Adequate notice has been uh an adequate notice that this meeting has been given in accordance with the open public meetings act pursuant to public laws 1975. Said notice was advertising as we park press and the beacon and posted on the golden board showing the time and place in the meeting. Everyone please rise. Salute the flag followed by a
moment of silence to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Item one, proclamation recognizing April
as autism acceptance month. Do we have anybody here for autism acceptance? >> I'll just read the proclamation. Whereas autism is a developmental disability that that affects how individuals communicate, interact, and behave and results in a spectrum of
abilities and challenges. And whereas children and adults continue to be diagnosed on the autism spectrum at high high rates resulting in prevalences of 1 in 31 children nationally and one in 29 in New Jersey. And whereas while there is no cure for autism, it is well
documented that if individuals with autism participate in intensive treatment early and as needed, they lead significantly improved lives. And whereas all individuals with autism deserve respect and the support they need to live safe and fulfilling lives. And whereas individuals with profound
autism require a lifetime of specialized treatment and services to ensure their health and safety. And whereas the disabling effects of autism can create psychological and financial burdens for families, efforts should be made to support the resilience. And whereas municipal governments each have a role
to play in ensuring autism friendly law enforcement agencies, sports and recreation opportunities, and housing to promote safety, inclusion, inclusion, and meaningful community participation for individuals with autism. And whereas Autism New Jersey is in its 27th year of
spearheading an awareness effort in order to educate parents, professionals, and the general public about autism and its effects. Now therefore, I, Stephen Kenn, mayor of the township of Lacy, on behalf of myself and the township committee, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as National Autism
Acceptance Month in Lacy Township and urge all citizens to recognize this month by building a narrative of hope for children and families through collaboration in the creation of an ecosystem of primary prevention. >> I guess. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. Item two, special use permit. Art gallery tattoo uh spring makers market on May 17th. >> Art Gallery Tattoo at 442 Lacy Road is looking to host a spring makers market with um multiple vendors and a coffee
truck on May 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. in their front parking lot. >> Move. Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Item three, special user permit grand opening of the refinery uh May 17. The Refinery, Pilates, and Strength Studio is looking to host a grand opening event
on May 17th from 1 to 4. Um they're located at 118 North Main Street and they will have a food truck and a jewelry vendor. >> Move it. >> All in favor? >> Permission to use Mil Pond Lake for the PBA fishing derby. >> The PBA is seeking permission to use
Milon Lake for a fishing derby on May 23rd from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. It'll be a free event. Um they're looking to close Parker A from Mil Street um to north and Lakeside Drive South to the south. Um and they'll use the basketball courts as their headquarters for um
check in. >> Move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Item five, storage pod extension request 1017 Sarasota Drive. >> The resident at 1017 Sarasota Drive is looking for the uh fourth pod extension. Um they're currently using it for
storage um after unfortunately having to clean out a home um from a deceased relative. Um code enforcement recommends um a one or two month extension. Um there's no active permits open. So there's no progress on a um renovation or anything like that.
>> Move it. >> We want to do one or two. >> Two months. >> Two months. Get it off. >> What did the code of forces say? What did >> she said? One or two. >> One or two. >> Two months. >> I think reading some of these comments, >> right? We go with two months and that's it. That's the final date.
>> Okay. Two months. >> I think I think this time we got to put a final date on this one. >> Very good. >> Two months from today. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Moving right along. Township meeting. Uh, adequate notice of this meeting has been given in accordance with the open wait. A
>> motion to motion to adjurnn. >> Move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Now, uh, township meeting. Adequate notice of this meeting has been given in accordance with the open public meetings act pursuant to the public laws of 1975. Said notice was advertising as park press in the beacon and was posted on a
bulletin board showing the time and place of the meeting. Item one, first reading of ordinance 202607 amending chapter 93 of the township code entitled police department. >> An ordinance of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending and supplementing chapter 93 of the township code entitled police
department. This is strictly for um setting the rate for outside contractors who need any type of traffic control. So all this would be at their expense. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mrs. Juliano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keratollo. >> Yes. >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Laray. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kenn.
>> Yes. Uh first reading ordinance 20268 setting salaries for non-bargaining employees. The munitional court municipal court attendant and class one officer. An ordinance of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending an ordinance entitled an ordinance of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey affixing
and determining the salaries, wages, and compensation of the officers, employees, and members of the governing body of the township. This is for the municipal court attendant and a class one officer. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mrs. Juliano, >> yes. >> Mr. Laay, >> yes. >> Mr. McDonald, >> yes. >> Mr. Cury, >> yes. >> Mayor Kenneth,
>> yes. First reading ordinance 20269 establishing a cap bank. >> An ordinance of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank in accordance with NJSA4A 4-45.14.
This is an annual ordinance that we do. It basically allows a municipality to save unsaved budget increase room for up to two years and use it later as needed. So, normally budgets budgets can only go up 2.5%. But with this ordinance in place, they can go up 3.5%.
