Oh yeah. I think it's Good evening. I'd like to call this movement to order at 7 p.m. And ask me to read the statement of compliance to the statement of compliance with the open public meetings act into the record. This meeting is being held in
compliance with the open public meetings act with meeting notice provided to the Hunter County Democrat, the Trenton Times, members on the list serve, department heads, and the city engineer. The meeting agenda provides for action items known at the time of publication
and is subject to change. This meeting will be streamed live and recorded using the Zoom meeting platform. Roll call. Yes, please. Councilwoman Kaminsky, here. Council President Lambert, here. Councilman Lie here. Councilman Ste
as well. All right everybody rise with the pledge of allegiance and I'll ask standing for a moment of silence in honor and appreciation of our retreat to the flag of America.
Right. Please be seated. Should be nice to have it. Good evening everybody. Thanks for coming out. Appreciate it. We're going to begin this evening with uh swearing in police officers. So we have uh we
have for you who welcome to the city of Lamville here with his mother Lauren. What's his father's name? John. John. Any other family here? Be fiance. Be fiance. Yeah, you count. What's your name? Molly. Molly. Welcome.
Welcome. Good to see you all. Um, so we'll begin by swearing in Conor Hughes and then we'll swear in the sergeant. Uh uh Coral Bass has been here since 2011 when he began as a um uh
parking enforcement officer and he's uh been a a great addition to the city since 2011 and he's worked his way up through the ranks and it's a a great honor to uh to be a sergeant or square sergeant tonight. But we'll begin with uh with Hughes.
Washington. Where do you want to start? Here. Okay. Let's see. So, uh, if you'll repeat after me. I, Conor Hughes. I, Connor Hughes. I suppose you could raise your right hand. Thank you. Do solemnly swear or affirm
Do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same and the governments established in the United States and the government established in the United States and in this state and in this state under the authority of the people under the authority of the people and I will faithfully and that I will faithfully impartially and justly perform
impartially and justly perform all the duties of the office of pat police officer all the duties of the office of police officer according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability so help me go so help me go like these big we like these big family
group shots and if you sign here. That would be great. Kind of like Yeah, we'll we'll absolutely. It's great. Come on. So, have you met all the council members yet? No.
So, council statesman. Lambert. Should we get you got Here we go. Smiles. Thank you for send pictures. Uh, thanks for coming all the way down. Excuse me.
[Music] y repeat after me. I, Matthew Tyler Bass. I, Matthew, do solemnly swear or affirm do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey that I will bear true faith and allegiance that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same to the same and the governments established in the United States and the governments established in the United States and in this state and in this state under the authority of the people
under the authority of the people and I will faithfully and partially and justly perform that I will faithfully impartially and and justly perform all the duties of the office of sergeant of Lambertville Police Department. all the duties of the office of sergeant of the Lam Police Department. Pring to the best of my ability.
To the best of my ability. So help me guide. So help me God. Not at all. Oh no, buddy. LGB. Here we go. Switching. One, two, three. Big smiles. Big smiles.
Thank you. All right. Thank you very much. She kept on doing this. I think you will take away the minutes. So uh without motion to approve the following set items July 17th the close
session minutes July 17th meeting minutes August 12 special session minutes and August 12 close session minutes we have a chance to review those any questions or concerns that's
so we have a motion please second all right here please say Fine. Do you make your own emotion? Can you say your motion as well? Second. I know. Like for me, not good. Not good.
Uh and reports that council members will have a chance to look at. Yes. I'm just going to highlight just a couple of things tonight. Um the hotel tax in June was uh $14,195.15 and then it jumped quite a bit in July
21 $600.33. Um our canvas revenue to date uh actually to to the end of June um is 153,27.73. So that's a six-month total which trending is going to put us in a very
good position much higher than we budgeted if those numbers continue. So that did not include July's numbers. So um well done. Um so nice. Um so
I think you don't use a motion to accept the administrative reports. Please move second. All in favor please say I. I. Thank you. uh before we move on, I just want to say I I really appreciate the um
Lambert Nuba rescue squad for submitting reports from now on. I think it's really helpful. I agree. And you know, I meant to point out I think they have 39 calls on Lambertville. Just take a quick look here. I think Thank you because I wanted to just give
them a shout out. Um yeah, they had uh 39 calls in July. uh in Lambertville and uh they've answered a total of 150 calls in July. Um and more than a thousand through July 31st of this year. So that's a lot of calls for our rescue squad. Good good to
know and uh I too I'm glad that they're submitting monthly reports. It's helpful for everybody in the community to know uh what they're up to. Um so at this point I would open the meeting up for public participation constituents. Just remind people please
that uh there's we asking you to state your name and address. You have three minutes to make your statement or after questions. Um and then as a reminder I would ask that uh the people who speak you cannot um address any comments or
questions to one particular personal dentist. So, my name is Beth O'Brien and I live at two handoff street. My home sits just 66 in from the road. For context, I am 67
in tall. In 2016, a car actually crashed through the front corner of my house. With this redevelopment plan adding up 200 homes and potentially 400 cars, all making a right-hand turn directly in front of my
home, I am deeply concerned about my personal safety, my peace of mind, and my quality of life. I respectfully ask that as this ordinance moves forward, you consider adding clear safeguards and amendments
to protect the residents of Connell. Specifically, construction safeguards limit construction hours to after 8:00 a.m. on weekdays only with no weekend work. Require predetermined construction
vehicle route path. Our streets are narrow. Not all can handle large trucks. For example, Grant Street between Hancock and Route 179 cannot handle trucks. Please request that the New Jersey Department of Transportation be involved
to confirm that our roads can safely handle the weight of heavy construction vehicles. My second point would be long-term pedestrian safety with hundreds of cars. Pedestrian protection is critical. Common Hill currently has no sidewalks.
The curve of Hancock Street is only 26 in. the curb to the raised bed in front of my home, which makes sidewalk installation nearly impossible without affecting private
homes. So, how will safe pedestri walkways be provided without infringing on existing residences? I urge you to ensure that residents safety, livability, and peace of mind are prioritized alongside this
redevelopment. Thank you. Jeff T, 33 Wilson Street. And I just want to sort of say that sometimes you have terrible things happen in a town like it's going to happen on the hill. Then other time when the people get
together and stand together um against special interests and large-scale developers from out of state that by being united and standing up together and having a common goal which is the protection of the future of this community we can win. And I think it's a
good lesson for the people in this town to understand that every community is going to get changed. Change happens. It's how you manage it. There's positive change and there's negative change. What's happening on the hill? Even though there may be affordable housing, there's negative changes. Increased
flooding and traffic and put people in a very awkward place to live. But what's happening on Corell Street, at least for now, is that because the people stood up because we had a very clear message, big hotel, big mistake, that instead of having a big mistake, we had a big
victory today, at least for now. Because the one thing I've learned in 50 plus years of dealing with land use in a community, um, vigilance is forever because even when you win, they can keep coming back. And right now, the plan looks good and hopefully we can work with them and they'll reach out to the
community, which they should have done in the beginning. But we don't know because things change and sometimes developers will say the right things and go wait till everybody disappears and pop back with a bad plan again. There's been properties I've bought three or four times before we actually stopped bad development down to the dirt. But at
least today we know that at a large scale mega hotel and wedding mill will not be happening in the in the near future. And that's a victory to the people of this town who stood up and to the people who helped them. Victories come from the bottom up, not the top
down. Development should also come from the bottom up and not the top down. And one of the things that I've learned in this venture so far is our town master plan is wfully uh out of date. Our town zoning is literally out of date because that mega hotel might have been able to
just go to the planning board even though it was one of the biggest projects this town ever saw. We also have it right on our major water supply source and we don't do enough to deal with storm water and water quality and you know even if they're coming in with the surface live it's going to add more pollution to our water source. Um, but
at least today the people won and it's a good day. And I want to also thank uh Councilwoman Kaminsky who was helpful to the community and her neighborhood with with this and just say that hopefully this is a lesson learned that we can have change but it can be positive changes that enhances our community that
furthers the goals of our community and does not destroy them. This was a good lesson but we got many more lessons to come because this is only the beginning. Just because we won today doesn't mean someone else should come in or they won't come back. You see what's happened to New Hope, you see what happened in
Montalk and I can go down on a list and so we want to protect our town for now and for the future but we also want to have appropriate growth and appropriate responsibility and a governing body has to be a part of it but today the people won't even
um when the agenda came out uh I looked at it saw that the First reading is on the redevelopment plan and it talk about it has a link well has exhibit A in there underlined as being the plan. Unfortunately, you can't find the plan anywhere. And why is that important?
Because what's going to happen now isn't going to come out. We're only going to have time to comment in public at the next meeting when you're going to have voting on the such meeting. Oh, probably. And there's not going to be any time for change. just has happened repeatedly where things have not all not
all the information has come out in a timely manner and what it does is it puts pressure on you to get things done because it's got to be done now because we can't wait all right and by not having that up here Beth didn't have the
ability to go out and find out at the base that she wanted I don't know whether or not going to require that there be form for example, DE comes in and actually does measurements on that probably like should be done. But now
we're going to have to wait and it'll come tomorrow for the next meetings in the future for the second reading list. All right, we could have started the process now. Now we have a success rate which talked about it's going to delay it even farther because you're going to
have to have a first reading again and then a second reading again, right? So anyway, by not putting that out there, you've delayed the process. You give and you cut the amount of time people have common and input
and frankly it's happened a lot. I'm getting a little bit tired of it. Okay? Because I do care about the city and I spend time looking into this stuff. All right, that's my first point. Uh my second one is, you know, I was really happy to hear that we've done everything
on the library. you know, all the painting and everything. Why are there two broken windows still up in that? We spent all this money and one of the windows, one facing Lily is basically 75%.
