Oh, guys. Up here. Come on. Come up here. Don't be shy. Get up here. Don't be shy. Ready?
[Applause] [Applause] All set. You all ready? All right, you're recording. All right, good. Thank you.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our co our caucus meeting May 7th, 2025 6 p.m. Adequate notice of this meeting has been given in accordance with the open public meetings act pursuant to public laws 1975. Said notice was advertised in the Aspbury Park Press and the Beacon was posted on the building board showing the time and
place of the meeting. We will rise for our pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all. Item number one, donation to Lenoka Harbor Volunteer Fire Company and Fort River Volunteer Fire Company. And we're also presenting something to the police tonight, too. It's just not on the agenda. We're also
presenting something to the police tonight, too. It's not on the agenda. Good. Get up. Come on. Come on. Get up here, girls. Get up here. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on over, girls. Get over.
Get over by the coach. Come on. So we can see you all. Come on. Get over here. Don't be shy. None of them are shy. No. No. Turn around. Turn around to the audience. Turn around so everybody can see you out there. That's my um Thank you so much for
having us tonight. My name is Marilyn Halliday. I'm the owner of Pride Elite Competitive Cheer, which is located at 713A Old Shore Road in Fork River. Um we've been open for 5 years. Uh we started with just 22 athletes and now we have over well over 109 different teams.
And besides um becoming terrific athletes, all these girls have become really good friends and they've made so many memories and they have so much to be proud of from competitions just experiences that they've had together. Um so we are especially grateful because
the night of the fire um it came so close to our building and we really thought we were going to lose it. So on a few days later we actually had our showcase that we have at the end of every season because the following weekend we were which was just a couple days ago we were heading to Florida for
our national competition. So at our showcase all our pride elite families um signed these thank you signs for the police officers and the Loka Harbor and Fork River Fire Department and took a donation that we would like to present to everyone tonight for our gratefulness for everything that they did. That's
wonderful. Thank you very much. Chief Jack, don't try to hide. This is Thanks. And Officer Trio is going to accept on behalf of the police. Thank you. Well, take a picture.
[Applause] Why don't the two chiefs and our police officers stand in the picture with them? Yes, please. Wherever you want. How am I [Laughter] gonna Thank you. Thank you.
[Applause] Give them the signs. That's for you to take back to headquarters. Thank you. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.
Wait one second. Okay. At this time, I'd like to ask if any member of the committee would like to have any comments for our cheer girls, our emergency first resp. Where do you want to start? Do you want to start? You can start. You look like you're chomping at the bit. I am chomping at the bit because from from the moment this all um
happened that night, I just knew I I thought about you because of everybody over there. And uh I'm it's it's just a wonderful thing that you took the time to do this and teach these young ladies just how important it is to give back to our society and to the gentlemen and ladies
who fight for us in this town. So we couldn't do it without them and we appreciate you taking the time to show them how much you appreciate them. So thank you. Thank you very much, [Applause]
thank you, mayor. Um, that's a really nice thing you girls did. Um, it's really great that you support our fire company on um and the township's very proud that you do as well and myself personally. Um, I'm certainly glad that the that you guys did the job you did. I have a building in the business park and
I was as scared as you girls were um when I started hearing all the uh you know you started getting all the reports. Um so I'm deeply grateful myself. So thank you and thank you girls for all you've done. [Applause]
Thank you. Um what you saw tonight is what I call citizenship. One one part of town helping the other part. And that's what makes this town so great. The girls didn't have to do this. You didn't have to do this. Our firefighters, they
volunteered. They don't have to do it, but they do it. Why? My guess is they love this town like you girls do. And this is what makes Lacy a great, great town. So, I want to thank you girls for doing this. I want to thank the firemen out there. Um, you know, my phone is
blowing up. Tim, what do you got for me? What's going on? And I refuse to call. I refuse to call the chief. choose to call anybody because you guys had a job to do and the last thing you needed was a nosy politician saying what's going on now. Lady phrased it that way, right? You
know, that's it was that's that's not what we do. I'll wait till the end. And here's the funny thing about it. The reports that I was getting about 5 seconds ahead of time was the same reports that was going up on the police department. So, thank you gentlemen for everything that you've done. And thank
you ladies. That's all I have. [Applause] Well, first of all, I want to thank all you young ladies for your accomplishments, what you do, for doing this. This is this is over and beyond. And it shows a little character of this
town because these gentlemen are a little older than you girls. Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, I keep forgetting they're firefighters now, not firemen because there's ladies in the fire department now. That's right. But uh you know at a young age you you f you
learn how to participate and give back and this is what it grows into. Volunteers who give to the town without even a thought. I can't imagine the thoughts that were going through your head that night because I know your building is right on the woods line
there. I know uh my brother's shops there, Mr. Kenneth's building's there. you know, we were all quite concerned with what's going down there. But I can't imagine what was going through your head cuz your building couldn't have been much closer to the fire than it was, but just can't say enough for
what everybody's done. Um, I just I was going to mention this later on in the thing. Me me me and Peggy Sue had the opportunity. We we actually know what nights the Fork River and Lo Harbor Fire Companies meet. So we went to say thank
you but we went not as representatives of the town even though we were there as part of the you know being committee members but both fire departments we have friends we have family we have neighbors that participate and that's what we went there to be is a friend a
neighbor and family to say thank you and with talking to them because I know it's been going around a lot about what can we do for the fire departments And the same answer seems to come from everybody. Support them. They are
volunteers. When they're out there shaking that bucket at shop rate, put something in it. When they send the mailers out to the community, please send some back because I learned something that they send a couple thousand out a year
and they get a couple hundred back. So remember, they're volunteers. they can use your donations and that's the best thing we could do for them because they got plenty of water, plenty of food, but
they do run a volunteer organization and just like any organization, it costs money to uh participate. So, please tell your friends, your neighbors, that's the best thank you we can give you. And just thank you to everybody. [Applause]
Yeah, I'd like to uh close out the comments tonight. I've often said up here, I uh I only have a daughter, so to see the girls up here is uh wonderful. There's no slight against the boys, but to see you step up. So, it's been 12 years that the uh the town's been good
enough to put me up here to serve. And I will tell you whether it's the Girl Scouts or the Boy Scouts, the Rotary, the Elks, the Moose, the Cheer School, it is another group each
and every time. But today is really special because these are the girls here taking care of our first responders. And you deserve to be recognized. I hope people patronize your school because you're a long-standing Lacy family and I I hope uh I hope you girls are are super
successful and I see you on some Saturday. What is it in Orlando down in the cheer championships and uh if you have if you have not been there I wish you the very best and I hope you go but that's incidental. Um just wishing you the very very best. you're you're you're
going to be great Lacy people and families and you already are and uh God loves you and so do we all. So, thank you for that. But now to our police, fire, and first responders. A lot's been said. Um we've all been tireless
advocates. I just left the comm board of commissioners meeting a few minutes ago where there was a lot of blue and red in the crowd and the folks were honored. But I want I want something brought up and I want to say it as clear as I can and be recorded when I say it. What you
all did is something that's never been done before. We lost 15,300 or 15,500 acres. So I want to be really clear. If somebody ever has a word to say negative or why wasn't this done, this was an
absolute master class in preparation, execution, and excellence. Not one single family home was lost, and we live in the Pinelands. Not one first responder that I got a report of, and I was dialed into
everything, was hurt, taken to the hospital. Nobody passed away, thank God in heaven. And for that to happen, if you would have told me that two weeks ago, I would have said, "I don't I don't know what you're taking, but if you know, if it's over the counter and it
makes you makes you that happy, let send some over." But it was unbelievable what you all did. And so that's what I say. They say practice makes perfect. You all did perfect practice that made perfect. We lost virtually nothing. So I want
that recorded and part of this conversation. And after we're all gone, I want part of a permanent record. You all lost nothing. You stood there. You ran toward the fire. I couldn't even breathe down there in that culdeac where
Bobby lost a business. And uh it's just you. You deserve any accolade. Like Mr. Laray said, you see you see somebody, you get the envelope, do something. Thank you all and God bless you.
