Good. How are you? >> How you doing? >> Are you I don't think Stay there. All right. of the United States of America and to
the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Good evening and welcome to the July 28, 2026 regular meeting of the Jackson Township Council. Pursuant to the
provisions of the New Jerseys Open Public Meeting Act, adequate notice of this meeting was properly provided by transmitting a notice of the meeting on January 9th for publication. Notice of this meeting of the township council is posted in the corridor of the municipal building on the township website and in the office of the municipal clerk. We will begin with a roll call. Councilman
Belli. >> I think he's on his way. >> Councilman Brassie >> here. >> Councilman Pollock >> here. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary >> present. >> Council President Bernstein >> here. Also attending this evening is
Mayor Cune, Attorney McGucken, Administrator Tara Feno, and myself, Central Martin. The first item on this evening's agenda is the township council comments. Starting with Council President Bernstein. >> I just want to thank everyone for coming and looking forward to a great evening of conversation. Thank you,
>> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Going to reserve my comments and yield the floor back to you, clerk. >> Council Brassie. Councilman Pollock, >> good evening. Uh, I guess I'm the only one who has some stuff to talk about and
it's a lot of stuff. Uh, especially after not having a meeting last time. I got to start by saying the illegal uses in our residential neighborhoods are a horrible problem. Uh, we constantly receive complaints, emails, and reports about them. We need stronger enforcement
to protect the quality of life for the residents of our town. Uh, I have to call out a blatant waste of taxpayer money. Uh, we have an appointed mayor who's up for election in three months and we're spending taxpayer money putting her name on signs in public parks. I'd like to please start putting
the taxpayers ahead of self-interest. I sent in a resolution opposing flock cameras and mass surveillance. I'd like to formally request that it be brought to a vote the next meeting. I'd like to also request that our attorney draft an ordinance banning flock cameras in Jackson and we can have a conversation about it. It's no secret that I hate
government. I don't trust the government and I don't think it should have any power more than it needs. I oppose flock cameras and mass surveillance. I don't believe they should be surveilling innocent people, lawabiding people. Uh imagine a private
company installing cameras all over the place, scanning your license plates, surveilling you when you're just going about your life. I think it's wrong. And that's exactly why we have the fourth amendment in this country. Benjamin Franklin said it best. Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a
little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. I see we have a podium here tonight. I still have to ask where the original podium was. We've been told for months and months and months that it was being repaired.
Are are we just like making a habit of lying here? I I don't know what happened. Why was there never a single explanation? Uh people have been talking about this for months. So I I don't know how we operate in this manner. Uh I personally think it's just a way to
discourage public participation. Uh people deserve something to stand behind as they participate in their government. Uh if you've been following the last couple meetings, you'll notice the Grotown Road land purchase is not on the agenda tonight. Now,
there's a couple things that surround this, and I think it really shows how this government operates. I'd like to begin by quoting our mayor, Jennifer Cune, from the last meeting we had. I do not make statements that are inaccurate. Quite a statement to make. Uh the mayor later posted on the township Facebook
page that 12 homes could be built on this property, and I'm the only one who abstained from this, trying to act like I'm against open space. Um, but if you just, we already know this, we said this in the meeting. It's a 3.2 acre lot zoned RG2 with a density allowance of
three homes per acre. That's a maximum of nine homes. And usually, you're not getting all the homes on it. We'll look at we'll actually look at the property and talk about it in a minute. Uh, we need correct information and to actually receive information when voting to spend taxpayer money. Last meeting, I
abstained on it. You know why? because this never went through the open space committee and I needed more information. Uh, I'd like to actually look at it here. Hang on. Just so everybody can see, this is the property we're looking at, 277 Grottown
Road. It's highlighted right here. If you look in the dark blue, you're going to see that that's wetlands. You have wetlands cutting right through the center of it around the edges. And now you're going to see the lighter blue is a 300 foot buffer from the wetlands which makes it a lot more difficult to build on. Um we're talking about
spending $800,000 on this property. It's 3.2 acres. It has a home on it and I'm believing that we're paying hundreds of thousands of dollars. Well, we wanted to spend hundred I'm the only one who did not vote for it. Uh spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home just to
knock it down and spend money to do that. I just don't understand the the reasoning, the thought process. I'm all for open space. I'm all for purchasing land. Uh that's why I had to make sure we had an open space committee meeting recently and we're looking into lands we
can purchase for open space. Um I I really have to talk about what surrounded this being pulled off the agenda. Um what happened is with every land we're going to purchase, there's an appraisal. And I asked for this appraisal. It was kind of difficult to get. There was a lot of little back and
forth. And then I got, oh, you need to do this in executive session, which would mean before we actually voted on it for it to to go through, I would get that information directly before this meeting, which means I'm not going to have time to review it. I'm not going to really be able to go through it. Well,
so I believe that was intentional because they don't want me to have information. Uh, you're going to see that time and time again, and we'll have another instance in a little bit about it. Um, I don't think you're going to you should be voting on land purchases for hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions of
dollars without giving appraisals to the council members that have to cast a vote. So, none of this made sense to me, but I'm going to move on from there. Um, oh no, wait, hold on, hold on. I I almost forgot. Uh, what happened with it
was I pushed for the appraisal. push for the appraisal and then magically overnight the next day, what did we say? There was a uh legal issue with it and we had to pull it from the agenda. Just very interesting. Uh I just care about
how we spend taxpayer money and I think we should be getting the greatest value possible for every dollar. I don't know if it has something to do with who the surrounding property owners are and their connections to our politicians. I don't know. But I didn't really like it. uh we have to talk about when public
comment was shut down in the last meeting we had. Uh I'd like to put on the record that I did not vote to close public comment and I did not vote to end the meeting. I'm vehemently against that decision. It was done very hastily and at the end I was going what just
happened? Um you only shut down speech when you can't answer questions, when you're trying to hide something or when you're wrong. Um you could have stood answered questions. You could have had a discussion. You could have even took a recess. Instead, you shut down the very people you're supposed to represent. You know, I've had the council president's
friend come up here and accuse me of anti-semitism and hate based on anonymous people on the internet. The planning board vice chair who's a member of the Jackson GOP come up here and call me Antifa and make accusations based on anonymous internet comments. Um, you
know what I did? I responded. I'm confident up here because I believe I have the truth on my side. I I'm not never been a politician before in my life. Never been on any of this stuff. I'm just somebody who got upset, ran for office, and won. Um I do this simply
because I care about the town. I care about doing the right thing. I'm not always right, but I try to do what I believe is right. After that meeting, there was a email requesting police officers to be president council meetings because they said it was turned
into chaos. Now, you had one person going past their speaking limit. And this is somebody who really tries to do the right thing for this town. They stand up for the environment and they raise legitimate issues. They spoke past their time a little bit. Big deal. You don't need to
start bringing police officers in here uh pretending that it's chaos because it wasn't. All right. Now, you're going to have police here for what? To threaten people. To make people scared to get up and speak. Uh we've had people kicked out of meetings before that we have a
lawsuit over. Are we thinking these things through? You know, you got to kind of be deaf, dumb, and blind not to know people are unhappy with the direction of the town. You don't make things better by shutting down public comment, intimidating residents, or threatening arrest. You
have to ask yourself, why are people upset? That's the most important thing. See if you can address the issues. See if you can have the conversations. See if you can do something to make things better. I know it's not an easy job up here. You just have to be honest and have honest conversation as I believe that's the way things can start to get
better. The culture of fear, intimidation, and control needs to end. Government doesn't belong to the people sitting up here. It belongs to everybody out there. Finally, we got to talk about the cancellation of the last meeting. I was I was very upset with that. It did not make any sense to me whatsoever.
I personally believe it was canceled because you knew people were coming and you just scrambled to find some excuse to cancel it. That's my opinion. Uh the excuse was that the doors we've been using for months weren't fire rated. But the very next day, the state said everything was fine. The administration
made the decision to cancel that meeting. No fire official ordered it. I repeatedly asked for the state's letter explaining the shutdown. I never got it, but I got it anyway on my own. I would like to read part of that for everybody.
Fire official Roush also clarified that he never instructed the town that they could not hold their meeting nor were any violations issued. He simply advised that he would consult his state representative to determine whether the meeting room required fire rated doors.
Uh I'll post the full letter online for everybody to see. Uh you know the people of Jackson don't want government that hides information, shuts down meetings, limits public comments, or tells them to sit down and be quiet. They simply want honesty and they want a government that remembers who they work for. Um, thank
you everybody for coming tonight. We got a great The next item on the agenda is comments by Mayor Kim. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Good evening, everyone. Tonight, I would like to remember and honor Bernard Bernie Ryder, a remarkable figure in our Jackson
Township community. For over 40 years, he dedicated his life to education, serving as a teacher, guidance counselor, and a principal at Jackson Memorial High School. His influence extended to the founding to founding the wrestling program which has inspired many athletes and brought home numerous
championships. Bernie's commitment to our students and families left a lasting legacy. Recognizing by his introduction into various hall of fames, the board of education has appropriately dedicated the original Jackson Memorial High School building as Bernie Ryder Hall and
ensuring that his continued his contributions to education and our community are never forgotten. As we reflect on his life, let's celebrate the impact he has made to so many, striving to uphold the values he exemplified. Thank you. Also, just reminder, Jackson
Day is August 23rd. Thank you. >> The next item for tonight's meeting is an update from the Department of Public Works. Council President Bergen. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, DPW operations continue to remain on track in ensuring that residents receive reliable services throughout the town.
Over the past several weeks, the town has experienced extremely heavy rainfall and storms, resulting in localized flooding and down trees. During periods of heavy rain and flash flooding, storms drains can quickly become clogged with leaves, debris, and trash. Residents are encouraged to be mindful of the weather when placing trash recepticles at the
curb. Please ensure that containers have secure lids to help pre prevent loose trash from blowing or washing into storm drains. Keeping storm drains clear helps reduce flooding and allow storm water to drain more effectively. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support as we work to keep our community clean,
safe, and operating efficiently. >> The next item on the agenda is the first reading and introduction of ordinance 2026 24 repealing and replacing Jackson Township Code, chapter 388, entitled towers and recorders. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments? >> Sure. I'll first read the comments and I
add a little bit of my own. This ordinance, if adopted, would update the township's towing ordinance as set forth in chapter 388 of the township code. This chapter addresses towing companies licensed by the township to respond to accident scenes at the request of the Jackson PD and was requested by the Jackson Safety Bureau. It would make the
ordinance more consistent with ordinances of surrounding municipalities. And I just want to add to that is I was a little bit confused. It's very long ordinance. I had an opportunity in speaking to Chief Nelson today and she explained it to me that we are having a situation where sometimes cars are towed and people will give
their car their self their sorry their credit card number over the phone and then uh they cancel it after or they say it wasn't their credit card and we're having a lot of fraud. So this would require them to be doing it in person and um additionally would allow for the the option of putting on an additional
fee if necessary. That's it. May I have a motion to approve ordinance 2026 24 and first reading introduction to authorize the notice of the public hearing. >> Motion >> second. >> Councilman Bradley. >> Yes. >> Council Brassie.
>> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> Yes. >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Yes. >> Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. The next item of business the is the authorization for payment of bills and claims submitted for the period of July
14th through July 28, 2026. The following abstensions apply to July 14th's bills list. Council Vice President Pomeary V0141791 Council Barelli Ae T1 Eye1 NJC11 NJD4
NJS25 and STA76. The following abstensions apply to the July 28th, 2026 bills list. Council Vice President Paul Mary V1417
91. Council member Bellarelli AE T1 D E L1 E Y E1 NJC11 NJ DO4 NJ25 STA76 and TR E34. Council President Bernstein, are there
any comments? >> No, Madam Clerk. >> May I have a move? >> One second. Councilman Breie has >> I have an abstension. E2650602. Okay. May I have a motion to approve the bills and claims? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Councilman Browley. >> Uh yes to the rest on there and um excluding the ones you had mentioned that I'm abstaining on. Thank you. Councilman Brezie. >> Yes to all except for the one abstained on
Pollock. >> Uh yes. Uh I'd like to include P265 0751. Yes. To the rest. Thank you. >> Thank you,
>> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Other than in the extension I you provided. Yes. Council President Bernstein. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> The next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. Listed for tonight's consideration of resolutions 188 through
217 2026 listed by title. Council President Bernstein, are there any comments? >> Um, does anyone from council or anyone from the public um will just explain the process if it's the first time you hear? This is not public comment yet, but if anyone has one that they want the council to vote on separately and have a separate council conversation, just
raise your hand and then I'll Yes. >> R2. >> R213. Madam clerk, if you could write down R 213. Anyone from council? >> Jim, >> I'm sorry. >> 217.
>> R 217. Perfect. So, madame clerk, if we could pull those a we'll vote on those separately and everything else will be consent agenda. >> May I have a motion to authorize the balance of the consent agenda removing 213 and 217 which will be voted on
subsequently separately? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Council Brley. >> Yes. House Graassie >> abstaining on 1922 226 and voting no on 1992.
>> Councilman Pollock. >> Uh I do have some concerns. I'm going to be voting yes, but I have concerns about R 199. I had some concerns last time. Um, Johnson Park does need these
improvements, but now it's going to cost us an extra quarter million dollars, I believe, um, due to, uh, I know they need to deal with the fencing and some of the concrete work. Um, I'm just very unhappy that we continue spending open space money on existing parks. Uh, I'd
really like us to in the future, moving forward, hopefully start budgeting for the park improvements, uh, rather than dipping into the open space funds. Uh but uh it's it's going to get a yes vote for me, but I really really want to start
and then uh I guess we're going to discuss 217. >> Yes. >> All right. So I I'll talk about that, but everything everything else gets a yes. Everything's a yes. >> Council Vice President Pome >> though I do have a concern with 199 as well. Resolution 199. There was a
comprehensive study done and uh Keystone Sports said it would cost $393,687 to do this park. We all voted for this park. We knew we needed the park to be redone, but now they're coming back and they're saying, "Oh, wait a minute. Within our comprehensive study, we
missed something and now it's going to cost an additional $250,975." I I understand we need it, but you know what? We paid for the comprehensive study. It's not our fault that they missed it. And as Councilman Pollock said, we cannot continue to take this
from open space. So I am voting no on this because I want to stop using this money for open space. Yes to the rest. >> Yes to the rest. Council >> President Bing. >> Yes. May I have an motion to authorize
resolution? >> So, madam clerk, before I think there were two that were pulled off site, I think we just I think we should uh first recognize which ones they were. The first one that we're going to vote on separately is going to be R213. And I'm just going to read it into the record. authorizing the execution of a treatment
works approval application for Jackson Park South in the Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority Authority for sanitary sewer treatment works application which is they called a TWWA. Um and then I'm going to ask um I'm just going to hold on and find my paperwork
for a second on that. um attorney. Okay, madame clerk, I'll just explain this. This uh resolution came from our engineer um which is to provide a TWWA and and legal council. Can you just explain a little bit what that what that what that means?
>> Sure. The developer of Jackson Park South is proceeding with their project. They are planning to have approximatelyund 105 units available uh for occupation in the near future. Uh in order to do that however they need a TWWA approval from the D because all the
entire infrastructure for the sewer system is not yet in place. The Jackson MUA has signed off and approved it and uh the township engineer has as well. Um and the township has certain obligations under the uh court settlement with respect to this project and with respect
to the affordable housing obligations of the township under underneath it. This is not an unusual application in any stretch and um it's to allow the township is one of the parties that has to sign off on it but realistically it's the MUA's uh system and they have
already signed off on it. >> Thank you. So, madam clerk, >> I have a motion to authorize resolution 213 2026. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Council Bradley. >> Yes. >> Council breie.