And there's one faces 165. It looks like it's missing a good 25% of it. That's the end of my comments. Any responses? Uh, the windows are uh slated to be repaired by the PW. It's on their list of things to do.
It's been that way for months. I appreciate your comment. Thank you. Hi, John Towns 14 Hancock. Uh been a member of this community for a very long time. Came here in the 80s riding on the rescue squad. Uh for those
of you who aren't from Lambertville, uh dealt with the floods. I dealt with disasters in this town. And this city council and the people leading it are leading us down a very dangerous
road. There's not been a single independent environmental study done by anybody that I can find. If you've got it, put it out there. think the flood of 55 was bad. When do you take those those trees down off that hill?
But okay, you guys have made your decision. Julia Fall was the one who stripped other possible building sites. Now, I don't know who was on the committee back then, but it's continued. Now, I thought this was a voting group.
I thought motions could be made. and that one single person couldn't make every single decision related to the welfare of this city. But apparently that's wrong. Okay.
There have been meetings between these developers and individuals from our city. None of that information has been released. Oh, protected client information. Really? As soon as that decision to not develop
Lambertville Hill was made, that information should have been released to the public. And don't worry, I will be going downtown Trenton file a complaint with the uh attorney general. That information is being withheld
intentionally and purposely by this body and the chips could fall where they will. Now again, none of you live up on that hill. Mr. Mary, you used to come up on that hill. Excuse me. Let me finish. I have the right to free speech. You have the right to free speech, but
we ask that you you ask that you Okay. Somebody who was running for office came up on this hill and went to everybody and introduced himself and his husband. That's wonderful. I'm going to call you by order. I'm going to ask you to stop referring to one person on the st. It's not It's not
appropriate. I can It's not in spirit. In any event at the quorum, decisions were made by the by the entire council by the entire council to withhold information that would have been relevant to a court could have shared
that information that may have swayed and you also are deciding not to challenge the decision. Again, you guys don't live up on that hill. You're not going to be affected by all this. They're not affected by the
polluted water or the ground. And no one from this council has taken this information anywhere further than the city or the county. Why is that? Are we so gung-ho to repeat this affordable housing nonsense that
we're going to put the rest of the city in jeopardy? Thank you guys. You need to address yourselves. And again, election is coming. There might be a lot of changes. I hope.
Thank you. My name is Dave Bird and I live at 255 Brunswick Avenue. Normally I just speak from my hand and my heart. Today, pardon my voice too. Uh I I have a lot
of information a lot of information I want to share and opinions I want to share and I will also be issuing this to mayor and council in the written form along with the city to assist with the uh the minutes. Labor has changed forever following the
court order of July 7th 2025 issued by judge Robert B. This order was recognizing that kaya kaha as an intervenor and defendant and rescending the city's immunity from builder's uh
remedy protection. The judge's decision was based on the response to the kayhog filing provided uh by the mayor and the city professionals. Judge uh Ballard has written in his documentation.
Nevertheless, the city provides uh no engineering study, planning report, or other evidence to suggest that issues such as steam slopes, storm water, and environmental contamination suddenly uh serve as a permanent barrier
uh to the KH project. I'll speak uh to the storm water and Ida and environmental contamination and POS later. The impact to our city is
in my humble opinion been around for a few number of years. People are going to die. This sounds dramatic but it's true. All right. Death by PEOS from drinking and other water uses of the water or living
and playing with and uncontaminated soil. Deaths from uh vehicle accidents as both cars and large trucks travel 179 and the small roads.
I was there when the woman died on 179 a number of years ago at the video store. All right. And that was a big trouble. Uh vehicle pedestrian uh pedestrians in the neighborhood going up and down to access the uh their properties and
attempting to cross Route 179 on foot or by car. Uh the death by uh drowning all right in the flatlands of Lambertville as the excess water running uh to get to the river and stream uh go through our
our city. uh this did not have to happen. Did the city elected officials not provide information to our hired professional because all right the city planner gave a presentation on September 9th 2024
that the uh uh the site was suitable available approvable and developable. Right? This is 1450 days after the flooding by Ida uh on September 1, 2021 and 48 days
after the discovery of PAS on the site ran July 23rd, 2024. Uh if the people were alerted by of the change, it should have been reflected in our submittal. Our community is asking what's going on here. Uh the residents
are reaching out and with their concerns, but nobody has appeared to be listening. Um the and some are asking is is it or is it just dirty or it just happens here? We got a message in this put here
by our paid professionals providing guidance that did not provide information for the judge to at least have the information. If professionals provided the this kind of guidance in business, they would do house feed cleaning. As I've suggested many times
before, we need to clear clean our professional house and others necessary to protect our residents. It's going to cost money, but you get what you pay for. The residents deserve this action. We must preserve Leville now and for the
future. There is too much on the line. The developer's bottom line wins. letters. Thank you. Judy, please. Uh there's similarity in the thinking of the people who have come up here so far.
I I think that should give you a big message of what's going on in terms of people we're talking to and we are. But the way I chose to organize, what I wanted to say was by pointing to two things that would make a really big difference in assuring people that there
was a proper kind of commitment on the part of elected officials in this town and that is uh ethics and the other thing is communication. the ethics part. I just want to review with us all
because so we don't forget this this the law, state law having to do with uh municipalities and counties, ethics, local government, local government gets a bigger break than regular state employees do. So it's not as though it's
a bad thing, but public office and employment are a public trust. the word I've used before here. As you know, the vitality and stability of representative democracy depend upon the public's
confidence in the integrity of its elected and appointed representatives. Whenever the public perceives a conflict between the private interests and the public duties of a government officer or
employee, that confidence is in peril. When the public perceives, when the public is worrying, when the public is saying, as they've heard said, what's going on? What is happening? Or when people have said to me, how could
somebody choose to do this to us by approving and supporting and pushing through the 200 units on that hill? So I offer to you the importance of the fact that ethics, however you define it, and I
can't say and I'm not here to say that I know whether anybody has any particular personal interest here, whether anybody has perceives any benefit. I'm not saying that. I have no idea. I'm just saying please you think about how much
we trust you and please you think about what's going on when you do the job that you're doing and the communication part of what I wanted to identify. I was I was blown away when I was reading stuff in preparation for this because I
was both terribly disappointed to have this before you tonight and I was terribly outraged to know that this is where we are which didn't have to happen. So, I went back and looked at a lot of things and I will admit I did not know and you know me I come to these meetings I try to read the stuff. I mean
I'm not like out there but this Havnanian 200 unit thing came to came to the council or came to the city or came to somebody um way back in 2022 and there were conversations March
April, May, June, July of 2022 about this. This should not have been a surprise and so that in December everybody said whoa 200 might be too much. I mean this was already this was already after Ida.
So I I I see the time is short so I can't really say some of the other communication issues but I will say closed minutes you have to do minutes of every meeting. Closed minutes and open close are supposed to be redacted but they're supposed to be made available excuse me pretty much right away. I sit
here and hear you approving closed minutes. We have been yelled at before. We meaning the assemb assembled multitude. Well, why didn't you pay attention? Why didn't you know? Because it mostly happens in closed meetings is walking. I don't know. So, I will be requesting that the closed minutes be
made available online. If you won't do that, redact it. I get that. If you won't do that, then we'll have to keep asking for them each each week, which it would be for each month. It'll be easier if we could just have it be what we're doing with the other minutes, but I recognize
so I just want to reiterate this quickly. Ethics and communication. We don't have good communication among you guys, I don't think, and we don't have good comm communication to us. The ethics part, you know, we want to trust you. You know, you took these jobs to be
part of the public trust. I don't think it point to that on the hill, but I think there's still room to do some things better, and I hope that you will. Thank you. Good evening, John. Cory Street.
We um we purchased the focal form on about 2016. I'm not very happy with the manner in which purchase uh as opposed to the
combination the annual combination situation that's normally used in these circumstances where the um both sides agreed to have pretty much a uh judge by what the price would be.
They said the city went on and purchased the property confirmed at the time that under the bow and fuel protection act I was able to uh corner a $1.5 million range to purchase
it and we were in the running for it until it was stretched and that of course went away. Now what we want to take a look at which I think may help us is that
the open farm consists of eight acres that were considered part of the um available land for development. that 8 acres according to the um folks
at the um affordable housing group down in Cherry Hill would be um 15% if it was regular housing and 20% if it was affordable housing. So a midpoint
of the portable housing would be 12 on the one end, 16 on the other, but just 14 would be a number of housing units that would be removed from open space in
Liberty according to what I received here from my friends up in Mon County. And not only that, the preservation place lay beyond the reach of development, the locals help to reduce the amount of available land use for the state's
affordable housing for municipality, which I just cut, which means we should credit with units of affordable housing based on the purchase that it's not being used for development. And I submit that why haven't we done? Because he
weren't advised that she could think about that. But we must look at it. We had 14 affordable housing units credit and I believe with county I don't believe too many other people at
this particular point the uh the grass leaves to those of us who live up on street. I can tell you now that our next major rain will be
devastating land reform based on Mr. to what I said in the past amount of water that's retained the trees have been taken down right now they may have use the forum um on the north slope of the
um right away for the um the use of um the use of where the chemicals were dumped
And what is that? Public works competitive is not an exact science. It's never been out. So we still have as individuals options to um take legal action and some
of it could be if it was knowingly avoided um and that there is chemicals out there and I know there are um that we really must require a complete DPA
profile gun with ground penetrating radar are to see what is where and if it's there we move it because we do not want to go into a known hazard affecting us in our community. So actually I
covered two very important things here which was that we should be given credit for 14 units that are no longer available in the public in the open for this power. Thank you.
