.
>> Thank you. simply a motion to amend the budget as introduced to include this amendment. >> So move. >> Thank you. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Councilman Brelli. >> Yes. >> Council Breie, >> yes. >> Councilman Pollock, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary.
>> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. >> Motion to approve. >> Now it's public hearing. Right. >> Now we open up the public forum. Madam Madam clerk, >> I have a motion to open the public hearing. >> Motion, >> a second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Any opposed?
>> Okay. And um I see the budget team has all their pens and papers out. So >> Jim, the floor is yours. >> Jim Selectia Jackson. I am a member of the zoning board, but I'm here as just as a citizen. And I'm going to read a state. Council President, members of the
governor body, before you vote on this budget, I need to state clearly why this document should not be adopted tonight. The budget that was introduced was incomplete under NJAC 530-3.8. The userfriendly budget is a required
component of a lawful introduction. It is not optional and it is not something that can be added later. The state requires it to be part of the introduced budget so residents can review the full picture before any public hearing or
vote. That did not happen here. We received it 35 days after the introduction last Friday. It was changed. I reached out to business administrator Terafenko the Friday before that what was posted on the website was incomplete. It got changed
as of this Friday. Hate to say it, it's still incomplete, but we'll more of that later. Because the user-friendly budget was missing, the introduction was procedurally defective, and the document before you tonight is built on an introduction that did not comply with
the state requirements. At the last meeting, the township CFO stated that there is no process for reint reintroduction. Respectfully, I disagree. The governing body itself is the process. You are the
elected officials empowered to introduce, reintroduce, amend, and correct the municipal budget. And if if an introduction is incomplete or non-compliant, the remedy is simple. The governing body reintroduces it properly.
Residents should not be told there is no process when the process is sitting right here on this day. And let me be clear, it does not matter if the budget as it stands today may be acceptable to you. Personal comfort with numbers does
not override the legal requirement that the introduction itself must be complete and compliant. The law does not say introduce a budget you like. It says introduce a budget that meets state requirements. The council has said many times publicly
and proudly that if we make a mistake, we will admit the mistake and correct the mistake. Well, this is that moment. The introduction was incomplete. The mistake is clear and the correction is simple. Reintroduce the budget properly.
And before you ask the residents of this township to pay over $36 million in property taxes towards the budget, the very least you owe them is a process that is lawful. transparent and complete. Do the right thing before you
ask the residents to shoulder that financial burden is not just good governance. It is basic respect. If the introduction was incomplete, then the vote tonight is premature and procedurally unsound. The governing body has both the authority and the
responsibility to correct the error by reintroducing the budget with all the required components including the user-friendly budget so the b public can review it as the law intends. I urge you to reject this budget tonight and take the proper step reintroduce it in full
compliance with state requirements. That is how transparency is restored and that is how trust is rebuilt. Now the budget itself hopefully I got some things user friendly budget page three lists
the budget and is missing the budgeted positions by departmental classifications and the full and part-time list user friendly sheet six which I believe is the pilot program there's a project name listed on there but not none of the other columns are
filled in user friendly budget nine The accumulated absence absence liability pages the document I got two pages were missing online the pages are there but the only group only the group names are listed no other columns has information
also on user friendly budget 9 but I believe it's the fifth page of page nine at the bottom there are two line items total funds reserved at the end of 2025 and total funds appropriated in 2026 there's no amounts given
The amendment presented at the last meeting shows a reduction from 60,000 to 30,000 appropriated for 2026. How are the residents supposed to determine how accurate that number is when all the information supporting the change is missing?
Now to the regular budget sheet 12 under general appropriations administrative executive is listed at $581,120 for salaries which is a 49% increase over the 2025 budget. When I met with the CFO and the business administrator,
we we were told that the new housing unit was included in that number. However, the amendment from last meeting breaks out the housing unit but doesn't show the reduction in the executive line item. So, which is it? Is it the amendment? >> I'm gonna give you another another five
seconds. >> Can you give me a little bit more? I got >> 10 seconds. There's other people want to speak. >> I understand. But you want you want the truth of what the budget is. So, uh, we still need to know why. So, Oh, okay. So, which is is the amendment incomplete
or was I told or what I was told was incorrect and we need still need to identify why the number has such a large increase. G12 municipal clerk salaries. Jim, we're we're gonna have to give the floor to someone else. >> There's other people and they all have questions. If we allow everyone to go
over it's we have to >> guarantee everyone that wants to hear me say it because I'm the one that's >> okay. There's other people here also. >> See, they all want me. They're all saying, "Let me finish." >> That's not That's not the way it works. There has to be protocols. Robert's rules. >> You're afraid. >> I'm not afraid. >> Afraid of getting what I have out. This
is why we've been we've been very open that we said we were going to do >> because you want the truth as to what you're going to >> you can come back after everyone else if if there's time anyone else >> good evening my name is Lindy Eali I live 15 Pine Valley Road uh as the
former uh president of the board of trustees of Westlake and Um, I would like to thank the council for all their support, uh, particularly Morty Bernstein. Uh, >> ma'am, I don't want to interrupt. This is just for the budget. >> This is just for the budget. You can come back for anything else. Yeah, just
for the budget. I'll take the compliment, but you can come back. >> Anyone else for the budget only? >> Carlos, >> anyone else? >> Carlos. So, >> by a show of hands, who else plans on speaking about the budget?
Okay. So, Jim, after Joe, you come back up. >> Elanar Hano, Jackson, New Jersey. So, um there are so so many inconsistencies in this budget. The lack of transparency in what you're
doing with my money is overwhelming. Again, I'm going to re reiterate. Millions of dollars are under other expenses. I think the people and myself have the right to know
what the other expenses are and how that money is going to be used. It should be detailed. We should be be aware of where our money is going. I would also like to address page 43 at the bottom.
It says basically that on page 43 inaccurately states 43.33 acres were preserved in 2025. That's a lie.
So if you're lying about that, how can we even trust anything in this budget? It's fraud. >> Miss, any other questions? >> Yeah, I was waiting for it to be answered. >> Okay, so they're they're going to come back. They're taking all the residents
questions and then they're going to I'm going to ask them to address all the questions. >> Okay. Well, my other question is go through all your pages with other expenses and not being transparent and telling the people what those other
expenses are which is in the millions in my p in my view is also fraud. >> Thank you. >> So we would like to know >> anyone else in the budget Carlos. >> Okay.
>> Just your name for the record. Okay, that's all right. >> Carlos into the mic, please. >> Okay. Sorry. Uh Carlos Martins, >> you don't have to swear. >> Carlos Martins Jackson zoning board, but I'm here as a
res. Okay. And I I do want to talk about the budget. Um Okay. So, we had some detailed discussions with CFO um and and others. And so, I I thank you for that. And similar to my comments from from
last time, I'm going to leave the completeness of the budget and the whole legal back and forth to James. He's all over it. So, I'm going to um not cover that. What I am going to cover is what I recommend that you pass this budget.
I'm going to tell you why. Because the fact is we are where we are right now. We're six months into this thing, right? This budget is stale. We got to get through it. pass it. And what we have to focus on is how do we replenish that
surplus, right? One way to look at it is um we know we're using in this current budget, we're using $9.4 million of a surplus. That's not that unusual based on the last three, four years, right? It's not good. Absolutely. We got a
problem. And I'll quote Elliot here. We got to look five years back and five years forward. And that's how we solve that problem. And that's the only way we're going to be able to solve that problem. Unfortunately, we're not going to be able to do that in six months, which is all we got left, right? What I
encourage everybody to do is to focus on the ne in the next six months, focus on some of the items that you listed out, which will allow us to replenish that, right? Just very high level projection. I think we should be able to come up with about another $7 million to
replenish. So, the nine million goes down by two. That's still bad. Every year we're losing $2 million in that surplus. And I say losing actuals, not madeup numbers like the budget, but what's really happening in the actuals is every year we've been losing $2
million of that surplus. At some point, we got to stop it. And um and so, but right now, we have to focus on the next six months. We have to focus on finding what we can do to replenish that to come up with that $7 million. There's some
things on the plan that you listed out, right? And again, that 7 million is my madeup number, right? Um, so we said FEMA, we're going to try to get some reimbursement on the snow, right? So that should be something around $3 million. We talked about tax lean
collections, got to increase that, obviously stay on top of it. Uh the mayor has mentioned the uh Bureau of Housing um fines and incre and um bankruptcy get more money out of that or whatever we can save out of that. We got
to focus on that. We only have six months and then the um new ratables, but that's not going to happen in six months. So I'm going to put that for next year maybe. Um the bottom line is within 6 months the only thing we can
really do and this not just municipal corporate world same thing we can put a hiring freeze um meaning we're not cutting anybody but if position is open you don't fill it and we watch these damn bills very
closely and we watch and keep your feet to the fire and make sure you know what we're paying for. Um which that's going to be part of my public comment. I'm going to go through the bills again. Um, so for those reasons, right, to get the mechanics out of the way, as long as
it's legal and it's complete, what James mentioned, as far as the numbers is concerned, we are where we are. Um, and I encourage you to pass it. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else that didn't speak yet? >> Good evening. Ryan Archer of Jackson
Township. Seven of you up there, trade professionals here, all had your hands on this budget. If Jim is correct and this budget is out of compliance with state law, I want to know out of the 10 of you, how many of you take accountability for your actions? Thank you. >> Thank you.
Anyone? Anyone? Anyone else that didn't speak yet? Mr. Sullivan, >> Joseph Sullivan, Jackson Township. Um, short answer first. First, I think you guys should pass this budget uh more in depth. Um these are some questions I
have. How many years have we uh dipped into reserves in our budgets? If I remember correctly, it's every year, but I could be wrong. Um the second question is there's a lot of talk from certain
council members about how they want things better budgeted. They want to cut things. They want to do things. They think they could do things better. So I asked the council president uh how many council members and which council members suggested any cuts, any
improvements to this current budget? Um, and then my third question is is if we did not pass this budget, and I guess this maybe goes to Mr. McGucken,
how much uh how many issues would the township have? Would it be able to pay its employees? Would it be able to continue services? And would we be in trouble with the state? And that's all. >> Thank you. Anyone else, Jim? >> One minute. How long? another minute and
a half I'll give you. You're almost done. >> First of all, thanks for the extra time. Um, so let's see where was I? I went through the housing authority
uh sheet 12 also municipal clerk salaries is listed at 437,159 36% increase over last year. The question is why? I could have looked at the number of budgeted positions from last year to this year to see if the
number went up and I'd understand it. Except those budgeted numbers aren't there. Sheet 15 solid waste collection is listed in 1,635,570. An increase of 61% over 2025. I think I know the answer, but I'd love to hear it
again because we were told there's no cost to us. Sheet 15e. I may be stealing someone else's thunder, but uh fuel and petroleum products, this is an interesting one. We all know how gas prices have skyrocketed
this year almost 30%. We're starting to see them coming down, but as we all know, they go up in a day, but it takes three weeks for it to come down. Fuel and petroleum products remain the same as 2025. Have we done any research into making
sure that the numbers that we're putting in there we're actually going to have enough money for? Or are you guys going to come back in a meeting in October or November looking for emergency appropriations because we failed to come up with the right number here?
