municipal building on the township website and in the office of the municipal clerk. Pledge of >> allegiance. We'll begin with a roll call. Councilman Belli >> here. >> Councilman Brassie >> absent. Councilman Pollock
>> here. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary >> present. >> Council President Bernstein >> here. >> Also present this evening is Attorney McGucken, Administrator Tara Feno, Mayor Keune, and Veronica Dagner. We'll now hear
opening comments from the township council, starting with council president Bernstein. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. First of all, thank you for everyone who came out tonight. I know it wasn't probably so easy to get out. It's freezing, the roads, it's snowy out there and um we appreciate it and thank you to all those
who are tuning in now and those who will be watching this meeting after. I really want to focus tonight on which will I'm sure will come up multiple times tonight on our recent storms uh cleanup. I had the opportunity in working together with Mayor Cuna and administration and u my
colleagues here on council and I had a intimate um knowledge on the storm cleanup and a special thank you. We had a very big storm in a very short period of time. Um on Thursday of last week, Jackson OEM met here in this room. It
was the largest OEM meeting that I think has probably ever occurred in Jackson. About 40 or 50 people here. We had members of our OEM team. We had the mayor here, myself on behalf of council, together with members of the Jackson PD,
Jackson EMS, the MUA, the Jackson Board of Ed, CERT, Red Cross, Hatalah, Cav, and I'm sure there were other organizations that I'm probably missing. Um, but a big big thank you to all those who helped prepare for the storm before, and obviously Jackson DPW was there. Um,
a special thank you to all those who helped prepare for the storm before the storm. And then um that was on Thursday evening. Friday um our DPW team was out um briining our roads before the storm. And I think they Saturday I think they
tried to get as much sleep as possible. Um Sunday morning our DPW members started coming in around 2 a.m. Um and they were out on the roads salting and pre-treating the roads. By 6:00 am when it started snowing, we had over we had a record number of DPW members who showed
up for this storm together with our private contractors and a very big kudos. Um it's a lot of work clearing roads and um looking at some of our surrounding towns. I think Jackson um and this is the feedback I've gotten from many residents who live in Jackson
and work in other towns or vice versa. Um we got many many emails. A special kudos to Mayor Cune and entire administration team for working together with DPW and um doing a phenomenal job. It's hard to remove snow. Not everyone's going to always be 100% happy, but I
think overall we could rate our employees and our and our response as as a superb job. Um I also want to just acknowledge the back office team that not everyone always sees. You see the guys and girls on the road, but sometimes you don't see those who are answering the phone and managing behind. We had people there last night until I
think around 7 o'clock. We had people there all day today fielding calls, field fielding answer um or trying their best to get the response out there. And um I don't want to leave mention any specific names, but really to everyone in that entire building, everyone in this building for working together on
behalf of of our township, making sure that our roads were safe. Um and also a kudos to our board of ed and our school system for working together with um the township to ensure that the buses were were were that were going out were safe and that's there's a reason why the
school is delayed um or canled and um was really a a uh very powerful testament of how if we work together we can get a lot a lot of things lot many many different things done. Um additionally I just want to um mention something else. the mayor authorized and
after speaking to the professionals of I think it was ordinance 7-15 um and I didn't have a chance to drive through the entire town because we were supposed to stay off the roads um but I was very very impressed with how many vehicles were actually people um did listen and comply and I do know that our
members of our DPW and some of our um contractors when there were cars on the road that were in their way they did call over to PD. You know, PD had a lot of other issues to deal with during the snowstorm. Obviously, accidents and people stranded and other issues, but when they were able to respond, they responded. It's my understanding that
over 20 tickets were given and there were multiple cars that had to be towed. Um, I hope people understand going forward that when there there's a state of an emergency and and that we activate that ordinance, that ordinance is to our best of our ability going to be um enforced. Um, obviously um there's a lot
of different things that need to go on during a snowstorm. And please going forward, everyone, please remove your cars. Even if that ordinance isn't enforced, if it isn't um activated, it is extremely important for the emergency vehicles, for our plows, and for just for the residents who live there who
want their streets to be cleaned to have all the cars uh removed from the roadway. So, we appreciate those who who complied, and um we are hoping going forward we get to 100% because it is so important um for the roadways. Um,
I just want to read I got a last minute um late this afternoon so I didn't have a chance to write it down. A Roa Farms update. Council President, we have completed the landscaping design, lighting design. We are working with vendors on a playground as well as a kayak launch. Drainage
design is underway. The architect is working on their construction drawings. We are also working on a grant submission package to DCA seeking a local recreation improvement grant for the walking trails in ROVA. this grant is capped to $75,000 and then he attached a draft which I
didn't get a chance to read yet. So um so we are looking forward to hopefully um calling the ROA committee again in sometime in the middle of February a meeting and hopefully everyone giving their approval presenting it to council um sometime in February and then um
submitting it to um to the state agency so we can start the permitting process. So thank you to those volunteers. uh was brought up by the last council meeting about a suggestion for the next um round table. So I just want to put it on everyone's calendars a tentative date. We'll update on everyone on the on
the website in the next couple days. Um February 17th, which is a Tuesday night, 7:00 to 8:30, we hope to be doing a round table on um on um Sorry, I'm I'm running a blank for a second. On um
I apologize for a second. What was that? Sure. Sorry. Infrastructure. I I apologize. I see Charles up there is running a mental blank. Um we look forward to hopefully having a robust conversation with Mr. Conliff. We'll be there. Um members of administration and council and we'll be rotating. hopefully um to solicit some ideas and feedback
and hopefully um discuss some of the necessary infrastructure needs of uh um for 2026. Additionally, and and and beyond. Additionally, as I we put out a press release, we are soliciting through February 2nd um different ideas on how
to make these meetings more engaging. and people um one of the ideas that came up so far via email and I had people on both sides emailing me both ways is about removing the public comments not sorry not removing moving the public comments either the beginning of the meeting um and making some other
changes. So we look forward to hopefully continuing to solicit ideas feel free to email me feel free to email any of my council members up here and they will communicate your various thoughts um appropriately. Um, again, thank you everyone for coming out. Be safe. There's a rumor going around about another storm next week. Hopefully, it
won't hit. Um, but if it does hit, stay safe and, uh, we look forward to seeing you by the next meeting. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, good evening everyone. Thank you for coming out and for those watching from home, thank you. I want to start by just thanking our DPW
and our private snow plow vendors for the hard work and the many hours that they put in trying to clear those roads for us so we could continue on with our lives. I also want to thank Mayor Cune and uh Council President Bernstein. I know you were very hands-on. You kept us in the loop. You picked up your phone
and you provided whatever resources needed to get the job done effectively and quickly. Uh, and I just would like to mention, you know, as it as we continue into the new year, this council will remain focused on the fundamentals: public safety, quality of life, and accountability. Tonight's agenda
reflects that focus. We are taking important steps to strengthen oversight when it comes to rentals, property management, and uh, property maintenance. And these are not abstract issues. They are directly affect our neighborhoods and daily lives of our
residents. and I look forward to a productive meeting and and continued collaboration with my council colleagues, the mayor, and our professional staff. Thank you, >> Council Member Belli. >> Uh thank you. Um you heard the how much
time and energy uh from Council President Bernstein about um who was involved with the snow clearing and uh clearing with really more than snow ice, right, with this storm. So, and we were in commun you know, constant communication in uh bringing up any
issues to uh the mayor and council president to uh take care of and for professionals to take care of that are working, you know, on clearing uh during the snowstorm and um them and they were addressed. So, communication's key and that was uh definitely uh done during
the storm. So, I also want to thank um a big thank you to our townships uh DPW County officials, private contractors, and everyone else involved for um their hard work and efforts in the cleanup after the snow and ice storm that came
through. And uh just uh everybody stay safe and warm out there. Take care, Jackson residents. Councilman Pollock, I >> want to start uh tonight by noting that uh Mortimer Wartman has still been missing over two months now. Uh his
family still hasn't got any answers. Uh there's a reward for information and if anybody knows anything, seen anything, please contact the Jackson Police Department. We just can't forget anybody in this community who ever goes missing. I'd like to say that I'm very happy to be voting on the ordinances presented
this evening. These are issues I campaigned on and I'm glad to be taking action on them tonight. Uh like I said repeatedly, I will work with this council when I believe we're doing the right thing and I will fight with them when I believe it's the wrong thing. And that's what I was elected to do. I'll
speak more about these ordinances as I cast my vote tonight. Thank you, >> Madam Clerk. Before we move on to next, I just I there's one comment that I forgot to say that I just wanted to add. Um, this week it became public that our superintendent from our school district is retiring. I know it will be mentioned
by future meetings um, as it gets closer to retirement. But I just wanted to on behalf of the entire council um, thank Miss Permilly for her service to the Jackson School District, both the public and private schools. Um, she's been a true advocate for all students here in Jackson. Um, she will be missed. Um, she
has um, done her part in ensuring that there's communication with between administration and council and the board of ed which in the past didn't always exist. So having the, like I said before, the various forms and the various entities in town working together is so important for the welfare of all of our residents. So I just want
to take a moment and thank her. Um, she's still here for another six months as the superintendent and I'm sure councilman council vice president will talk about it closer to her actual retirement, but I know that information was out there and I I felt it was important to address it. So congratulations on your retirement, well-deserved retirement, Miss Permilly,
or planned welldeserved retirement, and your service to Jackson will not go unrecognized and unnoticed. So thank you. >> The next item on tonight's agenda is comments by Honorable Mayor Cune. >> Thank you, Madame Clerk. Uh good
evening, everyone. So I did want to um I you know, the council president pretty much said it very well tonight with his opening comments pertaining to the storm. Uh boots on the ground is what we were. Um we were there with the DPW. We had over 40 DPW uh men and women come in
uh three clerical staff and you know one of the clerks actually stayed overnight uh just to man the phones just to take care of and take calls. We created a spreadsheet. Um you had first responders, you had EMS, you had the the DPW, you know, getting the EMS vehicles
out because they were they were plowed in. Um, you had the police department was uh the communication was just amazing. Uh, it it it was something I hadn't experienced in a very long time. I know we haven't had a snowstorm like that in a while. Um, we made sure that with we had food and snacks and
everybody was comfortable. Um, everybody sat there at the table and ate lunch and really just talked about what they were going through and they were looking and every day getting more tired and more tired but still wanting to stay there. Um, because the morale was very very high. Uh, very appreciative. you had mechanics come in if if an equipment
came down instead of the truck being off the road. Went into the mechanic bay, fixed it half hour, went some had some hot chocolate, uh grabbed a sandwich, grabbed a little, you know, protein bar and was back on the road. These guys worked endlessly and were were very good. We're still making rounds. I still
have calls coming in uh as we speak. I've probably gotten, you know, 10 uh text messages. I did put my cell phone number out there. Um I was taking calls to help out because it was a team. we were all working together as a team and it really was with council administration and again all of our uh
department heads uh just making phone calls. So I just wanted to again kind of uh express um my appreciation for all of our employees because they really showed up for the J the residents of Jackson and in regards to uh the ordinance 0715.
I'm learning um you know things that are previous ordinances prior to me being uh even on council. Um, I did enact that and we put it out. I don't know if anybody noticed the communication between council administration and the residents. We, um, put everything on all
the pages that we possibly could. We wanted to keep all the residents updated on everything that was going on and, you know, hearing your concerns. Um, putting my personal, you know, obviously my cell phone number out there if anybody did need anything. We opened up the senior center. Thank God we didn't need it. Um,
but we did have it as a warming station and we also had the library. So, as you know, uh, the council president said, we might get another storm this weekend. Now that we've been through one, uh, we know the process and procedures and, you know, you you know, boots on the ground is very, very important. And
communication, please, please, please, the cars on the road. It's it's, you know, ask your neighbor. I mean, I asked all my neighbors. I I I truly did. And, you know, one of my neighbors didn't, and they did get tickets. Um, so, you know, and I live on Redwood, so yes, the people in Redwood did get tickets.
anybody that we saw that we reached out until there was too many crashes and the police said listen we we have we have too many crashes now. So with that being said um we are in the process of doing with the new grant writer uh submitting I believe we have three already for
January. Um that's a lot that's really good. It's all different departments. It's recreation uh infrastructure and other uh police, fire and other things that we're doing and for EMS. So I'm super excited about that. Um and that's all I have. So everybody have a great night and thank you for coming.
>> Administrator Terafeno, do you have any uh comments? >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. I just like to reiterate what all the council members and the mayor have already espoused and the grateful thanks to our DPW staff, um our first responders, and to include
OEM. I did want to just reiterate one point that uh was touched upon briefly by the council president and the vice president, which is our rental housing safety bureau is up and running. We have a staff member that's doing all the back office work at this point and we're moving forward in that direction to
address the concerns that were brought forth by you to citizens. So, thank you. >> Thank you. The next item for tonight's meeting is an update from the Department of Public Works. Council President Bernstein. >> Sure. I probably covered most of it, but I'll I'm going to read it again. Over
the past two weeks, DPW crews have continued hauling leaves from the compost site to our vendor in order to make rooms for materials for the upcoming season. Crews will continue snow and ice removal operations over the coming days. Efforts will be focused on removing accumulated snow piles and creating additional space in culde-sacs and other restricted areas. Residents
are respectfully reminded of the significant effort required to maintain clear roadways and are asked to please remove parked vehicles from streets whenever possible to assist in these operations. Any concerns regarding snow removal over the weekend or over the next couple days should be directed to the Department of Public Works.
Additionally, just a uh a also an safety issue. Um please, if you have a um a um fire hydrant that was covered by snow, please do your best to uncover it. Is a tremendous safety issue. And um and if
if you need help and if you can't get it uncovered, please reach out to DPW because we need to get those uncovered as soon as possible. Thank you. >> The next item of business is a certificate of achievement. Council President Birdstein. >> Mayor Keun,
>> is Luciana here? I knew that was you. I could see it. >> So, this is a uh certificate of an Eagle Scout. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> So,'s dad sent me an amazing letter. So proud of her. And asked if we can give her a
merit of certificate at the council meeting. Thank you so much for coming and thank you for all the amazing things that you did. all the projects for the New Jersey Forest Education Resource Center um in town. We just really really appreciate um what you've done and and how far you've come. So, we'd like to give you a certificate.
>> Congratulations. >> Coun council, if you can join for a picture for a second. And >> I think there was another certificate, but I don't think that resident showed up. Mayor, do you want to just mention the name publicly? >> Sure. >> Um, it's uh Aaron Joseph Nisel. It was
actually I I actually got to meet this young man over the weekend uh during the storm. Um, he had a uh a celebration at the firehouse. So I ran out and I went and I met him and he was amazing amazing amazing uh boys and Eagle Scout and he got the Court of Honor which from what I
understand is very very high. We're very very proud of him. I didn't want to give it at the uh at the dinner because I I like to you know present these in the public so the public can appreciate it and and give their congrats and also with council but I will mail it to him. And again uh it was great Aaron it was
great to meet you and congratulations and thank you for everything that you did. Thank you. >> The next item on tonight's agenda is a presentation by township engineer Kunliff of Camp Joy. >> So I'm going to ask Mr. Kliff to come up
and if any members of the recreation committee are here also they can join him by the tables or they can sit in the first row um just so we a know who you are and if there's any questions and and I just want to take a moment and just explain. So, the township has had a recreation committee for a while, but it
was never really utilized until the past year. Um, so I thank all the volunteers. This is a project I know that's been very passionate and they've worked a lot on. And, um, I think tonight's the goal is to present the project. Obviously, we'll take it back to the governing body. We will do our research and we're
also then going to um, um, hear solicit from the public and uh, get their take. So, um, I guess just because Mr. If you're up here, if we could just if the two residents who are here from the committee, if they could just say their names quickly just so people know who you are,
Eric, what's Rick's? Okay. Amazing. Thank you for coming. Thank you, Edward, for coming. Okay, Mr. Kliff, the floor is yours. >> Thank you, mayor and council. Is this on? >> Yeah, it's automatically. >> Uh, so as you stated, the recreation committee was uh reestablished over the
summer. Um, one of the first things we did was uh look at comprehensively all the recreation facilities throughout. >> One second, madam. Is your mic It's just not so >> check. Is that better? I just got to get closer to it. >> All right. >> If not, you can take the other one and just hold it. Whatever's easier.