I'm Camille Lee, 54 Handoff Street. I want to go to speed four. I get a little tired. Everyone up here looking blankly at us tore our hearts out.
But I thought, "Okay, I'll come up and I'll do a stream of consciousness. When I look out my window and I see people pushing baby carriages and walking dogs in the street, have no sidewalks, I know that this will
disappear with this. I have not heard one single word since I've been coming to these meetings about anyone up here protecting the people on that hill in one single way. It's
unbelievable thing that you are elected to representatives who do not represent us. I'm shocked. I've never seen anything like it in any of the places I've ever lived. I've lived in New York
City. I've lived in Princeton. I've lived in various places. I have never seen it. Um I just would like one word from anyone
that says, "Don't worry, it'll be okay. We'll take care of you." as well as putting 200 homes and 400 cars on your streets. No sidewalks, no fire hydrants, no curbs, no pedestrian access, no
nothing. One word. Oh, and the contamination by the way. any uptown is a very concern everybody hate cluster and be like well we really need to think about this before we put another
400 people minimally there but not just him and I can't understand it so if anybody has a word anything one word okay
yes no nothing didn't think So, so that's why I wasn't going to speak. Um, and like I said last time, you're all rock Moses. Check all the boxes, dividing communities, ruining
environments, racist, you name it, you're qualified to check all the boxes. And I don't think history will treat you crime. Anyone else in the room? Anyone online,
please? Everybody online. Are we going to close the public comment? Yeah. Wanted to say um I do hear what all of you say. Um
and it affects me but sorry John I'm I am bound by privilege about what I can say and what I can't say. I know you don't like that but that is a fact. Um, I will also say that
we're we're at the very beginning of this redevelopment process. And the questions that have been raised about protection of pedestrian safety and construction and storm water runoff
are good thoughts and good and appropriate and things I would support uh protecting and and advocating for. I think others would as well. Um,
but my understanding, and I could be wrong, Bill, but my understanding is there's a process we follow and those particular issues get addressed as we move through the process. I know you don't want to hear
that, but that is that is where we are. Um, I take I take the comments about ethics and and trust um very seriously and um I think if anyone in particular
has an issue with my behavior, my decisions, please reach out to me and I'll be happy to speak with you and tell you what I can tell you. Um and and hopefully
there are this process is complex. I don't understand all of it. I rely on others to help me get through it. Um but I think I've you know come along in the last whatever. Um, but I I'll do my best
to try to address some of the issues about, you know, the the role of the council versus the role of, you know, like how the the governing body function. So anyway, I just put that out there. Thanks. I'll say that. I think you said that
beautifully and I appreciate it and I I go to the sentiments. Um, so so thank you. Um, I just want to comment about uh something that Beth what Brian brought up construction hours. I think that is absolutely something we should address. Um, and I don't there's any reason to
delay on that. I think that, you know, not just for that area in general, but in general. Um, you know, not just limited to Common Hill. I think that's a great suggestion. Uh, something for us to look at. And then also the, uh, close minutes. Um, I don't see why we
shouldn't be putting in closed units once they're approved and redacted in a format where the public they can access them. So, I would encourage us to do that. We're not doing it already. That's all we have. Uh, all that we do have construction hours. Um, they are from 7 to 5. I'm
certainly willing to consider a later start and certainly we don't allow instructions. There have been a couple of instances where um I believe that's correct on SA Saturdays. I don't think you're going to double check that organic. Um at any
rate, that's certainly something there's going to be a lot of quality of life issues that we're going to have to face and work together on uh through this process. And we certainly are on each door or that as things unfold that we're addressing things in real time and being sensitive through all neighbors and
community in every way possible. Um any I mean we can have have to have a conversation about close session minutes. Uh but I I can defer to you in terms of I mean are we far enough down the road now in terms of some legal issues where some of these minutes can
be released? I have no personal issue with releasing any minutes, but I also need to make sure that the city is protected in terms of possible litigation and sensitivity. Uh, I can refer the minutes that we've got for close sessions for the next few
years. I think it's litigation matters that are matters that have been resolved. So we probably um release the post session for that and I think that probably
as as we work through the the process for for this project there might be certain initial discussions for example about redevelopment plan I think that um something that is publicly available now because council's considering the
redevelopment plan again you know there's probably more recent conversations related to specificity of the agreement may not want to release those but I can certainly take a look at
you know to the best you know fullest extent possible to say release with that yeah I was just going to say I think that's great I think we should as rule uh go through that process for all of
our closed minutes um I would recommend starting at the most recent and moving backward just as a point of fact. I I mean it just seems to me that people would want to know kind of where we are now and then we could work backwards and you know through it's because it's going
to be a lot of material but yeah we need to do that just to address the close minutes since I'm the keeper of the records. Anytime anybody's ever come in and requested minutes I've always reviewed them or redacted as appropriate and provided them. We have never in my whole time,
even being on council, just openly provided minutes. Now, if that's the council's wish, I'm happy to go through them and redact and yes, it would start with most recent and go backwards and then put the questionable items in front of Bill rather than handing him all of
them and incur a very large attorney bill that sorry, [Music] but it's very important. Yeah. Right. Glad is making great points. I want to I'll take a minute just to talk a little bit about going to
what Beth said about the road network at uh at Conet Hill and I will personally go a little further to say that I think we need to take a look at the entire road network up there in terms of B track improvements but we do need to
look at upgrading to sidewalks and the drainage and the curbing up there just because there it's going to be a very different situation. situation and we really and it's not only going to be one way in one way out and you know there
are some long overdue you know upgrades to the road network up there that I think we could probably you know start to you know take a look at because it is it's going to be very different and we bear that
responsibility as well as being ready with our storm water system and and whatever projects We needed to be able to upgrade what's coming down to 10 out and there are you know forecast you
forecast there that there are issues and studying it but I think we need to kind of jump start that a bit um because you should be ready for for that part of the review to be able to handle our our part
of that and it's something that the entire community you know we need to to be taking look at I just like to thank folks who come up to the podium and speak their mind at every meeting. I think it's very
helpful. I really like it when there are people here. Uh, and you know, thanks to a a group that follows what's going on, you know, we we've seen just this m this
much of how many people that we hear from. And uh I hear you u and I agree with making the minutes available redacted if that's the case for close session.