>> Move. Second, >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Juliano, >> yes. >> Mr. Kerutoo, >> yes. >> Mr. Laray, >> yes. >> Mayor, >> yes. First reading ordinance 2026 providing for various capital improvements and the acquisition of various capital equipment. An ordinance of the township of Lacy County of Ocean
State of New Jersey providing for various capital improvements and the acquisition of various capital equipment appropriating 3,265,929 therefore and authoring the issuance of $2,867,350 bonds and notes to finance a portion of the cost thereof authorized in and by
the Township of Lacy in the county of Ocean State of New Jersey. This is for our 2026 projects which includes um the purchasing of various emergency services equipment and ambulance remount um a pickup truck to be shared with recreation and DPW for plowing. Cranberry Hill phase 2 Deerhead Lake Dam
spillway design and permitting Gilly Park walkway lighting street and bulkheads um police department generator railroad avenue north extension and additional security cameras. >> Move it. >> Second >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lay. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kerlo. Yes,
>> Mrs. Juliano. >> Yes, >> Mayor Gas. >> Yes. Second reading ordinance 20265 vacating a portion of Iona Street. >> An ordinance of the township of Lacy, County of Ocean, State of New Jersey, vacating all of the right, title, and interest of the township of Lacy in a portion of Iona Street. Second reading,
open the floor to public comment. >> Seeing none, make a motion to close the floor. >> Move it. >> All in favor? >> I motion on the ordinance? >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mr. McDonald, >> yes. >> Mr. Kto, >> yes. >> Mrs. Juliano, yes. >> Mr. Laray, >> yes. >> Mayor Cass,
>> yes. Resolution 2026119 certifying compliance with the EEOC. >> Resolution of the Township of Lacy, County of Ocean, State of New Jersey, certifying governing body compliance with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's enforcement guidance on on the consideration of
arrests and conviction records and employment decisions under Title 9 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is an annual resolution that's required for budget introduction. Second, >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Juliano.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Kerato. >> Yes. >> Mr. Laray. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kennis. >> Yes. Resolution 2026120 authorizing the self-examination of the municipal budget. >> Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State, New Jersey, authorizing the township of Lacy to
assume the responsibility of conducting the annual budget examination. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Juliano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ker. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lay. Yes. >> Mayor Kenn. >> Yes. Resolution 2026121 introducing the 2026 municipal budget.
>> Resolution of the Township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey in introducing the local municipal budget of the township of Lacy for the fiscal year 2026. General appropriations for municipal purposes is $45,163,82422. Reserve for uncollected taxes
is1,864,51.78. Total general appropriations is $47,27,876. Less anticipated revenues is 22,241,1725. And the amount to be raised by taxes for support of the municipal budget is $24,786,73.95. >> Wait, Linda, do you want to say anything
about this? You want to come? >> I just like to give an example. >> You want to come up? >> Sure. for the residents at home. >> Just come up to the mic so everybody can hear it. >> Our CFO, Linda Cabelloo. Everybody, >> thank you. >> That was your intro.
>> Thank you. >> That was a great I really good at MC. >> You did. >> Um we are introducing on time and within CAPS as always um the 2026 budget. We do have an increase of 11 and a half% over
last year's appropriations. So that equated to 4,854,416. The notable increase here and as we've been talking about this for months now I feel like um is the health benefits new state of New Jersey health benefits went
up for us I think it was 33 and some percent increase >> well that was overall in the state I think for us was more like 33 but still that that equated to over $2 million. Uh that is the most notable increase to the budget. We have zero control over that
unfortunately. Um that's the the state we are in with these family plans and and everybody else. Um we had some increases with a new solid waste contract and just normal contractual increases. So the tax
increase for the taxpayer 4.3 cents. That's where we landed. Last time we spoke it was seven cents I believe. So we're down to 4.3 cents. We used more of our fund balance to support this budget and not pass it along to the taxpayer. We will most likely be able to slowly
grab that increase over time. So instead of hitting them all at once, we're we can slowly regain that to uh keep up with our expenditures. So what does that mean? The homeowner assessed at 300,000. That's closest to the average assessed.
So I'm going to use that as an example. um they'll pay an extra $129.58 annually or $10.80 a month. You still have all your services. There's no reduction in services. We've got a bunch of projects we just said about the capital ordinance in place. Um so we
still have all our our stuff in in place here and um we we tried to keep it as low as we could. >> Thank you very much for your synopsis. >> Any questions? >> You've done an excellent job. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. So, can we get a motion? >> Move. Second,
>> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kerato, >> yes. >> Mrs. Juliano, >> yes. >> Mr. Laorray, >> yes. >> Mayor Kenneth, >> yes. Resolution, >> sorry to interrupt. The budget hearing will be on May 14th at 6 p.m. in the courtroom. >> Resolution 202612 authorizing the receipt of bids for various capital
projects. Resolution of the Township of Lacy, County of Ocean, State of New Jersey, authorizing the receipt of bids and requests for proposals for various equipment and services in accordance with the approved 2026 budget for the Township of Lacy. This is for the road improvements to Cranberry Hill phase 2, improvements to Hayne Street, Deerhead
Lake Secondary Spillway Design and Permitting, Street and Bulkheads, and the Storage Building for the Department of Public Works. >> Move it. >> Second, >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Laray, >> yes. >> Mr. Certo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Juliano, >> yes. >> Mayor Kennes, >> yes. Resolution 2026123
opposing S-1836. >> Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey opposing Senate Bill 1836 which would allow religious and nonprofit institutions to develop residential housing as a permitted use in any zone at up to 40 units per acre preempting
local zoning authority and municipal affordable housing plans. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Juliano. Yes. >> Mr. Laray. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cerutoo. >> Yes. with a a short comment. These are our decisions to make for our own
sovereignty and our own land use boards. Trenton should have nothing to do with how we use our land and how we see fit with our appointees with input from our residents with guidance from our uh municipal clerk and municipal administrator. So, uh I'm all for Lacy
first and Trenton not at all. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Mayor, can I make a quick comment? M I forgot I made it on this one. Uh I I agree with Tim a thousand%. This is one of them situations we tr we even with what the state is
throwing down stick throwing down our throats, we try to make the best out of the situations they throw at us. But this here can make us look like Lakewood Township. And we don't not want to build overbuild it. We're fighting the state
on it. for opposing this. Um because the one thing is is we keep talking about you hear every once in a while home rule. They want to try to take this away from us and overrule not even include us in some of these decisions. So um it's definitely this is something we really
got to work hard on opposing and hope like heck that it never becomes a law. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Mayor, may I? >> Go ahead. One of the things I think we ought to be doing here is, and I've noticed this, a lot of these houses,
they put two cars per bedroom. So, if you got a four bedroomedroom house, you got eight cars. Now, I know when I had my kids, it look it looked terrible. My neighbors used to, you know, bust on me. I think we can put a regulation in there. One car per bedroom. So, if you
have four bedrooms, that's what it is. That's all you get because they're putting eight cars in in in some of these houses. That just looks terrible. So, >> we have to see if that's allowed under the land use at 45. >> Okay, that's fine. I think it's something we should investigate. >> Municipal land use law.