>> Abstain. >> Council Pollock. >> Yes. Council >> Vice President Paul Mary. >> If the MUA already signed off on it and this is just a we just have to vote on this. This is for more affordable housing. >> Jackson Park was an affordable housing
project from I think it was a court settlement after the planning board voted. No, Mr. Brassie would know about that. Yes. >> So, we have really no say on the matter. >> So, we're going to force this down our throat anyway. >> I I miss attorney mcuck if if >> already court approved and the
development is proceeding. Um and after some major litigation, uh the court determined that the township was obligated to allow this to occur. Well, I'm tired of being put in this corner. I vote no. >> Council President Bine. >> Yes. Motion
>> carries. The next resolution is resolution 217, 2026. >> Yes. I just want to give a first of all read it into the record. This is requesting permission from the director of the division of local government services to issue and mail estimated tax bills after the June 30th statuto pardon
um statutory deadline. And just the background on this, this came over this afternoon um from our CFO that um the town when we passed the budget um we did also pass a resolution authorizing and
correct me if I'm wrong um Mr. Terafenko, but I just want to make sure I got all the facts here. We passed a resolution authorizing um estimated tax bills and part of that process was that the town was actually hoping we would not have to do estimated tax bills. We were hoping we would have um the the
state sign off and everything before the the end of the June deadline. Unfortunately, the state has not gotten back to us yet. There's a been a little bit of back and forth with the state. Um and that's what the CFO told me and the state notified the township in the past couple days and the final follow-up was this morning is that we would um most
likely have to do estimated tax bills and we have to illegally request permission to extend past the June deadline, which is what this is. is just requesting permission from the state for the CFO to to uh issue temporary um estimated tax bills.
>> I'm sorry through the >> You'll have You'll have your time later. >> May I have a motion to authorize resolution 217 2026? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Council Rally. I'm going to say yes, but
I wish we voted on our budget earlier so we wouldn't have to go through this uh situation with the state. >> Councilman Brassie. >> Yes. >> Councilman Pollock. >> I'm wondering why we don't have a certified tax rate. Do we have any
reasoning? >> You just speak a little louder. I didn't hear you. >> Uh I'm wondering why we don't have a certified tax rate. Is there any reasoning behind this? So, business administrator Terrafenkco, um I had a conversation with the CFO today and I I would assume that would answer um
Councilman Pollock's question is that the state just hasn't approved yet. There's been back and forth questions about doc different documents and things. Is that accurate? >> That's correct. >> All right. So, I'm assuming it's for a lot of the reasons I abstained on voting for the budget. Uh I I do apologize. I probably should have added a lot of
amendments to get rid of a lot of the assistance and probably probably do a pay cut across the board, especially for the people up here as well. That's my No, no, don't. Please don't even clap for me because I didn't do it and it was my mistake and when I make a mistake, I have to be able to admit that. That was
that was my fault on the budget. But I think the state probably sees a lot of the issues that were raised by myself and probably Council Member Belli uh when we had a vote on it. Um, I'm going to vote yes on this because, you know, I want people to be able to pay their taxes, but I I don't think we should be
in this position. Uh, let's hope it gets settled soon. Thank you, >> Council Vice President Paul Mary. >> Uh, I mean, look, if we don't pass this, it's going to really just screw a lot of residents over. So, I vote yes, >> Council President Bernstein. >> So, I vote yes, but I just want to add
to um Mr. Councilman Brellley. did ask the CFO that today when I spoke to her because I also wasn't happy about getting it at 2 o'clock or 2:30 today and she told me that um there's been back and forth been some staffing changes within the state. Um she's been getting different answers. Um but she said there are a lot of other towns are
are in this. Again, I'm not I know some people don't like hearing other towns, but what she told me was this had nothing to do with when we gave in the budget, but again I vote yes and hopefully we'll be able to avoid this going forward. >> Motion carries. Council
President Bernstein, uh, is there any additional comments? >> Yes. Before we get to public comment, first of all, I just want to thank everyone for coming. Um, we want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to speak. Everyone is free and I'm going to turn floor over to Attorney McGuck just to elaborate. Um, everyone is free to
use their entire five minutes. Um, and I will be taking notes. After everyone is done speaking, we are going to answer. I'm not going to get into back and forth. I don't want to interrupt anyone. I don't want anything to anyone to feel that I'm interrupting them and um we're going to give everyone their full five minutes for their comments. If you have
any questions, we will write them down and then I will turn to my colleagues here in council. This is the way the board of ed has run their meetings and I've been reached out by a lot of people after what happened by the last meeting. This was a suggestion I felt would be appropriate to try out uh legal counsel. Anything you just want to add? I think
it's an appropriate uh idea based on what happened the last meeting and public has every right to make any comments they wish about any subject um and they should have that right and opportunity to do so. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Madame clerk
>> at this time if any member of the public has any comments to make please address the council at the microphone and state your name and address clearly for the record. You'll have five minutes to speak and may only speak once. May I have a motion to open public comment? >> Motion second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Now, I just want to add one thing. I'm going to ask everyone to be respectful
to the speaker. Um, and I know there's a big crowd. I know a lot of people have a lot of things to say. Um, and I um if anyone if we could just try our hardest to keep our phones as quiet as possible and not to um interrupt the speaker at all, we're going to try our hardest up
here to do the same. So, the floor is yours and then I guess everyone should line up or um I guess we can continue updating the line. The floor is yours. >> My name is Karen. My name is Karen Brazinski. My husband
>> already nervous. My name is Karen Brazinski. My husband Michael and I own 277 Grotown Road, which is a parcel that was introduced at the last council meeting for purchase for open space. My
family moved to this property in 1960s and I've lived here almost my whole life. I grew up playing in these woods, walking the paths, making forts, even sledding on a small hill. My children and grandchildren have enjoyed this land
as well. Grotown Road is one of the most beautiful roads in Jackson, but sadly it's approved for the development over nine of over 900 homes. Of important note that of important note
is that our property is attached to 34 landlocked acres that are owned by the township. We came across information about the open space program and thought that our parcel would be perfect for this program and would also pro provide
access to these 34 acres. We began pursuing it last November and received a call from the township in April expressing an interest in our land for open space. An appraisal was a paid for by was paid for by the township and
final finalized in mid to late May. Eventually, we were offered and agreed upon the selling price of our land. We were advised in writing that once approved by a vote by the councilmen, then the closure would be no later than July 15th. For this reason, we are now
in contract to purchase a home, which is contingent on this transaction. We have seen much criticism on social media about the open space, how how the open space money is being spent. We feel that our property meets the definition
of open space, especially when you you consider that it gives access to 34 landlocked acres that the township already owns. I just want to set the record straight that my husband and I are just ordinary Jackson residents like everyone in this meeting and we have no
ulterior motives and only have the desire for our land to be preserved for the future. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Thanks, >> Jim Selectia. Um, when I hear the things that are being said up there about the budget, there's
just no way I could not come up here. Three weeks ago, I had an hourlong discussion with the director of the Department of Local Government Services because of a letter that I sent into them about the well, we've talked about
about how the process was handled. While he agreed with me, he also explained why his hands were tied. But the one thing he did tell me, and I I hear there's things going back and forth. Well, I can tell you I was told there's significant
issues with the Jackson Township budget. So, when I hear there's back and forth, there's a lot more to it. I think um I don't have specifics, but it's pretty it was pretty clear that uh the state is
not happy with our budget. So, Mr. Belli, I'm not sure if you had passed it two months earlier if we'd still not be in the same boat because the state just appears to not want to have some issues with it. >> I look forward to uh if they make
possible recommendations. >> So, I I would love >> because I have concerns with the budget as well as you know, we did our due diligence up here regarding it. >> Like I said, I don't have specifics, but I it was made very clear to me there were significant >> understand. Second item. Um, can anybody
on this deis tell me what chapter 3 articles 12 and 13 are for in our ordinance code? I'll take that as a no. They are our statutory boards and commissions and our advisory boards, committees and
commissions. We need to look at that. Why do I say that? On some of the statute or at least one statutory board, the membership does not meet the way the ordinance reads. Figure it out. I'm not going to help you.
The advisory boards letter N clearly defines what the open space committee is responsible for. And the two things that I see we are not following is one is required meetings
monthly and also under the duties and responsibilities if you look at what they're responsible for the purchase of the previous land that was discussed did not follow that category and and finally well it may not yeah I
guess it'll be finally Um, last November, the mayor put out a request for residents to join boards. She put out a new board, as we all know, the citizens budget advisory committee, which never got off the ground. Never
took place. So now I'm going to stand here tonight and ask that the township council adopt an amendment to chapter 3 section 13 to create the citizens budget
advisory committee. And the re the reason why here's five reasons. It's going to provide greater transparency. It's going to have more resident involvement. Yes, we only had three, but I think I think we can round up a few
more for next year. I think we can get it to where there's clearer communication about how how tax dollars are used. We had one resident that was willing to be on the board that said he would love to host informal
sessions with the residents and he would explain the budget to them. I think it's not a bad idea. It also produces stronger long-term financial planning and it will provide a more accountable and open government.
So, I have a proposed amendment or ordinance that I'd love to hand over. You can review it. You can make the changes that you think need to be made. It's just a gen generic one, but I think it's something that needs to be done as we saw from the, you know,
last year. It just never took off. And we have a I'm gonna say it, there's a mess with the budget. We're we're four days away from when our taxes are due and we're not getting there because the state doesn't hasn't approved this budget or not even approve it. They just
approven the levy number. So, which is kind of interesting because Jackson did a self-evaluation of their budget this year and they were supposed to make sure that there's 10 requirements fulfilled. I don't know if you guys actually looked at those 10 requirements that the CFO
said were accurate because remember your CFO is the one that said >> that the userfriendly budget was only due next >> at >> the adoption and I proved that wrong.
>> Thank you. Good evening, Elliot Shmtov. I think the mantra of today it's about transparency, residents being heard, and of course fiscal responsibility.
I want to touch on a few topics and then like a lot of other people behind me, I want to talk about the budget because the budget is what affects our taxes and affordability in this town. So, let's start with some procedural stuff.
Wasn't too long ago there was no fiveminute time limit which kind of got us into trouble last time where council president Morai Bernstein invoked the Roberts rule of law and shut down the meeting which shut down
free speech which is wrong. So I think the best thing to do is remove the fiveminute rule go back to the way things were. Let the people have their voice back,
Miss Cume, because you are the one who invoked the five-minute rule. I wonder why. Now, let's talk about the last meeting. I spoke to the players. I know who spoke to who to shut this
meeting down. It was a clear ploy to get other officials in this town to cancel the meeting because it was advertised and you knew there was going to be a big crowd. I mean, I think this is a bigger
crowd tonight, right? And I have news for you. This is only the beginning between now and November where these crowds are going to get larger and larger and larger because the days of not being of not having um
visibility to the town and being transparent, those days are over. The gig is up. Everybody in town Let's talk about ops. Usually five, six, seven days. Now we're
hearing about two week extensions. Guys have what? Five, six, seven confidential assistance. The biggest staff we've ever seen in town hall here. 31% increase that me and the rest of these people here are paying for. I got
to pay for your assistance for a budget that isn't even ready to go, that's been knocked down by the state. I got to tell you, it's pathetic. Pathetic. >> Yeah. >> And now we hear that
Mr. Terrafano has an assistant as well. Now that's 300k a car, an assistant for what? 50k, Mr. Terrafanco. And we still had to outsource to a consultant to get the budget done.
Completely completely no good at all. >> So, interestingly enough, the appointed mayor sitting to my left, Miss Jennifer Cune, she touted a perfect attendance record. I'm always here. I never miss a meeting. Yet, interestingly enough, Miss
Cune, the last two budget meetings, which has your name on it, you weren't here. Quite frankly, I'm shocked you're even here now. You're a disappointment in this town as a mayor. So, I got a minute left. So, why don't we go through a timeline of Miss Cune's
greatest hits? >> January 27th, Mayor Cune states, "The budget is done." And there's no budget introduced. >> April 14th. The budget's still not introduced. Council's forced to approve
15,844 15,844500 in emergency temporary approach appro appropriations just to keep salaries and bills going. May 2026 tenative budget finally unveiled four
months after you said it was complete. May 13th, public hearing on CAP ordinance. June 9th, contentious budget hearing. You're absent to your budget.
And then late June, we adopt a budget with $3.8 million over previous year, which brings us to now a state that knocked down your budget. And all I hear from Councilman Bernstein is a bunch of
uh uh uh uh and no answers on our budget. >> Thank you. >> But that's fine because I'll tell you what, >> your time is up next. >> I knew you were going to say your time. That's your favorite phrase. >> But because you like me so much, you give me another 20 seconds, right? >> Nope. We have a long line of people who are waiting.
>> Invoke the Roberts law. >> You know, you know what? >> I love this town and I love its residents. So, I'm going to stand aside so they can speak and they can tell you what they think is. >> Sure. Thank you. My name is Meg Milligan. I've been in
this town since 1965. I've done most of my schooling in this town and I've seen a lot of changes. I would like the board to take a look at this room and see all the people standing. This town is growing. It's
growing by leaps and bounds, more than we ever really wanted. But as you can see, people care what's going on in this town now. We have a big reason to because there's collusion and corruption going on. >> And we care. We care what's happening to our town.
I've seen the changes. And I don't expect chicken farms to be here forever. I don't. But I do expect the council to take in in account that we care what's going on. Nobody should be standing here. There's a school right around the
corner. Do you think these meetings are going to get any smaller? >> We want change in this town. >> And we're tired. We're tired of people putting money in their pockets or putting money in their friends pockets for for administrative duties that
aren't necessary. That's really all I have to say. Please consider these people standing through the whole meeting. Some people are not of physical condition that can do that. If this is the room you're going to plan to continue to use, put some more chairs
up. I'm sure you can Elanor Hannah, Jackson, New Jersey. Um, I'm just going to start I was going to start with something else, but I'm just going to start because um Elliot brought up uh transparency and the Oprah requests. I am a victim of Miss
Martins's um and Miss Cune and Morty Bernstein's um attempt to deny my oper request. I'll use two examples. I did an Oprah request on the six on the 17th of June on these doors. I wanted the bills. I wanted to
know the cost. I wanted to know and it was denied later on that day because I didn't know the vendor. You know what you did? 5 days later it was on the bills for that council meeting to be approved that vendor. So that was a lie.
I had for over two months been asking for the legal trust documents for the open space trust fund. I had been manipulated. Therefore you are lying to this the people in this town. The open space trust fund is our
money. We decided So, Mr. McGucken should have those legal documents. He knows my husband's an attorney. When you have a trust fund, the legal documents go along with it. So, I don't understand why you're not giving it to me because it outlines the
law of that trust. >> So, here is the other part I would like to talk to. I drive around town. I pick up my granddaughters and I have reported in the past month 11 illegal daycares
we'll call them or camps operating around town there they are unregulated they're there's no safety protocols this is tax fraud and not one of you have responded
to me I have sent it to all of you but what you have done is you hand cut code enforcement the same way you handcuff code enforcement, Miss Cune, by destroying that department and cutting
it in half. So, Mr. Bernstein here is very well aware of one of the camps. It is called Camp Jackson. Camp Jackson here is at five California Drive. Mr. Bernstein lives across the state, across
the street. when it was when the flyer was sent to me by a resident that happened to be to get it, she sent it to me. I don't do anything without verifying it myself and sitting there myself. So, what do I do? I go and I sit
there and I sit in front of Mr. Bernstein's house. I didn't realize it was his house until I pulled up. I was like, "Oh my gosh." Well, so I sit there at exactly and those who have the flyer will note the drop off times of 9:25. And I start recording to get the parade
advance, but what do I see? Mr. Bernstein's and it it's all on video. Mr. Bernstein's daughter walking his son down his driveway right into that camp. So, we have our top law maker not only
not only protecting illegal use, facilitating illegal use. And this what's happening is a complete equal protection argument. You are the top lawmaker and you are breaking our law.