[Applause] Now, unless you want to stay for exciting me. I mean, we we are chalk full. This stuff's great. The girls love it. We're heading out, too, right?
Oh, yeah. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Oh my god. See you later. You can drag him out with you. Drag him out with you. He's going to stick around tonight. Trust me, we know that. I'm sure you know that too. Two weeks in advance. Bye guys. I'll
try. See you later, Scott. Um up until about 12:15. Oh god. Well, there's a lot of empty seats up front, gang. I don't know what happened. I don't know. It's cold. It's getting
warm. I don't know how this happened. That's nice. That's great. I knew you knew already. I'm just wondering. Okay. Item number two, request post signage. Rotary Club of Fork River doggy derby event. The Rotary Club of Fork
River is hosting their annual doggy derby event on June 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 3M at the Field on Jones Road. Um they are seeking permission to post lawn signs across town to promote the event for two weeks prior. Second. All in favor? I all I have
motion to adjurnn. Move it. Second. Second. All in favor? I township of Lacy Township meeting May 7th, 2025. Adequate notice of this meeting has been given in accordance with the open public meetings act pursuant to public laws 1975. Said notice was advertised in the Esbury Park
press and the beacon was posted on the bulletin board showing the time and place of the meeting. We'll salute to the flag and a moment of silence. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Item number one, first reading of ordinance 2025-09, authorizing the sale of block 1869, lot 13. Ordinance in the township of Lacy, county of Ocean, state of New
Jersey, authorizing the sale of block 1869, lot 13 on the municipal tax map to Allen and Carrie Baker in accordance with the provisions of NJSA4A12-13B and NJSA4A12-13.2. This is being sold to the adjoining property owner and it is in
the amount of $3,800. Move it. Second, Mrs. Juliana. Yes. Mr. Kennon, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Mr. Laray, yes. Mayor Kola. Yes. And number two, first reading of ordinance number 2025-10, vacating a portion of Arthur
Street and a portion of Bayon Avenue. 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 Arthur Street and a portion of Bayon Avenue. This is for the paper portion of their streets um to the adjoining
property owners. Move it. Second. I move it. Mr. Juliana, yes. Mr. Kennes, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. still right. Yes. Mayor Hel. Yes. Item number three, first reading of ordinance 2025-11, amending chapter 269 entitled pedaling and
soliciting. Ordinance to the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey amending and supplementing chapter 269 of the township code entitled pedalling and soliciting. This is to specifically outline the fingerprinting requirement for all applicants. Move it. Second. Mr. Laay. Yes. Mr. Kennes. Yes. Mr.
McDonald. Yes. Mrs. Juliana. Yes. Mayor Kerata. Yes. And number four, resolution 2025-172 calling for the restoration of energy taxes to municipalities. Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean, state of New Jersey, calling for the restoration of energy taxes to municipalities. This is to urge
the state to restore energy tax receipts to make municipalities the collecting agent. Move it. Second, Mr. McDonald. Yes. Mr. Kenn, yes. Mrs. Juliano, yes. Mr. Laay, yes. Mayor K. Yes. Item number five, resolution 2025-173 appointing a member to the
municipal alliance committee. Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey appointing Joanne Priest to the Municipal Alliance Committee of the Township. Move it. Second. Mr. Laay. Yes. Mr. Kenn, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Mrs. Juliano, yes. Mayor Kerato, yes. Item number six,
resolution 2025-174 authorizing the employment of a full-time mechanic for the Department of Public Works. Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing the employment of Evan Ciphers as full-time mechanic for the Department of Public Works. Move it.
Second. Mrs. Juliano, yes. Mr. Laay, yes. Mr. Kennet, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Mayor Keruto, yes. And number seven, resolution 2025-175 authorizing chapter 159 in the 2025 municipal budget recycling tonnage grant. Resolution of the Township of
Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey providing for the insertion of a special item of revenue and appropriation in the 2025 municipal budget of the Township of Lacy pursuant to NJSA4A 4-87. This is for the state of New Jersey recycling tonnage grant in the amount of $50,15451.
Move it. Second. Mr. Juliano, yes. Mr. Kennes, yes. Mr. Laray, yes. Mayor Certo, yes. Item number eight, resolution 2025-176 authorizing the tax collector to prepare and mail estimated tax bills. Resolution of the township of Lacy County motion state of New Jersey
authorizing the tax collector to prepare and mail estimated tax bills in accordance with public law. Move it. Second, Mr. Laay. Yes. Even though none of us want to use. Mr. Kesnis, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Mr. Juliana, yes. Mary Ker, yes. Item number nine, resolution
2025-177 authorizing the refund of a zoning department fee. Resolution of the township of Lacy County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing the refund of a zoning department fee issued by the Lacy Township zoning department. Move it. Second. Mrs. Juliano, yes. Mr. Laay,
yes. Mr. Kennis, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Mayor Cutollo, yes. I'm number 10. Resolution 2025-178 authorizing the refund of deposit monies. Resolution of the Township of Lazy County of Ocean State of New Jersey authorizing the refund of deposits held for the use of municipal
facilities. Move it. Second. Mr. Kennes, yes. Mr. Juliano, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Mr. Laay, yes. Mayor Certo, yes. Item number 11, resolution uh number 2025-179, 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 $9,59,71045. Move it. It's easy number. Second. Sorry. Mr. Kennes. Yes. Mrs. Juliano. Yes. Mr. Laay. Yes. Mr. McDonald. Yes. And I'll stayain on T0035.
Mayor Ker. Yes. Item number 12, monthly reports. The Department of Community Devel Development collected receipts for the month of April in the amount of 787 $73,810. Municipal clerk's office collected receipts in the amount of $9,446.50. Road opening permits from the
month of April was in the amount of $23.2650. Recycling commodity in the amount of um $1,113. Truck parking in the amount of $13,75 and municipal docks in the amount of $64,85. Motion to accept the reports as
read. Move it. Second. All in favor? I. Item number 13. Motion to approve caucus meeting minutes from April 24th, 2025. Move it. Second. All in favor? I I need to abstain on that. Mrs. Juliano, yes. Mr. Kennis, yes. Mr. McDonald, abstain.
Mr. Laur, yes. Mayor, yes. Item number 14, motion to approve township meeting minutes from April 24th, 2025. Move it. Second. Mrs. Juliano? Yes. Mr. Kennes? Yes. Mr. Laray? Yes. Mr. McDonald? I need to abstain again. Mayor K. Yes.
Item number 15, motion to approve membership in the Loka Harbor Fire Company, Nicholas Towi. Move it. Second. All in favor. I I item number 16, motion to move. Motion to approve membership in the Fork River Volunteer Fire Company
for Jason Nia. Move it. Second. All in favor? Comments from the committee? Deputy Mayor Kennes. Thank you, Mayor. Um, it's funny that we wind up uh having the fire. Um, not funny, but um, it's a trying to do a segue into a couple
months ago. Um, I feel like I'm one of the last people that reads the still reads their news. So, in the New York Times, I'd sent an article to Veronica about the about uh, it's a long article about the how difficult it was getting fire trucks in particular. And um, you know, I sent it to her just just for her
to read. And uh then a couple months later about in April, she had sent me a letter from the United States Senate with uh both um signed by Josh Holly and Andy Kim investigating due to that reporting by the times um because the
fire truck backlog um is is exceeded $4 billion and the the costs of ladder truck have almost doubled to 2.3 million and there's really only three companies that are doing it. So the investigation is, you know, uh, monopolistic practices. So, um, just found that
interesting. And those are the problems that we have to deal with locally as well. It's it's always a problem getting the um relatively inexpensive um, fire trucks. Um I went to attended the schoolboard meeting last um was that
last Wednesday on the vote for um on their it wasn't their final budget vote I don't think but um I thought that the um uh that the the members of the board did their best uh in a very t difficult situation to try and you know um just
make the best decision they could regarding both the township taxes and trying to save jobs. I thought even the um the the the no votes on the budget were the the arguments were well put forth and they really did a good job explaining their positions and um like I
said it was a it's a difficult vote for for all the members of the board. Um the one of the the biggest problem in my opinion on is uh so it's always the staffing on both the township budget and the school budget that is the is is uh
that's where all the money is. And um in particular on our budget, I can't speak to the school budget, but the the benefits have really far outstripped the um the inflation on the benefits is really rising quickly. We're up to
$50,000 on a family plan for in a township for health benefits. That's gone from 40 to 50 in two years. Um and so those numbers to me are just hard to sustain. you're asking taxpayers to try to keep paying for that stuff and it's
it's difficult because those are that's expensive benefits. But um like I said, as for the schools, I thought they did the best that they could. Um and my final thing is just to mention that the Lacy Township Environmental Commission is having a lake cleanup on
May 1st. Mayst is May 31st. May 31st 91:30. So, we ask you to please register ahead at the on the Lacy Wreck website. I think that's it. Pete, I thank you, sir. Committeeman McDonald.