>> Yeah. >> Hello. Yeah, much better. >> Yes. So, um, as the council president stated over the summer, the recreation committee was reestablished. Um, one of the first steps that we took at our first meeting was kind of just look at an inventory of all the recreation facilities throughout the township, uh,
kind of assess what some of the needs and and wants were, um, you know, went from athletic facilities. The town spent, um, you know, uh, considerable amount of money a couple years ago re-turfing all the fields at the Justice Complex over at Holman. The town has also spent a um, you know, a significant
amount of money over the last five to 10 years upgrading a lot of the playgrounds and a lot of the parks. Um, one of the needs we established was, um, the youth softball program in Jackson Township does not have their own dedicated facility. Um, they currently do have the
ability to utilize the fields at the Justice Complex and over at Bartley uh, off of Bartley Road. However, um, the leases for those facilities are through uh, Jackson Little League and I believe also through Hullbrook Little League. So uh while they do have the right to use the fields through those entities, they
kind of have second choice of timing of when they can use those facilities. Um so we established that as being a need having a dedicated facility for the youth you softball uh recreation users. Secondly, there is no um full-size adult slow pitch softball fields within
Jackson Township. Um also especially without any lights. Um, we did discuss, uh, over in Lakewood, um, I think it's Pine Park had a series of fields, but certain adults are not allowed to use those, uh, facilities anymore. So, um, there's not really a home for those
users in Jackson who used to use those fields. So, um, we looked at Camp Joy. There's three existing softball fields there. Um, they're a little bit worse for wear. The infield skins, uh, need some regrading, need some touching up. The grass there, there's no irrigation.
Um, so depending on the time of year, how much rain we get, um, it gets a little bit worse for wear. So, um, what you see here is a concept plan for completely rehabilitating, um, all three fields that are there. Um, going from
right to left on the right hand side of the screen there is the full-size 300 foot adult slow pitch softball field. Um, that would be rehabilitated with new back stops. Um because of the proximity to the parking area, we've shown 30- foot high ball stopper netting along the
parking um lot there to obviously not impact uh motor vehicles or hopefully reduce the impact of motor vehicles. Um new uh dugout enclosures, uh pads for bleachers for spectators, um new bullpen areas. As you head left
to the center of the screen, that would be um the dedicated 200 foot um fast pitch uh softball field. Uh same amount of amenities, new dugouts, um new bleacher pads, new bleachers, new warm-up um bullpen warm-up areas. We do
have on the lower hand part of the screen there, closer to the parking area, a uh batting tunnel that could be utilized for warm-ups for both uh the fast pitch and and the slow pitch as needed. Um we discussed um the need for
like a concession stand right now if uh folks are going to a game. There's no space for um purchasing packaged goods or anything like it. Gatorade. So uh we showed an area basically a pre-fabricated garage type structure that could be fit out to to um sell
those kinds of goods. Not a full concessions for the bathrooms. That's something that we could look into. just once you start running water and sewer um the cost of a project can can go up uh considerably. Um on the left hand side of the screen um
this area in general is utilized during the summer months and during the school year uh by the summer rec camps but then also the school uses it for field day activities. Um, so we wanted to maintain some just general passive green space that could be utilized straight for fields. Uh, but also could just be open
green space for field days for the school. Um, so that's what that general space is. Uh, around the perimeter of the park, there is currently other than sidewalk along the parking area, there is no like type of recreation path or trail. So, we've shown um a half mile
loop around the perimeter of all the fields um that could be used for recreation, walking, running. Um we've kind of showed some locations of benches around there for, you know, if you're going on a walk and you want to sit down and just enjoy the day, you can do that. Um the path could be striped with
mileage markers. We could put signs up there just so that way uh folks can keep track of what they're doing. As you head to the top part of the screen, um there's like a red rectangle. Um one of the things we discussed is um if we're
going to be having youth uh sports activities here, there's not really any space in between games for them to congregate if they want to, you know, have a team get together for um you know, foods after the game or something like that. Um during the summer camp, there's not really a home for them to
sit under a shaded area. Um we've shown a rectangular pavilion structure with a number of picnic benches. Um also with a flag pole obviously because of the sports. Um and then um just some stormwater management infrastructure. This is going to be a major development
if this project were to move forward. So there's going to need to be uh stormwater basins and drainage uh throughout the fields and around the perimeter. Um, and then obviously, uh, one of the big ticket items and costs with any of these types of projects are
sports field lighting. Um, for this type of project, you're looking around threequarters of a million dollars to light both of the fields. Um, as I said, right now the softball, they kind of have second choice on these other facilities. They we have other
fields throughout town, but none of them have lights. So, um, there's an impetus for a need for lights. Um, Christian, if you don't mind pulling up the Yeah. So, this just kind of gives you a flavor from what we were kind of anticipating. You know, uh, we can do a steel
rectangular pre-fabricated pavilion and go to the next picture. This is just a glue laminated. We can do kind of whatever the town desires as far as the aesthetic, what fits more the rural character of Jackson. If you keep going, you know, and then as far as the
amenities, um, you know, everything has a price point. Everything has a cost associated to it. We can do as simple as just doing a chain link dugout. We can do hard, uh, roofed enclosures for when you have inclement weather. Keeps going down. There's other options with just shade canopy, which, you know, reduces
some of the heat impacts. Some more permanent substantial uh, infrastructure with actual walls on the sides. This is ones we did up in Brookdale Community College. This is actually a pre-cast dugout that uh pre-casted a plant delivered to the site. Um
same project back stops. We can go 30 foot high. We can if you go to the next page, we can have them with a canopy overhand to minimize impact balls going into the parking area. If you can keep going, Christian, this example of the ball stopper netting to stop, you know, balls obviously going
off bleachers. So, um one of the impacts is right now there's not really any accessibility to any of the facilities there. So, we upgraded the parking area to make it ADA accessible. We make sure all the walkways uh are within, you know, tolerances for ADA. Uh any spectator areas would have spaces for
wheelchair uh folks to be able to sit next to their family members. You know, this just gives a a flavor for some of the amenities. You know, powdercoated all from the factory. You know, there's there's different price points. We can look at different options. Um right now at a lot of the facilities, there's not
really any storage for a lot of these recreation users. So, either things are all over the place or they're strung in the back of someone's car. So, uh when we did the turf fields a couple years ago over at the Justice Complex, we put in pre-fabricated garages with the rollup door. Um gives the users the
ability to kind of store whatever they need to lock it up and uh not have to worry about it walking away uh if someone else is using the facilities. Example of the batting tunnels. If you keep going and one of the big, you know, I know with any of the sports fields
projects is lighting. Um, what I can tell you in the last 15 years, the technology with the lighting with LED has advanced significantly. The stuff from the 70s, 80s, you know, Muscow with the the metal hali with the glow. That's thing of the past. Everything is
manufactured in the plant, pre- aimed, has the downward cut off shields. And this kind of just shows you on the left hand side, you know, with the LED on the right is the older technology that no longer um, you know, that we try not to install those type of infrastructure any longer. Just kind of gives you an
overall looking out. You don't see that glow beyond just the limits of the field. I know there is residential uh properties to the south of this, so that's why I'm bringing this up. Um, you know, I'm expecting there might be some some questions from from the residents that live there. And this is just to
give you um we did a very similar type of project for Brookdale Community College um within the last five years where we kind of rehabilitated their baseball on their softball field here. Um I'll just say these are college facilities. So some of the things that we implemented there have a different price point than what we would do maybe
for a recreational municipal user. Um I just wanted to show you some some examples of what we've done um you know for for other um clients that we work with. So with that, if there's any questions of the council and the public. >> Sure. So I want to start off and then we'll turn it over to my colleagues and
council. So um my first question is would there be any outside agencies assuming let's I'm going to leave the money out for a second. We'll get there in a second. Would there be any besides for Jackson Township? Um I know in other parts of town there's other environmentally sensitive constraints.
What are the constraints that this property has? >> Yes. So, uh, along the west side of the property, buddying south of Prospect, there is some woods that have met wetlands. So, if this were to move forward to a project, we would investigate that. It's likely if it is wetlands, it it could be um isolated
wetlands. Um, which there are permits you can get for filling that. We're not showing any disturbance to those areas right now, but uh it's something we would investigate. Um, as far as the township's ordinance, uh, we would have to comply with the stormwater control ordinance with the municipality. um it
would be a major development. So that's why we've shown infrastructure on that concept plan. And then obviously um Ocean County soils, there would need to be a permit for that because it is a considerable amount of uh soil disturbance. >> Okay. Um and then I guess the next big question is I know this is very early in
the in the process. Um what would be the I guess the ballpark the financial ballpark for such a project? So, um, what we've given you or shown on this concept plan with the estimate is basically everything that you could need that
would be >> state of the art Cadillac, right? >> Yeah. State of the art. Yeah. >> Um, if you're going to rehabilitate these fields, um, you're going to want to saw them with sports soding. U Tucko Turf Farms down in South Jersey, they provide the turf for a lot of the MLB
and the football facilities. Uh, that's where you would go get your turf or returf in these fields. uh you could save some money by seeding that, but if you seed it, you're going to basically lose one full season to let the grass establish before you can play. With sportsing, you can play like four to six
weeks afterwards. Um but to go back to your question, uh you're looking in the order of probably four to five million. So it is a significant project. What I would say is any type of project to scale with any client that we work with, um you can look at phasing these type of
projects. You can look at doing alternate bids um you know to see where the price points are to see if you have the funds to do everything all at once. Um the sports lighting if that's something that is concerning to you know the residential neighbors to the south
you could set it up with laying all the groundwork the conduit pull boxes to allow for future expansion to put the lighting in and you know have it for future use. Um like I said this is the Cadillac. Um there's certain things we
can look at to reduce price if that's something that the council wants to do. Um we just wanted to based off of the the wants and needs of the recreation users. That's where we ended up where we are. >> Right. So just for the public's uh I guess information then I'll turn the floor over to my colleagues and council
is that we're going to hopefully in the next day or two we will take all these presentations and we are going to obviously put them out for the public to see. And there's a breakdown here of all the various expenses. Um you're not going to see this on the agenda by the next meeting. Um this is obviously just
the recreation committee obviously put a lot of time, effort and uh energy into this. We wanted to present it to the public and get some feedback over the next I say month or two um and then you know collectively as a council come back and and make an informed decision if we move forward at all if we are doing this
in peace meal and obviously all the various things. But I do have to give a special thank you. I know how many times you guys met and those and the the hard work and I know how passionate recreation is to to the members of the recreation committee and uh um I I
definitely see a need for some upgraded fields in town. Um and um the only thing I think you didn't address I'm just looking not only thing but one of the things you didn't address is you put in a veterans um >> yeah so so >> I just want to address that for a second. Uh I updated this estimate today
and I I did not get a chance to send it to uh Christian. So um originally, you know, we've done those type of veterans uh plazas in other municipalities. Um there is one over on Jackson Mills that already exists. So we kind of felt it was duplicative. Not to say that our veterans aren't important, right? But um
so so the concept plan was revised to show uh a shaded pavilion with picnic benches to u serve the the recreation users. Um, and I can circulate that updated estimate with those costs. And then I will say with the lighting too that we have in this estimates, it's a little bit high. Uh, we've worked with
the vendor Musco and they've actually given us um, more detailed and precise uh, budgetary pricing uh, based off of the field layout. >> Now, last of my questions for now. Um, you mentioned before that there are similar types of fields in Lakewood and
residents no longer able to use it. I know it's not really your field. Um, is that just >> So, and Mr. Rogers might be able to chime in on that, but I I believe the ones that in Pine Park, I don't the county that >> as a county park. Yeah. >> Yeah. And I that used to be I believe,
you know, they had a lot of um adult leagues there, but I don't know if they're as able to use those as as they once were. Um, >> but you just know that's not available anymore. Okay. I'm just curious. Yeah.
>> Okay. I'll re It's a county park. I don't mind reaching out to the I'm just curious the background over there, but that's it. Um any else from council? Any questions? >> Uh I guess I don't know what the demand is for softball out here. Um
just I don't know. when I see $5 million, I'm like, do we have that kind of demand for softball? I don't know. >> I can tell you that we have a demand for softball. U my daughter played and I came to the council, so I want to thank the mayor. Um she heard us out and she created the recreational committee. Um,
I can tell you that you have quite a lot of girls that live in Jackson that um, play softball and unfortunately over the past few years have had to leave Jackson. Um, and then now are playing for other towns. I would love to bring the girls back to Jackson and play in
Jackson. If you look at the high school team, there's plenty of girls there. If you look at the middle school team, there's plenty of girls there um, that are playing softball. But unfortunately, we have experienced a lot of um inequity, I guess we would say, in the scheduling of softball fields. There are
two at Bartley and there's one at Justice. Unfortunately, the girls in Jackson have not been successful with uh scheduling. We've been left in the dark and I think that's why the lights were so important. So, I do think that there is a need for the softball. Yes, I do
understand it is a lot of money. Uh maybe we can cut down on the price point figures somehow, but there is a need and I'd love to bring the girls back to Jackson. >> Thank you. >> Um council member, >> council president. Yeah. >> Talking to the mic.