Uh, I think it's good to do it. Uh, it's kind of like the first time I've heard anybody bring it up maybe before. So, I thank you. Uh, who who brought that up? Um, you know, I'd been around a little while
and and uh when this development first started to become real, so to speak, there there was a lot of a lot of discussion about pedestrian safety and eress in and out
of that hill. So your concerns are uh uh well focused and and to focus us again on on pedestrian safety and uh and
as councilwoman commits mentioned I I you know we don't have to wait to look at it uh and uh and you know, as we go forward with the process, and this is really the
beginning in the process, uh, I hear your frustration and I take it to heart and uh the and going forward uh, the public will be very involved with what goes up on that
hill and how we address it from vehicular, the people on the street, the people, you know, um who do walk up and down that hill. Um it was a topic of conversation in the past. I mean we'll revisit this. We
don't talk. Um but I I uh you know I I hear you and I can uh identify with you. I I know what it's like when things happen around where you
live that you have no control over. So I can identify with that frustration with the group that's here. And I I uh I I feel I I I I feel that going forward
uh this conversations that we had tonight very strong and uh I hope you're keep coming up and speaking your mind through this whole process. Uh we're just as said just at the beginning of
it. There are many other uh hurdles we that we will go through with this development. So it captures the uh the effectiveness of and the
positive and or negative points that we have to deal with to protect people that not only live up on the hill but live that live in the flat part of town. Uh and uh I've really concerned that you
know that uh uh or I'm optimistic that with your input and veracity that we can get things done that will benefit living up on the hill and remove some of the dangerous
potentially dangerous effects of what may or may not happen uh with this develop. So I I hear you and I thank you for your point of view. And just to close this out before I ask for a motion to close the public comment
period, I would also say that you know as you look through close session minutes over the last two or three years, I hope that whatever trust you're not feeling uh will be restored when you kind of wade into these minutes
and understand begin to understand that we are by people. um having conversations and doing our best in the best interest of the city. And I hope that that will come through because whether that whether that happens kind of in real time organically here on the day of an open meeting or whether it
happens in a closed session meeting. Um, I think that what you're going to see is that there is you're not going to always see the level of struggle or kind of emotional turmoil each of us might might feel at a given moment about difficulties involved in making these very complex decisions that affect not
just 200 people or 150 people on one in one neighborhood, but really the entire community, right? So it's not, you know, I hope that in reviewing these and I have I look forward to having them released um that that people will
understand that this process has been ongoing and and and that we've all acted in good faith as individuals and as a council um throughout this entire process. And you know, the results may not be something that some of us like or don't like or that most of us don't like
or like whatever. Um but uh you know I think that I think that what you're going to see is basically what you see here um people who are doing their best to make the most responsible decisions for the greatest good of the city. Um so with that I ask for a motion to close
the public comment period. So move second. All in favor? I I I thank you. Another public comment period at the end of the meeting launch resolutions. Uh we have a lot on the consent agenda tonight. Um so I'm
gonna ask per to adopt it. So then I'm going to go through just well actually I'll go through just a couple of points here on a couple of these resolutions. Um and then certainly if the council has any questions I know a couple of these things were fairly last minute just because that's the way it went this
week. Um I I do want to take a moment to thank councilinski for work on resolution number 133 2025 which is requesting a study done by the dot for use of rapid a traffic rectangular flash
along 29. Um we've all talked about route 29 New York Times well concerned in the community that pedestrian safety crossing crossing the street there. So I'm glad that we have this underway. Um
resolution number 1412025 just check me with the council. So um this is a resolution to amend resolution 118 2025 which authorized the memorand standing with the chamber of commerce. So these are for the uh after hours events. They
asked if they could add one more uh before the end of the year on the first Friday of October since the first two have been pretty successful. So even though we haven't had a conversation about that, if there's any issues among the council, please let me know and we'll we'll move back that one. I can
talk about that one. You want to go through your list? Um you want what's that motion first? You have to do the motion first. Okay. Discussion. Okay. So uh the list are up with a motion to uh adopt resolutions on consent agenda numbers 130-2025 through
14825. So move. Right. I'll second it. Uh so I'm sorry, you want to speak to that? Yeah, it it uh well I think it's successful. Yes. But this this extension
is pretty open. It doesn't say where it's being held, where in the city it's being held. The same resolution with a different date, right? Just Yes. It's just amending the former resolution street. Yeah. And I just added all the things
that they would be responsible paying us for. Again, just as a reminder, well, I I'll say this. If it's not in writing, if it's not on the plan, it's not in writing, but it is it's in the res the original resolution. So, the original one does, it does
mention George Street over Yes. And so, all this does is add that date of that resolution. Okay. reinforces what the chamber pays in support. Okay. Um, just want to explain just take a moment
to explain on the pedestrian uh safety resolution uh uh what we'll be able to do once we pass this resolution is to uh study with DOT not only for flashing beacons at at various locations where
there state on you know roads that are all the state own roads but um but the reason why we have new resolutions because there's cost sharing on the beacons. The rest of the items that we can do through this pedestrian buddy that they're going to provide, which is
special striping or different signs or altering our signage and trying to make it better, is also doing uh traffic light timing. So when you cross the street that the the leg is timed so the
car so so the cars have an idea of I'm trying to explain the sequence, right? so that that people can start so start to cross if they see them first and then they get the the light to go. There's a lot of different light timings the DOT
has suggested that they have in this little bag of tricks pedestrian safety. So what we'll be able to do along with you know our engineer and book from the brown police is figure out you know kind of some overall pedestrian safety plan
like you know bridge 179 crossing by uh by the cloth clo and various things. So it'll launch us into a bigger pedestrian safety program. Dr. Clyde was determined on that too. It
was great to see that in in the agenda to holistically take an overview for pedestrian bike and pedestrian safety in the city. We work uh
dozens of years goes way back with well not but no that far back. Yeah. Yeah. is that about taking that approach to to uh make Lambertville safer for the
pedestrians who come and uh are distracted by the beauty of the city when they're in it and not really paying attention to other things like traffic like vehicular traffic and and and truck
traffic and and the like. And we've done a lot of things over the years to limit the number of trucks I can use 31 during Belbecia was years here. So we've been we've had we had a rebuild of uh uh for
traffic calming in the central business district uh that we did several years ago. It's always good to step back and take a look at what's effective and what what works and what doesn't work and what we can do uh to to improve it. So,
it was great to see that in resolution. I I agree with Councilwoman Mitsky points on this, but I'm really happy that we're going to look at this not just at one interception, but at
all areas that we have to make sure that we uh make them as safe as we can uh g given the uh amount of pedestrians that that not only live here and walk but
also will come to visit and so I was great to see that that we're going to be putting that forward. Uh thank you. Couple of other notes uh resolution number 144 and 146 related to
the Kala soil remediation project. Uh when we adopt those this evening we'll be able to go right into remediation work in the park. Um, I I do note that uh resolution 146 also would authorize $12,000 for completion of additional
work that uh we didn't know needed to be done. Um, and uh the historic remedial investigation report and a remedial action report. Um, they were completed in 2013 2014, but they were never submitted. So that has added some
paperwork to this process and uh we're moving through it as quickly as possible. Uh first priority is to get the park get the soil remediated uh and finish up paperwork with uh with the state. So those are two things I want to
point out. And then just lastly um there is uh resolution 145 which is a resolution to amend uh resolution 31. So this would um increase the contract amount clate enhance to include funding for a farm
application to the state of his the preservation office. So, it's come to our attention that following the subdivision, uh, the city needs to file with, um, the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office a project, uh, authorization to move forward with, uh,
further work or further uh, you know, kind of beyond subdivision of the the holding property. So, that will be uh, funded through the Escrow County Fisheries Mark. Are there any other questions about any of these resolutions
about Cabela Park? Um, I understand that we still have funding that being withheld or there is funding that we can file for once this is done.
That's correct. Uh, so well you're talking about Green Acres. Yeah. For for um for the park. Yeah. Correct. So, uh, we did get a letter about an early month or so ago or six weeks ago from Green Acres, uh, stating that we need to have this closed up in
the end of the year or we're at risk of losing that $300,000. Um, this project has been going on now for more than a decade. Uh, and, uh, they've been very patient. We're staying in constant contact with them. uh the with the LSRP
and I bill we've all been in contact with them and we continue to update them every single turn um so that we can private as quickly as possible. The the followup question is like if it's determined that some of this uh
that we're cleaning up was not all our doing that could lead to some things that we cannot talk about at public holding certain people a responsible for
where we are from a from a litigation point of view. Absolutely. I strongly support any kind of litigation here. Oh, this process has been enormously difficult to we've been working on it since the since the early
March of 2022. Um, it's been difficult. It's been frustrating. It's been exasperating. Uh, and uh, people are responsible. Uh, and I'm talking about I think past engineering companies and so forth. So, soon as we get all this
cleared up, uh, I'm going to speak to the city attorney about, uh, next steps. Tom, I'm glad that worked. Believe me, as somebody who's been working diligently with Cindy, Bill, and LSRPs,
it has been proved very complex. And you know, I can't tell you how frustrated I was last week when we had to have an emergency meeting to discuss the fact that there was this paperwork was not submitted in 2013 that we are just finding out about. So it it's been a
very very difficult process. Um I think that we're near the finish line. I could hope that we were I said to Bill I feel like the goal post, but I'm pretty sure that we're we're we're fairly close down to the wire. So um maybe
All right. So I would ask for you have that covers all you've covered everything. Um so all in favor please say I.
Okay. So that kind of covers the consent agenda. Motion carries. Approval of the bill list. Would somebody make a motion you hit a bills please? So move second. All in favor please say I. I. I. I. Thank you. Um, first reading ordinances. The first
ordinance we'll consider tonight is ordinance number 20-2025. This is an ordinance to amend the Lambertville city code 2014 chapter 13 sewer and water to add in proper disposal of waste. Um, this is a an
ordinance that's a requirement for the city to maintain its MS4 tier from the state of New Jersey. So, we are required to uh consider it and to adopt it. Um, are there any comments from the council on this ordinance? All right, I have a motion to introduce
ordinance 2025 with a bunk hearing of September 18th. Second. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Thank you. Motion carries. Ordinance number 21-2025, an ordinance of the city of Lambertville authorizing the sale of city owned
property. Please name it as block 1003 lot 11, more commonly known as 310 Union Street. Um, this will uh this ordinance will allow the city to sell the property at 310 North Union Street to the highest bidder between the two property owners
on each side. This has been kind of another exhaustive property process. Um, it's gone through several different phases. I don't know if you want to have anything. I will say also that this is not a buildable lot. It's only I think 12 feet wide, something like that. of
we've gone through again this is one of those projects that's taken several years to bring to fruition and I don't know if you have anything to add about building the city acquiring but tax sale foreclosure month and a half ago okay as you stated it's not buildable so
by law the city's allowed to solicit bids from two property owners once the city has those bids the council can consider move forward with the resolution. Thank you.
I have a motion to introduce ordinance number 21-2025 public hearing scheduled for September 18th. So move second. All in favor say I. I carries.
The next is an ordinance number 22-2025. This is an ordinance of the city of Landerville County, Colorado, state of New Jersey, further amending the redevelopment plan for the Landerville High School redevelopment area. Block
1073, lots 1 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 32 33 33.01 Block 105 10 + 4 and 5 block 10 91 + 1 and 1.01
one. Um, so as everybody I'm sure knows this is an ordinance to amend the redevelopment plan for the Law High School redevelopment area as required by the court. Um, I'll just advise everybody that other than changing the dates, the plan is not changed at all.