>> That would be something for the planning board to um a recommendation to the uh >> town council on. >> That's right. You know, the other thing, administrator, and my colleague sitting up here is if you're out um in Bamber or where somewhere where there's not city water and you have a septic system and
you have 20 people in a house that was built, the system was built, that drain field was built for two, three, four people, that's a health issue. So, you need you need to come up to code with that. So there's there's all these little nuances where it's just like we
need to have control over our land use here. Mr. McDonald is on the land use board 25 something years. Mr. Kenneth on there 20 zoning board of adjustment planning board to my left. Um we've got a lot of we got a lot of knowledge up here with land use. We can do just fine
on our own. >> Thank you. >> Can I please have your vote? >> Am I last? >> Yes. Yes. Resolution where we got 2026124 declaring default on a performance guarantee for calico construction. >> Resolution to the township of Lacy
County of Ocean State of New Jersey declaring default and demanding payment on performance guarantee for Calico Construction LLC application for block 287 lot 2.06 in Lacy Township. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Juliano. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Laray. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keratlo. >> Yes. >> Mayor Kennet. >> Yes. Resolution 2026125 authorizing the cancellation of old outstanding checks. >> Resolution of the Township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing the cancellation of old outstanding checks from the Lacy
Township Municipal Court account, the regular account. This is in the amount of $3544. >> Move it. Second, >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Laray. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keratollo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Juliano? >> Yes. >> Mayor Cass? >> Yes. Resolution 2026126 authorizing the
cancellation of more old outstanding >> resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing the cancellation of old outstanding checks from the Lacy Township Municipal Court bail account. This is in the amount of $184. >> Second, >> Mr. Laay. >> Yes. >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keratlo.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Juliano, >> yes. >> Mayor Kennes, >> yes. Resolution 2026127 appointing a bus driver for the recreation department. Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State, New Jersey, appointing a bus driver for the recreation department. >> Move it. >> Second.
>> Um, >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Laay. >> Yes. >> Mr. Curyo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Juliano? >> Yes. >> Mayor Kiss? >> Yes. Resolution 2026128 authorizing the refund of deposit monies. >> Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey
authorizing the refund of deposits held for the use of municipal facilities. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Certolo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Juliano, >> yes. >> Mr. Laay, >> yes. >> Mayor Kennets, >> yes. Resolution 2026129 authorizing the payment of township bills.
>> Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing the payment of township bills. This is in the amount of 7,200,67929. >> Move it. >> Second, >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Curollo. >> Mr. Ker.
>> Waiting on Mr. McDonald. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'll catch you later. >> Um, yes. Mrs. Juliano, >> yes. >> Mr. Laay, >> yes. >> Mayor Kenn, >> yes. >> Amy, my abstension T 0035. >> Thank you. >> Monthly reports. >> Municipal clerk's office for the month
of March. Excuse me. Collected receipts in the amount of $11,635. Uh for public works department, road opening permits in the amount of $45. Recycling commodity um in the amount of $1,153. The tires in the amount of $238.
Truck parking in the amount of $13,175. Motion to accept the reports as read. >> Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Motion to approve caucus meeting minutes of March 26, 2026. >> Move it. Second. >> All in favor? I. >> Motion to approve township meeting minutes of March 26, 2026. Second.
>> All in favor. >> Motion to approve junior membership and Lenoka Harbor Volunteer Fire Company for Ellis. So, >> good luck with that one, Steve. >> Move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Two add-ons. Resolution 2026-131
resolution to the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing the filing of a grant application for the local efficiency achievement program for the implementation of shared municipal court services and authorizing the mayor and the municipal clerk to execute the application and related documents.
We're exploring the option of combining our municipal court. Uh we would essentially be taking over wear municipal court. >> Move it. >> Second. >> Mr. McDonald. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kutoo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Juliano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Laray, >> yes. >> Mayor, >> yes.
>> Resolution 2026-132, resolution of the township of Lacy, County of Ocean, State of New Jersey, authorizing the execution of an amendment to the contract with Easy Docks Unlimited for the Lakesside Drive Bulkhead Replacement Project phases three and four. >> Move it. Second, >> Mr. McDonald.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Heruto, >> yes. >> Mrs. Juliano, yes. >> Mr. Laay, >> yes. >> Mayor Kennes, >> yes. >> Comments from the public. Regina descends to Sunset Drive, Sunrise Beach. I was just wondering, has the committee spoken to anyone at the BOE
about their tax increase and then add your tax increase and give us a number, a real number, what we can expect in May? >> I have not. I mean, a couple >> not in the last 10 days, I'll say. So, I don't think they had anything finalized.