>> You need to resign. You should resign. So that is one illegal thing that you are participating in. And yes, your neighbor when I went two weeks later, and I know he sent you the video because I know you were yelling around town hall, "Oh, Eleanor's
harassing kids." No, your neighbor was videoing my grandkids in my car. That's what happened. And then today, I decide to go up California Drive again. And what do I see? I guess, you know, it's like whack-a-ole. So, you know, it was
moved to another facility because there you go. You know, there is no expectation to privacy in the open realm. The other part that is very very in my opinion extremely unethical is your confidential assistant that we are
paying $50,000 for to stay at home to work from home who is also a trustee and an employee of your school and have those documents too. This is the which is very interesting
because Mr. Bernstein school happens to share the exact same address as Oros bias or WR property which created the first lawsuit. My name is Christina Quanrano. I live in 68.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. You want me to take this? >> All right. Hi. Um, my name is Christina Cortana. I've lived in Jackson now 24 years. Um, there are so many things to address. Uh, I think I'm going to have
to come back to a lot of council meetings to tell you all the things. God's honest truth. Really, I'm not kidding. But the main thing I wanted to bring up was overdevelopment and what is known as the Kirkwood Cohan
Aquifier. Aquafer. I think that's how you say it. Um, basically in a nutshell, anyone can print this stuff out. All right. Jackson, New Jersey relies entirely on
both shallow cohansy and deep aquifers within the Kirkwood Cohansy S system. Primary threats to this critical war water source includes the um overpumping
of unchecked development. Okay. Data centers um synthetic chemicals that could get into the water migrating through groundwater that has been forced through
well testing shutdowns in Ocean County. The overdevelopment reads, "High density development along with massive water demands from prop pros data centers threaten to overdraw
the aquifier faster than nature can recharge it. Paving over open land presents the natural water filtration and runoff absorption. So the more your
planning board approves all this overdevelopment, the more more danger you're bringing to our water. I already heard about ana an event that happened with with people in
J people in Jackson wanted to start a a development and they went to Manchester and asked for some of their water and Manchester said no. You know, so here's the point. I know my time's going to run
out. Okay, this is the point. All the time I've been living here, no one has touched Jackson because I think some real smart people recognized that in order to protect the water, you
can't be overdeveloping. Simple. This is this is the God's Hashem's honest truth. Okay, this comes back to I looked it up. How long has this Kirkwood cohansy system been around
there? Most people who do not believe in the Bible said millions of years it's been here. So it's not exactly going to go away, you know. Um, now I'm going to remind you I told you
about in my doctor's office in Lakewood, a hosidic woman walked in frantic one day. She just moved into a de development here in Jackson that was built. Now, of course, all your construction people approved everything,
said everything is safe. This woman was beside herself. She said it was in the area of $30,000 damages because the seller, literally the foundation of the house was caving in.
>> All right. Now, when she was carrying on, I went right up to this woman and I said, "I live in Jackson and the o all this overdevelopment shouldn't even be happening." You know, I told her that,
you know, we have to look at what we're doing because if you destroy the water, then no one's coming to our rescue.
You know, everybody everybody everybody is going to have to move out and get out of Jackson. and it will be uninhibitable. So if if this is what you're going to do
to this town, think of it again, please. >> Thank you. >> Can I just say one more thing? If you would like me to come and speak to all the people who want to develop here in this town, I'll gladly come. I am very
friendly, Mr. Bernstein. Okay, Mr. Bernste. And I'll explain it all to them, you know, because this is protecting not only us who's lived here a long time. It's protecting the people who want to move here.
>> I It protects everybody. So, it's best to do what's right for the town. >> And there's so many other things I'd love to bring up, but Thank you. >> Thank you for letting me
>> maybe just hand the mic to him. >> Oh, >> got it. >> All right. Carlos Martins Jackson. I'm on the zoning board, but I'm here as a resident. I will not speak about any specific application. My comments are all about general stuff so that I don't
get into trouble. Um, one thing that just crossed my mind at one time I had recommended that maybe we designate two or three chairs up here as for mobility challenged people. Um, just a sign. That's all it requires. Um, I see that it hasn't been done. It's been a while,
but I think people would appreciate that. Um, okay, back to my agenda. Um, so the theme is I don't get enough credit for the things I don't say. Okay. And it's written on my shirt in case you
forget. Um, so question number one, can you give us at the end, can you give us a status of where we are with Doge? Um, what I call Doge DJ any findings? I know I think we hired some consultants even to do some work. So, uh, I'd like an
update on that. Um, on the budget. Yeah, my favorite. So, I am disappointed. Um, I was up here once and and I asked for all of you to approve the budget so that it gets in so we get all this bureaucracy out of the way even though we don't like it. None
of us like it. Um, and there are issues there as part of that committee, the budget committee. Um, there are a lot of questions that I still had, but we wanted to get it the bureaucracy out of the way. I guess we didn't get it fast enough because we wanted to avoid
exactly this and that's unfortunate. Um, okay. But don't lose focus of how we're going to replenish the surplus. Roughly $7 million. Okay. And that leads me to my next thing. So, one of the ways we were going to replenish it was with
about we're looking for $3 million from FEMA or the state for the snow. Um, last thing I heard, Trump said no to New Jersey. So, one of the questions is how does that impact our ability to get that $3 million from the state? You might not
have an answer because you have to check with the state, but um I'd like to know that. And more importantly, when are we going to hear from the state? You have an estimated time of when we're going to hear the answer. Um, okay. Oh, and then
so when are we going to have the July 14th council meeting? In my opinion, right, or at least in the corporate world, you don't cancel important meetings like that. You reschedu them if you have to. You never cancel.
It just in the corporate world that wouldn't work. You'd be fired. Um, so I feel, and I know it's not legal, so this is what I think you should do. I feel you owe us a meeting. You owe us a July 14th council meeting if for no
other part than just a um public comment section at the end. You can do that, right? You can actually separate those those things. So um something to consider. Okay. Oh, the podium. So is this one is
this is this our is this the new one? or is that coming back when if so key question is simply just tell me is it coming back or is it gone forever question one two is if it comes back I would like to see some kind of um
speaker not the microphone but a speaker for the hearing impaired we have a lot of and I'm turn and I'm turning into one very fast the senior citizen So, um I I think it'd be helpful. A lot of people have hearing aids and all of this
just doesn't work. So, something to consider if it's going to come back, but I'd like confirm that. Um >> okay, a minute. Good. So, the other thing that comes up, and I know these things are minor, but they're a trend, right? They're a trend, and you add them
all up and and there's a um a theme that comes out to to the audience, the clock, right? So I understand clock outside was damaged during a historical snowstorm, right? I also understand that that clock wasn't working even before it got
damaged, right? So my proposition is don't worry about making it perfect, right? Bring it back with and it's not working. That's fine. And as much as you can and on the plaque, imagine this. It's a historical clock. That's why it's there. It's not to tell the time. Put it
out there on the plaque. dam, you know, established in such a date, damaged on an historical snowstorm, blah blah blah blah blah. All that makes part of the history. That's beautiful. You don't need to fix it. Perfect. You don't need to spend a whole lot of money on on this specialist or anything like
that to fix it. Just a thought. Um >> Oh, yeah. Oh, >> and my last comment was, didn't anybody watch Back to the Future where the clock wasn't working? >> Thank you. making me hold it.
>> Uh, good evening everyone. My name is Joe Bzonos. I'm actually your neighbor from Howell. Uh, I have a community advocate group. So, I'd like to talk a little bit about that. Uh, as a neighbor, I'm watching Jackson and its leadership closely. Though each town has its own unique problems, there is
overlap where the environment and overdevelopment are concerned. I'm here tonight to provide examples of how is handling similar issues that Jackson may be facing. Howell Council, with the push from its residents, recently introduced an ordinance prohibiting data centers in all zoning districts. Uh, as I've stated
to my council, Yep. As I've stated to my council, these facilities place a heavy burden on public resources, and the long-term consequences to our land and public health are still unknown. Passing a similar ordinance here will not only help preserve the natural beauty of Jackson, but show its residents that the
council cares about longevity of their town. With the exception of Mr. Pollock, I haven't heard any opinions on this from Jackson leadership. Uh, if any of you are opposed to prohibiting data centers, I'm very anxious to hear why. Uh residents in Howell have also been vocal about rental properties that are
not following the rules. Fortunately, at our last meeting Fortunately, at our last meeting, the council passed ordinance 02616. This ordinance amended numerous penalty provisions to hold those in violation of ordinances accountable with enforcable
perday fines, effectively giving teeth to existing penalties. Uh residents should be protected from rental properties that are not following the rules, whether that means property maintenance or violating uh occupancy. Uh I brought up these examples not only as viable solutions to similar problems
that Jackson may be facing, but to show that residents and officials can work together when a council listens and uh people offer solutions. It's obvious there's a disconnect between Jackson and its leadership. To quote Woodro Wilson, "The ear of the leader must ring with
the voices of the people. As public servants, it's your job to mediate and find compromises that benefit all of your residents fairly and without bias. >> A leader who isn't willing to listen to their people and put self-interest over the greater good does not belong in a
position of leadership. To Jackson residents, the only way to change is together. I've noticed some infighting online uh between residents who generally want the same things. Getting organized and finding common ground is how you get things done. I urge every Jackson resident to continue
showing up to meetings. This is incredible. We should see this every meeting. Bottom line, everyone needs to remember that elected officials work for the people, not the other way around. And it's our job to vocalize what we want. As neighbors, I hope we can all come
together and make some good decisions. Uh we live in one state and one country under God. And let's keep it beautiful. Thank you. >> On a quick side note, thank you guys. Thank you. I'm going to walk up safely. This is the Howell ordinance. One of you
would like to take that, please. That's the Howell ordinance uh prohibiting data centers. So, I know Chris is writing some up as well. So, maybe put our heads together and uh let's save our land. Thanks. >> Good evening, uh council members and administration. I am here tonight to
speak. Uh, by the way, my name is Elliot Weissman. I'm from uh, Four Seasons South NLES here in Jackson. Uh, as I said, I am here tonight to speak about public accountability,
transparency, and a severe conflict of interest concerning the Grand Harmony Development or Harmony. First, let's look at the facts regarding the amended site plan uh 837-3
which impacts block 4801 lot 5.04. The developer JPO Jackson LP obtained its original municipal approvals based on
specific layout presented to this town and its future residents which include a shared community clubhouse. Now there is an active push to substitute that clubhouse for an
entirely different type of complex. This looks like a classic bait and switch that ignores the neighborhood's original zoning expectations.
Further, serious fair housing act concerns have been raised regarding how these units are being marketed. Housing must be open and accessible, free from demographic
steering or layout manipulations designed to favor one specific group over the general public. >> But the most alarming issue is the money trail. Public records from
New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission show that the developer of Grand Harmony, JP Orleans, cut a $10,000 check to the Ocean County
Pack. This pack was founded by the immediate family members of the leadership sitting right here >> on this council. To make matters worse, municipal and zoning board professionals
tied to this town approval process are linked directly to that very same political donation network. This creates a glaring, undeniable conflict of interest. How can the
residents of Jackson Township trust that zoning laws? Land use ordinances and housing regulations are being enforced fairly when the developers seeking amendments are
funneling five figure sums into packs tied directly to our elected official families. Tonight I am asking the council for direct answers.
Number one, will this council formally call for independent review of approvals for site plan 837-3 to ensure no paytoplay
violations occurred. Two, what con concrete steps is this administration taking to ensure that Grant Harmony complies fully with federal
fair housing act marketing guidelines for all Jackson residents. >> Our town zoning should be dictated by master plans and public good, not by
political action committees. Thank you. >> Um uh hold hold on sir. I've been uh not responding because I really am enjoying everybody speaking but uh sir I I couldn't have said it better myself. Uh these are some issues
that I brought up uh over the past year or so. Um, people just want fairness. People want equal application of the law. And when money's involved, you don't know what's right, what's going on anymore. You don't know is somebody getting special treatment. Uh,
somebody's not donating $10,000, $20,000. Some pe people aren't donating that money just because they support you. They want something from you. >> And and nobody is stupid anymore. Everybody knows how politics work. I came in, I got voted because of this
stuff because I'm the guy who says no. I will never ever ever take that money. Never from a developer. Never from an attorney. Never from anybody who wants a contract from this town. That's the type of stuff that people are upset about. And then listen,
if you didn't take that money, guess what? And they were doing this, people couldn't question you. But you took the money. I personally believe you're doing things for them >> and it needs to end. Payto play needs to end and the only way to end it is to be an example. You can say this is how
business is done. What what does that mean? This is how the system works. Screw the system. Thank you, sir. Well said. Janiceo, Jackson, New Jersey. Um, I'm a resident here going on 34 years. I've
never seen a town this screwed up. I'll just put it to you like that. Um, I for one, I've been trying to pay my taxes. I did contact Miss and she did give me an answer that it is the state holding everything up. I'm
wondering um it is it due to all the rentals we have in this town. Uh there's not enough revenue who's picking up the school tab for all these kids. We are We are um I also saw a list online of homes
with leans on them um and then it disappeared and there were several listed. What's happening with that? Is anybody going after them? Is you know that's revenue right there too. Um another question I have is uh the voting
places that were changed. I understand a lot were the mobile home parks. Um, from what I heard, uh, it may have something to do with a rent freeze ordinance that was passed. Uh, this is going to enable a lot of people on disability
and elderly not being able to vote. I don't know if this is being done by design. Uh, maybe somebody can correct me on that. Maybe I'm wrong, but this is what I'm hearing. I used to vote at Oak Tree. Um I don't have a problem going over to
Jackson 21. I mean, I still drive and I'm not handicapped yet. Um my other issue I'd like to talk about, and Chris kind of hit the nail on everything and took a lot of words out of my mouth.
uh sending code enforcement to taxpayers homes that are upstanding citizens just because they speak or the dog catcher as I call it old school phrase. Um you know my grandmother lived during World War II
over in Poland and she experienced stuff like that with the brown shirts and all that nonsense. This is America. I mean I I'm not going to deal with communism. you want to send somebody to my house, I'll give you my lawyer's number. He's up in uh Springfield.
Um it it's absolutely ridiculous. Yeah, he's up north. Good friend of my dad's and he's Jewish. Um but uh yeah, the the nonsense needs to stop and and basically other topics.
Oh, um glad we got a podium. I don't know what happened to the other one. I did hear it was tossed out. I don't I haven't seen it in the trash, but a couple people told me they have. I also heard that um pictures some of our Jackson history has been taken away.