It's verbatim same plan that was introduced in the summer, late fall, late spring of 2024. Um, all other items will be addressed in redevelopers agreement with the city. So just a couple of notes about this. Um
this the the ordinance be posted to the city website tomorrow. We have um a dedicated web page for the high school um redevelopment plan or redevelopment area which can be found by going to the resident tab on the city website. Um and
that will have all of the relevant documents including the court documents, little bit of history. Um and this will be posted there tomorrow. that will also um post uh we will post uh any doc relevant documents there in real time as they become available. So that'll be a
good resource for the public. Um there's some information on that page already. Um if you feel as though there's something not there that should be there. Um certainly we would put it there. Um we haven't put an exhaustive um array of documents going all the way back to the beginning of the tongue, but
if anybody's interested certainly we can uh we can include whatever documents we feel we'd like to you'd like to see there relevant documents are being posted by um and uh just to review the timeline
here. So, uh, upon introduction tonight, the next step would be for this to go to the planning board after September 3rd meeting and then go back to the city council for, um, a second meeting, a public hearing on September 18th. Um,
during this time, uh, the city council, uh, all five of us will be working with, um, Bill Opal, um, to, uh, and the city engineer and the city planner to work through the redevelopment agreement. Um I don't have a time frame for that. Do
my best to keep everybody up to date with every meeting about where we are in any given moment. Um as a couple of people have already said, this is a complex process that's going to take some time to unfold. Bill is all going to create a kind of a just a timeline of
what we can expect generally um in terms of moving forward. Uh you know, won't have necessarily specific dates, but just kind of an indication of how long each step might take. Um, so have I missed anything there? No, but I I think for the for the folks
that are here, if you could explain the difference between the redevelopment plan because you see that that's what we're introducing and every can review it and the difference between this and
the redevelopment agreement with the developer. Sure. Yeah. Absolutely. And Bill, you you'll catch me if I get anything wrong. I'll fill in flesh it out. So the the redevelopment plan basically is the framework under which possible redevelopment can happen
on the site. That's the short answer, right? So it provides all of the basic information for what the city is willing to uh to to have on the site. The redeveloper agreement will be tailored to work specifically with the the
redeveloper. And so that will have a lot more detail. model a lot more components about what we expect in terms of storm water management and environmental responsibility and uh so forth and so on. That was probably is that okay? All
right. So, and if there are any questions about any of that, I'm always happy to talk to people on the phone um and to kind of clarify things that has put on the city on that web page some basic definitions um around redevelopment uh what a redevelopment
plan is and some of the advice very basic informations there and we'll be using these a lot and probably some of us will uh get them mixed up from time to time because we're not free developers um ourselves. So this is the first time I think many of us have done
this kind of this kind of thing. So um that's good. Yes. Uh so Bill, what is microphone? Oh, thank you. I know the public has asked a lot of questions about what is coming to open session versus close session. Is there any reason why we need a close session
for the region or is that all done in open session? The agreement. So specific well just discussion because obviously people are interested they want to hear this and so is there any reason why any of the process going forward you'd be in
closed versus open session the privilege is the council so the government can decide what my suggestion would be that once we have a draft I do think I think it might be best for the council to take
a look at it first provided to their review. Well, in advance I go to the council considering I think I think I was like
put on a report before I think this be added to this. I think when we're able to present it by thanks Phil and and I agree you know we're going to kind of we're going to
have input to it then we see a threat and you know we have kind of a sense of what's going on and feels presented to I think that's a solid approach. Um but I wanted to mention about the timeline. My
recollection is that as dates occur, we would update the uh description of we would add the actual dates to the timeline so people would have a sense of um when the next
step would occur. So, you know, if if the redevelopment plan is um approved on Sep September 18, we know, for example, I don't know, four months later, we're going to have a red. I'm just I'm just throwing that number.
But, you know, then people would know October, November, December, January is approximately when they we could start. You know what I'm saying? I have a pretty I have pretty timeline that I've already done. Yeah. I'll show Yeah. And I think you also asked for a
visual arrows so that people could kind of see. Oh, so it's kind of so that right now the only date I have is September 18th, right? And then the other dates I built it is
for example like late fall 2025, right? Six months after that. So we can you'll see but I get closer. Okay, great. Thank you. Well, let's have another but quick including
that the where the intervals where we go back to the court and when we add court things you know like well that we have to we have the court order right now and then when we take you know these steps
then we go back to the court for you know and and what we'll be asking them you know in terms of the blessing the heart plan and and how we were just explaining that process. I know it makes a three-dimensional chest, but it does when you maybe it's a separate document
timeline, but it it you know it's complicated because not only do you have the development moving, but you have the the court case moving to, you know, proceeding um we're still kind of, you know, we're we're still, you know, letting in. I'll just say that you know
I'll send it to Kelly and she can and if I could just chime in the concerns that were mentioned here by you uh uh do not go on the fears uh now that we're going to make some of
the close session minutes available. You'll see that the questions you ask, we ask about storm water runoff, about what's buried up on the hill and what's what's going on with the old high school site
itself. What's going to happen during construction are things that that we have discussed uh along the process of working uh with
K So, um, they're right at the top of our list. Fifth issue, the old dump that's up there, uh, the, uh, the pollution if of
the, uh, old high school site, the high school itself are things that we know. uh we're in the process of working with the DP uh to come up with information so we know how to move
forward with this and I know that it's the process is relatively new with the DGP and you could probably explain that a bit mayor but it as well as
the impact on the neighborhood. So uh you know it's refreshing to hear that we are going to make what we can make available to the public of discussions that we have had in close
session. Uh which gives us the freedom even for me now to say what I just said uh and be more transparent with the public. Uh so hopefully when we go through the list of close sessions and
uh Cindy uh you know scams and the office and then Bill as well is like you hopefully will see the detail that we had discussed in the past about this. So um
uh it's pretty much my point of view on the just glad to see it moving forward in a positive way thanks to your input and your continued input during this whole process. That's why I asked the mayor to define
one of one document from another document and where we will have some freedom to uh more further negotiate of the process. Thank you.
Yes. All right. Please have a motion to introduce ordinance number 22-2025. [Music] public hearing scheduled for September 18th. Second. All right.
Yes. Councilwoman Kaminsky. Yes. Council President Lambert. Yes. Councilman L. Yes. Councilman Stegman. Yes. Mayor No. Yes. Ordinance of second reading.
First orance 18-2025. The ordinance would amend the Lfield city code 2014 chapter 7 to add a handicap parking space in front of 79th Street. Um so uh a little bit time that
city has been redoing our handicap parking spaces to ensure that those that are not in use are removed. Cindy worker I think will be prepared at at the September meeting to uh offer a comprehensive report of how many there
are how many uh have been cancelled. uh and so forth. So, in fact, just today I think we got an email to to remove one. So, um so we'll have more conversation about that um in September. Um and I would open this ordinance up for public
hearing at this point um for ordinance 18 2025 if anybody from the public who wishes to speak to this handicap parking space. Handicap parking space. might be mentioned that if you have a parking space that's open to anyone who
has a plaque or just not it's not a designated space. Correct. Yes. Thank you for pointing that out, John. Just for the record. Uh yeah, we don't designate them to individuals. We designate them to handicap drivers. However, if it's on the state highway, it's designated for that particular
person. You shot back here, right? So the ones on 29 they are for specific people and you notice the language on the sign is different and also on brick street
I would think unless they put one for a public you know because it's a central business I don't see anybody in the public want to have a wish to close the public comment period or
in favor of closing public comment I Any questions, comments from the counc I motion carries [Music] ordinance number 1920.5
or city code 1214 amending chapter 18 special regulations for major motion pictures. Um so we uh adopted the ordinance I think a year or so ago. Um the state has required a few specific changes to the ordinance. These are
mostly small changes to fees um so forth. So um I would open the the uh the public hearing for number 19-2025 if anybody has any comments about this ordinance. Now is your time.
Right. Anybody online speak to this? Okay. I'll make a motion to close the public comment period. Can I second? Second. All in favor, please say I. I. And public comment period is closed. Um and unless there's anything from the
council. Um yeah, I'd just like to say that the um the current administration in Trenton has uh as opposed to the former
administration in Trenton has really bolstered New Jersey as a state to uh to get its history back as being the first state that had the studio. uh and it was common sense and we would approve that
honor. Uh but in including expanding the the credits, the tax credits which have uh double triple quadruple the amount of in
of money coming into the state uh from these from the companies who are producing and filming in the state as you may know that there's that there recently was approved before I think it's Netflix to build one of their largest uh studios on the east coast in
New Jersey. There have been conversations like that through the industry. Uh that's really how we got started with uh early on years ago starting uh or participating in the film
ready program. That is the new program that we are now uh pledging allegiance to basically uh that makes us film film ready and the experience and of the mayor want to chime in that we've had in
the past of having uh productions done in the city have been have included uh more economic development for the businesses that are in town. uh attention and they they also engage with
local services like the police and like the fire company and the rescue squad. Um and uh I haven't heard any negative uh feedback yet from anything that we we have open
the city for and uh since this fil legislation has been put through. Um, so I I think it's a a good thing for the city to be film ready and the uh motion
picture commission has uh worked close closely with us mayor with myself with other council folks about about getting to this point and I'd like to thank them for their motion picture commission for
their uh dedication to what they've been doing for dozens of years and now having the support of the administration in Trenton to actually make a difference in
it. So um we have a very pictures city. Uh not only do people want to come here, people want to film here. We have positive experience dealing with production company that recently was here. So um
it's Uh it's good to see it getting this far that uh that we are going to be a destination for production. So glad I'm glad we're there. Is there a motion at the end of that?