I forget what it was when I >> Well, it's it's pretty up there. It's not quite the 10% that they've been taking, but when you add theirs and yours, we might be darn close. And I have to tell you, your budget and your taxes are causing a lot of problems for a lot of people, and the for sale signs
are going up constantly. People, >> we only have 48 homes listed for sale in the whole entire township. That's the listings. That's listings. Okay. There's people putting their houses up for sale by owner, too. So, you don't get those numbers. >> Well, they're reported elsewhere, uh,
through Zillow and stuff like that. >> It's still I think a lot of people are selling and leaving because they can't afford to live here. >> It's very expensive to live in New Jersey. I mean, I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody that >> it's true all over, but it it's getting worse and worse here on a regular basis. So the part of the problem is that there
the in order to I mean if you're really trying to save on your budget you actually have to cut staff and cut it considerably not trim at the edges where you have part-time employees or something like that. You have to cut swaths of people and I don't think >> I'm not talking about cuts to
>> that's that's what you have to do. That's that is >> I think our main problem though has become the health benefits for both entities. >> That is where the big dollars are. >> What we have what do we do about that? My I I was wondering is it cheaper for us to just pay out on a case-byase basis
the insurance >> exploring selfuring that idea to go selfinsured? >> Oh, that's what it's called. Yeah, selfinsured. I I don't know if it's feasible. We are exploring that idea. We did go out to the market to five different markets to try to get other health insurance. Our claims experience is really bad. You get a I have three um
cases over $2 million. That kills you to be able to go and get other health insurance. >> I've seen those reports. I know what you're talking about. >> So, but we are exploring a self-insured idea and and sometimes you got to pay a little more the first two years maybe to see a reduction. So, we're exploring
that. Uh myself, George, Linda, you know, we are looking into that to see if it's a >> that's about the only way I could think of unions to negotiate with to keep them substantially similar. >> Oh, it has to be close to the coverage they have. But the rate that the health
insurance is going up, self-insured could be cheaper at this point. >> We're exploring >> because what did you say 36% your numbers were going up? >> 33% but the the average is 36.7 >> right and the school district I forget said it was 25% I forget what their
number was but it's just ridiculous. >> The state is the state is anticipating 44% next year. The year after they're talking about they may be so that >> so everybody's working hard on trying it. Even the county's coming up with some different ways of doing things. Uh
some uh towns are pulling out and there there there's a lot of different we're all looking at it because when you're looking at what was it a $4 million uh budget say and half of >> you were 2 million in the
>> 2 million is just insurance. That's something that's totally out of our our hands. And um we were supposed to meet with the school but a medical emergency came up with one individual so we had postponed it but you the the number is we don't know what
it is in cents but it's right now I think it's around 6.88%. >> So yes we're at 4.3 but you got remember half of that is our medical right >> the other is >> that doesn't make it easier. No, no, I'm
not. >> Regina, I'm just trying to answer your question. I'm not saying this to make it easier. I'm just trying to I've always said I'm going to explain things. >> Doesn't mean you got to agree or disagree. It's just I'm going to be upfront and explain things. 4.3%.
When we ran the numbers for everything, we were over it came in. Linda, her department, the administration, the whole bit was over 7%. We were able to get it down to almost four. We're just a little over four and that's not cutting that's with that huge increase
and not cutting any services to Lacy Township. So you got to remember 20% we only control 20% this committee here of your tax bill. >> Right? >> So on a $300,000 house
which is $129 and some we only control $24 of that increase. That's it. So we can't control what the county does and we know where the school falls into that. >> Yep. >> But we only control that. And out of
that you break down 129 like Linda had said which is the way I do things a lot of times. $10.80. >> Okay. So for $10.80 we're eating up this absorbent health care cost we can't do anything about. >> And we're still providing all the
services. When we say all the services, remember that's not only your parks, your recreation, it's your police departments, it's your fire departments. It's everything Lacy does for you for that tax dollar. So the increase basically on
our end of that $1080 a month is $2 basically 10. >> I do. >> And as far as the home selling, yes, there's only like 44 on the MLS right now. There are people putting their houses up for sale. We've went
through this before. You and me live in the same neighborhood. We see signs going up. New Jersey as a whole, Steve said it right. New Jersey is expensive to live in. No matter where you live, whether you live in Cape May, North Jersey, East or West, this is an
expensive state. Most people are moving out of state because a cell here, you cannot relocate here. And most people putting their houses up for sale right now are putting them up for sale because of the lack of inventory. They are getting an unbelievable
price. You got one right close to you. >> Went for 710. I heard >> went for $710,000 in Sunrise Beach in Baywood Estates >> and it was renovated. It was a renovate. So to blame it on strictly the taxes, I
know that's a popular thing to say at the mic. People are getting a heyday when they sell these houses and move and and moving out of state. I mean, I agree. None of us like paying taxes. None of us want increases.
But I'm also going to respond when I think you're not given all the information. The few that are going up, we see it all over, especially where we live in Sunrise Beach right now. The ones on the boulevard,
small ranches on slabs in the upper 400s. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. So, we got we got to look at the whole ball of wax when when we look at these things. >> Well, there's still storm damage out there and there's a lot of storm damage on Musket Road by Wells Fargo. There's
ditches in the road that are quite deep that could actually, you know, wreck your tires if you keep going in them. Y >> is there any possibility that DPW can um >> we we are working on that as we >> you know about it? >> Yes, we're working on it. We have a list and we're, you know, that's not the only thing they have to do. Of course, you
know, we just opened the parks and everything, but they are working on it besides, you know, tree limbs down and the debris on the uh public owned properties and stuff. They're cleaning up that in addition to getting the potholes and stuff. And again, you couldn't get asphalt until, you know, a week or two ago. So,
>> okay. >> And also overall storm clean up for individuals. If there's garbage flying around your street from all the storms and wind we've had, if you see a plastic bag flying by or something stuck around a tree, please help dislodge it. The
cans and bottles are not going to pick themselves up. And um you know, one person can only do so much. So, please look around outside and pick up any um storm blown debris and garbage that may be near your house. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments.
>> Anybody else want to >> just your name? >> Nick. >> New to Lacy Township, so >> I uh I don't love taxes either, but at the same time, we we've been here a week and uh Oh, sorry. I apologize. One week.