>> You have another 10 seconds. >> I just now I got to talk about the capital budget. So maybe a little bit more than 10 seconds. >> No, I'm Jim. Sheet 420 on the capital budget lists only two projects from the current year for the current year. These items originated in 2024.
The mayor stated that the work is to begin on Bethl Church Road in July. Yet on the budget, no dollar amounts are listed to be used in 2025. The six-year capital program lists only the 2024 projects, but doesn't show which years the funds are currently
expected to be used in. There's no other projects listed. So my question is, how does a township like Jackson that is expecting significant growth and development over the tech next 10 years not have a capital plan to build the infrastructure that's going to be needed
to handle this? This type of planning or should I say lack of planning is just setting this town up for disaster. And I know Elellanar talked about the open space. Okay. All I would say about the open space page >> is I know what you're gonna ask for in 2026 there's nothing to be money to be
used but we're collecting another 4.3 million. >> I'm going to respond to you. I know what your question is. >> All right. But let me just so everyone knows the number. >> Three minutes in. We gave you eight minutes. >> 10,000 $10 million and this is the most important fun. >> I understand you had your time >> that every one of these residents. You had eight minutes.
>> That's all right. >> You got five more minutes. >> Will be determining whether you guys follow. Could you just wrap it up so we can have the professionals fun? >> If you'd let me, I would have been >> We've been letting you for eight and a half minutes, sir. >> The 2026 column has all blanks. So, we are not planning on spending any money
this year for open space, but we keep collecting the 4.3 million that you have to give the residents a plan. It's about time. Start planning. >> Okay. So, like to close it. >> We're going to have a motion to close.
>> Motion to close. Madame clerk, we have a motion to close. Motion to close. >> Thank you. >> Have a second. >> Yeah, Councilman Brassie made a second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. So, I'm going to turn to the table there. A couple things I just want to
address quickly before I turn to the professionals. Um, and I do see our engineer here. So, he might have more information in particular about Bethl Church because we we've had multiple conversations about that. So, I'm going to ask him to address that. Um, I know we've had different opinions from
different residents, you and I think Carlos, pertaining to the open space fund about if the township should be still collecting that at that at that rate being that it is obviously harder to possibly get it. I think if you do a poll, um, most residents would want the township to still be collecting the
maximum. That being said, it's my understanding from attorney McCain that they would have to go for a referendum if we would want to change the rate or change the the the collection amount. Um, with regard to uh, Mr. Svin because the rest are really um, professional questions. Um, I know Councilman Pollock
and Councilman uh, Belli met with the CFO and the team. Um, I know Councilman Baresses, Councilman um, Paul Mary um, had multiple conversations and meetings with our administration also about the budget. With regard to has anyone reached out to me in the past four to five weeks about making any other cuts
or the possibility of raising taxes? The answer is no. Um um there was conversations, Councilman um Paul um Orlli and myself had a conversation this afternoon about for 2027. We obviously have contractual obligations for this year and we have to um value them and
and uh keep to them. Um but the short answer is um there has not been any recommendations from anyone on council about making any changes to the budget that we received from the mayor. Um and that's why we're we're here today. It's our budget now. It's not the mayor's budget, but I'm going to turn the floor
now to the professionals for a few minutes. Let them run through as as many questions as possible that they can answer and then uh and then if we need our engineer who were who's batting in the background over there, we'll palm up. >> Council President, can I just ask you to address one of the questions too about
the um lawsuits and the legal? >> Sure. So, I think the number in there was close to a million dollars. Um those um three addressed I think it was three litigations that were settled that were paid out this year. One of them was a litigation and um attorney gan I'm allowed to mention the name of the litigation right even though the
personnel matters right >> yes >> okay so one of them was about the former township engineer um Mr. Burke um which was I mean he has not been the township engineer since before I was on this day as I think councilman breie um ob served with him um that was a litigation that
he filed and uh there was a payment that the township was responsible to pay in 2026. We had a executive where we discussed payment for that was a substantial amount. An additional um settlement was there was a zoning board um um denial and a zoning officer denial
about a place of home worship in Oakley Hills. I called the Matslak case that the township settled also for about $150,000. The township was responsible to pay for the legal expenses that the township um unanimously voted to I guess settle and pay which was also um the
payment came out in 2026. I think the settlement was in 25 I think. I think everyone but Councilman Pollock was on the DES at that point and then the third one was was the um Chief Quinn's settlement that there the first payment was made in 2026 for that settlement. So, those are the three for the judgment
lines um that that I'm aware of. >> What? Sorry. >> Oh, the Oh, and there's one more. There was a member a the former head of the DPW that also um had a um a litigation from him going back a bunch of years.
And again, he also was a head of DPW long before anyone here besides Sir Councilman Brassie was was here. And that settlement was also paid um in 2026. Um, additionally, just to point out, sometimes some of these settlements are cutely designed. Um, there was a settlement that the township settled for
a developer in 2023 that lo and behold, we I just found out a couple weeks ago, part of the settlement was the township didn't pay the legal fees, but the township deferred all building permits. Um, so now the town building department has to work do all that work this year. And I think the building department is
rightfully so a little disgruntled because they're doing all that work right now and that they're not getting the fees for some of that labor that they're doing because that was the settlement that was arranged in 23. Um instead of the potential paying that year for that budget the legal fees. So that would be the judgment. Um but now
the I'll let the finance team address as many questions as you wrote down or remember >> just >> and I would just ask if you can do your best to move the mic as close as possible because >> Sure. So just to piggyback on that that the question was raised well um you have
the money for the lawsuits and then the legal fees. So the the legal fees are always a part of every municipal budget. We always have counsel on um you know appointed and those legal fees
do not necessarily uh have anything to do with litigation. though sometimes things pop up. Sometimes our GIF handles, you know, our insurance handles it. Um, but there's just general legal uh charges that come up. So, I just didn't want to be
>> to question you. I think like all the legal fees that we pay for ordinance reviews, for example, we we asked our attorneys, we had some back and forth this morning, council, with regard to data centers. All that that the attorney would be reviewing would be part of legal fees. This doesn't mean litigation per se. >> Correct. Okay. So I just didn't I didn't
want that to be confused or misconstrued. >> Um to uh address the the admin salaries and wages. So there were uh new uh employees hired. There was reallocation of
salaries. Yes. To answer Mr. Sleia's question about uh at the time we thought it was the housing fees that uh the housing salaries that were not uh that were missing but um obviously with the amendment after I reviewed everything uh
again a second time I because just as a disclaimer and I'm not trying to shift any focus on anyone else but I kind of came late to this party uh for your budget so I didn't have firsthand Um,
uh, I didn't have firsthand knowledge of everything and involvement. >> Thank you. That's the word I'm looking for. Involvement in all of the creation. By the time I got here, it was just about, um, finished. >> So, um, at the time we thought the housing was in there and then it was later
determined that it was not and therefore the amendment was necessary. Um but there were some additional hires and uh different uh reallocation of salaries that were part of that. So >> I just want to address one thing that I
think a resident brought up in the beginning I think earlier. Um with regard to Rova Farms, it's my understanding that historically the way it's been done since Rova Farms began was it was paid through open space funds. Um I'm not sure how that lines up in the budget, but that's always that's that was when I came into the Rova
project that's the way it was done. And I'm not saying right, wrong or indifferent. That was just that's been been I think the because you like you said you're new to this a little bit over here. But that's the way ROA has been allocated until now. And I definitely had conversations with some of the former members of council before
my before I before I sat on here with my original colleagues and that was something that they brought to my attention also. >> So and I'm going to turn this over to uh Mr. Holman about the open space fund and the open space budget. So more clarity. Yeah, the the open space budget sits
separate. It's a trust fund for the municipality. Um I believe ROA is one of the uh open space uh parcels that the township does have. So any certain expenditures could will go through the trust fund, not necessarily
the operating budget of the municipality in that case. >> Once round over, I'm just going to announce I know it's a different a little different subject. everything was submitted to D and now we're waiting for that process and we were told hopefully by the end of the summer we should have some form of an update.
>> And just to note as well, the open space uh budget is presented separately from the operating budget if that's not clear there. >> That's what they're saying. It's just
Now, Janette, could you could you address for a second? I know um I think Carlos mentioned it, but could you just address again in the past uh I would say five years the surplus that has been used every year. And again, I think everyone in here will agree that that's not a good that's not the best practice.
Um but if we just talk about the pattern of what's what's been spent from surplus for the past five years. So, so after reviewing just looking at past years, yes, it seems that there's been a fluctuation in the amount of surplus that's been used each year for the budget for at least five or six years
going back. I didn't really go back further. um since and an amount as high as 11 and a half million dollars has been used and each and every year it looks like that we are regenerating we're losing we'll say uh about $2
million that is not regenerating. So eventually, you know, you're you're just dwindling uh down and we and we hope that uh to recoup as much as, you know, to regenerate as much as we can. But I would say that that statement was, you
know, accurate in just looking at how much surplus was used each year and how much was regenerated that year. >> Now, business administrator Terafenco, um I know it was mentioned before um I think also by Mr. Martin with regard to some of the fees and penalties. And I
don't think it's just in pertaining to the housing bureau. I think it's with regard to code zoning and some of the other um um departments in town that I think the mayor and and yourself want to be more proactive in making sure that we're actually collecting these fees. Could you address for a second? I know we had a resident by the last meeting
who brought up the that penalty. Um we took a very hard stance when we drafted that ordinance with regard to housing violations, rental rental housing violations. Could you address I know so far since they've been sending out they've recouped a very decent amount of penalties. Again, we're not looking for
penalties. We're hoping everyone complies with with our ordinances, but for this year, could you do you have a a rough estimate of how much? I know they sent out over $250,000 of I think of of penalties. We have a number so far of what has come in? >> We're rough. We had about 27,500. So,
>> so out of So, do we know how many have been sent out so far? 250 notices were sent out thus far. Uh I I'll give you the rundown. So total inspections completed was 224. Total rental properties registered was
1559. Total properties that still need to register is about 155. Original number of unregistered properties, which the NOVs went out for, was 496. Um, and like I said, we collected about
27,500 of fines at 500. >> Okay. And let me just ask, I assume we're sending out. There's no special treatment we're sending out. They're going through the list they're pick and they're sending out and obviously it takes a lot of work to send out and they're going to continue sending out to all those who have not complied with the
rental bureau. Correct. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Um Um Okay. So, um the other question that was raised regarding other expenses So the two components of the operating
budget are salaries and wages and other expenses. Internally those other expenses are broken down by sub accounts. So you could have office supplies and depending on the department you can have different um needs,
education, um materials, what have you. on the budget document itself. This is the state budget document. So there's not going to be any of those details on there. Uh what happens is the department submit their
requests with details of what they have want or need in their other expense part of their budget. They are reviewed and it's approved at that level and then that information gets compiled and put into the budget document. So um it I
don't know how we can provide that nor it is not customary to provide such um minute details. You know the the public is certainly welcome to ask any questions. They can come into the
offices at any time. They can put over requests in to ask for more details. But you know that is the process. So there's no nobody's trying to hide anything. This is this is the state document. This is how we present it. >> Now, attorney McCain and and Janette, I
I guess questions for both both of you. We have a resident who's mentioned by the last meeting and again mentioned by this meeting that we are not in compliance with the the way the budget was adopted and was recommending the town council go back to adopting it. Um, what is your legal opinion, Attorney Mccucken?