Thank you, Mayor. Just a couple of things. Um, I haven't been feeling well lately, so I've been stretched out watching TV. And, uh, what happens is the former sheriff of Los Angeles, who was the
sheriff for 35 years, I think it was, a true true Democrat, switched to a Republican because of the fires. Now I happened to met meet the guy one
time when I was out in California visiting my uncle who was a judge out there and a very nice man and uh he's not switching at his age for the front of it. He's going to run for something. There's no question about it.
Um and and you're starting to see this throughout the country where you're starting to see Democrats get out of the get out of that that lane and move to the Republican side or move to the to uh the independent side. Um one of the
things that I have complained about is that the 2% cap that strangle holds us, it truly truly does has not been adjusted for inflation and that hurts us. You know, Brian, we were back talking to Veronica. Veronica is saying,
you know, this this piece of paper costs us more today than it did 5, 10 years ago. Well, that 2% cap, it all falls on in under the 2% cap. Now, I'm not saying to take the cap to 7 8%. I'm saying we need to adjust it to take the pressure
off of you guys a little bit so that we can we can get a good budget through here. That makes a whole lot of sense. I'm not saying we're not going to have that, but it it makes our job easier to protect you guys is it is that simple. Um, and I just want to wish all the moms
out there a very very happy Mother's Day. Mayor, that's all I have. Thank you, Committee Juliana. Thank you, Mayor. First, I'd just like to say what a wonderful evening so far this has been. And um I just want to remind everybody
that our fire companies did 53 calls alongside doing fighting the fire that they had to fight. But on a another note, I believe our new full-time mechanic is in the audience. Would he mind standing up for a quick moment and
we can just say hi and welcome him aboard? Hi, Evan. You know, there's a lot of history there with this family. Um it's it's a wonderful thing to see it come full circle around with the family too. You know, whether it's his uncle who works
for the DPW, his other uncle who um if I have this correctly is a police officer here in town, but most of all his grandfather and and the rest of his family, but I knew his grandfather very well. And um you just come from good breed and it's it's a wonderful thing to
have you joining our township work. So, thank you and welcome. [Applause] Now I got to think of something. Thunder. You can still talk about them because you know them too. So go ahead. Oh,
okay. Before I forget, I'm going to start with happy mother's day. Ah, but uh I haven't had the opportunity to uh meet Evan yet, but uh I sure do know the family. And
uh their family goes back a long time in town, just like many of us up here do. I see grandma sitting there in the audience. There she goes. Now she's smiling. Um, but between grandpa, you know, his uncles,
uh, his mom and dad, I actually had to make a call to his, uh, dad because I wanted Evan, I wanted your parents to know after our process and I I know what it was like and the amount of questions and the how well you were brought up and
how well you presented yourself at your interview. You really did a good job and you got hired on your merit. Yeah. So, I want you to know that and your parents should be very, very happy of you, young man.
Also, another person in the family that's back there tonight felt us in on something. He's an experienced firefighter sitting right behind him because young lady sitting next to him with the blonde hair was wondering why there was still smoke.
So Kevin explained to us how so everybody understands this. Even though the fire technically is out, it still burns underneath the dirt, the foliage, and everything else. And
sometimes this can go on for months. So they constantly got to stay on top of it, keep it wet, pray for rain, but don't get alarmed because you're smelling smoke or you see smoke because this is something that will go on and on. But uh this came of a conversation
that was just had before the meeting. Steve pretty much covered me and him attended the schoolboard meeting last week. Nobody's happy about taxes ever going up. And one of the biggest things I've learned the last couple months
being on this committee is a lot of times we got to make the best out of a basically a crappy situation. It's the only way to put it. I was glad in the fact that at least the board could compromise enough between
them to come up with a decision to make a tenative budget because the one thing uh even though there was some opposition and like Steve said they their facts and their reasons were for well understood and I respect them for that. The biggest
thing was is to keep the state of New Jersey out of our town and out of our school system. The state causes a lot of our problems. We don't need them in here adding to them. So, there's still a lot of work to be done. Uh they did come to
a compromise. Uh they did pass a tenative budget. We'll see where where that stuff goes from there. I did want to address one thing because I say this with all sincerity. Everybody that comes up to this mic, I
respect I listen to you and sometimes things are very accurate, sometimes they're inaccurate. But quite a few meetings now I've been hearing about and I know people are upset and talking about, you
know, whether they can afford to live here, but I keep hearing the same comment. And Regina, I don't mean to address this to you exactly, but every meeting you come up and you mention how all our neighbors are putting their houses up for sale and selling them. We
live in the same neighborhood. There's hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of homes. There's four of them up for sale. None of them need neither. One's by my house, the nearest one to use on Sunrise Boulevard. Four houses up for sale in our
neighborhood. two or flips. So even though people may be talking about this to come up into the mic and state it as a fact, I just wanted to clarify that because a lot of times I don't I don't talk from what I
hear. I go out and look and I've driven every street in Sunrise Beach. So and this was as of as recent as today. So I just want to sometimes we do have to address comments that may not
be 100% accurate because I don't do social media for the simple reason 50% of it may be correct and out of that 50% only 50% of that is accurate. So you know we got to take it for the merit it
is. But on a positive note, I got to attend my first uh ribbon cutting uh this past week with uh the mayor. Um our family is a strong advocate of small businesses. We own one ourselves. I work at another family
members. And I'll tell you, it was just absolutely wonderful. It's a dog room in business next to Gilly Park in the strip mall called Sassy Paul. opened by a longtime family around town that's been in town and all I can do is wish him the
best luck and uh success because I'll tell you it was a real honor to see this and uh my hats off to all small businesses and that's all I got tonight. I thank you so much. I too before I forget want to echo the sentiments of my committee men and women
up here. Happy Mother's Day and welcome to Evan. Um, with specific regard to the schools, um, I know that Senator Connors on numerous occasions since before I got here, you know, if you're going to go up
to somebody and you're going to go into their pockets, in this case with a little bit of a crowbar, tell them the deal. So, I fault the state not only for slighting our district, and I do think it was for political reasons. I speak because I'm unbridled and nobody owns
me. I say what's on my mind all the time. Sometimes I double down. Say it louder or say it a second time. Uh the school funding formula is completely unfair. It's robbing Peter to save Paul. I'm not going to get political up here because it doesn't belong to a party. This is the people's spot and that's the
people's microphone. But I am hopeful that the next governor sheds a little light on whatever system is over there for school funding and then sends it out and blasts it to each of our our 500 or so municipalities around this state and lets us know how our money is being
spent or in our case absconded with and given to other districts in and outside of our county is patently unfair. They did it. It put us in a bad spot. It put our colleagues at on the school board in a bad spot and it's just not right. It's
not fair. No matter who the next governor is, no matter what party they're from, I hope that they fix that because we have to be transparent up here. If I have a formula where I'm spending your money, you have every right to ask me about Pete, what the hell are you doing? How's it going?