We're brand new. >> Um well, two weeks, I guess you could say. Um, we like it so far. Um, we live on East Lacy Road. Um, we like where we live at. We're in one of the newer houses there. And, uh, it's 30 mph street. I'm sure you guys, I think you guys have had this complaint before.
Cars rip up and down the road, which we chose to move there. We've heard that, but there's a way we could reduce it. I heard someone people have asked about speed bumps. I know it might not be the way they could go about it. Could we do rumble strips? Do something to try and just keep it down a little bit. I mean, again, we live on the road. We know it's
30 miles an hour. people rip up and down 40 50 and I haven't been there in the summertime yet so I know it gets a little bit worse then but uh just wanted to bring it up see if there's anything we can do if it in terms of money I mean if we can raise money to do it I'd be willing to help with that if it's donating time I'll donate time I mean
I'll do whatever would be needed to do it um I'm not asking you guys to just do everything and say hey do it because we're you know we're paying the taxes I'm willing to to help with whatever we can um if it's possible >> this comes up often we you know we have a lot of situations with this and we um
you know the biggest thing we can do is we'll notify our police to take a you know more look over that way. Um we can't put the um bumps the speed bumps. It's not easy. >> You have to rep-profile the whole entire road to address all of that. It's not just about putting the rumple strips in
because you have to account for drainage and everything else. So it's not as simple as that. >> Is there signs or anything? You could put more signs. >> Get the electronic sign out there every now and then. >> We'll talk to to the chief. Typically they step with a plan. Typically, they step up the patrols. >> They'll put the the the uh the speed
flashers. >> Yeah, they'll exercise. >> But we'll talk to the chief and see what >> you know one maybe that can be put there. >> This will next year's budget. >> Probably I know I'm not the first one that's not Again, I'm one week here, so I'm not going to >> This comes up quite a bit.
>> Hey, listen. Like I said, if we could raise money to help do it, I mean, I I'll I'll chip in and I'll come up around >> quite often on our busy uh throughway streets. I mean, you're not the first uh comes up a lot. >> I I figured I'm again, I'm a weekend, so I got a a two two-year-old or just under
two on the way. So, um you know, >> so welcome to town. We'll talk to the chief. >> I appreciate it. Yeah. Thank you guys. And uh you're welcome. You know, it's my first ever board meeting, so you're congratulations. You survived. Welcome to Come on up.
find out. >> Sorry about the crutch. >> That's okay. >> Just please state your name for the record. >> Sure. My name is Robin Griffith. I do not live in town. I'm uh from Beachwood, but I'm here tonight to talk u about and discuss Relay for Life that will be
coming up on the weekend of May 30th and 31st. Uh so that everybody knows um Relay for Life is a grassroots effort. Money that's raised at Relay. Most of it we try to keep locally, but um it
doesn't go to pay the salaries of the corporate part of it. What Relay does is it pays for medications for people that can't afford them. rides to and from doctor's appointments and treatments. Uh we have something called a hope house. We have over 30 now throughout the
United States that if a cancer patient needs to uh have an extended stay, the patient and one person in their family or a companion of some sort would be allowed to go with them and we would pick up the tab. They pay nothing. Also,
we help with um groundbreaking research, new medications that are on horizon. Um, the reason I'm here today, like I said, is to let everybody here know that it is coming up and the importance of it and also to let you know that there it was a
close call this year. We were almost to the point of having to cancel the event totally because we cannot get help from volunteers. Nobody wants to do things without getting some sort of money. I've been doing this now for I've been
with the American Cancer Society since I've been 10 years old with my mother and then with my children um when they were in grade school being chaperones I came to uh Relay for Life in Berkeley Lacy in 2016. I know initially it had
been in Lacy department uh Lacy but then it was switched over to Berkeley but we still could called it Berkeley Lacy relay for life. Um I am a cancer survivor so this is something that is near and dear to my heart because of
lack of volunteerism relays around Ocean County have gone. We lost the relay in Tom's River. We lost the relay in Whiting. We lost the relay in Manchester. We lost the relay in
Stafford. We lost the relay in Weartown. We are the last Ocean County or one of but I'm thinking now it's the last relay for life in Ocean County. Once relay for life, if we if this for whatever reason disbands, good luck trying to get it
back because the American Cancer Society just looks at it as like, oh, now we're saving money because we don't have to fund t-shirts and advertising and getting the co, you know, the co the insurance. We don't have to, you know, worry about
whether they're going to where they're going to have their meetings. So, it's really try like important that we try to keep this relay up and running. We can't do it without town's help. I will be at the next Berkeley meeting telling them the same thing. I don't
want to see this event end. I've been doing this since 2016 combined with Berkeley Lacy. Th this will be my fifth year of actually being the event lead. I need help from the towns because if it
doesn't, we're going to lose it. And and at the end of the day, who suffers? The cancer patients and their families because this also provides a 1-800 number which has 24/7 access. Somebody will always pick up that phone. if
somebody needs to talk, if somebody's having um issues with understanding what you know what their cancer is and the plan of attack, there's always someone there. So, I would really and truly hate to see this because like I said, once
they're gone, who's going to help the cancer patients? >> So, this is being recorded. So, um you have anywhere to uh uh you know, if you want to volunteer, how to get in touch with somebody? I can leave you this >> and we can post it on our website >> and you can post it on your website. I do also have business cards with me but
I didn't bring I didn't break >> um but uh I believe you were at the event last for the last couple of years. >> I'm I'm one we I I just happen to represent all of us last year. >> Um so like I said >> we'll be there and we've all attended one time. >> We've all attended.