>> Recreation committ. Can you hear me? >> All right. Sorry. Recreation committee. Thank you for being here. Mr. Conliff as well and presenting. Um, is there a way regarding cutting costs to refurbish these fields without having to spend so
much money and include some of these bells and whistles that uh we're seeing in these plans? Any way to work with the high schools maybe to bring some of the girls softball players back, maybe using h working with them to use their fields
as well to keep it here in our town. Uh certainly there's discussions that the township could have with the board of vet about, you know, sharing facilities um regarding Camp Joy specifically and the township's overview of that. Um
there are things that can be like I said with soding, right? Um if you just were to seed all these areas, you're going to save a considerable amount of money. The trade-off is to get for areas these large to for the grass to take and if
we're to be uh usable for the for the for the wreck users, you're losing pretty much a whole sports season if not part of a second sports season just to get that grass to um to take to recede it. um to kind of work with what's there. Um the facilities, the way that
the fields are orientated don't lend themselves to being able to have um both a adult slow pitch and then a youth uh field. So that's why we have them reorientated. We're actually expanding into the woods line to accommodate both of those. We did look at other options
with not having fences and kind of having it as an open multi-purpose area, but that kind of takes away from um the competitive use of both of those fields, not having an outfield fence. Um so that was something that we discussed. We did also discuss, you know, synthetic turf,
but I can tell you that's also an even uh higher uh price point. Um if you're going to reed the fields and you're going to resod them, you're going to need irrigation. Um, if you're going to spend, you know, even a million or$2 million dollars to rehab these facilities and not put in irrigation,
you're, you know, very short order. Even with the best, uh, maintenance folks, you're going to be back to what kind of where they are in in short order. Um, receding areas without irrigation is, you know, in my opinion is you're just kind of throwing money away. >> Nina, if I could just add, are there
grants, I mean, I know we're we're we're big in grants now, Mr. Conliff, that you think we could hopefully tap into to help >> defay some of the cost. Certainly the Greenacres program has a grant application every year. Um I don't know what the township status of uh their 2026 application, but um if this is
something that the town wanted to move forward with with like design and that um there is another funding cycle for 2027 that opens up I want to say in December of next year I think for this year to to go for grant money. We're kind of >> are we able to get green acres if we're
still with the other issue we have in town that that you're working on? >> Yes, we would have to continue to make progress with the major diversion um process >> that goes back to that boogeyman. >> Yes. So, and just to clarify that the Camproid property is Green Acres. It is Green Acres of Humber. We did reach out
with um representative from Green Acres. So, as long as this park continues to be utilized for recreation, any expansion or modification, >> they're okay with it. >> The state's recreation, it would be uh okay with that. >> Sorry for interrupting Mr. Brley. Anything else? >> That's all right. Any plans? I mean, there's basketball courts there, right? A basketball court, I mean, and a
playground if I'm not mistaken. Is there any plans to do anything with that or um or is it We're just talking about the ball fields that are currently there. >> So, I'd have to double check. I I don't know if the town already rehabilitated the playground there. Um we did talk about the basketball uh with sports
lighting also um having additional fixtures on the back side of some of those poles to light the basketball. I don't believe the court was in the courts are in terrible shape. They could use like a a facelift, you know, color coding and things like that. That would be small potatoes compared to the
overall scope of of the entire project. >> Yeah, I think they need the backboards are a little old, but >> yeah, >> if the if the supports are in good uh condition and the foundations are in good condition. Yeah. >> Uh that's that's a small item just replacing backwards.
>> Oh, council president. >> Yeah. Thank So, I just had I guess some Oh, I'm sorry. Are you Are you still um I guess I have three maybe comments or statements. I'm not sure if Mr. Cunnliff can answer them, but I did like uh to piggyback on what you said. I'd love to see if we can go after grants to see if we could assist with lowering the
overall cost. Uh I I would definitely want I want to hear from uh the township, you know, maybe put out a poll or something, see what the need is. Uh third, I would, you know, we could maybe even go for sponsorships, local business sponsorships. I know we're not going to raise $5 million from them, but maybe we
have tiered amounts. We could put a plaque or donate, you know, get a bench in their honor, etc. And then thirdly, is there anything we could do with So there's there's going to be new development, right? We we all know people developers are building here. Is there anything we could tie to it that any new development a portion of these
proceeds have to go to these parks? >> Mr. McCucken, I think that's a question for you. No, you cannot put such a limitation on individual's right to develop property. >> It could go to developers for sponsorships, but >> Right.
>> Uh so I know we mentioned Pine Park uh quite a few times. Um so they're not allowing softball playing there. Is that what we're saying? >> Okay. >> So I'm gonna >> That's County Park, correct? Who do we got to speak to? What
>> is is the next question. Who do we have to speak to? >> So the county commissioners, there's a leazison to the parks. He used to be commissioner Haynes. I'm not sure who in the new this year is. So I'll find out tomorrow. That's my goal. I wrote down >> I'll inquire with the county as well. >> Sure. >> And just to go back to uh council vice president's comment about the benches.
So we had done projects in other towns where um we would put in the pad and then the town would establish some kind of dedication either through plaques or benches where residents could dedicate a bench and then DPW would then you know purchase and install those type of infrastructure even with um the picnic
benches and the bleachers. Um it's certainly cleaner if you were to include that in a publicly bid project, but the township can realize some cost savings if um you know the town ball goes directly through like the state co-op and the DPW were to install those things. So there's definitely costsaving
measures and you know we realize that it is a the scope of the project is uh the cost is commenurate with the scope of the project. >> Uh m uh council president. >> Sure. I know that uh Patriots County Park on Bowman Road or town, they have softball there, but I
don't know if it's utilized or looked at or has been looked at. >> So, I I actually could respond to that for a second. I went there with Commissioner Haynes about a year ago. Um there are major issues with the water drainage over there and the county is at that point it wasn't in their scope.
They put money into the playground there. Um and they're at this point the decision was and we can revisit with the county also. At this point, the their decision was um to leave it as a current dirt fields, which means every time it rains, it takes about a week before this parks can even be used again. Um and
anytime I've been out there, there's been generally been puddles and other issues. But yes, that is something we could discuss with them again. >> Yes. And to that point with the drainage, right? So, one of the things um residing and regretting the fields gives the opportunity to is to improve
the drainage, the overflow. Now everything kind of just sheep flows over land to the parking area. Uh anytime you have a long distance for water to flow over grass, every depression that water has a chance to sit in and then you have you know usually uses the field and it creates potholes and it kind of just has
a compounding effect. So uh regrading the fields we would try to make sure that things are optimized to get water off into the perimeter of the field so that way after a storm event you're not having to wait two or three days to utilize those facilities. You can get on them a little bit sooner. So, I want to
thank Mr. Kunliff and the members of the recreation committee who were able to come out tonight. Um, the council just for the public, this was the next step in the process. We obviously now the council will take it back and discuss and solicit feedback from the general public. Um, and obviously there will be
modifications to the plans. I'm sure this is, like I said, the Cadillac. It's the first step. Um, I think the project is gorgeous. I wish we had all the money to build projects like this, but I think that's where we're going to go back discuss it with the residents of Jackson. um find maybe a way to solicit more public feedback, go back to the
recreation committee, giving them that input and hopefully do something and um we will definitely be in touch with Mr. Kliff and the committee. I appreciate you guys coming in and the public should know before anything final does come to be voted on, it will be a public vote and obviously everyone will then have an opportunity to speak publicly. But in
the meantime, for anyone who's here or anyone who's watching, please feel free to reach out to myself or any members of the council. Feel free to reach out to Mayor Cune and the business administrator and um and they will pass along the information to the to the recreation committee. The recreation committee members names should be I
think on the website somewhere. If not, we'll get it up there tomorrow. Anyone they're regular res residents throughout Jackson. You can reach out to any me any of them. Um these are the two who were able to come tonight, but they're regular residents. Reach out to them. um give you your input and let's use this
as an opportunity to hopefully regroup in in the near future to start the next process of making another state-of-the-art park here in Jackson. So, thank you both of you. Thank you, Mr. Kliff. And I think Mr. Kliff, you don't go too far because you're up next. Thank you, >> Madam Clerk.
>> Thank you. The next item of business is the small business recognition. Due to an obligation, the business being recognized tonight is unable to attend. Bagel Run will be recognized on a future agenda. The next portion of the meeting is the first hearing of the community block
grant program 2026. In accordance with the guidelines set forth, the township is required to hold two public hearings for the purpose of soliciting ideas and applications. the community would like to see presented to the Ocean County Community Development Block Grant Program for 2026. This hearing will
enable the township to select and prioritize applications for the Ocean County Community Block Grant Program. The second hearing will be held on February 10th, 2026. Council President Bernstein, >> Mr. Conliff, it's floor is yours. I think you did this last year also and the year before.
>> Yes. Sorry. So every year um we submit a grant application to the Ocean County Planning Department uh CDBG community development block grant. It's federal monies from HUD that gets then sent out to the uh county level and they are responsible for administrating that grant. Um Jackson Township is an
entitlement community because of our population and demographic. Um we generally in the last it's been increasing over the last uh three or four years. The award has been on the range of 150 to $175,000. Um the first public hearing is to get
comment and feedback from the public on um potential projects. Where do we have needs? Um one of the challenge with the CDBG grant is um one of the aspects of it that has to be utilized for barrierfree accessibility to existing infrastructure. So um if we
have non-compliant curb ramps at an attached facility, we could upgrade those to be ADA compliant. If we have push buttons on there of our facilities that are not automatic um handicap accessible, it would be upgrading those. Um as far as you know, I know in in
years past there's been um asked for facilities at like the dog park and other facilities. I've spoken with the county ad nauseium about we have a need, but it has to be going towards improving existing infrastructure. So if we don't have uh curb ramps, we don't have
existing parking, it's it's not unfortunately not eligible. has to be upgrading existing facilities. The other aspect of it is um you can use it for capital improvements, roadway and drainage within um designated target neighborhoods. Um we do have a couple of
those that are believe are in the flare section uh of Jackson. So if we have any drainage needs, any roadway repaving needs, um you know, residents have some concerns there, we could we could look at that. Um so really this is to get feedback from the public. And then the
second hearing would be hopefully we've identified a specific application for that uh and we can submit the application for that specific project. >> So just to explain to the public and correct me if I'm wrong. So tonight we're going to open the floor in a minute to the public. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to come up.
You'll have the standard five minutes. Um after that, Mr. Kliff will then take back the feedback and give a presentation for council at a later date um for the second reading. >> Yeah. So, and I'll just add in years past, we've kind of just submitted a blanket uh ADA improvements to municipal
buildings and parks, um the from the federal level, the county has been getting more pressure on being more specific on the project, uh because they want to see timeliness and funds being spent. So, that's why we're being a little bit more let's identify a
specific project with uh this year's grant application. >> Sure. Thank you. So I guess you can sit down and mad clerk if we could open the floor to the public. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to open public comment? >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Any opposed? >> Hello Donnie Adelman 206 Willow Point. >> I guess I have a question because I spent all last year talking about the community development block grant and asking for the dog park. I know for a fact that other municipalities in New Jersey and throughout the country are
using these grants to make the dog parks ADA accessible, which is already existing infrastructure. And I'd like to say again this year, because probably no one else cares, no one else has any suggestions, but that money should go to
making the the dog park ADA accessible. We have seniors that cannot use park. There's never been any sort of handicap parking in that park. It is not ADA accessible. We've already had multiple people get hurt at that park. And to sit there and say, "Ah, it's just a little
bit too much work or we not really sure how to do it." It's already been done. We sp last year we had spent the whole year under the assumption that the community block grant was going to the park. What happened?
I I asked the council this several times and as far as we knew, you go back and you could sit there and look at the recordings. As far as we knew that that money was going towards the park, now it's not. What happened? Why? And saying
that, you know, they're not really sure about it. It's already existing infrastructure. We're not talking about building a new park in this particular stretch, but I guess now we're going to have two years where we're going to ask for money for the dog park to make it ADA accessible so that maybe the old people don't break their hips when
they're there. Maybe when it does snow that people have the ability to get there and have a place to go because they have a snow day. You know, it's not like we didn't ask for an entire year. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Mr. Coll, before before you respond, I want to see if anyone else has from
the public has any other input on this grant and then we'll close and let Mr. Colliff respond. >> Thank you. Yeah, real quick. Um, Carlos Martins Jackson, I'm here as a resident. So, I heard that um we can use it to
improve drainage on streets, right? because I I know that we've complained there's been multiple times here that people come up with specific issues where they're on the roads the drainage is is not as well and I think we were going to spend some money so we can definitely use it for that and we know
specifically which ones we want to fix right I don't have a list of it but I know we complained about it in the past >> it's a very extensive list but but I'll let you finish speaking first yeah >> okay so that that was it just seemed to me that that seemed like a no-brainer aside from there other needs So, but
yeah, I just want to make sure that that gets on the list. >> Okay. Anyone else from the public? >> Jim Sappiel 387 South Road. A question on the recreation fields. >> This is just this is a hearing just on on this G this grant. We'll open the public comment at the end of the
meeting. Anyone else on this grant only? Madam Clerk, close it. No, call Mr. Kiff up after Mr. Kliff. Yeah. >> Yes. So, um to go back to the dog park, so um there was discussions last year about is is the dog park eligible for
use of CDBG monies. Um I can tell you that I've met with the county representative from the plan department who oversees the grant to try to figure out seven different ways for those grant monies to be utilized for these type of similar things. If there aren't existing
like a paid parking area or sidewalks there, um we can't create it. It has to be a rehabilitation of an existing infrastructure. That aside, the this uh governing body has authorized us to do um some concept plans for uh
improvements to the dog park which feature handicap parking and um sidewalk accessibility into the area, shade structure, things like that. Um I can tell you today we had a pre-application meeting with um the PBR of solid waste. Uh without getting into too much
specifics, Johnson Park at some point in the past was a landfill and um whether that was formally closed with Bureau of Solid Waste is unclear and the redevelopment or any development on the
park. Um there are certain restrictions on what can be done to the park until it is formally closed of solid waste. Um, so that is what is holding up some of those. There's challenges with it. Um,
solid waste in the past had been more lenient with some of the things that they would let go on in the park. Um, administration's changed, personnel's changed, and the folks that are in solid waste now have a different how they look at things. Um, so there's there's more
challenges and hurdles to to do this. There is a need and there is a need for uh improvements at the dog park there. It's just there's some significant challenges and I would love to say let's just go put sidewalks in, but I also do not want to get the township in trouble. Um because we could spend a lot of money
and then also get fined and then have to give the state a lot of money. So that's where we're at. Thank you. >> In regards to the drainage, so um >> yes, there is needs throughout town uh to utilize it for paving or drainage. It has to be in within one of the designated target neighborhoods as a
certain percentage of low and moderate income houses. Um, if residents have suggestions, I would encourage them to call or send an email to engineering at Jackson Township and if one is within one of those DTNs, we can investigate it further and uh talk about it.
>> So, thank you. Um, and then I'm going to add also if anyone engineering is at Jacksontown.net, right? Okay. Anyone has anything again.net and um we'll definitely look into it and then we'll have the public second public
hearing. Um so madam clerk, could we close the public? >> Thank you. May I have a motion to close the public comment? >> Motion >> second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Thank you. And Mr. Kiff, you can go. >> Yeah. Thank you. And again, Mr. Kliff will be here by our um next round table
and we'll be here definitely by future council meetings. So, thank you, Charles. >> Thank you. The next item of business, the first reading and introduction of ordinance 20261, an ordinance of the township of Jackson County of Ocean, state of New Jersey, creating township code chapter 319. Council President
Bernstein, are there any comments on ordinance 20261? >> Hold on. >> Thank you, Miss U. Madame Clerk. This ordinance creates a new chapter of the township code requiring all property managers who manage residential or commercial rental properties in Jackson
Township to register annually with the township clerk. It establishes clear definitions, requires property managers to hold and maintain a valid New Jersey real estate license and outlines the information that must be provided as part of registration, including contact details and a list of managed
properties. The ordinance also sets a registration fee and penalties for non-compliance. The intent is to improve accountability, ensure compliance with the state law, and better protect tenants, property owners, and general welfare of all Jackson Township residents. And again, I just want to
take a moment and thank obviously Attorney McGucken, who we came to the round table, and this was definitely something which was brought up, but even before the round table, my colleagues on council, I had opportunity in meeting with Councilman Pollock, discussing with my colleagues, council vice president and the rest of my colleagues. And I think this is a collaborative effort to
find another way to um making sure that we a people are following the state law that they're licensed um property managers which is already the law but ensuring that if someone is a non-licensed um um property manager that he'll be held accountable. So that's the summary.