>> The administrative code regulation he cites is correct. That's what it says. However, there is no remedy provided. there is no penalty provided um and there is no um procedure for the township to now basically throw out what's been introduced and start over
again that would lead to further complications with compliance with state law uh as to the introduction dates and the adoption dates um and quite frankly I believe uh local finance board would have a bigger problem uh if that were the case >> okay now um
with regard to I think Bethl church that's a big one that we did the township did put out an update and again that road was a DOT I think um Charlie could you come up for a second would would you mind and again I appreciate you coming on last minute notice um you just address obviously the time
frame I think we put out that we're the town would like to start that project after the school gets out for obvious reasons that and was funded through I think an NJ do DOT grant to repave the road could you just address that for a second and >> yeah so uh it was funded through uh fiscal year 24 uh DOT grant from um uh
NGDOT and it was originally just for milling and paving of the roadway. Um through various discussions, pedestrian safety concerns, the scope was amended to include the installation of sidewalks on the south side of the road. That was a very arduous process of securing temporary construction easements,
permanent easements were >> I just want to stop you for a second. Has the town done any eminent domain to take anyone's um property without permission? >> No. >> So, anyone who's given permission for sidewalk has willingly signed off on it. >> Correct. And um you know I think there's a handful of residents who feel like
this maybe is 10 15 years overdue. Um you know there's there school age kids are now high schools and they don't necessarily walk. Um but you know we are seeing an uptick in pedestri throughout the town. So and that corridor has two significant curves to it that um create
recipe for disaster with walkers. And I just want to also address once we're talking about that project in per se. Um I know we're the sidewalks the plan that this council approved um was is being put on the southern side of Bethl Church Road, not on the northern side. Could you address I know there was an MUA
issue in addition to expense. Could you just address that for a second? >> Yes. So the MUA has a water mean that runs along the north side of the roadway and um infrastructure ages and we didn't think it'll feel it was a good investment to put significant amount of sidewalk on that side and then it maybe need to have to be ripped up within the
next 5 to 10 years. Um also there was you know both sides of the road have challenges right away steep slopes um there was a little bit less challenges on on the south south side of the road. There are going to be folks are already crossing the road right now without any kind type of crosswalks or signage.
There will be um rapid flashing beacons where you press it and it flashes. So what people are already doing now without those measures, it should be a significant safety improvement and hopefully it also helps slow people down because anyone that drives through that corridor on a regular basis can see how
fast folks drive through there. So, so again, it's being funded from 2024 capital with NJ DOT >> uh or >> 2024 DOT is also using, I believe, uh some portion of the pedestrian safety funds to fund the sidewalk and that's the intent of the >> and the pedestrian safety fund is a fund
that developers put in when they when they don't build sidewalks in front of the project. >> Correct. All that money gets put together and it's the purpose of it is to be able to do long corridor projects where there's a meaningful impact. Um and this is the perfect example of that. >> Okay. Um,
>> just general schedule. So, we had a pre-construction meeting a couple weeks ago. They're waiting for school to start. Traffic control from PD. They're still working through the details on that. There is going to be some minor disruption to traffic as far as alternating traffic because that is a busy corridor. Um, concrete work
sidewalk is going to take a matter of four to five weeks uh through July. And then we're looking to hopefully have the road milled and paved before the end of the summer and Labor Day weekend. So, >> and and and just one more quick question on that subject. Again, I know it's not so much budget, but once you're here, um
I know I see multiple members of our PD here that the way Bethl Church was picked. Um I know there's been multiple requests for the town. Um could you just elaborate a little bit obviously on the the repaving of Bethl Church, but also on the sidewalks on the southern side, the process that was it just picked from
a hat or >> No. So, uh, the town did a townshipwide road inventory as far as pavement condition, uh, six years ago. We use that as a tool. We also meet with DPW. They're out there the ones fixing potholes on a daily basis. Uh, and we
kind of meet with them and figure out what makes the most sense. Um, a municipal road in a residential subdivision is not going to be a significant priority for DOT. It doesn't have high traffic volume. it might not have public infrastructure in terms of schools, um, municipal buildings. So, we
try to focus on, we'll call it the outros when we submit those applications. Um, last year we submitted two applications, uh, Lakers to have, one section of that. That's in really poor condition. We got 400 plus thousand for that. Um, this year we're
contemplating the balance of Lakers or Manhattan Street. Manhattan Street is significantly in need of repaving, but the MUA also has planned improvements on Manhattan Street, so we don't want to put the cart before the horse and, you know, obviously waste money. We do also
have money for improvements to Bethl Church as a DOT fund, but um further discussions are going to have to happen on that because there may be other utility corridor upgrade improvements planned um coming through that. And the township obviously just updated the road
opening permit ordinance to require utility companies to pave the full width of the road. So we obviously don't want to spend township money paving a road that the utility company may be required to repave three years later. So that's also something that's going to be discussed.
>> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it. Anyone from council? Oh, >> I have a question for our CFO if possible. So, I have spoken with our business administrator probably three or four times in the last month about this budget in detail and I have spoken with
every council member at least once uh just to kind of get some feedback and about this budget from them as well. If this budget does not pass this evening, if we push this down the road, um how much time do we have before departments don't have the funding
before essentially like the government shutdown? What do we have? What do we got? So at so at this point um basically what we've been doing is uh doing emergency temporary appropriations and we don't you know we're basing it on
parameters of need and also trying to stay within what we anticipate the budget to be adopted at. Um, as it stands right now, if we don't
adopt, then we're probably not going to have enough appropriated to go much further. I don't have those exact numbers to to give you, but that what will be required is that we do another emergency
uh temporary appropriation resolution. And that may require a special meeting because I now I'm going to have to go back and analyze how short we will be and if we will have enough to make it to the next meeting for that to be you know
approved because at this point right now I do have some departments that have put a lot of things on hold because they don't have enough appropriated and we have to be very careful of what we are appropriating because I don't have the parameters you know I only have what was
introduced in the budget to go by. So it could ultimately shut down some operations because we don't have anything appropriated. So that's a that's a very real possibility. >> Council Brassie. >> Yeah. Just hearing all this going on,
I'm just curious if the budget wasn't approved and we're running tight on emergency appropriations, would anyway this have to get bounced back to the state or the DCA then? >> Um would what have >> would the budget get bounced back to the
DCA or the state if we don't approve itself? >> No, what will happen is if you don't approve it at you know at some point the state will come down on you. That's what I'm saying. Why are you not a you know what is the rationale for not >> and that's when the state can come in with their recommendations what to do
correct >> I don't they won't come in with recommendations at at this point but what they will start doing is finding all of you for you know potentially depending on what the reason is for not adoption if they consider it to be willfully not adopting a budget they
will fine you $100 a day for not you know complying >> it went up >> yeah it did it used to 25. It's It's 100 now. >> Anyone else from council? >> I did I did want to make a few more points if that's okay.
>> Um, so some of the some of the questions that that came up um because I want to make sure that I did hit everybody's. I don't want anyone to feel like that, you know, we were overlooking what you were questioning. So, some of the questions I I just quickly looked at what the uh
appropriations were last year versus what they are this year. And they are about three million plus higher. And the reason for that is because of the snow emergency, right? Of the 3.2 million.
That's roughly what that is. So when we look at some of the uh departments and some budgets went up, some went down, the reality of it is is the budget basically stayed the same. Okay. With
the exception of that $3 million that will come off the budget next year, >> hopefully if it doesn't snow. >> Well, let's not let's don't say that. Uh so um so I just want to make that clear that there wasn't increased spending
other than that emergency and if anything I mean we really don't have the ability to increase the spending that's why you had to pass that cap ordinance. So I just wanted to make that point because I think that's a very important point that it it did stay flat. Things
had to be shifted around to try to make them work. You're in a very precarious position because of that. um the appropriation cap that that really forget about raising taxes or using reserves or anything else. You're really
hamstrung by that cap ordinance. Um and then the open space, there is a budget in the open space. So, I'm not exactly sure uh what was meant by the comment that there's no budget there. And unfortunately, we did look and those numbers for the acreage were from they
weren't updated for 2026. So, I do >> I will just add with regard to open space, um we are looking at the two purchases currently. We actually had a verbal agreement for a property um that we're going to be discussing among council and hopefully introducing an ordinance to move forward in a I think a
great location for uh about three and a half acres of open space. Right, Mr. Terafenco? I think that's what it was. >> Yeah, that's correct. >> We absolutely hope to use some of our open space funds to purchase uh more land. And then and then finally, just one last thing and I'll shut up. Uh the
uh the capital budget. So the capital budget a plan is really what it is. Yes, it was there was nothing put forward for uh at the time that the budget was introduced other than ongoing capital
projects. That capital budget plan can be amended at any time. So if something is decided now that you know we we need to do this we'll just simply amend that and then you can go forward with the project. I do agree that some planning
needs to take you know we've we've had these discussions um with administration with the the finance committee that certainly we have to start planning for the future but um in lie of the turnover
and staff and all the things that that the township has experienced that piece just did not get done for for this budget but it can be amended at at any point within the year that is not you know it's not a fatal flaw to the budget process.
>> Hey, Council Brley, >> have we have we applied for FEMA funding for >> I'm going to let the business administrator respond to that. >> So, to answer your question, it's yes, it goes through the county OEM and then if we meet the requisite for the county
then sends it to the state um who in turn seeks funding from the federal government for reimbursement. And just to address um business Minister Terafenko, during the snowstorm and after the snowstorm, DPW tracked every single truck, we're um and every expense
that was paid and was documented and uh submitted to to the to the state, but I I don't think we're surprised to hear that the state didn't get back to the county yet. >> That's correct. >> I guess my >> Councilman Yeah, sure. Just talking to
the mic. How I mean on average over the last several years, how much did we regenerate in surplus because that's been like a a big concern as you know for uh for us up here. >> They're going to get some real numbers for you. But um it fluctuates every year
and you've and the amount of surplus. So let's say in six years if you've lost 2 million a year, you know, you're down 12 million over six years from from where you were. But um it's every year it's it's different and they're going to get some real numbers.