>> Thank you so much. And it, like I said, it's really important because the at the end of the day, the cancer patient is the one that benefits. >> We really do appreciate your time and volunteering. Hard >> work. And this I know this this is a very important thing. I mean, I'm a cancer survivor myself, too. And of
course, in May, cuz what was the date again? May >> 30th and 31st. >> 30. >> But the 30th is when everything happens. >> Okay. 30 31st. Okay. >> I I cordially invite you since you all survivor. >> I I want to finish my comment, >> okay? because it's going to go into that. >> Okay.
>> Barry, who's been quite involved with this forever. I would like to make them all. Of course, May, you got family weddings, obligations, everything. That's not an excuse. But we all tried to make it. The most important thing about you coming up
tonight is like the mayor just said, this is being recorded. It will also be on our TV channel. is for people to get out there because so many times people come up here and volunteerism is very important. The shame of it is our
society right now volunteerism is nowhere's near where it used to be. So please everybody watching this please hear this young lady come out because I'm looking around this room. This room's full of volunteers. There's
not a lot of us out here, but we cannot, this room full of people cannot be at everything and every affair. You said you're going to Berkeley. It's very important people look and see this and get out there and help because just in
our town there's 30,000 people. the same 20 25 people cannot be showing up at every single event because believe it or not the nice thing about surviving cancer is we also have a life. So between what we do volunteer what we do
commit we do want to enjoy the life we were spared due to success. So please, everybody hearing this young lady, I mean, if we're the last ones left, well, let's stay stay that way and not let it go. But please, because even this group
up here, I mean, a lot of us have been involved in things volunteer-wise and stuff like this. One of the only reasons I'm sitting up here at 69 years old, I didn't need to start doing this is because the lack of
volunteerism, the lack of caring and getting involved. Now, I know people are busy and there's a lot of reasons why they don't get involved, but somebody can give something when you got a town of 30,000 plus. So, thank you. >> So, we have what's called a volunteer
fair coming up via the recreation department. So, it's any nonprofit organization or, you know, group that wants to get the word out as to who they are to gain new members, new volunteers and stuff like that. It's April 30th at our community center. So, you'd be more
than welcome to obtain a table. There's no cost for it. Um, and you can put a table up there and put your brochures out and stuff and maybe you'll entice some people that come in that are looking to volunteer for something even if it is for a onetime event versus being involved, you know, monthly or something,
>> right? that and that's what it's an annual event but it does take planning. We have meetings once a month. Um and I can tell you it's getting smaller and smaller. Yeah. Precoid we actually had
like 30 20 30 teams. Last year we were down to I think five. >> Yeah. Every organization I think has seen a big change since co Yeah. Unfortunately. But, you know, reach out to our recreation department if you're available on April 30th to get a table to put a table or one of your other uh
volunteers to put a table there so that you can um have people, you know, get to know who you are and stuff and you might gain some more volunteers and get the word out. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> And thank you. >> Yeah, leave it there. Leave it there. We'll get it there. >> We'll get it from you, please. >> Thank you very much for your comment.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Anything else? All right. Berry, very please state your name. >> Sure. I'll go up that way. Barry Bender somewhere in Lacy Township. I'll give you the snaps
to work with you. Whoops. Uh, there was a comment made earlier about all sides of the story and I want to make a talk about something that happened two weeks ago. Um, because there were comments made uh at the end of the meeting that we couldn't respond
to. Uh, it has to do with the New Jersey real rules and I just wanted to share some information because I knew very little about it. I had heard little drips and drafts about it, but I did tiny bit of research, not nearly enough. There's so much stuff out there on it. Uh, but um the big things with the real
rules is um right now science is saying the anticipated it's anticipated that the sea level rise uh by 2100 is going to be 4 feet. So we're to we and we see now in our own community that water's
getting closer to the homes. But I want to talk about some of the things that I found. Um, the rules do not create no build zones. Uh, it's not about not building. It's about building smarter, safer, and for the future. The rules do not require all
all homes to be elevated, only new building, rebuilding, which is tear down and replace, or substantial improvements more than 50%. There are exceptions to the rules if a building cannot be elevated, as in historic buildings. A more incremental approach has has not
been taken because as homes built today are anticipated to last approximately 75 years. And based on supertorm Sandy, the NJ NJD is aware that the cost of elevating a home in the future will be far more expensive than building it
correctly from the start. And if a homeowner believes the 4ft elevation, which now they're talking about elevating a home by 4 foot plus 1 ft to the, you know, first floor. Um,
if a homeowner believes that the 4ft elevation should not be applicable to their building project, the rules allow the homeowner to provide their own calculations and ask for an exception. So, there are there's some negotiation in there. Um, but really the focus of
these rules, uh, which really wasn't discussed last time, is is for the the safety of the public and their homes. And I just wanted to get that information out there for the public because they heard one side last time around and wanted to share that. So, thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Any other comments from the public? Please state your name. >> Harold Middlefa Harbor. So, as we're getting close to the Revolutionary War celebration of the 250 semiquincential,
um, on April 21st at 6:00 at the Lacy branch, the Charles Smith Memorial Association will be giving a talk and a presentation on events that happened in Lacy during the Revolutionary War. And it's about the people, the patriots, the
pine robbers, and the privateeers that made history in Lacy during the Revolutionary War. And we have lots of new information and have it's it's a wonderful presentation. So I invite everyone to join us. >> So once again, the time and the date, >> April,