Pictures of veterans. I come from a long family of military. One, two, nam quake. Um my brother just retired as an officer. Somebody you went to school with. My daughter's married to two tours over in Afghanistan. Uh those pictures
should be here. We we should take care of our vet. And one last thing, um to go back to code enforcement, I you know, I'm on the pages. I read the same houses every day
in violation and these people, the residents have to deal with this. I mean, think about it. What if I came to one of your homes and had 80 people, had a hurrah party, loud music, cars parked. I mean, maybe once in a blue moon I'll
have an event at my house. I mean, my kids are her age, so the christristenings and all that stuff is is gone. It's quiet. But people do have them. But there's a lot with the LLC's and I'm hearing, you
know, residents complaints. We call the police, they don't come. Um, I don't know. My tax dollars are paying for police force and I I do back the blue. So, as well as military. So, I don't know what's going on with that.
But instead of harassing people that speak um about the township and sending code enforcement dog catchers and whatever, especially to a home where a person doesn't have a dog, I mean that that that happened and she's writing
about it daily. It's insane and it's childish. My kids did that in high school. They sent 20 pizzas to somebody's house once, you know, stuff like that. That's my girls did that. That's high school crap. I mean, grow up.
>> Thank you. >> Hi. Sorry. Um, my name is Elisa Burnernbound. I'd like to comment on the comment of, you know, what sounded like a very concerned resident. Um, so she was Miss Ms. Hanam. I'm sorry. I'm sorry
if I'm mispronouncing that. Um, she was basically saying something about a backyard day camp kind of thing. I don't know. Um, I just find it, you know, especially as a young person, a little bit funny, a little humorous because
that sounds like something that maybe I and like an older friend might do, like a lemonade stand kind of thing, like babysitting. I don't know. And until we start like, you know, sanctioning and taxing and being all worried about lemonade stands
and, oh, are those lemonade stands up to FDA standards, I don't think there's any reason to be so concerned or worried about what sounds like I mean, I could be wrong, but it sounds like I don't think the whole house is being used as it's not a big day, but
so >> excuse me, let her speak. >> Thank you. Um, I think that in I just I don't know. I see this as a young person. It's something that I would do like just a small I don't know this babysitting >> something bad. I think it's like until
we start really um getting mad at um at children running or young adults, sorry, running lemonade stands. I don't think that our council or township should be so busied with such a in my
opinion silly matter. Just >> thank you. >> Also sorry I just appreciate the five minutes where I can speak. Thank you so much for having that everybody gets a chance to speak. Just really appreciate it. Thank you.
Good evening. My name is >> Madam. Hold on one second. If everyone could just if everyone could please be quiet so the lady we could hear. >> Go. Sorry. It's a lot of noise in the background. >> No problem. Uh good evening. My name is Michelle Shabberta. >> If you can go louder into the mic. >> Is that better? >> Yes.
>> Okay. Sorry. Um I'm Michelle Shabberta. I live in Jackson all my life. I've been here for 58 years. I'm here because this is the town I grew up in and it's disappearing and you all allow it have to happen. Every month another
neighborhood is bulldozed. More oversized developments are approved that just don't fit in with the character of this community. Open space disappears. Traffic is getting worse. Infraure falls behind. And people who built the town
are expected to accept what's happening and also questioning. What is happening isn't just development. It's the complete transformation of our town. Longtime residents are being subject to relentless blockbustering.
Investors and real estate agents repeatedly contact homeowners telling you to sell because you're next or everyone else is selling. Families who lived here for generations, including myself, are made to feel as though they
no longer belong here. That's kind of sad. This is not how a healthy community functions. Residents also see rules being applied differently depending on who's involved. When zoning violations and overcrowding
and parking problems and large gatherings continue without meaningful enforcement, people lose faith that the law applies equally to everyone. Equality can cannot mean one standard for some people and another standard for
everyone else. Religious freedom is one of our country's greatest protection. But religious freedom does not exempt anyone from zoning laws, occupancy limits, traffic regulations, municipality ordinance. The Constitution
protects the right to worship. It does not require entire neighborhoods to sacrifice their quality of life or to change the character of their community. Many many longtime residents feel that the need of established neighborhoods are
taking back seat while politician leaders refuse to address obvious problems instead of protecting the people who already live here. It often feels like the government is accommodating the demands that fundamentally reshapes the residential communities without regards to the
neighbors that are affected in this town. People are afraid to speak because they are immediately labeled as intolerant. But asking for equal enforcement of the law is not intolerance. Asking for the residential neighborhoods to remain residential is not
discrimination. Asking that everyone follows the same rule is not the council was elected. This council was elected to represent every single person in this room and in this town. Not the loudest voices and not the most
politically connected and not any single group. You're here to represent every single person regardless of what we are and who we are. You swore to uphold the law of equality. Start doing it. Protect our neighborhoods. Enforce our zoning
ordinance consistently. Stop avoiding developments that erase the identity of this town. and stop allowing the longtime residents to feel like strangers in their community that spent their lives here all
the question the question isn't whether our town is changing the question is whether you have the courage to protect what is left before it's gone >> thank you for your Lisa Zag Jackson. Um, my question first
off, I just want to say to that little girl and everybody, I wish we had only such problems as lemonade s. Okay. My question is my house backs up to you guys I'm sure are well aware behind on
on Leville Road the farm that the land swap deal was. Um from what I understand that deal fell through or something. And I'd like to know what the status of that is because my property backs up to those woods. And
I don't I need to know what I'm going to be looking at here. And when is there going to be a meeting about it? Is there going to be something? Because we fought really hard for that. And I feel like we really got played. I really do. Um oh, we're going to do this land swap.
Everything's great. Only to find out that I guess it wasn't done properly or something. and it's like a slap in the face. So, I would like to know what is going on with that. What am I facing? What's going to be running through my
backyard and that of my neighbors? Um, it's it's a big issue and it's going to decide whether I stay or whether I go really because who wants a school in their backyard, right? So, and that's about all. Well, I just
would like an update and when I can expect to hear status and I mean like good status. Um, and I'm not going to say anything else cuz we all know the deals we're facing in this town and what's wrong. We all know we're all upset. That's why we're all here and I'm
happy to see so many people here because usually I come there's like 10 people. So, this is really nice. So I hope everybody continues to come because we need this. So that's it. So I won't take up the
whole five. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Do we have any information for her? >> I have the information. I was I wrote it down. >> I'm gonna give her an update. Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. Where's yours? >> Thank you. Good evening. Thank you. Um,
my name is Will Dilly. I live in Cranford, New Jersey. And, uh, I've been Thank you. I've been following everything that's going on here and council. >> Can you Could you mind just addressing the days? >> I prefer to address the people. That's why I'm here. >> Okay.
>> Legal counsel. One second. Legal council. >> So almost almost all the same. >> So you're going to have to address the council. That this is a council meeting. You address the council. This is public comment for the council. >> Say public meeting. He can he can walk anywhere he wants. He's addressing the
council. >> I've been we've been fighting we've been fighting all the same issues in Cranford that are happening here. I've been following Councilman Pollock's uh feed and anything that's going on. And you won't be surprised, these issues are common among all New Jersey towns. So,
the reason I'm here is to in general to bring more attention to what's happening here so the whole state is aware because the >> everyone's doing fantastic fight here, but we want to keep it just here. this needs to be known by all the media in
New York, blah blah blah and and all because that's going to inspire all the towns in New Jersey to realize, oh, same thing's happening here. We can do what Jackson's doing in our town. And that's when the everything takes over and you hit that critical mass. So, if we can make some noise. Oh
yeah. Oh. another famous Jackson. Thank you. Good evening. Thank you. back. >> Raymond Cohen, six Hazeline Lane, Westlake community. Uh a year ago, I had
sent a letter to Mayor about a terrible discrimination taking place in the township of Jackson. No response from the from the mayor. However, I did receive a letter from Mr. McGin uh stating that we have no way of
doing anything with discrimination uh in the township and you will have to go to the state. Um I'm not the only one. There's many, many people who have been discriminated from purchasing a unit in Grand Harmony. Mr. McGoken, I just want to bring to
your attention the 2025 New Jersey Revised Statutes for Title 10 civil rights. In it, it says it shall be unlawful discrimination for a municipality, county, or other local civil or political subdivision of the state of New Jersey or an officer,
employee, or agent thereof to exercise the power to regulate land use or housing in a manner that discriminates on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, family status, sex, gender
identity, or expression. How can you say that Grand Harmony is not discriminating against township residents? You you do not have to have I don't have to present anything to this
this town council. You just have to go to the community. How can in the township of Jackson, New Jersey that it is only sold in Lakewood to certain people? Now, I do want to let Mr. Mculan know that a day after that I had spoken
to you. Unbelievably amazing. Elisha from Velocity Realtors calls me up and says, "Oh, no, Mr. Cohen. Uh, we know you're Jewish also. We'll we'll uh your daughter can definitely buy a unit in the community." I said, "Oh, that's very
nice." and uh Mr. Bernstein telling me, "Why would your daughter want to live there? She knows who's going to be living there. >> I I just don't understand. I just don't understand it. We have a a community here. If I were to come into this township and say, "I'm going to sell a a
a community in Trenton, and only people from Trenton can buy there," I'd be thrown out on my ear. I don't know what's going on here. It's it's disgusting. It's terrible. Just another thing off the market off
the thing. How are these How are the people who bought in Grand Harmony knew there was no Shaw in the area? All of a sudden now the builder is giving them a unit to use for a house of worship
before there's any CO in that unit. I called code enforcement. Nothing was ever done. How is it happening? And now all of a sudden we have where we're going to take a community that is first of all if you look at the you know the
the information is accept is is you can receive online as to who owns these units in in in the community. I want everybody to take a look including Mr. Einhorn who owns a unit in the community. I don't know what's going on
here but it's not kosher. rich people, corporations, the deeds are all in their names. Are they renting these units to people out? Do they own them? Because according to the deeds, their name's not on it. I don't know
what I don't know what the deal is going on here. >> Jackson, one last thing. The election is coming up. >> Do the right thing. Uh since we're supposed to address the council, shall we wait for Morai to come
back? Fred Marorrow Jackson. Uh nice Goodwill podium. Thank you. At least it's something to lean on. Um couple meetings back and it was over a month. So, you know, uh there was a
woman who came up and she was having a problem with her property and uh it was addressed that she was having a problem with um bamboo overgrowing her property from an easement. That's the townships. And I said, "Well, maybe Mr. McGucken
was right that you know what kind of illegal standing have to go on her property, which now delineates private property from public property to do any kind of work." Well, the next meeting, uh, the bills came to, which by the way, how come
we're never asked if we want to have anything to say about the bills that use paying? But we'll get into a little bit more of that later. So, I'm reading and I see $169,000 to three private communities that's
listed 2025 snow reimbursement. Well, why are we reimbursement private private communities? And then I looked on the township website and found out there's actually 14 registered private communities. Yeah, you're shaking your head. Yeah, you know
they're there. Okay. And you're giving them bulky waste and brush pickup on private communities. That's private property. I can't drive on the roads. I can't walk on the sidewalks, but my money can go to fund them to get
services. Now, I understand both the transfer station and compost, you're bringing your waste off site. That's for everybody. 911 services, I understand, perfectly well, should be fine. But where's the line between private and
public property because you crossed it? Now, make a decision. Either you're going to help the lady out or you're not. That's number one. in the same bills. I took a look and I'm sorry, ma'am. Uh the police department, I know they need
vehicles. Uh it was listed 11 vehicles, police cars for $360,000 or so. And it might be a small number. Yeah, $360,000. But when I looked at it, I said, "That's
not 11 vehicles." I rounded it up to 50. And it turns out to be somewhere around seven, maybe eight. if you want to squeeze one in there. That's only the vehicle. That's $300,000 that you put out. Then
in March, there was another $50,000 for police vehicles. And that doesn't even guarantee those vehicles are going on the street because now once you get the vehicle now you have to put in the radar, you have to put in the computers. You have to put in the lights, the
sirens, and all the equipment for the police officers. Now I understand, don't get me wrong, I back to blue. They need good equipment to work with. They need good cars. But eight of them at one time. Now what happens when those eight
go bad? We got a problem with a budget now. All right. And you're dumping eight cars all at one time. How about doing some regulation and doing a couple here, a couple there, a couple there. Try to stretch some of this stuff out because now it's going to be what? Another
$25,000 a car to get it on the road to get it road ready. That's a little bit ridiculous. you know, uh, and looking at these bills, it's I can't believe I I made mention of it a
while back. You have to hunt from one page to another. There could be 13 different charges for one group, say grounds and and and buildings and grounds could be on 10 different pages. How do we know
exactly what's going to that one department? And I see a lot of administrative miscellaneous uh which I don't understand how's something miscellaneous. You bought something, it should be listed as to what you bought. Sorry, miscellaneous
could be anything. But when you're talking about $750 of miscellaneous, I got a problem with that. You know, I'm I'm sorry. I want to know where my money's going. If it's going someplace, good. And I'll tell you what, I saw a lot of police uniforms and
supplies and stuff like that. It's all great. If they need them, they need them every year. That's good. But no, we got to sit down and look at what's going on because let me tell you, um it's well, Mr. Pollock, you said it
was a uh a real clown show at one time, and I really really sorry to disagree with you. I really think it's more of a three- ring circus and they're trying to make Barnuman Bailey look like rank amateurs because I'll tell you what, we're not happy with it. We're not going to be happy with it. And if you can't
take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Uh I am on the township environmental commission, but I'm just here as a concerned resident. Um usually I stay in my environmental lane. Um I'm really only uh attending planning and zoning meetings because I feel like that's
where I can make a true impact on the development in town. Uh but sometimes when you guys ignore my emails five or six times, I have to come to the council meeting and address you in person. >> So I I just can't I can't even express how blessed I am to have the city behind me right now. So, thank you guys so much
for showing up because seriously I just I just want to take a few moments and highlight the harassment that this administration is uh just bringing towards my family. So, the last council meeting I came forward strictly with
Oprah requested open space documentation courtesy of Eleanor Adam. Thank you so much. And call the speech, call my comment, whatever you want. I call it five minutes of cordial question and answer, but whatever you guys want to call it, you never said it was
incorrect, false, or invalid. So, you guys spent over $10 million in less than three years strictly from the open space account fund. And less than 20% of that was actually spent on land preservation. And none of you guys denied that.
>> You none of you denied it. You strictly commented on my rhetoric. In fact, that was June 23rd. The following day on June 24th, Councilman Pal Mary after he bankrupted our school district, he sent an email to Mayor and Chief Nelson
over here saying that my comments on the financial data were politically motivated and that we need two uniformed police officers at council meetings. No, no, it gets weirder. The next day, this guy, our administrator, who makes
$300,000 and a township vehicle, and you guys all pay for his gasoline costs. >> Wait, he views my LinkedIn profile. And on that same night, a rental complaint comes in against my family, saying we're illegally renting.