>> Thank you. May I have a motion to approve ordinance 20 2601 and first reading and introduction? >> Motion. >> Second. Councilman Brellley. >> Uh yes. I just want to note uh this ordinance and the next two are strong ordinances, but they are only strong if
they were enforced and that's what we're hoping will be the results. Um I uh it was nice working with our count um fellow council colleagues uh regarding uh crafting them and also looking at other towns who are dealing with similar rental housing issues to see what they
are doing so we don't always have to, you know, reinvent the wheel. something that we can maybe model um use as a model and example and do here in Jackson. I I like to hear from township officials um regarding these this ordinance and the next two ordinances because they're going to have to deal
and work uh with these ordinances if to see if they're working and if there are areas that need improvement. I'd like to make sure that the council gets informed if they're not or maybe there's uh areas for improvement that we can look into and tweak if we need to and then uh
reintroduce them. But hopefully we won't have to do that. And um I know it's a long-winded. It's either yay or nay. Vote yay. Vote yes on this uh first reading and introduction of ordinance zero um 2026-01.
>> Thank you, Councilman Pollock. >> I'm voting yes on this. This is something I campaigned on. We have a real issue in Jackson with these out of town investors buying our single family homes, turning it into a high occupancy rental. It's been a burden on our neighborhoods, our school system, and our, you know, general quality of life.
This creates accountability for property managers. Anybody managing these properties in Jackson will be required to register with the township and provide proof of a valid New Jersey real estate license as required by New Jersey state law. I think it's a good thing. I think it it forces real accountability.
It forces a real person to be managing this and also it puts penalties on them if they're not following the law. This is something that's been needed to be done. And I understand these bad landlords. I like to call them worst things right now, but they always find a
way to work around the system. Work around the system. So, we're going to always have to work together to figure out how to beat them, how to get these people to follow the law, and try to give everybody the best quality of life possible. And we'll just keep working on it and working on it. It's not easy with state law. We're trying our best up
there on this issue, and we're going to keep fighting for you. I vote yes. Thank you, >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yeah, I do. I vote yes. And I vote yes because uh honestly this ordinance grew out of the uh rental housing roundt we had just a few weeks ago. We heard the
residents and our professionals as well as this council's uh concerns about accountability when the property man when properties are managed by third parties. This ordinance is about closing those gaps and making sure property managers operate operating in Jackson
are properly licensed, registered, and accountable. And it's a good example of this council listening to feedback and turning it into action. So 2026 01 and even 20262 grew out of that round table. It grew out of your feedback. We really appreciate it. We're going to do a lot
more of it. So I vote yes. >> Council President Bernstein. So before I vote, I also just want to um just respond to Councilman Belli. So obviously we can continue creating all the ordinances we want, but obviously enforcement is the key and I am was very
happy that they actually you mentioned it came out from the council the round table. The first person who actually mentioned this was actually the mayor mentioned this to me. It was a loophole that not even a loophole it was actually the state law which um she realized was not really being enforced. Um and um so
I'm pretty confident that administration under our new business administrator are going to make sure that the registration this hopefully when if this passes second reading um that this registration will be open immediately. I think there's a time frame in here where everyone is going to have all the landlord is going to have to register for this year. Um this obviously does
not apply to properties that are owned by um someone the property owner himself or herself are renting it out. Um but anytime there's a third party this this applies. So I vote yes. Thank you. The next item of business is the first
revening introduction of ordinance 20262, an ordinance of the township council of the township of Jackson County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending chapter 245 of the township code. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments on ordinance 20262?
>> Yes. This ordinance amends the township's landlord registration and responsibility code by updating the documentation requirements landlords must submit when registering rental properties. It clarifies what documents are required when a property is managed by a property manager, including proof of compliance with the new property
management registration ordinance. The ordinance also updates penalties for non-compliance and establishes daily fines when inspections cannot be completed. The goal is to strengthen oversight, ensure accountability, and improve compliance with with township and state requirements. And the thank you to this ordinance comes from our
legal team, Mr. McCullen, um who went after I reached out to him with regard to the first ordinance, he said that if we want to do this properly, this has to go back into the landlord registration. Um and um there's going to be two two steps to this for this year being that the landlord registration ends in January 31st. We already missed the vote
for that one. So there's going to be a time frame. I think they have 30 days. If I remember correctly, I have to open it again. Um to um for a property manager to for for if you have a property manager to to give the documentation in for the for the landlord registration. And I think in future years it's going to be part it
will be part of that January 31st uh document request. Um, this is a first reading and um, we definitely welcome feedback from landlords and from property managers and everyone making sure that we're not missing anything. And um, and uh, that's the my I
previewed the ordinance. Madam Cler, >> I have a motion to approve ordinance 2026 O2 on the first reading and introduction. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Thank you. Council member, >> yes. Councilman Pollock.
>> Yes. This ordinance tightens up our landlord registration rules, makes it clear who owns properties, who manages them, and who's responsible. I think this is a good step forward, and I appreciate everybody's work on this. I vote yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> I vote yes. And again, this is about
holding landlords and property managers accountable. I know some landlords are not going to like this, but the ones that are doing it right, they'll be fine with this. the ones that are trying to uh work the system, well, they're going to have a harder time. And we're going to continue as a council, you know,
soliciting feedback for the residents and doing everything within our legal wheelhouse to make sure we get it right. And if we don't get it right, we'll revisit it. We'll amend it. We'll make a new ordinance, but we're going to continue to do what needs to be done to protect the quality of life of this
town. So, yes, >> Council President Bernstein. So again, I'm going to thank our legal council and thank my colleagues. Um these were pretty easy to get everyone's uh um buy in and get everyone on board for and I appreciate it. Um I vote yes and I could
definitely say that echoing what Vice President Paul Mary just said, there are definitely going to be landlords which aren't happy. Um and unfortunately we have we we committed as a council this is going to be something we're going to continue to try to tackle in 2026. Um, so I am happy to see it here and again
we continue to welcome feedback on all these issues going forward. So yes, >> thank you. Motion carries. >> The next item of business is the first reading and introduction of ordinance 202603 amending and supplementing chapter 244 of the township code of the township of Jackson entitled land use
and development regulation as to amend 244164 entitled property maintenance. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments on ordinance 20263? >> Sure. So um first I have my comments and I have something to add. So this ordinance amends the township's property
maintenance standards to clarify maintenance responsibilities for property owners, tenants and other responsible parties is strengthening requirements related to upkeep of parking areas, sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, refu storage and overall site conditions. The ordinance also establishes a notice and opportunity to
cure process and updates the penalty structures for violations with escalating fines for repeat offenses. The intent is the tent the intent of this ordinance is to improve property conditions, enhance public safety, and ensure consistent enforcement throughout the township. And just from my added um
off of what council vice president said, but the last one, this council is we committed last year and we're going to continue that that way. We're going to continuously review when we do things and making sure that we are heading in the right direction. So last year I helped author an author an ordinance
that um that a property maintenance ordinance and as I committed last year we were going to review it by end by the end of the year which we did. Um and this is raising the fees back to where they were on property maintenance. Um um and this is something that we had I
had a cons constant communication with Andy Cheney from code enforcement with my colleagues here on council and um I'm happy to see it back on the agenda and uh that's the background to it. >> May I have a motion to approve ordinance 2020 603 and first reading and
introduction? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Council Variell. >> Council President, if I may ask. >> Sure. Um, how do we make sure like just for the, you know, for public uh information for the residents who we represent
how do we make sure that we have something in place that residents are following these laws? Like for example, property managers, landlords, so they're not like, you know, caught off guard that, you know, hey, we passed these laws. They're in place now and they're informed that, you know, the law is not
I just want to explain the law is not changing. They still have they've always had to maintain their properties. It's the penalties that are that are changing. The pen penalties are increasing with if this passes for a second reading. So I I how do we ever notify people when there's a ordinance that passes? I think generally there's
notifications that we put in the various publications. The township has been doing, I think, a great job in the past couple weeks of putting out press releases and we're going to continue using all those forums so people are aware of when we pass something. Um this ordinance people had an obligation to keep their properties neat yesterday. they'll have an obligation to keep their
properties neat tomorrow. This is strengthening the fees and the penalties. So maybe instead of someone getting that 75 I think it was $100 ticket if they left trash in their in their property, now they're going to be going back to getting that $500 ticket and then they're going to end up in court quicker than it was in the past
year. So um obviously how do we let people know? By having public meetings, by asking everyone who's here, asking everyone who's not here to please let your neighbors know that this is something the township is doing. And I know we have various media outlets at follow meetings and uh we'll be putting out the various information to the public. So
>> may I add something? >> Sure. >> And if you're referring to uh council member ordinance 26 202601 or 20262 I believe in the ordinance it's not like we pass it and then next day they get a fine. It's a 30-day grace period for folks to for those um landlords and
property managers to have that time to uh you know know that this is coming. So it's a 30-day grace period before it goes into effect for them to to get it right. My hope is that we have enough staff to be able to enforce these ordinances. So the first so the first passing
>> so the first ordinance we got teeth in them and follow through on. >> Sure. So the the third ordinance the third ordinance is the existing code enforcement. This is something they already enforce. It's something they spend a lot of time on. So we're hoping that by increasing the fines actually they'll be less busy now. That's
obviously one one goal. With regard to the first two ordinances, this is a a new registration list. I did discuss it with our clerk and she felt pretty confident that her team could continue could maintain this list. Um obviously if that becomes an issue, we know there's open communication with the
clerk and she will notify us and then we would have to amend it accordingly. But um the we we did consult with the first two ordinances with the clerk's office because it falls under their jurisdiction and the third one with Mr. Cheney and they all felt pretty confident that things could be enforced. So from there,
>> thank you, >> Council Member Belli. >> Yes, >> Councilman Pollock. >> Uh I take a little issue with this ordinance. Not really in a bad way. Uh we did lower these fees last year. Uh
and I remember kind of going to war with this council a little bit over some of these issues and so did some other people in the uh some of the residents. Um, kind of funny what happens after an election, but I am very glad we're moving in the right direction. Now, this is about quality of life. People move
here because it's a beautiful place to live. Uh, they don't want to see properties not maintained, and we see a lot of these issues coming out of these out of town investors renting out these properties to a bunch of unrelated people. Um, there needs to be strong fines, and that's for people doing the
wrong thing. We need proper enforcement and we need to give code enforcement the tools to enforce the law and make people not want to break the law. I think if you lower the fines, you make people more likely to break the law. Uh especially when it comes to quality of life issues like this. So, I'm really
glad we're doing this and I give a very strong yes to this. Thank you, >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. So, I would just like to say um you know I council president Bernstein did say when this initially passed that we would revisit it at the end of the year. And I
think it's important that we we can admit this council can admit when we don't get it right if we missed the mark. I think it's important we could come back and and say to the residents, you know what, we we messed up. You were right. This didn't work. We gauged it and we want to amend it. We want to make
it right. I'm not perfect. I don't think anyone up here would say they're perfect. So, if there's something that passes and it's not so as effective as we would have hoped it would have been, I think it's important for us to own it and say, "Yep, we got to go back. We got
to fix it. We got to amend it or pass a new ordinance to make it right." And hopefully what that does is a learning experience for all of us. and that we can continue working together, soliciting that feedback, gauging how we uh are passing ordinances and how effective they are and then fixing them
when we have to. So, I think that's you're going to see more of it sometimes. Uh you know, things we pass today or next meeting or whenever if it doesn't work, if it needs to be stronger, if it's too strong, you have our commitment to listen and then fix it. It's not we're not, you know, we're not here to be a a dictator and say this
is it and it's final. No, if we we did it and it's not right, let's fix it. And I think that's what we're doing today. So I think it's commendable that we could actually say, "Hey, we dropped the ball here was we want to fix it." And that's what we're doing today. >> I vote yes.
>> Council President Bernstein. >> So I'm going to take one offense at what council vice president said um about dropping the ball. Um and I hope this doesn't go out the wrong way. Um is I think we are more informed and I give the credit to to Mayor Cune. Um we had we had certain issues last year that we did not have the proper communication
and I'll take responsibility for that with code enforcement. Um the mayor the men that Friday when she got sworn in about an hour after she told me go to code enforcement sit down and start those dialogues which we did. We've come a long way. Um and this really that was my first I think my second meeting with
Mr. Cheney. This was a conversation we had understanding this ordinance and what our misinformation was. Um, and that came from the fact that we did not we're not allowed we're unable at that point to as council to have um communication with our department heads. The mayor authorized it. I um we've had
the communi communication the entire council I' been very impressed with. Um we've been communicating internally and um so I'm not going to use the word we dropped the ball. We worked with information and we'll admit that the information we had wasn't full. But now that we have more information, we feel very confident. And I like I said, I
reached out to my to the council and um and Mr. Cheney and uh he reviewed it. He found a couple spelling mistakes and other errors in the er in the ordinance. I really do appreciate the fact that he uh read the ordinance for us and um I vote yes. >> Thank you. Motion carries.
>> And excitement business is the payment authorization of bills and claims. The following abstensions are from Councilman Barlli. AE1, DE L1, E1, NJ6, NJS13, PTC1,
RU4, RU14, RU18, STA76, TR2, TR34. Council President Bernstein, are there comments by council? >> My only comment is that I know how much work went into this and this a lot of this includes stuff from like the holiday season. Um, so it's it is it is
thick, but I had the opportunity sitting with you and going through with them. And there's a lot of stuff for DPW, a lot of the holiday season stuff. So that's that's my only comment on on on the bills and claims. >> May I have a motion to approve the bills and claims with the abstensions noted? >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Councilman Belli. >> With those abstensions, yes to the rest on the bills and claims agenda. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Uh, yes. Councilman, Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein.
>> Yes. And again, thank you, Madame Clerk. When I called you today twice, I know it's been a hard week with uh with the winter, so we appreciate it. And then when we sat down this afternoon, it was extremely enlightening and so I vote yes. >> The motion carries. >> The next item of business is the consent
agenda listed for tonight's consideration or resolutions 62 through 77 2026 listed by title. Council President Bernstein, are any comments on the consent agenda? >> Yes. Does anyone um from the public have any of the resolutions from the consent agenda that they want us to take off of
the consent agenda and have a council discussion on? Raise your hand. Going once, going twice. Okay, madam clerk, we'll continue. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to authorize the consent agenda resolutions 62 through 77 2026?