>> April 21st, Tuesday night at 6 PM. >> 6 PM. >> Yes. And everybody's invited. >> So thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Anything else from the public? Seeing none, make a motion close the floor. >> Second. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I. >> Comments from the committee. Deputy Mayor Lorra. All righty. This one's not going to be popular, >> but one of the reasons, and we're it's working out real well, we brought on an
assistant administrator just recently because our administrator just had another birthday this week. And that's getting her that much closer to retirement. >> I'm four years over. >> Yes. Um I mentioned this last time, like I
say, anybody uh has the opportunity to get down see the uh how they're progressing and getting near the close of uh redoing the township docks. It's a wonderful project. It's come out really good. This is the uh back end of it. As
far as the potholes Regina you brought up, um we had just yesterday or day before me and Steve were in a meeting and uh this was discussed some of them you're talking about and some other ones. Uh our assistant administrator was shooting a letter right over to uh
public works. Uh he probably did it as soon as we finished our meeting because he's been very on top of things. But something we're very aware of and like I say, some of them can actually swallow a car. So now that the uh pave pavement's available and we can get moving on it uh
to work our way through town. I want to welcome you sir to uh town. Um we all know that that's an issue. It's been brought up many of times before. Somebody I grew up with out here in the audience brought this up pro uh not too long ago at a meeting
um because she doesn't live far from you. Um but that we got this concern with every major thorough affair in town. Um and it's something we constantly look at. Uh the flashing signs gave me an
idea to talk about uh like what the schools have with them solar ones. I don't know how but but >> drive we >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, we are aware of it because as we know, no matter where you live, when something's going wrong,
that's not the time the cop's ever there. >> You know, so, you know, it seems like when they sit on the road, that's when everybody's doing the speed limit. But, uh, yeah, we are aware of it. Thank you for bringing that to our attention. And that's about it because the only other
thing I was going to mention real quick was uh the well on the budget, you know, where ours was. uh but I spoke earlier about that but I do want to thank Lyndon her department the committee all the departments and the administrators uh
office this was a tough one this was a tough one and versus last year I was new to the committee so I kind of had to sit listen and learn this year was a totally different situation um and if you think this committee
is as calm as you see us up here in the back room. Don't fool yourself. We argue. We disagree. But there is one thing I'm very proud of. We compromise. So, thank you for that.
That's all I have. Mayor, >> thank you, Bob. Committeewoman Juliano. >> Thank you, Mayor. I was again was just going to thank Linda Cavllo and her office, Veronica Laray, Mr. Restar, Amy. this it's not easy to do the work that
we had to put together with them um working on this budget. It's it's a it's a very hard task because you you really have to take everything into consideration and we don't want to neglect our employees. We don't want to neglect our town, but it's it's it's a
it's a work. Let me tell you, it's it's a progress and it's a it takes a lot of time and effort put in. So, we appreciate everything you guys do and uh the hours you put into all of this, too. And then my normal is to remind us that
we are grateful to our volunteer firemen in this town. We could not and I say this constantly. I know for a fact they were backing up a structure fire today. We they are just they are going probably seven days a week. Um it doesn't stop.
And so we we need to be grateful. We need to show them that we're grateful for them. So, uh, just a reminder out there to thank our volunteer firemen and moving. >> They even got tagged out and called out for that long bridge. >> Long branch. They were up in Long ladder trucks.
>> We are. We We We're moving and shaking, uh, really almost every day. So, um, appreciate what we have because before you know it, we'll be having to pay for it. Um, oh, our response time is amazing. It's It is not even I think they've got it
down to about a minute and four >> 4.5 minute >> 4.5. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. It was just a tad over four minutes as our response time. >> It really is. >> God bless them. >> That's something to be very proud of. >> That's all, mayor.
>> Thank you, Peggy. Committeeman Curella. >> Thank you, Mayor. I always um open don't want to be doom and gloom, but I we it's been spoken about here a little bit tonight. I always open where the rubber hits the road and with the kitchen table issues. Um it just seems like it just a
cascading news cycle. Um this morning I read once every 14 minutes somebody leaves New Jersey. I don't know if it's true or not. other states constantly gain um and we constantly lose and that's not that's not good for the long term and it puts an extra burden on the
folks that are still remaining here. Um so you know how do we change? How do we steer the ship? Uh we don't have much of a voice in Trenton. I don't think Trenton cares that much about us. Uh so I'll get into that towards the end of my comments and it'll it'll all be pretty
short tonight. But uh you know to be number 49 up from number 50 in businessfriendly environment uh is not a se a point of celebration. It's a difficult place for our businesses uh to be. It's a difficult place for our folks
at home to be seniors that are choosing between um food and medicine and and when people are in pain that's why I watch our money so closely and I say I we all do. I take it very very seriously this responsibility and I care about deeply about our people. I know we all
do. It's not saying I but it really is all of us. But moving forward I I want you to have a say in every dollar that we spend up here. I want to thank publicly um Mayor Kennes. He attended our Ocean Countywide health meeting uh where there
was stakeholders, elected officials in major hospitals, all of whom I've been working with for the past 8 years to craft policy to bring services out to every one of our municipalities. Always thanking Lacy first. Uh and that is really going to bear some fruit when we do our age friendly New Jersey in
just a couple of weeks here down in our multi-purpose room. Um, lastly, I have been asked this afternoon uh to speak at an upcoming Save Our Schools rally with Senator Rato and Assemblyman Paul Kenichra, Assemblyman
Meyer, and Assemblyman Sharenburg who has a PhD in these matters. I've also called the media to cover the event and they're going to do so. I'm sharing the event on Facebook and on my uh private u LinkedIn page. So, the
rally is the Save Our Schools Fix the Funding Rally. It's May 2nd, 1:30 p.m. Veterans Park in Bayville, same place that we have the uh cancer event, Relay for Life. Um, and I'm asking people, as
I asked Superintendent Zalinski, is very little more important than our school funding. It takes the It gives stuff to our kids. It takes the onus off our taxpayers. Anybody with an eye shot of my face right now or earshot of my voice, if you've got a few minutes that