What's going tell me what's going on? And I got to take that heat because that's what I signed up for. So, I think that's unfair and I think that should be changed. Uh, I want to wish our business a great u just we support our businesses no matter what you support in town. It's
derived from off the back of businesses. So, I was there with Committeeman Laorray yesterday and it was just a wonderful Maybe I can get an appointment for my dog now. That's been difficult at times. So, um it's all good. I do want to mention I don't know if it was
mentioned a couple of weeks ago we lost one of our town fathers. His name was Ted Hutler and I saw several years ago I was in the Loka Harbor Fire Department and I managed to call him. I looked I looked on the wall and there's a picture
of him there in 1981. I called him up and I he's my neighbor uh behind Shopper was my neighbor. Family's still there. And I said, "Hey, you were you were you were mayor in 1981. I was I was a young man. I think I was like 13 or 12
years old." old. He said, "I was 31 years old, but I was mayor." I said, "Well, good for you." He had a long career. Um, and so I thought it'd be appropriate to recognize him as one of the town fathers and a former mayor. So, I think that's appropriate. Uh, and we did fly the flag at at half mast for at
least one day. Um, I want to read this short letter from Pleasant Planes. Uh, they were in the heart of the fire. It's to me, but I am the face of the committee, and I will take no absolute credit. This to all of us. It's pheasant Run. Dear Mayor Curya, she dear Township
Committee, the residents of Fe Pheasant Run would like to thank you, the township committee, township administrator, first responders, and other officials, uh, for evacuating the community this past week. Many of our senior residents spent the evening at Manchester High School where they were well taken care of throughout the
evening and into the next morning, being served breakfast and then brought back safely to their homes. Again, our appreciation to all who assisted the community during this emergency. Sincerely, Fezant Run Homeowners Association President Richard Rohm. Um, so there were a lot of people, way too
many to name. Uh, but I just got the microphone in my capacity as mayor at the commissioner's meeting. Um, I recognized our people that were there that night, uh, and helping put people up on the buses and then transport them out to a safer, more welle equipped
place. No slight against us. We had no BA power. We were on battery powered that night. So, it was a difficult slog for seniors that needed help. Uh so, we knew enough to know that we didn't have enough. And we're grateful for the help from the county was there to support us
and all the all 20 other counties. And as you've heard me say on television, all the mayors that called, there was no shortage. I couldn't possibly name every entity, but the people up here work worked hard, but it was the firemen and police that did the heavy lifting, and we're grateful for
that. And there's good stories. I know they're out there of uh rescue and pets. I was given, you know, we were giving water to people in that in that facility in our town, excuse me, our community hall. And you know, one of the seniors said, "Don't take care of me. Take care of my dog." And it was a little Yorkie.
I had a Yorkie years ago. It was the closest thing I'll ever have to a son. Loved him. Loved him. Loved him. Loved him. And so I gave water to the little dog. Picked the little dog up. But shaking so bad. I know. Yeah. Wasn't it scary? But it's okay. Everybody every I
I that's all you remember these little silly things. Veronica was there lifting heavy people and doing putting stuff on the bus and we were just all trying. We were all trying to do the work. Everybody was working over here in the crowd up here. The police and the fire
and the residents helping each other. Um, so with that I would like to open the floor to public comment. Yes, Mr. Senza. [Music] You can get it. It does not want to.
Regina Desenda, Sunset Drive, Sunrise Beach. Mr. So, I was referring to houses sold since last summer when the 9.9% hit. And um you have to Google 08731 and 08734 because people do not put for sale signs in front of their
house. Some people like to be more discreet, but there are more homes for sale than you think. Um that's one comment. The other comment is I just came from the MUA meeting and Mr. Ner said that during the fire, the MUA was
able to maintain our water pressure almost 100% everywhere throughout the town with every hydrant open in Feeasant Run, every hydrant open in the industrial park. He said, "Where town even came to fill up their trucks at our
hydrants?" And I noticed at my house, I expected to get a drip out of the faucet. And I had full water pressure the entire time of the fire. And I tried only to use water to cook because, you know, I knew it was being used to fight
the fire. So, um, we have a wonderful MUA, we have a wonderful system, we have very good pumping wells, and everyone should be thankful that the municipal utilities authority can function so well under pressure. And that fire was one of
the biggest tests you could ever have. And yeah, we're going to smell smoke for a long time. You know, some mornings you wake up, you smell it. Some mornings you don't, but it depends on which way the wind is drifting. That fire is going to be with us for a long time. Thank you.
Thank you, Virginia. Any other comments this evening? Yes, sir. Oops. I'll do it this way. Good evening, everyone. Uh, it's a shame the firemen are not still here. For the record, please. Joe Branserfort uh over at
Seabbze and I wish I could have represented Ron Martin is here also. He's a former board member. I no longer represent the community. I'm not a board member anymore, but I know the sentiment of Seabbze and it is one of tremendous support even though we were not affected
by the wildfire. In the middle of our lobby now is a big box and I believe checks are going in there. We have a seabbze cares group and I know when all those checks are tabulated it should be a significant amount of money representing the gratitude of our
community for these men and women for the fire department sir. Yes. Appreciate it. So we'll see what that amounts to. It's not our project Ronai but it is the CB's cares group that's that's championing that. So every little bit counts. Kudos. Yes. Every little bit
counts. Thank you. Like I said earlier, that's the biggest thing they're looking for is donations. Other comments this evening. Go ahead. We're going to need help with that microphone. Barry, it's backwards and upside down.
Thank you, Tom. Thank you, Denise, the blonde. Anyway, and I think you know where I live. Okay. Yes. I want to comment on everybody with the fire department doing their job. God only knows that was
horrible. We all know it. We all see it. Police and everybody did what they had to do. Unfortunately, I do have a little negativity and this is constructive criticism because this is important. I
live all the way down Beach Boulevard by the park. Okay. There was no communication. It's hard when the electricity is down. You're going out to the car and you're trying to plug in your phone and everybody's trying to call you. You're looking on Facebook. You don't know
where to go. The police department, I think all kinds of exit 84 or something like that. You're supposed to look up. There was just too much going on. And we had no communication, no electricity or anything. I did speak to the chief about
this and I know he was very very busy and that's not my point. My point is he told me about this code red that again I and a lot of neighbors didn't know about. I said I went to the police department. I go there, you know, drop off those pills in the little pill box
or uh police report or something like that. I never saw a flyer. I didn't know anything about this code red that goes to your cell phone if you don't have a landline. So I said to him, "Please use me if you want. Get the flyers and I'll
send them out. I'll print them out or I'll do something to get it out." So this is something that's really important to a lot of seniors and people back there. We were a little disappointed in the communication. We had no idea whatsoever if we were going to be evacuated. We just kept hearing
things from people if they made it in or not. Okay. I had two neighbors who had two newborns. Guy left his truck at Cafre and walked down beach. So I'm hearing these bits and pieces. I have another neighbor, the elderly, you know,
Denise is like the neighborhood mama. So I was trying to remain calm and help them. All I kept saying is make sure you take your medicines, blah blah blah. This is what I remember from Sandy. And that was the other thing I went through Sandy. The communication there was
totally different because we did evacuate. We had enough time to evacuate. If you didn't want to evacuate, that was your problem. I did. This one, we didn't know if we were or weren't. So, I had the unfortunate pressure from everybody. Please call the police department. And I knew I didn't
want to bother them. And I know I didn't want to do that. But they were right. It's 11:00, 11:30 at night. We needed to know what we were doing in order to act fast. We either need to get walk or whatever. Get grandma out, whatever we
had to do. So, unfortunately, due to electricity, which is nobody's fault, due to the fire, I'm not saying anything bad. I would like something else done with the communication on how I call it the
stepchild. You know how you have this, what is it called? The stepchild left behind that once after elks, that's it. We had no idea what we were doing. Denise, I know I know Regina brought it up, I think, last meeting about a website that alerts you, right? And I
know we just found out we just figured that out at the last meeting. We've had that. We have had it though. Because we have a power plant, we were always required to have it. I honestly had it for years and it's always been available right on our municipal website to sell. Well, he said he put it he did he put it on the front page. Yeah, we've moved it
around since then. And I've been sharing which I thought was great on Facebook. I've been just keep sharing it every day so people can But there was so much misleading information on Facebook. So upsetting. Let me let me address it. Let me let me address you as mayor if I could. Sure. Because this is part of what we're going to do. We call it an
AR. It's an afteraction report. Okay. And we're very hard on each other in that room because we want to know and really press each other, the different departments that responded on how we can do better next time. Absolutely. So I asked the chief now in a time of declared emergency which this was yes
there is the mayor is no longer the top link in the chain it usually it goes to the police chief however there is in this case this was multi-ur Excuse me guys if I could this is multi-jurisdictional so the the state police had tactical command one of the