>> Motion second. Council member Belli, >> yes. >> Counciloman Pollock, >> yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary, >> yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> So, before I vote yes, um before I vote, I just want to highlight um something I
just found very fascinating. Um authorizing added DPW lean tax. Um this was just someone who didn't maintain their property that DPW had to go in and maintain and person build. Um we're actually seeing that now with the snow removal, something that's come up. um in
the past couple snowfalls, but residents have reached out about their streets and we've done the research and it's not on the township list because the developers never finished the street and is still responsible for the street and it becomes a dilemma because public safety, we want those streets to be plowed and
then you have developers who are not plowing their streets. So, we've had these conversations myself, the mayor and the business administrator with our legal team about also about whether it's a tax lean or other things other ways that if the township's going to go out and take care of the public safety, making sure that we do still hold a
developer. So, just thought it was an interesting tibbit to share with everyone, but yes, I vote yes on everything. >> Thank you. 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 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? >> And madame clerk, I'm just want to just repeat for the public. Um, we did put out a release. Hopefully by the next meeting, we will we'll come to a consensus council and there may be
changes, there may not be changes. We'll let everyone know. Um, if you had h had any feedback, definitely you can say it tonight or you can send it via email to any of the council members. Um, the way I'm going to be doing the public comment is it's your five minutes. I'm going to try my best not not to not to interrupt to use up your five minutes. I'll be
taking notes and I will do do my best to respond. If I need to, you know, send something to the legal team or with administration or to any of my colleagues, I definitely will. So, the floor is all yours, Mr. Alman. >> Donnie 206, let's get the easy thing out of the way. Mr. Terafano, I know you're
new. I wasn't here last time. Do some other things. I need to meet with you in regards to some problems that you are uniquely qualified for. I believe our mayor might be able to help fill you in on that. Um, I want to just play some things. This is a phone call between Avagal Reese, uh, Mosha Miss Rahi, Mosha
Heyman on the planning and zoning board, and Sergeant Robert Refe of Jackson Police Department, >> right? Thank you for that. Um, and they let him go on level three. Now, the issue is that those charges are
just false and they were made in a conspiracy. >> Amazing. So, move on. So, why did he get arrested again? >> Well, he said something stupid. Like I said, he is stupid. And because he said it to the police, they use that
as a threat. He didn't necessarily threaten anyone. >> Amazing. Okay. And why do we have 30 pages going back many years? >> Listen, I don't know. >> I'll ask you a question. Okay. Father
said your father's corrupt. Yes, it is. I can hear it Monday morning. But understand right now it looks like giant HIPPA and a fourth amendment violation. >> It's not HIPPA. There was only medical records in the hospital.
>> Mind you, there's also audio recording between Hyen Ree and Sergeant Reef where they're discussing basically my transmitting my government file and they're having conversation about how they're using the Jackson Police Department as a weapon against me to create a aggravated assault charge and
then a couple weeks later come after me for terroristic threats. You know what? That was corruption. >> Am I allowed to speak? Wait, I don't see it. I'm sorry. I
just information that your father got on. Okay. Request the same way that your boyfriend operation, right? >> Yeah. The over requests take a matter of days and my father got this information
in a matter of minutes >> because it's a matter of who you know somebody is not illegal to get information. >> That is corruption. Ding ding ding. >> It's a matter of who you know. So I went
to jail for seven days because her father doesn't like me. He's friends with some of the board members. He's friends with the planning board members. He's plann friends with the zoning board members. He's friends with half the cops. Literally, my Abigail got beat up and when she called for help, I ended up
in handcuffs. All right. I've not been able to file an internal affairs report and I've been trying since December 18th to do this because, well, this man is stupid enough to record his phone calls when he calls his cop buddies and sends
it out. No one has done anything. I can't get uh either uh Candido or Bosley to react. They know that there that my life is at risk because the restraining order has been violated against me several times. And the only thing that
seems to be is that their main concern is getting getting Avagle away from me. That's not this that's not what this is about. This is about simply the fact that the Jackson police are being used as a weapon for a private citizen. I know some of you have this undying belief
that the police do no wrong. I assure you, I have enough recordings that if anybody actually cared to listen and actually cared to make the police do their job, well, if for nothing else, just to save a whole bunch of lawsuits, you would react. But no one seems to care. I can't even get anybody at the
Jackson Police Department to return my phone call. Why? Why can't I get take an internal affairs report? says any police officer shouldn't have to go to the head of internal affairs who I already have a problem with because well his girlfriend shouldn't have to go to somebody who
tell who's who is literally telling me that he's going to ask the police officer if they did something wrong rather than doing >> okay thank you Mr. So, um, you can sit down. I'm just going to respond quickly. Um, thank you for reaching out. Um, being that is a police
matter, I think it would be highly inappropriate. I know you reached out to myself and some of the members of the of the governing body. We take everything seriously, but we have to refer a police matter back to the police. If you feel, as I think Mr. McCucken said by the last council meeting, that the police are not doing what they should be doing, there
is a process in place in in the country to file a report with the prosecutor's office. Correct, Mr. McCen, >> that's correct. First, you have to go through the internal affairs process, whether you want to or not. That's where the initial complaint has to go. From what you just said, I I it sounds like
you didn't do that because you believe it would not be uh an appropriate remedy. And then in that case, then you have the right to go to the Ocean County prosecutor who's the chief law enforcement officer for Ocean County and is responsible to oversee the internal affairs department of Jackson Township.
>> And then and and Okay. miss. Um, and then lastly, you mentioned a me member of one of our land use boards um, who was on that call. I couldn't hear everything, but I think you have the wrong person and that's all I'm going to say on that matter. Anyone else? >> Want to run for the days?
>> Joseph Sullivan, 31 Catholic Court here in Jackson. uh in my profession I have to attend many council committee meetings uh governing bodies across the state. So if you asked what people's preference were when it came to public
comments I I actually prefer having public comments after but whatever you decide is fine. I think it works either way. I've seen it work either way in many communities but my personal preference is to have public comments at the end of the meeting. That's
>> Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. Anyone else? Young man, Mayor Cume, Jackson Council, Mortimer Wartman, Jackson resident and my best friend is still missing. I was here speaking to you all earlier this month and I appreciated seeing
response from Chris Pollock, Mayor Ke and Morai Bernstein. But it still clear to me and growing clearer every single day that this town can do so much more to locate its missing residents.
This is a recording from a private conversation I had after the last council meeting I spoke at where I was previously reassured by Morai Bernstein council president and by Mayor that the police are doing everything they can
to find Mortimer Ward. >> You said they that they didn't want to >> Yes. Morty M. Um, >> ch >> A V >> A >> E R >> E R >> I N >> I am
>> search and rescue. >> Search and rescue. >> Put that in. >> They have they have branches in Jackson. That should come up. >> Uh, why would the police not? >> So I So like I said, >> we're under litigation with the chief police. So we're limited. But if we're
told stay out of it and legally by the push, then it becomes a legal matter. So I'm going to follow up because the police told you not to contact the search and rescue team. >> That's let me give you that's Morty Bernstein 245 here. Let me show you for a second
here. This is your pencil. If you couldn't tell, that was Morai Bernstein telling me that the police asked him not to contact a search and rescue squad. Clearly, based on this new information, even the council president himself believes that more action can be taken.
With this in mind, I ask you all, what more will you do to ensure that Mortimer Rewardman is located? And what more will you do to repair the mistakes of your police department? You are fully aware of your own shortcomings and clearly also aware of the shortcomings of your
law enforcement. Mortimer Wartman is still missing. It's been 68 days and we still have no answers. Thank you. I mean, I could keep talking for two and a half minutes if you want me to, but um
but you can respond now if you like. >> Sure. So, I just want to respond for a second. So, um again, I appreciate very much you coming to the last council meeting and um the conversation that you displayed. I
mentioned Havim, which is C H A V. I think I spelled it right on the on the audio. E R I M, which is a volunteer. It's not the PDA. I just want to clarify for the public who Yeah. Um and what I mentioned was that they're a great organization that do do great work. Um
and they're out there all the time. And what I mentioned was that why don't we reach out to that organization? I don't know if you did or didn't. Um and what >> I have I have to listen again. I don't remember. Um but um
um um I I definitely do agree the township could continue to do more. I think since the last meeting the township has done a little bit more. I think the results we're looking for the results we're looking for is
obviously defined more and more. Um, but as I said to you then in person is I'm not in the position to go ahead and instruct the police department how to do their jobs. If you feel and that the police department isn't doing their jobs
and you're the second m the second resident to say that recently, then I would turn the floor to Mr. McCucken because I've I was I've always been under the impression that it would be highly inappropriate for me to call a member of law enforcement and instruct them. It's something that we've gone out of our way since we're on council not to
do. Mr. McClucken, >> that's correct. Council has no authority over the police department with respect to how they do their job. The only people the prosecu the police department answers to other than on administrative side of things, they have to answer to the governing body and the rules and
regs of the township and the local ordinances. But as far as how they do their police function, um their boss is the Ocean County prosecutor and ultimately the attorney general of the state of New Jersey. that's who they report to. The council and the mayor have no authority to tell the direct the
police department how to do a job or what job they should be doing differently um as far as a criminal investigation. So, if you're dissatisfied with the efforts of the police department, you think that there's something they've done wrong or could have done better um you're you would have to go to the Ocean County prosecutor to advise them of that.
>> We have Yeah, actually they were supposed to um I'm sorry for going over time. >> Give a few seconds. Here you go. >> Thank you. Um yeah, they were supposed to transfer the case off to Ocean County prosecutors um in the first week of the search and they still haven't sent them any of the
necessary case details including the initial police report or any of the CCTV footage. Um, and uh, we've been sending Oprah requests constantly, multiple Oprah requests for specific items, and the only thing that we've been able to get back is a five minute recording of a
911 call >> where the first thing that the Jackson responders said is, "Is he even from here?" >> So, during an active police investigation, very few items would be subject to Oprah. They're specifically exempt. But if you're dissatisfied that the Jackson Police Department hasn't
done something, you need to follow up with the Ocean County Prosecutor and say and that's they're the boss of the Jackson Police Chief and the Jackson Police Department. So that's where you got to go. >> Uh they still haven't done anything for us. >> I think you should go to their meetings or go to the county and go to the county freeholder meetings. And
>> we went to the attorney general. >> We went to the state police. We went to the FBI. >> I can tell you that they have much more authority than the mayor and counsel here over how the police department handles their job. They should They should know about the knife that the family found on the first day of the search. >> They certainly should.
>> Yeah. For some reason, the state police had no idea. >> Please order. Or order. There's a resident up here. Mr. McCauen, is there would it be appropriate um for this governing body to reach out to the prosecutor's office on behalf of
>> Certainly. We could write a letter for the mayor council asking for an update on the investigation. >> So, Mr. McCinen, mayor, could we authorize Mr. Mr. McG take care of that tomorrow morning. Okay. Thank you. >> Uh I just want to say thank you for coming again. Thank you for speaking and
you know I understand we don't really have you know authority over the police and what they're doing and their investigation but I'm glad you're talking about it and I I think we all agreed we probably should have done more from the beginning and we admit to that and we are trying. Um I look at this
case and I'm like what the hell happened? I'm going to be honest. I don't care. I'm a councilman. I I speak as a person when I'm up here. Um I don't know what happened with this whole case. It It's surprising. It's shocking. Um and it shouldn't be. Um I'm a big
supporter of the police. I looking at this case, nothing looks good to me. And I appreciate you coming here, voicing your concerns, and keeping this going because the worst thing that could happen is that our residents stay quiet and they let things go. If there's any
wrongdoing, let us find it. If there's anything we can find out, let's find it. Let's find what happened. Let's find Mortimer. We just have to keep pressing. Keep speaking out. I encourage everybody in this town to use their voice. Uh without it, you have nothing. So, keep speaking
up. Thank you. Uh I'll keep bringing up. We'll keep talking about it and and we can just do what we can. Thank you very much. I'll say thank you to to Chris Pollock for for still being the the the uh the biggest uh supporter for for all of us. Uh Morty's family and friends and
and everyone that's affected by this appreciates everything that you've done very much. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Res. Good evening. Um, Ann Marie Skroy,
Jackson, New Jersey. Uh, this is the first time I'm ever attending one of these meetings. >> I'm sorry. Do you mind repeating your last name? >> Skroy. S G R O I. Um, so I'm just looking for a little clarification. I have two properties in 60 acres that are
both rented out to young families. Um, of course, everyone knows the expense of housing and the rise of costs and taxes, etc. I wanted to not be a landlord in here in this area any longer. Sell the properties. I've even offered the
tenants um $30,000 to vacate the properties. Um but they cannot afford to do so even with my offer. So I'm going to continue to be a landlord for these young families. In the meantime, I was notified by a friend that there is a new fee coming into place. And you may have
talked about this and um maybe I didn't understand it, but the fee is for a safety inspection that will happen annually. Um I called the township when it was time to do my registration and I was told that there was no staff for this and don't worry about it. So I
didn't worry about it. Um I am friends with Amanda Trombetta. We actually own properties that are adjacent to each other and in talking to her she said no that's not the fact. you need to go to the town and pay for this fee. When I called the town back, I was told, "Yes,
you have to pay for the fee, but you're not going to get the inspection because there's no manpower to actually do the inspections." And I said, "Well, doesn't that seem a little ridiculous that I'm going to pay $100 for for an inspection? That's not going to happen." And I was told, "Well, this is what's happening." And the attorney said that we're still
allowed to collect the money, so this is what we're doing. So, I came to the town personally today. It's just a coincidence that this meeting is tonight and they told me about it so I could come. But I went to the town personally and once again I was told that they were taking my money and there would be no inspection this year because there was
no manpower. But I could go across the street to the blue building to fill out the paperwork, give my check for $100 and talk to Hope. So I went across the street and talked to Hope and she said, "Oh no, I'm going to be doing the inspections." And I said, "Oh, okay. Well, when will that be? Can we make an
appointment now?" and she said, "Well, we hope to get an email out to you within the next couple of weeks, but we can't schedule anything just yet." So, it just seems kind of weird, you know, and I'm all for the inspections because she explained that it's for the good of, you know, the community and I'm all
about these bad landlords and getting everybody in place. And I am more than happy to be compliant with anything that is good for the public and of course my families that live there, but I'm just confused as to why I'm paying $100 for what. >> Sure. Are you ready for me to answer? Yes,
please. Okay, sure. So, first of all, thank you for being someone who appears to be a good landlord. We appreciate it. Um, we're not against landlords um at all. Um, and it's nice to hear how you're being nice to your tenants also. So, we appreciate that. Um, do you mind me again, I don't know if
this is it would be appropriate for a public question or for you after the meeting to talk to our business administrator. Um, I'm not sure who gave you that information. If it was I what department it was that you spoke to who told you that? >> The first door on the right. The women >> in this building. Not in this building.