afternoon, come out and support. When I talked to Senator Amada this afternoon, come out and support the event. We don't want to have nobody there because then it looks like our our our complaints and our advocacy fall on deaf ears because our own people don't even
show up. If you're a parent, if you're a coach, um if you're a mom of a small child, if you're a mom of a special needs child with an an individual education plan, come out and be there and be heard. We want to see you out there. We're standing there
shoulder-to-shoulder advocating for you. I'm trying to get it televised through News12. If it's not, it'll at least be covered. So, uh thank you. Share that with your friends. again. Save Our Schools Rally, May 2nd, 1:30 p.m. Veterans Park,
Bayville. Thank you, Mayor. >> Thank you, Pete. Committeeman McDonald. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I don't know if you saw the news yesterday for me. Governor Cheryl passed the nuclear bill. So, that's one
hurdle to allow nuclear uh reactors to be built in the state of New Jersey. It's only one hurdle and we've got to we've got a lot more to go because there's all kinds as you can imagine. Anybody knows anything about nuclear energy? Guess what's on the guess what's a lot of
money floating around out there and guess what Trenton likes to do? Take our money. So, we got to be very careful with this. We got to be smart with it. But it's one hurdle. Hopefully, it'll get we'll get it so we can get those small nuclear reactors down there
or modular reactors down there at Creek. I also want to speak about S1836. This is very important because this is a way to get around the zoning. I don't know if you followed the Tom's River. There is a builder's
lawsuit was filed against Tom's River. And if you want to know about builder's lawsuit, talk to our mayor because g a builder's lawsuit goes out all zoning, all restrictions, everything goes out the window. They can build it anywhere they want. They can go
10 stories high. This is the subset to that and that's why this has to be stopped. Mayor, that's all I have. >> Thank you, Tim. Um I have a few items. So, um I'll begin with um yeah, we the
uh we did the resolution to oppose um the affordable housing, but specifically it wasn't just affordable housing. I believe this is the second time we we're opposing it. So the the proposal is legislation for affordable housing for any nonprofit or religious institutions to preempt local zoning at 40 units per
acre and allow for the height to be one story higher than currently allowed by township code. LA just for a point of comparison Lacy allows eight per acre a far cry from 40 and allows essentially what's three stories of uh three stories of construction. So um they're going
want want to go additional foot high or a story higher than that. Um and not and just on uh uh and this is uh you know this is why I believe in more incrementalism. It's the same thing on the real act that it's both parties do it. Everybody always goes to the
extremes and they should do much more careful. The real act in my opinion is too extreme and these and this this is way too extreme. >> So that's why we're opposing it. >> Um that's why we oppose the real act also. um our budget meeting. Uh so and
it's my 13th year doing the budget and I um this was the most difficult one that I had to that we've sat there at least in my opinion and um I took the time this year to sit with with Veronica and Linda privately while while they at the worst point when they first got the
initial numbers and um yeah it's really depressing. It really is. But they uh really go through line by line and uh when you get done going through line by line, you're cutting barely anything. There's not much to cut. It's really it really is depressing. But anyway, they did a great job this year and we did the
best we could with that. Um and just to reiterate, um the capital uh you know, Amy said it, but if you missed it, yeah, we're doing equipment. Um we're paving uh Penn Avenue North is the part the in Cranberry Hill that's being paved. Hayne
Street. Um we're engineering the Deerhead Lake Dam, the street. Um replacing one maybe two street end bulkheads on the Hawaiian streets, the Gilly Park lighting, and we're completing the security cameras in addition to whatever else she said at the beginning of the
meeting. Um, I did attend a seminar, uh, the community health improvement plan, um, along with Peter who works at the Ocean County Health Department. I always said it's a benefit to Lacy Township that Pete lives here and can advocate um, for services beneficial to Lacy Township. I just pulled a blurb from the Ocean County Health Department. Just in
case people aren't aware, the Ocean County Health Department assesses current health data and needs of county residents through data gathering and by partnering with various health care agencies in the county. They use this data to construct focus areas and best practices for the residents of Ocean County. And additionally, if you've never been on Ocean County Health
Department website, it's got a lot of information, a lot of good information. Attended the Ocean County Engineers meeting. That's once a year. Attended it with uh DPW and Veron and the administration. Um the two uh you know
those meetings are are basically over county owned property and most of the county owned property is is uh our roads and so that's we there's a lot of focus on the roads. So um in 2027 uh Beach Boulevard almost in its entirety will be repaved.
>> Wow. >> 2027 tenatively 2027 almost the entirety. Um and they're still working on plans to extend Western Boulevard. has nothing really to do with Lacy, but only a little bit. Extend le Western Boulevard through route to Route Nine through uh Berkeley, but it it affects
Lacy a little bit. >> No. >> Um, as Peggy mentioned about the the fire companies, um, I think I mentioned last meeting that Fork Rivers had had their 98th year in uh, existence and we all attended the Lenoka Harbor Fire
Insulation Center, which has been in service now for 85 years. And finally, I want to wish Millie Portella, a Spring Oak resident who turned 100 today, a very happy birthday. >> So, those are my comments.
>> Mayor, if I could once just go ahead. >> I want to just apologize in advance to uh our residents. I'm going to miss the next meeting. My daughter is uh receiving an award from the dean of her university. It's u it's pretty prestigious. I'm really proud of her. I
have to be there at that night. and uh you're in good hands with my colleagues, but I don't want to miss being with her. So, thank you and I appreciate you understanding that. Thanks, Mayor. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjourn. Moving >> motion to resolution.
>> Resolution 2026-130 resolution town of Lacy County, New Jersey, authorizing the convening of an executive session in accordance with the open public meeting. >> Move it. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Motion to address. Move it. >> Second. I can't second. >> Second. >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> I. >> No further business.