I'm going to second because you and I work pretty hard on this. Yeah. Uh all in favor, please say I. I. I. Thanks. We're going to roll this out to the number of other municipalities in Hunter County. There's going to be a ceremony. Uh number of I'm not going to be able to
remember it. I should have written it down, but the number of municipalities in Hunter County allowing us about the same time. And it's really going to reflect well on the openness of Han County. have to give a lot of credit for his driver to
the county driver been a great support uh in this process. So I'm glad that we this ordinance we did. Moving on. Moving on.
Okay. Uh board. We're good. I'm interested in making the follow I'd like to make the following appointments. uh to uh the environmental commission to the chairperson position and this is a this is one commission in which the mayor directly appoints the chairperson.
It's I think the only board or commission out of the city where that's done under the ordinance but uh should I'd like to point Jamie Feinstein to unexpired term uh pending 1231 2022 uh Liz Pier stepping down after many
many years as the chair of the environmental commission. She was appointed by Mayor Dio. I'm not even sure how long ago. And she has just installed worth of Mayor Falled her. No, she told me that Mayor Dio appointed her to the environmental commission. Mayor
Falled her as chair. Okay. I'm sorry. So, she came in under Mayor Kio on Thank you for that correction and then was named the chair. She's just been an incredible asset to uh to the city and to me personally in my first couple of years as mayor. Um
she did an amazing amount of work on resilience uh efforts uh grant writing, grant reviewing, uh really helped bringing in tens of thousands of dollars into the city and grants um with sustainable Jersey. She has a peerless record and uh very grateful to her for
all of her work. Um Jane Austin works for Princeton Cyro um and she has a wonderful record of volunteerism here in the city. She uh was one of the professionals who helped us with the uh the Stormart utility feasibility study.
Um next Britney to board to an unexpired term pending 1231 2027. I sent her resume out to the council. She is an environmental attorney. Um she is going to bring a lot of enthusiasm and expertise to to the commission for
contest. Um, and then I will also uh note that I would like to appoint Britney uh Gorish to unex an unexpired term on the planning board as a city official. Um, and that term would end on December 31st, 2025. For those of you
who know Britney, she is uh been at the DBW now for a couple of years. She is our storm water management coordinator. She's doing a great job. She was uh, you know, out with the video camera getting Mr. Roger down into the holes and helped
her out. She was parked. She stayed out of the She did. I was not a home because if I was the only one who's willing to go down, but that's fantastic, you know. So anyway, I she'll be a great addition um as our
storm water management coordinator. Um and and I would note that um while if her if her appointment is approved um she will not vote until she's completed her training at the end of um October. So, she will sit on on the commission um
on board and uh and um there we go. Yeah. You know, I just want to note uh when Liz was on the environmental commission, she had asked me to liaison, but she said, "I'll only come to one meeting a year." So, I was like, "All right, Liz, when I went to my meeting,
but we we do some stuff, but I would, you know, c uh well, you know, continue that." and I'd go to every meeting, you know, Liz is like, I got it, but you know what? But, you know, so I'd be happy to and I talked to uh some of the other members
on the commission. I know that they're eager to uh kind of re uh I appreciate that constitute and uh yeah, so I I appreciate that. I think that would be great because one of the ideas that came out of the last environmental mission so both Britney
and Jamie attended that and you know we've been talking about uh you know that the planning I'm just going to wander off here for a second because I think it's important to know planning board does have representative that the environmental commission does kind of leon the planning board um and I think that because Britney had a couple of
great ideas about ways that we can you know potentially solidify that relationship by having maybe a very small subcommitt of the environmental commission have access to planning board applications. Uh at the same time planning board members do so that they can review applications before the
planning board and so that the liaison from the environmental commission can come to the planning board meeting potentially with questions or concerns or comments about individual allocations rather than sort of do it the other way around which takes more time. So we've already had some good ideas and if you
want to be a part of that as planner member I think that's a that's terrific. Yeah. Yes. you know, in fact, Cindy, uh, some existing members on the environmental commission had the same, you know, concerns to be able to, you know, get some more input ahead of time. So, that's great.
Yeah, we've been struggling with that. Let's let's check in with Daniel about ways that other municipalities do that and some municipalities have a much stronger um presence and process um in terms of the in terms of the relationship between the planning board and the environmental commission. Um and
you know we talked to to the way Mayor Fall and Mayor Delveio have done it in the past. I think this has the potential to to work well. So we we'll give it a try. Um so unless there any other comments about these funies
I've asked for I've asked for motion to appoint my nominations. Second. All in favor please say I. I thank you. We're going to move briefly into a conversation
about region 9. So no, probably nobody in uh room other than the council members know anything about region 9. Region 9 is a um a 501c3 nonprofit housing corporation that was established
in 1970. We've got over,200 affordable units in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Region 9 is in the process of buying the Hibernia. Um they expect to close on the Hiburnia at the end of September. Um so the president and I have had several
meetings with them. Um uh we've had a number of conversations with them about elements related to um the Hurnia and one of the first things they want to do is they want to spend $2 million uh renovating all the apartments in the Halia for our our residents. Um and and
so they've sent us a packet of kind of their their general plans. Um and uh a couple things that we want to consider that I'm going to ask the council to consider. Um one either way before they
purchase the property on September 22nd, the city council will need to assign the existing pilot uh to them via resolution. Um, so we can do that at our uh September 15th meeting. But at the same time, we want to at least have a conversation tonight. I don't know if
we'll get to any conclusion because we haven't really talked about this yet. Um, region 9 has asked um the city to reconsider the terms of the pilot agreement. Um, and so, uh, I get too in the weeds with this with with everybody here, but I'll just say the existing
pilot agreement, um, with, um, the Hiburnia is at a rate of 7.5% through at least 2037. Well, I'll be here to see that close. um let's just say through 2037 promise
um the the region 9 is asking the city to um consider reducing the pile payment so currently it's 7.5% and uh the table is here I'm happy to share with public since we're talking about this if
anybody's interested um they would propose a change of pirate from 7.5% % 2027 to 7% and ending in 2032 when it was down to 6.5% and then in 2037 that would go to 6%. So
um I had a conversation with Bill about this and I've also had a conversation with the fin city's financial advisors about this. Um they don't see any red flags. Um both the financial advisor to the city and Bill that typically um these common pilots begin at about 6.28%
28%. Um so you know this is a this is basically a policy decision. Um there's no you know basically end up being kind of policy decision about whether we feel that uh their partnership in the city
with um you know this project is worthy of consider reconsideration of the of the existing pirate. So you know it does mean that we would be receiving less money year after year. Um so you know going to build myself from the council a little bit. We may not reach some
decisions. I don't I'd be surprised if we do, but uh I thought it was important to talk about this tonight because at a minimum we need to assign the final agreement on the 18 and this if this conversation can take beyond that then the pilot subsequently but I thought it
was good to at least slow Bill in the room because we won't have an early September meeting to just begin the conversation in case there are questions. Um, I'd just also like to add that region 9 is uh unique in the sense that they
own and operate these uh affordable housing complexes. They do not turn them over for resale. They they come in, they buy a property um or build and then they own it and maintain it for the duration.
So this is and and they do 100% um you know, affordable, if you will, right? So, the good news for people in Hiburnia is they're they're they're going to maintain their residence. Um,
they'll be moved out. There's a plan to move out the rotation as their pro as their units are upgraded. They'll do all the moving, move everything, set it up in the temporary unit, and move them
back in. Um, and honestly, when I first listened to them, I thought, what's the catch? And I I really don't think there is one. They they've got a good reputation. You can look on their website, see what they've done. Um, but they're really
there to provide um, you know, the really kind of recycle back into the community for housing. So, um, you know, I I it seems from what I've heard, I view them very positively. Yeah, they have they have properties in
Dossburg, Hampton, New Brunswick, Panboy. Uh, they have companies all over the state. If you go to their website, they'll take and I I agree. They seem to be excellent. Your pensions pay off.
I have a I have a question about the percentage. Can we share with the public where that percentage go? It's the pilot who benefits who what what's the percentage breakdown about
where that like let's pick a number comes right into the city comes right into the city budget all comes right into the city accounted for operating budget. Well, then that's a unique one because my understanding and I could be way off
based on this is different pilots have different different ships have different pilots in them. So if the entire 7% let's pick a number that's comfortable goes to the city that's more than the
city would get uh if it was taxed regularly as a uh as a property because you don't have school tax. Yeah, there's interesting tax. Is there a school ball? Yeah, I know that. But is there a county tax cut? Is there a flyer tax? There is a county tax. We do get a bill
from the county for the pilots. All of our pilots though are written in a way that it just all comes to the city. Although they'll speak more to this. Some pilots do give you options, but ours all come to the city other than the
county portion that they'll build. That's how it should work. The money tax and then the city county a couple different statues that cover different
[Music] finance type. So that's why you know there's the percentages are permitted because it's 100% voluntary schedule that all factors into it but that's the statute of the government that's kind of
how the process works for distributing the shares. I just want to bring that forward. So if we if we agree to their proposal will help be guaranteed that they're going to be doing the work that they propose. Uh
they seem very honestly I mean they have a plan for the the construction work. I mean they they laid it out pretty well given us a list of the estimated renovations which we'll talk about in when we're done with this.