>> Okay. And what are you anticipating I guess is for this year from housing code enforcement municipal tax lean collections. I know the commercial ratables as I know a resident mentioned I know that probably won't be generated
in six months. That will something that will have to be looked at you know into uh you know the following year. Administrator Terafano, just address what Councilman Burley just said. I know you there was a calculation made by the tax office on the square footage of commercial ratables that are pending. Do
we have that number in front of you? >> I believe I spoke about it last meeting and through the assessor's office um on the roles, it's somewhere in the neighborhood of uh 120 million. We're anticipating getting percentages of that and that's new to the roles. Um I can't
speak to the previous question you just asked. I don't have the information with me. Um, I would like to shed some more light on you brought up housing again, Councilman Browley. So, we're looking at approximately in fees collected in total around 217,840
from um this new creation of the housing bureau so far this year with registrations and violations. >> Okay, Council President, we're on the uh and the administrator too talking about commercial ratings coming up. Uh and I realize there may be a flow the last
couple of years but if you notice now you may or may not be aware how rates you know once they get their approval goes up when they start building goes up more than get their se goes up more there's a lot of sites I know some were approved in 2006 and 7
approved about 2012 that are now building and that's going to be going up as they complete their compliance and resolution. So that average for the last two or three years should be going up this year based on that. >> So um Janette, do you mind answering any
more? Do you have any more numbers for Councilman Belli's question about surplus? >> Right. >> Question of surplus. >> They're pulling them up. But just just to come back to just say what we're anticipating. So there's different factors that that how surplus is
regenerated, right? So we have uh your expense side. So whatever um you are anticipating spending x amount of dollars. Whatever you don't spend for the year goes into a reserve year and then ultimately in a future year will
end up in surplus. You have revenues that you're anticipating that anything you collect in excess will then uh go over into surplus. Then there's some other factors such as you know we have the non-spending uh reserve from
collected taxes. We have receipts from delinquent taxes. Um, so all of those things go into and then all the other things that we talked about, you know, we're hoping to collect money from some of those tax leans that, you know, we, you know, once you start the foreclosure process, there is a good amount of
people that may come up and say, "Oh, I don't want to go to foreclosure here." You know, I'm going to I'm going to pay. And we're anticipating that. You have added assessments that will come online as um administrator Taraeno uh alluded to. So, those are all the things that go into it and and we're hopeful that at
the end of the budget process that that we haven't um that we do have those excesses left. So, I I think that we were anticipating I don't know probably in that six to seven million that we're hopeful that is going to regenerate, but
I'll go ahead and you can >> Yeah, man. Just to give you the actual numbers there, 2022 the fund balance ended with 16.5 million. uh the next year 8.2 million of that was utilized in the budget. Um of that 8.2 about all of
that was regenerated. So going into the 23 year you had 16.2 only 300,000 was not regenerated of that 8.2. So we'll call it 7.9 was regenerated there. So the then the fund balance in 2023 was 16.2 million. Of that 16.2 2 million. In
2023, 11.3 million was utilized to fund the budget. Um, going into 24, you could see that the fund balance dipped down to 13.4 million. So, of the 11.3 that was utilized, again, about 8 million was put back into fund balance. Um, from that
13.4, we'll say 8.9 was utilized in the budget last year to balance it. And uh then we saw the fund balance dip down to 11.5 million
going into uh 25. Uh so you had 13.4. So of that 8.9 again only about uh say 6.9 was regenerated that year. Then of the 11.5 in this current budget um it's
being presented that $9.4 4 million of that 11.5 will be utilized going then into if $7 million is replenished you'd be heading in looking at about $9 million in fund balance afterwards. >> Thank you Brley. You got
>> Okay, Madame Clerk. >> I have a motion to authorize resolution 177206 adopting the 2026 municipal budget with amendment. >> Motion second. Councilman Belli. >> All right. I just have some comments
obviously about the budget because we've been going over it and I want to thank our budget professionals for being here um to address her questions in the publics as well. Um well, my position on the proposed uh 62
uh 62.9 million municipal budget reflects like a 5.5% increase. It's a lot. My concern of course and a lot of concerns of our my fellow colleagues is the big depletion of our town's vital surplus. And I understand that surplus
was used before in previous uh budgets. And um I just wish we had a clear financial strategy going into the into the future. Um and uh I hope to you know work with council and administration regarding that in the uh coming months.
We can start working on next year's budget tomorrow. Um our municipal uh reserve I know essential it is essential for you know emergencies and future investments and it seems to like like you mentioned it gets lower every year by $2 million or
so. So that's why I advocate for uh looking at proactive measures. I know I spoke with some of my co council colleagues regarding that so we can safeguard our um long-term uh stability. So that would include maybe looking at
um or next year's budget um considering you know we've been uh losing surplus maybe implementing a hiring freeze regarding non-essential non-essential uh positions um deemed by the administration and then you know
reigning in spending having some controls on them looking at uh reigning in those discretionary uh expenditures and deferring non you critical projects and all that and um new revenue streams from housing as uh business ministry
tero mentioned uh monies too from code enforcement municipal tax leans which I hope works out really well for our town and um that are anticipated and appreciated and um just wish we had some more I I like the numbers I'm hearing
about uh surplus regeneration in the next year looks like we've been regenerating based on um the information you provided tonight every year before this year. Um, so and I did my dil, you know, due
diligence. I met with budget officials, uh, business administrator Terra Fenco. We don't have like dollars to scrape. I know departments have identified savings and that has been accomplished and it just seems like we can't cut anymore. I know you've all cut um as best as you
can and um I know you're advising us that nothing else can be you know cut at this time. So um I'm not entirely supportive of the budget happy about it but understand we have to pass it. I I
get it. We have to do it. We have to p pay our bills and we have to run our town and continue services for um our fellow residents. So, I'm going to I'm going to vote yes on the budget and
um just hope we can work together to address those many concerns and make sure that uh we have more of a solid financial uh future and budget. >> Councilman Presley, >> thank you. >> Yes, I have some concerns about the
budget, too. The one thing we're going through with everybody, there's really not much to cut. a dollar here, add a dollar there. That's not the project. That's not how you do a budget. You got to make sure you can live with what you're putting in there, what you're planning, and you have the money to
spend. I do think I am involved in land use a lot. And then knowing certain projects that are now moving after six, seven, eight, and 10 years come into futition. As they break land, their rate of taxes will go up. As they build will
go up, when they get to CEO, it goes up again. All that would be increased revenues coming in. Um, and as much as people hate the word development, look around. You hate it, but that's what's going to have to pay your taxes right now. And there's a lot of it going on and a lot is moving pretty fast. So, I
really feel confident that we are in the right vein to draw back some of that surplus. Uh, with that, I vote yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Uh, wow. It's a little bullying uh to make me vote yes tonight, I guess. Right. Um, you don't need my vote to
pass this budget. You don't need it. You got the votes. Uh, a lot of pushing on me to to vote yes. Um, I'm going to abstain on this. And, uh, I got to say, I don't want to put my name on this budget. I'm not happy with the leadership, the management of the town.
Um, like I said, uh, cost increased, spending increased. um you know, more appointments, more hires, and more services, and we're keeping the taxes flat. Uh I
think we're putting ourselves in line for tax increases in the future. Um I don't know if we're actually thinking about the future. I think we're just thinking about the election year. Um I understand this is difficult, but it's what has been done to get to this
point. you know, how are we thinking? I'm still taken a back. I think back how we were proposing $5 million in softball fields a couple months ago when we're in this kind of financial position. Um, you know, some of the hires and the salaries don't make sense to me. Uh, the the
assistance uh being hired, uh, you know, I'm abstaining on this. Uh, you know, you'll get your budget. It'll be passed. Um, you don't have to play games with it. I'm just going to stand up for my principles and who I am. and I hope we make changes to the future. Uh, Councilman Belli,
um, you brought up a lot of important things, I think, last time. Um, you know, whether it be spending freezes, hiring freezes, getting overtime under control. Uh, let's look at some of these contracts. Do they make sense? Do we need these people? Uh, we
we got to get this ship tight, you know? So, you know, I'm going to be the objector. Deal with it. Do what you need to do. Um, you're not going to bully me. I'm sorry. Thank you. >> Council Vice President Pome.
>> So, um, government shutdown is would be irresponsible. We couldn't we couldn't shut down this government because our government must operate. Our departments must be funded. We have contractual agreements with the unions for raise increases for our employees that are
currently suspended without a without a budget which could put us in legal situation and matters that we wouldn't want to get into. It cost even more money. I am happy to hear that the year-over-year spending from what the CFO is stating is actually flat. The 3.2
million we're overspending from last year was because of the snow. So, if we don't have such a detrimental snowstorm next year, we should not run that same overage the following budget. But I agree with my colleagues here. Um, we
need to take a hard look at these services as I said before and anything that is unnecessary, we can eliminate as those contracts expire. Same thing with hiring. Same thing with, you know, what we're bringing people in for. I think we
need to be lean and mean and and that's what we we're hearing more and more of and that's what I agree with. So on this budget I am not 100% satisfied. I shared that with my colleagues over the last few days. I've shared that with our business administrator as well. But the
responsible thing to do is to make sure our government is in a position for success for our residents. And without a budget, we would be very put in a very bad position. So I vote yes. Council President Bernstein. >> So, I just want to address a couple
things. Um, I think really up here, everyone really is generally in agreement with a lot of the concerns that were brought up. Um, and I want to take a moment and thank everyone of our department heads and our union leaders and all the other municipal employees. I see a bunch of you in the crowd here.