>> Wait, no. Ready for this? On and four days later, July 1st, Mr. Terafeno phone calls code enforcement himself and says, "Please go inspect this address." >> Get out of here. >> I'm not intimidated, but that is
clearly, it's not rocket science. Takes a fourth grade level of education to understand that. That is retaliation. You retaliated against me >> and and and and lawfully you will not get away with it in due time. >> Thank you. Now, just back to the
environment really quickly. I just want to talk about data centers really quickly because I've sent you I've sent all of you guys over six emails relative to an ordinance that was drafted by Councilman Pollock. There's a nonprofit in this town called the Jackson Conservation Coalition. They're very
active. It's the only environmental nonprofit in town who's standing up for the environment. They've worked. Hear me out. Hear me out. They spent months working with Councilman Pollock and Councilman Harry Harper of Peton Township, who our own attorney is
familiar with. You represent Peton also. Correct. That is correct. Right. Now, Mr. McGucken, our own attorney, did you author the ordinance that prohibited data centers in Peton? Yes or no? >> Adam, I'll answer quickly. Yes, >> he did. Correct. So why
>> to to be fair? My partner did. I didn't. But yes, our office didn't. Our office prepared. >> So So I want a word now. Would you give your word to put the ordinance on the agenda? Do the people want a data center ban? >> The people do. The people do want a data
center ban. So I want you to commit right now to putting it on the agenda. >> I'm I'm going to break my rules for a second. It's on my list to address at the end of the meeting. I will address it at the end of the meeting. >> Commitment right now to place that ordinance for a vote. I will address it at the end of the meeting. Adam, >> I want a commitment to
>> have have anybody here signed any non-disclosure agreements with any data center developer? >> Can can any of you guys admit whether or not you met with any developers uh from any data centers? >> Adam, I will address all these questions at the end. You'll be happy. >> Can you can you just say yes?
>> You will be happy with my answer. That's all I'm going to say now. I want to be fair to everyone else. Everyone else is waiting. I'm gonna Mr. Haiti, I'm ready to vote on it tonight. >> Have you? >> I'm ready to No, I'm ready to vote on it tonight. >> You're ready to vote on it tonight?
>> I've I've been pushing for this data center. >> Has any Has anyone on this council met with a developer or met with anybody that worked at a data center? >> No. >> Who can confidently say that? >> I have not. >> I have not. I've never met with a single developer. >> So then why isn't that ordinance after
months being submitted to you guys not on the ballot? >> Will this council commit to putting that ordinance at least on the ballot for a vote? >> It will be on the next agenda. >> Thank you. >> De Jackson. Um, all right. This short thing is a real
struggle. Um, Deb Jones Jackson, I have a few things to say, but first I would like to say I really do applaud the young girl who came up here and spoke and being in education for 25 years. I
think it took a lot. But I have to tell you, I'm a little appalled that a child was put into a grownup discussion. Whether you all like, dislike, maybe
don't know Eleanor, one thing we all know in this town and on this council, she does her homework. She has never come here without facts. So, I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed for
the adult with her because she should have never been put in that position. I'm sorry. She has the right to speak, but she doesn't belong in an adult conflict. Um, as far as the podium,
I've said it. I've had conversations with some of you by yourselves. really doesn't have to do with this or the podium that was there. It has to do with being able to trust what you say. If I can't trust you in something so small,
how do I trust you with my town? How do I tr how do I trust you with my money? I work hard. My husband works hard. Our money, you need to be frugal with it. And you need to answer to us whether you like it or not. you're spending our
money. My next thing, I sat in this meeting when it was closed so abruptly. That was a little embarrassing because, and I'm sorry, Mr. McGucken, but as the attorney, I don't care how
many times a resident asks you to answer, if you know that their time's running out, then you should wait till their time's up and then answer. because if you weren't going back and forth, he wouldn't have run out of time.
And the other thing was when I was sitting here, I was baffled at what even just happened. It happened so quick and the only chaos that was going on was coming from up here, not back here.
And that's the truth. And if you all go back and listen to YouTube, and I've done it three or four times now, it's chaotic, but it's not from the residents. So maybe the police shouldn't be standing back here. Maybe they should be standing up here
because we're trusting you to keep order. And it it was just it's embarrassing. And you see all these people here. You guys know this room is not always filled because unfortunately people have to
live their daily lives of working. Their kids have programs. Things are going on. A lot of people watch it on YouTube. But the dishonesty and the lack of transparency is what's bringing everyone out. You guys, we've talked about it in many
meetings about transparency and you guys are being about as transparent as that brick wall. And that's a shame. And that doesn't go for everybody. I do think that some of you are transparent. Most of the time when you're not going
to get corrected publicly and embarrassingly, then you have no choice. you have to stand back. It shouldn't be like that. You should be able to disagree, agree, whatever you want to do and not feel like you're going to pay for it. I'm
tired of feeling like as a resident, people are being punished for what they're saying on Facebook. It's creeping into your police department. It's creeping into your councils.
You all should go on Facebook and read some of your planning board members count uh comments. They are embarrassing. And I've said many times, you guys are held to a higher standard than the residents. That goes for this
board. That goes for every board in this town. They work for us. We don't work for them. And I don't want to hear that it is a volunteer position. It's not a paid position. You know what? You're making and they're making decisions for
this town. If you can't have a little bit of decorum on Facebook, you don't belong sitting here. >> Uh Deb, Deb, I'd like to respond uh to a couple things, a couple points. Uh I I didn't want to respond before out of
respect, but uh what Miss Hannam brought up are illegal uses, illegal commercial enterprises going on in a residential neighborhood. One, it's not fair to the people who live nearby. Why do why should they have people dropping off, you know, their their kids like it's an
actual daycare? You know, 20 cars rolling up. They're operating illegally. They're taking money. They're they're not paying taxes. They're not being taxed on that. This is just it's illegality. It's not okay. And now take into account that it's children. There's
licensing. There's there's insurance. What happens when a child gets hurt? What's going to happen? It's it people have valid concerns. They don't care who you are, where you're from. They care about you following the rules. It's really that simple.
I and if there's an illegal operation, I'd like to think we do something about it, especially when children are involved. Um, now also, uh, public comments I I think is extremely important. I hate the way we do it. Uh, I I will say, uh, the
council president now is much better than the council president we had before. Uh, but there are still some issues. Um, I did send in a resolution to actually change public comments. Uh, because I believe residents deserve answers from their representative. If they ask a
question, they should be able to get an answer. I The resolution is one, you can come up and say, I'd like a back and forth with your representative. You might have less time because your representative is going to speak as well, but I think it's your right to be able to have a back and forth with them. If you just want to come up and make a
statement and not be disturbed, you have free speech and you have every right to have that. I did present a resolution. Of course, it never came to a vote like many things. Uh but Deb, yeah, I I love you. You're the best. All right. Uh thank you very much. >> The residents know the difference
between a lemonade stand and a daycare. See if I can operate this thing. Okay. My name is John Chapel. I live in Jackson. I have um you know, there's a lot that goes back and forth here and you guys have a tough job because this pe these people want this thing and
those people want that. But I think there's one thing we can all agree on and that's the budget is important to everyone. So I have four statements about the budget and executive responsibility. Uh the first is where is the CFO? Why is
the CFO not here to answer questions tonight? Uh the second is has the CFO built a municipal budget before? Third, are the state of New Jersey criteria for the budget understood by
the executive team, not just the CFO? And how does the board plan to fix this? What are you all what are you all going to do so that this doesn't happen next year? We don't end up in the same position where apparently we can't pull together a budget.
And lastly, um about the police, I haven't seen anything here tonight that suggests we need cops here. And I mean, I love the police. I'm pro blue, but isn't this overtime, right? And then so that means it's going to cost us more to have cops
here extra. Just asking. And then I I have a comment which is I don't know about municipal government. All right. But in private industry there's a term for executives who can't build a budget.
U unemployed right unemployed. In private industry we don't get to just get it passed. So my question is, what is the problem and what are you all going to do about it so we don't have to go through this
every year not having a decent budget? That's all. Thanks. My name is Mark Ferrar. I'm a 42year resident of Jackson. Um, first thing is I can't understand the concept of
we will answer your questions when everyone is finished. That makes no sense to me because there's no way you're going to answer all the questions. We don't even remember what they've asked. So, that doesn't work.
It does not work. Second of all, we're not a bunch of dopey hicks. All right? We're residents of Jackson. Look how intelligent everybody has been tonight. Look at the questions that have
been asked. I'm retired for three years now. I've never felt so poor in my life. Now that I don't mean financially, although that's that's one aspect, but when I look around my neighborhood and see the
filth and the overdevelopment and the crap that's going on in my neighborhood, the the the the traffic, every the garbage, the filth. I'll say that again because that's capital F with filth.
>> We have had it. Stop. Somebody said before, "And the nonsense. This is nonsense. You're corrupt. >> You're You're disrespecting us and we
don't like it. >> Stop and get out. >> Everybody bring Don't let this meeting take place anymore in this room. We have to fill the high school.
>> We have to fill the auditorium. Bring somebody with you at the next meeting because we cannot let this die. >> This is enough. And we've all had it. All right. For three years, I've sat in my house in retirement saying, "This
really sucks." And I'm tired of feeling that way. Enough with the corruption. Bring somebody with you to the next meeting. Thank you, >> Ray Koner. Mr. Bernstein, you told us on the June
23rd council meeting you were going to forward the information on the Gro Town Road purchase. It's been five weeks. We've received nothing. Our mayor called us liars and
said she emailed us. I respectively requested the emails. I've received nothing. I even Oprah requested it on June 29th. I've received nothing. All right. And I also made a request with the clerk's office on June 25th.
Being a member of the open space committee, I shouldn't have to open requested documents. A month has elapsed. and we've got no information. All right. The appraisal was ready in May. That's the key component. I understand several
council members did not see the appraisal and they voted yes. How do you vote yes to purchase a piece of property if you don't know what the appraisal was? >> That's why >> I'd love an answer. We've been patiently
waiting for the documentation. You call me dishonest online. I've not received anything on this. We've uh we had a meeting recently. Nobody received anything. So, it's not just us. It's the whole uh committee.
I'd like an answer. When can we get the information? Where's the appraisal? >> We're told you guys are writing a check. You were gonna write a check for $800,000 >> with no appraisal. >> When can we have that information?
>> I'm going to respond to you after. >> I have a question uh for our mayor. I did see her at the amusement park. I don't appreciate her telling the HR department I'm not to be trusted and I shouldn't be invited there. My son works for the HR department.
>> I don't appreciate you defaming my character at the park. >> Ray dropped Ray Dro Ray dropped the >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I just got that information uh an hour before the meeting.
I don't appreciate it. I may be lawsuit 15. >> Thank you. >> All right. Good evening. Um I don't give my name and I don't give my address. Um state mandates that we have this public
time to uh we have freedom of speech. So, you can't force me to give my address. You can't force me to give my name. Um, couple little things I'll note here. Um, I don't like how the microphone is like this with the I mean,
I guess it's good that we have Well, I have to correct this first. I actually hate doing this, but ignorant governments all across the country have referred to this as the podium. Please look up the definition of a podium. A podium is an elevated surface that a person stands or sits on. This is
a podium right here. This is what we call a lect turn. It's a little baby play school lectern, but I guess it is better than nothing. Um, so we'll just have to correct that. And I hate to have to do that, but this is the problem when ignorance is widespread like that, you
know. Um, this is a lect turn. So, yeah. So, I don't get my name. I take the names of dirty corrupt politicians. That's what I do. And um sure some of you may know me as Bong Holio, the eight foot giant Bong. Hopefully I don't have to come to this meeting as Bong Holio.
Um but the big problem I have, the big big problem I have is the disgusting government retaliation. People should be ashamed of yourselves. ashamed of yourselves for retaliating against people
who speak out against things that you disagree with. And through the chair of the lawyer, you are a horrible lawyer. Horrible lawyer. Horrible. Absolutely horrible. This is one of the worst lawyers I have. I've been to meetings. I've been to hundreds of meetings. Hundreds all over the state. This is one
of the worst lawyers you will ever ever see in your life. And what are they paying this guy? $350,000 $360,000. Come on, kick them to the curb. It's ridiculous. How dare you try to say that we can't address the community, the
people who are always willing to listen. We can we we we have every right to stand and face our We don't have to face you. Look at my back if you want. That's how we're going to do that. So, I'm just going to move this aside. I have a song to perform because I like to, you know,
bring a little bit of entertainment and a little bit of uh fun, you know, into these public meetings that are normally a dull, >> boring space. I like to sing songs about corrupt towns.
There's a hole in the ass of the Jackson committee and it tootses and it poops and it smells really shitty. There's a troll that takes a toll when she sits in
that seat. A real the executive of the Jackson elite. She's a troll. She's in a hole in Jackson. There's no need for the presence of the Jackson police. Unless they shut down
the meeting again and tell us all to leave. Public comments are a right. We want when we all meet. We don't have to make you comfortable by the way that we speak. There's a troll that takes a toll
in Jackson. People came out and they showed up to speak, but the front door apparently had too much of a squeak. It wasn't up to code with the fire department chief, but
we all can smell smoke and we live with that grief. There's a troll that takes its toll in Jackson. Like a company with a product that kills folks with ease. When they're wanting
your money, there's a place they can reach and there's seepage and there's leakage. No one knows where it goes. Some drips on the ground and gets on our toes, then travels around town with no
protection. Seems to land in the hands of the careless infected. There's a troll that takes a toll in Jackson. >> Code enforcement's coming over when you're trying to sleep cuz you spoke out
at a meeting. They're weaponizing the police. Backto back to meetings where the public couldn't speak. But they'll go deeper and darker maybe five times a
week. There's a troll, an in Jackson. That song's called Jennifer the Benefit. Jennifer the Benefit. And all these meetings should be packed everywhere. All over the state,
everywhere. You guys need to take your town back. Horrible corruption. This is disgusting. It is amazing to see all you people here. Continue to come to these meetings. Continue to show up. Don't stop fighting. These people are corrupt
and they are ripping you off and they are lying to you. Thank you. >> Wow, that's a tough act to follow. Uh, my name is Laura Krepa and I'm a Jackson resident. Um, after sitting here and listening to
everyone speak, I felt the need to get up. I had no intention, but um I just wanted to tell you a little something about myself. I am a new resident here to Jackson. I moved here less than five years ago. My
husband and I both chose to retire here at Four Seasons in South NLES. Uh it is an absolutely beautiful development and it has wonderful residents there and we are very happy there.
We thought we moved into our very last home. Unfortunately now honestly I don't know if I can say that. Um and how sad is that >> to say? Um,
I must say that I find what is going on in this town disgusting. Um, I'm actually embarrassed to tell people that I live here and say the town Jackson.
Sometimes I'll say, "Oh, I'm on the I'm in Freehold. I'm near Howell. I'm You know, it's it's embarrassing. My family calls me constantly. Oh gee, I read
another article about Jackson in the press today. Oh gee, I saw Jackson in the news again today. Every time the name Jackson is talked about, it's negative.
I It's terrible. And this whole Grand Harmony thing and the land that's across from us on County Line Road, it's just it's very shady. Very shady. And I would I again would
like that to be addressed on the plans what's going on over there. Um again, it's embarrassing. Um, had I have known that there was so much corruption and
shady business going on in this town, I would have never moved here. >> It's it I don't know what else to say except thank you, Chris, for all the work you're doing.
Boy, it's amazing how quiet things can get when a lot of people come out. You the town council, the planning board and the zoning board say that you want to hear from the people, but that's the biggest bunch of BS I ever heard. You you hear all you want people to hear. If
you constantly interrupt only giving them five GD minutes a night, you say you operate Robert's rules of order. Nowhere in Robert's rules of order does it say that people can only have five minutes to speak. Why? Because five
minutes is no draconian dark dark ages. So yesterday, so 90ish, so last century. We don't need five minutes. We need to have our time to speak. It's public comment. We need to speak. This is the 2000s.
Cut the red. Get rid of the five minutes already. Five minutes is only good when you want to cross-examine the uh project being held here. Now, when you're giving the people time during the the public session, you need every time to speak. Furthermore, only
allowing a person one time to speak has got to go. Also suppose Elanor Elliott and Adam come up after me and all of a sudden I got a thought in my head from what what they had to say and I want to come back up and say something. I have a right to put that on the record.