Yeah. one goes to the other pole permits to do the work and obviously I feel specific to the city of what they're proposing to do and see it's being done. I think the work they proposed is great and I know the hybr needs and I feel bad there's a lot of residents had a lot of
complaints and so I I did some research on the the company. They're very good. They have great reputation and just want to make sure that those renovations are going to be done because they need them. Yeah, I feel very confident that these are people of their word and um you know
I did have a brief conversation with um them this week. There are currently four vacant apartments in the Hibernia which is a pretty high uh rate of apartments but it serves this project really well because they'll be able to complete it in a shorter period of time getting people into those four units
temporarily. So, um, yeah, I I I have no doubt in our conversations and correct me if you'd have a different opinion about that that they're people of integrity and yeah, they what was um really I guess reassuring was that they they
answer you in specifics. This is how we're going to go through the project. We're going to be moving people around this way, you know, parking spaces. Where are you going to put your car? Where are you going to put people? We're going to set up their apartments. We're going to bring them back, you know. So,
they've done this before and they run several is it is it is the um I'm just thinking out loud. that but um you know is the since they are 100% affordable and they're guarant you you know they're
guaranteed just like um you know Heritage Village is the is the affordability and these other components all wrapped into agreements around their financing and and the and the pilots. I mean I would assume that somewhere
there's a controlling document right I mean that's where the that's where the controls are. So we're when we're saying gee they're really nice but we're relying on the controls that are in other documents. Yeah they're getting financing for HMFA
states so that they're going to have certain obligations with regard to that mortgage. So um yeah yeah so HMFA is really the controller that will guarantee that the work is done as well as that they meet the uh affordable limits and HMFA is the
you know is the lake review you know agency that's why they're also they also ask about the pilot of like the renovations that are going on at Heritage Village you know that it's all tied into the financing so yes the short
answer because insuranceances are bound in the financing when H with HM and you'll probably recall we had Parage Village about a year ago now required and it's required the mortgage agreement and the pilot HMA on notice of what the
city's issues are. So an issue so we got some so yeah so it's not just like she calling Mr. for their nice it it's got it's a real real program and that you know and and
they do have a nice represent reputation and you know towns are happy working with that right yeah are there any more questions for Bill about this so um certainly we can
we can continue this conversation I'll just throw one potential proposal out uh here um I I I mean speaking for myself has some time to digest this. I uh I think the proposed pilot percentages I would
support them but when we get to the 6% I would say maybe we go 6.28% 28% which is the kind of the beginning right and vaccine the model number it's the model number right so we wouldn't go below the model number but otherwise I personally would support uh
their proposal so um I don't want to we haven't talked about this so I don't want to push anybody into a conversation they're not ready for but I thought it was at least good to get those lay so basically you you don't want to go below what's considered the average
I think that's why you Right. 6.28%. Right. Right. Well, if that if that's the average then it's generally that percentage is the average that we have found out to be the the lowest it's been lowest. Right.
Yeah. I wouldn't go below it. So, so we're looking at this discussion to kind of guide the the agreement that Bill would be preparing moving or or guide your negotiations. Just to be clear in
terms of why we're around the don't have an action on the event action the council needs to take on September 18th. So, we need to assign the pilot. We can assign the existing terms of the pilot that's already here
or if we're prepared to consider a different pilot, we can work it out. Right. We just need to give Bill time to I mean the the assignment of pilot very straightforward, right, Bill? If we just go with the existing pilot or we we started with one page, right? Yeah, it's one page, right? So if
the council is ready to decide at some point between now and the 18th um that we want to change the pilot terms of the pilot, we can do that and Bill can change. That's what Yeah. So, so we're guiding him to prepare a document for Yeah,
that's great. And my question is he's got it. My question is is when we set this when we agree or disagree or whatever if we approve the pilot or the continuation pilot is how
does that affect other organizations that come to us and want a pilot agreement and they are if they want to talk to you well yeah so this is 100% affordable
very unique So it's not like a pilot. So I'm a developer, right? And that's where the six point that's where the best practice comes in for because it's 100% affordable and it's an agreement and refinancing with HMFA. So it is a very specific instance
that we are outlining guidance. It would be great if somebody else came with 100% affordable and said we'd like to Well, I don't want I don't want to bring up the future, but there may be somebody else coming forward to do a pilot of 100% affordable, which
Yeah. But maybe with or without HMFA financing. Yeah. And in this specific program, which is different as a nonprofit, but which is different than um new construction, you know, it's different. So I guess what I'm saying in
answer to your question or I'm just thinking out loud and Bill can tell I'm drunk is that you know that's how you kind of split it up because this is a very distinctive situation. So I wouldn't say you know for me I don't feel precedent bound but Bill might be
ready to talk about pilots and precedent it's correct this is HMFA these type pilots have their own statute if you're talking about even another nonprofit that is not operating within that
financing framework they um potentially have different regulations that apply to them and certainly you know rate developers have different steps but that's very different. Okay. Well, thank you. Thank you for
that because that wasn't a question when I had uh originally read, you know, read it by. you have under it sounds like you trust that uh you know there's more than trust
there [Music] we worry about years ago Adobe show. Sorry. Sorry. Yes. Let's uh So, I'm just going to let
that hang here and we'll talk about it. Is there really in September? We make headway on that's great. If we don't, we can continue to you know, at some point we'll take some action on on that question. The second thing I and again this is I just want to more more than anything I just want to introduce this
uh because we don't have to decide this tonight but the other thing that they uh that they have asked for are some kind of reduction in the permitting fees for construction. So, you have a $2 million project and it's going to generate it's going to generate fees from a
construction office that the city would consider reducing or or uh eliminating those fees. And we can do that as policy decision by resolution. Um, and so I did speak to the construction code official. Um, I showed him the the table of what
they wanted to do and asked him if he could give me some ballpark idea of what we're talking about in terms of permitting fees. And he said, "No." Um, there's just too there's too much. He said that there's just there are too many variables within the project itself. So you know again I'm not want
to talk about this tonight but I just want to introduce the talk I guess something you know would we consider you know reducing the fees by half right or quarter or I don't know. So I would just say you know with the flood victims we did not do that. There was a fund that helped pay for but we could not reduce
the so we actually eliminated the pe the fees by permit uh the permitting construction fees right for a short period of time for a short period of time before the insurance money came in so not as many people done it so but my my point is I'm a little hesitant to do
that and I just think that what if another nonprofit come and says you know what if Mark says you know this project that we want to do we will I I think we've got a little very close. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's more complicated than a pilot because people,
right? We don't know what we're talking about in terms of dollars, right? Yeah. That's the thing. We can't we don't know how big it is and what the reduction would be and what kind of negotiating. So, that's a little concern. That's absolutely true. There's no
there's no doubt that's true. And I I think that opens the door to other people. Well, you gave even 50% of the permitting and that's what we you know I I I'm little I'm more I'm more
comfortable with the pilot than I'm than I am with reducing permanent. Okay. Um so I'm just ask to we'll sit on that too and we'll come back to it and if the answer is no, the answer is no. But I just want to introduce it as a as a director. Um thank you for the
conversation. Uh correspondence just a couple things from court one thing. So group JCP and LA annual compliance filing for a change in statewide electric and gas per permanent universal service fund program factors. Why you give me the steps
because if somebody wants to go down and during the public hearing and voice their opinion I want them to know. I will we can say that the hundred area um Yeah. Yeah, education electrical coop cooperative ran a
successful bid for lower rates than JCPNL um the other day and we'll be we'll be passing that information on you have a yeah no one thing where I was thinking about like correspondence and stuff that we need on that on this whole energy
co-op thing we almost we need some like info on it like to understand because we always always get questions and when we do get correspondence stuff sometimes I get it at home you're like but you know like I I don't know what
the answer is on that but we we do need to like kind of keep it have it handy what are we doing you know like I really I was trying to put together like the history of it and I went back like there's this iteration that one and then
Juliana Concord engineering and now we're over here. So, just it's not an immediate thing, but it's a a story that like we don't really have a file on or I write the story. I'm not putting on
anybody. I'm trying to understand it. It's complicated. Yeah, it is. We don't email. So, he goes like, "What the heck is this?" Right. Right. I mean, so question and and 5,000word answer. Yeah. We were like talking and then I
was like, "Oh, briefly." And then we talked about that. It it I really I started on the rabbit. Anyway, at the next meeting, I'll have some information and we'll put something at Lambert that is cohesive and uh simple as possible. Okay.