Um, Jackson Township would not be the same place without you guys. Let's give a round of applause for our our township employees. Um um I I've had the opportunity together with the mayor and some of my colleagues here in council and with the business administrator and getting to know the
work that you guys continue to do day in and day out for our township um early mornings late at night and you guys are are really really phenomenal and I appreciate the fact that when the the business administrator and the mayor sat down with some of our department heads there were some tough conversations but
then the department heads actually came back again and again and I had opport opportunity after I think it was two council meetings ago. I had the opportunity with the business administrator and mayor's permission speaking some of our department heads and I heard the concerns and I heard um some I I had a a much more intricate and
intimate knowledge of some of the things that you you men and women do every single day. And knowing that we have such employees is really the I'll call it the remedy that I know that we're going to continue to move to great places here because you guys continue to do great things with a limited amount of
resources. Um a couple uh things that my colleagues mentioned I just want to address for a second with regard to some of the services. Yes, I think every year it's our responsibility to look at our contracts. I think there's a couple of the big union contracts are coming up which are due now. Um I I don't think the business administrator and the current mayor have had an opportunity in
negotiating any any union contracts now. So um looking forward to hopefully tough negotiations in the future obviously to give our employees what they need, but making sure it's balancing the needs of of uh of uh of our municipality. um whether it's with snow, I know
Councilman um um Paul Mary brought up some ideas about the last council meeting, whether it's with recycling and some or some of the other things with regard to the um the $5 million ball fields. If I if I understood correctly, that was a recommendation that came from the recreation committee. Um it was
something that people thought was state of the art that most likely I assume and Charlie I guess not one way or the other in the back there came from was the plan was to use some form of open space accommodation. Um obviously at this point I think the governing body's decision was not to move forward with that. Um but that that was something
that that was resident input, resident um ideas and um obviously ideas are ideas and putting paper to pen and making things happen is a very different thing. Um lastly, I just want to um really just mention our CFO and Matt and
your team together with our business administrator. Um you were a blessing to come to Jackson. appreciate it and you um you really came in and you put your whole heart into here and um I haven't had the opportunity to get to know you that well. Um but we really really do
appreciate it. I know sometimes someone comes in, they look at it as an extra job and sometimes they actually put their heart and soul into it and we we wouldn't have been able to pull off all the various uh budget ideas and and concepts without having you, Matt, and and and obviously the entire Homeman team here. So, thank you. And with that,
I vote yes. Motion carries. >> 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 to speak and may only speak once. May I have a motion to open public comment?
>> Motion. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Good evening, Elliot Shub Jackson. You know, tonight I brought some interesting words on paper that I was going to talk about, but I'm not really
going to read from this. I sat here tonight and I listened to everything that transpired. I'm going to shoot from the from the from the cuff here. I've been in the private sector for 27 28 years now.
Watching everyone discuss this budget and ask for forgiveness and beg to pass a budget or departments aren't going to be funded, I think it's a travesty. Can I be frank with you? This is the reason why people hate government. People
despise government. This is why people that are business people in government get the hell out of government and go back into business because it's more structured because you have to answer to your superiors. You have to answer to your shareholders and stakeholders. And
guess what happens if this crap happens? You get fired. You know when I start my budgets? The day I come back from partying on January 1. That's when I start my budget. You know when my budget
is due? January 30th. And it's in by February 1st. And again, I may get a week or two extension. But this here we are. We're going into the middle of June. We don't have a budget. We're scrambling. We're talking
about cuts. We've uncovered through people that we talked to inside this administration and out all kinds of assistance 80,000 80,000 30,000 we have clerks that are hired like
Sandra Martin we have plenty of people already in this government and what I don't understand is the egregious spending and then coming to this dis councilman's to pass budgets or you're not going to
get departments funded. I got to tell you, I've never seen anything like this in my life. Yeah, you know, there are people that said, "Where the hell did Chem come from?" He hasn't spoke at this mic for a year. You're right. I was sleeping. I was bluepilled for 11 years
and then I got redpilled. I decided to run Councilman Pollock as a campaign manager. I thought it'd be fun. I thought it'd be something cool to do. I was like, "Let me just hang out with this guy and run him." And you know what I found? I found that our town is an
absolute mess. You think I wanted to stand up here and run for mayor this year? That wasn't on the bucket list. But somebody needs to step up in this town and fix it. We got a mayor who doesn't show up to budget
meetings. This is her budget. Her name is on it. I know you're all working hard to make this budget work, but where is she? She claims that she's been to every other council meeting as council president. Well, get her a trophy
because you want to know something? She's not here tonight. She wasn't here when they introduced the budget. And I got to tell you something. I'm not just some pissed-off guy running for mayor. I speak for the town. I speak for the residents. If I'm saying anything up
here that's untrue, I'll hear about it. But I won't because I'm right. The residents are right. And each one of you up here know I'm right as well. I got two more minutes, so I'm going to use it.
I mean, look, you have issues here where you had overpaid employees, $200,000 in overpayments, no investigation, no discipline, no recovery effort. I think one person maybe was in PD who was
overpaid, returned some money via check. But there was there's been lawsuits, a dozen lawsuits. Again, I sat up here about three or four months ago and I said to Attorney McGucken, "We have six
lawsuits and we're on our way to nine or 10." And he laughed at me. And what are we at now? 12. There'll probably be a 13th soon. There's a nickname in this town called the Jackson Lottery. Why is that? I mean, heck, seems like anybody
who needs a few bucks just has to come running through this town and they'll make a couple dollars. This is the reason why we're in trouble. Town hall is a mess. It's a chaotic environment. It's a hostile environment. How do I
know that? Because I talk to people in this government. They tell me about it. They tell me about what transpires beyond these walls right here. Mismanagement to the tea. You're all guilty. And I'll
tell you what, come November, you're going to hear from 66,000 people. And that's when the day of reckoning will come. This isn't political grandstanding. It's just a guy who owns a home who has to pay more taxes now
because of your screw-ups. Have a great night, Jim Selectia. Um, I just want to clear a few things out. The 20 the the userfriendly budget is only 10 years old. The state created it
in 2016 so that the residents got detailed information on the budget. So when we get told yes, the code reads that way that it needs to be included in the introduction, but there's no regress
because there's nothing. How what how do we fix it? Well, it's only 10 years old. No one's ever tested it. Guess what? It's time. It's getting tested. And it's interesting because yesterday when I was spoke spoke to the person at the Division of Local Government
Services, they gave me the information that I needed. I have a letter here. any resident that wants to sign a letter requiring them to come in and do a review of the process, specifically looking at the missed userfriendly budget application to determine what
needs to be done. I'm more than happy to let you sign it with me. Interesting part is yes, there are no court cases. Again, it's only 10 years old. But what's interesting is if you go through any court cases with a municipality
missing a step that the state requires, the remedy has always been you have to redo the step. Do we redo it here? No. We just ignored it and said we're going to pass the budget. And I'm not saying I have
anything with the numbers. Again, I told you where my my problems are. The problem I have is you did not give the residents the information they needed. And that's the problem with this budget.
Stop. And there. Thank you, Carlos. You don't have to swear. >> No. >> Just say your name. >> Okay. Carlos Martins Jackson. Um, >> by the way, the budget team, feel free. I don't know how long this will go. you did your brother presentation can stay but you you could also move to the back
whatever you want. >> Okay. Um so first of all I would like to thank everybody um on your comments around the budget even if you didn't vote yes right I think the comments Mr. Belli everybody totally appropriate to
focus on the next six months. How do we replenish right and so I'd like to just answer your question and you answered it but I want just to focus on that number. So I'm going to give you exactly the answer that you are looking for the number you looking for.
>> Think we found a new CFO for next year. Carlos. >> Yeah. In 2003 we replenished $7.8 million in 2003. $7.8 8 million. That's remember 8.8 million in 2004. Right. All this will drive what he said. But I just
want you to focus on that number. >> 24, right? >> 20 >> 2004. Yeah. 24. Sorry. Sorry. >> Yeah. 20 24 $ 8.8 million. 2025 we replenish $6.8 million. Right.
>> So just highlevel math. That's why the 7 million that we need to replenish in the next six months is not outrageous, especially based on some of the things that we quoted, but it requires a lot of work. It's not going to happen just sitting there, right? I think you've all
committed to doing that. So, I do appreciate, you know, everybody's >> I think tonight's ordinance about taxes, I think, is a testament to that. If you're not paying your taxes, you don't get your permits. And I think every developer is going to >> not want to stop the project in in middle of the project. So, I think everyone here on council and
administration's in agreement. >> Okay. All right. So, I'm going to keep every time I'm going to use my five minutes. I'm going to ask I'm going to follow up and ask how are we doing with with all of that stuff, right? So, in light of that, let's go through the bills, right? My favorite thing. I know
it's boring, but that's what we have to do. So, I'll just ask again a follow-up question from the first time. any resolution on why we're paying extra for recycling when we were supposed to be flat. Anything done with that?
>> I spoke Mr. Tanco if I um we spoke today to the or and and yesterday again to the vendor. Um unfortunately some of the expenses that he that we were initially were his language to me today was I guess you guys are going out for bid next year. I said you bet. Um because he
did not we obviously had a contract but there were sliding expenses in there that he did not >> um >> sliding expenses. >> Okay. >> Fuel and all all the other expenses but that were not I don't want to use were not supposed to be in there because the contract left it open. Um but I think
everyone here will admit that we could have done better on that but that was unanimously passed but we could have done better. >> Okay. So that 500,000 extra is not going to go back into our surplus. That's not going to be >> unless when this unless when this council or whoever the council is next year puts it out for bid and um accepts. >> But that would be next year anyway.
Correct. I'm talking about the next. >> Correct. Yeah. Okay. Fine. That's fine. Okay. Um also one of the last finds I asked about a who barred associates for a phys uh feasibility study. $18,000 we
paid. And my question at that time was, what are they studying? What's this visibility study all about? More important, do you know because you've said yes to it and you paid it? And so I never got an answer. >> Um, this was on the May 12th.
>> Ms. Commissioner, wasn't that what we had discussed with regard to electricity um about getting a quote for feasibility about changing the vendors? I I don't have it in front of me, so I apologize, but >> yeah, that's correct. I believe you answered that last uh meeting.