You want to hear from from us but you don't want to hear from us. Which is it? Whenever people are bringing up things that you don't want to hear during a project's cross examination, you always tell them this is not the time. This is
you'll have the time all time you want during public session. Then you get here and all of a sudden the clock starts ticking five minutes. Do not interrupt us when we're speaking. We the people do not interrupt you when you're speaking. Furthermore, you only
have trying to break us our train of thought and make us forget about where we were going with the what we were saying. Case closed. I I yield the floor to the next speaker. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Sandre Wachano. I am founder of We Strive for a
Place to Ride. A public advocate. Thank you. A public advocate and litigator representing thousands of workingclass families across New Jersey who demand less government overreach and the absolute rejection of mandatory
registration laws. We are here to reestablish the true chain of command. This con this country is constitutional republic. We are here to reestablish the true chain of command. Um, and we are the sole owners of the
equity. The government is strictly our servant under New Jersey statute 41 colon 1-1. You are bound by a strict fidiciary trust. You are the trustees.
We the people are the beneficiaries. I know exactly how the township operates. You try to scout my speeches but can't hide the resident like Ant Adam who stands up to speak the truth. He gets shut down, threatened and
targeted by weaponized code enforcement and his home days later when hundreds of residents organized to pack this room. You abruptly cancel the meeting and beforehand hiding behind
sudden excuses. The systemic silencing comes straight from the top. We see you, Major Cune, appointed to carry the torch. We see you, Bernstein. Um, and these establishment deploy
police to muzzle free speech while trying to force a predatory registration system onto working citizens just to try just for trying to commute. Let me entirely clear. This low-speed device are protected consumer products under
federal law, especially 15 USC section 2085, which explicitly exempts them from motor vehicle classifications. Forcing citizens to register a federally protected consumer product under threat of police empoundment flagrantly
violates our constitutional rights. Seizing property on the side of the road without a judge's order violates fourth 14th amendment due process. Look at the absolute chaos this overreach is causing. Your rules are completely
contradictory explicitly exempting low-speed ecooters, the tree wheel the three-w wheeled electric trikes from these registration traps. If a working citizen rides two-wheel ebike, local enforcement
treats them like a criminal and seizes their property. But if they add a third wheel to the exact same motor, they are completely exempt under the state's own guidelines. This is an administrative farce, not a
public safety measure. It is a tool for economic targeting instead of wasting public resources. Legislating registration traps for deploying police to suppress public comment. Utilize available state and federal funding. New
Jersey provides dedicated capital through the New Jersey Dacres program and the DCA local recreation improvement grant specifically to build multi-use lanes and protected paths within our public parks. Furthermore, the federal
safe roots to school program provides robust grants to fund the build safe paths and implement comprehensive microbility micromobility, excuse me, safety education programs directly inside our
schools. The capital exists to build in our parks and educate in our inside our schools. The capital exists to build in our parks and educate our schools. There is absolutely no financial safety jurisdiction jurisdiction
for weaponizing the police department on the side of the road. We for the we strive for a place to ride has put a stop to the compliance of silence. Our riders are moving forward under strict directive. Remain entirely respectful.
Comply comply with physical orders, but exercise your rights on camera. We are filming every single stop to secure irrefutable evidence. If local authorities choose to violate our rights under the color of law, we will drag
this municipality in its individual officers into federal court under 42 USC section 1983. When our cameras prove a willful violation of our fourth and 14th amendment rights, your qualified
immunity immunity is instantly shattered under 18 USC sections 241 and 242. It is a federal crime to to conspire to deprive the people of their civil rights. We demand the council respect the true chain of command, seize the
selective harassment, stop the retaliations against residents who speak up, reject mandatory registration laws, utilize the available funding to build our parks and educate our schools and work with we strive to protect honest
hardworking citizens trying to commute rather than turn them into courtroom defendants. Thank you. Good evening, council. Tom Chino, Jackson, New Jersey. So, let me get this off my chest first. Um, I think I can
speak for most people in this town. We do not want cameras in this town. Okay, that's one. to we also don't want stopover Airbnbs where they stop over for three weeks as I'm witnessing right now right behind my residence. Okay, the
resident came up to me this weekend, this Saturday. Okay, I offered him a business card as I am a realtor. Okay, he could not take the business card because he's not allowed to have paraphernalia passed off to him, but he was quite interested in finding out the
dynamics of Jackson, New Jersey. So, me being a person that does engage in people, we had a conversation back and forth. Okay. But again, when I walked away and walked back up my driveway, I was like, "Wow, that's pretty interesting." Where he came here just to
get information basically, and he's here for less than a month. Where are you staying, sir? Oh, I'm I'm using an Airbnb right around the block. He gave me the Pacific the specific address to which I I called the New Jersey Natural Gas and the fire department
because their smoke alarm was going off for four straight days. Four days all day. The only reason why I didn't call sooner is because let's face it, it the heat index was over 100 degrees. We were all inside air conditioning. It wasn't
live out in your yard, you know, have a picnic with your family. this that you you know but for four straight days that was going off. So I called JPD. JPD referred me to the fire department and it was resolved. But we all live in this
town. Most of us live in this town for a long time and that's just not normal. You know, we go away on vacation. I get that. But four days, I mean that's non-stop. I'm not exaggerating. So let me get back to what I was here to intend
to speak about. So, it's been said that we are due to collect 36 million from Jim. I don't know if Jim is even still here, but he said due to the budget that was passed, we're due to collect $36 million in taxes with the budget that was just passed. Where's the money for
roadway infrastructure? That's my question because have you driven the roads of Jackson recently? They're horrible. Okay, a token road here and there is fixed, but for the most part, they're brutal. Okay, anyone that works hard, most of us in this town are blueco
collar workers. Okay, we work hard for our money. You want to purchase a new car. You can't drive a new car in this town because inside of a year or two, it's done. You need front end work. Okay, so I know buildings are being erected. Infrastructure here is booming. Okay, we all know that, right? The
building infrastructure is booming, but roadways not so much. At least on the north end, the north the north end of town. Okay. Then there's these imitation police, I call them, with Teslas and Camry, um, with blue lights and sirens. I'm
renovating a house on off Southern Prospect. Okay. Um, and I've been there for four and a half months. Okay. This is now the second time that I was nearly run off the road. I'm a retired UPS man by trade. I worked 30 years in New York
City driving a truck. Okay. I know what safe roadway passage looks like. Okay. When I got Teslas with blue sirens and lights and the whole bit coming at me on the opposite side of the road doing 60 65 and a 40. Okay, that doesn't work for
me. The guy literally cut in front of me, me and the guy in front of him to cut down New Mexico Street like on nearly on two wheels just just to get to his destination. Okay. So now let me get to my thought
here. Okay, he literally ran me off the road and they're a danger. This is a danger to society. It's like they they do whatever they want with no regard for public safety so they can get to their objective property while jeopardizing the safety of other innocents along the
way. What what has once been a peaceful and respectful town, this this has become like a mockery. Okay, we've become a cannibal society where it's an invasion of our way of life and everything that we've worked hard to achieve in this over 100 square mile
town with mostly all blue collar workers. It's looking to be erased rapidly by special interests in industrial development. Wake up, Jackson. Okay, get out and vote in November or or you will not recognize this town
within a few short months. Oh, and one last thing, make sure all you blue collar get out there and wake up at 5:30, 6:00 a.m. tomorrow to go to work because your tax money is needed for the handouts that some some people are are living off of us. Start working like the
rest of us in this country. I'm Mrs. Guillotino. My husband's polite. It is 6 A Road. The person who's there. I said, "Oh, you bought the house, moved in. I know the house was for sale. That's great. That's awesome. Nice to see you. You're right behind me. Say hi. Do you have a dog?" I
have a dog. Um, he's only there. He's from Brooklyn. He's a broker in Brooklyn. I looked him up because I'm I'm a part-time realtor. I help my husband out. And he um he told me that no, no, I'm just staying for one month. You know, he does monthly rentals and
I'm just staying for one month because I want to check out the town, see what's around. I'm thinking about becoming a broker here. I see Yitz is doing great. Yitz happens to be a great guy um from he used to be Keller Williams. I don't know where he is now, but so he says, "Yets is doing great. I'm thinking about coming." So on and so forth. Um, but one
of the things I wanted to say which is shocking to me, I have clients that are looking to buy in Jackson. They have their children are here. Their kids are in high school. My son's in high school. It's how I know the people. So, they're older people. They want to buy here. I
had a house to show on Susan Drive. And my people wanted to come back and see it again. So, the realtor there, she didn't respond to, we use a thing called showing time. She didn't respond to my showing to call her up. I'm like, Rifka, it's Linda. You didn't answer me. Can I
show the house or not? She's like, well, you showed it, I know, on Sunday, but you know, we're in attorney review. I'm like, oh, when'd you get an attorney review? I don't remember. You don't remember? I'm a realtor. I know when my people are in attorney. People who here are realtors, they know when their
people are in attorney review. I was like, are you deep in? No. Okay. So, I was like, well, that's a shame because they're coming here all the way from Brooklyn. She says, really? I said, "Yeah." She goes, "Where?" I said, "They're coming from Williamsburg. I grew up in Brooklyn. I know Williamsburg. I was born in a mammoth hospital." I know. Okay. She goes, "Oh,
you know what? From Williamsburg. Show the house. Thank you." I showed the house. My people from Benhurst who only speak Italian who are from Sicily. Turns out they didn't like the house, but I showed the house. My point is, there are a lot of people that want to live here.
Their children who are my age live here. Their grandchildren live here. And when you have people that are doing things that are just not legitimate, it's not right. The second thing I wanted to bring up also was that when you have
someone knock at your door and say, "Oh, I see you bought your house for 300,000. I'm going to give you 500." You're like, "Oh, wow. I'm going to make 200 grand." So many times I see this happening and then they could have gotten 700 or 750 for their house. So find not me, find
the realtor you trust and go with that person. But even better, keep your house and stay because we're a great town. Good evening, Joe Depromo, Jackson, New Jersey. Question is, why are the residents so upset? Because for a long
time, for years, they felt that their voices weren't heard. Why is it when Councilman Pollock makes that opening statement, there's an ovation? It's monolithic. It all happens at the same time because we believe that he speaks for us. That we believe that he's
disrupting things as usual. Unfortunately, this has been going on for a decade or more. It's just come to a head and the people are upset. Adam Heidi speaks about misuse of open space funds because I was here at the last meeting. He doesn't get addressed, but
you want to pick at him for being 12 seconds over. And you know what? To us, Adam's a hero. My family moved from Middle Sex County to Ocean because we heard about how great the environment was eight years ago. That's starting to change drastically.
Council President Bernstein, you talked about flooding. Why do these developers have to come in and just raise every tree at a break neck speed? We have flooding issues, you know, and and you guys can can fix it, right? You can tighten things up. recent Supreme Court
ruling is Monarch Communities versus Monell Township. I'm sure you guys are familiar with that. What did it do? Amazingly, we got a gift from the New Jersey Supreme Court. Shocking. They turned around and
instead of putting the onus on the townships, you know, you know, you're shaking your head, right? that we have to justify why we want a rural zone, why we want certain overlays, why we want environmental protection. The Supreme
Court flipped it and said, "Guess what developers, the onus is on you now. You have to fight. I'm no attorney. I was just a cop for 25 years who did my job honorably. But I've been in the courts. I know what it's about. I've read decision. I've
testified in all levels of courts. I know this stuff. I'm not an attorney. But you know what? There's something we can do. You can show the people, you can get on the right side of history. You can change what's going on in the trajectory that this township is going and you could show the people that
you're fighting for them and not the developers and questionable interests. Is it all about money? Is that what it's all about? >> I didn't expect that answer, but I'll take it. I lived in Middle Sex County for 30 years. I lived in three different d
townships and the fourth township that I served honorably as a police officer. I've been to many township meetings as a civilian, as an officer. And you know what? I hear the complaints from some of you about the decorum. Do you know who did that? Some of you did that. The
people are fed up and they have every right to voice their opposition. And that's what they're doing tonight. And expect more of these or double the amount. You know what I see? I see when people start to fight back in a civil way because that's what I'm all about,
right? Respectful, lovingly. You know, I pray for you guys. I really do. I've taken a different route when I retired. But the people are seeing that there can be change. And there's been a few people that have spearheaded this change. And
you see when they clap, they're not clapping for the people. They're clapping for the message. People want to be represented and they all do it in unison. They all do it in harmony and it's it's just a passion that we have and we have a passion for the environment and we want the development
to slow down. >> At least when I was in Mills County, you know, they changed the infrastructure to support it. That's not happening here. The county is not they're not moving fast enough for the development. I lived also in Monroe Township and you know what they did? Yeah, there was developers, but they did a lot of land
swaps. Every year they were getting not these like Councilman Pollock talked about that flawed piece of parcel that like every once in a while something just drips drips drips, but where I came from, they actually got nice big pieces of property and they they did make some
deals with the developer, but there's signs all over Monroe and Middle Sex County. This is preserve and open space. I want to see more of that here. When we take talk about the quorum, when Ray Katonar gets up here and he's not answered, when Adam Heidi gets up here
and he's not answered, when Elellanar Hannam comes up here and she's not answered, the people get frustrated because you are selective in how you answer those. And I'm just going to leave you with one more thing because I got a few seconds left. I'll go to scripture. It's my time. 1 Timothy 6:10
it says, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money have wandered from their faith and pierced their own souls with many sorrows." Have a nice day. Council.