>> The uh code. >> The annex. Okay. Fine. >> Do do you know could you let Mr. >> I didn't catch their names. I mean I could certainly go back and ident. >> Okay. I'm assuming it was probably someone from code enforcement or was I mean that office is code and zoning. So >> Right. That's where I went to the office
to give them my registration and give them. >> So you spoke you the person who took the money is the one who said that to you? >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay, fine. So, um, Mr. um, I'll let the business administer address that. So, I'm not sure why that resident that I'm sorry that that town employee and we apologize. I apologize. Um,
didn't give you accurate information. Um, as we have mentioned in the past couple meetings, um, getting this rental bureau set up is a work in progress that the township is working on. Um my understanding from I did review that document that you have to fill out when you give the $100 fee in is the township
it does say on there that the township will be in touch with you to schedule. Obviously the ideal universe would be that when you fill it out you get your date. Um but as part of the process of setting up we are in the process of the mayor and the business administrator of interviewing housing inspectors. We want
to do it right. We could just rush in and hire anyone off the street but we want to we we put it out. We've gotten I think over 150 applications and resumes for the job and we are vetting the people making sure knowing how big of a problem this is and how important this position is making sure that this um
department is properly staffed. Um and there was a process it took in order to get to the point creating all the ordinances which end up I think the last one was in November and December then starting and the hiring process. So, right now we have someone in the office, you mentioned Hope, who's taking the paperwork. Um, she is going to be part
of this of this of this called new bureau that is doing the inspections. Um, but the the $100 is not going to waste. That would that would be inappropriate. Um, the $100 is going to be going to paying towards the salaries for these um employees in this
department. And we are hoping the next week or two to finalize a process of hiring start hopefully and I'm hoping within the next month. We agree in future years when you give in your paperwork, you should have an an inspection set up. But this year, like the paperwork said, and I I know Hope has been doing a great job of putting
together the information, the township will reach out to you. It's on the township to reach out to you and set up that inspection once they have everyone's things set up. >> Do you think the inspections will happen in this year? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Yes, that's good. >> Yes. I mean, Mr. um business administrator, is there anything you want to add because you obviously this
falls under you. >> I'd just like to reiterate what the council president said. Obviously, we have some growing pains. This is a new uh ordinance that was taken effect and a new bureau. So, we're growing the bureau and you've already met Hope who's doing a lot of the back office work and compiling all the data. So, you're going
to get information from her and from the staff as to when we're going to be able to come out and do the inspections, but they are going to happen. Um the bureau is here. They've established it by ordinance already. So, that that progress is already undertaking. And I'll just add it obviously if for some
reason that inspection wouldn't happen, you obviously would be refunded um your $100 because then the money was for an inspection. So I'm pretty confident in our new business administrator, he's knew he's getting his feet wet and this is one of his first processes. I know the mayor has told him this is your priority over the next couple weeks
getting this department fully staffed and up and running. Um, but if for some small reason the inspection wouldn't happen, you would absolutely get refunded and um >> and and or credited for next year. But again, I I would ask you um politely and
kindly after the meeting um if you can go over to the business administrator and share whatever information because um we want residents to know when they come to town hall to get accurate information and I'm not sure why you were given inaccurate information and um we need all of our departments to give everyone the correct information. So, if
you if you don't mind, I have to give it to the business administrator. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, >> Council President. Can I go on the record? >> Council Vice President. Yes. >> Um, just to be on the record, I think that whoever in the code enforcement department told you that that was completely inappropriate and that is
undermining this council. And I'm appalled that by those statements. And I'm hopeful that uh business administrator would look into that and see why someone would misinform uh a member of you know of Jackson Township of all the work we're doing to
say that don't worry about it. It's no it's no big deal and you know because that's completely inappropriate. It undermines this council and it's appalling. >> I council vice president I just want to add for a second is just to show you how serious the business administrator and the mayor have taken this department. um the person who's doing who's collecting
the money who you met today for the $100. Hope she wasn't hired in the beginning when we had to start this process. We actually gave a stipen to a member of a different department to start that process just so when people came in there was someone there. Um and like I said I'm very disappointed and I'm sure the business administrator will
work on this tomorrow morning. So council yeah >> thank you for bringing that matter to her attention. Um so we have one inspector hard already in hope. So we have three I believe the ordinance >> the ordinance allows for up to four employees currently um we obviously the
goal was I think right now if I remember correctly Mayor Cune the goal was a um a department head someone who is the chief inspector a clerk and this and a trainee that was currently the the manpower that we were looking to hire >> okay and this hope she's a clerk
>> no she's going to be the the position which is the traininee inspector she is hopefully she is in the process of they're setting up for training as we speak >> for the public's um information. Do you have a time frame? I know these are probably what civil service like a time frame of when they we plan on bringing
on these inspectors. >> Sure. So the the the or the or the ordinance said that the inspections would start February. Um we obviously have a couple days left of February. If I'm a betting man, it will be probably be the end of February when we got things set set up. Probably three to four weeks. But like I said, I know the
business administrator, I walked into his office last week and there was a pile this high of resumes that he was going through. We're looking for bilingual. There's a lot of things that we're looking for and making sure that we can properly address this issue. And um I know he was literally looking through dozens and dozens of resumes. So
um I'm pretty confident. I don't think we should discuss personnel, but I'm pretty confident that we will have this resolved or not resolved all the staffing hired in the next week to 10 days and then their the training that is required. just don't want to see the town get behind on the inspections. Is there a code enforcement equipped to do
these inspections in the meantime until we have the rental housing inspectors in place? So, my my understanding as per ordinance, this is a separate division. Code enforcement has had communicated in the past to both myself and the mayor when she was council president that this would not fall under their authority to
do um and they wouldn't didn't feel that they had the ability to even go into these homes. So, hence part of the new new department and like I said, I'm pretty confident that maybe a week behind, but I I think we're we're in a pretty good place. I know our business administrator um it's been a daily
conversation and um like I said, my bigger issue is the fact that the resident wasn't given accurate information, but that will be dealt with hopefully. >> I uh chime in for a second. I have very mixed feelings on this bureau department. um feel like we could have just hired some more code enforcement
officers rather than growing our government and creating a whole another bureau. Uh but if we have it, of course, I want it to be successful. I wanted to deal with the problems. Uh I wasn't a part of this council on that vote, but uh just wanted to record uh I definitely did not support the starting of a brand
new bureau to do something that a former department was already doing. I don't I don't like it. But uh let's hope we get this fixed. >> Um and I just want to add two things. So the purpose of this bureau, just to reiterate again, was um code already
does the rental the the year the the paperwork for the registration and obviously when you change tenants, they they do that rental co um um inspection. The purpose of this was to mandate a new inspection on a yearly basis, which for good landlords is not going to be a problem. For people who aren't such good
landlords, it's going to be a bigger problem. Um, so it really it has code enforcement like powers, but it really is a separate job. All they're going to be doing is doing these yearly inspections and uh we do need them to have a working relationship with code enforcement, all the other agencies. So,
I'm proud of it. And like I said, as similar to council vice president said earlier, if there are issues that need to be rectified and ordinances need need to be amended, we're trying our best to fix an issue that exists in town um within the confines of of the law. We had a round table where a lot of great ideas came up. We're working within our
with our legal team making sure what's legal, what's not legal. Um and also we mayor I would kindly request and business administrator um if tomorrow we could just put out another release reminding everyone that the deadline to register is the 31st. And I appreciate the resident who notified her friend making sure that she uh caught her
before she uh wasn't in compliance with the ordinance because that would be a shame. So we appreciate that. Hopefully we could also find out if more residents unfortunately were given this information because that would be a issue that has to be caught and uh we definitely need to go through those spreadsheets making sure that anyone who gave into 125 also was told to give in
the $100 and we don't have a lot of 125s without the $100 because then we have a lot of people not in compliance. So we're on it. We appreciate you coming and uh I'm sure the business administrator tomorrow morning has a busy morning now. Thank you. Anyone else? Carlos Martins, Jackson, New Jersey, and
I'm here as a resident. Um, okay. The the ordinances, the three great ordinances that that we just passed and that was a a very good round table that we had. Um, at that round table, one thing came out was the definition of a
bedroom, right? I think the square footage and and I think Mr. Maken, you had mentioned that maybe we should look at that because our definition of a bedroom was much smaller. So, a closet could have been a bedroom um than any other towns and you're going to revise
that. Is that part of these three ordinances or is that something else? >> No. >> No. Okay. But you will be we will be doing that. >> We'll be we're we're having ongoing conversations. I didn't give a commitment one. I I have questions that still need to be be addressed. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Because one of the things
that came up at that round table was how do we help code enforcement whichever department it is do their job. So we write the ordinances appropriately so that they can do their job. And um and that's one of the things that came out um I think Elliot might have brought it
out brought it up and um yeah and I think if we tackle that um that'll be helpful. Okay. So thank you for that. Um what was the other thing? Oh, the so last year when we decreased the fees,
right, on from the renters, one of the other things we said was that instead of only going after the landlords, sometimes we don't know who the landlord is. It's an LLC, the guy's uh enjoying Florida and we can't find
them. We can also find the renters, right? Um, is that still in effect? >> Yes, >> we're not changing that. Yes. >> Right. Um because >> this is purely the fees the fee schedule. >> The fee schedule, right? Because at the time, one of the reasons I was kind of,
okay, that makes sense. >> We lowered the fee because now we're going after the renters and obviously they can't afford as much blah blah blah. Um but I'm not against increasing the fees either. I just wanted to make sure that that part of it was still there. Correct. >> So if we can't find a landlord, we go
after the renters, let them find the landlord and not pay the rent or do whatever they have to do. But we we find somebody. Okay. So that's good. I'm glad to hear that. Um Okay. The other thing is on the settlement with the police
chief. So this is just a yes or no. And are you allowed to disclose the amount that was settled? You or the police chief, anybody, or is there a silence clause in there? So, the details of the settlement, um, we've been advised by
the legal council for another couple days not to talk much about it for the sensitivity of the matter, Mr. McCen. Um, >> yes, the answer is it will be um after the 1st of February. >> After the 1st of February, you'll be able to disclose the amount.
>> Yes. >> Okay. All right. And um and I guess with that basic because you know there's this stuff online whether that amount whatever that ends up being um included was only for back pay or the increases
in back pay that didn't happen. So not the full back pay that he was being paid he just wasn't getting increases. Will it list out okay this is how much is for that this is how much is for something else which we haven't been told there's anything else but maybe
there is all that will be disclosed February first >> the agreement itself will be available for inspection and any questions you have about the agreement you can come to a council meeting and ask any questions you have >> okay thank you uh so I'm going to write this down put it on my calendar
okay >> 7:35 in the morning >> 7:35 Five. Okay. All right. Thank you for that. Um Okay. And then so the other thing Yeah. Ah. So the other thing um two weeks ago
I went to the dark side meaning I went to a Howell council meeting. >> Oh. And the reason I went is because they were introduced a new or an ordinance, an ordinance about overnight parking,
right? So any parking from 1:00 a.m. to 5 Yeah. 5:00 a.m. uh in front of your house, you on the street, you need to get a permit, right? And that's to prevent all this big, you
know, and it goes with the landlord and having 10 families living in a house and you got 20 cars parked outside and all this stuff and you had to register that. Um, there's conflict of course, you know, because it impacts different people differently. I took a short
survey with my breakfast club, asked them how they thought about it. They weren't too happy. Uh, now they weren't too happy. 10 more seconds because they thought they had to pay something, but anyway, is that something they were considering? >> Okay. So, any idea that that's mentioned, we consider. Um, I'm going to tell you truthfully, I grew up in a town
in Ohio that actually had such a ban. It was actually later. I think it was 12:00 to like 6:00 a.m. It was um so it's not something that I'm foreign to at all as uh when I grew up. Um I've had initial conversations with some members of council, not with everyone. I am not supportive of that at this point. Um,
and I'm I think that many residents, it affects many residents who are law-abiding citizens in a in a detrimental way. Um, people it's get a permit to park in front of your house. I know it does doesn't sit right with me. It just goes against a lot of things that I stand for. Does it bother me? No.
I have a driveway that fits my two cars. Um, but I think it would would it would affect a lot of residents in a in a detrimental way who are generally law-abiding citizens. So, it's something we're going to continue. We'll have those conversations. Um, but at this point, it's not something, if you're
asking me personally, and not something personally that I support, but I will definitely continue. I've had conversations so far with two of the council members, not all of them. Um, it is something that I will definitely continue to have a conversation. An idea comes forward. There were two residents that emailed me about it. I have two residents who actually who I spoke to
who were extremely not supportive of it. So, sometimes an idea that's going to just split the town might not be in the best interest of Jackson, but we'll look into it. Jim Slakia. I am a zoning board member, but I'm here as a resident. I actually wasn't going to come up and speak tonight. I really didn't have a whole
lot until a lot of the conversations happened. First thing I'm going to challenge you, Mr. Bernstein, is on what you just said that you're not in favor of an ordinance that has permits for residents to park in yet. last year you approved for permitted parking in front
of houses. So that's that case. Um the other topics I wanted to talk about were Camp Joy. I live less than a tenth of a mile from Camp Joy, so it would be nice to see it finally get used. It's been there for
ever. Uh and it's been rarely used. We as children used it as our football fields and and stuff of that nature. Uh, so it it' be good to be used. I would I know he made the comment of not using bathrooms there. I would make sure that
there are bathrooms there, especially if they're going to have softball events that last the entire day. I don't want to see people using the woods. Um, that being said, as far as the new housing bureau, so I'm going to go back to the
the new committee that I was appointed to by the mayor this year in the uh the community budget advisory committee. Uh looking forward to getting started on that. Uh that is one of my areas that, you know, I'm going to look at because
it was mentioned that that bureau was going to be funded solely by the $100 fee that everybody's collected. Well, the numbers didn't add up in the ordinances. So, I'm going to be interested to see how we do it in the budget. So, those I can't that and
obviously the budget for Camp Joy among other things um that need to be here. The other thing is after the meeting I'm going to hand you a document. You talked about having the next um round table meeting on infrastructure.
Um, I actually prepared a document to give to you to consider and it's basically I'll give you the title of it now. It's the Jackson Township Roadway Infrastructure Advisory Committee and it details out everything that we as
residents can do to assist the township in getting it done. So, I will hand that out to you after the meeting. So, >> I appreciate that. >> Thank Thank you. So, I just want to respond to to to a couple of the things that you you mentioned, Jim. So, first of all, with regard to corner parking, you are correct. I voted for something
by off the county corners, and I stand by that. That was a safety issue. Um, and again, I I I had a feeling you would bring that up once I saw you moving to the to the front. With regard to infrastructure, I look forward to to getting that document from you. And um now, with regard to the um budget
advisory committee, um um I'm just mayor and business administrator. Do you know when that committee is going to is going to be meeting? Um I do not. We are just kind of getting a lot of things. We're working on the uh rental safety bureau. That's really our top concern and top priority right now.