>> Yeah, I called the business if if we're referencing the same thing and you can feel free to call me tomorrow just or come over after the meeting >> and I'll write it down. But it the township last year put out a a bid for a feasibility about getting some of our utility costs cut by a third party like electric vendor. I think that's what it
is. If if I'm >> Okay. So, I'll follow up with you. Um obviously the key to that is keep track of it. So, if we're paying $18,000, how much would we save if the visibility is there? right? Or is it $18,000 down the drain cuz just saying you're not
going to be able to save anything. >> So, I'm not sure if we're not going to save. I don't know if the decision was made on that specific thing. I didn't get the the the >> the results yet. >> Okay. We're going to keep on top of that. Um All right. So, in this in this meeting, bills that you've approved,
right? So, it looks like the police uniforms are expensive as heck. So, I see here purchase of police uniforms $2.7,000. That's just one. >> And now my I guess my question is, is
that for one person, one uniform, or is that >> So, >> I'm I'm going to give you 10 more seconds. Quickly, ask your questions and we'll get back to you. >> Okay. Okay. Because that's 2.7. Then there's another $1.5,000 and then there's another 2.7 with no description
on it. Um, Etna Life Insurance. I guess we pay a lot of money, $142,000. >> Maybe we can look at that contract. >> Um, and then >> so Carl, we're going to stop now and feel free to come over after. With life insurance, I think the township, we're constantly re-evaluating if we can do
better and we want to continue providing the services, but with all the healthare. >> So, one very final thing, it's not even a question. That's it. >> $15,000 tax payment. That's about I see it here. >> Thank you. But that that is the stuff we got to do. >> Trainer Sergeant Jackson Township. Um I
heard Manhattan Street is being repaved, >> right? >> So >> no, >> I've asked this before a long time ago. Will there be will they be put in a crosswalk there? >> Sure. I've asked that there be a mock crosswalk. You have 60 acres on one
side, you have the stores on the other side, and sometimes it is hearttoppping watching the kids trying. We're not just kids on their bicycles running to get across the street traffic. I know
it's >> so with regard to Manhattan Street, the town should put out a um a a press release about it. The town submitted through Congressman Smith's office a funding request from the federal government which early indications is that the township hopefully is going to get that somewhere in the fall of next
year. And the request that we put in was for the Manhattan street quarter which would include the repaving which would include crosswalks and flashlights and all the various safety necessities that are for that area. So the short answer is the town's not doing it yet but we did put in No, we put in we put in a funding request. the town of engineers
and the business administrator and the mayor um personally literally filled out the paperwork overnight. We had like a 12-h hour deadline and we were we the like I said the indication we received from the from Congressman Smith's office and the federal government was that looks like we're going to be getting
which Jackson has never gotten before it um it was a project which was approved supported by obviously municipality the MUA the board of ed um some of the sports leagues in areas everyone wrote letters of support so we're hoping um that we'll get funding for that approved in the fall if I could just >> remarkable that there's never been an
accident you have to score the That's why we put it that that's why we put >> but I asked for this a long time ago. >> So I understand like I said when when we when I met with Congressman Smith and his team um and Councilman Paul Murray was there also we we met and we put in
we said to him we Jackson never receives federal funding and it makes no sense. Lakewood gets Tom Zerver gets and he and his response to us was Jackson has never ever in his his term and it's been a long time put in a request for that federal funding. So we literally we said when's the deadline? I think it was a
Thursday. He said the deadline is Monday to by 5:00 pm. So, we had the PD put in their request from their end. Um, and Charlie worked over over the weekend together with the mayor personally filling out that paperwork and like I said, we got a call about a week or two later that it looks very promising we're going to be receiving from Manhattan. Doesn't look like we're going to get the
police funding for this year. Um, but we didn't give up yet. >> Councilman. Yeah. I just want to give credit where credit's due. Um, when we approached Congressman Smith, he was very engaged with us and he was very supportive of putting this through to see if we can get the federal funding. Yeah, >> this is regular public comment.
>> Regular public comment. Yes. >> Okay. So, first I just want to give you guys an opportunity. Carissa 37 Birch Drive. So, Bamboo, I'm going to ask you, I guess uh directly what's the status because I got an email from Mr. Terafenko that you were supposed to follow up in like written
correspondence. Sean Balinski is looking into it. I first brought this back to you guys now four weeks ago. Um, and nothing's really like happening. I haven't really gotten anything and I have to physically come here in person to then here you'll get a call. We'll look into it. And I'm getting frustrated. This has been going on for
years and I'm just like at a boiling point. Like if anyone has any any knowledge on this, I'd love help from anyone. Like I don't know who I need to go to. I just feel like it's wrong that I need to >> So I got I got I got an update literally today and I think Mr. Terafanganger could allude to it because I think you
sent it to me about sending DPW out. They're going to look at all the bamboo and I think we're gonna remove the township property and do something else. I just got the update just a few hours ago. >> So, I I just want to add for a second. I'm gonna turn to our legal council also. There's been multiple correspondences internally from our
legal team together with our no one was sitting here not doing anything, but we obviously um obviously you're a resident and we hear you and we want we we want to look into it, but we have to do our due diligence. We can't just have every resident who comes up and makes a request even if they're legit, they're right. We have to send it to our legal
team and they have to research it together with our DPW. So legal team and and business administrator, any more information for the resident? >> Uh I can indicate that we have reviewed it um as we did a year and a half ago. Um I can indicate that it is absolutely
unclear where the bamboo came from and it is absolutely unclear whether the township can spend taxpayer funds to remove it on your property. Um the clearly the township lot has some on it as dojo joining neighbors to your property. So the legal issue is can the
township go in somebody's private property and spend taxpayer funds to clear a bamboo issue which we do not believe we created but we have this well all I can tell you is it's a vacant lot that the township has and the township >> didn't maintain. It's still your responsibility at the end of the day.
>> The township never established bamboo on the lot that we can determine. um whether your prior owner did, whether another owner on somewhere else around the property did, all I can tell you is the legal issue of the town spending taxpayer funds to clear your property bamboo as opposed to the other neighbors
is also a legal issue that needs to be resolved. Um but from a strictly liability, I'm a lawyer, so that's what I do. Y >> is it the township's responsibility and the taxpayers's responsibility to clear bamboo on your property? And my initial impression is it is not. >> I know that's what you told me the last
call. That's exactly what I told the last time. because I gave up because I became so frustrated by all this. I'm I'm a normal person, right? I work. I'm exhausted by other things. This was already so draining to begin with. And I'm like, I finally get the the energy to muster this back up to be like, "Hey guys, like what are we doing?" Because
it's still your remedy didn't do anything. It's still growing back there. It It's still on my property and I can't even do anything. you, I think, brought it up to us that it takes a multi-year process to eliminate and we can address >> that it needs to be um esavated and you
guys I brought up to you guys that this was supposed to be esavated and it was supposed to be something that we came up with a plan all together at once and then did but you guys decided to cut it down first when I told you that that was >> that was before my involvement that was before my involvement. The question became to me is can we legally go on
someone else's property to remove bamboo which may have been there long before we the township ever got involved and as well as with your neighbors? And the legal answer to that question is no unless it was the township's fault. And I see no evidence that it's the
township's fault. I'm sorry that's a legal answer. I know that's not what you want to hear, but that's the legal answer I can provide to the township. >> Okay. But essentially like as we're all people here, right? Like at the end of the day, if any of you would like to come to my property, please do. I'll happily open my backyard and let you guys come look and look at previous
pictures to see where the majority of actual bamboo like roots, stalks were and that there were no stalks on my property or my neighbor's property for that. So, and again, Larsson Road, there's bamboo there, too. Did Did I plant that? Did a random neighbor near
Larsson Road decide to like pick up? No. A bird can literally grab it and drop it. And guess what? Now it's a bamboo issue. like I'm sorry that I brought the property when I did, but it's just I think this back and forth has just been a lot. And I do feel like it's wrong that you want me to essentially now like
either sue to get you guys to do what what I need you guys to do or like because I've spoken to other attorneys. I know that you're going to have the best interest of the township, but I've talked to other attorneys and every single one of them that multiple and they all agree if this was a neighbor open close, case shut, you would get
them to pay for excavation and like repairs for everything. >> I'm sorry ma'am. I I got to stop you for a second because you guys are never established. You asked me a question before and you wanted to know my answer so I'm giving it to you. You asked me is it the township's fault and so far there's been no evidence of that. If it was the township's fault I would
recommend bamboo experts come out and they spoke with you and I think it was Mr. >> W speak to any expert that you provided ma'am. I'm sorry. All I can tell you is that our township we don't believe is the taxpayers's responsibility to clear bamboo on your property. That's my legal opinion. That doesn't mean the township can't do something different, but that's
the legal opinion I was asked to provide and I provided it. >> Okay. So, what are we doing moving forward because I I don't agree with that. So, who would like to who's going to come look at this? I think that that's wrong. I pay tax. >> Mr. Terafenko, has Mr. Bolinsky gone down from the municipality?
>> He hasn't come out recently. He he has it scheduled to come out. Um, what I'd like to do is go offline with you so I can get direct contact information to make sure that RDPW is out there and they're going to remedy our township owned property. Um, I can't speak to
what happens to and up to the street. Any township own property? Yes. >> Yeah. All of it to the street where there's gas and water pipes which I've been telling you guys for years. Are we waiting for it to be a real problem? >> No one wants to look at it. It's >> just frustrating.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Now it's public comment. >> Now it's my turn. Yeah, >> you can say something nice again. >> Linda Eager Natalie, I live in Westlake in Jackson. Uh maybe on a happy note. Um about three years ago, I approached
Mayor Rainer about um having the muse have their own access to their community. Okay. They were the only uh community uh that did not have their own access and they came through Westlake. Well, the mayor put us put me in touch
with as as the president of the board of trustees at the time and working with the rest of the board members of Westlake. Um the mayor put me in touch with uh Morty and with Jennifer and we worked out over the past three years
to get that project completed. And so I want to thank the the council for all their support for the last three years. I want to thank uh Mayor Cune. I want to thank Morty Bernstein, uh the township engineer, uh the attorney, the police, all the
workers, the administrator to show you what really can happen when it's a team effort between government and community. So thank you very very much. >> Thank you. I knew that was coming.
Fred Marorrow Jackson. And uh I just like to say that uh I really want to thank you all people because yeah, I feel like I live near a compound now because of the six-foot black fence that was just installed. But
hey, good money after bad. You opened up a road you should have never because the agreement was it was never supposed to be opened. But that's okay. Let's discriminate against the poor people in development by putting their families, their children at risk. I've been up
here at this, Mike. This just irritated me to no end because it's my grandchildren that are being put on the line. It's the increasing trucks, box trucks, delivery trucks coming through the development, not even going into the
muse. Okay. cars speeding down the road that nobody's done a damn thing about and I'm supposed to sit there and say, "Oh, it was a real nice gesture for the town." No, it wasn't. You put everybody at risk and guess
what? By the end of the month, school's out and where are the kids going to be? 70,000 90,000lb fire truck come down that road and smack a kid. Let me tell you something. It ain't going to be a pretty sight. I've said it before and I've said it
again. Speed limits, people don't look at speed limit signs. They don't give a damn. The signs that you put up from the entrance of the muse, they don't follow them. I saw a school bus making a left turn out of the muse
because he made a wrong turn in a no left turn zone. I've seen people make right turns coming out of South Boston Road because they lived in the muse and wanted to get back there. But this is the stuff we have to put up with which we never should have had to to start
with. You wonder why I get mad? It's because of stuff like that. You know, the discrimination part of Westlake and the Muse, hey, that was on you. And the first blood is on your hands, too. Because god forbid should a kid get
hurt, they're going to come looking for you because, you know, that's going to be the way it is. And really, this irritates me to no end because you can paint all the fancy lines you want. You can put all the signs up you want, but
you can't make the people read. And that's the problem. And there was one other thing I'd like to address. Uh, somebody at the table here mentioned that, you know, this is the way things always have been done. Well, when a business loses $5 million a year, it's only going to be a certain
amount of time before they're going to go out of business. If they keep doing things the way they're doing it, they're gone. And stuff like this, uh, you know, this is what irritates the people. Do you really listen to us? Hell no. I
don't think so. Because the attitude I get is I'm one of the little people. I don't matter. But y'all have a great night. >> So, I just want to address I see Charlie in the back. Um, I'm going to recommend we've actually myself and the mayor and some of my colleagues here have been in
touch with Charlie about developing a upgraded safety plan for your neighborhood and he's actually gotten approval from um initial approval to for funding for some of those from so I'm going to ask after the meeting if you can speak to Charlie in the back to to discuss some of those stuff.