Okay. Moving on to announcements. Um just wanted to mention one thing. past uh correspondence with um the state historic preservation office about the community I'm sorry the CLG the
certified local government um so we are uh almost at the finish line of that process we have a couple of documents we have to pull together we have to send resumes for everybody who's ser historic preservation commission there's one or two other little things that we have to do
yeah and then we get certified through the US park service. So, uh, how do you know what how long that takes? I don't. Well, we're put together uh the the resumes now and S's been working on. Well, it's not Well, it's not us getting prepared, which I know that we're
working on very diligently for the la for the last year or two years or actually since I've been cur I know I guess the federal government can't buy it, but like yeah, they've been pretty
good on Okay, so that's out. So um still later day I'll say they're closed tax payments you'll be made by September without any penalty porchfest is being
held on Saturday October 4th 1 to 5 coral street will again be closed between George Street parade will be held on Saturday the 18th 2025 the Halloween parade will be held um Sunday October the 26th at 2:30, Mary Sherid
Park. Trick-or-treating begins uh on October 31st uh from 6:00 to 8 week road closures and uh used glasses collection. Drop off any old glasses, any kind, prescription, three, sunglasses at city hall for recycling during the month of
September. Thank you. Yes. And that's all Lindsay I want to say. All this recycling stuff is all in. So I think the shrink may be closed for Porchfest at the time. I think portfoly might just request. Yeah, that that's probably the only
information we got. Yeah, because I know there's no official action of the streets. Um, we'll now open up to the second public participation session. Uh same rules as before three minutes please state and address
total 33 Wilson Street. I just wanted to um because we how we do ordinances you know a lot of towns will do at the first reading to have public and it's usually good to get that because if you're going to make changes as Paul said earlier it's good to get it earlier. So the one
issue that I wanted to raise for both the plan and then later as you go into the agreement is how how to deal with contamination on the site because it may change not the numbers but the footprints the alignment of buildings
whole range of other retaining walls what have you and um since the investigation has not you know happened because the property owner has not allowed DP on the site uh you raises his real concerns and and part of it is as
you know and you know that the DP has labeled the investigation into Conill not the investigation to Conale not investigation to well park but the investigation to factory which means that the DP staff has at least strong
suspicion that that's probably the site place where the P fossils used and dumped and maybe been dumped on other places on the site. And so that raises a couple of very important questions because we don't know what's going to happen. We don't know he's going to get on the site. They
might have to go to work. They may have to do other things. Um so you know it's still that directive but it could have a major impact on shape of the development and also cost of the development. Other issue that I want to raise is part of it
is thatian has a long history of getting around environmental rules and there are numerous contaminated sites in New Jersey that they got caught later victory manner in union which I knew was a contaminant site that were caught after their build and the reason I'm
mentioning that again is because then the state had to step in the HOA you know got stuck with some of the costs as well and that may happen here if they delay and delay And so the other part of it is that when this comes in this site for your
development planning board, the city needs to hire its own page because you're going to need an engineer to review what they're doing and to see what they're doing because under the law when it was changed under Governor Cororsine, which I oppose, the LSRP does the testing. The LSRP designs the
cleanup. The LSIP is in charge of the cleanup and certifies that it's clean. And as we know with Coella Park, it doesn't always work out that way. We know with updated and Jersey City and New York and a whole range of other places, it doesn't necessarily work out that way. So, we need to be on top of it
as far and agreement to deal with this contamination issue. And the last point I'm going to make is that, you know, you hired an expert because you're afraid of a tort claim by citizens. Well, if it turns out that it's source, then the town would have very minimal liability,
if any. But meanwhile, we didn't bring a hit to the court case. And had we known and said to the judge that it was called a tourist investigation and might um just two quick things. Um since we're in the midst of this thing with Komania
and pilot maybe a very very realistic element that comes into that from their perspective. I would think long and hard before I started fooling around with other pilot things without realizing that we may be wanting to use pilot yes
or no or how much differently in a different setting and we might not want to ignore that possibility and proceeding in some other directions without taking that into account. Um the second one uh second thing I wanted to put out there
or ask about or whatever. What if the planning board says no to this as they did before? I mean I know I would assume if it were me it's not but I would go to court at that point and say we have your deadlines, you know, gota we gota we got
to talk about this because we can't say we're sending it to our planning board telling them they have to say okay. I mean that would be so we are all talking about well this day this day this state it'll be that good good good well I mean they found problems last time nothing
has changed don't forget we I've seen the thing from uh May 2074 so which by the way also included the part about the developers excuse me responsible for the belt as
you know it's so that was being talked But just putting that out there. Thanks. The planning board has just an advisory role here. They uh they can make their determination. The city city council has the the ultimate right to
either you know follow the recommendation of the planning board or to dismiss it. So uh you know the planning board does it functions differently in this case than than would typically application. Hi, Amanda Bird, 58 and a half Buttonwood Street. Um, I have a question
about something that was said today because I think we're all trying to get smart on this affordable housing uh stuff. Uh, in a previous meeting, I talked about the buildings that were built before 1986. Um, if we were to invest substantial
money into those buildings, that those units go back into the affordable housing pot. Um, does the Hiburnia uh redevelopment, upgrades, all of those wonderful things, $2 million, does that
hit that bar and put 39 units back into our green category on affordable housing to move us forward into that requirement because if we're talking 39 units, we might have won the game tonight. Um, and I think that that's important that we
all get smart and we all know those numbers because a quick Google search says that the Hiburnia was built in 1979. So I would ask that we all look at that and know if we just found 39 because that's real money as they say.
So thank you. [Music] senior because it's senior housing. We've asked this question to our affordable housing uh leaison because we've maxed out in senior housing that would not provide any further credit towards the existing affordable housing
outage. But great question and we but is it is it all senior housing? I mean, some of it is dis I mean, they're all all senior. They're all 65 and older. Yeah. 62 and older. And that's a HUD regulation.
Hi, Holly Edens, North 53 North Union Street. I worked for New Jersey Housing Mortgage Finance Agency. I lobbyed on behalf of the low-inccome housing tax credits. And when did the housing the expiration
on Hyderia uh for the original construction? I have extra housing the 79 79. So did they renew their work? Did they
renew their in what year? I want to say 2017. Mhm. So, are they getting affordable? Are they getting low-inccome housing tax credits for the rehab? Do you know the financing part of that? We haven't seen that part.
Okay. Well, we just have because those will dictate perhaps a renewable possibility of affordable units. and if they dedicate some of the units to
developmentally disabled. Um I did a project for my graduate thesis at NYU on Corner Church and Broad Street in Plington. That's an affordable um 48 units, senior and disabled.
And I think I shared that with the mayor, but the financing is all tax credits, um HMFA financing, then gap financing, the more community
reinvestment act. So maybe perhaps we could get credit again. We we we have reached we don't need any more senior Palestinian but developmental but I don't think that's I don't I don't
think that they're planning on changing the they would have to all seniors even after They can't change it. They can't change it. It's regulated by
HUD at 62 at home. That came up out there and there may be other opportunities on other projects and you know but this one we did check there was no way. Okay.
Sorry. Thanks. Hello, John Towns get um I can't answer direct questions, but how many affordable housing units do we have right now? Um I know that we're going to be holding up on the hill.
Uh I did also have a question. We did um Habitat for Humanity houses three or four up on Conent Hill. Was I I thought I I was led to believe that uh
those were sold to the credits or the house of grad credit to Oakwell. Is that correct? Do we know where our our numbers are? I'm not going to tell you the numbers. I can get them for you, but I don't I mean I don't need that answer tonight.
I'm just on our web page in our report. We file an annual report. If you read through that, I believe we need 86 credits total. I think we're in we're at like 32. You are correct. We had what
they called um RCA's right where other municipalities gave us money and some of the affordable the Habitat for Humanities homes got by that. Yes. So we took the
money from the obligation from the other towns and this used to be part of the affordable housing program that the state had that they've done away with. So you could sell Yeah. So we got money to then do for those that have home.
So that was how we were able to provide those homes to to families that were you know that met the income criteria but that but that that program we can't get those credits back to us. No,
no, we Yeah. Okay. But we did make it possible for the families to be here. Yes. And that's a great thing. Um, village apartments, have they come up with any plans? I I'm sorry. I don't hear very well this last couple of nights, but got anything from them
regarding they're working through the regulatory process for the D. Um, they intend to build 24 units on the site. Um so that's which would be a regular planning toward application they would come you know are they low in
12% set aside perhaps they say whatever it is they do but they have it come to and they wouldn't because they're like right under the right but as of right under the existing zoning they don't you know
they have to make an application planning for it they don't ask They don't they don't because it's not a redevelopment area. We have no say and uh I was just wondering if we were going to approach approach them about those. I
know they had offered low income additional units, but I guess we'll know when the application check. I get a little confused about exactly
What are we afraid of? I don't know what builder solution offers. Don't they still have to make the deal with the person who owns the property? I'm sorry. I don't understand the question, John. Question would be builder solution. Mean builder's remedy.
Revenue. Okay. I think what's called solution? Builder's remedy. They don't have that. Doesn't the person who they approach uh the builder with this remedy still
have to buy the land off the yard? Yeah. Does the builder's remedy give them any sort of What does it give the builder? They don't have to worry about the zoning. That's it. I mean, that's a scary
whatever they want. We can't prevent them. But they still have to make the deal with their buyer. Yes. With the owner. Correct. I said, "Oh, the owner knowing that you can hold that." Well, that's why
in that situation that's Well, why don't we be selling the quarry? Don't let them know we did it. So, right. I think they all have lightning rocks on their houses that we did that
you know listen to us please. All in favor, please say I. I. I. Let public know that we are will not public to close session this evening. So
at this time I would ask [Music] all in favor. Thank you very much. Thank you for coming. [Music]