things they used to communicate was called iP um and it's a public alert and warning system and it's FEMA's national system for alerting. So along with everything we had, including the police going doortodoor, they use that. So if
somebody is going to be isolated, the trick is if somebody runs out of power and they can't charge their phone, then they can't even get an alert on their phone. So I would encourage everyone to sign up for that type of alert on their phone for there will be unfortunately a next time either a storm event or a
fire. Hopefully it is not, but let's prepare for the worst. But that's part of what happened. The state police had tactical command. Went down to the chiefs. They used iPaws. We did go doortodoor. We did have school buses. There was Facebook. We did update
lacpd.org. We did I wrote a couple of times and we updated, but the chief was way above board in updating and I wanted him to be the tip of that spear. So, he was able to inform our but it was redundant communication. Will everyone get everything? No. There are some
seniors that are completely isolated without technology, living alone, not able-bodied, and not ambulatory. So, that's a concern. But our chief does have a list of of folks that are immobile or infirm, and they go around before Cat 5 hurricane's going to hit
and they'd be knocking on doors. Okay. So, we did a lot. I wanted to tell you about everyone's efforts. No, no, I don't disagree with you whatsoever. Okay. But I like I said that little extra is what we needed in our area and
unfortunately I had no way of knowing and helping these people and everybody started losing it. You're talking about couple hours without you know electricity was the problem is and you'll probably agree is on Facebook there were so many exaggerated stories we lost the entire business the power
plant blew up. So yeah, that that was part of the problem. And here I'm trying to like listen, let's calm down a little bit. But and I inside I'm meeting myself alive because I'm like freaking out. I'm not That's not free speech. Free speech doesn't cover somebody going into a
theater and screaming fire. I think when people do that and start saying things about a nuclear plant or some the entire business park burning down, that should be investigated. That's spending spreading false and misleading rumor. It's on Facebook. Somebody should investigate it. It creates a panic
absolutely and it ruins the evacuation. It soils the effort of these men and women that are trying to do the work. I agree. I agree. Well, thank you for telling, you know, for saying that. I do want to just touch base on another subject which again we're all, you know,
it's the school board, it's the taxes. We're going to this meeting. Um, I don't know if we can get a hold of these formulas to see if it's anything that we can talk about. I mean, this is going back and forth. I don't even know what to say
anymore because that we had our 9% a couple months ago and now you they want to hit us again. I know everyone up and down the Jersey Shore is being brutally abused with this and the seniors are being abused. I I'm sorry. That's abuse
to me because you're telling a senior you have to either stay in your house, have food, or pay taxes. I just really from the bottom of my heart, I saw Senator Amato the other day. I won't say where and when, but I did say we need
help. Please help Lacy. I don't know what you can do, but please help Lacy. And he said, I'm trying. I feel better. I tried. I feel better. I talked to him. I don't know where it's going to get us. The governor is I didn't I don't even know. Was he
down here for the fire? He was not. I didn't think so. Okay, that was the truth then. That was the only thing that was truth on the Facebook. I guess I did get a call from the governor's office. I didn't I did not hear from the governor. I heard from the governor's chief of staff. I tried to call. I didn't get
anywhere either because I think he should have supported you whether he was here or not. He should have supported all of us. Well, the chief of staff did call me. Okay. And he did pledge support to the business that was lost as did Congressman Smith. Congressman Smith
called me at I don't know 11 12:00 at night. I was here the next day. So he's he was a gem. Um and so many people did show up. Not only just did they send provisions and trucks, ambulances, and the like. They should physically showed up. Yeah, I would I would think that
would be something that you would do for your community and for your town. Again, my opinion, call me stupid. I don't know. You're on the h upper here. We pay, you know, we pay you eventually. I hope. And we don't want to, but we do.
Um, I I have a question again. I'm going to, you know, me, I always ask the health benefits for, and I hate to say you guys, and the school. So now we got the school budget and we got the town budget with these health
benefits. We know they're not cheap. Anybody who can figure out the math, which I'm a bookkeeper, is pretty steep. If we can save on some of that, it would help the big pie with everything. I know we don't want to hear
this, but again, let's think of people down the road, our seniors or anything else. You all look good if we just cut back on something. Just I just want I just want to make a statement. Sure. We don't get health benefits. I just want
to make sure you and we do look at in the school as well. We do look at our claims experience and we do go out to shop so to speak. No, I'm sure you changed the health benefits and the school did go outside the state health benefits and um they went into a private
um entity and had that for a couple years and then they got such a large increase it was cheaper to go back to the state health benefits. Really? Yes. And the same thing is happening to us here as well is we do shop around and based on claims experience it's not always cheaper to go somewhere else and sometimes you only see that savings for
one year, right? And then the second year they bombarded you to get you in and that's fine and thank you for sharing that and telling me that because I I hear again that's what happens just like in car insurance right you shop around flood insurance we all go through it you know property insurance but I'm
just trying to get again when you're thinking of fighting or thinking of sharing some information. This is something that I feel strongly about. Again I don't want to cut anybody's health benefits. Everybody needs it. everybody, you know, we're at the ages by law with the Affordable Care Act, you
have to provide it if you have over 50 employees. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I know that that I do. And like I said, I don't have a problem with that. Um, but again, let's see if we can somehow tighten up. And Denise, I mean, all government agencies are fighting with this right
now because it's been going up 17 to 22% every year. Mhm. And the one thing, I know I've said this before, we got to remember when we look at the employees, we also got to look at the retirees because they're still on our plans, whether it's a school or government, an
agency. And you got to remember medicine has gotten better. So people are living longer. Mhm. So now even the usage, you know, you look at uh retirees with their medical benefit, you know, needs and young people coming in
with young families and and kids and stuff like that. So it's it's uh everybody's shopping, but it's also fighting with it on a double-edged sword almost. But the numbers the numbers are understand. I do my homework and I been
in corporate and I understand all that. But when I was working, I was always paying for me and that's it. It wasn't the whole family. Wasn't the five kids and you know your husband, wife and grandma, you know, it wasn't all that.
So these times have changed our budgets and our lives and our everything in the world has changed. So I think something something I'm just looking for a little bone here. Well, the conversations do happen during union negotiations. Trust
me, I I I believe you. I do. It's just that I feel better to ask it because then sometimes you have new information that is not shared and again the information I hear from the horse's mouth as we say is a little better for me because I I like that communication
and I like the truth and this way I have my questions addressed properly. But I appreciate feedback. I do appreciate your feedback and thank you. Thank you. Thank you. See I was a good girl. Are there any other comments this evening?
Yes, Barry. Tilt. Nope. Doesn't tilt. It's okay. I got it. I know how to do it. Barry Bender somewhere in Lacy Township. Um going to talk about my favorite subject
in the month. Yep. Uh few weeks away, May 31st, we got Relay for Life. I'll be setting up the day before like I usually do. This is my 16th year as logistics chair. Um we think at this point we have 14 teams. We really could use some more teams because it looks nice to have a
bunch of campsites out there as we go all night long. A lot of people bail early. I'll be up all night long. I'm getting too old for this. I can tell you I'm getting too old for this. Uh just wanted to share out there to the public about uh Relay for Life uh survivor
lunch starts at noon. Uh you got two hours of survivor lunch. Anybody's a survivor or knows a survivor uh the survivor and one guest can come and and uh I still have to talk and get that ready um prepared. Uh but yeah uh it's
two hours of the survivor lunch. Then at 2:00 we have opening ceremony and then we go till 6:00 a.m. So, uh, looking forward to that hopefully. Good weather. We're knocking on wood. Um, uh, another topic. Well,
actually, I have a question before I go to my other topic, and you guys would know much better than I would. Who makes the call when they close the parkway as to where they cut it off? Very interesting conversation. As as the
mayor said, it's the OEM who was in the incident because I mean they told me they get they would get kickback to close the parkway. The governor's going to want to know why. That's a huge move. Well, to me, just my experience, I went to the chiropractor on Lacy Road at 4:30
and I live on Bay Avenue. Everybody knows where Bay Avenue is. I couldn't get back across to my house. I parked at the uh parking lot near the rail trail and walked across Route 9, went back at 8:00 and was able to make it back over. Took me over an hour to
get home from here that night. I believe it. But it was funny funny story. I'm walking I forget whatever Mil Street I guess Bay Avenue turns into and a lady rolls down her window and she says to me, "Can I get to Atlantic City from here?" And I said, "Not tonight." You
know. Yeah. It was it was every street. I mean, everything was closed down. Larry, let me interject. The well-intentioned folks from 20 years ago that did not want the railroad right away that was used heavily that night and in subsequent days as an alternative
place for evacuation. It alleviated it got people out of here and it alleviated traffic on nine. Did exactly what it was supposed to do. Yeah. But it's it stops at Lacy. Lacy Road was Yeah. Okay. Yeah. We're working on it.