>> You designed it, you constructed it and then you brought it over here to the to the dis and said let's vote on it. Okay. To make it a one way. Why were we supposed to eat it after you designed it? Construct. What about telling us
about it before you get to that point? Before the construction is done and it's well, you got to accept it now because we did it. Good money going after bad. It's great. There's a lot of other things that could have been done in the neighborhood like
the deteriorating storm sewer systems that were 50-year steel corrugated that are causing sink holes throughout the whole development. I I don't understand where you people think that you could just
give somebody a favor for the safety of other people. N >> thank you. Anyone else? Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Sandra Watano on behalf of we strive for a place to ride. Um, I have to let you
guys know I have to I guess put in a second $364 million lawsuit because you only accepted one. That's just a heads up. Um, so guys, I'm going to be speaking to you on reference to the police, how their actions are violating
our constitutional rights. This is one of the reasons why I am um filing a lawsuit is because of your police department. Um I I don't care for backing the blue or whatever. I I care about humanity. It's my goal to bring back for you guys to care about what we
the people want. Um that's my goal here. It's not to bash anybody. Um, on that note, I did go to a commissioner's meeting and I'm going to use the same um, speech that I used at. Good evening once again, ladies and gentlemen. I am a
founder of We Strive for a Place to Ride, an organization dedicated to auditing, government, and administration to ensure transparency and constitutional integrity. My commitment to this work is personal.
I was wrongfully incarcerated 364 days due to wrong address well check welfare check and subsequent sworn lie by an officer >> and many officers. I survived tortured
of false EDP status while being stripped of my privacy 247. Ultimately, my own surveillance cameras proved the truth and freed me from a 10-year sentence.
I am here to ensure that no other Ocean County family suffers this systemic malice. Accountability and constitutional education must be more than a paid vacation.
a proposed and restorative leaison program requiring disciplined officers to serve in jails, booking and medical units to see the human impact of rights violations.
Furthermore, I am calling for mandatory constitutional law certifications for all officers, specifically focusing on the Bill of Rights. It is not enough to carry a badge. Officers must be experts in the
laws they are sworn to protect. We do not need military tactics in our streets. We need service, not abuse. We must also address the electronic stress breaking our officers.
Every day they are buried under laptops, radar and body cameras that increase cognitive workload and burnouts. I am proposing a 3 to one tactical recovery cycle three weeks of
highintensity work by one week mandatory paid decompression of family wellness. Our budget must prioritize human infrastructure. A calm, rested, and educated officer is
our best defense against civil rights lawsuits. In conclusion, I urge you to to put up resilience room for officers to decompress implement a threepoint verification
protocol for welfare checks. My story is a warning. Your budget is the solution. I have provided detailed chart of formal proposals to the clerk. I will be giving it to you young lady. Thank you for your time. Um ladies and gentlemen, again I
came out of jail trying to to educate all of you and you ignored me. That's why I decided to file a lawsuit against you guys. Um, again, I go back to Councilman Pollock was the only one who reached out and spoke to me about it,
but was reserved as well because I understand where you guys are sitting right now. You're in a bad bad place, a bad situation right now that you have put yourselves in there by violating our constitutional rights and you still
haven't answered me. In February, I required for you to answer me, including you, attorney. Your constitutional rights. You swore an oath on them. Nobody has responded to me yet. I've requested OPER requests. You're in
violation of Oprah requests. There's so much you keep doing and doing. And if I was to, you know, you're you're late, too, on the budget. It should have been in April. You guys are are fouling us. Excuse me. >> Thank you. your your fiance and stop cutting people off. We don't cut you
off. You stop doing that. >> So, ma'am ma'am ma'am, we've been very respectful. >> What are you going to tell me right now? Okay. >> It's time for you to down and listen to us. It's not about what you want. It's what we want. >> Ma'am, thank you. you.
>> Very stealing from you. They're classy. Deb Jones Jackson. Um, I have a few things to talk about, but one of the things when you told the girl that you couldn't see spending township money to clear the lot. Um,
>> that's not what I said, man. What I said is should the taxpayers pay for it from a legal perspective? That's what I said. >> Okay. So, the taxpayers but correct the taxpayers pay the employees. Correct. >> And 652 Heisen Road,
that property is an empty lot that is maintained by Jackson Township. The owner is 1436 1436 Canterbury Road, Lakewood. So, I'm not really sure why we're
>> so >> as taxpayers paying to maintain the property. >> I'm not arguing it. I'm just saying you can't do for one. >> Mr. Jones, if the township maintains someone's property is usually a tax is because they weren't taking care, then we send out a tax lean against them for
or >> you guys have been doing it for a while. So, >> I would assume there's a tax that was probably submitted. uh if the if the if the township does work on a property because of a failure to maintain the township institutes a tax lean against
the property and the costs the township incurs are paid from the taxes that are owed on the property. >> Okay. I'd like to see the bill for that. But anyway, um the other problem I have is the last meeting we all sat here while accusations were thrown around and
one of your council people were being accused of calling names, not being nice, doing other things. And then at this meeting today, one of the representatives that sits on one of our boards,
first of all, when you told him that this is about the tax gap, his response was, I know unlike the resident who spoke before me. He's not part of the council, he shouldn't be talking about any of the residents getting up.
I also have a problem with when he referred to politics when he was talking. He said, "Now with Batman up here, are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? You sit on a council in this town, and I get that you can come up here and say
anything as you want as a resident, but when you're representing the town in any form or fashion, I can't believe nobody, not one of you said anything about that." He just sat here last meeting and was
upset about people talking about him in a derogatory way, which wasn't right if someone said it, but he couldn't say who said it because it was all done online. But he stood here in front of you after announcing his name and then he says
something like that about someone that we elected. I have a problem with that. Sorry. >> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? >> Ma'am. >> Next. Don't know what happened with that. But
anyway, um, Eleanor Hatam, Jackson, New Jersey. I'm just giving my personal perspective. I've lived here my whole life. This is my hometown of 62 years.
I have probably paid in excess of over $400,000 in property taxes in this town. So, I'm helping fund every single one of their paychecks. And honestly, what I'm seeing lately,
it's a disgrace. And everyone here knows that. I am looking at this town hall. It's nice. We needed a nice paint job and some sound. Where are our historical artifacts?
Where is the map of Jackson Township that was on that wall since the 70s? That is our historical artifacts. That is our property. How do I know that? Because my father built this building.
So, I do know where is the um what was at the back here with all the commemorative and awards and everything. Where'd that go? Where are our boys, our
soldiers when we entered this building? Some of which I helped raise. the lack of respect that some of you have and quite frankly the fact that our
mayor is so disrespectful that she was not here at the presentation of this budget, her budget. She's not here now for it to be voted on. You know what that tells me? She's a coward.
That's why she's not here. I'm not buying the conflict because in all the years she's been on council, she never had conflict then. So that's BS. Quite frankly, this has become the land of makebelieve.
We have a mayor who runs around town chasing photo opportunities to ensure that she gets reelected. And then we have a council president who makes comments about another councilman that he's pandering politics at the dis
but at the same time I know full well because you turned around and brought back Roa right in time for the election. You ran on a platform of non-development. You ran on a platform that Roa was going
to be developed. You turned around and gave Morgan Engineering in this past year almost $200,000 for nothing. Nothing has been done to Robbo Farms. Nothing. Breie, when was the last time
you had a meeting? You're on the committee now. Do you even know >> the Rob Farms Committee? >> Um, can let let Miss Hannah finish her comment. >> I mean, this is completely disgusting.
what I'm seeing. I mean, there's deliberate misrepresentations that are benefiting benefiting some and not the rest of the community. I'd like to know where the the podium is because the fact that the veneer needed
is that so funny. >> Hand them to to to the council, please. >> Because the podium has been here for a very long time. It was solid wood. It was not veneer. The decisions that have been made
here by some of you, whether they were intentional or not, have negatively affected our schools. The fact that you turned around and reduced fees and violations that only benefited the developers who are linked
to some people up here. Yes, I do my due diligence. I have unpeeled that onion and the property investors who some of you are trying to make sure that they don't have to pay certain things.
All those fees and violations have been reduced leaving us holding the bag which ultimately is going to re increase our property taxes. So again, where is the podium?
Is is the banner of our town going to be next that just disappears? Where what's going on with ROA? Are we doing anything? And then we have this open space. >> I guess I'll just end there.
>> Yeah. So I'm I'm going to respond with regard to ROVA. Um there has been multiple meetings from the beginning of the year. We have not had a meeting in about two and a half months because of the fact that there was nothing to meet about. You could reach out to chairman Chisum because we we had a meeting where we sat with the engineer finalizing the
plans. It was submitted to DP and at this point the consensus of everyone on that roof committee was that there was nothing to meet about until we get clearance from the DP so we can move things forward. So wait, you're meeting with >> Miss No, Miss Hannah, it's not a question answer. I'm I'm giving an answer. Um if you don't like my answer,
that's fine. You probably you pro you probably won't like my answer because usually you don't. >> Um which is fine. Um so I've met with the committee. I am I am the leazison to the committee. Um we have a great working relationship and the plans were submitted to EP and at this point when I think there were multiple meetings if
you go back and listen, some you may have been at, some you may not have been at where we always gave those updates in the beginning of the meeting. Um I don't have much. Absolutely Miss Hannam and I can send you the the the minutes um tomorrow. No, I a meeting with Jennifer
Cune came in and told Allah and the rest Miss Hannah that was two Miss Hannah Miss Hannah Miss Hannah I'm not going to go back and forth that was over that was about two years ago and um things >> two years >> and Miss Hannah Miss Hannah your time is up but there has been a lot of progress
that has been made since we sat in that back room uh myself thank you >> what about the rest of my questions >> I got one you said I'm on the robo committee Yeah, it's on the website. >> Really? >> Yeah. Your name's there.
>> My last name might be there, but it's not me. >> Get your facts straight for once. For once. Okay. It happens to be my order. Once again, you got your Hannah. Miss Hannah, why don't you come back up with my
>> order? >> Sure. So, um, your time is up. You um, but I will respond. It's my understanding that you have a scheduled meeting together with the business administrator or you reached out to schedule meeting to discuss some of the historical artifacts and we know no one knows Jackson's history of Lakeu. So I'm sure you and the business administrator
will discuss all the missing artifacts. Thank you. >> You're not going to tell the public about that. What >> I don't have an answer for that. So let I'm going to let you and the business administrator go through it and then I'm sure the business administrator will update everyone by the next meeting about all the missing artifacts. Thank you. >> Next time you inject my name, be right for once.