>> Council. >> Anyone else coming forward? >> Council. >> Motion to close public forum. >> Second. >> I'm I'm going to respond. We're just closing public. >> I I
>> Okay. So, I'm going to respond. I'm going to allow my colleagues also if they have anything that they want to say. But I also I'm going to kindly request I think everyone up here there was a lot that was said. Some of it was rough and I think we all showed the respect and we all gave everyone the decency of listening. Um you may not
like all the answers that you get but I'm asking everyone to give us the same respect that we all app gave to you. Um, I'm just going to go out of order for one second be just because I see my buddy Adam back there and I want to address first his um what he brought up about the data center. Um, because I know it's a hot button issue and when
Adam asked there was a lot of nos from one side of the room and a lot of yeses. I'm not sure if everyone fully understood the question that Adam was asking. Um, but I want to just address data centers for a second. So, as Attorney McGucken did say, um, data centers is something that his partner
within his firm did, um, author in in another town, I think it was Peton, if I remember correctly. Um, so I've had the opportunity in the past uh, I would say five to six months speaking to all of my colleagues on council about data centers. So, I can only speak for
myself. I've never met with anyone connected to a data center. I've never talked to a developer who's pushing for data centers. And I am not aware of anyone up here from the mayor to the council who supports data data centers in Jackson. That being said, um there is
a dispute among our professionals about the responsibility of putting together an ordinance to ban data centers. And I'm going to read a memo that I received from our planner, um Ernie Peters. Um excuse me, Adam. Adam, I'm going to read
a memo and then I will say what our course of action will be as as a township. It has been requested for our office to provide comments on need for the township to adopt a data center ordinance to protect the interests of the community. So I just want to go backwards. I I it was on the pesak
holiday. I spoke to Councilman Pollock about it. It was we had a great conversation. We spoke to him. So we present a copy of Councilman Pollock's draft in April 5th, 2026. Council President Bernson and I reviewed it and had a phone call with Councilman Pollock on April 6 to discuss the pros and cons
of prohibiting a particular use. Based on our phone call and discussions, I was of the opinion that we had agreed that an ordinance was not necessary. The sus the substance of the comments discussed is below. We ha we had three sets of comments to offer in response to the
request. First, data centers are not listed in the Jackson Township land use and development regulations as either a permitted, conditional, or assessor use in any zone in the township. This would require an applicant for a data center to apply for a use variance before the
zoning board of adjustment. The applicant would have an enhanced burden of proof to receive an approval. all the impacts listed in Councilman Pollock's draft ordinance parenthesis electric demand, water usage, noise, limited job opportunities, demand on municipal
services, and cons and cons consistency with the master plan and apprentices would be part of the negative criteria for the grant of a use variance that the applicant would have to prove to the zoning board. We believe it would be easier for the township to defend a use variance denial in court than a
prohibited use ordinance. Second, the township could adopt an ordinance that would define and permit data centers in particular area zones of the township and provide design standards which would address the item listed in Councilman Pollock's draft ordinance. Parenthesis applicant to pay for an electric
upgrades necessary to support the development, design of buildings to limit water usage, such as placing the buildings below ground, and addressing the impacts of municipal services. Once again, we believe it would be easier for the township to defend a site plan denial in court than a prohibited use
ordinance. We do understand that it would not be the most popular ordinance as far as the general public is concerned, but it may be a better choice than prohibiting the use. Third, the township could adopt an ordinance that would define and prohibit data centers in the township. While this may be the most popular way of dealing with the
public, we have reservations about how the ordinance would be enforced. Would an applicant be barred from applying to the zoning board of of adjustment for a use variance? We do not think the township can limit an applicant's right to apply for relief from a township standard and we would defer to the township attorneys on this from a legal
perspective. We would remind you, excuse me, we would remind you that the township adopted an ordinance prohibiting dormitories a few years back and had legal challenges that the township was not successful in defending. In summary, we do not believe that adopting a a prohibiting ordinance offering the township any additional
offers the township any additional protection from a land use perspective. We defer all legal issues to the township attorney. That being said, I just want to be very clear. Currently in Jackson Township, data centers are not a permitted use in Jackson Township. And it's if it's not listed in in in land
use, it is not permitted. Excuse me. >> Excuse me. I'm speaking I'm speaking. It is not permitted. That being said, That being said, as we discussed earlier and as I responded to during your comments, I spoke to Councilman Council Vice
President yesterday and I know he spoke yesterday to Councilman Pollock. Um, and I have committed that by the next meeting, I've already tasked our attorney McGuckin with just reviewing Councilman Pollock's ordinance and fine-tuning it, making sure it's as strong as possible. I'm committing. I'm
not committing how I am personally going to vote because I am concerned like Mr. Peters just said said in this memo, I am concerned of actually going backwards here in Jackson, but I am committing to putting on the agenda for the next meeting for council to take up for a vote for an introduction and um and uh
yes. So that's with regard to data centers. Councilman Bessie, do you have anything from land? You said you just want to add for a second. >> Your mic, your mic, please. being involved in the case we lost years back where we were protected by land use laws in New Jersey municipal land use law we
lost it due to the ordinances so there's a lot of questions if the ordinance actually hinders you protecting yourself when something's not mentioned in the master plan any zone it means it's a prohibited use it must go in front of the zoning board another small question that pops in my mind is up to the
attorneys and smart attorneys can play with things is here we are a council doing an ordinance to prohibit something and then appointing members to the zoning board that were actually telling them how to vote. So there's a lot of questions of doing an ordinance have to look at it.
>> Thank you. >> So that being said, >> excuse me. Excuse me. >> Second revision I sent, right? Correct. The second react to me tonight, but yes, I think so. >> Send you the one we had discuss and I sent you. >> Sure. Yes. Thank you very much. So again, I just want to reiterate um over
the next two weeks, I'm going to ask all my colleagues to consult and to get as smart as possible on the issue. I know councilman councilman council vice president had reached out to our zoning officer to get her guidance on the matter. Um and uh hopefully we will
we'll have a vote by the next meeting. Um okay, moving on. So I just wanted to mention this. Yes, Adam will be on the agenda. Um, secondly, I just want also mention once I'm on the subject of Adam, um, is what happened by the last meeting. I apologize and I think like Councilman Pollock said before,
sometimes elected officials do need to take responsibility and do need to have a little bit of humility. Um, there was the meeting got a little bit, I'm going to use a word, it was back and forth and was it was hard to you got passionate and we were hard it was hard to keep things calm. Um, there was a
motion to close. Um, and I looked around at that point. I did not see anyone else coming up. Um, going forward and uh, I've had this conversation with with other other residents and other people. The proper suggestion would have been probably take a break. Everyone was very passionate at that point and maybe to
come back in. But again, we're all human beings over here and I want to put this out there. There's no one on this day that doesn't care and love about Jackson. We could have differences of opinions on different matters, but we're all human beings and we all do care. And um, excuse me, please. um
with regard to um the five minute time frame that we have here. So contrary to what was mentioned, I remember and and I don't think I'm wrong is that the fiveminute time frame actually was instituted by Councilman Fleming, Marty Fleming when he was councilman council
council president. Um again, it's been it's been been around for a while. Every single town has a different style and next year if there's a different council president, they're welcome to institute the rules that they would feel is appropriate. Um Tom Zerver has an hour limit for public comment. We've never limited the the a time frame and we
don't want to be like Tom Zerver either. Um but we've never limited the time frame. Um other meetings I know the board of Ed and Jackson I think has three minutes. Um and generally that has been enough time to get through the town business. And again, I can speak for myself and I think the vast majority if
not all the council members here is that we all are very very available and we are all anyone who knows me knows I would talk to the wall. Um and um we're always open. We're always we're always are listening. Um
sorry I'm just going through my notes. Okay. So Grand Harmony. So I was out for for one of the comments and I'm going to let my colleagues and I will listen to the resident's comments. I don't if you're still here who who brought up um I know my name was mentioned as I was coming back in. I didn't hear this whole thing, so I don't want to respond to
that part. That being said, there is an open zoning board application and I'm going to defer to our legal attorney. I don't think it would be appropriate for our council to comment on the zoning board application in front of the zoning board with regard to the clubhouse over there. >> That's correct. That would be uh that
would all automatic reversal of any action if the board were to deny it. >> Sorry. If the governing body um who appoints the zoning board offered an opinion on an application pending before the zoning
board and the zoning board then denies the application that would be an automatic reversal uh in the courts and I would urge the council not to comment on any pending application before the zoning board. Now, um, a resident brought up, um, wanting to have better a better
understanding of the difference why the legal opinion of our, uh, legal team was when it came to that resident's bamboo that if it was on private property that we wouldn't pay for it, whereas when it came to snow reimbursement for private residential developments, the town I think paid it was $160, $170,000.
It's my understanding and and um business administer ter I don't know if you could shed any more light on it is that the town has a cont um town has a contract with all of the um private residential communities. Actually in many years in past it wasn't always taken advantage of and wasn't always worked on. I know it was something that
the mayor had reached out by her private residential community meeting and I think most of the communities this year got the reimbursement but that was based on a rate that was set with the contracts. Why it's like that I'm gonna let attorney Mucken explain because >> Yeah. So, New Jersey passed the
Condominium Services Act that permits any homeowners association to seek reimbursement if the township does not provide garbage collection, uh, electric lighting, um, snow plowing for private home
communities. In that case, the statute requires a township either provides that service or reimbures the community for those services. The theory behind that is these people pay taxes too and they should be entitled to the same services as the rest of the town. It's an statute that's been on the books for at least 15
20 years, maybe longer. And every town is required to enter into contracts for such homeowners associations to reimburse them for those costs. The township contract establishes those rates. We limit it to the type of service provided to the rest of the community. For instance, if it's street
lighting and they have street lighting poles every 100 feet and our t and in the town we only provide them every 400 feet. It's a portion of that that they would be reimbursed but by statute we're obligated to reimburse them um for those costs uh by state law.
>> I have to after >> I misspoke. Garbage collection is not because we don't provide that to the rest of the town. >> It's only for snow plowing etc. street lighting um and whatever else we provide in the town that they're entitled. >> Right. And just to piggyback below so piggyback off that for a second. I know
um on we have a email address called lights out which is constantly getting I would say probably the most constant um um people actually emailing is one of the HOAs for I think it's four seasons. Um constantly emailing about broken lights and they're utilizing like any
other taxpayer any other resident would would utilize it. Now, um I want to go through a couple couple of the of the other points that were brought up and then if any of my colleagues want to jump in, feel free to to interrupt me. Um or to add um with regard to the budget. So, the resolution and just to
address Jim for a second, the resolution came um the business administrator reached out to me late morning this morning and told me we were going to have to add a resolution. I told him I would need to speak to um to the CFO. We jumped on a call in early afternoon um myself, the business administrator and the CFO so I could have a better
understanding. Um, I had some of the same questions that why are we at this point and again what the CFO did tell me and um I I am I am more than happy to ask the offer if any of my colleagues if the mayor business administrator approve um to speak to the CFO and get more
information but um it's my understanding that the state is slower this year and we have not yet gotten um we have not been told that there are issues with the budget that would that would not allow the budget to go forward but obviously I I know the budget is a big issue over here and something that all the council
um are are taking very seriously and as soon as we have more information we will update but that the all the information I have is was that resolution today and I understand the the concerns um um with regard to Oprah's so I I just
want to put it out there is and I I um I am not aware of any elected official has ever instructed interfered with the clerk doing her job. We have a fantastic clerk. There are hundreds if not there are probably over a thousand opens that
are that have been done and um and I'm I'm going to continue to back and to give respect to our municipal clerk and her her office. Um and and um hopefully the Opraas will be will be answered as
soon as possible. Um with regard to the specifics of of why an Oprah was um denied, there are there is an Oprah attorney. There are Oprah professionals and everything is run through the proper chain of command when it needs to be. >> Okay. Okay.
Um >> Okay. I apologize. >> Um >> Okay. Okay. Moving. So we mentioned uh data centers with regard to surplus. I don't know if Carlos is still here, but yes, we're in full agreement that we
need to replenish and find ways to continue to replenish our surplus. And it's something that I do think we need to have continuous conversations how we could um um make um do it better. With regard to some of the um the veterans pictures in the hallway and some of the
other um municipal artifacts, I do know that there was been a a large effort from administration to try to make the building a little bit more modern. Um the pictures were not thrown out and the goal was to first put up the electric and then once the painting >> and and once excuse me a little respect
I respected you please respect me. >> You don't respect our history in this town. You destroyed it. That's right. Um, so I'm sure I know council council vice president and myself have been in touch with the mayor and we are going to continue to work together to ensure that
it's updated correctly. Um, with regard to voting with >> with regard to the voting changes, I think it was Oak Tree someone brought up about Oak Tree moving. Um, so it's my understanding that Oak Tree, this is this was long before the rental
ordinance, I'm sorry, the the the ordinance that was passed about rent control. Um, Oak Tree had last year or even two years ago had reached out that they had issues with with the voting location. Um, and um, I know the clerk worked together to find a suitable safe
location. Jackson 21 was was picked. If it is a concern that residents have that it's that residents would like a closer location, we're always open to trying to find other locations that would work and she will work with the Ocean County Board of Elections to make those places work. Um,
with regard to the land swap, so I'm I'm just going to say what my understanding is. I'm then I'm going to turn the floor over to Attorney McGucken. Um, so the land swap was started in 2022. Um, and obviously it's been an ongoing process since then. Um, the land swap took a
piece on the Leville corridor in Jackson and swapped it with a piece on White on in the Whitesville corridor in Jackson. Um, it's my understanding that when the swap was going on, it was determined that there were two pieces. Um, that the township did not own and the township at
that point approached the private owner um, the LLC who owned it. I think it's called Getel Getl >> Get B and approached that uh that private owner and asked if the town could buy it off to include it in the land swap. The owner refused or they couldn't come up with an appropriate number. Um and the town at that point
did eminent domain in order to acquire those two lots in order to make the land swap the two parcels comparable and compatible for the swap. Um there were two lawsuits that were filed against the land swap. There was a lawsuit against the land swap and then a lawsuit against the condemnation. The land swap was
upheld in court and the property that is on Leville is owned by the township as open space and the property on White Road or Whitesville is currently owned by that developer. The Supreme Court ruling was on those two small parcels on Whitesville owned by Getel and there was
another LLC that owns the other one. Um those are the two pieces that the town um lost in Supreme in the Supreme Court. So Attorney Mucken, what would be your what would be the next step in in the process? So the ordinance itself, the land swap is valid. No, that lawsuit
challenge failed. Um the question is the threequarters of one acre which is made up of these two tax lots. We have had brief discussions with the attorneys for the um gets B and we will continue those discussions. the Lebia case managed an
order back before the trial court and we will address uh what the court wants to do with respect to those three quarters of an acre but it does not change the overall swap nor does it change the ownership of the township owning the land in the middle of the town. >> Is it your opinion that um the land that
the count currently I think one of the residents brought up the land in her backyard um that the land will continue to remain the townships? >> That is that is absolutely our opinion. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Um, moving on. Um,
>> does anyone from council so far have anything? Chris, Ken, >> second one when you're done. I just wanted to make a brief statement. Do you want to keep going? You want me to do it? >> I'll take I just need to catch my breath for a second. >> Go ahead. Catch your breath. >> Uh, I'm going to be very short and to the point with everybody. Um, I'm here to uh support what you want. If you want
the data center ordinance, as long as it's legally not going to jam us up, you got my vote for it. We'll get it through. That's one. Two, I think you could see for uh tonight's resolution 199, a lot of folks have been saying they don't want to spend open space money on these parks anymore. I voted no
against the extra $250,000 spend on a park. That's what you want? That's what we're going to do. Not a problem. Resolution 213. That's the state mandating jamming stuff down our throat. I think Elmo brought it up. State I'm tired. I'm exhausted with state mandates. So, I voted no on that, too.
Talk to me. I'm a human. Let's discuss it. As long as we're not going to get legally jammed up, you have my word to listen and work with my colleagues to pass meaningful legislation up here. I'm up here for another two and a half years for my term.