to me. I mean, if they were because really what they did when they cut people off at exit 80, they were sending people right into the fire in a sense because the fire was coming our way. I don't know how it made the loop because I took the ride. I went 532 the other
day and all the way up and down and took the the the parkway. But it almost like it had in its mind it was coming to Lacy Township. You know, there was this line like why us? Yeah. Once that wind shifted, it was like a live living.
Yeah. When it came through that business card. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I heard the story about it was gone. And then people I went to the Waw Wa at um Laurel. Mhm. And everybody was told this was 11 o'clock at night. There was still a parking lot and uh I said, "Oh, tractor
supplies gone." And Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no." the sign right near it burned but not not tractor supply. Yep. Uh my next topic is I'll be quick. I got to read this one
because I don't remember it completely. I know when it was. Yeah. On April 17th, uh Whoops, there it goes. There was a truck um at the old comm I refer to it
as the old community hall and they were um they dug nine test holes and were testing soil samples. Was that ordered by us? No, that's by the potential uh contract purchaser. Okay. And are they allowed to do that when there's litigation on the property? Okay. I just
wonder um also are they going to be replacing the black top that was dug up? Those are for borings for the um soil to determine what type of footings they would have to put in to build their building. So, you know, depending on when this comes to conclusion and what happens, it either one will get repaired
or two, they're going to Well, right. Right now, the property still belongs to the township. Correct. Okay. I just wondered if all the utilities and everything are turned off to both of those buildings there. They're not being maintained. Okay. Because, you know, the the um electric was very high in that building, so we made sure it was turned
off. Okay. But again, there's no responsibility on his part to replace the uh because right now it is still owned by the township. Okay. I just wanted to ask about that. All right. Thank you very much. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers. Mother's Day. Appreciate it. Other
comments this evening. This young lady's coming up. She looks good. She looks good. I think it's good. Yeah. Okay. Uh, Wilmer Hernandez, uh, Lacy Township, Bamberlake. I just would like to say
that from the last meeting that I was here when we have all of this problem going on in Bamber Lake with people going out into the woods and and all of that, I thank you for putting a sign that these uh four wheels can't go out
there anymore, these the these kids on these uh four-wheelers. and uh uh appreciate that and uh the cameras good I think uh have made a big uh big difference in that. But I do have a
concern that summer's coming and the kids do like to go out there and with the recent fire and I have to say that I think that our fire department and everyone that was involved in in these
uh in the fire did such a tremendous job. I got a call saying that we might have to evacuate out in Bamber. I was so nervous. My neighbors are saying, "No, it's okay. The wind's going the other way." And I'm like, "Yeah, but that can
shift in a in a minute." And uh so I I just have to compliment all of the fire people. You're gone. But thank you for all of your work that you did in in the fire. But I I I have a concern about this summer. I just wanted if the mayor
doesn't mind to just um I've been in touch obviously this is something I and along with the mayor we've worked on it to try to get some stuff done and right now the sheriff and the chief are working on a plan so just know it's not out of you know mind it's okay there's
plans so yeah it's summer the kids are going to be out of school and they like to go out there and Yep. got a big plan. Do whatever they do and I don't want any pallets being burnt out there in the woods. And uh so we do appreciate uh you
know any additional help that you can give us out there to keep that nonsense away. Well, if I can interject it, it threatens our first responders when when they get hurt out there and their bikes tip over and they get cervical spine
injury or something like that and they got to get flown out. Now our guys and ladies have to go in there. Ambulance can't go in there. Yeah. And they they need to put a flatboard. Helicopter can't land there. So I just I just ask please find a different way to have fun
and don't go back there. Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate that. And uh it's just uh you know we have some I have to tell you the traffic on our road that night of the fire when the night of the fire people trying to go through the
back because it is a road. Yes. And if you look on your map, you can see that it's a road, but the traffic on our road was tremendous. And they would go out there, but then they would find that there are big potholes and they can't drive through. And then they would be coming back, but it was like non-stop
traffic. People trying to get out to 539. Why? They just didn't go out Lacy Road and get 539. When you put it into that ways or something like that, it shows up as roads. So, and you don't realize that it's off-road stuff because we've had to rescue between us and
Manchester Township. Rescue people who don't know it that get stuck in some of the ruts from the puddles and the rain and tow them out of there. Yes, it is. I can believe it. I wouldn't go back there with my car if my life depended on it. I don't think. But, uh uh I do thank you
for for what you have done and I just wanted to bring you to your attention. You know that there's still a concern. There is because school's going to be out and the kids like to go back there. Y and thank you. Thank you for coming out and telling us.
Hello everyone. I'm the husband of the lady who just spoke. We live in Bamberlake and uh we are very uh grateful for the police presence that has been there. I had two incidents last week that scared me a little bit to the
point that we did some clearing in our in our uh property because the question of the fire is very very much in our minds. As I was uh uh doing my bushes, watering the bushes, two cars came by,
flick a cigarette right into the woods right in front of me. The guy just looked at me and uh there's nothing I could do. I couldn't even have time to take the license plate or anything. But
a cigarette can ignite those woods and it's over. Yes. So, I just wanted you let you know that there are some individuals that don't belong there. No, they don't know that there are children involved there, too. And uh one of these
days something is going to happen. Good sir, some things you just can't legislate. No, no. I I know that, but I just wanted to make you aware as nice as I can to that gentleman or lady who threw a cigarette out the window. And appreciate you coming up and talking
to you. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments this evening? Yes, sir. Before Mr. Bitnik speaks, I just want to say because I looked up a couple numbers, I just want to put this out there. We have 12,170 homes in this town and there are
only 76 houses for sale in this whole town. So if looking at, you know, comparative numbers, that's really not a a large amount of houses to be for sale. So good evening,
mayor, township committee members, Lacy citizens. I'd like to start off first with Mother's Day. Uh I'd like to wish all of the moms in our town a really wonderful Mother's Day. And I want to say this from the
bottom of my heart. For someone who recently lost their mother, who they never thought was ever going to leave this life, don't ever forget to tell your mom how much you love her because one day you won't be able to. Yeah. And please
remember that no matter how we may get upset about things with families and such, our moms gave us life. Without that, none of us would be here. That's for sure. Yeah. So, happy mom's day to everybody in Lacy Township. Thank you.
Thank you. Now, on to more political talk here. Okay, so I'm just going to discuss um the school stuff because uh the taxes which affects all of us. Correct. So, um how do I say this correctly?