You're such a liar. >> Wow. Uh, fun times here in Jackson. >> Your name, please. >> Joe Sullivan, Jackson Township, New Jersey. Um, just to say I am a member of the planning board. I'm the vice chairman. I am the chairman of the rent
leveling board as well. And I also have a right to say what I uh want to say. the uh comment uh about me personally, about what I said about a person who came up to the microphone before myself was accurate and therefore not lialist.
And calling uh Councilman Pollock Batman is not lialist as well because he went around New York City dressed as Batman. >> I wasn't dressed as Batman, sir. >> I did go on the streets and actually fight crime and volunteer. I was a member of the Guardian Angels. I spent
tens of thousands of dollars helping the homeless on the streets, picking up garbage, drug paraphernalia, cleaning graffiti. I did a lot of work to help my community. >> Were you kicked out of the Guardian? >> So, Mr. Sullivan, it's not a question. >> No, I was not kicked out of the Guardian Angel Q&A, Mr.
Council members could respond if they'd like. >> Sorry. So, uh, reason I'm coming up is 30 minutes after my, uh, last, uh, council meeting and I spoke about the group, uh, Residents Against the Pile of Lies,
uh, who, uh, runs that group. We don't know for sure, but, we know what campaign was behind it. And 30 minutes after that, the account was nuked. Gone. Wow. For something that wasn't connected to you, Mr. Polic
certainly disappeared very quickly after you got heat for it. Second, during the last campaign, a question came up about Mr. Pollock and his political activities in the city of New
York. Uh here are pictures of uh Mr. Pollock marching with a group called Fight Back in the Pride Parade in New York City. Fight Back is a unit of Antifa, which is a domestic terrorist
organization. And so I'd like to ask Mr. Mr. Pollock, is this you dancing? Uh uh marching. >> Mr. Sullivan, you have to answer the five minutes. You can ask your questions and then if Mr. Pollock chooses to answer, he could. >> I don't know if this is Mr. Pollock in
this picture >> waving a bat, which is why another reason why I called him Batman uh in a and and in with a group called bags fight back at the New York City pride parade. Here's another picture of Mr. Pollock with a group of members of that
group >> Mr. Sullivan to >> the president. >> So my question is to Mr. Polic is are you a member of that group? And why would you have your campaign arm accuse people of being homosexuals in a
derogatory manner if you yourself we're marching with groups that are for pride supposedly. Now granted that particular group is now part of Antifa and it is interesting that politically you went from Antifa to Republicans.
Could you could you map out to all of us how you went from supporting Antifa and fight back to being a member of the Republican party because I would love to hear that. >> And can I respond now? >> I'm not done yet.
>> You can respond when I'm done. So there are a lot of questions Mr. And I think it's interesting that the only piece of legislation that you have proposed as being a council member that I can remember is about data centers.
That's great. But why were you doing that? Well, because one of his running mates is involved in businesses that help build data centers. The only thing you're ever going to get out of Councilman Pollock is politics. Because there are leaders, there are
politicians, and then there are opportunists who have no solutions, who tell people what they want to hear, knowing that half the things he's telling them isn't legal. But who cares? It gets me reelected. He complained before he was elected about the salaries
you all make. I'd like to hear from Mr. Pollock why he hasn't uh recused himself from receiving that that uh salary. You can do that. You don't have to take a salary. You can give it back to the town. And you're so worried about the
finances of the town. Why don't you do that? You complained about it. You said that these gentlemen up here shouldn't be making that money, but you took it. So, I'd like to hear his solutions to these problems. Real legislation, not
lies, not politics, and not opportunism. And I also want to know why he keeps avoiding answering questions about Bags Fight Back, the Pride Parade, and why he was marching with them, swinging a bat. >> Whoa. All right. So, talk about playing
politics. Uh, this is some insanity, but it's okay. I'm very happy to answer questions. I'm a very open person. I speak very earnestly and honestly. So, first off, I never said anything about the salary. I dare you to find where I said that it show it to me and prove me
wrong because I never mentioned the salary here. Um I think you know I don't have an issue with the salary of think it's really minuscule honestly. I think people are making a lot more money in this job than the 32,000 a year in other means. Okay. I think there's a lot of
dirty stuff going on. Okay. Now uh very bizarre stuff to bring up. You can also say that you're here on behalf of the Republican Club or Morty Bernstein or, >> you know, doing weird election stuff because it's very clear that's what's happening. You're bringing up a lot of the weird stuff that was brought up in
the past election. Um, yeah, I marched in a pride parade. What was that like a decade ago? So, just so you understand, um, you you did try to make fun of the other stuff I do. I did a lot of safety patrols. I tried to protect people, help people. There was a time where there were being uh gay people were being
physically attacked in New York City and I did patrols through that area because I care about people's safety. And now if you know me, I'm a pretty traditional guy. I think the nuclear family is the backbone of society. Um I think people are free to be who they want and do what
they want. But typically I think, you know, man and woman is kind of what it should be. But people are free to be themselves. So when people are getting physically attacked for their sexuality, for their, you know, preferences, I think that's wrong. So I was patrolling
through the area and there was a group out there um and I'm a martial arts instructor and I did a free self-defense seminar for everybody in the community and that group is the group that helped organize it and they asked my group that was doing the patrols, my group that was
doing the free safety seminars to march in the parade with them to show support. So that's what we did. Uh there's never been talk of Antifa and I don't think back then anybody even knew what Antifa was. Um so you know it's it's really silly accusations. Uh I'm trying to
think what else. Uh no I was a member of the Guardian Angels. Uh I met with Curtis SWA on on occasion. Uh he wanted me to head up like a special department uh dealing with drug paraphernalia. Um, you know, I did have, you know, some issues locally where I just kind of got
tired of dealing with, you know, the members and people and I decided, you know what, it's not worth my time and effort. I did enjoy doing it. So, I stepped away. I always had a good relationship with Curtis Lee. I think he's a fantastic guy. I wish he would have been mayor in New York City. Um, as
far as things I've done, this is great. I love I love how things happen because today I was like, you know what? somebody like you is going to come up and say, "What have you done, Chris?" I I went through some stuff. So, I I put in legislation to raise developer fees.
Uh the public rental registry was my idea that they took up and put in right away. Uh the property manager registration came from me. Um they started doing town halls. Uh but they did it more to convince people on what they were doing. I'd like us to maybe revisit that. Um you know, I had a
resolution for term limits, a resolution for safety and traffic enforcement on Anderson Road. Uh, I tell you, I did send in other legislation, you know, for construction transparency so people can understand what's being built. I know that's a big complaint and issue on people. Uh, I did want to revamp the
ethics commission so we can have a real ethics commission that has a real say in what goes in on town. Uh, I I put in a warehouse moratorum. Uh, you know, I have a I put in a data center prohibition because it's something I don't think we want in this town. I don't think it's good for the town. Um,
and I put in another um, resolution to improve public comment section where you can actually have a back and forth. So, if like right now you wanted to ask me questions to get a back and forth, you can ask me. I could respond. You can ask me and respond. You could grill me even better. Um, but, you know, not everything goes through and that's okay.
Uh, I got a lot more plans for the future as well. So, I I think this is just kind of silliness. Uh, but you know, you know what I did? I voted against overdevelopment in the Pinelands. I voted against increased density in the Pineelands. You know, I call out conflicts of interest. I vote against uh a lot of the same
professionals that we've had forever that I don't think we should have anymore. The same professionals that use pay-to-play politics that I'm tired of. And you know, have plans to combat a lot of this stuff. And uh you know what? Thank you very much for doing what you
did tonight. Have a great night. So I Anyone else? Mr. Tromba, >> Amanda Trotta, Jackson resident. For years, I've been coming to council meetings, and in the past, I often brought my two children with me. Unfortunately, I had to stop because I'm
no longer comfortable having them here due to what Mr. Sullivan just did. The temperament that has become common at these meetings is something I don't want my children to see and witness. In addition, while serving as council president, Miss told me to stop bringing my children because they were
distracting to her. As a mother who believes civic engagement should be encouraged and modeled for the next generation, that was both disappointing and troubling. Public meetings should be a place where residents, including families, feel welcome to participate in local government, not a place where
parents feel pressured to leave their children at home. What I see now is a community deeply divided and filled with hostility. Let me be clear. I do not support hateful or discriminary comments about anyone's appearance, race, religion, or any other personal
characteristics. Those kinds of attacks are wrong and have no place in our community. However, I think it is important for people to understand that the climate that many of us have been living in. The night Chris Pollock was elected, the campaign team was at my home watching
the election results come in and celebrating Chris when win his council seat. I was very vocal and visible about my support on social media. What the general public may not know is that just 48 hours after Chris won, two masked men
came to my home around midnight and kicked my front door down attempting to gain access to my home. They were not there to rob me. They were there to send me a message and that message was clear. They are for far more afraid of Chris and me than we are of them. We could
disagree on policy. We could disagree on politics. But intimidation, hostility, and create an environment where families no longer feel comfortable participating in public life is not how a healthy community functions. Jackson deserves better. Our residents deserve better.
and our children deserves deserve to see adults disagree respectfully while working together for the good of our town. >> So, so Mr. T, I just want to I just want to respond for a second. First of all, thank you for coming up. Um um I'm not
sure if a police report was was I assume police Okay, thank you. A police report was issued and um I'm just curious what the results were, but one thing I just want to address for a second. Um after the last council meeting, I just want to be very clear. Yes, I am friendly with Joe. Um Joe does not work for me.
Neither does the other gentleman who came last meeting. And I will say, and again, I don't want to um have too much politics up here, but I will say I took a personal offense that if anyone comes up and criticizes a member of the council, yes, we have our political disagreements on automatically he's a
pawn and a puppet of Morty Bernstein. Um we give me way too much credit um and way too much power. Um and some of it's just laughable already. a resident came who was hurting because there were comments in social media and I'm I'm not blaming Chris for it. There were comments in social media that said to eliminate the Jewish people. There are
comments every single day unfortunately um disgusting comments and um and there is hate out there and there are issues out there and we need leaders to bring everyone together and we need leaders to rise above it. I am the victim of someone who tried driving me off the street one time yelling hell Hitler and go back to Lakewood and I'm not using
other profanity and I take offense that that we're going to accuse the members of the Jewish community or members of the council for planting those comments and if there's an issue, let's report it to the to the police department. Let the let the right um authorities investigate
it. But let's stop playing this game of turning people into boogeymen and turning because that just raises the tension. We all have the same interest in mind. We all care about Jackson and yes, we all care about Jackson and um maybe we have a different sometimes different issues and different visions,
but we all are human beings and we all bleed the same blood. Thank you. >> Seeing no one come vote, I move to close public forum. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. I >> have a motion to close. Motion >> second. All >> in favor?
>> I have a wonderful evening everyone.