Thanks, Adam. I appreciate that. Use me. Use me wisely. I'm here to help. So, come talk to me. I two weeks ago they we had an issue with the uh the meeting. I was still here for two and a half hours in another office and I met with several residents and I spoke with them for two
and a half hours and I didn't agree with everything they had to say and some some of them I'm not going to say who they come up they're pretty aggressive and all that that's okay we talked about laws we talked about family we talked we were humans in that room that's what I want more of uh so talk to me partner
with me if we don't agree okay but it's legal let's move it forward if it's not legal we'll discuss that too we'll get we'll get our attorneys involved We'll figure it out. But I I hear you. I hear you all up here. I want to work with you if you'd like to work with me. You got my commitment. Now, there was another
gentleman, the guy who last spoke. Is he still here? Joe is he is. Did he leave? If he's still here, I would like to have a word with him once this is over. I wanted to talk to him about something that he said. I thought it was very meaningful. But otherwise, again, use me
if you'd like. So now I want to um I want to go back to uh flaw cameras. Um oh >> hang out. I want to just say something when we adjourn if you're okay. >> No, no, no. I want to thank you for I want to thank you. You're very touching what you said. I want to I want to touch base personally. I don't need to air it
out here. >> So I want to just continue with regard to flock cameras that were brought up. So yes, Councilman Min Pollock sent me a resolution banning flock cameras. So, it's my understanding and Councilman Pollock, correct me if I'm wrong, the the the it came to the attention of
Councilman Pollock, I think, was that there are some cameras on outside of of Royal Grove by Grand over there. Um, and that's where I think the residents started talking about it uh about is this permitted, what exactly what data
is being collected? I don't think there's anyone here who wants government wants big government. Um, we we we live in a society where every phone is tracked. I think Android, Apple, and they all have our data. We don't need our local government having everything that we that we every time we drive down a street either. That being said, as
anything, something that pertains to public safety, I always do reach out first to our chief law enforcement officer, which is Chief Nelson. Um, she brought up some some some concerns with regard to flock cameras about banning them. Um, when it's on, and I did send
it over to attorney McCain and I asked them to look into it. Um, and that's my commitment that we will definitely continue that conversation. If it's on private property, and I don't know if those are flock cameras in particular outside of Royal Grove, but if it's on private property, I'm not sure of any resolution that we that we can pass. And attorney McCain, I guess, if you don't
mind to to jump in on that. >> Yeah, if somebody wants to put a Ring camera or any other camera in their property, they're allowed to. >> So, >> somebody said HOA. >> So, there is I don't think there is an HOA over there. Um, I think there are residents within the community pitched together. there was a there was a a high
concentration unfortunately of of car of car robberies if if I remember correctly um and they were concerned and since they installed those cameras those robberies have gone down substantially um but um they're private cameras on private property and even if it was an
HOA HOA also is a private entity right attorney muckin and they have the right with regard to does our PD operate flock cameras I'm not aware of any that our our local municipality does I know county has various cameras sometimes they put throughout throughout our town at various locations based on I know
there was one for a while in Bruce Bridge over there um that the Ocean County Sheriff's Office put out for a while. Um there was recently multiple um shootings that occurred um at a nonprofit on County Line Road that I know the the the the
nonprofit was in touch with law enforcement about installing cameras over there. Unfortunately, we live in a crazy universe and sometimes cameras are necessary. Um, so I think this will be an ongoing conversation about making sure that we do balance everyone's right for privacy with an understanding that
we cannot stop anyone. Um, many residents, I'm sure if I asked for a raise, have cameras on their houses and um that's their that's their right and uh we don't have the ability to to to restrict that. >> Um, >> yeah. So, so, so as I said, the cameras
that are being that are being talked about on social media on Grand are paid for by private people. The township did not pay for those cameras. Those are private cameras that were paid for out of residents, out of their own pocket. And um I know that the chief of police and and other members of law enforcement
were in touch with those residents um just making sure that the data which is being collected, but at the end of the day, it's private. It's on private property and the township has absolutely no right, as attorney McCain said, to tell someone that they can't put cameras on their private property. with regard
to a resident brought up before um um short-term rentals about having someone come in for less than 30 days. It was my understanding and um I think Nino I think you were on council then that when Councilman Suiki currently Assemblyman
Suiki there was an incident where there were like 800 people who showed up to a party in Whispering Hills and within like a week he drafted an ordinance banning short-term rentals. I think Councilman I think you were on the council then >> it's on the books. >> Yeah. So, we have that ordinance on the books. I'm assum I'm assuming that is a
code enforcement related issue. Um, and I would ask for that resident who brought that up. I don't know if he's still here to reach out um to to the appropriate department to follow up with that specific address. But I do know that's something that code enforcement does take very very seriously. With regard to cars speeding, um I know
there's a resident residents have reached out to me. I've gotten a couple emails. when I get those emails um um I forward those to the corporate I forward those to law enforcement because that is a law enforcement matter if someone's not obeying traffic um rules even an emergency volunteer whether it's a sell
or any other organization has to follow the law and the rules and I know that's something that Chief Nelson and members of of Jackson JPD have been in constant communication with all various entities if you have an if you have a license you have a car please send it over to to the
chief and uh that is we're not at >> and I and I and and ma'am I forward your email over to Chief Nelson. Um you could um with regard to roadway infrastructure. So um I don't think there is there's a a a
council and I think everyone up here is united about it that has been constantly beating the drum to the county and we have a lot of county roads. Tonight we've actually passed a resolution authorizing our engineers to work on on the next list of roads. um that was on our agenda for tonight. Um I don't yet
have the published list of what those roads what those municipal roads are going to be. Um I know Bethl Church is one that's currently under operation. Um that was a road which is a a which was a a disaster. I know residents have reached out to me about the road Harmony Road when developer had left it like
completely chaotic. Myself and the mayor had reached out to the county and the county reached back right away to the developer. Um and I know there was some work done. I think more communication and more pressure put on the county. The same way we have a lot of residents here, I'm going to urge everyone to also show up to the county meetings and and
make sure Jackson's getting its fair share. Um I know today there was an email uh or maybe it was yesterday. Today or yesterday there was an email to Mark Jenkee and others within the county um with regard to a list whole list of roadways in Jackson that are and we probably list a hundred of them that are
in badly in the need of infrastructure attention. Um So, so, so I'm not leaving. I have to come over to me and and please and and and go through the specifics. Um, I'm just going through Hold on one second. Um, I know there are other there were
other um things mentioned about Grand Harmony. Um, Attorney McGuck, I know you and I had had a conversation about this after last year, Jackson Day is when I met that resident who who had spoken then. Um, and do you have any more information on that? >> Sure. Um, the tatchup does not have a
civil rights investigation team. The Division of Civil Rights is part of the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. They handle violations of state law against discrimination. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the US Attorney's Office handles violations of the federal statutes with respect to those types of discrimination. The uh
individual correctly cited state statute that the township can't discriminate, but the allegation is that private parties are. And in those situations, any complaint should be referred to those entities. they take them very seriously. In fact, I do know in another uh instance, there's currently an investigation going on uh with respect
to a community under similar circumstances by the Division of Civil Rights >> in Jackson. Right. >> In Jackson. Yes. Um and they are the entities that handle that. The Jackson Town Police Department does it doesn't do it. And we certainly don't do it. We don't have jurisdiction to do it. >> Um does anyone take a break? Anyone else
from council have anything else to to say? >> The podium. >> Where's the podium? >> Okay. Okay. the podium and the clock. So the podium um and this was oh sorry the lectern um so the lectern was taken
out while while the various modifications were being done here in town hall contrary to what some people have said I never instructed anyone from DPW to throw it away um while it was being taken out some of it was was not in the best of conditions and a order was put into DPW to reconstruct the
podium um That's >> with with regard with regard to the clock. Um um Carlos, we we definitely put up a broken clock. I don't really think that makes so much sense. Um but um but what what I do find
ironic is and is that the clock was knocked down in a snowstorm by a longtime Jackson employee. And I think the the right decision at that point was not to embarrass that employee who made an instant mistake. probably working on too many hours of not of not sleeping. He ca I still remember when he came over
and he was he was embarrassed and it was not something that uh he intended to do. The clock wasn't merc wasn't just ripped out of its sockets. So that that's that's with regard to that. >> Excuse me. >> Excuse me. Excuse me.
>> So now with regard with with regarding >> with regard to Gro Town. >> Okay. With regard to >> Okay. With regard to Gro Town. So, um so
I I'm I'm going to say is it hopefully tomorrow attorney Mucken will will have the final answer with regard to the residents. Um I'm I'm going to take responsibility on Grotan. Growan was not the best use of open space money. Um, and at this point, at this point, I I
don't want to say more until attorney Mccucken resolves the issues tomorrow with with the private property owners attorneys. Um, but once that is, I will release. We did have it for lower than the assessed value, but our opinion after further research and yes,
residents like Adam reaching out and bringing up their concerns was that we could do better and therefore we're going to look for more open space. And thank you, Councilman, for for hosting the open space committee meeting. Um, with um with regard to just the
allegation about code enforcement, I'm going to say it. I am not aware of any member of anyone up here on on the deis who who holds code enforcement's hands and doesn't allow them to do their job. I take that that >> um and um any any email any complaint
which is sent in is investigated. Just because a resident is saying something is legal doesn't always make things illegal. I do want to remind certain residents um that in 2016 I was one of the few residents who actually said that there was a mistake being made and I was
just um there was character assassination against myself. Everyone everyone here everyone here cares passionately about Jackson. Everyone wants safe neighborhoods. Everyone wants clean neighborhoods. Everyone wants their garbage picked up. And um and I'm going
to take offense at that. Anything else from anyone else here? Adam, was there an email linked to that complaint against you? >> What was it? What was it? >> What was the email? Do you remember? >> Interesting. Thank you. I just wanted to
make sure. >> So, anyone else on council? >> Council vice president. >> I'd like to I'm in a motion to uh Excuse me. Excuse me. I'd like to address uh I'd like to address the two things. Mr. Shamto, I'd like to address the
inaccuracies that you reported about me hiring a personal assistant. I haven't hired a personal assistant since I've been here. I don't know where that came from, but um I do not have a personal assistant that I hired since I've been here. Now, on to Mr. Haiti. I'd like to
take a moment to address the messages and his statements tonight. Uh the messages were posted on a peer-to-peer platform which is unregulated and without standards relating to factchecking and accuracy before allowing his messages to be posted. And it's in relation to what you accuse me
of. um at your what I now know to be your residence. These messages are chalk full of false assumptions, purveying a false narrative that calls into question my professional work ethic alluding to false pretenses that I would engage in unethical, immoral, and/or illegal
behavior. This is excuse me, excuse me. >> Excuse me. I I'm talking. Thank you. Thank you. This is where I draw the line. I will not stand idly by while somebody attacks my personal character and my prof professional work ethic by perpetuating
false narratives. Now, let's rely on the facts. You have all the information from your OPER request, but I'm going to I'm going to walk through the facts so everybody understands this on Tuesday, June 30th. Excuse me. Yeah, Tuesday the 30th 20.
>> Excuse me. >> We're going to get there. If you would stop interrupting me, I'd like to provide clarity for everybody under your false assumption. Sir, >> I'll start where I want to start. >> I received an email from the mayor asking to have code enforcement look
into this allegation as it was a second request. You are correct. Mr. Arlington sent us an email dated June 25th. Sent to the rental complaints atjackanttownship.net address.
Here's what the complaint read. Hi, I was looking at the rental list and don't see 70 vera court on the list. The home seems to be a rental that isn't registered. Nowhere in that email is the homeowner's name or Adam Haiti named in that email.
Later on on the 30th, I emailed code enforcement asked for verification of whether or not 70 Verbano was a registered rental property. On the same date, Mr. Cheney from code enforcement sent me an email indicating the property is not registered as a rental.
>> I didn't call him, I emailed him. >> I have Cheney on record. >> Okay, that's great. >> Can I finish, please? >> Are you going to address the lie or not? >> I'm addressing your lie. Can I finish? >> No. >> No property owner was I identified, nor
was Mr. Haiti mentioned as being a resident living at this address. Later on at 4:08 p.m., I responded back to Mr. Channy and asked him to assign an officer to follow up as we, meaning administration and the mayor, received concerns that the property was being used as a rental.
423 on the 30th, Mr. Cheney replied back stating absolutely he would assign someone >> again. Excuse me. Again, 4:37, that same date, I emailed the mayor informing her that Mr. Cheney confirmed that the property 70 verbana
is not registered as a rental property. And as a result, I asked an officer be assigned to follow up on the complaint that we received. Thursday, July 2nd, 9:10 a.m. I received an email from Mr. Channy from Conforcement with Officer Seda's report
attached as he was the officer followed up on a complaint. The owner then was identified in the report by officer Sadi as Mr. Badgery. Here's the report and it's for everybody's viewing and anybody can have a copy of this. Nowhere in this report
is Adam Hades name mentioned or or excuse me or if he was present or not when officer Seda conducted his original investigation. >> Okay. Council council vice president. >> Okay. I would I'd like to reiterate at
at no time I would like to reiterate at no time from the receipt of this complaint. >> I would like to reiterate at this time from the receipt of the complaint through the follow-up investigation was Adam Haiti ever identified as being the owner of the property or even living
there as a resident. Those are the facts which he has contained in all the emails that he operate. In closing, I'd like to state I have no issues engaging with anyone in civil discourse, not civil discord. What I will not tolerate are unsubstantiated, slanderous attacks for
purching me personally and professionally. Thank you, >> council vice president. >> Council vice president. >> Go ahead. >> Council vice president. >> It sounds like they threw it away. It's being replaced. The podium, the lect
turn is being replaced. >> This is a temporary lector. >> Threw it away. They lied about it getting repaired for months >> and I don't know why. >> Adam, I'm not leaving. We can talk. >> Can we talk as soon as I adjourn?
>> All right, Adam. Adam, we'll talk after. I have >> I have no I have >> I have I have no idea where where the podium is. It was >> okay. Okay,
>> council >> public comment is over. Okay. What? >> What? >> Hey, madame clerk, >> we have a motion to close. I answer the question. >> What? >> I'm not sure why she should be here.
There's nothing about >> Thank you. >> We don't have a >> We don't have a full-time CFO. We don't have a full-time CFO. >> Council President, is there anything further? >> Okay. So, with regard to the CFO, sorry, I I apologize. Forgot that question. We
have a shared service agreement with Manchester Township. The CFO is here during the week, uh, certain days of the week. Um, and she was here during the budget hearings and if there's a need, we will I will ask through the administration for her to come to another council meeting.
>> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. So, so yes, the CFO has experience with municipal budgets. Um, and and I'm not sure if there's an issue yet. I think there's a lot of rhetoric that there's an issue, but we've yet to hear that
there's an issue. Council Vice President. >> So, we're gonna stay if you want to talk to us oneonone. I do want to talk to Joe before he leaves. >> I mean, that's got to get a quote, right? >> And I answered the questions. So what I what I answered is that every
>> ma'am what I answered is that everything was sent over to zoning for proper investigation and just because a resident says that something is illegal doesn't mean that >> okay that's your right >> that's your right >> making a motion motion to close
>> no no question on the bills. >> Which question? Remind me. >> You're more than welcome by the public comment ask any questions you want. >> Does anybody have a question about it? No. Okay. Let's vote.
>> I will I will look into that. Listening >> I don't want to talk after my father wants to speak to Mr. Franco since he verbally called >> so he he's witness >> so every time the the business
administrator gets a complaint he forwards it to the appropriate department happens all the time every single day. Okay, >> can we The public comment is over. What? What? >> Sure. >> Oh, hello. My name is Aziz Heidi. I'm
Adam Heidi's dead. We've been living in Jackson for 33 years. Never had a problem with anyone. Right after the incident that happened here, which I saw on video,
I think two or three days later, I got a knock on my door from code enforcement. Is that a coincidence? >> I'm not sure. There's nobody in my neighborhood community. Everybody knows us. We live in the culdeac. All the
neighbors, they know each other. Everybody knows that I live with my wife and my kids. Nobody there rents illegally. So, I'm not sure where that come came about. Like, who's calling? I know you're not allowed to say who's
calling or who's emailing, who's making the referral, right? I know you can't say that, but how did that even come about just around that time is my question and I'm going to leave it at that. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. I'm going to come over to you after if you don't mind.
>> Okay, council. Public comments over. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second, Madame Clerk. Madame Cler, there's a motion in a second. >> Your mic's working. Oh, I guess not. Your mic's not working. Oh,
>> you want me to use Councilman Pollock's mic for just so you can talk into the record for a second? >> Thank you, Council President B. Is there anything further? >> That's it. All in favor? >> All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Any oppose? >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> You don't like this one? I can't. Yeah, go.