I personally have a problem with a government entity who doesn't take any personal responsibility for its actions, wants praise for the things that it does, but then when it does
things that it really screws up, does not take accountability for it. And this is very common in politics today in America. Politicians are great to take the praise for the good things they do, but when they mess up, it's always somebody else's fault. It's going on
right now in our own school district. Okay, there's a lot of things, too. There was never a 3.15% budget, which was illegally budget budget ever presented to the school board. Two members of that school board voted against the budget because this
was never presented to them. That was their legal obligation and there was no compromise. This was nonsense when we heard about compromise. Also, why is it that it's someone like myself and Mrs. Denza and members of my group who had to
do the initiative to go and contact the county superintendent to find out who actually instigated trying to get a second shot at a waiver because the board never authorized that. This is a problem. You cannot work alone when you
are a schoolboard member. You can't take it upon yourself to take actions. That is something that the entire school board has to do and it didn't happen. So there's a problem with all of this. Also, we also heard about Well, you are you alleging criminal activity? I I'm
just telling you what I know. There's you for that. I'm I'm just explaining to you what I know. Okay, mayor. And I'm explaining this to you because I'm going public with this because it's a problem. And we've had continual public officials lie to the citizens of this town. I will
explain this to you because last year when the 9.9% tax increase was put through, several of those people sitting on that body said this would never happen again. They would never vote for another increase over the legally allowed amount. In fact, two weeks ago,
three weeks before they had another when they voted down the 14 and a quarter, this was reiterated. But yet, they got up there. In fact, I spoke before they did. And I said, "We're going to find out who's really truthful and who isn't." And five of these people went
and voted and and and said yes to something that they said they would never do. Integrity is very important to me. Okay? If I can't look somebody in the face when I speak to them because I don't trust them and I don't think that
they're being honest with me or to the public that they are elected to serve. And this is all of our money. Okay. Right now and for the people in this town now 70% of the households in Lacy Township do not have children in our schools.
So, and inflicting a 7.54% increase on top of a 9.9% increase, which is now what we're about 17 and a half% increase in one year is not only unsustainable, it's totally
unfair. And quite frankly, Mayor Catalo, you should be fighting for the 70% of us in this town who do not have children in that school. You are our leader. This is actually going to destroy this town because next year we keep giving in to
the state. You know, if you keep giving in, they're going to keep doing this and you're hoping for a new administration. We don't know what we're going to get. It could be worse, quite frankly. So, there has to come a time when an elected body has to say no. Let's we're not going to let the scared tactics that some people are using and the
fear-mongering saying the state is going to take us over and they're going to do this and they're going to do that and they're going to do this. You can't run a government body on fear tactics and it is unfair and and it was used exactly by that school board. Mr. Bnick, I have
been a little bit busy the last three weeks, but you've been fairness. You you've been coming up here and and saying I don't disagree with a lot of what you say. Doveetailed to that, I think there should be accountability. There should be academic performance. Exactly. Um there should be
accountability. Exactly. But what would you have me do? I cannot rail against other elected officials that have been duly elected in this town. You come up here and I think you're at the wrong board. I didn't
appreciate how you got you got clapped down or slapped down. You were trying to speak one of the I don't think that's right. Well, this is the teachers union. there's something if something they they take me they take me as being their their enemy because quite frankly I
speak out against them and I ran a unionized institution so I know how they work I'm not afraid of them that's the thing they a lot of people are afraid to get up there and speak the truth but quite frankly when all the money is going to those people and they roll out
of bed in the morning go to their jobs get their health benefits their uh their their salaries their pension and they are disrespectful to the people who are paying their salaries. Do you want me to call for their heads? Do you
want me to tell people not I don't think I should do that? My my concern is the disrespect. These are the people who are teaching our children. Okay. If they can't even behave at a public meeting, okay, and I represent a citizens group and we're very concerned about
accountability, transparency, and taxes. Okay? So that's my job. I'm doing my job. I do this job when I come here, when I go to the schoolboard meetings, and I'm speaking for those people. You can as the mayor, of course, you can't tell the school board what to do, but
you can say this is wrong what you're doing. Basically, you're you're you're going to make 70% of the households of our town suffer because you can't do your job and you haven't been able to do your job. And you know what? No one wants to take responsibility over at that body. And you know what really irks
me to no end? What they did at that one meeting where they brought all those kids in and they used them, the sports people. And I know this is what happened because I had people all over the place telling me they had them all prepped to go in there do their little speeches and stuff. Nobody cares about academic achievement. They could never get those
students to go in there, the kids who care about a better education to go in there and do that for but for the sports. And do you realize they cut out all courtesy busing and the higher level education classes in our schools? We are going backwards. We can no longer
pretend to be a serious school district when this is the priority. And this is where this body can make a difference. You can't tell them, but you can speak on behalf of the town and say what is happening here is wrong. Somebody has to
do it. You realize I'm the only one. In fact, I'm the leader of this town at this point when it comes to this stuff because you're not doing your job. I had listen I had conver this is what this is what I had suggested. I'm going to go a little bit off the reservation here because I I am cognizant not to overstep
another governing body. Okay? I'm here for schools need to be accountable for academics. My suggestion was post on your website every two weeks what you're doing to improve academics. you're having you're convening meetings of the
curriculum committee. Whatever you're doing, post that academically and inform our residents. Use social media. The other the other way I think schools may be able to self soo is you have a large audience on a website. Emails go out to parents all the time from what's for
lunch to what's the extracurricular activity to disciplinary reports to progress reports or bad progress reports of students academic performance. I think there should be a countywide RFP for the 85,000 K through2 students in
this count in this county. And we might not have a large stick, but that number is a large stick. Monetize these websites. There's going to be no shortage of Fortune 500 companies or other organizations that want entree onto those sites to have parents of kids
in kindergarten to 12th grade to help them to sell products. Maybe it's a BOGO, maybe it's a twofer, but it's worth a conversation. It means more than a 3x5 plastic banner for a company around the circumference of a football
field. Use and monetize that website. There are two conversations I had with people that are high ranking over there. And I'm going to continue to have those type of conversations because I don't want you to think I'm doing nothing. It bo I have skin in this game. I didn't say we weren't doing anything to be
successful, right? But you need to speak up. It's the people's. You need to for a long time. Do I look intimidated by it? No. No, you're not. But you need I'm asking you on behalf of the 70% of the households. Can I just ask
you about the 70%? What do you mean by that? Can I ask you about that? Well, from the census information, this is all pulled. The children, they're between the ages of five and 18. We have a little over 5,000. It's 17% of the population. Okay. 1,200 of those
students are not going to school in Lacy Township. They're going to private schools. That's a large number. Yes, it is. And you know why it is. I hate to say it, but the fact of the matter is we know why that is. And I'm in contact with a lot of these people. So when you say the 70% though, I'm trying to
understand because you said those people don't have children in here in the schools. No, 70% of the households do not have. And you know, it's funny because when we pulled up this number when we were doing the research, I went around my own neighborhood and I went through the
households. There's one my one neighbor next to me, which is a younger couple. Everybody around me doesn't have kids in the schools. And I was just trying to figure is is this really a logical number where we're pulling up from the census numbers and that if it is logical, do you feel that I just asking? Yeah, sure. No, no, go ahead. Do you
feel that because you don't have children or these people don't have children, they shouldn't have to pay No. Okay. I want to be clear about that. No, no, that's not what I'm saying. But quite frankly, in southern states, quite frankly, very different. 65, right? You pay no school taxes. Absolutely. I mean,
so I mean, I'm very familiar with all this, but no, I'm trying to get the numbers out there. And I'm not saying no, we shouldn't pay, but big increases. This is what I'm saying. such a large increase for a smaller if we had more polarity as I would say maybe if it was
even 50% of our households had children in the schools you know you'd have more of a a viable uh for these type of increases but quite frankly it's not it's actually going to be worse than it is this year. So, we
sacrificed last year 10%, right? And it's going to be even and they they made cuts and now it's even going to be worse. So, we're paying 17 and a half% more for a lot less. Do you think that this is logical? I mean, in my head,
it's not logical. And the only solution is the solution that I have talked about, and it's basically what the S2 legislation was about, and that is regionalization. And you know what? I don't want to see the people in my town have to sell their homes. And people online have actually said this. This is
what really bothers me. There are such inconsiderate and insensitive people to think that when you're an older person, it's not so easy to just pick up and start a whole new life for yourself and leave your family and your friends and everybody else behind. When you're