Um and getting all the committees, you know, together and stuff like that. But uh the budget is done. So um I did it um with the CFO. So prior to the BA, I would like him to review it obviously so he can get familiar with it and then sit in on those meetings. So, I will make that uh by the next council meeting,
you'll have an email of when that um is going to start. And if I could say one thing, which I know I'm not supposed to, but I I just wanted to bring up the uh what you talked about the roads. I don't I forgot to announce we did create um it's called potholes at Jackson Township um new jersey.net where residents can
go, especially after the storm and with all the plowing that you could submit um a location that uh there is a pothole um that you see just like lights out. We did that one too. So again, as the as the snow and uh uh ice melts, if you see a lot of potholes that are dangerous, we
definitely definitely want to take care of them top priority. If it is a county road, I've already set up with the county um a contact person in an admin in the county that we can send them to. And they actually told me they could promise me a twoe turnaround um which is good for the county. Jackson Township we
have, you know, in-house. So I apologize, but I just >> Yeah. So, I I also I also want to add a couple more things to what uh the resident mentioned. Um with regard to the fee that you mentioned, $100 covering it. Um again, like council vice president said before, we're not we're not perfect. We we'll admit when when
numbers don't always it doesn't always add up exactly as we initially that was the way we initially planned it because we initially were told by some of our departments that there were 6,000 rentals when we started this process. That was the number we were told. then it went down to 4,000 and then the number is closer to less less than 2,000
rentals. So that's how we originally came up with that number and obviously that's going to be an ongoing conversation. I've already had that with our business administrator about that this um that that issue that you you brought up with regard to infrastructure. Um there are a couple of of like I said I'm looking forward to the round table. There are some
infrastructure ideas that Mr. Kliff actually has mentioned to me already. There was an ordinance that Howell did I think last year with regard to water drainage or two years ago that or in his he works for Howell also that he mentioned to me that we should consider in Jackson requiring when someone does um renovations to their home on a
certain scale put certain drainage systems in to help the general infrastructure in town. So there are things that we are looking at in conjunction with that round table coming up. But I definitely do like that idea of of uh and let's discuss that by the round table of getting more resident involvement in in all committees, but
definitely on infrastructure because it's a big town um and you don't always notice things unless you're campaigning for election or you're, you know, you're out there putting up sign. You you just don't notice, you know, certain infrastructure um um concerns. And with regard to potholes, I also want to just
address is the Jackson Township turnover. um I've been impressed with um I sent in um a couple of puddles in my in my couple years here living here and I've always been impressed. But with regard to county, I just want to point out with regard to snow removal, um I had many residents reaching out to
me about various roadways that were not plowed. I just want to again I'm not passing the buck, but I just want to explain the municipality does the municipal roads. Any county road, it's the county is who is the ones who plow um the county roads. I will tell you the county I've been in touch and the mayor's been in touch with the county in
the past uh two days with regard to the past snowstorm and they did give us a commitment that they're going to hopefully do a better job in the next couple snowstorms because it it wasn't exactly what we would have liked by this past snowstorm. Um but similar to potholes, anything on a county road is a county responsibility generally. Council
vice president. >> Yeah, I would just uh just to kind of go on the record with this parking permit ordinance. I'm not against researching it at all. I guess I would like to see what it entails, how we would write it. Um, you know, I could fit a few cars in my
driveway, but what if I have a bunch of friends come over one night and they're there till 2, three in the morning? Do I get, you know, can I get event permits? You know, can I get guest permits? You know, what if they don't leave till 2, three in the morning and I don't want them getting tickets, right? Um, so I
guess I would have to see what it entails. You know, if I have a party with 25 people at my home, I don't want them getting tickets, you know? So, I gotta see. I get what it's for. I get what it's it's it's it's it's it's for, but I just would like to see how I'm not huge on government encroachment too much
on people, but I would like to see if we could do it where it would work for all of us, but also allow us to, you know, get together with friends if we wanted to and not have that that issue of tickets and stuff. >> Yeah. And and council vice president, I just want to add to that for a second. So do the hell ordinance does address
obviously permits for friends and people staying over. But like I said, there's a lot of gray areas and a lot of uh of of potential issues that I I personally see at this point. Like I said, it's not a no, but it's something that at this point I'm not ready for. And I think it's it's a it's a big step that I definitely want to have further
conversations with members of the council. Anyone else? Good evening, Elliot Shubv, Jackson Township. We've heard a lot lately from this administration about transparency and accountability. Those are important words and they
matter, but only when they're applied consistently, including those in leadership positions. Right now, there's a credibility problem. Chief Matthew Coons's soontobe retirement followed a significant legal
dispute involving the township. That dispute cost taxpayers money and raised serious concerns about internal township administration conflict. This was not a clerical issue. It involved senior officials and had a real
financial and public trust consequences. Some current leaders in cu in including our mayor Jennifer Cune and Morai Bernstein have characterized these events as something they inherited. Jennifer Cun was council president
during the prior administration. She was in a leadership role at the time these issues were unfolding. Leadership does not work like a light switch. On when there is credit, off when there is responsibility.
In fact, she was council president when she decided to insert Joseph Candido as director of public safety. This is an added position that pays over $200,000 annually. And for what? Retribution. Force the chief out. Let's not forget
that the chief was not given his pay increases for years, which total somewhat in upwards of maybe $300,000. Yet, the suit is going to have to pay the chief somewhere in the ballpark, and we're guessing about $2 million.
That's not the only matter. There are additional lawsuits involving current and former township employees now moving through the legal system. One includes court-filled allegations from Maryanne Horda, a former town hall employee, raising claims of workplace misconduct
and harassment. Others involve internal employment disputes that have again placed taxpayers in the position of funding legal defense. Whether these claims are ultimately proven is for the courts to decide, but
the pattern is what concerns residents, many residents that I've spoken to over the last few weeks. repeated internal conflicts escalating to litigation with costs mostly to be paid by the public. Transparency means more than statements
and meetings. Accountability means more than pointing to the past. It means answering basic questions. What did township leadership know and when? What actions were taken or not taken to address these issues internally?
Why do these disputes keep ending up in court? How many more cases will end up in our court system? And what specific structural changes are being implemented to protect employees and taxpayers going forward?
Because from the public's perspective, what they see are officials distancing themselves from decisions made while they were in leadership roles. That gap between words and reality is why trust erodess in government.
Strong leadership does not say that's not my fault. Strong leadership says here was my role in the in the matter. Here's what should have been done better and here's how to ensure it doesn't
happen again. That's accountability. That's the transparency this council and government speaks of. And that's integrity. The people of this township deserve more than explanations. They deserve answers, responsibility, and government
commitment to fixing problems, not pointing the finger at someone else. Any statements before I sit down? >> Sure. Um, are you done speaking? I just want to take up your time. >> I am. >> Okay. Thank you. So, um,
just looking at my notes here. Fine. So with regard to um the litigation with regard to the chief um at this point um with after consulting with our legal team multiple times in the past couple weeks it's easy for me to go online and to give a very different version from some of the things that are being said
whether it's in different forums and different videos um I am going to respect the chief and respect the process of the settlement and I am going to protect the town because it's been a very long process and therefore as much as I want to politically respond I'm telling telling you now. I'm not going
to respond to the details. What I could tell you is that both Mayor Cune and every member of this council respects every single township employee. I can tell you I've had the opportunity in the past week in particular with regard to this to the snowstorm um in spending a lot of time with some of the employees
and the fact that we had by a snowstorm instead of six guys coming in or 10 guys coming in over 40 employees come in staying throughout the night and them coming and there was breakfast waiting on the table for them. there was lunch delivered and other things and they actually said that they've never ever had a mayor stop in multiple times
throughout a snowstorm. So, I'm going to defend um the mayor and say that she is working very hard with regard to um on ensuring that employees feel welcome and it's easy to file a lawsuit. um it's harder to win a lawsuit and um what I
will say is I'm not gonna I I don't think it would be appropriate to discuss those because the town hasn't even responded to some of those allegations that you you referenced in one of those litigations. Um there's two sides to every story and um and it's easy to file a lawsuit and it's easy to request a
settlement. Um I gave a commitment when I got in this position together with the mayor. We sat down on that Friday for a few minutes and we're looking to clean up some of the messes that we did inherit and some of those issues that you brought up we did definitely did inherit. So yes, we were in positions of power for the past or positions of
authority in the past year and um um and we definitely may have been there may have been allegations, but I can definitely attest personally working together with the mayor and and the members of this council that um that um if if something is still a matter of
litigation that we the township will vigorously defend the township's position because I know everyone here cares passionately about the township and only makes the decisions they consider the best in the best interest of Jackson Township. >> Quick question for you, Council President. >> Sure. >> I speak of the litigation that's
currently underway and hopefully wrapping up. Should the township expect any more new lawsuits in this calendar year? Yes or no? >> So, I'm going to stop for a second and I'm going to respond, but that's and I'll be here after. We can talk after
also. Um, there's no way of knowing because any employee or anyone could ever in government and Mr. Mucken, correct me if I'm wrong, could file a lawsuit. It's the way it works in government. Um, I'm very confident that no one has here is doing anything wrong that would deserve
a lawsuit, but anyone could file a lawsuit. It's very easy to file a lawsuit. Miss Attorney Mccucken, >> no way to know. I would imagine a town this size, it's possible, but I'm not aware of any. >> Someone falls you mentioned. Councilman, on the record right now, you'll attest
that there are no lawsuits that have been filed over the last 60 days that will appear before this public in this calendar. >> So, that's two different things you just mentioned. You said, Amar, we have aware of any that could be filed in the next year. >> No, no, phrase once it had been filed.
>> So, so Mr. Shto, let me let me respond to you for a second. So, I am not aware of any I have not been I am not aware of us being served any other litigations in the past six days besides the ones that you mentioned. Um, Mr. McCucken, if if I'm >> stuff get filed all the I mean, nothing
come across my desk. >> It doesn't come to my desk until the insurance company tells us that we're not that they're not defending it. So, I can't guarantee that. I don't know. Yeah. >> It wouldn't come to me unless the insurance company says, "All right, tax attorney, you need to handle this." So, I can't tell you for sure. >> And many of the article many of even the
litigation that you referenced before, um, I saw it on social media long before the township got served. And um it was even a a matter of litigation here. It was and there already like three or four articles long before and now every hour now there's another article about that matter. And um like I said, it's easy
for me politically just to want to respond and give a very different version of what's being put out there. But my job is to represent the town. And sometimes being quiet is not always easy, especially my personality, but I know being quiet is the right thing for Jackson. So I'm not going to respond anymore on that. >> Yes. >> Sure. We'll talk.
>> Absolutely. >> Any any other >> If I could Yeah, if I could, Mr. Shento just >> yes >> this current mayor has been mayor for I think three months and the administrator Terafenko has been in in place maybe a month so I would think it's in my
opinion and you could disagree it's too soon to to judge what you know what's going to happen or how they're going to be. They haven't had a chance to really hit the ground running. So I think time will tell and we'll have to kind of see what goes from there. But it's been it's 90 days or or less really. So we'll have
to see. To your point, Councilman Pal Mary Ba Terafano is very to this environment. >> Yeah, 100%. >> But Mayor Cune was president council before she was mayor for how long, mayor?
>> Three months. >> Three months. >> No, no. How long were you the president of the council for? >> The mayor was I'm going to respond to council meeting. Um she was mayor for council president for a little less than two years until she became mayor. >> Fair enough. >> Yes, absolutely. Again, like I said, I can attest that she cares passionately
about this township and works very hard and has a great relationship with our attachment. >> And it's different roles, different authority of what a mayor can do, of course, to what we can do up here when she was in that role. >> I'm aware of that. Thank you. >> Yes. >> I'd like to comment. Um >> I really take issue with this right now.
Uh, this transparency thing is is I can't say what I like to say right now, but um, we put out a statement about this lawsuit. You blamed everything on the former administration.
You took no responsibility yourself. Part of this lawsuit was about the public safety director. You said it was just about all back pay. He just came here with facts. Okay? you know, it was a certain amount is going to be for back pay. And you asked me to vote on this. I
requested this even after the fact. I didn't vote on it because I didn't have all the information. I wasn't given all the information. I didn't even know if the chief fully agreed to it. So, I abstained. And then after the fact, I requested the settlement agreement. I'm a sitting councilman and I can't even
get that. Like, what's going on? Like, why is this happening? Sure. And why are you putting all blame on the former administration while you were sitting council president, you were vice president, you brought in this public safety director, which was part of this lawsuit, I'm assuming a major part of
this lawsuit. I feel like his numbers are pretty spot-on. Um, and they're different from the numbers I heard in our executive session. Uh, you know, so everything seems strange and the fact I can't even get the settlement as a sitting councilman is kind of disturbing. So, you know, take it for
what it is. I think you need to actually be transparent, not just use those words. Let everybody know what's going on, what you're paying. You could have just settled the lawsuit and you know what? That sucks that you got to pay that amount of money over issues in town. But then don't go like slap people
in the face and just lie to them and be like, "Oh, it's all the former administration. It's only about back pay." Because it's I I just can we just be real with people from now on? And that's that's why I'm here. >> Okay. Thank you, Chris. So, thank you
for your honesty. >> Anyone else? >> Council President Bernstein. >> Sure. >> Council. >> So, it was just said, >> what's your name? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Tom Gillino, Coane Road, Jackson. >> Sure. So, it was just said, "We are a
township of ordinances and laws." Um, and Councilman Belli said there were ordinances, those ordinances need to be enforced. Okay. Recently, factually, Chief Coons put out a zero tolerance regarding 390 Cobain Road, his multiple
yard dogs, and their constant noise between 1000 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. There are two existing ordinances to reflect this. No one on this council lives across the street from this circus. I sat with Mr. Cheney multiple times and he has
encouraged me to call every night regarding the dog noise. Okay, this isn't new news. Okay, I know there's a lot going on regarding the chief, but why is it that the Jackson PD was called December 6th and December 9th? December
6th being 23 degrees outside Saturday night. Okay. And I was standing outside with the officers 30 minutes who acknowledged that the dog noise is ridiculous after 11:12, 1:00 a.m. Okay, as referenced before, I have a daughter that works at community. She has to be
there in the mornings at 5:30 a.m. Okay, most of you people here are parents. How would you how would you feel with that? Okay. Although 390 Cobain has been served in the past, they were not served either time on those dates. Okay. I will I will
refrain from using the detective's name that I got the factual information from, but it is factual if it's in if it's looked into. So, um, there was there a standown regarding this because that's how I'm made to feel. I was made to feel like a
perpetrator by the PD that night. Uh, like what? Okay. I just want peace and quiet on my block. Okay. Which I had for 20 plus years. Okay. His dogs are also reproducing and as as mixed sexes on the property. So
I've been told by a township official who I will refrain from naming that by April there will be babies born. Okay. Another illegal business perhaps a kennel. I don't know. That's an illegal business in Jackson unless they they go through the various
chains of protocol. Okay. It's also been noted that the resident put in a parking lot on his property for synagogue services as a host house without a variance, without drainage runoff survey, etc. Did he even apply for a township permit? Then there's the
terrible smell that comes from this property as a realtor. As a realtor, are you familiar with external obsolescence? Okay, are you familiar with that? External obsolescence. Okay, external obsolescence is when circumstances lower
the value of surrounding homes. >> Okay, >> it's pretty self-explanatory. Okay, he also runs a petting farm with reviews on Google. Okay, that that that happens during the spring, summer, and fall months. Okay, I have countless instances
and videos to prove all these illegal practices that have fallen on deaf ears on the premise that I will go away. This is now the second time I'm here. I'm not going away. Okay. Thank you. >> Sure. So, I I want to respond for a second. So, um we had a conversation, I
think it was myself, mayor, and Councilman Pollock. I know Councilman Pollock went out there and the mayor's gone out there. Um and I know, um if I remember correctly, and then mayor, I'm going to turn over to you. Um, we had advised the gentleman to reach out to
the police department and I guess the disappointment I'm hearing because I knew that that was the recommendation you were given with the noise ordinance and honestly animal cruelty I think was was part of the concern also. Um, my understanding it was police department mayor. Do we have any more like that's where my last communication was. Where
were we holding it after that? >> Thank you for coming. I you know it's a long history. I think it's been over a year um that we've been dealing with this and it's been with >> Oh yeah, it's longer than that. It's been a very long time. Um, I actually uh said to the to the to the business administrator, Charlie, next to me, I
said, "Make sure you listen because we got to meet with him." We do have a meeting in February. We were waiting. Um, the the the main communication was with our previous zoning officer. Um, and there was some miscommunication pertaining to what was going on across the street and enforcement, what was
being done. We've all seen it. You did send me. I mean, it was clear as day. You gave a great description of of what was going on. Um, in regards to the police department, uh, I I don't know why they they we do have, um, two officers I did speak with, one of them
is a detective, and they do have the power to write a ticket, um, for the dogs. The dogs are outside >> animal cruelty, right? >> And animal cruelty would be under code enforcement. Um, >> if you don't mind, if you don't mind, for the record, it's still your it's
still your time. So, he can come back. >> I he they told him to call at 10:00 at night. Then he call he calls me. >> Mayor, I just want if you don't mind, I just want the res. >> So, I've been outside multiple times with the PD. I'm not one of those people that calls the PD, goes in my house, watches from the wind. I come out with
them. Okay? I worked in the street for 30 years. Okay? Cole doesn't bother me. So, we were outside physically standing outside with one of the officers, okay? And he acknowledged both the noise and he acknowledged the smell, okay, that
emanates from this property. He's got goats on his property. They emanate a smell that's more equivalent to rotten milk in a container. It's it's terrible. Okay? And that's where I spoke about external obsolescence. If I go and sell my home,
>> this this is this is not rocket science. >> Did you Let me just ask. Did you follow up with the PD after? Like if there's a police report, like what do they tell you? >> Mr. President, I can call every single night. You come to my house at 10:15 at
night, you will hear them all night. I can't even open my windows. I said this the last time I was here. That is not a farce. That is a factual statement. Council President, >> let me just finish one more, please. Okay. >> When the PD shows up, >> they go to the front front porch and
speak to the individuals, the wife and the husband. This is what I'm dealing with. They deny that they are their dogs. Who else's dogs would be there? He has seven acres. Who else >> would Let the mayor finish first. Mayor, >> we have a meeting and and I want to
thank you for giving me the extra time and we're waiting for the BA and for the new uh zoning officer to come in and have and and council president, I believe uh if you're not on those emails. >> I'm on I'm on the email thread. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, we we're going to meet if you'll just wait until we come down here, I'm going to have you u meet with
the BA and we're going to confirm and again, thank you for understanding and we have been in communication. It is he he I speak to him and his wife regularly and they do call. I don't know if the if there's somebody that is the police officers are not able to take them because they're denying it. I don't know
the law that way. Um but I do know that they go there, they document it, but >> and mayor, I just want to add because they noticed they stopped the clock, but we should continue the clock. Um one more thing is I I think the previous zoning officer's opinion was and I think we discussed this I think even with our
legal team is that being that the petting zoo was not obviously in effect in the winter, that was the loophole that they couldn't use to enforce at that point. Um, I think all of us felt pretty confident. Again, we're not code enforcement or zoning. Um, we're law enforcement, but we all saw your
evidence and none of us are saying there to go back to what you said. There's no one on this council who doesn't agree that the evidence seems to point in a certain place, >> right? He runs his business on the weekend when when everyone's whole township is off, town offices, everyone's allowed to have a weekend.
Okay. But this guy, for a lack of better term, circumvents the system. It's as simple as that. >> So, >> back to the police officers. I've spoken to the officers at length. I've become friendly with them. I I have their names. Okay. But my point is that I gave
them the detective that told me about the zero tolerance and it still didn't matter. They weren't served. And I'm like, why aren't they being served? >> So, I would just say, mayor, I'm looking forward to that meeting. Like the mayor said, we have a a a new zoning officer now and we have a new business
administrator and um let's have that meeting and see what comes out from that meeting. >> Yeah. And I don't want to I don't >> and I just want to say is is originally I think the meeting was scheduled. We canceled it because we knew there were changes and we didn't want you to like I think you said in your email >> I was honest with you about that. >> Yeah.
>> But to the point and I just want to end with this. I don't want to have a meeting where we just for a lack of better terms. I don't want to have a circle journ. I don't want to have I have to look into it. I have to do this. I've given you just
instance and proof after proof. >> We're aware. >> Okay. >> Mr. Paul Mary, you have something you want to add? >> I guess I just had a question maybe for uh either our attorney or if Mr. Terafango could look into it. So, if if these dogs I don't know about goats, but if these dogs, which are domesticated animals, are outside when it's zero
degrees, isn't that animal cruelty where animal control could come and take them? And secondly, if the police go and and and interview this owner and he says those dogs are not his, then can't animal control come and take those dogs off the property since he admitted they're not his?
>> So, answer your second question, I believe, is yes. As far as the um the first question, it's not as simple as one might think. There are certain breeds of canines that are only favor the cold weather um but are in fact more comfortable in the cold weather and
prefer to be outside. So that is not necessarily animal cruelty unless it's a Pomeranian. That would be a different story. But there are certain animals, certain canines that thrive in that condition and prefer to be in that condition. >> Um and I don't know what these dogs are.
That'll be something. But if these but if the officer would attest to if the officer will attest to that the gentleman said those are not his dogs animal control could come in that that would >> so so I'm pretty confident this meeting our business administrator he he's
gathering all the information and I would just request let's come into that meeting as prepared as possible. So it should be the last meeting on this matter hopefully. Anyone else? >> You're not last. >> Yeah. Uh, do I got to mention my name again? >> Yeah, you have to mention your name. Yeah.
>> Sapio, 387 South P Road. Again, this is about um I lived in Jackson my whole life. Actually, I was here when they cut the ribbons for the justice complex. So, I'm very old. But my my question is kind of like the gentleman I I don't know. Well, I really should been talking about
doing the fields over. They say Jackson, the population is getting bigger and bigger and no, and I don't want to take this the wrong way, but where are the children going? I'm involved in I'm a USAL umpire and I umpire in Jackson a lot and I do a lot of games. Jackson has
in reality two softball fields, 5070, their softball, girls softball fields. Um, and 507 is another division. We we don't need sod on them, number one. They basically they need dirt. Okay. Again, I mean, I hope you look into that estimate
the guy gave me because I was, you know, Camp Joy hasn't been used in years. I used to play there when I was uh when I first got married. My son plays at Johnson Park. It's the only place you can play in Jackson. Now, I realize uh Patriots Park is a county park. And he
was saying something about the drainage. It's not the drainage. You can't get permits. They won't let you play there. But they they put a new c a new playground there just like they put a new playground at camp at Johnson Park. That field is horrendous. Before you worry about redoing another field, the
dog park's dangerous. You know, it's an old dump ground. You know that, right? And there's still pieces of metal. You you walk in I mean spikes in the ground. Well, kids, my son actually got hurt. They got to redo these fields. They're dirt fields. You don't have you know,
you don't need sod. the the the outside grass is easy to maintenance. I realize that the uh justice comp I mean not well they have all artificial turf over here but again there's only one 5070 field there and there's one on Huler but two
two uh Jackson and Huler combined because there's not enough kids to play so they only use the majority of fields are done at Hulra and everything. I mean, it's, you know, it's nice. Yeah, I'd like to see a camp jewelry redone. There's really not much room in there. There three fields, but in reality,
there's really two fields. One field is too close to the road. You can't really use that no more. I mean, these are just suggestions. You know, I know you guys can put on the back burner. I understand there's more important things, but the kids still count. >> You know what I'm saying? So in instead
of, you know, talking about putting these big fancy dugouts and these big nets that you don't really need, metal nets, redo the fields we have, redo Johnson Park. It's it's not really a lot of money to, you know, they're dirt. Again, their infields are all dirt.
They're 50 70 softball fields. >> Why Why are the uh Pine Park, we can't you can't play. um when these outside groups like um tra uh softball leagues, men's softball leagues, what does that money go to? Because I
know my son, it's you know, you're talking about three $4,000 a season. What does that money go to? It goes to the township, doesn't it? >> The permit for it doesn't. >> No. No. >> None of it goes to No. >> So that permit that you we have to they
have to get >> Where do they get that permit from? Jackson. the permit comes to Jackson, we don't get the money. >> Okay. I I again have questions, you know. Yeah. Sure. Wondering, >> you know, but my suggestion is fix the fields like we have now.
>> Sure. So, >> go ahead. >> Yeah. So, I I want to address that for a second. So, I think like Mr. Kunliff said, in the past couple years, there was a big effort to build more kitty parks and playgrounds throughout the town. We met I think it was three Fridays ago, myself, Mr. Kliff, and um
Mr. Bolinsky pertaining to looking at one of one of the existing parks. I think it was the Fleer Park which is a baseball field that needs work um that exists in that in that park. Um >> it has been used but now there's there are kids using it now. So we first
actually the first proposal that came up was pickle ball. The residents actually came back to us and said they would actually rather us fix the baseball field. So we're looking at we're looking at that park. So we are definitely looking at municipal parks to see what we can fix. My understanding, again, I I'm not part of the recreation committee, is that the recre recreation
committee felt there was a a need besides for fixing these parks to actually add additional parks. Um, but like I said, this is just the first step. The next step in the process, we're not we didn't vote on it tonight. We're going to, now that it's public information, I'm sure it's going to be out in social. What
>> park is a nice area? Sure. There's no benches. There's no way to to park. You have to park. So, I think Mr. field. >> I think the engineer mentioned that they with regard to the dog park, they they are in the process of submitting the necessary paperwork to those agencies and we have obviously that landfill
issue that exists over there. So, >> it's horrible. I think I think we're nearing some form of closure. I know the mayor >> going on for years. >> Yeah. It's just getting worse and all that garbage is coming up now, you know, the heavy duty stuff.
>> Okay. >> Just suggest. >> Yeah, sure. We appreciate it. Thank you for coming. >> Thank you. Thank Anyone else? Miss Jones? >> Um, I really wasn't going to say anything today, but then the lawsuits were brought up. And yes, I know that a lot of the information online may or may
not be true, but there's one point in these lawsuits that sticks in my gut, and that's a term that was used to explain or to define somebody who worked for this township. It was not an appropriate word to be for someone to be
called by anyone, especially someone in authority. I'm not saying it's true. the evidence will come out. But if there is any evidence that proves that that term was used and a young man was called something,
that person needs to step down. >> Sure. >> Apologize, step down, and move aside. Because if that word can come out of your mouth describing anybody, you don't belong sitting here. You don't belong representing our town. And as
someone who has worked with special ed for 25 years, I take high offense to it and I hope that it there's no evidence to it. But if there's even a remote the tiniest
point of evidence that says that it was said, do the right thing. Don't cost our town any more money. >> So I'm I'm going to just interrupt and respond for a second. So if you actually read the litigation that litigation never al the allegations were never that
anyone on this sitting on on this council or on the deis at all no one up here is the one who said it. It was actually a quote that allegedly again allegedly someone an employee said the media source that put it out took the play in words because they were angry at at a certain elected official here and
they put it in a way that made it look like but if you actually read that article in in full. You'll notice that even the article doesn't mention that anyone up here said those words. There was never an allegation that anyone on this on this table on this day has said those words. And I would agree if anyone would say that about a township employee
um it would be yes. And I'm not saying that it's gospel truth, >> but it's always been my experience that there's three sides to a story >> and there's yours, theirs, and the truth falls in between. >> But again, I'm just saying if any of
that falls to be true, >> don't make us come to a town meeting and ask you guys to account for that. It's all I'm saying. >> Mr. McCen, >> the other thing, well, before you even do that, >> I just wanted to point out there's been talk about Pine Park. I'm pretty sure
according to their sign, they're a Lakewood Township Park. I don't I won't say that that's 100%, but their sign reads Lakewood Township Park. >> You know what? You're right. Cuz all the committee members names are are when I go walk in there in the morning. You're right. I apologize for that mistake.
>> That's okay. I just wanted to point it out. Yeah. >> So, Mr. M. I will reach out um councilman to Lakewood Township either tonight or tomorrow morning about that. Yes. >> So so my mic's not so >> I'll speak loud. Um if you look at the
complaint, the complaint itself does not allege anybody on the governing body, mayor, the council, anyone else said that word. It's in their complaint. So in their own allegation, they don't make that allegation against any member of the governing body or the mayor. I can't be any clearer than that. It's it's an
allegation against someone else who's not a member of the governing body. >> No, I understand that. That's and I'm not >> Well, the way you said it was you should resign. I want to make it absolutely clear the pliff's own allegation is not against any member of the governing body with respect to that term. >> Okay.
>> I just want to make that reiterate what I said. I said if it becomes clear or there's evidence >> the pliff themsself didn't say that in their complaint. So you keep saying if it becomes out. the pliff themselves didn't make that allegation. >> Well, I would like to also point out
that the lawsuit with our chief of police >> started as one thing and evolved to other things. So things evolve so we can say that didn't happen. I'm just saying for the future if anything comes forward
that's when it needs to be done. I'm not accusing anyone of anything. >> Absolutely. I think everyone here would agree to that. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? Good afternoon, council. My name is Mandy Pollinsky. I'm not a Jackson resident, but I am from the town right
over in Freehold. Um, I'm here to voice my concerns on Mortimer Wartman, who has been missing for 68 days, as Nick had spoken about. I had the pleasure of knowing Morty through the Rucker's music scene. And while I might not have been his best
friend, I have seen how loved and cared for he is by every person around him. When I first heard that he went missing, I had reached out and went to help. And I I didn't really know what to expect.
But after I walked away that day, two things I could say was that Morty is a good person and he is so loved and his family is um despite dealing with every person's worst nightmare. If any of you guys are
parents or I'm an older sister like that, that is the worst thing I could ever imagine happening. And they are still so kind and genuine and grateful for everything. um throughout this process. And
um uh they've been out every single day, every night, exhausting every outlet um trying to find their son. And um while I know this township might not
have all the answers and this community might not have all the answers, um I know that his family is very grateful for anybody that can help bring answers or donate or give any sort of resources to to helping. They
even though I met them through these unfortunate circumstances, it is so clear how grateful they are. And um that's what community is for. And um I know policies and all these things are important to discuss, but I think
everyone in this room can agree that a human life is most important. Um so I guess I just want to leave everyone with even if you didn't know him, you don't have to know somebody to to help. Um you don't have to know somebody to
care. And um yeah, that's about it. >> Thank you. Anyone else? We have a motion >> being no one come forward. I motion to close public forum. >> Second. >> I madam clerk. Um I I apologize. Just
for the public, the mayor was supposed to read into the record in the beginning of the meeting the OEM appointment. Um it was supposed to been done by reorg and OEM only gave it after. So I did tell her she could read into the record. It's just a mayoral appointment. Council doesn't vote on it. So, um, just for the
record, we're not it's not hiding anything at the end of the meeting. Just it's an OEM the list from from the head of OEM. Did you just read into the record for the public quickly? >> I'm going to read it as quickly. So, go for it. It's a lot of people. So, I'm I'm It's everybody. I'm just for um it's everybody that was on here last year.
We're adding um a deputy emergency management coordinator um Richard uh Bonner. He is a chief of the um fire department. You have a deputy coordinator from fire, you have Scott Roush. First aid, you have Al uh Casori. Uh shelter, you have Gary No. Special
response, you have Mo Heinman. Um drone operator, you have Matthew uh Genevie and the leader of it is John Burmeister. Uh service uh council all coordinators is myself, Mayor Jennifer Keune. the business administrator. Uh liaison to
the mayor is Sean Bolinsky, director of MUA, James Diaz. Board of education is Anthony Bruno. Um Jackson uh building department, there's nobody that has been assigned. Uh public works is Mr. Bolinsky. Faith services is Reverend Dan
Schaefer and Mo Heinaman. And um the liaison to the township is uh Council President Bernstein. >> Okay, we have a motion to close. Motion >> second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Thank you everyone for coming out. Looking forward to seeing everyone in
two weeks.