younger, I know I've done this. It's very easy to do. we can adjust easier. But it's not so easy for the elderly in our community and there are people, you know, that are writing online and they're just saying, "You people should just leave. You should just sell your
houses and go." And you know what? A lot of the senior citizens or the people who are over 55, they do a lot for this community. I mean, actually, when you really think about it, you lose that body, what are you going to have left? The younger people are so busy bringing up their kids, working two and three
jobs. Now with these tax increases, even more, they don't even have time to be home with their children, which causes the disintegration of our families. So you made a comment about the kids in the schools, and I'm saying, "Yeah, well, with both parents working, there isn't
anybody around to be a parent." I mean, this is a societal problem and if we keep making the taxes go higher and higher and higher, people are not going to have any choice but to be working two and three jobs, both husband and wives. And is that really what we want in our community? Now, another comment thing I
wanted to make about is we were talking about the tax lean list. It's very interesting. The one thing that's missing from there is we all know that the mortgage company, if you have a mortgage, whether you pay your you're underwater on your on your mortgage or
not, the mortgage company's going to be paying those taxes. I mean, that's the way that it works. So, it doesn't really necessarily show you even a fair list of the people who are really struggling who have mortgages in our town. And it's only going to get worse because the
escrow accounts are decided by the banks and they will come back and you have no choice. When they say to you you got to have that increase, you know that that's it. So if you don't have the money, this is an issue. We have to do not only better, we have to fight for these
people. That's what you are elected officials for. And I'm asking you to find the better self, to get out of your comfort zone, and to take this on and to I I would love for you, Mayor Catalo, to actually say this is wrong. I would love for you to say this. You're asking this
burden twice. Once last year, but now you're doing it again, and it just isn't right. And I know you have another political body that's doing its thing, but they're not doing their job. And I know that they're not because I have helped get people elected onto that body. Oh, hold on, Mr. Bnick. I've told
you a couple things tonight. I've been a viciferous advocate of our schools. I've also called for accountability. I've also called for academics. I've also furnished ideas that I think are lowhanging fruit that we could do hitting the ground now. Um, but how is
that going to help with the taxes, sir? Well, can I jump in? Yeah, go ahead, Steve. So, I I mean, I've alluded to this a couple times. really comes down to the level of staffing in government and how many you know what you want the government to provide and how many people you want doing it. The only
realistic way the schools can uh lower their cost structure is to lay off people and a lot of people. And I'm not saying they shouldn't. You know, it's not our vote, but I don't think any one of us knows that the the the school
finances or how the schools run anywhere close to as intimate as we know the township. Right. Sure. So for us to because that's what you're talking about. You're if you're saying you don't want them to raise taxes then by by default you're telling them they have to cut. So we do not have any type you know
close to that type of information at what we could tell them what to cut or if they should cut or any of those things. I don't think you should be telling them. Well that's what they're elected for. So but but again you're I don't know what you're you're saying. No I don't even know what you're expecting at the school. I mean, I've been to this last couple school board meetings and
you know, I listen to everybody, but you're you're I understand your point. You don't want the taxes to go up, but the al only alternative for the schools is to cut staff. That's it. It isn't the only alternative. I mean actually I I threw something out there because I just
wanted to see about the sense of entitlement or if we really the whole idea that I get from the teachers is about it takes a village but that village is always totally one-sided and this was an opportunity where these people who claim that they care and they
have empathy could actually have said you know this one year we're going to take maybe a 5% or 10% I go halfway with the taxpayers. I asked this last year was laughed at, banged on the tables, screamed at, and they took the mic down on me because how dare you challenge
these people. You know, I'm sorry if it matters to me if somebody's going to keep their home or you're going to take a little bit of a salary decrease, you take your salary decrease. I don't want to see a person in our town be put out on the street because of this. And it's it's a moral issue at this point for me.
I understand what you're saying, but all those things are contractually and they're usually negotiated years in advance. So this so any negotiated contracts for this current year could have been negotiated 5 years ago. I actually asked them to do this. They could have done it. The union could have gotten together and said, you know,
we'll do this for the community one time, right? But they didn't do that. And I blame them. Quite frankly, the way I look at it now is that it's their fault that we're in this situation because the contracts, the health benefits, everything else that they are
getting is everything practically in that budget is going to them. They just let go the grounds people. I mean, you realize what's happening over there. They don't even they let go almost all the grounds people to take care of. They have no maintenance people. The buildings are going to hell. This is not
I don't disagree with you. I I just want to say though I I got to say this. I don't this what's happening doesn't fall on the teachers. This falls up here. Okay. This is it's everybody. But there right you know what I'm saying to you. It starts at the top. I agree. Okay. I
absolutely agree. You can't take this and put put it on the everyone. My feeling was and when I asked for the give back it was for everyone including the administration and everyone. Well that's where it should have started. Of course, I totally agree. And you notice
only one administrator in you weren't at the meeting, but they're only going to let go one administrator. Just one. So, it's the same story over and over again. And I'm sorry I'm using this bully pulpit because this will go out on social media. People need to hear that,
you know, there are people fighting for them. This is my job and I really do care and I have the time to do it and I don't want I don't really this is not something that I'm very comfortable doing. I just want you guys to know I'm somewhat of an introvert of a person. I
like to spend my time alone quite frankly. I mean the people who know how many of us believe. Look, I'm a classically trained pianist who would much prefer be sitting at my piano and doing my music. But there there isn't anybody in this town to fill the role
that I'm filling right now. I would love to retire into the sunset. I may I may be going to the se shells for three months. But the fact of the matter is is like well I need a break. I do. Okay. I really do. But the fact of the matter is
is that we have to do better. All of us and you as our elected officials and I will put you under the fire. This is my job. And same thing with the school board. It's like you guys can do better. I I commiserate with you. I haven't completely disagreed with you. I know
you have. But you are you are on your fourth fiveinut interval. That's okay. It's important and I'm sorry. As I said, happy Mother's Day everyone. Happy Mother's Day. Okay, I get it. I get it. Thank you again for your time. And
please, please try to do what you can. Thank you. Appreciate you. Thank you. Any other comments this evening? Yes, ma'am. Linda Miller. Okay. I've been to all the meetings, too. Um, what I have to say is I have
many friends that are teachers and I love them dearly. But what I saw at the last two schoolboard meetings is they filled the area with children to come up to the podium and to speak about all
their sports and they were going to lose this and blah blah blah. And then teachers got up and they said, "Yeah, the children are going to lose all these sports and and uh it's just a terrible thing for the children and it was just it's always a children."
Now, so I got up and said, "Yeah, well, I'm old. Older people babysit those children." But the point is, the teachers always say, "It's all about the children." But you can plainly see it's not about the children, it's about the
teachers. The teachers don't want to have too many people, too many children in the classroom. That's more work for them. They, like Mr. uh bidnik said give up some of your salary for one year they don't want to do that but it's still about the
children so how can they stand there and say it's about the children but they don't want to give up anything for you know monetarily for the children and that is a moral
problem that's all I had to say thank you thank you thank you Mr. Bransford Joe Bransford from Seabbze. I think a meeting or two ago I came up here and talked about some relief for seniors,
the PAS2 package that we should have all completed by now. The third one of which uh was the stay New Jersey program. Don't get your hopes up. I said it before, it's really not going to happen. Certainly to the extent that we're all
led to believe by a governor who won't be here when it's supposed to take effect. But there's another proposal being kicked around by people running for the new governor position which says, "I'll cap senior taxes, and if you're over 65 and a
property owner, you won't have to pay any increases in taxes." So, since we're doing schoolboard business here tonight, which is really the wrong place, think about that what that means to this town. When the seniors, you no matter what you tax,
they're not going to contribute to any increases. That means the remaining tax holders, stakeholders in town, their taxes are going to go up even more. So, uh we're in a vicious cycle. And if we can't get we can't get a a governor and a legislature, the governor can't do it
alone. If we can't get the right legislator to make these changes, we'll be back here next year with an even bigger problem. Thank you. Any other comments? Seeing none, motion to close the floor. Move it. Second. All
in favor? I. Resolution 2025-1 resolution in the council of Lacy County motion state of New Jersey authorizing the convening of an executive session in accordance with the open public meeting act to discuss matters of personnel pending anticipated litigation and matters of real estate. Move it. Mr. Juliano, yes. Mr. Kennes,
yes. Mr. Laray, yes. Mr. McDonald, yes. Mayor Keruto, yes. Motion to adjurnn. Move it. Second, please. Favor. I. No further business. No further business. Do your thing about getting the students